01
一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草绳
Once bitten, twice shy.
02
一言既出，驷马难追
A word spoken is past recalling.
03
一见钟情
to fall in love at first sight
04
笨鸟先飞
A slow sparrow should make an early start.
05
一寸光阴一寸金
Time is money.
06
一失足成千古恨
The error committed on impulse
may turn out to be the sorrow of
a whole life.
07
一将功名万古枯
What millions died that Caesar might be great.
08
一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨
Plan your year in spring and your day at dawn.
09
一人难称百人意
You cannot please everyone.
10
一气呵成
Never make two bites of a cherry.
11
一白遮三丑
A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults.
12
一知半解
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
13
一心一意
John is a person who always works with undivided attention.
14
一丘之貉
These people are cut from the same cloth/are tarred with the same brush.
15
一目了然
His words just leapt to the eye.
Do you need me to explain it?
16
一帆风顺
His business has gone off without a hitch.
17
一刻千金
You have to make good use of time.
After all, every time counts.
18
一事无成
I am happy to know that
all have ended in smoke about him.
19
一败涂地
The outcome of the election just bit the dust.
20
一针见血
His comment on the current affairs
always hits the right nail on the head.
21
一清二楚
The accounts don't seem to be as clear as crystal.
22
一意孤行
That boy is always going her own way.
He won't listen to his parents' advice.
23
一落千丈
My son's schoolwork has gone to pot.
He really lets me down.
24
一鸣惊人
His performance at school really comes as a bombshell.
25
一诺千金
He never goes back on his word.
He is as good as his word.
26
一时兴起
Don't always do things by fits and snatches.
27
一蹴可就
make it at one stroke
28
一筹莫展
I really have no idea what to do.
Now I am at my wit's end.
29
一览无遗
If you stand here looking down at the city.
The wonderful scene will be in full view.
30
一窍不通
What you said is all Greek to me.
31
九死一生
to have a hair-breadth escape
32
九牛一毛
Compared with mine, his was simply a drop in the bucket.
33
人生如梦
Life is but a dream.
34
人生自古谁无死
Death comes to all men.
35
人生百岁古来稀
It is seldom that a man lives to be a hundred years old.
36
人定胜天
Man can conquer nature.
37
人不可貌相
Appearances are often deceptive.
/ Never judge a look by its cover.
38
人山人海
a sea of faces
39
人之常情
It's human nature for me to help those who need help.
40
人云亦云
Don't echo others' words. Sometimes you've got to find out the truth.
41
人去楼空
Regretful to say, when the master was absent, his mansion was dead.
42
人面兽心
He's really a wolf in sheep's clothing.
43
人言可畏
Opinion rules the world.
44
十年风水轮流转
Every dog has its day.
45
十全十美
The show just leaves nothing to be desired.
46
十拿九稳
We have winning the game in the bag.
47
十万火急
I am writing in hot haste to let you know that I will be there on time.
48
了无瓜葛
That politician claimed that he had nothing to do with that scandal.
49
力不从心
my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.
50
力挽狂澜
He tried to stem the tide, but in vain.
51
入乡随俗
Do in Rome as the Romans do.
52
入木三分
It actually gave a vivid picture of cut the quick.
53
七上八下
Don't talk to me now because I am greatly upsetnow.
54
七窍生烟
in a great fury
(fuming with anger; in a great rage; terribly furious)
55
七零八落
go to rock and ruin.
56
八面玲珑
dances and sings all weathers
57
三思而后行
Look before you leap.
58
三句不离本行
to talk shop
59
三个臭皮匠胜过一个诸葛亮
Two heads are better than one.
60
三番两次
time after time.
61
三缄其口
hold one's peace
62
千钧一发
to hang by a hair thread
63
大智若愚
He who can not play the fool is not a wise man.
64
大海捞针
look for a needle in a haystack
65
冰冻三尺，非一日之寒
Rome was not built in a day.
66
山穷水尽
at the end of one's resources
67
山中无老虎，猴子称大王
Among the blind the one-eyed is king./
When the cat's away, the mice will pay.
68
小题大做
Make a mountain out of a molehill.
69
小洞不补，大来吃苦
A stitch in time saves nine.
70
小不忍则乱大谋
Patience is a virtue.
71
工欲善其事，必先利其器
You cannot make bricks without straw.
72
不要厚此薄彼
Don't make fish of one and flesh of another.
73
不畏艰难
Take the bull by the horns.
74
不要不自量力
Don't put a quarter into a pint pot.
75
己所不欲勿施于人
Do unto others as you would be done.
76
仁者无敌
The benevolent have no enemy
77
亡羊补牢
Better late than never./
It's never too late to mend.
78
上气不接下气
I got out of breath when I climbed those stairs.
79
不辞而别
to take French leave
80
不要不自量力
Don't put a quarter into a pint pot.
81
不要厚此薄彼
Don't make fish of one and flesh of another.
82
不畏艰难
Take the bull by the horns.
83
不战而屈人之兵
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
84
不入虎穴焉得虎子
How can one obtain tiger-cubs without entering the tiger's lair.
85
少年老成
to have an old head on young shoulders
86
不经一事，不长一智
Experience is the mother of wisdom.
87
不舍昼夜(24小时)
Some convenience stores offer around the clock service.
88
不胜其烦
Your little brother is a pain in the neck.
89
夜以继日
day and night
90
少不更事
Although she is 20, she was still wet behind the ears in some ways.
91
天无绝人之路
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
92
天下乌鸦一般黑
Crows are black all over the world.
93
天助自助者
Heaven helps those who help themselves.
94
天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福
It is the unexpected that always happens.
95
毛遂自荐
to recommend one's own person
96
心正不怕雷打
A good conscience is a soft pillow.
97
心满意足
The little boy sat there smiling, as happy as a clam.
98
化干戈为玉帛
Bury the to mahwak(hatchet).
99
美中不足
a fly in the ointment
100
今日事今日毕
Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today.
101
文胜于武
The pen is mightier than the sword.
102
以身作则
to practice what one practices
103
以毒攻毒
to set a thief to catch a thief
104
以怨报德
to bite the hand that feeds one
105
以逸待劳
To wait at ease till the enemy is exhausted.
106
以寡敌众
to fight against longer odds
107
以德报怨
to render good for evil
108
以其人之道还治其人之身
Set a thief to catch a thief.
109
以子之矛，攻子之盾
to turn a person's battery against himself
110
四大皆空
All is vanity.
111
四海之内皆兄弟
All are brothers within the four seas.
112
未雨绸缪
Keep some extra money for a rainy day.
113
目不识丁
not know A from B
114
失败为成功之母
Failure is the mother of success.
115
失之毫厘，差之千里
A miss is as good as a mile.
116
水滴石穿
Little strokes fell great oaks.
117
毛遂自荐
to recommend one's own person
118
打落水狗
to hit a person when he's down
119
打铁趁热
Strike while the iron is hot.
120
犯错是人之常情，宽恕是超凡的.
To err is human; to forgive divine.
121
白费唇舌
to waste your breath on him
122
改过自新
to turn over a new leaf
123
生于忧患，死于安乐
Adversity spurs vitality, while comfort breeds sloth .
124
任劳任怨
to bear hardship without complaint
125
自作自受
As you make your bed so you must lie on it.
126
自讨苦吃
to make a rod for one's own back
127
自力更生
to shift for oneself
128
自扫门前雪
After us the deluge.
129
回头浪子
the return of a prodigal
130
先下手为强
Offence is the best defence.
131
同甘共苦
to share one's joys and sorrows
132
因地制宜
act according to circumstances
133
有勇无谋
more brave than wise
134
有备无患
Good watch prevents misfortune.
135
有志者事竟成
Where there is a will, there is a way.
136
有钱能使鬼推磨
Money makes the world go around. /Money talks.
137
有其父必有其子
Like father, like son.
138
江山易改本性难移
The child is father of the man.
139
百无一失
Not a single miss in a hundred times.
140
百依百顺
She expects us to jump through hoops for her.
141
百闻不如一见
To see is to believe.
142
吃得苦中苦，方为人上人
If you wish to be the best man, you must be prepared to suffer the bitterest of the bitter./
No gain without pain.
143
每人一生中皆有得意之日
Every dog has his day.
144
色是假，美是空
Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty.
145
吉人自有天相
The good are protected by Heaven. /
All's well that ends well.
146
如愿以偿
The mayor finally got his way with the city council.
147
如人饮水冷暖自知
Only the wearer knows where the shoes pain.
148
英雄所见略同
Great minds think alike.
149
早起的鸟儿有虫吃
The early bird catches the worm.
150
弄巧成拙
Overreach oneself
151
忍无可忍
to be at the end of one's patience
152
忍一时之气免百日之忧
patience for a moment; comfort for many years
153
忘恩负义
to kick down the ladder
154
走马看花
a flying visit
155
防患于未然
to nip a thing in the bud
156
佛要金装，人要衣装
Fine feathers make fine birds.
157
兵精不必多
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
158
身在福中不知福
The worth of a thing is best known by the want of it.
159
你敬我一尺，我回你一丈
You scratch my back, and I will scratch yours.
160
别狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
161
志在千里
Hitch your wagon to a star.
162
初出茅庐/一窍不通
He was a babe in the woods
163
否极泰来
After a storm comes a calm.
164
奇装异服
a fantastic garb
165
忠言逆耳
Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear
166
明辨是非
to distinguish right from wrong
167
知足常乐
Happy is he who is content
168
知足者富
He who feels contented is rich
169
知人知面不知心
It's easy to know men's faces, but not their hearts.
170
知己知彼百战百胜
Know your enemy and know yourself.
171
空中楼阁
castles in the air
172
金科玉律
the gold rule
173
奇装异服
a fantastic garb
174
明辨事非
to distinguish right from wrong
175
雨后春笋
like bamboo shoots after a spring shower
176
雨过天青
After a storm comes a calm.
177
秀才不出门能知天下事
A scholar does not step outside his gate,
yet he knows the happenings under the sun.
178
事实胜于雄辩
Facts are most convincing.
179
来得容易去得快
Easy come, easy go.
180
金玉其外败絮其中
All that glitters is not gold.
181
兔子不吃窝边草
The fox preys farthest from his hole.
182
若要人不知除非己莫为
If you would not be known to do anything, never do it.
183
没有笑脸不出门
A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.
185
往者不可谏，来者犹可追
A mill cannot grind with the water that is past.
186
见异思迁
Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
187
适者生存
Survival of the fittest.
188
物以类聚
Birds of a feather flock together.
189
于事无补
Complaining is of little(no) avail.
190
姻缘天注定
Marriages are made in heaven.
191
逆来顺受
to make the best of a bad bargain
192
流芳百世
a niche in the temple of fame
193
为虎作伥
to act as guide to a tiger
194
孤注一掷
to put all one's egg in one basket
195
勇者不惧
A brave man will not shrink from dangers.
196
背道而驰
to run counter
197
赴汤蹈火
to go through fire and water
198
风烛残年
to have one foot in the grave
199
风声鹤唳，草木皆兵
to apprehend danger in every sound
200
活到老学到老
It's never too late to learn./
Live and learn.
201
前事不忘后事之师
Remember the past and it will guide your future.
202
星星之火可以燎原
A single spark can start a prairie fire.
203
待人宽容如待己
Live and let live.
204
按部就班
Learn to walk before you run.
205
南辕北辙
at cross purposes with
207
病从口入，祸从口出
Illness comes in by mouth and comes out by it.
208
笑里藏刀
a smile to hide one's hate
209
留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
Where there's life, there's hope
210
海底捞月
to fish in the air
212
既往不咎
Let the dead bury their dead.
213
*身成仁
to sacrifice one's life to preserve one's virtue complete
214
*鸡焉用牛刀
Take not a musket to kill a butterfly.
215
饥不择食
A good appetite is a good sauce.
216
害群之马
black sheep
217
家丑不可外扬
Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
218
恩威并济
alternate weakness with severity
219
旁观者清
The outside sees the best of the game.
220
时运不济
to have a bad time
221
殊途同归
All roads lead to Rome.
222
疾风知劲草
Adversity reveals genius.
223
旁观者清，当局者迷
Lookers-on see most of the game.
224
莫惹是非
Let sleeping dogs lie
225
得意忘形
to leap out of one's skin
226
捷足先登
The early bird catches the worm.
227
欲速则不达
Haste makes waste/
More haste, less speed.
228
欲加之罪，何患无辞
Give a dog a bad/an ill name and hang him.
229
混水摸鱼
to fish in troubled waters
230
贪小失大
penny-wise and pound foolish
231
习惯成自然
once a use forever a custom
232
挂羊头卖狗肉
cry up wine and sell vinegar
233
贫无立锥之地
as poor as a church mouse
234
患难见真情
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
235
异想天开
to give loose to one's fancy
236
得过且过
to live from hand to mouth
237
情人眼里出西施
Love is blind.
238
情有独钟
have eyes only for
239
冤家宜解不宜结
Better remove enmity than contract it.
240
眼不见为净
Out of sight, out of mind.
241
脱口而出
a slip of the tongue
242
设身处地
in someone's shoes.
243
智者千虑，必有一失
Homer sometimes nods.
244
胜不骄败不馁
to be not elated by success nor disturbed by failure
245
富贵在天
Riches and honors come from heaven.
246
智者不惑
A wise man is free from perplexities.
247
无风不起浪
There is no smoke without fire. /
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
248
画蛇添足
to paint the lily
249
趁火打劫
to fish in troubled waters
250
量入为出
to cut one's coat according to one's cloth/
make both ends meet
251
阳奉阴违
ostensible obedience
252
跑了和尚跑不了庙
The monk may run away, but the temple can't run with him.
253
万物之灵
the lords of creation
254
万事开头难
Everything is difficult at the start
255
万无一失
not a single miss in a thousand times.
256
落井下石
to hit a person when he's down
257
隔墙有耳
Pitchers have ears/
walls have ears.
258
挑灯夜战
Burn the midnight oil.
259
开诚布公
open one's heart to
260
盗亦有道
Dog does not eat dog.
261
善有善报
One kindness is the price of another.
262
损人利己
to enrich oneself at others expense
263
置之死地而后生
Put the troops in death ground and they will live.
264
道高一尺，魔高一丈
While the priest climbs a foot, the devil climbs ten.
265
预防胜于治疗
Prevention is better than cure.
266
新官上任三把火
New brooms sweep clean.
267
塞翁失马，焉知非福
Misfortune might be a blessing in disguise.
268
路遥知马力，日久见人心
A distant journey tests the strength of a horse and
a long task proves the character of a man.
269
沧海一粟
a drop in the bucket
270
盖棺论定
Judge none blessed before his death.
271
岁月不饶人
Time and tide wait for no man.
272
经验即良师
Experience is the teacher.
273
勤能补拙
Diligence can make up for lack of intelligence.
274
寿终正寝
to die a natural death (to die in one's bed)
275
寡不敌众
There is no contending against odds.
276
对牛弹琴
to cast pearls before swine
277
祸不单行
Misfortunes never come single.
278
饱食终日无所事事
to eat the bread of idleness
279
慷他人之慨
to be free with other's money
280
远亲不如近邻
Distant kinsmen mean less than close neighbors.
281
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆
You must reap what you have sown.
282
乐极生悲
After joy comes sadness.
283
说曹操到曹操就到
Talk of the devil and the devil comes.
284
团结就是力量
Union is strength.
285
需要为发明之母
Necessity is the mother of invention.
286
满招损，谦受益
Haughtiness invites ruin; humility receives benefits.
287
恶有恶报
He that does evil shall find evil.
288
恶事传千里
Bad news travels quickly.
289
熟能生巧
Practice makes perfect.
290
缓兵之计
a fabian policy
291
缘木求鱼
to get water from a flint
292
适者生存
the survival of the fittest
293
穷寇莫追
A cornered animal is a dangerous foe.
294
积少成多
Every little makes a mickle.
295
钱可通神
Money can move even the gods.
296
谋事在人成事在天
Man proposes and God disposes.
297
学问无捷径
There is no royal road/shortcut to learning.
298
机不可失
Opportunity seldom knocks twice.
299
优胜劣败
The weakest goes to the wall.
300
声东击西
to look one way and row another
301
南辕北辙
at cross purposes
302
脍炙人口
in everyone's mouth
303
螳臂挡车
to kick against the pricks
304
鞠躬尽瘁
to give the last measure of devotion
305
聪明反被聪明误
to suffer for one's wisdom
306
老调重谈
to harp on the same string
307
礼尚往来
Courtesy on one side cannot last long..
308
礼多必诈
full of courtesy, full of craft
309
声嘶力竭
He was talking at the top of his voice.
310
覆水难收
What's done cannot be undone./
There is no use crying over spilt milk.
311
转石不生苔
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
312
转败为胜
to convert defeat into victory
313
鞭长莫及
beyond one's grasp
314
关公门前耍大刀
There's no need to teach a fish to swim.
315
严以责己宽以待人
to be severe with oneself and lenient with others
316
铁石心肠
a heart of steel
317
听天由命
to be guided by destiny
318
骄兵必败
Pride goes before a fall.
