measure the sea with an oyster shell—shallow in understanding; take a very superficial view
❍ 语曰： “以管窥天，～”(东方朔《答客难》) As the saying goes，“They look at the sky through a tube and measure the sea with a calabash.”
以蠡测海yi li ce hai
measure the sea with an oyster shell—make an appraisal in the light of limited knowledge
以蠡测海yǐ lí cè hǎi
蠡：瓢。用瓢来测量大海。比喻对事物的观察和了解不全面、狭窄。measure the sea with a dipper, make an appraisal in the light of limited knowledge