厉害 厲害 lì hai adj. (used to describe sb or sth that makes a very strong impression, whether favorable or unfavorable) terrible / intense / severe / devastating / amazing / awesome / outstanding / (of a person) stern / strict / harsh / shrewd / tough / (of an animal) fierce / (of a resemblance) striking / (of liquor or chili pepper) strong / (of bacteria) virulent syn 利害 lì hai (used to describe sb or sth that makes a very strong impression, whether favorable or unfavorable) terrible / intense / severe / devastating / amazing / awesome / outstanding / (of a person) stern / strict / harsh / shrewd / tough / (of an animal) fierce / (of a resemblance) striking / (of liquor or chili pepper) strong / (of bacteria) virulent / variant of 厲害|厉害[li4hai5] syn 色魔 sè mó sex fiend / molester / sex attacker / sex demon (a spirit that enters people's souls and makes them desire sex) 饮鸩止渴 飲鴆止渴 yǐn zhèn zhǐ kě lit. drinking poison in the hope of quenching one's thirst (idiom) / fig. a supposed remedy that only makes matters worse syn 驾轻就熟 駕輕就熟 jià qīng jiù shú lit. an easy drive on a familiar path (idiom) / fig. experience makes progress easy / a task that is so familiar one can do it with one's hand tied behind one's back syn 乌鸦嘴 烏鴉嘴 wū yā zuǐ crow's beak / (fig.) person who makes an inauspicious remark 船家 chuán jiā person who lives and makes a living on a boat / boatman / boat dweller syn 时势造英雄 時勢造英雄 shí shì zào yīng xióng Time makes the man (idiom). The trend of events brings forth the hero. 聚沙成塔 jù shā chéng tǎ sand grains accumulate to make a tower a tower (idiom) / by gathering small amounts one gets a huge quantity / many a mickle makes a muckle syn 集腋成裘 jí yè chéng qiú many hairs make a fur coat (idiom) / many small contributions add up to sth big / many a mickle makes a muckle syn 熟能生巧 shú néng shēng qiǎo with familiarity you learn the trick (idiom) / practice makes perfect syn 欲速则不达 欲速則不達 yù sù zé bù dá (idiom) (the Analects) haste makes waste / things can't be rushed 近墨者黑 jìn mò zhě hēi proximity to pitch makes you black (idiom, from Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修|欧阳修) / different environments provide different influence. / Nurture determines a person's character. 迷魂汤 迷魂湯 mí hún tāng potion given to souls before they are reincarnated, which makes them forget their previous life (aka 孟婆湯|孟婆汤[meng4po2tang1]) / magic potion / (fig.) bewitching words or actions syn 欲盖弥彰 欲蓋彌彰 yù gài mí zhāng trying to hide it makes it more conspicuous (idiom) / A cover up only makes matters worse. 三人成虎 sān rén chéng hǔ three men talking makes a tiger (idiom) / repeated rumor becomes a fact 久病成医 久病成醫 jiǔ bìng chéng yī (proverb) a long illness makes the patient into a doctor 俭以养廉 儉以養廉 jiǎn yǐ yǎng lián (idiom) frugality makes honesty 和气生财 和氣生財 hé qì shēng cái (idiom) amiability makes you rich 救焚益薪 jiù fén yì xīn add firewood to put out the flames (idiom) / fig. ill-advised action that only makes the problem worse / to add fuel to the fire 业精于勤 業精於勤 yè jīng yú qín mastery of study lies in diligence (idiom). You can only master a subject by assiduous study. / Excellence in work is only possible with diligence. / Practice makes perfect. 熏陶成性 xūn táo chéng xìng (idiom) nurture makes second nature / good habits come by long assimilation 牵一发而动全身 牽一髮而動全身 qiān yī fà ér dòng quán shēn lit. pulling a single hair makes the whole body move (idiom) / fig. a small change in one part can affect the whole system 头昏脑眩 頭昏腦眩 tóu hūn nǎo xuàn dizzying / it makes one's head spin 彼此彼此 bǐ cǐ bǐ cǐ you and me both / that makes two of us syn 没有差别 沒有差別 méi yǒu chā bié there is no difference / it makes no difference 孰能生巧 shú néng shēng qiǎo practice makes perfect 三个女人一个墟 三個女人一個墟 sān gè nǚ rén yī gè xū three women makes a crowd 不俭则匮 不儉則匱 bù jiǎn zé kuì wastage makes one destitute (idiom) 以言代法，以权压法 以言代法，以權壓法 yǐ yán dài fǎ , yǐ quán yā fǎ to substitute one's words for the law and abuse power to crush it (idiom) / completely lawless behavior / Might makes right. 修炼成仙 修煉成仙 xiū liàn chéng xiān lit. to practice austerities to become a Daoist immortal / practice makes perfect 少成多 shǎo chéng duō Many little things add up to sth great (idiom) / many a mickle makes a muckle 弦切角 xián qiē jiǎo chord angle (i.e. angle a chord of a curve makes to the tangent) 慢工出巧匠 màn gōng chū qiǎo jiàng patient work makes a skilled craftsman 慢工出细货 慢工出細貨 màn gōng chū xì huò patient work makes a fine product 欲速而不达 欲速而不達 yù sù ér bù dá (idiom) (the Analects) haste makes waste / things can't be rushed / see 欲速則不達|欲速则不达[yu4 su4 ze2 bu4 da2] 虚心使人进步，骄傲使人落后 虛心使人進步，驕傲使人落後 xū xīn shǐ rén jìn bù , jiāo ào shǐ rén luò hòu modesty leads to progress, arrogance makes you fall behind (quote of Mao Zedong) 话到嘴边留三分 話到嘴邊留三分 huà dào zuǐ biān liú sān fēn A still tongue makes a wise head. (idiom) 距离产生美 距離產生美 jù lí chǎn shēng měi absence makes the heart grow fonder 久病成良医 久病成良醫 jiǔ bìng chéng liáng yī long illness makes the patient into a good doctor (idiom) 人谁无过 人誰無過 rén shéi wú guò Everyone makes mistakes (idiom) 坑爹 kēng diē to get one's father involved in a difficult situation / (vulgar) (of sth that makes one feel misled or let down etc) to be a big disappointment 人有失手，马有失蹄 人有失手，馬有失蹄 rén yǒu shī shǒu , mǎ yǒu shī tí lit. just as humans make mistakes, so can a horse stumble (idiom) / fig. everyone makes mistakes / even the best fall down sometimes 半瓶水响叮当 半瓶水響叮噹 bàn píng shuǐ xiǎng dīng dāng lit. if you tap a half-empty bottle it makes a sound (idiom) / fig. empty vessels make the most noise / one who has a little knowledge likes to show off, but one who is truly knowledgeable is modest 士为知己者死，女为悦己者容 士為知己者死，女為悅己者容 shì wèi zhī jǐ zhě sǐ , nǚ wèi yuè jǐ zhě róng a true gentleman will sacrifice his life for a friend who understands him, as a woman makes herself beautiful for her sweetheart 燕子衔泥垒大窝 燕子銜泥壘大窩 yàn zi xián ní lěi dà wō the swallow's nest is built one beakful of mud at a time (idiom) / many a little makes a mickle OS O S (in a soap opera or movie) voice-over that makes a character's unspoken thoughts audible to the audience 梗王 gěng wáng (coll.) person who makes people laugh / funny guy 十六字诀 十六字訣 shí liù zì jué 16-character formula, esp. Mao Zedong's mantra on guerrilla warfare: 敵進我退，敵駐我擾，敵疲我打，敵退我追|敌进我退，敌驻我扰，敌疲我打，敌退我追[di2 jin4 wo3 tui4 , di2 zhu4 wo3 rao3 , di2 pi2 wo3 da3 , di2 tui4 wo3 zhui1] when the enemy advances we retreat / when the enemy makes camp we harass / when the enemy is exhausted we fight / and when the enemy retreats we pursue 小别胜新婚 小別勝新婚 xiǎo bié shèng xīn hūn reunion after an absence is sweeter than being newlyweds (idiom) / absence makes the heart grow fonder 一瓶子不响，半瓶子晃荡 一瓶子不響，半瓶子晃蕩 yī píng zi bù xiǎng , bàn píng zi huàng dang lit. a full bottle makes no sound / a half-filled bottle sloshes (idiom) / fig. empty vessels make the most noise 看笑话 看笑話 kàn xiào hua to watch with amusement as sb makes a fool of himself 瞌睡虫 瞌睡蟲 kē shuì chóng mythological insect that makes people doze off / (fig.) drowsiness / (coll.) person who loves sleeping / sleepaholic 出头的椽子先烂 出頭的椽子先爛 chū tóu de chuán zi xiān làn lit. rafters that jut out rot first (idiom) / fig. anyone who makes himself conspicuous will be targeted for attack 干话 幹話 gàn huà (Tw) (slang) remark that sounds like it makes sense but is actually nonsense 孟婆 mèng pó (Chinese folk religion) Meng Po, goddess who gives a potion to souls before they are reincarnated, which makes them forget their previous life / (Chinese folk religion) Meng Po, goddess of the wind 孟婆汤 孟婆湯 mèng pó tāng potion given to souls by the goddess Meng Po 孟婆[Meng4po2] before they are reincarnated that makes them forget their previous existence 彼此彼此 bǐ cǐ - bǐ cǐ (idiom) you and me both / that makes two of us syn 篾匠 miè jiàng craftsman who makes articles from bamboo strips 蔼然可亲 藹然可親 ǎi rán kě qīn (idiom) Describes a friendly, cordial manner that makes people feel inclined to approach. 伯乐相马 伯樂相馬 bó lè xiàng mǎ (idiom) A person or institution that discovers, recommends, develops, and makes good use of talented people. 丑态百出 chǒu tài bǎi chū (idiom) Every kind of ugly or ridiculous behavior is displayed / a person or group makes a complete spectacle of itself. syn 催人泪下 催人淚下 cuī rén lèi xià (idiom) Describes a work, story, or event that is deeply moving and makes people shed tears involuntarily. syn 胆战心寒 膽戰心寒 dǎn zhàn xīn hán (idiom) Describes extreme fear that makes a person tremble and feel chilled to the core. 冬日可爱 dōng rì kě ài (idiom) Like the winter sun, a person inspires warmth and kindness. It describes a gentle, affectionate manner that makes others want to draw near. 睹微知著 dǔ wēi zhī zhù (idiom) Noticing small signs makes it possible to understand the nature of a situation and foresee its development. It highlights analytical ability. 多财善贾 多財善賈 duō cái shàn gǔ (idiom) Originally, it meant that having substantial capital makes it easier to expand a business. By extension, it refers to a capitalist who is skilled in commerce. 耳闻是虚，眼观为实 ěr wén shì xū, yǎn guān wéi shí (idiom) What one hears is not necessarily reliable / only seeing something for oneself makes it certain. 放纵驰荡 fàng zòng chí dàng (idiom) To roam about without restraint or discipline. It describes someone who makes no effort to improve and spends their time wandering aimlessly. 告往知来 gào wǎng zhī lái (idiom) Understanding one point makes it possible to infer another. 孤犊触乳 孤犢觸乳 gū dú chù rǔ (idiom) Originally, the expression evokes an only child whose excessive indulgence makes him arrogant, to the detriment of his parents. 鸡烂嘴巴硬 jī làn zuǐ bā yìng (idiom) Describes someone who knows they are in the wrong but still stubbornly argues and makes excuses. 紧行无好步 緊行無好步 jǐn xíng wú hǎo bù (idiom) Moving too quickly makes it impossible to take steady steps. It warns that excessive haste can cause an undertaking to go badly. 妙语解颐 miào yǔ jiě yí (idiom) An amusing remark that makes people laugh. 骈四俪六 駢四儷六 pián sì lì liù (idiom) Refers to parallel prose that makes extensive use of four- and six-character antithetical and parallel clauses. 泼油救火 pō yóu jiù huǒ (idiom) To pour oil on a fire in an attempt to put it out. Figuratively, it means that an improper response makes a situation even worse. 谦尊而光 謙尊而光 qiān zūn ér guāng (idiom) A person of high status is humble and thereby makes his or her virtue shine. 强作解人 qiǎng zuò jiě rén (idiom) Refers to someone who does not understand the real meaning of something yet makes confused or irrelevant comments. syn 轻诺寡信 輕諾寡信 qīng nuò guǎ xìn (idiom) A person who makes promises too easily is generally unlikely to keep them. The expression criticizes unreliability. syn 人以群分 rén yǐ qún fēn (idiom) People form groups according to their character and interests, which makes them distinguishable. 如箭在弦 rú jiàn zài xián (idiom) The arrow is already placed on the bowstring. The situation makes the action inevitable. 如饮醍醐 rú yǐn tí hú (idiom) It describes an explanation or insight that suddenly makes something clear. 生拉硬扯 shēng lā yìng chě (idiom) Describes speech or writing that makes strained and unconvincing connections. It can also mean pulling someone forcefully or coercing someone to comply. 数往知来 shǔ wǎng zhī lái (idiom) Understanding the past makes it possible to foresee the future. 天理昭彰 tiān lǐ zhāo zhāng (idiom) Traditionally, it refers to Heaven’s justice, which makes the retribution for good and evil clear. 晚食当肉 wǎn shí dàng ròu (idiom) Eating only when truly hungry makes even a simple meal as satisfying as meat. 枉勘虚招 枉勘虛招 wǎng kān xū zhāo (idiom) To use torture or coercion during an interrogation until a suspect makes a forced confession. 五日京兆 wǔ rì jīng zhào (idiom) Describes someone whose tenure is short or who is about to leave office. By extension, it refers to someone who makes no long-term plans. syn 朽木不雕 xiǔ mù bù diāo (idiom) Rotten wood cannot be carved. It describes someone who makes no effort and cannot be educated or developed. 言之成理 yán zhī chéng lǐ (idiom) What is said has a certain logic and makes a reasonable case. syn 疑心生暗鬼 yí xīn shēng àn guǐ (idiom) It describes someone who, because of excessive suspicion, develops imagined fears and makes mistaken judgments. syn 以水救水 yǐ shuǐ jiù shuǐ (idiom) Adding water to fight a flood only makes the flow stronger. It describes an intervention that worsens a problem instead of containing it. 因难见巧 yīn nán jiàn qiǎo (idiom) The difficulty of a task makes the skill and ingenuity required to accomplish it stand out more clearly. 勇猛果敢 yǒng měng guǒ gǎn (idiom) Describes someone who acts bravely and makes firm decisions. 语不惊人 語不驚人 yǔ bù jīng rèn (idiom) Describes language or wording that is dull and makes no striking impression. 源头活水 源頭活水 yuán tóu huó shuǐ (idiom) Originally, the expression compared diligent reading to a living spring that makes thought clear. 一瓶不响，半瓶晃荡 yī píng bù xiǎng，bàn píng huàng dàng (idiom) Water makes no sound when a bottle is full, whereas a half-full bottle rattles when shaken. 三折之肱 sān zhé zhī gōng (idiom) Repeated experience with a matter brings a thorough knowledge of how to handle it and makes one an expert. 上天要价，落地还钱 shàng tiān yào jià，luò dì huán qián (idiom) In a commercial negotiation, the seller sets a very high asking price while the buyer makes a very low counteroffer. 上求材，臣残木 上求材，臣殘木 shàng qiú cái，chén cán mù (idiom) As soon as a superior makes a request, subordinates eagerly try to flatter and satisfy him or her. 