Chinese Chengyu Improved

Front 1

爱不释手

Back 1

ài bù shì shǒu — fondle admiringly

Front 2

爱屋及乌

Back 2

ài wū jí wū — love me

Front 3

按部就班

Back 3

àn bù jiù bān — step-by-step; follow the prescribed order

Front 4

百年树人

Back 4

bǎi nián shù rén — a community

Front 5

百折不挠

Back 5

bǎi zhé bù náo — keep fighting in spite of all setbacks

Front 6

班门弄斧

Back 6

bān mén nòng fǔ — display one's slight skill before an expert

Front 7

半途而废

Back 7

bàn tú ér fèi — give up halfway; leave sth. unfinished

Front 8

包罗万象

Back 8

bāo luó wàn xiàng — all-inclusive; all-embracing

Front 9

闭门造车

Back 9

bì mén zào chē — work behind closed doors

Front 10

变本加厉

Back 10

biàn běn jiā lì — be further intensified

Front 11

标新立异

Back 11

biāo xīn lì yì — do sth. unconventionally; do sth. unorthodox

Front 12

别出心裁

Back 12

bié chū xīn cái — adopt an original approach; try to be different

Front 13

宾至如归

Back 13

bīn zhì rú guī — guests feel at home

Front 14

不耻下问

Back 14

bù chǐ xià wèn — feel not ashamed to learn from one's subordinates

Front 15

不攻自破

Back 15

bù gōng zì pò — collapse of itself

Front 16

不可救药

Back 16

bù kě jiù yào — can't be saved; beyond redemption

Front 17

不可思议

Back 17

bù kě sī yì — inconceivable; unimaginable

Front 18

不劳而获

Back 18

bù láo ér huò — reap without sowing

Front 19

不务正业

Back 19

bù wù zhèng yè — not attend to one's proper duties

Front 20

不省人事

Back 20

bù shěng rén shì — be unconscious

Front 21

不遗余力

Back 21

bù yí yú lì — spare no pains or effort

Front 22

不翼而飞

Back 22

bù yì ér fēi — disappear without a trace

Front 23

不择手段

Back 23

bù zé shǒu duàn — by any kind of means; play hard

Front 24

不自量力

Back 24

bù zì liàng lì — over-confident

Front 25

长年累月

Back 25

cháng nián lèi yuè — over the years

Front 26

趁火打劫

Back 26

chèn huǒ dǎ jié — loot a burning house

Front 27

重蹈覆辙

Back 27

zhòng dào fù chè — follow the same old disastrous road

Front 28

愁眉不展

Back 28

chóu méi bù zhǎn — with knitted brows

Front 29

出类拔萃

Back 29

chū lèi bá cuì — fill the bill

Front 30

川流不息

Back 30

chuān liú bù xī — the stream flows without stopping

Front 31

吹毛求疵

Back 31

chuī máo qiú cī — find a quarrel in a straw; criticize

Front 32

垂涎三尺

Back 32

chuí xián sān chǐ — drool with envy

Front 33

唇亡齿寒

Back 33

chún wáng chǐ hán — interdependence of two neighbouring states

Front 34

从容不迫

Back 34

cóng róng bù pò — take one's time; go easy

Front 35

从善如流

Back 35

cóng shàn rú liú — accept good advices

Front 36

措手不及

Back 36

cuo shǒu bù jí — unaware; unprepared

Front 37

打草惊蛇

Back 37

dǎ cǎo jīng shé — act rashly and alert the enemy

Front 38

大刀阔斧

Back 38

dà dāo kuo fǔ — bold and decisive; drastic

Front 39

大公无私

Back 39

dà gōng wú sī — just and fair; selfless

Front 40

大言不惭

Back 40

dà yán bù cán — fanfaronade; rodomontade

Front 41

当机立断

Back 41

dāng jī lì duàn — make a prompt decision

Front 42

道听途说

Back 42

dào tīng tú shuō — hearsay

Front 43

得寸进尺

Back 43

dé cùn jìn chǐ — given an inch

Front 44

得过且过

Back 44

dé guo qiě guò — drift along

Front 45

得意忘形

Back 45

dé yì wàng xíng — bloat; get dizzy with success

Front 46

德高望重

Back 46

dé gāo wàng zhòng — sainted; saintlike

Front 47

对牛弹琴

Back 47

duì niú dàn qín — whistle jigs to a milestone; cast pearls before swine

Front 48

耳濡目染

Back 48

ěr rú mù rǎn — be influenced by what one constantly sees and hears

Front 49

发扬光大

Back 49

fā yáng guāng dà — to develop

Front 50

废寝忘食

Back 50

fèi qǐn wàng shí — forget food and sleep

Front 51

奋不顾身

Back 51

fèn bù gù shēn — dash ahead regardless of one's safety

Front 52

风驰电掣

Back 52

fēng chí diàn chè — move at great speed

Front 53

奉公守法

Back 53

fèng gōng shǒu fǎ — law-abiding

Front 54

凤毛麟角

Back 54

fèng máo lín jiǎo — rarity

Front 55

敷衍塞责

Back 55

fū yǎn sāi zé — perform one's duty in a perfunctory manner

Front 56

改过自新

Back 56

gǎi guò zì xīn — start with a clean slate

Front 57

高瞻远瞩

Back 57

gāo zhān yuǎn zhǔ — show great foresight

Front 58

高枕无忧

Back 58

gāo zhěn wú yōu — rest easy

Front 59

隔岸观火

Back 59

gé àn guān huǒ — look on sb.'s trouble with indifference

Front 60

各有千秋

Back 60

gè yǒu qiān qiū — each has his strong point

Front 61

根深蒂固

Back 61

gēn shēn dì gù — deep-rooted (problem

Front 62

功亏一篑

Back 62

gōng kuī yī kuì — fall short of success for want of a final effort

Front 63

勾心斗角

Back 63

gōu xīn dòu jiǎo — intrigue against each other

Front 64

苟且偷安

Back 64

gǒu qiě tōu ān — seek temporary ease

Front 65

孤陋寡闻

Back 65

gū lòu guǎ wén — ignorant and ill-informed

Front 66

孤掌难鸣

Back 66

gū zhǎng nán míng — it's difficult to achieve anything without support

Front 67

孤注一掷

Back 67

gū zhù yī zhí — a long shot gamble; put all one's eggs in one basket

Front 68

沽名钓誉

Back 68

gū míng diào yù — fish for fame and compliment

Front 69

古色古香

Back 69

gǔ sè gǔ xiāng — (of ancient objects of art) having an old-fashioned and antique flavour

Front 70

拐弯抹角

Back 70

guǎi wān mǒ jiǎo — talk in a roundabout way; ambages

Front 71

光明正大

Back 71

guāng míng zhèng dà — fairness

Front 72

光明磊落

Back 72

guāng míng lěi luo — on the up-and-up

Front 73

海底捞针

Back 73

hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn — look for a needle in the ocean

Front 74

含辛茹苦

Back 74

hán xīn rú kǔ — endure all kinds of hardships

Front 75

好高骛远

Back 75

hǎo gāo wù yuǎn — reach for what is beyond one's grasp

Front 76

好逸恶劳

Back 76

hǎo yì è láo — indolence

Front 77

和睦共处

Back 77

hé mù gòng chù — got along with; peaceful coexistence

Front 78

狐假虎威

Back 78

hú jiǎ hǔ wēi — bully people by flaunting one's powerful connections

Front 79

胡思乱想

Back 79

hú sī luàn xiǎng — let one's imagination run away; have a bee in one's head

Front 80

胡作非为

Back 80

hú zuò fēi wèi — act wildly against law and public opinion

Front 81

花言巧语

Back 81

huā yán qiǎo yǔ — blandishments; sweet words

Front 82

画龙点睛

Back 82

huà lóng diǎn jīng — make the finishing point

Front 83

画蛇添足

Back 83

huà shé tiān zú — to overdo it; gild the lily

Front 84

挥金如土

Back 84

huī jīn rú tǔ — spend money like water

Front 85

混水摸鱼

Back 85

hǔn shuǐ mō yú — fish in troubled waters

Front 86

鸡犬不宁

Back 86

jī quǎn bù zhù — utter confusion

Front 87

集思广益

Back 87

jí sī guǎng yì — draw on the wisdom of the masses

Front 88

家喻户晓

Back 88

jiā yù hù xiǎo — understood by every household; widely known

Front 89

假公济私

Back 89

jiǎ gōng jì sī — job; jobbery

Front 90

见利忘义

Back 90

jiàn lì wàng yì — treacherous

Front 91

见异思迁

Back 91

jiàn yì sī qiān — change about

Front 92

见义勇为

Back 92

jiàn yì yǒng wèi — do boldly what is righteous; ready to help others for a just cause

Front 93

捷足先登

Back 93

jié zú xiān dēng — the early bird cathes the worm

Front 94

津津有味

Back 94

jīn jīn yǒu wèi — with gusto; with great interest

Front 95

进退两难

Back 95

jìn tuì liǎng nán — have a wolf by the ears; up a tree; dilemma

Front 96

进退维谷

Back 96

jìn tuì wéi gǔ — between the devil and the deep sea; between two fires

Front 97

精益求精

Back 97

jīng yì qiú jīng — continually seeking perfection

Front 98

居安思危

Back 98

jū ān sī wēi — be prepared for danger in times of safety

Front 99

井井有条

Back 99

jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo — in perfect order; neat and tidy; methodical

Front 100

鞠躬尽瘁

Back 100

jú gōng jìn cuì — spare no effort in the performance of one's duty

Front 101

举一反三

Back 101

jǔ yī fǎn sān — draw inferences about other cases from one instance

Front 102

举足轻重

Back 102

jǔ zú qīng zhòng — hold the balance

Front 103

开门见山

Back 103

kāi mén jiàn shān — to get right to the point

Front 104

开源节流

Back 104

kāi yuán jié liú — increase revenue and reduce expenditure

Front 105

慷慨解囊

Back 105

kāng kǎi jiě náng — generosity

Front 106

刻苦耐劳

Back 106

kè kǔ nài láo — hardworking

Front 107

口是心非

Back 107

kǒu shì xīn fēi — duplicity

Front 108

苦口婆心

Back 108

kǔ kǒu pó xīn — advise sb. in earnest

Front 109

脍炙人口

Back 109

kuài zhì rén kǒu — win universal praise

Front 110

滥竽充数

Back 110

làn yú chōng shù — be there just to make up the number

Front 111

老马识途

Back 111

lǎo mǎ shì tú — an old hand is a good guide

Front 112

理直气壮

Back 112

lǐ zhí qì zhuàng — one is assured and bold with justice

Front 113

力不从心

Back 113

lì bù cóng xīn — ability not equal to one's ambition

Front 114

励精图治

Back 114

lì jīng tú zhì — use all efforts to make the country prosperous

Front 115

瞭如指掌

Back 115

liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng — know sth. like the palm of one's hand

Front 116

临渴掘井

Back 116

lín kě jué jǐng — not make timely preparations

Front 117

流离失所

Back 117

liú lí shī suǒ — become destitute and homeless

Front 118

路不拾遗

Back 118

lù bù shí yí — no one picks up and pockets anything lost on the road

Front 119

落花流水

Back 119

luò huā liú shuǐ — utterly routed

Front 120

络绎不绝

Back 120

luò yì bù jué — in an endless stream

Front 121

满载而归

Back 121

mǎn zài ér guī — come back with fruitful results

Front 122

慢条斯理

Back 122

màn tiáo sī lǐ — leisurely; unhurriedly

Front 123

毛遂自荐

Back 123

máo suì zì jiàn — volunteer one's services

Front 124

每况愈下

Back 124

měi kuàng yù xià — go down the drain; steadily deteriorate

Front 125

每下愈况

Back 125

měi xià yù kuàng — steadily deteriorate

Front 126

面目全非

Back 126

miàn mù quán fēi — beyond recognition

Front 127

明目张胆

Back 127

míng mù zhāng dǎn — brazenly; do evil openly

Front 128

明哲保身

Back 128

míng zhé bǎo shēn — be worldly wise and make oneself safe

Front 129

明知故犯

Back 129

míng zhī gù fàn — violate knowingly

Front 130

墨守成规

Back 130

mò shǒu chéng guī — routinism; scholasticism

Front 131

目中无人

Back 131

mù zhōng wú rén — be overweening; be supercilious

Front 132

弄巧反拙

Back 132

nòng qiǎo fǎn zhuó — to backfire

Front 133

破釜沉舟

Back 133

pò fǔ chén zhōu — burn one's boats; burn one's bridge

Front 134

普天同庆

Back 134

pǔ tiān tóng qìng — the whole world or nation joins in jubilation

Front 135

杞人忧天

Back 135

qǐ rén yōu tiān — meet troubles halfway

Front 136

千钧一发

Back 136

qiān jūn yī fǎ — close call; hang by a thread

Front 137

千篇一律

Back 137

qiān piān yī lǜ — stereotyped

Front 138

千载难逢

Back 138

qiān zài nán féng — occuring only once in a thousand years

Front 139

前车之鉴

Back 139

qián chē zhī jiàn — lessons drawn from others' mistakes

Front 140

潜移默化

Back 140

qián yí mò huà — exert a subtle influence on

Front 141

强词夺理

Back 141

qiáng cí duó lǐ — deception by trickery or sophistry

Front 142

青出于蓝

Back 142

qīng chū yú lán — the students surpass the teacher

Front 143

倾家荡产

Back 143

qīng jiā dàng chǎn — be reduced to poverty and ruin

Front 144

情同手足

Back 144

qíng tóng shǒu zú — brotherly love

Front 145

人浮于事

Back 145

rén fú yú shì — overstaffed

Front 146

人云亦云

Back 146

rén yún yì yún — echo what other says

Front 147

任劳任怨

Back 147

rèn láo rèn yuàn — willingly bear the burden of hard works

Front 148

荣华富贵

Back 148

róng huá fù guì — nabobism

Front 149

富贵荣华

Back 149

fù guì róng huá — riches and honour

Front 150

如火如荼

Back 150

rú huǒ rú tú — like a raging fire

Front 151

如释重负

Back 151

rú shì zhòng fù — as if relieved of a heavy load

Front 152

三思而行

Back 152

sān sī ér xíng — think twice

Front 153

僧多粥少

Back 153

sēng duō zhōu shǎo — not enough to satisfy everyone

Front 154

杀鸡取卵

Back 154

shā jī qū luǎn — kill a chicken to steal its eggs

Front 155

舍己为人

Back 155

shě jǐ wèi rén — to sacrifice oneself for the sake of others

Front 156

事半功倍

Back 156

shì bàn gōng bèi — get twice the result with half the effort

Front 157

事倍功半

Back 157

shì bèi gōng bàn — get half the result with twice the effort

Front 158

视死如归

Back 158

shì sǐ rú guī — face death unflinchingly

Front 159

手不释卷

Back 159

shǒu bù shì juàn — very diligent; very studious

Front 160

守口如瓶

Back 160

shǒu kǒu rú píng — keep one's mouth shut

Front 161

守望相助

Back 161

shǒu wàng xiāng zhù — help each other

Front 162

守株待兔

Back 162

shǒu zhū dài tù — wait for windfalls

Front 163

熟能生巧

Back 163

shóu néng shēng qiǎo — practice makes perfect

Front 164

束手无策

Back 164

shù shǒu wú cè — nail-biting

Front 165

水到渠成

Back 165

shuǐ dào qú chéng — success will come when conditions are ripe

Front 166

水落石出

Back 166

shuǐ luo shí chū — everything comes to light; everything becomes obvious

Front 167

顺手牵羊

Back 167

shùn shǒu qiān yáng — pick up sth. on the sly; snitch

Front 168

司空见惯

Back 168

sī kōng jiàn guàn — a common occurrence

Front 169

似是而非

Back 169

sì shì ér fēi — appeared right but was wrong

Front 170

随遇而安

Back 170

suí yù ér ān — make the best of things; take things as they come

Front 171

滔滔不绝

Back 171

tāo tāo bù jué — gushing; non-stopping

Front 172

口若悬河

Back 172

kǒu ruo xuán hé — eloquent; speak volubly

Front 173

提心吊胆

Back 173

tí xīn diào dǎn — be in fear of; in fear and trembling

Front 174

挑拨离间

Back 174

tiāo bō lí jiān — make mischief; play sb. off against one another

Front 175

铤而走险

Back 175

tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn — risk danger in desperation

Front 176

同甘共苦

Back 176

tóng gān gòng kǔ — share happiness and woe

Front 177

同归于尽

Back 177

tóng guī yú jìn — perish together

Front 178

同流合污

Back 178

tóng liú hé wū — associate with an evil person

Front 179

同舟共济

Back 179

tóng zhōu gòng jì — we're in the same boat

Front 180

投机取巧

Back 180

tóu jī qū qiǎo — opportunistic

Front 181

徒劳无功

Back 181

tú láo wú gōng — be a fool for one's pains

Front 182

推陈出新

Back 182

tuī chén chū xīn — get rid of the stale and bring forth the fresh

Front 183

望尘莫及

Back 183

wàng chén mo jí — too far behind to catch up with

Front 184

忘恩负义

Back 184

wàng ēn fù yì — ungratefulness

Front 185

为非作歹

Back 185

wèi fēi zuo dǎi — commit crimes; do evil

Front 186

未雨绸缪

Back 186

wèi yǔ chóu móu — prepare for a rainy day; plan ahead

Front 187

温故知新

Back 187

wēn gù zhī xīn — gain new insights through reviewing old material

Front 188

无病呻吟

Back 188

wú bìng shēn yín — make a fuss about an imaginary illness

Front 189

无动于衷

Back 189

wú dòng yú zhōng — sit by and do nothing; nonchalance

Front 190

无微不至

Back 190

wú wēi bù zhì — very carefully and meticulously

Front 191

五体投地

Back 191

wǔ tǐ tóu dì — extremely admire

Front 192

息事宁人

Back 192

xī shì zhù rén — make concessions to avoid trouble

Front 193

相安无事

Back 193

xiāng ān wú shì — live in peace with each other

Front 194

相辅相成

Back 194

xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng — to supplement each other

Front 195

心灰意懒

Back 195

xīn huī yì lǎn — dejected; depressed; downhearted

Front 196

心旷神怡

Back 196

xīn kuàng shén yí — relaxed and happy

Front 197

欣欣向荣

Back 197

xīn xīn xiàng róng — flourishing; prosperous; thriving

Front 198

信口开河

Back 198

xìn kǒu kāi hé — run off at the mouth

Front 199

信口雌黄

Back 199

xìn kǒu cí huáng — make irresponsible remarks

Front 200

兴高采烈

Back 200

xīng gāo cǎi liè — in great form; in high spirits

Front 201

胸有成竹

Back 201

xiōng yǒu chéng zhú — have a card up one's sleeve; have a well-thought-out plan

Front 202

袖手旁观

Back 202

xiù shǒu páng guān — look on with folded arms; sit by

Front 203

栩栩如生

Back 203

xǔ xǔ rú shēng — lifelike

Front 204

悬崖勒马

Back 204

xuán yá lè mǎ — wake up to and avoid danger at the last moment

Front 205

削足适履

Back 205

xuē zú shì lǚ — act in a Procrustean way; cut the feet to fit the shoes

Front 206

寻根究底

Back 206

xún gēn jiù dǐ — inquire deeply into

Front 207

循循善诱

Back 207

xún xún shàn yòu — be good at teaching

Front 208

鸦雀无声

Back 208

yā què wú shēng — silence reigns

Front 209

雅俗共赏

Back 209

yǎ sú gòng shǎng — suit both refined and popular tastes

Front 210

言行一致

Back 210

yán xíng yī zhì — practice what you preach

Front 211

养尊处优

Back 211

yǎng zūn chù yōu — do oneself proud

Front 212

摇摇欲坠

Back 212

yáo yáo yù zhuì — hang by a thread; to shake

Front 213

一败涂地

Back 213

yī bài tú dì — bite the ground; hunt grass

Front 214

一帆风顺

Back 214

yī fān fēng shùn — plain sailing; very smoothly

Front 215

一见如故

Back 215

yī jiàn rú gù — feel like old friends at the first meeting

Front 216

一举两得

Back 216

yī jǔ liǎng dé — kill two birds with one stone

Front 217

一箭双雕

Back 217

yī jiàn shuāng diāo — kill two birds with one stone

Front 218

一蹶不振

Back 218

yī jué bù zhèn — cannot recover after a setback

Front 219

一劳永逸

Back 219

yī láo yǒng yì — get sth. done once and for ever

Front 220

一落千丈

Back 220

yī luo qiān zhàng — suffer a disastrous decline

Front 221

一毛不拔

Back 221

yī máo bù bá — miserly; very stingy

Front 222

一目瞭然

Back 222

yī mù liǎo rán — be clear at a glance

Front 223

一暴十寒

Back 223

yī bào shí hán — daily effort is needed learn and grow

Front 224

一视同仁

Back 224

yī shì tóng rén — treat equally without discrimination

Front 225

一事无成

Back 225

yī shì wú chéng — accomplish nothing

Front 226

一网打尽

Back 226

yī wǎng dǎ jìn — catch the whole lot in an action

Front 227

一意孤行

Back 227

yī yì gū xíng — go one's own way; take one's own course

Front 228

一针见血

Back 228

yī zhēn jiàn xiě — hit the nail on the head; to get to the point

Front 229

一知半解

Back 229

yī zhī bàn jiě — have little knowledge and no comprehension

Front 230

以卵击石

Back 230

yǐ luǎn jí shí — kick against the pricks; throw straws against the wind

Front 231

以身作则

Back 231

yǐ shēn zuò zé — set a good example

Front 232

以牙还牙

Back 232

yǐ yá huán yá — give as good as one gets; a tooth for a tooth (retaliation)

Front 233

易如反掌

Back 233

yì rú fǎn zhǎng — as easy as turning one's hand over

Front 234

异想天开

Back 234

yì xiǎng tiān kāi — let imagination run wild; whimsicality

Front 235

饮水思源

Back 235

yǐn shuǐ sī yuán — never forget where one's happiness comes from

Front 236

迎刃而解

Back 236

yíng rèn ér jiě — be readily solved

Front 237

应接不暇

Back 237

yìng jiē bù xiá — have too many visitors or business to deal with

Front 238

优柔寡断

Back 238

yōu róu guǎ duàn — indecision; irresolution; yea and nay

Front 239

游手好闲

Back 239

yóu shǒu hǎo xián — to procrastinate; to dawdle; shilly-shally

Front 240

有目共睹

Back 240

yǒu mù gòng dǔ — be obvious to all

Front 241

有勇无谋

Back 241

yǒu yǒng wú móu — foolhardiness

Front 242

与日俱增

Back 242

yǔ rì jù zēng — grow day by day; increase steadily

Front 243

再接再厉

Back 243

zài jiē zài lì — make persistent efforts

Front 244

真知灼见

Back 244

zhēn zhī zhuó jiàn — penetrating judgment

Front 245

蒸蒸日上

Back 245

zhēng zhēng rì shàng — becoming more prosperous each passing day; flourishing

Front 246

执迷不悟

Back 246

zhí mí bù wù — come to their senses

Front 247

趾高气扬

Back 247

zhǐ gāo qì yáng — hold one's head high; lift up one's horn

Front 248

纸上谈兵

Back 248

zhǐ shàng tán bīng — be an armchair strategist; engage in idle theorizing

Front 249

志同道合

Back 249

zhì tóng dào hé — to have a common objective; in the same camp

Front 250

置之不理

Back 250

zhì zhī bù lǐ — put sth. on one side; turn one's back upon

Front 251

忠言逆耳

Back 251

zhōng yán nì ěr — good advice is harsh to the ear

Front 252

装聋作哑

Back 252

zhuāng lóng zuò yā — to act deaf and dumb

Front 253

自暴自弃

Back 253

zì bào zì qì — desperateness; abandonment

Front 254

自力更生

Back 254

zì lì gèng shēng — self-reliance; self-dependence

Front 255

自投罗网

Back 255

zì tóu luó wǎng — hurl oneself willingly into the net

Front 256

自相矛盾

Back 256

zì xiāng máo dùn — self-contradiction; contradict oneself

Front 257

坐井观天

Back 257

zuò jǐng guān tiān — have a very narrow view

Front 258

坐享其成

Back 258

zuò xiǎng qí chéng — reap where one has not sown

Front 259

趁火大劫chèn huǒ dà jié

Back 259

Loot a burning house

Front 260

shēngdōngjīxī 声东击西

Back 260

Fake left go right

Front 261

xiào lǐ cáng dāo 笑里藏刀

Back 261

murderous intent behind smiles.

Front 262

shùn shuǐ tuī zhōu 顺水推舟

Back 262

Take advantage of a good opportunity.

Front 263

chèn rè dǎ tiě 趁热打铁

Back 263

Strike while the iron is hot.

Front 264

以毒攻毒 yǐdúgōngdú

Back 264

Meet fire with fire.

Front 265

狐假虎威 hújiǎhǔwēi

Back 265

hanging onto another's coat tail.

Front 266

借刀杀人 jièdāoshārén

Back 266

destroy sb. by taking advantage of the conflict with a third party

Front 267

调虎离山diàohǔlíshān id.

Back 267

lure the enemy away from his base

Front 268

美人计 měirénjì n.

Back 268

sex trap; sexual entrapment

Front 269

一分钱一分货yī fēn qián yī fēn huò

Back 269

You get what you pay for.

Front 270

擒贼擒王 qín zéi qín wáng

Back 270

To catch bandits, first catch the ringleader

Front 271

空城计kōng chéng jì n.

Back 271

undefended city stratagem; bluff

Front 272

吃一堑长一智 chī yī qiàn -zhǎng yī zhì

Back 272

learn from one's mistakes

Front 273

贪多嚼不烂 tān duō jiáo bu làn v.p.

Back 273

bite off more than one can chew

Front 274

顺手牵羊shùn shǒu qiān yáng id.

Back 274

make off with sth.

Front 275

因小失大 yīn xiǎo shī dà f.e.

Back 275

penny wise and dollar foolish

Front 276

反间计 fǎn jiàn jì

Back 276

stratagem of sowing dissension/ divide and conquer

Front 277

满天过海 mǎn tiān guò hǎi

Back 277

Practice deception

Front 278

大智若愚 dà zhì ruò yú f.e.

Back 278

The wise appears dumb.

Front 279

苦肉计 kǔ ròu jì n.

Back 279

①confidence game ②feigning self-sacrifice to win confidence

Front 280

打草惊蛇 dǎ cǎo jīng shé id.

Back 280

①inadvertently alert an enemy/opponent ②punish sb. as a warning to others

Front 281

无中生有 wú zhōng shēng yǒu f.e.

Back 281

purely fictitious; fabricated; make something out of nothing.

Front 282

连环计 lián huán jì n.

Back 282

interlocked stratagems; no huddle offense.

Front 283

混水摸鱼 hún shuǐ mō yú id.

Back 283

fish in troubled waters

Front 284

金蝉托壳 jīn chán tuō ké

Back 284

Golden cicada sheds its shell.

Front 285

欲擒故纵 yù qín gù zòng

Back 285

f.e. loosen reins the better to tighten them

Front 286

远交近攻 yuǎn jiāo jìn gōng f.e.

Back 286

be friends with distant states while attacking those nearby

Front 287

得寸进尺 dé cùn jìn chǐ

Back 287

insatiable

Front 288

以逸待劳 yǐ yì dài láo

Back 288

wait for the enemy to exhaust himself

Front 289

抛砖引玉 pāo zhuān yǐn yù

Back 289

id. ①〈humb.〉 offer banal/humble remarks to spark abler talk by others ②sacrifice a little to gain much

Front 290

假道伐hu2 jiǎ dào fá hú

Back 290

Borrow the road to Hu.

Front 291

暗度陈沧 àn dù chén cāng

Back 291

use the least expected route to attack.

Front 292

围魏救赵 wéi wèi jiù zhào

Back 292

f.e. relieve a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers

Front 293

隔岸观火 gé'àn guān huǒ

Back 293

id. view sb.'s trouble with indifference

Front 294

李代桃僵 lǐ dài táo jiāng f.e.

Back 294

①substitute one thing for another ②sacrifice oneself for another

Front 295

借尸还魂 jiè shī huán hún

Back 295

f.e. ①revive in a new guise (of sth. evil) ②reincarnate in sb. else's body

Front 296

釜底抽薪 fǔ dǐ chōu xīn

Back 296

id. ①Take drastic meansures to deal with situation ②pull the carpet from under sb.

Front 297

偷梁换柱 tōu liáng huàn zhù

Back 297

id. perpetrate a fraud

Front 298

以柔克刚 yǐ róu kè gāng

Back 298

f.e. use softness to overcome hardness

Front 299

指桑骂槐 zhǐ sāng mà huái

Back 299

make oblique accusations; scold sb. indirectly

Front 300

假痴不颠 jiǎ chī bù diān

Back 300

Act crazy but not really crazy. feign madness

Front 301

装疯卖傻 zhuāng fēng mài shǎ

Back 301

play the fool/madman

Front 302

装聋作哑 zhuāng lóng zuò yǎ

Back 302

pretend to be deaf and dumb; pretend to be ignorant of sth.

Front 303

红颜知己hóng yán zhī jǐ

Back 303

bosom buddies, girl and boy

Front 304

杀鸡给猴看 shā jī gěi hóu kàn id.

Back 304

attack/criticize A to warn B

Front 305

树上开花 shù shàng kāi huā

Back 305

Make someone believe you can do something you can't, or are something your not.

Front 306

上屋抽梯 shàng wū chōu tī id.

Back 306

leave sb. in the lurch

Front 307

关门捉贼 guān mén zhuō zéi f.e.

Back 307

catch a thief by closing his escape route

Front 308

熟能生巧 shú néng shēng qiǎo

Back 308

f.e. skill comes from practice, practice makes perfect

Front 309

失败成功之母 shī bài chéng gōng zhī mǔ

Back 309

Failure is the mother of success.