To search for a donkey while one is currently riding atop it
To search for something that one already has; to search for another job because one finds their current one unsatisfactory
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他拿着钢笔还到处找钢笔,真是骑驴觅驴 | Tā názhe gāngbǐ hái dàochù zhǎo gāngbǐ, zhēnshi qí lǘ mì lǘ
He looked everywhere for his pencil despite the fact he was holding it in his hand. It really was like looking for a donkey while riding atop it
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红领巾就在你脖子上戴着,还骑驴找驴,真可笑! | Hónglǐngjīn jiù zài nǐ bózi shàng dài zhe, hái qí lǘ zhǎo lǘ, zhēn kěxiào!
Your red scarf is right around your neck and yet you're looking everywhere for it. Haha!
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骑驴找驴 (qí lǘ zhǎo lǘ)
骑马找马 (qí mǎ zhǎo mǎ)
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《景德传灯录》(Jǐng Dé Chuán Dēng Lù), a work by Sòng (宋, 960-1279) Dynasty writer and monk 释道原 (Shì Dào Yuán)
There once was a man named 王三 (Wáng Sān) who wanted to start a business. When he had enough savings, he went to the local bazaar and bought five donkeys with the goal of selling them for a profit.
On his trip back to his house, he rode on one of the donkeys. When he'd gone about half way, he paused and counted all of the donkeys to make sure that none had been lost. When he only counted four, he did a double-take, and he counted again. He still only counted four donkeys, so he counted a third time. When he reached the expected amount, and he realized that the first two times he'd forgotten to include the donkey that he was presently riding on.