Chengyu (成语) are four-character idioms — the secret weapon of fluent Chinese speakers. Using even one in conversation will earn you instant respect and surprise. Most originate from ancient stories, fables, and classical literature. Here are the most commonly used ones, grouped by situation.
Encouragement & Success
| Chengyu | Pinyin | Literal | Meaning |
|---|
| 加油 | jiāyóu | Add oil | Go for it! You can do it! (the most used phrase in China) |
| 功夫不负有心人 | gōngfū bù fù yǒuxīnrén | Hard work won't betray the determined | Hard work pays off |
| 水滴石穿 | shuǐ dī shí chuān | Water drips through stone | Persistence conquers all |
| 一举两得 | yījǔ liǎngdé | One move, two gains | Kill two birds with one stone |
| 马到成功 | mǎ dào chénggōng | Horse arrives, success comes | Instant success; wish someone good luck |
Learning & Wisdom
| Chengyu | Pinyin | Literal | Meaning |
|---|
| 学无止境 | xué wú zhǐjìng | Learning has no boundary | There's always more to learn |
| 熟能生巧 | shú néng shēng qiǎo | Familiarity breeds skill | Practice makes perfect |
| 入乡随俗 | rù xiāng suí sú | Enter village, follow customs | When in Rome, do as the Romans do |
| 不耻下问 | bù chǐ xià wèn | Not ashamed to ask below | Don't be afraid to ask questions |
| 三人行必有我师 | sān rén xíng bì yǒu wǒ shī | Among three walkers, one is my teacher | Everyone has something to teach you (Confucius) |
Everyday Conversation
| Chengyu | Pinyin | Literal | Meaning |
|---|
| 乱七八糟 | luàn qī bā zāo | Chaotic seven eight messy | What a mess! Total chaos |
| 自言自语 | zì yán zì yǔ | Self speak self talk | Talking to yourself / muttering |
| 半途而废 | bàntú ér fèi | Halfway and abandon | Give up halfway; don't be a quitter! |
| 一模一样 | yīmú yīyàng | One mold one shape | Exactly the same; identical |
| 莫名其妙 | mòmíng qímiào | Cannot name its wonder | Baffling; makes no sense |
Study Tip: Start with 加油, 一举两得, and 入乡随俗 — these three alone will cover most situations and impress native speakers. Use our
translation tool to look up any chengyu character by character!
