螳臂當車

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Chinese

praying mantis arm
to act as; represent; equal
to act as; represent; equal; should; fitting; suitable; adequate; proper; replace; to be; to hold a position; manage; withstand; when; during; ought; match equally; same; obstruct; just at (a time or place); on the spot; right; just at
 
vehicle on land; car; machine
vehicle on land; car; machine; to shape with a lathe
 
trad. (螳臂當車) 螳 臂 當 車
simp. (螳臂当车) 螳 臂 当 车
alternative forms 螳臂擋車／螳臂挡车
Literally: “a mantis blocking a vehicle with its arms”.

Etymology

From Zhuangzi:

汝不知夫螳蜋乎？怒其臂以當車轍，不知其不勝任也，是其才之美者也。
汝不知夫螳蜋乎？怒其臂以当车辙，不知其不胜任也，是其才之美者也。
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rǔ bùzhī fú tángláng hū? Nù qí bì yǐ dāng chēzhé, bùzhī qí bù shēngrèn yě, shì qí cái zhī měi zhě yě.
Do you not know the praying mantis? It angrily stretches out its arms, to block the car tracks, unconscious of its inability for such a task, but showing how much it thinks of its own powers.

Pronunciation

Idiom

螳臂當車

  1. (figurative) to overrate oneself and attempt something impossible

Synonyms

Descendants

  • ⇒ Japanese: 蟷螂の斧

See also

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia