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)
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)
勤俭朴素
qín jiǎn pǔ sù
1 hardworking, thrifty, plain, and simple (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
尸位素餐
shī wèi sù cān
1 to hold a sinecure (idiom)
我行我素
wǒ xíng wǒ sù
1 to continue in one's own way (idiom)
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
知足常乐
zhī zú cháng lè
1 satisfied with what one has (idiom)
祸福无常
huò fú wú cháng
1 disaster and happiness do not follow rules (idiom); future blessings and misfortunes are unpredictable
素不相能
sù bù xiāng néng
1 unable to get along (idiom)
素不相识
sù bù xiāng shí
1 to be total strangers (idiom)
素昧平生
sù mèi píng shēng
1 to have never met sb before (idiom); entirely unacquainted
2 a complete stranger
3 not to know sb from Adam
素面朝天
sù miàn cháo tiān
1 lit. to present oneself confidently to the emperor, without makeup (as did the sister of Yang Guifei 楊貴妃|杨贵妃[Yáng Guì fēi]) (idiom)
2 fig. (of a woman) to show one's natural features, without makeup
3 to present oneself just as one is, without artifice
老生常谈
lǎo shēng cháng tán
1 an old observation (idiom)
2 a truism
3 banal comments
艰苦朴素
jiān kǔ pǔ sù
1 leading a plain, hardworking life (idiom)
蹈常袭故
dǎo cháng xí gù
1 follow the same old path (idiom); stuck in a rut
2 always the same routine
轻饶素放
qīng ráo sù fàng
1 easily forgive, simply release (idiom); to let sb off scot free
进退有常
jìn tuì yǒu cháng
1 to advance or retreat, each has its rules (idiom from Zhuangzi); many translations are possible