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IDIOMS · NATURE

Chinese Idioms about Nature & Weather

Chengyu drawn from nature, seasons, and weather — 风和日丽, 春暖花开, 沧海桑田 — the imagery-rich set fluent speakers use to describe scene and mood.

fēngwindgentlesunbright

Gentle wind, bright sun — a beautiful day.

chūnspringnuǎnwarmhuāflowerkāibloom

Spring is warm, flowers bloom — the season of blossoms; a time of renewal.

cāngbluehǎiseasāngmulberrytiánfield

Where blue seas were, now mulberry fields — vast change over time.

shānmountainqīngclearshuǐwaterxiùbeautiful

Clear mountains, beautiful waters — a place of striking natural scenery.

fēngwindraintóngsamezhōuboat

In the same boat through wind and rain — sharing hardships together.

onefānsailfēngwindshùnsmooth

Smooth sailing all the way — everything going perfectly.

jǐnbrocadeshàngontiānaddhuāflowers

Adding flowers to brocade — making something already beautiful even better.

xuěsnowzhōngmiddlesòngsendtàncharcoal

Sending charcoal in the snow — help that arrives exactly when needed.

shuǐwaterdàoarrivechannelchéngform

When the water flows, the channel forms — things work out when conditions are right.

bǎihundredhuāflowerstogetherfàngbloom

Let a hundred flowers bloom; let diverse forms develop; let a hundred schools of thought contend.

bàoviolentfēngwindzhòusuddenrain

Violent wind and sudden rain; a fierce storm; a tempest.

biànchangehuànshiftnotfathom

Unpredictable; capricious; fickle.

bīngicetiānskyxuěsnowearth

A world of ice and snow; a snow-covered landscape.

chuānriverliúflownotstop

To flow in an endless stream; a constant flow.

thisrisethatfall

Rising one after another; occurring continuously.

receivetiānheavenuniquehòugenerous

Uniquely blessed by nature; endowed with exceptional advantages.

ěreareyeonexīnnew

A refreshing change; a feast for the eyes and ears.

fēiflyingqínbirdszǒuwalkingshòubeasts

Birds and beasts; all kinds of animals.

fēngwindcāneatdew宿lodge

Exposed to the wind as one's meal and dew as one's bed; to endure the hardships of traveling and living outdoors.

fēngwindchuīblowrainbeat

Exposed to the elements; to undergo hardship and tribulation.

fēngwindsoilrénpeopleqíngfeeling

local conditions and customs

hǎiseakuòwidetiānskykōngempty

As wide as the sea and sky; boundless; fig. to talk at random; to let one's imagination run wild.

suddenlylěngcoldsuddenlyhot

Hot and cold; fickle; inconsistent.

luòentwinecontinuousnotjuécut off

In an endless stream; continuously; an unceasing flow.

rushmiànfaceérandláicome

To assault the senses; to come straight at one.

qiānthousandbiànchangewànten thousandhuàchange

Constantly changing; kaleidoscopic.

qiānthousand姿posturebǎihundredtàiform

In thousands of poses; in all manner of shapes and forms.

qīngdragonflytíngdragonflydiǎntouchshuǐwater

To touch on a subject lightly; to skim the surface; superficial.

rénpeopleshānmountainrénpeoplehǎisea

A sea of people; a huge crowd.

likehuǒfirelikewhite-flowered grass

Like a raging fire; in full swing; in a blaze of glory.

shuǐwaterdropshístonechuān穿pierce

Constant dripping wears away the stone; perseverance achieves success.

shùnobeyitsselfránthus

Let nature take its course; let things be.

fourmiànsideseightfāngdirections

In all directions; all around; from all sides.

fourtōngconnecteightreach

Extend in all directions; accessible from all sides.

tánepiphyllumhuāfloweronexiànappear

A flash in the pan; a short-lived glory.

nobiānbordernolimit

Boundless; limitless; vast and without boundaries.

fivelakesfourhǎiseas

all corners of the land; everywhere

bustlingbustlingrǎngjostlingrǎngjostling

bustling with activity; crowded

xīnnewchénolddàireplacexièsupersede

Metabolism; the new replaces the old.

xīnflourishingxīnflourishingxiàngtowardsróngthriving

Flourishing and prosperous; thriving.

crowquèsparrownoshēngsound

As quiet as crows and sparrows; absolute silence; complete stillness.

pleasedránlike thisselfcontent

Carefree and content; pleased with oneself.

yōusuperiorshèngwinlièinferiortàieliminate

Survival of the fittest; the superior wins and the inferior is eliminated.

yuánsourceyuánsourcenotduànstop

A steady flow; continuous; unceasing.

zhāomorningspiritpéngflourishingvigorous

Full of youthful spirit; vigorous and thriving.

selfránthusérandránthus

Naturally; of its own accord.

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