Chinese Four-Character Idioms

To wait idly for a lucky windfall to repeat itself instead of working for it.

The story — A farmer saw a rabbit run headlong into a tree stump and die, so he abandoned his fields to wait by the stump for another — and got nothing but ridicule. Read the illustrated story →

Someone with a narrow, limited view of the world.

The story — A frog at the bottom of a well was sure the sky was only as wide as the well's mouth — until a sea turtle told it about the ocean. Read the illustrated story →

To ruin something by adding what is unnecessary; to overdo it.

The story — In a contest to draw a snake fastest, the quickest artist added legs to show off — and lost, because snakes have none. Read the illustrated story →

To throw one's weight around by borrowing a more powerful person's authority.

The story — A fox caught by a tiger claimed to be king of the beasts and made the tiger follow it; the animals fled the tiger, but the tiger thought they feared the fox. Read the illustrated story →

To spoil things through impatience by forcing progress.

The story — An impatient farmer tugged every seedling upward to hurry its growth — and by morning the whole crop had withered. Read the illustrated story →

It's not too late to fix a problem, even after some damage is done.

The story — A shepherd ignored a hole in his pen and lost sheep to a wolf; only after the loss did he mend the fence — and lost no more. Read the illustrated story →

Foolish self-deception; hiding from a truth everyone else can plainly see.

The story — A thief covered his own ears as he stole a bell, as if not hearing it ring meant no one else could either. Read the illustrated story →

To cling rigidly to a method after the circumstances have changed.

The story — A man dropped his sword from a moving boat and notched the hull where it fell, expecting to find it there once the boat reached shore. Read the illustrated story →

A misfortune may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

The story — An old man's lost horse returned leading a wild herd; his son broke a leg riding one, which then spared him from being drafted into a deadly war. Read the illustrated story →

Perseverance can overcome any obstacle, however impossible it looks.

The story — An old man set his family to carrying away two mountains one basket at a time, certain his descendants would finish what he began. Read the illustrated story →

To contradict oneself.

The story — A merchant swore his spear could pierce any shield and his shield could stop any spear — until a bystander asked what would happen if he used one on the other.

The small final touch that suddenly brings the whole thing to life.

The story — A painter left his dragons eyeless; the moment he dotted in the eyes, they came alive and flew off the wall.

To pitch something over your listener's head, or to the wrong audience entirely.

The story — A musician played a refined melody to an ox, which went on grazing — the fault lay in the audience, not the tune.

To profess love for something you would actually run from.

The story — Lord Ye covered his house in dragon carvings; when a real dragon came to visit, he fled in terror.

To pass yourself off as competent just to make up the numbers.

The story — A man who couldn't play the yu joined a royal orchestra and mimed along in the group — until a new king demanded solos.

To take an approach that works directly against your own goal.

The story — A traveler set off south to reach a state in the north, insisting his fast horse and skilled driver would still get him there.

To frighten yourself over an imaginary threat.

The story — A man saw a bow reflected in his wine cup, took it for a snake he'd swallowed, and worried himself sick — until the cup was moved.

To stun everyone with a sudden, brilliant achievement after a quiet spell.

The story — A king who idled for three years was compared to a bird that never sang — then he seized power and amazed the whole state.

So-so; careless; passable but not great.

In a complete mess; all over the place.

Exactly the same; identical.

To kill two birds with one stone.

Half-hearted; unable to make up your mind.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Known to every household; a household name.

Practice makes perfect.

To give up halfway.

To go all out; to spare no effort.

Love at first sight.

To have a well-thought-out plan ready before you start.

The story — A painter of bamboo said he painted it so well because the finished bamboo already stood, complete, in his mind before the brush touched paper.

A place full of hidden, undiscovered talent.