Sayings · LT901

Idioms

Classical four-character idiomatic expressions derived from historical masterworks.

1231works

13dynasties

230authors

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

5 works

907–979

  1. Gluing the Bridges and Playing the Zither: Zhao Kuo's Book LearningLiu Xu (comp.)Your Majesty employs Kuo for his name, which is like gluing the bridges and then playing the zither.
  2. Knowing a Man's Goodness by His Faults: Yan Liben Recommends Di RenjieLiu Xu (comp.)You, sir, may be called a bright pearl of the coast and a treasure overlooked in the south-east.
  3. Turning Disaster into Good FortuneLiu Xu (comp.)To turn defeat into success is the high insight of the wise; to turn disaster into good fortune is the foresight of capable men.
  4. Withdrawing to Reflect and Make AmendsLiu Xu (comp.)In serving his superior, a gentleman thinks of being wholly loyal when he comes forward and of amending his faults when he withdraws; he follows his lord's good qualities and corrects his errors.
  5. United in Heart and Joining All Our StrengthLiu Xu (comp.)When in the past the locusts could not be eliminated, it was only because people did not exert themselves; if only they are united in heart and join their strength, they can surely be destroyed.

Song

95 works

960–1279

  1. Unity of Heaven and HumanityZhang ZaiThe philosophical ideal that heaven and humankind form one whole; harmony between people and nature.
  2. Grinding an Iron Pestle into a NeedleZhu MuAn old woman grinds an iron rod into a needle, inspiring young Li Bai; persistence achieves the impossible.
  3. A Wild Goose's Tracks in the SnowSu ShiClaw prints left by a wild goose on snowy mud; faint traces of the past, and life's wandering course.
  4. Mountains upon Mountains, Rivers upon RiversLu YouEndless ridges and winding streams; a tortuous path, or a predicament that seems to have no way out.
  5. Shady Willows and Bright FlowersLu YouDark willows and bright blossoms open onto a new village; a sudden turn for the better after hardship.
  6. A Red Apricot Branch Over the WallYe ShaowengOriginally a spring image of apricot blossoms spilling over a wall; later, a married woman's infidelity.
  7. Life Is But a DreamSu ShiLife is like a dream, brief and illusory; a sigh over the transience of human life.
  8. Flowers in a Mirror, Moon in the WaterYan YuFlowers in a mirror and the moon in water; illusions beyond grasp, or ethereal, suggestive poetic imagery.
  9. The Path Winds Round the PeaksOuyang XiuA trail winding around mountain peaks; a twisting path, or a situation taking a new and hopeful turn.
  10. When the Water Falls, the Rocks AppearSu ShiAs the river recedes the stones emerge; the truth finally comes to light.
  11. Having the Whole Bamboo in One's MindSu ShiBefore painting, the artist already sees the whole bamboo; having a well-thought-out plan and full confidence.
  12. Talent Worth Eight MeasuresAnonymousXie Lingyun said Cao Zhi alone held eight of the world's ten measures of talent; extraordinary literary gifts.
  13. Swallowing Dates WholeBai TingAccepting or learning something wholesale without understanding it.
  14. Adding Flowers to BrocadeWang AnshiMaking something already beautiful even better.
  15. Striving for Ever Greater PerfectionZhu XiNever satisfied with good; always striving to make it better.
  16. Practice Makes PerfectOuyang XiuSkill and ingenuity come from repeated practice.
  17. Opening the Door to See the MountainYan YuComing straight to the point from the very beginning.
  18. Unprecedented and UnrepeatableAnonymousNever seen before and never to be seen again; utterly unique.
  19. A Thousand Ways and a Hundred SchemesZhu XiTo try every possible means; to leave no stone unturned.
  20. Joy Beyond ExpectationSu ShiOverjoyed by an unexpected piece of good fortune.
  21. Heart at Ease, Spirit DelightedFan ZhongyanCarefree and joyful; a heart open and spirit refreshed.
  22. Cutting Nails and Slicing IronDaoyuanDecisive and resolute, like cutting through nails and iron.
  23. Never Tired of RereadingSu ShiNever tiresome even after a hundred readings; praises writing of lasting appeal.
  24. Showing No SignOuyang XiuBetraying no emotion in voice or face; calm and composed.
  25. A Grain of Millet in the Vast SeaSu ShiA single grain of millet in the vast sea; utterly insignificant in the scheme of things.
  26. Point Against PointShi DaoyuanNeedle point against needle point; sharply opposed positions or tit-for-tat response.
  27. Upright and OpenZhu XiUpright, honest and selfless in word and deed; acting openly without hidden schemes.
  28. Deceiving Oneself and OthersZhu XiFooling oneself as well as others with what one knows to be untrue.
  29. Just as One WishesZhu DunruEntirely to one's liking; perfectly satisfying.
  30. Head and Shoulders Above OthersOuyang XiuRising above others in talent or status; standing out from the crowd.
  31. Open and AboveboardZhu XiFrank, open-hearted and upright, with nothing to hide.
  32. Spitting Blood at OthersShi PujiSlandering others with fabricated accusations.
  33. Honeyed WordsZhu XiSweet but insincere talk, often used to deceive.
  34. Feet Firmly on the GroundShao BowenKeeping one's feet on solid ground; working in a practical, earnest way.
  35. Beating the Grass Startles the SnakeZheng WenbaoBeating the grass alerts the snake; a careless move that forewarns one's target.
  36. Great Talent Put to Petty UseLu YouUsing great timber for small purposes; wasting a talented person on minor work.
  37. Honey on the Lips, a Sword in the BellySima GuangSweet words with a dagger hidden within; outwardly friendly but inwardly treacherous.
  38. Name Falls Below Sun ShanFan GongchengOne's name falls below Sun Shan, last on the list; a tactful way to say one failed an exam.
  39. Please Step into the UrnSima GuangPlease get into the urn; turning a person's own cruel method against him.
  40. Dripping Water Wears Through StoneLuo DajingConstant dripping wears through stone; persistence overcomes great difficulty.
  41. Turning Pale at the Mention of TigersCheng BrothersBlanching at the mere mention of tigers; fear of something one has suffered from.
  42. Good Government, Contented PeopleFan ZhongyanBy the following year, government ran smoothly and the people lived in harmony, and all neglected works were revived; so he rebuilt Yueyang Tower, enlarged its old structure, carved on it poems and rhapsodies by Tang worthies and men of today, and asked me to write an account of it.
  43. Ten Thousand Changing ScenesFan ZhongyanBright at dawn and dim at dusk, its scenery changes in ten thousand ways;
  44. The Old Drunkard's Mind Is Not on the WineOuyang XiuThe Old Drunkard's mind is not on the wine, but on the hills and streams.
  45. Cups and Tallies CrisscrossingOuyang XiuThe joy of the feast lies not in strings or pipes: the pitch-pot thrower hits the mark, the chess player wins, cups and tallies crisscross, people rise and sit in noisy clamor — the guests are all delighted.
  46. Rising from the Mud UnstainedZhou DunyiI alone love the lotus: it rises from the mud yet stays unstained, is washed by clear ripples yet is not coquettish; hollow within and straight without, it neither sprawls nor branches; its fragrance grows purer the farther it travels; it stands tall and clean, to be admired from afar but never trifled with.
  47. Joys and Sorrows, Partings and ReunionsSu ShiPeople know sorrow and joy, parting and reunion; the moon is dim or bright, full or waning; such things have never been perfect since ancient times.
  48. Gone in Ash and SmokeSu ShiWith feather fan and silk headscarf, laughing and talking, he saw the enemy's masts and oars vanish in flying ash and smoke.
  49. A Landscape Like a PaintingSu ShiThe landscape is like a painting; how many heroes there were in that age!
  50. Hair Bristling Against the CapYue FeiMy hair bristles in fury against my cap; I lean on the railing where the pattering rain has stopped.
  51. Beyond Dark Willows, Bright Blossoms and Another VillageLu YouHills upon hills, streams upon streams, I fear there is no road; then past dark willows and bright blossoms, another village.
  52. Not Knowing Mount Lu's True FaceSu ShiI cannot know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I myself am within the mountain.
  53. Things Remain, People Are GoneLi QingzhaoThings remain as before, the people do not, and all is at an end; I would speak, but my tears flow first.
  54. As If Met BeforeYan ShuNothing can be done as the flowers fall away; the swallows return, as if I had met them before.
  55. Wind's Sound and Cranes' CrySima Guang (comp.)Those who fled, hearing the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes, all thought the Jin troops were about to arrive; day and night they dared not rest, moving through grass and sleeping in the dew, and with hunger and cold on top of it, seven or eight in ten died.
  56. No Place for a Hero to Use His ArmsSima Guang (comp.)A hero has no place to use his arms, and so Liu of Yuzhou has fled here; I hope you, general, will weigh your strength and act accordingly.
  57. Carrying Firewood to Fight a FireSu XunThe ancients said: 'Serving Qin with land is like carrying firewood to put out a fire: as long as the firewood is not used up, the fire will not go out.'
  58. Living Water from the SourceZhu XiBecause living water keeps flowing in from the source.
  59. Scratching an Itch Through the BootYan YuIn meaning, value thorough clarity; do not scratch the itch through the boot;
  60. Feather Fan and Silk KerchiefSu ShiFeather fan and silk kerchief, amid talk and laughter, the masts and oars turned to flying ash and vanishing smoke.
  61. The Great River Flows EastSu ShiThe great river flows east; its waves have washed away the brilliant figures of a thousand ages.
  62. Helplessly the Flowers FallYan ShuHelplessly the flowers fall away; swallows I seem to know come flying back.
  63. Mild Spring and Bright SunshineFan ZhongyanAnd when spring is mild and the sun is bright, the waves are still, the light of the sky above and below is one, a single sheet of green across ten thousand acres;
  64. Lingering Notes Curling in the AirSu ShiIts sound was sobbing, as if resentful, as if longing, as if weeping, as if confiding; the lingering notes curled on and on, unbroken like a silken thread.
  65. Jade Towers and Jasper HallsSu ShiI long to ride the wind back home, yet fear that in those jade towers and jasper halls the heights will be too cold to bear.
  66. Straightening the Robe and Sitting UprightSu ShiSu Zi grew solemn, straightened his robe, sat upright, and asked the guest: "Why does it sound like that?
  67. Trailing Mud and WaterYan YuLanguage prizes freedom and ease; it must not trail mud and water.
  68. Golden Spears and Armored HorsesXin QijiThink of those years: golden spears and armored horses, a spirit that swallowed ten thousand li like a tiger.
  69. Neither Sprawling Nor Branching Like the Lotus StemZhou DunyiHollow within and straight without, neither sprawling nor branching, its fragrance purer the farther it goes, it stands tall and clean, to be admired from afar but never trifled with.
  70. A Ruler Sharing His Pleasures With the PeopleOuyang XiuThere is no other reason: he shares his joy with the people.
  71. A Tryst Set for After DuskOuyang XiuThe moon rose to the willow tips; we met by appointment after dusk.
  72. Gathering a Living From Above and BelowLi QingzhaoLater we lived in retirement in the countryside for ten years, gathering a living from above and below, with food and clothing to spare.
  73. First to Worry, Last to Rejoice for the RealmFan ZhongyanWorry before the world worries, and rejoice only after the world rejoices.
  74. Song, Beauty, Hounds and HorsesLi QingzhaoOur desks were covered and our pillows surrounded by books; we understood each other without words, and our joy was greater than that of song, beauty, hounds and horses.
  75. As If Sobbing, As If PleadingSu ShiIts sound was low and sobbing, as if resentful, as if yearning, as if weeping, as if pleading; the lingering notes trailed on like an unbroken thread.
  76. Gaining Day by Day, Advancing Month by MonthLi QingzhaoGaining day by day and advancing month by month, the collection steadily grew.
  77. Cups and Plates Strewn About After the FeastSu ShiWhen the dishes and fruit were finished, cups and plates lay strewn about.
  78. Vast and Surging Waters of Dongting LakeFan ZhongyanIt holds the distant hills in its mouth and swallows the Yangtze, vast and surging, boundless on every side.
  79. Moonlight Leaping Like Gold on the LakeFan ZhongyanSometimes the long mist clears completely, the bright moon shines a thousand li, light floats and leaps like gold, and the still reflection sinks like a jade disc.
  80. Light or Rich Makeup, Always BecomingSu ShiI would liken West Lake to Xi Shi: in light makeup or rich, she is always lovely.
  81. Ox and Thoroughbred at One TroughWen TianxiangOx and thoroughbred share a single trough; the phoenix feeds in the chickens' roost.
  82. Every Neglected Task Taken Up AnewFan ZhongyanGovernment ran smoothly, the people lived in harmony, and every neglected undertaking was revived.
  83. Seeing and Hearing for Oneself at Stone Bell MountainSu ShiIf one has not seen a thing with one's own eyes or heard it with one's own ears, can one judge by guesswork whether it exists?
  84. Reds Fading and Greens Thinning in Late AutumnLiu YongEverywhere reds fade and greens grow thin; little by little the beauty of things comes to rest.
  85. Green Leaves Plump, Red Blossoms ThinLi QingzhaoDon't you know, don't you know? It must be green grown plump and red grown thin.
  86. Floating Free of the World at Red CliffSu ShiLight and free, as if leaving the world to stand alone, growing wings and rising as an immortal.
  87. Water That Takes the Shape of Whatever It MeetsSu ShiWhen it meets mountains and rocks, winding and turning, it takes the shape of whatever it meets, in ways that cannot be known.
  88. Moon's Still Reflection Like a Sunken Jade DiscFan ZhongyanFloating light leaps like gold; the still reflection sinks like a jade disc.
  89. Boiling Cauldrons Sweet as Malt SugarWen TianxiangThe boiling cauldron is as sweet as malt sugar to me; I seek it and cannot have it.
  90. Since Ancient Times, Who Has Escaped Death: Wen Tianxiang at LingdingWen TianxiangSince ancient times, who has escaped death? Let me leave a loyal heart to shine in the annals of history.
  91. The True Face of Mount LuSu ShiI cannot know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I am standing within this mountain.
  92. Ten Thousand Rivers and a Thousand MountainsZhao JiHeaven is far and the earth is wide; across ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains, who knows where my old palace lies?
  93. Ten Thousand Purples and a Thousand RedsZhu XiEasily one recognises the face of the east wind: ten thousand purples and a thousand reds, all of it is spring.
  94. Serving as the Tiger's Ghostly AccompliceLi Fang et al. (comp.)The chang ghost is a person who was eaten by a tiger; it goes before the tiger, calling out to clear the way.
  95. Keep Faithfully to the Mean: The Khitan Investiture of Shi JingtangXue Juzheng (comp.)May you protect the people for ever, hold to one virtue, be careful in your position, and keep faithfully to the mean.