不如退而结网

不如退而結網

bùrútuìérjiéwǎng

idiom

Meanings

1 better to go back and weave a net
2 fig. stop wishing and start preparing the tools you need
3 rather than envy others' success, go build your own capability

Characters

retreat / go back

and (classical)

Examples

与其羡慕别人成功，不如退而结网，提升自己。

Yǔqí xiànmù biérén chénggōng, bùrú tuì ér jié wǎng, tíshēng zìjǐ.

Rather than envying others' success, it's better to go home and weave the net — improve yourself.

没考上研究生别灰心，不如退而结网，明年再来。

Méi kǎo shàng yánjiūshēng bié huīxīn, bùrú tuì ér jié wǎng, míngnián zài lái.

Don't lose heart if you didn't get into grad school — go back and prepare your net, try again next year.

Tips

history

From the Han-dynasty 《汉书·董仲舒传》, itself quoting an older proverb: 临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网 — 'Standing at the deep pool envying the fish is worse than going back and weaving a net.' Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒) used it to urge Emperor Wu of Han to stop admiring ancient peace from afar and instead build the institutions that produce it.

usage

Almost always paired with the preceding 临渊羡鱼. 结网 = weave a fishing net (prepare the means). A stock motivational line in education and business talks.

Stroke Order

不 bù

如 rú

退 tuì

而 ér

结 jié

网 wǎng