Chinese Idiom: 大失所望 (Da Shi Suo Wang) English Translation: Greatly Disappointed pīn yīn: dà shī suǒ wàng Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes being extremely disappointed. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian, Biographies of High Ancestors. Idiom Story: In 206 BC, Liu Bang, the King of Han, led his army to capture the Qin capital […]
Chinese Idiom: 大器晚成 (Da Qi Wan Cheng) English Translation: Great Talent Matures Late pīn yīn: dà qì wǎn chéng Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes how individuals with great talent often achieve fame later in life. It is also used to comfort those who have not yet achieved success. “大器” refers to someone with great talent.
Chinese Idiom: 八斗之才 (Ba Dou Zhi Cai) English Translation: Eight Duckets of Talent pīn yīn: bā dǒu zhī cái Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe someone with outstanding talent and exceptional ability. It is also written as “才高八斗.” Historical Source: The Book of the Southern Dynasties: Biography of Xie Lingyun (南史·谢灵运传); also mentioned
Chinese Idiom: 九牛一毛 (Jiu Niu Yi Mao) English Translation: Nine Oxen, One Hair pīn yīn: jiǔ niú yī máo Idiom Meaning: Refers to something extremely trivial or insignificant, a very minor detail. Historical Source: Report to Ren Shaoqing (报任少卿书) by Sima Qian Idiom Story: The idiom “九牛一毛” (jiǔ niú yī máo) is derived from a
Chinese Idiom: 入室操戈 (Ru Shi Cao Ge) English Translation: Using Their Own Arguments Against Them pīn yīn: rù shì cāo gē Idiom Meaning: Refers to using an opponent’s arguments to criticize or refute them. “操” (cāo) means “to wield” and “戈” (gē) means “a spear” or “weapon.” Historical Source: Book of the Later Han: Biography
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Chinese Idiom: 人自为战 (Ren Zi Wei Zhan) English Translation: Everyone Fights for Themselves pīn yīn: rén zì wéi zhàn Idiom Meaning: Originally meant that everyone is ready to fight to the death, now it often means that everyone can independently handle tasks or situations. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of the Marquis
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Chinese Idiom: 一夜十起 (Yi Ye Shi Qi) English Translation: Waking Ten Times in a Night pīn yīn: yī yè shí qǐ Idiom Meaning: Waking up ten times in a single night. It describes the attentive and considerate care given to a sick person, where the caregiver is unable to sleep soundly and frequently gets up
Chinese Idiom: 一败涂地 (Yi Bai Tu Di) English Translation: Complete Defeat pīn yīn: yī bài tú dì Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to a situation where something fails to the extent that it is beyond redemption. “一” (one) means once, and “涂地” (smeared all over the ground) refers to a situation where one’s guts and
Chinese Idiom: 一发千钧 (Yi Fa Qian Jun) English Translation: A Hair’s Weight of a Thousand Jins pīn yīn: yī fà qiān jūn Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe an extremely perilous situation or a highly critical moment. “发” refers to a single hair, and “钧” is an ancient Chinese unit of weight, with
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Chinese Idiom: 一家之言 (Yi Jia Zhi Yan) English Translation: A View from a Single Scholar pīn yīn: yī jiā zhī yán Idiom Meaning: Refers to unique insights or theories from a particular scholar or school of thought; can also broadly refer to the views or theories of an individual or group. “家” signifies a scholarly
