fish for the moon in the sea; attempt the impossible
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to try to fish the moon from the bottom of the sea; to attempt something impossible; to waste one's energy on a futile task
Used as a metaphor for futile efforts or attempting the impossible. Often carries a negative connotation of wasted effort.
Méi没
yǒu有
zú足
gòu够
de的
xìn信
xī息
，
xiǎng想
zhǎo找
dào到
tā他
jiù就
xiàng像
hǎi海
dǐ底
lāo捞
yuè月
。
Without enough information, trying to find him is like fishing for the moon in the sea.
Xiǎng想
yào要
shuō说
fú服
tā他
gǎi改
biàn变
zhǔ主
yi意
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
hǎi海
dǐ底
lāo捞
yuè月
。
Trying to persuade him to change his mind is simply attempting the impossible.
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Zài在
zhè这
ge个
fèi废
qì弃
de的
cāng仓
kù库
lǐ里
zhǎo找
nà那
fèn份
wén文
jiàn件
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
hǎi海
dǐ底
lāo捞
yuè月
。
Searching for that document in this abandoned warehouse is no different from fishing for the moon in the sea.