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
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
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
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
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)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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