8 Chinese Idioms About Money, Wealth & Prosperity

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Literal meaning: Doorway busy as market

This vivid idiom describes a household's entrance (门庭) being as busy as a marketplace (若市). It originated during the Han Dynasty, initially describing the homes of influential officials where countless visitors sought audience. The metaphor gained particular significance during the Tang Dynasty, whe...

Love ease, hate work

Literal meaning: Love ease hate work

This idiom describes the human tendency to love (好) ease (逸) and hate (恶) work (劳). First appearing in pre-Qin philosophical texts, it was used by Mencius to warn against the natural but problematic inclination toward comfort over effort. The phrase gained particular significance during the Song Dyn...

Commit with no retreat

Literal meaning: 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...

Value time preciously

Literal meaning: Value time like gold

This idiom, emerging during the Song Dynasty's growing commercial culture, equates valuing (如) time (时) with gold (金). It gained prominence as mechanical water clocks improved timekeeping precision, making punctuality increasingly important in civil service and commerce. The comparison was particula...

Add crucial finishing touch

Literal meaning: 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...

Offer modest view to inspire better

Literal meaning: 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...

Words carry great weight

Literal meaning: Words heavy as nine cauldrons

During the Zhou Dynasty, nine sacred bronze cauldrons (鼎) symbolized imperial authority. This idiom equates a single (一) word (言) with the weight of these nine (九) vessels, emphasizing extraordinary trustworthiness. The historical bronze dings required immense strength to move, making them perfect m...

Keep integrity without compromise

Literal meaning: Keep right no flattery

Emerging from Han Dynasty political discourse, this phrase combines maintaining righteousness (守正) with refusing to flatter or compromise principles (不阿). The term gained prominence during a period of intense political intrigue, where court officials faced pressure to abandon principles for personal...