螳螂捕蝉

螳螂捕蟬

tángláng-bǔchán

idiom

Meanings

1 the mantis stalks the cicada
2 focusing on a nearby gain while blind to a greater danger behind

Characters

(mantis suffix)

Examples

他只顾眼前的利益，螳螂捕蝉，不知黄雀在后。

Tā zhǐgù yǎnqián de lìyì, tánglángbǔchán, bùzhī huángquèzàihòu.

He cares only about the gain in front of him, like the mantis stalking the cicada — unaware of the oriole behind.

商场如战场，小心螳螂捕蝉的局面。

Shāngchǎng rú zhànchǎng, xiǎoxīn tánglángbǔchán de júmiàn.

The marketplace is a battlefield — beware of mantis-stalking-cicada situations.

Tips

history

From 《庄子·山木》and 刘向《说苑·正谏》: a mantis crept up on a cicada, unaware that a yellow finch was stalking the mantis. Full form: 螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后. Often invoked when warning someone chasing short-term wins to watch their back.

Stroke Order

螳 táng

螂 láng

捕 bǔ

蝉 chán