守株待兔shǒu zhū dài tùto wait idly for opportunities

1. 1.

   to wait idly for opportunitiesidiom

2. 2.

   to trust to chance rather than show initiativeidiom

Figurative meaning

To wait idly for opportunities; to trust to chance rather than show initiative.

Literal meaning

To guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits.

• 守to guard
• 株stump (tree root)
• 待to wait
• 兔rabbit

The story

A farmer of Song had a tree stump in his field. A running rabbit hit the stump, broke its neck and died. The farmer put down his plough and guarded the stump, hoping to get another rabbit. He never got one, and the people of Song laughed at him.

守株待兔 can describe someone who waits for luck instead of taking action.

1. HSK 5

   找工作要主动，不能守株待兔。

   Zhǎo gōngzuò yào zhǔdòng, bù néng shǒu zhū dài tù.

   When looking for a job you have to take the initiative; you can't just wait idly.

2. HSK 3

   他每天在家等机会，这是守株待兔。

   Tā měi tiān zài jiā děng jīhuì, zhè shì shǒu zhū dài tù.

   He waits at home for an opportunity every day; that is waiting idly for luck.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我想找一个新工作。

   Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo yí gè xīn gōngzuò.

   I want to find a new job.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   你找了吗？

   Nǐ zhǎo le ma?

   Have you looked?

3. 
   Speaker A:

   没有，我在等别人来找我。

   Méiyǒu, wǒ zài děng biérén lái zhǎo wǒ.

   No, I'm waiting for other people to come to me.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   这是守株待兔，你要自己去找。

   Zhè shì shǒu zhū dài tù, nǐ yào zìjǐ qù zhǎo.

   That's just waiting for luck; you need to go look yourself.

1. 1.What does 守株待兔 mean?

   ATo wait idly for opportunitiesBTo catch rabbits in a fieldCTo cut down a tree
2. 2.Which sentence uses 守株待兔 correctly?

   A找工作不能守株待兔。B这个蛋糕很守株待兔。C我守株待兔地跑步。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 机会要自己找，不能____。 (You have to find opportunities yourself; you can't wait idly.)

   A守株待兔B杞人忧天C完璧归赵

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Related idioms

• 迫不及待pò bù jí dài(idiom) unable to hold oneself back; eager to do sth without delayHSK 7–9
• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9
• 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)HSK 7–9
• 不可思议bù kě sī yìinconceivable; unimaginable; unfathomableHSK 7–9
• 不知不觉bù zhī bù jué(idiom) unconsciously; unwittinglyHSK 7–9

Browse every entry in the Chinese idioms dictionary.