Idioms about Events

Mang Ren Mo Xiang – Blind people touching an elephant

Chinese Idiom: 盲人摸象 (Mang Ren Mo Xiang) English Translation: Blind people touching an elephant pīn yīn: máng rén mō xiàng Idiom Meaning: To have an incomplete understanding of a situation or object, leading to stubbornness and misguided conclusions. Historical Source: From the Indian Buddhist scripture Nirvana Sutra (《涅槃经》). Idiom Story: The idiom “盲人摸象” originates from […]

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Mang Ren Xia Ma – A blind person riding a blind horse

Chinese Idiom: 盲人瞎马 (Mang Ren Xia Ma) English Translation: A blind person riding a blind horse pīn yīn: máng rén xiā mǎ Idiom Meaning: To act recklessly and blindly, resulting in a very dangerous situation. Historical Source: From Shishuo Xinyu (《世说新语》) by Liu Yiqing of the Southern Dynasty. Idiom Story: The idiom “盲人瞎马” originates from

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Jia Qing Jiu Shu – Drive a light cart on a familiar road

Chinese Idiom: 驾轻就熟 (Jia Qing Jiu Shu) English Translation: Drive a light cart on a familiar road pīn yīn: jià qīng jiù shú Idiom Meaning: Originally meaning to drive a light carriage on a well-known path, it now refers to performing a task with ease due to familiarity and experience. Historical Source: From The Preface

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Bo Luan Fan Zheng – Restore order by correcting chaos

Chinese Idiom: 拨乱反正 (Bo Luan Fan Zheng) English Translation: Restore order by correcting chaos pīn yīn: bō luàn fǎn zhèng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the act of restoring what has been distorted or disrupted back to its correct state. It can also metaphorically mean returning things to their original nature or principles. Historical

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Tu Si Gou Peng – When the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked

Chinese Idiom: 兔死狗烹 (Tu Si Gou Peng) English Translation: When the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked pīn yīn: tú sǐ gǒu pēng Idiom Meaning: This phrase is used to describe a situation where individuals can only share hardships together but cannot enjoy successes or happiness together. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》)

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Shi Ruo Wu Du – Regard something as if it were not seen

Chinese Idiom: 视若无睹 (Shi Ruo Wu Du) English Translation: Regard something as if it were not seen pīn yīn: shì ruò wú dǔ Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where someone is aware of something but behaves as if they are not, showing indifference or lack of concern. Historical Source: Ying Ke Mu Shi

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Mai Jian Mai Niu – Sell the sword and buy an ox

Chinese Idiom: 卖剑买牛 (Mai Jian Mai Niu) English Translation: Sell the sword and buy an ox pīn yīn: mài jiàn mǎi niú Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the act of transitioning from military activities to agricultural work, symbolizing a shift from warfare to peaceful development. Historical Source: Book of Han (《汉书 · 龚遂传》). Idiom

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Bing Zhu Ye You – Holding a candle to wander at night

Chinese Idiom: 秉烛夜游 (Bing Zhu Ye You) English Translation: Holding a candle to wander at night pīn yīn: bǐng zhú yè yóu Idiom Meaning: This idiom expresses a sense of melancholy about the brevity of life, suggesting that one should seize the moment and enjoy life to the fullest. Historical Source: Li Bai’s Spring Night

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Pi Jing Zhan Ji – Clearing away thorns and brambles

Chinese Idiom: 披荆斩棘 (Pi Jing Zhan Ji) English Translation: Clearing away thorns and brambles pīn yīn: pī jīng zhǎn jí Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to overcoming numerous difficulties and obstacles on the path to progress; it also describes the hardships of starting a business. Historical Source: Book of the Later Han (《后汉书》), specifically in

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Bao Xin Jiu Huo – Holding firewood to extinguish a fire

Chinese Idiom: 抱薪救火 (Bao Xin Jiu Huo) English Translation: Adding Fuel to the Fire pīn yīn: bào xīn jiù huǒ Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to using the wrong methods to eliminate a disaster, ultimately making the situation worse. Historical Source: Shiji (《史记》) by Sima Qian Idiom Story: During the Warring States Period, the state

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