Chinese idioms starting with H

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

海枯石烂 hǎi kū shí làn (lit.) until the seas dry up and stones go soft
海阔天空 hǎi kuò tiān kōng wide sea and sky ; boundless open vistas
海纳百川 hǎi nà bǎi chuān all rivers run into the sea
害群之马 hài qún zhī mǎ lit. a horse that brings trouble to its herd
害人不浅 hài rén bù qiǎn (usu. of behaviors, systems or trends etc) to cause people t
海誓山盟 hǎi shì shān méng to pledge undying love ; oath of eternal love
海市蜃楼 hǎi shì shèn lóu (lit. and fig.) mirage
海晏河清 hǎi yàn hé qīng (lit.) the Yellow River is clear and the seas are calm
酣畅淋漓 hān chàng lín lí to one's heart's content
邯郸学步 Hán dān xué bù to copy the way they walk in Handan
寒风刺骨 hán fēng cì gǔ bone chilling wind
含宫咀徵 hán gōng jǔ zhǐ permeated with beautiful music
含垢忍辱 hán gòu rěn rǔ to bear shame and humiliation
含糊其词 hán hú qí cí to equivocate
汗流浃背 hàn liú jiā bèi to sweat profusely
汗牛充栋 hàn niú chōng dòng lit. enough books to make a pack-ox sweat or to fill a house
含情脉脉 hán qíng mò mò full of tender feelings ; tender-hearted
悍然不顾 hàn rán bù gù outrageous and unconventional ; flying in the face of (autho
汗如雨下 hàn rú yǔ xià sweating like rain ; to perspire profusely
含沙射影 hán shā shè yǐng to attack sb by innuendo; to make insinuations
含商咀徵 hán shāng jǔ zhǐ permeated with beautiful music
含辛茹苦 hán xīn rú kǔ to suffer every possible torment ; bitter hardship
含血喷人 hán xuè pēn rén to make false accusations against sb
含饴弄孙 hán yí nòng sūn lit. to play with one's grandchildren while eating candy
含英咀华 hán yīng jǔ huá to savor fine writing
沆瀣一气 hàng xiè yī qì to act in collusion ; in cahoots with
好吃懒做 hào chī lǎn zuò happy to partake but not prepared to do any work
皓齿朱唇 hào chǐ zhū chún white teeth and vermilion lips ; lovely young woman
毫发不爽 háo fà bù shuǎng not to deviate one hair's breadth
毫发无伤 háo fà wú shāng unscathed; unharmed; without a scratch
好高骛远 hào gāo wù yuǎn to bite off more than one can chew
浩浩荡荡 hào hào dàng dàng grandiose; majestic
好景不长 hǎo jǐng bù cháng a good thing doesn't last forever
好酒贪杯 hào jiǔ tān bēi fond of the bottle
毫厘不爽 háo lí bù shuǎng not to deviate an iota
好梦难成 hǎo mèng nán chéng a beautiful dream is hard to realize
豪气干云 háo qì gān yún lit. heroism reaching to the clouds
好奇尚异 hào qí shàng yì to have a taste for the exotic
浩如烟海 hào rú yān hǎi vast as the open sea ; fig. extensive (library)
好事多磨 hǎo shì duō mó the road to happiness is strewn with setbacks
皓首苍颜 hào shǒu cāng yán white hair and gray sunken cheeks ; decrepit old age
好说歹说 hǎo shuō dǎi shuō to try one's very best to persuade sb; to reason with sb in
嚎啕大哭 háo táo dà kū to wail; to bawl
好为人师 hào wéi rén shī to like to lecture others
毫无二致 háo wú èr zhì without the slightest difference
毫无逊色 háo wú xùn sè not in the least inferior
好逸恶劳 hào yì wù láo to love ease and comfort and hate work
好整以暇 hào zhěng yǐ xiá to be calm and unruffled in the midst of chaos or at a busy
阖第光临 hé dì guāng lín the whole family is invited
河东狮吼 Hé dōng shī hǒu lit. the lioness from Hedong roars
合而为一 hé ér wéi yī to merge together ; to unify disparate elements into one who
何乐不为 hé lè bù wéi what is there against it? (rhetorical question indicating an
鹤立鸡群 hè lì jī qún a crane in a flock of chicken ; way above the common
和气生财 hé qì shēng cái amiability makes you rich
和气致祥 hé qì zhì xiáng amiability leads to harmony
荷枪实弹 hè qiāng shí dàn armed
合情合理 hé qíng hé lǐ reasonable; fair
喝西北风 hē xī běi fēng (lit.) to drink the northwest wind
合眼摸象 hé yǎn mō xiàng to touch an elephant with closed eyes ; to proceed blindly
涸辙之鲋 hé zhé zhī fù lit. a fish in a dried-out rut
黑白不分 hēi bái bù fēn can't tell black from white ; unable to distinguish wrong fr
黑白分明 hēi bái fēn míng lit. black and white clearly contrasted
黑天半夜 hēi tiān bàn yè in the middle of the night
恨海难填 hèn hǎi nán tián sea of hatred is hard to fill ; irreconcilable division
恨之入骨 hèn zhī rù gǔ to hate sb to the bone
横冲直撞 héng chōng zhí zhuàng to barge through, jostling and elbowing; to charge around; t
横刀夺爱 héng dāo duó ài to rob sb of sth they cherish
恒河沙数 Héng hé shā shù countless as the grains of sand in the Ganges
横空出世 héng kōng chū shì to come to the fore in spectacular fashion; to emerge from o
横眉怒目 héng méi nù mù lit. furrowed brows and blazing eyes
横七竖八 héng qī shù bā in disorder
衡情酌理 héng qíng zhuó lǐ to weight the matter and deliberate the reason ; to weigh an
横生枝节 héng shēng zhī jié to deliberately complicate an issue
横行无忌 héng xíng wú jì to run rampant; to act with impunity
横征暴敛 héng zhēng bào liǎn to tax by force and extort levies ; to screw taxes out of th
轰动一时 hōng dòng yī shí to cause a sensation
洪福齐天 hóng fú qí tiān flood of good fortune fills the heavens ; a lucky sign
鸿毛泰岱 hóng máo tài dài light as a goose feather, heavy as Mt Tai ; of no consequenc
鸿毛泰山 hóng máo Tài Shān lit. light as a goose feather, heavy as Mt Tai
红男绿女 hóng nán lǜ nǚ young people decked out in gorgeous clothes
洪水猛兽 hóng shuǐ měng shòu lit. severe floods and fierce beasts
洪水滔滔 hóng shuǐ tāo tāo to have flooding over a vast area
哄堂大笑 hōng táng dà xiào the whole room roaring with laughter
红杏出墙 hóng xìng chū qiáng lit. the red apricot tree leans over the garden wall
红颜薄命 hóng yán bó mìng beautiful women suffer unhappy fates
烘云托月 hōng yún tuō yuè lit. to shade in the clouds to offset the moon ; fig. a foil
后车之鉴 hòu chē zhī jiàn lit. warning to the following cart ; don't follow the track
厚德载物 hòu dé zài wù with great virtue one can take charge of the world
厚古薄今 hòu gǔ bó jīn to revere the past and neglect the present
后顾之忧 hòu gù zhī yōu fears of trouble in the rear ; family worries (obstructing f
后患无穷 hòu huàn wú qióng there will be no end of trouble in the future
后悔莫及 hòu huǐ mò jí too late for regrets ; It is useless to repent after the eve
后会无期 hòu huì wú qī may never meet again; unlikely to meet again
后会有期 hòu huì yǒu qī I'm sure we'll meet again some day.
厚积薄发 hòu jī bó fā lit. to have accumulated knowledge and deliver it slowly
后继有人 hòu jì yǒu rén to have qualified successors to carry on one's undertaking
后来居上 hòu lái jū shàng see 后来者居上 (hòu lái zhě jū shàng)
侯门似海 hóu mén sì hǎi (lit.) the gate of a noble house is like the sea
后起之秀 hòu qǐ zhī xiù an up-and-coming youngster; new talent; a brilliant younger
后生可畏 hòu shēng kě wèi the young will be redoubtable in the years to come
厚死薄生 hòu sǐ bó shēng lit. to praise the dead and revile the living
后院起火 hòu yuàn qǐ huǒ a conflict arises close to home
胡编乱造 hú biān luàn zào to concoct a cock-and-bull story
怙恶不悛 hù è bù quān to keep doing evil without a sense of repentance
呼风唤雨 hū fēng huàn yǔ to call the wind and summon the rain ; to exercise magical p
户告人晓 hù gào rén xiǎo to make known to every household ; to disseminate widely
湖光山色 hú guāng shān sè scenic lakes and mountain ; beautiful lake and mountain land
狐假虎威 hú jiǎ hǔ wēi lit. the fox exploits the tiger's might ; fig. to use powerf
胡搅蛮缠 hú jiǎo mán chán to pester endlessly
虎踞龙盘 hǔ jù lóng pán lit. where tigers crouch and dragons coil ; fig. forbidding
虎踞龙蟠 hǔ jù lóng pán lit. where tigers crouch and dragons coil ; fig. forbidding
虎口余生 hǔ kǒu yú shēng lit. to escape from the tiger's mouth
呼来喝去 hū lái hè qù to call to come and shout to go ; to yell orders
狐狸尾巴 hú li wěi ba lit. fox's tail ; visible sign of evil intentions
囫囵吞枣 hú lún tūn zǎo to swallow in one gulp
呼牛呼马 hū niú hū mǎ to call sth a cow or a horse ; it doesn't matter what you ca
呼牛作马 hū niú zuò mǎ to call sth a cow or a horse ; it doesn't matter what you ca
狐朋狗友 hú péng gǒu yǒu a pack of rogues ; a gang of scoundrels
狐群狗党 hú qún gǒu dǎng a skulk of foxes, a pack of dogs
虎视眈眈 hǔ shì dān dān (lit.) to fix one's eyes on sth like a tiger watching its pr
户枢不蠹 hù shū bù dù lit. a door hinge never becomes worm-eaten
胡思乱想 hú sī luàn xiǎng to indulge in flights of fancy; to let one's imagination run
互诉衷肠 hù sù zhōng cháng to confide in each other
胡天胡帝 hú tiān hú dì with all the majesty of an emperor
呼天抢地 hū tiān qiāng dì to cry out to heaven and knock one's head against the ground
互通有无 hù tōng yǒu wú mutual exchange of assistance; to benefit from each other's
虎头蛇尾 hǔ tóu shé wěi lit. tiger's head, snake's tail ; fig. a strong start but we
虎尾春冰 hǔ wěi chūn bīng lit. like stepping on a tiger's tail or spring ice
互为因果 hù wéi yīn guǒ mutually related karma ; fates are intertwined
户限为穿 hù xiàn wéi chuān to have an endless stream of visitors
互相推诿 hù xiāng tuī wěi mutually shirking responsibilities ; each blaming the other
胡言乱语 hú yán luàn yǔ babbling nonsense ; crazy and unfounded ravings
呼之即来 hū zhī jí lái to come when called ; ready and compliant
呼之欲出 hū zhī yù chū lit. ready to appear at the call
胡诌八扯 hú zhōu bā chě to talk random nonsense; to say whatever comes into one's he
胡作非为 hú zuò fēi wéi to run amok ; to commit outrages
画饼充饥 huà bǐng chōng jī lit. to allay one's hunger using a picture of a cake
话不投机 huà bù tóu jī not on the same wavelength; unable to have a congenial conve
画荻教子 huà dí jiào zǐ to write on the sand with reeds while teaching one's son
画地为牢 huà dì wéi láo lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground
化敌为友 huà dí wéi yǒu to convert an enemy into a friend
画地自限 huà dì zì xiàn lit. to draw a line on the ground to keep within
华而不实 huá ér bù shí flower but no fruit ; handsome exterior but hollow inside
花好月圆 huā hǎo yuè yuán lit. lovely flowers, round moon ; fig. everything is wonderf
画虎类犬 huà hǔ lèi quǎn to try to draw a tiger but end up with a likeness of a dog
花甲之年 huā jiǎ zhī nián 60 years old
花街柳巷 huā jiē liǔ xiàng red-light district
画龙点睛 huà lóng diǎn jīng to paint a dragon and dot in the eyes ; fig. to add the vita
花貌蓬心 huā mào péng xīn florid outside appearance, unkempt interior
花钱受气 huā qián shòu qì to have a bad experience as a customer
花前月下 huā qián yuè xià romantic surroundings
花拳绣腿 huā quán xiù tuǐ flowery of fist with fancy footwork
花容月貌 huā róng yuè mào lit. countenance of a flower, face like the moon
画蛇添足 huà shé tiān zú lit. draw legs on a snake ; fig. to ruin the effect by addin
花天酒地 huā tiān jiǔ dì to spend one's time in drinking and pleasure ; to indulge in
花团锦簇 huā tuán jǐn cù brightly colored decorations
华佗再世 Huà Tuó zài shì (lit.) a reincarnation of Hua Tuo, the legendary physician o
化为泡影 huà wéi pào yǐng to come to nothing
化为乌有 huà wéi wū yǒu to go up in smoke; to vanish
华屋丘墟 huá wū qiū xū magnificent building reduced to a mound of rubble ; fig. all
化险为夷 huà xiǎn wéi yí to turn peril into safety ; to avert disaster
花言巧语 huā yán qiǎo yǔ graceful words, flowery speech ; elegant but insincere words
化整为零 huà zhěng wéi líng to break up the whole into pieces ; dealing with things one
花枝招展 huā zhī zhāo zhǎn lit. lovely scene of blossoming plants swaying in the breeze
怀璧其罪 huái bì qí zuì lit. treasuring a jade ring becomes a crime ; to get into tr
怀才不遇 huái cái bù yù to have talent but no opportunity
欢蹦乱跳 huān bèng luàn tiào glowing with health and vivacity
缓不济急 huǎn bù jì jí lit. slow no aid to urgent ; slow measures will not address
欢呼雀跃 huān hū què yuè cheering excitedly
患难之交 huàn nàn zhī jiāo a friend in times of tribulations ; a friend in need is a fr
涣然冰释 huàn rán bīng shì to melt away; to dissipate
焕然一新 huàn rán yī xīn to look completely new ; brand new
欢欣鼓舞 huān xīn gǔ wǔ elated and excited; overjoyed
黄道吉日 huáng dào jí rì auspicious day (for a wedding, ceremony etc)
荒谬绝伦 huāng miù jué lún absolutely ridiculous ; preposterous
黄袍加身 huáng páo jiā shēn lit. to take the yellow gown
皇亲国戚 huáng qīn guó qī the emperor relatives ; person with powerful connections
恍然大悟 huǎng rán dà wù to suddenly realize; to suddenly see the light
皇天后土 huáng tiān hòu tǔ heaven and earth
荒无人烟 huāng wú rén yān desolate and uninhabited
荒烟蔓草 huāng yān màn cǎo lit. abandoned by men and choked with weeds
悔不当初 huǐ bù dāng chū to regret one's past deeds
灰不溜丢 huī bu liū diū gloomy and dull
回嗔作喜 huí chēn zuò xǐ to go from anger to happiness
灰飞烟灭 huī fēi yān miè lit. scattered ashes and dispersed smoke
悔过自新 huǐ guò zì xīn to repent and start afresh ; to turn over a new leaf
挥毫洒墨 huī háo sǎ mò to wield a writing brush
悔恨交加 huǐ hèn jiāo jiā to feel remorse and shame
恢恢有余 huī huī yǒu yú lit. to have an abundance of space
挥霍无度 huī huò wú dù to squander recklessly; to spend extravagantly
讳疾忌医 huì jí jì yī hiding a sickness for fear of treatment ; fig. concealing a
毁家纾难 huǐ jiā shū nàn to sacrifice one's wealth to save the state
挥金如土 huī jīn rú tǔ lit. to squander money like dirt
回禄之灾 Huí lù zhī zāi fire disaster; conflagration
讳莫如深 huì mò rú shēn to steadfastly refuse to discuss the matter; to treat it as
挥洒自如 huī sǎ zì rú to do (sth) with great aplomb
绘声绘色 huì shēng huì sè vivid and colorful ; true to life
回天乏术 huí tiān fá shù nothing can be done to remedy the situation; beyond recovery
灰头土脸 huī tóu tǔ liǎn head and face filthy with grime
回心转意 huí xīn zhuǎn yì to change one's mind
毁誉参半 huǐ yù cān bàn to receive both praise and criticism; to get mixed reviews
毁于一旦 huǐ yú yī dàn ruined in a short time (esp. of sth that took a long time or
悔之无及 huǐ zhī wú jí too late for regrets ; It is useless to repent after the eve
魂不附体 hún bù fù tǐ lit. body and soul separated ; fig. scared out of one's wits
魂不守舍 hún bù shǒu shè to be preoccupied
魂飞魄散 hún fēi pò sàn lit. the soul flies away and scatters
昏昏沉沉 hūn hūn chén chén dizzy
浑浑噩噩 hún hún è è muddleheaded
昏昏欲睡 hūn hūn yù shuì drowsy
魂牵梦萦 hún qiān mèng yíng to miss very much; to yearn for
浑然天成 hún rán tiān chéng to resemble nature itself
混世魔王 hùn shì mó wáng devil incarnate
浑水摸鱼 hún shuǐ mō yú to fish in troubled water ; to take advantage of a crisis fo
昏天黑地 hūn tiān hēi dì lit. dark sky and black earth
混为一谈 hùn wéi yī tán to confuse one thing with another ; to muddle
混淆是非 hùn xiáo shì fēi to confuse right and wrong
混淆视听 hùn xiáo shì tīng to obscure the facts ; to mislead the public with prevaricat
活蹦乱跳 huó bèng luàn tiào to leap and frisk about ; lively
货比三家 huò bǐ sān jiā to shop around
祸不单行 huò bù dān xíng misfortune does not come singly
祸不旋踵 huò bù xuán zhǒng trouble is never far away
祸从口出 huò cóng kǒu chū Trouble issues from the mouth . A loose tongue may cause a l
祸福无常 huò fú wú cháng disaster and happiness do not follow rules ; future blessing
祸福与共 huò fú yǔ gòng to stick together through thick and thin
祸国殃民 huò guó yāng mín to damage the country and cause suffering to the people
活灵活现 huó líng huó xiàn living spirit, living image ; true to life
活龙活现 huó lóng huó xiàn living spirit, living image ; true to life
霍然而愈 huò rán ér yù to recover speedily ; to get better quickly
豁然开朗 huò rán kāi lǎng suddenly opens up to a wide panorama ; to come to a wide cle
火上加油 huǒ shàng jiā yóu to add oil to the fire ; fig. to aggravate a situation
火上浇油 huǒ shàng jiāo yóu to pour oil on the fire ; fig. to aggravate a situation
火烧眉毛 huǒ shāo méi mao lit. the fire burns one's eyebrows ; fig. desperate situatio
货真价实 huò zhēn jià shí (lit.) genuine goods at fair prices
火中取栗 huǒ zhōng qǔ lì lit. to pull chestnuts out of the fire

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