杯水車薪 (bui1 seoi2 ce1 san1) — trying to put out a blazing cartload of wood with a cup of water in Cantonese
buiˉ¹杯seoiˊ²水ceˉ¹車sanˉ¹薪简 杯水车薪
Mandarin Pinyin: bei1 shui3 che1 xin1
Meaning of 杯水車薪
nountrying to put out a blazing cartload of wood with a cup of water
nounutterly inadequate measure; useless attempt; a drop in the bucket