Chinese culture is extensive and profound; you can never learn them all. But just as the old saying goes, when in Rome do as the Romans do. We Chinese like using idiom to express us in everyday life. So my dear friend, you should try to know some idiom.

“Theme Chinese” is the feature of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language in Jiangsu University. And learn some Chinese idiom is part of the class in the later time.

More about Jiangsu University’s theme Chinese programe.

Chinese idiom (Zhōng guó chéng yǔ 中国成语) is one of the priceless legacies deeply rooted in traditional culture, making Chinese language more powerful, more functional and thus, more fascinating. Since each of the idioms is the precious fruit of repeating hammer-harden through history, they all bear extremely profound implications in them.

The list below contains all the Chinese idioms you will find in Chinese daily language. They are arranged alphabetically. Each idiom here consists of pronunciation, interpretation, source, sentence example and some of them with related flash attached for your better understanding.  Have fun!

爱屋及乌[ài wū jí wū]

There was a state called zhou (zhōu 周) in the chinese history. One day, the king of zhou asked his officials for advice on dealing with prisoners of war.An official said, "i once heard if you love someone, you are intended to love even the crows on the roof of his house; if you hate someone, you are intended to hate even the walls and the parapets of his. The prisoners of war were enemies fighting against us. In my opinion, we'd better kill them all."

闭门造车[bì mén zào chē]

In ancient times, there was a man who wanted to make a fine cart. But, instead of learning how to do it form experts, he shut himself up at home and worked at it. Despite the time and effort he spent on it, the cart was useless. This chinese idiom means to make a cart behind closed doors or to work behind closed doors; divorce oneself from the masses and from reality; act blindly. It is also used metahhorically to mean being too subjective and disregrading the rest of the world.

沉鱼落雁[chén yú luò yàn]

In Chinese ancient history,there were four well-known beauties named Shi Shr (xī shī 西施),Wang Jau-jun (wāng zhāo jūn 王昭君),Diao chan (diāo chán 貂蝉),Yang yu-huan (yáng yù huán 杨玉环). Though they were not in the same period, their unforgettable beauties were universally acclaimed by the later generations.

Shi Shr lived in the state of Yue (yuè 越国),during the Spring and autum period (春秋 chūn qiū,770 - 221BC). One day,she and a group of her femal friends went to a nearby river to wash yarn. The sky was blue,the water was extremly crystal that they could see flocks of fish swimming in the water here and there cheerfully. The fish ,too,could see the girls very clearly. Suddenly ,all of the fish began to swim swiftly downward to the bottom of the water,being shocked by the unparalleled beauty of Shi Shr and feeling ashamed themselves. Before long ,the interesting story were diffused and known by most civillians around the country. They therefore gave Shi Shr a nickname ‘The girl makes the fish sink’ ,demonstrating how beautiful she was.

东道主人[dōng dào zhǔ rén]

During the Spring and Autumn Period (chūn qiū 春秋时期,770-476 BC), the kingdom of Chin was planning to collaborate with kingdom of Ch'in to attack the kingdom of Cheng. Duke Wen of Cheng was sure that he didn't have a chance against these two large kingdoms, and very afraid. So, at the suggestion of one of his official, the duke sent his minister Ju Jr-wu to Ch'in to try to convince the king not to attack Cheng.

对牛弹琴[duì niú tán qín]

In ancient times there was a man who played the zither very well. Once, he played a tune in front of a cow, hoping that the cow would apperciate it. The tune was melodious, but the cow showed no reaction, and just kept on eating grass, The man sighed, and went away.

This idiom is used to indicate reasoning with stubborn people or talking to the wrong audience.