马上发财! 10 Chinese Idioms for Wealth and Fortune in Year of the Horse 2026

Fortune's wheel will turn.

Literal meaning: Time comes and fortune turns

This optimistic idiom describes the moment when time arrives (时来) and fortune turns (运转). It emerged from the practice of divination during the Zhou Dynasty, where fortune was seen as cyclical rather than fixed. The concept gained particular resonance during the Tang Dynasty, as stories spread of sc...

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...

Success comes naturally

Literal meaning: Water comes channel forms

Drawing from ancient Chinese irrigation practices, this idiom captures how water (水) flowing consistently will naturally create its channel (渠). First appearing in Tang Dynasty agricultural texts, it reflected the observation that steady water flow would eventually carve its path through even the ha...

In perfect element

Literal meaning: Fish finds water

This idiom captures the harmony between fish (鱼) and water (水), drawing from Daoist observations of natural affinities. In ancient texts, particularly those of Zhuangzi, the fish swimming effortlessly through water epitomized the ideal state of being perfectly suited to one's environment. The metaph...

Perfectly satisfying every expectation

Literal meaning: Match heart according wish

Tang Dynasty poets first celebrated these rare moments when outcomes match one's heart (称心) according to wishes (如意). Song Dynasty craftsmen adopted it to describe perfect alignment between vision and execution. The phrase gains power from addressing both emotional satisfaction (心) and rational inte...

Overjoyed; pleasantly surprised

Literal meaning: Joy exceeding expectations

This idiom describes joy (喜) that goes beyond (出) one's expectations (望外). It captures the special quality of pleasant surprises that exceed what one hoped for or anticipated. The phrase appeared in Song Dynasty literature describing characters receiving unexpectedly good news. The emotional intensi...

Look happy and content

Literal meaning: Spring wind fills the face

This idiom describes spring wind (春风) filling (满) the face (面). It depicts someone whose face radiates warmth and happiness like the pleasant spring breeze. The phrase captures the appearance of contentment and good fortune. Modern usage describes someone who looks happy and satisfied, whose good mo...

Complete in one go

Literal meaning: Complete in one breath

This idiom captures the aesthetic ideal of completing (成) something in a single (一) breath (气) or effort (呵), originating from classical Chinese calligraphy. Tang Dynasty art critics used it to praise works that displayed spontaneous perfection and natural flow. Historical accounts describe how mast...

Changing rapidly; improving daily

Literal meaning: Day new month different

This idiom describes being new (新) every day (日) and different (异) every month (月). It captures rapid, continuous change and progress. The phrase echoes the Confucian classic 'Great Learning,' which advocates constant self-renewal. Originally about moral cultivation, it evolved to describe any field...

Add to one's strength; become even more powerful

Literal meaning: Like tiger adding wings

This idiom describes being like a tiger (如虎) that adds (添) wings (翼). A tiger is already formidable; with wings, it becomes unstoppable. The phrase describes adding capabilities to something already powerful. It appeared in texts describing reinforcements to already strong positions. Modern usage de...