都是些泛泛之辈
“They were all mediocre.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
公子先前 可曾请过先生啊
“[Huan'e House] Before this, have you ever hired a teacher?”
都是些 泛泛之辈
“They were all mediocre.”
“Then why not play a piece for me to hear?”
“None of them were worthy of my attention or respect.”
In traditional elite Chinese circles, scholars and young aristocrats took pride in their discerning taste, openly dismissing common practitioners as 'mediocre' to elevate their own refined stature.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
mediocre people / run-of-the-mill individuals
A formal idiom used to describe ordinary people who lack exceptional talent or distinction.
they are all just / nothing but
A spoken phrasing used to group people or items together dismissively.