Chinese Idioms

Browse hundreds of Chinese idioms (Chengyu) by date, category, and difficulty. Every entry links to its full story and examples.

Showing 12 of 120 featured Chengyu

亡羊补牢

wáng yáng bǔ láo

Fix a problem before more damage is done.

Mistakes Wisdom

守株待兔

shǒu zhū dài tù

To wait passively for luck instead of taking action.

Failure Opportunity

画蛇添足

huà shé tiān zú

To ruin something by adding unnecessary details.

Mistakes Work

百折不挠

bǎi zhé bù náo

Never give up despite repeated setbacks.

Perseverance Hard Work

望梅止渴

wàng méi zhǐ kě

To console oneself with false hope or imagination.

Wisdom Mistakes

废寝忘食

fèi qǐn wàng shí

To work so hard you forget to eat and sleep.

Hard Work Education

唇亡齿寒

chún wáng chí hán

Interdependent fates; if one falls, the other suffers.

Wisdom Business

隔岸观火

gé àn guān huǒ

To watch from the sidelines without helping.

Leadership Friendship

青出于蓝

qīng chū yú lán

The student surpasses the teacher.

Education Success

抛砖引玉

pāo zhuān yǐn yù

Offer a modest idea to elicit better ones.

Wisdom Work

入乡随俗

rù xiāng suí sú

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Wisdom Education

马到成功

mǎ dào chéng gōng

Instant success; win immediately upon arrival.

Success Luck

Learn Chinese in 3 months with ease

Start Learning

Chinese Idioms

Chinese Idioms

亡羊补牢

守株待兔

画蛇添足

百折不挠

望梅止渴

废寝忘食

唇亡齿寒

隔岸观火

青出于蓝

抛砖引玉

入乡随俗

马到成功

Learn Chinese in 3 months with ease

Product

Tools

Legal & Trust

News & Update