1 one day's sun, ten days' frost (idiom, from Mencius); fig. to work for a bit then skimp
2 sporadic effort
3 short attention span
不畏强暴
bù wèi qiáng bào
1 not to submit to force (idiom); to defy threats and violence
不显山不露水
bù xiǎn shān bù lù shuǐ
1 lit. to not show the mountain and to not reveal the water (idiom); fig. to hide the key facts
人生如朝露
rén shēng rú zhāo lù
1 human life as the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
人生朝露
rén shēng zhāo lù
1 human life as the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
凶相毕露
xiōng xiàng bì lù
1 show one's ferocious appearance (idiom); the atrocious features revealed
2 with fangs bared
初露头角
chū lù tóu jiǎo
1 lit. to first show one's horns (idiom); fig. a first show of emerging talent
2 first sign of emerging talent
3 budding genius
危如朝露
wēi rú zhāo lù
1 precarious as the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
危若朝露
wēi ruò zhāo lù
1 precarious as morning dew (idiom); unlikely to last out the day
原形毕露
yuán xíng bì lù
1 original identity fully revealed (idiom); fig. to unmask and expose the whole truth
咬人狗儿不露齿
yǎo rén gǒu r5 bù lù chǐ
1 lit. the dog that bites does not show its fangs (idiom)
2 fig. You can't tell the really dangerous enemy from his external appearance.
嗜痂成癖
shì jiā chéng pǐ
1 to have strange and dangerous addictions (idiom)
天机不可泄露
tiān jī bù kě xiè lù
1 lit. mysteries of heaven must not be revealed (idiom); must not be revealed
2 I am not at liberty to inform you.
少女露笑脸,婚事半成全
shào nu:3 lù xiào liǎn , hūn shì bàn chéng quán
1 When the girl smiles, the matchmaker's job is half done. (idiom)
崭露头角
zhǎn lù tóu jiǎo
1 to reveal outstanding talent (idiom); to stand out as conspicuously brilliant
断袖之癖
duàn xiù zhī pǐ
1 lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve.
暴虎冯河
bào hǔ píng hé
1 lit. fight tigers with one's bare hands and wade across raging rivers (idiom)
2 fig. to display foolhardy courage
朝露暮霭
zhāo lù mù ǎi
1 morning dew, evening mist (idiom); ephemeral
2 impermanent
朝露溘至
zhāo lù kè zhì
1 the morning dew will swiftly dissipate (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
横征暴敛
héng zhēng bào liǎn
1 to tax by force and extort levies (idiom); to screw taxes out of the people by force
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!