半瓶水响叮当 in English ban4 ping2 shui3 xiang3 ding1 dang1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) if you tap a half-empty bottle it makes a sound (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically empty vessels make the most noise
  • one who has a little knowledge likes to show off, but one who is truly knowledgeable is modest

Simplified Characters

半 瓶 水 响 叮 当

Traditional Characters

半 瓶 水 響 叮 噹

Pinyin

ban4 ping2 shui3 xiang3 ding1 dang1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

半ban4half 瓶ping2bottle 水shui3surname Shui 响xiang3echo 叮ding1to sting or bite (of mosquito, bee etc) 当dang1(onom.) dong