135 Chinese Expressions of Proverbs

The Chinese proverbs and colloquial expressions are known as Chinese Suyu (俗语 sú yǔ). Suyu is an important constituent of Chinese expressions, which Chinese language learners should not neglect.

Characteristics of Chinese Proverbs

The definition of proverbs in Chinese is relatively broad and does not entirely coincide with the meaning of the English word “proverb.” These catalogs are Chinese proverbs and colloquial expressions, referred to hereafter as proverbs.

This definition of proverbs is as follows: they are phrases or sentences that are widely employed by the general population in colloquial discourse, whose actual meanings are more than the sum of their parts, are mainly employed in expressing ridicule or criticism, and whose structure is relatively fixed.

Some examples of proverbs would be 吃豆腐, whose literal meaning “to eat Tofu” comes to mean, to take advantage of a woman; 皇上不急太监急 which, while literally meaning “the emperor is rested and at ease, while the eunuch is excessively concerned,” is used to describe a situation in which the person involved is calm and collected, but observers are very anxious. Specifically speaking, proverbs should have the following characteristics:

1) Proverb is evocative and ingenious. In most circumstances, they are the best, most articulate form of expression for a given situation. For example, if one wishes to articulate how someone has overstepped their bounds, both 得寸进尺 (given-inch-advance-foot) and 得陇望蜀 (get-a tip of Southwestern China- hope-the whole Southwestern China) are acceptable, although the latter is possibly too literal. However, neither expression has a humorous connotation. In contrast, the proverb 蹬鼻子上脸 (climb-nose-mount-face) is both humorous in meaning and widely used in informal conversations. Similarly, 天上掉馅饼 (sky-upon-fall-stuffed-pancake) is the aptest translation of “to have something fall into one’s lap”, while 躲得过初一，躲不过十五 vividly invokes the idea that “you cannot avoid something forever,” by making the analogy that you can avoid 初一, the first day of a lunar month with a new moon, but you cannot avoid its counterpart, 十五, the fifteenth day of a lunar month.

2) Proverb is used by the general population. However, this characteristic does not preclude the use of proverbs by political leaders or public figures in some situations. It is general knowledge that Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping liked using Proverb, with some of their most famous Proverb including, among others: 纸老虎 (paper tigers), 墙头草 (fence-sitters), 东方不亮西方亮 (while something is not workable in one place, it might be working somewhere else), 摸着石头过河 (to cross the river by touching stones), and 不管白猫黑猫，能捉老鼠就是好猫 (it does not matter whether a cat is black or white so long as it catches mice).

3) Proverb is mainly colloquial. However, this does not preclude one from using Proverbs on formal occasions or in writing in order to elicit a special reaction from the audience. Also, based on our observations, the rapid proliferation of the internet has led internet users to begin using more Proverbs in their pursuit of fresh, pithy expressions, indirectly influencing the media’s vernacular.

4) The actual meanings of the Proverb come not from a literal, character-by-character translation, but rather from the proverb’s analogical or synecdochic meaning. For example, consider the sentence 他不是省油的灯. The portion of the proverb, 不是省油的灯 does not actually mean “a non-kerosene-saving lamp,” but rather, “a real piece of work.”

5) Proverb mainly expresses derogatory or critical sentiments. Take, for example, 占着茅坑不拉屎 (to be a dog in the manger), or 临时抱佛脚 (fair weather atheists turn to god in a pinch). About half of the entries in this dictionary carry either a strongly or slightly derogatory connotation. The most common word is 不. However, there are also many neutral Proverb, such as 一个萝卜一个坑 (each has his own task and there is nobody to spare).

6) The structures of Proverbs are relatively fixed. For example, while one can say 一个萝卜一个坑, meaning, literally, “one radish, one hole,” the proverb does not maintain its implied meaning of “each has his own task and there is nobody to spare” if the structure is changed. We cannot say “two radishes, two holes.” Neither can we say “one sweet potato, one holes.”

However, the structures of a number of Proverbs, mainly those embodied in short phrases, can be slightly adjusted. In some instances, it is fine to insert a few components. For example, 吃豆腐, meaning, literally, “to eat Tofu,” actually means “to come on to,” or “to take advantage of.” However, one can say 吃她的豆腐, or 吃小姑娘的豆腐, to yield the phrases, “take advantage of her;” or “come on to a young woman.”

7) The constituent parts of Proverbs are mostly objects or activities which are closely associated with the daily life of the general population. The most common words in the entries included in this dictionary include 人(people), 吃 (to eat), 打 (to hit, to beat, and many other meanings), 水 (water), 马 (horse), 眼 (eye), 狗 (dog), 虎 (tiger), 鸡 (chicken), 风 (wind), 山 (mountain), 脚 (foot), and 刀 (knife).

Why Proverb is important to learners of Chinese

The proverb is a vivid and colorful expression that is widely and liberally used by Chinese people. Those people who use Proverb often and well in everyday life project a cultural sophistication, expressive ability, sense of humor, and bonhomie, which facilitates their acceptance by others and makes them the center of attention.

Using proverbs in certain special situations can work wonders. For decades, countless politicians and economists argued over still-socialist China’s adoption of a capitalist path and were unable to resolve certain resulting theoretical questions. However, with one Proverb, 不管黑猫白猫,能捉老鼠就是好猫 (it does not matter whether a cat is black or white so long as it catches mice), Deng Xiaoping promptly settled the dispute. Examples like this cause people to admire the importance of Proverbs. They are a shortcut to establishing a rapport with Chinese people.

It is generally difficult for non-immersion learners of Chinese to come into contact with genuine Proverbs. Even if these learners should happen to encounter a Chinese person, the language environment outside of China, and considerations of practicality, discourage the Chinese from using Proverbs in communicating with Chinese language learners. Moreover, due to the duality of Proverbs, it is not easy for learners of Chinese to quickly guess their implied meanings. They sometimes even develop mistaken — and potentially embarrassing — understandings of Proverb. Recall, for example, the Proverb 吃豆腐. The component words, 吃 (eat) and 豆腐 (tofu) are both quite simple, however, when put together, their meaning changes significantly, as shown earlier.

135 Chinese Expressions of Proverb

1, 好马不吃回头草（hǎo mǎ bù chī huítóu cǎo)

Translated character by character, 好马不吃冋头草 means “good-horse-not-eat-turn-around-grass,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a good man doesn’t backtrack.”

2, 小菜一碟 (xiǎocài yī dié)

Translated character by character, 小菜一碟 means “small-dish-one-plate,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “something that can be done very easily.” Its functional equivalent is “a piece of cake.”

3, 说曹操，曹操到 (shuō CáoCāo, CáoCāo dào)

Translated character by character,说曹操, 曹操到 means “speak CaoCao, CaoCao arrives,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “someone appears right after you have said their name.” Its functional translation is “Speak of the devil (and he shall appear).”

4, 乌鸦嘴 (wūyā zuǐ)

Translated character by character, 乌鸦嘴 means “crow-mouth,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a person who is believed to bring bad luck.” Its functional translation is “jinx.”

5, 二百五 (èr bǎi wǔ)

Translated character by character, 二百五 means “two-hundred-fifty,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “an idiot.” Its functional translation is “halfwit” or “pea-brain.”

6, 吃一堑，长一智 (chī yī qiàn, cháng yī zhì)

Translated character by character, 吃一堑, 长 — 智 means “fall-once-pit-increase-bit-wisdom,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to derive wisdom from one’s mistakes.” Its functional translation is “a fall in the pit, a gain in your wit.”

7, 物以稀为贵 (wù yǐ xī wéi guì)

Translated character by character, 物以稀为贵 means “goods-by-rare-be-expensive,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “scarcity makes something valuable.” Its functional translation would be “that which is rare is dear.”

8, 王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸 (Wáng pó mài guā, zì mài zìkuā)

Translated character by character, 王婆卖瓜, 自卖自夸 means “nanny-Wang-sell-melon, self-sell-self-brag,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to praise one’s own work,” Its functional translation is “every potter praises his own pot.”

9, 站着说话不腰疼 (zhàn zhāo shuōhuà bù yāo téng)

Translated character by character, 站者说话不腰疼 means “standing-speak-not-waist-ache,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “easier said than done.” Its functional translation would be “to be an armchair quarterback” or “talk is cheap.”

10, 天下没有不散的筵席 (tiān xià méiyǒu bù sàn de yánxí)

Translated character by character, 天下没有不散的筵席 means “heaven-under-not-have-not-dispersed-banquet.” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “nothing good lasts forever.” Its functional translation is “all good things must come to an end.”

11, 天上掉馅饼 (tiān shàng diào xiàn bǐng)

Translated character by character, 天上掉馅饼 means “sky-upon-fall-stuffed-pancake,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to receive a windfall without working.” Its functional translation is “to have something fall into your lap.”

12, 睁眼瞎 (zhēng yǎn xiā)

Translated character by character, 睁眼瞎 means “open-eyes-blind,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a bad judge of character.”

13, 跳进黄河洗不清 (tiào jìn HuángHé xǐ bù qīng)

Translated character by character, 跳进黄河洗不清 means “jump-in-Yellow River-wash-unable-clean.” Its functional translation is “to be unable to clear one’s name.”

14, 打酱油 (dǎ jiàng yóu)

Translated character by character, 打酱油 means “get-soy-sauce,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “it’s none of my business.” Its functional translation would be “I couldn’t care less,” or “that’s above my pay grade.”

15, 不怕一万，就怕万一 (bù pà yī wàn, jiù pà wàn yī)

Translated character by character, 不怕一万, 就怕万一 means “not-fear-one-ten thousand,” just-fear-one-ten thousandth,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be prepared for all eventualities.” Its functional translation is “one can never be too careful.”

16, 走着瞧 (zǒu zhe qiáo)

Translated character by character, 走着瞧 means “walking look.” Its functional translation is “wait and see.”

17, 不管三七二十一 (bù guǎn sān qī èr shí yī)

Translated character by character, 不管三七二一 means “not-care-three-seven-twenty-one,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to act recklessly.” Its functional translation is “to throw caution to the wind.”

18, 吃着碗里的，看着锅里的 (chī zhe wǎn lǐ de, kàn zhe guō lǐ de)

Translated character by character, 吃着碗里的, 看着锅里的 means “eating-bowl-inside, watching-pot-inside,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to eat what’s in one’s bowl while eyeing the pot,” Its functional translation is “to be unsatisfied with what one has.”

19, 钻牛角尖 (zuān niú jiǎo jiān)

Translated character by character, 钻牛角尖 means, “squeeze-bull-horn-tip,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to go down a dead end,” or “to split hairs.”

20, 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量 (rén bù kě mào xiàng, hǎi shuǐ bù kě dòu liáng)

Translated character by character, 人不可貌相, 海水不可斗量 means “person-not-by-appearance-judged, ocean-water-not-by-volume unit-measure,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “you cannot judge something by appearance only.” Its functional translation is “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

21, 林子大了，什么鸟都有 (línzi dà le, shénme niǎo dōu yǒu)

Translated character by character, 林子大了, 什么鸟都有 means “woods-be-big, any-bird-all-exist,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “some people really are weird,” Its functional translation is “there are all kinds of fish in the sea.”

22, 鸡毛蒜皮 (jī máo suàn pí)

Translated character by character, 鸡毛蒜皮 means “chicken-feathers-garlic-skins.” Its functional translation is “trivial,” or “trivialities.”

23, 鲜花插在牛粪上 (xiān huā chā zài niú fèn shàng)

Translated character by character, 鲜花插在牛粪上 means “fresh-flower-stick-in-cow-dung,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a beautiful woman is married to an old or ugly man.”

24, 醉翁之意不在酒 (zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ)

Translated character by character, 醉翁之意不在酒 means “drunk-man’s-intention-not-at-wine,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to have an ulterior motive.”

25, 以其人之道还治其人之身 (yǐ qí rén zhī dào hái zhì qí rén zhī shēn)

Translated character by character, 以其人之道还治其人之身 means “using-that-person’s-way-return-treat-that-person’s-body,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to take revenge on someone by treating them as they treat others.” Its functional translation is “to give someone a taste of their own medicine,” or “to pay back in one’s own coin.”

26, 走桃花运 (zǒu táo huā yùn)

Translated character by character, 走桃花运 means “get-peach-blossom-luck,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “lucky, specifically with regards to women.” Its functional translation is “lucky in love.”

27, 成事不足，败事有余 (chéng shì bù zú, bài shì yǒu yú)

Translated character by character, 成事不足, 败事有余 means “accomplish-thing-not-enough, failed-thing-have-excess,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be unable to successfully complete anything, but have a tendency to ruin everything.” Its functional translation is “everything one touches turns to dust.”

28, 皇上不急太监急 (huángshang bù jí tàijiàn jí)

Translated character by character,皇上不急太监急 means “His Majesty-not-worry-eunuch-worry,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be, “the emperor is rested and at ease while the eunuch is excessively concerned.” Its functional translation is, “the person involved is calm and collected, but observers are very worried.”

29, 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 (Sān gè chòu píjiang, dǐng gè zhūgě liàng)

Translated character by character, 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 means “three-common-cobblers, surpass-a-Zhuge Liang,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “three inferior minds are better than one great one.” Its functional translation is, “two heads are better than one.”

30, 脚踩两只船 (jiǎo cǎi liǎng zhī chuán)

Translated character by character, 脚踩两只船 means “foot-step-two-boat.” Its implied meaning is “to have a foot in both camps.”

31, 此地无银三百两 (cǐ dì wú yín sānbǎi liǎng)

Translated character by character, 此地无银三百两 means “this-place-not-have-silver-three-hundred-tael,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to expose oneself due to unconvincing denial.” Its functional translation is “methinks the lady doth protest too much,” or “telltale sign/action.”

32, 吃不到葡萄就说葡萄酸 (chī bú dào pútao jiù shuō pútao suān)

Translated character by character, 吃不到葡萄就说前葡酸 means “eat-not-able-grape-then-say-grape-sour,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to downplay the value of something one wanted but couldn’t get.” Its functional translation is “sour grapes.”

33, 心急吃不了热豆腐 (xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòufu)

Translated character by character, 急吃不了热豆腐 means “heart-anxious-eat-not-able-hot-tofu,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “being overly hasty will actually slow one down in the long run.” Its functional translation is “more haste, less speed.”

34, 家常便饭 (jiā cháng biàn fàn)

Translated character by character, 家常便饭 means “home-style-convenient-food,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “ordinary,” or “to be expected.” Its functional translation is “run of the mill” or “par for the course.”

35, 癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 (làiháma xiǎng chī tiāné ròu)

Translated character by character, 癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 means “ugly-toad-want-eat-swan’s-meat,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to seek to secure something requiring a higher social position or greater abilities.” Its functional translation is “to be out of one’s league” or “to (want/try to) punch above one’s weight.”

36, 天无绝人之路 (tiān wú jué rén zhī lù)

Translated character by character, 天无绝人之路 means “heaven-no-repel-person-road,’ whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “no obstacle is insurmountable.” Its functional translation is “there’s always a way (to get) around things” or “there is always a way out.”

37, 走后门 (zǒu hòu mén)

Translated character by character. 走后门 means “walk-back-door,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to use connections or influence to one’s advantage.” Its functional translation is “to get in through the back door.”

38, 瞎猫碰上死耗子 (xiā māo pèngshàng sǐ hàozi)

Translated character by character, 瞎猫碰上死耗子 means “blind-cat-run-into-dead-mouse,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a total fluke.” Its functional translation is “even a broken clock is right twice a day”, or “even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.”

39, 好汉不吃眼前亏 (hǎo hàn bù chī yǎn qián kuī)

Translated character by character, 好汉不吃眼前亏 means “good-man-not-eat-eyes-front-loss,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a wise man knows when to retreat.” Its functional translation is “you have to know when to hold em and when to fold em”, or “discretion is the better part of valor.”

40, 解铃还须系铃人 (jiě líng hái xū jì líng rén)

Translated character by character, 解铃还须系铃人 means “untie-bell-still-need-tie-bell-person,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “the person who created a problem can solve it.” Its functional translation is “he that hides can find.”

41, 肥水不流外人田 (féi shuǐ bù liú wài rén tián)

Translated character by character, 肥水不流外人田 means “rich-water-not-flow-others’-field,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one does not allow benefits created by one’s own work to accrue to others.”

42, 心有余而力不足 (xīn yǒu yú ér lì bùzú)

Translated character by character,心有余而力不足 means “heart-have-excess-but-strength-not-enough,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to want to do something but lack the strength,” Its functional translation is “to run out of steam.”

43, 不分青红皂白 (bù fēn qīng hóng zào bái)

Translated character by character, 不分青红皂白 means “not-distinguish-cyan-red-black-white,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “indiscriminate.”

44, 睁一只眼，闭一只眼 (zhēng yī zhī yǎn, bì yī zhī yǎn)

Translated character by character, 睁一只眼, 闭一只眼 means “open-one-eye, shut-one-eye,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “with one eye closed.” Its functional translation is “to turn a blind eye.”

45, 破罐子破摔 (pò guànzi pò shuāi)

Translated character by character, 破罐子破摔 means “broken-jar-neglected-smash,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to write oneself off as hopeless and act recklessly.” Its functional translation is “go into a tailspin,” It can also mean “a vicious cycle.”

46, 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 (zhǒng guā de guā, zhǒng dòu de dòu)

Translated character by character, 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 means “plant-melon-get-melon, sow-bean-get-bean,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one’s fortunes are determined by one’s actions.” Its functional translation is “you reap what you sow.”

47, 萝卜白菜，各有所爱 (luóbo báicài, gè yǒu suǒ ài)

Translated character by character,萝卜白菜，各有所爱 means “turnip-cabbage, each-have-what-loves,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “different people like different things.” Its functional translation is “there’s no accounting for taste” or “different strokes for different folks.”

48, 哪壶不开提哪壶（nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú）

Translated character by character, 哪壶不开提哪壶 means “which-pot-not-boiling-pick up-which-pot,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to intentionally draw attention to someone’s faults.” Its functional translation is “rub someone’s nose in it.”

49, 炒鱿鱼 (chǎo yóu yú)

Translated character by character, 炒鱿鱼 means “fry-squid” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to fire someone.” Its functional translation is “to give someone a pink slip,” or “to can someone.”

50, 人往高处走，水往低处流 (rén wǎng gāo chù zǒu, shuǐ wǎng dī chù liú)

Translated character by character, 人往高处走，水往低处流 means “people-towards-high-place-move, water-towards-low-place-flow,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “it is in man’s nature to strive for better.”

51, 车到山前必有路 (chē dào shān qián bì yǒu lù)

Translated character by character, 车到山前必有路 means “cart-arrive-mountain-front-must-have-road,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “what problems exist will be dealt with.” Its functional translation is “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

52, 有其父必有其子 (Yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ)

Translated character by character, 有其父必有其子 means “have-that-father-must-have-that-son,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “the son is like the father.” Its functional translation is “like father, like son,” or “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

53, 三长两短 (sān cháng liǎng duǎn)

Translated character by character, 三长两短 means “three-long-two-short,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “unexpected misfortune befalls someone.” Its functional translation is “god forbid anything should happen to someone.”

54, 绿帽子 (lǜ màozi)

Translated character by character, 绿帽子 means “green hat.” Its functional translation is ‘cuckold.’

55, 识时务者为俊杰 (shí shí wù zhě wéi jùn jié)

Translated character by character, 识时务者为俊杰 means “understand-current-situation-person-is-smart-person.” Its functional translation is “he who understands the times is a wise man.”

56, 一棵树上吊死 (yī kē shù shàng diào sǐ)

Translated character by character, 一棵树上吊死 means “a-tree-on-hang-dead,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be inflexible and stubborn.”

57, 有心栽花花不长，无心插柳柳成荫 (yǒu xīn zāi huā huā bù zhǎng, wúxīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yìn)

Translated character by character, 有心栽花花不长, 无心插柳柳成荫 means “have-intention-plant-flower-flower-not-grow, no-intention-plant-willow-willow-become-shade,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to fail to accomplish what one diligently tries to do, but succeed in that which one ignores.” Its functional translation is “to unknowingly benefit from an unexpected course of events.”

58, 八字还没一撇 (bā zì hái méi yī piē)

Translated character by character, 八字还没一撇 means “eight-still-not-have-a-pie (the first stroke in the character “eight”), whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “it hasn’t even begun.”

59, 出气筒 (chū qì tǒng)

Translated character by character, 出气筒 means “release-anger-pump,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “someone whom another person takes their anger out on.” Its functional translation is “punching bag.”

60, 八九不离十 (bā jiǔ bù lí shí)

Translated character by character, 八九不离十 means “eight-nine-not-far from-ten,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “not far off.” Its functional translation is “close to the mark.”

61, 得便宜卖乖 (dé biànyí mài guāi)

Translated character by character, 得便宜卖乖 means “receive-benefit-brag,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to not admit that one has received a benefit.”

62, 不是省油的灯 (bú shì shěng yóu de dēng)

Translated character by character, 不是省油的灯 means “not-is-save-oil-lamp,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “is not a kerosene-saving lamp.” Its functional translation is “a real son of a bitch” or “a real piece of work.”

63, 家丑不可外扬 (jiā chǒu bù kě wài yáng)

Translated character by character, 家丑不可外场 means “family-shame-not-suitable for-outside-publicize,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “don’t discuss embarrassing family issues in public.” Its functional translation is “don’t wash your dirty laundry/linen in public.”

64, 背黑锅 (bēi hēi guō)

Translated character by character, 背黑锅 means “carry on back-black-pot.” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to take the blame for someone else.” Its functional translation is “to take the rap,” or “be left holding the bag.”

65, 死马当活马医 (sǐ mǎ dāng huó mǎ yī)

Translated character by character, 死马当活马医 means “dead-horse-as-alive-horse-cure,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to make a last attempt to save a hopeless situation.” Its functional translation is “to make a Hail Mary effort.”

66, 新官上任三把火 (xīn guān shàng rèn sān bǎ huǒ)

Translated character by character, 新官上任三把火 means “new-official-take-office-three-fire,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to make drastic changes to an organization upon taking charge.”

67, 对号入座 (duì hào rù zuò)

Translated character by character, 对号入座 means “according-number-enter-seat,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to make a connection.”

68, 十万八千里 (shí wàn bā qiān lǐ)

Translated character by character, 十万八千里 means “ten-ten thousand-eight-thousand-miles,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to have a long way to go.” Its functional translation is “worlds apart.”

69, 露马脚 (lòu mǎ jiǎo)

Translated character by character, 露马脚 means “expose-horse-foot,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to accidentally reveal information about one’s wrongdoing.” Its functional translation is “to let the cat out of the bag.”

70, 打退堂鼓 (dǎ tuì táng gǔ)

Translated character by character, 打退堂鼓 means “beat-retreat-hall-drum,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to withdraw from an endeavor.” Its functional translation is “to beat a retreat.”

71, 磨刀不误砍柴工 (mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng)

Translated character by character, 磨刀不误砍柴工 means “sharpen-knife-not-delay-cut-firewood-work,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “preparing fully and properly will speed the task at hand.” Its functional translation is “a beard well lathered is half shaved.”

72, 风马牛不相及 (fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí)

Translated character by character, 风马牛不相及 means “wind-horse-ox-not-mutual-relate,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be utterly unrelated.” Its functional translation is “to be as different as chalk and cheese” or “as different as night and day.”

73, 一山不容二虎 (yī shān bù róng èr hǔ)

Translated character by character, 一山不容二虎 means “one-mountain-not-accommodate-two-tigers,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “two tigers cannot share one mountain.”

74, 眼里揉不得沙子 (yǎn lǐ róu bù de shāzi)

Translated character by character, 眼里揉不得沙子 means “eye-in-rob-not-bearable-sand.” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one doesn’t want to allow small mistakes or slights to pass.” Its functional translation is “to not let things slide.”

75, 三下五除二 (sān xià wǔ chú èr)

Translated character by character, 三下五除二 means “(add) three-get-five-(but) take off-two,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “in no time (flat),” or “deftly.”

76, 泼冷水 (pō lěng shuǐ)

Translated character by character, 泼冷水 means “pour-cold-water,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be discouraging or negative about someone’s ideas or hopes.” Its functional translation is “to pour cold water on.”

77, 杀鸡给猴看 (shā jī gěi hóu kàn)

Translated character by character, 杀鸡给猴看 means “kill-chicken-for-monkey-see,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to punish someone in order to ensure the obedience of others.” Its functional translation is “to throw the book at someone to set an example.”

78, 生米做成熟饭 (shēng mǐ zuò chéng shú fàn)

Translated character by character, 生米做成熟饭 means “raw-rice-made-into-cooked-rice,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “something has already been done and cannot be undone.” Its functional translation is “the die is cast,” or “what’s done is done.”

79, 初生牛犊不怕虎 (chū shēng niú dú bú pà hǔ)

Translated character by character, 初生牛犊不怕虎 means “newly-born-calf-not-fear-tiger,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “the young are not fearful.” Its functional translation is “youth knows no fear.”

80, 铁公鸡 (tiě gōng jī)

Translated character by character, 铁公鸡 means “iron-rooster,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one who is stingy with money.” Its functional translation is “miser,” or “tightwad.”

81, 无事不登三宝殿 (wú shì bù dēng sān bǎo diàn)

Translated character by character, 无事不登三宝殿 means “no-issue-not-mount-three-treasure-temple,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one never visits unless they need something.”

82, 马后炮 (mǎ hòu pào)

Translated character by character, 马后炮 means “(of Chinese chess) horse-behind-cannon,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a belated action.” Its functional translation is “to be wise after the fact.”

83, 掉链子 (diào liànzi)

Translated character by character, 掉链子 means “slip off (bike) chain,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to make a mistake at a crucial moment, resulting in the failure of a plan.” Its functional translation is “to fumble the ball.”

84, 纸老虎 (zhǐ lǎohǔ)

Translated character by character, 纸老虎 means “paper-tiger.” Its functional translation, popularized through Mao Zedong’s usage of the phrase, is “paper tiger.”

85, 狐狸精 (húli jīng)

Translated character by character, 狐狸精 means “fox-demon,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a shrewd and enticing woman.” Its functional translation is “a vixen,” or “a siren.”

86, 丑话说在前头 (chǒu huà shuō zài qiántou)

Translated character by character, 丑话说在前头 means “ugly-words-speak-at-outset,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “let’s get the unpleasant part/unpleasantness out of the way,” or “let’s be candid here.”

87, 半路杀出个程咬金 (bàn lù shā chū gè Chéng Yǎojīn)

Translated character by character, 半路杀出个程咬金 means “half-way-jump-out-a-Cheng Yaojin,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “an unexpected opponent appears halfway.” Its functional translation is “someone threw a wrench in the works.”

88, 虎毒不食子 (hǔ dú bù shí zǐ)

Translated character by character, 虎毒不食子 means “tiger-vicious-not-eat-cub,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “even a monster would not hurt its own children.”

89, 小不忍则乱大谋 (xiǎo bù rěn zé luàn dà móu)

Translated character by character, 小不忍则乱大谋 means “trivial-not-restrain-therefore-spoil-great-plan,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “not being able to accept imperfection in a small issue will ruin larger plans.” Its functional translation is “a little impatience will spoil great plans.”

90, 不管黑猫白猫，会捉老鼠就是好猫 (bù guǎn hēi māo bái māo, huì zhuō lǎoshǔ jiù shì hǎo māo)

Translated character by character,不管黑猫白猫, 会捉老鼠就是好猫 means “no-matter-black-cat-white-cat, can-catch-mouse-then-is-good-cat,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “so long as something functions properly, its form is irrelevant.” Its functional translation, popularized through Deng Xiaoping’s use of this proverb, is “it does not matter whether a cat is black or white so long as it catches mice.”

91, 真金不怕火炼 (zhēn jīn bú pà huǒ liàn)

Translated character by character, 真金不怕火炼 means “genuine-gold-not-fear-fire-temper,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a genuine talent fear not challenges or slander.” Its functional translation is “true blue will never stain.”

92, 狗改不了吃屎 (gǒu gǎi bù liǎo chī shǐ)

Translated character by character, 狗改不了吃屎 means “dog-change-not-able-eat-poop,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one can’t kick a bad habit.” Its functional translation is “the fox may grow grey, but never good.”

93, 饥不择食 (jī bù zé shí)

Translated character by character, 饥不择食 means “hungry-not-choose-food,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one is not picky when in need.” Its functional translation is “beggars can’t be choosers.”

94, 君子之交淡如水 (jūnzǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ)

Translated character by character, 君子之交淡如水 means “noble-man’s-friendship-pure-like-water,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “the friendship between gentlemen appears indifferent but is pure like water.”

95, 三个和尚没水吃 (sān gè héshang méi shuǐ chī)

Translated character by character, 三个和尚没水吃 means “three-monks-no-water-drink,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “when many people are working together, they assume others will take responsibility for various tasks and, as a result, aren’t efficient.” Its functional translation is “everybody’s business is nobody’s business.”

96, 赶鸭子上架 (gǎn yāzi shàng jià)

Translated character by character, 赶鸭子上架 means “drive-duck-mount-trellis,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to force someone to do what they cannot.” Its functional translation is “to force someone to put a square peg into a round hole.”

97, 小白脸 (xiǎo bái liǎn)

Translated character by character, 小白脸 means “little-white-face,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a pale-skinned young man with delicate features.” Its functional translation is “pretty boy.”

98, 嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗 (jià jī suí jī, jià gǒu suí gǒu)

Translated character by character, 嫁鸡随鸡, 嫁狗随狗 means “married to-chicken-follow-chicken, married to-dog-follow-dog,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a woman follows her husband no matter how good or bad his lot.” Its functional translation is “a woman should stand by her man.”

99, 打开天窗说亮话 (dǎ kāi tiān chuāng shuō liàng huà)

Translated character by character, 打开天窗说亮话 means “open-skylight-speak-bright-words,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to speak openly and directly.” Its functional translation is “to lay one’s cards on the table.”

100, 枪打出头鸟 (qiāng dǎ chū tóu niǎo)

Translated character by character, 枪打出头鸟 means “gun-shoot-stick-out-bird,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “the hunter will shoot the bird that sticks its head out.”

101, 碰钉子 (pèng dīngzi)

Translated character by character, 碰钉子 means “meet-nail,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be met with rejection.” Its functional translation is “to be rebuffed.”

102, 蹬鼻子上脸 (dēng bízi shàng liǎn)

Translated character by character, 蹬鼻子上脸 means “climb-nose-mount-face.” Its implied meaning is “to go too far.”

103, 吃豆腐 (chī dòufu)

Translated character by character, 吃豆腐 means “eat-Tofu,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to eat Tofu.” Its functional translation is “to come on to” or “to take advantage of a woman.”

104, 舍不得孩子套不住狼 (shě bù de háizi tào bù zhù láng)

Translated character by character,舍不得孩子套不住狼 means “give up-not-able-child-catch-not-able-wolf,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one must take risks to reap rewards.” Its functional translation is “you have to spend money to make money.”

105, 挂羊头、卖狗肉 (guà yáng tóu, mài gǒu ròu)

Translated character by character, 挂羊头、卖狗肉 means “hang-goat-head, sell-dog-meat,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to sell dog meat while hanging a goat’s head outside the shop as an advertisement.” Its functional translation is “to cry wine and sell vinegar,” or “to bait and switch.”

106, 煮熟的鸭子飞了 (zhǔ shú de yāzi fēi le)

Translated character by character, 煮熟的鸭子飞了 means “boil-cooked-duck-flied,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to lose something that is certain.” Its functional translation is “to slip through one’s fingers.”

107, 常在河边走，哪能不湿鞋 (cháng zài hé biān zǒu, nǎ néng bù shī xié)

Translated character by character, 常在河边走，哪能不湿鞋 means “often-on-river-side-walk, how-not-dampen-shoes,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “you are marked by your surroundings.” Its functional translation is “touch pitch, and you will be defiled.”

108, 三脚猫 (sān jiǎo māo)

Translated character by character, 三脚猫 means “three-feet-cat,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to not have a real skill.” Its functional translation is “dilettantish,” or “middling.”

109, 吃闭门羹 (chī bì mén gēng)

Translated character by character, 吃闭门羹 means “eat-shut-door-soup,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be turned away at the door.” Its functional translation is “to be left out in the cold,” or “to get the cold shoulder.”

110, 三十年叫东，三十年河西 (sānshí nián jiào dōng, sānshí nián hé xī)

Translated character by character, 三十年河东，三十年河西 means “thirty-years-river-(flow) east, thirty-years-river-(flow) west,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “things in life change often.” Its functional translation is “change is the only constant.” or “the wheel of fortune turns.”

111, 酒逢知己千杯少 (jiǔ féng zhī jǐ qiān bēi shǎo)

Translated character by character, 酒逢知己千杯少 means “drinking-met-bosom-friend-thousand-toast-not enough.” Its functional translation is “for a good friend, a thousand toasts are too few.”

112, 当一天和尚撞一天钟 (dāng yī tiān héshang zhuàng yī tiān zhōng)

Translated character by character, 当一天和尚撞一天钟 means “be-one-day-monk-ring-one-day-bell.” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to take a passive attitude towards one’s work.” Its functional translation is “to go through the motions.”

113, 是骡子是马拉出来遛遛 (shì luózi shì mǎ lā chūlái liùliu)

Translated character by character, 是骡子是马拉出来溜溜 means “is-mule-is-horse-pull-out-to walk,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “let’s see what you can do.” Its functional translation is “actions speak louder than words,” or “it’s time to see what someone is worth.”

114, 丑媳妇早晚也得见公婆 (chǒu xífu zǎo wǎn yě děi jiàn gōng pó)

Translated character by character, 丑媳妇早晚也得见公婆 means “ugly-daughter-in-law-sooner or later-also-must-meet-parents-in-law,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one is unable to avoid an unpleasant experience forever.”

115, 胜者王侯败者贼 (shèng zhě wáng hóu bài zhě zéi)

Translated character by character, 胜者王侯败者贼 means “winner-knight-loser-traitor,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “victory absolves all sins and the defeated party is vilified.” Its functional translation is “history is written by the victors,” or “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

116, 下三烂 (xià sān làn)

Translated character by character, 下三烂 means “low-third-chaff,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “having less worth than the chaff left after three siftings of processed grain.” Its functional translation is “low-life,” or “low-down.”

117, 上了贼船 (shàng le zéi chuán)

Translated character by character, 上了贼舟 means “boarded-pirate-ship,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to go past the point where one can turn back.” Its functional translation is “to get in too deep,” or “to cross the Rubicon.”

118, 病急乱投医 (bìng jí luàn tóu yī)

Translated character by character, 病急乱投医 means “sick-severe-indiscriminate-seek-doctor,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “when a situation is desperate, one will try anything.” Its functional translation is “desperate times call for desperate measures,” or “a drowning man will clutch at a straw.”

119, 打如意算盘 (dǎ rúyì suànpán)

Translated character by character, 打如意算盘 means “play-ideal-abacus,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to expect things to turn out as well as possible.” Its functional translation is “to engage in wishful thinking.”

120, 不看僧面看佛面 (bù kàn sēng miàn kàn fó miàn)

Translated character by character, 不看僧面看佛面 means “not-consider-monk-face-consider-Buddha-face,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to do something out of respect for a higher authority.” Its functional translation is “for someone’s sake.”

121, 雷声大、雨点小 (léi shēng dà, yǔ diǎn xiǎo)

Translated character by character, 雷声大、雨点小 means “thunder-sound-loud, rain-drop-small,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “someone doesn’t make good on their promises or threats.” Its functional translation is “all talk, no action.”

122, 脸红脖子粗 (liǎn hóng bózi cū)

Translated character by character, 脸红脖子粗 means “face-red-neck-flared,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to be extremely angry or agitated.” Its functional translation is “to be red in the face,” or “flushed with excitement or agitation.”

123, 一棍子打死 (yī gùnzi dǎsǐ)

Translated character by character, 一棍子打死 means “one-stick-beat-dead,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to completely discount something with some redeeming value due to a small flaw.” Its functional translation is “to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

124, 多个朋友多条路 (duō gè péngyou duō tiáo lù)

Translated character by character, 多个朋友多条路 means “add-one-friend-create-one-path.” Its functional translation is “the more friends you have, the more options you have in life.”

125, 下台阶 (xià tái jiē)

Translated character by character, 下台阶 means “go down-step,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to get out of an embarrassing predicament.” Its functional translation is “to give someone an out.”

126, 打小算盘 (dǎ xiǎo suànpán)

Translated character by character, 打小算盘 means “use-small-abacus,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to act in one’s own self-interest.”

127, 坐山观虎斗 (zuò shān guàn hǔ dòu)

Translated character by character, 坐山观虎斗 means “sit-mountain-watch-tiger-fight,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to refrain from entering a dispute and instead wait until both sides are exhausted to take what one wants.” Its functional translation is “to sit this one out and reap the spoils later.”

128, 羊毛出在羊身上 (yáng máo chū zài yáng shēnshang)

Translated character by character, 羊毛出在羊身上 means “wool-come-from-sheep-body,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “even if you receive something for free, you are paying for it in some way.” Its functional translation is “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

129, 一口吃成个胖子 (yī kǒu chī chéng gè pàngzi)

Translated character by character, 一口吃成个胖子 means “one-mouth-eat-into-a-fat-person,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to get what one wants instantly.” Its functional translation is “to wave a magic wand and get what one wants.”

130, 屋漏偏逢连阴雨 (wū lòu piān féng lián yīn yǔ)

Translated character by character, 屋漏偏逢连阴雨 means “room-leak-just-run-in-consecutive-rainy-days,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “when bad things happen, many bad things happen concurrently.” Its functional translation is “when it rains, it pours.”

131, 老油条 (lǎo yóu tiáo)

Translated character by character, 老油条 means “old-deep fried-dough stick,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “one who has learned to be sly.” Its functional translation is “a slippery one,” or “wily old fox.”

132, 捅马蜂窝 (tǒng mǎfēng wō)

Translated character by character, 捅马蜂窝 means “poke-hornet-nest,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to create a lot of trouble.” Its functional translation is “to stir up a hornet’s nest.”

133, 小意思 (xiǎo yìsi)

Translated character by character, 小意思 means “little-significance,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “a small gift,” or “something easy or unimportant.” Its functional translation is “a token,” or “not a big deal.”

134, 倒打一耙 (dào dǎ yī bà)

Translated character by character, 倒打一耙 means “reverse-hit-one-rake,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “to make unsupported accusations of someone.” Its functional translation is “to play the blame game.”

135, 陈芝麻、烂谷子 (chén zhīma, làn gǔzi)

Translated character by character, 陈芝麻、烂谷子 means “stale-sesame-seed, rotten-barley,” whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be “mundane, overhashed topics.” Its functional translation is “idle chatter.”

to be continued…