8 Chinese Idioms About Silence & Quietness

Many twists and turns

Literal meaning: One wave three turns

This idiom originates from the Jin Dynasty master calligrapher Wang Xizhi's observation about brushwork, where he noted that when drawing one (一) wave (波), he would fold or turn (折) his brush three (三) times. This technical description of calligraphic technique evolved beyond its artistic origins to...

Extremes lead to reversal

Literal meaning: Things at extreme reverse

This idiom captures a fundamental principle of Chinese philosophy: when things (物) reach their extreme (极), they inevitably (必) reverse (反). First articulated in the I Ching, it reflects observations of natural cycles like the changing seasons. During the Warring States period, strategists applied t...

Misfortune might be a blessing

Literal meaning: 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...

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...

Work harder to compensate

Literal meaning: Slow bird flies first

This disarmingly simple idiom emerged from folk wisdom observing that slow (笨) birds (鸟) must start first (先飞) to reach their destination with the flock. During the Song Dynasty, it gained prominence in educational texts as encouragement for students who weren't naturally gifted. The imagery challen...

Stay humble and open

Literal meaning: Empty heart like valley

Derived from Daoist philosophy, this phrase advocates maintaining an empty (虚) heart/mind (怀) like (若) a valley (谷). The valley metaphor was particularly significant in Daoist thought - like a valley that receives all waters without preference, one should remain open to all ideas without prejudice. ...

Humbly seek guidance

Literal meaning: Move wine jar seek teaching

This humble gesture of moving (移) one's wine jar (樽) to seek (就) teaching (教) comes from a Tang Dynasty story where the young Li Bai showed his respect for the hermit-scholar Du Fu by bringing wine to learn from him. The act of bringing one's own wine represented both humility and sincerity in seeki...

Limited perspective on vast subject

Literal meaning: Tube view gourd measure

This humble idiom compares limited understanding to viewing (窥) through a tube (管) and measuring (测) the ocean with a gourd ladle (蠡), originating from Han Dynasty skeptical philosophy. It first appeared in texts discussing the limitations of human knowledge when confronting vast natural phenomena. ...