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)
是非曲直
shì fēi qū zhí
1 lit. right and wrong, crooked and straight (idiom); fig. merits and demerits
2 pros and cons
曲突徙薪
qū tū xǐ xīn
1 lit. to bend the chimney and remove the firewood (to prevent fire) (idiom)
2 fig. to take preventive measures
曲终奏雅
qǔ zhōng zòu yǎ
1 perfect finish (idiom)
曲肱而枕
qū gōng ér zhěn
1 lit. to use one's bent arm as a pillow (idiom)
2 fig. content with simple things
曲里拐弯
qū lǐ guǎi wān
1 winding and turning (idiom)
曲高和寡
qǔ gāo hè guǎ
1 difficult songs find few singers (idiom)
2 highbrow
异曲同工
yì qǔ tóng gōng
1 different tunes played with equal skill (idiom)
2 different methods leading to the same result
3 different approach but equally satisfactory outcome
盘旋曲折
pán xuán qū zhé
1 lit. windy and circuitous
2 difficult (idiom)
迂回曲折
yū huí qū zhé
1 meandering and circuitous (idiom); complicated developments that never get anywhere
2 going around in circles
阿谀奉承
ē yú fèng chéng
1 flattering and fawning (idiom)
2 sweet-talking
阴虚火旺
yīn xū huǒ wàng
1 an excess of heat caused by a deficiency in Yin energy (idiom)