In English, there are many idioms that are used in everyday life. For example “Spill the Beans”, “The Elephant in the Room”, and “Hold your horses” etc., As you can imagine, there are many of these in Chinese (as many as 20,000 in some dictionaries). In Chinese, these are called “Chengyus.”
There are 5,000 official/stringent Chengyu 成语.
There are no Chengyus in HSK 1-5. But there are only 111 Chengyus on the HSK 6 list. These are the ones you really need to learn. The good news is that there are only a few chengyus that have stories you need to know. The others are metaphors, but the majority can be understood just by understanding the characters directly.
Have a look at this list below, and if you can learn and understand these, then you’ll be able to handle every Chengyu in the HSK.
For an easier start, check out our list of 10 popular chengyus you need to know.
Of course we suggest you check the links at the end to find out some of the Chengyus with interesting stories.
HSK6 idioms (from HSK 6 Vocab list). English definitions from CC-CEDICT.
All HSK 6 Chengyu:
东张西望 (dōngzhāngxīwàng)
to look in all directions (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla一举两得 (yījǔliǎngdé)
one move, two gains (idiom); two birds with one stone
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla南辕北辙 (nányuánběizhé)
to act in a way that defeats one’s purpose (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla丢三落四 (diūsānlàsì)
forgetful
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla千方百计 (qiānfāngbǎijì)
lit. thousand ways, a hundred plans (idiom); by every possible means
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla吞吞吐吐 (tūntūntǔtǔ)
to hum and haw (idiom); to mumble as if hiding sth
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla家喻户晓 (jiāyùhùxiǎo)
understood by everyone (idiom); well known
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
新陈代谢 (xīnchéndàixiè)
metabolism (biology); the new replaces the old (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla一丝不苟 (yīsībùgǒu)
not one thread loose (idiom); strictly according to the rules
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla川流不息 (chuānliúbùxī)
the stream flows without stopping (idiom); unending flow
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla一帆风顺 (yīfānfēngshùn)
propitious wind throughout the journey (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla悬崖峭壁 (xuányáqiàobì)
sheer cliffs and precipitous rock faces (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla拔苗助长 (bámiáozhùzhǎng)
to spoil things through excessive enthusiasm (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla斩钉截铁 (zhǎndīngjiétiě)
lit. to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla根深蒂固 (gēnshēndìgù)
deep-rooted (problem etc)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla滔滔不绝 (tāotāobùjué)
unceasing torrent (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla狼吞虎咽 (lángtūnhǔyàn)
to wolf down one’s food (idiom); to devour ravenously
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla画蛇添足 (huàshétiānzú)
lit. draw legs on a snake (idiom); fig. to ruin the effect by adding sth superfluous
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla锦上添花 (jǐnshàngtiānhuā)
lit. on brocade, add flowers (idiom); to decorate sth already perfect
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla雪上加霜 (xuěshàngjiāshuāng)
to add hail to snow (idiom); one disaster on top of another
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla鸦雀无声 (yāquèwúshēng)
lit. crow and peacock make no sound; absolute silence (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla不可思议 (bùkěsīyì)
inconceivable (idiom); unimaginable (can’t imagine)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla一目了然 (yīmùliǎorán)
obvious at a glance (idiom) – English Equivalent – “An open book”
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla不屑一顾 (bùxièyīgù)
to disdain as beneath contempt (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
不择手段 (bùzéshǒuduàn)
by fair means or foul
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla不相上下 (bùxiāngshàngxià)
equally matched
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla不言而喻 (bùyánéryù)
it goes without saying
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla与日俱增 (yǔrìjùzēng)
to increase steadily
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla举世瞩目 (jǔshìzhǔmù)
to receive worldwide attention
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla举足轻重 (jǔzúqīngzhòng)
to play a critical role (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
争先恐后 (zhēngxiānkǒnghòu)
striving to be first and fearing to be last (idiom); outdoing one another
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
任重道远 (rènzhòngdàoyuǎn)
a heavy load and a long road
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
众所周知 (zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī)
as everyone knows (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
优胜劣汰 (yōushèngliètài)
survival of the fittest (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
侃侃而谈 (kǎnkǎnértán)
to speak frankly with assurance
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
供不应求 (gōngbùyìngqiú)
supply does not meet demand
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
兢兢业业 (jīngjīngyèyè)
cautious and conscientious
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
兴致勃勃 (xìngzhìbóbó)
to become exhilarated (idiom); in high spirits
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
兴高采烈 (xìnggāocǎiliè)
happy and excited (idiom)
兴高采烈，喜不自胜 English: “Walking on Sunshine”
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
再接再厉 (zàijiēzàilì)
to continue the struggle (idiom); to persist
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
力所能及 (lìsuǒnéngjí)
as far as one’s capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one’s ability
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
半途而废 (bàntú’érfèi)
to give up halfway (idiom); leave sth unfinished
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla一如既往 (yīrújìwǎng)
just as in the past (idiom); as before
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
博大精深 (bódàjīngshēn)
wide-ranging and profound
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
各抒己见 (gèshūjǐjiàn)
everyone gives their own view
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
名副其实 (míngfùqíshí)
not just in name only, but also in reality (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
后顾之忧 (hòugùzhīyōu)
fears of trouble in the rear (idiom); family worries (obstructing freedom of action)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
喜闻乐见 (xǐwénlèjiàn)
to love to hear and see (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
天伦之乐 (tiānlúnzhīlè) (relation with heaven)
family love and joy
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
实事求是 (shíshìqiúshì)
to seek truth from facts (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
小心翼翼 (xiǎoxīnyìyì)
cautious and solemn (idiom); very carefully
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
岂有此理 (qǐyǒucǐlǐ)
how can this be so? (idiom); preposterous
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
废寝忘食 (fèiqǐnwàngshí)
to neglect sleep and forget about food (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
得不偿失 (débùchángshī)
the gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
得天独厚 (détiāndúhòu)
blessed by heaven (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
循序渐进 (xúnxùjiànjìn)
in sequence, step by step (idiom); to make steady progress incrementally
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
心甘情愿 (xīngānqíngyuàn)
delighted to (do sth, idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
急于求成 (jíyúqiúchéng)
anxious for quick results (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
急功近利 (jígōngjìnlì)
seeking instant benefit (idiom); shortsighted vision, looking only for fast return
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
想方设法 (xiǎngfāngshèfǎ)
to think up every possible method (idiom); to devise ways and means
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
无微不至 (wúwēibùzhì)
in every possible way (idiom); meticulous (The devil is in the detail)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
无忧无虑 (wúyōuwúlǜ)
carefree and without worries (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
无理取闹 (wúlǐqǔnào)
to make trouble without reason (idiom); to be deliberately provocative
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
无精打采 (wújīngdǎcǎi)
dispirited and downcast (idiom); listless
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
日新月异 (rìxīnyuèyì)
daily renewal, monthly change (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
有条不紊 (yǒutiáobùwěn)
regular and thorough (idiom); methodically arranged
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
朝气蓬勃 (zhāoqìpéngbó)
full of youthful energy (idiom); vigorous
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
欣欣向荣 (xīnxīnxiàngróng)
(idiom) flourishing
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
津津有味 (jīnjīnyǒuwèi)
with keen interest pleasure (idiom); with gusto
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
潜移默化 (qiányímòhuà)
imperceptible influence
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
热泪盈眶 (rèlèiyíngkuàng)
eyes brimming with tears of excitement (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
爱不释手 (àibùshìshǒu)
to love sth too much to part with it (idiom); to fondle admiringly
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
物美价廉 (wùměijiàlián)
good quality and cheap
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla理所当然 (lǐsuǒdāngrán)
as it should be by rights (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla理直气壮 (lǐzhíqìzhuàng)
in the right and self-confident (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
相辅相成 (xiāngfǔxiāngchéng)
to complement one another (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
知足常乐 (zhīzúchánglè)
satisfied with what one has (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
礼尚往来 (lǐshàngwǎnglái)
lit. proper behavior is based on reciprocity (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
称心如意 (chènxīnrúyì)
after one’s heart (idiom); gratifying and satisfactory
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
竭尽全力 (jiéjìnquánlì)
to spare no effort (idiom); to do one’s utmost
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
精打细算 (jīngdǎxìsuàn)
meticulous planning and careful accounting (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
精益求精 (jīngyìqiújīng)
to perfect sth that is already outstanding (idiom); constantly improving
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
统筹兼顾 (tǒngchóujiāngù)
an overall plan taking into account all factors
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
聚精会神 (jùjīnghuìshén)
to concentrate one’s attention (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
肆无忌惮 (sìwújìdàn)
absolutely unrestrained
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
自力更生 (zìlìgēngshēng)
regeneration through one’s own effort (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
苦尽甘来 (kǔjìngānlái)
bitterness finishes, sweetness begins (idiom); the hard times are over, the good times just beginning
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
莫名其妙 (mòmíngqímiào)
(idiom) baffling / unable to speak out the subtleties within. Explanation here.
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
见义勇为 (jiànyìyǒngwéi)
to see what is right and act courageously (idiom, from Analects)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
见多识广 (jiànduōshìguǎng)
experienced and knowledgeable (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
迫不及待 (pòbùjídài)
impatient (idiom); in a hurry
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
锲而不舍 (qiè’érbùshě)
to chip away at a task and not abandon it (idiom); to chisel away at sth
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
风土人情 (fēngtǔrénqíng)
local conditions and customs (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
饱经沧桑 (bǎojīngcāngsāng)
having lived through many changes
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
齐心协力 (qíxīnxiélì)
to work with a common purpose (idiom); to make concerted efforts
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
层出不穷 (céngchūbùqióng)
more and more emerge (come out one after another)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla无穷无尽 (wúqióngwújìn)
endless
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla络绎不绝 (luòyìbùjué)
continuously; in an endless stream (idiom)
Baike; Jukuu; Yabla
Not counted: 二氧化碳 (carbon dioxide), 公共汽车 (bus), 名胜古迹 (historical sites), 微不足道 (negligible), 烟花爆竹 (firecrackers), 电子邮件 (email), 高速公路 (expressway), 通货膨胀 (inflation), 飞禽走兽 (birds and animals), 讨价还价 (haggle over price).
Others
There are 5000+ chengyu and there are lots more interesting Chengyu with interesting stories.
Check out the links below:
– Fluentu Chengyus
– Carl Gene
– 5 Common Chengyus
– TravelChinaCheaper
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