ABCinChina Posted April 15, 2008 at 05:09 AM Report Posted April 15, 2008 at 05:09 AM I've translated the list of Chengyu that can be found at PlecoForums. Many detailed explanations on these can be found by looking them up on Chinese Tools. Also, I made it so that you can import these into Mnemosyne by cutting and pasting into a text file, then importing. If anyone finds any inaccuracies, please let me know. 爱不释手 ài bù shì shǒu — fondle admiringly 爱屋及乌 ài wū jí wū — love me, love my dog 按部就班 àn bù jiù bān — step-by-step; follow the prescribed order 百年树人 bǎi nián shù rén — a community 百折不挠 bǎi zhé bù náo — keep fighting in spite of all setbacks 班门弄斧 bān mén nòng fǔ — display one's slight skill before an expert 半途而废 bàn tú ér fèi — give up halfway; leave sth. unfinished 包罗万象 bāo luó wàn xiàng — all-inclusive; all-embracing 闭门造车 bì mén zào chē — work behind closed doors 变本加厉 biàn běn jiā lì — be further intensified 标新立异 biāo xīn lì yì — do sth. unconventionally; do sth. unorthodox 别出心裁 bié chū xīn cái — adopt an original approach; try to be different 宾至如归 bīn zhì rú guī — guests feel at home 不耻下问 bù chǐ xià wèn — feel not ashamed to learn from one's subordinates 不攻自破 bù gōng zì pò — collapse of itself 不可救药 bù kě jiù yào — can't be saved; beyond redemption 不可思议 bù kě sī yì — inconceivable; unimaginable 不劳而获 bù láo ér huò — reap without sowing 不务正业 bù wù zhèng yè — not attend to one's proper duties 不省人事 bù shěng rén shì — be unconscious 不遗余力 bù yí yú lì — spare no pains or effort 不翼而飞 bù yì ér fēi — disappear without a trace 不择手段 bù zé shǒu duàn — by any kind of means; play hard 不自量力 bù zì liàng lì — over-confident 长年累月 cháng nián lèi yuè — over the years 趁火打劫 chèn huǒ dǎ jié — loot a burning house 重蹈覆辙 zhòng dào fù chè — follow the same old disastrous road 愁眉不展 chóu méi bù zhǎn — with knitted brows 出类拔萃 chū lèi bá cuì — fill the bill 川流不息 chuān liú bù xī — the stream flows without stopping 吹毛求疵 chuī máo qiú cī — find a quarrel in a straw; criticize 垂涎三尺 chuí xián sān chǐ — drool with envy 唇亡齿寒 chún wáng chǐ hán — interdependence of two neighbouring states 从容不迫 cóng róng bù pò — take one's time; go easy 从善如流 cóng shàn rú liú — accept good advices 措手不及 cuo shǒu bù jí — unaware; unprepared 打草惊蛇 dǎ cǎo jīng shé — act rashly and alert the enemy 大刀阔斧 dà dāo kuo fǔ — bold and decisive; drastic 大公无私 dà gōng wú sī — just and fair; selfless 大言不惭 dà yán bù cán — fanfaronade; rodomontade 当机立断 dāng jī lì duàn — make a prompt decision 道听途说 dào tīng tú shuō — hearsay 得寸进尺 dé cùn jìn chǐ — given an inch, want a mile 得过且过 dé guo qiě guò — drift along 得意忘形 dé yì wàng xíng — bloat; get dizzy with success 德高望重 dé gāo wàng zhòng — sainted; saintlike 对牛弹琴 duì niú dàn qín — whistle jigs to a milestone; cast pearls before swine 耳濡目染 ěr rú mù rǎn — be influenced by what one constantly sees and hears 发扬光大 fā yáng guāng dà — to develop, advocate, and promulgate 废寝忘食 fèi qǐn wàng shí — forget food and sleep 奋不顾身 fèn bù gù shēn — dash ahead regardless of one's safety 风驰电掣 fēng chí diàn chè — move at great speed 奉公守法 fèng gōng shǒu fǎ — law-abiding 凤毛麟角 fèng máo lín jiǎo — rarity 敷衍塞责 fū yǎn sāi zé — perform one's duty in a perfunctory manner 改过自新 gǎi guò zì xīn — start with a clean slate 高瞻远瞩 gāo zhān yuǎn zhǔ — show great foresight 高枕无忧 gāo zhěn wú yōu — rest easy 隔岸观火 gé àn guān huǒ — look on sb.'s trouble with indifference 各有千秋 gè yǒu qiān qiū — each has his strong point 根深蒂固 gēn shēn dì gù — deep-rooted (problem, etc.) 功亏一篑 gōng kuī yī kuì — fall short of success for want of a final effort 勾心斗角 gōu xīn dòu jiǎo — intrigue against each other 苟且偷安 gǒu qiě tōu ān — seek temporary ease 孤陋寡闻 gū lòu guǎ wén — ignorant and ill-informed 孤掌难鸣 gū zhǎng nán míng — it's difficult to achieve anything without support 孤注一掷 gū zhù yī zhí — a long shot gamble; put all one's eggs in one basket 沽名钓誉 gū míng diào yù — fish for fame and compliment 古色古香 gǔ sè gǔ xiāng — (of ancient objects of art) having an old-fashioned and antique flavour 拐弯抹角 guǎi wān mǒ jiǎo — talk in a roundabout way; ambages 光明正大 guāng míng zhèng dà — fairness 光明磊落 guāng míng lěi luo — on the up-and-up 海底捞针 hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn — look for a needle in the ocean 含辛茹苦 hán xīn rú kǔ — endure all kinds of hardships 好高骛远 hǎo gāo wù yuǎn — reach for what is beyond one's grasp 好逸恶劳 hǎo yì è láo — indolence 和睦共处 hé mù gòng chù — got along with; peaceful coexistence 狐假虎威 hú jiǎ hǔ wēi — bully people by flaunting one's powerful connections 胡思乱想 hú sī luàn xiǎng — let one's imagination run away; have a bee in one's head 胡作非为 hú zuò fēi wèi — act wildly against law and public opinion 花言巧语 huā yán qiǎo yǔ — blandishments; sweet words 画龙点睛 huà lóng diǎn jīng — make the finishing point 画蛇添足 huà shé tiān zú — to overdo it; gild the lily 挥金如土 huī jīn rú tǔ — spend money like water 混水摸鱼 hǔn shuǐ mō yú — fish in troubled waters 鸡犬不宁 jī quǎn bù zhù — utter confusion 集思广益 jí sī guǎng yì — draw on the wisdom of the masses 家喻户晓 jiā yù hù xiǎo — understood by every household; widely known 假公济私 jiǎ gōng jì sī — job; jobbery 见利忘义 jiàn lì wàng yì — treacherous 见异思迁 jiàn yì sī qiān — change about 见义勇为 jiàn yì yǒng wèi — do boldly what is righteous; ready to help others for a just cause 捷足先登 jié zú xiān dēng — the early bird cathes the worm 津津有味 jīn jīn yǒu wèi — with gusto; with great interest 进退两难 jìn tuì liǎng nán — have a wolf by the ears; up a tree; dilemma 进退维谷 jìn tuì wéi gǔ — between the devil and the deep sea; between two fires 精益求精 jīng yì qiú jīng — continually seeking perfection 居安思危 jū ān sī wēi — be prepared for danger in times of safety 井井有条 jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo — in perfect order; neat and tidy; methodical 鞠躬尽瘁 jú gōng jìn cuì — spare no effort in the performance of one's duty 举一反三 jǔ yī fǎn sān — draw inferences about other cases from one instance 举足轻重 jǔ zú qīng zhòng — hold the balance 开门见山 kāi mén jiàn shān — to get right to the point 开源节流 kāi yuán jié liú — increase revenue and reduce expenditure 慷慨解囊 kāng kǎi jiě náng — generosity 刻苦耐劳 kè kǔ nài láo — hardworking 口是心非 kǒu shì xīn fēi — duplicity 苦口婆心 kǔ kǒu pó xīn — advise sb. in earnest 脍炙人口 kuài zhì rén kǒu — win universal praise 滥竽充数 làn yú chōng shù — be there just to make up the number 老马识途 lǎo mǎ shì tú — an old hand is a good guide 理直气壮 lǐ zhí qì zhuàng — one is assured and bold with justice 力不从心 lì bù cóng xīn — ability not equal to one's ambition 励精图治 lì jīng tú zhì — use all efforts to make the country prosperous 瞭如指掌 liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng — know sth. like the palm of one's hand 临渴掘井 lín kě jué jǐng — not make timely preparations 流离失所 liú lí shī suǒ — become destitute and homeless 路不拾遗 lù bù shí yí — no one picks up and pockets anything lost on the road 落花流水 luò huā liú shuǐ — utterly routed 络绎不绝 luò yì bù jué — in an endless stream 满载而归 mǎn zài ér guī — come back with fruitful results 慢条斯理 màn tiáo sī lǐ — leisurely; unhurriedly 毛遂自荐 máo suì zì jiàn — volunteer one's services 每况愈下 měi kuàng yù xià — go down the drain; steadily deteriorate 每下愈况 měi xià yù kuàng — steadily deteriorate 面目全非 miàn mù quán fēi — beyond recognition 明目张胆 míng mù zhāng dǎn — brazenly; do evil openly 明哲保身 míng zhé bǎo shēn — be worldly wise and make oneself safe 明知故犯 míng zhī gù fàn — violate knowingly 墨守成规 mò shǒu chéng guī — routinism; scholasticism 目中无人 mù zhōng wú rén — be overweening; be supercilious 弄巧反拙 nòng qiǎo fǎn zhuó — to backfire 破釜沉舟 pò fǔ chén zhōu — burn one's boats; burn one's bridge 普天同庆 pǔ tiān tóng qìng — the whole world or nation joins in jubilation 杞人忧天 qǐ rén yōu tiān — meet troubles halfway 千钧一发 qiān jūn yī fǎ — close call; hang by a thread 千篇一律 qiān piān yī lǜ — stereotyped, following the same pattern 千载难逢 qiān zài nán féng — occuring only once in a thousand years 前车之鉴 qián chē zhī jiàn — lessons drawn from others' mistakes 潜移默化 qián yí mò huà — exert a subtle influence on 强词夺理 qiáng cí duó lǐ — deception by trickery or sophistry 青出于蓝 qīng chū yú lán — the students surpass the teacher 倾家荡产 qīng jiā dàng chǎn — be reduced to poverty and ruin 情同手足 qíng tóng shǒu zú — brotherly love 人浮于事 rén fú yú shì — overstaffed 人云亦云 rén yún yì yún — echo what other says 任劳任怨 rèn láo rèn yuàn — willingly bear the burden of hard works 荣华富贵 róng huá fù guì — nabobism 富贵荣华 fù guì róng huá — riches and honour 如火如荼 rú huǒ rú tú — like a raging fire 如释重负 rú shì zhòng fù — as if relieved of a heavy load 三思而行 sān sī ér xíng — think twice 僧多粥少 sēng duō zhōu shǎo — not enough to satisfy everyone 杀鸡取卵 shā jī qū luǎn — kill a chicken to steal its eggs 舍己为人 shě jǐ wèi rén — to sacrifice oneself for the sake of others 事半功倍 shì bàn gōng bèi — get twice the result with half the effort 事倍功半 shì bèi gōng bàn — get half the result with twice the effort 视死如归 shì sǐ rú guī — face death unflinchingly 手不释卷 shǒu bù shì juàn — very diligent; very studious 守口如瓶 shǒu kǒu rú píng — keep one's mouth shut 守望相助 shǒu wàng xiāng zhù — help each other 守株待兔 shǒu zhū dài tù — wait for windfalls 熟能生巧 shóu néng shēng qiǎo — practice makes perfect 束手无策 shù shǒu wú cè — nail-biting 水到渠成 shuǐ dào qú chéng — success will come when conditions are ripe 水落石出 shuǐ luo shí chū — everything comes to light; everything becomes obvious 顺手牵羊 shùn shǒu qiān yáng — pick up sth. on the sly; snitch 司空见惯 sī kōng jiàn guàn — a common occurrence 似是而非 sì shì ér fēi — appeared right but was wrong 随遇而安 suí yù ér ān — make the best of things; take things as they come 滔滔不绝 tāo tāo bù jué — gushing; non-stopping 口若悬河 kǒu ruo xuán hé — eloquent; speak volubly 提心吊胆 tí xīn diào dǎn — be in fear of; in fear and trembling 挑拨离间 tiāo bō lí jiān — make mischief; play sb. off against one another 铤而走险 tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn — risk danger in desperation 同甘共苦 tóng gān gòng kǔ — share happiness and woe 同归于尽 tóng guī yú jìn — perish together 同流合污 tóng liú hé wū — associate with an evil person 同舟共济 tóng zhōu gòng jì — we're in the same boat 投机取巧 tóu jī qū qiǎo — opportunistic 徒劳无功 tú láo wú gōng — be a fool for one's pains 推陈出新 tuī chén chū xīn — get rid of the stale and bring forth the fresh 望尘莫及 wàng chén mo jí — too far behind to catch up with 忘恩负义 wàng ēn fù yì — ungratefulness 为非作歹 wèi fēi zuo dǎi — commit crimes; do evil 未雨绸缪 wèi yǔ chóu móu — prepare for a rainy day; plan ahead 温故知新 wēn gù zhī xīn — gain new insights through reviewing old material 无病呻吟 wú bìng shēn yín — make a fuss about an imaginary illness 无动于衷 wú dòng yú zhōng — sit by and do nothing; nonchalance 无微不至 wú wēi bù zhì — very carefully and meticulously 五体投地 wǔ tǐ tóu dì — extremely admire 息事宁人 xī shì zhù rén — make concessions to avoid trouble 相安无事 xiāng ān wú shì — live in peace with each other 相辅相成 xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng — to supplement each other 心灰意懒 xīn huī yì lǎn — dejected; depressed; downhearted 心旷神怡 xīn kuàng shén yí — relaxed and happy 欣欣向荣 xīn xīn xiàng róng — flourishing; prosperous; thriving 信口开河 xìn kǒu kāi hé — run off at the mouth 信口雌黄 xìn kǒu cí huáng — make irresponsible remarks 兴高采烈 xīng gāo cǎi liè — in great form; in high spirits 胸有成竹 xiōng yǒu chéng zhú — have a card up one's sleeve; have a well-thought-out plan 袖手旁观 xiù shǒu páng guān — look on with folded arms; sit by 栩栩如生 xǔ xǔ rú shēng — lifelike 悬崖勒马 xuán yá lè mǎ — wake up to and avoid danger at the last moment 削足适履 xuē zú shì lǚ — act in a Procrustean way; cut the feet to fit the shoes 寻根究底 xún gēn jiù dǐ — inquire deeply into 循循善诱 xún xún shàn yòu — be good at teaching 鸦雀无声 yā què wú shēng — silence reigns 雅俗共赏 yǎ sú gòng shǎng — suit both refined and popular tastes 言行一致 yán xíng yī zhì — practice what you preach 养尊处优 yǎng zūn chù yōu — do oneself proud 摇摇欲坠 yáo yáo yù zhuì — hang by a thread; to shake 一败涂地 yī bài tú dì — bite the ground; hunt grass 一帆风顺 yī fān fēng shùn — plain sailing; very smoothly 一见如故 yī jiàn rú gù — feel like old friends at the first meeting 一举两得 yī jǔ liǎng dé — kill two birds with one stone 一箭双雕 yī jiàn shuāng diāo — kill two birds with one stone 一蹶不振 yī jué bù zhèn — cannot recover after a setback 一劳永逸 yī láo yǒng yì — get sth. done once and for ever 一落千丈 yī luo qiān zhàng — suffer a disastrous decline 一毛不拔 yī máo bù bá — miserly; very stingy 一目瞭然 yī mù liǎo rán — be clear at a glance 一暴十寒 yī bào shí hán — daily effort is needed learn and grow 一视同仁 yī shì tóng rén — treat equally without discrimination 一事无成 yī shì wú chéng — accomplish nothing 一网打尽 yī wǎng dǎ jìn — catch the whole lot in an action 一意孤行 yī yì gū xíng — go one's own way; take one's own course 一针见血 yī zhēn jiàn xiě — hit the nail on the head; to get to the point 一知半解 yī zhī bàn jiě — have little knowledge and no comprehension 以卵击石 yǐ luǎn jí shí — kick against the pricks; throw straws against the wind 以身作则 yǐ shēn zuò zé — set a good example 以牙还牙 yǐ yá huán yá — give as good as one gets; a tooth for a tooth (retaliation) 易如反掌 yì rú fǎn zhǎng — as easy as turning one's hand over 异想天开 yì xiǎng tiān kāi — let imagination run wild; whimsicality 饮水思源 yǐn shuǐ sī yuán — never forget where one's happiness comes from 迎刃而解 yíng rèn ér jiě — be readily solved 应接不暇 yìng jiē bù xiá — have too many visitors or business to deal with 优柔寡断 yōu róu guǎ duàn — indecision; irresolution; yea and nay 游手好闲 yóu shǒu hǎo xián — to procrastinate; to dawdle; shilly-shally 有目共睹 yǒu mù gòng dǔ — be obvious to all 有勇无谋 yǒu yǒng wú móu — foolhardiness 与日俱增 yǔ rì jù zēng — grow day by day; increase steadily 再接再厉 zài jiē zài lì — make persistent efforts 真知灼见 zhēn zhī zhuó jiàn — penetrating judgment 蒸蒸日上 zhēng zhēng rì shàng — becoming more prosperous each passing day; flourishing 执迷不悟 zhí mí bù wù — come to their senses 趾高气扬 zhǐ gāo qì yáng — hold one's head high; lift up one's horn 纸上谈兵 zhǐ shàng tán bīng — be an armchair strategist; engage in idle theorizing 志同道合 zhì tóng dào hé — to have a common objective; in the same camp 置之不理 zhì zhī bù lǐ — put sth. on one side; turn one's back upon 忠言逆耳 zhōng yán nì ěr — good advice is harsh to the ear 装聋作哑 zhuāng lóng zuò yā — to act deaf and dumb 自暴自弃 zì bào zì qì — desperateness; abandonment 自力更生 zì lì gèng shēng — self-reliance; self-dependence 自投罗网 zì tóu luó wǎng — hurl oneself willingly into the net 自相矛盾 zì xiāng máo dùn — self-contradiction; contradict oneself 坐井观天 zuò jǐng guān tiān — have a very narrow view 坐享其成 zuò xiǎng qí chéng — reap where one has not sown Quote
ABCinChina Posted April 16, 2008 at 06:46 AM Author Report Posted April 16, 2008 at 06:46 AM People...remember that you'll never be considered proficient in Chinese without knowing a sizable amount of chengyus, so you might as well start memorizing these now. Also, feel free to discuss why any chengyu(s) posted by me or by others is your favorite. Here's the text file in traditional characters if anyone cares... Chengyu List.txt Quote
yersi Posted April 16, 2008 at 08:12 AM Report Posted April 16, 2008 at 08:12 AM Thanks for putting this list together AiC, I saved this as a word doc, together with a list of around 1200 that I found in another post here. I'll most likely never get around to memorizing them though. Quote
heifeng Posted April 16, 2008 at 09:20 AM Report Posted April 16, 2008 at 09:20 AM here's a chengyu dictionary link too www.zidian8.cn/CY.aspx which puts out pretty useful output: 编号 279 成语 不耻下问 拼音 bù chǐ xià wèn 解释 乐于向学问或地位比自己低的人学习,而不觉得不好意思。 出处 《论语·公冶长》:“敏而好学,不耻下问。” 示例 在学习上,我们要有~的精神 Quote
skylee Posted April 16, 2008 at 01:08 PM Report Posted April 16, 2008 at 01:08 PM here's another useful one -> http://www.chinese-tools.com/chinese/chengyu/dictionary/detail/27469.html Chengyu - 洋洋自得 Pinyin - yáng yáng zì dé English - pleased with oneself / smug Explanation - 犹言洋洋得意。形容得意时神气十足的姿态。 Quote
kdavid Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:01 AM Report Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:01 AM This is a fantastic list. I think I remember seeing the same list somewhere else, but it indicated which chengyu popped up on which HSK exam. Any idea where that list is? I've been searching for half an hour and haven't found, so it may just have been a figment of my imagination. It's also possible I'm just too tired and have missed. Quote
chrix Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:09 AM Report Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:09 AM Probably this one: http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/21001-frequently-used-chengyu-project it's evolved from a 37 frequent chengyu list into a 1,424 frequent chengyu list Quote
kdavid Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:25 AM Report Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:25 AM Firstly, this is excellent. Thanks a lot. Secondly, wow, information overload. Is there any one list that simply says, "Study these for HSK 初中"? If it's already in there just call me an idiot and I'll revisit that post once I have more patience/time. Quote
chrix Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:32 AM Report Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:32 AM There's a HSK chengyu list floating around that was created by Ole, which is part of my 1,424 frequent chengyu anki deck (they're all marked as such, including their HSK level). Quote
kdavid Posted November 18, 2009 at 01:00 AM Report Posted November 18, 2009 at 01:00 AM Fantastic. That's what I was looking for. Thanks a ton! Quote
roddy Posted November 18, 2009 at 01:06 AM Report Posted November 18, 2009 at 01:06 AM You could use this to generate a list of four-character items from the HSK lists. You'd get stuff like 公共汽车 and 出租汽车 mixed in though. Quote
tooironic Posted November 21, 2009 at 02:58 PM Report Posted November 21, 2009 at 02:58 PM 海底捞针 hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn — look for a needle in the ocean Interesting mixed metaphor there! Quote
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