10 Useful and Positive Chengyus (Chinese Idioms) for Everyday Life for Kids
Learning Chinese idioms (成语) can be a fun and meaningful way to understand Chinese language and culture. It is however, not easy for children learning Chinese and English speakers to understand what they mean. And, Chinese idioms dictionaries often have explanations that need explanations themselves.
Not to worry! We have carefully written clear explanations in English for you. We have also added the equivalent English idioms and expressions so it’s super easy to understand! By the end of this blog post, you would have learned one more Chinese idiom!
Here are 10 positive and useful chengyus from the Dim Sum Warriors Bilingual Illustrated Dictionary that kids can start using today:
1. Chengyu: 津津有味 (jīn jīn yǒu wèi)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: Describes enjoying food or an activity with great relish. Perfect for talking about delicious meals or exciting moments during a hobby.
Chinese example: 小明吃着妈妈煮的晚餐,津津有味地说:「真好吃!」
Pinyin: Xiǎo Míng chī zhe mā mā zhǔ de wǎn cān, jīn jīn yǒu wèi de shuō: “Zhēn hǎo chī!”
English translation: Xiao Ming ate the dinner his mom cooked and said with relish, “This is so yummy!”
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s a vivid way to express enjoyment, whether it’s about food, a great movie, or a fun activity. Many TV hosts use it to describe how delicious food is.
2. Chengyu: 多姿多彩 (duō zī duō cǎi)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: Highlights diversity and vibrance, describing a lively event.
Chinese example: 学校的运动会非常多姿多彩,大家都玩得很开心。
Pinyin: Xué xiào de yùn dòng huì fēi cháng duō zī duō cǎi, dà jiā dōu wán dé hěn kāi xīn.
English translation: The school’s sports day was vibrant and lively; everyone had a great time.
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s a versatile phrase for describing exciting experiences, making it perfect for daily conversations. In Taiwan, people more commonly use 多彩多姿 (duō cǎi duō zī).
3. Chengyu: 兴高采烈 (xìng gāo cǎi liè)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: A great way to describe someone’s cheerful and spirited mood at a party or celebration.
Chinese example: 放学后,孩子们兴高采烈地跑去公园玩游戏。
Pinyin: Fàng xué hòu, hái zǐ men xìng gāo cǎi liè de pǎo qù gōng yuán wán yóu xì.
English translation: After school, the children ran to the park, cheerful and excited to play games.
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s frequently used to describe joyful and energetic moments, especially those involving kids or celebrations. 高兴 (gāo xìng) means ‘happy,’ but if you want to express an even greater level of happiness, 兴高采烈 (xìng gāo cǎi liè) is the perfect phrase to use!
4. Chengyu: 和乐融融 (hé lè róng róng)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: Describes harmony and joy in a group, such as a family gathering or a team activity.
Chinese example: 春节期间,全家人坐在一起吃年夜饭,气氛和乐融融。
Pinyin: Chūn jié qī jiān, quán jiā rén zuò zài yī qǐ chī nián yè fàn, qì fèn hé lè róng róng.
English translation: During the Lunar New Year, the whole family sat together for a reunion dinner, enjoying a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s ideal for describing warm and happy gatherings, making it popular in family or team contexts.
5. Chengyu: 聚精会神 (jù jīng huì shén)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: Perfect for encouraging focus, whether during homework, a fun project, or a game.
Chinese example: 他聚精会神地看书,连妈妈叫他吃饭都没听见。
Pinyin: Tā jù jīng huì shén de kàn shū, lián mā mā jiào tā chī fàn dōu méi tīng jiàn.
English translation: He was so focused on reading that he didn’t even hear his mom calling him for dinner.
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s a handy phrase for emphasizing the importance of concentration in various situations. The most common scenario for using this phrase is when your mom or teacher tells you to study for exams.
6. Chengyu: 刮目相看 (guā mù xiāng kàn)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: Use this to praise someone who has improved significantly, like a classmate who excelled in an unexpected way.
Chinese example: 小明的数学成绩进步得很快,老师对他刮目相看。
Pinyin: Xiǎo Míng de shù xué chéng jì jìn bù dé hěn kuài, lǎo shī duì tā guā mù xiāng kàn.
English translation: Xiao Ming’s math grades improved so quickly that the teacher started looking at him with new respect.
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s a great way to show recognition and appreciation for someone’s hard work and progress. Teachers and parents often use it to encourage students and kids. You can even hear it in animations like Doraemon!
7. Chengyu: 再接再厉 (zài jiē zài lì)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: A motivational idiom to inspire persistence and continuous effort, especially after setbacks.
Chinese example: 虽然比赛输了,但教练鼓励大家再接再厉,下一次一定会赢。
Pinyin: Suī rán bǐ sài shū le, dàn jiào liàn gǔ lì dà jiā zài jiē zài lì, xià yī cì yí dìng huì yíng.
English translation: Although the team lost the game, the coach encouraged everyone to keep trying, saying they would win next time.
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s a powerful phrase to motivate kids to persevere, whether in school, sports, or hobbies. This Chinese idiom is often used during award ceremonies to encourage winners to keep improving.
8. Chengyu: 画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: Describes adding the final touch that brings something to life, like a finishing stroke in art or a punchline in a story.
Chinese example: 他在作文的最后加了一句精彩的话,真是画龙点睛!
Pinyin: Tā zài zuò wén de zuì hòu jiā le yī jù jīng cǎi de huà, zhēn shì huà lóng diǎn jīng!
English translation: He added an excellent sentence at the end of his essay, which was truly the perfect finishing touch!
Why it’s common in daily life: This phrase is perfect for describing moments when someone’s contribution or effort completes a task brilliantly. You might be reminded of this Chinese idiom when visiting a Chinese temple and noticing the vivid dragon decorations with their big, round eyes!
9. Chengyu: 良药苦口 (liáng yào kǔ kǒu)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: A reminder that good advice may not always be pleasant to hear but is valuable.
Chinese example: 爸爸告诉他,虽然良药苦口,但批评对他成长有帮助。
Pinyin: Bà bà gào sù tā, suī rán liáng yào kǔ kǒu, dàn pī píng duì tā chéng zhǎng yǒu bāng zhù.
English translation: Dad told him that while good advice may be hard to hear, it is helpful for his growth.
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s a timeless way to teach kids the value of constructive feedback and the importance of learning from it. Almost every time I complained about how disgusting medicine was during my childhood, my parents would use this phrase to make me swallow it.
10. Chengyu: 一言为定 (Yì yán wéi dìng)
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Chinese Idioms
Definition: A simple and practical way to affirm an agreement, like saying “Deal!”
Chinese example: 我们约好了明天一起去游乐园,一言为定!
Pinyin: Wǒ men yuē hǎo le míng tiān yī qǐ qù yóu lè yuán, Yì yán wéi dìng!English translation: We agreed to go to the amusement park tomorrow—deal!
Why it’s common in daily life: It’s a handy phrase for kids to confirm plans or promises, making it both fun and relatable. This Chinese idiom is often paired with 打勾勾 (dǎ gōu gōu), the act of linking pinky fingers with someone else, to show determination in a playful and adorable way.
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Chengyus Are for Everyone, Not Just Textbooks!
Many students or learners feel Chinese idioms (chengyus) can only be used in classromms, but that’s not the case! They’re widely used in daily conversations, stories, and even on TV shows and animations.
Kids can learn them easily and enjoy applying them in real-life scenarios. Chengyus like these 10 are popular because they pack deep meaning into just a few characters, making them both practical and effection.
Start Using Chinese Idioms Today!
Why not challenge yourself and your kids to use these 10 idioms in daily life? Whether you’re praising a meal, motivating someone, or describing a vibrant day, these chengyus can bring conversations to life.
The Dim Sum Warriors Bilingual Illustrated Dictionary is a fantastic tool to help you on this journey.