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Chinese Idioms > Common > Flashcards

Common Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards Chinese (Mandarin) flashcards
1
Q

爱不释手

A

愛不釋手 ài bú shì shǒu to fondle admiringly (lit. to love sth too much to part with it)

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2
Q

爱憎分明

A

愛憎分明 ài zēng fēn míng to be clear about whom or what to love or hate

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3
Q

按部就班

A

按部就班 àn bù jiù bān follow conventional procedures; in accordance with the prescribed order

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4
Q

安居乐业

A

安居樂業 ān jū lè yè live in peace and work happily

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5
Q

安然无恙

A

安然無恙 ān rán wú yàng to be in a good situation without any problem; usually pertaining to health

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6
Q

按图索骥

A

按圖索驥 àn tú suǒ jì follow clues to locate sth. (lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture)

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7
Q

安土重迁

A

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

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8
Q

拔苗助长

A

拔苗助長 bá miáo zhù zhǎng spoil things by excessive zeal

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9
Q

百步穿杨

A

百步穿楊 bǎi bù chuān yáng shoot with great precision

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10
Q

白首偕老

A

白首偕老 bái shǒu xié lǎo grow old together (as in a couple)

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11
Q

半斤八两

A

半斤八兩 bàn jīn bā liǎng much to choose between

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12
Q

班门弄斧

A

班門弄斧 bān mén nòng fŭ show off one’s slight talent/skill before an expert

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13
Q

半途而废

A

半途而廢 bàn tú ér fèi to give up halfway; to leave something unfinished

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14
Q

杯弓蛇影

A

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)

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15
Q

背井离乡

A

背井離鄉 bèi jǐng lí xiāng be forced to leave one’s home (for a remote place)

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16
Q

本末倒置

A

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)

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17
Q

必不可少

A

必不可少 bì bù kě shǎo absolutely necessary

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18
Q

闭门思过

A

閉門思過 bì mén sī guò shut oneself up and ponder one’s mistakes

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19
Q

变化无常

A

變化無常 biàn huà wú cháng irregular; capricious

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20
Q

别具一格

A

別具一格 bié jù yì gé to have a unique style; describes literature; art and architecture

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21
Q

不加思索

A

不加思索 bù jiā sī suǒ to not think; to talk or act without thinking.

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22
Q

不可救药

A

不可救藥 bù kě jiù yào irremediable; hopeless

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23
Q

不可磨灭

A

不可磨滅 bù kě mó miè indelible

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24
Q

不劳而获

A

不勞而獲 bù láo ér huò reap without sowing

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25
Q

不唯如此

A

不唯如此 bù wéi rú cǐ so is the case

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26
Q

不相上下

A

不相上下 bù xiāng shàng xià equally matched; about the same

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27
Q

不言儿喻

A

不言兒喻 bù yán ér yù obvious

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28
Q

不约而同

A

不約而同 bù yuē ér tóng a coincidence; taking the same action without prior consultation

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29
Q

不知所措

A

不知所措 bù zhī suǒ cuò not knowing what to do; refers to an awkward or confusing situation

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30
Q

不自量力

A

不自量力 bú zì liàng lì overrate one’s own abilities

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31
Q

三言两语

A

三言兩語 cān yán liǎng yǔ just a few words

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32
Q

草木皆兵

A

草木皆兵 cǎo mù jiē bīng imaginary fears (lit. every tree or bush an enemy soldier)

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33
Q

参差不齐

A

參差不齊 cēn cī bù qí non-uniformity; non-standard

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34
Q

长驱

A

長驅 cháng qū make long drive; push deep

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35
Q

程门立雪

A

程門立雪 chéng mén lì xuě honor the teacher and respect his teachings

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36
Q

成千上万

A

成千上萬 chéng qiān shàng wàn a massive amount (lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands)

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37
Q

持之以恒

A

持之以恆 chí zhī yǐ héng persevere

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38
Q

出口成章

A

出口成章 chū kǒu chéng zhāng quick and clever talking; eloquent

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39
Q

出人头地

A

出人頭地 chū rén tóu dì stand out among one’s fellows

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40
Q

传宗接代

A

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

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41
Q

词不达意

A

詞不達意 cí bù dá yì the words fail to convey the idea - poorly expressed; senseless; inarticulate

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42
Q

寸步不离

A

寸步不離 cùn bù bù lí very close; inseparable; usually refers to two or more people

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43
Q

打草惊蛇

A

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)

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44
Q

大吃一惊

A

大吃一驚 dà chī yì jīng be greatly surprised

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45
Q

大海捞针

A

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)

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46
Q

大可不必

A

大可不必 dà kě bù bì need not; unnecessary

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47
Q

大器晚成

A

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)

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48
Q

大失所望

A

大失所望 dà shī suǒ wàng extremely disappointing

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49
Q

大同小异

A

大同小異 dà tóng xiǎo yì similar in essential aspects; different in minor details

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50
Q

大义灭亲

A

大義滅親 dà yì miè qīn uphold righteousness above one’s family

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51
Q

得意忘形

A

得意忘形 dé yì wàng xíng carried away; beside oneself with joy

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52
Q

地大物博

A

地大物博 dì dà wù bó vast territory with abundant resources

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53
Q

丢三落四

A

丟三落四 diū sān là sì to be forgetful; scatterbrained

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54
Q

动人心弦

A

動人心弦 dòng rén xīn xián touching

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55
Q

东山再起

A

東山再起 dōng shān zài qǐ come back (lit. to return to office after living as a hermit on Mount Dongshan)

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56
Q

东施效颦

A

東施效顰 dōng shī xiào pín ludicrous attempt to imitate

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57
Q

独来独往

A

獨來獨往 dú lái dú wǎng be free and alone; come and go freely

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58
Q

独一无二

A

獨一無二 dú yī wú èr unlike any others; to be unique; one of a kind

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59
Q

对牛弹琴

A

對牛彈琴 duì niú tán qín cast pearls before swine; talk over sb.’s head

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60
Q

对症下药

A

對症下藥 duì zhèng xià yào suit one’s methods to the situation (lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness)

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61
Q

多此一举

A

多此一舉 duō cǐ yì jǔ unnecessary; to do more than is required

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62
Q

多多益善

A

多多益善 duō duō yì shàn the more the better

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63
Q

尔虞我诈

A

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)

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64
Q

反复推敲

A

反復推敲 fǎn fù tuī qiāo repeated scrutiny

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65
Q

丰富多彩

A

豐富多彩 fēng fù duō cǎi diverse; rich and varied; rich and colorful; varied; eventful

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66
Q

风和日丽

A

風和日麗 fēng hé rì lì gentle breeze and beautiful sun; describes the weather

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67
Q

风雨无阻

A

風雨無阻 fēng yǔ wú zǔ rain or shine

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68
Q

负荆请罪

A

負荊請罪 fù jīng qǐng zuì offer humble apologies (lit. to bring a bramble and ask for punishment)

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69
Q

赴汤蹈火

A

赴湯蹈火 fù tāng dǎo huǒ go through fire and water

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70
Q

高而忘私

A

高而忘私 gāo ér wàng sī put the group ahead of self

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71
Q

高山流水

A

高山流水 gāo shān liú shuǐ bosom friend; refined music

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72
Q

高枕无忧

A

高枕無憂 gāo zhěn wú yōu sit back and relax; sleep an untroubled sleep

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73
Q

各抒己见

A

各抒己見 gè shū jǐ jiàn a discussion where everyone has equal say

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74
Q

功败垂成

A

功敗垂成 gōng bài chuí chéng fail when on verge of success

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75
Q

邯郸学步

A

邯鄲學步 hán dān xué bù slavishly imitate others

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76
Q

和蔼可亲

A

和藹可親 hé ǎi kě qīn friendly and amicable; usually refers to an elderly person

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77
Q

互补长短

A

互補長短 hù bǔ cháng duǎn make up for each other’s shortcomings

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78
Q

狐假虎威

A

狐假虎威 hú jiǎ hǔ wēi bully people by flaunting one’s powerful connections (lit. the fox exploits the tiger’s might)

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79
Q

囫囵吞枣

A

囫圇吞棗 hú lún tūn zǎo lap up information without digesting it

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80
Q

互助合作

A

互助合作 hù zhù hé zuò co-operative

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81
Q

画饼充饥

A

畫餅充飢 huà bǐng chōng jī feed on illusions (lit. to allay one’s hunger using a picture of a cake)

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82
Q

画龙点睛

A

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

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83
Q

画蛇添足

A

畫蛇添足 huà shé tiān zú to overdo it (lit. draw legs on a snake)

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84
Q

黄粱美梦

A

黃粱美夢 huáng liáng měi mèng pipe dream; illusions of wealth and power (lit. dream of golden millet)

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85
Q

毁性伤情

A

毀性傷情 huǐ xìng shāng qíng hurting one’s feelings deeply

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86
Q

火上加油

A

火上加油 huǒ shàng jiā yóu adding fuel to fire; to enrage people and make matters worse

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87
Q

记忆犹新

A

記憶猶新 jì yì yóu xīn to remain fresh is one’s memory; remember vividly

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88
Q

健步如飞

A

健步如飛 jiàn bù rú fēi fleet footed (lit. running as fast as flying)

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89
Q

江郎才尽

A

江郎才盡 jiāng láng cái jìn have used up one’s literary talent/energy

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90
Q

嗟来之食

A

嗟來之食 jiē lái zhī shí food rudely offered; grudging handout; help grudgingly

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91
Q

今非昔比

A

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)

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92
Q

津津有味

A

津津有味 jīn jīn yǒu wèi relish; with gusto

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93
Q

金石为开

A

金石為開 jīn shí wéi kāi sincerity can make metal and stone crack

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94
Q

近水楼台

A

近水樓台 jìn shuǐ lóu tái waterfront pavilion; favorable position; point of vantage

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95
Q

井底之蛙

A

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)

96
Q

井井有条

A

井井有條 jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo in perfect order; neat and tidy

97
Q

举世无匹

A

舉世無匹 jǔ shì wú pī nothing can compare to this

98
Q

举一反三

A

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)

99
Q

开诚布公

A

開誠布公 kāi chéng bù gōng speak frankly and sincerely (lit. deal sincerely and fairly)

100
Q

开卷有益

A

開卷有益 kāi juàn yǒu yì the benefits of education (lit. opening a book is profitable)

101
Q

开天辟地

A

開天闢地 kāi tiān pì dì creation of the world; since the beginning of time

102
Q

刻舟求剑

A

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)

103
Q

口是心非

A

口是心非 kǒu shì xīn fēi saying something that one does not mean (lit. mouth says yes, heart no)

104
Q

口说无凭

A

口說無憑 kǒu shuō wú píng oral expressions can not be taken as evidence; words of mouth alone don’t carry conviction

105
Q

滥竽充数

A

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)

106
Q

狼狈为奸

A

狼狽為奸 láng bèi wéi jiān villains collude together; to work hand in glove with sb.

107
Q

狼吞虎咽

A

狼吞虎嚥 láng tūn hŭ yàn to eat very quickly and ravenously

108
Q

老马识途

A

老馬識途 lǎo mǎ shí tú an old hand is a good guide; an experienced worker knows what to do

109
Q

乐不思蜀

A

樂不思蜀 lè bù sī shǔ indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty

110
Q

乐此不疲

A

樂此不疲 lè cǐ bù pí to enjoy sth and never tire of it

111
Q

乐观进取

A

樂觀進取 lè guān jìn qǔ be positive

112
Q

力不从心

A

力不從心 lì bù cóng xīn the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; not as strong as one would wish

113
Q

两败俱伤

A

兩敗俱傷 liǎng bài jù shāng lose-lose; both sides suffer

114
Q

两全其美

A

兩全其美 liǎng quán qí měi to the satisfaction of both parties; to have it both ways

115
Q

漏网之鱼

A

漏網之魚 lòu wǎng zhī yú lucky survivor; fugitive; homeless exile (lit. fish that escaped the net)

116
Q

屡见不鲜

A

屢見不鮮 lǚ jiàn bù xiān common occurrence; nothing new

117
Q

乱七八糟

A

亂七八糟 luàn qī bā zāo in a mess; in terrible disorder

118
Q

马到成功

A

馬到成功 mǎ dào chéng gōng instant success; beginner’s luck

119
Q

满城风雨

A

滿城風雨 mǎn chéng fēng yŭ talk of the town; a big scandal (lit. wind and rain through the town)

120
Q

满载而归

A

滿載而歸 mǎn zài ér guī rewarding; to return from a rewarding journey

121
Q

冒充内行

A

冒充內行 mào chōng nèi háng pretend to be an expert

122
Q

没精打采

A

沒精打採 méi jīng dǎ cǎi to be listless or apathetic

123
Q

美中不足

A

美中不足 měi zhōng bù zú having only one small flaw; everything is fine except for one small defect

124
Q

门当户对

A

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

125
Q

门庭若市

A

門庭若市 mén tíng ruò shì much-visited house; the shop is doing booming business; the courtyard is like a fair

126
Q

孟母三迁

A

孟母三遷 mèng mŭ sān qiān a wise mother would try to find a good environment for her children’s best education.

127
Q

面面俱到

A

面面俱到 miàn miàn jù dào cover everything

128
Q

面目一新

A

面目一新 miàn mù yì xīn to change for the better; take on an entirely new look; take care of everything

129
Q

妙语如珠

A

妙語如珠 miào yǔ rú zhū articulate (lit. smart words like a string of pearl)

130
Q

名落孙山

A

名落孫山 míng luò sūn shān fail in a competitive/imperial examination

131
Q

南辕北辙

A

南轅北轍 nán yuán běi zhé diametrically opposite; act at cross-purposes; be poles apart

132
Q

囊萤夜读

A

囊螢夜讀 náng yíng yè dú reading by the light of fireflies

133
Q

呕心沥血

A

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)

134
Q

抛砖引玉

A

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)

135
Q

鹏程万里

A

鵬程萬裡 péng chéng wàn lǐ have a bright future

136
Q

飘忽无定

A

飄忽無定 piāo hū wú dìng someone who changes their mind a lot; someone who wanders around and is difficult to find

137
Q

破釜沉舟

A

破釜沈舟 pò fŭ chén zhōu burn one’s bridges

138
Q

剖腹藏珠

A

剖腹藏珠 pōu fù cáng zhū die in pursuit of gain (lit. cutting one’s stomach to hide a pearl)

139
Q

扑朔迷离

A

撲朔迷離 pū shuò mí chī complicated and confusing; look both like a man and like a woman

140
Q

奇耻大辱

A

奇恥大辱 qǐ chǐ dà rǔ outrageous shame and deep humiliation; a crying shame

141
Q

歧路亡羊

A

歧路亡羊 qí lù wáng yáng go astray in a complex situation

142
Q

杞人忧天

A

杞人憂天 qǐ rén yōu tiān groundless fears (lit. man of Qǐ fears the sky falling)

143
Q

七上八下

A

七上八下 qī shàng bā xià uneasiness; in a mess

144
Q

千差万别

A

千差萬別 qiān chā wàn bié unlike any other; different

145
Q

千钧一发

A

千鈞一髮 qiān jūn yī fà in imminent peril; extremely delicate situation; extremely critical moment

146
Q

黔驴技穷

A

黔驢技窮 qián lǘ jì qióng sb. who has exposed his limited ability; to exhaust one’s limited abilities

147
Q

千丝万缕

A

千絲萬縷 qiān sī wàn lǚ countless ties; a thousand and one links; interrelated in innumerable ways

148
Q

千言万语

A

千言萬語 qiān yán wàn yǔ having much to say; talking nonstop

149
Q

强词夺理

A

強詞奪理 qiáng zí duó lǐ lame arguments; to argue illogically (lit. powerful words devoid of sense)

150
Q

青出于蓝

A

青出於藍 qīng chū yú lán surpass the master (lit. green is born of blue, but beats blue)

151
Q

秋高气爽

A

秋高氣爽 qīu gāo qì shuǎng better weather; clear and refreshing autumn weather

152
Q

人山人海

A

人山人海 rén shān rén hǎi huge crowds of people

153
Q

日新月异

A

日新月異 rì xīn yuè yì to change very quickly; every day sees new developments

154
Q

日益频繁

A

日益頻繁 rì yì pín fán increasingly common

155
Q

如火如荼

A

如火如荼 rú huǒ rú tú magnificent; daunting and vigorous momentum (lit. white cogon flower like fire)

156
Q

如鱼得水

A

如魚得水 rú yú dé shuǐ glad to be back in one’s proper surroundings (lit. like a fish back in water)

157
Q

孺子可教

A

孺子可教 rú zǐ kě jiāo this child is teachable

158
Q

三顾茅庐

A

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

159
Q

三心二意

A

三心二意 sān xīn èr yì half-hearted

160
Q

山明水秀

A

山明水秀 shān míng shuǐ xìu picturesque

161
Q

事半功倍

A

事半功倍 shì bàn gōng bèi more with less; half the work, twice the effect

162
Q

事倍功半

A

事倍功半 shì bèi gōng bàn twice the effort for half the result

163
Q

十拿九稳

A

十拿九穩 shí ná jiŭ wěn very likely to happen; success within reach; extremely certain

164
Q

十全十美

A

十全十美 shí quán shí měi to be completely perfect; flawless; to be perfect

165
Q

世外桃源

A

世外桃源 shì wài táo yuán haven of peace; utopia

166
Q

十之八九

A

十之八九 shí zhī bā jiǔ most likely (lit. in eight or nine cases out of ten)

167
Q

手足情深

A

手足情深 shǒu zú qín shūn brotherhood

168
Q

熟能生巧

A

熟能生巧 shú néng shēng qiǎo skill comes from practice; with familiarity you learn the trick

169
Q

数一数二

A

數一數二 shǔ yī shǔ èr one of the best; outstanding

170
Q

水滴石穿

A

水滴石穿 shuǐ dī shí chuān constant perseverance yields success (lit. dripping water penetrates the stone)

171
Q

水土不服

A

水土不服 shuǐ tǔ bù fú unaccustomed to a place; not acclimatized

172
Q

死灰复燃

A

死灰復燃 sǐ huī fù rán resurgence; revival (lit. ashes burn once more)

173
Q

四面楚歌

A

四面楚歌 sì miàn chŭ gē be besieged on all sides and without help (lit. on all sides, the songs of Chu)

174
Q

似是而非

A

似是而非 sì shì ér fēi appeared right but actually was wrong

175
Q

四通八达

A

四通八達 sì tōng bā dá extend in all directions; connected to all parts of the world

176
Q

私心窃喜

A

私心竊喜 sī xīn qiè xǐ secretly happy 私心=selfish and self-indulgent; 窃= surreptitiously; 喜=happy; celebratory

177
Q

叹为观止

A

嘆為觀止 tàn wéi guān zhǐ acclaim sth. as the acme of perfection; to gasp in amazement

178
Q

谈笑自若

A

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)

179
Q

螳螂捕蝉

A

螳螂捕蟬 táng láng bŭ chán be unaware of impending danger; to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger

180
Q

讨价还价

A

討價還價 tǎo jià huán jià bargain; haggle over a price

181
Q

田园之乐

A

田園之樂 tián yuán zhī lè heavenly happiness

182
Q

同舟共济

A

同舟共濟 tóng zhōu gòng jì to get through a time of difficulty by settle one’s difference and working together

183
Q

投笔从戎

A

投筆從戎 tóu bǐ cóng róng renounce the pen for the sword; join the military service (esp. of educated person)

184
Q

土头土脑

A

土頭土腦 tǔ tóu tǔ nǎo rustic; uncouth; countrified

185
Q

拖泥带水

A

拖泥帶水 tuō ní dài shuǐ messy; sloppy; slovenly (lit. wading in mud and water)

186
Q

完璧归赵

A

完璧歸趙 wán bì guī zhào return sth. to the owner in good condition (lit. to return the jade annulus to Zhao)

187
Q

万事如意

A

萬事如意 wàn shì rú yì good luck; best wishes; all the best

188
Q

望尘莫及

A

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)

189
Q

望梅止渴

A

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)

190
Q

亡羊补牢

A

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)

191
Q

微乎其微

A

微乎其微 wēi hū qí wēi very little; next to nothing

192
Q

为虎作伥

A

為虎作倀 wèi hǔ zuò chāng to help a villain do evil; (lit. to act as accomplice to the tiger)

193
Q

闻鸡起舞

A

聞雞起舞 wén jī qǐ wǔ be roused into action

194
Q

卧薪尝胆

A

臥薪嘗膽 wò xīn cháng dǎn inure oneself for future trials

195
Q

无价之宝

A

無價之寶 wú jià zhī bǎo an object that is priceless or an asset (can also refer to abstract things)

196
Q

无可奈何

A

無可奈何 wú kě nài hé have no way out; have no alternative

197
Q

喜气洋洋

A

喜氣洋洋 xǐ qì yáng yáng jubilant

198
Q

下不为例

A

下不為例 xià bù wéi lì never again; just this once; not to be repeated

199
Q

显而易见

A

顯而易見 xiǎn ér yì jiàn clearly and easy to see; obviously

200
Q

先见之明

A

先見之明 xiān jiàn zhī míng foresight

201
Q

心不在焉

A

心不在焉 xīn bú zài yān absent-minded

202
Q

信口开河

A

信口開河 xìn kǒu kāi hé empty promises; to talk off the cuff

203
Q

心口如一

A

心口如一 xīn kǒu rú yī to be frank and unreserved; honest and straightforward (lit. heart and mouth as one)

204
Q

心直口快

A

心直口快 xīn zhí kǒu kuài frank and outspoken; to say what one thinks

205
Q

雪中送炭

A

雪中送炭 xuě zhōng sòng tàn timely assistance (lit. to send coal during snow)

206
Q

言行一致

A

言行一致 yán xíng yí zhì practice what they preach

207
Q

养儿防老

A

養兒防老 yǎng er fáng lǎo (of parents) to bring up children for the purpose of being looked after in old age

208
Q

义不容辞

A

義不容辭 yì bù róng cí be duty bound

209
Q

一帆风顺

A

一帆風順 yì fán fēng shùn smooth sailing (lit. single sail, gentle wind)

210
Q

一见钟情

A

一見鐘情 yí jiàn zhōng qíng to fall in love at first sight

211
Q

衣锦还乡

A

衣錦還鄉 yī jǐn huán xiāng to return in glory (lit. to come back to one’s hometown in silken robes)

212
Q

一举两得

A

一舉兩得 yì jǔ liǎng dé kill two birds with one stone (lit. one stone kills two birds)

213
Q

一鸣惊人

A

一鳴驚人 yì míng jīng rén become an overnight success

214
Q

一曝十寒

A

一曝十寒 yí pù shí hán not persistent; sporadic effort; lack of sticking power; short attention span

215
Q

易如反掌

A

易如反掌 yì rú fǎn zhǎng very easy; no effort at all (lit. easy as a hand’s turn)

216
Q

以身作则

A

以身作則 yǐ shēn zuò zé lead by example

217
Q

一视同仁

A

一視同仁 yí shì tóng rén equal treatment; not to discriminate between people

218
Q

一枝独秀

A

一枝獨秀 yì zhī dú xiù to outshine others

219
Q

因人而异

A

因人而異 yīn rén ér yì to vary with each individual; to differ from person to person

220
Q

饮水思源

A

飲水思源 yǐn shuǐ sī yuán be grateful for all your blessings! (lit. when you drink water, think of its source)

221
Q

因小失大

A

因小失大 yīn xiǎo shī dà missing the big picture; to save a little only to lose a lot

222
Q

引以为耻

A

引以為恥 yǐn yǐ wéi chǐ to regard it as a disgrace; to consider it shameful

223
Q

有利可图

A

有利可圖 yǒu lì kě tú profitable; economic

224
Q

愚不可及

A

愚不可及 yú bù kě jí couldn’t be more foolish; be hopelessly stupid

225
Q

羽毛丰满

A

羽毛豐滿 yǔ máo fēng mǎ adjective become full-fledged; mature

226
Q

张口结舌

A

張口結舌 zhāng kǒu jié shé speechless (lit. agape and tongue-tied)

227
Q

珍禽异兽

A

珍禽異獸 zhēn qín yì shòu rare birds and animals

228
Q

志同道合

A

志同道合 zhì tóng dào hé like-minded; fellow enthusiast

229
Q

追踪而去

A

追蹤而去 zhuī zōng ér qù chasing closely (after someone)

230
Q

自食其果

A

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)

231
Q

自相矛盾

A

自相矛盾 zì xiāng máo dùn contradict oneself; self-contradictory; inconsistent

232
Q

自由自在

A

自由自在 zì yóu zì zài free; carefree; leisurely

233
Q

自圆其说

A

自圓其說 zì yuán qí shuō to make one’s statement valid; to justify oneself

234
Q

总而言之

A

總而言之 zǒng ér yán zhī in short; in a word; in brief; all in all

235
Q

走马看花

A

走馬看花 zǒu mǎ kàn huā to make a quick judgment based on inadequate information (lit. flower viewing from horseback)

Chinese Idioms (7 decks)

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