三旬九食
sān xún jiǔ shí
-
1 lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)
-
2 fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation
-
3 in dire straits
不吝珠玉
bù lìn zhū yù
-
1 lit. do not begrudge gems of wisdom (idiom, humble expr.); fig. Please give me your frank opinion.
-
2 Your criticism will be most valuable.
人为财死,鸟为食亡
rén wèi cái sǐ , niǎo wèi shí wáng
-
1 lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)
-
2 fig. man will do anything in his means to become rich
他山之石可以攻玉
tā shān zhī shí kě yǐ gōng yù
-
1 lit. the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiom); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside
-
2 to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively
仙姿玉色
xiān zī yù sè
-
1 heavenly beauty, jewel colors (idiom); unusually beautiful lady
偷香窃玉
tōu xiāng qiè yù
-
1 lit. stolen scent, pilfered jade (idiom); philandering
-
2 secret illicit sex
冰清玉洁
bīng qīng yù jié
-
1 clear as ice and clean as jade (idiom); spotless
-
2 irreproachable
-
3 incorruptible
化干戈为玉帛
huà gān gē wéi yù bó
-
1 lit. to exchange weapons of war for gifts of jade and silk (idiom)
-
2 fig. to turn hostility into friendship
因噎废食
yīn yē fèi shí
-
1 lit. not eating for fear of choking (idiom); fig. to cut off one's nose to spite one's face
-
2 to avoid sth essential because of a slight risk
如花似玉
rú huā sì yù
-
1 delicate as a flower, refined as a precious jade (idiom)
-
2 (of a woman) exquisite
如金似玉
rú jīn sì yù
-
1 like gold or jade (idiom)
-
2 gorgeous
-
3 lovely
-
4 splendorous
字字珠玉
zì zì zhū yù
-
1 every word a gem (idiom); magnificent writing
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
寝食难安
qǐn shí nán ān
-
1 lit. cannot rest or eat in peace (idiom)
-
2 fig. extremely worried and troubled
宁为玉碎,不为瓦全
nìng wéi yù suì , bù wéi wǎ quán
-
1 Better broken jade than intact tile.
-
2 Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)
巧妇难为无米之炊
qiǎo fù nán wéi wú mǐ zhī chuī
-
1 The cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice (idiom); You won't get anywhere without equipment.
废寝忘食
fèi qǐn wàng shí
-
1 to neglect sleep and forget about food (idiom)
-
2 to skip one's sleep and meals
-
3 to be completely wrapped up in one's work
引玉之砖
yǐn yù zhī zhuān
-
1 lit. a brick thrown to prompt others to produce a jade (idiom)
-
2 fig. a modest suggestion intended to prompt others to come forward with better ideas
弱肉强食
ruò ròu qiáng shí
-
1 lit. the weak are prey to the strong (idiom); fig. predatory behavior
-
2 the law of the jungle
怜香惜玉
lián xiāng xī yù
-
1 to have tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex (idiom)