葦よしの髄ずいから天てん井じょうを覗のぞく

expression, godan verb (-ku)

have a narrow view of things; peek at the ceiling through the pith of a reed

Idiomatic expression meaning to have a limited perspective, like trying to see a whole ceiling through a tiny reed pith. Often used critically of someone who judges the world from their own narrow experience.

• 彼かれの意い見けんは葦よしの髄ずいから天てん井じょうを覗のぞくようなものだ。

  His opinion is like peeking at the ceiling through the pith of a reed—a very narrow view.

• 葦よしの髄ずいから天てん井じょうを覗のぞくような考かんがえ方かたでは、国こく際さい問もん題だいは理り解かいできない。

  With a way of thinking that's like looking at the ceiling through a reed pith, you can't understand international issues.