推舟于陆 — “To make futile efforts”
推舟于陆 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make futile efforts”. To engage in a fruitless endeavor; to work in vain. Literally, “push a boat on land”.
推舟于陆 Pronunciation and Pinyin
推舟于陆 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 推舟于陆
Origin and Story of 推舟于陆
During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius traveled west from the State of Lu to the State of Wei to advocate for and promote the benevolent and righteous ways of the former kings.
His student, Yan Yuan, asked Master Jin of Lu whether Confucius would succeed.
Master Jin replied, 'Promoting the benevolent and righteous ways of former kings, which have long been abandoned, is as useless as a straw dog used for sacrifices.
His actions are like pushing a boat on land, hoping it can replace a carriage; it will only be a fruitless endeavor.'
Idioms Related to 推舟于陆
Synonyms of 推舟于陆
More idioms starting with 推
- tuī推sān三dàng宕sì四shirk and procrastinate repeatedly
- tuī推sān三lā拉sì四make excuses to shirk responsibility
- tuī推sān三āi挨sì四make excuses and procrastinate
- tuī推sān三tuī推sì四make excuses and shirk responsibility
- tuī推sān三zǔ阻sì四make excuses to shirk responsibility
- tuī推dōng东zhǔ主xī西make excuses and shirk responsibility
- tuī推zhī之sì四hǎi海ér而jiē皆zhǔn准universally applicable truth
- tuī推wáng亡gù固cún存eliminate the failing, consolidate the thriving
- tuī推tiān天qiǎng抢dì地pushing and shoving chaotically
- tuī推zōng宗míng明běn本deduce principles, clarify origin
- tuī推chóng崇bèi备zhì至praise highly and profusely
- tuī推jǐ己jí及rén人put oneself in others' shoes
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Open the tool →Questions about 推舟于陆
What does 推舟于陆 mean?
推舟于陆 (tuī zhōu yú lù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make futile efforts”.
How do you pronounce 推舟于陆?
推舟于陆 is pronounced tuī zhōu yú lù in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 推舟于陆 literally mean?
Literally, 推舟于陆 means “push a boat on land”. It is used to mean “to make futile efforts”.
Where does 推舟于陆 come from?
推舟于陆 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 推舟于陆?
推船在陆地上行，比喻劳而无功。