每天成语
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孤陋寡闻

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: gū lòu guǎ wén
  • English Translation: Ignorant and ill-informed (limited knowledge and experience)
  • Idiom Composition: 「孤」（Solitary or isolated; in this context, it refers to learning in isolation without exchange with others.）＋「陋」（Shallow, crude, or limited in scope.）＋「寡」（Few or little.）＋「闻」（Knowledge or experience; literally 'what is heard'.）
  • Meaning: To have shallow knowledge and a narrow perspective; to be poorly informed about the world or new information. It is frequently used as a humble way to acknowledge one's own lack of knowledge.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「孤陋寡闻」 contains the following nuances:

  • Function as a Humble Expression: While it can be used to criticize, its most frequent use in modern conversation is as a polite way to apologize for not knowing something. It serves as a social lubricant when asking for information.
  • Isolation from Information: The character 孤 (gū) implies that the ignorance stems from being 'solitary.' It suggests that the lack of knowledge is due to a lack of social exchange or exposure to the outside world rather than a lack of intelligence.

3. Usage

「孤陋寡闻」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Humility and Self-deprecation: Used as a 'cushion' phrase to admit a lack of knowledge before offering an opinion or when hearing about a new topic from an expert.
    • Example:「恕我孤陋寡闻，我还是第一次听说这种技术。」
      （Forgive my limited knowledge, but this is the first time I have heard of such technology.）
  • Formal Criticism: Used in formal writing or debates to point out that someone's perspective is narrow or their information is outdated. This can sound quite sharp.
    • Example:「那个评论家孤陋寡闻，根本不了解现在的流行趋势。」
      （That critic is ill-informed and does not understand current trends at all.）
  • Expressing Surprise at One's Own Ignorance: Used when realizing one was unaware of something common or trendy, often with a self-mocking tone.
    • Example:「原来这就是传说中的AI绘画啊，我真是孤陋寡闻了。」
      （So this is the famous AI art; I really have been living under a rock.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 小弟孤陋寡闻，还请各位前辈多多指教。
    （As a junior with limited experience, I look forward to the guidance of my seniors.）
  2. 如果不去世界各地看看，人很容易变得孤陋寡闻。
    （If one does not travel the world, it is easy to become narrow-minded.）
  3. 不要嘲笑别人孤陋寡闻，每个人都有知识盲区。
    （Do not mock others for being ignorant; everyone has gaps in their knowledge.）
  4. 看了这本书，我才意识到自己以前是多么孤陋寡闻。
    （After reading this book, I realized how poorly informed I used to be.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Origin: This idiom comes from the Book of Rites (礼记), specifically the 'Record on Education' (学记) chapter: 'Learning alone without friends makes one isolated and ill-informed' (独学而无友，则孤陋而寡闻). It originally emphasized the importance of peer learning and academic exchange.
  • Modern Nuance: In contemporary usage, the original meaning of 'lacking friends' has faded. It now simply refers to a general lack of information or exposure. In business etiquette, using the phrase 恕我孤陋寡闻 (shù wǒ gū lòu guǎ wén) is considered a very polite way to ask a speaker to explain a concept you aren't familiar with.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 孤陋寡闻 (gū lòu guǎ wén) describes a state where one's knowledge is shallow and their experience is limited. While it can be used to criticize others for being narrow-minded, in modern Chinese, it is most commonly used as a self-deprecating expression. In professional or formal settings, phrases like 恕我孤陋寡闻 (shù wǒ gū lòu guǎ wén), meaning 'forgive my ignorance,' are used to politely admit one does not know something or to ask for clarification.

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