うお
 
もと
 

expression

Idiomatic expression. From Mencius.
  1. to be unable to accomplish something because one has chosen the wrong method, to ask for the impossible, to look for fish by climbing a tree.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
 
うお
 
もと
 
木に縁って魚を求む きによってうおをもとむ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)
affinity, relation, connection
エン -ネン ふち (7th, N1)
thread
いと シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
divination
タン (Kentei 1)
pig's head radical variant (no. 58)
ケイ (Kentei 1)
pig, hog, pig radical (no. 152)
 (Kentei 1)
fish
さかな ギョ うお (2nd, N4)
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant
rice field, rice paddy
た デン たん (1st, N4)
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ カ
request, want, wish for
もと.める キュウ グ (4th, N3)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
water radical variant (no. 85)
スイ
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)