overestimate one's strength; attempt the impossible
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to overestimate one's own strength; to attempt to do something far beyond one's ability (lit. like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot)
literaryDerived from the Zhuangzi. Used to criticize or warn against overconfidence. Often carries a negative or cautionary connotation.
Nǐ你
bù不
yào要
táng螳
bì臂
dāng当
chē车
，
nà那
shì是
zì自
bù不
liàng量
lì力
。
Don't try to stop a chariot like a mantis—that is overestimating your own strength.
Shì试
tú图
zǔ阻
zhǐ止
zhè这
chǎng场
gǎi改
gé革
wú无
yì异
yú于
táng螳
bì臂
dāng当
chē车
。
Trying to stop this reform is no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
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Tā他
yǐ以
yī一
rén人
zhī之
lì力
duì对
kàng抗
zhěng整
gè个
xì系
tǒng统
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
táng螳
bì臂
dāng当
chē车
。
He alone fighting against the whole system is simply like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.