You are going to have a very rich Chinese idiom lesson today. You will not only learn a very common Chinese idiom and its origin, but also some Chinese cultural and historic facts about the five pests or five vermin from a classic Chinese book 韓非子 Han Fei Zi. Based on different abilities of readers, the post is arranged by the following sections:
1 Chinese text of idiom story with audio
2 Chinese text of idiom story with audio and pinyin
3 Annotated Chinese text of idiom story with pinyin
4 Chinese text of the story with English translation and audio
5 Idiom analysis
6 Usage of idiom or how to use the idiom in daily life conversation
1 Chinese text of idiom story with audio
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to34.mp3|titles=listen to]
中国战国时期，宋国有一位农夫，他每天都到田里辛苦地工作。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to35.mp3|titles=listen to]
有一天，那个农夫又像平常一样到田里去工作，突然他看到一只跑得非常快的兔子，从草丛中窜出来，跑啊跑地，竟然不小心自己跑去撞到田边大树的树干。农夫心里想： “啊！怎么有这种好事？我真是太幸运了。要是天天有大兔子自己送上门来给我抓的话，那不是比耕田的收获更多吗？而且田里的工作，忙不完真是太辛苦了，还是在树下捡兔子轻松啊！” 农夫心中想着，就捡起兔子回家去了。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to36.mp3|titles=listen to]
从此以后，那个农夫不再耕田了，他每天就坐在田边的大树下，等待着兔子来撞树。日子一天一天地过去了，他都没有再等到一只兔子，可是农夫仍然不死心，还是每天坐在树下等待着兔子来撞树。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to37.mp3|titles=listen to]
好几个月过了，农夫不但没捡到兔子，连农夫的那块地，也因为太久没有耕种，都荒芜了。
2 Chinese text of idiom story with audio and pinyin
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to34.mp3|titles=listen to]
中国[zhōng guó] 战[zhàn] 国[guó] 时期[shí qī] ，宋[sòng] 国有[guó yǒu] 一[yī] 位[wèi] 农夫[nóng fū] ，他[tā] 每天[měi tiān] 都[dōu] 到[dào] 田里[lǐ] 辛苦[xīn kǔ] 地[de] 工作[gōng zuò] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to35.mp3|titles=listen to]
有[yǒu] 一天[yī tiān] ，那个[nèi gè] 农夫[nóng fū] 又[yòu] 像[xiàng] 平常[píng cháng] 一样[yí yàng] 到[dào] 田里[tián lǐ] 去[qù] 工作[gōng zuò] ，突然[tū rán] 他[tā] 看到[kàn dào] 一[yī] 只[zhī] 跑[pǎo] 得[dé] 非常[fēi cháng] 快[kuài] 的[de] 兔子[tù zi] ，从[cōng] 草丛[cǎo cóng] 中[zhōng] 窜[cuàn] 出来[chū lai] ，跑[pǎo] 啊[ā] 跑[pǎo] 地[de] ，竟然[jìng rán] 不小心[bù xiǎo xīn] 自己[zì jǐ] 跑[pǎo] 去[qù] 撞[zhuàng] 到[dào] 田边[tián biān] 大[dà] 树[shù] 的[de] 树干[shù gàn] 。农夫[nóng fū] 心里[xīn lǐ] 想[xiǎng] ： “啊[ā] ！怎么[zěn me] 有[yǒu] 这种[zhè zhǒng] 好事[hǎo shì] ？我[wǒ] 真是[zhēn shì] 太[tài] 幸运[xìng yùn] 了[le] 。要是[yào shì] 天天[tiān tiān] 有[yǒu] 大[dà] 兔子[tù zi] 自己[zì jǐ] 送[sòng] 上门[shàng mén] 来[lái] 给[gěi] 我[wǒ] 抓[zhuā] 的话[de huà] ，那[nǎ] 不是[bú shì] 比[bǐ] 耕[gēng] 田的[tián de] 收获[shōu huò] 更多[gèng duō] 吗[ma] ？而且[ér qiě] 田里[tián lǐ] 的[de] 工作[gōng zuò] ，忙[máng] 不[bù] 完[wán] 真是[zhēn shì] 太[tài] 辛苦[xīn kǔ] 了[le] ，还是[hái shì] 在[zài] 树[shù] 下[xià] 捡[jiǎn] 兔子[tù zi] 轻松[qīng sōng] 啊[ā] ！” 农夫[nóng fū] 心中[xīn zhōng] 想[xiǎng] 着[zhāo] ，就[jiù] 捡[jiǎn] 起[qǐ] 兔子[tù zi] 回家[huí jiā] 去了[qù le] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to36.mp3|titles=listen to]
从此[cóng cǐ] 以后[yǐ hòu] ，那个[nèi gè] 农夫[nóng fū] 不再[bù zài] 耕[gēng] 田了[le] ，他[tā] 每天[měi tiān] 就[jiù] 坐[zuò] 在[zài] 田边[biān] 的[de] 大[dà] 树[shù] 下[xià] ，等待[děng dài] 着[zhāo] 兔子[tù zi] 来[lái] 撞[zhuàng] 树[shù] 。日子[rì zi] 一天[yī tiān] 一天[yī tiān] 地[de] 过去[guò qu] 了[le] ，他[tā] 都[dōu] 没有[méi yǒu] 再[zài] 等到[děng dào] 一[yī] 只[zhī] 兔子[tù zi] ，可是[kě shì] 农夫[nóng fū] 仍然[réng rán] 不死心[bù sǐ xīn] ，还是[hái shì] 每天[měi tiān] 坐[zuò] 在[zài] 树[shù] 下[xià] 等待[děng dài] 着[zhāo] 兔子[tù zi] 来[lái] 撞[zhuàng] 树[shù] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to37.mp3|titles=listen to]
好几[hǎo jǐ] 个[gè] 月[yuè] 过[guò] 了[le] ，农夫[nóng fū] 不但[bù dàn] 没[méi] 捡[jiǎn] 到[dào] 兔子[tù zi] ，连[lián] 农夫[nóng fū] 的[de] 那[nǎ] 块[kuài] 地[de] ，也[yě] 因为[yīn wèi] 太[tài] 久[jiǔ] 没有[méi yǒu] 耕种[gēng zhòng] ，都[dōu] 荒芜[huāng wú] 了[le] 。
3 Annotated Chinese text of idiom story with pinyin
中国[zhōng guó， China] 战国[zhànguó, the Warring States period (475-221 BC) ] 时期[shí qī, period] ，宋[sòng, state name] 国[guó, country, here refers to Song State] 有 [yǒu, have] 一[yī, one] 位[wèi, measure word] 农夫[nóng fū, farmer] ，他[tā, he] 每天[měi tiān, everyday] 都[dōu, all] 到[dào, arrive] 田里[tián lǐ, within the field] 辛苦[xīn kǔ, diligently] 地[de, particle to link adverb and verb] 工作[gōng zuò, work] 。
有[yǒu, there was] 一天[yī tiān, one day] ，那个[nèi, that gè, measure word for person] 农夫[nóng fū, farmer] 又[yòu, again] 像[xiàng, like] 平常[píng cháng, usual days] 一样[yí yàng, the same] 到[dào, to arrive] 田里[tián lǐ, in the field] 去[qù, to] 工作[gōng zuò, work] ，突然[tū rán, suddenly] 他[tā, he] 看到[kàn dào, saw] 一[yī, one] 只[zhī, measure word for small animals] 跑[pǎo, run] 得[dé, particle to put between verb and complement] 非常[fēi cháng, very] 快[kuài, fast] 的[de, particle to connect attributive and the noun it modifies] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] ，从[cōng, from] 草丛[cǎo cóng, weeds or bushes] 中[zhōng, within] 窜[cuàn, to flee or to scuttle] 出来[chū lai, come out] ，跑[pǎo, to run] 啊[ā, interjection of surprise] 跑[pǎo, to run] 地[de, particle] ，竟然[jìng rán,unexpectedly or to one’s surprise] 不小心[bù xiǎo xīn, not carefully] 自己[zì jǐ, oneself ] 跑[pǎo, run ] 去[qù, to go there ] 撞[zhuàng, bump] 到[dào, to] 田边[tián biān, side of field] 大[dà, big ] 树[shù, tree] 的[de, particle] 树干[shù gàn, tree trunk ] 。农夫[nóng fū, farmer] 心里[xīn lǐ, within the heart or in the mind] 想[xiǎng, think] ： “啊[ā, ah, interjection of surprise ] ！怎么[zěn me, how come] 有[yǒu, have] 这种[zhè zhǒng, this kind] 好事[hǎo shì, good thing] ？ 我[wǒ, I] 真是[zhēn shì, really am] 太[tài, too] 幸运[xìng yùn, lucky fortune ] 了[le, particle, modal particle intensifying preceding clause] 。要是[yào shì, if] 天天[tiān tiān, reduplication of noun, everyday] 有[yǒu, has] 大[dà, big] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] 自己[zì jǐ, itself] 送[sòng, sent] 上门[shàng mén, to the door] 来[lái, to come] 给[gěi, a passive voice marker equal to let ] 我[wǒ, me] 抓[zhuā, capture] 的话[de huà, if (coming after a conditional clause) ] ，那[nǎ, that] 不是[bú shì, isn’t] 比[bǐ, comparing] 耕[gēng, plow] 田 [tián, field] 的[de, particle] 收获[shōu huò, harvest] 更多[gèng duō, more] 吗[ma, question marker ] ？而且[ér qiě, besides] 田里[tián lǐ, in the field] 的[de, particle] 工作[gōng zuò, work] ，忙[máng, busy] 不[bù, can’t] 完[wán, be finished] 真是[zhēn shì, really is] 太[tài, too] 辛苦[xīn kǔ, exhausting] 了[le, particle, modal particle intensifying preceding clause] ，还是[hái shì, had better] 在[zài, at] 树[shù, tree] 下[xià, under] 捡[jiǎn, pick up] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] 轻松[qīng sōng, easy] 啊[ā, ah, interjection of surprise] ！” 农夫[nóng fū, farmer] 心中[xīn zhōng, in the heart] 想[xiǎng, think] 着[zhāo, continuous action marker] ，就[jiù, then] 捡[jiǎn, pick] 起[qǐ, up] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] 回家[huí jiā, return home] 去 [qù, go ] 了 [ le, sentence final particle]。
从此[cóng cǐ, from now on] 以后[yǐ hòu, later on ] ，那个[nèi, that; gè, measure wor] 农夫[nóng fū, farmer] 不再[bù zài, not anymore] 耕[gēng, plow] 田[tián, field] 了 [le, particle] ，他[tā, he] 每天[měi tiān, everyday] 就[jiù, then] 坐[zuò, sit] 在[zài, at] 田边[tián biān, field side] 的[de, particle] 大[dà, big ] 树[shù, tree] 下[xià, under] ，等待[děng dài, wait] 着[zhāo, particle to show continuous action] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] 来[lái, come] 撞[zhuàng, hit] 树[shù, tree] 。日子[rì zi, days] 一天[yī tiān, one day] 一天[yī tiān, one day] 地[de, particle to be put after adverb and before the verb] 过去[guò qu, pass] 了[le, particle] ，他[tā, he] 都[dōu, all] 没有[méi yǒu, did not] 再[zài, again] 等到[děng dào, waited and got] 一[yī, one] 只[zhī, measure wor] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] ，可是[kě shì, but] 农夫[nóng fū, farmer] 仍然[réng rán, stil] 不死心[bù sǐ xīn, unwilling to give up ] ，还是[hái shì, still] 每天[měi tiān, everyday] 坐[zuò, sit] 在[zài, at] 树[shù, tree] 下[xià, under] 等待[děng dài, wait] 着[zhāo, particle to show continuous action] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] 来[lái, come] 撞[zhuàng, hit] 树[shù, tree] 。
好几[hǎo jǐ, many] 个[gè, measure word] 月[yuè, month] 过[guò, pass] 了[le, particle] ，农夫[nóng fū, farmer] 不但[bù dàn, not only] 没[méi, not] 捡[jiǎn, pick] 到[dào, got] 兔子[tù zi, rabbit] ，连[lián, even] 农夫[nóng fū, farmer] 的[de, particle to show possession] 那[nǎ, that] 块[kuài, measure word] 地[de, land or field] ，也[yě, also] 因为[yīn wèi, because] 太[tài, too] 久[jiǔ, long] 没有[méi yǒu, did not] 耕种[gēng zhòng, cultivate] ，都[dōu, all] 荒芜[huāng wú, left to return to unchecked growth] 了[le, sentence final particle] 。
4 Chinese text of the story with English translation
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to34.mp3|titles=listen to]
中国战国时期，宋国有一位农夫，他每天都到田里辛苦地工作。
During China’s Warring States period, in the Song country, there was a farmer who went to field working hard everyday.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to35.mp3|titles=listen to]
有一天，那个农夫又像平常一样到田里去工作，突然他看到一只跑得非常快的兔子，从草丛中窜出来，跑啊跑地，竟然不小心自己跑去撞到田边大树的树干。农夫心里想： “啊！怎么有这种好事？我真是太幸运了。要是天天有大兔子自己送上门来给我抓的话，那不是比耕田的收获更多吗？而且田里的工作，忙不完真是太辛苦了，还是在树下捡兔子轻松啊！” 农夫心中想着，就捡起兔子回家去了。
One day, as usual, that farmer went to work in the field. Suddenly, he saw one fast running rabbit coming out of grass bushes, running and running. Unexpectedly, the rabbit itself ran to hit the tree trunk of the big tree by the field. In the mind of farmer, he thought: ” Ah, how come I have such good thing? I am really too lucky! If everyday, there is big rabbit sending itself to my door to let me capture, then my harvest would be even more than plowing the field? Besides, the work in the field is busy with no ending which is really too exhausting. So it is more easy to pick up rabbit under the tree!” In the mind of farmer, he thought, and then he grabbed the rabbit and went home.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to36.mp3|titles=listen to]
从此以后，那个农夫不再耕田了，他每天就坐在田边的大树下，等待着兔子来撞树。日子一天一天地过去了，他都没有再等到一只兔子，可是农夫仍然不死心，还是每天坐在树下等待着兔子来撞树。
Since then, that farmer hadn’t been plowing his field anymore. Everyday, he sat under the big tree by the field waiting for rabbits to come to hit the tree. Days passed one day after another, he did not get one rabbit. However, the farmer still was not willing to give up, still waited under the tree for rabbits to bump the tree.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to37.mp3|titles=listen to]
好几个月过了，农夫不但没捡到兔子，连农夫的那块地，也因为太久没有耕种，都荒芜了。
Many months passed, and the farmer did not get any rabbits; even that field of the farmer was left to return to unchecked growth for it had not been cultivated for a long long time.
5 Idiom analysis:
This Chinese idiom 守株待兔 shǒu zhū dài tù, literally “guard the tree and wait for rabbits,” with the general meaning: Foolishly waiting for a most unlikely windfall instead of doing any work to achieve the goal.
This idiom of “Wait For Windfalls” or “Shǒu zhū dài tù” comes from “Wu Du”(五蠹 wǔ dù, five pests or five vermin), which is an article of Han Fei Zi 韓非子. Han Feizi is a work written by Han Feizi 韓非子 (ca. 280–233 BC) at the end of the Warring States Period in China, detailing his political philosophy. In this article of wǔ dù, Han Fei Zi urged the rulers of Warring States to apply doctrine of Legalism, to strengthen their states, and in order to do so, five kinds of pests or vermin — Confucian ( 儒家, rújiā), School of Diplomacy (纵横家, zònghéng jiā), knight-errant (游侠, yóuxiá), dependents of noblemen (患御者, huàn yù ) and people of industry and commerce (工商之民, gōngshāng zhī mín), should be got rid of. In the eyes of Han Fei Zi, an ideal state should only have three kinds of professions which are farmers, soldiers and officials.
In Wu Du, Han Fei Zi uses this farmer and hare story to illustrate that a state had to reform, and should not just follow the former kingdoms’ doing; otherwise, this kind of old fashion copying is just like the farmer waiting for a careless hare to hit the tree accidentally which is purely hopeless and time wasting.
The original text of 五蠹 wǔ dù:
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to33.mp3|titles=listen to]
宋人有耕田者，田中有株，兔走觸株，折頸而死，因釋其耒而守株，冀復得兔， 兔不可復得，而身為宋國笑。今欲以先王之政，治當世之民，皆守株之類也。
宋[sòng] 人[rén] 有[yǒu] 耕[gēng] 田者[zhě] ，田中[zhōng] 有[yǒu] 株[zhū] ，兔[tù] 走[zǒu] 觸[chù] 株[zhū] ，折[shé] 頸[jǐng] 而[ér] 死[sǐ] ，因[yīn] 釋[shì] 其[qí] 耒[lěi] 而[ér] 守[shǒu] 株[zhū] ，冀[jì] 復[fù] 得[dé] 兔[tù] ， 兔[tù] 不可[bù kě] 復[fù] 得[dé] ，而[ér] 身[shēn] 為[wéi] 宋[sòng] 國[guó] 笑[xiào] 。今[jīn] 欲[yù] 以[yǐ] 先[xiān] 王[wáng] 之[zhī] 政[zhèng] ，治[zhì] 當[dāng] 世[shì] 之[zhī] 民[mín] ，皆[jiē] 守[shǒu] 株[zhū] 之[zhī] 類[lèi] 也[yě] 。
In Song state there was a man who plowed. In his field, there was a tree trunk.
Once there was a hare running fast, ran into the trunk, and died of breaking its neck. Therefore, the man put aside his plough and watched that tree trunk, hoping that he would get another hare. Yet he never caught another hare and was ridiculed by the people of Song. Now for those who want to govern the people of the present age with the policies of the early kings, they all would be put to the category of guarding the tree.
Nowadays, the idiom is used to satirize those who just wait for a stroke of luck, rather than make serious attempt and effort to achieve what they desire to achieve.
6 Usage of idiom or how to use the idiom in daily life conversation
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/listen-to32.mp3|titles=listen to]
1 他整天只想中彩券，可是都不工作，真是守株待兔啊！
tā zhěngtiān zhǐ xiǎng Zhōng cǎi quàn , kěshì dōu bù gōngzuò , zhēnshì shǒu zhū dāi tù ā !
All day, he just thinks of winning the lottery, but does not work. This exactly is guarding the tree trunk and waiting for the rabbit, ah!
2 工作要认真，只想守株待兔，是会一事无成的。
gōngzuò yào rènzhēn , zhǐ xiǎng shǒu zhū dāi tù , shì huì yīshìwúchéng de .
Work seriously. If just want to guard the tree trunk and wait for the hare, then (we) will accomplish nothing.
I am not a big fan of Lady Gaga. Why I put the song here? MMM, try to change the baby in the song to rabbit?
Lady Gaga – You And I
“Little Bunny Foo Foo” by Phil Magnini
2 Responses to Advanced lesson Mandarin Chinese audio idiom story 守株待兔 shou zhu dai tu Wait For Windfalls, origin, Chinese text, pinyin, English translation, annotation. What is Wu du five vermin in 韓非子 Han Fei Zi, Lady Gaga – You And I, Little Bunny Foo Foo by Phil Magnini