O-Level Chinese 成语: Essential Idioms

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.