按兵不动 àn bīng bù dòng
To hold back and take no action for now, waiting to see how things develop. Originally military; now used for companies, investors or anyone who deliberately waits.
Browse Chinese 60
All languages English Tiếng Việt Chinese 中文
安居乐业 ān jū lè yè
To live a settled, peaceful life and be content in one's work. Used mostly about ordinary people or a whole community enjoying stability, often when talking about society and government.
安全 ān quán
Safe; safety. Used for places, food, traffic, data — anything that is free from danger.
百发百中 bǎi fā bǎi zhòng
To hit the target every time. Used literally for shooting and archery, and figuratively for guesses, predictions or plans that never miss.
百战百胜 bǎi zhàn bǎi shèng
To win every single time; unbeatable. Used for armies, sports teams and competitors, and well known from the saying about knowing yourself and your opponent.
半信半疑 bàn xìn bàn yí
Not sure whether to believe something: part of you accepts it and part of you doubts it. Used for your reaction to news, a story or a promise that sounds only half convincing.
表情 biǎo qíng
A facial expression: the look on someone's face that shows what they feel. Also found in 表情包, 'emoji or sticker pack'.
博士 bó shì
A doctorate (PhD) or a person who holds one. After a surname it is a title: 王博士, 'Dr Wang'.
不省人事 bù xǐng rén shì
Completely unconscious; out cold. Used for someone who has fainted, been knocked out or is dead drunk.
成功 chéng gōng
To succeed; success; successful. Used for plans, experiments, careers and people, and in good wishes such as 祝你成功, 'I wish you success'.
出其不意 chū qí bù yì
To act when the other side least expects it; to take someone by surprise. Used for attacks, moves in games and sport, and surprise questions or visits.
大家 dà jiā
Everyone; everybody in a group, usually including the people you are talking to. Used to address a whole room, as in 大家好, 'hello everyone'.
大器晚成 dà qì wǎn chéng
Great talent takes a long time to mature: a late bloomer. Used to describe or to encourage someone who succeeds later in life.
调虎离山 diào hǔ lí shān
To trick someone into leaving their base or strong position so that you can act while they are away. It is one of the classic Thirty-Six Stratagems and is now used for any ruse of this kind.
独一无二 dú yī wú èr
One of a kind; unique. Used to praise something or to stress that nothing else like it exists.
方便 fāng biàn
Convenient; easy to do or use. Also used to ask politely whether something suits someone: 你方便吗？ 'Is this a good time for you?'
改邪归正 gǎi xié guī zhèng
To give up bad ways and start living honestly. Used for criminals, addicts or troublemakers who turn over a new leaf.
恭喜发财 gōng xǐ fā cái
The classic Lunar New Year greeting: congratulations, and may you prosper. Said when people meet during the festival; children traditionally say it before receiving red envelopes.
光明正大 guāng míng zhèng dà
Open and honest, with nothing to hide. Used for people and for ways of acting that are fair and aboveboard.
后生可畏 hòu shēng kě wèi
The younger generation deserves respect because it may well surpass its elders. Said, usually with admiration, when a young person shows impressive talent.
结果 jié guǒ
A result or outcome: what comes at the end of an exam, a match, a test or an effort. At the start of a clause it also means 'in the end, as it turned out'.
介绍 jiè shào
To introduce one person to another, or to present and explain something to people who do not know it. Also 'to recommend' a doctor, a job or a restaurant.
敬而远之 jìng ér yuǎn zhī
To stay politely away from someone or something: you show respect but do not want to get close. Used for people who are difficult, powerful or risky to deal with.
进退两难 jìn tuì liǎng nán
To be stuck in a dilemma where going ahead and backing out are equally difficult. Used when every option has a serious cost.
积少成多 jī shǎo chéng duō
Small amounts add up to a lot over time. Used to encourage saving money, learning a few words a day, or any steady small effort.
口说无凭 kǒu shuō wú píng
Spoken words alone prove nothing. Said when asking for something in writing: a contract, a receipt, a signature.
苦尽甘来 kǔ jìn gān lái
When the hard times are over, good times arrive. Used to encourage someone who is struggling, or to describe a happy turn after long hardship.
困难 kùn nan
Difficult; a difficulty or hardship. A neutral, very common word for problems at work, in study, with money or in life.
力不从心 lì bù cóng xīn
To want to do something but lack the strength, ability or means for it. Used to admit, often politely, that something is beyond you because of age, health or workload.
历史 lì shǐ
History: the past of a country, a people or a thing, and the school subject that studies it.
门当户对 mén dāng hù duì
Describes two families of similar social and economic standing, which traditionally makes a marriage between them a suitable match. Used when people discuss choosing a partner or approving a marriage.
名不虚传 míng bù xū chuán
To truly deserve one's reputation. Said after you see or try something famous and find it is as good as people say.
名正言顺 míng zhèng yán shùn
Fully legitimate and justified, with a proper title or reason behind it. Used when someone has the right to do something openly.
便宜 pián yi
Cheap; inexpensive. A basic shopping word, as in 便宜一点儿, 'a bit cheaper, please'; it can also mean a small unearned advantage (占便宜, 'to take advantage').
否极泰来 pǐ jí tài lái
When bad luck reaches its worst point, things start to turn good. A bookish way to comfort someone or to describe fortune finally changing.
千变万化 qiān biàn wàn huà
Changing constantly and in countless ways. Used for weather, markets, situations or patterns that never stay the same.
千方百计 qiān fāng bǎi jì
By every possible means; trying everything you can think of. Used before a verb for determined, sometimes scheming, efforts.
青梅竹马 qīng méi zhú mǎ
Childhood sweethearts: a boy and a girl who grew up playing together. Used as a noun or a description for two people who have known each other since they were small, usually with a romantic hint.
全心全意 quán xīn quán yì
Wholeheartedly; with complete devotion and no distraction. Used to describe how someone works, serves or cares for another person.
身不由己 shēn bù yóu jǐ
Not free to act as you wish; forced by circumstances or by other people. Used to explain, often with regret, that you had no real choice.
生老病死 shēng lǎo bìng sǐ
Birth, ageing, illness and death: the stages of life that nobody can avoid. Used when speaking calmly or philosophically about mortality; originally a Buddhist term.
随机应变 suí jī yìng biàn
To adapt quickly to whatever happens instead of sticking to a fixed plan. Used as advice, or as praise for people who think on their feet.
天长地久 tiān cháng dì jiǔ
As lasting as heaven and earth; for ever. Used mainly about love and friendship, in wishes and vows.
铁面无私 tiě miàn wú sī
Strictly impartial and impossible to bribe or sway, even for friends and family. Used to praise judges, officials, referees and examiners.
同床异梦 tóng chuáng yì mèng
Said of people who live or work side by side but secretly want different things. Used for couples who have grown apart and for partners or allies who each have their own agenda.
同甘共苦 tóng gān gòng kǔ
To share both good times and hardships with someone. Used for spouses, friends or teammates who stick together whatever happens.
万不得已 wàn bù dé yǐ
Only when there is absolutely no other choice; as a last resort. Used to explain that you did, or would do, something unwillingly.
万事如意 wàn shì rú yì
A set good wish: may everything go the way you want. Said or written at New Year, on birthdays and at the end of cards and messages.
温故知新 wēn gù zhī xīn
To gain new understanding by going back over what you have already learned, or by looking at the past. Used about study habits and about learning from history.
心服口服 xīn fú kǒu fú
To be completely convinced, sincerely and not just in words. Used when you fully accept someone's skill, argument or victory.
颜色 yán sè
Colour. The everyday word for the colour of clothes, paint, eyes or anything else.
以和为贵 yǐ hé wéi guì
To value harmony above all: keeping the peace matters more than winning the argument. Said when urging people to settle a dispute calmly.
一箭双雕 yī jiàn shuāng diāo
To achieve two goals with a single action, like 'killing two birds with one stone'. Used to praise a clever plan or a lucky result.
银行 yín háng
A bank: the place where you keep, withdraw, exchange and borrow money.
有名无实 yǒu míng wú shí
Existing in name only, with no real power, substance or effect behind it. Used for titles, organisations, rules or marriages that are only for show.
重男轻女 zhòng nán qīng nǚ
To value boys and men more than girls and women. Used to name and criticise the traditional preference for sons.
准备 zhǔn bèi
To prepare or get ready for something. Before another verb it also means 'to plan to' or 'to be about to', as in 我准备去, 'I'm planning to go'.
注意 zhù yì
To pay attention to something or to be careful about it. One of the most common verbs in warnings and instructions, as in 注意安全, 'mind your safety'.
仔细 zǐ xì
Careful and thorough, paying attention to every detail. Used for how you read, check, listen or think, usually placed before the verb.
走火入魔 zǒu huǒ rù mó
To become so obsessed with something that you lose your balance and good sense. It first described martial-arts or meditation practice going wrong; now it is used for any unhealthy obsession.
Advertisement
Ad space — ads help keep Idiomer free. Premium will remove them.