螳螂捕蟬，黃雀在後 táng láng bǔ chán ， huáng què zài hòu

chasing gain, unaware of bigger threat 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 庄子zhuāng zǐ); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger

Characters

Character Meaning
螳 táng
praying mantis
螂 láng
mantis; dragonfly; variant of 螂láng
捕 bǔ HSK 6
to catch; to capture; to seize
蟬 chán
cicada
黃 huáng
yellow; surname Huang or Hwang; pornographic
雀 què HSK 6
sparrow; small bird; also pr. qiǎo
在 zài HSK 1
(located) at; (to be) in
後 hòu
behind; after; later