Chinese Idioms Dictionary

bú zé shǒu duàn

Use any means regardless of ethics

bù yuē ér tóng

Arrive at same point without coordination

bù yán ér yù

Self-evident requiring no explanation

bù xiè yī gù

Disdainfully dismiss as beneath consideration

bù xiāng shàng xià

Evenly matched with neither superior

bù kě sī yì

Beyond comprehension or explanation

bù kě jiù yào

Beyond hope of redemption or reform

bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng

Make accusations without solid evidence

bèi shuǐ yī zhàn

Fight with total commitment having no retreat

bǎo jīng cāng sāng

Weathered profound life transformations

bàn miàn zhī jiāo

Superficial acquaintance without depth

bàn jīn bā liǎng

Essentially the same despite appearances

chǔ cái jìn yòng

Recruit talent from rival organization

chéng rén zhī wēi

Exploit others during their vulnerability

chéng mén lì xuě

Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom

chéng fēng pò làng

Boldly forge ahead through adversity

chén yú luò yàn

Beauty so stunning it affects natural world

chèn xīn rú yì

Perfectly satisfying every expectation

chàng kōng chéng jì

Use bold confidence to mask vulnerability

cháng huà duǎn shuō

Make a long story short

céng chū bù qióng

Continuously emerging in endless succession

cè mù ér shì

Look askance with suspicion or disdain

cāng hǎi sāng tián

Profound transformations over time

cǎo mù jiē bīng

Extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere

dà tóng xiǎo yì

Essentially the same with minor differences

dōng zhāng xī wàng

Look around nervously or suspiciously

dōng shān zài qǐ

Make a comeback after setback or retirement

diū sān là sì

Habitually forgetful and disorganized

dé tiān dú hòu

Uniquely blessed with natural advantages

dé cùn jìn chǐ

Take advantage by demanding increasingly more

dé bù cháng shī

Gains not worth the cost or sacrifice

dào tīng tú shuō

Unreliable information from casual hearsay

dāng wù zhī jí

Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention

dāi ruò mù jī

Completely stunned or dumbfounded

dà gōng wú sī

Completely impartial without self-interest

dài rén rè qíng

Treat others with genuine warmth and enthusiasm

fù jīng qǐng zuì

Sincerely admit fault and accept consequences

fēng tǔ rén qíng

Local customs and cultural characteristics

fēng chuī cǎo dòng

React to slightest hint of change or activity

fēi qín zǒu shòu

All varieties of wildlife in nature

fèi qǐn wàng shí

So absorbed as to neglect basic needs

fēi é pū huǒ

Be irresistibly drawn toward self-destruction

fēng huá zhèng mào

At peak of youth's ability

fù shuǐ nán shōu

Actions cannot be undone

fú guāng lüè yǐng

Superficial impression without depth

fēng yǔ wú zǔ

Persist despite difficult conditions

fǔ dǐ chōu xīn

Eliminate root cause of problem

fēng yuè wú biān

Boundless natural beauty and romance

guī gēn dào dǐ

Fundamentally or in the final analysis

guǎi wān mò jiǎo

Speak or act in deliberately indirect manner

guā tián lǐ xià

Avoid situations that invite suspicion

gōng bù yìng qiú

Demand exceeds available supply

gēn shēn dì gù

Deeply entrenched and difficult to change

gè shū jǐ jiàn

Everyone freely express their own opinions

gāo zhěn wú yōu

Completely free from worry or concern

guò hé chāi qiáo

Abandoning those who helped you

gū xī yǎng jiān

Leniency encourages worse behavior

guò yóu bù jí

Moderation in all things

gé xuē sāo yǎng

Ineffective indirect solution

guā mù xiāng kàn

Reassess someone who has improved

hòu lái jū shàng

Latecomers surpass the early starters

huǒ mào sān zhàng

Explode in extreme anger or rage

huì mò rú shēn

Maintain absolute silence about sensitive matter

huǎng rán dà wù

Sudden complete understanding after confusion

hǔ tóu shé wěi

Strong start with weak finish

hú shuō bā dào

Talk complete nonsense without any foundation

hǔ jù lóng pán

Commanding imposing strategic position

hòu gù zhī yōu

Concerns about hidden vulnerabilities

hǎo hǎo xiān sheng

Person who agrees with everyone to avoid conflict

hán dān xué bù

Lose abilities through misguided imitation

hài qún zhī mǎ

Individual whose behavior harms entire group

hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn

Attempt an extremely difficult search

jiǎo tà shí dì

Being practical and down-to-earth

jiǔ niú yī máo

A drop in the bucket; negligible amount

jí gōng jìn lì

Seek quick success and immediate benefit

jīn gē tiě mǎ

Magnificent military might and valor

jiǎo tù sān kū

Always have backup plans

jiāng láng cái jìn

Creativity permanently dried up

jǐng dǐ zhī wā

Narrow-minded from limited experience

jiá rán ér zhǐ

Come to an abrupt halt

jiān shōu bìng xù

Embrace diverse ideas inclusively

jìng yè lè qún

Balance excellence with social harmony

jí liú yǒng jìn

Advance boldly through difficulty

jù jīng huì shén

Concentrate fully

kè zhōu qiú jiàn

Using outdated methods foolishly

kǒu gān shé zào

Exhausted from excessive talking

kè gǔ míng xīn

Deeply and permanently affected

kǒu shì xīn fēi

Words differ from thoughts

kuā kuā qí tán

All talk no substance

kāi mén jiàn shān

Get straight to point

kǒu mì fù jiàn

Hide evil behind sweet words

lěng lěng qīng qīng

Deserted and lifeless atmosphere

luàn qī bā zāo

Complete disorganization and messiness

lè yú zhù rén

Find genuine pleasure in helping others

luò yáng zhǐ guì

Extraordinary popularity of intellectual work

lì wǎn kuáng lán

Heroically reversing catastrophic situation

lóng mǎ jīng shén

Youthful vigor despite old age

lín wēi bù jù

Courage under pressure

liáo ruò chén xīng

Very rare

lǎo mǎ shí tú

Experience brings wisdom

liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng

Fierce competition between equals

liǔ àn huā míng

Hope appears in darkness

míng fù qí shí

Living up to one's name or reputation

mǎ dào chéng gōng

Achieve immediate success

mén dāng hù duì

Match between families of similar social status

mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ

Just so-so or passable quality

máng rén mō xiàng

Mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom

mǎi dú huán zhū

Valuing packaging over content

míng cún shí wáng

Exist in name only

miào shǒu huí chūn

Extraordinary healing skill

míng zhé bǎo shēn

Protect oneself from danger wisely

mù bù xiá jǐ

Too much to take in

mù wú quán niú

Achieve instinctive mastery

mù bù zhuǎn jīng

Focus intently

nán yuán běi zhé

Actions contrary to one's goals

nán xiōng nán dì

Companions united through shared hardship

náng yíng yìng xuě

Study despite hardship

nì shuǐ xíng zhōu

Progress needs constant effort

páo dīng jiě niú

Effortless skill through perfect practice

páng qiāo cè jī

Approach indirectly to achieve goal

pò zài méi jié

Extremely urgent

pī xīng dài yuè

Work day and night

pī jīng zhǎn jí

Overcome all obstacles

pī shā jiǎn jīn

Find value among worthless

pāo zhuān yǐn yù

Offer modest view to inspire better

pò fǔ chén zhōu

Commit with no retreat

qī shǒu bā jiǎo

Many people busily working together in disorder

qǔ gāo hè guǎ

Sophisticated work appreciated by few

qián tú wú liàng

Unlimited potential for future success

qí hǔ nán xià

Unable to stop dangerous course

qīng méi zhú mǎ

Childhood sweethearts or friends

qī shàng bā xià

Anxious and unsettled

qǐ rén yōu tiān

Worry needlessly about impossible disasters

qiān chuí bǎi liàn

Perfected through repeated refinement

qiǎo duó tiān gōng

Craftsmanship beyond natural limits

qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn

Combine strengths to overcome weaknesses

qīng gài rú gù

Instant friendship

qiè ér bù shě

Persevere until success

ruò yǒu suǒ sī

Lost in thought with a contemplative expression

rén shān rén hǎi

Vast crowds of people

rào liáng sān rì

Lasting impact of performance

rěn jùn bù jīn

Unable to hide amusement

rú lǚ báo bīng

Extreme caution in risky situations

rú zuì rú mèng

Entranced in dreamlike state

rù mù sān fēn

Profoundly penetrating insight

rú shǔ jiā zhēn

Know something thoroughly

rú yú dé shuǐ

In perfect element

rì jī yuè lěi

Gradual accumulation builds up

rù xiāng suí sú

Follow local customs

róng huì guàn tōng

Master something completely

shì bù kě dǎng

Unstoppable; irresistible momentum

sì tōng bā dá

Extending in all directions; well-connected

shí yǒu bā jiǔ

Very high probability at about 80-90 percent

shā jī qǔ luǎn

Sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term gains

shēn bù yóu jǐ

Forced to act against will

shù shǒu wú cè

Completely helpless without options

sān rén chéng hǔ

Repeated lie becomes truth

sì hǎi wéi jiā

At home anywhere

sān xǐng wú shēn

Self-reflect daily

shēn móu yuǎn lǜ

Plan far ahead

shì wài táo yuán

Perfect peaceful place

sì mǎ nán zhuī

Cannot undo what's done

tiān cháng dì jiǔ

Everlasting; eternal

tí xīn diào dǎn

Extreme anxiety with physical symptoms

tuī bō zhù lán

Amplifying existing trends or momentum

tiān yī wú fèng

Flawless and perfectly seamless

tài rán zì ruò

Maintain perfect composure under pressure

tán huā yī xiàn

Brief, fleeting appearance

tuì bì sān shè

Make concessions to avoid conflict

tōng xiāo dá dàn

Work through the entire night

tiě chǔ chéng zhēn

Success through persistence

tiān wài yǒu tiān

Always someone better

tuī chén chū xīn

Create new from old

tōu liáng huàn zhù

Deceive by substitution

wǔ huā bā mén

A bewildering variety; all kinds of

wàng chuān qiū shuǐ

To eagerly await someone or something

wú yuán wú gù

Completely without reason or provocation

wén bù jiā diǎn

Perfect execution without revision

wò xīn cháng dǎn

Endure hardship for future success

wàn mǎ bēn téng

Powerful unstoppable momentum

wàng yáng xìng tàn

Feel overwhelmed by greatness

wáng yáng bǔ láo

Never too late to fix

wàng qí xiàng bèi

Almost catch up

wán bì guī zhào

Return something perfect

wén jī qǐ wǔ

Practice with determination

wàng méi zhǐ ké

Console with false hopes

xīn xuè lái cháo

Acting on a sudden impulse or whim

xún xù jiàn jìn

Progress step by step

xiǎo xīn yì yì

Act with extreme caution and care

xīn dì shàn liáng

Fundamentally kind and virtuous character

xū zhāng shēng shì

Bluffing with fake display

xīn yuán yì mǎ

Restless, unfocused mind

xìn shǒu niān lái

Create effortlessly from mastery

xuán yá lè mǎ

Stop before too late

xuě zhōng sòng tàn

Help in time of need

xuán liáng cì gǔ

Study extremely hard

xū huái ruò gǔ

Stay humble and open

xiào lǐ cáng dāo

Hide malice behind smile

yī xīn yī yì

Wholeheartedly; with undivided attention

yán ér yǒu xìn

To be true to one's word

yuán mù qiú yú

Using completely wrong method for a task

yǔ rì jù zēng

Steadily increasing as time passes

yǔ hǔ móu pí

Asking someone to sacrifice their core interests

yǒu tiáo bù wěn

Methodical and well-organized action

yōu shèng liè tài

Natural selection eliminates the unfit

yōng rén zì rǎo

Creating unnecessary troubles for oneself

yè gōng hào lóng

Professed love hiding actual fear

yù bàng xiāng zhēng

Mutual conflict benefits third party

yú gōng yí shān

Persistence overcomes huge obstacles

yǎn ěr dào líng

Self-deception through ignoring reality

zhēng fēn duó miǎo

Race against time; make every second count

zì yóu zì zài

Completely free and unrestrained

zì zuò cōng míng

Too clever for one's own good

zì lì gēng shēng

Self-reliance without external dependence

zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī

As everyone knows or is widely recognized

zhī zú cháng lè

Contentment with what one has brings happiness

zhí dǎo huáng lóng

Strike directly at the heart of enemy territory

zhēng xiān kǒng hòu

Rush eagerly to be first, not last

zhěn gē dài dàn

Maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge

zhēn fēng xiāng duì

Sharp, direct confrontation in argument

zhāo qín mù chǔ

Constantly shifting loyalty for personal gain

zhāo qì péng bó

Vibrant youthful energy and enthusiasm

àn tú suǒ jì

Rigidly following outdated methods

àn jiàn shāng rén

Covert attacks avoiding direct confrontation

ài máo fǎn qiú

Honor one's teachers or humble origins

ài bù shì shǒu

Cherish something too much to put it down

àn dù chén cāng

Achieve secretly through misdirection

ài wū jí wū

Love extends to all connections

è guàn mǎn yíng

Accumulated evil deeds ripe for punishment

ān rú tài shān

Absolutely stable and unshakable

ān rán wú yàng

Completely safe and unharmed through danger

ān jū lè yè

Live peacefully and work happily

ān bù dāng chē

Choose simpler pleasures over status displays

ěr mù yī xīn

A refreshing new experience

ěr rú mù rǎn

Learning unconsciously through constant exposure

ǒu xīn lì xuè

Invest utmost effort and emotion