As the quintessence of the Chinese language , Chinese idioms ( 中国成语）should be focused on during our learning . These idioms are transferred early down from the Chinese ancestors and have been used for thousands of years. There are many stories arising these idioms. Many of them were from the ancient Spring and Autumn Period. When we learn the idioms , we can learn the Chinese history , too.
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发奋图强 fā fèn tú qiáng —— to decide to do well , to be determined to make strong effort ( 发奋 to work energetically ， 图强 to attempt to strive , to be strong )
阿谀逢迎 ē yú fèng yíng —— to flatter , toady ( 阿谀 to flatter， 逢迎 to pander to , play up to ) .
德高望重 dé gāo wàng zhòng —- to be venerable , noble or high prestige ，德 dé ( morals or virtue ) , 高 gāo ( high ) , 望wàng （reputation ） , 重 zhòng ( heavy , highly ) . It is used to describe those seniors who are venerable , moral and respectful .
才疏学浅 cái shū xué qiǎn —- to have little talent and less learning . 才 cái ( talent , ability ) , 疏 shū( lack , scanty ) , 学xué( knowledge, learning ) , 浅 qiǎn ( shallow, insufficient ) . It is often used to self abase inferring knowledge or ability is still limited and further study should go on.
拔苗助长 bá miáo zhù zhǎng —– to pull up the shoots in an attempt to help them grow . 拔bá ( to pull up ) , 苗 miáo ( shoots , young plants ) , 助zhù ( to help ) , 长zhǎng ( to grow ) . It means to spoil things by excessive enthusiasm , especially in comparison with the incorrect methods of education .
爱屋及乌 aì wū jí wū —— to love a person even love the crows on his roof . 爱 aì ( love ) , 屋 wū ( house ) , 及jí ( and ) , 乌wū
( a crow , the bird has been regarded as a bad luck bird according to the old Chinese tradition ) . This idiom is similar to the English expression “ love me ; love my dog. ”