📖 Meaning
Having little strength and meager talent. A humble expression used to describe one's own limited capabilities. Often employed in self-deprecating contexts when modestly declining responsibility or acknowledging one's inadequacy.
📜 Origin Story
Originates from the 'Biography of Yan Zhu' in the Book of Han (汉书·严助传), compiled by Ban Gu of the Eastern Han dynasty. In the original text, Yan Zhu characterizes the Yue people of the south as 'having weak strength and meager talent, unable to fight in land warfare.' The phrase was used to describe their lack of military capability for terrestrial combat. Over the centuries it evolved into a conventional humble self-reference used by officials and scholars.
💡 Example Usage
我绵力薄材，只怕难以担此重任。
With my meager strength and limited talent, I fear I cannot bear this heavy responsibility.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 绵力薄材
- Pinyin: mián lì bó cái
- Literal Translation: weak, strength, meager, talent
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4