Popular and Essential Chinese Idioms (成語) is built for learners who want useful Traditional Chinese vocabulary in a clean reference format instead of a long, fluffy article.
Ready for a little language treasure hunt? As you explore these classic expressions, scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable Popular Traditional Chinese Idioms vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable Popular Traditional Chinese Idioms flashcards—your study buddies for turning tricky 成語 into something delightfully manageable.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Traditional Chinese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
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| Chengyu | Pinyin | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 安身之处 | ān shēn zhī chù | 指得以立足容身的地方。 | 能够找到职业,找到~,该是多么令人高兴啊。 |
| 安身乐业 | ān shēn lè yè | 指安稳快乐地过日子。 | 无 |
| 安身立命 | ān shēn lì mìng | s | 那里是镇守边庭,用人之际,足可以~。 |
| 安车蒲轮 | ān chē pú lún | 让被征请者坐在安车上,并用蒲叶包着车轮,以便行驶时车身更为安稳。表示皇帝对贤能者的优待。 | 申公待聘,~。 |
| 安适如常 | ān shì rú cháng | 安静而舒适,象往常一样。指经过某种变动后,恢复了正常,使人感到舒适。 | 无 |
| 安邦定国 | ān bāng dìng guó | 邦泛指国家。使国家安定巩固。 | 荐贤举善是吾心,~访知音。 |
| 安邦治国 | ān bāng zhì guó | 使国家安定太平。 | ~平天下,自有周公孔圣人。 |
| 安闲自在 | ān xián zì zài | 安静清闲,自由自在。形容清闲无事。 | 贤契们不必介怀,只恐朝廷放不下我;若能休致,老夫倒得个~。 |
| 安闲自得 | ān xián zì dé | 自得自己感到舒适。安静清闲,感到非常舒适。 | 无 |
| 安魂定魄 | ān hún dìng pò | 魂、魄人的灵气、精神。指使人心安定。 | 无 |
| 對牛彈琴 | duì niú tán qín | Explaining rules to someone who does not want to learn is like playing music to a cow. | 跟不想學的人解釋規則,簡直是對牛彈琴。 |
| 岸然道貌 | àn rán dào mào | 指严肃的神态。 | 中国士人,又有一种~,根器特异,别树一帜,以号于众者。 |
| 岸谷之变 | àn gǔ zhī bìan | 比喻政治上的重大变化。 | 属当岸谷之变,门户衰微,无能光其大业。 |
| 差強人意 | chā qiáng rén yì | This time the results were okay, but I still need to work harder. | 這次成績差強人意,還要再加油。 |
| 心想事成 | xīn xiǎng shì chéng | Wishing you good luck on the exam. May all your wishes come true. | 祝你考試順利,心想事成。 |
| 成語 + 了 | Shows a completed situation | 問題終於迎刃而解了。 | Wèntí zhōngyú yíng rèn ér jiě le. |
| 按兵不举 | àn bīng bù jǔ | 犹按兵不动。 | 侯虎曰‘西伯侯姬昌好生可恶!今~,坐观成败。’ |
| 按兵不动 | àn bīng bù dòng | b | 又听得寨前炮响,史文恭~,只要等他入来,塌了陷坑,山后伏兵齐起,接应捉人。 |
| 按兵束甲 | àn bīng shù jiǎ | 按兵军队停止行进。甲铠甲,泛指武器装备。止兵不前,捆起铠甲。指解除武装,停战言降。 | 无 |
| 按名责实 | àn míng zé shí | 按照事物名称,要求与实相符。 | 及~,台有评,省有核。 |
| 按图索骏 | àn tú suǒ jùn | 指按照画像去寻求好马。比喻墨守成规办事;也比喻按照线索去寻求。参见按图索骥”。 | 虽部胥掌阙簿者,亦不过~。 |
| 按图索骥 | àn tú suǒ jì | l | 每见一班~者,多失于骊黄牝牡。 |
| 按堵如故 | àn dǔ rú gù | 形容秩序良好,百姓和原来一样安居乐业。 | 凡军民约三日入籴官米一斗,入昏钞二贯,民皆便之。由是~,而贼亦不敢犯其境。 |
| 按捺不住 | àn nà bù zhù | 按捺压抑,忍耐。心里急燥,克制不住。 | 他一听这话,一股无名火直往上窜,无论如何也~。 |
| 按步就班 | àn bù jiù bān | 指按照条理或遵循一定的程序。参见按部就班”。 | 学校却,没有这弊病。 |
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