wàng望lookméi梅plumzhǐ止stopkě渴thirst
To quench one's thirst by thinking of plums; to console oneself with illusions; to feed on fancies.
Literal meaning
look (望) — plum (梅) — stop (止) — thirst (渴)
Origin
Derived from a story where Cao Cao's troops were suffering from thirst, and he told them that there was a plum forest ahead, which made them imagine the plums and temporarily relieve their thirst.
Examples
zhè这zhǒng种fāng方fǎ法zhī只shì是wàng望méi梅zhǐ止kě渴，bù不néng能zhēn真zhèng正jiě解jué决wèn问tí题。
This method is just feeding on fancies and cannot truly solve the problem.
bù不yào要wàng望méi梅zhǐ止kě渴，yào要cǎi采qǔ取shí实jì际xíng行dòng动。
Don't console yourself with illusions; take practical action.
Usage & nuances
Negative, describes a temporary or illusory solution that does not address the underlying problem.
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