卧虎藏龙
卧虎藏龙 (wò hǔ cáng lóng) literally means “crouching tiger, hidden dragon” and expresses “hidden talents or extraordinary people in an unassuming place”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: wo hu cang long, wo hu cang long,卧虎藏龙 meaning, 卧虎藏龙 in english
Hidden talents or extraordinary people in an unassuming place
Pronunciation: wò hǔ cáng lóng Literal meaning: Crouching tiger, hidden dragon
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes a crouching (卧) tiger (虎) and a hidden (藏) dragon (龙). It originates from the Northern Zhou poet Yu Xin's (庾信, 513–581) poem '同会河阳公新造山地聊得寓目', which contains the line '暗石疑藏虎，盘根似卧龙' (dark stones seem to conceal tigers, gnarled roots resemble a reclining dragon). The phrase describes a place where extraordinary talent lies hidden and unnoticed. A famous example is Zhuge Liang, who lived in seclusion on Wolong Hill (卧龙岗) until Liu Bei visited three times to recruit him. The idiom became internationally known through Ang Lee's 2000 film 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' (卧虎藏龙), where the characters' names — Xiaohu (小虎, little tiger) and Jiaolong (蛟龙, delicate dragon) — directly reference it. Modern usage describes any situation where hidden talent or power exists beneath a calm surface.
Examples
English: "This quiet neighborhood is full of hidden talent — a true case of crouching tiger, hidden dragon."
Chinese: 江湖里卧虎藏龙，人心里何尝不是？
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
融会贯通
róng huì guàn tōng
Master something completely
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学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
Learning is limitless
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知行合一
zhī xíng hé yī
Practice what you know
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举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
Learn many from one example
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温故知新
wēn gù zhī xīn
Learn new through studying old
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画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
Add crucial finishing touch
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读万卷书
dú wàn juǎn shū
Read extensively for knowledge
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抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
Offer modest view to inspire better
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 卧虎藏龙 mean in English?
卧虎藏龙 (wò hǔ cáng lóng) literally translates to “Crouching tiger, hidden dragon” and is used to express “Hidden talents or extraordinary people in an unassuming place”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 卧虎藏龙 used?
Situation: This quiet neighborhood is full of hidden talent — a true case of crouching tiger, hidden dragon.
What is the pinyin for 卧虎藏龙?
The pinyin pronunciation for 卧虎藏龙 is “wò hǔ cáng lóng”.