Chengyu — A 59 idioms

• 哀兵必胜哀兵必勝 āi bīng bì shèng ㄞ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄧˋ ㄕㄥˋ oi1 bing1 bit1 sing3 an army burning with righteous indignation is bound to win (idiom) +
• 爱不忍释愛不忍釋 ài bù rěn shì ㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˇ ㄕˋ oi3 bat1 jan2 sik1 to love sth too much to part with it (idiom) +
• 爱不释手愛不釋手 ài bù shì shǒu ㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄕㄡˇ oi3 bat1 sik1 sau2 (idiom) to like sth so much that one is reluctant to put it down; to find sth utterly irresistible +
• 爱财如命愛財如命 ài cái rú mìng ㄞˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ oi3 coi4 jyu4 ming6 lit. to love money as much as one's own life (idiom); fig. avaricious; tightfisted +
• 爱才若渴愛才若渴 ài cái ruò kě ㄞˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄜˇ oi3 coi4 joek6 hot3 (idiom) to be eager to surround oneself with talented people +
• 挨打受骂挨打受罵 ái dǎ shòu mà ㄞˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄡˋ ㄇㄚˋ ngaai4 daa2 sau6 maa6 to suffer beatings and receive abuse (idiom) +
• 挨打受气挨打受氣 ái dǎ shòu qì ㄞˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄡˋ ㄑㄧˋ ngaai4 daa2 sau6 hei3 to suffer bullying and beating (idiom) +
• 哀而不伤哀而不傷 āi ér bù shāng ㄞ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤ oi1 ji4 bat1 soeng1 deeply felt but not mawkish (idiom) +
• 挨饿受冻挨餓受凍 ái è shòu dòng ㄞˊ ㄜˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ aai1 ngo6 sau6 dung3 (idiom) to go cold and hungry +
• 哀告宾服哀告賓服 āi gào bīn fú ㄞ ㄍㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄣ ㄈㄨˊ oi1 gou3 ban1 fuk6 to bring tribute as sign of submission (idiom); to submit +
• 哀鸿遍野哀鴻遍野 āi hóng biàn yě ㄞ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ oi1 hung4 pin3 je5 lit. plaintive whine of geese (idiom); fig. land swarming with disaster victims; starving people fill the land +
• 哀毁骨立哀毀骨立 āi huǐ gǔ lì ㄞ ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄍㄨˇ ㄌㄧˋ oi1 wai2 gwat1 laap6 (idiom) to become emaciated from grief, esp. while mourning the death of a parent +
• 挨肩擦背 āi jiān cā bèi ㄞ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄘㄚ ㄅㄟˋ aai1 gin1 caat3 bui3 (idiom) to be crowded together +
• 碍口识羞礙口識羞 ài kǒu shí xiū ㄞˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄡ ngoi6 hau2 sik1 sau1 tongue-tied for fear of embarrassment (idiom) +
• 爱理不理愛理不理 ài lǐ bù lǐ ㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ oi3 lei5 bat1 lei5 (idiom) standoffish; indifferent +
• 爱民如子愛民如子 ài mín rú zǐ ㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˇ oi3 man4 jyu4 zi2 (idiom) to love the common people as one's own children (praise for a virtuous ruler) +
• 爱莫能助愛莫能助 ài mò néng zhù ㄞˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄓㄨˋ oi3 mok6 nang4 zo6 unable to help however much one would like to (idiom); Although we sympathize, there is no way to help you.; My hands are tied. +
• 碍难从命礙難從命 ài nán cóng mìng ㄞˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ngoi6 naan4 cung4 ming6 difficult to obey orders (idiom); much to my embarrassment, I am unable to comply +
• 唉声叹气唉聲嘆氣 āi shēng tàn qì ㄞ ㄕㄥ ㄊㄢˋ ㄑㄧˋ aai1 seng1 taan3 hei3 sighing voice, wailing breath (idiom); to heave deep sighs; to sigh in despair +
• 碍手碍脚礙手礙腳 ài shǒu ài jiǎo ㄞˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ngoi6 sau2 ngoi6 goek3 (idiom) to be in the way; to be a hindrance +
• 爱屋及乌愛屋及烏 ài wū jí wū ㄞˋ ㄨ ㄐㄧˊ ㄨ oi3 uk1 kap6 wu1 lit. love the house and its crow (idiom); involvement with sb and everyone connected; Love me, love my dog. +
• 矮小精悍 ǎi xiǎo jīng hàn ㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄢˋ ai2 siu2 zing1 hon6 short but intrepid (idiom) +
• 爱惜羽毛愛惜羽毛 ài xī yǔ máo ㄞˋ ㄒㄧ ㄩˇ ㄇㄠˊ oi3 sik1 jyu5 mou4 (idiom) to cherish one's reputation +
• 阿猫阿狗阿貓阿狗 ā māo ā gǒu ㄚ ㄇㄠ ㄚ ㄍㄡˇ aa3 maau1 aa3 gau2 (idiom) (coll.) any Tom, Dick or Harry; just about anyone (used dismissively) +
• 按兵不动按兵不動 àn bīng bù dòng ㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ on3 bing1 bat1 dung6 to hold back one's troops without moving (idiom); to bide one's time +
• 案兵束甲 àn bīng shù jiǎ ㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄕㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ on3 bing1 cuk1 gaap3 to rest weapons and loosen armor (idiom); to relax from fighting +
• 安步当车安步當車 ān bù dàng chē ㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤˋ ㄔㄜ on1 bou6 dong3 ce1 to go on foot (idiom); to do things at a leisurely pace +
• 按部就班 àn bù jiù bān ㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄢ on3 bou6 zau6 baan1 (idiom) to follow the prescribed order; to keep to the working routine +
• 暗渡陈仓暗渡陳倉 àn dù Chén cāng ㄢˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄘㄤ am3 dou6 can4 cong1 lit. secretly crossing the Wei River 渭河[Wei4 He2] at Chencang (idiom, refers to a stratagem used by Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liu2 Bang1] in 206 BC against Xiang Yu 項羽|项羽[Xiang4 Yu3] of Chu); fig. to feign one thing while doing another; to cheat under cover of a diversion +
• 安分守己 ān fèn shǒu jǐ ㄢ ㄈㄣˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧˇ on1 fan6 sau2 gei2 to be content with one's lot (idiom); to know one's place +
• 安富恤贫安富恤貧 ān fù xù pín ㄢ ㄈㄨˋ ㄒㄩˋ ㄆㄧㄣˊ on1 fu3 seot1 pan4 to give sympathy to the rich and relief to the poor (idiom) +
• 安富恤穷安富恤窮 ān fù xù qióng ㄢ ㄈㄨˋ ㄒㄩˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ on1 fu3 seot1 kung4 to give sympathy to the rich and relief to the poor (idiom) +
• 安富尊荣安富尊榮 ān fù zūn róng ㄢ ㄈㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄖㄨㄥˊ on1 fu3 zyun1 wing4 well-off and respected (idiom); to be content with one's wealth and position +
• 昂首阔步昂首闊步 áng shǒu kuò bù ㄤˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ngong4 sau2 fut3 bou6 striding forward with head high (idiom); to walk with spirited and vigorous step; to strut +
• 昂首天外 áng shǒu tiān wài ㄤˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄞˋ ngong4 sau2 tin1 ngoi6 (idiom) to raise one's head and look towards the heavens; (idiom) arrogant; haughty +
• 昂首挺胸 áng shǒu tǐng xiōng ㄤˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄩㄥ ngong4 sau2 ting5 hung1 head high, chest out (idiom); to keep up one's spirits; in fine mettle (of animal) +
• 盎盂相击盎盂相擊 àng yú xiāng jī ㄤˋ ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧ (idiom) to quarrel +
• 盎盂相敲 àng yú xiāng qiāo ㄤˋ ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄠ (idiom) to quarrel +
• 安家立业安家立業 ān jiā lì yè ㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧㄝˋ on1 gaa1 laap6 jip6 stable household, established profession (idiom); settled and comfortably off +
• 案甲休兵 àn jiǎ xiū bīng ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄅㄧㄥ on3 gaap3 jau1 bing1 to put down weapon and let soldiers rest (idiom); to relax from fighting +
• 安居乐业安居樂業 ān jū lè yè ㄢ ㄐㄩ ㄌㄜˋ ㄧㄝˋ on1 geoi1 ngaau6 jip6 to live in peace and work happily (idiom) +
• 安贫乐道安貧樂道 ān pín lè dào ㄢ ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄉㄠˋ on1 pan4 lok6 dou6 to be content with poverty and strive for virtue (idiom) +
• 黯然神伤黯然神傷 àn rán shén shāng ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄕㄤ am2 jin4 san4 soeng1 (idiom) depressed; dispirited +
• 安然无恙安然無恙 ān rán wú yàng ㄢ ㄖㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄧㄤˋ on1 jin4 mou4 joeng6 safe and sound (idiom); to come out unscathed (e.g. from an accident or illness) +
• 黯然销魂黯然銷魂 àn rán xiāo hún ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄏㄨㄣˊ am2 jin4 siu1 wan4 overwhelming sadness (idiom); sorrow at parting +
• 安如磐石 ān rú pán shí ㄢ ㄖㄨˊ ㄆㄢˊ ㄕˊ on1 jyu4 pun4 sek6 as solid as rock (idiom); as sure as houses +
• 安身立命 ān shēn lì mìng ㄢ ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ on1 san1 laap6 ming6 (idiom) to settle down and pursue one's path in life +
• 暗送秋波 àn sòng qiū bō ㄢˋ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄅㄛ am3 sung3 cau1 bo1 to cast flirtatious glances at sb (idiom) +
• 按图索骥按圖索驥 àn tú suǒ jì ㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˋ on3 tou4 saak3 kei3 lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom); fig. to do things along rigid, conventional lines; to try and find sth with the help of a clue +
• 暗无天日暗無天日 àn wú tiān rì ㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖˋ am3 mou4 tin1 jat6 all black, no daylight (idiom); a world without justice +
• 安闲舒适安閒舒適 ān xián shū shì ㄢ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨ ㄕˋ leisurely and free (idiom); carefree and at ease +
• 安闲随意安閑隨意 ān xián suí yì ㄢ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄧˋ on1 haan4 ceoi4 ji3 leisurely and free (idiom); carefree and at ease +
• 安闲自得安閑自得 ān xián zì dé ㄢ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄉㄜˊ on1 haan4 zi6 dak1 feeling comfortably at ease (idiom) +
• 安闲自在安閑自在 ān xián zì zai ㄢ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄗˋ ˙ㄗㄞ on1 haan4 zi6 zoi6 leisurely and free (idiom); carefree and at ease +
• 安于现状安於現狀 ān yú xiàn zhuàng ㄢ ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ on1 jyu1 jin6 zong6 to take things as they are (idiom); to leave a situation as it is; to be happy with the status quo +
• 熬更守夜 áo gēng shǒu yè ㄠˊ ㄍㄥ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧㄝˋ ngaau4 gaang1 sau2 je6 to stay up through the night (idiom) +
• 傲慢无礼傲慢無禮 ào màn wú lǐ ㄠˋ ㄇㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧˇ ngou6 maan6 mou4 lai5 (idiom) arrogant; disrespectful +
• 傲视群伦傲視群倫 ào shì qún lún ㄠˋ ㄕˋ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ngou6 si6 kwan4 leon4 outstanding talent (idiom); incomparable artistic merit; accomplishment out of the ordinary +
• 凹凸不平 āo tū bù píng ㄠ ㄊㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ nap1 dat6 bat1 ping4 (idiom) uneven (surface); bumpy (road) +