common idioms in Chinese
常用中文俗语
Chinese speakers use idioms to express quite complex ideas in a very simple and memorable way. Here are some the most common idioms in Chinese.
| Word | English | Pinyin | ||
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| 亡羊补牢，未为晚矣 |
It’s better to finish something late than to never do it at all.
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wáng yáng bǔ láo， wèi wèi wǎn yǐ | ||
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| 有志者事竟成 |
When you have a strong will to reach a goal in life, you get that in future.
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yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng | ||
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| 入乡随俗 |
It is advisable to follow the conventions of the area in which you are residing or visiting.
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rù xiāng suí sú | ||
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| 说曹操，曹操到 |
The person we were just talking about showed up!
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shuō cáo cāo， cáo cāo dào | ||
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| 千里之行，始于足下 |
You need to make your first step, if you hope to achieve a big thing.
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qiān lǐ zhī xíng， shǐ yú zú xià | ||
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| 大海捞针 |
something impossible to do
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dà hǎi lāo zhēn | ||
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| 煞费苦心 |
make all effort possible with much attention
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shà fèi kǔ xīn | ||
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| 得寸进尺 |
When you give someone a small amount of power or freedom to do something, he or she may try to get a lot more.
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dé cùn jìn chǐ | ||
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| 有其父必有其子 |
when a son is similar to his father
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yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ | ||
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| 血浓于水 |
relationships with family (or blood relatives) is stronger than other relationships
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xuè nóng yú shuǐ | ||
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| 月是故乡明 |
you feel the best when at home
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yuè shì gù xiāng míng | ||
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| 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 |
It’s easier to do something as a team than by yourself.
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sān gè chòu pí jiàng， dǐng gè zhū gě liàng | ||
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| 十全十美 |
something perfect in every way
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shí quán shí měi | ||
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| 数一数二 |
the top one or two
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shǔ yī shǔ èr | ||
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| 功夫不负有心人 |
you have to work for what you want
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gōng fū bù fù yǒu xīn rén | ||
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