諺語 · a single proverb
班門弄斧
Simplified: 班门弄斧
What does 班門弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ) mean?
班門弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "show off axe in front of master carpenter's door." In use it means: To show off one's skill in front of an expert; arrogant display of limited ability. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "show off axe in front of master carpenter's door."
The reading
The apprentice who demonstrates his three cuts to the master who has made ten thousand has confused enthusiasm with competence. There is a season for showing what you know, and it usually comes after you have learned when to be quiet in the presence of someone who knows more. The axe is real; the audience is not impressed.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Ming Dynasty 明·梅之渙《題李白墓》 (Tí Lǐ Bái Mù, inscription at Li Bai's tomb)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Humility & Self-Mastery, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 班門弄斧 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 班門弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Ming Dynasty 明·梅之渙《題李白墓》 (Tí Lǐ Bái Mù, inscription at Li Bai's tomb). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 班門弄斧?
In Mandarin it is bān mén nòng fǔ. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 班門弄斧 aloud in Mandarin.