SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Chinese Idioms

  • 高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 高枕无忧Pinyin: gāo zhěn wú yōuLiteral Meaning: Prop one’s pillow high and sleep without worry. Figurative definition Cultural & historical background This idiom comes directly from the same famous story as “狡兔三窟” (The cunning rabbit has three burrows), recorded in the Warring States Records (Zhanguoce, 《战国策》). The powerful noble Lord Mengchang…

  • 立锥之地 (lì zhuī zhī dì)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 立锥之地Pinyin: lì zhuī zhī dìLiteral Meaning: Land enough only to stick an awl into. Figurative definition An extremely tiny patch of ground. Most often it means having no place to live or no property, describing utter destitution or total lack of shelter. Cultural & historical background The idiom first appears…

  • 忠言逆耳 (zhōng yán nì ěr)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 忠言逆耳Pinyin: zhōng yán nì ěrLiteral Meaning: Faithful advice grates on the ear. Figurative definition Sincere and well‑intentioned criticism or truthful advice often sounds harsh and uncomfortable to hear, though it brings long‑term benefit. Cultural & historical background This idiom comes from Confucius Family Sayings · Chapter Six. Confucius drew a…

  • 赔了夫人又折兵 (péi le fū rén yòu zhé bīng)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 赔了夫人又折兵Pinyin: péi le fū rén yòu zhé bīngLiteral Meaning: Losing the lady‑wife and also suffering troop losses.Figurative definition: To suffer a double‑sided loss. One attempts to gain an advantage or pull off a trick, yet gets nothing beneficial, and incurs extra losses on top of the original failure. Cultural &…

  • 当务之急 (dāng wù zhī jí)

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    Chinese Idiom: 当务之急Pinyin: dāng wù zhī jíLiteral: the urgent task one is attending to.Figurative: the most critical and pressing matter that needs immediate attention among all current‑day tasks. It refers to the top‑priority issue at the present moment. Origin This idiom comes from Mencius · Jin Xin Shang (《孟子·尽心上》). “知者无不知也，当务之为急。”Translation: “A wise man knows…

  • 以卵击石 (yǐ luǎn jī shí)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 以卵击石Pinyin: yǐ luǎn jī shíLiteral Meaning: To strike a rock with an egg.Figurative Meaning: It describes overestimating one’s own strength and recklessly challenging a far‑more powerful opponent, which will almost certainly lead to self‑destruction or total defeat. Equivalent to “to kick against the pricks” or “throw an egg against a…

  • 知彼知己 (zhī bǐ zhī jǐ)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 知彼知己Pinyin: zhī bǐ zhī jǐLiteral Meaning: Understand the enemy (the other side), and understand yourself.Figurative Meaning: This idiom means having a thorough grasp of both the opponent’s conditions and one’s own strengths and weaknesses. It highlights intelligence and self‑awareness before taking action, so you can make wise decisions and avoid…

  • Jǔ Àn Qí Méi (举案齐眉)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 举案齐眉Pinyin: jǔ àn qí méiLiteral Meaning: Hold the food tray level with one’s eyebrows.Figurative Meaning: Describe a married couple who treat each other with deep respect and courtesy in daily life.

  • Yǐn Láng Rù Shì (引狼入室)

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    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 引狼入室Pinyin: yǐn láng rù shìLiteral Meaning: Lead a wolf into one’s own house.Figurative Meaning: To invite malicious, dangerous people into one’s home, team or inner circle, thus bringing disasters and troubles upon oneself.