Chinese Idiom: 自相矛盾 (Zi Xiang Mao Dun) English Translation: Self-contradiction pīn yīn: zì xiāng máo dùn Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where someone’s statements or actions are contradictory, creating a conflict between different claims. Historical Source: “Han Feizi” (《韩非子·难势》) Idiom Story: During the Warring States period in China, there was a merchant from the […]
Zi Xiang Mao Dun – Self-contradiction Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 自以为是 (Zi Yi Wei Shi) English Translation: Self-righteous pīn yīn: zì yǐ wéi shì Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a person who acts subjectively and arbitrarily without investigation or research, thinking they are always right and lacking humility. Historical Source: “The Tale of the World” (《警世通言》) Idiom Story: Wang Anshi, a prominent politician and
Zi Yi Wei Shi – Self-righteous Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 老马识途 (Lao Ma Shi Tu) English Translation: The old horse knows the way. pīn yīn: lǎo mǎ shí tú Idiom Meaning: This idiom means that an experienced person is often able to solve problems and navigate challenges due to their familiarity with the situation. Historical Source: “Han Feizi · Shuo Lin Shang” (韩非子·说林上)
Lao Ma Shi Tu – The old horse knows the way Read More »
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
Cheng Ye Xiao He, Bai Ye Xiao He – Success or failure is attributed to Xiao He Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 买椟还珠 (Mai Du Huan Zhu) English Translation: Buying the box and returning the pearl pīn yīn: mǎi dú huán zhū Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe a lack of discernment or insight, indicating that someone only sees superficial appearances and fails to grasp the essence of a situation. Historical Source: 《韩非子
Mai Du Huan Zhu – Buying the box and returning the pearl Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 守株待兔 (Shou Zhu Dai Tu) English Translation: Waiting by a tree stump for a rabbit pīn yīn: shǒu zhū dài tù Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe someone who rigidly adheres to old methods and fails to adapt, or who hopes to achieve success or gain without effort by relying on
Shou Zhu Dai Tu – Waiting by a tree stump for a rabbit Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 夸父逐日 (Kua Fu Zhu Ri) English Translation: Kua Fu chases the sun pīn yīn: kuā fù zhú rì Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who ambitiously pursues an unattainable goal or engages in a futile endeavor. It can also illustrate a situation where someone overestimates their own abilities. Historical Source: 《山海经·海外北经》 (Classic of
Kua Fu Zhu Ri – Kua Fu chases the sun Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 未能免俗 (Wei Neng Mian Su) English Translation: Unable to escape custom pīn yīn: wèi néng miǎn sú Idiom Meaning: This idiom means that one has not been able to break free from social norms or customs and continues to act according to conventional practices. Historical Source: 《世说新语 · 任诞》 (The Book of the
Wei Neng Mian Su – Unable to escape custom Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 对牛弹琴 (Dui Niu Tan Qin) English Translation: Playing the lute to a cow pīn yīn: duì niú tán qín Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the act of explaining profound or sophisticated concepts to someone who cannot understand them, making it a waste of effort. It implies that trying to communicate something of
Dui Niu Tan Qin – Playing the lute to a cow Read More »
Chinese Idiom: 打草惊蛇 (Da Cao Jing She) English Translation: Scare the Snake by Beating the Grass pīn yīn: dǎ cǎo jīng shé Idiom Meaning: This idiom means that a careless action or slip-up has inadvertently alerted someone to a situation, causing them to be cautious or take precautions. It implies that an action has caused
Da Cao Jing She – Scare the Snake by Beating the Grass Read More »
