Han Dan Xue Bu – Learning to walk in Handan

Han Dan Xue Bu Learning To Walk In Handan

Chinese Idiom: 邯郸学步 (Han Dan Xue Bu)

English Translation: Learning to walk in Handan

pīn yīn: hán dān xué bù

Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the act of awkwardly trying to imitate others, leading to failure and often resulting in embarrassing situations.

Historical Source: Zhuangzi: Autumn Waters (《庄子·秋水》).

Idiom Story:

During the Warring States period, Handan was the capital of the Zhao state, famous for its inhabitants, who were known for their elegant and confident walking style. Their graceful gait attracted admiration from neighboring states.

In the Wuling area of the Yan state, a young man became discontent with how his fellow countrymen walked, finding their pigeon-toed and swaying gait unattractive. Determined to improve his own walking style, he decided to journey to Handan to learn from its people.

Upon arriving in Handan, the young man observed the locals walking with an extraordinary elegance. Each step and gesture exuded a refined charm. Eager to emulate this, he began to imitate their movements.

However, what seemed easy to watch turned out to be exceedingly difficult to replicate. As he practiced, he felt increasingly uncomfortable and unnatural in his movements. Believing that his old habits were the problem, he resolved to completely abandon his previous walking style. He focused on mirroring the Handan people meticulously, counting the length of each step, the position of his hands, and the twist of his waist.

Despite his earnest efforts, he ultimately failed to adopt the new style and, worse, forgot how to walk as he once had. When it was time to return to Yan, he found himself unable to walk properly and had to crawl back home.

This story serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of blindly imitating others without understanding the underlying principles, leading to the idiomatic expression “邯郸学步.”

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