176 idioms
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
“A thousand miles distant”
Travel a great distance
This idiom describes a thousand (千) miles (里) being distant (迢迢). The doubled 迢 emphasizes the remoteness and length of the journey. The phrase captur...
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mín fù guó qiáng
“People wealthy, country strong”
Prosperous people and powerful nation
This idiom describes the people (民) being wealthy (富) and the country (国) being strong (强). It recognizes that national strength comes from citizen pr...
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guó tài mín ān
“Country peaceful, people safe”
National peace and public security
This idiom describes the country (国) being peaceful (泰) and the people (民) being safe (安). It represents the ideal outcome of good governance where bo...
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tài píng shèng shì
“Great peace, flourishing era”
Golden age of peace and prosperity
This idiom describes a time of great (太) peace (平) and flourishing (盛) era (世). It depicts the ideal society - peaceful, prosperous, and stable. Such ...
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sì hǎi shēng píng
“Four seas rising in peace”
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
This idiom describes the four seas (四海) - meaning the whole world in classical Chinese - rising (升) in peace (平). It depicts universal peace and harmo...
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ān tǔ zhòng qiān
“Content with soil, reluctant to move”
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
This idiom describes being content (安) with one's land (土) and reluctant (重) to relocate (迁). It reflects traditional agricultural societies where lan...
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gù tǔ nán lí
“Native soil hard to leave”
Hard to leave one's homeland
This idiom describes native (故) soil (土) being hard (难) to leave (离). It captures the emotional attachment to one's homeland that makes departure diff...
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luò yè guī gēn
“Falling leaves return to roots”
Return to one's roots; go back home
This idiom describes falling (落) leaves (叶) returning (归) to their roots (根). Just as leaves fall and nourish the tree that produced them, people ofte...
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chūn fēng mǎn miàn
“Spring wind fills the face”
Look happy and content
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 b...
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dé yì wàng xíng
“So pleased as to forget one's form”
Become carried away by success
This idiom describes being so pleased (得意) that one forgets (忘) proper form or behavior (形). It warns that excessive joy or success can lead to loss o...
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xīn ān lǐ dé
“Heart at peace, reason satisfied”
Feel at ease with a clear conscience
This idiom describes the heart (心) being at peace (安) because reason (理) is satisfied (得). It describes the inner tranquility that comes from knowing ...
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tǎn tè bù ān
“Heart unsettled and uneasy”
Feel anxious and uneasy
This idiom describes a heart that is agitated (忐忑) and not (不) at peace (安). The characters 忐忑 are onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound and feeling of a ...
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gù bù zì fēng
“Stick to old ways and restrict oneself”
Be complacent; refuse to improve
This idiom describes sticking (固) to one's steps (步) and self (自) restricting (封). It criticizes those who refuse to advance beyond their current posi...
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bào cán shǒu quē
“Embrace the incomplete, guard the deficient”
Cling to the old and outdated; resist progress
This idiom describes embracing (抱) the incomplete (残) and guarding (守) the deficient (缺). Originally from Liu Xiang's writings, it described scholars ...
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zhòng shǐ zhī dì
“Target of many arrows”
Target of public criticism
This idiom describes being the target (的) of many (众) arrows (矢). It depicts someone who attracts criticism or attack from multiple directions simulta...
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yī xiāng qíng yuàn
“One side's wishful feeling”
Wishful thinking; one-sided assumption
This idiom describes feelings or wishes (情愿) from only one side (一厢). It depicts expectations that exist only in one party's mind without reciprocatio...
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bǎi wú liáo lài
“Hundred times nothing to rely on”
Utterly bored; at loose ends
This idiom describes having a hundred (百) times nothing (无) to depend on or occupy (聊赖). It captures extreme boredom and listlessness when one has not...
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bù yóu zì zhǔ
“Not by one's own control”
Involuntarily; can't help but
This idiom describes actions not (不) controlled (由自主) by one's own will. It captures involuntary responses where emotions or instincts override consci...
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wēi bù zú dào
“Tiny not worth mentioning”
Insignificant; not worth mentioning
This idiom describes something so tiny (微) that it's not (不) worth (足) mentioning (道). It emphasizes extreme insignificance or negligibility. The phra...
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jīng dǎ xì suàn
“Carefully calculate precisely”
Calculate carefully; be frugal and precise
This idiom describes precisely (精) calculating (打) and carefully (细) accounting (算). It emphasizes careful resource management through detailed planni...
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bù kě kāi jiāo
“Cannot open and separate”
Extremely busy; inextricably involved
This idiom describes being unable (不可) to open or separate (开交) - being so entangled in activity that one cannot extricate oneself. Originally describ...
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yā què wú shēng
“Crows and sparrows without sound”
Completely silent; so quiet you could hear a pin drop
This idiom describes a scene where even crows (鸦) and sparrows (雀) make no (无) sound (声). These common birds are normally noisy, so their silence indi...
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rì xīn yuè yì
“Day new month different”
Changing rapidly; improving daily
This idiom describes being new (新) every day (日) and different (异) every month (月). It captures rapid, continuous change and progress. The phrase echo...
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chuān liú bù xī
“River flows without ceasing”
Continuous flow; never-ending stream
This idiom describes rivers (川) flowing (流) without (不) ceasing (息). The natural image of perpetually flowing water represents continuous movement or ...
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wú dì zì róng
“No ground to contain oneself”
Extremely ashamed; wish to disappear
This idiom describes having no (无) ground (地) to contain (容) oneself (自) - wishing to disappear from shame. The image of having nowhere to hide captur...
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chù mù jīng xīn
“Touch eyes shock heart”
Shocking; deeply disturbing
This idiom describes sights that touch (触) the eyes (目) and shock (惊) the heart (心). It captures the visceral impact of disturbing scenes that affect ...
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rěn wú kě rěn
“Endure without possibility of enduring”
Beyond endurance; can't take it anymore
This idiom describes enduring (忍) until there is nothing (无) left that can (可) be endured (忍). The repetition of 'ren' (忍, endure) emphasizes the limi...
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shǒu zú wú cuò
“Hands and feet without placement”
At a loss; flustered
This idiom describes hands (手) and feet (足) having no place (无措) to go - not knowing where to put one's limbs. The physical awkwardness represents men...
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jǐng rán yǒu xù
“Orderly like a well with sequence”
In perfect order; well-organized
This idiom describes orderliness like a well (井然) with proper sequence (有序). The well metaphor relates to the grid pattern of ancient Chinese field sy...
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pò bù jí dài
“Urgent cannot reach waiting”
Can't wait; eager
This idiom describes urgency (迫) so great that one cannot (不及) wait (待). It captures the psychological state of intense anticipation or impatience. Th...
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cùn bù nán xíng
“Inch step difficult to walk”
Unable to move forward at all
This idiom describes being unable to walk (难行) even an inch (寸步). The smallest unit of progress - a single step - becomes impossible. The phrase appea...
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zì shí qí guǒ
“Self eat its fruit”
Reap what one sows; suffer consequences
This idiom describes eating (食) the fruit (果) of one's own (自其) actions - suffering the consequences of one's behavior. The agricultural metaphor conn...
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dà xiāng jìng tíng
“Greatly different like paths and courtyards”
Vastly different; poles apart
This idiom describes things as different as paths (径) and courtyards (庭) - completely (大相) dissimilar. The phrase comes from 'Zhuangzi,' where it desc...
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tài shān yā dǐng
“Mount Tai pressing on the head”
Overwhelming pressure; imminent disaster
This idiom describes Mount Tai (泰山), China's most sacred mountain, pressing (压) on one's head (顶). The image of China's most famous mountain crushing ...
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shùn qí zì rán
“Follow its natural course”
Let nature take its course
This idiom describes following (顺) the natural (自然) course of things (其). It embodies Daoist philosophy of wu wei (non-action) - working with natural ...
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sī kōng jiàn guàn
“Minister of Works sees it habitually”
So common as to attract no attention
This idiom originates from a Tang Dynasty story where the poet Liu Yuxi visited Minister of Works (司空) Li Shen. When beautiful courtesans performed, L...
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yìng jiē bù xiá
“Responding and receiving without leisure”
Too much to cope with; overwhelmed
This idiom describes being so busy responding (应) and receiving (接) that there is no (不) leisure (暇). It originates from texts describing the overwhel...
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xuě shàng jiā shuāng
“Add frost on top of snow”
Add insult to injury; make things worse
This idiom describes adding (加) frost (霜) on top of (上) snow (雪). Both snow and frost are cold, so adding frost to snow intensifies an already difficu...
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xǐ wén lè jiàn
“Happy to hear delighted to see”
Enjoyed by all; universally popular
This idiom describes being happy (喜) to hear (闻) and delighted (乐) to see (见). It characterizes things that please audiences through both auditory and...
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wú suǒ shì shì
“Nothing to do as occupation”
Have nothing to do; be idle
This idiom describes having nothing (无所) to do as one's occupation (事事). It depicts a state of idleness where one has no meaningful activities or resp...
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zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu
“Pulling collar reveals elbows”
Hard-pressed; financially stretched
This idiom describes clothing so worn that pulling (捉) the collar (襟) reveals (见) the elbows (肘). The vivid image of poverty - clothes so tattered the...
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qián suǒ wèi yǒu
“Before never having existed”
Unprecedented; never seen before
This idiom describes something that before (前) has never (未) existed (有). The phrase emphasizes absolute novelty - not just rare, but literally never ...
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cháng nián lěi yuè
“Long years accumulated months”
Over a long period of time
This idiom describes long (长) years (年) with accumulated (累) months (月), emphasizing extended duration. The repetition of time units reinforces the se...
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bù zhī suǒ cuò
“Not knowing where to put hands and feet”
At a loss; not knowing what to do
This idiom describes not (不) knowing (知) where to (所) place oneself (措). The character 措 relates to arranging or placing, suggesting complete confusio...
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xīn kuàng shén yí
“Heart expansive spirit delighted”
Feeling carefree and happy
This idiom describes a state where the heart (心) feels expansive (旷) and the spirit (神) delighted (怡). It comes from Fan Zhongyan's famous Song Dynast...
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yī lǎn wú yú
“One glance nothing remaining”
Take in everything at a glance
This idiom describes being able to see everything in one (一) glance (览) with nothing (无) remaining hidden (余). The phrase appeared in classical landsc...
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fēng mǐ yī shí
“Wind bending grass for a time”
Extremely popular for a time
This idiom uses the image of wind (风) bending (靡) grass for a period (一时) to describe widespread popularity. The metaphor of grass uniformly bending b...
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qiān biàn wàn huà
“Thousand changes ten thousand transformations”
Ever-changing; constantly varying
This idiom uses the large numbers 'thousand' (千) and 'ten thousand' (万) with 'change' (变) and 'transform' (化) to describe constant flux. The hyperboli...
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xī xī xiāng guān
“Breath to breath mutually connected”
Closely related; intimately connected
This idiom describes being connected breath (息) to breath (息), mutually (相) related (关). The breathing metaphor suggests connection as intimate as sha...
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xū jīng yī chǎng
“Empty fright for nothing”
False alarm; scare for nothing
This idiom describes a false (虚) alarm or scare (惊) that amounts to nothing (一场). The character 场 suggests a theatrical event - the drama that turns o...
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shì yǔ yuàn wéi
“Events contrary to wishes”
Things turn out contrary to expectations
This idiom describes when events (事) go contrary (违) to one's wishes (愿). It captures the frustration when reality diverges from intentions despite be...
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huǎng rú gé shì
“Dimly as if separated by lifetimes”
Feeling as if ages have passed
This idiom describes the disorienting feeling of being dimly (恍) as if (如) separated (隔) by different lifetimes or eras (世). It captures the profound ...
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chù jǐng shēng qíng
“Touching scenery produces feelings”
Moved by the sight of something familiar
This idiom describes how encountering (触) a scene (景) can produce (生) emotions (情). It captures the powerful connection between places, objects, and e...
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zuǒ yòu wéi nán
“Left and right both difficult”
In a dilemma; caught between difficulties
This idiom describes being in difficulty (为难) whether going left (左) or right (右), trapped between two equally problematic choices. The spatial metaph...
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yì xiǎng bù dào
“Mind imagines not reaching”
Unexpected; unforeseen
This idiom describes something that one's thoughts (意想) could not (不) reach or anticipate (到). The phrase emphasizes the limits of imagination when co...
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chuí tóu sàng qì
“Drooping head and dejected spirit”
Dejected; dispirited
This idiom describes the physical posture of dejection - head (头) drooping (垂) and spirit (气) lost (丧). The phrase captures how emotional states manif...
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lǐ suǒ dāng rán
“What reason dictates as natural”
Naturally; as a matter of course
This idiom combines 'according to reason' (理所) with 'naturally so' (当然) to express what logic and propriety dictate as obvious or appropriate. The con...
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huàn dé huàn shī
“Worry about gain, worry about loss”
Constantly anxious about gains and losses
This idiom comes from 'The Analects of Confucius,' where it describes petty people who worry (患) about gaining (得) before they have something, then wo...
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fēng hé rì lì
“Wind gentle and sun beautiful”
Perfect weather; favorable conditions
This idiom describes ideal weather conditions with gentle (和) wind (风) and beautiful (丽) sunshine (日). It first appeared in Tang Dynasty poetry celebr...
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zuò lì bù ān
“Cannot sit or stand peacefully”
Extremely restless and anxious
This idiom describes the physical manifestation of anxiety where one can neither sit (坐) nor stand (立) comfortably, finding no peace (不安) in any posit...
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xǐ chū wàng wài
“Joy exceeding expectations”
Overjoyed; pleasantly surprised
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 ...
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jīn jīn yǒu wèi
“With relishing interest”
With great interest and enjoyment
This idiom uses the reduplicated 'jinjin' (津津), meaning moist or flowing with saliva, combined with 'having flavor' (有味) to describe intense enjoyment...
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jī fēi dàn dǎ
“Chicken flies away and eggs broken”
To lose everything; complete failure
This vivid idiom depicts the scene of trying to catch a chicken and accidentally breaking its eggs in the process - losing both the bird and its poten...
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wú kě nài hé
“Without any way to deal with it”
Helpless; having no alternative
This idiom appears in early Chinese philosophical texts and gained literary fame through the Song Dynasty poet Yan Shu's famous line about falling flo...
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bié yǒu dòng tiān
“Having another cave heaven”
A hidden paradise; unexpected inner beauty
This idiom derives from Daoist mythology, where 'cave heavens' (洞天) were believed to be paradisiacal realms hidden within mountains, accessible only t...
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dà tóng xiǎo yì
“Largely same, slightly different”
Essentially the same with minor differences
This idiom has roots in the Confucian concept of 'datong' (大同), meaning 'great unity' or 'grand harmony,' which described an ideal society. The phrase...
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xīn xuè lái cháo
“Heart's blood comes in a tide”
Acting on a sudden impulse or whim
This idiom comes from traditional Chinese medicine concepts where the heart (心) was believed to govern blood (血) circulation and emotions. When blood ...
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wǔ huā bā mén
“Five flowers and eight gates”
A bewildering variety; all kinds of
This idiom has roots in ancient Chinese military strategy, where 'five flowers' (五花) referred to five tactical formations and 'eight gates' (八门) to ei...
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jiǔ niú yī máo
“One hair from nine oxen”
A drop in the bucket; negligible amount
This idiom comes from a letter written by the great Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian (司马迁) to his friend Ren An. After being castrated as punishment fo...
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huǒ mào sān zhàng
“Fire rises three zhang”
Explode in extreme anger or rage
Tang Dynasty theater directors first used this vivid image of anger as fire (火) rising (冒) three zhang (三丈) high - about 10 meters - in stage directio...
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gōng bù yìng qiú
“Supply cannot meet demand”
Demand exceeds available supply
Han Dynasty economic reports first used this phrase to describe how provision (供) cannot (不) meet (应) demand (求) during grain shortages. Tang Dynasty ...
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gēn shēn dì gù
“Roots deep stem firm”
Deeply entrenched and difficult to change
Ancient Chinese farming manuals first observed how plants with deep roots (根深) and firm stems (蒂固) could withstand both storms and drought. Han Dynast...
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gāo zhěn wú yōu
“High pillow no worry”
Completely free from worry or concern
Tang Dynasty poets first used this image of resting head on high pillow (高枕) without worry (无忧) to praise effective governance that allowed people to ...
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fēng tǔ rén qíng
“Wind earth people feelings”
Local customs and cultural characteristics
Tang Dynasty travel writers developed this comprehensive framework for documenting regional culture through climate/customs (风), geography (土), people...
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fēng chuī cǎo dòng
“Wind blows grass moves”
React to slightest hint of change or activity
Tang Dynasty military scouts first used this phrase to describe how wind (风) blowing (吹) causes grass (草) to move (动), revealing subtle signs of enemy...
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fēi qín zǒu shòu
“Flying birds walking beasts”
All varieties of wildlife in nature
The ancient 'Book of Rites' established this comprehensive classification of flying birds (飞禽) and walking beasts (走兽). Han Dynasty hunting regulation...
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dāng wù zhī jí
“Current matter's urgency”
Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention
Han Dynasty crisis management documents introduced this method of identifying the current (当) matter's (务) most pressing urgency (之急). Tang Dynasty wr...
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dāi ruò mù jī
“Dumbfounded like wooden chicken”
Completely stunned or dumbfounded
Zhuangzi's Daoist texts introduced this vivid image of being stunned (呆) like a wooden chicken (木鸡), originally describing meditation-induced stillnes...
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chèn xīn rú yì
“Match heart according wish”
Perfectly satisfying every expectation
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 i...
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céng chū bù qióng
“Levels emerge without end”
Continuously emerging in endless succession
Tang Dynasty Buddhist texts first used this phrase to describe how new levels of enlightenment (层) continue emerging (出) without exhaustion (不穷). Song...
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cāng hǎi sāng tián
“Blue sea mulberry field”
Profound transformations over time
Ancient Daoist texts first recorded this observation of how blue seas (沧海) become mulberry fields (桑田) over time. The 'Liezi' collection used it to il...
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zì yóu zì zài
“Self from self exist”
Completely free and unrestrained
Zhuangzi's philosophical writings in the 4th century BCE introduced this concept of complete freedom combining self-determination (自由) with unrestrict...
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wú yuán wú gù
“No connection no reason”
Completely without reason or provocation
Buddhist concepts of karmic relationships introduced this phrase describing actions having neither connection (无缘) nor cause (无故). Tang Dynasty writer...
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lěng lěng qīng qīng
“Cold cold quiet quiet”
Deserted and lifeless atmosphere
Song Dynasty poets coined this atmospheric phrase combining coldness (冷冷) with quietness (清清) to describe abandoned places. Their verses painted pictu...
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ruò yǒu suǒ sī
“As if having something think”
Lost in thought with a contemplative expression
Tang Dynasty poets first captured this contemplative state of appearing as if (若) one has something (有所) occupying their thoughts (思). They used it to...
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luàn qī bā zāo
“Chaotic seven eight messy”
Complete disorganization and messiness
Ming Dynasty vernacular literature gave us this wonderfully expressive phrase for utter chaos involving numerous (七八) elements in complete disarray (糟...
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tí xīn diào dǎn
“Lift heart hang gall”
Extreme anxiety with physical symptoms
This idiom originated from Song Dynasty medical descriptions of physiological responses to terror. It first appeared in clinical texts explaining how ...
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bǎo jīng cāng sāng
“Fully experience seas to mulberry fields”
Weathered profound life transformations
This idiom originated from Han Dynasty geographical observations before gaining metaphorical significance during the Three Kingdoms period. The metaph...
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ān rú tài shān
“Stable like Mount Tai”
Absolutely stable and unshakable
This idiom originated from Han Dynasty political discourse about dynastic security, first appearing in imperial edicts describing the desired permanen...
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ān rán wú yàng
“Peaceful without illness”
Completely safe and unharmed through danger
This idiom originated from the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms' describing survivors of catastrophe. The term '恙' originally referred specifically to p...
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ān jū lè yè
“Peaceful dwelling happy occupation”
Live peacefully and work happily
This idiom originated from Han Dynasty governmental ideals in the 'Book of Han,' first appearing as an administrative goal representing balanced prosp...
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ān bù dāng chē
“Peaceful walking substitutes carriage”
Choose simpler pleasures over status displays
This idiom originated from the 'Eastern Han Records' biography of Cui Yuan, an official who declined the emperor's gift of a carriage, preferring to w...
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ài bù shì shǒu
“Love not release hand”
Cherish something too much to put it down
Song Dynasty connoisseurs first used this phrase to describe loving something so much (爱) one cannot (不) release (释) it from hand (手). Their writings ...
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zhī zú cháng lè
“Know enough constant happiness”
Contentment with what one has brings happiness
Laozi's profound insight in the 'Dao De Jing' teaches that knowing contentment (知足) leads to lasting happiness (常乐). The concept resonated deeply with...
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yǔ rì jù zēng
“With day together increase”
Steadily increasing as time passes
From the meticulous historical chronicles of the Han Dynasty comes this elegant description of growth that increases (增) in tandem (俱) with the passin...
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yōu shèng liè tài
“Superior wins inferior eliminated”
Natural selection eliminates the unfit
This evolutionary idiom describes how the superior (优) survives (胜) while the inferior (劣) is eliminated (汰), entering Chinese discourse during the la...
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yōng rén zì rǎo
“Mediocre person self-disturbs”
Creating unnecessary troubles for oneself
This psychological idiom describes how unremarkable people (庸人) trouble themselves (自扰) with imagined concerns, originating from Ming Dynasty philosop...
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zǒu mǎ kàn huā
“Galloping horse views flowers”
Superficial observation without depth
This idiom describes viewing flowers (看花) while galloping past on horseback (走马), originating from Tang Dynasty poet Li Shangyin's verses lamenting ha...
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cǎo mù jiē bīng
“Grass trees all soldiers”
Extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere
This psychological idiom describes seeing grass (草) and trees (木) all (皆) as soldiers (兵), originating from the Three Kingdoms period where a defeated...
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fēng huá zhèng mào
“Prime of youth and vigor”
At peak of youth's ability
This idiom emerged during the Song Dynasty, capturing the moment when one's elegant bearing (风华) is at its flourishing prime (正茂). It gained prominenc...
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zhǐ shàng fù guì
“Wealth on paper only”
Success in theory not reality
This illusory idiom describes wealth and status (富贵) existing only on paper (纸上), originating from Ming Dynasty commercial critiques. It first describ...
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rén shān rén hǎi
“People mountain people sea”
Vast crowds of people
This crowded idiom describes people (人) forming mountains (山) and seas (海) through their sheer numbers, originating from Song Dynasty urban descriptio...
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shēn bù yóu jǐ
“Body not self-controlled”
Forced to act against will
This constrained idiom describes situations where one's body/self (身) is not (不) governed (由) by oneself (己), originating from Han Dynasty discussions...
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qí hǔ nán xià
“Hard to dismount tiger”
Unable to stop dangerous course
This precarious idiom describes the difficulty of dismounting (难下) once riding (骑) a tiger (虎), originating from Tang Dynasty political commentary. It...
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rěn jùn bù jīn
“Cannot suppress a smile”
Unable to hide amusement
This amused idiom describes being unable (不禁) to suppress (忍) a smile or laughter (俊), originating from Six Dynasties period literary descriptions. It...
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huà bǐng chōng jī
“Draw cakes to alleviate hunger”
Empty promises satisfy nothing
This illusory idiom describes drawing (画) cakes (饼) to satisfy (充) hunger (饥), originating from Jin Dynasty Buddhist parables. It first appeared in te...
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gū xī yǎng jiān
“Tolerate evil, nurture harm”
Leniency encourages worse behavior
This enabling idiom describes temporarily tolerating (姑息) problems and thereby nurturing (养) future harm (奸), originating from Han Dynasty governmenta...
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rú lǚ báo bīng
“Like walking on thin ice”
Extreme caution in risky situations
This cautious idiom describes moving as if (如) walking (履) on thin (薄) ice (冰), originating from the Book of Changes during the Zhou Dynasty. It appea...
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jiāng láng cái jìn
“Jiang Yan's talent exhausted”
Creativity permanently dried up
This creative depletion idiom references poet Jiang Yan's (江郎) talent becoming exhausted (才尽), originating from Southern Dynasty literary criticism. A...
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huì jí jì yī
“Conceal illness, avoid doctors”
Hiding problems worsens them
This self-defeating idiom describes concealing (讳) illness (疾) and refusing (忌) medical treatment (医), originating from Han Dynasty historical records...
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fù shuǐ nán shōu
“Spilled water hard to recover”
Actions cannot be undone
This irreversible idiom states that water once spilled (覆水) is difficult (难) to gather back (收), originating from Tang Dynasty poetry. It first appear...
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chà qiáng rén yì
“Barely satisfies expectations”
Meets minimum standards only
This nuanced idiom describes something that somewhat (差) forcefully (强) satisfies (人意) expectations, originating from Han Dynasty literary criticism. ...
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yú mù hùn zhū
“Fish eyes as pearls”
Passing fakes as genuine
This deceptive idiom describes passing off fish eyes (鱼目) as pearls (珠) through deliberate mixing (混), originating from Han Dynasty market regulations...
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hè fà tóng yán
“Crane hair, child face”
Youthful despite old age
This complimentary idiom describes someone with white hair (鹤发) like a crane yet maintaining a child-like complexion (童颜), representing the ideal of a...
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qī shàng bā xià
“Seven up eight down”
Anxious and unsettled
This numerical idiom uses seven (七) up (上) and eight (八) down (下) to describe a state of anxious confusion, originating from Song Dynasty vernacular e...
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fú guāng lüè yǐng
“Floating light fleeting shadow”
Superficial impression without depth
This ephemeral idiom combines floating (浮) light (光) with fleeting (掠) shadows (影), originating from Southern Dynasty poetry. It first appeared in ver...
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míng cún shí wáng
“Name exists reality gone”
Exist in name only
This discrepant idiom describes situations where the name/form (名) continues to exist (存) while the substance/reality (实) has perished (亡), originatin...
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rú zuì rú mèng
“Like drunk like dream”
Entranced in dreamlike state
This ethereal idiom compares an experience to being both drunk (醉) and dreaming (梦), originating from Tang Dynasty poetry. It first appeared in Li Bai...
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kǒu gān shé zào
“Mouth dry tongue parched”
Exhausted from excessive talking
This physical idiom describes a dry (干) mouth (口) and parched (燥) tongue (舌), originating from Tang Dynasty medical texts. It initially appeared in cl...
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qǐ rén yōu tiān
“Qi person worries sky”
Worry needlessly about impossible disasters
This anxious idiom references a person from Qi (杞人) who worried (忧) about the sky (天) falling, originating from the philosophical text 'Liezi' during ...
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bù tòng bù yǎng
“Neither painful nor itchy”
Ineffective and inconsequential
This sensory idiom describes something neither (不) painful (痛) nor (不) itchy (痒), originating from Song Dynasty medical texts. It initially described ...
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xīn yuán yì mǎ
“Heart monkey mind horse”
Restless, unfocused mind
This restless idiom compares the heart/mind (心) to a monkey (猿) and thoughts/intentions (意) to a galloping horse (马), originating from Buddhist medita...
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bù jìng ér zǒu
“Without legs yet walks”
Spread widely and rapidly on its own
This mysterious idiom describes something that walks/spreads (走) without (不) legs (胫), originating from Han Dynasty discussions of information dissemi...
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zǒu mǎ guān huā
“View flowers from galloping horse”
Observe hastily and superficially
This vivid idiom describes viewing (观) flowers (花) while riding (走) a galloping horse (马), originating from Tang Dynasty tourism practices. Historical...
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chéng mén shī huǒ
“City gate catches fire”
Innocent bystanders suffer from others' problems
This idiom comes from a longer expression where the city gate (城门) catches fire (失火), but the disaster spreads to harm fish in the moat (殃及池鱼). It ori...
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wàn mǎ bēn téng
“Ten thousand horses galloping”
Powerful unstoppable momentum
This dynamic idiom envisions ten thousand (万) horses (马) galloping (奔腾) together, originating from Tang Dynasty military descriptions. It first appear...
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jiá rán ér zhǐ
“Suddenly and stop”
Come to an abrupt halt
This onomatopoeic idiom combines the sharp sound 'jia' (戛) with the character for 'thus' (然) and 'stop' (止), creating a vivid image of sudden cessatio...
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zhǐ lù wéi mǎ
“Point deer call horse”
Deliberately distort truth as power display
This idiom references the historical incident where someone pointed at (指) a deer (鹿) and called it (为) a horse (马), originating from the Qin Dynasty....
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tán huā yī xiàn
“Night flower appears once”
Brief, fleeting appearance
This botanical idiom refers to the epiphyllum or night-blooming cereus (昙花) that appears/blooms (现) just once (一) briefly, originating from Buddhist t...
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fēng yuè wú biān
“Wind moon without boundaries”
Boundless natural beauty and romance
This aesthetic idiom celebrates how the beauty of wind (风) and moon (月) extends without (无) boundaries (边), originating from Tang Dynasty poetry. It f...
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kè gǔ míng xīn
“Carve bone inscribe heart”
Deeply and permanently affected
This profound idiom describes experiences so intense they seem carved (刻) into one's bones (骨) and inscribed (铭) in the heart (心), emerging from Han D...
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fān yún fù yǔ
“翻Turn clouds overturn rain”
Unpredictable, dramatic changes
This meteorological metaphor describes the ability to turn over (翻) clouds (云) and overturn (覆) rain (雨), originating from Daoist rain-making rituals ...
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míng zhé bǎo shēn
“Wise person protects self”
Protect oneself from danger wisely
This pragmatic idiom suggests the wise (明哲) person protects (保) themselves (身), emerging during the turbulent period following the Han Dynasty's colla...
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shù shǒu wú cè
“Bind hands no strategy”
Completely helpless without options
This idiom describes the state of having bound (束) hands (手) with no (无) available strategies (策), originating from Spring and Autumn period military ...
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chā chì nán fēi
“Add wings difficult fly”
Utterly impossible to escape
This vivid idiom suggests that even adding (插) wings (翅) wouldn't make escape possible (难飞), originating from Tang Dynasty prison terminology. Histori...
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zhǐ zuì jīn mí
“Paper drunk gold confused”
Decadent luxury lifestyle
This idiom describes a decadent lifestyle where one becomes intoxicated (醉) with wealth symbolized by gold (金) and surrounded by deeds/contracts on pa...
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wàng yáng xìng tàn
“Gaze at ocean sigh deeply”
Feel overwhelmed by greatness
This idiom captures the feeling of gazing (望) at the vast ocean (洋) and responding with deep sighs (兴叹) of awe or resignation. It originated from the ...
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gé àn guān huǒ
“Watch fire from opposite shore”
Observe troubles from safe distance
This evocative idiom describes watching (观) a fire (火) from the opposite (隔) shore (岸), originating from Tang Dynasty accounts of riverside village fi...
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gōng kuī yī kuì
“Work fails one basket”
Fail due to giving up near the end
The ancient Chinese text 'Hanfeizi' tells of a man who stopped hauling earth (功) one basket (篑) short of completing his mountain, teaching how project...
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mù bù xiá jǐ
“Eyes too busy to attend”
Too much to take in
This vivid idiom emerged from Han Dynasty court records describing imperial inspections where officials' eyes (目) were too (不) occupied (暇) to properl...
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pò zài méi jié
“Urgent as brow and lash”
Extremely urgent
This visceral idiom describes urgency so pressing (迫) it's between (在) the eyebrows (眉) and eyelashes (睫). Its earliest recorded use comes from Tang D...
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kuā kuā qí tán
“Talk big and empty”
All talk no substance
This critical idiom emerged during the Warring States period when advisors would boast (夸) excessively (夸) in their (其) speeches (谈). Historical accou...
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chún wáng chǐ hán
“Lips gone teeth cold”
Fates linked together
This vivid metaphor emerged from the Warring States period, when advisor Li Ke warned the state of Wei about abandoning its ally. He explained that wh...
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liáo ruò chén xīng
“Sparse as morning stars”
Very rare
A Tang Dynasty poetic description comparing rarity to morning (晨) stars (星) remaining visible (寥若) at dawn. Popular in classical poetry, it captured t...
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bēi gōng shé yǐng
“Bow in cup snake shadow”
Needlessly suspicious
This tale from the Jin Dynasty chronicles a scholar who saw a bow's (弓) reflection in his cup (杯), mistaking it for a snake (蛇) shadow (影). His subseq...
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zhěn liú shù shí
“Pillow stream rinse stone”
Live simply
This idiom, literally meaning 'pillow on the stream (流) and rinse with stones (石),' originated from a story about Sun Chu during the Jin Dynasty. He ...
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liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng
“Two tigers fight”
Fierce competition between equals
The image of two (两) tigers (虎) fighting (相争) comes from ancient observations of territorial conflicts, documented in early Chinese zoological texts. ...
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yǐ xuē huài dī
“Ant holes break dike”
Small problems cause disaster
Dating to ancient Chinese agricultural texts, this observation of how tiny ant (蚁) holes (穴) can ultimately destroy (坏) a massive dike (堤) became a po...
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sì hǎi wéi jiā
“Four seas become home”
At home anywhere
Emerging during the Han Dynasty's period of expansion, this cosmopolitan idiom envisions the four seas (四海) becoming one's home (家). It reflected the ...
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yǐn huǒ shāo shēn
“Draw fire burn self”
Bring trouble upon oneself
This cautionary idiom describes the act of drawing (引) fire (火) to burn (烧) oneself (身), originating from the Spring and Autumn period. It first appea...
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shì wài táo yuán
“Peach spring beyond world”
Perfect peaceful place
This phrase describing a peach (桃) blossom spring (源) beyond (外) the world (世) comes from Tao Yuanming's famous 5th-century prose poem about a fisherm...
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zhěn shí shù liú
“Pillow stone rinse stream”
Endure hardship for goals
Drawing from the biography of the recluse-scholar Xu You, who chose to pillow (枕) on stones (石) and rinse (漱) his mouth with flowing (流) stream water ...
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liǔ àn huā míng
“Dark willows bright flowers”
Hope appears in darkness
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 d...
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jiè huā xiàn fó
“Borrow flower offer Buddha”
Use others' resources
This Buddhist-influenced idiom describes borrowing flowers (花) to offer (献) to Buddha (佛), originating from Tang Dynasty temple practices where worshi...
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xiào lǐ cáng dāo
“Hide knife in smile”
Hide malice behind 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...
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guā shú dì luò
“Melon ripe stem falls”
Things happen when ready
This agricultural metaphor describes how a melon (瓜) naturally falls from its stem (蒂) when ripe (熟), originating from peasant wisdom during the Sprin...
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shǒu zhū dài tù
“Guard tree wait rabbit”
Wait passively for luck
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 ra...
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kǒu mì fù jiàn
“Mouth honey belly sword”
Hide evil behind sweet words
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 firs...
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fēng yún tū biàn
“Wind cloud sudden change”
Sudden dramatic change
This dramatic idiom captures the sudden (突) change (变) in wind (风) and clouds (云), drawing from ancient Chinese meteorological observations. Originate...
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tōu liáng huàn zhù
“Steal beam swap pillar”
Deceive by substitution
This idiom refers to the cunning act of stealing (偷) beams (梁) and swapping (换) pillars (柱), derived from a Warring States period tale of architectura...
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zhòng kǒu shuò jīn
“Many mouths melt gold”
Public opinion is powerful
This powerful metaphor suggests that numerous (众) mouths (口) speaking together can melt (铄) even gold (金). Originating in the Han Dynasty, it reflects...
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shí lái yùn zhuǎn
“Time comes and fortune turns”
Fortune's wheel will turn.
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 D...
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qián lǘ jì qióng
“Donkey's tricks exhausted”
Run out of tricks
This wry expression originates from a Tang Dynasty essay about a donkey (驴) in Guizhou (黔) province whose initial novelty made it seem special, until ...
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jīn fēng yù lù
“Golden wind jade dew”
Perfect timing and conditions
This poetic idiom pairs golden (金) autumn wind (风) with jade-like (玉) dew (露), dating from Tang Dynasty nature poetry. It captures the crystalline cla...
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wàng méi zhǐ ké
“Think of plums stop thirst”
Console with false hopes
This idiom comes from a historical account of General Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period. Leading his army through drought-stricken terrain, he ...
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fēng shēng hè lì
“Wind sound crane call”
Overly fearful and suspicious
Dating back to the Jin Dynasty (265-420 CE), this idiom emerged from the aftermath of the Battle of Fei River. The defeated army became so paranoid th...
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wèi yǔ chóu móu
“Prepare umbrella before rain”
Prepare before problems arise
Dating to the Zhou Dynasty's Book of Changes, this idiom literally describes preparing (缪) with silk cords (绸) before (未) the rain (雨) arrives. It ori...
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sì miàn chǔ gē
“Chu songs from four sides”
Surrounded by hostility
This poignant idiom originates from the final battle of Xiang Yu in 202 BCE. Surrounded by Han forces at Gaixia, Xiang Yu heard songs (歌) from his hom...
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yīn guǒ bào yìng
“Cause and effect return”
Actions have consequences
This idiom encapsulates the Buddhist concept that causes (因) and effects (果) inevitably return (报应) as consequences. Introduced with Buddhism during t...
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yè láng zì dà
“Small kingdom thinks itself great”
Overestimate oneself
This idiom references the ancient kingdom of Yelang (夜郎), whose ruler allegedly believed his small state rivaled the Han Empire in greatness (自大). The...
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jìn shuǐ lóu tái
“Pavilion close to water”
Advantage from close connections
First appearing in Tang Dynasty poetry, this idiom describes pavilions (楼台) close (近) to water (水), referring to their advantageous position to catch ...
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sài wēng shī mǎ
“Old man loses horse”
Misfortune might be a blessing
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 ca...
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wù jí bì fǎn
“Things at extreme reverse”
Extremes lead to reversal
This idiom captures a fundamental principle of Chinese philosophy: when things (物) reach their extreme (极), they inevitably (必) reverse (反). First art...
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hào yì wù láo
“Love ease hate work”
Love ease, hate work
This idiom describes the human tendency to love (好) ease (逸) and hate (恶) work (劳). First appearing in pre-Qin philosophical texts, it was used by Men...
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gǎi xié guī zhèng
“Turn from wrong return to right”
Return to righteousness
Emerging from Buddhist texts during the Eastern Han Dynasty, this idiom describes the journey of turning away (改) from wrong (邪) to return (归) to righ...
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yī bō sān zhé
“One wave three turns”
Many twists and 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...
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