báirìmèng: 白日梦 - Daydream, Fantasy, Pipe Dream

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 白日梦 (báirìmèng), a common Chinese term for “daydream.” This page breaks down its literal meaning (“white sun dream”) and explores why it carries a stronger, more negative connotation than the English “daydream,” often implying an impossible fantasy or a foolish pipe dream. Learn how to use it in conversation, understand its cultural significance, and see how it contrasts with positive aspirations like 梦想 (mèngxiǎng).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): báirìmèng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A daydream; an unrealistic, foolish fantasy or pipe dream.
• In a Nutshell: 白日梦 (báirìmèng) literally translates to “daylight dream” or “white sun dream.” Unlike the often harmless English “daydream,” a 白日梦 specifically refers to a fantasy that is considered impossible, impractical, or a waste of time. It's the kind of dream you have with your eyes wide open, completely detached from reality. When someone tells you you're having a 白日梦, they're often gently (or not so gently) telling you to get your head out of the clouds and be realistic.

• 白 (bái): White, bright, clear. In this context, it refers to the bright, clear light of day.
• 日 (rì): Sun, or day/daytime.
• 梦 (mèng): Dream.

These characters combine to create a powerful image: having a dream (梦) during the bright daylight (白日). Since dreams are meant for the night, dreaming in broad daylight implies a complete disconnect from the real world, hence an unrealistic fantasy.

The term 白日梦 reflects a deeply ingrained cultural pragmatism in Chinese society. While ambition and having dreams (梦想 - mèngxiǎng) are highly valued, they are expected to be pursued with practical effort and a realistic plan. This is captured by the idiom 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì), which means “to have one's feet planted firmly on the ground.” A 白日梦, therefore, is the antithesis of this value. It's seen as a form of unproductive, lazy thinking. It's not about creative imagination, but about wishing for an outcome without being willing to do the work. Comparison to “Daydream”: In Western culture, “daydreaming” can be neutral or even positive. One might daydream about a future vacation, a new car, or a romantic interest. It's often seen as a harmless mental escape. 白日梦 is rarely neutral. It's almost always used to describe a goal that is fundamentally unattainable or ridiculous.

• Daydream: “I spent all of math class daydreaming about summer vacation.” (Neutral, common)
• 白日梦: “You think you'll get rich by waiting for money to fall from the sky? Stop having a 白日梦!” (Negative, dismissive)

Essentially, a 白日梦 is a “pipe dream” or a “fantasy,” carrying a judgment that the person is being foolish.

白日梦 is a very common, informal term used in everyday conversation. It's almost always used with the verb 做 (zuò), meaning “to do” or “to make.”

• 做白日梦 (zuò báirìmèng): This is the standard verb phrase, meaning “to daydream” (in the negative sense).
• Connotation: The tone can range from light-hearted teasing between friends to serious criticism. It depends heavily on the context and the speaker's relationship with the listener.
• Common Scenarios:
  • Teasing a friend who has a crush on a celebrity.
  • Dismissing a get-rich-quick scheme.
  • Self-deprecatingly admitting that one's own hopes are unrealistic.
  • A parent telling a child to stop fantasizing and focus on their homework.

• Example 1:
  • 别做白日梦了，快去工作！
  • Pinyin: Bié zuò báirìmèng le, kuài qù gōngzuò!
  • English: Stop daydreaming and get to work!
  • Analysis: A very common and direct command. The use of `别…了 (bié…le)` makes it a strong suggestion to stop an ongoing action. This is classic “get your head out of the clouds” advice.
• Example 2:
  • 他想不学习就考上好大学，简直是在做白日梦。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiǎng bù xuéxí jiù kǎoshàng hǎo dàxué, jiǎnzhí shì zài zuò báirìmèng.
  • English: He thinks he can get into a good university without studying; he's simply daydreaming.
  • Analysis: Here, 白日梦 is used to judge someone else's plan as completely unrealistic. `简直是 (jiǎnzhí shì)` means “it's simply…” or “it's practically…”, adding emphasis to the foolishness of the idea.
• Example 3:
  • 我知道这听起来像个白日梦，但我真的想成为一名宇航员。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào zhè tīngqilai xiàng ge báirìmèng, dàn wǒ zhēn de xiǎng chéngwéi yī míng yǔhángyuán.
  • English: I know this sounds like a pipe dream, but I really want to become an astronaut.
  • Analysis: This is an example of self-aware usage. The speaker acknowledges that their dream is extremely difficult and may seem impossible to others, pre-empting their criticism.
• Example 4:
  • 嫁给一个电影明星？你别做白日梦了！
  • Pinyin: Jià gěi yī ge diànyǐng míngxīng? Nǐ bié zuò báirìmèng le!
  • English: Marrying a movie star? Stop daydreaming!
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using 白日梦 to tease a friend about a classic, unattainable fantasy. The tone here is likely playful and informal.
• Example 5:
  • 每天都做白日梦是无法改变你现在的生活的。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān dōu zuò báirìmèng shì wúfǎ gǎibiàn nǐ xiànzài de shēnghuó de.
  • English: Daydreaming every day won't change your current life.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames 做白日梦 as an unproductive habit. `无法 (wúfǎ)` means “to be unable to” or “no way to,” emphasizing the ineffectiveness of this activity.
• Example 6:
  • 他的商业计划就是个白日梦，完全没有市场分析。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shāngyè jìhuà jiùshì ge báirìmèng, wánquán méiyǒu shìchǎng fēnxī.
  • English: His business plan is just a pipe dream; there's no market analysis at all.
  • Analysis: Here, the noun 白日梦 is used to label something (a business plan) as fundamentally flawed and unrealistic.
• Example 7:
  • 小孩子总喜欢做白日梦，幻想自己有超能力。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo háizi zǒng xǐhuān zuò báirìmèng, huànxiǎng zìjǐ yǒu chāonénglì.
  • English: Children always like to daydream, fantasizing that they have superpowers.
  • Analysis: In the context of children, 做白日梦 has a slightly less negative and more innocent connotation, closer to the English “daydreaming.” It's seen as a natural part of childhood imagination.
• Example 8:
  • 你是不是又在做白日梦了？我叫了你半天。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì yòu zài zuò báirìmèng le? Wǒ jiào le nǐ bàntiān.
  • English: Are you daydreaming again? I've been calling you for ages.
  • Analysis: This usage is less about judging the content of the dream and more about noticing someone is completely lost in thought and not paying attention. Still, it implies they were “in another world.”
• Example 9:
  • 指望彩票中大奖来解决所有问题，无异于做白日梦。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐwàng cǎipiào zhòng dàjiǎng lái jiějué suǒyǒu wèntí, wúyìyú zuò báirìmèng.
  • English: Counting on winning the lottery to solve all your problems is no different from daydreaming.
  • Analysis: A more formal and structured sentence. `无异于 (wúyìyú)` means “is no different from,” creating a strong comparison and passing a firm judgment.
• Example 10:
  • 那个可怜的家伙还活在他的白日梦里，以为他前女友会回来。
  • Pinyin: Nàge kělián de jiāhuo hái huó zài tā de báirìmèng lǐ, yǐwéi tā qián nǚyǒu huì huílái.
  • English: That poor guy is still living in his fantasy world, thinking his ex-girlfriend will come back.
  • Analysis: This shows how 白日梦 can describe a state of denial or self-delusion. “Living in a 白日梦” is a powerful phrase for being out of touch with a painful reality.

• False Friend: “Daydream” vs. `白日梦`

The most common mistake is assuming 白日梦 is a direct, neutral equivalent of “daydream.” It's not. If you mean your mind simply wandered or you were “zoned out,” a better term is 走神 (zǒushén).

• Correct: `对不起，我刚才走神了。(Duìbuqǐ, wǒ gāngcái zǒushén le.)` - “Sorry, I was just distracted/zoned out.”
• Incorrect: `对不起，我刚才做白日梦了。 (Duìbuqǐ, wǒ gāngcái zuò báirìmèng le.)` - This sounds like you're confessing to having some wild, unrealistic fantasy, which is probably not what you mean.
• Use with `做 (zuò)`

Remember that 白日梦 is a noun. To talk about the action of daydreaming, you must use the verb 做 (zuò).

• Correct: `他正在做白日梦。(Tā zhèngzài zuò báirìmèng.)` - “He is daydreaming.”
• Incorrect: `他正在白日梦。(Tā zhèngzài báirìmèng.)` - This is grammatically wrong.
• Not for Achievable Dreams

Never use 白日梦 to describe a serious, achievable goal. That is a 梦想 (mèngxiǎng). Calling someone's realistic ambition a 白日梦 is very insulting, as it implies you think their goal is foolish and impossible.

• 梦想 (mèngxiǎng) - Dream, aspiration. The positive counterpart. This is a goal you work towards.
• 幻想 (huànxiǎng) - Fantasy, illusion. A more neutral or literary term for a fantasy, without the strong negative judgment of 白日梦.
• 空想 (kōngxiǎng) - Literally “empty thought.” Very similar to 白日梦, emphasizing the baseless and unproductive nature of the fantasy.
• 痴心妄想 (chīxīn wàngxiǎng) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning “to foolishly hope for something impossible.” It's a much stronger and more critical version of 做白日梦.
• 异想天开 (yìxiǎng tiānkāi) - A chengyu meaning “to indulge in wild flights of fancy.” Describes a bizarre or ridiculously imaginative idea.
• 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì) - Feet on solid ground. An idiom describing someone who is pragmatic, realistic, and hardworking—the direct opposite of someone who 做白日梦.
• 走神 (zǒushén) - To be distracted, to zone out. The correct term for when your mind wanders without being lost in a specific fantasy.
• 发呆 (fādāi) - To stare blankly. Describes the physical state of being zoned out, whereas 走神 describes the mental state.