Popular Chinese idioms in Traditional Chinese

Popular and Essential Chinese Idioms (成語) — Free PDF and Flashcards

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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ChengyuPinyinMeaningExample
按甲休兵àn jiǎ xiū bīng收拾起铠甲武器。比喻停止军事行动。将军可~,退一箭之地。
按甲寝兵àn jiǎ qǐn bīng收拾起铠甲武器。比喻停止军事行动。
按行自抑àn xíng zì yì按克制。约束自己的行为。
按辔徐行àn pèi xú xíng辔马缰绳。轻轻按着缰绳,让马慢慢地走。
按部就班àn bù jiù bānw但黄公俊的祖父,他开始读了书,象一般读书人似的,他~的要将八股型的才学,货与帝王家”。
挨三顶五āi sān dǐng wǔ形容人多,连接不断。但见红尘滚滚,车马纷纷,许多商贩客人驮着货物,~的进店安歇。
挨冻受饿ái dòng shòu è指无衣无食的穷困境况。
挨家挨户āi ji āi hù每家每户,户户不漏。挨,依次,顺次。
挨山塞海āi shān sè hǎi形容人极多而拥挤不堪。
挨肩叠背āi jiān dié bèi形容人群拥挤。
挨肩并足āi jiān bìng zú形容人群拥挤。
挨肩搭背āi jiān dā bèi挨肩肩和肩相靠。搭背手搭在别人背上。形容极其亲昵的样子。看她俩挨肩搭背的样子,就知道是一对好朋友。
挨肩擦背āi jiān cā bèi肩挨肩,背擦背。形容人多拥挤。引惹得那楼下看灯的人,~,仰望上瞧。
挨肩擦脸āi jiān cā liǎn挨靠近。擦,接触。形容狎昵之状。
挨肩擦膀āi jiān cā bǎng指身体相贴近。也形容人群拥挤。那两边围看的,~,不知其数。
挨肩迭背āi jiān dié bèi形容人群拥挤。
挨门挨户āi mén āi hù挨按照顺序。按照住户的顺序一家也不漏。同挨门逐户”。她[一丈青大娘]又跑遍沿河几个村落,~乞讨零碎布头儿,给何满子缝了一件五光十色的百家衣。
挨门逐户āi mén zhú hùg
挨风缉缝āi fēng jī fèng比喻为了达到某种目的而找门路。
捱三顶五āi sān dǐng wǔ形容人群拥挤,接连不断。
捱三顶四āi sān dǐng sì形容人群拥挤,接连不断。覆帐之后,宾客如市,捱三顶五,不得空闲。
捱风缉缝āi fēng qī fèng指多方钻营,找门路。
暗室不欺àn shì bù qī在没有人看见的地方,也不做见不得人的事。知县生平~,既读孔、孟之书,怎敢行盗跖之事?
暗室亏心àn shì kuī xīn在暗中做见不得人的亏心事。我想来今生不报,来世偿还,正所谓~,神目如电。
暗室欺心àn shì qī xīn在黑暗的屋子里昧着良心做坏事。指偷偷地做坏事。方信道暗室亏心,难逃他神目如电。

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