University of Cambridge Language Centre Chinese Intermediate

Four-character idioms

成语 four-character idioms are a special group of fixed expressions which can only be used as such. They all have a specific meaning, some referring to an old legend, a folk story or a historic event, others simply accepted because of their frequent idiomatic usage over time. Most 成语 are made up of four characters, but a small number are made up of three, five or more characters. Below are some common examples of 成语 including numbers.

他以后相当医生，所以现在一心一意地学习医学。
He wants to be a doctor in the future, so he focuses on (lit. gives his whole mind to) medical science now.

别相信他的话，他总是胡说八道。
Don't believe his words, he is always talking nonsense.

这个问题我百思不解，你能帮我一下吗？
I've thought about this problem a lot but I am still confused, could you help me?


一心一意

to give one's whole mind to, to focus on
(lit. one heart one mind)

First appeared in 280 CE.

独一无二

unique
(lit. only one no second)

First appeared in a Zen book of the 1st century CE.

三思而行

to think before acting
(lit. three thinking then action)

First appeared in The Analects of Confucius.

四海为家

to wander about, to travel the world
(lit. four sea become home)

First appeared in 91 BCE.

五颜六色

colourful
(lit. five colour six colour)

First appeared at the beginning of the 19th century.

六神无主

to lose one's wits
(lit. six deities no idea)

First appeared in the 17th century. According to Taoism, one's heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, and gall-bladder are each ruled by a deity.

乱七八糟

very messy
(lit. messy seven eight terrible)

First appeared at the beginning of the 20th century.

胡说八道

nonsense
(lit. senseless speak eight talk)

First appeared in 1172 CE, quotation from an honourable Buddhist monk.

九牛一毛

a very small minority
(lit. nine cow one hair)

First appeared in a letter from the famous historian 司马迁 to his friend, 100 BCE.

十全十美

to be done to perfection
(lit. ten complete ten beautiful)

First appeared in literature in the Qing Dynasty.

百思不解

to remain confused despite much thought
(lit. hundred thinking no understanding)

千真万确

sure enough
(lit. thousand real ten thousand confirmed)

Four-character idioms sentences

Select the correct four-character idioms to complete the following sentences. You can click on 帮助 to access the translation of each sentence. Check your answers. Once you get it right, you can click on the audio button to hear the sentence.

hint 1

1. 开会的时候，大家提出了 的建议。

At the meeting, people came up with all sorts of suggestions.

hint 2

2. 我家附近有两家 的中餐馆。

There are two good value Chinese restaurants near my home.

hint 3

3. 这三个月来的经历令他 。

The experience over the past three months has widened his horizons.

hint 4

4. 过节的时候，马路上到处都 。

At festival time, streets are crowded everywhere.

hint 5

5. 这个实验室的条件很好，各种设备 。

This lab is well equipped; it includes all the equipment you can expect.

hint 6

6. 态度决定一切，这句话 。

Attitude influences everything, this is definitely true.

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Four-character idioms riddles

Guess the meaning of the following four-character idioms! Try to understand each character separately and deduce the characters combination's extended meaning. Once the correct match is selected, you can click on the audio button to listen to the Chinese.

走马观花

生龙活虎

雾里看花

无中生有

眼明手快

左思右想

大同小异

入木三分

开门见山

对牛弹琴

  • to give a quick glance

  • full of energy

  • to have blurred vision

  • to fabricate

  • to respond fast

  • to think over carefully

  • much the same

  • incisive, sharp

  • to get straight to the point

  • to fall on deaf ears

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