Idiom Atlas Four characters, a whole story
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Chinese Idioms & Two-Part Sayings

Look up common Chinese idioms with pinyin, meaning and source, browse two-part xiehouyu sayings, and build idiom chains

About this collection

The idioms and two-part sayings here are a curated set of everyday entries, not a complete dictionary. Pinyin shows the standard reading of the whole phrase; where a character has several readings, the common one is used. Sources are given in short form to help you trace the story behind the phrase. If you need a full academic dictionary, check a published reference work.

Frequently asked questions

What is a xiehouyu?

A xiehouyu is a two-part saying. The first half sets up a scene; the second half delivers the point, often through a pun. For example, 泥菩萨过江 — 自身难保 means someone cannot even protect themselves.

Why does an idiom chain stop after a few steps?

The tool only uses the entries built into this page. When no entry starts with the required character, the chain ends. You can still continue it yourself with a paper dictionary.

Can I search by pinyin?

Yes. Type pinyin without tone marks, such as “yixinyiyi”, and the tool will match the idiom whose pinyin starts with that string.

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