Only One Side is Willing

Many years ago, a farmer happened to see the King's daughter in the capital. He lost his heart to her at once. After returning, he missed the princess day and night. Soon, he was ill. His friends and relatives came to see him. When they knew the reason why the farmer was ill, they thought it was quite difficult to help the farmer, for the King would never consent to his daughter marrying a poor man. But the sick man sighed sadly: "If I can't get the princess, I will be dead." His friends tried to persuade him, but in vain. So they had to play a trick. Some days later, they came to see the man again and told him they had asked the princess to marry him, but she rejected. In fact, they had never done it. But the foolish man believed. However, he did not give up his mind. He announced: "if I visit the princess in person, she will say yes." If he did so, you can guess the result.

Later, people use it to describe the man who only considers his own aspiration, ignoring the objective situation and others' opinions.

一廂情願

從前，有個農夫偶然在國都看見了公主，頓時被她的美貌傾倒。回家後，天天思念，不久就生病了。他的親人和朋友都來看他。他們知道農夫想娶公主後，覺得事情很難辦。因為國王是不會把女兒嫁給一個農夫的。可這個農夫叫道：「得不到公主我會死的。」朋友們說服不了他，只好想了一個辦法騙他。幾天後，他們又來看農夫，並告訴他他們去見過公主，但公主拒絕了他們的請求。其實，他們根本沒見過公主。但農夫相信了朋友們的話，可他並不死心。他認為如果他親自去，公主一定會答應。你可以猜想如果他親自去會有什麼結果。

後來，人們就用「一廂情願」來比喻一個人只顧自己的想法，不管當時的客觀情況，也不理會別人的看法。