1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
三纲五常
sān gāng wǔ cháng
1 three principles and five virtues (idiom)
2 the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義|义, propriety 禮|礼, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
1 human nature (idiom)
2 a behavior that is only natural
光天化日
guāng tiān huà rì
1 the full light of day (idiom)
2 fig. peace and prosperity
3 in broad daylight
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
出神入化
chū shén rù huà
1 to reach perfection (idiom); a superb artistic achievement
化干戈为玉帛
huà gān gē wéi yù bó
1 lit. to exchange weapons of war for gifts of jade and silk (idiom)
2 fig. to turn hostility into friendship
化整为零
huà zhěng wéi líng
1 to break up the whole into pieces (idiom); dealing with things one by one
2 divide and conquer
化敌为友
huà dí wéi yǒu
1 to convert an enemy into a friend (idiom)
化为泡影
huà wéi pào yǐng
1 to come to nothing (idiom)
化腐朽为神奇
huà fǔ xiǔ wéi shén qí
1 lit. to change something rotten into something magical (idiom)
化险为夷
huà xiǎn wéi yí
1 to turn peril into safety (idiom); to avert disaster
千里马常有,而伯乐不常有
qiān lǐ mǎ cháng yǒu , ér Bó Lè bù cháng yǒu
1 lit. there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (idiom)
2 fig. many have talent, but few can recognize talent when they see it
大事化小,小事化了
dà shì huà xiǎo , xiǎo shì huà liǎo
1 to turn big problems into small ones, and small problems into no problems at all (idiom)
春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
1 lit. spring wind and rain (idiom); fig. the long-term influence of a solid education
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
泥古不化
nì gǔ bù huà
1 conservative and unable to adapt (idiom)
知足常乐
zhī zú cháng lè
1 satisfied with what one has (idiom)
祸福无常
huò fú wú cháng
1 disaster and happiness do not follow rules (idiom); future blessings and misfortunes are unpredictable