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. 由于資金簉乏，我們無法繼續推進這個項目。

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

2. 他們的隊伍人員簉乏，無法應付如此龐大的任務。

(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 資源匱乏 (zī yuán kuì fá) which means "shortage of resources" or 缺乏準備 (quē fá zhǔn bèi) which means "lack of preparation".

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children: 由于雨水簉乏，莊稼沒有得到足夠的灌溉。

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

2. Teenagers: 由于時間簉乏，我沒有足夠的準備參加考試。

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

3. Adults: 他們的公司簉乏人才，無法擴大業務。

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