Explanation: It was originally a buddhism term, meaning "become a monk or nun". It's now used as a metaphor for a change of profession or switch to a job one was not trained for.
【 【
lì 例
zǐ 子
】 】
Examples
A A
: :
zhāng 张
xiān 先
shēng 生
, ,
yǒu 有
gè 个
xué 学
shù 术
wèn 问
tí 题
qǐng 请
jiāo 教
yī 一
xià 下
, ,
nín 您
shì 是
zhuān 专
jiā 家
。 。
B B
: :
bù 不
gǎn 敢
bù 不
gǎn 敢
, ,
wǒ 我
nǎ 哪
ér 儿
shì 是
shí 什
me 么
zhuān 专
jiā 家
yā 呀
。 。
A A
: :
zěn 怎
me 么
bù 不
shì 是
, ,
nǐ 你
xiě 写
le 了
nā 那
me 么
duō 多
de 的
wén 文
zhāng 章
, ,
xué 学
wèn 问
nā 那
me 么
dà 大
。 。
B B
: :
nǎ 哪
ér 儿
gǎn 敢
shuō 说
shí 什
me 么
xué 学
wèn 问
yā 呀
, ,
wǒ 我
zhī 只
shì 是
bàn 半
lù 路
chū 出
jiā 家
。 。
Ex.
A:Professor Zhang, I'd like to consult you on an academic question since you are the expert.
B:Don't you say so, I'm not an expert.
A:Of course you are. You have so many thesis published and such great learning.
B:I wouldn't say any great learning. I was not trained for this profession but only switched to it late in my life.