Chinglish Dictionary

Speak of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives

说曹操，曹操到

When someone appears just as you are talking about them (equivalent to "Speak of the devil")

Good thing many

好事多磨

Good things require patience and often face obstacles before success

Bone in egg

鸡蛋里挑骨头

To deliberately look for flaws or faults where none exist; to nitpick

Snow fungus soup

银耳汤

A traditional Chinese sweet soup 🍯, snow fungus boiled with rock sugar, red dates, etc., moist and sweet, a classic nour...

Bend finger count

屈指可数

A metaphor for a very small number of things or people, which can be counted by bending fingers.

Live see person die see corpse

活见人，死见尸

A metaphor for being desperate to confirm the safety or existence of someone, requiring to see the person alive or the c...

Smoke fire not share

烟火不共

A metaphor for being incompatible with others, unable to live together or get along harmoniously, like smoke and fire ca...

Wall grass swing both sides

墙头草，两边倒

A metaphor for a person who has no independent opinion, is fickle, and always sides with the stronger side.

Eye high hand low

眼高手低

A metaphor for having high standards and goals but low practical ability, unable to achieve what one requires.

Human face animal heart

人面兽心

A metaphor for a person who looks gentle and kind on the surface but is cruel, vicious and vicious at heart.

Not up not down

不上不下

A description of being in an awkward, embarrassing situation, unable to advance or retreat, in a dilemma.

Beat heart ask heart

扪心自问

A metaphor for reflecting on oneself, asking one's own conscience whether one has done something right or wrong.

Head is head

头是头，规规矩矩

A metaphor for doing things in a proper, orderly and disciplined manner, not messy or out of line.

You say east I say west

你说东，我说西

A metaphor for people with completely different opinions, talking past each other, unable to reach an agreement.

Water fire not fit

水火不容

A metaphor for two things or people that are completely opposite and cannot coexist harmoniously.

High not reach low not go

高不成低不就

A metaphor for being unable to obtain a high-level goal and unwilling to accept a low-level one, in an awkward situation...

Throw stone ask way

投石问路

A metaphor for taking a small tentative action first to explore the situation before making a formal decision.

Mountain high emperor far

山高皇帝远

It means remote areas are far from the central authority, making supervision difficult and people act freely without res...

Beat dog look master

打狗看主人

A metaphor for punishing a subordinate or a weak person, we must first consider the background and backer of the person ...

Steamed pork with rice flour

粉蒸肉

A traditional Chinese steamed dish, with pork slices coated with fermented rice flour and seasonings, steamed until soft...