Chengyu — W 236 idioms

• 歪风邪气歪風邪氣 wāi fēng xié qì ㄨㄞ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄑㄧˋ waai1 fung1 ce4 hei3 noxious winds, evil influences (idiom); malignant social trends +
• 外宽内忌外寬內忌 wài kuān nèi jì ㄨㄞˋ ㄎㄨㄢ ㄋㄟˋ ㄐㄧˋ ngoi6 fun1 noi6 gei6 magnanimous on the outside, but hateful on the inside (idiom) +
• 外强中干外強中乾 wài qiáng zhōng gān ㄨㄞˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄢ ngoi6 koeng4 zung1 gon1 strong in appearance but weak in reality (idiom) +
• 外圆内方外圓內方 wài yuán nèi fāng ㄨㄞˋ ㄩㄢˊ ㄋㄟˋ ㄈㄤ ngoi6 jyun4 noi6 fong1 lit. outside-flexible, inside-firm (idiom); fig. velvet glove +
• 挖空心思 wā kōng xīn si ㄨㄚ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ ˙ㄙ waat3 hung1 sam1 si1 to dig for thoughts (idiom); to search everything for an answer; to rack one's brains +
• 完璧归赵完璧歸趙 wán bì guī Zhào ㄨㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄠˋ jyun4 bik1 gwai1 ziu6 lit. to return the jade annulus to Zhao (idiom); fig. to return something intact to its rightful owner +
• 万不得已萬不得已 wàn bù dé yǐ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˇ maan6 bat1 dak1 ji5 only when absolutely essential (idiom); as a last resort +
• 万夫不当萬夫不當 wàn fū bù dāng ㄨㄢˋ ㄈㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤ maan6 fu1 bat1 dong1 lit. unbeatable by even 10,000 men (idiom); fig. extremely brave and strong +
• 望尘莫及望塵莫及 wàng chén mò jí ㄨㄤˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ mong6 can4 mok6 kap6 lit. to see only the other rider's dust and have no hope of catching up (idiom); to be far inferior +
• 忘恩负义忘恩負義 wàng ēn fù yì ㄨㄤˋ ㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧˋ mong4 jan1 fu6 ji6 to forget favors and violate justice (idiom); ingratitude to a friend; to kick a benefactor in the teeth +
• 望而却步望而卻步 wàng ér què bù ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ mong6 ji4 koek3 bou6 (lit.) to shrink back at the sight of (sth daunting) (idiom); (fig.) to be deterred +
• 望而生畏 wàng ér shēng wèi ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄕㄥ ㄨㄟˋ mong6 ji4 sang1 wai3 (idiom) to feel intimidated +
• 望风而逃望風而逃 wàng fēng ér táo ㄨㄤˋ ㄈㄥ ㄦˊ ㄊㄠˊ mong6 fung1 ji4 tou4 to flee at the mere sight of (idiom) +
• 亡国灭种亡國滅種 wáng guó miè zhǒng ㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ mong4 gwok3 mit6 zung2 country destroyed, its people annihilated (idiom); total destruction +
• 王侯将相王侯將相 wáng hóu jiàng xiàng ㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ wong4 hau4 zoeng1 soeng1 (lit.) kings, nobles, generals and ministers (idiom); (fig.) people of the highest rank and status; the ruling elite +
• 忘乎所以 wàng hū suǒ yǐ ㄨㄤˋ ㄏㄨ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧˇ mong4 fu4 so2 ji5 (idiom) to get carried away; to lose one's sense of proportion +
• 网开三面網開三面 wǎng kāi sān miàn ㄨㄤˇ ㄎㄞ ㄙㄢ ㄇㄧㄢˋ mong5 hoi1 saam1 min6 to leave the net open on three sides (idiom); let the caged bird fly; to give one's opponent a way out; lenient treatment +
• 网开一面網開一面 wǎng kāi yī miàn ㄨㄤˇ ㄎㄞ ㄧ ㄇㄧㄢˋ mong5 hoi1 jat1 min6 open the net on one side (idiom); let the caged bird fly; to give one's opponent a way out; lenient treatment +
• 望梅止渴 wàng méi zhǐ kě ㄨㄤˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄓˇ ㄎㄜˇ mong6 mui4 zi2 hot3 lit. to quench one's thirst by thinking of plums (idiom); fig. to console oneself with illusions +
• 亡命之徒 wáng mìng zhī tú ㄨㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ mong4 ming6 zi1 tou4 runaway (idiom); desperate criminal; fugitive +
• 忘年之交 wàng nián zhī jiāo ㄨㄤˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ mong4 nin4 zi1 gaau1 (idiom) friends with a significant age gap +
• 望女成凤望女成鳳 wàng nǚ chéng fèng ㄨㄤˋ ㄋㄩˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥˋ mong6 neoi5 sing4 fung6 lit. to hope one's daughter becomes a phoenix (idiom); fig. to hope one's daughter is a success in life +
• 惘然若失 wǎng rán ruò shī ㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ mong5 jin4 joek6 sat1 lit. to be frustrated as though having lost sth (idiom); fig. to be at a loss; perplexed; frustrated +
• 妄生穿凿妄生穿鑿 wàng shēng chuān záo ㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄥ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄗㄠˊ mong5 sang1 cyun1 zok6 a forced analogy (idiom); to jump to an unwarranted conclusion +
• 往事已矣 wǎng shì yǐ yǐ ㄨㄤˇ ㄕˋ ㄧˇ ㄧˇ the past is dead (idiom) +
• 万古长青萬古長青 wàn gǔ cháng qīng ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄥ maan6 gu2 coeng4 cing1 (idiom) enduring through the ages; ever-flourishing +
• 万古长新萬古長新 wàn gǔ cháng xīn ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄣ maan6 gu2 coeng4 san1 to remain forever new (idiom) +
• 万古千秋萬古千秋 wàn gǔ qiān qiū ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ maan6 gu2 cin1 cau1 for all eternity (idiom) +
• 望文生义望文生義 wàng wén shēng yì ㄨㄤˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄧˋ mong6 man4 sang1 ji6 lit. view a text and interpret (idiom); to interpret word by word without understanding the meaning; a far-fetched interpretation +
• 妄下雌黄妄下雌黃 wàng xià cí huáng ㄨㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄘˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ mong5 haa6 ci1 wong4 to alter a text indiscriminately (idiom); to make irresponsible criticism +
• 亡羊补牢亡羊補牢 wáng yáng bǔ láo ㄨㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄌㄠˊ mong4 joeng4 bou2 lou4 lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost (idiom); fig. to act belatedly; better late than never; to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted +
• 望洋兴叹望洋興嘆 wàng yáng xīng tàn ㄨㄤˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ mong6 joeng4 hing1 taan3 (lit.) to gaze at the ocean and lament one's inadequacy (idiom); (fig.) to feel powerless and incompetent (to perform a task) +
• 妄言妄听妄言妄聽 wàng yán wàng tīng ㄨㄤˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄊㄧㄥ mong5 jin4 mong5 ting1 unwarranted talk the listener can take or leave (idiom); sth not to be taken too seriously +
• 望子成龙望子成龍 wàng zǐ chéng lóng ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ mong6 zi2 sing4 lung4 lit. to hope one's son becomes a dragon (idiom); fig. to long for one' s child to succeed in life; to have great hopes for one's offspring; to give one's child the best education as a career investment +
• 妄自菲薄 wàng zì fěi bó ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˋ ㄈㄟˇ ㄅㄛˊ mong5 zi6 fei1 bok6 to be unduly humble (idiom); to undervalue oneself +
• 妄自尊大 wàng zì zūn dà ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄉㄚˋ mong5 zi6 zyun1 daai6 ridiculous self-importance (idiom); arrogance +
• 玩火自焚 wán huǒ zì fén ㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄗˋ ㄈㄣˊ waan4 fo2 zi6 fan4 to play with fire and get burnt (idiom); fig. to play with evil and suffer the consequences; to get one's fingers burnt +
• 万箭穿心萬箭穿心 wàn jiàn chuān xīn ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ maan6 zin3 cyun1 sam1 (lit.) to have one's heart pierced by thousands of arrows (idiom); (fig.) overcome with sorrow; (fig.) to lambaste; to rip sb to shreds +
• 晚节不保晚節不保 wǎn jié bù bǎo ㄨㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄠˇ maan5 zit3 bat1 bou2 (idiom) to tarnish one's reputation in later life; to lose prestige at a later stage +
• 纨绔子弟紈絝子弟 wán kù zǐ dì ㄨㄢˊ ㄎㄨˋ ㄗˇ ㄉㄧˋ jyun4 fu3 zi2 dai6 (idiom) hedonistic son of rich parents +
• 万籁俱寂萬籟俱寂 wàn lài jù jì ㄨㄢˋ ㄌㄞˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧˋ maan6 laai6 keoi1 zik6 (idiom) dead silent +
• 万里江山萬里江山 wàn lǐ jiāng shān ㄨㄢˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ maan6 lei5 gong1 saan1 lit. ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains; a vast territory (idiom) +
• 万马奔腾萬馬奔騰 wàn mǎ bēn téng ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄅㄣ ㄊㄥˊ maan6 maa5 ban1 tang4 lit. (like) ten thousand horses galloping (idiom); fig. going full steam ahead +
• 万马齐喑萬馬齊喑 wàn mǎ qí yīn ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄧㄣ maan6 maa5 cai4 jam1 thousands of horses, all mute (idiom); no-one dares to speak out; an atmosphere of political oppression +
• 万念俱灰萬念俱灰 wàn niàn jù huī ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄏㄨㄟ maan6 nim6 keoi1 fui1 every hope turns to dust (idiom); completely disheartened +
• 玩世不恭 wán shì bù gōng ㄨㄢˊ ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥ wun6 sai3 bat1 gung1 to trifle without respect (idiom); to despise worldly conventions; frivolous +
• 完事大吉 wán shì dà jí ㄨㄢˊ ㄕˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ jyun4 si6 daai6 gat1 (idiom) (usu. after 就[jiu4]) (having done such-and-such) everything is now fine; that's the end of the matter; (one is) all set +
• 万事大吉萬事大吉 wàn shì dà jí ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ maan6 si6 daai6 gat1 everything is fine (idiom); all is well with the world +
• 万事亨通萬事亨通 wàn shì hēng tōng ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄏㄥ ㄊㄨㄥ maan6 si6 hang1 tung1 everything is going smoothly (idiom) +
• 万事如意萬事如意 wàn shì rú yì ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ maan6 si6 jyu4 ji3 to have all one's wishes (idiom); best wishes; all the best; may all your hopes be fulfilled +
• 万世师表萬世師表 wàn shì shī biǎo ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄕ ㄅㄧㄠˇ maan6 sai3 si1 biu2 model teacher of every age (idiom); eternal paragon; refers to Confucius (551-479 BC) 孔子[Kong3 zi3] +
• 万寿无疆萬壽無疆 wàn shòu wú jiāng ㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ maan6 sau6 mou4 goeng1 may you enjoy boundless longevity (idiom); long may you live +
• 万水千山萬水千山 wàn shuǐ qiān shān ㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄕㄢ maan6 seoi2 cin1 saan1 ten thousand crags and torrents (idiom); the trials and tribulations of a long journey; a long and difficult road +
• 万死不辞萬死不辭 wàn sǐ bù cí ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘˊ maan6 sei2 bat1 ci4 ten thousand deaths will not prevent me (idiom); ready to risk life and limb to help out +
• 万头攒动萬頭攢動 wàn tóu cuán dòng ㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄘㄨㄢˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ maan6 tau4 zaan2 dung6 (idiom) bustling with many people +
• 玩物丧志玩物喪志 wán wù sàng zhì ㄨㄢˊ ㄨˋ ㄙㄤˋ ㄓˋ wun6 mat6 song3 zi3 lit. trifling destroys the will (idiom); infatuation with fine details prevents one making progress; excessive attention to trivia saps the will +
• 万无一失萬無一失 wàn wú yī shī ㄨㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄧ ㄕ maan6 mou4 jat1 sat1 surefire; absolutely safe (idiom) +
• 万象更新萬象更新 wàn xiàng gēng xīn ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ maan6 zoeng6 gang3 san1 (in the spring) nature takes on a new look (idiom) +
• 万众一心萬眾一心 wàn zhòng yī xīn ㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ maan6 zung3 jat1 sam1 millions of people all of one mind (idiom); the people united +
• 万紫千红萬紫千紅 wàn zǐ qiān hóng ㄨㄢˋ ㄗˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄥˊ maan6 zi2 cin1 hung4 thousands of purples and reds (idiom); a blaze of color; fig. a profusion of flourishing trades +
• 挖肉补疮挖肉補瘡 wā ròu bǔ chuāng ㄨㄚ ㄖㄡˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄔㄨㄤ waat3 juk6 bou2 cong1 to cut one's flesh to cover a sore (idiom); faced with a current crisis, to make it worse by a temporary expedient +
• 未卜先知 wèi bǔ xiān zhī ㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓ mei6 buk1 sin1 zi1 (idiom) to foresee the future (without divination); to know beforehand through uncanny insight +
• 微不足道 wēi bù zú dào ㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄠˋ mei4 bat1 zuk1 dou6 (idiom) negligible; insignificant +
• 未尝不可未嘗不可 wèi cháng bù kě ㄨㄟˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ mei6 soeng4 bat1 ho2 (idiom) acceptable; fine; okay +
• 围城打援圍城打援 wéi chéng dǎ yuán ㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄩㄢˊ wai4 sing4 daa2 wun4 to besiege and strike the relief force (idiom); strategy of surrounding a unit to entice the enemy to reinforce, then striking the new troops +
• 尾大不掉 wěi dà bù diào ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ mei5 daai6 bat1 diu6 large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy; fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates +
• 为德不终為德不終 wéi dé bù zhōng ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ wai4 dak1 bat1 zung1 to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through; lack of sticking power; short attention span +
• 为德不卒為德不卒 wéi dé bù zú ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ wai4 dak1 bat1 zeot1 to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through; lack of sticking power; short attention span +
• 危而不持 wēi ér bù chí ㄨㄟ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔˊ ngai4 ji4 bat1 ci4 national danger, but no support (idiom, from Analects); the future of the nation is at stake but no-one comes to the rescue +
• 违法乱纪違法亂紀 wéi fǎ luàn jì ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧˋ wai4 faat3 lyun6 gei2 (lit.) to break the law and violate the rules (idiom); (fig.) misconduct +
• 为非作歹為非作歹 wéi fēi zuò dǎi ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄟ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄞˇ wai4 fei1 zok3 daai2 to break the law and commit crimes (idiom); malefactor; evildoer; to perpetrate outrages +
• 为富不仁為富不仁 wéi fù bù rén ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ wai4 fu3 bat1 jan4 (idiom) to be wealthy and heartless +
• 威福自己 wēi fú zì jǐ ㄨㄟ ㄈㄨˊ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ wai1 fuk1 zi6 gei2 to exercise power arbitrarily (idiom) +
• 微乎其微 wēi hū qí wēi ㄨㄟ ㄏㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄨㄟ mei4 fu4 kei4 mei4 a tiny bit; very little; next to nothing (idiom) +
• 为虎作伥為虎作倀 wèi hǔ zuò chāng ㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄔㄤ wai4 fu2 zok3 coeng1 (idiom) to act as accomplice to a villain; to assist in wrongdoing +
• 危机四伏危機四伏 wēi jī sì fú ㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ ㄙˋ ㄈㄨˊ ngai4 gei1 sei3 fuk6 danger lurks on every side (idiom) +
• 未可厚非 wèi kě hòu fēi ㄨㄟˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄈㄟ mei6 ho2 hau5 fei1 not to be censured too strictly (idiom); not altogether inexcusable; understandable +
• 违利赴名違利赴名 wéi lì fù míng ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ wai4 lei6 fu6 ming4 to renounce profit and seek fame (idiom); to abandon greed for reputation; to choose fame over fortune +
• 唯利是图唯利是圖 wéi lì shì tú ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨˊ wai4 lei6 si6 tou4 (idiom) to be bent solely on profit; to put profit before everything else +
• 萎靡不振 wěi mǐ bù zhèn ㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄣˋ wai2 mei5 bat1 zan3 dispirited and listless (idiom); downcast +
• 为民除害為民除害 wèi mín chú hài ㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄔㄨˊ ㄏㄞˋ wai6 man4 ceoi4 hoi6 (idiom) to rid the people of a scourge +
• 未能免俗 wèi néng miǎn sú ㄨㄟˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄇㄧㄢˇ ㄙㄨˊ mei6 nang4 min5 zuk6 unable to break the custom (idiom); bound by conventions +
• 蔚然成风蔚然成風 wèi rán chéng fēng ㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥ wai3 jin4 sing4 fung1 to have become common practice (idiom); to become a general trend +
• 巍然屹立 wēi rán yì lì ㄨㄟ ㄖㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ngai4 jin4 ngat6 laap6 to stand tall and rock-solid (idiom); towering majestically; (of a person) to stand up against sb +
• 为仁不富為仁不富 wéi rén bù fù ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ wai4 jan4 bat1 fu3 (idiom) benevolent people can't get rich +
• 为人师表為人師表 wéi rén shī biǎo ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕ ㄅㄧㄠˇ wai4 jan4 si1 biu2 to serve as a model for others (idiom); to be a worthy teacher +
• 危如累卵 wēi rú lěi luǎn ㄨㄟ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄌㄨㄢˇ ngai4 jyu4 leoi5 leon2 precarious as pile of eggs (idiom); ready to fall and break at any moment; in a dangerous state +
• 危若朝露 wēi ruò zhāo lù ㄨㄟ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄠ ㄌㄨˋ ngai4 joek6 ziu1 lou6 precarious as morning dew (idiom); unlikely to last out the day +
• 危如朝露 wēi rú zhāo lù ㄨㄟ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄠ ㄌㄨˋ ngai4 jyu4 ziu1 lou6 precarious as the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence +
• 为善最乐為善最樂 wéi shàn zuì lè ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄜˋ wai4 sin6 zeoi3 lok6 doing good deeds brings the greatest joy (idiom) +
• 为时不晚為時不晚 wéi shí bù wǎn ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄢˇ wai4 si4 bat1 maan5 it is not too late (idiom) +
• 违时绝俗違時絕俗 wéi shí jué sú ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄨˊ wai4 si4 zyut6 zuk6 to defy the times and reject custom (idiom); in breach of current conventions +
• 为时未晚為時未晚 wéi shí wèi wǎn ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄢˇ wai4 si4 mei6 maan5 it is not too late (idiom) +
• 畏首畏尾 wèi shǒu wèi wěi ㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˇ wai3 sau2 wai3 mei5 afraid of the head, terrified of the tail (idiom); ever fearful and nervous; afraid of the slightest thing +
• 畏缩不前畏縮不前 wèi suō bù qián ㄨㄟˋ ㄙㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ wai3 suk1 bat1 cin4 to shrink back in fear (idiom); too cowardly to advance +
• 为所欲为為所欲為 wéi suǒ yù wéi ㄨㄟˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ ㄨㄟˊ wai4 so2 juk6 wai4 (idiom) to do whatever one pleases +
• 违天害理違天害理 wéi tiān hài lǐ ㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇ wai4 tin1 hoi6 lei5 lit. violating heaven and reason (idiom); immoral character +
• 违天逆理違天逆理 wéi tiān nì lǐ ㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄋㄧˋ ㄌㄧˇ wai4 tin1 jik6 lei5 lit. violating heaven and reason (idiom); immoral character +
• 味同嚼蜡味同嚼蠟 wèi tóng jiáo là ㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄚˋ mei6 tung4 zoek3 laap6 lit. tastes as if one is chewing wax (idiom); fig. tasteless; insipid +
• 蔚为大观蔚為大觀 wèi wéi dà guān ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄢ wai3 wai4 daai6 gun1 to afford a magnificent sight (idiom); enchanting +
• 娓娓动听娓娓動聽 wěi wěi dòng tīng ㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄥ mei5 mei5 dung6 ting1 (idiom) to speak in a pleasant and captivating manner +
• 娓娓而谈娓娓而談 wěi wěi ér tán ㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄊㄢˊ (idiom) to speak engagingly +
• 围魏救赵圍魏救趙 wéi Wèi jiù Zhào ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄠˋ wai4 ngai6 gau3 ziu6 lit. to besiege 魏[Wei4] and rescue 趙|赵[Zhao4] (idiom); fig. to relieve a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers +
• 唯唯诺诺唯唯諾諾 wéi wéi nuò nuò ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄨㄛˋ (idiom) to be a yes-man +
• 微言大义微言大義 wēi yán dà yì ㄨㄟ ㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ mei4 jin4 daai6 ji6 subtle words with profound meaning (idiom) +
• 危言耸听危言聳聽 wēi yán sǒng tīng ㄨㄟ ㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄥˇ ㄊㄧㄥ ngai4 jin4 sung2 ting1 frightening words to scare people (idiom); alarmist talk; reds under the beds +
• 危言危行 wēi yán wēi xíng ㄨㄟ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ngai4 jin4 ngai4 hang4 upright and plainspoken (idiom) +
• 未雨绸缪未雨綢繆 wèi yǔ chóu móu ㄨㄟˋ ㄩˇ ㄔㄡˊ ㄇㄡˊ mei6 jyu5 cau4 mau4 lit. before it rains, bind around with silk (idiom, from Book of Songs 詩經|诗经); fig. to plan ahead; to prepare for a rainy day +
• 危在旦夕 wēi zài dàn xī ㄨㄟ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧ ngai4 zoi6 daan3 zik6 in imminent peril (idiom); on the brink of crisis +
• 威震天下 wēi zhèn tiān xià ㄨㄟ ㄓㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ wai1 zan3 tin1 haa6 to inspire awe throughout the empire (idiom) +
• 威尊命贱威尊命賤 wēi zūn mìng jiàn ㄨㄟ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ wai1 zyun1 ming6 zin6 (idiom) the dignity of authority is above life; one must be willing to sacrifice one's life rather than disobey a military order +
• 文不加点文不加點 wén bù jiā diǎn ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇ man4 bat1 gaa1 dim2 to write a flawless essay in one go (idiom); to be quick-witted and skilled at writing compositions +
• 稳操胜券穩操勝券 wěn cāo shèng quàn ㄨㄣˇ ㄘㄠ ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ wan2 cou1 sing3 hyun3 grasp it and victory is assured; to have success within one's grasp (idiom) +
• 问道于盲問道於盲 wèn dào yú máng ㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄩˊ ㄇㄤˊ man6 dou6 jyu1 maang4 lit. to ask a blind man the way (idiom); fig. to seek advice from an incompetent +
• 问鼎轻重問鼎輕重 wèn dǐng qīng zhòng ㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ man6 ding2 hing1 cung5 lit. to inquire whether the tripods are light or heavy (idiom); a laughable attempt to seize power +
• 问鼎中原問鼎中原 wèn dǐng Zhōng yuán ㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄩㄢˊ man6 ding2 zung1 jyun4 to plan to seize power of the whole country (idiom) +
• 文房四宝文房四寶 wén fáng sì bǎo ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄤˊ ㄙˋ ㄅㄠˇ man4 fong4 sei3 bou2 Four Treasures of the Study, namely 筆|笔[bi3], 墨[mo4], 紙|纸[zhi3] and 硯|砚[yan4]; the essentials of calligraphy and scholarship (idiom) +
• 闻风丧胆聞風喪膽 wén fēng sàng dǎn ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄙㄤˋ ㄉㄢˇ man4 fung1 song3 daam2 hear the wind and lose gall (idiom); terror-stricken at the news +
• 闻风先遁聞風先遁 wén fēng xiān dùn ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄣˋ man4 fung1 sin1 deon6 to flee at hearing the news (idiom) +
• 瓮声瓮气甕聲甕氣 wèng shēng wèng qì ㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄥ ㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ ung3 seng1 ung3 hei3 to speak in a low muffled voice (idiom) +
• 文过饰非文過飾非 wén guò shì fēi ㄨㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ man6 gwo3 sik1 fei1 (idiom) to cover up one's faults; to whitewash +
• 温故知新溫故知新 wēn gù zhī xīn ㄨㄣ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ wan1 gu3 zi1 san1 to review the old and know the new (idiom, from the Analects); to recall the past to understand the future +
• 瓮中之鳖甕中之鱉 wèng zhōng zhī biē ㄨㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄝ ung3 zung1 zi1 bit3 lit. like a turtle in a jar; to be trapped (idiom) +
• 瓮中捉鳖甕中捉鱉 wèng zhōng zhuō biē ㄨㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄝ ung3 zung1 zuk3 bit3 (lit.) to catch a turtle in a jar (idiom); (fig.) to go after easy prey +
• 问寒问暖問寒問暖 wèn hán wèn nuǎn ㄨㄣˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ man6 hon4 man6 nyun5 (idiom) to show concern about sb's well-being +
• 文江学海文江學海 wén jiāng xué hǎi ㄨㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄏㄞˇ man4 gong1 hok6 hoi2 river of literacy, sea of learning (idiom); ars longa, vita brevis +
• 闻鸡起舞聞雞起舞 wén jī qǐ wǔ ㄨㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄑㄧˇ ㄨˇ man4 gai1 hei2 mou5 to start practicing at the first crow of the cock (idiom); to be diligent in one's studies +
• 问客杀鸡問客殺雞 wèn kè shā jī ㄨㄣˋ ㄎㄜˋ ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ man6 haak3 saat3 gai1 lit. asking guests whether or not to butcher a chicken for them (idiom); fig. hypocritical show of affection (or hospitality) +
• 闻名遐迩聞名遐邇 wén míng xiá ěr ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄦˇ man4 ming4 haa4 ji5 (idiom) to be famous far and wide +
• 温情脉脉溫情脈脈 wēn qíng mò mò ㄨㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄛˋ wan1 cing4 mak6 mak6 full of tender feelings (idiom); tender-hearted +
• 文人相轻文人相輕 wén rén xiāng qīng ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥ man4 jan4 soeng1 hing1 scholars tend to disparage one another (idiom) +
• 文弱书生文弱書生 wén ruò shū shēng ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ man4 joek6 syu1 saang1 (idiom) frail scholar +
• 文如其人 wén rú qí rén ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ man4 jyu4 kei4 jan4 the writing style mirrors the writer (idiom) +
• 文山会海文山會海 wén shān huì hǎi ㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄢ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄞˇ man4 saan1 wui6 hoi2 a mountain of paperwork and a sea of meetings (idiom) +
• 纹丝不动紋絲不動 wén sī bù dòng ㄨㄣˊ ㄙ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ man4 si1 bat1 dung6 to not move a single jot (idiom) +
• 温文尔雅溫文爾雅 wēn wén ěr yǎ ㄨㄣ ㄨㄣˊ ㄦˇ ㄧㄚˇ wan1 man4 ji5 ngaa5 cultured and refined (idiom); gentle and cultivated +
• 文武合一 wén wǔ hé yī ㄨㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧ man4 mou5 hap6 jat1 civilians and the military (working) hand in hand (idiom) +
• 文武双全文武雙全 wén wǔ shuāng quán ㄨㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄑㄩㄢˊ man4 mou5 soeng1 cyun4 well versed in letters and military technology (idiom); fine scholar and soldier; master of pen and sword +
• 问心无愧問心無愧 wèn xīn wú kuì ㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄎㄨㄟˋ man6 sam1 mou4 kwai5 lit. look into one's heart, no shame (idiom); with a clear conscience +
• 闻一知十聞一知十 wén yī zhī shí ㄨㄣˊ ㄧ ㄓ ㄕˊ man4 jat1 zi1 sap6 lit. to hear one and know ten (idiom); fig. explain one thing and (he) understands everything; a word to the wise +
• 文治武功 wén zhì wǔ gōng ㄨㄣˊ ㄓˋ ㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄥ man4 zi6 mou5 gung1 political and military achievements (idiom) +
• 卧虎藏龙臥虎藏龍 wò hǔ cáng lóng ㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄘㄤˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ngo6 fu2 cong4 lung4 lit. hidden dragon, crouching tiger (idiom); fig. talented individuals in hiding; concealed talent +
• 卧薪尝胆臥薪嘗膽 wò xīn cháng dǎn ㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄤˊ ㄉㄢˇ ngo6 san1 soeng4 daam2 (lit.) to sleep on brushwood and taste gall (like King Goujian of Yue 勾踐|勾践[Gou1 jian4], in order to recall one's humiliations) (idiom); (fig.) to maintain one's resolve for revenge +
• 蜗行牛步蝸行牛步 wō xíng niú bù ㄨㄛ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ wo1 hang4 ngau4 bou6 lit. to crawl like a snail and plod along like an old ox (idiom); fig. to move at a snail's pace; to make slow progress +
• 我行我素 wǒ xíng wǒ sù ㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄙㄨˋ ngo5 hang4 ngo5 sou3 to continue in one's own way (idiom) +
• 我醉欲眠 wǒ zuì yù mián ㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄩˋ ㄇㄧㄢˊ ngo5 zeoi3 juk6 min4 lit. I'm drunk and would like to sleep (idiom); (used to indicate one's sincere and straightforward nature) +
• 无边无际無邊無際 wú biān wú jì ㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ mou4 bin1 mou4 zai3 (idiom) boundless; limitless +
• 无病呻吟無病呻吟 wú bìng shēn yín ㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄕㄣ ㄧㄣˊ mou4 beng6 san1 jam4 (idiom) to moan and groan despite not being sick; to feign illness; to complain without cause; (of writing) to indulge in confected sentimentality +
• 五彩缤纷五彩繽紛 wǔ cǎi bīn fēn ㄨˇ ㄘㄞˇ ㄅㄧㄣ ㄈㄣ ng5 coi2 ban1 fan1 all the colors in profusion (idiom); a garish display +
• 无出其右無出其右 wú chū qí yòu ㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄧㄡˋ mou4 ceot1 kei4 jau6 (idiom) matchless; without equal; there is nothing better +
• 无的放矢無的放矢 wú dì fàng shǐ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄈㄤˋ ㄕˇ mou4 dik1 fong3 ci2 to shoot without aim (idiom); fig. to speak without thinking; firing blindly; to shoot in the air; a shot in the dark +
• 无地自容無地自容 wú dì zì róng ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ mou4 dei6 zi6 jung4 (idiom) ashamed and unable to show one's face +
• 无独有偶無獨有偶 wú dú yǒu ǒu ㄨˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄡˇ mou4 duk6 jau5 ngau5 not alone but in pairs (idiom, usually derog.); not a unique occurrence; it's not the only case +
• 无恶不作無惡不作 wú è bù zuò ㄨˊ ㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ mou4 ok3 bat1 zok3 not to shrink from any crime (idiom); to commit any imaginable misdeed +
• 无法无天無法無天 wú fǎ wú tiān ㄨˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄨˊ ㄊㄧㄢ mou4 faat3 mou4 tin1 (idiom) defiant of the law and lacking any sense of morality; lawless; out of control; unruly +
• 无福消受無福消受 wú fú xiāo shòu ㄨˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄡˋ mou4 fuk1 siu1 sau6 unfortunately cannot enjoy (idiom) +
• 物各有主 wù gè yǒu zhǔ ㄨˋ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄨˇ mat6 gok3 jau5 zyu2 everything has a rightful owner (idiom) +
• 无功而返無功而返 wú gōng ér fǎn ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄦˊ ㄈㄢˇ mou4 gung1 ji4 faan2 to return without any achievement (idiom); to go home with one's tail between one's legs +
• 无功受禄無功受祿 wú gōng shòu lù ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄕㄡˋ ㄌㄨˋ mou4 gung1 sau6 luk6 to get undeserved rewards (idiom) +
• 五光十色 wǔ guāng shí sè ㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄕˊ ㄙㄜˋ ng5 gwong1 sap6 sik1 (idiom) bright and multicolored; of rich variety; dazzling; glitzy +
• 无关痛痒無關痛癢 wú guān tòng yǎng ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄤˇ mou4 gwaan1 tung3 joeng5 (idiom) to not affect sb; irrelevant; of no importance; insignificant +
• 物归原主物歸原主 wù guī yuán zhǔ ㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓㄨˇ mat6 gwai1 jyun4 zyu2 (idiom) to return sth to its rightful owner +
• 乌合之众烏合之眾 wū hé zhī zhòng ㄨ ㄏㄜˊ ㄓ ㄓㄨㄥˋ wu1 hap6 zi1 zung3 (idiom) rabble; disorderly band +
• 无话不谈無話不談 wú huà bù tán ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄢˊ mou4 waa6 bat1 taam4 not to hold anything back (idiom); (of close friends etc) to tell each other everything +
• 无话可说無話可說 wú huà kě shuō ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄨㄛ mou4 waa6 ho2 syut3 to have nothing to say (idiom) +
• 无家可归無家可歸 wú jiā kě guī ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄎㄜˇ ㄍㄨㄟ mou4 gaa1 ho2 gwai1 (idiom) homeless +
• 无坚不摧無堅不摧 wú jiān bù cuī ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄨㄟ mou4 gin1 bat1 ceoi1 no stronghold one cannot overcome (idiom); to conquer every obstacle; nothing one can't do; to carry everything before one +
• 无奸不商無奸不商 wú jiān bù shāng ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤ mou4 gaan1 bat1 soeng1 all businessmen are evil (idiom) +
• 无价之宝無價之寶 wú jià zhī bǎo ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄅㄠˇ mou4 gaa3 zi1 bou2 (idiom) priceless treasure +
• 物极必反物極必反 wù jí bì fǎn ㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄈㄢˇ mat6 gik6 bit1 faan2 when things reach an extreme, they can only move in the opposite direction (idiom) +
• 无疾而终無疾而終 wú jí ér zhōng ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄦˊ ㄓㄨㄥ mou4 zat6 ji4 zung1 (lit.) to die without illness (idiom); (fig.) to result in failure (without any outside interference); to come to nothing; to fizzle out +
• 无计可施無計可施 wú jì kě shī ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕ mou4 gai3 ho2 si1 (lit.) to have no strategy to apply (idiom); (fig.) to be out of ideas; at one's wit's end +
• 无迹可寻無跡可尋 wú jì kě xún ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄩㄣˊ mou4 zik1 ho2 cam4 (idiom) to leave no trace; to have no detectable clues or signs +
• 无精打彩無精打彩 wú jīng dǎ cǎi ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ mou4 zing1 daa2 coi2 dull and colorless (idiom); lacking vitality; not lively +
• 无精打采無精打采 wú jīng dǎ cǎi ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ mou4 zing1 daa2 coi2 dispirited and downcast (idiom); listless; in low spirits; washed out +
• 无济于事無濟於事 wú jì yú shì ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄩˊ ㄕˋ mou4 zai3 jyu1 si6 (idiom) to no avail; of no use +
• 无稽之谈無稽之談 wú jī zhī tán ㄨˊ ㄐㄧ ㄓ ㄊㄢˊ mou4 kai1 zi1 taam4 (idiom) complete nonsense +
• 无拘无束無拘無束 wú jū wú shù ㄨˊ ㄐㄩ ㄨˊ ㄕㄨˋ mou4 keoi1 mou4 cuk1 free and unconstrained (idiom); unfettered; unbuttoned; without care or worries +
• 无可非议無可非議 wú kě fēi yì ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄟ ㄧˋ mou4 ho2 fei1 ji5 irreproachable (idiom); nothing blameworthy about it at all +
• 无可奉告無可奉告 wú kě fèng gào ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄍㄠˋ mou4 ho2 fung6 gou3 (idiom) no comment +
• 无可救药無可救藥 wú kě jiù yào ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧㄠˋ mou4 ho2 gau3 joek6 (idiom) (of an illness) incurable; (of a person, behavior etc) incorrigible; beyond any possibility of correction +
• 无可置疑無可置疑 wú kě zhì yí ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓˋ ㄧˊ mou4 ho2 zi3 ji4 cannot be doubted (idiom) +
• 无孔不钻無孔不鑽 wú kǒng bù zuān ㄨˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄢ mou4 hung2 bat1 zyun3 lit. leave no hole undrilled (idiom); to latch on to every opportunity +
• 雾里看花霧里看花 wù lǐ kàn huā ㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄎㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚ mou6 lei5 hon3 faa1 lit. to look at flowers in the fog (idiom); fig. blurred vision +
• 无理取闹無理取鬧 wú lǐ qǔ nào ㄨˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄑㄩˇ ㄋㄠˋ mou4 lei5 ceoi2 naau6 (idiom) to make trouble without reason; to be deliberately provocative +
• 无论如何無論如何 wú lùn rú hé ㄨˊ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ mou4 leon6 jyu4 ho4 (idiom) whatever the case; in any event; no matter what; by all possible means +
• 五马分尸五馬分屍 wǔ mǎ fēn shī ㄨˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄈㄣ ㄕ ng5 maa5 fan1 si1 (idiom) to tear off sb's four limbs and head using five horse-drawn carts (historical form of capital punishment); (fig.) to tear apart; to utterly destroy; to brutally dismember +
• 寤寐求之 wù mèi qiú zhī ㄨˋ ㄇㄟˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄓ (idiom) to long for sb or sth day and night; to seek it unceasingly +
• 无名小卒無名小卒 wú míng xiǎo zú ㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄗㄨˊ mou4 ming4 siu2 zeot1 insignificant soldier (idiom); a nobody; nonentity +
• 无能为力無能為力 wú néng wéi lì ㄨˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ mou4 nang4 wai4 lik6 (idiom) powerless to do anything about it +
• 乌鸟私情烏鳥私情 wū niǎo sī qíng ㄨ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄙ ㄑㄧㄥˊ wu1 niu5 si1 cing4 lit. the solicitude of the crow (who provides for his old parent)(idiom); fig. filial piety +
• 无牵无挂無牽無掛 wú qiān wú guà ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ mou4 hin1 mou4 gwaa3 (idiom) unburdened by obligations or attachments; carefree +
• 乌七八糟烏七八糟 wū qī bā zāo ㄨ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄚ ㄗㄠ wu1 cat1 baat3 zou1 everything in disorder (idiom); in a hideous mess; obscene; dirty; filthy +
• 无情无义無情無義 wú qíng wú yì ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄧˋ mou4 cing4 mou4 ji6 completely lacking any feeling or sense of justice (idiom); cold and ruthless +
• 无穷无尽無窮無盡 wú qióng wú jìn ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ mou4 kung4 mou4 zeon6 (idiom) endless; boundless; infinite +
• 无人问津無人問津 wú rén wèn jīn ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣ mou4 jan4 man6 zeon1 to be of no interest to anyone (idiom) +
• 无容置疑無容置疑 wú róng zhì yí ㄨˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄧˊ mou4 jung4 zi3 ji4 cannot be doubted (idiom) +
• 误入歧途誤入歧途 wù rù qí tú ㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄨˊ ng6 jap6 kei4 tou4 to take a wrong step in life (idiom); to go astray +
• 五色缤纷五色繽紛 wǔ sè bīn fēn ㄨˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄅㄧㄣ ㄈㄣ ng5 sik1 ban1 fan1 all the colors in profusion (idiom); a garish display +
• 无伤大雅無傷大雅 wú shāng dà yǎ ㄨˊ ㄕㄤ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄚˇ mou4 soeng1 daai6 ngaa5 (of a defect etc) to be of no great matter (idiom); harmless +
• 无声无息無聲無息 wú shēng wú xī ㄨˊ ㄕㄥ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧ mou4 sing1 mou4 sik1 wordless and uncommunicative (idiom); without speaking; taciturn; not providing any news +
• 吴市吹箫吳市吹簫 wú shì chuī xiāo ㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄠ ng4 si5 ceoi1 siu1 (idiom) to beg on the streets; to fall into utter destitution (allusion to Wu Zixu's 伍子胥[Wu3 Zi3 xu1] exile and humiliation as described in Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" 史記|史记[Shi3 ji4]) +
• 物是人非 wù shì rén fēi ㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟ mat6 si6 jan4 fei1 (idiom) the place is unchanged, but the faces are different +
• 无时无刻無時無刻 wú shí wú kè ㄨˊ ㄕˊ ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˋ mou4 si4 mou4 hak1 (idiom) (when followed by 不[bu4]) at no time; never (Note: 無時無刻不|无时无刻不[wu2 shi2 wu2 ke4 bu4] therefore means "at no time not ...", i.e. "at all times".); (when not followed by 不[bu4]) at all times; always +
• 无师自通無師自通 wú shī zì tōng ㄨˊ ㄕ ㄗˋ ㄊㄨㄥ mou4 si1 zi6 tung1 self-taught; to learn without a teacher (idiom) +
• 无思无虑無思無慮 wú sī wú lǜ ㄨˊ ㄙ ㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ mou4 si1 mou4 leoi6 (idiom) carefree; untroubled +
• 无所不包無所不包 wú suǒ bù bāo ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄠ mou4 so2 bat1 baau1 (idiom) not excluding anything; all-encompassing +
• 无所适从無所適從 wú suǒ shì cóng ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄕˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ mou4 so2 sik1 cung4 not knowing which course to follow (idiom); at a loss what to do +
• 无所事事無所事事 wú suǒ shì shì ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄕˋ ㄕˋ mou4 so2 si6 si6 to have nothing to do; to idle one's time away (idiom) +
• 无所用心無所用心 wú suǒ yòng xīn ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ mou4 so2 jung6 sam1 not paying attention to anything (idiom); to idle time away +
• 无所作为無所作為 wú suǒ zuò wéi ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄟˊ mou4 so2 zok3 wai4 attempting nothing and accomplishing nothing (idiom); without any initiative or drive; feckless +
• 五体投地五體投地 wǔ tǐ tóu dì ㄨˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄧˋ ng5 tai2 tau4 dei6 to prostrate oneself in admiration (idiom); to adulate sb +
• 吴头楚尾吳頭楚尾 Wú tóu Chǔ wěi ㄨˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄔㄨˇ ㄨㄟˇ ng4 tau4 co2 mei5 lit. head in Wu and tail in Chu (idiom); fig. close together; head-to-tail; one thing starts where the other leaves off +
• 无往不利無往不利 wú wǎng bù lì ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ mou4 wong5 bat1 lei6 (idiom) to be successful in every endeavor +
• 无微不至無微不至 wú wēi bù zhì ㄨˊ ㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˋ mou4 mei4 bat1 zi3 in every possible way (idiom); meticulous +
• 五味俱全 wǔ wèi jù quán ㄨˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ng5 mei6 keoi1 cyun4 a complete gamut of all five flavors (idiom); every flavor under the sun +
• 五味杂陈五味雜陳 wǔ wèi zá chén ㄨˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄗㄚˊ ㄔㄣˊ ng5 mei6 zaap6 can4 with complex feelings (idiom) +
• 舞文弄墨 wǔ wén nòng mò ㄨˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄇㄛˋ mou5 man4 lung6 mak6 (idiom) to display one's facility with words; to show off one's literary skills; (original meaning) to pervert the law by playing with legal phraseology (墨[mo4] was a reference to 繩墨|绳墨[sheng2 mo4]) +
• 吴下阿蒙吳下阿蒙 Wú xià ā Méng ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄚ ㄇㄥˊ ng4 haa6 aa3 mung4 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) +
• 无懈可击無懈可擊 wú xiè kě jī ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧ mou4 haai6 ho2 gik1 (idiom) impossible to fault; impeccable +
• 无心插柳無心插柳 wú xīn chā liǔ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄧㄡˇ mou4 sam1 caap3 lau5 (idiom) (of a good outcome) unanticipated; serendipitous; fortuitous +
• 无休无止無休無止 wú xiū wú zhǐ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄨˊ ㄓˇ mou4 jau1 mou4 zi2 ceaseless; endless (idiom) +
• 污言秽语污言穢語 wū yán huì yǔ ㄨ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄩˇ wu1 jin4 wai3 jyu5 (idiom) filthy speech; obscenities +
• 无言可对無言可對 wú yán kě duì ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄨㄟˋ mou4 jin4 ho2 deoi3 unable to reply (idiom); left speechless; at a loss for words +
• 乌烟瘴气烏煙瘴氣 wū yān zhàng qì ㄨ ㄧㄢ ㄓㄤˋ ㄑㄧˋ wu1 jin1 zoeng3 hei3 billowing smoke (idiom); foul atmosphere; (fig.) murky atmosphere; in a turmoil +
• 无以复加無以復加 wú yǐ fù jiā ㄨˊ ㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ mou4 ji5 fuk6 gaa1 in the extreme (idiom); incapable of further increase +
• 物以类聚物以類聚 wù yǐ lèi jù ㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄐㄩˋ mat6 ji5 leoi6 zeoi6 similar things come together (idiom); like draws like; Birds of a feather flock together. +
• 无影无踪無影無蹤 wú yǐng wú zōng ㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄥ mou4 jing2 mou4 zung1 (idiom) (to disappear) without a trace +
• 无依无靠無依無靠 wú yī wú kào ㄨˊ ㄧ ㄨˊ ㄎㄠˋ mou4 ji1 mou4 kaau3 (idiom) having nothing to rely on; on one's own +
• 无忧无虑無憂無慮 wú yōu wú lǜ ㄨˊ ㄧㄡ ㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ mou4 jau1 mou4 leoi6 (idiom) carefree; without worries +
• 无远弗届無遠弗屆 wú yuǎn fú jiè ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄝˋ mou4 jyun5 fat1 gaai3 to extend all over the globe (idiom); far-reaching +
• 无缘无故無緣無故 wú yuán wú gù ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˋ mou4 jyun4 mou4 gu3 (idiom) no cause or reason; completely uncalled for +
• 吴越同舟吳越同舟 Wú Yuè tóng zhōu ㄨˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄡ ng4 jyut6 tung4 zau1 Wu and Yue in the same boat (idiom); fig. cooperation between natural rivals; to collaborate towards a common end; in the same boat together +
• 无欲无求無欲無求 wú yù wú qiú ㄨˊ ㄩˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ (idiom) to be free of worldly desires and ambitions; to neither want nor seek (fame, profit, material gain etc) +
• 无征不信無徵不信 wú zhēng bù xìn ㄨˊ ㄓㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ mou4 zing1 bat1 seon3 without proof one can't believe it (idiom) +
• 无中生有無中生有 wú zhōng shēng yǒu ㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ mou4 zung1 sang1 jau5 to create something from nothing (idiom) +