Basic Information
Chinese Idiom: 以卵击石
Pinyin: yǐ luǎn jī shí
Literal Meaning: To strike a rock with an egg.
Figurative Meaning: It describes overestimating one’s own strength and recklessly challenging a far‑more powerful opponent, which will almost certainly lead to self‑destruction or total defeat. Equivalent to “to kick against the pricks” or “throw an egg against a rock” in English.
Historical Origin
This idiom originates from Mozi – Guiyi (《墨子·贵义》). Mozi, the great ancient Chinese thinker, stated:
Later, the phrase was adopted in Investiture of the Gods (《封神演义》), a famous Ming‑dynasty mythological novel. One passage reads:
“Now you have merely a handful of generals and less than 200,000 soldiers. This is truly like sheep fighting tigers or eggs striking stones – defeat is inevitable.”
Similar English Expressions
- Fight a losing battle
- A suicide mission
- Like beating one’s head against a brick wall
- Send a lamb to the slaughter
Usage Note
It is a derogatory phrase, mostly used to warn someone against futile, reckless confrontation with overwhelmingly stronger forces. It can be used for military conflicts, competitions and personal confrontations.
Key Lesson
Know your limits and know your enemy. There is no shame in avoiding a fight you cannot win. Courage without wisdom is just recklessness. Sometimes, the smartest move is to retreat, negotiate, or find a creative alternative – rather than smashing yourself against an unmovable force.
Cultural Note
This idiom is deeply rooted in Chinese strategic thinking, which values knowing oneself and knowing the enemy (知己知彼). It is often used in military commentary, but it appears just as frequently in everyday conversations – to advise someone not to take on a rival or task far beyond their current ability.
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