畫餅充飢
Chinese
draw; picture; painting | round flat cake; cookie; cake round flat cake; cookie; cake; pastry | to allay one's hunger; to satisfy one's hunger | ||
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trad. (畫餅充飢/畫餅充饑) | 畫 | 餅 | 充飢/充饑 | |
simp. (画饼充饥) | 画 | 饼 | 充饥 | |
Literally: “to draw a flatbread to allay one's hunger”. |
Etymology
From the Records of the Three Kingdoms.
Pronunciation
Idiom
畫餅充飢
- (figuratively) to feed on illusions; (of something attractive-looking) to be of no actual use
See also
- 望梅止渴 (wàngméizhǐkě)