to dabble in; to scratch the surface; to stop after a superficial attempt
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to stop after a superficial attempt; to dabble in; to scratch the surface
Often used to criticize a lack of thoroughness in study or research. Implies stopping before achieving deep understanding.
Zuò做
xué学
wèn问
bù不
néng能
qiǎn浅
cháng尝
zhé辄
zhǐ止
，
yào要
shēn深
rù入
zuān钻
yán研
。
One cannot dabble in academic research; one must study in depth.
Tā他
duì对
hěn很
duō多
lǐng领
yù域
dōu都
yǒu有
xìng兴
qù趣
，
dàn但
shì总
zǒng是
shì浅
qiǎn尝
cháng辄
zhé止
。
He is interested in many fields, but he always stops after a superficial attempt.
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Xué学
xí习
yǔ语
yán言
rú如
guǒ果
qiǎn浅
cháng尝
zhé辄
zhǐ止
，
hěn很
nán难
zhēn真
zhèng正
zhǎng掌
wò握
。
If you only dabble in language learning, it is difficult to truly master it.
Yán研
jiū究
lì历
shǐ史
bù不
néng能
qiǎn浅
cháng尝
zhé辄
zhǐ止
，
bì必
xū须
chá查
yuè阅
dà大
liàng量
yuán原
shǐ始
zī资
liào料
。
Historical research cannot be superficial; one must consult large amounts of primary source material.