10 Professional Chinese Idioms for CNY Business Greetings

Sudden, remarkable success

Literal meaning: Bird cry that startles all

This idiom emerged during the Han Dynasty in scholarly discourse about late-blooming talent. The image of a seemingly ordinary bird (鸣, cry) suddenly producing an extraordinary song that startles (惊) everyone (人) was inspired by the story of a rural scholar who, after years of obscurity, stunned the...

Achieve immediate success

Literal meaning: Success upon the horse's arrival

This idiom originates from ancient Chinese military culture, where cavalry was crucial to victory. When war horses arrived at the battlefield, success was expected to follow swiftly. The phrase first appeared during the Yuan Dynasty in dramatic works describing military campaigns. The horse (马) symb...

Advance steadily; continuous promotion

Literal meaning: Step by step rising high

This idiom describes step (步) by step (步) rising (升) high (高). Unlike rapid ascent idioms, this depicts steady, continuous advancement. Each step brings higher position. The phrase is a common blessing for career success. Modern usage wishes someone continued promotion and advancement, steady progre...

Gain both fame and fortune

Literal meaning: Fame and profit both obtained

This idiom describes fame (名) and profit (利) both (双) obtained (收). It depicts the ideal outcome where one gains both reputation and financial reward. The phrase represents complete worldly success. Modern usage describes those fortunate enough to achieve both recognition and wealth, the rare combin...

Achieve success and fame

Literal meaning: Merit achieved, name established

This idiom describes merit (功) achieved (成) and name (名) established (就). It depicts the completion of one's life work and the establishment of lasting reputation. The phrase represents the culmination of a successful career. Modern usage describes reaching the pinnacle of one's profession, achievin...

Have victory in the bag; be certain to win

Literal meaning: Firmly hold the winning ticket

This idiom describes firmly (稳) holding (操) the winning (胜) ticket (券). It depicts having victory virtually assured, like holding a winning lottery ticket. The phrase expresses confidence in certain success. Modern usage describes situations where success seems guaranteed, when one has such overwhel...

Unity creates strength

Literal meaning: Many wills make wall

This architectural metaphor shows how many wills (众志) can form an impenetrable wall (城), drawing from ancient Chinese defensive architecture. It gained significance during the Warring States period when city walls required massive coordinated effort to construct and defend. Historical records detail...

Complement each other; mutually beneficial

Literal meaning: Mutually assist mutually complete

This idiom describes things that mutually (相) support (辅) and mutually (相) complete (成) each other. The phrase reflects the Chinese philosophical understanding of complementary opposites and dynamic balance. It emerged from discussions of governance in classical texts, describing how different eleme...

Heaven rewards diligence

Literal meaning: Heaven's way rewards diligence

This idiom encapsulates the belief that Heaven's way (天道) rewards (酬) diligence (勤). Emerging from Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian teachings, it reflects the synthesis of cosmic order with human effort. The concept challenged both fatalistic acceptance and the belief in pure luck, suggesting instead that...

Less effort, better results

Literal meaning: Half effort double result

This mathematical idiom describes situations where half (半) the effort (事) yields double (倍) the result (功). First appearing in Han Dynasty agricultural texts, it originally described efficient farming techniques that maximized yield while minimizing labor. The concept gained broader application dur...