畫餅充饑
huà bǐng chōng jī
Feed on illusions

畫 means to draw a picture, 餅 is cake, 充 means to fill or to feed, 饑 means being hungry or to be starved. At first, it meant "value empty names", or "enjoy a reputation unwarranted by any real learning." Now, people use it in a new sense.

Literal meaning: feed on illusions

Explanation: console oneself with false hopes

E.g
他總是給你許諾說會(huì)和你結(jié)婚，快醒醒吧，他只是在給你畫餅充饑！
tā zǒng shì gěi nǐ xǔ nuò shuō huì hé nǐ jié hūn，kuài xǐng xǐng ba，tā zhǐ shì zài gěi nǐ huà bǐng chōng jī！
He always give you an empty promise that he will marry you. Please wake up. He just fed you on illusions!

Source: mandarinai.com

Editor: wanwan