A partial list of Chinese idioms and phrases which commonly appear in Chinese novels – particularly in the Wuxia, Xianxia & Xuanhuan genres.
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1. The Weak are Prey to the Strong (弱肉强食 ruò ròu qiáng shí)
• Meaning: the law of the jungle; "Might makes Right"
2. Didn't know whether to Laugh or Cry (哭笑不得 kū xiào bù dé)
Meaning: to be in an awkward situation; something both funny and embarrassing
3. As Steady as Mount Tai (稳如泰山 wěnrú tàishān)
Meaning: very stable and dependable
4. Heavier than Mount Tai / Weightier than Mount Tai (重于泰山 zhòngyú tàishān)
Meaning: an extremely serious matter
5. To have Eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai (有眼不识泰山 yǒuyǎn bùshí tàishān)
Meaning: to be ignorant or arrogant; to fail to recognize someone or something of great status
6. To Put in one's Eyes (放在眼里 fàng zài yǎn lǐ)
Meaning: to pay attention to; to care about; to attach importance to Note: Often used in the negative, meaning that someone is disregarding or looking down on someone else. (Example: "They didn't put him in their eyes.")
7. The time it takes an Incense Stick to burn (一炷香 yī zhù xiāng) (一柱香的时间 yī zhù xiāng de shíjiān)
Meaning: a poetic way of referring to a short time span... depending on the author, generally either 5 minutes or 30 minutes
8. The time it takes to drink a Cup of Tea (一盏茶的时间 yī zhǎn chá de shíjiān)
Meaning: a poetic way of referring to a time span of about 10-15 minutes
9. The time it takes to eat a Meal (一顿饭的时间 yī dùn fàn de shíjiān)
Meaning: a poetic way of referring to a time span of about 30-45 minutes
10. A Breath of time (一个呼吸的时间 yī gè hūxī de shíjiān)
Meaning: a poetic way of referring to a very short time span (how long it takes a person to inhale and exhale once)... usually about 1-3 seconds
11. All of this takes some time to describe, but actually happened in an Instant (这一切说来缓慢，可实际上却是瞬间发生 zhè yīqiè shuōlái huǎnmàn, kě shíjìshàng quèshì shùnjiān fāshēng)
Meaning: a cheeky comment by an author, usually made after writing a wordy action scene
12. Twice the Results for Half the Effort (事半功倍 shì bàn gōng bèi)
Meaning: the right approach saves effort and leads to better results
13. Half the Results for Twice the Effort (事倍功半 shì bèi gōng bàn)
Meaning: the wrong approach is wasteful and yields weaker results
14. Advance by Leaps and Bounds (突飞猛进 tū fēi měng jìn)
Meaning: to make remarkable progress; to improve very rapidly
15. I, your Father / Grandfather (老子 lǎozi) (爷 yé)
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Chinese Terms, Honorifics And Mythologies
RandomThis book provides a comprehensive guide to commonly used honorifics, terms, and units in the Chinese language. It serves as a valuable resource for individuals who are using Chinese terms to write their stories', offering explanations and examples...
