53 idioms
wàn wú yī shī
“Ten thousand without one failure”
Absolutely sure; foolproof
This idiom describes ten thousand (万) attempts without (无) one (一) failure (失). It depicts absolute reliability with no margin for error. The phrase w...
Learn more →
mì bù tòu fēng
“So dense wind cannot penetrate”
Airtight; impenetrable
This idiom describes being so dense (密) that wind (风) cannot (不) penetrate (透). It depicts impenetrable barriers or extremely tight security. The phra...
Learn more →
tiān luó dì wǎng
“Nets of heaven and earth”
Inescapable net; dragnet
This idiom describes nets (罗/网) of heaven (天) and earth (地). It depicts an inescapable trap covering all directions. The phrase was used for comprehen...
Learn more →
shì zài bì xíng
“Circumstances demand it must be done”
Be imperative; must be done
This idiom describes circumstances (势) being such that (在) action must (必) be taken (行). It depicts situations where conditions make action unavoidabl...
Learn more →
wěn zhā wěn dǎ
“Stable camp, stable attack”
Proceed steadily; consolidate before advancing
This idiom describes establishing stable (稳) camps (扎) and making stable (稳) attacks (打). From military strategy emphasizing secure foundations before...
Learn more →
yù qín gù zòng
“Wishing to capture, first let go”
Give slack before tightening; let go to catch
This idiom describes wanting (欲) to capture (擒) but intentionally (故) letting go (纵). It is one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems where releasing a target ...
Learn more →
wéi wèi jiù zhào
“Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao”
Relieve pressure by attacking the source
This idiom refers to besieging (围) Wei (魏) to rescue (救) Zhao (赵). During the Warring States period, when Wei attacked Zhao, strategist Sun Bin advise...
Learn more →
yǐ tuì wéi jìn
“Use retreat as advance”
Strategic retreat for ultimate victory
This idiom describes using (以) retreat (退) as (为) advance (进). It embodies Daoist and strategic wisdom that apparent weakness can become strength. By ...
Learn more →
shēng dōng jī xī
“Make noise in east, strike in west”
Create a diversion; use misdirection
This idiom describes making noise (声) in the east (东) while striking (击) in the west (西). It is one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, describing tactical ...
Learn more →
lì bīng mò mǎ
“Sharpen weapons and feed horses”
Make thorough preparations; get ready for action
This idiom describes sharpening (厉) weapons (兵) and feeding (秣) horses (马). It originated from ancient military preparations where armies would ensure...
Learn more →
yī jǔ liǎng dé
“One action two gains”
Kill two birds with one stone
This idiom describes one (一) action (举) yielding two (两) gains (得). It celebrates efficiency that achieves multiple objectives simultaneously. The phr...
Learn more →
bù gōng zì pò
“Without attack self-collapse”
Collapse without being attacked; self-defeating
This idiom describes something collapsing (破) by itself (自) without (不) attack (攻). Originally a military term for fortifications so weak they crumble...
Learn more →
lìng pì xī jìng
“Separately open a side path”
Find an alternative approach; think outside the box
This idiom describes separately (另) opening (辟) a side path (蹊径) - finding an alternative route. It praises creative problem-solving that avoids direc...
Learn more →
àn bù jiù bān
“Follow departments and classes”
Follow established procedures; step by step
This idiom describes following (按就) proper departments (部) and classes or sequences (班). It emphasizes methodical procedure following established orde...
Learn more →
jū ān sī wēi
“Dwelling in peace think of danger”
Be prepared for danger in times of safety
This idiom advises thinking of (思) danger (危) while dwelling in (居) peace (安). It comes from 'Zuozhuan,' an ancient Chinese chronicle, warning against...
Learn more →
dāng jī lì duàn
“Face opportunity immediately decide”
Make a prompt decision
This idiom describes facing (当) an opportunity or moment (机) and immediately (立) deciding (断). It praises decisive action that seizes the moment witho...
Learn more →
bǎi nián dà jì
“Hundred-year great plan”
Long-term plan; matter of lasting importance
This idiom describes a great (大) plan (计) spanning a hundred (百) years (年). It emphasizes long-term thinking and planning that extends beyond immediat...
Learn more →
yī láo yǒng yì
“One labor forever ease”
Solve a problem once and for all
This idiom describes one (一) effort (劳) that brings forever (永) ease (逸). It originated in Han Dynasty texts discussing efficient governance - solving...
Learn more →
suí jī yìng biàn
“Follow opportunity respond to change”
Adapt to circumstances; think on one's feet
This idiom describes following (随) opportunities (机) and responding (应) to changes (变). It emphasizes flexibility and adaptability in the face of evol...
Learn more →
chéng shàng qǐ xià
“Continuing above and opening below”
Serve as a link between preceding and following
This idiom describes continuing (承) from above (上) while opening/initiating (启) what's below (下). It originated in literary criticism describing trans...
Learn more →
yáng cháng bì duǎn
“Promote strengths avoid weaknesses”
Play to one's strengths
This idiom advises promoting (扬) one's strengths (长) while avoiding (避) weaknesses (短). The phrase embodies practical wisdom about focusing on advanta...
Learn more →
shì rú pò zhú
“Momentum like splitting bamboo”
Irresistible momentum; sweeping advance
This idiom comes from the Jin Dynasty general Du Yu, who compared his army's advance to splitting bamboo (破竹) - once the first section splits, the res...
Learn more →
wú zhōng shēng yǒu
“Create something from nothing”
Fabricate; create from nothing
This idiom has dual origins. Philosophically, it derives from the Daoist concept in 'Tao Te Ching' that all things emerge from nothingness (无) to exis...
Learn more →
tiě zhèng rú shān
“Iron evidence like a mountain”
Irrefutable evidence; conclusive proof
This idiom describes evidence that is as solid as iron (铁) and as immovable as a mountain (如山). The combination of these two images emphasizes both th...
Learn more →
yíng rèn ér jiě
“Split apart upon meeting the blade”
Easily solved once properly approached
This idiom originates from the Jin Dynasty general Du Yu's description of his military campaign, where he likened enemy resistance to bamboo that spli...
Learn more →
luò huā liú shuǐ
“Falling flowers and flowing water”
Utter defeat; scattered in disarray
This poetic idiom originally described the beautiful natural scene of fallen petals floating on flowing streams, appearing in Tang Dynasty poetry as a...
Learn more →
shì bù kě dǎng
“Momentum that cannot be blocked”
Unstoppable; irresistible momentum
This idiom originated in military contexts during the Three Kingdoms period, describing armies with such overwhelming momentum (势) that they could not...
Learn more →
zhēng fēn duó miǎo
“Fighting for minutes and seizing seconds”
Race against time; make every second count
This modern idiom emerged during China's industrialization period in the 20th century, reflecting the urgency of national development. It combines 'fi...
Learn more →
sì tōng bā dá
“Connected in four directions, reaching in eight”
Extending in all directions; well-connected
This idiom originated during the Warring States period and appears in 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记). It describes roads or passages that conne...
Learn more →
hòu gù zhī yōu
“Backward glance's worry”
Concerns about hidden vulnerabilities
Ancient military strategists coined this phrase about worries (忧) from looking back (后顾), emphasizing how unaddressed vulnerabilities can paralyze for...
Learn more →
chéng fēng pò làng
“Ride wind break waves”
Boldly forge ahead through adversity
Li Bai's bold verse from the Tang Dynasty - 'Straight ahead, ride the wind (乘风) and break through waves (破浪)' - gave us this dynamic image of progress...
Learn more →
chàng kōng chéng jì
“Perform empty city strategy”
Use bold confidence to mask vulnerability
The 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' immortalized Zhuge Liang's empty city strategy (空城计), where performing (唱) apparent confidence masked real vulnera...
Learn more →
bù yuē ér tóng
“Not arrange yet same”
Arrive at same point without coordination
Eastern Han historians first noted this phenomenon of actions that without (不) prior arrangement (约) nevertheless occur identically (同) when documenti...
Learn more →
xiǎo xīn yì yì
“Small heart wing wing”
Act with extreme caution and care
From the ancient verses of the 'Book of Songs' (1000-600 BCE) comes this image of approaching tasks with a cautious heart (小心) and bird-like alertness...
Learn more →
qī shǒu bā jiǎo
“Seven hands eight feet”
Many people busily working together in disorder
Tang Dynasty temple construction projects gave birth to this vivid phrase describing numerous hands (七手) and feet (八脚) moving simultaneously. The imag...
Learn more →
shā jī qǔ luǎn
“Kill chicken take eggs”
Sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains
This idiom originated from Han Dynasty agricultural maxims, first appearing in economic discussions warning against sacrificing productive assets for ...
Learn more →
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
“Back to water one battle”
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
This idiom originated from the 'Records of the Grand Historian' account of Han Xin's 204 BCE victory. This brilliant general deliberately trapped his ...
Learn more →
àn tú suǒ jì
“Follow map seek fine horse”
Rigidly following outdated methods
This idiom originated from the 'Han Feizi' text of the Warring States period, telling of a man seeking an exceptional steed named Ji using only an old...
Learn more →
àn jiàn shāng rén
“Hidden arrow wounds person”
Covert attacks avoiding direct confrontation
This idiom originated from Tang Dynasty descriptions of battlefield ambush tactics before entering broader usage through Song Dynasty records of court...
Learn more →
zhí dǎo huáng lóng
“Directly attack Yellow Dragon”
Strike directly at the heart of enemy territory
General Yue Fei's determination to recapture northern territories gave birth to this bold strategy of striking directly (直捣) at the Yellow Dragon (黄龙)...
Learn more →
zhěn gē dài dàn
“Pillow spear await dawn”
Maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge
Among the ancient verses of the 'Book of Songs' (1000-600 BCE), this image of soldiers using spears as pillows (枕戈) while awaiting dawn (待旦) captured ...
Learn more →
zhēn fēng xiāng duì
“Needle points facing each other”
Sharp, direct confrontation in argument
Military tacticians of the Southern and Northern Dynasties first used this image of needle points (针锋) directly facing each other (相对) to describe pre...
Learn more →
yuán mù qiú yú
“Climb tree seek fish”
Using completely wrong method for a task
Mencius first used this vivid image of climbing trees (缘木) to catch fish (求鱼) in the 4th century BCE, criticizing approaches that ignore natural princ...
Learn more →
yǔ hǔ móu pí
“With tiger plot skin”
Asking someone to sacrifice their core interests
Originating from the 'Strategies of the Warring States' around 300 BCE, the phrase describes the futility of discussing with a tiger (与虎) about acquir...
Learn more →
jīn gē tiě mǎ
“Gold spears iron horses”
Magnificent military might and valor
This martial idiom paints a scene of golden (金) spears (戈) and iron (铁) horses (马), first appearing in Li Bai's famous Tang Dynasty poetry describing ...
Learn more →
yù bàng xiāng zhēng
“Snipe clam mutual fight”
Mutual conflict benefits third party
This cautionary tale depicts a snipe (鹬) and clam (蚌) in mutual (相) combat (争), originating from the 'Strategies of the Warring States' around 300 BCE...
Learn more →
tuī bō zhù lán
“Push waves, aid ripples”
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
This amplifying idiom describes pushing (推) waves (波) and helping (助) ripples (澜), originating from Southern Dynasty poetry. It initially described ho...
Learn more →
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
“Remove firewood under pot”
Eliminate root cause of problem
This practical idiom describes removing (抽) firewood (薪) from under (底) a cooking pot (釜), originating from Wei-Jin period practical wisdom. Unlike dr...
Learn more →
àn dù chén cāng
“Secretly cross Chencang”
Achieve secretly through misdirection
This strategic idiom refers to secretly (暗) crossing/passing (度) through Chencang (陈仓), originating from Han Xin's famous military maneuver during the...
Learn more →
páng qiāo cè jī
“Knock side hit flank”
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
This subtle approach describes knocking (敲) from the side (旁) and striking (击) from the flank (侧) rather than direct confrontation, originating from T...
Learn more →
tuì bì sān shè
“Retreat three camps”
Make concessions to avoid conflict
This strategic idiom describes voluntarily retreating (退避) three (三) camp-distances (舍) to avoid conflict, originating from the Spring and Autumn peri...
Learn more →
bù bù wéi yíng
“Each step make camp”
Advance methodically with caution
This strategic approach emerged from Han Dynasty military manuals, describing armies that established (为) a secure camp (营) with each step (步步) of the...
Learn more →
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
“Bamboo ready in heart”
Have clear plan beforehand
This idiom originated from Southern Song Dynasty painter Wen Yuke's approach to bamboo painting. Before touching brush to paper, he would completely v...
Learn more →