Lingaku- see 臨淵羨魚，不如退而結網|临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网[lin2 yuan1 xian4 yu2 , bu4 ru2 tui4 er2 jie2 wang3]
Generated definitions (experimental)
- 以羡慕他人而不采取行动的状态
- 含有勉励和告诫的意思
This phrase means to envy what others have without taking any action to obtain it. It emphasizes the futility of merely wishing for something without putting in effort.
After seeing his colleague promoted, he envied the success, but did not work on improving himself.
tā她zǒng shì总是zài在lín yuān xiàn yú临渊羡鱼，xiǎng想yōng yǒu拥有bié ren别人de的shēng huó生活，dàn但cóng bù从不gǎi biàn改变zì jǐ自己de的xiàn zhuàng现状。
She is always envying others' lives without ever changing her own situation.
This phrase can also be used to imply the idea of advising someone to take practical steps instead of just longing for something unattainable.
lǎo shī老师gào sù告诉xué sheng学生，lín yuān xiàn yú , bù rú tuì ér jié wǎng临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网，nǔ lì努力xué xí学习cái néng才能shí xiàn实现mèng xiǎng梦想。
The teacher told the students that it's better to take action than just envy others; working hard is the way to achieve dreams.
zài在zhè ge这个jìng zhēng竞争jī liè激烈de的shè huì社会，lín yuān xiàn yú临渊羡鱼wú yì无益，xíng dòng行动cái才shì是Chéng gōng成功de的guān jiàn关键。
In this competitive society, merely envying others is useless; taking action is the key to success.
Generated collocations (experimental)
lín yuān xiàn yú临渊羡鱼to admire fish from the shorexiàn羡Yú鱼bù rú不如jié wǎng结网it's better to skillfully prepare than just admirexiàn mù羡慕bié ren别人suǒ所yōng yǒu拥有de的to envy what others possessxiàn mù羡慕ér而bù不xíng dòng行动to be envious without taking actionzuò ér lùn dào坐而论道，bù rú不如qǐ起ér而háng行zhī之to talk without acting is less effective than taking actionlín临yuān渊ér而bù不yǒng gǎn勇敢to admire without being brave enough to dive inbù rú不如zhǔ dòng主动chū jī出击it's better to act proactivelyzhī只xiàn羡Yú鱼ér而bù不bǔ yú捕鱼to admire the fish without trying to catch any