Chinese Idiom 82
风和日丽:
Meaning: Gentle breeze and beautiful sunshine; a fine and pleasant day.
Explanation: Describes idyllic weather, often used metaphorically to describe a peaceful and pleasant situation.
Chinese Idiom 81
放虎归山:
Meaning: Letting the tiger return to the mountain; letting a dangerous person go free.
Explanation: Warns against releasing a threat back into the world, where it can cause more harm later.
Chinese Idiom 80
东奔西走:
Meaning: Running around in all directions; busy and hectic.
Explanation: Describes a state of constant movement and busyness, often in pursuit of a goal.
Chinese Idiom 79
得意忘形:
Meaning: So elated that one forgets their manners.
Explanation: Warns against becoming so pleased with oneself that one behaves improperly or loses composure.
Chinese Idiom 78
长驱直入:
Meaning: Advance boldly and directly.
Explanation: Describes a forceful and unimpeded advance, often used in a military context but also applicable to any straightforward and decisive action.
Chinese Idiom 77
不耻下问:
Meaning: Not ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates or juniors.
Explanation: Encourages humility and the willingness to seek knowledge from others, regardless of their status.
Chinese Idiom 76
闭门造车:
Meaning: Make a car behind closed doors; work in isolation from reality.
Explanation: This idiom warns against working in isolation without considering external circumstances, leading to impractical results.
Chinese Idiom 75
背水一战:
Meaning: Fight with one's back to the river; fight to the death.
Explanation: Originating from a military strategy where soldiers had no retreat, it means to fight with determination and no option to retreat.
Chinese Idiom 74
百发百中:
Meaning: Always hit the target; consistently successful.
Explanation: Literally "hundred shots, hundred hits," it describes someone who is extremely accurate and successful in their endeavours.
Chinese Idiom 73
水落石出:
Meaning: The truth will come to light eventually.
Explanation: Literally "when the water recedes, the rocks emerge," it means that hidden truths will be revealed in time.
Chinese Idiom 72
狼狈为奸:
Meaning: Partnership between bad people to do bad things.
Explanation: Literally "jackals work together for evil," it describes the collusion of villains in committing misdeeds.
Chinese Idiom 71
积少成多:
Meaning: Small efforts over time can lead to significant results.
Explanation: Literally "accumulate little by little to become much," it encourages consistency and persistence in efforts.
Chinese Idiom 70
济济一堂:
Meaning: A grand assembly or gathering of many distinguished individuals.
Explanation: Describes a scene where many talented and prominent people are gathered together in one place.
Chinese Idiom 69
虎头蛇尾:
Meaning: Starts strong but ends weakly or disappointingly.
Explanation: Literally "tiger's head, snake's tail," it describes efforts or projects that begin with great momentum but fail to sustain it.
Chinese Idiom 68
光阴似箭:
Meaning: Time flies like an arrow.
Explanation: This idiom emphasizes how quickly time passes, urging people to make the most of it.
Chinese Idiom 67
坐井观天:
Meaning: Having a narrow or limited perspective.
Explanation: Literally "sitting in a well and looking at the sky," it means to have a limited view of the world due to a confined perspective.
Chinese Idiom 66
自相矛盾:
Meaning: Self-contradictory.
Explanation: Describes a situation where one's actions or statements are inconsistent or conflicting, originating from a story about a merchant who boasted both the invincibility of his shield and the penetrative power of his spear.
Chinese Idiom 65
纸上谈兵:
Meaning: Unrealistic or impractical ideas, especially in strategy.
Explanation: Literally "discussing military tactics on paper," it warns against plans that look good on paper but are unworkable in practice.
Chinese Idiom 64
张灯结彩:
Meaning: Decorate festively.
Explanation: Literally "hang lanterns and festoons," it describes the decorations during celebrations, indicating a festive atmosphere.
Chinese Idiom 63
远交近攻:
Meaning: Make alliances with distant states and attack nearby ones.
Explanation: A strategic approach in diplomacy and conflict, this idiom emphasises the benefits of allying with distant powers while focusing on local conquests.