| 大材小用 |
dà cái xiǎo yòng |
(idiom) to use a talented person in a role far beneath their ability; a waste of talent |
| 大 |
dà |
big; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest (as in 大姐) / greatly; freely; fully / (dialect) father / (dialect) uncle (father's brother) |
| 大 |
dài |
see 大夫 |
| 材 |
cái |
material / timber / ability / aptitude / a capable individual / coffin (old) |
| 小 |
xiǎo |
small / tiny / few / young |
| 用 |
yòng |
to use; to make use of; to employ / (coverb) with; using / to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions) / usefulness; utility / (bound form) expense; outlay / (courteous) to eat; to drink / (literary) hence; therefore |