Idioms Stories

Some Chinese idioms make you smile the moment you hear them. Take 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng), which literally means “discussing warfare on paper.” You can already picture it: someone hunched over books, talking strategy non-stop—yet totally clueless once it comes to real battle. The Story of Zhao Kuo – a General on Paper The […]

In Chinese, there’s a saying that people often use to wish someone instant success: 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng). Literally, it means “When the horse arrives, success follows.” Just four characters, yet they carry the feeling of power, speed, and certainty—almost as if victory is already within reach. When the horse arrives, victory is here!

Did you know that in Chinese, just four little characters can tell an entire story? Take the saying “duì niú tán qín” (对牛弹琴), which literally means “to play the lute to a cow.” The image is funny enough—someone playing beautiful music while the cow stares blankly back. But what it really means is “to talk