Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
螳臂当辕
螳臂当辕
螳臂当辕
螳臂当辕
螳臂当辕
螳臂当辕
螳臂当辕

螳臂当辕 — “Praying mantis's arm trying to block a cart”

螳臂当辕 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to overestimate one's own strength and attempt to stop an overwhelmingly powerful force; to make a futile attempt against something much stronger”. Literally, “Praying mantis's arm trying to block a cart”.

Frequency

螳臂当辕 Pronunciation and Pinyin

螳臂当辕 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
螳
táng17mantis
臂
bì17arm
当
dāng6to act as or serve as
辕
yuán14cart shafts or official gate

Example Sentence with 螳臂当辕

他竟然想凭一己之力改变公司的百年传统,这简直是螳臂当辕。
He actually thought he could change the company's century-old traditions by himself; this is simply like a praying mantis trying to stop a cart.

Idioms Related to 螳臂当辕

Synonyms of 螳臂当辕

  • táng螳bì臂dāng当chē车futile attempt to resist an irresistible force

More idioms starting with 螳

  • táng螳bì臂dāng当zhé辙overestimate strength, futile resistance
  • táng螳bì臂è扼zhé辙overestimate strength, futile resistance
  • táng螳bì臂dǎng挡chē车overestimate strength, futile attempt
  • táng螳bì臂zì自xióng雄Overestimate one's power and act recklessly
  • táng螳láng螂fèn奋bì臂Overestimate capabilities, invite failure
  • táng螳láng螂jù拒zhé辙futilely resist overwhelming force
  • táng螳láng螂bǔ捕shé蛇Overcome stronger opponent with clever tactics
  • táng螳láng螂bǔ捕chán蝉Focused on small gain, unaware of greater danger
  • táng螳láng螂bǔ捕chán蝉,,huáng黄què雀zài在hòu后focused on immediate gain, oblivious to greater danger
  • táng螳láng螂huáng黄què雀short-sighted pursuit of immediate gain

Recommended tools

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Questions about 螳臂当辕

What does 螳臂当辕 mean?

螳臂当辕 (táng bì dāng yuán) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to overestimate one's own strength and attempt to stop an overwhelmingly powerful force; to make a futile attempt against something much stronger”.

How do you pronounce 螳臂当辕?

螳臂当辕 is pronounced táng bì dāng yuán in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 螳臂当辕 literally mean?

Literally, 螳臂当辕 means “Praying mantis's arm trying to block a cart”. It is used to mean “to overestimate one's own strength and attempt to stop an overwhelmingly powerful force; to make a futile attempt against something much stronger”.

What is the Chinese definition of 螳臂当辕?

螳臂:螳螂的前腿;当:阻挡;辕:借指车。比喻自不量力做力量做不到的事情,必然失败

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us