5. u003cstrongu003eWhat are some common Chinese idioms?u003c/strongu003e

Q：Common Chinese idioms (chengyu) from the list include: 一举两得 (yī jǔ liǎng dé, u0022achieve two goals with one actionu0022), 心直口快 (xīn zhí kǒu kuài, u0022outspokenu0022), 乱七八糟 (luàn qī bā zāo, u0022messyu0022), 三心二意 (sān xīn èr yì, u0022half-heartedu0022), and 独一无二 (dú yī wú èr, u0022uniqueu0022). They are widely used in daily communication.

Chinese Idioms: 150 Must-Know Chengyu + Meanings

# WuKong Chinese Review

Lea | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Last updated: 03/27/2026

Idioms are the soul of the Chinese language, embodying thousands of years of cultural heritage, historical stories, fables, and philosophical wisdom. Known as chengyu (成语), most are fixed four-character phrases that condense profound meanings into concise expressions—used widely in daily communication, writing, and cultural exchanges.

150 Beautiful Chinese Idioms

This Chinese idiom(chengyu) list includes 150 classic and commonly used Chinese idioms, covering high-frequency phrases for daily use. Each entry includes pinyin, literal meaning, and practical explanation, making it easy to understand and apply.

No.	Idiom（Chengyu）	Pinyin	Literal Meaning	Explanation
1	一举两得	yī jǔ liǎng dé	One action, two gains	Achieve two goals with a single action; similar to “kill two birds with one stone”.
2	心直口快	xīn zhí kǒu kuài	Frank heart, quick mouth	Describe someone who is outspoken and speaks their mind without hesitation.
3	乱七八糟	luàn qī bā zāo	Chaotic seven, eight bad	Describe something very messy, disorganized, or in a state of disorder.
4	走马观花	zǒu mǎ kàn huā	Look at flowers while riding a horse	Give a quick, superficial glance at something; not examine it thoroughly.
5	三心二意	sān xīn èr yì	Three hearts, two minds	Be indecisive, half-hearted, or not fully committed to something.
6	独一无二	dú yī wú èr	Unique; one of a kind	Describe something or someone that has no equal; completely unique.
7	力不从心	lì bù cóng xīn	The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak	Have the desire to do something but lack the ability or energy to do it.
8	举世闻名	jǔ shì wén míng	World-renowned	Be famous all over the world; well-known internationally.
9	聚精会神	jù jīng huì shén	To concentrate one’s attention	Focus all your attention and energy on something; be fully concentrated.
10	琳琅满目	lín láng mǎn mù	A dazzling, impressive lineup of items	Describe a wide variety of beautiful or valuable things that are pleasing to the eye.
11	全心全意	quán xīn quán yì	Wholeheartedly	Do something with all your heart and soul; without holding back.
12	一落千丈	yī luò qiān zhàng	To drop drastically (like a fall of a thousand feet)	Decline rapidly in status, reputation, or performance.
13	万事开头难	wàn shì kāi tóu nán	The first step is always the hardest	Starting a new task or project is always the most difficult part; perseverance is needed.
14	画蛇添足	huà shé tiān zú	Add feet to a snake	Ruin something by adding unnecessary extras; do more than is needed.
15	对牛弹琴	duì niú tán qín	Play the lute to a cow	Talk to the wrong audience; communicate with someone who cannot understand or appreciate.
16	塞翁失马	sài wēng shī mǎ	The old man lost his horse	A blessing in disguise; misfortune may bring unexpected good luck (from “塞翁失马，焉知非福”).
17	拔苗助长	bá miáo zhù zhǎng	Pull shoots to help them grow	Spoil something through excessive enthusiasm or forcing results; go against natural laws.
18	惊弓之鸟	jīng gōng zhī niǎo	A bird startled by a bow	Be easily frightened due to past trauma or experiences.
19	沉鱼落雁	chén yú luò yàn	Fish sink, geese land	Describe a woman of extreme beauty; so beautiful that fish sink and geese fall from the sky.
20	亭亭玉立	tíng tíng yù lì	Gracefully standing	Describe a slender, attractive young woman with an elegant posture.
21	眉清目秀	méi qīng mù xiù	Clear eyebrows, bright eyes	Describe someone with delicate, refined facial features; good-looking in a gentle way.
22	七上八下	qī shàng bā xià	Seven up, eight down	Be in an anxious or unsettled state of mind; feel nervous and worried.
23	酸甜苦辣	suān tián kǔ là	Sour, sweet, bitter, hot	The joys and sorrows of life; all the ups and downs one experiences.
24	爱不释手	ài bù shì shǒu	Love too much to put down	Be so fond of something that you cannot bear to put it down.
25	一箭双雕	yī jiàn shuāng diāo	One arrow, two eagles	Achieve two goals with a single action; similar to “一举两得”.
26	亡羊补牢	wáng yáng bǔ láo	Fixing the pen after the sheep are lost	Take corrective action in time to avoid further loss; it’s never too late to fix a mistake.
27	井底之蛙	jǐng dǐ zhī wā	A frog at the bottom of the well	Be a person with a narrow vision and limited knowledge; ignorant of the outside world.
28	鸡犬不宁	jī quǎn bù níng	The chicken and dog are not at peace	Describe a noisy and chaotic situation where no one can live in peace.
29	自相矛盾	zì xiāng máo dùn	Self-contradiction	Say or do things that conflict with each other; be inconsistent.
30	破釜沉舟	pò fǔ chén zhōu	Breaking the pot and sinking the boat	Be determined to fight to the end with no retreat; burn one’s bridges.
31	杯弓蛇影	bēi gōng shé yǐng	Seeing a snake shadow in the cup	Be overly suspicious and anxious; mistake an illusion for reality.
32	入木三分	rù mù sān fēn	Penetrating three-tenths of a centimeter	Describe incisive comments or powerful calligraphy; have a deep insight.
33	狐假虎威	hú jiǎ hǔ wēi	The fox borrows the tiger’s power	Bully others by relying on someone else’s authority or influence.
34	胸有成竹	xiōng yǒu chéng zhú	Having bamboo in mind	Be fully prepared and confident in doing something; know exactly what to do.
35	掩耳盗铃	yǎn ěr dào líng	Covering ears while stealing a bell	Deceive oneself and ignore facts; think others cannot see or know what you are doing.
36	画龙点睛	huà lóng diǎn jīng	Drawing a dragon and adding eyes	Add a crucial touch to perfect something; make something excellent with a final detail.
37	水落石出	shuǐ luò shí chū	The water recedes and rocks appear	The truth will eventually come to light; facts will be revealed over time.
38	如鱼得水	rú yú dé shuǐ	Like a fish in water	Be in a comfortable and suitable environment; feel at ease.
39	举一反三	jǔ yī fǎn sān	Learn one and infer three	Be able to draw inferences from examples; apply what you’ve learned to similar situations.
40	青出于蓝	qīng chū yú lán	Blue comes from indigo	A student surpasses their teacher; the younger generation is better than the older one.
41	饮水思源	yǐn shuǐ sī yuán	Drinking water and thinking of its source	Be grateful to those who have helped you; never forget one’s roots.
42	骑虎难下	qí hǔ nán xià	Riding a tiger and unable to dismount	Be stuck in a difficult situation where you cannot stop or retreat.
43	鸡毛蒜皮	jī máo suàn pí	Chicken feathers and garlic skins	Trivial and unimportant matters; small, petty things.
44	否极泰来	pǐ jí tài lái	After adversity comes prosperity	Good luck follows hard times; when things are at their worst, they will get better.
45	四面楚歌	sì miàn chǔ gē	Surrounded by enemies	Be in a desperate and isolated situation where everyone is against you.
46	孤掌难鸣	gū zhǎng nán míng	A single hand cannot clap	One person cannot achieve great things alone; teamwork is needed.
47	天衣无缝	tiān yī wú fèng	Heavenly clothes with no seams	Be perfect and flawless with no defects; well-executed with no mistakes.
48	雪中送炭	xuě zhōng sòng tàn	Sending charcoal in the snow	Offer timely help to those in need; help someone when they are in trouble.
49	九牛一毛	jiǔ niú yī máo	One hair from nine oxen	Be extremely insignificant and trivial; a tiny part of something much larger.
50	守株待兔	shǒu zhū dài tù	Waiting by the stump for a rabbit	Rely on luck instead of working hard; expect good things to happen without effort.

No.	Idiom（Chengyu）	Pinyin	Literal Meaning	Explanation
51	见风使舵	jiàn fēng shǐ duò	Adjusting the rudder with the wind	Change your attitude or opinions to adapt to the current situation; be opportunistic.
52	马到成功	mǎ dào chéng gōng	Success upon arrival	Wish someone immediate success; achieve success quickly and smoothly.
53	胜不骄败不馁	shèng bù jiāo bài bù něi	Not proud of victory, not discouraged in defeat	Keep a calm and humble attitude in both success and failure.
54	锦上添花	jǐn shàng tiān huā	Adding flowers to brocade	Make a good thing even better; add something extra to an already good situation.
55	顺手牵羊	shùn shǒu qiān yáng	Taking a sheep by chance	Steal small things casually; take advantage of an opportunity to take something.
56	杀鸡儆猴	shā jī jǐng hóu	Killing a chicken to warn the monkey	Punish one person to warn others; use an example to deter others.
57	鹤立鸡群	hè lì jī qún	A crane standing among chickens	Stand out from others; be much better or more outstanding than those around you.
58	害群之马	hài qún zhī mǎ	A horse that harms the herd	Be a person who damages the group or causes trouble for others in the same group.
59	以卵击石	yǐ luǎn jī shí	Throwing an egg against a rock	Do something futile and reckless; try to fight against a much stronger force.
60	杯水车薪	bēi shuǐ chē xīn	A cup of water for a burning cart	Effort that is too small to solve a big problem; insufficient to make a difference.
61	春风得意	chūn fēng dé yì	Proud like a spring breeze	Be successful and satisfied; feel proud and happy due to success.
62	画饼充饥	huà bǐng chōng jī	Drawing a cake to satisfy hunger	Comfort yourself with empty hopes; promise something that cannot be fulfilled.
63	纸上谈兵	zhǐ shàng tán bīng	Talking about war on paper	Only talk about theory without putting it into practice; be impractical.
64	水滴石穿	shuǐ dī shí chuān	Dripping water wears through stone	Persistence leads to success; constant effort can achieve great things.
65	狼狈为奸	láng bèi wéi jiān	A wolf and a leopard working together	Two bad people collude to do evil; work together for selfish purposes.
66	欲速则不达	yù sù zé bù dá	Haste makes waste	Rushing to finish something quickly often leads to failure; patience is needed.
67	打草惊蛇	dǎ cǎo jīng shé	Striking grass to scare the snake	Alert the enemy or target by careless actions; reveal your intentions prematurely.
68	狗急跳墙	gǒu jí tiào qiáng	A desperate dog jumps over a wall	Do reckless or extreme things when cornered or desperate.
69	吃里扒外	chī lǐ pá wài	Benefiting others while being supported	Betray your own side or group for external benefits; be disloyal.
70	扶摇直上	fú yáo zhí shàng	Rising high with the wind	Make rapid and great progress; rise quickly in status or achievement.
71	虚张声势	xū zhāng shēng shì	Making a false show of power	Boast or pretend to be powerful without real strength; put on a false front.
72	千钧一发	qiān jūn yī fà	A thousand pounds hanging by a hair	An extremely dangerous or critical moment; disaster is imminent.
73	盲人摸象	máng rén mō xiàng	A blind man touches an elephant	Judge things only from partial information; have an incomplete understanding.
74	百发百中	bǎi fā bǎi zhòng	A hundred shots, a hundred hits	Be extremely accurate and successful in everything you do.
75	鱼与熊掌不可兼得	yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé	Cannot have both fish and bear paws	I have to make a choice between two good things.
76	老马识途	lǎo mǎ shí tú	An old horse knows the way	An experienced person knows the right path; rely on veterans for guidance.
77	狼心狗肺	láng xīn gǒu fèi	Wolf heart and dog lungs	Be a cruel and ungrateful person.
78	乐不思蜀	lè bù sī shǔ	Too happy to miss home	Enjoy the present and forget the past; be content with your current situation.
79	东山再起	dōng shān zài qǐ	Making a comeback	Return to success after failure; make a comeback.
80	猫哭老鼠	māo kū lǎo shǔ	A cat crying for a mouse	Show fake sympathy; pretend to be sad for someone you don’t care about.
81	千里之堤毁于蚁穴	qiān lǐ zhī dī huǐ yú yǐ xué	A long dam collapses from an ant hole	Small mistakes lead to big disasters; ignore small details and cause big losses.
82	金无足赤	jīn wú zú chì	No pure gold	No one or nothing is perfect; everyone has shortcomings.
83	退一步海阔天空	tuì yī bù hǎi kuò tiān kōng	Stepping back brings a wider view	Be tolerant and create more space; compromise brings peace.
84	笨鸟先飞	bèn niǎo xiān fēi	A slow bird flies first	Start early to make up for shortcomings; work harder than others.
85	按图索骥	àn tú suǒ jì	Looking for a horse by a picture	Follow rules rigidly without flexibility; be too rigid to adapt.
86	鹬蚌相争渔翁得利	yù bàng xiāng zhēng yú wēng dé lì	The fisherman gains from a snipe-clam fight	A third party benefits from two parties’ conflict.
87	大海捞针	dà hǎi lāo zhēn	Fishing for a needle in the ocean	Something extremely hard to find; a futile search.
88	一言九鼎	yī yán jiǔ dǐng	One word worth nine tripods	A promise with great weight and credibility; your words are trustworthy.
89	一针见血	yī zhēn jiàn xiě	Hitting the mark with one stab	Point out the core problem directly; be incisive and to the point.
90	隔岸观火	gé àn guān huǒ	Watching fire from the other shore	Watch others’ troubles without helping; be indifferent to others’ misfortune.
91	种瓜得瓜种豆得豆	zhòng guā dé guā zhòng dòu dé dòu	Reap what you sow	Your actions will have corresponding results; you get what you deserve.
92	引狼入室	yǐn láng rù shì	Letting a wolf into the house	Bring danger to yourself by inviting someone harmful into your life or group.
93	口蜜腹剑	kǒu mì fù jiàn	Honey in mouth, sword in belly	Be kind and sweet on the surface but evil and malicious inside.
94	叶公好龙	yè gōng hào lóng	Lord Ye loving dragons	Pretend to like something but be afraid of it in reality; like something superficially.
95	临渊羡鱼	lín yuān xiàn yú	Admiring fish by the pool	Only wish for something without taking action to achieve it.
96	纸包不住火	zhǐ bāo bù zhù huǒ	Paper cannot wrap fire	The truth can never be hidden; it will eventually be revealed.
97	过河拆桥	guò hé chāi qiáo	Breaking the bridge after crossing	Be ungrateful after getting help; abandon someone who has helped you.
98	朝三暮四	zhāo sān mù sì	Three in morning, four at night	Be changeable and unreliable; change your mind frequently.
99	指鹿为马	zhǐ lù wéi mǎ	Call a stag a horse	Deliberately distort the truth and confuse right and wrong.
100	卧薪尝胆	wò xīn cháng dǎn	Sleep on brushwood and taste gall	Endure hardships to achieve a goal; steel oneself for revenge.

No.	Idiom（Chengyu）	Pinyin	Literal Meaning	Explanation
101	持之以恒	chí zhī yǐ héng	Persist with perseverance	Continue to do something with constant perseverance; never give up halfway.
102	锲而不舍	qiè ér bù shě	Carve continuously without giving up	Be persistent and tenacious in pursuing goals; keep working hard without stopping.
103	精益求精	jīng yì qiú jīng	Pursue excellence on the basis of perfection	Strive to make something better even if it is already good; pursue continuous improvement.
104	实事求是	shí shì qiú shì	Seek truth from facts	Base judgments and actions on objective facts; not be subjective or arbitrary.
105	戒骄戒躁	jiè jiāo jiè zào	Guard against conceit and impetuosity	Avoid being proud of achievements and impetuous in actions; keep a modest and steady attitude.
106	同舟共济	tóng zhōu gòng jì	Cross the river together in the same boat	Work together to overcome difficulties; unite and help each other in times of trouble.
107	齐心协力	qí xīn xié lì	Unite hearts and work together	Gather efforts and work as one; cooperate closely to achieve a common goal.
108	取长补短	qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn	Adopt strengths and make up for weaknesses	Learn from others’ strengths to make up for one’s own shortcomings; mutual improvement.
109	集思广益	jí sī guǎng yì	Gather thoughts and broaden benefits	Collect opinions and suggestions from many people to get better ideas and solutions.
110	勤学好问	qín xué hào wèn	Diligent in learning and fond of asking	Be diligent in studying and willing to ask questions when encountering difficulties; pursue knowledge actively.
111	学而不厌	xué ér bù yàn	Learn without being tired	Be eager to learn and never feel tired of acquiring knowledge; maintain a lifelong learning attitude.
112	诲人不倦	huì rén bù juàn	Teach others without being tired	Be patient in teaching others and never feel tired; dedicated to education.
113	温故知新	wēn gù zhī xīn	Review old knowledge to gain new understanding	Review what has been learned to deepen understanding and gain new insights.
114	应运而生	yìng yùn ér shēng	To emerge thanks to a favorable situation
115	融会贯通	róng huì guàn tōng	Integrate and master thoroughly	Combine different knowledge and experiences to understand and master them comprehensively.
116	循序渐进	xún xù jiàn jìn	Proceed step by step and make gradual progress	Do things in a proper order and make steady progress; not rush for quick results.
117	有的放矢	yǒu dì fàng shǐ	Shoot arrows with a target	Have a clear target and purpose in doing things; not act blindly.
118	对症下药	duì zhèng xià yào	Prescribe medicine according to illness	Solve problems by targeting the root cause; take appropriate measures for specific issues.
119	事半功倍	shì bàn gōng bèi	Half the effort, double the effect	Achieve twice the effect with half the effort; work efficiently by using the right methods.
120	得不偿失	dé bù cháng shī	Gain less than lose	The gains are not worth the losses; the cost is higher than the benefit.
121	舍近求远	shě jìn qiú yuǎn	Abandon the near and seek the far	Choose a more distant or difficult way when an easier one is available; be impractical.
122	本末倒置	běn mò dào zhì	Put the root and branch in reverse order	Confuse the primary and secondary; focus on trivial things while ignoring the key points.
123	轻重缓急	qīng zhòng huǎn jí	Light, heavy, slow, urgent	Distinguish between important and unimportant, urgent and non-urgent things; arrange priorities properly.
124	当机立断	dāng jī lì duàn	Make a decision immediately when the opportunity comes	Be decisive and make timely decisions when facing opportunities or crises; not hesitate.
125	犹豫不决	yóu yù bù jué	Hesitate and cannot make a decision	Be indecisive and unable to make up one’s mind; waver between choices.
126	优柔寡断	yōu róu guǎ duàn	Soft and indecisive	Be weak and lack determination; unable to make firm decisions.
127	雷厉风行	léi lì fēng xíng	Like thunder and wind, fast and powerful	Take action quickly and resolutely; be efficient and decisive in doing things.
128	拖泥带水	tuō ní dài shuǐ	Drag mud and water	Do things in a sloppy and inefficient way; leave loose ends and not be thorough.
129	光明磊落	guāng míng lěi luò	Bright and open	Be honest and upright; have no hidden secrets or selfish motives.
130	表里如一	biǎo lǐ rú yī	Inside and outside are the same	Be consistent in words and deeds; what you see on the surface is the same as the inner reality.
131	诚实守信	chéng shí shǒu xìn	Honest and trustworthy	Be honest and keep promises; be reliable and trustworthy.
132	言行一致	yán xíng yī zhì	Words and actions are consistent	Do what you say; your actions match your words.
133	宽宏大量	kuān hóng dà liàng	Broad and generous	Be magnanimous and tolerant; not care about small mistakes or grievances.
134	平易近人	píng yì jìn rén	Plain and easy to approach	Be kind and approachable; not arrogant or distant from others.
135	谦虚谨慎	qiān xū jǐn shèn	Modest and cautious	Be modest and not conceited; be careful and prudent in words and actions.
136	严于律己	yán yú lǜ jǐ	Be strict with oneself	Set high standards for oneself and strictly demand one’s own words and actions.
137	宽以待人	kuān yǐ dài rén	Be lenient with others	Be tolerant and forgiving to others; not be harsh on others’ mistakes.
138	见义勇为	jiàn yì yǒng wéi	See what is right and dare to do it	Have the courage to do what is right and just; not hesitate to help others in need.
139	舍己为人	shě jǐ wèi rén	Abandon oneself for others	Sacrifice one’s own interests to help others; be selfless and altruistic.
140	助人为乐	zhù rén wéi lè	Take pleasure in helping others	Find joy in helping others; be willing to assist others and feel happy about it.
141	大公无私	dà gōng wú sī	Great public spirit, no selfishness	Put public interests above personal interests; be impartial and selfless.
142	公私分明	gōng sī fēn míng	Distinguish clearly between public and private	Clearly separate public affairs from private interests; not mix personal matters with public duties.
143	先公后私	xiān gōng hòu sī	Put public first, private later	Prioritize public interests over personal interests; handle public affairs first before private matters.
144	光明正大	guāng míng zhèng dà	Bright and upright	Be open and aboveboard; do things in a fair and honest way without hiding anything.
145	浩然正气	hào rán zhèng qì	Noble and upright integrity	Have a noble and upright spirit; uphold justice and integrity.
146	坚贞不屈	jiān zhēn bù qū	Firm and unyielding	Be firm in beliefs and integrity; not yield to pressure or temptation.
147	威武不屈	wēi wǔ bù qū	Unyielding to power and force	Not be intimidated by power or force; uphold one’s principles and integrity.
148	宁死不屈	níng sǐ bù qū	Would rather die than yield	Be extremely firm in beliefs; not surrender even in the face of death.
149	不屈不挠	bù qū bù náo	Not yielding and not giving up	Be tenacious and persistent; not give in to difficulties or setbacks.
150	百折不挠	bǎi zhé bù náo	A hundred setbacks, not yielding	Be extremely resilient; persist in goals despite numerous difficulties and failures.

Conclusion

We hope that through the Chinese idiom article from WuKong Chinese, you have gained access to a wealth of profound values. These idioms not only enhance your language competence but also offer you a more insightful perspective on the thoughts and philosophies embedded in Chinese culture.

Learning a language entails more than just mastering communication skills—it also involves exploring the unique culture of the nation. For more engaging and fascinating content, explore WuKong Chinese, learn under the guidance of native-speaking instructors and stories!

FAQs

1. What are Chinese idioms (chengyu)?

Q：Chinese idioms, or chengyu, are fixed expressions usually made up of four characters. They often have historical or literary origins and convey deeper meanings beyond the literal words.

2. Why are Chinese idioms important?

Q：Chengyu are widely used in both spoken and written Chinese. Learning them helps improve language skills and provides insight into Chinese culture and history.

3. How many Chinese idioms are there?

Q：There are thousands of Chinese idioms in the Chinese language, but around 500–1000 are commonly used in daily communication.

4. Are chengyu used in modern Chinese?

Q：Yes, chengyu are still widely used today, especially in writing, speeches, and formal communication.

5. What are some common Chinese idioms?

Q：Common Chinese idioms (chengyu) from the list include: 一举两得 (yī jǔ liǎng dé, “achieve two goals with one action”), 心直口快 (xīn zhí kǒu kuài, “outspoken”), 乱七八糟 (luàn qī bā zāo, “messy”), 三心二意 (sān xīn èr yì, “half-hearted”), and 独一无二 (dú yī wú èr, “unique”). They are widely used in daily communication.

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Lea is a passionate educator and writer,hailing from Beijing Jiaotong University where she graduated with a degree in English.With a deep understanding of education and a knack for making learning engaging,she brings a unique blend of knowledge and creativity to her writing. Whether crafting educational content or sharing tips on making math fun, Lea’s goal is to inspire and empower both parents and children on their learning journey.