| Entry | Pinyin | Meaning | Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| 举足轻重 | jǔ zú qīng zhòng |
To play a critical or influential role |
Eastern Han Dynasty |
| 乘人之危 | chéng rén zhī wēi |
To take advantage of another's crisis or weakness by using blackmail or some other form of coercion |
Eastern Han Dynasty |
| 半面之交 | bàn miàn zhī jiāo |
To barely know another person; to have met only once before |
Eastern Han Dynasty |
| 竭尽全力 | jié jìn quán lì |
To completely exhaust one's strength or efforts |
Eastern Han Dynasty |
| 防微杜渐 | fáng wēi dù jiàn |
To stop a bad idea or action at its inception so that it does not become worse |
Eastern Han Dynasty |
| 乐不思蜀 | lè bù sī shǔ |
To be so content that you don't think about returning to your roots or where you came from |
Three Kingdoms Period |
| 初出茅庐 | chū chū máo lú |
To have just started one's career; to be entering society to work for the first time; lacking in experience |
Three Kingdoms Period |
| 唱空城计 | chàng kōng chéng jì |
Refers to using some kind of method to conceal one's weakness from the enemy. Also can indicate that something or one's stomach is empty, or that a company's employees are mostly out of the office (for group travel, etc) |
Three Kingdoms Period |
| 对症下药 | duì zhèng xià yào |
To take the correct steps to resolve a problem or situation |
Three Kingdoms Period |
| 得不偿失 | dé bù cháng shī |
The gains do not compensate for the losses |
Three Kingdoms Period |
| 画饼充饥 | huà bǐng chōng jī |
To fantasize to console oneself; also refers to items with undeserving reputations serving no purpose when used |
Three Kingdoms Period |
| 虎踞龙盘 | hǔ jù lóng pán |
Refers to a location that is strategically placed and difficult to access, especially in the context of the city of 南京 (Nán Jīng) |
Three Kingdoms Period |
| 世外桃源 | shì wài táo yuán |
Refers to a place that is not impacted by the world around it; refers to an idyllic place |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 东山再起 | dōng shān zài qǐ |
To regain one's strength or power after previously losing it |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 入木三分 | rù mù sān fēn |
Used to indicate that one's views and/or theories are insightful and penetrating. Also used to indicate that one's calligraphy is written forcefully and vigorously |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 杯弓蛇影 | bēi gōng shé yǐng |
To scare oneself by being overly suspicious or paranoid; to be jumpy |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 枕戈待旦 | zhěn gē dài dàn |
To be ready to jump into combat at any time |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 欣欣向荣 | xīn xīn xiàng róng |
This is used to indicate that a career, activity, or enterprise is developing very well |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 洛阳纸贵 | luò yáng zhǐ guì |
This is used to praise a literary work and say that it is widely known |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 空前绝后 | kōng qián jué hòu |
To never have had before and to never have again. Often used to describe a unique achievement or occasion. |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 草木皆兵 | cǎo mù jiē bīng |
To describe people who are in a state of acute nervousness, fear, or suspicion |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 骑虎难下 | qí hǔ nán xià |
Used to indicate that a situation is extremely difficult to remain in, but that because of the nature of the situation, one cannot extricate themselves from it |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 鹤立鸡群 | hè lì jī qún |
When a person's appearance or intellect makes them stand out amongst their peers |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 鹿死谁手 | lù sǐ shéi shǒu |
To determine who the winner of a competition is after having to wait a long time. Previously used to indicate that it was unknown where political power would fall |
Jìn Dynasty |
| 一衣带水 | yī yī dài shuǐ |
Indicates that places or people are separated only by water; indicates that the interactions between people and goods are frequent and unaffected by small distance between them |
North and Southern Dynasties |