Chinese idioms (惯用语)

耍把戏 shuǎbǎxì

play tricks

To use tricks to fool or deceive people; see 耍鬼把戏. Critical.
耍笔杆子 shuǎbǐgǎnzi

wield the pen shaft

To make a living by writing or doing cultural work. Often slightly wry or self-deprecating, not strongly critical.
耍扁担 shuǎbiǎndan

swing a carrying pole

To work as a small trader carrying goods on a shoulder pole. Dated, regional usage.
耍秤杆子 shuǎchènggǎnzi

play with the steelyard beam

To cheat on weight when selling goods; to use sly tricks in business. Critical.
耍二百五 shuǎ'èrbǎiwǔ

show off two-hundred-and-fifty

To behave rashly and foolishly, like a fool. Mocking. 二百五 is a slang term for a fool.
耍二杆子 shuǎ'èrgǎnzi

play the second-rate pole

To act in a simple-minded, reckless, bull-headed way. Mocking; mostly northern dialect.
耍狗熊 shuǎgǒuxióng

make a black bear perform

To make an honest, simple person look foolish in public, as one makes a bear perform tricks. Critical.
耍光棍 shuǎguānggùn

play the rogue

To act like a thug or ruffian, using shameless, rascally tactics. Critical.
耍鬼把戏 shuǎguǐbǎxì

play ghost tricks

To change tactics in order to deceive people; to pull sly tricks. Critical. Close to "play dirty tricks".
耍孩子脾气 shuǎ háizi píqi

throw a child's temper

For an adult to act willful and immature, like a sulky child. Mildly critical or teasing.
耍猴戏 shuǎhóuxì

put on a monkey show

To make a fool of someone or tease them for amusement. Critical or mocking.
耍花枪 shuǎhuāqiāng

flourish a decorated spear

To use clever tricks to deceive people. Critical.
耍花腔 shuǎhuāqiāng

sing coloratura

To use a smooth tongue and pleasant-sounding words to deceive people. Critical.
耍花招 shuǎhuāzhāo

play flowery moves

To use tricks and petty cleverness to deceive people. Critical. Like "play games" or "pull a fast one".
耍滑头 shuǎhuátóu

play the slippery head

To use sly tactics to avoid effort or to gain extra advantage; to shirk. Critical.
耍活宝 shuǎhuóbǎo

play the living treasure

To clown around and make a fool of oneself to make people laugh. Humorous or mocking.
耍赖皮 shuǎlàipí

play the shameless skin

To behave shamelessly and unreasonably, refusing to honour one's word; see 耍无赖. Critical.
耍贫嘴 shuǎpínzuǐ

play the poor mouth

To crack crude jokes or chatter on endlessly with pointless talk. Mildly critical.
耍手腕儿 shuǎshǒuwànr

play the wrist

To use underhanded methods or manoeuvres against someone. Critical.
耍死狗 shuǎsǐgǒu

play dead dog

To refuse to budge and be shamelessly unreasonable, like a dog playing dead. Critical.
耍无赖 shuǎwúlài

play the scoundrel

To make a scene and act unreasonably or shamelessly to get one's way. Critical.
耍小聪明 shuǎ xiǎocōngming

play little cleverness

To show off petty cleverness in trivial matters, often to dodge work or gain a small edge. Critical.
耍小孩儿脾气 shuǎ xiǎoháir píqi

throw a little child's temper

Same as 耍孩子脾气: an adult acts willful and childish. Mildly critical or teasing.
耍心眼儿 shuǎxīnyǎnr

play the heart's eye

To scheme or use calculating wiles, often to outwit others. Critical.
耍油嘴 shuǎyóuzuǐ

play the oily mouth

To talk glibly; usually written 耍嘴皮子. Mildly critical.
耍嘴皮子 shuǎzuǐpízi

play the lips

To show off one's gift of the gab with glib talk, or to talk without acting. Critical. Close to "all talk and no action".
摔饭碗 shuāifànwǎn

smash the rice bowl

To lose or ruin one's job or livelihood; usually written 砸饭碗.
摔耙子 shuāipázi

throw down the rake

To drop one's work and quit for some improper reason, such as a grievance. Critical.
摔破罐子 shuāi pò guànzi

smash the cracked jar

To give up and let things get worse because things are already bad; usually written 破罐子破摔.
甩包袱 shuǎibāofu

throw off the bundle

To get rid of a burden, trouble or pressure, often by pushing it onto others. Can be neutral or critical.
甩手掌柜 shuǎishǒuzhǎngguì

hands-swinging shopkeeper

A person who leaves a responsibility to others and takes no part in the work. Critical or teasing.
甩袖子 shuǎixiùzi

flick one's sleeves

To walk off and leave one's responsibilities undone. Critical. Alludes to long sleeves flicked on leaving.
甩重磅炸弹 shuǎi zhòngbàng zhàdàn

drop a heavy bomb

To reveal something so shocking that it stuns people. Close to "drop a bombshell".
双胞胎 shuāngbāotāi

twins

Two babies born together. Figuratively, two things that appear at the same time and are exactly alike.
双肩挑 shuāngjiāntiāo

carry on both shoulders

To hold two roles at once in the same organisation, usually a professional and an administrative post.
双尾蝎 shuāngwěixiē

two-tailed scorpion

A person who is extremely vicious and venomous. Strongly critical; rare, bookish.
水分多 shuǐfènduō

lots of water content

Said of speech, writing or figures that are padded, exaggerated or hollow. Critical.
水过地皮湿 shuǐ guò dìpí shī

water passes and only the ground's surface is wet

Work done only superficially, without going deep. Critical.
水晶球 shuǐjīngqiú

crystal ball

A person who is extremely smooth and slippery, avoiding commitment and offence. Mildly critical.
水晶塔 shuǐjīngtǎ

crystal tower

Something beautiful but of no practical use. Mildly critical.
水米不打牙 shuǐ mǐ bù dǎ yá

water and rice don't touch the teeth

A variant of 水米没沾牙: not having eaten or drunk anything at all.
水米没沾牙 shuǐ mǐ méi zhān yá

water and rice haven't touched the teeth

Not having eaten or drunk a thing, often because of grief, illness or being busy.
水泼不进，针插不进 shuǐ pō bù jìn, zhēn chā bù jìn

water can't be splashed in, a needle can't be pushed in

Completely impenetrable, whether a tightly guarded place or a closed-minded group. The book refers to the reversed form 针插不进，水泼不进.
水蛇腰 shuǐshéyāo

water-snake waist

A slim, slightly curved waist, mostly said of women. Describes a figure and can sound either admiring or mocking.

May offend: sexist or sexual
税耗子 shuìhàozi

tax rat

Someone who habitually evades or dodges taxes. Contemptuous.
顺风耳 shùnfēng’ěr

fair-wind ear

Someone who always hears the news first and is well informed. From a legendary god who could hear far away. Often humorous.
顺竿儿爬 shùngānrpá

climb up along the pole

To fall in with what someone wants and say or do what pleases them. Mildly critical.
顺竿子爬 shùngānzipá

climb up along the pole

A variant of 顺竿儿爬: going along with what someone wants to please them.
顺毛驴 shùnmáolǘ

stroke-the-fur donkey

Someone who likes being flattered and agreed with and gets angry if crossed. Mocking. Compare "stroke someone the right way".
顺坡溜 shùnpōliū

slide down the slope

To drift in a bad direction until one falls behind or sinks into bad ways. Critical.
顺水人情 shùnshuǐrén qíng

a favour done downstream

A favour that costs oneself no money or effort, like giving away something that comes free. Often slightly wry.
说曹操，曹操就到 shuō cáocāo, cáocāo jiù dào

mention Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives

Said when the person you've just been talking about turns up. Light and humorous. Equivalent to "speak of the devil".
说车轱辘话 shuō chēgūluhuà

talk cartwheel talk

To say the same things over and over, going round in circles. Critical, impatient.
说大话，使小钱 shuōdàhuà, shǐxiǎoqián

talk big, spend small

To boast loudly but be stingy when it comes to acting. Critical.
说风凉话 shuō fēngliánghuà

say cool-breeze words

To make sarcastic or irresponsible remarks from the sidelines without helping. Critical.
说话不怕风闪舌头 shuōhuà bù pà fēng shan shétou

when talking, not afraid the wind will twist your tongue

To talk carelessly because you don't have to answer for it. Mocking.
说梦话 shuōmènghuà

talk in one's sleep

To propose something that cannot possibly happen. Mocking.
说屁话 shuōpìhuà

talk fart words

To say worthless, annoying nonsense; a rude rebuke.

May offend: vulgar language
说山海经 shuōshānhǎijīng

tell the Classic of Mountains and Seas

To chat idly about all sorts of things; the book refers to 聊山海经. Casual.
说套话 shuōtàohuà

speak set phrases

To use stock, formulaic words that are not specific and have nothing new. Mildly critical.
说真方，卖假药 shuō zhēn fāng, mài jiǎ yào

recite a genuine prescription, sell fake medicine

Words and deeds don't match; saying one thing and doing another. Critical.
撕破脸 sīpòliǎn

tear the face

To break with someone and drop all politeness. Comparable to "things get ugly".
死胡同 sǐhútòng

dead-end alley

A situation with no way out. Same as "dead end".
死老虎 sǐlǎohǔ

dead tiger

A bad person who has lost power and can no longer threaten anyone. Often used to say that attacking him is pointless.
死马当活马医 sǐmǎ dàng huómǎ yī

treat a dead horse as a living horse

To try everything to rescue something that seems hopeless. Close to "nothing to lose by trying".
四不像 sìbùxiàng

resembles none of four

Something neither one thing nor another, a hybrid that makes no sense. Mildly mocking. The name is also that of the Père David's deer.
松口气 sōngkǒuqì

loosen a breath

To relax after tension; to take a breather or breathe a sigh of relief.
㞞包蛋 sóngbāodàn

a weakling egg

A contemptuous term for a spineless, useless person who gives in easily. Insulting and colloquial.

May offend: vulgar language
送高帽子 sònggāomàozi

to give someone a tall hat

To flatter someone with lavish praise, usually to win favour. Mildly critical; same as 戴高帽子.
送货上门 sònghuòshàngmén

deliver goods to the door

Literally, home delivery by a shop. Figuratively, said of a rival or opponent who comes to you of their own accord, handing you an advantage. Often humorous.
送秋波 sòngqiūbō

to send autumn ripples

To make eyes at someone; to flirt with meaningful glances. Often teasing or mildly disapproving.

May offend: sexist or sexual
送瘟神 sòngwēnshén

to send off the plague god

To get rid of a disaster or a harmful person or thing. Used approvingly, with relief.
馊主意 sōuzhǔyi

a soured idea

A bad, stupid or underhanded suggestion. Critical or mocking, often said lightly. Like 'a lousy idea'.
算后账 suànhòuzhàng

to settle accounts afterwards

To settle old grudges or hold someone to account for past wrongs later on. Often a threat. Like 'settle the score'.
算老几 suànlǎojǐ

to count as which number in the birth order

Said contemptuously of someone who has no standing or qualification: 'who do you think you are?' Rude.
算盘珠子 suànpánzhūzi

abacus beads

A person who only moves when pushed, doing whatever others direct. Mildly critical.
算死账 suànsǐzhàng

to calculate a dead account

To handle matters rigidly by the book, without flexibility. Critical.
算总账 suànzǒngzhàng

to settle the total account

To deal with all past problems or debts in one go, often a reckoning. Like 'a day of reckoning'.
随大溜 suídàliù

follow the main current

To go along with the majority without one's own opinion. Mildly critical. Like 'follow the crowd'.
随风倒 suífēngdǎo

fall whichever way the wind blows

To side with whoever is strongest, with no views or principles of one's own. Critical. Like 'swaying with the wind'.
碎嘴子 suìzuǐzi

broken-up mouth

A person who chatters and nags endlessly, or the habit of doing so. Mildly critical.
台柱子 táizhùzi

stage pillar

The star performer of a troupe, or the key member of any group. Approving.
抬轿子 táijiàozi

to carry the sedan chair

To flatter and promote powerful people. Critical.
太上皇 tàishànghuáng

the retired emperor

A person who has left office but still controls things from behind the scenes. Usually critical.
弹不到一根弦上 tán bù dào yī gēn xián shang

can't pluck the same string

Two people hold different views and can't see eye to eye in discussion.
弹钢琴 tángāngqín

play the piano

To work on several tasks in coordination around the main priority, like using all ten fingers rather than one. Approving, used in official or work contexts.
弹老调 tánlǎodiào

play the old tune

To bring up the same old arguments or views again. Mildly critical.
探口风 tànkǒufēng

probe the tone of the mouth

To sound someone out by talking, to find out their opinion or learn some information. Like "fish for information".
糖衣炮弹 tángyīpàodàn

sugar-coated bullets

Gifts, flattery or other pleasant means used to corrupt or win someone over and drag them into wrongdoing. Critical.
掏心窝子 tāoxīnwōzi

reach into the heart's nest

To speak frankly and sincerely, telling someone what you truly think. Like "speak from the heart".
掏腰包 tāoyāobāo

dig into the waist pouch

Either to pay for something out of your own pocket, or, for a pickpocket, to steal money.
套白狼 tàobáiláng

snare a white wolf

To cheat people of their money with a trick or scheme. The white wolf was an auspicious sign and so stands for wealth.
套枷板 tàojiābǎn

put on the cangue

To use some means to make someone act as you wish. The cangue was a wooden board locked around a prisoner's neck.
腾板凳 téngbǎndèng

vacate the bench

To give up a leadership post or a job with a steady income, to make room for someone else.
踢皮球 tīpíqiú

kick the ball

To pass the buck: people push a problem onto each other instead of dealing with it. Critical.
踢破门槛 tīpòménkǎn

kick the threshold to pieces

Describes a place where a great many visitors come.
剃光头 tìguāngtóu

shave the head bald

To get nothing: no one admitted in an exam or selection, or no points in a match. Like "get whitewashed".
替罪羊 tìzuìyáng

scapegoat

Someone who takes the blame for others. It comes from the goat used as a sacrifice in Jewish tradition. Same as English "scapegoat".
天高皇帝远 tiān gāo huángdì yuǎn

Heaven is high and the emperor is far away

In remote places the central authority has little control, so local people do as they like. Said critically or wryly. Same as 山高皇帝远.
天上掉馅饼 tiānshàng diào xiànbǐng

Pies fall from the sky

Getting something for nothing, a wishful fantasy. Often used in warnings such as 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'.

Every kind of Chinese saying