10 Chinese Idioms for Writers & Authors

Return to righteousness

Literal: Turn from wrong return to right

Emerging from Buddhist texts during the Eastern Han Dynasty, this idiom describes the journey of turning away (改) from wrong (邪) to return (归) to righteousness (正). The metaphor draws from astronomical observations where wandering stars return to their proper paths. It gained prominence during the T...

Less effort, better results

Literal: Half effort double result

This mathematical idiom describes situations where half (半) the effort (事) yields double (倍) the result (功). First appearing in Han Dynasty agricultural texts, it originally described efficient farming techniques that maximized yield while minimizing labor. The concept gained broader application dur...

Public opinion is powerful

Literal: Many mouths melt gold

This powerful metaphor suggests that numerous (众) mouths (口) speaking together can melt (铄) even gold (金). Originating in the Han Dynasty, it reflects the ancient Chinese understanding of public opinion's force. The image of collective voices generating enough heat to melt precious metal dramaticall...

Read between lines

Literal: Watch words observe face

This psychological idiom combines watching words (察言) and observing expressions (观色), reflecting ancient Chinese diplomatic practices where court officials needed acute skills in reading both verbal and non-verbal cues. The practice became crucial during the Warring States period, where misreading a...

Hope appears in darkness

Literal: Dark willows bright flowers

This idiom comes from a line in Tang Dynasty poet Lu Zhaolin's work, describing a moment where a traveler, surrounded by dark willows (柳暗), suddenly discovers a bright clearing filled with flowers (花明). The imagery draws from classical Chinese garden design, where winding paths deliberately obscured...

Exceptionally beautiful

Literal: Moon hides flowers shy

Originating from descriptions of the legendary beauty Yang Guifei, one of China's Four Great Beauties, this idiom suggests a beauty so radiant it could cause the moon (月) to hide (闭) and flowers (花) to feel shame (羞). The phrase first appeared in Tang Dynasty poetry, reflecting the period's aestheti...

Speak without meaning it

Literal: Words not from heart

First appearing in Han Dynasty court records, this idiom describes words (言) not originating (不由) from within one's heart (衷). It gained particular significance during the Tang Dynasty when court intrigue made distinguishing sincere from insincere speech crucial for survival. Historical accounts tel...

Penetrating deeply to the essence

Literal: Whip strikes into core

This penetrating idiom describes how a whip strike (鞭辟) penetrates (入) to the innermost layer (里), originating from Tang Dynasty literary criticism. It first appeared in evaluations of essays that revealed profound truths beneath surface appearances. The whip metaphor reflected the sharp, cutting po...

Exhausted from excessive talking

Literal: Mouth dry tongue parched

This physical idiom describes a dry (干) mouth (口) and parched (燥) tongue (舌), originating from Tang Dynasty medical texts. It initially appeared in clinical descriptions of febrile diseases where dehydration produced these uncomfortable symptoms. During the Song Dynasty, it expanded beyond medical c...

To sum up everything discussed

Literal: Altogether and speaking it

This formal idiom combines totality (总) with expression (言之) through a linking particle (而), emerging directly from Han Dynasty scholarly writing rather than narrative origins. During the Song Dynasty, it became standard in academic conclusions as Neo-Confucian scholars systematized knowledge presen...