蚍蜉撼大树,可笑不自量 蚍蜉撼大樹,可笑不自量 蚍蜉撼大樹,可笑不自量

an ant trying to shake a big tree: laughable, it doesn't know its limits

Saying俗语俗語

Two-part saying歇后语歇後語 · Widely known

Meaning
Mocks someone who foolishly tries to topple something far stronger, or overrates their own ability. Similar to 'David's tilting at Goliath' in futility.
Simplified
蚍蜉撼大树,可笑不自量
Traditional (Taiwan)
蚍蜉撼大樹,可笑不自量
Pinyin
pífúhàndàshù, kěxiào búzìliàng
Bopomofo
ㄆㄧˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄏㄢˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄨˋ,ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˊ ㄗˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

Written with HSK 7-9 vocabulary, at CEFR level C1.

Words in this sentence

Where this sentence is used

All Chinese example sentences