Chinese Idiom: 围魏救赵 (Wei Wei Jiu Zhao) English Translation: Surround Wei to rescue Zhao pīn yīn: wéi wèi jiù zhào Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the strategy of attacking an enemy’s rear or base rather than confronting them directly, thereby forcing them to retreat to defend their own territory. Historical Source: Records of the […]
Chinese Idiom: 坐享其成 (Zuo Xiang Qi Cheng) English Translation: Sitting and enjoying the fruits of others’ labor pīn yīn: zuò xiáng qí chéng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to benefiting from the hard work of others without making any effort oneself Historical Source: Records of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms (《东周列国志》). Idiom Story: During a certain
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Chinese Idiom: 坐山观虎斗 (Zuo Shan Guan Hu Dou) English Translation: Sitting on a mountain to watch the tigers fight pīn yīn: zuò shān guān hǔ dòu Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the act of taking a neutral or passive stance in a conflict between two parties, waiting for an opportunity to benefit from their
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Chinese Idiom: 坐观成败 (Wu Feng Shi Yu) English Translation: Sitting and watching the outcome of success or failure pīn yīn: zuò guān chéng bài Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to passively observing the successes or failures of others, implying a sense of indifference or a lack of involvement in a situation. Historical Source: Records of
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Chinese Idiom: 耳闻不如目见 (Er Wen Bu Ru Mu Jian) English Translation: Hearing is not as good as seeing pīn yīn: ěr wén bù rú mù jiàn Idiom Meaning: This idiom emphasizes the importance of firsthand investigation and research over relying on hearsay or rumors. Historical Source: Liu Xiang’s Shuoyuan (《说苑·政理》) from the Han dynasty. Idiom
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Chinese Idiom: 此地无银三百两 (Ci Di Wu Yin San Bai Liang) English Translation: There are no three hundred taels of silver here pīn yīn: cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes the act of trying to conceal something, which ironically draws more attention to it, leading to greater exposure. Historical Source:
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Chinese Idiom: 先发制人 (Xian Fa Zhi Ren) English Translation: Strike first to gain control over others pīn yīn: xiān fā zhì rén Idiom Meaning: This idiom originally referred to the advantage of taking the initiative in warfare, implying that the first to act often holds a commanding position and can control the opponent. Nowadays, it
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Chinese Idiom: 先斩后奏 (Xian Zhan Hou Zou) English Translation: Execute first, report later. pīn yīn: xiān zhǎn hòu zòu Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to situations where a person takes action without prior approval or consultation, creating a fait accompli, and then reports the actions to superiors afterward. “斩” (zhan) means to execute (in the
Chinese Idiom: 约法三章 (Yue Fa San Zhang) English Translation: Agreeing on three laws pīn yīn: yuē fǎ sān zhāng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to setting forth a few rules or regulations that everyone must follow. “约” (yuē) means to agree or to stipulate; “法” (fǎ) means law; “三章” (sān zhāng) translates to three articles or
Chinese Idiom: 因地制宜 (Yin Di Zhi Yi) English Translation: Adapting measures to local conditions pīn yīn: yīn dì zhì yí Idiom Meaning: This idiom emphasizes the importance of taking appropriate measures based on the specific conditions of different regions. “因” (yīn) means according to or relying on; “地” (dì) refers to the land or local conditions;
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