{"id":4061,"date":"2018-05-30T14:00:50","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T06:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/?p=4061"},"modified":"2022-06-03T22:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T14:00:00","slug":"10-useful-chinese-chengyu-and-idioms-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/10-useful-chinese-chengyu-and-idioms-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Useful Chinese Chengyu and Idioms for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are Chinese Chengyu?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chengyu \u6210\u8bed<\/a> (ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4) are idioms, usually made up of four Chinese characters. An idiom is a group of words that have a meaning not obviously made through the individual words. Most languages have their own idioms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in English when it rains heavily we commonly say it\u2019s raining \u2018cats and dogs\u2019. It is not literally raining animals, but it reflects the nature of the rain as falling heavily, such as if cats and dogs were to fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Spanish \u201cAbrir la caja de los truenos\u201d is the equivalent of to \u2018open a can of worms\u2019 which is used when a situation is created that will cause trouble or upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Idioms in any language are often interesting and sometimes even amusing. Whilst learning idioms is not essential, Chinese Chengyu will certainly improve your fluency and understanding of the Chinese language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is a simple introduction to some useful Chinese Chengyu to whet your appetite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \u9a6c\u9a6c\u864e\u864e<\/a> (m\u01ce ma h\u016b h\u016b)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u9a6c\u9a6c\u864e\u864e is probably one of most well known Chengyu because the literal translation is ‘horse horse, tiger tiger’. This is somewhat amusing, but the most common meaning is something like \u2018so-so\u2019 or \u2018not bad\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f60\u5531\u6b4c\u597d\u542c\u5417\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 ch\u00e0ng g\u0113 h\u01ceo t\u012bng ma?) = Are you a good singer?
\u9a6c\u9a6c\u864e\u864e.<\/a> (m\u01ce ma h\u016b h\u016b) = Just so-so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u4e03\u4e0a\u516b\u4e0b<\/a> (q\u012b sh\u00e0ng b\u0101 xi\u00e0)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Similar to the English expression \u2018all sixes and sevens\u2019, the literal translation of the idiom is \u2018Seven Up, Eight Down\u2019. This Chengyu refers to a person whose mind is a mess and cannot think straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u5fc3\u91cc\u4e03\u4e0a\u516b\u4e0b,\u4e0d\u77e5\u8be5\u600e\u4e48\u529e\u3002<\/a> (w\u01d2 x\u012bn li q\u012b sh\u00e0ng b\u0101 xi\u00e0, b\u00f9 zh\u012b g\u0101i z\u011bn me b\u00e0n.) = I’m all at sixes and sevens about what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. \u4e0d\u53ef\u601d\u8bae<\/a> (b\u00f9 k\u011b s\u012b y\u00ec)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The meaning behind this Chengyu is that something is inconceivable or truly amazing. The characters literally translate to \u4e0d\u53ef = \u2018cannot\u2019 and \u601d\u8bae which means to \u2018comprehend\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5c45\u7136\u662f\u4ed6\u8d62\u4e86\uff0c\u771f\u662f\u4e0d\u53ef\u601d\u8bae\u3002<\/a> (j\u016b r\u00e1n sh\u00ec t\u0101 y\u00edng le, zh\u0113n sh\u00ec b\u00f9 k\u011b s\u012b y\u00ec) = It is unbelievable that he won the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. \u4e5d\u725b\u4e00\u6bdb<\/a> (ji\u01d4 ni\u00fa y\u012b m\u00e1o)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The translation of this idiom is \u20181 hair from 9 oxen\u2019 and means to be a small thing amongst a huge quantity, like 1 hair amongst 9 cows. A similar idiom in English might be a ‘drop in the ocean’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8fd9\u70b9\u635f\u5931\u5bf9\u4ed6\u6765\u8bf4,\u53ea\u4e0d\u8fc7\u662f\u4e5d\u725b\u4e00\u6bdb\u3002<\/a> (zh\u00e8 di\u01cen s\u01d4n sh\u012b du\u00ec t\u0101 l\u00e1i shu\u014d, zh\u01d0 bu gu\u00f2 sh\u00ec ji\u01d4 ni\u00fa y\u012b m\u00e1o.) = For him the loss was only a drop in the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \u987a\u5176\u81ea\u7136<\/a> (sh\u00f9n q\u00ed z\u00ec r\u00e1n)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This Chengyu means \u2018let nature take its course\u2019. The first bigram \u987a\u5176 means to \u2018allow something to be\u2019, whilst \u81ea\u7136 means \u2018natural\u2019 or \u2018naturally\u2019. The idea behind this chengyu is that something should not be forced, but allowed to happen of its own accord, whether that be love or forging new relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u987a\u5176\u81ea\u7136\u4e0d\u7b49\u4e8e\u653e\u5f03\u3002<\/a> (sh\u00f9n q\u00ed z\u00ec r\u00e1n b\u00f9 d\u011bng y\u00fa f\u00e0ng q\u00ec.) = Letting go is not the same as giving up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. \u81ea\u7531\u81ea\u5728<\/a> (z\u00ec y\u00f3u z\u00ec z\u00e0i)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Meaning \u2018to be free and easy\u2019, this idiom translates as \u81ea\u7531 meaning freedom or liberty and \u81ea\u5728 which is to be \u2018unrestrained\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u6700\u5927\u7684\u613f\u671b\u5c31\u662f\u53ef\u4ee5\u81ea\u7531\u81ea\u5728\u7684\u751f\u6d3b\u3002<\/a>(w\u01d2 zu\u00ec d\u00e0 de yu\u00e0n w\u00e0ng ji\u00f9 sh\u00ec k\u011b y\u01d0 z\u00ec y\u00f3u z\u00ec z\u00e0i de sh\u0113ng hu\u00f3.) = My greatest wish is to live as free as a bird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. \u7834\u8d22\u514d\u707e<\/a> (p\u00f2 c\u00e1i mi\u01cen z\u0101i)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This meaning of this idiom is \u2018a financial loss could prevent further disaster\u2019 or more poetically \u2018A loss of wealth is a gain of health.\u2019 Basically, this idiom suggests that we should take solace when we lose something of value, as something worse could have happened. \u7834\u8d22 means to \u2018lose property\u2019, \u514d\u707e is to \u2018escape disaster\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u624b\u673a\u4e22\u4e86\u6ca1\u5173\u7cfb\uff0c\u5c31\u5f53\u662f\u7834\u8d22\u514d\u707e\u5427\u3002<\/a>(sh\u01d2u j\u012b di\u016b le m\u00e9i gu\u0101n xi, ji\u00f9 d\u0101ng sh\u00ec p\u00f2 c\u00e1i mi\u01cen z\u0101i ba.) It\u2019s OK to lose your mobile phone, just regard this as buying peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. \u98de\u86fe\u6251\u706b<\/a> (f\u0113i \u00e9 p\u016b hu\u01d2) – \u81ea\u53d6\u706d\u4ea1<\/a> (z\u00ec q\u01d4 mi\u00e8 w\u00e1ng)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This idiom is what is known as a \u6b47\u540e\u8bed<\/a> (xi\u0113 h\u00f2u y\u01d4), in which the second half of the saying holds the actual allegorical meaning. Sometimes the second meaning can be completely left out.
In this case, the first part of the idiom, \u98de\u86fe\u6251\u706b means \u2018a moth flies into the flame\u2019 which refers to \u2018fatal attraction\u2019. However, the second half \u81ea\u53d6\u706d\u4ea1, actually holds the real meaning, which is to \u2018court disaster, or to \u2018dig your own grave\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u4eec\u8fd9\u6837\u505a\u65e0\u5f02\u4e8e\u98de\u86fe\u6251\u706b\u3002<\/a>(t\u0101 men zh\u00e8 y\u00e0ng zu\u00f2 w\u00fa y\u00ec y\u00fa f\u0113i \u00e9 p\u016b hu\u01d2.) =
What they did was no different to being suicidal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. \u72d7\u62ff\u8017\u5b50<\/a> (g\u01d2u n\u00e1 h\u00e0o zi) – \u591a\u7ba1\u95f2\u4e8b<\/a> (du\u014d gu\u01cen xi\u00e1n sh\u00ec)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This is another example of \u6b47\u540e\u8bed<\/a>. The first half translates as \u2018a dog who catches mice.\u2019 whilst the second half, \u591a\u7ba1\u95f2\u4e8b means to be meddlesome or interfere with others\u2019 business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u5173\u5fc3\u5979\uff0c\u5979\u5374\u89c9\u5f97\u6211\u662f\u72d7\u62ff\u8017\u5b50\u3002<\/a>(w\u01d2 gu\u0101n x\u012bn t\u0101, t\u0101 qu\u00e8 ju\u00e9 de w\u01d2 sh\u00ec g\u01d2u n\u00e1 h\u00e0o zi.) = I was concerned about her, but she thought I was interfering in her business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. \u4ea1\u7f8a\u8865\u7262<\/a> (w\u00e1ng y\u00e1ng b\u01d4 l\u00e1o)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u4ea1\u7f8a\u8865\u7262 literally means to \u2018repair the pen after the sheep is dead\u2019, but its allegorical meaning is to act belatedly or like the English phrase, \u2018better late than never\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e3a\u4ec0\u4e48\u4e0d\u7ed9\u4ed6\u6253\u4e2a\u7535\u8bdd\u9053\u6b49\uff1f \u4ea1\u7f8a\u8865\u7262\uff0c\u4e3a\u65f6\u672a\u665a\u3002<\/a>(w\u00e8i sh\u00e9n me b\u00f9 g\u011bi t\u0101 d\u01ce g\u00e8 di\u00e0n hu\u00e0 d\u00e0o qi\u00e0n? w\u00e1ng y\u00e1ng b\u01d4 l\u00e1o, w\u00e9i sh\u00ed w\u00e8i w\u01cen.) = Why don’t you call him up and apologize? Better later than never.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are Chinese Chengyu? Chengyu \u6210\u8bed (ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4) are idioms, usually made up of four Chinese characters. An idiom is a group of words that have a meaning not obviously made through the individual words. Most languages have their own idioms. For example, in English when it rains heavily we commonly say it\u2019s raining \u2018cats… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[142,84],"tags":[269,345],"class_list":["use-editor no-single","post-4061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-culture-lessons","tag-culture","tag-intermediate"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Useful Chinese Chengyu and Idioms for Beginners<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chinese Chengyu \u6210\u8bed are idioms, usually made up of four characters. 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