Chinese idioms (惯用语)

敲竹杠 qiāozhúgàng

tap the bamboo pole

To extort money from someone by exploiting their weakness, or to overcharge. Critical; like 'rip off' or 'fleece'.
翘辫子 qiàobiànzi

turn up one's pigtail

To die. Slangy and joking, sometimes irreverent; like 'kick the bucket'.
翘尾巴 qiàowěiba

stick one's tail up

To be cocky and full of oneself after some success. Critical.
钦差大臣 qīnchāidàchén

imperial commissioner

Originally an official sent by the emperor to handle a major matter. Today it means an inspector sent down by a higher body, and is often said mockingly of one who throws his weight around and gives orders.
轻骑兵 qīngqíbīng

light cavalry

A small, lightly equipped, mobile team that can work flexibly. Also a short, quick literary form that responds fast to current events.
清教徒 qīngjiàotú

Puritan

Originally the English Puritans, who stressed thrift and strict rules. Now someone who holds strictly to rules and is very hard on themselves. Mildly teasing.
清君侧 qīngjūncè

clear out the ruler's flanks

Historically, removing treacherous officials around the ruler, often a pretext for rebellion. Now, getting rid of bad people around a leader.
清水衙门 qīngshuǐyámen

clear-water yamen

Originally an office where officials handled no money and couldn't make illicit gains. Now a poorly funded unit with few benefits.
清一色 qīngyīsè

all one colour

From mahjong, a hand all of one suit. Now it means made up entirely of one kind, or all the same.
蜻蜓点水 qīngtíngdiǎnshuǐ

a dragonfly touches the water

Working superficially, only going through the motions without going deep. Critical.
晴雨表 qíngyǔbiǎo

barometer

Something that shows how a situation is changing, e.g. the stock market as a barometer of the economy.
擎天柱 qíngtiānzhù

pillar that holds up the sky

A person who bears heavy responsibility and plays a decisive role. Approving.
穷庙富和尚 qióngmiàofùhéshang

a poor temple with a rich monk

A poor organisation whose head is rich. Critical, used of leaders who enrich themselves.
秋风贯驴耳 qiūfēng guàn lǘ'ěr

autumn wind blows through a donkey's ears

Words that go in one ear and out the other, as when advice is ignored. A rare variant of 东风射马耳; mocking.
秋老虎 qiūlǎohǔ

autumn tiger

A spell of fierce heat after the start of autumn.
求爷爷,告奶奶 qiú yéye, gào nǎinai

beg grandpa, plead with grandma

To go around humbly begging one person after another for a favour. Describes grovelling, often with some sympathy or disdain.
求张良,拜韩信 qiú zhāngliáng, bài hánxìn

seek Zhang Liang, bow to Han Xin

To search everywhere for talented people, as the founder of the Han dynasty relied on gifted advisers and generals. Approving.
全天候 quántiānhòu

all-weather

Able to work or be used in any conditions. Used of equipment, services, or people who perform reliably regardless of circumstances.
拳头产品 quántouchǎnpǐn

fist product

A company's flagship, top-quality product that competes strongly in the market. Approving, commercial.
缺胳膊短腿 quē gēbo duǎn tuǐ

missing an arm, short a leg

Describes objects or sets that are incomplete or have parts missing.
鹊桥会 quèqiáohuì

magpie bridge meeting

A matchmaking social event for single people, named after the legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl meeting on a bridge of magpies.
裙带官 qúndàiguān

skirt-sash official

An official who got his post through the connections of a wife, daughter or sister. Critical.
群言堂 qúnyántáng

hall of everyone's words

A style of leadership that is democratic and listens widely to opinions. Approving; the opposite of 一言堂 (one-man rule).
绕脖子 ràobózi

wind round the neck

Describes something tangled and confusing, or speech that is convoluted and hard to follow.
绕肠子 ràochángzi

wind the intestines

To scheme or think in a roundabout, calculating way; see 绕花花肠子.
绕道走 ràodàozǒu

go around by another road

To avoid a difficulty or problem rather than face it directly.
绕花花肠子 rào huāhuachángzi

wind up one's twisty intestines

To be full of schemes and tricks. Critical or wary.
绕弯子 ràowānzi

go round the bend

To talk or act in a roundabout way instead of getting to the point. Similar to "beat around the bush."
热处理 rèchǔlǐ

heat treatment

Originally heat-treating metal; figuratively, solving a problem quickly while it is still developing.
热地上的蝼蚁 rèdì shàng de lóuyǐ

tiny ants on scorching ground

A variant of 热锅上的蚂蚁 'ants on a hot pan': a person frantic with worry and with nowhere to turn.
热锅上的蚂蚁 règuō shàng de mǎyǐ

an ant on a hot wok

A person in a tight spot and restless with worry. Similar to "like a cat on a hot tin roof."
热门话 rèménhuà

hot-topic talk

A topic of conversation that many people care about.
热门货 rèménhuò

hot-door goods

Products that sell well, or a person or thing that is popular and in demand.
热气换冷气 rèqì huàn lěngqì

swapping hot air for cold air

Being full of enthusiasm but getting a cold, indifferent response in return.
热心肠 rèxīncháng

warm-hearted intestines

A kind, eager helper, or the quality of being warm and helpful. Approving.
人一走，茶就凉 rén yī zǒu，chá jiù liáng

once the person leaves, the tea goes cold

When someone leaves their position or is gone, the warmth and favours people showed them fade quickly. Said ruefully about fickle social relationships.
人不人，鬼不鬼 rén bù rén，guǐ bù guǐ

not human, not ghost

Describes someone who looks strange or grotesque, or who is in a wretched, miserable plight. Critical or pitying. Similar to 'neither fish nor fowl' only in the sense of being neither one thing nor another.
人不知，鬼不觉 rén bù zhī，guǐ bù jué

no person knows, no ghost notices

Done so secretly that nobody finds out. Usually written 神不知，鬼不觉; like 'without a soul knowing'.
人才库 réncáikù

talent pool

A place where many talented people are gathered, or a database of records of talented people. A neutral modern term, used in recruitment and organisations.
人来疯 rénláifēng

going wild when people come

Said of a child who gets unruly and naughty when guests arrive at home. Mildly critical or teasing; also used of pets.
人皮囤 rénpídùn

a human-skin grain bin

A person who only eats and creates no wealth, like a bin that just holds grain. Insulting; says someone is a useless parasite.
人中龙 rénzhōnglóng

a dragon among men

An outstanding person who stands far above the rest. Approving, praising a person of exceptional talent.
人嘴两层皮 rénzuǐ liǎng céng pí

a person's mouth is two layers of skin

Since the mouth belongs to the speaker, they can talk nonsense or go back on their word. Critical or cynical about unreliable talk.
认不出南北 rèn bù chū nánběi

cannot tell north from south

Describes someone confused or muddle-headed, who has lost their bearings. Mildly mocking.
肉烂在锅里 ròu làn zài guō li

the meat rots in the pot

Whatever happens, the benefit still stays with our own side overall. Used to console oneself about a loss within the group.
肉中刺 ròuzhōngcì

a thorn in the flesh

A person or thing one hates and wants rid of; from 眼中钉，肉中刺. Like 'a thorn in one's side'.
如意算盘 rúyìsuànpan

a wish-fulfilling abacus

A plan that considers only what benefits oneself and ignores reality. Critical; like 'wishful thinking' or 'counting one's chickens'.
孺子牛 rúzǐniú

the child's ox

A person who gladly serves the people with total devotion. Approving; from the story of Duke Jing of Qi playing ox for his young son.
软刀子 ruǎndāozi

a soft knife

A gentle-seeming way of hurting someone without their noticing, such as sweet words or quiet pressure. Critical.
软骨头 ruǎngǔtou

soft bones

A spineless person who gives in under pressure or betrays principles. A strong, contemptuous insult.
软壳虫 ruǎnkéchóng

a soft-shelled bug

A weak-natured, timid person. Mildly contemptuous.
软硬不吃 ruǎnyìngbùchī

eats neither soft nor hard

Won't be moved by either gentle persuasion or pressure; stubborn. Critical.
软指标 ruǎnzhǐbiāo

soft target

A goal that is flexible and not strictly measured, as opposed to a 硬指标 (hard target). Neutral, used in work and administration.
软着陆 ruǎnzhuólù

soft landing

A spacecraft's gentle touchdown; figuratively a smooth transition through a major change, especially in the economy. Neutral, approving.
撒手锏 sāshǒujiǎn

the thrown mace

A secret, decisive move kept for a critical moment; like 'ace up one's sleeve'. Approving or neutral.
洒热血,抛头颅 sǎ rèxuè, pāo tóulú

spill hot blood, throw away one's head

To fight and be ready to die for a cause or country. Solemn and heroic; usually written in the order 抛头颅,洒热血.
撒胡椒面 sǎhújiāomiàn

sprinkle pepper powder

To spread effort or resources thinly over everything, giving each part a little. Usually mildly critical, as it means nothing gets enough. Close to 'spread oneself too thin'.
塞狗洞 sāigǒudòng

stuff a dog hole

To waste money or goods on something worthless or improper, such as bribes. Critical.
塞私货 sāisīhuò

slip in private goods

To sneak one's own views or agenda into something, such as a text, talk or lesson, that is supposed to be neutral. Critical.
塞腰包 sāiyāobāo

stuff the waist pouch

To bribe someone with money. It can also mean pocketing money for oneself. Critical.
赛西施 sàixīshī

rival Xi Shi

Said of a woman who is extremely beautiful, as beautiful as Xi Shi, the legendary beauty of the Spring and Autumn period. Complimentary, though sometimes playful.
赛诸葛 sàizhūgě

rival Zhuge Liang

Said of someone very clever and good at planning, as good as the strategist Zhuge Liang. Approving, sometimes teasing.
三把火 sānbǎhuǒ

three fires

The first few measures a new leader takes to establish authority or make a mark, from the saying 'a new official takes office with three fires'.
三不管 sānbùguǎn

three no-cares

A place or matter that no one takes responsibility for, such as an area between jurisdictions.
三部曲 sānbùqǔ

trilogy

Three linked things, or three stages in the development of something. Originally from three connected works of literature.
三岔口 sānchàkǒu

three-way fork

A fork in the road; figuratively, a critical point where a choice must be made.
三岔路口 sānchàlùkǒu

three-way road junction

A variant of 三岔口: a fork where a decision must be made.
三朝元老 sāncháoyuánlǎo

elder statesman of three reigns

Originally a senior minister who served three emperors or dynasties; now a person who has stayed in office under several successive leaders. Often mildly ironic or admiring of survival skills.
三魂掉了两魂 sān hún diàole liǎng hún

of the three souls, two have dropped away

Describes being terrified or thrown into a panic, as if one's spirit had left the body. Similar to 'scared out of one's wits'.
三级跳 sānjítiào

triple jump

Named after the athletics event; used for skipping steps and advancing too fast, such as a leap in promotion or progress, against the proper order. It can also be mildly approving of rapid progress.
三驾马车 sānjiàmǎchē

a three-horse carriage

A leadership group of three people who pull together, or a trio of main driving forces (for example three key factors driving an economy). Neutral.
三缄口 sānjiānkǒu

mouth sealed three times

To be very careful about what one says and say little; to keep one's mouth shut. Approving or neutral.
三天打鱼,两天晒网 sān tiān dǎyú, liǎng tiān shài wǎng

fish for three days, dry the nets for two

To work on and off, with no perseverance. Said critically of someone who doesn't stick to a task or study. Close to 'blow hot and cold'.
三下五除二 sān xià wǔ chú èr

three down, five divide by two

From an abacus rhyme; describes doing something quickly, neatly and without fuss. Approving.
三一三十一 sān yī sānshíyī

three into one: three, with one left over (thirty-one)

From an abacus division rhyme, originally 三一三剩一. It means dividing something equally into three shares.
三折肱 sānzhégōng

break the arm three times

Short for 'break your arm three times and you become a good doctor': going through many setbacks gives experience and skill. Approving.
三只手 sānzhīshǒu

three hands

Slang for a thief or pickpocket, who has a 'third hand' for taking others' things. Contemptuous.
三足鼎 sānzúdǐng

a three-legged tripod cauldron

Three forces standing side by side in balance, like the three legs of an ancient cauldron. Often used of rival powers, as in 三足鼎立.
散架子 sǎnjiàzi

the frame falls apart

To be utterly exhausted, as if one's bones were coming apart. Said of someone worn out. Colloquial; like 'falling to pieces'.
散摊子 sàntānzi

close down the stall

For an organisation, business or project to be wound up or disband. Colloquial, often with a note of failure.
丧门神 sāngménshén

the god of mourning's door

A person who brings bad luck or disaster; a jinx. Same as 丧门星. Abusive.
丧门星 sāngménxīng

the mourning-door star

In folk belief an evil star; for a person, a jinx who brings misfortune wherever he or she goes. Insulting.
丧家狗 sàngjiāgǒu

a dog that has lost its home

A person with no protector or refuge, running about desperately. Contemptuous. Same as 丧家犬.
丧家犬 sàngjiāquǎn

a dog that has lost its home

A person who has lost support and flees with nowhere to go; a pitiful or contemptible figure. Like 'a stray dog'.
搔着痒处 sāozhāoyǎngchù

scratch right on the itch

To hit exactly the key point or touch what is needed. Approving, like 'hit the nail on the head'.
扫死角 sǎosǐjiǎo

sweep the dead corners

To clean up or take control of areas usually left unmanaged, in campaigns of tidying and regulation. Official-sounding.
杀风景 shāfēngjǐng

kill the scenery

To spoil a pleasant scene or mood. Usually written 煞风景.
杀回马枪 shāhuímǎqiāng

thrust back with the spear while wheeling the horse round

From old battles, where a fleeing warrior suddenly turned on his pursuer. Figuratively, to turn on one's accomplices by exposing them, or to counter-attack unexpectedly.
杀鸡用牛刀 shā jī yòng niúdāo

use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken

Wasting great talent on a small task. Said with sympathy or as a mild joke about overqualification.
杀人不见血 shā rén bù jiàn xiě

kill without seeing blood

Harming people by cunning, vicious means that leave no trace. Strongly critical.
刹歪风 shāwāifēng

stop the crooked wind

To put a stop to bad practices or unhealthy trends. Official, approving tone.
刹威风 shāwēifēng

check someone's swagger

To cut down an opponent's arrogant bearing and bring them down a peg.
煞风景 shāfēngjǐng

ruin the scenery

Originally to spoil a beautiful view; now to dampen the mood at a pleasant occasion. Like 'spoil the fun' or 'be a wet blanket'.
晒干瓢 shàigānpiáo

a ladle left to dry in the sun

Someone or something left ignored, which nobody takes care of or asks about.
煽阴风 shānyīnfēng

fan the cold wind

To spread rumours in secret and stir up discontent. Critical.
扇车嘴 shànchēzuǐ

winnowing-machine mouth

A person who talks carelessly and cannot keep a secret. Mildly critical, informal.
伤口上撒盐 shāngkǒu shang sǎ yán

sprinkle salt on a wound

To add to someone's pain when they are already suffering. Critical. Same as the English 'rub salt in the wound'.
伤元气 shāngyuánqì

harm the vital energy

To sap the vitality of a person, organisation or country, leaving it weakened.
上边压，下边挤 shàngbian yā, xiàbian jǐ

pressed from above, squeezed from below

Being under pressure from both superiors and subordinates, as middle managers often are. Close to 'caught between a rock and a hard place'.
上不着天，下不落地 shàng bù zháo tiān, xià bù luòdì

above it doesn't touch the sky, below it doesn't land on the ground

A variant of 上不着天，下不着地: left hanging, with nothing to rely on.

Every kind of Chinese saying