水中捞月

shuǐzhōnglāoyuè

fish for the moon—make impractical or vain efforts

* * *

make vain efforts

* * *

make vain efforts

* * *

shui3 zhong1 lao1 yue4

to fetch the moon out of the sea (idiom); a hopeless illusion

* * *

水中捞月

shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè

fish for the moon in the water; catch the moon in the water -- a fruitless attempt; fish for the moon's reflection; fish in the air; grasp the moon in the water -- vain and ineffectual effort; plough the air; pluck the moon from the lake

* * *

水中撈月|水中捞月 [shuǐ zhōng lāo yuè] ► to fetch the moon out of the sea (idiom); a hopeless illusion