lín​hé​xiàn​yú

to stand by the river longing for fish

Senses

临河羡鱼/ 臨河羨魚 lín​hé​xiàn​yú to stand by the river longing for fish

(idiom) to have a wishful heart but take no practical action; it is better to go home and weave a net than to merely long for fish by the water's edge

References

variant 临河羡鱼/臨河羨魚 临渊羡鱼/臨淵羨魚
synonym 临川羡鱼/臨川羨魚 临河羡鱼/臨河羨魚