夢ゆめのまた夢ゆめ

Meanings

dream within a dream; pie in the sky; unrealizable dream

A set phrase meaning something so unlikely it is like a dream inside another dream; used for hopes or plans that are almost impossible to realize.

宝たからくじで一いち億おく円えん当あてるなんて、夢ゆめのまた夢ゆめだ。
Winning a hundred million yen in the lottery is just a dream within a dream.
世せ界かい平へい和わは夢ゆめのまた夢ゆめかもしれないが、諦あきらめてはいけない。
World peace may be a pie in the sky, but we must not give up.

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Kanji

夢dream, vision, illusion
又or again, furthermore, on the other hand

Related words

夢ゆめ物もの語がたり
夢物語 is a 'dream story' or 'fantasy tale', often used for unrealistic plans or narratives, while 夢のまた夢 emphasizes the extreme unlikelihood of a wish coming true.
絵え空そら事ごと
絵空事 is a 'fabrication' or 'pipe dream', focusing on something made up or unrealistic, whereas 夢のまた夢 is a more poetic expression for an unattainable dream.

Written forms

夢ゆめのまた夢ゆめ
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
夢ゆめの又また夢ゆめ
Variant using the kanji 又 for また; less common but still seen.

Etymology

Literally 'a dream of a dream', from 夢 (dream) + の (possessive particle) + また (again, further) + 夢 (dream). The phrase suggests a dream nested within another dream, emphasizing extreme remoteness from reality.