Chinese proverbs that help with coping with life
This loosely knit group of proverbs all have to do with dealing with a particular predicament. Some of these just describe the situation without offering advice on how to deal with it.
鸣锣开道
beat gong start road
Beating the gong to clear the way for dignitaries
To publicize an event
弱不禁风
weak not restrict wind
Too weak to stand a gust of wind
Fragile, unable to withstand further setbacks
马马虎虎
horse horse tiger tiger
Some people say it comes from an old story in which a horse and a tiger get into a fight. Neither animal could defeat the other. In time, mentioning the two animals together came to mean a fight with no definite winner - and ma ma hu hu came to mean 'so so.'. There is also a story that, a long time ago, an artist drew an animal. He asked other people what the animal he drew was. Some said it looked like a horse while others said it was a tiger. They said, 'ma ma hu hu' because the drawing was just 'so-so'.
So so; average; careless
花花世界
flower flower lifespan limit
Life full of experience. Dazzling world of excitement
World seething with life
树欲静而风不止
tree desire quiet but wind not still
The trees want to remain quiet, but the wind will not stop
In spite of a wish for peace, trouble is brewing
司空见惯
Sikong see usual
Sikong is the title of a minister in China who said that entertainers were a common sight at feasts.
An everyday occurrence; nothing out of the ordinary
无事不登三宝殿
nothing matter no climb three treasure hall
No-one comes to pray at the Temple of Three Treasures unless in trouble
Often it is obvious when somebody is after something
香消玉损
fragrant vanish jade broken
Fragrance is dissipated; jade is broken
Spoken of on the death of a beautiful young woman
Whom the Gods love die young
热锅上的蚂蚁
heat pot up of ants
As active as ants on a hot pan
In a state of feverish activity and excitement
以卵击石
use egg strike stone
Try to smash a stone with an egg
Overrate strength and be defeated. An ill-judged contest
网开一面
net open one side
To leave one side of the net open
To give someone a chance of escape
To let someone off the hook
富丽堂皇
good fortune beautiful hall emperor
Prosperous and beautiful
To have the best of good fortune
漏洞百出
leak hole hundred get out
Leaking through one hundred holes
Full of mistakes and errors
人山人海
person mountain person sea
People everywhere
Huge crowds of people
身临其境
body face its border
Present and observing
An eye witness to an event
门可罗雀
gate can net bird
The gate can catch birds. There are so few visitors that the door could be used to catch birds
Having few visitors
羽毛未丰
feather not yet mature
Not yet grown adult plumage. A fledgling bird - young and inexperienced
Still too young and immature
马到成功
horse arrive accomplish merit
Horse win easy victory
Gain immediate victory
四面楚歌
four side Chu song
In the battle of Gaixia ➚ troops surrounding the enemy sang songs of home, breaking their spirit.
Ambushed from all sides. Under sustained attack
日以继夜
day take continue
Day and night continuously
Working without a break. Exhausted
生米煮成熟饭
produce rice cook accomplish well-cooked food
The rice has already been cooked
What has been done can not be undone
What's done is done
步步高升
step step tall ascend
Step by step promotion
Congratulation on promotion or a new job
飞禽走兽
flying bird walking animal
Birds and beasts
Wildlife
度日如年
pass day as year
Each day passes as a year
Time seems to pass very slowly
Time drags on
瑕不掩瑜
defect not conceal jewel
A speck on a jade stone can't obscure its brilliance
One small fault won't spoil the impression of an overall exceptional person
鸡犬不宁
chicken dog not stand
Even the chicken and dog are disturbed. General commotion
All in turmoil and excitement
说曹操,曹操到
speak Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives
Speak of Cao Cao and he arrives. 'Cao Cao ➚' of the Three Kingdoms is the embodiment of evil.
Someone who you are talking about happens to appear unexpectedly
Speak of the devil and he is sure to appear
十全十美
ten complete ten beautiful
Completely whole and beautiful
Perfection; faultless
维妙维肖
tie clever tie resemble
Weave skillfully life like images
Produce an image remarkably true to life; highly skilled
自由自在
freedom unrestrained
Unrestricted freedom
To be carefree, peaceful and relaxed
少见多怪
less look many odd
Things look strange to the unfamiliar
Unsettled by a new environment
守口如瓶
guard mouth like bottle
To keep mouth shut, like a bottle
To avoid giving the game away; to not breathe a word
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil
目瞪口呆
eye stare mouth blank
Staring eyes and mouth open
Dumb struck
空前绝后
empty before terminate behind
Neither seen in the future nor in the past
Something that is genuinely new
妻离子散
wife leave child break-up
Wife left; children scattered
A broken family
箭在弦上,不得不发
arrow exist string on, not get no deliver
When the arrow is on the string, it must be shot
Things have reached a point when something must be done
左右为难
left right pride difficult
Both alternatives are difficult
In a dilemma
Be in a pickle
风吹草动
wind blow grass move
The wind causes the grass to move
A minor repercussion of a larger action. A trifling consequence
闻风丧胆
hear news lose courage
Panic on hearing news
Panic stricken; terrified by news
焦头烂额
beaten head burnt brow
Head bruised and brow burned
In terrible trouble
Beaten black and blue
木已成舟
tree cease make boat
The tree has been made into a boat
Too late to change anything
What's done is done
穿新鞋,走老路
put on new shoes, walk old road
Wear new shoes but follow old paths
Stick to the old ways while appearing to follow the latest trends
心甘情愿
feeling sweet fine wish
Delighted and helpful
Delighted to be able to help
雷声大,雨点小
thunder sound big, rain drop small
Thunder is loud but little rain falls
Overly portentous. Reality does not match expectations
Empty vessels make the most noise
臭不可当
smelly not can equal
Worst ever smell
To give off an unbearable stink
乱七八糟
chaos seven eight dregs
Chaotic mess
To be in a terrible mess. Dirty and filthy
虎视眈眈
tiger look at stare stare
A tiger's stare. To look covetously
To eye enviously
山明水秀
mountain bright water elegant
Beautiful mountain scenery
Beautiful landscape
心花怒放
heart flower in full bloom
The flower of the heart in full bloom
Full flowering of joy
悬崖勒马
precipice rein in horse
Rein in the horse at the cliff edge
Realize danger at the last moment
易如反掌
easy as turn over palm
As easy as turning over your hand
Simple. Very easy
骑虎难下
ride tiger difficult down
When on a tiger's back, it is hard to dismount
When taking risks you have to live with the consequences, it is difficult to back out
He who sups with the Devil should have a long spoon
水深火热
water deep fire hot
In deep water and fierce fire
In very deep trouble
如坐针毡
like sit needle carpet
Like sitting on a carpet of needles
To feel tense and uneasy
冰天雪地
ice sky snow ground
Ice in the sky and snow on the ground
Encountering adverse conditions
风吹草动
wind blow grass move
The wind causes the grass to move
A minor repercussion of a larger action. A trifling consequence
心旷神怡,事事顺利
heart broad spirit joy, matter matter obey profit
Heart joyful, work profitable
Feeling happy and relaxed
The Drum Tower in Xi'an, Shaanxi. June 2007.
Image by Jeremy Barwick ➚ available under a Creative Commons license ➚
骨瘦如柴
bone thin as lath
Nothing but skin and bones
Emaciated
耳目一新
ear eye one new
New sights and sounds
A change of place, everything fresh and new
天南地北
heaven south land north
As distant as the heavens
Places or opinions that are very far apart
Our proverbs come with lots of information. The modern Chinese characters are followed by the proverb in pinyin. Next, there is a crude character by character transliteration into English, followed by a more accurate English translation. If this is a Chinese proverb alluding to history the meaning may still not be clear in English, so the general meaning follows. Finally some proverbs have fairly direct English equivalents, if so the English proverb is included at the end.
Our translations are in need of improvement, so please let us know your suggestions.
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