Chinese Idioms by Pinyin

To blindly follow others without independent judgment; to have limited experience or knowledge.

to echo others without independent judgment; to have a narrow view and lack original opinion

step by step, in order

to do one thing while pretending to do another; to achieve a goal by stealth or deception

to harm someone by underhanded means; to stab someone in the back

to live in peace and work happily; to have a stable life and a satisfying job

Exhausted from a long journey or hard work, especially traveling.

to be extremely attentive and servile in serving someone; to run around busily attending to someone's needs

A sworn brotherhood or deep, formal friendship sealed with eight bows.

to suppress all other ideas or styles in favor of one; to enforce orthodoxy by rejecting alternatives

smooth and slick in dealing with people; able to please everyone

pull up a seedling in the mistaken hope of helping it to grow

to replace one leader or authority with another; to achieve victory by substituting one thing for another.

to be extremely skilled in archery or marksmanship; to have superb accuracy or precision in any field

to reach a very high level of achievement, but still have room for further progress; to be at the peak but not stop there.

to be highly accurate or successful in every attempt; to never miss

extremely talented; of outstanding literary ability

extremely learned and erudite; having profound knowledge

brilliant; extremely talented

To modestly claim that one has little ability and superficial knowledge.

to amuse one's parents with playful antics, especially in old age, as a filial act

May abundant wealth flow in from all directions.

May wealth come in abundantly and continuously.

Fortune in financial matters is flowing smoothly and abundantly; one's financial luck is very good.

to act rashly and alert the enemy

to get along harmoniously; to become one

to be furious; to fly into a rage

to shine brilliantly; to show exceptional talent

a person of broad knowledge or specialized expertise; an expert or authority in a field

accomplished successfully

fair and impartial / selfless

To accept life's ups and downs with a broad-minded, philosophical attitude, acknowledging that some things are beyond one's control.

to attack or seize something with great speed and ferocity, often used to describe someone acting with intense eagerness or greed.

To act with fierce speed and overwhelming force, especially in seizing an opportunity or attacking a vulnerable target; describes someone who is extremely aggressive and unstoppable when pursuing a goal.

Unable to distinguish basic right from wrong; confused about simple truths.

without hesitation; without saying a word; immediately

A completely new look / Refreshing

The relationship between the parents of a married couple; families connected by the marriage of their children.

To be unconsciously influenced by constant exposure

Familiar to the ear / Familiar

to work hard and determinedly to become strong or achieve success

The natural affection and gratitude children feel toward their parents, especially the desire to care for them in old age as the parents once cared for them.

To reverse the roles so that the subordinate or outsider takes control from the original leader or host.

something (often bad) spreads excessively and causes serious problems

To let a dangerous enemy or threat go free, which will likely cause future trouble.

Using a dangerous person or method for protection, which ends up causing more harm than good.

To let things take their own course without any interference or guidance; to be laissez-faire to the point of neglect.

To nip problems in the bud; to take precautions against small signs of trouble before they develop into major issues.

To acknowledge one's mistakes and change for the better; to reform oneself and cultivate virtue.

to reform; to turn over a new leaf

to treat each other with absolute sincerity and loyalty; to be devoted friends who share deep trust.

extremely grateful

to kill all; to exterminate; to be ruthless

Describes a person who is morally upright, principled, and refuses to fawn over or yield to those in power.

aloof; above the masses

superior to others; above others

A promise or love that lasts forever, even if the sea dries up and rocks decay.

black sheep; troublemaker

A solemn pledge of love, as vast as the sea and as firm as the mountains; an eternal vow between lovers.

Make great contributions

an immense number of books; a vast collection of writings

an enormous amount of effort or work, often referring to the transportation of many books or documents

endure hardships and suffering

to enjoy life with grandchildren (said of old people)

a perfectly safe and foolproof plan; a strategy that leaves no room for error

When a mistake is repeated often enough, it comes to be accepted as correct.

to lose everything; to be left with nothing after a failed venture

a state of utter chaos and disorder, with everyone in a panic

trivial matters

Describes a situation of extreme turmoil, disturbance, or harassment that affects everyone, even the animals.

When a person rises to power or success, their relatives and associates benefit or gain status as well.

describes a peaceful, close-knit rural community where neighbors live in harmony and are within earshot of each other's domestic animals.

frank and sincere

Reading any book brings knowledge and benefit.

come straight to the point

to set free a dangerous person or evil force, often due to negligence or irresponsibility; to unleash a menace.

To be completely open and sincere with someone; to show one's true feelings and intentions without pretense.

to increase income and reduce spending; to practice thrift while boosting revenue

Those who are too proud or overbearing will eventually face downfall and regret.

deep affection between husband and wife

ins and outs / the details

in a difficult, embarrassing, or distressed situation; in a mess; utterly discomfited

To collude or conspire together for dishonest or evil purposes.

A perfect match between a talented man and a beautiful woman; an ideal couple.

fierce and dangerous people or beasts; villains and evil-doers

mutual affection and deep love between a man and a woman; romantic harmony

to devour greedily and cruelly; to be extremely rapacious and ruthless

to wolf down one's food [idiom]

Something worthless or trivial; things of little value.

nonstop, without rest

to win success quickly and smoothly

To win success immediately upon arrival; to achieve quick victory or instant success.

so-so; careless

a person who behaves like a brute despite human appearance; an uneducated or uncivilized person; a beast in human clothing

to have nothing to do with each other; to be completely unrelated

a bustling, lively scene with many horses and people moving about; a grand and crowded procession

men, women, old and young; everyone

hard to speak about

unforgettable

to act in a way that defeats one's purpose [idiom]

Studying diligently despite poor conditions, using any available resource to learn.

To disappear forever without a trace; to be gone and never return.

to get promoted or improve every year

Wishing for abundance and prosperity year after year

to curry favor with powerful or influential people to advance one's own status

An outsider often has a clearer view of a situation than those directly involved.

To make oblique or indirect remarks; to approach a subject in a roundabout way instead of speaking directly.

to act as if no one else is present; to be self-absorbed or arrogant, ignoring others around

Cook Ding carves an ox (idiom; highly skilled)

appear in public (often reluctantly or inappropriately)

To offer a modest or rough idea in order to elicit more valuable contributions from others.

A broad vista of boundless prospects / Great prospects

to be choked with tears; to sob so hard that one cannot speak

Extreme anger or overwhelming momentum.

extremely ambitious or spirited; overwhelming momentum; also used to describe intense anger

A person of low social status; a humble or despised person.

to read seven lines of text at a glance; extremely intelligent and quick-witted

In a state of disorder or chaos; things scattered or arranged in a messy, haphazard way.

To be in a difficult situation where one cannot stop or back out without serious consequences.

to hoard something rare or valuable in order to profit from it later; to speculate on something with potential future value.

describes a scene of bustling activity, noise, and excitement, often with a chaotic or lively atmosphere

A scene of bustling activity and lively noise, often depicting a prosperous and joyful atmosphere.

overcrowded; packed

to swallow one's anger and remain silent

Describes a well-equipped, powerful, and formidable army or team. It emphasizes strength, morale, and readiness.

huge crowds of people; a sea of people

A blessing for a long life and a bountiful harvest, used to wish someone good health and prosperity.

Describes a family that has been devastated by death and financial ruin, often due to war, disaster, or persecution.

A seeming misfortune may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

to treat differently; to be inconsistent or partial

unexpected misfortune (usually death or accident)

A person who has served in an organization for a long time and is highly respected; a veteran who has weathered many changes.

to ponder or take someone's words very seriously, often by reading or reciting them multiple times

To repeatedly and sincerely invite a talented person to take up a position or offer help.

Three usurpers plotting to seize power; a conspiracy to overthrow the ruling authority.

Repeated rumors can make people believe a falsehood; if a lie is repeated enough, it may be accepted as truth.

to remain calm and composed in a tense or difficult situation; to be unruffled.

insatiably greedy

to turn pale at the mere mention of something terrifying; to be extremely frightened by something due to a past traumatic experience

Focusing only on immediate gains while ignoring potential consequences or dangers.

to overestimate one's own strength and attempt something impossible; to be arrogantly outmatched

mantis catches cicada (idiom)

hide one's talents and bide one's time

deep and profound friendship, as deep as the waters of Peach Blossom Pond.

remain fresh

to be remembered and praised for generations; to leave a good name that lasts forever

A great number of families or houses; also describes a vast and deep mansion or palace complex.

neglect of duty

The scene of countless lights twinkling in the city at night; also refers to the time when lamps are lit in the evening. It evokes a warm, bustling, or lively urban nightscape.

Extreme grief or pain, as if one's heart is being pierced by countless arrows.

a scene of great activity, vitality, or rapid progress; a surge of momentum

A situation where people are suppressed and afraid to speak out; a state of oppressive silence or lack of dissent.

extremely pleased / overjoyed

to listen respectfully

to show determination to fight to the death by cutting off any means of retreat; to commit firmly to a course of action with no turning back.

radiant with happiness; brimming with joy and festive cheer

To settle a dispute or calm a situation by making compromises, often to avoid conflict and maintain peace.

To do something steadily and persistently over time, conserving resources for long-term use.

to serve and please one's parents, especially in their old age, bringing them happiness and comfort.

To be all smiles; to beam with joy; to light up with happiness.

[lit.] crow and sparrow make no sound; all is quiet [idiom]

deceive oneself

A traditional Chinese parenting dynamic where the father is strict and disciplinarian, while the mother is gentle and nurturing.

A person should strive to leave a good reputation or lasting legacy in the world, just as a passing goose leaves its call.

to exaggerate; to overstate; to be boastful

Arrogantly looking down on everything; considering oneself superior to everyone else.

to prolong life; to promote longevity

to deceive others; to hoodwink

To achieve another great success, often after previous accomplishments; to continue a streak of excellence.

redouble your efforts

to study diligently despite poor conditions; to make the best use of limited resources to pursue knowledge

A wife who has shared her husband's hardships and poverty; a loyal and devoted spouse who stood by her partner through difficult times.

Guilty people are often nervous and suspicious, easily frightened because they fear their wrongdoing will be discovered.

Someone who has done something wrong is constantly uneasy and afraid of being found out.

invincible; victorious in every battle

to be smug; to be self-satisfied