This English version was translated from the Chinese original with AI assistance. The Chinese text is authoritative.
Idioms are a dazzling pearl among the treasures of the Chinese language: in just three or four characters they hold a wealth of meaning, and they are an indispensable part of learning Chinese well. The idiom chain game (成语接龙), in which each idiom begins with the character that ended the last, has a long history; it is a microcosm of traditional writing, culture and civilization, and a folk pastime enjoyed by young and old alike.
Here the poetry editor has specially selected 2,000 idioms, with “胸有成竹” (to have a well-thought-out plan) as both the beginning and the end. Enjoy the beauty of Chinese characters to the full!
胸有成竹 (to have the whole bamboo in mind before painting; to have a well-thought-out plan) + 竹报平安 (bamboo brings word of safety; a letter reporting all is well at home) + 安富尊荣 (living in peace, wealth, honor and glory)
荣华富贵 (glory, splendor, wealth and rank) + 贵而贱目 (to value hearsay and scorn what one sees with one’s own eyes) + 目无余子 (to regard no one else as worth noticing)
子虚乌有 (sheer fiction; something nonexistent) + 有目共睹 (plain for all to see) + 睹物思人 (seeing an object and missing its owner)
人中骐骥 (a fine steed among men; an outstanding person) + 骥子龙文 (a thoroughbred colt; a talented young man) + 文质彬彬 (refined in both manner and substance; gentle and cultivated)
彬彬有礼 (courteous and refined) + 礼贤下士 (to treat worthy men with courtesy and humble oneself before scholars) + 士饱马腾 (soldiers well fed and horses spirited; troops in high morale)
腾云驾雾 (to ride on clouds and mist) + 雾里看花 (looking at flowers in a fog; seeing things blurrily) + 花言巧语 (flowery words and clever talk; sweet talk)
语重心长 (sincere words and earnest wishes) + 长此以往 (if things go on like this) + 往返徒劳 (to make a fruitless trip back and forth)
劳而无功 (to toil without result) + 功成不居 (to claim no credit for one’s achievements) + 居官守法 (to hold office and abide by the law)
法外施仁 (to show mercy beyond the letter of the law) + 仁浆义粟 (benevolent drink and charitable grain; relief for the needy) + 粟红贯朽 (grain rotting red and coin strings decaying; abundant wealth in the granary and treasury)
朽木死灰 (rotten wood and dead ashes; utterly lifeless) + 灰飞烟灭 (to vanish like ash and smoke) + 灭绝人性 (utterly inhuman)
性命交关 (a matter of life and death) + 关门大吉 (to shut up shop for good) + 吉祥止止 (good fortune gathers where it is at rest)
止于至善 (to rest in the highest good) + 善贾而沽 (to sell at a good price; to wait for the right buyer) + 沽名钓誉 (to fish for fame and praise)
誉不绝口 (to praise without end) + 口蜜腹剑 (honey on the lips, a sword in the belly) + 剑戟森森 (swords and halberds bristling; a formidable, guarded manner)
森罗万象 (all the myriad phenomena of the universe) + 象箸玉杯 (ivory chopsticks and jade cups; extravagant living) + 杯弓蛇影 (mistaking the bow’s reflection in a cup for a snake; groundless fears)
影影绰绰 (dim and indistinct) + 绰约多姿 (graceful and charming) + 姿意妄为 (to act recklessly and willfully)
为人作嫁 (to sew wedding clothes for others; to toil for someone else’s benefit) + 嫁祸于人 (to shift the blame onto others) + 人情冷暖 (the warmth and coldness of human relations; the fickleness of people)
暖衣饱食 (warm clothes and full meals) + 食不果腹 (not having enough to eat) + 腹背之毛 (hair on the belly and back; something insignificant)
毛手毛脚 (clumsy and careless) + 脚踏实地 (feet planted on solid ground; down-to-earth) + 地老天荒 (until the earth grows old and heaven ends; for all eternity)
荒诞不经 (absurd and preposterous) + 经纬万端 (warp and weft in endless threads; extremely complicated) + 端倪可察 (the first signs can be discerned)
察言观色 (to read a person’s words and expression) + 色若死灰 (face as pale as dead ashes) + 灰头土面 (covered in dust and dirt; dejected)
面有菜色 (a sallow, famished look) + 色授魂与 (attracted by beauty, one’s soul is given away; mutual infatuation) + 与民更始 (to make a fresh start together with the people)
始乱终弃 (to seduce and then abandon) + 弃瑕录用 (to overlook faults and employ someone) + 用舍行藏 (to serve when employed and withdraw when dismissed)
藏垢纳污 (to harbor filth; to shelter evil) + 污泥浊水 (filthy mud and foul water; corrupt and backward things) + 水乳交融 (blending like water and milk; perfect harmony)
融会贯通 (to master thoroughly by integrating knowledge) + 通宵达旦 (all night until dawn) + 旦种暮成 (sown in the morning, ripe by evening; quick results)
成人之美 (to help others fulfill their wishes) + 美人迟暮 (a beauty in her declining years) + 暮云春树 (evening clouds and spring trees; longing for a distant friend)
树大招风 (a tall tree catches the wind; fame invites envy) + 风中之烛 (a candle in the wind; near the end of life) + 烛照数计 (to see clearly as by candlelight and reckon precisely; to foresee accurately)
计日程功 (to count the days until success; success in sight) + 功德无量 (boundless merit and virtue) + 量才录用 (to employ people according to their ability)
用行舍藏 (to act when employed and withdraw when not) + 藏头露尾 (hiding the head but showing the tail; secretive) + 尾大不掉 (a tail too big to wag; an unwieldy organization)
掉以轻心 (to treat lightly; to lower one’s guard) + 心急如焚 (burning with anxiety) + 焚琴煮鹤 (burning the lute to cook the crane; spoiling beautiful things)
鹤发童颜 (crane-white hair and a child’s complexion; hale in old age) + 颜面扫地 (to lose all face) + 地上天官 (an immortal official on earth; a carefree person)
官逼民反 (officials drive the people to rebellion) + 反裘负刍 (wearing a fur coat inside out to carry fodder; foolishly sacrificing the essential for the trivial) + 刍荛之见 (the views of grass and firewood cutters; my humble opinion)
见微知著 (to see the whole from a small clue) + 著作等身 (writings as tall as oneself; a prolific author) + 身强力壮 (strong and robust)
壮志凌云 (lofty ambitions soaring to the clouds) + 云消雨散 (clouds vanish and rain stops; all is over) + 散兵游勇 (stragglers and scattered soldiers)
勇猛精进 (to advance boldly and diligently) + 进退失据 (to have no ground either to advance or to retreat) + 据理力争 (to argue strongly on the grounds of reason)
争长论短 (to squabble over trifles) + 短小精悍 (short but capable; concise and forceful) + 悍然不顾 (to act brazenly regardless of consequences)
顾影自怜 (to look at one’s shadow and pity oneself) + 怜香惜玉 (to cherish fragrance and treasure jade; to be tender toward women) + 玉液琼浆 (jade liquid and nectar; fine wine)
浆酒霍肉 (wine like water and meat like bean leaves; extravagant living) + 肉薄骨并 (flesh pressed against flesh and bone against bone; fierce hand-to-hand fighting) + 并行不悖 (to run parallel without conflict)
悖入悖出 (ill-gotten, ill-spent) + 出奇制胜 (to win by surprise moves) + 胜任愉快 (fully competent and at ease in a task)
快马加鞭 (to spur on a fast horse; to go faster still) + 鞭辟入里 (incisive and penetrating) + 里出外进 (uneven, jutting in and out)
进寸退尺 (to advance an inch and retreat a foot; to gain little and lose much) + 尺寸可取 (even a foot or an inch has its merit; something worth taking) + 取巧图便 (to seek shortcuts and convenience)
便宜行事 (to act at one’s discretion) + 事与愿违 (things turn out contrary to one’s wishes) + 违心之论 (words that go against one’s conscience)
论功行赏 (to reward according to merit) + 赏心悦目 (pleasing to the heart and eye) + 目光如豆 (vision as small as a bean; shortsighted)
豆蔻年华 (the cardamom years; a girl in her early teens) + 华而不实 (showy but without substance) + 实事求是 (to seek truth from facts)
是古非今 (to praise the past and condemn the present) + 今愁古恨 (present sorrows and ancient regrets) + 恨之入骨 (to hate to the very bone)
骨腾肉飞 (bones leaping and flesh flying; galloping at full speed, or deeply moved) + 飞沿走壁 (to leap onto eaves and run along walls; superb agility) + 壁垒森严 (strongly fortified; sharply divided)
严阵以待 (in battle array, waiting for the enemy) + 待理不理 (to be cold and standoffish) + 理屈词穷 (faulty in reason and at a loss for words)
穷原竟委 (to trace something to its very source) + 委曲求全 (to compromise for the sake of the whole) + 全力以赴 (to go all out)
赴汤蹈火 (to go through boiling water and fire) + 火烧火燎 (burning hot; extremely anxious) + 燎原烈火 (a raging prairie fire)
火烧眉毛 (fire singeing the eyebrows; extremely urgent) + 毛羽零落 (feathers falling out; down and out) + 落井下石 (to throw stones at someone who has fallen into a well)
石破天惊 (stone-shattering and heaven-startling; astounding) + 惊惶失措 (panic-stricken) + 措置裕如 (to handle matters with ease)
如运诸掌 (as easy as turning something in one’s palm) + 掌上明珠 (a pearl in the palm; a beloved daughter) + 珠沉玉碎 (pearls sunk and jade shattered; the death of a beautiful woman)
碎琼乱玉 (scattered jade fragments; snowflakes) + 玉碎珠沉 (jade shattered and pearls sunk; the death of a beautiful woman) + 沉滓泛起 (sediment rising to the surface; the revival of bad old things)
起早贪黑 (to rise early and work late) + 黑更半夜 (in the dead of night) + 夜雨对床 (beds side by side on a rainy night; brothers or friends reunited)
床头金尽 (the money by the bed is used up; destitute) + 尽态极妍 (displaying every charm to perfection) + 妍姿艳质 (lovely appearance and beauty)
质疑问难 (to raise doubts and difficult questions) + 难以为继 (hard to keep going) + 继往开来 (to carry on the past and open the way for the future)
来龙去脉 (the ins and outs; the whole story) + 脉脉含情 (full of tender affection) + 情见势屈 (one’s true situation exposed and position weakened)
屈打成招 (to extort a confession by torture) + 招摇过市 (to swagger through the market; to show off) + 市井之徒 (a man of the marketplace; a common vulgarian)
徒劳往返 (to make a fruitless trip) + 返老还童 (to recover one’s youth) + 童牛角马 (a hornless ox and a horned horse; something absurd)
马首是瞻 (to follow the lead of the commander’s horse) + 瞻前顾后 (to look ahead and behind; overcautious) + 后顾之忧 (worries about what lies behind)
忧国奉公 (to care for the country and serve the public) + 公子王孙 (sons of nobles and grandsons of kings) + 孙康映雪 (Sun Kang studying by the light of snow; studying diligently in poverty)
雪上加霜 (frost on top of snow; one disaster after another) + 霜露之病 (an illness caught from frost and dew; a chill) + 病病歪歪 (sickly and feeble)
歪打正着 (to hit the mark by a fluke) + 着手成春 (to restore to health at a touch; a skilled doctor) + 春蚓秋蛇 (spring worms and autumn snakes; poor, scrawling handwriting)
蛇口蜂针 (a snake’s fangs and a bee’s sting; malicious) + 针锋相对 (needle point against needle point; tit for tat) + 对薄公堂 (to face each other in court)
堂堂正正 (open and aboveboard) + 正中下怀 (exactly what one wishes) + 怀璧其罪 (the crime lies in possessing the jade; wealth invites disaster)
罪大恶极 (guilty of the most heinous crimes) + 极天际地 (reaching the heavens and the ends of the earth) + 地丑德齐 (equal in territory and virtue; evenly matched)
齐心协力 (to work together with one heart) + 力不胜任 (not strong enough for the task) + 任重道远 (a heavy burden and a long road)
远见卓识 (far-sighted and of outstanding insight) + 识文断字 (able to read and write) + 字斟句酌 (weighing every word and phrase)
酌盈剂虚 (to take from surplus to make up for deficit) + 虚舟飘瓦 (an empty boat and a falling tile; things that harm without malice) + 瓦釜雷鸣 (earthen pots making thunderous noise; mediocrities holding sway)
鸣锣开道 (to beat gongs to clear the way) + 道不拾遗 (no one picks up what is lost on the road; an honest society) + 遗大投艰 (to entrust someone with great and difficult tasks)
艰苦朴素 (hardworking and plain-living) + 素丝羔羊 (white silk and lambs; an upright official) + 羊肠小道 (a narrow winding path)
道听途说 (hearsay picked up on the road) + 说长道短 (to gossip about others) + 短兵相接 (fighting at close quarters)
接踵而至 (to follow on one another’s heels) + 至死不变 (unchanging until death) + 变本加厉 (to become even worse)
厉行节约 (to practice strict economy) + 约定俗成 (established by common usage) + 成仁取义 (to die for virtue and righteousness)
义形于色 (righteous indignation shows in one’s face) + 色色俱全 (complete in every variety) + 全军覆灭 (the whole army wiped out)
灭此朝食 (to wipe out the enemy before breakfast; eager to fight) + 食日万钱 (spending ten thousand coins a day on food; extravagance) + 钱可通神 (money can reach even the gods)
神施鬼设 (done by gods and ghosts; marvelously skillful) + 设身处地 (to put oneself in another’s place) + 地平天成 (the earth is at peace and heaven complete; all is well)
成年累月 (year in, year out) + 月白风清 (a bright moon and a gentle breeze) + 清净无为 (pure, tranquil and non-acting)
为期不远 (the time is not far off) + 远交近攻 (befriend the distant, attack the near) + 攻其无备 (to attack when the enemy is unprepared)
备多力分 (defending everywhere spreads one’s strength thin) + 分寸之末 (the tip of an inch; something trifling) + 末学肤受 (shallow learning and superficial understanding)
受宠若惊 (overwhelmed by a favor) + 惊涛骇浪 (terrifying waves; perilous situations) + 浪子回头 (the prodigal son returns)
头疼脑热 (a headache and slight fever; a minor ailment) + 热火朝天 (bustling with activity) + 天高地厚 (the height of heaven and depth of earth; immense kindness, or the complexity of things)
厚貌深情 (a sincere face hiding deep designs) + 情同骨肉 (as close as flesh and blood) + 肉眼惠眉 (ordinary eyes and brows; a common, undistinguished person)
眉来眼去 (to exchange flirting glances) + 去伪存真 (to discard the false and keep the true) + 真脏实犯 (real loot and a genuine criminal; caught red-handed)
犯上作乱 (to defy superiors and stir up rebellion) + 乱头粗服 (unkempt hair and coarse clothes) + 服低做小 (to humble oneself and yield)
小试锋芒 (to give a small display of one’s talent) + 芒刺在背 (thorns in one’s back; on pins and needles) + 背井离乡 (to leave one’s hometown)
乡壁虚造 (fabricating from a blank wall; pure invention) + 造化小儿 (the little child of Creation; fate) + 儿女情长 (absorbed in love and family affection)
长歌当哭 (to sing a long song in place of weeping) + 哭天抹泪 (to wail and wipe away tears) + 泪干肠断 (tears dried and heart broken)
断鹤续凫 (cutting the crane’s legs to lengthen the duck’s; acting against nature) + 凫趋雀跃 (scurrying like ducks and hopping like sparrows; overjoyed) + 跃然纸上 (leaping off the page; vividly portrayed)
上树拔梯 (to get someone up a tree and remove the ladder) + 梯山航海 (to climb mountains and sail the seas; a long journey) + 海枯石烂 (until the seas run dry and rocks crumble)
烂若披锦 (as splendid as spread brocade; brilliant writing) + 锦绣前程 (a brilliant future) + 程门立雪 (standing in the snow at Cheng’s gate; deep respect for one’s teacher)
雪虐风饕 (raging snow and fierce wind) + 饕餮之徒 (a glutton) + 徒劳无功 (futile effort)
功败垂成 (to fail on the verge of success) + 成千上万 (thousands upon thousands) + 万象森罗 (myriad phenomena spread out)
罗雀掘鼠 (netting sparrows and digging out rats; in desperate straits) + 鼠窃狗盗 (petty thieves) + 盗憎主人 (thieves hate the master of the house; the wicked hate the upright)
人莫予毒 (no one can harm me; arrogant and unrestrained) + 毒手尊前 (a vicious hand before the wine cup; treachery in friendship) + 前因后果 (cause and effect)
果于自信 (overconfident) + 信赏必罚 (rewards are sure and punishments certain) + 罚不当罪 (punishment out of proportion to the crime)
罪恶昭彰 (crimes plain for all to see) + 彰善瘅恶 (to praise good and condemn evil) + 恶贯满盈 (steeped in evil)
盈科后进 (water advances only after filling the hollows; to proceed step by step) + 进退两难 (in a dilemma) + 难分难解 (inseparable; locked in a stalemate)
解甲归田 (to take off armor and return to the fields) + 田月桑时 (the busy farming and silkworm seasons) + 时和年丰 (peaceful times and bountiful years)
丰取刻与 (taking much and giving little) + 与世偃仰 (to bend and rise with the world; to go with the times) + 仰人鼻息 (to depend on another’s breath; to be dependent on others)
息息相通 (closely linked) + 通权达变 (to adapt to circumstances) + 变化无穷 (endlessly changing)
穷途末路 (at the end of one’s rope) + 路不拾遗 (no one picks up lost items on the road) + 遗臭万年 (to leave a stench for ten thousand years)
年深日久 (over a long period of time) + 久悬不决 (long unresolved) + 决一死战 (to fight to the death)
战天斗地 (to fight heaven and earth; to conquer nature) + 地利人和 (favorable terrain and popular support) + 和而不唱 (to respond but not lead)
唱筹量沙 (counting sand aloud as grain; a ruse to deceive the enemy) + 沙里淘金 (panning for gold in sand) + 金屋藏娇 (to keep a beauty in a golden house)
娇生惯养 (pampered and spoiled) + 养精畜锐 (to conserve strength and build up energy) + 锐不可当 (irresistible)
当头棒喝 (a blow on the head; a sharp warning) + 喝西北风 (to drink the northwest wind; to go hungry) + 风雨同舟 (in the same boat through wind and rain)
舟中敌国 (enemies in the same boat) + 国色天香 (national beauty and heavenly fragrance) + 香火因缘 (a bond of incense and fire; a destined friendship)
缘木求鱼 (climbing a tree to look for fish) + 鱼龙混杂 (fish and dragons mixed together; good and bad intermingled) + 杂七杂八 (a hodgepodge)
八拜之交 (sworn brotherhood) + 交头接耳 (to whisper to each other) + 耳鬓斯磨 (ears and temples touching; intimate from childhood)
磨砖成镜 (grinding a brick into a mirror; futile effort) + 镜花水月 (flowers in a mirror and the moon in water; illusion) + 月旦春秋 (monthly appraisals; commenting on people)
秋高气爽 (clear autumn sky and crisp air) + 爽然若失 (at a loss, disappointed) + 失惊打怪 (alarmed and startled)
怪诞不经 (absurd and bizarre) + 经久不息 (prolonged) + 息事宁人 (to settle a dispute and pacify people)
人言啧啧 (people talking critically) + 啧有烦言 (there is much complaint) + 言必有中 (whenever one speaks, one hits the mark)
中庸之道 (the Doctrine of the Mean) + 道路以目 (people exchange only glances on the road; a reign of terror) + 目瞪口呆 (dumbstruck)
呆头呆脑 (dull-witted) + 脑满肠肥 (fat-headed and pot-bellied; idle and overfed) + 肥马轻裘 (fat horses and light furs; luxurious living)
裘弊金尽 (furs worn out and money gone; down and out) + 尽力而为 (to do one’s best) + 为富不仁 (to be rich and heartless)
仁至义尽 (to have done everything humanly possible) + 尽心竭力 (to devote all one’s heart and strength) + 力透纸背 (the force of the brush penetrates the paper; powerful writing)
背道而驰 (to run in the opposite direction) + 驰名中外 (famous at home and abroad) + 外合里差 (in step outwardly but at odds inwardly)
差强人意 (barely satisfactory) + 意在言外 (the meaning lies beyond the words) + 外圆内方 (flexible outside, principled inside)
方底圆盖 (a square base with a round lid; things that do not fit) + 盖世无双 (unrivaled in the world) + 双管齐下 (painting with two brushes at once; working on two fronts)
下车伊始 (as soon as one takes up a new post) + 始终如一 (consistent from start to finish) + 一蹶不振 (to fall and never rise again)
振臂一呼 (to raise one’s arm and give a call) + 呼风唤雨 (to summon wind and rain) + 雨沐风餐 (bathed by rain and fed by wind; the hardships of travel)
餐风露宿 (to eat in the wind and sleep in the dew; hardships of travel) + 宿弊一清 (long-standing abuses swept away) + 清心寡欲 (a pure heart and few desires)
欲取姑予 (to give first in order to take) + 予取予求 (to take whatever one wants) + 求神问卜 (to pray to gods and consult oracles)
卜昼卜夜 (feasting day and night) + 夜不闭户 (doors unlocked at night; a peaceful society) + 户枢不蠹 (a door hinge never rots; constant use prevents decay)
蠹众木折 (with too many worms the tree breaks) + 折槁振落 (breaking dead twigs and shaking down falling leaves; very easy) + 落落大方 (natural and graceful)
方寸已乱 (one’s heart is in turmoil) + 乱琼碎玉 (scattered jade fragments; falling snow) + 玉洁冰清 (pure as jade and clear as ice)
清风明月 (a fresh breeze and bright moon) + 月盈则食 (the full moon begins to wane; extremes lead to decline) + 食言而肥 (to grow fat by eating one’s words; to break promises)
肥遁鸣高 (to retire in comfort and pose as lofty) + 高朋满座 (a house full of distinguished guests) + 座无虚席 (not a seat empty)
席卷天下 (to sweep across the whole world) + 下不为例 (not to be taken as a precedent) + 例直禁简 (clear rules and simple prohibitions)
简明扼要 (concise and to the point) + 要价还价 (to haggle) + 价值连城 (worth several cities; priceless)
城狐社鼠 (foxes in the city wall and rats in the altar; evil men under powerful protection) + 鼠腹鸡肠 (a rat’s belly and a chicken’s gut; petty-minded) + 肠肥脑满 (pot-bellied and fat-headed; idle and overfed)
满腔热枕 (full of enthusiasm) + 枕石漱流 (pillowed on rocks and rinsing the mouth in streams; a hermit’s life) + 流离转徙 (wandering homeless)
徙宅忘妻 (to move house and forget one’s wife; extreme absent-mindedness) + 妻儿老小 (wife, children, old and young; the whole family) + 小本经营 (a business on a small capital)
营私舞弊 (to seek private gain by fraud) + 弊绝风清 (abuses eliminated and morals pure) + 清尘浊水 (clear dust and muddy water; parted forever)
水磨工夫 (painstaking, meticulous work) + 夫唱妇随 (the husband sings and the wife follows; marital harmony) + 随才器使 (to employ people according to their talents)
使贪使愚 (to employ even the greedy and the foolish as fits their use) + 愚昧无知 (ignorant and benighted) + 知书达礼 (educated and well-mannered)
礼尚往来 (courtesy demands reciprocity) + 来者不拒 (to refuse no one who comes) + 拒谏饰非 (to reject advice and gloss over errors)
非异人任 (no one else’s responsibility) + 任人唯亲 (to appoint only one’s cronies) + 亲密无间 (close and intimate)
间不容发 (not a hair’s breadth between; extremely critical) + 发指眦裂 (hair standing on end and eyes glaring; furious) + 裂土分茅 (to divide land and grant fiefs)
茅塞顿开 (suddenly enlightened) + 开路先锋 (a pioneer who opens the way) + 锋芒所向 (where the spearhead points)
向隅而泣 (to weep alone in a corner) + 泣下如雨 (tears falling like rain) + 雨丝风片 (fine rain and gentle breeze; spring scenery)
片言折狱 (to settle a lawsuit with a few words) + 狱货非宝 (bribes in lawsuits are no treasure) + 宝山空回 (to return empty-handed from a mountain of treasure)
回光返照 (the last radiance of the setting sun; a final rally before death) + 照本宣科 (to read mechanically from the text) + 科班出身 (professionally trained)
身价百倍 (one’s worth increased a hundredfold) + 倍日并行 (to travel day and night at double speed) + 行动坐卧 (walking, moving, sitting and lying; one’s every action)
卧薪尝胆 (sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall; enduring hardship to prepare for revenge) + 胆破心寒 (terrified) + 寒木春华 (winter trees and spring flowers; each has its own beauty)
华不再扬 (a flower does not bloom twice; time lost never returns) + 扬长而去 (to swagger off) + 去粗取精 (to discard the dross and keep the essence)
精诚团结 (to unite with complete sincerity) + 结党营私 (to form a clique for private gain) + 私心杂念 (selfish ideas and personal considerations)
念兹在兹 (to keep something constantly in mind) + 兹事体大 (this is a matter of great importance) + 大势所趋 (the general trend)
趋炎附势 (to curry favor with the powerful) + 势不两立 (irreconcilable) + 立此存照 (to draw up this document as a record)
照猫画虎 (to draw a tiger by copying a cat; to imitate mechanically) + 虎背熊腰 (a tiger’s back and a bear’s waist; burly) + 腰缠万贯 (carrying a fortune around one’s waist; very rich)
贯朽粟陈 (coin strings rotting and grain stale; abundant wealth) + 陈词滥调 (clichés and platitudes) + 调嘴学舌 (to gossip and wag one’s tongue)
舌剑唇枪 (tongue like a sword and lips like a spear; sharp-tongued) + 枪林弹雨 (a forest of spears and a rain of bullets; heavy fighting) + 雨过天青 (the sky clears after rain)
青出于蓝 (blue comes from indigo but surpasses it; the pupil surpasses the master) + 蓝田生玉 (Lantian produces jade; a fine son from a fine family) + 玉卮无当 (a jade cup without a bottom; fine but useless)
当场出彩 (to show one’s true colors on the spot) + 彩凤随鸦 (a brilliant phoenix following a crow; a fine woman married to an unworthy man) + 鸦雀无闻 (not even a crow or sparrow heard; dead silence)
闻风而起 (to rise at the news) + 起死回生 (to bring the dying back to life) + 生拉硬扯 (to drag forcibly; far-fetched)
扯篷拉纤 (to hoist sails and tow boats; to act as a go-between) + 纤芥之疾 (a trifling ailment) + 疾风迅雷 (swift wind and sudden thunder)
雷打不动 (unshakable even by thunder) + 动辄得咎 (blamed for every move) + 咎由自取 (to bring blame upon oneself)
取辖投井 (to take the guest’s linchpin and throw it in the well; to detain guests warmly) + 井井有条 (in perfect order) + 条三窝四 (disorderly)
四衢八街 (roads leading in all directions) + 街头巷尾 (streets and lanes; everywhere in town) + 尾生之信 (the faith of Wei Sheng; keeping a promise to the death)
信口开河 (to talk wildly without thinking) + 河山带砺 (as long as the river is a belt and the mountain a whetstone; an eternal pledge) + 砺山带河 (until the mountain is a whetstone and the river a belt; an eternal pledge)
河清难俟 (it is hard to wait for the Yellow River to run clear) + 俟河之清 (waiting for the Yellow River to run clear; waiting in vain) + 清汤寡水 (thin soup and plain water; bland food)
水滴石穿 (dripping water wears through stone) + 穿云裂石 (piercing the clouds and splitting rocks; a resounding voice) + 石沉大海 (a stone sinking into the sea; no news at all)
海立云垂 (seas rising and clouds hanging; a magnificent sight or powerful writing) + 垂涎欲滴 (mouth watering) + 滴水成冰 (so cold that dripping water freezes)
冰清玉洁 (pure as ice and jade) + 洁身自好 (to keep oneself clean) + 好肉剜疮 (cutting a sore out of healthy flesh; making trouble needlessly)
疮痍满目 (devastation everywhere) + 目不识丁 (unable to recognize even the character 丁; illiterate) + 丁公凿井 (Mr. Ding digging a well; a rumor that distorts the facts)
井中视星 (looking at the stars from a well; a narrow view) + 星旗电戟 (banners like stars and halberds like lightning; a mighty army) + 戟指怒目 (pointing angrily with glaring eyes)
目指气使 (to order people about with a glance; arrogant) + 使羊将狼 (sending a sheep to command wolves; misusing people) + 狼心狗肺 (wolf’s heart and dog’s lungs; heartless and ungrateful)
肺石风清 (the lung-stone and a clear wind; justice done and the people at peace) + 清夜扪心 (to search one’s conscience in the quiet of the night) + 心织笔耕 (weaving with the heart and plowing with the brush; living by writing)
耕当问奴 (for plowing, ask the farmhand; consult the expert) + 奴颜婢膝 (servile) + 膝痒搔背 (scratching the back when the knee itches; missing the point)
背信弃义 (to break faith and abandon righteousness) + 义无反顾 (duty-bound not to turn back) + 顾全大局 (to take the overall situation into account)
局促不安 (ill at ease) + 安步当车 (to walk leisurely instead of riding) + 车载斗量 (enough to fill carts and be measured in bushels; abundant)
量才而为 (to act according to one’s ability) + 为渊驱鱼 (to drive fish into deep water; to drive people to the enemy) + 鱼游釜中 (fish swimming in a cooking pot; in mortal danger)
中馈犹虚 (the kitchen is still unmanaged; not yet married) + 虚有其表 (outwardly impressive but hollow) + 表里如一 (the same inside and out)
一呼百诺 (a hundred answer one call; having many followers) + 诺诺连声 (to keep saying yes) + 声罪致讨 (to proclaim someone’s crimes and punish them)
讨价还价 (to haggle) + 价增一顾 (value rises with a single glance from a connoisseur) + 顾盼自雄 (to look around self-importantly)
雄心壮志 (lofty aspirations) + 志美行厉 (noble aims and rigorous conduct) + 厉兵秣马 (to sharpen weapons and feed horses; to prepare for battle)
马工枚速 (Sima Xiangru’s craft and Mei Gao’s speed; each has his strength) + 速战速决 (a quick battle and a quick decision) + 决一雌雄 (to fight it out)
雄才大略 (great talent and bold vision) + 略见一斑 (to catch a glimpse of a spot; to get a rough idea) + 斑驳陆离 (variegated and motley)
离弦走板 (off-key and out of tune; deviating from the norm) + 板上钉钉 (a nail in the board; a settled matter) + 钉嘴铁舌 (nail mouth and iron tongue; insistent and stubborn in speech)
舌桥不下 (tongue raised and not coming down; speechless with amazement) + 下马看花 (to dismount to look at flowers; to study closely) + 花样翻新 (to vary the pattern)
新陈代谢 (metabolism; the new replacing the old) + 谢天谢地 (thank heaven) + 地久天长 (as long as heaven and earth endure)
长枕大被 (long pillows and big quilts; brotherly affection) + 被山带河 (mountains as cloak and rivers as belt; strategic terrain) + 河落海干 (rivers fall and seas dry; utterly exhausted)
干柴烈火 (dry firewood and fierce fire; passion easily ignited) + 火上浇油 (to pour oil on the fire) + 油腔滑调 (glib and flippant)
调兵遣将 (to deploy troops and dispatch generals) + 将伯之助 (help sought from others) + 助人为乐 (to take pleasure in helping others)
乐而不淫 (joyful but not excessive) + 淫词艳曲 (lewd lyrics and erotic songs) + 曲终奏雅 (the music ends on an elegant note; a fine conclusion)
雅俗共赏 (enjoyed by both refined and popular tastes) + 赏罚分明 (clear rewards and punishments) + 明刑不戮 (clear laws, so no one need be executed)
戮力同心 (to join forces with one heart) + 心心相印 (hearts in perfect accord) + 印累绶若 (many seals and ribbons of office; holding many high posts)
若有所失 (as if something were lost) + 失张失智 (flustered and confused) + 智圆行方 (flexible in thought and upright in conduct)
方枘圆凿 (a square peg in a round hole) + 凿凿有据 (well grounded in evidence) + 据为己有 (to take as one’s own)
有眼无珠 (having eyes but no pupils; failing to recognize greatness) + 珠光宝气 (glittering with jewels) + 气味相投 (like-minded)
投鼠忌器 (not throwing at the rat for fear of breaking the dishes) + 器宇轩昂 (dignified bearing) + 昂首阔步 (head high, striding forward)
步履维艰 (walking with difficulty) + 艰苦卓绝 (extremely arduous) + 绝少分甘 (sharing what little one has)
甘雨随车 (sweet rain follows the carriage; a benevolent official) + 车水马龙 (carriages like flowing water and horses like dragons; heavy traffic) + 龙飞凤舞 (dragons flying and phoenixes dancing; lively, flowing calligraphy)
舞衫歌扇 (dancing robes and singing fans; song and dance) + 扇枕温被 (fanning the pillow and warming the quilt; filial devotion) + 被发缨冠 (hair loose and cap strings untied; rushing to help in an emergency)
冠冕堂皇 (high-sounding and dignified-looking) + 皇天后土 (Heaven and Earth) + 土阶茅屋 (earthen steps and thatched huts; a simple life)
屋乌之爱 (love for the crow on the roof; love me, love my dog) + 爱莫能助 (willing but unable to help) + 助我张目 (to help me open my eyes; to support my cause)
目挑心招 (to flirt with the eyes and beckon with the heart) + 招风惹草 (to stir up trouble) + 草率收兵 (to end something hastily)
兵不雪刃 (weapons not stained with blood; victory without fighting) + 刃迎缕解 (the blade meets the thread and it parts; easily solved) + 解衣推食 (to give one’s clothes and food to others; great kindness)
食古不化 (to swallow ancient learning without digesting it) + 化零为整 (to gather the parts into a whole) + 整装待发 (packed and ready to set off)
发凡起例 (to set out the general principles and examples) + 例行公事 (routine business) + 事必躬亲 (to attend to everything personally)
亲如骨肉 (as close as flesh and blood) + 肉跳心惊 (flesh quivering and heart pounding; deeply alarmed) + 惊弓之鸟 (a bird frightened by the twang of a bow)
鸟枪换炮 (to exchange a fowling piece for a cannon; a great improvement) + 炮凤烹龙 (roasting phoenix and cooking dragon; a sumptuous feast) + 龙蛇飞动 (dragons and snakes in flight; vigorous calligraphy)
动人心弦 (to tug at the heartstrings) + 弦外之音 (the overtone beyond the strings; implied meaning) + 音容笑貌 (the voice and smiling face of the departed)
貌合心离 (united in appearance but divided at heart) + 离心离德 (divided in heart and purpose) + 德高望重 (of high virtue and great prestige)
重蹈覆辙 (to follow the track of an overturned cart; to repeat a mistake) + 辙乱旗靡 (wheel tracks confused and banners down; a rout) + 靡靡之音 (decadent music)
音容宛在 (the voice and face of the departed seem still present) + 在所难免 (hard to avoid) + 免开尊口 (please spare your words)
口耳之学 (learning by mouth and ear; superficial knowledge) + 学而不厌 (to study tirelessly) + 厌难折冲 (to overcome difficulties and repel the enemy)
冲口而出 (to blurt out) + 出谷迁乔 (leaving the valley for a tall tree; rising in life) + 乔龙画虎 (drawing dragons and tigers; posturing)
虎踞龙盘 (a crouching tiger and coiling dragon; a strategic place) + 盘马弯弓 (circling on horseback with bow drawn; poised for action) + 弓折刀尽 (bows broken and swords spent; utterly exhausted)
尽善尽美 (perfect) + 美意延年 (good cheer prolongs life) + 年高望重 (advanced in years and highly respected)
重温旧梦 (to relive an old dream) + 梦寐以求 (to long for in one’s dreams) + 求全之毁 (criticism despite seeking perfection)
毁家纾难 (to sacrifice one’s family fortune for the nation) + 难言之隐 (a secret hard to speak of) + 隐恶扬善 (to conceal evil and praise good)
善始善终 (to begin well and end well) + 终南捷径 (the shortcut through Mount Zhongnan; a quick route to office) + 径情直行 (to act on one’s impulses)
行成于思 (achievement comes from thought) + 思潮起伏 (thoughts surging up and down) + 伏低做小 (to humble oneself)
小恩小惠 (small favors) + 惠而不费 (beneficial at little cost) + 费尽心机 (to rack one’s brains)
机关算尽 (to scheme to the utmost) + 尽忠报国 (to serve the country with utter loyalty) + 国士无双 (a peerless national hero)
双宿双飞 (to live and fly together as a pair) + 飞灾横祸 (sudden disaster) + 祸从天降 (disaster from the sky)
降格以求 (to lower one’s standards) + 求同存异 (to seek common ground while reserving differences) + 异名同实 (different names for the same thing)
实至名归 (fame follows real achievement) + 归真反璞 (to return to original simplicity) + 璞玉浑金 (uncut jade and unrefined gold; natural beauty)
金玉锦绣 (gold, jade and brocade; splendid) + 绣花枕头 (an embroidered pillow; good-looking but empty) + 头没杯案 (head fallen into the wine cups; dead drunk)
案牍劳形 (worn out by paperwork) + 形单影只 (alone with one’s shadow) + 只字不提 (not a word said about it)
提心吊胆 (on tenterhooks) + 胆大心细 (bold yet careful) + 细枝末节 (minor details)
节用裕民 (to economize and enrich the people) + 民脂民膏 (the fat and blood of the people) + 膏唇试舌 (to grease the lips and try the tongue; to prepare to talk glibly)
舌锋如火 (a tongue as sharp as fire) + 火伞高张 (the sun spreads its fiery umbrella high; scorching heat) + 张冠李戴 (putting Zhang’s hat on Li’s head; mixing things up)
戴月披星 (under the moon and stars; traveling day and night) + 星移斗转 (the stars move; time passes) + 转祸为福 (to turn misfortune into blessing)
福至心灵 (good fortune brings a clear mind) + 灵丹圣药 (a miracle cure) + 药笼中物 (something in the medicine chest; a person ready for use)
物以类聚 (like attracts like) + 聚蚊成雷 (gathered mosquitoes make a noise like thunder; slander repeated becomes powerful) + 雷厉风行 (with the force of thunder and the speed of wind)
行将就木 (soon to be in the coffin) + 木本水源 (the root of a tree and the source of a river; origins) + 源源不断 (in an endless stream)
断烂朝报 (a tattered court gazette; fragmentary records) + 报冰公事 (official affairs as cold as ice; empty formalities) + 事预则立 (preparation brings success)
立身处世 (how to conduct oneself in society) + 世外桃源 (a land of peach blossoms beyond the world; a utopia) + 源源不绝 (in an endless stream)
绝甘分少 (giving up sweets and sharing what little one has) + 少不经事 (young and inexperienced) + 事不师古 (not following the ancients)
古今中外 (ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign) + 外强中干 (strong outside, weak inside) + 干城之将 (a general who is a shield and a wall; a defender of the nation)
将机就机 (to take advantage of an opportunity) + 机杼一家 (one’s own loom; an original style of writing) + 家常便饭 (homely fare; a common occurrence)
饭糗茹草 (eating dry rations and wild grass; a frugal life) + 草木皆兵 (every bush and tree looks like an enemy soldier; panic) + 兵连祸结 (war after war and disaster upon disaster)
结结巴巴 (stammering) + 巴三览四 (talking about this and that; rambling) + 四面楚歌 (Chu songs on all sides; besieged on all sides)
歌功颂德 (to sing the praises of someone’s merits and virtues) + 德厚流光 (great virtue whose influence spreads far) + 光阴似箭 (time flies like an arrow)
箭在弦上 (the arrow is on the string; no turning back) + 上好下甚 (what superiors like, inferiors carry to excess) + 甚嚣尘上 (a great clamor and dust; a lot of noise about something)
上下交困 (both above and below in difficulty) + 困知勉行 (to learn through hardship and act with effort) + 行若无事 (to act as if nothing had happened)
事倍功半 (twice the effort for half the result) + 半夜三更 (in the middle of the night) + 更仆难数 (too many to count)
数见不鲜 (common and no longer new) + 鲜车怒马 (fine carriages and spirited horses; a luxurious life) + 马革裹尸 (to be wrapped in horsehide; to die on the battlefield)
尸居余气 (a corpse with a breath left; near death) + 气冲牛斗 (spirit soaring to the stars; great vigor or rage) + 斗筲之器 (a person of the capacity of a peck or a basket; narrow-minded)
器小易盈 (a small vessel is easily filled; easily complacent) + 盈盈一水 (separated by a narrow stretch of water) + 水陆杂陈 (delicacies from land and sea)
陈规陋习 (outdated rules and bad customs) + 习焉不察 (so used to it as not to notice) + 察察为明 (keen on petty details and taking it for wisdom)
明知故问 (to ask while knowing the answer) + 问道于盲 (to ask the way of a blind man) + 盲人摸象 (blind men feeling an elephant; a partial view)
象齿焚身 (the elephant is killed for its tusks; wealth brings ruin) + 身不由主 (unable to control oneself) + 主客颠倒 (host and guest reversed)
倒凤颠鸾 (tumbling phoenixes; lovemaking, or confusion) + 鸾翔凤集 (phoenixes soaring and gathering; talented people assembling) + 集苑集枯 (to gather in the garden or on dead trees; to flock to the prosperous and the declining alike)
枯木逢春 (a withered tree meets spring; new life) + 春山如笑 (spring hills seem to smile) + 笑里藏刀 (a dagger hidden in a smile)
刀山火海 (mountains of swords and seas of fire) + 海外奇谈 (a strange tale from overseas; a tall story) + 谈笑封侯 (to become a marquis while chatting and laughing; easy success)
侯门如海 (the gate of a noble house is as deep as the sea) + 海阔天空 (boundless sea and sky) + 空室清野 (empty houses and cleared fields; scorched earth)
野草闲花 (wild grass and flowers) + 花颜月貌 (a face like a flower and the moon) + 貌合神离 (united in appearance but divided at heart)
离乡背井 (to leave one’s hometown) + 井蛙之见 (the view of a frog in a well) + 见仁见智 (the benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom)
智勇双全 (both wise and brave) + 全受全归 (to receive the body whole and return it whole; to keep oneself unblemished) + 归马放牛 (to set free warhorses and oxen; peace restored)
牛骥同皂 (an ox and a steed in the same trough; talent mixed with mediocrity) + 皂白不分 (not distinguishing black from white) + 分香卖履 (dividing incense and selling shoes; a dying man’s concern for his family)
履舄交错 (shoes in disarray; a lively gathering) + 错彩镂金 (inlaid colors and carved gold; ornate writing) + 金城汤池 (a city of metal and a moat of boiling water; an impregnable fortress)
池鱼之殃 (the fish in the moat suffer; innocent bystanders harmed) + 殃及池鱼 (disaster reaches the fish in the moat) + 鱼烂而亡 (to perish like a fish rotting from within)
亡羊补牢 (to mend the pen after the sheep are lost) + 牢不可破 (unbreakable) + 破颜微笑 (to break into a smile)
笑逐颜开 (beaming with smiles) + 开宗明义 (to state the main theme at the outset) + 义薄云天 (righteousness reaching the clouds)
天南地北 (far apart) + 北辕适楚 (driving north to reach Chu in the south; acting contrary to one’s goal) + 楚囚对泣 (captives of Chu weeping together; helpless in adversity)
泣不成声 (too choked to speak) + 声嘶力竭 (shouting oneself hoarse) + 竭泽而渔 (draining the pond to catch the fish)
渔人之利 (the fisherman’s profit; a third party benefits) + 利令智昏 (blinded by greed) + 昏天黑地 (dark sky and dark earth; in a daze)
地大物博 (vast territory and abundant resources) + 博闻强识 (widely read with a strong memory) + 识途老马 (an old horse knows the way)
马到成功 (success as soon as the horses arrive) + 功德圆满 (virtue and merit complete) + 满腹狐疑 (full of doubts)
疑神疑鬼 (to suspect gods and ghosts; overly suspicious) + 鬼使神差 (driven by ghosts and gods; an unaccountable impulse) + 差三错四 (full of mistakes)
四时八节 (the four seasons and eight festivals; all year round) + 节衣缩食 (to economize on food and clothing) + 食而不化 (to eat without digesting)
化整为零 (to break up the whole into parts) + 零打碎敲 (to do bit by bit) + 敲冰求火 (knocking on ice to get fire; futile effort)
火树银花 (fiery trees and silver flowers; fireworks and lanterns) + 花好月圆 (flowers in bloom and a full moon; perfect happiness) + 圆颅方趾 (a round head and square feet; human beings)
趾高气扬 (walking with toes high; arrogant) + 扬汤止沸 (stopping boiling by ladling up the water; a temporary fix) + 沸沸扬扬 (seething and noisy)
扬幡招魂 (raising banners to summon the soul) + 魂不附体 (scared out of one’s wits) + 体无完肤 (not a patch of unharmed skin; thoroughly refuted)
肤皮潦草 (superficial and careless) + 草长莺飞 (grass grows and orioles fly; late spring) + 飞鹰走狗 (flying hawks and running hounds; hunting)
狗吠非主 (a dog barks at anyone not its master; loyalty to one’s own side) + 主情造意 (the instigator) + 意马心猿 (a mind like a galloping horse and a restless monkey)
猿猴取月 (monkeys trying to scoop up the moon; futile effort) + 月露风云 (moon, dew, wind and clouds; frivolous writing) + 云蒸霞蔚 (clouds rising and rosy mists; splendid scenery)
蔚为大观 (a magnificent sight) + 观眉说眼 (reading people’s faces) + 眼馋肚饱 (eyes greedy though the stomach is full)
饱食暖衣 (well fed and warmly clothed) + 衣架饭囊 (a clothes rack and a rice bag; a good-for-nothing) + 囊空如洗 (purse completely empty)
洗耳恭听 (to listen respectfully) + 听而不闻 (to hear but not listen) + 闻鸡起舞 (to rise at cockcrow and practice swordplay)
舞文弄墨 (to play with words) + 墨子泣丝 (Mozi weeping over silk; dismay at how the good can be corrupted) + 丝恩发怨 (the slightest kindness or grudge)
怨气冲天 (resentment soaring to the sky) + 天罗地网 (nets in the sky and on the earth; no escape) + 网开三面 (leaving three sides of the net open; leniency)
面目全非 (changed beyond recognition) + 非同小可 (no trifling matter) + 可心如意 (to one’s heart’s content)
意气扬扬 (in high spirits) + 扬眉吐气 (to raise one’s brows and breathe freely; proud and elated) + 气涌如山 (anger surging like a mountain)
山南海北 (far and wide) + 北叟失马 (the old man in the north loses his horse; a blessing in disguise) + 马仰人翻 (horses and riders thrown into confusion)
翻然改图 (to change one’s plans completely) + 图穷匕见 (the dagger is revealed when the map is unrolled) + 见多识广 (experienced and knowledgeable)
广开言路 (to open wide the channels of speech) + 路柳墙花 (willows by the road and flowers on the wall; prostitutes) + 花遮柳隐 (hidden among flowers and willows)
隐姓埋名 (to conceal one’s identity) + 名垂后世 (one’s name passes down to later ages) + 世风日下 (public morals declining day by day)
下车泣罪 (to step down from the carriage and weep over a criminal; compassion of a ruler) + 罪孽深重 (deep in sin) + 重于泰山 (weightier than Mount Tai)
山盟海誓 (vows as solid as mountains and seas) + 誓死不二 (vowing undivided loyalty unto death) + 二心两意 (half-hearted and wavering)
意气相投 (congenial) + 投机取巧 (opportunistic) + 巧取豪夺 (to take by trickery or force)
夺其谈经 (to take over the seat in a discussion of the classics; to surpass others in debate) + 经年累月 (for years on end) + 月下花前 (under the moon and before the flowers; romantic setting)
前思后想 (to think things over) + 想入非非 (to indulge in fantasies) + 非亲非故 (neither relative nor friend)
故弄玄虚 (to deliberately mystify) + 虚位以待 (to keep a position open) + 待人接物 (the way one treats people)
物尽其用 (to make the best use of everything) + 用兵如神 (a military genius) + 神差鬼使 (driven by ghosts and gods)
使臂使指 (as the arm moves the fingers; commanding with ease) + 指不胜屈 (too many to count on one’s fingers) + 屈指可数 (countable on one’s fingers)
数一数二 (one of the very best) + 二姓之好 (the union of two families by marriage) + 好高骛远 (aiming too high)
远走高飞 (to fly far away) + 飞蛾投火 (a moth flying into the flame) + 火上弄冰 (playing with ice on a fire; something quickly melting away)
冰天雪地 (a world of ice and snow) + 地狱变相 (pictures of hell; a hellish scene) + 相机而动 (to act as the occasion demands)
动如脱兔 (moving like an escaping hare) + 兔丝燕麦 (dodder and wild oats; something in name only) + 麦穗两歧 (two ears on one wheat stalk; a bumper harvest)
歧路亡羊 (losing the sheep at a fork in the road) + 羊质虎皮 (a sheep in a tiger’s skin) + 皮里阳秋 (criticism kept under the skin; unspoken judgment)
秋荼密网 (autumn weeds and a dense net; harsh and numerous laws) + 网开一面 (leaving one side of the net open; leniency) + 面红耳赤 (red in the face)
赤子之心 (the heart of a newborn; innocence) + 心高气傲 (proud and arrogant) + 傲然屹立 (standing proudly)
立功赎罪 (to atone for crimes with merit) + 罪魁祸首 (the chief culprit) + 首善之区 (the best place in the land; the capital)
区闻陬见 (narrow knowledge and limited views) + 见兔顾犬 (to see the hare and call the hound; acting in time) + 犬马之劳 (the service of a dog or horse; loyal service)
劳燕分飞 (the shrike and swallow fly apart; parting) + 飞蛾赴火 (a moth flying into the flame) + 火海刀山 (seas of fire and mountains of swords)
山高水低 (the mountain is high and the water low; a mishap, death) + 低声下气 (meek and submissive) + 气象万千 (majestic and ever-changing)
千疮百孔 (riddled with holes) + 孔席墨突 (Confucius’s mat never warm, Mozi’s chimney never black; constantly busy) + 突然袭击 (a surprise attack)
击节叹赏 (to beat time in admiration) + 赏一劝百 (rewarding one to encourage a hundred) + 百年不遇 (once in a century)
遇事生风 (to stir up trouble at every opportunity) + 风雨交加 (wind and rain together) + 加人一等 (a cut above others)
等因奉此 (bureaucratic jargon) + 此起彼伏 (rising here and falling there) + 伏地圣人 (a sage lying on the ground; a local know-it-all)
人欢马叫 (people shouting and horses neighing; bustling activity) + 叫苦连天 (to complain bitterly) + 天高听卑 (heaven is high but hears the lowly)
卑礼厚币 (humble courtesy and rich gifts) + 币重言甘 (rich gifts and sweet words; ulterior motives) + 甘棠遗爱 (the legacy of the sweet pear tree; fond memory of a good official)
爱屋及乌 (love me, love my dog) + 乌焉成马 (乌 and 焉 copied into 马; errors in copying) + 马鹿异形 (horse and deer differ in shape; telling right from wrong)
形影相吊 (body and shadow comforting each other; utterly alone) + 吊死问疾 (to mourn the dead and visit the sick) + 疾足先得 (the swift-footed get there first)
得陇望蜀 (having got Long, coveting Shu; insatiable) + 蜀犬吠日 (the dogs of Shu bark at the sun; making a fuss over the ordinary) + 日升月恒 (like the rising sun and the waxing moon; flourishing)
恒河沙数 (as numerous as the sands of the Ganges) + 数黑论黄 (to talk of black and yellow; to gossip) + 黄雀伺蝉 (the oriole waits behind the mantis stalking the cicada)
蝉不知雪 (the cicada knows nothing of snow; limited experience) + 雪窑冰天 (a world of snow and ice) + 天真烂漫 (innocent and artless)
漫不经心 (careless) + 心心念念 (thinking constantly of something) + 念念不忘 (never forgetting)
忘乎所以 (carried away) + 以指挠沸 (stirring boiling water with a finger; reckless and futile) + 沸反盈天 (a hubbub filling the sky)
天上石麟 (a stone unicorn from heaven; a gifted child) + 麟趾呈祥 (the unicorn’s hoof brings blessings; many fine offspring) + 祥麟威凤 (an auspicious unicorn and a majestic phoenix; rare talents)
凤凰来仪 (the phoenix comes in stately form; an auspicious omen) + 仪静体闲 (calm in manner and relaxed in bearing) + 闲云野鹤 (idle clouds and wild cranes; a carefree recluse)
鹤发鸡皮 (white hair and wrinkled skin; old age) + 皮里春秋 (criticism kept under the skin; unspoken judgment) + 秋风过耳 (like the autumn wind past one’s ears; paying no attention)
耳食之谈 (hearsay) + 谈笑自若 (talking and laughing calmly) + 若明若暗 (now clear, now dim; vague)
暗气暗恼 (to fume inwardly) + 恼羞成怒 (to become angry from embarrassment) + 怒目而视 (to glare)
视民如伤 (to look upon the people as if they were wounded; caring for the people) + 伤弓之鸟 (a bird once wounded by the bow) + 鸟语花香 (birds singing and flowers fragrant)
香花供养 (to make offerings of incense and flowers) + 养痈成患 (nursing a boil until it becomes dangerous) + 患难与共 (to share hardships together)
共枝别干 (from the same branch but different trunks; of common origin) + 干卿底事 (what business is it of yours?) + 事出有因 (there is a reason for it)
因敌取资 (to take supplies from the enemy) + 资深望重 (senior and highly respected) + 重睹天日 (to see the light of day again)
日上三竿 (the sun three poles high; late in the morning) + 竿头直上 (to climb straight up from the top of the pole; to make further progress) + 上援下推 (pulled from above and pushed from below)
推襟送抱 (to open one’s heart sincerely) + 抱蔓摘瓜 (to follow the vine and pick the melons; to track down clue by clue) + 瓜熟蒂落 (when the melon is ripe it falls from the stem)
落花流水 (fallen flowers and flowing water; utterly routed) + 水米无交 (not even water or rice exchanged; having no dealings) + 交浅言深 (to speak intimately on slight acquaintance)
深更半夜 (late at night) + 夜长梦多 (a long night brings many dreams; delays bring trouble) + 多才多艺 (versatile)
艺不压身 (skills are never a burden) + 身心交病 (ill in body and mind) + 病从口入 (illness enters through the mouth)
入门问讳 (on entering a house, ask what names to avoid) + 讳莫如深 (to keep something deeply secret) + 深恶痛绝 (to loathe utterly)
绝处逢生 (to find life in a desperate situation) + 生关死劫 (life and death trials) + 劫富济贫 (rob the rich to help the poor)
贫贱骄人 (proud though poor and lowly) + 人生如寄 (life is like a temporary lodging) + 寄人篱下 (to live under another’s roof)
下气怡声 (gentle and soft-spoken) + 声振林木 (a voice that shakes the trees) + 木人石心 (a wooden man with a heart of stone; unmoved by temptation)
心旷神怡 (carefree and happy) + 怡然自得 (content and pleased with oneself) + 得寸进尺 (give an inch and they take a foot)
尺短寸长 (a foot may be short and an inch long; everyone has strengths and weaknesses) + 长目飞耳 (long-range eyes and flying ears; well informed) + 耳聪目明 (sharp of ear and bright of eye)
明辨是非 (to distinguish right from wrong) + 非驴非马 (neither donkey nor horse; nondescript) + 马瘦毛长 (a lean horse has long hair; the poor are looked down upon)
长驱直入 (to drive straight in) + 入木三分 (penetrating three-tenths of the wood; incisive) + 分文不取 (not taking a penny)
取信于民 (to win the people’s trust) + 民怨沸腾 (popular resentment boiling over) + 腾蛟起凤 (soaring dragons and rising phoenixes; brilliant talent)
凤毛济美 (the phoenix’s feathers carry on its beauty; sons as gifted as their fathers) + 美女簪花 (a beautiful woman wearing flowers; graceful calligraphy) + 花说柳说 (flowery and sweet talk)
说黄道黑 (to gossip) + 黑灯瞎火 (pitch-dark) + 火光烛天 (flames lighting up the sky)
天壤悬隔 (as far apart as heaven and earth) + 隔年皇历 (last year’s almanac; outdated) + 历历可数 (clearly countable)
数白论黄 (to count silver and talk of gold; to discuss money) + 黄袍加身 (to be draped with the yellow robe; to be made emperor) + 身外之物 (things external to oneself; worldly possessions)
物换星移 (things change and stars move; the passage of time) + 移樽就教 (to carry one’s wine cup over to seek advice) + 教学相长 (teaching and learning help each other)
长年累月 (year after year) + 月晕而风 (a halo around the moon means wind) + 风流倜傥 (elegant and unconventional)
傥来之物 (unexpected gains) + 物是人非 (things remain but people are gone) + 非池中物 (not a creature of the pond; destined for greatness)
物及必反 (things that reach an extreme turn into their opposite) + 反经行权 (to depart from the norm to adapt to circumstances) + 权宜之计 (an expedient measure)
计出万全 (a perfectly safe plan) + 全无心肝 (utterly heartless) + 肝肠寸断 (heartbroken)
断梗飘蓬 (broken stems and drifting tumbleweed; a wanderer’s life) + 蓬户瓮牖 (a thatched door and jar windows; a poor home) + 牖中窥日 (peeping at the sun through a window; a limited view)
日积月累 (accumulated day by day) + 累瓦结绳 (piling up tiles and tying knots; redundant writing) + 绳锯木断 (a rope can saw through wood; perseverance wins)
断发文身 (cutting the hair and tattooing the body) + 身体力行 (to practice what one preaches) + 行不胜衣 (too weak to bear one’s clothes)
衣不完采 (clothes without full color; frugal living) + 采兰赠药 (gathering orchids and giving peonies; tokens of love) + 药石之言 (words like medicine and acupuncture stones; frank, helpful advice)
言传身教 (teaching by word and example) + 教一识百 (taught one thing, one grasps a hundred) + 百花齐放 (let a hundred flowers bloom)
放任自流 (to let things drift) + 流星赶月 (a shooting star chasing the moon; very fast) + 月下老人 (the old man under the moon; the matchmaker god)
人杰地灵 (a remarkable place that produces outstanding people) + 灵机一动 (a sudden inspiration) + 动魄惊心 (soul-stirring and heart-shaking)
心慈面软 (kind-hearted and soft) + 软红香土 (soft red dust and fragrant earth; the bustle of a capital) + 土龙刍狗 (clay dragons and straw dogs; things of no real use)
狗彘不若 (worse than dogs and pigs) + 若即若离 (neither close nor distant) + 离群索居 (to live apart from the crowd)
居安思危 (to think of danger in times of peace) + 危如累卵 (as precarious as a stack of eggs) + 卵与石斗 (an egg fighting a stone)
斗转星移 (the Dipper turns and the stars move; time passes) + 移山倒海 (to move mountains and drain seas) + 海水群飞 (the sea surging up; great turmoil)
飞短流长 (gossip and rumors) + 长治久安 (long-term peace and stability) + 安之若素 (to take it calmly)
素昧平生 (never having met before) + 生栋覆屋 (green timber makes a roof collapse; haste brings disaster) + 屋如七星 (a house with holes like the seven stars; extremely poor)
星罗棋布 (scattered like stars and chess pieces) + 布鼓雷门 (beating a cloth drum at the Thunder Gate; showing off before experts) + 门到户说 (to go door to door explaining)
说三道四 (to make irresponsible remarks) + 四平八稳 (stable and steady; overly cautious) + 稳扎稳打 (to proceed steadily)
打牙犯嘴 (to banter and quarrel) + 嘴直心快 (outspoken and frank) + 快步流星 (walking fast like a shooting star)
星火燎原 (a single spark can start a prairie fire) + 原原本本 (from beginning to end) + 本末倒置 (putting the end before the root)
置若罔闻 (to turn a deaf ear) + 闻风丧胆 (terrified at the news) + 胆小如鼠 (as timid as a mouse)
鼠窜狼奔 (scurrying like rats and fleeing like wolves) + 奔走相告 (to run around spreading the news) + 告朔饩羊 (the sheep for the new-moon rite; an empty formality)
羊狠狼贪 (fierce as a ram and greedy as a wolf) + 贪污腐化 (corruption and degeneration) + 化为乌有 (to come to nothing)
有备无患 (preparedness averts peril) + 患难之交 (a friend in adversity) + 交淡若水 (friendship as plain as water)
水过鸭背 (water off a duck’s back) + 背城借一 (to make a last stand before the city wall) + 一塌糊涂 (a complete mess)
涂脂抹粉 (to apply rouge and powder; to whitewash) + 粉白黛黑 (white powder and black eyebrows; beautiful women) + 黑白分明 (black and white clearly distinguished)
明目张胆 (brazenly) + 胆战心惊 (trembling with fear) + 惊心悼胆 (heart frightened and gall trembling; terrified)
胆大心小 (bold yet cautious) + 小廉曲谨 (minor honesty and petty caution) + 谨毛失貌 (careful with the hairs but missing the face; missing the big picture)
貌似强大 (outwardly strong) + 大璞不完 (great uncut jade not left whole; natural beauty spoiled) + 完事大吉 (all done and well)
吉光片羽 (a piece of fur from the auspicious beast; a precious fragment) + 羽毛未丰 (feathers not yet full-grown; immature) + 丰衣足食 (ample food and clothing)
食肉寝皮 (to eat his flesh and sleep on his hide; intense hatred) + 皮相之见 (a superficial view) + 见笑大方 (to be laughed at by experts)
方便之门 (a door of convenience) + 门当户对 (families of equal standing) + 对酒当歌 (singing over wine)
歌舞升平 (singing and dancing in times of peace) + 平白无故 (for no reason at all) + 故入人罪 (to frame someone deliberately)
罪该万死 (deserving ten thousand deaths) + 死灰复燃 (dead ashes flaring up again) + 燃眉之急 (as urgent as a fire singeing the eyebrows)
急不暇择 (too hurried to choose) + 择善而从 (to choose the good and follow it) + 从心所欲 (to follow one’s heart’s desire)
欲擒故纵 (to let go in order to catch) + 纵虎归山 (to let a tiger return to the mountains) + 山栖谷隐 (living in mountains and hiding in valleys; a recluse)
隐忍不言 (to bear in silence) + 言之凿凿 (to speak with certainty) + 凿壁偷光 (boring through the wall to borrow light; studying hard in poverty)
光复旧物 (to recover lost territory) + 物腐虫生 (rotting things breed worms; weakness invites attack) + 生不逢时 (born at the wrong time)
时不再来 (the time will not come again) + 来者可追 (the future can still be pursued) + 追本穷源 (to trace to the root)
源源而来 (to come in an endless stream) + 来者不善 (the visitor bodes no good) + 善善恶恶 (to love good and hate evil)
恶语中伤 (to slander viciously) + 伤心惨目 (heartbreaking and appalling) + 目不暇接 (too many things to see)
接踵而来 (to follow one after another) + 来日大难 (difficult days ahead) + 难以置信 (hard to believe)
信口雌黄 (to talk irresponsibly) + 黄道吉日 (an auspicious day) + 日下无双 (unrivaled in the capital)
双瞳剪水 (eyes as clear as autumn water) + 水火无情 (water and fire have no mercy) + 情至意尽 (to have shown every kindness)
尽如人意 (entirely satisfactory) + 意气风发 (high-spirited and vigorous) + 发号施令 (to issue orders)
令人作呕 (nauseating) + 呕心沥血 (to pour out one’s heart and blood) + 血气方刚 (full of youthful vigor)
刚直不阿 (upright and uncompromising) + 阿谀逢迎 (to flatter and fawn) + 迎头赶上 (to catch up)
上下其手 (to raise and lower the hand; to manipulate behind the scenes) + 手不释卷 (never putting down a book) + 卷土重来 (to stage a comeback)
来情去意 (the ins and outs of a matter) + 意在笔先 (the idea comes before the brush) + 先意承志 (to anticipate and carry out a parent’s wishes)
志士仁人 (people of lofty ideals and benevolence) + 人寿年丰 (long life and good harvests) + 丰亨豫大 (abundance and prosperity)
大言不惭 (to boast without shame) + 惭凫企鹤 (the duck ashamed, aspiring to the crane; envying others’ strengths) + 鹤立鸡群 (a crane among chickens)
群雌粥粥 (a flock of hens clucking; a noisy crowd of women) + 粥少僧多 (little gruel and many monks; not enough to go around) + 多藏厚亡 (the more one hoards, the more one loses)
亡命之徒 (a desperado) + 徒托空言 (to make empty promises) + 言重九鼎 (words as weighty as the nine tripods)
鼎新革故 (to discard the old and establish the new) + 故作高深 (to pretend to be profound) + 深藏若虚 (to hide one’s talents as if having none)
虚张声势 (to bluff) + 势倾天下 (power that dominates the world) + 下里巴人 (the songs of rustic folk; popular art)
人才济济 (a galaxy of talent) + 济困扶危 (to help those in distress) + 危言危行 (upright words and upright deeds)
行云流水 (moving clouds and flowing water; natural and fluent) + 水泄不通 (not even water can leak through; packed tight) + 通力合作 (to work together with combined effort)
作威作福 (to tyrannize) + 福无双至 (blessings never come in pairs) + 至高无上 (supreme)
上雨旁风 (rain from above and wind from the sides; a dilapidated house) + 风情月债 (debts of romance) + 债多不愁 (too many debts to worry about)
愁眉锁眼 (knitted brows and locked eyes; worried) + 眼高手低 (high standards but low ability) + 低三下四 (servile)
四大皆空 (the four elements are all empty) + 空前绝后 (unprecedented and unrepeatable) + 后生可畏 (the young are to be held in awe)
畏葸不前 (timid and hesitant) + 前车之鉴 (the lesson of the overturned cart ahead) + 鉴往知来 (to know the future by reviewing the past)
来去分明 (clear in comings and goings; upright) + 明白了当 (clear and straightforward) + 当门抵户 (to bar the door; to manage household affairs)
户限为穿 (the threshold worn through by visitors) + 穿壁引光 (boring through the wall to get light; studying diligently) + 光前裕后 (to glorify one’s ancestors and benefit one’s descendants)
后起之秀 (a promising newcomer) + 秀而不实 (flowering but bearing no fruit) + 实与有力 (to have truly helped)
力争上游 (to strive for the upper reaches; to aim high) + 游刃有余 (handling a knife with ease; skillful) + 余波未平 (the aftermath has not subsided)
平淡无奇 (plain and ordinary) + 奇珍异宝 (rare treasures) + 宝刀不老 (the precious sword never grows old; still capable in old age)
老态龙钟 (old and doddering) + 钟灵毓秀 (a place that nurtures talent) + 秀才人情 (a scholar’s gift; a modest present)
情窦初开 (first awakening of love) + 开山祖师 (the founder) + 师老兵破 (an exhausted army is defeated)
破瓜之年 (a girl of sixteen) + 年富力强 (young and vigorous) + 强人所难 (to force someone to do what they cannot)
难解难分 (locked in a struggle; inseparable) + 分秒必争 (every second counts) + 争猫丢牛 (fighting over a cat and losing the ox)
牛鬼蛇神 (monsters and demons) + 神出鬼没 (appearing and vanishing like a ghost) + 没精打采 (listless)
采薪之忧 (too ill to gather firewood; ill) + 忧患余生 (a life spent in sorrow and hardship) + 生死存亡 (life or death)
亡羊得牛 (to lose a sheep and gain an ox) + 牛鼎烹鸡 (cooking a chicken in an ox cauldron; great talent in a small post) + 鸡犬不宁 (not even chickens and dogs are left in peace)
宁缺毋滥 (better to go without than to accept the shoddy) + 滥用职权 (to abuse one’s power) + 权衡轻重 (to weigh the pros and cons)
重见天日 (to see the light of day again) + 日以继夜 (day and night) + 夜以继日 (night and day)
日新月异 (changing with each passing day) + 异端邪说 (heresy) + 说黑道白 (to make irresponsible remarks)
白璧无瑕 (flawless white jade) + 瑕瑜互见 (flaws and merits both evident) + 见兔放鹰 (releasing the hawk on seeing the hare; acting at the right moment)
鹰瞵鹗视 (staring like an eagle or osprey; eyeing greedily) + 视而不见 (to look but not see) + 见猎心喜 (delighted at the sight of hunting; eager to try an old hobby)
喜新厌旧 (loving the new and tiring of the old) + 旧调重弹 (to play the same old tune) + 弹尽援绝 (ammunition exhausted and no reinforcements)
绝路逢生 (to find a way out of a dead end) + 生死相依 (to depend on each other in life and death) + 依然故我 (still my old self)
我心如秤 (my heart is like a scale; impartial) + 秤平斗满 (full measure and fair weight) + 满面春风 (beaming with joy)
风刀霜剑 (wind like knives and frost like swords; harsh conditions) + 剑拔弩张 (swords drawn and bows bent; tense) + 张三李四 (Tom, Dick and Harry)
四不拗六 (four cannot overrule six; the minority must yield) + 六马仰秣 (the six horses look up from their feed; enchanting music) + 秣马厉兵 (to feed horses and sharpen weapons)
兵不由将 (the troops do not obey the general) + 将计就计 (to turn someone’s trick against them) + 计无所出 (at one’s wits’ end)
出生入死 (to brave life and death) + 死气沉沉 (lifeless) + 沉鱼落雁 (fish sink and geese fall; stunning beauty)
雁杳鱼沉 (no letters from geese or fish; no news) + 沉李浮瓜 (sinking plums and floating melons; summer refreshments) + 瓜剖豆分 (split like melons and beans; a divided country)
分甘共苦 (to share joys and sorrows) + 苦中作乐 (to find joy in hardship) + 乐极生悲 (extreme joy turns to sorrow)
悲天悯人 (to lament the times and pity the people) + 人言可畏 (gossip is a fearful thing) + 畏缩不前 (to shrink back)
前俯后仰 (to rock back and forth with laughter) + 仰首伸眉 (head up and brows raised; proud and elated) + 眉高眼低 (the look on someone’s face)
低首下心 (to bow one’s head submissively) + 心乱如麻 (a mind in a tangle) + 麻木不仁 (numb and apathetic)
仁言利博 (benevolent words bring wide benefit) + 博士买驴 (the scholar buying a donkey; wordy but missing the point) + 驴鸣犬吠 (braying donkeys and barking dogs; poor writing)
吠影吠声 (barking at shadows and sounds; blindly following others) + 声威大震 (one’s prestige greatly enhanced) + 震古烁今 (earth-shaking and unprecedented)
今非昔比 (the present is not what the past was) + 比肩继踵 (shoulder to shoulder and heel to toe; crowded) + 踵决肘见 (heels out of shoes and elbows out of sleeves; destitute)
见钱眼开 (eyes light up at the sight of money) + 开诚布公 (frank and open) + 公诸同好 (to share with others of like taste)
好逸恶劳 (to love ease and hate work) + 劳师动众 (to mobilize many people) + 众口难调 (it is hard to suit all tastes)
调虎离山 (to lure the tiger from the mountain) + 山崩钟应 (the mountain collapses and the bell resounds; mutual response) + 应运而生 (to emerge in response to the times)
生龙活虎 (lively as a dragon and a tiger) + 虎狼之势 (ferocious might) + 势成骑虎 (riding a tiger and unable to dismount)
虎尾春冰 (treading on a tiger’s tail or spring ice; extreme danger) + 冰炭不投 (ice and coals cannot mix; incompatible) + 投畀豺虎 (to throw to the wolves and tigers)
虎口余生 (a narrow escape from the tiger’s mouth) + 生老病死 (birth, old age, sickness and death) + 死不悔改 (unrepentant until death)
改邪归正 (to give up evil and return to good) + 正理平治 (order and good government) + 治国安民 (to govern the country and bring peace to the people)
民保于信 (the people are secured by trust) + 信及豚鱼 (trustworthiness extends even to pigs and fish) + 鱼贯而入 (to file in one by one)
入不敷出 (income not covering expenses) + 出入人罪 (to wrongly convict or acquit) + 罪有应得 (to get what one deserves)
得过且过 (to muddle along) + 过目不忘 (a photographic memory) + 忘其所以 (carried away)
以莛叩钟 (striking a bell with a blade of grass; inadequate means) + 钟鸣漏尽 (the bell tolls and the water clock runs out; old age) + 尽人皆知 (known to all)
知难而退 (to retreat in the face of difficulty) + 退如山移 (retreating like a moving mountain; orderly withdrawal) + 移天易日 (to move the heavens and change the sun; to usurp power)
日就月将 (to make progress day by day and month by month) + 将信将疑 (half believing and half doubting) + 疑信参半 (half doubt and half belief)
半吞半吐 (to hem and haw) + 吐刚茹柔 (spitting out the hard and swallowing the soft; bullying the weak and fearing the strong) + 柔茹刚吐 (swallowing the soft and spitting out the hard; bullying the weak)
吐哺握发 (spitting out food and holding one’s wet hair; eager to receive talented people) + 发愤图强 (to strive hard for prosperity) + 强聒不舍 (to nag incessantly)
舍生忘死 (to risk one’s life) + 死不瞑目 (to die with eyes open; unable to rest in peace) + 目送手挥 (eyes following and hand strumming; ease of mastery)
挥戈反日 (to wave the spear and turn back the sun; to reverse a hopeless situation) + 日暮途穷 (the sun is setting and the road is ending) + 穷奢极欲 (extreme luxury and indulgence)
欲罢不能 (unable to stop) + 能工巧匠 (skilled craftsmen) + 匠心独运 (original ingenuity)
运用自如 (to use with ease) + 如应斯响 (like an echo answering a sound; immediate response) + 响彻云霄 (resounding to the clouds)
霄壤之别 (as different as heaven and earth) + 别具一格 (of a unique style) + 格格不入 (incompatible)
入井望天 (looking at the sky from inside a well) + 天翻地覆 (heaven and earth turned upside down) + 覆车之鉴 (the lesson of an overturned cart)
鉴影度形 (to judge the form by the shadow) + 形枉影曲 (a crooked body casts a crooked shadow) + 曲高和寡 (a lofty song finds few singers to join in)
寡见少闻 (ill-informed) + 闻过则喜 (glad to hear of one’s faults) + 喜从天降 (joy falling from the sky)
降心相从 (to humble oneself and comply) + 从井救人 (to jump into a well to save someone; reckless help) + 人心所向 (the will of the people)
向天而唾 (to spit at the sky; to harm oneself) + 唾手可得 (within easy reach) + 得意忘形 (carried away with success)
形影相随 (inseparable as body and shadow) + 随俗浮沉 (to drift with the tide) + 沉冤莫白 (a long-standing injustice not redressed)
白云苍狗 (white clouds turning into grey dogs; the vicissitudes of life) + 狗头军师 (a dog-headed adviser; a bad counselor) + 师出有名 (an army sent forth with a just cause)
名正言顺 (proper and justified) + 顺水人情 (a favor that costs nothing) + 情急智生 (desperation breeds wit)
生离死别 (parting in life and separation by death) + 别有用心 (with ulterior motives) + 心如死灰 (a heart like dead ashes; utterly disheartened)
灰心丧气 (discouraged and dejected) + 气焰熏天 (overweening arrogance) + 天长日久 (over a long time)
久安长治 (lasting peace and order) + 治病救人 (to cure the sickness to save the patient) + 人心归向 (the people’s hearts turn toward someone)
向壁虚造 (to fabricate facing a blank wall; pure invention) + 造谣惑众 (to spread rumors to mislead the public) + 众擎易举 (many hands make light work)
举案齐眉 (raising the tray to eyebrow level; mutual respect between husband and wife) + 眉目如画 (features as lovely as a painting) + 画中有诗 (poetry within the painting)
诗中有画 (painting within the poem) + 画虎类狗 (trying to draw a tiger and ending up with a dog) + 狗仗人势 (a dog relying on its master’s power)
势焰熏天 (overweening power) + 天悬地隔 (as far apart as heaven and earth) + 隔世之感 (the feeling of a different age)
感激涕零 (moved to tears of gratitude) + 零敲碎打 (piecemeal) + 打成一片 (to become one with)
片甲不回 (not a single piece of armor returns; annihilated) + 回天之力 (the power to turn the heavens; tremendous power) + 力不从心 (ability falls short of one’s wishes)
心坚石穿 (a firm will can bore through stone) + 穿井得人 (digging a well and gaining a man; a rumor distorted) + 人亡物在 (the person is gone but the things remain)
在所不惜 (regardless of the cost) + 惜墨如金 (to value ink like gold; sparing with words) + 金枝玉叶 (golden branches and jade leaves; royal offspring)
叶落知秋 (a falling leaf heralds autumn) + 秋色平分 (to divide the autumn scenery equally; evenly matched) + 分斤掰两 (to haggle over every ounce)
两瞽相扶 (two blind men helping each other) + 扶危济困 (to help those in danger and distress) + 困兽犹斗 (a cornered beast still fights)
斗鸡走狗 (cockfighting and dog racing; idle pursuits) + 狗血喷头 (a torrent of abuse) + 头童齿豁 (bald head and gap teeth; old age)
豁然贯通 (suddenly understand thoroughly) + 通今博古 (versed in past and present) + 古调单弹 (playing old tunes alone; out of step with the times)
弹尽粮绝 (out of ammunition and food) + 绝无仅有 (unique) + 有枝添叶 (to add branches and leaves; to embellish)
叶公好龙 (Lord Ye’s love of dragons; professed love of what one fears) + 龙马精神 (the vigor of a dragon horse) + 神魂颠倒 (infatuated)
倒持泰阿 (holding the Tai’e sword by the blade; handing power to others) + 阿其所好 (to pander to someone’s tastes) + 好为人师 (fond of lecturing others)
师出无名 (an army sent without just cause) + 名存实亡 (in name only) + 亡魂丧胆 (scared out of one’s wits)
胆大包天 (extremely audacious) + 天怒人怨 (heaven’s anger and the people’s resentment) + 怨天尤人 (to blame heaven and others)
人己一视 (to treat others and oneself alike) + 视同路人 (to treat as a stranger) + 人尽其才 (to make the best use of everyone’s talent)
才疏意广 (little talent but grand ambitions) + 广土众民 (vast land and a large population) + 民胞物与 (all people are my brothers and all things my companions)
与世无争 (at odds with no one) + 争权夺利 (to scramble for power and profit) + 利欲薰心 (blinded by greed)
心灵手巧 (clever and deft) + 巧不可接 (unsurpassably skillful) + 接三连四 (one after another)
四亭八当 (everything in good order) + 当务之急 (the most urgent task) + 急流勇退 (to retire bravely at the height of one’s career)
退避三舍 (to retreat ninety li; to give way) + 舍己救人 (to sacrifice oneself to save others) + 人心不古 (people’s hearts are not as in ancient times)
古貌古心 (old-fashioned in looks and heart; simple and honest) + 心手相应 (hand and heart in accord) + 应付裕如 (to handle with ease)
如释重负 (as if relieved of a heavy burden) + 负荆请罪 (to carry thorns and ask for punishment; to offer a humble apology) + 罪恶滔天 (monstrous crimes)
天昏地暗 (dark sky and dark earth) + 暗箭伤人 (to stab someone in the back) + 人存政举 (the policy thrives while the person lives)
举世瞩目 (attracting worldwide attention) + 目无全牛 (seeing no whole ox; consummate skill) + 牛刀割鸡 (using an ox cleaver to kill a chicken)
鸡鸣狗吠 (cocks crowing and dogs barking) + 吠形吠声 (barking at shapes and sounds; blindly echoing others) + 声应气求 (like voices answering and kindred spirits seeking each other)
求田问舍 (seeking land and houses; caring only for personal property) + 舍己从人 (to give up one’s own views to follow others) + 人微权轻 (of low position and little power)
轻重倒置 (putting the trivial before the important) + 置之脑后 (to put out of one’s mind) + 后来居上 (latecomers surpass the early ones)
上下一心 (united from top to bottom) + 心灰意冷 (disheartened) + 冷暖自知 (only the drinker knows whether the water is warm or cold)
知人之明 (the ability to judge people) + 明争暗斗 (open strife and secret struggle) + 斗转参横 (the Dipper turns and Orion slants; late at night)
横七竖八 (in a mess) + 八方呼应 (support from all sides) + 应付自如 (to handle with ease)
如花似锦 (like flowers and brocade) + 锦心绣口 (a brocade heart and embroidered mouth; literary talent) + 口沸目赤 (mouth frothing and eyes red; heated argument)
赤胆忠心 (utter loyalty) + 心平气和 (calm and composed) + 和盘托出 (to lay everything on the table)
出将入相 (general abroad and minister at home) + 相惊伯有 (frightened of Boyou’s ghost; groundless panic) + 有求必应 (to grant every request)
应有尽有 (everything one could wish for) + 有名无实 (in name only) + 实逼处此 (forced by circumstances)
此唱彼和 (one sings and another joins in) + 和而不同 (harmonious but not identical) + 同工异曲 (different tunes played with equal skill)
曲尽其妙 (to bring out every subtlety) + 妙手空空 (clever hands, empty-handed; a thief, or penniless) + 空谷传声 (a sound echoing in an empty valley)
声势浩大 (great momentum) + 大度包容 (magnanimous and tolerant) + 容光焕发 (radiant)
发扬光大 (to carry forward and develop) + 大有人在 (there are many such people) + 在家出家 (to be a monk while living at home)
家贫亲老 (a poor family and aged parents) + 老羞成怒 (angry from embarrassment) + 怒发冲冠 (hair standing up and lifting the cap; furious)
冠盖相望 (officials’ caps and carriage canopies in sight of one another; envoys in constant succession) + 望子成龙 (hoping one’s son becomes a dragon) + 龙争虎斗 (dragons and tigers fighting)
斗酒只鸡 (a jug of wine and a chicken; offerings to the dead) + 鸡口牛后 (better the beak of a chicken than the rear of an ox) + 后患无穷 (endless trouble later)
穷凶极恶 (extremely vicious) + 恶醉强酒 (hating drunkenness yet forcing oneself to drink) + 酒入舌出 (wine goes in and the tongue comes out; drunk and talkative)
出以公心 (from public-spirited motives) + 心术不正 (ill-intentioned) + 正襟危坐 (to sit upright in a respectful manner)
坐观成败 (to sit and watch success or failure) + 败军之将 (a defeated general) + 将伯之呼 (a call for help)
呼么喝六 (shouting at dice; noisy gambling or bossing people) + 六尺之孤 (an orphan of six feet; a young orphaned heir) + 孤独矜寡 (the orphaned, the childless, widowers and widows)
寡不敌众 (outnumbered) + 众所周知 (as everyone knows) + 知无不言 (to say all one knows)
言过其实 (exaggerated) + 实获我心 (that’s exactly what I think) + 心到神知 (the gods know what is in one’s heart)
知小谋大 (small knowledge but big schemes) + 大名鼎鼎 (famous) + 鼎鼎大名 (a great name)
名目繁多 (many kinds and names) + 多愁善感 (sentimental) + 感慨万千 (filled with emotion)
千载难逢 (once in a thousand years) + 逢人说项 (to praise Xiang Si to everyone; to speak well of someone) + 项背相望 (in sight of one another’s backs; in continuous succession)
望穿秋水 (to gaze with longing) + 水尽鹅飞 (the water dries up and the geese fly away; all gone) + 飞蓬随风 (tumbleweed blown by the wind; wandering)
风行革偃 (as grass bends before the wind; easily influenced) + 偃武修文 (to cease war and promote culture) + 文不加点 (writing without a single correction)
点石成金 (to touch stone and turn it to gold) + 金舌蔽口 (a golden tongue in a sealed mouth; keeping silent) + 口讲指画 (explaining with words and gestures)
画脂镂冰 (painting on fat and carving on ice; wasted effort) + 冰雪聪明 (exceptionally bright) + 明镜高悬 (a bright mirror hanging high; an impartial judge)
悬鹑百结 (clothes in rags) + 结驷连骑 (teams of horses one after another; a grand retinue) + 骑驴觅驴 (looking for the donkey while riding it)
驴前马后 (before the donkey and behind the horse; a servant) + 后继无人 (no successors) + 人微言轻 (of low position, one’s words carry little weight)
轻而易举 (easy to do) + 举一反三 (to infer three things from one) + 三生有幸 (fortunate for three lifetimes)
幸灾乐祸 (to take pleasure in others’ misfortune) + 祸国殃民 (to bring disaster to the country and the people) + 民富国强 (a prosperous people and a strong country)
强作解人 (to pretend to understand) + 人多势众 (strength in numbers) + 众口铄金 (many mouths can melt metal)
金刚怒目 (a vajra guardian’s glare) + 目光如鼠 (eyes like a rat; shortsighted) + 鼠窃狗偷 (petty thieves)
偷工减料 (to cut corners) + 料事如神 (to foresee like a god) + 神通广大 (having vast magical powers)
大敌当前 (facing a powerful enemy) + 前所未闻 (unheard of) + 闻一知十 (to hear one and know ten)
十围五攻 (surrounding with ten times, attacking with five times the force) + 攻苦食淡 (to work hard and live plainly) + 淡汝浓抹 (light makeup or heavy)
抹月秕风 (to make a meal of moonlight and wind; poor but refined) + 风花雪夜 (wind, flowers, snow and night; frivolous writing) + 夜郎自大 (the arrogance of Yelang)
大打出手 (to come to blows) + 手到病除 (the illness goes at a touch) + 除暴安良 (to eliminate tyrants and protect good people)
良工心苦 (the painstaking care of a good craftsman) + 苦大仇深 (great suffering and deep hatred) + 深入人心 (deeply rooted in people’s hearts)
心安理得 (with a clear conscience) + 得胜回朝 (to return victorious) + 朝梁暮陈 (serving Liang in the morning and Chen at night; fickle loyalty)
陈陈相因 (to follow the same old routine) + 因循守旧 (to stick to old ways) + 旧地重游 (to revisit an old haunt)
游山玩水 (to tour the hills and waters) + 水涨船高 (the boat rises with the water) + 高义薄云 (righteousness reaching the clouds)
云兴霞蔚 (clouds rising and rosy mists; splendid scenery) + 蔚然成风 (to become a general trend) + 风流罪过 (a romantic misdemeanor)
过街老鼠 (a rat crossing the street; a universally hated person) + 鼠目寸光 (a mouse’s view an inch long; shortsighted) + 光前绝后 (outshining past and future)
后发制人 (to gain mastery by striking later) + 人云亦云 (to repeat what others say) + 云过天空 (the clouds pass and the sky clears)
空穴来风 (wind from an empty cave; a groundless rumor) + 风卷残云 (the wind sweeping away the clouds; making a clean sweep) + 云泥之别 (as different as clouds and mud)
别具匠心 (of special ingenuity) + 心口如一 (saying what one thinks) + 一丝不挂 (not a stitch on)
挂一漏万 (to cite one and miss ten thousand) + 万古长青 (evergreen forever) + 青黄不接 (the old crop runs out before the new comes in)
接二连三 (one after another) + 三牲五鼎 (three sacrificial animals and five tripods; a lavish feast) + 鼎足而三 (three legs of a tripod; a three-way balance)
三命而俯 (bowing lower with each promotion; humility) + 俯仰由人 (to be at others’ mercy) + 人一己百 (if others do it once, I do it a hundred times)
百折不回 (undaunted by repeated setbacks) + 回味无穷 (a lasting aftertaste) + 穷极无聊 (utterly bored)
聊以自慰 (to console oneself) + 慰情胜无 (some comfort is better than none) + 无拳无勇 (without strength or courage)
勇往直前 (to advance bravely) + 前挽后推 (pulling in front and pushing behind) + 推己及人 (to put oneself in another’s place)
人众胜天 (many people can conquer nature) + 天灾人祸 (natural and man-made disasters) + 祸福相依 (fortune and misfortune depend on each other)
依依不舍 (reluctant to part) + 舍己为人 (to sacrifice oneself for others) + 轻而易举 (easy to do)
举一反三 (to infer three things from one) + 三生有幸 (fortunate for three lifetimes) + 幸灾乐祸 (to take pleasure in others’ misfortune)
祸国殃民 (to bring disaster to the country and the people) + 民富国强 (a prosperous people and a strong country) + 强作解人 (to pretend to understand)
人多势众 (strength in numbers) + 众口铄金 (many mouths can melt metal) + 金刚怒目 (a vajra guardian’s glare)
目光如鼠 (eyes like a rat; shortsighted) + 鼠窃狗偷 (petty thieves) + 偷工减料 (to cut corners)
料事如神 (to foresee like a god) + 神通广大 (having vast magical powers) + 大敌当前 (facing a powerful enemy)
前所未闻 (unheard of) + 闻一知十 (to hear one and know ten) + 十围五攻 (surrounding with ten times, attacking with five times the force)
攻苦食淡 (to work hard and live plainly) + 淡汝浓抹 (light makeup or heavy) + 抹月秕风 (to make a meal of moonlight and wind; poor but refined)
风花雪夜 (wind, flowers, snow and night; frivolous writing) + 夜郎自大 (the arrogance of Yelang) + 大打出手 (to come to blows)
手到病除 (the illness goes at a touch) + 除暴安良 (to eliminate tyrants and protect good people) + 良工心苦 (the painstaking care of a good craftsman)
苦大仇深 (great suffering and deep hatred) + 深入人心 (deeply rooted in people’s hearts) + 心安理得 (with a clear conscience)
得胜回朝 (to return victorious) + 朝梁暮陈 (serving Liang in the morning and Chen at night; fickle loyalty) + 陈陈相因 (to follow the same old routine)
因循守旧 (to stick to old ways) + 旧地重游 (to revisit an old haunt) + 游山玩水 (to tour the hills and waters)
水涨船高 (the boat rises with the water) + 高义薄云 (righteousness reaching the clouds) + 云兴霞蔚 (clouds rising and rosy mists; splendid scenery)
蔚然成风 (to become a general trend) + 风流罪过 (a romantic misdemeanor) + 过街老鼠 (a rat crossing the street; a universally hated person)
鼠目寸光 (a mouse’s view an inch long; shortsighted) + 光前绝后 (outshining past and future) + 后发制人 (to gain mastery by striking later)
人云亦云 (to repeat what others say) + 云过天空 (the clouds pass and the sky clears) + 空穴来风 (wind from an empty cave; a groundless rumor)
风卷残云 (the wind sweeping away the clouds; making a clean sweep) + 云泥之别 (as different as clouds and mud) + 别具匠心 (of special ingenuity)
心口如一 (saying what one thinks) + 一丝不挂 (not a stitch on) + 挂一漏万 (to cite one and miss ten thousand)
万古长青 (evergreen forever) + 青黄不接 (the old crop runs out before the new comes in) + 接二连三 (one after another)
三牲五鼎 (three sacrificial animals and five tripods; a lavish feast) + 鼎足而三 (three legs of a tripod; a three-way balance) + 三命而俯 (bowing lower with each promotion; humility)
俯仰由人 (to be at others’ mercy) + 人一己百 (if others do it once, I do it a hundred times) + 百折不回 (undaunted by repeated setbacks)
回味无穷 (a lasting aftertaste) + 穷极无聊 (utterly bored) + 聊以自慰 (to console oneself)
慰情胜无 (some comfort is better than none) + 无拳无勇 (without strength or courage) + 勇往直前 (to advance bravely)
前挽后推 (pulling in front and pushing behind) + 推己及人 (to put oneself in another’s place) + 人众胜天 (many people can conquer nature)
天灾人祸 (natural and man-made disasters) + 祸福相依 (fortune and misfortune depend on each other) + 依依不舍 (reluctant to part)
舍己为人 (to sacrifice oneself for others) + 人命关天 (human life is of supreme importance) + 天下太平 (peace under heaven)
平起平坐 (to sit as equals) + 坐不重席 (not sitting on a double mat; frugal living) + 席地而坐 (to sit on the ground)
坐井观天 (to view the sky from the bottom of a well) + 天渊之别 (a difference as great as heaven and abyss) + 别有洞天 (a world of its own)
天荒地老 (until heaven and earth grow old) + 老气横秋 (old and arrogant; lifeless) + 秋水伊人 (the beloved by the autumn waters; longing for someone)
人定胜天 (man can conquer nature) + 天保九如 (heaven protects with nine likenesses; birthday blessings) + 如左右手 (like one’s left and right hands)
手不停挥 (the hand never stops writing) + 挥洒自如 (to write or paint with ease) + 如日中天 (like the sun at noon)
天下第一 (the best under heaven) + 一星半点 (a tiny bit) + 点铁成金 (to touch iron and turn it to gold)
金玉良言 (golden words of advice) + 言行不一 (words and deeds do not match) + 一笔抹杀 (to write off with a single stroke)
杀一儆百 (to kill one to warn a hundred) + 百不失一 (never missing once in a hundred) + 一举两得 (to kill two birds with one stone)
得未曾有 (unprecedented) + 有一得一 (exactly as it is) + 一五一十 (in full detail)
十之八九 (eight or nine out of ten) + 九九归一 (in the final analysis) + 一往无前 (to press forward indomitably)
前所未有 (unprecedented) + 有何面目 (how can one face others) + 目空一切 (to look down on everyone)
切肤之痛 (keenly felt pain) + 痛心疾首 (deeply grieved and resentful) + 首屈一指 (the first to be counted; the best)
指鸡骂狗 (pointing at the chicken and cursing the dog; indirect abuse) + 狗眼看人 (to look down on people like a snob) + 人面兽心 (a human face with a beast’s heart)
心回意转 (to change one’s mind) + 转嗔为喜 (anger turns to joy) + 喜怒哀乐 (joy, anger, sorrow and happiness)
乐不可支 (overjoyed) + 支吾其词 (to equivocate) + 词钝意虚 (halting words and an uneasy mind)
虚情假意 (false affection) + 意气用事 (to act on impulse) + 事以密成 (things succeed through secrecy)
成竹在胸 (to have the bamboo in mind before painting; to have a ready plan) + 胸有成竹 (to have the whole bamboo in mind before painting; to have a well-thought-out plan)
