72 أمثال
bù yuǎn qiān lǐ
“Not consider a thousand miles far”
Willingly travel far; make great efforts
This idiom describes not (不) considering far (远) a thousand (千) miles (里). From Mencius describing the willingness to travel great distances for impor...
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zhāo sī mù xiǎng
“Think in morning, yearn at night”
Think about constantly; yearn for
This idiom describes thinking (思) in the morning (朝) and yearning (想) at night (暮). It depicts constant preoccupation from dawn to dusk. The phrase ca...
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hún qiān mèng yíng
“Soul pulled, dreams haunted”
Yearn day and night
This idiom describes the soul (魂) being pulled (牵) and dreams (梦) being haunted (萦). It depicts longing so intense it occupies both waking and sleepin...
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liàn liàn bù shě
“Attached and unwilling to part”
Be deeply reluctant to leave
This idiom describes being attached (恋恋) and unwilling (不舍) to leave. Similar to 依依不舍 but with stronger emotional attachment through the character 恋 (...
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nán fēn nán shě
“Hard to part, hard to leave”
Be inseparable; hate to part
This idiom describes being hard (难) to part (分) and hard (难) to leave (舍). It depicts the pain of separation when attachment is strong. The doubled st...
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hǎi kū shí làn
“Seas dry, stones rot”
Until the end of time; eternal love
This idiom describes seas (海) drying up (枯) and stones (石) rotting (烂). These are impossibilities that would take eternity - seas don't dry and stones...
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yī jiàn zhōng qíng
“One glance, feelings concentrate”
Love at first sight
This idiom describes at one (一) glance (见) feelings (情) concentrate (钟). It captures the experience of instant romantic attraction where love strikes ...
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bái tóu xié lǎo
“White heads together in old age”
Grow old together; lifelong partnership
This idiom describes white (白) heads (头) together (偕) in old age (老). It depicts couples who grow old together, their hair turning white side by side....
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jǔ àn qí méi
“Raise tray level with eyebrows”
Married couple with great mutual respect
This idiom describes raising (举) a food tray (案) level (齐) with one's eyebrows (眉). It comes from the story of Meng Guang who showed deep respect for ...
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xiāng jìng rú bīn
“Respect each other like guests”
Treat each other with respect
This idiom describes respecting each other (相敬) like guests (如宾). It comes from Zuozhuan describing an ideal married couple who maintained the courtes...
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xiāng rú yǐ mò
“Moisten each other with foam”
Help each other in adversity
This idiom describes moistening each other (相濡) with foam (以沫). From Zhuangzi's parable of fish in a drying pond who keep each other alive by sharing ...
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wěn jǐng zhī jiāo
“Friendship of severed necks”
Be sworn friends; absolute loyalty
This idiom describes a friendship (交) of severed necks (刎颈). It comes from the story of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru who reconciled their enmity and became...
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mò nì zhī jiāo
“Friendship without opposition”
Be bosom friends
This idiom describes a friendship (交) without (莫) opposition (逆). It comes from Zhuangzi describing friends whose relationship has no discord or confl...
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qíng tóu yì hé
“Feelings cast, ideas match”
Be perfectly compatible; hit it off
This idiom describes feelings (情) being cast together (投) and ideas (意) matching (合). It depicts natural compatibility where both emotions and thought...
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zhì tóng dào hé
“Same aspirations, aligned paths”
Share the same goals and values
This idiom describes having the same (同) aspirations (志) and aligned (合) paths (道). It depicts people united by shared goals and values rather than me...
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tuī xīn zhì fù
“Push heart, place in belly”
Speak from the heart; confide completely
This idiom describes pushing (推) one's heart (心) and placing (置) it in another's belly (腹). It depicts such trust that one metaphorically gives their ...
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gān dǎn xiāng zhào
“Livers and galls illuminate each other”
Share complete trust and loyalty
This idiom describes livers (肝) and galls (胆) illuminating (照) each other (相). In Chinese culture, these organs represent courage and sincerity. The p...
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kāi chéng bù gōng
“Open sincerity, spread fairness”
Be candid and fair
This idiom describes opening (开) sincerity (诚) and spreading (布) fairness (公). It originated from descriptions of Zhuge Liang's governance style - tra...
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yī yán jì chū
“Once a word is spoken”
A promise once made must be kept
This idiom describes once (既) a word (一言) is spoken (出). It is often paired with 驷马难追 (four horses cannot catch it) to emphasize that spoken words can...
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biǎo lǐ rú yī
“Outside and inside as one”
Be consistent inside and out
This idiom describes the outside (表) and inside (里) being as (如) one (一). It depicts consistency between one's public persona and private self, betwee...
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tǎn tǎn dàng dàng
“Open and broad-minded”
Live openly with clear conscience
This idiom describes being open (坦坦) and broad (荡荡). The doubled characters emphasize the degree of openness and freedom from anxiety. It depicts some...
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qiū háo wú fàn
“Not violating even autumn down”
Show strict discipline; not take anything
This idiom describes not (无) violating (犯) even the finest autumn hair (秋毫). Autumn down refers to the tiny new hairs animals grow for winter - extrem...
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chóu méi kǔ liǎn
“Worried brows, bitter face”
Look worried and unhappy
This idiom describes worried (愁) brows (眉) and a bitter (苦) face (脸). It depicts the physical manifestation of anxiety and unhappiness in facial expre...
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méi kāi yǎn xiào
“Brows open, eyes smile”
Be all smiles; radiate happiness
This idiom describes brows (眉) opening (开) and eyes (眼) smiling (笑). It depicts the full facial expression of genuine happiness where both brows relax...
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méi fēi sè wǔ
“Eyebrows fly, expression dances”
Be animated with excitement
This idiom describes eyebrows (眉) flying (飞) and expression (色) dancing (舞). It captures the animated facial expressions of someone excited or enthusi...
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xǐ xiào yán kāi
“Happy smile, face opens up”
Be beaming with joy
This idiom describes being so happy (喜) that one smiles (笑) and the face (颜) opens up (开). It captures the physical transformation that genuine joy br...
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nù bù kě è
“Anger that cannot be suppressed”
Be furious beyond control
This idiom describes anger (怒) that cannot (不可) be suppressed (遏). It depicts rage so intense that it overwhelms all attempts at self-control. The phr...
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xǐ nù wú cháng
“Joy and anger without constancy”
Be moody; have unpredictable emotions
This idiom describes having joy (喜) and anger (怒) without (无) consistency (常). It depicts someone whose emotions are unpredictable and volatile. The p...
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wàng zì zūn dà
“Unreasonably consider oneself great”
Be conceited; have an inflated ego
This idiom describes unreasonably (妄) considering oneself (自) honorable and great (尊大). It is the opposite of 妄自菲薄, describing excessive self-importan...
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zhǐ gāo qì yáng
“Toes high, spirits lifted”
Strut arrogantly; be conceited
This idiom describes walking with toes (趾) high (高) and spirits (气) raised (扬). It depicts someone strutting with such arrogance that even their toes ...
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yí zhǐ qì shǐ
“Command with chin gestures and breath”
Be domineering and arrogant
This idiom describes commanding others with chin (颐) gestures (指) and breathing (气) to direct (使). It depicts someone so arrogant they give orders thr...
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gū míng diào yù
“Fish for fame and angle for reputation”
Seek fame through calculated actions
This idiom describes seeking to buy (沽) fame (名) and fishing (钓) for reputation (誉). It criticizes those who pursue recognition through calculated act...
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cè yǐn zhī xīn
“Heart of compassionate concealment”
Compassion; empathy for others
This idiom describes the heart (心) of compassion (恻隐). It comes from Mencius, who argued this feeling of pain at others' suffering is innate to all hu...
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fù tāng dǎo huǒ
“Go into boiling water step on fire”
Go through fire and water; brave any danger
This idiom describes going into (赴) boiling water (汤) and stepping on (蹈) fire (火). It represents willingness to face extreme danger or hardship. The ...
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wàng zì fěi bó
“Wrongly self-deprecate”
Underestimate oneself; excessive self-deprecation
This idiom describes wrongly (妄) depreciating (菲薄) oneself (自). It warns against excessive self-deprecation that undervalues one's abilities. The phra...
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yán xíng yī zhì
“Words and actions consistent”
Practice what one preaches
This idiom describes words (言) and actions (行) being consistent (一致). It embodies the Confucian ideal of integrity where speech matches behavior. The ...
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tóng bìng xiāng lián
“Same illness mutually sympathize”
Sympathize with those sharing similar troubles
This idiom describes those with the same (同) illness or affliction (病) mutually (相) sympathizing (怜). It captures the special understanding between pe...
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xiāng jiàn hèn wǎn
“Meeting each other regret it was late”
Regret not meeting sooner; instant rapport
This idiom describes meeting (相见) and regretting (恨) it was late (晚). It expresses the feeling when connecting with someone special and wishing the re...
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xīn xīn xiāng yìn
“Heart and heart mutually seal”
Perfect mutual understanding; hearts in harmony
This idiom describes hearts (心心) mutually (相) sealing or imprinting upon (印) each other. It comes from Chan (Zen) Buddhism describing the wordless tra...
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mù zhōng wú rén
“No person in one's eyes”
Extremely arrogant; look down on everyone
This idiom describes having no (无) person (人) in one's eyes (目中) - looking through people as if they don't exist. It criticizes extreme arrogance that...
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píng yì jìn rén
“Level and easy to approach”
Approachable; easy to get along with
This idiom describes being level/even (平易) and easy to approach (近人). It praises those who, despite status or accomplishment, remain accessible and un...
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yǔ zhòng bù tóng
“Different from the crowd”
Unique; distinctive
This idiom describes being different (不同) from (与) the crowd (众). It can express either positive uniqueness or critical isolation, depending on contex...
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tòng gǎi qián fēi
“Painfully change previous wrongs”
Sincerely repent and reform
This idiom describes painfully (痛) changing (改) one's previous (前) wrongs (非). The inclusion of 'tong' (痛, pain) suggests genuine remorse rather than ...
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wú wēi bù zhì
“No detail not attended to”
Meticulous; attentive to every detail
This idiom describes care where no (无) detail, however small (微), is not (不) attended to (至). It emphasizes thoroughness that extends to the smallest ...
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xìn kǒu kāi hé
“Trust mouth open river”
Talk irresponsibly; make things up
This idiom describes opening (开) a river (河) from one's trusted mouth (信口) - letting words flow freely without verification or thought. The image of a...
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dà jīng xiǎo guài
“Big surprise small strange”
Make a fuss about nothing
This idiom describes making big (大) surprise (惊) over small (小) strange things (怪) - overreacting to minor matters. The phrase criticizes disproportio...
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yī yī bù shě
“Clinging and unwilling to part”
Reluctant to part; lingering attachment
This idiom uses the reduplicated 'yiyi' (依依), meaning clinging or attached, combined with unwilling (不舍) to part. It describes the emotional difficult...
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yī rú jì wǎng
“Same as it has always been”
As always; unchanged
This idiom describes being the same (一如) as it has always been (既往). It emphasizes consistency and unchanged behavior or quality over time. The phrase...
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xīn zhào bù xuān
“Hearts illuminate without declaring”
Tacit understanding; unspoken agreement
This idiom describes hearts (心) that illuminate/understand each other (照) without (不) explicit declaration (宣). It captures the special rapport betwee...
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jū gōng jìn cuì
“Bow and exhaust oneself completely”
Devote oneself completely; work until exhausted
This idiom describes bowing (鞠躬) while exhausting oneself completely (尽瘁). It comes from Zhuge Liang's famous memorial 'Chu Shi Biao,' where he pledge...
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biàn běn jiā lì
“Change origin add severity”
Get worse; intensify negatively
This idiom describes change (变) from the original (本) state by adding (加) severity (厉). It depicts situations that worsen instead of improving, with p...
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ruò wú qí shì
“As if nothing happened”
Act as if nothing happened
This idiom describes behaving as if (若) there was no (无) such matter (其事). It depicts maintaining a calm or normal demeanor despite significant events...
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shì ér bù jiàn
“Look but not see”
Turn a blind eye; deliberately ignore
This idiom describes looking (视) but not (不) seeing (见), indicating willful blindness rather than genuine inability to perceive. The phrase originated...
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yán guò qí shí
“Words exceed the reality”
Exaggerate; overstate
This idiom describes words (言) that exceed (过) the actual reality (其实). It originated from 'Records of the Three Kingdoms,' where Zhuge Liang used it ...
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xīn gān qíng yuàn
“Heart sweet feeling willing”
Willingly; without reluctance
This idiom describes a state where the heart (心) finds sweetness (甘) and feelings (情) are willing (愿). It emphasizes genuine, voluntary acceptance wit...
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zhēng lùn bù xiū
“Arguing without rest”
Argue endlessly without resolution
This idiom describes arguing (争论) without (不) stopping (休). The phrase captures the frustration of debates that continue indefinitely without resoluti...
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yī shì tóng rén
“One view same benevolence”
Treat everyone equally without discrimination
This idiom describes viewing (视) everyone with the same (一同) benevolence (仁). The Confucian concept of 'ren' (仁, benevolence) is extended equally to a...
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mò mò wú wén
“Silently without fame”
Unknown; working in obscurity
This idiom describes working silently (默默) without (无) anyone hearing of it (闻). It depicts humble labor without recognition or fame. The phrase can d...
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wú dòng yú zhōng
“No movement in the heart”
Unmoved; indifferent
This idiom describes having no (无) movement (动) within (于) one's heart (衷). The character 衷 specifically refers to the innermost feelings. The phrase ...
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tāo tāo bù jué
“الأمواج المتلاطمة لا تتوقف أبدًا”
تحدث بلا نهاية; تحدث بإسهاب
يستخدم هذا المصطلح صورة الأمواج المتلاطمة (滔滔) التي لا (不) تتوقف (绝) لوصف الكلام المستمر والمتدفق. يثير 'تاوتاو' المكرر صوت وإيقاع المياه المتدفقة. ظه...
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míng zhī gù fàn
“يعرف بوضوح ومع ذلك ينتهك عن عمد”
ارتكاب انتهاك عن علم
يصف هذا المصطلح معرفة (明知) شيء ما خطأ بوضوح ومع ذلك القيام به عن عمد (故) على أي حال (犯). تؤكد العبارة على المسؤولية الأخلاقية التي تأتي من الاختيار ال...
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zì gào fèn yǒng
“التوصية الذاتية بقوة وشجاعة”
التطوع بشجاعة; التقدم عن طيب خاطر
يصف هذا المصطلح التطوع (自告) بقوة (奋) وشجاعة (勇)، مع التركيز على المبادرة والشجاعة في التقدم. تجمع العبارة بين الترشيح الذاتي والصفات اللازمة للمتابعة....
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xíng yǐng bù lí
“الجسم والظل لا ينفصلان أبدًا”
لا ينفصلان؛ دائمًا معًا
يقارن هذا المصطلح التعبيري الرفاق المقربين بشخص (形، شكل/جسم) وظلهم (影) الذي لا (不) ينفصل (离). تنشأ العبارة من الشعر الصيني القديم الذي يعبر عن ألم الو...
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guāng míng lěi luò
“مشرق ومنفتح القلب”
مستقيم ومنفتح؛ فوق اللوح
يجمع هذا المصطلح التعبيري بين "مشرق ومضيء" (光明) و "منفتح ومستقيم" (磊落) لوصف شخص يتمتع بشخصية أخلاقية لا تشوبها شائبة. تصور الشخصية 磊 حجارة مكدسة بشكل ...
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qī zuǐ bā shé
“سبعة أفواه وثمانية ألسنة”
الجميع يتحدثون في وقت واحد؛ مناقشة حيوية
يستخدم هذا المصطلح التعبيري الأرقام سبعة (七) وثمانية (八)، والتي غالبًا ما تشير في اللغة الصينية إلى "الكثير" أو "المتنوعة"، جنبًا إلى جنب مع الأفواه (...
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xīn píng qì hé
“قلب هادئ ونفس متناغم”
هادئ ومتزن؛ معتدل المزاج
يجمع هذا المصطلح التعبيري بين "قلب هادئ" (心平) و "نفس/طاقة متناغمة" (气和)، مما يعكس الفهم الصيني التقليدي للتوازن العاطفي والجسدي. في الطب والفلسفة الصي...
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zì yǐ wéi shì
“Considering oneself to be right”
Self-righteous; opinionated
This idiom appears in the ancient Daoist text 'Zhuangzi' and was used by Confucius to criticize those who considered themselves (自以为) always right (是)...
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cū xīn dà yì
“Rough heart and careless mind”
Careless; negligent
This idiom combines 'rough/coarse' (粗) heart (心) with 'big/careless' (大) intention (意) to describe a lack of attention to detail. While both component...
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míng fù qí shí
“Name matches reality”
Living up to one's name or reputation
This idiom originates from the Han Dynasty text 'Hou Han Shu' (后汉书), where it described officials whose abilities matched their titles. The phrase com...
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yán ér yǒu xìn
“Words with trustworthiness”
To be true to one's word
This idiom comes from 'The Analects of Confucius' (论语), where the sage emphasized that a person's words (言) must be accompanied by trustworthiness (信)...
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tiān cháng dì jiǔ
“Heaven is long, earth is lasting”
Everlasting; eternal
This idiom derives from Chapter 7 of the Daoist classic 'Tao Te Ching' (道德经) by Laozi: 'Heaven and earth are long-lasting.' The phrase uses the eterna...
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wàng chuān qiū shuǐ
“Gazing through autumn waters”
To eagerly await someone or something
This idiom originates from Tang Dynasty poetry, where 'autumn waters' (秋水) was a literary metaphor for bright, clear eyes. The phrase describes lookin...
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