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濫竽充數. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
濫竽充數, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
濫竽充數 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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Chinese
Etymology
Based on a story in Han Feizi:
齊宣王使人吹竽必三百人。
南郭處士請為王吹竽，宣王說之，廩食以數百人。
宣王死，湣王立，好一一聽之，處士逃。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
齐宣王使人吹竽必三百人。
南郭处士请为王吹竽，宣王说之，廪食以数百人。
宣王死，湣王立，好一一听之，处士逃。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE
- Qí Xuānwáng shǐ rén chuī yú bì sān bǎi rén.
Nánguō chǔshì qǐng wèi wáng chuī yú, Xuānwáng yuè zhī, lǐnshí yǐ shù bǎi rén.
Xuānwáng sǐ, Mǐnwáng lì, hào yīyī tīng zhī, chǔshì táo. - Whenever King Xuan of Qi had men play the yu , there had to be 300 men playing simultaneously.
A reclusive scholar, by the name of Nanguo , who was unable to play the instrument, asked if he could join the ensemble and play the yu for the king. King Xuan was delighted by this, and dispensed enough food rations for several hundred musicians.
Then, King Xuan died, and King Min took the throne. He preferred to listen to the yu players one-by-one, so the reclusive scholar fled. (Wiktionary translation)
Pronunciation
Idiom
濫竽充數
- (figurative, derogatory or humble) to fill a position without having the necessary qualifications; to be a token member of a group; to masquerade as having an ability; to sell seconds at best-quality prices