螳螂捕蟬 táng láng bǔ chán

chase small gain, ignore greater danger

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