12 Delicious Chinese Idioms About Food & Eating

Love ease, hate work

Literal: Love ease hate work

This idiom describes the human tendency to love (好) ease (逸) and hate (恶) work (劳). First appearing in pre-Qin philosophical texts, it was used by Mencius to warn against the natural but problematic inclination toward comfort over effort. The phrase gained particular significance during the Song Dyn...

Advantage from close connections

Literal: Pavilion close to water

First appearing in Tang Dynasty poetry, this idiom describes pavilions (楼台) close (近) to water (水), referring to their advantageous position to catch the moon's reflection first. The phrase gained wider usage during the Song Dynasty as a metaphor for privileged access or favorable positioning. Origi...

Prepare before problems arise

Literal: Prepare umbrella before rain

Dating to the Zhou Dynasty's Book of Changes, this idiom literally describes preparing (缪) with silk cords (绸) before (未) the rain (雨) arrives. It originated from the practice of reinforcing buildings during dry seasons to prevent leaks. Ancient carpenters would inspect and repair roof bindings pree...

Makes no sense

Literal: Cannot name its wonder

Originating in Daoist texts describing inexplicable mysteries, this phrase captures the sensation of encountering something whose wonder (妙) cannot (莫) be named (名). During the Six Dynasties period, it was frequently used in poetry and philosophical writings to describe transcendent experiences. Bud...

Have clear plan beforehand

Literal: Bamboo ready in heart

This idiom originated from Southern Song Dynasty painter Wen Yuke's approach to bamboo painting. Before touching brush to paper, he would completely visualize the bamboo (竹) in his heart/mind (胸), ensuring it was fully formed (成) in his imagination. The practice exemplified the Chinese artistic prin...

Make situation worse

Literal: Carry wood save fire

This paradoxical image of carrying (抱) firewood (薪) to extinguish (救) a fire (火) emerged during the Warring States period as a metaphor for self-defeating actions. Historical records show it being used to criticize policies that appeared helpful but actually worsened situations. The image was partic...

Gradual accumulation builds up

Literal: Days pile months gather

This idiom weaves together daily (日) accumulation (积) with monthly (月) gathering (累) to describe gradual progress. It first appeared in Han Dynasty texts discussing scholarly cultivation, where learning was seen as a process of constant, minute additions - like grains of sand forming a mountain. The...

Bring trouble upon oneself

Literal: Draw fire burn self

This cautionary idiom describes the act of drawing (引) fire (火) to burn (烧) oneself (身), originating from the Spring and Autumn period. It first appeared in historical accounts of conspirators who, in attempting to harm others, ultimately destroyed themselves. The metaphor draws from ancient Chinese...

Small things build achievement

Literal: Gather sand make tower

The concept of gathering (聚) sand (沙) to build (成) a tower (塔) emerged from Buddhist temple construction practices during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The image of accumulated individual grains forming a massive structure became a metaphor for collective effort and gradual progress. It gained particula...

Observe troubles from safe distance

Literal: Watch fire from opposite shore

This evocative idiom describes watching (观) a fire (火) from the opposite (隔) shore (岸), originating from Tang Dynasty accounts of riverside village fires. Historical records tell how those safely across the river could observe disasters without personal risk. The phrase gained moral dimensions durin...

Innocent bystanders suffer from others' problems

Literal: City gate catches fire

This idiom comes from a longer expression where the city gate (城门) catches fire (失火), but the disaster spreads to harm fish in the moat (殃及池鱼). It originated from Han Dynasty governance warnings about how problems at centers of power affect even distant, unrelated parties. The image drew from actual...

Be irresistibly drawn toward self-destruction

Literal: Flying moth rushes fire

Han Dynasty naturalists first documented this self-destructive phenomenon of moths (飞蛾) rushing toward flames (扑火). Tang Dynasty poets transformed this natural observation into a powerful metaphor for human self-destructive fascinations. The biological accuracy makes it particularly compelling - mot...