Chinese idioms (惯用语)

解剖麻雀 jiěpōumáquè

dissect a sparrow

To study one typical case in depth in order to grasp the general rule. Approving, used of research method.
解绳松绑 jiěshéngsōngbǎng

untie the ropes and loosen the bonds

To remove restrictions so people can act freely and develop.
解眼馋 jiěyǎnchán

relieve eye-hunger

To satisfy a strong wish to see something. Light and humorous.
借东风 jièdōngfēng

borrow the east wind

To make use of favourable conditions or a good opportunity. From Zhuge Liang summoning an east wind for the fire attack at Red Cliffs.
借梯子下楼 jiè tīzi xià lóu

borrow a ladder to come down from the upstairs

To use outside help or a chance to get out of an awkward spot. Like "find a way to save face."
金不换 jīnbùhuàn

not to be exchanged for gold

Extremely precious, worth more than gold. Approving, as in a "change of heart is worth more than gold."
金饭碗 jīnfànwǎn

golden rice bowl

A secure, well-paid job; also abundant wealth or resources. Often said of stable jobs such as civil service.
金凤凰 jīnfènghuáng

golden phoenix

A talented and beautiful young woman, often one who rises from a poor background. Approving.
金刚钻 jīngāngzuàn

diamond

Diamond, the hardest natural material. Figuratively a person of knowledge and talent, or superb skill.
金漆马桶 jīnqīmǎtǒng

gold-lacquered chamber pot

A person who looks splendid but is not much use. Mocking.

May offend: vulgar language
金石交 jīnshíjiāo

friendship of gold and stone

A firm, lasting friendship.
金钥匙 jīnyàoshi

golden key

A method or trick that solves every problem, or the person who holds it.
金字塔 jīnzìtǎ

pyramid

The Egyptian pyramid; figuratively a structure with a broad base and narrow top, like a pyramid of society.
金字招牌 jīnzìzhāopai

gold-lettered shop sign

A reputation or good name that people trust. Approving, but can also mean someone trading on a famous name.
紧箍咒 jǐngūzhòu

tight-fillet spell

A restraint that controls someone. From Journey to the West, where a spell tightens a band round Sun Wukong's head. Often used of rules that hem people in.
进博物馆 jìnbówùguǎn

go into a museum

Said of something that has outlived its purpose and is now obsolete, fit only to be displayed as a relic. Often mocking or humorous.
进地狱 jìndìyù

enter hell

To fall into a dark, miserable situation. Used for a terrible condition or experience.
进坟墓 jìnfénmù

enter the grave

Means to die or be destroyed. It can also be used figuratively, for example for the end of an institution or (jokingly) of freedom, as in marriage.
进棺材 jìnguāncai

get into the coffin

Either to die, or, of things, to disappear for good. Blunt, sometimes said as a curse.
进鬼门关 jìnguǐménguān

pass through the gate of ghosts

Either to die, or to be sent to a place where one is tormented. In folk belief the gate is the border between the living world and the underworld.
进火葬场 jìnhuǒzàngchǎng

go into the crematorium

A blunt way to say someone dies. It can be crude or darkly humorous.
进牛棚 jìnniúpéng

go into the cowshed

Refers to the Cultural Revolution, when officials and intellectuals were confined and persecuted in makeshift detention. Used historically, with grim associations.
近视眼 jìnshìyǎn

short-sighted eyes

Describes a person who lacks foresight and sees only immediate gains. Critical when used figuratively.
经风雨 jīngfēngyǔ

go through wind and rain

To be tested by hardship. It is the short form of 'to go through wind and rain and see the world'.
经风雨，见世面 jīngfēngyǔ，jiànshìmiàn

go through wind and rain, see the world

To toughen oneself and broaden one's experience by throwing oneself into real life and its difficulties. Encouraging, often said to young people.
井底蛙 jǐngdǐwā

frog at the bottom of a well

A person with a narrow world and little knowledge. Mildly insulting, close to 'a frog in a well'.
井水不犯河水 jǐngshuǐ bù fàn héshuǐ

well water does not encroach on river water

Two sides stay out of each other's way and do not interfere. Can describe peaceful coexistence or a cold separation. Compare 'live and let live'.
镜里花 jìnglǐhuā

flowers in a mirror

Something or someone that can be seen but never attained. Compare 'pie in the sky' or a mirage; slightly wistful.
揪辫子 jiūbiànzi

pull someone's braid

To seize on someone's faults or mistakes as a handle to attack them. Critical.
揪肠子 jiūchángzi

tug at the intestines

To be very worried about or anxious for someone or something. Colloquial.
揪尾巴 jiūwěiba

grab the tail

To seize on a problem that has come to light and refuse to let go of it.
揪小辫子 jiūxiǎobiànzi

pull a little braid

Same as 揪辫子: to seize on someone's mistakes to use against them. Critical.
九折臂 jiǔzhébì

nine times a broken arm

Someone who has been through many hardships and been toughened by them, so they are experienced. Approving.
久旱逢甘雨 jiǔ hàn féng gānyǔ

after a long drought, meeting sweet rain

Timely relief in a difficult time. Often listed as one of life's great joys; compare 'a godsend'.
酒篓子 jiǔlǒuzi

wine basket

A person who can hold a great deal of alcohol; a heavy drinker. Usually humorous or teasing.
旧瓶装新酒 jiùpíng zhuāng xīnjiǔ

old bottles filled with new wine

Using an old form to carry new content. It can be neutral or mildly critical, as when a thing is merely repackaged.
就地起炉灶 jiùdì qǐ lúzào

set up a stove on the spot

Use local conditions and resources to start an undertaking where you are, rather than relying on outside help.
局外人 júwàirén

person outside the game

An outsider with no involvement in the matter; originally a spectator of a board game. Compare "outsider" or "bystander".
聚宝盆 jùbǎopén

treasure-gathering bowl

A legendary bowl that always yields treasure; used for a place or source rich in resources or wealth.
卷地皮 juǎndìpí

roll up the ground's skin

Another form of 刮地皮: to extort wealth from the people ruthlessly, as a corrupt official does. Critical.
卷铺盖 juǎnpūgai

roll up one's bedding

To be fired or dismissed, and have to pack up and leave. Informal.
决雌雄 juécíxióng

decide female and male

To have a showdown to settle who wins and who loses.
倔巴头 juèbatóu

stubborn head

A very stubborn, blunt person who won't back down. Usually mildly critical or teasing.
军令状 jūnlìngzhuàng

military order pledge

Originally a written pledge by an officer to accept punishment if he failed his mission. Now a public commitment to achieve a task, as in "立军令状".
君子协定 jūnzǐxiédìng

gentlemen's agreement

An informal agreement based on mutual trust and honour rather than a written contract. Same as the English "gentlemen's agreement".
开场白 kāichǎngbái

opening speech

The introductory words at the start of a performance, speech or article; an opening remark or preamble.
开倒车 kāidàochē

drive in reverse

To go backwards against the direction of progress. Critical, used of policies or attitudes.
开顶风船 kāidǐngfēngchuán

sail a boat against the wind

To press ahead in the face of difficulty or opposition. Usually approving, sometimes warning of stubbornness.
开动机器 kāidòngjīqì

start the machine

Humorous way of saying to think hard, as if starting up your brain.
开方子 kāifāngzi

write out a prescription

To propose a way to solve a problem, like a doctor writing a prescription. Neutral; often used when someone offers remedies for a problem.
开弓不放箭 kāi gōng bù fàng jiàn

draw the bow but not loose the arrow

To put on a show of force or take a threatening stance without actually acting. Mildly critical or wary. Close to "all bark and no bite" or "rattling sabres".
开后门 kāihòumén

open the back door

To use connections or official power to give someone an advantage by unofficial means. Critical. Close to "pull strings".
开空头支票 kāi kōngtóu zhīpiào

write a blank (uncashable) cheque

To make a promise you do not intend or cannot manage to keep. Critical. Close to "make empty promises".
开口子 kāikǒuzi

open a breach (as when a river breaks its bank)

To relax a restriction on certain matters or certain people, making an exception that lets things through. Neutral, though it can imply a risky loosening.
开快车 kāikuàichē

drive fast

To get on with work at a faster pace, sometimes too hurriedly. Neutral to slightly cautionary.
开冷枪 kāilěngqiāng

fire a cold shot

To attack someone unexpectedly, especially from hiding, with a surprise criticism or blow. Critical. Close to "take a cheap shot".
开绿灯 kāilǜdēng

turn on the green light

To give the go-ahead or make something easy to do, often by removing obstacles. Close to "give the green light".
开门红 kāiménhóng

red at the opening of the door

A good result right at the start, such as a strong first-day or first-quarter performance. Approving. Close to "get off to a flying start".
开妙方 kāimiàofāng

write out a wonderful prescription

To put forward a method or measure said to be thoroughly effective at curing a problem. Often approving, sometimes ironic.
开顺风船 kāishùnfēngchuán

sail a boat with the wind behind it

To go through life, or a project, without setbacks, with everything going smoothly. Approving. Close to "smooth sailing".
开天窗 kāitiānchuāng

open a skylight

Of a newspaper, to leave a blank space in a page layout. It can also mean clipping material from newspapers and magazines.
开头炮 kāitóupào

fire the first cannon shot

To be the first to speak or act and so set things going. Usually written 打头炮.
开小差 kāixiǎochāi

slip away on a minor errand

Originally, for a soldier to desert. Now it means to sneak away from a group activity, or to let your mind wander during a meeting or class. Mildly critical or humorous.
开小灶 kāixiǎozào

cook on the small stove

To give someone special treatment, such as extra tutoring or better provisions, that others do not get. Can be approving or hint at unfairness.
开心锁 kāixīnsuǒ

unlock a heart-lock

To resolve someone's worries or mental block through talking with them. Warm, approving.
开胸顺心丸 kāixiōng shùnxīn wán

a pill that opens the chest and eases the heart

A person or thing that relieves someone's worries and makes them feel at ease. Approving, a little humorous.
开洋荤 kāiyánghūn

eat foreign meat for the first time

To try something foreign or entirely new for the first time, or to have a novel experience. Light, humorous.
开药方 kāiyàofāng

write out a prescription

A variant of 开方子: to propose a way to solve a problem.
开夜车 kāiyèchē

drive the night train

To study or work late into the night. Close to "burn the midnight oil".
开杂货店 kāizáhuòdiàn

run a general store

A variant of 开杂货铺: something a jumble of many things, or a person with wide-ranging knowledge.
开杂货铺 kāizáhuòpù

run a general store

Said of something that is a messy jumble of many kinds of things, or humorously of a person with broad knowledge. Close to "a jumble shop" in the first sense.
开中药铺 kāizhōngyàopù

run a Chinese medicine shop

Said of speech or writing that merely lists many surface phenomena, like a shop with drawer after labelled drawer, without depth. Mildly critical.
砍三斧头 kǎnsānfǔtou

chop three axe blows

To do a few striking things as soon as you take up a post, to show off your ability. Named after Cheng Yaojin of the Tang dynasty, who opened battles with three axe strokes. Close to "a new broom sweeps clean".
看错棋 kàncuòqí

misread the chess game

To analyse a situation wrongly and misjudge it.
看风头 kànfēngtou

watch which way the wind blows

To hold back and watch how events develop before committing. Slightly cautious or opportunistic. Close to "see which way the wind blows".
看风向 kànfēngxiàng

watch the wind direction

A variant of 看风头: to watch how things are going before acting.
看火候 kànhuǒhou

watch the heat of the fire

To judge the right moment to act, as a cook judges the heat. Close to "wait for the right moment".
看脸色 kànliǎnsè

look at someone's face

Either to read someone's mood in order to act accordingly, often meekly, or to show someone how tough you are. Context decides which.
看门道 kànméndao

look at the doorways

To understand the tricks and fine points of something. Close to "see how it works" or "know the ropes".
看苗头 kànmiáotou

watch the sprouts

To watch for early signs of a trend or development.
看热闹 kànrènao

watch the bustle

To stand by and watch a commotion, often coldly enjoying someone else's trouble without helping. Mildly critical.
看人下菜碟儿 kàn rén xià càidiér

look at the person, then serve the dish

To treat people differently depending on what you can gain from them, such as being fawning to the powerful and cold to others. Critical.
看西洋景 kànxīyángjǐng

look at the Western peep-show

Originally watching pictures through a lens box. Now it means broadening one's horizons with something foreign, or gawping at strange sights.
看走眼 kànzǒuyǎn

see wrongly with the eye

To misjudge a person or thing. Close to "I got it wrong" or "misjudged".
扛大梁 kángdàliáng

carry the main beam

To take on the main responsibility, being the mainstay of a team or project. Approving. Close to "carry the team".
扛大旗 kángdàqí

carry the big banner

To hold an important leading position and head an effort. Approving.
扛枪杆 kángqiānggǎn

shoulder a rifle

To be a soldier or do military service.
靠边站 kàobiānzhàn

stand to one side

To be pushed out of one's post or lose power. Said critically of a person sidelined.
靠大树 kàodàshù

lean on a big tree

To depend on an elder or a powerful person for protection. Close to "have a powerful backer". Can be mildly critical.
靠钟点 kàozhōngdiǎn

depend on the clock

To put in hours at work without any real effort. Critical. Close to "clock-watching".
磕头虫 kētóuchóng

kowtow bug

Formerly a petty official; now a person who bows and scrapes to superiors. Contemptuous.
瞌睡虫 kēshuìchóng

sleep bug

A lazy person who wants to sleep all the time; also said teasingly of a sleepy child. Close to "sleepyhead".
可怜虫 kěliánchóng

pitiful worm

A person who is pitiable or pathetic. Can be sympathetic or mildly contemptuous. Close to English 'poor wretch'.
客里空 kèlǐkōng

Klykov (a name rendered as 'guest-inside-empty')

Named after a fabricated-news reporter in the Soviet play 'The Front'. It means reporting that is invented or inflated, or a person who habitually lies. Critical.
啃地皮 kěndìpí

gnaw the surface of the ground

To make a living by farming the land. Slightly self-deprecating, colloquial.
啃鸡肋 kěnjīlèi

gnaw chicken ribs

To do something of little worth that you still can't drop, like chicken ribs that have little meat but are a pity to throw away. Mildly rueful.
啃书本 kěnshūběn

gnaw at books

To study hard, bit by bit, from books. Can imply bookish study cut off from practice. Close to 'bury one's nose in books'.
空对空 kōngduìkōng

empty against empty

Talk that is vague and empty, with no link to reality. Critical, often of meetings or reports.
空架子 kōngjiàzi

empty frame

Something that has an impressive form or reputation but no real substance. Critical. Like 'all show and no substance'.
空口说白话 kōngkǒu shuō báihuà

speak plain words with an empty mouth

To say things with no proof to back them up, or to talk without acting. Critical.

Every kind of Chinese saying