| Entry | Pinyin | Meaning | English Equivalent | Story? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 庸人自扰 | yōng rén zì rǎo |
To think a small issue much bigger than it actually is and end up creating trouble for oneself |
None |
Yes |
| 优胜劣汰 | yōu shèng liè tài |
Survival of the fittest |
None |
No |
| 有条不紊 | yǒu tiáo bù wěn |
To do something in an orderly or systematic fashion |
None |
No |
| 鹬蚌相争 | yù bàng xiāng zhēng |
Refers to when a third party benefits from the struggle of others |
None |
Yes |
| 愚公移山 | yú gōng yí shān |
To have resolute will and not be afraid of hardship and difficulty |
Where there's a will, there's a way |
Yes |
| 与虎谋皮 | yǔ hǔ móu pí |
To attempt something impossible; refers to a scheme that is difficult to accomplish because it involves hurting one of the involved parties |
None |
Yes |
| 与日俱增 | yǔ rì jù zēng |
To steadily increase or grow |
None |
No |
| 缘木求鱼 | yuán mù qiú yú |
To be unable to realize one's goals due to improper strategy |
Fruitless effort/attempt |
Yes |
| 再接再厉 | zài jiē zài lì |
To make unceasing attempts; to repeatedly exert oneself |
None |
No |
| 凿壁偷光 | záo bì tōu guāng |
To study very diligently despite facing hardship |
None |
Yes |
| 斩钉截铁 | zhǎn dīng jié tiě |
Indicates that one's behavior is resolute and decisive |
None |
No |
| 朝气蓬勃 | zhāo qì péng bó |
This is used to describe something as full of energy, vigor, or vitality |
None |
No |
| 朝秦暮楚 | zhāo Qín mù Chǔ |
When someone is being fickle, behaving capriciously, or constantly changing their mind |
Blow hot and cold |
Yes |
| 针锋相对 | zhēn fēng xiāng duì |
To be evenly matched with one's opponent; to have completely different opinions and/or actions than one's opponent |
None |
No |
| 枕戈待旦 | zhěn gē dài dàn |
To be ready to jump into combat at any time |
None |
Yes |
| 争先恐后 | zhēng xiān kǒng hòu |
To fight to be ahead and fear to fall behind |
None |
Yes |
| 直捣黄龙 | zhí dǎo huáng lóng |
To directly attack the enemy's stronghold |
None |
Yes |
| 指鹿为马 | zhǐ lù wéi mǎ |
To deliberately distort the truth |
To argue that black is white |
Yes |
| 纸上谈兵 | zhǐ shàng tán bīng |
This chengyu refers to empty theoretical discussion of an issue that won't actually serve to resolve that issue. It also refers to idle discussion that can't become reality |
To engage in empty theorizing |
Yes |
| 知足常乐 | zhī zú cháng lè |
To be happy because what you already have is sufficient |
None |
No |
| 众口铄金 | zhòng kǒu shuò jīn |
Used to comment on the power of public opinion. Also used to say that widespread rumors can be enough to confound what is right/wrong or can obscure the truth |
None |
No |
| 众所周知 | zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī |
As is commonly known; as everyone knows |
As everyone knows |
No |
| 自力更生 | zì lì gēng shēng |
To accomplish tasks via one's own efforts; self-reliance |
None |
No |
| 自相矛盾 | zì xiāng máo dùn |
Used when words or actions are contradictory |
None |
Yes |
| 自作聪明 | zì zuò cōng míng |
Refers to when one thinks oneself clever and makes decisions based only off of one's own opinions |
None |
No |