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)
天衣无缝
tiān yī wú fèng
1 lit. seamless heavenly clothes (idiom)
2 fig. flawless
奴颜婢膝
nú yán bì xī
1 servile and bending the knee (idiom); fawning
2 bending and scraping to curry favor
宵衣旰食
xiāo yī gàn shí
1 to dress before light and not eat before dark (idiom)
2 diligently attending to official matters
牛衣对泣
niú yī duì qì
1 couple living in destitute misery (idiom)
狂奴故态
kuáng nú gù tài
1 to be set in one's ways (idiom)
白衣苍狗
bái yī cāng gǒu
1 lit. (cloud shapes) changing from a white shirt to a gray dog (idiom)
2 fig. the unpredictable changeability of the world
相体裁衣
xiàng tǐ cái yī
1 lit. tailor the clothes to fit the body (idiom); fig. act according to real circumstances
看菜吃饭,量体裁衣
kān cài chī fàn , liáng tǐ cái yī
1 eat depending on the dish, cut cloth according to the body (idiom); to fit the appetite to the dishes and the dress to the figure
2 to act according to actual circumstances
3 to live within one's means
节衣缩食
jié yī suō shí
1 to save on food and clothing (idiom); to live frugally
缩衣节食
suō yī jié shí
1 to economize on clothes and food
2 to scrimp and save (idiom)
耕当问奴
gēng dāng wèn nú
1 if it's plowing, ask the laborer (idiom); when managing a matter, consult the appropriate specialist
耕当问奴,织当访婢
gēng dāng wèn nú , zhī dāng fǎng bì
1 if it's plowing ask the laborer, if it's weaving ask the maid (idiom); when managing a matter, consult the appropriate specialist
腰金衣紫
yāo jīn yī zǐ
1 golden seal at the waist, purple gown (idiom); in official position
衣不蔽体
yī bù bì tǐ
1 lit. clothes not covering the body (idiom)
2 fig. poverty-stricken
衣冠禽兽
yī guān qín shòu
1 lit. dressed up animal (idiom)
2 fig. immoral and despicable person
衣单食薄
yī dān shí bó
1 thin coat, meager food (idiom); life of wretched poverty
2 destitute
衣锦荣归
yī jǐn róng guī
1 to come back to one's hometown in silken robes (idiom); to return in glory
衣锦还乡
yì jǐn huán xiāng
1 to come back to one's hometown in silken robes (idiom); to return in glory
衣食住行
yī shí zhù xíng
1 clothing, food, housing and transport (idiom); people's basic needs