SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Chinese idiom

  • 八面玲珑 (Bā miàn líng lóng)

    •

    This entry explains Chinese idiom 八面玲珑(bā miàn líng lóng). It chiefly describes socially smooth tact, sometimes with negative overtones, covering its lesson and English counterparts.

  • 八九不离十 (Bā jiǔ bù lí shí)

    •

    This entry explains the modern colloquial idiom 八九不离十(bā jiǔ bù lí shí). It means an estimate pretty close to truth, covering its practical lesson and matching English equivalents.

  • 八竿子打不着 (Bā gān zi dǎ bù zháo)

    •

    This entry explains the modern colloquial idiom 八竿子打不着(bā gān zi dǎ bù zháo). It describes things totally unrelated, covering its origin, humorous lesson and corresponding English expressions.

  • 八拜之交 (Bā bài zhī jiāo)

    •

    This entry explains Chinese idiom 八拜之交(bā bài zhī jiāo) from Wang Shifu’s Romance of the Western Chamber. It refers to solemn sworn sibling‑like friendship, covering its cultural lesson and English equivalents.

  • 傲雪欺霜 (Ào xuě qī shuāng)

    •

    This entry explains the admiring idiom 傲雪欺霜(ào xuě qī shuāng) from Yuan‑Dynasty play Zhang Tianshi. Inspired by plum blossoms, it praises fortitude amid hardship, covering its lesson and matching English expressions.

  • 嗷嗷待哺 (Áo áo dài bǔ)

    •

    This entry explains the Chinese idiom 嗷嗷待哺(áo áo dài bǔ). It depicts people crying out for food or urgent aid, covering its literal‑figurative uses, moral lesson and English counterparts.

  • 昂首阔步 (Áng shǒu kuò bù)

    •

    This entry explains the modern‑coined positive idiom 昂首阔步(áng shǒu kuò bù). It describes walking with head high and confident strides, covering its cultural implication, lesson and matching English equivalents.

  • 黯然失色 (Àn rán shī sè)

    •

    This entry explains Chinese idiom 黯然失色(àn rán shī sè) from Zheng Banqiao’s painting inscription. It means losing luster or being outshone, covering its two‑fold usage, reflective lesson and English equivalents.

  • 暗箭难防 (Àn jiàn nán fáng)

    •

    This entry explains the cautionary Chinese idiom 暗箭难防(àn jiàn nán fang) . It warns that covert underhanded attacks are hard to defend against, covering its proverbial couplet, lesson and English equivalents.