Chengyu — N 95 idioms

• 耐人寻味耐人尋味 nài rén xún wèi ㄋㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄨㄟˋ noi6 jan4 cam4 mei6 (idiom) thought-provoking; to provide food for thought +
• 男扮女装男扮女裝 nán bàn nǚ zhuāng ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄋㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄤ naam4 baan6 neoi5 zong1 (of a man) to dress as a woman (idiom) +
• 难辞其咎難辭其咎 nán cí qí jiù ㄋㄢˊ ㄘˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ naan4 ci4 kei4 gau3 cannot escape censure (idiom); has to bear the blame +
• 难分难解難分難解 nán fēn nán jiě ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˇ naan4 fan1 naan4 gaai2 to become caught up in an irresolvable situation (idiom) +
• 难分难舍難分難捨 nán fēn nán shě ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄜˇ naan4 fan1 naan4 se2 loath to part (idiom); emotionally close and unwilling to separate +
• 囊空如洗 náng kōng rú xǐ ㄋㄤˊ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄒㄧˇ nong4 hung1 jyu4 sai2 (idiom) penniless; broke +
• 囊中取物 náng zhōng qǔ wù ㄋㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄩˇ ㄨˋ nong4 zung1 ceoi2 mat6 as easy as reaching for it from a bag (idiom); in the bag; (as good as) in one's possession +
• 男欢女爱男歡女愛 nán huān nǚ ài ㄋㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄋㄩˇ ㄞˋ naam4 fun1 neoi5 oi3 passionate love (idiom) +
• 南箕北斗 Nán jī Běi dǒu ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄡˇ naam4 gei1 bak1 dau2 lit. the Winnowing Basket in the southern sky, and the Big Dipper in the north (idiom); fig. sth which, despite its name, is of no practical use +
• 难解难分難解難分 nán jiě nán fēn ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ naan4 gaai2 naan4 fan1 hard to untie, hard to separate (idiom); inextricably involved; locked in battle +
• 难舍难分難捨難分 nán shě nán fēn ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄜˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ naan4 se2 naan4 fan1 loath to part (idiom); emotionally close and unwilling to separate +
• 难舍难离難捨難離 nán shě nán lí ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄜˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄌㄧˊ naan4 se2 naan4 lei4 loath to part (idiom); emotionally close and unwilling to separate +
• 难兄难弟難兄難弟 nán xiōng nán dì ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄋㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ naan4 hing1 naan4 dai6 lit. hard to differentiate between elder and younger brother (idiom); fig. one is just as bad as the other +
• 难兄难弟難兄難弟 nàn xiōng nàn dì ㄋㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄋㄢˋ ㄉㄧˋ naan4 hing1 naan4 dai6 brothers in hardship (idiom); fellow sufferers; in the same boat +
• 难言之隐難言之隱 nán yán zhī yǐn ㄋㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄧㄣˇ naan4 jin4 zi1 jan2 a hidden trouble hard to mention (idiom); sth too embarrassing to mention; an embarrassing illness +
• 难以启齿難以啟齒 nán yǐ qǐ chǐ ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˇ ㄔˇ naan4 ji5 kai2 ci2 to be too embarrassed to mention sth (idiom); to find it hard to speak about sth +
• 难以为继難以為繼 nán yǐ wéi jì ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ naan4 ji5 wai6 gai3 (idiom) difficult to carry on; unsustainable +
• 难以置信難以置信 nán yǐ zhì xìn ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄓˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ naan4 ji5 zi3 seon3 (idiom) hard to believe; incredible +
• 难以自已難以自已 nán yǐ zì yǐ ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄗˋ ㄧˇ naan4 ji5 zi6 ji5 cannot control oneself (idiom); to be beside oneself +
• 南辕北辙南轅北轍 nán yuán běi zhé ㄋㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄜˊ naam4 jyun4 bak1 cit3 to act in a way that defeats one's purpose (idiom) +
• 难于登天難於登天 nán yú dēng tiān ㄋㄢˊ ㄩˊ ㄉㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ naan4 jyu1 dang1 tin1 harder than climbing to heaven (idiom) +
• 南征北伐 nán zhēng běi fá ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄥ ㄅㄟˇ ㄈㄚˊ naam4 zing1 bak1 fat6 war on all sides (idiom); fighting from all four quarters +
• 南征北讨南征北討 nán zhēng běi tǎo ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄥ ㄅㄟˇ ㄊㄠˇ naam4 zing1 bak1 tou2 war on all sides (idiom); fighting from all four quarters +
• 南征北战南征北戰 nán zhēng běi zhàn ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄥ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄢˋ naam4 zing1 bak1 zin3 war on all sides (idiom); fighting from all four quarters +
• 男尊女卑 nán zūn nǚ bēi ㄋㄢˊ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄋㄩˇ ㄅㄟ naam4 zyun1 neoi5 bei1 to regard men as superior to women (idiom) +
• 脑满肠肥腦滿腸肥 nǎo mǎn cháng féi ㄋㄠˇ ㄇㄢˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄈㄟˊ nou5 mun5 coeng2 fei4 (idiom) overweight as a result of living a life of privilege +
• 呶呶不休 náo náo bù xiū ㄋㄠˊ ㄋㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡ (idiom) to chatter endlessly; to talk nonstop +
• 恼羞成怒惱羞成怒 nǎo xiū chéng nù ㄋㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄔㄥˊ ㄋㄨˋ nou5 sau1 sing4 nou6 (idiom) to become enraged over a perceived humiliation +
• 拿手好戏拿手好戲 ná shǒu hǎo xì ㄋㄚˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄏㄠˇ ㄒㄧˋ naa4 sau2 hou2 hei3 the role an actor plays best (idiom); (fig.) one's specialty; one's forte +
• 内忧外患內憂外患 nèi yōu wài huàn ㄋㄟˋ ㄧㄡ ㄨㄞˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ noi6 jau1 ngoi6 waan6 internal trouble and outside aggression (idiom); in a mess both domestically and abroad +
• 内忧外困內憂外困 nèi yōu wài kùn ㄋㄟˋ ㄧㄡ ㄨㄞˋ ㄎㄨㄣˋ noi6 jau1 ngoi6 kwan3 internal trouble and outside aggression (idiom); in a mess both domestically and abroad +
• 能歌善舞 néng gē shàn wǔ ㄋㄥˊ ㄍㄜ ㄕㄢˋ ㄨˇ nang4 go1 sin6 mou5 can sing and dance (idiom); fig. a person of many talents +
• 能屈能伸 néng qū néng shēn ㄋㄥˊ ㄑㄩ ㄋㄥˊ ㄕㄣ nang4 wat1 nang4 san1 can bow and submit, or can stand tall (idiom, from Book of Changes); ready to give and take; flexible +
• 能说会道能說會道 néng shuō huì dào ㄋㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ nang4 syut3 wui2 dou6 can talk really well (idiom); the gift of the gab +
• 能写会算能寫會算 néng xiě huì suàn ㄋㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ nang4 se2 wui2 syun3 (idiom) to be literate and numerate +
• 能言善辩能言善辯 néng yán shàn biàn ㄋㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ nang4 jin4 sin6 bin6 glib of tongue (idiom); eloquent +
• 能者多劳能者多勞 néng zhě duō láo ㄋㄥˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄌㄠˊ nang4 ze2 do1 lou4 (idiom) it's the most capable people who do the most work (intended as consolation for the overworked, or flattery when making a request etc) +
• 年富力强年富力強 nián fù lì qiáng ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ nin4 fu3 lik6 koeng4 young and vigorous (idiom) +
• 年复一年年復一年 nián fù yī nián ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ nin4 fuk6 jat1 nin4 (idiom) over the years; year after year +
• 年高德劭 nián gāo dé shào ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄠ ㄉㄜˊ ㄕㄠˋ nin4 gou1 dak1 siu6 to be advanced in both years and virtue (idiom) +
• 年功加俸 nián gōng jiā fèng ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄈㄥˋ nin4 gung1 gaa1 fung2 increase in salary according to one's service record for the year (idiom) +
• 拈花惹草 niān huā rě cǎo ㄋㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄖㄜˇ ㄘㄠˇ nim1 faa1 je5 cou2 lit. to pick the flowers and trample the grass (idiom); fig. to womanize; to frequent brothels; to sow one's wild oats +
• 年久失修 nián jiǔ shī xiū ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕ ㄒㄧㄡ nin4 gau2 sat1 sau1 old and in a state of disrepair (idiom); dilapidated +
• 年老力衰 nián lǎo lì shuāi ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄞ nin4 lou5 lik6 seoi1 old and weak (idiom) +
• 年老体弱年老體弱 nián lǎo tǐ ruò ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄠˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ nin4 lou5 tai2 joek6 old and weak (idiom) +
• 念念不忘 niàn niàn bù wàng ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ nim6 nim6 bat1 mong4 to keep in mind constantly (idiom) +
• 粘皮带骨粘皮帶骨 nián pí dài gǔ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄍㄨˇ nim1 pei4 daai3 gwat1 (old) (idiom) muddled; indecisive; plodding +
• 年轻力壮年輕力壯 nián qīng lì zhuàng ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ nin4 hing1 lik6 zong3 young and vigorous (idiom) +
• 年轻气盛年輕氣盛 nián qīng qì shèng ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄕㄥˋ nin4 hing1 hei3 sing6 full of youthful vigor (idiom); in the prime of youth +
• 年少无知年少無知 nián shào wú zhī ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄠˋ ㄨˊ ㄓ nin4 siu3 mou4 zi1 (idiom) young and inexperienced; unsophisticated +
• 蔫头耷脑蔫頭耷腦 niān tóu dā nǎo ㄋㄧㄢ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄚ ㄋㄠˇ (idiom) (coll.) (of a flower etc) droopy; withered; (of a person) listless; dispirited +
• 鸟尽弓藏鳥盡弓藏 niǎo jìn gōng cáng ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄘㄤˊ niu5 zeon6 gung1 cong4 lit. the birds are over, the bow is put away (idiom); fig. to get rid of sb once he has served his purpose +
• 袅袅婷婷裊裊婷婷 niǎo niǎo tíng tíng ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ niu5 niu5 ting4 ting4 (idiom) (of a woman) elegant and supple +
• 鸟枪换炮鳥槍換炮 niǎo qiāng huàn pào ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄆㄠˋ niu5 coeng1 wun6 paau3 bird shotgun replaced by cannon (idiom); equipment improved enormously +
• 鸟语花香鳥語花香 niǎo yǔ huā xiāng ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ niu5 jyu5 faa1 hoeng1 lit. birdsong and fragrant flowers (idiom); fig. the intoxication of a beautiful spring day +
• 逆耳之言 nì ěr zhī yán ㄋㄧˋ ㄦˇ ㄓ ㄧㄢˊ jik6 ji5 zi1 jin4 speech that grates on the ear (idiom); bitter truths; home truths (that one does not want to hear) +
• 蹑手蹑脚躡手躡腳 niè shǒu niè jiǎo ㄋㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ nip6 sau2 nip6 goek3 to walk quietly on tiptoe (idiom) +
• 捏一把汗 niē yī bǎ hàn ㄋㄧㄝ ㄧ ㄅㄚˇ ㄏㄢˋ nip6 jat1 baa2 hon6 to break out into a cold sweat (idiom) +
• 泥古不化 nì gǔ bù huà ㄋㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ nai4 gu2 bat1 faa3 conservative and unable to adapt (idiom) +
• 逆来顺受逆來順受 nì lái shùn shòu ㄋㄧˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄡˋ jik6 loi4 seon6 sau6 to resign oneself to adversity (idiom); to grin and bear it; to submit meekly to insults, maltreatment, humiliation etc +
• 呢喃细语呢喃細語 ní nán xì yǔ ㄋㄧˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄧˋ ㄩˇ nei4 naam4 sai3 jyu5 whispering in a low voice (idiom); murmuring +
• 宁静致远寧靜致遠 níng jìng zhì yuǎn ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄩㄢˇ ning4 zing6 zi3 jyun5 tranquility yields transcendence (idiom); quiet life of profound study; cf Still waters run deep. +
• 宁缺毋滥寧缺毋濫 nìng quē wú làn ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝ ㄨˊ ㄌㄢˋ ning4 kyut3 mou4 laam6 better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiom); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option +
• 宁死不屈寧死不屈 nìng sǐ bù qū ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩ ning4 sei2 bat1 wat1 rather die than submit (idiom) +
• 宁左勿右寧左勿右 nìng zuǒ wù yòu ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄨˋ ㄧㄡˋ ning4 zo2 mat6 jau6 (of one's political views) to prefer left rather than right (idiom during the Cultural Revolution) +
• 泥牛入海 ní niú rù hǎi ㄋㄧˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄏㄞˇ nai4 ngau4 jap6 hoi2 lit. a clay ox enters the sea (idiom); fig. to disappear with no hope of returning +
• 泥沙俱下 ní shā jù xià ㄋㄧˊ ㄕㄚ ㄐㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ nai4 saa1 keoi1 haa6 mud and sand flow together (idiom); good and bad mingle +
• 逆水行舟 nì shuǐ xíng zhōu ㄋㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄡ jik6 seoi2 hang4 zau1 lit. navigating a boat against the current (idiom); fig. in a tough environment (one needs to work hard) +
• 你死我活 nǐ sǐ wǒ huó ㄋㄧˇ ㄙˇ ㄨㄛˇ ㄏㄨㄛˊ nei5 sei2 ngo5 wut6 lit. you die, I live (idiom); irreconcilable adversaries; two parties cannot coexist +
• 牛角挂书牛角掛書 niú jiǎo guà shū ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄕㄨ ngau4 gok3 gwaa3 syu1 lit. to hang one's books on cow horns (idiom); fig. to be diligent in one's studies +
• 牛骥同槽牛驥同槽 niú jì tóng cáo ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄘㄠˊ ngau4 kei3 tung4 cou4 cow and famous steed at the same trough (idiom); fig. the common and the great are treated alike; also written 牛驥同皂|牛骥同皂[niu2 ji4 tong2 zao4] +
• 牛骥同皂牛驥同皂 niú jì tóng zào ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄗㄠˋ ngau4 kei3 tung4 zou6 cow and famous steed at the same trough (idiom); fig. the common and the great are treated alike +
• 扭亏为盈扭虧為盈 niǔ kuī wéi yíng ㄋㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄥˊ nau2 kwai1 wai6 jing4 (idiom) to get into the black; to become profitable +
• 牛山濯濯 niú shān zhuó zhuó ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄢ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ngau4 saan1 zok6 zok6 treeless hills (idiom) +
• 牛溲马勃牛溲馬勃 niú sōu mǎ bó ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄙㄡ ㄇㄚˇ ㄅㄛˊ ngau4 sau1 maa5 but6 cow's piss, horse's ulcer (idiom); worthless nonsense; insignificant +
• 牛衣对泣牛衣對泣 niú yī duì qì ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄑㄧˋ ngau4 ji1 deoi3 jap1 couple living in destitute misery (idiom) +
• 扭转乾坤扭轉乾坤 niǔ zhuǎn qián kūn ㄋㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄣ nau2 zyun2 gon1 kwan1 lit. to upend heaven and earth (idiom); fig. to change the course of events; to turn things around +
• 逆行倒施 nì xíng dào shī ㄋㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄕ jik6 hang4 dou2 si1 to go against the tide (idiom); to do things all wrong; to try to turn back history; a perverse way of doing things +
• 你争我夺你爭我奪 nǐ zhēng wǒ duó ㄋㄧˇ ㄓㄥ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ nei5 zang1 ngo5 dyut6 lit. you fight, I snatch (idiom); to compete fiercely offering no quarter; fierce rivalry; tug-of-war +
• 弄假成真 nòng jiǎ chéng zhēn ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄣ lung6 gaa2 sing4 zan1 pretense that turns into reality (idiom); to play at make-believe, but accidentally make it true +
• 浓墨重彩濃墨重彩 nóng mò zhòng cǎi ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄘㄞˇ nung4 mak6 cung5 coi2 thick and heavy in colors; to describe sth in colorful language with attention to detail (idiom) +
• 弄虚作假弄虛作假 nòng xū zuò jiǎ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄩ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ lung6 heoi1 zok3 gaa2 to practice fraud (idiom); by trickery +
• 浓妆艳抹濃妝艷抹 nóng zhuāng yàn mǒ ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄛˇ nung4 zong1 jim6 mut3 to apply makeup conspicuously (idiom); dressed to the nines and wearing makeup +
• 弄嘴弄舌 nòng zuǐ nòng shé ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄜˊ lung6 zeoi2 lung6 sit3 to cause a dispute through boastful gossip (idiom) +
• 怒不可遏 nù bù kě è ㄋㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄜˋ nou6 bat1 ho2 aat3 unable to restrain one's anger (idiom); in a towering rage +
• 怒发冲冠怒髮衝冠 nù fà chōng guān ㄋㄨˋ ㄈㄚˋ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄢ nou6 faat3 cung1 gun1 lit. hair stands up in anger and tips off one's hat (idiom); fig. seething in anger; raise one's hackles +
• 努力以赴 nǔ lì yǐ fù ㄋㄨˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ nou5 lik6 ji5 fu6 to use one's best efforts to do sth (idiom) +
• 驽马恋栈駑馬戀棧 nú mǎ liàn zhàn ㄋㄨˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ nou4 maa5 lyun2 zaan6 lit. a worn-out horse is reluctant to leave the stable (idiom); fig. a mediocre worker clings to a good position +
• 怒目而视怒目而視 nù mù ér shì ㄋㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄕˋ nou6 muk6 ji4 si6 (idiom) to glare at +
• 怒目相向 nù mù xiāng xiàng ㄋㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄤˋ nou6 muk6 soeng1 hoeng3 to glower at each other (idiom) +
• 怒气冲冲怒氣沖沖 nù qì chōng chōng ㄋㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄔㄨㄥ nou6 hei3 cung1 cung1 (idiom) spitting anger; in a rage +
• 怒形于色怒形於色 nù xíng yú sè ㄋㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄩˊ ㄙㄜˋ nou6 jing4 jyu1 sik1 to betray anger (idiom); fury written across one's face +
• 奴颜婢膝奴顏婢膝 nú yán bì xī ㄋㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄧ nou4 ngaan4 pei5 sat1 servile and bending the knee (idiom); fawning; bending and scraping to curry favor +
• 女扮男装女扮男裝 nǚ bàn nán zhuāng ㄋㄩˇ ㄅㄢˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄤ neoi5 baan6 naam4 zong1 (of a woman) to dress as a man (idiom) +
• 女生外向 nǚ shēng wài xiàng ㄋㄩˇ ㄕㄥ ㄨㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ neoi5 saang1 ngoi6 hoeng3 a woman is born to leave her family (idiom); a woman's heart is with her husband +