Staying by a stump waiting for more hares

There was a farmer in the Song Kingdom in ancient China. He worked in his field day after day. In good harvest years, he could only have enough food to eat and enough clothing to wear. If the field failed to produce enough crops, he had to go hungry. This farmer wanted to improve his life. But he was too lazy and too cowardly. He always dreamed of having unexpected fortune.

A miracle took place at last. One day, when he worked in the field, some people were hunting nearby. They shouted loudly one after another. Some little animals were running desperately. Suddenly, a hare dashed itself headlong against the stump of a dead tree in his field and died.

That day, he had a good meal.

From that day on, he no longer worked in his field. From morning till night, he stayed by that miraculous stump, waiting for another hare. Will the miracle happen again?

People often use the set phrase “staying by a stump waiting for more hares to come and dash themselves against it" to refer to persons dreaming to reap without sowing.


宋國的時候有一個農民, 他每天都在田里工作.遇到好年景時,也僅夠吃穿,如果遇上荒災,那他就要受餓了.這農民也想改變他的生活,但他又懶膽又小,他經常做夢發橫財.

奇跡也是發生了.一天,當他在田里勞動時,有些人在附近打獵,他們朝一支支動物大聲的呼喊.一些小動物拼命的奔跑.突然,一支免子腦袋撞向了大樹,當場就死了.

那天,他享受了很美味的一餐.

從那天起,他沒有心思在田里工作了.從早到晚,他都都在那根樹旁,等待著其它的兔子,期待著上回的事從演.

人民後來就用守株待兔來形容白日做夢,想不勞而獲的人.