螳臂当车

Traditional form:

螳臂當車

Pinyin (reading):

tángbìdāngchē

Definitions:

• lit. a mantis trying to stop a chariot (idiom)
• fig. to overrate oneself and attempt sth impossible
• also written 螳臂擋車／螳臂挡车 (tángbìdǎngchē)

Characters:

• 螳 - praying mantis
• 臂 - arm
• 当 - appropriate, timely; to act, to serve; the sound of bells
• 车 - cart, vehicle; to move in a cart

Traditional characters:

• 螳 - praying mantis
• 臂 - arm
• 當 - appropriate, timely; to act, to serve; the sound of bells
• 車 - cart, vehicle; to move in a cart