1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
七手八脚
qī shǒu bā jiǎo
1 (idiom) with everyone lending a hand (eagerly but somewhat chaotically)
七扭八歪
qī niǔ bā wāi
1 misshapen
2 crooked
3 uneven (idiom)
七零八落
qī líng bā luò
1 (idiom) everything broken and in disorder
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)
不分青红皂白
bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái
1 not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom)
2 not to distinguish between right and wrong
不问青红皂白
bù wèn qīng hóng zào bái
1 not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom)
2 not to distinguish between right and wrong
乱七八糟
luàn qī bā zāo
1 everything in disorder (idiom); in a hideous mess
2 at sixes and sevens
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
1 human nature (idiom)
2 a behavior that is only natural
八仙过海，各显神通
Bā xiān guò hǎi , gè xiǎn shén tōng
1 lit. the Eight Immortals cross the sea, each showing his own special talent (idiom)
2 fig. (of each individual in a group) to give full play to one's unique capabilities
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)
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
名垂青史
míng chuí qīng shǐ
1 lit. reputation will go down in history (idiom); fig. achievements will earn eternal glory
四仰八叉
sì yǎng bā chā
1 sprawled out on one's back (idiom)
四平八稳
sì píng bā wěn
1 everything steady and stable (idiom); overcautious and unimaginary
四通八达
sì tōng bā dá
1 roads open in all directions (idiom); accessible from all sides
女大十八变
nu:3 dà shí bā biàn
1 lit. a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood (idiom)
2 fig. a young woman is very different from the little girl she once was