137 idioms
dé xīn yìng shǒu
“Heart obtains, hand responds”
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
This idiom describes the heart (心) obtaining (得) and the hand (手) responding (应). It depicts perfect coordination between intention and execution. The...
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jià qīng jiù shú
“Drive light vehicle, approach familiarity”
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
This idiom describes driving (驾) a light (轻) vehicle and approaching (就) familiarity (熟). Similar to 轻车熟路, it depicts ease from experience. The phrase...
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qīng chē shú lù
“Light carriage, familiar road”
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
This idiom describes a light (轻) carriage (车) on a familiar (熟) road (路). It depicts easy travel without burden on a well-known path. The phrase captu...
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yóu rèn yǒu yú
“Moving blade with room to spare”
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
This idiom describes a moving (游) blade (刃) having (有) room to spare (余). From Zhuangzi's story of Cook Ding who butchered oxen so skillfully his knif...
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chéng zhú zài xiōng
“Complete bamboo in chest”
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
This idiom describes complete (成) bamboo (竹) being (在) in the chest (胸). A variant of 胸有成竹 with the same meaning - having thorough mental preparation....
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shì kě ér zhǐ
“When appropriate, then stop”
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
This idiom describes when appropriate (适可) then (而) stopping (止). It advocates for moderation and knowing limits. The phrase warns against excess and ...
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jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
“See good then collect”
Quit while ahead; take profits
This idiom describes seeing (见) good conditions (好) and then (就) collecting/stopping (收). It advises knowing when to quit while ahead rather than push...
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jí liú yǒng tuì
“Brave retreat from rapid current”
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
This idiom describes bravely (勇) retreating (退) from a rapid (急) current (流). It depicts the wisdom and courage needed to withdraw while circumstances...
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gōng chéng shēn tuì
“Merit achieved, person withdraws”
Retire after achieving success
This idiom describes merit (功) achieved (成) and the person (身) withdrawing (退). From the Dao De Jing advising that the wise withdraw after accomplishi...
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yù sù bù dá
“Desire speed, not reach”
Haste makes waste; more haste less speed
This idiom describes desiring (欲) speed (速) but not (不) reaching (达) the goal. From the Analects where Confucius warned that haste impedes rather than...
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jí yú qiú chéng
“Anxious to achieve success”
Be impatient for success; rush things
This idiom describes being anxious (急) about (于) seeking (求) success (成). It warns against impatience that undermines careful progress. The phrase cau...
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táo lǐ mǎn mén
“Peaches and plums fill the gate”
Have many successful students
This idiom describes peaches (桃) and plums (李) filling (满) the gate (门). Students are metaphorically called peach and plum trees because teachers cult...
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yán chuán shēn jiào
“Teach by words and personal example”
Teach by word and deed
This idiom describes teaching through words (言传) and personal example (身教). It recognizes that instruction involves both verbal teaching and modeling ...
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yǒu jiào wú lèi
“Provide education without discrimination”
Education for all without discrimination
This idiom describes having (有) education (教) without (无) categories (类). It comes from the Analects expressing Confucius' principle that education sh...
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yīn cái shī jiào
“Teach according to ability”
Adapt teaching to student abilities
This idiom describes teaching (施教) according to (因) ability (材). It embodies Confucius' educational philosophy of tailoring instruction to individual ...
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huì rén bù juàn
“Teach others without weariness”
Teach with tireless patience
This idiom describes teaching (诲) people (人) without (不) weariness (倦). It comes from the Analects where Confucius described his tireless dedication t...
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xún xún shàn yòu
“Patiently and skillfully guide”
Guide patiently and methodically
This idiom describes guiding (循循) skillfully (善) and leading (诱). It comes from the Analects where Yan Hui praised Confucius' teaching method of syste...
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cóng shàn rú liú
“Follow good like flowing water”
Readily accept good advice
This idiom describes following (从) what is good (善) like (如) flowing water (流). It comes from Zuozhuan describing Duke Huan of Jin who accepted good a...
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wén guò zé xǐ
“Hear faults, then rejoice”
Welcome criticism; embrace feedback
This idiom describes hearing (闻) faults (过) and then (则) rejoicing (喜). It comes from Mencius praising Yu the Great who welcomed criticism as opportun...
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bù qiú shèn jiě
“Not seeking thorough understanding”
Content with superficial understanding
This idiom describes not (不) seeking (求) thorough (甚) understanding (解). It originated from Tao Yuanming's essay where he described his reading style ...
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yī mù liǎo rán
“One look completely clear”
Clear at a glance; obvious
This idiom describes becoming completely clear (了然) with one (一) look (目). It praises clarity that enables instant comprehension without explanation. ...
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dà cái xiǎo yòng
“Big talent small use”
Waste talent on menial tasks
This idiom describes big (大) talent (材) being given small (小) use (用) - wasting capable people on trivial tasks. The phrase criticizes poor resource a...
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shēn lín qí jìng
“Body arrives at that situation”
Feel as if personally present
This idiom describes one's body (身) arriving at (临) that (其) situation or place (境). It emphasizes experiential presence rather than remote observatio...
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huò rán kāi lǎng
“Suddenly opens up bright”
Suddenly see the light; become clear
This idiom describes something suddenly (豁然) opening up (开) into brightness (朗). It comes from Tao Yuanming's famous 'Peach Blossom Spring,' where tra...
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gè yǒu suǒ cháng
“Each has their strengths”
Everyone has their own strengths
This idiom states that each person (各) has (有) their own (所) strengths (长). It acknowledges that different individuals excel in different areas, promo...
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wú suǒ bù zhī
“Nothing that is not known”
Know everything; omniscient
This idiom describes a state where there is nothing (无所) that is not (不) known (知) - omniscience or encyclopedic knowledge. The phrase originally desc...
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shí shì qiú shì
“Seek truth from facts”
Be practical and realistic; seek truth from facts
This idiom means seeking (求) truth (是) from actual facts (实事). It originated from the Han Dynasty 'Book of Han' describing the scholarly approach of E...
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qià dào hǎo chù
“Just arriving at the good place”
Just right; perfectly appropriate
This idiom describes arriving (到) exactly (恰) at the good (好) point (处). It embodies the Confucian and Daoist ideal of moderation and hitting the perf...
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bié chū xīn cái
“Produce different from the heart's cutting”
Showing originality; unconventional
This idiom describes producing (出) something different (别) from one's heart's (心) design or cutting (裁). The character 裁 originally referred to tailor...
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yī zhēn jiàn xiě
“One needle sees blood”
Hit the nail on the head; incisive
This idiom originally described skilled acupuncturists who could draw blood (见血) with a single (一) needle (针) insertion, demonstrating perfect techniq...
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shēn rù qiǎn chū
“Enter deep come out shallow”
Explain profound ideas in simple terms
This idiom describes entering (入) deeply (深) into a subject but coming out (出) with shallow/accessible (浅) explanations. It praises the ability to und...
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xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng
“Mutually assist mutually complete”
Complement each other; mutually beneficial
This idiom describes things that mutually (相) support (辅) and mutually (相) complete (成) each other. The phrase reflects the Chinese philosophical unde...
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nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō
“Playing clever becomes clumsy”
Outsmart oneself; cleverness backfiring
This idiom describes how attempting (弄) to be clever (巧) results (成) in clumsiness (拙). It captures the irony of sophisticated plans that backfire, pr...
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bǎi sī bù jiě
“Think a hundred times still not understand”
Unable to understand despite much thought
This idiom describes thinking (思) a hundred times (百) yet still not (不) understanding (解), expressing puzzlement that persists despite extensive conte...
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lái lóng qù mài
“Coming dragon and going veins”
The whole story; causes and effects
This idiom originates from Chinese geomancy (feng shui), where 'dragon' (龙) refers to mountain ranges and 'veins' (脉) to their extensions. Geomancers ...
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xǔ xǔ rú shēng
“Vividly as if alive”
Lifelike; vividly realistic
This idiom uses the reduplicated 'xuxu' (栩栩), meaning vivid or lifelike, combined with 'as if alive' (如生) to describe art so realistic it appears livi...
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bàn xìn bàn yí
“Half believing half doubting”
Skeptical; uncertain
This idiom precisely captures the state of partial belief (半信) mixed with partial doubt (半疑), describing uncertainty where one can neither fully accep...
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yuán yuǎn liú cháng
“Source distant, flow long”
Having deep roots and long history
This idiom uses the metaphor of a river with distant (远) sources (源) and long (长) flow (流) to describe things with deep historical roots and lasting i...
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miào bǐ shēng huā
“Wonderful brush produces flowers”
Exceptional literary or artistic talent
This idiom originates from the legend of the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, who allegedly dreamed that flowers bloomed from his writing brush, after which ...
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qià rú qí fèn
“Just as its portion requires”
Just right; perfectly appropriate
This idiom emphasizes doing something exactly (恰) as (如) its proper portion (其分) requires - neither more nor less. The concept of 'fen' (分) relates to...
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huà dì wéi láo
“Drawing ground as prison”
Self-imposed restrictions; limiting oneself
This idiom originates from 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记), describing ancient punishment where criminals were confined to a circle drawn on the...
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nán yuán běi zhé
“Driving south while heading north”
Actions contrary to one's goals
This idiom comes from 'Strategies of the Warring States' (战国策). A man wanted to travel to the southern state of Chu but drove his carriage north. When...
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ěr mù yī xīn
“Ears and eyes completely renewed”
A refreshing new experience
This idiom appears in classical texts describing the sensation of encountering something refreshingly new. The ears (耳) and eyes (目) represent one's s...
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xún xù jiàn jìn
“Follow order and advance gradually”
Progress step by step
This idiom appears in 'The Analects of Confucius' and was elaborated upon by Zhu Xi, the great Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar. It emphasizes follo...
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huǎng rán dà wù
“Suddenly great awakening”
Sudden complete understanding after confusion
Buddhist meditation traditions gave us this description of sudden clarity (恍然) leading to great awakening (大悟). Unlike gradual enlightenment, this rep...
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hán dān xué bù
“Handan learn walking”
Lose abilities through misguided imitation
Zhuangzi's philosophical writings tell of a youth who so admired the walking style of Handan (邯郸) residents that in trying to learn it (学步), he forgot...
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guī gēn dào dǐ
“Return root reach bottom”
Fundamentally or in the final analysis
Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian philosophers introduced this analytical method of returning to roots (归根) and reaching the bottom (到底). Ming Dynasty schola...
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guā tián lǐ xià
“Melon field plum under”
Avoid situations that invite suspicion
The 'Book of Rites' first warned against adjusting shoes in melon fields (瓜田) or hats under plum trees (李下), as these innocent actions could be misint...
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dé bù cháng shī
“Gain not compensate loss”
Gains not worth the cost or sacrifice
Han Dynasty agricultural texts first warned of gains (得) that don't compensate (不偿) for losses (失) when discussing soil depletion from over-farming. T...
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dào tīng tú shuō
“Road hear path say”
Unreliable information from casual hearsay
Han Dynasty scholars coined this phrase about information heard (听) on roads (道) and spoken (说) on paths (途) to distinguish between verified knowledge...
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chǔ cái jìn yòng
“Chu talent Jin use”
Recruit talent from rival organization
The strategic brilliance of the Jin state during the Spring and Autumn period gave us this phrase about utilizing Chu state's talent (楚材). Jin's syste...
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chéng mén lì xuě
“Cheng door stand snow”
Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom
A Song Dynasty tale of devotion immortalized student Yang Shi, who stood in snow (立雪) outside philosopher Cheng Yi's door (程门), awaiting his teacher's...
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chén yú luò yàn
“Sink fish fall geese”
Beauty so stunning it affects natural world
Han Dynasty legends tell of beauty so extraordinary it caused fish to sink (沉鱼) and flying geese to descend (落雁). The phrase combines two legendary be...
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bù xiāng shàng xià
“Not mutually up down”
Evenly matched with neither superior
Han Dynasty military strategists developed this elegant phrase to describe forces without (不) mutual (相) superiority or inferiority (上下). Initially us...
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bù kě sī yì
“Cannot be thought discussed”
Beyond comprehension or explanation
Early Buddhist sutras translated during the Eastern Han Dynasty brought us this description of matters that cannot (不可) be comprehended through though...
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bù kě jiù yào
“Cannot be saved by medicine”
Beyond hope of redemption or reform
The great physician Zhang Zhongjing's 'Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders' introduced this concept of conditions that cannot (不可) be cured by medicine ...
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bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng
“Catch wind grasp shadow”
Make accusations without solid evidence
Tang Dynasty Buddhist texts warn of the futility of trying to catch wind (捕风) and grasp shadows (捉影). Song Dynasty philosophers transformed this spiri...
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háo wú yí wèn
“Not slightest doubt”
Absolutely certain without any doubt
Ming Dynasty legal terminology gave us this expression of absolute certainty, where not (无) the slightest (毫) question (疑问) remains. Legal documents u...
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shí yǒu bā jiǔ
“Ten has eight nine”
Very high probability at about 80-90 percent
Song Dynasty scholars, debating the nature of probability, gave us this precise way of expressing likelihood - that out of ten cases (十), eight or nin...
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bàn jīn bā liǎng
“Half catty eight taels”
Essentially the same despite appearances
This idiom originated from Ming Dynasty marketplace terminology, first appearing in vernacular literature describing equivalent items differently pack...
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mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ
“Horse horse tiger tiger”
Just so-so or passable quality
This moderate assessment idiom, literally 'horse (马) horse tiger (虎) tiger,' emerged from a folk tale about a careless artist whose painting was neith...
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qǔ gāo hè guǎ
“Tune high harmony few”
Sophisticated work appreciated by few
This cultural idiom observes that when a tune is too sophisticated (曲高), few can harmonize (和寡) with it. It originates from the 'Book of Han' biograph...
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máng rén mō xiàng
“Blind person touches elephant”
Mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom
This profound metaphor shows blind (盲) people (人) touching (摸) an elephant (象), coming from a Buddhist parable that entered China during the Eastern J...
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páo dīng jiě niú
“Chef Ding butchers ox”
Effortless skill through perfect practice
This idiom comes from Zhuangzi's famous 4th century BCE parable about Cook Ding (庖丁) skillfully butchering an ox (解牛). The story tells of him explaini...
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chéng qián qǐ hòu
“Receive past, initiate future”
Linking tradition with innovation
First appearing in Song Dynasty scholarly texts, this idiom describes receiving (承) what came before (前) while initiating (启) what follows (后). It gai...
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ěr rú mù rǎn
“Ears soaked, eyes dyed”
Learning unconsciously through constant exposure
This idiom emerged from Han Dynasty educational philosophy, describing how the ears (耳) are soaked (濡) and the eyes (目) are dyed (染) by constant expos...
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dōng shī xiào pín
“Dongshi imitates Xishi's frown”
Failed imitation lacking understanding
This misguided idiom describes how Dongshi (东施), an ugly woman, imitated the frown (效颦) of Xishi, a legendary beauty, originating from Taoist text 'Zh...
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bān mén nòng fǔ
“Show carpentry to Lu Ban”
Showing amateur skills to masters
This presumptuous idiom describes displaying (弄) axe skills (斧) before Lu Ban's door (班门), the legendary master craftsman, originating from a Tang Dyn...
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jiǎo tù sān kū
“Clever rabbit has three burrows”
Always have backup plans
This strategic idiom describes how a clever (狡) rabbit (兔) maintains three (三) burrows (窟), originating from the Warring States period text 'Strategie...
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jǐng dǐ zhī wā
“Frog at well bottom”
Narrow-minded from limited experience
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 o...
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yǎn ěr dào líng
“Cover ears while stealing bell”
Self-deception through ignoring reality
This self-deceptive idiom describes covering (掩) one's ears (耳) while stealing (盗) a bell (铃), originating from the Warring States period text 'Lüshi ...
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bì mén zào chē
“Build cart behind closed doors”
Creating without practical feedback
This isolated idiom describes building (造) a cart (车) behind closed (闭) doors (门), originating from the Warring States period text 'Hanfeizi.' It tell...
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yà miáo zhù zhǎng
“Pull seedlings to help growth”
Harmful interference ruins growth
This counterproductive idiom describes pulling up (揠) seedlings (苗) to help (助) their growth (长), originating from Mencius's writings during the Warri...
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guò yóu bù jí
“Excess equals deficiency”
Moderation in all things
This balanced idiom states that going too far (过) is just as (犹) problematic as not reaching far enough (不及), originating from Confucius's teachings i...
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mǎi dú huán zhū
“Buy case, return pearl”
Valuing packaging over content
This misguided idiom describes buying (买) a decorative box (椟) but returning (还) the pearl (珠) inside, originating from the Warring States period text...
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kè zhōu qiú jiàn
“Mark boat to find sword”
Using outdated methods foolishly
This misguided idiom describes marking (刻) a boat (舟) to locate (求) a sword (剑) that has fallen into water, originating from the Spring and Autumn per...
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yǎn gāo shǒu dī
“Eyes high hands low”
Standards exceed abilities
This discrepant idiom contrasts high (高) eyes/standards (眼) with low (低) hands/abilities (手), originating from Ming Dynasty craft guilds. It described...
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gé xuē sāo yǎng
“Scratch itch through boot”
Ineffective indirect solution
This frustrating idiom describes scratching (搔) an itch (痒) through (隔) a boot (靴), originating from Song Dynasty vernacular literature. It first appe...
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guā mù xiāng kàn
“Scrape eyes look anew”
Reassess someone who has improved
This perceptive idiom suggests scraping (刮) one's eyes (目) to view (看) someone differently (相), originating from a Three Kingdoms period interaction b...
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rù mù sān fēn
“Enter wood three tenths”
Profoundly penetrating insight
This penetrating idiom describes writing that enters (入) wood (木) to a depth of three-tenths (三分) of an inch, originating from praise for Jin Dynasty ...
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běn mò dào zhì
“Root branch reversed position”
Prioritize minor over fundamental matters
This organizational idiom criticizes reversing (倒置) the proper order of root/fundamental (本) and branch/peripheral matters (末), originating from Han D...
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duì niú tán qín
“Play zither to cow”
Present to wrong audience
This satirical idiom describes playing (弹) the guqin zither (琴) to (对) a cow (牛), originating from the Warring States period. Historical records attri...
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zuò jǐng guān tiān
“Sit in well view sky”
Judge with limited perspective
This limiting idiom describes sitting (坐) in a well (井) while attempting to view (观) the sky (天), originating from philosophical debates during the Wa...
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hú lún tūn zǎo
“Swallow dates whole”
Accept without proper understanding
This digestive idiom describes swallowing (吞) jujube dates (枣) whole (囫囵) without proper chewing, originating from Song Dynasty educational texts. It ...
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bá miáo zhù zhǎng
“Pull seedlings help growth”
Ruin through impatient intervention
This agricultural idiom describes the counterproductive action of pulling up (拔) seedlings (苗) to help (助) their growth (长), originating from Mencius'...
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guǎn kuī lí cè
“Tube view gourd measure”
Limited perspective on vast subject
This humble idiom compares limited understanding to viewing (窥) through a tube (管) and measuring (测) the ocean with a gourd ladle (蠡), originating fro...
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yì qǔ tóng gōng
“Different tune same effect”
Different methods, equally good results
This musical metaphor describes different (异) melodies (曲) achieving the same (同) artistic effect (工), first appearing in Tang Dynasty music criticism...
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jiān shōu bìng xù
“Gather all store together”
Embrace diverse ideas inclusively
This inclusive approach advocates gathering (收) comprehensively (兼) while storing (蓄) everything together (并), originating from Tang Dynasty intellect...
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biān pì rù lǐ
“Whip strikes into core”
Penetrating deeply to the essence
This penetrating idiom describes how a whip strike (鞭辟) penetrates (入) to the innermost layer (里), originating from Tang Dynasty literary criticism. I...
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dòng ruò guān huǒ
“Clear as watching fire”
Understand with absolute clarity
This idiom describes understanding something as clearly (洞) as (若) watching (观) fire (火), originating from the Warring States period. It first appeare...
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fáng wēi dù jiàn
“Prevent small stop gradual”
Stop problems before they grow
This proactive idiom advocates preventing (防) minor problems (微) and blocking (杜) their gradual (渐) development, first appearing in Han Dynasty govern...
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qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn
“Take strengths fix weaknesses”
Combine strengths to overcome weaknesses
This balanced approach advocates taking (取) strengths (长) to supplement (补) weaknesses (短), first appearing in Han Dynasty governance texts. The conce...
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zì xiāng máo dùn
“Spear shield contradict self”
Contradict oneself
This idiom originates from a famous logical paradox in the Han Feizi, where a merchant claimed to have a spear (矛) that could pierce anything and a sh...
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rú shǔ jiā zhēn
“Count like family treasures”
Know something thoroughly
This idiom captures the intimate knowledge of counting (数) family (家) treasures (珍) with perfect familiarity. It originated from descriptions of merch...
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wáng yáng bǔ láo
“Fix pen after lost sheep”
Never too late to fix
This practical wisdom originates from an ancient shepherd who, after losing (亡) sheep (羊), finally repaired (补) his pen (牢). The story, recorded in 'G...
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jiàn xián sī qí
“See worthy wish equal”
Learn from the worthy
Derived from Confucius's Analects, this phrase encourages people who see (见) the worthy (贤) to wish (思) to equal (齐) them. It embodied the Confucian i...
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diào yǐ qīng xīn
“Drop heart light”
Lower one's guard
A Warring States period warning about the dangers of dropping (掉) one's guard with a light (轻) heart (心). The idiom gained significance through milita...
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lǎo mǎ shí tú
“Old horse knows way”
Experience brings wisdom
Dating back to the Zhou Dynasty, this idiom comes from the story of Duke Mu of Qin who, lost in unfamiliar territory, relied on an old horse (老马) to f...
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sān rén chéng hǔ
“Three people make tiger real”
Repeated lie becomes truth
This idiom originates from the Wei state minister Pang Cong's warning to his king about how three (三) people's (人) repeated lies can make even an absu...
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yí zūn jiù jiào
“Move wine jar seek teaching”
Humbly seek guidance
This humble gesture of moving (移) one's wine jar (樽) to seek (就) teaching (教) comes from a Tang Dynasty story where the young Li Bai showed his respec...
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zhǐ shàng tán bīng
“Discuss war on paper”
All theory no practice
This critique emerged from the story of Zhao Kuo, a general who was well-versed in military texts but failed catastrophically in actual battle. His ex...
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kāi mén jiàn shān
“Open door see mountain”
Get straight to point
This straightforward idiom reflects the architectural wisdom of traditional Chinese design, where opening (开) a door (门) to see (见) mountains (山) repr...
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xuán yá lè mǎ
“Pull horse at cliff edge”
Stop before too late
This vivid idiom describes pulling (勒) a horse's reins at the edge of a cliff (悬崖), drawing from actual incidents along the treacherous mountain paths...
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sān xǐng wú shēn
“Examine self three times”
Self-reflect daily
Drawing from Confucius's Analects, this practice of examining (省) oneself (吾身) three (三) times daily reflects core Confucian principles of constant se...
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shēn móu yuǎn lǜ
“Deep plan far thought”
Plan far ahead
Combining deep (深) planning (谋) with far-reaching (远) consideration (虑), this idiom emerged from Western Han political philosophy. It appeared in hist...
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míng jìng zhǐ shuǐ
“Clear mirror still water”
Clear and calm mind
This metaphor likens a clear (明) mirror (镜) and still (止) water (水) to a state of perfect mental clarity. Rooted in Tang Dynasty Buddhist meditation t...
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hàn niú chōng dòng
“Sweat ox fill house”
Vast amount of knowledge
Originally describing the vast quantity of books that would make an ox sweat (汗牛) from carrying them and fill (充) entire buildings (栋), this Tang Dyna...
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yī yè zhī qiū
“One leaf know autumn”
Small signs show big picture
The profound observation that from one (一) leaf (叶) one can know (知) autumn's (秋) arrival emerged from Song Dynasty naturalist writings, particularly ...
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tiān wài yǒu tiān
“Skies beyond skies”
Always someone better
This idiom is intimately paired with '人外有人', together expressing that beyond (外) the sky (天) there is another sky, and beyond every person's abilities...
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sì mǎ nán zhuī
“Four horses can't catch”
Cannot undo what's done
Originally from the Spring and Autumn period, this phrase describes how even four (驷) horses (马) cannot catch (难追) spoken words once uttered. The imag...
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xū huái ruò gǔ
“Empty heart like valley”
Stay humble and open
Derived from Daoist philosophy, this phrase advocates maintaining an empty (虚) heart/mind (怀) like (若) a valley (谷). The valley metaphor was particula...
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míng chá qiū háo
“See autumn down clear”
Perceive tiny details
Drawing from ancient Chinese optics and medicine, this phrase describes the ability to clearly (明) observe (察) autumn (秋) down - the finest hair on an...
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tuī chén chū xīn
“Push old produce new”
Create new from old
Originating in the Classic of Changes (I Ching), this phrase combines the actions of pushing away (推) the old or stale (陈) to bring forth (出) the new ...
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huà shé tiān zú
“Draw snake add feet”
Ruin by adding extras
The ancient parable tells of an artist who lost a wine-drinking contest because he spent extra time adding legs to his snake drawing (画蛇添足). The story...
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chá yán guān sè
“Watch words observe face”
Read between lines
This psychological idiom combines watching words (察言) and observing expressions (观色), reflecting ancient Chinese diplomatic practices where court offi...
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shùn téng mō guā
“Follow vine find melon”
Follow clues to solution
Rooted in agricultural wisdom, this idiom describes following (顺) a vine (藤) to find (摸) its melons (瓜). It gained prominence in Song Dynasty detectiv...
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yī yè zhàng mù
“Leaf blocks eye”
Miss big picture
This idiom illustrates how a single (一) leaf (叶) can block (障) one's vision/eyes (目). Emerging from Buddhist texts warning against limited perspective...
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bào xīn jiù huǒ
“Carry wood save fire”
Make situation worse
This paradoxical image of carrying (抱) firewood (薪) to extinguish (救) a fire (火) emerged during the Warring States period as a metaphor for self-defea...
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pī shā jiǎn jīn
“Sift sand pick gold”
Find value among worthless
This idiom emerged from gold panning techniques along ancient China's river systems, where sifting (披) through sand (沙) to pick out (拣) gold (金) requi...
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náng yíng yìng xuě
“Firefly in bag snow reflection”
Study despite hardship
This poetic idiom combines two classical stories of determined scholars: one who studied by the light of captured fireflies in a bag (囊萤), another who...
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míng qiāng yì duǒ
“Bright spear easy dodge”
Open threats easier than hidden
In ancient Chinese warfare, a visible (明) spear (枪) was considered easy (易) to dodge (躲). This military wisdom emerged from the Spring and Autumn peri...
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jīn shí liáng yán
“Gold and stone good words”
Valuable, lasting advice
Originating in early Chinese metallurgy, this idiom equates valuable advice to gold (金) and stone (石) - materials known for their durability and value...
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zhuī běn sù yuán
“Chase root trace source”
Trace back to source
Emerging from Song Dynasty (960-1279) scholarly methodology, this idiom combines the actions of chasing (追) to the root (本) and tracing (溯) to the sou...
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jí sī guǎng yì
“Gather thoughts wide benefit”
Gather wisdom from many
Emerging from the Eastern Han Dynasty's governmental practices, this idiom advocates gathering (集) thoughts (思) to broaden (广) benefits (益). It was in...
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jiàn wēi zhī zhù
“See small know large”
Foresee big from small signs
First appearing in the Book of Changes, this idiom describes the ability to see (见) subtle signs (微) to understand (知) significant developments (著). D...
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mò míng qí miào
“Cannot name its wonder”
Makes no sense
Originating in Daoist texts describing inexplicable mysteries, this phrase captures the sensation of encountering something whose wonder (妙) cannot (莫...
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sān sī ér xíng
“Think three times then act”
Think thrice before acting
First recorded in the Analects of Confucius, where the Master responded to Zengzi's interpretation of reflection (思) three times (三) before action (行)...
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yī shí èr niǎo
“One stone two birds”
Two goals with one action
A fascinating example of cross-cultural linguistic exchange, emerged during China's period of modernization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ...
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rù xiāng suí sú
“Enter village follow customs”
Follow local 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 te...
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pāo zhuān yǐn yù
“Throw brick attract jade”
Offer modest view to inspire better
This elegant metaphor emerged from Tang Dynasty literary circles, where throwing (抛) a modest brick (砖) to attract (引) precious jade (玉) described the...
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dú wàn juǎn shū
“Read ten thousand scrolls”
Read extensively for knowledge
Originating from a longer saying by the Tang Dynasty scholar Du Fu: '读万卷书，行万里路' (Read ten thousand scrolls, walk ten thousand li). The specific number...
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huà lóng diǎn jīng
“Dot dragon's eyes”
Add crucial finishing touch
This vivid idiom comes from a story of the legendary painter Zhang Sengyou during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. After painting (画) four ...
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wēn gù zhī xīn
“Review old know new”
Learn new through studying old
This idiom comes directly from Confucius's teaching that by reviewing (温) the old (故), one can understand (知) the new (新). The metaphor originally ref...
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jǔ yī fǎn sān
“Raise one reflect three”
Learn many from one example
This idiom stems from Confucius's teaching methodology, where he described the ideal student as one who could infer (反) three (三) things when taught o...
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zhī xíng hé yī
“Knowledge and action unite as one”
Practice what you know
Popularized by Neo-Confucian philosopher Wang Yangming in the Ming Dynasty, this idiom unites knowledge (知) and action (行) as one (合一). Wang challenge...
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xué hǎi wú yá
“Ocean of learning has no shores”
Learning is limitless
This idiom comes from a longer phrase '学海无涯，苦作舟渡' - the sea (海) of learning (学) has no shores (无涯), but hard work is the boat that crosses it. First a...
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róng huì guàn tōng
“Merge and flow through completely”
Master something completely
Emerging from Buddhist meditation texts of the Tang Dynasty, this idiom describes the moment when scattered knowledge merges (融会) and flows through (贯...
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