5 Common Chinese Idioms

Idioms play a significant role in the Chinese language. Most Chinese idioms comprise four characters, although there are also numerous three-character, five-character, six-character, and seven-character idioms. Similar to English idioms, Chinese idioms employ fixed structures and words to convey concepts.

Chinese idioms, often derived from myths, fables, history, and literature, have evolved over time. Some can be interpreted literally, while others have figurative meanings. They are concise, rich in imagery, and metaphorically profound, reflecting extensive historical, social, and cultural knowledge.

Learning to use common idioms and expressions will make your Chinese sound more native and also fun, so it's a good idea to master some of the common idioms.

Today, I will share with you 5 frequently used Chinese idioms, which are also among my favourites. These idioms can significantly improve your verbal or written communication, ensuring it aligns more closely with native expressions.

1. 掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng)

It literally means covering one's ears while stealing a bell. This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to deceive themselves or deny the reality of a situation, believing that by doing so, they can escape the consequences of the truth.

Example: 

事情已经清楚了，你还想掩耳盗铃？

(Shìqing yǐjīng qīngchǔ le, nǐ hái xiǎng yǎn ěr dào líng?)

Translation: The matter is already clear now and do you still want to cover up your mistake?

2. 滴水穿石 (dī shuǐ chuān shí)

It literally means dripping water wears through stone and is used to encourage perseverance and resilience, stressing patience and continuous effort to achieve goals.

Example: 

她每天都练习汉语，因为她知道滴水穿石可以帮助她提高技能。

(tā měi tiān dōu liànxí hànyǔ, yīnwèi tā zhīdào dī shuǐ chuān shí kěyǐ bāngzhù tā tígāo jìnéng.)

Translation: She practices Chinese every day, knowing that time and effort can help her improve her skills.

3. 一石两鸟 (yì shí liǎng niǎo)

It literally means killing two birds with one stone. It describes achieving two goals with one effort, highlighting efficiency and effectiveness. This idiom is also common in English with similar meanings.

Example: 

昨天在城里，我见了朋友，又去书店买了几本书，真是一石两鸟。

(zuótiān zài chéng lǐ, wǒ jiàn le péngyou, yòu qù shū diàn mǎi le jǐ běn shū, zhēn shì yì shí liǎng niǎo.)

Translation: Yesterday in the city, I met up with a friend and also went to a bookshop to buy a few books, which really killed two birds with one stone.

4. 马马虎虎(mǎ mǎ hū hū)

It literally means horse horse tiger tiger and implies a mix of two different animals, symbolising a lack of focus or quality. The idiom translates to just so so, describing someone's work as acceptable but not excellent, or something that is average or ordinary.

Example: 

我觉得那个饭馆的菜马马虎虎。

(wǒ juéde nà ge fànguǎn de cài mǎ mǎ hū hū.)

Translation: I think the food in that restaurant is just so-so.

5. 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú)

It literally means drawing a snake and adding feet, and describes adding unnecessary details to something complete, thus ruining it.

Example:

她的作业已经做得好极了，又多检查了一遍，感觉有点儿画蛇添足。

(tā de zuòyè yǐjīng zuò de hǎo jí le, yòu duō jiǎnchá le yí biàn, gǎnjué yǒu diǎnr huà shé tiān zú.)

Translation: She already did a very good job on her homework, and checked it again, feeling a bit unnecessary.