临渊羡鱼
临渊羡鱼 (lín yuān xiàn yú) literally means “admire fish by the abyss” and expresses “act, don't just dream”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: lin yuan xian yu, lin yuan xian yu,临渊羡鱼 meaning, 临渊羡鱼 in english
Act, don't just dream
Pronunciation: lín yuān xiàn yú Literal meaning: Admire fish by the abyss
Origin & Usage
The idiom 临渊羡鱼 (lín yuān xiàn yú) originates from the Western Han dynasty text 《淮南子·说林训》. The story is about a person who stands by a river, admiring the fish (羡鱼, xiàn yú) but does nothing to catch them. Instead of merely longing for the fish, it is wiser to return home and weave a net (结网, jié wǎng) to catch them. This idiom highlights the importance of taking practical action rather than indulging in idle wishes. The characters 临 (lín) means 'approach' or 'stand by', 渊 (yuān) means 'deep pool', 羡 (xiàn) means 'admire', and 鱼 (yú) means 'fish'. In modern usage, it serves as a reminder to focus on actionable steps rather than just aspirations.
Examples
English: "He often admires the success of others but never takes action to pursue his own dreams."
Chinese: 他常常临渊羡鱼，却从不付诸行动。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 临渊羡鱼 mean in English?
临渊羡鱼 (lín yuān xiàn yú) literally translates to “Admire fish by the abyss” and is used to express “Act, don't just dream”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 临渊羡鱼 used?
Situation: He often admires the success of others but never takes action to pursue his own dreams.
What is the pinyin for 临渊羡鱼?
The pinyin pronunciation for 临渊羡鱼 is “lín yuān xiàn yú”.