To seek a superficial understanding; to be content with a half-baked knowledge and not pursue a thorough comprehension, often implying a lack of serious study or research.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
When Tao Yuanming was eighteen, he wrote an essay about himself, titled 'Biography of Master Five Willows'.
The essay began: 'The Master's origin is unknown, and his name is unclear. Next to his residence were five willow trees, so he adopted 'Five Willows' as his sobriquet.
The Master loved tranquility, spoke little, and neither coveted wealth nor fame. He greatly enjoyed reading, not dwelling on the literal interpretation of words; whenever he grasped the main meaning of a book, he would be so delighted that he would forget to eat.
He was naturally fond of wine, but due to his family's poverty, he couldn't often procure it. Relatives and friends, aware of his situation, often prepared wine and invited him over. And he, upon arriving, would always drink all the wine they had prepared.'