Chinese idioms starting with D

Four-character idioms (chengyu) from CC-CEDICT, sorted by pinyin.

打抱不平 dǎ bào bù píng to aid sb suffering an injustice; to fight for justice
大包大揽 dà bāo dà lǎn to take complete charge
大材小用 dà cái xiǎo yòng to use a talented person in a role far beneath their ability
打草惊蛇 dǎ cǎo jīng shé lit. beat the grass to scare the snake
大吵大闹 dà chǎo dà nào to shout and scream ; to kick up a fuss
打成一片 dǎ chéng yī piàn to become as one (with a particular group of people); to mix
大吃一惊 dà chī yī jīng astounded; flabbergasted; taken aback
大错特错 dà cuò tè cuò to be gravely mistaken
大大咧咧 dà dà liē liē carefree; offhand; casual
打得火热 dǎ de huǒ rè to be on very good terms with each other
大敌当前 dà dí dāng qián to be faced with a formidable enemy
大动干戈 dà dòng gān gē lit. to go to war
大动肝火 dà dòng gān huǒ to fly into a rage; to lose one's temper
大而无当 dà ér wú dàng grandiose but impractical
大发慈悲 dà fā cí bēi to show mercy
大放悲声 dà fàng bēi shēng to wail loudly and mournfully
大放厥词 dà fàng jué cí to prattle on self-importantly
答非所问 dá fēi suǒ wèn to sidestep the question
打富济贫 dǎ fù jì pín to rob the rich to help the poor
大腹便便 dà fù pián pián big-bellied
达官贵人 dá guān guì rén high officials and noble lords; the powerful and influential
大海捞针 dà hǎi lāo zhēn lit. to fish a needle from the sea
大喊大叫 dà hǎn dà jiào shouting and screaming ; to scream loudly
大户人家 dà hù rén jiā wealthy, prominent family
大惑不解 dà huò bù jiě to be at a loss
大获全胜 dà huò quán shèng to seize total victory ; an overwhelming victory
打击报复 dǎ jī bào fù to retaliate
大吉大利 dà jí dà lì great luck, great profit ; everything is thriving
打家劫舍 dǎ jiā jié shè to break into a house for robbery
大奸似忠 dà jiān sì zhōng the most treacherous person appears the most guileless
大江南北 Dà jiāng nán běi north and south sides of the Yangtze River
大街小巷 dà jiē xiǎo xiàng great streets and small alleys ; everywhere in the city
大惊失色 dà jīng shī sè to turn pale with fright
大惊小怪 dà jīng xiǎo guài to make a fuss about nothing
大开大合 dà kāi dà hé epic in scope; wide-ranging
大开眼界 dà kāi yǎn jiè to broaden one's horizons greatly
大快朵颐 dà kuài duǒ yí to eat with great relish; to feast on (sth)
打落水狗 dǎ luò shuǐ gǒu lit. to beat a drowning dog
打马虎眼 dǎ mǎ hu yǎn to play dumb
大鸣大放 dà míng dà fàng to freely air one's views; to be heard far and wide; to attr
大难临头 dà nàn lín tóu to be facing imminent calamity
大排长龙 dà pái cháng lóng to form a long queue
大破大立 dà pò dà lì to destroy the old and establish the new
大起大落 dà qǐ dà luò (of market prices etc) to rapidly fluctuate
大器晚成 dà qì wǎn chéng lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot ; fig. a great t
打情骂俏 dǎ qíng mà qiào to banter flirtatiously
打入冷宫 dǎ rù lěng gōng to snub; to consign to the trash heap of history
大厦将倾 dà shà jiāng qīng great mansion on the verge of collapse ; hopeless situation
大声疾呼 dà shēng jí hū to call loudly ; to get people's attention
大势所趋 dà shì suǒ qū the prevailing trend; the trend of the times; an inevitable
大手大脚 dà shǒu dà jiǎo extravagant ; to throw away money by the handful
大庭广众 dà tíng guǎng zhòng in public; in front of everyone; openly (typically preceded
打退堂鼓 dǎ tuì táng gǔ lit. to beat the return drum
大喜过望 dà xǐ guò wàng overjoyed at unexpected good news
大限临头 dà xiàn lín tóu facing the end ; at the end of one's life
大显身手 dà xiǎn shēn shǒu fully displaying one's capabilities
大相径庭 dà xiāng jìng tíng as different as can be
打小算盘 dǎ xiǎo suàn pán lit. to count on a narrow abacus ; petty and scheming selfis
大义凛然 dà yì lǐn rán devotion to righteousness that inspires reverence
大义灭亲 dà yì miè qīn to place righteousness before family ; ready to punish one's
大勇若怯 dà yǒng ruò qiè a great hero may appear timid ; the really brave person rema
大有裨益 dà yǒu bì yì bringing great benefits ; very useful
大有可为 dà yǒu kě wéi with great prospects for the future ; well worth doing
大张旗鼓 dà zhāng qí gǔ with great fanfare; on a grand scale
大张声势 dà zhāng shēng shì to spread one's voice wide ; wide publicity
大张挞伐 dà zhāng tà fá to launch an all-out attack
大智如愚 dà zhì rú yú the wise may appear stupid ; a genius not appreciated in his
大智若愚 dà zhì ruò yú great intelligence may appear to be stupidity
代代相传 dài dài xiāng chuán passed on from generation to generation ; to hand down
待价而沽 dài jià ér gū to sell only for a good price
带牛佩犊 dài niú pèi dú to abandon armed struggle and return to raising cattle
待人接物 dài rén jiē wù to interact with people
呆若木鸡 dāi ruò mù jī lit. dumb as a wooden chicken ; fig. dumbstruck
淡泊名利 dàn bó míng lì not caring about fame and fortune
淡泊明志 dàn bó míng zhì living a simple life as one's ideal
单打独斗 dān dǎ dú dòu to fight alone
单刀赴会 dān dāo fù huì lit. to go among enemies with only one's sword
单刀直入 dān dāo zhí rù to get straight to the point
单调乏味 dān diào fá wèi monotonous
弹尽粮绝 dàn jìn liáng jué out of ammunition and no food left ; in desperate straits
弹尽援绝 dàn jìn yuán jué out of ammunition and no hope of reinforcements ; in despera
殚精极虑 dān jīng jí lǜ to exhaust one's thoughts and ingenuity ; to think sth throu
殚精竭虑 dān jīng jié lǜ to exhaust one's thoughts and ingenuity ; to think sth throu
担惊受怕 dān jīng shòu pà apprehensive; alarmed; anxious
单枪匹马 dān qiāng pǐ mǎ single-handed; on one's own
单人匹马 dān rén pǐ mǎ single-handedly
箪食壶浆 dān shí hú jiāng to receive troops with food and drink
但说无妨 dàn shuō wú fáng there is no harm in saying what one thinks
弹丸之地 dàn wán zhī dì tiny speck of land; small area
胆小如鼠 dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ chicken-hearted; gutless
但愿如此 dàn yuàn rú cǐ if only it were so
胆战心惊 dǎn zhàn xīn jīng to tremble with fear
淡妆浓抹 dàn zhuāng nóng mǒ in light or heavy makeup
当断不断 dāng duàn bù duàn to waver when decisiveness is needed
当机立断 dāng jī lì duàn to make prompt decisions
当家作主 dāng jiā zuò zhǔ to be in charge in one's own house
当务之急 dāng wù zhī jí top priority job; a matter of the greatest urgency
当之无愧 dāng zhī wú kuì fully deserving, without any reservations ; entirely worthy
道不拾遗 dào bù shí yí lit. no one picks up lost articles in the street
蹈常袭故 dǎo cháng xí gù follow the same old path ; stuck in a rut
倒持泰阿 dào chí Tài ē (lit.) to present the handle of a sword to another
倒打一耙 dào dǎ yī pá lit. to strike with a muckrake , cf Pigsy 豬八戒|猪八戒 in Journey
刀光剑影 dāo guāng jiàn yǐng lit. flash of knives and swords
刀锯斧钺 dāo jù fǔ yuè knife, saw, ax and hatchet ; facing torture and execution
刀枪不入 dāo qiāng bù rù lit. impervious to sword or spear
刀枪剑戟 dāo qiāng jiàn jǐ melee combat weapons of ancient China, such as swords, spear
刀山火海 dāo shān huǒ hǎi lit. mountains of daggers and seas of flames
道山学海 dào shān xué hǎi mountain of Dao, sea of learning ; learning is as high as th
倒行逆施 dào xíng nì shī to go against the tide ; to do things all wrong
倒悬之急 dào xuán zhī jí lit. the crisis of being hanged upside down ; fig. extremely
倒悬之苦 dào xuán zhī kǔ lit. the pain of being hanged upside down ; fig. extremely c
倒悬之危 dào xuán zhī wēi lit. the crisis of being hanged upside down ; fig. extremely
德薄能鲜 dé bó néng xiǎn little virtue and meager abilities ; I'm a humble person and
得不偿失 dé bù cháng shī the gains do not make up for the losses
德才兼备 dé cái jiān bèi possessing both integrity and talent
得寸进尺 dé cùn jìn chǐ lit. win an inch, want a foot ; fig. not satisfied with smal
得道多助 dé dào duō zhù a just cause enjoys abundant support ; those upholding justi
得而复失 dé ér fù shī to lose what one has just obtained
德高望重 dé gāo wàng zhòng a person of virtue and prestige; a person of good moral stan
得过且过 dé guò qiě guò satisfied just to get through ; to muddle through
得天独厚 dé tiān dú hòu blessed by heaven
得心应手 dé xīn yìng shǒu lit. what the heart wishes, the hand accomplishes skilled a
德艺双馨 dé yì shuāng xīn possessing both integrity and artistic skills
等而下之 děng ér xià zhī going from there to lower grades
登高望远 dēng gāo wàng yuǎn to stand tall and see far ; taking the long and broad view
灯红酒绿 dēng hóng jiǔ lǜ lanterns red, wine green ; feasting and pleasure-seeking
登堂入室 dēng táng rù shì (lit.) from the main room, enter the inner chamber
地大物博 dì dà wù bó vast territory with abundant resources
地动山摇 dì dòng shān yáo the earth quaked, the mountains shook ; a tremendous battle
地利人和 dì lì rén hé favorable geographical and social conditions ; good location
低声细语 dī shēng xì yǔ in a whisper
低首下心 dī shǒu xià xīn to be fawningly submissive
滴水穿石 dī shuǐ chuān shí dripping water penetrates the stone ; constant perseverance
滴水石穿 dī shuǐ shí chuān dripping water penetrates the stone ; constant perseverance
地狭人稠 dì xiá rén chóu small and densely populated
抵足而眠 dǐ zú ér mián lit. to live and sleep together ; fig. a close friendship
颠倒黑白 diān dǎo hēi bái lit. to invert black and white ; to distort the truth delibe
颠倒是非 diān dǎo shì fēi to distort right and wrong; to deliberately mislead
电光石火 diàn guāng shí huǒ in a flash; fleeting; momentary
电光朝露 diàn guāng zhāo lù flash of lightning, morning dew ; fig. ephemeral
点金成铁 diǎn jīn chéng tiě to transform gold into base metal ; fig. to edit sb else's b
点睛之笔 diǎn jīng zhī bǐ the brush stroke that dots in the eyes ; fig. to add the vit
颠沛流离 diān pèi liú lí homeless and miserable ; to wander about in a desperate plig
点石成金 diǎn shí chéng jīn to touch base matter and turn it to gold ; fig. to turn crud
点水不漏 diǎn shuǐ bù lòu not one drop of water leaks ; fig. thoughtful and completely
点铁成金 diǎn tiě chéng jīn to touch base matter and turn it to gold ; fig. to turn crud
点头哈腰 diǎn tóu hā yāo to nod one's head and bow ; bowing and scraping
点头咂嘴 diǎn tóu zā zuǐ to approve by nodding one's head and smacking one's lips
调兵遣将 diào bīng qiǎn jiàng to move an army and send a general ; to deploy an army
调虎离山 diào hǔ lí shān to lure the tiger from its domain in the mountains
雕栏玉砌 diāo lán yù qì (lit.) carved railings and jade steps
吊民伐罪 diào mín fá zuì to console the people by punishing the tyrants
掉以轻心 diào yǐ qīng xīn to treat sth lightly; to lower one's guard
雕楹碧槛 diāo yíng bì kǎn carved pillar, jade doorsill ; heavily decorated environment
喋喋不休 dié dié bù xiū to chatter endlessly; to talk nonstop
跌脚捶胸 diē jiǎo chuí xiōng lit. stamping and beating the chest ; fig. angry or stressed
跌至谷底 diē zhì gǔ dǐ to hit rock bottom
鼎铛玉石 dǐng chēng yù shí lit. to use a sacred tripod as cooking pot and jade as ordin
顶礼膜拜 dǐng lǐ mó bài to prostrate oneself in worship
顶门壮户 dǐng mén zhuàng hù to support the family business
顶天立地 dǐng tiān lì dì lit. able to support both heaven and earth
定于一尊 dìng yú yī zūn to rely on a single authority to determine what is correct
丢盔弃甲 diū kuī qì jiǎ to throw away one's helmet and armor while fleeing from defe
丢轮扯炮 diū lún chě pào flustered
东奔西跑 dōng bēn xī pǎo to run this way and that ; to rush about busily
东奔西走 dōng bēn xī zǒu to run this way and that ; to rush about busily
东窗事发 dōng chuāng shì fā (of a plot etc) to be exposed
东倒西歪 dōng dǎo xī wāi to lean unsteadily from side to side
洞房花烛 dòng fáng huā zhú bridal room and ornamented candles
动见观瞻 dòng jiàn guān zhān to be watched closely
东拉西扯 dōng lā xī chě to talk about this and that ; to ramble incoherently
东鳞西爪 dōng lín xī zhǎo lit. a dragon's scale from the east and a dragon's claw from
东拼西凑 dōng pīn xī còu to assemble from bits and pieces; to combine items from disp
动人心魄 dòng rén xīn pò breathtaking
洞若观火 dòng ruò guān huǒ lit. to see sth as clearly as one sees a blazing fire
东山再起 dōng shān zài qǐ lit. to return to office after living as a hermit on Mount D
东施效颦 Dōng Shī xiào pín lit. Dong Shi imitates Xi Shi's frown
东讨西征 dōng tǎo xī zhēng war on all sides ; fighting from all four quarters
东兔西乌 dōng tù xī wū lit. the sun setting and the moon rising
东掩西遮 dōng yǎn xī zhē to cover up the truth on all sides
东摇西摆 dōng yáo xī bǎi to sway from side to side; unsteady
东张西望 dōng zhāng xī wàng to look in all directions
动辄得咎 dòng zhé dé jiù faulted at every turn ; can't get anything right
东征西讨 dōng zhēng xī tǎo war on all sides ; fighting from all four quarters
东征西怨 dōng zhēng xī yuàn war on all sides ; fighting from all four quarters
斗鸡走马 dòu jī zǒu mǎ cock-fighting and horse-racing ; to gamble
斗酒只鸡 dǒu jiǔ zhī jī lit. a chicken and a bottle of wine ; fig. ready to make an
豆蔻年华 dòu kòu nián huá (of a girl) 13 or 14 years old; early teens; adolescence
独霸一方 dú bà yī fāng to exercise sole hegemony ; to dominate a whole area (market
独出心裁 dú chū xīn cái to display originality ; to do things differently
独当一面 dú dāng yī miàn to assume personal responsibility ; to take charge of a sect
独断独行 dú duàn dú xíng to decide and act alone ; to take arbitrary action
独断专行 dú duàn zhuān xíng to decide and act alone ; to take arbitrary action
独夫民贼 dú fū mín zéi tyrant and oppressor of the people ; traitorous dictator
蠹国害民 dù guó hài mín to rob the state and hurt the people
独具匠心 dú jù jiàng xīn original and ingenious
独具只眼 dú jù zhī yǎn to see what others fail to see
杜鹃啼血 dù juān tí xuè lit. the cuckoo, after its tears are exhausted, continues by
独来独往 dú lái dú wǎng to come and go alone; to act independently; (fig.) to keep t
独立自主 dú lì zì zhǔ independent and autonomous ; self-determination
妒能害贤 dù néng hài xián jealous of the able, envious of the clever
独辟蹊径 dú pì xī jìng to blaze a new trail ; to display originality
度日如年 dù rì rú nián a day drags past like a year ; time hangs heavy
独善其身 dú shàn qí shēn (originally, in Mencius) to cultivate one's moral character
独树一格 dú shù yī gé to have a unique style of one's own
独树一帜 dú shù yī zhì lit. to fly one's banner on a solitary tree ; fig. to act as
睹物思人 dǔ wù sī rén to fondly remember a person on seeing sth one associates wit
独行其是 dú xíng qí shì to go one's own way ; to act independently without asking ot
独一无二 dú yī wú èr unique; unmatched; unrivalled
独占鳌头 dú zhàn áo tóu to come first in triennial palace examinations (refers to th
蠹众木折 dù zhòng mù zhé Danger appears where many harmful factors exist.
断壁残垣 duàn bì cán yuán (lit.) broken walls and crumbling remnants
短兵相接 duǎn bīng xiāng jiē lit. short-weaponed soldiery fight one another ; fierce hand
断港绝潢 duàn gǎng jué huáng to be unable to continue
短小精悍 duǎn xiǎo jīng hàn (of a person) short but plucky
断袖之癖 duàn xiù zhī pǐ lit. cut sleeve ; fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originat
断章取义 duàn zhāng qǔ yì to quote out of context
短中抽长 duǎn zhōng chōu cháng to make the best of a bad job
堆案盈几 duī àn yíng jī lit. piles of work and papers ; fig. accumulated backlog of
对簿公堂 duì bù gōng táng public courtroom accusation
对答如流 duì dá rú liú able to reply quickly and fluently ; having a ready answer
堆积如山 duī jī rú shān to pile up like a mountain
对酒当歌 duì jiǔ dāng gē lit. sing to accompany wine ; fig. life is short, make merry
对牛弹琴 duì niú tán qín lit. to play the lute to a cow
对症下药 duì zhèng xià yào lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness ; fig. t
多吃多占 duō chī duō zhàn taking or eating more than one's due ; greedy and selfish
多愁多病 duō chóu duō bìng much sorrows and illness ; melancholy and weakly
多愁善感 duō chóu shàn gǎn emotionally sensitive and prone to melancholy
多此一举 duō cǐ yī jǔ to do more than is required ; superfluous
咄咄怪事 duō duō guài shì extraordinary occurrence; bizarre event
夺门而出 duó mén ér chū to rush out through a door
多谋善断 duō móu shàn duàn resourceful and decisive; resolute and sagacious
多难兴邦 duō nàn xīng bāng much hardships may awaken a nation ; calamity that prompts r
多钱善贾 duō qián shàn gǔ much capital, good business ; fig. good trading conditions
多如牛毛 duō rú niú máo (lit.) as numerous as the hairs of an ox
多事之秋 duō shì zhī qiū troubled times; eventful period
掇臀捧屁 duō tún pěng pì to hold up buttocks and praise a fart ; to use flatter to ge
堕云雾中 duò yún wù zhōng (lit.) to become lost in a fog
多子多福 duō zǐ duō fú the more sons, the more happiness

Data: CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.