1 mainland China (PRC excluding Hong Kong and Macau, but including islands such as Hainan)
2 Japan (used in Taiwan during Japanese colonization)
Idioms (20)
一个天南,一个地北
yī ge tiān nán , yī ge dì běi
1 to live miles apart (idiom)
一败涂地
yī bài tú dì
1 failed and wiped over the floor (idiom); to fail utterly
2 a crushing defeat
3 beaten and in a hopeless position
上天入地
shàng tiān rù dì
1 lit. to go up to heaven or down to Hades (idiom)
2 fig. to go to great lengths
3 to search heaven and earth
上天无路,入地无门
shàng tiān wú lù , rù dì wú mén
1 lit. there is no road to the sky, nor door into the earth (idiom)
2 fig. to be at the end of one's rope
3 to be trapped in a hopeless situation
五体投地
wǔ tǐ tóu dì
1 to prostrate oneself in admiration (idiom); to adulate sb
人杰地灵
rén jié dì líng
1 illustrious hero, spirit of the place (idiom); a place derives reflected glory from an illustrious son
人间地狱
rén jiān dì yù
1 hell on earth (idiom); suffering the torments of Buddhist hell while still alive
2 fig. having an uncomfortable time
以柔克刚
yǐ róu kè gāng
1 to use softness to conquer strength (idiom)
克勤克俭
kè qín kè jiǎn
1 to be industrious and frugal (idiom)
克己复礼
kè jǐ fù lǐ
1 restrain yourself and return to the rites (idiom, from Analects); to subdue self and observe proprieties
2 (any number of possible translations)
出人头地
chū rén tóu dì
1 to stand out among one's peers (idiom)
2 to excel
克己奉公
kè jǐ fèng gōng
1 self-restraint and devotion to public duties (idiom); selfless dedication
2 to serve the public interest wholeheartedly
吴下阿蒙
Wú xià ā Méng
1 General Lü Meng 呂蒙|吕蒙 of the southern state of Wu (idiom); model of self-improvement by diligent study (from unlettered soldier to top strategist of Wu)
因地制宜
yīn dì zhì yí
1 (idiom) to use methods in line with local circumstances
地久天长
dì jiǔ tiān cháng
1 enduring while the world lasts (idiom, from Laozi); eternal
2 for ever and ever (of friendship, hate etc)
3 also written 天長地久|天长地久
地利人和
dì lì rén hé
1 favorable geographical and social conditions (idiom); good location and the people satisfied
地动山摇
dì dòng shān yáo
1 the earth quaked, the mountains shook (idiom); a tremendous battle
地大物博
dì dà wù bó
1 vast territory with abundant resources (idiom)
壹败涂地
yī bài tú dì
1 beaten and wiped over the floor (idiom); to fail utterly