懂中文 Dong Chinese
Dictionary
Log in
  • Learn
  • Dictionary
  • Media
  • Settings
抱瓮灌圃
bào​wèng​guàn​pǔ

to expend much effort for little results

Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents
抱瓮灌圃 抱甕灌圃 bào​wèng​guàn​pǔ
to expend much effort for little results
(idiom) describes using clumsy or inefficient methods; literally "to carry a pitcher to water the garden," based on a story in the 庄子 zhuāng​zǐ where a man refuses more efficient tools in favor of manual labor