汉Hanzi Explorer

汉Hanzi Explorer

Explore chengyu

200 curated chengyu with origins explained

爱不释手ài bù shì shǒuto be so fond of something one cannot put it down4 chars 安居乐业ān jū lè yèto live and work in peace and contentment4 chars 安然无恙ān rán wú yàngsafe and sound after danger4 chars 按图索骥àn tú suǒ jìto search by following clues; (negatively) to follow a formula rigidly4 chars 拔苗助长bá miáo zhù zhǎngto spoil things by rushing them; to force growth4 chars 八仙过海bā xiān guò hǎieach person showing their own special skill4 chars 百步穿杨bǎi bù chuān yángsuperb marksmanship or precision4 chars 百发百中bǎi fā bǎi zhòngunerringly accurate; to succeed every time4 chars 百里挑一bǎi lǐ tiāo yīthe pick of the bunch; one in a hundred4 chars 班门弄斧bān mén nòng fǔto show off one's small skill before a master4 chars 半途而废bàn tú ér fèito give up halfway; to leave things unfinished4 chars 杯弓蛇影bēi gōng shé yǐnggroundless fear born of suspicion; a false alarm4 chars 背水一战bèi shuǐ yī zhàna decisive last-ditch fight with no way back4 chars 闭门造车bì mén zào chēto work in isolation, out of touch with reality4 chars 彬彬有礼bīn bīn yǒu lǐpolite and well-mannered4 chars 兵不厌诈bīng bù yàn zhàall stratagems are fair in a contest4 chars 伯乐相马bó lè xiàng mǎto recognize and select real talent4 chars 不计其数bù jì qí shùcountless; too many to count4 chars 不假思索bù jiǎ sī suǒwithout a second thought; offhand4 chars 不可思议bù kě sī yìincredible; unimaginable4 chars 不劳而获bù láo ér huòto reap without sowing; to get something for nothing4 chars 不屈不挠bù qū bù náounyielding; indomitable4 chars 不相上下bù xiāng shàng xiàneck and neck; equally matched4 chars 不言而喻bù yán ér yùself-evident; goes without saying4 chars 不翼而飞bù yì ér fēito vanish into thin air4 chars 不亦乐乎bù yì lè hūextremely enjoyable; (sarcastically) utterly busy4 chars 不由自主bù yóu zì zhǔinvoluntarily; unable to help oneself4 chars 不约而同bù yuē ér tóngto do or think the same thing independently4 chars 不知所措bù zhī suǒ cuòat a loss; not knowing what to do4 chars 才高八斗cái gāo bā dǒubrilliant literary or intellectual talent4 chars 草船借箭cǎo chuán jiè jiànto cleverly use the opponent's resources to achieve one's own goal4 chars 草木皆兵cǎo mù jiē bīngto be so terrified that everything seems a threat4 chars 程门立雪chéng mén lì xuěto wait respectfully for one's teacher4 chars 初出茅庐chū chū máo lúa newcomer making a first appearance, often with a striking start4 chars 唇亡齿寒chún wáng chǐ hánneighbors and allies share one fate; neither survives alone4 chars 打草惊蛇dǎ cǎo jīng shéto alert the target by careless action; to tip one's hand4 chars 大义灭亲dà yì miè qīnto put justice above family ties4 chars 呆若木鸡dāi ruò mù jīdumbstruck; frozen in shock4 chars 调虎离山diào hǔ lí shānto lure an opponent out of their strong position4 chars 东山再起dōng shān zài qǐto make a comeback after failure or retirement4 chars 东施效颦dōng shī xiào pínto imitate others clumsily and make things worse4 chars 对牛弹琴duì niú tán qínto speak to someone who cannot understand; to waste words4 chars 多此一举duō cǐ yī jǔto take an unnecessary action; to do more than is needed4 chars 放虎归山fàng hǔ guī shānto spare a dangerous enemy who will return stronger4 chars 风声鹤唳fēng shēng hè lìpanic that turns every sound into an enemy attack4 chars 负荆请罪fù jīng qǐng zuìto offer a sincere, humble apology4 chars 狗急跳墙gǒu jí tiào qiánga desperate person will take reckless risks4 chars 刮目相看guā mù xiāng kànto see someone in a new light after their progress4 chars 海市蜃楼hǎi shì shèn lóua beautiful illusion that will not last4 chars 邯郸学步hán dān xué bùto imitate others and lose one's own strengths4 chars 含沙射影hán shā shè yǐngto attack others with veiled, insidious remarks4 chars 鹤立鸡群hè lì jī qúnto stand out conspicuously from the crowd4 chars 虎背熊腰hǔ bèi xióng yāobig and powerfully built4 chars 狐假虎威hú jiǎ hǔ wēito bully others through borrowed power4 chars 互利共赢hù lì gòng yínga win-win situation in which all sides gain4 chars 虎视眈眈hǔ shì dān dānto watch hungrily, ready to pounce4 chars 虎头蛇尾hǔ tóu shé wěito start with a bang and end with a whimper4 chars 画饼充饥huà bǐng chōng jīto comfort oneself with empty promises; to chase illusions4 chars 画地为牢huà dì wéi láoto restrict oneself within self-imposed limits4 chars 画龙点睛huà lóng diǎn jīngto add the crucial finishing touch that brings a work to life4 chars 画蛇添足huà shé tiān zúto overdo something and ruin it; to gild the lily4 chars 黄粱一梦huáng liáng yī mèngthe emptiness of worldly success; a fleeting illusion4 chars 恍然大悟huǎng rán dà wùthe penny drops; to realize all at once4 chars 豁然开朗huò rán kāi lǎnga sudden clearing of mind or view; the dawn of understanding4 chars 鸡飞蛋打jī fēi dàn dǎto lose everything in one go; complete failure4 chars 鸡犬不宁jī quǎn bù nínga scene of total turmoil and disturbance4 chars 江郎才尽jiāng láng cái jìnto have lost one's creative gift4 chars 津津有味jīn jīn yǒu wèiwith great relish; with keen interest4 chars 锦囊妙计jǐn náng miào jìa ready-made clever solution for a crisis4 chars 井底之蛙jǐng dǐ zhī wāa person of narrow vision; someone who knows only their small corner of the world4 chars 炯炯有神jiǒng jiǒng yǒu shénwith bright, spirited eyes4 chars 九牛一毛jiǔ niú yī máoa drop in the ocean; utterly insignificant4 chars 九死一生jiǔ sǐ yī shēngto survive by a hair; a narrow escape4 chars 举一反三jǔ yī fǎn sānto learn by analogy; to draw inferences4 chars 卷土重来juǎn tǔ chóng láito return in force after defeat4 chars 刻舟求剑kè zhōu qiú jiànto cling to fixed thinking while the situation changes4 chars 空中楼阁kōng zhōng lóu géan unrealistic plan or fantasy with no foundation4 chars 滥竽充数làn yú chōng shùto hold a place without real ability; to pad out with inferior things4 chars 狼吞虎咽láng tūn hǔ yànto eat ravenously4 chars 老马识途lǎo mǎ shí túexperience guides the way; veterans know the ropes4 chars 乐不思蜀lè bù sī shǔto have so much fun one forgets home and duties4 chars 恋恋不舍liàn liàn bù shěunwilling to part; lingering with reluctance4 chars 两败俱伤liǎng bài jù shānga fight where both sides lose4 chars 两面三刀liǎng miàn sān dāodouble-dealing; two-faced scheming4 chars 两全其美liǎng quán qí měito satisfy both sides; the best of both worlds4 chars 料事如神liào shì rú shénastonishingly accurate foresight4 chars 六亲不认liù qīn bù rèncold and heartless, even to one's own family4 chars 六神无主liù shén wú zhǔpanic-stricken; at a complete loss4 chars 龙飞凤舞lóng fēi fèng wǔbold, flowing, graceful strokes (of calligraphy)4 chars 龙争虎斗lóng zhēng hǔ dòua fierce contest between strong rivals4 chars 洛阳纸贵luò yáng zhǐ guìa book or work becomes wildly popular4 chars 买椟还珠mǎi dú huán zhūto mistake the packaging for the product; to miss what really matters4 chars 毛遂自荐máo suì zì jiànto volunteer oneself for a task4 chars 名不虚传míng bù xū chuánto live up to one's reputation4 chars 明察秋毫míng chá qiū háoto see the finest details; keen insight4 chars 名副其实míng fù qí shíworthy of the name; in name and in fact4 chars 名列前茅míng liè qián máoto rank among the best4 chars 默默无闻mò mò wú wénunknown to the public; obscure4 chars 南柯一梦nán kē yī mèngan illusory dream of glory; empty ambition4 chars 念念不忘niàn niàn bù wàngto bear constantly in mind; to never forget4 chars 鸟尽弓藏niǎo jìn gōng cángto discard helpers once their work is done4 chars 庖丁解牛páo dīng jiě niúto work with effortless mastery born of deep practice4 chars 破釜沉舟pò fǔ chén zhōuto burn one's bridges and commit fully to a decisive act4 chars 破镜重圆pò jìng chóng yuána separated couple reunites4 chars 七步成诗qī bù chéng shīextraordinary literary talent under pressure4 chars 骑虎难下qí hǔ nán xiàto be stuck in a situation one cannot safely leave4 chars 七零八落qī líng bā luòscattered in disarray; in bits and pieces4 chars 歧路亡羊qí lù wáng yángtoo many paths lead to confusion and loss of direction4 chars 杞人忧天qǐ rén yōu tiānto worry about things that cannot happen4 chars 七上八下qī shàng bā xiàin an agitated state; the heart pounding with anxiety4 chars 七手八脚qī shǒu bā jiǎomany people pitching in at once4 chars 七嘴八舌qī zuǐ bā shéeveryone talking at once; a babble of voices4 chars 千变万化qiān biàn wàn huàever-changing; endlessly varied4 chars 千方百计qiān fāng bǎi jìby every possible means4 chars 千家万户qiān jiā wàn hùcountless families; every household4 chars 千军万马qiān jūn wàn mǎa mighty host; overwhelming force4 chars 黔驴技穷qián lǘ jì qióngto have exhausted one's limited tricks4 chars 千山万水qiān shān wàn shuǐa long and arduous journey; the ends of the earth4 chars 千辛万苦qiān xīn wàn kǔuntold hardships; through thick and thin4 chars 千言万语qiān yán wàn yǔso much to say4 chars 千载难逢qiān zǎi nán fénga once-in-a-lifetime opportunity4 chars 如虎添翼rú hǔ tiān yìto make a strong force even stronger4 chars 入木三分rù mù sān fēnstrikingly deep and penetrating (of words, analysis, art)4 chars 塞翁失马sài wēng shī mǎa blessing in disguise; misfortune may turn to fortune4 chars 三长两短sān cháng liǎng duǎnunexpected misfortune; something fatal4 chars 三顾茅庐sān gù máo lúto sincerely and repeatedly invite a talented person to help4 chars 三令五申sān lìng wǔ shēnto command and reiterate again and again4 chars 三思而行sān sī ér xíngto think carefully before doing anything4 chars 三心二意sān xīn èr yìhalf-hearted; indecisive; distracted4 chars 杀鸡儆猴shā jī jǐng hóuto punish one person as a warning to others4 chars 杀鸡取卵shā jī qǔ luǎnto ruin the future for a short-term gain4 chars 神机妙算shén jī miào suànbrilliant strategy that anticipates everything4 chars 十拿九稳shí ná jiǔ wěnalmost certain; a sure thing4 chars 十全十美shí quán shí měiflawless; perfect in every way4 chars 势如破竹shì rú pò zhúirresistible momentum; sweeping from victory to victory4 chars 世外桃源shì wài táo yuánan ideal retreat away from the troubles of the world4 chars 守株待兔shǒu zhū dài tùto wait idly for luck instead of working4 chars 熟能生巧shú néng shēng qiǎopractice makes perfect4 chars 水滴石穿shuǐ dī shí chuānsmall persistent efforts achieve great results4 chars 顺手牵羊shùn shǒu qiān yángto steal something in passing; to take an easy opportunity4 chars 四分五裂sì fēn wǔ lièto fall apart; to be torn to pieces4 chars 四海为家sì hǎi wéi jiāto feel at home anywhere in the world; to roam4 chars 四面八方sì miàn bā fāngin every direction; from all sides4 chars 四面楚歌sì miàn chǔ gēto be surrounded by enemies and cut off from help4 chars 四通八达sì tōng bā dáwell connected in every direction (of roads or transport)4 chars 韬光养晦tāo guāng yǎng huìto keep a low profile while building strength4 chars 天衣无缝tiān yī wú fèngflawless; so perfect no fault can be found4 chars 铁杵成针tiě chǔ chéng zhēnwith persistence anything can be accomplished4 chars 图穷匕见tú qióng bǐ xiànthe true intention is revealed at the last moment4 chars 兔死狐悲tù sǐ hú bēito grieve for the fate of one's own kind4 chars 完璧归赵wán bì guī zhàoto return something to its owner in perfect condition4 chars 万众一心wàn zhòng yī xīnunited as one4 chars 万紫千红wàn zǐ qiān hónga profusion of flowers in bloom; flourishing variety4 chars 望梅止渴wàng méi zhǐ kěto comfort oneself with hopes that cannot come true4 chars 亡羊补牢wáng yáng bǔ láobetter late than never; to fix things even after damage is done4 chars 望洋兴叹wàng yáng xīng tànto sigh at one's smallness before something vast4 chars 未卜先知wèi bǔ xiān zhīto foresee events; almost prophetic insight4 chars 闻鸡起舞wén jī qǐ wǔto rise early and train hard for a worthy goal4 chars 卧虎藏龙wò hǔ cáng lónghidden talent; people of great ability yet undiscovered4 chars 卧薪尝胆wò xīn cháng dǎnto endure hardship patiently for the sake of a goal or revenge4 chars 五彩缤纷wǔ cǎi bīn fēnbright and colorful; a blaze of colors4 chars 五光十色wǔ guāng shí sèdazzling and colorful; a glittering display4 chars 五湖四海wǔ hú sì hǎiall corners of the land; from everywhere4 chars 五颜六色wǔ yán liù sèmulticolored; of all colors4 chars 项庄舞剑xiàng zhuāng wǔ jiànan act that hides a hostile intention4 chars 胸有成竹xiōng yǒu chéng zhúto have a well-thought-out plan before acting4 chars 悬梁刺股xuán liáng cì gǔto study with fierce self-discipline4 chars 掩耳盗铃yǎn ěr dào língto deceive oneself; to pretend a problem does not exist4 chars 叶公好龙yè gōng hào lóngto profess love for something while fearing the real thing4 chars 一本正经yī běn zhèng jīngdead serious; in all earnestness4 chars 一尘不染yī chén bù rǎnspotlessly clean; pure and uncorrupted4 chars 一成不变yī chéng bù biànrigid and unchanging4 chars 一帆风顺yī fān fēng shùneverything going smoothly; a trouble-free journey4 chars 一见如故yī jiàn rú gùto hit it off instantly4 chars 一箭双雕yī jiàn shuāng diāoto achieve two goals with a single action4 chars 一见钟情yī jiàn zhōng qínglove at first sight4 chars 一举两得yī jǔ liǎng déto kill two birds with one stone4 chars 一落千丈yī luò qiān zhànga precipitous fall; a dramatic decline4 chars 一马当先yī mǎ dāng xiānto lead the way; to take the lead4 chars 一毛不拔yī máo bù báextremely stingy4 chars 一鸣惊人yī míng jīng rénto achieve sudden, spectacular success after being obscure4 chars 一目了然yī mù liǎo ráninstantly understandable; obvious at a look4 chars 一目十行yī mù shí hángto read at lightning speed4 chars 一如既往yī rú jì wǎngunchanged; just as always4 chars 一视同仁yī shì tóng rénto treat everyone equally, without favoritism4 chars 一丝不苟yī sī bù gǒumeticulous in every detail4 chars 一心一意yī xīn yī yìwholeheartedly; with complete devotion4 chars 一意孤行yī yì gū xíngto persist in one's own way against all advice4 chars 一针见血yī zhēn jiàn xiěto hit the nail on the head; to pinpoint the issue4 chars 愚公移山yú gōng yí shānwith persistence, even impossible tasks can be done4 chars 约法三章yuē fǎ sān zhāngto lay down simple, clear rules by mutual agreement4 chars 运筹帷幄yùn chóu wéi wòto devise plans behind the scenes; masterful planning4 chars 凿壁偷光záo bì tōu guāngto study under the hardest conditions4 chars 朝三暮四zhāo sān mù sìto be changeable and inconsistent; to play tricks with words4 chars 郑人买履zhèng rén mǎi lǚto cling to rigid rules while ignoring reality4 chars 知己知彼zhī jǐ zhī bǐto know both sides thoroughly; to be fully informed4 chars 指鹿为马zhǐ lù wéi mǎto distort the truth brazenly; to call black white4 chars 纸上谈兵zhǐ shàng tán bīngempty talk with no practical skill; armchair strategy4 chars 众志成城zhòng zhì chéng chéngunity is strength; together people can overcome anything4 chars 自相矛盾zì xiāng máo dùnself-contradictory4 chars

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