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Chinese Idiom

Chinese idioms, called (Zhōng guó chéng yŭ 中国成语), are well-known sayings or proverbs alluding to famous Chinese stories and historical events. They are not only a key part of Chinese language learning, but are also priceless in understanding Chinese culture. Chinese idioms are deeply rooted in legacies and traditional culture, making the Chinese language more rich and fascinating. Each Chinese idiom carries profound meaning, and knowing how to use them will help you sound just like a native Chinese speaker. Feel free to browse our complementary resources!

Did you learn how to select a fitting Chinese name from our last tutorial? While the basic naming method may not have met everyone’s expectations, this advanced version will definitely meet your customized needs. Let’s take a look together!

Your Chinese name can comprise:
Your aspirations for yourself
Male names:
明 (Míng) – Bright, 思 (Sī) – Thoughts, 翔 ...


How to quickly integrate into the Chinese-learning environment? Having a Chinese name might be a good place to start!
Check out some of the popular naming techniques that are used!

Literal translation
Literal translation is the easiest way to get a Chinese name, so that you can keep your English name intact. For example, William (威廉Wēi Lián), Jenny ...


The 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar is in full swing. China did not make it to this mega sporting event, but to celebrate the World Cup together, it also sent a special “team” to Qatar-two giant pandas, named Jing Jing and Si Hai.
 

 
Giant pandas are the national treasure of China. Jing Jing and ...


Hi dear friends, long time no see! Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner! Have you prepared roast turkeys yet? Thanksgiving is a traditional festival in the Western world, but do you know there are also some festivals about expressing gratitude in China?

Gǎn ēn jié
感恩节
Thanksgiving Day

Gǎn ēn jié kuài lè!
感恩节快乐!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Gǎn ...


Thanksgiving Day (感恩节 Gǎn’ēn jié) is approaching fast and you know what that means? Everyone is taking the time to think about what they are truly grateful for in their lives. It’s becoming more and more popular to practice the art of expressing and reflecting on what you are grateful for as a daily ...


Some things in life can be achieved through hard work and dedication. However, there are always a few that are impossible, like trying to fly, or making a duck stand on a perch! We’ve all been there, in situations where we simply feel like giving up on something we’ve been forced to do. While persistence ...


We’ve all been in circumstances where minuscule things were blown way out of proportion. According to many people in cities all around the world, wasting time on trivial things is a laughing matter, and basically has little to no place in the fast-paced and modern world. In response to nuances and phenomenons that are unimportant, ...


画龙点睛 (Huàlóngdiǎnjīng)

“画龙点睛 (Huàlóngdiǎnjīng)” is a Chinese idiom that translates literally as “dotting the eyeball when painting a dragon.” It’s used to describe adding that finishing touch that brings a work of art to life, or adding a word or two to clinch the point.

Let‘s Break down This Chinese Idiom
画 (Huà) draw

...


Learn Mandarin Chinese Idiom: 守株待兔 (Shǒuzhūdàitù) To Stand by a Tree Stump Waiting for a Hare (Intermediate)

 

 

Key Learning Point (Preview):

待 (dài): v. to wait/to wait for

 

 

Cóngqián, yǒu yí gè nóngfū.
从前,有一个农夫。
Once upon a time, there was a farmer.

 

 

Yì tiān, zài tā gēngtián de shíhou, hūrán pǎo guò lái  yì zhī yětù,
一 天,在他耕田的时候,忽然跑过一只 野兔,
qiàhǎo pèng zài yí ...


Bù chǐ xià wèn
不   耻  下    问

 

Be humble enough to consult one’s inferiors

Listen to the whole story:

 

Chūnqiū shí, wèiguó yǒu gè jiào Kǒng Yǔ de dàfu.
春秋       时,卫 国    有   个 叫    孔    圉  的 大夫。
In the Spring and Autumn period, there was a senior official ...


The Chinese idiom "纸上谈兵(zhǐshàngtánbīng) armchair strategy" refers to people who engage in idle talk, but are unable to act on their high minded theories. It is usually used to urge people to combine theories with practical knowledge and not be bookworms. Let's read about the origin of the idiom below.

(Know more about Chinese culture by taking some ...


The idiom "哪壶不开提哪壶 (nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú)" literally means "to pick the kettle that is not boiling." It's used to indicate that someone is saying or doing something that shouldn't be mentioned in front of others, or that someone is bringing up a sensitive subject.

Idiom Story:

Hěn jiǔ yǐqián, yǒu fùzǐ liǎ kāile ...


 

"对牛弹琴 (Duìniútánqín)" is used by Chinese people to describe someone who is explaining something complicated to a fool, or sometimes this idiom is used to describe a person who is trying to tell something to the wrong audience. In English, people sometimes joke around by sarcastically saying "whistle jigs to a milestone" or "cast pearls ...


Sòngcháo de shíhou, yǒu yí gè jiào Wén Tóng de huàjiā, hěn shàncháng huà zhúzi.
宋朝         的  时候, 有  一 个 叫    文    同     的  画家, 很   擅长          画   竹子。
In the Song Dynasty, there was an artist whose name was Wen ...


Key Learning Points (Preview):
“梨 (lí)” is the Chinese character for “pear.” (Riddle time: Guess the fruit.)
Find taboo Chinese gift idea here!
礼物 (lǐwù) n. gift
Origin Story
Dōnghàn shíhou, yǒugè jiào Kǒng róng de rén. Tā xiǎoshíhou hěn cōngming, yǒu wǔgè gēge,  yígè dìdi.
东汉时候, 有个叫孔融的人。他小时候很聪明,有五个哥哥,一个弟弟。
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a person called Kong Rong. He’d been smart ever ...


In this issue we will learn a useful Chinese proverb —“墙头草, 随风倒(qiángtóucǎo, suífēngdǎo) The grass on top of the wall sways whichever way the wind blows”. Here, “墙头草(qiángtóucǎo)” refers to people who don’t have a mind of their own, who can’t form their own opinions. “墙头草(qiángtóucǎo)” are easily swayed and always choose to support ...


Nánbĕicháo shí, bĕizhōu yŏu ge jiào Zhăngsūn Shèng de wŭguān,
南北朝时,北周有个叫长孙晟的武官,

shànyú shèjiàn, zhìmóu guò rén,
善于射箭,智谋过人,

yīncĭ bèi cháotíng pàiqiăn hùsòng gōngzhŭ dào xībĕi tūjuézú qù chénghūn.
因此被朝廷派遣护送公主到西北突厥族去成婚。

Tūjuézú guówáng hĕn qìzhòng tā,  bă tā liú xià lái,  suí zìjĭ yìqĭ qù dăliè,
突厥族国王很器重他,把他留下来,随自己一起去打猎,

guówáng kànjiàn yŏu liăng zhī dàdiāo zài kōngzhōng zhēngduó yí kuài ròu,
国王看见有两只大雕在空中争夺一块肉,

biàn qĭng ...


Listen Online

Brief: Learn two Chinese idioms: zhao san mu si (朝三暮四) and sai weng shi ma (塞翁失马).
课文:
Zhāo sān mù sì
朝      三   暮 四
Three in the morning, four in the afternoon.
Sài wēng shī mă
塞    翁    失  马
the old frontiersman losing his horse


Chuánshuō yuángŭ shíhou, tiān hé dì shì hé zài yìqĭ de, jiù xiàng yí gè jīdàn shì de.
传说             远古     时候, 天   和  地 是 合 在 一起 的,就 像    一 个 鸡蛋  似  的。

Shìjiè de kāichuàng rén Pángŭ jiù shì zài zhège jīdàn zhōng ...


Sānguó shídài, wèiguó yŏu gè jiào Lú Yù de rén,
三国      时代,魏国    有    个 叫   卢  毓 的 人,
Hĕn xiăo de shíhou jiù shīqù le fùmŭ hé liăng gè gēge.
很   小   的   时候   就   失去 了 父母 和  两   个  哥哥。
Lú Yù cóngcĭ xīnkŭ gōngzuò, chú ...


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