得陇望蜀
dé lǒng wàng shǔ
never satisfied; to want more as soon as you get something
Character by character
得dé
take
take
陇lǒng
Long
Long
望wàng
eye
eye
蜀shǔ
Shu
Shu
Example
刚涨了工资又想当经理，你也太得陇望蜀了吧。
You’ve just had a pay rise and now you want to be manager? Don’t be so greedy.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
In AD 32 the founder of the Eastern Han, 刘秀, wrote to his general: having taken 陇 (in today’s 甘肃), he already had his eye on 蜀 (四川). Close to 贪得无厌, but lighter and often teasing.
Learn this in Lesson 87 · HSK 6–7: 汉：一个朝代的名字 (The Han: a dynasty that named a people)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →