杯水车薪

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

* * *

an utterly inadequate method in dealing with a severe situation

* * *

an utterly inadequate method in dealing with a severe situation

* * *

bei1 shui3 che1 xin1

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

* * *

杯水车薪

bēi shuǐ chē xīn

trying to put out a burning cartload of faggots with a cup of water -- an utterly inadequate measure; a drop in the bucket; make a useless attempt; quench the fire of a cartload of firewoods with one cup of water; take 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