画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) Meaning: To ruin something by adding unnecessary details; overdo it. Example: 你已经做好了报告，不要画蛇添足，别再改了。 (Nǐ yǐjīng zuò hǎo le bàogào, bú yào huà shé tiān zú, bié zài gǎi le.) — You already finished the report; don’t ruin it by adding unnecessary stuff.
井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā) Meaning: A person with a limited outlook or narrow mind. Example: 他只知道自己那点儿事，真是井底之蛙。 (Tā zhǐ zhīdào zìjǐ nà diǎnr shì, zhēn shì jǐng dǐ zhī wā.) — He only knows his own little world, really a frog at the bottom of a well.
亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) Meaning: Better late than never; to take action after suffering a loss to prevent further problems. Example: 虽然这次考试没考好，但亡羊补牢，明天还可以努力。 (Suīrán zhè cì kǎoshì méi kǎo hǎo, dàn wáng yáng bǔ láo, míngtiān hái kěyǐ nǔlì.) — Although you didn’t do well this time, it’s never too late to try harder next time.
塞翁失马 (sāi wēng shī mǎ) Meaning: A blessing in disguise; bad things can lead to good outcomes. Example: 他丢了工作，但找到更好的，这真是塞翁失马。 (Tā diū le gōngzuò, dàn zhǎodào gèng hǎo de, zhè zhēn shì sāi wēng shī mǎ.) — He lost his job but found a better one, truly a blessing in disguise.
杯弓蛇影 (bēi gōng shé yǐng) Meaning: To be paranoid or suspicious without cause. Example: 你别杯弓蛇影，大家都在帮你。 (Nǐ bié bēi gōng shé yǐng, dàjiā dōu zài bāng nǐ.) — Don’t be so paranoid, everyone is helping you.
守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù) Meaning: Waiting idly for opportunities instead of making effort. Example: 不能守株待兔，要主动出击。 (Bù néng shǒu zhū dài tù, yào zhǔdòng chūjī.) — Don’t wait passively; take the initiative.
自相矛盾 (zì xiāng máo dùn) Meaning: Self-contradiction. Example: 他说的话自相矛盾，不能相信。 (Tā shuō de huà zì xiāng máo dùn, bù néng xiāngxìn.) — What he said is contradictory and cannot be trusted.
草木皆兵 (cǎo mù jiē bīng) Meaning: To be overly suspicious or fearful. Example: 战争时期，大家草木皆兵，神经紧张。 (Zhànzhēng shíqī, dàjiā cǎo mù jiē bīng, shénjīng jǐnzhāng.) — During wartime, everyone was extremely nervous and suspicious.
入乡随俗 (rù xiāng suí sú) Meaning: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Example: 到外国工作，要学会入乡随俗。 (Dào wàiguó gōngzuò, yào xuéhuì rù xiāng suí sú.) — When working abroad, learn to follow local customs.
守口如瓶 (shǒu kǒu rú píng) Meaning: To keep a secret tightly. Example: 这个秘密你得守口如瓶，不能告诉别人。 (Zhège mìmì nǐ děi shǒu kǒu rú píng, bù néng gàosù biérén.) — You have to keep this secret tightly and not tell anyone.
画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng) Meaning: To add the finishing touch that brings something to life. Example: 他的演讲画龙点睛，让人印象深刻。 (Tā de yǎnjiǎng huà lóng diǎn jīng, ràng rén yìnxiàng shēnkè.) — His speech added the finishing touch and impressed everyone.
骑虎难下 (qí hǔ nán xià) Meaning: Difficult to stop halfway once started; caught in a dilemma. Example: 他答应帮忙了，现在骑虎难下。 (Tā dāying bāngmáng le, xiànzài qí hǔ nán xià.) — He promised to help and now he’s stuck in a difficult position.
一箭双雕 (yī jiàn shuāng diāo) Meaning: To kill two birds with one stone. Example: 去图书馆学习顺便借书，一箭双雕。 (Qù túshūguǎn xuéxí shùnbiàn jiè shū, yī jiàn shuāng diāo.) — Going to the library to study and borrow books, killing two birds with one stone.
如鱼得水 (rú yú dé shuǐ) Meaning: To be in a very suitable environment; like fish in water. Example: 他找到新工作后，如鱼得水。 (Tā zhǎodào xīn gōngzuò hòu, rú yú dé shuǐ.) — He feels perfectly comfortable after finding the new job.
心安理得 (xīn ān lǐ dé) Meaning: To feel at ease and justified. Example: 他做了好事，心安理得。 (Tā zuò le hǎoshì, xīn ān lǐ dé.) — He did a good deed and feels at ease.
亡命之徒 (wáng mìng zhī tú) Meaning: A desperate or reckless person. Example: 他是个亡命之徒，不怕任何危险。 (Tā shì gè wáng mìng zhī tú, bù pà rènhé wēixiǎn.) — He is a reckless person who fears no danger.
百发百中 (bǎi fā bǎi zhòng) Meaning: To hit the target every time; be very accurate. Example: 他射箭百发百中，技术一流。 (Tā shèjiàn bǎi fā bǎi zhòng, jìshù yīliú.) — He hits the target every time; his skill is top-notch.
刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn) Meaning: To take rigid and impractical measures; foolishly stubborn. Example: 他的方法太刻舟求剑了，根本解决不了问题。 (Tā de fāngfǎ tài kè zhōu qiú jiàn le, gēnběn jiějué bùliǎo wèntí.) — His method is too rigid and won’t solve the problem.
无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu) Meaning: To create something out of nothing; to fabricate. Example: 他无中生有，散布谣言。 (Tā wú zhōng shēng yǒu, sànbù yáoyán.) — He made up rumors out of nothing.
坐井观天 (zuò jǐng guān tiān) Meaning: To have a limited perspective. Example: 你这样想问题太坐井观天了。 (Nǐ zhèyàng xiǎng wèntí tài zuò jǐng guān tiān le.) — You have a very narrow view of the problem.
破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu) Meaning: To make a determined effort with no turning back. Example: 他破釜沉舟，决心完成任务。 (Tā pò fǔ chén zhōu, juéxīn wánchéng rènwù.) — He was determined to finish the task no matter what.
千钧一发 (qiān jūn yī fà) Meaning: A very critical moment; extremely dangerous. Example: 这次事故真是千钧一发，幸好没出事。 (Zhè cì shìgù zhēn shì qiān jūn yī fà, xìnghǎo méi chūshì.) — That accident was extremely dangerous; luckily nothing happened.
一帆风顺 (yī fān fēng shùn) Meaning: To go smoothly without a hitch. Example: 祝你工作一帆风顺！ (Zhù nǐ gōngzuò yī fān fēng shùn!) — Wish you smooth sailing in your work!
空中楼阁 (kōng zhōng lóu gé) Meaning: An unrealistic plan or idea; castle in the air. Example: 他的计划只是空中楼阁，难以实现。 (Tā de jìhuà zhǐ shì kōng zhōng lóu gé, nányǐ shíxiàn.) — His plan is just a castle in the air and hard to realize.
滴水穿石 (dī shuǐ chuān shí) Meaning: Persistent effort brings success. Example: 他每天练习钢琴，真是滴水穿石。 (Tā měitiān liànxí gāngqín, zhēn shì dī shuǐ chuān shí.) — He practices piano every day, truly persistent effort.
望尘莫及 (wàng chén mò jí) Meaning: Far behind; unable to catch up. Example: 他的成绩太好，我们望尘莫及。 (Tā de chéngjī tài hǎo, wǒmen wàng chén mò jí.) — His results are so good that we can’t catch up.
亡命天涯 (wáng mìng tiān yá) Meaning: To be a fugitive fleeing to the ends of the earth. Example: 他犯了罪，成了亡命天涯的人。 (Tā fàn le zuì, chéng le wáng mìng tiān yá de rén.) — He committed a crime and became a fugitive.
破镜重圆 (pò jìng chóng yuán) Meaning: To reconcile after a breakup or conflict. Example: 他们离婚后，又破镜重圆了。 (Tāmen líhūn hòu, yòu pò jìng chóng yuán le.) — They reconciled after divorcing.
鹤立鸡群 (hè lì jī qún) Meaning: To stand out from the crowd. Example: 她的才华让她在班里鹤立鸡群。 (Tā de cáihuá ràng tā zài bān lǐ hè lì jī qún.) — Her talent makes her stand out in class.
大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī) Meaning: Selfless and impartial. Example: 他做事大公无私，大家都信任他。 (Tā zuò shì dà gōng wú sī, dàjiā dōu xìnrèn tā.) — He acts selflessly and impartially; everyone trusts him.
