ôm cây đợi thỏ
Definition
- Idiom:
- To hug a tree waiting for a hare: A metaphor for foolishly clinging to a rigid, passive, and unrealistic method in the hope of gaining an unexpected, one-time success, rather than using reason and active effort. It describes a person who is stubborn, narrow-minded, and acts blindly based on a single past coincidence.
Origin and Background
- This idiom originates from a famous fable in the ancient Chinese philosophical text "Han Feizi". The story tells of a farmer from the Song state who saw a hare run into a tree stump in his field and die. He then abandoned his plow, waited by the stump every day, hoping another hare would do the same. The story satirizes those with limited vision who foolishly rely on chance and refuse to adapt or think logically.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Anh ta không chịu tìm việc mới, cứ ôm cây đợi thỏ ở công ty cũ đang phá sản. (He refuses to look for a new job, just hugging a tree waiting for a hare at the bankrupt old company.)
- Đầu tư theo kiểu ôm cây đợi thỏ mà không phân tích thị trường thì sẽ thất bại. (Investing in the style of hugging a tree waiting for a hare without market analysis will lead to failure.)
Advanced Usage
- The idiom is often used to criticize passive, wishful thinking and a lack of initiative or adaptability. It can be applied to contexts like business, career planning, study methods, or any situation involving strategy and effort.
Synonyms
- To wait for a windfall: To hope for unexpected good fortune without effort.
- Wishful thinking: Believing in something because one wishes it were true, not based on reason.
- To rely on a fluke: To depend on a lucky chance happening again.
Related Idioms and Concepts
- Ấp cây (ấp ủ): To nurture or incubate (a plan, hope).
- Ngồi mát ăn bát vàng: To sit in the shade and eat a bowl of gold; to reap rewards without working. This shares the theme of expecting gain without effort but lacks the element of stubbornly waiting for a past event to repeat.