[ **up: [[Chinese language--Idioms]]** ] --- # Chengyu 成语 > Chinese idioms—or 成语 (chéngyǔ)—can be proverbs, common sayings, idiomatic phrases, or groups of words that convey a figurative meaning that goes beyond the words’ literal meanings. Most Chinese chengyu have been derived from ancient myths, stories, or historical facts.[^1] --- ## Chengyu ### Strength - [[2024-0816. The soft can subdue the hard (柔能克剛)|The soft can subdue the hard (柔能克剛)]][^2] - [[2024-0816. 'Use softness to conquer toughness' (以柔克剛)|Use softness to conquer toughness (以柔克剛)]][^3] --- ### Romantic love - [[2024-0816. 'Two hearts beat as one' (心心相印)|Two hearts beat as one' (心心相印)]][^4] - [[2024-0816. 'Red beans that inspire the memory of one's love' (红豆相思)|'Red beans that inspire the memory of one's love' (红豆相思)]][^5] --- ### Safety, Responsibility - [[2025-0213. One person shouldn't enter a temple alone... Two people shouldn't look inside a well... Three people shouldn't carry a tree... Don't lean on a railing alone. (一人不入庙，二人不观井，三人不抱树，独自莫凭栏)|One person shouldn't enter a temple alone... Two people shouldn't look inside a well... Three people shouldn't carry a tree... Don't lean on a railing alone. (一人不入庙，二人不观井，三人不抱树，独自莫凭栏)]][^6] --- ### Shame, Anger + [[2024-0816. 'To be ashamed into anger (idiom); to fly into a rage out of humiliation' (恼羞成怒)|'To be ashamed into anger/to fly into a rage out of humiliation' (恼羞成怒)]][^7] --- ### Misc. - [[2025-0213. ‘Hands tied and waiting to be captured’ ( 束手就擒)|‘Hands tied and waiting to be captured’ ( 束手就擒)]][^8] [^1]: Daniel Nalesnik, ‘Chinese Idioms: Common Chengyu for Daily Conversations’, *hackchinese*, 29 October 2021, https://www.hackchinese.com/blog/chinese-idioms-common-chengyu. [^2]: ’Róu néng kè gāng 柔能克剛 \[The soft can subdue the hard]’, *Chinese Words Database*, retrieved 16 August 2024, https://www.chinese-word.com/data/2397-4.html. [^3]: ’Yǐ róu kè gāng 以柔克剛 \[Use softness to conquer toughness]’, *Chinese Words Database*, retrieved 16 August 2024, http://www.chinese-word.com/data/0093-25.html. [^4]: [^5]: Vic-Liu, ‘42 Most Common and Useful Chinese Idioms’, *Let’s Chinese*, updated 19 August 2023, https://letschinese.com/chinese-idioms/#chinese-idioms-about-love. [^6]: Xi Zixu, *[[Xi Zixu. 'Kaleidoscope of Death', 2018.|Kaleidoscope of Death]]*, trans. Taida Translations, 2020, Chapter 17, https://taidatranslations.wordpress.com/kaleidoscope-of-death/kod-chapter-17/. [^7]: Vic-Liu, ‘42 Most Common and Useful Chinese Idioms’, *Let’s Chinese*, updated 19 August 2023, https://letschinese.com/chinese-idioms/#chinese-idioms-about-love. [^8]: Xi Zixu, *[[Xi Zixu. 'Kaleidoscope of Death', 2018.|Kaleidoscope of Death]]*, Chapter 17.