{"id":2495,"date":"2025-04-07T19:44:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T19:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/?p=2495"},"modified":"2025-04-09T18:36:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T18:36:07","slug":"the-best-chinese-idioms-to-sound-smarter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/2025\/04\/07\/the-best-chinese-idioms-to-sound-smarter\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Chinese Idioms to Sound Smarter"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2495\" class=\"elementor elementor-2495\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c1194cc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c1194cc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-616850d\" data-id=\"616850d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df4f03d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"df4f03d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\tIdioms (<ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby>) are uniquely important in the Chinese language. Often references or quotes from important classical texts, they can spice up your writing, improve your understanding of Chinese culture, and make you sound cultured and well read if used properly in conversation. Learning about idioms will not only help you in learning the language, but also deepen your connection with the culture and serve as a window into the wider world of Chinese literature. Let\u2019s break down 12 Chinese idioms that will make you sound smart if used correctly!\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3bdc5ba elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3bdc5ba\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-81155ac\" data-id=\"81155ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35fc097 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"35fc097\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Idioms in English vs. Chinese <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb2d0a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cb2d0a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The word \u201cidiom\u201d as it relates to English is actually very vague. The Oxford dictionary defines it as \u201cA form of expression, grammatical construction, phrase, etc., used in a distinctive way in a particular language, dialect, or language variety\u2026\u201d. Examples of English idioms include phrases like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/list\/7-everyday-english-idioms-and-where-they-come-from\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cturn a blind eye\u201d, \u201cbeat around the bush\u201d, and \u201cspill the beans\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Chinese, however, the word <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> (translated as \u201cidiom\u201d) is generally more specific and well defined. <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> are expressions that are typically four characters long and usually allude to or quote classical Chinese texts in order to refer to specific situations or bits of wisdom. Unlike idioms in English, it\u2019s more common for Chinese speakers to know exactly what text their idioms come from, making them extremely rich in meaning. For this reason, <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> are usually associated with high culture and history, and using them can make your speaking or writing sound more formal and articulate.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essentially, English idioms like \u201cit takes two to tango\u201d sound informal and quirky, while Chinese <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> have the opposite effect. Integrating some Chinese idioms into your vocabulary is essential for becoming a true master of Chinese and sounding smart!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b7cfc0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9b7cfc0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u6210\u8a9e\u6545\u4e8b<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4 g\u00f9 sh\u00ec<\/rt><\/ruby>: The Stories Behind Idioms<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf15199 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cf15199\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A common way that <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> are taught in China is starting with the original text that they originate from. Learning the whole story behind a <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> makes the meaning and the idiom itself almost impossible to forget. Here are 12 idioms that you can learn now to spice up your Chinese, along with the texts they originate from. If you\u2019re interested in reading abridged versions of these stories tailored for language learners in Chinese, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/courses\/116-the-stories-behind-chinese-idioms\" data-wplink-edit=\"true\">Stories Behind Chinese Idioms<\/a> course!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8af4136 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8af4136\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cd7bab7\" data-id=\"cd7bab7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c3a598 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6c3a598\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> from Historical Texts<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d074280 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d074280\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Many <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> come from historical texts and allude to the actions of specific historical figures, be it in battles, the court, or otherwise. These idioms are can make you sound well read and aware of Chinese history. They&#8217;re great for summing up complex every-day situations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-624d971\" data-id=\"624d971\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fd62d0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8fd62d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tianhao-zhang-YdRIRl7Ic4o-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2687\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tianhao-zhang-YdRIRl7Ic4o-unsplash-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tianhao-zhang-YdRIRl7Ic4o-unsplash-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tianhao-zhang-YdRIRl7Ic4o-unsplash-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b7c1ca1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b7c1ca1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e7b674\" data-id=\"5e7b674\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6692c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c6692c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u4e09\u4eba\u6210\u864e<rt>s\u0101n r\u00e9n ch\u00e9ng h\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby>\n - \u201cThree people make a tiger\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c29c29c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c29c29c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u6230\u570b\u7b56 (Strategies of the Warring States)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a558287 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a558287\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom refers to how rumors spread and how the truth can be distorted by false information. It can be used to describe situations where rumors begin to distort reality.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72c6346 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72c6346\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2378-three-people-make-a-tiger\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-16aa5c9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"16aa5c9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d96fe26\" data-id=\"d96fe26\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b7cfd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0b7cfd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u6a02\u4e0d\u601d\u8700<rt>l\u00e8 b\u00f9 s\u012b sh\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cToo happy to miss Shu\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7eb15f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7eb15f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u6f22\u6649\u6625\u79cb (Chronicles of Han and Jin)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d274700 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d274700\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom refers to Liu Shan, a famous historical figure, and how he forgot about the plight of his kingdom because he was too busy having fun somewhere else. It can be used to describe a person who loses their roots or ties to their home, and can sometimes be used to describe a particularly fun or enchanting place.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-374183e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"374183e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2475-too-happy-to-miss-shu\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-691b43e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"691b43e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-754990a\" data-id=\"754990a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fdfcce elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6fdfcce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u7d19\u4e0a\u8ac7\u5175<rt>zh\u01d0 sh\u00e0ng t\u00e1n b\u012bng<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cDiscussing military tactics on paper\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04207e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04207e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u53f2\u8a18 (Records of the Grand Historian)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c71c311 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c71c311\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cDiscussing military tactics on paper\u201d refers to frivolous or overly idealistic discussions that aren\u2019t rooted in reality.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7826842 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7826842\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2468-discussing-military-tactics-on-paper\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a2fd5d0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a2fd5d0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-477efbb\" data-id=\"477efbb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fe6e1d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0fe6e1d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u6bdb\u9042\u81ea\u85a6<rt>m\u00e1o su\u00ec z\u00ec ji\u00e0n<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cMao Sui recommends himself\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ce92ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ce92ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u53f2\u8a18 (Records of the Grand Historian)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d7e23a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9d7e23a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom refers to Mao Sui, another figure from Chinese history, and how he took initiative and recommended himself for an important diplomatic position. It can be used to describe the act of recommending oneself for a role.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-468c9a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"468c9a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2476-mao-sui-recommends-himself\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-82f5235 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"82f5235\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a50974\" data-id=\"4a50974\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6188590 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6188590\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> from Philosophical Texts<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebfc533 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ebfc533\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Philosophy has always played an extremely important role in Chinese culture. Many <ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> quote works of philosophy to refer to complicated situations with moral implications. These are especially good for sounding smart!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3c46738\" data-id=\"3c46738\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7438750 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7438750\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/robs-iVYTAfsN9hk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2686\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/robs-iVYTAfsN9hk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/robs-iVYTAfsN9hk-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/robs-iVYTAfsN9hk-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/robs-iVYTAfsN9hk-unsplash-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/robs-iVYTAfsN9hk-unsplash-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1563c21 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1563c21\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-10e63ff\" data-id=\"10e63ff\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a8368b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5a8368b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u585e\u7fc1\u5931\u99ac<rt>s\u00e0i w\u0113ng sh\u012b m\u01ce<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cThe old man lost his horse\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac22bd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac22bd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u6dee\u5357\u5b50 (<em>Huainanzi<\/em>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45dab81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"45dab81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This one is difficult to understand without knowing the story behind it. In the original story, a man is unphased by the ups-and-downs he experiences in his life. It expresses the idea that \u201cgood things\u201d and \u201cbad things\u201d are relative. It\u2019s similar to the English phrase \u201ca blessing in disguise\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87257d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"87257d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2379-the-old-man-lost-his-horse\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dbe8216 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dbe8216\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e34c245\" data-id=\"e34c245\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f653ed9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f653ed9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u671d\u4e09\u66ae\u56db<rt>zh\u0101o s\u0101n m\u00f9 s\u00ec<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cSay three in the morning but four in the evening\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c801879 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c801879\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u838a\u5b50 (<em>Zhuangzi<\/em>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9af02b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9af02b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Another abstract one from Daoist philosophy. This idiom refers to the idea that sometimes the way a situation is presented can drastically change someone\u2019s perspective, even if nothing about it changed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1de4ff4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1de4ff4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2473-say-three-in-the-morning-but-four-in-the-evening\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dcedb83 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dcedb83\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-db00c8b\" data-id=\"db00c8b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d9c3a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1d9c3a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u9ad8\u5c71\u6d41\u6c34 <rt>g\u0101o sh\u0101n li\u00fa shu\u01d0<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cHigh mountains and flowing water\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fbc514 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8fbc514\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u5217\u5b50 (<em>Liezi<\/em>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2837c9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2837c9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom alludes to a tragic tale of friendship and is used to describe an extremely deep bond.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f44bce4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f44bce4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2467-high-mountains-and-flowing-water\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea39291 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea39291\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5360d1e\" data-id=\"5360d1e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-def454c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"def454c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u611a\u516c\u79fb\u5c71 <rt>y\u00fa g\u014dng y\u00ed sh\u0101n<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cThe foolish old man moves mountains\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4fd772 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b4fd772\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u5217\u5b50 (<em>Liezi<\/em>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fae8e8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fae8e8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom comes from a folk tale where an old man decides to move a mountain. It\u2019s used to describe acts of persistence even in the face of extreme adversity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cf487e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cf487e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2472-the-foolish-old-man-moves-mountains\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d7e224f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d7e224f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4bdd459\" data-id=\"4bdd459\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c06a7c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c06a7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u9b5a\u76ee\u6df7\u73e0<rt>y\u00fa m\u00f9 h\u00f9n zh\u016b<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cTo pass off fish eyes for pearls\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cc5650 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6cc5650\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u53c3\u540c\u5951 (<em>Cantong qi<\/em>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b051c10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b051c10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cPassing fish eyes for pearls\u201d refers to mistaking something cheap for something valuable. It can be used in situations where someone is overestimating the value of something.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52a0621 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"52a0621\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2474-to-pass-off-fish-eyes-for-pearls\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ef29c5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ef29c5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ff5056\" data-id=\"4ff5056\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2282c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b2282c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u62d4\u82d7\u52a9\u9577<rt>b\u00e1 mi\u00e1o zh\u00f9 zh\u01ceng<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cPulling shoots to help them grow\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6516692 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6516692\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u5b5f\u5b50 (<em>Mengzi<\/em>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3d12c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3d12c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This idiom refers to the act of doing something \u201chelpful\u201d in a short-sighted way that actually does more harm than good. It\u2019s usually used to describe situations where someone is so anxious to see results that they fail to act reasonably.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34f41fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"34f41fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2470-pull-shoots-to-help-them-grow\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-903618e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"903618e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-680207b\" data-id=\"680207b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d35bf45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d35bf45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u8cb7\u6add\u9084\u73e0<rt>m\u01cei d\u00fa hu\u00e1n zh\u016b<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cTo buy a wooden box and return the pearl inside\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84dcbde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"84dcbde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u97d3\u975e\u5b50 (<em>Han Feizi)<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72bbef9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72bbef9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">This idiom comes from a story where a merchant builds a beautiful box in order to sell a pearl, only to find that customers are more interested in the box than the pearl itself. It\u2019s used to describe situations where people are more interested in the marketing or presentation of something rather than the actual thing being presented.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6cb1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6cb1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2469-to-buy-a-wooden-box-and-return-the-pearl-inside\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4d90576 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4d90576\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-327ef7e\" data-id=\"327ef7e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b8758c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1b8758c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><ruby>\u523b\u821f\u6c42\u528d<rt>k\u00e8 zh\u014du qi\u00fa ji\u00e0n<\/rt><\/ruby> - \u201cTo notch the boat in search of the sword\u201d<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4b26bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d4b26bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Text of origin: \u5442\u6c0f\u6625\u79cb (<em>L\u00fcshi Chunqiu<\/em>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3075083 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3075083\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In this story, someone drops their sword off of a boat and into a river. They then make a notch in their boat to mark where they dropped their sword. This idiom is used to describe situations where someone\u2019s thinking is overly rigid or unrealistic, and can emphasize that our way of thinking should reflect the reality of a situation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a6f27b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a6f27b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/2471-to-notch-the-boat-in-search-of-the-sword\"><em>Read the story behind this idiom<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c6cae94 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c6cae94\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a47ed00\" data-id=\"a47ed00\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f031e72 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f031e72\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Learn Culture and Language Together\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad8dd1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ad8dd1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><ruby>\u6210\u8a9e<rt>ch\u00e9ng y\u01d4<\/rt><\/ruby> are a treasure trove of literary and cultural knowledge that can help you take your language and cultural knowledge to the next level and make you sound smarter! If you\u2019d like to read the full story of these idioms while improving your reading along the way, be sure to check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/lessons\/courses\/116-the-stories-behind-chinese-idioms\">idioms course<\/a> for a detailed rundown in Chinese. For more lessons designed to help you improve your Chinese through reading, be sure to visit <a href=\"http:\/\/duchinese.net\/more\">duchinese.net\/more<\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9a1c62b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9a1c62b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3cdc555\" data-id=\"3cdc555\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Idioms (\u6210\u8a9ech\u00e9ng y\u01d4) are uniquely important in the Chinese language. Often references or quotes from important classical texts, they can spice up your writing, improve your understanding of Chinese culture, and make you sound cultured and well read if used properly in conversation. Learning about idioms will not only help you in learning the language,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"categories":[2,5,6],"tags":[14,17,88],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/theodor-lundqvist-WHhbYArwFt8-unsplash-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2495"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2495"}],"version-history":[{"count":83,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2695,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2495\/revisions\/2695"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duchinese.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}