10 Chinese Idioms for Chu Yi 初一 - First Day of Chinese New Year

Sudden, remarkable success

Literal: Bird cry that startles all

This idiom emerged during the Han Dynasty in scholarly discourse about late-blooming talent. The image of a seemingly ordinary bird (鸣, cry) suddenly producing an extraordinary song that startles (惊) everyone (人) was inspired by the story of a rural scholar who, after years of obscurity, stunned the...

Achieve immediate success

Literal: Success upon the horse's arrival

This idiom originates from ancient Chinese military culture, where cavalry was crucial to victory. When war horses arrived at the battlefield, success was expected to follow swiftly. The phrase first appeared during the Yuan Dynasty in dramatic works describing military campaigns. The horse (马) symb...

Win at the very start; immediate success

Literal: Flag opens, obtain victory

This idiom describes flags (旗) opening (开) and obtaining (得) victory (胜). It depicts winning immediately upon starting, like an army victorious in its first battle. The phrase was used as a blessing for new ventures. Modern usage describes auspicious beginnings, initial successes that set positive m...

Smooth sailing; everything going well

Literal: One sail with favorable wind

This idiom depicts a sailing vessel with one (一) sail (帆) catching favorable (顺) wind (风), moving smoothly toward its destination. It emerged from China's rich maritime history, particularly during the Song Dynasty when seafaring commerce flourished. The image of effortless progress powered by natur...

Add 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...

Thriving; flourishing

Literal: Flourishing toward prosperity

This idiom uses the reduplicated 'xinxin' (欣欣), meaning flourishing or joyful growth, combined with heading toward (向) prosperity (荣). It originally described vigorous plant growth and evolved to describe any thriving development. The phrase appeared in texts celebrating agricultural abundance and e...

Look happy and content

Literal: Spring wind fills the face

This idiom describes spring wind (春风) filling (满) the face (面). It depicts someone whose face radiates warmth and happiness like the pleasant spring breeze. The phrase captures the appearance of contentment and good fortune. Modern usage describes someone who looks happy and satisfied, whose good mo...

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...

Success comes naturally

Literal: Water comes channel forms

Drawing from ancient Chinese irrigation practices, this idiom captures how water (水) flowing consistently will naturally create its channel (渠). First appearing in Tang Dynasty agricultural texts, it reflected the observation that steady water flow would eventually carve its path through even the ha...

Perfect 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...