Sayings

Question 1

成语

Answer 1

(chéngyǔ)

four-character idioms, the collected wisdom of Chinese culture

Question 2

俗语 vs. 谚语

Answer 2

(súyǔ) vs. (yànyǔ)

colloquial (casual) language vs. proverbs

Question 3

歇后语

Answer 3

(xiēhòuyǔ)

two-part sayings: describes a situation, then the message

Question 4

知其不可，而为之

Answer 4

(zhī qí bùkě, ér wéi zhī)

know it’s impossible, and still do it

Question 5

饭后百步走，活到九十九

Answer 5

(fàn hòu bǎi bù zǒu, huó dào jiǔshíjiǔ)

literally: walk 100 steps after a meal, live to 99
meaning: good for health to do some exercise after a meal

Question 6

姜还是老的辣

Answer 6

(jiāng háishì lǎo de là)

literally: old ginger is hotter than young ginger
meaning: experience counts

Question 7

强扭的瓜不甜

Answer 7

(qiáng niǔ de guā bù tián)

literally: a melon picked by force isn’t sweet
meaning: don’t force someone to do something or the result won’t be good

Question 8

熟能生巧

Answer 8

(shú néng shēng qiǎo)

literally: with familiarity you learn the trick
meaning: practices make perfect / skill comes from practice

Question 9

笨鸟先飞

Answer 9

(bèn niǎo xiān fēi)

literally: the clumsy bird flies early
meaning: to work hard to compensate for one’s limited abilities

Question 10

过犹不及

Answer 10

(guò yóu bù jí)

too far/much is as bad as not enough

Question 11

有志者，事竟成

Answer 11

(yǒu zhì zhě, shì jìng chéng)

where there is a will, there is a way

Question 12

功夫不负有心人

Answer 12

(gōngfu bù fù yǒuxīnrén)

hard work pays off / everything comes to him who waits

Question 13

金无足赤，人无完人

shortened: 金无足赤

Answer 13

(jīn wú zú chì, rén wú wán rén)

literally: gold can’t be pure and people can’t be perfect
meaning: no one is perfect

Question 14

比上不足，比下有余

Answer 14

(bǐ shàng bùzú, bǐ xià yǒuyú)

literally: compared to the top, insufficient, compared to the bottom, have abundance
meaning: worse off than some, better off than many

Question 15

吃一堑，长一智

Answer 15

(chī yī qiàn, zhǎng yī zhì)

literally: fall into a ditch and you’ll be wiser next time
meaning: learn from mistakes

Question 16

五十步笑百步

Answer 16

(wǔshí bù xiào bǎi bù)

literally: the one who retreats 50 steps laughs at the one who retreats 100 steps
meaning: to be a hypocrite / criticizing others while having the same faults

Question 17

授人以魚，不如授人以漁

Answer 17

(shòu rén yǐ yú, bùrú shòu rén yǐ yú)

better to teach someone to fish instead of just giving someone fish

Question 18

塞翁失马，焉知非福

shortened: 塞翁失马

Answer 18

(Sàiwēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú)

literally: Sai Weng lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best
meaning: a blessing in disguise

Question 19

物以类聚，人以群分

Answer 19

(wù yǐ lèi jù, rén yǐ qún fēn)

literally: similar things group together, similar people fit together
meaning: birds of a feather flock together

Question 20

皮笑肉不笑

Answer 20

(pí xiào ròu bù xiào)

to put on a fake smile / to smile insincerely

Question 21

笑一笑，十年少，愁一愁，白了头

shortened: 笑一笑，十年少

Answer 21

(xiào yi xiào, shí nián shǎo, chóu yi chóu, báile tóu)

literally: smile, young for 10 years; worry, turn your hair white
meaning: happiness is the best cosmetic