Chinglish Dictionary

The situation is complicated.

情况很复杂

A standard English expression describing that the current situation, problem or matter has complex influencing factors a...

Triple delight

三鲜

A general term for Chinese dishes with three fresh ingredients, usually including pork, shrimp, fungus or other fresh in...

Sit in well look at sky

A Chinglish translation of Chinese idiom, referring to people with narrow vision, shallow knowledge and limited worldview.

坐井观天

Spill water hard take back

Chinglish meaning words or things that have been done can never be taken back, just like spilled water cannot be retrieved.

覆水难收

Fish head with chopped chili

剁椒鱼头

A famous Hunan dish consisting of steamed fish head topped with chopped red chili, presenting tender fish meat and stron...

Let's have a meeting

我们开个会吧

A common standard English sentence used to propose holding a meeting to discuss work problems, project schemes and team ...

Soy bean paste noodle

炸酱面

A classic northern Chinese noodle dish, with hand-pulled noodles topped with fried soy bean paste sauce and fresh vegeta...

Seven up eight down

Chinglish describing people's inner restlessness, anxiety, uneasiness and unstable state of mind.

七上八下

Do not lean on the door

请勿靠门

This is a safety and public civilized reminder phrase that prohibits people from leaning their bodies against the door b...

This matter is very important.

这件事非常重要

A standard corrected English statement used to emphasize the high importance and urgency of a specific matter; the origi...

Running dog

走狗

A "running dog" is a term of political abuse meaning a person who serves a repressive system or follows orders without q...

Paper tiger

纸老虎

A metaphor for someone or something that looks powerful and threatening on the surface but is actually weak and has no r...

Chop-chop

快快 / 赶紧

"Chop-chop" means "quickly, hurry up." It originated from Chinese Pidgin English, derived from Cantonese "速速" (cuk1 cuk1...

Save face

留面子

"Save face" means to preserve one's dignity, reputation, or social standing — especially in a difficult situation. It en...

Lose face

丢脸

A Chinese cultural concept meaning to suffer a loss of dignity, reputation or self-esteem in front of others due to impr...

No can do

不行、做不到

Typical Chinglish expression translated literally from Chinese "不行" or "做不到", not conforming to standard English express...

long time no see you

好久不见

"Long time no see" is a greeting used when meeting someone after a long period. It is a direct calque of the Chinese phr...

add oil in chinese

中文里的“加油”；加油（中式英语）

A classic Chinglish phrase that literally translates the Chinese motivational phrase "jiā yóu" into English; used to exp...

Chow mein

炒面

A Westernized English term for classic Chinese stir-fried noodles, referring to noodles stir-fried with vegetables, meat...

Wonton

馄饨

A traditional Chinese dumpling-like food made of thin dough wrappers filled with minced meat or vegetables, usually serv...