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)
上梁不正下梁歪
shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi
1 lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
1 human nature (idiom)
2 a behavior that is only natural
以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
1 to set an example (idiom); to serve as a model
作威作福
zuò wēi zuò fú
1 tyrannical abuse (idiom); riding roughshod over people
作茧自缚
zuò jiǎn zì fù
1 to spin a cocoon around oneself (idiom); enmeshed in a trap of one's own devising
2 hoist by his own petard
作鸟兽散
zuò niǎo shòu sàn
1 lit. scatter like birds and beasts (idiom)
2 fig. to head off in various directions
3 to flee helter-skelter
俾夜作昼
bǐ yè zuò zhòu
1 lit. to make night as day (idiom); fig. to burn the midnight oil
2 work especially hard
俾昼作夜
bǐ zhòu zuò yè
1 to make day as night (idiom, from Book of Songs); fig. to prolong one's pleasure regardless of the hour
偏邪不正
piān xié bù zhèng
1 biased
2 prejudiced (idiom)
偷工减料
tōu gōng jiǎn liào
1 to skimp on the job and stint on materials (idiom)
2 jerry-building
3 sloppy work
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
呼牛作马
hū niú zuò mǎ
1 to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom); it doesn't matter what you call it
2 Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
回嗔作喜
huí chēn zuò xǐ
1 to go from anger to happiness (idiom)
天作之合
tiān zuò zhī hé
1 a match made in heaven (idiom)
天公不作美
tiān gōng bù zuò měi
1 Heaven is not cooperating (idiom)
2 the weather is not favorable for the planned activity
天公作美
tiān gōng zuò měi
1 Heaven is cooperating (idiom)
2 the weather is favorable for the planned activity (a variation of 天公不作美|天公不作美[tiān gōng bù zuò měi])
始作俑者
shǐ zuò yǒng zhě
1 lit. the first person to bury funerary dolls (idiom)