Chinese Idiom: 蜂拥而起 (Feng Yong Er Qi) English Translation: Swarm Up pīn yīn: fēng yōng ér qǐ Idiom Meaning: To describe a large number of people rising up or rushing together. Historical Source: From Shiji (史记) – The Records of the Grand Historian, specifically the chapter on Xiang Yu (项羽). Idiom Story: In his account […]
Chinese Idiom: 滂沱大雨 (Pang Tuo Da Yu) English Translation: Pouring Rain pīn yīn: páng tuó dà yǔ Idiom Meaning: Describes heavy rainfall. Historical Source: From the Book of Songs (诗经), “Xiao Ya” (小雅), specifically the poem “Jian Jian Zhi Shi” (渐渐之石). Idiom Story: The poem “渐渐之石” reflects the hardships faced by soldiers during their eastern
Chinese Idiom: 暗送秋波 (An Song Qiu Bo) English Translation: Secretly Sending Autumn Waves pīn yīn: àn sòng qiū bō Idiom Meaning: Originally, this idiom referred to secretly conveying romantic feelings through subtle glances; it has since evolved to imply flattery or covertly forming relationships, often with a negative connotation. “Autumn waves” describes the clear and
Chinese Idiom: 源头活水 (Yuan Tou Huo Shui) English Translation: Living Water from the Source pīn yīn: yuán tóu huó shuǐ Idiom Meaning: This idiom suggests that for knowledge to advance and for enterprises to develop, one must continually absorb new ideas and explore new questions. Historical Source: From Zhu Xi’s poem “Reflections on Reading” (《观书有感》)
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Chinese Idiom: 短褐穿结 (Duan He Chuan Jie) English Translation: Short Rags with Frayed Edges pīn yīn: duǎn hè chuān jié Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes tattered and shabby clothing. Historical Source: From The Biography of Mr. Wuliu (《五柳先生传》) by Tao Qian (also known as Tao Yuanming). Idiom Story: At the age of forty-one, Tao Qian
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Chinese Idiom: 短小精悍 (Duan Xiao Jing Han) English Translation: Short and Vigorous pīn yīn: duǎn xiǎo jīng hàn Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a person who is short in stature but sharp-witted and capable; it is often used to refer to writing, speeches, or expressions that are brief yet powerful. Historical Source: From Records of
Chinese Idiom: 嗟来之食 (Jie Lai Zhi Shi) English Translation: Food Offered with a Sigh pīn yīn: jiē lái zhī shí Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically refers to insulting charity or alms, where refusing such offerings is viewed as a demonstration of integrity. Historical Source: From The Book of Rites (礼记), specifically The Lower Records of
Chinese Idiom: 富贵荣华 (Fu Gui Rong Hua) English Translation: Wealth, Nobility, and Glory pīn yīn: fù guì róng huá Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a high position with great wealth and power. “富” (wealth) means having money; “贵” (nobility) refers to having a high social status; “荣华” (glory) signifies prosperity and fame. Historical Source: The
Chinese Idiom: 落月屋梁 (Luo Yue Wu Liang) English Translation: The moon falls upon the roof beams pīn yīn: luò yuè wū liáng Idiom Meaning: This idiom expresses a deep longing and remembrance for a friend. Historical Source: The idiom originates from a poem titled Dreaming of Li Bai (《梦李白》) by the Tang Dynasty poet Du
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Chinese Idiom: 硬语盘空 (Ying Yu Pan Kong) English Translation: Hard language spiraling in the sky pīn yīn: yìng yǔ pán kōng Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically describes writing that is vigorous, powerful, and full of momentum. Historical Source: The idiom originates from a poem titled Recommending Scholars (《荐士》) by Han Yu during the Tang Dynasty.
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