Chinese grammar · Upper intermediate (B2)
成语 and set phrases
What 成语 are, how to read them word by word, and the course's idioms and sayings, such as 一举两得 and 入乡随俗, in full sentences.
What is a 成语?
A (chéngyǔ) is a fixed expression, almost always of four characters, often taken from a classical story or text. Thousands exist, and educated speakers use them in speeches, writing and, more lightly, in conversation. Each character keeps an old meaning, so reading them word by word helps: (yì jǔ liǎng dé) is “one move, two gains”, to kill two birds with one stone.
A works like a single word in the sentence: as the comment on a situation ( (zhèyàng zuò yì jǔ liǎng dé), doing it this way kills two birds with one stone), or as a description with or 地. Never change its characters, and don't pile them up: one well-chosen sounds educated, five in a row sound strange.
The course's 成语
These are the idioms used in the B2 chapters, with a few more that come up often. The literal meaning helps you remember them.
| Idiom | Word by word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (yì jǔ liǎng dé) | one move, two gains | kill two birds with one stone |
| (mǎmahūhū) | horse horse, tiger tiger | careless; so-so |
| (bàn tú ér fèi) | halfway along the road, and abandon | give up halfway |
| (rù xiāng suí sú) | enter a village, follow its customs | when in Rome, do as the Romans do |
| (shú néng shēng qiǎo) | familiarity can produce skill | practice makes perfect |
| (yì yán nán jìn) | one word can hardly tell it all | it's a long story |
| (shuō lái huà cháng) | when told, the story is long | it's a long story |
| (yǔ zhòng bù tóng) | not the same as the crowd | out of the ordinary |
| (bàn xìn bàn yí) | half believe, half doubt | not sure whether to believe it |
| (luànqībāzāo) | chaos seven eight mess | in a complete mess |
成语 in sentences
Most can stand on their own as a comment, often after (zhēn shì), really is. Some, like (mǎmahūhū) and (luànqībāzāo), describe things and take .
- 骑车上班，既锻炼身体又省钱，真是一举两得。Qí chē shàngbān, jì duànliàn shēntǐ yòu shěng qián, zhēn shì yì jǔ liǎng dé.Cycling to work keeps you fit and saves money: two birds with one stone.
- 学语言最怕半途而废。Xué yǔyán zuì pà bàn tú ér fèi.The worst thing when learning a language is giving up halfway.
- 别担心，多练习，熟能生巧。Bié dānxīn, duō liànxí, shú néng shēng qiǎo.Don't worry, keep practising: practice makes perfect.
- 入乡随俗，我们也用筷子吃吧。Rù xiāng suí sú, wǒmen yě yòng kuàizi chī ba.When in Rome: let's eat with chopsticks too.
- 这几年的事，真是一言难尽。Zhè jǐ nián de shì, zhēn shì yì yán nán jìn.What's happened these last few years is a long story.
- 他做事总是马马虎虎的。Tā zuò shì zǒngshì mǎmahūhū de.He's always careless in what he does.
Sayings and set phrases
Longer sayings, (súyǔ), and set phrases are just as common in everyday speech. Many are used as polite formulas.
| Phrase | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (bǎi wén bùrú yí jiàn) | hearing a hundred times isn't as good as seeing once | seeing is believing |
| (bú jiàn bú sàn) | if we don't meet, we don't leave | see you there (I'll wait for you) |
| (hǎojiǔ bú jiàn) | long time not see | long time no see |
| (xīnkǔ le) | it's been hard work | thanks for all your work |
| (mànmàn lái) | come slowly | take your time, no rush |
| (yílù shùnfēng) | a favourable wind all the way | have a good trip |
| (shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo jiù dào) | speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives | speak of the devil |
Using them well
Use where they fit naturally: to sum up a situation, to comment on it, or in writing. Some are casual ( (mǎmahūhū), (luànqībāzāo)), others sound more formal ( (yǔ zhòng bù tóng), (bàn tú ér fèi) in a speech). When you're unsure, choose the plain expression: understanding matters far more than producing them.