守株待兔

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"守株待兔" literally means "to guard a tree stump waiting for a rabbit." It originates from a fable where a farmer waits by a tree stump for a rabbit to run into it again, hoping for easy gain without effort. In modern usage, it criticizes relying on luck or chance instead of working hard.

Common Contexts

This idiom is often used to describe people who expect success without effort or who refuse to adapt and innovate, hoping for repeated luck.

Collocations and Patterns

Usage Notes

When using 守株待兔, speakers imply criticism of passivity and unrealistic expectations. It is often used in educational or workplace contexts to encourage proactive behavior. Avoid using it to describe actual waiting or literal rabbits; it is a figurative expression.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 守株待兔 with simply "waiting" (等待). 守株待兔 carries a negative connotation of laziness and unrealistic hope, while 等待 is neutral.

Example Sentences

He always waits for luck without effort, hoping to gain without working.

The approach of waiting for luck is unrealistic in modern society.

We cannot just wait for luck; we should actively seek opportunities.