業障 业障 [yè zhàng] /retribution (for sins of a previous incarnation)/evil creature (preventing a Buddhist monk from progressing to enlightenment)/vile spawn/filthy lucre (i.e. money)/fig. term of abuse for younger generation/

試金石 试金石 [shì jīn shí] /touchstone/fig. test that sth is genuine/

眼珠兒 眼珠儿 [yǎn zhū r5] /eyeball/fig. the apple of one's eye (i.e. favorite person)/

眼珠子 眼珠子 [yǎn zhū zi5] /eyeball/fig. the apple of one's eye (i.e. favorite person)/

好酒沉甕底 好酒沉瓮底 [hǎo jiǔ chén wèng dǐ] /lit. the best wine is at the bottom of the jug (idiom)/fig. the best is saved for last/

曙光 曙光 [shǔ guāng] /dawn/fig. the dawn of a new era/

瘡痍 疮痍 [chuāng yí] /lit. wound/fig. the desolation of trauma/desolation in the aftermath of a disaster/

船舷 船舷 [chuán xián] /sides of a ship/ship's railing/fig. the dividing line between shipboard expenses and onshore freight charges/

主流 主流 [zhǔ liú] /main stream (of a river)/fig. the essential point/main viewpoint of a matter/mainstream (culture etc)/

生老病死 生老病死 [shēng lǎo bìng sǐ] /lit. to be born, to grow old, to get sick and to die/fig. the fate of humankind (i.e. mortality)/

白衣蒼狗 白衣苍狗 [bái yī cāng gǒu] /lit. (cloud shapes) changing from a white shirt to a grey dog (idiom)/fig. the impermanence of all things/

年已蹉跎 年已蹉跎 [nián yǐ cuō tuó] /the years slip away/fig. the inexorable passage of time/already too old/

日月蹉跎 日月蹉跎 [rì yuè cuō tuó] /days and months slip away/fig. the inexorable passage of time/

陰魂不散 阴魂不散 [yīn hún bù sàn] /lit. the soul of a deceased has not yet dispersed (idiom)/fig. the influence still lingers on/the spirit (of some doctrine) is still alive/

酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣 [suān tián kǔ là] /sour, sweet, bitter and spicy hot/fig. the joys and sorrows of life/

敗戰 败战 [bài zhàn] /to lose a war/fig. the loser (in a competition or election)/

最低潮 最低潮 [zuì dī cháo] /lit. low tide/fig. the lowest point (e.g. of a relationship)/

夫唱婦隨 夫唱妇随 [fū chàng fù suí] /fig. the man sings and the woman follows/fig. marital harmony/

大熔爐 大熔炉 [dà róng lú] /lit. large smelting furnace/fig. the mixing of different ethnicities and cultures/Melting Pot/

天要落雨,娘要嫁人 天要落雨,娘要嫁人 [tiān yào luò yǔ , niáng yào jià rén] /the rain will fall, the womenfolk will marry (idiom)/fig. the natural order of things/something you can't go against/

紙上談兵 纸上谈兵 [zhǐ shàng tán bīng] /lit. military tactics on paper (idiom)/fig. theoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practice/armchair strategist/idle theorizing/cf Zhao Kuo 趙括|赵括 leading an army of 400,000 to total annihilation at battle of Changping 長平之戰|长平之战 in 260 BC/

始作俑者 始作俑者 [shǐ zuò yǒng zhě] /lit. the first person to bury funerary dolls (idiom)/fig. the originator of an evil practice/

那個人 那个人 [nà gè rén] /lit. that person/fig. the person you have been looking for/Mr Right/the girl of one's dreams/

價廉物美 价廉物美 [jià lián wù měi] /fig. the price is cheap but the product is beautiful; lit. a bargain buy/

藥食同源 药食同源 [yào shí tóng yuán] /lit. food and medicine come from the same source (idiom)/fig. there is no clear-cut distinction between food and medicine/

秋毫 秋毫 [qiū háo] /new down (fine feather)/fig. the small thing/

破土 破土 [pò tǔ] /to break ground/to start digging/to plough/to break through the ground (of seedling)/fig. the start of a building project/

青出於藍,而勝於藍 青出于蓝,而胜于蓝 [qīng chū yú lán , ér shèng yú lán] /lit. the color blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than indigo (idiom)/fig. the student becomes superior to the master/

滄海桑田 沧海桑田 [cāng hǎi sāng tián] /lit. the blue sea turned into mulberry fields (idiom)/fig. the transformations of the world/

真象 真象 [zhēn xiàng] /the whole elephant (i.e. not the small parts felt by the proverbial blind feelers)/fig. the whole picture/a realistic overall view of the whole situation/

樹欲靜而風不止 树欲静而风不止 [shù yù jìng ér fēng bù zhǐ] /lit. the trees long for peace but the wind will never cease (idiom)/fig. the world changes, whether you want it or not/

有意栽花花不發,無心插柳柳成陰 有意栽花花不发,无心插柳柳成阴 [yǒu yì zāi huā huā bù fā , wú xīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yīn] /lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree/fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect/well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it/

一拍即合 一拍即合 [yī pāi jí hé] /lit. on the beat, together now (idiom); Start dancing!/fig. things fit together at one go/to click together/to chime in easily/

日月重光 日月重光 [rì yuè chóng guāng] /the sun and moon shine once more/fig. things get back to normal after an upheaval/

此路不通 此路不通 [cǐ lù bù tōng] /this road is blocked/fig. This method does not work./Doing this is no good./

月光族 月光族 [yuè guāng zú] /lit. moonlight group/fig. those who spend their monthly income even before they earn their next salary (slang)/

鼎足 鼎足 [dǐng zú] /lit. the three legs of a tripod/fig. three competing rivals/

大江南北 大江南北 [Dà jiāng nán běi] /lit. both sides of the Yangtze River (idiom)/fig. throughout a vast area/

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 [yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn , cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāng yīn] /lit. An interval of time is worth an ounce of gold, money cannot buy you time. (idiom)/fig. Time is precious and must be treasured./

及時雨 及时雨 [jí shí yǔ] /timely rain/fig. timely assistance/

日落西山 日落西山 [rì luò xī shān] /the sun sets over western hills (idiom); the day approaches its end/fig. time of decline/the end of an era/Sic transit gloria mundi/

烽燧 烽燧 [fēng suì] /fire beacon towers (historical sites on the Great Wall and in Xinjiang)/fig. times of war/

螻蟻 蝼蚁 [lóu yǐ] /lit. mole cricket and ants/fig. tiny individuals with no power/

過河拆橋 过河拆桥 [guò hé chāi qiáo] /lit. to destroy the bridge after crossing the river (idiom)/fig. to abandon one's benefactor upon achieving one's goal/

甩包袱 甩包袱 [shuǎi bāo fu5] /lit. to fling off a bundle/fig. to abandon one's responsibility for sth/to wash one's hands of the matter/

金盆洗手 金盆洗手 [jīn pén xǐ shǒu] /lit. to wash one's hands in a gold basin (idiom)/fig. to abandon the life of an outlaw/

納新 纳新 [nà xīn] /to accept the new/to take fresh (air)/fig. to accept new members (to reinvigorate the party)/new blood/

回爐 回炉 [huí lú] /to melt down/to remelt (metals)/fig. to acquire new education/to bake again/

合流 合流 [hé liú] /to converge/to flow together/fig. to act alike/to evolve together/

引線穿針 引线穿针 [yǐn xiàn chuān zhēn] /a pull-through to thread a needle/fig. to act as go-between/

伐柯 伐柯 [fá kē] /(cf Book of Songs) How to fashion an ax handle? You need an ax/fig. to follow a principle/fig. to act as match-maker/

操斧伐柯 操斧伐柯 [cāo fǔ fá kē] /(cf Book of Songs) How to fashion an ax handle? You need an ax/fig. to follow a principle/fig. to act as match-maker/

亡羊補牢 亡羊补牢 [wáng yáng bǔ láo] /lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost (idiom)/fig. to act belatedly/better late than never/to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted/

旗號 旗号 [qí hào] /lit. a banner to distinguish an army unit or the name of its general/fig. to act in the name (of an idea or an organization)/to fly the flag (as a cover for shady business)/used for 旗語|旗语 semaphore/

反裘負芻 反裘负刍 [fǎn qiú fù chú] /lit. to wear one's coat inside out and carry firewood on one's back (idiom)/fig. to live a life of poverty and hard work/fig. to act stupidly/

點睛 点睛 [diǎn jīng] /to dot in the eyes/fig. to add finishing touch/abbr. for idiom 畫龍點睛|画龙点睛, to paint a dragon and dot in the eyes/the crucial point that brings the subject to life/

瞄準 瞄准 [miáo zhǔn] /to aim (a weapon at a target)/fig. to aim (for a higher standard)/

掰開揉碎 掰开揉碎 [bāi kāi róu suì] /lit. to pull apart and knead to a pulp/fig. to analyze minutely from every angle/to chew sth over/

拉鋸 拉锯 [lā jù] /a two-man saw/fig. to-and-fro between two sides/

登場 登场 [dēng chǎng] /to go on stage/fig. to appear on the scene/used in advertising to mean new product/

跳出 跳出 [tiào chū] /to jump out/fig. to appear suddenly/

從天而降 从天而降 [cóng tiān ér jiàng] /lit. to drop from the sky (idiom)/fig. to appear unexpectedly/to arise abruptly/out of the blue/to drop into one's lap/

現炒現賣 现炒现卖 [xiàn chǎo xiàn mài] /lit. to fry and sell on the spot/fig. (of fresh graduates) to apply the still-fresh knowledge gained in school/

點將 点将 [diǎn jiàng] /to appoint a general (in theater)/fig. to appoint sb for a task/

兩肋插刀 两肋插刀 [liǎng lèi chā dāo] /lit. knifes piercing both sides (idiom)/fig. to attach a great importance to friendship, up to the point of being able to sacrifice oneself for it/

以子之矛,攻子之盾 以子之矛,攻子之盾 [yǐ zǐ zhī máo , gōng zǐ zhī dùn] /lit. use sb's spear to attack his shield (idiom, derived from Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子); turning a weapon against its owner/fig. to attack an opponent using his own devices/hoist with his own petard/

徹骨 彻骨 [chè gǔ] /to the bone/to the marrow/fig. to a very large degree/

夾起尾巴 夹起尾巴 [jiā qǐ wěi ba5] /to tuck one's tail between one's legs/fig. to back down/in a humiliating situation/

目不窺園 目不窥园 [mù bù kuī yuán] /lit. not even peek at the garden/fig. to be absorbed in one's studies (idiom)/

占著茅坑不拉屎 占着茅坑不拉屎 [zhàn zhe5 máo kēng bù lā shǐ] /lit. to occupy a latrine but not shit (proverb)/fig. to be a dog in the manger/

灰飛煙滅 灰飞烟灭 [huī fēi yān miè] /lit. scattered ashes and dispersed smoke (idiom)/fig. to be annihilated/to vanish in a puff of smoke/

任重道遠 任重道远 [rèn zhòng dào yuǎn] /a heavy load and a long road/fig. to bear heavy responsibilities through a long struggle (cf Confucian Analects, 8.7)/

上天無路,入地無門 上天无路,入地无门 [shàng tiān wú lù , rù dì wú mén] /lit. there is no road to the sky, nor door into the earth (idiom)/fig. to be at the end of one's rope/to be trapped in a hopeless situation/

摘帽 摘帽 [zhāi mào] /lit. to take off a hat/fig. to be cleared of an unfair charge/rehabilitation/

摘帽子 摘帽子 [zhāi mào zi5] /lit. to take off a hat/fig. to be cleared of an unfair charge/rehabilitation/

削髮 削发 [xuē fà] /to shave one's head/fig. to become a monk or nun/to take the tonsure/

跳進黃河洗不清 跳进黄河洗不清 [tiào jìn Huáng Hé xǐ bù qīng] /lit. even jumping into the Yellow River can't get you clean/fig. to become inexorably mixed up/mired in controversy/in deep trouble/

硬化 硬化 [yìng huà] /to harden/hardening/sclerosis/fig. to become rigid or inflexible in opinions/to ossify/

衄 衄 [nu:4] /to bleed from the nose (or from the ears, gums etc)/fig. to be defeated/

魂飛魄散 魂飞魄散 [hún fēi pò sàn] /lit. the soul flies away and scatters (idiom)/fig. to be frightened stiff/spooked out of one's mind/terror-stricken/

讓畔 让畔 [ràng pàn] /to be accommodating in negotiating the boundary of one's field/fig. (of farmers in ancient times) to be good-hearted and honest/

一枝獨秀 一枝独秀 [yī zhī dú xiù] /lit. only one branch of the tree is thriving (idiom)/fig. to be in a league of one's own/outstanding/

如坐針氈 如坐针毡 [rú zuò zhēn zhān] /lit. as if sitting on pins and needles/fig. to be in an uncomfortable situation/

沾光 沾光 [zhān guāng] /to bask in the light/fig. to benefit from association with sb or sth/reflected glory/

傾盆大雨 倾盆大雨 [qīng pén dà yǔ] /a downpour/rain bucketing down/fig. to be overwhelmed (with work or things to study)/

行不更名,坐不改姓 行不更名,坐不改姓 [xíng bù gēng míng , zuò bù gǎi xìng] /I am who I am (and I'm not ashamed)/fig. to be proud of one's name and stand by one's actions/

火中取栗 火中取栗 [huǒ zhōng qǔ lì] /lit. to pull chestnuts out of the fire (idiom)/fig. to be sb's cat's-paw/

出大差 出大差 [chū dà chāi] /lit. to go on a long trip/fig. to be sent to the execution ground/

挨板子 挨板子 [ái bǎn zi5] /to suffer beating/fig. to be severely criticized/to take a hammering/

如數家珍 如数家珍 [rú shǔ jiā zhēn] /lit. as if enumerating one's family valuables (idiom)/fig. to be very familiar with a matter/

拉大旗作虎皮 拉大旗作虎皮 [lā dà qí zuò hǔ pí] /lit. to wave a banner as if it were a tiger skin (idiom)/fig. to borrow sb's prestige/to take the name of a great cause as a shield/

翻牆 翻墙 [fān qiáng] /lit. to climb over the wall/fig. to breach the Great Firewall of China/

光耀門楣 光耀门楣 [guāng yào mén méi] /splendor shines on the family's door (idiom)/fig. to bring honor to one's family/

籌算 筹算 [chóu suàn] /to calculate (using bamboo tokens on a counting board)/to count beads/fig. to budget/to plan (an investment)/

雷公打豆腐 雷公打豆腐 [Léi Gōng dǎ dòu fu5] /the God of Thunder strikes bean curd/fig. to bully the weakest person/to pick on an easy target/

開花 开花 [kāi huā] /to bloom/to blossom/to flower/fig. to burst open/to feel happy or elated/new development grows out/

開黑店 开黑店 [kāi hēi diàn] /lit. to open an inn that kills and robs guests (esp. in traditional fiction)/fig. to carry out a scam/to run a protection racket/daylight robbery/

轉向 转向 [zhuǎn xiàng] /to change direction/fig. to change one's stance/

脫胎換骨 脱胎换骨 [tuō tāi huàn gǔ] /to shed one's mortal body and exchange one's bones (idiom); born again Daoist/to turn over a new leaf/fig. to change wholly/to create from other material (story, artwork etc)/

脫骨換胎 脱骨换胎 [tuō gǔ huàn tāi] /to shed one's mortal body and exchange one's bones (idiom); born again Daoist/to turn over a new leaf/fig. to change wholly/

驢脣馬觜 驴唇马觜 [lu:2 chún mǎ zī] /lit.camel's lip, horse's mouth (idiom)/fig. to chatter/nonsense/blather/

掛羊頭賣狗肉 挂羊头卖狗肉 [guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu] /lit. to hang a sheep's head while selling dog meat (idiom)/fig. to cheat/dishonest advertising/wicked deeds carried out under banner of virtue/

加油 加油 [jiā yóu] /to add oil/to top up with gas/to refuel/to accelerate/abbr. for 加大油門|加大油门[jiā dà yóu mén]/to step on the gas/fig. to make an extra effort/fig. to cheer sb on/

鍥 锲 [qiè] /to cut/to carve/to engrave/to chisel/fig. to chisel away at/

唱雙簧 唱双簧 [chàng shuāng huáng] /lit. to sing a duet/fig. to collaborate with sb/also used satirically: to play second fiddle to/

連璧 连璧 [lián bì] /to join jade annuli/fig. to combine two good things/

吐苦水 吐苦水 [tǔ kǔ shuǐ] /to have bitter digestive fluids rising to the mouth/fig. to complain bitterly/to pour out one's sufferings/

隱身草 隐身草 [yǐn shēn cǎo] /legendary grass conferring invisibility/fig. to conceal oneself or one's plans/

畫地為牢 画地为牢 [huà dì wéi láo] /lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground (idiom)/fig. to confine oneself to a restricted range of activities/

望梅止渴 望梅止渴 [wàng méi zhǐ kě] /lit. to quench one's thirst by thinking of plums (idiom)/fig. to console oneself with illusions/

嗣響 嗣响 [sì xiǎng] /lit. a following echo/fig. to continue (a tradition)/

合拍 合拍 [hé pāi] /in time with (i.e. same rhythm)/to keep in step with/fig. to cooperate/

照葫蘆畫瓢 照葫芦画瓢 [zhào hú lu5 huà piáo] /lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as a model (idiom)/fig. to copy slavishly/

依樣畫葫蘆 依样画葫芦 [yī yàng huà hú lu5] /lit. to draw a gourd from the model (idiom)/fig. to copy sth mechanically without attempt at originality/

一見高低 一见高低 [yī jiàn gāo dī] /lit. to fight it out with sb to see who is best (idiom)/fig. to cross swords with/to lock horns/

杜門不出 杜门不出 [dù mén bù chū] /to shut the door and remain inside/fig. to cut off contact/

潑冷水 泼冷水 [pō lěng shuǐ] /lit. to pour cold water on/fig. to dampen one's enthusiasm/

事無巨細 事无巨细 [shì wú jù xì] /lit. things are not separated according to their size (idiom)/fig. to deal with any matter, regardless of its importance/

飄落 飘落 [piāo luò] /to float down/to touch down slowly/fig. to decline/

落水 落水 [luò shuǐ] /to fall into water/to sink/overboard/fig. to degenerate/to sink (into depravity)/to go to the dogs/

一退六二五 一退六二五 [yī tuì liù èr wǔ] /lit. 1 divided by 16 is 0.0625 (abacus rule)/fig. to deny responsibility/to pass the buck/also written 一推六二五[yī tuì liù èr wǔ]/

脫胎 脱胎 [tuō tāi] /born/to emerge from the womb/fig. to develop out of sth else (of ideas, stories, political systems etc)/fig. to shed one's body (to be reborn)/bodiless (e.g. lacquerware)/

熄火 熄火 [xī huǒ] /to go out (of fire, lamp, stove, cigarette etc)/to stall (of vehicle)/fig. to die down/

粉身碎骨 粉身碎骨 [fěn shēn suì gǔ] /lit. torn body and crushed bones (idiom)/fig. to die horribly/to sacrifice one's life/

寅吃卯糧 寅吃卯粮 [yín chī mǎo liáng] /lit. eating away next year's food in advance/fig. to dip into the next month's check/live now, pay later/

直搗黃龍 直捣黄龙 [zhí dǎo Huáng Lóng] /lit. to directly attack Huanglong/fig. to directly combat the root of a problem/

槍斃 枪毙 [qiāng bì] /to execute by firing squad/to shoot dead/fig. to discard/to get rid of/

澆冷水 浇冷水 [jiāo lěng shuǐ] /to pour cold water/fig. to discourage/

扣屎盔子 扣屎盔子 [kòu shǐ kuī zi5] /(northern dialect) lit. to cap in excrement/fig. to discredit with absurd unfounded accusations/to vilify/

左右開弓 左右开弓 [zuǒ yòu kāi gōng] /lit. to shoot from both sides/fig. to display ambidexterity/to slap with one hand and then the other, in quick succession/to use both feet equally (football)/

朝饔夕飧 朝饔夕飧 [zhāo yōng xī sūn] /lit. breakfast in the morning and supper in the evening (idiom)/fig. to do nothing but eat and drink/

直行 直行 [zhí xíng] /to go straight/straight forward/fig. to do right/

脫褲子放屁 脱裤子放屁 [tuō kù zi5 fàng pì] /lit. to take off trousers to fart/fig. to do something absolutely unnecessary/fig. to make things too complicated/

輕車熟路 轻车熟路 [qīng chē shú lù] /lit. to drive a lightweight chariot on a familiar road (idiom)/fig. to do sth routinely and with ease/a walk in the park/

按圖索驥 按图索骥 [àn tú suǒ jì] /lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom)/fig. to do things along rigid, conventional lines/to try and find sth with the help of a clue/

決算 决算 [jué suàn] /final account/to calculate the final bill/fig. to draw up plans to deal with sth/

陶冶 陶冶 [táo yě] /lit. to fire pots and smelt metal/fig. to educate/

石沉大海 石沉大海 [shí chén dà hǎi] /lit. to throw a stone and see it sink without trace in the sea (idiom)/fig. to elicit no response/

閹割 阉割 [yān gē] /to castrate/fig. to emasculate/

將軍 将军 [jiāng jūn] /general/high-ranking military officer/to check or checkmate/fig. to embarrass/to challenge/to put sb on the spot/

蠶食 蚕食 [cán shí] /to nibble away at (as silkworm consume leaves)/fig. to embezzle progressively/

打氣 打气 [dǎ qì] /to inflate/to pump up/fig. to encourage/to boost morale/

拍馬 拍马 [pāi mǎ] /to urge on a horse by patting its bottom/fig. to encourage/same as 拍馬屁|拍马屁, to flatter or toady/

招兵買馬 招兵买马 [zhāo bīng mǎi mǎ] /to recruit soldiers and buy horses (idiom); to raise a large army/fig. to expand business/to recruit new staff/

鹹魚翻身 咸鱼翻身 [xián yú fān shēn] /lit. the salted fish turns over (idiom)/fig. to experience a reversal of fortune/

搬楦頭 搬楦头 [bān xuàn tou5] /lit. to move the shoes on the shoe tree (idiom)/fig. to expose shameful secrets (old)/

撏 挦 [xián] /to pull out (esp. hair or feathers)/to pick/to pluck/fig. to extract (lines from a text)/

擠牙膏 挤牙膏 [jǐ yá gāo] /lit. to squeeze out toothpaste/fig. to extract a confession under pressure/

打嘴 打嘴 [dǎ zuǐ] /to slap sb's face/to slap one's own face/fig. to fail to live up to a boast/

有眼不識泰山 有眼不识泰山 [yǒu yǎn bù shí Tài shān] /lit. to have eyes but fail to recognize Mt Tai (idiom)/fig. to fail to recognize sb important or sb's great talent/to be blind to the fact/

下水 下水 [xià shuǐ] /downstream/to go into the water/to put into water/to launch (a ship)/fig. to fall into bad ways/to lead astray/to go to pot/

青眼 青眼 [qīng yǎn] /to make firm eye contact with sb/fig. to favor/to respect/good graces/to think highly of sb/

望洋興嘆 望洋兴叹 [wàng yáng xīng tàn] /lit. to gaze at the ocean and lament one's inadequacy (idiom)/fig. to feel powerless and incompetent (to perform a task)/

明修棧道,暗渡陳倉 明修栈道,暗渡陈仓 [míng xiū zhàn dào , àn dù Chén cāng] /lit. repair the plank road by day while secretly crossing the Wei River 渭河[Wèi Hé] at Chencang (idiom, refers to a stratagem used by Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liú Bāng] in 206 BC against Xiang Yu 項羽|项羽[Xiàng Yǔ] of Chu)/fig. to feign one thing while doing another/to cheat under cover of a diversion/

暗渡陳倉 暗渡陈仓 [àn dù Chén cāng] /lit. secretly crossing the Wei River 渭河[Wèi Hé] at Chencang (idiom, refers to a stratagem used by Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liú Bāng] in 206 BC against Xiang Yu 項羽|项羽[Xiàng Yǔ] of Chu)/fig. to feign one thing while doing another/to cheat under cover of a diversion/

置之死地而後生 置之死地而后生 [zhì zhī sǐ dì ér hòu shēng] /place sb on a field of death and he will fight to live (common saying based on Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[Sūn zǐ Bīng fǎ]); to fight desperately when confronting mortal danger/fig. to find a way out of an impasse/

品頭論足 品头论足 [pǐn tóu lùn zú] /lit. to assess the head and discuss the feet (idiom); minute criticism of a woman's appearance/fig. to find fault in minor details/nit-picking/over-critical/

評頭論足 评头论足 [píng tóu lùn zú] /lit. to assess the head and discuss the feet (idiom); minute criticism of a woman's appearance/fig. to find fault in minor details/to remark upon a person's appearance/nit-picking/over-critical/judgmental/

眾叛親離 众叛亲离 [zhòng pàn qīn lí] /lit. people rebelling and friends deserting (idiom)/fig. to find oneself utterly isolated/

收兵 收兵 [shōu bīng] /to retreat/to withdraw troops/to recall troops/fig. to finish work/to wind up/to call it a day/used with negatives: the task is far from over/

尥蹶子 尥蹶子 [liào juě zi5] /(of mules, horses etc) to kick backward/to kick with the hind legs/fig. to flare up in anger/to display defiance/

脫殼 脱壳 [tuō qiào] /to molt/to exuviate/fig. to fly off like an exuviate cicada/

伐柯 伐柯 [fá kē] /(cf Book of Songs) How to fashion an ax handle? You need an ax/fig. to follow a principle/fig. to act as match-maker/

操斧伐柯 操斧伐柯 [cāo fǔ fá kē] /(cf Book of Songs) How to fashion an ax handle? You need an ax/fig. to follow a principle/fig. to act as match-maker/

如法炮製 如法炮制 [rú fǎ páo zhì] /lit. to follow the recipe (idiom)/fig. to follow a set pattern/

攀登 攀登 [pān dēng] /to climb/to pull oneself up/to clamber/to scale/fig. to forge ahead in the face of hardships and danger/

翹望 翘望 [qiáo wàng] /to raise one's head and look into the distance/fig. to forward to/to long for/

蟬蛻 蝉蜕 [chán tuì] /cicada slough/fig. to free oneself/to extricate oneself from/

走後門 走后门 [zǒu hòu mén] /lit. to enter by the back door/fig. to gain influence by pull or unofficial channels/back door or under the counter connections/

枯木逢春 枯木逢春 [kū mù féng chūn] /lit. the spring comes upon a withered tree (idiom)/fig. to get a new lease on life/to be revived/(of a difficult situation) to suddenly improve/

投袂而起 投袂而起 [tóu mèi ér qǐ] /lit. to shake one's sleeves and rise (idiom)/fig. to get excited and move to action/

倒胃口 倒胃口 [dǎo wèi kǒu] /to spoil one's appetite/fig. to get fed up with sth/

合巹 合卺 [hé jǐn] /to share nuptial cup/fig. to get married/

巹飲 卺饮 [jǐn yǐn] /to share nuptial cup/fig. to get married/

連巹 连卺 [lián jǐn] /to share nuptial cup/fig. to get married/

一杯羹 一杯羹 [yī bēi gēng] /lit. a cup of soup/fig. to get part of the profits/one's share of the action/

折衝樽俎 折冲樽俎 [zhé chōng zūn zǔ] /lit. to stop the enemy at the banquet table/fig. to get the better of an enemy during diplomatic functions/

解囊 解囊 [jiě náng] /lit. to loosen one's purse/fig. to give generously to help others/

請君入甕 请君入瓮 [qǐng jūn rù wèng] /lit. please Sir, get into the boiling pot (idiom)/fig. to give sb a taste of his own medicine/

打退堂鼓 打退堂鼓 [dá tuì táng gǔ] /lit. to beat the return drum/fig. to give up/to turn tail/

上岸 上岸 [shàng àn] /to land/to disembark/to abandon a boat and go ashore/fig. to give up evil ways and return to virtue/

粉飾 粉饰 [fěn shì] /to paint/to whitewash/to decorate/plaster/fig. to gloss over/to cover up/

赤膊上陣 赤膊上阵 [chì bó shàng zhèn] /lit. to go into battle bare-breasted (idiom)/fig. to go all out/to come out in the open/

下坡路 下坡路 [xià pō lù] /downhill road/slope down/fig. to go downhill/on the decline/

升堂入室 升堂入室 [shēng táng rù shì] /lit. to reach the main room and enter the chamber (idiom)/fig. to gradually attain proficiency/to attain a higher level/

履險如夷 履险如夷 [lu:3 xiǎn rú yí] /to cross a ravine like flat ground/fig. to handle a crisis effortlessly/to keep a cool head in a crisis/

頭髮鬍子一把抓 头发胡子一把抓 [tóu fa5 hú zi5 yī bǎ zhuā] /lit. hair and beard all in one stroke/fig. to handle different things by the same method/one method to solve all problems/one size fits all/

重彈 重弹 [chóng tán] /to replay string instrument/fig. to harp on the same string/to raise the same old topic again/

巧舌如簧 巧舌如簧 [qiǎo shé rú huáng] /lit. to have a tongue like a reed (idiom)/fig. to have a glib tongue/

出軌 出轨 [chū guǐ] /derailment (railway accident)/to leave the rails/fig. to overstep bounds/fig. to have an extramarital affair/

腳踏兩條船 脚踏两条船 [jiǎo tà liǎng tiáo chuán] /lit. to stand with each foot in a different boat (idiom)/fig. to have it both ways/to run after two hares/(especially) to have two lovers at the same time/

江郎才盡 江郎才尽 [Jiāng láng cái jìn] /Jiang Yan has exhausted his talent (idiom)/fig. to have used up one's creative powers/to have writer's block/

敬酒不吃吃罰酒 敬酒不吃吃罚酒 [jìng jiǔ bù chī chī fá jiǔ] /to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit/fig. to hesitate to do sth until forced to do even more/

切中要害 切中要害 [qiè zhòng yào hài] /to hit the target and do real damage (idiom)/fig. to hit where it hurts/fig. to hit home/an argument that hits the nail on the head/

一針見血 一针见血 [yī zhēn jiàn xiě] /lit. to draw blood on the first prick/fig. to hit the nail on the head/

切中要害 切中要害 [qiè zhòng yào hài] /to hit the target and do real damage (idiom)/fig. to hit where it hurts/fig. to hit home/an argument that hits the nail on the head/

打狗欺主 打狗欺主 [dǎ gǒu qī zhǔ] /to beat a dog and bully its owner/fig. to humiliate sb indirectly by bullying a subordinate/

饞涎欲滴 馋涎欲滴 [chán xián yù dī] /lit. to drool with desire (idiom)/fig. to hunger for/greedy/

畫地自限 画地自限 [huà dì zì xiàn] /lit. to draw a line on the ground to keep within (idiom)/fig. to impose restrictions on oneself/

養虎為患 养虎为患 [yǎng hǔ wéi huàn] /lit. to nurture a tiger invites calamity/fig. to indulge one's enemy is asking for trouble (idiom)/

滴注 滴注 [dī zhù] /to drip into/to transfuse/to percolate/to drip feed/fig. to instill/

帶路 带路 [dài lù] /to lead the way/to guide/to show the way/fig. to instruct/

急嘴急舌 急嘴急舌 [jí zuǐ jí shé] /lit. quick mouth and quick tongue/fig. to interrupt sb urgently and say one's piece/to chime in rapidly/

開掘 开掘 [kāi jué] /to excavate/to dig out/fig. to investigate (in an archive)/

拉攏 拉拢 [lā lǒng] /to rope in/fig. to involve sb/to entice/

拖人下水 拖人下水 [tuō rén xià shuǐ] /lit. to pull sb into the water/fig. to involve sb in a messy business/to get sb into trouble/

躲風 躲风 [duǒ fēng] /lit. to avoid the wind/fig. to keep low to avoid a difficult situation/to stay out of trouble/

溜邊 溜边 [liū biān] /to keep to the edge (of path, river etc)/fig. to keep out of trouble/to avoid getting involved/

溜邊兒 溜边儿 [liū biān r5] /to keep to the edge (of path, river etc)/fig. to keep out of trouble/to avoid getting involved/

竭澤而漁 竭泽而渔 [jié zé ér yú] /lit. to drain the pond to get at the fish (idiom)/fig. to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs/

墊底兒 垫底儿 [diàn dǐ r5] /foundation layer/underlay/fig. to lay foundations/to snack/

日出而作,日入而息 日出而作,日入而息 [rì chū ér zuò , rì rù ér xī] /lit. to get up at sunrise and work until sunset (proverb)/fig. to lead a plain and hardworking life/

下海 下海 [xià hǎi] /to go to sea/fig. to leave secure job (iron rice-bowl 鐵飯碗|铁饭碗) for sth better but more risky/

反裘負芻 反裘负刍 [fǎn qiú fù chú] /lit. to wear one's coat inside out and carry firewood on one's back (idiom)/fig. to live a life of poverty and hard work/fig. to act stupidly/

飯糗茹草 饭糗茹草 [fàn qiǔ rú cǎo] /lit. to live on dry provisions and wild herbs (idiom)/fig. to live in abject poverty/

雙宿雙飛 双宿双飞 [shuāng sù shuāng fēi] /lit. to rest and fly together (idiom)/fig. to live in each other's pockets/to be inseparable/

肥馬輕裘 肥马轻裘 [féi mǎ qīng qiú] /lit. stout horses and light furs/fig. to live in luxury/

輕裘肥馬 轻裘肥马 [qīng qiú féi mǎ] /lit. light furs and stout horses/fig. to live in luxury/

厚死薄生 厚死薄生 [hòu sǐ bó shēng] /lit. to praise the dead and revile the living/fig. to live in the past (idiom)/

騎驢找驢 骑驴找驴 [qí lu:2 zhǎo lu:2] /lit. to search for the mule while riding on it (idiom)/fig. to look for what one already has/

漁獵 渔猎 [yú liè] /fishing and hunting/fig. to loot/to plunder/

覓食 觅食 [mì shí] /to forage/to hunt for food/to scavenge/fig. to make a living/

懲一儆百 惩一儆百 [chéng yī jǐng bǎi] /lit. punish one, warn one hundred (idiom)/fig. to make an example of sb/

懲一警百 惩一警百 [chéng yī jǐng bǎi] /lit. punish one, warn one hundred (idiom)/fig. to make an example of sb/also written 懲一儆百|惩一儆百[chéng yī jǐng bǎi]/

加油 加油 [jiā yóu] /to add oil/to top up with gas/to refuel/to accelerate/abbr. for 加大油門|加大油门[jiā dà yóu mén]/to step on the gas/fig. to make an extra effort/fig. to cheer sb on/

抽絲剝繭 抽丝剥茧 [chōu sī bāo jiǎn] /lit. to spin silk from cocoons/fig. to make a painstaking investigation (idiom)/

歌舞升平 歌舞升平 [gē wǔ shēng píng] /lit. to celebrate peace with songs and dance (idiom)/fig. to make a show of happiness and prosperity/

鴛鴦戲水 鸳鸯戏水 [yuān yāng xì shuǐ] /lit. mandarin ducks playing in the water/fig. to make love/

靠山吃山,靠水吃水 靠山吃山,靠水吃水 [kào shān chī shān , kào shuǐ chī shuǐ] /lit. the mountain dweller lives off the mountain, the shore dweller lives off the sea (idiom)/fig. to make the best use of local resources/to exploit one's position to advance oneself/to find one's niche/to live off the land/

一錘定音 一锤定音 [yī chuí dìng yīn] /lit. to fix the tone with a single hammer blow/fig. to make the final decision/

見縫就鑽 见缝就钻 [jiàn fèng jiù zuān] /lit. to squeeze into every crack (idiom)/fig. to make the most of every opportunity/

脫褲子放屁 脱裤子放屁 [tuō kù zi5 fàng pì] /lit. to take off trousers to fart/fig. to do something absolutely unnecessary/fig. to make things too complicated/

松柏 松柏 [sōng bǎi] /pine and cypress/fig. chaste and undefiled/fig. tomb/

碰一鼻子灰 碰一鼻子灰 [pèng yī bí zi5 huī] /lit. to have one's nose rubbed in the dirt/fig. to meet with a sharp rebuff/

郢書燕說 郢书燕说 [Yǐng shū Yān shuō] /lit. Ying writes a letter and Yan reads it/fig. to misinterpret the original meaning/to pile up errors/refers to the letter from capital 郢[Yǐng] of 楚[Chǔ] in which the inadvertent words "hold up the candle" are mistaken by the minister of 燕[Yān] as "promote the wise"/

撲空 扑空 [pū kōng] /lit. to rush at thin air/fig. to miss one's aim/to have nothing to show for one's troubles/

向隅 向隅 [xiàng yú] /lit. to face the corner (idiom)/fig. to miss out on sth/

好心倒做了驢肝肺 好心倒做了驴肝肺 [hǎo xīn dào zuò le5 lu:2 gān fēi] /lit. to mistake good intentions for a donkey's liver and lungs (idiom)/fig. to mistake good intentions for ill intent/

冶 冶 [yě] /to smelt/to cast/fig. to mould (into seductive shape)/to dress up (usu. derogatory)/

高唱 高唱 [gāo chàng] /to sing loudly/fig. to mouth slogans/

目不交睫 目不交睫 [mù bù jiāo jié] /lit. the eyelashes do not come together (idiom)/fig. to not sleep a wink/

提挈 提挈 [tí qiè] /to hold by the hand/fig. to nurture/to foster/to bring up/to support/

倒糞 倒粪 [dào fèn] /to turn over manure/fig. to offend others by endlessly repeating unpleasant remarks/

掬 掬 [jū] /to hold with both hands/to grasp firmly/fig. to offer up sincerely/

隻字不提 只字不提 [zhī zì bù tí] /not to mention (idiom); to say not one word/fig. to omit mention (of a non-person or embarrassing topic)/to censor/

越描越黑 越描越黑 [yuè miáo yuè hēi] /lit. the more you touch things up, the darker they get/fig. to only make matters worse/

開拓 开拓 [kāi tuò] /to break new ground (for agriculture)/to open up (a new seam)/to develop (border regions)/fig. to open up (new horizons)/

食人 食人 [shí rén] /man-eating (beast)/to eat people/fig. to oppress the people/

出軌 出轨 [chū guǐ] /derailment (railway accident)/to leave the rails/fig. to overstep bounds/fig. to have an extramarital affair/

顛覆 颠覆 [diān fù] /to topple (i.e. knock over)/to capsize/fig. to overturn (a regime, by plotting or subversion)/to undermine/to subvert/

堆砌 堆砌 [duī qì] /lit. to pile up (bricks)/to pack/fig. to pad out (writing with fancy phrases)/ornate rhetoric/

小巫見大巫 小巫见大巫 [xiǎo wū jiàn dà wū] /lit. minor magician in the presence of a great one (idiom)/fig. to pale into insignificance by comparison/

風聲鶴唳 风声鹤唳 [fēng shēng hè lì] /lit. wind sighing and crane calling (idiom)/fig. to panic at the slightest move/to be jittery/

分道揚鑣 分道扬镳 [fēn dào yáng biāo] /lit. to take different roads and urge the horses on (idiom)/fig. to part ways/

駕鶴西去 驾鹤西去 [jià hè xī qù] /lit. to fly on a crane to the Western Paradise/fig. to pass away (idiom)/

永恆 永恒 [yǒng héng] /eternal/everlasting/fig. to pass into eternity (i.e. to die)/

一手交錢,一手交貨 一手交钱,一手交货 [yī shǒu jiāo qián , yī shǒu jiāo huò] /lit. one hand exchanges the cash, the other the goods (idiom)/fig. to pay for what you want in cash/simple and direct transaction/

不到黃河心不死 不到黄河心不死 [bù dào Huáng Hé xīn bù sǐ] /lit. not to stop until one reaches the Yellow River (idiom)/fig. to persevere until one reaches one's goal/to keep going while some hope is left/

打下手 打下手 [dǎ xià shǒu] /to act in a supporting role/fig. to play second fiddle/

指雞罵狗 指鸡骂狗 [zhǐ jī mà gǒu] /fig. to point at the chicken while scolding the dog (idiom)/lit. to find a scapegoat/

麻醉 麻醉 [má zuì] /anesthesia/fig. to poison (sb's mind)/

插腳 插脚 [chā jiǎo] /to shove in/to edge in/fig. to poke one's nose into people's business/prong/

三頭六臂 三头六臂 [sān tóu liù bì] /lit. to have three heads and six arms (idiom)/fig. to possess remarkable abilities/a being of formidable powers/

捧到天上 捧到天上 [pěng dào tiān shàng] /lit. to hold up to the skies/fig. to praise lavishly/

催命 催命 [cuī mìng] /to press sb to death/fig. to pressurize sb continually/

演戲 演戏 [yǎn xì] /to put on a play/to perform/fig. to pretend/to feign/

伏虎 伏虎 [fú hǔ] /to subdue a tiger/fig. to prevail over sinister forces/

開口子 开口子 [kāi kǒu zi5] /a dike breaks/fig. to provide facilities (for evil deeds)/to open the floodgates/

惹火 惹火 [rě huǒ] /to stir up the fire/fig. to provoke and offend people/to ruffle feathers/

天機 天机 [tiān jī] /mystery known only to heaven (archaic)/inscrutable twist of fate/fig. top secret/

倒掛 倒挂 [dào guà] /lit. to hang upside down/fig. topsy-turvy and inequitable, e.g. manufacturing and trading costs exceed the sale price (of some goods)/to borrow more than one can ever repay/

打落水狗 打落水狗 [dǎ luò shuǐ gǒu] /lit. to beat a drowning dog (idiom)/fig. to pulverize an (already defeated) enemy/to hit sb when he's down/

趕鴨子上架 赶鸭子上架 [gǎn yā zi5 shàng jià] /lit. to drive a duck onto a perch (idiom)/fig. to push sb to do sth way beyond their ability/

封頂 封顶 [fēng dǐng] /to put a roof (on a building)/to cap the roof (finishing a building project)/fig. to put a ceiling (on spending, prize, ambition etc)/to top off/fig. to reach the highest point (of growth, profit, interest rates)/to stop growing (of plant bud or branch)/

應卯 应卯 [yìng mǎo] /to answer the roll call at 卯時|卯时[mǎo shí], i.e. between 5 and 7 am/fig. to put in a conventional appearance/

對號入座 对号入座 [duì hào rù zuò] /lit. to take one's appointed place (according to the seat number)/fig. to put sb in his place/to accept one's social role/to admit criticism/

加蓋 加盖 [jiā gài] /to seal (with official stamp)/to stamp/fig. to ratify/to put lid on (cooking pot)/to cap/to build an extension or additional storey/

埋天怨地 埋天怨地 [mán tiān yuàn dì] /lit. to blame the heavens and reproach the earth/fig. to rave and rant/

封頂 封顶 [fēng dǐng] /to put a roof (on a building)/to cap the roof (finishing a building project)/fig. to put a ceiling (on spending, prize, ambition etc)/to top off/fig. to reach the highest point (of growth, profit, interest rates)/to stop growing (of plant bud or branch)/

絕處逢生 绝处逢生 [jué chǔ féng shēng] /to come back from death's door (idiom); unexpected rescue from danger/fig. to recover from a seemingly impossible situation/to find a way out of a predicament/

狂甩 狂甩 [kuáng shuǎi] /to fling vigorously/fig. to reduce drastically/

反顧 反顾 [fǎn gù] /to glance back/fig. to regret/to have second thoughts about sth/

炒冷飯 炒冷饭 [chǎo lěng fàn] /to stir-fry left-over rice/fig. to rehash the same story/to serve up the same old product/

解凍 解冻 [jiě dòng] /to melt/to thaw/to defrost/fig. to relax (repression, enmity etc)/

拭目 拭目 [shì mù] /to wipe one's eyes/fig. to remain vigilant/

舊病復發 旧病复发 [jiù bìng fù fā] /old illness recurs (idiom); a relapse/fig. to repeat an old error/the same old problem/

卸肩兒 卸肩儿 [xiè jiān r5] /lit. a weight off one's shoulders/fig. to resign a post/to lay down a burden/to be relieved of a job/

充電 充电 [chōng diàn] /to recharge batteries/fig. to rest and recuperate/

還鄉 还乡 [huán xiāng] /to return home/fig. to retire from public life/

禮尚往來 礼尚往来 [lǐ shàng wǎng lái] /lit. proper behaviour is based on reciprocity (idiom)/fig. to return politeness for politeness/

東歸 东归 [dōng guī] /lit. to return east/fig. to return to one's homeland/

點化 点化 [diǎn huà] /magic transformation performed by Daoist immortal/fig. to reveal/to enlighten/

回天 回天 [huí tiān] /lit. to reverse the rotation of the sky/fig. to reverse a desperate situation/

翻老賬 翻老账 [fān lǎo zhàng] /to turn over old accounts/fig. to revive old quarrels/to reopen old wounds/

翻舊賬 翻旧账 [fān jiù zhàng] /to turn over old accounts/fig. to revive old quarrels/to reopen old wounds/

逸塵斷鞅 逸尘断鞅 [yì chén duàn yāng] /lit. kicking up the dust and breaking the harness/fig. to ride like the wind (idiom)/

一人得道,雞犬升天 一人得道,鸡犬升天 [yī rén dé dào , jī quǎn shēng tiān] /lit. when a man achieves the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to Heaven (idiom)/fig. to ride on sb else's success/Once one man gets a government position, all his cronies get in too/Once sb has cracked the problem, every Tom, Dick and Harry can do it/

雞犬升天 鸡犬升天 [jī quǎn shēng tiān] /lit. poultry and dogs rise to Heaven (idiom)/fig. to ride on sb else's success/Once one man gets a government position, all his cronies get in too/Once sb has cracked the problem, every Tom, Dick and Harry can do it/

刺兒 刺儿 [cì r5] /a thorn/fig. to ridicule sb/fig. sth wrong/

洗冤 洗冤 [xǐ yuān] /lit. to wash out a grievance/fig. to right a wrong/to redress an injustice/

浮上 浮上 [fú shàng] /to float up/to rise to the surface/fig. to rise in the world/

刀鋸鼎鑊 刀锯鼎镬 [dāo jù dǐng huò] /knife, saw and cauldron/ancient instruments of torture/fig. torture/

摩拳擦掌 摩拳擦掌 [mó quán cā zhǎng] /fig. to rub one's fists and wipe one's palms (idiom)/to roll up one's sleeves for battle/eager to get into action or start on a task/

擱淺 搁浅 [gē qiǎn] /to be stranded (of ship)/to run aground/fig. to run into difficulties and stop/

碰壁 碰壁 [pèng bì] /to hit a wall/fig. to run up against a snag/

浸潤 浸润 [jìn rùn] /to permeate/to percolate/fig. to saturate (with emotion)/

運算法則 运算法则 [yùn suàn fǎ zé] /rules of calculation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)/algorithm/fig. to scheme/to calculate (i.e. plot)/

指桑罵槐 指桑骂槐 [zhǐ sāng mà huái] /lit. to point at the mulberry tree and curse the locust tree/fig. to scold sb indirectly/to make oblique accusations (idiom)/

攀附 攀附 [pān fù] /to climb (of climbing plants)/to creep/to cling on to/fig. to seek connection (with the rich and powerful)/social climbing/

七竅生煙 七窍生烟 [qī qiào shēng yān] /lit. spouting smoke through the seven orifices (idiom)/fig. to seethe with anger/

揪鬥 揪斗 [jiū dòu] /to seize and struggle with/to tussle with/fig. to seize and subject to public criticism (e.g. right-roaders during cultural revolution)/

雁過拔毛 雁过拔毛 [yàn guò bá máo] /lit. to grab feathers from a flying goose/fig. to seize any opportunity/pragmatic/

跳樓 跳楼 [tiào lóu] /to jump from a building (to kill oneself)/fig. to sell at a large discount (in advertising)/

墊背 垫背 [diàn bèi] /funerary mat/fig. to serve as scape-goat/to act as fall guy for sb else's misdemeanors/

算帳 算帐 [suàn zhàng] /to reckon (accounting)/to balance an account/fig. to settle an account/to get one's revenge/

脫胎 脱胎 [tuō tāi] /born/to emerge from the womb/fig. to develop out of sth else (of ideas, stories, political systems etc)/fig. to shed one's body (to be reborn)/bodiless (e.g. lacquerware)/

高閣 高阁 [gāo gé] /high building/fig. to shelve sth/

舐犢情深 舐犊情深 [shì dú qíng shēn] /lit. the cow licking its calf fondly (idiom)/fig. to show deep affection towards one's children/

縮水 缩水 [suō shuǐ] /to shrink (in the wash)/fig. to shrink (of profits etc)/

佈囊其口 布囊其口 [bù náng qí kǒu] /lit. to cover sb's mouth with cloth/to gag/fig. to silence/

擦邊球 擦边球 [cā biān qiú] /lit. to hit a ball or shuttlecock on the sideline/fig. to skirt the line legally or morally/

當牛作馬 当牛作马 [dāng niú zuò mǎ] /to work like a horse and toil like an ox/fig. to slave for sb/

解釦 解扣 [jiě kòu] /lit. to unbutton/fig. to solve a dispute/

梳理 梳理 [shū lǐ] /to comb/fig. to sort out/

燃 燃 [rán] /to burn/to ignite/to light/fig. to spark off (hopes)/to start (debate)/to raise (hopes)/

燃起 燃起 [rán qǐ] /to ignite/to light/fig. to spark off (hopes, controversy, flames of revolution)/

拐彎抹角 拐弯抹角 [guǎi wān mò jiǎo] /lit. going round the curves and skirting the corners (idiom)/fig. to speak in a roundabout way/to equivocate/to beat about the bush/

繞彎 绕弯 [rào wān] /to go for a walk around/fig. to speak in a roundabout way/

繞彎兒 绕弯儿 [rào wān r5] /to go for a walk around/fig. to speak in a roundabout way/

繞圈子 绕圈子 [rào quān zi5] /to go on a long detour/fig. to speak vaguely around the topic without getting to the point/to beat about the bush/

繞彎子 绕弯子 [rào wān zi5] /lit. to go on a long detour/fig. to speak vaguely around the topic without getting to the point/to beat about the bush/

繞彎子兒 绕弯子儿 [rào wān zǐ r5] /lit. to go on a long detour/fig. to speak vaguely around the topic without getting to the point/to beat about the bush/

繞騰 绕腾 [rào teng5] /to run a long way around/fig. to speak vaguely around the topic without getting to the point/to beat about the bush/

吐口 吐口 [tǔ kǒu] /to spit/fig. to spit out (a request, an agreement etc)/

煞風景 煞风景 [shā fēng jǐng] /to damage beautiful scenery/fig. to spoil the fun/

放毒 放毒 [fàng dú] /to poison/fig. to spread vicious rumors/

自食其力 自食其力 [zì shí qí lì] /lit. to eat off one's own strength (idiom)/fig. to stand on one's own feet/to earn one's own living/

擺地攤 摆地摊 [bǎi dì tān] /lit. to set up a stall on the ground/fig. to start up a new business/

繞膝 绕膝 [rào xī] /(children) run around parent's knees/fig. to stay to look after one's elderly parents/

加溫 加温 [jiā wēn] /to heat/to add warmth/to raise temperature/fig. to stimulate/

點火 点火 [diǎn huǒ] /to ignite/to light a fire/to agitate/to start an engine/ignition/fig. to stir up trouble/

呼風喚雨 呼风唤雨 [hū fēng huàn yǔ] /to call the wind and summon the rain (idiom); to exercise magical powers/fig. to stir up troubles/

喚雨呼風 唤雨呼风 [huàn yǔ hū fēng] /to call the wind and summon the rain (idiom)/to exercise magical powers/fig. to stir up troubles/also 呼風喚雨|呼风唤雨[hū fēng huàn yǔ]/

頭懸梁,錐刺股 头悬梁,锥刺股 [tóu xuán liáng , zhuī cì gǔ] /lit. with his head attached to a beam and stabbing his thigh with an awl (idiom)/fig. to study assiduously and tirelessly/

韋編三絕 韦编三绝 [wéi biān sān jué] /lit. the leather binding (of the bamboo scroll) has broken three times/fig. to study diligently/

蟾宮折桂 蟾宫折桂 [chán gōng zhé guì] /lit. plucking a branch of osmanthus from the Toad Palace (i.e. the moon)/fig. to succeed in the imperial examination/

跌倒 跌倒 [diē dǎo] /to tumble/to fall/fig. to suffer a reverse (in politics or business)/

摔跟頭 摔跟头 [shuāi gēn tou5] /to fall/fig. to suffer a setback/

落馬 落马 [luò mǎ] /lit. to fall from a horse/fig. to suffer a setback/to come a cropper/


Data was adapted from CC-CEDICT
Community maintained free Chinese-English dictionary.

Published by MDBG

License:
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Referenced works:
CEDICT - Copyright (C) 1997, 1998 Paul Andrew Denisowski

CC-CEDICT can be downloaded from:
http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=cc-cedict

Additions and corrections can be sent through:
http://cc-cedict.org/editor/editor.php

For more information about CC-CEDICT see:
http://cc-cedict.org/wiki/

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