井底之蛙jǐng dǐ zhī wāa person of limited outlook and experience

1. 1.

   a person of limited outlook and experienceidiom

Figurative meaning

A person of limited outlook and experience.

Literal meaning

A frog at the bottom of a well.

• 井a well
• 底bottom; base
• 之(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5])
• 蛙frog

The story

You cannot talk about the sea with a frog in a well, because it is confined to its little place.

井底之蛙 can gently or sharply criticize a narrow view.

1. HSK 3

   多出去看看世界，不要做井底之蛙。

   Duō chūqù kànkan shìjiè, búyào zuò jǐng dǐ zhī wā.

   Go out and see the world more; don't be a frog at the bottom of a well.

2. HSK 3

   他只知道自己的小地方，真是井底之蛙。

   Tā zhǐ zhīdào zìjǐ de xiǎo dìfang, zhēn shì jǐng dǐ zhī wā.

   He only knows his own little corner; he really has a narrow outlook.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我觉得我们学校最好。

   Wǒ juéde wǒmen xuéxiào zuì hǎo.

   I think our school is the best.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   你看过别的学校吗？

   Nǐ kànguo bié de xuéxiào ma?

   Have you seen other schools?

3. 
   Speaker A:

   没有。

   Méiyǒu.

   No.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   那你别做井底之蛙，先去看看吧。

   Nà nǐ bié zuò jǐng dǐ zhī wā, xiān qù kànkan ba.

   Then don't be so narrow-minded; go and look first.

1. 1.What does 井底之蛙 mean?

   AA person of limited outlook and experienceBA good swimmerCSomeone who loves animals
2. 2.Which sentence uses 井底之蛙 correctly?

   A没出过门的人容易成为井底之蛙。B今天的饭很井底之蛙。C他井底之蛙地跑步。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 要多读书，不要当____。 (Read more; don't be narrow-minded.)

   A井底之蛙B画龙点睛C人山人海

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Related idioms

• 后顾之忧hòu gù zhī yōufears of trouble in the rear (idiom); family worries (obstructing freedom of action)HSK 7–9
• 当务之急dāng wù zhī jí(idiom) top priority job; a matter of the greatest urgencyHSK 7–9
• 持之以恒chí zhī yǐ héngto pursue unremittingly (idiom); to persevereHSK 7–9
• 来之不易lái zhī bú yì(idiom) hard to come by; not easily obtainedHSK 7–9
• 坐井观天zuò jǐng guān tiānignorant and narrow-mindedNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 惊弓之鸟jīng gōng zhī niǎosb who frightens easily, due to past experiencesNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus

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