Expressing emotions through chengyu

Emotion Palettes (pick by feeling, then intensity)

• Calm / Composure
  • Light: 心平气和 (xīn píng qì hé) — even-tempered.
  • Steady: 泰然自若 (tài rán zì ruò) — unflustered.
  • Deep: 不动声色 (bù dòng shēng sè) — poker-faced calm.
• Joy / Delight
  • Spark: 喜出望外 (xǐ chū wàng wài) — surprised with joy.
  • Warm: 眉开眼笑 (méi kāi yǎn xiào) — beaming.
  • Peak: 欢天喜地 (huān tiān xǐ dì) — overjoyed (festive).
• Sadness / Melancholy
  • Quiet: 郁郁寡欢 (yù yù guǎ huān) — low spirits.
  • Heavy: 黯然神伤 (àn rán shén shāng) — downcast, pained.
  • Stormy: 愁云惨雾 (chóu yún cǎn wù) — gloom thick as fog.
• Fear / Anxiety
  • Nerves: 忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān) — uneasy.
  • Alarm: 惶惶不安 (huáng huáng bù ān) — jittery.
  • Panic: 惊慌失措 (jīng huāng shī cuò) — at a loss in fright.
• Anger / Irritation
  • Edge: 气急败坏 (qì jí bài huài) — beside oneself.
  • Controlled: 怒火中烧 (nù huǒ zhōng shāo) — anger burning.
  • Outburst: 勃然大怒 (bó rán dà nù) — erupt in rage.
• Love / Affection
  • Tender: 情深意重 (qíng shēn yì zhòng) — deep feeling.
  • Devoted: 海誓山盟 (hǎi shì shān méng) — vows as deep as sea/mountain.
  • Fond nostalgia: 青梅竹马 (qīng méi zhú mǎ) — childhood sweethearts.
• Pride / Confidence
  • Poised: 胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú) — fully prepared.
  • Upright: 正气凛然 (zhèng qì lǐn rán) — righteous presence.
  • Swelled (risky): 目中无人 (mù zhōng wú rén) — arrogant; use sparingly.
• Shame / Regret
  • Ashamed: 汗颜无地 (hàn yán wú dì) — mortified.
  • Remorse: 痛心疾首 (tòng xīn jí shǒu) — heart-struck with regret.
• Surprise / Awe
  • Startled: 大吃一惊 (dà chī yī jīng) — taken aback.
  • Awe: 叹为观止 (tàn wéi guān zhǐ) — gasp as if nothing beyond it.

Placement Patterns (sound natural in prose)

• Predicate (adjectival punch): “她心平气和，继续把书页抚平。”
• Adverbial (manner): “他忐忑不安地敲门。”
• Modifier (before a noun): “一段情深意重的来信。”
• Sentence-initial frame: “勃然大怒，他把杯子摁回桌面。”

Intensity Ladders (avoid overkill)

• Calm → composed → stoic: 心平气和 → 泰然自若 → 不动声色.
• Uneasy → alarmed → panicked: 忐忑不安 → 惶惶不安 → 惊慌失措.
• Pleased → delighted → exuberant: 眉开眼笑 → 喜出望外 → 欢天喜地. Pick the lowest rung that carries your scene; let details raise it if needed.

Show, Then Name (idiom + sensory anchor)

• 忐忑不安: fingertips drum the ticket edge; “他忐忑不安地看向检票口。”
• 黯然神伤: streetlights smear on wet asphalt; “她在雨棚下黯然神伤。”
• 勃然大怒: steam hisses from the kettle; “他勃然大怒，却只把火旋钮关小。”

Before → After (emotion upgrade)

• Flat: She felt nervous before the call.
  Lifted: 电话接通前，她忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān)，拇指在桌角来回摩挲。
• Flat: He was very proud of the plan.
  Lifted: 复盘后他胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú)，只在纸边圈出三步。

Contrast & Turn (emotional beats that move the scene)

• Calm → panic: 泰然自若 → 意外失电 → 惊慌失措。
• Rage → restraint: 怒火中烧 → 看见孩子睡脸 → 不动声色。
• Gloom → surprise joy: 郁郁寡欢 → 来信到达 → 喜出望外。 Use the idioms to label the hinge; show a concrete trigger.

Tone & Register Checks (stay precise)

• For intimate scenes, favor image-forward idioms: 眉开眼笑、黯然神伤.
• For public or formal tone, pick poised items: 心平气和、泰然自若.
• Avoid hyperbolic ones (欢天喜地、勃然大怒) unless the scene truly warrants peak emotion.

Pitfalls (and quick fixes)

• Stacking: one emotion = one idiom. Add details instead of piling synonyms.
• Mis-polarity: don’t use a cautionary item (e.g., 目中无人) when you mean positive pride.
• Slot errors: modifiers need 的; adverbials can take 地 (often optional with four-beat idioms).
• Cliché drift: if it reads generic, swap in a concrete action right after the idiom.

Mini Prompts (write 1–2 sentences each)

1. Pre-interview calm with a small ritual — use 心平气和 + a hand detail.
2. Sudden outage at a concert — move 忐忑不安 → 惊慌失措 with one sound cue.
3. Reunion at a station — end on 喜出望外 with one visual detail.
4. A dignified refusal — use 不动声色 with one gesture.

Quick Checklist (revision in 30 seconds)

• Right emotion palette and intensity?
• Correct placement (predicate/adverbial/modifier/initial)?
• One sensory anchor after the idiom?
• Register fits narrator and scene?
• No polarity mistakes or stacked idioms?

Takeaway: Choose a chengyu that matches the exact emotional temperature, place it cleanly, and immediately ground it with a small, vivid action. Your characters’ feelings will read sharper and more human.