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📋 All Idioms (A–Z by Pinyin)
拔苗助长
bá miáo zhù zhǎng
To ruin something by rushing it. Trying to speed up a natural process and ending up destroying it.
病入膏肓
bìng rù gāo huāng
Beyond cure; a problem so deeply rooted it cannot be fixed. Originally referred to terminal illness.
不耻下问
bù chǐ xià wèn
Not feeling ashamed to ask questions of those who are younger or of lower status. It describes a per…
不负众望
bù fù zhòng wàng
To live up to the expectations of the many; to not disappoint those who have placed their hopes in y…
不可思议
bù kě sī yì
Describes something so extraordinary, mysterious, or profound that it defies ordinary understanding …
不屈不挠
bù qū bù náo
This idiom describes someone who remains steadfast and refuses to give in, no matter how great the p…
不速之客
bù sù zhī kè
An uninvited guest; someone who arrives without prior notice or invitation. It can refer to an unexp…
成人之美
chéng rén zhī měi
To help others achieve their goals. To actively support another's success.
对牛弹琴
duì niú tán qín
To waste one's words or efforts on someone who cannot understand or appreciate them. Talking over so…
丰富多彩
fēng fù duō cǎi
Rich, varied, and colorful; describing content, activities, or life as being full of variety and int…
风华正茂
fēng huá zhèng mào
In the prime of youth, full of talent and vitality. At the peak of one's powers.
风和日丽
fēng hé rì lì
A four-character idiom describing fine, pleasant weather with gentle breeze and bright sunshine. It …
风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōu
To stand together through hardship; sharing the same fate in times of adversity. It describes people…
画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīng
The finishing touch that brings a work to life. A critical detail that elevates something from good …
画蛇添足
huà shé tiān zú
To ruin something by adding unnecessary details. Doing extra work that ends up making things worse i…
焕然一新
huàn rán yī xīn
Describes something that has been completely renewed or transformed, taking on an entirely fresh and…
花容月貌
huā róng yuè mào
An idiom praising a woman's extraordinary beauty, comparing her face to a blooming flower and her lo…
含辛茹苦
hán xīn rú kǔ
To endure all kinds of hardships and suffering. It describes someone who bears great difficulties pa…
红颜薄命
hóng yán bó mìng
This idiom describes the belief that beautiful women often suffer unfortunate or tragic destinies. I…
海阔天空
hǎi kuò tiān kōng
Describes something vast, boundless, and without limit — like the open sea and endless sky. It often…
虎头蛇尾
hǔ tóu shé wěi
Describes a situation, effort, or endeavor that begins with great energy and ambition but ends weakl…
驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
To do something with ease because one is experienced and familiar with it. It describes the confiden…
见异思迁
jiàn yì sī qiān
To be fickle; changing one's mind or desires constantly upon seeing new things. Lack of steadfastnes…
竭尽全力
jié jìn quán lì
To do everything in one's power and spare no effort in pursuing a goal. It conveys the idea of givin…
家喻户晓
jiā yù hù xiǎo
Known by every household; widely known and universally recognized. It describes something—often news…
坚不可摧
jiān bù kě cuī
Describes something so solid and strong that it absolutely cannot be broken, crushed, or destroyed. …
艰苦奋斗
jiān kǔ fèn dòu
To work hard and endure severe difficulties in order to achieve a goal. It emphasizes persevering th…
鸡犬不宁
jī quǎn bù níng
Describes a situation of great turmoil and disturbance where not even chickens and dogs can remain a…
惊天动地
jīng tiān dòng dì
An idiom describing something of tremendous impact, scale, or intensity — literally earth-shattering…
井底之蛙
jǐng dǐ zhī wā
A person with a narrow worldview who thinks they know everything, unaware of the vast world outside.
举一反三
jǔ yī fǎn sān
To deduce many things from one case; to draw inferences about other cases from one fact. It describe…
刻骨铭心
kè gǔ míng xīn
Describes something, usually gratitude, love, or a painful experience, that is so deeply felt it see…
刻舟求剑
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
To stubbornly hold onto outdated methods or ideas, ignoring that circumstances have changed.
开门见山
kāi mén jiàn shān
Literally 'to open the door and see the mountain,' this idiom means to come straight to the point wi…
枯木逢春
kū mù féng chūn
To find new life or opportunity after a period of decline. A second chance at success.
口若悬河
kǒu ruò xuán hé
Describes someone who speaks with great eloquence and fluency, as if water were pouring endlessly fr…
苦尽甘来
kǔ jìn gān lái
After enduring hardships, good times finally come. It describes the moment when suffering gives way …
良药苦口
liáng yào kǔ kǒu
Good medicine is bitter to the taste. This idiom means that honest criticism or uncomfortable advice…
两全其美
liǎng quán qí měi
To satisfy both sides of a situation, achieving the best outcome for everyone involved. It describes…
柳暗花明
liǔ àn huā míng
Describes a situation where, after a period of difficulty or apparent dead-end, things suddenly take…
落井下石
luò jǐng xià shí
To add trouble to someone who is already in difficulty, or to kick someone when they are down. It de…
来者不拒
lái zhě bù jù
A mindset of accepting everyone and everything that approaches or is offered, without discrimination…
力不从心
lì bù cóng xīn
To lack the strength or ability to accomplish what one wishes to do. It describes a situation where …
琳琅满目
lín láng mǎn mù
A dazzling array of beautiful things; an impressive collection of fine items filling one's field of …
老马识途
lǎo mǎ shí tú
An experienced person is familiar with a situation and can guide others through it, drawing on accum…
名落孙山
míng luò sūn shān
To fail a competitive examination or selection process. It refers to someone who did not make the cu…
莫名其妙
mò míng qí miào
A phrase describing something so strange or inexplicable that no one can articulate why it is the wa…
默默无闻
mò mò wú wén
Unknown to the public; living without fame or recognition.
目瞪口呆
mù dèng kǒu dāi
Dumbfounded, completely speechless with shock or astonishment.
每况愈下
měi kuàng yù xià
Describes a situation that keeps getting progressively worse over time. It conveys a steady and seem…
美中不足
měi zhōng bù zú
A minor flaw or imperfection in something that is otherwise excellent. It describes a situation wher…
鸟语花香
niǎo yǔ huā xiāng
An idiom describing a scene full of the songs of birds and the scent of flowers. It is used to paint…
难能可贵
nán néng kě guì
Describes something that is both hard to achieve and therefore highly praiseworthy. It is used to co…
南辕北辙
nán yuán běi zhé
To act in a way that runs directly counter to one's intended goal. It describes a situation where so…
庞然大物
páng rán dà wù
An enormous, awe-inspiring object or creature. It describes something of massive size that can appea…
萍水相逢
píng shuǐ xiāng féng
A chance meeting between strangers who happen to cross paths, much like duckweed drifting on water. …
破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
To burn one's bridges. Committing fully to a course of action with no retreat possible.
抛砖引玉
pāo zhuān yǐn yù
To offer a humble or modest remark in order to prompt others to share their more valuable insights o…
披荆斩棘
pī jīng zhǎn jí
To break through thorny undergrowth on a difficult path, metaphorically meaning to overcome great ob…
锲而不舍
qiè ér bù shě
To keep on carving without stopping. It describes someone who works with relentless perseverance and…
千军万马
qiān jūn wàn mǎ
Describes an enormous, formidable military force or a vast crowd of people and things. It conveys a …
千载难逢
qiān zǎi nán féng
An extremely rare opportunity or event that might occur only once in a millennium. It emphasizes how…
强词夺理
qiǎng cí duó lǐ
To use lame or forced arguments to insist on being right; to try to win a debate through sophistry r…
全心全意
quán xīn quán yì
To do something with one's entire heart and complete devotion. It describes putting absolute sinceri…
七上八下
qī shàng bā xià
Describes a state of great anxiety, nervousness, or inner turmoil where one's emotions fluctuate unp…
青出于蓝
qīng chū yú lán
The student surpasses the teacher. Successive generations improve upon their predecessors.
倾国倾城
qīng guó qīng chéng
An idiom describing a woman of such extraordinary beauty that she could cause the downfall of an ent…
青红皂白
qīng hóng zào bái
An idiom referring to the facts or the rights and wrongs of a situation. When used in the negative (…
青云直上
qīng yún zhí shàng
To rise rapidly and straight to a high position, like soaring through the blue sky. It describes som…
杞人忧天
qǐ rén yōu tiān
To worry unnecessarily about something that will never happen. It describes someone who wastes time …
起死回生
qǐ sǐ huí shēng
To bring back from the brink of death. To save a hopeless situation miraculously.
人面兽心
rén miàn shòu xīn
Describes a person who appears human on the outside but possesses a cruel, savage, or immoral nature…
人山人海
rén shān rén hǎi
Describes a place filled with an enormous, dense crowd of people. The sheer number of people makes t…
日新月异
rì xīn yuè yì
Describes things that change and improve rapidly and constantly. It conveys the idea of continuous, …
如虎添翼
rú hǔ tiān yì
To become even more powerful. Adding strength to something already strong.
如坐针毡
rú zuò zhēn zhān
To be in an extremely uncomfortable or anxious position. Feeling restless and uneasy.
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistent effort overcomes the hardest obstacles. Small actions repeated continuously accomplish gr…
水落石出
shuǐ luò shí chū
The truth finally comes to light after a period of uncertainty. It describes a situation where hidde…
势不可挡
shì bù kě dǎng
An irresistible force or trend. Something so powerful that nothing can stand in its way.
适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
To know when to stop before going too far. To stop at the right moment.
世外桃源
shì wài táo yuán
A metaphor for an idealized, secluded place far from the troubles of the real world. It describes a …
实事求是
shí shì qiú shì
To approach problems objectively and seek truth from concrete facts rather than from preconceived no…
熟能生巧
shú néng shēng qiǎo
Through repeated practice, one naturally develops skill and proficiency. The idiom teaches that mast…
杀鸡儆猴
shā jī jǐng hóu
To punish one person as a warning to others. It is a strategy where a minor offender is made an exam…
山穷水尽
shān qióng shuǐ jìn
Describes a situation where all resources and options have been completely depleted, leaving a perso…
身临其境
shēn lín qí jìng
To feel as though one is personally present in a situation or scene. It describes the vivid, immersi…
舍本逐末
shě běn zhú mò
To focus on trivial matters while neglecting the essential. To lose sight of what's truly important.
赏心悦目
shǎng xīn yuè mù
Describes something — typically scenery, art, or music — that is deeply satisfying both emotionally …
史无前例
shǐ wú qián lì
An event or situation that has never occurred in recorded history; completely unprecedented. It desc…
手不释卷
shǒu bù shì juàn
To be so fond of reading that one always has a book in hand and cannot bear to put it down. It descr…
守株待兔
shǒu zhū dài tù
To wait idly for opportunities instead of taking initiative. To rely on chance or past luck rather t…
塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
A loss may turn out to be a gain, and vice versa. Fortune and misfortune are interconnected and hard…
四海为家
sì hǎi wéi jiā
To feel at home anywhere in the world. To live freely without being tied to one place.
三顾茅庐
sān gù máo lú
Describes earnestly and repeatedly seeking out talent or a wise person with great sincerity and humi…
三心二意
sān xīn èr yì
To be half-hearted, indecisive, or easily distracted. It describes someone who lacks focus and keeps…
甜言蜜语
tián yán mì yǔ
Refers to excessively flattering, coaxing, or honeyed words meant to deceive or please someone. It c…
天罗地网
tiān luó dì wǎng
An inescapable trap or dragnet that leaves no way out. It describes a situation where someone is com…
天衣无缝
tiān yī wú fèng
Perfectly done, with no flaws or gaps. Flawless execution or design.
谈笑风生
tán xiào fēng shēng
To talk and laugh cheerfully and animatedly, with an engaging and lively manner. It describes someon…
同甘共苦
tóng gān gòng kǔ
To share both joys and hardships together. It describes a deep bond between people—such as comrades,…
兔死狐悲
tù sǐ hú bēi
To grieve for someone whose fate might become your own. Feeling sorrow for the misfortune of a simil…
突如其来
tū rú qí lái
Something happens suddenly and unexpectedly, without any warning or preparation. It describes an eve…
忐忑不安
tǎn tè bù ān
Describes a state of restlessness and anxiety, where one's heart pounds nervously and one cannot fee…
完璧归赵
wán bì guī zhào
To return something to its rightful owner in perfect condition. It describes restoring an item witho…
亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
It's never too late to fix a problem. Taking corrective action after damage has occurred is still wo…
唯我独尊
wéi wǒ dú zūn
Describes someone who is supremely arrogant and considers no one else as important as themselves. It…
闻鸡起舞
wén jī qǐ wǔ
To rise early and work diligently. Seizing the morning to practice and improve oneself.
无价之宝
wú jià zhī bǎo
A priceless treasure; something so precious that no amount of money can measure its worth. It is use…
无可厚非
wú kě hòu fēi
An idiom meaning that someone's actions or opinions, though perhaps not ideal, are understandable an…
无与伦比
wú yǔ lún bǐ
This idiom describes something so outstanding or unique that nothing else can be compared to it. It …
微不足道
wēi bù zú dào
Something so small or trivial that it is not worth mentioning. It describes matters of negligible im…
五谷丰登
wǔ gǔ fēng dēng
An idiom describing a bumper harvest of all crops, symbolizing prosperity and favorable weather for …
五花八门
wǔ huā bā mén
A wide variety; many different kinds of things. Diverse and colorful.
向隅而泣
xiàng yú ér qì
To weep alone in a corner, isolated from others' joy. Feeling left out while others celebrate.
相得益彰
xiāng dé yì zhāng
Two or more things complement each other perfectly, bringing out the best in one another. When paire…
胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
To have a well-thought-out plan or a clear picture in mind before taking action. It describes someon…
悬梁刺股
xuán liáng cì gǔ
To study with desperate intensity and self-imposed hardship. It describes someone who endures physic…
学而不厌
xué ér bù yàn
To have an insatiable thirst for learning. Studying endlessly without growing tired of it.
心旷神怡
xīn kuàng shén yí
Describes a state of being completely relaxed and joyful, with a broad and open mind. It conveys the…
心心相印
xīn xīn xiāng yìn
Two people understand each other completely, as if their hearts were sealed together. It describes a…
喜出望外
xǐ chū wàng wài
To be overjoyed, delighted beyond expectation. It describes the feeling of being pleasantly surprise…
喜闻乐见
xǐ wén lè jiàn
This idiom describes something that people love to hear and see, referring to things that are widely…
缘木求鱼
yuán mù qiú yú
To pursue a goal through completely wrong methods. Trying to achieve something in a way that can nev…
源远流长
yuán yuǎn liú cháng
It describes something with a long and distinguished history, tracing far back to its origins. Often…
跃跃欲试
yuè yuè yù shì
Describes an eager, enthusiastic readiness to attempt something new or take on a challenge. The pers…
言而无信
yán ér wú xìn
To speak but fail to keep one's word; to be untrustworthy or insincere in what one says. It describe…
叶公好龙
yè gōng hào lóng
To claim to like something but actually fear it when confronted with the real thing. Pretended affec…
移山倒海
yí shān dǎo hǎi
To accomplish the seemingly impossible through sheer will and effort. Transforming nature itself.
贻笑大方
yí xiào dà fāng
To make a fool of oneself before an expert or a knowledgeable audience. It conveys humility or self-…
迎刃而解
yíng rèn ér jiě
To be solved with ease, as if a bamboo stalk naturally splits apart when the blade finds its edge. I…
愚公移山
yú gōng yí shān
Perseverance and determination can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. Steady effort over gener…
余音绕梁
yú yīn rào liáng
Describes music or singing so beautiful that its sound seems to linger in the air long after it has …
一步登天
yī bù dēng tiān
To attempt the impossible overnight. Expecting instant success without the necessary gradual process…
衣冠楚楚
yī guān chǔ chǔ
Describes a person who is dressed immaculately and elegantly, with every garment in perfect order. I…
一举成名
yī jǔ chéng míng
To achieve fame and recognition through a single successful action or accomplishment. It describes s…
一举两得
yī jǔ liǎng dé
To achieve two goals with a single action. It describes a situation where one effort produces two be…
一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
To amaze everyone with a single brilliant act. Achieving sudden fame or success after a period of ob…
一目了然
yī mù liǎo rán
Things become completely clear at a single glance. It describes a situation where the facts or overa…
一诺千金
yī nuò qiān jīn
A single promise is as valuable as a thousand pieces of gold. It describes a person who keeps their …
一视同仁
yī shì tóng rén
To treat everyone with equal kindness and fairness, without discrimination or favoritism. It describ…
一丝不挂
yī sī bù guà
Literally 'not a single thread on one's body,' this idiom is most commonly used to describe someone …
一丝不苟
yī sī bù gǒu
Describes someone who is extremely meticulous and thorough in everything they do, not neglecting eve…
一往无前
yī wǎng wú qián
To press forward with indomitable will, advancing without anything that can stop or deter one. It de…
一心一意
yī xīn yī yì
To be wholeheartedly devoted to something with undivided attention and complete sincerity. It descri…
一意孤行
yī yì gū xíng
To stubbornly insist on doing things one's own way, disregarding the advice or objections of others.…
一语道破
yī yǔ dào pò
To hit the nail on the head with a single sentence. To reveal the truth in one incisive remark.
因地制宜
yīn dì zhì yí
To adopt measures suited to local conditions. It means that policies, methods, or strategies should …
掩耳盗铃
yǎn ěr dào líng
To deceive oneself by ignoring obvious facts. It describes a person who tries to hide a problem from…
引人注目
yǐn rén zhù mù
To draw people's attention; to be eye-catching or conspicuous. It describes someone or something tha…
有备无患
yǒu bèi wú huàn
Being well-prepared in advance prevents danger or trouble. It emphasizes that taking precautions bef…
与日俱增
yǔ rì jù zēng
To grow steadily with each passing day. It describes something—such as a feeling, influence, or prob…
志同道合
zhì tóng dào hé
Describes people who share the same ambitions, ideals, and goals in life. It is commonly used to exp…
直截了当
zhí jié liǎo dàng
Straightforward and direct, without beating around the bush. Describes speech or action that gets ri…
争先恐后
zhēng xiān kǒng hòu
To scramble to be first and fear being left behind. It describes people eagerly competing or rushing…
知难而进
zhī nán ér jìn
To forge ahead despite knowing the difficulties ahead. It describes a courageous and resolute attitu…
纸上谈兵
zhǐ shàng tán bīng
To engage in empty theorizing about military strategy without practical experience. It describes som…
在所不惜
zài suǒ bù xī
To not hesitate at all; to be willing to do something regardless of the cost or sacrifice. It convey…
责无旁贷
zé wú páng dài
One's duty cannot be shifted to others; the responsibility rests squarely on oneself and must not be…
贼眉鼠眼
zéi méi shǔ yǎn
Describes a person who looks sly, shifty, and untrustworthy. It conveys the impression that someone …
自暴自弃
zì bào zì qì
To willfully degrade oneself and give up all hope of self-improvement. It describes a person who, af…
自强不息
zì qiáng bù xī
To relentlessly strive to improve oneself without ever giving up. It describes an indomitable will a…
自相矛盾
zì xiāng máo dùn
To contradict oneself. Saying or doing things that cannot both be true at the same time.
走马观花
zǒu mǎ guān huā
To look at flowers while riding a horse — meaning to give something a quick, superficial glance with…
按部就班
àn bù jiù bān
To proceed in an orderly, step-by-step manner. Following a planned sequence without rushing.