以卵击石 yǐ luǎn jī shí Hitting an egg against a stone

Explanation

比喻不估计自己的力量,而做力所不及的事情,最终会失败。

A metaphor for not estimating one's own strength and doing things that one cannot do, which will ultimately lead to failure.

Origin Story

战国时期,墨子游说各国诸侯,宣传他的兼爱非攻思想。一次,墨子路遇一位相面先生。相面先生见他面色不佳,劝他不要前往齐国。墨子不以为然,认为迷信是战胜不了真理的,用迷信来否定真理,就好比以卵击石,对真理毫无损伤。他坚持前往,最终游说齐王成功,阻止了齐国进攻宋国。这个故事告诉我们,要坚持真理,不畏强权,但也要量力而行,切不可盲目自信。

zhànguó shíqí, mòzǐ yóushuō gè guó zhūhóu, xuānchuán tā de jiān'ài fēigōng sīxiǎng. yī cì, mòzǐ lù yù yī wèi xiāng miàn xiānsheng. xiāng miàn xiānsheng jiàn tā miàn sè bù jiā, quàn tā bù yào qiánwǎng qí guó. mòzǐ bù yǐwéirán, rènwéi míxìn shì zhànshèng bù liǎo zhēnlǐ de, yòng míxìn lái fǒudìng zhēnlǐ, jiù hǎobǐ yǐ luǎn jī shí, duì zhēnlǐ háo wú sǔnshāng. tā jiānchí qiánwǎng, zuìzhōng yóushuō qí wáng chénggōng, zǔzhǐ le qí guó gōngjí sòng guó. zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, yào jiānchí zhēnlǐ, bù wèi qiángquán, dàn yě yào liàng lì ér xíng, qiē kě bù kě mǎngmù zìxìn.

During the Warring States period, Mozi traveled to various states to promote his philosophy of universal love and non-aggression. Once, Mozi met a fortune teller. The fortune teller saw that he looked unwell and advised him not to go to Qi. Mozi disagreed, believing that superstition could not defeat truth, using superstition to deny truth was like hitting an egg against a stone, doing no harm to the truth. He insisted on going, eventually persuading the King of Qi and successfully preventing Qi from attacking Song. This story tells us that we should uphold the truth, not fear the powerful, but also act according to our strength, and not blindly be overconfident.

Usage

多用于比喻做事不量力,结果失败。

duō yòng yú bǐyù zuòshì bù liàng lì, jiéguǒ shībài

It is often used to illustrate that when doing things, one does not correctly estimate one's own strength and therefore fails.

Examples

  • 他这种做法简直是以卵击石,自不量力。

    tā zhè zhǒng zuòfǎ jiǎnzhí shì yǐ luǎn jī shí, zì bù liàng lì

    His approach is simply like hitting an egg against a stone, he is too self-assertive.

  • 不要以卵击石,做一些力不从心的事情

    bùyào yǐ luǎn jī shí, zuò yīxiē lì bù cóng xīn de shìqíng

    Don't hit an egg against a stone and do something you can't do