O-Level Chinese 成语: Essential Idioms
Master 45 essential Chinese 成语 (chengyu idioms) commonly used in Singapore O-Level Chinese compositions and comprehension. Each card shows the idiom with Pinyin on the front and a clear English meaning plus a usage hint on the back, so you learn each idiom in context. A high-yield revision set for Secondary students aiming to lift their essay and oral marks.
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Cards in this deck
#1
Q:一鼓作气 (yì gǔ zuò qì)
- A:Get something done in one energetic effort, without losing momentum. Use to praise tackling a task with full drive.
#2
Q:全力以赴 (quán lì yǐ fù)
- A:To go all out; to spare no effort. Common in essays about working hard toward a goal.
#3
Q:废寝忘食 (fèi qǐn wàng shí)
- A:So absorbed that one forgets to sleep and eat; extremely diligent. Describes intense, dedicated study or work.
#4
Q:持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng)
- A:To persevere; to keep at something consistently. Use for sustained effort over a long time.
#5
Q:锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě)
- A:To keep carving without giving up; persistent and unyielding. Praises never abandoning a difficult task.
#6
Q:坚持不懈 (jiān chí bú xiè)
- A:To persist without slacking off. A go-to idiom for determination and discipline.
#7
Q:争分夺秒 (zhēng fēn duó miǎo)
- A:To race against time; to make every second count. Use when time is short and urgent.
#8
Q:夜以继日 (yè yǐ jì rì)
- A:Day and night without stopping; round the clock. Describes tireless, continuous effort.
#9
Q:同心协力 (tóng xīn xié lì)
- A:To work together with one heart; united effort. Use for teamwork and cooperation.
#10
Q:齐心协力 (qí xīn xié lì)
- A:To pull together with united hearts and combined strength. Similar to "同心协力", stresses unity.
#11
Q:众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng)
- A:Unity of will is an impregnable fortress; together people are unstoppable. Use for collective strength.
#12
Q:兴高采烈 (xìng gāo cǎi liè)
- A:In high spirits; jubilant and excited. Describes joyful celebration or happy mood.
#13
Q:心花怒放 (xīn huā nù fàng)
- A:The heart blooms with joy; wild with happiness. Use for being overjoyed.
#14
Q:兴致勃勃 (xìng zhì bó bó)
- A:Full of enthusiasm and interest. Describes doing something eagerly and with zest.
#15
Q:垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì)
- A:Hanging one's head, dejected and dispirited. Use for disappointment or defeat.
#16
Q:闷闷不乐 (mèn mèn bú lè)
- A:Depressed and unhappy; in low spirits. Describes a gloomy, troubled mood.
#17
Q:忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān)
- A:Nervous and uneasy; one's heart not at rest. Use for anxiety before an exam or result.
#18
Q:小心翼翼 (xiǎo xīn yì yì)
- A:Very cautious and careful; with great care. Describes doing something gingerly.
#19
Q:三思而行 (sān sī ér xíng)
- A:Think carefully before acting; look before you leap. Advice to consider consequences.
#20
Q:一举两得 (yì jǔ liǎng dé)
- A:To gain two things from one action; kill two birds with one stone. Use for an efficient outcome.
#21
Q:一举成名 (yì jǔ chéng míng)
- A:To become famous overnight in one stroke. Use for sudden, well-earned success.
#22
Q:名列前茅 (míng liè qián máo)
- A:To rank among the top; to come near the top of a list. Use for excellent results.
#23
Q:脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì)
- A:Down-to-earth; doing things steadily and practically. Praises a grounded, reliable attitude.
#24
Q:精益求精 (jīng yì qiú jīng)
- A:To strive for perfection even when already good. Use for continuous improvement.
#25
Q:再接再厉 (zài jiē zài lì)
- A:To make persistent efforts; keep pushing on. Encouragement to continue working hard.
#26
Q:熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo)
- A:Practice makes perfect; skill comes from familiarity. Use about mastering through repetition.
#27
Q:一丝不苟 (yì sī bù gǒu)
- A:Conscientious and meticulous; not the slightest carelessness. Describes great attention to detail.
#28
Q:鸟语花香 (niǎo yǔ huā xiāng)
- A:Birds singing and flowers fragrant; a beautiful spring scene. Useful for descriptive composition.
#29
Q:五光十色 (wǔ guāng shí sè)
- A:Multicolored and dazzling; a riot of colour. Describes a bright, varied, vivid scene.
#30
Q:五颜六色 (wǔ yán liù sè)
- A:A great variety of colours; colourful. Use to describe vivid, varied things.
#31
Q:川流不息 (chuān liú bù xī)
- A:Flowing past in an endless stream; ceaseless (of crowds or traffic). Describes a busy, bustling scene.
#32
Q:人山人海 (rén shān rén hǎi)
- A:Huge crowds of people; a sea of people. Use for a very crowded place.
#33
Q:络绎不绝 (luò yì bù jué)
- A:A continuous, unbroken stream (of people or vehicles). Describes constant comings and goings.
#34
Q:风景如画 (fēng jǐng rú huà)
- A:Scenery as beautiful as a painting; picturesque. Useful for describing a lovely landscape.
#35
Q:一帆风顺 (yì fān fēng shùn)
- A:Smooth sailing all the way; everything goes well. Use to wish or describe a problem-free course.
#36
Q:井井有条 (jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo)
- A:Neat, orderly and well-organised. Describes things arranged methodically.
#37
Q:理所当然 (lǐ suǒ dāng rán)
- A:As it should be; a matter of course; naturally so. Use for something taken for granted.
#38
Q:专心致志 (zhuān xīn zhì zhì)
- A:To concentrate single-mindedly; full attention. Describes focused effort.
#39
Q:迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài)
- A:Too impatient to wait; can't wait. Use for eager anticipation.
#40
Q:毫不犹豫 (háo bù yóu yù)
- A:Without the slightest hesitation; resolutely. Describes a decisive, immediate action.
#41
Q:化险为夷 (huà xiǎn wéi yí)
- A:To turn danger into safety; to ride out a crisis. Use when a danger is safely overcome.
#42
Q:后悔莫及 (hòu huǐ mò jí)
- A:Too late for regrets; regret beyond remedy. Use for irreversible mistakes.
#43
Q:感激不尽 (gǎn jī bú jìn)
- A:Endlessly grateful; deeply thankful. Use to express heartfelt gratitude.
#44
Q:受益匪浅 (shòu yì fěi qiǎn)
- A:To benefit greatly; to gain a lot. Use to describe learning much from an experience.
#45
Q:恍然大悟 (huǎng rán dà wù)
- A:To suddenly realise; it dawns on one. Use for a sudden moment of understanding.