成语趣谈（八）：滥竽充数 About Chinese Idioms (8): Pretend to Play the Yu in Order to Make Up the Number for an Orchestra -- To Be Included in a Group Just to Fill in a Vacancy

During the Warring States period, King Qi Xuan of Qi state enjoyed listening to the ensemble of the flute, so he formed a 300 member flute playing band. There was a person named Nanguo, a recluse, who didn't know how to play the Yu, but he wanted to join the band. So he pretended to be very good at playing the Yu and was eventually incorporated into the band. Whenever the band played, he blended in with the group, pretending to play the flute, but in reality, no sound was made. Due to the large number of members in the band, King Qi Xuan couldn't tell who could and who couldn't. Thus, Nanguo managed to survive for several years through deception and enjoyed generous treatment. However, after the death of King Qi Xuan, his son King Qi Min succeeded to the throne. King Qi Min prefered solo performances rather than ensemble performances. Nanguo was afraid of being exposed, so he had to escape overnight.

The term “pretend to play the Yu in order to make up the number for an orchestra” is used to metaphorically refer to people who lack genuine talent and knowledge mixing in with experts, or selling unqualified products as qualified ones. Sometimes it is also used to express self deprecation.

The story tells us a few truths:

1.A person must have real talents and practical learning. Without real abilities, it is difficult to establish oneself in society.

2.Don't deceive yourself, knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing, don't deceive yourself and others.

3.Don't harbor a mentality of luck and try to get away with it, otherwise you will definitely fail.

4.Feeling shamed leads to courage. A person must have the courage to face their shortcomings, and only through continuous effort can they change themselves.

战国时期，齐国国王齐宣王喜欢听竽的合奏，于是组建了一支300人的吹竽乐队。有一个叫南郭处士的人，根本不会吹竽，但他想混进乐队，于是假装自己很会吹竽，最终被编入了乐队。每当乐队演奏时，他就混在队伍中，假装吹竽，实际上并没有发出声音。由于乐队人数多，齐宣王也听不出谁会谁不会。

就这样，南郭处士靠着蒙骗混过了好几年，享受着优厚的待遇。然而，齐宣王死后，他的儿子齐湣王继位。齐湣王喜欢独奏，而不是合奏。南郭处士害怕暴露，只好连夜逃走了。

滥竽充数比喻没有真才实学的人混在内行人之中，或以次充好。有时候也用来表示自谦。

滥竽充数的故事告诉我们几个道理：

1.一个人必须有真才实学，没有真本事是难以在社会上立足的。

2.不要自欺欺人，会就是会，不会就是不会，不能弄虚作假，欺骗自己，也欺骗了别人。

3.不要心存侥幸心理，企图蒙混过关，那一定会失败的。

4.知耻而后勇，一个人要有勇气面对自己的不足，只有通过自己的不断努力，才能改变自己。

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