Chinese word

掩耳盗铃

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǎn ěr dào líng

Meaning

  • idiomdeceive oneself

Example

这种行为只是掩耳盗铃，解决不了问题。zhè zhǒng xíng wéi zhǐ shì yán ěr dào líng jiě jué bù liǎo wèn tí

This behavior is just self-deception and cannot solve the problem.

Illustration for 掩耳盗铃 (deceive oneself)

More examples

很多人明知道问题严重，却选择掩耳盗铃来逃避现实。hěn duō rén míng zhī dào wèn tí yán zhòng què xuǎn zé yán ěr dào líng lái táo bì xiàn shí

Many people know the problem is serious, yet choose self-deception to escape reality.

Core concept

Acting as if hiding an obvious problem makes its consequences disappear.

Common phrases

  • 掩耳盗铃的做法yán ěr dào líng de zuò fǎ

    self-deceptive behavior

  • 别掩耳盗铃bié yán ěr dào líng

    don't deceive yourself

  • 掩耳盗铃的后果yán ěr dào líng de hòu guǒ

    the consequences of self-deception

Similar words

自欺欺人zì qī qī rén: Deceiving oneself and others in order to avoid accepting an unpleasant truth.
自以为是zì yǐ wéi shì: Insisting that one's own views are always right and refusing to accept other opinions.

Definition in Chinese

明知问题存在却故意忽视，以为掩盖就能避免后果的自欺行为。míng zhī wèn tí cún zài què gù yì hū shì yǐ wéi yǎn gài jiù néng bì miǎn hòu guǒ de zì qī xíng wéi

Word origin

The idiom comes from a fable in which a thief covers his own ears while stealing a bell, combining 掩 (yǎn, "cover") + 耳 (ěr, "ear") + 盗 (dào, "steal") + 铃 (líng, "bell").

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it usually criticizes deliberate avoidance after a problem has become clear, rather than a simple mistake or lack of knowledge.

Opposites

Word lists with this word