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
任人唯亲
rèn rén wéi qīn
1 to appoint people by favoritism (idiom); nepotism
2 corrupt appointment
任人唯贤
rèn rén wéi xián
1 to appoint people according to their merits (idiom); appointment on the basis of ability and integrity
任人宰割
rèn rén zǎi gē
1 to get trampled on (idiom)
2 to be taken advantage of
任其自然
rèn qí zì rán
1 to let things take their course (idiom)
2 to leave it to nature
3 laissez-faire
任劳任怨
rèn láo rèn yuàn
1 to work hard without complaint (idiom)
任凭风浪起，稳坐钓鱼台
rèn píng fēng làng qǐ , wěn zuò diào yú tái
1 lit. sitting at ease in a fishing boat despite wind and storm (idiom); to stay calm during tense situation
2 a cool head in a crisis
任贤使能
rèn xián shǐ néng
1 to appoint the virtuous and use the able (idiom); appointment on the basis of ability and integrity
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
力不胜任
lì bù shèng rèn
1 not to be up to the task (idiom)
2 incompetent
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
新官上任三把火
xīn guān shàng rèn sān bǎ huǒ
1 (of a newly appointed official) to make bold changes on assuming office (idiom)
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
知人善任
zhī rén shàn rèn
1 expert at appointing people according to their abilities (idiom)
2 to put the right people in the right places
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
老生常谈
lǎo shēng cháng tán
1 an old observation (idiom)
2 a truism
3 banal comments
走马上任
zǒu mǎ shàng rèn
1 to ride to take up an official appointment (idiom); to take on a job with alacrity
2 to undertake a task
Sample Sentences
宋老师，安理会常任理事国的代表是不是特别牛？
Sòng lǎoshī ，ānlǐhuì chángrèn lǐshìguó de dàibiǎo shì bu shì tèbié niú ？
Mr. Song, are the representatives from the Security Council's permanent member countries particularly tough?