駑 (nú) - Inferior horse & slow, clumsy, or dull

駑Tone 2

nú ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

柠七

駑 · nú

Inferior horse;

slow, clumsy, or dull;

metaphorically refers to a person of limited ability or talent.

Inferior horseslow, clumsy, or dullmetaphorically refers to a person of limited ability

Usage highlights

Inferior horseSlow and dullMediocre talentStubbornly stupidClumsy and slowInferior horse and blunt sword

Synonyms

  • 钝— dull, blunt
  • 拙— clumsy, awkward
  • 劣— inferior, poor

Antonyms

  • 骏— fine horse; excellent
  • 敏— quick, agile
  • 锐— sharp, keen

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is a man of mediocre talent (驽钝之人).
  • Even an inferior horse can travel far through persistence (驽马十驾).
  • She modestly called herself a slow learner (自比驽钝).
  • The teacher encouraged the student not to give up (不以驽钝而弃).

Collocations

  • Inferior horse(驽马)
  • Slow and dull(驽钝)
  • Mediocre talent(驽才)
  • Stubbornly stupid(驽顽)
  • Clumsy and slow(驽缓)
  • Inferior horse and blunt sword(驽马铅刀)

Idioms

  • Even an inferior horse can travel far through persistence(驽马十驾)
  • Inferior horse and blunt sword(驽马铅刀)
  • Stubbornly stupid and difficult to change(驽顽难化)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, horses were symbols of speed and nobility; '驽' represented the opposite.
  • Used in classical texts like 'Xunzi' to illustrate that persistence can overcome natural limitations.
  • Often appears in self-deprecating expressions to show modesty about one's abilities.

FAQ