15 Funny Chinese Sayings That Will Make Learning Mandarin a Blast

Ever feel like learning Mandarin is all tones, strokes, and no laughs? Think again. Chinese is full of witty and funny sayings that not only crack you up but also open the door to rich cultural wisdom. These quirky expressions turn language learning into a game—one where animals talk, cucumbers run, and buns save the day. By diving into funny Chinese sayings, you’ll discover how humor makes Mandarin stick in your brain. Ready for a chuckle-filled language adventure? Let’s explore some hilarious gems with WuKong Education!

Everyday Funny Chinese Sayings

1.对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín)

Literal meaning: Playing the lute to a cow
English translation: Wasting words on someone who doesn’t get it
Humorous explanation: Imagine serenading a cow with Beethoven—it just keeps chewing grass.
Cultural background: A classic idiom from ancient texts highlighting mismatched communication.
Example: “Explaining quantum physics to my dog is like 对牛弹琴.”
Learning tip: Great for remembering the “niú” (cow) sound in Mandarin.

2. 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú)

Literal meaning: Drawing a snake and adding feet
English translation: Ruining something by overdoing it
Humorous explanation: Picture an artist so proud of his snake that he decides it needs sneakers.
Cultural background: Based on a fable where adding feet cost a man victory.
Example: “Your essay was perfect until you画蛇添足with emojis everywhere.”
Learning tip: Visual learners—literally sketch a snake with sneakers to remember.

3.鸡飞狗跳 (jī fēi gǒu tiào)

Literal meaning: Chickens flying, dogs jumping
English translation: Complete chaos
Humorous explanation: Think Black Friday shopping—pure 鸡飞狗跳.
Cultural background: Chinese households often describe disorder this way.
Example: “The classroom turned 鸡飞狗跳 when the teacher left.”
Learning tip: Notice the rhythm of 4 characters—it’s musical and easy to recall.

4. 井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā)

Literal meaning: Frog at the bottom of the well
English translation: Narrow-minded person
Humorous explanation: A frog thinking the sky is only as big as its well.
Cultural background: Teaches humility and broader perspective.
Example: “Don’t be a 井底之蛙—travel more!”
Learning tip: Great for connecting to “wā” (frog) sound.

5. 笑里藏刀 (xiào lǐ cáng dāo)

Literal meaning: Hiding a knife behind a smile
English translation: Someone two-faced
Humorous explanation: A frenemy who grins while plotting your downfall.
Cultural background: Often used in Chinese dramas for dramatic flair.
Example: “Be careful—her politeness is 笑里藏刀.”
Learning tip: Remember it when learning Chinese drama vocab!

Witty Animal Expressions about Funny Chinese Sayings

6. 狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi)

Literal meaning: A fox borrows the tiger’s power
English translation: Someone using others’ authority to act big
Humorous explanation: A fox strutting like a CEO just because it hangs out with a tiger.
Cultural background: Originates from a fable teaching against false arrogance.
Example: “That intern is all 狐假虎威 with the boss around.”
Learning tip: Associate “hǔ” with “tiger” to strengthen vocab.

7. 对驴弹琴 (duì lǘ tán qín)

Literal meaning: Playing the lute to a donkey
English translation: Same idea as playing music to a cow—futile effort
Humorous explanation: Cows weren’t funny enough, so now donkeys get roasted too.
Cultural background: A variation of #1, highlighting China’s love of farm animals in language.
Example: “Teaching my cat math is 对驴弹琴.”
Learning tip: Compare with 对牛弹琴—notice how idioms repeat with small twists.

8. 猪八戒照镜子 (Zhū Bājiè zhào jìngzi)

Literal meaning: Pigsy looks in the mirror
English translation: Self-deception
Humorous explanation: Pigsy (from Journey to the West) thinks he’s handsome.
Cultural background: One of China’s funniest mythological characters.
Example: “Calling your karaoke amazing is like 猪八戒照镜子.”
Learning tip: Learn culture and language by watching Journey to the West.

9. 猫哭耗子 (māo kū hàozi)

Literal meaning: A cat cries for a mouse
English translation: Fake sympathy
Humorous explanation: A predator shedding crocodile tears—Oscar-worthy.
Cultural background: Used for people pretending to care.
Example: “Her ‘sorry’ was 猫哭耗子.”
Learning tip: Helps recall “māo” = cat.

Playful Wisdom Funny Chinese Sayings

10. 塞翁失马，焉知非福 (sàiwēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú)

Literal meaning: The old man lost his horse, but who knows if it’s not a blessing?
English translation: A setback may be a blessing in disguise
Humorous explanation: Who knew losing your horse might bring two back later?
Cultural background: A famous fable of fortune’s twists.
Example: “Failing that test was 塞翁失马—it led me to a better path.”
Learning tip: Perfect for remembering tones with rising and falling sounds.

11. 掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng)

Literal meaning: Covering your ears while stealing a bell
English translation: Fooling yourself
Humorous explanation: Like pretending no one hears the fire alarm because you don’t.
Cultural background: Teaches honesty and logic.
Example: “Ignoring deadlines is 掩耳盗铃.”
Learning tip: Remember “ěr” = ear—makes the story clearer.

12. 一箭双雕 (yī jiàn shuāng diāo)

Literal meaning: One arrow, two eagles
English translation: Kill two birds with one stone
Humorous explanation: But way cooler—ancient archery style.
Cultural background: Comes from hunting stories.
Example: “Learning Mandarin through funny sayings is 一箭双雕.”
Learning tip: Easy way to recall “shuāng” = double.

13. 骑虎难下 (qí hǔ nán xià)

Literal meaning: Riding a tiger, hard to get off
English translation: Stuck in a difficult situation
Humorous explanation: Once you’re on the tiger, good luck dismounting.
Cultural background: Symbolizes risky commitments.
Example: “I agreed to karaoke—now I’m 骑虎难下.”
Learning tip: Use this for practicing “qí” = ride.

14. 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng)

Literal meaning: Discussing military tactics on paper
English translation: All talk, no action
Humorous explanation: Like winning wars on PowerPoint.
Cultural background: From a general who failed in real battle.
Example: “Your plan is just 纸上谈兵.”
Learning tip: Use this when practicing abstract terms like “strategy.”

15.东施效颦 (dōng shī xiào pín)

Literal meaning: Dongshi imitates frowning
English translation: Bad imitation
Humorous explanation: Copying someone cool and ending up cringe.
Cultural background: A famous story about misplaced imitation.
Example: “His dance cover was 东施效颦.”
Learning tip: Connect it to pop culture parodies.

Quick Tips for Learning Funny Chinese Sayings

Many of these sayings involve animals, which makes them fun and easy to remember. Try saying them out loud—the rhythmic four-character structure gives them a catchy beat. Better yet, drop them into casual jokes with friends; not only will you get a laugh, but you’ll also boost your confidence and retention. In short, learning Mandarin with humor is truly fun and effective.

Conclusion

These funny Chinese sayings aren’t just jokes. They’re shortcuts to fluency and windows into Chinese culture. By laughing while you learn, you’re more likely to remember the tones, characters, and stories behind each phrase. Want to keep the fun going? At WuKong Chinese, we turn language learning into an adventure, blending tradition with modern methods. Start your free trial today and discover how hilarious and rewarding Mandarin can be.

FAQs about Funny Chinese Sayings

Jasmine | WuKong Chinese Teacher

With over a decade of dedication to the education sector, I specialize in educational innovation and practice, deeply researching the construction of the basic education ecosystem and the cultivation of students’ core competencies. Holding a Doctorate in Education from Beijing Normal University, I integrate theoretical research with frontline teaching, excelling in stimulating students’ internal learning motivation through interdisciplinary teaching methods. Guided by the mission of “enabling every child to embrace suitable education”, I promote educational equity and personalized development, helping students unlock infinite possibilities in their growth. I am committed to injecting vitality into the high – quality development of education with professional expertise.