上有天堂,下有苏杭
shàng yǒu tiān táng , xià yǒu Sū Háng
-
1 lit. there is heaven above, and there is 蘇杭|苏杭[Sū Háng] below (idiom)
-
2 fig. the beauty and affluence of Suzhou and Hangzhou is comparable with heaven
人微言轻
rén wēi yán qīng
-
1 (idiom) what lowly people think counts for little
人生一世,草木一春
rén shēng yī shì , cǎo mù yī chūn
-
1 Man has but one life, grass but one spring (idiom). fig. the brevity of human existence
兔子不吃窝边草
tù zi bù chī wō biān cǎo
-
1 A rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow (idiom); One shouldn't do anything to harm one's neighbors.
兵马未动,粮草先行
bīng mǎ wèi dòng , liáng cǎo xiān xíng
-
1 before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers
-
2 an army marches on its stomach
冠冕堂皇
guān miǎn táng huáng
-
1 high-sounding
-
2 dignified
-
3 pompous (idiom)
剪草除根
jiǎn cǎo chú gēn
-
1 lit. cut grass and pull out roots (idiom); fig. to destroy root and branch
-
2 to eradicate
升堂入室
shēng táng rù shì
-
1 lit. to reach the main room and enter the chamber (idiom)
-
2 fig. to gradually attain proficiency
-
3 to attain a higher level
又要马儿跑,又要马儿不吃草
yòu yào mǎ r5 pǎo , yòu yào mǎ r5 bù chī cǎo
-
1 lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom)
-
2 fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too
哄堂大笑
hōng táng dà xiào
-
1 the whole room roaring with laughter (idiom)
四世同堂
sì shì tóng táng
-
1 four generations under one roof (idiom)
坐不垂堂
zuò bù chuí táng
-
1 lit. don't sit under the eaves (where tiles may fall from the roof) (idiom); fig. keep out of danger
天涯何处无芳草
tiān yá hé chù wú fāng cǎo
-
1 there are plenty more fish in the sea (idiom)
奇花异草
qí huā yì cǎo
-
1 very rarely seen, unusual (idiom)
好马不吃回头草
hǎo mǎ bù chī huí tóu cǎo
-
1 lit. a good horse doesn't turn around and graze the same patch again (idiom)
-
2 fig. once you've moved on, don't go back again (romantic relationship, job etc)
-
3 leave the past behind
家世寒微
jiā shì hán wēi
-
1 to be of humble origin (idiom)
家累千金,坐不垂堂
jiā lěi qiān jīn , zuò bù chuí táng
-
1 lit. a wealthy person does not sit under the eaves (idiom); fig. a rich man does not expose himself to danger
富丽堂皇
fù lì táng huáng
-
1 (of houses etc) sumptuous (idiom)
察微知著
chá wēi zhī zhù
-
1 to examine tiny clues to know general trends (idiom)
-
2 to deduce the whole story from small traces
寸草不生
cùn cǎo bù shēng
-
1 lit. not even a blade of grass grows (idiom)
-
2 fig. barren