望梅止渴
What does 望梅止渴 mean?
To quench thirst by imagining plums — satisfying a craving through anticipation alone
比喻用想象或期待来暂时缓解眼前的需要或痛苦。
Historical origin
During a hot summer march, Cao Cao saw that his soldiers were so thirsty they could barely keep going. He told them that just over the hill there was a forest of ripe, sour plum trees, and the thought of the plums made their mouths water and gave them strength to continue until they reached a real river.
How do you use 望梅止渴 in a sentence?
We had to wait an hour for dinner, so Mom described the noodles and dumplings to us—almost like望梅止渴.
我们还要等一个小时才能吃晚饭，所以妈妈给我们描述面条和饺子的样子——简直像“望梅止渴”。
Common mistake
Do not use this idiom for actually solving a problem with a real object, like giving water to a thirsty person. It is about easing desire or discomfort through imagination or hopeful expectation, not through a real solution.
不要把这个成语用在真正用实物解决问题的情况上，比如给口渴的人水喝。它强调的是靠想象或期待来暂时缓解需要，而不是真正解决问题。
More examples and usage guide