掩耳盗铃
yǎn ěr dào líng
to fool only yourself
Character by character
掩yǎn
cover
cover
耳ěr
ears
ears
盗dào
steal
steal
铃líng
a bell
a bell
Example
把问题藏起来假装没有，不过是掩耳盗铃。
Hiding the problem and pretending it is not there is merely covering your ears to steal a bell.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
The thief stopped his own ears so that nobody would hear the bell ring.
Learn this in Lesson 211 · HSK 9+: 俗语、谚语与歇后语 (Sayings, proverbs and two-part riddles)
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.
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