12 Most Searched Chinese Idioms - Popular Chengyu Everyone Wants to Know

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...

Hope appears in darkness

Literal meaning: Dark willows bright flowers

This idiom comes from a line in Tang Dynasty poet Lu Zhaolin's work, describing a moment where a traveler, surrounded by dark willows (柳暗), suddenly discovers a bright clearing filled with flowers (花明). The imagery draws from classical Chinese garden design, where winding paths deliberately obscured...

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...

Persistence achieves anything

Literal meaning: Water drops pierce stone

This idiom captures the power of persistence through the image of water (水) drops (滴) piercing (穿) stone (石). First documented in Han Dynasty texts, it was inspired by observations of natural cave formations created by centuries of dripping water. The imagery gained prominence during the Tang Dynast...

Help in time of need

Literal meaning: Send coal in snow

Sending (送) coal (炭) in snow (雪) weather captured the essence of timely assistance during critical moments. This Song Dynasty idiom arose from stories of wealthy merchants who distributed fuel to poor families during harsh winters, when coal prices typically soared beyond reach. The image of dark co...

Remember your roots

Literal meaning: Drink water think source

This reflection on gratitude emerged during the Tang Dynasty, using the everyday act of drinking (饮) water (水) to remind one to think (思) of its source (源). The idiom gained prominence through Buddhist texts that emphasized mindful appreciation of life's foundations. It was particularly meaningful i...

Borrow authority to intimidate

Literal meaning: Fox uses tiger's power

This idiom emerged from a Warring States period fable where a fox (狐) borrowed (假) the authority (威) of a tiger (虎) to intimidate other animals. The story first appeared in the Zhan Guo Ce, using the clever fox and powerful tiger to criticize political parasites who derived their influence from powe...

Narrow-minded from limited experience

Literal meaning: Frog at well bottom

This limited idiom describes a frog (蛙) living at the bottom (底) of a well (井), originating from the Warring States period text 'Zhuangzi.' It tells of a frog who believed its well contained the whole world, until a sea turtle described the immensity of the ocean, revealing the frog's provincial per...

Follow local customs

Literal meaning: Enter village follow customs

Dating back to the Warring States period, this idiom advises those who enter (入) a village (乡) to follow (随) local customs (俗). Historical accounts tell of diplomatic missions that succeeded or failed based on their adherence to this principle. The concept gained particular significance during the T...

Present to wrong audience

Literal meaning: Play zither to cow

This satirical idiom describes playing (弹) the guqin zither (琴) to (对) a cow (牛), originating from the Warring States period. Historical records attribute it to musician Gongming Yi, who attempted to perform sophisticated melodies for a cow that continued grazing, completely indifferent to the refin...

Wait passively for luck

Literal meaning: Guard tree wait rabbit

This Warring States period parable tells of a farmer who, after seeing a rabbit die by running into a tree stump (株), waited (待) endlessly for more rabbits (兔) at the same spot. His guard (守) of the stump became a classic example of misguided persistence and inflexible thinking. The story appeared i...

Exceptionally beautiful

Literal meaning: Moon hides flowers shy

Originating from descriptions of the legendary beauty Yang Guifei, one of China's Four Great Beauties, this idiom suggests a beauty so radiant it could cause the moon (月) to hide (闭) and flowers (花) to feel shame (羞). The phrase first appeared in Tang Dynasty poetry, reflecting the period's aestheti...