付之东流
fù zhī dōng liú
-
1 to commit to the waters (idiom); to lose sth irrevocably
借东风
jiè dōng fēng
-
1 lit. to use the eastern wind (idiom)
-
2 fig. to use sb's help
只欠东风
zhǐ qiàn dōng fēng
-
1 all we need is an east wind (idiom); lacking only one tiny crucial item
各奔东西
gè bèn dōng xī
-
1 to go separate ways (idiom)
-
2 to part ways with sb
-
3 Taiwan pr. [gè bēn dōng xī]
失之东隅，收之桑榆
shī zhī dōng yú , shōu zhī sāng yú
-
1 to lose at sunrise but gain at sunset (idiom)
-
2 to compensate later for one's earlier loss
-
3 what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts
宁做鸡头，不做凤尾
nìng zuò jī tóu , bù zuò fèng wěi
-
1 lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
-
2 fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond
宁左勿右
nìng zuǒ wù yòu
-
1 (of one's political views) to prefer left rather than right (idiom during the Cultural Revolution)
宁拆十座庙，不毁一桩婚
níng chāi shí zuò miào , bù huì yī zhuāng hūn
-
1 rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)
宁死不屈
nìng sǐ bù qū
-
1 rather die than submit (idiom)
宁为玉碎，不为瓦全
nìng wéi yù suì , bù wéi wǎ quán
-
1 Better broken jade than intact tile.
-
2 Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)
宁缺毋滥
nìng quē wú làn
-
1 better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiom); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option
宁静致远
níng jìng zhì yuǎn
-
1 tranquility yields transcendence (idiom); quiet life of profound study
-
2 cf Still waters run deep.
息事宁人
xī shì níng rén
-
1 to keep the peace; to patch up a quarrel (idiom)
拆东墙补西墙
chāi dōng qiáng bǔ xī qiáng
-
1 lit. pull down the east wall to repair the west wall (idiom); fig. temporary expedient
-
2 Rob Peter to pay Paul
拆东补西
chāi dōng bǔ xī
-
1 lit. pull down the east wall to repair the west (idiom); fig. temporary expedient
-
2 Rob Peter to pay Paul
东倒西歪
dōng dǎo xī wāi
-
1 to lean unsteadily from side to side (idiom)
-
2 to sway
-
3 (of buildings etc) to lean at a crazy angle
东兔西乌
dōng tù xī wū
-
1 lit. the sun setting and the moon rising (idiom)
-
2 fig. the passage of time
东奔西走
dōng bēn xī zǒu
-
1 to run this way and that (idiom); to rush about busily
-
2 to bustle about
-
3 to hopscotch
-
4 also 東跑西顛|东跑西颠[dōng pǎo xī diān]
东奔西跑
dōng bēn xī pǎo
-
1 to run this way and that (idiom); to rush about busily
-
2 to bustle about
东家长西家短
dōng jiā cháng xī jiā duǎn