Chinese word

画饼充饥

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuà bǐng chōng jī

Meaning

  • idiomdraw a cake to satisfy hunger

Example

光画饼充饥不解决问题，要付诸行动。guāng huà bǐng chōng jī bù jiě jué wèn tí yào fù zhū xíng dòng

Simply drawing a cake to satisfy hunger does not solve the problem; action must be taken.

Illustration for 画饼充饥 (draw a cake to satisfy hunger)

More examples

不能只靠画饼充饥，还得制定可行的计划。bù néng zhǐ kào huà bǐng chōng jī hái děi zhì dìng kě xíng de jì huà

You cannot depend only on drawing a cake to satisfy hunger; you also need to make a workable plan.

Core concept

A pictured solution that creates the feeling of having enough without providing what is needed.

Common phrases

  • 用画饼充饥yòng huà bǐng chōng jī

    use a drawn cake to satisfy hunger

  • 靠画饼充饥kào huà bǐng chōng jī

    depend on drawing a cake to satisfy hunger

  • 别再画饼充饥bié zài huà bǐng chōng jī

    do not keep using a drawn cake to satisfy hunger

Similar words

纸上谈兵zhǐ shàng tán bīng: Applying theory without practical experience or action to deal with real problems.
空中楼阁kōng zhōng lóu gé: An attractive idea or plan that is unrealistic and difficult to make real.
望梅止渴wàng méi zhí kě: Finding temporary comfort in hope or imagination when a real solution is lacking.
好高骛远hào gāo wù yuǎn: Pursuing distant ambitions beyond one's ability while overlooking what needs attention now.

Definition in Chinese

用来形容只有想法而没有实际行动，空有规划却无法弥补现实不足的言行。yòng lái xíng róng zhí yǒu xiáng fǎ ér méi yǒu shí jì xíng dòng kōng yǒu guī huà què wú fǎ mí bǔ xiàn shí bù zú de yán xíng

Word origin

The idiom combines 画 (huà, "draw"), 饼 (bǐng, "cake"), 充 (chōng, "satisfy"), and 饥 (jī, "hunger") to show why an imagined meal cannot solve real hunger.

Usage tips

  • The expression often carries a stronger negative judgment than a neutral reference to planning, especially when a speaker expects action rather than promises.

Opposites

Word lists with this word