簉乏

簉乏（zào fá）

Pronunciation: zao4 fa2

Basic Meaning: to lack resources or materials

Detailed Explanation: 簉 refers to a sieve used to separate grain from chaff, and 乏 means to be lacking or insufficient. 簉乏 is often used to describe a situation where there is a shortage of resources or materials, leading to difficulties in completing a task or achieving a goal.

Usage Scenarios: This idiom is often used to describe situations where there is a scarcity of resources, such as when a project lacks funding or a team lacks necessary equipment. It can also be used to express the idea of being ill-prepared or unprepared due to a lack of necessary resources.

Story Origin: The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the ancient agricultural society. In order to separate the grain from the chaff, a sieve called 簉 was used. If the amount of grain was insufficient, it would be difficult to separate the grain from the chaff effectively. Therefore, 簉乏 came to be used metaphorically to describe a situation where there is a lack of resources or materials.

Structure of the Idiom: This idiom consists of two characters: 簉 (zào) and 乏 (fá).

Example Sentences:

1. 由于资金簉乏，我们无法继续推进这个项目。

(Due to a lack of funding, we are unable to continue with this project.)

2. 他们的队伍人员簉乏，无法应付如此庞大的任务。

(Their team is short of staff and unable to handle such a huge task.)

Memory Techniques: To remember this idiom, you can associate the character 簉 with the idea of a sieve used to separate grain from chaff. Imagine a situation where there is not enough grain to be separated, symbolizing a lack of resources or materials.

Extended Learning: To further enhance your understanding of this idiom, you can explore related idioms or phrases that share similar meanings, such as 资源匮乏 (zī yuán kuì fá) which means "shortage of resources" or 缺乏准备 (quē fá zhǔn bèi) which means "lack of preparation".

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children: 由于雨水簉乏，庄稼没有得到足够的灌溉。

(Due to a lack of rain, the crops did not receive enough irrigation.)

2. Teenagers: 由于时间簉乏，我没有足够的准备参加考试。

(Due to a lack of time, I was not well-prepared for the exam.)

3. Adults: 他们的公司簉乏人才，无法扩大业务。

(Their company lacks talented people and is unable to expand its business.)