Below is a comprehensive list of some of the most popular Chinese idioms, known as chéngyǔ (成语). Most Chinese idioms are four-character phrases that are derived from well-known stories or parables. The sayings themselves are not parables, but rather they serve to evoke the “point” or lesson from a myth or historical event. Get ready to impress your friends and family by sharing your deep understanding of Chinese language and culture with these handy phrases!
A
āi shēng tàn qì – 唉声叹气:
moan and groan
ài bú shì shǒu – 爱不释手:
to love something too much to part with it
ài cái rú mìng – 爱财如命:
to love money more than life itself
ài shǒu ài jiǎo – 碍手碍脚:
to be in the way
àn jiàn shāng rén – 暗箭伤人:
stab someone in the back
B
bái tóu xíe lǎo – 白头偕老:
reach old age together
bān mén nòng fǔ – 班门弄斧:
to show one’s meager skills before an expert
bàn tú ér fèi – 半途而废:
to give up halfway
běn mò dào zhì – 本末倒置:
to put the cart before the horse
bié kāi shēng miàn – 别开生面:
to start something new or original
bù liǎo liǎo zhī – 不了了之:
to leave a matter unfinished
bù sān bú sì – 不三不四:
shady, sketchy, dubious, nondescript
C
cáng lóng wò hǔ – 藏龙卧虎:
hidden dragons and crouching tigers
chī hē wán lè – 吃喝玩乐:
eat, drink, and be merry
chù jǐng shēng qíng – 触景生情:
old feelings arise at the sight of a familiar place
chuān zhēn yǐn xìan – 穿针引线:
to serve as a middleman
D
dà hǎi lāo zhēn – 大海捞针:
to find a needle in a haystack
dào tīng tú shūo – 道听途说:
gossip or rumors
duì niú tán qín – 对牛弹琴:
to cast pearls before swine
duō cái duō yì – 多才多艺:
versatile and multi-talented
F
fǎn chún xiāng jī – 反唇相讥:
to retort with a sarcastic remark
G
gǎi xié guī zhèng – 改邪归正:
to turn over a new leaf
gōng xǐ fā cái – 恭喜发财:
may you have a prosperous New Year!
gū míng diào yù – 沽名钓誉:
to fish for compliments or fame
guǎi wān mò jiǎo – 拐弯抹角:
to beat around the bush
guǐ guǐ suì suì – 鬼鬼祟祟:
sneaky or secretive
H
hǎi shì shèn lóu – 海市蜃楼:
mirage
hùa lóng diǎn jīng – 画龙点睛:
to add the finishing touch
huò rán kāi lǎng – 豁然开朗:
to suddenly have an “aha” moment
J
jiàn jī xíng shì – 见机行事:
to add the finishing touch
jiǎo tà shí dì – 脚踏实地:
to add the finishing touch
jié wài shēng zhī – 节外生枝:
one problem leads to another
jié zú xiān dēng – 捷足先登:
first come, first served
jīn jīn yǒu wèi – 津津有味:
with gusto and great interest
jiǔ niú yī máo – 九牛一毛:
a drop in the bucket
K
kòu rén xīn xián – 扣人心弦:
tug at one’s heartstrings
kuài mǎ jiā biān – 快马加鞭:
to work at breakneck speed and go as fast as possible
L
lěng yán lěng yǔ – 冷言冷语:
sarcastic comments
liǎo liǎo wú jǐ – 寥寥无几:
very few
luàn qī bā zāo – 乱七八糟:
a total mess and disorder
M
méi lái yǎn qù – 眉来眼去:
to flirt
míng bù xū chuan – 名不虚传:
to live up to one’s reputation
mó léng liǎng kě – 模棱两可:
ambiguous
mò míng qí miào – 莫名其妙:
baffling without rhyme or reason
Q
qían xīn wàn kǔ – 千辛万苦:
thousands of hardships
qiān zǎi nán féng – 千载难逢:
once in a blue moon
qíng tóu yì hé – 情投意合:
find each other congenial
R
rú lǚ bó bīng – 如履薄冰:
walking on thin ice
S
shè shēn chǚ dì – 设身处地:
to empathize
T
tǎo jià huán jià – 讨价还价:
to haggle
tóu tóu shì dào – 头头是道:
coherent, logical, and convincing
W
wán huǒ zì fén – 玩火自焚:
one who plays with fire will get burned
wú suǒ shì shì – 无所事事:
to do nothing and idle away one’s time
Y
yí jiàn shuāng diāo – 一箭双雕:
to kill two birds with one stone
yí jiàn zhōng qíng – 一见钟情:
love at first sight
yì wú suǒ yǒu – 一无所有:
love at first sight
yì yán nán jìn – 一言难尽:
it’s a long story
yì yán wéi dìng – 一言为定:
it’s a deal
Z
zhǎn zhuǎn fǎn cè – 辗转反侧:
to toss and turn
zhāo sān mù sì – 朝三暮四:
to flip-flop or blow hot and cold
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