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IDIOMS · SUCCESS

Chinese Idioms about Success & Ambition

Chengyu for breakthrough, drive, and ambition — 一鸣惊人, 出类拔萃, 鹏程万里 — the four-character phrases Chinese speakers use to describe (and wish for) achievement.

onemíngcryjīngastonishrénpeople

A single cry that astonishes everyone — unexpected breakthrough after a quiet period.

chūexitlèicategoryrise abovecuìpeak

Stand out from the crowd — exceptional among peers.

péngPeng-birdchéngjourneywànten-thousandli

A Peng bird's flight of ten thousand miles — limitless future.

jiānfirmchíholdnotxièslack

Persevere without slackening — keep at it without letting up.

quánfullstrengthwithgo

Go all out — commit your full strength to it.

gōngachievementchéngcompletemíngnamejiùestablished

Achievement made, name established — success and recognition both arrived.

míngnamechuíhang downqīnggreenshǐhistory

Name handed down in history — to leave a lasting legacy.

greatvesselwǎnlatechéngcomplete

Great vessels are slow to complete — major talents take time to ripen.

oneactchéngbecomemíngname

One act and you're famous — overnight success.

notcanhuòperhapsquēlack

Absolutely necessary; indispensable; vital.

notshèngable to finishméienumeratecite

Too numerous to count; countless.

notleaveremainingstrength

To spare no effort; to do one's utmost.

notzhédiscountnotkòudeduct

One hundred percent; without any discount; genuine; thorough.

chènsuitxīnheartaswish

Perfectly satisfactory; everything one could wish.

chéngestablishjiāfamilyestablishcareer

To get married and start a career; to settle down.

chūexceedrénpeopleexpectationliàoanticipate

To exceed expectations; unexpected.

bigdāoknifekuòwideaxe

Drastic and decisive; bold and resolute.

greatmíngnamedǐngtripoddǐngtripod

Famous; celebrated; well-known.

bigyǒuhavecanwéido

Having great potential; promising.

dāngdeserveszhīitwithoutkuìshame

Fully deserving of the honor; worthy of the name.

receivetiānheavenuniquehòugenerous

Uniquely blessed by nature; endowed with exceptional advantages.

obtainxīnheartyìngrespondshǒuhand

To do something skillfully and easily; to be able to handle the task with ease.

aloneshùplantonezhìbanner

To develop a unique style; to stand out from the crowd.

developyángpromoteguāngshinebig

To develop and promote; to carry forward and enhance.

gāohighzhānlookyuǎnfarzhǔsee

To stand high and see far; to have a broad and long-term perspective; farsighted.

hànsweathorsegōngachievementláomerit

Merit for distinguished service; contribution in war or work.

cranestandchickenqúngroup

A crane standing among chickens; head and shoulders above others; standing out from the crowd.

huàdrawlóngdragondiǎndotjīngeye

To add the finishing touch; to paint the dragon and dot in the eyes.

collectthoughtsguǎng广widenbenefit

To pool wisdom for mutual benefit; to draw on collective wisdom.

jiǎofootstepshísolidground

To be down-to-earth; to be practical and realistic.

jīngrefinedmoreqiúseekjīngrefined

To strive for perfection; constantly improving.

wholeshìworldzhǔfocuseyes

Attracting worldwide attention; world-renowned.

kāiopentiānheavencreateearth

To create the heavens and the earth; to start something unprecedented; epoch-making.

kǎnuprightkǎnuprightérandtánspeak

To speak with composure and confidence; to speak frankly and fluently.

kōngemptyqiánbeforejuéseverhòuafter

Unprecedented and unrepeatable; the first and the last; unparalleled.

láicomezhīitnoteasy

Not easily obtained; hard-won.

liǎngbothquáncompleteitsměibeauty

To satisfy both sides; to the benefit of all parties.

líndrippingdrippingjìnexhaustzhìarrive

Thoroughly; completely; to the fullest extent.

horsedàoarrivechéngsuccessgōngsuccess

Instant success; to achieve immediate victory.

máiburytóuheadbittergànwork

To immerse oneself in hard work; to bury oneself in one's work.

máoMaosuíSuiselfjiànrecommend

To volunteer one's services; to recommend oneself.

méngatetíngcourtyardruòlikeshìmarket

A household as crowded as a marketplace; a very popular or influential household.

mèngdreammèisleepwithqiúseek

To long for something day and night; to yearn for something even in one's dreams.

miànfacemiànfacealldàoarrive

To attend to each and every aspect; to be meticulous and comprehensive.

míngnameaccorditsshíreality

Worthy of the name; a true reflection of the name; the name matches the reality.

unitedxīnheartxiécooperatestrength

to work together with one heart; to be of one mind

qiānthousandfāngmethodbǎihundredplan

by every possible means; by hook or by crook

qiánbeforenoancientrénpeople

Unprecedented; unparalleled; never before seen in history.

qīngbluechūcome outfromlánindigo

The student surpasses the teacher; the younger generation excels the older.

qīnglightérandeasylift

Easy to do; with no difficulty; a piece of cake.

takeéranddàireplacezhīit

To replace someone or something; to supersede.

rénpersonjìnexhausttheircáitalent

To make the best use of people's talents; everyone gives full play to their abilities.

róngappearanceguānglighthuànradiateemit

To be radiant; to glow with health and vigor.

likehuǒfirelikewhite-flowered grass

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

asyuànwishwithchángfulfilled

To have one's wish fulfilled; to get what one wanted.

shìeffortbànhalfgōngresultbèidouble

To achieve twice the result with half the effort; to get great results with little effort.

shǔcountoneshǔcountèrtwo

Among the best; one of the top.

shuǐwaterzhǎngrisechuánboatgāohigh

As the water rises, the boat floats higher; to rise with the tide.

tuōescapeyǐngawlérandchūexit

To stand out from the crowd; to distinguish oneself.

wànten thousandshìthingsallbèiready

Everything is ready; all is in order.

thingměibeautifuljiàpriceliáncheap

high quality and low price; a bargain

happywénhearhappyjiànsee

a delight to see (and hear); warmly welcomed

xiǎosmallcàidishonediéplate

a piece of cake; a walk in the park

xīnheartxiǎngthinkshìmatterchéngachieve

May all your wishes come true.

xīnflourishingxīnflourishingxiàngtowardsróngthriving

Flourishing and prosperous; thriving.

xìngspiritgāohighcǎispiritlièintense

In high spirits; elated.

oneskillzhīofchángstrength

A special skill or talent.

oneactionliǎngtwogains

Kill two birds with one stone; achieve two things at once.

oneyìngallcompletequánwhole

To be complete in every respect; to have everything that one needs.

yīngshouldyǒuhavejìnallyǒuhave

To have everything that one could wish for; to have all one needs.

yǒuhavekǒumouthjiēallbēistele

Universally praised; enjoy a good reputation.

yōusuperiorshèngwinlièinferiortàieliminate

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

yǒuhavetiáoordernotwěndisorder

Methodical; in an orderly way; neat and tidy.

withdaytogetherzēngincrease

To increase steadily; to grow with each passing day.

yuǎnfarjìnnearwénhearmíngfamous

Famous far and wide; well-known.

yùnplanchóustrategywéitenthold

To devise strategies within a command tent; to plan and direct affairs from behind the scenes; masterminding.

zàiagainjiēconnectzàiagainsharpen

To continue to put in more effort; to keep up the good work; to go on to greater heights.

zhāomorningspiritpéngflourishingvigorous

Full of youthful spirit; vigorous and thriving.

zhòngheavyzhōngamongzhīofzhòngheavy

the most important of the important; the top priority

selfstrengthgēngrenewshēnglife

Regenerate through one's own effort; self-reliance.

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