Chinese Idiom: 大公无私 (Da Gong Wu Si) English Translation: Selfless and Impartial pīn yīn: dà gōng wú sī Idiom Meaning: Describes someone who acts with complete fairness and without personal bias, always prioritizing the interests of the public or a cause above personal gain. Historical Source: The Annals of Lü Buwei Idiom Story: During the […]
Chinese Idiom: 以貌取人 (Yi Mao Qu Ren) English Translation: Judge a Person Based on Their Appearance pīn yīn: yǐ mào qǔ rén Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to making judgments about someone’s character or capabilities solely based on their outward appearance, rather than their true qualities or actions. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian
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Chinese Idiom: 大义灭亲 (Da Yi Mie Qin) English Translation: Upholding Justice Over Family Ties pīn yīn: dà yì miè qīn Idiom Meaning: This idiom means sacrificing personal or familial bonds to uphold righteousness and justice. “大义” refers to noble righteousness and justice, while “亲” refers to relatives. Historical Source: “Zuo Zhuan,” Year Three of Duke
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Chinese Idiom: 三人行，必有我师 (San Ren Xing, Bi You Wo Shi) English Translation: Among Three People, There Must Be My Teacher pīn yīn: sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī Idiom Meaning: The original meaning suggests that among a group of people walking together, there is always someone from whom one can learn. It later came
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Chinese Idiom: 三思而行 (San Si Er Xing) English Translation: Think Twice Before Acting pīn yīn: sān sī ér xíng Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to advise people to consider carefully before taking action. “Three thoughts” implies multiple considerations, and “three” suggests repeatedly and many times. Historical Source: The Analects of Confucius, Chapter 6. Idiom
Chinese Idiom: 三令五申 (San Ling Wu Shen) English Translation: Repeated Admonitions pīn yīn: sān lìng wǔ shēn Idiom Meaning: To repeatedly warn or admonish. The numbers “three” and “five” are not to be taken literally but indicate multiple times; “申” means to express or explain. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian (史记) by Sima
Chinese Idiom: 十年树木 (Shi Nian Shu Mu) English Translation: Ten Years to Grow a Tree pīn yīn: shí nián shù mù Idiom Meaning: This idiom highlights that nurturing talent takes a long time, much like how it takes ten years to grow a tree that can eventually provide benefits. It signifies that cultivating talent is
Chinese Idiom: 人微权轻 (Ren Wei Quan Qing) English Translation: Insignificant Position, Limited Authority pīn yīn: rén wēi quán qīng Idiom Meaning: Describes someone whose low rank and lack of influence result in insufficient authority or respect. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Sima Rangju (史记·司马穰苴列传) Idiom Story: The idiom “人微权轻” (Rén wēi
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Chinese Idiom: 人心如面 (Ren Xin Ru Mian) English Translation: People’s Hearts Are Like Faces pīn yīn: rén xīn rú miàn Idiom Meaning: People’s thoughts and feelings are as varied as their faces. It implies that each person’s mind is unique and cannot be generalized. Historical Source: “The Zuo Commentary” (Zuǒzhuàn) – Year 31 of Duke
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Chinese Idiom: 一毛不拔 (Yi Mao Bu Ba) English Translation: Stinginess to the Extreme pīn yīn: yī máo bù bá Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to someone who is extremely stingy or selfish, unwilling to give up even the smallest thing. “毛” refers to hair, emphasizing the minute nature of what is being withheld. Historical Source:
