Chinese idioms (惯用语)

跑龙套 pǎolóngtào

to run in a dragon costume

To play a minor supporting role, doing odd jobs under others. Often self-deprecating or mildly belittling. Compare 'play a bit part'.
跑马灯 pǎomǎdēng

running-horse lantern

Another form of 走马灯, a lantern whose paper figures spin. Figuratively, things that keep changing in quick succession.
跑野马 pǎoyěmǎ

to run wild horses

To let one's thoughts wander without restraint, or to talk off the point. Mildly humorous.
泡病号儿 pàobìnghàor

to soak in being a sick person

To rest for long over a minor illness or to use illness as an excuse to skip work. Mildly critical.
泡蘑菇 pàomógu

to soak mushrooms

To dawdle and stall on purpose, or to pester someone persistently. Dried mushrooms need time to soak.
炮筒子 pàotǒngzi

cannon barrel

A hot-tempered, blunt person who says things without thinking. Mildly critical or affectionate teasing.
赔老本 péilǎoběn

to lose one's original capital

To suffer very heavy losses, even losing one's basic stake. Compare 'lose one's shirt'.
赔了夫人又折兵 péile fūrén yòu zhé bīng

lost the lady and lost the soldiers too

To try to gain an advantage and end up worse off, losing doubly. From Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where Zhou Yu's plot to trap Liu Bei backfired.
捧臭脚 pěngchòujiǎo

to hold up smelly feet

To flatter someone shamelessly and nauseatingly. Strongly critical. Compare 'lick someone's boots'.

May offend: vulgar language
捧金娃娃 pěngjīnwáwa

to hold a golden doll

Either to sit on valuable resources without using them well, or to treasure something and give it special care.
捧聚宝盆 pěngjùbǎopén

to hold a treasure bowl

To have obtained rich resources or conditions for getting wealthy. The bowl is a mythical one that never empties.
捧圣旨 pěngshèngzhǐ

to hold an imperial edict

To have received instructions from higher authority, and so act as if with unquestionable backing. Often ironic.
碰钉子 pèngdīngzi

to bump into a nail

To be refused or rebuffed, or to meet a setback. Compare 'hit a brick wall'.
碰破头 pèngpòtóu

to bump heads till they break

Describes a place so crowded that people keep bumping into each other.
碰软钉子 pèngruǎndīngzi

to hit a soft nail

To be turned down politely or indirectly.
碰一鼻子灰 pèng yī bízi huī

to bump into a noseful of dust

To be rebuffed or scolded and left embarrassed.
碰硬茬儿 pèngyìngchár

to hit hard stubble

To run into a tough opponent who is hard to deal with.
披虎皮 pīhǔpí

to wear a tiger skin

To use someone's power or reputation to frighten others. Critical.
披绿装 pīlǜzhuāng

to put on green clothes

To plant trees and grass to make the land green. Approving.
披人皮，做鬼事 pī rénpí，zuò guǐshì

wearing human skin, doing ghostly deeds

Said of someone who looks decent but does shameful things in secret. Strongly critical.
披外衣 pīwàiyī

to put on an outer coat

To disguise something and create a false impression. Critical.
披新装 pīxīnzhuāng

to put on new clothes

To take on a completely new look. Approving.
霹雳手 pīlìshǒu

thunderbolt hand

A person who handles things decisively and fast. Approving.
皮包公司 píbāogōngsī

briefcase company

A shell company with no assets or fixed office, just people carrying briefcases and doing deals. Implies low credibility and often fraud.
皮包骨 píbāogǔ

skin wrapped around bone

Extremely thin, skin and bones.
皮灯笼 pídēnglong

leather lantern

A variant of 牛皮灯笼, a lantern of ox hide, which is not transparent. Used for someone who is not clear-sighted or doesn't see through things.
皮软骨头硬 pí ruǎn gǔtou yìng

soft skin, hard bones

Describes someone who seems gentle and yielding but is strong and firm inside. Approving.
皮笑肉不笑 pí xiào ròu bù xiào

the skin smiles, the flesh doesn't

A forced or sinister smile that shows no real warmth. Critical.
疲劳轰炸 píláohōngzhà

fatigue bombardment

Wearing someone out with nonstop activity, questioning or talk until they are exhausted in body and mind. Usually mildly critical or complaining.
疲劳战 píláozhàn

fatigue warfare

Another form of 疲劳轰炸: wearing someone down by relentless, continuous effort or pressure, such as long meetings or endless questioning.
劈硬柴 pǐyìngchái

splitting hard firewood

Dialect term for splitting a bill: each person pays an equal share of the cost. It is colloquial and regional.
屁股不干净 pìgu bù gānjìng

one's backside is not clean

Someone has something shameful or improper in their past that could come out, such as corruption. Informal and critical; close to "have skeletons in the closet."

May offend: vulgar language
屁股沉 pìguchén

a heavy backside

Said of a guest who sits for a long time and doesn't leave. Colloquial and mildly mocking.

May offend: vulgar language
屁股没坐热 pìgu méi zuòrè

hasn't even warmed the seat

Said of someone who stays very briefly, or leaves right after arriving. Colloquial.

May offend: vulgar language
瞟白眼 piǎobáiyǎn

cast a white-eyed glance

To glance sideways, showing the whites of the eyes, to show contempt or coldness toward someone.
漂亮话 piàoliang huà

pretty words

Fine-sounding words that are not backed by action. Mildly critical.
泼冷水 pōlěngshuǐ

throw cold water

To dampen someone's enthusiasm with discouraging remarks, or sometimes to bring them back to their senses. Close to "throw cold water on."
泼凉水 pōliángshuǐ

throw cool water

A variant of 泼冷水: to discourage someone's enthusiasm.
泼脏水 pōzāngshuǐ

throw dirty water

To slander someone with malicious words or false accusations, smearing their reputation. Critical; close to "sling mud."
婆婆妈妈 pópomāmā

mother-in-law and mama

Fussy, long-winded and indecisive in speech or action. Used critically, often of men.
婆婆嘴 pópozuǐ

a mother-in-law's mouth

Someone who nags and repeats themselves until others lose patience. Mildly critical.

May offend: sexist or sexual
破车挡好道 pòchē dǎng hǎodào

a broken-down cart blocks the good road

Said of a useless person or thing that gets in the way of others. Critical.
破罐子破摔 pò guànzi pò shuāi

a cracked jar might as well be smashed

Giving up on yourself and behaving worse after a flaw or failure, instead of correcting it. Critical.
破磨对瘸驴 pòmò duì quélǘ

a broken millstone paired with a lame donkey

Two poor things matched together, such as a bad pairing of two poor partners. Mocking.

May offend: mocks disability
破天荒 pòtiānhuāng

breaking the heavenly wasteland

Something happening for the very first time, usually a surprising event. Neutral or lightly humorous; like "for the first time ever."
铺路石 pūlùshí

paving stone

A person who makes sacrifices to help others advance. Approving.
铺摊子 pūtānzi

spread out a stall

To set up a large operation or get a project going on a wide scale. Sometimes implies overreaching.
菩萨脸，蝎子心 púsàliǎn，xiēzixīn

a bodhisattva's face, a scorpion's heart

Someone who looks kind but is cruel inside. Strongly critical; close to "a wolf in sheep's clothing."
菩萨心肠 púsàxīncháng

a bodhisattva's heart

A very kind and compassionate nature. Approving.
谱新篇 pǔxīnpiān

compose a new chapter

To achieve new results or open a new phase. Common in formal or journalistic writing.
七大姑八大姨 qī dà gū bā dà yí

seven great paternal aunts, eight great maternal aunts

A whole crowd of female relatives, near and far; sometimes the women in one's social circle. Used jokingly, often about relatives who pry or give advice.
妻管严 qīguǎnyán

wife controls strictly

A jocular term for a husband who is henpecked. It is a pun on 气管炎 (bronchitis); see that entry.

May offend: sexist or sexual
漆黑一团糟 qīhēi yītuánzāo

pitch-black, one lump of mess

Describes a situation that is a complete mess. Informal and critical; like 'a total shambles'.
骑脖子拉屎 qí bózi lāshǐ

sit on someone's neck and relieve oneself

Treating someone outrageously badly, pushing bullying too far. Crude and angry.

May offend: vulgar language
骑虎难下 qíhǔnánxià

riding a tiger, hard to get off

Being stuck in a risky course of action that can't be stopped halfway. Close to 'to have a tiger by the tail'.
骑两头马 qíliǎngtóumǎ

ride two horses

Playing both sides in a conflict to please each. Critical, implying opportunism; like 'to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds'.
骑驴找驴 qílǘzhǎolǘ

ride a donkey looking for a donkey

Searching everywhere for something you already have. It also describes holding a job while looking for a better one.
骑马找马 qímǎzhǎomǎ

ride a horse looking for a horse

A variant of 骑驴找驴: looking for what you already have, or keeping a job while seeking a better one.
骑墙派 qíqiángpài

the sit-on-the-wall faction

People who stay neutral and then side with whoever wins. Critical; like 'fence-sitters'.
骑双头马 qíshuāngtóumǎ

ride a double-headed horse

A variant of 骑两头马: trying to please both sides of a dispute.
棋逢对手，将遇良才 qíféngduìshǒu，jiàngyùliángcái

in chess meeting a match, a general meeting a good talent

Two sides are evenly matched in strength. Often said approvingly of a good contest.
启明星 qǐmíngxīng

the star that opens the brightness

Venus as the morning star; figuratively a person who enlightens others and leads them toward light. Approving.
起钉子 qǐdīngzi

pull out nails

A variant of 拔钉子, meaning to remove an obstacle or troublemaker that stands in the way.
起五更，睡半夜 qǐ wǔgēng，shuì bànyè

get up at the fifth watch, sleep at midnight

Rising very early and going to bed late; working extremely hard.
气管炎 qìguǎnyán

bronchitis

Jokingly used for a henpecked husband, because it sounds like 妻管严 'strictly controlled by the wife'.
气迷心 qìmíxīn

anger blinds the heart

Describes someone who loses their temper very easily.
掐脖子 qiābózi

pinch the neck

See 卡脖子: to choke off someone at a crucial point.
掐断线 qiāduànxiàn

cut the thread

To cut off a lead or to break off contact between two sides.
掐尖子 qiājiānzi

pinch off the tips

Originally, pruning shoots; figuratively, suppressing the leading or most outstanding people.
卡脖子 qiǎbózi

grip the neck

Being blocked at a key point; or deliberately making things hard for someone at a crucial moment. Often seen in news about technology.
千夫指 qiānfūzhǐ

pointed at by a thousand men

Someone denounced and hated by everyone. Critical; from 'bearing the finger of a thousand men'.
千古恨 qiāngǔhèn

a thousand-year regret

An irreparable, lasting regret, from the line about one wrong step becoming an eternal regret. Literary.
千里船 qiānlǐchuán

thousand-li boat

A very fast ship. Descriptive and somewhat literary.
千里驹 qiānlǐjū

thousand-li colt

A talented young person of great promise; same as 千里马. Approving.
千里马 qiānlǐmǎ

thousand-li horse

A rare, outstanding talent. Approving, often used with the idea that talent needs someone to recognise it.
千里眼 qiānlǐyǎn

thousand-li eyes

Someone with very sharp sight or insight, or a person who seems to see far-off things. Approving or humorous; like 'clairvoyant'.
千人指 qiānrénzhǐ

pointed at by a thousand people

Same as 千夫指: someone condemned by all.
牵红线 qiānhóngxiàn

pull the red thread

To play matchmaker and bring a couple together. Mildly humorous or warm.
牵牛鼻子 qiānniúbízi

lead the ox by the nose

To seize the crux or key link of a problem.
牵线搭桥 qiānxiàndāqiáo

pull strings and build a bridge

To act as go-between and help two sides connect, in business or personal matters. Neutral to approving.
牵着不走，打着走 qiānzhe bù zǒu，dǎzhe zǒu

won't move when led, moves when hit

Said of a stubborn person who only obeys when forced, not when asked nicely. Critical; like a stubborn mule.
前怕狼后怕虎 qián pà láng hòu pà hǔ

fearing wolves in front and tigers behind

Full of worries and afraid to go forward. Critical or teasing of someone timid.
前心贴后心 qiánxīn tiē hòuxīn

front of the chest stuck to the back

Either so hungry that your stomach feels pressed against your back, or so close that you can speak your heart freely.
前心贴着后脊梁 qiánxīn tiēzhe hòujǐliang

front of the chest stuck to the spine

Same as 前心贴后心: extremely hungry, or very close and frank with each other.
前奏曲 qiánzòuqǔ

prelude

The opening section of a large musical work; figuratively, an introduction or early sign of something to come.
钱串子 qiánchuànzi

string for coins

A person obsessed with making money. Critical or mocking.
枪杆子 qiānggǎnzi

gun barrel

Armed force, military power, especially as the basis of political power. Often seen in the Maoist line that power comes out of the barrel of a gun.
枪口一致朝外 qiāngkǒu yīzhì cháowài

the gun muzzles all point outward together

A group is united internally and directs its force against outsiders or an external enemy. Approving.
墙倒众人推 qiáng dǎo zhòngrén tuī

when the wall falls, everyone pushes

When someone loses power or luck, everyone attacks them. Critical; like 'kick a man when he's down'.
墙头草 qiángtóucǎo

grass on top of a wall

A person with no firm stand who goes with whoever is stronger. Contemptuous; like 'a fence-sitter' or 'turncoat'.
敲边鼓 qiāobiāngǔ

beat the side of the drum

To back someone up from the sidelines, or to hint indirectly to influence them. Often a little critical.
敲缸沿 qiāogāngyán

tap the rim of the vat

A variant of 敲边鼓: to egg someone on or support from the side, or to hint indirectly.
敲鼓边儿 qiāogǔbiānr

tap the edge of the drum

To sneer or egg people on from the sidelines. Critical.
敲警钟 qiāojǐngzhōng

ring the alarm bell

To warn people of danger. Used of a warning or a wake-up call.
敲门砖 qiāoménzhuān

door-knocking brick

A means used to gain fame or advantage and dropped once it has served its purpose. Often derogatory.
敲丧钟 qiāosāngzhōng

toll the funeral bell

To announce or signal the end or the nearing downfall of something. Like 'sound the death knell'.
敲顺风锣 qiāoshùnfēngluó

beat the gong with the wind

To go with the tide and say what pleases others. Critical, of an opportunist.
敲退堂鼓 qiāotuìtánggǔ

beat the drum to end court

To back out or give up halfway. Same as 打退堂鼓.
敲小鼓 qiāoxiǎogǔ

beat a little drum

One's heart pounds from nervousness or unease. Used of anxious waiting.
敲硬核桃 qiāoyìnghétao

crack a hard walnut

To face a tough problem head-on and meet toughness with toughness. Approving.

Every kind of Chinese saying