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)
之乎者也
zhī hū zhě yě
1 lit. 之[zhī], 乎[hū], 者[zhě] and 也[yě] (four grammatical particles of Classical Chinese) (idiom); fig. archaic expressions
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
1 human nature (idiom)
2 a behavior that is only natural
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
出乎意外
chū hū yì wài
1 beyond expectation (idiom); unexpected
出乎意料
chū hū yì liào
1 beyond expectation (idiom); unexpected
出乎预料
chū hū yù liào
1 beyond expectation (idiom); unexpected
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
卓乎不群
zhuó hū bù qún
1 standing out from the common crowd (idiom); outstanding
2 preeminent
微乎其微
wēi hū qí wēi
1 a tiny bit
2 very little
3 next to nothing (idiom)
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
渺乎其微
miǎo hū qí wēi
1 remote and insignificant (idiom)
满不在乎
mǎn bù zài hu
1 not in the least concerned (idiom)
2 reckless
3 couldn't give a damn about it
4 unperturbed
5 couldn't care less
6 harum scarum
知足常乐
zhī zú cháng lè
1 satisfied with what one has (idiom)
神乎其技
shén hū qí jì
1 (idiom) brilliant
2 extremely skillful
3 virtuosic
祸福无常
huò fú wú cháng
1 disaster and happiness do not follow rules (idiom); future blessings and misfortunes are unpredictable
老生常谈
lǎo shēng cháng tán
1 an old observation (idiom)
2 a truism
3 banal comments
蹈常袭故
dǎo cháng xí gù
1 follow the same old path (idiom); stuck in a rut
2 always the same routine
进退有常
jìn tuì yǒu cháng
1 to advance or retreat, each has its rules (idiom from Zhuangzi); many translations are possible