Common Idioms & Expressions
Idioms and set expressions reveal how a language captures culture and thought. This guide collects frequent Mandarin idioms (chéngyǔ 成语) and everyday expressions to help you sound natural and insightful.
Idioms
Idioms (chéngyǔ 成语) are fixed four-character phrases that pack vivid stories or morals into brief sayings. They come from history, fables, and classical texts.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 对牛弹琴 | duì niú tán qín | Playing lute to a cow (wasting effort on the unappreciative) |
| 画蛇添足 | huà shé tiān zú | Drawing legs on a snake (ruining something by overdoing it) |
| 半途而废 | bàn tú ér fèi | Giving up halfway (abandoning a task before completion) |
| 自相矛盾 | zì xiāng máo dùn | Self-contradiction (holding conflicting ideas) |
| 井底之�� | jǐng d�� zhī wā | Frog at the bottom of the well (narrow-minded or limited perspective) |
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 水落石出 | shuǐ luò shí chū | When the water recedes, the rocks emerge (the truth comes to light) | 🕵️♂️ 水落石出，骗子终于被揭穿了。 |
| 画蛇添足 | huà shé tiān zú | Drawing legs on a snake (ruining something by overdoing it) | 🎨 他的反驳画蛇添足，让人更困惑了。 |
| 掩耳盗铃 | yǎn ěr dào líng | Plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell (self-deception) | 🙉 他掩耳盗铃，明明错了却不认。 |
| 对牛弹琴 | duì niú tán qín | Playing the lute to a cow (wasting words on the unappreciative) | 🐮 你这样说是在对牛弹琴。 |
| 井底之蛙 | jǐng dǐ zhī wā | Frog at the bottom of a well (narrow-minded person) | 🐸 他总是自以为是，真是井底之蛙。 |
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Everyday Expressions
Everyday expressions are short phrases used in daily conversation for greetings, thanks, requests, and reactions. They make speech smooth and friendly.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 谢谢 | xiè xie | Thank you |
| 不客气 | bú kè qi | You’re welcome |
| 没关系 | méi guān xi | It’s okay / No problem |
| 请问 | qǐng wèn | May I ask… / Excuse me |
| 对不起 | duì bu q�� | Sorry |
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你看到了吗？ | nǐ kàn dào le ma? | Did you see that? | 👀 你看到了吗？他又迟到了。 |
| 真的吗？ | zhēn de ma? | Really? | 😲 真的吗？我不敢相信！ |
| 真的假的？ | zhēn de jiǎ de? | Is it true or false? | 🤨 真的假的？他说话前先别急。 |
| 怎么回事？ | zěn me huí shì? | What’s going on? | ❓ 怎么回事？大家都站起来了。 |
| 没关系 | méi guān xì | It’s okay / no problem | 👍 没关系，下次注意就好。 |
| 谢谢你帮忙 | xiè xiè nǐ bāng máng | Thank you for your help | 🙏 谢谢你帮忙搬桌子。 |
| 快点儿！ | kuài diǎn er! | Hurry up! | ⏰ 快点儿，电影要开始了。 |
| 慢慢来 | màn màn lái | Take your time | 🐢 慢慢来，安全最重要。 |
| 我知道了 | wǒ zhī dào le | Got it / I understand | ✅ 我知道了，你的意思是要改稿。 |
| 没问题 | méi wèn tí | No problem | 👌 这个任务我来做，没问题。 |
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Summary
Idioms (chéngyǔ 成语) give expressive shortcuts rooted in culture, while everyday expressions keep conversation flowing politely and naturally. Learning both kinds of phrases helps you communicate with nuance and ease.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025