Enduring Idiom-Stories
(历久不衰的成语故事)
6 min read
Chinese idioms (成语) are concise expressions that convey complex ideas, moral lessons, or life philosophies. Idiom stories explain the origins and meanings of these expressions and, in some ways, resemble Aesop’s Fables. They are an integral part of Chinese culture. People who grow up in Chinese-speaking communities are deeply familiar with idiom stories, which remain widely used today in spoken and written Chinese as well as in literature. Below are several well-known examples.
“破釜沉舟” (Smash the cooking pots and sink the boats)
In 208 BCE, with his back to a river, Xiang Yu (项羽), a general of the State of Chu (楚国), faced the Qin (秦国) army in battle. To demonstrate absolute determination, Xiang Yu ordered his troops to smash their cooking pots and sink their boats. The soldiers understood that there was no retreat and that they must fight with everything they had. They ultimately won the battle. Recorded in Records of the Grand Historian (史记, circa 90 BCE), this story continues to inspire people to press forward and never give up, even under extreme adversity.
“相濡以沫” (Soak each other with foam)
This idiom comes from the Book of Zhuangzi (庄子). Zhuangzi was a philosopher of the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). One day, he observed two fish stranded in a muddy pond, spitting foam onto each other to survive. The expression “soaking each other with foam” describes mutual care, devotion, and emotional support under difficult circumstances, often used to refer to enduring love between husband and wife.
“卧薪尝胆” (Sleep on brushwood and taste bile)
In 496 BCE, the State of Yue (越国) was defeated by the State of Wu (吴国). Goujian (勾践), the ruler of Yue, was determined to avenge the defeat but feared that comfort might weaken his resolve. To remind himself constantly of humiliation and hardship, he slept on rough brushwood and tasted animal bile each day. After years of preparation, Goujian led Yue to victory over Wu. This expression, recorded in Records of the Grand Historian, is often invoked to encourage perseverance and resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges.
“刻舟求剑” (Carve a mark on the boat to find the sword)
A man accidentally drops his sword into a river while on a boat. Believing he can retrieve it later, he carves a mark on the side of the boat to remember the location. This idiom, from Lüshi Chunqiu (吕氏春秋), a classic from the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), criticizes rigid thinking and the failure to adapt to changing circumstances.
“塞翁失马” (The old man at the frontier lost his horse)
An old man living near the frontier loses his horse, but he calmly remarks that the loss may prove to be a blessing. Indeed, the horse later returns with another fine steed. Subsequently, the old man’s son breaks his leg while riding the new horse, which ultimately saves him from being drafted into the army. This idiom reflects the belief that misfortune and good fortune can transform into one another.
“自相矛盾” (Self-contradiction)
This expression originates from a story in the Book of Han Feizi (韩非子) during the Warring States period. A man from the State of Chu was selling a spear and a shield. He claimed that his shield was so strong that no spear could pierce it, while boasting that his spear was so sharp it could pierce any shield. When a passerby asked what would happen if his spear struck his shield, the man was left speechless. The story warns against exaggeration and logical inconsistency.
“相煎何太急” (Why are we so eager to harm each other?)
In 220 CE, during the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Pi (曹丕) ascended the throne of the State of Wei (魏国). Fearing rivalry, he targeted his younger brother Cao Zhi (曹植), a gifted poet. In response, Cao Zhi composed a poem that included the lines: “Beans are boiled using the stalks as fuel; the beans weep in the pot: we come from the same root—why must we be so eager to harm each other?” (煮豆燃豆萁, 豆在釜中泣, 本是同根生, 相煎何太急). Despite this plea, Cao Zhi was ultimately exiled. The idiom expresses sorrow over fratricidal conflict.
“解铃还须系铃人” (The one who tied the bell must untie it)
This saying comes from Lin Jian Ji (林间集), an anthology of Song Dynasty stories. In a discussion among monks, one asks who can remove a bell tied around a tiger’s neck. After some thought, one monk replies, “The person who tied the bell must untie it.” The idiom emphasizes responsibility and accountability: those who cause a problem must resolve it.
“读万卷书，行万里路” (Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles)
This expression comes from an inscription by the Ming dynasty painter Dong Qichang (董其昌). It encourages combining extensive reading with travel, emphasizing that knowledge and experience together cultivate wisdom.
“井蛙不可语海，夏虫不可语冰” (Do not speak of the sea to a frog in a well; do not speak of ice to a summer insect)
From the Book of Zhuangzi, this idiom highlights how one’s environment and experience shape understanding. Those with limited exposure may be unable to grasp broader or more profound truths.
“鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利” (When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits)
This idiom appears in Strategies of the Warring States (战国策, circa 50 BCE). A story recounts a clam clamping onto a snipe’s beak while the two argue, each threatening the other’s demise. Neither yields, and a fisherman ultimately captures them both. The tale was used by an envoy of the State of Yan (燕国) to warn the State of Zhao (赵国) that prolonged conflict would allow the powerful State of Qin (秦国) to benefit. Persuaded by this argument, Zhao abandoned its planned attack. The idiom warns that mutual conflict can advantage a third party.
“指鹿为马” (Calling a deer a horse)
After the death of the First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇), the eunuch Zhao Gao (赵高) conspired with Hu Hai (胡亥) to eliminate the rightful heir and seize power. Zhao Gao later brought a deer before the court and declared it to be a horse. When the emperor objected, Zhao Gao asked the ministers to identify it. Those who spoke the truth were later punished or killed. Recorded in Records of the Grand Historian, this idiom describes the deliberate distortion of truth for ulterior motives and the abuse of power.
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