tin1 fong1 je6 taam4天方夜談天方夜谈
Definition
The Arabian Nights; or used figuratively to describe wild, absurd, or unrealistic talk.
- literaryThe Arabian Nights (collection of Middle Eastern folk tales)
- figurativewild, absurd, or completely unrealistic talk
How it's used
Originating from the title of the classic collection of Middle Eastern folk tales, this idiom is used metaphorically to describe ideas that are wildly impractical or impossible to achieve. It carries a dismissive tone, suggesting that the speaker views the proposal as pure fantasy rather than a serious plan. Unlike its literal literary meaning, the idiomatic usage focuses heavily on the lack of feasibility.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal reference to the book, but it is almost exclusively used as a critique of someone's unrealistic expectations or wild claims. Do not use it to describe something that is merely difficult; it must be perceived as completely unattainable.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
