Méiyǒu dǎ hǔ yì, bù gǎn shàng shān gǎng; méiyǒu qín lóng shù, bù gǎn xià shēnyuān.

沒有打虎藝, 不敢上山崗; 沒有擒龍術, 不敢下深淵。

Lit Without the [strength and] skill to kill tigers, [one] dare not go up the hill; without the [strength and] skill to catch a dragon, one dare not go down into the deep abyss.

Fig If someone is not competent, (s)he should not take on the job.

Note [Note: tigers are traditionally believed to live in the hills, and dragons in water.]

Topics COMPETENCE dragons INCOMPETENCE LIMITATIONS SELF-KNOWLEDGE SELF-RESTRAINT SKILL STRENGTH TIGERS