When combined, 胸无点墨 (xiōng wú diǎn mò) creates the literal image of “a chest without a drop of ink,” which metaphorically means a mind devoid of learning and culture.
The idiom 胸无点墨 is deeply rooted in the historical reverence for scholarship in China. For centuries, the path to social mobility, respect, and power was through the imperial civil service examinations, which required immense literary knowledge of classical texts. A “scholar” (文人, wénrén) was a highly respected figure. Consequently, a lack of such knowledge was seen not just as a personal failing but as a mark of being unrefined and of a lower social standing. This contrasts with Western cultures, which, while valuing education, often celebrate different forms of intelligence, such as being “street smart” or having entrepreneurial instincts. Calling someone 胸无点墨 is not about their lack of common sense or practical skills; it is a specific critique of their lack of literary and cultural knowledge. It's closer to the English “uncultured” or “unlettered” but carries the weight of thousands of years of scholar-official tradition, making it more potent. Today, it reflects the enduring idea that true success is not just about wealth, but also about cultural refinement and knowledge.
This idiom is still very much in use, though its formality means you're more likely to see it in writing or hear it in formal speeches than in casual chats.