🐰 守株待兔 shǒu zhū dài tù – Waiting for Luck to Come

🔍 What It Means

守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù) literally means “guard a tree stump and wait for rabbits.”

Word-for-word:

• 守 (shǒu) – to guard / to keep

• 株 (zhū) – tree stump

• 待 (dài) – to wait

• 兔 (tù) – rabbit

It describes someone who puts in no effort and waits for success by luck or accident.

In English, we might say:

• 🎲 “Waiting for lightning to strike twice”

• 😅 “Hoping things work out without effort”

🏺 Where It Comes From

This idiom comes from an ancient story:

A farmer was working in the field when — thump! — a rabbit ran into a tree stump and died.

The farmer happily brought it home for dinner.

He thought, “Wow, that was easy! I’ll just wait here every day for more rabbits!”

So he stopped farming… and kept staring at the stump.

Of course, no more rabbits came.

His crops died, and he had nothing left.

This became a warning: Don’t count on the same lucky thing happening again.

💬 How to Use It

Use 守株待兔 when someone relies too much on luck or waits for success without taking action.

• ❌ It’s negative, often used to criticize laziness or wishful thinking.

• 🗣 You can also use it to warn someone: “Don’t just wait — do something!”

🎯 Real Examples

1. 你不能什么都不做，只想等好运来，这不是守株待兔吗？

• Nǐ bùnéng shénme dōu bú zuò, zhǐ xiǎng děng hǎo yùn lái, zhè bú shì shǒuzhūdàitù ma?

• 👉🏼 You can’t do nothing and just wait for good luck — that’s exactly like waiting for rabbits to hit a stump!

2. 他毕业以后一直没找工作，只等机会自己来，真是守株待兔。

• Tā bìyè yǐhòu yìzhí méi zhǎo gōngzuò, zhǐ děng jīhuì zìjǐ lái, zhēn shì shǒuzhūdàitù.

• 👉🏼 After graduation, he didn’t job-hunt and just waited for opportunities — he was totally relying on luck.

⚠️ Common Mistakes (Watch Out!)

• ❌ Mistake: Thinking this idiom is about being patient.

• ✅ Correct: It’s not about patience — it means not putting in effort and hoping for luck instead.

💡 Memory Tip

Picture a person guarding a tree stump every day…

Just hoping a rabbit will crash into it again. 🐇🌳

That’s what 守株待兔 looks like: doing nothing, expecting everything.

✍🏻 Interactive Practice

Translate this sentence into English:

• 他每天不上课、不学习，就等考试能考好，简直是守株待兔！

Answer:

• He skips class and doesn’t study, but hopes to do well on the test — that’s just waiting for luck!

🌟 Final Thoughts

守株待兔 reminds us that success needs effort — not just luck.

✨ Whether you’re learning Chinese or chasing goals, don’t wait by the stump — take the first step! 💪

👉 Stay tuned for the next idiom in this series!