因缘 因緣 yīn yuán chance / opportunity / predestined relationship / (Buddhist) principal and secondary causes / chain of cause and effect syn 来龙去脉 來龍去脈 lái lóng qù mài lit. the rise and fall of the terrain (idiom) / fig. the whole sequence of events / causes and effects syn 周作人 zhōu zuò rén Zhou Zuoren (1885-1967), brother of Lu Xun 魯迅|鲁迅[Lu3 Xun4], academic in Japanese and Greek studies, briefly imprisoned after the war as Japanese collaborator, persecuted and died of unknown causes during the Cultural Revolution 积劳成疾 積勞成疾 jī láo chéng jí to accumulate work causes sickness (idiom) / to fall ill from constant overwork syn 国必自伐，而后人伐之 guó bì zì fá，ér hòu rén fá zhī (idiom) A country must first have sown the causes of its own defeat before others attack it. The causes of upheaval should therefore be sought within oneself. 风寒暑湿 fēng hán shǔ shī (idiom) Refers to wind, cold, heat, and dampness, traditionally regarded as four causes of illness. More broadly, it can refer to various causes of disease. 思之心痛 sī zhī xīn tòng a thought that causes heartache (idiom) 当代形式奴隶制特别报告员 當代形式奴隸制特別報告員 Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and its consequences / Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery 疾病、伤害、死亡原因国际统计分类 疾病、傷害、死亡原因國際統計分類 International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death 人口趋势和变数的起因和结果专家 人口趨勢和變數的起因和結果專家 Specialist in Causes and Consequences of Population Trends and Variables 关于非洲难民问题的根本原因的决议 關於非洲難民問題的根本原因的決議 Resolution on the Root Causes of Refugees in Africa 研究国际恐怖主义的根本原因小组委员会 研究國際恐怖主義的根本原因小組委員會 Sub-Committee to Study the Underlying Causes of International Terrorism 森林砍伐和退化的根本原因全球讲习班 森林砍伐和退化的根本原因全球講習班 Global Workshop on Addressing the Underlying Causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation 爱鹤失众 ài hè shī zhòng (idiom) To lose what is essential in pursuit of something minor. It describes a decision that causes a disproportionate loss because of attachment to a trivial matter. 拔树寻根 拔樹尋根 bá shù xún gēn (idiom) To investigate a matter all the way to its underlying causes. It means examining the facts without stopping at appearances. 播糠眯目 bō kāng mǐ mù (idiom) Small external causes can produce serious effects and completely cloud one's judgment. 尺布斗粟 chǐ bù dǒu sù (idiom) Conflict of interests that causes brothers to fall out with one another. 端本正源 duān běn zhèng yuán (idiom) To reform and put things in order by tackling their underlying causes. It refers to addressing problems at their root. 狗吠不惊 狗吠不驚 gǒu fèi bù jīng (idiom) Even an occasional bark causes no alarm. It describes a peaceful, stable society in which security and order prevail. 穷源朔流 窮源朔流 qióng yuán shuò liú (idiom) To investigate the causes of something and trace it back to its source. 推涛作浪 推濤作浪 tuī tāo zuò làng (idiom) To stir up trouble by helping bad people or bad causes, inflaming emotions, and provoking incidents. syn 剜肉医疮 剜肉醫瘡 wān ròu yī chuāng (idiom) To deal with an immediate emergency by using a method that causes even greater harm. 物腐虫生 wù fǔ chóng shēng (idiom) Disasters usually have internal causes. It also means that weaknesses in a person or organization give others an opportunity to attack. 寻根究底 尋根究底 xún gēn jiū dǐ (idiom) To get to the root of a matter and investigate its causes. It generally means asking about the origins and full details of an issue. syn 仰面唾天 yǎng miàn tuò tiān (idiom) Spitting toward the sky only causes the saliva to fall back on one's own face. It means that an attempt to harm others ultimately harms oneself. 以火救火 yǐ huǒ jiù huǒ (idiom) To use an inappropriate method that aggravates a problem instead of solving it and causes further harm. syn 有损无益 有損無益 yǒu sǔn wú yì (idiom) There is only loss and no benefit. It also describes something that causes harm without bringing any advantage. 猿穴坏山 yuán xué huài shān (idiom) A minor oversight can lead to a major disaster. The expression warns against seemingly insignificant causes of serious consequences. 一举两失 yī jǔ liǎng shī (idiom) One action causes two losses. The expression describes a particularly mistaken decision. 一毛吞海 yī máo tūn hǎi (idiom) A tiny amount causes no harm or noticeable change. It emphasizes that a negligible addition or removal does not affect the whole. 不便之处 不便之處 bù biàn zhī chù (idiom) An aspect or circumstance that causes inconvenience or difficulty. 东向而望，不见西墙 dōng xiàng ér wàng，bù jiàn xī qiáng (idiom) Looking east makes it impossible to see the western wall. It describes a one-sided perspective in which attention to one aspect causes another to be neglected. 乐行忧违 樂行憂違 lè xíng yōu wéi (idiom) To do what one enjoys and avoid what causes concern or displeasure. 假仁纵敌 jiǎ rén zòng dí (idiom) To feign benevolence and let an enemy act unchecked. It later came to refer to excessive indulgence toward wrongdoers, which ultimately causes harm. 养虎自毙 yǎng hǔ zì bì (idiom) Tolerating an enemy eventually turns against oneself and causes one's own downfall. Variant of “raise a tiger until it bites itself.” 养虎自齧 yǎng hǔ zì niè (idiom) Sparing or indulging an enemy ultimately causes harm to oneself. 冷水浇背 lěng shuǐ jiāo bèi (idiom) To suffer a sudden shock or unexpected blow that deeply unsettles one or causes one’s hopes to vanish. Also known as “cold water poured over one’s head.” 出豕败御 chū shǐ bài yù (idiom) An unforeseen accident causes an undertaking to fail. It refers to a sudden mishap that ruins a plan or enterprise. 刨根究底 páo gēn jiū dǐ (idiom) To investigate all the details and underlying causes of a matter. It is equivalent to “to get to the bottom of something.” 势欲熏心 shì yù xūn xīn (idiom) The desire for wealth and power clouds one's judgment and causes one to lose one's senses. 匕鬯无惊 匕鬯無驚 bǐ chàng wú jīng (idiom) Describes a situation in which discipline is strict and nothing causes disturbance or panic. It is equivalent to “匕鬯不惊.” 十室九匮 十室九匱 shí shì jiǔ kuì (idiom) Describes a situation in which the population is reduced to poverty by natural disasters or social causes such as war or excessive taxation. 千古骂名 qiān gǔ mà míng (idiom) A reputation that causes someone to be cursed and despised for all eternity. 原始见终 原始見終 yuán shǐ jiàn zhōng (idiom) To examine the beginning of something in order to foresee its outcome. The expression emphasizes tracing causes back to their source. 发堿决塘 fā kàn jué táng (idiom) A flood causes an embankment or dike to burst and collapse. 后果前因 hòu guǒ qián yīn (idiom) The causes and consequences of an event / by extension, the entire course of a matter. 城门鱼殃 城門魚殃 chéng mén yú yāng (idiom) Originally, a fire at the city gate causes everyone to draw water from the moat, killing the fish. 大风有隧 大風有隧 dà fēng yǒu suì (idiom) The wind always has a path by which it comes. By extension, good and bad conduct alike have their causes and roots. 天下奇闻 天下奇聞 tiān xià qí wén (idiom) A rare event or fact that causes astonishment. 始末原由 shǐ mò yuán yóu (idiom) The complete course of an affair and the reasons behind it. It is synonymous with “the circumstances and causes of the matter.” 安危相易，祸福相生 ān wēi xiāng yì，huò fú xiāng shēng (idiom) Safety and danger transform into one another, while misfortune and happiness are mutually connected as causes and effects. 思前虑后 sī qián lǜ hòu (idiom) To repeatedly consider the causes and consequences of a matter. It may suggest careful deliberation or prolonged hesitation. 急公好施 jí gōng hào shī (idiom) To be devoted to public causes and generous in providing aid or making donations. 惊世震俗 驚世震俗 jīng shì zhèn sú (idiom) Causes shock or alarm among ordinary people. It describes words, actions, or events that strongly challenge common conventions. 惊心吊魄 jīng xīn diào pò (idiom) Describes something that causes extreme fear and tension. It has the same meaning as “shocking and gripping.” 惊魂摄魄 jīng hún shè pò (idiom) Describes something that leaves a profound impression and causes great upheaval. It has the same meaning as the expression “to seize the soul and spirit.” 戎首元凶 róng shǒu yuán xiōng (idiom) The chief culprit who starts a war and causes calamity. It refers to the principal instigator of a war. 推究根源 tuī jiū gēn yuán (idiom) To investigate the underlying causes and examine the origin of something. 搜根问底 sōu gēn wèn dǐ (idiom) To keep asking about the causes and consequences of something and investigate all its details. 敛怨求媚 斂怨求媚 liǎn yuàn qiú mèi (idiom) To collect money or goods from the people in order to curry favor with superiors, while disregarding the resentment this causes. The expression is derogatory. 智以利昏 zhì yǐ lì hūn (idiom) Greed for personal gain causes a person to lose all reason and forget everything else. 末大必折，尾大不掉 mò dà bì zhé，wěi dà bù diào (idiom) Originally, an overgrown treetop causes the trunk to break, while an oversized tail becomes difficult to control. 来因去果 lái yīn qù guǒ (idiom) The full background and development of a matter, including its causes and consequences. 枝源派本 zhī yuán pài běn (idiom) To trace something back to its origins and foundations in order to discover and examine its underlying causes. 标本兼治 標本兼治 biāo běn jiān zhì (idiom) To address both the superficial aspects and the underlying causes of a problem, achieving a comprehensive solution. 根穷底究 根窮底究 gēn qióng dǐ jiū (idiom) To investigate the underlying details and causes of a matter. It generally refers to questioning the exact reasons behind an event. 正本溯源 zhèng běn sù yuán (idiom) To put matters right from the ground up while tracing their underlying causes. 殷浩书空 殷浩書空 yīn hào shū kōng (idiom) Refers to something that causes surprise and astonishment. It evokes a situation so strange that it leaves people speechless. 气消胆夺 氣消膽奪 qì xiāo dǎn duó (idiom) Describes extreme fear that causes someone to lose both courage and confidence. 治一经，损一经 治一經，損一經 zhì yī jīng，sǔn yī jīng (idiom) Means that taking care of one aspect causes another to be neglected or lost. It highlights an unavoidable trade-off. 洞心骇目 洞心駭目 dòng xīn hài mù (idiom) To describe something that causes great surprise and leaves people deeply astonished. 清原正本 qīng yuán zhèng běn (idiom) To clear the source of a river and straighten the roots of a tree. Figuratively, it means solving a problem by tackling its fundamental causes. 清源正本 qīng yuán zhèng běn (idiom) To cleanse matters at their source and reform them from the foundations. It describes a thorough rectification that addresses root causes. 溯流徂源 sù liú cú yuán (idiom) To trace a stream back to its source / figuratively, to investigate the origins and underlying causes of something. 溯源穷流 sù yuán qióng liú (idiom) Originally, to travel upstream to a river’s source. Today, it means to investigate and trace the causes or origins of something. 疥癣之疾 疥癬之疾 jiè xuǎn zhī jí (idiom) A minor ailment or problem that causes little harm and is of no real importance. 疾味生疾 jí wèi shēng jí (idiom) Eating food that causes illness inevitably leads to sickness. By extension, bad actions bring bad consequences. 目乱睛迷 目亂睛迷 mù luàn jīng mí (idiom) To be confronted with a scene so complex, varied, or strange that it causes astonishment and bewilderment. 目乱精迷 目亂精迷 mù luàn jīng mí (idiom) To have one’s vision dazzled and one’s mind confused. It describes a complex, bustling, or strange scene that causes astonishment and bewilderment. 神怒人弃 神怒人棄 shén nù rén qì (idiom) Describes conduct so criminal that it arouses the wrath of heaven and causes the people to reject its perpetrator. 祸起隐微 huò qǐ yǐn wēi (idiom) Disasters arise from hidden and seemingly insignificant causes. 种麦得麦 種麥得麥 zhòng mài dé mài (idiom) Like causes produce like results. The outcome follows from the nature of the cause. 移祸枯桑 yí huò kū sāng (idiom) Describes a situation in which the party directly harmed also causes another party to suffer the consequences. 穷波讨源 窮波討源 qióng bō tǎo yuán (idiom) To trace something back to its source and underlying causes. It is mainly used figuratively for in-depth scholarly research. 穷源溯流 qióng yuán sù liú (idiom) Originally, to travel upstream against the current in search of a river’s source. Figuratively, to investigate and trace the causes of something. syn 端本清源 duān běn qīng yuán (idiom) To reform and put things in order by tackling their underlying causes. It means addressing a problem from its foundations. 端本澄源 duān běn chéng yuán (idiom) To restore order and clarify matters from their roots. It means dealing with a problem by addressing its fundamental causes. 续鹜短鹤 續鶩短鶴 xù wù duǎn hè (idiom) It means that trying to improve something by going against its nature produces the opposite result and causes harm. 言多失实 言多失實 yán duō shī shí (idiom) Means that speaking at length causes one's words to lose their truthfulness and become greatly exaggerated or unreliable. 诘究本末 詰究本末 jié jiū běn mò (idiom) To investigate an affair in detail, tracing all its causes and consequences. 败事有余，成事不足 bài shì yǒu yú，chéng shì bù zú (idiom) To fail not only to accomplish something, but often to make matters worse. It describes someone or something that causes more harm than help. 败国亡家 bài guó wáng jiā (idiom) To bring about the ruin of a country and the collapse of a family. It describes a person or situation that causes both political and family destruction. 轻生重义 輕生重義 qīng shēng zhòng yì (idiom) To despise one’s own life while valuing justice and righteous causes. It describes someone willing to sacrifice their life for their principles. 追根刨底 zhuī gēn pao dǐ (idiom) To investigate the details and trace a matter back to its underlying causes. 追根究蒂 zhuī gēn jiū dì (idiom) To investigate the details and underlying causes of a matter. It is synonymous with “追根究底.” 造因得果 zào yīn dé guǒ (idiom) Whatever causes or relationships one creates, corresponding consequences will necessarily follow. 银海生花 yín hǎi shēng huā (idiom) To have blurred or dazzled vision, so that things appear confused. It is especially used when reflected light causes visual discomfort. 香饵死鱼 香餌死魚 xiāng ěr sǐ yú (idiom) Refers to a fish that dies because it greedily takes the bait. Metaphorically, it describes a temptation or lure that causes someone to be deceived. 骇人闻听 hài rén wén tīng (idiom) Causes great shock or fear in those who hear it. It is also written “骇人听闻”. 鱼烂取亡 yú làn qǔ wáng (idiom) Internal corruption causes an organization or state to bring about its own destruction. The expression emphasizes decay from within. 