木に縁って魚を求む

きによってうおをもとむ

Meanings

1. Expression to be unable to accomplish something because one has chosen the wrong method; to ask for the impossible (literally: to look for fish by climbing a tree) (from Mencius) See also: 木に縁りて魚を求む (きによりてうおをもとむ).

Kanji

• 木 tree. Read as き.
• 縁 bond
• 魚 fish. Read as うお.
• 求 seek

Word lists

• Idioms

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists