Chinese idioms (成语, chéngyǔ) are more than just phrases; they are tiny capsules of history, culture, and philosophy. Many idioms come from fascinating stories, fables, or historical events, which makes learning them not only useful but also entertaining.
In this blog post, we will explore 10 popular Chinese idioms, explain their origins, and show how you can use them in daily Mandarin conversations. Each idiom will be accompanied by example sentences in Chinese (中文, zhōngwén), pinyin, and English.
1. 亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) – Better Late Than Never
This idiom literally means “to mend the pen after the sheep are lost.” It originates from a story in which a farmer lost some sheep due to a broken pen but repaired it afterward to prevent further loss. It conveys that taking action after a mistake is still valuable.
Example sentences:
- 虽然你考试没考好，但亡羊补牢，下一次一定能进步 (suīrán nǐ kǎoshì méi kǎo hǎo, dàn wáng yáng bǔ láo, xià yī cì yídìng néng jìnbù) – Although you didn’t do well on the exam, it’s never too late to improve next time.
- 公司发生了小事故，现在采取措施就是亡羊补牢 (gōngsī fāshēng le xiǎo shìgù, xiànzài cǎiqǔ cuòshī jiù shì wáng yáng bǔ láo) – The company had a small accident, but taking action now is still worthwhile.
2. 掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng) – Deceiving Oneself
Literally “covering your ears while stealing a bell,” this idiom tells a story of a thief who thought covering his ears would prevent others from hearing the bell he stole. It refers to self-deception or ignoring obvious facts.
Example sentences:
- 他以为没人发现错误，其实是在掩耳盗铃 (tā yǐwéi méi rén fāxiàn cuòwù, qíshí shì zài yǎn ěr dào líng) – He thought no one would notice the mistake, but he was deceiving himself.
- 不要掩耳盗铃，问题必须面对 (bùyào yǎn ěr dào líng, wèntí bìxū miànduì) – Don’t deceive yourself; problems must be faced.
3. 叶公好龙 (yè gōng hào lóng) – Loving the Idea, Not the Reality
This idiom tells the story of Lord Ye, who admired dragons so much that when a real dragon appeared, he was terrified. It’s used to describe people who claim to love or appreciate something but cannot handle the reality.
Example sentences:
- 她说喜欢挑战，但真正遇到困难时就退缩，真是叶公好龙 (tā shuō xǐhuān tiǎozhàn, dàn zhēnzhèng yù dào kùnnán shí jiù tuìsuō, zhēn shì yè gōng hào lóng) – She said she liked challenges, but she backed down when difficulties appeared; it’s a case of loving the idea, not the reality.
- 有些人叶公好龙，只喜欢听故事，不想经历真正的冒险 (yǒuxiē rén yè gōng hào lóng, zhǐ xǐhuān tīng gùshì, bù xiǎng jīnglì zhēnzhèng de màoxiǎn) – Some people love the idea of adventure but don’t want to actually experience it.
4. 草船借箭 (cǎo chuán jiè jiàn) – Making Use of Opportunities
Originating from the famous Three Kingdoms story, this idiom literally means “borrowing arrows with straw boats.” General Zhuge Liang cleverly used enemy arrows by sending straw boats into the fog. It symbolizes cleverness and resourcefulness in making use of opportunities.
Example sentences:
- 在这个项目中，我们要学会草船借箭，善用一切资源 (zài zhè gè xiàngmù zhōng, wǒmen yào xuéhuì cǎo chuán jiè jiàn, shànyòng yīqiè zīyuán) – In this project, we should learn to use all resources wisely.
- 他总能草船借箭，把困难变成机会 (tā zǒng néng cǎo chuán jiè jiàn, bǎ kùnnán biàn chéng jīhuì) – He always manages to turn difficulties into opportunities.
5. 狼狈为奸 (láng bèi wéi jiān) – Partners in Crime
Literally “the wolf and the jackal work together,” this idiom describes people who collude for evil purposes.
Example sentences:
- 那两家公司狼狈为奸，损害了消费者利益 (nà liǎng jiā gōngsī láng bèi wéi jiān, sǔnhài le xiāofèi zhě lìyì) – The two companies colluded and harmed consumers’ interests.
- 别让坏人狼狈为奸 (bié ràng huài rén láng bèi wéi jiān) – Don’t let the bad guys collude.
6. 老马识途 (lǎo mǎ shí tú) – Experienced and Knowledgeable
This idiom comes from the idea that an old horse knows the way, symbolizing experience and expertise.
Example sentences:
- 老马识途，听老师的建议一定没错 (lǎo mǎ shí tú, tīng lǎoshī de jiànyì yídìng méi cuò) – An experienced person knows the way; listening to the teacher is definitely wise.
- 在职场上，老马识途的人很有价值 (zài zhíchǎng shàng, lǎo mǎ shí tú de rén hěn yǒu jiàzhí) – Experienced employees are valuable in the workplace.
7. 破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu) – Determined to Succeed
Originating from a historical battle, this idiom literally means “breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats,” leaving no way to retreat. It symbolizes determination and commitment.
Example sentences:
- 他决定创业，破釜沉舟，全力以赴 (tā juédìng chuàngyè, pò fǔ chén zhōu, quánlì yǐfù) – He decided to start a business with full commitment.
- 做任何重要决定时，都要有破釜沉舟的勇气 (zuò rènhé zhòngyào juédìng shí, dōu yào yǒu pò fǔ chén zhōu de yǒngqì) – You need determination when making important decisions.
8. 一鸣惊人 (yī míng jīng rén) – Achieve Sudden Fame
Literally “astonish the world with a single cry,” this idiom refers to someone who gains sudden success or recognition.
Example sentences:
- 他的第一部小说一鸣惊人，引起了读者关注 (tā de dì yī bù xiǎoshuō yī míng jīng rén, yǐnqǐ le dúzhě guānzhù) – His first novel achieved sudden fame and attracted readers’ attention.
- 新选手一鸣惊人，拿下了比赛冠军 (xīn xuǎnshǒu yī míng jīng rén, ná xià le bǐsài guànjūn) – The new player astonished everyone by winning the championship.
9. 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng) – All Theory, No Practice
This idiom literally means “discussing military strategy on paper” and refers to people who are good at theory but cannot apply it practically.
Example sentences:
- 光学习理论不练习，就只是纸上谈兵 (guāng xuéxí lǐlùn bù liànxí, jiù zhǐ shì zhǐ shàng tán bīng) – Just learning theory without practice is useless.
- 他在会议上提出很多好主意，但都是纸上谈兵 (tā zài huìyì shàng tíchū hěn duō hǎo zhǔyì, dàn dōu shì zhǐ shàng tán bīng) – He proposed many good ideas in the meeting, but they were all theoretical.
10. 授人以鱼不如授人以渔 (shòu rén yǐ yú bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú) – Teach a Man to Fish
This idiom comes from Confucian philosophy, meaning it is better to teach someone skills than to give them temporary help.
Example sentences:
- 教孩子学习方法比直接给答案更重要，授人以鱼不如授人以渔 (jiào háizi xuéxí fāngfǎ bǐ zhíjiē gěi dá’àn gèng zhòngyào, shòu rén yǐ yú bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú) – Teaching children how to learn is more important than giving them answers.
- 在公司培训中，授人以鱼不如授人以渔 (zài gōngsī péixùn zhōng, shòu rén yǐ yú bù rú shòu rén yǐ yú) – In company training, teaching skills is better than providing temporary solutions.
Vocabulary
- 成语 (chéngyǔ) – idiom
- 羊 (yáng) – sheep
- 偷 (tōu) – steal
- 龙 (lóng) – dragon
- 项目 (xiàngmù) – project
- 老师 (lǎoshī) – teacher
- 创业 (chuàngyè) – start a business
- 小说 (xiǎoshuō) – novel
- 理论 (lǐlùn) – theory
- 技能 (jìnéng) – skill
