Some of the most interesting Chinese idioms include numbers.
In today's lesson we explore the meanings of these idioms and learn how they're used in daily speech!
Chinese Idioms with Numbers
yī 一：one / single
xīn 心：heart / mind
yī 一：one / single
yì 意：thought
yī xīn yī yì 一心一意：To do something wholeheartedly.
Example:
tā zhǐ xiǎng yī xīn yī yì zhǔn bèi qī mò kǎo shì.
他只想一心一意准备期末考试。
He just wants to prepare for the final exam wholeheartedly.
sān 三：three
xīn 心：heart / mind
èr 二：two
yì 意：thought
sān xīn èr yì 三心二意：It's used to indicate the state of wanting to do multiple things
at the same time, but ending up with nothing done well, and can also be translated as
“half-heartedly”.
Example:
tā quán shén guàn zhù yú gōng zuò，cóng bù sān xīn èr yì.
她全神贯注于工作，从不三心二意。
She's completely focused on her work and never does things half-heartedly.
liǎng 两：two / both
quán 全：all / whole
qí 其：his / her / its
měi 美：satisfactory /beautiful
liǎng quán qí měi 两全其美：It can be translated as "to get the best of both worlds" or "to satisfy both sides."
Example:
tā de gōng zuò gōng zī yòu gāo, gōng zuò shí jiān yòu duǎn. zhēn shì liǎng quán qí měi.
他的工作工资又高，工作时间又短。真是两全其美。
His job pays well and the hours are short. It's really the best of both worlds.
sì 四: four
tōng 通: go through / connect
bā 八: eight
dá 达: reach / communicate
sì tōng bā dá 四通八达: It is commonly used to describe a place which is accessible from all directions.
Example:
shēn zhèn shì gè sì tōng bā dá de chéng shì.
深圳是个四通八达的城市。
The city of Shenzhen is accessible from all directions.
wǔ 五：five
tǐ 体：body
tóu 投：place oneself into the hands of
dì 地：ground
wǔ tǐ tóu dì 五体投地：It means to fully admire someone.
Example:
wǒ gē ge jīng tōng bā guó yǔ yán, wǒ duì tā pèi fú de wǔ tǐ tóu dì.
我哥哥精通八国语言，我对他佩服地五体投地。
My elder brother is proficient in eight languages, and I am full of admiration for him.
liù 六：six
shén 神：god
wú 无：not have
zhǔ 主：owner / master
liù shén wú zhǔ 六神无主：It's used to describe someone who is in a state of emotional shock. You feel stunned.
Example:
tīng dào tā bà b chū chē huò de xiāo xi, tā dùn shí jué de liù shén wú zhǔ.
听到她爸爸出车祸的消息，她顿时觉得六神无主。
Hearing the news of her father's car accident, she suddenly felt stunned.
qī 七: seven
zuǐ 嘴: mouth
bā 八: eight
shé 舌: tongue
qī zuǐ bā shé 七嘴八舌: It means "All talk at the same time". It’s used to indicate that everyone is trying to express their opinions and say what they want to say on a topic.
Example:
yī tīng dào tā lí hūn de xiāo xi， dà jiā dōu qī zuǐ bā shé de tǎo lùn le qǐ lái.
一听到她离婚的消息，大家都七嘴八舌地讨论了起来。
Upon hearing that she got divorced, everyone tried to express their own opinions simultaneously.
bā 八：eight
miàn 面：face / side
líng lóng 玲珑：clever / nimble
bā miàn líng lóng 八面玲珑：It means "all things to all people" and is used to describe a person who is smooth and slick in establishing social relations, and can make people feel good.
Example:
wǒ de lǎo bǎn shì yī gè zài jiàn lì shè huì guān xì fāng miàn hěn bā miàn líng lóng de rén.
我的老板是一个在建立社会关系方面很八面玲珑的人。
My boss is a person that is smooth and slick in establishing social relations.
jiǔ 九：nine
niú 牛：ox
yī 一：one
máo 毛：hair
jiǔ niú yī máo 九牛一毛：It literally means "one hair from nine oxen". It can be translated as "a drop in the ocean" and is used to refer to something that is a tiny part (or amount) of something bigger.
Example:
wǔ shí wàn duì tā lái shuō shì jiǔ niú yī máo.
五十万对他来说是九牛一毛。
¥500,000 is a drop in the bucket for him.
#10
shí 十：ten
quán 全：all / complete
shí 十：ten
měi 美：beautiful / good
shí quán shí měi 十全十美：It means "to be perfect in every way" and is used to describe something that is complete, beautiful and good.
Example:
tā yǒu yī gè shí quán shí měi de jiā tíng.
他有一个十全十美的家庭。
He has a perfect family.
#11
bǎi 百：hundred
fā 发：shots
bǎi 百：hundred
zhòng 中：to hit (the mark)
bǎi fā bǎi zhòng 百发百中：It literally means “a hundred shots, a hundred hits” and is
used to describe a person who carries out a task with great precision and does it successfully.
Example:
tā shè jī bǎi fā bǎi zhòng.
他射击百发百中。
He hits every shot he takes.
#12
qiān 千：thousand
jūn 钧：an ancient measure classifier for weight, 1钧 jūn is 15 kilogram.
yī 一：one / single
fà 发：hair
qiān jūn yī fà 千钧一发：It literally means "a thousand jun (15000kg) hangs by a single hair" and describes a very risky situation. It is similar to "hanging by a thread".
Example:
zài zhè gè qiān jūn yī fà de shí kè, xiāo fáng duì yuán chōng jìn huǒ hǎi jiù rén.
在这个千钧一发的时刻，消防队员冲进火海救人。
At this precarious moment, firefighters rushed into the fire to save lives.
#13
wàn 万：ten thousand / a great number
zhòng 众：people
yī 一：one
xīn 心：heart / mind
wàn zhòng yī xīn 万众一心：It means "millions of people all of one mind" or "one heart for all". It's used to describe that people are united.
Example:
zài ài hù yě shēng dòng wù zhè jiàn shì shàng, wǒ men wàn zhòng yī xīn.
在爱护野生动物这件事上，我们万众一心。
We are united to protect wildlife.
#14
yī 一：one
luò 落：fall
qiān 千：thousand
zhàng 丈：measure of length, Chinese feet
yī luò qiān zhàng 一落千丈 ：It literally means "One fall, a thousand Chinese feet." This idiom is used to describe that one mistake or fault can result in disastrous consequences.
Example:
zì cóng tā chén mí yú wǎng luò yóu xì hòu, tā de xué xí chéng jì jiù yī luò qiān zhàng.
自从他沉迷于网络游戏后，他的学习成绩就一落千丈。
Since he became addicted to online games, his academic performance has plummeted.
#15
èr 二：second / two
huà 话：words
bù 不 ：not
shuō 说 ：say / speak
èr huà bù shuō 二话不说：It literally means "Second word, not to say. "This idiom is used to describe someone who acts quickly without saying another word. Basically, without delay or without further ado.
Example:
kàn le dà jiā de hǎo píng, tā èr huà bù shuō jiù xià dān mǎi le zhè gè bāo.
看了大家的好评，她二话不说就下单买了这个包。
After reading everyone's good reviews, she ordered this bag without saying another word.
#16
sì 四：four
miàn 面： sides
bā 八：eight
fāng 方：directions
sì miàn bā fāng 四面八方：It literally means "four sides, eight directions". It means in all directions, from all around, or from far and near. It can be translated as "four corners of the Earth."
Example:
wǒ hūn lǐ nà tiān, qīn péng hǎo yǒu men cóng sì miàn bā fāng guò lái wèi wǒ qìng zhù.
我婚礼那天，亲朋好友们从四面八方过来为我庆祝。
On my wedding day, friends and family came from all over to celebrate.
#17
wǔ 五：five
yán 颜：colour
liù 六：six
sè 色：colour
wǔ yán liù sè 五颜六色：It literally means "Five colors, six colors." This idiom is used to describe something as being very colorful.
Example:
shèng dàn shù shàng guà mǎn le wǔ yán liù sè de zhuāng shì.
圣诞树上挂满了五颜六色的装饰。
The Christmas tree is decorated with colorful decorations.
#18
liù 六：six
gēn 根：roots
qīng jìng 清净：peaceful
liù gēn qīng jìng 六根清净：It literally means "Six roots, peaceful" and describes a state of peacefulness, free of desires. (The six roots refer to the mind, eyes, nose, ears, tongue & body in Buddhism)
Example:
míng xiǎng ràng wǒ liù gēn qīng jìng.
冥想让我六根清净。
Meditation makes me feel peaceful and free.
#19
bǎi 百：hundred
nián 年：years
hǎo 好：good
hé 合：together
bǎi nián hǎo hé 百年好合：It is a really common wedding greeting. It means "may you live a long and happy life together".
Example:
yuàn nǐ liǎ bǎi nián hǎo hé， zǎo shēng guì zi！
愿你俩百年好合，早生贵子！
May the two of you live a long and happy life together and give birth to a precious son soon!
#20
qiān 千：thousand
zhēn 真：real
wàn 万：ten thousand
què 确：true
qiān zhēn wàn què 千真万确：It is used to emphasize that something is absolutely true.
Example:
tā xiě de měi yī tiáo xīn wén dōu shì qiān zhēn wàn què de.
她写的每一条新闻都是千真万确的。
Every piece of news she wrote is absolutely true.
#21
wàn 万：ten thousand
wú 无：no
yī 一：one / single
shī失 ：failure
wàn wú yī shī 万无一失 ：It means "absolutely safe". It's used to express that you are very confident that there is no way something will go wrong or fail. The idea is that even if something would happen ten thousand times, there wouldn’t be a single failure or mistake.
Example:
zhè cì miàn shì, wǒ zuò le chōng fēn zhǔn bèi, wàn wú yī shī.
这次面试，我做了充分准备，万无一失。
I was fully prepared and "absolutely safe" for this interview.
#22
dú 独：only
yī 一：one / single
wú 无：no
èr 二：two
dú yī wú èr 独一无二：It means unique and unmatched, the one and only, one of a kind.
Example:
tā de fáng zi shì dú yī wú èr de.
她的房子是独一无二的。
Her house is one of a kind.
#23
shǔ 数：to count as
yī 一：one
shǔ 数：to count as
èr 二：two
shǔ yī shǔ èr 数一数二：It means reckoned to be first or second best, count as one of the very best.
Example:
zhè jiā jiǔ diàn shì shàng hǎi shǔ yī shǔ èr de wǔ xīng jiǔ diàn.
这家酒店是上海数一数二的五星酒店。
This hotel is one of the best five-star hotels in Shanghai.
#24
luàn 乱：disorder
qī 七 ：seven
bā 八：eight
zāo 糟：mess
luàn qī bā zāo 乱七八糟 ：It describes a situation or a place where everything is in disorder or in a mess. This expression is similar to the English "At sixes and sevens".
Example:
nǐ de fáng jiān luàn qī bā zāo de. nǐ yīng gāi hǎo hǎo zhěng lǐ nǐ de fáng jiān.
你的房间乱七八糟的。你应该好好整理你的房间。
Your room is a mess. You should tidy up your room.
#25
qī 七：seven
shàng 上：up
bā 八：eight
xià 下：down
qī shàng bā xià 七上八下 ：It means "an unsettled/confused state of mind" and can be used to describe a person or group in a similar way to the English expression "at sixes and sevens".
Example:
wǒ dì yī cì shàng tái yǎn jiǎng shí, xīn lǐ qī shàng bā xià.
我第一次上台演讲时，心里七上八下。
When I gave a speech for the first time, I was at sixes and sevens.
#26
qiān 千：thousand
fāng 方：way / method
bǎi 百：hundred
jì 计：plan
qiān fāng bǎi jì 千方百计 ：It literally means "a thousand ways, a hundred plans". You use many different ways to ensure you achieve what you want.
Example:
nǐ yīng gāi qiān fāng bǎi jì de qù shí xiàn nǐ de mèng xiǎng.
你应该千方百计地去实现你的梦想。
You should do everything possible to make your dreams come true.
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