4 characters Idiom and proverb 28 202

Chinese study involves characters, phrases, and idioms. This resource introduces 「螳臂當車」 as part of advanced learning. Explanation below.

Introducing the Chinese idiom 「螳臂當車」: its meaning and application are provided for your understanding.

When: block. The mantis raised its front legs in an attempt to stop the car from moving forward. It is a metaphor that if you try to do something beyond your power, you will inevitably fail.

The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :

táng bì dāng chē

while its Cantonese pinyin is :

tong4 bei3 dong3/dong1 che1

Chinese idioms are incredibly numerous, each carrying a special meaning and usage. This variety is a great reason to study them, and we hope these tools make that easier for you.