Chinese Idiom: 羞与哙伍 (Xiu Yu Kuai Wu) English Translation: Ashamed to be in the company of someone like Fan Kuai. pīn yīn: xiū yǔ kuài wǔ Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to express the feeling of being unwilling to associate with or be in the same company as someone deemed uncultured or inferior. It […]
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Chinese Idiom: 高屋建瓴 (Gao Wu Jian Ling) English Translation: Pouring water from a high roof pīn yīn: gāo wū jiàn líng Idiom Meaning: Refers to a situation where someone holds a high or advantageous position, making it easy to dominate others with unstoppable force or momentum. The image is of water being poured from a
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Chinese Idiom: 谈何容易 (Tan He Rong Yi) English Translation: Easier said than done. pīn yīn: tán hé róng yì Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes how something is often much harder to accomplish than it is to talk about. Historical Source: Book of Han (Han Shu), Biography of Dongfang Shuo Idiom Story: Dongfang Shuo, a well-known
Chinese Idiom: 桃李不言，下自成蹊 (Tao Li Bu Yan, Xia Zi Cheng Xi) English Translation: The peach and plum trees don’t speak, yet a path forms beneath them. pīn yīn: táo lǐ bù yán, xià zì chéng xī Idiom Meaning: This idiom suggests that genuine, sincere behavior influences others without the need for boasting or self-promotion. The
Chinese Idiom: 流言蜚语 (Liu Yan Fei Yu) English Translation: Rumors and Slander pīn yīn: liú yán fēi yǔ Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to malicious gossip or false rumors spread behind someone’s back, often intended to create trouble or defame someone’s character. Historical Source: The idiom originates from the Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》),
Chinese Idiom: 流离失所 (Liu Li Shi Suo) English Translation: Displaced and Homeless pīn yīn: liú lí shī suǒ Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a state of wandering and homelessness, indicating that someone is without a stable residence and is often in distress. Historical Source: The idiom originates from the Book of Han (《汉书》), specifically from
Chinese Idiom: 徒有四壁 (Tu You Si Bi) English Translation: Only Four Walls pīn yīn: tú yǒu sì bì Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a state of extreme poverty, where a household possesses nothing but its walls. The term “徒” means “only” or “merely,” while “壁” refers to “walls.” Historical Source: The phrase originates from Records
Chinese Idiom: 豺狼当道 (Chai Lang Dang Dao) English Translation: Wolves Block the Road pīn yīn: chái láng dāng dào Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically describes a situation where bad people are in power or hold authority. Historical Source: The phrase originates from the Book of Han (《汉书》) Idiom Story: During the Southern Song Dynasty, Hu
Chinese Idiom: 捕风捉影 (Bu Feng Zhuo Ying) English Translation: Catching the Wind and Grasping Shadows pīn yīn: bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to actions or statements made without solid evidence or basis, often implying that one is creating falsehoods or rumors out of nothing. Historical Source: From the Book of Han
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Chinese Idiom: 独当一面 (Du Dang Yi Mian) English Translation: Independently Bearing a Responsibility pīn yīn: dú dāng yī miàn Idiom Meaning: It means to be capable of independently taking on or leading a specific area of work. Historical Source: 《史记 · 留侯世家》 (Records of the Grand Historian: The Family of Liu Hou) Idiom Story: The
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