Chinese Idiom: 完璧归赵 (Wan Bi Gui Zhao) English Translation: Returning the perfect jade to Zhao pīn yīn: wán bì guī zhào Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically refers to the successful completion of a mission or the perfect return of an object to its rightful owner, undamaged. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of […]
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Chinese Idiom: 远交近攻 (Yuan Jiao Jin Gong) English Translation: Form alliances with distant states and attack nearby ones pīn yīn: yuǎn jiāo jìn gōng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the strategy of forming alliances with distant nations while attacking those that are close, emphasizing a tactical approach in politics or warfare. Historical Source: Strategies
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Chinese Idiom: 拒谏饰非 (Ju Jian Shi Fei) English Translation: Rejecting Advice and Covering Up Mistakes pīn yīn: jù jiàn shì fēi Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a person who refuses to accept others’ honest advice and instead tries to hide or justify their own mistakes. “谏” (jiàn) means to advise or admonish, “饰” (shì) means
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Chinese Idiom: 呆若木鸡 (Dai Ruo Mu Ji) English Translation: Stunned Like a Wooden Chicken pīn yīn: dāi ruò mù jī Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who is so shocked, frightened, or amazed that they become motionless, as if they were a wooden statue. “呆” (dāi) means foolish or stunned, and “木鸡” (mù jī) refers
Chinese Idiom: 鸡鸣狗盗 (Ji Ming Gou Dao) English Translation: The crowing of roosters and the thievery of dogs pīn yīn: jī míng gǒu dào Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically refers to lowly skills or trivial abilities, often carrying a derogatory connotation. Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian (《史记·孟尝君列传》). Idiom Story: In 299 BC, King
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Chinese Idiom: 围魏救赵 (Wei Wei Jiu Zhao) English Translation: Surround Wei to rescue Zhao pīn yīn: wéi wèi jiù zhào Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the strategy of attacking an enemy’s rear or base rather than confronting them directly, thereby forcing them to retreat to defend their own territory. Historical Source: Records of the
Chinese Idiom: 坐山观虎斗 (Zuo Shan Guan Hu Dou) English Translation: Sitting on a mountain to watch the tigers fight pīn yīn: zuò shān guān hǔ dòu Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the act of taking a neutral or passive stance in a conflict between two parties, waiting for an opportunity to benefit from their
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Chinese Idiom: 耳闻不如目见 (Er Wen Bu Ru Mu Jian) English Translation: Hearing is not as good as seeing pīn yīn: ěr wén bù rú mù jiàn Idiom Meaning: This idiom emphasizes the importance of firsthand investigation and research over relying on hearsay or rumors. Historical Source: Liu Xiang’s Shuoyuan (《说苑·政理》) from the Han dynasty. Idiom
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Chinese Idiom: 因地制宜 (Yin Di Zhi Yi) English Translation: Adapting measures to local conditions pīn yīn: yīn dì zhì yí Idiom Meaning: This idiom emphasizes the importance of taking appropriate measures based on the specific conditions of different regions. “因” (yīn) means according to or relying on; “地” (dì) refers to the land or local conditions;
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Chinese Idiom: 因势利导 (Yin Shi Li Dao) English Translation: Guiding according to circumstances pīn yīn: yīn shì lì dǎo Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to the principle of guiding and promoting actions based on the current trends and developments of a situation. “因” (yīn) means to follow, “势” (shì) refers to trends or circumstances, and “利导”
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