Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
效颦学步
效颦学步
效颦学步
效颦学步
效颦学步
效颦学步
效颦学步

效颦学步 — “To make a fool of oneself by blindly imitating others”

效颦学步 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make a fool of oneself by blindly imitating others”. To ape someone's every move and make a hash of it. Literally, “imitate a frown and learn to walk”.

Frequency

效颦学步 Pronunciation and Pinyin

效颦学步 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
效
xiào10imitate, effect, or dedicate
颦
pín21frown
学
xué8learn, study, school, knowledge
步
bù7walk, step, pace

Example Sentence with 效颦学步

他没有理解这种方法的精髓,只是机械地效颦学步,结果把事情搞得一团糟。
He didn't grasp the essence of the method, merely blindly imitated it, and ended up messing things up.

Idioms Related to 效颦学步

Synonyms of 效颦学步

  • dōng东shī施xiào效pín颦Clumsily imitate, making a fool of oneself
  • hán邯dān郸xué学bù步Imitate others clumsily and lose oneself

More idioms starting with 效

  • xiào效mìng命jiāng疆chǎng场dedicate life to battlefield
  • xiào效sǐ死wù勿qù去Serve loyally unto death
  • xiào效sǐ死fú弗qù去Pledge life, never abandon duty
  • xiào效sǐ死jiāng疆chǎng场Die defending the frontier
  • xiào效sǐ死shū输zhōng忠render loyal service even at cost of life
  • xiào效quǎn犬mǎ马lì力offer humble and dedicated service

Recommended tools

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Questions about 效颦学步

What does 效颦学步 mean?

效颦学步 (xiào pín xué bù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to make a fool of oneself by blindly imitating others”.

How do you pronounce 效颦学步?

效颦学步 is pronounced xiào pín xué bù in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 效颦学步 literally mean?

Literally, 效颦学步 means “imitate a frown and learn to walk”. It is used to mean “to make a fool of oneself by blindly imitating others”.

What is the Chinese definition of 效颦学步?

比喻盲目模仿而弄巧成拙。亦作“东施效颦”、“邯郸学步”。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us