邯郸学步
邯郸学步 (hán dān xué bù) literally means “handan learn walking” and expresses “lose abilities through misguided imitation”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: han dan xue bu, han dan xue bu,邯郸学步 meaning, 邯郸学步 in english
Lose abilities through misguided imitation
Pronunciation: hán dān xué bù Literal meaning: Handan learn walking
Origin & Usage
Zhuangzi's philosophical writings tell of a youth who so admired the walking style of Handan (邯郸) residents that in trying to learn it (学步), he forgot his natural gait and had to crawl home. Han Dynasty rhetoricians transformed this tale into a broader warning about the dangers of imitation. The story perfectly captures how pursuing artificial excellence can lead to losing natural competence.
Examples
English: "The writer abandoned his natural style to poorly imitate a famous author"
Chinese: 这位作家放弃了自己的自然风格，拙劣地模仿一位著名作家
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 邯郸学步 mean in English?
邯郸学步 (hán dān xué bù) literally translates to “Handan learn walking” and is used to express “Lose abilities through misguided imitation”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 邯郸学步 used?
Situation: The writer abandoned his natural style to poorly imitate a famous author
What is the pinyin for 邯郸学步?
The pinyin pronunciation for 邯郸学步 is “hán dān xué bù”.