---
title: "Chengyu Meaning: 成语 (chéngyǔ) Means “idiom”"
description: "成语 (traditional 成語, chéngyǔ) means “idiom; set phrase (usually four characters)”. Hear its tones, see what 成 and 语 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengyu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 成语 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

成语 chéngyǔ

## idiom; set phrase (usually four characters)

## Its characters

1. 成 chéng to become
2. 语 yǔ words

## In a sentence

这个成语是什么意思？ What does this idiom mean?

这就是**成语**“如鱼得水”。

From [三顾茅庐 · Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/three-visits-to-the-thatched-cottage-three-kingdoms-easy-chinese-8#library-word-884-886)

[More about 成语](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%88%90%E8%AF%AD)

## More words with 成 or 语

- [变成 biànchéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/biancheng)
- [标语 biāoyǔ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/biaoyu)
- [不成 bùchéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bucheng)
- [成本 chéngběn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengben)
- [成分 chéngfèn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengfen)
- [成功 chénggōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chenggong)
- [成果 chéngguǒ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengguo)
- [成绩 chéngjì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengji)
- [成交 chéngjiāo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengjiao)
- [成就 chéngjiù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengjiu)

## Keep 成语 for Review

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