| Entry | Pinyin | Meaning | English Equivalent | Story? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 如鱼得水 | rú yú dé shuǐ |
For someone to be in an environment or with a person that best suits them |
To be in one's element |
Yes |
| 塞翁失马 | sài wēng shī mǎ |
Used to refer to situations where one has suffered a loss but actually ends up better off because of it; indicates that bad situations can become good ones |
A silver lining; every cloud has a silver lining |
Yes |
| 三长两短 | sǎn cháng liǎng duǎn |
Used to refer to an unexpected misfortune, especially death |
If anything should ever happen to [a person] |
Yes |
| 三顾茅庐 | sān gù máo lú |
To earnestly and repeatedly extend an offer |
None |
Yes |
| 三人成虎 | sān rén chéng hǔ |
Indicates a situation where a rumor, repeated by enough people, can make people believe that it's true |
None |
Yes |
| 杀鸡骇猴 | shā jī hài hóu |
To punish one person as a warning to others |
To make an example out of someone |
Yes |
| 上下其手 | shàng xià qí shǒu |
To practice fraud; to conspire to do something evil or illegal |
None |
Yes |
| 神来之笔 | shén lái zhī bǐ |
A magnificent work |
A stroke of genius |
No |
| 深情厚谊 | shēn qíng hòu yì |
Deep feelings of friendship |
None |
No |
| 实事求是 | shí shì qiú shì |
To properly address and handle a situation; to derive the truth from what is happening around you |
None |
Yes |
| 世外桃源 | shì wài táo yuán |
Refers to a place that is not impacted by the world around it; refers to an idyllic place |
None |
Yes |
| 守株待兔 | shǒu zhū dài tù |
Refers to someone who clings to past experience and won't adapt; also to describe someone who wants to profit or benefit without doing any work |
None |
Yes |
| 熟能生巧 | shú néng shēng qiǎo |
This indicates that practice makes perfect or leads to great technique |
Practice makes perfect |
Yes |
| 数一数二 | shǔ yī shǔ èr |
To be one of the very best |
None |
No |
| 双管齐下 | shuāng guǎn qí xià |
To simultaneously approach a task from two directions |
None |
Yes |
| 水滴石穿 | shuǐ dī shí chuān |
Indicates that small efforts can achieve great results if expended continuously over a long period of time |
Slow and steady wins the race |
Yes |
| 水落石出 | shuǐ luò shí chū |
When the truth surrounding something comes to light |
The truth comes to light |
Yes |
| 水土不服 | shuǐ tǔ bù fú |
To feel as though one cannot adapt to changes in one's environment |
None |
No |
| 说来话长 | shuō lái huà cháng |
This means "it's a long story," and it's used the same way as in English |
It's a long story |
No |
| 四海为家 | sì hǎi wéi jiā |
To drift about from place to place; to make home out of wherever one is |
None |
No |
| 司空见惯 | sī kōng jiàn guàn |
A common occurrence; commonly seen |
None |
Yes |
| 死里逃生 | sǐ lǐ táo shēng |
To narrowly avoid death |
Survive by the skin of one's teeth |
No |
| 四面楚歌 | sì miàn chǔ gē |
Refers to when one is cut off from help when being attacked on all sides or in a difficult situation |
To be in dire straits |
Yes |
| 四平八稳 | sì píng bā wěn |
Describes objects that are placed in a firm and steady position; describes behavior and words that are reliable and steady. Also describes someone whose behavior is a bit too cautious or lacking in initiative |
None |
No |
| 肆无忌惮 | sì wú jì dàn |
Often used when describing the efforts of bad people |
None |
No |