Chinese Idioms and Proverbs Flashcards

1
Q

to be too fond of something to part with it; mainly used to describe things

A

爱不释手
ài bù shì shǒu

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2
Q

to be clear about whom or what to love or hate

A

爱憎分明
ài zēng fēn míng

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3
Q

to be in a good situation without any problems, usually pertaining to health; refers to a person who has gone through an unforeseen event unscathed

A

安然无恙
ān rán wú yàng

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4
Q

in accordance with prescribed order; the act of following a schedule

A

按部就班
àn bù jiù bàn

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5
Q

to give up halfway; to leave something unfinished

A

半途而废
bàn tú ér fèi

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6
Q

to reverse primary and secondary tasks

A

本末倒置
ben mò dào zhì

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7
Q

absolutely necessary

A

必不可少
bì bù ke shao

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8
Q

irregular; capricious

A

变化无常
biàn huà wú cháng

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9
Q

to have a unique style; describes literature, art, and architecture

A

别具一格
bié jù yì gé

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10
Q

obvious

A

不言而喻
bù yán ér yù

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11
Q

to do something synchronized without previous arrangement; a coincidence

A

不约而同
bù yuē ér tóng

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12
Q

to not know what to do; refers to an awkward or confusing situation

A

不知所措
bù zhī suo cuò

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13
Q

non-uniformity; non-standard

A

参差不齐
cēn cī bù qí

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14
Q

a massive amount

A

成千上万
chéng qiān shàng wàn

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15
Q

very close; inseparable, usually refers to two or more people

A

寸步不离
cùn bù bù lí

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16
Q

to be surprised

A

大吃一惊
dà chī yì jīng

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17
Q

hard to find; like finding a needle in a haystack

A

大海捞针
dà hai lāo zhēn

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18
Q

extremely disappointing

A

大失所望
dà shī suo wàng

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19
Q

similar in essential aspects, different in minor details

A

大同小异
dà tóng xiao yì

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20
Q

to be forgetful

A

丢三落四
diū sān là sì

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21
Q

unlike any other; to be unique; one of a kind

A

独一无二
dú yī wú èr

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22
Q

diverse

A

丰富多彩
fēng fù duō cai

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23
Q

gentle breeze and beautiful sun; describes the weather

A

风和日丽
fēng hé rì lì

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24
Q

a discussion where everyone has equals say

A

各抒己见
gè shū ji jiàn

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25
Q

friendly and amicable; usually refers to an elderly person

A

和蔼可亲
hé ai ke qīn

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26
Q

to remain fresh in one’s memory; remember vividly

A

记忆犹新
jì yì yóu xīn

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27
Q

to see improvement in the present compared to the past; can be a fact or an opinion

A

今非昔比
jīn fēi xī bǐ

28
Q

seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times (idiom); seeing for oneself is better than hearing from many others
seeing is believing

A

百闻不如一见
bǎi wén bù rú yī jiàn

29
Q

saying something that one does not mean

A

口是心非
kǒu shì xīn fèi

30
Q

describes one whose abilities or skill are not adequate to fulfill one’s desires

A

力不从心
lì bù cóng xīn

31
Q

It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three chi deep.—The trouble has been brewing for some time. or Problems have piled up.

A

冰冻三尺,非一日之寒
bīng dòng sān chǐ,fēi yī rì zhī hán

32
Q

a good book is like a good friend; encourages one to read books

A

好书如挚友
hǎo shū rú zhì yǒu

33
Q

Illness enters by the mouth (idiom). Mind what you eat!

A

病从口入

34
Q

Illness enters by the mouth, trouble comes out by the mouth (idiom). A loose tongue may cause a lot of trouble.

A

病从口入,祸从口出
bìng cóng kǒu rù,huò cóng kǒu chū

35
Q

1 true sentiments are seen in hard times (idiom)
2 you see who your true friends are when you go through tough times together
3 you see who your true friends are when you are in difficulties

A

患难见真情
huàn nàn jiàn zhēn qíng

36
Q

to the satisfaction of both parties

A

两全其美
liǎng quán qí měi

37
Q

messy; describes both concrete and abstract things

A

乱七八糟
luàn qī bā zāo

38
Q

to wish someone good luck

A

马到成功
mǎ dào chéng gōng

39
Q

to be listless or apathetic

A

没精打采
méi jīng dǎ cǎi

40
Q

every family has its problems

A

家家有本难念的经
jiā jiā yǒu nán niàn de jīng

41
Q

pick up the sesame seeds but overlook the watermelons—concentrate on minor matters to the neglect of major ones

A

捡了芝麻丢了西瓜
jiǎn le zhī ma diū le xī guā

42
Q

health is one’s greatest asset

A

健康是最大的财富
jiàn kāng shì zuì dà de cái fù

43
Q

Gold cannot be hundred percent pure and man cannot be perfect.—No one is pe

A

金无足赤,人无完人
jīn wú zú chì rén wú wán rén

44
Q

The gift is trifling but the feeling is profound. or (It’s nothing much, but) it’s the thought that counts.

A

礼轻情意重
lǐ qīng qíng yì zhòng

45
Q

having only one small flaw

A

美中不足
měi zhōng bù zú

46
Q

to change for the better

A

面目一新
miàn mù yì xīn

47
Q

unlike any other; different

A

千差万别
qiān chā wàn bié

48
Q

China: long-standing, time honored

A

历史悠久
lì shǐ yōu jiǔ

49
Q

China: vast territory and abundant resources; a vast land with rich resources; a big country abounding in natural wealth

A

地大物博
dì dà wù bó

50
Q

having much to say

A

千言万语
qiān yán wàn yǔ

51
Q

large crowds of people

A

人山人海
rén shān rén hǎi

52
Q

to change very quickly

A

日新月异
rì xīn yuè yì

53
Q

very likely to happen; success within reach

A

十拿九稳
shí ná jiǔ wěn

54
Q

perfect; flawless

A

十全十美
shí quán shí měi

55
Q

to achieve success with little effort

A

事半功倍
shì bàn gōng bèi

56
Q

one if the best; outstanding

A

数一数二
shǔ yī shǔ èr

57
Q

to haggle over a price

A

讨价还价
tào jià huán jià

58
Q

to get through a time of difficulty by settling one’s differences and working together

A

同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì

59
Q

an object that is priceless or an asset; can also refer to abstract things

A

无价之宝
wú jià zhī bǎo

60
Q

outspoken

A

心直口快
xīn zhí kǒu kāi

61
Q

a young idler will become an old beggar

A

少小不努力,老大徒伤悲
sháo xiǎo bù nǔ lì,lǎo dà tú shāng bēi

62
Q

failure is the mother of success

A

失败是成功之母
shī bài shì chéng gōng zhī mǔ

63
Q

facts speak louder than words

A

事实胜于雄辩
shì shí shèng yú xióng biàn

64
Q

one must work hard to climb a mountain

A

书山有路勤为径
shū shān yǒu lù nán wéi jìng

65
Q

all good things may come to an end

A

天下没有不散的宴席
tiān xià méi yǒu bú sàn de yàn xí

66
Q

1 to do things half-heartedly
2 to merely go through the motions

A

敷衍了事
fū yan liǎo shì