Chinese Idiom: 乘兴而来 (Cheng Xing Er Lai) English Translation: Coming with Great Excitement pīn yīn: chéng xìng ér lái Idiom Meaning: This idiom means to arrive in high spirits or with great enthusiasm, indicating that someone comes with joy and excitement. Historical Source: Found in Shishuo Xinyu (《世说新语·任诞》) and also mentioned in Jin Shu (《晋书·王澈之传》). […]
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Chinese Idiom: 乘龙快婿 (Cheng Long Kuai Xu) English Translation: The Son-in-Law Riding the Dragon pīn yīn: chéng lóng kuài xù Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to an ideal son-in-law who is both talented and handsome, meeting all expectations. Historical Source: From Liu Xiang’s Lie Xian Zhuan (《列仙传》) during the Han Dynasty. Idiom Story: During the
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Chinese Idiom: 海阔天空 (Hai Kuo Tian Kong) English Translation: The Sea is Vast and the Sky is High pīn yīn: hǎi kuò tiān kōng Idiom Meaning: This idiom symbolizes an open mind and unrestrained behavior. It is often used to describe aimless chatter or discussions that lack focus and direction. Historical Source: From the Song
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Chinese Idiom: 树倒猢狲散 (Shu Dao Hu Sun San) English Translation: When the Tree Falls, the Monkeys Scatter pīn yīn: shù dǎo hú sūn sàn Idiom Meaning: This idiom satirizes how followers of a fallen leader lose their support and scatter when their patron falls from power. Historical Source: Compiled by Pang Yuanying in the Song
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Chinese Idiom: 适得其反 (Shi De Qi Fan) English Translation: Achieving the Opposite of One’s Intention pīn yīn: shì dé qí fǎn Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where the outcome is contrary to one’s intentions. “适” means to suit or be appropriate, while “其反” refers to the opposite of one’s subjective wishes. Historical Source:
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Chinese Idiom: 点金成铁 (Dian Jin Cheng Tie) English Translation: Turning Gold into Iron pīn yīn: diǎn jīn chéng tiě Idiom Meaning: It refers to the act of ruining someone else’s excellent writing or artwork. Historical Source: 冯梦龙《古今谭概·苦海部》 (Feng Menglong’s Tales of Ancient and Modern Times: The Bitter Sea) Idiom Story: The idiom originates from the
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Chinese Idiom: 拾人牙慧 (Shi Ren Ya Hui) English Translation: Picking Up Someone Else’s Wisdom pīn yīn: shí rén yá huì Idiom Meaning: To take someone else’s words or ideas and present them as one’s own. It refers to borrowing or superficially using what others have said. Historical Source: 《世说新语 ·文学》 (Records of the World: Literature)
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Chinese Idiom: 洗耳恭听 (Xi Er Gong Ting) English Translation: Wash Ears to Listen Respectfully pīn yīn: xǐ ěr gōng tīng Idiom Meaning: This idiom signifies listening attentively and respectfully to valuable advice or beautiful music. It conveys a sense of humility and eagerness to learn. Historical Source: The Biography of High Scholars, Xu You (晋代皇甫谧的《高士传·许由》)
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Chinese Idiom: 点石成金 (Dian Shi Cheng Jin) English Translation: Turning Stones into Gold pīn yīn: diǎn shí chéng jīn Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically refers to the ability to transform something worthless into something valuable, or it can also describe the act of improving someone else’s poor writing into something good. Historical Source: Broad Talks
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Chinese Idiom: 食牛之气 (Shi Niu Zhi Qi) English Translation: The spirit of one who can eat an ox pīn yīn: shí niú zhī qì Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who, despite being young or small, possesses extraordinary ambition or spirit. It can also be expressed as “吞牛之气,” meaning “to have the spirit to swallow
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