low status, words carry little weight
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
when a person is of low status, their words carry little weight; the humble person's opinion is ignored
formalUsed to describe situations where someone's opinion is ignored or dismissed due to their low social standing, lack of authority, or humble position. Often used as a self-deprecating excuse for not speaking up, or to explain why someone else's advice was disregarded.
Tā他
rén人
wēi微
yán言
qīng轻
，
shuō说
shén什
me么
dōu都
méi没
rén人
tīng听
。
He is a nobody, so whatever he says, no one listens.
Zài在
nà那
gè个
shí时
dài代
，
pǔ普
tōng通
mín民
zhòng众
rén人
wēi微
yán言
qīng轻
，
gēn根
běn本
wú无
fǎ法
yǐng影
xiǎng响
jué决
cè策
。
In that era, ordinary people had low status and their words carried little weight; they simply couldn't influence decisions.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Wǒ我
suī虽
rán然
rén人
wēi微
yán言
qīng轻
，
dàn但
wǒ我
hái还
shì是
yào要
shuō说
chū出
wǒ我
de的
kàn看
fǎ法
。
Although I am a person of little importance, I still want to voice my opinion.