Chinese Wisdom Stories · Volume 1 · Story guide

守株待兔Waiting by a Tree Stump

shǒu zhū dài tù

HSK4-寓言

A farmer catches a rabbit that ran into a tree stump. He stops farming and waits by the stump for the next one — turning one lucky accident into a plan for life.

Where this story comes from

《韩非子·五蠹》

Hanfeizi, chapter “Wu Du”

The story

一个农夫在田里干活,一只兔子跑过来撞在树桩上死了。他捡了兔子,从此不再种地,天天守在树桩旁边,等着下一只兔子。偶然发生一次的事,能不能当成一定会发生的事?故事用慢慢荒废的田地回答了这个问题。

What the idiom means

守株待兔(shǒu zhū dài tù)比喻死守过去的偶然经验,不主动努力,指望不劳而获。

Waiting by a tree stump for another rabbit — relying on luck instead of working, and mistaking chance for a rule.

How to use it

学习不能守株待兔,每天都要主动练习。

xué xí bù néng shǒu zhū dài tù , měi tiān dōu yào zhǔ dòng liàn xí 。

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Part of the Chinese Wisdom Stories series