====== hàogāowùyuǎn: 好高骛远 - To be overly ambitious, To aim too high ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** haogaowuyuan, 好高骛远, hàogāowùyuǎn, Chinese idiom for aiming too high, unrealistic goals Chinese, overly ambitious in Chinese, bite off more than you can chew Chinese idiom, what does haogaowuyuan mean, Chinese pragmatism, 脚踏实地, 眼高手低
  * **Summary:** **好高骛远 (hàogāowùyuǎn)** is a widely used Chinese idiom (chengyu) that describes someone who is **overly ambitious** and sets unrealistic goals without a practical plan to achieve them. It's the perfect phrase for someone who "bites off more than they can chew." This term carries a negative connotation, often serving as a caution against dreaming big without being grounded in reality. Understanding **hàogāowùyuǎn** is key to grasping the cultural importance of pragmatism and steady, step-by-step progress in Chinese society.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** hàogāowùyuǎn
  * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (Idiom) / Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6+
  * **Concise Definition:** To aim for lofty goals without considering the practical steps or one's own capabilities.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine someone who has never baked a cake wanting to immediately open a five-star pastry shop. That's a perfect example of being **好高骛远 (hàogāowùyuǎn)**. It's not about lacking ambition, but about ambition that is detached from reality. The term is a criticism, suggesting that the person should be more practical, start with the basics, and build a solid foundation before reaching for the stars.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **好 (hào):** In this specific idiom (with the 4th tone), this character means "to be fond of" or "to have a tendency to." It's different from the common `hǎo` (good).
  * **高 (gāo):** Means "high," "lofty," or "advanced."
  * **骛 (wù):** A less common character meaning "to pursue" or "to chase after" eagerly.
  * **远 (yuǎn):** Means "far" or "distant."
When combined, **好高骛远 (hàogāowùyuǎn)** literally translates to "to be fond of the high and to pursue the far." This paints a vivid picture of a person who is always looking at a distant, lofty goal, completely ignoring the ground beneath their feet and the necessary steps to get there.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
**好高骛远 (hàogāowùyuǎn)** is more than just a phrase; it's a piece of cultural advice rooted in practicality and humility.
In many Western cultures, especially American culture, there's a strong emphasis on "dreaming big" and "shooting for the moon." Ambition is almost universally seen as a positive trait. While ambition is also valued in China (`有志向 - yǒu zhìxiàng`), it is tempered by a deep-seated belief in pragmatism. **好高骛远** is the cultural counterbalance to unchecked ambition.
It's closely related to the core value of **[[脚踏实地]] (jiǎo tà shí dì)**, which means "to have one's feet planted firmly on the ground." A wise elder might advise a young person to avoid being **好高骛远** and instead to be **脚踏实地**. This isn't meant to crush their dreams, but to encourage them to build a solid foundation through hard work and realistic planning. It warns against the folly of building castles in the sky without laying the groundwork first.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
This idiom is almost always used with a **negative connotation**. It can be a gentle criticism, a stern warning, or a self-deprecating reflection.
  * **In Parenting and Education:** Parents and teachers frequently use this to advise students. If a student only dreams of getting into a top university but refuses to do their daily homework, a teacher might say they are **好高骛远**.
  * **In the Workplace:** A manager might use this to describe an employee who proposes grandiose projects without thinking through the budget, manpower, or timeline. It's a critique of their lack of practical planning skills.
  * **In Self-Reflection:** Someone might look back on their youth and say, "我当时太**好高骛远**了" ("I was too unrealistic back then"), acknowledging that they wasted time chasing impossible dreams instead of focusing on achievable goals.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 刚毕业的大学生不要**好高骛远**，要从基层做起。
    * Pinyin: Gāng bìyè de dàxuéshēng búyào **hàogāowùyuǎn**, yào cóng jīcéng zuòqǐ.
    * English: University graduates who have just finished school shouldn't be overly ambitious; they need to start from the ground level.
    * Analysis: This is classic advice given to young people entering the workforce. It frames **hàogāowùyuǎn** as a common youthful mistake and contrasts it with the practical action of "starting from the bottom" (`从基层做起`).
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 他这个人有点**好高骛远**，想法很多，但没一个能实现的。
    * Pinyin: Tā zhège rén yǒudiǎn **hàogāowùyuǎn**, xiǎngfǎ hěn duō, dàn méi yí ge néng shíxiàn de.
    * English: This guy is a bit unrealistic; he has a lot of ideas, but not a single one that can be realized.
    * Analysis: Here, the idiom is used to describe a person's character flaw. The second half of the sentence explains exactly *why* he is **hàogāowùyuǎn** – plenty of ideas, zero execution.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 制定计划时要实事求是，千万不能**好高骛远**。
    * Pinyin: Zhìdìng jìhuà shí yào shíshìqiúshì, qiānwàn bù néng **hàogāowùyuǎn**.
    * English: When making a plan, you must be realistic and pragmatic; you absolutely cannot afford to be overly ambitious.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the direct philosophical clash between **hàogāowùyuǎn** and `实事求是` (being pragmatic/seeking truth from facts). `千万不能` (qiānwàn bù néng) emphasizes the strong warning.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 我承认我过去有些**好高骛远**，现在我只想脚踏实地地工作。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn wǒ guòqù yǒuxiē **hàogāowùyuǎn**, xiànzài wǒ zhǐ xiǎng jiǎotàshídì de gōngzuò.
    * English: I admit that I was a bit unrealistic in the past; now I just want to work in a down-to-earth way.
    * Analysis: A great example of self-reflection. The speaker contrasts their past flaw (`好高骛远`) with their present, more mature attitude (`脚踏实地`).
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 你的商业计划太**好高骛远**了，投资人是不会感兴趣的。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ de shāngyè jìhuà tài **hàogāowùyuǎn** le, tóuzīrén shì bú huì gǎn xìngqù de.
    * English: Your business plan is too unrealistic; investors won't be interested.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates a very practical application in a business context. The consequence of being **hàogāowùyuǎn** is clear: failure to get funding.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 学习语言不能**好高骛远**，要一步一个脚印地来。
    * Pinyin: Xuéxí yǔyán bù néng **hàogāowùyuǎn**, yào yí bù yí ge jiǎoyìn de lái.
    * English: You can't be unrealistic when learning a language; you have to do it one step at a time.
    * Analysis: This applies the concept to the experience of the language learner themselves, contrasting it with the antonymic phrase `一步一个脚印` (one step, one footprint).
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 别被那些成功学大师骗了，他们教的很多东西都太**好高骛远**。
    * Pinyin: Bié bèi nàxiē chénggōngxué dàshī piàn le, tāmen jiāo de hěn duō dōngxi dōu tài **hàogāowùyuǎn**.
    * English: Don't be fooled by those success gurus; a lot of the things they teach are too far-fetched and impractical.
    * Analysis: This shows the term used to critique a philosophy or a set of ideas, not just a person or a plan.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 与其**好高骛远**地空想，不如先完成眼前的小任务。
    * Pinyin: Yǔqí **hàogāowùyuǎn** de kōngxiǎng, bùrú xiān wánchéng yǎnqián de xiǎo rènwù.
    * English: Rather than daydreaming unrealistically, it's better to first complete the small tasks in front of you.
    * Analysis: The `与其...不如...` (yǔqí...bùrú... - "rather than...it's better to...") structure is perfect for this idiom, as it presents a choice between the impractical and the practical.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 他总是批评自己的儿子**好高骛远**，不肯踏踏实实找份工作。
    * Pinyin: Tā zǒngshì pīpíng zìjǐ de érzi **hàogāowùyuǎn**, bù kěn tātāshíshí zhǎo fèn gōngzuò.
    * English: He always criticizes his son for being too ambitious and unrealistic, and for being unwilling to find a steady job.
    * Analysis: This illustrates a common family dynamic where an older generation, valuing stability, criticizes a younger generation's perceived impracticality. `踏踏实实` (tātāshíshí) is a colloquial synonym for `脚踏实地`.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 这个项目的目标定得有点**好高骛远**，我们或许应该分阶段实现。
    * Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù de mùbiāo dìng de yǒudiǎn **hàogāowùyuǎn**, wǒmen huòxǔ yīnggāi fēn jiēduàn shíxiàn.
    * English: The goal set for this project is a bit lofty; perhaps we should implement it in stages.
    * Analysis: A diplomatic use of the term in a professional setting. By saying "a bit" (`有点`), the speaker softens the criticism and immediately offers a constructive solution ("implement in stages").
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **"Ambitious" is not a translation.** The most common mistake for English speakers is to equate **好高骛远** with the English word "ambitious." "Ambitious" can be very positive. If you want to praise someone's ambition, you should use a term like **[[有雄心壮志]] (yǒu xióng xīn zhuàng zhì)** or **[[志向远大]] (zhìxiàng yuǎndà)**. Using **好高骛远** as a compliment is a major mistake.
  * **False Friend: "Aim High."** The English encouragement "Aim high!" is positive. The direct translation, "目标定高一点 (mùbiāo dìng gāo yìdiǎn)," is also positive. **好高骛远** is not the right term here. It implies not just aiming high, but aiming so high that you ignore reality entirely.
  * **Incorrect Usage Example:**
    * **Incorrect:** 我的梦想是去月球，我真是**好高骛远**！ (Wǒ de mèngxiǎng shì qù yuèqiú, wǒ zhēnshi **hàogāowùyuǎn**!)
    * **Why it's wrong:** While going to the moon is a huge dream, using **好高骛远** here sounds like you're criticizing yourself in a slightly strange, almost proud way. It's used to critique a *lack of a practical approach*, not the dream itself.
    * **Correct Usage:** 他整天想着去月球，却连物理课都不上，真是**好高骛远**。 (Tā zhěngtiān xiǎngzhe qù yuèqiú, què lián wùlǐ kè dōu bú shàng, zhēnshi **hàogāowùyuǎn**.) -> (He thinks about going to the moon all day, but he doesn't even attend physics class. That's truly aiming too high.) This is correct because it connects the lofty goal to a clear lack of practical effort.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **Antonyms (The "Good" Side):**
    * `[[脚踏实地]]` (jiǎo tà shí dì) - The direct antonym. To have one's feet firmly on the ground; to be practical and down-to-earth.
    * `[[一步一个脚印]]` (yí bù yí ge jiǎoyìn) - "One step, one footprint." Describes a methodical, steady, and careful approach.
    * `[[实事求是]]` (shí shì qiú shì) - A philosophical concept meaning "to seek truth from facts." The guiding principle for avoiding being **好高骛远**.
  * **Synonyms / Similar Concepts (The "Bad" Side):**
    * `[[眼高手低]]` (yǎn gāo shǒu dī) - "Eyes high, hands low." Describes someone who has high standards and can spot flaws, but lacks the practical skill to do the work themselves. Very similar to **好高骛远**.
    * `[[志大才疏]]` (zhì dà cái shū) - "Great ambition, but meager talent." Highlights the gap between one's aspirations and abilities.
    * `[[不切实际]]` (bú qiè shíjì) - A broader, more common term for "unrealistic" or "impractical." **好高骛远** is a specific, more vivid type of being **不切实际**.
    * `[[空谈]]` (kōng tán) - "Empty talk." The action that often results from a **好高骛远** mindset—all talk and no action.
    * `[[空中楼阁]]` (kōng zhōng lóu gé) - "Castle in the air." Refers to a plan or idea that is completely detached from reality, much like the goals of a **好高骛远** person.