Chinese idioms starting with Q

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

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

• 乞哀告怜 qǐ āi gào lián begging for pity and asking for help
• 泣不成声 qì bù chéng shēng unable to speak through tears; sobbing uncontrollably
• 起承转合 qǐ chéng zhuǎn hé four-part structure of a composition: introduction, elucidat
• 奇耻大辱 qí chǐ dà rǔ a great humiliation; a huge embarrassment
• 气冲牛斗 qì chōng niú dǒu imposing and powerful; (in modern usage, esp.) extremely ang
• 气冲霄汉 qì chōng xiāo hàn dauntless; courageous; spirited
• 气喘如牛 qì chuǎn rú niú to breathe heavily like an ox
• 砌词捏控 qì cí niē kòng to make an accusation based on fabricated evidence
• 齐大非偶 qí dà fēi ǒu too rich to be a good match (in marriage)
• 气定神闲 qì dìng shén xián calm and composed
• 弃恶从善 qì è cóng shàn to renounce evil and turn to virtue
• 凄风苦雨 qī fēng kǔ yǔ lit. bleak wind and icy rain
• 棋高一着 qí gāo yī zhāo to be a step ahead of the opponent
• 旗鼓相当 qí gǔ xiāng dāng lit. two armies have equivalent banners and drums ; fig. eve
• 欺行霸市 qī háng bà shì to dominate the market through unfair, coercive or monopolis
• 骑虎难下 qí hǔ nán xià if you ride a tiger, it's hard to get off ; fig. impossible
• 奇花异草 qí huā yì cǎo rare or exotic flowers and plants
• 齐家治国 qí jiā zhì guó to regulate the family and rule the state
• 起居作息 qǐ jū zuò xī lit. rising and lying down, working and resting
• 旗开得胜 qí kāi dé shèng lit. to win a victory on raising the flag ; fig. to start on
• 妻离子散 qī lí zǐ sàn a family wrenched apart
• 七零八落 qī líng bā luò everything broken and in disorder
• 骑驴找驴 qí lǘ zhǎo lǘ lit. to search for the mule while riding on it
• 骑驴找马 qí lǘ zhǎo mǎ (coll.) to continue in an unsatisfactory job (or romantic re
• 骑马找马 qí mǎ zhǎo mǎ (coll.) to continue in an unsatisfactory job (or romantic re
• 其貌不扬 qí mào bù yáng nothing special to look at
• 七扭八歪 qī niǔ bā wāi misshapen
• 弃农经商 qì nóng jīng shāng to abandon farming and become a businessman
• 期期艾艾 qī qī ài ài stammering
• 七窍生烟 qī qiào shēng yān lit. spouting smoke through the seven orifices
• 七情六欲 qī qíng liù yù various emotions and desires
• 欺人太甚 qī rén tài shèn to bully intolerably
• 杞人忧天 Qǐ rén yōu tiān (lit.) like the man of 杞 (Qǐ) who feared the sky would fall
• 齐人之福 Qí rén zhī fú lit. the happy fate of the man from Qi (who had a wife and a
• 杞人之忧 Qǐ rén zhī yōu (lit.) the fear held by a man of 杞 (Qǐ) that the sky would f
• 欺世盗名 qī shì dào míng to fool the world and usurp a good name
• 七手八脚 qī shǒu bā jiǎo with everyone lending a hand (eagerly but somewhat chaotical
• 欺霜傲雪 qī shuāng ào xuě (lit.) cold-resistant
• 起死回生 qǐ sǐ huí shēng to rise from the dead ; fig. an unexpected recovery
• 奇谈怪论 qí tán guài lùn strange tales and absurd arguments
• 齐头并进 qí tóu bìng jìn to go forward together ; to undertake simultaneous tasks
• 七弯八拐 qī wān bā guǎi twisting and turning
• 奇文共赏 qí wén gòng shǎng lit. remarkable work appreciated by all ; universally praise
• 气息奄奄 qì xī yǎn yǎn to have only a breath of life
• 祁奚之荐 Qí Xī zhī jiàn Qi Xi's recommendation ; recommending the best person for th
• 齐心合力 qí xīn hé lì to work as one ; united in a concerted effort
• 齐心协力 qí xīn xié lì to work with a common purpose ; to make concerted efforts
• 奇形怪状 qí xíng guài zhuàng fantastic oddities of every description ; grotesquely shaped
• 欺以其方 qī yǐ qí fāng deceived by a pretense of reason
• 岂有此理 qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ how can this be so? ; preposterous
• 弃约背盟 qì yuē bèi méng to abrogate an agreement
• 七折八扣 qī zhé bā kòu lit. various cuts and deductions
• 奇珍异宝 qí zhēn yì bǎo rare treasure
• 旗帜鲜明 qí zhì xiān míng to show one's colors
• 杞梓之林 qǐ zǐ zhī lín a multitude of talented people
• 恰如其分 qià rú qí fèn appropriate
• 千变万轸 qiān biàn wàn zhěn constantly changing, ever-varying
• 千差万别 qiān chā wàn bié extremely diverse
• 牵肠挂肚 qiān cháng guà dù deeply worried ; to feel anxious
• 浅尝辄止 qiǎn cháng zhé zhǐ (lit.) to stop after taking just a sip ; (fig.) to gain only
• 前车之鉴 qián chē zhī jiàn (lit.) a warning taken from the overturned cart ahead
• 千锤百炼 qiān chuí bǎi liàn after hard work and numerous revisions
• 千刀万剐 qiān dāo wàn guǎ to hack (sb) to pieces (punishment in former times)
• 千恩万谢 qiān ēn wàn xiè to thank profusely; to express deep gratitude
• 千方百计 qiān fāng bǎi jì lit. thousand ways, a hundred plans ; by every possible mean
• 前赴后继 qián fù hòu jì to advance dauntlessly in wave upon wave
• 前功尽弃 qián gōng jìn qì to waste all one's previous efforts
• 千古遗恨 qiān gǔ yí hèn to have eternal regrets
• 千古罪人 qiān gǔ zuì rén sb condemned by history
• 千家万户 qiān jiā wàn hù every family
• 千娇百媚 qiān jiāo bǎi mèi (of a woman) bewitching; charming
• 千金难买 qiān jīn nán mǎi can't be bought for one thousand in gold
• 千金一诺 qiān jīn yī nuò a promise worth one thousand in gold ; a promise that must b
• 千金一掷 qiān jīn yī zhì lit. stake a thousand pieces of gold on one throw ; to throw
• 前倨后恭 qián jù hòu gōng to switch from arrogance to deference
• 千军万马 qiān jūn wàn mǎ magnificent army with thousands of men and horses ; impressi
• 千钧一发 qiān jūn yī fà (lit.) a thousand pounds hangs by a thread
• 钱可通神 qián kě tōng shén with money, you can do anything
• 千里鹅毛 qiān lǐ é máo goose feather sent from afar ; a trifling gift with a weight
• 千里迢迢 qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo from a great distance; (to come) from afar
• 黔驴技穷 Qián lǘ jì qióng to exhaust one's limited abilities
• 千虑一失 qiān lǜ yī shī reflect a thousand times and you can still make a mistake ;
• 钳马衔枚 qián mǎ xián méi with horses and soldiers gagged
• 迁怒于人 qiān nù yú rén to vent one's anger on an innocent party
• 千篇一律 qiān piān yī lǜ thousand articles, same rule ; stereotyped and repetitive
• 前仆后继 qián pū hòu jì one falls, the next follows ; stepping into the breach to re
• 千奇百怪 qiān qí bǎi guài fantastic oddities of every description
• 千千万万 qiān qiān wàn wàn lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands ; untold numbers
• 牵强附会 qiān qiǎng fù huì to make an irrelevant comparison or interpretation
• 潜神默记 qián shén mò jì to devote oneself to a task in silence
• 前世姻缘 qián shì yīn yuán a marriage predestined in a former life
• 千丝万缕 qiān sī wàn lǚ intricately interconnected
• 前所未闻 qián suǒ wèi wén unheard-of; unprecedented
• 前所未有 qián suǒ wèi yǒu unprecedented
• 前无古人 qián wú gǔ rén unprecedented
• 浅显易懂 qiǎn xiǎn yì dǒng easy to understand
• 千辛万苦 qiān xīn wàn kǔ to suffer untold hardships ; trials and tribulations
• 千言万语 qiān yán wàn yǔ thousands of words ; having a lot of things to say
• 牵羊担酒 qiān yáng dān jiǔ pulling a lamb and bringing wine on a carrying pole ; fig. t
• 千依百顺 qiān yī bǎi shùn totally submissive
• 前因后果 qián yīn hòu guǒ cause and effects ; entire process of development
• 前缘未了 qián yuán wèi liǎo one's predestined fate is yet to be fulfilled
• 千载难逢 qiān zǎi nán féng extremely rare
• 千真万确 qiān zhēn wàn què absolutely true
• 千姿百态 qiān zī bǎi tài to come in many different shapes; to display a great variety
• 强词夺理 qiǎng cí duó lǐ to twist words and force logic
• 强弩之末 qiáng nǔ zhī mò (lit.) an arrow at the end of its flight
• 羌无故实 qiāng wú gù shí to have no basis in fact
• 抢险救灾 qiǎng xiǎn jiù zāi to provide relief during times of emergency and disaster
• 敲钉钻脚 qiāo dīng zuān jiǎo to make doubly sure
• 翘居群首 qiáo jū qún shǒu head and shoulders above the crowd ; preeminent
• 巧立名目 qiǎo lì míng mù to fabricate excuses
• 乔迁之喜 qiáo qiān zhī xǐ congratulations on house-moving or promotion ; Best wishes f
• 巧舌如簧 qiǎo shé rú huáng lit. to have a tongue like the reed of a wind instrument
• 翘首以待 qiáo shǒu yǐ dài to hold one's breath (in anticipation)
• 巧言令色 qiǎo yán lìng sè to be glib in one's speech and wear an ingratiating expressi
• 敲诈勒索 qiāo zhà lè suǒ extortion and blackmail
• 乔装打扮 qiáo zhuāng dǎ bàn to dress up in disguise ; to pretend for the purpose of dece
• 翘足而待 qiáo zú ér dài to expect in a short time
• 翘足引领 qiáo zú yǐn lǐng waiting on tiptoes and craning one's neck
• 切齿腐心 qiè chǐ fǔ xīn to detest sth or sb to the utmost extreme
• 切磋琢磨 qiē cuō zhuó mó lit. cutting and polishing
• 锲而不舍 qiè ér bù shě to chip away at a task and not abandon it ; to chisel away a
• 窃窃私议 qiè qiè sī yì to discuss sth quietly in private
• 窃窃私语 qiè qiè sī yǔ to whisper; to speak in whispers
• 怯声怯气 qiè shēng qiè qì to speak in a frightened voice that lacks courage
• 切中时弊 qiè zhòng shí bì to hit home on the evils of the day ; fig. to hit a current
• 切中时病 qiè zhòng shí bìng to hit the target where it hurts ; fig. to hit home
• 切中要害 qiè zhòng yào hài to hit the target and do real damage
• 勤俭节约 qín jiǎn jié yuē diligent and thrifty
• 琴剑飘零 qín jiàn piāo líng floating between zither and sword ; fig. wandering aimlessly
• 亲临其境 qīn lín qí jìng to travel to a place personally
• 亲密无间 qīn mì wú jiàn to have a very close relationship with each other
• 勤能补拙 qín néng bǔ zhuō hard work can make up for lack of natural talent
• 琴棋书画 qín qí shū huà the four arts of the Chinese scholar (guqin, Go, calligraphy
• 沁人心脾 qìn rén xīn pí (lit.) to penetrate deeply into the heart
• 亲如手足 qīn rú shǒu zú as close as brothers ; deep friendship
• 亲如一家 qīn rú yī jiā family-like close relationship
• 寝苫枕块 qǐn shān zhěn kuài bed of straw and pillow of clay
• 寝食难安 qǐn shí nán ān (lit.) unable to sleep or eat in peace
• 亲疏贵贱 qīn shū guì jiàn close and distant, rich and poor ; everyone
• 勤则不匮 qín zé bù kuì If one is industrious, one will not be in want.
• 擒贼擒王 qín zéi qín wáng to defeat the enemy by capturing their leader
• 情比金坚 qíng bǐ jīn jiān love is more solid than gold
• 情不自禁 qíng bù zì jīn cannot refrain from; cannot help; cannot but
• 倾巢而出 qīng cháo ér chū the whole nest came out ; to turn out in full strength
• 倾巢来犯 qīng cháo lái fàn to turn out in force ready to attack
• 轻车熟路 qīng chē shú lù lit. to drive a lightweight chariot on a familiar road
• 青春不再 qīng chūn bù zài lit. one's youth will never return
• 情定终身 qíng dìng zhōng shēn to pledge eternal love; to exchange marriage vows
• 情窦初开 qíng dòu chū kāi first awakening of love (usually of a girl)
• 清风劲节 qīng fēng jìng jié pure and high-minded
• 清风两袖 qīng fēng liǎng xiù honest and upright
• 清风明月 qīng fēng míng yuè lit. cool breeze and bright moon
• 倾国倾城 qīng guó qīng chéng lit. capable of causing the downfall of a city or state
• 情何以堪 qíng hé yǐ kān how can this be endured!
• 青红皂白 qīng hóng zào bái the rights and wrongs of a matter
• 青黄不接 qīng huáng bù jiē lit. yellow does not reach green ; the yellow autumn crop do
• 情急智生 qíng jí zhì shēng inspiration in a moment of desperation
• 倾家荡产 qīng jiā dàng chǎn to lose a family fortune
• 轻举妄动 qīng jǔ wàng dòng to act blindly without thinking
• 请君入瓮 qǐng jūn rù wèng lit. please Sir, get into the boiling pot
• 轻口薄舌 qīng kǒu bó shé hasty and rude; caustic and sharp-tongued
• 轻浪浮薄 qīng làng fú bó frivolous
• 青梅竹马 qīng méi zhú mǎ lit. green plums and hobby-horse
• 青面獠牙 qīng miàn liáo yá ferocious-looking
• 轻描淡写 qīng miáo dàn xiě to treat sth as no big deal
• 倾囊相授 qīng náng xiāng shòu to impart all one's knowledge or expertise
• 倾盆大雨 qīng pén dà yǔ a downpour; rain bucketing down
• 卿卿我我 qīng qīng wǒ wǒ to bill and coo
• 轻饶素放 qīng ráo sù fàng easily forgive, simply release ; to let sb off scot free
• 青山绿水 qīng shān lǜ shuǐ (lit.) green hills and clear waters
• 轻声细语 qīng shēng xì yǔ to speak softly
• 轻手轻脚 qīng shǒu qīng jiǎo (to move or do sth) softly; quietly; gently
• 情随事迁 qíng suí shì qiān feelings change with circumstances
• 青天白日 qīng tiān bái rì in broad daylight; in the middle of the day
• 晴天霹雳 qíng tiān pī lì lit. thunderclap from a clear sky
• 青天霹雳 qīng tiān pī lì (lit.) thunderclap from a clear sky
• 蜻蜓点水 qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ lit. the dragonfly touches the water lightly
• 情同骨肉 qíng tóng gǔ ròu as close as flesh and bones ; deep friendship
• 情同手足 qíng tóng shǒu zú as close as one's hands and feet ; loving one another as bro
• 情投意合 qíng tóu yì hé to have an affinity with each other; to find each other cong
• 倾箱倒箧 qīng xiāng dào qiè to exhaust all one has
• 清心寡欲 qīng xīn guǎ yù uninterested in self-indulgence
• 倾心吐胆 qīng xīn tǔ dǎn to pour out one's heart
• 情逾骨肉 qíng yú gǔ ròu feelings deeper than for one's own flesh and blood
• 轻于鸿毛 qīng yú hóng máo light as a goose feather ; trifling
• 青云直上 qīng yún zhí shàng rising straight up in a clear sky ; rapid promotion to a hig
• 情真意切 qíng zhēn yì qiè sincere; heartfelt
• 轻重缓急 qīng zhòng huǎn jí slight or important, urgent or non-urgent ; to deal with imp
• 罄竹难书 qìng zhú nán shū (lit.) too numerous to record on bamboo slips
• 轻嘴薄舌 qīng zuǐ bó shé lit. light mouth, thin tongue ; hasty and rude
• 穷兵黩武 qióng bīng dú wǔ to engage in wars of aggression at will
• 穷当益坚 qióng dāng yì jiān poor but ambitious ; hard-pressed but determined
• 穷家薄业 qióng jiā bó yè lit. poor and with few means of subsistance
• 穷家富路 qióng jiā fù lù at home be frugal, but when traveling be prepared to spend
• 琼浆玉液 qióng jiāng yù yè bejeweled nectar ; ambrosia of the immortals
• 穷困潦倒 qióng kùn liáo dǎo to live in poverty and despair; down and out; destitute and
• 琼楼玉宇 qióng lóu yù yǔ bejeweled jade palace ; sumptuous dwelling
• 穷山恶水 qióng shān è shuǐ lit. barren hills and wild rivers
• 穷奢极侈 qióng shē jí chǐ extravagant in the extreme
• 穷奢极欲 qióng shē jí yù to indulge in a life of luxury ; extreme extravagance
• 穷鼠啮狸 qióng shǔ niè lí a desperate rat will bite the fox ; the smallest worm will t
• 穷思苦想 qióng sī kǔ xiǎng to think hard
• 穷途末路 qióng tú mò lù lit. the path exhausted, the end of the road ; an impasse
• 穷则思变 qióng zé sī biàn when you hit bottom, you have to come up with a new approach
• 秋风过耳 qiū fēng guò ěr lit. as the autumn breeze passes the ear ; not in the least
• 秋风飒飒 qiū fēng sà sà the autumn wind is soughing
• 秋风送爽 qiū fēng sòng shuǎng the cool autumn breeze
• 秋毫无犯 qiū háo wú fàn (of soldiers) highly disciplined, not committing the slighte
• 求好心切 qiú hǎo xīn qiè to demand the highest standards of sb (or oneself)
• 秋后算帐 qiū hòu suàn zhàng lit. settle accounts after the autumn harvest
• 秋后算账 qiū hòu suàn zhàng lit. to settle accounts after autumn
• 求情告饶 qiú qíng gào ráo to beg for forgiveness
• 求全责备 qiú quán zé bèi to demand perfection
• 求仁得仁 qiú rén dé rén lit. to seek virtue and acquire it
• 求田问舍 qiú tián wèn shè lit. to be interested exclusively in the acquisition of esta
• 求同存异 qiú tóng cún yì to put aside differences and work together; to seek common g
• 秋荼密网 qiū tú mì wǎng flowering autumn grass, fine net ; fig. abundant and exactin
• 求贤若渴 qiú xián ruò kě to eagerly seek talented people
• 求之不得 qiú zhī bù dé lit. seek but fail to get ; fig. exactly what one’s been loo
• 取而代之 qǔ ér dài zhī to replace; to supersede; to take its (or her etc) place
• 曲高和寡 qǔ gāo hè guǎ difficult songs find few singers
• 曲肱而枕 qū gōng ér zhěn lit. to use one's bent arm as a pillow
• 趋吉避凶 qū jí bì xiōng to seek luck and avoid calamity
• 趋利避害 qū lì bì hài to make the most of the benefits while avoiding adverse effe
• 曲里拐弯 qū lǐ guǎi wān winding and turning
• 曲突徙薪 qū tū xǐ xīn lit. to bend the chimney and remove the firewood (to prevent
• 去芜存菁 qù wú cún jīng lit. to get rid of the weeds and keep the flowers
• 趋炎附势 qū yán fù shì to curry favor ; playing up to those in power
• 屈指可数 qū zhǐ kě shǔ (lit.) can be counted on one's fingers
• 趋之若鹜 qū zhī ruò wù to rush like ducks ; the mob scrabbles madly for sth unobtai
• 曲终奏雅 qǔ zhōng zòu yǎ perfect finish
• 拳打脚踢 quán dǎ jiǎo tī lit. to punch and kick ; to beat up
• 权衡利弊 quán héng lì bì to weigh the pros and cons
• 全军覆没 quán jūn fù mò total defeat of an army ; fig. a complete wipeout
• 全力以赴 quán lì yǐ fù to make an all-out effort
• 犬马之劳 quǎn mǎ zhī láo lit. the service of a dog or a horse
• 全民皆兵 quán mín jiē bīng to bring the entire nation to arms
• 劝善惩恶 quàn shàn chéng è to encourage virtue and punish evil ; fig. poetic justice
• 全身而退 quán shēn ér tuì to escape unscathed; to get through in one piece
• 全神贯注 quán shén guàn zhù to concentrate one's attention completely; with rapt attenti
• 泉石膏肓 quán shí gāo huāng lit. mountain springs and rocks in one's heart ; a deep love
• 全心全意 quán xīn quán yì heart and soul; wholeheartedly
• 权宜之策 quán yí zhī cè stratagem of convenience ; stop-gap measure
• 权宜之计 quán yí zhī jì plan of convenience ; stop-gap measure
• 全知全能 quán zhī quán néng omniscient and omnipotent
• 鹊巢鸠占 què cháo jiū zhàn the magpie made a nest, the turtledove dwells in it
• 确凿不移 què záo bù yí established and irrefutable
• 群策群力 qún cè qún lì to act in concert; to pool ideas and efforts
• 裙带关系 qún dài guān xi favoritism shown to sb because of the influence of the perso
• 群雄逐鹿 qún xióng zhú lù great heroes pursue deer in the central plains ; fig. many v

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