Chinese Idioms: 60 Common Chengyu You Can Actually Use in Conversation [7-12]

In Chinese Idioms by Angel Huang

This is part 2 of a 10 part series in which you'll learn a total of 60 Chinese idioms!

As described in part 1, 成语 chéngyǔ are a type of traditional Chinese idioms typically made up of just four characters. 

But as we'll see in today's video, four characters is enough to package plenty of meaning into a vivid and concise format.

Common Chinese Idioms [7-12]

 彬彬有礼 bīn bīn yǒu lǐ

彬彬 bīn bīn: refined manner

有礼 yǒu lǐ: courteous / polite

Example:

他们尽量对发怒的顾客彬彬有礼

tā men jǐn liàng duì fā nù de gù kè bīn bīn yǒu lǐ.

They try to deal politely with angry customers.

 冰天雪地 bīng tiān xuě dì

冰天 bīng tiān: ice in the sky

雪地 xuě dì: snow on the ground

Example:

南极圈⾥⼗分寒冷,⼀⽚的冰天雪地

nán jí quān lǐ shí fēn hán lěng, yī piàn de bīng tiān xuě dì.

It is frigid at the Antarctic Circle, which is a world of ice and snow.

 畅所欲言 chàng suǒ yù yán

畅 chàng: enjoy / free from worry

所 suǒ: particle

欲言 yù yán: words that you want to say

Example:

每个⼈在会上都可以畅所欲⾔

měi gè rén zài huì shàng dōu kě yǐ chàng suǒ yù yán.

Everyone speaks without inhibitions at the meeting.

 称心如意 chèn xīn rú yì

称心 chèn xīn: satisfied / satisfactory

如意 rú yì: as one wants / according to one's wishes

Example:

你想要什么尽管说,我包你称⼼如意

nǐ xiǎng yào shén me jǐn guǎn shuō, wǒ bāo nǐ chèn xīn rú yì.

Just tell me what you want, and I will get you everything you wish for.

 出口成章 chū kǒu chéng zhāng

出口 chū kǒu: to speak / to open one's mouth / to start to talk

成章 chéng zhāng: to form an article

Example:

诗⼈真是出⼝成章

shī rén zhēn shì chū kǒu chéng zhāng.

The poet really speaks eloquently.

 触景生情 chù jǐng shēng qíng

触 chù: to touch / to contact / access / in touch with

景 jǐng: scenery / sight

生 shēng: to arise / to come into being / to bring into being

情 qíng: feeling / emotion / sensation

Example:

路过旧操场时,我触景⽣情,想起了童年往事。

lù guò jiù cāo chǎng shí, wǒ chù jǐng shēng qíng, xiǎng qǐ le tóng nián wǎng shì.

When passing by the old playground, I recalled memories from my childhood.

You might also find these posts interesting: