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
一波未平,一波又起
yī bō wèi píng , yī bō yòu qǐ
-
1 before the first wave subsides, a new wave rises (idiom); a new problem arises before the old is solved
-
2 many twists and turns to a story
-
3 one thing after another
一碗水端平
yī wǎn shuǐ duān píng
-
1 lit. to hold a bowl of water level (idiom)
-
2 fig. to be impartial
一马平川
yī mǎ píng chuān
-
1 flat land one could gallop straight across (idiom); wide expanse of flat country
三个女人一台戏
sān ge nu:3 rén yī tái xì
-
1 three women are enough for a drama (idiom)
上不了台面
shàng bù liǎo tái miàn
-
1 better kept under the table (idiom)
-
2 not to be disclosed
-
3 too inferior to show in public
上不得台盘
shàng bù dé tái pán
-
1 too uncouth to appear in public (idiom)
-
2 unfit for a public role
任凭风浪起,稳坐钓鱼台
rèn píng fēng làng qǐ , wěn zuò diào yú tái
-
1 lit. sitting at ease in a fishing boat despite wind and storm (idiom); to stay calm during tense situation
-
2 a cool head in a crisis
债台高筑
zhài tái gāo zhù
-
1 lit. build a high desk of debt (idiom); heavily in debt
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]
唱对台戏
chàng duì tái xì
-
1 to put on a rival show (idiom); to set oneself up against sb
-
2 to get into confrontation
四平八稳
sì píng bā wěn
-
1 everything steady and stable (idiom); overcautious and unimaginary
四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
-
1 lit. all four oceans are peaceful
-
2 worldwide peace (idiom)
坎坷不平
kǎn kě bù píng
-
1 potholed and bumpy road (idiom); fig. full of disappointment and dashed hopes
大材小用
dà cái xiǎo yòng
-
1 using a talented person in an insignificant position (idiom)
-
2 a sledgehammer to crack a nut
天下太平
tiān xià tài píng
-
1 the whole world at peace (idiom); peace and prosperity
太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
-
1 peace and prosperity (idiom)