望梅止渴
望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě) literally means “gaze at plums to quench thirst” and expresses “console with false hopes”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
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 kě Literal meaning: Gaze at plums to quench thirst
Origin & Usage
On the march, Cao Cao's army lost the track to water and the whole force was parched. He announced that a great plum wood lay ahead (望梅), heavy with fruit, sour and sweet enough to kill (止) a thirst (渴). Every mouth in the ranks began to water, and on that they reached the next source. The New Account of Tales of the World files the story under Deceptions, which is the right heading: the plums were not there, and the saliva was. What it names is relief supplied by anticipation alone, and the tone is dry.
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
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
饮鸩止渴
yǐn zhèn zhǐ kě
Short-sighted solution
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青梅竹马
qīng méi zhú mǎ
Childhood sweethearts or friends
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未雨绸缪
wèi yǔ chóu móu
Prepare before problems arise
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柳暗花明
liǔ àn huā míng
Hope appears in darkness
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知足常乐
zhī zú cháng lè
Contentment with what one has brings happiness
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狐假虎威
hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Borrow authority to intimidate
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胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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闭月羞花
bì yuè xiū huā
Exceptionally beautiful
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 望梅止渴 mean in English?
望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě) literally translates to “Gaze at plums to quench 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: Merely dreaming about success without taking action won't achieve results
What is the pinyin for 望梅止渴?
The pinyin pronunciation for 望梅止渴 is “wàng méi zhǐ kě”.