# 滥竽充数

làn yú chōng shù

Fill a place without the required ability

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Play the mouth organ badly to make up numbers

**Traditional Chinese:** 濫竽充數

**Register:** Critical · literary

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Use for someone pretending to have skills in a group.

It is an accusation of incompetence or deception.

## Behind the words

A traditional story describes a man hiding among a large group of musicians despite being unable to play. Individual performances expose the deception.

The traditional story concerns someone who hides in a large ensemble without actually being able to play the instrument. The modern expression criticizes filling a place or meeting a quota without the required quality or ability. It can apply to people, products, and contributions. Learners honestly practicing at their level are different from someone concealing incompetence to claim a qualified role.

## Examples

这个岗位需要真正的经验，不能滥竽充数。

### Traditional Chinese

這個崗位需要真正的經驗，不能濫竽充數。

zhè ge gǎng wèi xū yào zhēn zhèng de jīng yàn ， bù néng làn yú chōng shù 。

This role needs real experience; someone unqualified cannot simply fill the seat.

这支乐队要求现场演奏，滥竽充数的人很快就会露出破绽。

### Traditional Chinese

這支樂隊要求現場演奏，濫竽充數的人很快就會露出破綻。

zhè zhī yuè duì yāo qiú xiàn chǎng yǎn zòu ， làn yú chōng shù de rén hěn kuài jiù huì lù chū pò zhàn 。

This band performs live, so players who only pretend to have the required skill will soon be exposed.

没有检查就凑出十份材料，只会让劣质内容滥竽充数。

### Traditional Chinese

沒有檢查就湊出十份材料，只會讓劣質內容濫竽充數。

méi yǒu jiǎn chá jiù còu chū shí fèn cái liào ， zhī huì ràng liè zhì nèi róng làn yú chōng shù 。

Rushing out ten unchecked documents lets poor-quality material fill the quota.

他坦白自己还不会这项技术，不愿滥竽充数。

### Traditional Chinese

他坦白自己還不會這項技術，不願濫竽充數。

tā tǎn bái zì jǐ hái bú huì zhè xiàng jì shù ， bú yuàn làn yú chōng shù 。

He admitted he had not learned the skill rather than pretending to be qualified.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=54&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%BF%AB%E7%AB%BD%E5%85%85%E6%95%B8)

## Keep exploring

- [老当益壮 lǎo dāng yì zhuàng Remain vigorous and ambitious in old age ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lao-dang-yi-zhuang)

- [力不从心 lì bù cóng xīn Lack the capacity to carry out one's wishes ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/li-bu-cong-xin)

- [力争上游 lì zhēng shàng yóu Strive for excellence and advancement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/li-zheng-shang-you)

- [龙飞凤舞 lóng fēi fèng wǔ Show bold, flowing movement in calligraphy ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/long-fei-feng-wu)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 来龙去脉 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lai-long-qu-mai) [Next idiom 狼狈不堪 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/lang-bei-bu-kan)