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临渊羡鱼,不如退而结网
臨淵羨魚,不如退而結網
línyuānxiànyú,bùrútuìérjiéwǎng
1. better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond longing for fish (idiom)
2. one should take practical steps to achieve one's aim

Character Breakdown

临
lín
to draw near, to approach; to descend
HSK 5 9 丶
渊
yuān
abyss, depth; to surge up, to bubble up
11 丶
羡
xiàn
to envy, to covet; to admire, to praise
HSK 4 12 丶
鱼
yú
fish
HSK 2 8 丶
不
bù
no, not, un-; negative prefix
HSK 1 4 丶
如
rú
as, as if, like, such as, supposing
HSK 3 6 丶
退
tuì
to retreat, to step back, to withdraw
HSK 5 9 丶
而
ér
and, and then, and yet; but
HSK 3 6 丶
结
jié
knot, tie; to connect, to join
HSK 3 9 丶
网
wǎng
net; network
HSK 3 6 丶

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