Chengyu — K 92 idioms

• 开诚布公開誠布公 kāi chéng bù gōng ㄎㄞ ㄔㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥ hoi1 sing4 bou3 gung1 lit. deal sincerely and fairly (idiom); frank and open-minded; plain speaking; Let's talk frankly and openly between ourselves.; to put one's cards on the table +
• 开诚相见開誠相見 kāi chéng xiāng jiàn ㄎㄞ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ hoi1 sing4 soeng1 gin3 candid and open (idiom) +
• 开花结果開花結果 kāi huā jiē guǒ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄍㄨㄛˇ hoi1 faa1 git3 gwo2 lit. to blossom and bear fruit (idiom); fig. to come to fruition; to yield favorable results +
• 开疆拓土開疆拓土 kāi jiāng tuò tǔ ㄎㄞ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄊㄨㄛˋ ㄊㄨˇ hoi1 goeng1 taap3 tou2 (idiom) to expand one's territory; to conquer new lands; (fig.) to expand one's business into new markets +
• 开卷有益開卷有益 kāi juàn yǒu yì ㄎㄞ ㄐㄩㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧˋ hoi1 gyun2 jau5 jik1 lit. opening a book is profitable (idiom); the benefits of education +
• 开锣喝道開鑼喝道 kāi luó hè dào ㄎㄞ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄜˋ ㄉㄠˋ hoi1 lo4 hot3 dou6 to clear a street by banging gongs and shouting loudly (idiom) +
• 开门见山開門見山 kāi mén jiàn shān ㄎㄞ ㄇㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄢ hoi1 mun4 gin3 saan1 lit. to open the door and see the mountain; fig. to get right to the point (idiom) +
• 开门揖盗開門揖盜 kāi mén yī dào ㄎㄞ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧ ㄉㄠˋ hoi1 mun4 jap1 dou6 leaving the door open invites the thief (idiom); to invite disaster by giving evildoers a free hand +
• 开天辟地開天闢地 kāi tiān pì dì ㄎㄞ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄆㄧˋ ㄉㄧˋ hoi1 tin1 pik1 dei6 to split heaven and earth apart (idiom); refers to the Pangu 盤古|盘古[Pan2 gu3] creation myth +
• 开源节流開源節流 kāi yuán jié liú ㄎㄞ ㄩㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ hoi1 jyun4 zit3 lau4 lit. to open a water source and reduce outflow (idiom); to increase income and save on spending; to broaden the sources of income and economize on expenditure +
• 开宗明义開宗明義 kāi zōng míng yì ㄎㄞ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧˋ hoi1 zung1 ming4 ji6 to declare at the outset (idiom) +
• 开足马力開足馬力 kāi zú mǎ lì ㄎㄞ ㄗㄨˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄌㄧˋ hoi1 zuk1 maa5 lik6 to accelerate at full power (idiom); at full speed; fig. to work as hard as possible +
• 看菜吃饭看菜吃飯 kàn cài chī fàn ㄎㄢˋ ㄘㄞˋ ㄔ ㄈㄢˋ hon3 coi3 hek3 faan6 lit. to eat depending on the dish (idiom); fig. to act according to actual circumstances +
• 慷慨赴义慷慨赴義 kāng kǎi fù yì ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧˋ hong2 koi3 fu6 ji6 heroically sacrificing one's life (idiom); to sacrifice oneself fervently to the cause +
• 慷慨解囊 kāng kǎi jiě náng ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄤˊ hong2 koi3 gaai2 nong4 to contribute generously (idiom); help sb generously with money; to give generously to charity +
• 慷慨捐生 kāng kǎi juān shēng ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄩㄢ ㄕㄥ hong2 koi3 gyun1 sang1 sacrificing one's life generously (idiom); to sacrifice oneself fervently to the cause +
• 慷慨输将慷慨輸將 kāng kǎi shū jiāng ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄕㄨ ㄐㄧㄤ hong2 koi3 syu1 zoeng1 to donate generously (idiom) +
• 康庄大道康莊大道 kāng zhuāng dà dào ㄎㄤ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋ hong1 zong1 daai6 dou6 broad and open road (idiom); fig. brilliant future prospects +
• 看家本领看家本領 kān jiā běn lǐng ㄎㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄣˇ ㄌㄧㄥˇ hon3 gaa1 bun2 ling5 (idiom) one's forte +
• 坎坷不平 kǎn kě bù píng ㄎㄢˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ham1 ho1 bat1 ping4 potholed and bumpy road (idiom); fig. full of disappointment and dashed hopes +
• 看破红尘看破紅塵 kàn pò hóng chén ㄎㄢˋ ㄆㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄔㄣˊ hon3 po3 hung4 can4 (idiom) to see through the illusions of the material world (often a precursor to becoming a Buddhist monk or nun); to become disillusioned with human society +
• 看人行事 kàn rén xíng shì ㄎㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕˋ hon3 jan4 hang4 si6 to treat people according to their rank and one's relationship with them (idiom) +
• 刻薄寡恩 kè bó guǎ ēn ㄎㄜˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄣ hak1 bok6 gwaa2 jan1 harsh and merciless (idiom) +
• 可乘之机可乘之機 kě chéng zhī jī ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧ ho2 sing4 zi1 gei1 (idiom) an opportunity that someone (usually a villain or adversary) can exploit +
• 可歌可泣 kě gē kě qì ㄎㄜˇ ㄍㄜ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧˋ ho2 go1 ho2 jap1 lit. you can sing or you can cry (idiom); fig. deeply moving; happy and sad; inspiring and tragic +
• 刻骨铭心刻骨銘心 kè gǔ míng xīn ㄎㄜˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ hak1 gwat1 ming5 sam1 lit. carved in bones and engraved in the heart (idiom); fig. etched in one's memory; unforgettable +
• 刻骨相思 kè gǔ xiāng sī ㄎㄜˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄙ hak1 gwat1 soeng1 si1 deep-seated lovesickness (idiom) +
• 刻鹄类鹜刻鵠類鶩 kè hú lèi wù ㄎㄜˋ ㄏㄨˊ ㄌㄟˋ ㄨˋ hak1 huk6 leoi6 mou6 to aim to carve a swan and get a semblance of a duck (idiom); to fail utterly in trying to copy something; to get a reasonably good, if not perfect, result +
• 克己奉公 kè jǐ fèng gōng ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄥ hak1 gei2 fung6 gung1 self-restraint and devotion to public duties (idiom); selfless dedication; to serve the public interest wholeheartedly +
• 克己复礼克己復禮 kè jǐ fù lǐ ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ hak1 gei2 fuk6 lai5 restrain yourself and return to the rites (idiom, from Analects); to subdue self and observe proprieties; (any number of possible translations) +
• 苛捐杂税苛捐雜稅 kē juān zá shuì ㄎㄜ ㄐㄩㄢ ㄗㄚˊ ㄕㄨㄟˋ ho1 gyun1 zaap6 seoi3 exorbitant taxation (idiom) +
• 刻苦耐劳刻苦耐勞 kè kǔ nài láo ㄎㄜˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄋㄞˋ ㄌㄠˊ hak1 fu2 noi6 lou4 to bear hardships and work hard (idiom); assiduous and long-suffering; hard-working and capable of overcoming adversity +
• 坑蒙拐骗坑蒙拐騙 kēng mēng guǎi piàn ㄎㄥ ㄇㄥ ㄍㄨㄞˇ ㄆㄧㄢˋ haang1 mung4 gwaai2 pin3 (idiom) to swindle, scam and deceive +
• 克勤克俭克勤克儉 kè qín kè jiǎn ㄎㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧㄢˇ hak1 kan4 hak1 gim6 (idiom) industrious and frugal +
• 客死异乡客死異鄉 kè sǐ yì xiāng ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤ haak3 sei2 ji6 hoeng1 to die in a foreign land (idiom) +
• 可想而知 kě xiǎng ér zhī ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄦˊ ㄓ ho2 soeng2 ji4 zi1 (idiom) (it) goes without saying; can well be imagined +
• 溘先朝露 kè xiān zhāo lù ㄎㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓㄠ ㄌㄨˋ hap6 sin1 ziu1 lou6 the morning dew will swiftly dissipate (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence +
• 刻舟求剑刻舟求劍 kè zhōu qiú jiàn ㄎㄜˋ ㄓㄡ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ hak1 zau1 kau4 gim3 lit. a notch on the side of a boat to locate a sword dropped overboard (idiom); fig. an action made pointless by changed circumstances +
• 空洞无物空洞無物 kōng dòng wú wù ㄎㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄨˊ ㄨˋ hung1 dung6 mou4 mat6 empty cave, nothing there (idiom); devoid of substance; nothing new to show +
• 空腹高心 kōng fù gāo xīn ㄎㄨㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄠ ㄒㄧㄣ hung1 fuk1 gou1 sam1 ambitious despite a lack of talent (idiom) +
• 空谷足音 kōng gǔ zú yīn ㄎㄨㄥ ㄍㄨˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄧㄣ hung1 guk1 zuk1 jam1 lit. the sound of footsteps in a deserted valley (idiom); fig. sth hard to come by; sth wonderful and rare +
• 空空如也 kōng kōng rú yě ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄝˇ hung1 hung1 jyu4 jaa5 as empty as anything (idiom); completely bereft; to have nothing; vacuous; hollow; empty (argument, head etc) +
• 空口无凭空口無憑 kōng kǒu wú píng ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ hung1 hau2 mou4 pang4 mere verbal statement cannot be taken as proof (idiom) +
• 空室清野 kōng shì qīng yě ㄎㄨㄥ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄧㄝˇ hung1 sat1 cing1 je5 empty room, clean field (idiom); clean out everything to leave nothing for the enemy; scorched earth policy +
• 空头支票空頭支票 kōng tóu zhī piào ㄎㄨㄥ ㄊㄡˊ ㄓ ㄆㄧㄠˋ hung1 tau4 zi1 piu3 bounced check; bad check; (idiom) empty promise +
• 空无所有空無所有 kōng wú suǒ yǒu ㄎㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˇ hung1 mou4 so2 jau5 having nothing (idiom); utterly destitute; without two sticks to rub together +
• 空无一人空無一人 kōng wú yī rén ㄎㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ hung1 mou4 jat1 jan4 not a soul in sight (idiom) +
• 孔武有力 kǒng wǔ yǒu lì ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄨˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧˋ hung2 mou5 jau5 lik6 courageous and strong (idiom); Herculean (physique etc) +
• 空穴来风空穴來風 kōng xué lái fēng ㄎㄨㄥ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄈㄥ hung1 jyut6 loi4 fung1 lit. wind from an empty cave (idiom); fig. unfounded (story); baseless (claim) +
• 空中楼阁空中樓閣 kōng zhōng lóu gé ㄎㄨㄥ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄡˊ ㄍㄜˊ hung1 zung1 lau4 gok3 pavilion in the air (idiom); unrealistic Utopian construction; castles in Spain; imaginary future plans +
• 口碑流传口碑流傳 kǒu bēi liú chuán ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄟ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄨㄢˊ hau2 bei1 lau4 cyun4 widely praised (idiom); with an extensive public reputation +
• 口碑载道口碑載道 kǒu bēi zài dào ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄟ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄠˋ hau2 bei1 zoi3 dou6 lit. praise fills the roads (idiom); praise everywhere; universal approbation +
• 口齿伶俐口齒伶俐 kǒu chǐ líng lì ㄎㄡˇ ㄔˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ hau2 ci2 ling4 lei6 eloquent and fluent speaker (idiom); grandiloquence; the gift of the gab +
• 口齿生香口齒生香 kǒu chǐ shēng xiāng ㄎㄡˇ ㄔˇ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ hau2 ci2 sang1 hoeng1 eloquence that generates perfume (idiom); profound and significant text +
• 口干舌燥口乾舌燥 kǒu gān shé zào ㄎㄡˇ ㄍㄢ ㄕㄜˊ ㄗㄠˋ hau2 gon1 sit3 cou3 lit. dry mouth and tongue (idiom); to talk too much +
• 口口声声口口聲聲 kǒu kou shēng shēng ㄎㄡˇ ˙ㄎㄡ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ hau2 hau2 seng1 seng1 to keep on saying (idiom); to repeat over and over again +
• 口蜜腹剑口蜜腹劍 kǒu mì fù jiàn ㄎㄡˇ ㄇㄧˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ hau2 mat6 fuk1 gim3 lit. honeyed words, a sword in the belly (idiom); fig. hypocritical and murderous +
• 口若悬河口若懸河 kǒu ruò xuán hé ㄎㄡˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄏㄜˊ hau2 joek6 jyun4 ho4 mouth like a torrent (idiom); eloquent; glib; voluble; have the gift of the gab +
• 口是心非 kǒu shì xīn fēi ㄎㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ hau2 si6 sam1 fei1 duplicity; hypocrisy (idiom) +
• 口说无凭口說無憑 kǒu shuō wú píng ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ hau2 seoi3 mou4 pang4 (idiom) you can't rely on a verbal agreement; just because sb says sth, doesn't mean it's true +
• 口无择言口無擇言 kǒu wú zé yán ㄎㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄧㄢˊ hau2 mou4 zaak6 jin4 to say not a word that is not appropriate (idiom); wrongly used for 口不擇言|口不择言[kou3 bu4 ze2 yan2] +
• 口诛笔伐口誅筆伐 kǒu zhū bǐ fá ㄎㄡˇ ㄓㄨ ㄅㄧˇ ㄈㄚˊ hau2 zyu1 bat1 fat6 to condemn in speech and in writing (idiom); to denounce by word and pen +
• 夸多斗靡誇多鬥靡 kuā duō dòu mǐ ㄎㄨㄚ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄡˋ ㄇㄧˇ kwaa1 do1 dau3 mei5 (idiom) to use literary phrases in one's writing to show off one's erudition +
• 快马加鞭快馬加鞭 kuài mǎ jiā biān ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄧㄢ faai3 maa5 gaa1 bin1 to spur the horse to full speed (idiom); to go as fast as possible +
• 脍炙人口膾炙人口 kuài zhì rén kǒu ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄡˇ kui2 zek3 jan4 hau2 appealing to the masses; universally appreciated (idiom) +
• 夸夸其谈誇誇其談 kuā kuā qí tán ㄎㄨㄚ ㄎㄨㄚ ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄢˊ kwaa1 kwaa1 kei4 taam4 (idiom) to talk big; to sound off; to be full of hot air +
• 宽大为怀寬大為懷 kuān dà wéi huái ㄎㄨㄢ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄨㄞˊ fun1 daai6 wai4 waai4 magnanimous (idiom); generous +
• 宽打窄用寬打窄用 kuān dǎ zhǎi yòng ㄎㄨㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄓㄞˇ ㄩㄥˋ fun1 daa2 zaak3 jung6 to give oneself leeway (idiom); to allow room for error +
• 狂风暴雨狂風暴雨 kuáng fēng bào yǔ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩˇ kwong4 fung1 bou6 jyu5 (idiom) howling wind and torrential rain; furious storm; (fig.) (idiom) difficult circumstances; dangerous situation +
• 狂风骤雨狂風驟雨 kuáng fēng zhòu yǔ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄡˋ ㄩˇ kwong4 fung1 zau6 jyu5 strong wind and heavy rain (idiom) +
• 旷古未闻曠古未聞 kuàng gǔ wèi wén ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄣˊ kwong3 gu2 mei6 man4 never before in the whole of history (idiom); unprecedented; also written 曠古未有|旷古未有 +
• 旷古未有曠古未有 kuàng gǔ wèi yǒu ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ kwong3 gu2 mei6 jau5 never before in the whole of history (idiom); unprecedented +
• 狂奴故态狂奴故態 kuáng nú gù tài ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄋㄨˊ ㄍㄨˋ ㄊㄞˋ kwong4 nou4 gu3 taai3 to be set in one's ways (idiom) +
• 旷日持久曠日持久 kuàng rì chí jiǔ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄖˋ ㄔˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ kwong3 jat6 ci4 gau2 protracted (idiom); long and drawn-out +
• 狂三诈四狂三詐四 kuáng sān zhà sì ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄙㄢ ㄓㄚˋ ㄙˋ kwong4 saam1 zaa3 sei3 to deceive and swindle across the board (idiom) +
• 狂饮暴食狂飲暴食 kuáng yǐn bào shí ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄧㄣˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄕˊ kwong4 jam2 bou6 sik6 (idiom) to eat and drink to excess +
• 宽宏大量寬宏大量 kuān hóng dà liàng ㄎㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ fun1 wang4 daai6 loeng6 magnanimous (idiom); generous +
• 宽以待人寬以待人 kuān yǐ dài rén ㄎㄨㄢ ㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ fun1 ji5 doi6 jan4 to be lenient with others (idiom) +
• 胯下之辱 kuà xià zhī rǔ ㄎㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨˇ kwaa3 haa6 zi1 juk6 lit. the humiliation of having to crawl between the legs of one's adversary (as Han Xin 韓信|韩信[Han2 Xin4] supposedly did rather than engage in a sword fight) (idiom); fig. (endure) utter humiliation +
• 苦大仇深 kǔ dà chóu shēn ㄎㄨˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄕㄣ fu2 daai6 sau4 sam1 (idiom) great bitterness and deep hatred; deeply ingrained long-standing resentment +
• 苦海茫茫 kǔ hǎi máng máng ㄎㄨˇ ㄏㄞˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄇㄤˊ fu2 hoi2 mong4 mong4 sea of bitterness is vast (idiom) +
• 窥豹一斑窺豹一斑 kuī bào yī bān ㄎㄨㄟ ㄅㄠˋ ㄧ ㄅㄢ kwai1 paau3 jat1 baan1 lit. see one spot on a leopard (idiom); fig. a restricted view +
• 溃不成军潰不成軍 kuì bù chéng jūn ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄩㄣ kui2 bat1 sing4 gwan1 (idiom) (of troops) to be utterly routed and dispersed +
• 愧悔无地愧悔無地 kuì huǐ wú dì ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ kwai3 fui3 mou4 dei6 ashamed and unable to show one's face (idiom) +
• 苦尽甘来苦盡甘來 kǔ jìn gān lái ㄎㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄍㄢ ㄌㄞˊ fu2 zeon6 gam1 loi4 bitterness finishes, sweetness begins (idiom); the hard times are over, the good times just beginning +
• 苦口婆心 kǔ kǒu pó xīn ㄎㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄆㄛˊ ㄒㄧㄣ fu2 hau2 po4 sam1 earnest and well-meaning advice (idiom); to persuade patiently +
• 枯木逢春 kū mù féng chūn ㄎㄨ ㄇㄨˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄣ fu1 muk6 fung4 ceon1 lit. the spring comes upon a withered tree (idiom); fig. to get a new lease on life; to be revived; (of a difficult situation) to suddenly improve +
• 困兽犹斗困獸猶鬥 kùn shòu yóu dòu ㄎㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄡˋ kwan3 sau3 jau4 dau3 a cornered beast will still fight (idiom); to fight like an animal at bay +
• 苦思冥想 kǔ sī míng xiǎng ㄎㄨˇ ㄙ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ fu2 si1 ming4 soeng2 (idiom) to think deeply; to rack one's brains +
• 哭笑不得 kū xiào bù dé ㄎㄨ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ huk1 siu3 bat1 dak1 lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom); both funny and extremely embarrassing; between laughter and tears +
• 苦心孤诣苦心孤詣 kǔ xīn gū yì ㄎㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄨ ㄧˋ fu2 sam1 gu1 ngai6 to make painstaking efforts (idiom); after much trouble; to work hard at sth +
• 苦中作乐苦中作樂 kǔ zhōng zuò lè ㄎㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄜˋ fu2 zung1 zok3 lok6 to find joy in sorrows (idiom); to enjoy sth in spite of one's suffering +