菜鸟

cài niǎo

What does "菜鸟" mean in English?

newbie

我刚开始学编程，还是个菜鸟。

I'm just starting to learn programming; I'm still a newbie.

informal

A beginner or novice, especially in a field or activity where one lacks experience or skill.

别担心，我们都是菜鸟，一起学习吧。

Don't worry, we're all newbies; let's learn together.

Often used humorously or self-deprecatingly to describe oneself or others who are inexperienced.

newbie driver

newbie programmer

While '菜鸟' is often self-deprecating, it can also be used to describe others without offense in casual settings.

This term is informal and should not be used in professional or formal contexts.

Literally 'vegetable bird,' the term humorously compares inexperienced people to birds that are easy prey (like vegetables for birds).

Commonly used in informal contexts, especially in professional or hobbyist settings where experience levels vary.

菜

vegetable

root

鸟

bird

root

汉英词典