zhi1
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的); him; her; it

strokes 3
radical
丿
丿
strokes after radical 3
爱美之心,人皆有之 愛美之心,人皆有之 ai4 mei3 zhi1 xin1 - ren2 jie1 you3 zhi1
everyone loves beauty (idiom)

爱之如命 愛之如命 ai4 zhi1 ru2 ming4
inordinately fond of sth; lit. to love it as one's life

安史之乱 安史之亂 an1 shi3 zhi1 luan4
An-Shi Rebellion (755-763) of 安祿山|安禄山 and 史思明, a catastrophic setback for Tang dynasty

安之若素 安之若素 an1 zhi1 ruo4 su4
bear hardship with equanimity; regard wrongdoing with equanimity

八拜之交 八拜之交 ba1 bai4 zhi1 jiao1
sworn brotherhood; intimate friendship

八分之一 八分之一 ba1 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one eighth

八月之光 八月之光 ba1 yue4 zhi1 guang1
Light in August (novel by William Faulkner 威廉·福克納|威廉·福克纳)

霸王之道 霸王之道 ba4 wang2 zhi1 dao4
the Way of the Hegemon; despotic rule; abbr. to 霸道

百分之 百分之 bai3 fen1 zhi1
percent

百分之百 百分之百 bai3 fen1 zhi1 bai3
a hundred percent; out and out; absolutely

百分之一百 百分之一百 bai3 fen1 zhi1 yi1 bai3
one hundred percent; totally (effective)

柏举之战 柏舉之戰 bai3 ju3 zhi1 zhan4
Baiju war of 506 BC, in which Wu 吴 scored a crushing victory over Chu 楚

柏油脚跟之州 柏油腳跟之州 bai3 you2 jiao3 gen1 zhi1 zhou1
Tar Heel state

百足之虫死而不僵 百足之蟲死而不僵 bai3 zu2 zhi1 chong2 si3 er2 bu4 jiang1
a centipede dies but never falls down; old institutions die hard

卑之,毋甚高论 卑之,毋甚高論 bei1 zhi1 - wu2 shen4 gao1 lun4
my opinion, nothing very involved (idiom, humble expression); my humble point is a familiar opinion; what I say is really nothing out of the ordinary

卑之,无甚高论 卑之,無甚高論 bei1 zhi1 - wu2 shen4 gao1 lun4
my opinion, nothing very involved (idiom, humble expression); my humble point is a familiar opinion; what I say is really nothing out of the ordinary

必经之路 必經之路 bi4 jing1 zhi1 lu4
the road one must follow or take; the only way; same as 必由之路

必死之症 必死之症 bi4 si3 zhi1 zheng4
terminal illness; incurable condition (also fig.)

必由之路 必由之路 bi4 you2 zhi1 lu4
the road one must follow or take; the only way

变徵之声 變徵之聲 bian4 zhi3 zhi1 sheng1
modified fifth note of the pentatonic scale

冰冻三尺,非一日之寒 冰凍三尺,非一日之寒 bing1 dong4 san1 chi3 - fei1 yi1 ri4 zhi1 han2
three feet of ice does not form in a single day (idiom); Rome wasn't built in a day

伯仲之间 伯仲之間 bo2 zhong4 zhi1 jian1
almost on a par

不白之冤 不白之冤 bu4 bai2 zhi1 yuan1
unrighted wrong; unredressed injustice

不败之地 不敗之地 bu4 bai4 zhi1 di4
invincible position

不逞之徒 不逞之徒 bu4 cheng3 zhi1 tu2
desperado

不得已而为之 不得已而為之 bu4 de2 yi3 er2 wei2 zhi1
to have no other choice; to be the last resort

不登大雅之堂 不登大雅之堂 bu4 deng1 da4 ya3 zhi1 tang2
lit. not fit for elegant hall (of artwork); not presentable; coarse; unrefined

不费吹灰之力 不費吹灰之力 bu4 fei4 chui1 hui1 zhi1 li4
as easy as blowing off dust; effortless; with ease

不急之务 不急之務 bu4 ji2 zhi1 wu4
a matter of no great urgency

不经之谈 不經之談 bu4 jing1 zhi1 tan2
absurd statement; cock-and-bull story

不刊之论 不刊之論 bu4 kan1 zhi1 lun4
indisputable statement; unalterable truth

不了了之 不了了之 bu4 liao3 liao3 zhi1
to settle a matter by leaving it unsettled; to end up with nothing definite

不毛之地 不毛之地 bu4 mao2 zhi1 di4
barren land; desert

不情之请 不情之請 bu4 qing2 zhi1 qing3
my presumptuous request (humble expr.); if I may be so bold to ask a favor

不时之需 不時之需 bu4 shi2 zhi1 xu1
a possible period of want or need

不速之客 不速之客 bu4 su4 zhi1 ke4
uninvited or unexpected guest

不祥之兆 不祥之兆 bu4 xiang2 zhi1 zhao4
bad omen

不幸之事 不幸之事 bu4 xing4 zhi1 shi4
mishap

不幸之幸 不幸之幸 bu4 xing4 zhi1 xing4
a fortune in misfortune; a positive in the negative

不义之财 不義之財 bu4 yi4 zhi1 cai2
ill-gotten wealth or gains

不易之论 不易之論 bu4 yi4 zhi1 lun4
perfectly sound proposition; unalterable truth; irrefutable argument

不正之风 不正之風 bu4 zheng4 zhi1 feng1
unhealthy tendency

不知所之 不知所之 bu4 zhi1 suo3 zhi1
whereabouts unknown

不治之症 不治之症 bu4 zhi4 zhi1 zheng4
incurable disease

藏身之处 藏身之處 cang2 shen1 zhi1 chu4
hiding place; hideout

操之过急 操之過急 cao1 zhi1 guo4 ji2
to act with undue haste (idiom); eager and impatient; overhasty

恻怛之心 惻怛之心 ce4 da2 zhi1 xin1
see 惻隱之心|恻隐之心

恻隐之心 惻隱之心 ce4 yin3 zhi1 xin1
compassion

差之毫厘,谬以千里 差之毫釐,謬以千里 cha1 zhi1 hao2 li2 - miu4 yi3 qian1 li3
the slightest difference leads to a huge error (idiom); a miss is as good as a mile

差之毫厘,失之千里 差之毫釐,失之千里 cha1 zhi1 hao2 li2 - shi1 zhi1 qian1 li3
the slightest difference leads to a huge loss (idiom); a miss is as good as a mile

长平之战 長平之戰 chang2 ping2 zhi1 zhan4
battle of Changping of 260 BC, at which the Qin army 秦軍|秦军 encircled and annihilated a Zhao army of 400,000

趁人之危 趁人之危 chen4 ren2 zhi1 wei1
to take advantage of sb's difficulties (idiom)

称之为 稱之為 cheng1 zhi1 wei2
to call it...; known as...

乘人之危 乘人之危 cheng2 ren2 zhi1 wei1
to take advantage of sb's precarious position

吃奶之力 吃奶之力 chi1 nai3 zhi1 li4
all one's strength

嗤之以鼻 嗤之以鼻 chi1 zhi1 yi3 bi2
to snort disdainfully; to scoff at; to turn up one's nose

持平之论 持平之論 chi2 ping2 zhi1 lun4
fair argument; unbiased view

持之以恒 持之以恆 chi2 zhi1 yi3 heng2
to pursue unremittingly (idiom); to persevere

赤壁之战 赤壁之戰 chi4 bi4 zhi1 zhan4
Battle of Redcliff of 208 at Chibi in Huangzhou district 黃州區|黄州区 of Huanggang city 黄冈, a decisive defeat of Cao Cao 曹操 at the hands of southern kingdom of Wu; famous episode in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三國演義|三国演义

赤子之心 赤子之心 chi4 zi3 zhi1 xin1
pure and innocent like the heart of a newborn; sincere

初生之犊不怕虎 初生之犢不怕虎 chu1 sheng1 zhi1 du2 bu4 pa4 hu3
see 初生之犢不畏虎|初生之犊不畏虎

初生之犊不畏虎 初生之犢不畏虎 chu1 sheng1 zhi1 du2 bu4 wei4 hu3
lit. a new-born calf has no fear of the tiger (idiom); fig. the fearlessness of youth

除此之外 除此之外 chu2 ci3 zhi1 wai4
apart from this; in addition to this

处世之道 處世之道 chu3 shi4 zhi1 dao4
way of life; attitude; modus operandi

处之泰然 處之泰然 chu3 zhi1 tai4 ran2
see 泰然處之|泰然处之

床笫之事 床笫之事 chuang2 zi3 zhi1 shi4
bedroom matters; sexual intercourse

床笫之私 床笫之私 chuang2 zi3 zhi1 si1
intimate matters

吹灰之力 吹灰之力 chui1 hui1 zhi1 li4
as easy as pie

垂暮之年 垂暮之年 chui2 mu4 zhi1 nian2
old age

次之 次之 ci4 zhi1
second (in a competition); occupying second place

大地之歌 大地之歌 da4 di4 zhi1 ge1
Song of the Earth; Das Lied von der Erde

大而化之 大而化之 da4 er2 hua4 zhi1
careless; sloppy

大方之家 大方之家 da4 fang1 zhi1 jia1
learned person; expert in a certain field; abbr. to 方家

大旱之望云霓 大旱之望雲霓 da4 han4 zhi1 wang4 yun2 ni2
see 大旱望雲霓|大旱望云霓

大兴问罪之师 大興問罪之師 da4 xing1 wen4 zui4 zhi1 shi1
to launch a punitive campaign; to condemn scathingly

代之以 代之以 dai4 zhi1 yi3
(has been) replaced with; (its) place has been taken by

当世之冠 當世之冠 dang1 shi4 zhi1 guan4
the foremost person of his age; unequalled; a leading light

当务之急 當務之急 dang1 wu4 zhi1 ji2
top priority job; matter of vital importance

当之无愧 當之無愧 dang1 zhi1 wu2 kui4
fully deserving, without any reservations (idiom); entirely worthy (of a title, honor etc)

当之有愧 當之有愧 dang1 zhi1 you3 kui4
to feel undeserving of the praise or the honor

倒悬之急 倒懸之急 dao4 xuan2 zhi1 ji2
lit. the crisis of being hanged upside down (idiom); fig. extremely critical situation; dire straits

倒悬之苦 倒懸之苦 dao4 xuan2 zhi1 ku3
lit. the pain of being hanged upside down (idiom); fig. extremely critical situation; dire straits

倒悬之危 倒懸之危 dao4 xuan2 zhi1 wei1
lit. the crisis of being hanged upside down (idiom); fig. extremely critical situation; dire straits

道之所存,师之所存 道之所存,師之所存 dao4 zhi1 suo3 cun2 - shi1 zhi1 suo3 cun2
If sb has grasped the truth before you, take him as your teacher (Tang dynasty essayist Han Yu 韓愈|韩愈).; We should learn from one who knows the way.

德国之声 德國之聲 de2 guo2 zhi1 sheng1
Deutsche Welle, German publicly-operated international broadcaster

等而下之 等而下之 deng3 er2 xia4 zhi1
going from there to lower grades (idiom)

等闲之辈 等閒之輩 deng3 xian2 zhi1 bei4
(in the negative) (not) to be trifled with

低俗之风 低俗之風 di1 su2 zhi1 feng1
vulgar style (used of items to be censored)

点睛之笔 點睛之筆 dian3 jing1 zhi1 bi3
the brush stroke that dots in the eyes (idiom); fig. to add the vital finishing touch; the crucial point that brings the subject to life; a few words to clinch the point

鼎足之势 鼎足之勢 ding3 zu2 zhi1 shi4
competition between three rivals; tripartite confrontation

斗筲之材 斗筲之材 dou3 shao1 zhi1 cai2
person of limited capacity

斗筲之器 斗筲之器 dou3 shao1 zhi1 qi4
person narrow-minded and shortsighted

斗筲之人 斗筲之人 dou3 shao1 zhi1 ren2
a small-minded person; a bean-counter

斗牛士之歌 鬥牛士之歌 dou4 niu2 shi4 zhi1 ge1
Toreador Song (Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre), famous aria from opera Carmen 卡門|卡门 by Georges Bizet

断袖之癖 斷袖之癖 duan4 xiu4 zhi1 pi3
lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong

多事之秋 多事之秋 duo1 shi4 zhi1 qiu1
troubled times; eventful period

而立之年 而立之年 er2 li4 zhi1 nian2
aged thirty (see 三十而立)

二分之一 二分之一 er4 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one half

二十年目睹之怪现状 二十年目睹之怪現狀 er4 shi2 nian2 mu4 du3 zhi1 guai4 xian4 zhuang4
The Strange State of the World Witnessed Over 20 Years, novel by late Qing novelist Wu Jianren 吳趼人|吴趼人

二者之一 二者之一 er4 zhe3 zhi1 yi1
either

反其道而行之 反其道而行之 fan3 qi2 dao4 er2 xing2 zhi1
to do the very opposite; to act in a diametrically opposite way

反之 反之 fan3 zhi1
on the other hand...; conversely...

反之亦然 反之亦然 fan3 zhi1 yi4 ran2
vice versa

泛泛之交 泛泛之交 fan4 fan4 zhi1 jiao1
nodding acquaintance; slight familiarity

放之四海而皆准 放之四海而皆准 fang4 zhi1 si4 hai3 er2 jie1 zhun3
appropriate to any place and any time (idiom); universally applicable; a panacea

放之四海而皆准 放之四海而皆準 fang4 zhi1 si4 hai3 er2 jie1 zhun3
applicable anywhere (idiom)

非分之念 非分之念 fei1 fen4 zhi1 nian4
improper idea

非洲之角 非洲之角 fei1 zhou1 zhi1 jiao3
Horn of Africa

肺腑之言 肺腑之言 fei4 fu3 zhi1 yan2
words from the bottom of one's heart

分而治之 分而治之 fen1 er2 zhi4 zhi1
divide and rule (strategy); divide and conquer

分毫之差 分毫之差 fen1 hao2 zhi1 cha1
hairsbreadth difference

分之 分之 fen1 zhi1
(indicating a fraction)

风中之烛 風中之燭 feng1 zhong1 zhi1 zhu2
lit. candle in the wind (idiom); fig. (of sb's life) feeble; hanging on a thread

俯仰之间 俯仰之間 fu3 yang3 zhi1 jian1
in a flash

斧钺之诛 斧鉞之誅 fu3 yue4 zhi1 zhu1
to die by battle-ax (idiom); to be executed

覆巢之下无完卵 覆巢之下無完卵 fu4 chao2 zhi1 xia4 wu2 wan2 luan3
lit. when the nest is upset no egg is left intact (idiom); fig. when one falls in disgrace the whole family is doomed

妇人之仁 婦人之仁 fu4 ren2 zhi1 ren2
excessive tendency to clemency (idiom); soft-hearted (pejorative)

付之丙丁 付之丙丁 fu4 zhi1 bing3 ding1
to burn down (idiom)

付之东流 付之東流 fu4 zhi1 dong1 liu2
to commit to the waters (idiom); to lose sth irrevocably

付之度外 付之度外 fu4 zhi1 du4 wai4
to think nothing of doing sth (idiom); to do sth without considering the risks; to leave out of consideration

付之行动 付之行動 fu4 zhi1 xing2 dong4
to put into action; to transform into acts

付之一炬 付之一炬 fu4 zhi1 yi1 ju4
to put to the torch (idiom); to commit to the flames; to burn sth down deliberately

付之一叹 付之一歎 fu4 zhi1 yi1 tan4
to dismiss with a sigh (idiom); a hopeless case

付之一叹 付之一嘆 fu4 zhi1 yi1 tan4
to dismiss with a sigh (idiom); a hopeless case

付之一笑 付之一笑 fu4 zhi1 yi1 xiao4
to dismiss sth with a laugh (idiom); to laugh it off

概而言之 概而言之 gai4 er2 yan2 zhi1
same as 總而言之|总而言之

甘之如饴 甘之如飴 gan1 zhi1 ru2 yi2
lit. as sweet as syrup (idiom, from Book of Songs); to endure hardship gladly; a glutton for punishment

告之 告之 gao4 zhi1
to tell sb; to inform

公之于世 公之于世 gong1 zhi1 yu2 shi4
to announce to the world (idiom); to make public; to let everyone know

公之于众 公之於眾 gong1 zhi1 yu2 zhong4
to make known to the masses (idiom); to publicize widely; to let the world know

姑妄言之 姑妄言之 gu1 wang4 yan2 zhi1
to just talk for the sake of talking

骨鲠之臣 骨鯁之臣 gu3 geng3 zhi1 chen2
lit. fish bone of a minister (idiom); fig. person one can rely on for candid criticism

鼓盆之戚 鼓盆之戚 gu3 pen2 zhi1 qi1
drumming on a bowl in grief (idiom, refers to Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子 grieving for his lost wife); fig. grief for a lost wife

顾恺之 顧愷之 gu4 kai3 zhi1
Gu Kaizhi or Ku K'aichih (346-407), famous painter of Eastern Jin dynasty, one of the Four Great Painters of the Six dynasties 六朝四大家

官渡之战 官渡之戰 guan1 du4 zhi1 zhan4
battle of Guandu of 199 that established Cao Cao's 曹操 domination over north China, at Guandu (near modern 許昌|许昌 in north Henan)

关之琳 關之琳 guan1 zhi1 lin2
Rosamund Kwan (1962-), Hong Kong actress

广而告之广告公司 廣而告之廣告公司 guang3 er2 gao4 zhi1 guang3 gao4 gong1 si1
China Mass Media International Advertising Corp

国中之国 國中之國 guo2 zhong1 zhi1 guo2
state within a state

害群之马 害群之馬 hai4 qun2 zhi1 ma3
lit. a horse that brings trouble to its herd (idiom); fig. troublemaker; black sheep; rotten apple

害人之心不可有,防人之心不可无 害人之心不可有,防人之心不可無 hai4 ren2 zhi1 xin1 bu4 ke3 you3 - fang2 ren2 zhi1 xin1 bu4 ke3 wu2
refrain from hurting others, yet guard against those trying to hurt you (proverb)

颔首之交 頷首之交 han4 shou3 zhi1 jiao1
nodding acquaintance

好自为之 好自為之 hao3 zi4 wei2 zhi1
to do one's best; to shape up; to behave; to fend for oneself; you're on your own

好色之徒 好色之徒 hao4 se4 zhi1 tu2
lecher; womanizer; dirty old man

好事之徒 好事之徒 hao4 shi4 zhi1 tu2
busybody

涸辙之鲋 涸轍之鮒 he2 zhe2 zhi1 fu4
lit. a fish in a dried out rut (idiom); fig. a person in dire straits

恨之入骨 恨之入骨 hen4 zhi1 ru4 gu3
to hate sb to the bone (idiom)

侯景之乱 侯景之亂 hou2 jing3 zhi1 luan4
rebellion against Liang of the Southern Dynasties 南朝梁 in 548

后车之鉴 後車之鑒 hou4 che1 zhi1 jian4
lit. warning to the following cart (idiom); don't follow the track of an overturned cart; fig. draw lesson from the failure of one's predecessor; learn from past mistake; once bitten twice shy

后顾之忧 後顧之憂 hou4 gu4 zhi1 you1
fears of trouble in the rear (idiom); family worries (obstructing freedom of action); worries about the future consequences; often in negative expressions, meaning "no worries about anything"

后见之明 後見之明 hou4 jian4 zhi1 ming2
hindsight

后起之秀 後起之秀 hou4 qi3 zhi1 xiu4
an up-and-coming youngster; new talent; a brilliant younger generation

呼之即来 呼之即來 hu1 zhi1 ji2 lai2
to come when called (idiom); ready and compliant; always at sb's beck and call

呼之即来,挥之即去 呼之即來,揮之即去 hu1 zhi1 ji2 lai2 - hui1 zhi1 ji2 qu4
to come when called (idiom); ready and compliant; always at sb's beck and call

呼之欲出 呼之欲出 hu1 zhi1 yu4 chu1
lit. ready to appear at the call (idiom); fig. on the verge of coming out into the open; (of a person's choice etc) on the point of being disclosed; (of an artistic depiction) vividly portrayed

缓兵之计 緩兵之計 huan3 bing1 zhi1 ji4
delaying tactics; stalling; measures to stave off an attack; stratagem to win a respite

换而言之 換而言之 huan4 er2 yan2 zhi1
in other words

患难之交 患難之交 huan4 nan4 zhi1 jiao1
a friend in times of tribulations (idiom); a friend in need is a friend indeed

换言之 換言之 huan4 yan2 zhi1
in other words

黄巢之乱 黃巢之亂 huang2 chao2 zhi1 luan4
late Tang peasant uprising 875-884 led by Huang Chao

黄巾之乱 黃巾之亂 huang2 jin1 zhi1 luan4
the Yellow Turbans Peasant Uprising at the end of later Han (from 184)

挥之不去 揮之不去 hui1 zhi1 bu4 qu4
impossible to get rid of

回禄之灾 回祿之災 hui2 lu4 zhi1 zai1
to have one's house burned down; fire disaster

悔之无及 悔之無及 hui3 zhi1 wu2 ji2
too late for regrets (idiom); It is useless to repent after the event.

悔之已晚 悔之已晚 hui3 zhi1 yi3 wan3
too late to be sorry

笄之年 笄之年 ji1 zhi1 nian2
beginning of maturity (of a girl)

急人之难 急人之難 ji2 ren2 zhi1 nan4
anxious to help others resolve difficulties (idiom)

即兴之作 即興之作 ji2 xing4 zhi1 zuo4
improvisation

吉之岛 吉之島 ji2 zhi1 dao3
JUSCO, Japanese chain of hypermarkets

既来之,则安之 既來之,則安之 ji4 lai2 zhi1 - ze2 an1 zhi1
Since they have come, we should make them comfortable (idiom). Since we're here, take it easy.; Since this is so, we should accept it.; Now we have come, let's stay and take the rough with the smooth.; If you can't do anything to prevent it, you might as

加之 加之 jia1 zhi1
moreover; in addition to that

兼而有之 兼而有之 jian1 er2 you3 zhi1
to have both (at the same time)

简而言之 簡而言之 jian3 er2 yan2 zhi1
in a nutshell; to put it briefly

简言之 簡言之 jian3 yan2 zhi1
in simple terms; to put things simply; briefly

见之实施 見之實施 jian4 zhi1 shi2 shi1
to put into effect (idiom)

江酌之喜 江酌之喜 jiang1 zhuo2 zhi1 xi3
feast at the birth of a child

交臂失之 交臂失之 jiao1 bi4 shi1 zhi1
to miss sb by a narrow chance; to miss an opportunity

介之推 介之推 jie4 zhi1 tui1
Jie Zhitui (7th century BC), legendary selfless subject of Duke Wen of Jin 晉文公|晋文公, in whose honor the Qingming festival 清明 (Pure brightness or tomb-sweeping festival) is said to have been initiated

金兰之交 金蘭之交 jin1 lan2 zhi1 jiao1
intimate friendship (idiom)

尽地主之谊 盡地主之誼 jin4 di4 zhu3 zhi1 yi4
to act as host; to do the honors

进身之阶 進身之階 jin4 shen1 zhi1 jie1
stepping-stone to greater power or higher rank

惊弓之鸟 驚弓之鳥 jing1 gong1 zhi1 niao3
lit. a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow (idiom); fig. sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences

惊人之举 驚人之舉 jing1 ren2 zhi1 ju3
to astonish people (with a miraculous feat)

井底之蛙 井底之蛙 jing3 di3 zhi1 wa1
the frog at the bottom of the well (idiom); fig. a person of limited outlook and experience

井蛙之见 井蛙之見 jing3 wa1 zhi1 jian4
the view of a frog in a well (idiom); fig. a narrow view

敬而远之 敬而遠之 jing4 er2 yuan3 zhi1
to show respect from a distance (idiom); to remain at a respectful distance

敬鬼神而远之 敬鬼神而遠之 jing4 gui3 shen2 er2 yuan3 zhi1
to respect Gods and demons from a distance (idiom); to remain at a respectful distance

靖难之役 靖難之役 jing4 nan2 zhi1 yi4
war of 1402 between successors of the first Ming Emperor

久而久之 久而久之 jiu3 er2 jiu3 zhi1
over time; as time passes; in the fullness of time

九分之一 九分之一 jiu3 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one ninth

九牛二虎之力 九牛二虎之力 jiu3 niu2 er4 hu3 zhi1 li4
tremendous strength (idiom)

酒色之徒 酒色之徒 jiu3 se4 zhi1 tu2
follower of wine and women; dissolute person

久之 久之 jiu3 zhi1
for a long time

举手之劳 舉手之勞 ju3 shou3 zhi1 lao2
lit. the exertion of lifting one's hand (idiom); fig. a very slight effort

拒之门外 拒之門外 ju4 zhi1 men2 wai4
to lock one's door and refuse to see sb

涓埃之力 涓埃之力 juan1 ai1 zhi1 li4
negligible force (idiom); tiny force

眷眷之心 眷眷之心 juan4 juan4 zhi1 xin1
nostalgia; home-sickness; longing for departed beloved

君子之交 君子之交 jun1 zi3 zhi1 jiao1
friendship between gentlemen, insipid as water (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)

君子之交淡如水 君子之交淡如水 jun1 zi3 zhi1 jiao1 dan4 ru2 shui3
a gentleman's friendship, insipid as water (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)

可取之处 可取之處 ke3 qu3 zhi1 chu4
positive point; merit; redeeming quality

刻意为之 刻意為之 ke4 yi4 wei2 zhi1
to make a conscious effort; to do something deliberately

孔孟之道 孔孟之道 kong3 meng4 zhi1 dao4
the teaching of Confucius and Mencius

口腹之欲 口腹之慾 kou3 fu4 zhi1 yu4
desire for good food

夸大之词 誇大之詞 kua1 da4 zhi1 ci2
hyperbole; exaggeration

胯下之辱 胯下之辱 kua4 xia4 zhi1 ru3
lit. forced to crawl between sb's legs as humiliation (idiom); humiliation

郎之万 郎之萬 lang2 zhi1 wan4
Langevin (name)

牢狱之灾 牢獄之災 lao2 yu4 zhi1 zai1
imprisonment

老吾老,以及人之老 老吾老,以及人之老 lao3 wu2 lao3 - yi3 ji2 ren2 zhi1 lao3
to honor old people as we do our own aged parents

老吾老,以及人之老,幼吾幼,以及人之幼 老吾老,以及人之老,幼吾幼,以及人之幼 lao3 wu2 lao3 - yi3 ji2 ren2 zhi1 lao3 - you4 wu2 you4 - yi3 ji2 ren2 zhi1 you4
to honor old people as we do our own aged parents, and care for other's children as one's own

乐昌之镜 樂昌之鏡 le4 chang1 zhi1 jing4
happy wife-husband reunion

乐之 樂之 le4 zhi1
Ritz (cracker brand)

雷神之锤 雷神之錘 lei2 shen2 zhi1 chui2
Quake (video game series)

骊姬之乱 驪姬之亂 li2 ji1 zhi1 luan4
Li Ji Rebellion in 657-651 BC, where concubine Li Ji tried to throne her son but was eventually defeated by Duke Wen of Jin 晉文公|晋文公

炼之未定 煉之未定 lian4 zhi1 wei4 ding4
to spend a long time thinking about sth while unable to reach a decision

两国之间 兩國之間 liang3 guo2 zhi1 jian1
bilateral; between two countries

溜之大吉 溜之大吉 liu1 zhi1 da4 ji2
to steal away; to beat it

六分之一 六分之一 liu4 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one sixth

漏网之鱼 漏網之魚 lou4 wang3 zhi1 yu2
a fish that escaped the net (idiom); (fig.) sb or sth that slips through the net

罗洁爱尔之 羅潔愛爾之 luo2 jie2 ai4 er3 zhi1
Raziel, archangel in Judaism

略识之无 略識之無 lve4 shi2 zhi1 wu2
semi-literate; only knows words of one syllable; lit. to know only 之 and 無|无

满口之乎者也 滿口之乎者也 man3 kou3 zhi1 hu1 zhe3 ye3
mouth full of literary phrases; to spout the classics

耄耋之年 耄耋之年 mao4 die2 zhi1 nian2
old age (in one's 80s, 90s, or more)

冒天下之大不韪 冒天下之大不韙 mao4 tian1 xia4 zhi1 da4 bu4 wei3
see 冒大不韙|冒大不韪

美国之音 美國之音 mei3 guo2 zhi1 yin1
Voice of America (VOA)

门户之见 門戶之見 men2 hu4 zhi1 jian4
sectarian bias; parochialism

弥留之际 彌留之際 mi2 liu2 zhi1 ji4
on one's deathbed; at the point of death

靡靡之音 靡靡之音 mi3 mi3 zhi1 yin1
decadent or obscene music

冥冥之中 冥冥之中 ming2 ming2 zhi1 zhong1
in the unseen world of spirits; mysteriously and inexorably

明智之举 明智之舉 ming2 zhi4 zhi1 ju3
sensible act

莫逆之交 莫逆之交 mo4 ni4 zhi1 jiao1
intimate friendship; bosom buddies

漠然置之 漠然置之 mo4 ran2 zhi4 zhi1
to set to one side and ignore (idiom); quite indifferent; cold and uncaring

牧师之职 牧師之職 mu4 shi1 zhi1 zhi2
ministry

难言之隐 難言之隱 nan2 yan2 zhi1 yin3
a hidden trouble hard to mention (idiom); sth too embarrassing to mention; an embarrassing illness

拟古之作 擬古之作 ni3 gu3 zhi1 zuo4
a work in a classic style; a pastiche

逆耳之言 逆耳之言 ni4 er3 zhi1 yan2
speech that grates on the ear (idiom); bitter truths; home truths (that one does not want to hear)

年之久 年之久 nian2 zhi1 jiu3
period of ... years

欧洲之星 歐洲之星 ou1 zhou1 zhi1 xing1
Eurostar (train line)

偶一为之 偶一為之 ou3 yi1 wei2 zhi1
to do sth once in a while (idiom); to do sth more as an exception than the rule

皮肉之苦 皮肉之苦 pi2 rou4 zhi1 ku3
physical pain; lit. skin and flesh suffer

贫无立锥之地 貧無立錐之地 pin2 wu2 li4 zhui1 zhi1 di4
not even enough land to stand an awl (idiom); absolutely destitute

平庸之辈 平庸之輩 ping2 yong1 zhi1 bei4
a nobody; a nonentity

破竹之势 破竹之勢 po4 zhu2 zhi1 shi4
lit. a force to smash bamboo (idiom); fig. irresistible force

七分之一 七分之一 qi1 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one seventh

七年之痒 七年之癢 qi1 nian2 zhi1 yang3
seven-year itch

齐人之福 齊人之福 qi2 ren2 zhi1 fu2
lit. the happy fate of the man from Qi (who had a wife and a concubine) (idiom); fig. (ironically) the joy of having several partners; the life of a pasha

祁奚之荐 祁奚之薦 qi2 xi1 zhi1 jian4
Qi Xi's recommendation (idiom); recommending the best person for the job independent of factional loyalty

杞国之忧 杞國之憂 qi3 guo2 zhi1 you1
man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears

杞人之忧 杞人之憂 qi3 ren2 zhi1 you1
man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears

杞天之虑 杞天之慮 qi3 tian1 zhi1 lv4
man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears

杞梓之林 杞梓之林 qi3 zi3 zhi1 lin2
forest of wolfberry and catalpa (Lycium chinense and Catalpa ovata, idiom); fig. great quantity of talent

弃之如敝屣 棄之如敝屣 qi4 zhi1 ru2 bi4 xi3
to toss away like a pair of worn-out shoes (idiom)

千里之堤,溃于蚁穴 千里之堤,潰於蟻穴 qian1 li3 zhi1 di1 - kui4 yu2 yi3 xue2
An ant hole causing the collapse of a great dike.; Huge damage from a moment's negligence. (idiom)

千里之外 千里之外 qian1 li3 zhi1 wai4
thousand miles distant

千里之行,始于足下 千里之行,始於足下 qian1 li3 zhi1 xing2 - shi3 yu2 zu2 xia4
lit. a thousand mile journey begins with the first step; fig. big accomplishments come from an accumulation of little achievements made one by one

前车之覆,后车之鉴 前車之覆,後車之鑒 qian2 che1 zhi1 fu4 - hou4 che1 zhi1 jian4
lit. the cart in front overturns, a warning to the following cart (idiom); fig. draw lesson from the failure of one's predecessor; learn from past mistake; once bitten twice shy

前车之鉴 前車之鑒 qian2 che1 zhi1 jian4
to learn a lesson from the mistakes of one's predecessor (idiom)

前事不忘,后事之师 前事不忘,後事之師 qian2 shi4 bu4 wang4 - hou4 shi4 zhi1 shi1
don't forget past events, they can guide you in future (idiom); benefit from past experience

钱是万恶之源 錢是萬惡之源 qian2 shi4 wan4 e4 zhi1 yuan2
Money is the root of all evil.

将伯之助 將伯之助 qiang1 bo2 zhi1 zhu4
assistance that one gets from another

强弩之末 強弩之末 qiang2 nu3 zhi1 mo4
lit. an arrow at the end of its flight (idiom); fig. spent force

乔迁之喜 喬遷之喜 qiao2 qian1 zhi1 xi3
congratulations on house-moving or promotion (idiom); Best wishes for your new home!

巧妇难为无米之炊 巧婦難為無米之炊 qiao3 fu4 nan2 wei2 wu2 mi3 zhi1 chui1
The cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice (idiom); You won't get anywhere without equipment.

切肤之痛 切膚之痛 qie4 fu1 zhi1 tong4
keenly felt pain; bitter anguish

切骨之仇 切骨之仇 qie4 gu3 zhi1 chou2
bitter hatred; hatred that cuts to the bone

勤俭为服务之本 勤儉為服務之本 qin2 jian3 wei2 fu2 wu4 zhi1 ben3
hardwork and thriftiness are the foundations of service (idiom)

情急之下 情急之下 qing2 ji2 zhi1 xia4
in a moment of desperation

顷之 頃之 qing3 zhi1
in a moment; shortly after

求之不得 求之不得 qiu2 zhi1 bu4 de2
lit. seek but fail to get (idiom); fig. exactly what one’s been looking for

趋之若鹜 趨之若鶩 qu1 zhi1 ruo4 wu4
to rush like ducks (idiom); the mob scrabbles madly for sth unobtainable; an unruly crowd on a wild goose chase

取而代之 取而代之 qu3 er2 dai4 zhi1
to substitute for sb; to remove and replace

取之不尽,用之不竭 取之不盡,用之不竭 qu3 zhi1 bu4 jin4 - yong4 zhi1 bu4 jie2
limitless supply (of); inexhaustible

去取之间 去取之間 qu4 qu3 zhi1 jian1
undecided between taking and leaving

权宜之策 權宜之策 quan2 yi2 zhi1 ce4
stratagem of convenience (idiom); stop-gap measure; makeshift plan; interim step

权宜之计 權宜之計 quan2 yi2 zhi1 ji4
plan of convenience (idiom); stop-gap measure; makeshift stratagem; interim step

却之不恭 卻之不恭 que4 zhi1 bu4 gong1
to refuse would be impolite

群起而攻之 群起而攻之 qun2 qi3 er2 gong1 zhi1
the masses rise to attack it (idiom); Everyone is against the idea.; universally abhorrent

燃眉之急 燃眉之急 ran2 mei2 zhi1 ji2
lit. the fire burns one's eyebrows (idiom); fig. desperate situation; extreme emergency

人非生而知之者,孰能无惑 人非生而知之者,孰能無惑 ren2 fei1 sheng1 er2 zhi1 zhi1 zhe3 - shu2 neng2 wu2 huo4
Knowledge is not innate to man, how can we overcome doubt?; We are not born with knowledge, how does one achieve maturity? (i.e. without guidance from a teacher - Tang dynasty essayist Han Yu 韓愈|韩愈)

人之常情 人之常情 ren2 zhi1 chang2 qing2
human nature (idiom); a behavior that is only natural

人之初,性本善 人之初,性本善 ren2 zhi1 chu1 - xing4 ben3 shan4
man at birth is fundamentally good in nature; the first two lines of Three Character Classic 三字經|三字经

人之将死,其言也善 人之將死,其言也善 ren2 zhi1 jiang1 si3 - qi2 yan2 ye3 shan4
words of a man on his deathbed always come from the heart (proverb)

如簧之舌 如簧之舌 ru2 huang2 zhi1 she2
lit. a tongue like a reed (idiom); fig. a glib tongue

萨尔浒之战 薩爾滸之戰 sa4 er3 hu3 zhi1 zhan4
Battle of Sarhu in 1619, in which the Manchus under Nurhaci 努爾哈赤|努尔哈赤 crushed four Ming armies

三寸不烂之舌 三寸不爛之舌 san1 cun4 bu4 lan4 zhi1 she2
to have a silver tongue; to have the gift of the gab

三藩之乱 三藩之亂 san1 fan1 zhi1 luan4
Three feudatories rebellion against Qing 1673-1681 during the reign of Kangxi

三分之一 三分之一 san1 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one third

丧家之狗 喪家之狗 sang4 jia1 zhi1 gou3
see 喪家之犬|丧家之犬

丧家之犬 喪家之犬 sang4 jia1 zhi1 quan3
stray dog (idiom)

沙漠之狐 沙漠之狐 sha1 mo4 zhi1 hu2
Desert Fox

伤弓之鸟 傷弓之鳥 shang1 gong1 zhi1 niao3
see 驚弓之鳥|惊弓之鸟

上上之策 上上之策 shang4 shang4 zhi1 ce4
the best policy; the best thing one can do in the circumstances

少之又少 少之又少 shao3 zhi1 you4 shao3
very few; very little

少年之家 少年之家 shao4 nian2 zhi1 jia1
children's center; children's club

身外之物 身外之物 shen1 wai4 zhi1 wu4
mere worldly possessions

绳之以法 繩之以法 sheng2 zhi1 yi3 fa3
to punish according to the law; to bring to justice

胜之不武 勝之不武 sheng4 zhi1 bu4 wu3
(fig.) to fight a one-sided battle; to have an unfair advantage in a contest

失败是成功之母 失敗是成功之母 shi1 bai4 shi4 cheng2 gong1 zhi1 mu3
Failure is the mother of success.

失之东隅,收之桑榆 失之東隅,收之桑榆 shi1 zhi1 dong1 yu2 - shou1 zhi1 sang1 yu2
to lose at sunrise but gain at sunset (idiom); to compensate later for one's earlier loss; what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts

失之毫厘,差以千里 失之毫釐,差以千里 shi1 zhi1 hao2 li2 - cha4 yi3 qian1 li3
a tiny lapse can lead to a huge mistake (idiom); a minor discrepancy leading to enormous losses

失之毫厘,差之千里 失之毫釐,差之千里 shi1 zhi1 hao2 li2 - cha4 zhi1 qian1 li3
a tiny lapse can lead to a huge mistake (idiom); a minor discrepancy leading to enormous losses

失之毫厘,谬以千里 失之毫厘,謬以千里 shi1 zhi1 hao2 li2 - miu4 yi3 qian1 li3
a tiny lapse can lead to a huge mistake (idiom); a minor discrepancy leading to enormous losses

失之交臂 失之交臂 shi1 zhi1 jiao1 bi4
to miss narrowly; to let a great opportunity slip

十分之一 十分之一 shi2 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one tenth

十之八九 十之八九 shi2 zhi1 ba1 jiu3
most likely; mostly (in 8 or 9 cases out of 10); vast majority

食之无味,弃之不甘 食之無味,棄之不甘 shi2 zhi1 wu2 wei4 - qi4 zhi1 bu4 gan1
see 食之無味,棄之可惜|食之无味,弃之可惜

食之无味,弃之可惜 食之無味,棄之可惜 shi2 zhi1 wu2 wei4 - qi4 zhi1 ke3 xi1
lit. to be hardly worth eating, but it would still be a pity to discard it (idiom); fig. some things have little to no value, yet one is still reluctant to part with them

舐犊之爱 舐犢之愛 shi4 du2 zhi1 ai4
the love of a cow licking her calf (idiom); parental love

世禄之家 世祿之家 shi4 lu4 zhi1 jia1
family with hereditary emoluments

世袭之争 世襲之爭 shi4 xi2 zhi1 zheng1
succession struggle; dispute over inheritance

收之桑榆 收之桑榆 shou1 zhi1 sang1 yu2
see 失之東隅,收之桑榆|失之东隅,收之桑榆

首善之区 首善之區 shou3 shan4 zhi1 qu1
the finest place in the nation (often used in reference to the capital city); also written 首善之地

手无缚鸡之力 手無縛雞之力 shou3 wu2 fu4 ji1 zhi1 li4
without the strength to truss a chicken

手足之情 手足之情 shou3 zu2 zhi1 qing2
brotherly affection

授之以鱼不如授之以渔 授之以魚不如授之以漁 shou4 zhi1 yi3 yu2 bu4 ru2 shou4 zhi1 yi3 yu2
give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime (idiom)

束之高阁 束之高閣 shu4 zhi1 gao1 ge2
tied up in a bundle on a high shelf; to put sth on the back burner; no longer a high priority

衰之以属 衰之以屬 shuai1 zhi1 yi3 shu3
to treat a debility according to its nature

瞬息之间 瞬息之間 shun4 xi1 zhi1 jian1
in the wink of an eye; in a flash

丝绸之路 絲綢之路 si1 chou2 zhi1 lu4
the Silk Road

司马昭之心路人皆知 司馬昭之心路人皆知 si1 ma3 zhao1 zhi1 xin1 lu4 ren2 jie1 zhi1
lit. Sima Zhao's intentions are obvious to everyone (idiom); fig. an open secret

思之心痛 思之心痛 si1 zhi1 xin1 tong4
a thought that causes heartache (idiom)

死无葬身之地 死無葬身之地 si3 wu2 zang4 shen1 zhi1 di4
to die without a burial site; to die a pauper; a tragic end

四分之一 四分之一 si4 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one-quarter

四海之内皆兄弟 四海之內皆兄弟 si4 hai3 zhi1 nei4 jie1 xiong1 di4
all men are brothers

苏联之友社 蘇聯之友社 su1 lian2 zhi1 you3 she4
Soviet Union friendly society

随之 隨之 sui2 zhi1
thereupon; subsequently; accordingly

随之而后 隨之而後 sui2 zhi1 er2 hou4
from that; following from that; after that

所到之处 所到之處 suo3 dao4 zhi1 chu4
wherever one goes

他山之石可以攻玉 他山之石可以攻玉 ta1 shan1 zhi1 shi2 ke3 yi3 gong1 yu4
lit. the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiom); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside; to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively

泰然处之 泰然處之 tai4 ran2 chu3 zhi1
to handle the situation calmly (idiom); unruffled; to treat the situation lightly

贪婪是万恶之源 貪婪是萬惡之源 tan1 lan2 shi4 wan4 e4 zhi1 yuan2
Greed is the root of all evil.

贪天之功 貪天之功 tan1 tian1 zhi1 gong1
to claim credit for other people's achievements (idiom)

弹指之间 彈指之間 tan2 zhi3 zhi1 jian1
a snap of the fingers (idiom); in an instant; in a short moment; in a flash; in the twinkling of an eye

堂而皇之 堂而皇之 tang2 er2 huang2 zhi1
overt; to make no secret (of one's presence); grandiose; with great scope

饕餮之徒 饕餮之徒 tao1 tie4 zhi1 tu2
glutton; gourmand; by extension, person who is greedy for power, money, sex etc

逃之夭夭 逃之夭夭 tao2 zhi1 yao1 yao1
to escape without trace (idiom); to make one's getaway (from the scene of a crime); to show a clean pair of heels

体育之窗 體育之窗 ti3 yu4 zhi1 chuang1
Window on Sports

天府之国 天府之國 tian1 fu3 zhi1 guo2
land of plenty; Heavenly province (epithet of Sichuan, esp. area around Chengdu)

天伦之乐 天倫之樂 tian1 lun2 zhi1 le4
family love and joy; domestic bliss

天壤之别 天壤之別 tian1 rang3 zhi1 bie2
lit. as different as sky and earth (idiom); fig. night and day difference; opposite extremes; a world of difference; a far cry from

天无绝人之路 天無絕人之路 tian1 wu2 jue2 ren2 zhi1 lu4
Heaven never bars one's way (idiom); don't despair and you will find a way through.; Never give up hope.; Never say die.

天渊之别 天淵之別 tian1 yuan1 zhi1 bie2
a complete contrast; totally different

天作之合 天作之合 tian1 zuo4 zhi1 he2
a match made in heaven (idiom)

恬愉之安 恬愉之安 tian2 yu2 zhi1 an1
comfortably at peace (idiom)

听之任之 聽之任之 ting1 zhi1 ren4 zhi1
to take a laissez-faire attitude

脱缰之马 脫韁之馬 tuo1 jiang1 zhi1 ma3
lit. a horse that has thrown off the reins (idiom); runaway horse; out of control

完璧之身 完璧之身 wan2 bi4 zhi1 shen1
undefiled (girl); virgin; (of computer system) clean; uncorrupted

玩偶之家 玩偶之家 wan2 ou3 zhi1 jia1
Doll's House (1879), drama by Ibsen 易卜生

万恶之源 萬惡之源 wan4 e4 zhi1 yuan2
the root of all evil

万人之敌 萬人之敵 wan4 ren2 zhi1 di2
a match for ten thousand enemies

王夫之 王夫之 wang2 fu1 zhi1
Wang Fuzhi (1619-1692), wide-ranging scholar of the Ming-Qing transition

亡命之徒 亡命之徒 wang2 ming4 zhi1 tu2
runaway (idiom); desperate criminal; fugitive

王羲之 王羲之 wang2 xi1 zhi1
Wang Xizhi (303-361), famous calligrapher of Eastern Jin, known as the sage of calligraphy 書聖|书圣

违心之言 違心之言 wei2 xin1 zhi1 yan2
false assertion; speech against one's own convictions

未解之谜 未解之謎 wei4 jie3 zhi1 mi2
unsolved mystery

未竟之志 未竟之志 wei4 jing4 zhi1 zhi4
unfulfilled ambition

味之素 味之素 wei4 zhi1 su4
Ajinomoto, Japanese food and chemical corporation

问罪之师 問罪之師 wen4 zui4 zhi1 shi1
punitive force; a person setting out to deliver severe reproach

瓮中之鳖 甕中之鱉 weng4 zhong1 zhi1 bie1
lit. like a turtle in a jar; to be trapped (idiom)

巫蛊之祸 巫蠱之禍 wu1 gu3 zhi1 huo4
91 BC attempted coup d'etat against Emperor Wu of Han 漢武帝|汉武帝, beginning with accusations of witchcraft

乌合之众 烏合之眾 wu1 he2 zhi1 zhong4
mob

无稽之谈 無稽之談 wu2 ji1 zhi1 tan2
complete nonsense (idiom)

无价之宝 無價之寶 wu2 jia4 zhi1 bao3
priceless treasure

无用之树 無用之樹 wu2 yong4 zhi1 shu4
useless person (originally from Zhuangzi's "A Happy Excursion" 逍遙遊|逍遥游)

五分之一 五分之一 wu3 fen1 zhi1 yi1
one fifth

先见之明 先見之明 xian1 jian4 zhi1 ming2
foresight

先天下之忧而忧,后天下之乐而乐 先天下之憂而憂,後天下之樂而樂 xian1 tian1 xia4 zhi1 you1 er2 you1 - hou4 tian1 xia4 zhi1 le4 er2 le4
The first concern is affairs of state, enjoying the pleasure comes later. Quotation from essay On Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記|岳阳楼记 by Song writer Fan Zhongyan 範仲淹|范仲淹

先王之道 先王之道 xian1 wang2 zhi1 dao4
the way of former kings

先王之乐 先王之樂 xian1 wang2 zhi1 yue4
the music of former kings

先王之政 先王之政 xian1 wang2 zhi1 zheng4
the rule of former kings

弦而鼓之 弦而鼓之 xian2 er2 gu3 zhi1
lit. to tune one's zither then play it; fig. to live by the consequences of one's actions; to make one's bed then lie on it

弦外之响 弦外之響 xian2 wai4 zhi1 xiang3
see 弦外之音

弦外之意 弦外之意 xian2 wai4 zhi1 yi4
see 弦外之音

弦外之音 弦外之音 xian2 wai4 zhi1 yin1
overtone (music); (fig.) connotation; implied meaning

相比之下 相比之下 xiang1 bi3 zhi1 xia4
by comparison

霄壤之别 霄壤之別 xiao1 rang3 zhi1 bie2
huge difference

心腹之患 心腹之患 xin1 fu4 zhi1 huan4
lit. calamity within one's bosom (idiom); major trouble hidden within

星星之火 星星之火 xing1 xing5 zhi1 huo3
a single spark (idiom); an insignificant cause can have a massive effect

星星之火,可以燎原 星星之火,可以燎原 xing1 xing5 zhi1 huo3 - ke3 yi3 liao2 yuan2
a single spark can start a huge blaze (idiom); an insignificant cause can have a massive effect

刑名之学 刑名之學 xing2 ming2 zhi1 xue2
criminal law, pre-Han legalist school

行之有效 行之有效 xing2 zhi1 you3 xiao4
to be effective (idiom)

需要是发明之母 需要是發明之母 xu1 yao4 shi4 fa1 ming2 zhi1 mu3
Necessity is the mother of invention (European proverb).

玄武门之变 玄武門之變 xuan2 wu3 men2 zhi1 bian4
Xuanwu gate coup of June 626 in early Tang, in which Li Shimin 李世民 killed his brothers, seized the throne from his father as Emperor Taizong 唐太宗

玄之又玄 玄之又玄 xuan2 zhi1 you4 xuan2
mystery within a mystery; the mysteries of the Dao according to Laozi 老子

言外之意 言外之意 yan2 wai4 zhi1 yi4
unspoken implication (idiom); the actual meaning of what was said

言下之意 言下之意 yan2 xia4 zhi1 yi4
implication

言之无物 言之無物 yan2 zhi1 wu2 wu4
(of a writing etc) to have no substance (idiom); to carry no weight

言之有物 言之有物 yan2 zhi1 you3 wu4
(of one's words) to have substance

燕雀安知鸿鹄之志 燕雀安知鴻鵠之志 yan4 que4 an1 zhi1 hong2 hu2 zhi1 zhi4
lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom); fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?

燕雀焉知鸿鹄之志 燕雀焉知鴻鵠之志 yan4 que4 yan1 zhi1 hong2 gu3 zhi1 zhi4
lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom); fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?

砚田之食 硯田之食 yan4 tian2 zhi1 shi2
to make a living by writing (idiom)

养生之道 養生之道 yang3 sheng1 zhi1 dao4
the way of maintaining good health

瑶之圃 瑤之圃 yao2 zhi1 pu3
jade garden of celestial ruler; paradise

要之 要之 yao4 zhi1
in brief; in a word

一臂之力 一臂之力 yi1 bi4 zhi1 li4
(lend) a helping hand

一技之长 一技之長 yi1 ji4 zhi1 chang2
proficiency in a particular field (idiom); skill in a specialized area (idiom)

一家之主 一家之主 yi1 jia1 zhi1 zhu3
master of the house; family head

一箭之仇 一箭之仇 yi1 jian4 zhi1 chou2
a wrong suffered (idiom); old grievance; previous defeat

一掬同情之泪 一掬同情之淚 yi1 ju1 tong2 qing2 zhi1 lei4
to shed tears of sympathy (idiom)

一孔之见 一孔之見 yi1 kong3 zhi1 jian4
partial view; limited outlook

一面之词 一面之詞 yi1 mian4 zhi1 ci2
one side of the story; one-sided statement

一面之交 一面之交 yi1 mian4 zhi1 jiao1
to have met once; casual acquaintance

一年之计在于春 一年之計在於春 yi1 nian2 zhi1 ji4 zai4 yu2 chun1
the whole year must be planned for in the spring (idiom); early planning is the key to success

一念之差 一念之差 yi1 nian4 zhi1 cha1
momentary slip; false step; ill-considered action

一气之下 一氣之下 yi1 qi4 zhi1 xia4
in a fit of pique; in a fury

一丘之貉 一丘之貉 yi1 qiu1 zhi1 he2
jackals of the same tribe (idiom); fig. They are all just as bad as each other.

一日之计在于晨 一日之計在於晨 yi1 ri4 zhi1 ji4 zai4 yu2 chen2
make your day's plan early in the morning (idiom); early morning is the golden time of the day

一日之雅 一日之雅 yi1 ri4 zhi1 ya3
lit. friends for a day (idiom); fig. casual acquaintance

一席之地 一席之地 yi1 xi2 zhi1 di4
(acknowledged) place; a role to play; niche

一线之隔 一線之隔 yi1 xian4 zhi1 ge2
a fine line; a fine distinction

一线之间 一線之間 yi1 xian4 zhi1 jian1
a hair's breadth apart; a fine line; a fine distinction

一笑了之 一笑了之 yi1 xiao4 liao3 zhi1
to laugh away (instead of taking seriously)

一笑置之 一笑置之 yi1 xiao4 zhi4 zhi1
to dismiss with a laugh; to make light of

一言以蔽之 一言以蔽之 yi1 yan2 yi3 bi4 zhi1
one word says it all (idiom, from Analects); to cut a long story short; in a nutshell

一之为甚 一之為甚 yi1 zhi1 wei2 shen4
Once is enough (idiom)

一之谓甚 一之謂甚 yi1 zhi1 wei4 shen4
see 一之為甚|一之为甚

一字之师 一字之師 yi1 zi4 zhi1 shi1
one who can correct a misread or misspelt character and thus be your master

一走了之 一走了之 yi1 zou3 liao3 zhi1
to avoid a problem by walking away from it; to quit

以其人之道,还治其人之身 以其人之道,還治其人之身 yi3 qi2 ren2 zhi1 dao4 - huan2 zhi4 qi2 ren2 zhi1 shen1
to use an opponent's own methods to obtain retribution (idiom, from Song dynasty neo-Confucianist Zhu Xi 朱熹); to get revenge by playing sb back at his own game; to give sb a taste of his own medicine

以小人之心,度君子之腹 以小人之心,度君子之腹 yi3 xiao3 ren2 zhi1 xin1 - duo2 jun1 zi3 zhi1 fu4
to gauge the heart of a gentleman with one's own mean measure (idiom)

以子之矛,攻子之盾 以子之矛,攻子之盾 yi3 zi3 zhi1 mao2 - gong1 zi3 zhi1 dun4
lit. use sb's spear to attack his shield (idiom, derived from Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子); turning a weapon against its owner; fig. to attack an opponent using his own devices; hoist with his own petard

意料之外 意料之外 yi4 liao4 zhi1 wai4
contrary to expectation; unexpected

意料之中 意料之中 yi4 liao4 zhi1 zhong1
to come as no surprise; as expected

溢美之词 溢美之詞 yi4 mei3 zhi1 ci2
flattering words; inflated praise

易言之 易言之 yi4 yan2 zhi1
in other words

义之所在 義之所在 yi4 zhi1 suo3 zai4
justice is to be found everywhere (idiom)

因父之名 因父之名 yin1 fu4 zhi1 ming2
in the Name of the Father (in Christian worship)

音乐之声 音樂之聲 yin1 yue4 zhi1 sheng1
The Sound of Music, Broadway musical (1959) and Academy Award-winning movie (1965)

引玉之砖 引玉之磚 yin3 yu4 zhi1 zhuan1
lit. a brick thrown after a jade; enticing sb to come forward (idiom)

应仁之乱 應仁之亂 ying1 ren2 zhi1 luan4
Ōnin war 1467-1477 between factions of Ashikaga shogunate

英雄无用武之地 英雄無用武之地 ying1 xiong2 wu2 yong4 wu3 zhi1 di4
a hero with no chance of using his might; to have no opportunity to display one's talents

用武之地 用武之地 yong4 wu3 zhi1 di4
ample scope for abilities; favorable position for the use of one's skills (idiom)

犹之乎 猶之乎 you2 zhi1 hu1
just like (sth)

有夫之妇 有夫之婦 you3 fu1 zhi1 fu4
married woman

有过之而无不及 有過之而無不及 you3 guo4 zhi1 er2 wu2 bu4 ji2
not to be inferior in any aspects (idiom); to surpass; to outdo; (derog.) to be even worse

有识之士 有識之士 you3 shi2 zhi1 shi4
a person with knowledge and experience (idiom)

有则改之,无则加勉 有則改之,無則加勉 you3 ze2 gai3 zhi1 - wu2 ze2 jia1 mian3
correct any mistakes you made, but maintain your good record if you did not make them (idiom)

幼吾幼,以及人之幼 幼吾幼,以及人之幼 you4 wu2 you4 - yi3 ji2 ren2 zhi1 you4
to care for other's children as one's own

于归之喜 于歸之喜 yu2 gui1 zhi1 xi3
the joy of matrimony (polite phrase referring to a young woman)

鱼米之乡 魚米之鄉 yu2 mi3 zhi1 xiang1
(lit.) land of fish and rice; (fig.) fertile region; land of milk and honey

鱼水之欢 魚水之歡 yu2 shui3 zhi1 huan1
the pleasure of close intimacy in a couple (idiom); sexual intercourse

于雾霭之中 於霧靄之中 yu2 wu4 ai3 zhi1 zhong1
to be beclouded

寓管理于服务之中 寓管理于服務之中 yu4 guan3 li3 yu2 fu2 wu4 zhi1 zhong1
integrated services management

欲加之罪,何患无辞 欲加之罪,何患無辭 yu4 jia1 zhi1 zui4 - he2 huan4 wu2 ci2
If you want to condemn sb, don't worry about the pretext (idiom, from Zuozhuan 左傳|左传); one can always trump up a charge against sb; Give a dog a bad name, then hang him.

援助之手 援助之手 yuan2 zhu4 zhi1 shou3
a helping hand

运筹帷幄之中,决胜千里之外 運籌帷幄之中,決勝千里之外 yun4 chou2 wei2 wo4 zhi1 zhong1 - jue2 sheng4 qian1 li3 zhi1 wai4
a general planning in the seclusion of his tent is able to determine the outcome of the distant battle (idiom)

在此之后 在此之後 zai4 ci3 zhi1 hou4
after this; afterwards; next

在此之际 在此之際 zai4 ci3 zhi1 ji4
meanwhile; at the same time

在此之前 在此之前 zai4 ci3 zhi1 qian2
before that; beforehand; previously

在天之灵 在天之靈 zai4 tian1 zhi1 ling2
soul and spirit of the deceased

在这之前 在這之前 zai4 zhe4 zhi1 qian2
before then; up until that point

炸弹之父 炸彈之父 zha4 dan4 zhi1 fu4
Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power (ATBIP), or Father of All Bombs, a powerful Russian bomb

炸弹之母 炸彈之母 zha4 dan4 zhi1 mu3
Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB), or Mother of All Bombs, a powerful American bomb

张易之 張易之 zhang1 yi4 zhi1
Zhang Yizhi (-705), Tang dynasty politician and favorite of Empress Wu Zetian 武則天|武则天

张之洞 張之洞 zhang1 zhi1 dong4
Zhang Zhidong (1837-1909), prominent politician in late Qing

之后 之後 zhi1 hou4
afterwards; following; later; after

之乎者也 之乎者也 zhi1 hu1 zhe3 ye3
four common characters of classical Chinese (idiom); fig. semi-incomprehensible talk; double Dutch; all Greek to me

之际 之際 zhi1 ji4
during; at the time of

之间 之間 zhi1 jian1
between; among; inter-

芝兰之室 芝蘭之室 zhi1 lan2 zhi1 shi4
lit. a room with irises and orchids (idiom); fig. in wealthy and pleasant company

之类 之類 zhi1 lei4
and so on; and such

之内 之內 zhi1 nei4
inside; within

知其不可而为之 知其不可而為之 zhi1 qi2 bu4 ke3 er2 wei2 zhi1
to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom)

之前 之前 zhi1 qian2
before; prior to; ago; previously; beforehand

之上 之上 zhi1 shang4
above

之所以 之所以 zhi1 suo3 yi3
the reason why

之外 之外 zhi1 wai4
outside; excluding

之下 之下 zhi1 xia4
under; beneath; less than

之一 之一 zhi1 yi1
one of (sth); one out of a multitude; one (third, quarter, percent etc)

知遇之恩 知遇之恩 zhi1 yu4 zhi1 en1
lit. the kindness of recognizing sb's worth and employing him (idiom); patronage; protection

知之甚微 知之甚微 zhi1 zhi1 shen4 wei1
to know very little about

之至 之至 zhi1 zhi4
extremely

之中 之中 zhi1 zhong1
inside; among; in the midst of (doing sth); during

之字路 之字路 zhi1 zi4 lu4
zigzag road; switchback

之字形 之字形 zhi1 zi4 xing2
Z-shaped; zigzag

置之不理 置之不理 zhi4 zhi1 bu4 li3
to pay no heed to (idiom); to ignore; to brush aside

置之不问 置之不問 zhi4 zhi1 bu4 wen4
to pass by without showing interest (idiom)

置之度外 置之度外 zhi4 zhi1 du4 wai4
to give no thought to; to have no regard for; to disregard

置之脑后 置之腦後 zhi4 zhi1 nao3 hou4
to banish from one's thoughts; to ignore; to take no notice

置之死地 置之死地 zhi4 zhi1 si3 di4
to place sb on field of death; to confront with mortal danger; to give sb no way out; with one's back to the wall; looking death in the eye; part of idiom 置之死地而後生|置之死地而后生

置之死地而后生 置之死地而後生 zhi4 zhi1 si3 di4 er2 hou4 sheng1
place sb on a field of death and he will fight to live (idiom based on Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法); to fight desperately when confronting mortal danger; fig. to find a way out of an impasse

终天之恨 終天之恨 zhong1 tian1 zhi1 hen4
eternal regret

众矢之的 眾矢之的 zhong4 shi3 zhi1 di4
lit. target of a multitude of arrows (idiom); the butt of public criticism; attacked on all sides

仲夏夜之梦 仲夏夜之夢 zhong4 xia4 ye4 zhi1 meng4
Midsummer night's dream, comedy by William Shakespeare 莎士比亞|莎士比亚

重中之重 重中之重 zhong4 zhong1 zhi1 zhong4
of the utmost importance; of highest priority

诛心之论 誅心之論 zhu1 xin1 zhi1 lun4
a devastating criticism; to expose hidden motives

竹马之交 竹馬之交 zhu2 ma3 zhi1 jiao1
childhood friend (idiom)

竹马之友 竹馬之友 zhu2 ma3 zhi1 you3
see 竹馬之交|竹马之交

助人为快乐之本 助人為快樂之本 zhu4 ren2 wei2 kuai4 le4 zhi1 ben3
pleasure from helping others

自然之友 自然之友 zi4 ran2 zhi1 you3
Friends of Nature (Chinese environmental NGO)

自知之明 自知之明 zi4 zhi1 zhi1 ming2
knowing oneself (idiom); self-knowledge

总而言之 總而言之 zong3 er2 yan2 zhi1
in short; in a word; in brief

总角之好 總角之好 zong3 jiao3 zhi1 hao3
childhood friend (idiom)

总角之交 總角之交 zong3 jiao3 zhi1 jiao1
childhood friend (idiom)

总之 總之 zong3 zhi1
in a word; in short; in brief

祖冲之 祖沖之 zu3 chong1 zhi1
Zu Chongzhi (429-500), astronomer and mathematician

醉翁之意不在酒 醉翁之意不在酒 zui4 weng1 zhi1 yi4 bu4 zai4 jiu3
wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol; having an ulterior motive; to have other things in mind; with an ax to grind; accomplishing something besides what one set out to do