Stories by topic
Chinese idiom stories
成语故事
Learn Chinese idioms through the memorable short stories behind them, with graded language and clear explanations.
海Shanhai StoryChinese stories for learners
50 stories
STORY 03山
HSK 4 · 3 questions
愚公移山
Yu Gong Moves the Mountains
STORY 08兔
HSK 4 · 3 questions
守株待兔
Waiting by the Tree for Rabbits
STORY 19井
HSK 2 · 3 questions
井底之蛙
The Frog in the Well
STORY 20虎
HSK 2 · 3 questions
狐假虎威
The Fox Borrows the Tiger’s Might
STORY 22羊
HSK 3 · 3 questions
亡羊补牢
Mend the Pen After Losing a Sheep
STORY 23蛇
HSK 3 · 3 questions
画蛇添足
Drawing Legs on a Snake
STORY 24剑
HSK 3 · 3 questions
刻舟求剑
Marking the Boat to Find a Sword
STORY 29铃
HSK 3 · 3 questions
掩耳盗铃
Covering One's Ears While Stealing a Bell
STORY 31盾
HSK 3 · 3 questions
自相矛盾
The Spear and the Shield
STORY 32琴
HSK 3 · 3 questions
对牛弹琴
Playing the Lute to a Cow
STORY 33象
HSK 4 · 3 questions
盲人摸象
The Blind Men and the Elephant
STORY 34竽
HSK 4 · 3 questions
滥竽充数
The Man Who Pretended to Play
STORY 35苗
HSK 3 · 3 questions
拔苗助长
Pulling Seedlings to Help Them Grow
STORY 36龙
HSK 3 · 3 questions
叶公好龙
Lord Ye Loves Dragons
STORY 37栗
HSK 3 · 3 questions
朝三暮四
Three in the Morning, Four at Night
STORY 38马
HSK 4 · 3 questions
塞翁失马
The Old Man Loses His Horse
STORY 39弓
HSK 4 · 3 questions
杯弓蛇影
The Snake Reflection in the Cup
STORY 54睛
HSK 2 · 3 questions
画龙点睛
Adding the Eyes to the Dragon
STORY 55辕
HSK 3 · 3 questions
南辕北辙
Driving North to Go South
STORY 56针
HSK 3 · 3 questions
铁杵成针
Grinding an Iron Rod into a Needle
STORY 67虎
HSK 3 · 3 questions
与虎谋皮
Asking a Tiger for Its Skin
STORY 68胆
HSK 4 · 3 questions
卧薪尝胆
Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall
STORY 69伥
HSK 4 · 3 questions
为虎作伥
Helping the Tiger Hunt
STORY 71卫
HSK 4 · 3 questions
精卫填海
Jingwei Fills the Sea
STORY 79光
HSK 3 · 3 questions
凿壁偷光
Borrowing Light Through the Wall
STORY 102挂
HSK 4 · 3 questions
挂羊头卖狗肉
Hang a Sheep’s Head and Sell Dog Meat
STORY 103珠
HSK 3 · 3 questions
买椟还珠
Buy the Box and Return the Pearl
STORY 108虎
HSK 3 · 3 questions
三人成虎
Three People Make a Tiger
STORY 109争
HSK 4 · 3 questions
鹬蚌相争
The Snipe and the Clam
STORY 110熟
HSK 4 · 3 questions
熟能生巧
Practice Makes Perfect
STORY 111弓
HSK 4 · 3 questions
惊弓之鸟
The Bird Startled by the Bow
STORY 112兵
HSK 4 · 3 questions
纸上谈兵
War on Paper
STORY 113履
HSK 4 · 3 questions
郑人买履
The Zheng Man Who Bought Shoes
STORY 114颦
HSK 4 · 3 questions
东施效颦
Dongshi Imitates a Frown
STORY 115驴
HSK 5 · 3 questions
黔驴技穷
The Donkey of Guizhou
STORY 116忧
HSK 4 · 3 questions
杞人忧天
The Man Who Worried the Sky Would Fall
STORY 117鸣
HSK 4 · 3 questions
一鸣惊人
A Single Cry That Amazed the World
STORY 118齿
HSK 5 · 3 questions
唇亡齿寒
When the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Grow Cold
STORY 119退
HSK 5 · 3 questions
退避三舍
Retreat Three She
STORY 120荐
HSK 5 · 3 questions
毛遂自荐
Mao Sui Recommends Himself
STORY 125箭
HSK 4 · 3 questions
一箭双雕
Two Eagles with One Arrow
STORY 126舞
HSK 4 · 3 questions
闻鸡起舞
Rise at Cockcrow and Practise
STORY 127梅
HSK 3 · 3 questions
望梅止渴
Quenching Thirst with Thoughts of Plums
STORY 128步
HSK 3 · 3 questions
邯郸学步
Learning to Walk in Handan
STORY 130斧
HSK 4 · 3 questions
疑邻盗斧
Suspecting the Neighbor’s Son
STORY 134叶
HSK 4 · 3 questions
一叶障目
A Leaf Blocks the View
STORY 135饼
HSK 4 · 3 questions
画饼充饥
Drawing a Cake to Satisfy Hunger
STORY 139鹿
HSK 4 · 3 questions
指鹿为马
Calling a Deer a Horse
STORY 140荆
HSK 4 · 3 questions
负荆请罪
Carrying Thorn Branches to Apologize
STORY 141雀
HSK 4 · 3 questions
螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后
The Mantis, the Cicada and the Yellow Bird