临渊羡鱼

línyuānxiànyú

stand by a pond longing for fish; one should take practical steps to achieve one's aims

* * *

one should take practical steps to achieve one's aims

* * *

one should take practical steps to achieve one's aims

* * *

lin2 yuan1 xian4 yu2

see 臨淵羨魚，不如退而結網, 临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网

* * *

临渊羡鱼

lín yuān xiàn yú

（比喻徒有愿望， 不去实干， 于事无补） stand on the edge of a pool and idly long for fish; irresoluteness; shilly-shally; stand on the brink of a pond in pleasurable contemplation of the fish to be caught there without taking action:

临渊羡鱼， 莫如退而结网。 It's better to go back and make a net than to stand by the pond and long for fish.; Better return home and make a net than long for fish by the waterside.; It's better to go back and make a net than to covet the fish by merely staring into the water -- one should have a down-to-earth style of work to attain one's goal.; One should take practical steps to achieve one's aims.

* * *

臨淵羨魚|临渊羡鱼 [lín yuān xiàn yú] ► see ↑臨淵羨魚，不如退而結網|↑临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网 [lín yuān xiàn yú , bù rú tuì ér jié wǎng]