About the project

Wisdom made memorable.

Chengyu are compact Chinese idioms—usually four characters—that hold stories, values, warnings, and turns of phrase accumulated across generations.

One idea each day

Daily Chengyu is designed for steady learning rather than endless scrolling. Visit each day for one idiom, or search the complete library when a particular idea catches your attention.

The Daily Chengyu collection

Explore the same 722 unique idioms as the Daily Chengyu iPhone app, with pinyin, meanings, and character explanations. Each entry has a source-reviewed origin account and an original everyday example with pinyin, English translation, and a usage note.

Stories distinguish historical accounts from legends, fables, and literary expressions. Where an origin is uncertain, we say so. Open “Sources and further reading” on an idiom’s page to explore the evidence.