Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
屈榖巨瓠
屈榖巨瓠
屈榖巨瓠

屈榖巨瓠 — “Qu Gu's giant gourd”

屈榖巨瓠 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a metaphor for something that appears impressive but is actually useless or impractical; an object that lacks any practical function despite its appearance”. Literally, “Qu Gu's giant gourd”.

Frequency

屈榖巨瓠 Pronunciation and Pinyin

屈榖巨瓠 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
屈
qū8bend, yield, feel wronged
榖
gǔ14paper mulberry tree
巨
jù5gigantic; enormous
瓠
hù11bottle gourd

Example Sentence with 屈榖巨瓠

这件装饰品虽然看起来华丽,但除了占据空间,没有任何实际功用,简直是屈榖巨瓠。
Although this decorative item looks magnificent, it serves no practical purpose other than taking up space; it's practically a Qu Gu's giant gourd.

Origin and Story of 屈榖巨瓠

During the Warring States period, Qu Gu from the State of Song visited Tian Zhong, a reclusive scholar in Qi.

Qu Gu said, "I've long admired your self-sufficiency and dedication, and I've brought you a giant gourd that is as hard as stone and has no openings."

Tian Zhong replied, "Your gourd is as hard as stone, and it cannot be drilled or opened. It cannot hold anything, making it utterly useless."

He then lamented that he himself, unable to be of service to the state, was much like Qu Gu's giant gourd.

Idioms Related to 屈榖巨瓠

More idioms starting with 屈

  • qū屈yī一shēn伸wàn万Humble to one, superior to many
  • qū屈zūn尊jiù就bēi卑condescend to an inferior position
  • qū屈dǎ打chéng成zhāo招tortured into a confession
  • qū屈zhǐ指yī一suàn算to count on one's fingers
  • qū屈zhǐ指kě可shǔ数can be counted on one's fingers
  • qū屈zhǐ指ér而shù数very few, can be counted on fingers
  • qū屈xī膝qiú求hé和kneel and surrender for peace
  • qū屈yàn艳bān班xiāng香eloquent and richly flavored literary works
  • qū屈jié节bēi卑tǐ体humble oneself to curry favor
  • qū屈jié节rǔ辱mìng命Compromise integrity and fail mission
  • qū屈huò蠖qiú求shēn伸Bend to stretch; retreat to advance
  • qū屈gǔ谷jù巨hù瓠useless but impressive-looking

Recommended tools

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Picture Worksheets

Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Questions about 屈榖巨瓠

What does 屈榖巨瓠 mean?

屈榖巨瓠 (qū gǔ jù hù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a metaphor for something that appears impressive but is actually useless or impractical; an object that lacks any practical function despite its appearance”.

How do you pronounce 屈榖巨瓠?

屈榖巨瓠 is pronounced qū gǔ jù hù in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 屈榖巨瓠 literally mean?

Literally, 屈榖巨瓠 means “Qu Gu's giant gourd”. It is used to mean “a metaphor for something that appears impressive but is actually useless or impractical; an object that lacks any practical function despite its appearance”.

Where does 屈榖巨瓠 come from?

屈榖巨瓠 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 屈榖巨瓠?

比喻无用的东西

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us