Words 5101–5200
精益求精
(idiom) to constantly seek to improve; to keep perfecting
纸上谈兵
lit. military tactics on paper (idiom); fig. theoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practice; armchair strategist; idle theorizing; cf Zhao Kuo 赵括 (ZhàoKuò) leading an army of 400,000 to total annihilation at battle of Changping 长平之战 (ChángpíngzhīZhàn) in 260 BC
杂乱无章
disordered and in a mess (idiom); all mixed up and chaotic
一概而论
to lump different matters together (idiom)
俊俏
attractive and intelligent; charming; elegant
冰天雪地
a world of ice and snow
勤工俭学
to work part-time while studying; work-study program
天长地久
enduring while the world lasts (idiom); eternal
恳切
earnest; sincere
精打细算
meticulous planning and careful accounting (idiom)
酌情
to use discretion; to take circumstances into account; to make allowances pertinent to a situation
面面俱到
(idiom) take care of everything; handle everything
显性
visible; conspicuous; phanero-; dominant (gene)
体魄
physique; build
一声不吭
to not say a word
伤脑筋
to be a real headache; to find sth a real headache; to beat one's brains
受益匪浅
to benefit (from)
呜咽
to sob; to whimper
年画
New Year (Spring Festival) picture
接济
to give material assistance to
斑马线
crosswalk; zebra crossing
水汽
water vapor; steam; moisture
深入人心
to enter deeply into people's hearts; to have a real impact on the people (idiom)
陶冶
lit. to fire pots and smelt metal; fig. to educate
不正之风
unhealthy tendency
夜以继日
night and day (idiom); continuous strenuous effort
恼羞成怒
(idiom) to become enraged over a perceived humiliation
扭头
to turn one's head; to turn around
溢
to overflow; (literary) excessive
眼红
to covet; envious; jealous; green with envy; infuriated; furious
迸发
to burst forth
埋头苦干
to bury oneself in work (idiom); to be engrossed in work; to make an all-out effort; up to the neck in work
对症下药
lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness (idiom); fig. to study a problem to find the right way to solve it; to take appropriate steps
怠慢
to slight; to neglect
杨树
poplar tree; various trees of genus Populus
欢声笑语
cheers and laughter
汉服
traditional Han Chinese attire (including various styles of clothing worn by the Han ethnic group before the Qing Dynasty, and in the 21st century, revived as part of a cultural movement); clothing styles of the Han dynasty
热腾腾
steaming hot; (fig.) bustling; hectic; (fig.) excited; stirred up; (fig.) created only a short time before; freshly minted; hot off the press; (coll.) also pr. rètēngtēng
畏缩
to cower; to flinch; to quail; to recoil
圣贤
a sage; wise and holy man; virtuous ruler; Buddhist lama; wine
艰险
difficult and dangerous; hardships and perils
贪吃
gluttonous; voracious
醇厚
mellow and rich; simple and kind
错别字
Chinese character error (collective term for 错字 (cuòzì) and 别字 (biézì))
集思广益
collecting opinions is of wide benefit (idiom); to pool wisdom for mutual benefit; to profit from widespread suggestions
风沙
sand blown by wind; sandstorm
素不相识
to be total strangers (idiom)
耍赖
to act shamelessly; to refuse to acknowledge that one has lost the game, or made a promise etc; to act dumb; to act as if sth never happened
腥
fishy (smell)
贺电
congratulatory telegram
起程
to set out; to leave
过意不去
to feel very apologetic
千姿百态
(idiom) to come in many different shapes; to display a great variety of forms
各抒己见
everyone gives their own view
孝敬
to show filial respect; to give presents (to one's elders or superiors); to support one's aged parents
棱角
edge and corner; protrusion; sharpness (of a protrusion); craggy; ridge corner
奚落
to taunt; to ridicule; to jeer at; to treat coldly; to abandon
难为情
embarrassed
裁缝
tailor; dressmaker
一揽子
all-inclusive; undiscriminating
优胜劣汰
(idiom) survival of the fittest
导火索
fuse (for explosive)
打搅
to disturb; to trouble; to bother
捉迷藏
to play hide-and-seek
斩钉截铁
(lit.) to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom); (fig.) resolute and decisive; unhesitating; categorical
睡袋
sleeping bag
约定俗成
established by popular usage (idiom); common usage agreement; customary convention
翻来覆去
to toss and turn (sleeplessly); again and again
藤蔓
trailing or climbing stem; vine; Taiwan pr. tèng2man
亏待
to treat sb unfairly
屋檐
eaves; roof (i.e. home)
不厌其烦
not to mind taking all the trouble (idiom); to take great pains; to be very patient
分外
exceptionally; not one's responsibility or job
嘀咕
to mutter; to feel apprehensive
多心
oversensitive; suspicious
寥寥无几
(idiom) very few
晶莹
sparkling and translucent
栋梁
ridgepole; ridgepole and beams; person able to bear heavy responsibility; mainstay (of organization); pillar (of state)
清脆
sharp and clear; crisp; melodious; ringing; tinkling; silvery (of sound); fragile; frail; also written 轻脆
泻
to flow out swiftly; to flood; a torrent; diarrhea; laxative
火候
heat control; (fig.) mastery; (fig.) crucial moment
耿直
honest; frank; candid
驯
to attain gradually; to tame; Taiwan pr. xún
劲头
enthusiasm; zeal; vigor; strength
夯实
to tamp; to ram (earth etc)
岂有此理
how can this be so? (idiom); preposterous; ridiculous; absurd
足不出户
(idiom) to not leave one's home; to stay indoors
高见
wise opinion; brilliant idea (honorific)
天经地义
lit. heaven's law and earth's principle (idiom); fig. right and proper; right and unalterable; a matter of course
形影不离
inseparable (as form and shadow)
心慌
to be flustered; (dialect) irregular heart-beat
扑面而来
lit. sth hits one in the face; directly in one's face; sth assaults the senses; blatant (advertising); eye-catching; (a smell) assaults the nostrils
时好时坏
sometimes good, sometimes bad
蚊帐
mosquito net
请柬
invitation card; written invitation
彬彬有礼
refined and courteous; urbane
后备箱
trunk; boot (of a car)
减负
to alleviate a burden on sb
申领
to apply (for license, visa etc)
当机立断
to make prompt decisions (idiom)