螳螂捕蝉 táng láng bǔ chán

focus on small gain, ignore danger behind

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi zhuāng zǐ); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger

Characters

Character Meaning
praying mantis
mantis; dragonfly; variant of láng
to catch; to capture; to seize
cicada