Learn Chinese Idioms (Chengyu) with Stories and Meanings

As a non-Chinese speaker, you may find Chinese idioms (Cheng yu) puzzling and unfamiliar. However, once you grasp these vivid and interesting idioms, you’ll be able to better understand Chinese culture and use them effortlessly in daily conversations.

This article will provide a detailed introduction to over 200+ common Chinese idioms, including their pinyin, English explanation, and related Chinese Idiom Stories. Whether you’re looking to improve your Chinese language skills or simply have a keen interest in Chinese culture, this article will be a valuable resource for you. Let’s explore the captivating world of Chinese idioms together!

Part 1. What Are Chinese Idioms (Chengyu)?

Chinese idioms (Cheng yu) are an essential part of traditional Chinese culture. They are typically composed of four Chinese characters and contain rich historical anecdotes and deep-rooted meanings. Concise in form, Chinese idioms (Cheng yu) can vividly express complex concepts and emotions.

Occasion	Role and Purpose of Idioms
Daily Conversation	Add color and depth to everyday speech, making it more expressive and memorable.
Literature & Art	Writers, poets, and artists often incorporate idioms to convey complex ideas concisely and artistically.
Formal Occasions	Commonly used in professional settings like business meetings, speeches, and academic discussions to exhibit cultural knowledge and eloquence.
Education	Integral to Chinese language education, providing insights into Chinese history, philosophy, and cultural values.

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Part 2. Guides to Key Chinese Idiom(Cheng yu) Categories

We’ve organized our most essential and useful Chinese idioms(cheng yu) into three thematic collections. Each guide dives deep into the stories, meanings, and usage of the idioms.

Below we also prepared 200 common Chinese idioms(cheng yu) list, including their Chinese characters, pinyin, and English meanings. This list contains idioms expressed from various perspectives, covering different topics from historical stories, natural phenomena to life philosophy.

200 Common Chinese Idioms List – Download PDF

Famous Chinese idioms(cheng yu)

1.守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù)

This idiom(cheng yu) comes from a tale about a farmer who, after accidentally catching a rabbit in a tree stump, decided to wait by the same tree stump, hoping to catch more rabbits. He ended up waiting in vain for days, as no other rabbits came.

So this idiom(cheng yu) discribes passively wait for opportunities to come, rather than taking initiative to create or seek out those opportunities.

For example, The man’s 守株待兔 attitude towards the job made him get nothing.

2.指鹿为马 (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ)

This idiom(cheng yu) originates from a story during the Warring States period in ancient China. A corrupt court official named Zhao Gao tried to deceive the Qin emperor by insisting that a deer was actually a horse. Despite the emperor and his ministers knowing it was clearly a deer, Zhao Gao threatened them, forcing them to agree that it was a horse.

So this idiom(cheng yu) means to deliberately distort facts or misrepresent the truth in order to mislead or deceive others.

For example, The company’s CEO attempted to指鹿为马, concealing the significant issues in the financial report.

3.揠苗助长 (yà miáo zhù zhǎng)

This Chinese idiom(cheng yu) describes a person who, in order to make a young seedling grow faster, pulls it up. This not only fails to help, but ends up killing the seedling.

This idiom(cheng yu) metaphorically refers to someone who is impatient for success and uses inappropriate methods, which ends up hindering the normal development of things.

For example, Parents’ over-protection and indulgence of their children is 揠苗助长, which does not foster independence.

4.凿壁透光 (Záo bì tòu guāng)

This idiom(cheng yu) originates from a story, a man named Kuang Heng, due to his family’s poverty, could not afford an oil lamp to light his studies. To read more, he chiseled a small hole in the wall, utilizing the light filtering through from his neighbor’s home.

This idiom(cheng yu) is frequently used to describe the spirit of diligent study and earnest dedication to learning.

For example, xiaoming 凿壁偷光, and dinally got admitted to his dream university.

5.画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng)

This idiom(cheng yu) originates from the ancient Chinese art of painting dragons. It was believed that the final step of adding the pupils to the dragon’s eyes was the key to bringing the painting to life and making it truly captivating.

To add the final, crucial touches that make something complete and perfect, transforming it into a masterpiece.

For example, the director’s final behavior transforms the film into a masterpiece, that’s abusolutly 画龙点睛.

6.画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú)

This idiom(cheng yu) comes from a story about a person who, after drawing a snake, decided to add feet to it.

So this idiom(cheng yu) is used to describe adding unnecessary embellishments or details that only serve to spoil or ruin something simple and effective.

For example, The plan was already well-designed, please don’t 画蛇添足.

7.塞翁失马 (sài wēng shī mǎ)

This Chinese idiom(cheng yu) comes from a story about a farmer named Sai Weng. When Sai Weng’s horse ran away, his neighbors thought it was a misfortune. But later, the horse came back with a wild horse, making Sai Weng even wealthier. Later, Sai Weng’s son broke his leg while riding a horse, which was seen as another misfortune. But this eventually saved the son from being conscripted into the army and suffering the hardships of war.

This shows that what appears to be misfortune may ultimately turn out to be good luck.

Although this investment failure seems costly, 塞翁失马，焉知非福.

8.望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě)

This idiom(cheng yu) originates from a story about a thirsty soldier who, when seeing a plum tree in the distance, imagined the refreshing taste of plums, which temporarily quenched his thirst.

So this idiom(cheng yu) means finding solace or temporary relief in the mere thought of something, without actually obtaining or experiencing it.

For example, Xiaoming is thirsty but no water, so he 望梅止渴 to relief his thirst.

9.杀鸡取卵 (shā jī qǔ luǎn)

This idiom(cheng yu) refers to a short-sighted farmer who, in order to get the eggs from his chicken immediately, decides to kill the chicken. By doing so, he gets eggs immediately but losts the source of a continuous supply of eggs.

So this idiom(cheng yu) means sacrificing long-term benefits or sustainability for the sake of short-term gains or quick profits.

For example, To make a quick profit, the company杀鸡取卵, drastically reducing its R&D investment.

10.买椟还珠 (mǎi dú huán zhū)

This Chinese idiom(cheng yu) comes from a story about a person who buys what appears to be an ordinary small box, but inside it contains invaluable pearls. Due to his ignorance, he ends up exchanging precious resources for something of little value.

This idiom(cheng yu) means unknowingly exchange valuable things for something of much less value.

For example, focusing solely on appearance while ignoring inner quality is like 买椟还珠.

Longer Chinese idioms (Cheng yu) Or Proverbs with Stories

Chinese idioms often condense rich historical stories or philosophical thoughts. Some longer idioms are usually composed of eight characters or more. They not only reflect the rhythmic beauty of Chinese, but also carry profound cultural connotations. The following are 10 longer idioms, including their Chinese form, pinyin, origin and story, meaning, and usage examples.

1.善恶到头终有报 (shàn è dào tóu zhōng yǒu bào)

This phrase is often used to emphasize the law of cause and effect, reflecting the importance of justice and morality in traditional Chinese culture. Its exact origin is unknown, but similar themes are found in many classical literatures and folktales, emphasizing that those who do good deeds will eventually be happy, while those who do evil will eventually be punished.

2.一波未平，一波又起 (yī bō wèi píng, yī bō yòu qǐ)

One wave has not yet subsided, and another wave has arisen. It is a metaphor for things going on with many twists and turns, one problem has not yet been solved, and another problem has occurred again.

This idiom is from the Tang Dynasty’s Liu Yuxi’s “Wave Amassing Sand”: “The flowing water does not pause to amass sand; the first wave is not yet extinguished, and the next wave is born.” Song – Jiang Kui (姜夔)《白石道人诗说》：”Waves and waves open and close, as in a river and lake; one wave has not yet calmed down, and another has already been made.”

3.前事不忘,后事之师 (qián shì bù wàng, hòu shì zhī shī)

“前事不忘，后事之师” (qián shì bù wàng, hòu shì zhī shī) is an idiom that means to remember the lessons of the past as a reference and guide for future actions.

The specific origin of this idiom can be traced back to the Strategies of the Warring States. During the Warring States period, the struggle between countries was very intense, and many countries experienced both victory and defeat in war. In order to avoid repeating the same mistakes, rulers and generals began to realize the importance of summarizing historical experiences.

4.温故知新,久而弥新 (wēn gù zhī xīn, jiǔ ér mí xīn)

“Wēn gù zhī xīn, jiǔ ér mí xīn” (温故知新，久而弥新) is an idiom which means that by reviewing old knowledge, one can gain new understandings and experiences, which become deeper and deeper with the passage of time. This idiom is derived from the Analects of Confucius, which emphasizes the importance of review by saying, “To learn from the past is to understand the new”.

5.三人成虎, 十人成军 (sān rén chéng hǔ, shí rén chéng jūn)

This proverb is an extension of the idiom “三人成虎” (sān rén chéng hǔ), which means that a rumor or false information can become accepted as true if repeated often enough. The additional part “十人成军” suggests that the more people who believe and spread the rumor, the more powerful and convincing it becomes.

6.不以规矩，不能成方圆 (bù yǐ guī jǔ, bù néng chéng fāng yuán)

It describes that without rules, there will be no regularity and squareness.

This is the cry of Mencius for those in power to implement benevolent government. Specifically realized in two aspects: first, “the law of the former king”; second is to choose the wise and talented. Later, this idiom evolved into aphorisms and aphorisms commonly used by people in their daily lives.

7.临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网 (lín yuān xiàn yú, bù rú tuì ér jié wǎng)

This idiom means that it is better to stand at the edge of the water and think of getting fish than to go home and make a net.

It is a metaphor for only wishing but not taking measures, which is not beneficial to the matter. Or it is a metaphor for only wishing for something without putting the wish into action. The original text says, “It is better to envy the fish at the river than to go home and weave a net.”

8.一叶障目，不见泰山 (yī yè zhàng mù, bù jiàn tài shān)

It is a compound idiom derived from a fable story, which was first appeared in “Crossbill Tree – Heavenly Rules”. The idiom of “A Leaf Blocks the Eyes, Cannot See Mount Tai” means that a leaf blocks the eyes, and even the tall Mount Tai in front of the eyes cannot be seen;

The idiom of “A leaf blinds one’s eyes” is used to describe a leaf blocking one’s eyes, so that one can’t even see the tall Mount Taishan in front of one’s eyes.

9.鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利 (yù bàng xiāng zhēng, yú wēng dé lì)

Sandpiper and Clam, Fisherman’s Profit is a Chinese idiom with the pinyin: yù bàng xiāng zhēng, yú wēng dé lì, which means a metaphor for a quarrel between two parties that results in both losing and letting a third party take advantage of the situation. From “Strategies of the Warring States – Yan Ce II” by Liu Xiang, Western Han Dynasty (西汉·刘向《战国策·燕策二》).

10.青出于蓝而胜于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán)

The expression “the green is superior to the blue” comes from the Confucian master Xunzi’s “Advice on Learning”, which is a common saying that a person can be improved after learning or education. It is often used as a metaphor for a student surpassing his teacher or a descendant surpassing his predecessor.

Beautiful Chinese Idioms(Cheng yu) with Stories

The following are 10 Chinese idioms with beautiful artistic conception. These idioms not only show the aesthetics of Chinese, but also carry a rich cultural history. Each story is full of profound morals and philosophy. Appropriately quoting these idioms in daily communication and literary creation can add color and depth to the language.

1.春风十里 (chūn fēng shí lǐ)

This idiom originates from a romantic poem, describing the beauty and gentleness of a spring breeze that extends for miles. Meaning: To describe something or someone of exceptional beauty, grace, and charm.

Example: 她的笑容就像春风十里,迷人又温暖。(Her smile is like a spring breeze for ten miles, captivating and warm.)

2.岁寒知松柏 (suì hán zhī sōngbǎi)

Shihan Songbai (岁寒松柏, pinyin suì hán sōng bǎi) is a Chinese idiom derived from the works of ancient Chinese literati. The idiom first came from The Analects of Confucius – Zihan (论语-子罕).

3.春华秋实 (chūn huá qiū shí)

Spring and Autumn is an idiom that first came from Western Jin Dynasty-Chen Shou’s “Three Kingdoms Zhi-Wei Zhi-Biography of Xing Stern.

4.高山流水 (gāo shān liú shuǐ)

“High Mountains and Flowing Water” belongs to one of the ten most ancient Chinese songs. Legend has it that the pre-Qin qin master Bo Ya once played the qin in a deserted mountain wilderness, and the woodcutter Zhong Ziqi was able to comprehend that this was a depiction of “E’e Ruoxi Taishan” and “Yang Yang Ruoxi Jianghe”.

Bo Ya was shocked and said, “Good, the heart of the son is the same as my heart.” After Zhong Ziqi’s death, Bo Ya lost his soulmate, dropped his zither and stopped playing for the rest of his life, hence the song “High Mountains and Flowing Water”.

5.柳暗花明 (liǔ àn huā míng)

Liu Di Hua Ming (pinyin: liǔ àn huā míng) is an idiom derived from the poetry of the literati, and the idiom is first found in Tang dynasty Wang Wei’s poem “The Morning Morning Morning.

The original line describes the sudden appearance of a village after passing through a dark grove of willows and a field of bright flowers, illustrating a moment of surprise and delight.

Conclusion:

Chinese idioms (Chengyu) are a fascinating and essential aspect of the Chinese language and culture. This article’s exploration of over 50 common Chinese idioms has provided significant insights into the rich history, fascinating stories, and profound meanings of these linguistic gems.

Whether you’re a language learner, a cultural enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates the beauty of language, this comprehensive guide to Chinese idioms will help you better understand and appreciate the Chinese language. Accept the power of these four-character phrases and allow them add depth, color, and subtlety to your conversation and understanding of Chinese culture.

FAQs about Chinese Idioms