Chengyu
Chengyu: 140 four-character Chinese idioms
The 成语: four-character idioms, each with its literal sense and what it actually means. Free inside Wanyu; here, open to browse. The origin story, in full, waits for you in the app.
All 140, one by one
画蛇添足 To ruin something by overdoing it; to add a pointless, superfluous touch that spoils what was already fine. 守株待兔 To passively wait for a lucky break to repeat itself instead of working for it; to cling to an outdated method. 刻舟求剑 Clinging to a rigid method while ignoring that circumstances have changed; stubborn inflexibility in the face of a situation that has already moved on. 自相矛盾 To contradict oneself; to hold two mutually incompatible claims at the same time. 井底之蛙 A person of narrow vision and limited knowledge who mistakes their tiny world for the whole. 塞翁失马 Misfortune may turn into fortune and fortune into misfortune; one can't tell whether what happens is ultimately good or bad. 愚公移山 To persevere relentlessly against a huge task until it yields; unwavering determination that overcomes any difficulty. 掩耳盗铃 To deceive oneself, thinking that if you don't see or hear an obvious fact, others won't notice it either; foolish self-deception. 亡羊补牢 To fix the problem after suffering a loss; it is not too late to mend things once you realize the mistake. 画龙点睛 To add the one crucial finishing touch that brings a whole work or speech to life. 对牛弹琴 To address someone incapable of understanding; to speak over an audience's head and waste one's words on the wrong listener. 拔苗助长 To ruin something by forcing its progress; to do harm by pushing for results faster than is natural. 杯弓蛇影 To be frightened by a false alarm; to let groundless suspicion make one anxious or even ill. 滥竽充数 To pass oneself off as qualified without the skill; to fill a quota or make up the numbers with someone or something second-rate. 叶公好龙 To profess a love or admiration for something one does not actually want or welcome when it appears for real; to like the image of a thing, not the thing itself. 卧薪尝胆 To willingly endure hardship and self-denial, never forgetting one's humiliation or goal, in order to grow strong and finally triumph or take revenge. 望梅止渴 To console oneself with empty hopes or illusions; to satisfy a need with imagination rather than something real. 三顾茅庐 To repeatedly and humbly seek out a worthy person, calling on them again and again to win their help. 草木皆兵 To be so panic-stricken that one sees enemies everywhere; jumping at shadows out of fear. 四面楚歌 To be besieged on all sides and utterly isolated; surrounded by enemies with no way out and no allies. 破釜沉舟 To burn one's boats: to commit fully with no way back, staking everything on a single decisive effort. 指鹿为马 To call a deer a horse: to deliberately distort the truth, brazenly passing off a lie by abusing one's power. 完璧归赵 To return something to its rightful owner intact and unharmed; to fulfill a delicate mission without loss. 负荆请罪 To humbly admit one's fault and sincerely apologize, offering oneself for punishment. 纸上谈兵 To theorize without practical experience; to be an armchair strategist all talk and no action. 朝三暮四 To be fickle and inconstant, forever changing one's mind (and, in its original sense, to fool someone with a trick that changes only the appearance, not the substance). 狐假虎威 to bully others by borrowing someone else's power or authority. 班门弄斧 to show off one's meager skill before a true master. 邯郸学步 To imitate others blindly and lose even one's own original ability in the process. 南辕北辙 To act in a way that runs directly counter to one's goal, so that effort only takes one further away. 闻鸡起舞 To diligently train oneself and rise early to improve; to apply oneself with exemplary dedication and perseverance. 入木三分 Of an analysis, critique or description: penetrating and incisive, getting to the very heart of the matter. (Originally, of forceful calligraphy.) 悬梁刺股 To study with extreme, painstaking effort, enduring sleep and fatigue in order to learn. 凿壁偷光 To study diligently despite extreme poverty, seizing any means to learn. 孟母三迁 Environment shapes a person; a parent's effort to give a child the right surroundings in which to grow and learn. 一鸣惊人 To astonish everyone all at once with a great feat after a long stretch of apparent silence or obscurity. 老马识途 An experienced person knows the way; veterans' know-how is invaluable for solving problems. 唇亡齿寒 When one falls, the other is endangered; two neighbors share a common fate and depend on each other. 名落孙山 To fail an exam or not make the cut; to miss the list of those who passed. 程门立雪 To honor one's teacher and study with sincere devotion; reverent respect for one's master. 天下无双 Peerless, second to none; so outstanding that nothing else compares. Used of people, talents, products or places that are truly exceptional. 一鼓作气 To seize the initial burst of energy and finish something in one sustained effort, without pauses that let momentum cool; to get it done in one go while morale is high. 一字千金 Said of writing of immense value, where every single word is worth its weight in gold; used to praise a literary work so polished that not one character could be improved. 一诺千金 A promise worth its weight in gold; said of someone whose word is utterly reliable and who always keeps a commitment. 一箭双雕 To achieve two goals with a single action; to kill two birds with one stone. 九牛一毛 A tiny amount within something vast; so small it hardly counts. The equivalent of "a drop in the ocean." 三人成虎 A rumor or lie, repeated by enough people, ends up being taken as truth. It warns that collective insistence can make a falsehood prevail over reality. 千钧一发 A moment of extreme crisis when everything hangs by a thread; a situation so precarious that the slightest slip would bring disaster. 退避三舍 To back off and yield in order to avoid a confrontation, whether out of respect, gratitude, or prudence. Today it means stepping aside or making concessions rather than picking a fight. 约法三章 To agree in advance on a few clear, simple rules that both sides commit to following. 庖丁解牛 To master a craft so thoroughly that the hard becomes effortless and fluid; to act with the natural, consummate skill of a true expert. 望洋兴叹 To feel small and powerless before something vast and sigh at one's own inadequacy; to realize with dismay that something is beyond one's reach or ability. 螳臂当车 To take on an unstoppable force with hopelessly inadequate means; to overrate oneself and court certain defeat out of sheer recklessness. 鹏程万里 A bright, boundless future; said as a wish or compliment for someone with great prospects ahead. 东施效颦 To imitate someone admirable clumsily and blindly, without grasping what makes them appealing, ending up looking ridiculous or even worse than before. 杞人忧天 To fret needlessly over disasters that are unlikely or impossible; to worry about something that almost certainly will never happen. 高山流水 Sublime music or art; and above all the kindred spirit (知音) who truly understands your heart, the rare friend who is so hard to find. 螳螂捕蝉 To chase an immediate gain while blind to the danger lurking right behind you; short-sighted greed that sees only the prey and forgets one may be someone else's prey. 鹬蚌相争 When two sides lock horns in a stubborn quarrel and neither gives way, a third party walks off with the prize. It warns that fighting among equals only benefits the outsider waiting on the sidelines. 惊弓之鸟 Someone so badly frightened by a past experience that they panic at the slightest hint of danger, real or not; once bitten, twice shy. 围魏救赵 To relieve pressure on yourself not by confronting a problem head-on but by striking the opponent's weak spot, forcing them to pull back; to solve a crisis indirectly. 背水一战 To stake everything on one decisive effort with no way back; to fight with one's back to the wall. 多多益善 The more the better; you can never have too much of a good thing. 毛遂自荐 To volunteer oneself for a task or position on one's own initiative, without being asked; to step forward confidently to take on a responsibility. 脱颖而出 To suddenly stand out from the crowd, revealing a talent that had gone unnoticed until then. 价值连城 Priceless; so valuable it is worth a fortune. Said of an object or a work of art, and figuratively of anything (talent, information, an opportunity) of extraordinary worth. 图穷匕见 When the true, hidden intention is finally exposed at the very end; the secret plan or motive comes to light at the last moment. 高枕无忧 To rest easy and live free of worry because everything has been safely arranged in advance. 狡兔三窟 To keep several safeguards or escape routes ready in advance so as to be protected whatever happens. Today it praises the foresight of someone who never bets everything on one option, though it can also carry a hint of calculating cunning. 项庄舞剑 To do something seemingly harmless that actually masks a hostile intent aimed at someone else; an act with an ulterior motive. Often completed with the phrase meaning "the real target is somebody else." 投笔从戎 To give up a scholarly or clerical career and enlist in the army to serve one's country; to throw down the pen for the sword, usually out of patriotism or a longing for greater deeds. 老当益壮 To stay vigorous and high-spirited in old age, even more so than before; old but full of energy and drive. 马革裹尸 To die honorably on the battlefield, giving one's life for one's country; said of a soldier ready to fall fighting rather than die at home in bed. 举案齐眉 Describes a couple who treat each other with deep mutual respect and affection; a harmonious marriage in which husband and wife honor one another. 推心置腹 To treat someone with utter sincerity and trust, opening your heart to them without any reservation or pretense. 得陇望蜀 Insatiable, ever-growing greed: the moment you get one thing, you crave the next. Never being content with what you already have. 刮目相看 To see someone in a completely new light; to revise your opinion of them upward after they have visibly changed for the better. 手不释卷 To read tirelessly, to be so devoted to study that one never puts a book down; to apply oneself diligently and constantly to learning. 乐不思蜀 To be so happy and comfortable somewhere that one forgets home, roots, or duty; to be having such a good time that one has no wish to go back. 如鱼得水 To be in one's element; to find the perfect environment, job or companionship in which one thrives with complete ease. 言过其实 To overstate things, to exaggerate beyond the facts; to make something sound better or bigger than it really is. 鞠躬尽瘁 To devote oneself utterly to a cause or duty, sparing no effort until one's strength is spent. It praises someone's total loyalty and dedication, often right up to the end of their life. 画饼充饥 To comfort oneself with empty illusions that solve nothing; to feed on hollow hopes or promises that never meet the real need. 才高八斗 Immensely gifted in letters; said of someone with extraordinary literary talent and a brilliance far above the ordinary. 洛阳纸贵 Said of a work so celebrated and sought-after that everyone wants a copy of it; a runaway bestseller that sells out instantly. 鹤立鸡群 To stand head and shoulders above the rest; to be conspicuously outstanding among ordinary people thanks to one's talent or bearing. 风声鹤唳 A state of extreme panic in which every sound or sign is mistaken for an approaching threat; so jittery that one sees danger everywhere. 东山再起 To make a comeback and return to action after a retreat, defeat or failure; to regain lost power or success. 不耻下问 To not be ashamed to ask questions of or seek advice from those beneath you in knowledge, age or rank; to be humble enough to learn from anyone. 温故知新 To review what one has already learned and gain fresh understanding from it; revisiting the old reveals something new. 任重道远 To carry a heavy responsibility with a long road still ahead; the task is weighty and much effort and time remain before it is achieved. 见贤思齐 On seeing someone worthy, to aspire to become their equal and take them as a model; to strive to measure up to those who are better than oneself. 青出于蓝 The student ends up surpassing the teacher; something new that grows out of its source ends up bettering it. 锲而不舍 To persevere doggedly without ever giving up; to keep at something with constant effort until the goal is reached. 居安思危 To stay vigilant and guard against danger even when all is well; to not grow complacent in times of peace but prepare for hard times ahead. 黔驴技穷 To have exhausted one's few, limited resources; to be at the end of one's meager bag of tricks with nothing left to try. 胸有成竹 To have a well-laid plan already in mind; to approach something with full confidence because everything has been thought through in advance. 口蜜腹剑 Someone with honeyed words but a murderous heart; a dangerous hypocrite who flatters to your face while plotting your ruin behind your back. 请君入瓮 To trap someone using the very method or cruelty they devised for others; to give someone a taste of their own medicine. 破镜重圆 The reunion of a couple who had separated or divorced, coming back together after time apart. 入乡随俗 When you arrive somewhere new, adapt to the local customs rather than imposing your own; when in Rome, do as the Romans do. 丢三落四 To be scatterbrained and forgetful, always leaving things behind or losing them. Said of someone who does things carelessly and forgets half of them. 莫名其妙 Baffling and inexplicable; something so strange that no one can make sense of it. It can also describe someone behaving in a way no one can fathom. 想方设法 To try every possible way; to do whatever it takes to get something done. 半途而废 To give up halfway, abandoning a task or effort before it's finished. 实事求是 To base one's judgement on facts and assess things objectively, without bias or wishful thinking; to be realistic and honest. 千方百计 To use every possible means, to try every trick in the book to achieve something. 全力以赴 To go all out and throw every ounce of effort into something to see it through. 迫不及待 So impatient that one cannot wait a moment longer; itching to do something right away. 不可思议 Inconceivable, unimaginable, astonishing: something that completely defies the mind's ability to grasp or explain it. 一心一意 Wholeheartedly and single-mindedly, devoting one's full attention and effort to something or someone. 三心二意 To be half-hearted and of two minds, hesitating between options instead of committing fully to one thing. 五颜六色 Colorful, multicolored; said of anything bright and full of varied colors. By extension, also 'all sorts, every kind.' 乱七八糟 In a complete mess, all jumbled up and chaotic; also said of a tangled or muddled situation. 与众不同 Different from everyone else; standing out as singular or out of the ordinary. 兴高采烈 Bursting with joy and enthusiasm; in high spirits, elated. 恍然大悟 To suddenly grasp something; to understand all at once what had been confusing, as if a light switched on. 不知不觉 Without realizing it, imperceptibly; describing something that happens gradually before one notices. 自言自语 To talk to oneself, muttering quietly without addressing anyone in particular. 东张西望 To look around distractedly or nervously, glancing this way and that without focusing on what one should be doing. 络绎不绝 Describes an endless, uninterrupted stream of people, vehicles or things coming and going. 半信半疑 To half-believe and half-doubt: to accept something only partly while still being skeptical about it. 不约而同 To say or do the same thing at the same time without having agreed on it beforehand. 理所当然 Something so logical and expected that it is taken for granted; only natural, a matter of course. 自由自在 Free and easy, carefree; doing as one pleases without restraint or worry. 名副其实 When something genuinely lives up to its name or reputation; well-deserved and matching reality. 津津有味 With great relish and enjoyment; doing something (eating, reading, listening) with keen, absorbed pleasure. 一模一样 Exactly alike, identical; said of two things or people that cannot be told apart. 心甘情愿 Perfectly willing; to do something gladly and of one's own accord, with no reluctance or complaint. 不由自主 Involuntarily, without being able to help it: when the body or emotions react on their own, beyond one's control. 全心全意 Heart and soul; doing something wholeheartedly and without reservation. 无忧无虑 Carefree and free of worries; living at ease without anything weighing on your mind. 没完没了 Endless and never-ending; something that drags on and on, often to the point of being tiresome or annoying. 不三不四 Dubious and disreputable: said of shady, shifty people, or of things done in a half-baked, improper way. 三言两语 In just a few words, briefly; often used to say that something can be told quickly, or in the negative, that a few words aren't enough to explain it. 一目了然 So clear and well laid out that you grasp it the moment you look; obvious at first sight. 千辛万苦 Untold hardships; every kind of toil and suffering endured to achieve something. 全神贯注 To be fully absorbed in something, with all one's attention and energy focused on a single task. 引人注目 Eye-catching and noticeable; striking enough to draw everyone's attention. 迫在眉睫 Extremely urgent and brooking no delay; a matter that is right upon us.
Frequently asked questions
What is a chengyu?
A four-character Chinese idiom that packs a whole idea, often born from a classical story. They are used constantly, in writing and in speech.
How many chengyu are here, and what does each include?
140, each with tone-colored pinyin, its literal sense and its figurative meaning. The full origin story lives inside the app.
Are the chengyu paid content?
No: all 140 are free inside the Wanyu app, and here on the web you can browse them with no sign-up.