待須（dài xū）

Pronunciation: dài xū

Basic Meaning: to await an opportunity or the right time

Detailed Explanation: 待須 is a four-character idiom that consists of the characters 待 (dài) meaning "to wait" and 須 (xū) meaning "must" or "need". It expresses the idea of waiting patiently for the right time or opportunity.

Usage Scenarios: 待須 is often used to advise patience and caution when making decisions or taking action. It suggests that one should wait for the appropriate moment or circumstances before acting, instead of rushing into things.

Story Origin: The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the ancient Chinese text "Zuo Zhuan" (左傳), which is a commentary on the historical text "Spring and Autumn Annals" (春秋). In the text, there is a story about a general named Huangfu Gui (皇甫貴) who was planning to attack the enemy. However, his advisor advised him to wait for the right time and not to rush into battle. Huangfu Gui followed the advice and eventually defeated the enemy. This story illustrates the importance of waiting for the right opportunity before taking action, which gave rise to the idiom 待須.

Structure of the Idiom: 待須 follows the pattern of a verb (待) followed by a modal verb (須).

Example Sentences:

1. 他知道成功需要耐心，所以決定待須時機成熟再行動。

(He knows that success requires patience, so he decides to wait for the right time before taking action.)

2. 在做出決定之前，我們應該待須仔細考慮各種因素。

(Before making a decision, we should wait patiently and carefully consider various factors.)

Memory Techniques: To remember the idiom 待須, you can break it down into the individual characters and their meanings. 待 (dài) means "to wait" and 須 (xū) means "must" or "need". You can visualize yourself patiently waiting for the right opportunity, while reminding yourself of the importance of being cautious and not rushing into things.

Extended Learning: To further understand the concept of waiting for the right time, you can explore other related idioms such as 時機成熟 (shí jī chéng shú, when the time is ripe), 機不可失 (jī bù kě shī, seize the opportunity), and 等待時機 (děng dài shí jī, wait for the right moment).

Example Sentences from Students of Different Age Groups:

- Elementary School Student: 我要待須機會來參加學校的比賽。

(I will wait for the opportunity to participate in the school competition.)

- Middle School Student: 在做選擇之前，我們需要待須考慮各種可能性。

(Before making a choice, we need to wait and consider various possibilities.)

- High School Student: 他知道成功需要時間和努力，所以決定先待須提升自己的能力。

(He knows that success takes time and effort, so he decides to wait and improve his abilities first.)