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
以卵击石 (Throwing an Egg at a Rock)
以规为瑱 (Taking Admonition as an Earplug)
以强凌弱 (The Strong Bully the Weak)
以管窥天 (Viewing the Sky Through a Tube)
以貌取人 (Judge by Appearances)
灭此朝食 (Destroy Them Before Breakfast)
厉兵秣马 (Sharpen Weapons, Feed Horses)
世外桃源 (Peach Blossom Shangri-La)
击壤鼓腹 (Strike the Soil and Pat the Belly)
节俭力行 (Frugal Living in Action)
布衣之交 (Friendship of Common Cloth)
左提右挈 (Left and Right Support)
巧取豪夺 (By Trick or by Force)
功亏一篑 (One Basket Short of Success)
功败垂成 (Failing on the Verge of Success)
平易近人 (Approachable and Humble)
未可厚非 (Not Unreasonable)
未雨绸缪 (Repair the Roof Before Rain)
未能免俗 (Unable to Escape Convention)
龙蛇飞动 (Dragon and Serpent in Flight)
龙骧虎步 (Dragon Stride, Tiger Prowl)
扑朔迷离 (Bewildering and Confusing)
打草惊蛇 (Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake)
甘棠遗爱 (The Sweet Pear Tree's Legacy)
玉汝于成 (Jade Polishes You to Perfection)
东道主 (The Eastern Host)
东山再起 (Rising Again from the East)
东门黄犬 (East Gate Yellow Dog)
东市朝衣 (Court Robes at Dawn)
东床坦腹 (The Bare-Bellied East Bed)
东食西宿 (Eat East, Sleep West)
东家之女 (The Neighbor's Daughter)
东窗事发 (The East Window Plot Exposed)
东施效颦 (Dongshi Imitates the Frown)
叹为观止 (Sighing in Admiration)
叶公好龙 (Lord Ye's Love of Dragons)
申旦达夕 (From Dawn Till Dusk)
号令如山 (Orders Like Mountains)
只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 (Magistrates May Burn, People May Not Light)
归马放牛 (Return the Horses, Release the Oxen)
四分五裂 (Torn in All Directions)
四面楚歌 (Surrounded by Enemies on All Sides)
四海之内皆兄弟 (All Men Are Brothers)
四体不勤，五谷不分 (Neither Tilling Nor Reaping)
出人头地 (Rise Above the Crowd)
出尔反尔 (First You One Thing, Then Another)
出言不逊 (Harsh Words)
出奇制胜 (Win by Surprise)
出类拔萃 (Standing Out from the Crowd)
目无余子 (No One Else in Sight)
目不识丁 (Can't Recognize the Character Ding)
目光如炬 (Eyes Blazing Like Torches)
处之泰然 (Take It in Stride)
尔虞我诈 (You Scratch My Back, I Scratch Yours)
包藏祸心 (Harboring Malicious Intent)
鸟尽弓藏 (Birds Gone, Bows Hidden)
瓜田李下 (Melons in the Field, Under the Plum Tree)
令人发指 (Hair-Raising Fury)
令行禁止 (Orders Enforced, Prohibitions Halted)
外强中干 (Outward Strong, Inward Weak)
外愚内智 (Outward Foolish, Inner Wisdom)
外不避仇，内不避亲 (Recommending Without Bias)
饥附饱飏 (Hungry Attaches, Full Flies Away)
饥寒交迫 (Hunger and Cold)
失之东隅，收之桑榆 (Lost at Dawn, Gained at Dusk)
失之毫厘，差之千里 (A Miss by a Hair, a Mile Astray)
用兵如神 (Military Genius)
乐不可支 (Joy Beyond Measure)
乐不思蜀 (Too Happy to Miss Home)
乐此不疲 (Joy Never Tires)
乐极生悲 (Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow)
生生世世 (Life After Life)
生吞活剥 (Swallow Alive, Skin Raw)
生灵涂炭 (Living in Dire Straits)
生离死别 (Parting in Life and Death)
生聚教训 (Gather and Learn)
白云苍狗 (White Clouds, Grey Hounds)
白头如新 (White Hair, Still Strangers)
白驹过隙 (A White Colt Passing a Crack)
白虹贯日 (A White Rainbow Piercing the Sun)
必争之地 (A Contested Ground)
必恭必敬 (Reverent and Respectful)
宁为玉碎，不为瓦全 (Rather Be a Broken Jade Than a Whole Tile)
宁为鸡口，无为牛后 (Better a Chicken's Beak Than a Cow's Tail)
市无二价 (No Second Price in the Market)
礼贤下士 (Respect the Wise, Honor the Worthy)
礼顺人情 (Courtesy Follows Human Nature)
半部论语 (Half the Analects)
立功赎罪 (Meritorious Service to Atone for Crimes)
立地书橱 (A Walking Bookcase)
辽东白豕 (A Boastful Pig from Liaodong)
司空见惯 (Common Sight, Common Practice)
司马昭之心 (Sima Zhao's Intentions)
奴颜婢膝 (Servile Flattery)
对牛弹琴 (Playing the Lute to a Cow)
对床夜雨 (Rainy Night Bed Talk)
对症下药 (Prescribe the Right Remedy)
皮之不存，毛将焉附 (Without the Skin, Where Can the Hair Attach)
发奸擿伏 (Uncovering Hidden Crimes)
发聋振聩 (Awakening the Deaf and Dull)