Chinese idioms starting with R

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

燃眉之急 rán méi zhī jí lit. the fire burns one's eyebrows ; fig. desperate situatio
染指垂涎 rǎn zhǐ chuí xián lit. dirty finger, mouth watering ; fig. greedy to seize sth
染指于鼎 rǎn zhǐ yú dǐng lit. dip one's finger in the tripod ; fig. to get one's fing
攘外安内 rǎng wài ān nèi to resist foreign aggression and pacify the interior of the
绕来绕去 rào lái rào qù meandering and circuitous ; to go around in circles and neve
绕梁三日 rào liáng sān rì reverberates around the rafters for three days ; fig. sonoro
饶舌调唇 ráo shé tiáo chún blabbing and showing off ; loud-mouthed trouble maker
绕膝承欢 rào xī chéng huān to live with one's parents, thus bringing them happiness
饶有风趣 ráo yǒu fēng qù bubbling with humor ; witty and interesting
热火朝天 rè huǒ cháo tiān in full swing
惹火烧身 rě huǒ shāo shēn stir up the fire and you get burnt ; to get one's fingers bu
热泪盈眶 rè lèi yíng kuàng eyes brimming with tears of excitement
热情洋溢 rè qíng yáng yì brimming with enthusiasm ; full of warmth
热血沸腾 rè xuè fèi téng to be fired up; to have one's blood racing; to be burning (w
人才济济 rén cái jǐ jǐ a galaxy of talent
人财两空 rén cái liǎng kōng to suffer the departure of sb (talented staff or one's spous
人定胜天 rén dìng shèng tiān man can conquer nature ; human wisdom can prevail over natur
人丁兴旺 rén dīng xīng wàng to be a flourishing family with many descendants
人多势众 rén duō shì zhòng many men, a great force ; many hands provide great strength
人浮于事 rén fú yú shì more hands than needed ; too many cooks spoil the broth
人喊马嘶 rén hǎn mǎ sī lit. people shouting and horses neighing
人迹罕至 rén jì hǎn zhì lit. men's footprints are rare
人给家足 rén jǐ jiā zú lit. each household provided for, enough for the individual
认鸡作凤 rèn jī zuò fèng (lit.) to mistake a chicken for a phoenix
人间地狱 rén jiān dì yù hell on earth ; suffering the torments of Buddhist hell whil
人杰地灵 rén jié dì líng illustrious hero, spirit of the place ; a place derives refl
人尽皆知 rén jìn jiē zhī known to everyone
人尽可夫 rén jìn kě fū (of a woman) promiscuous; loose
人困马乏 rén kùn mǎ fá riders tired and horses weary
人来人往 rén lái rén wǎng people coming and going; bustling with activity
任劳任怨 rèn láo rèn yuàn to work hard without complaint
人面兽心 rén miàn shòu xīn (lit.) human face, beastly heart
人命关天 rén mìng guān tiān human life is beyond value
人模狗样 rén mú gǒu yàng to pose
忍气吞声 rěn qì tūn shēng to submit to humiliation ; to suffer in silence
任其自然 rèn qí zì rán to let things take their course
人琴俱亡 rén qín jù wáng person and lute have both vanished
人去楼空 rén qù lóu kōng (lit.) the occupants have gone and the place is now empty
仁人君子 rén rén jūn zǐ people of good will ; charitable person
任人唯亲 rèn rén wéi qīn to practice nepotism or cronyism in making appointments
任人唯贤 rèn rén wéi xián to appoint people according to their merits ; appointment on
仁人义士 rén rén yì shì those with lofty ideals
任人宰割 rèn rén zǎi gē to get trampled on
仁人志士 rén rén zhì shì gentleman aspiring to benevolence ; people with lofty ideals
忍辱负重 rěn rǔ fù zhòng to endure humiliation as part of an important mission ; to s
人如其名 rén rú qí míng to live up to one's name; true to one's name
忍辱偷生 rěn rǔ tōu shēng to bear humiliation to save one's skin
人山人海 rén shān rén hǎi multitude; vast crowd
人谁无过 rén shéi wú guò Everyone makes mistakes
人声鼎沸 rén shēng dǐng fèi lit. a boiling cauldron of voices
人生如梦 rén shēng rú mèng life is but a dream
人生朝露 rén shēng zhāo lù human life as the morning dew ; fig. ephemeral and precariou
人寿年丰 rén shòu nián fēng long-lived people, rich harvests ; stable and affluent socie
人微言轻 rén wēi yán qīng what lowly people think counts for little
忍无可忍 rěn wú kě rěn more than one can bear ; at the end of one's patience
人五人六 rén wǔ rén liù to make a show of being decent and proper; to display phony
任贤使能 rèn xián shǐ néng to appoint the virtuous and use the able ; appointment on th
人心不古 rén xīn bù gǔ moral standards are much lower now than in former times
人心惶惶 rén xīn huáng huáng everyone is anxious
人心难测 rén xīn nán cè hard to fathom a person's mind
人烟稠密 rén yān chóu mì densely populated
人言籍籍 rén yán jí jí tongues are wagging
人言可畏 rén yán kě wèi gossip is a fearful thing
仁言利博 rén yán lì bó Words of benevolence apply universally . Humanitarian expres
人烟稀少 rén yān xī shǎo no sign of human habitation ; desolate
人言啧啧 rén yán zé zé everyone comments disapprovingly
人仰马翻 rén yǎng mǎ fān to suffer a crushing defeat
仁义道德 rén yì dào dé compassion, duty, propriety and integrity ; all the traditio
人云亦云 rén yún yì yún to say what everyone says
认贼作父 rèn zéi zuò fù lit. to acknowledge the bandit as one's father ; fig. a comp
人之常情 rén zhī cháng qíng human nature
仁至义尽 rén zhì yì jìn extreme benevolence, utmost duty ; meticulous virtue and att
人中龙凤 rén zhōng lóng fèng a giant among men
人走茶凉 rén zǒu chá liáng lit. when people leave, the tea cools
日薄崦嵫 rì bó Yān zī lit. the sun sets in Yanzi
日进斗金 rì jìn dǒu jīn to rake in money; to make money hand over fist
日久生情 rì jiǔ shēng qíng familiarity breeds fondness
日久岁深 rì jiǔ suì shēn for a long period of time; for a number of years
日落西山 rì luò xī shān the sun sets over western hills ; the day approaches its end
日暮途穷 rì mù tú qióng sunset, the end of the road ; in terminal decline
日晒雨淋 rì shài yǔ lín lit. exposed to sun and rain
日无暇晷 rì wú xiá guǐ no time to spare
日新月异 rì xīn yuè yì daily renewal, monthly change
日月如梭 rì yuè rú suō the sun and moon like a shuttle ; How time flies!
容光焕发 róng guāng huàn fā face glowing ; looking radiant
荣华富贵 róng huá fù guì glory, splendor, wealth and rank ; high position and great w
容华绝代 róng huá jué dài to be blessed with rare and radiant beauty
融会贯通 róng huì guàn tōng to integrate knowledge from various sources into a deep and
戎马生涯 róng mǎ shēng yá army life
荣辱与共 róng rǔ yǔ gòng (of friends or partners) to share both the honor and the dis
融为一体 róng wéi yī tǐ to fuse together
柔肠寸断 róu cháng cùn duàn lit. to feel as if one's intestines have been cut short
柔情脉脉 róu qíng mò mò full of tender feelings ; tender-hearted
柔情侠骨 róu qíng xiá gǔ gentle feelings and chivalrous disposition
肉眼凡胎 ròu yǎn fán tāi ignoramus
如臂使指 rú bì shǐ zhǐ as the arm moves the finger
如痴如醉 rú chī rú zuì enthralled; mesmerized; enraptured
如堕烟雾 rú duò yān wù as if degenerating into smoke ; ignorant and unable to see w
如法炮制 rú fǎ páo zhì lit. to follow the recipe
如鲠在喉 rú gěng zài hóu lit. as if having a fish bone stuck in one's throat
如虎添翼 rú hǔ tiān yì lit. like a tiger that has grown wings
如花似玉 rú huā sì yù delicate as a flower, refined as a precious jade
如簧之舌 rú huáng zhī shé lit. a tongue like a reed
如火如荼 rú huǒ rú tú like wildfire
如饥似渴 rú jī sì kě to hunger for sth ; eagerly
如金似玉 rú jīn sì yù like gold or jade
入境问俗 rù jìng wèn sú When you enter a country, enquire about the local customs ;
如雷贯耳 rú léi guàn ěr lit. like thunder piercing the ear
如临大敌 rú lín dà dí lit. as if meeting a great enemy
如临深渊 rú lín shēn yuān (lit.) as if on the brink of a deep abyss
如履薄冰 rú lǚ bó bīng (lit.) as if walking on thin ice
濡沫涸辙 rú mò hé zhé to help each other out in hard times
如鸟兽散 rú niǎo shòu sàn (lit.) to scatter like birds and beasts
如泣如诉 rú qì rú sù (lit.) as if weeping and complaining
如其所好 rú qí suǒ hào as one pleases
入情入理 rù qíng rù lǐ sensible and reasonable
如蛆附骨 rú qū fù gǔ lit. like maggots feeding on a corpse
如日中天 rú rì zhōng tiān lit. like the sun at noon
如丧考妣 rú sàng kǎo bǐ (lit.) as if in mourning for one's parents
如是我闻 rú shì wǒ wén so I have heard
如释重负 rú shì zhòng fù as if relieved from a burden
如数家珍 rú shǔ jiā zhēn lit. as if enumerating one's family valuables
入土为安 rù tǔ wéi ān buried and at rest ; Resquiescat in pacem (RIP)
入乡随俗 rù xiāng suí sú when in Rome, do as the Romans do
乳臭未干 rǔ xiù wèi gān lit. smell of breast milk not yet dried
如蚁附膻 rú yǐ fù shān like ants pursuing a stink ; the mob chases the rich and pow
如影随形 rú yǐng suí xíng (lit.) as the shadow follows the body
如蝇逐臭 rú yíng zhú chòu like flies pursuing a stink ; the mob chases the rich and po
如有所失 rú yǒu suǒ shī to seem as if something is amiss
如鱼得水 rú yú dé shuǐ like a fish back in water ; glad to be back in one's proper
孺子可教 rú zǐ kě jiào this young person is worth teaching (used to praise sb as pr
如坐针毡 rú zuò zhēn zhān lit. as if sitting on pins and needles
软磨硬泡 ruǎn mó yìng pào to coax and pester
弱不禁风 ruò bù jīn fēng (lit.) too weak to stand up to the wind
若即若离 ruò jí ruò lí lit. seeming neither close nor distant
弱肉强食 ruò ròu qiáng shí (lit.) the weak are prey to the strong
若无其事 ruò wú qí shì as if nothing had happened; calm and composed; nonchalant
若隐若现 ruò yǐn ruò xiàn faint; indistinct
若有所失 ruò yǒu suǒ shī as if one had lost something
若有所思 ruò yǒu suǒ sī looking pensive; thoughtfully

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