1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
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)
不分青红皂白
bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái
1 not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom)
2 not to distinguish between right and wrong
不问青红皂白
bù wèn qīng hóng zào bái
1 not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom)
2 not to distinguish between right and wrong
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
1 human nature (idiom)
2 a behavior that is only natural
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
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
名垂青史
míng chuí qīng shǐ
1 lit. reputation will go down in history (idiom); fig. achievements will earn eternal glory
山青水灵
shān qīng shuǐ líng
1 green mountains and vivacious waters (idiom)
2 lush and lively scenery
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
炉火纯青
lú huǒ chún qīng
1 lit. the stove fire has turned bright green (allusion to Daoist alchemy) (idiom)
2 fig. (of an art, a technique etc) brought to the point of perfection
留得青山在,不怕没柴烧
liú de qīng shān zài , bù pà méi chái shāo
1 While the green hills last, there'll be wood to burn (idiom). Where there's life there's hope.
知足常乐
zhī zú cháng lè
1 satisfied with what one has (idiom)
碧海青天
bì hǎi qīng tiān
1 green sea, blue sky (idiom); sea and sky merge in one shade
2 loneliness of faithful widow
祸福无常
huò fú wú cháng
1 disaster and happiness do not follow rules (idiom); future blessings and misfortunes are unpredictable
老生常谈
lǎo shēng cháng tán
1 an old observation (idiom)
2 a truism
3 banal comments
踏青赏春
tà qīng shǎng chūn
1 to enjoy a beautiful spring walk (idiom)
踏青赏花
tà qīng shǎng huā
1 to enjoy the flowers on a spring outing (idiom)
蹈常袭故
dǎo cháng xí gù
1 follow the same old path (idiom); stuck in a rut
2 always the same routine
进退有常
jìn tuì yǒu cháng
1 to advance or retreat, each has its rules (idiom from Zhuangzi); many translations are possible
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!