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朽木粪墙
朽木粪墙
朽木粪墙
朽木粪墙
朽木粪墙
朽木粪墙
朽木粪墙
朽木粪墙

朽木粪墙 — “Rotten wood and a dirt wall”

朽木粪墙 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to a person who is beyond salvage or has no potential for improvement; someone lacking moral fiber or ability, likened to rotten wood that cannot be carved or a dirt wall that cannot be plastered”. Literally, “rotten wood and a dirt wall”.

Frequency

朽木粪墙 Pronunciation and Pinyin

朽木粪墙 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
朽
xiǔ6decay, rot, perish
木
mù4tree, wood, wooden, dull, numb
粪
fèn12feces, manure
墙
qiáng14wall

Example Sentence with 朽木粪墙

他对学习总是敷衍了事,老师觉得他简直是朽木粪墙,不值得再投入精力了。
He always approached his studies perfunctorily; his teacher felt he was like rotten wood and a dirt wall, not worth investing any more effort in.

Origin and Story of 朽木粪墙

During the Spring and Autumn period, Zai Yu, a disciple of Confucius, was very eloquent. Confucius was fond of him and believed he would achieve great things.

However, it wasn't long before Confucius discovered that Zai Yu frequently skipped classes. When someone was sent to look for him, he was found sleeping soundly in his room.

Upon learning this, Confucius sadly remarked: "Rotten wood cannot be carved, and a wall made of dirt cannot be plastered."

Idioms Related to 朽木粪墙

Synonyms of 朽木粪墙

  • xiǔ朽mù木fèn粪tǔ土an incorrigible good-for-nothing

More idioms starting with 朽

  • xiǔ朽gē戈dùn钝jiǎ甲poorly equipped troops
  • xiǔ朽mù木bù不kě可diāo雕incorrigible or beyond redemption
  • xiǔ朽mù木bù不diāo雕untrainable or unimprovable person
  • xiǔ朽mù木zhī之cái才a person of no talent or potential
  • xiǔ朽mù木kū枯zhū株useless old person
  • xiǔ朽mù木sǐ死huī灰utterly disheartened and lifeless
  • xiǔ朽mù木shēng生huā花turn from decay to flourishing
  • xiǔ朽mù木nán难diāo彫beyond redemption or improvement
  • xiǔ朽mù木nán难diāo雕rotten wood cannot be carved
  • xiǔ朽tiáo条fǔ腐suǒ索extremely fragile, weak, or unreliable
  • xiǔ朽zhū株kū枯mù木old, decaying, and useless

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Questions about 朽木粪墙

What does 朽木粪墙 mean?

朽木粪墙 (xiǔ mù fèn qiáng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to a person who is beyond salvage or has no potential for improvement; someone lacking moral fiber or ability, likened to rotten wood that cannot be carved or a dirt wall that cannot be plastered”.

How do you pronounce 朽木粪墙?

朽木粪墙 is pronounced xiǔ mù fèn qiáng in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 朽木粪墙 literally mean?

Literally, 朽木粪墙 means “rotten wood and a dirt wall”. It is used to mean “refers to a person who is beyond salvage or has no potential for improvement; someone lacking moral fiber or ability, likened to rotten wood that cannot be carved or a dirt wall that cannot be plastered”.

Where does 朽木粪墙 come from?

朽木粪墙 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 朽木粪墙?

朽坏的木头,污秽的土墙。比喻没有培养前途的人。

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