| 怪不得 | [guài bu de, ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄅㄨ˙ ㄉㄜ˙, 怪 不 得] lit. you can't blame it!; no wonder!; so that's why! #9,199 [Add to Longdo] |
| 今非昔比 | [jīn fēi xī bǐ, ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ ㄒㄧ ㄅㄧˇ, 今 非 昔 比] You can't compare the present with the past.; Nothing is as good as in former times.; Things ain't what they used to be. #39,735 [Add to Longdo] |
| 可歌可泣 | [kě gē kě qì, ㄎㄜˇ ㄍㄜ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧˋ, 可 歌 可 泣] lit. you can sing or you can cry (成语 saw); fig. deeply moving; happy and sad; inspiring and tragic #42,951 [Add to Longdo] |
| 门可罗雀 | [mén kě luó què, ㄇㄣˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ, 门 可 罗 雀 / 門 可 羅 雀] you can net sparrows at the door (成语 saw); completely deserted #58,504 [Add to Longdo] |
| 因陋就简 | [yīn lòu jiù jiǎn, ㄧㄣ ㄌㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄢˇ, 因 陋 就 简 / 因 陋 就 簡] crude but simple methods (成语 saw); use whatever methods you can; to do things simply and thriftily; It's not pretty but it works. #59,186 [Add to Longdo] |
| 鱼与熊掌 | [yú yǔ xióng zhǎng, ㄩˊ ㄩˇ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄓㄤˇ, 鱼 与 熊 掌 / 魚 與 熊 掌] lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (成语 saw, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other; you can't always get everything you want; you can't have your cake and eat it #60,442 [Add to Longdo] |
| 饥不择食 | [jī bù zé shí, ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕˊ, 饥 不 择 食 / 飢 不 擇 食] when hungry, you can't pick what you eat (成语 saw); beggars can't be choosers; When matters are urgent, don't spend time choosing alternatives. #63,343 [Add to Longdo] |
| 饥不择食 | [jī bù zé shí, ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕˊ, 饥 不 择 食 / 饑 不 擇 食] when hungry, you can't pick what you eat (成语 saw); beggars can't be choosers; When matters are urgent, don't spend time choosing alternatives. #63,343 [Add to Longdo] |
| 量入为出 | [liàng rù wéi chū, ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄨ, 量 入 为 出 / 量 入 為 出] to assess one's income and spend accordingly (成语 saw); to live within one's means; You can only spend what you earn. #63,543 [Add to Longdo] |
| 同日而语 | [tóng rì ér yǔ, ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄖˋ ㄦˊ ㄩˇ, 同 日 而 语 / 同 日 而 語] lit. to speak of two things on the same day (成语 saw); to mention things on equal terms (often with negatives: you can't mention X at the same time as Y) #64,045 [Add to Longdo] |
| 师友 | [shī yǒu, ㄕ ㄧㄡˇ, 师 友 / 師 友] friend who you can seek advice #65,256 [Add to Longdo] |
| 人不可貌相 | [rén bù kě mào xiàng, ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ, 人 不 可 貌 相] (proverb) You can't judge a man by his looks. #65,986 [Add to Longdo] |
| 倒背如流 | [dào bèi rú liú, ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ, 倒 背 如 流] to know by heart (so well that you can recite it backwards) #69,545 [Add to Longdo] |
| 行行出状元 | [háng háng chū zhuàng yuán, ㄏㄤˊ ㄏㄤˊ ㄔㄨ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄩㄢˊ, 行 行 出 状 元 / 行 行 出 狀 元] lit. in every trade, a master appears (成语 saw); fig. You can produce outstanding achievements in any task, provided you put it enough love and diligence #75,768 [Add to Longdo] |
| 盖棺定论 | [gài guān dìng lùn, ㄍㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ, 盖 棺 定 论 / 蓋 棺 定 論] definitive conclusion on the coffin lid (成语 saw); You can only judge a person's merits or demerits after death.; don't pass judgement until you've seen the end #80,770 [Add to Longdo] |
| 时不再来 | [shí bù zài lái, ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄌㄞˊ, 时 不 再 来 / 時 不 再 來] the time will not come again (谚语 proverb); take the opportunity while you can #81,762 [Add to Longdo] |
| 对酒当歌 | [duì jiǔ dāng gē, ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄤ ㄍㄜ, 对 酒 当 歌 / 對 酒 當 歌] lit. sing to accompany wine (成语 saw); fig. life is short, make merry while you can #81,906 [Add to Longdo] |
| 有钱能使鬼推磨 | [yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mó, ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄕˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄨㄟ ㄇㄛˊ, 有 钱 能 使 鬼 推 磨 / 有 錢 能 使 鬼 推 磨] lit. money will make the Devil turn millstones (成语 saw); with money, you can do anything you like. #85,696 [Add to Longdo] |
| 水滴石穿 | [shuǐ dī shí chuān, ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄧ ㄕˊ ㄔㄨㄢ, 水 滴 石 穿] dripping water penetrates the stone (成语 saw); constant perseverance yields success; You can achieve your aim if you try hard without giving up.; Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty. #93,744 [Add to Longdo] |
| 滴水穿石 | [dī shuǐ chuān shí, ㄉㄧ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄕˊ, 滴 水 穿 石] dripping water penetrates the stone (成语 saw); constant perseverance yields success; You can achieve your aim if you try hard without giving up.; Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty. #94,525 [Add to Longdo] |
| 盖棺论定 | [gài guān lùn dìng, ㄍㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ, 盖 棺 论 定 / 蓋 棺 論 定] definitive conclusion on the coffin lid (成语 saw); You can only judge a person's merits or demerits after death.; don't pass judgement until you've seen the end #110,318 [Add to Longdo] |
| 业精于勤 | [yè jīng yú qín, ㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄩˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ, 业 精 于 勤 / 業 精 於 勤] mastery of study lies in diligence (成语 saw). You can only master a subject by assiduous study.; Excellence in work is only possible with diligence.; Practise makes perfect. #118,120 [Add to Longdo] |
| 不经一事不长一智 | [bù jīng yī shì bù zhǎng yī zhì, ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧ ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄤˇ ㄧ ㄓˋ, 不 经 一 事 不 长 一 智 / 不 經 一 事 不 長 一 智] you can't gain knowledge without practice; wisdom comes from experience [Add to Longdo] |
| 仰屋兴叹 | [yǎng wū xīng tàn, ㄧㄤˇ ㄨ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ, 仰 屋 兴 叹 / 仰 屋 興 嘆] to stare at the ceiling in despair; to find no way out; nothing you can do about it; at the end of one's wits [Add to Longdo] |
| 咬人狗儿不露齿 | [yǎo rén gǒu r bù lù chǐ, ㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄦ˙ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔˇ, 咬 人 狗 儿 不 露 齿 / 咬 人 狗 兒 不 露 齒] the dog that bites does not show its fangs (俗语 saying); fig. You can't tell the really dangerous enemy from his external appearance. [Add to Longdo] |
| 吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸 | [chī bù dào pú tao shuō pú tao suān, ㄔ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄆㄨˊ ㄊㄠ˙ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄆㄨˊ ㄊㄠ˙ ㄙㄨㄢ, 吃 不 到 葡 萄 说 葡 萄 酸 / 喫 不 到 葡 萄 說 葡 萄 酸] sour grapes (set expr. based on Aesop); lit. to say grapes are sour when you can't eat them [Add to Longdo] |
| 既来之，则安之 | [jì lái zhī, zé ān zhī, ㄐㄧˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓ, ㄗㄜˊ ㄢ ㄓ, 既 来 之 ， 则 安 之 / 既 來 之 ， 則 安 之] Since they have come, we should make them comfortable (成语 saw). Since we're here, take it easy.; Since this is so, we should accept it.; Now we have come, let's stay and take the rough with the smooth.; If you can't do anything to prevent it, you might as [Add to Longdo] |
| 滴水石穿 | [dī shuǐ shí chuān, ㄉㄧ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄕˊ ㄔㄨㄢ, 滴 水 石 穿] dripping water penetrates the stone (成语 saw); constant perseverance yields success; You can achieve your aim if you try hard without giving up.; Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty. [Add to Longdo] |
| 牵马到河易，强马饮水难 | [qiān mǎ dào hé yì, qiáng mǎ yǐn shuǐ nán, ㄑㄧㄢ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧˋ, ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄧㄣˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄢˊ, 牵 马 到 河 易 ， 强 马 饮 水 难 / 牽 馬 到 河 易 ， 強 馬 飲 水 難] you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink (谚语 proverb) [Add to Longdo] |
| 精诚所加，金石为开 | [jīng chéng suǒ jiā, jīn shí wèi kāi, ㄐㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧㄚ, ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄎㄞ, 精 诚 所 加 ， 金 石 为 开 / 精 誠 所 加 ， 金 石 為 開] lit. sincere will can make rock split open (成语 saw); if you put your heart to it, you can break up metal and rocks; With a will, you can achieve anything. [Add to Longdo] |
| 精诚所至 | [jīng chéng suǒ zhì, ㄐㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓˋ, 精 诚 所 至 / 精 誠 所 至] with a will, you can achieve anything (成语 saw); cf 精誠所至, 金石為開|精诚所至, 金石为开 [Add to Longdo] |
| 精诚所至，金石为开 | [jīng chéng suǒ zhì, jīn shí wèi kāi, ㄐㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓˋ, ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄎㄞ, 精 诚 所 至 ， 金 石 为 开 / 精 誠 所 至 ， 金 石 為 開] lit. sincere will can make rock split open (成语 saw); if you put your heart to it, you can break up metal and rocks; With a will, you can achieve anything. [Add to Longdo] |
| 旧的不去，新的不来 | [jiù de bù qù, xīn de bù lái, ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩˋ, ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄞˊ, 旧 的 不 去 ， 新 的 不 来 / 舊 的 不 去 ， 新 的 不 來] lit. If the old doesn't go, the new will not come.; By clinging to old notions you can't move forwards. [Add to Longdo] |
| 说葡萄酸 | [shuō pú tao suān, ㄕㄨㄛ ㄆㄨˊ ㄊㄠ˙ ㄙㄨㄢ, 说 葡 萄 酸 / 說 葡 萄 酸] sour grapes (set expr. based on Aesop); lit. to say grapes are sour when you can't eat them [Add to Longdo] |
| 门庭冷落，门堪罗雀 | [mén tíng lěng luò, mén kān luó què, ㄇㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄥˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ, ㄇㄣˊ ㄎㄢ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ, 门 庭 冷 落 ， 门 堪 罗 雀 / 門 庭 冷 落 ， 門 堪 羅 雀] The courtyard is deserted, you can net sparrows at the door (成语 saw); completely deserted [Add to Longdo] |
| 鱼与熊掌不可兼得 | [yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé, ㄩˊ ㄩˇ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄓㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄉㄜˊ, 鱼 与 熊 掌 不 可 兼 得 / 魚 與 熊 掌 不 可 兼 得] lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (成语 saw, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other; you can't always get everything you want; you can't have your cake and eat it [Add to Longdo] |
