Chinese Idiom: 四面楚歌 (Si Mian Chu Ge) English Translation: Songs of Chu from all four sides pīn yīn: sì miàn chǔ gē Idiom Meaning: To be in a desperate and surrounded situation, facing enemies on all sides, or to be isolated and without support. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian (《史记·项羽本纪》) by Sima Qian. […]
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Chinese Idiom: 去伪存真 (Qu Wei Cun Zhen) English Translation: Remove the false and retain the true pīn yīn: qù wěi cún zhēn Idiom Meaning: To discard what is false or deceptive and keep what is genuine or true. Historical Source: Lüshi Chunqiu (《吕氏春秋》), a philosophical work from the Warring States period. Idiom Story: The story
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Chinese Idiom: 付之一炬 (Fu Zhi Yi Ju) English Translation: Consign to a torch pīn yīn: fù zhī yī jù Idiom Meaning: To destroy something completely by burning it; to wipe out entirely. Historical Source: Du Mu’s Efang Palace Ode (《阿房宫赋》) written during the Tang Dynasty. Idiom Story: Du Mu, a notable poet and scholar of
Chinese Idiom: 乐极生悲 (Le Ji Sheng Bei) English Translation: Extreme joy leads to sorrow pīn yīn: lè jí shēng bēi Idiom Meaning: This idiom suggests that experiencing the highest level of happiness or success often leads to subsequent misfortune or sadness. Historical Source: Huainanzi (《淮南子》) Idiom Story: During the Warring States period in China, there
Chinese Idiom: 巧取豪夺 (Qiao Qu Hao Duo) English Translation: Cunningly obtain and forcefully seize pīn yīn: qiǎo qǔ háo duó Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to obtaining property, power, or other benefits through coercion or deception. “巧取” (qiǎo qǔ) means to obtain something through trickery or deceit, while “豪夺” (háo duó) means to seize something
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Chinese Idiom: 失斧疑邻 (Shi Fu Yi Lin) English Translation: Losing an axe and suspecting the neighbor pīn yīn: shī fǔ yí lín Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe the act of jumping to conclusions and suspecting others without proper investigation, often leading to unjust accusations. Historical Source: Liezi (《列子 ·说符》) Idiom Story: The
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Chinese Idiom: 无可奈何 (Wu Ke Nai He) English Translation: There is nothing one can do pīn yīn: wú kě nài hé Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where one is powerless or has no way to solve a problem or deal with a situation. It expresses a sense of helplessness or resignation in the
Chinese Idiom: 无人问津 (Wu Ren Wen Jin) English Translation: No one asks for it pīn yīn: wú rén wèn jīn Idiom Meaning: This idiom means that no one shows interest or inquires about something. It is used to describe situations where something or someone is neglected or ignored, and no one bothers to ask or
Chinese Idiom: 水滴石穿 (Shui Di Shi Chuan) English Translation: Water dripping through stone pīn yīn: shuǐ dī shí chuān Idiom Meaning: This idiom means that even the most insignificant effort, when applied persistently, can achieve seemingly impossible results. It emphasizes the power of perseverance and the idea that continuous, small actions can overcome great obstacles.
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Chinese Idiom: 水深火热 (Shui Shen Huo Re) English Translation: Deep water and scorching fire pīn yīn: shuǐ shēn huǒ rè Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation of extreme suffering and harsh conditions. It is used to convey the idea of being in a very painful or difficult predicament. Historical Source: This idiom comes from
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