Chinese idioms · 301 idioms
Chinese idioms with numbers
Chengyu written with numbers, each with pinyin, meaning and sound.
- 一年一度yīnián-yīdùannual
- 一席之地yīxí-zhīdìa place
- 融为一体róngwéi-yītǐto merge into one whole
- 天下第一tiānxià-dìyībest in the world
- 百花齐放bǎihuā-qífànga hundred flowers in bloom
- 不顾一切bùgù-yīqièregardless of everything
- 五彩缤纷wǔcǎi-bīnfēncolorful
- 一生一世yīshēng-yīshìone's whole life
- 三位一体sānwèi-yītǐTrinity (Christianity)
- 千篇一律qiānpiān-yīlǜstereotyped
- 缺一不可quēyī-bùkěnot one can be dispensed with
- 一清二楚yīqīng-èrchǔperfectly clear
- 可见一斑kějiàn-yībānthis gives a glimpse of the whole
- 一见钟情yījiàn-zhōngqínglove at first sight
- 别具一格biéjù-yīgéhaving a unique style
- 一无是处yīwú-shìchùgood for nothing
- 一本正经yīběn-zhèngjīngin all seriousness
- 十有八九shíyǒu-bājiǔmost likely
- 如出一辙rúchū-yīzhéexactly alike
- 胡说八道húshuō-bādàoto talk nonsense
- 大千世界dàqiān-shìjièthe vast world
- 一朝一夕yīzhāo-yīxīovernight
- 一五一十yīwǔ-yīshí(to tell) everything, in full detail
- 一览无余yīlǎn-wúyúto take in everything at a glance
- 八仙过海bāxiān-guòhǎithe Eight Immortals crossing the sea (each showing their own skill)
- 一视同仁yīshì-tóngrénto treat everyone equally
- 一望无际yīwàng-wújìstretching beyond the horizon
- 二话不说èrhuà-bùshuōwithout a word
- 一波三折yībō-sānzhéfull of twists and turns
- 一蹴而就yīcù-érjiùto succeed in one step
- 昙花一现tánhuā-yīxiànflash in the pan
- 一无所获yīwú-suǒhuòto gain nothing
- 一言难尽yīyán-nánjìnit's a long story
- 奄奄一息yǎnyǎn-yīxīon one's last breath
- 四分五裂sìfēn-wǔlièfragmented
- 一脉相承yīmài-xiāngchéngto come down in an unbroken line
- 瞬息万变shùnxī-wànbiànto change in the blink of an eye
- 欢聚一堂huānjù-yītángto gather together happily
- 一以贯之yīyǐ-guànzhīto remain consistent throughout
- 百废待兴bǎifèi-dàixīngmuch remains to be done
- 首屈一指shǒuqū-yīzhǐsecond to none
- 一蹶不振yījué-bùzhènto never recover after a setback
- 一本万利yīběn-wànlìsmall investment, huge profit
- 一气呵成yīqì-hēchéngto do something in one go
- 一分为二yīfēn-wéi’èrto split into two
- 独树一帜dúshù-yīzhìto have a style of one's own
- 千丝万缕qiānsī-wànlǚcountless ties
- 上下一心shàngxià-yīxīneveryone united as one
- 一丝不挂yīsī-bùguàstark naked
- 年复一年niánfù-yīniányear after year
- 千奇百怪qiānqí-bǎiguàiall kinds of strange things
- 百感交集bǎigǎn-jiāojíall sorts of feelings well up
- 打成一片dǎchéng-yīpiànto become one with
- 千千万万qiānqiān-wànwànvery 千万 (vivid)
- 三五成群sānwǔ-chéngqúnin threes and fives
- 杂七杂八záqī-zábāmiscellaneous
- 千辛万苦qiānxīn-wànkǔcountless hardships
- 十全十美shíquán-shíměiperfect in every way
- 五谷丰登wǔgǔ-fēngdēngbumper harvest
- 一劳永逸yīláo-yǒngyìonce and for all
- 一网打尽yīwǎng-dǎjìnto catch all in one net
- 一往无前yīwǎng-wúqiánto press forward boldly
- 一意孤行yīyì-gūxíngto insist on having one's own way
- 浑然一体húnrán-yītǐseamless whole
- 三头六臂sāntóu-liùbì(fig.) superhuman powers
- 百家争鸣bǎijiā-zhēngmínga hundred schools of thought contend
- 各有千秋gèyǒu-qiānqiūeach has its own merits
- 五脏六腑wǔzàng-liùfǔthe internal organs
- 千头万绪qiāntóu-wànxùa multitude of threads
- 一草一木yīcǎo-yīmùevery blade of grass and every tree
- 一窍不通yīqiào-bùtōngto know nothing about
- 一知半解yīzhī-bànjiěto have a superficial knowledge
- 始终如一shǐzhōng-rúyīconsistent from start to finish
- 不屑一顾bùxiè-yīgùto disdain
- 万劫不复wànjié-bùfùbeyond redemption
- 一穷二白yīqióng-èrbáipoor and blank (economically and culturally backward)
- 七七八八qīqī-bābāvery 七八 (vivid)
- 三心二意sānxīn-èryìhalfhearted
- 万籁俱寂wànlài-jùjìutter silence
- 一往情深yīwǎng-qíngshēndeeply attached
- 一走了之yīzǒu-liǎozhīto walk away from a problem
- 千差万别qiānchā-wànbiéto differ greatly
- 万家灯火wànjiā-dēnghuǒa sea of lights
- 万里无云wànlǐ-wúyúncloudless
- 一拍即合yīpāi-jíhéto hit it off immediately
- 一盘散沙yīpán-sǎnshālike a heap of loose sand
- 一日千里yīrì-qiānlǐrapid progress
- 一厢情愿yīxiāng-qíngyuànwishful thinking
- 才高八斗cáigāo-bādǒuextremely talented
- 一步登天yībù-dēngtiānto rise to the top in one step
- 一飞冲天yīfēi-chōngtiānto soar to the sky
- 一针一线yīzhēn-yīxiànevery needle and thread
- 百里挑一bǎilǐ-tiāoyīone in a hundred
- 孤注一掷gūzhù-yīzhìto stake everything on a single throw
- 摇身一变yáoshēn-yībiànto suddenly change identity
- 以防万一yǐfáng-wànyījust in case
- 略知一二lüèzhī-yī’èrto know a little
- 万紫千红wànzǐ-qiānhónga riot of color
- 十面埋伏shímiàn-máifúambush from all sides
- 付之一炬fùzhī-yījùto commit to the flames
- 九死一生jiǔsǐ-yīshēnga narrow escape from death
- 千里迢迢qiānlǐ-tiáotiáofrom far away
- 一触即发yīchù-jífāon the verge of breaking out
- 百无聊赖bǎiwú-liáolàibored to death
- 风靡一时fēngmǐ-yīshíall the rage
- 高人一等gāorén-yīděnga cut above others
- 海纳百川hǎinà-bǎichuānall-embracing
- 千言万语qiānyán-wànyǔthousands of words
- 千载难逢qiānzǎi-nánféngonce in a lifetime
- 说三道四shuōsān-dàosìto gossip
- 八面玲珑bāmiàn-línglóngsmooth and slick
- 七步成诗qībù-chéngshīquick-witted
- 合二为一hé’èr-wéiyīto merge two into one
- 一臂之力yībì-zhīlìa helping hand
- 百折不挠bǎizhé-bùnáoindomitable
- 七零八落qīlíng-bāluòscattered
- 三天两头sāntiān-liǎngtóuevery other day
- 一败涂地yībài-túdìto suffer a crushing defeat
- 一笔勾销yībǐ-gōuxiāoto write off at one stroke
- 一线生机yīxiàn-shēngjīa glimmer of hope
- 七上八下qīshàng-bāxiàanxious
- 万众一心wànzhòng-yīxīnmillions united as one
- 百尺竿头bǎichǐ-gāntóuto make still further progress
- 百依百顺bǎiyī-bǎishùndocile and obedient in everything
- 独当一面dúdāng-yīmiànto take charge of a sector on one's own
- 决胜千里juéshèng-qiānlǐto direct victory from afar
- 六道轮回liùdào-lúnhuí(Buddhism) cycle of rebirth through the six realms
- 万不得已wànbùdéyǐas a last resort
- 不拘一格bùjū-yīgénot sticking to one pattern
- 三三两两sānsān-liǎngliǎngvery 三两 (vivid)
- 一颦一笑yīpín-yīxiàoevery frown and smile
- 百年之后bǎinián-zhīhòuafter one's death (euphemism)
- 精神百倍jīngshén-bǎibèifull of energy
- 九牛一毛jiǔniú-yīmáoa drop in the ocean
- 名扬四海míngyáng-sìhǎifamous everywhere
- 十万火急shíwàn-huǒjíextremely urgent
- 四大皆空sìdà-jiēkōng(Buddhism) all is vanity
- 一般见识yībān-jiànshito lower oneself to someone's level (as in 跟...一般见识)
- 一表人材yībiǎo-réncáihandsome
- 一夫当关yīfū-dāngguānone man can hold the pass (against ten thousand)
- 一己之私yījǐ-zhīsīone's own selfish interests
- 一扫而光yīsǎo-érguāngto clear away completely
- 一文不值yīwén-bùzhíworthless
- 不一而足bùyī-érzúand so on and so forth
- 感慨万千gǎnkǎi-wànqiānto be filled with emotion
- 九五之尊jiǔwǔ-zhīzūnthe emperor
- 四面楚歌sìmiàn-chǔgēbesieged on all sides
- 一尘不染yīchén-bùrǎnincorruptible
- 一念之差yīniàn-zhīchāmomentary lapse
- 百步穿杨bǎibù-chuānyángto be an excellent marksman
- 百花争艳bǎihuā-zhēngyànflowers competing in beauty
- 百年不遇bǎinián-bùyùonce in a century
- 百年大计bǎinián-dàjìa project of lasting importance
- 百战百胜bǎizhàn-bǎishèngever-victorious
- 混为一谈hùnwéi-yītánto lump together
- 入木三分rùmù-sānfēnpenetrating
- 四平八稳sìpíng-bāwěnsteady and safe
- 万念俱灰wànniàn-jùhuīto lose all hope
- 一了百了yīliǎo-bǎiliǎoall troubles end at once (often of death)
- 一切众生yīqiè-zhòngshēng(Buddhism) all living beings
- 一丝一毫yīsī-yīháothe slightest bit
- 一泻千里yīxiè-qiānlǐto plunge
- 不堪一击bùkān-yījīunable to withstand a single blow
- 嫣然一笑yānrán-yīxiàoto smile sweetly
- 一落千丈yīluò-qiānzhàngto plummet
- 一扫而空yīsǎo-érkōngto clear away completely
- 一字一句yīzì-yījùword for word
- 从一而终cóngyī-érzhōngto remain faithful to one's husband till death
- 四肢百骸sìzhī-bǎiháithe whole body
- 五味俱全wǔwèi-jùquána mix of all kinds of feelings
- 学富五车xuéfù-wǔchēvery learned
- 一鼻子灰yībí-zihuī(as in 碰一鼻子灰) to be snubbed
- 一官半职yīguān-bànzhísome minor official post
- 一路平安yīlù-píng’ānhave a safe trip
- 一手遮天yīshǒu-zhētiānto hide the truth from the public
- 一叶知秋yīyè-zhīqiūa small sign reveals a larger trend
- 一衣带水yīyī-dàishuǐseparated by a narrow strip of water
- 百炼成钢bǎiliàn-chénggāngto be tempered into steel through hard trials
- 不二法门bù’èr-fǎménthe only way
- 不远万里bùyuǎn-wànlǐto travel a great distance
- 步调一致bùdiào-yīzhìin step
- 轰动一时hōngdòng-yīshíto cause a sensation
- 火冒三丈huǒmào-sānzhàngto fly into a rage
- 千山万水qiānshān-wànshuǐa long and arduous journey
- 三十而立sānshí-érlìat thirty, one should be established in life
- 三足鼎立sānzú-dǐnglìthree-way standoff
- 言行一致yánxíng-yīzhìto practice what one preaches
- 一表人才yībiǎo-réncáihandsome
- 一统天下yītǒng-tiānxiàto unify the country
- 一笑置之yīxiào-zhìzhīto laugh off
- 百战不殆bǎizhàn-bùdàito fight a hundred battles without danger
- 功亏一篑gōngkuī-yīkuìto fall short of success at the last step
- 家徒四壁jiātú-sìbìutterly destitute
- 漏洞百出lòudòng-bǎichūfull of holes
- 略胜一筹lüèshèng-yīchóuslightly better
- 千疮百孔qiānchuāng-bǎikǒngriddled with holes
- 千呼万唤qiānhū-wànhuànto call for repeatedly (long awaited)
- 五光十色wǔguāng-shísècolorful
- 一锤定音yīchuí-dìngyīnto have the final say
- 一览无遗yīlǎn-wúyíto be fully visible at a glance
- 背水一战bèishuǐ-yīzhànto fight with one's back to the wall
- 横七竖八héngqī-shùbāin disorder
- 毁于一旦huǐyú-yīdàndestroyed in a single day
- 九流三教jiǔliú-sānjiàoall schools of thought and walks of life
- 九霄云外jiǔxiāo-yúnwàifar, far away
- 六神无主liùshén-wúzhǔdistracted
- 莫衷一是mòzhōng-yīshìunable to agree
- 七零八碎qīlíng-bāsuìin pieces
- 七十二行qīshí-èrhángevery trade and profession
- 三令五申sānlìng-wǔshēnto give repeated orders
- 三言两语sānyán-liǎngyǔin a few words
- 身怀六甲shēnhuái-liùjiǎpregnant
- 万里长征wànlǐ-chángzhēnga long arduous journey
- 万人空巷wànrén-kōngxiàngthe whole town turns out
- 危机四伏wēijī-sìfúcrisis lurks everywhere
- 五体投地wǔtǐ-tóudìto admire wholeheartedly
- 一反常态yīfǎn-chángtàicompletely out of character
- 一家老小yījiā-lǎoxiǎothe whole family, young and old
- 一箭双雕yījiàn-shuāngdiāoto kill two birds with one stone
- 一贫如洗yīpín-rúxǐpenniless
- 八万四千bāwàn-sìqiān(Buddhism) eighty-four thousand
- 百年好合bǎinián-hǎohémay you live happily together forever (wedding wish)
- 半夜三更bànyè-sāngēngin the dead of night
- 不远千里bùyuǎn-qiānlǐto make a long journey
- 垂涎三尺chuíxián-sānchǐto drool with envy or greed
- 春宵一刻chūnxiāo-yīkèa moment of a spring night (is worth a thousand gold)
- 当头一棒dāngtóu-yībànga sudden blow
- 多此一举duōcǐ-yījǔunnecessary
- 光芒万丈guāngmáng-wànzhàngradiant
- 沆瀣一气hàngxiè-yīqìto be in cahoots
- 名噪一时míngzào-yīshíto become famous for a time
- 七窍生烟qīqiào-shēngyānfuming with rage
- 三教九流sānjiào-jiǔliúpeople from all walks of life
- 三妻四妾sānqī-sìqièto have many wives and concubines
- 盛极一时shèngjí-yīshíto be all the rage for a time
- 十拿九稳shíná-jiǔwěnin the bag
- 万象更新wànxiàng-gēngxīneverything takes on a new look
- 五花大绑wǔhuā-dàbǎngto truss someone up
- 五洲四海wǔzhōu-sìhǎiall over the world
- 一股脑儿yīgǔnǎorall at once
- 一见倾心yījiàn-qīngxīnlove at first sight
- 一见如故yījiàn-rúgùto hit it off immediately
- 一来二去yīlái-èrqùover time
- 一马当先yīmǎ-dāngxiānto take the lead
- 一年半载yīnián-bànzǎia year or so
- 一诺千金yīnuò-qiānjīna promise worth a thousand gold
- 一石二鸟yīshí-èrniǎoto kill two birds with one stone
- 一星半点yīxīng-bàndiǎna tiny bit
- 一言九鼎yīyán-jiǔdǐngwords carrying great weight
- 振臂一呼zhènbì-yīhūto raise one's arm and call out
- 百年树人bǎinián-shùrénit takes a hundred years to cultivate people
- 不可一世bùkě-yīshìarrogant
- 不三不四bùsān-bùsìdubious
- 沧海一粟cānghǎi-yīsùa drop in the ocean
- 各执一词gèzhí-yīcíeach sticks to his own version
- 合而为一hé’ér-wéiyīto merge into one
- 横扫千军héngsǎo-qiānjūnto sweep away everything in one's path
- 回眸一笑huímóu-yīxiàoto glance back with a smile
- 孑然一身jiérán-yīshēnall alone in the world
- 九泉之下jiǔquán-zhīxiàin the netherworld
- 雷霆万钧léitíng-wànjūnas powerful as a thunderbolt
- 目空一切mùkōng-yīqièarrogant
- 捏一把汗niēyī-bǎhànto be on edge with anxiety
- 七老八十qīlǎo-bāshíin one's seventies or eighties
- 千娇百媚qiānjiāo-bǎimèicharming and beautiful
- 千人一面qiānrén-yīmiànall alike
- 日理万机rìlǐ-wànjīto handle a myriad of affairs every day
- 日上三竿rìshàng-sāngānlate in the morning
- 三长两短sāncháng-liǎngduǎnunexpected mishap
- 稍逊一筹shāoxùn-yīchóuslightly inferior
- 十恶不赦shí’è-bùshèunpardonably wicked
- 十之八九shízhī-bājiǔin all likelihood
- 水天一色shuǐtiān-yīsèwater and sky merging in one color
- 四海一家sìhǎi-yījiāthe whole world is one family
- 四体不勤sìtǐ-bùqínto do no physical labor
- 天各一方tiāngè-yīfāngfar apart from each other
- 退避三舍tuìbì-sānshèto give way to avoid conflict
- 万缕千丝wànlǚ-qiānsīcountless close ties
- 万马奔腾wànmǎ-bēnténga surging advance
- 万水千山wànshuǐ-qiānshāna long and arduous journey
- 五谷不分wǔgǔ-bùfēnignorant of farming
- 一板一眼yībǎn-yīyǎnmethodical
- 一病不起yībìng-bùqǐto fall ill and never recover
- 一场春梦yīchǎng-chūnmènga spring dream (fleeting illusion)
- 一哄而散yīhòng-érsànto scatter in confusion
- 一哄而上yīhōng-érshàngto rush in all at once (to follow a trend)
- 一家之言yījiā-zhīyánone's own view
- 一举成名yījǔ-chéngmíngto become famous overnight
- 一口咬定yīkǒu-yǎodìngto insist
- 一门心思yīmén-xīnsisingle-mindedly
- 一鸣惊人yīmíng-jīngrénto amaze the world with a single feat
- 一命呜呼yīmìng-wūhūto die
- 一钱不值yīqián-bùzhíworthless
- 一潭死水yītán-sǐshuǐstagnant pool
- 一望而知yīwàng-érzhīobvious at a glance
- 一无所长yīwú-suǒchángto have no particular skill
- 一笑百媚yīxiào-bǎimèia smile full of charm
- 一笑了之yīxiào-liǎozhīto laugh off
- 一心一德yīxīn-yīdéof one heart and mind
- 一拥而上yīyōng-érshàngto swarm forward
- 一掷千金yīzhì-qiānjīnto spend lavishly
What is a Chinese idiom with numbers?
一年一度 (yīnián-yīdù): annual. It is the most common of the 301 on this page.
What is a chengyu?
A set phrase, nearly always four characters, that packs a story or an image into a few words: 画蛇添足, “drawing legs on a snake”, means spoiling something by overdoing it. Chinese speakers use them in writing, speeches and everyday talk.
More free tools
Chengyu from the Xinhua idiom list; meanings from our own dictionary. Open one for its characters and real sentences.