緣木求魚
See also: 缘木求鱼
Chinese
- along; predestined affinity; reason; edge
tree; wood to seek; to look for; to request; to demand; to beseechfish trad. (緣木求魚) 緣 木 求 魚 simp. (缘木求鱼) 缘 木 求 鱼 Literally: “to seek for fish in a tree”.
Etymology
Mencius, 3rd century BCE.
- 《孟子·梁惠王上》 (Mencius, Liang Hui Wang I; Translation: 1895, James Legge):
- 殆有甚焉。緣木求魚,雖不得魚,無後災。以若所為,求若所欲,盡心力而為之,後必有災。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
- Dài yǒu shèn yān. Yuánmù qiúyú, suī bùdé yú, wú hòu zāi. Yǐ ruò suǒ wéi, qiú ruò suǒ yù, jìn xīnlì ér wéi zhī, hòu bì yǒu zāi. [Pinyin]
- It is even worse. If you climb a tree to seek for fish, although you do not get the fish, you will not suffer any subsequent calamity. But doing what you do to seek for what you desire, doing it moreover with all your heart, you will assuredly afterwards meet with calamities.
殆有甚焉。缘木求鱼,虽不得鱼,无后灾。以若所为,求若所欲,尽心力而为之,后必有灾。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
Idiom
緣木求魚
- to pursue an end by impossible or unjustifiable means