CYChengyu Dictionary

Chengyu lookup

Search Chinese chengyu by character, pinyin, or meaning

Try Chinese characters, tone-mark pinyin, plain pinyin, English equivalents, or a theme such as effort, wisdom, or strategy.

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Start from the closest match, then check pinyin, tone, literal image, and misuse before choosing a phrase.

水滴石穿 · shui di shi chuansteady effort can wear through stone天道酬勤 · tian dao chou qindiligence is rewardedShorten the English ideasteady effortTry plain pinyinsteady effortBrowse a themeeffort
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2 results for steady effort

Results show the short meaning first, then pinyin, literal image, tone, and difficulty.

水滴石穿steady effort can wear through stoneshuǐ dī shí chuān · positive · positiveOpen entry天道酬勤diligence is rewardedtiān dào chóu qín · positive · motivational and positiveOpen entry
水滴石穿shuǐ dī shí chuānsteady effort can wear through stonewater drops pierce stoneBeginnerpositive天道酬勤tiān dào chóu qíndiligence is rewardedthe way of heaven rewards diligenceIntermediatemotivational and positive

Search by theme instead

Themes are useful when you know the situation but not the exact chengyu.

Chengyu for Learning Chinese

Idioms that help learners talk about practice, mistakes, correction, and steady improvement.

Chengyu About Effort and Discipline

Positive and cautionary idioms for practice, persistence, over-pressure, and commitment.

Cautionary Chengyu

Story-driven warnings about passivity, rigidity, overdoing, wrong direction, and premature judgment.

Strategy Chengyu

Idioms for plans, direction, commitment, preparation, and decisions under pressure.

Everyday Spoken Chengyu

Common expressions that appear in daily conversation, self-evaluation, reviews, and casual criticism.

Chengyu About Perspective and Wisdom

Idioms that help explain uncertainty, narrow perspective, and the need to see the larger pattern.