Daily Chengyu

守株待兔

shǒu zhū dài tù

To wait passively for luck instead of taking action.

Failure Opportunity Work Animals

beginnerVery CommonNeutral

Literal Meaning: Guard the tree stump and wait for a rabbit.

守shǒuto guard

株zhūtree stump

待dàito wait

兔tùrabbit

Today's Situation

Your friend got one viral post last year and now refuses to try new content strategies, hoping luck will repeat itself.

Perfect Chengyu: 守株待兔

Actual Meaning

Use this when someone relies on a one-time lucky break and expects it to happen again, instead of working toward a real solution. It criticizes laziness, wishful thinking, and refusing to adapt after circumstances change.

Emotional toneCritical, slightly mocking

Usage feelOften negative or critical

FormalityNeutral

English Equivalent

Don't count on lightning striking twice.
Waiting for a miracle.
Sitting on your hands.
Wishful thinking.

English equivalents capture the general idea, but they may not fit every context exactly.

Modern Usage Example

You can't just 守株待兔 and hope recruiters find you — update your portfolio and apply actively.

Chinese Example Sentences

Chénggōng bù néng kào shǒu zhū dài tù, yào zhǔdòng zhēngqǔ jīhuì.

Success doesn't come from waiting for luck — you have to actively pursue opportunities.

Career advice

Tā tiāntiān shǒuzhe jiù fāngfǎ, jiǎnzhí shì shǒu zhū dài tù.

He clings to the old method every day — it's like waiting for another lucky rabbit.

Critiquing outdated habits

Origin Story

A farmer saw a rabbit crash into a tree stump and die. He stopped farming and waited by that stump every day for another rabbit. None came, and his fields went to waste.

Warring States periodHan Feizi (韩非子)

When Natives Use It

Good fit

Work — when someone won't update their approach
Business — relying on one past success
Education — warning students not to skip study
Social media — teasing passive content strategies

Avoid

Describing patient, strategic waiting
Praising consistency and discipline
Formal compliments

Very common in writing and speech. Sounds critical, so use carefully with people you don't know well. Often appears in essays, news commentary, and classroom explanations.