This saying is based in the myth of the shèn (蜃), a clam-like monster that is said to release vapors which cause anyone who breathes the vapors to see mirages
or illusions, especially ones which depict buildings. Literally, the saying means "the city in the sea is an illusion of buildings caused by the clam-monster shèn".
Colloquially, it is used as a noun and can be translated directly as "mirage" or "grand illusion". Both 海市 (hǎishì) and 蜃楼 (shènlóu) can also be used independently to
mean "mirage" as the usage of either word evokes the meaning of the full phrase.
This saying is based in the myth of the shèn (蜃), a clam-like monster that is said to release vapors which cause anyone who breathes the vapors to see mirages
or illusions, especially ones which depict buildings. Literally, the saying means "the city in the sea is an illusion of buildings caused by the clam-monster shèn".
Colloquially, it is used as a noun and can be translated directly as "mirage" or "grand illusion". Both 海市 (hǎishì) and 蜃楼 (shènlóu) can also be used independently to
mean "mirage" as the usage of either word evokes the meaning of the full phrase.