sau2 zyu1 doi6 tou3守株待兔

Jyutpingsau2 zyu1 doi6 tou3

Yalesáu jyū doih tou

動詞

Definition

To wait foolishly for a stroke of luck; to expect rewards without effort based on a past accidental success.

colloquialotherdaily actions

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong sense of criticism towards someone who is passive or unrealistic. It is frequently used to mock people who rely on luck or past coincidences rather than putting in actual effort. While it is a formal idiom, it is commonly used in everyday speech to point out someone's lack of initiative.

Examples

nei5你m4唔hou2好seng4成jat6日sau2守zyu1株doi6待tou3兔，faai3快di1啲heoi3去wan2搵gung1工laa1啦。

Stop waiting for a miracle, go find a job.

keoi5佢ji5以wai4為sau2守zyu1株doi6待tou3兔zau6就wui2會jau5有haak3客，dim2點zi1知dang2等dou3到tin1天hak1黑dou1都mou5冇jan4人。

He thought he could just wait for customers to come to him, but no one showed up by nightfall.

Common phrases

jat1一mei2味sau2守zyu1株doi6待tou3兔

blindly waiting for luck

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a positive strategy of patience. It is almost exclusively used in a negative context to describe laziness or foolishness, so avoid using it to describe someone who is being strategically patient.