To imitate others clumsily or crudely, especially in creative or academic work, without possessing the original's talent or scale, thereby making oneself look inferior.
他的作品模仿名家，却不得其精髓，终究是婢作夫人，难以服众
His work imitated a master, but failed to capture the essence, ultimately it was a maid acting as mistress, unable to convince the public.
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