Chinese Sayings 成語 Flashcards
不作不死
(bù zuò bù sǐ) - meaning “If you don’t do stupid things, you won’t end up in tragedy.” This can be used to warn someone against reckless behavior. For example: “Don’t try to climb that cliff without any safety gear, 不作不死!”
笑里藏刀
(xiào lǐ cáng dāo) - meaning “to hide a dagger behind a smile.” This is used to describe someone who appears friendly but has malicious intentions. For example: “Be careful of that salesman, he seems nice but he might be 笑里藏刀.”
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有情饮水饱
(yǒu qíng yǐn shuǐ bǎo) - meaning “love can make you feel full even with just water.” This is used to describe the powerful effects of love and affection. For example: “They may not have much money, but they have each other, and 有情饮水饱.”
塞翁失马焉知非福
(sài wēng shī mǎ) - meaning “a blessing in disguise.” This is used when a seemingly negative situation turns out to have a positive outcome. For example: “I lost my job, but it gave me the opportunity to start my own business. It was a real 塞翁失马.”
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强龙不压地头蛇
(qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shé) - meaning “even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake.” This is used to describe the power of local influence and connections. For example: “He may be a successful businessman in the city, but he’ll have a hard time getting anything done in this small town. 强龙不压地头蛇.”
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錢財如糞土，仁義值千金
(qiáncái rú fèntǔ, rényì zhí qiānjīn) - Riches are as worthless as dust, benevolence and justice are the most valuable things.
有緣千里來相會，無緣對面不相逢
(yǒuyuán qiānlǐ lái xiāng huì, wúyuán duìmiàn bù xiāngféng) - If there’s destiny, you’ll meet from far away. If no destiny, you won’t know each other even across from each other.
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五子登科
(wǔzǐ dēngkē) - Five sons pass the imperial examination, used as a blessing or auspicious word for marriage. Also 5 basics for success, house, car, wife, son, gold.
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有理走遍天下，無理寸步難行
(yǒulǐ zǒu biàn tiānxià, wúlǐ cùnbùnánxíng) - With reason/justice, one can walk freely across the world; without reason/justice, one cannot take a single step. The verb “走遍” (zou bian) means “to walk freely or travel extensively,” which suggests that with reason and logic, one can explore and navigate the world with confidence and ease. Someone might use this phrase to encourage a friend who is facing a difficult decision: “Don’t worry, as long as you have a clear rationale for your choice, you can achieve anything. Remember, 有理走遍天下，無理寸步難行.”
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近朱者赤，近墨者黑
(jìn zhū zhě chì, jìn mò zhě hēi) - Near vermillion, one gets stained pink, near ink, one gets stained black.
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潜移默化
(qián yí mò huà) - to influence secretly; imperceptible influence
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種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆
(zhòng guā dé guā，zhòng dòu dé dòu) - You’ve made your bed, now must lie on it.; lit. Sow melon and you get melon, sow beans and you get beans (idiom); fig. As you sow, so shall you reap.; One must live with the consequences of one’s actions.
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筋疲力尽
(jīn pí lì jìn) - body weary, strength exhausted (idiom); extremely tired; spent
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明人不用細說，響鼓不用重錘
(míng rén bùyòng xì shuō, xiǎng gǔ bùyòng zhòng chuí) - A person of good sense needs no detailed explanation, a resonant drum needs no heavy beating.
小洞不補，大洞叫苦
(xiǎo dòng bù bǔ, dàdòng jiàokǔ) - If you don’t patch up small holes, you’ll end up with bigger problems later. A manager might use this phrase to encourage their team to address small issues in a project: “Remember, 小洞不補，大洞叫苦. If we don’t fix these small problems now, they could cause bigger headaches down the road.”
