# 异想天开

yì xiǎng tiān kāi

Imagine something wildly unconventional

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Imagine the extraordinary as heaven opens

**Traditional Chinese:** 異想天開

**Register:** Expressive · general

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

## When to use it

Describe fanciful ideas, sometimes admiring creativity.

Can praise imagination or dismiss impracticality; context decides.

## Understanding the expression

The expression carries thought into a place beyond ordinary expectations. It can describe an implausible scheme or an inventive idea that initially seems impossible. The speaker's attitude matters: a dismissive sentence rejects the idea, while an appreciative one welcomes creativity. Practical testing can distinguish a useful breakthrough from wishful thinking. It is therefore not a reliable label for failure by itself, and unusual proposals deserve examination before being dismissed.

## Examples

他想靠一天练习夺冠，太异想天开。

### Traditional Chinese

他想靠一天練習奪冠，太異想天開。

tā xiǎng kào yì tiān liàn xí duó guàn ， tài yì xiǎng tiān kāi 。

Winning after one day's practice is wildly unrealistic.

这个异想天开的设计居然成功了。

### Traditional Chinese

這個異想天開的設計居然成功了。

zhè ge yì xiǎng tiān kāi de shè jì jū rán chéng gōng le 。

The wildly imaginative design actually worked.

孩子异想天开，想给月亮装电梯。

### Traditional Chinese

孩子異想天開，想給月亮裝電梯。

hái zi yì xiǎng tiān kāi ， xiǎng gěi yuè liàng zhuāng diàn tī 。

The child fancifully wants an elevator to the moon.

先别说她异想天开，听完方案再评判。

### Traditional Chinese

先別說她異想天開，聽完方案再評判。

xiān bié shuō tā yì xiǎng tiān kāi ， tīng wán fāng àn zài píng pàn 。

Hear the plan before dismissing her imagination.

## 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=%E7%95%B0%E6%83%B3%E5%A4%A9%E9%96%8B)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=472&webMd=1&la=0)

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