力所能及 力所能及 [lì suǒ néng jí] /as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability/within one's powers/
傈僳族 傈僳族 [Lì sù zú] /Lisu ethnic group of Yunnan/
利他 利他 [lì tā] /to benefit others/altruism/
荒煙蔓草 荒烟蔓草 [huāng yān màn cǎo] /lit. abandoned by men and choked with weeds/desolate (idiom)/
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/
座無虛席 座无虚席 [zuò wú xū xí] /lit. a banquet with no empty seats/full house/capacity crowd/standing room only/
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/
瑕不掩瑜 瑕不掩瑜 [xiá bù yǎn yú] /lit. a blemish does not obscure jade's luster/the pros outweigh the cons (idiom)/
頂天立地 顶天立地 [dǐng tiān lì dì] /lit. able to support both heaven and earth/of indomitable spirit (idiom)/
逆水行舟 逆水行舟 [nì shuǐ xíng zhōu] /lit. a boat going against the current (idiom); fig. you must work harder/
人聲鼎沸 人声鼎沸 [rén shēng dǐng fèi] /lit. a boiling cauldron of voices (idiom)/hubbub/brouhaha/
敲門磚 敲门砖 [qiāo mén zhuān] /lit. a brick as a door knocker (idiom); fig. a temporary expedient/to use sb as a stepping stone to fortune/
引玉之磚 引玉之砖 [yǐn yù zhī zhuān] /lit. a brick thrown after a jade/enticing sb to come forward (idiom)/
淵藪 渊薮 [yuān sǒu] /lit. abyss and marsh, meeting place of fish and beast/fig. breeding ground of crime/robbers' hide-out/den of thieves/hotbed of vice/sink of iniquity/
燕雀處堂 燕雀处堂 [yàn què chù táng] /lit. a caged bird in a pavilion (idiom); fig. to lose vigilance by comfortable living/unaware of the disasters ahead/a fool's paradise/
處堂燕雀 处堂燕雀 [chù táng yàn què] /lit. a caged bird in a pavilion (idiom); fig. to lose vigilance by comfortable living/unaware of the disasters ahead/a fool's paradise/
斗酒隻雞 斗酒只鸡 [dǒu jiǔ zhī jī] /lit. a chicken and a bottle of wine (idiom); fig. ready to make an offering to the deceased, or to entertain guests/
隻雞斗酒 只鸡斗酒 [zhī jī dǒu jiǔ] /lit. a chicken and a bottle of wine (idiom); fig. ready to make an offering to the deceased, or to entertain guests/
泥牛入海 泥牛入海 [ní niú rù hǎi] /lit. a clay ox enters the sea (idiom); fig. to disappear with no hope of returning/
狡兔三窟 狡兔三窟 [jiǎo tù sān kū] /lit. a crafty rabbit has three burrows/a sly individual has more than one plan to fall back on (idiom)/
現場 现场 [xiàn chǎng] /lit. actual location/the scene (of the incident)/on-the-spot/
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/
杯水車薪 杯水车薪 [bēi shuǐ chē xīn] /lit. a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood (idiom); fig. an utterly inadequate measure/
笑裡藏刀 笑里藏刀 [xiào lǐ cáng dāo] /lit. a dagger hidden in smiles (idiom); friendly manners belying hypocritical intentions/when the fox preaches, look to the geese/
天花亂墜 天花乱坠 [tiān huā luàn zhuì] /lit. a deluge of heavenly flowers (idiom)/fig. extravagant embellishments/hype/
狗改不了吃屎 狗改不了吃屎 [gǒu gǎi bù liǎo chī shǐ] /lit. a dog can't stop himself from eating shit (idiom)/fig. bad habits are hard to change/
狗拿耗子 狗拿耗子 [gǒu ná hào zi5] /lit. a dog who catches mice/to be meddlesome (idiom)/
狗逮老鼠 狗逮老鼠 [gǒu dài lǎo shǔ] /lit. a dog who catches mice/to be meddlesome (idiom)/
戶樞不蠹 户枢不蠹 [hù shū bù dù] /lit. a door hinge never becomes worm-eaten/constant activity prevents decay (idiom)/
東鱗西爪 东鳞西爪 [dōng lín xī zhǎo] /lit. a dragon's scale from the east and a dragon's claw from the west/odds and ends (idiom)/
南柯一夢 南柯一梦 [Nán kē yī mèng] /lit. a dream of Nanke/fig. dreams of grandeur/
落葉歸根 落叶归根 [luò yè guī gēn] /lit. a falling leaf returns to the roots (idiom)/fig. all things go back to their source eventually/in old age, an expatriate returns home/
嗣響 嗣响 [sì xiǎng] /lit. a following echo/fig. to continue (a tradition)/
破竹之勢 破竹之势 [pò zhú zhī shì] /lit. a force to smash bamboo (idiom); fig. irresistible force/
酒肉朋友 酒肉朋友 [jiǔ ròu péng you5] /lit. a friend when wining and dining (idiom); fair-weather friend/
雨後春筍 雨后春笋 [yǔ hòu chūn sǔn] /lit. after rain, the spring bamboo (idiom); fig. rapid new growth/many new things emerge in rapid succession/
女大十八變 女大十八变 [nu:3 dà shí bā biàn] /lit. a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood (idiom)/fig. a young woman is very different from the little girl she once was/
坐立不安 坐立不安 [zuò lì bù ān] /lit. agitated sitting or standing (idiom)/restless/fidgety/
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)/
天地懸隔 天地悬隔 [tiān dì xuán gé] /lit. a gulf between heaven and earth/wide difference of opinion (idiom)/
害群之馬 害群之马 [hài qún zhī mǎ] /lit. a horse that brings trouble to its herd (idiom)/fig. trouble-maker/black sheep/rotten apple/
脫韁之馬 脱缰之马 [tuō jiāng zhī mǎ] /lit. a horse that has thrown off the reins (idiom); runaway horse/out of control/
羊入虎口 羊入虎口 [yáng rù hǔ kǒu] /lit. a lamb in a tiger's den (idiom)/fig. to tread dangerous ground/
穿針引線 穿针引线 [chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn] /lit. a leading-line to thread a needle (idiom); fig. a go-between/
利他林 利他林 [Lì tā lín] /Ritalin (brand name)/methylphenidate (stimulant drug used to treat ADHD)/
利他靈 利他灵 [Lì tā líng] /Ritalin (brand name)/methylphenidate (stimulant drug used to treat ADHD)/also written 利他林[Lì tā lín]/
百鳥朝鳳 百鸟朝凤 [bǎi niǎo cháo fèng] /lit. all birds paying looking up to the phoenix; fig. peace under a wise ruler/
四海升平 四海升平 [sì hǎi shēng píng] /lit. all four oceans are peaceful/worldwide peace (idiom)/
眾星捧月 众星捧月 [zhòng xīng pěng yuè] /lit. all the stars cup themselves around the moon (idiom, from Analects); fig. to view sb as core figure/to group around a revered leader/to revolve around sb/
眾星拱辰 众星拱辰 [zhòng xīng gǒng chén] /lit. all the stars revolve around Polaris 北辰[Běi chén] (idiom, from Analects); fig. to view sb as core figure/to group around a revered leader/
隔年皇曆 隔年皇历 [gé nián huáng lì] /lit. almanac from years back (idiom)/obsolete practice/old-fashioned principle/
獨木橋 独木桥 [dú mù qiáo] /lit. a log bridge/fig. a tricky path/to walk a tight-rope/
孤身隻影 孤身只影 [gū shēn zhī yǐng] /lit. a lonely body with only a shadow for company/to be all alone (idiom)/
雖死猶榮 虽死犹荣 [suī sǐ yóu róng] /lit. although dead, also honored; died a glorious death/
雖死猶生 虽死犹生 [suī sǐ yóu shēng] /lit. although dead, as if still alive (idiom); still with us in spirit/
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/
流星趕月 流星赶月 [liú xīng gǎn yuè] /lit. a meteor catching up with the moon/swift action (idiom)/
桑間濮上 桑间濮上 [sāng jiān Pú shàng] /lit. among the mulberry trees by the Pu River/fig. lovers' rendezvous/
沐猴而冠 沐猴而冠 [mù hóu ér guàn] /lit. a monkey wearing a hat (idiom)/fig. worthless person in imposing attire/
口吐毒焰 口吐毒焰 [kǒu tǔ dú yàn] /lit. a mouth spitting with poisonous flames/to speak angrily to sb (idiom)/
撼樹蚍蜉 撼树蚍蜉 [hàn shù pí fú] /lit. an ant trying to shake a tree/to overrate oneself (idiom)/
蚍蜉撼樹 蚍蜉撼树 [pí fú hàn shù] /lit. an ant trying to shake a tree/to overrate oneself (idiom)/
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/
蟊賊 蟊贼 [máo zéi] /grain eating insect/lit. and fig. vermin/a person harmful to the country and the people/
駕輕就熟 驾轻就熟 [jià qīng jiù shú] /lit. an easy drive on a familiar path (idiom); fig. experience makes progress easy/a task that is so familiar one can do it with one's hand tied behind one's back/
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/
利他能 利他能 [Lì tā néng] /Ritalin (brand name)/methylphenidate (stimulant drug used to treat ADHD)/also written 利他林[Lì tā lín]/
理塘 理塘 [Lǐ táng] /Litang county (Tibetan: li thang rdzong) in Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture 甘孜藏族自治州[Gān zī Zàng zú zì zhì zhōu], Sichuan (formerly in Kham province of Tibet)/
禮堂 礼堂 [lǐ táng] /assembly hall/auditorium/CL:座[zuò],處|处[chù]/
理塘 理塘 [Lǐ táng] /Litang county (Tibetan: li thang rdzong) in Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture 甘孜藏族自治州[Gān zī Zàng zú zì zhì zhōu], Sichuan (formerly in Kham province of Tibet)/
理塘縣 理塘县 [Lǐ táng xiàn] /Litang county (Tibetan: li thang rdzong) in Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture 甘孜藏族自治州[Gān zī Zàng zú zì zhì zhōu], Sichuan (formerly in Kham province of Tibet)/
理塘縣 理塘县 [Lǐ táng xiàn] /Litang county (Tibetan: li thang rdzong) in Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture 甘孜藏族自治州[Gān zī Zàng zú zì zhì zhōu], Sichuan (formerly in Kham province of Tibet)/
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/
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./
洋洋大篇 洋洋大篇 [yáng yáng dà piān] /lit. an ocean of writing/an impressive literary work (idiom)/
老牛吃嫩草 老牛吃嫩草 [lǎo niú chī nèn cǎo] /lit. an old cow eats young grass (idiom)/fig. a May-December relationship/a romance where the man is significantly older than the woman/
識途老馬 识途老马 [shí tú lǎo mǎ] /lit. an old horse knows the way home (idiom); fig. in difficulty, trust an experience colleague/
老蚌生珠 老蚌生珠 [lǎo bàng shēng zhū] /lit. an old oyster producing a pearl (idiom)/fig. birthing a son at an advanced age/
老驥伏櫪 老骥伏枥 [lǎo jì fú lì] /lit. an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles (idiom); fig. aged person with great aspirations/
老驥伏櫪,志在千里 老骥伏枥,志在千里 [lǎo jì fú lì , zhì zài qiān lǐ] /lit. an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles (idiom); fig. old people may still cherish high aspirations/
刻舟求劍 刻舟求剑 [kè zhōu qiú jiàn] /lit. a notch on the side of a boat to locate a sword dropped overboard (idiom); fig. an action made pointless by changed circumstances/
禱文 祷文 [dǎo wén] /litany (text of a prayer)/
禱詞 祷词 [dǎo cí] /litany (text of a prayer)/
立陶宛 立陶宛 [Lì táo wǎn] /Lithuania/the Lithuanian republic, former Baltic Soviet republic/
立陶宛人 立陶宛人 [Lì táo wǎn rén] /Lithuanian (person)/
比翼雙飛 比翼双飞 [bǐ yì shuāng fēi] /lit. a pair of birds flying close together (idiom)/fig. two hearts beating as one/name of a sweet and sour chicken wing dish/
鶼鶼 鹣鹣 [jiān jiān] /lit. a pair of mythical birds who depend on each other/fig. an inseparable couple/
荊棘載途 荆棘载途 [jīng jí zài tú] /lit. a path covered in brambles/a course of action beset by difficulties (idiom)/
近水樓臺 近水楼台 [jìn shuǐ lóu tái] /lit. a pavilion near the water (idiom); fig. using one's proximity to the powerful to obtain favor/
掌上明珠 掌上明珠 [zhǎng shàng míng zhū] /lit. a pearl in the palm (idiom)/fig. beloved person (esp. daughter)/
羲皇上人 羲皇上人 [xī huáng shàng rén] /lit. a person before the legendary emperor Fuxi 伏羲[Fú Xī]/person from ages immemorial/fig. untroubled person/
陷阱 陷阱 [xiàn jǐng] /lit. a pit for trapping animals/a trap/a snare/a booby-trap/
崛地而起 崛地而起 [jué dì ér qǐ] /lit. arising suddenly above the level ground (idiom); sudden emergence of prominent new feature/
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/
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/
芝蘭之室 芝兰之室 [zhī lán zhī shì] /lit. a room with irises and orchids (idiom); fig. in wealthy and pleasant company/
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/
唇齒相依 唇齿相依 [chún chǐ xiāng yī] /lit. as close as lips and teeth (idiom); closely related/interdependent/
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/
爛醉如泥 烂醉如泥 [làn zuì rú ní] /lit. as drunk as mud/completely drunk/
死灰復燃 死灰复燃 [sǐ huī fù rán] /lit. ashes burn once more (idiom); fig. sb lost returns to have influence/sth malevolent returns to haunt one/
假途滅虢 假途灭虢 [jiǎ tú miè Guó] /lit. a short-cut to crush Guo (idiom); fig. to connive with sb to damage a third party, then turn on the partner/
急如星火 急如星火 [jí rú xīng huǒ] /lit. as hurried as a shooting star (idiom); requiring immediate action/extremely urgent/
如醉如癡 如醉如痴 [rú zuì rú chī] /lit. as if drunk and stupefied (idiom)/intoxicated by sth/obsessed with/mad about sth/also written 如癡如醉|如痴如醉[rú chī rú zuì]/
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/
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/
如泣如訴 如泣如诉 [rú qì rú sù] /lit. as if weeping and complaining (idiom)/fig. mournful (music or singing)/
大傻瓜 大傻瓜 [dà shǎ guā] /a fool/a jerk/lit. a silly big melon/
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)/
築室道謀 筑室道谋 [zhù shì dào móu] /lit. ask passers-by how to build one's house (idiom); fig. to have no idea what to do/without a clue/
軟釘子 软钉子 [ruǎn dīng zi5] /lit. a soft nail/fig. a tactful retort or rejection/
甘之如飴 甘之如饴 [gān zhī rú yí] /lit. as sweet as syrup (idiom, from Book of Songs); to endure hardship gladly/a glutton for punishment/
秋風過耳 秋风过耳 [qiū fēng guò ěr] /lit. as the autumn breeze passes the ear (idiom); not in the least concerned/
秋風掃落葉 秋风扫落叶 [qiū fēng sǎo luò yè] /lit. as the autumn gale sweeps away the fallen leaves (idiom); to drive out the old and make a clean sweep/
腳正不怕鞋歪 脚正不怕鞋歪 [jiǎo zhèng bù pà xié wāi] /lit. a straight foot has no fear of a crooked shoe/an upright man is not afraid of gossip (idiom)/
樹大招風 树大招风 [shù dà zhāo fēng] /lit. a tall tree attracts the wind (idiom); a famous person attract criticism/If you're rich or famous, people will envy you./
一回生,二回熟 一回生,二回熟 [yī huí shēng , èr huí shú] /lit. at first raw, later ripe (idiom); unfamiliar at first but you get used to it/strangers at first meeting, but soon friends/awkward at first but becoming skillful later/an acquired taste/
千里之行,始於足下 千里之行,始于足下 [qiān lǐ zhī xíng , shǐ yú zú xià] /lit. a thousand mile journey begins with the first step/fig. big accomplishments come from an accumulation of little achievements made one by one/
千經萬卷 千经万卷 [qiān jīng wàn juǎn] /lit. a thousand sutras, ten thousand scrolls; fig. the vast Buddhist canon/
如簧之舌 如簧之舌 [rú huáng zhī shé] /lit. a tongue like a reed (idiom)/fig. a glib tongue/
寤寐 寤寐 [wù mèi] /lit. awake or asleep/at any time/
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/
隨風倒柳 随风倒柳 [suí fēng dǎo liǔ] /lit. a willow that bends with the wind/one with no fixed principles (idiom)/
智者千慮,必有一失 智者千虑,必有一失 [zhì zhě qiān lu:4 , bì yǒu yī shī] /lit. a wise person reflecting a thousand times can still make a mistake (idiom); fig. nobody is infallible/
利他行為 利他行为 [lì tā xíng wéi] /altruistic behavior/
利他主義 利他主义 [lì tā zhǔ yì] /altruism/
禿驢 秃驴 [tū lu:2] /Buddhist monk (mocking)/lit. bald donkey/
橫衝直撞 横冲直撞 [héng chōng zhí zhuàng] /lit. bashing sideways and colliding straight on (idiom); to push through shoving and bumping/to barge/to charge around violently/
八卦陣 八卦阵 [bā guà zhèn] /lit. battle plan based on the eight trigrams (in legend); fig. a clever plan/a fiendishly complicated predicament/
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/
打草驚蛇 打草惊蛇 [dǎ cǎo jīng shé] /lit. beat the grass to scare the snake/to inadvertently alert an enemy/to punish sb as a warning to others (idiom)/
艷如桃李 艳如桃李 [yàn rú táo lǐ] /lit. beautiful as peach and prune/fig. radiant beauty/
未雨綢繆 未雨绸缪 [wèi yǔ chóu móu] /lit. before it rains, bind around with silk (idiom, from Book of Songs 詩經|诗经); fig. to plan ahead/to prepare for a rainy day/
滿腹牢騷 满腹牢骚 [mǎn fù láo sāo] /lit. belly full of complaints (idiom)/discontent/always moaning and complaining/
大鱷 大鳄 [dà è] /lit. big crocodile/fig. major figure/big shot/top boss (esp. criminal)/
大鍋飯 大锅饭 [dà guō fàn] /lit. big rice pan/communal feeding/fig. egalitarianism (equal treatment for everyone in same institution)/
羊觸藩籬 羊触藩篱 [yáng chù fān lí] /lit. billy goat's horns caught in the fence (idiom from Book of Changes 易經|易经); impossible to advance or to retreat/without any way out of a dilemma/trapped/in an impossible situation/
羝羊觸藩 羝羊触藩 [dī yáng chù fān] /lit. billy goat's horns caught in the fence (idiom from Book of Changes 易經|易经); impossible to advance or to retreat/without any way out of a dilemma/trapped/in an impossible situation/
鳥語花香 鸟语花香 [niǎo yǔ huā xiāng] /lit. birdsong and fragrant flowers (idiom); fig. the intoxication of a beautiful spring day/
傷弓之鳥 伤弓之鸟 [shāng gōng zhī niǎo] /lit. bird wounded by an arrow (idiom); fig. wounded or damaged person/
苦果 苦果 [kǔ guǒ] /lit. bitter fruit/fig. painful consequence/
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)/
黑磚窯 黑砖窑 [hēi zhuān yáo] /lit. black brick kiln/factories that acquired notoriety in 2007 for slave labor/
博友 博友 [bó yǒu] /lit. blog friend/
吹喇叭 吹喇叭 [chuī lǎ ba5] /to praise sb/lit. blowing the trumpet/
吹糠見米 吹糠见米 [chuī kāng jiàn mǐ] /instant results/lit. blow the husk and see the rice/
渤澥桑田 渤澥桑田 [bó xiè sāng tián] /lit. blue seas where once was mulberry fields (idiom, from 史記|史记[Shǐ jì], Record of the Grand Historian); time brings great changes/life's vicissitudes/
蘭舟 兰舟 [lán zhōu] /lit. boat made of lily magnolia wood/poetic term for boat/
形影相隨 形影相随 [xíng yǐng xiāng suí] /lit. body and shadow follow each other (idiom)/fig. inseparable/
魂不附體 魂不附体 [hún bù fù tǐ] /lit. body and soul separated (idiom); fig. scared out of one's wits/beside oneself/
木人石心 木人石心 [mù rén shí xīn] /lit. body made of wood, heart made of stone (idiom)/fig. heartless/
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/
兩袖清風 两袖清风 [liǎng xiù qīng fēng] /lit. both sleeves flowing in the breeze (idiom); having clean hands/uncorrupted/unsoiled by corrupt practices/
腦子生銹 脑子生锈 [nǎo zi5 shēng xiù] /lit. brains rusty/ossified thinking/
腦脹 脑胀 [nǎo zhàng] /lit. brain swelling/dizzy/light-headed/intoxicated/
支與流裔 支与流裔 [zhī yǔ liú yì] /lit. branches and descendants/of a similar kind/related/
枝節 枝节 [zhī jié] /lit. branch segment (where new branches should develop)/branches and knots/fig. side issue/minor peripheral problem/
饔飧 饔飧 [yōng sūn] /(literary) lit. breakfast and supper/fig. cooked food/
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/
風平浪靜 风平浪静 [fēng píng làng jìng] /lit. breeze is still, waves are quiet (idiom); tranquil environment/all is quiet/a dead calm (at sea)/
風恬浪靜 风恬浪静 [fēng tián làng jìng] /lit. breeze is still, waves are quiet (idiom); tranquil environment/All is quiet./a dead calm (at sea)/
皮包公司 皮包公司 [pí bāo gōng sī] /lit. briefcase company/dummy corporation/shell company/fly-by-night company/
雪亮 雪亮 [xuě liàng] /lit. bright as snow/shiny/dazzling/sharp (of eyes)/
破讀 破读 [pò dú] /pronunciation of a character other than the standard/lit. broken reading/
斷弦 断弦 [duàn xián] /widowed/lit. broken string, cf 琴瑟[qín sè] qin and se, two instruments epitomizing marital harmony/
破瓦寒窯 破瓦寒窑 [pò wǎ hán yáo] /lit. broken tiles, cold hearth; fig. a broken-down house/poor and shabby dwelling/
佛跳牆 佛跳墙 [fó tiào qiáng] /lit. Buddha jumps over the wall, name for a Chinese dish that uses many non-vegetarian ingredients/
債臺高築 债台高筑 [zhài tái gāo zhù] /lit. build a high desk of debt (idiom); heavily in debt/
豆腐渣工程 豆腐渣工程 [dòu fu5 zhā gōng chéng] /jerry-built building project/lit. built on soya bean dregs/
跟屁蟲 跟屁虫 [gēn pì chóng] /lit. bum beetle/sb who tags along/shadow/sycophant/
瘡痍滿目 疮痍满目 [chuāng yí mǎn mù] /lit. bumps and bruises everywhere (idiom); fig. an ugly shambles/devastation everywhere/
束矢難折 束矢难折 [shù shǐ nán zhé] /lit. bundled arrows are difficult to break/there is strength in unity (idiom)/
炙手可熱 炙手可热 [zhì shǒu kě rè] /lit. burn your hand, feel the heat (idiom); arrogance of the powerful/a mighty figure no-one dares approach/hot (exciting or in favor)/
葬玉埋香 葬玉埋香 [zàng yù mái xiāng] /lit. burying jade and interring incense (idiom); funeral for a beautiful person/
成百上千 成百上千 [chéng bǎi shàng qiān] /hundreds/a large number/lit. by the hundreds and thousands/
千千萬萬 千千万万 [qiān qiān wàn wàn] /lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers/innumerable/thousands upon thousands/
成千上萬 成千上万 [chéng qiān shàng wàn] /lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers/innumerable/thousands upon thousands/
成千成萬 成千成万 [chéng qiān chéng wàn] /lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers/innumerable/thousands upon thousands/
成千累萬 成千累万 [chéng qiān lěi wàn] /lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers/innumerable/thousands upon thousands/
白菜價 白菜价 [bái cài jià] /lit. cabbage price/low price/
蛋糕裙 蛋糕裙 [dàn gāo qún] /lit. cake skirt/tiered skirt/
變生肘腋 变生肘腋 [biàn shēng zhǒu yè] /lit. calamity in one's armpit (idiom); a major coup happening on one's doorstep/trouble or danger in one's own backyard/
心腹之患 心腹之患 [xīn fù zhī huàn] /lit. calamity within one's bosom (idiom); major trouble hidden within/
招風惹草 招风惹草 [zhāo fēng rě cǎo] /lit. call the fire to burn the grass (idiom); to cause a quarrel by provocation/to stir up trouble/
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/
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/
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/
不辨菽麥 不辨菽麦 [bù biàn shū mài] /lit. cannot tell beans from wheat (idiom); fig. ignorant of practical matters/
過得去 过得去 [guò dé qù] /lit. can pass through (an opening)/fig. can get by (in life)/tolerably well/not too bad/How are you getting by?/How's life?/
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?/
燕雀焉知鴻鵠之志 燕雀焉知鸿鹄之志 [yàn què yān zhī hóng gǔ 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?/
能詩善文 能诗善文 [néng shī shàn wén] /highly literate/lit. capable at poetry, proficient at prose/
繩墨 绳墨 [shéng mò] /lit. carpenter's straight line marker/same as 墨斗/fig. rules/rules and regulations/
車震 车震 [chē zhèn] /lit. car shaking/car sex/
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/
疏不見親 疏不见亲 [shū bù jiàn qīn] /lit. casual aquaintances should not come between relatives/blood is thicker than water (idiom)/
得魚忘筌 得鱼忘筌 [dé yú wàng quán] /lit. catch fish then forget the trap (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); fig. to take help for granted/
蚰蜒路 蚰蜒路 [yóu yan5 lù] /lit. centipede's path/fig. narrow winding road/
變本加厲 变本加厉 [biàn běn jiā lì] /lit. change to more severe (idiom); to become more intense (esp. of shortcoming)/to aggravate/to intensify/
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/
捕風捉影 捕风捉影 [bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng] /lit. chasing the wind and clutching at shadows (idiom); fig. groundless accusations/to act on hearsay evidence/
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/
中南半島 中南半岛 [Zhōng nán Bàn dǎo] /Indochina peninsula/lit. China South peninsula/
荔枝 荔枝 [lì zhī] /litchi or lychee fruit (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)/
矮子裡拔將軍 矮子里拔将军 [ǎi zi5 li5 bá jiāng jūn] /lit. choose a general from among the dwarfs/fig. choose the best person available (out of a mediocre bunch)/
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/
窗明几淨 窗明几净 [chuāng míng jī jìng] /lit. clear window and clean table (idiom)/fig. bright and clean/
明窗淨几 明窗净几 [míng chuāng jìng jī] /lit. clear window and clean table (idiom); fig. bright and clean/
緣木求魚 缘木求鱼 [yuán mù qiú yú] /lit. climb a tree to catch a fish (idiom); fig. to attempt the impossible/
閉門羹 闭门羹 [bì mén gēng] /lit. closed-door soup (idiom)/refusal to let sb in/
悶葫蘆 闷葫芦 [mèn hú lu5] /lit. closed gourd/fig. enigma/complete mystery/taciturn person/
衣不蔽體 衣不蔽体 [yī bù bì tǐ] /lit. clothes not covering the body (idiom)/fig. poverty-stricken/
雲雨 云雨 [yún yù] /lit. cloud and rain/fig. sexual intercourse/
雲涌 云涌 [yún yǒng] /in large numbers/in force/lit. clouds bubbling up/
雲散風流 云散风流 [yún sàn fēng liú] /lit. clouds scatter, wind flows (idiom); the crisis settles down/people disperse home/things return to normal/
拙嘴笨舌 拙嘴笨舌 [zhuō zuǐ bèn shé] /lit. clumsy mouth and broken tongue (idiom); awkward speaker/
來無影,去無蹤 来无影,去无踪 [lái wú yǐng , qù wú zōng] /lit. come without a shadow, leave without a footprint (idiom); to come and go without a trace/
規矩 规矩 [guī ju5] /lit. compass and set square/fig. established standard/rule/customs/practices/fig. upright and honest/well-behaved/
勢殊事異 势殊事异 [shì shū shì yì] /lit. conditions unique and matters different/things are not the same as before (idiom)/
心服口服 心服口服 [xīn fú kǒu fú] /lit. convinced in heart and by word (idiom); sincerely convinced and ready to concede/to convince/to get one's message across/
清風明月 清风明月 [qīng fēng míng yuè] /lit. cool breeze and bright moon (idiom); unattached and at leisure/
一五一十 一五一十 [yī wǔ yī shí] /lit. count by fives and tens (idiom); to narrate systematically and in full detail/
花容月貌 花容月貌 [huā róng yuè mào] /lit. countenance of a flower, face like the moon (idiom)/fig. (of a woman) beautiful/
風塵僕僕 风尘仆仆 [fēng chén pú pú] /lit. covered in dust (idiom)/fig. travel-worn/
漫山遍野 漫山遍野 [màn shān biàn yě] /lit. covering the mountains and the plains (idiom)/fig. as far as the eye can see/covering everything/omnipresent/
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/
怨天載道 怨天载道 [yuàn tiān zài dào] /lit. cries of complaint fill the roads (idiom); complaints rise all around/discontent is openly voiced/
怨聲載道 怨声载道 [yuàn shēng zài dào] /lit. cries of complaint fill the roads (idiom); complaints rise all around/discontent is openly voiced/
哭聲震天 哭声震天 [kū shēng zhèn tiān] /lit. cries of grief shake the heavens/great sorrow (idiom)/
罪大惡極 罪大恶极 [zuì dà è jí] /lit. crime is great, evil extreme (idiom)/
黃魚車 黄鱼车 [huáng yú chē] /lit. croaker car/flatbed tricycle/delivery tricycle/
曲直 曲直 [qū zhí] /lit. crooked and straight/fig. right and wrong, good and evil/
摸石頭過河 摸石头过河 [mō shí tou5 guò hé] /lit. crossing the river by feeling for stones/improvise by trial-and-error/move cautiously/
鴉雀無聲 鸦雀无声 [yā què wú shēng] /lit. crow and peacock make no sound/absolute silence (idiom); not a single voice can be heard/absolute silence/
太子黨 太子党 [Tài zǐ dǎng] /lit. Crown Prince Party/princelings, descendants of senior communist officials (PRC)/
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/
剪草除根 剪草除根 [jiǎn cǎo chú gēn] /lit. cut grass and pull out roots (idiom); fig. to destroy root and branch/to eradicate/
體無完膚 体无完肤 [tǐ wú wán fū] /lit. cuts and bruises all over (idiom); fig. totally refuted/
斷袖之癖 断袖之癖 [duàn xiù zhī pǐ] /lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve./
剖腹藏珠 剖腹藏珠 [pōu fù cáng zhū] /lit. cutting one's stomach to hide a pearl (idiom)/fig. wasting a lot of effort on trivialities/
冷暖 冷暖 [lěng nuǎn] /lit. daily changes of temperature/fig. well-being/sb's comfort, health, prosperity etc/
危在旦夕 危在旦夕 [wēi zài dàn xī] /lit. danger now morning or evening (idiom); on the verge of death/expected any moment now/The crisis is imminent./
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/
紙醉金迷 纸醉金迷 [zhǐ zuì jīn mí] /lit. dazzling with paper and gold (idiom); fig. indulging in a life of luxury/
金迷紙醉 金迷纸醉 [jīn mí zhǐ zuì] /lit. dazzling with paper and gold (idiom); fig. indulging in a life of luxury/
開誠布公 开诚布公 [kāi chéng bù gōng] /lit. deal sincerely and fairly (idiom); frank and open-minded/plain speaking/Let's talk frankly and openly between ourselves./to put one's cards on the table/
深謀遠慮 深谋远虑 [shēn móu yuǎn lu:4] /lit. deep plans and distant thoughts/to plan far ahead (idiom)/
笑貧不笑娼 笑贫不笑娼 [xiào pín bù xiào chāng] /the notion in society that it's better to get ahead in the world by abandoning one's scruples than to suffer poverty/lit. despising poverty but not prostitution (idiom)/
魔宮 魔宫 [mó gōng] /lit. devils' castle/place occupied by sinister forces/
邪門歪道 邪门歪道 [xié mén wāi dào] /lit. devil's gate, crooked path (idiom); corrupt practices/crooked methods/dishonesty/
孜孜不倦 孜孜不倦 [zī zī bù juàn] /lit. diligent and never slacking (idiom); continuous concentrated effort/assiduous (in study)/to concentrate/
染指於鼎 染指于鼎 [rǎn zhǐ yú dǐng] /lit. dip one's finger in the tripod (idiom); fig. to get one's finger in the pie/to get a share of the action/
金蘭譜 金兰谱 [jīn lán pǔ] /lit. directory of golden orchids/fig. genealogical record (esp. exchanged between sworn brothers)/
蘭譜 兰谱 [lán pǔ] /lit. directory of orchids/fig. genealogical record (esp. exchanged between sworn brothers)/
染指垂涎 染指垂涎 [rǎn zhǐ chuí xián] /lit. dirty finger, mouth watering (idiom); fig. greedy to seize sth/
遠水不解近渴 远水不解近渴 [yuǎn shuǐ bù jiě jìn kě] /lit. distant water does not cure present thirst; fig. urgent need/a slow remedy does not address immediate needs/
眾說紛揉 众说纷揉 [zhòng shuō fēn róu] /lit. diverse opinions confused and divided (idiom); opinions differ/controversial matters/
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]/
神筆 神笔 [shén bǐ] /lit. divine pen/fig. outstanding writing/
一竅不通 一窍不通 [yī qiào bù tōng] /lit. doesn't (even) enter a single aperture (of one's head)/I don't understand a word (idiom)/it's all Greek to me/
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/
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/
不吝珠玉 不吝珠玉 [bù lìn zhū yù] /lit. do not begrudge gems of wisdom (idiom, humble expr.); fig. Please give me your frank opinion./Your criticism will be most valuable./
不打不相識 不打不相识 [bù dǎ bù xiāng shí] /lit. don't fight, won't make friends (idiom); an exchange of blows may lead to friendship/no discord, no concord/
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)/
坐不垂堂 坐不垂堂 [zuò bù chuí táng] /lit. don't sit under overhanging eaves (idiom); fig. don't stay in danger area/
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/
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/
夜不閉戶 夜不闭户 [yè bù bì hù] /lit. doors not locked at night (idiom); fig. stable society/
龍頭蛇尾 龙头蛇尾 [lóng tóu shé wěi] /lit. dragon's head, snake's tail (idiom); fig. a strong start but weak finish/
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/
揚清激濁 扬清激浊 [yáng qīng jī zhuó] /lit. drain away filth and bring in fresh water (idiom); fig. dispel evil and usher in good/eliminate vice and exalt virtue/
激濁揚清 激浊扬清 [jī zhuó yáng qīng] /lit. drain away filth and bring in fresh water (idiom); fig. dispel evil and usher in good/eliminate vice and exalt virtue/
照貓畫虎 照猫画虎 [zhào māo huà hǔ] /lit. drawing a tiger using a cat as a model (idiom); fig. to pretend to do sth without understanding it/
畫蛇添足 画蛇添足 [huà shé tiān zú] /lit. draw legs on a snake (idiom); fig. to ruin the effect by adding sth superfluous/to overdo it/
夢幻泡影 梦幻泡影 [mèng huàn pào yǐng] /lit. dreams and visions in a bubble (idiom); fig. the illusory nature of the world in Buddhism/illusion/pipe dream/
衣冠禽獸 衣冠禽兽 [yī guān qín shòu] /lit. dressed up animal (idiom)/fig. immoral and despicable person/
裝神弄鬼 装神弄鬼 [zhuāng shén nòng guǐ] /lit. dress up as God, play the devil (idiom); fig. to mystify/to deceive people/to scam/
喝西北風 喝西北风 [hē xī běi fēng] /lit. drink the northwest wind (idiom); cold and hungry/
乾杯 干杯 [gān bēi] /to drink a toast/Cheers! (proposing a toast)/Here's to you!/Bottoms up!/lit. dry cup/
口乾舌燥 口干舌燥 [kǒu gān shé zào] /lit. dry mouth and tongue (idiom); to talk too much/
呆若木雞 呆若木鸡 [dāi ruò mù jī] /lit. dumb as a wooden chicken (idiom); fig. dumbstruck/
各色各樣 各色各样 [gè sè gè yàng] /lit. each color and each form (idiom)/diverse/various/all kinds of/
人給家足 人给家足 [rén jǐ jiā zú] /lit. each household provided for, enough for the individual (idiom); comfortably off/
家給人足 家给人足 [jiā jǐ rén zú] /lit. each household provided for, enough for the individual (idiom); comfortably off/
耳根清淨 耳根清净 [ěr gēn qīng jìng] /lit. ears pure and peaceful (idiom)/to stay away from the filth and unrest of the world/
土階茅屋 土阶茅屋 [tǔ jiē máo wū] /lit. earthen steps and a small cottage/frugal living conditions (idiom)/
土階茅茨 土阶茅茨 [tǔ jiē máo cí] /lit. earthen steps and a thatched hut/frugal living conditions (idiom)/
黃鐘譭棄瓦釜雷鳴 黄钟毁弃瓦釜雷鸣 [huáng zhōng huǐ qì wǎ fǔ léi míng] /lit. earthern pots make more noise than classical bells/good men are discarded in favor of bombastic ones (idiom)/
關東 关东 [Guān dōng] /Northeast China/Manchuria/lit. east of Shanhai Pass 山海關|山海关[Shān hǎi guān]/Kantō region of Japan/
明槍好躲,暗箭難防 明枪好躲,暗箭难防 [míng qiāng hǎo duǒ , àn jiàn nán fáng] /lit. easy to dodge the spear in the open, hard to avoid a stab in the dark (idiom); it is hard to guard against secret conspiracies/
明槍易躲,暗箭難防 明枪易躲,暗箭难防 [míng qiāng yì duǒ , àn jiàn nán fáng] /lit. easy to dodge the spear in the open, hard to avoid a stab in the dark (idiom); it is hard to guard against secret conspiracies/
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/
好吃懶做 好吃懒做 [hào chī lǎn zuò] /lit. eats a lot but never works (idiom); fig. a parasite/
吃軟不吃硬 吃软不吃硬 [chī ruǎn bù chī yìng] /lit. eats soft food, but refuses hard food (idiom)/amenable to coaxing but not coercion/
魚死網破 鱼死网破 [yú sǐ wǎng pò] /lit. either the fish dies or the net splits/a life and death struggle (idiom)/
儉腹 俭腹 [jiǎn fù] /lit. empty belly/hollow/vacuous/devoid of content/
冤家路窄 冤家路窄 [yuān jiā lù zhǎi] /lit. enemies on a narrow road (idiom); fig. an inevitable clash between opposing factions/
汗牛充棟 汗牛充栋 [hàn niú chōng dòng] /lit. enough books to make a pack-ox sweat or to fill a house to the rafters (idiom); fig. many books/
升 升 [shēng] /to ascend/to rise to the rank of/to promote/to hoist/liter/measure for dry grain equal to one-tenth dou 斗[dǒu]/
讀寫能力 读写能力 [dú xiě néng lì] /literacy/
識字率 识字率 [shí zì lu:4] /literacy rate/
字面 字面 [zì miàn] /literal/typeface/
逐字逐句 逐字逐句 [zhú zì zhú jù] /literal/word by word and phrase by phrase/
按照字面 按照字面 [àn zhào zì miàn] /literally/
迂 迂 [yū] /literal-minded/pedantic/doctrinaire/longwinded/circuitous/
本義 本义 [běn yì] /original meaning/literal sense/
直譯 直译 [zhí yì] /direct meaning/literal translation/
文 文 [wén] /language/culture/writing/formal/literary/gentle/(old) classifier for coins/Kangxi radical 118/
發語辭 发语辞 [fā yǔ cí] /literary auxiliary particle, comes at the beginning of a sentence/
文壇 文坛 [wén tán] /literary circles/
構 构 [gòu] /to construct/to form/to make up/to compose/literary composition/paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)/
風騷 风骚 [fēng sāo] /literary excellence/flirtatious behavior/
文體 文体 [wén tǐ] /genre of writing/literary form/style/literary recreation and sporting activities/
文豪 文豪 [wén háo] /literary giant/great writer/eminent writer/
文采 文采 [wén cǎi] /literary talent/literary grace/rich and bright colors/
海上奇書 海上奇书 [hǎi shàng qí shū] /literary journal published in 1892-93 by Han Bangqing 韓邦慶|韩邦庆 featuring serialized novels in classical Chinese and Jiangsu vernacular/
文學巨匠 文学巨匠 [wén xué jù jiàng] /literary master/
表字 表字 [biǎo zì] /literary name (an alternative name of person stressing a moral principle)/
才華 才华 [cái huá] /literary or artistic talent/CL:份[fèn]/
煙花粉黛 烟花粉黛 [yān huā fěn dài] /woman/prostitute/love-making/literary or theatrical form in Tang, Song and Yuan/
墨客 墨客 [mò kè] /literary person/
讀音 读音 [dú yīn] /pronunciation/literary (rather than colloquial) pronunciation of a Chinese character/
典 典 [diǎn] /canon/law/standard work of scholarship/literary quotation or allusion/ceremony/to be in charge of/to mortgage or pawn/
文體 文体 [wén tǐ] /genre of writing/literary form/style/literary recreation and sporting activities/
書香 书香 [shū xiāng] /literary reputation/
書會 书会 [shū huì] /calligraphy society/village school (old)/literary society (old)/
文采 文采 [wén cǎi] /literary talent/literary grace/rich and bright colors/
文藝作品 文艺作品 [wén yì zuò pǐn] /literary work/art work/
著作 著作 [zhù zuò] /to write/literary work/book/article/writings/CL:部[bù]/
文章 文章 [wén zhāng] /article/essay/literary works/writings/hidden meaning/CL:篇[piān],段[duàn],頁|页[yè]/
騷 骚 [sāo] /trouble/disturbance/rumpus/flirty/coquettish/abbr. for 離騷|离骚[Lí Sāo]/literary writings/smell of urine/foul smell/male (animal) (dialect)/
認字 认字 [rèn zì] /literate/knowing how to read/
識文斷字 识文断字 [shí wén duàn zì] /literate/a cultured person/
文人 文人 [wén rén] /scholar/literati/
文士 文士 [wén shì] /literati/scholar/
騷客 骚客 [sāo kè] /(literary) poet/literati/
文學 文学 [wén xué] /literature/CL:種|种[zhǒng]/
文藝 文艺 [wén yì] /literature and art/
文史 文史 [wén shǐ] /literature and history/
語文 语文 [yǔ wén] /literature and language/
野火燒不盡,春風吹又生 野火烧不尽,春风吹又生 [yě huǒ shāo bù jìn , chūn fēng chuī yòu shēng] /lit. even a prairie fire cannot destroy the grass - it grows again when the breeze blows (proverb)/fig. cannot be easily eliminated/abbr. as 野火春風|野火春风[yě huǒ chūn fēng]/
插翅難飛 插翅难飞 [chā chì nán fēi] /lit. even given wings, you couldn't fly (idiom); fig. impossible to escape/
暮鼓晨鐘 暮鼓晨钟 [mù gǔ chén zhōng] /lit. evening drum, morning bell (idiom); fig. Buddhist monastic practice/the passage of time in a disciplined existence/
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/
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/
草木皆兵 草木皆兵 [cǎo mù jiē bīng] /lit. every tree or bush an enemy soldier (idiom); fig. to panic and treat everyone as an enemy/to feel beleaguered/
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/
淋漓盡致 淋漓尽致 [lín lí jìn zhì] /lit. extreme saturation (idiom)/fig. vividly and thoroughly/in great detail/without restraint/(of a performance) brilliant/
吃著碗裡,看著鍋裡 吃着碗里,看着锅里 [chī zhe5 wǎn lǐ , kàn zhe5 guō lǐ] /lit. eyeing what's in the pot as one eats from one's bowl (idiom)/not content with what one already has/(of men, typically) to have the wandering eye/
眉來眼去 眉来眼去 [méi lái yǎn qù] /lit. eyes and eyebrows come and go (idiom); to make eyes/to exchange flirting glances with sb/
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/
目怔口呆 目怔口呆 [mù zhēng kǒu dāi] /lit. eye startled, mouth struck dumb (idiom); stunned/stupefied/
臨渴穿井 临渴穿井 [lín kě chuān jǐng] /lit. face thirst and dig a well (idiom); fig. not to make adequate provision/to act when it is too late/
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/
家醜不可外傳 家丑不可外传 [jiā chǒu bù kě wài chuán] /lit. family shames must not be spread abroad (idiom); fig. don't wash your dirty linen in public/
膏血 膏血 [gāo xuè] /lit. fat and blood/fruit of one's hard labor/flesh and blood/