10 Majestic Chinese Idioms About Mountains (山)

Get straight to point

Literal meaning: Open door see mountain

This straightforward idiom reflects the architectural wisdom of traditional Chinese design, where opening (开) a door (门) to see (见) mountains (山) represented ideal feng shui. During the Song Dynasty, it evolved from literal description to literary technique, advocating direct communication without p...

Perfect artistic understanding between friends

Literal meaning: High mountain flowing water

This aesthetic idiom pairs lofty (高) mountains (山) with flowing (流) water (水), originating from a famous friendship between Zhong Ziqi and musician Bo Ya during the Spring and Autumn period. Historical texts recount how Bo Ya would play his qin while Zhong Ziqi perfectly understood his musical inten...

Persistence overcomes huge obstacles

Literal meaning: Foolish old man moves mountains

This persistent idiom tells of a determined old man (愚公) who began removing (移) mountains (山) that blocked his path, originating from the 'Liezi' during the Warring States period. When ridiculed for attempting such an impossible task at his advanced age, he replied that while he might die, his desce...

Vast crowds of people

Literal meaning: People mountain people sea

This crowded idiom describes people (人) forming mountains (山) and seas (海) through their sheer numbers, originating from Song Dynasty urban descriptions. It first appeared in accounts of imperial capital festivals where vast crowds gathered. The geographical metaphor created a powerful image of huma...

Absolutely stable and unshakable

Literal meaning: Stable like Mount Tai

This idiom originated from Han Dynasty political discourse about dynastic security, first appearing in imperial edicts describing the desired permanence of imperial rule. During the Tang Dynasty, it extended beyond political contexts to describe any unshakable entity. The comparison of being stable ...

Make a comeback after setback or retirement

Literal meaning: East mountain again rise

The story of Jin Dynasty official Xie An, who retreated to East Mountain (东山) before making a triumphant return to high office, gave us this enduring image of strategic withdrawal followed by powerful comeback. Tang Dynasty historians transformed his specific experience into a broader pattern of car...

Irrefutable evidence; conclusive proof

Literal meaning: Iron evidence like a mountain

This idiom describes evidence that is as solid as iron (铁) and as immovable as a mountain (如山). The combination of these two images emphasizes both the quality and quantity of proof - iron suggests irrefutability while mountain suggests overwhelming volume. The phrase emerged in legal and forensic c...

Overwhelming pressure; imminent disaster

Literal meaning: Mount Tai pressing on the head

This idiom describes Mount Tai (泰山), China's most sacred mountain, pressing (压) on one's head (顶). The image of China's most famous mountain crushing down represents overwhelming pressure or catastrophic threat. Mount Tai symbolizes weight and authority in Chinese culture. The phrase appeared in mar...

Travel through hardship; overcome obstacles

Literal meaning: Climb mountains, ford waters

This idiom describes climbing (跋) mountains (山) and fording (涉) waters (水). It depicts arduous travel through difficult terrain. The phrase captures the determination needed to overcome physical obstacles. Modern usage describes overcoming difficulties, the perseverance required to reach goals despi...

Cross difficult terrain; overcome major obstacles

Literal meaning: Cross mountains, pass ridges

This idiom describes crossing (翻) mountains (山) and passing (越) ridges (岭). Similar to 跋山涉水, it emphasizes mountainous terrain specifically. The phrase captures the physical challenge of mountain travel. Modern usage describes overcoming difficult challenges, often highlighting the effort involved i...