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+ 一人得道，雞犬升天 一人得道，鸡犬升天 [[yi1ren2-de2dao4, ji1quan3-sheng1tian1]] /(lit.) when a person attains enlightenment and immortality, even his chickens and dogs will ascend to heaven with him (idiom)/(fig.) when somebody attains a position of power and influence, their relatives and friends also benefit/

+ 一哭二鬧三上吊 一哭二闹三上吊 [[yi1-ku1 er4-nao4 san1-shang4diao4]] /(lit.) to cry, then shout, then threaten suicide (saying)/(fig.) to make a terrible scene; to throw a tantrum/

+ 一夕數驚 一夕数惊 [[yi1xi1-shu4jing1]] /(lit.) one scare after another in a single night (idiom)/(fig.) to live in fear/

+ 一字褒貶 一字褒贬 [[yi1zi4-bao1bian3]] /(lit.) to dispense praise or blame with a single word (idiom)/(fig.) concise and powerful wording/

+ 一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰 一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴 [[yi1 cun4 guang1yin1 yi1 cun4 jin1, cun4 jin1 nan2 mai3 cun4 guang1yin1]] /(lit.) an interval of time is worth an ounce of gold, money cannot buy you time (saying)/(fig.) time is precious/

+ 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井繩 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳 [[yi1zhao1 bei4 she2 yao3, shi2nian2 pa4 jing3sheng2]] /(lit.) once bitten by a snake, one is scared all one's life at the mere sight of a rope (saying)/(fig.) once bitten, twice shy/

+ 一毛不拔 一毛不拔 [[yi1mao2-bu4ba2]] /(lit.) unwilling to spare a single hair (idiom)/(fig.) extremely stingy/

+ 一舉兩得 一举两得 [[yi1ju3-liang3de2]] /(lit.) one action, two gains (idiom)/(fig.) two birds with one stone/

+ 一諾千金 一诺千金 [[yi1nuo4-qian1jin1]] /(lit.) a promise worth a thousand pieces of gold (idiom)/(fig.) a promise that can be counted on/

+ 三折肱為良醫 三折肱为良医 [[san1zhe2gong1 wei2 liang2yi1]] /(lit.) break one's arm three times to become a good doctor (idiom)/(fig.) experience is a good teacher/

+ 三頭六臂 三头六臂 [[san1tou2-liu4bi4]] /(lit.) (having) three heads and six arms (idiom)/(fig.) superhuman abilities; exceptional capability/

+ 之乎者也 之乎者也 [[zhi1-hu1-zhe3-ye3]] /(lit.) 之[zhi1], 乎[hu1], 者[zhe3] and 也[ye3] (four grammatical particles of Classical Chinese) (idiom)/(fig.) archaic expressions/

+ 九牛一毛 九牛一毛 [[jiu3niu2-yi1mao2]] /(lit.) one hair from nine oxen (idiom)/(fig.) a drop in the ocean/

+ 五十步笑百步 五十步笑百步 [[wu3shi2bu4 xiao4 bai3bu4]] /(lit.) the one who has retreated 50 steps laughs at the one who has retreated 100 steps (idiom)/(fig.) the pot calls the kettle black/

+ 井底之蛙 井底之蛙 [[jing3di3 zhi1 wa1]] /(lit.) a frog at the bottom of a well (idiom)/(fig.) a person of limited outlook and experience/

+ 人去樓空 人去楼空 [[ren2qu4-lou2kong1]] /(lit.) the occupants have gone and the place is now empty (idiom)/(fig.) (of a dwelling) empty; deserted/

+ 人為刀俎，我為魚肉 人为刀俎，我为鱼肉 [[ren2 wei2 dao1zu3, wo3 wei2 yu2rou4]] /(lit.) to be the meat on sb's chopping block (idiom)/(fig.) to be at sb's mercy/

+ 人面獸心 人面兽心 [[ren2mian4-shou4xin1]] /(lit.) human face, beastly heart (idiom)/(fig.) mild in appearance but malicious in nature/

+ 令行禁止 令行禁止 [[ling4xing2-jin4zhi3]] /(lit.) orders are carried out and prohibitions are observed (idiom)/(fig.) to execute every order without fail/

+ 何不食肉糜 何不食肉糜 [[he2bu4 shi2 rou4mi2]] /(saying) (lit.) "Why don't they eat meat porridge?" (said by Emperor Hui of Jin 晉惠帝|晋惠帝[Jin4 Hui4di4] when told that his people lacked rice)/(fig.) to be oblivious to the suffering of ordinary people/

+ 佳人才子 佳人才子 [[jia1ren2-cai2zi3]] /(lit.) beautiful lady, gifted scholar (idiom)/(fig.) pair of ideal lovers/

+ 來蹤去跡 来踪去迹 [[lai2zong1-qu4ji4]] /(lit.) the traces of a person's movements (idiom)/(fig.) sb's history; the ins and out of a matter/

+ 來龍去脈 来龙去脉 [[lai2long2-qu4mai4]] /(lit.) the rise and fall of the terrain (idiom)/(fig.) the whole sequence of events; causes and effects/

+ 侯門似海 侯门似海 [[hou2men2-si4hai3]] /(lit.) the gate of a noble house is like the sea (idiom)/(fig.) there is a wide gap between the nobility and the common people/

+ 倒持泰阿 倒持泰阿 [[dao4chi2-Tai4e1]] /(lit.) to present the handle of a sword to another (idiom)/(fig.) to relinquish power to another; to place oneself at another's mercy/

+ 債多不愁 债多不愁 [[zhai4duo1-bu4chou2]] /(lit.) when up to one's ears in debt, one ceases to worry about it (idiom)/(fig.) to be past worrying (about sth)/

+ 先斬後奏 先斩后奏 [[xian1zhan3-hou4zou4]] /(lit.) execute sb first, then report to the emperor (idiom)/(fig.) to act first and report later; to take action without prior approval/

+ 兔子不吃窩邊草 兔子不吃窝边草 [[tu4zi5 bu4 chi1 wo1bian1 cao3]] /(lit.) a rabbit never eats the grass beside its own burrow (saying)/(fig.) even a scoundrel does not do harm in his immediate neighborhood/

+ 兔死狗烹 兔死狗烹 [[tu4si3-gou3peng1]] /(lit.) when the rabbit is dead, the hunting dogs are cooked (idiom)/(fig.) to discard or eliminate someone once they are no longer useful/

+ 入境隨俗 入境随俗 [[ru4jing4-sui2su2]] /(lit.) when you enter a country, follow the local customs (idiom)/(fig.) when in Rome, do as the Romans do/

+ 兩肋插刀 两肋插刀 [[liang3lei4-cha1dao1]] /(lit.) to take knives in both sides (idiom)/(fig.) to go to any lengths for a friend; to sacrifice oneself out of loyalty/

+ 兩虎相爭 两虎相争 [[liang3hu3-xiang1zheng1]] /(lit.) two tigers fighting (idiom)/(fig.) fierce contest between evenly matched adversaries/

+ 兩虎相爭，必有一傷 两虎相争，必有一伤 [[liang3hu3-xiang1zheng1, bi4you3-yi1shang1]] /(lit.) if two tigers fight, one will get injured (idiom)/(fig.) if you start a war, someone is bound to get hurt/

+ 凶多吉少 凶多吉少 [[xiong1duo1-ji2shao3]] /(lit.) everything bodes ill, no positive signs (idiom)/(fig.) inauspicious; everything points to disaster/

+ 分久必合，合久必分 分久必合，合久必分 [[fen1jiu3-bi4he2, he2jiu3-bi4fen1]] /(lit.) that which is long divided must unify, and that which is long unified must divide (proverb, from Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三國演義|三国演义[San1guo2 Yan3yi4])/(fig.) things are constantly changing/

+ 前車之鑑 前车之鉴 [[qian2che1 zhi1 jian4]] /(lit.) a warning taken from the overturned cart ahead (idiom)/(fig.) lesson learned from past mistakes or failures/

+ 千里之堤，潰於蟻穴 千里之堤，溃于蚁穴 [[qian1li3 zhi1 di1, kui4 yu2 yi3xue2]] /(lit.) an ant hole may cause the collapse of a great dike (idiom)/(fig.) huge damage may result from a moment's negligence/

+ 千里馬常有，而伯樂不常有 千里马常有，而伯乐不常有 [[qian1li3ma3 chang2you3, er2 Bo2le4 bu4 chang2you3]] /(lit.) there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (proverb)/(fig.) many have talent, but few can recognize talent when they see it/

+ 千鈞一髮 千钧一发 [[qian1jun1-yi1fa4]] /(lit.) a thousand pounds hangs by a thread (idiom)/(fig.) (at the) critical; perilous (moment)/

+ 半路出家 半路出家 [[ban4lu4-chu1jia1]] /(lit.) to enter monastic life at a mature age (idiom)/(fig.) to change one's career; to take up a new line of work or specialization; to enter a profession from a different background/

+ 原封不動 原封不动 [[yuan2feng1-bu4dong4]] /(lit.) the original seal has not been disturbed (idiom)/(fig.) left completely unchanged; untouched; intact/

+ 吃喝嫖賭 吃喝嫖赌 [[chi1-he1-piao2-du3]] /(lit.) to go dining, wining, whoring and gambling (idiom)/(fig.) to lead a life of dissipation/

+ 吃喝玩樂 吃喝玩乐 [[chi1-he1-wan2-le4]] /(lit.) to eat, drink, play and be merry (idiom)/(fig.) to abandon oneself to a life of pleasure/

+ 吃屎都趕不上熱乎的 吃屎都赶不上热乎的 [[chi1 shi3 dou1 gan3bu5shang4 re4hu5 de5]] /(lit.) if you were eating warm shit, it'd be stone cold by the time you finished it (saying)/(fig.) (of a person) too slow; can't keep up/

+ 唱空城計 唱空城计 [[chang4 kong1cheng2ji4]] /(lit.) to sing "The Empty City Stratagem" (idiom)/(fig.) to put up a bluff to conceal one's weakness/(jocular) (of a place etc) to be empty; (of one's stomach) to be rumbling/

+ 喜怒哀樂 喜怒哀乐 [[xi3-nu4-ai1-le4]] /(lit.) happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy (idiom)/(fig.) emotions/

+ 喝西北風 喝西北风 [[he1 xi1bei3 feng1]] /(lit.) to drink the northwest wind (idiom)/(fig.) to go hungry; to have nothing to eat/

+ 喪家之犬 丧家之犬 [[sang4jia1 zhi1 quan3]] /(lit.) stray dog (idiom)/(fig.) one who has nothing to rely on/

+ 單槍匹馬 单枪匹马 [[dan1qiang1-pi3ma3]] /(lit.) single spear and horse (idiom)/(fig.) single-handed; unaccompanied/

+ 噬臍莫及 噬脐莫及 [[shi4qi2-mo4ji2]] /(lit.) one cannot bite one's own navel (idiom)/(fig.) too late for regrets/

+ 四兩撥千斤 四两拨千斤 [[si4liang3 bo1 qian1jin1]] /(lit.) four ounces can move a thousand catties (idiom)/(fig.) to achieve much with little effort/

+ 固若金湯 固若金汤 [[gu4ruo4jin1tang1]] /(lit.) secure as a city protected by a wall of metal and a moat of boiling water (idiom)/(fig.) well fortified; invulnerable to attack/

+ 圖窮匕見 图穷匕见 [[tu2qiong2-bi3xian4]] /(lit.) the assassin's dagger, concealed in a map scroll, is suddenly revealed when the map is unrolled (referring to the attempted assassination of Ying Zheng 嬴政[Ying2 Zheng4] by Jing Ke 荊軻|荆轲[Jing1 Ke1] in 227 BC) (idiom)/(fig.) malicious intent suddenly becomes apparent/

+ 墮雲霧中 堕云雾中 [[duo4 yun2wu4 zhong1]] /(lit.) to become lost in a fog (idiom)/(fig.) at a complete loss/

+ 多如牛毛 多如牛毛 [[duo1ru2niu2mao2]] /(lit.) as numerous as the hairs of an ox (idiom)/(fig.) innumerable; countless/

+ 夢寐以求 梦寐以求 [[meng4mei4yi3qiu2]] /(lit.) to yearn for sth even in one's dreams (idiom)/(fig.) to deeply long for; to covet/

+ 大旱望雲霓 大旱望云霓 [[da4han4 wang4 yun2ni2]] /(lit.) looking for rain clouds in times of drought (idiom)/(fig.) to yearn for relief from a desperate situation/

+ 天下無難事，只怕有心人 天下无难事，只怕有心人 [[tian1xia4 wu2 nan2shi4, zhi3pa4 you3xin1ren2]] /(lit.) there is nothing the determined person can't accomplish (idiom)/(fig.) persistence will overcome/

+ 天壤之別 天壤之别 [[tian1rang3 zhi1 bie2]] /(lit.) the difference between heaven and earth (idiom)/(fig.) night and day difference; a world of difference; a far cry (from)/

+ 天花亂墜 天花乱坠 [[tian1hua1-luan4zhui4]] /(lit.) a deluge of heavenly flowers (idiom)/(fig.) extravagant embellishments; hype/

+ 天要下雨，娘要嫁人 天要下雨，娘要嫁人 [[tian1 yao4 xia4yu3, niang2 yao4 jia4ren2]] /(lit.) the heavens will rain, and widowed mothers will remarry (saying)/(fig.) some things are inevitable/

+ 如喪考妣 如丧考妣 [[ru2sang4kao3bi3]] /(lit.) as if in mourning for one's parents (idiom)/(fig.) (often pejorative) inconsolable; distraught/

+ 如履薄冰 如履薄冰 [[ru2lu:3bo2bing1]] /(lit.) as if walking on thin ice (idiom)/(fig.) extremely cautious/

+ 如影隨形 如影随形 [[ru2ying3sui2xing2]] /(lit.) as the shadow follows the body (idiom)/(fig.) closely associated with each other; inseparable; to follow relentlessly/

+ 如泣如訴 如泣如诉 [[ru2qi4-ru2su4]] /(lit.) as if weeping and complaining (idiom)/(fig.) (of music, singing etc) mournful/

+ 如臨深淵 如临深渊 [[ru2lin2shen1yuan1]] /(lit.) as if on the brink of a deep abyss (idiom)/(fig.) extremely cautious/

+ 如鳥獸散 如鸟兽散 [[ru2 niao3shou4 san4]] /(lit.) to scatter like birds and beasts (idiom)/(fig.) to flee in all directions/

+ 始作俑者 始作俑者 [[shi3zuo4yong3zhe3]] /(lit.) the first person to make funerary figurines (idiom)/(fig.) the originator of an evil practice/

+ 寢食難安 寝食难安 [[qin3shi2-nan2an1]] /(lit.) cannot rest or eat in peace (idiom)/(fig.) extremely worried and troubled/

+ 對著和尚罵賊禿 对着和尚骂贼秃 [[dui4zhe5 he2shang5 ma4 zei2tu1]] /(lit.) in the presence of a monk, insult another monk, calling him a bald-headed bandit (saying)/(fig.) to insult indirectly; to criticize obliquely/

+ 少見多怪 少见多怪 [[shao3jian4-duo1guai4]] /(lit.) a person who has seen little of the world will be astonished by certain things (idiom)/(fig.) to be taken aback by sth because of one's lack of sophistication; naive; unworldly/

+ 屈指可數 屈指可数 [[qu1zhi3-ke3shu3]] /(lit.) can be counted on one's fingers (idiom)/(fig.) very few/

+ 屍山血海 尸山血海 [[shi1shan1-xue4hai3]] /(lit.) mountains of corpses and oceans of blood (idiom)/(fig.) a scene of wholesale slaughter/

+ 山不轉水轉 山不转水转 [[shan1 bu4 zhuan4 shui3 zhuan4]] /(lit.) if the mountain won't move, the river will go around it (idiom)/(fig.) there's always a way forward, even when faced with obstacles/

+ 山不轉路轉 山不转路转 [[shan1 bu4 zhuan4 lu4 zhuan4]] /(lit.) if the mountain won't move, the road will go around it (idiom)/(fig.) there's always a way forward, even when faced with obstacles/

+ 布帛菽粟 布帛菽粟 [[bu4-bo2-shu1-su4]] /(lit.) cloth, silk, beans and grain (idiom)/(fig.) food and clothing; daily necessities/

+ 平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳 平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚 [[ping2shi2 bu4 shao1xiang1, lin2shi2 bao4 fo2jiao3]] /(lit.) to never burn incense when all's well, but clutch Buddha's feet in a crisis (proverb)/(fig.) to neglect preparation until the last moment, then act in panic/

+ 引狼入室 引狼入室 [[yin3lang2-ru4shi4]] /(lit.) to show the wolf into the house (idiom)/(fig.) to introduce a potential source of trouble/

+ 弱不禁風 弱不禁风 [[ruo4bu4jin1feng1]] /(lit.) too weak to stand up to the wind (idiom)/(fig.) extremely delicate; fragile/

+ 弱肉強食 弱肉强食 [[ruo4rou4-qiang2shi2]] /(lit.) the weak are prey to the strong (idiom)/(fig.) the law of the jungle/

+ 張三李四 张三李四 [[Zhang1 San1 Li3 Si4]] /(lit.) Zhang Three and Li Four (idiom)/(fig.) any Tom, Dick or Harry/

+ 強弩之末 强弩之末 [[qiang2nu3 zhi1 mo4]] /(lit.) an arrow at the end of its flight (idiom)/(fig.) spent force/

+ 形影相隨 形影相随 [[xing2ying3-xiang1sui2]] /(lit.) body and shadow follow each other (idiom)/(fig.) inseparable/

+ 惺惺相惜 惺惺相惜 [[xing1xing1-xiang1xi1]] /(lit.) people of talent appreciate one another (idiom)/(fig.) to feel an affinity with (sb); to feel a bond with/

+ 成千上萬 成千上万 [[cheng2qian1-shang4wan4]] /(lit.) by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom)/(fig.) untold numbers; innumerable; countless/

+ 手無縛雞之力 手无缚鸡之力 [[shou3 wu2 fu4ji1 zhi1 li4]] /(lit.) lacking the strength even to truss a chicken (saying)/(fig.) weak; unaccustomed to physical work/

+ 披沙揀金 披沙拣金 [[pi1sha1-jian3jin1]] /(lit.) to sort the gold from the sand (idiom)/(fig.) to separate the wheat from the chaff/

+ 抽絲剝繭 抽丝剥茧 [[chou1si1-bo1jian3]] /(lit.) to unwind the silk thread from the cocoon (idiom)/(fig.) to unravel a mystery; to painstakingly follow the clues to eventually get to the bottom of the matter/

+ 拆東牆補西牆 拆东墙补西墙 [[chai1 dong1qiang2 bu3 xi1qiang2]] /(lit.) to tear down the east wall to repair the west wall (saying)/(fig.) to rob Peter to pay Paul/

+ 招蜂引蝶 招蜂引蝶 [[zhao1feng1-yin3die2]] /(lit.) (of a flower) to attract bees and butterflies (idiom)/(fig.) to flirt/

+ 揚幡招魂 扬幡招魂 [[yang2fan1-zhao1hun2]] /(lit.) to raise a banner to summon the soul of a dying person (idiom)/(fig.) to try to revive what is obsolete or dead/

+ 收旗卷傘 收旗卷伞 [[shou1qi2-juan3san3]] /(lit.) to furl up flags and umbrellas (idiom)/(fig.) to stop what one is doing/

+ 斬釘截鐵 斩钉截铁 [[zhan3ding1-jie2tie3]] /(lit.) to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)/(fig.) resolute and decisive; unhesitating; categorical/

+ 方枘圓鑿 方枘圆凿 [[fang1rui4-yuan2zao2]] /(lit.) like a square peg in a round hole (idiom)/(fig.) incompatible/

+ 春暖花開 春暖花开 [[chun1nuan3-hua1kai1]] /(lit.) springtime when the weather is warm and flowers are in bloom (idiom)/(fig.) a time of renewal and flourishing/

+ 望洋興嘆 望洋兴叹 [[wang4yang2-xing1tan4]] /(lit.) to gaze at the ocean and lament one's inadequacy (idiom)/(fig.) to feel powerless and incompetent (to perform a task)/

+ 望而卻步 望而却步 [[wang4er2que4bu4]] /(lit.) to shrink back at the sight of (sth daunting) (idiom)/(fig.) to be deterred/

+ 朝饔夕飧 朝饔夕飧 [[zhao1yong1-xi1sun1]] /(lit.) breakfast in the morning and supper in the evening (idiom)/(fig.) to do nothing but eat and drink/

+ 杞人之憂 杞人之忧 [[Qi3ren2 zhi1 you1]] /(lit.) the fear held by a man of 杞[Qi3] that the sky would fall (idiom)/(fig.) groundless fears/

+ 杞人憂天 杞人忧天 [[Qi3ren2-you1tian1]] /(lit.) like the man of 杞[Qi3] who feared the sky would fall (idiom)/(fig.) to entertain groundless fears/

+ 束手就擒 束手就擒 [[shu4shou3-jiu4qin2]] /(lit.) to submit to having one's hands tied and being taken prisoner (idiom)/(fig.) to surrender without a fight/

+ 柳綠花紅 柳绿花红 [[liu3lu:4-hua1hong2]] /(lit.) green willows and red flowers (idiom)/(fig.) all the colors of spring/

+ 柴米油鹽 柴米油盐 [[chai2-mi3-you2-yan2]] /(lit.) firewood, rice, oil and salt (idiom)/(fig.) life's daily necessities/

+ 柴米油鹽醬醋茶 柴米油盐酱醋茶 [[chai2-mi3-you2-yan2-jiang4-cu4-cha2]] /(lit.) firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea/(fig.) life's daily necessities/

+ 榆木疙瘩 榆木疙瘩 [[yu2mu4-ge1da5]] /(lit.) knot on an elm tree (idiom)/(fig.) blockhead; dunce/

+ 樂昌破鏡 乐昌破镜 [[Le4chang1-po4jing4]] /(lit.) the story of the broken mirror of Princess Lechang 樂昌公主|乐昌公主[Le4chang1 Gong1zhu3] (In the tale, the princess and her husband, fearing separation during the turbulence of war, broke a bronze mirror in half. They each kept one half as a token, with the promise to reunite by matching the pieces together. They were indeed separated, but eventually reunited, with the mirror playing a crucial role in their reunion.) (idiom)/(fig.) the reunion of separated lovers or the restoration of a relationship/

+ 欺霜傲雪 欺霜傲雪 [[qi1shuang1-ao4xue3]] /(lit.) cold-resistant (idiom)/(fig.) remaining strong in harsh conditions; resilient; unyielding/

+ 歌舞昇平 歌舞升平 [[ge1wu3-sheng1ping2]] /(lit.) to celebrate peace with songs and dance (idiom)/(fig.) to make a show of happiness and prosperity/

+ 死豬不怕開水燙 死猪不怕开水烫 [[si3zhu1 bu4 pa4 kai1shui3 tang4]] /(lit.) a dead pig doesn't fear scalding water (saying)/(fig.) a person who has nothing more to lose will go to any lengths, regardless of the consequences/

+ 殺人如麻 杀人如麻 [[sha1ren2-ru2ma2]] /(lit.) to kill people like scything flax (idiom)/(fig.) to kill people like flies/

+ 殺雞儆猴 杀鸡儆猴 [[sha1ji1-jing3hou2]] /(lit.) to kill the chicken to warn the monkey (idiom)/(fig.) to punish an individual as an example to others/

+ 水中撈月 水中捞月 [[shui3zhong1-lao1yue4]] /(lit.) to scoop the moon out of the water (idiom)/(fig.) a hopeless endeavor/

+ 水洩不通 水泄不通 [[shui3xie4-bu4tong1]] /(lit.) not one drop can trickle through (idiom)/(fig.) (of crowds, traffic etc) impenetrable/

+ 水落石出 水落石出 [[shui3luo4-shi2chu1]] /(lit.) as the water recedes, the rocks appear (idiom)/(fig.) the truth comes to light/

+ 沁人心脾 沁人心脾 [[qin4ren2xin1pi2]] /(lit.) to penetrate deeply into the heart (idiom)/(fig.) to gladden the heart; to be refreshing/

+ 油鹽醬醋 油盐酱醋 [[you2-yan2-jiang4-cu4]] /(lit.) oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar (idiom)/(fig.) life's daily necessities/

+ 泰山北斗 泰山北斗 [[Tai4shan1-Bei3dou3]] /(lit.) Mount Tai and the Big Dipper (idiom)/(fig.) an outstanding figure in one's field/

+ 海晏河清 海晏河清 [[hai3yan4-he2qing1]] /(lit.) the Yellow River is clear and the seas are calm (idiom)/(fig.) the world is at peace/

+ 海枯石爛 海枯石烂 [[hai3ku1-shi2lan4]] /(lit.) until the seas dry up and stones go soft (idiom)/(fig.) forever; until the end of time/

+ 淺嘗輒止 浅尝辄止 [[qian3chang2-zhe2zhi3]] /(lit.) to stop after taking just a sip (idiom); (fig.) to gain only a superficial knowledge of sth and then stop/

+ 添油加醋 添油加醋 [[tian1you2-jia1cu4]] /(lit.) to add oil and vinegar (idiom)/(fig.) to embellish; to exaggerate (a story, a narration etc)/

+ 滄海一粟 沧海一粟 [[cang1hai3-yi1su4]] /(lit.) one grain floating on the ocean (idiom)/(fig.) a drop in the ocean/

+ 漏網之魚 漏网之鱼 [[lou4wang3 zhi1 yu2]] /(lit.) a fish that escaped the net (idiom)/(fig.) sb or sth that slips through the net/

+ 漏脯充飢 漏脯充饥 [[lou4fu3-chong1ji1]] /(lit.) to eat rotten meat to assuage hunger (idiom)/(fig.) to disregard long-term consequences for short-term benefits; shortsighted/

+ 無疾而終 无疾而终 [[wu2ji2er2zhong1]] /(lit.) to die without illness (idiom)/(fig.) to result in failure (without any outside interference); to come to nothing; to fizzle out/

+ 無計可施 无计可施 [[wu2ji4-ke3shi1]] /(lit.) to have no strategy to apply (idiom)/(fig.) to be out of ideas; at one's wit's end/

+ 爐火純青 炉火纯青 [[lu2huo3-chun2qing1]] /(lit.) the stove fire has turned bright green (allusion to Daoist alchemy) (idiom)/(fig.) (of an art, a technique etc) brought to the point of perfection/

+ 甕中捉鱉 瓮中捉鳖 [[weng4zhong1-zhuo1bie1]] /(lit.) to catch a turtle in a jar (idiom)/(fig.) to go after easy prey/

+ 生殺予奪 生杀予夺 [[sheng1sha1-yu3duo2]] /(lit.) to spare or to kill, to give or take away (idiom)/((fig.)) control over the fate of others/

+ 生老病死 生老病死 [[sheng1-lao3-bing4-si3]] /(lit.) to be born, to grow old, to get sick and to die (idiom)/(fig.) the fate of humankind (i.e. mortality)/

+ 登堂入室 登堂入室 [[deng1tang2-ru4shi4]] /(lit.) from the main room, enter the inner chamber (idiom)/(fig.) to go to the next level; to attain a higher level/

+ 百發百中 百发百中 [[bai3fa1-bai3zhong4]] /(lit.) one hundred shots, one hundred hits (idiom)/(fig.) to shoot with unfailing accuracy; to hit the mark every time/

+ 目不忍視 目不忍视 [[mu4bu4ren3shi4]] /(lit.) the eye cannot bear to see it (idiom)/(fig.) pitiful to behold/

+ 相濡以沫 相濡以沫 [[xiang1ru2-yi3mo4]] /(lit.) (of fish) to moisten each other with spittle (when out of the water) (idiom)/(fig.) to share meager resources and support each other in times of difficulty/

+ 看菜吃飯 看菜吃饭 [[kan4cai4-chi1fan4]] /(lit.) to eat depending on the dish (idiom)/(fig.) to act according to actual circumstances/

+ 真刀真槍 真刀真枪 [[zhen1dao1-zhen1qiang1]] /(lit.) real swords and spears (idiom)/(fig.) very much for real; genuine/

+ 眾人拾柴火焰高 众人拾柴火焰高 [[zhong4ren2 shi2chai2 huo3yan4 gao1]] /(lit.) when everybody gathers fuel, the flames are higher (proverb)/(fig.) the more people, the more strength/

+ 知無不言，言無不盡 知无不言，言无不尽 [[zhi1wu2bu4yan2, yan2wu2bu4jin4]] /(lit.) not hiding anything he knows, not stopping before he has said it through (idiom)/(fig.) frank; outspoken/

+ 知難而退 知难而退 [[zhi1nan2er2tui4]] /(lit.) to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom)/(fig.) to back out of an awkward situation; to get out on finding out what it's really like/

+ 破罐破摔 破罐破摔 [[po4guan4-po4shuai1]] /(lit.) to smash a pot just because it has a crack (idiom)/(fig.) to give up altogether after a setback; to throw one's hands up in frustration and let it all go to hell/

+ 破鏡重圓 破镜重圆 [[po4jing4-chong2yuan2]] /(lit.) the two halves of the broken mirror are rejoined (idiom)/(fig.) long-separated lovers are reunited; a broken relationship is restored/

+ 磨刀霍霍 磨刀霍霍 [[mo2dao1-huo4huo4]] /(lit.) to sharpen one's sword (idiom)/(fig.) to prepare to attack; to be getting ready for battle/

+ 神出鬼沒 神出鬼没 [[shen2chu1-gui3mo4]] /(lit.) to appear and disappear unpredictably like a spirit or a ghost (idiom)/(fig.) elusive/

+ 移花接木 移花接木 [[yi2hua1-jie1mu4]] /(lit.) to graft flowers onto a tree (idiom)/(fig.) to surreptitiously substitute one thing for another/

+ 空谷足音 空谷足音 [[kong1gu3-zu2yin1]] /(lit.) the sound of footsteps in a deserted valley (idiom)/(fig.) sth hard to come by; sth wonderful and rare/

+ 立竿見影 立竿见影 [[li4gan1-jian4ying3]] /(lit.) set up a pole and immediately see its shadow (idiom)/(fig.) to get instant results/

+ 筆走龍蛇 笔走龙蛇 [[bi3zou3long2she2]] /(lit.) the brush flows with the fluidity of a dragon or snake (idiom)/(fig.) (of brushwork, esp for calligraphy) lively; vigorous/

+ 粉身碎骨 粉身碎骨 [[fen3shen1-sui4gu3]] /(lit.) torn body and crushed bones (idiom)/(fig.) to die horribly; to sacrifice one's life/

+ 精雕細刻 精雕细刻 [[jing1diao1-xi4ke4]] /(lit.) fine sculpting (idiom)/(fig.) to work (at sth) with extreme care and precision/

+ 絲竹管弦 丝竹管弦 [[si1-zhu2-guan3-xian2]] /(lit.) string and wind instruments (idiom)/(fig.) traditional Chinese ensemble music/

+ 綿綿瓜瓞 绵绵瓜瓞 [[mian2mian2-gua1die2]] /(lit.) (of a melon vine) laden with melons of all sizes (idiom)/(fig.) (of descendants) to thrive and prosper for generations/

+ 緊鑼密鼓 紧锣密鼓 [[jin3luo2-mi4gu3]] /(lit.) urgent beating of gongs and drums (idiom)/(fig.) to urgently prepare for an upcoming event/

+ 縛雞之力 缚鸡之力 [[fu4ji1 zhi1 li4]] /(lit.) the strength to truss a chicken (idiom)/(fig.) slight physical strength/

+ 罄竹難書 罄竹难书 [[qing4zhu2-nan2shu1]] /(lit.) too numerous to record on bamboo slips (idiom)/(fig.) (of crimes or misdeeds) innumerable; beyond counting/

+ 羅雀掘鼠 罗雀掘鼠 [[luo2que4-jue2shu3]] /(lit.) to net sparrows and dig out rats (idiom)/(fig.) to try every possible means of obtaining food (in times of starvation)/

+ 聚沙成塔 聚沙成塔 [[ju4sha1-cheng2ta3]] /(lit.) many sand grains accumulate to form a tower (idiom)/(fig.) many little things add up to sth great/

+ 聲色犬馬 声色犬马 [[sheng1-se4-quan3-ma3]] /(lit.) music, women, dogs and horses (traditional aristocratic amusements, with dogs and horses referring to activities such as hunting and riding) (idiom)/(fig.) wine, women and song; dissolute pleasures; a life of sensual indulgence/

+ 胯下之辱 胯下之辱 [[kua4xia4 zhi1 ru3]] /(lit.) the humiliation of having to crawl between the legs of one's adversary (as Han Xin 韓信|韩信[Han2 Xin4] supposedly did rather than engage in a sword fight) (idiom)/(fig.) (endure) utter humiliation/

+ 臉上貼金 脸上贴金 [[lian3shang4-tie1jin1]] /(lit.) to apply gold leaf to the face of a statue (idiom)/(fig.) to talk up; to extol the virtues of (oneself or sb else)/

+ 臥薪嘗膽 卧薪尝胆 [[wo4xin1-chang2dan3]] /(lit.) to sleep on brushwood and taste gall (like King Goujian of Yue 勾踐|勾践[Gou1jian4], in order to recall one's humiliations) (idiom)/(fig.) to maintain one's resolve for revenge/

+ 臨陣磨槍 临阵磨枪 [[lin2zhen4-mo2qiang1]] /(lit.) to sharpen one's spear only before going into battle (idiom)/(fig.) to make preparations only at the last moment/

+ 與虎謀皮 与虎谋皮 [[yu3hu3-mou2pi2]] /(lit.) to negotiate with a tiger for its pelt (idiom); (fig.) to ask sb to act contrary to their own interests/

+ 舉手之勞 举手之劳 [[ju3shou3 zhi1 lao2]] /(lit.) the exertion of lifting one's hand (idiom)/(fig.) a very slight effort/

+ 華佗再世 华佗再世 [[Hua4 Tuo2 zai4shi4]] /(lit.) a reincarnation of Hua Tuo, the legendary physician of the Eastern Han Dynasty (idiom)/(fig.) a highly skilled and virtuous doctor; a miracle-working physician/

+ 萬箭穿心 万箭穿心 [[wan4jian4-chuan1xin1]] /(lit.) to have one's heart pierced by thousands of arrows (idiom)/(fig.) overcome with sorrow/(fig.) to lambaste; to rip sb to shreds/

+ 虎視眈眈 虎视眈眈 [[hu3shi4-dan1dan1]] /(lit.) to fix one's eyes on sth like a tiger watching its prey (idiom)/(fig.) to eye covetously/

+ 虱子多了不癢，債多了不愁 虱子多了不痒，债多了不愁 [[shi1zi5 duo1 le5 bu4 yang3, zhai4 duo1 le5 bu4 chou2]] /(lit.) when covered with lice, one doesn't feel the itching anymore, and when up to one's ears in debt, one ceases to worry about it (saying)/(fig.) to be past worrying (about sth)/

+ 蚍蜉撼樹 蚍蜉撼树 [[pi2fu2-han4shu4]] /(lit.) an ant trying to shake a tree (idiom)/(fig.) to overrate oneself; to overestimate one's capabilities/

+ 蝨多不癢 虱多不痒 [[shi1duo1-bu4yang3]] /(lit.) when covered with lice, one doesn't feel the itching anymore (idiom)/(fig.) to be past worrying (about sth)/

+ 螳臂當車 螳臂当车 [[tang2bi4-dang1che1]] /(lit.) a mantis trying to stop a chariot (idiom)/(fig.) to overrate oneself and attempt sth impossible/

+ 螳螂捕蟬，黃雀在後 螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后 [[tang2lang2-bu3chan2, huang2que4-zai4hou4]] /(lit.) the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the siskin behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1zi3])/(fig.) to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger/

+ 蠅營狗苟 蝇营狗苟 [[ying2ying2-gou3gou3]] /(lit.) to swarm like flies around rotten food and drag out an ignoble existence like a dog (idiom)/(fig.) to lead an undignified life; to resort to any means for personal gain/

+ 蠶食鯨吞 蚕食鲸吞 [[can2shi2-jing1tun1]] /(lit.) to nibble like a silkworm or swallow like a whale (idiom)/(fig.) to seize (territory etc) incrementally or wholesale/

+ 血脈僨張 血脉偾张 [[xue4mai4-fen4zhang1]] /(lit.) blood vessels swell wide (idiom)/(fig.) one's blood runs quicker; to be excited/

+ 衣食住行 衣食住行 [[yi1-shi2-zhu4-xing2]] /(lit.) clothing, food, housing and transportation (idiom)/(fig.) people's basic needs/

+ 補天浴日 补天浴日 [[bu3tian1-yu4ri4]] /(lit.) Nüwa mends the Heavens and Xihe bathes the Sun (idiom)/(fig.) (of an achievement, deed, undertaking etc) grand; magnificent; unparalleled/

+ 裝神弄鬼 装神弄鬼 [[zhuang1shen2-nong4gui3]] /(lit.) to pretend to be in contact with supernatural beings (idiom); (fig.) to create a false sense of mystery; to play tricks to deceive or scare others; to engage in hocus-pocus/

+ 西子捧心 西子捧心 [[Xi1zi3-peng3xin1]] /(lit.) Xishi clasps at her heart (idiom)/(fig.) a woman who is beautiful even when suffering the pangs of illness/

+ 視如敝屣 视如敝屣 [[shi4ru2bi4xi3]] /(lit.) to view as worn-out shoes (idiom)/(fig.) to consider to be worthless/

+ 認雞作鳳 认鸡作凤 [[ren4ji1-zuo4feng4]] /(lit.) to mistake a chicken for a phoenix (idiom)/(fig.) to overestimate sth's worth/

+ 談虎色變 谈虎色变 [[tan2hu3-se4bian4]] /(lit.) to turn pale at the mention of a tiger (idiom)/(fig.) to be terrified at the thought (of it)/

+ 讀萬卷書，行萬里路 读万卷书，行万里路 [[du2 wan4juan4 shu1, xing2 wan4li3 lu4]] /(lit.) read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles (idiom)/(fig.) acquire knowledge from study and wisdom from practical experience/

+ 豺狼虎豹 豺狼虎豹 [[chai2-lang2-hu3-bao4]] /(lit.) jackals, wolves, tigers and panthers (idiom)/(fig.) nasty, cruel people/

+ 貨真價實 货真价实 [[huo4zhen1-jia4shi2]] /(lit.) genuine goods at fair prices (idiom)/(fig.) genuine; real; true/

+ 趁火打劫 趁火打劫 [[chen4huo3-da3jie2]] /(lit.) to loot a burning house (idiom)/(fig.) to take advantage of sb's misfortune/

+ 身正不怕影子斜 身正不怕影子斜 [[shen1 zheng4 bu4 pa4 ying3zi5 xie2]] /(lit.) when a man stands straight, he doesn't worry that his shadow is slanting (saying)/(fig.) as long as one conducts oneself honorably, one need not worry about what people think; a clean hand wants no washing/

+ 退避三舍 退避三舍 [[tui4bi4-san1she4]] /(lit.) to retreat ninety li (idiom)/(fig.) to shun; to assiduously avoid/

+ 過河拆橋 过河拆桥 [[guo4he2-chai1qiao2]] /(lit.) to destroy the bridge after crossing the river (idiom)/(fig.) to abandon one's benefactor upon achieving one's goal/

+ 違法亂紀 违法乱纪 [[wei2fa3-luan4ji4]] /(lit.) to break the law and violate the rules (idiom)/(fig.) misconduct/

+ 鄭人買履 郑人买履 [[zheng4ren2-mai3lu:3]] /(lit.) the person from Zheng 鄭|郑[Zheng4] who wanted to buy shoes (an allusion to an ancient story about somebody who, when buying a pair of shoes, preferred to rely on their foot measurements rather than just trying them on) (idiom)/(fig.) disregarding the sensible approach in favor of adherence to a fixed idea/

+ 酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣 [[suan1-tian2-ku3-la4]] /(lit.) sour, sweet, bitter and spicy (idiom)/(fig.) all kinds of flavors; the joys and sorrows of life/

+ 醜媳婦早晚要見公婆 丑媳妇早晚要见公婆 [[chou3 xi2fu4 zao3wan3 yao4 jian4 gong1po2]] /(lit.) the ugly daughter-in-law must sooner or later meet her parents-in-law (proverb)/(fig.) something unpleasant or embarrassing cannot be avoided forever; sooner or later one must face it/

+ 采蘭贈芍 采兰赠芍 [[cai3lan2-zeng4shao2]] /(lit.) to pluck orchids and gift peonies (idiom)/(fig.) (of lovers) to exchange presents/

+ 量體裁衣 量体裁衣 [[liang4ti3-cai2yi1]] /(lit.) to cut cloth according to the body (idiom)/(fig.) to act according to actual circumstances/

+ 金石絲竹 金石丝竹 [[jin1-shi2-si1-zhu2]] /(lit.) (music instruments made of) metal, stone, string, and bamboo (idiom)/(fig.) traditional Chinese music instruments/

+ 鋪天蓋地 铺天盖地 [[pu1tian1-gai4di4]] /(lit.) eclipsing the sky and blanketing the earth (idiom)/(fig.) arriving in overwhelming quantities; engulfing; all-pervasive/

+ 錦上添花 锦上添花 [[jin3shang4-tian1hua1]] /(lit.) to add flowers to brocade (idiom)/(fig.) to make sth good even better; to add an extra (often nonessential) benefit or embellishment/

+ 門可羅雀 门可罗雀 [[men2ke3luo2que4]] /(lit.) you can net sparrows at the door (idiom)/(fig.) completely deserted/

+ 開花結果 开花结果 [[kai1hua1-jie1guo3]] /(lit.) to blossom and bear fruit (idiom)/(fig.) to come to fruition; to yield favorable results/

+ 雕欄玉砌 雕栏玉砌 [[diao1lan2-yu4qi4]] /(lit.) carved railings and jade steps (idiom)/(fig.) richly ornamented (building)/

+ 雞犬不留 鸡犬不留 [[ji1quan3-bu4liu2]] /(lit.) not even chickens and dogs are spared (idiom)/(fig.) mass slaughter/

+ 雞犬升天 鸡犬升天 [[ji1quan3-sheng1tian1]] /(lit.) (when a person attains enlightenment and immortality), even his chickens and dogs will ascend to heaven with him (idiom)/(fig.) (when somebody attains a position of power and influence), their relatives and friends also benefit/(2nd half of the saying 一人得道，雞犬升天|一人得道，鸡犬升天[yi1ren2-de2dao4, ji1quan3-sheng1tian1])/

+ 雲山霧罩 云山雾罩 [[yun2shan1-wu4zhao4]] /(lit.) enveloped in clouds and mist (idiom)/(fig.) (of speech or writing) unclear; confusing/

+ 震古爍今 震古烁今 [[zhen4gu3-shuo4jin1]] /(lit.) to astonish the ancients and dazzle contemporaries (idiom)/(fig.) to be earthshaking/

+ 青天霹靂 青天霹雳 [[qing1tian1-pi1li4]] /(lit.) thunderclap from a clear sky (idiom)/(fig.) a bolt from the blue/

+ 青山綠水 青山绿水 [[qing1shan1-lu:4shui3]] /(lit.) green hills and clear waters (idiom)/(fig.) picturesque natural scenery/

+ 面黃肌瘦 面黄肌瘦 [[mian4huang2-ji1shou4]] /(lit.) face yellow and body emaciated (idiom)/(fig.) malnourished and sickly in appearance/

+ 靴子落地 靴子落地 [[xue1zi5 luo4di4]] /(lit.) the boot hits the floor (idiom)/(fig.) a much-anticipated, impactful development has finally occurred (an allusion to a joke from the 1950s in which a young man would take off a boot and throw it onto the floor, waking the old man sleeping downstairs who could then not get back to sleep until he had heard the second boot hit the floor)/

+ 風吹草動 风吹草动 [[feng1chui1-cao3dong4]] /(lit.) grass stirring in the wind (idiom)/(fig.) the slightest whiff of trouble/

+ 風霜雨雪 风霜雨雪 [[feng1-shuang1-yu3-xue3]] /(lit.) wind, frost, rain and snow (idiom)/(fig.) all kinds of trials and hardships/

+ 飯糗茹草 饭糗茹草 [[fan4qiu3-ru2cao3]] /(lit.) to live on dry provisions and wild herbs (idiom)/(fig.) to live in abject poverty/

+ 馬耳東風 马耳东风 [[ma3er3-dong1feng1]] /(lit.) the east wind blowing in a horse's ear (idiom)/(fig.) words one pays no heed to/

+ 騎脖子拉屎 骑脖子拉屎 [[qi2 bo2zi5 la1shi3]] /(lit.) to take a dump while riding on sb's shoulders (saying)/(fig.) to treat sb like garbage/

+ 驚弓之鳥 惊弓之鸟 [[jing1gong1 zhi1 niao3]] /(lit.) a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow (idiom)/(fig.) sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences/

+ 驚為天人 惊为天人 [[jing1wei2tian1ren2]] /(lit.) to be astonished as if beholding a heavenly being (idiom)/(fig.) to be astounded by sb's or sth's extraordinary beauty or excellence/

+ 驢唇不對馬嘴 驴唇不对马嘴 [[lu:2chun2 bu4 dui4 ma3zui3]] /(lit.) a donkey's lips do not match a horse's mouth (saying)/(fig.) wide of the mark; irrelevant; incongruous/

+ 鰥寡孤獨 鳏寡孤独 [[guan1-gua3-gu1-du2]] /(lit.) widowers, widows, orphans and the childless (idiom)/(fig.) people with no one left to rely on/

+ 鼻孔朝天 鼻孔朝天 [[bi2kong3-chao2tian1]] /(lit.) to have one's nose in the air (idiom)/(fig.) arrogant; haughty/

+ 龍潭虎穴 龙潭虎穴 [[long2tan2-hu3xue2]] /(lit.) dragon's pool and tiger's den (idiom)/(fig.) dangerous place; hostile territory/