Chinese 成语 (from school and their english meanings)

按部就班 (àn bù jiù bān)

Follow the proper procedures step-by-step.

百折不挠 (bǎi zhé bù náo)

Keep fighting despite repeated setbacks; indomitable.

班门弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ)

Show off one's slight talent before an expert.

不胜枚举 (bú shèng méi jǔ)

Too numerous to list individually.

不务正业 (bú wù zhèng yè)

Neglect one's proper profession; not attend to regular duties.

不翼而飞 (bú yì ér fēi)

Disappear into thin air without a trace.

不自量力 (bù zì liàng lì)

Overestimate one's own abilities.

不可救药 (bù kě jiù yào)

Beyond cure; hopeless.

不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò)

Gain profit without working for it.

不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò)

At a complete loss as to what to do.

出人头地 (chū rén tóu dì)

Stand out from the crowd; become highly successful.

大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī)

Completely selfless and fair-minded.

当仁不让 (dāng rén bú ràng)

Not decline to shoulder a responsibility when it falls to you.

得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò)

Muddle along through life; settle for just getting by.

得意忘形 (dé yì wàng xíng)

Get carried away with success; lose one's head.

掉以轻心 (diào yǐ qīng xīn)

Treat something lightly; lower one's guard.

对症下药 (duì zhèng xià yào)

Take specific, effective measures to target a problem.

耳濡目染 (ěr rú mù rǎn)

Be imperceptibly influenced by what one sees and hears constantly.

发人深省 (fā rén shēn xǐng)

Thought-provoking; cause deep soul-searching.

发扬光大 (fā yáng guāng dà)

Carry forward and further develop (a tradition or virtue).

防患未然 (fáng huàn wèi rán)

Take preventive measures before trouble arises.

废寝忘食 (fèi qǐn wàng shí)

Forget to eat and sleep due to intense concentration on work.

奉公守法 (fèng gōng shǒu fǎ)

Be law-abiding and dedicated to public duty.

敷衍塞责 (fū yǎn sè zé)

Perform duties perfunctorily just to get them over with.

寡不敌众 (guǎ bù dí zhòng)

Heavily outnumbered and unable to fight back.

海底捞针 (hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn)

Look for a needle in a haystack.

害群之马 (hài qún zhī mǎ)

The black sheep of the group; someone who brings harm to the community.

好逸恶劳 (hào yì wù láo)

Love leisure and hate work; lazy.

胡作非为 (hú zuò fēi wéi)

Act recklessly and lawlessly.

金玉良言 (jīn yù liáng yán)

Invaluable advice; words of wisdom.

进退维谷 (jìn tuì wéi gǔ)

Caught in a dilemma; trapped between a rock and a hard place.

居安思危 (jū ān sī wēi)

Be prepared for danger even while living in peace.

口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi)

Say one thing but mean another; hypocritical.

苦口婆心 (kǔ kǒu pó xīn)

Urge someone repeatedly with good intentions; earnest and kindly advice.

名列前茅 (míng liè qián máo)

Rank among the very best; come out at the top.

拍案叫绝 (pāi àn jiào jué)

Slap the table and shout with praise; marvel at something outstanding.

潜移默化 (qián yí mò huà)

Exert a silent, subtle, and transforming influence over time.

三思而行 (sān sī ér xíng)

Think twice before taking action.

舍己为人 (shě jǐ wèi rén)

Sacrifice one's own interests for the sake of others.

事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi)

Achieve twice the result with half the effort.

守望相助 (shǒu wàng xiāng zhù)

Keep watch and help one another; neighborhood mutual aid.

熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo)

Practice makes perfect.

水落石出 (shuǐ luò shí chū)

The truth comes to light when facts emerge.

司空见惯 (sī kōng jiàn guàn)

A common sight; something that has become a regular occurrence.

天渊之别 (tiān yuān zhī bié)

A world of difference; poles apart.

望尘莫及 (wàng chén mò jí)

Too far behind to catch up; completely outpaced.

忘恩负义 (wàng ēn fù yì)

Ungrateful; turn one's back on a benefactor.

温故知新 (wēn gù zhī xīn)

Review past knowledge to gain new insights.

心猿意马 (xīn yuán yì mǎ)

Restless, distracted, and unable to concentrate.

袖手旁观 (xiù shǒu páng guān)

Stand by and watch without getting involved; look on with folded arms