括毒 括毒 [kuò dú] /venomous/fig. cruel/
吸血鬼 吸血鬼 [xī xuè guǐ] /leech/blood-sucking vermin/vampire (translated European notion)/fig. cruel exploiter, esp. a capitalist exploiting the workers/
老狐狸 老狐狸 [lǎo hú li5] /old fox/fig. cunning person/
小鳥依人 小鸟依人 [xiǎo niǎo yī rén] /lit. like a little bird relying on people (idiom)/fig. cute and helpless-looking/
末路 末路 [mò lù] /end of the road/final road/fig. dead end/impasse/
暮氣 暮气 [mù qì] /evening mist/fig. declining spirits/lethargy/
沉痼 沉痼 [chén gù] /chronic illness/fig. deeply entrenched problem/
程門立雪 程门立雪 [Chéng mén lì xuě] /lit. the snow piles up at Cheng Yi's door (idiom)/fig. deep reverence for one's master/
頑疾 顽疾 [wán jí] /ineradicable disease/fig. deep-seated problem/perennial problem/
防波堤 防波堤 [fáng bō dī] /breakwater/seawall/fig. defensive buffer zone/
狗竇 狗窦 [gǒu dòu] /dog hole/gap caused by missing teeth/fig. den of thieves/
惡浪 恶浪 [è làng] /violent wave/fierce billow/fig. depraved force/
燃眉 燃眉 [rán méi] /to burn one's eyebrows/fig. desperately serious situation/
冷眼 冷眼 [lěng yǎn] /cool eye/fig. detached/(treating) with indifference/
拳打腳踢 拳打脚踢 [quán dǎ jiǎo tī] /lit. to punch and kick (idiom); to beat up/fig. determined to sort out a problem/
蟬翼 蝉翼 [chán yì] /cicada's wing/fig. diaphanous/delicate texture/
霜露 霜露 [shuāng lù] /frost and dew/fig. difficult conditions/
枷板 枷板 [jiā bǎn] /cangue/fig. difficult situation/
手不釋卷 手不释卷 [shǒu bù shì juàn] /lit. always with a book in hand (idiom)/fig. (of a student or scholar) diligent and hardworking/
齟齬 龃龉 [jǔ yǔ] /lit. unaligned teeth/fig. disagreement/
摩擦 摩擦 [mó cā] /friction/rubbing/chafing/fig. disharmony/conflict/also written 磨擦/
翹曲 翘曲 [qiáo qū] /to warp/to bend/fig. distorted opinion/prejudice/
瓜田不納履,李下不整冠 瓜田不纳履,李下不整冠 [guā tián bù nà lu:3 , lǐ xià bù zhěng guān] /lit. don't tie your shoelaces in a melon patch, and don't adjust your hat under a plum tree (idiom)/fig. don't do anything that might arouse suspicion/innocent acts may be misconstrued/
家醜不可外揚 家丑不可外扬 [jiā chǒu bù kě wài yáng] /lit. family shames must not be spread abroad (idiom)/fig. don't wash your dirty linen in public/
明人不做暗事 明人不做暗事 [míng rén bù zuò àn shì] /The honest person does nothing underhand (idiom)./fig. Do what you want to do openly and without dissimulation./
後車之鑒 后车之鉴 [hòu chē zhī jiàn] /lit. warning to the following cart (idiom); don't follow the track of an overturned cart/fig. draw lesson from the failure of one's predecessor/learn from past mistake/once bitten twice shy/
南柯一夢 南柯一梦 [Nán kē yī mèng] /lit. a dream of Nanke/fig. dreams of grandeur/
夢遊 梦游 [mèng yóu] /sleep walking/fig. dream voyage/
飄零 飘零 [piāo líng] /falling (like autumn leaves)/fig. drifting and homeless/
回光反照 回光反照 [huí guāng fǎn zhào] /final radiance of setting sun/fig. dying flash (of lucidity or activity, prior to demise)/
回光返照 回光返照 [huí guāng fǎn zhào] /final radiance of setting sun/fig. dying flash (of lucidity or activity, prior to demise)/
一個蘿蔔一個坑 一个萝卜一个坑 [yī gè luó bo5 yī gè kēng] /lit. every turnip to its hole (idiom)/fig. each person has his own position/each to his own/horses for courses/every kettle has its lid/
襁褓 襁褓 [qiǎng bǎo] /swaddling clothes/fig. early stage of development/infancy/
苦口 苦口 [kǔ kǒu] /lit. bitter taste (cf good medicine tastes bitter 良藥苦口|良药苦口)/fig. earnestly (of warning, advice)/
反手 反手 [fǎn shǒu] /to turn a hand over/to put one's hand behind one's back/fig. easily done/
迎刃而解 迎刃而解 [yíng rèn ér jiě] /lit. (bamboo) splits when it meets the knife's edge (idiom)/fig. easily solved/
細水長流 细水长流 [xì shuǐ cháng liú] /lit. thin streams flow forever/fig. economy will get you a long way/to work steadily at something little by little/
大鍋飯 大锅饭 [dà guō fàn] /lit. big rice pan/communal feeding/fig. egalitarianism (equal treatment for everyone in same institution)/
心動 心动 [xīn dòng] /heartbeat/palpitation/one's heartbeat quickens/tachycardia/fig. emotionally affected/aroused (of desire, emotion, interest etc)/startled/shocked/perturbed/
臥龍 卧龙 [wò lóng] /lit. hidden dragon/fig. emperor in hiding/
半瓶水響叮噹 半瓶水响叮当 [bàn píng shuǐ xiǎng dīng dāng] /lit. if you tap a half-empty bottle it makes a sound (idiom)/fig. empty vessels make the most noise/one who has a little knowledge likes to show off, but one who is truly knowledgeable is modest/
山明水秀 山明水秀 [shān míng shuǐ xiù] /lit. verdant hills and limpid water (idiom)/fig. enchanting scenery/
山清水秀 山清水秀 [shān qīng shuǐ xiù] /lit. verdant hills and limpid water (idiom)/fig. enchanting scenery/
得隴望蜀 得陇望蜀 [dé Lǒng wàng Shǔ] /lit. covet Sichuan once Gansu has been seized/fig. endless greed/insatiable desire/
狹路相逢 狭路相逢 [xiá lù xiāng féng] /lit. to meet face to face on a narrow path (idiom)/fig. enemies or rivals meet face to face/
悶葫蘆 闷葫芦 [mèn hú lu5] /lit. closed gourd/fig. enigma/complete mystery/taciturn person/
詩篇 诗篇 [shī piān] /a poem/a composition in verse/fig. epic (compared with historical epic)/the biblical Book of Psalms/
規矩 规矩 [guī ju5] /lit. compass and set square/fig. established standard/rule/customs/practices/fig. upright and honest/well-behaved/
刻骨銘心 刻骨铭心 [kè gǔ míng xīn] /lit. carved in bones and engraved in the heart (idiom)/fig. etched in one's memory/unforgettable/
起居作息 起居作息 [qǐ jū zuò xī] /lit. rising and lying down, working and resting (idiom)/fig. everyday life/daily routine/to go about one's daily life/
尺有所短,寸有所長 尺有所短,寸有所长 [chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn , cùn yǒu suǒ cháng] /lit. for some things a foot may be too short, and for the other an inch will suffice (proverb)/fig. everyone has their strong and weak points/everything has its advantages and disadvantages/
豁然開朗 豁然开朗 [huò rán kāi lǎng] /suddenly opens up to a wide panorama (idiom); to come to a wide clearing/fig. everything becomes clear at once/to achieve speedy enlightenment/
樹高千丈,葉落歸根 树高千丈,叶落归根 [shù gāo qiān zhàng , yè luò guī gēn] /fig. a tree may grow a thousand zhang high, but its leaves return to their roots (proverb)/fig. everything has its ancestral home/in old age, an expatriate returns home/
反掌 反掌 [fǎn zhǎng] /lit. to turn over one's palm/fig. everything is going very well./
桌面兒上 桌面儿上 [zhuō miàn r5 shàng] /on the table/fig. everything open and above board/
豺狼 豺狼 [chái láng] /jackal and wolf/ravenous wolf/fig. evil person/vicious tyrant/
芝蘭 芝兰 [zhī lán] /lit. iris and orchid/fig. exalted sentiments/(expr. of praise for noble character, beautiful surrounding, future prospects etc)/
贈芍 赠芍 [zèng sháo] /to give peonies/fig. exchange of gifts between lovers/
無限風光在險峰 无限风光在险峰 [wú xiàn fēng guāng zài xiǎn fēng] /The boundless vista is at the perilous peak (proverb)/fig. exhilaration follows a hard-won victory/
身經百戰 身经百战 [shēn jīng bǎi zhàn] /lit. veteran of a hundred battles (idiom)/fig. experienced/seasoned/
天花亂墜 天花乱坠 [tiān huā luàn zhuì] /lit. a deluge of heavenly flowers (idiom)/fig. extravagant embellishments/hype/
刀山火海 刀山火海 [dāo shān huǒ hǎi] /lit. mountains of daggers and seas of flames/fig. extreme danger (idiom)/
不亦樂乎 不亦乐乎 [bù yì lè hū] /lit. isn't that a joy? (quote from Confucius)/fig. (jocularly) extremely/awfully/
虎尾春冰 虎尾春冰 [hǔ wěi chūn bīng] /lit. like stepping on a tiger's tail or spring ice (idiom)/fig. extremely dangerous situation/
萬丈 万丈 [wàn zhàng] /lit. ten thousand fathoms/fig. extremely high or deep/lofty/bottomless/
煅爐 煅炉 [duàn lú] /forge/fig. extremely hot environment/
寢食難安 寝食难安 [qǐn shí nán ān] /lit. cannot rest or eat in peace (idiom)/fig. extremely worried and troubled/
假面具 假面具 [jiǎ miàn jù] /mask/fig. false façade/deceptive front/
人怕出名豬怕壯 人怕出名猪怕壮 [rén pà chū míng zhū pà zhuàng] /lit. people fear getting famous like pigs fear fattening up (for the slaughter)/fig. fame has its price/
人怕出名豬怕肥 人怕出名猪怕肥 [rén pà chū míng zhū pà féi] /lit. people fear getting famous like pigs fear fattening up (for the slaughter)/fig. fame has its price/
門楣 门楣 [mén méi] /lintel (of a door)/fig. family's social status/
血濃於水 血浓于水 [xuè nóng yú shuǐ] /blood is thicker than water/fig. family ties are closer than social relations/
風中之燭 风中之烛 [fēng zhōng zhī zhú] /lit. candle in the wind (idiom)/fig. (of sb's life) feeble/hanging on a thread/
風中燭,瓦上霜 风中烛,瓦上霜 [fēng zhōng zhú , wǎ shàng shuāng] /lit. like a candle in the wind, or frost on the roof (idiom)/fig. (of sb's life) feeble/hanging on a thread/
年兄 年兄 [nián xiōng] /lit. older brother/fig. fellow students who are successful in the imperial examinations/
閉月羞花 闭月羞花 [bì yuè xiū huā] /lit. hiding the moon, shaming the flowers (idiom)/fig. female beauty exceeding even that of the natural world/
豐腴 丰腴 [fēng yú] /full-bodied/well-rounded/fig. fertile land/
烏鳥私情 乌鸟私情 [wū niǎo sī qíng] /lit. the solicitude of the crow (who provides for his old parent)(idiom)/fig. filial piety/
開矇 开蒙 [kāi méng] /to emerge from ignorance/fig. first stages of learning (arch.)/
飛轉 飞转 [fēi zhuàn] /to spin very fast/fig. fleeting passage of time/
牛皮 牛皮 [niú pí] /cowhide/leather/fig. flexible and tough/boasting/big talk/
奴才 奴才 [nú cai5] /slave/fig. flunkey/
夜郎自大 夜郎自大 [Yè láng zì dà] /lit. Yelang thinks highly of itself (idiom)/fig. foolish conceit/
偏安 偏安 [piān ān] /content to hold a small part of the territory/fig. forced to relinquish the middle ground/forced to move away/
預防針 预防针 [yù fáng zhēn] /immunization injection/fig. forewarning/heads-up/preventive measure/
框 框 [kuàng] /frame (e.g. door frame)/casing/fig. framework/template/to circle (i.e. draw a circle around sth)/to frame/to restrict/Taiwan pr. [kuāng]/
團團轉 团团转 [tuán tuán zhuàn] /to go round and round/running around in circles/fig. frantically busy/
一寸光陰一寸金 一寸光阴一寸金 [yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn] /lit. An interval of time is worth an ounce of gold. (idiom)/fig. free time is to be treasured/
揮灑 挥洒 [huī sǎ] /to sprinkle/to shed (tears, blood etc)/fig. free, unconstrained/to write in a free style/
沒頭沒臉 没头没脸 [méi tóu méi liǎn] /lit. without head, without face (idiom)/fig. frenzily/haphazardly/
全副武裝 全副武装 [quán fù wǔ zhuāng] /fully armed/armed to the teeth/fig. fully equipped/
有子存焉 有子存焉 [yǒu zǐ cún yān] /I still have sons, don't I?/fig. future generations will continue the work/
空子 空子 [kòng zi5] /gap/unoccupied space or time/fig. gap/loophole/
蘭譜 兰谱 [lán pǔ] /lit. directory of orchids/fig. genealogical record (esp. exchanged between sworn brothers)/
金蘭譜 金兰谱 [jīn lán pǔ] /lit. directory of golden orchids/fig. genealogical record (esp. exchanged between sworn brothers)/
假一賠十 假一赔十 [jiǎ yī péi shí] /lit. if one is fake, I shall compensate you for ten of them/fig. (of goods) 100% genuine/
排山倒海 排山倒海 [pái shān dǎo hǎi] /lit. to topple the mountains and overturn the seas (idiom); earth-shattering/fig. gigantic/of spectacular significance/
良方 良方 [liáng fāng] /good medicine/effective prescription/fig. good plan/effective strategy/
不怕不識貨,只怕貨比貨 不怕不识货,只怕货比货 [bù pà bù shí huò , zhǐ pà huò bǐ huò] /lit. don't worry about not knowing goods, but about comparing them (proverb)/fig. goods' (or person's) true value can only be determined through comparison/
不怕不識貨,就怕貨比貨 不怕不识货,就怕货比货 [bù pà bù shí huò , jiù pà huò bǐ huò] /lit. don't worry about not knowing goods, but about comparing them (proverb)/fig. goods' (or person's) true value can only be determined through comparison/
沉凝 沉凝 [chén níng] /stagnant/congealed/fig. grave in manner/low (of voice)/
豐碑 丰碑 [fēng bēi] /large inscribed stele/fig. great achievement/imperishable masterpiece/
洪水猛獸 洪水猛兽 [hóng shuǐ měng shòu] /lit. severe floods and fierce beasts (idiom)/fig. great scourges/extremely dangerous or threatening things/
血盆大口 血盆大口 [xuè pén dà kǒu] /bloody mouth wide open like a sacrificial bowl (idiom); ferocious mouth of beast of prey/fig. greedy exploiter/rapacious aggressor/
鼓盆 鼓盆 [gǔ pén] /lit. to drum on a bowl/refers to Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子 grieving for his lost wife/fig. grief for a lost wife/
鼓盆之戚 鼓盆之戚 [gǔ pén zhī qī] /drumming on a bowl in grief (idiom, refers to Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子 grieving for his lost wife)/fig. grief for a lost wife/
小白鼠 小白鼠 [xiǎo bái shǔ] /little white mouse (esp. laboratory animal)/fig. guinea pig, i.e. human participant in experiment/
浪花 浪花 [làng huā] /spray/ocean spray/spindrift/fig. happenings from one's life/CL:朵[duǒ]/
烏鴉嘴 乌鸦嘴 [wū yā zuǐ] /lit. crow's beak/fig. harbinger of doom/Cassandra/boring person constantly cawing about disaster/to tempt fate by mentioning misfortune/inauspicious topic bringing bad luck/jinx/
金石 金石 [jīn shí] /metal and stone/fig. hard objects/inscription on metal or bronze/
風霜 风霜 [fēng shuāng] /wind and frost/fig. hardships/
人間地獄 人间地狱 [rén jiān dì yù] /hell on earth (idiom); suffering the torments of Buddhist hell while still alive/fig. having an uncomfortable time/
衝擊波 冲击波 [chōng jī bō] /blast wave/shock wave/fig. having wide repercussions/
茫 茫 [máng] /vast, with no clear boundary/fig. hazy/indistinct/unclear/confused/
木人石心 木人石心 [mù rén shí xīn] /lit. body made of wood, heart made of stone (idiom)/fig. heartless/
阿鼻 阿鼻 [A1 bí] /Ceaseless pain (Sanskrit: Avici), one of the Buddhist hells/fig. hell/hell on earth/
阿鼻地獄 阿鼻地狱 [A1 bí dì yù] /Ceaseless pain (Sanskrit: Avici), one of the Buddhist hells/fig. hell/hell on earth/
移山志 移山志 [yí shān zhì] /the will to move mountains/fig. high ambitions/
雲端 云端 [yún duān] /fig. high in the clouds/(in the) cloud (computing)/
青雲 青云 [qīng yún] /clear sky/fig. high official position/noble/
頂峰 顶峰 [dǐng fēng] /peak/summit/fig. high point/masterpiece/
一清如水 一清如水 [yī qīng rú shuǐ] /lit. as clear as water (idiom)/fig. (of officials etc) honest and incorruptible/
蜂巢 蜂巢 [fēng cháo] /beehive/wasp's nest/honeycomb/fig. honeycomb figure/
蜂窩 蜂窝 [fēng wō] /bee's nest/honeycomb/fig. honeycomb figure/
杏林 杏林 [xìng lín] /forest of apricot trees/fig. honorific term for fine doctor (cf Dr Dong Feng 董奉, 3rd century AD, asked his patients to plant apricot trees instead of paying fees)/Xinglin district of Xiamen city (renamed Haicang 海沧区 in 2003)/
燕雀安知鴻鵠之志 燕雀安知鸿鹄之志 [yàn què ān zhī hóng hú zhī zhì] /lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom)/fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?/
戰 战 [zhàn] /to fight/fight/war/battle/
挌 挌 [gé] /fight/
爭戰 争战 [zhēng zhàn] /fight/
鬥爭 斗争 [dòu zhēng] /a struggle/fight/battle/
唇槍舌劍 唇枪舌剑 [chún qiāng shé jiàn] /fight a battle of words/cross verbal swords/
龍虎鬥 龙虎斗 [lóng hǔ dòu] /fight between powerful contenders/
壯士 壮士 [zhuàng shì] /hero/fighter/brave strong guy/warrior (in armor)/
戰士 战士 [zhàn shì] /fighter/soldier/warrior/CL:個|个[gè]/
戰鬥機 战斗机 [zhàn dòu jī] /fighter (aircraft)/
戰鬥者 战斗者 [zhàn dòu zhě] /fighter/
戰機 战机 [zhàn jī] /opportunity in a battle/fighter aircraft/war secret/
殲擊機 歼击机 [jiān jī jī] /fighter plane/
武裝份子 武装分子 [wǔ zhuāng fèn zǐ] /armed groups/fighters/gunmen/
兵戈 兵戈 [bīng gē] /weapons/arms/fighting/war/
戰事 战事 [zhàn shì] /fighting/
搏殺 搏杀 [bó shā] /fighting/killing/
訌 讧 [hòng] /strife/disorder/rioting/fighting/
連戰連勝 连战连胜 [lián zhàn lián shèng] /fighting and winning a series of battles (idiom); ever victorious/
轉戰千里 转战千里 [zhuǎn zhàn qiān lǐ] /fighting everywhere over a thousand miles (idiom); constant fighting across the country/never-ending struggle/
戰團 战团 [zhàn tuán] /fighting group/by extension, a fight/a fray/
徒手 徒手 [tú shǒu] /with bare hands/unarmed/fighting hand-to-hand/freehand (drawing)/
鬥艦 斗舰 [dòu jiàn] /fighting ship/
鬥志 斗志 [dòu zhì] /will to fight/fighting spirit/
戰鬥力 战斗力 [zhàn dòu lì] /fighting strength/
拳法 拳法 [quán fǎ] /boxing/fighting technique/
死戰 死战 [sǐ zhàn] /fight to the death/desperate struggle/
天旋地轉 天旋地转 [tiān xuán dì zhuàn] /the sky spins, the earth goes round (idiom); giddy with one's head spinning/fig. huge changes in the world/
革囊 革囊 [gé náng] /leather purse/fig. human body/
蝸居 蜗居 [wō jū] /snail's home/fig. humble abode/
蝸廬 蜗庐 [wō lú] /snail's hut/fig. humble abode/my little hut/
問客殺雞 问客杀鸡 [wèn kè shā jī] /lit. asking guests whether or not to butcher a chicken for them (idiom)/fig. hypocritical show of affection (or hospitality)/
鱷魚眼淚 鳄鱼眼泪 [è yú yǎn lèi] /crocodile tears/fig. hypocritical words of sympathy/
做夢 做梦 [zuò mèng] /to dream/to have a dream/fig. illusion/fantasy/pipe dream/
黃粱夢 黄粱梦 [huáng liáng mèng] /dream of golden millet/fig. illusions of wealth and glory/pipe dream/
黃粱美夢 黄粱美梦 [huáng liáng měi mèng] /dream of golden millet/fig. illusions of wealth and power/pipe dream/
衣冠禽獸 衣冠禽兽 [yī guān qín shòu] /lit. dressed up animal (idiom)/fig. immoral and despicable person/
急性病 急性病 [jí xìng bìng] /acute illness/fig. impetuous/impatient/
羊質虎皮 羊质虎皮 [yáng zhì hǔ pí] /lit. the heart of a sheep in the skin of a tiger (idiom)/fig. impressive in appearance but lacking in substance/braggart/
一朝一夕 一朝一夕 [yī zhāo yī xī] /lit. one morning and one evening (idiom)/fig. in a short period of time/overnight/
請將不如激將 请将不如激将 [qǐng jiàng bù rú jī jiàng] /lit. to dispatch a general is not as effective as to excite a general/fig. inciting people to action is more effective than dispatching orders/
倒懸 倒悬 [dào xuán] /lit. to hang upside down/fig. in dire straits/
劊子手 刽子手 [guì zi5 shǒu] /executioner/headsman/slaughterer/fig. indiscriminate murderer/
雛兒 雏儿 [chú ér] /newly hatched bird/fig. inexperienced person/fig. chick (slighting term for young woman)/bimbo/
心尖 心尖 [xīn jiān] /bottom tip of the heart/fig. innermost feelings/coll. my darling/
親口 亲口 [qīn kǒu] /one's own mouth/fig. in one's own words/to say sth personally/
形影相隨 形影相随 [xíng yǐng xiāng suí] /lit. body and shadow follow each other (idiom)/fig. inseparable/
令箭 令箭 [lìng jiàn] /arrow banner of command (archaic used as symbol of military authority)/fig. instructions from one's superiors/
帶路人 带路人 [dài lù rén] /a guide/fig. instructor/
火焰山 火焰山 [huǒ yàn shān] /Mountain of Flames of legend/fig. insurmountable obstacle/Mountain of Flames in Turpan depression in Xinjiang/
津梁 津梁 [jīn liáng] /lit. ferry bridge/fig. interim measure over some difficulty/a guide/
火星文 火星文 [Huǒ xīng wén] /lit. Martian language/fig. Internet slang used to communicate secret messages that the general public or government can't understand/
舞臺 舞台 [wǔ tái] /stage/arena/fig. in the limelight/
高山流水 高山流水 [gāo shān liú shuǐ] /fig. intimate and understanding friend/sublime musical composition/
焦頭爛額 焦头烂额 [jiāo tóu làn é] /lit. beaten head and scorched brow (idiom); beaten black and blue/fig. in trouble/in terrible shape/hard pressed/overwrought/
糊糊 糊糊 [hú hu5] /thick congee/porridge/fig. in trouble/
矯枉過正 矫枉过正 [jiǎo wǎng guò zhèng] /to over-correct a defect (idiom); to over-compensate/to push sth too far the other way/fig. inverse discrimination/
矯枉過直 矫枉过直 [jiǎo wǎng guò zhí] /to over-correct a defect (idiom); to over-compensate/to push sth too far the other way/fig. inverse discrimination/
刀槍不入 刀枪不入 [dāo qiāng bù rù] /lit. impervious to sword or spear (idiom)/fig. invulnerable/untouchable/thick-skinned/impervious to criticism/
朵 朵 [duǒ] /flower/earlobe/fig. item on both sides/classifier for flowers, clouds etc/
戴盆望天 戴盆望天 [dài pén wàng tiān] /lit. viewing the sky with a basin on one's head; it is hard to get a clear view of the sky while carrying a platter on one's head/fig. it is hard to get on in one's career while encumbered by family obligations/one can't perform a major task while bothered by other duties/
一個巴掌拍不響 一个巴掌拍不响 [yī ge5 bā zhǎng pāi bù xiǎng] /lit. one palm alone cannot clap (proverb)/fig. it takes two persons to start a dispute/it takes two to tango/it's difficult to achieve anything without support/
牙磣 牙碜 [yá chen5] /gritty (of foodstuffs)/fig. jarring speech/
紗帽 纱帽 [shā mào] /gauze hat/fig. job as an official/
醜角 丑角 [chǒu jué] /clown role in opera/fig. joker/clown/
花瓶 花瓶 [huā píng] /flower vase/fig. just a pretty face/CL:對|对[duì]/
肥水不流外人田 肥水不流外人田 [féi shuǐ bù liú wài rén tián] /lit. don't let one's own fertile water flow into others' field/fig. keep the goodies within the family (proverb)/
要路 要路 [yào lù] /important road/main thoroughfare/fig. key position/
門檻 门槛 [mén kǎn] /doorstep/sill/threshold/fig. knack or trick (esp. scheme to get sth cheaper)/
散沙 散沙 [sǎn shā] /scattered sand/fig. lacking in cohesion or organization/
萬事俱備,只欠東風 万事俱备,只欠东风 [wàn shì jù bèi , zhǐ qiàn dōng fēng] /lit. everything is ready, all we need is an east wind (idiom)/fig. lacking only one tiny crucial item/
階梯 阶梯 [jiē tī] /flight of steps/fig. ladder/stepping stone/
色字頭上一把刀 色字头上一把刀 [sè zì tóu shàng yī bǎ dāo] /lit. there is a knife above the character for lust/fig. lascivious activities can lead to bitter consequences/
遮羞布 遮羞布 [zhē xiū bù] /G-string/loincloth/fig. last semblance/CL:塊|块[kuài]/
一口吃不成胖子 一口吃不成胖子 [yī kǒu chī bù chéng pàng zi5] /lit. you cannot get fat with only one mouthful (proverb)/fig. learn to walk before you run/
馬尾穿豆腐,提不起來 马尾穿豆腐,提不起来 [mǎ wěi chuān dòu fu5 , tí bu5 qǐ lai5] /lit. like tofu strung on horsetail, you can't lift it/fig. let's not talk of this (pun on 提[tí])/
柴米油鹽 柴米油盐 [chái mǐ yóu yán] /lit. firewood, rice, oil and salt/fig. life's daily necessities/
柴米油鹽醬醋茶 柴米油盐酱醋茶 [chái mǐ yóu yán jiàng cù chá] /lit. firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy, vinegar, and tea/fig. life's daily necessities/
神仙 神仙 [shén xiān] /Daoist immortal/supernatural entity/(in modern fiction) fairy, elf, leprechaun etc/fig. lighthearted person/
飯碗 饭碗 [fàn wǎn] /rice bowl/fig. livelihood/job/way of making a living/
火坑 火坑 [huǒ kēng] /pit of fire/fig. living hell/
小氣候 小气候 [xiǎo qì hòu] /microclimate/fig. local situation/
冷清 冷清 [lěng qīng] /cold and cheerless/fig. lonely/unfrequented/
長蛇陣 长蛇阵 [cháng shé zhèn] /single-line formation (army)/fig. long line/
長夜 长夜 [cháng yè] /long dark night/fig. long period of misery and oppression/
金童玉女 金童玉女 [jīn tóng yù nu:3] /lit. golden boys and jade maidens (idiom)/attendants of the Daoist immortals/fig. lovely young children/a golden couple/(of a couple who are in the public eye) a lovely young couple/
桑間濮上 桑间濮上 [sāng jiān Pú shàng] /lit. among the mulberry trees by the Pu River/fig. lovers' rendezvous/
低谷 低谷 [dī gǔ] /valley/trough (as opposed to peaks)/fig. low point/lowest ebb/nadir of one's fortunes/
禍首罪魁 祸首罪魁 [huò shǒu zuì kuí] /main offender, criminal ringleader (idiom); main culprit/fig. main cause of a disaster/
罪魁禍首 罪魁祸首 [zuì kuí huò shǒu] /criminal ringleader, main offender (idiom); main culprit/fig. main cause of a disaster/
大動脈 大动脉 [dà dòng mài] /main artery (blood vessel)/fig. main highway/arterial road/
豐沛 丰沛 [fēng pèi] /copious/plentiful (of water)/surging (of waves)/refers to home village of first Han emperor 漢高祖|汉高祖[Hàn Gāo zǔ]/fig. majestic/
大鱷 大鳄 [dà è] /lit. big crocodile/fig. major figure/big shot/top boss (esp. criminal)/
臥虎 卧虎 [wò hǔ] /crouching tiger/fig. major figure in hiding/concealed talent/
一波三折 一波三折 [yī bō sān zhé] /calligraphic flourish with many twists/fig. many twists and turns/
夫唱婦隨 夫唱妇随 [fū chàng fù suí] /fig. the man sings and the woman follows/fig. marital harmony/
鸞飄鳳泊 鸾飘凤泊 [luán piāo fèng bó] /lit. firebird soars, phoenix alights (idiom); fig. exquisite bold calligraphy/fig. marriage breaks up/fig. scholar unsuccessful/
窗口 窗口 [chuāng kǒu] /window/opening providing restricted access (e.g. customer service window)/computer operating system window/fig. medium/intermediary/showpiece/testing ground/
糾結點 纠结点 [jiū jiē diǎn] /a knot/fig. meeting of many strands/
幻覺 幻觉 [huàn jué] /illusion/hallucination/figment of one's imagination/
震撼 震撼 [zhèn hàn] /to shake/to vibrate/to shock/to stun/shocking/stunning/fig. mind-blowing/
平緩 平缓 [píng huǎn] /level/almost flat/not strongly sloping/fig. moderate/mild-mannered/gentle/
如泣如訴 如泣如诉 [rú qì rú sù] /lit. as if weeping and complaining (idiom)/fig. mournful (music or singing)/
寒蟬 寒蝉 [hán chán] /cicada in winter/fig. mournful sound/
屠夫 屠夫 [tú fū] /butcher/fig. murderous dictator/
靈犀 灵犀 [líng xī] /rhinoceros horn, reputed to confer telepathic powers/fig. mutual sensitivity/tacit exchange of romantic feelings/a meeting of minds/
柴門小戶 柴门小户 [chái mén xiǎo hù] /woodcutter's cottage (idiom); poor person's hovel/fig. my humble house/
迫脅 迫胁 [pò xié] /to coerce/fig. narrow/
蚰蜒路 蚰蜒路 [yóu yan5 lù] /lit. centipede's path/fig. narrow winding road/
新穎 新颖 [xīn yǐng] /lit. new bud/fig. new and original/
出爐 出炉 [chū lú] /to take out of the furnace/fresh out of the oven/fig. newly announced/recently made available/
砲響 炮响 [pào xiǎng] /sound of gunfire/fig. news of momentous events/
天壤之別 天壤之别 [tiān rǎng zhī bié] /lit. as different as sky and earth (idiom)/fig. night and day difference/opposite extremes/a world of difference/a far cry from/
和尚打傘 和尚打伞 [hé shang5 dǎ sǎn] /lit. monk holding an umbrella: no hair, no sky/fig. no protection from law (punning on 髮|发[fà] vs 法[fǎ]) or from heaven/
萬籟無聲 万籁无声 [wàn lài wú shēng] /lit. ten thousand pipes are still (idiom)/fig. not a sound to be heard/dead silent/
不痛不癢 不痛不痒 [bù tòng bù yǎng] /lit. doesn't hurt, doesn't tickle (idiom); sth is wrong, but not quite sure what/fig. not getting to any matter of substance/scratching the surface/superficial/perfunctory/
臭不可聞 臭不可闻 [chòu bù kě wén] /unbearable stink/fig. notorious/
一葉障目 一叶障目 [yī yè zhàng mù] /lit. eyes obscured by a single leaf (idiom)/fig. not seing the wider picture/can't see the wood for the trees/
文風不動 文风不动 [wén fēng bù dòng] /absolutely still/fig. not the slightest change/also written 紋風不動|纹风不动/
紋風不動 纹风不动 [wén fēng bù dòng] /absolutely still/fig. not the slightest change/also written 文風不動|文风不动/
不知 不知 [bù zhī] /not to know/unaware/unknowingly/fig. not to admit (defeat, hardships, tiredness etc)/
混淆黑白 混淆黑白 [hùn xiáo hēi bái] /to confuse black and white/to say that black is white/fig. not to distinguish right from wrong/
食言而肥 食言而肥 [shí yán ér féi] /lit. to grow fat eating one's words (idiom)/fig. not to live up to one's promises/
三天打魚,兩天曬網 三天打鱼,两天晒网 [sān tiān dǎ yú , liǎng tiān shài wǎng] /lit. to fish for three days and sun-dry the nets for two days (proverb)/fig. not to persevere in doing sth/to do sth by fits and starts/
冷水 冷水 [lěng shuǐ] /cold water/unboiled water/fig. not yet ready (of plans)/
開葷 开荤 [kāi hūn] /to resume a meat diet/to eat meat again after a period of fasting/fig. novel experience/
新出爐 新出炉 [xīn chū lú] /fresh out of the oven/fig. novelty just announced/recently made available/
婦女能頂半邊天 妇女能顶半边天 [fù nu:3 néng dǐng bàn biān tiān] /Woman can hold up half the sky/fig. nowadays, women have an equal part to play in society/
對牛彈琴 对牛弹琴 [duì niú tán qín] /lit. to play the lute to a cow (idiom)/fig. offering a treat to an unappreciative audience/to cast pearls before swine/caviar to the general/to preach to deaf ears/to talk over sb's head/
烏紗帽 乌纱帽 [wū shā mào] /black hat (worn by feudal official)/fig. official post/
人跡罕至 人迹罕至 [rén jì hǎn zhì] /lit. men's footprints are rare (idiom)/fig. off the beaten track/lonely/deserted/
餘熱 余热 [yú rè] /residual heat/surplus heat/fig. old people's capacity for work/
皓首 皓首 [hào shǒu] /white head of hair/fig. old person/
老賬 老账 [lǎo zhàng] /lit. old account/old debt/fig. old scores to settle/old quarrels/old grudge/
舊賬 旧账 [jiù zhàng] /lit. old account/old debt/fig. old scores to settle/old quarrels/old grudge/
老將 老将 [lǎo jiàng] /lit. old general/commander-in-chief 將帥|将帅, the equivalent of king in Chinese chess/fig. old-timer/veteran/
難兄難弟 难兄难弟 [nán xiōng nán dì] /lit. hard to differentiate between elder and younger brother (idiom)/fig. one is just as bad as the other/
股掌 股掌 [gǔ zhǎng] /(have sb in) the palm of one's hand/fig. (under) one's complete control/
好馬不吃回頭草 好马不吃回头草 [hǎo mǎ bù chī huí tóu cǎo] /lit. a good horse doesn't come back to the same pasture (idiom)/fig. one should not go back to one's past experiences (of love, job etc)/
一斑 一斑 [yī bān] /lit. one spot (on the leopard)/fig. one small item in a big scheme/
墳塋 坟茔 [fén yíng] /grave/tomb/graveyard/cemetery/fig. one's native place (where one's ancestors are buried)/
暮景 暮景 [mù jǐng] /an evening scene/fig. one's old age/
狗腿子 狗腿子 [gǒu tuǐ zi5] /dog's leg/fig. one who follows a villain/henchman/hired thug/
只見樹木不見森林 只见树木不见森林 [zhǐ jiàn shù mù bù jiàn sēn lín] /unable to see the wood for the trees/fig. only able to see isolated details, and not the bigger picture/
三旬九食 三旬九食 [sān xún jiǔ shí] /lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)/fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation/in dire straits/
呼聲 呼声 [hū shēng] /a shout/fig. opinion or demand, esp. expressed by a group/
源泉 源泉 [yuán quán] /fountainhead/well-spring/water source/fig. origin/
歌聲 歌声 [gē shēng] /singing voice/fig. original voice of a poet/
明日黃花 明日黄花 [míng rì huáng huā] /lit. chrysanthemums after the Double Ninth Festival (idiom)/fig. outdated/thing of the past/dead letter/
脫韁 脱缰 [tuō jiāng] /to throw off the reins/runaway (horse)/fig. out of control/
山寨 山寨 [shān zhài] /fortified hill village/mountain stronghold (esp. of bandits)/fig. outside government supervision/evading tax or copyright law/knockoff (goods)/imitation/parody/
神筆 神笔 [shén bǐ] /lit. divine pen/fig. outstanding writing/
枝蔓 枝蔓 [zhī màn] /branches and tendrils/fig. over-complicated or digressive/
精蟲衝腦 精虫冲脑 [jīng chóng chōng nǎo] /lit. the spermatozoons have gone to his head/fig. overwhelmed by lust/
翻江倒海 翻江倒海 [fān jiāng dǎo hǎi] /lit. overturning seas and rivers (idiom)/fig. overwhelming/earth-shattering/in a spectacular mess/
絮 絮 [xù] /cotton wadding/fig. padding/long-winded/
苦果 苦果 [kǔ guǒ] /lit. bitter fruit/fig. painful consequence/
春暉 春晖 [chūn huī] /lit. spring sunshine/fig. parental (often maternal) love/
熾熱 炽热 [chì rè] /red-hot/glowing/blazing/fig. passionate/
框架 框架 [kuàng jià] /frame/framework/fig. pattern/outline/organizing plan/
光天化日 光天化日 [guāng tiān huà rì] /the full light of day (idiom)/fig. peace and prosperity/in broad daylight/
三教九流 三教九流 [sān jiào jiǔ liú] /the Three Religions (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism) and Nine Schools (Confucians, Daoists, Yin-Yang, Legalists, Logicians, Mohists, Political Strategists, Eclectics, Agriculturists)/fig. people from all trades (often derog.)/
無殼蝸牛 无壳蜗牛 [wú ké wō niú] /fig. people who cannot afford to buy their own house/
鰥寡孤獨 鳏寡孤独 [guān guǎ gū dú] /lit. widowers, widows, orphans and the childless/fig. people with no one left to rely on/
保護傘 保护伞 [bǎo hù sǎn] /protective umbrella/fig. person affording protection (esp. corrupt)/
瑰寶 瑰宝 [guī bǎo] /gem/treasure/fig. person of remarkable ability/genius/
邊幅 边幅 [biān fú] /cloth margin/fig. person's appearance/one's dress/
墊腳石 垫脚石 [diàn jiǎo shí] /stepping stone/fig. person used to advance one's career/
風標 风标 [fēng biāo] /wind vane/anemometer/weathercock/fig. person who switches allegiance readily/turncoat/
昏天黑地 昏天黑地 [hūn tiān hēi dì] /lit. dark sky and black earth (idiom)/fig. pitch dark/to black out/disorderly/troubled times/
不食人間煙火 不食人间烟火 [bù shí rén jiān yān huǒ] /lit. not eating the food of common mortals/fig. placing oneself above the common populace/
杜鵑啼血 杜鹃啼血 [dù juān tí xuè] /the cuckoo cries blood/fig. plaintive lament/
運籌帷幄 运筹帷幄 [yùn chóu wéi wò] /lit. to devise battle plan in a tent (idiom)/fig. planning strategies/
憶苦飯 忆苦饭 [yì kǔ fàn] /unsavory meal taken in remembrance of past hardships/fig. poor-tasting meal/
口頭禪 口头禅 [kǒu tóu chán] /lit. Zen saying repeated as cant/fig. popular saying/catchphrase/cliché/
蓋棺 盖棺 [gài guān] /coffin lid/fig. posthumous reputation/
衣不蔽體 衣不蔽体 [yī bù bì tǐ] /lit. clothes not covering the body (idiom)/fig. poverty-stricken/
食不果腹 食不果腹 [shí bù guǒ fù] /lit. food not filling the stomach (idiom)/fig. poverty-stricken/
無爪 无爪 [wú zhuǎ] /without claws/fig. powerless/
無牙 无牙 [wú yá] /toothless/fig. powerless/
朝露 朝露 [zhāo lù] /morning dew/fig. precarious brevity of human life/ephemeral/
細腰 细腰 [xì yāo] /slender waist/fig. pretty woman/mortise and tenon joint on a coffin/
龍騰虎躍 龙腾虎跃 [lóng téng hǔ yuè] /lit. dragon soaring and tiger leaping (idiom)/fig. prosperous and bustling/vigorous and active/
半開門 半开门 [bàn kāi mén] /half-open door/fig. prostitute/
擋風牆 挡风墙 [dǎng fēng qiáng] /lit. windbreak/fig. protector/
偏西 偏西 [piān xī] /inclining to the west (of the sun after noon)/fig. pro-Western/
導火線 导火线 [dǎo huǒ xiàn] /a fuse (for explosives)/fig. proximate cause/the last straw/
太上皇 太上皇 [Tài shàng huáng] /Taishang Huang/Retired Emperor/father of the reigning emperor/fig. puppet master/
清風 清风 [qīng fēng] /cool breeze/fig. pure and honest/
百合花 百合花 [bǎi hé huā] /lily/fig. pure and spotless person/virgin/
艷如桃李 艳如桃李 [yàn rú táo lǐ] /lit. beautiful as peach and prune/fig. radiant beauty/
散匪 散匪 [sǎn fěi] /scattered bandits/fig. random jottings/marginal notes/
騰飛 腾飞 [téng fēi] /lit. to fly upwards swiftly/fig. rapid advance/rapidly developing (situation)/
採花大盜 采花大盗 [cǎi huā dà dào] /lit. flower thief/fig. rapist/
採花賊 采花贼 [cǎi huā zéi] /lit. flower thief/fig. rapist/
麟角鳳觜 麟角凤觜 [lín jiǎo fèng zuǐ] /lit. qilin's horn, phoenix's mouth (idiom)/fig. rara avis/rarity/
白色 白色 [bái sè] /white/fig. reactionary/anti-communist/
逆流 逆流 [nì liú] /against the stream/adverse current/a counter-current/fig. reactionary tendency/to go against the trend/
河東獅吼 河东狮吼 [Hé dōng shī hǒu] /lit. the lioness from Hedong roars (idiom)/fig. refers to a shrewish wife or a henpecked husband/
不見棺材不落淚 不见棺材不落泪 [bù jiàn guān cai5 bù luò lèi] /lit. not to shed a tear until one sees the coffin (idiom)/fig. refuse to be convinced until one is faced with grim reality/
腥風血雨 腥风血雨 [xīng fēng xuè yǔ] /lit. foul wind and bloody rain (idiom)/fig. reign of terror/carnage/
忍痛 忍痛 [rěn tòng] /to suffer/fig. reluctantly/
圈圈點點 圈圈点点 [quān quan5 diǎn diǎn] /annotations made in a book/fig. remarks and comments/to have an opinion on everything/
傷疤 伤疤 [shāng bā] /scar/fig. remnant of former damage/remaining trauma/CL:道[dào]/
殘羹剩飯 残羹剩饭 [cán gēng shèng fàn] /leftovers from a meal/fig. remnants handed down from others/
尾大不掉 尾大不掉 [wěi dà bù diào] /large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy/fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates/
孕育 孕育 [yùn yù] /to be pregnant/to produce offspring/to nurture (a development, school of thought, artwork etc)/fig. replete with (culture etc)/
身量 身量 [shēn liang5] /height (of a person)/stature/fig. reputation/standing/
斬釘截鐵 斩钉截铁 [zhǎn dīng jié tiě] /lit. to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)/fig. resolute and decisive/unhesitating/categorical/
鏗鏘 铿锵 [kēng qiāng] /sonorous/resounding/fig. resounding words/
小鹿亂撞 小鹿乱撞 [xiǎo lù luàn zhuàng] /fig. restless, because of fear or strong emotions/
奇談 奇谈 [qí tán] /odd story/exotic tale/fig. ridiculous argument/
曲直 曲直 [qū zhí] /lit. crooked and straight/fig. right and wrong, good and evil/
肘腋 肘腋 [zhǒu yè] /lit. armpit/elbow and armpit/fig. right up close (to a disaster)/in one's backyard/on one's doorstep/
沉浮 沉浮 [chén fú] /lit. sinking and floating/to bob up and down on water/ebb and flow/fig. rise and fall/ups and downs of fortune/vicissitudes/
黃昏戀 黄昏恋 [huáng hūn liàn] /fig. romantic relationship between an elderly couple/falling in love in the autumn of one's life/
霉氣 霉气 [méi qì] /a moldy smell/damp and rotten/fig. rotten bad luck/
臭豆腐 臭豆腐 [chòu dòu fu5] /stinky tofu/strong-smelling preserved beancurd/fig. rough exterior but lovable person/
軒冕 轩冕 [xuān miǎn] /chariot and crown (symbols of important persons)/fig. royals and dignitaries/
繩墨 绳墨 [shéng mò] /lit. carpenter's straight line marker/same as 墨斗/fig. rules/rules and regulations/
突擊 突击 [tū jī] /sudden and violent attack/assault/fig. rushed job/concentrated effort to finish a job quickly/
拋荒 抛荒 [pāo huāng] /to lie idle (of arable land)/fig. rusty because of lack of practice/
綿裡藏針 绵里藏针 [mián lǐ cáng zhēn] /lit. a needle concealed in silk floss (idiom)/fig. ruthless character behind a gentle appearance/a wolf in sheep's clothing/an iron fist in a velvet glove/
辛酸 辛酸 [xīn suān] /pungent (taste)/bitter/fig. sad/miserable/
老馬戀棧 老马恋栈 [lǎo mǎ liàn zhàn] /lit. the old horse loves his stable/fig. sb old but reluctant to relinquish their post (idiom)/
後塵 后尘 [hòu chén] /lit. trailing dust/fig. sb's footsteps/course in life/
甩手掌櫃 甩手掌柜 [shuǎi shǒu zhǎng guì] /lit. arm-flinging shopkeeper/fig. sb who asks others to work but does nothing himself/
驚弓之鳥 惊弓之鸟 [jīng gōng zhī niǎo] /lit. a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow (idiom)/fig. sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences/
鸞飄鳳泊 鸾飘凤泊 [luán piāo fèng bó] /lit. firebird soars, phoenix alights (idiom); fig. exquisite bold calligraphy/fig. marriage breaks up/fig. scholar unsuccessful/
支線 支线 [zhī xiàn] /branch line/side road/spur/fig. secondary plot (in a story)/
見獵心喜 见猎心喜 [jiàn liè xīn xǐ] /lit. seeing others go hunting, one is excited by memories of the thrill of the hunt (idiom)/fig. seeing others do what one loves to do, one is inspired to try it again/
怒髮衝冠 怒发冲冠 [nù fà chōng guān] /lit. hair stands up in anger and tips off one's hat (idiom)/fig. seething in anger/raise one's hackles/
小算盤 小算盘 [xiǎo suàn pán] /lit. small abacus/fig. selfish calculations/bean-counting/
駕雲 驾云 [jià yún] /to ride the clouds/fig. self-satisfied/arrogant/
無病呻吟 无病呻吟 [wú bìng shēn yín] /to moan about imaginary illness/fussing like a hypochondriac/fig. sentimental nonsense/
蠶箔 蚕箔 [cán bó] /tray of straw for raising silkworms/fig. sericulture/
脫皮 脱皮 [tuō pí] /to molt/to peel/fig. seriously hurt/
雲雨 云雨 [yún yù] /lit. cloud and rain/fig. sexual intercourse/
爆炸性 爆炸性 [bào zhà xìng] /explosive/fig. shocking/
露水 露水 [lù shuǐ] /dew/fig. short-lasting/ephemeral/
枝節 枝节 [zhī jié] /lit. branch segment (where new branches should develop)/branches and knots/fig. side issue/minor peripheral problem/
偏鋒 偏锋 [piān fēng] /brush stroke to the side (calligraphy)/fig. side stroke/lateral thinking/
可掬 可掬 [kě jū] /that one can grasp (of smile, anger)/palpable/fig. sincere/
磊 磊 [lěi] /lumpy/rock pile/uneven/fig. sincere/open and honest/
老牛破車 老牛破车 [lǎo niú pò chē] /lit. old ox pulling a shabby cart (idiom)/fig. slow and inefficient/
滑坡 滑坡 [huá pō] /rockslide/landslip/landslide/mudslide/fig. slump/downturn/to decline/
狐狸 狐狸 [hú li5] /fox/fig. sly and treacherous person/
小蝦米 小虾米 [xiǎo xiā mi5] /shrimp/fig. small fry/minor player/
燕雀 燕雀 [yàn què] /Eurasian finch or brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)/fig. small fry/
不傷脾胃 不伤脾胃 [bù shāng pí wèi] /lit. doesn't hurt the spleen or the stomach/fig. something that is not critical/
聚寶盆 聚宝盆 [jù bǎo pén] /treasure bowl (mythology)/fig. source of wealth/cornucopia/gold mine/
說曹操曹操就到 说曹操曹操就到 [shuō Cáo Cāo Cáo Cāo jiù dào] /lit. speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives/fig. speak of the devil and he doth appear/
法寶 法宝 [fǎ bǎo] /Buddha's teaching/Buddhist monk's apparel, staff etc/(Daoism) magic weapon/talisman/fig. specially effective device/magic wand/
夢話 梦话 [mèng huà] /talking in one's sleep/words spoken during sleep/fig. speech bearing no relation to reality/delusions/
出血 出血 [chū xuè] /bleeding/hemorrhage/fig. spending money/
強弩之末 强弩之末 [qiáng nǔ zhī mò] /lit. an arrow at the end of its flight (idiom)/fig. spent force/
小皇帝 小皇帝 [xiǎo huáng dì] /lit. little emperor/fig. spoiled child/spoiled boy/pampered only child/
小公主 小公主 [xiǎo gōng zhǔ] /lit. little princess/fig. spoiled girl/female version of 小皇帝[xiǎo huáng dì]/
另一半 另一半 [lìng yī bàn] /other half/fig. spouse/one's better half/
穩扎穩打 稳扎稳打 [wěn zhā wěn dǎ] /to go steady and strike hard (in fighting)/fig. steadily and surely/
拾芥 拾芥 [shí jiè] /to pick up cress/fig. sth easy to do/a piece of cake/
對胃口 对胃口 [duì wèi kǒu] /to one's taste/tasty/fig. sth one enjoys/
常客 常客 [cháng kè] /frequent visitor/fig. sth that crops up frequently/
刺兒 刺儿 [cì r5] /a thorn/fig. to ridicule sb/fig. sth wrong/
耳旁風 耳旁风 [ěr páng fēng] /lit. wind past your ear/fig. sth you don't pay much attention to/in one ear and out the other/
耳邊風 耳边风 [ěr biān fēng] /lit. wind past your ear/fig. sth you don't pay much attention to/in one ear and out the other/
刺痛 刺痛 [cì tòng] /stab of pain/sting/fig. stimulus to action/a prick/
沉陷 沉陷 [chén xiàn] /subsidence/caving in/fig. stranded/lost (in contemplation, daydreams etc)/
孤軍奮戰 孤军奋战 [gū jūn fèn zhàn] /lit. lone army putting up a brave fight (idiom)/fig. (of a person or group of people) struggling hard without support/
聾聵 聋聩 [lóng kuì] /deaf/fig. stupid and ignorant/
拱手 拱手 [gǒng shǒu] /to cup one's hands in obeisance or greeting/fig. submissive/
馬失前蹄 马失前蹄 [mǎ shī qián tí] /lit. the horse loses its front hooves/fig. sudden failure through miscalculation or inattentiveness/
詐屍 诈尸 [zhà shī] /sudden movement of a corpse (superstition)/fig. sudden torrent of abuse/
走馬觀花 走马观花 [zǒu mǎ guān huā] /lit. flower viewing from horseback (idiom); a fleeting glance in passing/fig. superficial understanding from cursory observation/to make a quick judgment based on inadequate information/
天兵天將 天兵天将 [tiān bīng tiān jiàng] /celestial troops and generals (idiom)/fig. superior forces/
驚雷 惊雷 [jīng léi] /sudden clap of thunder/fig. surprising turn of events/
四面楚歌 四面楚歌 [sì miàn Chǔ gē] /lit. on all sides, the songs of Chu (idiom)/fig. surrounded by enemies, isolated and without help/
頭腦發脹 头脑发胀 [tóu nǎo fā zhàng] /swelling of the head (physical condition)/fig. swellheaded/conceited/
黑盒 黑盒 [hēi hé] /black box/fig. system whose internal structure is unknown/
雞同鴨講 鸡同鸭讲 [jī tóng yā jiǎng] /lit. chicken speaking with duck/fig. talking without communicating/people not understanding each other/
春筍 春笋 [chūn sǔn] /springtime bamboo shoots/fig. (of woman's fingers) tender and delicate/
火藥味甚濃 火药味甚浓 [huǒ yào wèi shèn nóng] /strong smell of gunpowder/fig. tense situation/stand-off/