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 →
班门调斧
班门调斧
班门调斧
班门调斧
班门调斧
班门调斧
班门调斧
班门调斧

班门调斧 — “To display one's slight skill before an expert”

班门调斧 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to display one's slight skill before an expert”. To teach one's grandmother to suck eggs; to show off one's incompetence. Literally, “Wielding an axe at Ban's door”.

Frequency

班门调斧 Pronunciation and Pinyin

班门调斧 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
班
bān10group, class, shift
门
mén3door, gate, entrance
调
diào10adjust, mix, transfer, investigate
斧
fǔ8axe or hatchet

Example Sentence with 班门调斧

他在著名画家面前谈论绘画技巧,真是班门调斧,不自量力。
He talked about painting techniques in front of a renowned painter, which was truly like showing off his slight skill before an expert, overestimating himself.

Idioms Related to 班门调斧

Synonyms of 班门调斧

  • bān班mén门nòng弄fǔ斧show off before an expert

More idioms starting with 班

  • bān班gōng功xíng行shǎng赏assess achievements and bestow rewards
  • bān班shī师huí回fǔ俯return triumphantly to base
  • bān班shī师huí回cháo朝triumphant return of troops to capital
  • bān班shī师dé得shèng胜return triumphantly after a victory
  • bān班shī师zhèn振lǚ旅withdraw and reorganize the army
  • bān班bān班kě可kǎo考clearly verifiable and well-documented
  • bān班jīng荆dào道gù故Old friends meet, reminisce, and catch up
  • bān班jīng荆dào道jiù旧Meet an old friend and reminisce
  • bān班yī衣xì戏cǎi彩playfully amuse elderly parents
  • bān班yī衣xì戏cǎi采dressing colorfully to amuse parents
  • bān班xiāng香sòng宋yàn艳exquisite beauty of poetic prose

Recommended tools

Character Highlight Animator

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

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Questions about 班门调斧

What does 班门调斧 mean?

班门调斧 (bān mén diào fǔ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to display one's slight skill before an expert”.

How do you pronounce 班门调斧?

班门调斧 is pronounced bān mén diào fǔ in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 班门调斧 literally mean?

Literally, 班门调斧 means “Wielding an axe at Ban's door”. It is used to mean “to display one's slight skill before an expert”.

What is the Chinese definition of 班门调斧?

班:鲁班,春秋时期鲁国人,著名的木匠;调:耍弄。在鲁班门前舞弄斧子。比喻在行家面前卖弄本领,不自量力

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