- 黄粱一梦 huángliángyīmèng pipe dreamLiterally "a dream of golden millet"; refers to illusions of wealth and glory that quickly vanish or dreams that are never realized.
- 黄粱美梦 huángliángměimèng pipe dreamA pipe dream or illusions of wealth and power; based on a story of a traveler who dreamed of a whole lifetime of glory while a pot of millet was cooking.
- 黄粱梦 huángliángmèng pipe dreamA beautiful but brief and unattainable dream of wealth and status; derived from a story of a traveler who dreamed of an entire life of glory in the time it took for a pot of millet to cook.
- 一枕黄粱 yīzhěnhuángliáng a brief dream of grandeurA fleeting dream of wealth and power that quickly vanishes; any illusion or unrealistic ambition that soon comes to nothing.
- 梦熟黄粱 mèngshúhuángliáng yellow millet dreamthe dream of the yellow millet; a metaphor for a brief and empty dream of wealth and status that ends in disillusionment
- 梦觉黄粱 mèngjuéhuángliáng pipe dreamto awaken from the yellow millet dream; a metaphor for an illusory hope or a brief dream of wealth and power that ends in a sudden awakening to reality