螳臂挡车 Tangbi Dangche Mantis trying to stop a carriage

Explanation

比喻力量微薄而想抗拒强大的力量，自不量力，必将失败。

To describe the situation in which something weak tries to resist something strong, it is self-defeating and doomed to fail.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个古老的村庄里，住着一只小小的螳螂。它非常骄傲，总认为自己很强大。一天，它看到一辆巨大的马车正向它驶来，马车隆隆作响，气势汹汹。螳螂竟然毫不畏惧，张开双臂，想要阻止这辆马车前进。它用尽全身力气，紧紧地抓住车轮，试图阻止车轮转动。然而，马车巨大的力量，远远超过了螳螂微不足道的反抗，它最终被马车碾压成粉末。这个故事告诉我们，要量力而行，不要自不量力，否则只会招致失败。

henjiu yiqian, zai yige gulao de cunzhuangli, zhu zhe yizhi xiaoxiao de tanglang. ta feichang jiao'ao, zong renwei ziji hen qiangda. yitian, ta kan dao yiliang judade ma che zheng xiang ta shi lai, ma che longlong zuoxiang, qishi xiongxiong. tanglang jingran hao bu weiju, zhangkai shuangbi, xiang yao zuzhi zheliang ma che qianjin. ta yongjin quanshen liqi, jinjin de zhua zhu che lun, shi tu zuzhi che lun zuandong. ran'er, ma che judade liliang, yuanyuan chaoguo le tanglang weibudao de dikang, ta zhongyu bei ma che nianya cheng fenmo. zhege gushi gaosu women, yao liangli erxing, buyao zibulili, fouze zhi hui zhaozhi shibai.

Long ago, in an ancient village, there lived a tiny mantis. It was very proud and always thought it was very powerful. One day, it saw a huge carriage heading towards it. The carriage rumbled and roared, full of momentum. The mantis was not afraid at all, and spread its arms, trying to stop the carriage. It used all its strength, tightly grasping the wheel, trying to prevent the wheel from turning. However, the enormous power of the carriage far exceeded the insignificant resistance of the mantis, and it was eventually crushed into powder by the carriage. This story tells us to act within our capabilities and not be overconfident, otherwise we will only invite failure.

Usage

用作宾语、定语；比喻自不量力，招致失败。

yongzuo binyu, dingyu; biju zibulili, zhaozhi shibai

Used as object or attributive; it is a metaphor for self-defeating, causing failure.

Examples

  • 他竟然妄想阻止公司改革，简直是螳臂挡车！

    ta jingran wangxiang zuzhi gongsi gaige, jianzhi shi tangbi dangche!

    He actually wants to stop the company's reforms, it's simply like an mantis trying to stop a carriage!

  • 不要螳臂挡车，自不量力

    buya tangbi dangche, zibulili

    Don't be self-defeating,it is not wise!

Related Idioms

  • 自不量力

  • 不自量力

Opposite Idioms

  • 量力而行

  • 知难而退