三旬九食
sān xún jiǔ shí
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1 lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)
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2 fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation
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3 in dire straits
九天揽月
jiǔ tiān lǎn yuè
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1 to reach for the stars (idiom)
人为财死,鸟为食亡
rén wèi cái sǐ , niǎo wèi shí wáng
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1 lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)
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2 fig. man will do anything in his means to become rich
倚栏望月
yǐ lán wàng yuè
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1 to lean against the railings and look at the moon (idiom)
偏邪不正
piān xié bù zhèng
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1 biased
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2 prejudiced (idiom)
光风霁月
guāng fēng jì yuè
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1 lit. light breeze and clear moon (idiom)
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2 period of peace and prosperity
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3 noble and benevolent character
冰壶秋月
bīng hú qiū yuè
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1 jade ice jug and autumn moon (idiom, from poem by Song writer Su Dongpo 蘇東坡|苏东坡); fig. spotless white and pure
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2 flawless person
剑走偏锋
jiàn zǒu piān fēng
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1 the sword moves with side stroke (modern idiom)
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2 fig. unexpected winning move
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3 unconventional gambit
因噎废食
yīn yē fèi shí
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1 lit. not eating for fear of choking (idiom); fig. to cut off one's nose to spite one's face
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2 to avoid sth essential because of a slight risk
宵衣旰食
xiāo yī gàn shí
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1 to dress before light and not eat before dark (idiom)
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2 diligently attending to official matters
寝食难安
qǐn shí nán ān
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1 lit. cannot rest or eat in peace (idiom)
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2 fig. extremely worried and troubled
屋漏偏逢连夜雨
wū lòu piān féng lián yè yǔ
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1 when it rains, it pours (idiom)
废寝忘食
fèi qǐn wàng shí
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1 to neglect sleep and forget about food (idiom)
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2 to skip one's sleep and meals
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3 to be completely wrapped up in one's work
弱肉强食
ruò ròu qiáng shí
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1 lit. the weak are prey to the strong (idiom); fig. predatory behavior
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2 the law of the jungle
成年累月
chéng nián lěi yuè
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1 year in, year out (idiom)
日新月异
rì xīn yuè yì
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1 daily renewal, monthly change (idiom)
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2 every day sees new developments
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3 rapid progress
日月如梭
rì yuè rú suō
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1 the sun and moon like a shuttle (idiom); How time flies!
旬输月送
xún shū yuè sòng
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1 pay every ten days, give tribute every month (idiom); incessant and ever more complicated demands
明知山有虎,偏向虎山行
míng zhī shān yǒu hǔ , piān xiàng hǔ shān xíng
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1 lit. to willfully go towards the mountain although knowing that it has tigers (idiom)
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2 fig. to take a risk despite knowing the dangers
月下花前
yuè xià huā qián
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1 lit. amidst the flowers under the moonlight (idiom)
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2 fig. romantic surroundings