Chinese idioms (惯用语)

Set phrases used inside a sentence, like 吃闭门羹 (to be turned away at the door).

阿猫阿狗 āmāo āgǒu

Ah-cat, Ah-dog

Any random person at all, especially someone of no standing or quality. Dismissive and contemptuous; close to English 'any Tom, Dick or Harry'.
阿Q相 āqiūxiàng

Ah Q's look

Behaving like Ah Q, the Lu Xun character: suffering insult or harm without daring to resist, then telling oneself one has won to feel better. Critical and mocking.
挨板子 áibǎnzi

to get the paddle

To be blamed or punished, as if beaten with a paddle. Informal.
挨黑枪 áihēiqiāng

to take a shot from a hidden gun

To be attacked or undermined by someone secretly behind your back; to be stabbed in the back.
挨闷棍 áimēngùn

to be hit with a sudden club

To suffer a sudden heavy blow when unprepared, such as a shock setback or an ambush.
矮半截 ǎibànjié

half a section shorter

To feel inferior because one's social standing is lower than another's.
矮三分 ǎisānfēn

three tenths shorter

Same as 矮半截: to be, or feel, lower in status than someone else.
矮一头 ǎiyītóu

a head shorter

Same as 矮半截: to rank lower than, or feel inferior to, someone else.
安翅膀 ān chìbǎng

to fit wings

To create conditions that let something develop very fast.
安钉子 ān dīngzi

to plant a nail

To secretly place one's own man inside the other side's ranks; to plant a mole.
安乐窝 ānlèwō

comfortable nest

A cosy, comfortable place to live. Often affectionate, sometimes hinting at too much comfort.
安心丸 ānxīnwán

peace-of-mind pill

A variant of 定心丸: something said or done that reassures people and calms their worry.
暗箱操作 ànxiāng cāozuò

dark-box operation

A few people scheming and arranging things in secret, not open to others. Critical, used of rigged deals or selections.
熬干灯 áogāndēng

to burn the lamp dry

To stay up until the middle of the night with nothing particular to do. Informal.
八竿子打不着 bā gānzi dǎ bù zháo

eight poles can't reach it

Two people or things are very distantly related or have no connection at all. Common in everyday speech.
八股调 bāgǔdiào

eight-legged-essay tone

A stiff, formulaic and empty style of writing or speaking. Critical. It comes from the rigid Ming and Qing exam essay.
八九不离十 bā jiǔ bù lí shí

eight or nine, not far from ten

Very close to the actual situation; almost exactly right. Like English 'pretty much spot on'.
八面光 bāmiànguāng

smooth on all eight sides

Describes someone slick and smooth in dealing with people, pleasing everyone. Usually mildly critical.
八抬大轿抬不动 bātáidàjiào tái bù dòng

even an eight-bearer sedan chair can't carry it

Even great force can't move or change it; said of someone or something immovable. Often means stubborn.
八字没见一撇 bā zì méi jiàn yī piě

not even the first stroke of the character 八 has been seen yet

A variant of 八字没一撇: the matter has not taken shape yet; nothing is settled.
八字没一撇 bā zì méi yī piě

the character 八 doesn't have even its first stroke

A matter is not yet settled or taking shape; there is no clear sign of progress. Like 'it hasn't got off the ground'.
拔不出腿 bábùchūtuǐ

unable to pull one's legs out

To be stuck in a difficult situation and unable to get away.
拔出萝卜带出泥 báchū luóbo dàichū ní

pull up a radish and the mud comes with it

Exposing one person or matter also brings to light others connected with it. Like 'pulling a thread'.
拔钉子 bádīngzi

pulling out nails

Removing an individual obstacle holding up overall progress, or purging a dangerous planted person from one's own ranks.
拔胡茬 báhúchá

pulling out beard stubble

Thoroughly rooting out bad people.
拔虎须 báhǔxū

plucking a tiger's whiskers

Offending a powerful and wicked person. Like 'beard the lion in his den'.
拔尖子 bájiānzi

pulling out the tips

Attacking outstanding individuals or units. Critical; like cutting down tall poppies.
拔舌头 báshétou

pulling out the tongue

Used to scold someone for talking nonsense, as if they should not be allowed to speak.
拔眼中钉 báyǎnzhōngdīng

pulling the nail from one's eye

Getting rid of the person one hates most. Like removing a 'thorn in the side'.
把不住关 bǎbùzhùguān

unable to hold the pass

Failing to hold firm to one's principles or standards.
把关口 bǎguānkǒu

guarding the pass

Sticking to principles and standards and checking strictly to prevent errors. Approving.
把里攥 bǎlizuàn

grasped in the hand

To be fully confident of success; to have it in the bag.
把门槛都踩烂了 bǎ ménkǎn dōu cǎilàn le

stepped the doorsill to pieces

Describes a place with a constant stream of visitors.
把死人说活 bǎ sǐrén shuōhuó

talk a dead man back to life

Describes someone with a glib, persuasive tongue. Admiring or wry.
把稳舵 bǎwěnduò

holding the rudder steady

Steadily controlling the direction of events and keeping the situation in hand.
把心掏出来 bǎ xīn tāo chūlái

take out one's heart

To be completely sincere and hold nothing back.
把姓字倒过来 bǎ xìng zì dào guòlái

write one's surname backwards

An oath: the speaker accepts the insult of having their surname written backwards if what they say is untrue.
掰芽子 bāiyázi

snapping off the buds

Stamping out bad things while they are only beginning. Like 'nip it in the bud'.
白吃饭 báichīfàn

eat rice for nothing

To enjoy benefits without doing any work. Critical.
白刀子进，红刀子出 bái dāozi jìn, hóng dāozi chū

the knife goes in white and comes out red

A threat or vow to fight to the death. Violent in tone.
白费蜡 báifèilà

waste candle wax

Efforts are wasted and bring no result. Shortened from the 歇后语 about a blind man lighting a lamp.
白费唾沫星子 báifèi tuòmo xīngzi

waste specks of spit

To talk in vain; to waste one's breath. Colloquial.
白骨精 báigǔjīng

White Bone Demon

From Journey to the West, a demoness who tricks the Tang monk. Used for a scheming, ruthless woman who beguiles people. Also a modern slang pun for white-collar, elite, intelligent women.
白日见鬼 báirìjiànguǐ

see a ghost in broad daylight

Something absolutely impossible; also used to dismiss a claim as nonsense.
白日梦 báirìmèng

daydream

An unrealistic fantasy. Mildly dismissive.
白眼狼 báiyǎnláng

white-eyed wolf

An ungrateful person who repays kindness with harm. Strongly critical.
白衣天使 báiyī tiānshǐ

angel in white

A warm, approving term for nurses and other medical carers who save lives.
白纸黑字 báizhǐ hēizì

white paper, black characters

Written proof that can't be altered or denied. Like 'in black and white'.
白纸写黑字 báizhǐ xiě hēizi

black characters written on white paper

A less usual form of 白纸黑字: it's in writing and can't be denied.
百宝箱 bǎibǎoxiāng

chest of a hundred treasures

A place or thing holding many good things, such as a treasure chest of resources. Usually approving.
百里挑一 bǎi lǐ tiāoyī

pick one out of a hundred miles

One in a hundred; outstanding and hard to find. Praise for a person or thing.
百事通 bǎishìtōng

know-it-all about a hundred things

Someone who knows a lot about everything. Can be admiring or gently teasing.
摆八卦阵 bǎibāguàzhèn

set out the eight-trigram battle formation

To create confusion on purpose and play tricks so others can't tell your real intent. Critical.
摆不到桌面上 bǎi bù dào zhuōmiàn shang

can't be put on the table

Either something shameful that can't be made public, or a person who is not fit for formal or grand occasions.
摆到桌面上 bǎidào zhuōmiàn shang

put it on the table

To raise an opinion or state a situation openly in front of everyone. Compare 'put your cards on the table'.
摆架势 bǎijiàshi

put on a posture

To strike a pose on purpose to intimidate or mislead others. Mildly critical.
摆架子 bǎijiàzi

put up an air

To act self-important and pompous to show off one's status. Critical; like 'put on airs'.
摆擂台 bǎiléitái

set up a challenge platform

To open a contest and invite others to compete or challenge you.
摆龙门阵 bǎilóngménzhèn

set out a dragon-gate formation

To chat casually in a group, originally Southwestern Mandarin for telling stories and gossiping.
摆迷魂阵 bǎimíhúnzhèn

set out a bewildering formation

To set traps or tricks to confuse people. Critical.
摆三岔口 bǎisānchàkǒu

set out a three-way fork

To present several options but make no decision yourself. Mildly critical.
摆战场 bǎizhànchǎng

lay out a battlefield

To make all the preparations for a task, as if for a battle.
扳不倒儿 bānbùdǎor

tumbler toy

A roly-poly toy that rights itself; another word for 不倒翁.
扳道岔 bāndàochà

throw the railway switch

To direct and arrange work sensibly, like routing trains onto the right tracks.
搬粗腿 bāncūtuǐ

move a thick leg

To use someone's power or influence to get things done for yourself. Mildly critical.
搬倒葫芦洒了油 bāndǎo húlu sǎle yóu

knock over the gourd and spill the oil

To throw caution to the wind and pay any price; being willing to risk everything.
搬救兵 bānjiùbīng

bring in relief troops

To call in help or reinforcements.
搬口舌 bānkǒushé

carry mouth and tongue

Either to quarrel, or to stir up trouble by gossiping. Critical.
搬老皇历 bānlǎohuángli

take out the old almanac

To handle new matters with outdated methods. Critical.
搬面子 bānmiànzi

bring in face

To rely on another person's influence or prestige to get something done.
搬石头 bānshítou

move stones

As the book gives it, to clear away obstacles and resistance.
板凳没坐热 bǎndèng méi zuòrè

the bench hasn't warmed up

Said of someone who has only just arrived or taken up a post.
板上钉钉 bǎnshangdìngdīng

a nail driven into a board

Settled and unchangeable; a done deal.
半边天 bànbiāntiān

half the sky

Women, and the large role they play in society. Approving, often from the Mao-era slogan that women hold up half the sky.
半吊子 bàndiàozi

half a string of coins

A person who is rash and unreliable, or who has only half-baked knowledge or skill. Mildly contemptuous.
半截身子入土 bànjié shēnzi rùtǔ

half the body already in the earth

Very old and not long to live. Often said wryly about oneself.
半斤八两 bànjīnbāliǎng

half a jin, eight liang

Two people or things are equally good or equally bad. Usually critical. English: 'six of one, half a dozen of the other'.
半路出家 bànlùchūjiā

leaving home to become a monk halfway through life

Switching to a new profession midway in life, without early training in it.
半路里添个婆婆 bànlù li tiān ge pópo

a mother-in-law added along the way

A new boss or supervisor suddenly appears over you. Mildly resentful or humorous.
半路杀出个程咬金 bànlù shāchū ge chéngyǎojīn

Cheng Yaojin charges out halfway

Someone or something unexpected suddenly appears, often to upset plans. It refers to a rough, bold general in folk tales of the early Tang dynasty.
半瓶醋 bànpíngcù

a half bottle of vinegar

Someone with only shallow knowledge or skill, especially one who shows it off. Mocking. English: 'a little learning is a dangerous thing'.
扮红娘 bànhóngniáng

play the matchmaker Hongniang

Act as a go-between who brings a couple together. Hongniang is the maid-matchmaker in the play 'Romance of the Western Chamber'.
拌菜馅子 bàncàixiànzi

mixing the vegetable filling

Describes someone so tired and sleepy that they stagger and sway as they walk.
绊脚石 bànjiǎoshí

a stumbling stone

An obstacle that holds back a person or a cause. Equivalent to 'stumbling block'.
绊脚锁 bànjiǎosuǒ

a foot-tripping shackle

An obstacle that holds someone back. The book treats it as a variant of the usual 绊脚石 (stumbling block). The 锁 'lock' stresses being fettered.
绊住脚 bànzhùjiǎo

tripped by the foot

Held up or blocked in one's advance, by other business or by difficulties.
帮倒忙 bāngdàománg

help in a way that makes things worse

Try to help but only cause trouble. Said critically or wryly.
包打听 bāodǎtīng

a know-it-all inquirer

Formerly a secret agent or informer. Now a nosy person who always finds out the news. Mildly mocking.
包饺子 bāojiǎozi

wrap dumplings

A military term for surrounding an enemy force and wiping it out in one blow.
饱耳福 bǎo'ěrfú

fill one's ears with good fortune

Enjoy listening to something delightful, such as music or a fine speech.
饱眼福 bǎoyǎnfú

fill one's eyes with good fortune

Have the pleasure of seeing something beautiful or rare. Approving.
保饭碗 bǎofànwǎn

protect the rice bowl

Keep one's job and basic livelihood.
保护伞 bǎohùsǎn

protective umbrella

A powerful person or force that shields wrongdoers. Critical.
保护色 bǎohùsè

protective colouring

Camouflage in animals, and figuratively a disguise used to protect oneself.
保乌纱帽 bǎowūshāmào

protect the black gauze hat

Hold on to one's official post. The hat was worn by officials in old times. Mildly critical.
保险杠 bǎoxiǎngàng

car bumper

A person who acts as a buffer and protects others in a crisis.
保险箱 bǎoxiǎnxiāng

safe, strongbox

A safe place, or a person or thing that is completely secure.
抱成团儿 bàochéngtuánr

hold together in a ball

Stick closely together and unite.
抱粗腿 bàocūtuǐ

hug a thick leg

Fawn on and rely on someone powerful. Critical or mocking. English: 'cling to someone's coattails'.
抱佛脚 bàofójiǎo

clasp the Buddha's feet

Only start preparing when the moment of need has come, as in cramming just before an exam. Mocking. English: 'cram at the last minute'.

Every kind of Chinese saying