Chinese Idiom: 因人成事 (Yin Ren Cheng Shi) English Translation: Achieving success by relying on others pīn yīn: yīn rén chéng shì Idiom Meaning: This idiom means to rely on others to successfully accomplish a task. “因” (yīn) signifies dependence, while “成事” (chéng shì) means to complete or accomplish something. Historical Source: “Records of the Grand Historian” […]
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Chinese Idiom: 负隅顽抗 (Fu Yu Wan Kang) English Translation: Resisting tenaciously from a stronghold pīn yīn: fù yú wán kàng Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to stubbornly resisting or opposing something by relying on advantageous conditions or strongholds. Historical Source: “Mencius” (《孟子 · 尽心下》) Idiom Story: In a year of famine in the State of Qi,
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Chinese Idiom: 负荆请罪 (Fu Jing Qing Zui) English Translation: Carrying brambles on one’s back to apologize pīn yīn: fù jīng qǐng zuì Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to actively admitting one’s mistakes and apologizing to someone. Historical Source: “Records of the Grand Historian” (《史记 ·廉颇蔺相如列传》) Idiom Story: In 283 BC, after Lin Xiangru successfully returned the
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Chinese Idiom: 阳春白雪，下里巴人 (Yang Chun Bai Xue, Xia Li Ba Ren) English Translation: Highbrow literature and popular literature pīn yīn: yáng chūn bái xuě, xià lǐ bā rén Idiom Meaning: The former metaphorically represents profound literary works, while the latter symbolizes accessible, everyday literary pieces. Historical Source: Song Yu’s “Response to the King of Chu”
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Chinese Idiom: 安步当车 (An Bu Dang Che) English Translation: Walk at ease instead of riding in a carriage pīn yīn: ān bù dāng chē Idiom Meaning: This idiom symbolizes contentment with a simple lifestyle, enjoying plain meals and not coveting additional luxuries. It can also refer to the pleasure of strolling leisurely. Historical Source: 《战国策
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Chinese Idiom: 安然无恙 (An Ran Wu Yang) English Translation: Safe and sound pīn yīn: ān rán wú yàng Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where everything is normal and without any harm or trouble. It conveys a sense of peace and security, indicating that one is free from disasters, illness, or worries. Historical Source:
Chinese Idiom: 价值连城 (Jia Zhi Lian Cheng) English Translation: Worth a city pīn yīn: jià zhí lián chéng Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes something that is extremely valuable or precious. Historical Source: 《史记·廉颇蔺相如列传》 (Records of the Grand Historian · Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru). Idiom Story: The biography of Lian Po and Lin
Chinese Idiom: 百步穿杨 (Bai Bu Chuan Yang) English Translation: A hundred paces to pierce a willow leaf pīn yīn: bǎi bù chuān yáng Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes someone who has exceptional skill in archery. It is also used metaphorically to indicate that someone has an extremely high level of expertise or proficiency in a
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Chinese Idiom: 如火如荼 (Ru Huo Ru Tu) English Translation: As fierce as fire and as intense as grass pīn yīn: rú huǒ rú tú Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a scene or atmosphere that is extremely vigorous, intense, and heated, often used to depict energetic and lively situations or events. Historical Source: 《国语·吴语》 (Records of
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Chinese Idiom: 岌岌可危 (Ji Ji Ke Wei) English Translation: In imminent danger pīn yīn: jí jí kě wēi Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation that is extremely precarious or dangerous, where the possibility of disaster or failure is very high. Historical Source: 《孟子·万章上》 (Mencius, Book of Wan Zhang), a classic text of Confucianism written
