望梅止渴
望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ ké) literally means “think of plums stop thirst” and expresses “console with false hopes”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wang mei zhi ke, wang mei zhi ke,望梅止渴 meaning, 望梅止渴 in english
Console with false hopes
Pronunciation: wàng méi zhǐ ké
Literal meaning: Think of plums stop thirst
Origin & Usage
This idiom comes from a historical account of General Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period. Leading his army through drought-stricken terrain, he encouraged exhausted soldiers by telling them a great forest of plums (梅) lay ahead - merely thinking (望) of the sour fruit would help stop (止) their thirst (渴). While no plums existed, the psychological boost helped the troops persist. The story highlights the power of mental imagery and leadership through creative motivation. Today, it's often used to describe situations where imagination or anticipation provides temporary relief from difficult circumstances, though sometimes with a slight ironic tone about the limitations of such psychological comfort.
Examples
English: "Merely dreaming about success without taking action won't achieve results"
Chinese: 光想着成功而不采取行动是不会有结果的
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Related Chinese Idioms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 望梅止渴 mean in English?
望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ ké) literally translates to “Think of plums stop thirst” and is used to express “Console with false hopes”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 望梅止渴 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving console with false hopes.
What is the pinyin for 望梅止渴?
The pinyin pronunciation for 望梅止渴 is “wàng méi zhǐ ké”.