每天成语｜Chinese Idioms in Stories

📖 Today's 成语: 好景不长 (hǎo jǐng bù cháng)

Meaning: Good times don't last long (short-lived prosperity)

Summary: 好景不长 (hǎo jǐng bù cháng) is an idiom used to express regret that a favorable situation or a happy time has ended prematurely. It typically appears in contexts describing a turn for the worse, often following a contrast like 'things were going well, but...' It can be applied to anything from personal fortune to economic trends, though it is generally avoided when discussing someone's current happiness to avoid sounding pessimistic.

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好景不长 (hǎo jǐng bù cháng) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 煞费苦心 (shà fèi kǔ xīn)

Meaning: To take great pains (racking one's brains)

Summary: 煞费苦心 (shà fèi kǔ xīn) describes the act of putting immense thought and effort into a task. The character 煞 (shà) acts as an intensifier meaning 'extremely.' This idiom is highly versatile: it can be used to praise the dedication of a teacher or artist, or it can be used sarcastically to describe the desperate efforts of someone trying to cover up a lie or plot a scheme.

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煞费苦心 (shà fèi kǔ xīn) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào)

Meaning: Insignificant / Not worth mentioning

Summary: 微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào) is an idiom used to describe things that are extremely small or insignificant. It can be used to objectively state that something is unimportant, or as a polite way to downplay one's own achievements or help as 'nothing special.' It is a versatile phrase suitable for both casual and formal contexts.

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微不足道 (wēi bù zú dào) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 饶有兴趣 (ráo yǒu xìng qù)

Meaning: With great interest (full of curiosity)

Summary: 饶有兴趣 (ráo yǒu xìng qù) is an idiom used to describe being deeply intrigued by a person, object, or event. It is most commonly used as an adverbial phrase to modify actions like watching, listening, or studying (e.g., 'watching with great interest'). It conveys a positive sense of curiosity and fascination.

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饶有兴趣 (ráo yǒu xìng qù) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 千山万水 (qiān shān wàn shuǐ)

Meaning: A thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers (an arduous journey)

Summary: The idiom 千山万水 (qiān shān wàn shuǐ) literally describes 'thousands of mountains and tens of thousands of rivers.' It is used to emphasize the immense distance of a journey or the great number of difficulties one must overcome to reach a destination. It can also be expressed as 万水千山 (wàn shuǐ qiān shān) with the same meaning.

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千山万水 (qiān shān wàn shuǐ) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 事必躬亲 (shì bì gōng qīn)

Meaning: Attending to everything personally (Hands-on approach)

Summary: 事必躬亲 (shì bì gōng qīn) describes a person who handles all tasks themselves rather than delegating. Historically, it was a mark of a dedicated leader, but in modern contexts, it is often used to critique inefficient management styles where a leader takes on too much responsibility.

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事必躬亲 (shì bì gōng qīn) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě)

Meaning: To keep carving without stopping (unwavering perseverance)

Summary: 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě) is a highly positive idiom used to praise someone's persistence and grit. Originating from the writings of the philosopher Xunzi (荀子), it suggests that just as one can carve through metal or stone by not stopping, any goal can be achieved through continuous, 'never-say-die' effort. It is a staple in academic and professional contexts to emphasize that 'persistence is the key to success.'

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锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 胡思乱想 (hú sī luàn xiǎng)

Meaning: To let one's imagination run wild (to overthink)

Summary: 胡思乱想 (hú sī luàn xiǎng) describes a state of mind where thoughts are scattered, groundless, or overly negative. It is frequently used to tell someone to "stop overthinking" or "stop worrying about things that aren't true." Unlike simple daydreaming, it often carries a nuance of mental instability or unproductive anxiety.

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胡思乱想 (hú sī luàn xiǎng) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 不识抬举 (bù shí tái ju)

Meaning: Failing to appreciate a favor (ungrateful and arrogant)

Summary: The idiom 不识抬举 (bù shí tái ju) is a critical expression used to rebuke someone who does not appreciate the favor or support offered to them. The term 抬举 (tái ju) literally means to 'lift up' or 'promote' someone. When someone is described as 'not recognizing' this lifting, it suggests they are being insolent or ungrateful. It is a highly condescending and aggressive phrase, typically used by someone who feels they have done the other person a significant favor.

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不识抬举 (bù shí tái ju) | 每天成语

📖 Today's 成语: 退避三舍 (tuì bì sān shè)

Meaning: Retreating ninety li (giving way to avoid conflict)

Summary: The idiom 退避三舍 (tuì bì sān shè) is used to describe the act of giving way or keeping a distance to avoid a clash. Originating from a historical story involving Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), the phrase has shifted from its literal military meaning of retreating a specific distance to a broader social context. It can be used positively to describe a wise avoidance of trouble, or more neutrally to describe being overwhelmed by someone else's power or presence.

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退避三舍 (tuì bì sān shè) | 每天成语