螳臂当车 Táng bì dāng chē mantis arm against the chariot

Explanation

比喻力量小的东西去抗拒力量大的东西，结果必然失败。

It describes something small fighting against something big, and inevitably failing.

Origin Story

春秋时期，有个名叫颜阖的著名政治家，被卫灵公请去教导太子蒯聩。蒯聩骄横跋扈，根本不听颜阖的教诲。颜阖无奈，只好去请教蘧伯玉。蘧伯玉说："太子性情刚烈，你不能太约束他，也不能太迁就他。如果太过分约束他，他就会反抗，这如同螳螂举起双臂想阻挡一辆疾驰而来的车子，那是自不量力，最终将粉身碎骨。"

chūnqiū shíqī, yǒu gè míng jiào yán hé de zhùmíng zhèngzhì jiā, bèi wèi líng gōng qǐng qù jiàodǎo tàizǐ kuài kuì. kuài kuì jiāohèng báhù, gēnběn bù tīng yán hé de jiàohuì. yán hé wú nài, zhǐ hǎo qù qǐng jiào qú bó yù. qú bó yù shuō: "tàizǐ xìngqíng gāng liè, nǐ bù néng tài yuē shù tā, yě bù néng tài qiānjiù tā. rúguǒ tài guòfēn yuē shù tā, tā jiù huì fǎnkàng, zhè rútóng tángláng jǔ qǐ shuāng bì xiǎng zǔdǎng yī liàng jí chí ér lái de chēzi, nà shì zì bù liàng lì, zuìzhōng jiāng fěn shēn suì gǔ.

During the Spring and Autumn period, a famous politician named Yan He was invited by Duke Ling of Wei to instruct Crown Prince Kuai Kui. Kuai Kui was arrogant and disobedient, refusing to listen to Yan He's teachings. Yan He, helpless, sought advice from Qu Boyu. Qu Boyu said: "The crown prince has a fierce temperament; you cannot restrict him too much, nor can you indulge him too much. If you restrict him excessively, he will rebel. This is like a mantis raising its arms to block a speeding carriage; it is self-defeating and will ultimately end in destruction."

Usage

常用作比喻，形容不自量力，以弱敌强，必将失败。

chángyòng zuò bǐyù, xíngróng bù zì liàng lì, yǐ ruò dí qiáng, bì jiāng shībài

It is often used as a metaphor to describe self-defeating behavior, weakness against strength, and the inevitable failure.

Examples

• 他螳臂当车地阻挠改革，最终只会自食其果。

  tā táng bì dāng chē de zǔnáo gǎigé, zuìzhōng zhǐ huì zìshí qí guǒ

  He tried to stop the reform with his weak strength, which would ultimately lead to failure.

• 不要螳臂当车，做力所不及的事情。

  bú yào táng bì dāng chē, zuò lì suǒ bùjí de shìqíng

  Don't try to fight against insurmountable forces!

Related Idioms

• 自不量力

• 蚍蜉撼树

Opposite Idioms

• 量力而行

• 量材录用