水中捞月 shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to scoop the moon out of the water (idiom)
  2. a hopeless endeavor

CHARACTERS

水 shuǐ
HSK 1
water, liquid, lotion, juice
中 zhōng
HSK 1
central; center, middle; in the midst of; hit (target); attain
捞 lāo
HSK 6
scoop out of water; dredge, fish
月 yuè
HSK 1
moon; month; KangXi radical 74