Chinese idioms starting with A
Four-character idioms (chengyu) from CC-CEDICT, sorted by pinyin.
- 阿猫阿狗 ā māo ā gǒu (coll.) any Tom, Dick or Harry; just about anyone (used dism
- 哀兵必胜 āi bīng bì shèng an army burning with righteous indignation is bound to win
- 爱不忍释 ài bù rěn shì to love sth too much to part with it
- 爱不释手 ài bù shì shǒu to like sth so much that one is reluctant to put it down; to
- 爱财如命 ài cái rú mìng lit. to love money as much as one's own life
- 爱才若渴 ài cái ruò kě to be eager to surround oneself with talented people
- 挨打受骂 ái dǎ shòu mà to suffer beatings and receive abuse
- 挨打受气 ái dǎ shòu qì to suffer bullying and beating
- 挨饿受冻 ái è shòu dòng to go cold and hungry
- 哀而不伤 āi ér bù shāng deeply felt but not mawkish
- 哀告宾服 āi gào bīn fú to bring tribute as sign of submission ; to submit
- 哀鸿遍野 āi hóng biàn yě lit. plaintive whine of geese ; fig. land swarming with disa
- 哀毁骨立 āi huǐ gǔ lì to become emaciated from grief, esp. while mourning the deat
- 挨肩擦背 āi jiān cā bèi to be crowded together
- 碍口识羞 ài kǒu shí xiū tongue-tied for fear of embarrassment
- 爱理不理 ài lǐ bù lǐ standoffish; indifferent
- 爱民如子 ài mín rú zǐ to love the common people as one's own children (praise for
- 爱莫能助 ài mò néng zhù unable to help however much one would like to ; Although we
- 碍难从命 ài nán cóng mìng difficult to obey orders ; much to my embarrassment, I am un
- 唉声叹气 āi shēng tàn qì sighing voice, wailing breath
- 碍手碍脚 ài shǒu ài jiǎo to be in the way; to be a hindrance
- 爱屋及乌 ài wū jí wū lit. love the house and its crow ; involvement with sb and e
- 爱惜羽毛 ài xī yǔ máo to cherish one's reputation
- 矮小精悍 ǎi xiǎo jīng hàn short but intrepid
- 按兵不动 àn bīng bù dòng to hold back one's troops without moving ; to bide one's tim
- 案兵束甲 àn bīng shù jiǎ to rest weapons and loosen armor ; to relax from fighting
- 安步当车 ān bù dàng chē to go on foot
- 按部就班 àn bù jiù bān to follow the prescribed order; to keep to the working routi
- 安分守己 ān fèn shǒu jǐ to be content with one's lot
- 安富恤贫 ān fù xù pín to give sympathy to the rich and relief to the poor
- 安富恤穷 ān fù xù qióng to give sympathy to the rich and relief to the poor
- 安富尊荣 ān fù zūn róng well-off and respected
- 安家立业 ān jiā lì yè stable household, established profession ; settled and comfo
- 案甲休兵 àn jiǎ xiū bīng to put down weapon and let soldiers rest ; to relax from fig
- 安居乐业 ān jū lè yè to live in peace and work happily
- 安贫乐道 ān pín lè dào to be content with poverty and strive for virtue
- 黯然神伤 àn rán shén shāng depressed; dispirited
- 安然无恙 ān rán wú yàng safe and sound
- 黯然销魂 àn rán xiāo hún overwhelming sadness ; sorrow at parting
- 安如磐石 ān rú pán shí as solid as rock ; as sure as houses
- 安身立命 ān shēn lì mìng to settle down and pursue one's path in life
- 暗送秋波 àn sòng qiū bō to cast flirtatious glances at sb
- 按图索骥 àn tú suǒ jì lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture
- 暗无天日 àn wú tiān rì all black, no daylight ; a world without justice
- 安闲舒适 ān xián shū shì leisurely and free
- 安闲随意 ān xián suí yì leisurely and free ; carefree and at ease
- 安闲自得 ān xián zì dé feeling comfortably at ease
- 安闲自在 ān xián zì zai leisurely and free ; carefree and at ease
- 安于现状 ān yú xiàn zhuàng to take things as they are
- 昂首阔步 áng shǒu kuò bù striding forward with head high ; to walk with spirited and
- 昂首天外 áng shǒu tiān wài to raise one's head and look towards the heavens
- 昂首挺胸 áng shǒu tǐng xiōng head high, chest out ; to keep up one's spirits
- 盎盂相击 àng yú xiāng jī to quarrel
- 盎盂相敲 àng yú xiāng qiāo to quarrel
- 熬更守夜 áo gēng shǒu yè to stay up through the night
- 傲慢无礼 ào màn wú lǐ arrogant; disrespectful
- 傲视群伦 ào shì qún lún outstanding talent
- 凹凸不平 āo tū bù píng uneven (surface); bumpy (road)
Data: CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.