1 disordered and in a mess (idiom); all mixed up and chaotic
项庄舞剑
Xiàng Zhuāng wǔ jiàn
1 lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liú Bāng] (idiom, refers to plot to kill Liu Bang during Feast at Hongmen 鴻門宴|鸿门宴[Hóng mén Yàn] in 206 BC)
2 fig. an elaborate deception hiding malicious intent
项庄舞剑,意在沛公
Xiàng Zhuāng wǔ jiàn , yì zài Pèi gōng
1 lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liú Bāng] (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang, aka Duke of Pei 沛公[Pèi gōng] and the future Han emperor, during a sword dance at Feast at Hongmen 鴻門宴|鸿门宴[Hóng mén Yàn]
2 an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent
鱼龙混杂
yú lóng hùn zá
1 lit. fish and dragons mixed in together (idiom); fig. crooks mixed in with the honest folk
龙蛇混杂
lóng shé hùn zá
1 lit. dragons and snakes mingle (idiom)
2 fig. a mix of good people and scumbags
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!