Xiangqi (Chinese chess) has been played for more than a thousand years, and plenty of things that happen on the board have turned into everyday Chinese expressions. The fun part is that what a saying means in daily life is often a little different from what it meant on the board — sometimes the exact opposite. For each one below we give the Chinese, the pinyin and a literal translation, then the everyday meaning, then go back to the board to see where it came from.
Cannon behind the horse
馬後炮 — *mǎ hòu pào* — literally "a cannon behind the horse".
Everyday meaning: offering advice once it's all over — "I knew we should have…". For example: "Telling us to change the line-up after we've already lost? That's a cannon behind the horse."
On the board: there is nothing late about it; it's one of the classic checkmates. The horse stands in front of the enemy general, covering the squares it could escape to on either side; the cannon sits behind the horse and gives check through it:
So when real players hear "cannon behind the horse", the first thing they think of is "that's a win". The full pattern is on the horse page.
A pawn across the river can only go forward
過河卒子，有進無退 — *guò hé zúzi, yǒu jìn wú tuì* — literally "a pawn that has crossed the river advances and never retreats".
Everyday meaning: once you've made your decision and set off, there's no turning back. People use it to describe their situation, or to show determination.
On the board: on its own side a soldier can only step straight forward; once it crosses the river it can move forward or sideways, but it can never move backward:
Why soldiers can't retreat and why they get stronger after crossing: see the soldier page.
Check him
將他一軍 — *jiāng tā yì jūn* — literally "give him a check".
Everyday meaning: put someone on the spot with a tough question they have to answer right now. For example: "He suddenly asked about the budget in the meeting — that really put me in check."
On the board: "check" means attacking the enemy general, and the other side must answer it on the very next move — move the general, capture the checking piece, or block in between. Fail, and you lose.
That's why the metaphor fits so well: someone in check has no choice but to deal with you first.
Kings must not meet
王不見王 — *wáng bú jiàn wáng* — literally "king does not see king".
Everyday meaning: two equally powerful people who won't give way to each other are best kept apart — put them in the same room and there'll be trouble.
On the board: this is a real rule — the two generals may never face each other directly on the same file; at least one piece must stand between them. So the piece caught in the middle sometimes can't move at all:
This rule matters a lot in the endgame: your general often doesn't need to move to "hold" the enemy general from a distance. More on the general page.
A true gentleman watches in silence; a real man never takes back a move
觀棋不語真君子，起手無回大丈夫 — *guān qí bù yǔ zhēn jūnzǐ, qǐ shǒu wú huí dà zhàngfu* — literally "watching the game without speaking is a true gentleman; never taking back a move is a real man".
Meaning: when you watch others play, don't butt in with advice; when you play, once your hand lets go of a piece, don't take it back. It's board etiquette, and it's often carved into the river on xiangqi boards.
It's quoted in daily life too: the first half tells people to keep out of other people's business, the second to keep their word and not go back on it.
When you practise against the computer on this site you can press "Undo" — that's for learning. When you play a real person, follow the saying.
Give up the chariot to save the general
棄車保帥 — *qì jū bǎo shuài* — literally "abandon the chariot to protect the marshal".
Everyday meaning: sacrifice something secondary — even something very valuable — to save what matters most. Also said as 丟車保帥.
On the board: the chariot is the most powerful piece, but if your general is mated you lose the whole game. When you can only save one of them, save the general, however much it hurts. Strong players go a step further: sometimes they give away a chariot on purpose in exchange for a mating attack — that's called a sacrificial attack.
Holding the piece without deciding
舉棋不定 — *jǔ qí bú dìng* — literally "lifting the piece without settling it".
Everyday meaning: being unable to make up your mind; dithering.
Where it comes from: this saying is older than xiangqi as we know it from the Song dynasty. It was first said of earlier board games, and later became an idiom for any game — and any decision. Picking up a piece, putting it down, picking it up again: that's 舉棋不定. Tournaments also have a "touch-move" rule: touch a piece, and you must move it.
One careless move loses the whole game
一著不慎，滿盤皆輸 — *yì zhāo bú shèn, mǎn pán jiē shū* — literally "one careless move, and the whole board is lost".
Everyday meaning: one small mistake at a critical moment can sink the whole thing.
On the board: xiangqi positions change fast. Miss one enemy horse jump or forget about a cannon screen and you may lose your chariot to a discovered attack, or even get mated. That's why experienced players say: before every move, look at where your opponent's pieces can go.
FAQ
Is "cannon behind the horse" a compliment or a criticism?
In everyday life it's negative — "wisdom after the event". On the board, though, the horse-cannon mate is a beautiful finish. Same words, different meaning depending on where you say them.
What does "check" (將軍) mean in xiangqi?
It means attacking the enemy general. The side in check must answer it on the next move — ignoring it isn't allowed. The everyday phrase "check him" borrows exactly this idea.
What is the second half of "a true gentleman watches in silence"?
"A real man never takes back a move" (起手無回大丈夫). The first half tells spectators not to butt in; the second tells players not to undo moves.
Why does a "pawn across the river" have no way back?
Because in xiangqi soldiers can never move backward; after crossing the river they can only move forward or sideways.
Try it yourself
These sayings make the most sense once you've played them out yourself. Play xiangqi online against the computer and see if you can win once with the horse-cannon mate. To learn how the pieces move, see the xiangqi pieces guide; to find out where xiangqi came from, read the history of xiangqi; or go back to the Chinese chess home page.
