# 海市蜃楼

hǎi shì shèn lóu

An appealing but unreal vision

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A sea market and mirage towers

**Traditional Chinese:** 海市蜃樓

**Register:** Reflective · literary

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe a literal mirage or illusory promise.

The figurative idea lacks a real foundation.

## Understanding the expression

A mirage presents a convincing scene that cannot be reached as the viewer expects. The expression uses that gap between appearance and reality for dreams, offers, or promises without a sound basis. Modern use can also refer to the actual visual phenomenon. In figurative contexts it often warns against being drawn by a beautiful picture alone. Reliable details about resources and steps help distinguish an ambitious plan from an attractive illusion.

## Examples

沙漠里出现了海市蜃楼。

### Traditional Chinese

沙漠裡出現了海市蜃樓。

shā mò lǐ chū xiàn le hǎi shì shèn lóu 。

A mirage appeared in the desert.

高回报承诺可能只是海市蜃楼。

### Traditional Chinese

高回報承諾可能只是海市蜃樓。

gāo huí bào chéng nuò kě néng zhǐ shì hǎi shì shèn lóu 。

The high return promise may be only an illusion.

没有行动，愿景就是海市蜃楼。

### Traditional Chinese

沒有行動，願景就是海市蜃樓。

méi yǒu xíng dòng ， yuàn jǐng jiù shì hǎi shì shèn lóu 。

Without action, the vision is merely illusory.

他终于看清那份机会是海市蜃楼。

### Traditional Chinese

他終於看清那份機會是海市蜃樓。

tā zhōng yú kàn qīng nà fèn jī huì shì hǎi shì shèn lóu 。

He finally saw that the opportunity was unreal.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%B5%B7%E5%B8%82%E8%9C%83%E6%A8%93)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=289&webMd=1&la=0)

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