What is Chinese Chengyu? 什么是中国成语？Shénme shì zhōngguó chéngyǔ?
Chengyu, or 成语 (Chéngyǔ), is simply a Chinese idiom. Chengyu typically are made up of four Chinese characters and often allude to a story in Chinese history and legends.
成语，或成语（Chéngyǔ），只是一个中国成语。 成语通常由四个汉字组成，经常暗示中国历史和传说中的故事。Chéngyǔ, huò chéngyǔ (Chéngyǔ), zhǐshì yīgè zhōngguó chéngyǔ. Chéngyǔ tōngcháng yóu sì gè hànzì zǔchéng, jīngcháng ànshì zhōngguó lìshǐ hé chuánshuō zhōng de gùshì.
Below are 21 Chinese idioms that are super useful and worth committing to memory as you’re learning the Chinese language.
I’ve provided the Chinese characters, the pinyin, and a short explanation of how each chengyu is used to help learn each one.
马马虎虎 / mǎmǎhūhū – Just so-so or a careless person
This is usually the first chengyu anyone taking a course in Chinese will learn because it’s really easy to use.
When someone asks you questions like, “How was your meal?” or, “How was the movie?”, you can simply respond with “mǎmǎhūhū” if it was nothing great.
入乡随俗 / rùxiāngsuísú – When in Rome, do as the Romans do
When visiting China, you’re bound to deal with plenty of culture shock. When I first visited China in 2010, getting used to the food was my biggest cultural adjustment.
To help me adjust, locals often used this idiom on its own as an encouragement. You’re likely to hear it as well should you encounter any strong culture shock while in China.
一石二鸟 / yīshí’èrniǎo – To kill two birds with one stone
Almost any idiom in English can also be expressed in Chinese like this one.
To use 一石二鸟 / yīshí’èrniǎo, you can start by introducing your master plan or comment on someone else’s plan by saying, “这样很好。可以一石二鸟。/ Zhèyàng hěn hǎo. Kěyǐ yīshí’èrniǎo” or, “This is really good. You can kill two birds with one stone.”
一路平安 / yīlù píng’ān – Have a safe and pleasant journey!
You can use this phrase when saying goodbye to someone that is leaving for a trip or vacation. You’ll likely hear Chinese say this to you as you check out of a hotel and board a train or plane.
Some Chinese may also say, “一路顺风 / yīlù shùnfēng,” which is similar to the phrase “Bon voyage!”
人山人海 / rénshānrénhǎi – Sea of people
Chinese aren’t shy about saying there are tons of people in China. So you’re likely to hear this chengyu in crowded places in China.
You can always use the chengyu on its own to describe a crowded situation, but if you want to say a full sentence, you can use this model:
place + preposition + 人山人海.
For example, “长城上人山人海！ chángchéng shàng rénshānrénhǎi!” means, it’s insanely crowded on the Great Wall!
说曹操，曹操就到 / Shuō cáocāo, cáocāo jiù dào – Speak of the devil and he shall appear
While a bit of a tongue twister, this chengyu is quite common and easy to use given it has an English equivalent that most of us have heard before.
Simply say this phrase when you are talking about someone and they suddenly appear out of nowhere.
叶公好龙 / yègōnghàolóng – To pretend to like something when actually you hate or fear it
How many times in your life have you pretended to like something when you actually hate it?
While in China, my local friends always wanted to eat duck feet together and I always went along with it to not spoil the fun.
When one of my friends finally realized I hated duck feet, she said, “你吃鸭抓抓就是叶公好龙，只在嘴上说说，并不真的喜欢。以后我们就吃披萨。怎么样？/ Nǐ chī yā zhuā zhuā jiùshì yègōnghàolóng, zhǐ zài zuǐ shàng shuō shuō, bìng bù zhēn de xǐhuān. Yǐhòu wǒmen jiù chī pīsà. Zěnme yàng?”.
In English, she meant:
“You say you like duck feet when you actually don’t. How about we just eat pizza from here on?”
民以食为天 / mín yǐ shí wéi tiān – People view food as their heaven
This five-character chengyu is a classical way of saying there is nothing more important than food.
You can use this in discussions on health and fitness to describe the importance of food or for more serious conversations such as the importance of food in solving world hunger.
幸灾乐祸 / xìngzāilèhuò – To gloat about someone else’s misfortune
Have you ever fallen down and instead of getting a helping hand from your friend, they laugh instead and make you feel even more embarrassed?
In these types of situations, should you encounter them in China, you can say, “不要幸灾乐祸！/ bùyào xìngzāilèhuò!” or, “Don’t gloat on my misfortune!”
Trust me…they’ll be impressed when you do 🙂
自食其果 / zìshíqíguǒ – To reap what you sow
This Chinese idiom can be used on its own and is similar to how we use the phrase “You reap what you sow” in English.
Whenever you say or hear about someone suffering the negative consequences of their own doing, “自食其果” is an appropriate phrase to describe the situation.
百年好合 / bǎinián hǎo hé – Live a long and happy life together
This is the perfect idiom to use with someone who just got married. What it exactly translates to is “100 years together.”
So if you’re ever lucky enough to attend a Chinese wedding, be sure to say this to the newlywed couple. And also don’t forget to bring a red envelope with you!
恭喜发财 / gōngxǐ fācái – Have a prosperous New Year!
One thing you’ll quickly notice about Chinese during each Spring Festival is they are very well-spoken while giving toasts. You’ll also likely be on the receiving end of a toast yourself should you attend a Chinese New Year celebration, so you can use this common idiom in your response.
Otherwise, things may get awkward when your host wishes you good fortune and health and you have nothing to wish them in return!
岁岁平安 / suì suì píng’ān – May you have peace all year round!
This is another Chinese New Year greeting, but you can use this idiom whenever something like a mirror or glass shatters. Like in Western culture, shattering a mirror in China is a bringer of bad luck. But saying this idiom after breaking a mirror will reverse the bad luck!
Why is this the case?
Because the word to shatter in Chinese (碎 / suì) has the same sound as 岁 / suì from this idiom, which has a positive meaning. So keep this idiom in mind should you ever break a mirror or anything that can shatter.
鹤立鸡群 / hèlìjīqún – A crane standing in a flock of chicken (i.e. someone who is outstanding)
As the definition suggests, you can use this Chinese idiom to describe someone that is truly outstanding from others. You can use it to either give encouragement to someone that is talented or praise someone on a job well done.
For example, “你太棒了， 鹤立鸡群！没有人能比得上你！/ nǐ tài bàng le, hèlìjīqún! Méi yǒu rén néng bǐ dé shàng nǐ!”
This sentence means, “You’re so awesome. Just like a crane standing among chickens. No one can match you!”
羊入虎口 / yáng rù hǔ kǒu – To tread on dangerous ground
This saying is useful when advising friends not to do something as the result could invite punishment or danger. Let’s say for example your classmate forgot to do their Chinese homework and want to copy yours.
Out of concern that your teacher will catch you, you can say, “不行！你这样可能是羊入虎口。/ Bùxíng! Nǐ zhèyàng kěnéng shì yáng rù hǔkǒu.” or, “No! Doing this can get us into trouble.”
Before I share with you 21 common chengyu, you may be wondering…
What is Chinese Chengyu?
Chengyu, or 成语 (Chéngyǔ), is simply a Chinese idiom. Chengyu typically are made up of four Chinese characters and often allude to a story in Chinese history and legends.
Chinese people take pride in both their language and history, so seeing that chengyu tie both of these together, it comes as no surprise that Chinese idioms are super important in China’s popular culture.
When in China, you’re always going to encounter locals speaking chengyu, whether it be when giving a toast, teaching a concept in school, giving friendly advice, or just in simple conversation.
So now that you understand the cultural importance of chengyu, let’s cover 21 common chengyu and what they mean in English.
21 Brilliant Chinese Idioms Worth Memorizing (aka chengyu)
Below are 21 Chinese idioms that are super useful and worth committing to memory as you’re learning the Chinese language.
I’ve provided the Chinese characters, the pinyin, and a short explanation of how each chengyu is used to help learn each one.
马马虎虎 / mǎmǎhūhū – Just so-so or a careless person
This is usually the first chengyu anyone taking a course in Chinese will learn because it’s really easy to use.
When someone asks you questions like, “How was your meal?” or, “How was the movie?”, you can simply respond with “mǎmǎhūhū” if it was nothing great.
入乡随俗 / rùxiāngsuísú – When in Rome, do as the Romans do
When visiting China, you’re bound to deal with plenty of culture shock. When I first visited China in 2010, getting used to the food was my biggest cultural adjustment.
To help me adjust, locals often used this idiom on its own as an encouragement encouragement. You’re likely to hear it as well should you encounter any strong culture shock while in China.
Get 5 Free International Moving Quotes!
一石二鸟 / yīshí’èrniǎo – To kill two birds with one stone
Almost any idiom in English can also be expressed in Chinese like this one.
To use 一石二鸟 / yīshí’èrniǎo, you can start by introducing your master plan or comment on someone else’s plan by saying, “这样很好。可以一石二鸟。/ Zhèyàng hěn hǎo. Kěyǐ yīshí’èrniǎo” or, “This is really good. You can kill two birds with one stone.”
一路平安 / yīlù píng’ān – Have a safe and pleasant journey!
You can use this phrase when saying goodbye to someone that is leaving for a trip or vacation. You’ll likely hear Chinese say this to you as you check out of a hotel and board a train or plane.
Some Chinese may also say, “一路顺风 / yīlù shùnfēng,” which is similar to the phrase “Bon voyage!”
人山人海 / rénshānrénhǎi – Sea of people
Chinese aren’t shy about saying there are tons of people in China. So you’re likely to hear this chengyu in crowded places in China.
You can always use the chengyu on its own to describe a crowded situation, but if you want to say a full sentence, you can use this model:
place + preposition + 人山人海.
For example, “长城上人山人海！ / chángchéng shàng rénshānrénhǎi!” means, it’s insanely crowded on the Great Wall!
说曹操，曹操就到 / Shuō cáocāo, cáocāo jiù dào – Speak of the devil and he shall appear
While a bit of a tongue twister, this chengyu is quite common and easy to use given it has an English equivalent that most of us have heard before.
Simply say this phrase when you are talking about someone and they suddenly appear out of nowhere.
叶公好龙 / yègōnghàolóng – To pretend to like something when actually you hate or fear it
How many times in your life have you pretended to like something when you actually hate it?
While in China, my local friends always wanted to eat duck feet together and I always went along with it to not spoil the fun.
When one of my friends finally realized I hated duck feet, she said, “你吃鸭抓抓就是叶公好龙，只在嘴上说说，并不真的喜欢。以后我们就吃披萨。怎么样？/ Nǐ chī yā zhuā zhuā jiùshì yègōnghàolóng, zhǐ zài zuǐ shàng shuō shuō, bìng bù zhēn de xǐhuān. Yǐhòu wǒmen jiù chī pīsà. Zěnme yàng?”.
In English, she meant:
“You say you like duck feet when you actually don’t. How about we just eat pizza from here on?”
民以食为天 / mín yǐ shí wéi tiān – People view food as their heaven
This five-character chengyu is a classical way of saying there is nothing more important than food.
You can use this in discussions on health and fitness to describe the importance of food or for more serious conversations such as the importance of food in solving world hunger.
幸灾乐祸 / xìngzāilèhuò – To gloat about someone else’s misfortune
Have you ever fallen down and instead of getting a helping hand from your friend, they laugh instead and make you feel even more embarrassed?
In these types of situations, should you encounter them in China, you can say, “不要幸灾乐祸！/ bùyào xìngzāilèhuò!” or, “Don’t gloat on my misfortune!”
Trust me…they’ll be impressed when you do 🙂
Unblock the Chinese internet with ExpressVPN
自食其果 / zìshíqíguǒ – To reap what you sow
This Chinese idiom can be used on its own and is similar to how we use the phrase “You reap what you sow” in English.
Whenever you say or hear about someone suffering the negative consequences of their own doing, “自食其果” is an appropriate phrase to describe the situation.
百年好合 / bǎinián hǎo hé – Live a long and happy life together
This is the perfect idiom to use with someone who just got married. What it exactly translates to is “100 years together.”
So if you’re ever lucky enough to attend a Chinese wedding, be sure to say this to the newlywed couple. And also don’t forget to bring a red envelope with you!
恭喜发财 / gōngxǐ fācái – Have a prosperous New Year!
One thing you’ll quickly notice about Chinese during each Spring Festival is they are very well-spoken while giving toasts. You’ll also likely be on the receiving end of a toast yourself should you attend a Chinese New Year celebration, so you can use this common idiom in your response.
Otherwise, things may get awkward when your host wishes you good fortune and health and you have nothing to wish them in return!
岁岁平安 / suì suì píng’ān – May you have peace all year round!
This is another Chinese New Year greeting, but you can use this idiom whenever something like a mirror or glass shatters. Like in Western culture, shattering a mirror in China is a bringer of bad luck. But saying this idiom after breaking a mirror will reverse the bad luck!
Why is this the case?
Because the word to shatter in Chinese (碎 / suì) has the same sound as 岁 / suì from this idiom, which has a positive meaning. So keep this idiom in mind should you ever break a mirror or anything that can shatter.
鹤立鸡群 / hèlìjīqún – A crane standing in a flock of chicken (i.e. someone who is outstanding)
As the definition suggests, you can use this Chinese idiom to describe someone that is truly outstanding from others. You can use it to either give encouragement to someone that is talented or praise someone on a job well done.
For example, “你太棒了， 鹤立鸡群！没有人能比得上你！/ nǐ tài bàngle, hèlìjīqún! Méiyǒu rén néng bǐ dé shàng nǐ!”
This sentence means, “You’re so awesome. Just like a crane standing among chickens. No one can match you!”
羊入虎口 / yáng rù hǔkǒu – To tread on dangerous ground
This saying is useful when advising friends not to do something as the result could invite punishment or danger. Let’s say for example your classmate forgot to do their Chinese homework and want to copy yours.
Out of concern that your teacher will catch you, you can say, “不行！你这样可能是羊入虎口。/ Bùxíng! Nǐ zhèyàng kěnéng shì yáng rù hǔkǒu.” or, “No! Doing this can get us into trouble.”
不可思议 / bùkěsīyì – Inconceivable
If something were to ever strike you as incredible to the point where you cannot fathom or speak about it, you can use this idiom to express that emotion.
If you have ever seen the Princess Bride, the Sicilian is constantly surprised by the skills of the Man in Black in his quest to save Princess Buttercup and says nothing but, “Inconceivable!”
If the movie were translated into Chinese, instead of inconceivable, the Sicilian would say, “不可思议!”
骑驴找驴 / qí lǘ zhǎo lǘ – To look for something that’s right under your nose
This is one of my favorite sayings! It’s most similar to the Western expression, “to be right under one’s nose.”
You can use this when you are someone else is looking for something in plain sight.
Say, for example, I’m looking for my glasses when they are on my forehead, you can respond by saying, “眼镜在你额头上，真是骑驴找驴！/ yǎnjìng zài nǐ étóu shàng, zhēnshi qí lǘ zhǎo lǘ!”
挑拨离间 / tiǎo bō lí jiàn – To drive a wedge between people.
No one likes it when someone drives a wedge between two friends.
If you ever have a friend that gets angry at you over a rumor started by someone, you can tell your friend, “不要相信他。他想在我们中间挑拨离间！/ Bùyào xiāngxìn tā. Tā xiǎng zài wǒmen zhōngjiān tiǎobō líjiàn!” or, “Don’t trust him. He only wants to drive a wedge between us!”
画蛇添足 / huà shé tiān zú – To draw legs on a snake (i.e. to overdo something)
This Chinese saying is perfect for artists or chefs that in the effort to improve something that is already perfect add something that makes it worse.
Whenever you’re in a situation like drawing a picture, adding ingredients to a meal, or deciding whether to go out with a scarf or not to be more fashionable and the additional effort is not needed at all, you can use this idiom to express, “Don’t overdo it!” or, “别画蛇添足！/ bié huàshétiānzú!”
三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 –Sān gè chòu píjiàng, dǐng gè zhūgéliàng ( Three cobblers, the best Zhuge Liang ) – The wisdom of the masses exceeds that of any individual or many minds are better than one.
Okay now for a hard one that will really impress Chinese locals! This chengyu originates from a mastermind named Zhuge Liang from the Warring States Period.
While I won’t go into the backstory here, the idiom states that ordinary people in groups can outsmart a mastermind.
You can use this when someone encounters a really difficult problem and you offer help to come to a solution. Two minds are better than one right?
有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎 / yǒupéng zì yuǎnfāng lái, bù yì lè hū – It’s always great to see old friends
While this one is a bit tough, it’s really useful for when you see old friends. If you’ve lived in China for several years like me, you and your close friends have probably moved on to live in another Chinese city or moved back home entirely.
When you see each other again, you can always use this idiom in place of “好久不见 / hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn,” which conveys less enthusiasm and feeling for a happy reunion.
Wow, after looking over that list, that’s a lot of chengyu!
To help you memorize each of these idioms, I’d focus on learning the meaning and structure behind each character as well as researching the story behind each idiom.
This way you’re much more likely to be able to recall each of them from memory.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chengyu
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions related to Chinese idioms.
What is a chengyu?
A chengyu is a Chinese idiom made up of four characters. There are exceptions where there are more characters, but 4 characters is the norm.
How many chengyu are there?
In short, there are thousands of chengyu you can learn. So obviously it’s impossible to learn them all. It’s best to find the most common idioms and try to learn the ones you can use in daily life.
Should I learn chengyu?
While having some knowledge of Chinese idioms is helpful, it’s not essential. I would focus on the basics in Mandarin until you are an intermediate or advanced speaker. The primary benefit of learning idioms, apart from improving your Chinese, is enriching your knowledge of Chinese history.
How many chengyu should I memorize when learning Chinese?
As a fluent Mandarin speaker that has only memorized a handful of these idioms, I would focus more on memorizing general vocabulary. You should think of knowing chengyu as a “nice to have” skill whereas expanding your vocabulary is essential.
Is there a dictionary for learning chengyu?
There are plenty of dictionaries out there for learning chengyu and some are even free or super cheap on Amazon. But I actually prefer learning chengyu on YouTube, as it’s more fun and I’m more likely to remember each chengyu.
羊入虎口 / yáng rù hǔkǒu – To tread on dangerous ground
This saying is useful when advising friends not to do something as the result could invite punishment or danger. Let’s say for example your classmate forgot to do their Chinese homework and want to copy yours.
Out of concern that your teacher will catch you, you can say, “不行！你这样可能是羊入虎口。/ Bù xíng! Nǐ zhèyàng kěnéng shì yáng rù hǔkǒu.” or, “No! Doing this can get us into trouble.”
不可思议 / bùkěsīyì – Inconceivable
If something were to ever strike you as incredible to the point where you cannot fathom or speak about it, you can use this idiom to express that emotion.
If you have ever seen the Princess Bride, the Sicilian is constantly surprised by the skills of the Man in Black in his quest to save Princess Buttercup and says nothing but, “Inconceivable!”
If the movie were translated into Chinese, instead of inconceivable, the Sicilian would say, “不可思议!”
骑驴找驴 / qí lǘ zhǎo lǘ – To look for something that’s right under your nose
This is one of my favorite sayings! It’s most similar to the Western expression, “to be right under one’s nose.”
You can use this when you are someone else is looking for something in plain sight.
Say, for example, I’m looking for my glasses when they are on my forehead, you can respond by saying, “眼镜在你额头上，真是骑驴找驴！/ yǎnjìng zài nǐ étóu shàng, zhēnshi qí lǘ zhǎo lǘ!”
挑拨离间 / tiǎo bō lí jiàn – To drive a wedge between people.
No one likes it when someone drives a wedge between two friends.
If you ever have a friend that gets angry at you over a rumor started by someone, you can tell your friend, “不要相信他。他想在我们中间挑拨离间！/ Bù yào xiāng xìn tā. Tā xiǎng zài wǒ men zhōng jiān tiǎo bō lí jiàn!” or, “Don’t trust him. He only wants to drive a wedge between us!”
画蛇添足 / huà shé tiān zú – To draw legs on a snake (i.e. to overdo something)
This Chinese saying is perfect for artists or chefs that in the effort to improve something that is already perfect add something that makes it worse.
Whenever you’re in a situation like drawing a picture, adding ingredients to a meal, or deciding whether to go out with a scarf or not to be more fashionable and the additional effort is not needed at all, you can use this idiom to express, “Don’t overdo it!” or, “别画蛇添足！/ bié huà shé tiān zú!”
#1 狐假虎威 hú jiă hŭ wēi
This idiom is an example of one that is impossible to understand if you don’t know the story, which goes like this:
One day, a tiger was walking in the mountains when he came across a fox and said to himself, ‘today I will eat well!’ However, the fox, thinking quickly, said to the tiger, ‘do you know who I am? I am the ruler of the forest and all its animals. All the animals are afraid of me!’
The tiger was doubtful. But the fox went on, ‘if you don’t believe me, we can take a walk in the forest. I will go first, and you can follow. Then you will see that all the animals of the forest are afraid of me!’
The tiger thought this sounded reasonable. So they walked into the forest together, the fox in front and the tiger behind.
As they walked, all the animals in the forest saw them and ran away in fear. And when he saw this, the tiger believed the fox’s words, saying to himself that the fox was surely the greatest of all the animals.
But what the tiger didn’t realise was that the animals weren’t afraid of the fox at all. But of the tiger himself.
The four characters of this chengyu literally mean something like ‘fake fox, powerful tiger’. It describes a situation where somebody wields power because they are backed by a powerful patron.
In a modern context, you could use it to describe somebody who behaves arrogantly in an office because they know the boss favours them.
#2 骑虎难下 qí hŭ nán xià
This chengyu translates as ‘riding a tiger, difficult to get off’, and the story behind it is as follows:
Once a hunter was walking through the forest when he came across a tiger. But before the tiger could eat him, he managed to climb up a tree. However, because the tiger was very hungry, it stayed at the bottom of the tree. So the hunter couldn’t come down.
The hunter was very afraid. And in a panic of fear, he fell out of the tree and landed on the tiger’s back. The only thing he could do to keep from being eaten alive was to hang onto the tiger’s back as it ran around everywhere.
With the hunter on its back, the tiger ran into a nearby town. And the people there were amazed when they saw the hunter, saying he was so brave he even dared to ride on a tiger’s back.
However, the hunter wasn’t brave at all – he just had no way of getting off the tiger without being eaten.
The meaning is that sometimes when you commit to something or find yourself in a difficult situation, you have to see it through to the end, even if you don’t want to, because there is no way out.
#3 井底之蛙 jĭng dĭ zhī wā
This chengyu translates as ‘frog in the bottom of a well’, and the story behind it goes like this:
A long time ago, a frog lived in the bottom of a well. Every day, he splashed around in the water, happy that he was the master of the well. And he was content, thinking he was so lucky to live in the most perfect place in the world.
However, one day, a sea turtle poked his head over the top of the well and asked the frog if he had ever seen the sea. The frog had never seen the sea, so he asked if it was as big as his well. He then invited the turtle to come down into the well.
The turtle tried to go down. But he was far too big. So from the top of the well, he told the frog about the great size of the sea. At once, the frog began to understand how big the world must be outside of his well. And he was ashamed that he had never been outside to explore.
This idiom is used to criticise somebody with a closed mind or a narrow outlook in life, somebody who is convinced their small world is the best place possible because they’ve never ventured out to explore. You can apply it literally or figuratively.
#4 亡羊补牢 wáng yáng bŭ láo
The story behind this well-known chengyu goes like this:
Once there was a shepherd who had twelve sheep. One day, he went to the pen to discover that part of the enclosure had broken and one of the sheep had escaped.
His neighbour told him that he should fix it quickly. But he replied that if the sheep had already escaped, what was the point?
However, the next day he discovered that another sheep had run away. And finally understanding the wisdom of his neighbour’s advice, he patched up the broken fence, after which no more sheep were lost.
This idiom means ‘mend the fold after the sheep is lost’. And the meaning is that it’s better to take action too late and prevent further damage than to take no action at all. Alternatively, it can mean that it’s never too late to try.
This chengyu is reminiscent of the English saying ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. Although the meaning is a little different.
#5 一箭双雕 yí jiàn shuāng diāo
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, a general named Zhangsun Sheng who was renowned for his archery skill was sent to escort a princess to the northwest to marry a Turkic king.
While he was there, the Turkic king was so impressed by the general’s prowess with a bow that he decided to take him hunting.
During the hunt, they saw two vultures fighting over a piece of carrion in the air. So the king gave Zhangsun Sheng two arrows and asked him to shoot them down. But instead of using both arrows, he shot a single arrow from his bow, which passed through both vultures, killing them both.
This idiom means ‘one arrow, two vultures’ and was originally referred to someone with great skill with a bow. But now it has come to mean similar to the English expression ‘kill two birds with one stone’.
#6 卧虎藏龙 wò hŭ cáng lóng
This chengyu was used as the title of the famous Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).
It refers to a place where the people seem normal and unassuming whereas, in fact, they are strong and powerful.
#7 画蛇添足 huà shĕ tiān zú
If you hear somebody using this idiom, which literally means ‘draw snake, add feet’, it refers to spoiling the effect of something by overdoing it or adding superfluous details.
It comes from the story of a painter who lost a drawing competition because, although he finished his picture of a snake first, when he saw the others were still sketching, he continued working by adding feet. This caused him to finish after the others, and so he lost the contest.
#8 对牛弹琴 duì niú tán qín
The meaning of this idiom is ‘playing the qin (a Chinese musical instrument) to a cow’. And it was originally used to point out the uselessness of talking about Buddhist scriptures to those who have never read them.
Nowadays, it refers more broadly to addressing the wrong audience or saying something that goes over somebody’s head.
#9 缘木求鱼 yuán mù qiú yú
Here’s an idiom that’s easy to understand without too much explanation. It translates as ‘climbing trees to catch fish’ and refers to taking a wrong or ineffectual approach to something.
#10 鱼目混珠 yú mù hùn zhū
Fish are a common theme in many chengyu, and this one, meaning to ‘pass off fish eyes as pearls’, refers to trying to sell or pass off low-quality items as something valuable.
#11 揠苗助长 yà miáo zhù zhăng
This chengyu can be translated as ‘pulling shoots to help them grow’. And even without knowing the full story, it’s easy to understand. If you want your plants to grow, it won’t help them if you pull up the shoots – it will only damage or kill them.
It describes a situation where you spoil something through excessive enthusiasm or zeal.
#12 笑里藏刀 xiào lĭ cáng dāo
This is another chengyu with a clear meaning. The translation is ‘daggers hidden in smiles’, and it refers to hiding insidious intentions behind a smiling face. It can also refer to hiding hypocritical intentions behind a friendly demeanour.
#13 杀鸡给猴看 shā jī gĕi hóu kàn
Here’s a five-character chengyu that can be translated as ‘kill the chicken for the monkey to see’. A less literal version could be ‘kill the chicken to scare the monkey’. And the meaning is making an example of somebody or something to scare, punish or encourage the others.
#14 树倒猢狲散 shù dăo hú sūn sàn
This five-character chengyu means ‘when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter’, which is the Chinese equivalent of ‘rats fleeing from a sinking ship’. 猢狲 húsūn is the Chinese word for ‘macaque’.
Longer Chinese Idioms Or Proverbs
.
here are three famous ones to give you some examples.
#15 千里之行始于足下 qiān lĭ zhī xíng shĭ yú zú xià
This Chinese saying is also famous in English and means ‘a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step’.
It means that even the longest task has a beginning and that if you want to reach your goal, you need to make a start and stick with it. This is a good motto for anyone learning Chinese!
#16 读万卷书不如行万里路 dú wàn juàn shū bù rú xíng wàn lĭ lù
Here we have a saying that translates well into English as ‘reading a thousand books is not worth travelling a thousand miles’. The meaning is clear – experience is far more valuable than book learning.
The order of the characters in this proverb can sometimes be rearranged slightly. But the meaning remains the same.
#17 以小人之心度君子之腹 yĭ xiăo rén zhī xīn duó jūn zĭ zhī fù
This is an interesting saying that translates as something like ‘to judge the heart of a small man against the belly of a gentleman’, and it explains that the way we judge others often reflects on ourselves and our character.
In English, we have a similar saying: ‘it takes one to know one’.
Chinese Idioms: A Hugely Fascinating Subject
Immersing yourself in the language is the best way to learn and remember them.
So below you will find a list of 148 Chengyu and idiomatic phrases that are among the most used in modern China:
1. 不可得兼 (bù kě dé jiān): “you can’t have both at the same time”
2. 不得其法 (bù dé qí fǎ): “not knowing the right way”
3. 心神不宁 (xīn shén bù níng): “to feel bad about nothing”
4. 一本正经 (yī běn zhèng jīng): “to always be serious”
5. 沉鱼落雁 (chén yú luò yàn): “extremely beautiful”
6. 独一无二 (dú yī wú’èr): “unique”
7. 数一数二 (shǔ yī shǔ’èr): “the best; considered among the best”
8. 绝无仅有 (jué wú jǐn yǒu): “one of a kind; unique”
9. 损人利己 (sǔn rén lì jǐ): “to seek benefit at the expense of others”
10. 幸灾乐祸 (xìng zāi lè huò): “to enjoy others’ misfortunes”
11. 力不从心 (Lì bù cóng xīn): “the qualities aren’t at the level of the aspirations”
12. 亦步亦趋 (yì bù yì qū): “to blindly imitate someone”
13. 滔滔不绝 (tāo tāo bù jué): “without interruption”
14. 桃李满天下 (táolǐ mǎn tiān xià): “to have pupils everywhere”
15. 省吃俭用 (shěng chī jiǎn yòng): “to live frugally”
16. 婀娜多姿 (ē nuó duō zī): “to be graceful”
17. 应运而生 (yìngyùn’érshēng): “to emerge thanks to a favorable situation”
18. 厮守终生 (sīshǒu zhōngshēng): “to be together forever”
19. 寓意深远 (yùyì shēnyuǎn): “morale is very low”
20. 一切就绪 (yīqièjiùxù): “everything is in order”
21. 囫囵吞枣 (hú lún tūn zǎo): “to swallow information without assimilating it”
22. 塞翁失马 (焉知非福) (sài wēng shī mǎ (yān zhī fēi fú)): “not all bad comes to cause harm”
23. 狼吞虎咽 (láng tūn hǔ yàn): “to brush away food like a wolf”
24. 避而不见 (bì’ér bù jiàn): “to avoid meeting someone”
25. 成千上万 (chéng qiān shàng wàn): “thousands”
26. 依依不舍 (yī yī bù shě): “to be reluctant to leave something”
27. 如期而至 (rú qī ér zhì): “to arrive in time”
28. 自作聪明 (zì zuò cōngmíng): “to be presumptuous”
29. 废寝忘食f (èi qǐn wàng shí): “forgetting to eat and sleep so as to do something”
30. 一门心思 (yī mén xīn si): “to be solely concentrated on doing something”
31. 深情厚谊 (shēn qíng hòu yì): “long and intimate friendship”
32. 死里逃生 (sǐ lǐ táo shēng): “to find a way out of certain death”
33. 铺天盖地 (pū tiān gài dì): “to cover over everything”
34. 与众不同 (yǔ zhòng bù tóng): “different than the crowd”
35. 心甘情愿 (xīn gān qíng yuàn): “to be extremely happy to do something”
36. 无可奈何 (wú kě nài hé “non): “to have alternatives”
37. 眼见为实 (yǎn jiàn wéi shí): “to believe in what can be seen”
38. 耳听为虚 (ěr tīng wèi xū): “to not believe in what you hear”
39. 十全十美 (shí quán shí měi): “perfect”
40. 星火燎原 (xīng huǒ liáo yuán): “a single spark creates a blaze”
41. 夸大其词 (kuā dà qí cí): “exaggerate”
42. 举目无亲 (jǔ mù wú qīn): “to be a stranger in a strange land”
43. 四海为家 (sì hǎi wéi jiā): “to make every place your home; live as a hobo”
44. 小心翼翼 (xiǎo xīn yì yì): “extremely cautious”
45. 焕然一新 (huàn rán yī xīn): “to take on a completely new appearance”
46. 乱七八糟 (luàn qī bā zāo): “in complete disorder”
47. 不自觉地 (bù zìjué de): “unconsciously”
48. 筋疲力尽 (jīn pí lì jìn): “to feel exhausted”
49. 顺其自然 (shùn qí zì rán): “to let nature take its course”
50. 恋恋不舍 (liàn liàn bù shě): “to be reluctant to leave”
51. 擦肩而过 (cā jiān’ér guò): “to brush up against someone in passing”
52. 迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài): “impatiently waiting”
53. 无所不谈 (wú suǒ bù tán): “to talk about everything under the sun”
54. 不谋而合 (bù móu’ér hé): “to agree without discussion”
55. 不以为然 (bù yǐ wéi rán): “to consider something unacceptable”
56. 我行我素 (wǒ xíng wǒ sù): “to stick to your own way of doing things”
57. 栩栩如生 (xǔ xǔ rú shēng): “as vivid as life”
58. 莞尔一笑 (wǎn’ěr yī xiào): “to give a faint smile”
59. 胡说八道 (hú shuō bā dào): “to talk nonsense”
60. 眉飞色舞 (méi fēi sè wǔ): “to be exultant, exuberant”
61. 漫无目的 (màn wú mùdì): “to be without a goal”
62. 左顾右盼 (zuǒ gù yòu pàn): “to look to the left and right”
63. 一针见血 (yī zhēn jiàn xiě): “to hit the mark”
64. 轻而易举 (qīng’ér yì jǔ): “easy to do”
65. 全心全意 (quán xīn quán yì): “to do something with all your heart”
66. 相去甚远 (xiāng qù shènyuǎn): “to make a big difference”
67. 彬彬有礼 (bīn bīn yǒu lǐ): “sophisticated”
68. 称兄道弟 (chēng xiōng dào dì): “to be like brothers with someone; to have a great relationship”
69. 相提并论 (xiāng tí bìng lùn): “to be placed at the same level of”
70. 惟妙惟肖 (wéi miào wéi xiào): “to be just like the real thing”
71. 忙里偷闲 (máng lǐ tōu xián): “to find time for pleasure between work”
72. 全神贯注 (quán shén guàn zhù): “absorbed, absorbed in”
73. 缘木求鱼 (yuán mù qiú yú): “to use counterproductive methods to do something”
74. 见钱眼开 (jiàn qián yǎn kāi): “to be desirous of money”
75. 见利忘义 (jiàn lì wàng yì): “to forget integrity so as to achieve gain”
76. 下不为例 (xià bù wéi lì): “it will not set a precedent”
77. 可想而知 (kě xiǎng’ér zhī): “as you can well imagine”
78. 不翼而飞 (bù yì’ér fēi): “to suddenly disappear”
79. 惊慌失措 (jīng huāng shī cuò): “caught in panic”
80. 龇牙咧嘴 (zī yá liě zuǐ): “to grit your teeth in pain”
81. 火上加油 (huǒ shàng jiā yóu): “to throw fuel on the fire”
82. 雪上加霜 (xuě shàng jiā shuāng): “one disaster after another”
83. 如愿以偿 (rú yuàn yǐ cháng): “fully satisfied desires”
84. 无理取闹 (wú lǐ qǔ nào): “to create problems for no reason”
85. 对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín): “to speak about someone”
86. 理直气壮 (lǐ zhí qì zhuàng): “to do something while knowing you’re in the right”
87. 思前想后 (sī qián xiǎng hòu): “to accurately ponder over something”
88. 如释重负 (rú shì zhòng fù): “to feel freed of a great burden”
89. 不可开交 (bù kě kāi jiāo): “extremely (busy)”
90. 重温旧梦 (chóng wēn jiù mèng): “to relive an old experience; relive an old dream”
91. 兴致勃勃 (xìng zhì bó bó): “full of enthusiasm”
92. 如影随形 (rú yǐng suí xíng): “inseparable; followed like your own shadow”
93. 千言万语 (qiān yán wàn yǔ): “thousands and thousands of words”
94. 惴惴不安 (zhuì zhuì bù’ān): “on thorns”
95. 大惊小怪 (dà jīng xiǎo guài): “great fuss over something ordinary; to complain unjustifiably”
96. 不足挂齿 (bù zú guà chǐ): “nothing to talk about”
97. 天涯海角 (tiān yá hǎi jiǎo): “far off worlds (expressing a very large distance)
98. 垂垂老矣 (chuí chuí lǎo yǐ): “always older”
99. 白发苍苍 (bái fa cāng cāng): “from white hairs”
100. 低三下四 (dī sān xià sì): “mean, petty”
101. 安贫乐道 (ān pín lè dào): “happy to live a virtuous life even if in a state of poverty”
102. 光明磊落 (guāng míng lěi luò): “in broad daylight; cards showing; correctly and legitimately”
103. 知足常乐 (zhī zú cháng lè): “to be content with what you have”
104. 东山再起 (dōng shān zài qǐ): “to stage a return”
105. 完璧归赵 (wán bì guī zhào): “to give something back to its owner in excellent condition”
106. 如虎添翼 (rú hǔ tiān yì): “with double the power”
107. 夜深人静 (yè shēn rén jìng): “in the silence of deepest night”
108. 班门弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ): “to show your talent is of little account in front of a true expert on the material”
109. 乘风破浪 (chéng fēng pò làng): “to have great ambitions”
110. 程门立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě): “to honor the master and respect his teachings”
111. 狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi): “to intimidate someone by flaunting your relationship with important people”
112. 孟母三迁 (mèng mǔ sān qiān): “a wise mother works to find a healthy educational environment for her children”
113. 愚公移山 (yú gōng yí shān): “to want to is to be able to”
114. 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú): “more than enough”
115. 开卷有益 (kāi juàn yǒu yì): “reading always brings benefits”
116. 世外桃源 (shì wài táo yuán): “paradise if peace; utopia”
117. 津津有味 (jīn jīn yǒu wèi): “to do something with gusto”
118. 落英缤纷 (luò yīng bīn fēn): “flower petals that fall like snowflakes”
119. 虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ): “to be extremely open-minded”
120. 心如止水 (xīn rú zhǐ shuǐ): “a peaceful heart; a heart as calm as still water”
121. 随遇而安 (suí yù ér’ān): “to feel adequate wherever you are”
122. 厚德载物 (hòu dé zài wù): “to be of strong moral character”
123. 大智若愚 (dà zhì ruò yú): “the wise one appears stupid”
124. 知行合一 (zhī xíng hé yī): “the union of practice and knowledge” "Unity of knowledge and action"
125. 相濡以沫 (xiāng rú yǐ mò): “to help each other out despite both being in delicate condition”
126. 阳光明媚 (yáng guāng míng mèi): “the sun is particularly bright”
127. 忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù’ān): “disquieted; preoccupied; uncomfortable”
128. 说三道四 (shuō sān dào sì): “to gossip”
129. 不顾一切 (bù gù yī qiè): “indifferent to everything”
130. 一日为师，终身为父 (yī rì wèi shī, zhōngshēn wèi fù): “teacher for a day, father for a lifetime”
131. 不管三七二十一 (bù guǎn sān qī èr shí yī): “not caring about the consequences”
132. 开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān): “to get right to the chase”
133. 一蹴而就 (yī cù’ér jiù): “to be successful on the first try”
134. 惹是生非 (rě shì shēng fēi): “to start a dispute; begin a conflict”
135. 安居乐业 (ān jū lè yè): “to live in peace, without disturbance”
136. 难兄难弟 (nàn xiōng nàn dì): “brothers of misfortune”
137. 笑里藏刀 (xiào lǐ cáng dāo): “a dagger hidden behind a smile”
138. 海市蜃楼 (hǎi shì shèn lóu): “to build castles in the air; mirage”
139. 厮守终身 (sīshǒu zhōngshēn): “to be together for one’s whole life”
140. 伶牙俐齿 (líng yá lì chǐ): “to be clear and eloquent”
141. 日积月累 (rì jī yuè lěi): “to accumulate for a long time”
142. 雷打不动 (léi dǎ bù dòng): “to be determined, unshakable”
143. 家常便饭 (jiā cháng biàn fàn): “routine”
144. 一头雾水 (yī tóu wùshuǐ): “to feel confused”
145. 大汗淋漓 (dà hàn lín lí): “to be soaked with sweat”
146. 有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn): “methodical, systematic”
147. 知难而退 (zhī nán’ér tuì): “to run from difficulty”
148. 似懂非懂 (sì dǒng fēi dǒng): “to not fully understand”
No comments:
Post a Comment