have a superficial knowledge of; smattering
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesidiom
to have a smattering of knowledge; to know something superficially; half-baked understanding
Used to describe someone who has an incomplete or shallow understanding of a subject but may act as if they know more. Can function as predicate, attribute, or object. Often carries a negative connotation of being satisfied with insufficient knowledge.
Wǒ我
duì对
zhè这
gè个
wèn问
tí题
zhǐ只
shì是
yī一
zhī知
bàn半
jiě解
，
bù不
gǎn敢
wàng妄
xià下
jié结
lùn论
。
I only have a superficial understanding of this issue, so I dare not jump to conclusions.
Xué学
xí习
zhī知
shi识
bù不
néng能
yī一
zhī知
bàn半
jiě解
，
yào要
shēn深
rù入
zuān钻
yán研
。
When learning knowledge, one cannot settle for a smattering; one must study in depth.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Tā他
nà那
diǎn点
yī一
zhī知
bàn半
jiě解
de的
běn本
lǐng领
，
jū居
rán然
gǎn敢
zài在
zhuān专
jiā家
miàn面
qián前
mài卖
nong弄
。
With such half-baked skills, he actually dares to show off in front of experts.
Zhè这
běn本
shū书
wǒ我
zhǐ只
dú读
guò过
yī一
biàn遍
，
lǐ理
jiě解
de得
hěn很
yī一
zhī知
bàn半
jiě解
。
I have only read this book once, so my understanding is quite superficial.
Zuò做
xué学
wèn问
zuì最
pà怕
de的
jiù就
shì是
yī一
zhī知
bàn半
jiě解
，
hái还
zì自
yǐ以
wéi为
shì是
。
The most feared thing in academic pursuits is having a smattering of knowledge while thinking one knows it all.