1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
一如既往
yī rú jì wǎng
1 just as in the past (idiom); as before
2 continuing as always
一往无前
yī wǎng wú qián
1 to advance courageously (idiom)
2 to press forward
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
人往高处走,水往低处流
rén wǎng gāo chù zǒu , shuǐ wǎng dī chù liú
1 man seeks his way up just as water seeks its way down (idiom)
2 one should constantly strive to make progress
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
往事已矣
wǎng shì yǐ yǐ
1 the past is dead (idiom)
既往不咎
jì wǎng bù jiù
1 to forget and not bear recriminations (idiom); to let bygones be bygones
2 There is no point in crying over spilt milk.
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
熙来攘往
xī lái rǎng wǎng
1 a place buzzing with activity (idiom)
独来独往
dú lái dú wǎng
1 coming and going alone (idiom); a lone operator
2 keeping to oneself
3 unsociable
4 maverick
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
礼尚往来
lǐ shàng wǎng lái
1 lit. proper behavior is based on reciprocity (idiom)
2 fig. to return politeness for politeness
继往开来
jì wǎng kāi lái
1 to follow the past and herald the future (idiom); part of a historical transition
2 forming a bridge between earlier and later stages
老生常谈
lǎo shēng cháng tán
1 an old observation (idiom)
2 a truism
3 banal comments
蹈常袭故
dǎo cháng xí gù
1 follow the same old path (idiom); stuck in a rut
2 always the same routine
迎来送往
yíng lái sòng wǎng
1 lit. to meet those arriving, to send of those departing (idiom); busy entertaining guests