10 Chinese Idioms About Rain (雨)
Atmospheric Chinese idioms about rain - from gentle spring showers to storms that test our resolve.
Rain in Chinese idioms represents everything from nourishing growth to testing one's character. These atmospheric expressions use weather imagery to describe life's challenges and blessings.
风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōuShare hardships together
Literal: Share boat in wind and rain
Closely related to '同舟共济' but with added emotional depth, this idiom evokes sharing a boat (同舟) amid wind (风) and rain (雨). It first appeared in Song Dynasty poetry describing political allies weathering court intrigues together. The imagery draws from the experiences of river travelers who formed d...
Example
The partners stood by each other through business difficulties
合伙人在企业困难时期互相支持
未雨绸缪
wèi yǔ chóu móuPrepare 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...
Example
She saved money each month for unexpected expenses
她每月存钱以备不时之需
春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔGentle, nurturing influence
Literal: Spring wind becomes rain
This poetic metaphor traces back to the Han Dynasty's educational philosophy, where ideal teaching was compared to spring winds (春风) transforming into nurturing rain (化雨). The imagery draws from agricultural wisdom – spring breezes and gentle rains nurture plants without forcing growth. Scholar Han ...
Example
The teacher's patient guidance slowly transformed the struggling student
老师耐心的引导慢慢改变了这个困难学生
风声鹤唳
fēng shēng hè lìOverly fearful and suspicious
Literal: Wind sound crane call
Dating back to the Jin Dynasty (265-420 CE), this idiom emerged from the aftermath of the Battle of Fei River. The defeated army became so paranoid that they mistook every wind (风) sound (声) and crane's (鹤) cry (唳) for enemy movements. The image draws from the watchful nature of cranes, known in Chi...
Example
After the security breach, the company became extremely cautious about every small alert
在安全漏洞事件后，公司对每个小警报都格外警惕
金风玉露
jīn fēng yù lùPerfect timing and conditions
Literal: Golden wind jade dew
This poetic idiom pairs golden (金) autumn wind (风) with jade-like (玉) dew (露), dating from Tang Dynasty nature poetry. It captures the crystalline clarity of fall mornings when the first cool breezes meet with early dew, traditionally considered the most beautiful moments of the year. The combinatio...
Example
The market conditions were ideal for launching the new product
市场条件非常适合推出新产品
春蚕到死
chūn cán dào sǐSelfless dedication
Literal: Spring silkworm until death
The poignant image of the spring (春) silkworm (蚕) spinning until death (死) emerged from ancient observations of sericulture, where silkworms produce silk continuously until their final moments. This idiom gained particular resonance during the Tang Dynasty, appearing prominently in love poetry and l...
Example
The teacher devoted her entire life to educating rural children
这位老师将毕生精力都献给了乡村教育
风云际会
fēng yún jì huìPerfect moment of opportunity
Literal: Wind cloud gather meeting
Drawing from ancient Chinese cosmology, this idiom describes the dramatic moment when wind (风) and clouds (云) gather (际会) before a momentous change. The imagery comes from astronomical observations recorded during the Zhou Dynasty, where such atmospheric phenomena were seen as heavenly omens. Histor...
Example
The market conditions created a perfect opportunity for the new venture
市场条件为新企业创造了完美的机会
翻云覆雨
fān yún fù yǔUnpredictable, dramatic changes
Literal: 翻Turn clouds overturn rain
This meteorological metaphor describes the ability to turn over (翻) clouds (云) and overturn (覆) rain (雨), originating from Daoist rain-making rituals of the Warring States period. It first described shamans believed capable of manipulating weather through magical practices. During the Tang Dynasty, ...
Example
The politician completely reversed his position after winning the election
这位政治家在赢得选举后完全改变了立场
呼风唤雨
hū fēng huàn yǔWielding extraordinary influence over others
Literal: Summon wind, call rain
Ancient shamanistic traditions gave us this image of summoning wind (呼风) and calling rain (唤雨). Tang Dynasty writers transformed it from literal weather control to metaphorical influence over events. The meteorological metaphor perfectly captured the ability to affect natural forces, representing ex...
Example
The influential investor could transform market trends with a single public statement
这位有影响力的投资者可以用一个公开声明改变市场趋势
雨后春笋
yǔ hòu chūn sǔnEmerging rapidly in great numbers
Literal: Bamboo shoots after spring rain
This idiom captures the natural phenomenon of bamboo shoots (春笋) growing rapidly after (后) spring rain (雨). In Chinese landscapes, bamboo groves visibly transform after rainfall as countless new shoots emerge almost overnight. The phrase first appeared in Song Dynasty texts describing rapid multipli...
Example
Tech startups are emerging rapidly like bamboo shoots after rain.
科技初创公司如雨后春笋般涌现。
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