At the recent “On China: Observations and Proverbs” event, participants were introduced to a rich selection of classical Chinese idioms. These expressions, rooted in mythology, historical anecdotes, and folk tales, offer a deep understanding of Chinese cultural values, human nature, and traditional wisdom.
The idioms selected during the event capture not only the linguistic creativity of the Chinese language but also timeless lessons about perseverance, caution, communication, and human behavior. Here is a curated list of the idioms explored:
🐦 精卫填海 (jīng wèi tián hǎi)
• Literal meaning: The bird Jingwei fills the sea.
• Figurative meaning: To persevere relentlessly toward an almost impossible goal.
This idiom originates from the legend of Jingwei, the daughter of the Yan Emperor, who drowned at a young age and transformed into a bird determined to fill the sea with stones and branches. It symbolizes unwavering determination and persistence.
🐭 投鼠忌器 (tóu shǔ jì qì)
• Literal meaning: Hesitating to throw something at a rat for fear of damaging valuables.
• Figurative meaning: Being hesitant to act for fear of causing collateral damage.
🎶 对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín)
• Literal meaning: Playing the lute to a cow.
• Figurative meaning: Offering valuable words or art to someone who cannot appreciate them.
🦊 狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi)
• Literal meaning: The fox borrows the tiger’s might.
• Figurative meaning: Using another’s power or influence to intimidate others.
🐇 守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù)
• Literal meaning: Sitting by a tree stump waiting for a rabbit.
• Figurative meaning: Waiting idly for opportunities instead of making an effort.
🐉 叶公好龙 (Yè Gōng hào lóng)
• Literal meaning: Lord Ye’s false love of dragons.
• Figurative meaning: Pretending to like something, but being afraid when facing its true form.
🐍 打草惊蛇 (dǎ cǎo jīng shé)
• Literal meaning: Beating the grass and scaring the snake.
• Figurative meaning: Accidentally alerting an enemy or revealing a hidden plan too early.
🦌 指鹿为马 (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ)
• Literal meaning: Calling a deer a horse.
• Figurative meaning: Distorting the truth; deliberately misrepresenting facts.
🐑 亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo)
• Literal meaning: Repairing the sheepfold after losing a sheep.
• Figurative meaning: Taking timely action to remedy a mistake, even after suffering a loss — “Better late than never.”
🐵🐎 猴年马月 (hóu nián mǎ yuè)
• Literal meaning: The year of the monkey and the month of the horse (an imaginary, non-existent time).
• Figurative meaning: Something that will take a very long time to happen or may never happen at all.
🐔🐒 杀鸡儆猴 (shā jī jǐng hóu)
• Literal meaning: Killing the chicken to scare the monkey.
• Figurative meaning: Punishing one as a warning to others.
🐔🐶 鸡飞狗跳 (jī fēi gǒu tiào)
• Literal meaning: Chickens flying and dogs jumping.
• Figurative meaning: A scene of complete chaos and disorder.
🐷🦁 扮猪吃虎 (bàn zhū chī hǔ)
• Literal meaning: Pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.
• Figurative meaning: Feigning weakness to deceive a stronger opponent and then seizing victory.
Through these idioms, the event offered participants not only a linguistic experience but also a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture’s metaphors, life philosophies, and rich storytelling traditions. The expressions remain highly relevant, continuing to resonate across generations in everyday Chinese language and thought.
