每天成语｜Chinese Idioms in Stories

Epizodai

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  适可而止 (shì kě ér zhǐ) 20.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 适可而止 (shì kě ér zhǐ) Meaning: Stop while you're ahead (know when to stop) Summary: The idiom 适可而止 (shì kě ér zhǐ) is a piece of wisdom teaching that everything has a proper limit. Whether it involves joking, eating, working, or interpersonal conflict, it suggests that one should stop once a suitable level is reached. It is frequently used to advise others to 'not overdo it' or to 'know when to quit' before a situation turns negative. Read the full transcript with multilingual...
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  意料之外 (yì liào zhī wài) 19.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 意料之外 (yì liào zhī wài) Meaning: Beyond expectation (unexpected) Summary: 意料之外 (yì liào zhī wài) is the most common way to express that something is "unexpected" in Chinese. It is versatile and can be used for both good and bad news. Common grammatical structures include 在...意料之外 (zài... yì liào zhī wài), meaning "beyond someone's expectations," and 出乎意料之外 (chū hū yì liào zhī wài), which means "to exceed expectations." Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, m...
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  脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì) 18.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì) Meaning: To have one's feet on solid ground (down-to-earth) Summary: 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì) is a highly positive idiom used to describe someone who is practical and works hard in a steady, step-by-step manner. It is one of the highest forms of praise for a person's character, suggesting they are reliable and grounded rather than superficial or overly ambitious without substance. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usage notes,...
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  竹篮打水 (zhú lán dá shuǐ) 17.08.2026 3min

  📖 Today's 成语: 竹篮打水 (zhú lán dá shuǐ) Meaning: Drawing water with a bamboo basket (all for nothing) Summary: 竹篮打水 (zhú lán dá shuǐ) describes the act of trying to fetch water with a leaky bamboo basket, symbolizing futile efforts. It is most commonly used in the full phrase 竹篮打水一场空 (zhú lán dá shuǐ yī chǎng kōng), which emphasizes that the final result is 'empty' or 'nothing.' It is often used to lament failed plans or wasted energy. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, ...
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  无理取闹 (wú lǐ qǔ nào) 16.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 无理取闹 (wú lǐ qǔ nào) Meaning: To make a scene without reason (being deliberately unreasonable) Summary: 无理取闹 (wú lǐ qǔ nào) is a common idiom used to criticize behavior where someone causes a disturbance or makes unreasonable demands without a logical basis. It covers a range of behaviors, from a child throwing a tantrum to an adult making baseless accusations or 'Karens' making unreasonable demands in public. It highlights the total lack of 道理 (dào lǐ), or 'reason,' in the per...
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  苍白无力 (cāng bái wú lì) 15.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 苍白无力 (cāng bái wú lì) Meaning: Pale and weak (lacking persuasion or substance) Summary: 苍白无力 (cāng bái wú lì) literally translates to 'pale and powerless.' While it can describe a sickly appearance, it is most frequently used as a critique of language, arguments, or creative works that feel hollow or unconvincing. It suggests that the subject lacks the 'blood' or 'muscle' to be effective, especially when confronted with hard evidence or profound reality. Read the full transcr...
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  江河日下 (jiāng hé rì xià) 14.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 江河日下 (jiāng hé rì xià) Meaning: Rivers flowing down daily (in steady decline) Summary: The idiom 江河日下 (jiāng hé rì xià) uses the metaphor of a great river's inevitable downstream flow to describe a continuous and often irreversible decline. It is frequently applied to contexts where an entity—be it a company, a society, or an individual—has lost its former glory and is now in a state of steady deterioration. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usa...
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  风云突变 (fēng yún tū biàn) 13.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 风云突变 (fēng yún tū biàn) Meaning: A sudden change in the situation (like wind and clouds changing suddenly) Summary: 风云突变 (fēng yún tū biàn) describes a sudden, drastic shift in a macro-level situation, such as in politics, military affairs, or business. It implies a transition from stability to crisis or chaos. It is a formal expression and is generally not used for minor personal changes. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usage notes, examples,...
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  自食其果 (zì shí qí guǒ) 12.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 自食其果 (zì shí qí guǒ) Meaning: To reap what one sows (negative consequences) Summary: 自食其果 (zì shí qí guǒ) is a critical idiom used when someone suffers because of their own wrongdoing. It literally means "eating the fruit of one's own actions." Similar to the English expressions "to reap what you sow" or "to have something come back to haunt you," it carries a tone of "getting what one deserves" and is often used as a warning or a harsh judgment of someone's failure. Read the...
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  不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò) 11.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò) Meaning: At a loss (not knowing what to do) Summary: The idiom 不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò) describes a state of being overwhelmed to the point of inaction. Whether caused by a sudden crisis, a surge of emotion, or even unexpected praise, it captures the moment when a person is so confused or nervous that they simply do not know how to react or what their next move should be. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usage notes, examples...
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  有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn) 10.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn) Meaning: Methodical and orderly Summary: 有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn) is used to praise a process or person that is highly organized and logical. Whether it is managing a project, explaining a complex idea, or responding to an emergency, this idiom highlights a lack of chaos and a presence of clear, step-by-step order. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usage notes, examples, and cultural context: 有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn) | 每天成语
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  畅所欲言 (chàng suǒ yù yán) 09.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 畅所欲言 (chàng suǒ yù yán) Meaning: To speak one's mind freely Summary: 畅所欲言 (chàng suǒ yù yán) is a positive expression used to invite people to speak up without fear or restraint. It implies removing psychological barriers to allow for a full, honest, and satisfying exchange of ideas. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usage notes, examples, and cultural context: 畅所欲言 (chàng suǒ yù yán) | 每天成语
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  咎由自取 (jiù yóu zì qǔ) 08.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 咎由自取 (jiù yóu zì qǔ) Meaning: To have only oneself to blame (bringing misfortune upon oneself) Summary: 咎由自取 (jiù yóu zì qǔ) is an idiom used to point out that a bad result or disaster is entirely rooted in one's own behavior. Similar to the English phrase 'to bring it upon oneself,' it is typically used in a critical context to suggest that the person has no one else to blame. It can be applied to individual failures or as a warning regarding the collective actions of groups ...
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  一筹莫展 (yī chóu mò zhǎn) 07.08.2026 3min

  📖 Today's 成语: 一筹莫展 (yī chóu mò zhǎn) Meaning: Unable to find a single solution (at one's wits' end) Summary: 一筹莫展 (yī chóu mò zhǎn) is used to describe a situation where one is completely 'stumped' or 'at a loss.' Originating from the ancient calculation tool 筹 (chóu), it emphasizes an intellectual impasse where not a single plan can be put into action. It is commonly used in business, personal dilemmas, or emergency situations where all options have been exhausted. Read the full transcrip...
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  心甘情愿 (xīn gān qíng yuàn) 06.08.2026 3min

  📖 Today's 成语: 心甘情愿 (xīn gān qíng yuàn) Meaning: Willingly and gladly (of one's own free will) Summary: 心甘情愿 (xīn gān qíng yuàn) is a common idiom used to describe actions driven by the heart rather than external pressure. It is frequently used in contexts of devotion—such as a parent's sacrifice for a child or a person's dedication to a dream—where the individual finds fulfillment in the act itself, regardless of the difficulty involved. Read the full transcript with multilingual translati...
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  调虎离山 (diào hǔ lí shān) 05.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 调虎离山 (diào hǔ lí shān) Meaning: Luring the tiger away from the mountain (drawing the enemy out of their stronghold) Summary: The idiom 调虎离山 (diào hǔ lí shān) refers to luring a powerful enemy away from their base of strength to make them vulnerable. While it originates from ancient military strategy, it is now widely used in business negotiations, sports tactics, and security contexts to describe any 'decoy' or 'diversionary' maneuver. Read the full transcript with multilingu...
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  盛极一时 (shèng jí yī shí) 04.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 盛极一时 (shèng jí yī shí) Meaning: At the peak of its popularity (flourishing for a time) Summary: 盛极一时 (shèng jí yī shí) describes something that reached its absolute zenith at a particular point in history. It is used to describe everything from fashion trends to the prosperity of nations. It is frequently used in a retrospective sense to discuss past glories that are no longer as dominant as they once were. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usag...
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  实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) 03.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) Meaning: Seeking truth from facts (being realistic and objective) Summary: 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) is a highly positive and serious idiom that emphasizes pursuing truth based on evidence. It is used in academic, business, and political contexts to praise or demand a 'realistic,' 'objective,' and 'honest' attitude. It carries a stronger nuance of valuing data and evidence than simply being 'honest.' Read the full transcript with multilingual translations,...
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  前因后果 (qián yīn hòu guǒ) 02.08.2026 3min

  📖 Today's 成语: 前因后果 (qián yīn hòu guǒ) Meaning: The cause and effect (the whole story / the ins and outs) Summary: 前因后果 (qián yīn hòu guǒ) is an idiom used to describe the full process of how an event unfolded. While it literally translates to "previous cause and later result," it is most often used in modern contexts to mean "the whole story" or "the full context" when explaining or investigating a complex matter. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usage notes...
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  别有用心 (bié yǒu yòng xīn) 01.08.2026 2min

  📖 Today's 成语: 别有用心 (bié yǒu yòng xīn) Meaning: To have an ulterior motive Summary: 别有用心 (bié yǒu yòng xīn) is used to criticize someone whose actions or words mask a hidden, often malicious, intent. It is equivalent to saying someone has an 'ulterior motive' or is 'up to something.' This negative expression is widely used in contexts ranging from personal suspicions to political accusations of conspiracy. Read the full transcript with multilingual translations, meaning/usage notes, example...