Chinese idioms (惯用语)

翻脸不认账 fānliǎn bù rènzhàng

to turn one's face and not admit the debt

To quickly deny what one did or said. Critical.
翻烧饼 fānshāobing

to flip a sesame flatbread

A variant of 翻烙饼: tossing and turning, or going back and forth.
翻手为云覆手雨 fānshǒuwéiyún fù shǒu yǔ

turn the hand over for clouds, turn it back for rain

Describes someone fickle, whose words and acts change constantly, or who wields great power. Critical.
翻手作云覆手雨 fānshǒuzuòyún fù shǒu yǔ

turn the hand over to make clouds, turn it back for rain

A variant of 翻手为云覆手雨: someone fickle and changeable.
翻小肠子 fānxiǎochángzi

to turn over one's small intestines

To go on about trivial old matters to someone. Mildly critical.
翻行头 fānxíngtou

to keep changing one's outfits, like an actor changing stage costumes

To keep changing into new, fashionable clothes. Mildly teasing.
反面教材 fǎnmiànjiàocái

negative teaching material

A bad example that teaches people a lesson by showing what not to do. Used of people, events or practices.
反面教员 fǎnmiànjiàoyuán

negative teacher

A person or group whose bad conduct teaches others what to avoid. Often wry or critical.
反眼猴 fǎnyǎnhóu

turn-eye monkey

A fickle person who suddenly turns hostile and refuses to recognise old friends. Critical, colloquial.
反咬一口 fǎnyǎoyīkǒu

turn around and bite back

To accuse the person who exposed or accused you, when you are the one in the wrong. Critical; like 'turn the tables with false accusations'.
犯嘀咕 fàndígu

commit muttering

To feel uneasy, have doubts or be unable to make up your mind; to have misgivings.
犯口舌 fànkǒushé

commit mouth-and-tongue

To get into a quarrel or squabble with words.
犯冷热病 fànlěngrèbìng

suffer from chills-and-fever illness

To have moods that swing between hot and cold; to be enthusiastic one moment and indifferent the next. Mildly critical.
犯牛劲 fànniújìn

have an attack of ox strength

To dig in one's heels and be stubborn. Colloquial, mildly critical.
方寸地 fāngcùndì

square-inch ground

A tiny patch of space.
防空洞 fángkōngdòng

air-raid shelter

Figuratively, a place to hide from difficulties or conflict, or a cover behind which wrongdoers hide. Critical.
放暗箭 fàng'ànjiàn

shoot a hidden arrow

To slander or harm someone secretly. Critical; like 'stab in the back'.
放包袱 fàngbāofu

put down the bundle

To relieve oneself of a mental burden.
放长线 fàngchángxiàn

let out a long line

To hold back and not alarm the other side, so as to gain a bigger, longer-term success. Like 'play the long game'.
放大炮 fàngdàpào

fire a big cannon

To talk empty big words, or to speak in harsh, fiery terms. Critical or mocking.
放横炮 fànghéngpào

fire the cannon sideways

To cause side problems that keep things from going smoothly.
放空炮 fàngkōngpào

fire an empty cannon

To make promises or statements and not follow through. Critical; like 'all talk'.
放空气 fàngkōngqì

release air

To spread rumours or deliberately create a certain mood or public opinion.
放冷风 fànglěngfēng

let out cold wind

To spread discouraging or negative remarks; usually written 吹冷风.
放冷箭 fànglěngjiàn

shoot a cold arrow

To slander or harm someone secretly. Critical; like 'stab in the back'.
放冷炮 fànglěngpào

fire a cold cannon

To do something unexpected that catches others off guard.
放冷枪 fànglěngqiāng

fire a cold shot

To attack or criticise someone from hiding, by surprise; same as 打冷枪.
放头炮 fàngtóupào

fire the first cannon

To be the first to speak at a meeting, or generally to be first.
放卫星 fàngwèixīng

launch a satellite

To achieve a stunning result; also used mockingly for wildly exaggerated claims, from the 1958 Great Leap Forward.
放瞎炮 fàngxiāpào

fire a dud blast

To speak without getting to the point or hitting the key issue.
放作料 fàngzuòliao

add seasoning

To embellish what one says by adding colour and extra details. Often mildly critical.
飞来横祸 fēiláihènghuò

a sudden disaster flies in from the side

An unexpected catastrophe strikes. Said of sudden bad luck or accidents.
肥皂泡 féizàopào

soap bubble

A hope or ideal that is easily shattered.
费笔墨 fèibǐmò

use up brush and ink

To take great effort in writing, or to find it hard to explain something clearly in writing.
费唇舌 fèichúnshé

waste lips and tongue

To use a lot of words; usually written 费口舌.
费口舌 fèikǒushé

waste mouth and tongue

To talk uselessly, or to spend a lot of effort explaining or persuading.
费唾沫 fèituòmo

waste spit

To waste one's breath talking, usually to no effect. Said with some annoyance when persuading or explaining is pointless.
分杯羹 fēnbēigēng

share a cup of meat soup

To take a share of the profits or benefits, often from something someone else has built up. It can sound slightly grabby or critical. Close to "get a slice of the pie."
分残汤 fēncántāng

share the leftover soup

To receive only a small leftover benefit after others have taken the best part. Often self-deprecating or sour.
分雌雄 fēncíxióng

separate female and male

To settle which of two rivals is better by a contest. It is usually used of a showdown, as in "to decide who is the winner."
分蛋糕 fēndàngāo

divide the cake

To divide up profits or interests among parties. Common in talk of economics and negotiation. Compare "divide up the pie."
分水岭 fēnshuǐlǐng

watershed ridge

A turning point or dividing line between two stages or states of affairs. Neutral, and used in formal and everyday speech. Same as the English "watershed."
风凉话 fēngliánghuà

cool-breeze talk

Sarcastic, unhelpful remarks, usually from someone who stands aside and doesn't help. Critical. Close to "snide comments from the sidelines."
风马牛 fēngmǎniú

wind horse cow

Short for 风马牛不相及: things that are wholly unrelated. Neutral.
风头紧 fēngtóujǐn

the wind's head is tight

The situation is tense, such as when the authorities are cracking down. Colloquial.
风中线 fēngzhōngxiàn

thread in the wind

Something that sways and is precarious or uncertain.
风中烛 fēngzhōngzhú

candle in the wind

Someone, usually seriously ill or very old, who may die at any time. Close to "on one's last legs."
封住嘴 fēngzhùzuǐ

seal the mouth

To stop someone from speaking or silence them. It can be done by force, orders or bribes.
夫妻店 fūqīdiàn

husband-and-wife shop

A small shop run by just a married couple. Figuratively, an organisation effectively controlled by a husband and wife; often said with mild criticism of a family-run outfit.
扶上马 fúshàngmǎ

help onto the horse

To help a new, young cadre or successor into a leadership post. Usually paired with 送一程 (escort them a stretch of the way). Approving.
服软不服硬 fúruǎn bù fúyìng

yield to softness, not to hardness

A person who responds to gentle persuasion but resists force or pressure. Usually written 吃软不吃硬.
腐蚀剂 fǔshíjì

corrosive agent

A bad idea or practice that gradually corrupts people or breaks up an organisation. Critical.
父母官 fùmǔguān

father-and-mother official

Formerly a prefecture or county magistrate; now a local government head. Can be respectful, or ironic about officials who should care for the people.
父子兵 fùzǐbīng

father-and-son troops

Originally an army whose officers and soldiers were as close as father and son; now a father and son working side by side on a task. Approving.
付东流 fùdōngliú

hand over to the eastward-flowing river

For effort and hard work to be wasted and come to nothing. Said regretfully, as in 'all down the drain'.
付学费 fùxuéfèi

pay tuition fees

To pay a price, in loss or failure, for learning a lesson. Usually written 交学费.
赴鸿门宴 fùhóngményàn

attend the Hongmen banquet

Originally to go to a banquet that was a deadly trap, as Liu Bang did before Xiang Yu. The book gives a figurative sense of going bravely to a dangerous place for work; in practice it usually means accepting a invitation that hides a plot.
赴黄泉 fùhuángquán

go to the Yellow Springs

To die; a literary way of speaking of going to the underworld.
赴九泉 fùjiǔquán

go to the Nine Springs

To die. A variant of 赴黄泉, literary.
腹中空 fùzhōngkōng

empty in the belly

Having no learning or knowledge. Mildly mocking.
干打雷 gāndǎléi

thunder without rain

Short for 干打雷，不下雨: all noise, no action.
干打雷，不下雨 gān dǎléi, bù xiàyǔ

dry thunder, no rain

Lots of bluster but no real action; empty threats. Close to 'all bark and no bite'.
干打垒 gāndǎlěi

dry ramming

A simple method of building walls by packing clay between boards, or a house so built. Figuratively, making do and working hard under poor conditions. Approving.
干瞪眼 gāndèngyǎn

stare with dry eyes

To be anxious but helpless, able only to look on.
肝火盛 gānhuǒshèng

liver fire is strong

Hot-tempered and irritable. Usually written 肝火旺.
肝火旺 gānhuǒwàng

liver fire is vigorous

Being short-tempered and easily angered, from the Chinese medical idea of excess liver heat.
泔水缸 gānshuǐgāng

swill vat

A person who can take any harsh or ugly words without reacting. Informal, can be jokingly self-deprecating.
赶潮流 gǎncháoliú

chase the tide

To follow the current trend or fashion. Neutral, sometimes mildly mocking of people who just follow the crowd.
赶饭吃 gǎnfànchī

rush to eat a meal

Originally, turning up at mealtime to eat free at others' homes. Figuratively, living off other people or taking any job just to get by. Mildly disparaging.
赶浪潮 gǎnlàngcháo

chase the wave

A variant of 赶浪头: to follow whatever is fashionable at the moment.
赶浪头 gǎnlàngtou

chase the crest of the wave

To eagerly follow the latest fashion or trend. Often slightly mocking, suggesting lack of independence. Similar to 'jump on the bandwagon'.
赶门子 gǎnménzi

rush to doors

To look for connections or channels to get something done, often by pulling strings. Colloquial and dated.
赶末班车 gǎnmòbānchē

catch the last bus

To seize one last chance before it is gone. Neutral, often used of last opportunities in careers or policies.
赶时髦 gǎnshímáo

chase what is fashionable

To follow the latest fashions or trends. Can be neutral or mildly mocking, implying someone cares too much about being trendy.
赶新潮 gǎnxīncháo

chase the new trend

To go after new trends and fall in with current tastes. Neutral to slightly teasing.
赶鸭子上架 gǎn yāzi shàng jià

drive a duck up onto the roost

To force someone to do something beyond their ability. Said with sympathy or criticism of the one who forces. Similar to 'throw someone in at the deep end'.
感情投资 gǎnqíngtóuzī

emotional investment

Spending time, effort or favours to build goodwill with people or organisations, usually for future benefit. Neutral, sometimes slightly calculating.
橄榄枝 gǎnlǎnzhī

olive branch

A symbol of peace; 'extend an olive branch' means to offer reconciliation. Borrowed from the Biblical Noah story. Same sense as the English phrase.
高不成，低不就 gāo bù chéng, dī bù jiù

can't achieve the high, won't settle for the low

Aiming too high to reach it yet refusing anything lesser, so achieving nothing, as in job or marriage choices. Critical.
高门槛 gāoménkǎn

a high threshold

A demanding requirement or barrier that is hard to get past.
高姿态 gāozītài

a high posture

A magnanimous stance of not haggling over personal gain or the other side's faults. Approving.
告黑状 gàohēizhuàng

file a black complaint

To secretly slander someone to a superior. Disapproving.
告御状 gàoyùzhuàng

complain to the emperor

Formerly to petition the emperor directly; now to take a complaint to the highest authorities, bypassing local ones.
告枕头状 gàozhěntouzhuàng

lodge a complaint on the pillow

A wife or mistress badmouths someone to a powerful man in private. Disparaging, and aimed at women.

May offend: sexist or sexual
胳膊拧不过大腿 gēbo nǐng bù guò dàtuǐ

an arm can't win a twist against a thigh

The weak cannot beat the strong. Resigned tone.
胳膊折了往袖子里藏 gēbo shéle wǎng xiùzi lǐ cáng

a broken arm is hidden in the sleeve

Suffering in silence and keeping trouble to oneself rather than complaining.
胳膊肘朝外拐 gēbozhǒu cháo wài guǎi

the elbow bends outward

To favour outsiders over one's own side. Critical.
鸽子笼 gēzilóng

pigeon coop

A tiny, cramped living space, such as a small flat. Humorous, 'rabbit hutch'.
割尾巴 gēwěiba

cut off the tail

To thoroughly remove leftover bad ideas or habits. Political slogan flavour, dated.
隔层纸 gécéngzhǐ

separated by a layer of paper

Describes two things that are very close, or a barrier that is thin and easily broken, as when a result is almost reached. It can also mean that people are still divided by a lingering gap in understanding.
隔年衣裳隔夜饭 génián yīshang géyè fàn

last year's clothes and yesterday's meal

Refers to things that are past, stale or out of date. It is used dismissively of old matters that are no longer worth bringing up.
隔夜账 géyèzhàng

a bill left unsettled overnight

Refers to an old grudge or debt of favour that was never settled. It is used when someone drags up past quarrels.
各打五十大板 gè dǎ wǔshí dà bǎn

each gets fifty strokes of the big paddle

Punishing or blaming both sides equally without deciding who is right. It is usually mildly critical, of a lazy or evasive judgement.
给根棒槌认作针 gěi gēn bàngchui rènzuò zhēn

given a wooden club, takes it for a needle

Describes someone so gullible that they take something fake for the real thing. It is mocking.
给脸上贴金 gěi liǎn shang tiējīn

stick gold leaf on one's face

To praise oneself or make something look better than it is. The usual form is 往自己脸上贴金. Critical.
给台阶儿 gěitáijiēr

give a step

To give someone a way out of an awkward situation so they can save face. It is a considerate act.
给甜头 gěitiántou

give a taste of sweetness

To give someone a small benefit or concession to win them over. It often suggests a calculated lure.
给颜色 gěiyánsè

give colour

To show someone one's strength as a warning, as if to say "I'll show you". It is threatening in tone, as in 给他点颜色看看.
根据地 gēnjùdì

base area

Originally a base for armed struggle. Now it means a place where a person or force is long established and influential.
根子粗 gēnzicū

the root is thick

Says that someone has powerful backers and is hard to deal with.

Every kind of Chinese saying