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David's Chinese Characters > Chengyu and Suyu > Flashcards

Chengyu and Suyu Flashcards

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Chinese (Mandarin) flashcards
1
Q

坚定不移

A

“firm and unswerving, steadfeast and unchanging, resolute”

jian1ding4bu4yi2

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2
Q

引人注目

A

“draw attention, noticeable, conspicuous”

yin3ren2zhu4mu4

predicate and attributive

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3
Q

好马不吃回头草

A

hao3 ma3 bu4 chi1 hui2 tou2 cao3

A good man does not backtrack (used singly, neutral)

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4
Q

小菜一碟

A

xiao3 cai4 yi4 die2

“a piece of cake”

used as a predicate; neutal

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5
Q

太阳从西边出来

A

tai4yang2 cong2 xi1 bian1 chu1lai

hell freezes over

used as predicate or singly (slightly derogatory)

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6
Q

因地制宜

A

yin1di4zhi4yi2

“adapt to local conditions”

mainly as predicate and adverbial

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7
Q

自相矛盾

A

zi4xiang1mao2dun4

“self-contradictory”

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8
Q

成千上万

A

cheng2qian1shang4wan4

Very many of.

Attributive and predicate

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9
Q

卓有成效

A

zhuo2you3cheng2xiao4

“outstanding, and having effect”; “highly effective”

Functions as attributive; often preceeded by 进行， 开展 often matches with 合作

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10
Q

当务之急

A

dang1wu4zhi1ji2

“a matter of great urgency”

nominal element, functions as object or subject

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11
Q

独立自主

A

du2li4zi4zhu3

“be one’s own master”

This is a foreign policy of China, so frequently used in diplomatic contexts; functions as object or adverbial

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12
Q

脱颖而出

A

tuo1ying3er2chu1

“talent being fully exposed, talent revealing itself”

functions as predicate

frequently refering to doing exams or competitions etc.

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13
Q

说曹操，曹操到

A

shuo1cao2cao1, cao2cao1dao4

“speak of the devil”

more common to use “shuo1ren2ren2dao4”

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14
Q

乌鸦嘴

A

wu1ya1 zui3

“jinx” (person believed to bring bad luck, by saying negative things)

object or predicative

slightly derogatory

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15
Q

二百五

A

er4bai3wu3

“halfwit”, “peabrain”

functions as a noun

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16
Q

不怕一万，就怕万一

A

bu2pa4yi2wan4,jiu4pa4wan4yi1

“one can never be too careful”

netural, used singly

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17
Q

吃一堑，长一智

A

chi1yi2qian4, zhang3yi2zhi4

“a fall in the pit, a gain in your wit”

predicate

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18
Q

无可奈何

A

Wu2ke3nai4he2 = have no alternative

“helpless, have no way out”

functions mainly as predicate or adverbial modifier

usually used with serious things not

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19
Q

莫名其貌

A

mo4ming2qi2miao4

“no one can explain it; unable to make head nor tail”

original meaning was too beautiful to be understood sometimes still has that conotation but not always

predicate, complement or adverbial modifier

frequently used with 让人-, 感到-, -的话, -病 (not sure how or why ill)

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20
Q

自力更生

A

zi4li4geng1sheng1

“rely on oneself”

mainly predicate and adverbial

positive often used in slogans, frequently paired with other idioms;

frequently paired with other expressions talking about working hard.

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21
Q

一如既往

A

yi4ru2ji4wang3

“formerly”, “in the past”

frequently precided with “将” will

adverbial;

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22
Q

扑朔迷离

A

pu1shuo4mi2li2

“confusing, hard to distinguish, all mixed up”

“things are intricate and complicated and difficult to distinguish clearly”

often serves as predicate and sometimes as attributive, usually at end of sentence

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23
Q

睁着眼睛说瞎话

A

zheng1zhe yan3jing shuo1 xia1 hua4
“to flout reality”; “to tell bald-faced lies”

Predicate

Slightly derogatory

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24
Q

近朱者赤，近墨者黑

A

jin4 zhu1zhe3 chi4, jin4 mo4zhe3 hei1
“one is marked by the company one keeps”

used alone; neutral

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25
Q

物以稀为贵

A

wu4 yi3 xi1 wei2 gui4

“that which is rare is dear”

used singly or as a predicate

neutral

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26
Q

王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸

A

Wang2po2mai4gua1, zi4mai4zi4kua1

“every potter praises his own pot”
used singly; slightly derogatory in meaning

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27
Q

不可思议

A

bu4 ke3 si1 yi4

“unthinkable, inconceivable”

predicate and attributive

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28
Q

坚持不懈

A

jian1chi2bu2xie4
“persist, persevering, unremitting”

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29
Q

供不应求

A

gong1bu4ying4qiu2
“in short supply”, supply does not meet demand

Predicate abd attributive; as attrubutive usually followed by 局面， 情况，现象

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30
Q

行之有效

A

xing2 zhi1 you3 xiao4

“implement with efficiency”, “efficient”

often followed by 办法，方法，做法，措施，政策

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31
Q

周所周知

A

zhong4suo3zhou1zhi1
“as is known to all”

Used in writing

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32
Q

站着说话不腰疼

A

zhan4zhe shuo1hua4 bu4 yao1teng2
Not known to my tutor, meaning “talk is cheap, to be an armchair quaterback”

predicate; slightly derogatory and humerous

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33
Q

天下没有不散的筵席

A

tiān xià méi yǒu bù sàn de yán xí

“all good things must come to an end”

used singly; neutral in meaning

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34
Q

天上掉馅饼

A

tian1shang diao4 xian4bing3
“to have something fall into your lap”; slighly derogatory

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35
Q

己所不欲，勿施与人

A

ji3 suo3 bu2 yu4, wu4 shi1 yu2 ren2
“do unto others as you have them do unto you”; used singly; neutral in meaning

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36
Q

兴致勃勃

A

Xing4 zhi4 bo2bo2

Quite formal - full of interest and enthusiasm

Adverbial offten followd by 参观canguan, 参加canjia, 游览youlian and 访问fangwen.

Complementary.

Bo2 = flourishing

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37
Q

不鸣则已, 一鸣惊人

A

yi4ming2jing1ren2

(bu4ming2ze2yi1, very normal) - often used before

to achieve overnight success, to amaze with a single brilliant feat.

mainly predicate, can also be attrubutive and adverbial

38
Q

逃进黄河也洗不清

A

tiao4jin4Huang2he2xi3bu2qing3

to be unable to clear on’e sname;

predicate or predictive

neuatral or humerous; the more you wash the dirtier you get

39
Q

拍马屁

A

pai1ma3pi4

to suck up to someone

predicate

derogatory in meaning

40
Q

想方设法

A

xiang3fang1she4fa3

“think of all kinds of ways. Try every possible means”

Mainly a predicate, followed by verb

When encountering difficulties he always tries every possible way to resolve them himself.

41
Q

千家万户

A

qian1jia1wan4hu4

“innumerable households; every family”

Nominal element; functions mainly as object or subject

42
Q

举足轻重

A

ju3zu2qing1zhong4

“to play a decisive role, to be pivotal in importance”

Functions mainly as attributive often followed by:

地位， 作用，影响，人物，角色

Chinese electronics has a XXX place in the world.

43
Q

见义勇为

A

jian4yi4yong2wei2

“see what is right and have the courage to do it”

Functions as attributive;

complementary in meaninng

44
Q

举世瞩目

A

ju3shi4zhu3mu4

“attract world-wide attention”

“the entire world focuses its attention on”

functions mainly as attributive followed often by
成就，成绩

45
Q

情人眼里出西施

A

qing2ren2yan3li3chu1xi1shi1

“love is blind”

always used for women.

Used singly

Neutral or humerous in meaning

46
Q

打酱油

A

da3 jiang4you2

I coulnd’t care less

that’s above my pay grade

functions as predicate

humerous from internet 2008 meme

47
Q

走着瞧

A

zou3zhe qiao2

wait and see

functions as predicate

slightly derogatory or neutral

48
Q

不管三七二十一

A

to throw caution to the wind

functions as predicate or used singly

slightly derogatory

49
Q

小心翼翼

A

xiao3xin1yi4yi4
To be careful and cautious;

often used adverbially to mean “cautiously”

mainly an adverbial but can also serve as predicate

“Archelological workers very carefully and cautionously inspect every item from the arrchieological site”

“his life is overcautions; regarding every matter, he is careful and cautious, deathly afraid that he will cause others to be upset”

50
Q

源远流长

A

yuan2 yuan3 liu2 chang2

literal: the source of a strema is distant and the water flows a long distance

Freer translation: age-old, long-standing, well-established;

functions mainly as predicate but can also serve as attributive

China has an age-old tea culture

The friendship between the people’s of the two coutnries is long-standing and well-established.

51
Q

弄虚作假

A

nòngxūzuòjiǎ

to practice fraud; “use trickery or deception to create a false appearance”

predicate and adverbial

derogatory

52
Q

自言自语

A

自言自语[—語] zìyánzìyǔ {C}

f.e. ①think aloud ②talk to one’s self | Nǐ zìyánzìyǔ zài shuō shénme ne? 你自言自语在说什么呢? What are you talking to yourself about?

adverbial and predicate

53
Q

纸上谈兵

A

纸上谈兵[紙-談-] zhǐshàngtánbīng {E} id. be an armchair strategist | Tā zhǐ huì zhǐshàngtánbīng. 他只会纸上谈兵。 He’s only an armchair strategist.

predicate or attributive

54
Q

名副其实

A

名副其实[—實] míngfùqíshí* {D} f.e. ①name matches reality ②be worthy of the name | Yǒurén shuō Xiàwēiyí shì míngfùqíshí de tiāntáng. 有人说夏威夷是名副其实的天堂。 People say that Hawaii is worthy of the name “paradise.”

attributive or predicate

sometimes 符 （2nd tone) instead

55
Q

日新月异

A

日新月异[—異] rìxīnyuèyì {E} f.e. sth. new each day | Zhèige chéngshì rìxīnyuèyì. 这个城市日新月异。 This city changes everyday.
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

change rapidly each day

predicate, attributive

complementary

56
Q

得天独厚

A

得天独厚[–獨-] détiāndúhòu {E} f.e. be particularly favored by nature

in a favourable position

enjoy exceptional advantages

attibutive often followed by 优势 or 条件

57
Q

吃着碗里的，看着锅里的

A

chi1zhe wan3li3 de, kan4zhe guo1 li3 de

Slightly derogatory and humerous

to be unsatisifed with what one has

It seems he´s after his wife´s sister

He´s so unfaithdful, eating what´s in the bowl while eyeing what´s in the pot

58
Q

钻牛角尖

A

zuan1niu2jiao3jian3

To split hairs (squeeze a bull horn tip)

To go down a dead end

Europeans have an advantage in learning languages. An average European can speak two or three languages.

No, a lot of English people can only speak English?

Why are you splitting hairs, I was speaking generally.

59
Q

人不可貌相，海水不可斗量

A

ren2bu4ke3mao4xiang4, hai3shui3bu4ke3 dou3liang4

You can’t judge a person by appearrance, just as you can’t
measure the sea with a pint pot. [idiom.]

“you can´t judge a book by it´s cover”

netural in tone

60
Q

林子大了，什么鸟都有

A

lin2zi da4 le, shen2me nao3 dou1 you3

There are all kinds of fish in the sea.

Used singly, slightly derogatory

I’ve heard there’s a person who reads upside down.

There are all kinds of fish in the sea.

61
Q

鸡毛蒜皮

A

鸡毛蒜皮[雞—] jīmáosuànpí {E} f.e. trifles; trivialities
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

Slightly derogatory in meaning

Our leader can’t handle big issues, he only talks about trivial matters and I’m sick of it.

咱们头儿大事干不了，整天讲一些鸡毛蒜皮的事情，都烦死我了

62
Q

鲜花插在牛粪上

A

鲜花插在牛粪上[鮮—-糞-] xiānhuā chā zài niúfèn shàng id. a belle married to a guttersnipe

a beatufil woman married to an ugle man;

mainly predicate or predicative

derogatory in meaning

63
Q

醉翁之意不在酒

A

醉翁之意不在酒 zuìwēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ id. have an ulterior motive

humourous or neutral in meaning

64
Q

情不自禁

A

情不自禁 qíngbụ̀zìjìn {E} f.e. can’t help (doing sth.) | Wǒ qíngbụ̀zìjìn de xiàole qǐlai. 我情不自禁地笑了起来。 I couldn’t help laughing.
1.7 [XHPC:3] average occurrences per million characters of text

functions as adverbial

65
Q

不以为然

A

不以为然[–為-] bùyǐwéirán {E} f.e. consider sth. not so/right/acceptable | Tā bùyǐwéirán. 他不以为然。 He did not think this was so.
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

think otherwise, take exception to, dissaprove

functions mainly as predicate and adverbial

the view that many young people have of older people is very dissaproving, believing that their views are all outdated.

不少年轻人对老年人的看法不以为然，认为他们的看法通通陈旧了。

66
Q

络绎不绝

A

络绎不绝[絡繹-絕] luòyìbùjué {E} f.e. in an endless stream; continuous | Xiàtiān yóukè luòyìbùjué. 夏天游客络绎不绝。 Tourists come continuously during the summer.
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

continuous flow, unending stream

generally used to describe people

67
Q

不约而同

A

不约而同[-約–] bùyuē’értóng {E} f.e. happen to coincide; coincidentally do sth. | Tāmen bùyuē’értóng, dōu zài Liùyuè jiéhūn le. 他们不约而同, 都在六月结婚了。 It so happened that they all got married in June.
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

functions adverbially

“have the same view or take the same action as someone else but without prior consultation with them”

68
Q

猴年马月

A

hou2 nian2 ma3 yue4

“it’s be a cold day in hell when..”

functions as adverbial.

69
Q

眼不见为净

A

yan3 bu2 jian4 wei2 jing4

“what somebody doens’t know/see can’t hurt them”

functions mainly as predicate

70
Q

姜是老的辣

A

jiang1 shi4 lao3 de la4

“with experience comes wisdom (ginger becomes a spice as it gets older)”

used singly

neutral in meaning

71
Q

千千万万

A

qian1qian1 wan4wan4

千千万万[–萬萬] qiānqiānwànwàn r.f. thousands upon thousands; myriads

“a great number of”

functions as attributive, usually describes people

“his lecture touched the hearts of thousannds of people in the audience”

be careful with 千万千万 which is negative

72
Q

齐心协力

A

qíxīnxiélì {E} f.e. make concerted efforts
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

“make a united effort, work as one”

functions mainly as predicate

complimentary

73
Q

卧薪尝胆

A

卧薪尝胆[臥-嘗膽] wòxīnchángdǎn {E} id. inure oneself for future trials
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

“undergo hardships to achieve one’s purpose”

functions as attributive, sometimes independant.

74
Q

大街小巷

A

◎ 大街小巷 dàjiē-xiǎoxiàng

[high streets and back lanes] 大大小小的街道胡同,泛指城里的各处地方

all the streets and lanes

usually noun as subject or object

75
Q

不由自主

A

bùyóuzìzhǔ {E} f.e. can’t help; involuntarily
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

“not be able to restrain oneself, feel an irrisistable urge”

mainly adverbial

76
Q

应运而生

A

yìngyùn’érshēng {E} f.e. emerge because of a favorable situation | Yụ̌ wǎngluò xiāngguān de gōngsī yìngyùn’érshēng. 与网络相关的公司应运而生。 New companies related to the Internet have emerged because of the favorable situation.

arise in response to the needs of the times

predicate

77
Q

形形色色

A

íngxíngsèsè {E} r.f. of every shade and description
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

of all colours and kinds, of all outward appearances

functions as attributive

78
Q

姜是老的辣

A

jiang1 shi4 lao3 de la4

with experience comes wisdom

used singly; humorous; neutral

79
Q

留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

A

liu2 de2 qing1 shan1 zai4, bu2 pa4 mei2 chai2 shao1

where there’s life there’s’ hope. Used singly.

80
Q

走桃花运

A

Zǒu táohuāyùn

to be lucky in love; predicate; neutral

81
Q

成事不足，败事有余

A

Chéngshì bùzú, bài shì yǒuyú

everything one touches turns to dust;

derogatory; used as predicate or attributive;

82
Q

名列前茅

A

mínglièqiánmáo {E} f.e. be among the best of successful candidates | Tā de chéngjì zǒngshì mínglièqiánmáo. 他的成绩总是名列前茅。 His test scores are always among the best of the successful candidates.

mainly predicate

83
Q

家喻户晓

A

jiāyùhùxiǎo {D} f.e. become a household word; be known to every family/household
9 [gr:D] average occurrences per million characters of text

freer translation - to be known to every family, to be widely known

mainly attributive and predicate

84
Q

兴高采烈

A

xìnggāocǎiliè {C} f.e. in high spirits; jubilant
8.9 [XHPC:16] average occurrences per million characters of text

mainly adverbial

85
Q

排忧解难

A

páiyōujiěnàn {E} f.e. get rid of worries and overcome difficulties
5 [gr:E] average occurrences per million characters of text

freeer translation - help others overcome their difficulties,

often predicate in this structure for example:

为老人排忧解难

86
Q

以其人之道还治其人之身

A

Yǐ qí rén zhī dào huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn

To give someone a taste of their own medicine;

predicate

neutral

87
Q

拿得起，放得下

A

na2 de qi3, fang4 de xia4

to be able to go with the flow

predicate neutral or complimentary

88
Q

留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

A

liu2 de2 qing1 shan1 zai4, bu2 pa4 mei2 chai2 shao1

where there’s life there’s’ hope. Used singly.

89
Q

皇上不急太监急

A

Huángshàng bù jí tàijiàn jí
the person involved is calm and collected but observers are worried

used singly or predicate

90
Q

三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮

A

Sān gè chòu píjiàng, dǐng gè zhūgéliàng

two heads are better than one
(three common minds better than one great mind)

91
Q

脚踩两只船

A

Jiǎo cǎi liǎng zhī chuán
to have a foot in both camps

predicate
slightly derogatory

David's Chinese Characters (27 decks)

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