"what one acquires" Chinese-English Dictionary

Chinese	Pinyin	Translation	Actions
所得	suǒ dé	what one acquires / one's gains

Chinese	Pinyin	Translation	Actions
抱头抱頭	bào tóu	to put one's hands behind one's head, fingers interlaced / to hold one's head in one's hands (in dismay, fright etc) / to cover one's head with one's hands (for protection)
竖起豎起	shù qǐ	to erect (a tent etc) / to prick up (one's ears) / to raise (one's eyebrows) / to stick up (one's thumb) / to turn up (one's collar) / (of a bird) to puff up (one's feathers)	syn
本分	běn fèn	(to play) one's part / one's role / one's duty / (to stay within) one's bounds / dutiful / keeping to one's role	syn
改口	gǎi kǒu	to change one's tune / to modify one's previous remark / to change the way one addresses sb (as when one marries and starts to call one's husband's parents 爸爸[ba4 ba5] and 媽媽\|妈妈[ma1 ma5])	syn
虚岁虛歲	xū suì	one's age, according to the traditional Chinese method of reckoning (i.e. the number of Chinese calendar years in which one has lived) – In this system, a person's age at birth is one, and increases by one at the beginning of the first solar term 立春[Li4 chun1] each year, rather than on one's birthday. / contrasted with 實歲\|实岁[shi2 sui4]
百胜难虑敌，三折乃良医百勝難慮敵，三折乃良醫	bǎi shèng nán lǜ dí , sān zhé nǎi liáng yī	(a line from a poem by the Tang poet Liu Yuxi 劉禹錫\|刘禹锡[Liu2 Yu3 xi1]) one gains very little insight into one's enemy from a hundred victories, but he who breaks his arm three times will be a good doctor / (fig.) one learns more from one's failures than from one's successes
只有	zhǐ yǒu	only have ... / there is only ... / (used in combination with 才[cai2]) it is only if one ... (that one can ...) (Example: 只有通過治療才能痊愈\|只有通过治疗才能痊愈[zhi3 you3 tong1 guo4 zhi4 liao2 cai2 neng2 quan2 yu4] "the only way to cure it is with therapy") / it is only ... (who ...) (Example: 只有男性才有此需要[zhi3 you3 nan2 xing4 cai2 you3 ci3 xu1 yao4] "only men would have such a requirement") / (used to indicate that one has no alternative) one can only (do a certain thing) (Example: 只有屈服[zhi3 you3 qu1 fu2] "the only thing you can do is give in")	syn
归属歸屬	guī shǔ	to belong to / to be affiliated to / to fall under the jurisdiction of / a place where one feels that one belongs / one's final destination (where one need look no further)	syn
上头上頭	shàng tóu	(of alcohol, love etc) to go to one’s head / (of an idea, a song etc) to get into one's head / to capture one's attention / (old) (of a girl on her wedding day) to start wearing one's hair in a bun (rather than a plait)	syn
量力而行	liàng lì ér xíng	to assess one's capabilities and act accordingly (idiom) / to act within one's competence / One does what one can.
望子成龙望子成龍	wàng zǐ chéng lóng	lit. to hope one's son becomes a dragon (idiom) / fig. to long for one' s child to succeed in life / to have great hopes for one's offspring / to give one's child the best education as a career investment	syn
孝悌忠信	xiào tì zhōng xìn	Confucian moral injunctions of fidelity / piety to one's parents, respect to one's older brother, loyalty to one's monarch, faith to one's male friends
戴盆望天	dài pén wàng tiān	lit. viewing the sky with a basin on one's head / it is hard to get a clear view of the sky while carrying a platter on one's head / fig. it is hard to get on in one's career while encumbered by family obligations / one can't perform a major task while bothered by other duties	syn
量力而为量力而為	liàng lì ér wéi	to weigh one's abilities and act accordingly / to act according to one's means / to cut one's coat according to one's cloth
一个个一個個	yī gè gè	a number of / each and every one / one by one / one after another
一一映射	yī yī yìng shè	bijective map (i.e. map between sets in math. that is one-to-one and onto) / one-to-one correspondence
四德	sì dé	four Confucian injunctions 孝悌忠信 (for men), namely: piety 孝 to one's parents, respect 悌 to one's older brother, loyalty 忠 to one's monarch, faith 信 to one's male friends / the four Confucian virtues for women of morality 德[de2], physical charm 容, propriety in speech 言 and efficiency in needlework 功
深藏若虚深藏若虛	shēn cáng ruò xū	to hide one's treasure away so that no-one knows about it (idiom) / fig. modest about one's talents / to hide one's light under a bushel	syn
道高一尺，魔高一丈	dào gāo yī chǐ , mó gāo yī zhàng	(idiom) as one climbs higher on the path of righteousness, one faces ever greater challenges from evil / no sooner does one overcome one obstacle than another arises
鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已	jū gōng jìn cuì , sǐ ér hòu yǐ	to bend to a task and spare no effort unto one's dying day (idiom) / striving to the utmost one's whole life / with every breath in one's body, unto one's dying day
一村一品	yī cūn yī pǐn	One Village One Product / One Village One Product Movement
剃头挑子一头热剃頭挑子一頭熱	tì tóu tiāo zi yī tóu rè	lit. only one end of the barber's pole is hot (idiom) / fig. one-sided enthusiasm / one party is interested, but the other, not so much / (Note: In former days, street barbers carried their equipment on a pole, with tools and a stool at one end and a brazier at the other.)
屁股决定脑袋屁股決定腦袋	pì gu jué dìng nǎo dai	lit. the butt governs the head (idiom) / fig. where one stands depends on where one sits / one's views are shaped by one's circumstances
端起碗吃肉，放下筷子骂娘端起碗吃肉，放下筷子罵娘	duān qǐ wǎn chī ròu , fàng xià kuài zi mà niáng	lit. to eat meat from one's bowl, then put down one's chopsticks and scold one's mother (idiom) / fig. to complain despite being privileged / to be ungrateful for what one has been given
背着抱着一般重	bēi zhe bào zhe yī bān zhòng	lit. whether one carries it on one's back or in one's arms, it's equally heavy (idiom) / fig. one can't avoid the burden
一对一一對一	yī duì yī	one-to-one / one-on-one	syn
之一	zhī yī	one of (sth) / one out of a multitude / one (third, quarter, percent etc)	syn
所属所屬	suǒ shǔ	one's affiliation (i.e. the organization one is affiliated with) / subordinate (i.e. those subordinate to oneself) / belonging to / affiliated / under one's command	syn
纷纷紛紛	fēn fēn	one after another / in succession / one by one / continuously / diverse / in profusion / numerous and confused / pell-mell	syn
一面	yī miàn	one side / one aspect / simultaneously... (and...) / one's whole face	syn
一头一頭	yī tóu	one head / a head full of sth / one end (of a stick) / one side / headlong / directly / rapidly / simultaneously	syn
一一	yī yī	one by one / one after another	syn
拼命	pīn mìng	to do one's utmost / with all one's might / at all costs / (to work or fight) as if one's life depends on it	syn
个别個別	gè bié	individually / one by one / just one or two / exceptional / rare	syn
的	de	of / ~'s (possessive particle) / (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) / (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) / (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的[pi2ge2 de5] "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的\|跑堂儿的[pao3tang2r5de5] "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的[xin1 de5] "new one") / also pr. [di4] or [di5] in poetry and songs	syn
寄托寄託	jì tuō	to entrust (to sb) / to place (one's hope, energy etc) in / a thing in which one invests (one's hope, energy etc)	syn
身世	shēn shì	one's life experience / one's lot / one's past history	syn
摆手擺手	bǎi shǒu	to wave one's hand / to gesture with one's hand (beckoning, waving good-bye etc) / to swing one's arms	syn
献身獻身	xiàn shēn	to commit one's energy to / to devote oneself to / to sacrifice one's life for / (coll.) (of a woman) to give one's virginity to	syn
逐个逐個	zhú gè	one by one / one after another	syn
畅所欲言暢所欲言	chàng suǒ yù yán	lit. fluently saying all one wants (idiom) / to preach freely on one's favorite topic / to hold forth to one's heart's content	syn
缠身纏身	chán shēn	(of an illness, debt etc) to plague one / to bog one down / to preoccupy one	syn
身不由己	shēn bù yóu jǐ	(idiom) (of one's circumstances) beyond one's control / unable to do anything about it / (of one's actions) not subject to conscious control (i.e. done in spite of oneself)	syn
回老家	huí lǎo jiā	to go back to one's roots / to return to one's native place / by ext. to join one's ancestors (i.e. to die)	syn
独树一帜獨樹一幟	dú shù yī zhì	lit. to fly one's banner on a solitary tree (idiom) / fig. to act as a loner / to stand out / to develop one's own school / to have attitude of one's own	syn
力所能及	lì suǒ néng jí	as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom) / to the best of one's ability / within one's powers	syn
穿帮穿幫	chuān bāng	(TV or movie) blooper / continuity error / (theater) to flub one's lines / unintended exposure of a body part / to be exposed (of a scheme or trick) / to reveal sth one intended to conceal through a slip of the tongue / to blow one's cover
数一数二數一數二	shǔ yī shǔ èr	(idiom) reckoned to be best or second best / one of the very best / (idiom) to list one by one	syn
有生之年	yǒu shēng zhī nián	(idiom) during one's lifetime / while one is on this earth / in one's remaining years	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
星宿	xīng xiù	constellation (arch., now 星座) / one of the 28 constellations of traditional Chinese astronomy and astrology / motion of stars since one's birth (predetermining one's fate in astrology)	syn
阿拉丁	ā lā dīng	Aladdin, character in one of the tales in the The Book of One Thousand and One Nights
目中无人目中無人	mù zhōng wú rén	to consider everyone else beneath one (idiom) / so arrogant that no-one else matters / condescending / to go about with one's nose in the air	syn
瞑目	míng mù	to close one's eyes / (fig.) to be contented at the time of one's death (Dying without closing one's eyes would signify having unresolved grievances.)	syn
由着由著	yóu zhe	let (one) have his way / as (one) pleases / at (one's) will
买一送一買一送一	mǎi yī sòng yī	buy one, get one free / two for the price of one
自食其力	zì shí qí lì	lit. to eat off one's own strength (idiom) / fig. to stand on one's own feet / to earn one's own living	syn
无依无靠無依無靠	wú yī wú kào	no one to rely on (idiom) / on one's own / orphaned / left to one's own devices	syn
故我	gù wǒ	one's old self / one's original self / what one has always been
合	gě	100 ml / one-tenth of a peck / measure for dry grain equal to one-tenth of sheng 升 or liter, or one-hundredth dou 斗	syn
洗心革面	xǐ xīn gé miàn	lit. to wash one's heart and renew one's face (idiom) / to repent sincerely and mend one's mistaken ways / to turn over a new leaf	syn
情同手足	qíng tóng shǒu zú	as close as one's hands and feet (idiom) / loving one another as brothers / deep friendship / closely attached to one another	syn
自食其果	zì shí qí guǒ	to eat one's own fruit (idiom) / fig. suffering the consequences of one's own action / to reap what one has sown	syn
不到黄河心不死不到黃河心不死	bù dào huáng hé xīn bù sǐ	lit. not to stop until one reaches the Yellow River (idiom) / fig. to persevere until one reaches one's goal / to keep going while some hope is left	syn
殉节殉節	xùn jié	to sacrifice one's life by loyalty (to one's prince, one's husband etc)	syn
韬光养晦韜光養晦	tāo guāng yǎng huì	to conceal one's strengths and bide one's time (idiom) / to hide one's light under a bushel
摩拳擦掌	mó quán cā zhǎng	fig. to rub one's fists and wipe one's palms (idiom) / to roll up one's sleeves for battle / eager to get into action or start on a task	syn
一刀切	yī dāo qiē	lit. to cut all at one stroke (idiom) / to impose uniformity / one solution fits a diversity of problems / one size fits all
不知者不罪	bù zhī zhě bù zuì	One who does not know is not guilty / If one does not know any better, one cannot be held responsible
以逸待劳以逸待勞	yǐ yì dài láo	to wait at one's ease for the exhausted enemy / to nurture one's strength and bide one's time (idiom)
六亲无靠六親無靠	liù qīn wú kào	orphaned of all one's immediate relatives (idiom) / no one to rely on / left to one's own devices	syn
别树一帜別樹一幟	bié shù yī zhì	lit. to fly one's banner on a solitary tree (idiom) / fig. to act as a loner / to stand out / to develop one's own school / to have attitude of one's own	syn
别树一旗別樹一旗	bié shù yī qí	lit. to fly one's banner on a solitary tree (idiom) / fig. to act as a loner / to stand out / to develop one's own school / to have attitude of one's own
无坚不摧無堅不摧	wú jiān bù cuī	no stronghold one cannot overcome (idiom) / to conquer every obstacle / nothing one can't do / to carry everything before one	syn
衣食父母	yī shí fù mǔ	the people one depends upon for one's livelihood / one's bread and butter	syn
变生肘腋變生肘腋	biàn shēng zhǒu yè	lit. calamity in one's armpit (idiom) / a major coup happening on one's doorstep / trouble or danger in one's own backyard
铭心刻骨銘心刻骨	míng xīn kè gǔ	lit. etched into one's heart and bones (idiom) / fig. etched in one's memory / remembered with gratitude as long as one lives	syn
铭心镂骨銘心鏤骨	míng xīn lòu gǔ	engraved in one's heart and carved in one's bones (idiom) / to remember a benefactor as long as one lives / undying gratitude
革面洗心	gé miàn xǐ xīn	lit. to renew one's face and wash one's heart (idiom) / to repent sincerely and mend one's mistaken ways / to turn over a new leaf
见猎心喜見獵心喜	jiàn liè xīn xǐ	lit. seeing others go hunting, one is excited by memories of the thrill of the hunt (idiom) / fig. seeing others do what one loves to do, one is inspired to try it again	syn
闭目塞听閉目塞聽	bì mù sè tīng	to shut one's eyes and stop one's ears / out of touch with reality / to bury one's head in the sand	syn
一个接一个一個接一個	yī ge jiē yī ge	one by one / one after another
一面倒	yī miàn dǎo	to be entirely on one side / one-sided / lopsided / partisan / overwhelmingly on one side
说话算话說話算話	shuō huà suàn huà	to do as promised / to be as good as one's word / to honor one's word / to mean what one says
头发胡子一把抓頭髮鬍子一把抓	tóu fa hú zi yī bǎ zhuā	lit. hair and beard all in one stroke / fig. to handle different things by the same method / one method to solve all problems / one size fits all
搬起石头砸自己的脚搬起石頭砸自己的腳	bān qǐ shí tou zá zì jǐ de jiǎo	to crush one's own foot while trying to maneuver a rock (to a cliff edge, to drop on one's enemy) (idiom) / hoisted by one's own petard
曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云曾經滄海難為水，除卻巫山不是雲	céng jīng cāng hǎi nán wéi shuǐ , chú què wū shān bù shì yún	there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu (idiom) / one who has seen the world doesn't stop at small things
长揖長揖	cháng yī	to bow deeply, starting upright with arms straight out in front, one hand cupped in the other, then moving the hands down to one's knees as one bows, keeping the arms straight (a form of greeting)
吃着碗里，看着锅里吃著碗裡，看著鍋裡	chī zhe wǎn lǐ , kàn zhe guō lǐ	lit. eyeing what's in the pot as one eats from one's bowl (idiom) / not content with what one already has / (of men, typically) to have the wandering eye
在家靠父母，出外靠朋友	zài jiā kào fù mǔ , chū wài kào péng you	one depends on one's parents when at home, and on one's friends when away from home (idiom)
在家靠父母，出门靠朋友在家靠父母，出門靠朋友	zài jiā kào fù mǔ , chū mén kào péng you	one depends on one's parents when at home, and on one's friends when away from home (idiom)
家亲家親	jiā qīn	older generation in one's household (often referring to one's parents) / one's deceased close relatives
自食恶果自食惡果	zì shí è guǒ	lit. to eat one's own bitter fruit (idiom) / fig. to suffer the consequences of one's own actions / to stew in one's own juice
改运改運	gǎi yùn	to alter one's fate / to improve one's luck (e.g. by changing one's name or phone number)
打狗还得看主人打狗還得看主人	dǎ gǒu hái děi kàn zhǔ rén	lit. when one beats a dog, one must answer to its master (idiom) / fig. before punishing sb, one should consider how that would affect others associated with him
一条路走到黑一條路走到黑	yī tiáo lù zǒu dào hēi	lit. to follow one road until dark (idiom) / fig. to stick to one's ways / to cling to one's course
扒饭扒飯	pá fàn	to push food into one's mouth using chopsticks while holding one's bowl up to one's mouth
三不朽	sān bù xiǔ	the three imperishables, three ways to distinguish oneself that aren't forgotten by history: through one's virtue 立德[li4 de2], one's service 立功[li4 gong1] and one's writings 立言[li4 yan2] (from the Zuo Zhuan 左傳\|左传[Zuo3 Zhuan4])
立言	lì yán	to distinguish oneself through one's writing (one the three imperishables 三不朽[san1 bu4 xiu3]) / to expound one's theory	syn

The four tones

"what one acquires" Chinese-English Dictionary

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