BeginnerChinese Idiom (成语)

守株待兔

shǒu zhū dài tù

“To wait by a tree stump for a rabbit”

Meaning: To trust to chance and luck; to wait passively for opportunities without taking action; to rely on luck rather than hard work

Character-by-Character Breakdown

shǒu

守

to guard / to keep watch

The Story Behind 守株待兔

Source:《韩非子·五蠹》

Period:Warring States Period (475–221 BCE)

The Farmer and the Tree Stump

In ancient China during the Warring States period, there was a farmer working in his field in the state of Song.

One day, a rabbit accidentally ran into a tree stump in his field, broke its neck, and died on the spot.

The farmer was delighted by this unexpected windfall. He thought this was an easy way to get food without working.

From that day on, he abandoned his plow and spent all his time sitting by the tree stump, waiting for another rabbit to run into it.

Of course, no more rabbits came. The farmer wasted all his time waiting, his fields went untended, and he became a laughingstock throughout the state of Song.

Original Classical Chinese

宋人有耕者。田中有株，兔走触株，折颈而死。因释其耒而守株，冀复得兔。兔不可复得，而身为宋国笑。

How to Use 守株待兔

This idiom is used to criticize people who rely on luck or chance instead of working hard and taking initiative.

It warns against passive waiting and unrealistic expectations based on a single lucky event.

The idiom emphasizes that success comes from effort and preparation, not from hoping for repeated lucky accidents.

When to use:

Use when someone relies on luck instead of taking action
Often used to criticize passive or lazy behavior
Can be used as a warning against unrealistic expectations

Common Mistake

Don't use this idiom for simple waiting or patience. It specifically refers to passive waiting based on unrealistic expectations from a past lucky event.

Example Sentences

你不能守株待兔，要主动去寻找工作机会。

Nǐ bù néng shǒu zhū dài tù, yào zhǔdòng qù xúnzhǎo gōngzuò jīhuì.

You can't just wait passively. You need to actively search for job opportunities.

学习不能守株待兔，要勤奋努力才能取得好成绩。

Xuéxí bù néng shǒu zhū dài tù, yào qínfèn nǔlì cáinéng qǔdé hǎo chéngjī.

You can't rely on luck in studying. You need to work hard to achieve good results.

他整天守株待兔，希望中彩票，却不愿意努力工作。

Tā zhěngtiān shǒu zhū dài tù, xīwàng zhòng cǎipiào, què bù yuànyì nǔlì gōngzuò.

He spends all day waiting for luck, hoping to win the lottery, but is unwilling to work hard.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

守stroke order 株stroke order 待stroke order 兔stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù) mean?

守株待兔 literally means "to wait by a tree stump for a rabbit." Figuratively, it means to trust to chance and luck, or to wait passively for opportunities without taking action. It criticizes people who rely on luck rather than hard work.

What is the story behind 守株待兔?

The idiom comes from "Han Feizi" (韩非子). A farmer in Song found a rabbit that had accidentally run into a tree stump and died. He abandoned his plow and waited by the stump for more rabbits, but none came. He became a laughingstock for relying on luck instead of working.

How do you use 守株待兔 in a sentence?

Use 守株待兔 when criticizing passive behavior or reliance on luck. For example: "你不能守株待兔，要主动去寻找机会" (You can't just wait passively, you need to actively seek opportunities).

What is the opposite of 守株待兔?

The opposite would be idioms like 主动出击 (zhǔdòng chūjī, to take the initiative) or 勤奋努力 (qínfèn nǔlì, diligent and hardworking), which emphasize proactive action and hard work rather than passive waiting.

Is 守株待兔 difficult to learn?

守株待兔 is considered beginner-friendly. It uses relatively common characters (守 HSK4, 株 HSK5, 待 HSK3, 兔 HSK4), has a memorable story, and the meaning is straightforward. It's one of the most commonly taught Chinese idioms.