望天盆

wàngtiānpén

idiom

Meanings

1 a hopeless undertaking, a thing that cannot be done
2 an impossible task like looking at the sky through a basin on one's head

Characters

to look at, to gaze

Examples

想凭一己之力扭转局势，简直是望天盆。

Xiǎng píng yì jǐ zhī lì niǔzhuǎn júshì, jiǎnzhí shì wàngtiānpén.

Trying to turn the situation around single-handedly is as hopeless as looking at the sky with a basin on your head.

他那计划是望天盆，别再费力了。

Tā nà jìhuà shì wàngtiānpén, bié zài fèilì le.

His plan is simply impossible — stop wasting energy on it.

Tips

history

From Sima Qian's 《报任安书》: 戴盆何以望天 — 'how can one look at the sky while carrying a basin on one's head?' The image of the basin blocking all view became shorthand for a truly impossible task.

Stroke Order

望 wàng

天 tiān

盆 pén