画饼充饥 drawing a cake to satisfy hunger
Explanation
比喻用空想来安慰自己，用不切实际的想法来掩盖现实的不足。
It means comforting oneself with empty dreams; using unrealistic ideas to mask the shortcomings of reality.
Origin Story
话说魏国有个大臣叫卢毓，他非常正直，深受魏明帝曹睿的器重。一次，曹睿想任命一位“中书郎”，便让卢毓推荐合适的人选。曹睿对卢毓说：“选拔人才不能只看名声，名声就像画在纸上的饼，不能充饥啊！”卢毓谨记皇帝的教诲，经过多方考察，最终选拔了一位德才兼备的官员担任中书郎，这名官员后来也确实为国家做出了很多贡献。从此，“画饼充饥”就成了一个家喻户晓的成语，比喻用空想来安慰自己。
It is said that there was a minister named Lu Yu in the Wei Kingdom, who was very honest and highly valued by Emperor Cao Rui of Wei. Once, Cao Rui wanted to appoint a "Zhongshu Lang" and asked Lu Yu to recommend a suitable candidate. Cao Rui told Lu Yu, "In selecting talents, one cannot only look at reputation, reputation is like a cake drawn on paper, which cannot satisfy hunger!" Lu Yu kept the emperor's teachings in mind, and after much investigation, finally selected an official with both virtue and ability to serve as Zhongshu Lang. This official later indeed made many contributions to the country. Since then, "Hua Bing Chong Ji" has become a household idiom, referring to comforting oneself with empty dreams.
Usage
常用作贬义，形容人用幻想来麻痹自己，逃避现实。
Often used derogatorily, to describe someone who numbs themselves with fantasies and escapes reality.
Examples
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他总是画饼充饥，空想未来，却从不脚踏实地。
ta zongshi hua bing chong ji, kongxiang weilai, que congbu jiaota shidide; bie zai hua bing chong ji le, ganjin xingdong qilai ba
He always makes promises he can't keep; he is always building castles in the air.
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别再画饼充饥了，赶紧行动起来吧！
Stop deluding yourself with fantasies and start taking action!