70 Everyday Chinese Idioms You Need To Know

What is a Chinese Idiom (chéng yǔ)?

A Chinese idiom is a phrase or expression with a figurative or sometimes literal meaning. An idiom’s figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words in the phrase.

For example, if you say someone is “under the weather,” you don’t mean that they’re literally underneath the weather forecast. You mean that they’re not feeling well.

Some idioms are so common that you probably use them without even realizing it. Other idioms are more regional or cultural.

An idiom is a phrase or expression with a meaning that is not literal. Idioms are often used to describe emotions or situations. For example, the idiom “I’m so angry I could scream!” is used to describe someone who is very angry.

Idioms are common in many languages, including Chinese. There are hundreds of idioms in Mandarin Chinese, and new ones are created all the time. While some idioms are only used in certain regions of China, others are used throughout the country.

If you’re studying Mandarin Chinese, learning some common idioms can help you better understand the language and culture. It can also be fun to use idioms in your speech and writing!

70 most common Mandarin Chinese idioms

Although some of these idioms may be difficult to understand at first, they can be a great way to add variety to your spoken Chinese. 

Moreover, understanding these idioms can also help you better understand Chinese culture as a whole. 

1. 有口难言 (yǒu kǒu nán yán): This idiom literally means “to have a difficult time finding words.” It’s used to describe something that is hard to explain or describe.

2. 心如刀绞 (xīn rú dāo jiǎo): This idiom literally means “heart like a knife twisting.” It’s used to describe someone who is in a lot of pain, either physical or emotional.

3. 一锤定音 (yī chuí dìng yīn): to be sure of something

4. 七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià): all over the place

5. 老马识途 (lǎo mǎ shí tú): to know the way

6. 望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě): to long for something unattainable

7. 鱼水情深 (yú shuǐ qíng shēn): to be deeply in love

8. 狗屁不通 (gǒu pì bù tōng): to be full of nonsense

9. 心猿意马 (xīn yuán yì mǎ): to be fickle-minded

10. 一念之差 (yī niàn zhī chā): to make a huge difference

11. 虎头蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi): to start strong but end weakly

12. 掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng): to steal the bell when the cat is away

13. 一步登天 (yī bù dēng tiān): to make great strides forward

14. 横冲直撞 (héng chōng zhí zhuàng): to charge ahead without thinking

15. 酸甜苦辣 (suān tián kǔ là): to be full of ups and downs

16. 甘之如饴 (gān zhī rú yí): to be readily available, like honey on a spoon

17. 南辕北辙 (nán yuán běi zhé): to go in the opposite direction

18. 自食其果 (zì shí qí guǒ): to reap what one sows

19. 自作聪明 (zì zuó cōng míng): to be too smart for one’s own good

20. 海阔天空 (hǎi kuò tiān kōng): very free and open, with no restrictions at all

21. 茫然失神 (máng rán shī shén): to be utterly confused or baffled by something, to be dumbfounded

22. 瓮中捉鳖 (wèng zhōng zhuō biē): to be trapped in a situation with no escape

23. 九牛二虎之力 (jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì): the combined strength of many people

24. 满面春风 (mǎn miàn chūn fēng): to be very happy

25. 风和日丽 (fēng hé rì lì): sunny and pleasant weather

26. 走投无路 (zǒu tóu wú lù): to be at one’s wit’s end, to have no way out of a situation

27. 见强必强 (jiàn qiáng bì qiáng): to become strong when encountering a strong opponent

28. 司空见惯 (sī kōng jiàn guàn): to be used to seeing something, to be familiar with something

29. 狐假虎 威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi): to put on a false show of strength

30. 得寸进尺 (dé cùn jìn chǐ): to make progress little by little, to gain inch by inch

31. 骑虎难下 (qí hǔ nán xià): to find it difficult to get out of a situation once one is in it

32. 结网缠身 (jié wǎng chán shēn): to be caught in a web, to be in trouble

33. 惊弓之鸟 (jīng gōng zhī niǎo): a frightened bird that is ready to fly at any moment

34. 乘风破浪 (chéng fēng pò làng): to ride the waves, to take advantage of the situation

35. 大器晚成 (dà qì wǎn chéng): to grow into a great person

36. 过犹不及 (guò yóu bù jí): to be too late, to miss the chance

37. 熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo): practice makes perfect

38. 挥金如土 (huī jīn rú tǔ): to spend money like there’s no tomorrow

39. 含沙射影 (hán shā shè yǐng): to cast a shadow, to have an impact

40. 打草惊蛇 (dǎ cǎo jīng shé): to startle a snake by accident, to cause trouble without meaning to

41. 发人深省 (fà rén shēn xǐng): to make someone think deeply about something

42. 非池中物 (fēi ch í zhōng wù): to be out of one’s league, to be not as good as others

43. 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng): to talk about something without any practical experience

44. 席地而坐 (xí dì ér zuò): to sit on the ground

45. 文不加点 (wén bù jiā diǎn): very plain, not decorated at all

46. 骄傲自满 (jiāo ào zì mǎn): to be arrogant and self-satisfied

47. 进退两难 (jìn tuì liǎng nán): to be in a dilemma, to be caught between two choices

48. 兼程而行 (jiān chéng ér xíng): to do two things at the same time

49. 箭在弦上 (jiàn zài xián shàng): to be on the verge of doing something, to be about to do something

50. 见利忘义 (jiàn lì wàng yì): to forget what is right when one sees benefits

51. 兼爱两用 (jiān ài liǎng yòng): to serve two purposes at the same time

52. 狡兔三窟 (jiǎo tù sān kū): to have three hiding places, to have three options

53. 节外生枝 (jié wài shēng zhī): to do something extra, to go beyond what is required

54. 金玉满堂 (jīn yù mǎn táng): to be surrounded by wealth and treasures

55. 开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān): to get straight to the point, to be direct

56. 慷慨解囊 (kāng kǎi jiě náng): to be generous with money, to spend freely

57. 根深蒂固 (gēn shēn dì gù): to be deeply rooted, to be well-established

58. 口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi): to say one thing but mean another

59. 腹背受敌 (fù bèi shòu dí): to be attacked from both front and back, to be in a difficult situation

60. 解甲归田 (jiě jiǎ guī tián): to return to normal life after serving in the military

61. 精打细算 (jīng dǎ xì suàn): to be very thrifty, to count every penny

62. 既往不咎 (jì wǎng bù jiù): to not blame someone for what has happened in the past

63. 开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān): to get straight to the point, to be direct

64. 慷慨解囊 (kāng kǎi jiě n áng): to be generous with money, to spend freely

65. 腹背受敌 (fù bèi shòu dí): to be attacked from both front and back, to be in a difficult situation

66. 解甲归田 (jiě jiǎ guī tián): to return to normal life after serving in the military

67. 精打细算 (jīng dǎ xì suàn): to be very thrifty, to count every penny

68. 既往不咎 (jì wǎng bù jiù): to not blame someone for what has happened in the past

69. 金口拔牙 (jīn kǒu bá yá): to be very eloquent, to have a silver tongue

70. 口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi): to say one thing but mean another

Chinese idioms are a great way to add personality and flair to your language skills. They can be used to add humor or express emotion, and they often paint a vivid picture in just a few words. If you’re looking for a quick guide to commonly used Chinese idioms, this article is for you.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, we hope you find this article helpful. Happy learning!

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