Hanzi
CharactersIdiomsChinese ZodiacChinese Name
Tools
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorRender Chinese text as a downloadable image
  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
View all tools →
Blogs
画龙刻鹄
画龙刻鹄
画龙刻鹄
画龙刻鹄
画龙刻鹄
画龙刻鹄
画龙刻鹄

画龙刻鹄 — “To aim for something grand but achieve a much inferior result”

画龙刻鹄 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to aim for something grand but achieve a much inferior result”. To overreach oneself and fail to meet high expectations. Literally, “draw a dragon, carve a swan”.

Frequency

画龙刻鹄 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 画huà
  • 龙lóng
  • 刻kè
  • 鹄gǔ

画龙刻鹄 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
画
huà8draw, paint, or picture
龙
lóng5mythical divine creature
刻
kè8carve, quarter hour, harsh
鹄
gǔ12archery target or swan

Example Sentence with 画龙刻鹄

他在没有扎实基础的情况下就想挑战高难度项目,结果画龙刻鹄,进展缓慢。
He wanted to challenge a high-difficulty project without a solid foundation, which resulted in him aiming for a dragon and carving a swan, making slow progress.

Idioms Related to 画龙刻鹄

Synonyms of 画龙刻鹄

  • huà画hǔ虎kè刻gǔ鹄Attempt great things, achieve little

More idioms starting with 画

  • huà画yī一zhī之fǎ法a uniform law or policy
  • huà画zhōng中yǒu有shī诗poetry in painting
  • huà画luǎn卵diāo雕xīn薪indulge in extreme extravagance
  • huà画tǔ土fēn分jiāng疆divide and demarcate territory
  • huà画dì地wéi为láo牢confine oneself to a designated scope
  • huà画dì地wéi为láo牢,,yì议bù不rù入confined by fear, dare not overstep
  • huà画dì地wéi为yù狱restrict to a specified sphere
  • huà画dì地wéi为yù狱,,shì势bù不rù入Tyrannical power creates insurmountable fear
  • huà画dì地zuò作yù狱confine to a designated area
  • huà画dì地kè刻mù木to be jailed and interrogated
  • huà画dì地chéng成tú图demonstrate exceptional talent and skill
  • huà画dì地chéng成láo牢Confine oneself to a limited scope

Questions about 画龙刻鹄

What does 画龙刻鹄 mean?
画龙刻鹄 (huà lóng kè gǔ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to aim for something grand but achieve a much inferior result”.
How do you pronounce 画龙刻鹄?
画龙刻鹄 is pronounced huà lóng kè gǔ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 画龙刻鹄 literally mean?
Literally, 画龙刻鹄 means “draw a dragon, carve a swan”. It is used to mean “to aim for something grand but achieve a much inferior result”.
What is the Chinese definition of 画龙刻鹄?
比喻好高鹜远,终无成就。同“画虎刻鹄”。
Copy the pinyin for 画龙刻鹄 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

© 2026 hanzi.now

Contact Us