# 杯水车薪

bēi shuǐ chē xīn

An effort far too small for the need

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A cup of water for a cart of burning wood

**Traditional Chinese:** 杯水車薪

**Register:** Concerned · general

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Describe an inadequate response to a large problem.

Small help may still matter despite being insufficient.

## Understanding the expression

A cup of water cannot put out a whole cart of burning wood. The image makes the mismatch between the size of a problem and the size of a response immediately visible. Modern speakers use it for money, staffing, supplies, or time that falls far short of what is needed. It does not mean the contribution has no value. The point is that further resources or a larger change are required.

## Examples

这点补助只是杯水车薪。

### Traditional Chinese

這點補助只是杯水車薪。

zhè diǎn bǔ zhù zhǐ shì bēi shuǐ chē xīn 。

This small subsidy is far from enough.

两个帮手对这项工程杯水车薪。

### Traditional Chinese

兩個幫手對這項工程杯水車薪。

liǎng gè bāng shǒu duì zhè xiàng gōng chéng bēi shuǐ chē xīn 。

Two helpers are inadequate for this project.

临时加班只能杯水车薪。

### Traditional Chinese

臨時加班只能杯水車薪。

lín shí jiā bān zhǐ néng bēi shuǐ chē xīn 。

Temporary overtime cannot solve the larger shortage.

捐款虽是杯水车薪，仍值得感谢。

### Traditional Chinese

捐款雖是杯水車薪，仍值得感謝。

juān kuǎn suī shì bēi shuǐ chē xīn ， réng zhí dé gǎn xiè 。

The donation is insufficient for the need but still deserves thanks.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%9D%AF%E6%B0%B4%E8%BB%8A%E8%96%AA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=119&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [本末倒置 běn mò dào zhì Confuse what is essential with what is secondary ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ben-mo-dao-zhi)

- [闭门造车 bì mén zào chē Work in isolation from actual needs ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bi-men-zao-che)

- [步步为营 bù bù wéi yíng Proceed cautiously and consolidate each step ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-bu-wei-ying)

- [不二法门 bù èr fǎ mén The key or most effective method ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-er-fa-men)

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