班门弄斧

班門弄斧

bānmén-nòngfǔ

idiom #51,317

Meanings

1 wielding an axe at Lu Ban's door
2 to show off in front of an expert

Characters

Ban (i.e. Lu Ban, master carpenter)

to play with; wield

Examples

HSK 7-9

在老师面前谈这个问题，真是班门弄斧。

Zài lǎoshī miànqián tán zhège wèntí, zhēnshì bānménnòngfǔ.

Discussing this topic in front of the teacher is like wielding an axe at Lu Ban's door.

HSK 7-9

我不敢班门弄斧，请您多指教。

Wǒ bù gǎn bānménnòngfǔ, qǐng nín duō zhǐjiào.

I would not dare show off in front of an expert. Please give me your guidance.

Tips

history

班 refers to Lu Ban (鲁班), the legendary Spring and Autumn period master carpenter revered as the patron saint of Chinese builders. The phrase was popularized by 欧阳修 in a Song letter: 'Waving an axe at Ban's gate, how laughable.' Often used as a humble disclaimer when about to present one's own work.

Stroke Order

班 bān

门 mén

弄 nòng

斧 fǔ