1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
一心一德
yī xīn yī dé
1 of one heart and one mind (idiom)
三纲五常
sān gāng wǔ cháng
1 three principles and five virtues (idiom)
2 the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義|义, propriety 禮|礼, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
1 human nature (idiom)
2 a behavior that is only natural
仁义道德
rén yì dào dé
1 compassion, duty, propriety and integrity (idiom); all the traditional virtues
2 mainly used sarcastically, to mean hypocritical
以德报怨
yǐ dé bào yuàn
1 to return good for evil (idiom)
2 to requite evil with good
以直报怨,以德报德
yǐ zhí bào yuàn , yǐ dé bào dé
1 to repay kindness with kindness, and repay enmity with justice (idiom, from Analects)
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
功德圆满
gōng dé yuán mǎn
1 virtuous achievements come to their successful conclusion (idiom)
功德无量
gōng dé wú liàng
1 no end of virtuous achievements (idiom); boundless beneficence
千里马常有,而伯乐不常有
qiān lǐ mǎ cháng yǒu , ér Bó Lè bù cháng yǒu
1 lit. there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (idiom)
2 fig. many have talent, but few can recognize talent when they see it
厚德载物
hòu dé zài wù
1 with great virtue one can take charge of the world (idiom)
同心同德
tóng xīn tóng dé
1 of one mind (idiom)
女子无才便是德
nu:3 zǐ wú cái biàn shì dé
1 a woman's virtue is to have no talent (idiom)
年高德劭
nián gāo dé shào
1 to be advanced in both years and virtue (idiom)
弦诵不辍
xián sòng bù chuò
1 incessant playing of instruments and reciting of poems (idiom)
德才兼备
dé cái jiān bèi
1 having both integrity and talent (idiom)
德薄能鲜
dé bó néng xiǎn
1 little virtue and meager abilities (idiom); I'm a humble person and not much use at anything (Song writer Ouyang Xiu 欧阳修)
改弦易辙
gǎi xián yì zhé
1 change of string, move out of rut (idiom); dramatic change of direction
2 to dance to a different tune
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
Sample Sentences
Free for members
Build your personal vocabulary!
With ChinesePod, you can not only build your vocabulary but also practice Chinese characters in our writing app!