杯水車薪 bēi shuǐ chē xīn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood (idiom); fig. an utterly inadequate measure

CHARACTERS

杯 bēi
HSK 1
cup, glass
水 shuǐ
HSK 1
water, liquid, lotion, juice
車 chē cart, vehicle; carry in cart
薪 xīn
HSK 6
fuel, firewood; salary