story chance effort laziness foolishness

"守株待兔" (shǒu zhū dài tù) - Waiting by a Tree Stump for a Rabbit

守株待兔

To wait by a tree stump for a rabbit; to wait for windfalls; to trust to chance rather than effort.

Origins and Historical Context

The idiom "守株待兔" (shǒu zhū dài tù) comes from the Han Feizi (韩非子), a classic Chinese text attributed to Han Fei (韩非), a philosopher of the Warring States period. The story is found in the chapter "Five Vermin" (Wudu 五蠹).

The story goes: In the state of Song, there was a farmer. In his field was a tree stump. One day, a rabbit running at full speed crashed into the stump, broke its neck, and died. The farmer was delighted and abandoned his farming tools to wait by the stump, hoping for another rabbit to run into it. He waited and waited, but no more rabbits came. He became a laughingstock of the state of Song.

This story illustrates the foolishness of relying on chance and not putting in effort.

Meaning and Usage

"守株待兔" literally translates to "guarding a tree stump, waiting for a rabbit." It means to wait idly for gains without making any effort, or to rely on luck rather than hard work. It is used to criticize those who expect success to come without any action on their part.

  • Example (Expecting a promotion without working hard): “他整天无所事事，却想着升职加薪，真是守株待兔。” (“Tā zhěng tiān wú suǒ shì shì, què xiǎngzhe shēng zhí jiā xīn, zhēnshi shǒu zhū dài tù.”) – “He does nothing all day but expects a promotion and a raise; he is truly waiting by a tree stump for a rabbit.”

  • Example (Relying on luck in business): “做生意不能靠守株待兔，要积极开拓市场，寻找商机。” (“Zuò shēngyì bù néng kào shǒu zhū dài tù, yào jījí kāituò shìchǎng, xúnzhǎo shāngjī.”) – “You cannot rely on waiting for windfalls in business; you must actively explore the market and look for business opportunities.”

Cultural Significance of Chéngyǔ (成语)

"守株待兔" emphasizes the Chinese cultural values of:

  • Importance of Hard Work: It highlights the necessity of effort and diligence in achieving success.
  • Unreliability of Chance: It cautions against relying on luck or coincidence.
  • 缘木求鱼 (yuán mù qiú yú): To climb a tree to catch fish; a futile attempt.
  • 不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò): To gain without working; to reap where one has not sown.