每天成语｜Chinese Idioms in Stories

📖 Today's 成语: 力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí)

Meaning: Beyond one's power (out of one's reach)

Summary: 力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí) is an idiom used to express that something exceeds one's capabilities or authority. While the similar phrase 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn) emphasizes the internal frustration of wanting to do something but lacking the strength, 力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí) is more objective. It is frequently used to state a fact or as a polite way to decline a request by acknowledging one's professional or personal limits.

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力所不及

📖 Today's 成语: 沸沸扬扬 (fèi fèi yáng yáng)

Meaning: Bubbling over (to be the talk of the town / causing a stir)

Summary: 沸沸扬扬 (fèi fèi yáng yáng) describes a state of public clamor or widespread discussion. While it literally depicts boiling water, it is almost exclusively used today to describe how scandals, news, or rumors become the **talk of the town**. It emphasizes the social buzz and the scale of the discussion rather than just physical noise.

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沸沸扬扬 (f

📖 Today's 成语: 人头攒动 (rén tóu cuán dòng)

Meaning: A bobbing sea of heads (a bustling crowd)

Summary: 人头攒动 (rén tóu cuán dòng) is an idiom used to vividly describe a dense crowd where many people are moving about. While similar to 人山人海 (rén shān rén hǎi), which emphasizes the sheer scale of a crowd, this phrase focuses on the visual texture of the crowd—specifically the 'bobbing' or 'swaying' of heads in a packed space like a festival, market, or busy station.

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📖 Today's 成语: 如饥似渴 (rú jī sì kě)

Meaning: As if hungry or thirsty (thirsting for knowledge)

Summary: 如饥似渴 (rú jī sì kě) is an idiom used to describe an intense, almost physiological craving for something, typically abstract. While the literal image is one of physical hunger and thirst, in modern Chinese, it is a high compliment for someone's dedication to learning. It suggests a proactive and insatiable desire to absorb new skills or information, rather than a literal need for food.

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如饥似渴 (rú jī sì kě) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 青出于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán)

Meaning: Blue comes from indigo (the student surpasses the master)

Summary: 青出于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán) is a highly positive idiom used to praise the growth and excellence of a student. It draws on the physical process of extracting blue dye from the indigo plant, noting that the resulting color is more vibrant than the plant itself. It is often used in its full form, 青出于蓝而胜于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán).

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青出于蓝

📖 Today's 成语: 重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ)

Meaning: Valuing men and belittling women (preference for sons over daughters)

Summary: 重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ) refers to the historical and cultural bias of favoring sons over daughters. While rooted in ancient patriarchal structures, it is now primarily used in a critical context to point out gender inequality within families or society. Understanding this term is essential for grasping social dynamics and historical gender roles in Chinese culture.

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重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ) |

📖 Today's 成语: 量入为出 (liàng rù wéi chū)

Meaning: Live within one's means (to plan expenditure based on income)

Summary: 量入为出 (liàng rù wéi chū) refers to the practice of grasping one's income accurately and controlling spending to stay within that range. It is widely used in contexts ranging from personal finance to national budgets, serving as a slogan for sustainable and healthy fiscal operations. It is the basic mindset required to avoid falling into a deficit, or 入不敷出 (rù bù fū chū).

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量入为出 (liàng rù

📖 Today's 成语: 生吞活剥 (shēng tūn huó bō)

Meaning: To swallow whole (mechanical imitation)

Summary: The idiom 生吞活剥 (shēng tūn huó bō) is a critical expression used to describe a lack of creativity or the rigid application of knowledge. It evokes a visceral image of swallowing prey raw, suggesting a crude and unrefined way of learning or creating. It is commonly used in contexts such as academic study, translation, or the blind application of foreign theories.

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生吞活剥 (shēng tūn huó bō) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 视同陌路 (shì tóng mò lù)

Meaning: To treat someone like a complete stranger

Summary: 视同陌路 (shì tóng mò lù) describes the act of treating a formerly close acquaintance as a total stranger. It is typically used when a relationship has been irreparably damaged by conflict, betrayal, or misunderstanding. A common variation is 形同陌路 (xíng tóng mò lù).

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视同陌路 (shì tóng mò lù) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 相夫教子 (xiàng fū jiào zǐ)

Meaning: Assisting one's husband and educating the children

Summary: 相夫教子 (xiàng fū jiào zǐ) represents the traditional domestic ideal for women in Chinese culture. While it historically praised the virtue of a wife's dedication to her family, in modern contexts, it is often used to describe a woman's choice to leave the workforce to become a full-time homemaker. It carries both a sense of traditional respect and a reflection of historical gender roles.

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相夫教子 (x

📖 Today's 成语: 千方百计 (qiān fāng bǎi jì)

Meaning: By every possible means / To leave no stone unturned

Summary: The idiom 千方百计 (qiān fāng bǎi jì) describes the act of trying every possible means to reach an objective. Using the numbers 'thousand' (千) and 'hundred' (百) to signify a vast quantity, it highlights a relentless and thorough effort. While often used positively to describe overcoming obstacles, it can also be used in a negative sense to describe someone scheming or plotting.

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千方百计 (qiān

📖 Today's 成语: 望而却步 (wàng ér què bù)

Meaning: To shrink back at the sight of something (daunted by difficulty or cost)

Summary: 望而却步 (wàng ér què bù) describes the act of retreating or giving up immediately upon seeing how difficult, dangerous, or expensive something is. It is most commonly used in the structure 让 (ràng) ... 望而却步 (wàng ér què bù), meaning 'to make someone shrink back' or 'to deter someone' from a particular course of action.

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望而却步 (wàng ér què bù) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 深谋远虑 (shēn móu yuǎn lǜ)

Meaning: Deep planning and far-sightedness

Summary: 深谋远虑 (shēn móu yuǎn lǜ) describes the act of making thorough, long-term plans with great foresight. It is frequently used to praise leaders in business or politics, emphasizing that their decisions are based on wisdom and a long-term vision rather than mere impulse or short-term gain.

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深谋远虑 (shēn móu yuǎn lǜ) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 步履蹒跚 (bù lǚ pán shān)

Meaning: Walking unsteadily (to hobble or stagger)

Summary: The idiom 步履蹒跚 (bù lǚ pán shān) is used to describe someone walking unsteadily or staggering. While most commonly applied to the elderly or the infirm, it can also describe a toddler's first steps or be used metaphorically to describe a project or organization that is struggling to make progress. It vividly evokes a sense of physical or operational instability.

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步履蹒跚 (bù lǚ pán shān) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 年逾古稀 (nián yú gǔ xī)

Meaning: Past the age of seventy (venerable age)

Summary: The idiom 年逾古稀 (nián yú gǔ xī) is derived from a famous Tang Dynasty poem. It combines 逾 (yú), meaning to exceed, with 古稀 (gǔ xī), a literary term for the age of seventy. It is a respectful and formal way to refer to the elderly in written Chinese, biographies, or formal introductions.

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年逾古稀 (nián yú gǔ xī) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 大相径庭 (dà xiāng jìng tíng)

Meaning: Vastly different (poles apart)

Summary: The idiom 大相径庭 (dà xiāng jìng tíng) is used to describe two things that are worlds apart. It highlights a fundamental divergence rather than a minor variation. It is commonly used to describe conflicting opinions, discrepancies between expectations and reality, or contrasting styles.

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大相径庭 (dà xiāng jìng tíng) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 觥筹交错 (gōng chóu jiāo cuò)

Meaning: Wine cups and tallies intermingled (a lively, bustling banquet)

Summary: 觥筹交错 (gōng chóu jiāo cuò) is a sophisticated idiom used to describe a lively banquet or a grand party. It originates from the visual of ancient wine vessels and game markers being passed around. In modern contexts, it is best understood as a 'grand feast' or 'lively social gathering,' often used in literature or formal descriptions of high-society events or business receptions.

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📖 Today's 成语: 灰心丧气 (huī xīn sàng qì)

Meaning: To lose heart / To be utterly dejected

Summary: 灰心丧气 (huī xīn sàng qì) describes the state of losing motivation and confidence due to difficulties. Combining 灰心 (huī xīn), meaning 'heart turning to ash,' and 丧气 (sàng qì), meaning 'losing spirit,' it is frequently used in encouraging contexts, often in the negative form 'don't lose heart' (不要灰心丧气).

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灰心丧气 (huī xīn sàng qì) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 秘而不宣 (mì ér bù xuān)

Meaning: To keep something under wraps (keep secret and not make public)

Summary: 秘而不宣 (mì ér bù xuān) describes a situation where information is deliberately withheld from the public. It is used in various contexts, such as business product launches, political decisions, or major personal secrets. The focus is specifically on the act of withholding the 宣 (xuān), or 'announcement,' suggesting a strategic or intentional choice to refrain from publication rather than just passive secrecy.

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秘而不宣 (

📖 Today's 成语: 扑面而来 (pū miàn ér lái)

Meaning: Rushing toward one's face (overwhelming the senses)

Summary: The idiom 扑面而来 (pū miàn ér lái) vividly describes the sensation of something—be it a physical breeze, a strong scent, or a powerful atmosphere—hitting you directly in the face. It is often used to capture the immediate, unavoidable impact of a new environment or a sudden sensory stimulus.

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扑面而来 (pū miàn ér lái) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 一成不变 (yī chéng bù biàn)

Meaning: Set in stone / Unchanging (stagnant)

Summary: 一成不变 (yī chéng bù biàn) refers to a state where something, once established, remains completely unchanged. While it can describe objective constants, it is most frequently used to criticize systems, habits, or mindsets that are **stagnant** or **inflexible**. It suggests a failure to adapt to new circumstances or a lack of creative growth.

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一成不变 (yī chéng bù biàn) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 潜移默化 (qián yí mò huà)

Meaning: To be imperceptibly influenced (subtle transformation)

Summary: 潜移默化 (qián yí mò huà) describes the way environment and culture shape an individual's mind and behavior through a process of 'silent transformation.' Unlike direct instruction or forced change, this idiom emphasizes a natural, gradual, and often unconscious shift that occurs over a long period of time.

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潜移默化 (qián yí mò huà) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 百无聊赖 (bǎi wú liáo lài)

Meaning: Utterly listless (bored to death)

Summary: 百无聊赖 (bǎi wú liáo lài) describes a state that goes beyond mere 'boredom.' It captures a psychological condition where one feels listless and finds no interest or meaning in their surroundings. It can range from the restlessness of waiting for a flight to a deeper existential ennui. While the similar idiom 无所事事 (wú suǒ shì shì) focuses on the lack of physical action, 百无聊赖 (bǎi wú liáo lài) emphasizes the internal feeling of 'nothingness' and spiritual emptiness.

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📖 Today's 成语: 丢三落四 (diū sān là sì)

Meaning: Forgetful / Scatterbrained (Losing three and leaving behind four)

Summary: 丢三落四 (diū sān là sì) is a common idiom used to describe a 'scatterbrained' person. The phrase literally means 'losing three and leaving behind four,' where the numbers are used figuratively to suggest constant forgetfulness. It is particularly important to note that in this idiom, the character 落 is pronounced as 'là' (meaning to leave behind) rather than its standard 'luò' pronunciation. It is often used to criticize someone's carelessness or to self-deprecatingly joke about one's own memory lapses.

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📖 Today's 成语: 物换星移 (wù huàn xīng yí)

Meaning: Things change and stars shift (the passage of time and great changes)

Summary: 物换星移 (wù huàn xīng yí) is a sophisticated idiom originating from the Tang Dynasty (唐朝) masterpiece Preface to the Prince of Teng's Pavilion (滕王阁序). It conveys a sense of nostalgia or awe regarding how much the world has changed over many years. It is often used in literature, formal speeches, or historical reflections to contrast the fleeting nature of the physical world with enduring human emotions.

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📖 Today's 成语: 不三不四 (bù sān bù sì)

Meaning: Neither fish nor fowl (shady or dubious)

Summary: 不三不四 (bù sān bù sì) is a colloquial expression used to criticize people or things that are suspicious, improper, or lack integrity. It is most commonly used to describe "shady characters," "improper relationships," or "indecent behavior." While frequent in daily conversation, it carries a strong negative tone and should be used with caution.

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不三不四 (bù sān bù sì) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 灵机一动 (líng jī yī dòng)

Meaning: A sudden brainwave (a flash of inspiration)

Summary: 灵机一动 (líng jī yī dòng) describes the moment a brilliant idea or solution suddenly strikes. It highlights the concept of "quick wit" and is often used positively to describe someone breaking a deadlock or finding a creative way out of a situation. While usually a compliment for intelligence, it can occasionally refer to a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment thought.

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灵机一动 (líng jī yī dòng) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 心有灵犀 (xīn yǒu líng xī)

Meaning: Hearts linked like the spiritual rhinoceros horn (being on the same wavelength)

Summary: Derived from a romantic poem by Li Shangyin (李商隐), 心有灵犀 (xīn yǒu líng xī) describes the magical connection between two people whose hearts are in sync. While originally used for lovers, it now applies to any close relationship—like best friends or business partners—who share an 'unspoken understanding' or 'telepathic' bond.

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心有灵犀 (xīn yǒu líng xī) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān)

Meaning: Opening the door to see the mountain (getting straight to the point)

Summary: 开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) is an idiom used to describe getting straight to the heart of a matter immediately, much like seeing a mountain the moment you open your door. In modern contexts, especially business and debate, it represents a positive, efficient, and candid communication style.

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开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 听天由命 (tīng tiān yóu mìng)

Meaning: To leave things to fate (resigning oneself to destiny)

Summary: 听天由命 (tīng tiān yóu mìng) describes the act of resigning oneself to fate. While it can represent a calm acceptance of the inevitable after exhausting all efforts, it is more frequently used to criticize a passive attitude where one gives up trying and simply lets things take their course.

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听天由命 (tīng tiān yóu mìng) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 喜新厌旧 (xǐ xīn yàn jiù)

Meaning: To love the new and loathe the old (fickle)

Summary: 喜新厌旧 (xǐ xīn yàn jiù) literally means "to love the new and loathe the old." It is primarily used to criticize unfaithfulness or fickleness in romantic relationships. In modern contexts, it also describes the consumer psychology of constantly chasing new products or a general tendency to get bored easily with possessions.

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喜新厌旧 (xǐ xīn yàn jiù) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 恍然大悟 (huǎng rán dà wù)

Meaning: To suddenly realize; to have a flash of insight

Summary: 恍然大悟 (huǎng rán dà wù) describes that "Aha!" moment when confusion instantly vanishes and the truth becomes clear. Originally a Buddhist term for spiritual awakening, it is now used in daily life and business to describe the moment a mystery is solved or a misunderstanding is cleared.

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恍然大悟 (huǎng rán dà wù) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 无边无际 (wú biān wú jì)

Meaning: Boundless / As far as the eye can see

Summary: 无边无际 (wú biān wú jì) is a fundamental idiom used to describe things that are "endlessly vast." Whether depicting the majesty of the sea and grasslands or the depth of human imagination and despair, it emphasizes a scale that exceeds human measurement. While similar to 一望无际 (yí wàng wú jì), which focuses specifically on visual range, 无边无际 (wú biān wú jì) is more versatile and can apply to abstract, invisible concepts.

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📖 Today's 成语: 不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē)

Meaning: Indispensable (cannot be missing)

Summary: 不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) is a formal idiom used to emphasize that something is an "indispensable" or "essential" part of a whole. It can describe physical necessities like water and air, or abstract concepts like trust and love. It is frequently used in professional and academic contexts to highlight a critical component.

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不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún)

Meaning: Stepping into the blue clouds (a meteoric rise)

Summary: The idiom 平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún) describes a situation where someone achieves a rapid and smooth promotion in their career or social standing. While it can be used as a compliment for a successful person, it is also frequently used to describe a rise that seems suspiciously easy, perhaps due to luck or influential connections.

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平步青云 (píng bù qīng yún) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 推波助澜 (tuī bō zhù lán)

Meaning: Pushing the waves and adding to the billows (to fan the flames)

Summary: 推波助澜 (tuī bō zhù lán) describes the act of fanning the flames or egging someone on to worsen a situation, much like pushing a wave to make it a massive billow. It is primarily used in a derogatory sense to criticize third parties who encourage conflict, rumors, or social unrest instead of helping to resolve them.

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推波助澜 (tuī bō zhù lán) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā)

Meaning: A frog at the bottom of a well (a person of narrow vision)

Summary: The idiom 井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā) is used to criticize those who are trapped in their own small world and lack a broad perspective. It describes someone who is self-satisfied with their limited knowledge, unaware of how much more there is to learn or see. It is often used as a cautionary tale against arrogance and ignorance.

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井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā) | 每天

📖 Today's 成语: 四通八达 (sì tōng bā dá)

Meaning: Extending in all directions (well-connected)

Summary: 四通八达 (sì tōng bā dá) describes a state where transportation or communication networks are highly developed and interconnected. While it literally refers to roads reaching out in 'four and eight' directions (meaning everywhere), it is often used metaphorically to describe extensive social connections or information networks. It highlights the strategic importance and convenience of a location.

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四通八达 (sì tōng bā dá) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 一五一十 (yī wǔ yī shí)

Meaning: In full detail (from beginning to end)

Summary: 一五一十 (yī wǔ yī shí) is a common idiom used to describe recounting an event exactly as it happened. It implies a sense of honesty and thoroughness, similar to the English expressions "to tell the whole story" or "to give a blow-by-blow account." It is frequently used in daily conversation to emphasize that no details were omitted or hidden.

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一五一十 (yī wǔ yī shí) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 独占鳌头 (dú zhàn áo tóu)

Meaning: To come out on top / To take the lead (Literal: Standing alone on the giant turtle's head)

Summary: 独占鳌头 (dú zhàn áo tóu) is a prestigious idiom used to describe taking the top spot or winning a championship. It originates from the ancient Chinese civil service examination system, where the top-ranked scholar stood on a stone carving of a giant turtle's head. Today, it is widely used to praise individuals or organizations that dominate their field.

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