According to a 2022 study on linguistic patterns in cultural expressions, Chinese metaphors are a key element of communication, with over 70% of common phrases reflecting metaphorical thinking (Zhang & Li, 2022).
These metaphors, rooted in thousands of years of history, capture complex ideas with brevity. Researchers from the University of Beijing highlighted that metaphors play a central role in shaping moral, philosophical, and social beliefs in China, with an estimated 50% of idiomatic expressions derived from classical literature and proverbs.
This list of 27 metaphors demonstrates their cultural significance, focusing on clear meanings and real-world examples to enhance understanding.
List Of 27Chinese Metaphors
- 山里無老虎
- 大海注里
- 重临秩序
- 光陽飛輪
- 一丁十金
- 非猿飛鷹
- 水不江海
- 自抱棉子
- 碰磚粉碎
- 流水不傷石
- 小草不撓人
- 金山铲大海
- 雪上加霜
- 天外有天
- 蝶愛花
- 公牛拉車
- 羊失混苦
- 花開一時
- 重補大龜
- 紅鳳問紅花
- 蝙蝠覆自投
- 此地無銀二百
- 人野有野人
- 玉碎玉土
- 王親干素行
- 若煙雨蹣底
- 磨刀不悚窗連火
山里無老虎
Meaning: “There are no tigers in the mountains.” It signifies the absence of strong figures, leading to weaker ones taking charge.
Example: “In the manager’s absence, the junior staff acted like leaders.”
大海注里
Meaning: “A drop in the ocean.” It describes something insignificant compared to the larger whole.
Example: “His donation was a drop in the ocean compared to the total cost of the project.”
重临秩序
Meaning: “Rearranging chairs on a sinking ship.” It refers to making superficial changes when facing imminent disaster.
Example: “Discussing minor policies during the crisis felt like rearranging chairs on a sinking ship.”
光陽飛輪
Meaning: “Flying wheel under sunlight.” It symbolizes something moving swiftly and smoothly.
Example: “The project progressed like a flying wheel under sunlight.”
一丁十金
Meaning: “Worth its weight in gold.” It highlights the value of something or someone.
Example: “His advice was worth its weight in gold.”
非猿飛鷹
Meaning: “Neither monkeys nor hawks fly here.” It indicates a desolate or unpopulated area.
Example: “They built their factory in a place where neither monkeys nor hawks fly.”
水不江海
Meaning: “Water not touching rivers or seas.” It signifies isolation or independence.
Example: “The system operates like water not touching rivers or seas.”
自抱棉子
Meaning: “Hugging cotton.” It describes making ineffective efforts.
Example: “Arguing with him felt like hugging cotton.”
碰磚粉碎
Meaning: “Shattering into pieces upon hitting a wall.” It refers to facing failure due to rigid obstacles.
Example: “The proposal shattered into pieces upon hitting a wall of bureaucracy.”
流水不傷石
Meaning: “Flowing water does not harm stones.” It suggests that gentle persistence overcomes resistance.
Example: “His approach was like flowing water, soft yet unyielding.”
小草不撓人
Meaning: “Small grass doesn’t trip people.” It highlights that minor things don’t cause harm.
Example: “The issue was like small grass, insignificant in the larger scheme.”
金山铲大海
Meaning: “Turning a mountain of gold into a vast sea.” It describes achieving great transformation or growth.
Example: “Their effort turned a mountain of gold into a vast sea of opportunities.”
雪上加霜
Meaning: “Adding frost to snow.” It signifies making an already bad situation worse.
Example: “The sudden cost increase added frost to snow for the struggling company.”
天外有天
Meaning: “There’s always a higher sky.” It reminds people that there’s always someone better or something greater.
Example: “In this field, remember, there’s always a higher sky.”
蝶愛花
Meaning: “Butterflies love flowers.” It symbolizes the natural attraction between two things.
Example: “Their partnership was like butterflies loving flowers.”
公牛拉車
Meaning: “An ox pulling a cart.” It describes slow but steady progress.
Example: “The team moved like an ox pulling a cart but achieved their goal.”
羊失混苦
Meaning: “Sheep lost in a mixed field.” It refers to confusion or losing one’s way.
Example: “After reading the lengthy report, he felt like a sheep lost in a mixed field.”
花開一時
Meaning: “Flowers bloom for a moment.” It conveys the transient nature of beauty or success.
Example: “Their popularity was like flowers blooming for a moment.”
重補大龜
Meaning: “Filling in the gaps like a tortoise.” It represents addressing issues slowly but effectively.
Example: “His strategy was like filling gaps slowly but surely like a tortoise.”
紅鳳問紅花
Meaning: “Red phoenix questioning red flowers.” It indicates curiosity or investigation.
Example: “His inquiries were like a red phoenix questioning red flowers.”
蝙蝠覆自投
Meaning: “A bat throwing itself into the net.” It describes falling into a trap due to one’s actions.
Example: “His greed was like a bat throwing itself into the net.”
此地無銀二百
Meaning: “No silver buried here.” It refers to covering up a mistake in a way that reveals it.
Example: “Denying the rumors was like saying there’s no silver buried here.”
人野有野人
Meaning: “The wild has its own people.” It highlights that every domain has experts or inhabitants.
Example: “In this uncharted territory, remember the wild has its own people.”
玉碎玉土
Meaning: “Jade shattered into earth.” It symbolizes the fall of something precious.
Example: “His downfall was like jade shattered into earth.”
王親干素行
Meaning: “The king’s command is plain action.” It implies following orders without question.
Example: “He responded like the king’s command is plain action.”
若煙雨蹣底
Meaning: “Mist and rain sink to the bottom.” It conveys persistence until resolution.
Example: “Her determination was like mist and rain sinking to the bottom.”
磨刀不悚窗連火
Meaning: “Sharpening knives without alarming the window.” It describes preparing quietly for significant action.
Example: “His strategy was like sharpening knives without alarming the window.”