Chinese Idioms Dictionary

bǎi zhé bù náo

Unshakeable despite adversity

bèn niǎo xiān fēi

Work harder to compensate

bǎi chǐ gān tóu

Achieve even greater success

bào xīn jiù huǒ

Make situation worse

bīng xiāo wǎ jiě

Complete collapse

bì yuè xiū huā

Exceptionally beautiful

bēi gōng shé yǐng

Needlessly suspicious

bù bù wéi yíng

Advance methodically with caution

biān pì rù lǐ

Penetrating deeply to the essence

bá miáo zhù zhǎng

Ruin through impatient intervention

běn mò dào zhì

Prioritize minor over fundamental matters

bù jìng ér zǒu

Spread widely and rapidly on its own

chūn fēng huà yǔ

Gentle, nurturing influence

chá yán guān sè

Read between lines

chūn cán dào sǐ

Selfless dedication

chún wáng chǐ hán

Fates linked together

chā chì nán fēi

Utterly impossible to escape

chéng mén shī huǒ

Innocent bystanders suffer from others' problems

chà qiáng rén yì

Meets minimum standards only

chū lèi bá cuì

Excellence that outshines all others

chéng qián qǐ hòu

Linking tradition with innovation

cǎo mù jiē bīng

Extreme paranoia sees threats everywhere

cāng hǎi sāng tián

Profound transformations over time

cè mù ér shì

Look askance with suspicion or disdain

dú wàn juǎn shū

Read extensively for knowledge

dēng táng rù shì

Progress from basic to advanced

diào yǐ qīng xīn

Lower one's guard

dēng fēng zào jí

Reach highest attainable level

dī shuǐ bù lòu

Absolutely flawless and thorough

dòng ruò guān huǒ

Understand with absolute clarity

duì niú tán qín

Present to wrong audience

dà qì wǎn chéng

Excellence develops with time

dǐng lǐ mó bài

Extreme adoration or worship

dǎn dà xīn xì

Courage balanced with careful attention

dōng shī xiào pín

Failed imitation lacking understanding

dài rén rè qíng

Treat others with genuine warmth and enthusiasm

fēng yǔ tóng zhōu

Share hardships together

fēng shēng hè lì

Overly fearful and suspicious

fù zhòng qián xíng

Progress despite difficulties

fēng yún tū biàn

Sudden dramatic change

fù zhòng zhì yuǎn

Endure now for future

fèng máo lín jiǎo

Extremely rare

fēng yún jì huì

Perfect moment of opportunity

fáng wēi dù jiàn

Stop problems before they grow

fān yún fù yǔ

Unpredictable, dramatic changes

fēng yuè wú biān

Boundless natural beauty and romance

fǔ dǐ chōu xīn

Eliminate root cause of problem

fēng yǔ wú zǔ

Persist despite difficult conditions

gǎi xié guī zhèng

Return to righteousness

guā shú dì luò

Things happen when ready

gè dé qí suǒ

Everything in right place

gōng kuī yī kuì

Fail due to giving up near the end

gé àn guān huǒ

Observe troubles from safe distance

gù ruò jīn tāng

Impenetrable defenses

guǎn kuī lí cè

Limited perspective on vast subject

gāo shān liú shuǐ

Perfect artistic understanding between friends

guā mù xiāng kàn

Reassess someone who has improved

gé xuē sāo yǎng

Ineffective indirect solution

guò yóu bù jí

Moderation in all things

gū xī yǎng jiān

Leniency encourages worse behavior

hào yì wù láo

Love ease, hate work

hǎi nà bǎi chuān

Accept all with open mind

huà lóng diǎn jīng

Add crucial finishing touch

hú jiǎ hǔ wēi

Borrow authority to intimidate

huà shé tiān zú

Ruin by adding extras

hàn niú chōng dòng

Vast amount of knowledge

hè lì jī qún

Stand out from crowd

hào hào dàng dàng

Vast and mighty

hòu jī bó fā

Success after long preparation

hú lún tūn zǎo

Accept without proper understanding

hè fà tóng yán

Youthful despite old age

huì jí jì yī

Hiding problems worsens them

jǔ yī fǎn sān

Learn many from one example

jìn shuǐ lóu tái

Advantage from close connections

jiàn wēi zhī zhù

Foresee big from small signs

jí sī guǎng yì

Gather wisdom from many

jīn shí liáng yán

Valuable, lasting advice

jí yè chéng qiú

Small efforts make big results

jīn fēng yù lù

Perfect timing and conditions

jǔ zhòng ruò qīng

Make difficult look easy

jiè huā xiàn fó

Use others' resources

jīng wèi tián hǎi

Persist despite impossibility

jù shā chéng tǎ

Small things build achievement

jiàn xián sī qí

Learn from the worthy

kǒu mì fù jiàn

Hide evil behind sweet words

kāi mén jiàn shān

Get straight to point

kuā kuā qí tán

All talk no substance

kǒu shì xīn fēi

Words differ from thoughts

kè gǔ míng xīn

Deeply and permanently affected

kǒu gān shé zào

Exhausted from excessive talking

kè zhōu qiú jiàn

Using outdated methods foolishly

kǔ jìn gān lái

After hardship comes happiness

kāi chéng bù gōng

Be candid and fair

kāi tiān pì dì

Groundbreaking achievement

kǒu ruò xuán hé

Eloquent and persuasive

kōng chéng jì

Strategic bluff

liǔ àn huā míng

Hope appears in darkness

liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng

Fierce competition between equals

lǎo mǎ shí tú

Experience brings wisdom

liáo ruò chén xīng

Very rare

lín wēi bù jù

Courage under pressure

lóng mǎ jīng shén

Youthful vigor despite old age

lì wǎn kuáng lán

Heroically reversing catastrophic situation

luò yáng zhǐ guì

Extraordinary popularity of intellectual work

lè yú zhù rén

Find genuine pleasure in helping others

luàn qī bā zāo

Complete disorganization and messiness

lěng lěng qīng qīng

Deserted and lifeless atmosphere

luò huā liú shuǐ

Utter defeat; scattered in disarray

mén tíng ruò shì

Extremely popular

mò míng qí miào

Makes no sense

máo suì zì jiàn

Volunteer oneself confidently

míng qiāng yì duǒ

Open threats easier than hidden

míng chá qiū háo

Perceive tiny details

míng jìng zhǐ shuǐ

Clear and calm mind

mù bù zhuǎn jīng

Focus intently

mù wú quán niú

Achieve instinctive mastery

mù bù xiá jǐ

Too much to take in

míng zhé bǎo shēn

Protect oneself from danger wisely

miào shǒu huí chūn

Extraordinary healing skill

míng cún shí wáng

Exist in name only

nì shuǐ xíng zhōu

Progress needs constant effort

náng yíng yìng xuě

Study despite hardship

nán xiōng nán dì

Companions united through shared hardship

nán yuán běi zhé

Actions contrary to one's goals

nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō

Outsmart oneself; cleverness backfiring

nù bù kě è

Be furious beyond control

nán fēn nán shě

Be inseparable; hate to part

níng jìng zhì yuǎn

Tranquility leads to success

nì lái shùn shòu

Passive acceptance

nìng wéi yù suì

Integrity over compromise

nòng jiǎ chéng zhēn

Reality from pretense

pò fǔ chén zhōu

Commit with no retreat

pāo zhuān yǐn yù

Offer modest view to inspire better

pī shā jiǎn jīn

Find value among worthless

pī jīng zhǎn jí

Overcome all obstacles

pī xīng dài yuè

Work day and night

pò zài méi jié

Extremely urgent

páng qiāo cè jī

Approach indirectly to achieve goal

páo dīng jiě niú

Effortless skill through perfect practice

pò tiān huāng

For the first time ever; unprecedented

píng yì jìn rén

Approachable; easy to get along with

pò bù jí dài

Can't wait; eager

pī gān lì dǎn

Give one's all; be completely sincere

qīng chū yú lán

Student surpasses master

qián lǘ jì qióng

Run out of tricks

qiè ér bù shě

Persevere until success

qīng gài rú gù

Instant friendship

qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn

Combine strengths to overcome weaknesses

qiǎo duó tiān gōng

Craftsmanship beyond natural limits

qiān chuí bǎi liàn

Perfected through repeated refinement

qǐ rén yōu tiān

Worry needlessly about impossible disasters

qī shàng bā xià

Anxious and unsettled

qīng méi zhú mǎ

Childhood sweethearts or friends

qí hǔ nán xià

Unable to stop dangerous course

qián tú wú liàng

Unlimited potential for future success

róng huì guàn tōng

Master something completely

rù xiāng suí sú

Follow local customs

rì jī yuè lěi

Gradual accumulation builds up

rú yú dé shuǐ

In perfect element

rú shǔ jiā zhēn

Know something thoroughly

rù mù sān fēn

Profoundly penetrating insight

rú zuì rú mèng

Entranced in dreamlike state

rú lǚ báo bīng

Extreme caution in risky situations

rěn jùn bù jīn

Unable to hide amusement

rào liáng sān rì

Lasting impact of performance

rén shān rén hǎi

Vast crowds of people

ruò yǒu suǒ sī

Lost in thought with a contemplative expression

shuǐ dī shí chuān

Persistence achieves anything

sài wēng shī mǎ

Misfortune might be a blessing

shǒu shí rú jīn

Value time preciously

sì miàn chǔ gē

Surrounded by hostility

shì bàn gōng bèi

Less effort, better results

sān sī ér xíng

Think thrice before acting

shǒu wàng xiāng zhù

Help and support each other

shí lái yùn zhuǎn

Fortune's wheel will turn.

shùn téng mō guā

Follow clues to solution

shǒu zhū dài tù

Wait passively for luck

shuǐ dào qú chéng

Success comes naturally

shǒu kǒu rú píng

Keep secrets well

tiān dào chóu qín

Heaven rewards diligence

tóng zhōu gòng jì

Face challenges together

tōu liáng huàn zhù

Deceive by substitution

tuī chén chū xīn

Create new from old

tiān wài yǒu tiān

Always someone better

tiě chǔ chéng zhēn

Success through persistence

tōng xiāo dá dàn

Work through the entire night

tuì bì sān shè

Make concessions to avoid conflict

tán huā yī xiàn

Brief, fleeting appearance

tài rán zì ruò

Maintain perfect composure under pressure

tiān yī wú fèng

Flawless and perfectly seamless

tuī bō zhù lán

Amplifying existing trends or momentum

wù jí bì fǎn

Extremes lead to reversal

wēn gù zhī xīn

Learn new through studying old

wèi yǔ chóu móu

Prepare before problems arise

wàng méi zhǐ ké

Console with false hopes

wén jī qǐ wǔ

Practice with determination

wán bì guī zhào

Return something perfect

wàng qí xiàng bèi

Almost catch up

wáng yáng bǔ láo

Never too late to fix

wàng yáng xìng tàn

Feel overwhelmed by greatness

wàn mǎ bēn téng

Powerful unstoppable momentum

wò xīn cháng dǎn

Endure hardship for future success

wén bù jiā diǎn

Perfect execution without revision

xué hǎi wú yá

Learning is limitless

xiōng yǒu chéng zhú

Have clear plan beforehand

xiōng yǒu qiū hè

Have great vision

xiào lǐ cáng dāo

Hide malice behind smile

xū huái ruò gǔ

Stay humble and open

xuán liáng cì gǔ

Study extremely hard

xuě zhōng sòng tàn

Help in time of need

xuán yá lè mǎ

Stop before too late

xìn shǒu niān lái

Create effortlessly from mastery

xīn yuán yì mǎ

Restless, unfocused mind

xū zhāng shēng shì

Bluffing with fake display

xīn dì shàn liáng

Fundamentally kind and virtuous character

yī míng jīng rén

Sudden, remarkable success

yī mú yī yàng

Exactly identical

yī bō sān zhé

Many twists and turns

yǐ xīn huàn xīn

Treat others as yourself

yè láng zì dà

Overestimate oneself

yīn guǒ bào yìng

Actions have consequences

yǐ hé wéi guì

Value harmony above all

yī shí èr niǎo

Two goals with one action

yī yán jiǔ dǐng

Words carry great weight

yī sī bù gǒu

Extremely careful and thorough

yī yè zhàng mù

Miss big picture

yùn chóu wéi wò

Plan strategy carefully

zhī xíng hé yī

Practice what you know

zhuī běn sù yuán

Trace back to source

zhòng kǒu shuò jīn

Public opinion is powerful

zhòng zhì chéng chéng

Unity creates strength

zhěn shí shù liú

Endure hardship for goals

záo bì tōu guāng

Study despite poverty

zhǐ shàng tán bīng

All theory no practice

zhěn liú shù shí

Live simply

zì xiāng máo dùn

Contradict oneself

zhī nán ér jìn

Press on despite awareness of challenges

zhǐ zuì jīn mí

Decadent luxury lifestyle

zuò huái bù luàn

Maintain perfect integrity despite temptation

ài wū jí wū

Love extends to all connections

àn dù chén cāng

Achieve secretly through misdirection

ài bù shì shǒu

Cherish something too much to put it down

ài máo fǎn qiú

Honor one's teachers or humble origins

àn jiàn shāng rén

Covert attacks avoiding direct confrontation

àn tú suǒ jì

Rigidly following outdated methods

àn bù jiù bān

Follow established procedures; step by step

áng shǒu tǐng xiōng

Walk proudly; show confidence

è guàn mǎn yíng

Accumulated evil deeds ripe for punishment

ān bù dāng chē

Choose simpler pleasures over status displays

ān jū lè yè

Live peacefully and work happily

ān rán wú yàng

Completely safe and unharmed through danger

ān rú tài shān

Absolutely stable and unshakable

ān tǔ zhòng qiān

Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate

ān fèn shǒu jǐ

Live modestly

ēn jiāng chóu bào

Ingratitude and betrayal

ěr rú mù rǎn

Learning unconsciously through constant exposure

ěr mù yī xīn

A refreshing new experience

ěr cōng mù míng

Perceptive and insightful

ěr yú wǒ zhà

Mutual deceit

ǒu xīn lì xuè

Invest utmost effort and emotion