a fish trapped in a dry rut(hé zhé zhī fù)

a fish trapped in a dry rut

The Chinese idiom, Pinyin is h é zh é zh ī f ù, which means to refer to a person who is in urgent need of help in a difficult situation. It comes from Chuang Tzu's foreign things.

Analysis of Idioms

[synonym] the withering of the dry track, crying for food

The origin of Idioms

Chuang Tzu's foreign things: "when Zhou came yesterday, there was a middle road calling out, but when Zhou looked at the ruts, there was a fish in it."

Idiom usage

It refers to people in trouble. But one can't wait for the arrival of the ideal world with hunger. At least one has to leave a little breath, just like a frog in the dry, trying to find the water of the rising bucket. ——Lu Xun's "how is the tomb after Nala's departure" and song Sushi's "begging to open the West Lake in Hangzhou" said: "if once it is blocked, the dragon, the fish and the turtle will be the same as the frog, and the officials will sit and watch, what's the point? 」

Idioms and allusions

Zhuangzhou's family was poor, so he loaned millet to the Marquis of Jianhe. The Marquis of Jianhe said, "no, I will get the capital of the city, and I will lend three hundred dollars to my son. Is that ok?" Zhuangzhou was angry and said, "when Zhou came yesterday, there was a middle road calling. Zhou Gu looked at the ruts, and there was a fish in it. Zhou Wenzhi said, "when the fish comes, what is the evil of the son?" He said to him, "I am the boschen of the East China Sea. Do you have the chance to fight for advancement and live for me? " Zhou said, "Nuo, I'm going to visit the king of Wu and Yue in the south, and I'm going to welcome my son by exciting the water of Xijiang River." The fish said angrily, "I'm lost. I'm always with you. I'm nowhere. I've got to fight my way up. If you say so, you might as well have asked me to be in the house of withered fish as early as possible. ". Chuang Tzu's family was poor, so he borrowed grain and rice from the Marquis of Jianhe. Marquis Jianhe said, "yes, I will receive the rent soon (the ruler collects taxes, rent and other income from the common people in his own territory), and I will lend you three hundred taels of gold, OK?" Chuang Tzu changed his face and said angrily, "I came yesterday and heard the cry. I looked around and saw a crucian carp in the dry rut. I asked him, "crucian carp, what do you do?" The crucian carp replied, "I used to be a minister of the sea god of the East China Sea. Do you have a liter and a half of water to keep me alive? " I said, "yes, I'm going to the south to lobby the kings of Wu and Yue to lead the Xijiang River to meet you. Is that ok?" The crucian carp changed his face and said angrily, "I have lost the water I usually need. I have no place to live. I only need a liter and a half of water to live. You should go to the dry fish shop as soon as possible to find me!"

Chinese PinYin : hé zhé zhī fù