Chinese idioms J to L
家丑不可外扬 [家丑不可外揚]
family shame not allowed outside scatter
Family shame should not be spread
Keep family problems within the family
家家户户 [家家戶戶]
house house door door
Every family
The whole community
家徒四壁
house empty four walls
Home with just four bare walls
An empty house with just bare walls. To be very poor. There is a story from the Han dynasty of two rivals for the hand of a young lady. One was rich and the other was very poor, but due to the skill of the poor man on the qin (type of lute) the lady chose the poor man to the astonishment of the rich man
As poor as church mice
家喻户晓 [家喻戶曉]
home as household know
Known in every household
A person or fact known to everybody. Something or somebody well known
A household name
姜是老的辣
ginger is old of peppery
Aged ginger is more potent
Experience gives wisdom
江郎才尽 [江郎才盡]
Jiang official talent exhaust
Master Jiang has exhausted his talent
Losing your creative spark. Jiang Yan was an official in the Southern Liang dynasty [502-557] achieved early repute as a poet and writer but in later years struggled to write anything of value. He dreamed that he owed his talent to the pen of Guo Pu who then reclaimed it.
Running out of steam
交个朋友多条路,树个敌人多堵墙 [交個朋友多條路樹個敵人多堵墻]
exchange friend many paved road, tree enemy many stop wall
Making a friend is an open road; making an enemy builds a wall
It is better to make friends than enemies
One good turn deserves another
焦头烂额 [焦頭爛頟]
beaten head burnt brow
Head bruised and brow burned
In terrible trouble
Beaten black and blue
骄兵必败 [驕兵必敗]
haughty weapon certainly defeated
An arrogant army is certain to be defeated
Over-confidence will lead to defeat
Pride cometh before a fall
假公济私 [假公濟私]
false public aid self
Swindle public to help yourself
Use public office for personal gain
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely
狡兔三窟
crafty hare three burrows
A crafty rabbit has three burrows
To succeed you must must have alternative options, in particular several ways of escape from danger
There's more than one way to skin a cat
嫁祸于人 [嫁旤于人]
marry disaster foremost person
A person in misfortune blames someone else
Spread blame onto others
嫁鸡随鸡, 嫁狗随狗 [嫁雞隨雞嫁狗隨狗]
marry chicken follow chicken, marry dog follow dog
Marry a chicken and live with its ways, marry a dog and live with its ways
Changing approach and actions according to who you are with
When in Rome do as the Romans do
箭在弦上,不得不发 [箭在弦上不得不發]
arrow exist string on, not get no deliver
Once the arrow is on the bow string, it must be shot
Things have reached a point when its necessary for something to be done. No choice
Lights, camera, action
见义勇为 [見義勇為]
see justice brave act
See the just cause and act on it
To see what is right and act with courage
嗟来之食 [嗟來之食]
sigh arrive food
Rejecting charity food handed out with contempt
Food given to the starving with such a contemptuous swagger that the starved reject it and would rather starve.
捷足先登
victory foot first climb
The winning foot is the first to climb
To succeed need to start off first
The early bird gets the worm
结草衔环 [結草銜環]
tie grass link ring
Tying grass and delivering rings
Generously repaying a debt of gratitude. The story is of Yang Bao who nursed a sick bird back to health. After he had released the siskin into the wild he dreamed of the bird carrying grass tied in rings in its beak which transformed into a boy with precious jade rings . The boy gave Yang Bao enduring good fortune in gratitude.
节哀顺变 [節哀順變]
holiday pity submit to alter
Hold back on grief and accept the mishap
Often said as a token of condolence on a death
Photo by Rosemania ➚, Palace Museum, Beijing. Sancai horse, Tang Dynasty, 618-907 A.D. Available under a Creative Commons license ➚.
节外生枝 [節外生枝]
joint outside produce branch
Leaves emerge from where they should not
New problems pop up unexpectedly
解衣推食
remove clothes cut food
Sharing garments and food
Sharing clothes and food with someone in need. To treat with great kindness and consideration.
九牛二虎之力
nine ox two tiger 's strength
The strength of nine bulls and two tigers
Tremendously strong
九牛一毛
nine ox one hair
Nine cows are missing just one hair
An insignificant amount. A trivial matter
A drop in the ocean
酒肉朋友
wine meat friends
Friends only for the food and drink
Cupboard love
Fair weather friends
旧病复发 [舊病復發]
old illness duplicate issue
An old ailment returns
It is difficult to shake off a deeply rooted habit
The leopard does not change his spots
饥不择食 [飢不擇食]
hunger not choose eat
When hungry don't care what you eat
The starving aren't fussy over their food - take whatever is available
Beggars can't be choosers
鸡飞蛋打 [雞飛蛋打]
chicken fly egg broken
The hen has flown and the eggs destroyed. All is lost.
Complete disaster
鸡鸣狗盗 [雞鳴狗盜]
chicken cry dog steal
Able to crow like a cockerel and steal like a dog
A person with a range of useful tricks. The story is of someone back in the Warring States period who helped a prince out of difficulty by imitating a dog to distract prison guards and to crow like a cockerel to trick them into thinking it was already morning
Every trick in the book
鸡犬不宁 [雞犬不宁]
chicken dog not stand
Even the chicken and dog are disturbed. General commotion
All in turmoil and excitement
今非昔比
modern wrong ancient compare
The present cannot be compared with the past
The past is not always a good predictor of the future. Things change
今日事,今日毕 [今日事今日畢]
this day task, this day complete
Today's task, today's job to complete
Finish the current job before starting something new
Don't put off until tomorrow what can be done today
今朝有酒今朝醉
now palace have wine, now palace drunk
When have some wine, all will get drunk
Take advantage of good fortune while it is around
金城汤池 [金城湯池]
metal city boiling moat
A city of metal with a moat of boiling water
An impregnable city with highly effective defenses. Someone/something not worth trying to attack.
金玉其外，败絮其中 [金玉其外，敗絮其中]
gold jade outside withered cotton wadding middle
Precious on the outside but shabby on the inside
Don't be fooled by outward appearances
Beauty is only skin deep
集腋成裘
gather armpit accomplish fur coat
A fur coat can be made from poor scraps
Make do with what you have
Beggars can't be choosers
釜底游鱼 [釜底游魚]
cauldron bottom swim fish
A fish at the bottom of the pot
In desperate straits. Life threatening situation - the last fish swimming at the bottom of a barrel.
Stare into the abyss
锦囊妙计 [錦囊妙計]
brocade purse wonderful plan
Excellent plans hidden in a brocade bag
To have wise plans in reserve. The story is that the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang sent plans for a military campaign concealed in a brocade bag.
锦上添花 [錦上添花]
tapestry up add flower
Add another flower to a tapestry
Taking too much trouble with detail to try to achieve perfection. Fiddling when already complete
Gilding the lily
Dowager Empress Cixi with the wives of European diplomats in western clothing standing on either side, together with an adopted Chinese orphan. 1902. Image from http://puyi.netor.com/gallery ➚ available under a Creative Commons license ➚.
井底之蛙
well bottom's frog
A blinkered approach to life. Living in a fantasy world.
A frog in a well. The story is of a frog that only knows of the water in the well and knew nothing of the sea, and can only see a small portion of the sky.
Little knowledge is a dangerous thing
既往不咎
already past not to blame
It is pointless to blame past events
What is done is done. It is pointless to live a life of regret for things that can't be changed.
Forgive and forget
近水楼台先得月 [近水樓台先得月]
near river pavilion platform early gets moon
A waterfront pavilion sees the moonlight first
An allusion to the wisdom of having friends in high circles that often results in benefits.
Climbing the greasy poll
近朱者赤,近墨者黑 [近朱者赤近墨者黑]
near vermilion that red, near ink that black
He who stays near vermilion is stained red; he who stays near ink is stained black
Taking on the color of the company kept. Adapt to surroundings
A person is known by the company he keeps
镜花水月 [鏡花水月]
mirror flower water moon
Flowers in a mirror and the moon in water
Beautiful but unattainable dreams. Unrealistic ambitions
卷土重来 [捲土重來]
sweep dust again come
Sweeping off the dust and trying again
Making a comeback after a setback - determined to have another go. Like getting back on a horse after being thrown off.
Dust yourself off and start all over again
举案齐眉 [舉案齊眉]
lift table level with eyebrow
Lifting the tray up to the eyebrows
Showing respect and affection for someone. It is a traditional show of respect to lift a tray high when presenting food to a respected guest. Lasting love and consideration
开卷有益 [開卷有益]
start book exist benefit
Reading is always beneficial
There is always something new to be learned from books. An admonishment to keep on studying and learning.
Feed one's mind
开门见山 [開門見山]
begin entrance see mountain
As soon as the door is opened see the mountain
To come straight to the point. Avoid procrastination
Brevity is the soul of wit
开天辟地 [開天闢地]
start heaven repel earth
To separate heaven from earth
The beginning of a great task. In one creation myth Pangu set about his momentous work by first separating heaven (yang) from earth (yin). An epic undertaking
To boldly go
看风使舵 [看風使舵]
look wind steer rudder
Steer the boat wherever the winds lead
Not sticking to the big plan. A fickle mind
苛政猛于虎 [苛政猛於虎]
severe government fierce tiger
Tyranny is more terrible than tigers
The story is that Confucius met a woman near mount Taishan who was weeping bitterly. When asked, she said she had lost father-in-law, husband and son to marauding tigers. When Confucius asked why then she did not move to a safer village she replied that she was sheltering from a despotic government and would rather risk tigers than oppression. Evil government is the worst of evils.
刻舟求剑 [刻舟求劍]
notch boat seek sword
Marking the boat to locate a sunken sword
A venture made pointless by changing circumstances. The story is of a man who accidentally dropped a sword in the lake while being ferried across it. He reasoned that if he made a notch in the side of the boat that would let him find the sword again,
Wild goose chase
空洞无物 [空洞無物]
cavity has no thing
Vacuous
Empty and devoid of worthwhile content. Usually applied to poor writing that is devoid of meaning.
Empty words
空前绝后 [空前絕后]
empty before terminate behind
Neither seen in the future nor in the past
Something that is genuinely new
空穴来风未必无因 [空穴來風未必無因]
empty cave arrive wind surely nothing not follow
If wind comes from an empty cave it did not come from nowhere
There are always clues that something is about to happen
No smoke without fire
空中楼阁 [空中樓閣]
sky middle storied pavilion
A pavilion in the air
A fanciful and impossible scheme. An impractical idea with a streak of vanity.
A flight of fancy
口寄腹剑 [口寄腹劍]
mouth trustworthy stomach sword
Honeyed mouth but harboring dagger
Machiavellian. Using kind words to conceal malice
Smile of the crocodile
口蜜腹剑 [口蜜腹劍]
mouth honey belly sword
Mouth of honey, heart of daggers
Disguising ill intent with honeyed words. Deceitful and dangerous
Tai chi show in Kowloon Park, Hong Kong
Image by Jakub Halun ➚ available under a Creative Commons license ➚
口是心非
mouth OK feeling wrong
Say yes when mean no
To say the opposite of what you really think
旷日持久 [曠日持久]
waste day protracted
Wasting a great deal of time
Spending a protracted length of time on a task. A waste of time.
A wild goose chase
苦尽甘来 [苦儘甘來]
bitter exhuast sweet arrive
Bitterness over, happiness arrives. At the end of suffering comes relief
After troubles comes happiness
The darkest hour is just before the dawn
苦口良药 [苦口良葯]
bitter mouth good medicine
Good medicine tastes bad
It takes hard work and discomfort to achieve something worthwhile
来日方长 [來日方長]
arrive day region long
Long time ahead
There is adequate time to achieve your desires
All things come to those who wait
狼狈不堪 [狼狽不堪]
wolf distressed not endure
In a sorry plight
Facing total defeat. Left high and dry. The story is of Ma Chao in the Three Kingdoms Period who was out maneuvered by Cao Cao and faced total defeat.
In dire straits
狼心狗肺
wolf feeling dog lungs
Wolves are aggressive, dog bark. Ungrateful; cruel and unscrupulous
Ungrateful and unscrupulous
老蚌生珠
old oyster grow pearl
An old oyster yields pearls
Remaining fit and healthy into old age, specifically can mean fathering children in advanced years.
There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle
老当益壮 [老當益壯]
old able to increase strength
Old but still vigorous
Remaining vigorous, skillful and healthy in old age.
老奸巨猾
old crafty great cunning
To be very crafty and cunning
To be tricky, cunning, crafty. Well versed in the ways of the world
All's fair in love and war
老骥伏枥,志在千里 [老驥伏櫪志在千里]
old thoroughbred hidden stable, aspiration exist 1000 miles
The old horse in the stable still yearns to gallop 1,000 miles
Ambitions never fade. An old person still has high hopes
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away
老马识途 [老馬識途]
old horse know way
An old horse knows the way
Knowledge born from long experience. The story is of a Duke of Qi of the Spring and Autumn period who became lost on the way home from a campaign because winter had set in. The Duke proposed that the old horses should be allowed to lead their way home which they did successfully.
Been around the block a few times
老气横秋 [老氣橫秋]
old spirit across autumn
Old and decrepi but experienced
No longer youthful
蜡烛照亮别人,却毁灭了自己 [蠟燭照亮別人㕁毀滅了自己]
candle illuminate bright other people, but destroy extinguish itself
A candle illuminates others at the cost of burning itself up
Helping others at the cost of not looking after yourself
Love thy neighbor as thyself
滥竽充数 [濫竽充數]
excessive yu pipe supply fate
Passing oneself off as a proficient Yu pipe player
Pretending to be well qualified for a job. The story is that the king of Qi loved to hear an ensemble of yu players. A lazy sponger Nanguo wanted the plum job as a yu player. He faked playing the yu in the large ensemble. It came to an end with the next king of Qi who preferred soloists rather than an ensemble and so, expecting exposure, quickly fled away.
Pulling a fast one
雷声大,雨点小 [雷聲大雨點小]
thunder sound big, rain drop small
Thunder is loud but little rain falls
Overly portentous. Reality does not match expectations
Empty vessels make the most noise
乐不思蜀 [樂不思蜀]
happy not consider Shu
So happy that the kingdom of Shu is forgotten
Lost in present pleasures so as to forget home and duties. Said of Liu Chan ruler of the Shu kingdom (Sichuan province) who when defeated and in exile heard songs of his old kingdom but did not become melancholy like his other guests. So it refers to someone living in the present and not caring about the past. Lost in the moment
乐此不疲 [樂此不疲]
happy no longer weary
Pleasure takes away the fatigue
Said of a task that is enjoyable and so does not seem to be tiring. Can also be applied to a pleasurable task that you never get tired of doing.
乐极生悲 [樂極生悲]
joy extreme produce sorrow
After pleasure comes sorrow
Wallowing in pleasure will lead to regrets afterwards. Restrain yourself or you'll regret it
两败俱伤 [兩敗俱傷]
both damage entirely injure
Both sides will suffer
Heading towards a Pyrric victory - neither side wins. A conflict neither side can win.
Mutually assured destruction
两条腿走路 [兩條骽走路]
two legs walk journey
Need two legs to be able to walk
When alternative methods are needed not just one
留得青山在,不怕没柴烧 [留得青山在不怕沒柴燒]
remain get green mountain exist, no fear have no firewood
So long as the green mountains are preserved, there will be no shortage of firewood
Do not despair, there is plenty of time and opportunity
Everything comes to him who waits
离乡背井 [离鄉背井]
leave village behind well
Leave one's own village
A stranger away from home
临渴掘井 [臨渴掘井]
approach thirsty dig well
Digging a well only when starting to feel thirsty
Begin taking action when it is far too late.
Failing to plan is planning to fail
利欲熏心
sharp desire fogs heart
Strong ambition veils true feeling
To be obsessed with the desire for success at the expense of happiness
力不从心 [力不從心]
strength not from feeling
Strong ambition but no motivation
Lacking in motivation to achieve aims
If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well
厉兵秣马 [厲兵秣馬]
sharpen weapons feed horse
Sharpening the weapons and feeding the horses
Making preparations for imminent battle. Committed to meet an enemy head-on
Locked and loaded
龙飞凤舞 [龍飛鳳舞]
dragon fly phoenix dance
A dragon's flight and a phoenix's dance - very powerful and invigorating.
Flamboyant. Lively and vigorous
龙争虎斗 [龍爭虎斗]
dragon war tiger battle
Bitter fight between a dragon and tiger. An evenly matched big fight
Struggle between two equal leaders
漏洞百出
leak hole hundred get out
Leaking through one hundred holes
Full of mistakes and errors
乱七八糟 [亂七八糟]
chaos seven eight dregs
Chaotic mess
To be in a terrible mess. Dirty and filthy
萝卜白菜,各有所爱 [蘿卜白菜各有所愛]
radish cabbage, each have place fond
Some prefer radish while others like cabbage
Everyone has their own preferences
Each to his own
洛阳纸贵 [洛陽紙貴]
Luoyang paper expensive
To make paper expensive in Luoyang
The story is of a book that initially failed to find any interest, when he came to the then capital of Luoyang several respected scholars found it exceptional. The book then became so popular that printers exhausted the supply of paper to print copies of it. It therefore is used to describe a book that is destined to be a sensation.
Become all the rage
落井下石
fall well throw stone
After someone falls into a well throw in a stone
To add needlessly to someone's misfortunes
Hit a man when he is down
落叶归根 [落叶歸根]
fall leaf return root
Fallen leaves return to the root
Returning to place of birth
There's no place like home
驴唇不对马嘴 [馿唇不對馬嘴]
donkey lips no match horse mouth
Donkey's lips do not fit a horse's mouth
Something that is out of place and inappropriate
Our proverbs come with full information. The modern Chinese characters are given first with links that give information on the character. If the phrase uses traditional characters these are shown in brackets and gray text. As proverbs are so old you will often see them written in the old form. The characters are followed by the proverb (Chengyu) in pinyin. Next, there is a crude character by character transliteration into English, followed by a more accurate English translation. If this is a Chinese proverb alluding to history the meaning may still not be clear in English, so the general meaning follows. Finally some proverbs have fairly direct English equivalents, if so the English proverb is included at the end.
Our translations are in need of improvement, so please let us know your ideas. For background on the types and history of proverbs please see our guide.
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