hàogāowùyuǎn: 好高骛远 - To be overly ambitious, To aim too high
Quick Summary
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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.