Four-character vocabulary includes several different categories. Some entries are true chengyu, some are other fixed expressions, and some are modern compounds such as 人工智能 (artificial intelligence). Four characters alone do not determine which category an entry belongs to.
This page presents HSKStory's codepoint-based extraction from cleaned HSK 3.0 data, grouped by level with pinyin and English definitions. The extractor compares the cumulative level files, assigns an entry to the first level where it appears, and retains written forms that contain exactly four Unicode code points and have a dictionary record.
The result is not an official inventory of 458 chengyu. It is a mechanical list of 458 four-codepoint entries that mixes true chengyu, fixed expressions, and modern compounds. Classifying every row would require authoritative lexicographic evidence for each entry, so the table does not attempt a row-by-row taxonomy.
Vocabulary is one part of the syllabus. The HSK 3.0 syllabus also defines topics, tasks, and grammar at every level. See the HSK 3.0 syllabus guide for those requirements.
Distribution
| HSK Level | Four-Character Expressions |
|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 0 |
| HSK 2 | 1 |
| HSK 3 | 1 |
| HSK 4 | 2 |
| HSK 5 | 7 |
| HSK 6 | 17 |
| HSK 7–9 | 430 |
| Total | 458 |
The extraction finds no qualifying entry at HSK 1, one each at HSK 2 and HSK 3, two at HSK 4, and 28 total through HSK 6. The combined HSK 7–9 data adds 430. That is a sharp increase in four-codepoint entries; it does not mean the vocabulary as a whole stops being conversational or becomes uniformly literary.
HSK 1–4
Four entries appear across the first four levels: none at HSK 1, one at HSK 2, one at HSK 3, and two at HSK 4. Their inclusion reflects the four-codepoint filter, not an official decision about when chengyu begin.
| Word | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 有一点儿 | yǒu yī diǎn r | a bit; a little |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎo yì si | to feel embarrassed; to be sorry (for inconveniencing sb) |
| 十字路口 | shí zì lù kǒu | crossroads; intersection |
| 差一点儿 | chà yī diǎn r | almost; nearly |
HSK 5
7 four-character entries.
| Word | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 一路顺风 | yī lù shùn fēng | to have a pleasant journey (idiom) |
| 中华民族 | Zhōng huá mín zú | the Chinese nation; the Chinese people |
| 丰富多彩 | fēng fù duō cǎi | richly colorful |
| 五颜六色 | wǔ yán liù sè | multicolored; every color under the sun |
| 亲朋好友 | qīn péng hǎo yǒu | friends and family; kith and kin |
| 各行各业 | gè háng gè yè | every trade; all professions; all walks of life |
| 酸甜苦辣 | suān tián kǔ là | lit. sour, sweet, bitter and spicy (idiom); the joys and sorrows of life |
HSK 6
17 four-character entries. The rows include forms that dictionaries may label as idioms alongside modern compounds, but this page does not assign an authoritative category to each one.
| Word | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 一帆风顺 | yī fān fēng shùn | plain sailing; to go smoothly |
| 一模一样 | yī mú yī yàng | exactly alike; identical |
| 二氧化碳 | èr yǎng huà tàn | carbon dioxide (CO2) |
| 人山人海 | rén shān rén hǎi | multitude; vast crowd |
| 人工智能 | rén gōng zhì néng | artificial intelligence (AI) |
| 众所周知 | zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī | as everyone knows |
| 千家万户 | qiān jiā wàn hù | every family |
| 多才多艺 | duō cái duō yì | multitalented |
| 大吃一惊 | dà chī yī jīng | astounded; flabbergasted |
| 家家户户 | jiā jiā hù hù | each and every family |
| 成千上万 | chéng qiān shàng wàn | by the thousands and tens of thousands; innumerable |
| 方方面面 | fāng fāng miàn miàn | all sides; all aspects |
| 未成年人 | wèi chéng nián rén | minor (person under 18) |
| 自言自语 | zì yán zì yǔ | to talk to oneself; to think aloud |
| 至关重要 | zhì guān zhòng yào | extremely important; vital; crucial |
| 衣食住行 | yī shí zhù xíng | clothing, food, housing and transportation; people's basic needs |
| 高新技术 | gāo xīn jì shù | high tech; high technology |
HSK 7–9
HSKStory stores the combined HSK 7–9 advanced vocabulary as one pool, from which the mechanical filter returns 430 four-character entries. Familiar chengyu appear alongside other fixed expressions and modern compounds. Recurring forms such as ABAC (一心一意), AABB (断断续续), and negation structures (不知不觉) can help with recognition, but a structural pattern does not by itself establish that an entry is a chengyu.
| Word | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 一丝不苟 | yī sī bù gǒu | meticulous; strictly according to the rules |
| 一举一动 | yī jǔ yī dòng | every movement; each and every move |
| 一举两得 | yī jǔ liǎng dé | one move, two gains; two birds with one stone |
| 一事无成 | yī shì wú chéng | to have achieved nothing; to be a total failure |
| 一动不动 | yī dòng bù dòng | motionless |
| 一塌糊涂 | yī tā hú tu | in an awful condition; a total mess |
| 一声不吭 | yī shēng bù kēng | to not say a word |
| 一如既往 | yī rú jì wǎng | just as in the past; continuing as always |
| 一干二净 | yī gān èr jìng | thoroughly; completely; one and all |
| 一应俱全 | yī yīng jù quán | with everything needed available |
| 一心一意 | yī xīn yī yì | single-minded; concentrating one's thoughts and efforts |
| 一成不变 | yī chéng bù biàn | immutable; set in stone |
| 一技之长 | yī jì zhī cháng | proficiency in a particular field |
| 一无所有 | yī wú suǒ yǒu | not having anything at all; utterly lacking |
| 一无所知 | yī wú suǒ zhī | not knowing anything at all; completely ignorant |
| 一概而论 | yī gài ér lùn | to lump different matters together |
| 一毛不拔 | yī máo bù bá | extremely stingy |
| 一目了然 | yī mù liǎo rán | obvious at a glance |
| 一筹莫展 | yī chóu mò zhǎn | to be unable to find a solution; at wits' end |
| 一言一行 | yī yán yī xíng | every word and action |
| 一言不发 | yī yán bù fā | to not say a word |
| 一针见血 | yī zhēn jiàn xiě | to hit the nail on the head |
| 一鼓作气 | yī gǔ zuò qì | in a spurt of energy |
| 七嘴八舌 | qī zuǐ bā shé | lively discussion with everybody talking at once |
| 万无一失 | wàn wú yī shī | surefire; absolutely safe |
| 三番五次 | sān fān wǔ cì | over and over again |
| 不了了之 | bù liǎo liǎo zhī | to settle a matter by leaving it unsettled |
| 不亦乐乎 | bù yì lè hū | extremely; awfully |
| 不以为然 | bù yǐ wéi rán | to object; to disapprove; to take exception to |
| 不假思索 | bù jiǎ sī suǒ | to act without taking time to think; to react instantly |
| 不厌其烦 | bù yàn qí fán | to take great pains; to be very patient |
| 不可思议 | bù kě sī yì | inconceivable; unimaginable |
| 不可或缺 | bù kě huò quē | necessary; must have |
| 不得而知 | bù dé ér zhī | unknown; unable to find out |
| 不折不扣 | bù zhé bù kòu | a hundred percent; to the letter |
| 不正之风 | bù zhèng zhī fēng | unhealthy tendency |
| 不由自主 | bù yóu zì zhǔ | can't help but; involuntarily |
| 不相上下 | bù xiāng shàng xià | equally matched; about the same |
| 不知不觉 | bù zhī bù jué | unconsciously; unwittingly |
| 不知所措 | bù zhī suǒ cuò | at one's wits' end; embarrassed and at a complete loss |
| 不约而同 | bù yuē ér tóng | to take the same action without prior consultation |
| 不翼而飞 | bù yì ér fēi | to disappear without trace; to vanish suddenly |
| 不耻下问 | bù chǐ xià wèn | not ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates |
| 不言而喻 | bù yán ér yù | it goes without saying; self-evident |
| 不辞而别 | bù cí ér bié | to leave without saying goodbye |
| 与众不同 | yǔ zhòng bù tóng | to stand out from the crowd; distinctive |
| 与日俱增 | yǔ rì jù zēng | to increase steadily; to grow with each passing day |
| 与时俱进 | yǔ shí jù jìn | to keep up with the times; progressive |
| 东奔西走 | dōng bēn xī zǒu | to rush about busily |
| 东张西望 | dōng zhāng xī wàng | to look in all directions; to glance around |
| 丢三落四 | diū sān là sì | forgetful; empty-headed |
| 举一反三 | jǔ yī fǎn sān | to deduce many things from one case |
| 举世瞩目 | jǔ shì zhǔ mù | to receive worldwide attention |
| 举棋不定 | jǔ qí bù dìng | to hesitate; to waver; to shilly-shally |
| 举足轻重 | jǔ zú qīng zhòng | to play a critical role; influential |
| 乐此不疲 | lè cǐ bù pí | to enjoy sth and never tire of it |
| 乱七八糟 | luàn qī bā zāo | chaotic; in disorder; muddled |
| 争先恐后 | zhēng xiān kǒng hòu | striving to be first and fearing to be last; outdoing one another |
| 争分夺秒 | zhēng fēn duó miǎo | a race against time; making every second count |
| 五湖四海 | wǔ hú sì hǎi | all parts of the country |
| 五花八门 | wǔ huā bā mén | myriad; all kinds of; all sorts of |
| 井底之蛙 | jǐng dǐ zhī wā | a frog at the bottom of a well; a person of limited outlook |
| 亡羊补牢 | wáng yáng bǔ láo | to mend the pen after sheep are lost; better late than never |
| 交头接耳 | jiāo tóu jiē ěr | to whisper to one another's ear |
| 从容不迫 | cóng róng bù pò | calm; unruffled |
| 以身作则 | yǐ shēn zuò zé | to set an example; to serve as a model |
| 任重道远 | rèn zhòng dào yuǎn | a heavy load and a long road; to bear heavy responsibilities |
| 众志成城 | zhòng zhì chéng chéng | unity of will is an impregnable stronghold |
| 优胜劣汰 | yōu shèng liè tài | survival of the fittest |
| 似是而非 | sì shì ér fēi | apparently right but actually wrong; specious |
| 似曾相识 | sì céng xiāng shí | deja vu; seemingly familiar |
| 侃侃而谈 | kǎn kǎn ér tán | to speak frankly with assurance |
| 供不应求 | gōng bù yìng qiú | supply does not meet demand |
| 依依不舍 | yī yī bù shě | reluctant to part; broken-hearted at having to leave |
| 倾家荡产 | qīng jiā dàng chǎn | to lose a family fortune |
| 光明磊落 | guāng míng lěi luò | open and candid; straightforward and upright |
| 兢兢业业 | jīng jīng yè yè | conscientious; assiduous |
| 全力以赴 | quán lì yǐ fù | to make an all-out effort |
| 全心全意 | quán xīn quán yì | heart and soul; wholeheartedly |
| 兴高采烈 | xìng gāo cǎi liè | happy and excited; in high spirits |
| 再接再厉 | zài jiē zài lì | to continue the struggle; unremitting efforts |
| 冰天雪地 | bīng tiān xuě dì | a world of ice and snow |
| 冰山一角 | bīng shān yī jiǎo | tip of the iceberg |
| 凤毛麟角 | fèng máo lín jiǎo | as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; few and far between |
| 出人意料 | chū rén yì liào | unexpected; surprising |
| 出口成章 | chū kǒu chéng zhāng | eloquent; articulate |
| 别具匠心 | bié jù jiàng xīn | to show ingenuity; brilliantly conceived |
| 刮目相看 | guā mù xiāng kàn | to have a whole new level of respect for sb |
| 刻不容缓 | kè bù róng huǎn | to brook no delay; to demand immediate action |
| 刻舟求剑 | kè zhōu qiú jiàn | an action made pointless by changed circumstances |
| 前所未有 | qián suǒ wèi yǒu | unprecedented |
| 前无古人 | qián wú gǔ rén | unprecedented; unheard of |
| 前赴后继 | qián fù hòu jì | to advance dauntlessly in wave upon wave |
| 力不从心 | lì bù cóng xīn | to lack the ability to do what one would wish |
| 力所能及 | lì suǒ néng jí | to the best of one's ability; within one's powers |
| 势不可当 | shì bù kě dāng | impossible to resist; an irresistible force |
| 勇往直前 | yǒng wǎng zhí qián | to advance bravely |
| 勤工俭学 | qín gōng jiǎn xué | to work part-time while studying |
| 包罗万象 | bāo luó wàn xiàng | all-embracing; all-inclusive |
| 化险为夷 | huà xiǎn wéi yí | to turn peril into safety; to avert disaster |
| 千军万马 | qiān jūn wàn mǎ | impressive display of manpower |
| 千变万化 | qiān biàn wàn huà | countless changes; constant permutation |
| 千姿百态 | qiān zī bǎi tài | to come in many different shapes |
| 千方百计 | qiān fāng bǎi jì | by every possible means |
| 千钧一发 | qiān jūn yī fà | a thousand pounds hangs by a thread; perilous moment |
| 半信半疑 | bàn xìn bàn yí | half believing, half doubting; skeptical |
| 半途而废 | bàn tú ér fèi | to give up halfway |
| 南辕北辙 | nán yuán běi zhé | to act in a way that defeats one's purpose |
| 博大精深 | bó dà jīng shēn | wide-ranging and profound |
| 原汁原味 | yuán zhī yuán wèi | original; authentic |
| 发扬光大 | fā yáng guāng dà | to develop and promote; to carry forward |
| 取而代之 | qǔ ér dài zhī | to replace; to supersede |
| 受宠若惊 | shòu chǒng ruò jīng | overwhelmed by favor from superior |
| 受益匪浅 | shòu yì fěi qiǎn | to benefit greatly |
| 变幻莫测 | biàn huàn mò cè | to change unpredictably; erratic |
| 古今中外 | gǔ jīn zhōng wài | at all times and in all places |
| 可乘之机 | kě chéng zhī jī | an opportunity to exploit |
| 可想而知 | kě xiǎng ér zhī | goes without saying; can well be imagined |
| 史无前例 | shǐ wú qián lì | unprecedented in history |
| 司空见惯 | sī kōng jiàn guàn | a common occurrence |
| 吃喝玩乐 | chī hē wán lè | to abandon oneself to a life of pleasure |
| 各抒己见 | gè shū jǐ jiàn | everyone gives their own view |
| 同舟共济 | tóng zhōu gòng jì | having common interests; obliged to collaborate |
| 名副其实 | míng fù qí shí | not just in name only, but also in reality; worthy of the name |
| 后顾之忧 | hòu gù zhī yōu | worries about the future consequences |
| 吞吞吐吐 | tūn tūn tǔ tǔ | to hum and haw; to mumble as if hiding sth |
| 和平共处 | hé píng gòng chǔ | peaceful coexistence |
| 哄堂大笑 | hōng táng dà xiào | the whole room roaring with laughter |
| 哭笑不得 | kū xiào bù dé | not to know whether to laugh or cry; both funny and embarrassing |
| 喜出望外 | xǐ chū wàng wài | to be pleased beyond one's expectations; overjoyed |
| 喜怒哀乐 | xǐ nù āi lè | happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy; emotions |
| 喜闻乐见 | xǐ wén lè jiàn | well received; to one's liking |
| 四通八达 | sì tōng bā dá | accessible from all sides |
| 四面八方 | sì miàn bā fāng | all directions; all around |
| 因人而异 | yīn rén ér yì | varying from person to person |
| 因地制宜 | yīn dì zhì yí | to use methods in line with local circumstances |
| 土生土长 | tǔ shēng tǔ zhǎng | born and raised in the locality; wholly indigenous |
| 在所难免 | zài suǒ nán miǎn | to be unavoidable |
| 垂头丧气 | chuí tóu sàng qì | dejected; crestfallen |
| 埋头苦干 | mái tóu kǔ gàn | to bury oneself in work; to make an all-out effort |
| 夜以继日 | yè yǐ jì rì | night and day; continuous strenuous effort |
| 大公无私 | dà gōng wú sī | selfless; impartial |
| 大同小异 | dà tóng xiǎo yì | virtually the same; differing only on small points |
| 大名鼎鼎 | dà míng dǐng dǐng | renowned; famous |
| 大大咧咧 | dà dà liē liē | carefree; offhand; casual |
| 大惊小怪 | dà jīng xiǎo guài | to make a fuss about nothing |
| 大有可为 | dà yǒu kě wéi | with great prospects for the future; well worth doing |
| 大街小巷 | dà jiē xiǎo xiàng | everywhere in the city |
| 天伦之乐 | tiān lún zhī lè | family love and joy; domestic bliss |
| 天经地义 | tiān jīng dì yì | right and proper; a matter of course |
| 天长地久 | tiān cháng dì jiǔ | enduring while the world lasts; eternal |
| 头头是道 | tóu tóu shì dào | clear and logical |
| 夸夸其谈 | kuā kuā qí tán | to talk big; to be full of hot air |
| 如愿以偿 | rú yuàn yǐ cháng | to have one's wish fulfilled |
| 如痴如醉 | rú chī rú zuì | enthralled; mesmerized |
| 孤陋寡闻 | gū lòu guǎ wén | ignorant and inexperienced; ill-informed |
| 守株待兔 | shǒu zhū dài tù | to wait idly for opportunities; to trust to chance |
| 实事求是 | shí shì qiú shì | to be practical and realistic |
| 实话实说 | shí huà shí shuō | to tell the truth; to tell it as it is |
| 家喻户晓 | jiā yù hù xiǎo | well known; a household name |
| 容光焕发 | róng guāng huàn fā | looking radiant; all smiles |
| 寥寥无几 | liáo liáo wú jǐ | very few |
| 对牛弹琴 | duì niú tán qín | to play the lute to a cow; to cast pearls before swine |
| 对症下药 | duì zhèng xià yào | to study a problem to find the right way to solve it |
| 小心翼翼 | xiǎo xīn yì yì | cautious; careful; prudent |
| 小菜一碟 | xiǎo cài yī dié | a piece of cake; very easy |
| 层出不穷 | céng chū bù qióng | more and more emerge; innumerable succession |
| 居安思危 | jū ān sī wēi | to think of danger in times of safety; to be vigilant in peacetime |
| 居高不下 | jū gāo bù xià | (of prices, rates) to remain high |
| 岂有此理 | qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ | how can this be so?; preposterous; absurd |
| 峰回路转 | fēng huí lù zhuǎn | an opportunity has come unexpectedly |
| 川流不息 | chuān liú bù xī | unending flow |
| 左顾右盼 | zuǒ gù yòu pàn | glancing to left and right; to look all around |
| 市场经济 | shì chǎng jīng jì | market economy |
| 应有尽有 | yīng yǒu jìn yǒu | everything one needs is on hand |
| 废寝忘食 | fèi qǐn wàng shí | to skip sleep and meals; completely wrapped up in work |
| 开天辟地 | kāi tiān pì dì | to split heaven and earth apart (Pangu creation myth) |
| 异口同声 | yì kǒu tóng shēng | to speak in unison |
| 异想天开 | yì xiǎng tiān kāi | to imagine the wildest thing; to indulge in fantasy |
| 弄虚作假 | nòng xū zuò jiǎ | to practice fraud; by trickery |
| 引人入胜 | yǐn rén rù shèng | to enchant; fascinating |
| 引人注目 | yǐn rén zhù mù | to attract attention; eye-catching |
| 引经据典 | yǐn jīng jù diǎn | to quote the classics; to quote chapter and verse |
| 张灯结彩 | zhāng dēng jié cǎi | to be decorated with lanterns and colored banners |
| 归根到底 | guī gēn dào dǐ | after all; in the final analysis; ultimately |
| 当之无愧 | dāng zhī wú kuì | fully deserving; entirely worthy |
| 当务之急 | dāng wù zhī jí | top priority; a matter of the greatest urgency |
| 当机立断 | dāng jī lì duàn | to make prompt decisions |
| 形形色色 | xíng xíng sè sè | all kinds of; all sorts of |
| 形影不离 | xíng yǐng bù lí | inseparable (as form and shadow) |
| 彬彬有礼 | bīn bīn yǒu lǐ | refined and courteous; urbane |
| 得不偿失 | dé bù cháng shī | the gains do not make up for the losses |
| 得天独厚 | dé tiān dú hòu | blessed by heaven; enjoying exceptional advantages |
| 得心应手 | dé xīn yìng shǒu | skilled at the job; going smoothly and easily |
| 得意扬扬 | dé yì yáng yáng | triumphant; smug |
| 循序渐进 | xún xù jiàn jìn | step by step; to make steady progress |
| 微不足道 | wēi bù zú dào | negligible; insignificant |
| 德才兼备 | dé cái jiān bèi | possessing both integrity and talent |
| 心安理得 | xīn ān lǐ dé | to have a clear conscience |
| 心急如焚 | xīn jí rú fén | burning with anxiety |
| 心想事成 | xīn xiǎng shì chéng | to have one's wishes come true |
| 心灵手巧 | xīn líng shǒu qiǎo | capable; clever; dexterous |
| 心甘情愿 | xīn gān qíng yuàn | perfectly happy to do; most willing |
| 必不可少 | bì bù kě shǎo | absolutely necessary; indispensable |
| 念念不忘 | niàn niàn bù wàng | to keep in mind constantly |
| 忽冷忽热 | hū lěng hū rè | now hot, now cold; to alternate |
| 思前想后 | sī qián xiǎng hòu | to think over the past and future; to ponder |
| 怡然自得 | yí rán zì dé | happy and content |
| 急中生智 | jí zhōng shēng zhì | quick-witted in an emergency |
| 急于求成 | jí yú qiú chéng | anxious for quick results; impatient |
| 急功近利 | jí gōng jìn lì | seeking instant benefit; shortsighted |
| 总而言之 | zǒng ér yán zhī | in short; in a word; in brief |
| 恋恋不舍 | liàn liàn bù shě | reluctant to part |
| 恍然大悟 | huǎng rán dà wù | to suddenly realize; to suddenly see the light |
| 息息相关 | xī xī xiāng guān | closely bound up; intimately related |
| 恰到好处 | qià dào hǎo chù | just perfect; just right |
| 恰如其分 | qià rú qí fèn | appropriate; apt; just right |
| 恼羞成怒 | nǎo xiū chéng nù | to become enraged over a perceived humiliation |
| 悲欢离合 | bēi huān lí hé | joys and sorrows; partings and reunions |
| 情不自禁 | qíng bù zì jīn | cannot refrain from; cannot help |
| 惊天动地 | jīng tiān dòng dì | world-shaking |
| 惊心动魄 | jīng xīn dòng pò | heart-stopping; hair-raising; breathtaking |
| 惊慌失措 | jīng huāng shī cuò | to lose one's head out of fear |
| 想方设法 | xiǎng fāng shè fǎ | to think up every possible method |
| 愁眉苦脸 | chóu méi kǔ liǎn | to look anxious; to look miserable |
| 愈演愈烈 | yù yǎn yù liè | ever more critical; problems intensify |
| 意想不到 | yì xiǎng bù dào | unexpected; previously unimagined |
| 愚公移山 | yú gōng yí shān | the old man moves mountains; where there's a will, there's a way |
| 成家立业 | chéng jiā lì yè | to get married and start a career; to settle down |
| 成群结队 | chéng qún jié duì | in large numbers; forming a troupe |
| 或多或少 | huò duō huò shǎo | more or less |
| 截然不同 | jié rán bù tóng | entirely different; different as black and white |
| 所作所为 | suǒ zuò suǒ wéi | one's conduct and deeds |
| 扑面而来 | pū miàn ér lái | directly in one's face; sth assaults the senses |
| 扣人心弦 | kòu rén xīn xián | to excite; to thrill; exciting |
| 抑扬顿挫 | yì yáng dùn cuò | rising and falling cadence; rhythmic |
| 持之以恒 | chí zhī yǐ héng | to pursue unremittingly; to persevere |
| 指手画脚 | zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo | to gesticulate while talking; to criticize summarily |
| 挨家挨户 | āi jiā āi hù | to go from house to house |
| 损人利己 | sǔn rén lì jǐ | harming others for one's personal benefit |
| 接二连三 | jiē èr lián sān | one after another; in quick succession |
| 掩耳盗铃 | yǎn ěr dào líng | to cover one's ears whilst stealing a bell; to deceive oneself |
| 措手不及 | cuò shǒu bù jí | caught unprepared |
| 提心吊胆 | tí xīn diào dǎn | nervous; fearful; on edge |
| 揠苗助长 | yà miáo zhù zhǎng | to pull up seedlings to help them grow; to spoil things by excessive enthusiasm |
| 摇摇欲坠 | yáo yáo yù zhuì | tottering; on the verge of collapse |
| 改邪归正 | gǎi xié guī zhèng | to mend one's ways; to turn over a new leaf |
| 救死扶伤 | jiù sǐ fú shāng | to help the dying and heal the injured |
| 敬而远之 | jìng ér yuǎn zhī | to show respect from a distance |
| 数一数二 | shǔ yī shǔ èr | reckoned to be best or second best |
| 斩钉截铁 | zhǎn dīng jié tiě | resolute and decisive; categorical |
| 断断续续 | duàn duàn xù xù | intermittent; off and on |
| 断章取义 | duàn zhāng qǔ yì | to quote out of context |
| 新陈代谢 | xīn chén dài xiè | metabolism; the new replaces the old |
| 无价之宝 | wú jià zhī bǎo | priceless treasure |
| 无关紧要 | wú guān jǐn yào | indifferent; insignificant |
| 无动于衷 | wú dòng yú zhōng | aloof; indifferent; unconcerned |
| 无可厚非 | wú kě hòu fēi | not unreasonable; understandable |
| 无可奈何 | wú kě nài hé | have no way out; have no alternative |
| 无家可归 | wú jiā kě guī | homeless |
| 无微不至 | wú wēi bù zhì | in every possible way; meticulous |
| 无忧无虑 | wú yōu wú lǜ | carefree; without worries |
| 无所事事 | wú suǒ shì shì | to have nothing to do; to idle one's time away |
| 无所作为 | wú suǒ zuò wéi | without any initiative or drive; feckless |
| 无济于事 | wú jì yú shì | to no avail; of no use |
| 无精打采 | wú jīng dǎ cǎi | dispirited and downcast; listless |
| 无能为力 | wú néng wéi lì | powerless to do anything about it |
| 无论如何 | wú lùn rú hé | whatever the case; in any event; by all possible means |
| 无话可说 | wú huà kě shuō | to have nothing to say |
| 无边无际 | wú biān wú jì | boundless; limitless |
| 日复一日 | rì fù yī rì | day after day |
| 日新月异 | rì xīn yuè yì | every day sees new developments; rapid progress |
| 时好时坏 | shí hǎo shí huài | sometimes good, sometimes bad |
| 显而易见 | xiǎn ér yì jiàn | obviously; clearly; it goes without saying |
| 晕头转向 | yūn tóu zhuàn xiàng | confused and disoriented |
| 暴风骤雨 | bào fēng zhòu yǔ | violent wind and rainstorm; tempest |
| 有声有色 | yǒu shēng yǒu sè | vivid; dazzling |
| 有朝一日 | yǒu zhāo yī rì | one day; sometime in the future |
| 有条不紊 | yǒu tiáo bù wěn | methodically arranged |
| 有的放矢 | yǒu dì fàng shǐ | to have a clear objective |
| 朝三暮四 | zhāo sān mù sì | to change sth that is already settled upon; indecisive |
| 朝夕相处 | zhāo xī xiāng chǔ | to spend all one's time together |
| 朝气蓬勃 | zhāo qì péng bó | full of youthful energy; vigorous |
| 杂乱无章 | zá luàn wú zhāng | disordered and in a mess |
| 束手无策 | shù shǒu wú cè | helpless in the face of a crisis |
| 来之不易 | lái zhī bù yì | hard to come by; not easily obtained |
| 来龙去脉 | lái lóng qù mài | the whole sequence of events; causes and effects |
| 根深蒂固 | gēn shēn dì gù | deep-rooted |
| 格格不入 | gé gé bù rù | inharmonious; incompatible |
| 梦寐以求 | mèng mèi yǐ qiú | to deeply long for; to covet |
| 欢声笑语 | huān shēng xiào yǔ | cheers and laughter |
| 欣欣向荣 | xīn xīn xiàng róng | flourishing; thriving |
| 此起彼伏 | cǐ qǐ bǐ fú | to rise and fall in succession |
| 比比皆是 | bǐ bǐ jiē shì | can be found everywhere |
| 水涨船高 | shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo | the tide rises, the boat floats; to change with the overall trend |
| 水滴石穿 | shuǐ dī shí chuān | dripping water penetrates the stone; persistent effort overcomes any difficulty |
| 水落石出 | shuǐ luò shí chū | as the water recedes, the rocks appear; the truth comes to light |
| 求同存异 | qiú tóng cún yì | to put aside differences and work together |
| 汗马功劳 | hàn mǎ gōng láo | heroic contribution |
| 没完没了 | méi wán méi liǎo | without end; incessantly |
| 沸沸扬扬 | fèi fèi yáng yáng | hubbubing; abuzz |
| 津津有味 | jīn jīn yǒu wèi | with keen interest; with gusto |
| 深入人心 | shēn rù rén xīn | to have a real impact on the people |
| 深情厚谊 | shēn qíng hòu yì | deep friendship |
| 源源不断 | yuán yuán bù duàn | in an unending stream; continuous |
| 源远流长 | yuán yuǎn liú cháng | sth goes back to the dim and distant past |
| 滔滔不绝 | tāo tāo bù jué | to produce a torrent of words; to talk on and on |
| 潜移默化 | qián yí mò huà | imperceptible influence; to influence secretly |
| 灵机一动 | líng jī yī dòng | a bright idea suddenly occurs; to be struck by a brainwave |
| 热泪盈眶 | rè lèi yíng kuàng | eyes brimming with tears of excitement |
| 焕然一新 | huàn rán yī xīn | to look completely new; brand new |
| 熙熙攘攘 | xī xī rǎng rǎng | bustling with activity |
| 爱不释手 | ài bù shì shǒu | to like sth so much one is reluctant to put it down |
| 物美价廉 | wù měi jià lián | good quality and cheap; a bargain |
| 犹豫不决 | yóu yù bù jué | hesitancy; indecision; to waver |
| 独一无二 | dú yī wú èr | unique; unmatched |
| 狼吞虎咽 | láng tūn hǔ yàn | to wolf down one's food; to devour ravenously |
| 理所当然 | lǐ suǒ dāng rán | as it should be; proper and to be expected |
| 理直气壮 | lǐ zhí qì zhuàng | bold and confident with justice on one's side |
| 琴棋书画 | qín qí shū huà | the four arts: guqin, Go, calligraphy, and painting |
| 画蛇添足 | huà shé tiān zú | to ruin the effect by adding sth superfluous; to overdo it |
| 画龙点睛 | huà lóng diǎn jīng | to add the vital finishing touch |
| 百科全书 | bǎi kē quán shū | encyclopedia |
| 皆大欢喜 | Jiē dà huān xǐ | everyone is happy; all are satisfied |
| 盛气凌人 | shèng qì líng rén | overbearing; arrogant |
| 目不转睛 | mù bù zhuǎn jīng | unable to take one's eyes off; to gaze steadily |
| 目中无人 | mù zhōng wú rén | so arrogant that no one else matters; condescending |
| 目瞪口呆 | mù dèng kǒu dāi | dumbstruck; stupefied |
| 相提并论 | xiāng tí bìng lùn | to place on a par with; to mention on equal terms |
| 相辅相成 | xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng | to complement one another |
| 眉开眼笑 | méi kāi yǎn xiào | beaming with joy; all smiles |
| 知识分子 | zhī shi fèn zǐ | intellectual; intelligentsia |
| 知足常乐 | zhī zú cháng lè | satisfied with what one has |
| 礼尚往来 | lǐ shàng wǎng lái | to return politeness for politeness |
| 社会主义 | shè huì zhǔ yì | socialism |
| 称心如意 | chèn xīn rú yì | after one's own heart; gratifying |
| 突如其来 | tū rú qí lái | to arise abruptly; happening suddenly |
| 竭尽全力 | jié jìn quán lì | to spare no effort; to do one's utmost |
| 粗心大意 | cū xīn dà yì | negligent; careless |
| 精打细算 | jīng dǎ xì suàn | meticulous planning and careful accounting |
| 精疲力竭 | jīng pí lì jié | spent; drained; washed out |
| 精益求精 | jīng yì qiú jīng | to constantly seek to improve |
| 精彩纷呈 | jīng cǎi fēn chéng | spectacular and dazzling |
| 素不相识 | sù bù xiāng shí | to be total strangers |
| 约定俗成 | yuē dìng sú chéng | established by popular usage; customary convention |
| 纸上谈兵 | zhǐ shàng tán bīng | theoretical discussion useless in practice; armchair strategist |
| 经久不息 | jīng jiǔ bù xī | prolonged (applause, cheering) |
| 绘声绘色 | huì shēng huì sè | vivid and colorful; true to life |
| 络绎不绝 | luò yì bù jué | continuously; in an endless stream |
| 罪魁祸首 | zuì kuí huò shǒu | criminal ringleader; main culprit |
| 美中不足 | měi zhōng bù zú | everything is fine except for one small defect; the fly in the ointment |
| 翻天覆地 | fān tiān fù dì | complete confusion; everything turned on its head |
| 翻来覆去 | fān lái fù qù | to toss and turn; again and again |
| 耐人寻味 | nài rén xún wèi | thought-provoking |
| 耳熟能详 | ěr shú néng xiáng | what's frequently heard can be repeated in detail |
| 耳目一新 | ěr mù yī xīn | a pleasant change; refreshing |
| 聚精会神 | jù jīng huì shén | to concentrate one's attention |
| 肆无忌惮 | sì wú jì dàn | absolutely unrestrained; unbridled |
| 胡思乱想 | hú sī luàn xiǎng | to let one's imagination run wild |
| 胸有成竹 | xiōng yǒu chéng zhú | to have a well-thought-out plan in mind |
| 脚踏实地 | jiǎo tà shí dì | to have one's feet firmly on the ground; realistic |
| 脱口而出 | tuō kǒu ér chū | to blurt out |
| 脱颖而出 | tuō yǐng ér chū | to reveal one's talent; to distinguish oneself |
| 自以为是 | zì yǐ wéi shì | to believe oneself infallible; opinionated |
| 自力更生 | zì lì gēng shēng | self-reliance |
| 自始至终 | zì shǐ zhì zhōng | from start to finish |
| 自强不息 | zì qiáng bù xī | to strive unremittingly |
| 自然而然 | zì rán ér rán | involuntary; automatically |
| 自相矛盾 | zì xiāng máo dùn | to contradict oneself; self-contradictory |
| 节衣缩食 | jié yī suō shí | to live frugally |
| 苦尽甘来 | kǔ jìn gān lái | the hard times are over, the good times beginning |
| 莫名其妙 | mò míng qí miào | baffling; without rhyme or reason |
| 萍水相逢 | píng shuǐ xiāng féng | strangers coming together by chance |
| 袖手旁观 | xiù shǒu páng guān | to watch with folded arms; to look on without lifting a finger |
| 见义勇为 | jiàn yì yǒng wéi | to step in and help; to take brave action |
| 见仁见智 | jiàn rén jiàn zhì | opinions differ |
| 见利忘义 | jiàn lì wàng yì | to abandon morals in the pursuit of profit |
| 见多识广 | jiàn duō shí guǎng | experienced and knowledgeable |
| 触目惊心 | chù mù jīng xīn | shocking; horrible to see |
| 讨价还价 | tǎo jià huán jià | to haggle over price; to bargain |
| 记忆犹新 | jì yì yóu xīn | to remain fresh in one's memory |
| 诸如此类 | zhū rú cǐ lèi | things like this; and so on; etc |
| 资本主义 | zī běn zhǔ yì | capitalism |
| 赞不绝口 | zàn bù jué kǒu | to praise without cease |
| 走投无路 | zǒu tóu wú lù | to be at an impasse; at the end of one's rope |
| 足不出户 | zú bù chū hù | to stay at home |
| 足智多谋 | zú zhì duō móu | resourceful; full of stratagems |
| 身不由己 | shēn bù yóu jǐ | beyond one's control |
| 轻而易举 | qīng ér yì jǔ | easy; with no difficulty |
| 过意不去 | guò yì bù qù | to feel very apologetic |
| 运筹帷幄 | yùn chóu wéi wò | planning strategies |
| 远近闻名 | yuǎn jìn wén míng | well-known far and wide |
| 迫不及待 | pò bù jí dài | unable to hold oneself back; eager |
| 通货膨胀 | tōng huò péng zhàng | inflation |
| 重中之重 | zhòng zhōng zhī zhòng | of the utmost importance |
| 针锋相对 | zhēn fēng xiāng duì | tit for tat; measure for measure |
| 错综复杂 | cuò zōng fù zá | tangled and complicated |
| 锦上添花 | jǐn shàng tiān huā | to give sth additional splendor; the crowning touch |
| 锲而不舍 | qiè ér bù shě | to persevere; unflagging efforts |
| 长期以来 | cháng qī yǐ lái | for a long time |
| 随处可见 | suí chù kě jiàn | can be seen everywhere |
| 随心所欲 | suí xīn suǒ yù | to follow one's heart's desires; to do as one pleases |
| 随时随地 | suí shí suí dì | anytime and anywhere |
| 难以置信 | nán yǐ zhì xìn | hard to believe; incredible |
| 难得一见 | nán dé yī jiàn | rarely seen |
| 难能可贵 | nán néng kě guì | rare and precious; remarkable |
| 集思广益 | jí sī guǎng yì | to pool wisdom for mutual benefit |
| 雪上加霜 | xuě shàng jiā shuāng | to make matters even worse; to add insult to injury |
| 面目全非 | miàn mù quán fēi | change beyond recognition |
| 面红耳赤 | miàn hóng ěr chì | flushed with anger or excitement |
| 面面俱到 | miàn miàn jù dào | to take care of everything |
| 顺其自然 | shùn qí zì rán | to let nature take its course |
| 顺理成章 | shùn lǐ chéng zhāng | logical; only to be expected |
| 顾全大局 | gù quán dà jú | to take the big picture into consideration |
| 顾名思义 | gù míng sī yì | as the name implies |
| 颠倒黑白 | diān dǎo hēi bái | to distort the truth; to misrepresent the facts |
| 风吹雨打 | fēng chuī yǔ dǎ | to undergo hardship |
| 风和日丽 | fēng hé rì lì | fine sunny weather |
| 风土人情 | fēng tǔ rén qíng | local conditions and customs |
| 风雨无阻 | fēng yǔ wú zǔ | regardless of weather conditions; rain or shine |
| 风餐露宿 | fēng cān lù sù | to rough it; to eat and sleep outdoors |
| 飞禽走兽 | fēi qín zǒu shòu | birds and animals |
| 饱经沧桑 | bǎo jīng cāng sāng | having lived through many changes |
| 骇人听闻 | hài rén tīng wén | shocking; horrifying |
| 鲜为人知 | xiǎn wéi rén zhī | rarely known to anyone; almost unknown |
| 鸦雀无声 | yā què wú shēng | absolute silence |
| 鹏程万里 | péng chéng wàn lǐ | brilliant future prospects |
| 鹤立鸡群 | hè lì jī qún | a crane in a flock of chickens; manifestly superior |
| 默默无闻 | mò mò wú wén | unknown; unrenowned |
| 齐心协力 | qí xīn xié lì | to work with a common purpose; to pull together |
Study tips
Don't memorize the HSK 7–9 list in isolation. Look for the entries in complete sentences and note how their meaning and grammar work in context. An audit of 37 current advanced story files matched only 67 of the 430 advanced entries, so HSKStory's HSK 7, HSK 8, and HSK 9 reading material is one source of examples, not comprehensive coverage of this table.
For the broader advanced word pool, keep the HSK 7 vocabulary list open beside this chengyu list. It gives the searchable HSK 7 entry point into the shared HSK 7-9 vocabulary.
Learn the structural patterns. Many four-character entries follow recurring templates:
- ABAC: 一心一意, 一举一动, 自言自语, 无忧无虑
- AABB: 断断续续, 兢兢业业, 大大咧咧, 熙熙攘攘
- Negation (不/无): 一成不变, 不知不觉, 无能为力, 不言而喻
- Number pairs: 千方百计, 七嘴八舌, 三番五次, 四面八方
Recognizing these patterns can help you segment and remember an unfamiliar entry. Confirm its meaning, usage, and classification in a reliable dictionary rather than inferring them from the pattern alone.
Prioritize by your target level and actual reading needs. Start with entries you meet repeatedly, save the full sentence, and check register as well as meaning. This mixed dataset does not support a blanket split between conversational lower-level entries and literary advanced entries.
Related resources
- HSK 3.0 Vocabulary Analysis: analysis of the full 11,000-entry standard
- HSK 7-8-9 Advanced Levels: the combined exam and advanced reading levels
- HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0: differences between the old and new standards