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HSK 3 Chinese reading practice

邯郸学步

hán dān xué bù

Learning to Walk in Handan

A young man admires the way people walk in Handan, but copying their steps costs him his own.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 3
READ2 min
HANZI198
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文化
CULTURE

What does 邯郸学步 mean?

The fable appears in the Qiushui (Autumn Floods) chapter of the Zhuangzi. 邯郸学步 literally means learning to walk in Handan. It criticizes imitation that fails to acquire another person's skill while also losing one's own ability or style. It does not mean all learning from others is wrong. This is a modern learning retelling; the original fable is brief and uses the absurd ending as a warning.

Key vocabulary8 words from this story
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Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01年轻人为什么要学邯郸人走路？
02年轻人为什么决定忘掉原来的脚步？
03年轻人最后只好爬回去，说明了什么？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 邯郸学步

What does 邯郸学步 mean in English?

邯郸学步 (hán dān xué bù) literally means “learn to walk in Handan.” It describes imitating others unsuccessfully and losing one's own ability or style in the process.

When is 邯郸学步 used?

Use 邯郸学步 to criticize blind imitation that sacrifices an existing strength. It does not criticize thoughtful learning or every attempt to try something new. For example: 他一味模仿名家的画风，结果邯郸学步，连自己原来的特色也丢了。 (He copied a famous painter blindly and ended up losing his own style without mastering the other one.)

What is the pinyin for 邯郸学步?

The pinyin pronunciation for 邯郸学步 is “hán dān xué bù.”