8 Chinese Idioms for Apologizing & Making Amends
Appropriate Chinese idioms for saying sorry, admitting mistakes, and making amends with sincerity.
Apologizing in Chinese culture requires more than just saying sorry. These idioms demonstrate genuine remorse, the humility to admit mistakes, and the commitment to make things right.
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
虚怀若谷
xū huái ruò gǔStay humble and open
Literal: Empty heart like valley
Derived from Daoist philosophy, this phrase advocates maintaining an empty (虚) heart/mind (怀) like (若) a valley (谷). The valley metaphor was particularly significant in Daoist thought - like a valley that receives all waters without preference, one should remain open to all ideas without prejudice. ...
Example
The professor welcomed new ideas from his students
教授欢迎学生们提出新的想法
悬梁刺股
xuán liáng cì gǔStudy extremely hard
Literal: Hang beam stab thigh
This idiom pairs two classical studying techniques: tying (悬) hair to a beam (梁) to prevent dozing off and stabbing (刺) one's thigh (股) with an awl to stay alert. These practices were attributed to Su Qin and Sun Jing, two scholars from the Warring States period who initially failed their examinatio...
Example
She studied late into the night, determined to master the subject
她深夜苦读，决心掌握这门学科
纸上谈兵
zhǐ shàng tán bīngAll theory no practice
Literal: Discuss war on paper
This critique emerged from the story of Zhao Kuo, a general who was well-versed in military texts but failed catastrophically in actual battle. His expertise in discussing (谈) warfare (兵) remained purely on paper (纸上). The idiom appears in historical texts describing the Battle of Changping (260 BCE...
Example
The consultant's theories proved useless when faced with real business challenges
顾问的理论在面对实际商业挑战时证明毫无用处
枕流漱石
zhěn liú shù shíLive simply
Literal: Pillow stream rinse stone
This idiom, literally meaning 'pillow on the stream (流) and rinse with stones (石),' originated from a story about Sun Chu during the Jin Dynasty. He intended to say 枕石漱流 (pillow on stones, rinse in the stream), describing a life of reclusion. However, he mistakenly said 枕流漱石. When corrected, he stu...
Example
The researcher lived modestly while dedicating everything to her discoveries
研究员过着简朴的生活，把一切都投入到研究发现中
亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láoNever too late to fix
Literal: Fix pen after lost sheep
This practical wisdom originates from an ancient shepherd who, after losing (亡) sheep (羊), finally repaired (补) his pen (牢). The story, recorded in 'Guanzi', became a governance parable during the Warring States period. Officials used it to argue for preventive policies rather than reactive measures...
Example
After the security breach, the company finally upgraded their systems
在安全漏洞事件后，公司终于升级了系统
不卑不亢
bù bēi bù kàngMaintain perfect dignified composure
Literal: Neither humble nor proud
This balanced idiom advocates being neither (不) servile (卑) nor (不) arrogant (亢), originating from Confucian texts of the Warring States period. It first appeared in discussions of proper bearing for scholars serving in government, emphasizing dignified self-respect without overweening pride. The sp...
Example
The diplomat maintained perfect dignity when negotiating with the superpower representatives
这位外交官在与超级大国代表谈判时保持着完美的尊严
东施效颦
dōng shī xiào pínFailed imitation lacking understanding
Literal: Dongshi imitates Xishi's frown
This misguided idiom describes how Dongshi (东施), an ugly woman, imitated the frown (效颦) of Xishi, a legendary beauty, originating from Taoist text 'Zhuangzi' during the Warring States period. When beautiful Xishi frowned while suffering heart pain, it enhanced her beauty; when Dongshi imitated witho...
Example
The new restaurant awkwardly copied successful establishments without understanding their appeal
这家新餐厅笨拙地模仿成功的餐厅，却不理解它们的吸引力
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