Chinese Idioms with Numbers to Level-Up Your Mandarin

Use these Chinese idioms for one to ten thousand to make a good impression on everyone.

Idioms are phrases that do not have a clear translation into another language. They are like riddles: to figure out what they mean, you need to know more than just the words and idioms

They are one of the most fun parts of learning a language because they also teach you about the society.
What are idioms in Chinese? and idioms

Chinese is a very hard language to learn, and it is full of unique phrases.

Chinese metaphors, also called (chéng y), are usually made up of four characters that have a figurative meaning when put together. They are made up of old myths, stories, philosophical works, and poems that have been put together over thousands of years. Many of the characters are parts of longer stories that have been reduced into short ones.

You will hear them everywhere, from everyday talk to TV shows about Chinese history set in palaces. Everyone who speaks Mandarin knows a few chéng y, but using them in everyday conversations can make you stand out and make you seem smart and well-spoken.

We have put together a list of Chinese sayings that begin with numbers from one to ten thousand. These are the best place to start because you can use the numbers to help you remember them. Let us get started!

yī luò qiān zhàng (一落千丈)

One step back, a thousand steps forward.

This saying is a way of saying that one mistake or fault can lead to terrible results. For example, “he made a mistake, and since then his performance has y lu qin zhàng.”

èr huà bù shuō (二話不說)

Literally, this means, “The second word was not said.”

This saying means to do something quickly and not say anything else. In other words, right away or without further ado.

sān xīn èr yì (三心二意)

Literally, it means, “Three minds, two goals.”

This one means to be half-hearted, unsure, or on the fence. It is often used to describe someone who has trouble concentrating or can not make up their mind.

sì miàn bā fāng (四面八方)

Literal translation: Four sides, eight directions.

This one is like the English idiom “from all four corners of the Earth.” It means from everywhere, from far and near, or from everywhere. “The enemy surrounded them from s miàn b fng,” for example.

wǔ yán liù sè (五顏六色)

Five colors, six colors, to say it in words.

This saying is used to say that something is very bright or that it has a lot of different designs or patterns. “Rainbows are w yán liù sè,” for example.
liù gēn qīng jìng (六根清淨)

Literally, it means “six roots, peace.”

In Buddhism, the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind are said to be the six sources of feelings. It sounds like these things are calm, pure, or clean. In other words, it means a feeling or state of peace that is not driven by wants.

qī zuǐ bā shé (七嘴八舌)

This means, “Seven mouths and eight tongues.”

This saying is kind of like the English phrase “at sixes and sevens,” which means that things are in a mess. The Chinese version is used to describe a place where a lot of people are talking at once or where there is a lot of lively conversation.

bā miàn líng lóng (八面玲瓏)

Literal translation: Eight sides, exquisite/delicate.

This one is a little more complicated because over time, its meaning has changed. It was originally used to describe a large, well-lit area. Now, it is used more often to describe someone who is polite, easy to get along with, and good at making friends.

jiǔ niú yī máo (九牛一毛)

Literally, it means “nine cows and one cow hair.”

This saying means that something is so small that you would not even notice it. The idea is that you would not spot a single cow hair if there were nine cows around.

shí quán shí měi (十全十美)

Literally, it means “ten, the whole, ten, beauty.”

This phrase is used to say that something is perfect and does not have any flaws. You can also use it to describe a person—it is a praise!

bǎi nián hǎo hé (百年好合)

Literally, this means “one hundred years of good union.”

At weddings, this phrase is often used to thank the happy couple. It is hoped that they will be happy together not just for a hundred years, but for all time.

qiān zhēn wàn què (千真萬確)

Thousand real, ten thousand true. That is how it is written.

This phrase is used to stress that something is really, definitely, and definitely true. Use it to show how sure you are about what you are saying.
wàn wú yī shī (萬無一失)

Literally, “ten thousand, not a single mistake.”

This phrase is used in a way that is similar to how we might say in English that something is “foolproof.” It means that you are very sure that nothing will go wrong or fail. Even if something happened ten thousand times, there would not be a single mistake or failure.