1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
一字一泪
yī zì yī lèi
1 each word is a teardrop (idiom)
一字不提
yī zì bù tí
1 to not mention a single word (about sth) (idiom)
一字千金
yī zì qiān jīn
1 one word worth a thousand in gold (idiom)
2 (in praise of a piece of writing or calligraphy) each character is perfect
3 each word is highly valued
一字褒贬
yī zì bāo biǎn
1 dispensing praise or blame with a single word (idiom)
2 concise and powerful style
一心二用
yī xīn èr yòng
1 to do two things at once (idiom)
2 to multitask
3 to divide one's attention
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
八字没一撇
bā zì méi yī piě
1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
3 no sign of success yet
八字还没一撇
bā zì hái méi yī piě
1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
3 no sign of success yet
八字还没一撇儿
bā zì hái méi yī piě r5
1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
3 no sign of success yet
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
别有用心
bié yǒu yòng xīn
1 to have an ulterior motive (idiom)
别无他用
bié wú tā yòng
1 to have no other use or purpose (idiom)
刚愎自用
gāng bì zì yòng
1 obstinate and self-opinionated (idiom)
割鸡焉用牛刀
gē jī yān yòng niú dāo
1 lit. why use a pole-ax to slaughter a chicken? (idiom)
2 fig. to waste effort on a trifling matter
3 also written 殺雞焉用牛刀|杀鸡焉用牛刀[shā jī yān yòng niú dāo]
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
咬文嚼字
yǎo wén jiáo zì
1 to bite words and chew characters (idiom); punctilious about minutiae of wording
大材小用
dà cái xiǎo yòng
1 using a talented person in an insignificant position (idiom)