10 Chinese Idioms to do with Animals
There’s one thing that Chinese isn’t short of and that’s idioms 成語（成语 chéng yŭ）, so much so that we can even break them down into sub categories. For the moment, though, we’ll have a look at one category of idioms – those to do with animals. Each idiom lists the pronunciation, the translation, and most importantly examples of how the idiom can be used so you’ll know how to use it yourself!
Traditional
投資臉書（Facebook）、Groupon等新興網路媒體的創投業者如魚得水，擴大募資。Traditional
投资脸书（Facebook）、Groupon等新兴网路媒体的创投业者如鱼得水，扩大募资。Pinyin
tóuzī liǎnshū (Facebook), Groupon děng xīnxīng wǎnglù méitǐ de chuàngtóu yèzhě rúyúdéshuǐ, kuòdà mùzī.English
Venture capitalists who invested in Facebook, Groupon and other up-and-coming Internet media companies, like a fish to water, upped their fundraising.
Traditional
專家認為，這些藥物都非常有效，如果小心正確使用，它會發揮很多潛在的作用，一石二鳥完全有可能。Simplified
专家认为，这些药物都非常有效，如果小心正确使用，它会发挥很多潜在的作用，一石二鸟完全有可能。Pinyin
zhuānjiā rènwéi, zhè xiē yàowù dōu fēicháng yǒuxiào, rúguǒ xiǎoxīn zhèngquè shǐyòng, tā huì fāhuī hěnduō qiánzài de zuòyòng, yīshíèrniǎo wánquán yǒu kěnéng.。English
Experts believe that this medicine is very effective, and if used sensibly can exhibit lots of hidden effects, possibly killing two birds with one stone.
Traditional
有鑑於ALA PUB大火造成重大傷亡，台中市觀光旅遊局亡羊補牢，將積極配合消防局加強各觀光遊樂業、旅館業及民宿消防安全檢查與宣導工作Simplified
有鉴于ALA PUB大火造成重大伤亡，台中市观光旅游局亡羊补牢，将积极配合消防局加强各观光游乐业、旅馆业及民宿消防安全检查与宣导工作Pinyin
yǒu jiànyú ALA PUB dàhuǒ zàochéng zhòngdà shāngwáng, táizhōngshì guānguānglǚyóujú wángyángbŭláo, jiāng jījí pèihé xiāofángjú jiāqiáng gè guānguāng yóulèyè, lǚguǎnyè jí mínsù xiāofáng ānquán jiǎnchá yŭ xuāndǎo gōng zuòEnglish
In light of the injuries caused by a fire at Ala pub, Taichung City Tourism Board is effectively closing the stable door after the horse has bolted by working with the fire department to increase fire control safety checks and education for the tourism industry, hotels, and hostels.
Traditional
新莊地政所人員指出，原本新北市升格後，市府就有專人稽核各機關網站上尚未改名之處，但仍然有漏網之魚，因此活動本意是希望網友幫忙找出未改為新北市的地方。Simplified
新庄地政所人员指出，原本新北市升格后，市府就有专人稽核各机关网站上尚未改名之处，但仍然有漏网之鱼，因此活动本意是希望网友帮忙找出未改为新北市的地方。Pinyin
xīnzhuāng dìzhèng suǒ rényuán zhǐ chū, yuánběn xīnběishì shēnggé hòu, shìfŭ jiù yǒu zhuānrén jīhé gè jīguān wǎngzhàn shàng shàngwèi gǎimíng zhī chù, dàn réngrán yǒu lòuwǎngzhīyú, yīncǐ huódòng běnyì shì xīwàng wǎngyǒu bāngmáng zhǎochū wèi gǎiwéi xīnběishì de dìfāng.English
Hsinchuang government officials indicated that after the promotion to ‘New Taipei City’ specialists checked department websites for places where the name had not been changed, though some still slipped through the net. So the purpose of this activity is to have Internet users help by finding places where the name has yet to be changed to ‘New Taipei City’.
Traditional
如果政黨馬馬虎虎選出總統候選人，這是不負責的政黨Simplified
如果政党马马虎虎选出总统候选人，这是不负责的政党Pinyin
rúguǒ zhèngdǎng mǎmǎhŭhŭ xuǎnchū zǒngtǒng hòuxuǎnrén, zhè shì bú fùzé de zhèngdǎngEnglish
If the government carelessly chooses a presidential candidate, then it is an irresponsible government
Traditional
我告訴隊友們，我不想繼續再虎頭蛇尾下去！Simplified
我告诉队友们，我不想继续再虎头蛇尾下去！Pinyin
wǒ gàosù duìyǒumen, wǒ bù xiǎng jìxù zài hŭtóushéwěi xià qù!English
I told the team, I don’t want to continue like this, starting off strong but finishing weak!
Traditional
金融股尾盤也下跌，造成指數反彈表現虎頭蛇尾Simplified
金融股尾盘也下跌，造成指数反弹表现虎头蛇尾Pinyin
jīnrónggŭ wěipán yě xiàdié, zàochéng zhǐshù fǎndàn biǎoxiàn hŭtóushéwěiEnglish
At the end of the trading day financial stocks had tumbled, causing the rebound of the index to start of strong but finish weak
Traditional
我希望警察能幫我，懲罰這些豬狗不如的變態，他們都是惡魔和瘋子Simplified
我希望警察能帮我，惩罚这些猪狗不如的变态，他们都是恶魔和疯子Pinyin
wǒ xīwàng jǐngchá néng bāng wǒ, chéngfá zhè xiē zhūgǒubùrú de biàntài, tāmen dōu shì èmó hé fēng ziEnglish
I hope the police can help me by punishing these ‘lower than a pig or dog’ perverts, they are demons and insane
Traditional
免擔保的個人消費貸款幾近鳳毛麟角Simplified
免担保的个人消费贷款几近凤毛麟角Pinyin
miǎn dānbǎo de gèrén xiāofèi dàikuǎn jījìn fèngmáolínjiǎoEnglish
unguarenteed personal loans are almost as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns
Traditional
市場競爭的白熱化使得大部分網路公司的利潤也只能維持生存，能夠發展壯大的也只是鳳毛麟角Simplified
市场竞争的白热化使得大部分网路公司的利润也只能维持生存，能够发展壮大的也只是凤毛麟角Pinyin
shìchǎng jìngzhēng de báirèhuà shǐdé dàbùfèn wǎnglùgōngsī de lìrùn yě zhǐnéng wéichí shēngcún, nénggòu fāzhǎn zhuàngdà de yě zhǐshì fèngmáolínjiǎoEnglish
The white hot competition in the market has caused most Internet company’s profit to be barely enought to continue existing, the ability to develop and expand is extremely rare
Traditional
進口大豆價高“失寵” 沿海加工企業遭池魚之殃Simplified
进口大豆价高“失宠” 沿海加工企业遭池鱼之殃Pinyin
jìnkǒu dàdòu jiàgāo “shī chǒng” yánhǎi jiāgōng qìyè zāo chíyúzhīyāngEnglish
The high price of imported soyo beans has caused them to fall out of favour, inadvertently affecting the coastal processing industry
Traditional
蘋果不只帶訂單給台廠，受惠iPhone、iPad、Macbook Air接連大賣，台股也相當熱愛蘋果題材，只要躋身蘋果供應鏈，股價通常也能跟著雞犬升天Simplified
苹果不只带订单给台厂，受惠iPhone、iPad、Macbook Air接连大卖，台股也相当热爱苹果题材，只要跻身苹果供应链，股价通常也能跟着鸡犬升天Pinyin
píngguǒ bùzhǐ dài dìngdān gěi táichǎng, shòuhuì iPhone, iPad, Macbook Air jiēlián dàmài, táigŭ yě xiāngdāng rèài píngguǒ tícái, zhǐyào jīshēn píngguǒ gōngyīngliàn, gŭjià tōngcháng yě néng gēnzhe jīquǎnshēngtiānEnglish
Apple not only brings orders to Taiwanese factories, after benefitting from the continued sales of the iPhone, iPad and Macbook Air, Taiwanese stocks are also in love with Apple. All you have to do is move up the supply chain, and stock prices will also follow suit and ride on the success.
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Dave Flynn
Dave is a designer of websites, learner of Chinese and lover of technology. Originally from the UK , he's been living in Taiwan and learning Mandarin Chinese for the last four years. He founded and runs Chinese Hacks, a blog dedicated to effectively learning Chinese.
5 Comments
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These are great. Thanks for the great list!
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I meant to look up what 鳳毛麟角 the other day, but forgot, and here it is. I never thought the Charlie unicorn skit and my Chinese study would ever collide. Funny.
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This is a useful reference article, thanks!
I’ve actually been thinking about chengyu of late, and wrote an article on the topic – in which I included a reference to your post.
http://mandarinsegments.blogspot.com/2011/03/chinese-idiom-in-hand-is-worth-two-in.html
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great article.. chinese cheng yu is killing me
thanks for the post!
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