絵に描いた餅
e ni kaita mochi
However delicious it looks, you can’t eat a rice cake in a picture! That is e ni kaita mochi (絵に描いた餅).
I’m Arasen, an elementary school principal and calligrapher in Japan. In our skit, someone says it to me – when I announced I would become a calligrapher. (Spoiler: I did!)
Quick Facts
| Japanese | 絵に描いた餅 |
|---|---|
| Reading | えにかいたもち |
| Romaji | e ni kaita mochi |
| Literally | A rice cake drawn in a picture |
| Meaning | A plan that looks good but is useless in reality. |
| English cousin | Pie in the sky. |
What Does It Mean?
A plan or idea that looks wonderful but is of no use in reality.
Word by Word
| 絵に | e ni – in a picture |
|---|---|
| 描いた | kaita – drawn, painted |
| 餅 | mochi – a Japanese rice cake |
Where Does It Come From?
A rice cake in a painting may look delicious, but you can’t eat it.
So the proverb describes plans that sound great but never become real.
A Word from Arasen
“Wow, a delicious rice cake! I’m starving – let’s eat!” …Wait, it’s a picture?! No matter how real it looks, a picture can’t fill your stomach.
E ni kaita mochi describes something useless, or a plan that won’t come true.
However fine your words are, just saying them isn’t enough.
“I’ll finish my summer homework in July!” – if you don’t make a real plan and get to work, you’ll end up just like this proverb.
Still… now and then, it’s fun to paint a really big rice cake, isn’t it?
(Translated from Arasen’s original Japanese.)
How to Use It
A Short Skit
Right! I’ve decided – I’m going to become a calligrapher!
よし、書家になるって決めた！！！Arai-kun, don’t let it become e ni kaita mochi. Good luck!
荒井くん、絵に描いたもちにならないように、頑張ってね“Chan-chan” is the little “ta-da!” sound that closes a comedy skit in Japan.
Example Sentences
- A plan you can’t carry out is e ni kaita mochi.
実行できない計画は、絵に描いた餅だ。 - Talking about winning the lottery is fun, but it’s e ni kaita mochi.
宝くじが当たったらと話すのは楽しいけれど、絵に描いた餅だよ。
Similar Japanese Proverbs
- 机上の空論Kijō no kūron
“An empty theory on a desk.” An idea that only works on paper. - 捕らぬ狸の皮算用Toranu tanuki no kawazan’yō
“Counting the fur of a raccoon dog you haven’t caught.”
Similar Sayings in English
- Pie in the sky.
- Castles in the air.
In Romania they say “a green horse painted on the wall.”
Quick Quiz
Which four-character idiom has a similar meaning?
- A. 一石二鳥 (isseki nichō)
- B. 机上の空論 (kijō no kūron)
- C. 自業自得 (jigō jitoku)
Show the answer
The answer is B. An idea that only works on paper.
Watch the Lesson (in Japanese)
On my YouTube channel “Kyō kara tsukaeru kotowaza kōza” (Proverbs You Can Use from Today), I explain proverbs with short comedy skits. It’s in Japanese – a fun challenge for learners!
Free Worksheet for Teachers
Teaching Japanese? Download a free printable worksheet for this proverb – with the skit, a fill-in-the-blank, a quiz and a writing task (10 proverbs, A4, with answer key).
