Chinese idioms starting with W

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

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• 挖空心思 wā kōng xīn si to dig for thoughts ; to search everything for an answer
• 挖肉补疮 wā ròu bǔ chuāng to cut one's flesh to cover a sore ; faced with a current cr
• 歪风邪气 wāi fēng xié qì noxious winds, evil influences ; malignant social trends
• 外宽内忌 wài kuān nèi jì magnanimous on the outside, but hateful on the inside
• 外强中干 wài qiáng zhōng gān strong in appearance but weak in reality
• 外圆内方 wài yuán nèi fāng lit. outside-flexible, inside-firm
• 完璧归赵 wán bì guī Zhào lit. to return the jade annulus to Zhao ; fig. to return som
• 万不得已 wàn bù dé yǐ only when absolutely essential ; as a last resort
• 万夫不当 wàn fū bù dāng lit. unbeatable by even 10,000 men
• 万古长青 wàn gǔ cháng qīng enduring through the ages; ever-flourishing
• 万古长新 wàn gǔ cháng xīn to remain forever new
• 万古千秋 wàn gǔ qiān qiū for all eternity
• 玩火自焚 wán huǒ zì fén to play with fire and get burnt ; fig. to play with evil and
• 万箭穿心 wàn jiàn chuān xīn (lit.) to have one's heart pierced by thousands of arrows
• 晚节不保 wǎn jié bù bǎo to tarnish one's reputation in later life; to lose prestige
• 纨绔子弟 wán kù zǐ dì hedonistic son of rich parents
• 万籁俱寂 wàn lài jù jì dead silent
• 万里江山 wàn lǐ jiāng shān lit. ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains
• 万马奔腾 wàn mǎ bēn téng lit. (like) ten thousand horses galloping
• 万马齐喑 wàn mǎ qí yīn thousands of horses, all mute ; no-one dares to speak out
• 万念俱灰 wàn niàn jù huī every hope turns to dust ; completely disheartened
• 玩世不恭 wán shì bù gōng to trifle without respect ; to despise worldly conventions
• 万事大吉 wàn shì dà jí everything is fine ; all is well with the world
• 完事大吉 wán shì dà jí (usu. after 就 (jiù)) (having done such-and-such) everything
• 万事亨通 wàn shì hēng tōng everything is going smoothly
• 万事如意 wàn shì rú yì to have all one's wishes
• 万世师表 wàn shì shī biǎo model teacher of every age
• 万寿无疆 wàn shòu wú jiāng may you enjoy boundless longevity
• 万水千山 wàn shuǐ qiān shān ten thousand crags and torrents ; the trials and tribulation
• 万死不辞 wàn sǐ bù cí ten thousand deaths will not prevent me ; ready to risk life
• 万头攒动 wàn tóu cuán dòng bustling with many people
• 玩物丧志 wán wù sàng zhì lit. trifling destroys the will ; infatuation with fine deta
• 万无一失 wàn wú yī shī surefire; absolutely safe
• 万象更新 wàn xiàng gēng xīn (in the spring) nature takes on a new look
• 万众一心 wàn zhòng yī xīn millions of people all of one mind ; the people united
• 万紫千红 wàn zǐ qiān hóng thousands of purples and reds ; a blaze of color
• 望尘莫及 wàng chén mò jí lit. to see only the other rider's dust and have no hope of
• 忘恩负义 wàng ēn fù yì to forget favors and violate justice ; ingratitude to a frie
• 望而却步 wàng ér què bù (lit.) to shrink back at the sight of (sth daunting)
• 望而生畏 wàng ér shēng wèi to feel intimidated
• 望风而逃 wàng fēng ér táo to flee at the mere sight of
• 亡国灭种 wáng guó miè zhǒng country destroyed, its people annihilated ; total destructio
• 王侯将相 wáng hóu jiàng xiàng (lit.) kings, nobles, generals and ministers
• 忘乎所以 wàng hū suǒ yǐ to get carried away; to lose one's sense of proportion
• 网开三面 wǎng kāi sān miàn to leave the net open on three sides ; let the caged bird fl
• 网开一面 wǎng kāi yī miàn open the net on one side ; let the caged bird fly
• 望梅止渴 wàng méi zhǐ kě lit. to quench one's thirst by thinking of plums
• 亡命之徒 wáng mìng zhī tú runaway ; desperate criminal
• 忘年之交 wàng nián zhī jiāo friends with a significant age gap
• 望女成凤 wàng nǚ chéng fèng lit. to hope one's daughter becomes a phoenix
• 惘然若失 wǎng rán ruò shī lit. to be frustrated as though having lost sth
• 妄生穿凿 wàng shēng chuān záo a forced analogy ; to jump to an unwarranted conclusion
• 往事已矣 wǎng shì yǐ yǐ the past is dead
• 望文生义 wàng wén shēng yì lit. view a text and interpret ; to interpret word by word w
• 妄下雌黄 wàng xià cí huáng to alter a text indiscriminately
• 妄言妄听 wàng yán wàng tīng unwarranted talk the listener can take or leave ; sth not to
• 亡羊补牢 wáng yáng bǔ láo lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost
• 望洋兴叹 wàng yáng xīng tàn (lit.) to gaze at the ocean and lament one's inadequacy
• 望子成龙 wàng zǐ chéng lóng lit. to hope one's son becomes a dragon ; fig. to long for o
• 妄自菲薄 wàng zì fěi bó to be unduly humble
• 妄自尊大 wàng zì zūn dà ridiculous self-importance ; arrogance
• 未卜先知 wèi bǔ xiān zhī to foresee the future (without divination); to know beforeha
• 微不足道 wēi bù zú dào negligible; insignificant
• 未尝不可 wèi cháng bù kě acceptable; fine; okay
• 围城打援 wéi chéng dǎ yuán to besiege and strike the relief force ; strategy of surroun
• 尾大不掉 wěi dà bù diào large tail obstructs action ; bottom heavy
• 为德不终 wéi dé bù zhōng to start on virtue but give up ; to fail to carry things thr
• 为德不卒 wéi dé bù zú to start on virtue but give up ; to fail to carry things thr
• 违法乱纪 wéi fǎ luàn jì (lit.) to break the law and violate the rules
• 为非作歹 wéi fēi zuò dǎi to break the law and commit crimes ; malefactor
• 为富不仁 wéi fù bù rén to be wealthy and heartless
• 威福自己 wēi fú zì jǐ to exercise power arbitrarily
• 微乎其微 wēi hū qí wēi a tiny bit
• 为虎作伥 wèi hǔ zuò chāng to act as accomplice to a villain; to assist in wrongdoing
• 危机四伏 wēi jī sì fú danger lurks on every side
• 未可厚非 wèi kě hòu fēi not to be censured too strictly
• 违利赴名 wéi lì fù míng to renounce profit and seek fame ; to abandon greed for repu
• 唯利是图 wéi lì shì tú to be bent solely on profit; to put profit before everything
• 萎靡不振 wěi mǐ bù zhèn dispirited and listless ; downcast
• 为民除害 wèi mín chú hài to rid the people of a scourge
• 未能免俗 wèi néng miǎn sú unable to break the custom
• 蔚然成风 wèi rán chéng fēng to have become common practice
• 巍然屹立 wēi rán yì lì to stand tall and rock-solid
• 为仁不富 wéi rén bù fù benevolent people can't get rich
• 为人师表 wéi rén shī biǎo to serve as a model for others
• 危如累卵 wēi rú lěi luǎn precarious as pile of eggs ; ready to fall and break at any
• 危如朝露 wēi rú zhāo lù precarious as the morning dew ; fig. ephemeral and precariou
• 危若朝露 wēi ruò zhāo lù precarious as morning dew ; unlikely to last out the day
• 为善最乐 wéi shàn zuì lè doing good deeds brings the greatest joy
• 为时不晚 wéi shí bù wǎn it is not too late
• 违时绝俗 wéi shí jué sú to defy the times and reject custom ; in breach of current c
• 为时未晚 wéi shí wèi wǎn it is not too late
• 畏首畏尾 wèi shǒu wèi wěi afraid of the head, terrified of the tail ; ever fearful and
• 畏缩不前 wèi suō bù qián to shrink back in fear ; too cowardly to advance
• 为所欲为 wéi suǒ yù wéi to do whatever one pleases
• 违天害理 wéi tiān hài lǐ lit. violating heaven and reason ; immoral character
• 违天逆理 wéi tiān nì lǐ lit. violating heaven and reason ; immoral character
• 味同嚼蜡 wèi tóng jiáo là lit. tastes as if one is chewing wax
• 蔚为大观 wèi wéi dà guān to afford a magnificent sight
• 娓娓动听 wěi wěi dòng tīng to speak in a pleasant and captivating manner
• 娓娓而谈 wěi wěi ér tán to speak engagingly
• 围魏救赵 wéi Wèi jiù Zhào lit. to besiege 魏 (Wèi) and rescue 赵 (Zhào)
• 唯唯诺诺 wéi wéi nuò nuò to be a yes-man
• 微言大义 wēi yán dà yì subtle words with profound meaning
• 危言耸听 wēi yán sǒng tīng frightening words to scare people ; alarmist talk
• 危言危行 wēi yán wēi xíng upright and plainspoken
• 委以重任 wěi yǐ zhòng rèn to entrust (sb) with an important responsibility
• 危在旦夕 wēi zài dàn xī in imminent peril
• 威震天下 wēi zhèn tiān xià to inspire awe throughout the empire
• 威尊命贱 wēi zūn mìng jiàn the dignity of authority is above life; one must be willing
• 文不加点 wén bù jiā diǎn to write a flawless essay in one go
• 稳操胜券 wěn cāo shèng quàn grasp it and victory is assured
• 问道于盲 wèn dào yú máng lit. to ask a blind man the way
• 问鼎轻重 wèn dǐng qīng zhòng lit. to inquire whether the tripods are light or heavy ; a l
• 问鼎中原 wèn dǐng Zhōng yuán to plan to seize power of the whole country
• 文房四宝 wén fáng sì bǎo Four Treasures of the Study, namely 笔 (bǐ), 墨 (mò), 纸 (zhǐ)
• 闻风丧胆 wén fēng sàng dǎn hear the wind and lose gall ; terror-stricken at the news
• 闻风先遁 wén fēng xiān dùn to flee at hearing the news
• 文过饰非 wén guò shì fēi to cover up one's faults; to whitewash
• 问寒问暖 wèn hán wèn nuǎn to show concern about sb's well-being
• 闻鸡起舞 wén jī qǐ wǔ to start practicing at the first crow of the cock
• 文江学海 wén jiāng xué hǎi river of literacy, sea of learning ; ars longa, vita brevis
• 问客杀鸡 wèn kè shā jī lit. asking guests whether or not to butcher a chicken for t
• 闻名遐迩 wén míng xiá ěr to be famous far and wide
• 温情脉脉 wēn qíng mò mò full of tender feelings ; tender-hearted
• 文人相轻 wén rén xiāng qīng scholars tend to disparage one another
• 文如其人 wén rú qí rén the writing style mirrors the writer
• 文弱书生 wén ruò shū shēng frail scholar
• 文山会海 wén shān huì hǎi a mountain of paperwork and a sea of meetings
• 纹丝不动 wén sī bù dòng to not move a single jot
• 温文尔雅 wēn wén ěr yǎ cultured and refined ; gentle and cultivated
• 文武合一 wén wǔ hé yī civilians and the military (working) hand in hand
• 文武双全 wén wǔ shuāng quán well versed in letters and military technology ; fine schola
• 问心无愧 wèn xīn wú kuì lit. look into one's heart, no shame ; with a clear conscien
• 闻一知十 wén yī zhī shí lit. to hear one and know ten ; fig. explain one thing and (
• 文治武功 wén zhì wǔ gōng political and military achievements
• 瓮声瓮气 wèng shēng wèng qì to speak in a low muffled voice
• 瓮中之鳖 wèng zhōng zhī biē lit. like a turtle in a jar
• 瓮中捉鳖 wèng zhōng zhuō biē (lit.) to catch a turtle in a jar
• 卧虎藏龙 wò hǔ cáng lóng lit. hidden dragon, crouching tiger
• 卧薪尝胆 wò xīn cháng dǎn (lit.) to sleep on brushwood and taste gall (like King Gouji
• 蜗行牛步 wō xíng niú bù lit. to crawl like a snail and plod along like an old ox
• 我行我素 wǒ xíng wǒ sù to continue in one's own way
• 我醉欲眠 wǒ zuì yù mián lit. I'm drunk and would like to sleep
• 无边无际 wú biān wú jì boundless; limitless
• 无病呻吟 wú bìng shēn yín to moan and groan despite not being sick; to feign illness;
• 五彩缤纷 wǔ cǎi bīn fēn all the colors in profusion ; a garish display
• 无出其右 wú chū qí yòu matchless; without equal; there is nothing better
• 无的放矢 wú dì fàng shǐ to shoot without aim ; fig. to speak without thinking
• 无地自容 wú dì zì róng ashamed and unable to show one's face
• 无恶不作 wú è bù zuò not to shrink from any crime ; to commit any imaginable misd
• 无法无天 wú fǎ wú tiān defiant of the law and lacking any sense of morality; lawles
• 无福消受 wú fú xiāo shòu unfortunately cannot enjoy
• 物各有主 wù gè yǒu zhǔ everything has a rightful owner
• 无功而返 wú gōng ér fǎn to return without any achievement ; to go home with one's ta
• 无功受禄 wú gōng shòu lù to get undeserved rewards
• 无关痛痒 wú guān tòng yǎng to not affect sb; irrelevant; of no importance; insignifican
• 五光十色 wǔ guāng shí sè bright and multicolored; of rich variety; dazzling; glitzy
• 物归原主 wù guī yuán zhǔ to return sth to its rightful owner
• 乌合之众 wū hé zhī zhòng rabble; disorderly band
• 无话不谈 wú huà bù tán not to hold anything back
• 无话可说 wú huà kě shuō to have nothing to say
• 物极必反 wù jí bì fǎn when things reach an extreme, they can only move in the oppo
• 无疾而终 wú jí ér zhōng (lit.) to die without illness
• 无计可施 wú jì kě shī (lit.) to have no strategy to apply
• 无迹可寻 wú jì kě xún to leave no trace; to have no detectable clues or signs
• 无济于事 wú jì yú shì to no avail; of no use
• 无稽之谈 wú jī zhī tán complete nonsense
• 无家可归 wú jiā kě guī homeless
• 无价之宝 wú jià zhī bǎo priceless treasure
• 无坚不摧 wú jiān bù cuī no stronghold one cannot overcome ; to conquer every obstacl
• 无奸不商 wú jiān bù shāng all businessmen are evil
• 无精打彩 wú jīng dǎ cǎi dull and colorless ; lacking vitality
• 无精打采 wú jīng dǎ cǎi dispirited and downcast ; listless
• 无拘无束 wú jū wú shù free and unconstrained ; unfettered
• 无可非议 wú kě fēi yì irreproachable
• 无可奉告 wú kě fèng gào no comment
• 无可救药 wú kě jiù yào (of an illness) incurable; (of a person, behavior etc) incor
• 无可置疑 wú kě zhì yí cannot be doubted
• 无孔不钻 wú kǒng bù zuān lit. leave no hole undrilled ; to latch on to every opportun
• 无力回天 wú lì huí tiān powerless to save the situation; unable to avert disaster
• 雾里看花 wù lǐ kàn huā lit. to look at flowers in the fog ; fig. blurred vision
• 无理取闹 wú lǐ qǔ nào to make trouble without reason; to be deliberately provocati
• 无论如何 wú lùn rú hé whatever the case; in any event; no matter what; by all poss
• 五马分尸 wǔ mǎ fēn shī to tear off sb's four limbs and head using five horse-drawn
• 寤寐求之 wù mèi qiú zhī to long for sb or sth day and night; to seek it unceasingly
• 无名小卒 wú míng xiǎo zú insignificant soldier
• 无能为力 wú néng wéi lì powerless to do anything about it
• 乌鸟私情 wū niǎo sī qíng lit. the solicitude of the crow (who provides for his old pa
• 乌七八糟 wū qī bā zāo everything in disorder
• 无牵无挂 wú qiān wú guà unburdened by obligations or attachments; carefree
• 无情无义 wú qíng wú yì completely lacking any feeling or sense of justice ; cold an
• 无穷无尽 wú qióng wú jìn endless; boundless; infinite
• 无人问津 wú rén wèn jīn to be of no interest to anyone
• 无容置疑 wú róng zhì yí cannot be doubted
• 误入歧途 wù rù qí tú to take a wrong step in life
• 五色缤纷 wǔ sè bīn fēn all the colors in profusion ; a garish display
• 无伤大雅 wú shāng dà yǎ (of a defect etc) to be of no great matter
• 无声无息 wú shēng wú xī wordless and uncommunicative ; without speaking
• 吴市吹箫 wú shì chuī xiāo to beg on the streets; to fall into utter destitution (allus
• 物是人非 wù shì rén fēi the place is unchanged, but the faces are different
• 无时无刻 wú shí wú kè (when followed by 不 (bù)) at no time; never (Note: 无时无刻不 (wú
• 无师自通 wú shī zì tōng self-taught
• 无思无虑 wú sī wú lǜ carefree; untroubled
• 无所不包 wú suǒ bù bāo not excluding anything; all-encompassing
• 无所适从 wú suǒ shì cóng not knowing which course to follow ; at a loss what to do
• 无所事事 wú suǒ shì shì to have nothing to do
• 无所用心 wú suǒ yòng xīn not paying attention to anything ; to idle time away
• 无所作为 wú suǒ zuò wéi attempting nothing and accomplishing nothing ; without any i
• 五体投地 wǔ tǐ tóu dì to prostrate oneself in admiration ; to adulate sb
• 吴头楚尾 Wú tóu Chǔ wěi lit. head in Wu and tail in Chu ; fig. close together
• 无往不利 wú wǎng bù lì to be successful in every endeavor
• 无微不至 wú wēi bù zhì in every possible way ; meticulous
• 五味俱全 wǔ wèi jù quán a complete gamut of all five flavors ; every flavor under th
• 五味杂陈 wǔ wèi zá chén with complex feelings
• 舞文弄墨 wǔ wén nòng mò to display one's facility with words
• 吴下阿蒙 Wú xià ā Méng General Lü Meng 呂蒙|吕蒙 of the southern state of Wu ; model of
• 无懈可击 wú xiè kě jī impossible to fault
• 无心插柳 wú xīn chā liǔ (of a good outcome) unanticipated
• 无休无止 wú xiū wú zhǐ ceaseless; endless
• 污言秽语 wū yán huì yǔ filthy speech; obscenities
• 无言可对 wú yán kě duì unable to reply ; left speechless
• 乌烟瘴气 wū yān zhàng qì full of smoke and noxious fumes; (fig.) toxic atmosphere; ch
• 无以复加 wú yǐ fù jiā in the extreme
• 物以类聚 wù yǐ lèi jù similar things come together ; like draws like
• 无依无靠 wú yī wú kào having nothing to rely on; on one's own
• 无影无踪 wú yǐng wú zōng (to disappear) without a trace
• 无忧无虑 wú yōu wú lǜ carefree; without worries
• 无欲无求 wú yù wú qiú to be free of worldly desires and ambitions; to neither want
• 无远弗届 wú yuǎn fú jiè to extend all over the globe
• 无缘无故 wú yuán wú gù no cause or reason; completely uncalled for
• 吴越同舟 Wú Yuè tóng zhōu Wu and Yue in the same boat ; fig. cooperation between natur
• 无征不信 wú zhēng bù xìn without proof one can't believe it
• 无中生有 wú zhōng shēng yǒu to create something from nothing

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