10 Chinese Idioms With Surprising Hidden Meanings

Foresee big from small signs

Literal meaning: See small know large

First appearing in the Book of Changes, this idiom describes the ability to see (见) subtle signs (微) to understand (知) significant developments (著). During the Warring States period, strategist Sun Bin emphasized this principle in military observation. The concept gained broader application during t...

Trace back to source

Literal meaning: Chase root trace source

Emerging from Song Dynasty (960-1279) scholarly methodology, this idiom combines the actions of chasing (追) to the root (本) and tracing (溯) to the source (源). It reflected the Neo-Confucian emphasis on understanding phenomena by examining their origins, influenced by Han Dynasty historiographical tr...

Hide evil behind sweet words

Literal meaning: Mouth honey belly sword

This vivid idiom contrasts honey (蜜) in the mouth (口) with swords (剑) in the belly (腹), originating from Tang Dynasty political discourse. It was first recorded in descriptions of court officials who spoke pleasantly while harboring harmful intentions. The imagery draws from the traditional Chinese ...

Hide malice behind smile

Literal meaning: Hide knife in smile

This chilling idiom describes hiding a knife (刀) within a smile (笑), originating from historical accounts of court intrigue during the Late Han period. It gained prominence through stories of strategic advisors who maintained friendly appearances while plotting against rivals. The contrast between t...

All theory no practice

Literal meaning: Discuss war on paper

This critique emerged from the story of Zhao Kuo, a general who was well-versed in military texts but failed catastrophically in actual battle. His expertise in discussing (谈) warfare (兵) remained purely on paper (纸上). The idiom appears in historical texts describing the Battle of Changping (260 BCE...

Speak without meaning it

Literal meaning: Words not from heart

First appearing in Han Dynasty court records, this idiom describes words (言) not originating (不由) from within one's heart (衷). It gained particular significance during the Tang Dynasty when court intrigue made distinguishing sincere from insincere speech crucial for survival. Historical accounts tel...

Contradict oneself

Literal meaning: Spear shield contradict self

This idiom originates from a famous logical paradox in the Han Feizi, where a merchant claimed to have a spear (矛) that could pierce anything and a shield (盾) that could block anything - creating a self (自) contradicting (相) claim. The story became a classic example in Chinese logical discourse, use...

Decadent luxury lifestyle

Literal meaning: Paper drunk gold confused

This idiom describes a decadent lifestyle where one becomes intoxicated (醉) with wealth symbolized by gold (金) and surrounded by deeds/contracts on paper (纸) to the point of confusion (迷). First appearing in Tang Dynasty poetry criticizing wealthy merchant households, it gained prominence during the...

True nature eventually revealed

Literal meaning: Fox's tail

This revealing idiom references a fox's (狐狸) tail (尾巴) as something hidden that eventually shows itself, originating from Tang Dynasty folklore where foxes could transform into humans but struggled to conceal their tails completely. These stories reflected the belief that true nature inevitably reve...

Professed love hiding actual fear

Literal meaning: Lord Ye loves dragons

This ironic tale tells of Lord Ye (叶公) who professed to love (好) dragons (龙) but fled in terror when faced with a real one. During the Six Dynasties period, it became a standard criticism of superficial appreciation without genuine understanding. The dragon imagery carried particular weight in Chine...