Chinese Idiom: 滥竽充数 (Lan Yu Chong Shu)
English Translation: Fake Musicians Filling the Ranks
pīn yīn: làn yú chōng shù
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to individuals who lack genuine skills or abilities but manage to get by by merely pretending to contribute. It can also express humility by downplaying one’s talents.
Historical Source: From “Han Feizi” (《韩非子·内储说上》).
Idiom Story:
During the reign of King Xuan of Qi, he had a great fondness for music, particularly for the sound of the yu (an ancient bamboo wind instrument similar to a sheng) and often called for a performance by an ensemble of three hundred musicians.
Among them was a man named Nan Guo, a scholar who claimed to be an expert in playing the yu. Eager to showcase his talent, he requested to join the king’s ensemble. King Xuan happily accepted his request and granted him a generous salary.
However, after King Xuan passed away, King Min ascended the throne. While King Min also enjoyed music, he preferred solo performances over group ensembles. At this point, the opportunistic Nan Guo realized he could no longer pretend to play because he was, in fact, incapable of playing the instrument. Previously, he had merely mimicked the motions of playing the yu while blending in with the skilled musicians.
Knowing that he could not survive in a solo performance, Nan Guo quickly fled to avoid exposure.
This story illustrates the notion of “滥竽充数” (Fake Musicians Filling the Ranks), emphasizing the idea of pretending to be competent when one is not, and serves as a caution against relying on empty appearances.
