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差强人意

Barely satisfactory; not quite ideal but acceptable

参(cen1)差(ci1)不(bu4)齐

Uneven; irregular; inconsistent

一念之差(cha1)

A lapse in judgement; a single thought gone wrong

鬼使神差(chai1)

An inexplicable turn of events; fate or spirits intervening mysteriously

茶余饭后

Leisure time; after meals, in casual

粗茶淡(dan4)饭

Simple fare; plain food and drink

人走茶凉

People lose interest or warmth toward someone once they’re gone or no longer useful

三茶六饭

A routine, ordinary life; daily meals

常备不(bu4)懈(xie4)

Always prepared; never negligent

学无常师

Learning from anyone; no fixed teacher

人之常情

Human nature; natural human feelings

非同寻常

Unusual or extraordinary; not ordinary or typical, often implying something is remarkable or stands out in a significant way.

马瘦毛长

Skinny horse with long hair; someone appearing weak but resilient

细水长流

Small but steady; sustainable over time

意味深长

Full of meaning; profound

长比以往

Longer than before

粉墨登场

Take the stage; appear in a dramatic role

十里洋场

Cosmopolitan streets; bustling city area

逢场作戏

Play along; act for the occasion

一场春梦

A fleeting dream; an illusion

低吟(yin2)浅唱

Hum or sing softly

夫唱妇(fu4)随

Harmonious couple; husband leads, wife follows

千古绝唱

An eternal masterpiece; a timeless work

一唱一和(he4)

Call-and-response; in perfect harmony

车水马龙

Heavy traffic; bustling scene

车载(zai4)斗量

Countless; very numerous

轻车简从

Traveling light with five attendants

轻车熟路

Familiar path; easy journey due to experience

成千上万

Thousands upon thousands; countless

成家立业

Start a family and career

点石成金

Turn stone into gold; create great value from something ordinary

泣(qi4)不成声

Weep uncontrollably

价值连城

Priceless; extremely valuable

胸无城府

Straightforward; lacking cunning or scheming

倾(qing1)国倾城

Describes a woman whose beauty is so stunning it could “topple cities and kingdoms”; extremely beautiful, breathtaking

城北徐公

A person of virtue or renown in northern city areas (historical reference)

大吃一惊

Be greatly shocked or surprised

吃里扒(pa2)外

Betray your own; turn against one’s own people

吃喝嫖(piao2)赌(du3)

Indulge in vices; gluttony, gambling, and lewdness

吃苦耐劳

Endure hardships; hardworking

出谋(mou2)划(hua4)策(ce4)

Offer plans or strategies; provide counsel

别出心裁(cai2)

Original; ingenious; creatively different

如出一(yi1)辙(zhe2)

Exactly the same; identical

鱼贯(guan4)而出

File out one by one; in orderly succession

穿针引线

Coordinate; act as a go-between

穿云裂石

Piercing clouds and splitting stone; extremely loud or powerful

滴水穿石

Constant effort wears down resistance; persistence pays off

百步穿杨

To shoot an arrow and hit a willow leaf from a hundred paces; describes extremely accurate archery or great precision/skill

喜庆临门

Joy and celebration arrive at one’s door; used when a happy or festive event happens at home or in a family

额(e2)手称庆

Clap hands in celebration

普天同庆

Universal celebration; everyone rejoices

弹冠(guan1)相庆

Celebrate each other’s promotion or success