📖 Meaning
An egg cannot withstand a stone. It metaphorically describes a situation where the two sides have an overwhelming disparity in strength. The weaker party has no chance of prevailing against the stronger one.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Han dynasty work 'Yi Lin' (Forest of Changes) by Jiao Yanshou. The original text states that when an egg fights a stone, the egg will undoubtedly be shattered to pieces. The passage further notes that acting rashly brings regret, and one cannot succeed when the timing is wrong. The vivid image of an egg striking a stone powerfully conveys the futility of facing an opponent whose strength vastly exceeds one's own.
💡 Example Usage
面对跨国集团的强大攻势，这家小公司简直是卵石不敌。
Facing the powerful offensive of the multinational conglomerate, the small company was no match at all.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 卵石不敌
- Pinyin: luǎn shí bù dí
- Literal Translation: egg, stone, not, match
- Category: Power
- Characters: 4