40 Commonly Used Chinese Idioms
Idioms are treasures of Chinese culture. They are concise yet profound and can express rich emotions and profound truths with just a few characters. Today, I will introduce 100 commonly used Chinese idioms to foreign friends and provide English translations so that everyone can better understand and feel the charm of the Chinese language.
I. Describing People's Qualities
1. 高风亮节（Gāo fēng liàng jié）（Lofty character and sterling integrity）: 形容人品格高尚，坚持原则。Describing a person with noble character and unwavering integrity.
o 例句：他为官清廉，高风亮节，深受百姓爱戴。（He is honest in office, with lofty character and sterling integrity, and is deeply loved by the people.）
2. 刚正不阿（Gāng zhèng bù ē）（Upright and unyielding）: 刚强正直，不迎合他人，不偏袒。Strong and upright, not catering to or being partial.
o 例句：他是一位刚正不阿的法官，从不徇私枉法。（He is an upright and unyielding judge who never bends the law for personal gain.）
3. 光明磊落（Guāng míng lěi luò）（Open and aboveboard）: 形容人的行为正直诚实，没有隐藏或不能说的暧昧之事。Describing a person's behavior as upright and honest, without any hidden or ambiguous things that cannot be told.
o 例句：他为人光明磊落，从不做亏心事。（He is open and aboveboard in his conduct and never does anything wrong.）
4. 忠心耿耿（Zhōng xīn gěng gěng）（Loyal and devoted）: 形容非常忠诚。Describing being extremely loyal.
o 例句：他对国家忠心耿耿，为了国家的利益不惜牺牲自己的生命。（He is loyal and devoted to the country and is willing to sacrifice his life for the interests of the country.）
5. 助人为乐（Zhù rén wéi lè）（Help others for pleasure）: 帮助别人带来快乐。Helping others brings happiness.
o 例句：他是一个助人为乐的人，经常帮助邻居们做一些力所能及的事情。（He is a person who helps others for pleasure and often helps his neighbors do some things within his power.）
II. Describing People's Wisdom
1. 足智多谋（Zú zhì duō móu）（Resourceful and astute）: 富有智慧，善于谋划。Rich in wisdom and good at planning.
o 例句：他足智多谋，是一位出色的军事家。（He is resourceful and astute and is an excellent strategist.）
2. 神机妙算（Shén jī miào suàn）（Divinely inspired strategy）: 惊人的机智和巧妙的策略。形容善于估计复杂多变的形势并做出决策。Astonishing wit and ingenious strategy. Describing being good at estimating complex and changing situations and making decisions.
o 例句：诸葛亮神机妙算，帮助刘备成就了一番霸业。（Zhuge Liang's divinely inspired strategy helped Liu Bei achieve a great cause.）
3. 聪明伶俐（Cōng míng líng lì）（Clever and quick-witted）: 形容孩子聪明活泼，乖巧可爱。Describing a child as smart, lively, and cute.
o 例句：这个小女孩聪明伶俐，十分可爱。（This little girl is clever and quick-witted and very lovely.）
4. 智勇双全（Zhì yǒng shuāng quán）（Brave and resourceful）: 既有智慧又有勇气。Having both wisdom and courage.
o 例句：他智勇双全，是一位不可多得的人才。（He is brave and resourceful and is a rare talent.）
5. 博古通今（Bó gǔ tōng jīn）（Erudite and informed）: 了解古代的事情，也熟悉现代的事情。形容知识丰富。Knowing a lot about ancient times and also being well-informed about modern things. Describing being rich in knowledge.
o 例句：他博古通今，是一位著名的历史学家。（He is erudite and informed and is a famous historian.）
III. Describing People's Appearance
1. 眉清目秀（Méi qīng mù xiù）（Have delicate features）: 形容人容貌清秀，不俗气。Describing a person's appearance as delicate and not vulgar.
o 例句：这个小男孩眉清目秀，十分可爱。（This little boy has delicate features and is very lovely.）
2. 明眸皓齿（Míng móu hào chǐ）（Bright eyes and white teeth）: 明亮的眼睛和洁白的牙齿。形容女性美丽或指美丽的女性。Bright eyes and white teeth. Describing a woman's beauty or referring to a beautiful woman.
o 例句：她明眸皓齿，是一位美丽的女子。（She has bright eyes and white teeth and is a beautiful woman.）
3. 貌若天仙（Mào ruò tiān xiān）（As beautiful as a fairy）: 看起来像仙女一样美丽。形容女性容貌极其美丽。Looking as beautiful as a fairy. Describing a woman's extremely beautiful appearance.
o 例句：她貌若天仙，让人一见倾心。（She is as beautiful as a fairy and makes people fall in love at first sight.）
4. 风度翩翩（Fēng dù piān piān）（Elegant and refined）: 举止优雅，气质不凡。Having elegant and refined manners.
o 例句：他风度翩翩，是一位绅士。（He is elegant and refined and is a gentleman.）
5. 仪表堂堂（Yí biǎo táng táng）（Impressive appearance）: 形容人容貌端正，气宇轩昂。Describing a person's upright appearance.
o 例句：他仪表堂堂，是一位英俊的男子。（He has an impressive appearance and is a handsome man.）
IV. Describing People's Emotions
1. 情深似海（Qíng shēn sì hǎi）（Love as deep as the sea）: 形容深厚的爱情，像大海一样无边无际。Describing deep love that is as immeasurable as the sea.
o 例句：他们夫妻二人情深似海，让人羡慕不已。（The couple's love for each other is as deep as the sea, which makes people envy.）
2. 恩重如山（ēn zhòng rú shān）（Favors as heavy as mountains）: 深厚的感激之情，像山一样沉重。Deep gratitude that is as heavy as mountains.
o 例句：老师对我的恩情重如山，我永远不会忘记。（The teacher's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain, and I will never forget it.）
3. 一见钟情（Yī jiàn zhōng qíng）（Love at first sight）: 指男女之间初次见面就产生爱情。Referring to falling in love at first sight between a man and a woman.
o 例句：他们一见钟情，很快就陷入了热恋之中。（They fell in love at first sight and soon fell in love.）
4. 依依不舍（Yī yī bù shě）（Reluctant to part）: 形容舍不得离开。Describing being reluctant to leave.
o 例句：他要去外地工作了，家人对他依依不舍。（He is going to work in another place, and his family is reluctant to part with him.）
5. 喜出望外（Xǐ chū wàng wài）（Be overjoyed）: 因为意外的好消息而极度高兴。Being extremely happy due to unexpected good news.
o 例句：他收到了心仪大学的录取通知书，喜出望外。（He received the admission notice from his favorite university and was overjoyed.）
V. Describing the State of Things
1. 井井有条（Jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo）（In perfect order）: 形容说话做事有条理。Describing speaking and doing things in an orderly manner.
o 例句：他的房间整理得井井有条，让人感觉很舒适。（His room is arranged in perfect order, making people feel very comfortable.）
2. 美轮美奂（Měi lún měi huàn）（Magnificent and splendid）: 形容建筑物高大华丽。Describing buildings as tall and gorgeous.
o 例句：这座宫殿美轮美奂，让人惊叹不已。（This palace is magnificent and splendid, which makes people marvel.）
3. 金碧辉煌（Jīn bì huī huáng）（Resplendent and magnificent）: 形容建筑物装饰豪华，光彩夺目。Describing buildings as decorated luxuriously and dazzlingly.
o 例句：这座寺庙金碧辉煌，十分壮观。（This temple is resplendent and magnificent and very spectacular.）
4. 琳琅满目（Lín láng mǎn mù）（A feast for the eyes）: 充满珍贵的东西。形容有很多美丽的事物。Full of precious things. Describing many beautiful things.
o 例句：商店里的商品琳琅满目，让人眼花缭乱。（The commodities in the store are a feast for the eyes and make people dazzled.）
5. 生机勃勃（Shēng jī bó bó）（Full of vitality）: 形容自然充满生命力或社会生活活跃。Describing nature as full of vitality or social life as active.
o 例句：春天来了，大地一片生机勃勃的景象。（Spring is coming, and the earth is full of vitality.）
VI. Describing Changes in Things
1. 日新月异（Rì xīn yuè yì）（Change with each passing day）: 每天每月都在变化。指发展或进步迅速，不断出现新事物和新现象。Changing every day and every month. Referring to rapid development or progress and the continuous emergence of new things and new phenomena.
o 例句：随着科技的发展，我们的生活日新月异。（With the development of science and technology, our life is changing with each passing day.）
2. 翻天覆地（Fān tiān fù dì）（Earth-shaking）: 形容巨大而彻底的变化。Describing huge and thorough changes.
o 例句：改革开放以来，中国发生了翻天覆地的变化。（Since the reform and opening up, China has undergone earth-shaking changes.）
3. 瞬息万变（Shùn xī wàn biàn）（Change rapidly）: 在很短的时间内发生许多变化。形容变化非常快且多。There are many changes in a very short time. Describing very fast and numerous changes.
o 例句：现代社会瞬息万变，我们必须不断学习才能跟上时代的步伐。（Modern society is changing rapidly. We must keep learning to keep up with the pace of the times.）
4. 变幻莫测（Biàn huàn mò cè）（Change unpredictably）: 变化很多，难以预测。Changing a lot and being unpredictable.
o 例句：天气变幻莫测，一会儿晴天，一会儿下雨。（The weather is changeable and unpredictable. Sometimes it is sunny and sometimes it rains.）
5. 千变万化（Qiān biàn wàn huà）（Vary in thousands of ways）: 形容变化极多。Describing extremely many changes.
o 例句：天上的云千变万化，一会儿像骏马，一会儿像绵羊。（The clouds in the sky vary in thousands of ways. Sometimes they are like horses and sometimes they are like sheep.）
VII. Describing Learning and Work
1. 孜孜不倦（Zī zī bù juàn）（Diligent and unremitting）: 指在工作或学习中勤奋不懈，不知疲倦。Referring to being diligent in work or study without getting tired.
o 例句：他孜孜不倦地学习，终于考上了理想的大学。（He studied diligently and unremittingly and finally was admitted to his ideal university.）
2. 废寝忘食（Fèi qǐn wàng shí）（Forget food and sleep）: 由于全神贯注于某事而忘记睡觉和吃饭。形容非常专注。So absorbed in something that one forgets to sleep and eat. Describing being dedicated.
o 例句：他为了完成这个项目，废寝忘食地工作。（He worked forgetting food and sleep in order to complete this project.）
3. 锲而不舍（Qiè ér bù shě）（Persevere）: 持续不断地雕刻。比喻坚持不懈。Continuously carving. Metaphor for being persistent.
o 例句：他锲而不舍地追求自己的梦想，最终实现了人生的价值。（He persevered in pursuing his dream and finally realized the value of life.）
4. 精益求精（Jīng yì qiú jīng）（Strive for perfection）: 始终追求更好。Always seeking better.
o 例句：他对自己的工作要求很高，总是精益求精。（He has very high requirements for his work and always strives for perfection.）
5. 奋发图强（Fèn fā tú qiáng）（Strive to be strong）: 激励自己，努力变得强大。Energize oneself and strive for strength.
o 例句：中国人民奋发图强，努力建设自己的国家。（The Chinese people strive to be strong and work hard to build their own country.）
VIII. Describing Natural Landscapes
1. 山清水秀（Shān qīng shuǐ xiù）（Beautiful mountains and clear waters）: 形容风景优美。Describing beautiful scenery.
o 例句：这里山清水秀，是一个旅游的好地方。（Here are beautiful mountains and clear waters. It is a good place for tourism.）
2. 鸟语花香（Niǎo yǔ huā xiāng）（Birds sing and flowers give forth fragrance）: 形容春天的美丽景象。Describing the beautiful scene of spring.
o 例句：春天来了，公园里鸟语花香，让人心情愉悦。（Spring is coming. The park is full of birds singing and flowers giving forth fragrance, which makes people feel happy.）
3. 湖光山色（Hú guāng shān sè）（Landscape of lakes and mountains）: 湖泊和山脉的景色。指有山有水的美丽风景。The scenery of lakes and mountains. Referring to beautiful scenery with water and mountains.
o 例句：西湖的湖光山色美不胜收，吸引了无数游客。（The landscape of West Lake is extremely beautiful and attracts countless tourists.）
4. 繁花似锦（Fán huā sì jǐn）（Flourishing flowers like brocade）: 许多色彩鲜艳的花朵，像色彩丰富的锦缎。形容美丽的风景和美好的事物。Many colorful flowers, like rich and colorful brocade. Describing beautiful scenery and beautiful things.
o 例句：春天的花园繁花似锦，让人陶醉其中。（The garden in spring is full of flourishing flowers like brocade, which makes people intoxicated.）
5. 绿草如茵（Lǜ cǎo rú yīn）（Green grass like a carpet）: 绿色的草地像地上的地毯。常指人们可以暂时休息的草地。Green grass is like a carpet on the ground. Often referring to grassland where people can rest temporarily.
o 例句：公园里绿草如茵，是人们休闲娱乐的好去处。（The park is covered with green grass like a carpet and is a good place for people to relax and have fun.）
