半瓶水響叮噹 bàn píng shuǐ xiǎng dīng dāng

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. if you tap a half-empty bottle it makes a sound (idiom)
  2. fig. empty vessels make the most noise
  3. one who has a little knowledge likes to show off, but one who is truly knowledgeable is modest

CHARACTERS

半 bàn
HSK 3
half
瓶 píng
HSK 3
jug, pitcher, vase, jar, bottle
水 shuǐ
HSK 1
water, liquid, lotion, juice
響 xiǎng make sound, make noise; sound
叮 dīng
HSK 6
exhort or enjoin repeatedly
噹 dāng sound of bells