守株待兔
- Literal
- to guard the tree stump waiting for a hare
- Figurative
- To passively wait for a lucky break to repeat itself instead of working for it; to cling to an outdated method.
Where does 守株待兔 come from?
A farmer in the state of Song saw a hare, running at full speed, crash into a tree stump in his field, break its neck, and die. Delighted, the man abandoned his plough and stood guard by the stump, hoping to get another hare the same way. But no other hare ever came; his field went untilled, and he became the laughingstock of the whole state of Song.
Source (出处): 《韩非子》
How is 守株待兔 used? Two examples
- 市场天天在变，你这样守株待兔是赚不到钱的。
The market changes every day; sitting around waiting for luck to strike twice won't make you any money.
- 找工作要主动出击，不能守株待兔。
Job hunting means taking the initiative, not waiting passively for luck to fall into your lap.
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