| 守株待兔，缘木求鱼 |
shǒu zhū dài tù , yuán mù qiú yú |
to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits, and climb a tree to catch fish (idiom); without any practical course of action |
| 守 |
shǒu |
to guard / to defend / to keep watch / to abide by the law / to observe (rules or ritual) / nearby / adjoining |
| 守株待兔 |
shǒu zhū dài tù |
lit. to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits (idiom) / to wait idly for opportunities / to trust to chance rather than show initiative |
| 株 |
zhū |
tree trunk / stump (tree root) / a plant / classifier for trees or plants / strain (biology) / to involve others (in shady business) |
| 待 |
dāi |
to stay; to remain |
| 待 |
dài |
to wait / to treat / to deal with / to need / going to (do sth) / about to / intending to |
| 兔 |
tù |
variant of 兔 |
| 兔 |
tù |
rabbit |
| 缘 |
yuán |
cause / reason / karma / fate / predestined affinity / margin / hem / edge / along |
| 缘木求鱼 |
yuán mù qiú yú |
lit. climb a tree to catch a fish (idiom); fig. to attempt the impossible |
| 木 |
Mù |
surname Mu |
| 木 |
mù |
(bound form) tree / (bound form) wood / unresponsive; numb; wooden |
| 求 |
qiú |
to seek / to look for / to request / to demand / to beseech |
| 鱼 |
Yú |
surname Yu |
| 鱼 |
yú |
fish (CL:条,尾) / used in the names of various aquatic animals that are not fish (including abalone 鲍鱼, alligators and crocodiles 鳄鱼 and octopi 章鱼) |