1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
一言为重
yī yán wéi zhòng
1 each word carries weight
2 a promise must be kept (idiom)
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)
不知轻重
bù zhī qīng zhòng
1 lit. not knowing what's important (idiom); no appreciation of the gravity of things
2 naive
3 doesn't know who's who
4 no sense of priorities
不遗余力
bù yí yú lì
1 to spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one's utmost
九牛二虎之力
jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì
1 tremendous strength (idiom)
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
1 human nature (idiom)
2 a behavior that is only natural
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
力不从心
lì bù cóng xīn
1 less capable than desirable (idiom); not as strong as one would wish
2 the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
力所能及
lì suǒ néng jí
1 as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability
2 within one's powers
力挽狂澜
lì wǎn kuáng lán
1 to pull strongly against a crazy tide (idiom); fig. to try hard to save a desperate crisis
力排众议
lì pái zhòng yì
1 to stand one's ground against the opinion of the masses (idiom)
力争上游
lì zhēng shàng yóu
1 to strive for mastery (idiom); aiming for the best result
2 to have high ambitions
力尽神危
lì jìn shén wēi
1 totally exhausted as result of overexertion (idiom)