Chinese idioms, known as 成语 (chéngyǔ), are an integral part of the Mandarin language. These concise four-character phrases often carry deep meanings rooted in Chinese history, literature, and culture. Mastering idioms not only enhances your fluency but also gives you a richer understanding of the language.

Here are 25 essential Chinese idioms that every learner should know, complete with pinyin, meanings, and example sentences to help you incorporate them into daily conversation.

🔥 1. Idioms for Wisdom & Knowledge

  1. 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) — "Draw legs on a snake"
    Meaning: To ruin something by adding unnecessary details.
    Example: 他已经画得很好了，你再改就会画蛇添足。(Tā yǐjīng huà dé hěn hǎo le, nǐ zài gǎi jiù huì huà shé tiān zú.) — It was already great; changing it further would just ruin it.
  2. 井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā) — "A frog at the bottom of a well"
    Meaning: A person with a narrow perspective.
    Example: 不要做井底之蛙，多去看看世界。(Bùyào zuò jǐng dǐ zhī wā, duō qù kànkan shìjiè.) — Don’t be narrow-minded; go explore the world.
  3. 对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín) — "Play the lute to a cow"
    Meaning: Wasting time explaining something to someone who doesn't understand.
    Example: 跟他谈艺术简直是对牛弹琴。(Gēn tā tán yìshù jiǎnzhí shì duì niú tán qín.) — Talking about art with him is like playing the lute to a cow.
  4. 举一反三 (jǔ yī fǎn sān) — "Raise one and infer three"
    Meaning: To deduce many things from one example.
    Example: 老师希望我们能举一反三。(Lǎoshī xīwàng wǒmen néng jǔ yī fǎn sān.) — The teacher hopes we can learn by analogy.
  5. 熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo) — "Practice makes perfect"
    Meaning: Skill comes from practice.
    Example: 多练习，熟能生巧。(Duō liànxí, shú néng shēng qiǎo.) — With more practice, you'll master it.

💪 2. Idioms for Hard Work & Determination

  1. 百折不挠 (bǎi zhé bù náo) — "Bend a hundred times without breaking"
    Meaning: To be persistent and never give up.
    Example: 他百折不挠地追求梦想。(Tā bǎi zhé bù náo de zhuīqiú mèngxiǎng.) — He pursues his dreams with unyielding determination.
  2. 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bú xiè) — "Persevere without slackening"
    Meaning: To persist relentlessly.
    Example: 成功来自坚持不懈的努力。(Chénggōng láizì jiānchí bú xiè de nǔlì.) — Success comes from persistent effort.
  3. 自强不息 (zì qiáng bù xī) — "Strive constantly for self-improvement"
    Meaning: To continually better oneself.
    Example: 她一直自强不息，希望有一天成功。(Tā yīzhí zì qiáng bù xī, xīwàng yǒu yītiān chénggōng.) — She constantly strives to improve, hoping for success one day.
  4. 卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn) — "Sleep on brushwood and taste gall"
    Meaning: To endure hardships to achieve an ultimate goal.
    Example: 为了复仇，他卧薪尝胆多年。(Wèile fùchóu, tā wò xīn cháng dǎn duōnián.) — He endured years of hardship to take his revenge.
  5. 滴水穿石 (dī shuǐ chuān shí) — "Dripping water wears through stone"
    Meaning: Persistence can overcome any obstacle.
    Example: 只要努力，滴水穿石。(Zhǐyào nǔlì, dī shuǐ chuān shí.) — As long as you work hard, you can overcome anything.

 

❤️ 3. Idioms for Love & Relationships

  1. 心心相印 (xīn xīn xiāng yìn) — "Two hearts beat as one"
    Meaning: A deep mutual understanding between two people.
    Example: 他们是心心相印的好朋友。(Tāmen shì xīn xīn xiāng yìn de hǎo péngyǒu.) — They are close friends who deeply understand each other.
  2. 一见钟情 (yī jiàn zhōng qíng) — "Love at first sight"
    Meaning: To fall in love at first sight.
    Example: 他们是一见钟情。(Tāmen shì yī jiàn zhōng qíng.) — They fell in love at first sight.
  3. 举案齐眉 (jǔ àn qí méi) — "To raise the tray to eyebrow level"
    Meaning: A harmonious marriage with mutual respect.
    Example: 他们婚后一直举案齐眉。(Tāmen hūn hòu yīzhí jǔ àn qí méi.) — They have had a respectful and loving marriage.
  4. 白头偕老 (bái tóu xié lǎo) — "To grow old together"
    Meaning: A couple growing old together in harmony.
    Example: 祝你们白头偕老。(Zhù nǐmen bái tóu xié lǎo.) — Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.
  5. 情同手足 (qíng tóng shǒu zú) — "Affection like hands and feet"
    Meaning: A deep friendship akin to that of siblings.
    Example: 他们情同手足，像兄弟一样。(Tāmen qíng tóng shǒu zú, xiàng xiōngdì yīyàng.) — They are as close as brothers.

⚖️ 4. Idioms for Honesty & Integrity

  1. 光明磊落 (guāng míng lěi luò) — "Open and candid"
    Meaning: To be honest and upright.
    Example: 他为人光明磊落，从不说谎。(Tā wéirén guāngmíng lěiluò, cóng bù shuōhuǎng.) — He is an honest person who never lies.
  2. 公正无私 (gōng zhèng wú sī) — "Fair and selfless"
    Meaning: To be impartial and just.
    Example: 他是个公正无私的法官。(Tā shì gè gōngzhèng wúsī de fǎguān.) — He is a fair and impartial judge.
  3. 一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn) — "A promise worth a thousand gold pieces"
    Meaning: A promise that must be kept.
    Example: 我答应了，就一定会做到，一诺千金。(Wǒ dāyìngle, jiù yīdìng huì zuò dào, yī nuò qiān jīn.) — I promised, and I will do it; a promise is worth its weight in gold.
  4. 表里如一 (biǎo lǐ rú yī) — "Inside and outside are the same"
    Meaning: To be genuine and consistent inside and out.
    Example: 她表里如一，性格直率。(Tā biǎo lǐ rú yī, xìnggé zhíshuài.) — She is genuine and straightforward.
  5. 言而有信 (yán ér yǒu xìn) — "Speak and be trustworthy"
    Meaning: To be true to one's word.
    Example: 做人要言而有信。(Zuòrén yào yán ér yǒu xìn.) — One should always be trustworthy.

🏆 5. Idioms for Success & Achievement

  1. 功成名就 (gōng chéng míng jiù) — "Achieve success and fame"
    Meaning: To achieve both success and recognition.
    Example: 经过多年努力，他终于功成名就。(Jīngguò duōnián nǔlì, tā zhōngyú gōng chéng míng jiù.) — After years of hard work, he finally found success and fame.
  2. 名列前茅 (míng liè qián máo) — "Top of the list"
    Meaning: To be among the best.
    Example: 他在比赛中名列前茅。(Tā zài bǐsài zhōng míng liè qián máo.) — He ranked among the top in the competition.
  3. 一帆风顺 (yī fān fēng shùn) — "Smooth sailing"
    Meaning: For things to go smoothly without obstacles.
    Example: 祝你旅途一帆风顺。(Zhù nǐ lǚtú yī fān fēng shùn.) — Wishing you a smooth journey.
  4. 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng) — "Immediate success"
    Meaning: To achieve instant success.
    Example: 祝你考试马到成功。(Zhù nǐ kǎoshì mǎ dào chénggōng.) — Wishing you instant success in your exam.
  5. 一鸣惊人 (yī míng jīng rén) — "Astonish the world with a single feat"
    Meaning: To achieve sudden success and surprise everyone.
    Example: 她在比赛中一鸣惊人。(Tā zài bǐsài zhōng yī míng jīng rén.) — She surprised everyone with her performance in the competition.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Mastering Chinese idioms not only enhances your vocabulary but also deepens your understanding of Chinese culture and history. Try incorporating these idioms into your daily conversations and writing to sound more fluent and natural.

Pro Tip: Use Vocabulator to practice these idioms by analyzing Chinese texts, and sync them to Skritter to master their writing and pronunciation.

Happy studying! 加油！💪📚