Línyuān-xiànyú bùrú guī ér jié wǎng.*

臨淵羡魚不如歸而結網。

Lit [Standing] by the water and longing for fish [is] not as good as going home and weaving a net.

Fig One should take practical steps to achieve one's goals rather than merely daydreaming.

Note [Cf. Huái Nán Zǐ: Shuō Lín Xùn; Hàn Shū: Lǐ Yuè Zhì; línyuān-xiànyú is used as a chengyu with this meaning.]

Topics ACHIEVEMENT chengyu COMPARISON DAYDREAMING EFFORT Hàn Shū Huái Nán Zǐ línyuān-xiànyú Lǐ Yuè Zhì PRACTICALITY Shuō Lín Xùn STEPS