Japanese

なんかくらんすい
Meaning: an unqualified person pretending to be capable and enjoying an undeserved position
Part of Speech: Noun, Four-character idiom

Listen to pronunciation

Example

無能な者が重役に居座る現状を、新聞は南郭濫吹だと書いた。
The newspaper described the situation, in which an incompetent person stayed in an executive post, as a case of an impostor passing as capable.

Usage Notes

This idiom is critical. It comes from a story about a poor flute player hiding among skilled musicians and is used for people who bluff their ability.

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