Word: 光 (guāng)

临阵磨枪，不快也光

línzhènmóqiāng, búkuài yě guāng

sharpening the spear on the eve of battle: if not sharp, at least shiny

书呆子经商，老本儿赔光

shūdāizi jīngshāng, lǎoběnr péi guāng

a bookworm goes into business and loses all his capital

他把手里的筹都输光了。

Tā bǎ shǒulǐ de chóu dōu shū guāng le.

He lost all the chips in his hand.

他自己不是光。

Tā zìjǐ bú shì guāng.

He himself was not the light.

你怎么不出力，光站着看？

Nǐ zěnme bù chūlì, guāng zhànzhe kàn?

Why aren't you pitching in instead of just standing there watching?

光手逮刺猬，下不了手

guāng shǒu dǎi cìwei, xià bù liǎo shǒu

catching a hedgehog with bare hands: can't get a hand on it

光看表面是不足够的。

Guāng kàn biǎomiàn shì bù zúgòu de.

All that glitters is not gold.

光靠外援，不能解决问题。

Guāng kào wàiyuán, bùnéng jiějué wèntí.

Relying on outside aid alone can't solve the problem.

台灯的光很柔和。

Táidēng de guāng hěn róuhé.

The light from the desk lamp is soft.

国王光着呢！

Guówáng guāng zhe ne!

The king is naked!

太阳向四周放射出强烈的光。

Tàiyang xiàng sìzhōu fàngshè chū qiángliè de guāng.

The sun radiates intense light in all directions.

太阳提供我们光和热。

Tàiyang tígōng wǒmen guāng hé rè.

The sun gives us light and heat.

属公鸡的，光打鸣儿不下蛋

shǔ gōngjī de, guāng dǎmíngr bú xiàdàn

born a rooster: only crows and never lays eggs

我们不能光坐着。

Wǒmen bùnéng guāng zuòzhe.

We can't sit idly by.

树被砍光了，山都秃了。

Shù bèi kǎn guāng le, shān dōu tūle.

The trees were all cut down, and the mountain has gone bare.

榆皮青石包饺子，又光又硬

yú pí qīngshí bāojiǎozi, yòu guāng yòu yìng

wrapping dumplings with elm bark and bluestone: both smooth and hard

泥水匠的瓦刀，光涂表面

níshuǐjiàng de wàdāo, guāng tú biǎomiàn

a plasterer's trowel: only smears (seeks) the surface

磨砖砌的喉咙，又光又滑

mózhuān qì de hóulóng, yòu guāng yòu huá

a throat built of worn bricks: both smooth and slippery

神说：“要有光。”

Shén shuō: “Yào yǒu guāng.”

God said, "Let there be light!"

筷子在水里弯了，是光的折射。

Kuàizi zài shuǐ lǐ wānle, shì guāng de zhéshè.

The chopsticks look bent in the water because of the refraction of light.

老鼠眼睛,一寸光

lǎoshǔ yǎnjing,yícùn guāng

a mouse's eyes: one inch of light

腰里挂算盘,光为自己打算

yāo li guà suànpán,guāng wèi zìjǐ dǎsuàn

an abacus hung at the waist: only calculating for oneself

要根治堵车，光修路是不够的。

Yào gēnzhì dǔchē, guāng xiūlù shì búgòu de.

To put an end to traffic jams, building roads alone isn't enough.

这里没有光。

Zhèlǐ méiyǒu guāng.

There's no light.

铁匠出身，光会打

tiějiang chūshēn, guāng huì dǎ

Trained as a blacksmith, he only knows how to hit

锅里的水都蒸光了。

Guō lǐ de shuǐ dōu zhēng guāng le.

All the water in the pot has boiled away.

驴粪蛋，里面坏外面光

lǘ fèn dàn, lǐmiàn huài wàimiàn guāng

a donkey dropping: rotten inside, shiny outside