成语 meaning in English
Chinese set expression, typically of 4 characters, often alluding to a story or historical quotation; idiom; proverb; saying; adage
Meaning of 成语
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- Chinese set expression, typically of 4 characters, often alluding to a story or historical quotation; idiom; proverb; saying; adage
Measure word: 條|条,本,句
How to use 成语
成语 refers to fixed expressions, most often four characters long, that people use in writing, speeches, and educated conversation. Many come from old stories, so knowing the story helps you understand the meaning. Example: 这个成语是什么意思？(Zhège chéngyǔ shì shénme yìsi?) What does this idiom mean?
成 (chéng) means to become or to be completed, and 语 (yǔ) means words or language, as in 汉语 (Hànyǔ). A 成语 is a set of words that has already been finished and fixed, so you use it whole and do not change it.
Common mistake: Learners often use 成语 for any common saying, but a full-sentence folk saying like 活到老，学到老 is usually called 俗语 (súyǔ) or 谚语 (yànyǔ), not 成语. Also keep the second tone on 成 (chéng) and the third tone on 语 (yǔ).
成语 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
成 chéng · to succeed · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
语 yǔ · words · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 成语.
| 外语 | wàiyǔ | foreign language |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese language |
| 成为 | chéngwéi | to become; to turn into |
| 变成 | biànchéng | to change into; to turn into |
| 完成 | wánchéng | to complete; to accomplish |
| 英语 | Yīngyǔ | English (language) |
| 语言 | yǔyán | language |
| 成绩 | chéngjì | achievement; performance records |
| 组成 | zǔchéng | to form; to make up |
| 词语 | cíyǔ | word (general term including monosyllables through to short phrases); term (e.g. technical |
| 成功 | chénggōng | to succeed; success |
| 造成 | zàochéng | to bring about; to create; to cause |
Questions about 成语
What does 成语 mean?
成语 (chéngyǔ) means "Chinese set expression, typically of 4 characters, often alluding to a story or historical quotation; idiom; proverb; saying; adage" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 成语?
成语 is made of 2 characters: 成 (6 strokes), 语 (9 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 成语 an HSK word?
Yes. 成语 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 成语 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 成语 is written 成語.
What is the measure word for 成语?
The usual measure word is 个 (gè), as in 一个成语 (yí ge chéngyǔ). In more formal writing you may also see 条 (tiáo).
Are all 成语 four characters long?
Most are four characters, such as 一心一意 (yì xīn yí yì), wholeheartedly. A small number have three, five, or more characters, but four is by far the standard pattern.