好高骛远
好高骛远 (hào gāo wù yuǎn) literally means “fond of high and distant goals” and expresses “unrealistic aspirations”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: hao gao wu yuan, hao gao wu yuan,好高骛远 meaning, 好高骛远 in english
Unrealistic aspirations
Pronunciation: hào gāo wù yuǎn Literal meaning: Fond of high and distant goals
Origin & Usage
To be fond of (好) the high (高) and chase (骛) the distant (远). Song neo-Confucian writing uses it as a complaint about students who find the near and low beneath them and reach straight for the profound. 骛 is a horse galloping, and it carries the flavour of the whole phrase — not ambition but ambition that will not stay still long enough to do the groundwork. It is one of the most common criticisms in Chinese education, aimed at the person who wants the result without the sequence that produces it.
Examples
English: "His lofty ambitions often lead to disappointment when reality sets in."
Chinese: 他的雄心壮志常常在现实面前让他失望。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
高瞻远瞩
gāo zhān yuǎn zhǔ
Foresight and vision
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举棋不定
jǔ qí bù dìng
Indecisive hesitation
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朝三暮四
zhāo sān mù sì
Fickle and inconsistent
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顾此失彼
gù cǐ shī bǐ
Unable to cover everything at once
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脚踏两船
jiǎo tà liǎng chuán
Indecision, double-dealing
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居功自傲
jū gōng zì ào
Conceited about one's own merits
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忘乎所以
wàng hū suǒ yǐ
Carried away by success
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大快人心
dà kuài rén xīn
Satisfaction at a wrong being punished
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 好高骛远 mean in English?
好高骛远 (hào gāo wù yuǎn) literally translates to “Fond of high and distant goals” and is used to express “Unrealistic aspirations”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 好高骛远 used?
Situation: His lofty ambitions often lead to disappointment when reality sets in.
What is the pinyin for 好高骛远?
The pinyin pronunciation for 好高骛远 is “hào gāo wù yuǎn”.