Chinese idioms (惯用语)

浑身是口也说不清 húnshēn shì kǒu yě shuō bù qīng

Even with a mouth all over your body you couldn't explain it

Said when one cannot clear oneself or explain a situation however hard one tries.
混饭吃 hùnfànchī

scrape a meal

To make a living, often by doing a job with little effort or by dubious means. Mildly derogatory or self-deprecating.
混日子 hùnrìzi

muddle through the days

To pass time idly without doing anything useful. Critical.
活八仙 huóbāxiān

living Eight Immortals

A resourceful, highly capable person.
活靶子 huóbǎzi

live target

A person singled out for criticism or attack.
活剥皮 huóbāopí

skin alive

A very harsh punishment or treatment.
活得不耐烦 huó de bù nàifán

tired of living

Said angrily to someone who is asking for trouble; a threat or scolding.
活地狱 huódìyù

living hell

A dark, miserable place or way of life.
活见鬼 huójiànguǐ

see a ghost in broad daylight

Exclamation at something baffling or absurd. Like 'what the heck' or 'that's uncanny'.
活教材 huójiàocái

living teaching material

A real-life case that offers a lesson.
活神仙 huóshénxiān

living immortal

Either a person of extraordinary ability and wisdom, or someone who lives a carefree, happy life.
活死人 huósǐrén

living dead person

Someone in a vegetative state, or a person who is dull and emotionally cold; also a scornful term for someone useless. Insulting.

May offend: mocks disability
活阎罗 huóyánluó

living Yama

Variant of 活阎王: a fearsome, cruel person.
活阎王 huóyánwang

living King of Hell

A fierce, terrifying person, or an evildoer who harms ordinary people.
活字典 huózìdiǎn

living dictionary

A person or group with deep knowledge who can answer any question. Approving. Compare 'walking encyclopedia'.
火车头 huǒchētóu

locomotive; train engine

A person or group that leads the way and pulls others along. Approving.
火燎毛 huǒliǎomáo

fire singeing hair

Describes a situation so urgent that it cannot be delayed even a moment.
火上房 huǒshàngfáng

fire on the roof

Describes something very urgent, as if the house were on fire. Colloquial.
火烧眉毛 huǒshāoméimao

fire burning the eyebrows

Describes a matter so urgent it can't wait; the crisis is right on top of you. Close to 'the heat is on'.
火焰山 huǒyànshān

Flaming Mountain

From Journey to the West, a blazing hot mountain the pilgrims must cross. Used for a scene of fire or intense heat, or a serious obstacle on one's path.
火药味 huǒyàowèi

smell of gunpowder

A tone or atmosphere of sharp criticism or hostile argument, in speech, writing or a debate. Close to 'tension in the air'.
火中莲 huǒzhōnglián

lotus in the fire

Something rare and precious, like a lotus blooming in flames (a Buddhist image). Approving, literary.
和稀泥 huòxīní

mixing thin mud

Smoothing over a dispute by unprincipled compromise, or mediating to dissolve a conflict. Usually critical.
机关枪 jīguānqiāng

machine gun

Describes someone who talks fast and nonstop so nobody else can get a word in. Mildly teasing.
鸡蛋里挑骨头 jīdàn li tiāo gǔtou

picking bones out of an egg

Finding fault where there is none; nitpicking. Critical. Close to 'to nitpick'.
鸡毛飞上天 jīmáo fēishàng tiān

chicken feathers fly up to the sky

Something thought impossible is achieved through effort; said approvingly of a humble person or thing that rises far beyond expectations.
鸡毛蒜皮 jīmáosuànpí

chicken feathers and garlic skins

Trivial, petty matters of no importance. Often used dismissively, e.g. of squabbles over trifles.
鸡毛信 jīmáoxìn

chicken-feather letter

Formerly an urgent letter with a feather stuck in it to show it must be rushed; now any urgent notice or message.
鸡一嘴，鸭一嘴 jī yī zuǐ, yā yī zuǐ

the chicken pecks once, the duck pecks once

Many people all talking at once, each putting in their own say; a noisy, chattering crowd. Mildly critical.
及时雨 jíshíyǔ

timely rain

Someone or something that arrives just when most needed, like rain on thirsty crops. Approving.
急就章 jíjiùzhāng

the Jijiu primer

Originally the name of a Han-dynasty primer; now a piece of writing or work done in a rush, and hence rough. Slightly critical or self-deprecating.
急来抱佛脚 jí lái bàofójiǎo

when in a hurry, hug the Buddha's feet

Only make an effort at the last minute when trouble arrives, e.g. cramming just before an exam. Critical. Cf. "locking the stable door after the horse has bolted" or "cramming."
急刹车 jíshāchē

emergency brake

To halt abruptly something that was under way, such as a project or policy.
急先锋 jíxiānfēng

urgent vanguard

Someone who takes the lead and charges ahead enthusiastically in a task or cause. Usually approving.
急转弯 jízhuǎnwān

sharp turn

A sudden, major change in a situation, thinking or life. Cf. "a U-turn."
挤破头 jǐpòtóu

squeeze until heads are broken

Many people jostling fiercely to get in or get ahead, e.g. to win a place or a prize.
挤牙缝 jǐyáfèng

squeeze out of the gaps in the teeth

To scrimp and save even more when life is already hard.
挤牙膏 jǐyágāo

squeeze toothpaste

To reveal information only bit by bit when pressed, rather than speaking frankly. Mildly critical, often humorous.
记小账 jìxiǎozhàng

keep a little account book

To remember every wrong others have done so as to settle accounts later. Critical of a petty, grudge-holding person. Cf. "to keep score."
寄生虫 jìshēngchóng

parasite

A person who lives off others' work or by exploitation or illegal means, without working. Strongly insulting.
加砝码 jiāfǎmǎ

add weights

Either to raise the weight or status of something, or to exaggerate by adding untrue content to a report.
加油站 jiāyóuzhàn

gas station

A place or occasion that boosts people's ability, confidence and drive, e.g. a training session.
夹生饭 jiāshēngfàn

half-cooked rice

A job done badly the first time that is hard to put right later. Also said of poorly learned material.
夹尾巴 jiāwěiba

tuck in the tail

Either to be modest and cautious rather than arrogant, or to slink away in a sorry state like a dog. Cf. "with one's tail between one's legs."
家常便饭 jiāchángbiàn fàn

home-style casual meal

Something ordinary and routine that one meets or hears all the time, nothing unusual. Used casually, e.g. of setbacks or overtime work.
家天下 jiātiānxià

the world as one family's home

Describes an emperor treating the whole country as his family's private property; by extension, a ruler who acts arbitrarily and favours relatives and cronies. Critical.
假传圣旨 jiǎchuánshèngzhǐ

falsely relay the imperial decree

To pass down an order claiming it comes from a superior when it doesn't. Critical or jokingly accusatory.
假大空 jiǎdàkōng

fake, big, empty

Describes speech or writing that is false, exaggerated and hollow. Critical.
假面具 jiǎmiànjù

false mask

A false outward appearance that hides one's real nature. Critical; like 'a mask' or 'put on a front'.
假撇清 jiǎpiēqīng

falsely clearing oneself

To pretend to dislike or oppose something one secretly wants, in order to look innocent. Mocking and disapproving.
假洋鬼子 jiǎyángguǐzi

fake foreign devil

A person who imitates or poses as a foreigner, or apes Western ways, to raise their own status. Contemptuous; famous from Lu Xun's writing.
驾轻车 jiàqīngchē

drive a light cart

To take on a task that comes easily because one is skilled or experienced. Short for 'drive a light cart on a familiar road'.
尖脑壳 jiānnǎoké

pointed head

A person who is good at scheming and wangling advantages. Derogatory, from Sichuan-area speech.
肩膀硬 jiānbǎngyìng

hard shoulders

Describes someone capable enough to carry heavy responsibilities. Approving.
肩并肩 jiānbìngjiān

shoulder to shoulder

Working together in unity and mutual support. Approving; same as the English 'shoulder to shoulder'.
拣破烂儿 jiǎnpòlànr

pick up rubbish

Variant writing of 捡破烂儿 (pick up junk); see that entry.
捡了芝麻，丢了西瓜 jiǎnle zhīma, diūle xīguā

pick up the sesame seed, lose the watermelon

To grab something trivial and miss the important thing, losing overall. Critical; like 'penny wise, pound foolish'.
捡破烂儿 jiǎnpòlànr

pick up rubbish

Figuratively, to take up what others have discarded or rejected. Often disparaging or self-deprecating; literally it means scavenging junk for resale.
捡洋落儿 jiǎnyánglàor

pick up foreigners' leavings

Originally taking spoils from foreign invaders; now getting a windfall for nothing. Mostly lighthearted.
见缝插针 jiànfèngchāzhēn

see a gap and stick in a needle

Make full use of every bit of available space or time. Usually approving, sometimes wry.
见缝就钻 jiànfèngjiùzuān

dive into any crack

Seize every opening for personal gain. Critical.
见阎王 jiànyánwang

see the King of Hell

A euphemistic, somewhat joking way to say someone dies.
贱骨头 jiàngǔtou

cheap bones

A contemptible person with no self-respect; also someone who prefers hardship to comfort. Insulting.

May offend: vulgar language
剑出鞘 jiànchūqiào

sword out of its sheath

Being on high alert and ready for battle or action. Dramatic.
将一军 jiāngyījūn

check the general once

From chess, putting the opponent's general in check. Figuratively, to put someone on the spot by posing a hard question or challenge that is awkward to answer.
将相和 jiàngxiànghé

the general and the minister reconciled

Refers to the story of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru; used of leaders who put the common good first and work together despite rivalry. Approving.
酱里蛆 jiànglǐqū

a maggot in the bean paste

A disgusting person who harms the public. Strongly abusive.
犟巴头 jiàngbatóu

stubborn head

A variant of 倔巴头: a very stubborn, obstinate person. Informal and mildly critical.
糨糊缸 jiànghugāng

paste jar

Said of a head that is muddled and confused, understanding nothing. Mocking; compare 'a head full of mush'.
交白卷 jiāobáijuàn

hand in a blank exam paper

To fail completely to accomplish a task or produce any result. Critical or self-deprecating.
交学费 jiāoxuéfèi

pay tuition

To pay a price for a mistake but gain a lesson worth having. Rueful or philosophical, like 'chalk it up to experience'.
浇冷水 jiāolěngshuǐ

pour cold water

Variant of 泼冷水: to dampen someone's enthusiasm with discouraging remarks. Like 'throw cold water on'.
胶皮饭碗 jiāopífànwǎn

rubber rice bowl

A very secure job that is hard to lose. Often said with a little envy.
嚼舌根子 jiáoshégēnzi

chew the root of the tongue

To gossip and stir up trouble. Critical.
嚼舌头 jiáoshétou

chew the tongue

To talk nonsense and stir up gossip, or to chatter pointlessly. Critical.
嚼字眼儿 jiáozìyǎnr

chew over wording

To nitpick over words while missing the real point. Mildly critical.
绞麻花 jiǎomáhuā

twist a fried dough twist

Said of confused, tangled thinking with no order.
脚踩两只船 jiǎo cǎi liǎng zhī chuán

stand with a foot on two boats

To keep ties with both sides and decide later which to back; also to be unfaithful. Critical. Close to 'hedge your bets'.
脚踏两只船 jiǎo tà liǎng zhī chuán

set foot on two boats

Same as 脚踩两只船: to keep ties with both sides, or be two-timing in love. Critical.
搅好梦 jiǎohǎomèng

disturb a good dream

To ruin someone's ideal plans or pleasant imaginings.
搅浑水 jiǎohúnshuǐ

stir up muddy water

To deliberately muddy matters to hide the truth. Critical; compare 'muddy the waters'.
搅家精 jiǎojiājīng

home-disturbing sprite

A person who keeps a household in turmoil. Critical, colloquial.
叫得响 jiàodexiǎng

can call out loud

Describes a person, brand or product with a big name and a high reputation. Approving.
较真章 jiàozhēnzhāng

compare the real seal

To go strictly by the rules or common sense, with no fudging. Often means to take things seriously and stick to the letter.
阶下囚 jiēxiàqiú

prisoner at the foot of the steps

A prisoner or captive, someone who has fallen from power into the hands of enemies. Often used of someone brought low.
结硕果 jiēshuòguǒ

bear rich fruit

To achieve great results. Approving, often used in news and formal writing.
结苦果 jiēkǔguǒ

bear bitter fruit

To bring about painful consequences, usually from one's own actions. Similar to "reap what you sow."
接力赛 jiēlìsài

relay race

Besides the sport, it describes work or a contest carried on without a break, each person taking over from the last.
揭不开锅 jiēbùkāiguō

can't lift the lid off the pot

So poor there is nothing to cook; unable to afford food.
揭疮疤 jiēchuāngbā

tear off a scab

To bring up someone's secrets or shortcomings, reopening an old hurt. Critical.
揭盖子 jiēgàizi

lift the lid

To expose problems or conflicts that were being covered up. Often approving of the exposure.
揭画皮 jiēhuàpí

tear off the painted skin

To strip away a disguise and show something ugly in its true form. From the legend of a demon wearing a beauty's skin.
揭老底 jiēlǎodǐ

lift the old bottom

To expose someone's past or the hidden facts about them. Usually unwelcome to the person exposed.
揭谜底 jiēmídǐ

reveal the answer to a riddle

To reveal the truth of a secret or mystery.
揭面纱 jiēmiànshā

lift the veil

To uncover what was hidden and show the real face of something. Like "lift the veil on."
揭伤疤 jiēshāngbā

tear open a wound scar

To touch on someone's deep private pain. Like "open old wounds."
结对子 jiéduìzi

form pairs

To pair up for mutual help and cooperation, such as a strong student with a weaker one.
结疙瘩 jiégēda

tie a knot

To have a problem on one's mind that is hard to resolve, or to have a rift between people.
解疙瘩 jiěgēda

untie a knot

To resolve a mental difficulty or a rift between people.
解扣子 jiěkòuzi

undo a knot

To clear up a doubt or settle a worry in someone's mind.

Every kind of Chinese saying