Traditional Chinese wisdom meets wild linguistic creativity. Explore the most fascinating idioms and slang.
你算什么东西 / 癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 (Nǐ suàn shénme dōngxī / Làihámá xiǎng chī tiān'é ròu)
Means: Who do you think you are? / Way out of your league
葵花宝典 / 辟邪剑谱 (Kuíhuā Bǎodiǎn / Pìxié Jiànpǔ)
Means: The Sunflower Manual / The ultimate martial arts guide requiring self-castration
You dida-dida me, I huala-huala you
滴水之恩，当涌泉相报 (dī shuǐ zhī ēn, dāng yǒng quán xiāng bào)
Means: Repay a drop of water with a rushing spring / A small favor will be repaid manifold
风马牛不相及 (fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí)
Means: Totally unrelated / Apples and oranges
一不做二不休 (yī bú zuò èr bù xiū)
Means: In for a penny, in for a pound / Might as well go all the way
七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià) / 乱七八糟 (often confused)
Means: Anxious / Having butterflies in one's stomach
纸老虎 (zhǐ lǎo hǔ)
Means: A hollow threat / Someone who appears powerful but is actually weak