Chinese language progresses from characters to idioms. This free guide explains the advanced idiom 「數典忘祖」 for better learning.
Here is the Chinese idiom 「數典忘祖」, along with its meaning and how it is used.
Shu: to say by counting; Dian: refers to past systems and deeds. When talking about past systems and deeds, they forget the duties of their ancestors. A metaphor for forgetting one’s roots. It also refers to ignorance of one’s own country’s history.
The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :
shù diǎn wàng zǔ
while its Cantonese pinyin is :
sou2/sou3 din2 mong4 jou2
Chinese idioms are vast in number, each carrying unique meanings and usages. With such variety, there’s a lot to learn and appreciate. Hopefully, these resources will aid you on your journey to mastering Chinese.
