This is a trivial skill(雕蟲小技)
The Qin Dynasty in China had eight commonly
used Chinese fonts.
These eight fonts are widely used in future
generations
Some of these fonts are used for writing,
some for engraving seals, and some for making plaques.
Some of these fonts are more square, and
these are suitable for engraving on metal, wood, bamboo or jade.
Some of these fonts are curved like insects
and birds, which are suitable for use on weapons or flags.
In the Northern Qi Dynasty of China, there
was a famous minister named Li Hun.
One day the king said to him.
There is much to be adjusted in the laws of
our kingdom at the moment.
I leave this important task to you.
I will arrange for some experts and
scholars to assist you.
The king appointed several important
experts and scholars to join his team.
One of these people is his good friend (Wei
Shou).
One day, he had dinner with (Wei Shou).
During the dinner, he said to (Wei Shou)
with a smile.
You are an important scholar, you are an
expert in this particular kind of writing that looks like a bird or a worm
inscribed on weapons or flags. I can't match your expertise in this field.
This skill is difficult to learn but not
practical.
My specialty lies in leading a group of
experts and scholars to formulate more standardized national laws. This
specialty of mine is not as difficult as yours, but its impact on the country
is greater than yours.
We are good friends and I am your boss on
this mission.
Please follow my lead and let us work
together to create a better set of laws for our kingdom.
This idiom is used to describe a trivial
skill.
Dear friends, what are your feelings or
thoughts after listening to this story?
Would you not learn a skill you like
because you can't make a lot of money? What professional skills do you have?
I hope this story will give you something
new to gain.
雕蟲小技(This is a trivial skill)
中國的秦王朝有八種常用的中文字體。
這八種字體在後代被廣泛的使用
這些字體有些用來書寫、有些用來刻制印章，有些用來製作匾額。
這些字體中有些比較方正，這些適合刻在金屬、木頭、竹子或玉石上。
這些字體中有些彎彎曲曲像是蟲與鳥的圖案，這些適合使用在兵器或是旗幟上。
中國的北齊王朝，有一個著名的大臣，他的名字叫做(李渾)。
有一天國王對他說。
我們王國的法律條文目前有很多需要調整的地方。
我把這項重大的任務交給你負責。
我會安排一些專家與學者協助你。
國王指派好幾位重要的專家與學者加入他的團隊。
這些人中有一個是他的好朋友(魏收)。
有一天，他與(魏收)吃飯。
在晚宴中，他笑著對(魏收)說。
你是一個重要的學者，你是刻在兵器或是旗幟上的這一種特殊的、寫起來像是鳥或是蟲的這種文字的專家。在這個領域我比不上你的專業。
這一項技能學習起來很困難但不實用。
我的專長在於領導一群專家與學者制定更規範的國家法律，我的這一項專養成不像你那麼困難，但是對國家的影響卻是大於你。
我們是好朋友，我在這項任務中成為你的上司。
請你務必聽從我的領導，讓我們一起為我們王國制定一套更完善的法律。
這句成語被用來形容一項微不足道的技能。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你會因為你所喜歡的技能沒有辦法賺很多錢而不去學這項技能嗎?你有甚麼專業的技能呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為說文解字-序-6條與9條
https://ctext.org/shuo-wen-jie-zi/xu/zh
出處為北史-卷33-楊渾傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%8C%97%E5%8F%B2/%E5%8D%B7033