CYChengyu Dictionary

Chengyu lookup

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Meaning lookupcarelessPlain pinyinshou zhu dai tuSituation wordpraise
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马马虎虎so-so, careless, or just passable depending on contextmǎ mǎ hū hū · mixed · neutral to mildly negativeOpen entry守株待兔to wait idly for luck instead of workingshǒu zhū dài tù · negative · criticalOpen entry亡羊补牢to repair the pen after losing sheep; better late than neverwáng yáng bǔ láo · neutral · corrective and practicalOpen entry画蛇添足to ruin something by adding what is unnecessaryhuà shé tiān zú · negative · criticalOpen entry刻舟求剑to use a fixed mark for a changed situationkè zhōu qiú jiàn · negative · criticalOpen entry
马马虎虎mǎ mǎ hū hūso-so, careless, or just passable depending on contexthorse horse tiger tigerBeginnerneutral to mildly negative守株待兔shǒu zhū dài tùto wait idly for luck instead of workingguard a tree stump and wait for rabbitsIntermediatecritical亡羊补牢wáng yáng bǔ láoto repair the pen after losing sheep; better late than neverlose sheep, repair the enclosureIntermediatecorrective and practical画蛇添足huà shé tiān zúto ruin something by adding what is unnecessarydraw a snake and add feetIntermediatecritical刻舟求剑kè zhōu qiú jiànto use a fixed mark for a changed situationcarve a mark on the boat to look for a swordIntermediatecritical拔苗助长bá miáo zhù zhǎngto spoil growth by forcing it too fastpull up seedlings to help them growIntermediatecritical and cautionary水滴石穿shuǐ dī shí chuānsteady effort can wear through stonewater drops pierce stoneBeginnerpositive一丝不苟yì sī bù gǒumeticulous; not careless in the slightestnot careless about even one threadBeginnerpositive

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Themes are useful when you know the situation but not the exact chengyu.

Chengyu for Learning Chinese

Idioms that help learners talk about practice, mistakes, correction, and steady improvement.

Chengyu About Effort and Discipline

Positive and cautionary idioms for practice, persistence, over-pressure, and commitment.

Cautionary Chengyu

Story-driven warnings about passivity, rigidity, overdoing, wrong direction, and premature judgment.

Strategy Chengyu

Idioms for plans, direction, commitment, preparation, and decisions under pressure.

Everyday Spoken Chengyu

Common expressions that appear in daily conversation, self-evaluation, reviews, and casual criticism.

Chengyu About Perspective and Wisdom

Idioms that help explain uncertainty, narrow perspective, and the need to see the larger pattern.