Chinese Advanced Vocabulary and Idioms Syllabus

Advanced Vocabulary and Idioms syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Advanced Vocabulary and Idioms in Chinese, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Idiomatic Expressions

   2 topics

   • Common Idioms
   • Proverbs
2. 2

   Specialized Vocabulary

   2 topics

   • Business Chinese
   • Technical Terms

Advanced Vocabulary and Idioms flashcards for Chinese

22 of 50 cards from the Advanced Vocabulary and Idioms deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a 成语 (chéngyǔ), and how many characters does the classic form typically contain?

   A 成语 is a Chinese idiom—a fixed expression usually made of exactly four characters that conveys a story, moral, or vivid image in condensed form. Example: 一石二鸟 (kill two birds with one stone).

2. Give the idiom 画蛇添足, its literal meaning, and its figurative meaning.

   画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú). Literal: 'draw a snake and add feet.' Figurative: to ruin something by adding what is superfluous; to overdo it.

3. What does the idiom 马马虎虎 (mǎmǎhūhū) mean, and in what register is it used?

   It means 'so-so,' 'careless,' or 'mediocre.' It is a colloquial, everyday reduplicated expression used to describe average quality or a sloppy attitude.

4. Explain the idiom 入乡随俗 (rù xiāng suí sú).

   Literally 'enter the village, follow its customs.' It is the equivalent of 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'—adapt to local customs and norms.

5. What is the meaning of 亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo), and what lesson does it teach?

   Literal: 'mend the pen after the sheep are lost.' It teaches that it is never too late to fix a problem and prevent further loss—better late than never.

6. Define the idiom 井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā) and what it criticizes.

   'A frog at the bottom of a well.' It criticizes someone with a narrow, limited outlook who cannot see the wider world.

7. What does 对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín) mean?

   Literally 'to play the lute to a cow.' It means to speak to the wrong audience—wasting refined words on someone who cannot appreciate them (like casting pearls before swine).

8. Explain 塞翁失马 (sài wēng shī mǎ) and the philosophy behind it.

   'The old frontier man loses his horse.' From a parable where misfortune turns to fortune and back. It expresses that a loss may turn out to be a blessing—good and bad fortune are unpredictable and interchangeable.

9. What is the meaning and typical use of 一举两得 (yī jǔ liǎng dé)?

   'One action, two gains'—to accomplish two things with a single effort; equivalent to 'kill two birds with one stone.' Used to praise an efficient solution.

10. Define 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi).

    'To give up halfway.' It describes abandoning a task before completion, wasting the effort already invested.

11. What does the idiom 井井有条 (jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo) describe?

    It describes something arranged in perfect, methodical order—orderly, neat, and well-organized.

12. Explain 破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu) and its historical origin.

    'Break the cauldrons and sink the boats.' From General Xiang Yu, who destroyed his army's means of retreat to force victory. It means to commit fully with no way back—burn one's bridges.

13. What is the meaning of the idiom 守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù)?

    'Guard the tree stump waiting for a rabbit.' From a farmer who saw a rabbit die hitting a stump and then waited idly for more. It mocks relying on luck instead of effort, or clinging to a one-time success.

14. Define 胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú).

    'To have a formed bamboo in one's chest'—to have a well-thought-out, complete plan in mind before starting; to be fully prepared and confident.

15. What does 画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng) mean?

    'To paint the dragon and dot in the eyes.' It means adding the crucial finishing touch that brings the whole work to life.

16. Explain the difference between a 成语 and a 谚语 (yànyǔ).

    A 成语 is a compact (usually four-character) literary idiom often derived from classical texts. A 谚语 is a proverb—a longer, colloquial folk saying expressing common wisdom in everyday language.

17. State the proverb 活到老，学到老 and its meaning.

    活到老，学到老 (huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo): 'Live until old, learn until old'—one is never too old to learn; keep learning throughout life.

18. What is the proverb 千里之行，始于足下 and who is it attributed to?

    千里之行，始于足下 (qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià): 'A journey of a thousand li begins with a single step.' Attributed to Laozi (Dao De Jing). It teaches that great undertakings start with a small first step.

19. Give the proverb 熟能生巧 and its meaning.

    熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo): 'Practice makes perfect'—familiarity through repetition breeds skill.

20. State the proverb 玉不琢，不成器 and its lesson.

    玉不琢，不成器 (yù bù zhuó, bù chéng qì): 'Jade that is not carved cannot become a useful vessel.' It teaches that people, like jade, must be trained and disciplined to reach their potential.

21. What does the proverb 水滴石穿 teach?

    水滴石穿 (shuǐ dī shí chuān): 'Dripping water wears through stone.' It teaches that persistence and constant effort, however small, eventually achieve great results.

22. Explain the proverb 良药苦口 (liáng yào kǔ kǒu).

    'Good medicine tastes bitter'—often extended as 良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行. It means honest advice, though unpleasant to hear, is beneficial.

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