Chinese Idioms from Nanbei Dynasty

Chinese Idiom: 名下无虚 (Ming Xia Wu Xu) English Translation: A person of great renown must have real talent and learning. pīn yīn: míng xià wú xū Idiom Meaning: Describes someone whose reputation is well-deserved, indicating that their name reflects their true abilities and accomplishments. Historical Source: “Chen Shu: Biography of Yao Cha” (《陈书·姚察传》) Idiom Story: […]

Chinese Idiom: 江郎才尽 (Jiang Lang Cai Jin) English Translation: Jiang Lang’s talent is exhausted pīn yīn: jiāng láng cái jìn Idiom Meaning: This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone’s talent or creative abilities have declined or been exhausted. Historical Source: 《南史·江淹传》 (The Book of Southern Dynasties, Biography of Jiang Yan). Idiom Story:

Chinese Idiom: 白面书生 (Bai Mian Shu Sheng) English Translation: Pale-faced scholar pīn yīn: bái miàn shū shēng Idiom Meaning: his idiom is used to describe a young, inexperienced scholar who only knows book knowledge and lacks practical experience in dealing with real-world situations. Historical Source: Book of Song (《宋书》), specifically from the biography of Shen

Chinese Idiom: 分道扬镳 (Fen Dao Yang Biao) English Translation: Follow different paths pīn yīn: fēn dào yáng biāo Idiom Meaning: It describes a situation where people or groups separate and follow their own paths or engage in their own activities, each pursuing their own goals. Historical Source: The Book of Northern Dynasties: Biography of Hejian

Chinese Idiom: 十行俱下 (Shi Hang Ju Xia – Ten Lines at a Glance) English Translation: Ten Lines at a Glance pīn yīn: shí háng jù xià Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes the ability to read text quickly and efficiently, often used to denote someone who reads with exceptional speed and comprehension. It can also be