杯水車薪

bēishuǐchēxīn

try to put out a blazing cartload of firewood with a cup of water—an utterly inadequate measure; drop in the ocean; a useless attempt; too little to be useful

* * *

bei1 shui3 che1 xin1

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

* * *

杯水車薪|杯水车薪 [bēi shuǐ chē xīn] ► lit. a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood (idiom); fig. an utterly inadequate measure