滥竽充数
Lànyúchōngshù          

       战国时，齐国的国王非常喜欢听吹竽，而且他喜欢热闹，爱摆排场，所以常常叫手下的乐师们在一起合奏给他听。
        有个南郭先生听说了国王的这个癖好，就想办法进入了乐队。演奏时，不会吹竽的南郭先生混在乐师中，别人摆头他也摆头，别人摇晃身体他也摇晃身体，装出一副行家的样子，很长时间都没有人瞧出破绽来。
        过了几年，老国王死了，新国王喜欢听吹竽独奏，南郭先生想来想去，觉得今后再也混不下去了，只好连夜收拾行李逃出了皇宫。

In the Warring States period, the king of Chi loved listening to the reed pipe. He also loved liveliness and mirth, and liked shows of extravagance, so he often commanded his musicians to perform an ensemble for his listening pleasure. 

A man named Nanguo heard about this penchant of the king's, and devised a plan to infiltrate the band. During a performance, Nanguo, who did not know how to play the reed pipe, snuck in among the musicians. He shook his head when the others shook their heads; he swayed when the others swayed. He played like such a master that for a long time nobody detected the sham.

A few years later, the old king died. The new king preferred solo performances of the reed pipe. Nanguo racked his brains, but could not think up a way to continue the masquerade. Thus, he packed up his belongings and fled the palace that night.

词语注释：

竽：(yú) :  n.  ancient wind instrument 

排场 ：(páichǎng):  n.  show of extravagance

癖好 ：(pǐhào):  n.  favorite hobby

混：(hùn):  v.  pretend to be; while away time

行家：(hángjiā):  n.  expert

破绽：(pòzhàn):   n.  flaw

意义：

滥竽充数："滥"的意思是"不真实的"、"假的"，"充数"指的是凑足数量。"滥竽充数"原指不会吹竽的人混在吹竽的队伍里充数。比喻没有本领的冒充有本领的，次货冒充好货。

"滥(làn)" means "not genuine", "fake". "充数(chōngshù)" means to complete the number or quantity. "滥竽充数(lànyùchōngshù)" originally referred to someone who could not play the reed pipe sneaking into a reed pipe band to complete the number. It is used to describe people pretending to have abilities they do not actually have, or passing off inferior goods as fine quality goods.

1、这次检查背课文，老师要求大家一个一个背，以免有的人滥竽充数。
   This time when checking whether the students memorized the lesson, the teacher made everyone recite the lesson one at a time, to make sure nobody lan yu chong shu.

2、今天的合唱比赛，有些人滥竽充数，根本不会唱，只是在对口型。
   In today's chorus contest, there were some people who lan yu chong shu. They didn't know how to sing at all and were simply lip-syncing.

• performance [pə´fɔ:məns]   n.履行；行为；工作   (初中英语单词)
• pretend [pri´tend]   v.假装；借口；妄求   (初中英语单词)
• expert [´ekspə:t]   n.&a.专家；内行   (初中英语单词)
• actually [´æktʃuəli]   ad.事实上；实际上   (初中英语单词)
• liveliness [´laivlinis]   n.生气勃勃；繁华   (高中英语单词)
• originally [ə´ridʒənəli]   ad.本来；独创地   (高中英语单词)
• inferior [in´fiəriə]   n.下级的 n.下级；晚辈   (高中英语单词)
• extravagance [iks´trævigəns]   n.奢侈；极端   (英语四级单词)
• belongings [bi´lɔŋiŋz]   n.所有物；行李   (英语四级单词)
• ensemble [ɑ:n´sɑ:mbəl]   n.全体；合唱团   (英语六级单词)
• masquerade [,mæskə´reid]   n.化装舞会 vi.冒充   (英语六级单词)