临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网 lín yuān xiàn yú ， bù rú tuì ér jié wǎng

DEFINITIONS

  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

CHARACTERS

临 lín
HSK 5
draw near, approach; descend
渊 yuān surge up, bubble up, gush forth
羡 xiàn
HSK 4
envy, admire; praise; covet
鱼 yú
HSK 2
fish; surname; KangXi radical 195
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
如 rú
HSK 3
if, supposing; as if; like, as
退 tuì
HSK 5
step back, retreat, withdraw
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
结 jié
HSK 3
knot, tie; join, connect
网 wǎng
HSK 3
net; network; KangXi radical 122