Abdulahat Abdurixit (1942-), PRC engineer and politician, chairman of Xinjiang autonomous region 1994-2003, in 2003 vice-chair of 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
挨不上挨不上ai1 bu4 shang4
to be irrelevant; to be superfluous
哀而不伤哀而不傷ai1 er2 bu4 shang1
deeply felt but not mawkish (idiom)
爱不忍释愛不忍釋ai4 bu4 ren3 shi4
to love sth too much to part with it (idiom)
爱不释手愛不釋手ai4 bu4 shi4 shou3
to love sth too much to part with it (idiom); to fondle admiringly
爱理不理愛理不理ai4 li3 bu4 li3
to look cold and indifferent; standoffish
按兵不动按兵不動an4 bing1 bu4 dong4
to hold back one's troops without moving (idiom); to bide one's time
按捺不住按捺不住an4 na4 bu5 zhu4
to be unable to hold back
凹凸不平凹凸不平ao1 tu1 bu4 ping2
uneven (surface); bumpy (road)
巴不能够巴不能夠ba1 bu4 neng2 gou4
avid; eager for; longing for; to look forward to
巴不得巴不得ba1 bu5 de5
(coll.) to be eager for; to long for; to look forward to
八九不离十八九不離十ba1 jiu3 bu4 li2 shi2
pretty close; very near; about right
把持不定把持不定ba3 chi2 bu4 ding4
indecisive (idiom)
百不咋百不咋bai3 bu4 za5
of no consequence (idiom)
百不杂百不雜bai3 bu4 za5
variant of 百不咋
百读不厌百讀不厭bai3 du2 bu4 yan4
to be worth reading a hundred times (idiom)
百年不遇百年不遇bai3 nian2 bu4 yu4
only met with once every hundred years (drought, flood etc)
百思不得其解百思不得其解bai3 si1 bu4 de2 qi2 jie3
see 百思不解
百思不解百思不解bai3 si1 bu4 jie3
to remain puzzled after pondering over sth a hundred times (idiom); to remain perplexed despite much thought
百听不厌百聽不厭bai3 ting1 bu4 yan4
worth hearing a hundred times
百闻不如一见百聞不如一見bai3 wen2 bu4 ru2 yi1 jian4
seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times (idiom); seeing for oneself is better than hearing from many others; seeing is believing
百战不殆百戰不殆bai3 zhan4 bu4 dai4
to come unscathed through a hundred battles (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法); to win every fight
百折不回百折不回bai3 zhe2 bu4 hui2
see 百折不撓|百折不挠
百折不挠百折不撓bai3 zhe2 bu4 nao2
to keep on fighting in spite of all setbacks (idiom); to be undaunted by repeated setbacks; to be indomitable
unplugged (of rock musicians performing on acoustic instruments)
不差不差bu4 cha4
not bad; OK
不成不成bu4 cheng2
won't do; unable to; (at the end of a rhetorical question) can that be?
不成材不成材bu4 cheng2 cai2
worthless; good-for-nothing
不成功便成仁不成功便成仁bu4 cheng2 gong1 bian4 cheng2 ren2
to succeed or die trying (idiom)
不成话不成話bu4 cheng2 hua4
see 不像話|不像话
不承认主义不承認主義bu4 cheng2 ren4 zhu3 yi4
policy of non-recognition
不诚实不誠實bu4 cheng2 shi2
dishonest
不成熟不成熟bu4 cheng2 shu2
unripe; immature
不成体统不成體統bu4 cheng2 ti3 tong3
not according with decorum (idiom); scandalous; bad form; unacceptable behavior
不成文不成文bu4 cheng2 wen2
unwritten (rule)
不成文法不成文法bu4 cheng2 wen2 fa3
unwritten law
不成样子不成樣子bu4 cheng2 yang4 zi5
shapeless; deformed; ruined; beyond recognition; (of a person) reduced to a shadow
不逞之徒不逞之徒bu4 cheng3 zhi1 tu2
desperado
不齿不齒bu4 chi3
to despise; to hold in contempt
不耻下问不恥下問bu4 chi3 xia4 wen4
not feel ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates
不啻不啻bu4 chi4
just as; no less than; like (sth momentous); as good as; tantamount to
不啻天渊不啻天淵bu4 chi4 tian1 yuan1
no less than from heaven to the abyss (idiom); differing widely; worlds apart; the gap couldn't be bigger
不瞅不睬不瞅不睬bu4 chou3 bu4 cai3
to ignore completely; to pay no attention to sb
不出所料不出所料bu4 chu1 suo3 liao4
as expected
不触目不觸目bu4 chu4 mu4
unobtrusive
不揣冒昧不揣冒昧bu4 chuai3 mao4 mei4
to venture to; to presume to; to take the liberty of
不辍不輟bu4 chuo4
incessant; relentless
不辞而别不辭而別bu4 ci2 er2 bie2
to leave without saying good-bye
不辞劳苦不辭勞苦bu4 ci2 lao2 ku3
to spare no effort
不辞辛苦不辭辛苦bu4 ci2 xin1 ku3
to make nothing of hardships
不凑巧不湊巧bu4 cou4 qiao3
unluckily
不错不錯bu4 cuo4
correct; right; not bad; pretty good
不搭理不搭理bu4 da1 li3
variant of 不答理
不答理不答理bu4 da1 li3
to pay no heed to
不打不成才不打不成才bu4 da3 bu4 cheng2 cai2
spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
不打不成器不打不成器bu4 da3 bu4 cheng2 qi4
spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
不打不成相识不打不成相識bu4 da3 bu4 cheng2 xiang1 shi2
don't fight, won't make friends (idiom); an exchange of blows may lead to friendship
不打不相识不打不相識bu4 da3 bu4 xiang1 shi2
lit. don't fight, won't make friends (idiom); an exchange of blows may lead to friendship; no discord, no concord
不打紧不打緊bu4 da3 jin3
unimportant; not serious; it doesn't matter; never mind
不打自招不打自招bu4 da3 zi4 zhao1
to confess without being pressed; to make a confession without duress
不大不大bu4 da4
not very; not too; not often
不大离不大離bu4 da4 li2
pretty close; just about right; not bad; same as 差不多
不大离儿不大離兒bu4 da4 li2 er5
erhua variant of 不大離|不大离
不怠不怠bu4 dai4
untiring; indefatigable
不带不帶bu4 dai4
not to have; without; un-
不逮捕特权不逮捕特權bu4 dai4 bu3 te4 quan2
the right of immunity from arrest afforded by the Taiwan ROC Constitution, for the duration of meetings, unless caught actually committing a crime, to members of the National Assembly, the Legislative Yuan, or a supervisory committee
不带电不帶電bu4 dai4 dian4
uncharged; electrically neutral
不待说不待說bu4 dai4 shuo1
needless to say; it goes without saying
不单不單bu4 dan1
not the only; not merely; not simply
不丹不丹bu4 dan1
Bhutan
不但不但bu4 dan4
not only (... but also...)
不当紧不當緊bu4 dang1 jin3
not important; of no consequence
不当事不當事bu4 dang1 shi4
useless; regard as useless
不当不當bu4 dang4
unsuitable; improper; inappropriate
不当得利不當得利bu4 dang4 de2 li4
unjust enrichment
不当一回事不當一回事bu4 dang4 yi1 hui2 shi4
not regard as a matter (of any importance)
不倒翁不倒翁bu4 dao3 weng1
roly-poly toy; tilting doll; tumbler
不到不到bu4 dao4
not to arrive; not reaching; insufficient; less than
to be unable to get in; to fail to find a proper approach to handling sth
不得人心不得人心bu4 de2 ren2 xin1
not to enjoy popular support; to be unpopular
不得要领不得要領bu4 de2 yao4 ling3
to fail to grasp the main points
不得已不得已bu4 de2 yi3
to act against one's will; to have no alternative but to; to have to; to have no choice; must
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
不等不等bu4 deng3
unequal; varied
不等边三角形不等邊三角形bu4 deng3 bian1 san1 jiao3 xing2
scalene triangle
不等号不等號bu4 deng3 hao4
inequality sign (≠, < , ≤, >, ≥)
不等价交换不等價交換bu4 deng3 jia4 jiao1 huan4
exchange of unequal values
不等式不等式bu4 deng3 shi4
inequality (math.)
不敌不敵bu4 di2
no match for; cannot beat
不抵抗主义不抵抗主義bu4 di3 kang4 zhu3 yi4
policy of nonresistance
不第不第bu4 di4
to fail the civil service examination (in imperial China)
不迭不迭bu4 die2
cannot cope; find it too much; incessantly
不定不定bu4 ding4
indefinite; indeterminate; (botany) adventitious
不定词不定詞bu4 ding4 ci2
infinitive
不定方程不定方程bu4 ding4 fang1 cheng2
(math.) indeterminate equation
不定冠词不定冠詞bu4 ding4 guan4 ci2
indefinite article (e.g. English a, an)
不定积分不定積分bu4 ding4 ji1 fen1
indefinite integral (math.)
不定期不定期bu4 ding4 qi1
non-scheduled; irregularly
不定式不定式bu4 ding4 shi4
infinitive (grammar)
不定形不定形bu4 ding4 xing2
indeterminate form
不定元不定元bu4 ding4 yuan2
indeterminate element (math.), often denoted by x
不懂装懂不懂裝懂bu4 dong3 zhuang1 dong3
to pretend to understand when you don't
不动不動bu4 dong4
motionless
不动产不動產bu4 dong4 chan3
real estate; immovable property; immovables
不动点不動點bu4 dong4 dian3
fixed point (of a map) (math.)
不动点定理不動點定理bu4 dong4 dian3 ding4 li3
fixed point theorem (math.)
不冻港不凍港bu4 dong4 gang3
ice-free port; open port
不冻港口不凍港口bu4 dong4 gang3 kou3
ice-free port (refers to Vladivostok)
不动声色不動聲色bu4 dong4 sheng1 se4
not a word or movement (idiom); remaining calm and collected; not batting an eyelid
不动摇不動搖bu4 dong4 yao2
unmoved
不独不獨bu4 du2
not only
不端不端bu4 duan1
improper; dishonorable
不断不斷bu4 duan4
unceasing; uninterrupted; continuous; constant
不对不對bu4 dui4
incorrect; wrong; amiss; abnormal; queer
不对碴儿不對碴兒bu4 dui4 cha2 er5
not proper; not fit for the occasion
不对称不對稱bu4 dui4 chen4
unsymmetrical; asymmetric
不对劲不對勁bu4 dui4 jin4
not in good condition; wrong; fishy
不对劲儿不對勁兒bu4 dui4 jin4 er5
erhua variant of 不對勁|不对劲
不对盘不對盤bu4 dui4 pan2
(of a person) objectionable; (of two people) to find each other disagreeable
不对头不對頭bu4 dui4 tou2
fishy; not right; amiss
不二法门不二法門bu4 er4 fa3 men2
the one and only way; the only proper course to take
不二价不二價bu4 er4 jia4
one price for all; fixed price
不乏不乏bu4 fa2
there is no lack of
不法不法bu4 fa3
lawless; illegal; unlawful
不法分子不法分子bu4 fa3 fen4 zi3
law-breakers; offenders
不凡不凡bu4 fan2
out of the ordinary; out of the common run
不方便不方便bu4 fang1 bian4
inconvenience; inconvenient
不妨不妨bu4 fang2
there is no harm in; might as well
不菲不菲bu4 fei3
considerable (cost etc); bountiful (crop etc); high (social status etc)
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
不费事不費事bu4 fei4 shi4
not troublesome
不分不分bu4 fen1
not divided; irrespective; not distinguishing between
不分彼此不分彼此bu4 fen1 bi3 ci3
to make no distinction between what's one's own and what's another's (idiom); to share everything; to be on very intimate terms
不分伯仲不分伯仲bu4 fen1 bo2 zhong4
lit. unable to distinguish eldest brother from second brother (idiom); they are all equally excellent; nothing to choose between them
不分高下不分高下bu4 fen1 gao1 xia4
equally matched; not much to distinguish who is stronger
不分青红皂白不分青紅皂白bu4 fen1 qing1 hong2 zao4 bai2
not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom); not to distinguish between right and wrong
不分情由不分情由bu4 fen1 qing2 you2
indiscriminate
不分上下不分上下bu4 fen1 shang4 xia4
not to know one's place
不分胜败不分勝敗bu4 fen1 sheng4 bai4
to not be able to distinguish who's winning
不分胜负不分勝負bu4 fen1 sheng4 fu4
unable to determine victory or defeat (idiom); evenly matched; to come out even; to tie; to draw
不分轩轾不分軒輊bu4 fen1 xuan1 zhi4
well-matched; equally matched
不分皂白不分皂白bu4 fen1 zao4 bai2
not distinguishing black or white (idiom); not to distinguish between right and wrong
不分昼夜不分晝夜bu4 fen1 zhou4 ye4
day and night; round-the-clock
不忿不忿bu4 fen4
unsatisfied; unconvinced; indignant
不愤不启不憤不啟bu4 fen4 bu4 qi3
a student shall not be enlightened until he has tried hard by himself (idiom)
不符不符bu4 fu2
inconsistent; not in agreement with; not agree or tally with; not conform to
不服不服bu4 fu2
not to accept sth; to want to have sth overruled or changed; to refuse to obey or comply; to refuse to accept as final; to remain unconvinced by; not to give in to
不服水土不服水土bu4 fu2 shui3 tu3
(of a stranger) not accustomed to the climate of a new place; not acclimatized
不孚众望不孚眾望bu4 fu2 zhong4 wang4
not living up to expectations (idiom); failing to inspire confidence among people; unpopular
lit. don't worry about not knowing goods, but about comparing them (proverb); fig. goods' (or person's) true value can only be determined through comparison
lit. don't worry about not knowing goods, but about comparing them (proverb); fig. goods' (or person's) true value can only be determined through comparison
不怕官，只怕管不怕官，只怕管bu4 pa4 guan1 - zhi3 pa4 guan3
lit. it is not an official to be feared, but a person in direct control over sb (proverb); fig. to be obliged to comply with people in authority
不怕慢，就怕站不怕慢，就怕站bu4 pa4 man4 - jiu4 pa4 zhan4
it's better to make slow progress than no progress at all (proverb)
where there is injustice, there will be an outcry; man will cry out against injustice
不破不立不破不立bu4 po4 bu4 li4
without destruction there can be no construction
不期不期bu4 qi1
unexpectedly; to one's surprise
不期而遇不期而遇bu4 qi1 er2 yu4
meet by chance; have a chance encounter
不期然而然不期然而然bu4 qi1 ran2 er2 ran2
happen unexpectedly; turn out contrary to one's expectations
不起眼不起眼bu4 qi3 yan3
unremarkable; nothing out of the ordinary
不起眼儿不起眼兒bu4 qi3 yan3 er5
erhua variant of 不起眼
不巧不巧bu4 qiao3
too bad; unfortunately; as luck would have it
不切合实际不切合實際bu4 qie4 he2 shi2 ji4
impractical; not conforming to reality
不切实际不切實際bu4 qie4 shi2 ji4
unrealistic; impractical
不清不清bu4 qing1
unclear
不清楚不清楚bu4 qing1 chu5
unclear; not understood; currently unknown
不轻饶不輕饒bu4 qing1 rao2
not to forgive easily; not to let off; (You, He) won't get away with it!
不情愿不情願bu4 qing2 yuan4
unwilling
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
不请自来不請自來bu4 qing3 zi4 lai2
to turn up without being invited; unsolicited
不穷不窮bu4 qiong2
endless; boundless; inexhaustible
不求人不求人bu4 qiu2 ren2
backscratcher (made from bamboo etc)
不求甚解不求甚解bu4 qiu2 shen4 jie3
lit. not requiring a detailed understanding (idiom); only looking for an overview; not bothered with the details; superficial; content with shallow understanding
to arrive without invitation; unexpected guest; unwanted presence
不速之客不速之客bu4 su4 zhi1 ke4
uninvited or unexpected guest
不随大流不隨大流bu4 sui2 da4 liu2
not following the crowd; to go against the tide
不随意不隨意bu4 sui2 yi4
unconscious; involuntary
不随意肌不隨意肌bu4 sui2 yi4 ji1
involuntary muscle
不遂不遂bu4 sui4
to fail; to fail to materialize; not to get one's way
不碎玻璃不碎玻璃bu4 sui4 bo1 li5
shatterproof or safety glass
不太好不太好bu4 tai4 hao3
not so good; not too well
不特不特bu4 te4
not only
不题不題bu4 ti2
we will not elaborate on that (used as pluralis auctoris)
不提也罢不提也罷bu4 ti2 ye3 ba4
best not to mention it; drop it; never mind; let's not talk about it
不体面不體面bu4 ti3 mian4
to not appear to be decent or respectful; shameful
不调和不調和bu4 tiao2 he2
discord
不听命不聽命bu4 ting1 ming4
to disobey
不停不停bu4 ting2
incessant
不通不通bu4 tong1
to be obstructed; to be blocked up; to be impassable; to make no sense; to be illogical
不同不同bu4 tong2
different; distinct; not the same; not alike
不同凡响不同凡響bu4 tong2 fan2 xiang3
lit. not a common chord (idiom); outstanding; brilliant; out of the common run
不痛不痒不痛不癢bu4 tong4 bu4 yang3
lit. doesn't hurt, doesn't tickle (idiom); sth is wrong, but not quite sure what; fig. not getting to any matter of substance; scratching the surface; superficial; perfunctory
不透明不透明bu4 tou4 ming2
opaque
不透气不透氣bu4 tou4 qi4
airtight
不透水不透水bu4 tou4 shui3
waterproof; watertight; impermeable
不吐不快不吐不快bu4 tu3 bu4 kuai4
to have to pour out what's on one's mind (idiom)
不吐气不吐氣bu4 tu3 qi4
unaspirated
不妥不妥bu4 tuo3
not proper; inappropriate
不妥协不妥協bu4 tuo3 xie2
uncompromising
不外不外bu4 wai4
not beyond the scope of; nothing more than
不外乎不外乎bu4 wai4 hu1
nothing else but
不外露不外露bu4 wai4 lu4
not exposed; concealed from view
不完美不完美bu4 wan2 mei3
defective; imperfect
不完全归纳推理不完全歸納推理bu4 wan2 quan2 gui1 na4 tui1 li3
inference by incomplete induction
不完全叶不完全葉bu4 wan2 quan2 ye4
incomplete leaf
不完全中立不完全中立bu4 wan2 quan2 zhong1 li4
imperfect neutrality
不完善不完善bu4 wan2 shan4
imperfect
不枉不枉bu4 wang3
not in vain
不惟不惟bu4 wei2
not only
不为酒困不為酒困bu4 wei2 jiu3 kun4
not a slave to the bottle; able to enjoy alcohol in moderation; able to hold one's drink
不违农时不違農時bu4 wei2 nong2 shi2
not miss the farming season; do farm work in the right season
不为人知不為人知bu4 wei2 ren2 zhi1
not known to anyone; secret; unknown
不为所动不為所動bu4 wei2 suo3 dong4
to remain unmoved
不为已甚不為已甚bu4 wei2 yi3 shen4
refrain from going to extremes in meting out punishment; not be too hard on subject
不韪不韙bu4 wei3
fault; error
不谓不謂bu4 wei4
cannot be deemed; unexpectedly
不畏不畏bu4 wei4
unafraid; to defy
不畏强暴不畏強暴bu4 wei4 qiang2 bao4
not to submit to force (idiom); to defy threats and violence
不畏强权不畏強權bu4 wei4 qiang2 quan2
not to submit to force (idiom); to defy threats and violence
不为左右袒不為左右袒bu4 wei4 zuo3 you4 tan3
to remain neutral in a quarrel (idiom)
不闻不问不聞不問bu4 wen2 bu4 wen4
not to hear, not to question (idiom); to show no interest in sth; uncritical; not in the least concerned
不稳不穩bu4 wen3
unstable; unsteady
不稳定不穩定bu4 wen3 ding4
unstable
不稳定气流不穩定氣流bu4 wen3 ding4 qi4 liu2
turbulent
不稳平衡不穩平衡bu4 wen3 ping2 heng2
unstable equilibrium
不稳性不穩性bu4 wen3 xing4
instability
不问不問bu4 wen4
to pay no attention to; to disregard; to ignore; to let go unpunished; to let off
there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu (idiom); one who has seen the world doesn't stop at small things
插不上手插不上手cha1 bu5 shang4 shou3
to be unable to intervene
茶饭不思茶飯不思cha2 fan4 bu4 si1
no thought for tea or rice (idiom); melancholic and suffering; to have no appetite
差不离差不離cha4 bu4 li2
not much different; similar; ordinary; nearly
差不离儿差不離兒cha4 bu4 li2 er5
erhua variant of 差不離|差不离
差不多差不多cha4 bu5 duo1
almost; nearly; more or less; about the same; good enough; not bad
差不多的差不多的cha4 bu5 duo1 de5
the great majority
缠夹不清纏夾不清chan2 jia1 bu4 qing1
to muddle things together (idiom); to bother sb with annoying muddle-headed talk
缠绵不已纏綿不已chan2 mian2 bu4 yi3
to cling without letting go; to pester without end; to cling lovingly to each other
颤抖不已顫抖不已chan4 dou3 bu4 yi3
to shake like a leaf (idiom)
长流水，不断线長流水，不斷線chang2 liu2 shui3 - bu4 duan4 xian4
continuous and patient effort (idiom)
长生不老長生不老chang2 sheng1 bu4 lao3
immortality
长生不死長生不死chang2 sheng1 bu4 si3
immortality
长痛不如短痛長痛不如短痛chang2 tong4 bu4 ru2 duan3 tong4
better to just get the pain over with, rather than prolong the agony
彻夜不眠徹夜不眠che4 ye4 bu4 mian2
to be sleepless all night
沉不住气沉不住氣chen2 bu4 zhu4 qi4
to lose one's cool; to get impatient; unable to remain calm
成骨不全症成骨不全症cheng2 gu3 bu4 quan2 zheng4
osteogenesis imperfecta (OI); brittle bone disease
乘人不备乘人不備cheng2 ren2 bu4 bei4
to take advantage of sb in an unguarded moment (idiom); to take sb by surprise
lit. don't tie your shoelaces in a melon patch, and don't adjust your hat under a plum tree (idiom); fig. don't do anything that might arouse suspicion; innocent acts may be misconstrued
寡不敌众寡不敵眾gua3 bu4 di2 zhong4
the few are no match for the many; heavily outnumbered; facing impossible odds (idiom)
怪不得怪不得guai4 bu5 de5
no wonder!; so that's why!
怪诞不经怪誕不經guai4 dan4 bu4 jing1
uncanny; unbelievable; ridiculous; outrageous
管不着管不著guan3 bu5 zhao2
to have no right or ability to interfere in sth; it's none of your business!
光说不练光說不練guang1 shuo1 bu4 lian4
all talk and no action (idiom); to preach what one does not practice; same as 光說不做|光说不做
光说不做光說不做guang1 shuo1 bu4 zuo4
all talk and no action (idiom); to preach what one does not practice
果不其然果不其然guo3 bu4 qi2 ran2
just as expected; told you so
裹足不前裹足不前guo3 zu2 bu4 qian2
to stand still without advancing (idiom); to hesitate and hold back
过不去過不去guo4 bu5 qu4
to make life difficult for; to embarrass; unable to make it through
过不下過不下guo4 bu5 xia4
to be unable to continue living (in a certain manner); to be unable to make a living
过目不忘過目不忘guo4 mu4 bu4 wang4
to have a highly retentive memory; to have sth imprinted in one's memory
过时不候過時不候guo4 shi2 bu4 hou4
being late is not acceptable (idiom)
过意不去過意不去guo4 yi4 bu4 qu4
to feel very apologetic
过犹不及過猶不及guo4 you2 bu4 ji2
too far is as bad as not enough (idiom, from the Analects)
还不如還不如hai2 bu4 ru2
to be better off ...; might as well ...
海水不可斗量海水不可斗量hai3 shui3 bu4 ke3 dou3 liang2
see 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
害人不浅害人不淺hai4 ren2 bu4 qian3
to cause a lot of trouble; to inflict much suffering
refrain from hurting others, yet guard against those trying to hurt you (proverb)
含糊不清含糊不清han2 hu2 bu4 qing1
unclear; indistinct; ambiguous
悍然不顾悍然不顧han4 ran2 bu4 gu4
outrageous and unconventional (idiom); flying in the face of (authority, convention, public opinion etc)
汉贼不两立漢賊不兩立han4 zei2 bu4 liang3 li4
lit. Shu Han 蜀漢|蜀汉 and Cao Wei 曹魏 cannot coexist (idiom); fig. two enemies cannot live under the same sky; (former KMT slogan against CPC) "gentlemen and thieves cannot coexist"
毫不毫不hao2 bu4
hardly; not in the least; not at all
毫不费力毫不費力hao2 bu4 fei4 li4
effortless; not expending the slightest effort
毫不怀疑毫不懷疑hao2 bu4 huai2 yi2
without the slightest doubt
毫不客气毫不客氣hao2 bu4 ke4 qi5
no trace of politeness; unrestrained (criticism)
毫不留情毫不留情hao2 bu4 liu2 qing2
to show no quarter; ruthless; relentless
毫不逊色毫不遜色hao2 bu4 xun4 se4
not inferior in any respect
毫不犹豫毫不猶豫hao2 bu4 you2 yu4
without the slightest hesitation
毫不介意毫不介意hao2 bu5 jie4 yi4
to not mind (at all, a bit); to not care in the slightest
毫发不爽毫髮不爽hao2 fa4 bu4 shuang3
not to deviate one hair's breadth (idiom); to be extremely accurate
毫厘不爽毫釐不爽hao2 li2 bu4 shuang3
not to deviate an iota (idiom); to be extremely accurate
好不好不hao3 bu4
not at all ...; how very ...
好不容易好不容易hao3 bu4 rong2 yi4
with great difficulty; very difficult
好不好好不好hao3 bu5 hao3
(coll.) all right?; OK?
好饭不怕晚好飯不怕晚hao3 fan4 bu4 pa4 wan3
the meal is remembered long after the wait is forgotten; the good things in life are worth waiting for
好故事百听不厌好故事百聽不厭hao3 gu4 shi5 bai3 ting1 bu4 yan4
The story is so good it's worth hearing a hundred times.; One never tires of hearing good new.
好汉不吃眼前亏好漢不吃眼前虧hao3 han4 bu4 chi1 yan3 qian2 kui1
a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him (idiom)
好汉不提当年勇好漢不提當年勇hao3 han4 bu4 ti2 dang1 nian2 yong3
a real man doesn't boast about his past achievements (idiom)
lit. good deeds do not go beyond the door, evil deeds spread a thousand miles; a good deed goes unnoticed, but scandal spreads fast (idiom)
好死不如赖活着好死不如賴活著hao3 si3 bu4 ru2 lai4 huo2 zhe5
better a bad life than a good death (idiom)
何不何不he2 bu4
why not?; why not do (sth)?
核不扩散核不擴散he2 bu4 kuo4 san4
nuclear nonproliferation
合不来合不來he2 bu4 lai2
unable to get along together; incompatible
合不拢嘴合不攏嘴he2 bu4 long3 zui3
unable to conceal one's happiness, amazement, shock etc; grinning from ear to ear; mouth agape; gobsmacked
何不食肉糜何不食肉糜he2 bu4 shi2 rou4 mi2
lit. "Why don't they eat meat?" (said by Emperor Hui of Jin 晉惠帝|晋惠帝 when told that his people didn't have enough rice to eat); fig. (of people from higher class etc) to be oblivious to other people's plight
何乐而不为何樂而不為he2 le4 er2 bu4 wei2
What can you have against it? (idiom); We should do this.; Go for it!
河水不犯井水河水不犯井水he2 shui3 bu4 fan4 jing3 shui3
lit. river water does not interfere with well water (idiom); Do not interfere with one another.; Mind your own business.
黑白不分黑白不分hei1 bai2 bu4 fen1
can't tell black from white (idiom); unable to distinguish wrong from right
黑不溜秋黑不溜秋hei1 bu4 liu1 qiu1
dark and swarthy
恨不得恨不得hen4 bu5 de5
wishing one could do sth; to hate to be unable; itching to do sth
恨不能恨不能hen4 bu5 neng2
see 恨不得
恨铁不成钢恨鐵不成鋼hen4 tie3 bu4 cheng2 gang1
lit. to hate iron for not becoming steel; to feel resentful towards sb for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement (idiom)
红不让紅不讓hong2 bu4 rang4
home run (loanword); a big hit (hugely popular) (Tw)
后悔不迭後悔不迭hou4 hui3 bu4 die2
too late for regrets
虎毒不食子虎毒不食子hu3 du2 bu4 shi2 zi3
a tiger, though cruel, will not devour its cubs (idiom); even wild beasts look after their young
互不侵犯互不侵犯hu4 bu4 qin1 fan4
non-aggression
互不相欠互不相欠hu4 bu4 xiang1 qian4
see 兩不相欠|两不相欠
互不相让互不相讓hu4 bu4 xiang1 rang4
neither giving way to the other
虎不拉虎不拉hu4 bu5 la3
(dialect) shrike; Taiwan pr.
怙恶不悛怙惡不悛hu4 e4 bu4 quan1
to keep doing evil without a sense of repentance (idiom)
户枢不蠹戶樞不蠹hu4 shu1 bu4 du4
lit. a door hinge never becomes worm-eaten; constant activity prevents decay (idiom)
花不棱登花不稜登hua1 bu4 leng2 deng1
gaudy; repulsively colored
划不来划不來hua2 bu5 lai2
not worth it
华而不实華而不實hua2 er2 bu4 shi2
flower but no fruit (idiom); handsome exterior but hollow inside; flashy
话不投机半句多話不投機半句多hua4 bu4 tou2 ji1 ban4 ju4 duo1
when words get sour, adding words is useless (idiom)
话多不甜話多不甜hua4 duo1 bu4 tian2
too much talk is a nuisance (idiom)
划一不二劃一不二hua4 yi1 bu4 er4
fixed; unalterable
怀才不遇懷才不遇huai2 cai2 bu4 yu4
to have talent but no opportunity (idiom); to be an unrecognized talent
缓不济急緩不濟急huan3 bu4 ji4 ji2
lit. slow no aid to urgent (idiom); slow measures will not address a critical situation; too slow to meet a pressing need
换汤不换药換湯不換藥huan4 tang1 bu4 huan4 yao4
different broth but the same old medicine (idiom); a change in name only; a change in form but not in substance
What you don't want done to you, don't do to others. (idiom, from the Confucian analects); Do as you would be done by.; Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.
记不住記不住ji4 bu5 zhu4
can't remember
既往不咎既往不咎ji4 wang3 bu4 jiu4
to forget and not bear recriminations (idiom); to let bygones be bygones; There is no point in crying over spilt milk.
家丑不可外传家醜不可外傳jia1 chou3 bu4 ke3 wai4 chuan2
lit. family shames must not be spread abroad (idiom); fig. don't wash your dirty linen in public
Don't spread abroad the shame of the family, don't believe rumors lightly. (idiom); Don't wash your dirty linen in public, don't listen to others' gossip.
家丑不可外扬家醜不可外揚jia1 chou3 bu4 ke3 wai4 yang2
lit. family shames must not be spread abroad (idiom); fig. don't wash your dirty linen in public
lit. heaven won't let the sparrows go hungry (idiom); fig. don't give up hope; if you tough it out, there will be light at the end of the tunnel
乐不可支樂不可支le4 bu4 ke3 zhi1
overjoyed (idiom); as pleased as punch
乐不思蜀樂不思蜀le4 bu4 si1 shu3
indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty (idiom)
乐此不疲樂此不疲le4 ci3 bu4 pi2
to enjoy sth and never tire of it (idiom)
雷打不动雷打不動lei2 da3 bu4 dong4
not shaken by thunder (idiom); the arrangements are unalterable; to adhere rigidly to regulations; will go ahead whatever happens (of an arrangement or plan)
累觉不爱累覺不愛lei4 jue2 bu4 ai4
(lit.) so exhausted (by difficulties in a relationship) that one feels one could never fall in love again (Internet slang); disenchanted with sth
冷不丁冷不丁leng3 bu5 ding1
suddenly; by surprise
冷不防冷不防leng3 bu5 fang2
unexpectedly; suddenly; at unawares; off guard; against expectations
离不开離不開li2 bu5 kai1
inseparable; inevitably linked to
礼多人不怪禮多人不怪li3 duo1 ren2 bu4 guai4
nobody will find fault with extra courtesy (idiom); courtesy costs nothing
力不从心力不從心li4 bu4 cong2 xin1
less capable than desirable (idiom); not as strong as one would wish; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
lit. flowing water does not rot, nor a door-hinge rust (idiom); fig. constant activity prevents decay
六亲不认六親不認liu4 qin1 bu4 ren4
not recognizing one's family (idiom); self-centered and not making any allowances for the needs of one's relatives
路不拾遗路不拾遺lu4 bu4 shi2 yi2
lit. no one picks up lost articles in the street (idiom); fig. honesty prevails throughout society
锣齐鼓不齐鑼齊鼓不齊luo2 qi2 gu3 bu4 qi2
not well coordinated (idiom)
络绎不绝絡繹不絕luo4 yi4 bu4 jue2
continuously; in an endless stream (idiom)
驴唇不对马嘴驢唇不對馬嘴lv2 chun2 bu4 dui4 ma3 zui3
lit. a donkey's lips do not match a horse's mouth (idiom); fig. beside the point; incongruous
吕不韦呂不韋lv3 bu4 wei2
Lü Buwei (?291-235 BC), merchant and politician of the State of Qin 秦國|秦国, subsequent Qin Dynasty 秦代 Chancellor, allegedly the father of Ying Zheng 嬴政, who subsequently became the first emperor Qin Shihuang 秦始皇
屡见不鲜屢見不鮮lv3 jian4 bu4 xian1
a common occurrence (idiom)
屡教不改屢教不改lv3 jiao4 bu4 gai3
lit. not to change, despite repeated admonition; incorrigible; unrepentant
almost everything has a start, but not many things have an end (idiom); don't start sth you can't handle
密不可分密不可分mi4 bu4 ke3 fen1
inextricably linked (idiom); inseparable
密不透风密不透風mi4 bu4 tou4 feng1
wrapped up tight; bundled up tight; closed up tight; air-tight
秘而不宣祕而不宣mi4 er2 bu4 xuan1
to withhold information; to keep sth secret
密而不宣密而不宣mi4 er2 bu4 xuan1
confidential; secret; hush-hush
绵绵不绝綿綿不絕mian2 mian2 bu4 jue2
continuous; endless
免不了免不了mian3 bu4 liao3
unavoidable; can't be avoided
免不得免不得mian3 bu5 de5
unavoidable; bound to (happen)
面露不悦面露不悅mian4 lu4 bu4 yue4
to show unhappiness or displeasure (idiom)
妙不可言妙不可言miao4 bu4 ke3 yan2
too wonderful for words
妙在不言中妙在不言中miao4 zai4 bu4 yan2 zhong1
the charm lies in what is left unsaid (idiom)
民不聊生民不聊生min2 bu4 liao2 sheng1
The people have no way to make a living (idiom, from Record of the Grand Historian 史記|史记); no way of getting by
名不符实名不符實ming2 bu4 fu2 shi2
the name does not correspond to reality (idiom); it doesn't live up to its reputation
名不副实名不副實ming2 bu4 fu4 shi2
the name does not reflect the reality (idiom); more in name than in fact; Reality does not live up to the name.; Excellent theory, but the practice does not bear it out.
名不见经传名不見經傳ming2 bu4 jian4 jing1 zhuan4
(lit.) name not encountered in the classics; unknown (person); nobody
鸣不平鳴不平ming2 bu4 ping2
to cry out against injustice; to protest unfairness
名不虚传名不虛傳ming2 bu4 xu1 chuan2
lit. name is not in vain (idiom); a fully justified reputation; enjoys a well-deserved reputation
名不正言不顺名不正言不順ming2 bu5 zheng4 yan2 bu5 shun4
(of a title, degree etc) illegitimately conferred
明人不做暗事明人不做暗事ming2 ren2 bu4 zuo4 an4 shi4
The honest person does nothing underhand (idiom).; fig. Do what you want to do openly and without dissimulation.
冥顽不灵冥頑不靈ming2 wan2 bu4 ling2
stupid; stubborn; pigheaded
命不久已命不久已ming4 bu4 jiu3 yi3
at death's door
摸不着摸不著mo1 bu5 zhao2
can't touch; can't reach; (fig.) unable to get a grasp of
摸不着边摸不著邊mo1 bu5 zhao2 bian1
irrelevant; can't make head or tail of
摸不着头脑摸不著頭腦mo1 bu5 zhao2 tou2 nao3
to be unable to make any sense of the matter; to be at a loss
模糊不清模糊不清mo2 hu5 bu4 qing1
indistinct; fuzzy; blurred with age
抹不下脸抹不下臉mo3 bu4 xia4 lian3
to be unable to keep a straight face (idiom)
莫不莫不mo4 bu4
none doesn't; there is none who isn't; everyone
漠不关心漠不關心mo4 bu4 guan1 xin1
not the least bit concerned; completely indifferent
磨不开磨不開mo4 bu4 kai1
to feel embarrassed
莫不然莫不然mo4 bu4 ran2
equally true for (all the rest); the same thing applies (for everyone)
莫不是莫不是mo4 bu4 shi4
probably; perhaps; could it be that...?
莫不闻莫不聞mo4 bu4 wen2
there is no-one who doesn't know that
莫不逾侈莫不逾侈mo4 bu4 yu2 chi3
there is no-one who is not extravagant
默不作声默不作聲mo4 bu4 zuo4 sheng1
to keep silent
没齿不忘沒齒不忘mo4 chi3 bu4 wang4
lit. will not be forgotten even after one's teeth fall out; to remember as long as one lives; unforgettable (idiom)
lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom); fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond
牛头不对马嘴牛頭不對馬嘴niu2 tou2 bu4 dui4 ma3 zui3
see 驢唇不對馬嘴|驴唇不对马嘴
拗不过拗不過niu4 bu5 guo4
can't persuade; unable to make (sb) change their mind; unable to resist (sb)
弄不懂弄不懂nong4 bu5 dong3
unable to make sense of (sth)
弄不清弄不清nong4 bu5 qing1
unable to figure out
怒不可遏怒不可遏nu4 bu4 ke3 e4
unable to restrain one's anger (idiom); in a towering rage
女大不中留女大不中留nv3 da4 bu4 zhong1 liu2
when a girl is of age, she must be married off (idiom)
lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet when danger arises (idiom); fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble; doing things at the last minute; to make a hasty last-minute effort (often refers to cramming for exams)
破败不堪破敗不堪po4 bai4 bu4 kan1
crushed; utterly defeated
迫不得已迫不得已po4 bu4 de2 yi3
to have no alternative (idiom); compelled by circumstances; forced into sth
迫不及待迫不及待po4 bu4 ji2 dai4
impatient (idiom); in a hurry; itching to get on with it
其乐不穷其樂不窮qi2 le4 bu4 qiong2
boundless joy
其貌不扬其貌不揚qi2 mao4 bu4 yang2
(idiom) nothing special to look at; unprepossessing
岂不豈不qi3 bu4
how couldn't...?; wouldn't it...?
气不忿儿氣不忿兒qi4 bu4 fen4 er5
furious; indignant
气不公氣不公qi4 bu4 gong1
indignant
气不平氣不平qi4 bu4 ping2
angry at unfairness
气不过氣不過qi4 bu5 guo4
so angry it's unbearable; bitter about unbearable grievances
don't forget past events, they can guide you in future (idiom); benefit from past experience
强龙不压地头蛇強龍不壓地頭蛇qiang2 long2 bu4 ya1 di4 tou2 she2
lit. strong dragon cannot repress a snake (idiom); fig. a local gangster who is above the law
瞧不起瞧不起qiao2 bu4 qi3
to look down upon; to hold in contempt
巧诈不如拙诚巧詐不如拙誠qiao3 zha4 bu4 ru2 zhuo1 cheng2
the unvarnished truth is better than a cunning ruse (idiom); honesty is the best policy
且不说且不說qie3 bu4 shuo1
not to mention; leaving aside
锲而不舍鍥而不捨qie4 er2 bu4 she3
to chip away at a task and not abandon it (idiom); to chisel away at sth; to persevere; unflagging efforts
勤劳不虞匮乏勤勞不虞匱乏qin2 lao2 bu4 yu2 kui4 fa2
Poverty is a stranger to industry. (idiom)
琴瑟不调琴瑟不調qin2 se4 bu4 tiao2
out of tune; marital discord, cf qin and se 琴瑟, two string instruments as symbol of marital harmony
禽兽不如禽獸不如qin2 shou4 bu4 ru2
worse than a beast; to behave immorally
勤则不匮勤則不匱qin2 ze2 bu4 kui4
If one is industrious, one will not be in want. (idiom)
青春不再青春不再qing1 chun1 bu4 zai4
lit. one's youth will never return; to make the most of one's opportunities (idiom)
青黄不接青黃不接qing1 huang2 bu4 jie1
lit. yellow does not reach green (idiom); the yellow autumn crop does not last until the green spring crop; temporary deficit in manpower or resources; unable to make ends meet
情不可却情不可卻qing2 bu4 ke3 que4
unable to refuse because of affection
情不自禁情不自禁qing2 bu4 zi4 jin1
unable to restrain emotions; cannot help
请将不如激将請將不如激將qing3 jiang4 bu4 ru2 ji1 jiang4
lit. to dispatch a general is not as effective as to excite a general; fig. inciting people to action is more effective than dispatching orders
求人不如求己求人不如求己qiu2 ren2 bu4 ru2 qiu2 ji3
if you want sth done well, do it yourself (idiom)
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
while there is life, the fight continues (idiom); to fight to the last
生生不息生生不息sheng1 sheng1 bu4 xi1
to grow and multiply without end
胜不骄，败不馁勝不驕，敗不餒sheng4 bu4 jiao1 - bai4 bu4 nei3
no arrogance in victory, no despair in defeat
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
虱多不痒蝨多不癢shi1 duo1 bu4 yang3
many fleas, but unconcerned (idiom); no point in worrying about one debt when one has so many others; Troubles never come singly.; It never rains but it pours.
食不果腹食不果腹shi2 bu4 guo3 fu4
lit. food not filling the stomach (idiom); fig. poverty-stricken
a thing should not be attempted more than three times (idiom); don't repeat the same mistake again and again; bad things don't happen more than three times
势不可当勢不可當shi4 bu4 ke3 dang1
impossible to resist (idiom); an irresistible force
势不可挡勢不可擋shi4 bu4 ke3 dang3
see 勢不可當|势不可当
誓不两立誓不兩立shi4 bu4 liang3 li4
the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences; incompatible standpoints
势不两立勢不兩立shi4 bu4 liang3 li4
the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences; incompatible standpoints
是不是是不是shi4 bu4 shi4
is or isn't; yes or no; whether or not
事不宜迟事不宜遲shi4 bu4 yi2 chi2
the matter should not be delayed; there's no time to lose
视而不见視而不見shi4 er2 bu4 jian4
to turn a blind eye to; to ignore
是非不分是非不分shi4 fei1 bu4 fen1
unable to distinguish right and wrong (idiom)
是可忍，孰不可忍是可忍，孰不可忍shi4 ke3 ren3 - shu2 bu4 ke3 ren3
if this can be tolerated, what cannot? (idiom); enough is enough
誓死不从誓死不從shi4 si3 bu4 cong2
to vow to die rather than obey (idiom)
誓死不降誓死不降shi4 si3 bu4 xiang2
to vow to fight to the death
手不释卷手不釋卷shou3 bu4 shi4 juan4
lit. always with a book in hand (idiom); fig. (of a student or scholar) diligent and hardworking
手脚不干净手腳不乾淨shou3 jiao3 bu4 gan1 jing4
thieving; light-fingered; prone to stealing
守正不阿守正不阿shou3 zheng4 bu4 e1
to be strictly just and impartial
受不了受不了shou4 bu4 liao3
unbearable; unable to endure; can't stand
寿命不长壽命不長shou4 ming4 bu4 chang2
one's days are numbered; not to have long to live (often fig.)
lit. heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it (idiom, from Laozi 73); fig. the way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty will not escape; you can't run from the long arm of the law
lit. heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it (idiom, from Laozi 73); fig. the way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty will not escape; you can't run from the long arm of the law
fortune as unpredictable as the weather, every day may bring fortune or calamity (idiom); sth unexpected may happen at any moment
甜不辣甜不辣tian2 bu4 la4
see 天婦羅|天妇罗
恬不知耻恬不知恥tian2 bu4 zhi1 chi3
to have no sense of shame
跳进黄河洗不清跳進黃河洗不清tiao4 jin4 huang2 he2 xi3 bu4 qing1
lit. even jumping into the Yellow River can't get you clean; fig. to become inexorably mixed up; mired in controversy; in deep trouble
听不进去聽不進去ting1 bu4 jin4 qu5
not to listen; to be deaf to
听不到聽不到ting1 bu5 dao4
can't hear
听不懂聽不懂ting1 bu5 dong3
unable to make sense of what one is hearing
听不见聽不見ting1 bu5 jian4
not be able to hear
听而不闻聽而不聞ting1 er2 bu4 wen2
to hear but not react (idiom); to turn a deaf ear; to ignore deliberately
停滞不前停滯不前ting2 zhi4 bu4 qian2
stuck and not moving forward (idiom); stagnant; in a rut; at a standstill
痛不欲生痛不欲生tong4 bu4 yu4 sheng1
to be so in pain as to not want to live; to be so grieved as to wish one were dead
偷鸡不成蚀把米偷雞不成蝕把米tou1 ji1 bu4 cheng2 shi2 ba3 mi3
lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom); fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off; to go for wool and come back shorn
偷鸡不着蚀把米偷雞不著蝕把米tou1 ji1 bu4 zhao2 shi2 ba3 mi3
see 偷雞不成蝕把米|偷鸡不成蚀把米
土到不行土到不行tu3 dao4 bu4 xing2
old-fashioned; extremely kitsch
兔子不吃窝边草兔子不吃窩邊草tu4 zi5 bu4 chi1 wo1 bian1 cao3
A rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow (idiom); One shouldn't do anything to harm one's neighbors.
脱不了身脫不了身tuo1 bu4 liao3 shen1
busy and unable to get away
玩儿不转玩兒不轉wan2 er5 bu4 zhuan4
can't handle it; can't find any way (of doing sth); not up to the task
玩世不恭玩世不恭wan2 shi4 bu4 gong1
to trifle without respect (idiom); to despise worldly conventions; frivolous
万变不离其宗萬變不離其宗wan4 bian4 bu4 li2 qi2 zong1
many superficial changes but no departure from the original stand (idiom); plus ça change, plus ça reste la mème chose
万不得已萬不得已wan4 bu4 de2 yi3
only when absolutely essential (idiom); as a last resort
万劫不复萬劫不復wan4 jie2 bu4 fu4
consigned to eternal damnation; with no hope of reprieve
万死不辞萬死不辭wan4 si3 bu4 ci2
ten thousand deaths will not prevent me (idiom); ready to risk life and limb to help out
王不留行王不留行wang2 bu4 liu2 xing2
cowherb (Vaccaria segetalis); cowherb seeds (used in TCM)
忘不了忘不了wang4 bu4 liao3
cannot forget
微不足道微不足道wei1 bu4 zu2 dao4
negligible; insignificant
危而不持危而不持wei1 er2 bu4 chi2
national danger, but no support (idiom, from Analects); the future of the nation is at stake but no-one comes to the rescue
威武不屈威武不屈wei1 wu3 bu4 qu1
not to submit to force
为德不终為德不終wei2 de2 bu4 zhong1
to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through; lack of sticking power; short attention span
为德不卒為德不卒wei2 de2 bu4 zu2
to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through; lack of sticking power; short attention span
为富不仁為富不仁wei2 fu4 bu4 ren2
the benevolent man cannot be rich (idiom, from Mencius). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24).
the benevolent man cannot be rich and vice versa (idiom, from Mencius). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24).
唯恐天下不乱唯恐天下不亂wei2 kong3 tian1 xia4 bu4 luan4
to wish for the whole world to be in chaos (idiom)
为仁不富為仁不富wei2 ren2 bu4 fu4
the rich man cannot be benevolent (idiom, from Mencius). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24).
为时不晚為時不晚wei2 shi2 bu4 wan3
it is not too late (idiom)
尾大不掉尾大不掉wei3 da4 bu4 diao4
large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy; fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates
委靡不振委靡不振wei3 mi3 bu4 zhen4
variant of 萎靡不振
萎靡不振萎靡不振wei3 mi3 bu4 zhen4
dispirited and listless (idiom); downcast
亹亹不倦亹亹不倦wei3 wei3 bu4 juan4
on and on; relentlessly
畏缩不前畏縮不前wei4 suo1 bu4 qian2
to shrink back in fear (idiom); too cowardly to advance
文不对题文不對題wen2 bu4 dui4 ti2
irrelevant; beside the point
文不加点文不加點wen2 bu4 jia1 dian3
to write a flawless essay in one go (idiom); to be quick-witted and skilled at writing compositions
文风不动文風不動wen2 feng1 bu4 dong4
absolutely still; fig. not the slightest change; also written 紋風不動|纹风不动
纹风不动紋風不動wen2 feng1 bu4 dong4
absolutely still; fig. not the slightest change; also written 文風不動|文风不动
闻名不如见面聞名不如見面wen2 ming2 bu4 ru2 jian4 mian4
knowing sb by their reputation can't compare to meeting them in person (idiom)
纹丝不动紋絲不動wen2 si1 bu4 dong4
to not move a single jot (idiom)
稳步不前穩步不前wen3 bu4 bu4 qian2
to mark time and make no advances (idiom)
卧不安臥不安wo4 bu4 an1
restless insomnia
无不無不wu2 bu4
none lacking; none missing; everything is there; everyone without exception
无不达無不達wu2 bu4 da2
nothing he can't do
无处不在無處不在wu2 chu4 bu4 zai4
to be everywhere
无毒不丈夫無毒不丈夫wu2 du2 bu4 zhang4 fu5
no poison, no great man (idiom); A great man has to be ruthless.
无恶不作無惡不作wu2 e4 bu4 zuo4
not to shrink from any crime (idiom); to commit any imaginable misdeed
无风不起浪無風不起浪wu2 feng1 bu4 qi3 lang4
lit. without wind there cannot be waves (idiom); there must be a reason; no smoke without fire
无功不受禄無功不受祿wu2 gong1 bu4 shou4 lu4
Don't get a reward if it's not deserved. (idiom)
无话不谈無話不談wu2 hua4 bu4 tan2
not to hold anything back (idiom); (of close friends etc) to tell each other everything
无坚不摧無堅不摧wu2 jian1 bu4 cui1
no stronghold one cannot overcome (idiom); to conquer every obstacle; nothing one can't do; to carry everything before one
无奸不商無奸不商wu2 jian1 bu4 shang1
all businessmen are evil (idiom)
无可无不可無可無不可wu2 ke3 wu2 bu4 ke3
neither for nor against sth; indifferent
无孔不钻無孔不鑽wu2 kong3 bu4 zuan1
lit. leave no hole undrilled (idiom); to latch on to every opportunity
无奇不有無奇不有wu2 qi2 bu4 you3
nothing is too bizarre; full of extraordinary things
无巧不成书無巧不成書wu2 qiao3 bu4 cheng2 shu1
curious coincidence
无人不無人不wu2 ren2 bu4
no man is not...
无人不晓無人不曉wu2 ren2 bu4 xiao3
known to everyone
无人不知無人不知wu2 ren2 bu4 zhi1
known to everybody
无事不登三宝殿無事不登三寶殿wu2 shi4 bu4 deng1 san1 bao3 dian4
lit. One doesn't visit a temple without a cause. (idiom); fig. to visit sb with an ulterior motive (esp. to ask for sth); having a hidden agenda
无所不包無所不包wu2 suo3 bu4 bao1
not excluding anything; all-inclusive
无所不卖無所不賣wu2 suo3 bu4 mai4
to sell anything; to sell everything
无所不能無所不能wu2 suo3 bu4 neng2
omnipotent
无所不为無所不為wu2 suo3 bu4 wei2
not stopping at anything; all manner of evil
无所不用其极無所不用其極wu2 suo3 bu4 yong4 qi2 ji2
committing all manner of crimes; completely unscrupulous
无所不在無所不在wu2 suo3 bu4 zai4
omnipresent
无所不知無所不知wu2 suo3 bu4 zhi1
omniscient
无所不至無所不至wu2 suo3 bu4 zhi4
to reach everywhere; to stop at nothing; to do one's utmost
the notion in society that it's better to get ahead in the world by abandoning one's scruples than to suffer poverty; lit. despising poverty but not prostitution (idiom)
孝思不匮孝思不匱xiao4 si1 bu4 kui4
to be forever filial (idiom)
邪不敌正邪不敵正xie2 bu4 di2 zheng4
good will always triumph over evil (idiom)
新不列颠岛新不列顛島xin1 bu4 lie4 dian1 dao3
New Britain, island of northeast Papua New Guinea
新不伦瑞克新不倫瑞克xin1 bu4 lun2 rui4 ke4
New Brunswick province, Canada
心不在焉心不在焉xin1 bu4 zai4 yan1
absent-minded; preoccupied; inattentive; with one's thoughts wandering
hasty men don't get to eat hot tofu (idiom); one just has to be patient; haste will ruin everything
心口不一心口不一xin1 kou3 bu4 yi1
heart and mouth at variance (idiom); keeping one's real intentions to oneself; saying one thing but meaning sth different
心律不齐心律不齊xin1 lv4 bu4 qi2
arrhythmia
心律不整心律不整xin1 lv4 bu4 zheng3
arrhythmia
心神不安心神不安xin1 shen2 bu4 an1
to feel ill at ease
心神不宁心神不寧xin1 shen2 bu4 ning2
to feel ill at ease
心神不属心神不屬xin1 shen2 bu4 zhu3
see 心不在焉
心绪不佳心緒不佳xin1 xu4 bu4 jia1
out of sorts; gloomy
心绪不宁心緒不寧xin1 xu4 bu4 ning2
unquiet state of mind
心有余，力不足心有餘，力不足xin1 you3 yu2 - li4 bu4 zu2
The will is there, but not the strength (idiom, from Confucian Analects).; I really want to do it, but don't have the resources.; The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
心有余而力不足心有餘而力不足xin1 you3 yu2 er2 li4 bu4 zu2
the will is there, but not the strength (idiom); the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
心照不宣心照不宣xin1 zhao4 bu4 xuan1
a tacit mutual understanding
信不过信不過xin4 bu4 guo4
to distrust; to be suspicious
行不从径行不從徑xing2 bu4 cong2 jing4
lit. not following the straight path (idiom); fig. looking for a shortcut to get ahead in work or study
lit. even a prairie fire cannot destroy the grass - it grows again when the breeze blows (proverb); fig. cannot be easily eliminated; abbr. to 野火春風|野火春风
夜不闭户夜不閉戶ye4 bu4 bi4 hu4
lit. doors not locked at night (idiom); fig. stable society
夜不成眠夜不成眠ye4 bu4 cheng2 mian2
to be unable to sleep at night
夜不归宿夜不歸宿ye4 bu4 gui1 su4
to stay out all night (idiom)
一笔不苟一筆不苟yi1 bi3 bu4 gou3
lit. not even one stroke is negligent (idiom); fig. to write characters (calligraphy) in which every stroke is placed perfectly
一病不起一病不起yi1 bing4 bu4 qi3
to fall gravely ill, never to recover (idiom)
衣不蔽体衣不蔽體yi1 bu4 bi4 ti3
lit. clothes not covering the body (idiom); fig. poverty-stricken
It's a long and intricate story, I hardly know where to start.
一不做，二不休一不做，二不休yi1 bu4 zuo4 - er4 bu4 xiu1
don't do it, or don't rest (idiom); either give up, or go through to the end; Since we started, we must carry it through whatever happens.; in for a penny, in for a pound
一尘不染一塵不染yi1 chen2 bu4 ran3
untainted by even a speck of dust (idiom); selfless and incorruptible; spotless
一成不变一成不變yi1 cheng2 bu4 bian4
nothing much changes (idiom); always the same; stuck in a rut
一代不如一代一代不如一代yi1 dai4 bu4 ru2 yi1 dai4
to be getting worse with each generation
一点不一點不yi1 dian3 bu4
not at all
一丁不识一丁不識yi1 ding1 bu4 shi2
illiterate; ignorant
一动不动一動不動yi1 dong4 bu4 dong4
motionless
一发不可收拾一發不可收拾yi1 fa1 bu4 ke3 shou1 shi5
things that have happened can hardly be controlled; to get out of hand
一个巴掌拍不响一個巴掌拍不響yi1 ge5 ba1 zhang3 pai1 bu4 xiang3
lit. one palm alone cannot clap (proverb); fig. it takes two persons to start a dispute; it takes two to tango; it's difficult to achieve anything without support
一介不取一介不取yi1 jie4 bu4 qu3
to not even take a penny (as a bribe)
一蹶不振一蹶不振yi1 jue2 bu4 zhen4
one stumble, unable to rise (idiom); a setback leading to total collapse; ruined at a stroke; unable to recover after a minor hitch
一口吃不成胖子一口吃不成胖子yi1 kou3 chi1 bu4 cheng2 pang4 zi5
lit. you cannot get fat with only one mouthful (proverb); fig. learn to walk before you run
一毛不拔一毛不拔yi1 mao2 bu4 ba2
stingy (idiom)
一钱不值一錢不值yi1 qian2 bu4 zhi2
not worth a penny; utterly worthless
一窍不通一竅不通yi1 qiao4 bu4 tong1
lit. doesn't (even) enter a single aperture (of one's head); I don't understand a word (idiom); it's all Greek to me
lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree; fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect; well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it
lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other; you can't always get everything you want; you can't have your cake and eat it
语焉不详語焉不詳yu3 yan1 bu4 xiang2
to mention sth without elaborating (idiom); not giving details
与众不同與眾不同yu3 zhong4 bu4 tong2
to stand out from the masses (idiom)
欲罢不能欲罷不能yu4 ba4 bu4 neng2
want to stop but can't (idiom); to be unable to stop oneself; to feel an urge to continue
欲速而不达欲速而不達yu4 su4 er2 bu4 da2
lit. to want sth in haste, but cannot get there (idiom, from Analects); more haste, less speed; also written 慾速則不達|欲速则不达
欲速则不达欲速則不達yu4 su4 ze2 bu4 da2
lit. to want sth in haste, but cannot get there (idiom, from Analects); more haste, less speed; don't try to run before you can walk
郁郁不得志鬱鬱不得志yu4 yu4 bu4 de2 zhi4
soured by the loss of one's hopes
郁郁不乐鬱鬱不樂yu4 yu4 bu4 le4
discontented (idiom)
冤家宜解不宜结冤家宜解不宜結yuan1 jia1 yi2 jie3 bu4 yi2 jie2
It is better to squash enmity rather than keeping it alive (proverb)
原封不动原封不動yuan2 feng1 bu4 dong4
sticking unmoving to the original (idiom); not an iota changed; untouched
源源不断源源不斷yuan2 yuan2 bu4 duan4
a steady flow (idiom); an unending stream
远亲不如近邻遠親不如近鄰yuan3 qin1 bu4 ru2 jin4 lin2
A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor (idiom). Take whatever help is on hand, even from strangers.
远水不解近渴遠水不解近渴yuan3 shui3 bu4 jie3 jin4 ke3
lit. distant water does not cure present thirst; fig. urgent need; a slow remedy does not address immediate needs
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
左不过左不過zuo3 bu5 guo4
anyhow; in any event; just; only
坐不垂堂坐不垂堂zuo4 bu4 chui2 tang2
lit. don't sit under overhanging eaves (idiom); fig. don't stay in danger area
做不到做不到zuo4 bu4 dao4
impossible
坐立不安坐立不安zuo4 li4 bu4 an1
lit. agitated sitting or standing (idiom); restless; fidgety