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HSK 5 Chinese reading practice

黔驴技穷

qián lǘ jì qióng

The Donkey of Guizhou

A tiger fears an unfamiliar donkey until patient observation reveals the full limit of its abilities.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 5
READ4 min
HANZI341
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文化
CULTURE

What does 黔驴技穷 mean today?

黔驴技穷 comes from Liu Zongyuan's 黔之驴. 黔 is an old name associated with present-day Guizhou. The idiom describes someone whose limited methods have all been exposed or exhausted.

Key vocabulary13 words from this story
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阅读理解 · COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01老虎第一次看见驴时为什么害怕？
02老虎怎样逐渐了解驴？
03驴生气以后使出了什么本领？
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 黔驴技穷

What does 黔驴技穷 mean in English?

黔驴技穷 (qián lǘ jì qióng) literally means “the Guizhou donkey's skills are exhausted.” It describes someone has used up and exposed all of their limited abilities or tricks.

When is 黔驴技穷 used?

Use 黔驴技穷 (qián lǘ jì qióng) when a person who once seemed formidable has no effective methods left and can no longer hide that weakness. For example: After repeating the same failed excuse three times, the dishonest seller was clearly 黔驴技穷.

What is the pinyin for 黔驴技穷?

The pinyin pronunciation for 黔驴技穷 is “qián lǘ jì qióng.”