Have you been learning Chinese but still find yourself scratching your head over everyday phrases? Even simple sentences can sometimes be confusing. For example, you might get “没 (méi)” and “门 (mén),” but what about “没门儿” (méi ménr)? Is it just “no door”? In reality, Chinese is full of idioms that add color and depth to the language. Today, we’ll explore 12 essential Chinese idioms that will not only clarify these puzzling expressions but also enrich your understanding of Chinese culture.
Table of Contents
1. 没门儿 (Méi ménr) – No Way
2. 吹牛 (Chuī niú) – Boast
3. 打酱油 (Dǎ jiàng yóu) – Pass By
4. 穿小鞋 (Chuān xiǎo xié) – Sabotage
5. 吃豆腐 (Chī dòu fu) – Take Advantage
6. 放鸽子 (Fàng gē zi) – Stand Someone Up
7. 拍马屁 (Pāi mǎ pì) – Flatter Excessively
8. 拖后腿 (Tuō hòu tuǐ) – Drag Down
9. 泼冷水 (Pō lěng shuǐ) – Throw Cold Water
10. 吊胃口 (Diào wèi kǒu) – Tease
11. 开小差 (Kāi xiǎo chāi) – Daydream
12. 碰钉子 (Pèng dīng zi) – Hit a Snag
1. 没门儿 (Méi ménr) – No Way
“没门儿 (Méi ménr)” literally means “no door,” but it’s a colloquial way of saying “no way” or “not a chance.” This phrase is used to express strong disbelief or the impossibility of something happening.
In ancient China, a door symbolized opportunity or access. So when someone says “没门儿 (méi ménr),” they’re essentially shutting the door on any possibility.
For example:
He asked his friend to borrow the car, but knowing he had damaged the brakes last time, his friend replied:
Jiè chē gěi nǐ? Méi ménr!
借车给你？没门儿!
Lend you my car? No way!
She wanted to have a party the night before the exam, but her mother immediately vetoed it, saying:
Méi ménr, nǐ xūyào zǎodiǎn xiūxi.
没门儿，你需要早点休息
No way, you need to get some rest early.
2. 吹牛 (Chuī niú) – Boast
The idiom “吹牛 (chuīniú)” combines “吹 (chuī), to blow” and “牛 (niú), cow”, originally symbolizing exaggeration, like blowing something up to make it seem bigger. Over time, “吹牛 (chuīniú)” came to mean boasting or bragging, where someone exaggerates their abilities or achievements.
For example:
Tā zǒng shì xǐhuān chuīniú, shuō zìjǐ néng jiějué suǒyǒu wèntí.
他总是喜欢吹牛，说自己能解决所有问题。
He always likes to boast, claiming he can solve all problems.
3. 打酱油 (Dǎ jiàng yóu) – Pass By
“打酱油(dǎ jiàng yóu)” literally means “to buy soy sauce,” but it’s a colloquial way to say someone is just an observer, not involved in the main action. The phrase originates from the casual act of buying soy sauce while running errands, symbolizing a lack of interest or commitment to the main event.
For example:
Wǒ zhǐshì dǎ jiàngyóu de, bù cānyù zhè jiàn shì.
我只是打酱油的，不参与这件事。
I’m just passing by and not involved in this matter.
4. 穿小鞋 (Chuān xiǎo xié) – Sabotage
The idiom “穿小鞋 (chuānxiǎoxié)” literally means “to wear small shoes.” It comes from the metaphor of giving someone shoes that are too small, causing discomfort. Figuratively, it means “to sabotage” or “to make things difficult for someone,” describing actions that intentionally obstruct or hinder another person’s progress.
For example:
Tā zǒng shì gěi wǒ chuānxiǎoxié, ràng wǒ hěn kùnrǎo.
他总是给我穿小鞋，让我很困扰。
He always sabotages me, causing a lot of trouble.
5. 吃豆腐 (Chī dòu fu) – Take Advantage
The idiom “吃豆腐 (chī dòufu)” literally means “to eat tofu.” The phrase comes from the idea that tofu is soft and easy to eat, representing someone who is easy to take advantage of. Over time, it became associated with taking advantage of someone, often in a sexual context, due to the softness and vulnerability implied by tofu.
For example:
Zài bàngōngshì lǐ, tā zǒng shì zhǎo jīhuì hé nǚ tóngshì kāiwánxiào, yǒu shíhòu shènzhì chī dòufu, zhè ràng dàjiā dōu gǎndào bù shūfu.
在办公室里，他总是找机会和女同事开玩笑，有时候甚至吃豆腐，这让大家都感到不舒服。
In the office, he always looks for opportunities to joke with female colleagues, sometimes even taking advantage, which makes everyone uncomfortable.
6. 放鸽子 (Fàng gē zi) – Stand Someone Up
The idiom “放鸽子 (fàng gēzi)” literally means “to release a pigeon.” It originates from pigeon racing, where releasing a pigeon signifies sending it away. Over time, the phrase evolved to mean not showing up for an appointment, akin to letting a pigeon fly away instead of keeping a commitment.
For example:
Tā yòu fàng gēzile, zhēnshi ràng rén shīwàng.
他又放鸽子了，真是让人失望。
He stood me up again, which is really disappointing.
7. 拍马屁 (Pāi mǎ pì) – Flatter Excessively
The idiom “拍马屁 (pāimǎpì)” literally means “to pat the horse’s butt.” It originates from the practice of flattering someone by patting their horse, an action that was seen as insincere and excessive. Today, it describes the act of excessive or insincere flattery, often used to gain favor with someone.
For example:
Tā zǒng shì pāimǎpì, shìtú huòdé lǎobǎn de qīnglài.
他总是拍马屁，试图获得老板的青睐。
He always flatters excessively to try to gain the boss’s favor.
8. 拖后腿 (Tuō hòu tuǐ) – Drag Down
“拖后腿 (Tuō hòu tuǐ)” literally means “to drag the hind leg.” The phrase originates from the imagery of dragging something or someone backward, slowing down progress. It’s used to describe someone who is holding others back or impeding progress, much like dragging down a team’s efforts.
For example:
Rúguǒ nǐ bù nǔlì, jiù huì tuōhòutuǐ, yǐngxiǎng zhěnggè tuánduì de biǎoxiàn.
如果你不努力，就会拖后腿，影响整个团队的表现。
If you don’t work hard, you will drag down the team’s performance.
9. 泼冷水 (Pō lěng shuǐ) – Throw Cold Water
“泼冷水 (Pō lěng shuǐ)” literally means “to throw cold water.” This idiom comes from the idea that cold water douses enthusiasm or energy. It’s used to describe actions or words that dampen someone’s spirits or excitement, much like how cold water would extinguish a fire.
For example:
Nǐ bùyào zǒng shì pōlěngshuǐ, yīnggāi gǔlì biérén.
你不要总是泼冷水，应该鼓励别人。
Don’t always throw cold water; you should encourage others.
10. 吊胃口 (Diào wèi kǒu) – Tease
“吊胃口 (Diào wèikǒu)” literally means “to hang the appetite.” The phrase comes from the idea of tempting someone’s appetite by showing or offering something delicious but not letting them eat it right away. It’s used to describe teasing or keeping someone in suspense, creating anticipation.
For example:
Tā zǒng shì diào wèikǒu, gǎo de dàjiā dōu hěn qídài jiéguǒ.
她总是吊胃口，搞得大家都很期待结果。
She always teases, making everyone eagerly anticipate the outcome.
11. 开小差 (Kāi xiǎo chāi) – Daydream
“开小差 (Kāixiǎochāi)” literally means “to take a small deviation.” The idiom originally referred to soldiers who would leave their post or duties without permission. Over time, it came to mean someone who is mentally wandering or not paying attention, as if they’ve left their responsibilities behind to daydream.
For example:
Kāihuì de shíhòu nǐ bùyào kāixiǎochāi, yào zhuānzhù tīngjiǎng.
开会的时候你不要开小差，要专注听讲。
Don’t daydream during the meeting; pay attention to the presentation.
12. 碰钉子 (Pèng dīng zi) – Hit a Snag
“碰钉子 (Pèngdīngzi)” literally means “to hit a nail.” This idiom comes from the imagery of hitting a nail and being stopped or hurt by it. It’s used to describe encountering difficulties or obstacles, much like hitting a snag that impedes progress.
For example:
Zài shēnqǐng qiānzhèng shí, wǒ pèngdīngzile, shēnqǐng bèi jùjuéle.
在申请签证时，我碰钉子了，申请被拒绝了。
I hit a snag when applying for the visa; the application was rejected.
These 12 idioms are just a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Chinese culture and language. If you’re intrigued and want to explore more, why not start with a free trial class? eChineseLearning offers personalized 1-on-1 online lessons that are tailored to your level and goals. Whether you’re looking to boost your conversational skills, improve your work communication, or ace exams, our flexible and engaging classes are designed to help you succeed. Sign up today and see how we can support your journey in mastering Chinese!
