望梅止渴 wàng méi zhǐ kě

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to quench one's thirst by thinking of plums (idiom)
  2. fig. to console oneself with illusions

CHARACTERS

望 wàng
HSK 2
to look at, look forward; to hope, expect
梅 méi plums; prunes; surname
止 zhǐ
HSK 4
stop, halt, desist; detain
渴 kě
HSK 3
thirsty, parched; yearn, pine