📖 Meaning
Not worth learning or emulating; not a worthy model to follow. It describes something that falls short of being a proper standard or example that others should adopt.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from Qing dynasty scholar Zhao Yi's 'Oubei Poetry Talks' (《瓯北诗话》), in his critique of Li Bai's poetic lineage. Zhao Yi argued that since the upright 'Daya' tradition ceased, poetry had drifted toward sorrowful and ornate styles rather than proper tones, tracing the decline through poets like Yang Xiong and Sima Xiangru. He noted that after the Jian'an period, verse grew increasingly lavish and concluded such ornate poetry was 'not worth emulating.' The phrase thus critiques artistic or behavioral models that lack a sound foundation.
💡 Example Usage
那种只说不做的作风，实在不足为法。
A style of all talk and no action is truly not worth emulating.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 不足为法
- Pinyin: bù zú wéi fǎ
- Literal Translation: not, sufficient, to serve as, model
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4