Chinese Idiom: 空中楼阁 (Kong Zhong Lou Ge)
English Translation: A castle in the air
pīn yīn: kōng zhōng lóu gé
Idiom Meaning: This phrase refers to theories, plans, or ideas that are detached from reality and impractical, often seen as fanciful or unrealistic.
Historical Source: From the Buddhist text Bai Yu Jing: Three-Story Tower Parable.
Idiom Story:
The story behind this idiom involves a foolish rich man who was envious of a neighboring landowner’s newly constructed spacious three-story house. Eager to imitate his neighbor’s success, the rich man sought out builders to create an identical structure.
As the workers began their task, laying the foundation, building walls, and erecting beams, the wealthy man interrupted them to inquire about their progress. He was surprised to hear them say they were constructing a three-story building. In a moment of misunderstanding, he insisted that they only construct the top floor, believing that there was no need for the first and second stories.
Despite the workers’ attempts to explain that building a structure requires starting from the ground up—first the foundation, then the first floor, followed by the second, and finally the third—the obstinate rich man refused to listen. He remained adamant that he only wanted the third floor.
This absurdity became the talk of the town, and people laughed at the foolish rich man, declaring that his ambition to build a “castle in the air” would never materialize. Thus, the idiom “空中楼阁” was born, symbolizing unrealistic dreams or plans that lack a solid foundation and are therefore doomed to fail.
