以卵击石
以卵击石 (yǐ luǎn jī shí) literally means “strike stone with an egg” and expresses “doomed by mismatch”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: yi luan ji shi, yi luan ji shi,以卵击石 meaning, 以卵击石 in english
Doomed by mismatch
Pronunciation: yǐ luǎn jī shí Literal meaning: Strike stone with an egg
Origin & Usage
Using (以) an egg (卵) to strike (击) a stone (石). The comparison appears across the Warring States philosophers and its point is that the outcome does not depend on force, effort or resolve — the mismatch is in the materials, and no amount of determination changes what an egg is. That distinguishes it from ordinary long odds. Confrontations that are settled before they begin — usually invoked to argue that the weaker party should choose different ground.
Examples
English: "A three-person startup suing a company with a permanent legal department"
Chinese: 三个人的公司去告一家养着整支法务团队的巨头
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
杀鸡取卵
shā jī qǔ luǎn
Sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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声东击西
shēng dōng jī xī
Create a diversion; use misdirection
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无懈可击
wú xiè kě jī
Flawless; beyond criticism
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以退为进
yǐ tuì wéi jìn
Strategic retreat for ultimate victory
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以逸待劳
yǐ yì dài láo
Rested against the exhausted
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水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
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一石二鸟
yī shí èr niǎo
Two goals with one action
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 以卵击石 mean in English?
以卵击石 (yǐ luǎn jī shí) literally translates to “Strike stone with an egg” and is used to express “Doomed by mismatch”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 以卵击石 used?
Situation: A three-person startup suing a company with a permanent legal department
What is the pinyin for 以卵击石?
The pinyin pronunciation for 以卵击石 is “yǐ luǎn jī shí”.