水中撈月 shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

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