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鄙事多能

The phrase originates from the Analects of Confucius. In the Zi Han chapter, Confucius reflects on his youth: ‘When I was young, my status was humble; thus, I mastered many practical skills.’ Having faced hardship early in life, he learned various everyday tasks to survive. The idiom honors the practical wisdom born of modest beginnings—expressing versatility with quiet humility.

太宰問於子貢曰、夫子聖者與、何其多能也、子貢曰、固天縱之將聖、又多能也、子聞之曰、太宰知我者乎、吾少也賤、故多能鄙事、君子多乎哉、不多也

Confucius (孔子), The Analects (論語), Book 9 Zi Han (子罕).