Chinese words · 2,821 phrases
Chengyu
2,821 common Chinese idioms beyond the HSK list, the most common first, with pinyin and meaning. Open one for how it sounds and the sentences that use it.
- 一年一度yìnián-yídùannual
- 足不出户zúbù-chūhùto stay at home
- 坚定不移jiāndìng-bùyífirm and unshakable
- 繁荣昌盛fánróng-chāngshèngprosperous and flourishing
- 出乎意料chūhū-yìliàounexpected
- 坚持不懈jiānchí-búxièto persevere unremittingly
- 意气风发yìqì-fēngfāhigh-spirited
- 排忧解难páiyōu-jiěnànto resolve worries and difficulties
- 春暖花开chūnnuǎn-huākāiwarm spring with flowers in bloom
- 一席之地yìxí-zhīdìa place
- 如火如荼rúhuǒ-rútúin full swing
- 身临其境shēnlín-qíjìngto be there in person
- 融为一体róngwéi-yìtǐto merge into one whole
- 人来人往rénlái-rénwǎngpeople coming and going
- 各式各样gèshì-gèyàngall kinds of
- 天下第一tiānxià-dìyībest in the world
- 琳琅满目línláng-mǎnmùa feast for the eyes
- 命中注定mìngzhōng-zhùdìngpredestined
- 自由自在zìyóu-zìzàifree and unconstrained
- 遥遥领先yáoyáo-lǐngxiānto be far ahead
- 淋漓尽致línlí-jìnzhìfully and vividly (expressed)
- 热情洋溢rèqíng-yángyìbrimming with enthusiasm
- 日日夜夜rìrì-yèyèvery 日夜 (vivid)
- 气喘吁吁qìchuǎn-xūxūout of breath
- 百花齐放bǎihuā-qífànga hundred flowers in bloom
- 事半功倍shìbàn-gōngbèito get twice the result with half the effort
- 果不其然guǒbù-qíránjust as expected
- 不顾一切búgù-yíqièregardless of everything
- 无与伦比wúyǔ-lúnbǐincomparable
- 久而久之jiǔ’ér-jiǔzhīover time
- 感同身受gǎntóng-shēnshòuto feel as if one experienced it oneself
- 拭目以待shìmù-yǐdàito wait and see
- 支支吾吾zhīzhī-wúwúvery 支吾 (vivid)
- 高高在上gāogāo-zàishàngaloof
- 堂堂正正tángtáng-zhèngzhèngvery 堂正 (vivid)
- 有目共睹yǒumù-gòngdǔobvious to all
- 猝不及防cùbù-jífángcaught off guard
- 光明正大guāngmíng-zhèngdàopen and aboveboard
- 总而言之zǒng’ér-yánzhīin short
- 轰轰烈烈hōnghōng-lièlièvery 轰烈 (vivid)
- 意料之外yìliào-zhīwàiunexpected
- 栩栩如生xúxǔ-rúshēnglifelike
- 黄金时代huángjīn-shídàigolden age
- 走投无路zǒutóu-wúlùto have nowhere to turn
- 心旷神怡xīnkuàng-shényírelaxed and happy
- 不速之客búsù-zhīkèuninvited guest
- 触手可及chùshóu-kějíwithin reach
- 近在咫尺jìnzài-zhíchǐclose at hand
- 泪流满面lèiliú-mǎnmiànface streaming with tears
- 生生不息shēngshēng-bùxīto grow and multiply without end
- 五彩缤纷wúcǎi-bīnfēncolorful
- 罪魁祸首zuìkuí-huòshǒuchief culprit
- 一生一世yìshēng-yíshìone's whole life
- 应运而生yìngyùn-érshēngto emerge in response to the times
- 温文尔雅wēnwén-éryǎrefined and courteous
- 赏心悦目shǎngxīn-yuèmùpleasing to the eye and mind
- 至高无上zhìgāo-wúshàngsupreme
- 落地生根luòdì-shēnggēnto settle down permanently
- 名列前茅míngliè-qiánmáoto be among the best
- 添砖加瓦tiānzhuān-jiāwǎto do one's bit
- 甜言蜜语tiányán-mìyǔsweet talk
- 志同道合zhìtóng-dàohélike-minded
- 宾至如归bīnzhì-rúguīguests feel at home
- 三位一体sānwèi-yìtǐTrinity (Christianity)
- 谈笑风生tánxiào-fēngshēngto talk and laugh cheerfully
- 错落有致cuòluò-yǒuzhìirregular but pleasingly arranged
- 流连忘返liúlián-wàngfǎnto enjoy oneself so much one forgets to go home
- 千篇一律qiānpiān-yílǜstereotyped
- 数不胜数shǔbú-shèngshǔtoo many to count
- 下落不明xiàluò-bùmíngwhereabouts unknown
- 行之有效xíngzhī-yǒuxiàoeffective
- 家破人亡jiāpò-rénwángfamily ruined and members dead
- 缺一不可quēyí-bùkěnot one can be dispensed with
- 适得其反shìdé-qífǎnto backfire
- 有生之年yǒushēng-zhīniánin one's lifetime
- 游刃有余yóurèn-yǒuyúto handle with ease
- 一清二楚yìqīng-èrchǔperfectly clear
- 欲罢不能yùbà-bùnéngunable to stop
- 相差无几xiāngchà-wújǐalmost the same
- 参差不齐cēncī-bùqíuneven
- 从头到尾cóngtóu-dàowěifrom beginning to end
- 铺天盖地pūtiān-gàidìoverwhelming
- 热气腾腾rèqì-téngténgsteaming hot
- 叹为观止tànwéi-guānzhǐto marvel at something as the very best
- 推陈出新tuīchén-chūxīnto weed out the old and bring forth the new
- 无缘无故wúyuán-wúgùfor no reason at all
- 信誓旦旦xìnshì-dàndànto vow solemnly
- 义无反顾yìwú-fǎngùto proceed without hesitation
- 顶天立地dǐngtiān-lìdìof indomitable spirit
- 大势所趋dàshì-suǒqūthe general trend
- 若有所思ruòyóusuǒsīpensive
- 不动声色búdòng-shēngsèto remain calm and composed
- 出其不意chūqí-búyìto catch someone off guard
- 大刀阔斧dàdāo-kuòfǔbold and decisive (action)
- 花花公子huāhuā-gōngzǐplayboy
- 天马行空tiānmǎ-xíngkōngunrestrained
- 无影无踪wúyǐng-wúzōngwithout a trace
- 阴阳怪气yīnyáng-guàiqìpassive-aggressive
- 不可收拾bùkě-shōushiout of control
- 滥用职权lànyòng-zhíquánabuse of power
- 水到渠成shuǐdào-qúchéngthings fall into place when conditions are right
- 心满意足xīnmǎn-yìzúperfectly content
- 有问必答yǒuwèn-bìdáto answer every question
- 人情世故rénqíng-shìgùworldly wisdom
- 茁壮成长zhuózhuàng-chéngzhǎngto grow up healthy and strong
- 胡言乱语húyán-luànyǔto talk nonsense
- 可见一斑kějiàn-yìbānthis gives a glimpse of the whole
- 忍无可忍rěnwú-kérěnat the end of one's patience
- 实至名归shízhì-míngguīfame that is well deserved
- 一见钟情yíjiàn-zhōngqínglove at first sight
- 孜孜不倦zīzī-bújuàndiligent and tireless
- 立竿见影lìgān-jiànyǐngto get instant results
- 迫在眉睫pòzài-méijiéimminent
- 别具一格biéjù-yìgéhaving a unique style
- 绞尽脑汁jiǎojìn-nǎozhīto rack one's brains
- 历历在目lìlì-zàimùvivid in one's mind
- 毛骨悚然máogú-sǒngránhair-raising
- 为所欲为wéisuǒ-yùwéito do whatever one pleases
- 原来如此yuánlái-rúcǐso that's how it is
- 相得益彰xiāngdé-yìzhāngto complement each other
- 指日可待zhǐrì-kědàijust around the corner
- 奋不顾身fènbú-gùshēnto dash ahead regardless of one's safety
- 无时无刻wúshí-wúkèall the time
- 一无是处yìwú-shìchùgood for nothing
- 国泰民安guótài-mín’ānthe country is prosperous and the people at peace
- 风口浪尖fēngkǒu-làngjiānthe center of the storm
- 绿水青山lǜshuǐ-qīngshāngreen hills and clear waters
- 若隐若现ruòyǐn-ruòxiànfaintly visible
- 挺身而出tǐngshēn-érchūto step forward bravely
- 咬牙切齿yǎoyá-qièchǐto gnash one's teeth (in anger)
- 一本正经yìběn-zhèngjīngin all seriousness
- 不管不顾bùguǎn-búgùheedless
- 冲锋陷阵chōngfēng-xiànzhènto charge into the enemy ranks
- 戛然而止jiárán-érzhǐto stop abruptly
- 漫不经心mànbù-jīngxīncareless
- 十有八九shíyǒu-bājiǔmost likely
- 视而不见shì’ér-bújiànto turn a blind eye
- 多多益善duōduō-yìshànthe more the better
- 归根结底guīgēn-jiédǐin the final analysis
- 浩浩荡荡hàohào-dàngdàngvery 浩荡 (vivid)
- 货真价实huòzhēn-jiàshígenuine
- 如出一辙rúchū-yìzhéexactly alike
- 无穷无尽wúqióng-wújìnendless
- 学而优则仕xué’éryōuzéshìone who excels in study should become an official
- 责无旁贷zéwú-pángdàito be one's unshirkable duty
- 唉声叹气āishēng-tànqìto moan and sigh
- 独到之处dúdào-zhīchùunique feature
- 匪夷所思fěiyí-suǒsīunimaginable
- 海阔天空hǎikuò-tiānkōngboundless as the sea and sky
- 胡说八道húshuō-bādàoto talk nonsense
- 价廉物美jiàlián-wùměicheap and good
- 交相辉映jiāoxiāng-huīyìngto shine on each other
- 情有可原qíngyóu-kěyuánexcusable
- 天下无敌tiānxià-wúdíinvincible
- 脱胎换骨tuōtāi-huàngǔto be completely transformed
- 夜深人静yèshēn-rénjìngin the dead of night
- 长生不老chángshēng-bùlǎoimmortality
- 从天而降cóngtiān-érjiàngto come down from the sky
- 大千世界dàqiān-shìjièthe vast world
- 回味无穷huíwèi-wúqióngto leave an aftertaste that lingers
- 铿锵有力kēngqiāng-yǒulìsonorous and forceful
- 良莠不齐liángyǒu-bùqímixed bag
- 生机勃勃shēngjī-bóbófull of life
- 世外桃源shìwài-táoyuánShangri-La
- 似笑非笑sìxiào-fēixiàowith a faint smile
- 习以为常xíyǐ-wéichángto be used to something
- 一步一个脚印yíbùyígèjiǎoyìnto make steady progress
- 一朝一夕yìzhāo-yìxīovernight
- 一五一十yīwǔ-yīshí(to tell) everything, in full detail
- 油然而生yóurán-érshēngto arise spontaneously (of a feeling)
- 出人头地chūrén-tóudìto stand out from others
- 汗流浃背hànliú-jiābèisoaked in sweat
- 面不改色miànbù-gǎisèto remain calm
- 声嘶力竭shēngsī-lìjiéto shout oneself hoarse
- 矢志不渝shǐzhì-bùyúto be unswervingly devoted
- 走马观花zóumǎ-guānhuāto gain a superficial understanding from a hurried look
- 不可多得bùkě-duōdérare
- 井然有序jǐngrán-yǒuxùin good order
- 喃喃自语nánnán-zìyǔto mutter to oneself
- 微乎其微wēihū-qíwēinegligible
- 一览无余yìlǎn-wúyúto take in everything at a glance
- 八仙过海bāxiān-guòhǎithe Eight Immortals crossing the sea (each showing their own skill)
- 点睛之笔diǎnjīng-zhībǐfinishing touch
- 丢人现眼diūrén-xiànyǎnto make a fool of oneself
- 怒气冲冲nùqìchōngchōngfurious
- 人杰地灵rénjié-dìlínga remarkable place that produces outstanding people
- 一视同仁yíshì-tóngrénto treat everyone equally
- 一望无际yíwàng-wújìstretching beyond the horizon
- 震撼人心zhènhàn-rénxīnsoul-stirring
- 独来独往dúlái-dúwǎngto be a loner
- 二话不说èrhuà-bùshuōwithout a word
- 艰苦奋斗jiānkǔ-fèndòuto work hard and struggle through hardship
- 厉行节约lìxíng-jiéyuēto practice strict economy
- 美不胜收měibú-shèngshōuso beautiful one can't take it all in
- 名不虚传míngbù-xūchuánto live up to one's reputation
- 石沉大海shíchén-dàhǎito disappear without a trace
- 一波三折yìbō-sānzhéfull of twists and turns
- 一蹴而就yícù-érjiùto succeed in one step
- 赫赫有名hèhè-yǒumíngillustrious
- 难以为继nányǐ-wéijìhard to sustain
- 深不可测shēnbù-kěcèunfathomable
- 肃然起敬sùrán-qǐjìngto be filled with deep respect
- 昙花一现tánhuā-yíxiànflash in the pan
- 一无所获yìwú-suǒhuòto gain nothing
- 一言难尽yìyán-nánjìnit's a long story
- 嗤之以鼻chīzhī-yǐbíto snort at
- 独立自主dúlì-zìzhǔindependent and self-reliant
- 更上一层楼gèngshàngyìcénglóuto climb to a higher level
- 尽如人意jìnrú-rényìentirely satisfactory (usually in the negative)
- 令人发指lìngrén-fàzhǐoutrageous
- 漫山遍野mànshān-biànyěall over the hills and fields
- 起死回生qísǐ-huíshēngto turn a hopeless situation around
- 敲诈勒索qiāozhà-lèsuǒto extort
- 身体力行shēntǐ-lìxíngto practice what one preaches
- 天翻地覆tiānfān-dìfùearth-shaking (changes)
- 轩然大波xuānrán-dàbōhuge uproar
- 奄奄一息yányǎn-yìxīon one's last breath
- 以权谋私yǐquán-móusīto abuse power for personal gain
- 阴差阳错yīnchā-yángcuòby a strange twist of fate
- 吉祥如意jíxiáng-rúyìgood luck and happiness (New Year greeting)
- 妙不可言miàobù-kěyánwonderful beyond words
- 痛不欲生tòngbú-yùshēnggrieved to the point of wanting to die
- 旗帜鲜明qízhì-xiānmíngclear-cut (stand)
- 不慌不忙bùhuāng-bùmángcalm and unhurried
- 不遗余力bùyí-yúlìto spare no effort
- 不在话下búzài-huàxiànot worth mentioning
- 趁火打劫chènhuó-dǎjiéto loot a burning house
- 蠢蠢欲动chúnchǔn-yùdòngitching to make a move
- 电闪雷鸣diànshǎn-léimíngthunder and lightning
- 多愁善感duōchóu-shàngǎnsentimental
- 干净利落gānjìng-lìluòneat and efficient
- 名胜古迹míngshèng-gǔjìplaces of scenic beauty and historic interest
- 平起平坐píngqǐ-píngzuòto be on an equal footing
- 热血沸腾rèxuè-fèiténgone's blood is up
- 死灰复燃sǐhuī-fùránto revive
- 四分五裂sìfēn-wǔlièfragmented
- 一脉相承yímài-xiāngchéngto come down in an unbroken line
- 由来已久yóulái-yíjiǔlong-standing
- 大红大紫dàhóng-dàzǐextremely popular
- 大声疾呼dàshēng-jíhūto call out loudly
- 无伤大雅wúshāng-dàyǎharmless
- 聪明才智cōngmíng-cáizhìintelligence and ability
- 大江南北dàjiāng-nánběiall over China
- 大开眼界dàkāiyǎnjièto broaden one's horizons
- 掉以轻心diàoyǐ-qīngxīnto treat lightly
- 翻山越岭fānshān-yuèlǐngto cross mountains and ridges
- 鬼鬼祟祟guíguǐ-suìsuìvery 鬼祟 (vivid)
- 明目张胆míngmù-zhāngdǎnbrazenly
- 年事已高niánshì-yǐgāoadvanced in years
- 倾盆大雨qīngpén-dàyǔdownpour
- 热火朝天rèhuǒ-cháotiānin full swing
- 山清水秀shānqīng-shuǐxiùbeautiful scenery of green hills and clear waters
- 瞬息万变shùnxī-wànbiànto change in the blink of an eye
- 天下为公tiānxià-wéigōngthe world belongs to all
- 无所畏惧wúsuǒ-wèijùfearless
- 信以为真xìnyǐ-wéizhēnto take something as true
- 行云流水xíngyún-liúshuǐnatural and flowing (of writing or movement)
- 兴致勃勃xìngzhì-bóbófull of enthusiasm
- 学以致用xuéyǐ-zhìyòngto put what one learns into practice
- 欲言又止yùyán-yòuzhǐto hesitate to speak
- 坐享其成zuòxiǎng-qíchéngto reap the fruits of others' labor
- 大发雷霆dàfā-léitíngto fly into a rage
- 搔首弄姿sāoshǒu-nòngzīto strike coquettish poses
- 不堪回首bùkān-huíshǒutoo painful to look back on
- 不容置疑bùróng-zhìyíbeyond doubt
- 咄咄逼人duōduō-bīrénaggressive
- 风风火火fēngfēng-huóhuǒvery 风火 (vivid)
- 欢聚一堂huānjù-yìtángto gather together happily
- 今非昔比jīnfēi-xībǐthings are not what they used to be
- 津津乐道jīnjīn-lèdàoto talk about with great relish
- 狂风暴雨kuángfēng-bàoyǔviolent storm
- 劳逸结合láoyì-jiéhéto balance work and rest
- 明明白白míngmíng-báibáivery 明白 (vivid)
- 轻手轻脚qīngshǒu-qīngjiǎosoftly
- 守望相助shǒuwàng-xiāngzhùto keep watch and help each other
- 无计可施wújì-kěshīat one's wits' end
- 销声匿迹xiāoshēng-nìjìto vanish without a trace
- 扬长而去yángcháng-érqùto swagger off
- 妖魔鬼怪yāomó-guǐguàidemons and monsters
- 一以贯之yìyǐ-guànzhīto remain consistent throughout
- 依山傍水yīshān-bàngshuǐnestled between mountains and water
- 有利可图yǒulì-kětúprofitable
- 掷地有声zhìdì-yǒushēngforceful and resonant (of words)
- 刻骨铭心kègǔ-míngxīnunforgettable
- 有所作为yóusuǒ-zuòwéito accomplish something
- 安居乐业ānjū-lèyèto live and work in peace and contentment
- 畅所欲言chàngsuǒ-yùyánto speak one's mind freely
- 朝朝暮暮zhāozhāo-mùmùvery 朝暮 (vivid)
- 恶性循环èxìng-xúnhuánvicious cycle
- 飞黄腾达fēihuáng-téngdáto rise rapidly in the world
- 风风雨雨fēngfēng-yúyǔvery 风雨 (vivid)
- 合情合理héqíng-hélǐfair and reasonable
- 火眼金睛huóyǎn-jīnjīngpiercing eyes
- 看家本领kānjiā-bénlǐngone's special skill
- 了如指掌liǎorú-zhízhǎngto know like the back of one's hand
- 前仆后继qiánpū-hòujìas one falls, another steps forward
- 青梅竹马qīngméi-zhúmǎchildhood sweethearts
- 人心惶惶rénxīn-huánghuángeveryone is anxious
- 首当其冲shǒudāng-qíchōngto bear the brunt
- 随波逐流suíbō-zhúliúto drift with the current
- 所剩无几suǒshèng-wújǐthere's not much left
- 心血来潮xīnxuè-láicháoon a sudden impulse
- 训练有素xùnliàn-yǒusùwell trained
- 异军突起yìjūn-tūqǐto suddenly emerge as a new force
- 原原本本yuányuán-bénběnvery 原本 (vivid)
- 真相大白zhēnxiàng-dàbáithe truth comes out
- 不谋而合bùmóu-érhéto coincide by chance
- 风韵犹存fēngyùn-yóucún(of a middle-aged woman) still attractive
- 何去何从héqù-hécóngwhat course to take
- 卷土重来juántǔ-chóngláito make a comeback
- 来势汹汹láishì-xiōngxiōngto come on aggressively
- 浓墨重彩nóngmò-zhòngcǎivivid and emphatic
- 深思熟虑shēnsī-shúlǜcareful consideration
- 势在必行shìzài-bìxíngimperative
- 庸中佼佼yōngzhōng-jiáojiǎooutstanding among the mediocre
- 跃跃欲试yuèyuè-yùshìeager to give it a try
- 百废待兴bǎifèi-dàixīngmuch remains to be done
- 不明不白bùmíng-bùbáiunclear
- 惨不忍睹cǎnbù-réndǔtoo horrible to look at
- 大错特错dàcuò-tècuòcompletely wrong
- 湖光山色húguāng-shānsèbeautiful lake and mountain scenery
- 挥汗如雨huīhàn-rúyǔdripping with sweat
- 活蹦乱跳huóbèng-luàntiàolively
- 咎由自取jiùyóu-zìqǔto have only oneself to blame
- 梨花带雨líhuā-dàiyǔ(of a woman) weeping prettily
- 忙忙碌碌mángmáng-lùlùvery 忙碌 (vivid)
- 门当户对méndāng-hùduìwell matched in social status (for marriage)
- 浓眉大眼nóngméi-dàyǎnthick eyebrows and big eyes
- 稍纵即逝shāozòng-jíshìfleeting
- 深入浅出shēnrù-qiǎnchūto explain profound ideas in simple terms
- 生龙活虎shēnglóng-huóhǔfull of life and energy
- 首屈一指shǒuqū-yìzhǐsecond to none
- 天壤之别tiānrǎng-zhībiéa world of difference
- 通力合作tōnglì-hézuòto cooperate fully
- 无法无天wúfǎ-wútiānlawless
- 无理取闹wúlí-qǔnàoto make trouble without reason
- 无所不能wúsuǒ-bùnéngomnipotent
- 物是人非wùshì-rénfēithings are the same but people have changed
- 稀奇古怪xīqí-gǔguàibizarre
- 席地而坐xídì-érzuòto sit on the ground
- 逍遥法外xiāoyáo-fǎwàito be at large
- 心服口服xīnfú-kǒufúto be utterly convinced
- 心花怒放xīnhuā-nùfàngwild with joy
- 摇头晃脑yáotóu-huàngnǎoto wag one's head (in self-satisfaction)
- 一蹶不振yìjué-búzhènto never recover after a setback
- 以此类推yícǐ-lèituīand so on
- 议论纷纷yìlùn-fēnfēneveryone is talking about it
- 毅然决然yìrán-juéránresolutely
- 鱼龙混杂yúlóng-hùnzáa motley mix of good and bad people
- 雨后春笋yǔhòu-chūnsǔnlike mushrooms after rain
- 知己知彼zhījǐ-zhībǐknow yourself and know your enemy
- 只争朝夕zhǐzhēng-zhāoxīto seize every minute
- 不择手段bùzé-shǒuduànby any means necessary
- 防患于未然fánghuànyúwèiránto nip trouble in the bud
- 洁身自好jiéshēn-zìhàoto keep oneself clean
- 旷日持久kuàngrì-chíjiǔprotracted
- 披荆斩棘pījīng-zhǎnjíto overcome obstacles
- 破口大骂pòkǒu-dàmàto swear loudly
- 如履薄冰rúlǚ-bóbīngas if treading on thin ice
- 停滞不前tíngzhì-bùqiánto stagnate
- 相依为命xiāngyī-wéimìngto depend on each other for survival
- 雄心壮志xióngxīn-zhuàngzhìlofty ambitions
- 一本万利yìběn-wànlìsmall investment, huge profit
- 一气呵成yíqì-hēchéngto do something in one go
- 移风易俗yífēng-yìsúto change customs
- 隐隐约约yínyǐn-yuēyuēvery 隐约 (vivid)
- 重于泰山zhòngyú-tàishānweightier than Mount Tai
- 别出心裁biéchū-xīncáioriginal
- 不堪设想bùkān-shèxiǎngunthinkable
- 才华横溢cáihuá-héngyìbrimming with talent
- 大张旗鼓dàzhāng-qígǔon a grand scale
- 抛砖引玉pāozhuān-yǐnyùto offer a modest view to draw out better ones
- 穷困潦倒qióngkùn-liáodǎodestitute and down on one's luck
- 若即若离ruòjí-ruòlíkeeping someone at arm's length
- 是是非非shìshì-fēifēivery 是非 (vivid)
- 手舞足蹈shóuwǔ-zúdǎoto dance for joy
- 手下留情shǒuxià-liúqíngto show mercy
- 死皮赖脸sǐpí-làiliǎnshameless
- 纹丝不动wénsī-búdòngnot moving an inch
- 一分为二yìfēn-wéi’èrto split into two
- 一去不复返yíqùbúfùfǎngone forever
- 长途跋涉chángtú-báshèlong and arduous journey
- 装模作样zhuāngmú-zuòyàngto put on airs
- 自给自足zìjǐ-zìzúself-sufficient
- 自欺欺人zìqī-qīrénto deceive oneself and others
- 自食其力zìshí-qílìto support oneself by one's own labor
- 半壁江山bànbì-jiāngshāna large share
- 不紧不慢bùjǐn-búmànunhurried
- 沉默寡言chénmò-guǎyántaciturn
- 大功告成dàgōng-gàochéngto be successfully completed
- 大起大落dàqǐ-dàluòbig ups and downs
- 大相径庭dàxiāng-jìngtíngwidely different
- 独树一帜dúshù-yízhìto have a style of one's own
- 黄道吉日huángdào-jírìauspicious day
- 尽心尽力jìnxīn-jìnlìto do one's best wholeheartedly
- 精力充沛jīnglì-chōngpèifull of energy
- 居高临下jūgāo-línxiàto look down from a height
- 开花结果kāihuā-jiéguǒto blossom and bear fruit
- 开门见山kāimén-jiànshānto come straight to the point
- 屡见不鲜lǚjiàn-bùxiāncommon
- 翩翩起舞piānpiān-qíwǔto dance gracefully
- 起早贪黑qízǎo-tānhēito work from dawn to dusk
- 千丝万缕qiānsī-wànlǚcountless ties
- 上下一心shàngxià-yìxīneveryone united as one
- 无人问津wúrén-wènjīnto attract no interest
- 迅雷不及掩耳xùnléibùjíyán’ěras sudden as a thunderclap
- 眼花缭乱yǎnhuā-liáoluàndazzled
- 一丝不挂yìsī-búguàstark naked
- 迎刃而解yíngrèn-érjiěto be easily solved
- 有意无意yǒuyì-wúyìintentionally or not
- 长此以往chángcí-yíwǎngif things go on like this
- 蒸蒸日上zhēngzhēng-rìshàngflourishing
- 不以为意bùyǐ-wéiyìto not mind
- 地老天荒dìlǎo-tiānhuānguntil the end of time
- 喋喋不休diédié-bùxiūto chatter endlessly
- 风云人物fēngyún-rénwùinfluential person
- 横行霸道héngxíng-bàdàoto throw one's weight around
- 两败俱伤liǎngbài-jùshāngboth sides lose
- 名正言顺míngzhèng-yánshùnrightful and proper
- 默不作声mòbú-zuòshēngto keep silent
- 怦然心动pēngrán-xīndòngheart beating with excitement
- 人之常情rénzhī-chángqínghuman nature
- 天花乱坠tiānhuā-luànzhuìextravagant (praise)
- 天下太平tiānxià-tàipíngpeace reigns throughout the land
- 血流成河xuèliú-chénghérivers of blood (of a massacre)
- 有来无回yǒulái-wúhuíto come and never go back
- 张牙舞爪zhāngyá-wúzhǎoto bare one's fangs and claws
- 自知之明zìzhī-zhīmíngself-knowledge
- 按部就班ànbù-jiùbānstep by step
- 白手起家báishóu-qǐjiāto build up from nothing
- 变本加厉biànběn-jiālìto become even worse
- 别有用心biéyǒu-yòngxīnto have ulterior motives
- 不甘示弱bùgān-shìruònot to be outdone
- 不可开交bùkě-kāijiāoextremely (busy)
- 出谋划策chūmóu-huàcèto give advice
- 绰绰有余chuòchuò-yǒuyúmore than enough
- 大喊大叫dàhǎn-dàjiàoto shout and scream
- 非同小可fēitóng-xiáokěno small matter
- 虎视眈眈hǔshì-dāndānto eye covetously
- 紧锣密鼓jǐnluó-mìgǔintense preparations
- 苦不堪言kǔbù-kānyánto suffer unspeakably
- 脍炙人口kuàizhì-rénkǒuwidely popular
- 年复一年niánfù-yìniányear after year
- 千奇百怪qiānqí-bǎiguàiall kinds of strange things
- 日积月累rìjī-yuèlěito accumulate over time
- 如日中天rúrì-zhōngtiānat the height of one's power
- 姗姗来迟shānshān-láichíto arrive late
- 堂而皇之táng’ér-huángzhīopenly
- 突飞猛进tūfēi-měngjìnto advance by leaps and bounds
- 突然袭击tūrán-xíjīsurprise attack
- 望而却步wàng’ér-quèbùto shrink back at the sight of something
- 无独有偶wúdú-yóu’ǒuit is not unique
- 小道消息xiǎodào-xiāoxīrumor
- 云淡风轻yúndàn-fēngqīngcalm and unbothered
- 招财进宝zhāocái-jìnbǎoto bring in wealth and treasure (New Year greeting)
- 中流砥柱zhōngliú-dǐzhùmainstay
- 字里行间zìlǐ-hángjiānbetween the lines
- 自以为是zìyǐwéishìself-righteous
- 安然无恙ānrán-wúyàngsafe and sound
- 白头偕老báitóu-xiélǎoto grow old together
- 百感交集báigǎn-jiāojíall sorts of feelings well up
- 勃然大怒bórán-dànùto fly into a rage
- 不偏不倚bùpiān-bùyǐimpartial
- 不同凡响bùtóng-fánxiǎngout of the ordinary
- 吃苦耐劳chīkǔ-nàiláohardworking and able to endure hardship
- 打成一片dǎchéng-yípiànto become one with
- 断子绝孙duànzǐ-juésūnto die without descendants (often as a curse)
- 风吹日晒fēngchuī-rìshàiexposed to the elements
- 攻城略地gōngchéng-lüèdìto rapidly capture markets
- 花言巧语huāyán-qiáoyǔsweet talk
- 昏迷不醒hūnmí-bùxǐngunconscious
- 及时行乐jíshí-xínglèto enjoy life while one can
- 狂风骤雨kuángfēng-zhòuyǔturbulent situation
- 冷酷无情lěngkù-wúqíngcold and heartless
- 美轮美奂měilún-měihuànmagnificent
- 慕名而来mùmíng-érláito come attracted by someone's fame
- 千千万万qiānqiān-wànwànvery 千万 (vivid)
- 趋之若鹜qūzhī-ruòwùto flock to
- 如鲠在喉rúgěng-zàihóulike a fish bone in the throat
- 三五成群sānwǔ-chéngqúnin threes and fives
- 所见所闻suǒjiàn-suǒwénwhat one sees and hears
- 相亲相爱xiāngqīn-xiāng’àito love each other dearly
- 心心念念xīnxīn-niànniànvery 心念 (vivid)
- 哑口无言yákǒu-wúyánspeechless
- 有求必应yǒuqiú-bìyìngto grant whatever is asked
- 杂七杂八záqī-zábāmiscellaneous
- 直言不讳zhíyán-búhuìto speak frankly
- 座无虚席zuòwú-xūxíevery seat taken
- 背道而驰bèidào-érchíto run in the opposite direction
- 遍地开花biàndì-kāihuāto spread everywhere
- 乘风破浪chéngfēng-pòlàngto brave the wind and waves
- 春意盎然chūnyì-àngránspring is in the air
- 防不胜防fángbú-shèngfángimpossible to guard against
- 风起云涌fēngqǐ-yúnyǒngto surge forward vigorously
- 接踵而至jiēzhǒng-érzhìto come one after another
- 惊涛骇浪jīngtāo-hàilàngperilous situation
- 可有可无kéyóu-kěwúnot essential
- 令行禁止lìngxíng-jìnzhǐstrict enforcement of orders
- 面面相觑miànmiàn-xiāngqùto look at each other in dismay
- 庞然大物pángrán-dàwùhuge monster
- 千辛万苦qiānxīn-wànkǔcountless hardships
- 轻描淡写qīngmiáo-dànxiěto play down
- 十全十美shíquán-shíměiperfect in every way
- 手忙脚乱shǒumáng-jiǎoluànin a frantic rush
- 所向披靡suǒxiàng-pīmǐto sweep all before one
- 偷工减料tōugōng-jiǎnliàoto cut corners
- 文人墨客wénrén-mòkèmen of letters
- 五谷丰登wúgǔ-fēngdēngbumper harvest
- 夕阳西下xīyáng-xīxiàin decline
- 心中有数xīnzhōng-yǒushùto know what one is about
- 行尸走肉xíngshī-zǒuròuperson living without purpose
- 雄心勃勃xióngxīn-bóbóambitious
- 一劳永逸yìláo-yǒngyìonce and for all
- 一网打尽yìwáng-dǎjìnto catch all in one net
- 一往无前yìwǎng-wúqiánto press forward boldly
- 一意孤行yíyì-gūxíngto insist on having one's own way
- 依然如故yīrán-rúgùas before
- 议事日程yìshì-rìchéngagenda
- 有说有笑yǒushuō-yǒuxiàochatting and laughing
- 郁郁葱葱yùyù-cōngcōngvery 郁葱 (vivid)
- 专心致志zhuānxīn-zhìzhìwholly absorbed
- 捉襟见肘zhuōjīn-jiànzhǒutoo poor to make ends meet
- 不知去向bùzhī-qùxiàngwhereabouts unknown
- 不知死活bùzhī-sǐhuóreckless
- 步履蹒跚bùlǚ-pánshānto stagger
- 差强人意chāqiáng-rényìbarely satisfactory
- 柴米油盐cháimǐ-yóuyándaily necessities
- 甘之如饴gānzhī-rúyíto endure hardship gladly
- 高不可攀gāobù-kěpānunattainable
- 浑然一体húnrán-yìtǐseamless whole
- 戒骄戒躁jièjiāo-jièzàoto guard against arrogance and rashness
- 斤斤计较jīnjīn-jìjiàoto haggle over every penny
- 科班出身kēbān-chūshēnprofessionally trained
- 闷闷不乐mènmèn-búlèdepressed
- 人才济济réncái-jíjǐa wealth of talent
- 人满为患rénmǎn-wéihuànovercrowded
- 三头六臂sāntóu-liùbì(fig.) superhuman powers
- 视死如归shìsǐ-rúguīto face death fearlessly
- 天昏地暗tiānhūn-dì’ànchaotic
- 投其所好tóuqí-suǒhàoto cater to someone's tastes
- 无中生有wúzhōng-shēngyǒuto fabricate
- 心潮澎湃xīncháo-péngpàisurging with emotion
- 异曲同工yìqǔ-tónggōngdifferent approaches with equally good results
- 忧心忡忡yōuxīn-chōngchōngdeeply worried
- 震耳欲聋zhèn’ěr-yùlóngdeafening
- 按捺不住ànnà-búzhùunable to hold back
- 百家争鸣bǎijiā-zhēngmínga hundred schools of thought contend
- 不怀好意bùhuái-hǎoyìto harbor evil intentions
- 沧海桑田cānghǎi-sāngtiángreat changes over time
- 大摇大摆dàyáo-dàbǎito swagger
- 风华正茂fēnghuá-zhèngmàoin one's prime
- 风流倜傥fēngliú-tìtǎngdashing
- 风云变幻fēngyún-biànhuànrapidly changing situation
- 感情用事gǎnqíng-yòngshìto let emotions rule
- 高歌猛进gāogē-měngjìnto advance triumphantly
- 高山流水gāoshān-liúshuǐfriendship of kindred spirits
- 各有千秋gèyǒu-qiānqiūeach has its own merits
- 公之于众gōngzhī-yúzhòngto make public
- 患得患失huàndé-huànshīto worry about personal gains and losses
- 极乐世界jílè-shìjiè(Buddhism) Western Paradise
- 空穴来风kōngxué-láifēngunfounded rumor
- 柳暗花明liǔ’àn-huāmínglight at the end of the tunnel
- 男女老少nánnǘ-lǎoshàomen and women, young and old
- 飘飘欲仙piāopiāo-yùxiānfloating on air
- 如虎添翼rúhǔ-tiānyìlike a tiger that has grown wings
- 深信不疑shēnxìn-bùyíto firmly believe
- 生老病死shēnglǎo-bìngsǐbirth, aging, sickness and death
- 声势浩大shēngshì-hàodàlarge-scale and powerful
- 忐忑不安tǎntè-bù’ānuneasy
- 我行我素wǒxíng-wǒsùto go one's own way regardless of others
- 无所适从wúsuǒ-shìcóngnot knowing what to do
- 无懈可击wúxiè-kějīimpeccable
- 五脏六腑wǔzàng-liùfǔthe internal organs
- 现身说法xiànshēn-shuōfǎto use oneself as an example
- 想入非非xiǎngrù-fēifēito indulge in fantasy
- 小心谨慎xiǎoxīn-jǐnshèncareful and cautious
- 谢天谢地xiètiān-xièdìthank heavens
- 心不在焉xīnbú-zàiyānabsent-minded
- 意味深长yìwèi-shēnchángmeaningful
- 因势利导yīnshì-lìdǎoto guide things along as circumstances allow
- 有识之士yǒushí-zhīshìpeople of insight
- 在所不惜zàisuǒ-bùxīnot to hesitate at any cost
- 崭露头角zhǎnlù-tóujiǎoto begin to show one's talent
- 战战兢兢zhànzhànjīngjīngvery 战兢 (vivid)
- 长治久安chángzhì-jiǔ’ānlasting peace and stability
- 真心实意zhēnxīn-shíyìsincerely
- 安安稳稳ān’ān-wénwěnvery 安稳 (vivid)
- 八九不离十bājiǔbùlíshípretty close
- 病入膏肓bìngrù-gāohuāngterminally ill
- 放眼世界fàngyǎn-shìjièto look at the whole world
- 干脆利落gāncuì-lìluòneat and quick
- 欢天喜地huāntiān-xǐdìoverjoyed
- 溜之大吉liūzhī-dàjíto slip away
- 蒙在鼓里méngzài-gúlǐto be kept in the dark
- 冥思苦想míngsī-kúxiǎngto rack one's brains
- 目不斜视mùbù-xiéshìto look straight ahead
- 千头万绪qiāntóu-wànxùa multitude of threads
- 牵一发而动全身qiānyífà’érdòngquánshēna small change affects the whole
- 全神贯注quánshén-guànzhùto concentrate fully
- 如临大敌rúlín-dàdías if facing a formidable enemy
- 身败名裂shēnbài-mínglièto lose everything and be disgraced
- 省吃俭用shěngchī-jiǎnyòngto scrimp and save
- 说来说去shuōlái-shuōqù说 over and over
- 逃之夭夭táozhī-yāoyāoto make oneself scarce
- 拖泥带水tuōní-dàishuǐsloppy
- 误入歧途wùrù-qítúto go astray
- 星星之火xīngxīng-zhīhuǒa single spark
- 养精蓄锐yǎngjīng-xùruìto conserve strength
- 咬文嚼字yǎowén-jiáozìto be pedantic about wording
- 一草一木yìcǎo-yímùevery blade of grass and every tree
- 一窍不通yíqiào-bùtōngto know nothing about
- 一知半解yìzhī-bànjiěto have a superficial knowledge
- 有志之士yǒuzhì-zhīshìpeople with lofty ideals
- 重见天日chóngjiàn-tiānrìto see the light of day again
- 抓耳挠腮zhuā’ěr-náosāito scratch one's head (anxious or puzzled)
- 不切实际búqiè-shíjìunrealistic
- 防微杜渐fángwēi-dùjiànto nip in the bud
- 炯炯有神jióngjióng-yǒushénbright-eyed
- 始终如一shǐzhōng-rúyīconsistent from start to finish
- 严阵以待yánzhèn-yǐdàito stand in battle array
- 语重心长yǔzhòng-xīnchángsincere and earnest (of advice)
- 白发苍苍báifà-cāngcānggray-haired
- 别开生面biékāi-shēngmiànto break new ground
- 并驾齐驱bìngjià-qíqūto keep pace with each other
- 波光粼粼bōguāng-línlínsparkling waves
- 不合时宜bùhé-shíyíout of step with the times
- 不屑一顾búxiè-yígùto disdain
- 姹紫嫣红chàzǐ-yānhónga riot of brilliant flowers
- 赤身裸体chìshēn-luótǐstark naked
- 非同寻常fēitóng-xúnchángextraordinary
- 纷至沓来fēnzhì-tàláito come thick and fast
- 古色古香gǔsè-gǔxiāngantique
- 呼之欲出hūzhī-yùchūvividly portrayed
- 昏昏欲睡hūnhūn-yùshuìdrowsy
- 落荒而逃luòhuāng-értáoto flee in panic
- 满载而归mǎnzài-érguīto return fully laden
- 内忧外患nèiyōu-wàihuàninternal troubles and external threats
- 特立独行tèlì-dúxíngindependent-minded
- 天方夜谭tiānfāng-yètána fantastic tale
- 天涯海角tiānyá-háijiǎothe ends of the earth
- 万劫不复wànjié-búfùbeyond redemption
- 惟妙惟肖wéimiào-wéixiàolifelike
- 细水长流xìshuǐ-chángliúto economize to make things last
- 狭路相逢xiálù-xiāngféngenemies meet on a narrow road (no way to avoid confrontation)
- 烟消云散yānxiāo-yúnsànto vanish like smoke
- 言外之意yánwài-zhīyìimplication
- 一穷二白yìqióng-èrbáipoor and blank (economically and culturally backward)
- 因材施教yīncái-shījiàoto teach according to the student's aptitude
- 永垂不朽yǒngchuí-bùxiǔto be immortal
- 浴血奋战yùxuè-fènzhànto fight a bloody battle
- 抽丝剥茧chōusī-bōjiǎnto unravel step by step
- 寸步难行cùnbù-nánxíngunable to move a single step
- 多管闲事duōguǎnxiánshìto meddle in other people's business
- 鹅毛大雪émáo-dàxuěheavy snow in big flakes
- 海枯石烂hǎikū-shílàntill the seas run dry and the rocks crumble (vow of eternal love)
- 花里胡哨huāli-húshàogarish
- 回心转意huíxīn-zhuǎnyìto change one's mind
- 金榜题名jīnbǎng-tímíngto pass the imperial exam
- 坑蒙拐骗kēngmēng-guǎipiànto swindle and cheat
- 勉为其难miǎnwéi-qínánto reluctantly agree to do something difficult
- 破门而入pòmén-érrùto break in
- 七七八八qīqī-bābāvery 七八 (vivid)
- 青出于蓝qīngchū-yúlánthe student surpasses the master
- 求之不得qiúzhī-bùdéjust what one wished for
- 三心二意sānxīn-èryìhalfhearted
- 时来运转shílái-yùnzhuǎnluck is turning
- 醍醐灌顶tíhú-guàndǐngsudden enlightenment
- 万籁俱寂wànlài-jùjìutter silence
- 唯唯诺诺wéiwéi-nuònuòvery 唯诺 (vivid)
- 文质彬彬wénzhì-bīnbīnrefined and gentle
- 稳步前进wěnbù-qiánjìnto advance steadily
- 心如刀绞xīnrú-dāojiǎoheartbroken
- 言简意赅yánjiǎn-yìgāiconcise and comprehensive
- 一往情深yìwǎng-qíngshēndeeply attached
- 一走了之yìzóu-liǎozhīto walk away from a problem
- 雨过天晴yǔguò-tiānqíngthings improve after a bad time
- 长驱直入chángqū-zhírùto drive straight in
- 古往今来gúwǎng-jīnláithrough the ages
- 酣畅淋漓hānchàng-línlíto one's heart's content
- 继往开来jìwǎng-kāiláito carry on the past and open up the future
- 平易近人píngyì-jìnrénamiable and approachable
- 扑朔迷离pūshuò-mílíconfusing
- 千差万别qiānchā-wànbiéto differ greatly
- 屈指可数qūzhí-késhǔvery few
- 群策群力qúncè-qúnlìto pool wisdom and efforts
- 双管齐下shuāngguǎn-qíxiàto work on both fronts at once
- 天生丽质tiānshēng-lìzhìnatural beauty
- 稳扎稳打wěnzhā-wéndǎto proceed steadily and surely
- 心灰意冷xīnhuī-yìlěngdisheartened
- 必经之路bìjīng-zhīlùthe only way
- 不可逾越bùkě-yúyuèinsurmountable
- 不胜枚举búshèng-méijǔtoo numerous to list
- 不务正业búwù-zhèngyèto neglect one's proper work
- 瞠目结舌chēngmù-jiéshédumbfounded
- 承上启下chéngshàng-qǐxiàto link what comes before and after
- 打得火热dǎdé-huǒrèto be very close
- 含情脉脉hánqíng-mòmòtender and affectionate
- 后生可畏hòushēng-kěwèithe young are to be respected
- 接踵而来jiēzhǒng-érláito follow on one another's heels
- 来者不拒láizhě-bújùto refuse nobody
- 旁若无人pángruò-wúrénas if no one else were around
- 品学兼优pǐnxué-jiānyōuexcellent in both character and studies
- 气势磅礴qìshì-pángbómajestic
- 秋高气爽qiūgāo-qìshuǎngclear and crisp autumn weather
- 入土为安rùtǔ-wéi’ānto be laid to rest
- 时不我待shíbù-wǒdàitime waits for no one
- 手足无措shǒuzú-wúcuòat a loss
- 万家灯火wànjiā-dēnghuǒa sea of lights
- 万里无云wànlǐ-wúyúncloudless
- 息事宁人xīshì-níngrénto settle a dispute and keep the peace
- 一拍即合yìpāi-jíhéto hit it off immediately
- 一盘散沙yìpán-sǎnshālike a heap of loose sand
- 一日千里yīrì-qiānlǐrapid progress
- 一厢情愿yìxiāng-qíngyuànwishful thinking
- 游山玩水yóushān-wánshuǐto go sightseeing
- 欲速则不达yùsùzébùdáhaste makes waste
- 战火纷飞zhànhuǒ-fēnfēiraging war
- 不疾不徐bùjí-bùxúneither too fast nor too slow
- 不识好歹bùshí-háodǎiunable to tell good from bad
- 才高八斗cáigāo-bādǒuextremely talented
- 大势已去dàshì-yǐqùthe game is up
- 怀恨在心huáihèn-zàixīnto bear a grudge
- 寄人篱下jìrén-líxiàto live under someone else's roof
- 龙飞凤舞lóngfēi-fèngwǔlively and vigorous (of calligraphy)
- 面黄肌瘦miànhuáng-jīshòusallow and emaciated
- 能说会道néngshuō-huìdàoglib
- 瓢泼大雨piáopō-dàyǔtorrential rain
- 扫地出门sǎodì-chūménto throw out
- 死而复生sǐ’ér-fùshēngto come back from the dead
- 头昏脑胀tóuhūn-nǎozhàngdizzy
- 喜笑颜开xǐxiào-yánkāibeaming with joy
- 先知先觉xiānzhī-xiānjuéperson of foresight
- 心怀鬼胎xīnhuái-guǐtāito have evil intentions
- 信手拈来xìnshǒu-niānláito pick up effortlessly
- 一步登天yíbù-dēngtiānto rise to the top in one step
- 一飞冲天yìfēi-chōngtiānto soar to the sky
- 一针一线yìzhēn-yíxiànevery needle and thread
- 芸芸众生yúnyún-zhòngshēngall living things
- 纸醉金迷zhǐzuì-jīnmílife of luxury and dissipation
- 终身大事zhōngshēn-dàshìmarriage
- 百里挑一báilǐ-tiāoyīone in a hundred
- 不依不饶bùyī-bùráoto refuse to let something go
- 曾几何时céngjǐ-héshínot long ago
- 大政方针dàzhèng-fāngzhēnmajor policies
- 当仁不让dāngrén-búràngto not shirk one's responsibility
- 风平浪静fēngpíng-làngjìngcalm and tranquil
- 孤注一掷gūzhù-yízhìto stake everything on a single throw
- 好景不长háojǐng-bùchánggood times don't last
- 红杏出墙hóngxìng-chūqiáng(of a wife) to have an affair
- 岌岌可危jíjí-kěwēiin imminent danger
- 艰难险阻jiānnán-xiánzǔdifficulties and obstacles
- 街头巷尾jiētóu-xiàngwěistreets and lanes
- 金屋藏娇jīnwū-cángjiāoto keep a mistress
- 冷暖自知léngnuǎn-zìzhīonly oneself knows what one has been through
- 铤而走险tǐng’ér-zóuxiǎnto take a desperate risk
- 瓦解冰消wájiě-bīngxiāoto collapse completely
- 无拘无束wújū-wúshùunrestrained
- 弦外之音xiánwài-zhīyīnimplication
- 心狠手辣xīnhén-shǒulàcruel and ruthless
- 惺惺相惜xīngxīng-xiāngxīlike-minded people appreciate each other
- 摇身一变yáoshēn-yíbiànto suddenly change identity
- 遥遥无期yáoyáo-wúqīnowhere in sight
- 以防万一yǐfáng-wànyījust in case
- 义不容辞yìbù-róngcíduty-bound
- 治病救人zhìbìng-jiùrénto cure the sickness to save the patient (to criticize in order to help)
- 蛛丝马迹zhūsī-mǎjìclues
- 保家卫国bǎojiā-wèiguóto defend one's home and country
- 兵不血刃bīngbú-xuèrènto win without bloodshed
- 兵临城下bīnglín-chéngxiàthe enemy is at the gates
- 不知天高地厚bùzhītiāngāodìhòunot to know one's own limits
- 惨无人道cǎnwú-réndàoinhuman
- 出淤泥而不染chūyūní’érbùrǎnto emerge unsullied from the mud
- 垂涎欲滴chuíxián-yùdīto drool with envy
- 慈眉善目címéi-shànmùkindly-looking
- 地久天长dìjiǔ-tiānchángeverlasting
- 功成名就gōngchéng-míngjiùto achieve success and fame
- 瓜熟蒂落guāshú-dìluòthings will happen in due course
- 和而不同hé’ér-bùtóngharmony without uniformity
- 后悔莫及hòuhuǐ-mòjítoo late for regrets
- 花花世界huāhuā-shìjièthe dazzling world of pleasure
- 昏昏沉沉hūnhūn-chénchénvery 昏沉 (vivid)
- 祸国殃民huòguó-yāngmínto bring disaster to the country and the people
- 假戏真做jiǎxì-zhēnzuòto do for real what was pretense
- 娇生惯养jiāoshēng-guànyǎngpampered
- 劫后余生jiéhòu-yúshēngto survive a disaster
- 筋疲力尽jīnpí-lìjìnexhausted
- 久负盛名jiǔfù-shèngmínglong-renowned
- 口干舌燥kǒugān-shézàoparched mouth
- 苦口婆心kúkǒu-póxīnto advise patiently and earnestly
- 略知一二lüèzhī-yī’èrto know a little
- 每况愈下měikuàng-yùxiàto go from bad to worse
- 南征北战nánzhēng-běizhànto fight one's way up and down the country
- 气急败坏qìjí-bàihuàiflustered and exasperated
- 群雄逐鹿qúnxióng-zhúlùrival powers vying for supremacy
- 如鱼得水rúyú-déshuǐlike a fish in water
- 通风报信tōngfēng-bàoxìnto tip someone off
- 同甘共苦tónggān-gòngkǔto share joys and sorrows
- 偷偷摸摸tōutōu-mōmōvery 偷摸 (vivid)
- 推波助澜tuībō-zhùlánto add fuel to the fire
- 万紫千红wànzǐ-qiānhónga riot of color
- 委曲求全wěiqū-qiúquánto compromise for the sake of the bigger picture
- 小题大做xiǎotí-dàzuòto make a fuss over a trifle
- 虚无缥缈xūwú-piāomiǎoillusory
- 虚张声势xūzhāng-shēngshìto bluff
- 野心勃勃yěxīn-bóbóvery ambitious
- 颐指气使yízhǐ-qìshǐbossy
- 自暴自弃zìbào-zìqìto give up on oneself
- 搬弄是非bānnòng-shìfēito sow discord
- 逼良为娼bīliáng-wéichāngto force a respectable woman into prostitution
- 不攻自破bùgōng-zìpòto collapse of itself (of a rumor or argument)
- 不过尔尔búguò-ér’ěrmerely so-so
- 大有人在dàyǒu-rénzàithere are plenty of such people
- 栋梁之才dòngliáng-zhīcáiperson capable of great responsibility
- 故作高深gùzuò-gāoshēnto pretend to be profound
- 海市蜃楼hǎishì-shènlóumirage
- 厚颜无耻hòuyán-wúchǐshameless
- 浑浑噩噩húnhún-è’èvery 浑噩 (vivid)
- 火中取栗huǒzhōng-qǔlìto pull chestnuts out of the fire (to be someone's cat's-paw)
- 名存实亡míngcún-shíwángto exist in name only
- 青史留名qīngshǐ-liúmíngto go down in history
- 日薄西山rìbó-xīshānthe sun is setting
- 煽风点火shānfēng-diánhuǒto fan the flames
- 神来之笔shénlái-zhībǐstroke of genius
- 十面埋伏shímiàn-máifúambush from all sides
- 食指大动shízhǐ-dàdòngto have one's mouth water
- 头昏眼花tóuhūn-yǎnhuādizzy
- 无病呻吟wúbìng-shēnyínto moan without being ill
- 仙风道骨xiānfēng-dàogǔhaving the air of an immortal
- 邪不压正xiébù-yāzhèngevil cannot prevail over good
- 新仇旧恨xīnchóu-jiùhènold and new grievances
- 雅俗共赏yǎsú-gòngshǎngappealing to both refined and popular tastes
- 偃旗息鼓yǎnqí-xīgǔto quiet down
- 养生之道yǎngshēng-zhīdàothe way to good health
- 衣衫褴褛yīshān-lánlǚdressed in rags
- 龇牙咧嘴zīyá-liézuǐto bare one's teeth
- 按兵不动ànbīng-búdòngto hold one's troops back
- 不绝于耳bùjué-yú’ěrto keep ringing in one's ears
- 不期而遇bùqī-éryùto meet by chance
- 不足为奇bùzú-wéiqínot at all surprising
- 愁眉不展chóuméi-bùzhǎnfrowning with worry
- 大是大非dàshì-dàfēimajor questions of principle
- 大庭广众dàtíng-guǎngzhòngin public
- 婀娜多姿ēnuó-duōzīgraceful and charming
- 分工合作fēngōng-hézuòdivision of labor and cooperation
- 付之一炬fùzhī-yíjùto commit to the flames
- 高楼大厦gāolóu-dàshàtall buildings
- 厚积薄发hòujī-bófāto build up a deep store before producing results
- 九死一生jiúsǐ-yìshēnga narrow escape from death
- 空空如也kōngkōng-rúyěcompletely empty
- 连锁反应liánsuó-fǎnyìngchain reaction
- 千里迢迢qiānlǐ-tiáotiáofrom far away
- 沁人心脾qìnrén-xīnpírefreshing
- 人才辈出réncái-bèichūtalented people come forth in large numbers
- 同归于尽tóngguī-yújìnto perish together
- 一触即发yíchù-jífāon the verge of breaking out
- 支离破碎zhīlí-pòsuìfragmented
- 百无聊赖bǎiwú-liáolàibored to death
- 本来面目běnlái-miànmùtrue colors
- 毕恭毕敬bìgōng-bìjìngreverent and respectful
- 遍体鳞伤biàntǐ-línshāngcovered all over with wounds
- 不治之症búzhì-zhīzhèngincurable disease
- 打情骂俏dǎqíng-màqiàoto flirt
- 大风大浪dàfēng-dàlànggreat storms
- 耳濡目染ěrrú-mùrǎnto be influenced by what one constantly sees and hears
- 愤愤不平fènfèn-bùpíngindignant
- 风靡一时fēngmǐ-yìshíall the rage
- 高人一等gāorén-yìděnga cut above others
- 光天化日guāngtiān-huàrìbroad daylight
- 海纳百川hǎinà-bǎichuānall-embracing
- 黑白分明hēibái-fēnmíngin sharp contrast
- 慌慌张张huānghuāng-zhāngzhāngvery 慌张 (vivid)
- 魂飞魄散húnfēi-pòsànscared out of one's wits
- 急转直下jízhuǎn-zhíxiàto take a sudden turn
- 兼收并蓄jiānshōu-bìngxùto incorporate diverse things
- 泾渭分明jīngwèi-fēnmíngclearly distinct
- 久别重逢jiǔbié-chóngféngto meet again after a long separation
- 就事论事jiùshì-lùnshìto stick to the point
- 拒之门外jùzhī-ménwàito shut someone out
- 慷慨激昂kāngkǎi-jī’ángimpassioned
- 夸大其词kuādà-qícíto exaggerate
- 老气横秋lǎoqì-héngqiūarrogant with seniority
- 老生常谈lǎoshēng-chángtánplatitude
- 力挽狂澜lìwǎn-kuánglánto turn the tide
- 民不聊生mínbù-liáoshēngthe people have no means of living
- 牛鬼蛇神niúguǐ-shéshénevil people
- 呕心沥血ǒuxīn-lìxuèto pour one's heart and soul into
- 千言万语qiānyán-wànyǔthousands of words
- 千载难逢qiānzǎi-nánféngonce in a lifetime
- 前车之鉴qiánchē-zhījiànlesson learned from others' mistakes
- 前因后果qiányīn-hòuguǒcause and effect
- 巧立名目qiǎolì-míngmùto invent pretexts (e.g. for charging fees)
- 权宜之计quányí-zhījìexpedient
- 如花似玉rúhuā-sìyùbeautiful as a flower (of a woman)
- 如影随形rúyǐng-suíxíngto follow like a shadow
- 潸然泪下shānrán-lèixiàto shed tears silently
- 神魂颠倒shénhún-diāndǎoinfatuated
- 说三道四shuōsān-dàosìto gossip
- 死里逃生sílǐ-táoshēngto have a narrow escape from death
- 威风凛凛wēifēng-línlǐnmajestic
- 无孔不入wúkǒng-búrùto seize every opportunity
- 喜气洋洋xǐqì-yángyángfull of joy
- 先声夺人xiānshēng-duórénto overawe others by a show of strength first
- 陷入僵局xiànrù-jiāngjúto reach a deadlock
- 心烦意乱xīnfán-yìluànagitated
- 心力衰竭xīnlì-shuāijié(med.) heart failure
- 幸灾乐祸xìngzāi-lèhuòto take pleasure in others' misfortune
- 凶神恶煞xiōngshén-èshàfiends
- 绚丽多彩xuànlì-duōcǎicolorful and splendid
- 洋洋得意yángyáng-déyìsmug
- 有气无力yǒuqì-wúlìweak
- 辗转反侧zhánzhuán-fǎncèto toss and turn (in bed)
- 招架不住zhāojiàbuzhùunable to withstand
- 真枪实弹zhēnqiāng-shídànlive ammunition
- 振奋人心zhènfèn-rénxīninspiring
- 置之不理zhìzhī-bùlǐto ignore
- 八面玲珑bāmiàn-línglóngsmooth and slick
- 插科打诨chākē-dǎhùnto clown around
- 垂帘听政chuílián-tīngzhèngto rule from behind the curtain (of an empress dowager)
- 放任自流fàngrèn-zìliúto let something drift
- 赶鸭子上架gǎnyāzishàngjiàto force someone to do something beyond their ability
- 七步成诗qībù-chéngshīquick-witted
- 撒泼打滚sāpō-dágǔnto throw a tantrum
- 束手束脚shùshǒu-shùjiǎotimid
- 万变不离其宗wànbiànbùlíqízōngthe essence stays the same through all changes
- 望梅止渴wàngméi-zhíkěto console oneself with false hopes
- 因果报应yīnguǒ-bàoyìngkarma
- 直抒胸臆zhíshū-xiōngyìto speak one's mind
- 装腔作势zhuāngqiāng-zuòshìto put on airs
- 自顾不暇zìgù-bùxiátoo busy with one's own problems to help others
- 半推半就bàntuī-bànjiùto accept with feigned reluctance
- 波澜壮阔bōlán-zhuàngkuòmagnificent
- 不计其数bújì-qíshùcountless
- 不屈不挠bùqū-bùnáoindomitable
- 不省人事bùxǐng-rénshìto lose consciousness
- 大器晚成dàqì-wǎnchénggreat talents mature late
- 奋发有为fènfā-yǒuwéienergetic and promising
- 合二为一hé’èr-wéiyīto merge two into one
- 何乐而不为hélè’érbùwéiwhy not do it
- 兼而有之jiān’ér-yǒuzhīto have both
- 明察暗访míngchá-ànfǎngto investigate openly and secretly
- 泥牛入海níniú-rùhǎigone without a trace
- 迫不得已pòbùdéyǐto have no choice
- 青山绿水qīngshān-lǜshuǐgreen hills and clear waters
- 铩羽而归shāyǔ-érguīto return defeated
- 设身处地shèshēn-chǔdìto put oneself in someone else's shoes
- 拾金不昧shíjīn-búmèito return money one has found
- 天上人间tiānshàng-rénjiānworlds apart
- 统筹兼顾tǒngchóu-jiāngùto plan with overall consideration
- 痛哭流涕tòngkū-liútìto weep bitterly
- 投机取巧tóujī-qúqiǎoto be opportunistic
- 无声无息wúshēng-wúxīsilently
- 先发制人xiānfā-zhìrénto strike first
- 先天不足xiāntiān-bùzúinherent weakness
- 心有余悸xīnyǒu-yújìto still be shaken
- 一臂之力yíbì-zhīlìa helping hand
- 直截了当zhíjié-liǎodàngstraightforward
- 黯然神伤ànrán-shénshāngdejected
- 百折不挠bǎizhé-bùnáoindomitable
- 不费吹灰之力búfèichuīhuīzhīlìeffortlessly
- 不可动摇bùkě-dòngyáounshakable
- 步步高升bùbùgāoshēngto rise steadily
- 乘胜追击chéngshèng-zhuījīto follow up a victory
- 打破常规dǎpò-chángguīto break with convention
- 大浪淘沙dàlàngtáoshāgreat waves wash away the sand (only the best survive)
- 大手大脚dàshǒu-dàjiǎoextravagant
- 大有裨益dàyǒu-bìyìof great benefit
- 翻江倒海fānjiāng-dáohǎioverturning rivers and seas
- 风度翩翩fēngdù-piānpiānelegant and graceful
- 赴汤蹈火fùtāng-dáohuǒto go through fire and water
- 光彩夺目guāngcǎi-duómùdazzling
- 国色天香guósè-tiānxiāngravishingly beautiful
- 花花绿绿huāhuā-lǜlǜvery 花绿 (vivid)
- 混世魔王hùnshì-mówángdevil incarnate
- 饥肠辘辘jīcháng-lùlùstomach rumbling with hunger
- 简明扼要jiǎnmíng-èyàobrief and to the point
- 结结巴巴jiējiē-bābāvery 结巴 (vivid)
- 桀骜不驯jié’ào-búxùnunruly
- 口是心非kǒushì-xīnfēito say one thing and mean another
- 满不在乎mǎnbúzàihunot care in the least
- 明知故犯míngzhī-gùfànto knowingly break the rules
- 你追我赶nǐzhuī-wógǎnto compete eagerly with one another
- 破釜沉舟pòfǔ-chénzhōuto burn one's boats
- 七零八落qīlíng-bāluòscattered
- 奇形怪状qíxíng-guàizhuànggrotesque
- 三天两头sāntiān-liǎngtóuevery other day
- 身先士卒shēnxiān-shìzúto lead from the front
- 深恶痛绝shēnwù-tòngjuéto detest bitterly
- 睡眼惺忪shuìyǎn-xīngsōngsleepy-eyed
- 随遇而安suíyù-ér’ānto take things as they come
- 谈何容易tánhé-róngyìeasier said than done
- 天府之国tiānfǔ-zhīguóland of plenty (esp. Sichuan)
- 通情达理tōngqíng-dálǐreasonable
- 头破血流tóupò-xuèliúhead broken and bleeding
- 危在旦夕wēizài-dànxīin imminent danger
- 闻名遐迩wénmíng-xiá’ěrfamous far and wide
- 无足轻重wúzú-qīngzhònginsignificant
- 逍遥自在xiāoyáo-zìzàicarefree and at ease
- 絮絮叨叨xùxu-dāodāovery 絮叨 (vivid)
- 悬崖峭壁xuányá-qiàobìsheer cliffs and precipices
- 一败涂地yíbài-túdìto suffer a crushing defeat
- 一笔勾销yìbǐ-gōuxiāoto write off at one stroke
- 一线生机yíxiàn-shēngjīa glimmer of hope
- 有过之而无不及yǒuguòzhī’érwúbùjíto go even further than
- 有机可乘yǒujī-kěchéngthere's an opening to exploit
- 有勇有谋yóuyóng-yǒumóuboth brave and resourceful
- 知无不言zhīwú-bùyánto say all one knows
- 中西合璧zhōngxī-hébìa blend of Chinese and Western elements
- 装聋作哑zhuānglóng-zuòyǎto pretend to be deaf and dumb
- 捉摸不定zhuōmō-búdìngelusive
- 自生自灭zìshēng-zìmièto be left to fend for oneself
- 左顾右盼zuǒgù-yòupànto glance around
- 坐立不安zuòlì-bù’ānrestless
- 拔苗助长bámiáo-zhùzhǎngto spoil things through excessive zeal
- 必由之路bìyóu-zhīlùthe only way
- 操之过急cāozhī-guòjíto act too hastily
- 茶余饭后cháyú-fànhòuin one's spare time
- 畅通无阻chàngtōng-wúzǔunimpeded
- 成人之美chéngrén-zhīměito help someone fulfill their wish
- 惩前毖后chéngqián-bìhòuto learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones
- 出类拔萃chūlèi-bácuìoutstanding
- 荡气回肠dàngqì-huíchángsoul-stirring
- 得意洋洋déyì-yángyángsmug
- 分门别类fēnmén-biélèito classify
- 风花雪月fēnghuā-xuěyuèfrivolous romance
- 苟延残喘gǒuyán-cánchuǎnto linger on
- 鼓舞人心gúwǔ-rénxīninspiring
- 国计民生guójì-mínshēngnational economy and people's livelihood
- 坚韧不拔jiānrèn-bùbátenacious
- 口口声声kóukǒu-shēngshēngvery 口声 (vivid)
- 令人瞩目lìngrén-zhǔmùeye-catching
- 蹑手蹑脚nièshǒu-nièjiǎoon tiptoe
- 七上八下qīshàng-bāxiàanxious
- 切身体会qièshēn-tǐhuìpersonal experience
- 亲密无间qīnmì-wújiànintimate
- 全军覆没quánjūn-fùmòto be completely wiped out
- 如释重负rúshì-zhòngfùas if relieved of a heavy burden
- 生死存亡shēngsǐ-cúnwánglife or death
- 势均力敌shìjūn-lìdíevenly matched
- 啼笑皆非tíxiào-jiēfēinot knowing whether to laugh or cry
- 天女散花tiānnǚ-sànhuāto scatter all around
- 玩忽职守wánhū-zhíshǒudereliction of duty
- 万众一心wànzhòng-yìxīnmillions united as one
- 未雨绸缪wèiyǔ-chóumóuto prepare for a rainy day
- 文不对题wénbú-duìtíoff topic
- 小巧玲珑xiáoqiǎo-línglóngsmall and exquisite
- 星星点点xīngxīng-diándiǎnvery 星点 (vivid)
- 以点带面yídiǎn-dàimiànto use one point to spread to a whole area
- 以身试法yǐshēn-shìfǎto knowingly break the law
- 有言在先yǒuyán-zàixiānto have made it clear beforehand
- 整装待发zhěngzhuāng-dàifāready to set off
- 炙手可热zhìshóu-kěrèvery hot
- 重蹈覆辙chóngdǎo-fùzhéto repeat the same mistake
- 助人为乐zhùrén-wéilèto take pleasure in helping others
- 卓有成效zhuóyǒu-chéngxiàohighly effective
- 恣意妄为zìyì-wàngwéito act recklessly
- 跋山涉水báshān-shèshuǐto travel over mountains and rivers
- 百尺竿头báichǐ-gāntóuto make still further progress
- 百依百顺bǎiyī-bǎishùndocile and obedient in everything
- 暴露无遗bàolù-wúyícompletely exposed
- 闭门造车bìmén-zàochēto work behind closed doors without regard to reality
- 避重就轻bìzhòng-jiùqīngto avoid the important and dwell on the trivial
- 波涛汹涌bōtāo-xiōngyǒngsurging waves
- 不苟言笑bùgǒu-yánxiàoserious
- 不可限量bùkě-xiànliànglimitless (prospects)
- 不知好歹bùzhī-háodǎiunable to tell good from bad
- 不知所云bùzhī-suǒyúnincoherent
- 察言观色cháyán-guānsèto read someone's face
- 叱咤风云chìzhà-fēngyúnall-powerful
- 崇山峻岭chóngshān-jùnlǐnghigh mountains and steep ridges
- 触类旁通chùlèi-pángtōngto learn by analogy
- 穿针引线chuānzhēn-yǐnxiànto act as a go-between
- 捶胸顿足chuíxiōng-dùnzúto beat one's chest and stamp one's feet (in grief or anger)
- 聪明伶俐cōngmíng-línglìbright and clever
- 大雨倾盆dàyǔ-qīngpéntorrential rain
- 德高望重dégāo-wàngzhòngof high moral standing and prestige
- 等闲之辈děngxián-zhībèiordinary person
- 东倒西歪dōngdǎo-xīwāistaggering
- 独步天下dúbù-tiānxiàunrivaled in the world
- 独当一面dúdāng-yímiànto take charge of a sector on one's own
- 反目成仇fǎnmù-chéngchóuto fall out and become enemies
- 分崩离析fēnbēng-líxīto fall apart
- 锋芒毕露fēngmáng-bìlùto show off one's talents
- 高屋建瓴gāowū-jiànlíngstrategically advantageous
- 各自为战gèzì-wéizhànto fight each on one's own
- 公平合理gōngpíng-hélǐfair and reasonable
- 挂羊头卖狗肉guàyángtóumàigǒuròuto cry up wine and sell vinegar
- 光怪陆离guāngguài-lùlíbizarre and multicolored
- 鬼哭狼嚎guǐkū-lángháoto wail and howl
- 恨铁不成钢hèntiěbùchénggāngfrustrated that someone fails to live up to expectations
- 惶恐不安huángkǒng-bù’ānanxious and frightened
- 灰飞烟灭huīfēi-yānmièto vanish like smoke
- 灰头土脸huītóu-túliǎncovered in dust
- 接连不断jiēlián-búduànone after another
- 尽善尽美jìnshàn-jìnměiperfect in every way
- 举世闻名jǔshì-wénmíngworld-famous
- 决胜千里juéshèng-qiānlǐto direct victory from afar
- 良辰吉日liángchén-jírìauspicious day
- 两肋插刀liǎnglèi-chādāoto go through fire and water for a friend
- 流言蜚语liúyán-fēiyǔrumors and gossip
- 六道轮回liùdào-lúnhuí(Buddhism) cycle of rebirth through the six realms
- 慢条斯理màntiáo-sīlǐunhurried
- 灭顶之灾mièdǐng-zhīzāidisaster
- 名不副实míngbú-fùshínot living up to one's name
- 模棱两可móléng-liángkěambiguous
- 前功尽弃qiángōng-jìnqìall previous efforts wasted
- 如数家珍rúshǔ-jiāzhēnto know something like the back of one's hand
- 如之奈何rúzhī-nàihéwhat can be done about it
- 山水相连shānshuǐ-xiāngliánlinked by mountains and rivers (of neighboring countries)
- 深山老林shēnshān-lǎolínremote mountains and dense forests
- 神清气爽shénqīng-qìshuǎngrefreshed and clear-headed
- 适可而止shìkě-érzhǐto stop while one is ahead
- 水泄不通shuǐxiè-bùtōngpacked tight
- 随机应变suíjī-yìngbiànto adapt to circumstances
- 贪得无厌tāndé-wúyàninsatiably greedy
- 童叟无欺tóngsǒu-wúqīcheating neither young nor old
- 头晕目眩tóuyūn-mùxuàndizzy and seeing stars
- 万不得已wànbùdéyǐas a last resort
- 闻所未闻wénsuǒ-wèiwénunheard of
- 贤妻良母xiánqī-liángmǔgood wife and loving mother
- 相安无事xiāng’ān-wúshìto live in peace with each other
- 相生相克xiāngshēng-xiāngkèmutual generation and mutual restraint (of the five elements)
- 心惊肉跳xīnjīng-ròutiàofilled with fear and anxiety
- 欣喜若狂xīnxǐ-ruòkuángwild with joy
- 汹涌澎湃xiōngyǒng-péngpàiturbulent
- 血海深仇xuèhǎi-shēnchóublood feud
- 血盆大口xuèpén-dàkǒua gaping mouth (of a beast)
- 血气方刚xuèqì-fānggāngfull of youthful vigor
- 严丝合缝yánsī-héfèngseamless
- 眼疾手快yǎnjí-shǒukuàiquick-eyed and nimble
- 疑难杂症yínán-zázhèngknotty problems
- 用之不竭yòngzhī-bùjiéinexhaustible
- 有备无患yǒubèi-wúhuànpreparedness averts disaster
- 怨天尤人yuàntiān-yóurénto blame everyone and everything but oneself
- 在天之灵zàitiān-zhīlíngspirit of the departed
- 糟糠之妻zāokāng-zhīqīwife who shared one's poverty
- 遮天蔽日zhētiān-bìrìblotting out the sky
- 真心诚意zhēnxīn-chéngyìsincerely
- 忠心耿耿zhōngxīn-génggěngloyal and devoted
- 壮士断腕zhuàngshì-duànwànto make a painful sacrifice to cut one's losses
- 字字珠玑zìzì-zhūjīevery word a gem
- 自告奋勇zìgào-fènyǒngto volunteer
- 安于现状ānyú-xiànzhuàngcontent with the status quo
- 变化多端biànhuà-duōduānchangeable
- 不拘一格bùjū-yìgénot sticking to one pattern
- 不冷不热bùlěng-búrèneither cold nor hot
- 不能自拔bùnéng-zìbáunable to extricate oneself
- 臭名昭著chòumíng-zhāozhùnotorious
- 楚楚可怜chúchú-kěliándelicate and touching
- 大打出手dàdǎ-chūshǒuto come to blows
- 高瞻远瞩gāozhān-yuánzhǔfarsighted
- 耿耿于怀génggěng-yúhuáito brood over
- 公平交易gōngpíng-jiāoyìfair trade
- 横冲直撞héngchōng-zhízhuàngto charge around wildly
- 浑水摸鱼húnshuǐ-mōyúto fish in troubled waters
- 举手投足júshǒu-tóuzúevery move
- 冷嘲热讽lěngcháo-rèfěngbiting sarcasm
- 力所不及lìsuǒ-bùjíbeyond one's power
- 麻痹大意mábì-dàyìcareless
- 鸟语花香niáoyǔ-huāxiāngbirds singing and flowers fragrant
- 排山倒海páishān-dáohǎioverwhelming
- 气势汹汹qìshì-xiōngxiōngaggressive
- 窃窃私语qièqiè-sīyǔto whisper
- 轻车熟路qīngchē-shúlùeasy for an experienced person
- 轻装上阵qīngzhuāng-shàngzhènto go into action unburdened
- 群魔乱舞qúnmó-luànwǔdemons dancing wildly
- 如狼似虎rúláng-sìhǔferocious
- 三三两两sānsān-liángliǎngvery 三两 (vivid)
- 身无分文shēnwú-fēnwénpenniless
- 速战速决sùzhàn-sùjuéto make quick work of it
- 忘乎所以wànghū-suóyǐto get carried away
- 无可比拟wúké-bínǐincomparable
- 心无旁骛xīnwú-pángwùcompletely focused
- 心心相印xīnxīn-xiāngyìnto have mutual affinity
- 选贤与能xuǎnxián-yǔnéngto choose the worthy and the able
- 雪中送炭xuězhōng-sòngtàntimely help in time of need
- 炎黄子孙yánhuáng-zǐsūndescendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors
- 一颦一笑yìpín-yíxiàoevery frown and smile
- 迎头赶上yíngtóu-gǎnshàngto catch up
- 由近及远yóujìn-jíyuǎnfrom near to far
- 有口皆碑yóukǒu-jiēbēiuniversally praised
- 置身事外zhìshēn-shìwàito stay out of something
- 众说纷纭zhòngshuō-fēnyúnopinions vary widely
- 自愧弗如zìkuì-fúrúto feel inferior to others
- 纵横交错zònghéng-jiāocuòcrisscross
- 钻牛角尖zuānniú-jiǎojiānto split hairs
- 安营扎寨ānyíng-zhāzhàito set up camp
- 黯然失色ànrán-shīsèto be eclipsed
- 百年之后bǎinián-zhīhòuafter one's death (euphemism)
- 捕风捉影bǔfēng-zhuōyǐngto act on hearsay
- 不可胜数bùkě-shèngshǔcountless
- 不义之财búyì-zhīcáiill-gotten gains
- 财运亨通cáiyùn-hēngtōngfinancially prosperous
- 朝思暮想zhāosī-mùxiǎngto yearn day and night
- 出人意外chūrén-yìwàiunexpected
- 传宗接代chuánzōng-jiēdàito carry on the family line
- 此起彼落cíqí-bǐluòto rise one after another
- 打草惊蛇dácǎo-jīngshéto alert the enemy by a careless act
- 大失所望dàshī-suǒwànggreatly disappointed
- 胆战心惊dǎnzhàn-xīnjīngterrified
- 东西南北dōngxī-nánběieast, west, south and north
- 斗转星移dóuzhuǎn-xīngyíthe passage of time
- 囤积居奇túnjī-jūqíto hoard for speculation
- 多快好省duōkuài-háoshěngmore, faster, better and cheaper
- 多如牛毛duōrú-niúmáocountless
- 防患未然fánghuàn-wèiránto take preventive measures
- 粉身碎骨fěnshēn-suìgǔto be smashed to pieces
- 风光旖旎fēngguāng-yínǐcharming scenery
- 胡搅蛮缠hújiǎo-mánchánto pester unreasonably
- 虎头蛇尾hǔtóu-shéwěia strong start and a weak finish
- 焦头烂额jiāotóu-làn’ébadly battered
- 矫揉造作jiǎoróu-zàozuòaffected
- 谨言慎行jǐnyán-shènxíngto be careful in word and deed
- 精耕细作jīnggēng-xìzuòmeticulous work
- 精疲力尽jīngpí-lìjìnexhausted
- 精神百倍jīngshén-bǎibèifull of energy
- 九牛一毛jiǔniú-yìmáoa drop in the ocean
- 颗粒无收kēlì-wúshōua total crop failure
- 可歌可泣kěgē-kěqìheroic and moving
- 苦心经营kǔxīn-jīngyíngto painstakingly build up (a business)
- 宽宏大量kuānhóng-dàliàngmagnanimous
- 狂妄自大kuángwàng-zìdàarrogant and conceited
- 郎才女貌lángcái-nǚmàoa perfect match
- 浪子回头làngzǐ-huítóuthe return of the prodigal son
- 礼仪之邦lǐyí-zhībāngland of ceremony and propriety
- 连绵不绝liánmián-bùjuécontinuous
- 落井下石luòjǐng-xiàshíto kick someone when they are down
- 马马虎虎mámá-húhǔvery 马虎 (vivid)
- 茅塞顿开máosè-dùnkāito be suddenly enlightened
- 名扬四海míngyáng-sìhǎifamous everywhere
- 旁敲侧击pángqiāo-cèjīto hint obliquely
- 片甲不留piànjiǎ-bùliúcompletely annihilated
- 平淡无奇píngdàn-wúqíordinary
- 平分秋色píngfēn-qiūsèto split evenly
- 浅尝辄止qiǎncháng-zhézhǐto stop after a superficial attempt
- 穷山恶水qióngshān-èshuǐbarren hills and wild rivers
- 穷途末路qióngtú-mòlùat the end of one's rope
- 人财两空réncái-liǎngkōngto lose both the person and the money
- 如饥似渴rújī-sìkěeagerly
- 少年老成shàonián-lǎochéngmature beyond one's years
- 深仇大恨shēnchóu-dàhènbitter hatred
- 神采飞扬shéncǎi-fēiyángin high spirits
- 声东击西shēngdōng-jīxīto feint east and attack west
- 十万火急shíwàn-huǒjíextremely urgent
- 事不宜迟shìbù-yíchíthere's no time to lose
- 事与愿违shìyǔ-yuànwéithings turn out contrary to one's wishes
- 受制于人shòuzhìyúrénto be under others' control
- 疏而不漏shū’ér-búlòujustice catches every wrongdoer in the end
- 水土不服shuítǔ-bùfúunable to adapt to a new climate or diet
- 说来话长shuōlái-huàchángit's a long story
- 死不瞑目sǐbù-míngmùto die with eyes open (with a grievance)
- 四大皆空sìdà-jiēkōng(Buddhism) all is vanity
- 谈情说爱tánqíng-shuō’àito court
- 天外有天tiānwài-yǒutiānthere is always someone better
- 天有不测风云tiānyǒubúcèfēngyúnanything can happen
- 条条框框tiáotiáo-kuàngkuàngvery 条框 (vivid)
- 同生共死tóngshēng-gòngsǐto live and die together
- 痛定思痛tòngdìng-sītòngto reflect after the pain has passed
- 头晕眼花tóuyūn-yǎnhuādizzy and seeing stars
- 卧薪尝胆wòxīn-chángdǎnto endure hardship to prepare for revenge
- 乌合之众wūhé-zhīzhòngrabble
- 无所不用其极wúsuǒbúyòngqíjíto stop at nothing
- 无所不在wúsuǒ-búzàiomnipresent
- 物尽其用wùjìn-qíyòngto make full use of everything
- 误打误撞wùdǎ-wùzhuàngby a stroke of luck
- 嬉皮笑脸xīpí-xiàoliǎngrinning cheekily
- 先睹为快xiāndǔ-wéikuàito be eager to be among the first to see
- 骁勇善战xiāoyǒng-shànzhànbrave and skilled in battle
- 心如止水xīnrú-zhíshuǐcalm and indifferent
- 凶多吉少xiōngduō-jíshǎobodes ill
- 悬而未决xuán’ér-wèijuéunresolved
- 血雨腥风xuèyǔ-xīngfēngbloodbath
- 循环往复xúnhuán-wǎngfùto go round and round
- 一般见识yìbān-jiànshito lower oneself to someone's level (as in 跟...一般见识)
- 一表人材yìbiǎo-réncáihandsome
- 一夫当关yìfū-dāngguānone man can hold the pass (against ten thousand)
- 一己之私yìjǐ-zhīsīone's own selfish interests
- 一扫而光yìsǎo-érguāngto clear away completely
- 一文不值yìwén-bùzhíworthless
- 以牙还牙yǐyá-huányáan eye for an eye
- 义愤填膺yìfèn-tiányīngfilled with righteous indignation
- 有钱能使鬼推磨yǒuqiánnéngshíguǐtuīmòmoney talks
- 瞻前顾后zhānqián-gùhòuto be overcautious
- 指手划脚zhíshǒu-huàjiǎoto gesticulate
- 自不量力zìbú-liànglìto overrate one's abilities
- 自我陶醉zìwǒ-táozuìself-satisfied
- 白驹过隙báijū-guòxìtime flies
- 百思不得其解bǎisībùdéqíjiěto be utterly puzzled
- 杯水车薪bēishuǐ-chēxīna drop in the bucket
- 标新立异biāoxīn-lìyìto be unconventional
- 不一而足bùyì-érzúand so on and so forth
- 彻头彻尾chètóu-chèwěithrough and through
- 赤手空拳chìshǒu-kōngquánbare-handed
- 初出茅庐chūchū-máolúinexperienced
- 灯红酒绿dēnghóng-jiǔlǜ(fig.) life of luxury and debauchery
- 独善其身dúshàn-qíshēnto look after one's own integrity
- 独占鳌头dúzhàn-áotóuto come first
- 翻云覆雨fānyún-fùyǔto be fickle
- 纷纷扬扬fēnfēn-yángyángvery 纷扬 (vivid)
- 丰功伟绩fēnggōng-wěijìgreat achievements
- 感慨万千gánkǎi-wànqiānto be filled with emotion
- 供过于求gōngguò-yúqiúsupply exceeds demand
- 浑身解数húnshēn-xièshùall one's skills
- 急不可耐jíbù-kěnàiimpatient
- 价值连城jiàzhí-liánchénginvaluable
- 剑拔弩张jiànbá-nǔzhāngtense
- 渐入佳境jiànrù-jiājìngto get better and better
- 金碧辉煌jīnbì-huīhuángsplendid
- 九五之尊jiúwǔ-zhīzūnthe emperor
- 绝无仅有juéwú-jínyǒuunique
- 开源节流kāiyuán-jiéliúto increase income and cut spending
- 量力而行liànglì-érxíngto act according to one's abilities
- 林林总总línlín-zóngzǒngvery 林总 (vivid)
- 留有余地liúyǒu-yúdìto leave some leeway
- 落落大方luòluò-dàfāngnatural and graceful
- 摸不着头脑mōbuzháotóunǎoto be confused
- 旗鼓相当qígǔ-xiāngdāngevenly matched
- 忍俊不禁rěnjùn-bùjīncannot help laughing
- 任劳任怨rènláo-rènyuànto work hard without complaint
- 融会贯通rónghuì-guàntōngto master something thoroughly by integrating what one has learned
- 舍我其谁shéwǒ-qíshuíwho else but me
- 甚嚣尘上shènxiāo-chénshànga lot of noise
- 生动活泼shēngdòng-huópōlively and vivid
- 死去活来sǐqù-huóláihalf dead
- 四面楚歌sìmiàn-chǔgēbesieged on all sides
- 似水流年sìshuǐ-liúniántime passing like flowing water
- 玩世不恭wánshì-bùgōngcynical
- 未卜先知wèibǔ-xiānzhīto foresee
- 无稽之谈wújī-zhītánnonsense
- 小家碧玉xiǎojiā-bìyùa pretty girl from a humble family
- 心平气和xīnpíng-qìhécalm and composed
- 言传身教yánchuán-shēnjiàoto teach by word and deed
- 一尘不染yìchén-bùrǎnincorruptible
- 一念之差yíniàn-zhīchāmomentary lapse
- 依然故我yīrán-gùwǒto remain one's same old self
- 异乎寻常yìhū-xúnchángunusual
- 溢于言表yìyú-yánbiǎoto show plainly (of feelings)
- 由浅入深yóuqiǎn-rùshēnfrom the easy to the difficult
- 早出晚归zǎochū-wǎnguīto leave early and return late
- 沾沾自喜zhānzhān-zìxǐsmug
- 众目睽睽zhòngmù-kuíkuíin full view of everyone
- 周而复始zhōu’ér-fùshǐto go round and round
- 左右为难zuǒyòu-wéinánto be in a dilemma
- 安不忘危ānbú-wàngwēito be mindful of danger in times of peace
- 安分守己ānfèn-shóujǐlaw-abiding
- 按图索骥àntú-suǒjìto follow a set pattern mechanically
- 暗淡无光àndàn-wúguāngdim and lusterless
- 白色恐怖báisè-kǒngbùWhite Terror
- 百步穿杨bǎibù-chuānyángto be an excellent marksman
- 百花争艳bǎihuā-zhēngyànflowers competing in beauty
- 百年不遇bǎinián-búyùonce in a century
- 百年大计bǎinián-dàjìa project of lasting importance
- 百战百胜bǎizhàn-bǎishèngever-victorious
- 暴跳如雷bàotiào-rúléito stamp and roar with rage
- 背井离乡bèijǐng-líxiāngto leave one's hometown
- 鼻青脸肿bíqīng-liánzhǒngblack and blue
- 闭门不出bìmén-bùchūto stay indoors
- 不可磨灭bùkě-mómièindelible
- 不着边际bùzhuó-biānjìwide of the mark
- 吃力不讨好chīlìbùtáohǎothankless task
- 崇洋媚外chóngyáng-mèiwàito worship and fawn on foreign things
- 臭名远扬chòumíng-yuǎnyángnotorious
- 粗茶淡饭cūchá-dànfànsimple food
- 大呼小叫dàhū-xiǎojiàoto shout and scream
- 大逆不道dànì-búdàotreasonous
- 大义凛然dàyì-lǐnránawe-inspiring righteousness
- 地大物博dìdà-wùbóvast and rich in resources
- 滴水穿石dīshuǐ-chuānshíconstant dripping wears away stone
- 颠沛流离diānpèi-liúlíto wander homeless
- 点头哈腰diǎntóu-hāyāoto bow and scrape
- 吊儿郎当diàor-lángdāngcareless
- 儿女情长érnǚ-qíngchángtender romantic feelings
- 翻箱倒柜fānxiāng-dǎoguìto rummage through everything
- 粉墨登场fěnmò-dēngchǎngto make one's debut
- 风马牛不相及fēngmǎniúbùxiāngjícompletely unrelated
- 风轻云淡fēngqīng-yúndàncalm and relaxed
- 刚正不阿gāngzhèng-bù’ēupright and incorruptible
- 各自为政gèzì-wéizhèngeach does things his own way
- 骨瘦如柴gǔshòu-rúcháiskinny as a rake
- 滚瓜烂熟gǔnguā-lànshúto know by heart
- 好色之徒hàosè-zhītúlecher
- 浩如烟海hàorú-yānhǎivast
- 洪水猛兽hóngshuí-měngshòugreat menace
- 花好月圆huāhǎo-yuèyuánbeautiful flowers and full moon
- 华而不实huá’ér-bùshíflashy but without substance
- 皇天不负有心人huángtiānbúfùyǒuxīnrénHeaven rewards those who persevere
- 昏天黑地hūntiān-hēidìchaotic
- 魂不守舍húnbù-shǒushèabsent-minded
- 混为一谈hùnwéi-yìtánto lump together
- 鸡犬升天jīquǎn-shēngtiān(fig.) when a man rises, his relatives and hangers-on rise with him
- 疾风骤雨jífēng-zhòuyǔswift and violent (of a campaign or change)
- 见死不救jiànsǐ-bújiùto stand by and watch someone die
- 匠心独运jiàngxīn-dúyùnoriginal and ingenious
- 金戈铁马jīngē-tiémǎwarfare
- 噤若寒蝉jìnruò-hánchánto keep silent out of fear
- 镜花水月jìnghuā-shuǐyuèillusion
- 锒铛入狱lángdāng-rùyùto be put in chains and thrown into prison
- 雷打不动léidǎ-búdòngunshakable
- 落叶归根luòyè-guīgēnto return to one's roots in old age
- 落英缤纷luòyīng-bīnfēnpetals falling in profusion
- 眉清目秀méiqīng-mùxiùgood-looking
- 媒妁之言méishuò-zhīyánthe matchmaker's word
- 妙趣横生miàoqù-héngshēngdelightful
- 明知故问míngzhī-gùwènto ask a question one already knows the answer to
- 摩肩接踵mójiān-jiēzhǒngjostling crowds
- 木已成舟mùyǐ-chéngzhōuwhat's done is done
- 劈头盖脸pītóu-gàiliǎnright in the face
- 屁滚尿流pìgǔn-niàoliúscared witless
- 妻离子散qīlí-zǐsànfamily broken up and scattered
- 清汤寡水qīngtāng-guáshuǐthin and tasteless (of food)
- 穷乡僻壤qióngxiāng-pìrǎngremote backwater
- 日月如梭rìyuè-rúsuōtime flies
- 茹毛饮血rúmáo-yǐnxuèto live like primitive savages
- 入木三分rùmù-sānfēnpenetrating
- 僧多粥少sēngduō-zhōushǎonot enough to go around
- 杀人放火shārén-fànghuǒmurder and arson
- 身外之物shēnwài-zhīwùworldly possessions
- 食不果腹shíbù-guǒfùto go hungry
- 首善之区shǒushàn-zhīqūthe capital
- 四平八稳sìpíng-bāwěnsteady and safe
- 耸人听闻sǒngrén-tīngwénsensational
- 损人不利己sǔnrénbúlìjǐto harm others without benefiting oneself
- 天作之合tiānzuò-zhīhéa match made in heaven
- 同病相怜tóngbìng-xiāngliánfellow sufferers sympathize with each other
- 同流合污tóngliú-héwūto fall in with bad company
- 痛快淋漓tòngkuài-línlíthoroughly delighted
- 偷鸡摸狗tōujī-mōgǒuto have illicit affairs
- 纨绔子弟wánkù-zǐdìdandy
- 万念俱灰wànniàn-jùhuīto lose all hope
- 汪洋大海wāngyáng-dàhǎivast ocean
- 为民除害wèimín-chúhàito rid the people of a scourge
- 温情脉脉wēnqíng-mòmòtender and affectionate
- 我见犹怜wǒjiàn-yóuliánso beautiful that even I am charmed
- 无地自容wúdì-zìróngto wish the earth would swallow one up
- 无关痛痒wúguān-tòngyǎngirrelevant
- 绣花枕头xiùhuā-zhěntouperson who is all show and no substance
- 言听计从yántīng-jìcóngto take someone's every word as gospel
- 言无不尽yánwú-bújìnto say all one knows
- 羊肠小道yángcháng-xiǎodàonarrow winding path
- 要死要活yàosǐ-yàohuóto make a terrible scene
- 一了百了yìliáo-báiliǎoall troubles end at once (often of death)
- 一切众生yíqiè-zhòngshēng(Buddhism) all living beings
- 一丝一毫yìsī-yìháothe slightest bit
- 一泻千里yíxiè-qiānlǐto plunge
- 庸人自扰yōngrén-zìrǎoto worry about imaginary troubles
- 优柔寡断yōuróu-guǎduànindecisive
- 优哉游哉yōuzāi-yóuzāicarefree and leisurely
- 长篇大论chángpiān-dàlùnlong-winded speech
- 振聋发聩zhènlóng-fākuìto awaken the deaf
- 趾高气扬zhǐgāo-qìyángstrutting arrogantly
- 忠贞不渝zhōngzhēn-bùyúunwaveringly loyal
- 众叛亲离zhòngpàn-qīnlídeserted by everyone
- 众望所归zhòngwàng-suǒguīenjoying popular support
- 重操旧业chóngcāo-jiùyèto return to one's old trade
- 装点门面zhuāngdiǎn-ménmiànto keep up appearances
- 尊师重道zūnshī-zhòngdàoto respect teachers and their teachings
- 昂首挺胸ángshóu-tǐngxiōngto hold one's head high and puff out one's chest
- 傲慢无礼àomàn-wúlǐarrogant and rude
- 白纸黑字báizhǐ-hēizìin black and white
- 冰消瓦解bīngxiāo-wájiěto melt away
- 不负众望búfù-zhòngwàngto live up to expectations
- 不堪一击bùkān-yìjīunable to withstand a single blow
- 不可告人bùkě-gàorénnot to be divulged
- 财大气粗cáidà-qìcūrich and overbearing
- 残缺不全cánquē-bùquánincomplete
- 车水马龙chēshuí-mǎlóngheavy traffic
- 出乎意外chūhū-yìwàiunexpected
- 大获全胜dàhuò-quánshèngto win a complete victory
- 倒行逆施dàoxíng-nìshīto go against the tide
- 东山再起dōngshān-zàiqǐto make a comeback
- 发家致富fājiā-zhìfùto make a family fortune
- 奋发图强fènfā-túqiángto strive for progress
- 缚鸡之力fùjī-zhīlìthe strength to truss a chicken (usu. negated: utterly feeble)
- 概莫能外gàimò-néngwàiwithout exception
- 勾心斗角gōuxīn-dòujiǎoto scheme against each other
- 和睦相处hémù-xiāngchǔto live in harmony
- 恨之入骨hènzhī-rùgǔto hate to the core
- 狐狸尾巴húli-wěiba(fig.) telltale sign of one's true nature
- 家常便饭jiācháng-biànfàncommon occurrence
- 井井有条jíngjíng-yǒutiáoneat and tidy
- 迥然不同jiǒngrán-bùtóngtotally different
- 朗朗上口lánglǎng-shàngkǒucatchy
- 乐在其中lèzài-qízhōngto take pleasure in something
- 立于不败之地lìyúbúbàizhīdìto be in an invincible position
- 良师益友liángshī-yìyǒugood teacher and helpful friend
- 马不停蹄mǎbù-tíngtíwithout a pause
- 名利双收mínglì-shuāngshōuto gain both fame and fortune
- 目不暇接mùbù-xiájiētoo much for the eye to take in
- 普天之下pǔtiān-zhīxiàthroughout the world
- 勤勤恳恳qínqín-kénkěnvery 勤恳 (vivid)
- 人声鼎沸rénshēng-dǐngfèinoisy hubbub of voices
- 如胶似漆rújiāo-sìqīinseparable
- 若无其事ruòwú-qíshìas if nothing had happened
- 神不知鬼不觉shénbùzhīguǐbùjuéwithout anyone knowing
- 绳之以法shéngzhī-yífǎto bring to justice
- 失之交臂shīzhī-jiāobìto just miss (an opportunity)
- 诗情画意shīqíng-huàyìpoetic and picturesque
- 天时地利人和tiānshídìlìrénhéfavorable timing, terrain and support of the people
- 听天由命tīngtiān-yóumìngto resign oneself to fate
- 同心协力tóngxīn-xiélìto work together with one heart
- 笑容可掬xiàoróng-kějūsmiling broadly
- 心惊胆战xīnjīng-dǎnzhànterrified
- 行色匆匆xíngsè-cōngcōngin a hurry
- 休养生息xiūyǎng-shēngxīto recuperate and multiply
- 嫣然一笑yānrán-yíxiàoto smile sweetly
- 咬紧牙关yáojǐn-yáguānto grit one's teeth
- 一落千丈yíluò-qiānzhàngto plummet
- 一扫而空yìsǎo-érkōngto clear away completely
- 一字一句yízì-yíjùword for word
- 有血有肉yǒuxuè-yǒuròuvivid
- 载歌载舞zàigē-zàiwǔsinging and dancing
- 招贤纳士zhāoxián-nàshìto recruit talented people
- 追根溯源zhuīgēn-sùyuánto trace to the source
- 黯然销魂ànrán-xiāohúnheartbroken at parting
- 拔刀相助bádāo-xiāngzhùto come to someone's aid
- 棒打鸳鸯bàngdǎ-yuānyāngto break up a couple
- 奔走相告bēnzǒu-xiānggàoto spread the news
- 兵贵神速bīngguì-shénsùspeed is precious in war
- 不舍昼夜bùshě-zhòuyèday and night
- 不时之需bùshí-zhīxūa possible future need
- 不虚此行bùxū-cǐxíngthe trip was well worth it
- 苍白无力cāngbái-wúlìfeeble
- 藏龙卧虎cánglóng-wòhǔhidden talents
- 吃穿用度chīchuān-yòngdùdaily living expenses
- 出人意表chūrén-yìbiǎounexpected
- 触景伤情chùjǐng-shāngqíngto be saddened by what one sees
- 从一而终cóngyì-érzhōngto remain faithful to one's husband till death
- 寸草不生cùncǎo-bùshēngbarren
- 打肿脸充胖子dázhóngliǎnchōngpàngzito keep up appearances beyond one's means
- 当家作主dāngjiā-zuòzhǔto be master in one's own house
- 道貌岸然dàomào-ànránsanctimonious
- 鼎鼎大名díngdǐng-dàmíngfamous
- 恩重如山ēnzhòng-rúshāna debt of gratitude as heavy as a mountain
- 法力无边fǎlì-wúbiānboundless magic power
- 返璞归真fǎnpú-guīzhēnto return to simplicity
- 高不成低不就gāobùchéngdībújiùunable to get what one wants and unwilling to settle for less
- 各就各位gèjiù-gèwèieveryone to their places
- 攻心为上gōngxīn-wéishàngwinning hearts and minds is the best strategy
- 鼓鼓囊囊gúgǔ-nāngnāngvery 鼓囊 (vivid)
- 光阴似箭guāngyīn-sìjiàntime flies
- 好大喜功hàodà-xǐgōngto crave grandiose achievements
- 好事多磨hǎoshì-duōmóthe road to happiness is strewn with obstacles
- 黑灯瞎火hēidēng-xiāhuǒpitch-dark
- 欢喜冤家huānxǐ-yuānjiaa quarrelsome but loving couple
- 慌不择路huāngbù-zélùto flee in panic in any direction
- 黄雀在后huángquè-zàihòuthe oriole behind (as in 螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后)
- 鸡飞蛋打jīfēi-dàndǎto lose everything
- 积重难返jīzhòng-nánfǎningrained bad habits are hard to change
- 江洋大盗jiāngyáng-dàdàonotorious bandit
- 交口称赞jiāokǒu-chēngzànto be praised by all
- 骄傲自满jiāo’ào-zìmǎnconceited and complacent
- 惊才绝艳jīngcái-juéyànstunningly talented
- 惊世骇俗jīngshì-hàisúshocking
- 纠缠不清jiūchán-bùqīnghopelessly tangled
- 绝色佳人juésè-jiārénstunning beauty
- 君子之交jūnzǐ-zhījiāofriendship between gentlemen
- 开诚布公kāichéng-bùgōngfrank and open
- 枯木逢春kūmù-féngchūnto get a new lease on life
- 苦大仇深kǔdà-chóushēnto have suffered bitterly
- 聊胜于无liáoshèng-yúwúbetter than nothing
- 临阵脱逃línzhèn-tuōtáoto flee on the eve of battle
- 令人神往lìngrén-shénwǎngfascinating
- 沦落风尘lúnluò-fēngchénto be reduced to prostitution
- 满打满算mándá-mǎnsuànat the very most
- 满目疮痍mǎnmù-chuāngyídevastation everywhere
- 扪心自问ménxīn-zìwènto examine one's conscience
- 谋财害命móucái-hàimìngto murder for money
- 南来北往nánlái-béiwǎngcoming and going
- 难舍难分nánshě-nánfēnunable to bear parting
- 年轻力壮niánqīng-lìzhuàngyoung and strong
- 牛头不对马嘴niútóubúduìmázuǐirrelevant
- 奇耻大辱qíchǐ-dàrǔdeep humiliation
- 杞人忧天qǐrén-yōutiānto worry needlessly
- 起承转合qǐchéng-zhuǎnhéintroduction, development, turn and conclusion (structure of an essay)
- 轻举妄动qīngjǔ-wàngdòngto act rashly
- 秋风扫落叶qiūfēngsǎoluòyèeasily sweeping away
- 三百六十行sānbǎiliùshíhángall trades and professions
- 山珍海味shānzhēn-hǎiwèidelicacies from land and sea
- 生死与共shēngsí-yǔgòngto share life and death
- 十万八千里shíwànbāqiānlǐa very long way
- 手不释卷shǒubú-shìjuànalways reading
- 手无寸铁shǒuwú-cùntiěunarmed
- 守口如瓶shóukǒu-rúpíngto keep one's mouth shut
- 熟视无睹shúshì-wúdǔto turn a blind eye to
- 死心塌地sǐxīn-tādìdead set on
- 死于非命sǐyú-fēimìngto die an unnatural death
- 四肢百骸sìzhī-bǎiháithe whole body
- 素昧平生sùmèi-píngshēngnever having met before
- 天南海北tiānnán-háiběifar apart
- 天王老子tiānwáng-lǎozithe highest authority
- 天灾人祸tiānzāi-rénhuònatural and man-made disasters
- 天长日久tiāncháng-rìjiǔover a long period of time
- 头重脚轻tóuzhòng-jiǎoqīngtop-heavy
- 图穷匕见túqióng-bǐxiànthe real intention is finally revealed
- 忘恩负义wàng’ēn-fùyìungrateful
- 危言耸听wēiyán-sǒngtīngalarmist talk
- 无的放矢wúdì-fàngshǐto shoot without a target
- 无敌于天下wúdíyútiānxiàinvincible throughout the world
- 无师自通wúshī-zìtōngself-taught
- 无所用心wúsuǒ-yòngxīnto be idle
- 五味俱全wǔwèi-jùquána mix of all kinds of feelings
- 物竞天择wùjìng-tiānzénatural selection
- 下不为例xiàbù-wéilìnot to be repeated
- 先来后到xiānlái-hòudàofirst come, first served
- 先礼后兵xiānlǐ-hòubīngcourtesy first, force later
- 先斩后奏xiānzhǎn-hòuzòuto act first and ask permission later
- 相映成趣xiāngyìng-chéngqùto contrast pleasingly
- 心如刀割xīnrú-dāogēheartbroken
- 心如死灰xīnrú-sǐhuīcompletely disheartened
- 学富五车xuéfù-wǔchēvery learned
- 遥相呼应yáoxiāng-hūyìngto echo each other from afar
- 杳无音讯yǎowú-yīnxùnto have heard nothing at all
- 一鼻子灰yìbí-zihuī(as in 碰一鼻子灰) to be snubbed
- 一官半职yìguān-bànzhísome minor official post
- 一路平安yílù-píng’ānhave a safe trip
- 一失足成千古恨yìshīzúchéngqiāngǔhènone false step can bring lifelong regret
- 一手遮天yìshǒu-zhētiānto hide the truth from the public
- 一叶知秋yíyè-zhīqiūa small sign reveals a larger trend
- 一衣带水yìyī-dàishuǐseparated by a narrow strip of water
- 以战养战yǐzhàn-yǎngzhànto feed war with war
- 饮食起居yǐnshí-qǐjūdaily life (eating, sleeping and so on)
- 余音袅袅yúyīn-niáoniǎothe music lingers in the air
- 冤家路窄yuānjiā-lùzhǎienemies are bound to meet
- 原形毕露yuánxíng-bìlùto reveal one's true colors
- 砸锅卖铁záguō-màitiěto give everything one has
- 招摇撞骗zhāoyáo-zhuàngpiànto swindle by bluffing
- 正本清源zhèngběn-qīngyuánto tackle the root cause
- 只字不提zhīzì-bùtíto not say a single word about
- 中庸之道zhōngyōng-zhīdàothe doctrine of the mean
- 众口难调zhòngkǒu-nántiáoyou can't please everyone
- 重男轻女zhòngnán-qīngnǚto prefer sons to daughters
- 谆谆教导zhūnzhūn-jiàodǎoearnest instruction
- 字斟句酌zìzhēn-jùzhuóto weigh every word
- 自吹自擂zìchuī-zìléito blow one's own trumpet
- 自讨苦吃zìtáo-kǔchīto ask for trouble
- 罪大恶极zuìdà-èjíheinous
- 罪孽深重zuìniè-shēnzhòngguilty of grave sins
- 作威作福zuòwēi-zuòfúto tyrannize
- 安身立命ānshēn-lìmìngto settle down and get on with one's life
- 百炼成钢bǎiliàn-chénggāngto be tempered into steel through hard trials
- 板上钉钉bǎnshàng-dìngdīngsettled
- 半身不遂bànshēn-bùsuíhemiplegia
- 宝刀未老bǎodāo-wèilǎostill going strong despite one's age
- 笔下生花bǐxià-shēnghuāto write brilliantly
- 不二法门bú’èr-fǎménthe only way
- 不可捉摸bùkě-zhuōmōunpredictable
- 不劳而获bùláo-érhuòto reap without sowing
- 不远万里bùyuǎn-wànlǐto travel a great distance
- 不自量力búzì-liànglìto overestimate one's abilities
- 步调一致bùdiào-yízhìin step
- 承前启后chéngqián-qǐhòuto inherit the past and usher in the future
- 出神入化chūshén-rùhuàto reach perfection
- 大家闺秀dàjiā-guīxiùwell-bred young lady
- 大显身手dàxiǎnshēnshǒuto show one's skill to the full
- 荡然无存dàngrán-wúcúnto vanish completely
- 得意忘形déyì-wàngxíngcarried away with success
- 地动山摇dìdòng-shānyáoearth-shaking
- 滴水不漏dīshuǐ-búlòuwatertight
- 斗志昂扬dòuzhì-ángyánghigh-spirited
- 反败为胜fǎnbài-wéishèngto turn defeat into victory
- 方兴未艾fāngxīng-wèi’àiin the ascendant
- 放荡不羁fàngdàng-bùjīunconventional
- 分道扬镳fēndào-yángbiāoto part ways
- 分庭抗礼fēntíng-kànglǐto stand up to someone as an equal
- 丰衣足食fēngyī-zúshíwell-fed and well-clothed
- 风雨同舟fēngyǔ-tóngzhōuto stand together through thick and thin
- 蜂拥而至fēngyōng-érzhìto swarm in
- 浮想联翩fúxiǎng-liánpiānthoughts flood one's mind
- 负债累累fùzhài-léilěiheavily in debt
- 富丽堂皇fùlì-tánghuángmagnificent
- 改头换面gǎitóu-huànmiànto change outward appearance only
- 高谈阔论gāotán-kuòlùnto talk at length
- 固执己见gùzhí-jǐjiànstubborn
- 冠冕堂皇guānmiǎn-tánghuánghigh-sounding
- 鬼斧神工guífǔ-shéngōnguncanny workmanship
- 好说歹说hǎoshuō-dǎishuōto try every means of persuasion
- 和蔼可亲hé’ái-kěqīnkind and approachable
- 轰动一时hōngdòng-yìshíto cause a sensation
- 胡作非为húzuò-fēiwéito run amok
- 哗众取宠huázhòng-qúchǒngto play to the gallery
- 化为乌有huàwéi-wūyǒuto come to nothing
- 回光返照huíguāng-fǎnzhàolast radiance of the setting sun
- 豁然开朗huòrán-kāilǎngto suddenly see the light
- 火急火燎huǒjí-huóliǎoin a desperate hurry
- 火冒三丈huǒmào-sānzhàngto fly into a rage
- 坚不可摧jiānbù-kěcuīindestructible
- 慷慨解囊kāngkái-jiěnángto give generously
- 空前绝后kōngqián-juéhòuunprecedented and unrepeatable
- 连绵不断liánmián-búduàncontinuous
- 怜香惜玉liánxiāng-xīyùtender toward women
- 龙争虎斗lóngzhēng-hǔdòufierce struggle between evenly matched rivals
- 漫天要价màntiān-yàojiàto ask an exorbitant price
- 蒙混过关ménghùn-guòguānto get away with deception
- 摩拳擦掌móquán-cāzhǎngto be eager for a fight
- 能工巧匠nénggōng-qiǎojiàngskilled craftsman
- 怒不可遏nùbù-kě’èbeside oneself with rage
- 捧腹大笑pěngfù-dàxiàoto split one's sides laughing
- 疲惫不堪píbèi-bùkānutterly exhausted
- 铺张浪费pūzhāng-làngfèiextravagance and waste
- 千山万水qiānshān-wànshuǐa long and arduous journey
- 卿卿我我qīngqīng-wówǒvery 卿我 (vivid)
- 取长补短qǔcháng-búduǎnto learn from others' strengths to offset one's weaknesses
- 人人皆知rénrén-jiēzhīknown to everyone
- 人云亦云rényún-yìyúnto parrot others
- 如此而已rúcǐ-éryǐthat's all
- 如坐针毡rúzuò-zhēnzhānon pins and needles
- 若有若无ruòyǒu-ruòwúfaint
- 三十而立sānshí-érlìat thirty, one should be established in life
- 三足鼎立sānzú-dǐnglìthree-way standoff
- 上天入地shàngtiān-rùdìto go to any length
- 神采奕奕shéncǎi-yìyìglowing with vitality
- 事不关己shìbù-guānjǐit's none of one's business
- 势不可挡shìbù-kédǎngunstoppable
- 熟能生巧shúnéng-shēngqiǎopractice makes perfect
- 泰山压顶tàishān-yādǐngcrushing pressure
- 韬光养晦tāoguāng-yǎnghuìto hide one's abilities and bide one's time
- 天之骄子tiānzhī-jiāozǐfavored son
- 听之任之tīngzhī-rènzhīto let things take their course
- 铜墙铁壁tóngqiáng-tiěbìimpregnable fortress
- 望尘莫及wàngchén-mòjíto be left far behind
- 望而生畏wàng’ér-shēngwèiintimidating
- 唯我独尊wéiwǒ-dúzūnto think oneself the greatest
- 萎靡不振wéimǐ-búzhènlistless
- 文武双全wénwǔ-shuāngquánskilled in both letters and arms
- 相濡以沫xiāngrú-yǐmòto help each other in hard times
- 响彻云霄xiǎngchè-yúnxiāoto resound to the skies
- 心力交瘁xīnlì-jiāocuìmentally and physically exhausted
- 心照不宣xīnzhào-bùxuāntacit understanding
- 腥风血雨xīngfēng-xuèyǔreign of terror
- 嘘寒问暖xūhán-wènnuǎnto show concern for someone's well-being
- 悬崖勒马xuányá-lèmǎto rein in at the edge of the precipice
- 循规蹈矩xúnguī-dáojǔto follow the rules
- 延年益寿yánnián-yìshòuto prolong one's life
- 言行一致yánxíng-yízhìto practice what one preaches
- 掩人耳目yǎnrén-ěrmùto deceive the public
- 扬长避短yángcháng-bìduǎnto play to one's strengths and avoid one's weaknesses
- 一表人才yìbiǎo-réncáihandsome
- 一统天下yìtǒng-tiānxiàto unify the country
- 一笑置之yíxiào-zhìzhīto laugh off
- 引以为戒yínyǐ-wéijièto take as a warning
- 英姿飒爽yīngzī-sàshuǎngvaliant and heroic
- 永无止境yǒngwúzhǐjìngendless
- 用武之地yòngwǔ-zhīdìroom to use one's talents
- 有利有弊yǒulì-yǒubìto have both advantages and disadvantages
- 语无伦次yǔwú-lúncìincoherent
- 源头活水yuántóu-huóshuǐsource of vitality
- 真龙天子zhēnlóng-tiānzǐthe true emperor
- 正襟危坐zhèngjīn-wēizuòto sit up straight and solemn
- 只言片语zhīyán-piànyǔa few words
- 自作主张zìzuò-zhǔzhāngto act on one's own authority
- 嗷嗷待哺áo’áo-dàibǔcrying out with hunger
- 百战不殆bǎizhàn-búdàito fight a hundred battles without danger
- 比翼双飞bǐyì-shuāngfēito fly wing to wing
- 必争之地bìzhēng-zhīdìhotly contested place
- 避而不谈bì’ér-bùtánto avoid talking about
- 不甘寂寞bùgān-jìmòunwilling to be left out
- 不寒而栗bùhán-érlìto shudder
- 不解之缘bùjiě-zhīyuánindissoluble bond
- 不近人情bújìn-rénqíngunreasonable
- 不胫而走bújìng-érzǒuto spread like wildfire
- 不堪入目bùkān-rùmùunbearable to look at
- 不可同日而语bùkětóngrì’éryǔnot to be mentioned in the same breath
- 不辱使命bùrú-shǐmìngto accomplish one's mission
- 步履维艰bùlǚ-wéijiānto have difficulty walking
- 痴心妄想chīxīn-wàngxiǎngwishful thinking
- 春风得意chūnfēng-déyìflushed with success
- 春风化雨chūnfēng-huàyǔbeneficial influence of good teaching
- 摧枯拉朽cuīkū-lāxiǔto crush with overwhelming ease
- 打击报复dǎjī-bàofùto retaliate
- 大惊失色dàjīng-shīsèto turn pale with fright
- 大快人心dàkuài-rénxīnto the satisfaction of everyone (when a wrongdoer is punished)
- 大有作为dàyǒu-zuòwéito have great prospects
- 待价而沽dàijià-érgūto wait for the best offer
- 单枪匹马dānqiāng-pímǎsingle-handed
- 灯火辉煌dēnghuǒ-huīhuángbrilliantly lit
- 帝王将相dìwáng-jiàngxiàngemperors, kings, generals and ministers
- 动荡不安dòngdàng-bù’ānturbulent
- 对簿公堂duìbù-gōngtángto face each other in court
- 尔虞我诈ěryú-wǒzhàmutual deception
- 发人深省fārén-shēnxǐngthought-provoking
- 反其道而行之fǎnqídào’érxíngzhīto do the opposite
- 风驰电掣fēngchí-diànchèswift as lightning
- 风吹草动fēngchuī-cǎodòngslightest sign of trouble
- 俯拾即是fǔshí-jíshìto be found everywhere
- 感激不尽gǎnjī-bújìndeeply grateful
- 高枕无忧gāozhěn-wúyōuto sleep soundly
- 功亏一篑gōngkuī-yíkuìto fall short of success at the last step
- 孤苦伶仃gūkǔ-língdīngalone and helpless
- 孤立无援gūlì-wúyuánisolated and cut off
- 古稀之年gǔxī-zhīniánage seventy
- 鬼使神差guíshǐ-shénchāiunaccountably
- 裹足不前guǒzú-bùqiánto hesitate to advance
- 过目不忘guòmù-búwàngto have a photographic memory
- 后来居上hòulái-jūshànglatecomers surpass the old-timers
- 糊里糊涂húli-hútúmuddleheaded
- 花前月下huāqián-yuèxiàromantic setting
- 荒无人烟huāngwú-rényāndesolate
- 黄金时间huángjīn-shíjiānprime time
- 浑然天成húnrán-tiānchéngnatural and seamless
- 活灵活现huólíng-huóxiànvivid
- 饥寒交迫jīhán-jiāopòhungry and cold
- 家徒四壁jiātú-sìbìutterly destitute
- 艰难困苦jiānnán-kùnkǔhardship and difficulty
- 见机行事jiànjī-xíngshìto act according to circumstances
- 建功立业jiàngōng-lìyèto make achievements
- 箭在弦上jiànzài-xiánshàngat the point of no return
- 捷足先登jiézú-xiāndēngthe early bird catches the worm
- 金字招牌jīnzì-zhāopáiprestigious brand
- 举重若轻jǔzhòng-ruòqīngto do a difficult task with ease
- 空中楼阁kōngzhōng-lóugécastle in the air
- 快马加鞭kuàimǎ-jiābiānto speed up
- 狼狈为奸lángbèi-wéijiānto collude
- 牢不可破láobù-kěpòunbreakable
- 老当益壮lǎodāng-yìzhuàngold but still vigorous
- 老泪纵横lǎolèi-zònghéngtears streaming down an old face
- 老死不相往来láosǐbùxiāngwǎngláito never have contact with each other
- 雷厉风行léilì-fēngxíngswift and decisive
- 励精图治lìjīng-túzhìto work hard to make the country prosper
- 廉洁奉公liánjié-fènggōnghonest and dedicated to public service
- 良辰美景liángchén-méijǐngbeautiful moment and scene
- 两小无猜liángxiǎo-wúcāiinnocent childhood friendship between a boy and a girl
- 量入为出liàngrù-wéichūto live within one's means
- 鳞次栉比líncì-zhìbǐrow upon row (of buildings)
- 灵丹妙药língdān-miàoyàopanacea
- 另辟蹊径lìngpì-xījìngto find another way
- 另眼相看lìngyǎn-xiāngkànto view in a different light
- 漏洞百出lòudòng-bǎichūfull of holes
- 略胜一筹lüèshèng-yìchóuslightly better
- 满面春风mǎnmiàn-chūnfēngbeaming with happiness
- 眉高眼低méigāo-yǎndīthe art of reading people's faces
- 懵懵懂懂méngméng-dóngdǒngvery 懵懂 (vivid)
- 弥留之际míliú-zhījìon one's deathbed
- 弄假成真nòngjiǎ-chéngzhēnpretense that turns into reality
- 判若两人pànruò-liǎngrénto be like a different person
- 皮笑肉不笑píxiàoròubúxiàoto put on a fake smile
- 奇珍异宝qízhēn-yìbǎorare treasures
- 棋逢对手qíféng-duìshǒuto meet one's match
- 千疮百孔qiānchuāng-báikǒngriddled with holes
- 千呼万唤qiānhū-wànhuànto call for repeatedly (long awaited)
- 倾国倾城qīngguó-qīngchéngstunningly beautiful (of a woman)
- 晴天霹雳qíngtiān-pīlìa bolt from the blue
- 权衡利弊quánhéng-lìbìto weigh the pros and cons
- 人去楼空rénqù-lóukōngthe place is deserted
- 入乡随俗rùxiāng-suísúwhen in Rome, do as the Romans do
- 三思而后行sānsī’érhòuxínglook before you leap
- 山穷水尽shānqióng-shuǐjìnat the end of one's rope
- 深入骨髓shēnrù-gúsuǐto the marrow
- 审时度势shěnshí-duóshìto assess the situation
- 生搬硬套shēngbān-yìngtàoto copy mechanically
- 生财之道shēngcái-zhīdàoway to get rich
- 失魂落魄shīhún-luòpòdazed
- 时过境迁shíguò-jìngqiāntimes have changed
- 始终不渝shǐzhōng-bùyúunswerving
- 始作俑者shǐzuò-yóngzhěoriginator of a bad practice
- 事倍功半shìbèi-gōngbàntwice the effort for half the result
- 事无巨细shìwú-jùxìevery matter, big or small
- 视若无睹shìruò-wúdǔto turn a blind eye to
- 顺水推舟shùnshuǐ-tuīzhōuto take advantage of a situation
- 似懂非懂sìdǒng-fēidǒnghalf understanding
- 他山之石tāshān-zhīshílessons from others (stones from another hill)
- 探囊取物tànnáng-qǔwùas easy as taking something out of one's pocket
- 天荒地老tiānhuāng-dìlǎotill the end of time
- 天南地北tiānnán-dìběifar apart
- 天涯地角tiānyá-dìjiǎothe ends of the earth
- 天衣无缝tiānyī-wúfèngflawless
- 同仇敌忾tóngchóu-díkàito share hatred of a common enemy
- 同心同德tóngxīn-tóngdéof one heart and mind
- 痛心疾首tòngxīn-jíshǒubitterly resentful
- 唾手可得tuòshóu-kědéeasily obtained
- 歪风邪气wāifēng-xiéqìunhealthy trends and evil practices
- 玩物丧志wánwù-sàngzhìto lose ambition by indulging in pleasures
- 违法乱纪wéifǎ-luànjìto break the law and violate discipline
- 畏首畏尾wèishǒu-wèiwěitimid
- 蔚然成风wèirán-chéngfēngto become a common practice
- 卧床不起wòchuáng-bùqǐbedridden
- 五光十色wǔguāng-shísècolorful
- 心神不宁xīnshén-bùníngrestless
- 养家糊口yǎngjiā-húkǒuto support one's family
- 一锤定音yìchuí-dìngyīnto have the final say
- 一览无遗yìlǎn-wúyíto be fully visible at a glance
- 引狼入室yǐnláng-rùshìto let the wolf into the house
- 雍容华贵yōngróng-huáguìelegant and dignified
- 用心良苦yòngxīn-liángkǔto have given much thought
- 有恃无恐yǒushì-wúkǒngemboldened by having powerful backing
- 郁郁寡欢yùyù-guǎhuāndepressed
- 赞叹不已zàntàn-bùyǐto praise endlessly
- 招兵买马zhāobīng-máimǎto recruit staff
- 昭然若揭zhāorán-ruòjiēabundantly clear
- 真情实感zhēnqíng-shígǎngenuine feelings
- 争奇斗艳zhēngqí-dòuyànto vie in beauty and splendor
- 峥嵘岁月zhēngróng-suìyuèeventful years
- 至死不渝zhìsǐ-bùyúunwavering until death
- 志士仁人zhìshì-rénrénpeople of noble ideals
- 置若罔闻zhìruò-wǎngwénto turn a deaf ear to
- 自怨自艾zìyuàn-zìyìto be full of self-pity and remorse
- 白雪皑皑báixuě-ái’áisnow-covered
- 饱经风霜bǎojīng-fēngshuāngweather-beaten
- 悲痛欲绝bēitòng-yùjuéoverwhelmed with grief
- 背水一战bèishuǐ-yízhànto fight with one's back to the wall
- 病从口入bìngcóng-kǒurùillness enters through the mouth
- 不卑不亢bùbēi-búkàngneither humble nor arrogant
- 不出所料bùchū-suǒliàoas expected
- 不管三七二十一bùguǎnsānqī’èrshíyīregardless of the consequences
- 不骄不躁bùjiāo-búzàoneither arrogant nor impetuous
- 不可理喻bùké-lǐyùunreasonable
- 不伦不类bùlún-búlèineither fish nor fowl
- 不失时机bùshī-shíjīto seize the opportunity
- 惨绝人寰cǎnjué-rénhuánunprecedentedly tragic
- 草莽英雄cáomǎng-yīngxiónghero from the common people
- 草长莺飞cáozhǎng-yīngfēilush spring scenery
- 趁热打铁chènrè-dátiěto strike while the iron is hot
- 趁虚而入chènxū-érrùto take advantage of a weakness
- 成双成对chéngshuāng-chéngduìin pairs
- 痴人说梦chīrén-shuōmèngidiot's dream
- 赤子之心chìzǐ-zhīxīnchildlike innocence
- 充耳不闻chōng’ěr-bùwénto turn a deaf ear
- 冲昏头脑chōnghūn-tóunǎoto turn someone's head
- 出奇制胜chūqí-zhìshèngto win by surprise
- 出生入死chūshēng-rùsǐto risk one's life
- 出言不逊chūyán-búxùnto speak rudely
- 楚楚动人chúchǔ-dòngréndelicate and charming
- 处心积虑chǔxīn-jīlǜto scheme for a long time
- 从容应对cóngróng-yìngduìto respond calmly
- 从长计议cóngcháng-jìyìto take one's time to consider
- 大肆宣传dàsì-xuānchuánto publicize widely
- 担惊受怕dānjīng-shòupàto be anxious and fearful
- 殚精竭虑dānjīng-jiélǜto rack one's brains
- 登高望远dēnggāo-wàngyuǎnto climb high and look far
- 点石成金diǎnshí-chéngjīnto turn stone into gold
- 东拼西凑dōngpīn-xīcòuto piece together haphazardly
- 豆蔻年华dòukòu-niánhuáa girl's early teens
- 短小精悍duánxiǎo-jīnghànshort but tough
- 堆积如山duījī-rúshānpiled up like a mountain
- 夺眶而出duókuàng-érchū(of tears) to well up and stream out
- 恩将仇报ēnjiāng-chóubàoto repay kindness with ingratitude
- 而立之年érlì-zhīniánage thirty
- 耳聪目明ěrcōng-mùmíngwith sharp ears and eyes
- 发号施令fāhào-shīlìngto issue orders
- 反复推敲fǎnfù-tuīqiāoto deliberate over carefully
- 飞扬跋扈fēiyáng-báhùarrogant and domineering
- 纷纷扰扰fēnfēn-ráorǎovery 纷扰 (vivid)
- 风尘仆仆fēngchén-púpútravel-worn
- 风调雨顺fēngtiáo-yǔshùnfavorable weather (for crops)
- 风流韵事fēngliú-yùnshìromantic affair
- 风雨飘摇fēngyǔ-piāoyáotottering
- 逢凶化吉féngxiōng-huàjíto turn misfortune into good luck
- 敷衍了事fūyán-liǎoshìto do something perfunctorily
- 敷衍塞责fūyǎn-sèzéto do a perfunctory job
- 付诸东流fùzhū-dōngliúto go down the drain
- 妇孺皆知fùrú-jiēzhīknown to everyone
- 附庸风雅fùyōng-fēngyǎto pretend to be cultured
- 腹背受敌fùbèi-shòudíattacked from front and rear
- 感人肺腑gǎnrén-fèifǔtouching to the depths of one's heart
- 感天动地gǎntiān-dòngdìdeeply moving
- 各取所需gèqú-suǒxūeach takes what he needs
- 功名利禄gōngmíng-lìlùfame and fortune
- 攻城掠地gōngchéng-lüèdìto take cities and seize territory
- 固步自封gùbù-zìfēngto stand still and refuse to progress
- 顾此失彼gùcǐ-shībǐto attend to one thing and neglect another
- 光辉灿烂guānghuī-cànlànbrilliant
- 豪情壮志háoqíng-zhuàngzhìlofty ambitions
- 横七竖八héngqī-shùbāin disorder
- 红白喜事hóngbái-xǐshìweddings and funerals
- 呼风唤雨hūfēng-huànyǔto wield great power
- 狐假虎威hújiá-hǔwēito borrow someone's power to intimidate others
- 化为泡影huàwéi-pàoyǐngto come to nothing
- 欢呼雀跃huānhū-quèyuèto jump for joy
- 缓兵之计huǎnbīng-zhījìdelaying tactics
- 灰心丧气huīxīn-sàngqìdisheartened
- 毁于一旦huǐyú-yídàndestroyed in a single day
- 魂不附体húnbú-fùtǐscared out of one's wits
- 鸡毛蒜皮jīmáo-suànpítrivial matters
- 积少成多jīshǎo-chéngduōmany a little makes a mickle
- 挤眉弄眼jǐméi-nòngyǎnto wink and make eyes
- 尖酸刻薄jiānsuān-kèbósharp-tongued and mean
- 见怪不怪jiànguài-búguàito be unfazed by something odd
- 江河日下jiānghé-rìxiàto decline day by day
- 叫苦不迭jiàokǔ-bùdiéto complain incessantly
- 谨小慎微jínxiǎo-shènwēiovercautious
- 经年累月jīngnián-lěiyuèfor years on end
- 精兵简政jīngbīng-jiǎnzhèngto streamline the government and army
- 精诚团结jīngchéng-tuánjiéto unite sincerely
- 精美绝伦jīngměi-juélúnexquisite
- 精神抖擞jīngshén-dóusǒufull of energy
- 九流三教jiǔliú-sānjiàoall schools of thought and walks of life
- 九霄云外jiǔxiāo-yúnwàifar, far away
- 就地取材jiùdì-qǔcáito use local materials
- 鞠躬尽瘁jūgōng-jìncuìto work tirelessly to the end
- 据为己有jùwéi-jíyǒuto appropriate for oneself
- 克己奉公kèjǐ-fènggōngselfless dedication to public service
- 口诛笔伐kǒuzhū-bǐfáto condemn in speech and writing
- 来历不明láilì-bùmíngof unknown origin
- 来日方长láirì-fāngchángthere's plenty of time
- 烂醉如泥lànzuì-rúnídead drunk
- 狼狈不堪lángbèi-bùkānin a sorry state
- 立足之地lìzú-zhīdìfoothold
- 利欲熏心lìyù-xūnxīnblinded by greed
- 令人作呕lìngrén-zuò’ǒudisgusting
- 流离失所liúlí-shīsuǒdisplaced
- 六神无主liùshén-wúzhǔdistracted
- 碌碌无为lùlù-wúwéimediocre and accomplishing nothing
- 满山遍野mǎnshān-biànyěall over the mountains and fields
- 秘而不宣mì’ér-bùxuānto keep secret
- 妙语连珠miàoyǔ-liánzhūa stream of witty remarks
- 明争暗斗míngzhēng-àndòuopen strife and veiled struggle
- 莫明其妙mòmíng-qímiàobaffling
- 莫衷一是mòzhōng-yíshìunable to agree
- 漠不关心mòbù-guānxīnindifferent
- 男欢女爱nánhuān-nǚ’àilove between man and woman
- 你死我活nísí-wǒhuólife-and-death (struggle)
- 扭亏增盈niǔkuī-zēngyíngto turn losses into profits
- 弄巧成拙nòngqiǎo-chéngzhuōto try to be clever and end up with a blunder
- 怒发冲冠nùfà-chōngguānbristling with anger
- 怒目而视nùmù-érshìto glare at
- 拍案而起pāi’àn-érqǐto slam the table and stand up (in anger)
- 披星戴月pīxīng-dàiyuèto work from dawn to dusk
- 七零八碎qīlíng-bāsuìin pieces
- 七十二行qīshí-èrhángevery trade and profession
- 其貌不扬qímào-bùyángplain-looking
- 谦虚谨慎qiānxū-jǐnshènmodest and prudent
- 枪林弹雨qiānglín-dànyǔa hail of bullets
- 乔装打扮qiáozhuāng-dǎbànto disguise oneself
- 巧夺天工qiǎoduó-tiāngōngsuperb craftsmanship surpassing nature
- 轻重缓急qīngzhòng-huǎnjíorder of priority
- 情窦初开qíngdòu-chūkāifirst love awakening
- 情同手足qíngtóng-shǒuzúas close as brothers
- 情真意切qíngzhēn-yìqièsincere and heartfelt
- 群起而攻之qúnqǐ’érgōngzhīeveryone rises up against it
- 仁人志士rénrén-zhìshìpeople of virtue and ideals
- 荣华富贵rónghuá-fùguìglory and wealth
- 入不敷出rùbù-fūchūto spend more than one earns
- 三令五申sānlìng-wǔshēnto give repeated orders
- 三言两语sānyán-liángyǔin a few words
- 煞费苦心shàfèi-kǔxīnto take great pains
- 煞有介事shàyǒu-jièshìto make a great show of being serious
- 身怀六甲shēnhuái-liùjiǎpregnant
- 深情厚意shēnqíng-hòuyìdeep affection and friendship
- 神出鬼没shénchū-guǐmòto come and go like a ghost
- 神通广大shéntōng-guǎngdàhaving great magical powers
- 生生世世shēngshēng-shìshìvery 生世 (vivid)
- 声情并茂shēngqíng-bìngmàowith good voice and expression
- 十八般武艺shíbābānwǔyìall kinds of skills
- 寿终正寝shòuzhōng-zhèngqǐnto come to an end
- 殊途同归shūtú-tóngguīdifferent roads lead to the same destination
- 束手就擒shùshǒu-jiùqínto give oneself up
- 顺藤摸瓜shùnténg-mōguāto follow the trail
- 夙夜在公sùyè-zàigōngworking day and night for the public
- 腾空而起téngkōng-érqǐto soar into the air
- 体贴入微tǐtiē-rùwēiconsiderate in every detail
- 天崩地裂tiānbēng-dìlièearth-shattering
- 天寒地冻tiānhán-dìdòngfreezing cold
- 天下大乱tiānxià-dàluàngreat chaos everywhere
- 天下无双tiānxià-wúshuāngpeerless
- 通都大邑tōngdū-dàyìbig city
- 徒劳无功túláo-wúgōngfutile
- 土崩瓦解tǔbēng-wájiěto collapse
- 万里长征wànlǐ-chángzhēnga long arduous journey
- 万人空巷wànrén-kōngxiàngthe whole town turns out
- 妄自菲薄wàngzì-fěibóto underestimate oneself
- 妄自尊大wàngzì-zūndàarrogant
- 望其项背wàngqí-xiàngbèito catch up with (as in 难以望其项背)
- 望子成龙wàngzǐ-chénglóngto hope one's child will succeed
- 危机四伏wēijī-sìfúcrisis lurks everywhere
- 为人师表wéirén-shībiǎoto be a role model
- 无迹可寻wújì-kěxúnwithout a trace
- 无所顾忌wúsuǒ-gùjìto have no scruples
- 五体投地wútǐ-tóudìto admire wholeheartedly
- 物以稀为贵wùyǐxīwéiguìscarcity makes things valuable
- 西装革履xīzhuāng-gélǚin suit and leather shoes
- 险象环生xiǎnxiàng-huánshēngdangers everywhere
- 心事重重xīnshì-chóngchóngweighed down with worries
- 兴风作浪xīngfēng-zuòlàngto stir up trouble
- 徐娘半老xúniáng-bànlǎomiddle-aged woman who still retains her charm
- 徇私舞弊xùnsī-wǔbìto bend the law for personal gain
- 严惩不贷yánchéng-búdàito punish severely
- 严于律己yányú-lǜjǐstrict with oneself
- 言归正传yánguī-zhèngzhuànto get back to the subject
- 言人人殊yánrén-rénshūeveryone has a different opinion
- 扬眉吐气yángméi-tǔqìto feel proud and elated (after being held down)
- 摇旗呐喊yáoqí-nàhǎnto cheer on
- 一反常态yìfǎn-chángtàicompletely out of character
- 一家老小yìjiā-láoxiǎothe whole family, young and old
- 一箭双雕yíjiàn-shuāngdiāoto kill two birds with one stone
- 一年之计在于春yìniánzhījìzàiyúchūnthe whole year's work depends on a good start in spring
- 一贫如洗yìpín-rúxǐpenniless
- 一言以蔽之yìyányǐbìzhīin a word
- 以理服人yílǐ-fúrénto convince by reasoning
- 益寿延年yìshòu-yánniánto prolong life
- 因祸得福yīnhuò-défúblessing in disguise
- 因小失大yīnxiǎo-shīdàpenny-wise and pound-foolish
- 阴魂不散yīnhún-búsànthe ghost lingers on
- 引火烧身yínhuǒ-shāoshēnto bring trouble on oneself
- 应接不暇yìngjiē-bùxiátoo many to deal with
- 英雄本色yīngxióng-běnsètrue colors of a hero
- 蝇头小利yíngtóu-xiǎolìpetty gain
- 悠然自得yōurán-zìdécarefree and content
- 有案可稽yǒu’àn-kějīon record
- 有棱有角yǒuléng-yóujiǎowell-defined
- 渔翁得利yúwēng-délìa third party profits from a dispute
- 愚昧无知yúmèi-wúzhīignorant
- 与世无争yǔshì-wúzhēngto stand aloof from worldly strife
- 跃然纸上yuèrán-zhǐshàngvividly portrayed on paper
- 乍暖还寒zhànuǎn-huánhánwarm one moment and cold the next (of early spring)
- 战无不胜zhànwú-búshènginvincible
- 长年累月chángnián-lěiyuèyear after year
- 针尖对麦芒zhēnjiānduìmàimángsharp against sharp
- 真刀真枪zhēndāo-zhēnqiāngfor real
- 真命天子zhēnmìng-tiānzǐtrue Son of Heaven
- 振振有词zhènzhèn-yǒucíto speak plausibly and at length
- 枝繁叶茂zhīfán-yèmàoluxuriant
- 众矢之的zhòngshǐ-zhīdìtarget of public criticism
- 自不待言zìbú-dàiyánit goes without saying
- 自相矛盾zìxiāng-máodùnself-contradictory
- 罪有应得zuìyǒu-yīngdéto deserve one's punishment
- 醉生梦死zuìshēng-mèngsǐto lead a befuddled life
- 左拥右抱zuǒyōng-yòubàoto have a woman on each arm
- 坐以待毙zuòyǐ-dàibìto sit and wait for death
- 爱莫能助àimò-néngzhùwilling but unable to help
- 安家落户ānjiā-luòhùto settle down
- 傲然挺立àorán-tǐnglìto stand proud and tall
- 八万四千bāwàn-sìqiān(Buddhism) eighty-four thousand
- 百年好合bǎinián-hǎohémay you live happily together forever (wedding wish)
- 半半拉拉bànbàn-lālāvery 半拉 (vivid)
- 半梦半醒bànmèng-bànxǐnghalf asleep
- 半死不活bànsǐ-bùhuóhalf-dead
- 半夜三更bànyè-sāngēngin the dead of night
- 本末倒置běnmò-dàozhìto put the cart before the horse
- 彼此彼此bící-bícǐsame to you
- 筚路蓝缕bìlù-lánlǚto endure great hardship in pioneering work
- 变化无常biànhuà-wúchángchangeable
- 冰清玉洁bīngqīng-yùjiépure and noble
- 兵败如山倒bīngbàirúshāndǎoa defeated army collapses like a landslide
- 兵荒马乱bīnghuāng-mǎluànturmoil and chaos of war
- 病急乱投医bìngjíluàntóuyīto try anything in desperation
- 拨乱反正bōluàn-fǎnzhèngto restore order
- 不得人心bùdérénxīnunpopular
- 不欢而散bùhuān-érsànto part on bad terms
- 不毛之地bùmáo-zhīdìbarren land
- 不闻不问bùwén-búwènto be completely indifferent
- 不远千里bùyuǎn-qiānlǐto make a long journey
- 才貌双全cáimào-shuāngquántalented and good-looking
- 藏污纳垢cángwū-nàgòuto harbor filth and evil
- 曾经沧海céngjīng-cānghǎito have seen much of the world and be hard to impress
- 豺狼虎豹cháiláng-hǔbàowild beasts
- 常年累月chángnián-lěiyuèyear after year
- 朝不保夕zhāobù-bǎoxīprecarious
- 成王败寇chéngwáng-bàikòuwinners are kings, losers are bandits
- 初生牛犊不怕虎chūshēngniúdúbúpàhǔthe young are fearless
- 窗明几净chuāngmíng-jījìngbright and clean (of a room)
- 吹吹打打chuīchuī-dádǎvery 吹打 (vivid)
- 垂手可得chuíshóu-kědéeasily obtained
- 垂涎三尺chuíxián-sānchǐto drool with envy or greed
- 春光明媚chūnguāng-míngmèibright and beautiful spring scenery
- 春寒料峭chūnhán-liàoqiàothe chill of early spring
- 春去秋来chūnqù-qiūláias time goes by
- 春宵一刻chūnxiāo-yíkèa moment of a spring night (is worth a thousand gold)
- 踔厉奋发chuōlì-fènfāfull of drive and fighting spirit
- 璀璨夺目cuǐcàn-duómùdazzling
- 达官贵人dáguān-guìrénhigh officials and dignitaries
- 打退堂鼓dǎtuìtánggǔto back out
- 大步流星dàbù-liúxīngwith great strides
- 大动干戈dàdòng-gāngēto make a big fuss
- 大放厥词dàfàng-juécíto spout nonsense
- 大好河山dàhǎo-héshānbeautiful land
- 大吉大利dàjí-dàlìgreat luck and prosperity
- 大梦初醒dàmèng-chūxǐngas if waking from a dream
- 大做文章dàzuòwénzhāngto make a big fuss about something
- 待人接物dàirén-jiēwùthe way one treats people
- 胆大妄为dǎndà-wàngwéireckless and audacious
- 当头一棒dāngtóu-yíbànga sudden blow
- 刀光剑影dāoguāng-jiànyǐngflashing swords
- 德艺双馨déyì-shuāngxīnof both moral and artistic excellence
- 地广人稀dìguǎng-rénxīvast and sparsely populated
- 低声下气dīshēng-xiàqìmeek and humble
- 独具匠心dújù-jiàngxīnoriginal
- 短兵相接duǎnbīng-xiāngjiēhand-to-hand combat
- 多此一举duōcǐ-yìjǔunnecessary
- 凡夫俗子fánfū-súzǐordinary people
- 饭来张口fànlái-zhāngkǒuto be waited on hand and foot
- 肥头大耳féitóu-dà’ěrfat-headed and big-eared
- 奋笔疾书fènbǐ-jíshūto write quickly
- 愤世嫉俗fènshì-jísúcynical
- 风华绝代fēnghuá-juédàipeerless in elegance and talent
- 风流人物fēngliú-rénwùoutstanding figure
- 烽火连天fēnghuǒ-liántiānwar raging everywhere
- 扶摇直上fúyáo-zhíshàngto soar rapidly
- 改朝换代gǎicháo-huàndàichange of dynasty or regime
- 刚愎自用gāngbì-zìyòngobstinate and self-opinionated
- 刚柔相济gāngróu-xiāngjìto combine firmness and gentleness
- 公事公办gōngshì-gōngbànto do things by the book
- 攻守同盟gōngshǒu-tóngméngoffensive and defensive alliance
- 狗皮膏药gǒupí-gāoyàoquack remedy
- 呱呱坠地gūgū-zhuìdì(of a baby) to be born
- 孤军奋战gūjūn-fènzhànto fight alone
- 光芒万丈guāngmáng-wànzhàngradiant
- 害人不浅hàirén-bùqiǎnto do great harm to others
- 含苞待放hánbāo-dàifàngin bud
- 含糊其辞hánhú-qícíto equivocate
- 沆瀣一气hàngxiè-yíqìto be in cahoots
- 和衷共济hézhōng-gòngjìto pull together
- 后会无期hòuhuì-wúqīno telling when we'll meet again
- 呼来喝去hūlái-hèqùto order people about
- 虎背熊腰hǔbèi-xióngyāostrong and burly
- 花天酒地huātiān-jiǔdìto indulge in debauchery
- 花团锦簇huātuán-jǐncùgorgeous
- 花样翻新huāyàng-fānxīnto come up with new tricks
- 花枝招展huāzhī-zhāozhǎndressed up gorgeously
- 化整为零huàzhěng-wéilíngto break up into small units
- 画地为牢huàdì-wéiláoto confine oneself within limits
- 悔不当初huǐbù-dāngchūto regret what one did
- 混淆视听hùnxiáo-shìtīngto confuse the public
- 击中要害jīzhòng-yàohàito hit the vital point
- 积年累月jīnián-lěiyuèfor years on end
- 急不可待jíbù-kědàiimpatient
- 既得利益jìdé-lìyìvested interest
- 坚忍不拔jiānrěn-bùbásteadfast and unyielding
- 艰苦卓绝jiānkǔ-zhuójuéextremely arduous
- 兼容并蓄jiānróng-bìngxùall-embracing
- 教学相长jiàoxué-xiāngzhǎngteaching and learning help each other
- 捷报频传jiébào-pínchuánreports of victory keep pouring in
- 解疑释惑jiěyí-shìhuòto clear up doubts
- 金风送爽jīnfēng-sòngshuǎngcool autumn breeze
- 金童玉女jīntóng-yùnǚgolden boy and jade girl (attendants of immortals)
- 尽力而为jìnlì-érwéito do one's best
- 尽心竭力jìnxīn-jiélìto do one's utmost
- 近水楼台先得月jìnshuǐlóutáixiāndéyuèthose close to the source benefit first
- 进退两难jìntuì-liǎngnánin a dilemma
- 经验之谈jīngyàn-zhītánwords of experience
- 惊魂未定jīnghún-wèidìngstill shaken
- 旧病复发jiùbìng-fùfārelapse of an old illness
- 举国上下jǔguó-shàngxiàthe whole nation
- 举世无双jǔshì-wúshuāngunrivaled
- 开阔眼界kāikuò-yǎnjièto broaden one's horizons
- 口口相传kóukǒu-xiāngchuánpassed on by word of mouth
- 枯燥无味kūzào-wúwèidull and boring
- 哭哭啼啼kūku-títívery 哭啼 (vivid)
- 宽以待人kuānyǐ-dàirénto be lenient with others
- 狼子野心lángzí-yěxīnwild ambition
- 里应外合lǐyìng-wàihéto coordinate an attack from inside and outside
- 两手空空liángshǒu-kōngkōngempty-handed
- 玲珑剔透línglóng-tītòuexquisite
- 零零星星línglíng-xīngxīngvery 零星 (vivid)
- 令人捧腹lìngrén-pěngfùhilarious
- 柳暗花明又一村liǔ’ànhuāmíngyòuyìcūnthere is always a way out (hope after despair)
- 炉火纯青lúhuǒ-chúnqīngto reach perfection
- 屡战屡败lǚzhàn-lǚbàito fight repeatedly and lose every time
- 率土之滨shuàitǔ-zhībīnall the land under heaven
- 论资排辈lùnzī-páibèito rank by seniority
- 落花流水luòhuā-liúshuǐutterly defeated
- 茫然不解mángrán-bùjiěutterly baffled
- 貌合神离màohé-shénlíoutwardly united but inwardly divided
- 没日没夜méirì-méiyèday and night
- 眉目如画méimù-rúhuàbeautiful features
- 名山大川míngshān-dàchuānfamous mountains and rivers
- 名噪一时míngzào-yìshíto become famous for a time
- 明查暗访míngchá-ànfǎngto investigate both openly and secretly
- 难言之隐nányán-zhīyǐnsomething one would rather not talk about
- 逆来顺受nìlái-shùnshòuto meekly accept adversity
- 年富力强niánfù-lìqiángyoung and vigorous
- 怒火冲天nùhuǒ-chōngtiānin a towering rage
- 盘根错节pángēn-cuòjiédeep-rooted and intricate
- 旁征博引pángzhēng-bóyǐnto quote extensively
- 披头散发pītóu-sànfàdisheveled hair
- 平安无事píng’ān-wúshìsafe and sound
- 平白无故píngbái-wúgùfor no reason at all
- 屏气凝神bǐngqì-níngshénholding one's breath with rapt attention
- 破烂不堪pòlàn-bùkāndilapidated
- 七窍生烟qīqiào-shēngyānfuming with rage
- 欺人太甚qīrén-tàishènto push someone too far
- 齐头并进qítóu-bìngjìnto advance side by side
- 其乐无穷qílè-wúqióngendless fun
- 泣不成声qìbù-chéngshēngchoked with sobs
- 强弓劲弩qiánggōng-jìngnǔstrong bows and crossbows
- 切中要害qièzhòng-yàohàito hit the nail on the head
- 亲临其境qīnlín-qíjìngto be there in person
- 青黄不接qīnghuáng-bùjiēa shortage between harvests
- 情投意合qíngtóu-yìhéto be kindred spirits
- 请君入瓮qǐngjūn-rùwèngto give someone a taste of their own medicine
- 穷凶极恶qióngxiōng-jí’èextremely vicious
- 拳打脚踢quándá-jiǎotīto punch and kick
- 燃眉之急ránméi-zhījía pressing emergency
- 热锅上的蚂蚁règuōshàngdemáyǐlike an ant on a hot pan
- 人多势众rénduō-shìzhòngstrength in numbers
- 人间地狱rénjiān-dìyùhell on earth
- 忍气吞声rěnqì-tūnshēngto swallow one's anger
- 忍辱负重rénrǔ-fùzhòngto endure humiliation for an important mission
- 如获至宝rúhuò-zhìbǎoas if one has found a treasure
- 软硬兼施ruǎnyìng-jiānshīto use both carrot and stick
- 三寸不烂之舌sāncùnbúlànzhīshésilver tongue
- 三教九流sānjiào-jiǔliúpeople from all walks of life
- 三妻四妾sānqī-sìqièto have many wives and concubines
- 山重水复shānchóng-shuǐfùrange after range of hills and rivers (seemingly no way out)
- 善罢甘休shànbà-gānxiūto let the matter rest (usu. in the negative)
- 伤筋动骨shāngjīn-dònggǔa major upheaval
- 上下其手shàngxià-qíshǒuto manipulate things for one's own ends
- 身历其境shēnlì-qíjìngto experience personally
- 生离死别shēnglí-sǐbiéparting forever
- 生死关头shēngsǐ-guāntóucritical moment
- 生死之交shēngsǐ-zhījiāofriends for life and death
- 声名狼藉shēngmíng-lángjídisreputable
- 盛极一时shèngjí-yìshíto be all the rage for a time
- 盛况空前shèngkuàng-kōngqiánan unprecedented spectacle
- 十拿九稳shíná-jiúwěnin the bag
- 识时务者为俊杰shíshíwùzhěwéijùnjiéhe who understands the times is wise
- 事必躬亲shìbì-gōngqīnto handle everything personally
- 势如破竹shìrú-pòzhúirresistible
- 手到擒来shǒudào-qínláieasily done
- 瘦骨嶙峋shòugǔ-línxúnbony
- 鼠目寸光shǔmù-cùnguāngshortsighted
- 双宿双飞shuāngsù-shuāngfēi(of a couple) inseparable
- 丝丝入扣sīsī-rùkòumeticulously done
- 太上忘情tàishàng-wàngqíngthe sage is unmoved by emotion
- 泰然自若tàirán-zìruòcalm and composed
- 糖衣炮弹tángyī-pàodànsugar-coated bullet
- 天罗地网tiānluó-dìwǎnga dragnet
- 天旋地转tiānxuán-dìzhuànto feel dizzy
- 添油加醋tiānyóu-jiācùto embellish a story
- 童心未泯tóngxīn-wèimǐnyoung at heart
- 完美无缺wánměi-wúquēflawless
- 顽固不化wángù-búhuàincorrigibly stubborn
- 万象更新wànxiàng-gēngxīneverything takes on a new look
- 望穿秋水wàngchuān-qiūshuǐto wait anxiously
- 卧虎藏龙wòhǔ-cánglónghidden talents
- 无可救药wúkě-jiùyàoincurable
- 无奇不有wúqí-bùyǒufull of strange things
- 五花大绑wǔhuā-dàbǎngto truss someone up
- 五洲四海wǔzhōu-sìhǎiall over the world
- 雾里看花wùlǐ-kànhuāto see things only vaguely
- 显山露水xiǎnshān-lùshuǐto show one's abilities
- 小家子气xiǎojiā-ziqìpetty
- 小巫见大巫xiǎowūjiàndàwūto pale into insignificance
- 笑逐颜开xiàozhú-yánkāito beam with joy
- 心腹之患xīnfù-zhīhuànserious hidden danger
- 心急火燎xīnjí-huóliǎoburning with anxiety
- 心猿意马xīnyuán-yìmǎrestless
- 信马由缰xìnmǎ-yóujiāngto ride with loose reins
- 行百里者半九十xíngbáilízhěbànjiǔshíthe last stretch is the hardest
- 虚位以待xūwèi-yǐdàito keep a post open for someone
- 喧宾夺主xuānbīn-duózhǔthe secondary overshadows the primary
- 学无止境xuéwúzhǐjìngthere is no end to learning
- 寻欢作乐xúnhuān-zuòlèto seek pleasure
- 徇私枉法xùnsī-wángfǎto bend the law for personal gain
- 言之有理yánzhī-yóulǐto make sense
- 言之有物yánzhī-yǒuwùsubstantive (of speech or writing)
- 羊毛出在羊身上yángmáochūzàiyángshēnshàngyou end up paying for it one way or another
- 洋洋洒洒yángyáng-sásǎvery 洋洒 (vivid)
- 洋洋自得yángyáng-zìdésmug
- 一个巴掌拍不响yígèbāzhǎngpāibùxiǎngit takes two to tango
- 一股脑儿yìgúnǎorall at once
- 一见倾心yíjiàn-qīngxīnlove at first sight
- 一见如故yíjiàn-rúgùto hit it off immediately
- 一来二去yìlái-èrqùover time
- 一马当先yìmǎ-dāngxiānto take the lead
- 一年半载yìnián-bànzǎia year or so
- 一诺千金yínuò-qiānjīna promise worth a thousand gold
- 一石二鸟yìshí-èrniǎoto kill two birds with one stone
- 一星半点yìxīng-bàndiǎna tiny bit
- 一言九鼎yìyán-jiúdǐngwords carrying great weight
- 疑神疑鬼yíshén-yíguǐto be paranoid
- 以假乱真yíjiǎ-luànzhēnto pass off the fake as genuine
- 以儆效尤yíjǐng-xiàoyóuto warn others not to follow a bad example
- 以偏概全yǐpiān-gàiquánto generalize from a part
- 易如反掌yìrú-fánzhǎngas easy as turning one's hand over
- 意气用事yìqì-yòngshìto act on impulse
- 阴谋诡计yīnmóu-guǐjìschemes and intrigues
- 淫词艳曲yíncí-yànqǔobscene songs and verses
- 隐姓埋名yǐnxìng-máimíngto live incognito
- 有色眼镜yǒusè-yǎnjìngtinted glasses
- 有条有理yǒutiáo-yóulǐorderly
- 有头有脸yǒutóu-yóuliǎnrespected
- 有心无力yǒuxīn-wúlìwilling but unable
- 鱼跃龙门yúyuè-lóngméncarp leaping over the dragon gate
- 舆论哗然yúlùn-huáránpublic uproar
- 与世长辞yǔshì-chángcíto pass away
- 欲盖弥彰yùgài-mízhāngto make things worse by covering up
- 原封不动yuánfēng-búdònguntouched
- 源源不绝yuányuán-bùjuéin an endless stream
- 远走高飞yuánzǒu-gāofēito fly far away
- 怨声载道yuànshēng-zàidàowidespread complaints
- 运用自如yùnyòng-zìrúto use with ease
- 在劫难逃zàijié-nántáodoomed
- 长久之计chángjiǔ-zhījìlong-term plan
- 真才实学zhēncái-shíxuégenuine talent and learning
- 真知灼见zhēnzhī-zhuójiànreal insight
- 振臂一呼zhènbì-yìhūto raise one's arm and call out
- 整年累月zhěngnián-lěiyuèyear after year
- 之乎者也zhīhū-zhéyěpedantic classical jargon
- 知法犯法zhīfǎ-fànfǎto knowingly break the law
- 知难而退zhīnán-értuìto back off in the face of difficulty
- 直捣黄龙zhídǎo-huánglóngto strike straight at the enemy's heart
- 众星捧月zhòngxīng-pěngyuèto be surrounded by admirers
- 重整旗鼓chóngzhěng-qígǔto regroup and try again
- 周游列国zhōuyóu-lièguóto travel from country to country
- 壮志凌云zhuàngzhì-língyúnsoaring ambition
- 追根究底zhuīgēn-jiūdǐto get to the bottom of something
- 孜孜以求zīzī-yǐqiúto seek diligently
- 紫气东来zǐqì-dōngláiauspicious sign of good fortune
- 自得其乐zìdé-qílèto take pleasure in something on one's own
- 自甘堕落zìgān-duòluòto wallow in degeneracy
- 自掘坟墓zìjué-fénmùto dig one's own grave
- 自鸣得意zìmíng-déyìsmug
- 自作聪明zìzuò-cōngmíngto think oneself clever
- 坐而论道zuò’ér-lùndàoto sit and talk theory without acting
- 鞍前马后ānqián-mǎhòuto serve faithfully
- 暗送秋波ànsòngqiūbōto make eyes at someone
- 暗香疏影ànxiāng-shūyǐngsubtle fragrance and sparse shadows (of plum blossoms)
- 白日做梦báirì-zuòmèngto daydream
- 百年树人bǎinián-shùrénit takes a hundred years to cultivate people
- 宝刀不老bǎodāo-bùlǎostill going strong despite one's age
- 碧血丹心bìxuè-dānxīnloyal heart
- 鞭辟入里biānpì-rùlǐincisive
- 便宜行事biànyí-xíngshìto act at one's own discretion
- 别来无恙biélái-wúyàngI trust you've been well since we last met
- 别有洞天biéyǒu-dòngtiāna world of its own
- 博览群书bólǎn-qúnshūwidely read
- 不打不相识bùdǎbùxiāngshífrom enemies to friends
- 不得已而为之bùdéyǐ’érwéizhīto do something because one has no choice
- 不分青红皂白bùfēnqīnghóngzàobáiindiscriminately
- 不敢苟同bùgán-gǒutóngto beg to differ
- 不见天日bújiàn-tiānrìin darkness
- 不进则退bújìn-zétuìnot to advance is to fall back
- 不拘小节bùjū-xiǎojiénot to bother about small matters
- 不堪入耳bùkān-rù’ěroffensive to the ear
- 不可一世bùkě-yíshìarrogant
- 不如归去bùrú-guīqùbetter to go home (said of the cuckoo's call)
- 不三不四bùsān-búsìdubious
- 不声不响bùshēng-bùxiǎngquietly
- 不识时务bùshíshíwùto be unaware of the times
- 不祧之祖bùtiāo-zhīzǔa revered founder
- 不痛不痒bútòng-bùyǎngsuperficial
- 才子佳人cáizǐ-jiāréngifted scholar and beautiful lady
- 沧海一粟cānghǎi-yísùa drop in the ocean
- 草船借箭cǎochuán-jièjiànto borrow arrows with straw boats
- 缠绵悱恻chánmián-fěicèsentimental and melancholy
- 畅行无阻chàngxíng-wúzǔto pass unimpeded
- 朝令夕改zhāolìng-xīgǎito change policies constantly
- 沉思默想chénsī-mòxiǎngto ponder deeply
- 陈词滥调chéncí-làndiàoclichés
- 晨光熹微chénguāng-xīwēifaint light of dawn
- 称王称霸chēngwáng-chēngbàto lord it over others
- 诚惶诚恐chénghuáng-chéngkǒngin fear and trepidation
- 踌躇满志chóuchú-mǎnzhìself-satisfied
- 出尔反尔chū’ér-fán’ěrto go back on one's word
- 出乎预料chūhū-yùliàounexpected
- 出水芙蓉chūshuǐ-fúrónga lotus rising from the water
- 除旧布新chújiù-bùxīnto get rid of the old and bring in the new
- 传为美谈chuánwéi-měitánto be passed on as a favorite story
- 垂手而得chuíshǒu-érdéeasily won
- 促膝谈心cùxī-tánxīnto have a heart-to-heart talk
- 大海捞针dàhǎi-lāozhēnlike looking for a needle in a haystack
- 大难不死dànàn-bùsǐto survive a great disaster
- 大权在握dàquán-zàiwòto hold power
- 大喜过望dàxǐ-guòwàngoverjoyed (at an unexpected outcome)
- 大兴土木dàxīng-tǔmùto go on a building spree
- 大雅之堂dàyǎ-zhītángelegant hall (as in 难登大雅之堂 not up to standard)
- 大言不惭dàyán-bùcánto boast shamelessly
- 大智若愚dàzhì-ruòyúa wise man may appear foolish
- 代代相传dàidài-xiāngchuánpassed down from generation to generation
- 单刀赴会dāndāo-fùhuìto go alone to a meeting
- 地角天涯dìjiǎo-tiānyáthe ends of the earth
- 登堂入室dēngtáng-rùshìto reach a higher level of mastery
- 等而下之děng’ér-xiàzhīstill worse
- 雕梁画栋diāoliáng-huàdòngornate building
- 鼎鼎有名díngdíng-yǒumíngfamous
- 东奔西跑dōngbēn-xīpǎoto rush about
- 东方不亮西方亮dōngfāngbúliàngxīfāngliàngif one door closes another opens
- 度日如年dùrì-rúniáneach day feels like a year
- 夺门而出duómén-érchūto rush out the door
- 躲躲闪闪duóduó-shánshǎnvery 躲闪 (vivid)
- 耳闻目睹ěrwén-mùdǔwhat one sees and hears
- 反唇相讥fǎnchún-xiāngjīto answer back sarcastically
- 反客为主fǎnkè-wéizhǔto turn from guest into host
- 返老还童fánlǎo-huántóngto recover one's youthful vigor
- 放之四海而皆准fàngzhīsìhǎi’érjiēzhǔnuniversally applicable
- 非亲非故fēiqīn-fēigùneither relative nor friend
- 焚书坑儒fénshū-kēngrúburning books and burying scholars alive
- 奋起直追fènqǐ-zhízhuīto rouse oneself and catch up
- 风霜雨雪fēngshuāng-yúxuěhardships of life
- 否极泰来pǐjí-tàiláiafter bad times come good times
- 扶正祛邪fúzhèng-qūxié(TCM) to strengthen vital energy and expel pathogens
- 拂袖而去fúxiù-érqùto storm off
- 俯拾皆是fǔshí-jiēshìto be found everywhere
- 改弦更张gǎixián-gēngzhāngto change one's approach
- 盖棺定论gàiguān-dìnglùna person can only be judged after death
- 甘拜下风gānbài-xiàfēngto willingly concede defeat
- 干柴烈火gānchái-lièhuǒintense passion between lovers
- 高山仰止gāoshān-yángzhǐto look up to (a person of high character)
- 高深莫测gāoshēn-mòcèunfathomable
- 高耸入云gāosǒng-rùyúntowering into the clouds
- 歌舞升平gēwǔ-shēngpíngto celebrate peace with song and dance
- 各奔前程gèbèn-qiánchéngeach to go his own way
- 各得其所gèdé-qísuǒeach in their proper place
- 各执一词gèzhí-yìcíeach sticks to his own version
- 功成不居gōngchéng-bùjūto claim no credit for one's success
- 觥筹交错gōngchóu-jiāocuòa lively banquet
- 勾魂摄魄gōuhún-shèpòcaptivating
- 孤魂野鬼gūhún-yéguǐlonely ghosts
- 顾影自怜gùyǐng-zìliánto admire oneself in the mirror
- 拐弯抹角guǎiwān-mòjiǎoto beat around the bush
- 关怀备至guānhuái-bèizhìto look after someone with every care
- 管中窥豹guǎnzhōng-kuībàoto have a limited view of something
- 鬼神莫测guǐshén-mòcèunfathomable
- 过街老鼠guòjiē-láoshǔ(fig.) someone hated by everyone
- 过五关斩六将guòwǔguānzhǎnliùjiàngto overcome many obstacles
- 过眼云烟guòyǎn-yúnyānfleeting
- 过犹不及guòyóu-bùjítoo much is as bad as too little
- 海誓山盟hǎishì-shānméngsolemn vows of eternal love
- 寒冬腊月hándōng-làyuèthe depths of winter
- 汗如雨下hànrú-yǔxiàsweating profusely
- 好高骛远hàogāo-wùyuǎnto aim too high
- 合而为一hé’ér-wéiyīto merge into one
- 何必当初hébì-dāngchūwhy did you do it in the first place (as in 早知今日，何必当初)
- 和气生财héqì-shēngcáifriendliness brings wealth
- 和颜悦色héyán-yuèsèkindly
- 哼哼唧唧hēnghēng-jījīvery 哼唧 (vivid)
- 横扫千军héngsǎo-qiānjūnto sweep away everything in one's path
- 后患无穷hòuhuàn-wúqióngendless future trouble
- 后继无人hòujì-wúrénno successor to carry on
- 后起之秀hòuqǐ-zhīxiùup-and-coming talent
- 厚古薄今hòugǔ-bójīnto value the past over the present
- 虎口拔牙húkǒu-báyáto pull a tooth from a tiger's mouth (extremely dangerous)
- 化干戈为玉帛huàgāngēwéiyùbóto turn hostility into friendship
- 荒诞不经huāngdàn-bùjīngabsurd
- 挥洒自如huīsǎ-zìrúto write or paint freely and easily
- 回眸一笑huímóu-yíxiàoto glance back with a smile
- 火上加油huǒshàng-jiāyóuto add fuel to the fire
- 机不可失jībù-kěshīdon't miss the opportunity
- 鸡飞狗跳jīfēi-gǒutiàochaos
- 积劳成疾jīláo-chéngjíto fall ill from overwork
- 急起直追jíqǐ-zhízhuīto rouse oneself to catch up
- 急如星火jírú-xīnghuǒextremely urgent
- 假公济私jiǎgōng-jìsīto use public office for private gain
- 坚强不屈jiānqiáng-bùqūunyielding
- 坚如磐石jiānrú-pánshírock-solid
- 艰苦创业jiānkǔ-chuàngyèto build up an enterprise through arduous effort
- 艰苦朴素jiānkú-pǔsùhardworking and frugal
- 俭以养德jiányí-yǎngdéthrift cultivates virtue
- 见缝插针jiànfèng-chāzhēnto make use of every bit of space or time
- 健步如飞jiànbù-rúfēito walk briskly as if flying
- 将功补过jiānggōng-bǔguòto atone for a mistake by good deeds
- 将信将疑jiāngxìn-jiāngyíhalf-believing
- 将遇良才jiàngyù-liángcáia general meets a worthy opponent
- 孑然一身jiérán-yìshēnall alone in the world
- 精兵强将jīngbīng-qiángjiàngcrack troops and able generals
- 精诚所至jīngchéng-suǒzhìsincerity can move mountains
- 精神焕发jīngshén-huànfāfull of energy
- 精神恍惚jīngshén-huǎnghūin a trance
- 九牛二虎之力jiǔniú’èrhǔzhīlìtremendous effort
- 九泉之下jiǔquán-zhīxiàin the netherworld
- 就地正法jiùdì-zhèngfǎto execute on the spot
- 举手之劳júshǒu-zhīláono trouble at all
- 拒人于千里之外jùrényúqiānlǐzhīwàito keep people at arm's length
- 军令如山jūnlìng-rúshānmilitary orders are absolute
- 可望而不可及kěwàng’érbùkějíwithin sight but out of reach
- 可望而不可即kěwàng’érbùkějívisible but unattainable
- 岿然不动kuīrán-búdòngstanding firm and unmoved
- 溃不成军kuìbù-chéngjūnutterly routed
- 琅琅上口lángláng-shàngkǒueasy to read aloud
- 劳民伤财láomín-shāngcáito waste money and manpower
- 唠唠叨叨láolao-dāodāovery 唠叨 (vivid)
- 乐极生悲lèjí-shēngbēiextreme joy turns to sorrow
- 乐善好施lèshàn-hàoshīcharitable
- 雷霆万钧léitíng-wànjūnas powerful as a thunderbolt
- 冷眼旁观léngyǎn-pángguānto look on coldly
- 离经叛道líjīng-pàndàoto depart from orthodoxy
- 历久弥坚lìjiǔ-míjiānto grow firmer with time
- 两全其美liǎngquán-qíměito satisfy both sides
- 量体裁衣liàngtǐ-cáiyīto tailor to fit
- 龙凤呈祥lóngfèng-chéngxiángdragon and phoenix bring good fortune (wedding wish)
- 龙行虎步lóngxíng-hǔbùimposing gait
- 鹿死谁手lùsǐ-shéishǒuwho will win the prize
- 屡教不改lǚjiào-bùgǎito refuse to mend one's ways despite repeated warnings
- 麻木不仁mámù-bùrénapathetic
- 马到成功mǎdào-chénggōngto win instant success
- 蛮不讲理mánbù-jiánglǐcompletely unreasonable
- 满城风雨mǎnchéng-fēngyǔthe talk of the town
- 满腔热忱mǎnqiāng-rèchénfull of enthusiasm
- 没精打采méijīng-dácǎilistless
- 眉来眼去méilái-yǎnqùto make eyes at each other
- 门庭若市méntíng-ruòshìcrowded with visitors
- 迷惑不解míhuò-bùjiěpuzzled
- 靡靡之音mímǐ-zhīyīndecadent music
- 面如土色miànrú-tǔsèashen-faced (with fear)
- 面无人色miànwú-rénsèdeathly pale
- 民以食为天mínyǐshíwéitiānfood is the first necessity of the people
- 明哲保身míngzhé-bǎoshēnto play it safe
- 鸣金收兵míngjīn-shōubīngto sound the retreat
- 酩酊大醉míngdǐng-dàzuìdead drunk
- 墨守成规mòshǒu-chéngguīto stick to conventions
- 目空一切mùkōng-yíqièarrogant
- 难以预料nányǐ-yùliàohard to predict
- 内外交困nèiwài-jiāokùnbeset with difficulties at home and abroad
- 能言善辩néngyán-shànbiàneloquent
- 念念有词niànniàn-yǒucíto mutter to oneself
- 捏一把汗niēyì-bǎhànto be on edge with anxiety
- 宁缺毋滥nìngquē-wúlànbetter to go without than to settle for poor quality
- 浓妆淡抹nóngzhuāng-dànmǒheavy or light makeup
- 浓妆艳抹nóngzhuāng-yànmǒheavily made up
- 怒火中烧nùhuǒ-zhōngshāoburning with rage
- 女中豪杰nǚzhōng-háojiéheroine
- 藕断丝连ǒuduàn-sīliánlingering ties after separation
- 拍案叫绝pāi’àn-jiàojuéto slap the table in admiration
- 抛头露面pāotóu-lùmiànto show one's face in public
- 赔了夫人又折兵péilefūrényòuzhébīngto suffer a double loss after a failed scheme
- 疲于奔命píyú-bēnmìngrun off one's feet
- 翩翩公子piānpiān-gōngzǐelegant young gentleman
- 翩翩少年piānpiān-shàoniánelegant young man
- 七老八十qīlǎo-bāshíin one's seventies or eighties
- 欺上瞒下qīshàng-mánxiàto deceive superiors and subordinates
- 齐心合力qíxīn-hélìto work together as one
- 奇装异服qízhuāng-yìfúoutlandish clothing
- 气宇轩昂qìyǔ-xuān’ángdignified
- 千娇百媚qiānjiāo-bǎimèicharming and beautiful
- 千人一面qiānrén-yímiànall alike
- 强人所难qiǎngrén-suǒnánto force someone to do something
- 蜻蜓点水qīngtíng-diánshuǐsuperficial
- 取信于民qǔxìn-yúmínto win the trust of the people
- 全知全能quánzhī-quánnéngomniscient and omnipotent
- 群龙无首qúnlóng-wúshǒuleaderless group
- 惹是生非rěshì-shēngfēito stir up trouble
- 人尽其才rénjìn-qícáito make the best use of everyone's talents
- 人生自古谁无死rénshēngzìgǔshuíwúsǐsince ancient times, who has not died
- 人所共知rénsuǒ-gòngzhīcommon knowledge
- 人微言轻rénwēi-yánqīnga lowly person's words carry little weight
- 人言可畏rényán-kěwèigossip is a fearful thing
- 日理万机rìlǐ-wànjīto handle a myriad of affairs every day
- 日上三竿rìshàng-sāngānlate in the morning
- 日夜兼程rìyè-jiānchéngto travel day and night
- 柔情蜜意róuqíng-mìyìtender affection
- 如意算盘rúyì-suànpánwishful thinking
- 瑞雪兆丰年ruìxuězhàofēngniántimely snow promises a good harvest
- 弱不禁风ruòbù-jīnfēngfrail
- 三长两短sāncháng-liángduǎnunexpected mishap
- 杀人不眨眼shārénbùzháyǎnto kill without batting an eye
- 山明水秀shānmíng-shuǐxiùbeautiful scenery of hills and waters
- 赏罚分明shǎngfá-fēnmíngstrict and fair in rewards and punishments
- 稍逊一筹shāoxùn-yìchóuslightly inferior
- 少言寡语shǎoyán-guáyǔtaciturn
- 身单力薄shēndān-lìbófew in number and weak
- 身家性命shēnjiā-xìngmìngone's own life and one's family's lives
- 身体发肤shēntǐ-fàfūone's body
- 深得人心shēndérénxīnto win wide popular support
- 深明大义shēnmíng-dàyìto have a deep sense of righteousness
- 慎终如始shènzhōng-rúshǐto be as careful at the end as at the start
- 升官发财shēngguān-fācáito get promoted and rich
- 生财有道shēngcái-yǒudàoto have a knack for making money
- 生而知之shēng’ér-zhīzhīto be born knowing
- 生灵涂炭shēnglíng-tútànthe people are plunged into misery
- 生杀予夺shēngshā-yǔduópower over life and death
- 十八层地狱shíbācéngdìyùthe eighteen levels of hell
- 十恶不赦shí’è-búshèunpardonably wicked
- 十之八九shízhī-bājiǔin all likelihood
- 时势造英雄shíshìzàoyīngxióngthe times produce their heroes
- 矢志不移shǐzhì-bùyíunwavering in one's resolve
- 恃才傲物shìcái-àowùarrogant because of one's talent
- 书香门第shūxiāng-méndìscholarly family
- 熟门熟路shúmén-shúlùfamiliar with the place
- 树大招风shùdà-zhāofēngtall trees catch the wind (fame attracts trouble)
- 水火之中shuíhuǒ-zhīzhōngin dire straits
- 水天一色shuǐtiān-yísèwater and sky merging in one color
- 四海一家sìhǎi-yìjiāthe whole world is one family
- 四体不勤sìtǐ-bùqínto do no physical labor
- 索然无味suǒrán-wúwèidull
- 泰山北斗tàishān-béidǒuleading authority
- 桃之夭夭táozhī-yāoyāo(humorous) to run away (as in 逃之夭夭)
- 替天行道tìtiān-xíngdàoto uphold justice on behalf of Heaven
- 天各一方tiāngè-yìfāngfar apart from each other
- 天造地设tiānzào-dìshèheaven-made
- 天真烂漫tiānzhēn-lànmàninnocent and artless
- 铁面无私tiěmiàn-wúsīstrictly impartial
- 铁石心肠tiěshí-xīnchángheart of stone
- 听其自然tīngqí-zìránto let things take their course
- 通宵达旦tōngxiāo-dádànall night long
- 同床共枕tóngchuáng-gòngzhěnto share a bed
- 同室操戈tóngshì-cāogēinternal strife
- 偷梁换柱tōuliáng-huànzhùto perpetrate a fraud
- 退避三舍tuìbì-sānshèto give way to avoid conflict
- 挖空心思wākōng-xīnsīto rack one's brains
- 万缕千丝wànlǚ-qiānsīcountless close ties
- 万马奔腾wànmǎ-bēnténga surging advance
- 万水千山wànshuǐ-qiānshāna long and arduous journey
- 亡命之徒wángmìng-zhītúdesperado
- 王侯将相wánghóu-jiàngxiàngkings, nobles, generals and ministers
- 望文生义wàngwén-shēngyìto interpret literally
- 为国捐躯wèiguó-juānqūto die for one's country
- 为民请命wèimín-qǐngmìngto plead on behalf of the people
- 为期不远wéiqī-bùyuǎnnot far off
- 温良恭俭让wēnliánggōngjiǎnrànggentle, kind, respectful, frugal and modest
- 文山会海wénshān-huìhǎimountains of paperwork and endless meetings
- 稳操胜券wěncāo-shèngquànsure to win
- 稳如泰山wěnrú-tàishānas steady as Mount Tai
- 问心无愧wènxīn-wúkuìto have a clear conscience
- 瓮声瓮气wèngshēng-wèngqìin a low, muffled voice
- 乌烟瘴气wūyān-zhàngqìfoul atmosphere
- 无出其右wúchū-qíyòusecond to none
- 无恶不作wú’è-búzuòto stop at nothing in doing evil
- 无可奉告wúkě-fènggàono comment
- 无名英雄wúmíng-yīngxióngunsung hero
- 无情无义wúqíng-wúyìheartless and ungrateful
- 无所不包wúsuǒ-bùbāoall-encompassing
- 五谷不分wúgǔ-bùfēnignorant of farming
- 习惯成自然xíguànchéngzìránhabit becomes second nature
- 洗耳恭听xí’ěr-gōngtīngto listen respectfully
- 喜怒无常xǐnù-wúchángmoody
- 喜新厌旧xǐxīn-yànjiùto love the new and tire of the old
- 细枝末节xìzhī-mòjiéminor details
- 瑕不掩瑜xiábù-yǎnyúthe flaws do not obscure its merits
- 先人后己xiānrén-hòujǐto put others first
- 鲜血淋漓xiānxuè-línlídripping with blood
- 相见恨晚xiāngjiàn-hènwǎnto regret not meeting sooner
- 相形见绌xiāngxíng-jiànchùto pale by comparison
- 小康之家xiǎokāng-zhījiācomfortably off family
- 孝子贤孙xiàozǐ-xiánsūnfilial sons and worthy grandsons
- 心领神会xīnlǐng-shénhuìto understand tacitly
- 心有余而力不足xīnyǒuyú’érlìbùzúthe spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
- 心悦诚服xīnyuè-chéngfúto be sincerely convinced
- 心直口快xīnzhí-kǒukuàifrank and outspoken
- 行家里手hángjiā-líshǒuexpert
- 兴趣盎然xìngqù-àngránfull of interest
- 兴师问罪xīngshī-wènzuìto denounce
- 胸无大志xiōngwú-dàzhìunambitious
- 雄才大略xióngcái-dàlüègreat talent and bold vision
- 休戚与共xiūqī-yǔgòngto share weal and woe
- 修心养性xiūxīn-yǎngxìngto cultivate one's mind and character
- 秀外慧中xiùwài-huìzhōngbeautiful and intelligent
- 学识渊博xuéshí-yuānbóerudite
- 血迹斑斑xuèjì-bānbānbloodstained
- 血流如注xuèliú-rúzhùblood gushing out
- 循循善诱xúnxún-shànyòuto guide patiently
- 烟波浩渺yānbō-hàomiǎovast misty expanse of water
- 言而无信yán’ér-wúxìnto break one's promise
- 言过其实yánguò-qíshíto exaggerate
- 言谈举止yántán-júzhǐspeech and manners
- 言之凿凿yánzhī-záozáoto say with certainty
- 眼高手低yǎngāo-shǒudīto have high standards but little ability
- 阳春白雪yángchūn-báixuěhighbrow art
- 养尊处优yǎngzūn-chǔyōuto live in luxury and comfort
- 遥遥相对yáoyáo-xiāngduìto face each other from afar
- 一板一眼yìbǎn-yìyǎnmethodical
- 一病不起yíbìng-bùqǐto fall ill and never recover
- 一场春梦yìchǎng-chūnmènga spring dream (fleeting illusion)
- 一哄而散yíhòng-érsànto scatter in confusion
- 一哄而上yìhōng-érshàngto rush in all at once (to follow a trend)
- 一家之言yìjiā-zhīyánone's own view
- 一举成名yìjǔ-chéngmíngto become famous overnight
- 一口咬定yìkóu-yǎodìngto insist
- 一门心思yìmén-xīnsisingle-mindedly
- 一鸣惊人yìmíng-jīngrénto amaze the world with a single feat
- 一命呜呼yímìng-wūhūto die
- 一钱不值yìqián-bùzhíworthless
- 一潭死水yìtán-síshuǐstagnant pool
- 一望而知yíwàng-érzhīobvious at a glance
- 一无所长yìwú-suǒchángto have no particular skill
- 一笑百媚yíxiào-bǎimèia smile full of charm
- 一笑了之yíxiào-liǎozhīto laugh off
- 一心一德yìxīn-yìdéof one heart and mind
- 一拥而上yìyōng-érshàngto swarm forward
- 一掷千金yízhì-qiānjīnto spend lavishly
- 衣锦还乡yìjǐn-huánxiāngto return home in glory
- 以绝后患yǐjué-hòuhuànto prevent future trouble
- 义正词严yìzhèng-cíyánto speak sternly from a position of righteousness
- 亦步亦趋yìbù-yìqūto blindly follow
- 因时制宜yīnshí-zhìyíto act according to the circumstances of the time
- 因循守旧yīnxún-shǒujiùto stick to old ways
- 饮食男女yǐnshí-nánnǚfood and sex (basic human desires)
- 英雄豪杰yīngxióng-háojiéheroes
- 莺飞草长yīngfēi-cáozhǎngorioles flying and grass growing
- 蝇营狗苟yíngyíng-góugǒuto go to any lengths for personal gain
- 勇猛精进yóngměng-jīngjìnto advance boldly and diligently
- 游手好闲yóushǒu-hàoxiánto loaf around
- 有案可查yǒu’àn-kěcháon record
- 有志者事竟成yǒuzhìzhěshìjìngchéngwhere there's a will there's a way
- 余音绕梁yúyīn-ràoliánglingering music
- 鱼贯而入yúguàn-érrùto file in
- 鱼目混珠yúmù-hùnzhūto pass off fakes as genuine
- 鱼水深情yúshuǐ-shēnqíngclose bond like fish and water
- 鱼死网破yúsí-wǎngpòfight to the death
- 与世隔绝yǔshì-géjuécut off from the world
- 玉树临风yùshù-línfēngtall and handsome
- 远见卓识yuǎnjiàn-zhuóshíforesight and sagacity
- 贼眉鼠眼zéiméi-shúyǎnshifty-eyed
- 长吁短叹chángxū-duǎntànto sigh repeatedly
- 掌上明珠zhǎngshàng-míngzhūthe apple of one's eye
- 仗势欺人zhàngshì-qīrénto bully others with one's power
- 争风吃醋zhēngfēng-chīcùto compete jealously for someone's affections
- 争名夺利zhēngmíng-duólìto scramble for fame and wealth
- 争强好胜zhēngqiáng-hàoshèngcompetitive
- 铮铮铁骨zhēngzhēng-tiégǔunyielding integrity
- 正人君子zhèngrén-jūnzǐman of integrity
- 郑重其事zhèngzhòng-qíshìseriously
- 政出多门zhèngchū-duōménconflicting policies from too many authorities
- 政通人和zhèngtōng-rénhégood government and a contented people
- 知难而进zhīnán-érjìnto press on despite difficulties
- 知易行难zhīyì-xíngnáneasier said than done
- 执迷不悟zhímí-búwùto persist in one's error
- 纸短情长zhíduǎn-qíngchángthe letter is short but the feeling is deep
- 置之度外zhìzhī-dùwàito give no thought to (e.g. one's safety)
- 终而复始zhōng’ér-fùshǐover and over again
- 钟灵毓秀zhōnglíng-yùxiùa beautiful place that produces talented people
- 重起炉灶chóngqǐ-lúzàoto start all over again
- 珠光宝气zhūguāng-bǎoqìbedecked with jewels
- 逐鹿中原zhúlù-zhōngyuánto fight for supremacy
- 助纣为虐zhùzhòu-wéinüèto help a villain do evil
- 专横跋扈zhuānhèng-báhùdomineering
- 转瞬之间zhuǎnshùn-zhījiānin the blink of an eye
- 转危为安zhuǎnwēi-wéi’ānto pull through
- 转眼之间zhuányǎn-zhījiānin the blink of an eye
- 装傻充愣zhuāngshǎ-chōnglèngto play dumb
- 追悔莫及zhuīhuǐ-mòjítoo late for regrets
- 惴惴不安zhuìzhuì-bù’ānanxious
- 自惭形秽zìcán-xínghuìto feel inferior
- 自私自利zìsī-zìlìselfish
- 自讨没趣zìtǎo-méiqùto ask for a snub
- 自相残杀zìxiāng-cánshāto slaughter one another
- 自信不疑zìxìn-bùyíself-assured
- 自圆其说zìyuán-qíshuōto make one's story consistent
- 走南闯北zǒunán-chuángběito travel widely
- 左右逢源zuǒyòu-féngyuánto have everything going one's way
- 左支右绌zuǒzhī-yòuchùunable to cope
- 作壁上观zuòbì-shàngguānto sit on the sidelines
- 坐怀不乱zuòhuái-búluànto remain chaste under temptation
- 坐冷板凳zuòléng-bǎndèngto be sidelined