Idioms (chéngyǔ 成语 and set phrases) pack cultural wisdom into memorable phrases. Here are some that show vivid images and useful lessons.
Idioms
Idioms are four-character expressions that distill traditional stories or values. They are used to make speech more colorful and persuasive.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 画蛇添足 | huà shé tiān zú | paint legs on a snake | ruin something by unnecessary additions | |
| 井底之蛙 | jǐng dǐ zhī wā | frog at bottom of well | narrow-minded person | |
| 守株待兔 | shǒu zhū dài tù | wait by tree stump for rabbit | wait passively for luck | |
| 塞翁失马 | sài wēng shī mǎ | old man loses horse | a loss may turn into a gain | |
| 对牛弹琴 | duì niú tán qín | play lute to a cow | waste effort on the unappreciative | |
| 三人成虎 | sān rén chéng hǔ | three people make a tiger | repeated rumors seem real | |
| 掩耳盗铃 | yǎn ěr dào líng | block ears while stealing bell | self-deception | |
| 破釜沉舟 | pò fǔ chén zhōu | break cauldrons sink boats | commit to an all-out effort | |
| 滥竽充数 | làn yú chōng shù | fake music to fill quota | pretend ability to hide incompetence | |
| 一箭双雕 | yī jiàn shuāng diāo | one arrow two eagles | achieve two goals with one action |
He is always narrow-minded about new ideas; truly a frog at the bottom of the well.
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐉 画龙点睛 | huà lóng diǎn jīng | Adding the finishing touch | |
| 🌪️ 风卷残云 | fēng juǎn cán yún | Sweeping everything away | |
| ⛵ 一帆风顺 | yī fān fēng shùn | Smooth sailing | |
| 🌧️ 风雨交加 | fēng yǔ jiāo jiā | Stormy weather | |
| 🐸 井底之蛙 | jǐng dǐ zhī wā | Frog in a well | |
| 🕸️ 自掘坟墓 | zì jué fén mù | Digging one's own grave | |
| 🔥 杯弓蛇影 | bēi gōng shé yǐng | Suspicious shadow | |
| 🐔 守株待兔 | shǒu zhū dài tù | Waiting for windfall |
Set Phrases
Set phrases are common expressions used in speech and writing. They may be longer than four characters and are useful for everyday communication.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 马马虎虎 | mǎ mǎ hū hū | so-so / careless | describes mediocre quality or attitude | |
| 不三不四 | bù sān bù sì | shady / dubious | describes unreliable people or behavior | |
| 各取所需 | gè qǔ suǒ xū | each takes what they need | everyone gets their share or benefit | |
| 大同小异 | dà tóng xiǎo yì | mostly the same | minor differences within a common pattern | |
| 有眼不识泰山 | yǒu yǎn bù shí Tài Shān | fail to recognize greatness | underestimate someone important | |
| 说曹操，曹操到 | shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào | speak of the devil | person appears just as they're mentioned | |
| 一言为定 | yī yán wéi dìng | it's a deal | agreement firmly made with a word | |
| 走马观花 | zǒu mǎ guān huā | cursory glance | brief and superficial observation | |
| 不约而同 | bù yuē ér tóng | unplanned coincidence | act in agreement without arranging | |
| 始终如一 | shǐ zhōng rú yī | consistent from start to finish | steady and unchanging attitude |
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 关键时刻 | guān jiàn shí kè | Critical moment | |
| 📝 提前准备 | tí qián zhǔn bèi | Prepare in advance | |
| 📞 随时联系 | suí shí lián xì | Contact anytime | |
| ✅ 任务完成 | rèn wù wán chéng | Task completed | |
| 🔄 及时调整 | jí shí tiáo zhěng | Adjust promptly | |
| 🧑💼 负责人 | fù zé rén | Person in charge | |
| 📊 进度报告 | jìn dù bào gào | Progress report | |
| 🗓️ 截止日期 | jié zhǐ rì qī | Deadline |
Usage
Idioms chéngyǔ 成语 are best used in writing, speeches, and when you want to sound polished. Set phrases are handy in daily conversation and informal contexts. Always make sure you understand the exact meaning and tone before using an idiom.
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐉 画龙点睛 | huà lóng diǎn jīng | The manager’s comment really added the finishing touch to the presentation. | |
| 🌪️ 风卷残云 | fēng juǎn cán yún | The new policy swept through the company like a whirlwind. | |
| ⛵ 一帆风顺 | yī fān fēng shùn | Our project has been smooth sailing since the start. | |
| 🌧️ 风雨交加 | fēng yǔ jiāo jiā | We faced stormy weather with multiple setbacks last week. | |
| 🐸 井底之蛙 | jǐng dǐ zhī wā | Don’t be a frog in a well; look at the bigger picture. | |
| 🕸️ 自掘坟墓 | zì jué fén mù | Ignoring the warnings was like digging their own grave. | |
| 🔥 杯弓蛇影 | bēi gōng shé yǐng | Don’t be so suspicious; it’s just a false alarm. | |
| 🐔 守株待兔 | shǒu zhū dài tù | Waiting for luck won’t work; we need active effort. |
Summary
Learn a few vivid idioms to enrich your speech and show cultural insight. Practice their meanings and typical contexts so you can use them naturally. Idioms turn ordinary language into memorable expression.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025