井底之蛙

Etymology

From Zhuangzi:

井鼃不可以語於海者，拘於虛也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
井鼃不可以语于海者，拘于虚也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

Jǐngwā bù kě yǐ yù yú hǎi zhě, jū yú xū yě. [Pinyin]

A frog in a well would not be able to put into words (the idea) of an ocean. (To the frog, the concept is) confined to the abstract.

Note: 鼃 is an ancient character for frog. In modern times, it has often been replaced with 蛙 (wā).

Pronunciation

Idiom

井底之蛙

1. a person of very limited outlook and experience
   • 汝乃井底之蛙，安知玄奧乎！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     汝乃井底之蛙，安知玄奥乎！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14^th century CE

     Rǔ nǎi jǐngdǐzhīwā, ān zhī xuán'ào hū! [Pinyin]

     You're (like) a frog at the bottom of a well (who can only see part of the sky), how would you know about anything that is profound!
   • 可知我井底之蛙，成日家只說現在的這幾個人是有一無二的。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     可知我井底之蛙，成日家只说现在的这几个人是有一无二的。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE

     Kě zhī wǒ jǐngdǐzhīwā, chéngrìjia zhǐ shuō xiànzài de zhè jǐ ge rén shì yǒuyīwú'èr de. [Pinyin]

     [You] can tell that I am a frog at the bottom of a well; all day, all [I] talk about is that these several people are so unique.