{"id":4195,"date":"2020-10-31T18:52:12","date_gmt":"2020-10-31T14:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cudoo.com\/?p=4195"},"modified":"2022-10-12T17:34:48","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T13:34:48","slug":"popular-chinese-idioms-what-they-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/popular-chinese-idioms-what-they-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Popular Chinese Idioms and What They Mean"},"content":{"rendered":"

The key to testing your understanding of a new language is to see how well you know the different aspects of the language such as tongue twisters, <\/span>idioms<\/span><\/a> or proverbs. Knowing when to use an idiom can elevate your language using experience while offering an insight into the roots of the language. Chinese idioms are witty and poetic, with some as old as the language itself. In Chinese, idioms are known as chengyu.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"12<\/p>\n

Here are some Chinese idioms that can complement your grasp of <\/span>Chinese.<\/span><\/a> To make it easier, we have included the English translation and the meaning of each one.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u811a\u8e0f\u5b9e\u5730 (ji\u01ceo t\u00e0 sh\u00ed d\u00ec)<\/h2>\n

Translation: down to earth<\/strong><\/p>\n

Literally means \u201cto step on solid ground.\u201d It is used to convey stability and humility. One needs to work hard at a steady pace, without being impatient or looking for short cuts, while being humble even after achieving success. It stresses the need to build a solid foundation to progress further. It\u2019s a positive Chengyu.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e5d\u725b\u4e00\u6bdb<\/span> (ji\u01d4 ni\u00fa y\u00ec m\u00e1o) <\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: nine cattle<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This literally means \u201c9 cows and 1 strand of cow hair.\u201d It is closely related to the saying \u2018a drop in the ocean\u2019 It is used to signify a small amount or how little an impact something has or will make.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e95\u5e95\u4e4b\u86d9 (<\/span>j\u01d0ng d\u01d0 zh\u012b w\u0101)\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: the frog at the bottom of the well<\/strong><\/p>\n

It refers to someone who has limited experience or a limited outlook on a certain thing or life in general. It would be used for someone who is narrow-minded or ignorant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e00\u65e0\u6240\u6709<\/span> (y\u00ecw\u00fasu\u01d2y\u01d2u)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: nothing<\/strong><\/p>\n

It means to be broke or to have nothing at all. A good term to use at the end of the month, it literally means being penniless. Here\u2019s an example: \u201c<\/span>\u4ed6\u65e0\u5bb6\u53ef<\/span>\u5f52\uff0c\u4e00\u65e0\u6240\u6709<\/span>\u201d \u00a0 \u201ct\u0101 w\u00faji\u0101k\u011bgu\u012b<\/span>\uff0c<\/span> y\u00ecw\u00fasu\u01d2y\u01d2u\u201d \u00a0 \u201cHe was homeless, and didn\u2019t have a penny to his name\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e00<\/span>\u89c1\u949f\u60c5<\/span>(y\u00ed ji\u00e0n zh\u014dng q\u00edng)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: see love<\/strong><\/p>\n

This means \u201clove at first sight.\u201d One of the more romantic Chengyu, it can be used for inanimate objects as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u81ea\u7531\u81ea\u5728<\/span> (z\u00ec y\u00f3u z\u00ec z\u00e0i) <\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Translation: free<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s used<\/span> to describe a personality<\/a> trait. It means someone is easy going. If you meet someone who makes you feel comfortable or has the knack for easing tense situations, then this a Chinese idiom appropriate for that individual. It can also be used to describe a place where one can feel at ease.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>\u83ab\u540d\u5176\u5999<\/span> (m\u00f2 m\u00edng q\u00ed mi\u00e0o) <\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: baffling<\/b><\/p>\n

This Chinese idiom <\/span>is used to convey confusion. A literal translation means the inability to comprehend something or someone. Ideal to use when someone uses a Chengyu you\u2019re not familiar with, maybe?<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>\u534a\u9014\u800c<\/span>\u5e9f<\/span> (b\u00e0n t\u00fa \u00e9r f\u00e8i) <\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: half the journey wasted<\/b><\/p>\n

This <\/span>means to give up halfway after starting something new (definitely not something a language learner should do). It is used to convey a feeling of difficulty or lack of motivation to not continue. <\/span>You would use this Chinese idiom to encourage someone (or yourself) not to give up and keep going. It will remind you that you will waste everything you have worked on so far.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u585e\u7fc1\u5931<\/span>\u9a6c<\/span> (<\/span>\u7109\u77e5\u975e\u798f<\/span>) (s\u00e0i w\u0113ng sh\u012b m\u01ce (y\u0101n zh\u012b f\u0113i f\u00fa)<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: a blessing in disguise<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is used to convey the message that not everything you perceive as bad will cause you harm. A necessary evil to fend off the bigger evil.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u72fc\u541e\u864e\u54bd<\/span> (l\u00e1ng t\u016bn h\u01d4 y\u00e0n) <\/span>
\n<\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: wolf<\/strong><\/p>\n

Used to address someone who gobbles down food, it can be used for banter with friends in a restaurant.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u5e9f\u5bdd\u5fd8\u98df<\/span> (\u00e8i q\u01d0n w\u00e0ng sh\u00ed)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: sleepless nights<\/b><\/p>\n

It means \u201cforgetting to eat and sleep so as to do something\u201d. A chengyu suitable for the hard-working language learners, it is used when a task is hard enough to consume a lot of your time, wherein you forget the basic needs to eat and sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u756b\u86c7\u6dfb\u8db3 <\/span>(hu\u00e0 sh\u00e9 ti\u0101n z\u00fa )<\/span><\/h2>\n

Translation: drawing a snake and adding legs to it<\/strong><\/p>\n

This Chinese idiom means to do unnecessary work that actually ruins something. For example, if a home has been over-decorated to a point it doesn\u2019t look good anymore this is the phrase you would use!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Chinese language has numerous such idioms, positive and negative, witty and insightful. Some Chinese idioms have evolved over time to accommodate new situations or experiences. <\/span>Learning Chinese<\/span><\/a> is a good way to better understand these idioms and more!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The key to testing your understanding of a new language is to see how well you know the different aspects of the language such as tongue twisters, idioms or proverbs. Knowing when to use an idiom can elevate your language using experience while offering an insight into the roots of the language. Chinese idioms are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":4201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4032,4031,4033,4034],"yst_prominent_words":[4025,82,4021,4020,4026,4022,685,1434,1449,54,4041,614,3922,763,4030,4038,630,4027,22,4040],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4195"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4195"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7011,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4195\/revisions\/7011"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4195"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cudoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=4195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}