缘木求鱼yuán mù qiú yúto attempt the impossible

1. 1.

   to attempt the impossibleidiom

Figurative meaning

To attempt the impossible.

Literal meaning

To climb a tree to catch a fish.

• 缘along
• 木tree
• 求to seek
• 鱼fish

The story

Using such means to seek what you desire is like climbing a tree to look for fish.

缘木求鱼 can point out that someone's method cannot lead to the result they want.

1. HSK 3

   不学习只想考出好成绩，这是缘木求鱼。

   Bù xuéxí zhǐ xiǎng kǎochū hǎo chéngjì, zhè shì yuán mù qiú yú.

   Wanting good grades without studying is attempting the impossible.

2. HSK 3

   不睡觉还想变健康，这是缘木求鱼。

   Bú shuìjiào hái xiǎng biàn jiànkāng, zhè shì yuán mù qiú yú.

   Wanting to get healthy without sleeping is attempting the impossible.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我想学好中文，可是我不想说话。

   Wǒ xiǎng xuéhǎo Zhōngwén, kěshì wǒ bù xiǎng shuōhuà.

   I want to learn Chinese well, but I don't want to speak.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   不说话怎么学好中文？

   Bù shuōhuà zěnme xuéhǎo Zhōngwén?

   How can you learn Chinese well without speaking?

3. 
   Speaker A:

   我每天看书。

   Wǒ měi tiān kàn shū.

   I read books every day.

4. 
   Speaker B:

   只看书不说话，这是缘木求鱼。

   Zhǐ kàn shū bù shuōhuà, zhè shì yuán mù qiú yú.

   Only reading and never speaking is attempting the impossible.

1. 1.What does 缘木求鱼 mean?

   ATo attempt the impossibleBTo go fishingCTo plant trees
2. 2.Which sentence uses 缘木求鱼 correctly?

   A不运动只想变健康，这是缘木求鱼。B这条鱼很缘木求鱼。C他缘木求鱼地吃饭。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 不学习想考好，是____。 (Wanting to do well on a test without studying is attempting the impossible.)

   A缘木求鱼B望梅止渴C杯弓蛇影

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