Chinese idioms starting with Y (page 2)

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

Pages: 1 · 2

有机可乘 yǒu jī kě chéng to have an opportunity that one can exploit
有价无市 yǒu jià wú shì having an asking price but few or no buyers
有惊无险 yǒu jīng wú xiǎn to be more scared than hurt
有口皆碑 yǒu kǒu jiē bēi every voice gives praise ; with an extensive public reputati
有口无心 yǒu kǒu wú xīn to speak harshly but without any bad intent
有名亡实 yǒu míng wáng shí lit. has a name but no reality ; exists only in name
有名无实 yǒu míng wú shí lit. has a name but no reality ; exists only in name
有目共睹 yǒu mù gòng dǔ anyone with eyes can see it ; obvious to all
有目共见 yǒu mù gòng jiàn anyone with eyes can see it ; obvious to all
有目共赏 yǒu mù gòng shǎng as everyone can appreciate ; clear to all
有目无睹 yǒu mù wú dǔ has eyes but can't see ; unable or unwilling to see the impo
有气无力 yǒu qì wú lì weakly and without strength ; dispirited
有钱有势 yǒu qián yǒu shì rich and powerful
有情有义 yǒu qíng yǒu yì affectionate and true
有去无回 yǒu qù wú huí gone forever
油然而生 yóu rán ér shēng arising involuntarily ; spontaneous
游刃有余 yóu rèn yǒu yú handling a butcher's cleaver with ease ; to do sth skillfull
有色眼镜 yǒu sè yǎn jìng biased perspective; prejudice
有商有量 yǒu shāng yǒu liàng to talk things through
优胜劣汰 yōu shèng liè tài survival of the fittest
有生以来 yǒu shēng yǐ lái since birth; for one's whole life
有声有色 yǒu shēng yǒu sè having sound and color ; vivid
有生之年 yǒu shēng zhī nián during one's lifetime; while one is on this earth; in one's
有始无终 yǒu shǐ wú zhōng to start but not finish ; to fail to carry things through
有始有终 yǒu shǐ yǒu zhōng where there's a start, there's a finish ; to finish once one
有识之士 yǒu shí zhī shì a person with knowledge and experience
有手有脚 yǒu shǒu yǒu jiǎo lit. have hands have feet
有所不同 yǒu suǒ bù tóng to differ to some extent
有所作为 yǒu suǒ zuò wéi to achieve sth worthwhile; to make a positive contribution
有条不紊 yǒu tiáo bù wěn regular and thorough ; methodically arranged
有条有理 yǒu tiáo yǒu lǐ clear and orderly; neat and tidy
有头无尾 yǒu tóu wú wěi to fail to finish off what one started
有头有脸 yǒu tóu yǒu liǎn (of a person) to be highly respected; to enjoy prestige
有头有尾 yǒu tóu yǒu wěi where there's a start, there's a finish ; to finish once one
犹未为晚 yóu wèi wéi wǎn it is not too late
有为有守 yǒu wéi yǒu shǒu able to act while maintaining one's integrity
忧心忡忡 yōu xīn chōng chōng deeply worried and sick at heart
有心无力 yǒu xīn wú lì to want to do sth but be unable to; willing but unable
油盐不进 yóu yán bù jìn impervious to persuasion; unreceptive; impossible to get thr
油盐酱醋 yóu yán jiàng cù (lit.) oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar
有眼无珠 yǒu yǎn wú zhū blind as a bat (figuratively)
游移不定 yóu yí bù dìng to oscillate without pause
有勇无谋 yǒu yǒng wú móu bold but not very astute
优游自得 yōu yóu zì dé free and at leisure ; unfettered
有缘无分 yǒu yuán wú fèn destined to meet but not fated to be together
悠哉悠哉 yōu zāi yōu zāi free and unconstrained
有增无减 yǒu zēng wú jiǎn to increase without letup
有增无已 yǒu zēng wú yǐ constantly increasing without limit ; rapid progress in all
有征无战 yǒu zhēng wú zhàn to win without a fight
有志竟成 yǒu zhì jìng chéng persevere and you will succeed ; where there's a will, there
有枝有叶 yǒu zhī yǒu yè to become bogged down in the details
有志之士 yǒu zhì zhī shì person committed to a noble cause or ideal
欲罢不能 yù bà bù néng want to stop but can't
鱼沉雁杳 yú chén yàn yǎo lit. the fish swam away into the depths, the goose vanished
盂方水方 yú fāng shuǐ fāng If the basin is square, the water in it will also be square.
欲盖弥彰 yù gài mí zhāng trying to hide it makes it more conspicuous ; A cover up onl
饫甘餍肥 yù gān yàn féi to live off the fat of the land
愚公移山 yú gōng yí shān the old man moves mountains ; fig. where there's a will, the
雨过天晴 yǔ guò tiān qíng sky clears after rain
雨过天青 yǔ guò tiān qīng sky clears after rain
欲壑难填 yù hè nán tián insatiably greedy
雨后春笋 yǔ hòu chūn sǔn lit. after rain, the spring bamboo ; fig. rapid new growth
与狐谋皮 yǔ hú móu pí to ask sb to act contrary to their own interests (original f
与虎谋皮 yǔ hǔ móu pí (lit.) to negotiate with a tiger for its pelt ; (fig.) to as
迂回曲折 yū huí qū zhé meandering and circuitous ; complicated developments that ne
浴火重生 yù huǒ chóng shēng to rise from the ashes
御驾亲征 yù jià qīn zhēng the emperor leads his troops into battle
玉洁冰清 yù jié bīng qīng clear as ice and clean as jade ; spotless
语惊四座 yǔ jīng sì zuò to make a remark that startles everyone present
鱼龙混杂 yú lóng hùn zá lit. fish and dragons mixed in together ; fig. crooks mixed
愚昧无知 yú mèi wú zhī stupid and ignorant
榆木疙瘩 yú mù gē da (lit.) knot on an elm tree
鱼目混珠 yú mù hùn zhū to pass off fish eyes for pearls
欲取姑与 yù qǔ gū yǔ to make concessions for the sake of future gains
遇人不淑 yù rén bù shū to be in a relationship with or marry a bad person
与日俱进 yǔ rì jù jìn every day sees new developments
与日同辉 yǔ rì tóng huī to become more glorious with each passing day
与世俯仰 yǔ shì fǔ yǎng to swim with the tide
与世隔绝 yǔ shì gé jué to be cut off from the rest of the world
玉石俱焚 yù shí jù fén to burn both jade and common stone
遇事生风 yù shì shēng fēng to stir up trouble at every opportunity
与世无争 yǔ shì wú zhēng to stand aloof from worldly affairs
鱼水之欢 yú shuǐ zhī huān the pleasure of close intimacy in a couple
鱼死网破 yú sǐ wǎng pò lit. either the fish dies or the net splits
渔翁之利 yú wēng zhī lì the advantage gained by a third party when two sides are in
语无伦次 yǔ wú lún cì incoherent speech
余响绕梁 yú xiǎng rào liáng reverberates around the rafters ; fig. sonorous and resoundi
浴血奋战 yù xuè fèn zhàn to fight bravely amid bloodshed and great sacrifice
语焉不详 yǔ yān bù xiáng to mention sth without elaborating ; not giving details
欲益反损 yù yì fǎn sǔn wishing for profit, but causing loss ; good intentions that
寓意深长 yù yì shēn cháng to have profound import ; to be deeply significant
寓意深远 yù yì shēn yuǎn the implied message is deep ; having deep implications
余音绕梁 yú yīn rào liáng reverberates around the rafters ; fig. sonorous and resoundi
余勇可贾 yú yǒng kě gǔ lit. spare valor for sale ; fig. after former successes, sti
郁郁不乐 yù yù bù lè discontented
郁郁葱葱 yù yù cōng cōng (of plants) verdant; lush
郁郁寡欢 yù yù guǎ huān depressed; cheerless
欲振乏力 yù zhèn fá lì to try to rouse oneself but lack the strength
与众不同 yǔ zhòng bù tóng to stand out from the crowd; distinctive; different from the
语重心长 yǔ zhòng xīn cháng meaningful and heartfelt words ; sincere and earnest wishes
纡尊降贵 yū zūn jiàng guì to show deference to sb of lower status; to condescend; to d
元恶大憝 yuán è dà duì arch-criminal and archenemy
远非如此 yuǎn fēi rú cǐ far from it being so
原封不动 yuán fēng bù dòng (lit.) the original seal has not been disturbed
冤家对头 yuān jiā duì tóu enemy ; opponent
冤家路窄 yuān jiā lù zhǎi lit. for enemies, the road is narrow
远见卓识 yuǎn jiàn zhuó shí visionary and sagacious
远近皆知 yuǎn jìn jiē zhī known far and wide
原来如此 yuán lái rú cǐ so that's how it is; I see
缘木求鱼 yuán mù qiú yú lit. climb a tree to catch a fish ; fig. to attempt the impo
怨气冲天 yuàn qì chōng tiān extremely resentful
怨声载道 yuàn shēng zài dào lit. cries of complaint fill the roads ; complaints rise all
怨天尤人 yuàn tiān yóu rén to blame the gods and accuse others
渊渟岳峙 yuān tíng yuè zhì to have a serene yet formidable demeanor; to have a commandi
原形毕露 yuán xíng bì lù original identity fully revealed ; fig. to unmask and expose
源源不断 yuán yuán bù duàn in an unending stream; continuous
源远流长 yuán yuǎn liú cháng of long standing; with a long history; stretching back to an
远走高飞 yuǎn zǒu gāo fēi to go far away; to flee to a distant place
约定俗成 yuē dìng sú chéng established by popular usage ; common usage agreement
约法三章 yuē fǎ sān zhāng to agree on three laws
阅男无数 yuè nán wú shù to have had relationships with many men
阅女无数 yuè nǚ wú shù to have had relationships with many women
跃然纸上 yuè rán zhǐ shàng to appear vividly on paper ; to show forth vividly (in writi
月下老人 yuè xià lǎo rén (Chinese folk religion) the god of matchmaking
跃跃欲试 yuè yuè yù shì to be eager to give sth a try
越俎代庖 yuè zǔ dài páo lit. to go beyond the sacrificial altar and take over the ki
运筹帷幄 yùn chóu wéi wò lit. to devise battle plan in a tent
云窗雾槛 yún chuāng wù kǎn cloud around the window, mist on the threshold ; tall buildi
云泥之别 yún ní zhī bié a world of difference
韵人韵事 yùn rén yùn shì a charming man enjoys charming pursuits
云散风流 yún sàn fēng liú lit. clouds scatter, wind flows ; the crisis settles down
云山雾罩 yún shān wù zhào (lit.) enveloped in clouds and mist
殒身不恤 yǔn shēn bù xù to die without regrets ; to sacrifice oneself without hesita
云消雾散 yún xiāo wù sàn the clouds melt and the mists disperse
运用自如 yùn yòng zì rú to have a fluent command of

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