A metaphor for someone or something that is overlooked, unappreciated, or undesirable, often because of a perceived flaw or lack of appeal, much like bitter plums growing by the roadside.
他虽然能力出众，但在团队中总是像道旁苦李，没人注意到他的价值。
Although he had outstanding abilities, he was always like bitter plums by the roadside in the team, with no one noticing his true worth.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
When Wang Rong was seven years old, he once played outside with many other children. They saw many plum trees by the roadside, laden with plums, their branches bent low.
The other children eagerly rushed over to pick the plums. Only Wang Rong remained still.
When others asked him why he wasn't picking any, he replied that if plum trees by the roadside had so many plums, it must mean they were sour and bitter; otherwise, they would have been picked long ago.
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