Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 智者千虑，必有一失Pinyin: zhì zhě qiān lǜ, bì yǒu yī shīLiteral Meaning: Even a wise person who thinks a thousand times will make at least one mistake.Figurative Meaning: No one is flawless. Even the wisest people may commit errors despite careful consideration.
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 坐山观虎斗Pinyin: zuò shān guān hǔ dòuLiteral Meaning: Sit on the mountain and watch two tigers fight.Figurative Meaning: To stand by and watch others struggle, waiting until both sides are weakened or defeated before stepping in to seize benefits for oneself. Cultural Background This idiom reflects a classic strategic mindset in…
Basic Info Chinese Idio: 智子疑邻Pinyin: zhì zǐ yí línLiteral Meaning: Think one’s own son is clever yet suspect the innocent neighbor.Figurative Meaning: Judge things with personal bias instead of objective facts; favor family while unfairly suspecting outsiders facing identical clues.
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 斩草除根 Pinyin: zhǎn cǎo chú gēn Literal Meaning: Cut weeds and pull out their roots entirely. Figurative Meaning: Eliminate the root of troubles or hostile forces thoroughly to avoid future dangers and hidden troubles. Cultural Background Derived from ancient farming wisdom and state-governing philosophy. Ancient Chinese farmers knew weeds would…
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 放虎归山 Pinyin: fàng hǔ guī shān Literal Meaning: Set a tiger free and send it back to the mountains. Figurative Meaning: Spare a dangerous foe and let them escape, thus leaving hidden troubles and future threats. Cultural Background This is a common cautionary Chinese idiom rooted in ancient military history.…
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 画蛇添足 Pinyin: huà shé tiān zú Literal Meaning: Draw a snake and then add feet to it. Figurative Meaning: Do something unnecessary that ruins what is already perfect; overdo a thing and end up making a fool of oneself. Cultural Background This well-known fable-based idiom comes from the Warring States…
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 鹬蚌相争，渔人得利Pinyin: yù bàng xiāng zhēng, yú rén dé lìLiteral Meaning: A sandpiper and a clam fight with each other, and the fisherman gains the benefit.Figurative Meaning: When two parties engage in a fierce conflict and both end up suffering losses, an outsider takes advantage and reaps the profits. Cultural Background…
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 愚公移山Pinyin: yú gōng yí shānLiteral Meaning: The Foolish Old Man removes mountains.Figurative Meaning: To overcome immense difficulties with unyielding perseverance, diligence and firm belief that human efforts can triumph over natural obstacles. Cultural Background This famous fable is a classic in traditional Chinese culture. It advocates persistence, dedication and the…
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 缘木求鱼Pinyin: yuán mù qiú yúLiteral Meaning: Climb a tree to catch fish.Figurative Meaning: Try to achieve a goal by using wrong methods or taking the wrong direction, which is doomed to fail. Cultural Background This idiom comes from Mencius, one of the core classics of Confucianism. It adopts a vivid…