緣木求魚

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See also: 缘木求鱼

Chinese

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along; predestined affinity; reason
along; predestined affinity; reason; edge
 
tree; wood
to seek; to look for; to request
to seek; to look for; to request; to demand; to beseech
 
fish
trad. (緣木求魚)
simp. (缘木求鱼)
Literally: “to seek for fish in a tree”.

Etymology

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From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》):

:「緣木求魚不得心力。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
:「缘木求鱼不得心力。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yuē: “Dài yǒu shèn yān. Yuán mù qiú yú, suī bùdé yú, wú hòu zāi. Yǐ ruò suǒ wéi, qiú ruò suǒ yù, jìn xīnlì ér wéi zhī, hòu bì yǒu zāi.” [Pinyin]
"It is even worse," was the reply. "If you climb a tree to seek for fish, although you do not get the fish, you will not suffer any subsequent calamity. But doing what you do to seek for what you desire, doing it moreover with all your heart, you will assuredly afterwards meet with calamities."

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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緣木求魚

  1. to pursue an end by impossible or unjustifiable means