Chinese Expressions For Composition

Expression/Idiom Hanyu Pinyin Meaning

jīn jīn yǒu wèi To eat deliciously. With enjoyment.
津津有味
rén shān rén hǎi A sea of people
人山人海
shàn yǒu shàn bào , Good will be rewarded with good, evil rewarded
善有善报， è yǒu è bào with evil
恶有恶报
qiú rén bù rú qiú jǐ Better to rely on yourself than on others
求人不如求自
wàn shì qǐ tóu nán The start is always difficult. The first step is the
万事起头难 hardest
jiǎo tà shí dì To proceed realistically
脚踏实地
yī wú suǒ yǒu To have nothing. Own nothing
一无所有
zì yóu zì zài To be free and at ease
自由自在
mò míng qí miào Baffling or mysterious. Unable to make head or
莫名其妙 tail of it.
bàn tú ér fèi To give up half way
半途而废
lǐ suǒ dāng rán According to reason. Should be the case
理所当然
quán lì yǐ fù To make an all out effort
全力以赴
luàn qī bā zāo A total mess
乱七八糟
bù kě sī yì Unexpectedly noteworthy or amazing
不可思议
yī qiào bù tōng To completely know nothing about something
一窍不通
tán hé róng yì Easier said than done
谈何容易
ài bù shì shǒu To love something too much
爱不释手
zì xiāng máo dùn To contradict oneself
自相矛盾
qīng pén dà yǔ Heavy rain
倾盆大雨
huà shé tiān zú To add something unnecessary and so spoil it
画蛇添足
yī nuò qiān jīn A promise worth a thousand in gold
一诺千金
mái tóu kǔ gàn To be engrossed in work
埋头苦干
bù láo ér huò To obtain without effort. Reap without sowing.
不劳而获
yī lù shùn fēng Have a smooth journey
一路顺风
xīn mǎn yì zú Perfectly contented
心满意足
liáng yào kǔ kǒu Good medicine tastes bitter
良药苦口
xīn bù zài yān Inattentive. With one's thoughts wandering
心不在焉
sān bù biàn liǎng bù To quicken one’s steps
三步变两步
 yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo , Once bitten by a snake, ten years in fear of a well
一朝被蛇咬， shí nián pà jǐng shéng rope.
十年怕井绳 Once bitten, twice shy
jīng yī shì Become cleverer with every experience
经一事， zhǎng yī zhì
长一智
hú jiǎ hǔ wēi lit. the fox exploits the tiger's might (idiom); fig.
狐假虎威 to use powerful connections to intimidate people
yī rì qiān lǐ lit. one day, a thousand miles (idiom); rapid
一日千里 progress
gǎn jī bù jìn Very grateful; can’t thank enough
感激不尽
xīng gāo cǎi liè happy and excited (idiom); in high spirits
兴高采烈 in great delight
dà chī yī jīng To have a surprise
大吃一惊