螳臂当车 A mantis trying to wave down a car, i.e. attempting the impossible, over-rating one’s own capacities.
螳 mantis tang2
臂 bi4 arm
当 dang1 as
车 che1 chariot, car
茧jian3 cocoon.
蝴蝶
the insect 虫 which is like an uncivilized bearded foreigner 胡
the insect on a leaf （trees木 have at least 30 世 leaves on top of them)
Simplified leaf is ye叶 traditional is 30 on top of tree.