半瓶水响叮当
Traditional form:
半瓶水響叮噹
Pinyin (reading):
bànpíngshuǐxiǎngdīngdāng
Definitions:
- lit. if you tap a half-empty bottle it makes a sound (idiom)
- fig. empty vessels make the most noise
- one who has a little knowledge likes to show off, but one who is truly knowledgeable is modest
Characters:
- 半 - half; semi-, incomplete
- 瓶 - bottle, jug, pitcher, vase
- 水 - water, liquid, lotion, juice
- 响 - to make noise, to make sound; sound
- 叮 - to persistently exhort or urge; sting (as of an insect)
- 当 - appropriate, timely; to act, to serve; the sound of bells
Traditional characters: