Whenever the “cat gets your tongue” or a situation demands meaning “in a nutshell,” there can be no better way to “say it with words” than injecting an idiom into the conversation. The Chinese language is especially rich in idioms where a suitable phrase can be found for nearly every occasion.
It goes without saying that the expression contained in idioms is innately linked to their native culture and, although they are a refined method of expressing a specific meaning, the richness of this form of language can be greatly enhanced by an understanding of the historical background and origin of such phrases.
Chinese idioms abound in stories, many of which are now forgotten or unknown to Chinese speakers today even though the idioms themselves are still being used every day.
Originally published in a weekly column in Shanghai Daily, this collection of one hundred Chinese idioms details the stories behind each one and offers a humorous and fascinating insight into the cultural history of China.
From paper tigers to praying mantis, and from the music of nature to heavenly robes, these tales have not only shed light on the traditional Chinese way of thinking, but also illustrated many of its ancient customs.
So for those who delight in history and are eager to gain a better understanding of the Chinese culture and language, the book Chinese Idioms and Their Stories provides an excellent way of “killing two birds with one stone.”
按圖索驥 A Winged Steed
百步穿楊 Shooting a Willow Leaf
班門(mén)弄斧 Respecting Rank
別開(kāi)生面 Drawing New Faces
兵不厭詐 Nothing is Too Deceitful in War
博士買(mǎi)驢 A Donkey Receipt
跛鱉千里 A Lame Tortoise Triumphs at Last
滄海桑田 Forever Changing
城門(mén)失火 City Gate on Fire
重蹈覆轍 Following the Track
唇亡齒寒 Lips and Teeth
從善如流 Following Good Advice
得隴望蜀 Insatiable Desire
東施效顰 Imitating Beauty
對(duì)牛彈琴 Lute Before Cattle
釜底抽薪 Removing Burning Firewood
覆水難收 Spilt Water Lost
高山流水 Finding Source of Inspiration
狗尾續(xù)貂 Wagging the Dog
邯鄲學(xué)步 Learning to Walk
畫(huà)虎類(lèi)犬 Be Tiger or Dog
畫(huà)龍點(diǎn)睛 Eyes of the Dragon
畫(huà)蛇添足 The Feet Too Far
雞犬升天 Relative Power
狡兔三窟 The Wily Hare
金城湯池 Fortress Tactics
錦囊妙計(jì) A Pouch of Ploys
近水樓臺(tái) Waterfront Towers
舉棋不定 Two Minds' Folly
刻舟求劍 A Lost Sword
困獸猶斗 Like a Cornered Animal
濫竽充數(shù) Playing Off-key
老馬識(shí)途 Trust an Old Horse
老生常談 A Mere Platitude
樂(lè)不思蜀 Forgetting One's Home
梁上君子 Gentleman on the Beam
兩袖清風(fēng) Clean Hands
鹿死誰(shuí)手 Who will Take the Deer?
洛陽(yáng)紙貴 Paper Price Soars
滿城風(fēng)雨 Tempest in a Line
毛遂自薦 Promote Yourself in Due Modesty
門(mén)庭若市 Crowded Courtyard
模棱兩可 Pleasing Both Sides the Best Way to Survive
鳥(niǎo)盡弓藏 When Birds Are Gone
拋磚引玉 Ploys to Collect Gems
破釜沉舟 The No-way-out Order
旗鼓相當(dāng) A Match of Flags and drums
騎虎難下 Plight of Riding a Tiger
歧路亡羊 Pick a Path and Stay on Course
杞人憂天 Easing Anxious States
千萬(wàn)買(mǎi)鄰 True Value of Neighbors
黔驢技窮 The Guizhou Donkey
強(qiáng)弩之末 A Powerful Crossbow
青云直上 Meteoric Rise in Rank
請(qǐng)君入甕 Torture by Own Design
罄竹難書(shū) Not Enough Bamboo
人杰地靈 Inspiring Greatness
塞翁失馬 Relativity of Hidden Values
三顧茅廬 Three Calls at the Thatched Cottage
三人成虎 Lies Turning into Truths
死灰復(fù)燃 Dying Ashes Flare up
四面楚歌 Mournful Songs
守口如瓶 Tight-lipped Counsel
守株待兔 Hare-brained
水滴石穿 Art of Water Torture
水深火熱 Water or Fire Option
太公釣魚(yú) Fishing Hookless
貪生怕死 Imperial Indulgences
螳臂當(dāng)車(chē) The Praying Mantis
螳螂捕蟬 Wasted Warnings
天羅地網(wǎng) Dragnet of Deception
天衣無(wú)縫 The Heavenly Dress
鐵杵成針 Li Needled into Action
投鼠忌器 Spare a Rat for a Vase
完璧歸趙 Defending the Stone
玩物喪志 Folly of the Senses
亡羊補(bǔ)牢 Never Too Late to Fix
望梅止渴 The Power of Illusions
危如累卵 An Eggy Tale of Risk
味如雞肋 Chicken Ribs Maneuver
未雨綢繆 Duke's Poetic Advice
臥薪嘗膽 Biding Time for Revenge
物以類(lèi)聚 Birds of a Feather
相煎太急 From Brotherly Beans
胸有成竹 Life Lesson from Artist
懸梁刺股 Studies Can Be Painful
掩耳盜鈴 Stealing a Bell
葉公好龍 A Dragon Passion
一鳴驚人 The First Sweet Song
一諾千金 Worth Weight in Gold
一丘之貉 Outspoken to Death
一葉障目 Leaf of Sad Illusion
飲鴆止渴 Poisoned Wine Relief
游刃有余 Master of His Cleaver
愚公移山 Moving Mountains
鷸蚌相爭(zhēng) Third Party Thinking
越俎代庖 Stay out of the Kitchen
自相矛盾 Spear and Shield
朝三暮四 Monkeying Around
縱虎歸山 Setting the Tiger Free
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