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
纸醉金迷 (Luxury and Dissipation)
纷至沓来 (Come in a Continuous Stream)
纵虎归山 (Letting the Tiger Return to the Mountain)
忍辱负重 (Enduring Humiliation for a Greater Cause)
鸡犬升天 (Dogs and Chickens Ascend to Heaven)
鸡犬新丰 (Chickens and Dogs in New Feng)
鸡虫得失 (Gains and Losses of a Chicken and a Worm)
鸡鸣狗盗 (Crowing Like Roosters, Stealing Like Dogs)
鸡鹜争食 (Chickens and Ducks Scramble for Food)
改弦易辙 (Change Tracks and Strings)
幸灾乐祸 (Schadenfreude at Misfortune)
取而代之 (Replace and Take Over)
玩火自焚 (Playing with Fire)
玩物丧志 (Pleasure in Play, Loss of Purpose)
其貌不扬 (Deceptive Appearance)
卧薪尝胆 (Sleep on Brushwood, Taste Gall)
卧榻之侧，岂容他人鼾睡 (No Room for Another's Snore)
丧心病狂 (Sick at Heart)
丧家之犬 (A Stray Dog Without a Home)
势不两立 (Irreconcilable Opposites)
势如破竹 (Like Splitting Bamboo)
松筠之节 (The Integrity of Pine and Bamboo)
杯弓蛇影 (A Cup, a Bow, and a Snake's Shadow)
杯水车薪 (A Cup of Water for a Cart of Firewood)
杯盘狼藉 (Cups and Plates in Disarray)
枕戈待旦 (Sleeping with Spear Ready)
事半功倍 (Half the Effort, Double the Result)
奔走相告 (Rush to Spread the News)
奋不顾身 (Striving Without Regard for Self)
奇货可居 (Rare Goods Worth Hoarding)
奉公守法 (Serve the Public, Obey the Law)
奉令承教 (Following Orders and Instructions)
斩草除根 (Pull Out the Roots)
范张鸡黍 (Fan and Zhang's Chicken and Millet)
苛政猛于虎 (Harsher Than a Tiger)
茕茕孑立 (Alone and Forsaken)
苟延残喘 (Barely Keeping Alive)
英雄无用武之地 (A Hero with No Battlefield)
卖剑买牛 (Sell Swords, Buy Oxen)
画龙点睛 (Adding the Finishing Touch)
画地成图 (Drawing a Map on the Ground)
画饼充饥 (Drawing a Cake to Satisfy Hunger)
画蛇添足 (Adding Legs to a Snake)
青云直上 (Riding the Clouds to Success)
青钱万选 (A Thousand Bronze Coins)
直言不讳 (Speaking Without Reserve)
抵掌而谈 (Clapping Hands in Lively Conversation)
择善而从 (Choose the Good and Follow It)
拨云见日 (Clear the Clouds to See the Sun)
抱子弄孙 (Holding a Child, Playing with Grandchildren)
抱布贸丝 (Cloth for Silk)
抱蔓摘瓜 (Gathering Melons, Plucking Vines)
抱薪救火 (Carrying Firewood to Put Out a Fire)
招摇过市 (Swaggering Through the Streets)
拔苗助长 (Pulling Up Shoots to Help Them Grow)
拔帜易帜 (Change the Banners)
披坚执锐 (Donning Armor, Wielding Weapons)
披荆斩棘 (Cutting Through Thorns and Brambles)
歧路亡羊 (The Lost Sheep at the Crossroads)
罔上虐下 (Deceive Above, Abuse Below)
罗钳吉网 (Luo's Tongs and Ji's Net)
罗雀掘鼠 (Catch Sparrows, Dig for Rats)
昆山片玉 (A Jade Fragment from Kunlun)
图为不轨 (Plotting Treason)
图穷匕见 (The Dagger Revealed)
咄咄怪事 (Outrageous Oddities)
非池中物 (Not a Mere Pond Fish)
非驴非马 (Neither Donkey Nor Horse)
败军之将 (A Defeated General)
忠言逆耳 (Good Medicine Tastes Bitter)
虎口余生 (Escaped from the Tiger's Maw)
虎狼之国 (A Nation of Tigers and Wolves)
明见万里 (Clear Insight Across Ten Thousand Li)
明目张胆 (Bold and Unashamed)
明珠暗投 (A Pearl Cast into Darkness)
明哲保身 (Wisdom in Self-Preservation)
明察秋毫 (Seeing the Finest Detail)
明修栈道 (Mending the Boardwalk Openly)
版筑饭牛 (Building Walls and Feeding Oxen)
刮目相待 (A Fresh Look)
彼众我寡 (Outnumbered Yet Unyielding)
彼一时，此一时 (That Was Then, This Is Now)
炙手可热 (A Scorching Hand to Touch)
炙鸡絮酒 (Roast Chicken and Silk Wine)
垂头丧气 (Dejected and Crestfallen)
垂帘听政 (Ruling Behind the Curtain)
所向无前 (Unstoppable and Unrivaled)
所向无敌 (Invincible in Every Direction)
所向风靡 (Wherever It Goes, All Bow)
所图不轨 (Plotting Treason)
兔死狗烹 (The Hound Dies Once the Hare Is Caught)
欣欣向荣 (Thriving and Prosperous)
佳人薄命 (Beauty's Cruel Fate)
侃侃而谈 (Speak with Ease and Confidence)
使羊将狼 (Setting a Sheep to Lead Wolves)
使功不如使过 (Using Merits Is Worse Than Using Mistakes)
依样画葫芦 (Drawing a Gourd by the Same Pattern)
季布一诺 (Ji Bu's Promise)
贫贱之知 (Friends in Need)
贫贱骄人 (Proud in Poverty)