Chinese Idioms
Explore over 1,000 Chinese idioms (Chengyu) and their corresponding historical narratives. Each entry details the origins, cultural context, and profound wisdom behind these timeless phrases, offering deep insight into the heritage that shaped the Chinese language.
Table of contents
相得甚欢 (Getting Along Splendidly)
相惊伯有 (Terrified by Boyou)
相敬如宾 (Mutual Respect Like Guests)
相煎何急 (Why the Urgent Frying)
郢书燕说 (The Ying Letter, The Yan Reading)
罚不当罪 (Punishment Beyond the Crime)
点金成铁 (Turning Gold into Iron)
哄堂大笑 (The Whole Room Roars with Laughter)
虽死犹生 (Alive Even in Death)
响遏行云 (Resounding Echoes Pierce the Clouds)
削足适履 (Cutting Feet to Fit Shoes)
畏天知命 (Fear Heaven, Know Fate)
畏首畏尾 (Fear Head and Tail)
贵人多忘 (The Great Forget the Small)
背水一战 (Fight with Back to the River)
昭然若揭 (As Clear as Day)
昧死以闻 (Risking Death to Report)
冒天下之大不韪 (Risk the World's Wrath)
星驰电发 (Swift as Lightning)
临机制变 (Adapt Strategy on the Spot)
临危自计 (Thinking of Self in Crisis)
临深履薄 (Walking on Thin Ice)
临渴掘井 (Digging a Well When Thirsty)
笃学好古 (Devoted to Learning the Ancients)
待时而动 (Wait for the Right Moment)
胜任愉快 (Competent and Content)
保残守缺 (Preserving the Fragments)
侯门似海 (The Marquis's Gate Like the Sea)
修饰边幅 (Trimming the Edges)
信口雌黄 (Careless Talk)
信誓旦旦 (Solemn Vows and Sincere Oaths)
鬼斧神工 (Divine Craftsmanship)
秋风过耳 (Autumn Wind Brushes the Ear)
秋风落叶 (Autumn Wind Sweeps Fallen Leaves)
秋毫无犯 (Not a Single Autumn Hair)
重足而立 (Treading on Each Other's Feet)
重蹈覆辙 (Repeating the Same Mistake)
香火因缘 (Karma Through Incense)
急人之困 (Helping Others in Need)
狭路相逢 (Narrow Road Encounter)
狡兔三窟 (A Cunning Rabbit Has Three Burrows)
独占鳌头 (Standing Alone at the Top)
独当一面 (Solely Shouldering a Front)
食日万钱 (Ten Thousand Coins a Day)
食玉炊桂 (Eating Jade, Burning Cassia)
食言而肥 (Eating One's Words to Grow Fat)
食指大动 (Fingers Twitch with Appetite)
炼石补天 (Mending the Sky with Stones)
烂羊头 (Rotten Sheep Head)
恃才傲物 (Proud of One's Talent)
恨相知晚 (Regretting a Late Meeting)
哀鸿遍野 (Mourning Geese Cover the Fields)
闻鸡起舞 (Rise at Cockcrow)
闻所未闻 (Never Heard Before)
闻雷失箸 (Dropping Chopsticks at Thunder)
亲当矢石 (Facing Arrows and Stones)
亲痛仇快 (Grief to Friends, Joy to Foes)
将门有将 (Generals from a General's Door)
将勤补拙 (Diligence Compensates for Clumsiness)
迷途知返 (Lost and Found)
浇瓜之惠 (Watering Melons with Kindness)
洛阳纸贵 (Paper Prices Soar in Luoyang)
洁己爱人 (Clean Self, Love Others)
浑金璞玉 (Uncut Jade, Unrefined Gold)
洞见症结 (Seeing Through to the Core)
洞烛其奸 (Seeing Through Their Schemes)
洗耳恭听 (Wash Ears to Listen)
洗垢求瘢 (Scrubbing for Scars)
济世安民 (Aid the World, Pacify the People)
济时拯世 (Rescue the Age, Save the World)
济河焚舟 (Burn the Boats After Crossing)
前无古人 (Unprecedented in History)
前车之鉴 (A Lesson from the Overturned Cart)
前度刘郎 (The Return of Liu Lang)
前倨后恭 (Arrogant Before, Humble After)
前事不忘，后事之师 (Past Lessons, Future Guides)
举足轻重 (Every Step Matters)
举案齐眉 (Lifting the Tray to the Eyebrows)
举措失当 (Improper Measures)
举棋不定 (Hesitant to Move the Chess Piece)
首丘之思 (Longing for Home)
首尾受敌 (Attacked from Both Sides)
首尾相继 (Head and Tail in Succession)
首尾相救 (Head and Tail Rescue)
首鼠两端 (Hesitating Between Two Ends)
差强人意 (Barely Satisfactory)
美女破舌 (Beauty Breaks Counsel)
美如冠玉 (Handsome as Jade)
养虎遗患 (Raising a Tiger Brings Disaster)
养虺成蛇 (Raising Vipers Into Serpents)
神仙中人 (A Being Among Immortals)
神机妙算 (Divine Strategy and Perfect Calculation)
神州陆沉 (The Land Sinks)
神采英拔 (Radiant and Distinguished)
退避三舍 (Retreat Three Shelters)
骇人听闻 (Shocking to Hear)
骄兵必败 (The Proud Army Will Surely Lose)
骄奢淫逸 (Pride, Luxury, Debauchery, Idleness)
除恶务尽 (Erase Evil Completely)
怒发冲冠 (Bristling with Rage)