story pretence incompetence deception mediocrity

"滥竽充数" (làn yú chōng shù) - Playing the Yu in a Crowd

滥竽充数

To fill a position without real qualifications; to pass oneself off as one of the crowd; to pad the number with unqualified people.

Origins and Historical Context

The idiom "滥竽充数" (làn yú chōng shù) originates from the Han Feizi (韩非子), specifically the chapter "Inner Repository of Sayings, Part 1" (内储说上).

The story goes: King Xuan of Qi (齐宣王) loved to listen to the yu (竽), a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument similar to a 笙. He enjoyed large ensemble performances, so he kept a 300-person orchestra. A man named Mr. Nanguo (南郭先生), who couldn't play the yu at all, heard about this and joined the orchestra. Because the king liked everyone to play together, Mr. Nanguo simply pretended to play along, blending in with the other musicians and receiving a salary. When King Min of Qi (齐湣王) succeeded his father, he preferred solo performances. Mr. Nanguo, realizing he would be exposed, fled in fear.

This story satirizes those who try to gain benefits by pretending to have skills they lack.

Meaning and Usage

"滥竽充数" literally translates to "to fill the number with a bad yu." It means to fill a position or role without having the necessary skills or qualifications, often by blending in with a larger group. It can also refer to using inferior goods to make up a quantity.

  • Example (In a work setting): “他工作能力很差，完全是滥竽充数，混日子。” (“Tā gōngzuò nénglì hěn chà, wánquán shì làn yú chōng shù, hùn rìzi.”) – “His work ability is very poor; he is completely just filling a position without real skills, just passing the days.”

  • Example (With inferior products): “这些劣质产品混在正品里出售，简直是滥竽充数。” (“Zhè xiē liè zhì chǎnpǐn hùn zài zhèngpǐn lǐ chūshòu, jiǎnzhí shì làn yú chōng shù.”) – “These inferior products are being sold mixed in with genuine products; it’s simply padding the numbers with inferior goods.”

Cultural Significance of Chéngyǔ (成语)

"滥竽充数" serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of:

  • Genuine Skill and Competence: It warns against the dangers of pretending to have skills one lacks.
  • Honesty and Integrity: It promotes the value of being honest about one's abilities and avoiding deception.
  • 鱼目混珠 (yú mù hùn zhū): To pass off fish eyes as pearls; to pass off the bad as good.
  • 名不副实 (míng bù fù shí): The name does not match the reality; a misnomer.