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
微文深诋 (Subtle Words, Deep Accusations)
腰缠万贯 (A Waist Full of Gold)
鹏程万里 (A Roc's Journey of Ten Thousand Li)
锦囊妙计 (Wise Counsel in Silk Pouches)
解衣推食 (Sharing Clothes and Food)
解铃还须系铃人 (The One Who Ties Must Untie)
稠人广众 (A Crowd of People)
廉泉让水 (The Honest Spring and the Humble Stream)
新亭对泣 (Weeping at the New Pavilion)
塞翁失马 (The Old Man Lost His Horse)
数典忘祖 (Forgetting One's Origins)
漆身吞炭 (Lacquer Body, Swallow Charcoal)
溪壑无厌 (An Insatiable Gorge)
滥竽充数 (Passing Off Fish Eyes for Pearls)
痴人说梦 (The Fool's Dream Talk)
满城风雨 (The Whole City in an Uproar)
嫉恶好善 (Hate Evil, Love Good)
嫁祸于人 (Shifting Blame to Others)
辗转反侧 (Tossing and Turning)
聚米为山 (Gathering Rice to Form a Mountain)
聚蚊成雷 (A Swarm of Mosquitoes Becomes Thunder)
誓死不二 (Sworn to Be Faithful)
暮云春树 (Evening Clouds, Spring Trees)
摧枯拉朽 (Shattering Decay Like Rotten Wood)
赫赫有名 (Greatly Renowned)
截发留宾 (Cut Hair to Host a Guest)
锲而不舍 (Perseverance Unyielding)
箪食瓢饮 (A Meal of Bamboo and a Gourd of Water)
箕山之节 (The Integrity of Jishan)
管中窥豹 (Looking at a Leopard Through a Tube)
管鲍之交 (Guan Bao's Friendship)
竭泽而渔 (Draining the Pond to Catch Fish)
察察而明 (Seeing Every Speck)
旗鼓相当 (Well-Matched Opponents)
裹足不前 (Wrapped Feet, No Forward Step)
滴水穿石 (Dripping Water Wears Through Stone)
精卫填海 (Jingwei Fills the Sea)
精明强干 (Keen and Capable)
精贯白日 (Piercing the Sun with Spirit)
精疲力尽 (Exhausted)
疑邻盗斧 (Suspecting the Neighbor Stole the Axe)
醉翁之意不在酒 (The Drunkard's Mind Is Not on the Wine)
嘲风咏月 (Mocking Wind and Singing to the Moon)
暴虎冯河 (Attacking a Tiger Bare-Handed)
暴戾恣睢 (Cruel and Tyrannical)
暴虐无道 (Tyranny Without Morality)
墨守成规 (Stick to the Rules)
箭在弦上 (Arrow on the Bowstring)
德高望重 (High Virtue, Great Prestige)
鹤立鸡群 (A Crane Among Chickens)
褒衣博带 (Loose Robes and Broad Sashes)
熟能生巧 (Practice Makes Perfect)
戮力同心 (United in Purpose)
薏苡明珠 (Job's Tears as Pearls)
燕足系诗 (Swallow's Foot Tied with a Poem)
噤若寒蝉 (Silent as a Winter Cicada)
噬脐何及 (Too Late for Regret)
黔驴技穷 (The Donkey's Skills Are Exhausted)
篝火狐鸣 (Campfire Fox Cries)
雕虫小技 (Trivial Skills)
燃糠自照 (Burning Chaff for Light)
激浊扬清 (Wash Away the Filth, Bring Forth the Pure)
磨杵成针 (Grinding an Iron Rod into a Needle)
罄竹难书 (Too Many Crimes to Record)
鞠躬尽瘁 (Bending to the Task)
戴罪图功 (Redemption Through Service)
螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后 (The Mantis Stalks the Cicada)
螳臂当车 (A Mantis Blocking a Chariot)
蹊田夺牛 (Plowing Fields, Stealing Oxen)
糟糠之妻不下堂 (The Wife of Hardship Stays)
孺子可教 (The Youngster Is Worth Teaching)
鹬蚌相持 (The Snipe and the Clam)
覆水难收 (Spilt Water Cannot Be Gathered)
覆鹿寻蕉 (Seeking the Lost Deer Under Banana Leaves)
翻然改图 (A Sudden Change of Plan)
翻然悔悟 (A Sudden Awakening)
魑魅魍魉 (Demons and Monsters)
攀龙附凤 (Clinging to Dragons and Phoenixes)
靡衣偷食 (Fine Clothes, Stolen Meals)