🌙 水中捞月 shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè – Reaching for the Moon in the Water

🌙 水中捞月 shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè – Reaching for the Moon in the Water

🔍 What It Means

水中捞月 (shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè) literally means “scoop the moon from the water.”


Word-for-word:

  • 水 (shuǐ) – water
  • 中 (zhōng) – in
  • 捞 (lāo) – scoop, fish out
  • 月 (yuè) – moon


This idiom describes someone trying to get something that looks real, but is actually impossible to get.

It’s often used when people are chasing illusions or doing something pointless.


In English, it’s like saying:

  • 🌫️ “Chasing shadows”
  • 🪞 “An illusion”
  • ❌ “A hopeless attempt”

🏺 Where It Comes From

This idiom comes from an old Chinese fable.


A man once walked by a lake at night.

He looked into the water and saw the moon.

Thinking the moon had fallen in, he quickly grabbed a bucket to scoop it out.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t catch the moon.


That became a metaphor:

Chasing an illusion wastes time and energy.

💬 How to Use It

Use 水中捞月 when someone tries hard to do something that’s clearly impossible.


  • ❌ It’s negative – it describes wasted effort or chasing illusions.
  • ✅ Often used to talk about unrealistic plans, silly ideas, or false hopes.

🎯 Real Examples

1. 他以为靠买彩票能发财，简直是水中捞月。

  • Tā yǐwéi kào mǎi cǎipiào néng fācái, jiǎnzhí shì shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè.
  • 👉🏻 He thinks he can get rich by buying lottery tickets — that’s just chasing the moon in the water.


2. 不努力学习却想考第一，是水中捞月。

  • Bù nǔlì xuéxí què xiǎng kǎo dì yī, shì shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè.
  • 👉🏻 Wanting to be top of the class without studying is like trying to fish the moon out of the water.

⚠️ Common Mistakes (Watch Out!)

❌ Mistake: Using it to describe someone who’s trying very hard

✅ Correct: It’s not about effort — it’s about chasing something that can never be reached

💡 Memory Tip

Image

Imagine you’re standing by a quiet lake.

The moon is shining. You reach in, trying to grab it…

“Almost got it!”

But no matter what you do — it’s just a reflection.


That’s 水中捞月 — chasing something that looks real, but isn’t.

🧩 Interactive Practice

Translate this sentence into English:

  • 他不看清现实，只会水中捞月。

Answer:

  • He refuses to face reality — he’s just chasing illusions.

🌟 Final Thoughts

水中捞月 teaches us that effort is wasted when the goal isn’t real.

It’s a gentle reminder: look carefully — is it real, or just a reflection?


☝️ Ask yourself: Are you reaching for a real goal, or the moon in the water? 🌊🌕

👉 Stay tuned for the next idiom in this series!