守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù) — Waiting by a Tree Stump for a Rabbit
Relying on luck instead of effort
Category: Chengyu (Idioms)
The Rule
守株待兔 literally means 'guard stump, wait rabbit'. It comes from the story of a farmer who saw a rabbit crash into a tree stump and die. He then waited by the stump forever, hoping it would happen again. It criticizes relying on a past lucky break instead of working hard. 守株 (guard stump) + 待兔 (wait for rabbit).
Why This Matters
This chengyu perfectly captures a universal human failing: after one lucky success, assuming it will repeat without effort. The closest English expression might be 'waiting for lightning to strike twice' or 'resting on your laurels', but neither captures the specific image of passive waiting. In Chinese culture, which emphasizes diligence (勤劳), this is a strong criticism.
Examples
• 不能守株待兔，要主动去找机会。 — "You can't just wait for rabbits — go find opportunities actively." [Contrasting passive waiting vs active pursuit] • 上次考试运气好，这次不能守株待兔。 — "Last exam was lucky — can't just wait for another miracle this time." [Warning against relying on past luck] • 做生意不能守株待兔，要自己去开发客户。 — "In business, you can't sit and wait — you need to develop clients yourself." [Business context: proactive sales vs passive waiting]
Common Mistakes
❌ Using it for patient, strategic waiting ✅ 守株待兔 is always NEGATIVE — it's foolish waiting, not wise patience → If someone is patiently but strategically waiting for the right moment, use 等待时机 (waiting for the right time) or 伺机而动 (waiting for an opportunity to act). 守株待兔 implies stupidity. ❌ Confusing with perseverance: he's 守株待兔 at his job ✅ Staying at a job long-term is 坚持 (persevering). 守株待兔 is passively expecting luck to repeat. → The core criticism is PASSIVE + EXPECTING LUCK, not simply staying in one place.
Quick Tip
Use this to motivate yourself or others: 不要守株待兔！ It's a vivid way to say 'get off the couch and make things happen.'
Use this to motivate yourself or others: 不要守株待兔！ It's a vivid way to say 'get off the couch and make things happen.'
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: Using it for patient, strategic waiting → Correct: 守株待兔 is always NEGATIVE — it's foolish waiting, not wise patience. If someone is patiently but strategically waiting for the right moment, use 等待时机 (waiting for the right time) or 伺机而动 (waiting for an opportunity to act). 守株待兔 implies stupidity.
Incorrect: Confusing with perseverance: he's 守株待兔 at his job → Correct: Staying at a job long-term is 坚持 (persevering). 守株待兔 is passively expecting luck to repeat.. The core criticism is PASSIVE + EXPECTING LUCK, not simply staying in one place.
Quiz
What is the moral of 守株待兔?