Chinese idioms (惯用语)

瞎猫碰上死耗子 xiāmāo pèngshàng sǐhàozi

a blind cat bumps into a dead rat

To succeed by sheer luck. Compare 'even a blind squirrel finds a nut'.

May offend: mocks disability
下绊子 xiàbànzi

set a tripping foot

To trip someone up or secretly obstruct them. Critical.
下不来台 xiàbùláitái

can't get down off the stage

To be stuck in an embarrassing position and unable to save face.
下赌注 xiàdǔzhù

place a bet

To risk something valuable in order to reach a goal, as in 'put money on it'.
下脚料 xiàjiǎoliào

leftover scraps from processing

Offcuts left over when raw material is processed; figuratively, something or someone of little value. Often dismissive.
下马威 xiàmǎwēi

dismounting show of power

An opening show of strength meant to cow the other side from the start. Originally a new official's display of authority over his subordinates. Similar to 'lay down the law' or 'show who's boss'.
下毛毛雨 xiàmáomaoyǔ

to let drizzle fall

Either to criticise someone gently, or to drop hints beforehand so people are prepared for news or a decision.
下坡溜 xiàpōliū

slide down the slope

A variant spelling of 顺坡溜, meaning to go along with a situation, or take the easy way out by following the drift of events.
下软蛋 xiàruǎndàn

to lay a soft-shelled egg

To show weakness or cowardice, or to back down. Contemptuous and colloquial.

May offend: vulgar language
下三烂 xiàsānlàn

the lower three rotten

A contemptible, low-down person with no character or prospects. An insult.
下台阶 xiàtáijiē

step down the stairs

To find a way out of an embarrassing situation, often by seizing a chance to save face. Similar to 'save face' or 'climb down'.
下通牒 xiàtōngdié

to issue a note of ultimatum

To make demands in a threatening tone, as an ultimatum. Often used of non-diplomatic situations.
下药捻子 xiàyàoniǎnzi

to put in a fuse

To egg someone on to lose their temper or make trouble. Critical.
下油锅 xiàyóuguō

go into the oil cauldron

To suffer terrible hardship and torment, from the folk belief that evildoers are fried in boiling oil in hell.
下逐客令 xiàzhúkèlìng

issue an order expelling guests

To tell a guest to leave, or drive someone away. From the Qin king's expulsion of foreign officials.
吓破胆 xiàpòdǎn

scared the gallbladder to bursting

To be utterly terrified, scared out of one's wits.
掀屁股帘儿 xiānpìguliánr

lift the bottom flap

To expose something shameful or dirty to public view. From the flap covering a toddler's bottom in split trousers. Colloquial.

May offend: vulgar language
闲嗑牙 xiánkēyá

idly crack teeth

To chat idly or gossip casually.
闲磨牙 xiánmóyá

idly grind teeth

To argue pointlessly or talk idle nonsense. Mildly dismissive.
弦外音 xiánwàiyīn

sound beyond the strings

The unstated meaning behind words or writing; an implication. Equivalent to 'reading between the lines'.
咸吃萝卜淡操心 xián chī luóbo dàn cāoxīn

salty eating the radish, bland worrying

Criticises someone for meddling and worrying over things that aren't their business. Like 'mind your own business'.
衔嚼子 xiánjiáozi

hold the bit in the mouth

Said of someone who stays silent, like a horse with a bit in its mouth. Used as a jibe.
显鼻子显眼 xiǎn bízi xiǎnyǎn

show the nose, show the eyes

To push oneself forward and make oneself conspicuous in public, often to show off.
显神通 xiǎnshéntōng

display supernatural powers

To show off one's extraordinary abilities. Often slightly mocking.
现原形 xiànyuánxíng

reveal one's original form

To show one's true colours, usually something unpleasant.
陷泥潭 xiànnítán

sink into a mire

To get stuck in a difficult situation that is hard to escape.
陷人坑 xiànrénkēng

a pit to trap people

A trap or scheme to harm others.
香饽饽 xiāngbōbo

fragrant steamed bun

Someone or something in great demand and popular. Approving.
想吃鱼又怕腥 xiǎng chī yú yòu pà xīng

want to eat fish but fear the fishy smell

Wanting the benefit but fearing the trouble that comes with it. Mildly critical; like 'wanting to have your cake and eat it'.
想下水又怕湿脚 xiǎng xiàshuǐ yòu pà shī jiǎo

want to go into the water but fear wet feet

Wanting to do something but afraid of any loss or risk. Critical of timidity.
向钱看 xiàngqiánkàn

look towards money

To care only about money and ignore all else. Critical.
象牙塔 xiàngyátǎ

ivory tower

A secluded world of intellectuals cut off from real life. Usually mildly critical.
削尖脑袋往里钻 xiāojiān nǎodai wǎng lǐ zuān

sharpen your head to a point and bore in

To use every means to get into somewhere or a position. Critical.
消耗战 xiāohàozhàn

war of attrition

A long, draining struggle that uses up much energy and resources.
小报告 xiǎobàogào

small report

A secret report to a superior about someone else's behaviour. Disapproving, like 'telling tales'.
小辫子 xiǎobiànzi

little braid

A fault or weakness of someone's that others can seize on to attack or control them. Like 'having something on someone'.
小菜一碟 xiǎocàiyīdié

a small dish of side dishes

Something easy and trivial. Said casually to show a task is no trouble. Close to 'a piece of cake'.
小插曲 xiǎochāqǔ

small interlude

A minor incident that happens during a bigger event. Neutral.
小车不倒只管推 xiǎochē bù dǎo zhǐguǎn tuī

as long as the cart doesn't tip over, just keep pushing

Describes older people working as hard as they can for as long as they can. Often a mix of admiration and wry resignation.
小打小闹 xiǎodǎxiǎonào

small hitting, small fussing

Doing things on a small scale, without much effect. Often mildly dismissive.
小道消息 xiǎodàoxiāoxi

small-road news

Unofficial, unverified news or rumour. Equivalent to 'grapevine' or 'hearsay'.
小动作 xiǎodòngzuò

small movements

Either small sly movements that bother others, or underhand moves behind the scenes to benefit oneself. Disapproving.
小肚鸡肠 xiǎodùjīcháng

small belly, chicken intestines

Describes a narrow-minded, petty person who cannot tolerate anything. Critical.
小儿科 xiǎo'érkē

paediatrics department

Something trivial or unimpressive, not worth taking seriously. Often used dismissively, like 'kid's stuff'.
小公主 xiǎogōngzhǔ

little princess

A girl who is doted on and spoiled by her parents and grandparents. Can be affectionate or mildly critical.
小广播 xiǎoguǎngbō

little broadcast

Spreading news privately, often what should not be spread, or someone who likes to do so. Like a 'gossip' or 'blabbermouth'.
小锅菜 xiǎoguōcài

small-pot dishes

Special treatment, or a product tailored to a customer's special request. Like 'VIP treatment'.
小皇帝 xiǎohuángdì

little emperor

A boy who is overly doted on and spoiled at home, especially a only child. Mildly critical.
小家子气 xiǎojiāziqì

small-household air

Describes stingy, ungenerous or petty behaviour. Critical.
小脚女人 xiǎojiǎonǚrén

small-footed woman

Originally a woman with bound feet in the old society. Now figures a person who is conservative, overcautious and unable to take bold steps. Critical and dated in tone.
小姐身子丫鬟命 xiǎojiě shēnzi yāhuan mìng

a young lady's body, a maidservant's fate

Describes a woman who is delicate yet must do heavy work, or one from a wealthy background who likes to work and keep busy.
小九九 xiǎojiǔjiǔ

little nine-nine

Originally the multiplication table, now one's private calculations or scheming. Often mildly mocking.
小辣椒 xiǎolàjiāo

little chilli pepper

A sharp-tongued, spirited girl or young woman. Usually affectionate or admiring.
小老虎 xiǎolǎohǔ

little tiger

A lively, energetic young man with drive. Approving.
小萝卜头儿 xiǎoluóbotóur

little turnip head

A low-ranking nobody. Can also be an affectionate term for a small child. Mildly dismissive.
小米加步枪 xiǎomǐ jiā bùqiāng

millet plus rifles

Poorly equipped weapons and supplies. Recalls the Chinese Communist forces' early war years, and is used to show success with few resources.
小气候 xiǎoqìhòu

small climate

The special weather of a small area; figuratively, the political, economic or social atmosphere within a limited circle.
小圈子 xiǎoquānzi

small circle

A clique formed through mutual favours for private ends, or a narrow range of life. Usually critical.
小手小脚 xiǎoshǒuxiǎojiǎo

small hands, small feet

Either being timid and not daring to act boldly, or being stingy with money. Mildly critical.
小算盘 xiǎosuànpan

little abacus

Narrow calculations for one's own or a small group's short-term benefit. Disapproving.
小天地 xiǎotiāndì

little world

A small space or limited sphere of activity. Neutral, sometimes cosy, sometimes confining.
小巫见大巫 xiǎowū jiàn dàwū

a minor shaman meets a great shaman

Says one thing is so far inferior to another that there is no comparison. Close to 'It pales in comparison'.
小媳妇 xiǎoxífu

young wife

Originally a young wife ruled by her mother-in-law. Now a person who is suppressed by others and dares not resist, like a doormat.
小字辈儿 xiǎozìbèir

small-character generation

Young people with little experience or seniority. Neutral, sometimes self-deprecating.
笑掉牙 xiàodiàoyá

laugh until one's teeth fall out

Describes something so absurd or ridiculous that it deserves to be laughed at. Mocking; similar to 'laughable' or 'enough to make a cat laugh'.
笑面虎 xiàomiànhǔ

smiling tiger

A person who looks kind and friendly but is cruel and ruthless inside. Critical; close to 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'.
歇驴不歇磨 xiē lǘ bù xiē mò

let the donkey rest, not the mill

A variant of 歇人不歇马: the workers take turns to rest, but the work or machine keeps going without a stop. Said of continuous, round-the-clock work.
歇人不歇马 xiē rén bù xiē mǎ

rest the man but not the horse

Said of work in shifts: people rest in turn while the machinery or operation keeps going non-stop.
写新篇章 xiěxīnpiānzhāng

write a new chapter

To open up a new situation and achieve new results. Approving and often used in formal or official speech; like 'write a new chapter'.
卸包袱 xièbāofu

unload a bundle

To get rid of a mental or material burden. Like 'take a load off one's shoulders'.
卸担子 xièdànzi

put down the carrying pole load

To be relieved of a burden or responsibility, such as by giving up a post.
蟹吃牛 xièchīniú

a crab devouring an ox

A trade figure of speech for machining a large part on a small machine tool, like a tiny creature tackling a giant. It is used in engineering workshops.
心肠窄 xīnchángzhǎi

narrow-hearted

Narrow-minded and petty. Critical.
心换心 xīnhuànxīn

heart for heart

Exchanging sincerity for sincerity: genuine treatment wins genuine treatment in return. Approving.
心急碰上热豆腐 xīn jí pèngshàng rè dòufu

an anxious heart runs into hot tofu

Being in a hurry and then meeting a problem that cannot be rushed. Humorous.
心口窝里跑得下马 xīnkǒuwō li pǎo de xià mǎ

a horse can run in the pit of his chest

Describes a generous, big-hearted person who can tolerate and accommodate others. Approving.
心里炒豆子 xīn li chǎo dòuzi

frying beans in the heart

Turning thoughts over and over, unable to settle. Like being restless with worry.
心连心 xīnliánxīn

heart linked to heart

Close and in full understanding with each other. Approving, often used in slogans.
心碰心 xīnpèngxīn

heart meets heart

Treating each other sincerely and honestly.
心上有杆秤 xīn shang yǒu gǎn chèng

a steyard scale in the heart

Having the ability to tell right from wrong and good from bad. Approving.
心提到嗓子眼儿 xīn tídào sǎngziyǎnr

the heart is up in the throat

Extremely worried or frightened. Like 'having one's heart in one's mouth'.
心贴心 xīntiēxīn

heart pressed to heart

Being emotionally close, understanding and trusting each other completely. Approving.
心头肉 xīntóuròu

flesh of the heart

The person or thing one loves most; one's darling. Affectionate.
心头剜去一块肉 xīntóu wānqù yī kuài ròu

a piece of flesh gouged from the heart

The deep pain of losing a loved person or treasured thing. Like 'it cut me to the heart'.
心眼儿多 xīnyǎnrduō

many heart-eyes

Either clever and resourceful, or over-sensitive and suspicious, depending on context.
心眼儿长到肋条骨上 xīnyǎnr zhǎngdào lèitiáogǔ shang

the heart's wits have grown onto the ribs

Describes someone with bad intentions, who has no good in his heart. Critical.
新大陆 xīndàlù

new continent

A major new discovery, after Columbus's finding of the Americas.
新台阶 xīntáijiē

new step

A new level or stage of achievement. Approving.
新天地 xīntiāndì

new world

A new field or realm to explore. Approving.
信号弹 xìnhàodàn

signal flare

Something that conveys a message or hints at what is coming.
胸中百万兵 xiōng zhōng bǎiwàn bīng

a million soldiers in the chest

Describes a leader who has the whole situation in mind and can marshal people and resources well. Approving.
胸中无点墨 xiōng zhōng wú diǎnmò

not a drop of ink in the chest

Describes someone with no learning or education. Critical or mocking.
绣花枕头 xiùhuāzhěntou

embroidered pillow

A person who looks good but has no real ability or learning. Mocking; like 'all show and no substance'.
悬羊头，卖狗肉 xuán yángtóu, mài gǒuròu

hang up a sheep's head, sell dog meat

Advertise something good but sell something inferior; a deceptive front. Critical. A variant of 挂羊头，卖狗肉.
学生腔 xuéshengqiāng

student tone

A flat, bookish way of speaking or writing that lacks real-life flavour. Mildly critical.
血汗钱 xuèhànqián

blood-and-sweat money

Money earned through hard labour. Used sympathetically, often when it is wasted or stolen.
寻短见 xúnduǎnjiàn

seek a short view

A euphemism for committing suicide.
寻饭碗 xúnfànwǎn

look for a rice bowl

To look for a job or a way to make a living.
殉葬品 xùnzàngpǐn

burial goods

Originally people or objects buried with the dead; figuratively, those who perish along with a decaying power or system. Critical.
压担子 yādànzi

press a load on the shoulder pole

To give someone heavier responsibilities so they develop. Usually approving.

Every kind of Chinese saying