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

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

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.

safe and sound

Doing bad things secretly, even when no one is watching; acting immorally in private.

To be extremely arrogant and look down upon everyone and everything in one's time.

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

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 remain loyal and dedicated even in old age; a steadfast heart despite aging.

refers to the flourishing of diverse schools of thought and the free debate of ideas, especially during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in ancient China. Today it is used to describe a situation where different opinions or academic viewpoints are freely expressed and debated.

outstanding; one of the best; cream of the crop

extremely talented; of outstanding literary ability

extremely learned and erudite; having profound knowledge

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

May abundant wealth flow in from all directions.

too horrible to look at

undiscovered talent or hidden masters; a place where many talented or formidable people are concealed

To see soldiers in every tree and blade of grass; to be overly fearful; to be in a state of extreme panic; to imagine enemies everywhere

Something that leaves faint but traceable clues or signs; subtle hints that can be followed.

to act rashly and alert the enemy

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

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

to look for a needle in a haystack

drenched in sweat

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.

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

To be unconsciously influenced by constant exposure

A family blessed with many children and grandchildren, symbolizing prosperity and happiness.

to be of two minds; to be indecisive or wavering in purpose

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 rack one's brains; to try every trick

A person of great talent or ambition seizing the right opportunity to rise to prominence.

Something that is neither one thing nor the other; a nondescript or hybrid that fails to fit any category.

to be tender, delicate, and affectionate, often used to describe a child or a young woman who is endearingly dependent on someone; also used to describe someone who clings to those in power.

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

aloof; above the masses

A person of high moral character and refined taste who shuns fame and wealth, often living in seclusion.

A deep friendship between kindred spirits who truly understand each other.

to have a clear plan or strategy in mind; to be able to handle situations with confidence and flexibility.

to be far-sighted and strategically wise; to have great foresight

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

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

Describes handwriting or calligraphy that is messy, twisted, and difficult to read, like snakes and earthworms crawling across the page.

to be fond of teaching others; to be a know-it-all; to be presumptuous and opinionated

completely useless

Bold or ambitious words that express great confidence or heroism; often used to describe someone's inspiring but sometimes unrealistic promises.

Describes an elderly person who looks remarkably young and healthy, with white hair but a youthful complexion.

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.

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.

Good fortune and everything going according to one's wishes.

To be blessed with good fortune or luck.

To have a unique, original style in writing or art that stands on its own as a school or tradition.

take a sudden turn for the worse

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.

Words of wisdom or beautiful writing; eloquent speech or refined literary style.

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

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

utterly cruel and ungrateful; devoid of conscience

indestructible; unbreakable

Experience and wisdom gained from age can guide one through difficult situations.

Parents' deep love for their children.

Something worthless or trivial; things of little value.

to win success quickly and smoothly

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

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

to follow someone's lead; to take direction from someone; to act according to the orders of a leader

to abandon violence or military pursuits and return to peaceful civilian life, especially farming; also used to describe a reformed criminal turning over a new leaf.

men, women, old and young; everyone

hard to speak about

unforgettable

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

A beautiful spring scene with birds singing and flowers blooming; used to describe a delightful natural environment.

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

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

appear in public (often reluctantly or inappropriately)

to fight bravely and skillfully in battle; to lead a small force with great courage

safe and sound; without incident

rapidly rise to a high position

have no choice but to; compelled by circumstances

reunion after separation; mended relationship

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

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

to be at the end of one's patience; cannot bear it any longer

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

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.

famous mountains and scenic spots; all corners of the land

a chaotic situation filled with many troublemakers or harmful elements

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 escape without a trace

Heaven rewards those who work hard; diligence will be repaid by success.

to talk in a flowery and exaggerated way

unconstrained imagination or style; bold and free-flowing thoughts

world of difference, poles apart

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 huge crowd gathers for a celebration or event, leaving the streets and alleys empty.

everything is fine; all is well

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.

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.

be used to; become accustomed to

to write quickly and effortlessly; to produce a literary work with great speed and skill

to write with great fluency and speed; to be a quick and prolific writer

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

to exaggerate; to overstate; to be boastful

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

to make all kinds of remarks; to gossip or criticize behind someone's back

to vanish like smoke and clouds; to disappear completely

to speak in a way that is logically sound and reasonable; to make sense

to pretend to obey while actually working against; to be two-faced

To tolerate or nurture a harmful person or thing, which will later bring disaster.

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 bully others by relying on power or influence; to abuse one's authority; to take advantage of one's position to mistreat others

to usher in wealth and prosperity; a wish for financial success and good fortune.

to yearn day and night; to long for