Four-character expressions (成语): a first set

Four characters, one meaning

Chinese is full of fixed four-character expressions. The classical ones, often from old stories, are called 成语 (chéngyǔ); others are simply everyday set phrases. Either way, they are learnt whole: you can't change a character, swap the order or add words inside.

Here is a first set that you'll hear in ordinary conversation.

How they fit into a sentence

A four-character expression behaves like an ordinary word: an adjective, a verb or an adverb.

• 他做作业总是马马虎虎的。He's always careless with his homework.
• 祝你一路平安！Have a safe trip!
• 你的房间怎么乱七八糟的？Why is your room such a mess?
• 老人一边走一边自言自语。The old man talked to himself as he walked.
• 这对双胞胎长得一模一样。These twins look exactly alike.
• 学外语不能半途而废。When you learn a foreign language, you mustn't give up halfway.
• 我们聊着聊着，不知不觉天就黑了。We chatted and, before we knew it, it was dark.
• 骑自行车上班，既锻炼身体又省钱，真是一举两得。Cycling to work keeps you fit and saves money: two birds with one stone.

马马虎虎 has two uses. About how someone works, it means "careless" (做事马马虎虎). As a modest reply to "How is it?", it means "so-so, not bad": — 你中文怎么样？ — 马马虎虎。 The second 马 is neutral (mǎmahūhū), as in the dictionary.

一路平安 is said to someone leaving. To someone who has just arrived, say 一路辛苦了 (you must be tired from the journey).

More 成语 come at B2 (Chengyu in use: meaning, grammar role and register).

Common mistakes

• 乱七八遭 → 乱七八糟。 The last character is 糟 (zāo, "messy"), not 遭 (zāo, "meet with").
• 你来了！一路平安！ → 你来了！一路辛苦了！ 一路平安 wishes a safe journey ahead.
• 他很自言自语。 → 他在自言自语。 自言自语 is an action, so it takes 在, not 很.
• 这两个包很一模一样。 → 这两个包一模一样。 "Exactly the same" can't be made stronger with 很.