Chinese Idioms Flashcards
爱不释手
愛不釋手 ài bú shì shǒu to fondle admiringly (lit. to love sth too much to part with it)
爱憎分明
愛憎分明 ài zēng fēn míng to be clear about whom or what to love or hate
按部就班
按部就班 àn bù jiù bān follow conventional procedures; in accordance with the prescribed order
安居乐业
安居樂業 ān jū lè yè live in peace and work happily
安然无恙
安然無恙 ān rán wú yàng to be in a good situation without any problem; usually pertaining to health
按图索骥
按圖索驥 àn tú suǒ jì follow clues to locate sth. (lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture)
安土重迁
安土重遷 ān tǔ zhòng qiān hate to leave a place where one has lived long; be attached to one’s native land and reluctant to leave
拔苗助长
拔苗助長 bá miáo zhù zhǎng spoil things by excessive zeal
百步穿杨
百步穿楊 bǎi bù chuān yáng shoot with great precision
白首偕老
白首偕老 bái shǒu xié lǎo grow old together (as in a couple)
半斤八两
半斤八兩 bàn jīn bā liǎng much to choose between
班门弄斧
班門弄斧 bān mén nòng fŭ show off one’s slight talent/skill before an expert
半途而废
半途而廢 bàn tú ér fèi to give up halfway; to leave something unfinished
杯弓蛇影
杯弓蛇影 bēi gōng shé yǐng be jittery; suffer from imaginary fears (lit. to see a bow reflected in a cup as a snake)
背井离乡
背井離鄉 bèi jǐng lí xiāng be forced to leave one’s home (for a remote place)
本末倒置
本末倒置 běn mò dào zhì confusing cause and effect; to reverse the primary and secondary tasks (lit. to invert root and branch)
必不可少
必不可少 bì bù kě shǎo absolutely necessary
闭门思过
閉門思過 bì mén sī guò shut oneself up and ponder one’s mistakes
变化无常
變化無常 biàn huà wú cháng irregular; capricious
别具一格
別具一格 bié jù yì gé to have a unique style; describes literature; art and architecture
不加思索
不加思索 bù jiā sī suǒ to not think; to talk or act without thinking.
不可救药
不可救藥 bù kě jiù yào irremediable; hopeless
不可磨灭
不可磨滅 bù kě mó miè indelible
不劳而获
不勞而獲 bù láo ér huò reap without sowing
不唯如此
不唯如此 bù wéi rú cǐ so is the case
不相上下
不相上下 bù xiāng shàng xià equally matched; about the same
不言儿喻
不言兒喻 bù yán ér yù obvious
不约而同
不約而同 bù yuē ér tóng a coincidence; taking the same action without prior consultation
不知所措
不知所措 bù zhī suǒ cuò not knowing what to do; refers to an awkward or confusing situation
不自量力
不自量力 bú zì liàng lì overrate one’s own abilities
三言两语
三言兩語 cān yán liǎng yǔ just a few words
草木皆兵
草木皆兵 cǎo mù jiē bīng imaginary fears (lit. every tree or bush an enemy soldier)
参差不齐
參差不齊 cēn cī bù qí non-uniformity; non-standard
长驱
長驅 cháng qū make long drive; push deep
程门立雪
程門立雪 chéng mén lì xuě honor the teacher and respect his teachings
成千上万
成千上萬 chéng qiān shàng wàn a massive amount (lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands)
持之以恒
持之以恆 chí zhī yǐ héng persevere
出口成章
出口成章 chū kǒu chéng zhāng quick and clever talking; eloquent
出人头地
出人頭地 chū rén tóu dì stand out among one’s fellows
传宗接代
傳宗接代 chuán zōnɡ jiē dài carry on the family name/line; produce a male heir to continue the family line; to carry on one’s ancestral line
词不达意
詞不達意 cí bù dá yì the words fail to convey the idea - poorly expressed; senseless; inarticulate
寸步不离
寸步不離 cùn bù bù lí very close; inseparable; usually refers to two or more people
打草惊蛇
打草驚蛇 dǎ cǎo jīng shé inadvertently alert an enemy/opponent; punish sb. as a warning to others (lit. beat the grass to scare the snake)
大吃一惊
大吃一驚 dà chī yì jīng be greatly surprised
大海捞针
大海撈針 dà hǎi lāo zhēn hard to find; like finding a needle in a haystack (lit. to fish a needle from the sea)
大可不必
大可不必 dà kě bù bì need not; unnecessary
大器晚成
大器晚成 dà qì wǎn chéng great minds mature slowly; Rome wasn’t built in a day (lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot)
大失所望
大失所望 dà shī suǒ wàng extremely disappointing
大同小异
大同小異 dà tóng xiǎo yì similar in essential aspects; different in minor details
大义灭亲
大義滅親 dà yì miè qīn uphold righteousness above one’s family
得意忘形
得意忘形 dé yì wàng xíng carried away; beside oneself with joy
地大物博
地大物博 dì dà wù bó vast territory with abundant resources
丢三落四
丟三落四 diū sān là sì to be forgetful; scatterbrained
动人心弦
動人心弦 dòng rén xīn xián touching
东山再起
東山再起 dōng shān zài qǐ come back (lit. to return to office after living as a hermit on Mount Dongshan)
东施效颦
東施效顰 dōng shī xiào pín ludicrous attempt to imitate
独来独往
獨來獨往 dú lái dú wǎng be free and alone; come and go freely
独一无二
獨一無二 dú yī wú èr unlike any others; to be unique; one of a kind
对牛弹琴
對牛彈琴 duì niú tán qín cast pearls before swine; talk over sb.’s head
对症下药
對症下藥 duì zhèng xià yào suit one’s methods to the situation (lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness)
多此一举
多此一舉 duō cǐ yì jǔ unnecessary; to do more than is required
多多益善
多多益善 duō duō yì shàn the more the better
尔虞我诈
爾虞我詐 ěr yú wǒ zhà deceive each other; engage in a battle of wits (lit. you hoodwink me and I cheat you)
反复推敲
反復推敲 fǎn fù tuī qiāo repeated scrutiny
丰富多彩
豐富多彩 fēng fù duō cǎi diverse; rich and varied; rich and colorful; varied; eventful
风和日丽
風和日麗 fēng hé rì lì gentle breeze and beautiful sun; describes the weather
风雨无阻
風雨無阻 fēng yǔ wú zǔ rain or shine
负荆请罪
負荊請罪 fù jīng qǐng zuì offer humble apologies (lit. to bring a bramble and ask for punishment)
赴汤蹈火
赴湯蹈火 fù tāng dǎo huǒ go through fire and water
高而忘私
高而忘私 gāo ér wàng sī put the group ahead of self
高山流水
高山流水 gāo shān liú shuǐ bosom friend; refined music
高枕无忧
高枕無憂 gāo zhěn wú yōu sit back and relax; sleep an untroubled sleep
各抒己见
各抒己見 gè shū jǐ jiàn a discussion where everyone has equal say
功败垂成
功敗垂成 gōng bài chuí chéng fail when on verge of success
邯郸学步
邯鄲學步 hán dān xué bù slavishly imitate others
和蔼可亲
和藹可親 hé ǎi kě qīn friendly and amicable; usually refers to an elderly person
互补长短
互補長短 hù bǔ cháng duǎn make up for each other’s shortcomings
狐假虎威
狐假虎威 hú jiǎ hǔ wēi bully people by flaunting one’s powerful connections (lit. the fox exploits the tiger’s might)
囫囵吞枣
囫圇吞棗 hú lún tūn zǎo lap up information without digesting it
互助合作
互助合作 hù zhù hé zuò co-operative
画饼充饥
畫餅充飢 huà bǐng chōng jī feed on illusions (lit. to allay one’s hunger using a picture of a cake)
画龙点睛
畫龍點睛 huà lóng diǎn jīng add touches that bring a work of art to life; add a word or two to clinch point
画蛇添足
畫蛇添足 huà shé tiān zú to overdo it (lit. draw legs on a snake)
黄粱美梦
黃粱美夢 huáng liáng měi mèng pipe dream; illusions of wealth and power (lit. dream of golden millet)
毁性伤情
毀性傷情 huǐ xìng shāng qíng hurting one’s feelings deeply
火上加油
火上加油 huǒ shàng jiā yóu adding fuel to fire; to enrage people and make matters worse
记忆犹新
記憶猶新 jì yì yóu xīn to remain fresh is one’s memory; remember vividly
健步如飞
健步如飛 jiàn bù rú fēi fleet footed (lit. running as fast as flying)
江郎才尽
江郎才盡 jiāng láng cái jìn have used up one’s literary talent/energy
嗟来之食
嗟來之食 jiē lái zhī shí food rudely offered; grudging handout; help grudgingly
今非昔比
今非昔比 jīn fēi xī bǐ to see improvement in the present compared to the past (can be a fact or an opinion)
津津有味
津津有味 jīn jīn yǒu wèi relish; with gusto
金石为开
金石為開 jīn shí wéi kāi sincerity can make metal and stone crack
近水楼台
近水樓台 jìn shuǐ lóu tái waterfront pavilion; favorable position; point of vantage
井底之蛙
井底之蛙 jǐng dǐ zhī wā a person with a very limited outlook and experience; an ignorant person (lit. a frog in a well)
井井有条
井井有條 jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo in perfect order; neat and tidy
举世无匹
舉世無匹 jǔ shì wú pī nothing can compare to this
举一反三
舉一反三 jǔ yī fǎn sān learn by analogy; to deduce many things from one case (lit. to raise one and infer three)
开诚布公
開誠布公 kāi chéng bù gōng speak frankly and sincerely (lit. deal sincerely and fairly)
开卷有益
開卷有益 kāi juàn yǒu yì the benefits of education (lit. opening a book is profitable)
开天辟地
開天闢地 kāi tiān pì dì creation of the world; since the beginning of time
刻舟求剑
刻舟求劍 kè zhōu qiú jiàn take measures without regard to changes in circumstances (lit. a notch on the side of a boat to locate a sword dropped overboard)
口是心非
口是心非 kǒu shì xīn fēi saying something that one does not mean (lit. mouth says yes, heart no)
口说无凭
口說無憑 kǒu shuō wú píng oral expressions can not be taken as evidence; words of mouth alone don’t carry conviction
滥竽充数
濫竽充數 làn yú chōng shù fill a position just to make up the number (lit. to play the yú 竽 mouth organ to make up numbers)
狼狈为奸
狼狽為奸 láng bèi wéi jiān villains collude together; to work hand in glove with sb.
狼吞虎咽
狼吞虎嚥 láng tūn hŭ yàn to eat very quickly and ravenously
老马识途
老馬識途 lǎo mǎ shí tú an old hand is a good guide; an experienced worker knows what to do
乐不思蜀
樂不思蜀 lè bù sī shǔ indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty
乐此不疲
樂此不疲 lè cǐ bù pí to enjoy sth and never tire of it
乐观进取
樂觀進取 lè guān jìn qǔ be positive
力不从心
力不從心 lì bù cóng xīn the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; not as strong as one would wish
两败俱伤
兩敗俱傷 liǎng bài jù shāng lose-lose; both sides suffer
两全其美
兩全其美 liǎng quán qí měi to the satisfaction of both parties; to have it both ways
漏网之鱼
漏網之魚 lòu wǎng zhī yú lucky survivor; fugitive; homeless exile (lit. fish that escaped the net)
屡见不鲜
屢見不鮮 lǚ jiàn bù xiān common occurrence; nothing new
乱七八糟
亂七八糟 luàn qī bā zāo in a mess; in terrible disorder
马到成功
馬到成功 mǎ dào chéng gōng instant success; beginner’s luck
满城风雨
滿城風雨 mǎn chéng fēng yŭ talk of the town; a big scandal (lit. wind and rain through the town)
满载而归
滿載而歸 mǎn zài ér guī rewarding; to return from a rewarding journey
冒充内行
冒充內行 mào chōng nèi háng pretend to be an expert
没精打采
沒精打採 méi jīng dǎ cǎi to be listless or apathetic
美中不足
美中不足 měi zhōng bù zú having only one small flaw; everything is fine except for one small defect
门当户对
門當戶對 mén dāng hù duì families of equal standing; be well-matched in social and economic status (for marriage); good [marriage] match
门庭若市
門庭若市 mén tíng ruò shì much-visited house; the shop is doing booming business; the courtyard is like a fair
孟母三迁
孟母三遷 mèng mŭ sān qiān a wise mother would try to find a good environment for her children’s best education.
面面俱到
面面俱到 miàn miàn jù dào cover everything
面目一新
面目一新 miàn mù yì xīn to change for the better; take on an entirely new look; take care of everything
妙语如珠
妙語如珠 miào yǔ rú zhū articulate (lit. smart words like a string of pearl)
名落孙山
名落孫山 míng luò sūn shān fail in a competitive/imperial examination
南辕北辙
南轅北轍 nán yuán běi zhé diametrically opposite; act at cross-purposes; be poles apart
囊萤夜读
囊螢夜讀 náng yíng yè dú reading by the light of fireflies
呕心沥血
嘔心瀝血 ǒu xīn lì xuè throw all one’s energy into sth; to work one’s heart out (lit. to spit out one’s heart and spill blood)
抛砖引玉
拋磚引玉 pāo zhuān yǐn yù used to offer a humble remark before distinguished speech (lit. to throw a brick to attract jade)
鹏程万里
鵬程萬裡 péng chéng wàn lǐ have a bright future
飘忽无定
飄忽無定 piāo hū wú dìng someone who changes their mind a lot; someone who wanders around and is difficult to find
破釜沉舟
破釜沈舟 pò fŭ chén zhōu burn one’s bridges
剖腹藏珠
剖腹藏珠 pōu fù cáng zhū die in pursuit of gain (lit. cutting one’s stomach to hide a pearl)
扑朔迷离
撲朔迷離 pū shuò mí chī complicated and confusing; look both like a man and like a woman
奇耻大辱
奇恥大辱 qǐ chǐ dà rǔ outrageous shame and deep humiliation; a crying shame
歧路亡羊
歧路亡羊 qí lù wáng yáng go astray in a complex situation
杞人忧天
杞人憂天 qǐ rén yōu tiān groundless fears (lit. man of Qǐ fears the sky falling)
七上八下
七上八下 qī shàng bā xià uneasiness; in a mess
千差万别
千差萬別 qiān chā wàn bié unlike any other; different
千钧一发
千鈞一髮 qiān jūn yī fà in imminent peril; extremely delicate situation; extremely critical moment
黔驴技穷
黔驢技窮 qián lǘ jì qióng sb. who has exposed his limited ability; to exhaust one’s limited abilities
千丝万缕
千絲萬縷 qiān sī wàn lǚ countless ties; a thousand and one links; interrelated in innumerable ways
千言万语
千言萬語 qiān yán wàn yǔ having much to say; talking nonstop
强词夺理
強詞奪理 qiáng zí duó lǐ lame arguments; to argue illogically (lit. powerful words devoid of sense)
青出于蓝
青出於藍 qīng chū yú lán surpass the master (lit. green is born of blue, but beats blue)
秋高气爽
秋高氣爽 qīu gāo qì shuǎng better weather; clear and refreshing autumn weather
人山人海
人山人海 rén shān rén hǎi huge crowds of people
日新月异
日新月異 rì xīn yuè yì to change very quickly; every day sees new developments
日益频繁
日益頻繁 rì yì pín fán increasingly common
如火如荼
如火如荼 rú huǒ rú tú magnificent; daunting and vigorous momentum (lit. white cogon flower like fire)
如鱼得水
如魚得水 rú yú dé shuǐ glad to be back in one’s proper surroundings (lit. like a fish back in water)
孺子可教
孺子可教 rú zǐ kě jiāo this child is teachable
三顾茅庐
三顧茅廬 sān gù máo lú repeatedly request sb. to take up a responsible post; earnestly seek the services of able and virtuous people
三心二意
三心二意 sān xīn èr yì half-hearted
山明水秀
山明水秀 shān míng shuǐ xìu picturesque
事半功倍
事半功倍 shì bàn gōng bèi more with less; half the work, twice the effect
事倍功半
事倍功半 shì bèi gōng bàn twice the effort for half the result
十拿九稳
十拿九穩 shí ná jiŭ wěn very likely to happen; success within reach; extremely certain
十全十美
十全十美 shí quán shí měi to be completely perfect; flawless; to be perfect
世外桃源
世外桃源 shì wài táo yuán haven of peace; utopia
十之八九
十之八九 shí zhī bā jiǔ most likely (lit. in eight or nine cases out of ten)
手足情深
手足情深 shǒu zú qín shūn brotherhood
熟能生巧
熟能生巧 shú néng shēng qiǎo skill comes from practice; with familiarity you learn the trick
数一数二
數一數二 shǔ yī shǔ èr one of the best; outstanding
水滴石穿
水滴石穿 shuǐ dī shí chuān constant perseverance yields success (lit. dripping water penetrates the stone)
水土不服
水土不服 shuǐ tǔ bù fú unaccustomed to a place; not acclimatized
死灰复燃
死灰復燃 sǐ huī fù rán resurgence; revival (lit. ashes burn once more)
四面楚歌
四面楚歌 sì miàn chŭ gē be besieged on all sides and without help (lit. on all sides, the songs of Chu)
似是而非
似是而非 sì shì ér fēi appeared right but actually was wrong
四通八达
四通八達 sì tōng bā dá extend in all directions; connected to all parts of the world
私心窃喜
私心竊喜 sī xīn qiè xǐ secretly happy 私心=selfish and self-indulgent; 窃= surreptitiously; 喜=happy; celebratory
叹为观止
嘆為觀止 tàn wéi guān zhǐ acclaim sth. as the acme of perfection; to gasp in amazement
谈笑自若
談笑自若 tán xiào zì ruò go on talking and laughing as if nothing had happened; be cheerful and composed (in face of danger)
螳螂捕蝉
螳螂捕蟬 táng láng bŭ chán be unaware of impending danger; to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
讨价还价
討價還價 tǎo jià huán jià bargain; haggle over a price
田园之乐
田園之樂 tián yuán zhī lè heavenly happiness
同舟共济
同舟共濟 tóng zhōu gòng jì to get through a time of difficulty by settle one’s difference and working together
投笔从戎
投筆從戎 tóu bǐ cóng róng renounce the pen for the sword; join the military service (esp. of educated person)
土头土脑
土頭土腦 tǔ tóu tǔ nǎo rustic; uncouth; countrified
拖泥带水
拖泥帶水 tuō ní dài shuǐ messy; sloppy; slovenly (lit. wading in mud and water)
完璧归赵
完璧歸趙 wán bì guī zhào return sth. to the owner in good condition (lit. to return the jade annulus to Zhao)
万事如意
萬事如意 wàn shì rú yì good luck; best wishes; all the best
望尘莫及
望塵莫及 wàng chén mò jí to be far too inferior (lit. to see only the other rider’s dust and have no hope of catching up)
望梅止渴
望梅止渴 wàng méi zhǐ kě to console oneself with illusions; feed on fancies (lit. to quench one’s thirst by thinking of plums)
亡羊补牢
亡羊補牢 wáng yáng bŭ láo better late than never; to remedy the situation (lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost)
微乎其微
微乎其微 wēi hū qí wēi very little; next to nothing
为虎作伥
為虎作倀 wèi hǔ zuò chāng to help a villain do evil; (lit. to act as accomplice to the tiger)
闻鸡起舞
聞雞起舞 wén jī qǐ wǔ be roused into action
卧薪尝胆
臥薪嘗膽 wò xīn cháng dǎn inure oneself for future trials
无价之宝
無價之寶 wú jià zhī bǎo an object that is priceless or an asset (can also refer to abstract things)
无可奈何
無可奈何 wú kě nài hé have no way out; have no alternative
喜气洋洋
喜氣洋洋 xǐ qì yáng yáng jubilant
下不为例
下不為例 xià bù wéi lì never again; just this once; not to be repeated
显而易见
顯而易見 xiǎn ér yì jiàn clearly and easy to see; obviously
先见之明
先見之明 xiān jiàn zhī míng foresight
心不在焉
心不在焉 xīn bú zài yān absent-minded
信口开河
信口開河 xìn kǒu kāi hé empty promises; to talk off the cuff
心口如一
心口如一 xīn kǒu rú yī to be frank and unreserved; honest and straightforward (lit. heart and mouth as one)
心直口快
心直口快 xīn zhí kǒu kuài frank and outspoken; to say what one thinks
雪中送炭
雪中送炭 xuě zhōng sòng tàn timely assistance (lit. to send coal during snow)
言行一致
言行一致 yán xíng yí zhì practice what they preach
养儿防老
養兒防老 yǎng er fáng lǎo (of parents) to bring up children for the purpose of being looked after in old age
义不容辞
義不容辭 yì bù róng cí be duty bound
一帆风顺
一帆風順 yì fán fēng shùn smooth sailing (lit. single sail, gentle wind)
一见钟情
一見鐘情 yí jiàn zhōng qíng to fall in love at first sight
衣锦还乡
衣錦還鄉 yī jǐn huán xiāng to return in glory (lit. to come back to one’s hometown in silken robes)
一举两得
一舉兩得 yì jǔ liǎng dé kill two birds with one stone (lit. one stone kills two birds)
一鸣惊人
一鳴驚人 yì míng jīng rén become an overnight success
一曝十寒
一曝十寒 yí pù shí hán not persistent; sporadic effort; lack of sticking power; short attention span
易如反掌
易如反掌 yì rú fǎn zhǎng very easy; no effort at all (lit. easy as a hand’s turn)
以身作则
以身作則 yǐ shēn zuò zé lead by example
一视同仁
一視同仁 yí shì tóng rén equal treatment; not to discriminate between people
一枝独秀
一枝獨秀 yì zhī dú xiù to outshine others
因人而异
因人而異 yīn rén ér yì to vary with each individual; to differ from person to person
饮水思源
飲水思源 yǐn shuǐ sī yuán be grateful for all your blessings! (lit. when you drink water, think of its source)
因小失大
因小失大 yīn xiǎo shī dà missing the big picture; to save a little only to lose a lot
引以为耻
引以為恥 yǐn yǐ wéi chǐ to regard it as a disgrace; to consider it shameful
有利可图
有利可圖 yǒu lì kě tú profitable; economic
愚不可及
愚不可及 yú bù kě jí couldn’t be more foolish; be hopelessly stupid
羽毛丰满
羽毛豐滿 yǔ máo fēng mǎ adjective become full-fledged; mature
张口结舌
張口結舌 zhāng kǒu jié shé speechless (lit. agape and tongue-tied)
珍禽异兽
珍禽異獸 zhēn qín yì shòu rare birds and animals
志同道合
志同道合 zhì tóng dào hé like-minded; fellow enthusiast
追踪而去
追蹤而去 zhuī zōng ér qù chasing closely (after someone)
自食其果
自食其果 zì shí qí guǒ suffer the consequences of one’s own doing; to reap what one sows (lit. to eat one’s own fruit)
自相矛盾
自相矛盾 zì xiāng máo dùn contradict oneself; self-contradictory; inconsistent
自由自在
自由自在 zì yóu zì zài free; carefree; leisurely
自圆其说
自圓其說 zì yuán qí shuō to make one’s statement valid; to justify oneself
总而言之
總而言之 zǒng ér yán zhī in short; in a word; in brief; all in all
走马看花
走馬看花 zǒu mǎ kàn huā to make a quick judgment based on inadequate information (lit. flower viewing from horseback)
