8 Chinese Idioms About Money, Wealth & Prosperity
Wise Chinese idioms about financial success, wealth attitudes, and the true value of money.
Chinese culture has nuanced views on wealth - valuing prosperity while warning against greed. These idioms reflect centuries of wisdom about earning, spending, and understanding money's proper role in a well-lived life.
门庭若市
mén tíng ruò shìExtremely popular
Literal: Doorway busy as market
This vivid idiom describes a household's entrance (门庭) being as busy as a marketplace (若市). It originated during the Han Dynasty, initially describing the homes of influential officials where countless visitors sought audience. The metaphor gained particular significance during the Tang Dynasty, whe...
Example
The new restaurant was so popular that it was always packed with customers
这家新餐厅很受欢迎，总是顾客盈门
好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láoLove 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...
Example
The team's productivity suffered from members who avoided challenging tasks
团队中有人喜欢偷懒避难，影响了工作效率
破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōuCommit with no retreat
Literal: Break pots sink boats
Originating from a famous historical event in 207 BCE, this idiom recounts how general Xiang Yu ordered his troops to break (破) their cooking pots (釜) and sink (沉) their boats (舟) before battling the Qin army. By eliminating the possibility of retreat, he created absolute commitment to victory. Duri...
Example
He quit his job to start a business, fully committed to success
他辞去工作创业，全身心投入追求成功
守时如金
shǒu shí rú jīnValue time preciously
Literal: Value time like gold
This idiom, emerging during the Song Dynasty's growing commercial culture, equates valuing (如) time (时) with gold (金). It gained prominence as mechanical water clocks improved timekeeping precision, making punctuality increasingly important in civil service and commerce. The comparison was particula...
Example
She always arrived early for meetings, respecting everyone's time
她总是提前到达会议，尊重每个人的时间
画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīngAdd crucial finishing touch
Literal: Dot dragon's eyes
This vivid idiom comes from a story of the legendary painter Zhang Sengyou during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. After painting (画) four dragons (龙) on a temple wall, he deliberately left them without pupils. When questioned, he explained that dotting (点) the eyes (睛) would bring them t...
Example
Her final edit transformed the good presentation into an excellent one
她最后的修改把这个好的演讲变成了一个出色的演讲
抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yùOffer modest view to inspire better
Literal: Throw brick attract jade
This elegant metaphor emerged from Tang Dynasty literary circles, where throwing (抛) a modest brick (砖) to attract (引) precious jade (玉) described the practice of sharing an simple poem to inspire superior verses from others. The story goes that a lesser-known poet presented his work to the great Li...
Example
She shared her initial idea hoping to inspire better suggestions
她分享了初步想法，希望能激发更好的建议
一言九鼎
yī yán jiǔ dǐngWords carry great weight
Literal: Words heavy as nine cauldrons
During the Zhou Dynasty, nine sacred bronze cauldrons (鼎) symbolized imperial authority. This idiom equates a single (一) word (言) with the weight of these nine (九) vessels, emphasizing extraordinary trustworthiness. The historical bronze dings required immense strength to move, making them perfect m...
Example
The CEO's brief statement immediately restored investor confidence
CEO简短的声明立即恢复了投资者的信心
守正不阿
shǒu zhèng bù ēKeep integrity without compromise
Literal: Keep right no flattery
Emerging from Han Dynasty political discourse, this phrase combines maintaining righteousness (守正) with refusing to flatter or compromise principles (不阿). The term gained prominence during a period of intense political intrigue, where court officials faced pressure to abandon principles for personal...
Example
The journalist reported the truth despite political pressure
记者不顾政治压力报道了真相
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