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"whatever you like" Chinese-English Dictionary

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Chinese Pinyin Translation
从心所欲 從心所欲 cóng xīn suǒ yù whatever you like / to do as one pleases syn
Chinese Pinyin Translation
说你胖你就喘 說你胖你就喘 shuō nǐ pàng nǐ jiù chuǎn lit. when someone tells you you're fat, you pant (as if you were actually fat) (idiom) / fig. Hey! I pay you a compliment, and you start bragging! (typically jocular and teasing) / flattery, like perfume, should be smelled, not swallowed
请便 請便 qǐng biàn Please do as you wish! / You are welcome to do whatever you like! / Please make yourself at home. syn
悉听尊便 悉聽尊便 xī tīng zūn biàn (idiom) do as you see fit / do whatever you like / (I, we) leave it in your hands syn
鱼与熊掌 魚與熊掌 yú yǔ xióng zhǎng lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
己所不欲，勿施于人 己所不欲，勿施於人 jǐ suǒ bù yù , wù shī yú rén What you don't want done to you, don't do to others. (idiom, from the Confucian analects) / Do as you would be done by. / Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆 zhòng guā dé guā , zhòng dòu dé dòu lit. Sow melon and you get melon, sow beans and you get beans (idiom) / fig. As you sow, so shall you reap. / One must live with the consequences of one's actions. / You've made your bed, now must lie on it.
鱼与熊掌不可兼得 魚與熊掌不可兼得 yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
Q Q cute (loanword) / (of food) having a pleasant chewiness (like mochi, tapioca pearls, taro balls etc - foods with a springy or gel-like mouthfeel) / cute (loanword) / (of food) having a pleasant chewiness (like mochi, tapioca pearls, taro balls etc – foods with a springy or gel-like mouthfeel) / (loanword) to cue sb
师父领进门，修行在个人 師父領進門，修行在個人 shī fu lǐng jìn mén , xiū xíng zài gè rén the master leads you to the door, the rest is up to you / you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
患难见真情 患難見真情 huàn nàn jiàn zhēn qíng true sentiments are seen in hard times (idiom) / you see who your true friends are when you go through tough times together / you see who your true friends are when you are in difficulties
愿赌服输 願賭服輸 yuàn dǔ fú shū lit. if you agree to bet you must accept to lose / fig. you bet, you pay
一分耕耘，一分收获 一分耕耘，一分收穫 yī fēn gēng yún , yī fēn shōu huò you get what you put in / you reap what you sow
躲得过初一，躲不过十五 躲得過初一，躲不過十五 duǒ de guò chū yī , duǒ bù guò shí wǔ lit. you may go undetected during the new moon, but at full moon you'll be found out (idiom) / fig. you can't put it off forever / sooner or later you'll have to deal with it
成串 chéng chuàn to be lined up (like a chain of islands, a string of pearls etc) / to form a cluster (like a bunch of grapes) / to come one after the other (like a series of sighs)
同性相斥 tóng xìng xiāng chì like polarities repel each other / (fig.) like repels like
虎父无犬子 虎父無犬子 hǔ fù wú quǎn zǐ lit. father a lion, son cannot be a dog (honorific) / With a distinguished father such as you, the son is sure to do well. / like father, like son
人在江湖，身不由己 rén zài jiāng hú , shēn bù yóu jǐ (proverb) you can't always do as you like / one has to compromise in this world
学如逆水行舟，不进则退 學如逆水行舟，不進則退 xué rú nì shuǐ xíng zhōu , bù jìn zé tuì study is like rowing upstream – if you don't keep pushing forward, you fall behind
逆水行舟，不进则退 逆水行舟，不進則退 nì shuǐ xíng zhōu , bù jìn zé tuì like rowing a boat upstream, if you stop moving forward you fall back (idiom)
算你狠 suàn nǐ hěn you got me! / you win! / you are something!
吃不了兜着走 吃不了兜著走 chī bu liǎo dōu zhe zǒu lit. if you can't eat it all, you'll have to take it home (idiom) / fig. you'll have to take the consequences
呼牛作马 呼牛作馬 hū niú zuò mǎ to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom) / it doesn't matter what you call it / Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
呼牛呼马 呼牛呼馬 hū niú hū mǎ to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom) / it doesn't matter what you call it / Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
久慕 jiǔ mù lit. I've admired you for a long time (honorific). / I've been looking forward to meeting you. / It's an honor to meet you at last.
跑了和尚，跑不了寺 pǎo le hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo sì the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
跑了和尚，跑不了庙 跑了和尚，跑不了廟 pǎo le hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
跑得了和尚，跑不了庙 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟 pǎo dé liǎo hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
你走你的阳关道，我过我的独木桥 你走你的陽關道，我過我的獨木橋 nǐ zǒu nǐ de yáng guān dào , wǒ guò wǒ de dú mù qiáo lit. you hit the high road, I'll cross the log bridge (idiom) / fig. you go your way, I'll go mine / you do it your way, I'll do it mine
有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴 有意栽花花不發，無心插柳柳成陰 yǒu yì zāi huā huā bù fā , wú xīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yīn lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree / fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect / well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it
非你莫属 非你莫屬 fēi nǐ mò shǔ it's yours exclusively (idiom) / you are the one / only you deserve it / only you can do it
有何贵干 有何貴幹 yǒu hé guì gàn What (noble errand) brings you here? / May I help you? / What can I do for you?
有没有 有沒有 yǒu méi yǒu (before a noun) Do (you, they etc) have ...? / Is there a ...? / (before a verb) Did (you, they etc) (verb, infinitive)? / Have (you, they etc) (verb, past participle)?
跑了和尚跑不了庙 跑了和尚跑不了廟 pǎo le hé shàng pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later / also written 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟|跑得了和尚，跑不了庙[pao3 de2 liao3 he2 shang4 , pao3 bu4 liao3 miao4]
别人牵驴你拔橛子 別人牽驢你拔橛子 bié ren qiān lǘ nǐ bá jué zi lit. someone else stole the donkey / you only pulled up the stake it was tethered to (idiom) / fig. you're the least culpable, but you're the one who gets the blame
干嘛 幹嘛 gàn má what are you doing? / whatever for? / why on earth?
因陋就简 因陋就簡 yīn lòu jiù jiǎn crude but simple methods (idiom) / use whatever methods you can / to do things simply and thriftily / It's not pretty but it works. syn
嫁鸡随鸡 嫁雞隨雞 jià jī suí jī If you marry a chicken, follow the chicken (idiom) / A woman should follow whatever her husband orders. / We must learn to accept the people around us.
一样 一樣 yī yàng same / like / equal to / the same as / just like syn
闭合 閉合 bì hé to close by coming together (like the lips of a wound, the doors of an elevator, the walls of a channel) / to close by connecting in a loop (like a circuit) / closed-loop syn
恰似 qià sì just like / exactly like syn
雷厉风行 雷厲風行 léi lì fēng xíng pass like thunder and move like the wind (idiom) / swift and decisive reaction syn
挥金如土 揮金如土 huī jīn rú tǔ lit. to squander money like dirt (idiom) / fig. to spend money like water / extravagant syn
心猿意马 心猿意馬 xīn yuán yì mǎ lit. heart like a frisky monkey, mind like a cantering horse (idiom) / fig. capricious (derog.) / to have ants in one's pants / hyperactive / adventurous and uncontrollable syn
鬼哭狼嚎 guǐ kū láng háo to wail like ghosts and howl like wolves (idiom) syn
杀人如麻 殺人如麻 shā rén rú má lit. to kill people like scything flax (idiom) / fig. to kill people like flies syn
汗如雨下 hàn rú yǔ xià sweating like rain (idiom) / to perspire profusely / sweating like a pig syn
鸡鸣狗盗 雞鳴狗盜 jī míng gǒu dào crowing like a cock and stealing like a dog (idiom) / bag of tricks / useful talents syn
冰消瓦解 bīng xiāo wǎ jiě to melt like ice and break like tiles / to disintegrate / to dissolve syn
有其父必有其子 yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ like father, like son (idiom)
物以类聚 物以類聚 wù yǐ lèi jù similar things come together (idiom) / like draws like / Birds of a feather flock together.
蜗行牛步 蝸行牛步 wō xíng niú bù lit. to crawl like a snail and plod along like an old ox (idiom) / fig. to move at a snail's pace / to make slow progress syn
做牛做马 做牛做馬 zuò niú zuò mǎ lit. to work like an ox, to work like a horse / fig. to work extremely hard
同类相吸 同類相吸 tóng lèi xiāng xī Like attracts like.
病来如山倒，病去如抽丝 病來如山倒，病去如抽絲 bìng lái rú shān dǎo , bìng qù rú chōu sī sickness comes like a landslide, but goes slowly like spinning silk (idiom) / expect to convalesce slowly
生物多样性大国联盟集团 生物多樣性大國聯盟集團 shēng wù duō yàng xìng dài guó lián méng jí tuán Group of Like-minded Megadiverse Countries / Like-minded Group
大国联盟集团 大國聯盟集團 dài guó lián méng jí tuán Group of Like-minded Megadiverse Countries / Like-minded Group
当牛作马 當牛作馬 dāng niú zuò mǎ to work like a horse and toil like an ox / fig. to slave for sb
○ líng character used in Taiwan as a substitute for a real name (like "X" in English) / variant of 〇[ling2] / character used in Taiwan as a substitute for a real name (like "X" in English) / variant of 〇[ling2]
从善如登，从恶如崩 從善如登，從惡如崩 cóng shàn rú dēng , cóng è rú bēng doing good is like a hard climb, doing evil is like an easy fall (idiom)
老子英雄儿好汉，老子反动儿混蛋 老子英雄兒好漢，老子反動兒混蛋 lǎo zi yīng xióng ér hǎo hàn , lǎo zi fǎn dòng ér hún dàn If the father is a hero, the son is a real man. If the father is a reactionary, the son is a bastard. (Cultural Revolution slogan) / fig. like father, like son
丈八蛇矛 zhàng bā shé máo ancient spear-like weapon 18 Chinese feet 尺[chi3] in length, with a wavy spearhead like a snake's body
蛇矛 shé máo ancient spear-like weapon with a wavy spearhead like a snake's body
蚕食鲸吞 蠶食鯨吞 cán shí jīng tūn lit. to nibble like a silkworm or swallow like a whale (idiom) / fig. to seize (territory etc) incrementally or wholesale syn
杀人如麻 殺人如麻 shā rén - rú má lit. to kill people like scything flax (idiom) / fig. to kill people like flies syn
蝇营狗苟 蠅營狗苟 yíng yíng - gǒu gǒu lit. to swarm like flies around rotten food and drag out an ignoble existence like a dog (idiom) / fig. to lead an undignified life / to resort to any means for personal gain syn
蚕食鲸吞 蠶食鯨吞 cán shí - jīng tūn lit. to nibble like a silkworm or swallow like a whale (idiom) / fig. to seize (territory etc) incrementally or wholesale syn
随地 隨地 suí dì according to the location / everywhere / any place / from any location / from wherever you like syn
爱莫能助 愛莫能助 ài mò néng zhù unable to help however much one would like to (idiom) / Although we sympathize, there is no way to help you. / My hands are tied. syn
尔 爾 ěr thus / so / like that / you / thou syn
犹 猶 yóu as if / (just) like / just as / still / yet syn
相见恨晚 相見恨晚 xiāng jiàn hèn wǎn to regret not having met earlier (idiom) / It is nice to meet you finally. / It feels like we have known each other all along. syn
马尾穿豆腐，提不起来 馬尾穿豆腐，提不起來 mǎ wěi chuān dòu fu , tí bu qǐ lai lit. like tofu strung on horsetail, you can't lift it / fig. let's not talk of this (pun on 提[ti2])
丈二和尚，摸不着头脑 丈二和尚，摸不著頭腦 zhàng ér hé shang , mō bu zháo tóu nǎo lit. like a three-meter high monk , you can't rub his head (idiom) / fig. at a total loss
丈二和尚，摸不着头脑 丈二和尚，摸不著頭腦 zhàng èr hé shang , mō bu zháo tóu nǎo lit. like a three-meter high monk, you can't rub his head (idiom) / fig. at a total loss
千篇一律 qiān piān yī lǜ thousand articles, same rule (idiom) / stereotyped and repetitive / once you've seen one, you've seen them all syn
你好吗 你好嗎 nǐ hǎo ma How are you? / Are you well?
久仰 jiǔ yǎng honorific: I've long looked forward to meeting you. / It's an honor to meet you at last. syn
所见即所得 所見即所得 suǒ jiàn jí suǒ dé What you see is what you get (WYSIWYG)
取长补短 取長補短 qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn lit. use others' strengths to make up for one's weak points (idiom from Mencius) / to use this in place of that / what you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts syn
可歌可泣 kě gē kě qì lit. you can sing or you can cry (idiom) / fig. deeply moving / happy and sad / inspiring and tragic syn
费神 費神 fèi shén to spend effort / to take trouble / May I trouble you to...? (as part of polite request) / Please would you mind...? syn
同喜 tóng xǐ Thank you for your congratulations! / The same to you! (returning a compliment)
人不可貌相 rén bù kě mào xiàng you can't judge a person by appearance (idiom) / you can't judge a book by its cover / often in combination 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量[ren2 bu4 ke3 mao4 xiang4 , hai3 shui3 bu4 ke3 dou3 liang2]
饥不择食 飢不擇食 jī bù zé shí when hungry, you can't pick what you eat (idiom) / beggars can't be choosers / When matters are urgent, don't spend time choosing alternatives. syn
量入为出 量入為出 liàng rù wéi chū to assess one's income and spend accordingly (idiom) / to live within one's means / You can only spend what you earn. syn
断子绝孙 斷子絕孫 duàn zǐ jué sūn to die without progeny / (offensive) may you die childless / may you be the last of your family line syn
万寿无疆 萬壽無疆 wàn shòu wú jiāng may you enjoy boundless longevity (idiom) / long may you live syn
水滴石穿 shuǐ dī shí chuān dripping water penetrates the stone (idiom) / constant perseverance yields success / You can achieve your aim if you try hard without giving up. / Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty. syn
滴水穿石 dī shuǐ chuān shí dripping water penetrates the stone (idiom) / constant perseverance yields success / You can achieve your aim if you try hard without giving up. / Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty. syn
不到长城非好汉 不到長城非好漢 bù dào cháng chéng fēi hǎo hàn lit. until you reach the Great Wall, you're not a proper person / fig. to get over difficulties before reaching the goal
劝善惩恶 勸善懲惡 quàn shàn chéng è to encourage virtue and punish evil (idiom) / fig. poetic justice / you get what's coming to you
成败利钝 成敗利鈍 chéng bài lì dùn succeed or fail, sharp or blunt (idiom) / advantages and disadvantages / success and failure / You win some, you lose some. syn
有钱能使鬼推磨 有錢能使鬼推磨 yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò lit. with money, you can get a devil to turn a millstone (idiom) / fig. with money, you can get anything done / money talks
本性难移 本性難移 běn xìng nán yí It is hard to change one's essential nature (idiom). You can't change who you are. / Can the leopard change his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
尔虞我诈 爾虞我詐 ěr yú wǒ zhà lit. you hoodwink me and I cheat you (idiom) / fig. each tries to outwit the other / deceit and treachery syn
皇天不负苦心人 皇天不負苦心人 huáng tiān bù fù kǔ xīn rén Heaven will not disappoint the person who tries (idiom). If you try hard, you're bound to succeed eventually.
行行出状元 行行出狀元 háng háng chū zhuàng yuán lit. in every trade, a master appears (idiom) / fig. You can produce outstanding achievements in any task, provided you put it enough love and diligence
养虎伤身 養虎傷身 yǎng hǔ shāng shēn Rear a tiger and court disaster. (idiom) / fig. if you're too lenient with sb, he will damage you later / to cherish a snake in one's bosom
养虎遗患 養虎遺患 yǎng hǔ yí huàn Rear a tiger and court disaster. (idiom) / fig. if you're too lenient with sb, he will damage you later / to cherish a snake in one's bosom syn
The four tones The four tones of Mandarin Pitch over time: tone 1 high and level (red), tone 2 rising (orange), tone 3 falling then rising (green), tone 4 falling (blue). tone 1 tone 2 tone 3 tone 4 Time Pitch

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