大材小用 dà cái xiǎo yòng

DEFINITIONS

  1. using a talented person in an insignificant position (idiom)
  2. a sledgehammer to crack a nut

CHARACTERS

大 dà
HSK 1
big, great, vast, large, high
材 cái
HSK 4
material, stuff; timber; talent
小 xiǎo
HSK 1
small, tiny, insignificant
用 yòng
HSK 3
use, employ, apply, operate; use