Chinese idioms that you can use everywhere and everytime!!

1. 10 Common and Useful Chinese Idioms
1. 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì)
脚踏实地 literallymeans “to step on solidground.” It means that, like Warren Buffet, youwork hard,focus onthe fundamentals, andproceedin a steady andstable
fashion. It’s anextremelypositivechengyu.Here’s anexample: “现在我们要继续脚踏实地” “Right now we needto continue stayinggroundedand pushingahead”
2. 九牛一毛 (jiǔ niú yì máo)
九牛一毛 literallymeans “9 cows and1 strand ofcow hair.”It indicates somethingthat’s so small that it’s like one strand of cow hair among 9 cows. Here’s an
example:“电子商务的盈利在中国整体商业环境中简直是九牛一毛.” “In theentire Chinese commercial environment, theprofits from E-commerceare simplyjust
a drop in the bucket.”
3.一无所有 (yì wú suǒ yǒu)
一无所有 means to haveabsolutelynothingat all. It’s basically being penniless. Here’s an example:“他无家可归，一无所有” “He was homeless, anddidn’t have a
penny to his name”
4. 一见钟情(yí jiàn zhōng qíng)
一见钟情 means “love at first sight.” It’s generally usedfor people,but you can alsouse it for other physical objects. Here’s an example: “她就是我的一见钟情
“ “She is my love at first sight.”
5. 自由自在 (zì yóuzì zài)
自由自在 means that somethingis free and easy. It can beused to describesomeone’s personality,how someone behaves, or how a place makes people feel.For
example:“这是一个自由自在的地方。” “This is a free andeasy place”
6. 莫名其妙 (mòmíng qí miào)
莫名其妙 literallymeans that it’s hard to articulate the profoundness or mystery or something. It basicallymeans that somethingis baffling. For example:“他说了
几句莫名其妙的话。” “He saidsome mysterious words.”
7. 半途而废 (bàntú ér fèi)
半途而废 means to start doingsomething, onlyto give up halfway. Literally,it means to walkhalf theroadandgiveup.(Don’t dothat with chengyu!) Here’s an
example:“我不是半途而废的人” “I’m not someonewho gives up halfway”
8. 抛砖引玉 (pāozhuān yǐn yù)
抛砖引玉 (pāozhuān yǐn yù) basicallymeans you’re “just tossingan ideaout there.”It literally means “to cast a brickto attract jade.” You’re basically saying,
“this idea I’m tossing out there is garbage,but perhaps it will lead one of youto makea better contribution.” It’s a humble way to contributeto a conversation.Here’s
an example:“我的建议还不够成熟，算是抛砖引玉吧““My suggestionis still half-baked —youcould see it as just me tossing anideaout there“
9. 豁然开朗 (huò ránkāi lǎng)
豁然开朗 (huòrán kāi lǎng) has twomeanings which are linked.Thefirst meaningis the refreshingandliberatingfeelingyouget when yousee a beautiful, open
area. Typically, immediately before this moment, the beautiful area is not visible andyoumight be feelinga little stuffy.Second, it’s also usedfor the feelingyouget
when youachieve an “aha” or“eureka!”moment. Here’s an example: “ 大学时期，乔尼开始有机会用 Mac 做设计，那是一种豁然开朗的体验 “Duringcollege,
Jony began to have opportunities touse a Mac to design, andthat was a refreshing, eye-openingexperience”
10. 津津有味 (jīn jīn yǒu wèi)
津津有味 means to eat somethingdeliciously. Also,it can be usedfor activities beyondjust eating, as long as the persondoingthe activity finds it engaging.It’s not
somethingthat peopletypically use to describethemselves, but youcanliberally use it on your friends as it has a positive tone.Here’s anexpressive example:“津津有
味地看报” “to devour the newspaper”