làn滥shoddyyú竽, a reed instrumentyuchōng充fillshù数number
To fill a position just to make up the numbers; to pass oneself off as competent when one is not.
Literal meaning
shoddy (滥) — yu (竽, a reed instrument) — fill (充) — number (数)
Origin
This idiom comes from the story of Mr. Nan Guo in the book Han Feizi, who pretended to play the yu in the royal orchestra.
Examples
tā他gēn根běn本bù不huì会biān编chéng程，zhǐ只shì是làn滥yú竽chōng充shù数ér而yǐ已。
He doesn't know how to program at all; he's just filling a spot to make up the numbers.
wǒ我men们bù不néng能ràng让làn滥yú竽chōng充shù数de的rén人hùn混rù入wǒ我men们de的tuán团duì队。
We can't let incompetent people infiltrate our team.
Usage & nuances
Carries a negative connotation, implying incompetence and deception.
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