空中楼阁 (kōng zhōng lóu gé) — castle in the air; unrealistic plan or vain hope

Definition

Examples

• 他的计划虽然听起来很好，但其实就是空中楼阁。
  Tā de jì huà suī rán tīng qǐ lái hěn hǎo, dàn qí shí jiù shì kōng zhōng lóu gé.
  His plan sounds great, but it's actually a castle in the air.
• 不要追求那些空中楼阁般的梦想，现实一点吧。
  Bú yào zhuī qiú nà xiē kōng zhōng lóu gé bān de mèng xiǎng, xiàn shí yì diǎn ba.
  Don't pursue those castle-in-the-air dreams; be more realistic.
• 一个没有资金的创业计划只是空中楼阁。
  Yí gè méi yǒu zī jīn de chuàng yè jì huà zhǐ shì kōng zhōng lóu gé.
  A startup plan without funding is just a castle in the air.