Chinese idioms (惯用语)

馋嘴猫 chánzuǐmāo

greedy-mouthed cat

A person who loves food and can't resist it. It can also mean a lecherous man. Teasing.
长舌妇 chángshéfù

long-tongued woman

A woman who talks too much and stirs up trouble. Derogatory.

May offend: sexist or sexual
长蛇阵 chángshézhèn

long snake formation

Originally an ancient battle formation in a line. Today it describes a long queue or column.
肠梗阻 chánggěngzǔ

intestinal obstruction

A medical term used figuratively for a blockage in the middle that stops policies and instructions from passing up or down.
尝闭门羹 chángbìméngēng

taste the shut-door broth

A variant of 吃闭门羹: to be turned away at the door or refused entry.
尝禁果 chángjìnguǒ

taste the forbidden fruit

A variant of 吃禁果: to try something forbidden, especially a first sexual experience.

May offend: sexist or sexual
尝甜头 chángtiántou

taste the sweetness

To get a real benefit or advantage, often one that makes one want more.
常流水 chángliúshuǐ

constantly flowing water

Describes something that keeps moving and being renewed, such as staff or stock that is constantly replaced. Neutral.
场面人 chǎngmiànrén

a person of occasions

Someone of some standing who often appears at public events and social occasions. Neutral to slightly approving.
唱白脸 chàngbáiliǎn

to sing the white face

To play the stern, harsh role when criticising or confronting someone, as in 'bad cop' in good cop/bad cop. Often paired with 唱红脸.
唱单刀会 chàng dāndāohuì

to perform 'Going alone to the feast'

To go alone and fearless into a difficult setting and succeed. Approving; refers to Guan Yu's bold solo trip to a rival's banquet.
唱低调 chàngdīdiào

to sing in a low key

To play down the facts or lower demands; also to defuse a conflict by toning things down. Neutral.
唱独角戏 chàngdújiǎoxì

to perform a one-actor play

To do on your own something that normally takes several people; to be the only one acting. Often mildly critical or sympathetic. Close to 'a one-man show'.
唱对台戏 chàngduìtáixì

to stage a rival play

To compete or work against someone in the same field, deliberately opposing them. Critical.
唱反调 chàngfǎndiào

to sing the opposite tune

To deliberately take the opposite view or act against someone. Critical. Close to 'sing a different tune' or 'be contrary'.
唱高调 chànggāodiào

to sing in a high key

To preach lofty, unrealistic ideals, or say fine-sounding things without acting on them. Critical.
唱黑脸 chànghēiliǎn

to sing the black face

To act on principle and without favouritism, even if it makes you unpopular. In practice also means taking the stern role. Mostly approving.
唱红脸 chànghóngliǎn

to sing the red face

To play the conciliating role, soothing and persuading while another person is stern. The counterpart of 唱白脸.
唱鸿门宴 chànghóngményàn

to perform the Hongmen Banquet

A variant of 赴鸿门宴: to attend a feast that is really a trap. The book only refers the reader to that entry.
唱空城计 chàngkōngchéngjì

to perform the Empty City Stratagem

To put on a calm, confident front to bluff an opponent when you actually have no strength. From Zhuge Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Also used jokingly for an empty stomach or an empty house.
唱傀儡戏 chàngkuǐlěixì

to perform a puppet show

To be a puppet, controlled and manipulated by others. Critical.
唱老调 chànglǎodiào

to sing the old tune

To repeat outdated views or arguments. Critical. Close to 'the same old song'.
唱三花脸 chàngsānhuāliǎn

to play the three-flower face

To play the comic clown, that is, to play a ridiculous role. The clown role has a white patch on the nose.
唱双簧 chàngshuānghuáng

to perform a double reed act

Two people work in secret coordination, one acting in front and the other directing from behind. Usually critical or mocking.
唱颂歌 chàngsònggē

to sing hymns of praise

To say only words of praise and admiration. Sometimes sarcastic, implying flattery.
唱天河配 chàngtiānhépèi

to perform 'The Match at the Heavenly River'

Said of a married couple who live apart and cannot be together, like the Cowherd and Weaver Girl who meet only once a year.
唱主角 chàngzhǔjué

to sing the lead role

To play the leading part in some activity or work. Neutral. Close to 'play the lead' or 'take centre stage'.
抄后路 chāohòulù

to cut round to the rear route

To get behind an opponent to attack, cutting off the way of retreat. Also used for leaving someone with no way out.
抄近路 chāojìnlù

to take a shortcut

To take a shortcut; figuratively, to do things by a simple, quick, low-effort method. Neutral, sometimes slightly critical.
抄老窝 chāolǎowō

to raid the old nest

To destroy the enemy's headquarters or home base.
炒冷饭 chǎolěngfàn

to re-fry cold rice

To repeat old material with nothing new. Critical. Close to 'rehash' or 'warmed-over'.
炒小锅菜 chǎoxiǎoguōcài

to stir-fry a small-pot dish

To give certain people special treatment. Mildly critical. Close to 'give preferential treatment'.
炒鱿鱼 chǎoyóuyú

to stir-fry squid

To fire someone from a job. Originally Cantonese: squid curls up like a rolled bedroll when cooked, as workers once rolled up bedding when dismissed. Informal.
车轱辘话 chēgūluhuà

cart-wheel talk

Words that go round and round, repeated over and over; nagging. Mildly critical.
车轮战 chēlúnzhàn

wheel battle

A fight where several people take turns against one person to wear them down, or many people take turns to deal with one.
扯大旗 chědàqí

to pull out a big flag

To openly rally people under some banner or name, sometimes to borrow authority. Can be critical.
扯后腿 chěhòutuǐ

to pull the back leg

To hold someone back or hinder their action, or undermine their resolve. Critical. Close to 'hold someone back'.
扯下水 chěxiàshuǐ

to drag into the water

A variant of 拉下水: to drag someone into wrongdoing or trouble with you.
沉到底 chéndàodǐ

to sink to the bottom

To go deep into the grassroots level. Used of officials or workers. Approving.
陈谷子，烂芝麻 chén gǔzi, làn zhīma

old millet, rotten sesame

A variant of 陈芝麻，烂谷子: old, trivial matters from the past.
陈芝麻，烂谷子 chénzhīma, làn gǔzi

old sesame, rotten millet

Old, trivial affairs long past, not worth raising again. Dismissive. Close to 'old news'.
撑架子 chēngjiàzi

prop up the framework

To keep up appearances or put on a show of grandeur. It is a variant of 撑门面.
撑门面 chēngménmian

prop up the front of the house

To keep up a show of prosperity or style so as to look impressive, even if the reality is weaker. It is usually mildly critical.
成气候 chéngqìhòu

form a climate

To amount to something, or to have real achievements or prospects. It is often used in the negative, as 不成气候 ('won't amount to anything').
成也萧何，败也萧何 chéng yě xiāohé, bài yě xiāohé

Success was through Xiao He, and failure was through Xiao He too

The same person who made something succeed also caused it to fail. The saying draws on Xiao He, who recommended Han Xin and later helped plot his death.
成正果 chéngzhèngguǒ

achieve the true fruit

Originally a Buddhist term for attaining enlightenment. It now means to succeed in one's career, or to turn over a new leaf.
乘东风 chéngdōngfēng

ride the east wind

To make use of a favourable situation or good conditions.
乘末班车 chéngmòbānchē

catch the last bus

To catch the last chance at something before it's gone.
吃安眠药 chī'ānmiányào

take sleeping pills

To dull people into complacency with the status quo. Critical.
吃白饭 chībáifàn

eat plain rice

To live off others' food without working; to be a freeloader. Critical.
吃白食 chībáishí

eat white food

To take food or money without paying, e.g. eating without paying. Critical. Like "freeload."
吃白眼 chībáiyǎn

eat white eyes

To be looked down on or coldly treated by others.
吃豹子胆 chībàozidǎn

eat leopard gall

To be extremely bold, often rashly so. Used in exasperation or amazement: "Have you got a nerve?"
吃闭门羹 chībìméngēng

eat a closed-door soup

To be turned away at the door, or refused an answer. Compare "have the door slammed in your face."
吃不饱 chībùbǎo

can't eat one's fill

Of a factory or worker: not enough work to use full capacity.
吃不开 chībùkāi

can't eat open

Not welcome or popular; won't work or get anywhere.
吃不了兜着走 chī bùliǎo dōuzhe zǒu

if you can't finish it, carry it away in your pocket

Warns that if things go wrong you'll bear heavy consequences. Often a threat: "you'll be in big trouble."
吃不完兜着走 chī bù wán dōuzhe zǒu

if you can't finish eating, carry it away wrapped up

Variant of 吃不了兜着走: you'll face serious consequences if things go wrong.
吃错药 chīcuòyào

take the wrong medicine

Said of someone acting strangely or abnormally. Mocking, informal: "What's gotten into you?"
吃大锅饭 chīdàguōfàn

eat from the big pot

Equal distribution regardless of effort or contribution. Usually critical, since it kills incentive.
吃大户 chīdàhù

eat the big household

Originally poor peasants seizing food from the rich; now extracting unreasonable payments from well-off organisations, or fleecing the wealthy.
吃定心丸 chīdìngxīnwán

take a calming pill

To be reassured by a promise or guarantee. Like "put one's mind at rest."
吃独食 chīdúshí

eat alone

To keep a benefit all to oneself instead of sharing. Critical.
吃肥肉 chīféiròu

eat fatty meat

To get a lucrative deal or well-paid post.
吃粉笔末 chīfěnbǐmò

eat chalk dust

To work as a teacher. Wry, humorous.
吃干饭 chīgānfàn

eat dry rice

To eat without doing any work; to be useless. Critical, scornful.
吃官粮 chīguānliáng

eat official grain

To have a state-paid job. Variant of 吃皇粮.
吃过水面 chīguòshuǐmiàn

eat cold-rinsed noodles

To profit by reselling goods in the market as a middleman. Mildly critical.
吃黑枣儿 chīhēizǎor

eat black dates

To be shot dead; "black dates" stands for bullets. Slangy, grim.
吃后悔药 chīhòuhuǐyào

take regret medicine

To regret something afterwards; often said that there is no "regret pill" to undo it.
吃虎胆 chīhǔdǎn

eat tiger gall

To be extremely bold. Variant of 吃豹子胆.
吃皇粮 chīhuángliáng

eat the emperor's grain

To hold a salaried job funded by the state, such as in government or public institutions.
吃回头草 chīhuítóucǎo

eat grass one has looked back to

To return to something previously given up, especially an ex-partner. Often used in the saying "好马不吃回头草".
吃鸡肋 chījīlèi

eat chicken ribs

To do something of little value but hard to give up. Like something not worth keeping but a pity to drop.
吃禁果 chījìnguǒ

eat the forbidden fruit

Either to have sex before marriage, or to do something forbidden. From the Adam and Eve story.

May offend: sexist or sexual
吃苦果 chīkǔguǒ

eat the bitter fruit

To suffer the bad consequences of one's own actions.
吃苦头 chīkǔtou

eat bitterness

To suffer hardship or pain, often as a result of a mistake. Like "get burned."
吃宽心丸 chīkuānxīnwán

take a relaxing pill

To be soothed by comforting words, often hollow ones.
吃老本 chīlǎoběn

eat the old capital

To live off past achievements or experience without trying to improve. Critical. Like "rest on one's laurels."
吃迷魂药 chīmíhúnyào

take a love-potion drug

To be bewitched by sweet talk, money or beautiful people so that one loses judgment. Mildly critical or mocking.
吃偏饭 chīpiānfàn

eat a special meal

To receive special treatment or favours others do not get. Usually said with some resentment.
吃偏食 chīpiānshí

eat a picky diet

In everyday use it means picky eating, eating only certain foods. The book lists it as a variant of 吃偏饭, to get favoured treatment.
吃枪药 chīqiāngyào

eat gunpowder

To lash out at people for no reason, as if full of gunpowder. Critical or teasing, like "bite someone's head off".
吃人不吐骨头 chī rén bù tǔ gǔtou

eat people without spitting out the bones

Describes someone extremely greedy, sly and cruel who leaves their victims nothing. Strongly condemning.
吃软不吃硬 chī ruǎn bù chī yìng

accept soft, not hard

Describes someone who responds to gentle persuasion but resists force or pressure.
吃烧饼 chīshāobing

eat a sesame flatbread

Given by the book as a less usual form of 吃鸭蛋: to score zero in an exam or game, since the round flatbread looks like a zero.
吃顺不吃戗 chī shùn bù chī qiāng

accept what goes with the grain, not against it

Describes someone who goes along with agreeable talk but rejects contradiction or being crossed.
吃太平饭 chītàipíngfàn

eat peaceful-times rice

To live a peaceful, untroubled life.
吃窝边草 chīwōbiāncǎo

eat the grass beside one's own nest

To harm or take advantage of one's own people or those nearby. Critical. Compare "don't foul your own nest".
吃闲饭 chīxiánfàn

eat idle rice

To be supported by others without contributing any work. Critical or self-deprecating.
吃现成饭 chīxiànchéngfàn

eat ready-made rice

To enjoy the fruits of others' work without effort. Critical.
吃香的，喝辣的 chī xiāng de, hē là de

eat fragrant things, drink spicy things

To live very well, enjoying rich food and comforts. Can be envious or approving.
吃小灶 chīxiǎozào

eat from the small stove

To receive special treatment, as officials once got separate better meals; also used for extra private tutoring. Slightly resentful or neutral.
吃鸭蛋 chīyādàn

eat a duck egg

To get a zero in an exam or match (the egg looks like 0). Humorous.
吃哑巴亏 chīyǎbakuī

eat a mute's loss

To suffer a loss and be unable or afraid to complain. Compare "swallow a bitter pill".
吃洋荤 chīyánghūn

eat foreign meat

A variant of 开洋荤: to try a new, foreign experience for the first time.
吃夜草 chīyècǎo

eat night fodder

To pick up extra income on the side, from the saying that a horse not fed at night won't grow fat. Slightly knowing or mildly critical.
吃一看二眼观三 chī yī kàn èr yǎn guān sān

eat one, look at two, eye three

Two senses: insatiable greed, always eyeing more; or having a wide outlook and planning far ahead.
吃硬不吃软 chī yìng bù chī ruǎn

accept hard, not soft

Describes someone who fears firmness but ignores gentle approaches.
吃着碗里，盯着锅里 chīzhe wǎn li, dīngzhe guō li

eating from the bowl, staring at the pot

Never satisfied with what one has and wanting more. Critical. Compare "want to have one's cake and eat it".

Every kind of Chinese saying