Chinese idioms starting with P

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

扒高踩低 pá gāo cǎi dī crawl high, step low ; unprincipled crawling, flattering one
爬山涉水 pá shān shè shuǐ to climb mountains and wade rivers ; fig. to make a long and
拍案而起 pāi àn ér qǐ to slam the table and rise to one's feet in indignation
拍案叫绝 pāi àn jiào jué lit. slap the table and shout with praise ; fig. wonderful!
拍案惊奇 pāi àn jīng qí to slap the table in amazement ; wonderful!
排兵布阵 pái bīng bù zhèn to deploy troops in battle formation; (fig.) to organize and
排难解纷 pái nàn jiě fēn to remove perils and solve disputes ; to reconcile differenc
排山倒海 pái shān dǎo hǎi lit. to topple the mountains and overturn the seas ; earth-s
排忧解难 pái yōu jiě nàn to resolve a difficult situation and leave worries behind
攀附权贵 pān fù quán guì to cling to the powerful and rich ; social climbing
攀高结贵 pān gāo jié guì lit. to cling to the high, connect to the rich ; to try to a
盘根错节 pán gēn cuò jié twisted roots and intertwined joints ; complicated and very
盘根究底 pán gēn jiū dǐ lit. to examine roots and inquire at the base ; to get to th
盘根问底 pán gēn wèn dǐ lit. to examine roots and inquire at the base ; to get to th
盘龙卧虎 pán lóng wò hǔ lit. coiled dragon, crouching tiger
攀亲道故 pān qīn dào gù to use claims to kinship or friendship to climb socially
判若云泥 pàn ruò yún ní as different as heaven and earth
盘旋曲折 pán xuán qū zhé (of a road etc) to wind circuitously
旁观者清 páng guān zhě qīng an outsider can see things more clearly or objectively than
旁门左道 páng mén zuǒ dào dissenting religious sect ; heretical school of opinion
旁敲侧击 páng qiāo cè jī to make insinuations
庞然大物 páng rán dà wù huge object; colossus
滂沱大雨 pāng tuó dà yǔ torrents of rain
刨根问底 páo gēn wèn dǐ to dig up roots and inquire at the base ; to get to the bott
炮火连天 pào huǒ lián tiān cannon firing for days on end ; enveloped in the flames of w
跑马圈地 pǎo mǎ quān dì rushing to stake one's claim in new markets
咆哮如雷 páo xiào rú léi to be in a thundering rage
抛砖引玉 pāo zhuān yǐn yù lit. throw out a brick and get jade thrown back
喷薄欲出 pēn bó yù chū to be on the verge of eruption
蓬荜生辉 péng bì shēng huī (humble expression) your presence brings light to my humble
鹏程万里 péng chéng wàn lǐ the fabled roc flies ten thousand miles
捧腹大笑 pěng fù dà xiào to split one's sides laughing
蓬户瓮牖 péng hù wèng yǒu thatched house, broken urn windows ; poor person's house
蓬门筚户 péng mén bì hù overgrown gate, wicker windows ; poor person's house
蓬门荜户 péng mén bì hù overgrown gate, wicker windows ; poor person's house
怦然心动 pēng rán xīn dòng to feel a rush of excitement
皮包骨头 pí bāo gǔ tóu to be all skin and bones
蚍蜉撼树 pí fú hàn shù (lit.) an ant trying to shake a tree
匹夫匹妇 pǐ fū pǐ fù ordinary people; commoners
披肝沥胆 pī gān lì dǎn to be completely honest and sincere; to show wholehearted lo
屁滚尿流 pì gǔn niào liú to piss one's pants in terror
否极泰来 pǐ jí tài lái extreme sorrow turns to joy
披荆斩棘 pī jīng zhǎn jí lit. to cut one's way through thistles and thorns
皮开肉绽 pí kāi ròu zhàn flesh lacerated from corporal punishment
劈空扳害 pī kōng bān hài damaged by groundless slander
披沙拣金 pī shā jiǎn jīn (lit.) to sort the gold from the sand
劈头盖脸 pī tóu gài liǎn lit. splitting the head and covering the face ; fig. pelting
披头散发 pī tóu sàn fà with dishevelled hair
批郤导窾 pī xì dǎo kuǎn to get right to the heart of the matter
疲于奔命 pí yú bēn mìng terribly busy
胼手胝足 pián shǒu zhī zú lit. with calluses on hands and feet
偏邪不正 piān xié bù zhèng biased
漂泊无依 piāo bó wú yī to lead an unsettled life with no one to rely on
飘忽不定 piāo hū bù dìng to drift without a resting place
瓢泼大雨 piáo pō dà yǔ downpour
漂洋过海 piāo yáng guò hǎi to cross the ocean; to cross the seas
贫病交加 pín bìng jiāo jiā poverty compounded by ill health
贫病交迫 pín bìng jiāo pò beset by poverty and illness
牝鸡司晨 pìn jī sī chén female chicken crows at daybreak ; a woman usurps authority
牝牡骊黄 pìn mǔ lí huáng a black stallion or possibly a yellow mare ; don't judge by
品头论足 pǐn tóu lùn zú lit. to assess the head and discuss the feet ; minute critic
贫无立锥 pín wú lì zhuī not even enough land to stand an awl ; absolutely destitute
品学兼优 pǐn xué jiān yōu excelling both in morals and studies ; top marks for studies
平安无事 píng ān wú shì safe and sound
平白无故 píng bái wú gù for no reason whatever; inexplicably
平淡无奇 píng dàn wú qí ordinary and mediocre ; nothing to write home about
平地起家 píng dì qǐ jiā to start from scratch
凭空捏造 píng kōng niē zào fabrication relying on nothing ; frame-up
平平无奇 píng píng wú qí ordinary; unremarkable; nothing special
平铺直叙 píng pū zhí xù (neutral) to narrate in a plain, unaffected manner; (mildly
凭轼结辙 píng shì jié zhé to drive non-stop as fast as one can
萍水相逢 píng shuǐ xiāng féng strangers coming together by chance
娉婷袅娜 pīng tíng niǎo nuó (of a woman) gorgeous and graceful; lithe and lovely
评头论足 píng tóu lùn zú lit. to assess the head and discuss the feet ; minute critic
评头品足 píng tóu pǐn zú to make idle remarks about a woman's appearance
平心而论 píng xīn ér lùn in all fairness; objectively speaking
平易近人 píng yì jìn rén amiable and approachable ; easygoing
迫不得已 pò bù dé yǐ to have no alternative ; compelled by circumstances
迫不及待 pò bù jí dài unable to hold oneself back; eager to do sth without delay
破财免灾 pò cái miǎn zāi a financial loss may prevent disaster
破除迷信 pò chú mí xìn to eliminate superstition
破釜沉舟 pò fǔ chén zhōu lit. to break the cauldrons and sink the boats ; fig. to cut
破罐破摔 pò guàn pò shuāi (lit.) to smash a pot just because it has a crack
破茧成蝶 pò jiǎn chéng dié lit. to break through a cocoon and turn into a butterfly
破镜重圆 pò jìng chóng yuán (lit.) the two halves of the broken mirror are rejoined
破旧立新 pò jiù lì xīn to get rid of the old to bring in the new ; to innovate
破口大骂 pò kǒu dà mà to let out a torrent of abuse
破门而入 pò mén ér rù to break the door down and enter
泼水难收 pō shuǐ nán shōu water once spilt cannot be retrieved ; irreversible change
破涕为笑 pò tì wéi xiào to turn tears into laughter ; to turn grief into happiness
迫在眉睫 pò zài méi jié pressing in on one's eyelashes ; imminent
破绽百出 pò zhàn bǎi chū (of an argument, theory etc) full of flaws
破竹建瓴 pò zhú jiàn líng lit. smash bamboo, overturn water tank ; fig. irresistible f
破竹之势 pò zhú zhī shì lit. a force to smash bamboo ; fig. irresistible force
裒多益寡 póu duō yì guǎ to take from the rich and give to the poor
剖腹藏珠 pōu fù cáng zhū lit. cutting one's stomach to hide a pearl
裒敛无厌 póu liǎn wú yàn to accumulate wealth without satisfaction
普度众生 pǔ dù zhòng shēng (Buddhism) to deliver all living creatures from suffering
普济众生 pǔ jì zhòng shēng universal mercy and succor ; the Buddha's infinite power and
朴实无华 pǔ shí wú huá simple; plain; unadorned
铺天盖地 pū tiān gài dì (lit.) eclipsing the sky and blanketing the earth
普天之下 pǔ tiān zhī xià all under heaven; in the whole world; throughout the world
铺张浪费 pū zhāng làng fèi extravagance and waste

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