JLPT N1Idioms
木に縁りて魚を求む
- Meaning
- 手段や方法が間違っていて目的を達成できない
- Explanation
- "木に縁(よ)りて魚を求む" is a metaphor for not being able to achieve results no matter how hard one tries, because the means or method is at odds with the goal. It originates from Mencius's words, which point out the folly of climbing a tree to look for fish. Choice c3 "keep trying without giving up" is wrong because it is drawn to the effort aspect; the point is the wrongness of the method.
Original Japanese explanation
「木に縁(よ)りて魚を求む」は手段や方法が目的と食い違っているために、いくら努力しても成果が得られないことのたとえ。木に登って魚を探す愚を説いた孟子の言葉に由来する。c3「諦めず努力を続ける」は努力面に引かれた誤りで、要点は方法の誤りにある。
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