Chinese Idiom: 因人成事 (Yin Ren Cheng Shi) English Translation: Achieving success by relying on others pīn yīn: yīn rén chéng shì Idiom Meaning: This idiom means to rely on others to successfully accomplish a task. “因” (yīn) signifies dependence, while “成事” (chéng shì) means to complete or accomplish something. Historical Source: “Records of the Grand Historian” […]
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Chinese Idiom: 当头棒喝 (Dang Tou Bang He) English Translation: A sudden blow to the head with a stick pīn yīn: dāng tóu bàng hè Idiom Meaning: Originally, it referred to a strong reprimand that jolted someone awake from confusion. It is now commonly used to denote methods that are relatively harsh or forceful, leading people to
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Chinese Idiom: 负隅顽抗 (Fu Yu Wan Kang) English Translation: Resisting tenaciously from a stronghold pīn yīn: fù yú wán kàng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to stubbornly resisting or opposing something by relying on advantageous conditions or strongholds. Historical Source: “Mencius” (《孟子 · 尽心下》) Idiom Story: In a year of famine in the State of Qi,
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Chinese Idiom: 负荆请罪 (Fu Jing Qing Zui) English Translation: Carrying brambles on one’s back to apologize pīn yīn: fù jīng qǐng zuì Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to actively admitting one’s mistakes and apologizing to someone. Historical Source: “Records of the Grand Historian” (《史记 ·廉颇蔺相如列传》) Idiom Story: In 283 BC, after Lin Xiangru successfully returned the
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Chinese Idiom: 问一得三 (Wen Yi De San) English Translation: Ask one question and receive three answers pīn yīn: wèn yī dé sān Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where one asks few questions but receives a wealth of information in return, symbolizing that a small inquiry can yield great rewards. Historical Source: “The Analects of
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Chinese Idiom: 成也萧何，败也萧何 (Cheng Ye Xiao He, Bai Ye Xiao He) English Translation: Success or failure is attributed to Xiao He pīn yīn: chéng yě xiāo hé, bài yě xiāo hé Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to how the success or failure of a situation is solely determined by one person. Historical Source: “Rong Zhai
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Chinese Idiom: 决一雌雄 (Jue Yi Ci Xiong) English Translation: Determine the Male and Female pīn yīn: jué yī cí xióng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to a decisive competition to determine superiority or victory between two parties. It implies a confrontation or challenge to establish who is better or who will win. Historical Source: “Records
Chinese Idiom: 机不可失 (Ji Bu Ke Shi) English Translation: Do not miss a critical opportunity pīn yīn: jī bù kě shī Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the idea that rare opportunities are fleeting and must be seized when they arise. Historical Source: “旧唐书 · 李靖传” (Old Book of Tang: Biography of Li Jing). Idiom
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Chinese Idiom: 仰人鼻息 (Yang Ren Bi Xi) English Translation: Relying on the breath of others pīn yīn: yǎng rén bí xī Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where one is entirely dependent on others for survival or support, unable to act independently. It implies a lack of self-sufficiency and the need to rely on
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Chinese Idiom: 各自为政 (Ge Zi Wei Zheng) English Translation: Each governs their own affairs pīn yīn: gè zì wèi zhèng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to individuals acting according to their own opinions without considering the overall situation. Historical Source: “Zuo Zhuan” (《左传》), specifically in the section regarding the events of the second year of
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