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临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网
línyuānxiànyú,bùrútuìérjiéwǎng
Traditional: 臨淵羨魚，不如退而結網
better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond longing for fish (idiom) / one should take practical steps to achieve one's aim
Character Breakdown
临
lín
to draw near, to approach; to descend
HSK 5
渊
yuān
abyss, depth; to surge up, to bubble up
羡
xiàn
to envy, to covet; to admire, to praise
HSK 4
鱼
yú
fish
HSK 2
不
bù
no, not, un-; negative prefix
HSK 1
如
rú
as, as if, like, such as, supposing
HSK 3
退
tuì
to retreat, to step back, to withdraw
HSK 5
而
ér
and, and then, and yet; but
HSK 3
结
jié
knot, tie; to connect, to join
HSK 3
网
wǎng
net; network
HSK 3
Additional Information
Category
Chinese
HSK Character Level
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HSK Word Level
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