cannot make something from nothing; lack necessary means
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice; one cannot make bricks without straw; lacking necessary conditions, even capable people cannot succeed
neutralUsed to express that without essential resources or conditions, talent and ability alone are insufficient to accomplish a task. Often used in formal writing or speeches to explain project delays or difficulties.
Méi没
yǒu有
zī资
jīn金
，
zhè这
gè个
xiàng项
mù目
jiù就
shì是
qiǎo巧
fù妇
nán难
wéi为
wú无
mǐ米
zhī之
chuī炊
。
Without funding, this project is a case of trying to make bricks without straw.
Tā他
suī虽
rán然
jì技
shù术
hěn很
hǎo好
，
dàn但
quē缺
fá乏
bì必
yào要
de的
shè设
bèi备
，
zhēn真
shì是
qiǎo巧
fù妇
nán难
wéi为
wú无
mǐ米
zhī之
chuī炊
。
Although he has excellent technical skills, he lacks the necessary equipment—truly a situation where the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice.
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Zuò做
dàn蛋
gāo糕
méi没
yǒu有
miàn面
fěn粉
，
zhè这
kě可
shì是
qiǎo巧
fù妇
nán难
wéi为
wú无
mǐ米
zhī之
chuī炊
a啊
。
Trying to make a cake without flour—this is truly impossible even for the most skilled cook.