望梅止渴 wàng méi zhǐ kě

fig. to console oneself with illusions

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
望 wàng HSK 2
to hope; to expect; to look towards
梅 méi
plum; Japanese apricot (Prunus mume); plum flower
止 zhǐ HSK 4
to stop; until; to prohibit
渴 kě HSK 3
thirsty