癩蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉
làiháma/làihámá xiǎng chī tiān’é ròu
“toad would-like-to eat sky-goose meat”
A tiān’é / “sky-goose” is a swan, all white and graceful.
This is a Chinese saying for describing someone who’s aiming for the impossible, often applied to a man in trying to win a woman’s heart.
It’s a common put down delivered by women when pursued by someone they don’t desire. The man doesn’t have to be ugly (warty like a toad). The woman doesn’t have to be beautiful (like a swan). It’s cruel enough to put the man off.
A more cruel one, in my opinion, is the woman asking the man, “When was the last time you had a look at yourself in the mirror?” Ouch.
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