守株待兔

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: shǒu zhū dài tù
• English Translation: Guarding a stump waiting for a rabbit (waiting for a windfall / being stuck in old ways)
• Idiom Composition: 「守」（To guard or keep watch over）＋「株」（A tree stump）＋「待」（To wait for）＋「兔」（A rabbit）
• Meaning: A derogatory term describing the act of relying on accidental luck instead of putting in effort, or the folly of clinging to outdated experiences and failing to adapt to changing circumstances.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「守株待兔」 contains the following nuances:

• Expectation of unearned gain: It criticizes the foolishness of abandoning necessary effort (like farming) in hopes that a rare, accidental stroke of luck (like a rabbit hitting a stump and dying) will happen again.
• Inflexibility and conservatism: It refers to a conservative attitude of clinging to past successes or old methods even when the situation has changed and requires a flexible response.

3. Usage

「守株待兔」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Warning in business or learning: Used to criticize a passive attitude where one does not take initiative and simply waits for an opportunity to fall into their lap.
  • Example:「在这个竞争激烈的市场上，我们不能守株待兔，必须主动出击寻找客户。」
    （In this highly competitive market, we cannot afford to just sit and wait for luck; we must take the initiative to find customers.）
• Police or military tactics: An exceptional case where the term is used neutrally or positively to describe the tactic of 'lying in wait' at a location where a suspect is expected to appear.
  • Example:「警察在嫌疑人经常出没的路口守株待兔，终于将其抓获。」
    （The police lay in wait at the intersection where the suspect often appeared and finally captured him.）
• Clinging to outdated methods: Used to criticize individuals or organizations that ignore changes in the era and rely solely on past experiences.
  • Example:「如果不进行技术创新，只是一味地守株待兔，这家工厂迟早会被淘汰。」
    （If we do not innovate technologically and simply cling to old ways, this factory will eventually be phased out.）

Additional Examples:

1. 机会是留给有准备的人的，守株待兔只会让你一无所获。
   （Opportunities come to those who are prepared; waiting for a windfall will only leave you with nothing.）
2. 与其守株待兔等待奇迹，不如脚踏实地去努力。
   （Rather than doing nothing and waiting for a miracle, it is better to work hard with your feet on the ground.）
3. 学习外语没有捷径，不能抱有守株待兔的心理。
   （There are no shortcuts to learning a foreign language; you cannot have the mindset of expecting results without effort.）
4. 我们要根据实际情况灵活变通，不可守株待兔，墨守成规。
   （We must adapt flexibly to the actual situation and not stubbornly stick to old experiences or follow outdated rules.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Source: From the 'Five Vermin' (五蠹) chapter of the Han Feizi (韩非子). It is based on a fable about a farmer in the State of Song (宋国) during the Warring States period. After seeing a rabbit accidentally kill itself by hitting a tree stump, he abandoned his plow to watch the stump every day, hoping for another rabbit. He caught nothing and became the laughingstock of the country.
• Philosophical Background: The philosopher Han Feizi (韩非子), a proponent of Legalism (法家), used this story to criticize Confucians and others who tried to apply the governance methods of ancient 'sage kings' to the modern era. His argument was that as times change, the methods of ruling must also change.
• Modern Nuance: In modern Chinese, it is used both for 'lazy people wishing for unearned income' and 'stubborn people who lack flexibility.' The former meaning—waiting for luck without effort—is the more common usage today.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn): Carving a mark on a boat to find a lost sword; refers to the folly of sticking to old ways despite changes in circumstances.link
  • 坐享其成 (zuò xiǎng qí chéng): Sitting back and enjoying the fruits of others' labor; enjoying success without doing any work.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 随机应变 (suí jī yìng biàn): To act according to changing circumstances; to be flexible and resourceful.link
  • 通权达变 (tōng quán dá biàn): To adapt to circumstances and not be bound by conventional rules; to show great flexibility.
  • 与时俱进 (yǔ shí jù jìn): To keep pace with the times and adapt to changes.link

6. Summary

The idiom 守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù) criticizes the attitude of neglecting hard work in hopes of a lucky break, as well as the foolishness of sticking to old habits while ignoring reality. It is frequently used in business and education to warn against passivity and to encourage flexibility. While primarily negative, it can occasionally refer to a 'stakeout' or 'ambush' tactic in specific contexts.