The Chinese Sayings Podcast

Time and again we see throughout history, in the movies, and in our own lives, the secret always has a way of getting out.

As a special bonus to Season 8, we're thrilled to feature Emma of the Teacup 成语研究中心.

We close out Season 10 with another ancient Chinese Saying, this one from The Record of the Three Kingdoms.

Here's another one from the Warring States Period that's as relevant today as it was back in King Wei of Qi's time in the 4th Century BC.

Here's another one from the Warring States Period that's as relevant today as it was back in King Wei of Qi's time in the 4th Century BC.

Here's a quickie starring Zhuangzi, about the fish caught in a rut 涸辙之鲋.

Here's a Chinese Saying about people who put on a good show to look great on the outside. But upon closer inspection, are rather lacking.

Another handy idiom to use when describing rats deserting the sinking ship.

This week’s story goes back to 206 BC and the famous story of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu's meeting at The Banquet at Hongmen.

Zuo Qiuming delivers again! Here's a nice story from the 7th Century BC that yielded a memorable Chinese Saying.

Here's another old classic originally gifted to us from the great Xunzi.

We're not through with Season 7 yet. For this story behind 世外桃源 Emma comes out from behind the curtain to tell it.

Another Chinese Saying for you on the CHP feed, presenting four characters that celebrate heroic women.

Here's another well-worn classic from real ancient times with plenty of usage left in it for our day.

And now for something completely different, a Chinese Saying not from the Eastern Zhou or Han Dynasties.

Back to the Record of the Grand Historian for another great story from the period between the fall of the Qin and founding of the Han.

Here comes one more textbook chengyu from the Spring and Autumn Period, as written by Master Zuo Qiuming 左丘明 himself.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Sun Quan, Lu Xun, a must chengyu for all Three Kingdoms lovers

A good one from the Record of the Warring States.

Another classic from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Some things take time and it can be counterproductive to try and rush nature's course.

Han Feizi pulls through for us in this Season 6 closer. Bào Xīn Jiù Huǒ 抱薪救火.

Another good one from The Commentaries of Zuo about states rising up after adversity.

Here's another great one with a happy ending. Two star crossed lovers, one rich one poor, both don't stop believing and end up happily ever after.

Here's one that reminds us, you never know sometimes.

Here's a well-known Chinese Saying for the ages that has a multitude of uses

They thought his career was over but when the country needed him East Mountain rose again.

Poor old Zhou Bo was caught ill-prepared when the emperor was grilling him. Enjoy this one, gifted to us by The Grand Historian himself, Sima Qian

In our connected age when it's so easy to hoodwink one another in news feeds and social media, this is the perfect chéngyǔ to keep handy at all times.

We're back with another good one, this time with a rare appearance of a ten-character Chinese Saying. This one is perfect for our modern times.

In this CSP Season 6 opener, we're coming out of the starting gate nice and strong with one of the great all-time classics: Point at the Mulberry Tree and Scold the Locust Tree.

For the Chinese Sayings Podcast Season 5 closer, we tell the story of the Golden Millet Dream.

In this penultimate CSP episode for Season 5, we harken back to the Three Kingdoms Period, and the time of the two brothers Sun Ce and Sun Quan.

For this latest CSP episode, we welcome China's great historian, Sima Qian to the stage where he plays in a starring role in this tragic story behind the well-known Chinese Saying.

This idiom concerns a craftsman in Lu, who was particularly masterful at carving these wooden stands that held ceremonial bells.

This week’s Chengyu is a staple when discussing the true meaning of a selfless mother who only lives for her children.

This story concerns a small frog living happily at the bottom of a well. He thought he knew everything till Mr. Sea Turtle came along.

This is a good idiom to describe people who are principled and cannot be bought. No amount of temptation can lead them to stray from their mission.

In this episode, we'll look at the story of Ban Chao before we went on to serve the Han Dynasty out in the Western Regions of Xinjiang.

This gruesome story of revenge and deceit gave us the chengyu 病入膏肓. Bìng Rù Gāo Huāng. When any kind of situation reaches this condition, it's hopeless.

This story concerns the 3rd Century character Sima Hui, who lived not to upset anyone or take a contrarian stance against anything.

For the Season 4 closer, we end with a story taken from the Later Book of Han from the chapter all about the model official Zhang Gang.

Laszlo dredges up another great one from China's ancient times. This one not only features a story from Zhuangzi's Second Book of the Dao, but also stars the great Confucius himself.

This one comes from the Grand Historian himself, Sima Qian, who tells us all about Lord Zhai, a loyal and respected public servant during the long reign of Han Emperor Wu.

Everyone's favorite Daoist tells us the story about a young kid from the sticks who had a chance encounter with no less a personage than The Yellow Emperor himself.

In the latest CSP episode, we harken back to the early Jin Dynasty 晋朝 and the zaniness of the Sima Clan following the death of Emperor Wu of Jin.

The famous "Hé Shì Bì" 和氏璧 Jade ornament discussed years ago in CSP episode S3E01 once again takes center stage.

You don't want to stand outside his doorway and brag to master carpenter and craftsman, Lu Ban about your axe-wielding skills.

Another classic from the long list of great Chinese. 守株待兔 Shǒu Zhū Dài Tù. Thank Han Feizi for this one, he teaches us not to sit around and wait for good luck to find you.

The story behind our Chinese Saying for this time 口蜜腹剑 tells the story of this 8th-century politician/official who served the great Emperor Xuanxong.

In the Season 4 premiere of the CSP, we harken back to the classic ”Strategies of the Warring States" to look at the tale of drawing legs on a snake.