Monday, May 21, 2018

IDIOMS

1. 一丘之貉 yīqiū zhī háo jackals of the same tribe (idiom); fig. They are all just as bad as each other.
2. 掩耳盗铃 yăn'ĕr-dàolíng to plug one's ears while stealing a bell (idiom); to deceive oneself / to bury one's head in the sand
3. 朝三暮四 zhāosān-mùsì lit. say three in the morning but four in the evening (idiom); to change sth that is already settled upon / indecisive / to blow hot and cold
4. 杞人忧天 Qĭrén-yōutiān man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears
5. 一毛不拔 yīmáo-bùbá (saying) stingy; parsimonious
6. 班门弄斧 bānmén-nòngfŭ display one's slight skill before an expert
7. 囫囵吞枣 húlún-tūnzăo to read hastily without thinking
8. 竭泽而渔 jiézé-éryú kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
9. 天衣无缝 tiānyī-wúfèng perfect (job); without a trace; flawloess (lies)
10. 名落孙山 míngluò-sūnshān (idiom) to fail in imperial exam
11. 指鹿为马 zhĭlù-wéimă making a deer out to be a horse (idiom); deliberate misrepresentation
12. 水落石出 shuĭluò-shíchū As the water recedes, the rocks appear (idiom); the truth comes to light / When facts are known, doubts dissipate. / Murder will out. / Name of a CCTV soap opera set in police station
13. 胸有成竹 xiōngyŏu-chéngzhú to plan in advance (idiom); a card up one's sleeve / forewarned is forearmed
14. 举一反三 jŭyī-fănsān to raise one and infer three (idiom); to deduce many things from one case
15. 青出于蓝 qīngchū-yúlán lit. green is born of blue, but beats blue (idiom); fig. the student becomes superior to the master / same as couplet 青出于蓝,而胜于蓝|青出于蓝,而胜于蓝
16. 江郎才尽 Jiāngláng-cáijìn Mr Jiang has exhausted his talent (idiom); to have used up one's literary talent or energy
17. 一败涂地 yībài-túdì failed and wiped over the floor (idiom); to fail utterly / a crushing defeat / beaten and in a hopeless position
18. 信口雌黄 xìnkŏu-cíhuáng to talk off the cuff (idiom); idle talk
19. 口若悬河 kŏuruò-xuánhé mouth like a torrent (idiom) / eloquent / glib / voluble / have the gift of the gab
20. 如火如荼 rúhuŏ-rútú lit. white cogon flower like fire (idiom); fig. a mighty army like wildfire / daunting and vigorous (momentum) / flourishing / magnificent
21. 沧海桑田 cānghăi-sāngtián lit. blue seas where once was mulberry fields (idiom); time brings great changes / life's vicissitudes
22. 为虎作伥 wéihŭ-zuòchāng to act as accomplice to the tiger (idiom); to take the part of the devil / to help a villain against honest people
23. 狐假虎威 hújiă-hŭwēi lit. the fox exploits the tiger's might (idiom); fig. to use powerful connections to intimidate people
24. 狼狈为奸 lángbèi-wéijiān villains collude together (idiom); to work hand in glove with sb (to nefarious ends)
25. 画蛇添足 huàshé-tiānzú lit. draw legs on a snake (idiom); fig. to ruin the effect by adding sth superfluous / to overdo it
26. 老马识途 lăomă-shítú an old horse knows the way (idiom); an experience worker know what to do / an old hand knows the ropes
27. 草木皆兵 căomù-jiēbīng lit. every tree or bush an enemy soldier (idiom); fig. to panic and treat everyone as an enemy / to feel beleaguered
28. 惊弓之鸟 jīnggōng zhī niăo lit. bird startled by a bowshot (idiom); fig. a frightened person
29. 南辕北辙 nányuán-bĕizhé (fig.) act in a way that defeats one's purpose
30. 望梅止渴 wàngméi-zhĭkĕ quench one's thirst by thinking of plums (idiom); to console onself with false hopes
31. 势如破竹 shìrú-pòzhú sweeping
32. 司空见惯 sīkōng-jiànguàn a common occurrence
33. 含沙射影 hánshā-shèyĭng insinuate
34. 投笔从戎 tóubĭ-cóngróng (of student or intellectual) give up civilian pursuits to join the military, to join the army voluntarily
35. 东窗事发 dōngchuāng-shìfā to come to light; the game is up
36. 夜郎自大 Yèláng-zìdà ignorant and boastful
37. 作法自毙 zuòfă-zìbì a scheme that boomerangs; to get into trouble through one own's scheme

These are HSK-listed chengyu:

实事求是 shi2 shi4 qiu2 shi4 be practical and realistic HSK B
力所能及 li4 suo3 neng2 ji2 in one's power HSK B
不好意思 bu4 hao3yi4si shy/ feel embarrassed HSK B
千方百计 qian1 fang1 bai3 ji4 by every possible means/ by hook or crook HSK C
粗心大意 cu1xin1 da4yi4 careless/ inadvertent/ negligent HSK C
各式各样 ge4 shi4 ge4 yang4 of all styles and types/ all kinds of HSK C
一路平安 yi1 lu4 ping2 an1 one-mouth-breath/ in one breath/ at one go HSK C
万古长青 wan4 gu3 chang2 qing1 thousands-age-ever-green/ remain fresh forever HSK C
成千上万 cheng2 qian1 shang4 wan4 thousands of/ large quantity of HSK C
兴高采烈 xing4 gao1 cai3 lie4 spirits-high-mood-ardent/ be in high spirits/ be raptured HSK C
一路顺风 yi1 lu4 shun4 feng1 Safe journey HSK C
多劳多得 duo1 lao2 duo1 de2 more pay for more work HSK C
四面八方 si4 mian4 ba1 fang1 four sides and eight directions/ in every direction HSK C
或多或少 huo4 duo1 huo4 shao3 more or less HSK C
画蛇添足 hua4 she2 tian1 zu2 ruin by adding superfluous HSK C
无论如何 wu2lun4 ru2he2 no-matter-like-what/ in any case/ in any event/ at any rate HSK C
无可奈何 wu2 ke3 nai4he2 nothing-could-make-what/ be helpless HSK C
聚精会神 ju4 jing1 hui4 shen2 with complete concentration/ with rapt attention HSK C
自言自语 zi4 yan2 zi4 yu3 self-talk-self-say/ talk to oneself HSK C
有两下子 you3 liang3 xia4zi have-two-feats/ know a few tricks of the trade HSK C
自始至终 zi1 shi3 zhi4 zhong1 from-beginning-to-end/ from start to finish HSK C
自相矛盾 zi4 xiang1 mao2dun4 self-mutually-spear-shield/ self-contradiction HSK C
这样一来 zhe4yang4 yi1 lai2 this-way-ever-since/ in this way/ in such a case/ thus HSK C
闹着玩儿 nao4zhe wan2r frolic/ be just kidding/ tease/ act in a frivolous manner HSK C
总而言之 zong3 er2 yan2 zhi1 generalize-and-say-it/ in short/ in brief/ in a nutshell HSK C
不怎么样 bu4 zen3meyang4 not so good/ not particularly good/ pretty bad HSK C
走后门儿 zou3 hou4men2r walk-back-door/ gain advantages through connection HSK C
能歌善舞 neng2 ge1 shan4 wu3 be good at both singing and dancing HSK C
轰轰烈烈 hong1hong1 lie4lie4 dynamic/ vigorous HSK D
理所当然 li3 suo3 dang1 ran2 go without saying/ of course HSK D
合情合理 he2 qing2 he2 li3 fair and reasonable HSK D
理直气壮 li3 zhi2 qi4 zhuang4 one is assured and bold with justice HSK D
和平共处 he2ping2 gong4 chu3 peaceful coexistence HSK D
坚贞不屈 jian1zhen1 bu4 qu1 remain faithful and unyielding/ stand firm and unbending HSK D
接二连三 jie1 er4 lian2 san1 one after another/ in quick succession HSK D
浩浩荡荡 hao4hao4 dang4dang4 go forward with great strength and vigor HSK D
津津有味 jin1jin1 you3 wei4 with relish/ with gusto HSK D
精打细算 jing1 da3 xi4 suan4 pinch pennies HSK D
开天辟地 kai1 tian1 pi4 di4 since the beginning of the history/ the creation of the world HSK D
全力以赴 quan2 li4 yi3 fu4 do one's level best/ go all out HSK D
精益求精 jing1 yi4 qiu2 jing1 keep improving HSK D
兢兢业业 jing1jing1 ye4ye4 cautious and conscientious HSK D
敬而远之 jing4 er2 yuan3 zhi1 keep someone at a respectful distance HSK D
举世闻名 ju3shi4 wen2ming2 of world known/ world-famous HSK D
举世瞩目 ju3shi4 zhu3mu4 attract worldwide attention HSK D
门当户对 men2 dang1 hu4 dui4 be well-matched in social and economic status HSK D
美中不足 mei3 zhong1 bu4 zu2 a blemish in an otherwise perfect thing HSK D
可歌可泣 ke3 ge1 ke3 qi4 move one to praises and tears HSK D
可想而知 ke3 xiang3 er2zhi1 you can imagine HSK D
没吃没穿 mei2 chi1 mei2 chuan1 have no food and clothes HSK D
来回来去 lai2 hui2 lai2 qu4 come-and-go HSK D
全心全意 quan2 xin1 quan2 yi4 with all one's heart HSK D
不相上下 bu4 xiang1 shang4 xia4 about the same/ equally matched HSK D
各行各业 ge4 hang2 ge4 ye4 all trades and professions HSK D
从容不迫 cong2rong2 bu4 po4 take one's time/ calm and unhurried HSK D
川流不息 chuan1 liu2 bu4 xi1 flowing up in an endless stream HSK D
诚心诚意 cheng2 xin1 cheng2 yi4 sincere desire HSK D
层出不穷 ceng2 chu1 bu4 qiong2 emerge in endlessly HSK D
不知不觉 bu4 zhi1 bu4 jue2 unconsciously/ unknowingly HSK D
大公无私 da4 gong1 wu2 si1 selfless/ unselfish HSK D
不言而喻 bu4 yan2 er2 yu4 tell its own tale HSK D
大同小异 da4 tong2 xiao3 yi4 largely identical but with minor difference HSK D
不辞而别 bu4 ci2 er2 bie2 leave without saying goodbye HSK D
不卑不亢 bu4bei1bu4kang4 neither haughty not humble HSK D
暴风骤雨 bao4 feng1 zhou4 yu3 violent storm tempest HSK D
半真半假 ban4 zhen1 ban4 jia3 half-genuine; half-sham HSK D
半途而废 ban4 tu2 er2 fei4 give up halfway/ leave sth unfinished HSK D
百家争鸣 bai3 jia1 zheng1 ming2 a hundred schools of thought contend HSK D
不正之风 bu4 zheng4 zhi1 feng1 unhealthy tendency HSK D
发奋图强 fa1fen4 tu2 qiang2 work with a will to make the country strong HSK D
顾全大局 gu4quan2 da4ju2 take the whole account into consideration HSK D
供不应求 gong1 bu4 ying4 qiu2 supply falls short of demand HSK D
根深蒂固 gen1 shen1 di4 gu4 being deeply rooted/ in grain HSK D
各奔前程 ge4 ben4 qian2 cheng2 each goes his own way HSK D
七嘴八舌 qi1 zui3 ba1 she2 all talking at once HSK D
格格不入 ge2 ge2 bu4 ru4 incompatible with/ out of tune with HSK D
大包大揽 da4bao1 da4lan3 undertake the whole thing/ take on every thing HSK D
发扬光大 fa1yang2 guang1da4 carry forward HSK D
归根到底 gui1 gen1 dao4 di3 at all time and place HSK D
家喻户晓 jia1 yu4 hu4 xiao3 widely known HSK D
断断续续 duan4duan4 xu4xu4 off and on/ intermittently HSK D
独立自主 du2li4 zi4zhu3 paddle one's own canoe HSK D
东奔西走 dong1 ben1 xi1 zou3 run around here and there/ rush around HSK D
得不偿失 de2 bu4 chang2 shi1 be not worth the candle/ get more kicks than halfpence HSK D
大有可为 da4 you3 ke3 wei2 be well worth doing/ have bright prospects HSK D
改邪归正 gai3 xie2 gui1 zheng4 give up evil and return to good HSK D
循序渐进 xun2 xu4 jian4 jin4 follow in order and advance step by step HSK D
弄虚作假 nong4 xu1 zuo4 jia3 practice fraud/ resort to deception HSK D
一毛不拔 yi4 mao2 bu4 ba2 miserly/ very stingy/ unwilling to give up even a hair HSK D
一技之长 yi1 ji4 zhi1 chang2 professional skill/ specially HSK D
一哄而散 yi1 hong4 er2 san4 break up in a hubbub HSK D
一个劲儿 yi1gejin4'er persistently HSK D
一干二净 yi1 gan1 er4 jing4 completely/ thoroughly HSK D
饮水思源 yin3 shui3 si1 yuan2 never forget where one's happiness comes from HSK D
一帆风顺 yi1 fan1 feng1 shun4 plain sailing HSK D
引人注目 yin3 ren2 zhu4 mu4 conspicuous/ noticeable HSK D
新陈代谢 xin1 chen2 dai4xie4 metabolism HSK D
欣欣向荣 xin1xin1 xiang4 rong2 flourishing/ prosperous HSK D
小心翼翼 xiao3xin1 yi4yi4 with great care HSK D
想方设法 xiang3 fang1 she4 fa3 do everything possible/ try every means HSK D
显而易见 xian3 er2 yi4 jian4 obviously/ stick out a mile HSK D
无微不至 wu2 wei1 bu4 zhi4 meticulously/ in every possible way HSK D
一概而论 yi1gai4 er2 lun4 lump together al and sundry/ lump under one head HSK D
斩钉截铁 zhan3 ding1 jie2 tie3 resolute and decisive HSK D
自私自利 zi4 si1 zi4 li4 self-concern/ selfish HSK D
自力更生 zi4 li4 geng1 sheng1 self-dependence HSK D
自负盈亏 zi4 fu4 ying2 kui1 assume sole responsibility for its profits or losses HSK D
诸如此类 zhu1 ru2 ci3 lei4 and all that/ and so on HSK D
众所周知 zhong4 suo3 zhou1 zhi1 as everyone knows/ it is common knowledge that HSK D
争先恐后 zheng1 xian1 kong3 hou4 strive to be the first/ vie with each other HSK D
以身作则 yi3 shen1 zuo4 ze2 set oneself an example to others HSK D
朝气蓬勃 zhao1 qi4 peng2 bo2 full of youthful spirit HSK D
无能为力 wu2 neng2 wei2 li4 incapable of action/ powerless HSK D
斩草除根 zhan3 cao3 chu2 gen1 cut the weeds and dig up the roots HSK D
指手画脚 zhi3 shou3 hua4 jiao3 make indiscreet remarks or criticism HSK D
有声有色 you3 sheng1 you3 se4 vivid and dramatic HSK D
有口无心 you3 kou3 wu2 xin1 be sharp-tongued but not malicious HSK D
由此可见 you2 ci3 ke3 jian4 thus it can be seen HSK D
永垂不朽 yong3 chui2 bu4 xiu3 immortal HSK D
朝三暮四 zhao1 san1 mu4 si4 blow hot and cold/ play fast and loose HSK D
萍水相逢 ping2 shui3 xiang1 feng2 meet by chance HSK D
热泪盈眶 re4 lei4 ying2 kuang4 one's eyes brimming with tears HSK D
前所未有 qian2 suo3 wei4 you3 unprecedented HSK D
前赴后继 qian2 fu4 hou4 ji4 advance wave upon wave HSK D
千军万马 qian1 jun1 wan4 ma3 a large number of mounted and foot soldiers HSK D
恰如其分 qia4 ru2 qi2 fen4 just right/ appropriate HSK D
恰到好处 qia4 dao4 hao3 chu4 just right HSK D
无所作为 wu2 suo3 zuo4 wei2 attempt and accomplish nothing HSK D
奇花异草 qi2 hua1 yi4 cao3 exotic flowers and rare herbs HSK D
十全十美 shi2 quan2 shi2 mei3 be perfect in every way/ leave nothing to be desired HSK D
百花齐放 bai3 hua1 qi2 fang4 let a hundred flowers blossom HSK D
目中无人 mu4 zhong1 wu2 ren2 consider everyone beneath one's notice HSK D
莫名其妙 mo4 ming2 qi2 miao4 without rhyme or reason HSK D
名副其实 ming2 fu4 qi2 shi2 be worthy of the name/ the name matches the reality HSK D
面面俱到 mian4 mian4 ju4 dao4 reach every aspect of a matter HSK D
乱七八糟 luan4qi1ba1zao1 in a mess/ at sixes and sevens HSK D
岂有此理 qi3 you3 ci3 li3 outrageous/ preposterous HSK D
讨价还价 tao3 jia4 huan2 jia4 bargain HSK D
连滚带爬 lian2 gun3 dai4 pa2 roll and crawl/ flee in panic HSK D
无可奉告 wu2 ke3 feng4 gao4 no comment HSK D
无话可说 wu2 hua4 ke3 shuo1 have nothing to say HSK D
微不足道 wei1 bu4 zu2 dao4 not worth mentioning/ inconsiderable HSK D
万水千山 wan4 shui3 qian1 shan1 the trials of a long journey HSK D
推来推去 tui1 lai2 tui1 qu4 push/ decline HSK D
如醉如痴 ru2 zui4 ru2 chi1 enjoy (the concert; etc) very much HSK D
天长地久 tian1 chang2 di4 jiu3 everlasting HSK D
三番五次 san1 fan1 wu3 ci4 again and again/ time and again HSK D
滔滔不绝 tao1tao1 bu4 jue2 dash along/ give it mouth HSK D
探头探脑 tan4 tou2 tan4 nao3 pop one's head in and look about HSK D
损人利己 sun3 ren2 li4 ji3 harm others to benefit oneself HSK D
似笑非笑 si4 xiao4 fei1 xiao4 a faint on one's face/ with a spurious smile HSK D
似是而非 si4 shi4 er2 fei1 specious/ apparently right but actually wrong HSK D
思前想后 si1 qian2 xiang3 hou4 think over again and again HSK D
无情无义 wu2qing2wu2yi4 heartless HSK D
投机倒把 tou2ji1 dao3ba3 engage in speculation and profiteering HSK D

1 comment:

  1. We can integrate the idiom with background or stories, which would be more impressive.
    Such as 3 Chinese Idioms About Being Grateful in Time for Thanksgiving
    https://bit.ly/31CVihz

    ReplyDelete