Introduction
Everyone seems to be blown away by Chinese characters. Some Chinese characters have deep meaning: there are numbers and various forms of animals. Chinese characters are always evolving and changing which makes them even cooler. Below is a list of 47 cool Chinese words that you should know. (Hopefully, this will inspire some of you to learn Chinese!)
From 爱 (ài) – Love to 风水 (fēng shuǐ) – Feng Shui, we see Chinese words and Chinese characters in many places in the Western world. It’s also quite popular among some people to tattoo Chinese characters onto themselves.
The Amazing Chinese Language
One fascinating aspect of the Chinese language is the presence of characters or phrases with paradoxical meanings. For instance, 自由 (zìyóu), which means ‘freedom’, is composed of 自 (self) and 由 (reason), suggesting the concept of ‘freedom’ is rooted in being one’s reason. Another example is 静动 (jìngdòng), which conveys the paradox of ‘moving in stillness’. It pairs 静 (still) with 动 (move), embodying the concept of inner peace amid action, a central tenet in many Eastern philosophies. These examples demonstrate the depth and complexity of Chinese characters, each a world unto its own.
The Chinese character for ‘crisis’ is 危机 (wēijī). Interestingly, this word is frequently discussed in motivational speeches and writings, as it’s often said to be composed of two characters: ‘danger’ (危) and ‘opportunity’ (机). However, this interpretation is somewhat controversial among scholars, as the character 机 in this context is more accurately translated as ‘critical point’ rather than ‘opportunity.’
Chinese words : Paradoxes
The Chinese word for ‘opportunity’ is 机会 (jīhuì), where the character 机 signifies ‘moment’ or ‘chance,’ and 会 means ‘meet.’ It suggests a moment where circumstances meet favorably, presenting a chance for success. This is a great example of how Chinese characters combine to create meaningful words, mirroring the real-world complexities they represent. There are plenty of Chinese words which have paradoxical meanings. Again keep in mind Chinese culture when looking at the words.
Given the antiquity and vastness of Chinese culture and the Chinese language, there is practically no way to go through all the Chinese words out there. But here is a sample of Chinese words from the Chinese language.
Cool Chinese Words
Here are 10 Chinese words with their closest literal translation:
- 网红 (Wǎnghóng) – Internet Celebrity
- 酷 (Kù) – Cool
- 龙 (Lóng) – Dragon
- 爱 (Ài) – Love
- 幸福 (Xìngfú) – Happiness
- 希望 (Xīwàng) – Hope
- 自由 (Zìyóu) – Freedom
- 梦想 (Mèngxiǎng) – Dream
- 勇敢 (Yǒnggǎn) – Brave
- 感谢 (Gǎnxiè) – Thankful
Cool Chinese phrases
Chinese phrases can be sen anywhere…from fortune cookies to TV shows.
10 Cool Chinese Phrases
- 加油 (Jiā yóu) – Keep Going / You can do it!
- 万事如意 (Wànshì rúyì) – May all your wishes come true
- 学海无涯 (Xuéhǎi wúyá) – The sea of knowledge is boundless
- 笑口常开 (Xiàokǒuchángkāi) – Always be filled with laughter
- 人山人海 (Rénshān rénhǎi) – Crowded with people, like a sea of people
- 入乡随俗 (Rù xiāng suí sú) – When in Rome, do as the Romans do
- 天下无难事 (Tiānxià wú nán shì) – There is no difficult task under the heaven
- 水滴石穿 (Shuǐdī shí chuān) – Constant efforts yield success
- 择善而从 (Zé shàn ér cóng) – Choose the good and follow it
- 一视同仁 (Yīshì tóngrén) – Treat all equally with benevolence
Unusual Chinese words
Plenty of Chinese words have unusual meanings and get lost in translation.
10 Unusual Chinese Words
- 雀跃 (Quèyuè) – This Chinese word means Exhilaration
- 龙潭虎穴 (Lóngtán hǔxué) – Chinese word meansDragon’s pool and tiger’s den (a dangerous place)
- 独一无二 (Dú yī wú èr) – Chinese word means Unique and Unparalleled
- 肆意 (Sìyì) – Wanton
- 青出于蓝 (Qīng chū yú lán) – The student surpasses the master
- 爱屋及乌 (Ài wū jí wū) – Love me, love my dog
- 沧海一粟 (Cāng hǎi yī sù) – A single grain in the vast ocean (insignificant)
- 精疲力尽 (Jīng pí lì jìn) – Exhausted
- 梦幻泡影 (Mèng huàn pào yǐng) -Chinese word means Illusory dream
- 嘀咕 (Dī gu) – Chinese word means Murmuring
Untranslatable Chinese Phrases
10 Untranslatable Chinese Phrases
- 对牛弹琴 (Duì niú tán qín) – Playing the lute to a cow
- 马马虎虎 (Mǎmǎhǔhǔ) – So-so, or careless
- 爱不释手 (Ài bù shì shǒu) – So fond of something as not to part with it
- 画蛇添足 (Huà shé tiān zú) – Draw a snake and add feet to it
- 人山人海 (Rén shān rén hǎi) – Mountain of people, sea of people
- 一见钟情 (Yí jiàn zhōng qíng) – Love at first sight
- 亡羊补牢 (Wáng yáng bǔ láo) – Repair the pen after the sheep are lost
- 入木三分 (Rù mù sān fēn) – Cutting into wood three inches deep (detailed)
- 狼吞虎咽 (Láng tūn hǔ yàn) – To wolf down (eat voraciously)
- 东窗事发 (Dōng chuāng shì fā) – The plot has been disclosed.
Beautiful Chinese words
Chinese words are beautiful due to their complexity, artistry, and profound depth of meaning. Unlike alphabetic languages where words are constructed from letters, Chinese words are essentially pictographs and ideographs, each character representing a concept, an object, or an idea. This unique structure imbues creates beautiful Chinese words with a visual charm and a profound connection to the culture, history, and philosophy of China. Moreover, the intricate strokes, symmetry, and balance of each character contribute to their aesthetic appeal, rendering Chinese script not just a medium of communication, but also an art in itself.
To determine which are the most beautiful Chinese words is indeed subjective…here I give my list:
Some of the Most Beautiful Chinese Words
- 春 (Chūn) – Spring
- 美 (Měi) – Beautiful
- 爱情 (Àiqíng) – Love
- 和平 (Hépíng) – Peace
- 星星 (Xīngxīng) – Stars
- 希望 (Xīwàng) – Hope
- 真理 (Zhēnlǐ) – Truth
- 智慧 (Zhìhuì) – Wisdom
- 灵魂 (Línghún) – Soul
- 心灵 (Xīnlíng) – Mind or Spirit
- 同情 (Tóngqíng) – Compassion
- 安静 (Ānjìng) – Quiet
- 祥和 (Xiánghé) – Harmonious
- 宇宙 (Yǔzhòu) – Universe
- 诗 (Shī) – Poetry
- 月亮 (Yuèliang) – Moon
- 美丽 (Měilì) – Beautiful
- 宝贝 (Bǎobèi) – Treasure
- 爱心 (Àixīn) – Love, Kindness
- 欢乐 (Huānlè) – Joy
- 精神 (Jīngshén) – Spirit
- 诗歌 (Shīgē) – Poem
- 天空 (Tiānkōng) – Sky
- 美景 (Měijǐng) – Beautiful Scenery
- 心愿 (Xīnyuàn) – Wish
- 音乐 (Yīnyuè) – Music
- 广阔 (Guǎngkuò) – Vast
- 哲理 (Zhélǐ) – Philosophy
- 光芒 (Guāngmáng) – Rays of Light
- 彩虹 (Cǎihóng) – Rainbow
- 旅程 (Lǚchéng) – Journey
- 流星 (Liúxīng) – Meteor
- 世界 (Shìjiè) – World
- 平等 (Píngděng) – Equality
- 青春 (Qīngchūn) – Youth
- 热情 (Rèqíng) – Passion
- 美满 (Měimǎn) – Blissful
- 和谐 (Héxié) – Harmonic
- 勇气 (Yǒngqì) – Courage
- 善良 (Shànliáng) – Kindness
- 自然 (Zìrán) – Nature
- 花朵 (Huāduǒ) – Flower
- 自由 (Zìyóu) – Freedom
- 乐/园 (Lèyuán) – Paradise
- 梦想 (Mèngxiǎng) – Dream
- 幸福 (Xìngfú) – Happiness
- 爱 (Ài) – Love
I hope you enjoyed the list of beautiful Chinese words.
Beautiful Chinese Phrases
- 云淡风轻 (Yún dàn fēng qīng) – Light wind, soft clouds (peaceful and untroubled)
- 知音 (Zhīyīn) – One who knows the music (a bosom friend who understands you)
- 月老 (Yuè lǎo) – Moon old (God of marriage)
- 水乳交融 (Shuǐ rǔ jiāo róng) – Milk blending with water (perfect harmony)
- 春风得意 (Chūn fēng dé yì) – To ride the spring breeze (to be very successful)
- 空山鸟语 (Kōng shān niǎo yǔ) – Birds sing in the empty mountain (picturesque, peaceful scene)
- 苦尽甘来 (Kǔ jìn gān lái) – Bitterness ends, sweetness begins (After hardships, come happiness)
- 琴瑟和鸣 (Qín sè hé míng) – The lute and harp play in harmony (a happy marriage)
- 天长地久 (Tiān cháng dì jiǔ) – As long as the world shall last (endless time)
- 人海茫茫，独爱一人 (Rén hǎi máng máng, dú ài yī rén) – In the vast sea of people, I love only you.
We have had our share of beautiful Chinese words for today! Every culture has its unique humor.
Funny Chinese Words
- 马马虎虎 (Mǎmǎhūhū) – Horse horse tiger tiger (So-so)
- 呼呼 (Hūhū) – To sleep (onomatopoeic)
- 哎呀 (Āiyā) – Oh My! (exclamation)
- 拜拜 (Bàibài) – Bye-bye (loanword)
- 大白菜 (Dàbáicài) – Big white vegetable (Innocent person)
- 拉肚子 (Lā dùzi) – Pulling one’s stomach (Diarrhea)
- 铁饭碗 (Tiě fànwǎn) – Iron rice bowl (Secure job)
- 熊猫眼 (xióngmāo yǎn) – Panda eyes (Dark circles)
- 土豪 (Tǔháo) – Local tyrant (Rich but lacks good taste)
- 小白 (Xiǎobái) – Little white (Novice, beginner)
Funny Chinese Phrases
- 吃饱了撑的 (Chī bǎo le chēng de) – Too full to stomach (To have nothing better to do)
- 光盘行动 (Guāng pán xíng dòng) – Empty plate action (To finish all the food on one’s plate)
- 狗急跳墙 (Gǒu jí tiào qiáng) – A cornered dog will jump over a wall (Desperate times call for desperate measures)
- 东张西望 (Dōng zhāng xī wàng) – Looking in all directions (To be at a loss)
- 抛砖引玉 (Pāo zhuān yǐn yù) – Cast a brick to attract jade (Make a humble beginning to get brilliant results)
- 马到成功 (Mǎ dào chéng gōng) – Success comes with the horse’s arrival (Achieve immediate success)
- 挂羊头卖狗肉 (Guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu) – Hang a sheep’s head and sell dog meat (False advertising)
- 画蛇添足 (Huà shé tiān zú) – Adding legs when painting a snake (To ruin something by adding unnecessary details)
- 跳进黄河洗不清 (Tiào jìn huáng hé xǐ bu qīng) – Jumping into the Yellow River can’t cleanse oneself (Someone is in so much trouble, not even a drastic measure can save them)
- 秀才遇到兵 (Xiùcái yùdào bīng) – Scholar meets soldier (Lack of communication due to different backgrounds or perspectives)
Which funny Chinese phrase made you laugh the most?
Chinese Words with Deep Meaning
Chinese is one of the oldest languages and hence there are many deep meanings embodied in the language.
- 出淤泥而不染 (Chū yúní ér bù rǎn) – Emerge from the mire without stain (Remain uncorrupted despite being in a corrupt environment)
- 画龙点睛 (Huà lóng diǎn jīng) – Paint the dragon, dot the eyes (Add the final touch that brings a work to life)
- 人山人海 (Rénshān rénhǎi) – People mountain, people sea (An extremely crowded place)
- 守株待兔 (Shǒu zhū dài tù) – Guard the stump for a rabbit (Wait idly for opportunities)
- 走马看花 (Zǒu mǎ kàn huā) – Look at flowers while on horseback (To look superficially, without taking the time to delve deeper)
- 自相矛盾 (Zì xiāng máodùn) – Self-contradictory (Doing or saying two things that cannot both be true or reasonable)
- 美中不足 (Měi zhōng bù zú) – A small flaw in a good thing (Something beautiful with a single imperfection)
- 锦上添花 (Jǐn shàng tiān huā) – Add flowers to brocade (Make what is already good even better)
- 井底之蛙 (Jǐng dǐ zhī wā) – Frog at the bottom of a well (A person with a limited outlook)
- 身在曹营心在汉 (Shēn zài cáo yíng xīn zài hàn) – Body in Cao’s camp, heart in Han (Physically present but mentally elsewhere) 
- 不识抬举 (Bù shí tái jǔ) – Don’t appreciate someone’s kindness (To not know how to be grateful or appreciate favors)
- 名落孙山 (Míng luò sūn shān) – Fail in the imperial exam and end up in Mount Sun (To fail an important test or competition)
- 活到老学到老 (Huó dào lǎo xué dào lǎo) – Learn until old age (One is never too old to learn)
- 落叶归根 (Luò yè guī gēn) – Fallen leaves return to their roots (One’s home or place of origin)
- 吃一堑长一智 (Chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì) – A stumble may prevent a fall (Learn from past mistakes and become wiser)
Meaningful Chinese Phrases
One could learn Chinese just for the great wisdom that Chinese idioms give.
- 海枯石烂 (Hǎi kū shí làn) – Seas dry up and stones decay (An eternity; till the end of time)
- 狗急跳墙 (Gǒu jí tiào qiáng) – A desperate dog will leap over a wall (A desperate person will do anything)
- 马马虎虎 (Mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ) – Horse horse tiger tiger (So-so, or just passable)
- 老生常谈 (Lǎo shēng cháng tán) – Old scholar talks much (To repeat the same old thing)
- 刀山火海 (Dāo shān huǒ hǎi) – Mountain of knives, sea of flames (To go through a lot of hardship)
- 画蛇添足 (Huà shé tiān zú) – Draw a snake and add feet to it (Doing something unnecessary that ruins the whole thing)
- 车到山前必有路 (Chē dào shān qián bì yǒu lù) – When the car reaches the mountain, a way will be found (Things will sort themselves out)
- 对牛弹琴 (Duì niú tán qín) – Play the lute to a cow (Speaking to an unappreciative audience)
- 亡羊补牢 (Wáng yáng bǔ láo) – Mend the fence after the sheep is lost (To act too late)
- 塞翁失马 (Sài wēng shī mǎ) – Old man Sa loses his horse (A blessing in disguise)
Meaningful Chinese Phrases to Guide you through life
- 水滴石穿 (Shuǐ dī shí chuān) – Water drips through stone (Persistence pays off)
- 人生如梦 (Rénshēng rú mèng) – Life is like a dream (The impermanence of life)
- 金无足赤，人无完人 (Jīn wú zú chì, rén wú wán rén) – Gold can’t be pure red, and no one can be perfect (Nobody is perfect)
- 逢山开路，遇水架桥 (Féng shān kāi lù, yù shuǐ jià qiáo) – Forge a path through the mountains, build a bridge to cross the water (Nothing is impossible)
- 人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青 (Rénshēng zìgǔ shuí wú sǐ, liú qǔ dān xīn zhào hàn qīng) – Everyone will die, but one’s spirit can live on in history (Legacy is important)
- 一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴 (Yī cùn guāngyīn yī cùn jīn, cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāngyīn) – An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can’t buy that inch of time with an inch of gold (Time is precious and cannot be bought with money)
- 磨刀不误砍柴工 (Mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng) – Sharpening your axe won’t delay your work of cutting wood (Preparation is key to success)
- 天行有常，不为尧存，不为桀亡 (Tiān xíng yǒu cháng, bù wéi yáo cún, bù wéi jié wáng) – The laws of nature work constantly, not for the survival of the good nor the destruction of the wicked (Nature is fair to all)
- 君子坦荡荡，小人长戚戚 (Jūnzi tǎn dàngdàng, xiǎo rén zhǎng qīqī) – The noble are calm and composed, the lesser are always worried (Peace of mind comes from living righteously)
- 人非圣贤，孰能无过 (Rén fēi shèngxián, shú néng wú guò) – No one but saints and sages can be free from faults (Everyone makes mistakes).
Meaningful Chinese Phrases About Business
Sound business advice!
- 水能载舟，亦能覆舟 (Shuǐ néng zài zhōu, yì néng fù zhōu) – Water can float the boat, and it can also capsize it (Business can bring profit and loss)
- 三人行，必有我师 (Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī) – Among three people walking, there must be one I can learn from (Always be open to learning in business)
- 有钱能使鬼推磨 (Yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò) – Money can make the devil grind corn (Money can make many things happen in business)
- 滴水穿石，不是力量大，而是功夫深 (Dī shuǐ chuān shí, bùshì lìliang dà, ér shì gōngfū shēn) – Dripping water pierces stone, not by force but by persistence (Persistence is the key to success in business)
- 机不可失，时不再来 (Jī bùkě shī, shí bù zài lái) – Opportunity knocks but once (Seize business opportunities)
- 留得青山在,不怕没柴烧 (Liú dé qīng shān zài, bùpà méi chái shāo) – As long as the green mountains are there, one need not worry about firewood (As long as the business foundation is solid, there is no need to worry about the future)
- 静水流深，沉默是金 (Jìng shuǐ liúshēn, chénmò shì jīn) – Still waters run deep, silence is golden (Sometimes saying less can be more powerful in business)
- 开源节流 (Kāi yuán jié liú) – Increase income and save expenditure (Business should focus on both increasing revenue and cutting costs)
- 买卖不成，仁义在 (Mǎi mài bù chéng, rén yì zài) – If a deal cannot be made, goodwill remains (Even if business deals fail, relationships should be maintained)
- 千里之行，始于足下 (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià) – A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (Every big business starts from scratch).
Which Chinese phrase was your favorite? You have had a list of great Chinese idioms and words and can now go out and impress your Chinese friends. Learning Chinese is not an easy endeavor but the lists above should tell you that learning Chinese is well worth the effort!
Follow @AnuSinghTravelsCredit must be given where credit is due. These are some of the sources I used.
https://www.playfactile.com/jeopardy/preview/lom9av0p45
https://www.facebook.com/writtenchinese/photos/a.636847599668893/1126085290745119/?type=3
https://quizlet.com/680503811/%E7%A7%BB%E6%B0%91-migration-1-flash-cards/
https://m.facebook.com/brightmandarinchinese/posts/262712998923005/
https://www.italki.com/en/article/912/8-chengyus-to-inspire-you-for-the-new-year