成语
Old HSK 5
成语 (chéngyǔ) · idiom
成语 (chéngyǔ) means “idiom; set phrase (usually four characters)”. It is written with 2 characters: 成 (to become) + 语 (language). It is an old HSK 5 word (HSK 2.0).
How 成语 is built
The characters
成 chéng · to become
What 成 is made of
- 丁dīng — male adult
- 戈gē — spear
语 yǔ · language
What 语 is made of
- 讠yán — speech
- 吾wú — I
- 五wǔ — five
- 二 — two strokes
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 五wǔ — five
Origin hint: 讠 gives the meaning, 吾 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
这个成语是什么意思？Zhège chéngyǔ shì shénme yìsi?What does this idiom mean?
中文里有很多有意思的成语。Zhōngwén lǐ yǒu hěnduō yǒuyìsi de chéngyǔ.Chinese has many interesting idioms.
Questions about 成语
What does 成语 mean?
成语 (chéngyǔ) means “idiom; set phrase (usually four characters)”.
How do you pronounce 成语?
成语 is pronounced chéngyǔ.
Which HSK level is 成语?
成语 is in Old HSK 5.
Related words
- 变成biànchéngto turn into
- 成绩chéngjìgrades
- 成为chéngwéito become
- 完成wánchéngto complete
- 组成zǔchéngto form
- 成功chénggōngsuccess
- 成果chéngguǒresult
- 成就chéngjiùachievement
- 成立chénglìto set up
- 成熟chéngshúripe
Learn 成语 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 5 · Group 12: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.