15 Famous Chinese Idioms Everyone Should Know

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...

Unshakeable despite adversity

Literal: Bend hundred times never yield

Dating to the Warring States period, this idiom describes bamboo that bends a hundred (百) times (折) but never (不) yields (挠). The imagery comes from ancient observations of bamboo groves surviving severe storms by bending rather than breaking. The metaphor gained particular significance during the T...

Persistence achieves anything

Literal: Water drops pierce stone

This idiom captures the power of persistence through the image of water (水) drops (滴) piercing (穿) stone (石). First documented in Han Dynasty texts, it was inspired by observations of natural cave formations created by centuries of dripping water. The imagery gained prominence during the Tang Dynast...

Learn many from one example

Literal: Raise one reflect three

This idiom stems from Confucius's teaching methodology, where he described the ideal student as one who could infer (反) three (三) things when taught one (举一). The concept appears in the Analects, where Confucius praised students who could extrapolate broader principles from specific examples. During...

Heaven rewards diligence

Literal: Heaven's way rewards diligence

This idiom encapsulates the belief that Heaven's way (天道) rewards (酬) diligence (勤). Emerging from Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian teachings, it reflects the synthesis of cosmic order with human effort. The concept challenged both fatalistic acceptance and the belief in pure luck, suggesting instead that...

Commit 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...

Misfortune might be a blessing

Literal: Old man loses horse

This profound idiom originates from the story of a wise old man (塞翁) living near the northern border who lost his prized horse (失马). When neighbors came to console him, he asked, 'How do you know this isn't good fortune?' Indeed, the horse later returned with a magnificent wild horse. When neighbors...

Student surpasses master

Literal: Blue comes from indigo plant

This idiom comes from a statement by Xunzi, noting that while blue (青) dye comes from (出于) the indigo plant (蓝), it surpasses its source in depth of color. The metaphor gained prominence during the Han Dynasty in discussions of education and generational progress. It celebrates how students can surp...

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...

Borrow authority to intimidate

Literal: Fox uses tiger's power

This idiom emerged from a Warring States period fable where a fox (狐) borrowed (假) the authority (威) of a tiger (虎) to intimidate other animals. The story first appeared in the Zhan Guo Ce, using the clever fox and powerful tiger to criticize political parasites who derived their influence from powe...

Have clear plan beforehand

Literal: Bamboo ready in heart

This idiom originated from Southern Song Dynasty painter Wen Yuke's approach to bamboo painting. Before touching brush to paper, he would completely visualize the bamboo (竹) in his heart/mind (胸), ensuring it was fully formed (成) in his imagination. The practice exemplified the Chinese artistic prin...

Wait passively for luck

Literal: Guard tree wait rabbit

This Warring States period parable tells of a farmer who, after seeing a rabbit die by running into a tree stump (株), waited (待) endlessly for more rabbits (兔) at the same spot. His guard (守) of the stump became a classic example of misguided persistence and inflexible thinking. The story appeared i...

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...

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...

Keep promises faithfully

Literal: One promise thousand gold

Emerging from the Spring and Autumn period, this idiom equates one (一) promise (诺) with a thousand in gold (千金). It gained prominence through the story of Ji Zha, who honored a posthumous promise despite great personal cost. The concept became central to merchant culture during the Tang Dynasty, whe...