临渊羡鱼 línyuānxiànyú to take action rather than idle wishing Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网 línyuānxiànyúbùrútuì'érjiéwǎng take practical steps to achieve a goal It is better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond longing for fish; one should take practical action instead of just wishing for success.