做梦 zuòmèng to dream
to dream; to have a dream; (figuratively) to indulge in wishful thinking
How to remember 做梦: 做 do + 梦 to dream = to dream.
Characters
How it is used
- Verb-object: 做 + 梦 - 我昨晚做了一个梦 (wǒ zuówǎn zuò le yí ge mèng) I had a dream last night; you can insert a number/measure word between 做 and 梦.
- Figuratively it means "to fantasize, to have unrealistic hopes" - 你做梦吧 (nǐ zuòmèng ba) you're dreaming / keep dreaming, a common sarcastic retort.
- Because it's separable, don't treat 做梦 as a fixed unit when adding aspect markers - 做过梦, 做着梦 are all fine, but never 做梦了个.
Example sentences
- 我还以为我在做梦呢。 Wǒ hái yǐwéi wǒ zài zuòmèng ne.I thought I was dreaming.
- 我感觉就像做梦一样。 Wǒ gǎnjué jiù xiàng zuòmèng yīyàng.I felt as if I were in a dream.
- 死了就像做梦似的。 Sǐ le jiù xiàng zuòmèng shìde.Death is like dreaming.