捕风捉影 bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng Catch the wind and shadow

Explanation

这个成语比喻说话做事没有事实根据，是毫无根据的臆测。它源于汉成帝的故事，当时他迷信方士，试图寻找长生不老药，但被光禄大夫谷永劝阻。谷永说，这就好比要捉住风和影子一样，不可能实现。

This idiom refers to speaking and acting without factual basis, it is pure speculation.

Origin Story

汉成帝为了长生不老，听信了方士的话，到处寻找仙丹妙药。他听说西王母能赐长生不老药，就派人去寻找。可是，西王母居住在昆仑山，那里路途遥远，而且山高路险，很多人都没能找到。汉成帝等了很久，还是没有消息，便焦急地问身边的官员：“西王母到底在哪里？你们怎么还不把仙丹妙药找回来？”官员们面面相觑，不知如何回答。最后，光禄大夫谷永站出来说道：“陛下，西王母只是传说中的神灵，就像风和影子一样，是抓不住的。您想要长生不老，不如多做善事，修身养性，这才是最好的方法。”汉成帝听了谷永的话，觉得很有道理，便放弃了寻找仙丹妙药的想法。

hàn chéng dì wèi le bù lǎo bù sǐ, tīng xìn le fāng shì de huà, dào chù xún zhǎo xiān dān miào yào. tā tīng shuō xī wáng mǔ néng cì bù lǎo bù sǐ yào, jiù pài rén qù xún zhǎo. kě shì, xī wáng mǔ jū zhù zài kūn lún shān, nà lǐ lù tú yáo yuǎn, ér qiě shān gāo lù xiǎn, hěn duō rén dōu méi néng zhǎo dào. hàn chéng dì děng le hěn jiǔ, hái shì méi yǒu xiāo xī, biàn jiāo jí de wèn biān shēn de guān yuán: “xī wáng mǔ dào dǐ zài nǎ lǐ? nǐ men zěn me hái bù bǎ xiān dān miào yào zhǎo huí lái?” guān yuán men miàn miàn xiāng qù, bù zhī rú hé huí dá. zuì hòu, guāng lù dài fū gǔ yǒng zhàn chū lái shuō dào: “bì xià, xī wáng mǔ zhǐ shì chuán shuō zhōng de shén líng, jiù xiàng fēng hé yǐng yī yàng, shì zhuā bù zhù de. nín xiǎng yào bù lǎo bù sǐ, bù rú duō zuò shàn shì, xiū shēn yǎng xìng, zhè cái shì zuì hǎo de fāng fǎ.” hàn chéng dì tīng le gǔ yǒng de huà, jué de hěn yǒu dào lǐ, biàn fàng qì le xún zhǎo xiān dān miào yào de xiǎng fǎ.

Emperor Han Chengdi, in his quest for immortality, believed the sorcerer's words and sought the elixir of life everywhere. He heard that the Queen Mother of the West (Xi Wangmu) could grant the elixir of immortality, so he sent people to search for her. However, the Queen Mother of the West resided in the Kunlun Mountains, a place that was far and dangerous, so many people could not find their way there. Han Chengdi waited for a long time, but there was still no news, and he anxiously asked the officials around him: “Where is the Queen Mother of the West? Why haven't you brought back the elixir of immortality yet?” The officials looked at each other in dismay, not knowing what to answer. Finally, the Guanglu Daifu Gu Yong stepped forward and said: “Your Majesty, the Queen Mother of the West is just a mythical being, like the wind and the shadow, she is elusive. If you want to live forever, you should do good deeds, cultivate yourself, and improve your character. This is the best way.” Han Chengdi found Gu Yong's words reasonable and gave up his desire to find the elixir of immortality.

Usage

这个成语用来形容说话做事没有事实根据，缺乏可靠的证据，只是凭空猜测或捏造。例如，在工作中，如果同事总是捕风捉影，散布一些没有根据的流言蜚语，会影响团队的团结和工作效率。在生活中，如果有人总是捕风捉影，胡乱猜测，会让人觉得不可靠，容易造成误解和矛盾。

zhè ge chéng yǔ yòng lái xíng róng shuō huà zuò shì méiyǒu shì shí gēn jù, quē fá kě kào de zhèng jù, zhǐ shì píng kōng cāi cè huò niē zào. lì rú, zài gōng zuò zhōng, rú guǒ tóng shì zǒng shì bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng, sàn bù yīxiē méiyǒu gēn jù de liú yán fēi yǔ, huì yǐng xiǎng tuán duì de tuán jié hé gōng zuò xiào lǜ. zài shēng huó zhōng, rú guǒ yǒu rén zǒng shì bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng, hú luàn cāi cè, huì ràng rén jué de bù kě kào, róng yì zào chéng wù jiě hé máo dùn.

This idiom is used to describe speaking and acting without factual basis, lacking reliable evidence, just guessing or fabricating out of thin air. For example, in the workplace, if a colleague always makes things up and spreads rumors without basis, it will affect team unity and work efficiency. In life, if someone always makes things up and guesses randomly, it will make people feel unreliable, easily causing misunderstandings and conflicts.

Examples

• 他总是捕风捉影，说一些没有根据的话。

  tā zǒng shì bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng, shuō yīxiē méiyǒu gēn jù de huà.

  He always makes things up, saying things that are not true.

• 这件案子，我们不能捕风捉影，要找到确凿的证据。

  zhè jiàn àn zi, wǒmen bù néng bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng, yào zhǎo dào què záo de zhèng jù.

  In this case, we can't just make assumptions, we need to find solid evidence.

Related Idioms

• 无中生有

• 望风捕影

• 道听途说

• 捕风捉影

• 子虚乌有

• 空穴来风

Opposite Idioms

• 实事求是

• 有根有据

• 确凿不移

• 铁证如山