Love diving into free Chinese novels? Then you’ve undoubtedly encountered these storytelling patterns.

They are the secret sauce, the shared grammar that makes these tales so compelling and fun. From the disguised heroine whose identity is always revealed in the same four ways, to the villain who just won’t stay down, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of 50 classic tropes.

How many are your favorites, and which ones drive you crazy? Read on to find them all!

1. Upon hearing bad news, a character will inevitably drop their bowl, shattering it on the ground.
2. When rushing outside after a sudden, heartbreaking setback, it will always be amid thunder and a torrential downpour.
3. Falling off a cliff is never fatal. Jumping into the sea or off a cliff is a surefire escape method.
4. Gut feelings are usually right, ominous premonitions always come true, and fortune-tellers’ predictions are typically accurate.
5. Barging into a room without knocking usually leads to witnessing one of two things: someone attempting suicide by hanging, or someone bathing.
6. A woman disguised as a man is typically exposed in one of four ways: her hat gets knocked off, she falls into water, someone accidentally touches her chest, or she is seen while changing clothes.
7. The main villain never dies completely the first time. They always cling to life, struggling desperately, and must be struck one more time before finally dying.
8. Right before a major battle, a love interest will usually give the protagonist a protective talisman.
9. If two people struggle over a knife (or scissors), the usual outcome is that one of them gets cut.
10. When a new supporting character appears, they are almost always connected to the upcoming events (or case).
11. When escaping, characters either run to a cliff’s edge, or into an open area where a large group of armed enemies suddenly emerges and surrounds them.
12. A character often doesn’t grasp an important statement immediately. They need to reread or hear it again before being utterly shocked.
13. While fleeing, especially in the mountains, a character will easily sprain an ankle or trip. They will then say, “Leave me! Save yourselves!”
14. There are always two people in the world who look exactly identical.
15. If a woman suddenly feels nauseous, there’s only one possible explanation: she’s pregnant.
16. Whenever someone goes into seclusion for martial arts or spiritual training, something will inevitably go wrong outside.
17. A terrible vow or curse sworn by a villain will always come back to haunt them.
18. The last resort to stop a pursuing enemy is to grab their leg, a move that invariably leads to a heroic death.
19. If clothes get wet and characters build a fire to dry them or take shelter from the rain, romantic tension or a scandal will almost certainly develop.
20. When the female lead is heartbroken and runs away, she will inevitably end up hugging a tree and crying.
21. If a villain secretly takes a shot at the protagonist, a supporting character will invariably jump in front of the bullet to save them.
22. The most powerful and famous martial arts technique is always some kind of forbidden or evil art.
23. When enraged, a character will grab the nearest object and smash it on the ground. Therefore, if a servant serves tea to an angry master, the teacup is doomed.
24. When hopelessly outnumbered, someone will always volunteer to stay behind and hold off the enemies, ultimately dying a heroic death.
25. The female lead saved the male lead when they were children, but he mistakenly believes another woman was his savior.
26. The female lead gets drugged, becomes disoriented, and ends up in bed with the male lead.
27. A supporting character is haunted by recurring memories, often hinting at a shocking secret about to be revealed.
28. If information is repeatedly leaked, there’s definitely a mole.
29. A dying person’s last words are always fragmented and incomplete.
30. Those who know a secret are killed off one by one, usually leaving one last person whom the protagonist must find and protect.
31. The protagonist suffers from memory loss/fragmented memories/amnesia. These memory fragments eventually piece together to reveal a shocking truth.
32. If a scene clearly defies logic, it’s probably a ‘play within a play,’ or just a dream.
33. If two characters are never seen together and share striking similarities, they are probably the same person.
34. The protagonist has a chance encounter with a dying person who gives them an item, plunging the protagonist into a conflict between opposing factions.
35. A mysterious figure continually provides the protagonist with crucial information, hints, and secret assistance.
36. The protagonist has a talkative friend or bumbling sidekick whose big mouth inevitably causes trouble.
37. The protagonist wakes up in an unfamiliar place—a hospital room, ruins, an island, a shack—often with amnesia.
38. A character who always wears a mask will eventually have it removed, revealing a face that shocks everyone.
39. A character suddenly says something seemingly profound and cryptic, which actually foreshadows future events.
40. A prophecy keeps coming true, causing widespread panic and suspicion.
41. An object (often seemingly insignificant when first introduced) becomes the key to turning the tide at a critical moment.
42. If everything seems to be going too smoothly, it’s clearly a trap, and a major reversal is coming.
43. A terrifying prophecy, nursery rhyme, legend, or dream sequence holds hidden truths that are gradually uncovered.
44. Two characters seem to share a mysterious connection or relationship.
45. A meaningful glance or subtle gesture hints at deeper implications.
46. A cryptic letter, map, or message conceals a major secret.
47. Zombies, a deadly virus, the apocalypse, aliens, or a major catastrophe is imminent.
48. A character has a hidden double or multiple identity unknown to others.
49. Someone is conducting a secret experiment or manipulating events from behind the scenes, while those involved remain unaware.
50. Even if all the evidence points to the protagonist and seems damning, they will always gradually prove their innocence.