Questions tagged [idioms]

Questions related to idioms, maxims, sayings, and other expressions consisting of a combination of words that has an indirect, figurative meaning. Use also the tag [chengyu] for questions about chengyu's.

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How can I read 你让我做什么我就做什么?

我今天听你的安排,你让我做什么我就做什么。 For today, I will listen(obey) to your arrangement(s). I'll do whatever what you let me do. The above English translation was made by me. I've been stuggling to understand the ...
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1 answer
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Keeping up with the Joneses

What is the best Chinese proverb or translation that would best capture the meaning of the English idiom "Keeping up with the Joneses"?
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Which is the most common chengyu (idiom)?

I was discussing a linguistics paper about chengyu in one of my YouTube videos and wondered what is the most common chengyu. It's the kind of question someone like me would like to know off the top ...
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2 votes
4 answers
198 views

Is 风光不再 correct in 广州恒大风光不再?

I think it is a misspelling, which should have been 风光不在. 不再 is no more, or not any more 不在 is absent, unavailable Comparing the two, I think only the latter makes sense, for the former there has to ...
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3 answers
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Mandarin translation of "hidden gem"

Is there an equivalent to something being called a "hidden gem" in Mandarin, particularly referring to a travel destination, restaurant or an experience? For example: "This trail is a ...
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5 votes
5 answers
913 views

Is the saying/idiom 天生我才必有用 religious?

I recently learned of the idiom "天生我才必有用," which if you translate it directly in google translate, is "everybody is good for something." However, I am curious about the origin of ...
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4 answers
120 views

"Set the priority straight" in Chinese?

What is Chinese for "Set the priority straight" ? Or is there any Chinese fable or ancient story that relates to the idea of setting the priority straight?
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2 votes
3 answers
73 views

Understanding 落实政策

I've often read about 给 XXX 落实政策。This thing seems to be very flexible. For example, 落实疫情防控政策 and 给烈士子女落实政策。 How to contextually translate this phrase into English?
0 votes
3 answers
138 views

English idiom of "想入非非"

There is a chinese idiom called 想入非非: to indulge in fantasy Is there is an english idiom that is similar to this? Searching gave me this strange "idiom": allow one's fancy to run wild
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1 vote
3 answers
114 views

Chinese version of "beat around the bush"

Most people know the famous english idiom: beat around the bush How should I write this in Chinese? Cambridge dictionary gives: Don't beat around the bush - get to the point! 别兜圈子了——有话直说! But I ...
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1 vote
2 answers
297 views

Chinese version of "action speaks louder than words"

What is the chinese version of the common idiom: Action speaks louder than words Google translate gives this: 行动胜于雄辩 Is this correct? And what other alternatives are there?
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What is the colloquial meaning of 小祖宗 ?

I've heard someone saying 小祖宗 to a little kid (literally: little ancestor). I assumed it was some sort of general exclamation or lament, like 我的天呢!as the mood was of slight annoyance. However after ...
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2 votes
2 answers
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What's the deeper meaning behind 不吃饭则饥,不读书则愚?

I'm loving learning some of these wise sayings, but I'm having a little trouble getting the deeper meaning. It seems like it basically is "don't eat the hungry, don't read the stupid". Does ...
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94 views

What literary device would we associate with the aforementioned Chinese old fashioned way of greeting? ( (Chī le ma) ? )

Credit Reference: http://blog.tutorming.com/mandarin-chinese-learning-tips/why-do-chinese-people-ask-have-you-eaten "吃了吗 (Chī le ma)?" (also "吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)" Many ...
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2 votes
3 answers
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Why do people say “你死了这条心吧” instead of “这颗心”?

I thought the classifier of "心" is always "颗" or "个"? But why here is more common to use "条"?
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Is 各行各业 equivalent to “all walks of life”?

各行各业 was from of Google Translate.
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2 answers
154 views

What are the meanings of 三分顏色上大紅?

According to https://www.easyatm.com.tw/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E5%88%86%E9%A1%8F%E8%89%B2%E4%B8%8A%E5%A4%A7%E7%B4%85 it is stated as: 字面意思:給三分顏色你就可以上大紅色,就等於不自量力,自大。明明做不到這事情都說可以做到,人家給三分顏色就想染大紅色,染得到嗎? 後來形容:...
2 votes
1 answer
108 views

Is there a idiom or term to describe someone who don't see you as the same level as them?

The best I can think of are the combination of: 讽刺意味 (to have the "smell" of irony on you) and 很偏激 (very extreme or biased)。 举个例子/For example: Everything you say or do is viewed as ignorant(...
1 vote
5 answers
426 views

Precise meaning of 马到成功

So I just happened to watch a youtube video that has displayed in the background an artwork with horses and the phrase 马到成功. Google Translate offered these: It's a success. Gain an immediate victory....
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2 votes
1 answer
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What is the meaning of 及义?

One of Confucius sayings contains the construction 言不及义. It carries the meaning "unable to talk on serious topics", from what a dictionary gave me. However, I was interested in the per-...
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Chinese Idiom puzzle 21 (中文填字遊戲)

A new puzzle for July 2021 The hunter doesn't know he is being hunted extremely foolish 在水滸傳中的梁山泊排第一百零七位,綽號鼓上蚤的人物 If you want to deliberately frame others, you can always find excuses Busy ...
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1 answer
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Chinese Idiom puzzle 20 (中文填字遊戲)

Puzzle for June 2021 「病從口入」下句 Lengthy article (or speech) Asking a tiger for its skin (Make deal with dangerous people) Busily run around or move around for a certain purpose Bragging without ...
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2 votes
2 answers
140 views

Literal meaning of 無奇不有

The correct meaning of 無奇不有 would be: full of extraordinary/bizarre things. But why don't the individual characters not add up to the intended meaning? This is not the only idiom that I found ...
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1 answer
74 views

Chinese Idiom puzzle 19 (中文填字遊戲)

Another puzzle for May-2021 One of the three dynasties in the Three Kingdoms period ruled by the 曹 family A poem that was written by Cao Zhi (曹植). Fictionalized the author's encounter with a goddess ...
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4 votes
1 answer
263 views

What is the origin of the word 鬻?

The word 鬻 (yù) appears to originate as a joint pictogram from: 粥 depicting the rice and two whirls of steam on the sides 鬲 (pronounced lì?) a cooking vessel Later 粥 alone came in use to express the ...
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1 answer
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Chinese Idiom puzzle 18 (中文填字遊戲)

A new puzzle for May-2021 All or nothing Bathe A modern metaphor for a person’s life with extreme luxury and indulgence, without restraint (有關紂王的典故) Everyone wants to get to a higher position ...
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1 vote
1 answer
139 views

What does 出人头地 mean?

The idiom 出人头地 chūréntóudì means “stand out among one’s fellows”. How to mix the above four words and arrive at the above meaning?
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What does 按部就班 mean?

I have checked the dictionary, the following are the meanings for Idiom and its components. could not get how ‘keep conventional ways’ was the meaning derived. can share more light on this? thanks ...
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Idioms Quiz of 23

Idioms Quiz of 23Q for Idiom lovers Q1. 小华的爸爸是围棋高手,你在他面前夸耀自己的棋技,不是____吗? Q2. 自从那次火灾后,村民一听到孩子的惊叫就_____以为又是哪一家失火了。 Q3. 世界上没有_____的事情,要成功就应该付出努力。 Q4. 这个电视剧向人们提出一个 _____的问题:中学生应该追求什么? Q5. 小女孩由于找不到妈妈,...
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1 answer
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Chinese Idiom puzzle 17 (中文填字遊戲)

A New puzzle for April 2021 Launch a direct attack on the enemy’s headquarters Makes people happy and satisfied (especially when someone gets the deserved punishment) Notorious Extremely urgent ...
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4 votes
1 answer
236 views

Is there an explicit/crude saying for bravery in Chinese?

I am looking for something similar to the english 'having big balls' as an indication of bravery.
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3 votes
4 answers
200 views

成语 and 俗语 emphasizing adaptation

I would like to know what chinese 成语 or 俗语 can be used to emphasize the need of people or generations to adapt to the given situation or environment. Thanks.
2 votes
3 answers
776 views

Does 没有办法 have the same idiomatic meaning in Chinese that "No way" does in English?

"No way" in English has a couple of meanings. Like, it can be used to express surprise. Does 没有办法 also carry some idiomatic meanings?
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1 answer
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Why 看 is used in 我看得目瞪口呆?

Going through this sentence. 我看得目瞪口呆。I was stunned/dumbfounded. 看 means see, why see in this sentence?
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1 vote
1 answer
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Chinese Idiom puzzle 16 (中文填字遊戲)

A new puzzle for March 2021 Steal the bell while covering your ears (deceiving yourself that you are deceiving the others) Revenge one's personal vengeance in the name of official business ...
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2 votes
3 answers
133 views

Four-character idioms that contain an allusive pair

I am interested in finding some examples of four-character idioms that contain exactly a pair of allusions, different in source but similar in nature, that were often compiled by a specific literary ...
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1 vote
1 answer
112 views

Chinese Idiom puzzle 15 (中文填字遊戲)

A new puzzle for Feb 2021 It’s better to see it with your own eyes than hear it hundreds of times. It often takes many twists and turns to get what you want Good for others and oneself Boxing ...
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0 votes
2 answers
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Up close and personal equivalent

How do you express something similar to “up close and personal”? Like this sentence: She likes to get up close and personal.
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2 votes
1 answer
63 views

Attack them when they are unready, take them by surprise : 这个成语有多少方法可以说?

Could you please let me know which of these sound right and why the other ones sound wrong? I'm not sure about the difference between 不 and 无. 出其不意,攻其不备 攻其不备,出其不意 攻其无备,出其无意 攻其不备,出其无意 攻其无备,出其不意 都可以用吗
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1 answer
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Chinese Idiom puzzle 14 (中文填字遊戲)

Please solve the following puzzle Untidy (of one's appearance) Too poor that there is no place to insert an awl. Describes as poor as nothing It is the collective name of the three most prominent ...
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2 votes
5 answers
350 views

How to translate 因為所以科學道理?

I heard this from native speakers but am confused about its meaning. I understand every word but this phrase itself does not make much sense to me.
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2 answers
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Is there a common idiom equivalent to "tomato tomahto" in mandarin?

I'm being very nitpicky with a coworker (20s, first language is mandarin) and I'm trying to tease myself playfully by saying something along the lines of "tomato tomahto" in mandarin. I'm ...
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1 answer
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Chinese Idiom puzzle 13 (中文填字遊戲)

Please solve the following puzzle A grain of rice in the sea. A metaphor for something small and insignificant To bluff Disappear without a trace, no news, or nothing to follow Idiom The multi-...
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1 vote
1 answer
176 views

Chinese Idiom puzzle 12 (中文填字遊戲)

Please solve the puzzle below sharp tongue (edit: the first character was replaced by a Homophone) A match made in heaven Come back to life by borrowing a corpse (a metaphor for things that have ...
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0 votes
1 answer
169 views

看图说成语: What chengyu do these sketches refer to (from a grade-3 语文 textbook)?

This chengyu puzzle is on page 66 of a grade-3 语文 textbook (上册). I'm fairly sure I can get the top-left one, and the middle-right one, but not the others. I present this as a chengyu puzzle (a ...
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0 votes
1 answer
164 views

Chinese Idiom puzzle 11 (中文填字遊戲)

李白名詩: 「舉頭望明月, ?????」 Hate the social status quo and the state of the world Grammar mistake The peach blossom is the same but the missed person is nowhere to be seen Go between and put things ...
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3 votes
1 answer
325 views

Chinese Idiom puzzle 10 (中文填字遊戲)

Please solve the puzzle below People use their collective wisdom and abilities to work together (something good) Happens twice Give no quarter Awesome skill Miles of waves Overly militaristic; ...
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2 votes
1 answer
88 views

Why is 系 pronounced xì (not jì) in the idiom 解铃还须系铃人?

With regards to the idiom: 解铃还须系铃人 jiě líng hái xū xì líng rén CC-CEDICT: lit. whoever hung the bell on the tiger's neck must untie it (idiom) / fig. whoever started the trouble should end it I'm ...
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2 votes
2 answers
226 views

Chinese idiom puzzle 9 (中文填字遊戲)

Please solve the puzzle below Hints: Use the power of others to dominate Like bathing in the spring breeze Rock breaking shock the sky It's like disappearing all at once A very long distance ...
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1 vote
1 answer
86 views

"Single drop of red" (Wuxia)

I have this only via oral tradition, but wanted to ask about it here b/c I assume this is where the Chinese scholars are. Where does this phrase appear in the Chinese literary tradition, what are the ...
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