---
title: "Chinese Proverbs: 84 Sayings With Pinyin, Meaning and Audio"
description: "84 Chinese proverbs and sayings, like 欲速则不达 (haste makes waste), each with pinyin, meaning and sound. Keep them in one press or print them as flashcards."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-proverbs"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[Chinese idioms](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-idioms) · 84 proverbs

# Chinese proverbs

Sayings longer than a chengyu, each with pinyin, meaning and sound.

[Print as flashcards](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-flashcards?level=mine&words=%E5%AD%A6%E8%80%8C%E4%BC%98%E5%88%99%E4%BB%95%20%E4%B8%80%E6%AD%A5%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%AA%E8%84%9A%E5%8D%B0%20%E6%9B%B4%E4%B8%8A%E4%B8%80%E5%B1%82%E6%A5%BC%20%E9%98%B2%E6%82%A3%E4%BA%8E%E6%9C%AA%E7%84%B6%20%E4%B8%80%E5%8E%BB%E4%B8%8D%E5%A4%8D%E8%BF%94%20%E8%BF%85%E9%9B%B7%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%8A%E6%8E%A9%E8%80%B3%20%E5%85%AB%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%8D%E7%A6%BB%E5%8D%81%20%E7%89%B5%E4%B8%80%E5%8F%91%E8%80%8C%E5%8A%A8%E5%85%A8%E8%BA%AB%20%E6%AC%B2%E9%80%9F%E5%88%99%E4%B8%8D%E8%BE%BE%20%E4%B8%8D%E7%9F%A5%E5%A4%A9%E9%AB%98%E5%9C%B0%E5%8E%9A%20%E5%87%BA%E6%B7%A4%E6%B3%A5%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E6%9F%93%20%E8%B5%B6%E9%B8%AD%E5%AD%90%E4%B8%8A%E6%9E%B6%20%E4%B8%87%E5%8F%98%E4%B8%8D%E7%A6%BB%E5%85%B6%E5%AE%97%20%E4%BD%95%E4%B9%90%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E4%B8%BA%20%E4%B8%8D%E8%B4%B9%E5%90%B9%E7%81%B0%E4%B9%8B%E5%8A%9B%20%E6%9C%89%E8%BF%87%E4%B9%8B%E8%80%8C%E6%97%A0%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%8A%20%E6%8C%82%E7%BE%8A%E5%A4%B4%E5%8D%96%E7%8B%97%E8%82%89%20%E6%81%A8%E9%93%81%E4%B8%8D%E6%88%90%E9%92%A2%20%E5%A4%A9%E6%9C%89%E4%B8%8D%E6%B5%8B%E9%A3%8E%E4%BA%91%20%E6%97%A0%E6%89%80%E4%B8%8D%E7%94%A8%E5%85%B6%E6%9E%81%20%E6%9C%89%E9%92%B1%E8%83%BD%E4%BD%BF%E9%AC%BC%E6%8E%A8%E7%A3%A8%20%E7%99%BE%E6%80%9D%E4%B8%8D%E5%BE%97%E5%85%B6%E8%A7%A3%20%E6%91%B8%E4%B8%8D%E7%9D%80%E5%A4%B4%E8%84%91%20%E5%90%83%E5%8A%9B%E4%B8%8D%E8%AE%A8%E5%A5%BD%20%E9%A3%8E%E9%A9%AC%E7%89%9B%E4%B8%8D%E7%9B%B8%E5%8F%8A%20%E7%9A%87%E5%A4%A9%E4%B8%8D%E8%B4%9F%E6%9C%89%E5%BF%83%E4%BA%BA%20%E6%8D%9F%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8D%E5%88%A9%E5%B7%B1%20%E7%AB%8B%E4%BA%8E%E4%B8%8D%E8%B4%A5%E4%B9%8B%E5%9C%B0%20%E7%A5%9E%E4%B8%8D%E7%9F%A5%E9%AC%BC%E4%B8%8D%E8%A7%89%20%E5%A4%A9%E6%97%B6%E5%9C%B0%E5%88%A9%E4%BA%BA%E5%92%8C%20%E6%89%93%E8%82%BF%E8%84%B8%E5%85%85%E8%83%96%E5%AD%90%20%E9%AB%98%E4%B8%8D%E6%88%90%E4%BD%8E%E4%B8%8D%E5%B0%B1%20%E7%89%9B%E5%A4%B4%E4%B8%8D%E5%AF%B9%E9%A9%AC%E5%98%B4%20%E7%A7%8B%E9%A3%8E%E6%89%AB%E8%90%BD%E5%8F%B6%20%E4%B8%89%E7%99%BE%E5%85%AD%E5%8D%81%E8%A1%8C%20%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%87%E5%85%AB%E5%8D%83%E9%87%8C%20%E6%97%A0%E6%95%8C%E4%BA%8E%E5%A4%A9%E4%B8%8B%20%E4%B8%80%E5%A4%B1%E8%B6%B3%E6%88%90%E5%8D%83%E5%8F%A4%E6%81%A8%20%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AF%E5%90%8C%E6%97%A5%E8%80%8C%E8%AF%AD%20%E5%8F%8D%E5%85%B6%E9%81%93%E8%80%8C%E8%A1%8C%E4%B9%8B%20%E8%80%81%E6%AD%BB%E4%B8%8D%E7%9B%B8%E5%BE%80%E6%9D%A5%20%E7%9A%AE%E7%AC%91%E8%82%89%E4%B8%8D%E7%AC%91%20%E4%B8%89%E6%80%9D%E8%80%8C%E5%90%8E%E8%A1%8C%20%E4%B8%8D%E7%AE%A1%E4%B8%89%E4%B8%83%E4%BA%8C%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%80%20%E7%BE%A4%E8%B5%B7%E8%80%8C%E6%94%BB%E4%B9%8B%20%E5%8D%81%E5%85%AB%E8%88%AC%E6%AD%A6%E8%89%BA%20%E7%89%A9%E4%BB%A5%E7%A8%80%E4%B8%BA%E8%B4%B5%20%E4%B8%80%E5%B9%B4%E4%B9%8B%E8%AE%A1%E5%9C%A8%E4%BA%8E%E6%98%A5%20%E4%B8%80%E8%A8%80%E4%BB%A5%E8%94%BD%E4%B9%8B%20%E9%92%88%E5%B0%96%E5%AF%B9%E9%BA%A6%E8%8A%92%20%E5%85%B5%E8%B4%A5%E5%A6%82%E5%B1%B1%E5%80%92%20%E7%97%85%E6%80%A5%E4%B9%B1%E6%8A%95%E5%8C%BB%20%E5%88%9D%E7%94%9F%E7%89%9B%E7%8A%8A%E4%B8%8D%E6%80%95%E8%99%8E%20%E8%BF%91%E6%B0%B4%E6%A5%BC%E5%8F%B0%E5%85%88%E5%BE%97%E6%9C%88%20%E6%9F%B3%E6%9A%97%E8%8A%B1%E6%98%8E%E5%8F%88%E4%B8%80%E6%9D%91%20%E7%83%AD%E9%94%85%E4%B8%8A%E7%9A%84%E8%9A%82%E8%9A%81%20%E4%B8%89%E5%AF%B8%E4%B8%8D%E7%83%82%E4%B9%8B%E8%88%8C%20%E8%AF%86%E6%97%B6%E5%8A%A1%E8%80%85%E4%B8%BA%E4%BF%8A%E6%9D%B0%20%E5%B0%8F%E5%B7%AB%E8%A7%81%E5%A4%A7%E5%B7%AB%20%E8%A1%8C%E7%99%BE%E9%87%8C%E8%80%85%E5%8D%8A%E4%B9%9D%E5%8D%81%20%E7%BE%8A%E6%AF%9B%E5%87%BA%E5%9C%A8%E7%BE%8A%E8%BA%AB%E4%B8%8A%20%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%AA%E5%B7%B4%E6%8E%8C%E6%8B%8D%E4%B8%8D%E5%93%8D%20%E4%B8%8D%E6%89%93%E4%B8%8D%E7%9B%B8%E8%AF%86%20%E4%B8%8D%E5%BE%97%E5%B7%B2%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%BA%E4%B9%8B%20%E4%B8%8D%E5%88%86%E9%9D%92%E7%BA%A2%E7%9A%82%E7%99%BD%20%E4%B8%9C%E6%96%B9%E4%B8%8D%E4%BA%AE%E8%A5%BF%E6%96%B9%E4%BA%AE%20%E6%94%BE%E4%B9%8B%E5%9B%9B%E6%B5%B7%E8%80%8C%E7%9A%86%E5%87%86%20%E8%BF%87%E4%BA%94%E5%85%B3%E6%96%A9%E5%85%AD%E5%B0%86%20%E5%8C%96%E5%B9%B2%E6%88%88%E4%B8%BA%E7%8E%89%E5%B8%9B%20%E4%B9%9D%E7%89%9B%E4%BA%8C%E8%99%8E%E4%B9%8B%E5%8A%9B%20%E6%8B%92%E4%BA%BA%E4%BA%8E%E5%8D%83%E9%87%8C%E4%B9%8B%E5%A4%96%20%E5%8F%AF%E6%9C%9B%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AF%E5%8F%8A%20%E5%8F%AF%E6%9C%9B%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AF%E5%8D%B3%20%E6%B0%91%E4%BB%A5%E9%A3%9F%E4%B8%BA%E5%A4%A9%20%E8%B5%94%E4%BA%86%E5%A4%AB%E4%BA%BA%E5%8F%88%E6%8A%98%E5%85%B5%20%E4%BA%BA%E7%94%9F%E8%87%AA%E5%8F%A4%E8%B0%81%E6%97%A0%E6%AD%BB%20%E7%91%9E%E9%9B%AA%E5%85%86%E4%B8%B0%E5%B9%B4%20%E6%9D%80%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8D%E7%9C%A8%E7%9C%BC%20%E5%8D%81%E5%85%AB%E5%B1%82%E5%9C%B0%E7%8B%B1%20%E6%97%B6%E5%8A%BF%E9%80%A0%E8%8B%B1%E9%9B%84%20%E6%B8%A9%E8%89%AF%E6%81%AD%E4%BF%AD%E8%AE%A9%20%E4%B9%A0%E6%83%AF%E6%88%90%E8%87%AA%E7%84%B6%20%E5%BF%83%E6%9C%89%E4%BD%99%E8%80%8C%E5%8A%9B%E4%B8%8D%E8%B6%B3%20%E6%9C%89%E5%BF%97%E8%80%85%E4%BA%8B%E7%AB%9F%E6%88%90)

- [学而优则仕xué’éryōuzéshìone who excels in study should become an official](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AD%A6%E8%80%8C%E4%BC%98%E5%88%99%E4%BB%95)
- [一步一个脚印yībùyīgèjiǎoyìnto make steady progress](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E6%AD%A5%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%AA%E8%84%9A%E5%8D%B0)
- [更上一层楼gèngshàngyīcénglóuto climb to a higher level](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9B%B4%E4%B8%8A%E4%B8%80%E5%B1%82%E6%A5%BC)
- [防患于未然fánghuànyúwèiránto nip trouble in the bud](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%98%B2%E6%82%A3%E4%BA%8E%E6%9C%AA%E7%84%B6)
- [一去不复返yīqùbùfùfǎngone forever](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E5%8E%BB%E4%B8%8D%E5%A4%8D%E8%BF%94)
- [迅雷不及掩耳xùnléibùjíyǎn’ěras sudden as a thunderclap](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%85%E9%9B%B7%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%8A%E6%8E%A9%E8%80%B3)
- [八九不离十bājiǔbùlíshípretty close](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%AB%E4%B9%9D%E4%B8%8D%E7%A6%BB%E5%8D%81)
- [牵一发而动全身qiānyīfà’érdòngquánshēna small change affects the whole](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%89%B5%E4%B8%80%E5%8F%91%E8%80%8C%E5%8A%A8%E5%85%A8%E8%BA%AB)
- [欲速则不达yùsùzébùdáhaste makes waste](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%AC%B2%E9%80%9F%E5%88%99%E4%B8%8D%E8%BE%BE)
- [不知天高地厚bùzhītiāngāodìhòunot to know one's own limits](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E7%9F%A5%E5%A4%A9%E9%AB%98%E5%9C%B0%E5%8E%9A)
- [出淤泥而不染chūyūní’érbùrǎnto emerge unsullied from the mud](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%87%BA%E6%B7%A4%E6%B3%A5%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E6%9F%93)
- [赶鸭子上架gǎnyāzishàngjiàto force someone to do something beyond their ability](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B5%B6%E9%B8%AD%E5%AD%90%E4%B8%8A%E6%9E%B6)
- [万变不离其宗wànbiànbùlíqízōngthe essence stays the same through all changes](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%87%E5%8F%98%E4%B8%8D%E7%A6%BB%E5%85%B6%E5%AE%97)
- [何乐而不为hélè’érbùwéiwhy not do it](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BD%95%E4%B9%90%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E4%B8%BA)
- [不费吹灰之力bùfèichuīhuīzhīlìeffortlessly](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E8%B4%B9%E5%90%B9%E7%81%B0%E4%B9%8B%E5%8A%9B)
- [有过之而无不及yǒuguòzhī’érwúbùjíto go even further than](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%89%E8%BF%87%E4%B9%8B%E8%80%8C%E6%97%A0%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%8A)
- [挂羊头卖狗肉guàyángtóumàigǒuròuto cry up wine and sell vinegar](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8C%82%E7%BE%8A%E5%A4%B4%E5%8D%96%E7%8B%97%E8%82%89)
- [恨铁不成钢hèntiěbùchénggāngfrustrated that someone fails to live up to expectations](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%81%A8%E9%93%81%E4%B8%8D%E6%88%90%E9%92%A2)
- [天有不测风云tiānyǒubùcèfēngyúnanything can happen](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A4%A9%E6%9C%89%E4%B8%8D%E6%B5%8B%E9%A3%8E%E4%BA%91)
- [无所不用其极wúsuǒbùyòngqíjíto stop at nothing](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%97%A0%E6%89%80%E4%B8%8D%E7%94%A8%E5%85%B6%E6%9E%81)
- [有钱能使鬼推磨yǒuqiánnéngshǐguǐtuīmòmoney talks](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%89%E9%92%B1%E8%83%BD%E4%BD%BF%E9%AC%BC%E6%8E%A8%E7%A3%A8)
- [百思不得其解bǎisībùdéqíjiěto be utterly puzzled](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%99%BE%E6%80%9D%E4%B8%8D%E5%BE%97%E5%85%B6%E8%A7%A3)
- [摸不着头脑mōbuzháotóunǎoto be confused](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%91%B8%E4%B8%8D%E7%9D%80%E5%A4%B4%E8%84%91)
- [吃力不讨好chīlìbùtǎohǎothankless task](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%83%E5%8A%9B%E4%B8%8D%E8%AE%A8%E5%A5%BD)
- [风马牛不相及fēngmǎniúbùxiāngjícompletely unrelated](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A3%8E%E9%A9%AC%E7%89%9B%E4%B8%8D%E7%9B%B8%E5%8F%8A)
- [皇天不负有心人huángtiānbùfùyǒuxīnrénHeaven rewards those who persevere](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%9A%87%E5%A4%A9%E4%B8%8D%E8%B4%9F%E6%9C%89%E5%BF%83%E4%BA%BA)
- [损人不利己sǔnrénbùlìjǐto harm others without benefiting oneself](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8D%9F%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8D%E5%88%A9%E5%B7%B1)
- [立于不败之地lìyúbùbàizhīdìto be in an invincible position](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%AB%8B%E4%BA%8E%E4%B8%8D%E8%B4%A5%E4%B9%8B%E5%9C%B0)
- [神不知鬼不觉shénbùzhīguǐbùjuéwithout anyone knowing](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%A5%9E%E4%B8%8D%E7%9F%A5%E9%AC%BC%E4%B8%8D%E8%A7%89)
- [天时地利人和tiānshídìlìrénhéfavorable timing, terrain and support of the people](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A4%A9%E6%97%B6%E5%9C%B0%E5%88%A9%E4%BA%BA%E5%92%8C)
- [打肿脸充胖子dǎzhǒngliǎnchōngpàngzito keep up appearances beyond one's means](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%89%93%E8%82%BF%E8%84%B8%E5%85%85%E8%83%96%E5%AD%90)
- [高不成低不就gāobùchéngdībùjiùunable to get what one wants and unwilling to settle for less](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%AB%98%E4%B8%8D%E6%88%90%E4%BD%8E%E4%B8%8D%E5%B0%B1)
- [牛头不对马嘴niútóubùduìmǎzuǐirrelevant](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%89%9B%E5%A4%B4%E4%B8%8D%E5%AF%B9%E9%A9%AC%E5%98%B4)
- [秋风扫落叶qiūfēngsǎoluòyèeasily sweeping away](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%A7%8B%E9%A3%8E%E6%89%AB%E8%90%BD%E5%8F%B6)
- [三百六十行sānbǎiliùshíhángall trades and professions](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%89%E7%99%BE%E5%85%AD%E5%8D%81%E8%A1%8C)
- [十万八千里shíwànbāqiānlǐa very long way](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%87%E5%85%AB%E5%8D%83%E9%87%8C)
- [无敌于天下wúdíyútiānxiàinvincible throughout the world](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%97%A0%E6%95%8C%E4%BA%8E%E5%A4%A9%E4%B8%8B)
- [一失足成千古恨yīshīzúchéngqiāngǔhènone false step can bring lifelong regret](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E5%A4%B1%E8%B6%B3%E6%88%90%E5%8D%83%E5%8F%A4%E6%81%A8)
- [不可同日而语bùkětóngrì’éryǔnot to be mentioned in the same breath](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AF%E5%90%8C%E6%97%A5%E8%80%8C%E8%AF%AD)
- [反其道而行之fǎnqídào’érxíngzhīto do the opposite](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%8D%E5%85%B6%E9%81%93%E8%80%8C%E8%A1%8C%E4%B9%8B)
- [老死不相往来lǎosǐbùxiāngwǎngláito never have contact with each other](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%80%81%E6%AD%BB%E4%B8%8D%E7%9B%B8%E5%BE%80%E6%9D%A5)
- [皮笑肉不笑píxiàoròubùxiàoto put on a fake smile](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%9A%AE%E7%AC%91%E8%82%89%E4%B8%8D%E7%AC%91)
- [三思而后行sānsī’érhòuxínglook before you leap](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%89%E6%80%9D%E8%80%8C%E5%90%8E%E8%A1%8C)
- [不管三七二十一bùguǎnsānqī’èrshíyīregardless of the consequences](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E7%AE%A1%E4%B8%89%E4%B8%83%E4%BA%8C%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%80)
- [群起而攻之qúnqǐ’érgōngzhīeveryone rises up against it](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BE%A4%E8%B5%B7%E8%80%8C%E6%94%BB%E4%B9%8B)
- [十八般武艺shíbābānwǔyìall kinds of skills](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8D%81%E5%85%AB%E8%88%AC%E6%AD%A6%E8%89%BA)
- [物以稀为贵wùyǐxīwéiguìscarcity makes things valuable](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%89%A9%E4%BB%A5%E7%A8%80%E4%B8%BA%E8%B4%B5)
- [一年之计在于春yīniánzhījìzàiyúchūnthe whole year's work depends on a good start in spring](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E5%B9%B4%E4%B9%8B%E8%AE%A1%E5%9C%A8%E4%BA%8E%E6%98%A5)
- [一言以蔽之yīyányǐbìzhīin a word](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E8%A8%80%E4%BB%A5%E8%94%BD%E4%B9%8B)
- [针尖对麦芒zhēnjiānduìmàimángsharp against sharp](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%92%88%E5%B0%96%E5%AF%B9%E9%BA%A6%E8%8A%92)
- [兵败如山倒bīngbàirúshāndǎoa defeated army collapses like a landslide](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%B5%E8%B4%A5%E5%A6%82%E5%B1%B1%E5%80%92)
- [病急乱投医bìngjíluàntóuyīto try anything in desperation](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%97%85%E6%80%A5%E4%B9%B1%E6%8A%95%E5%8C%BB)
- [初生牛犊不怕虎chūshēngniúdúbùpàhǔthe young are fearless](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%88%9D%E7%94%9F%E7%89%9B%E7%8A%8A%E4%B8%8D%E6%80%95%E8%99%8E)
- [近水楼台先得月jìnshuǐlóutáixiāndéyuèthose close to the source benefit first](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%91%E6%B0%B4%E6%A5%BC%E5%8F%B0%E5%85%88%E5%BE%97%E6%9C%88)
- [柳暗花明又一村liǔ’ànhuāmíngyòuyīcūnthere is always a way out (hope after despair)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9F%B3%E6%9A%97%E8%8A%B1%E6%98%8E%E5%8F%88%E4%B8%80%E6%9D%91)
- [热锅上的蚂蚁règuōshàngdemǎyǐlike an ant on a hot pan](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%83%AD%E9%94%85%E4%B8%8A%E7%9A%84%E8%9A%82%E8%9A%81)
- [三寸不烂之舌sāncùnbùlànzhīshésilver tongue](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%89%E5%AF%B8%E4%B8%8D%E7%83%82%E4%B9%8B%E8%88%8C)
- [识时务者为俊杰shíshíwùzhěwéijùnjiéhe who understands the times is wise](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AF%86%E6%97%B6%E5%8A%A1%E8%80%85%E4%B8%BA%E4%BF%8A%E6%9D%B0)
- [小巫见大巫xiǎowūjiàndàwūto pale into insignificance](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B0%8F%E5%B7%AB%E8%A7%81%E5%A4%A7%E5%B7%AB)
- [行百里者半九十xíngbǎilǐzhěbànjiǔshíthe last stretch is the hardest](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A1%8C%E7%99%BE%E9%87%8C%E8%80%85%E5%8D%8A%E4%B9%9D%E5%8D%81)
- [羊毛出在羊身上yángmáochūzàiyángshēnshàngyou end up paying for it one way or another](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BE%8A%E6%AF%9B%E5%87%BA%E5%9C%A8%E7%BE%8A%E8%BA%AB%E4%B8%8A)
- [一个巴掌拍不响yīgèbāzhǎngpāibùxiǎngit takes two to tango](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%AA%E5%B7%B4%E6%8E%8C%E6%8B%8D%E4%B8%8D%E5%93%8D)
- [不打不相识bùdǎbùxiāngshífrom enemies to friends](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E6%89%93%E4%B8%8D%E7%9B%B8%E8%AF%86)
- [不得已而为之bùdéyǐ’érwéizhīto do something because one has no choice](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E5%BE%97%E5%B7%B2%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%BA%E4%B9%8B)
- [不分青红皂白bùfēnqīnghóngzàobáiindiscriminately](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E5%88%86%E9%9D%92%E7%BA%A2%E7%9A%82%E7%99%BD)
- [东方不亮西方亮dōngfāngbùliàngxīfāngliàngif one door closes another opens](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%9C%E6%96%B9%E4%B8%8D%E4%BA%AE%E8%A5%BF%E6%96%B9%E4%BA%AE)
- [放之四海而皆准fàngzhīsìhǎi’érjiēzhǔnuniversally applicable](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%94%BE%E4%B9%8B%E5%9B%9B%E6%B5%B7%E8%80%8C%E7%9A%86%E5%87%86)
- [过五关斩六将guòwǔguānzhǎnliùjiàngto overcome many obstacles](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%87%E4%BA%94%E5%85%B3%E6%96%A9%E5%85%AD%E5%B0%86)
- [化干戈为玉帛huàgāngēwéiyùbóto turn hostility into friendship](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8C%96%E5%B9%B2%E6%88%88%E4%B8%BA%E7%8E%89%E5%B8%9B)
- [九牛二虎之力jiǔniú’èrhǔzhīlìtremendous effort](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B9%9D%E7%89%9B%E4%BA%8C%E8%99%8E%E4%B9%8B%E5%8A%9B)
- [拒人于千里之外jùrényúqiānlǐzhīwàito keep people at arm's length](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8B%92%E4%BA%BA%E4%BA%8E%E5%8D%83%E9%87%8C%E4%B9%8B%E5%A4%96)
- [可望而不可及kěwàng’érbùkějíwithin sight but out of reach](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%AF%E6%9C%9B%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AF%E5%8F%8A)
- [可望而不可即kěwàng’érbùkějívisible but unattainable](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%AF%E6%9C%9B%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AF%E5%8D%B3)
- [民以食为天mínyǐshíwéitiānfood is the first necessity of the people](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B0%91%E4%BB%A5%E9%A3%9F%E4%B8%BA%E5%A4%A9)
- [赔了夫人又折兵péilefūrényòuzhébīngto suffer a double loss after a failed scheme](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B5%94%E4%BA%86%E5%A4%AB%E4%BA%BA%E5%8F%88%E6%8A%98%E5%85%B5)
- [人生自古谁无死rénshēngzìgǔshuíwúsǐsince ancient times, who has not died](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%BA%E7%94%9F%E8%87%AA%E5%8F%A4%E8%B0%81%E6%97%A0%E6%AD%BB)
- [瑞雪兆丰年ruìxuězhàofēngniántimely snow promises a good harvest](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%91%9E%E9%9B%AA%E5%85%86%E4%B8%B0%E5%B9%B4)
- [杀人不眨眼shārénbùzhǎyǎnto kill without batting an eye](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9D%80%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8D%E7%9C%A8%E7%9C%BC)
- [十八层地狱shíbācéngdìyùthe eighteen levels of hell](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8D%81%E5%85%AB%E5%B1%82%E5%9C%B0%E7%8B%B1)
- [时势造英雄shíshìzàoyīngxióngthe times produce their heroes](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%97%B6%E5%8A%BF%E9%80%A0%E8%8B%B1%E9%9B%84)
- [温良恭俭让wēnliánggōngjiǎnrànggentle, kind, respectful, frugal and modest](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B8%A9%E8%89%AF%E6%81%AD%E4%BF%AD%E8%AE%A9)
- [习惯成自然xíguànchéngzìránhabit becomes second nature](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B9%A0%E6%83%AF%E6%88%90%E8%87%AA%E7%84%B6)
- [心有余而力不足xīnyǒuyú’érlìbùzúthe spirit is willing but the flesh is weak](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BF%83%E6%9C%89%E4%BD%99%E8%80%8C%E5%8A%9B%E4%B8%8D%E8%B6%B3)
- [有志者事竟成yǒuzhìzhěshìjìngchéngwhere there's a will there's a way](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%89%E5%BF%97%E8%80%85%E4%BA%8B%E7%AB%9F%E6%88%90)

## What is the difference between a proverb and a chengyu?

A chengyu is a set phrase of (nearly always) four characters, used inside a sentence. A proverb, 谚语, is a whole saying that stands on its own, often longer: 欲速则不达, “haste makes waste”.

## 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 quiz](https://mandarinthewild.com/chengyu-quiz)
- [Every chengyu](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/chengyu)
- [Chinese dictionary](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-dictionary)
- [Chinese grammar](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-grammar)

Chengyu from the Xinhua idiom list; meanings from our own dictionary. Open one for its characters and real sentences.