Tā zhǐgù suànjì tóngshì, méixiǎngdào tángláng-bǔchán, huángquèzàihòu, zìjǐ fǎn bèi lǎobǎn cái diào le.
He focused only on scheming against his coworker - never thinking the mantis stalks the cicada with an oriole behind - and ended up being laid off by the boss himself.
When acting, look long-term - watch out for the mantis-stalking-cicada-with-oriole-behind situation.
Tips
history
Earliest version in Zhuangzi 《庄子·山木》: Zhuangzi wanders into a chestnut grove and sees a cicada enjoying shade, oblivious to a mantis about to strike - the mantis itself oblivious to a strange magpie about to seize it. Later expanded by Han-dynasty Han Ying 韩婴 in 《韩诗外传》 to the more familiar mantis-cicada-oriole chain. A signature Daoist parable about chains of predation and short-sighted greed.
usage
Often shortened to just 螳螂捕蝉 (tángláng bǔ chán) - the second half is implied. Used to warn someone too focused on a small target while a bigger threat closes in from behind. Modern equivalent: 'too focused on the prize, missing the trap'.
