中国成语---英汉对照 英汉对照读物

爱情不能强求。 Love cannot be compelled.

爱情充满烦恼。 Love is full of trouble.

爱情是盲目的。 Love is blind.

爱挑的担子不嫌重。 A burden of one's choice is not felt.

爱屋及乌。 Love me, love my dog.

百闻不如一见Seeing is believing.

百闻不如一见。 One eyewitness is better than tenhearsays.

搬弄口舌者必是小人。Who chatters to you, will chatter of you.

抱最好的愿望，做最坏的打算。Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

背后说好话，才是真朋友。He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.

本末倒置。 Put the cart before the horse.

本性难移。 The leopard cannot change its spots.

笨鸟先飞A slow sparrow should make an early start.

比上不足，比下有余worse off than some, better off than many; to fall short of thebest, but be better than the worst

笔能杀人。 The pen is mightier than the sword.

别惹麻烦。 Let sleeping dogs lie.

别人错了，不等于你对了。Two wrongs do not make a right.

冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。 Rome is not built in a day.

病从口入。 A close mouth catches no flies.

博学使人谦逊，无知使人骄傲。Knowledge makes humble, ignorance makes proud.

不耻下问才能有学问。A man becomes learned by asking questions.

不打不成交 Nodiscord, no concord.

不到黄河心不死。Until all is over one's ambition never dies.

不懂世故，幼稚可笑。Not to know what happened before one was born is always to be achild.

不管做什么，都要一心一意。 Whatever you do, do with all yourmight.

不会撑船怪河弯。A bad workman always blames his tools.

不进则退。 Not to advance is to go back.

不经历风雨，怎么见彩虹。No cross, no crown.

不可以貌取人。 Never judge from appearances.

不劳动者不得食。He that will not work shall not eat.

不眠之夜white night　

不鸣则已，一鸣惊人。It never rains but it pours.

不怕慢，单怕站。Better late than never.

不入虎穴，焉得虎子。If you venture nothing, you will have nothing.

不入虎穴，焉得虎子。Nothing brave, nothing have.

不善始者不善终。A bad beginning makes a bad ending.

不学无术。 Learn not and know not.

不要班门弄斧。 Don't try to teach your grandmother to suckeggs.

不要本末倒置。 Don't put the cart before the horse.

不要不懂装懂。 Don't claim to know what you don'tknow.

不要混水摸鱼。 Never fish in trouble water.

不要揽事过多。 Don't have too many irons in the fire.

不要小题大做。 Don't make a mountain out of amolehill.

不要自找麻烦。 Don't trouble trouble until troubletroubles you.

不遗余力spare no effort; go all out; do one’s best

不以物喜，不以己悲 notpleased by external gains, not saddened by personnal losses

不做亏心事，不怕鬼叫门。A good conscience is a soft pillow.

拆东墙补西墙rob Peter to pay Paul

常客令人厌。A constant guest is never welcome.

常在河边走，哪有不湿鞋。Touch pitch, and you will be defiled.

抄近路反而绕远路。 The farthest way about is the nearest wayhome.

陈酒味醇，老友情深。Old friends and old wines are best.

趁热打铁。 Strike the iron while it is hot.

诚实者最明智。 He is wise that is honest.

吃小亏占大便宜。Venture a small fish to catch a great one.

吃一堑，长一智。A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit.

吃一堑，长一智。Experience must be bought.

充耳不闻。 None are so deaf as those who won't hear.

初次见面，印象最深。First impressions are half the battle.

初生牛犊不怕虎。The more wit, the less courage.

创业容易守业难。It is easy to open a shop but hard to keep it always open.

吹牛与说谎本是同宗。A boaster and a liar are cousins-german.

辞旧迎新bid farewell to the old and usher in the new; ring out the old yearand ring in the new

聪明不是挂在嘴上。 He is a wise man who speaks little.

聪明才智，不如运气。An ounce of luck is better than a pound of wisdom.

聪明一世，糊涂一时。No man is wise at all times.

大开眼界open one’s eyes; broaden one’s horizon; be an eye-opener

大事化小，小事化了 tryfirst to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduceit to nothing at all

大树底下好乘凉。Great trees are good for nothing but shade.

大智若愚。 He knows most who speaks least.

呆人有呆福。Fools has fortune.

蛋未孵先数雏。 Count one's chickens before they arehatched.

当局者迷，旁观者清。Lookers-on see more than players.

道高一尺，魔高一丈。While the priest climbs a post, the devil climbs ten.

得朋友难，失朋友易。A friend is easier lost than found.

滴水穿石。 Water dropping day by day wears the hardestrock away.

敌人逃窜时，人人都成了勇士。All are brave when the enemy flies.

鼎力相助。 Put your shoulder to the wheel.

东西是新的好，朋友是老的亲。Everything is good when new, but friends when old.

读书健脑，运动强身。Reading is to the mind while exercise to the body.

读书如交友，应求少而精。Books and friends should be few but good.

读书使人充实，交谈使人精明。By reading we enrich the mind, by conversation we polish it.

儿时所学，终生难忘。What is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave.

儿子婚前是儿子，女儿终生是女儿。My son is my son till he has got him a wife, but my daughter is mydaughter all the days of her life.

耳朵发烧，有人念叨。If your ears glow, someone is talking of you.

耳濡目染，身教言传。Children are what the mothers are.

凡事不可半途而废。 Do nothing by halves.

凡事都应量力而行。 A man can do no more than he can.

凡事总是由难而易。 All things are difficult before they areeasy.

吠犬不咬人。Barking dogs seldom bite.

分秒必争。 Every minute counts.

风水轮流转。Fortune knocks once at least at every man's gate.

否极泰来。 Things at the worst will mend.

夫善则妻贤。A good husband makes a good wife.

福无双至，祸不单行。Troubles never come singly.

富不过三代。Great men's sons seldom do well.

覆水难收。 It is no use crying over spilt milk.

隔墙有耳。 Fields have eyes, and woods have ears.

各人有各人的苦恼。 Every heart has its own sorrow.

公事公办。 Business is business.

功夫不负有心人Everything comes to him who waits.

恭维话不能当饭吃。 Praise is not pudding.

躬亲示范。 Teach others by your example.

狗肚子盛不得四两油。A little pot is soon hot.

孤芳自赏。 Each bird love to hear himself sing.

寡言者智。 A still tongue makes a wise head.

观察是最好的老师。 Observation is the best teacher.

光说空话不做事，犹如花园光长刺。A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.

光阴似箭。 Time flies.

贵人多忘事。Great wits have short memories.

滚石不生苔，转业不聚财。A rolling stone gathers no moss.

国泰民安The country flourishes and people live in peace

过多夸奖，反成负担。Too much praise is a burden.

过分熟悉会使人互不服气。Too much familiarity breeds contempt.

过河拆桥。 The danger past and God forgotten.

过去的就让它过去吧。Let bygones be bygones.

过犹不及going too far is as bad as not going far enough; beyond is as wrongas falling short; too much is as bad as too little

孩子是自己的好。Every mother's child is handsome.

海底捞月。 Cry for the moon.

海内存知己，天涯若比邻。The world is but a little place, after all.

海纳百川。 All rivers run into sea.

害人害己。 Harm set, harm get.

好的开始，是成功的一半。Well begun is half done.

好东西，失去了才明白。 We know not what is good until we havelost it.

好狗不挡道。Great barkers are no biters.

好景不常在。Every day is not Sunday.

好了伤疤忘了疼 onceon shore, one prays no more

好朋友勤算账。 Short accounts make long friends.

好人不长命。Whom the gods love die young.

好人越夸越好，坏人越夸越糟。Praise makes good men better, and bad men worse.

好人越学越好，坏人越学越坏。Learning makes a good man better and ill man worse.

好事不出门，恶事传千里Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far andwide.

好事不出门，坏事传千里。Bad news has wings.

好书如挚友。A good book is a good friend.

和气生财Harmony brings wealth

化敌为友。 Make your enemy your friend.

欢乐不觉时光过。Happiness takes no account of time.

患难见真情。A friend in need is a friend indeed.

患难见真情。Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

黄金并非万能。 Gold will not buy anything.

黄鼠狼给鸡拜年，没安好心。 When the fox preaches, take care ofyour geese.

谎言站不长。Lies have short legs.

谎言终究是谎言。Lies can never changes fact.

活到老，学到老 Oneis never too old to learn.

活到老，学到老。It is never too old to learn.

活着，为了学习。Learn and live.

火是一把双刃剑。Fire is a good servant but a bad master.

火中取栗。 Pull the chestnut out of fire.

祸不单行。 Misfortunes never come alone.

机不可失，时不再来。Do it now.

机关算尽太聪明，反误了卿卿性命。The fox knew too much, that's how he lost his tail.

机遇偏爱善断之人。 Fortune favors those who use theirjudgement.

积习难改。 A leopard cannot change its spots.

集思广益。 Four eyes see more than two.

己所不欲，勿施于人。Do as you would be done by.

忌妒之人无宁日。Envy has no holidays.

·转变抹角
to speak in roundabout way.
·骑虎难下
When you ride a tiger,it’s hard to dismount.
·损人利己
harming others to benefit oneself.
·甜言密语
sweet words and honeyed phrases.
·同床异梦
to share the same bed but dream different dreams.
·高压手段
high-handed measures.
·鸦雀无声
so quiet that not a single voice can be heard.
·鹏程万里
to have a bright future.
·鹤立鸡群
far surpassing the others.
·鼓起勇气
to pluck up courage.
·龙争虎斗
fierce battle between giants.
·事在人为
It all depends on human effort.
·好事多磨
The road to happiness is strewn with setbacks.
·难言之隐
sth. embarrassing to mention.
·非常手段
emergency measures.
·面黄肌闳
thin and sticky in appearance.
·鞭长莫及
beyond one’s influence.
·顶头上司
the immediate boss.
·顺其自然
to let nature take its course.
·头晕眼花
dizzy of head and dim of sight.
·孤苦零丁
without friends and relatives.
·露出马脚
to reveal one’s true in one’s story.
·青梅竹马
the innocent affection between a boy and a girl in theirchildhood.
·青出于蓝
to surpass one’s master in learning.
·金钱万能
money is almighty.
·金屋藏娇
to build a magnificent house for a beloved woman.
·针锋相对
to oppose each other with equal harshness.
·销声匿迹
to vanish without leaving any trace behind.
·长命富贵
May you live long and be sucessful!
·开卷有益
Reading is always beneficial.
·开源节流
to open more sourse of income and cut down expenses.
·防不胜防
There is no way of preventing it.
or:It is impossible to guard against such things.
·防患未然
to take precautions against calamity.
·隆情厚谊
great kindness,hospitality and friendship.
·随波逊流
to spead and behave as others do without views of his own.
·随机应变
to adapt oneself quickly to the changing circumstances.
·入乡随俗
to do as the natives do.
·险象环生
signs of danger appearing everywhere.
·双管齐下
to do two things simutaneously in order to attain anobjective.
·鞠躬尽瘁
to bend oneself to a task and exert oneself to the utmost.
·双喜临门
to have simutaneously two happy events in a family.
·离情别绪
the sad feeling at separation.
·离乡背井
to stay far away from home.
·难舍难分
very reluctant to separate.
·难逃法网
It is hard to escape the dragned of law.
·颠 流离
suffering deprivations and hardships.
·顾全大局
for the interest of the whole.
·风调雨顺
favorable weather.
·风云人物
a famed personage.
·飞来横祸
sudden and unexpected calamity.
·食色性也
The desire for food and sex is part of human nature.
·饥不择食
When one is hungery,one is not particular about what he is going toeat.
·饥寒交迫
to suffer fromhunger and cold.
·惊惶失措
to lose head from fear.
·惊心动魄
heart-shaking 或soul-stirring.
·迎风招展
to flutter in the wind.
·迫不得已
compelled by circumstances.
·迎来送往
to be busy entertaining guests.
·逃之夭夭
to escape withput leaving a single trace behind.
·逆来顺受
to accept adversity philosophically.
·逍遥法外
to remain out of the law’s reach.
·逍遥自在
to eajoy leisure without restraint.
·这还了得
How dare!
·通宵达旦
all night long.
·造福社群
to do good deeds to benefit all.
·逢凶化吉
to turn bad luck into good fortune.
·连本带利
both the principal and the intrerest.
·连带责任
joint responsibility.
·进退两难
difficult either to proceed or retreat.
·遍体鳞伤
with wounds all over the body.
·达 贵人
prominent official and eminent personages.
·远走高飞
to go faraway.
·酸甜苦辣
the sweets and bitters of life.
·重操旧业
to return to one’s old trade.
·重温旧梦
to reproduce the good old days.
·量力而行
to estimate one’s strangth before acting.
·量入为出
to regulate expenses according to income.
·岂有此理
How absurd!
·丰功伟绩
high merit and great achievements.
·丰衣足食
good clothes and rich food.
·豺狼当道
wicked person in power.
·貌合神离
to be united outwardly but divided at heart.
·猫哭老鼠
to shed crocodile tears.
·贪得无厌
never satisfied with what one has got.
·宾至如归
to feel at home in a place.
·费尽心机
to exhaust all mental efforts.
·贤妻良母
a dutiful wife and loving mother.
·赴汤蹈火
to go through fire and water.
·起死回生
to revive the dead.
·趁火打劫
to plunder a house when it is on fire.
·越俎代庖
to go beyond one’s duties to meddle with another’s affairs.
·足智多谋
wise and resouceful.
·跳出火坑
to free oneself from a life of torture.
·身败名裂
to lose both fortune and honor.
·载歌载舞
to sing and dance at the same time.
·反败为胜
to turn a defeat into a vitory.
·转移视线
to draw attention to some other matter.
·转危为安
to turn a perilous situation into a safe one.
·转弯抹角
to talk in a roundabout way.
·明辨是非
to distinguish right from wrong.
·办公时间
office hours.
·虚张声势
to make a deceptive show of power.
·融会贯通
to blend harmoniously and grasp thoroughly.
·街头巷尾
throughout the city.
·冲口而出
to blurt out without thinking.
·衣食住行
clothing,food,housing and transportation.(the four essentialrequirements of people)
·衣锦还乡
to return home in glory.
·袖手旁观
to look on without lifting a finger.
或：to watch with folded arms.
·见利忘义
to forget one’s integrity under the temptation of personalgains.
·见异思迁
easily moved by what one sees or hears.
·视同儿戏
to regard it as unimportant.
·视死如归
to look upon death as going home.
·言而有信
to be as good as one’s words.
·言归正传
Let’s go back to the main topic.
·言行一致
words conforming with actions.
·计时工资
wages paid on time basis.
·说风凉话
to talk like an unconcerned person.
·说来话长
It is a long story.
·讳疾忌医
to refuse to face harsh reality.
·诸如此类
various things like this.
·谢绝参观
No visitors allowed.
·谨防扒手
Bewere of pickpockets!
·豁然开朗
to become clear all of a sudden.
·自力更生
to achieve self-renewal with one’s own effort.
或：to stand on one’s own feet.
·自寻烦恼
to look for trouble.
·自食其力
to live by one’s own exertion.
·自食其果
to suffer the consequences of one’s own doing.
·举目无亲
There is not a single friend around.
·举一反三
to infer the rest from what is already known.
·若无其事
as if nothing had happened.
·茅塞顿开
to come to an understanding all of a sudden.
·茶饭无心
to have no appetite.
·含辛茹苦
to undergo all possible hardship.
·草菅人命
to treat human life as grass.
·豆寇年华
marriageable age.
·万念俱灰
completely discouraged.
·万籁俱寂
All sounds are hushed.
·万寿无疆
May you attain bou7ndless longevity!
·落井下石
to beat a person when he is already down.
·落叶归根
When a person gets old ,he thinks of going back home.
·蒙在鼓里
to be kept completely in the dark.
·蒸蒸日上
getting more and more prosperous.
·蓬莱仙境
a fairyland.
·荡然无存
to have nothing left.
·耦断丝连
The ties are severed but not completely.
·虎头蛇尾
to start doing something with vigor but fail to see itthrough.
·老少无欺
to cheat neither the old nor the young.
·聚沙成塔
accumulation of small amounts result in huge quantity.
·肝胆相照
to show the deepest sincerity.
·背井离乡
to leave one’s hometown.
·胡言乱语
to talk nonsense.
·胸有成
to have had ready plans in mind.
·能歌善舞
skill in both singing snd dancing.
·能者多劳
The capable are usually the busy ones.
·自暴自弃
to abandon oneself to a dissipated life.
·置若芒闻
to turn a deaf ear to ---
·美轮美奂
splendid and magnificant.
·义愤填雁
to feel indignant at the injustice.
·翻天覆地
world -shaking.
·翻来覆去
to turn over and over.
·翻山越岭
to travel over mountains and valleys.
·耀武扬威
to show off one’s strength or power.
·老谋深算
scheming and calculating.
·福星高照
The lucky star is in the ascendant.
·福如东海
May your happiness be as immense as eastern sea.
·寿比南山
May your life be as lofty as the southern Mountain Ranges.
·秉公办理
to act strickly according to official procedures or rules.
·移情别恋
to shift one’s love to another person.
·积劳成疾
to fall sick from persistent overwork.
·积谷防饥
to store up food in anticipation of famine.
·突飞猛进
to advance by leaps and bounds.
·突击检查
to make a search witjout prior notice.
·立杆见影
The outcome may be known immediately.
·粗心大意
rash and careless.
·粗制滥造
to turn out in large quantity without any regard for quality.
·精神饱满
in high spirit.
·精神恍惚
abscent-minded.
·精神状态
mental condition.
·精益求精
Second best is not good enough.
·纸上谈兵
empty talks.
·终身大事
a great event affecting one’s whole life.
·绝代隹人
beauty of beauties
·经验丰富
well-experienced.
·紧要关头
a critical moment.
·节衣缩食
to reduce expenses on clothing and food.
·罪有应得
The punishment is well deserved.
·尽善尽美
perfectly good.
·盘根错节
very complicated.
·目不暇给
So many things come into the sight that the eyes are kept fullyaccupied.
·目不转睛
to gaze steadily.
·目中无人
So arrogant that no one is important in his eyes.
·目无法纪
to disregard all laws and regulations.
·相辅相成
to complement each other.
·相提并论
mentioned and discussed as related things.
·相见恨晚
to regret having met earlier.
·相亲相爱
to be kind to each other and love each other.
·相依为命
to rely upon each other for life.
·相夫教子
to help the husband and teach the children.
·真凭实据
concrete proof and genuin evidence.
·真相大白
The true is out.
·众矢之的
the target of public attacks.
·知法犯法
to transgress a law knowingly.
·破门而入
to break into a house.
或：to force one’s way into a house.
·破涕为笑
to break into laughter while still crying.
·破除迷信
to get rid of superstition.
·绿草如茵
The expanse of verdant grass seems like a pleasant mat.
·神魂颠倒
to be fascinated head over heels.
·神差鬼使
as though urged by gods and demons.
·祸不单行
Misfortune never comes singly.
·独来独往
to act independently without seeking a company.
·瓜熟蒂落
Things take care of themselves when the right time comes.
·生不逢时
born at a wrong time.
·生财有道
expertly in making money.
·由此观之
judging from this.
·略胜一筹
slightly better 或 slightly superior.
·画虎类犬
to try to draw a tiger and end up with dog.
·当务之急
business of the greatest urgency at present.
·疑神疑鬼
to have unnecessary suspicions.
·疏于防范
to fail to take precautions.
·疾恶如仇
to hate evil as much as one hates an enemy.
·痛改前非
to repent past mistake.
·发扬光大
to enhance and glorify.
·白头偕老
to stick to each other till the hair turn gray.
·百发百中
to hit the target at every shot.
·百年大计
a great plan covering a very long period.
·百年树人
Education of people takes a hundred years to bear fruits.
·百感交集
A hundred emotions crowd into the heart.
·百战百胜
victorious in every battle.
·百无聊赖
very much bored.
·百无禁忌
There are no taboos at all.
·济济一堂
to gather together or congregate in tjis hall.
·无法无天
lawless and godless.
·无能为力
unable to help.
·无理取闹
to make trouble without a cause.
·无路可走
at the end of the rope.
·无拘无束
to feel very much at home .
·无所适从
don’t know where to turn to .
·焕然一新
brand new.
·熙熙壤壤
coming and going busily.
·熟能生巧
Skill comes from long experience.
·热泪盈眶
tearful.
·热身运动
warm-up exercise.
·营私舞弊
to seek personal gain illictly while holding a public post.
·争名夺利
to struggle for fame and wealth.
·争风吃醋
to quarrel from jealousy.
·争先恐后
anxious to be ahead of other
.为非作歹
to do evil.
·为人师表
to be a model of virtue for others.
·为所欲为
to do as one pleases.
·牛郎织女
the Cowherd and the Weaving mail.
·物以类聚
Birds of a feather flock together.
·牵肠挂肚
to be deeply concerned.
·狼狈为奸
to gang up with somebody.
·狼吞虎咽
to devour (food) like wolf and tiger.
·独树一炽
to take a distinctive course of one’s own.
·气息奄奄
The breath is dying out.
·水滴石穿
fickle and lascivious.
·永垂不朽
to be remember forever by posterity.
·汗如雨下
to sweat profusely.
·沉湎酒色
to over-indulge oneself in wine and women.
·没齿难忘
to remember as long as one lives.
·没精打彩
listless;dispirited.
·洋洋得意
in high spirits.
·流年不利
to have a year of ill luck.
·流连忘返
to forget to go home because of an enjoyable experience.
·浮生如梦
Life is like dream.
·深信不疑
to believe without a shadow of doubt.
·混水摸鱼
to fish in trouble water.

·湖光山色
the natural be4auty of lakes and mountains.
·滴水石穿
Persistent efforts can overcome any difficulty.
·滚瓜烂熟
learned very thoroughly.
·满面春风
looking happy and cheerful.
·满口胡言
to talk irresponsibly.
·满口应承
to promise with great readiness.
·漏网之鱼
fish that has escaped the net.
·漫漫长夜
a long ,long night which seems to have no end.
·洁身自好
to exercise self-control so as to protect oneself fromimmorality.
·书香门第
a literary family.
·有名无实
to exist only in name.
·未雨绸缪
to take precautions before it is too late.
·杞人忧天
groundless worries (or anxiety).
·柔情似水
tender and soft as water.
·业精于勤
Excellence in work is possible only with diligence.
·乐不思蜀
too happy to taink of home.
·乐极生悲
happiness is followed by sorrow when it reaches an extreme.
·树大招风
High trees attract the wind.
·欲盖弥彰
The more one try to cover up ,the more it will become known.
·此路不通
This road is blocked.
·此时此地
here and now.or:under the present circumstances.
·步人后尘
to follow another’s foot-steps.
·死不冥目
to be unwilling to die.
·殊途同归
to reach the same destination by different routes.
·杀一儆百
to kill one as a warning for a hundred.
·民脂民膏
the hard-won possession of the people.
·民意测验
poll;public opinion survey.
·揠苗助长
to put up the seedling hoping to make it grow faster.
·摇旗呐喊
to wave flags and shout.
·擅离职守
to leave one’s post without permission.
·改邪归正
to give up evil and return to virtue.
·故弄玄虚
to puzzle people intentionally.
·整装待发
all packed up and ready to go.
·文武百
all the civil and military officials.
·斩草除根
to remove weed by rooting it out.
·断章取义
to interprete a thing out of context.
·方兴未艾
to be still growing.
·于事无补
It doesn’t help the situation.
·施政报告
admininstrative report.
·工作报告
work report.
·既往不咎
Let bygones be bygones.
·明知故犯
to commit a crime intentionally.
·想入非非
to let one’s imagination run wild.
·惹火烧身
to bring trouble upon oneself.
·愚公移山
Where there is a will,there is a way.
·爱屋及鸟
Love me ,love my dog.
·惨不忍睹