Chinese idioms (惯用语)

上不着天，下不着地 shàng bù zháo tiān, xià bu zháo dì

above it doesn't reach the sky, below it doesn't touch the ground

In limbo, with nothing definite or nothing to depend on. Used for an uncertain, unsupported position.
上刀山，下油锅 shàngdāoshān, xiàyóuguō

climb a mountain of knives, go down into a pot of boiling oil

Willing to face any danger and press ahead without fear. Approving.
上断头台 shàngduàntóutái

go up to the guillotine

To be sentenced to death, or face a fatal end.
上发条 shàngfātiáo

wind the spring

To spur someone into more energy and efficiency, as one winds a clock. Informal.
上方宝剑 shàngfāngbǎojiàn

the emperor's sword

Special authority granted by a superior, as if with the emperor's sword that lets its holder act first and report later.
上轨道 shàngguǐdào

get on the track

For work or a project to start running smoothly and normally.
上口碑 shàngkǒubēi

enter the people's word of mouth

To win public acclaim; to earn widespread praise for good deeds.
上笼套 shànglóngtào

put on the halter

A variant of 上笼头: to restrain or bind someone.
上笼头 shànglóngtou

put on the halter

To put restrictions on someone, as one halters an animal. Often critical.
上气不接下气 shàngqì bù jiē xiàqì

the upper breath doesn't connect with the lower breath

To be gasping for breath, usually after running or hard effort; it describes being utterly exhausted. Neutral, descriptive.
上气接不着下气 shàngqì jiē bù zháo xiàqì

the upper breath can't catch the lower breath

A variant of 上气不接下气: panting, out of breath and worn out.
上圈套 shàngquāntào

step into a snare

To fall into a trap or be tricked by someone's scheme. Said of someone who has been fooled.
上台阶 shàngtáijiē

go up a step

To reach a new, higher level, as in results, quality or ability. Approving; like 'move up a level'.
上台面 shàngtáimiàn

go onto the tabletop

To be fit for a formal or public occasion; presentable enough to be shown in public. Often used negatively, as 'can't be put on the table' for something crude or poor.
上天堂 shàngtiāntáng

go up to heaven

Either to enjoy a wonderfully happy life, or, as a euphemism, to die.
上西天 shàngxītiān

go to the Western Heaven

A euphemism for dying, from the Buddhist paradise in the west. Often jokey or casual.
上眼药 shàngyǎnyào

put eye medicine on someone

To badmouth someone to their boss or elders behind their back so that they get into trouble. Critical.
上贼船 shàngzéichuán

board a thieves' boat

To get drawn into a bad group and take part in wrongdoing, with no easy way out. Close to 'get in with the wrong crowd'.
尚方宝剑 shàngfāngbǎojiàn

the sword from the imperial workshop

The sword an emperor gave an official so he could act in his name. Now it means backing or a mandate from above that lets someone act with authority.
烧高香 shāogāoxiāng

burn tall incense

Either to be deeply thankful to someone who helped you, or to feel lucky and relieved at an unexpectedly good outcome ('thank your lucky stars'). Often used in the form 'you should burn incense'.
烧冷灶 shāolěngzào

light a cold stove

To make friends with or favour someone who has no power yet but may be useful later, like betting on an underdog. Often seen as shrewd, set against the usual 'kowtowing to the powerful'.
舌头长 shétoucháng

long tongue

Describes a gossip who stirs up trouble by talking about others. Critical and insulting.
舌头短 shétouduǎn

short tongue

To find it hard to speak up, or to have no answer because you're in the wrong.
舌头压死人 shétou yāsǐ rén

the tongue can crush a person to death

Either speaking unreasonably and overbearingly, or using public opinion to destroy someone. Strong, aggressive tone.
蛇吞象 shétūnxiàng

a snake swallows an elephant

Shortened from 人心不足蛇吞象: greed that is never satisfied. Critical.
舍命吃河豚 shěmìng chī hétún

risk your life to eat pufferfish

To go to any lengths, even risking life, to get something you want.
舍命陪君子 shěmìng péi jūnzǐ

risk one's life to keep a gentleman company

To do something at great cost to oblige a friend. Usually jokey, as when you agree to drink with someone though you'd rather not.
设关卡 shèguānqiǎ

set up checkpoints

Either to put in checks along the process, or to put obstacles in the way of getting something done. The second sense is critical.
设迷魂阵 shèmíhúnzhèn

set up a maze of confusion

The same as 摆迷魂阵: to lay a deceptive scheme to mislead people.
设圈套 shèquāntào

set a snare

To use a scheme to trick someone. Critical.
设陷阱 shèxiànjǐng

set a pit trap

To use a plot to harm someone, like digging a pit for them to fall into. Critical.
射冷箭 shèlěngjiàn

to shoot a cold arrow

To attack or slander someone secretly and unexpectedly from behind. Critical; the same as 放冷箭.
伸大拇哥 shēndàmǔgē

to stick out the big thumb

To give a thumbs-up; to praise someone. Colloquial variant of 伸大拇指.
伸大拇指 shēndàmǔzhǐ

to stick out the thumb

To give a thumbs-up; to praise or compliment someone.
伸手派 shēnshǒupài

the stretch-out-the-hand type

A person who contributes nothing and just relies on others or asks them for things. Critical.
身在宝山不识宝 shēn zài bǎoshān bù shí bǎo

standing on a mountain of treasure without recognising the treasure

Having valuable things or people close by but failing to see or use them. Mildly critical.
身在曹营心在汉 shēn zài cáoyíng xīn zài hàn

body in Cao Cao's camp, heart with Han

Physically in one place but with the heart elsewhere. It comes from Guan Yu, who was captured by Cao Cao yet stayed loyal to Liu Bei.
身在福中不知福 shēn zài fú zhōng bù zhī fú

living in happiness without knowing it is happiness

Not appreciating one's good fortune and never being satisfied. Mildly critical; like 'you don't know how lucky you are'.
神不知，鬼不觉 shén bù zhī, guǐ bù jué

neither gods nor ghosts know

Done so secretly that nobody notices. Often about sneaky or illicit actions.
神经病 shénjīngbìng

nerve illness

Literally a nervous or mental disorder; as an insult, calls someone crazy or behaving abnormally. Rude when aimed at a person, and it stigmatizes mental illness.
生口舌 shēngkǒushé

to give birth to mouth and tongue

To stir up quarrels or gossip; to cause people to talk.
生力军 shēnglìjūn

fresh-strength army

New, energetic members who join a team or group; fresh blood. Approving.
生米煮成熟饭 shēngmǐ zhǔchéng shóufàn

raw rice cooked into cooked rice

What is done is done and can't be undone. Often used of a fait accompli, such as a marriage.
生米做成熟饭 shēngmǐ zuòchéng shóufàn

raw rice made into cooked rice

What is done is done and cannot be changed; a fait accompli. Like 'the die is cast'.
生命线 shēngmìngxiàn

lifeline

Something essential to survival and development.
省油灯 shěngyóudēng

an oil-saving lamp

A person who is well-behaved and easy to deal with. Mostly used negatively: '不是省油的灯' means a troublemaker or hard to handle.
失街亭 shījiētíng

lose Jieting

To suffer a loss through misjudging the situation or neglecting duty. From Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which Ma Su rigidly followed the book and lost the strategic post Jieting.
狮子大开口 shīzi dà kāikǒu

the lion opens its mouth wide

To ask an outrageously high price or demand far too much. Critical or complaining in tone.
狮子吼 shīzihǒu

lion's roar

Figuratively, a fierce wife's furious outburst at her husband. Mocking and humorous, and dated; it comes from the Buddhist image of a lion's roar.

May offend: sexist or sexual
十二级台风 shí’èr jí táifēng

a force-twelve typhoon

A violent shock or upheaval, or a very forceful impact. Used figuratively for a huge disturbance.
十年九不遇 shí nián jiǔ bù yù

nine years in ten you don't meet it

Very rarely encountered; something that almost never happens.
十一号 shíyīhào

number eleven

Humorous slang for a person's two legs, since the numeral 11 looks like a pair of legs. Typically 'go by number eleven', meaning to walk.
十有八九 shíyǒubājiǔ

ten have eight or nine

Most likely; in the great majority of cases. 'Nine times out of ten'.
十字路口 shízìlùkǒu

crossroads

A point where you must choose a direction in life or a situation. Same figurative use as English 'at a crossroads'.
石点头 shídiǎntóu

stones nod

Said of something so persuasive that even stones nod; also of reluctantly accepting a convincing argument. Comes from a Buddhist legend.
石榴裙 shíliúqún

pomegranate skirt

A red skirt, hence by extension a young, attractive woman. Literary; 'fall at her pomegranate skirt' means being infatuated.
识良莠 shíliángyǒu

tell good grain from weeds

To distinguish good people from bad. 莠 is a weed that looks like millet.
识时务 shíshíwù

know the times

To understand the situation and act sensibly. Usually approving, sometimes hinting at opportunism.
实葫芦 shíhúlu

a solid gourd

Describes someone who is honest, sincere and straightforward in dealing with others, with nothing hidden. Approving, a little folksy.
拾到篮里就是菜 shídào lán li jiù shì cài

whatever you pick up into the basket is vegetables

Said of grabbing anything you can get, good or bad, without being choosy. It can also mean that only what you actually have in hand is truly yours. Close to 'a bird in the hand' in the second sense.
拾虾米 shíxiāmǐ

picking up small shrimp

Means picking up the leftovers or scraps that others did not want. Mildly belittling.
拾鞋底 shíxiédǐ

picking up worn-out shoe soles

Means following old, obsolete or discarded practices or ideas. Mildly critical.
拾人牙慧 shírényáhuì

pick up other people's tooth-wit

To repeat someone else's words or ideas and pass them off as your own. Critical, said of unoriginal people. Also a four-character idiom used in writing.
食鸡肋 shíjīlèi

eat chicken ribs

A variant of 吃鸡肋: having something of little value that is a pity to throw away. The book only refers readers to the usual form.
食苦果 shíkǔguǒ

eat the bitter fruit

A variant of 吃苦果: to suffer the bitter consequences of your own actions. Like 'reap what you sow'.
使绊子 shǐbànzi

use a trip (in wrestling)

To secretly sabotage someone by underhanded means. Critical.
使花招 shǐhuāzhāo

play fancy moves

To use tricks and cunning to deceive someone. Critical.
使坏水儿 shǐhuàishuǐr

use bad liquid

To scheme viciously to harm someone, or to play dirty tricks. Critical and colloquial.
使绝招 shǐjuézhāo

use a unique trick

To use a masterly move or ploy that others would not think of. Neutral to admiring.
使牛劲 shǐniújìn

use ox strength

To use clumsy brute force instead of skill or method. Mildly mocking.
使手腕 shǐshǒuwàn

use wrist moves

To use crafty, manipulative tactics to deceive or get one's way. Critical.
使小钱 shǐxiǎoqián

spend small money

To win people over with small favours or small payments. Slightly critical.
事后诸葛亮 shìhòu zhūgěliàng

Zhuge Liang after the event

Someone who offers wise advice only after things have gone wrong. Critical or mocking. Like 'hindsight is 20/20' or 'a Monday-morning quarterback'.
试金石 shìjīnshí

touchstone

Something that tests the quality or truth of something else. Neutral, used also in writing.
试验田 shìyàntián

experimental field

A pilot site or trial project where experience is gained before wider rollout. Neutral.
是骡子是马牵出来遛遛 shì luózi shì mǎ qiān chūlái liùliu

whether it's a mule or a horse, lead it out and walk it around

Quality and ability should be judged by practical test. Often a challenge: show us what you can do. Close to 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating'.
收场锣 shōuchǎngluó

the closing gong

Like the gong that ends a traditional performance, it means a matter is settled and declared finished.
收场戏 shōuchǎngxì

the closing play

The last act of a matter; the final step in a process. Neutral.
收摊子 shōutānzi

pack up the stall

To end an activity or job, for a time or for good. Colloquial. Close to 'call it a day' or 'close up shop'.
手把手 shǒubǎshǒu

hand in hand

To teach someone personally, guiding them step by step. Approving.
手电筒 shǒudiàntǒng

flashlight

Someone who is lenient with themselves but strict with others, because a flashlight lights the way ahead and rarely the holder. Critical.
手发痒 shǒufāyǎng

hands itch

To be itching to do something, to be eager to get one's hands on it. Informal.
手脚不干净 shǒujiǎo bù gānjìng

hands and feet not clean

Given to petty theft or embezzlement. Critical, euphemistic.
手榴弹 shǒuliúdàn

hand grenade

Slang for a bottle of liquor given as a bribe. Humorous, cynical.
手头宽 shǒutóukuān

hands wide

Well-off, with plenty of money. Neutral.
手痒痒 shǒuyǎngyang

hands itchy

Same as 手发痒: itching to do something. Informal.
守财奴 shǒucáinú

miser slave

A rich person who is extremely stingy, a slave to their money. Contemptuous. Close to 'miser' or 'Scrooge'.
守锅台 shǒuguōtái

mind the stove

To stay home cooking and doing housework, traditionally the woman's role.
守摊子 shǒutānzi

mind the stall

To be conservative and complacent, following old rules without innovating. Critical.
守着草饿死牛 shǒuzhe cǎo èsǐ niú

starve the ox while sitting on the hay

To suffer needlessly by not using resources right at hand. Critical.
守着米囤饿死 shǒuzhe mǐdùn èsǐ

starve to death beside the grain bin

To fall into great hardship by failing to use what you have. Critical.
受夹板气 shòujiābǎnqì

suffer the splint squeeze

To be squeezed between two sides pressing you, in an uncomfortable middle position. Close to 'caught between a rock and a hard place' or 'piggy in the middle'.
受气包 shòuqìbāo

bag that takes the anger

A person who is bullied and made to absorb others' anger. Close to 'punching bag' or 'doormat'.
受洋罪 shòuyángzuì

suffer foreign punishment

To suffer hardship from facing unfamiliar things one can't adapt to. Often humorous exaggeration.
书虫子 shūchóngzi

book worm

A person who buries themselves in books. Mildly teasing or mocking. Close to 'bookworm'.
书篓子 shūlǒuzi

book basket

Someone who has read a lot but cannot apply it in practice. Mildly mocking.
梳辫子 shūbiànzi

comb the braids

To sort out a tangle of many loose ends and organise them. Informal.
数冬瓜，道茄子 shǔ dōngguā，dào qiézi

count the winter melons, talk about the aubergines

Going through everything one by one without regard to importance. Mildly critical of rambling.
树靶子 shùbǎzi

set up a target

To pick someone or something as the object of criticism.
竖脊梁 shùjǐliang

straighten the spine

To pull yourself together and strive boldly. Approving.

Every kind of Chinese saying