Usage of the character 不

used in expressions of the form 照V不誤／照V不误 (zhàoxxbùwù), in which V is a verb, 照 (zhào) means "as before", and the overall meaning is "carry on (doing sth) regardless" or "continue (to do sth) in spite of changed circumstances", e.g. 照買不誤／照买不误 (zhàomǎibùwù), to keep on buying (a product) regardless (of price hikes)

bùyǔ

不语

[不語]

(literary) not to speak

bùyuè

不悦

[不悅]

displeased
annoyed

wúbù

无不

[無不]

none lacking
none missing
everything is there
everyone without exception

bùliào

不料

[不料]

unexpectedly
to one's surprise

bùsù

不速

[不速]

uninvited (guest)
unexpected (appearance)
unwanted presence

bùshuāi

不衰

[不衰]

unfailing
never weakening
enduring
unstoppable

bùsuì

不遂

[不遂]

to fail
to fail to materialize
not to get one's way

bùshǎo

不少

[不少]

many
a lot
not few

bùzhǐ

不只

[不只]

not only
not merely

bùbǐ

不比

[不比]

unlike

sānbù

三不

[三不]

the three no's (abbreviated catchphrase)

bùkān

不堪

[不堪]

cannot bear
cannot stand
utterly
extremely

bùdié

不迭

[不迭]

cannot cope
find it too much
incessantly

bùmù

不睦

[不睦]

to not get along well
to be at odds

bùguǐ

不轨

[不軌]

errant

bùdàn

不但

[不但]

not only (... but also ...)

bùxùn

不逊

[不遜]

rude
impertinent

bùlǐ

不理

[不理]

to refuse to acknowledge
to pay no attention to
to take no notice of
to ignore

bùqīng

不清

[不清]

unclear

bùzhí

不值

[不值]

not worth

bùfěi

不菲

[不菲]

considerable (cost etc)
bountiful (crop etc)
high (social status etc)

bùqiǎo

不巧

[不巧]

too bad
unfortunately
as luck would have it

bùhuì

不讳

[不諱]

without concealing anything
to pass away
to die

bùrán

不然

[不然]

not so
no
or else
otherwise
if not
How about ...?

bùjūn

不均

[不均]

uneven
distributed unevenly

bùshě

不舍

[不捨]

reluctant to part with (sth or sb); unwilling to let go of

hǎobù

好不

[好不]

not at all ...
how very ...

bùqū

不屈

[不屈]

unyielding
unbending

bùxù

不恤

[不恤]

not to worry
not to show concern

cáibù

才不

[才不]

by no means
definitely not
as if!
yeah right!

mòbù

莫不

[莫不]

none doesn't
there is none who isn't
everyone

bùchǐ

不齿

[不齒]

to despise
to hold in contempt

bùguò

不过

[不過]

only
merely
no more than
but
however
anyway (to get back to a previous topic)
cannot be more (after adjectival)

cóngbù

从不

[從不]

never

bùjí

不吉

[不吉]

unlucky
inauspicious
ominous

bùjiàn

不见

[不見]

not to see
not to meet
to have disappeared
to be missing

bùyí

不宜

[不宜]

not suitable
inadvisable
inappropriate

bùduì

不对

[不對]

incorrect
wrong
amiss
abnormal
queer

bùyì

不义

[不義]

injustice

bùshuǎng

不爽

[不爽]

not well
out of sorts
in a bad mood
without discrepancy
accurate

bùyì

不易

[不易]

not easy to do sth
difficult
unchanging

bùzháo

不着

[不著]

no need
need not

bùlìn

不吝

[不吝]

not to stint; to be generous (with praise etc); to be prepared to (pay a fee, give of one's time etc)

bùxiáng

不详

[不詳]

not in detail
not quite clear

bùtuǒ

不妥

[不妥]

not proper
inappropriate

yǒngbù

永不

[永不]

never
will never

bùjuàn

不倦

[不倦]

tireless
untiring
indefatigable

bùjì

不计

[不計]

to disregard
to take no account of

bùzhèn

不振

[不振]

lacking in vitality
depressed (market, spirits etc)

bùzhì

不智

[不智]

unwise

bùjì

不济

[不濟]

(coll.) no good; of no use

bùxī

不惜

[不惜]

not stint
not spare
not hesitate (to do sth)
not scruple (to do sth)

bùtú

不图

[不圖]

not to seek (sth)
to have no expectation of (sth)
(literary) unexpectedly

bùkě

不可

[不可]

cannot; should not; must not

bùzhǔn

不准

[不准]

not to allow
to forbid
to prohibit

bùdà

不大

[不大]

not very
not too
not often

bùzhǐ

不止

[不止]

incessantly
without end
more than
not limited to

bùkuì

不愧

[不愧]

to be worthy of
to deserve to be called
to prove oneself to be

búr

不儿

[不兒]

(coll.) no (contracted form of 不是 (bùshì))

bùshi

不是

[不是]

fault; blame

bùyǎ

不雅

[不雅]

graceless
vulgar
indecent

bùshì

不是

[不是]

no
is not
not

bùhuáng

不遑

[不遑]

to have no time to (do sth)

bùdìng

不定

[不定]

indefinite
indeterminate
(botany) adventitious

bùsòng

不送

[不送]

don't bother to see me out

bùbiàn

不变

[不變]

constant
unvarying
(math.) invariant

bùyào

不要

[不要]

don't!; must not

Bùdān

不丹

[不丹]

Bhutan

bùxiào

不肖

[不肖]

(literary) unlike one's parents
degenerate
unworthy

bùsú

不俗

[不俗]

impressive
out of the ordinary

bùrì

不日

[不日]

within the next few days
in a few days time

bùyuè

不月

[不月]

amenorrhoea
irregular menstruation

bùhǎo

不好

[不好]

no good

bùdí

不敌

[不敵]

no match for
cannot beat

bùgān

不甘

[不甘]

unreconciled to
not resigned to
unwilling

bùwèi

不畏

[不畏]

unafraid
to defy

bùchéng

不成

[不成]

won't do
unable to
(at the end of a rhetorical question) can that be?

bùwěn

不稳

[不穩]

unstable
unsteady

bùzhì

不致

[不致]

not in such a way as to; not likely to

zhèbu

这不

[這不]

(coll.) As a matter of fact, ... (used to introduce evidence for what one has just asserted)

bùzài

不再

[不再]

no more; no longer

bùxiào

不孝

[不孝]

unfilial

bùdān

不单

[不單]

not the only
not merely
not simply

bùxī

不息

[不息]

continually
without a break
ceaselessly

bùlài

不赖

[不賴]

(coll.) not bad
good
fine

bùjìn

不尽

[不盡]

not completely
endlessly

bùwèn

不问

[不問]

to pay no attention to
to disregard
to ignore
to let go unpunished
to let off

bùyùn

不孕

[不孕]

infertile
unable to conceive a child
infertility

bùcái

不才

[不才]

untalented
I
me (humble)

bùruò

不若

[不若]

not as good as
not equal to
inferior

bùgǒu

不苟

[不苟]

not lax
not casual
careful
conscientious

bùjīn

不禁

[不禁]

can't help (doing sth)
can't refrain from

bùzhōu

不周

[不周]

not satisfactory
thoughtless
inconsiderate

bùlíng

不灵

[不靈]

not work
be ineffective

bùróng

不溶

[不溶]

insoluble

bùdài

不带

[不帶]

not to have
without
un-

bùchì

不啻

[不啻]

just as
no less than
like (sth momentous)
as good as
tantamount to

bùwěi

不韪

[不韙]

fault
error

bùzài

不在

[不在]

not to be present
to be out
(euphemism) to pass away
to be deceased

bùshàn

不善

[不善]

bad
ill
not good at
not to be pooh-poohed
quite impressive

kěbu

可不

[可不]

see 可不是 (kěbushì)

bùmáo

不毛

[不毛]

barren

bùshí

不时

[不時]

from time to time
now and then
occasionally
frequently

bùlì

不力

[不力]

not to do one's best
not to exert oneself

bùgōng

不恭

[不恭]

disrespectful

bùzhì

不治

[不治]

to die of illness or injury despite receiving medical help

bùxià

不下

[不下]

to be not less than (a certain quantity, amount etc)

bùgōng

不公

[不公]

unjust
unfair

bùyù

不育

[不育]

to be infertile
to have no offspring

bùfù

不复

[不復]

no longer; not again

bùyì

不意

[不意]

unexpectedly
unawareness
unpreparedness

bùxiá

不暇

[不暇]

to have no time (for sth)
to be too busy (to do sth)

bùwèi

不谓

[不謂]

cannot be deemed
unexpectedly

bùguāng

不光

[不光]

not the only one
not only

bùyòng

不用

[不用]

need not

bùdé

不得

[不得]

must not
may not
not to be allowed
cannot

bùxiè

不懈

[不懈]

untiring
unremitting
indefatigable

bùzhēng

不争

[不爭]

widely known
incontestable
undeniable
to not strive for
to not contend for

bùliáng

不良

[不良]

bad
harmful
unhealthy

bùfú

不服

[不服]

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

bùjiǔ

不久

[不久]

not long (after)
before too long
soon
soon after

bùgù

不顾

[不顧]

in spite of; regardless of

bùxiāo

不消

[不消]

to not need
needless (to say)

bùhuò

不惑

[不惑]

without doubt
with full self-confidence
forty years of age

bùguǎn

不管

[不管]

not to be concerned
regardless of
no matter

bùxīng

不兴

[不興]

out of fashion
outmoded
impermissible
can't

bùchuò

不辍

[不輟]

incessant
relentless

bùchā

不差

[不差]

to not lack

bùjiā

不佳

[不佳]

not good

bùbèi

不备

[不備]

unprepared; off guard

bùbiàn

不便

[不便]

inconvenient
inappropriate
unsuitable
short of cash

bùjī

不羁

[不羈]

unruly
uninhibited

bùshí

不实

[不實]

untruthful; untrue

bùshùn

不顺

[不順]

unfavorable
adverse

juébù

绝不

[絕不]

in no way; not in the least; absolutely not

bùcéng

不曾

[不曾]

hasn't yet; hasn't ever

guòbuxià

过不下

[過不下]

to be unable to continue living (in a certain manner)
to be unable to make a living

kànbuchū

看不出

[看不出]

can't discern

bùdǎowēng

不倒翁

[不倒翁]

roly-poly toy

bùqùlǐ

不去理

[不去理]

not to pay attention to
to leave sth as it is
to ignore

shǔbùzháo

数不着

[數不著]

see 數不上／数不上 (shǔbùshàng)

chībukāi

吃不开

[吃不開]

be unpopular
won't work

jīnbuqǐ

禁不起

[禁不起]

to be unable to stand

bǎobuqí

保不齐

[保不齊]

more likely than not
quite possible
on the cards

shǔbùshàng

数不上

[數不上]

not to deserve to be mentioned; not to qualify; below par

shuōbùzhǔn

说不准

[說不準]

unable to say
can't say precisely

gēnbushàng

跟不上

[跟不上]

not able to keep up with

hùbulǎ

虎不拉

[虎不拉]

(dialect) shrike
Taiwan pr. (hǔbulā)

nánbùdǎo

难不倒

[難不倒]

not to pose a problem for sb
cannot stump sb

bùzhǎngjìn

不长进

[不長進]

not improving; backward; below par

bùpíngděng

不平等

[不平等]

inequality
unfairness

kànbuzhòng

看不中

[看不中]

not impressed by

guàibude

怪不得

[怪不得]

no wonder!
so that's why!

zhǎobudào

找不到

[找不到]

can't find

suànbùdé

算不得

[算不得]

not count as

bùyòngzhǎo

不用找

[不用找]

"keep the change" (restaurant expression)

hènbunéng

恨不能

[恨不能]

see 恨不得 (hènbude)

duìbuzhù

对不住

[對不住]

to let sb down
to be unfair
I'm sorry
pardon me (formal)

bùdìngcí

不定词

[不定詞]

infinitive

bùxiāngma

不香吗

[不香嗎]

(slang) would be better (abbr. for 這錢買排骨它不香嗎／这钱买排骨它不香吗 (zhèqiánmǎipáigǔtābùxiāngma) for that money, a pork cutlet would be more appetizing, would it not?)

róngbudé

容不得

[容不得]

unable to tolerate
intolerant
unable to bear sth

dǎbuguò

打不过

[打不過]

to be unable to defeat; to be no match for (sb)

bùyùnzhèng

不孕症

[不孕症]

female infertility

bùkèqi

不客气

[不客氣]

you're welcome
don't mention it
impolite
rude
blunt

bùzúyuè

不足月

[不足月]

premature (birth, child)

zhǎobuzháo

找不着

[找不著]

to be unable to find

kànbuguàn

看不惯

[看不慣]

cannot bear to see
to hate
to dislike
to disapprove

qìbùgōng

气不公

[氣不公]

indignant

bùzhíde

不值得

[不值得]

unworthy

bùxíngle

不行了

[不行了]

(coll.) on the point of death
dying

shìbùshì

是不是

[是不是]

is or isn't
yes or no
whether or not

bùshīwéi

不失为

[不失為]

can still be considered (to be...)
may after all be accepted as

kànbuqīng

看不清

[看不清]

not able to see clearly

bùqǐyǎn

不起眼

[不起眼]

unremarkable
nothing out of the ordinary

duìbuqǐ

对不起

[對不起]

I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon
to let (sb) down; to disappoint

bǎibùza

百不杂

[百不雜]

variant of 百不咋 (bǎibùza)

bùgěilì

不给力

[不給力]

lame (unimpressive)
a huge letdown
not to try at all

fànbuzháo

犯不着

[犯不著]

not worthwhile

bùgānshè

不干涉

[不干涉]

noninterference
nonintervention

bùqiúrén

不求人

[不求人]

backscratcher (made from bamboo etc)

bùděngshì

不等式

[不等式]

inequality (math.)

bùtǐmiàn

不体面

[不體面]

to not appear to be decent or respectful
shameful

yòngbuzháo

用不着

[用不著]

not need
have no use for

fànbushàng

犯不上

[犯不上]

see 犯不著／犯不着 (fànbuzháo)

zháibukāi

择不开

[擇不開]

impossible to separate
impossible to disentangle
cannot take time out

chuǎnbuguò

喘不过

[喘不過]

to be unable to breathe easily

bābude

巴不得

[巴不得]

(coll.) to be eager for
to long for
to look forward to

gǎobudǒng

搞不懂

[搞不懂]

unable to make sense of (sth)

shābuzhù

刹不住

[剎不住]

unable to brake (stop)

chībùzhǔn

吃不准

[吃不準]

to be unsure about a matter
to be uncertain
to be unable to make sense of sth

chībufú

吃不服

[吃不服]

not be accustomed to eating sth
not be used to certain food

bùxiànghuà

不象话

[不象話]

unreasonable
shocking; outrageous

bùréndào

不人道

[不人道]

inhuman

bùxiùtiě

不锈铁

[不鏽鐵]

stainless iron

shūbùzhī

殊不知

[殊不知]

little imagined
scarcely realized

shòubùliǎo

受不了

[受不了]

unbearable
unable to endure
can't stand

děngbùjí

等不及

[等不及]

can't wait

chuōbuzhù

戳不住

[戳不住]

not up to it; cannot stand the test

bùlājī

不拉叽

[不拉嘰]

(nasty, stupid etc) as can be

sìbùxiàng

四不像

[四不像]

common name for 麋鹿 (mílù), Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), which is said to resemble an amalgam of animals such as a cow, deer, donkey and horse
an odd mixture of disparate elements
hodgepodge
farrago

chàbuduō

差不多

[差不多]

almost
nearly
more or less
about the same
good enough
not bad

xiǎngbukāi

想不开

[想不開]

cannot figure out
to be unable to take a lighter view
to take things too hard
to be depressed
to fret over trifles

táobùchū

逃不出

[逃不出]

unable to escape
can't get out

tánbùlǒng

谈不拢

[談不攏]

can't come to an agreement

mòbùrán

莫不然

[莫不然]

equally true for (all the rest)
the same thing applies (for everyone)

bùdéliǎo

不得了

[不得了]

desperately serious
disastrous
extremely
exceedingly

bùshízì

不识字

[不識字]

illiterate

qìbùpíng

气不平

[氣不平]

angry at unfairness

bùguīfàn

不规范

[不規範]

not standard
abnormal
irregular

zhǐbuguò

只不过

[只不過]

only
merely
nothing but
no more than
it's just that ...

měngbùfáng

猛不防

[猛不防]

suddenly
unexpectedly
taken by surprise
at unawares

qiánbùjiǔ

前不久

[前不久]

not long ago
not long before

bùyàoliǎn

不要脸

[不要臉]

to have no sense of shame; shameless

bùkědǎo

不可导

[不可導]

not differentiable (function in calculus)

bùdàlí

不大离

[不大離]

pretty close
just about right
not bad
same as 差不多

bùdàishuō

不待说

[不待說]

needless to say; it goes without saying

débùdào

得不到

[得不到]

cannot get
cannot obtain

bùzhèngquè

不正确

[不正確]

incorrect
erroneous

bùsòngqì

不送气

[不送氣]

unaspirated

bùtòumíng

不透明

[不透明]

opaque

bùyòngxiè

不用谢

[不用謝]

You're welcome
Don't mention it

bùjìngēn

不尽根

[不盡根]

surd (math.)

bùxiàngyàng

不像样

[不像樣]

in no shape to be seen
unpresentable
beyond recognition

Cáo Bùxīng

曹不兴

[曹不興]

Cao Buxing or Ts'ao Pu-hsing (active c. 210-250), famous semilegendary painter, one of the Four Great Painters of the Six Dynasties 六朝四大家

bùxiànghuà

不像话

[不像話]

unreasonable
shocking
outrageous

tīngbudào

听不到

[聽不到]

can't hear

bùdéyǐ

不得已

[不得已]

to act against one's will
to have no alternative but to
to have to
to have no choice
must

bǐbùshàng

比不上

[比不上]

can't compare with

bùsǐyào

不死药

[不死藥]

elixir of life

liǎobuqǐ

了不起

[了不起]

amazing
terrific
extraordinary

sānbùzhī

三不知

[三不知]

to know nothing about the beginning, the middle or the end
to know nothing at all

bùzhǔnquè

不准确

[不準確]

imprecise

gùbushàng

顾不上

[顧不上]

cannot attend to or manage

bǐbùliǎo

比不了

[比不了]

cannot compare to
to be no match for

qiáobùqǐ

瞧不起

[瞧不起]

to look down upon; to hold in contempt

xiǎngbudào

想不到

[想不到]

unexpected
hard to imagine
it had not occurred to me
who could have thought that

bùdìngqī

不定期

[不定期]

non-scheduled
irregularly

bùzuòshēng

不做声

[不做聲]

keep silent
not say a word

bùhánhu

不含糊

[不含糊]

unambiguous
unequivocal
explicit
prudent
cautious
not negligent
unafraid
unhesitating
really good
extraordinary

bùyīhuì

不一会

[不一會]

soon

bùkěyǐ

不可以

[不可以]

may not

bùdìngxíng

不定形

[不定形]

indeterminate form

bùshìdàng

不适当

[不適當]

inadequate
unfit

chībuzhù

吃不住

[吃不住]

to be unable to bear or support

láibují

来不及

[來不及]

there's not enough time (to do sth)
it's too late (to do sth)

bùduìchèn

不对称

[不對稱]

unsymmetrical
asymmetric

bùduìpán

不对盘

[不對盤]

(of a person) objectionable
(of two people) to find each other disagreeable

hébùlái

合不来

[合不來]

unable to get along together
incompatible

kànbujiàn

看不见

[看不見]

cannot see
cannot be seen
invisible

dàbùwěi

大不韪

[大不韙]

great error
heinous crime

bùsǐxīn

不死心

[不死心]

unwilling to give up
unresigned

bùdālǐ

不搭理

[不搭理]

variant of 不答理 (bùdālǐ)

mōbuzháo

摸不着

[摸不著]

can't touch; can't reach
(fig.) unable to get a grasp of

bùdìngyuán

不定元

[不定元]

indeterminate element (math.), often denoted by x

bù'ānfen

不安分

[不安分]

restless
unsettled

bùqíngyuàn

不情愿

[不情願]

unwilling

mánbùguò

瞒不过

[瞞不過]

cannot conceal (a matter) from (sb)

bùbiànliàng

不变量

[不變量]

invariant quantity
invariant (math.)

bùduìtóu

不对头

[不對頭]

fishy
not right
amiss

jīnbuzhù

禁不住

[禁不住]

can't help it
can't bear it

bùyùzhèng

不育症

[不育症]

sterility
barrenness

xiàbùlái

下不来

[下不來]

awkward
embarrassed
cannot be accomplished

biēbuzhù

憋不住

[憋不住]

to be unable to repress sth
to be unable to contain oneself

rěnbuzhù

忍不住

[忍不住]

cannot help
unable to bear

bùwěnxìng

不稳性

[不穩性]

instability

bùguòyì

不过意

[不過意]

to be sorry; to feel apologetic

yābusuì

压不碎

[壓不碎]

crushproof
unbreakable
indomitable

bùxiàyú

不下于

[不下於]

as many as; no less than
not inferior to; as good as; on a par with

bùzǎde

不咋的

[不咋的]

(dialect) not that great
not up to much
nothing special

jiǎngbùtōng

讲不通

[講不通]

it does not make sense

jiàbuzhù

架不住

[架不住]

(coll.) unable to withstand
cannot bear
can't stand it
no match for

tīngbujiàn

听不见

[聽不見]

not be able to hear

tiánbùlà

甜不辣

[甜不辣]

deep-fried fish cake popular in Taiwan (loanword from Japanese "tempura")

niàobùshī

尿不湿

[尿不濕]

(coll.) disposable diaper

dàbùliǎo

大不了

[大不了]

at worst; if worst comes to worst
(usu. in the negative) serious; alarming

Bùláiméi

不来梅

[不來梅]

Bremen (city)

bùtàihǎo

不太好

[不太好]

not so good
not too well

cāibutòu

猜不透

[猜不透]

to be unable to guess or make out

sānbùzhān

三不沾

[三不沾]

air ball (basketball)

Shēn Bùhài

申不害

[申不害]

Shen Buhai (385-337 BC), legalist political thinker

shǔbujìn

数不尽

[數不盡]

countless

bùzǎde

不咋地

[不咋地]

(dialect) not that great
not up to much
nothing special

mòbùkāi

磨不开

[磨不開]

to feel embarrassed

lěngbudīng

冷不丁

[冷不丁]

suddenly
by surprise

mángbùdié

忙不迭

[忙不迭]

hurriedly
in haste

shěbude

舍不得

[捨不得]

to hate to do sth
to hate to part with
to begrudge

bùdòngyáo

不动摇

[不動搖]

unmoved

bùshūfu

不舒服

[不舒服]

unwell
feeling ill
to feel uncomfortable
uneasy

liǎobude

了不得

[了不得]

terrific
terrible
(after 得 (de)) very

bùtòuqì

不透气

[不透氣]

airtight

bùdàidiàn

不带电

[不帶電]

uncharged; electrically neutral

bùchéngwén

不成文

[不成文]

unwritten (rule)

gǎnbùshàng

赶不上

[趕不上]

can't keep up with
can't catch up with
cannot overtake

líbukāi

离不开

[離不開]

inseparable
inevitably linked to

bùzúdào

不足道

[不足道]

inconsiderable
of no consequence
not worth mentioning

bùyúkuài

不愉快

[不愉快]

disagreeable
unpleasant

bùpínghéng

不平衡

[不平衡]

disequilibrium

shuōbudìng

说不定

[說不定]

can't say for sure
maybe

shūbùqǐ

输不起

[輸不起]

to take defeat with bad grace
to be a sore loser
cannot afford to lose

chúbùjìn

除不尽

[除不盡]

indivisible (math)

bùliángrén

不良人

[不良人]

(Tang dynasty) official responsible for tracking down and arresting lawbreakers

shíbùshí

时不时

[時不時]

from time to time

bùtiáohé

不调和

[不調和]

discord

bùdòngdiǎn

不动点

[不動點]

fixed point (of a map) (math.)

bùzhùyì

不注意

[不注意]

thoughtless
not pay attention to

dàobùxíng

到不行

[到不行]

extremely
incredibly

bùjìnrán

不尽然

[不盡然]

not always; not entirely
not necessarily so; not entirely correct

bùláiméi

不莱梅

[不萊梅]

Bremen (city in Germany)

bùxiāngfú

不相符

[不相符]

not in harmony

niùbuguò

拗不过

[拗不過]

can't persuade
unable to make (sb) change their mind
unable to resist (sb)

Lü Bùwéi

吕不韦

[呂不韋]

Lü Buwei (?291-235 BC), merchant and politician of the State of Qin 秦國／秦国 ( Qínguó), subsequent Qin Dynasty 秦代 ( Qíndài) Chancellor, allegedly the father of Ying Zheng 嬴政 ( Yíng Zhèng), who subsequently became the first emperor Qin Shihuang 秦始皇 ( Qín Shǐhuáng)

huìbùhuì

会不会

[會不會]

(posing a question: whether sb, something) can or cannot?
is able to or not

būrdào

不儿道

[不兒道]

(dialect) contracted form of 不知道 (bùzhīdào)

láibudé

来不得

[來不得]

cannot allow (to be present)
cannot admit

dábùdào

达不到

[達不到]

cannot achieve
cannot reach

yuànbude

怨不得

[怨不得]

cannot blame
no wonder

bùtǔqì

不吐气

[不吐氣]

unaspirated

chībuxià

吃不下

[吃不下]

not feel like eating
be unable to eat any more

bùnàishòu

不耐受

[不耐受]

intolerance (for lactose, gluten or other foods)

bǎibùza

百不咋

[百不咋]

of no consequence (idiom)

bùjǐnjǐn

不仅仅

[不僅僅]

not only; not just

wòbù'ān

卧不安

[臥不安]

restless insomnia

bùjiǔqián

不久前

[不久前]

not long ago

bùnéngbù

不能不

[不能不]

have to
cannot but

bùshìma

不是吗

[不是嗎]

isn't that so?

nòngbudǒng

弄不懂

[弄不懂]

unable to make sense of (sth)

gùbude

顾不得

[顧不得]

unable to change sth
unable to deal with

shāngbùqǐ

伤不起

[傷不起]

(slang) it's just the pits!
so unfair!
unbearable

bùwěndìng

不稳定

[不穩定]

unstable

duǒbuqǐ

躲不起

[躲不起]

can't avoid
can't hide from
unavoidable

bùmíngquè

不明确

[不明確]

indefinite
unclear

qìbuguò

气不过

[氣不過]

so angry it's unbearable
bitter about unbearable grievances

kànbuguò

看不过

[看不過]

cannot stand by idly and watch
unable to put up with it any longer
see 看不過去／看不过去 (kànbuguòqu)

shuōbuchū

说不出

[說不出]

unable to say

bùjílì

不吉利

[不吉利]

ominous

yàobude

要不得

[要不得]

intolerable; unacceptable

bùkěshǔ

不可数

[不可數]

uncountable

bùfúqì

不服气

[不服氣]

unwilling to concede
defiant
indignant
to find it galling

gǎnbùjí

赶不及

[趕不及]

not enough time (to do sth)
too late (to do sth)

āibùshàng

挨不上

[挨不上]

to be irrelevant
to be superfluous

bùqīngchu

不清楚

[不清楚]

unclear
not understood
currently unknown

shuōbushàng

说不上

[說不上]

to be unable to say or tell
to not be worth mentioning

bùzàihu

不在乎

[不在乎]

not to care

nánbùchéng

难不成

[難不成]

Is it possible that ... ?

bùdébù

不得不

[不得不]

have no choice or option but to
cannot but
have to
can't help it
can't avoid

bùkěnì

不可逆

[不可逆]

irreversible

míngbùpíng

鸣不平

[鳴不平]

to cry out against injustice
to protest unfairness

bùhǎoshòu

不好受

[不好受]

unpleasant
hard to take

bùmǎnyì

不满意

[不滿意]

dissatisfied

cóngláibù

从来不

[從來不]

never

bùwéiguò

不为过

[不為過]

not an exaggeration
not excessive
not wide of the mark

bùdāngjǐn

不当紧

[不當緊]

not important
of no consequence

bùpíngcháng

不平常

[不平常]

remarkable
remarkably
unusual

nòngbuqīng

弄不清

[弄不清]

unable to figure out

bǎobuzhù

保不住

[保不住]

cannot maintain (sth)
unable to keep
more likely than not
may well

guǎnbuzháo

管不着

[管不著]

to have no right or ability to interfere in sth
it's none of your business!

shǎobuliǎo

少不了

[少不了]

cannot do without
to be unavoidable
are bound to be many

chībuxiāo

吃不消

[吃不消]

to be unable to tolerate or endure
to find sth difficult to manage

yòngbuliǎo

用不了

[用不了]

to not use all of
to use less than

xíngbutōng

行不通

[行不通]

won't work
will get (you) nowhere

bùdǎjǐn

不打紧

[不打緊]

unimportant
not serious
it doesn't matter
never mind

hènbude

恨不得

[恨不得]

wishing one could do sth; to hate to be unable; itching to do sth

bùzhǔnxǔ

不准许

[不准許]

forbidden
not allowed

háibùrú

还不如

[還不如]

to be better off ...
might as well ...

bù'èrjià

不二价

[不二價]

one price for all
fixed price

bùbiànxiǎn

不便险

[不便險]

travel insurance covering flight delay, baggage loss etc (abbr. for 旅遊不便險／旅游不便险 (lüyóubùbiànxiǎn))

bùxiānggān

不相干

[不相干]

to be irrelevant
to have nothing to do with

bùlājī

不拉几

[不拉幾]

(dialect) extremely

shǐbude

使不得

[使不得]

cannot be used
must not (do sth)
unacceptable

lěngbufáng

冷不防

[冷不防]

unexpectedly
suddenly
at unawares
off guard
against expectations

bùzhānguō

不沾锅

[不沾鍋]

non-stick pan (Tw)

bùjiéméng

不结盟

[不結盟]

nonalignment

jīngbuqǐ

经不起

[經不起]

can't stand it
to be unable to bear
to be unable to resist

bùkěkào

不可靠

[不可靠]

unreliable

bùshìhuà

不是话

[不是話]

see 不像話／不像话 (bùxiànghuà)

bùpíngfán

不平凡

[不平凡]

marvelous
marvelously

bùjìmíng

不记名

[不記名]

see 無記名／无记名 (wújìmíng)

mòbùwén

莫不闻

[莫不聞]

there is no-one who doesn't know that

bùgǎndāng

不敢当

[不敢當]

lit. I dare not (accept the honor); fig. I don't deserve your praise
you flatter me

mòbùshì

莫不是

[莫不是]

probably
perhaps
could it be that...?

xiānbùxiān

先不先

[先不先]

(dialect) first of all; in the first place

wúbùdá

无不达

[無不達]

nothing he can't do

bùkāiqiào

不开窍

[不開竅]

unable to understand
can't get the point

bùzànchéng

不赞成

[不贊成]

disapproval
to disapprove

bùjiànde

不见得

[不見得]

not necessarily
not likely

Bùlièdiān

不列颠

[不列顛]

Britain
British
Great Britain

bùxiāngróng

不相容

[不相容]

incompatible

qiěbùshuō

且不说

[且不說]

not to mention
leaving aside

hǎobuhǎo

好不好

[好不好]

(coll.) all right?
OK?

bùguīlù

不归路

[不歸路]

road to ruin; course of action from which there is no turning back

bùbǎohé

不饱和

[不飽和]

unsaturated

sǐbùliǎo

死不了

[死不了]

Portulaca Sundial (a type of plant)

bùmíngshù

不名数

[不名數]

abstract number

sānbùxiǔ

三不朽

[三不朽]

the three imperishables, three ways to distinguish oneself that aren't forgotten by history: through one's virtue 立德 (lìdé), one's service 立功 (lìgōng) and one's writings 立言 (lìyán) (from the Zuo Zhuan 左傳／左传 ( Zuǒ Zhuàn))

xiǎobudiǎn

小不点

[小不點]

tiny
very small
tiny thing
small child
baby

bùyóude

不由得

[不由得]

can't help
cannot but

bùxiùgāng

不锈钢

[不銹鋼]

stainless steel

jìbuzhù

记不住

[記不住]

can't remember

bùxiùgāng

不锈钢

[不鏽鋼]

stainless steel

shuōbùtōng

说不通

[說不通]

it does not make sense

bùzhōuyán

不周延

[不周延]

undistributed

guòbuqù

过不去

[過不去]

to make life difficult for
to embarrass
unable to make it through

bùzhèngdàng

不正当

[不正當]

dishonest
unfair
improper

bùyuántōng

不圆通

[不圓通]

inflexible
unaccommodating

xìnbùguò

信不过

[信不過]

to distrust
to be suspicious

shǎobudé

少不得

[少不得]

cannot be avoided
cannot do without

jīhūbù

几乎不

[幾乎不]

hardly
seems not

bùdònggǎng

不冻港

[不凍港]

ice-free port
open port

bùmíngyù

不名誉

[不名譽]

disreputable
disgraceful

huábulái

划不来

[划不來]

not worth it

zuǐbùyán

嘴不严

[嘴不嚴]

to have a loose tongue

bùjīngyì

不经意

[不經意]

not paying attention; carelessly; by accident

zuòbùdào

做不到

[做不到]

impossible

shuōbude

说不得

[說不得]

to be unmentionable
be unspeakable
must
cannot but

bùwánshàn

不完善

[不完善]

imperfect

bùjǐngqì

不景气

[不景氣]

slack
in a slump

shǔbùqīng

数不清

[數不清]

countless; innumerable

dǎbutōng

打不通

[打不通]

cannot get through (on phone)

bùzuòwéi

不作为

[不作為]

nonfeasance
omission (law)

rěbuqǐ

惹不起

[惹不起]

can't afford to offend
dare not provoke
difficult to deal with
insufferable

bùshūshì

不舒适

[不舒適]

uncomfortable

bùdòngchǎn

不动产

[不動產]

real estate
immovable property
immovables

bùkějiě

不可解

[不可解]

insoluble (i.e. impossible to solve)

bùbiāozhǔn

不标准

[不標準]

nonstandard
incorrect
(of one's speech) poor; woeful (not in keeping with correct pronunciation or usage)

duìbùshàng

对不上

[對不上]

to disagree
I can't agree with that.

bùyòngshuō

不用说

[不用說]

needless to say; it goes without saying

bùhézuò

不合作

[不合作]

noncooperation

bùzìliàng

不自量

[不自量]

not take a proper measure of oneself
to overrate one's own abilities

bùguīzé

不规则

[不規則]

irregular

bùtòushuǐ

不透水

[不透水]

waterproof
watertight
impermeable

bùdālǐ

不答理

[不答理]

to pay no heed to

bùjúxiàn

不局限

[不局限]

not confined

bùchādiàn

不插电

[不插電]

unplugged (of rock musicians performing on acoustic instruments)

bùchénghuà

不成话

[不成話]

see 不像話／不像话 (bùxiànghuà)

yīdiǎnbù

一点不

[一點不]

not at all

kànbuqǐ

看不起

[看不起]

to look down upon
to despise

bùzhōngyòng

不中用

[不中用]

unfit for anything
no good
useless
(of a sick person) beyond hope

tánbushàng

谈不上

[談不上]

to be out of the question

bùtuǒxié

不妥协

[不妥協]

uncompromising

bùcòuqiǎo

不凑巧

[不湊巧]

unluckily

bùděnghào

不等号

[不等號]

inequality sign (≠, < , ≤, >, ≥)

bùwàilù

不外露

[不外露]

not exposed
concealed from view

bùhǎorě

不好惹

[不好惹]

not to be trifled with
not to be pushed around
stand no nonsense

bùduìjìn

不对劲

[不對勁]

not in good condition
wrong
fishy

bùzhíqián

不值钱

[不值錢]

of little value

Bùzhōu Shān

不周山

[不周山]

Buzhou Mountain, a mountain from Chinese legend

bùzìjué

不自觉

[不自覺]

unaware
unconscious of sth

bēngbuzhù

绷不住

[繃不住]

(Internet slang) can't contain oneself
unable to bear
can't help (doing sth)

bùnàifán

不耐烦

[不耐煩]

impatient
to lose patience

bùsuíyì

不随意

[不隨意]

unconscious
involuntary

bùzàile

不在了

[不在了]

to be dead
to have passed away

bùhuásuàn

不划算

[不划算]

it isn't worth it
not cost-effective
not profitable
too expensive

bùfúzuì

不服罪

[不服罪]

to deny a crime
to plead not guilty

bùdāngshì

不当事

[不當事]

useless
regard as useless

bùqīngráo

不轻饶

[不輕饒]

not to forgive easily
not to let off
(You, He) won't get away with it!

fàngbuxià

放不下

[放不下]

to have no room to put sth
to be unable to let go

yàobùrán

要不然

[要不然]

otherwise
or else
or

kǔbujī

苦不唧

[苦不唧]

slightly bitter

bùkěnéng

不可能

[不可能]

impossible
cannot
not able

bùgānxīn

不甘心

[不甘心]

not reconciled to
not resigned to

jīngbuzhù

经不住

[經不住]

to be unable to bear

bùzìrán

不自然

[不自然]

unnatural; artificial

bùzìzai

不自在

[不自在]

uneasy
ill at ease

bùyǎguān

不雅观

[不雅觀]

offensive to the eye
unbecoming
unsightly
ungainly

sānbùguǎn

三不管

[三不管]

of undetermined status
unregulated

miǎnbude

免不得

[免不得]

unavoidable
bound to (happen)

duìbùduì

对不对

[對不對]

right or wrong?
Is it right?
OK, yes? (colloquial)

yàobushì

要不是

[要不是]

if it were not for
but for

péibúshi

赔不是

[賠不是]

to apologize

Chéng Bùshí

程不识

[程不識]

Cheng Bushi, Han dynasty general

bùliánxù

不连续

[不連續]

discontinuous; discrete

bùjiànle

不见了

[不見了]

to have disappeared
to be missing
nowhere to be found

bùrěnxīn

不忍心

[不忍心]

can't bear to (do sth emotionally painful)

chībulái

吃不来

[吃不來]

to be unaccustomed to certain food; to not be keen on certain food

jiànbudé

见不得

[見不得]

not fit to be seen by
should not be exposed to
can't bear to see

dòngbudòng

动不动

[動不動]

(typically followed by 就 (jiù)) apt to (lose one's temper, catch a cold etc)
at the drop of a hat

bùzhèngcháng

不正常

[不正常]

abnormal

bùchùmù

不触目

[不觸目]

unobtrusive

kànbudǒng

看不懂

[看不懂]

unable to make sense of what one is looking at

bùpiānxié

不偏斜

[不偏斜]

not leaning to one side
impartial
even-handed

liǎngbùwù

两不误

[兩不誤]

to neglect neither one

bùhéfǎ

不合法

[不合法]

illegal

gòubuzháo

够不着

[夠不著]

to be unable to reach

bùzhānguō

不粘锅

[不粘鍋]

non-stick pan

bùquèshí

不确实

[不確實]

untrue

kàobuzhù

靠不住

[靠不住]

unreliable

bùdàodé

不道德

[不道德]

immoral

bàobùpíng

抱不平

[抱不平]

to be outraged by an injustice

wúrénbù

无人不

[無人不]

no man is not...

nábùzhǔn

拿不准

[拿不准]

in doubt; unsure of sth; unable to decide; indecisive

bùkěshǎo

不可少

[不可少]

indispensable; essential

zuǒbuguò

左不过

[左不過]

anyhow
in any event
just
only

hóngbùràng

红不让

[紅不讓]

home run (loanword)
a big hit (hugely popular) (Tw)

tīngbudǒng

听不懂

[聽不懂]

unable to make sense of what one is hearing

bùzhēngqì

不争气

[不爭氣]

to be disappointing
to fail to live up to expectations

bùjígé

不及格

[不及格]

to fail
to flunk

bùyīyàng

不一样

[不一樣]

different
distinctive
unlike

bùyīdìng

不一定

[不一定]

not necessarily
maybe

chàbùlí

差不离

[差不離]

not much different
similar
ordinary
nearly

bùlír

不离儿

[不離兒]

not bad
pretty good
pretty close

lǎobùsǐ

老不死

[老不死]

(derog.) old but still alive
old fart
old bastard

gǎobuhǎo

搞不好

[搞不好]

(coll.) maybe
perhaps

bùyàyú

不亚于

[不亞於]

no less than
not inferior to

kěbushì

可不是

[可不是]

that's just the way it is
exactly!

nábudòng

拿不动

[拿不動]

to be unable to lift (sth); to find (sth) too heavy

dōngbùlā

冬不拉

[冬不拉]

Dombra or Tambura, Kazakh plucked lute

chībushàng

吃不上

[吃不上]

unable to get anything to eat
to miss a meal

yóubude

由不得

[由不得]

cannot help
to be beyond control of

bùyàojǐn

不要紧

[不要緊]

unimportant
not serious
it doesn't matter
never mind
it looks all right, but

bùhǎoshuō

不好说

[不好說]

hard to say; can't be sure
difficult to speak about; unpleasant to say

xiǎngbutōng

想不通

[想不通]

unable to understand
unable to get over

bùzhòngyì

不中意

[不中意]

not to one's liking

bùzhìyú

不至于

[不至於]

unlikely to go so far as to; not as bad as

suànbùliǎo

算不了

[算不了]

does not count for anything
of no account

bùdéjìn

不得劲

[不得勁]

awkward
unhandy
be indisposed
not feel well

bùchéngcái

不成材

[不成材]

worthless
good-for-nothing

bùmōtóu

不摸头

[不摸頭]

not acquainted with the situation
not up on things

bì'érbù

避而不

[避而不]

to avoid (doing sth)

bǎobùdìng

保不定

[保不定]

more likely than not
quite possible
on the cards

miǎnbùliǎo

免不了

[免不了]

unavoidable
can't be avoided

bùfèishì

不费事

[不費事]

not troublesome

bànbudào

办不到

[辦不到]

impossible
can't be done
no can do
unable to accomplish

bùxièdài

不懈怠

[不懈怠]

untiring
without slacking

bùwàihū

不外乎

[不外乎]

nothing else but

bùjiǎndān

不简单

[不簡單]

not simple; rather complicated
remarkable; marvelous

wàngbùliǎo

忘不了

[忘不了]

cannot forget

bùhélǐ

不合理

[不合理]

unreasonable

bùbìyào

不必要

[不必要]

needless; unnecessary

bùyùxìng

不育性

[不育性]

sterility

bùxiétiáo

不协调

[不協調]

uncoordinated
disharmony

bùyìngqī

不应期

[不應期]

refractory period (physiology)

bùguāngcǎi

不光彩

[不光彩]

disgraceful
dishonorable

mǎibuqǐ

买不起

[買不起]

cannot afford
can't afford buying

bùkěbì

不可避

[不可避]

unavoidable

bùfāngbiàn

不方便

[不方便]

inconvenience
inconvenient

bùdìngshì

不定式

[不定式]

infinitive (grammar)

bùgānyú

不甘于

[不甘於]

unwilling to accept
not content with (a subservient role, a mediocre result etc)

bùzěnme

不怎么

[不怎麼]

not very
not particularly

bùzàiyì

不在意

[不在意]

to pay no attention to
not to mind

wánbuqǐ

玩不起

[玩不起]

can't afford to play
(fig.) can't accept it when one loses

bùtīngmìng

不听命

[不聽命]

to disobey

wúsuǒbùnéng

无所不能

[無所不能]

omnipotent

bùzhījiùlǐ

不知就里

[不知就裡]

unaware of the inner workings
naive
unwitting

suānbuliūqiū

酸不溜秋

[酸不溜秋]

see 酸不溜丟／酸不溜丢 (suānbuliūdiū)

jiǎobùzhāndì

脚不沾地

[腳不沾地]

feet not touching the ground (idiom)
to run like the wind

bùdéyàolǐng

不得要领

[不得要領]

to fail to grasp the main points

yùbàbùnéng

欲罢不能

[欲罷不能]

want to stop but can't (idiom)
to be unable to stop oneself
to feel an urge to continue

yánbùjíyì

言不及义

[言不及義]

to talk nonsense (idiom)
frivolous talk

bùqíngzhīqǐng

不情之请

[不情之請]

(humble expression) my presumptuous request

yánchéngbùdài

严惩不贷

[嚴懲不貸]

to punish severely (idiom)

bùdìngguàncí

不定冠词

[不定冠詞]

indefinite article (e.g. English a, an)

shígǔbùhuà

食古不化

[食古不化]

to swallow ancient learning without digesting it (idiom)
to be pedantic without having a mastery of one's subject

dāngrénbùràng

当仁不让

[當仁不讓]

to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others

qímàobùyáng

其貌不扬

[其貌不揚]

(idiom) nothing special to look at
unprepossessing

bùhéshíyí

不合时宜

[不合時宜]

out of step with current thinking
outmoded
inappropriate for the occasion

dàbùxiāngtóng

大不相同

[大不相同]

not at all the same
substantially different

jīngōngbùlì

矜功不立

[矜功不立]

boasts a lot, but nothing comes of it (idiom)

bùtóngxúncháng

不同寻常

[不同尋常]

out of the ordinary
unusual

bùzhuóhénjì

不着痕迹

[不著痕跡]

to leave no trace
seamlessly
unobtrusively

zàisuǒbùcí

在所不辞

[在所不辭]

not to refuse to (idiom)
not to hesitate to

kànbùshùnyǎn

看不顺眼

[看不順眼]

unpleasant to the eye
objectionable

bùzhèngzhīfēng

不正之风

[不正之風]

unhealthy tendency

bùlìnzhūyù

不吝珠玉

[不吝珠玉]

(idiom) (courteous) please give me your frank opinion; your criticism will be most valuable

Fēisǐbùkě

非死不可

[非死不可]

Facebook (Internet slang, pun reading "you must die")

shíbùguǒfù

食不果腹

[食不果腹]

lit. food not filling the stomach (idiom)
fig. poverty-stricken

huàbùtóujī

话不投机

[話不投機]

(idiom) the conversation is disagreeable

háolíbùshuǎng

毫厘不爽

[毫釐不爽]

not to deviate an iota (idiom)
to be extremely accurate

bùzúwéilü

不足为虑

[不足為慮]

to give no cause for anxiety; nothing to worry about

bùxùrényán

不恤人言

[不恤人言]

not to worry about the gossip (idiom); to do the right thing regardless of what others say

xiàbuliǎotái

下不了台

[下不了臺]

to be unable to extricate oneself gracefully
to be put on the spot
to be embarrassed

bùsuìbōli

不碎玻璃

[不碎玻璃]

shatterproof or safety glass

wànjiébùfù

万劫不复

[萬劫不復]

consigned to eternal damnation
with no hope of reprieve

bùzúwéiguài

不足为怪

[不足為怪]

not at all surprising (idiom)

bùzhījìntuì

不知进退

[不知進退]

not knowing when to come or leave (idiom); with no sense of propriety

mǎbùtíngtí

马不停蹄

[馬不停蹄]

unrelenting
without stopping to rest

wúkǒngbùzuān

无孔不钻

[無孔不鑽]

lit. leave no hole undrilled (idiom); to latch on to every opportunity

bùgǎngāopān

不敢高攀

[不敢高攀]

lit. not dare to pull oneself up high (humble term)
I cannot presume on your attention

yuányuánbùduàn

源源不断

[源源不斷]

a steady flow (idiom); an unending stream

bùjuérúlü

不绝如缕

[不絕如縷]

hanging by a thread
very precarious
almost extinct
(of sound) linger on faintly

mùbùshídīng

目不识丁

[目不識丁]

lit. the eye cannot recognize the letter T (idiom); totally illiterate

bùwēnbùhuǒ

不温不火

[不溫不火]

(of sales, TV show ratings etc) lukewarm
moderate
so-so
(of a person) calm
unruffled

zhēngzhíbùxià

争执不下

[爭執不下]

to quarrel endlessly

bùzìliànglì

不自量力

[不自量力]

(idiom) to overestimate one's capabilities

zhōuzhuǎnbùkāi

周转不开

[周轉不開]

to have financial difficulties
unable to make ends meet

bùpíngzémíng

不平则鸣

[不平則鳴]

where there is injustice, there will be an outcry
man will cry out against injustice

hǎojǐngbùcháng

好景不长

[好景不長]

a good thing doesn't last forever (idiom)

jìngzuòbùnéng

静坐不能

[靜坐不能]

akathisia (condition of restlessness, a side-effect of neuroleptic antipsychotic drug)
unable to sit still
hyperactivity
restlessness

shǒuzhèngbù'ē

守正不阿

[守正不阿]

to be strictly just and impartial

bànshēnbùsuí

半身不遂

[半身不遂]

paralysis of one side of the body
hemiplegia

dīshuǐbùlòu

滴水不漏

[滴水不漏]

lit. not one drop of water can leak out
watertight
rigorous (argument)

bùkàngbùbēi

不亢不卑

[不亢不卑]

neither haughty nor humble
neither overbearing nor servile
neither supercilious nor obsequious

bùmíngjuélì

不明觉厉

[不明覺厲]

although I don't understand it, it seems pretty awesome (Internet slang)

xīnlübùzhěng

心律不整

[心律不整]

arrhythmia

pòbùdéyǐ

迫不得已

[迫不得已]

to have no alternative (idiom); compelled by circumstances
forced into sth

bùbēibùkàng

不卑不亢

[不卑不亢]

neither servile nor overbearing (idiom)
neither obsequious nor supercilious

wénsībùdòng

纹丝不动

[紋絲不動]

to not move a single jot (idiom)

piānxiébùzhèng

偏邪不正

[偏邪不正]

biased
prejudiced (idiom)

cìcìbùxiū

刺刺不休

[刺刺不休]

to talk incessantly
to chatter on and on

móhubùqīng

模糊不清

[模糊不清]

indistinct
fuzzy
blurred with age

cǎnzāobùxìng

惨遭不幸

[慘遭不幸]

to meet with disaster
to die tragically

bùtǔbùkuài

不吐不快

[不吐不快]

to have to pour out what's on one's mind (idiom)

sǐrénbùguǎn

死人不管

[死人不管]

(coll.) to wash one's hands of a matter

zhī'ēnbùbào

知恩不报

[知恩不報]

ungrateful

zúbùchūhù

足不出户

[足不出戶]

lit. not putting a foot outside
to stay at home

bùfúshuǐtǔ

不服水土

[不服水土]

(of a stranger) not accustomed to the climate of a new place
not acclimatized

yǐnmánbùbào

隐瞒不报

[隱瞞不報]

to cover up (a matter that should be reported to the authorities)

shǔbùguòlái

数不过来

[數不過來]

can't manage to count
too many to count

bùkěkāijiāo

不可开交

[不可開交]

to be awfully (busy etc)

bùguò'ěrěr

不过尔尔

[不過爾爾]

not more than so-so (idiom); mediocre
nothing out of the ordinary

shūbùjìnyán

书不尽言

[書不盡言]

I have much more to say than can be written in this letter (conventional letter ending) (idiom)

bùzhīqīngzhòng

不知轻重

[不知輕重]

lit. not knowing what's important (idiom); no appreciation of the gravity of things
naive
doesn't know who's who
no sense of priorities

yǒusuǒbùtóng

有所不同

[有所不同]

to differ to some extent (idiom)

bǎitīngbùyàn

百听不厌

[百聽不厭]

worth hearing a hundred times

bùzhuóbiānjì

不着边际

[不著邊際]

not to the point
wide of the mark
neither here nor there
irrelevant

shuìmiánbùzú

睡眠不足

[睡眠不足]

lack of sleep
sleep deficit

bùyòngkèqi

不用客气

[不用客氣]

you're welcome
don't mention it
no need to stand on ceremony

zhìránbùwěn

秩然不紊

[秩然不紊]

to be in complete order (idiom)

zhuóhūbùqún

卓乎不群

[卓乎不群]

standing out from the common crowd (idiom); outstanding
preeminent

zìqiángbùxī

自强不息

[自強不息]

to strive unremittingly
self-improvement

bùgōngzìpò

不攻自破

[不攻自破]

(of a rumor etc) to collapse (in the light of facts etc)
to be discredited

bùjiàntiānrì

不见天日

[不見天日]

all black, no daylight (idiom); a world without justice

Dà Bùlièdiān

大不列颠

[大不列顛]

Great Britain

cūlǔbùwén

粗鲁不文

[粗魯不文]

crude and ill-educated (idiom)

bùliángqīngxiàng

不良倾向

[不良傾向]

harmful trend

bùkělǐyù

不可理喻

[不可理喻]

(idiom) impervious to reason; unreasonable

bùkěkànglì

不可抗力

[不可抗力]

force majeure; act of God

bùkěshuòjí

不可数集

[不可數集]

uncountable set (math.)

shuōyībù'èr

说一不二

[說一不二]

to say one and mean just that (idiom); to keep one's word

bùwènhǎodǎi

不问好歹

[不問好歹]

no matter what may happen (idiom)

yīnhúnbùsàn

阴魂不散

[陰魂不散]

lit. the soul of a deceased has not yet dispersed (idiom)
fig. the influence still lingers on
the spirit (of some doctrine) is still alive

mìngbùjiǔyǐ

命不久矣

[命不久矣]

at death's door

ruòbùjīnfēng

弱不禁风

[弱不禁風]

too weak to stand up to the wind (idiom); extremely delicate
fragile state of health

xiàbùláitái

下不来台

[下不來臺]

to be put on the spot
to find oneself in an awkward situation

mámùbùrén

麻木不仁

[麻木不仁]

numbed
insensitive
apathetic
thick-skinned

bùzhīqùxiàng

不知去向

[不知去向]

whereabouts unknown
gone missing

shìbùguānjǐ

事不关己

[事不關己]

a matter of no concern to oneself (idiom)

yīyánbùhé

一言不合

[一言不合]

(idiom) to have a disagreement; to clash verbally

xiào'érbùyǔ

笑而不语

[笑而不語]

to smile but say nothing

bùbáizhīyuān

不白之冤

[不白之冤]

unrighted wrong
unredressed injustice

xiàbùwéilì

下不为例

[下不為例]

not to be repeated
not to be taken as a precedent
just this once

bùxièyīgù

不屑一顾

[不屑一顧]

to disdain as beneath contempt (idiom)

bùfēnshèngbài

不分胜败

[不分勝敗]

to not be able to distinguish who's winning

bùwèiqiángquán

不畏强权

[不畏強權]

not to submit to force (idiom); to defy threats and violence

jiànbudérén

见不得人

[見不得人]

shameful

huángbùliūqiū

黄不溜秋

[黃不溜秋]

yellowish
dirty yellow

bùfúzhòngwàng

不孚众望

[不孚眾望]

not living up to expectations (idiom)
failing to inspire confidence among people
unpopular

mòchǐbùwàng

没齿不忘

[沒齒不忘]

lit. will not be forgotten even after one's teeth fall out
to remember as long as one lives
unforgettable (idiom)

kuìbùgǎndāng

愧不敢当

[愧不敢當]

lit. I'm ashamed and dare not (accept the honor); fig. I do not deserve your praise.
You flatter me too much.

yījuébùzhèn

一蹶不振

[一蹶不振]

one stumble, unable to rise (idiom); a setback leading to total collapse
ruined at a stroke
unable to recover after a minor hitch

xìnggébùhé

性格不合

[性格不合]

incompatibility of temperament

bùkěméijǔ

不可枚举

[不可枚舉]

innumerable (idiom)

bùhuān'érsàn

不欢而散

[不歡而散]

to part on bad terms
(of a meeting etc) to break up in discord

bùduìchár

不对碴儿

[不對碴兒]

not proper
not fit for the occasion

xīnxùbùníng

心绪不宁

[心緒不寧]

unquiet state of mind

sǐhuóbùgù

死活不顾

[死活不顧]

regardless of life or death (idiom)

liánxùbùduàn

连续不断

[連續不斷]

continuous
unceasing

bùguāntòngyǎng

不关痛痒

[不關痛癢]

unimportant
of no consequence

qīngchūnbùzài

青春不再

[青春不再]

lit. one's youth will never return
to make the most of one's opportunities (idiom)

bùzhìbùqiú

不忮不求

[不忮不求]

(idiom) to be free of jealousy or greed
to live a simple life, free from worldly desires

cǐlùbùtōng

此路不通

[此路不通]

this road is blocked
fig. This method does not work.
Doing this is no good.

dànìbùdào

大逆不道

[大逆不道]

disgraceful (of behavior that is unfilial, rebellious or otherwise in grave breach of the norms of society)

bùgǎnzìzhuān

不敢自专

[不敢自專]

not daring to act for oneself (idiom)

bùnéngzìyǐ

不能自已

[不能自已]

unable to control oneself
to be beside oneself

bùjiāsīsuǒ

不加思索

[不加思索]

see 不假思索 (bùjiǎsīsuǒ)

sānbùwǔshí

三不五时

[三不五時]

(Tw) from time to time
frequently

āotū-bùpíng

凹凸不平

[凹凸不平]

uneven (surface); bumpy (road)

zuòwòbùníng

坐卧不宁

[坐臥不寧]

to be restless

bǎodāobùlǎo

宝刀不老

[寶刀不老]

lit. a good sword always remains sharp (idiom)
fig. (of one's skills etc) to be as good as ever
the old man still has it

shēngshēngbùxī

生生不息

[生生不息]

to grow and multiply without end

wúsuǒbùwéi

无所不为

[無所不為]

not stopping at anything
all manner of evil

bùzhī-suǒyǐ

不知所以

[不知所以]

to not know the reason
to not know what to do

línsǐbùqiè

临死不怯

[臨死不怯]

equanimity in the face of death
to face dangers with assurance

bùfēnqíngyóu

不分情由

[不分情由]

indiscriminate

bùwánquányè

不完全叶

[不完全葉]

(botany) an incomplete leaf – one that lacks a lamina, petiole, or stipule

bù'èrfǎmén

不二法门

[不二法門]

the one and only way
the only proper course to take

gài'érbùlùn

概而不论

[概而不論]

fuzzy about the details

pínbùzúchǐ

贫不足耻

[貧不足恥]

it is no disgrace to be poor (idiom)

mànbùjīngxīn

漫不经心

[漫不經心]

careless
heedless
absent-minded
indifferent

kǒubùzéyán

口不择言

[口不擇言]

to speak incoherently
to ramble
to talk irresponsibly

bàoyìngbùshuǎng

报应不爽

[報應不爽]

divine retribution is unfailing (idiom)
one is inevitably punished for one's misdeeds

cùncǎobùshēng

寸草不生

[寸草不生]

lit. not even a blade of grass grows (idiom)
fig. barren

bùguǎnzěnyàng

不管怎样

[不管怎樣]

in any case; no matter what

bùzhíyīxiào

不值一笑

[不值一笑]

of no value
worthless

zìbùbìshuō

自不必说

[自不必說]

(idiom) needless to say
it goes without saying

chóuchúbùjué

踌躇不决

[躊躇不決]

to hesitate
indecisive

mìbùkěfēn

密不可分

[密不可分]

inextricably linked (idiom)
inseparable

bùzhīhégù

不知何故

[不知何故]

somehow

mì'érbùxuān

秘而不宣

[祕而不宣]

to withhold information
to keep sth secret

bùxīxuèběn

不惜血本

[不惜血本]

to spare no effort
to devote all one's energies

chénbùzhùqì

沉不住气

[沉不住氣]

to lose one's cool
to get impatient
unable to remain calm

súbùkěnài

俗不可耐

[俗不可耐]

intolerably vulgar

bìkǒubùtán

闭口不谈

[閉口不談]

to refuse to say anything about (idiom)
to remain tight-lipped
to avoid mentioning

bùjǐnrúcǐ

不仅如此

[不僅如此]

not only that, but ...

bùbìfǔyuè

不避斧钺

[不避斧鉞]

not trying to avoid the battle-ax (idiom)
not afraid of dying in combat
not afraid of being executed

bùhǎoyìsi

不好意思

[不好意思]

to feel embarrassed
to find it embarrassing
to be sorry (for inconveniencing sb)

jǔqíbùdìng

举棋不定

[舉棋不定]

to hesitate over what move to make (idiom); to waver
to shilly-shally

qíngbùkěquè

情不可却

[情不可卻]

unable to refuse because of affection

bùjiànbùsàn

不见不散

[不見不散]

lit. Even if we don't see each other, don't give up and leave (idiom)
fig. Be sure to wait!
See you there!

bùshìzhāngyáng

不事张扬

[不事張揚]

quietly
without ostentation

yánbùyóuzhōng

言不由衷

[言不由衷]

to say sth without meaning it (idiom); to speak tongue in cheek
saying one thing but meaning sth different

yīwénbùzhí

一文不值

[一文不值]

worthless (idiom)
no use whatsoever

lüzāobùcè

屡遭不测

[屢遭不測]

beset by a series of mishaps (idiom)

hòuhuǐbùdié

后悔不迭

[後悔不迭]

too late for regrets

kùnhuòbùjiě

困惑不解

[困惑不解]

to feel perplexed

bùtóngfánxiǎng

不同凡响

[不同凡響]

lit. not a common chord (idiom); outstanding
brilliant
out of the common run

bùkānyījī

不堪一击

[不堪一擊]

to be unable to withstand a single blow
to collapse at the first blow

ruǎnyìngbùchī

软硬不吃

[軟硬不吃]

unmoved by force or persuasion

cùnbùbùlí

寸步不离

[寸步不離]

to follow sb closely (idiom)
to keep close to

jìngzuòbùdòng

静坐不动

[靜坐不動]

to sit still and do nothing
to sit tight

háobùkèqi

毫不客气

[毫不客氣]

no trace of politeness
unrestrained (criticism)

xīncúnbùmǎn

心存不满

[心存不滿]

to be discontented
to be dissatisfied

húnránbùzhī

浑然不知

[渾然不知]

to be totally oblivious (to sth)
to have no idea about sth

fàngdànbùjū

放诞不拘

[放誕不拘]

wanton and unrestrained (idiom); dissolute

yǔyānbùxiáng

语焉不详

[語焉不詳]

to mention sth without elaborating (idiom); not giving details

bùgǎngǒutóng

不敢苟同

[不敢苟同]

to beg to differ (idiom)

shíjīnbùmèi

拾金不昧

[拾金不昧]

to pick up money and not hide it (idiom); to return property to its owner

nìngsǐbùqū

宁死不屈

[寧死不屈]

rather die than submit (idiom)

zhíyánbùhuì

直言不讳

[直言不諱]

to speak bluntly (idiom)
not to mince words

jiāndìngbùyí

坚定不移

[堅定不移]

unswerving
unflinching

yānjiǔbùzhān

烟酒不沾

[煙酒不沾]

abstaining from liquor and tobacco

diānpūbùpò

颠扑不破

[顛撲不破]

solid; unbreakable
(fig.) irrefutable; incontrovertible; indisputable

jiǔgōngbùxià

久攻不下

[久攻不下]

to attack for a long time without success

bùrùshíyí

不入时宜

[不入時宜]

out of step with current thinking
outmoded
inappropriate for the occasion

hánhúbùqīng

含糊不清

[含糊不清]

unclear
indistinct
ambiguous

yáobùkějí

遥不可及

[遙不可及]

unattainable
far-fetched
out of reach
exceedingly remote or distant

bùzhì'éryù

不治而愈

[不治而癒]

to recover spontaneously (from an illness)
to get better without medical treatment

bùlǐbùcǎi

不理不睬

[不理不睬]

to completely ignore (idiom)
to pay no attention to
not to be in the least concerned about

bùzúwéidào

不足为道

[不足為道]

to be not worth mentioning

bùróngzhìbiàn

不容置辩

[不容置辯]

peremptory
not to be denied
not brooking argument

bùjiùjìwǎng

不咎既往

[不咎既往]

not censure sb for his past misdeeds
overlook sb's past mistakes
let bygones be bygones

xīnbùzàiyān

心不在焉

[心不在焉]

absent-minded
preoccupied
inattentive
with one's thoughts wandering

yǔzhòngbùtóng

与众不同

[與眾不同]

to stand out from the masses (idiom)

zhǎn'érbùzòu

斩而不奏

[斬而不奏]

to do sth and not report the fact (idiom)

chǔbiànbùjīng

处变不惊

[處變不驚]

to remain calm in the face of events (idiom)

sùbùxiāngshí

素不相识

[素不相識]

to be total strangers (idiom)

huībùlǎjī

灰不喇唧

[灰不喇唧]

dull gray
gray and loathsome

bǎizhànbùdài

百战不殆

[百戰不殆]

to come unscathed through a hundred battles (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法／孙子兵法 ( Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ)); to win every fight

zìtànbùrú

自叹不如

[自嘆不如]

to consider oneself as being not as good as the others

bùxìngzhīshì

不幸之事

[不幸之事]

mishap

bùzhīsuǒyún

不知所云

[不知所云]

to not know what sb is driving at
to be unintelligible

wànbùdéyǐ

万不得已

[萬不得已]

only when absolutely essential (idiom); as a last resort

bùyǔlǐhuì

不予理会

[不予理會]

to ignore
to brush off
to dismiss
to pay no attention to

bùhuángduōràng

不遑多让

[不遑多讓]

lit. to have no time for civilities (idiom)
fig. not to be outdone
not to yield to one's opponents

shǒubùshìjuàn

手不释卷

[手不釋卷]

lit. always with a book in hand (idiom)
fig. (of a student or scholar) diligent and hardworking

lìbùshèngrèn

力不胜任

[力不勝任]

not to be up to the task (idiom)
incompetent

xīnshénbùníng

心神不宁

[心神不寧]

to feel ill at ease

guòshíbùhòu

过时不候

[過時不候]

being late is not acceptable (idiom)

bùzúchǐshù

不足齿数

[不足齒數]

not worth mentioning
not worth considering

bùduìjìnr

不对劲儿

[不對勁兒]

erhua variant of 不對勁／不对劲 (bùduìjìn)

bùguòrúcǐ

不过如此

[不過如此]

(idiom) nothing more than this; that's all; no big deal; not very impressive

shàobùjīngshì

少不经事

[少不經事]

see 少不更事 (shàobugèngshi)

cháfànbùsī

茶饭不思

[茶飯不思]

no thought for tea or rice (idiom); melancholic and suffering
to have no appetite

yīyībùshě

依依不舍

[依依不捨]

reluctant to part (idiom); broken-hearted at having to leave

xíngbùyóujìng

行不由径

[行不由徑]

lit. never taking a short-cut (idiom); fig. upright and honest

liùqīnbùrèn

六亲不认

[六親不認]

not recognizing one's family (idiom); self-centered and not making any allowances for the needs of one's relatives

bùshìshēngchǎn

不事生产

[不事生產]

not to do anything productive
to idle away one's time

mìbùtòufēng

密不透风

[密不透風]

sealed off
impenetrable

bù'ānshìgù

不谙世故

[不諳世故]

unworldly
unsophisticated

àibùrěnshì

爱不忍释

[愛不忍釋]

to love sth too much to part with it (idiom)

wúwǎngbùlì

无往不利

[無往不利]

(idiom) to be successful in every endeavor

bùmíngbùbái

不明不白

[不明不白]

(idiom) obscure; dubious; shady

jūxīnbùliáng

居心不良

[居心不良]

to harbor evil intentions (idiom)

guàidànbùjīng

怪诞不经

[怪誕不經]

uncanny
unbelievable
ridiculous
outrageous

jiūchánbùqīng

纠缠不清

[糾纏不清]

hopelessly muddled
impossible to unravel

bùcíláokǔ

不辞劳苦

[不辭勞苦]

to spare no effort

jīngjiǔ-bùxī

经久不息

[經久不息]

prolonged (applause, cheering etc)

guǒzúbùqián

裹足不前

[裹足不前]

to stand still without advancing (idiom); to hesitate and hold back

bùshēngbùxiǎng

不声不响

[不聲不響]

wordless and silent (idiom); without speaking
taciturn

bùdìngjīfēn

不定积分

[不定積分]

indefinite integral (math.)

fēnwénbùqǔ

分文不取

[分文不取]

to give for free

jìngxièbùmǐn

敬谢不敏

[敬謝不敏]

please excuse me for not complying
to politely decline

zìbùdàiyán

自不待言

[自不待言]

needless to say
it goes without saying

wú'èbùzuò

无恶不作

[無惡不作]

not to shrink from any crime (idiom); to commit any imaginable misdeed

chéngrénbùbèi

乘人不备

[乘人不備]

to take advantage of sb in an unguarded moment (idiom)
to take sb by surprise

láilìbùmíng

来历不明

[來歷不明]

(idiom) of unknown origin; of dubious background

jiānqiángbùqū

坚强不屈

[堅強不屈]

staunch and unyielding (idiom); steadfast

jūgāobùxià

居高不下

[居高不下]

(of prices, rates etc) to remain high

zhǎobuzháoběi

找不着北

[找不著北]

to be confused and disoriented

jiānrènbùbá

坚韧不拔

[堅韌不拔]

firm and indomitable (idiom); tenacious and unyielding

huìrénbùjuàn

诲人不倦

[誨人不倦]

instructing with tireless zeal (idiom, from Analects)

zàntànbùyǐ

赞叹不已

[贊嘆不已]

to be full of praise (idiom)

xīnlübùqí

心律不齐

[心律不齊]

arrhythmia

kuìbùchéngjūn

溃不成军

[潰不成軍]

(of troops) to be utterly routed and dispersed

bùzhīsuǒwèi

不知所谓

[不知所謂]

nonsense
nonsensical
incomprehensible
to make no sense

wéifù-bùrén

为富不仁

[為富不仁]

to be wealthy and heartless

pòbùjídài

迫不及待

[迫不及待]

impatient (idiom); in a hurry
itching to get on with it

wúwēibùzhì

无微不至

[無微不至]

in every possible way (idiom); meticulous

yībìngbùqǐ

一病不起

[一病不起]

to fall gravely ill, never to recover (idiom)

bùluòhénjì

不落痕迹

[不落痕跡]

to leave no trace
seamless
professional

bùjiànjīngzhuàn

不见经传

[不見經傳]

not found in the classics (idiom); unknown
unfounded
not authoritative

tāotāobùjué

滔滔不绝

[滔滔不絕]

(idiom) to produce a torrent of words; to talk on and on

zìgùbùxiá

自顾不暇

[自顧不暇]

(idiom) to have one's hands full managing one's own affairs
too busy to spare time for anything extra

xíngbùcóngjìng

行不从径

[行不從徑]

lit. not following the straight path (idiom); fig. looking for a shortcut to get ahead in work or study

xíngbùgùyán

行不顾言

[行不顧言]

to say one thing and do another (idiom)

yǐnqíngbùbào

隐情不报

[隱情不報]

not to report sth
to keep sth secret

xíngdòngbùbiàn

行动不便

[行動不便]

unable to move freely
difficult to get about

xiánsòngbùchuò

弦诵不缀

[弦誦不綴]

variant of 弦誦不輟／弦诵不辍 (xiánsòngbùchuò)

lǎodàbùxiǎo

老大不小

[老大不小]

no longer a child (idiom)

bùshíyīdīng

不识一丁

[不識一丁]

total illiterate
unable to read the simplest characters

Dàbùlǐshì

大不里士

[大不里士]

Tabriz city in northwest Iran, capital of Iranian East Azerbaijan

yīchénbùrǎn

一尘不染

[一塵不染]

(idiom) untainted by even a speck of dust; spotlessly clean; (of a person) honest; incorruptible

bùzhǎngyǎnjing

不长眼睛

[不長眼睛]

see 沒長眼睛／没长眼睛 (méizhǎngyǎnjing)

bìngxíngbùbèi

并行不悖

[並行不悖]

to run in parallel without hindrance
not mutually exclusive
two processes can be implemented without conflict

bùkěmíngzhuàng

不可名状

[不可名狀]

indescribable
beyond description

yìbùyāshēn

艺不压身

[藝不壓身]

see 藝多不壓身／艺多不压身 (yìduōbùyāshēn)

yǐnbìngbùbào

隐病不报

[隱病不報]

not to tell others of one's illness

zhōuzhuǎnbùlíng

周转不灵

[周轉不靈]

to have a cash flow problem

bùyíyúlì

不遗余力

[不遺餘力]

to spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one's utmost

shí'èbùshè

十恶不赦

[十惡不赦]

wicked beyond redemption (idiom)
heinous

hùbùqīnfàn

互不侵犯

[互不侵犯]

non-aggression

jǔbùshèngjǔ

举不胜举

[舉不勝舉]

too numerous to list (idiom); innumerable

bùkānshèxiǎng

不堪设想

[不堪設想]

too horrible to contemplate
unthinkable
inconceivable

yǎnshénbùjì

眼神不济

[眼神不濟]

to have poor eyesight

xǐbùzìjīn

喜不自禁

[喜不自禁]

unable to contain one's joy (idiom)

zuòshìbùlǐ

坐视不理

[坐視不理]

to sit and watch, but remain indifferent (idiom)

bùtòngbùyǎng

不痛不痒

[不痛不癢]

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

lüjiàobùgǎi

屡教不改

[屢教不改]

lit. not to change, despite repeated admonition
incorrigible
unrepentant

huābulēngdēng

花不棱登

[花不稜登]

gaudy; having too many jumbled colors

chūyánbùxùn

出言不逊

[出言不遜]

to speak rudely

zījūbùqián

趑趄不前

[趑趄不前]

hesitant and not daring to move forward (idiom)

zuòzhěbùxiáng

作者不详

[作者不詳]

author unknown

jiānchíbùxiè

坚持不懈

[堅持不懈]

to persevere unremittingly (idiom); to keep going until the end

bùkěgūliàng

不可估量

[不可估量]

inestimable
incalculable
beyond measure

cuòshǒubùjí

措手不及

[措手不及]

no time to deal with it (idiom); caught unprepared

bùshāngpíwèi

不伤脾胃

[不傷脾胃]

lit. doesn't hurt the spleen or the stomach
fig. something that is not critical

lángbèibùkān

狼狈不堪

[狼狽不堪]

battered and exhausted
stuck in a dilemma

rénxīnbùgǔ

人心不古

[人心不古]

(idiom) moral standards are much lower now than in former times

yīqùbùhuí

一去不回

[一去不回]

gone forever

bùyī'érzú

不一而足

[不一而足]

by no means an isolated case
numerous

bùchuǎimàomèi

不揣冒昧

[不揣冒昧]

to venture to
to presume to
to take the liberty of

dāoqiāngbùrù

刀枪不入

[刀槍不入]

lit. impervious to sword or spear (idiom)
fig. invulnerable
untouchable
thick-skinned
impervious to criticism

bùlùshēngsè

不露声色

[不露聲色]

not show one's feeling or intentions

háobùliúqíng

毫不留情

[毫不留情]

to show no quarter
ruthless
relentless

cǎnbùrěnwén

惨不忍闻

[慘不忍聞]

(idiom) dreadful to hear

chánjiābùqīng

缠夹不清

[纏夾不清]

to muddle things together (idiom)
to bother sb with annoying muddle-headed talk

cuòluòbùqí

错落不齐

[錯落不齊]

disorderly and uneven (idiom); irregular and disorderly

qióngzhuībùshě

穷追不舍

[窮追不捨]

to pursue relentlessly

chōng'ěrbùwén

充耳不闻

[充耳不聞]

to block one's ears and not listen (idiom); to turn a deaf ear

wànfūbùdāng

万夫不当

[萬夫不當]

lit. unbeatable by even 10,000 men (idiom)
fig. extremely brave and strong

bùjiānróngxìng

不兼容性

[不兼容性]

incompatibility

wénbùjiādiǎn

文不加点

[文不加點]

to write a flawless essay in one go (idiom)
to be quick-witted and skilled at writing compositions

bùlíbùqì

不离不弃

[不離不棄]

to stand by (sb) (idiom)
steadfast loyalty

yǐnrěnbùfā

隐忍不发

[隱忍不發]

to keep one's emotions inside oneself
to restrain one's emotions

qùxiàngbùmíng

去向不明

[去向不明]

missing
lost

guǒbùqírán

果不其然

[果不其然]

just as expected
told you so

bùkězhōngrì

不可终日

[不可終日]

to be unable to carry on even for a single day
to be in a desperate situation

jīnbùrúxī

今不如昔

[今不如昔]

things are not as good as they used to be

bùjíbùlí

不即不离

[不即不離]

to be neither too familiar nor too distant
to keep sb at arm's length

liánmián-bùjué

连绵不绝

[連綿不絕]

(idiom) continuous; unending

bàodǎbùpíng

抱打不平

[抱打不平]

see 打抱不平 (dǎbàobùpíng)

bùláowúhuò

不劳无获

[不勞無獲]

no pain, no gain (idiom)

wúsuǒbùzài

无所不在

[無所不在]

omnipresent

sāshǒubùguǎn

撒手不管

[撒手不管]

to stand aside and do nothing (idiom)
to take no part in

chābushàngshǒu

插不上手

[插不上手]

to be unable to intervene

bùtíyěbà

不提也罢

[不提也罷]

best not to mention it
drop it
never mind
let's not talk about it

hù'èbùquān

怙恶不悛

[怙惡不悛]

to keep doing evil without a sense of repentance (idiom)

dàobùshíyí

道不拾遗

[道不拾遺]

lit. no one picks up lost articles in the street (idiom)
fig. honesty prevails throughout society

bùyì'érfēi

不翼而飞

[不翼而飛]

to disappear without trace
to vanish all of a sudden
to spread fast
to spread like wildfire

háobujièyì

毫不介意

[毫不介意]

to not mind (at all, a bit)
to not care in the slightest

wúsuǒbùtán

无所不谈

[無所不談]

to talk about everything

wánshìbùgōng

玩世不恭

[玩世不恭]

to trifle without respect (idiom); to despise worldly conventions
frivolous

wēiwǔbùqū

威武不屈

[威武不屈]

not to submit to force

jíbùkěnài

急不可耐

[急不可耐]

unable to wait

zhīfùbùqǐ

支付不起

[支付不起]

to be unable to pay
unaffordable

ànbīngbùdòng

按兵不动

[按兵不動]

to hold back one's troops without moving (idiom); to bide one's time

bùwúxiǎobǔ

不无小补

[不無小補]

not be without some advantage
be of some help

hūlüèbùjì

忽略不计

[忽略不計]

to disregard (sth seen as negligible)
to neglect (sth seen as insignificant)

bǎchíbùdìng

把持不定

[把持不定]

indecisive (idiom)

mánbùjiǎnglǐ

蛮不讲理

[蠻不講理]

completely unreasonable

bùgānjìmò

不甘寂寞

[不甘寂寞]

unwilling to remain lonely or idle
unwilling to be left out

bùgǎngōngwei

不敢恭维

[不敢恭維]

to be underwhelmed
to be less than impressed

bùsānbùsì

不三不四

[不三不四]

(idiom) dubious; shady; neither one thing nor the other; neither fish nor fowl; nondescript

bìkǒubùyán

闭口不言

[閉口不言]

to keep silent (idiom)

lèbùkězhī

乐不可支

[樂不可支]

overjoyed (idiom); as pleased as punch

wéishíbùwǎn

为时不晚

[為時不晚]

it is not too late (idiom)

bùzhíyīwén

不值一文

[不值一文]

worthless (idiom)
no use whatsoever

bùyóufēnshuō

不由分说

[不由分說]

to allow no explanation

guāngshuōbùzuò

光说不做

[光說不做]

(idiom) to be all talk and no action; to preach what one does not practice

gùjiùbùqì

故旧不弃

[故舊不棄]

do not neglect old friends

hànránbùgù

悍然不顾

[悍然不顧]

outrageous and unconventional (idiom); flying in the face of (authority, convention, public opinion etc)

jiāolübù'ān

焦虑不安

[焦慮不安]

worried too much

bànshēngbùshóu

半生不熟

[半生不熟]

underripe
half-cooked
(fig.) not mastered (of a technique)
clumsy
halting

shuǐhuǒbùróng

水火不容

[水火不容]

completely incompatible
lit. incompatible as fire and water

xǐshǒubùgàn

洗手不干

[洗手不幹]

to totally stop doing something
to reform one's ways

huá'érbùshí

华而不实

[華而不實]

flower but no fruit (idiom); handsome exterior but hollow inside
flashy

chàndǒubùyǐ

颤抖不已

[顫抖不已]

to shake like a leaf (idiom)

bó'érbùjīng

博而不精

[博而不精]

extensive but not refined (idiom); to know something about everything
jack-of-all-trades, master of none

lèijuébù'ài

累觉不爱

[累覺不愛]

(lit.) so exhausted (by difficulties in a relationship) that one feels one could never fall in love again (Internet slang)
disenchanted with sth

bǎizhébùnáo

百折不挠

[百折不撓]

to keep on fighting in spite of all setbacks (idiom)
to be undaunted by repeated setbacks
to be indomitable

qílèbùqióng

其乐不穷

[其樂不窮]

boundless joy

bùwénbùwèn

不闻不问

[不聞不問]

not to hear, not to question (idiom)
to show no interest in sth
uncritical
not in the least concerned

bùkěgàorén

不可告人

[不可告人]

to be kept secret; not to be divulged

yīyánbùfā

一言不发

[一言不發]

to not say a word (idiom)

bùyú-kuìfá

不虞匮乏

[不虞匱乏]

(idiom) to have ample supplies (or money etc)

céngchūbùqióng

层出不穷

[層出不窮]

more and more emerge
innumerable succession
breeding like flies (idiom)

hùbùxiāngràng

互不相让

[互不相讓]

neither giving way to the other

bīngbùxuèrèn

兵不血刃

[兵不血刃]

lit. no blood on the men's swords (idiom); fig. an effortless victory

tǎntè-bù'ān

忐忑不安

[忐忑不安]

anxious; in turmoil

qíngbùzìjīn

情不自禁

[情不自禁]

(idiom) cannot refrain from; cannot help; cannot but

bùkěsīyì

不可思议

[不可思議]

inconceivable (idiom); unimaginable
unfathomable

yīsībùguà

一丝不挂

[一絲不掛]

not wearing one thread (idiom); absolutely naked
without a stitch of clothing
in one's birthday suit

dījiǔbùzhān

滴酒不沾

[滴酒不沾]

never to touch a drop of alcohol

chángshēngbùsǐ

长生不死

[長生不死]

immortality

wángbùliúxíng

王不留行

[王不留行]

cowherb (Vaccaria segetalis)
cowherb seeds (used in TCM)

bùsùzhīkè

不速之客

[不速之客]

uninvited or unexpected guest

yīmáobùbá

一毛不拔

[一毛不拔]

stingy (idiom)

bùchéngyàngzi

不成样子

[不成樣子]

shapeless
deformed
ruined
beyond recognition
(of a person) reduced to a shadow

bùyǔpínglùn

不予评论

[不予評論]

No comment!

bùmíngyīwén

不名一文

[不名一文]

without a penny to one's name
penniless
stony-broke

bùluòkējiù

不落窠臼

[不落窠臼]

not follow the beaten track
have an original style

bùxìnrèn'àn

不信任案

[不信任案]

no-confidence motion

yǎnbùzhuànjīng

眼不转睛

[眼不轉睛]

with fixed attention (idiom)

bùchūsuǒliào

不出所料

[不出所料]

as expected

yìxiǎngbùdào

意想不到

[意想不到]

unexpected
previously unimagined

dīshuǐbùchàn

滴水不羼

[滴水不羼]

not diluted by one drop
hundred percent

bùdìngfāngchéng

不定方程

[不定方程]

(math.) indeterminate equation

bùsǐbùxiū

不死不休

[不死不休]

to fight to one's last gasp

piēkāibùtán

撇开不谈

[撇開不談]

to ignore an issue (idiom)

bùbiànshūmài

不辨菽麦

[不辨菽麥]

lit. cannot tell beans from wheat (idiom); fig. ignorant of practical matters

bùkuìxiàxué

不愧下学

[不愧下學]

not ashamed to learn from subordinates (idiom)

yàosǐbùhuó

要死不活

[要死不活]

half dead
more dead than alive

bùfēnxuānzhì

不分轩轾

[不分軒輊]

well-matched
equally matched

bùlángbùyǒu

不稂不莠

[不稂不莠]

useless
worthless
good-for-nothing

xiàosībùkuì

孝思不匮

[孝思不匱]

to be forever filial (idiom)

huòbùxuánzhǒng

祸不旋踵

[禍不旋踵]

trouble is never far away (idiom)

yījièbùqǔ

一介不取

[一介不取]

to not even take a penny (as a bribe)

shìsǐbùcóng

誓死不从

[誓死不從]

to vow to die rather than obey (idiom)

xiānchénbùrǎn

纤尘不染

[纖塵不染]

see 一塵不染／一尘不染 (yīchénbùrǎn)

bùhuāngbùmáng

不慌不忙

[不慌不忙]

calm and unhurried (idiom); composed
to take matters calmly

bùjiāyǎnshì

不加掩饰

[不加掩飾]

undisguised

bēibùzúdào

卑不足道

[卑不足道]

not worth mentioning

bùjiāxuǎnzé

不加选择

[不加選擇]

indiscriminate

tuōbùliǎoshēn

脱不了身

[脫不了身]

busy and unable to get away

jiǎnzébùquē

俭则不缺

[儉則不缺]

(idiom) waste not, want not

bùshèngqírǎo

不胜其扰

[不勝其擾]

unable to put up with (sth) any longer

bùkěshōushí

不可收拾

[不可收拾]

irremediable; unmanageable; out of hand; hopeless

bùxìngzhīxìng

不幸之幸

[不幸之幸]

a fortune in misfortune
a positive in the negative

bùgùqiánhòu

不顾前后

[不顧前後]

regardless of what's before or after (idiom); rushing blindly into sth

měibùshèngshōu

美不胜收

[美不勝收]

nothing more beautiful can be imagined (idiom)

mùbùrěnjiàn

目不忍见

[目不忍見]

see 目不忍視／目不忍视 (mùbùrěnshì)

bùláo'érhuò

不劳而获

[不勞而獲]

(idiom) to reap without sowing; to get sth without working for it; to sponge off others

bìbùjiànmiàn

避不见面

[避不見面]

to refuse to meet sb
to avoid sb

yíngyǎngbùliáng

营养不良

[營養不良]

malnutrition
undernourishment
deficiency disease
dystrophy

yīwénbùmíng

一文不名

[一文不名]

to be penniless

wújiānbùshāng

无奸不商

[無奸不商]

all businessmen are evil (idiom)

cǐyánbùxū

此言不虚

[此言不虛]

see 此言非虛／此言非虚 (cǐyánfēixū)

bùkěduōdé

不可多得

[不可多得]

hard to come by
rare

jiǔjiǎbùguī

久假不归

[久假不歸]

to fail to return a borrowed item

zhǐshuōbùzuò

只说不做

[只說不做]

to be all talk and no action

bīngbùyànzhà

兵不厌诈

[兵不厭詐]

there can never be too much deception in war
in war nothing is too deceitful
all's fair in war

shíbùxiāngmán

实不相瞒

[實不相瞞]

truth to tell
to be quite honest...

yīdīngbùshí

一丁不识

[一丁不識]

illiterate

bàndǒngbùdǒng

半懂不懂

[半懂不懂]

to not fully understand
to only partly understand

fàngbuxiàxīn

放不下心

[放不下心]

cannot stop worrying

gōngbùkěmò

功不可没

[功不可沒]

one's contributions cannot go unnoticed (idiom)

huāngdànbùjīng

荒诞不经

[荒誕不經]

absurd
preposterous
ridiculous

bùkěhuòquē

不可或缺

[不可或缺]

necessary
must have

kànbùxíguàn

看不习惯

[看不習慣]

unfamiliar

fábùdāngzuì

罚不当罪

[罰不當罪]

disproportionate punishment
the punishment is harsher than the crime

bùdǒngzhuāngdǒng

不懂装懂

[不懂裝懂]

to pretend to understand when you don't

bùshìwèir

不是味儿

[不是味兒]

not the right flavor
not quite right
a bit off
fishy
queer
amiss
feel bad
be upset

háobùhuáiyí

毫不怀疑

[毫不懷疑]

without the slightest doubt

háofàbùshuǎng

毫发不爽

[毫髮不爽]

not to deviate one hair's breadth (idiom)
to be extremely accurate

bùxiūbiānfú

不修边幅

[不修邊幅]

not care about one's appearance (idiom)
slovenly in dress and manner

xiébùdízhèng

邪不敌正

[邪不敵正]

good will always triumph over evil (idiom)

shíbùzhīwèi

食不知味

[食不知味]

lit. to eat without tasting the food
worried or downhearted (idiom)

bùyīzhìzì

不一致字

[不一致字]

(orthography) inconsistent words (e.g. "through", "bough" and "rough", where "-ough" is not pronounced the same in each case)
inconsistent characters (e.g. 流 (liú), 梳 (shū) and 毓 (yù), which are pronounced differently from each other even though they all have the same notional phonetic component)

bùshítáijǔ

不识抬举

[不識抬舉]

fail to appreciate sb's kindness
not know how to appreciate favors

huì'érbùfèi

惠而不费

[惠而不費]

a kind act that costs nothing

jiǒngránbùtóng

迥然不同

[迥然不同]

widely different
utterly different

yīzìbùlà

一字不落

[一字不落]

see 一字不漏 (yīzìbùlòu)

jiānzhēnbùyú

坚贞不渝

[堅貞不渝]

unyielding integrity (idiom); unwavering

bùsù'érzhì

不速而至

[不速而至]

to arrive without invitation
unexpected guest
unwanted presence

pòbàibùkān

破败不堪

[破敗不堪]

crushed
utterly defeated

guāngshuōbùliàn

光说不练

[光說不練]

all talk and no action (idiom)
to preach what one does not practice
same as 光說不做／光说不做 (guāngshuōbùzuò)

wēibùzúdào

微不足道

[微不足道]

negligible; insignificant

wěidàbùdiào

尾大不掉

[尾大不掉]

large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy
fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates

zhāobùbǎoxī

朝不保夕

[朝不保夕]

at dawn, not sure of lasting to evening (idiom); precarious state
imminent crisis
living from hand to mouth

bùkěfēnlí

不可分离

[不可分離]

inseparable

sùbùxiāngnéng

素不相能

[素不相能]

unable to get along (idiom)

shìbùguòsān

事不过三

[事不過三]

(idiom) a thing should not be attempted more than three times; don't repeat the same mistake again and again
(idiom) bad things don't happen more than three times

gǒupìbùtōng

狗屁不通

[狗屁不通]

incoherent (writing or speech)
nonsensical
a load of crap

qiè'érbùshě

锲而不舍

[鍥而不捨]

to chip away at a task and not abandon it (idiom); to chisel away at sth
to persevere
unflagging efforts

bùkězhìxìn

不可置信

[不可置信]

unbelievable; incredible

bùjīngzhītán

不经之谈

[不經之談]

absurd statement
cock-and-bull story

bùgānshìruò

不甘示弱

[不甘示弱]

not to be outdone

júcùbù'ān

局促不安

[局促不安]

ill at ease
uncomfortable

bùfēnzhòuyè

不分昼夜

[不分晝夜]

day and night
round-the-clock

bùchǐxiàwèn

不耻下问

[不恥下問]

not feel ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates

yóuyùbùjué

犹豫不决

[猶豫不決]

hesitancy
indecision
to waver

bùzhìkěfǒu

不置可否

[不置可否]

decline to comment
not express an opinion
be noncommittal
hedge

bùhán'érlì

不寒而栗

[不寒而慄]

lit. not cold, yet shivering (idiom)
fig. to tremble with fear
to be terrified

měizhōngbùzú

美中不足

[美中不足]

everything is fine except for one small defect (idiom); the fly in the ointment

bùkěquēshǎo

不可缺少

[不可缺少]

indispensable

bùjìnrénqíng

不近人情

[不近人情]

not amenable to reason; unreasonable

yīsībùgǒu

一丝不苟

[一絲不苟]

not one thread loose (idiom); strictly according to the rules
meticulous
not one hair out of place

wénbùduìtí

文不对题

[文不對題]

irrelevant
beside the point

yīzìbùlòu

一字不漏

[一字不漏]

without missing a word

liúniánbùlì

流年不利

[流年不利]

the year's horoscope augurs ill (idiom); an unlucky year

wěnbùbùqián

稳步不前

[穩步不前]

to mark time and make no advances (idiom)

bùliánxùmiàn

不连续面

[不連續面]

surface of discontinuity

Bùláiméigǎng

不来梅港

[不來梅港]

Bremerhaven, German port

bùwùzhèngyè

不务正业

[不務正業]

not to engage in honest work
to ignore one's proper occupation
not to attend to one's proper duties

quèzhībùgōng

却之不恭

[卻之不恭]

to refuse would be impolite

hùshūbùdù

户枢不蠹

[戶樞不蠹]

lit. a door hinge never becomes worm-eaten
constant activity prevents decay (idiom)

yīzìbùshí

一字不识

[一字不識]

totally illiterate

hēibáibùfēn

黑白不分

[黑白不分]

can't tell black from white (idiom); unable to distinguish wrong from right

xīnxùbùjiā

心绪不佳

[心緒不佳]

out of sorts
gloomy

háobùyóuyù

毫不犹豫

[毫不猶豫]

without the slightest hesitation

gōnggāobùshǎng

功高不赏

[功高不賞]

high merit that one can never repay (idiom); invaluable achievements

xué'érbùyàn

学而不厌

[學而不厭]

study tirelessly (idiom, from Analects)

yùyùbùlè

郁郁不乐

[鬱鬱不樂]

discontented (idiom)

hǎobùróngyì

好不容易

[好不容易]

with great difficulty
very difficult

shūbùjiànqīn

疏不见亲

[疏不見親]

lit. casual aquaintances should not come between relatives
blood is thicker than water (idiom)

suǒyánbùxū

所言不虚

[所言不虛]

see 所言非虛／所言非虚 (suǒyánfēixū)

bēibùzìshèng

悲不自胜

[悲不自勝]

unable to control one's grief (idiom); overwrought
overcome with sorrow
heartbroken

chuānliúbùxī

川流不息

[川流不息]

the stream flows without stopping (idiom); unending flow

cóngróngbùpò

从容不迫

[從容不迫]

calm
unruffled

wúqíbùyǒu

无奇不有

[無奇不有]

nothing is too bizarre
full of extraordinary things

zìmìngbùfán

自命不凡

[自命不凡]

to think too much of oneself
self-important
arrogant

shénbùshǒushè

神不守舍

[神不守舍]

(idiom) absentminded; dazed; distracted

gǎnjībùjìn

感激不尽

[感激不盡]

can't thank sb enough (idiom)

kǔbujīr

苦不唧儿

[苦不唧兒]

erhua variant of 苦不唧 (kǔbujī)

bùmíngyīqián

不名一钱

[不名一錢]

to be penniless

gūzhèngbùlì

孤证不立

[孤證不立]

unacceptable as uncorroborated evidence (in law or in textual criticism)

huāngguàibùjīng

荒怪不经

[荒怪不經]

absurd
unthinkable

yúxīnbùrěn

于心不忍

[於心不忍]

can't bear to

jiànguàibùguài

见怪不怪

[見怪不怪]

to have seen sth so often that it doesn't seem strange at all; to be well accustomed (to sth)

bùzúwéiqí

不足为奇

[不足為奇]

not at all surprising (idiom)

bùwéirénzhī

不为人知

[不為人知]

not known to anyone
secret
unknown

nábùchūshǒu

拿不出手

[拿不出手]

not presentable
shoddy and too embarrassing to show

bùshídàtǐ

不识大体

[不識大體]

to fail to see the larger issue (idiom)
to fail to grasp the big picture

gāobùkěpān

高不可攀

[高不可攀]

too high to reach (idiom); eminent and unapproachable

jīngjiǔbùshuāi

经久不衰

[經久不衰]

unfailing
never-ending

bùxīyīzhàn

不惜一战

[不惜一戰]

to be ready to go to war

bùyǐwéirán

不以为然

[不以為然]

not to accept as correct (idiom); to object
to disapprove
to take exception to

bùmiánbùxiū

不眠不休

[不眠不休]

without stopping to sleep or have a rest (idiom)

bùnù'érwēi

不怒而威

[不怒而威]

(idiom) to have an aura of authority; to have a commanding presence

bùmíngjiùlǐ

不明就里

[不明就裡]

not to understand the situation
unaware of the ins and outs

mēnshēngbùxiǎng

闷声不响

[悶聲不響]

to keep silent

bùzhànbùhé

不战不和

[不戰不和]

neither war nor peace

yībùxiǎoxīn

一不小心

[一不小心]

to be a little bit careless; to have a moment of inattentiveness; accidentally

bùzàihuàxià

不在话下

[不在話下]

to be nothing difficult
to be a cinch

bùliǎoliǎozhī

不了了之

[不了了之]

to settle a matter by leaving it unsettled
to end up with nothing definite

shǔbùshèngshǔ

数不胜数

[數不勝數]

too many to count (idiom); innumerable

bùchěngzhītú

不逞之徒

[不逞之徒]

desperado

bùbiànzīběn

不变资本

[不變資本]

constant capital

lìbùcóngxīn

力不从心

[力不從心]

less capable than desirable (idiom); not as strong as one would wish
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

kèbùrónghuǎn

刻不容缓

[刻不容緩]

to brook no delay
to demand immediate action

hēibùliūqiū

黑不溜秋

[黑不溜秋]

dark and swarthy

mùbùxiéshì

目不斜视

[目不斜視]

not to glance sideways (idiom)
to gaze fixedly
to be fully concentrated
to preserve a correct attitude

yǔnshēnbùxù

殒身不恤

[殞身不恤]

to die without regrets (idiom); to sacrifice oneself without hesitation

gǎnbùcóngmìng

敢不从命

[敢不從命]

to not dare to disobey an order (idiom)

mùbùxiájiē

目不暇接

[目不暇接]

lit. too much for the eye to take in (idiom); a feast for the eyes

tàbùbùqián

踏步不前

[踏步不前]

to be at a standstill
to mark time

láizhěbùjù

来者不拒

[來者不拒]

to refuse nobody (idiom)
all comers welcome

xīnzhàobùxuān

心照不宣

[心照不宣]

to have a tacit understanding

ànnàbuzhù

按捺不住

[按捺不住]

to be unable to hold back

tānxīnbùzú

贪心不足

[貪心不足]

avaricious and insatiable (idiom); greedy and never satisfied

bùjǐnbùmàn

不紧不慢

[不緊不慢]

(idiom) to take one's time; unhurried; leisurely

chūqíbùyì

出其不意

[出其不意]

to do sth when least expected (idiom); to catch sb off guard

bùkěqīnfàn

不可侵犯

[不可侵犯]

inviolable
inviolability

bùjízhīwù

不急之务

[不急之務]

a matter of no great urgency

lüjìnbùjué

屡禁不绝

[屢禁不絕]

to continue despite repeated prohibition (idiom)

mùbùrěnshì

目不忍视

[目不忍視]

lit. the eye cannot bear to see it (idiom)
fig. pitiful to behold

màbùjuékǒu

骂不绝口

[罵不絕口]

to scold without end (idiom); incessant abuse

yìbùróngcí

义不容辞

[義不容辭]

not to be shirked without dishonor (idiom)
incumbent
bounden (duty)

bùwèiqiángbào

不畏强暴

[不畏強暴]

not to submit to force (idiom); to defy threats and violence

míngbùfúshí

名不符实

[名不符實]

the name does not correspond to reality (idiom); it doesn't live up to its reputation

bùzhīpíjuàn

不知疲倦

[不知疲倦]

untiring
not recognizing tiredness

bùzéshǒuduàn

不择手段

[不擇手段]

by fair means or foul
by hook or by crook
unscrupulously

mùbùzhuǎnjīng

目不转睛

[目不轉睛]

unable to take one's eyes off (idiom); to gaze steadily
to stare

fàngdàngbùjī

放荡不羁

[放蕩不羈]

wanton and unrestrained (idiom); dissolute

bùxuéwúshù

不学无术

[不學無術]

without learning or skills (idiom); ignorant and incompetent

bùchéngwénfǎ

不成文法

[不成文法]

unwritten law

jīngtànbùyǐ

惊叹不已

[驚嘆不已]

to exclaim in astonishment

lìngrénbùkuài

令人不快

[令人不快]

unpleasant
objectionable

liànliànbùshě

恋恋不舍

[戀戀不捨]

reluctant to part

zànbùjuékǒu

赞不绝口

[讚不絕口]

to praise without cease (idiom); praise sb to high heaven

tíngzhìbùqián

停滞不前

[停滯不前]

stuck and not moving forward (idiom); stagnant
in a rut
at a standstill

wèichángbùkě

未尝不可

[未嘗不可]

(idiom) acceptable; fine; okay

bùzuìbùguī

不醉不归

[不醉不歸]

lit. to not go home until drunk (idiom)
fig. let's make a night of it!

nǐyúbùlún

拟于不伦

[擬於不倫]

to draw an impossible comparison

bù'ānqíshì

不安其室

[不安其室]

(idiom) (of a married woman) to be unfaithful; to have extramarital affairs

bùkězhīlùn

不可知论

[不可知論]

agnosticism, the philosophical doctrine that some questions about the universe are in principle unanswerable

zhūgǒubùrú

猪狗不如

[豬狗不如]

worse than a dog or pig
lower than low

bùyùnbùhuǒ

不愠不火

[不慍不火]

calm
unruffled

bùpòbùlì

不破不立

[不破不立]

without destruction there can be no construction

yīqiánbùzhí

一钱不值

[一錢不值]

not worth a penny; utterly worthless

bùpiānbùyǐ

不偏不倚

[不偏不倚]

even-handed
impartial
unbiased
exact
just

shíyùnbùjì

时运不济

[時運不濟]

fate is unfavorable (idiom); the omens are not good

wěimǐbùzhèn

萎靡不振

[萎靡不振]

dispirited and listless (idiom); downcast

jié'àobùxùn

桀骜不驯

[桀驁不馴]

arrogant and obstinate (idiom)
unyielding

wúsuǒbùbāo

无所不包

[無所不包]

(idiom) not excluding anything; all-encompassing

dòngtanbudé

动弹不得

[動彈不得]

to be unable to move a single step

guǎbùdízhòng

寡不敌众

[寡不敵眾]

the few are no match for the many
heavily outnumbered
facing impossible odds (idiom)

chòubùkěwén

臭不可闻

[臭不可聞]

to stink to high heaven
(fig.) disgraceful; disgusting

luòyìbùjué

络绎不绝

[絡繹不絕]

(idiom) continuously; in an endless stream

yīshēngbùkēng

一声不吭

[一聲不吭]

to not say a word

háobùxùnsè

毫不逊色

[毫不遜色]

not inferior in any respect

xuè'érbùnüè

谑而不虐

[謔而不虐]

to tease
to mock sb without offending
to banter

bùjíbùxú

不疾不徐

[不疾不徐]

neither too fast nor too slow (idiom)

zhōngzhēnbùyú

忠贞不渝

[忠貞不渝]

unswerving in one's loyalty (idiom); faithful and constant

bùshíshíwù

不识时务

[不識時務]

to show no understanding of the times (idiom); cannot adapt to current circumstances
not amenable to reason

hǎojiǔbujiàn

好久不见

[好久不見]

long time no see

jié'àobùxùn

桀骜不逊

[桀驁不遜]

see 桀驁不馴／桀骜不驯 (jié'àobùxùn)

yīyǔbùfā

一语不发

[一語不發]

to not say a word (idiom)

bùmóu'érhé

不谋而合

[不謀而合]

to agree without prior consultation
to happen to hold the same view

bùfēnbǐcǐ

不分彼此

[不分彼此]

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

wèisuōbùqián

畏缩不前

[畏縮不前]

to shrink back in fear (idiom); too cowardly to advance

mòbùguānxīn

漠不关心

[漠不關心]

not the least bit concerned
completely indifferent

shìbùkědāng

势不可当

[勢不可當]

impossible to resist (idiom); an irresistible force

kūxiàobùdé

哭笑不得

[哭笑不得]

lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom)
both funny and extremely embarrassing
between laughter and tears

gèbùxiāngtóng

各不相同

[各不相同]

to be quite varied; each one is different

jiānbùróngfà

间不容发

[間不容髮]

(to escape danger etc) by a hair's breadth (idiom)
in a critical state
on the brink of crisis
very close (to happening)
Taiwan pr. (jiànbùróngfǎ)

bùfùzhòngwàng

不负众望

[不負眾望]

to live up to expectations (idiom)

xīnshénbùzhǔ

心神不属

[心神不屬]

see 心不在焉 (xīnbùzàiyān)

jībùxiāngnéng

积不相能

[積不相能]

(idiom) always at loggerheads; never able to agree with sb; unable to get on with sb

gāngzhèngbù'ē

刚正不阿

[剛正不阿]

upright and plainspoken

bùkěfēngē

不可分割

[不可分割]

inalienable
unalienable
inseparable
indivisible

rénjiānbùchāi

人艰不拆

[人艱不拆]

life is hard enough as it is; don't burst my bubble (Internet slang)

shìbùyíchí

事不宜迟

[事不宜遲]

the matter should not be delayed
there's no time to lose

gōngbùyìngqiú

供不应求

[供不應求]

supply does not meet demand

xīnkǒubùyī

心口不一

[心口不一]

heart and mouth at variance (idiom); keeping one's real intentions to oneself
saying one thing but meaning sth different

yīzìbùchā

一字不差

[一字不差]

word for word; verbatim

bàngānbùgà

半间不界

[半間不界]

shallow
not thorough
superficial

wúrénbùzhī

无人不知

[無人不知]

known to everybody

wénfēngbùdòng

纹风不动

[紋風不動]

absolutely still
fig. not the slightest change
also written 文風不動／文风不动

jiēliánbùduàn

接连不断

[接連不斷]

in unbroken succession (idiom)

èrhuà-bùshuō

二话不说

[二話不說]

(idiom) not saying anything further; not raising any objection; without demur

shìbùliǎnglì

誓不两立

[誓不兩立]

the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences
incompatible standpoints

chèyèbùmián

彻夜不眠

[徹夜不眠]

to be sleepless all night

zìbùliànglì

自不量力

[自不量力]

to overestimate one's capabilities (idiom)

xiāohuàbùliáng

消化不良

[消化不良]

indigestion

bùyuē'értóng

不约而同

[不約而同]

(idiom) (of two or more people) to take the same action without prior consultation; (usu. used adverbially) all (or both) of them, independently; as if by prior agreement

bùwéijiǔkùn

不为酒困

[不為酒困]

not a slave to the bottle
able to enjoy alcohol in moderation
able to hold one's drink

bùqī'érzhì

不期而至

[不期而至]

to arrive unexpectably
unexpected

bùkějiùyào

不可救药

[不可救藥]

incurable
incorrigible
beyond cure
hopeless

bùkěwǎnhuí

不可挽回

[不可挽回]

irreversible

jiēchùbùliáng

接触不良

[接觸不良]

loose or defective contact (elec.)

dùménbùchū

杜门不出

[杜門不出]

to shut the door and remain inside
fig. to cut off contact

bùjiǎndāngnián

不减当年

[不減當年]

(of one's skills, appearance etc) not to have deteriorated a bit
to be as (good, vigorous etc) as ever

zànbùjuékǒu

赞不绝口

[贊不絕口]

to praise without cease (idiom); praise sb to high heaven

bùyǐwéiyì

不以为意

[不以為意]

not to mind
unconcerned

yīqiàobùtōng

一窍不通

[一竅不通]

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

kànbuguòqu

看不过去

[看不過去]

cannot stand by idly and watch
unable to put up with it any longer

shēngbùféngshí

生不逢时

[生不逢時]

born at the wrong time (idiom); unlucky (esp. to complain about one's fate)
born under an unlucky star
ahead of his time

bǎidúbùyàn

百读不厌

[百讀不厭]

to be worth reading a hundred times (idiom)

gōngqíbùbèi

攻其不备

[攻其不備]

see 出其不意，攻其不備／出其不意，攻其不备 (chūqíbùyì,gōngqíbùbèi)

bùhuáihǎoyì

不怀好意

[不懷好意]

to harbor evil designs
to harbor malicious intentions

bàibùchéngjūn

败不成军

[敗不成軍]

The army is completely routed. (idiom)

bùzhīxiūchǐ

不知羞耻

[不知羞恥]

to have no sense of shame
brazen

bùfēnshèngfù

不分胜负

[不分勝負]

unable to determine victory or defeat (idiom); evenly matched
to come out even
to tie
to draw

bùjiāniúnǎi

不加牛奶

[不加牛奶]

without milk
black (of tea, coffee etc)

sǐ'érbùjiāng

死而不僵

[死而不僵]

dead but showing no signs of rigor mortis
to die hard (idiom)
to die yet not be vanquished (idiom)

bùshìzīwèi

不是滋味

[不是滋味]

to be upset
to feel disgusted

mòbùzuòshēng

默不作声

[默不作聲]

to keep silent

shuōbuguòqù

说不过去

[說不過去]

cannot be justified
inexcusable

wúsuǒbùmài

无所不卖

[無所不賣]

to sell anything
to sell everything

shēnbùjiàndǐ

深不见底

[深不見底]

so deep one cannot see to the bottom
limitless

bùqièshíjì

不切实际

[不切實際]

unrealistic
impractical

míngwánbùlíng

冥顽不灵

[冥頑不靈]

pigheaded

dàhuòbùjiě

大惑不解

[大惑不解]

to be at a loss (idiom)

yèbùguīsù

夜不归宿

[夜不歸宿]

to stay out all night (idiom)

bùshòuhuānyíng

不受欢迎

[不受歡迎]

unwelcome

jiānchíbùyú

坚持不渝

[堅持不渝]

to stick to sth without change (idiom); to persevere

bùyán'éryù

不言而喻

[不言而喻]

it goes without saying; it is self-evident

shì'érbùjiàn

视而不见

[視而不見]

(idiom) to turn a blind eye to; to ignore

bùzhīsǐhuó

不知死活

[不知死活]

to act recklessly (idiom)

zhuó'ěrbùqún

卓尔不群

[卓爾不群]

standing above the common crowd (idiom); outstanding
excellent and unrivaled

wújiānbùcuī

无坚不摧

[無堅不摧]

no stronghold one cannot overcome (idiom); to conquer every obstacle
nothing one can't do
to carry everything before one

bùzhītòngyǎng

不知痛痒

[不知痛癢]

numb
unfeeling
indifferent
inconsequential

jiānrěnbùbá

坚忍不拔

[堅忍不拔]

fortitude

zhāobùlüxī

朝不虑夕

[朝不慮夕]

at dawn, not sure of lasting to evening (idiom); precarious state
imminent crisis
living from hand to mouth

bùkěbìmiǎn

不可避免

[不可避免]

unavoidably

bùqǐngzìlái

不请自来

[不請自來]

to turn up without being invited
unsolicited

jiàokǔbudié

叫苦不迭

[叫苦不迭]

to complain without stopping (idiom); to bitch endlessly
incessant grievances

qiānchěbùqīng

牵扯不清

[牽扯不清]

unclear; ambiguous
having an unclear relationship with

bùdàngdélì

不当得利

[不當得利]

unjust enrichment

cēncībùqí

参差不齐

[參差不齊]

(idiom) variable
uneven
irregular

yuánfēngbùdòng

原封不动

[原封不動]

sticking unmoving to the original (idiom); not an iota changed
untouched

bùkěkàngjù

不可抗拒

[不可抗拒]

act of God
force majeure (law)
irresistible (idiom)

shēnbùkěcè

深不可测

[深不可測]

deep and unmeasurable (idiom); unfathomable depths
incomprehensible
enigmatic and impossible to predict

bùshígāodī

不识高低

[不識高低]

can't recognize tall or short (idiom); doesn't know what's what

bùkěduānní

不可端倪

[不可端倪]

impossible to get even an outline (idiom)
unfathomable
not a clue

bùqǐyǎnr

不起眼儿

[不起眼兒]

erhua variant of 不起眼 (bùqǐyǎn)

xiāngchíbùxià

相持不下

[相持不下]

at a stalemate
deadlocked
in unrelenting mutual opposition

cǎnbùrěndǔ

惨不忍睹

[慘不忍睹]

lit. so horrible that one cannot bear to look (idiom)
fig. miserable; horrendous; atrocious

bùzhīsuǒzhī

不知所之

[不知所之]

whereabouts unknown

bùyǔzhìpíng

不予置评

[不予置評]

to make no comment
"no comment"

huībuliūqiū

灰不溜秋

[灰不溜秋]

see 灰不溜丟／灰不溜丢 (huībuliūdiū)

bùjuéyútú

不绝于途

[不絕於途]

to come and go in an incessant stream

wúchùbùzài

无处不在

[無處不在]

to be everywhere

bùjiǎsīsuǒ

不假思索

[不假思索]

(idiom) to act without taking time to think; to react instantly; to fire from the hip

chàbuduōde

差不多的

[差不多的]

the great majority

wúsuǒbùzhì

无所不至

[無所不至]

to reach everywhere
to stop at nothing
to do one's utmost

kànzhebùguǎn

看着不管

[看著不管]

to stand by and pay no heed
to ignore

qínshòubùrú

禽兽不如

[禽獸不如]

worse than a beast
to behave immorally

shàobùgēngshì

少不更事

[少不更事]

young and inexperienced; wet behind the ears

āi'érbùshāng

哀而不伤

[哀而不傷]

deeply felt but not mawkish (idiom)

bùkěyúyuè

不可逾越

[不可逾越]

impassable
insurmountable
insuperable

yóuyíbùdìng

游移不定

[游移不定]

to oscillate without pause (idiom)
to fluctuate
(of thoughts) to wander
to waver

fángbùshèngfáng

防不胜防

[防不勝防]

virtually impossible to prevent

liǎngbùxiāngqiàn

两不相欠

[兩不相欠]

to be even
to be quits
to be even-steven

zhǎobùzìzai

找不自在

[找不自在]

to ask for trouble
to bring misfortune on oneself

bùzhìzhīzhèng

不治之症

[不治之症]

incurable disease

bùzhī Dīng Dǒng

不知丁董

[不知丁董]

forgetting the fate of Ding and Dong (idiom)
unheeding the lessons of the past

nùbùkě'è

怒不可遏

[怒不可遏]

unable to restrain one's anger (idiom); in a towering rage

bùfǎfènzǐ

不法分子

[不法分子]

lawbreaker; outlaw

miànbùgǎisè

面不改色

[面不改色]

(idiom) not bat an eyelid

xiāntiānbùzú

先天不足

[先天不足]

to suffer from a congenital deficiency; to have an inherent weakness

lüjiànbùxiān

屡见不鲜

[屢見不鮮]

a common occurrence (idiom)

huángkǒngbù'ān

惶恐不安

[惶恐不安]

anxious
panicky

bùzhīlìhài

不知利害

[不知利害]

see 不知好歹 (bùzhīhǎodǎi)

bùhétǐtǒng

不合体统

[不合體統]

not according with decorum
scandalous
bad form
unacceptable behavior

wǔyīnbùquán

五音不全

[五音不全]

tone deaf
unable to sing in tune

bùjīngyìjiān

不经意间

[不經意間]

without paying attention
without noticing
unconsciously
inadvertently

yōngjǐbùkān

拥挤不堪

[擁擠不堪]

overcrowded
jam-packed

bùshíhǎodǎi

不识好歹

[不識好歹]

unable to tell good from bad (idiom)
undiscriminating

bànmíngbùmiè

半明不灭

[半明不滅]

dull (lamplight)

húnbùshǒushè

魂不守舍

[魂不守舍]

to be preoccupied (idiom)
to be inattentive
to be frightened out of one's mind

quèzáobùyí

确凿不移

[確鑿不移]

established and irrefutable (idiom)

bùzhōngtiānnián

不终天年

[不終天年]

to die before one's allotted lifespan has run its course (idiom)

sǐbùgǎihuǐ

死不改悔

[死不改悔]

not to repent even facing death (idiom)
unrepentant
very obstinate

qīnghuángbùjiē

青黄不接

[青黃不接]

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

bùbiànjiàgé

不变价格

[不變價格]

fixed price
constant price

chángshēngbùlǎo

长生不老

[長生不老]

immortality

diǎnshuǐbùlòu

点水不漏

[點水不漏]

not one drop of water leaks (idiom); fig. thoughtful and completely rigorous
watertight

zhànwúbùshèng

战无不胜

[戰無不勝]

(idiom) all-conquering; invincible

xiàobùkěyì

笑不可抑

[笑不可抑]

to laugh irrepressibly

fènfènbùpíng

愤愤不平

[憤憤不平]

to feel indignant
to feel aggrieved

cùbùjífáng

猝不及防

[猝不及防]

to be caught off guard
without warning

fènfènbùpíng

忿忿不平

[忿忿不平]

variant of 憤憤不平／愤愤不平 (fènfènbùpíng)

huǎnbùjìjí

缓不济急

[緩不濟急]

lit. slow no aid to urgent (idiom); slow measures will not address a critical situation
too slow to meet a pressing need

bùchìtiānyuān

不啻天渊

[不啻天淵]

no less than from heaven to the abyss (idiom); differing widely
worlds apart
the gap couldn't be bigger

bùzhīsuǒcuò

不知所措

[不知所措]

not knowing what to do (idiom); at one's wits' end
embarrassed and at a complete loss

shào'érbùyí

少儿不宜

[少兒不宜]

not suitable for children

mǒbùxiàliǎn

抹不下脸

[抹不下臉]

to be unable to keep a straight face (idiom)

bùdàlír

不大离儿

[不大離兒]

erhua variant of 不大離／不大离 (bùdàlí)

bùkěshèngshǔ

不可胜数

[不可勝數]

countless
innumerable

bùshèngqífán

不胜其烦

[不勝其煩]

to be pestered beyond endurance

yīdòngbùdòng

一动不动

[一動不動]

motionless

bùwéinóngshí

不违农时

[不違農時]

not miss the farming season
do farm work in the right season

lùbùshíyí

路不拾遗

[路不拾遺]

lit. no one picks up lost articles in the street (idiom)
fig. honesty prevails throughout society

qínzébùkuì

勤则不匮

[勤則不匱]

If one is industrious, one will not be in want. (idiom)

yáobǎibùdìng

摇摆不定

[搖擺不定]

indecisive
wavering

bùqiúshōuhuò

不求收获

[不求收獲]

not expecting any reward
not asking for favors

dànànbùsǐ

大难不死

[大難不死]

to just escape from calamity

bùmiǎnyīsǐ

不免一死

[不免一死]

cannot avoid being killed
cannot escape death
to be mortal

shìfēibùfēn

是非不分

[是非不分]

unable to distinguish right and wrong (idiom)

dāngduànbùduàn

当断不断

[當斷不斷]

(idiom) to waver when decisiveness is needed

bùguǎnbùgù

不管不顾

[不管不顧]

to pay scant regard to (sth)
unheeding
reckless

bùkěmómiè

不可磨灭

[不可磨滅]

indelible

bùzúwéixùn

不足为训

[不足為訓]

not to be taken as an example
not an example to be followed
not to be taken as authoritative

qínsèbùtiáo

琴瑟不调

[琴瑟不調]

out of tune
marital discord, cf qin and se 琴瑟, two string instruments as symbol of marital harmony

wúhuàbùshuō

无话不说

[無話不說]

(of close friends etc) to tell each other everything

wěiwěibùjuàn

亹亹不倦

[亹亹不倦]

on and on
relentlessly

húnránbùjué

浑然不觉

[渾然不覺]

totally unaware

bùtōubùqiǎng

不偷不抢

[不偷不搶]

to be law-abiding (idiom)

huàyībù'èr

划一不二

[劃一不二]

fixed
unalterable

jié'àobùshùn

桀骜不顺

[桀驁不順]

see 桀驁不馴／桀骜不驯 (jié'àobùxùn)

hūnmíbùxǐng

昏迷不醒

[昏迷不醒]

to remain unconscious

Nàbùlèsī

那不勒斯

[那不勒斯]

Napoli, capital of Campania region of Italy
Naples

wěimǐbùzhèn

委靡不振

[委靡不振]

variant of 萎靡不振 (wěimǐbùzhèn)

húnbùfùtǐ

魂不附体

[魂不附體]

lit. body and soul separated (idiom); fig. scared out of one's wits
beside oneself

hébùlǒngzuǐ

合不拢嘴

[合不攏嘴]

unable to conceal one's happiness, amazement, shock etc
grinning from ear to ear
mouth agape
gobsmacked

bùshèngméijǔ

不胜枚举

[不勝枚舉]

too numerous to mention individually or one by one

chóuméibùzhǎn

愁眉不展

[愁眉不展]

with a worried frown

xiāngchàbuduō

相差不多

[相差不多]

not much difference

shīduōbùyǎng

虱多不痒

[蝨多不癢]

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.

bùkěyányù

不可言喻

[不可言喻]

inexpressible (idiom)

zàisuǒbùjì

在所不计

[在所不計]

irrespective of
to have no concerns whatsoever about

wànsǐbùcí

万死不辞

[萬死不辭]

ten thousand deaths will not prevent me (idiom); ready to risk life and limb to help out

suānbuliūdiū

酸不溜丢

[酸不溜丟]

sour
acrid
(of a person) embittered

bùgānbùjìng

不干不净

[不乾不淨]

unclean
filthy
foul-mouthed

zàihǎobùguò

再好不过

[再好不過]

couldn't be better
ideal
wonderful

bùyuǎnqiānlǐ

不远千里

[不遠千里]

make light of traveling a thousand li
go to the trouble of traveling a long distance

bùróngzhìyí

不容置疑

[不容置疑]

unquestionable

liángyǒubùqí

良莠不齐

[良莠不齊]

good and bad people intermingled

láilùbùmíng

来路不明

[來路不明]

unidentified origin
no-one knows where it comes from
of dubious background

bùkānrěnshòu

不堪忍受

[不堪忍受]

unbearable

fàngdànbùjī

放诞不羁

[放誕不羈]

wanton and unrestrained (idiom); dissolute

dàyánbùcán

大言不惭

[大言不慚]

to boast shamelessly
to talk big

gégébùrù

格格不入

[格格不入]

(idiom) inharmonious
incompatible

wúhuàbùtán

无话不谈

[無話不談]

not to hold anything back (idiom)
(of close friends etc) to tell each other everything

mángbùguòlái

忙不过来

[忙不過來]

to have more work than one can deal with
to have one's hands full

xǐbùzìshèng

喜不自胜

[喜不自勝]

unable to contain one's joy (idiom)

bùfēnshàngxià

不分上下

[不分上下]

not to know one's place

zuòlìbù'ān

坐立不安

[坐立不安]

lit. agitated sitting or standing (idiom)
restless
fidgety

shuǐxièbùtōng

水泄不通

[水洩不通]

lit. not one drop can trickle through (idiom); fig. impenetrable (crowd, traffic)

bùzhíyībó

不值一驳

[不值一駁]

(of an argument) not even worthy of a rebuttal

tiánbùzhīchǐ

恬不知耻

[恬不知恥]

to have no sense of shame

huīzhībùqù

挥之不去

[揮之不去]

impossible to get rid of

bùshí Tài Shān

不识泰山

[不識泰山]

can't recognize Mt Taishan (idiom); fig. not to recognize a famous person

jīquǎn-bùliú

鸡犬不留

[雞犬不留]

lit. not even chickens and dogs are spared (idiom)
fig. mass slaughter

bùcí'érbié

不辞而别

[不辭而別]

to leave without saying good-bye

bùyìzhīcái

不义之财

[不義之財]

ill-gotten wealth or gains

bùyánbùyǔ

不言不语

[不言不語]

to not say a word (idiom)
to keep silent

bǎisībùjiě

百思不解

[百思不解]

to remain puzzled after pondering over sth a hundred times (idiom)
to remain perplexed despite much thought

píbèibùkān

疲惫不堪

[疲憊不堪]

exhausted
fatigued to the extreme

àilǐbùlǐ

爱理不理

[愛理不理]

(idiom) standoffish; indifferent

kǒubùyìngxīn

口不应心

[口不應心]

to say one thing but mean another
to dissimulate

kǒuchǐbùqīng

口齿不清

[口齒不清]

to lisp
unclear articulation
inarticulate

hébùkuòsàn

核不扩散

[核不擴散]

nuclear nonproliferation

bùshuōzìmíng

不说自明

[不說自明]

goes without saying; obvious; self-evident

bùniànjiù'è

不念旧恶

[不念舊惡]

do not recall old grievances (idiom, from Analects); forgive and forget

yǐnrěnbùyán

隐忍不言

[隱忍不言]

to keep one's emotions inside oneself
to restrain one's emotions

jiǎoqiāngbùshā

缴枪不杀

[繳槍不殺]

“surrender and your life will be spared”

qūnxúnbùqián

逡巡不前

[逡巡不前]

to hesitate to move forward
to balk
to jib

pánshānbùqián

蹒跚不前

[蹣跚不前]

to falter
to stall

shùnyìngbùliáng

顺应不良

[順應不良]

inability to adjust
unable to adapt

jiéránbùtóng

截然不同

[截然不同]

entirely different
different as black and white

kǔbùkānyán

苦不堪言

[苦不堪言]

to suffer unspeakable misery
indescribably painful
hellish

bānbùdǎor

扳不倒儿

[扳不倒兒]

(dialect) roly-poly toy

mínbùliáoshēng

民不聊生

[民不聊生]

The people have no way to make a living (idiom, from Record of the Grand Historian 史記／史记 ( Shǐjì))
no way of getting by

bàntōngbùtōng

半通不通

[半通不通]

to not fully understand (idiom)

fànglàngbùjī

放浪不羁

[放浪不羈]

wanton and unrestrained (idiom); dissolute

zhuìzhuìbù'ān

惴惴不安

[惴惴不安]

to be on tenterhooks (idiom)
to be anxious and frightened

shíbùwǒdài

时不我待

[時不我待]

time and tide wait for no man (idiom)

huòbùdānxíng

祸不单行

[禍不單行]

misfortune does not come singly (idiom)
it never rains but it pours

bùdònggǎngkǒu

不冻港口

[不凍港口]

ice-free port (refers to Vladivostok)

bùjiǎnzékuì

不俭则匮

[不儉則匱]

(idiom) waste not, want not

dǎbàobùpíng

打抱不平

[打抱不平]

to come to the aid of sb suffering an injustice
to fight for justice
also written 抱打不平 (bàodǎbùpíng)

bùchǒubùcǎi

不瞅不睬

[不瞅不睬]

to ignore completely
to pay no attention to sb

bùkěyīshì

不可一世

[不可一世]

(idiom) to consider oneself unexcelled in the world; to be insufferably arrogant

dàkěbùbì

大可不必

[大可不必]

need not
unnecessary

gāopānbùshàng

高攀不上

[高攀不上]

to be unworthy to associate with (sb of higher social status)

chóuchúbùqián

踌躇不前

[躊躇不前]

to hesitate to move forward
to hesitate
to hold back

zhìzhībùlǐ

置之不理

[置之不理]

to pay no heed to (idiom)
to ignore
to brush aside

juékǒubùtí

绝口不提

[絕口不提]

(idiom) to avoid mentioning

zhìbùzàicǐ

志不在此

[志不在此]

to have one's ambitions elsewhere (idiom)

wánrbùzhuàn

玩儿不转

[玩兒不轉]

can't handle it
can't find any way (of doing sth)
not up to the task

bùjuéyú'ěr

不绝于耳

[不絕於耳]

(of sound) to never stop
to fall incessantly on the ear
to linger on

xiàluòbùmíng

下落不明

[下落不明]

unaccounted
unknown whereabouts

bùshīshíjī

不失时机

[不失時機]

to seize the opportune moment
to lose no time

bùzànyīcí

不赞一词

[不贊一詞]

to keep silent
to make no comment

mùbùxiájǐ

目不暇给

[目不暇給]

lit. the eye cannot take it all in (idiom)
fig. too many good things to see; a feast for the eyes

bùqī'éryù

不期而遇

[不期而遇]

meet by chance
have a chance encounter

wéidébùzú

为德不卒

[為德不卒]

to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through
lack of sticking power
short attention span

bùjiěfēngqíng

不解风情

[不解風情]

unromantic
insensitive

bùxìngyánzhòng

不幸言中

[不幸言中]

to turn out just as one predicted or feared

yìngjiēbùxiá

应接不暇

[應接不暇]

more than one can attend to (idiom)
deluged (with inquiries etc)
overwhelmed (by the beauty of the scenery)

miànlùbùyuè

面露不悦

[面露不悅]

to show unhappiness or displeasure (idiom)

bùmáozhīdì

不毛之地

[不毛之地]

barren land
desert

liúshuǐbùfǔ

流水不腐

[流水不腐]

flowing water does not rot

zhìzhībùwèn

置之不问

[置之不問]

to pass by without showing interest (idiom)

bùzhébùkòu

不折不扣

[不折不扣]

a hundred percent
to the letter
out-and-out

nìgǔbùhuà

泥古不化

[泥古不化]

conservative and unable to adapt (idiom)

bùluòsútào

不落俗套

[不落俗套]

to conform to no conventional pattern
unconventional
offbeat

xīnshénbù'ān

心神不安

[心神不安]

to feel ill at ease

shuòjiànbùxiān

数见不鲜

[數見不鮮]

a common occurrence (idiom)

háobùchíyí

毫不迟疑

[毫不遲疑]

without the slightest hesitation

sǐbùyàoliǎn

死不要脸

[死不要臉]

to know no shame
to be totally shameless

wúrénbùxiǎo

无人不晓

[無人不曉]

known to everyone

xiānghuǒbùjué

香火不绝

[香火不絕]

an unending stream of pilgrims

bùwéisuǒdòng

不为所动

[不為所動]

to remain unmoved

ruìbùkědāng

锐不可当

[銳不可當]

unstoppable
hard to hold back

shēnbùyóujǐ

身不由己

[身不由己]

without the freedom to act independently (idiom); involuntary
not of one's own volition
in spite of oneself

wéidébùzhōng

为德不终

[為德不終]

to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through
lack of sticking power
short attention span

wúsuǒbùzhī

无所不知

[無所不知]

omniscient

yǎnshénbùhǎo

眼神不好

[眼神不好]

to have poor eyesight

bùshìdōngxi

不是东西

[不是東西]

(derog.) to be a good-for-nothing
worthless nobody
no-good

yā'érbùfú

压而不服

[壓而不服]

coercion will never convince (idiom)

bùshízhīxū

不时之需

[不時之需]

a possible period of want or need

lìsuǒbùjí

力所不及

[力所不及]

beyond one's power (to do sth)

gōngchéngbùjū

功成不居

[功成不居]

not to claim personal credit for achievement (idiom)

jībùkěshī

机不可失

[機不可失]

No time to lose! (idiom)

yīchéng-bùbiàn

一成不变

[一成不變]

(idiom) immutable; impervious to change; set in stone

yībǐbùgǒu

一笔不苟

[一筆不苟]

lit. not even one stroke is negligent (idiom)
fig. to write characters (calligraphy) in which every stroke is placed perfectly

bùgòngdàitiān

不共戴天

[不共戴天]

(of enemies) cannot live under the same sky; absolutely irreconcilable

bùxuān'érzhàn

不宣而战

[不宣而戰]

open hostilities without declaring war
start an undeclared war

bǎizhébùhuí

百折不回

[百折不回]

see 百折不撓／百折不挠 (bǎizhébùnáo)

yìyùbùpíng

抑郁不平

[抑鬱不平]

in a state of depression (idiom)

bùkěshèngyán

不可胜言

[不可勝言]

inexpressible (idiom)
beyond description

yǒngzhìbùwàng

永志不忘

[永志不忘]

never to be forgotten

yīzìbùtí

一字不提

[一字不提]

to not mention a single word (about sth) (idiom)

yánbùkěchuán

言不可传

[言不可傳]

impossible to put into words
inexpressible

jiǎobùdiǎndì

脚不点地

[腳不點地]

see 腳不沾地／脚不沾地 (jiǎobùzhāndì)

bùfēngāoxià

不分高下

[不分高下]

equally matched
not much to distinguish who is stronger

zhímíbùwù

执迷不悟

[執迷不悟]

to obstinately persist in going about things the wrong way (idiom)

bùjūyīgé

不拘一格

[不拘一格]

not stick to one pattern

bùjiāqūbié

不加区别

[不加區別]

indiscriminate

bùjiālǐcǎi

不加理睬

[不加理睬]

without giving due consideration
to ignore
to overlook

huībuliūdiū

灰不溜丢

[灰不溜丟]

gloomy and dull (idiom)
boring and gray
unpleasantly murky

yīshēngbùxiǎng

一声不响

[一聲不響]

to keep totally silent
noiselessly

tīng'érbùwén

听而不闻

[聽而不聞]

to hear but not react (idiom); to turn a deaf ear
to ignore deliberately

niànniànbùwàng

念念不忘

[念念不忘]

to keep in mind constantly (idiom)

dàbuliēdiē

大不列蹀

[大不列蹀]

(dialect) full of oneself; too big for one's boots

jùbùjiēshòu

拒不接受

[拒不接受]

refusing to accept

jiānbùkěcuī

坚不可摧

[堅不可摧]

invulnerable, indestructible, impregnable

rùbùfūchū

入不敷出

[入不敷出]

income does not cover expenditure
unable to make ends meet

yǐbèibùcè

以备不测

[以備不測]

to be prepared for accidents

xiábùyǎnyú

瑕不掩瑜

[瑕不掩瑜]

lit. a blemish does not obscure jade's luster
the pros outweigh the cons (idiom)

yánxíngbùfú

言行不符

[言行不符]

(idiom) to say one thing and do another

tīngbùjìnqu

听不进去

[聽不進去]

not to listen
to be deaf to

shénzhìbùqīng

神志不清

[神志不清]

to be delirious
to be mentally confused

bùràngxūméi

不让须眉

[不讓鬚眉]

(idiom) to compare favorably with men in terms of ability, bravery etc
to be a match for men
lit. not conceding to men (beard and eyebrows)

hélèbùwéi

何乐不为

[何樂不為]

see 何樂而不為／何乐而不为 (héléérbuwéi)

bùgùdàjú

不顾大局

[不顧大局]

to give no consideration to the bigger picture (usually implying selfishness)

biǎolǐbùyī

表里不一

[表裡不一]

outside appearance and inner reality differ (idiom); not what it seems
saying one thing but meaning sth different

piāohūbùdìng

飘忽不定

[飄忽不定]

to drift without a resting place (idiom)
roving
errant
vagrant
erratic

bùdérénxīn

不得人心

[不得人心]

not to enjoy popular support
to be unpopular

bùzhǐyīcì

不止一次

[不止一次]

many times
on more than one occasion

shēnxìnbùyí

深信不疑

[深信不疑]

to believe firmly without any doubt (idiom)
absolute certainty about sth

bùxiángzhīzhào

不祥之兆

[不祥之兆]

bad omen

wēi'érbùchí

危而不持

[危而不持]

national danger, but no support (idiom, from Analects); the future of the nation is at stake but no-one comes to the rescue

bùfènbùqǐ

不愤不启

[不憤不啟]

a student shall not be enlightened until he has tried hard by himself (idiom)

mōbuzháobiān

摸不着边

[摸不著邊]

can't make head or tail of

xìdàbùjuān

细大不捐

[細大不捐]

not to discard anything, whether small or big (idiom)
all-embracing

xūbùshòubǔ

虚不受补

[虛不受補]

a person who is in poor health cannot handle sth so strong as a tonic

bàndà-bùxiǎo

半大不小

[半大不小]

teenage; in one's teens; adolescent

hùbùxiāngqiàn

互不相欠

[互不相欠]

see 兩不相欠／两不相欠 (liǎngbùxiāngqiàn)

huǐbùdāngchū

悔不当初

[悔不當初]

to regret one's past deeds (idiom)

mànbùjīngyì

漫不经意

[漫不經意]

careless
unconcerned

zhàomǎibùwù

照买不误

[照買不誤]

to keep on buying (a product) regardless (of price increases, adverse publicity etc)

bùcíxīnkǔ

不辞辛苦

[不辭辛苦]

to make nothing of hardships

bìngbùzàihu

并不在乎

[並不在乎]

really does not care

jìntuìbùdé

进退不得

[進退不得]

can't advance or retreat (idiom); no room for maneuver
stalled
in a dilemma
stuck in a difficult position

miánmiánbùjué

绵绵不绝

[綿綿不絕]

continuous
endless

guòmùbùwàng

过目不忘

[過目不忘]

to have a highly retentive memory
to have sth imprinted in one's memory

lüjìnbùzhǐ

屡禁不止

[屢禁不止]

to continue despite repeated prohibition (idiom)

bùqūbùnáo

不屈不挠

[不屈不撓]

unyielding
indomitable

mùbùjiāojié

目不交睫

[目不交睫]

lit. the eyelashes do not come together (idiom)
fig. to not sleep a wink

bùsuíyìjī

不随意肌

[不隨意肌]

involuntary muscle

yàoyánbùfán

要言不烦

[要言不煩]

to explain in simple terms
succinct
concise

lècǐbùpí

乐此不疲

[樂此不疲]

to enjoy sth and never tire of it (idiom)

sǐbùmíngmù

死不瞑目

[死不瞑目]

lit. not close one's eyes after dying (idiom)
fig. to die with an unresolved grievance

shíbùzàilái

时不再来

[時不再來]

Time that has passed will never come back. (idiom)

niǎobùshēngdàn

鸟不生蛋

[鳥不生蛋]

deserted (of a place)

bùjìng'érzǒu

不胫而走

[不脛而走]

to get round fast
to spread like wildfire

bùshèngqíkǔ

不胜其苦

[不勝其苦]

unable to bear the pain (idiom)

yìjiànbùhé

意见不合

[意見不合]

to disagree
dissent

yǒngchuíbùxiǔ

永垂不朽

[永垂不朽]

eternal glory
will never be forgotten

sīháobùchā

丝毫不差

[絲毫不差]

accurate to perfection (idiom)
precise to the finest detail

shìbùfǎnhuǐ

誓不反悔

[誓不反悔]

to vow not to break one's promise

shíshǔbùyì

实属不易

[實屬不易]

really not easy (idiom)

qiúzhībùdé

求之不得

[求之不得]

lit. seek but fail to get (idiom); fig. exactly what one’s been looking for

bùxū-cǐxíng

不虚此行

[不虛此行]

(idiom) it's been a worthwhile trip

shǎbùlèngdēng

傻不愣登

[傻不愣登]

stupid; dazed

guòyóubùjí

过犹不及

[過猶不及]

too far is as bad as not enough (idiom, from the Analects)

huóbùxiàqu

活不下去

[活不下去]

impossible to make a living

yǒuzuìbùfá

有罪不罚

[有罪不罰]

impunity

bùyībùráo

不依不饶

[不依不饒]

not to overlook, nor spare (idiom); unwilling to forgive
to treat severely without listening to excuses

bùyìzhīlùn

不易之论

[不易之論]

perfectly sound proposition
unalterable truth
irrefutable argument

bùxiāngshàngxià

不相上下

[不相上下]

equally matched
about the same

bùkānzhīlùn

不刊之论

[不刊之論]

indisputable statement
unalterable truth

bùwěnpínghéng

不稳平衡

[不穩平衡]

unstable equilibrium

bùyánzìmíng

不言自明

[不言自明]

self-evident; needing no explanation (idiom)

jiēbùkāiguō

揭不开锅

[揭不開鍋]

to be unable to afford food

hūhūbùlè

忽忽不乐

[忽忽不樂]

disappointed and unhappy
dispirited

jībùlíshǒu

机不离手

[機不離手]

to be unable to do without one's cell phone

lèbùsī Shǔ

乐不思蜀

[樂不思蜀]

indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty (idiom)

chàbùlír

差不离儿

[差不離兒]

erhua variant of 差不離／差不离 (chàbùlí)

bùzúguàchǐ

不足挂齿

[不足掛齒]

not worth mentioning (idiom)

shuǐtǔbùfú

水土不服

[水土不服]

not acclimatized

tòngbùyùshēng

痛不欲生

[痛不欲生]

to be so in pain as to not want to live
to be so grieved as to wish one were dead

míbùzhīfǎn

迷不知返

[迷不知返]

to go astray and to not know how to get back on the right path (idiom)

xiánsòngbùchuò

弦诵不辍

[弦誦不輟]

incessant playing of instruments and reciting of poems (idiom)

bùdǎzìzhāo

不打自招

[不打自招]

to confess without being pressed
to make a confession without duress

bùyuè Léichí

不越雷池

[不越雷池]

not overstepping the prescribed limits
to remain within bounds

jiānkǒubùyán

缄口不言

[緘口不言]

see 閉口不言／闭口不言 (bìkǒubùyán)

sǐyīnbùmíng

死因不明

[死因不明]

unknown cause of death

yánxíngbùyī

言行不一

[言行不一]

(idiom) to say one thing and do another

jué'érbùxíng

决而不行

[決而不行]

making decisions without implementing them

shòumìngbùcháng

寿命不长

[壽命不長]

one's days are numbered
not to have long to live (often fig.)

yánbùjìnyì

言不尽意

[言不盡意]

(conventional letter ending) words cannot fully express what is in my heart (idiom)

bùfěibùfā

不悱不发

[不悱不發]

a student should not be guided until he has made an effort to express his thoughts (idiom)

bèi'érbùyòng

备而不用

[備而不用]

have sth ready just in case
keep sth for possible future use

léidǎbùdòng

雷打不动

[雷打不動]

not shaken by thunder (idiom); the arrangements are unalterable
to adhere rigidly to regulations
will go ahead whatever happens (of an arrangement or plan)

bùzàizhuàngtài

不在状态

[不在狀態]

to be out of form
not to be oneself

bùyóuzìzhǔ

不由自主

[不由自主]

can't help; involuntarily (idiom)

bìbùkěshǎo

必不可少

[必不可少]

absolutely necessary
indispensable
essential

hàirénbùqiǎn

害人不浅

[害人不淺]

to cause a lot of trouble
to inflict much suffering

wénfēngbùdòng

文风不动

[文風不動]

absolutely still
fig. not the slightest change
also written 紋風不動／纹风不动

bùjūxiǎojié

不拘小节

[不拘小節]

to not bother about trifles (idiom)

bùgānhòurén

不甘后人

[不甘後人]

(idiom) not want to be outdone
not content to lag behind

jiānzhēnbùqū

坚贞不屈

[堅貞不屈]

faithful and unchanging (idiom); steadfast

huáicáibùyù

怀才不遇

[懷才不遇]

to have talent but no opportunity (idiom)
to be an unrecognized talent

kěbùkěnài

渴不可耐

[渴不可耐]

to be so thirsty as to no longer be able to tolerate it

bùrúrényì

不如人意

[不如人意]

leaving much to be desired
unsatisfactory
undesirable

diédiébùxiū

喋喋不休

[喋喋不休]

to chatter or jabber on and on

shìsǐbùxiáng

誓死不降

[誓死不降]

to vow to fight to the death

bùlúnbùlèi

不伦不类

[不倫不類]

out of place
inappropriate
incongruous

bùqiúshènjiě

不求甚解

[不求甚解]

lit. not requiring a detailed understanding (idiom); only looking for an overview
not bothered with the details
superficial
content with shallow understanding

bùkuìbùzuò

不愧不怍

[不愧不怍]

no shame, no subterfuge (idiom); just and honorable
upright and above board

gèngǔbùbiàn

亘古不变

[亙古不變]

unchanging since times immemorial (idiom)
unalterable
unvarying
monotonous

míngbùfùshí

名不副实

[名不副實]

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.

bùshíshíbiàn

不识时变

[不識時變]

to show no understanding of the times (idiom); cannot adapt to current circumstances
not amenable to reason

míhuòbùjiě

迷惑不解

[迷惑不解]

to feel puzzled

bùzhīhǎodǎi

不知好歹

[不知好歹]

unable to differentiate good from bad (idiom)
not to know what's good for one
unable to recognize others' good intentions

yúbùkějí

愚不可及

[愚不可及]

impossibly stupid

háobùfèilì

毫不费力

[毫不費力]

effortless
not expending the slightest effort

yībùbìtǐ

衣不蔽体

[衣不蔽體]

lit. clothes not covering the body (idiom)
fig. poverty-stricken

shū'érbùlòu

疏而不漏

[疏而不漏]

loose, but allows no escape (idiom, from Laozi 老子 ( Lǎozǐ)); the way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty will not escape

xíngyǐngbùlí

形影不离

[形影不離]

inseparable (as form and shadow)

miàobùkěyán

妙不可言

[妙不可言]

too wonderful for words

wéirénbùfù

为仁不富

[為仁不富]

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).

màodàbùwěi

冒大不韪

[冒大不韙]

(idiom) to face opprobrium

chánmiánbùyǐ

缠绵不已

[纏綿不已]

to cling without letting go
to pester without end
to cling lovingly to each other

bùzěnmeyàng

不怎么样

[不怎麼樣]

not up to much
very indifferent
nothing great about it
nothing good to be said about it

guòyìbùqù

过意不去

[過意不去]

to feel very apologetic

jìwǎngbùjiù

既往不咎

[既往不咎]

to forget and not bear recriminations (idiom); to let bygones be bygones
There is no point in crying over spilt milk.

yǒutiáobùwěn

有条不紊

[有條不紊]

regular and thorough (idiom); methodically arranged

bùdé'érzhī

不得而知

[不得而知]

unknown
unable to find out

bùzhǔgùcháng

不主故常

[不主故常]

not to stick to the old conventions

míngbùxūchuán

名不虚传

[名不虛傳]

(idiom) to live up to one's famous name; its reputation is well deserved

bùchéngtǐtǒng

不成体统

[不成體統]

not according with decorum (idiom); scandalous
bad form
unacceptable behavior

língluànbùkān

凌乱不堪

[凌亂不堪]

in a terrible mess (idiom)

fènbùgùshēn

奋不顾身

[奮不顧身]

to dash on bravely with no thought of personal safety (idiom); undaunted by dangers
regardless of perils

mènmènbùlè

闷闷不乐

[悶悶不樂]

depressed
sulky
moody
unhappy

zhànbuzhùjiǎo

站不住脚

[站不住腳]

ill-founded
groundless

mǎnbùzàihu

满不在乎

[滿不在乎]

not in the least concerned (idiom)
reckless
couldn't give a damn about it
unperturbed
couldn't care less
harum scarum

bùlìncìjiào

不吝赐教

[不吝賜教]

to be so kind as to enlighten me

bùxǐngrénshì

不省人事

[不省人事]

to lose consciousness
unconscious
in a coma

bùzhīfánjǐ

不知凡几

[不知凡幾]

one can't tell how many
numerous similar cases

zìkuìbùrú

自愧不如

[自愧不如]

ashamed of being inferior (idiom)
to feel inferior to others

bùjiājūshù

不加拘束

[不加拘束]

unrestricted

zhīzìbùtí

只字不提

[隻字不提]

(idiom) to say not a single word about it

tǔdàobùxíng

土到不行

[土到不行]

old-fashioned
extremely kitsch

bǎiniánbùyù

百年不遇

[百年不遇]

only met with once every hundred years (drought, flood etc)

bùyànqífán

不厌其烦

[不厭其煩]

not to mind taking all the trouble (idiom)
to take great pains
to be very patient

rénshìbùzhī

人事不知

[人事不知]

to have lost consciousness

gāodībùjiù

高低不就

[高低不就]

can't reach the high or accept the low (idiom); not good enough for a high post, but too proud to take a low one

chíchúbuqián

踟蹰不前

[踟躕不前]

hesitant to take action

shìbùkědǎng

势不可挡

[勢不可擋]

see 勢不可當／势不可当 (shìbùkědāng)

débùpèiwèi

德不配位

[德不配位]

one's moral standards are not in keeping with one's social status

huàduōbùtián

话多不甜

[話多不甜]

too much talk is a nuisance (idiom)

bùmíngshìlǐ

不明事理

[不明事理]

not understanding things (idiom); devoid of sense

cíbùdáyì

词不达意

[詞不達意]

words do not convey the meaning
poorly expressed
senseless
inarticulate

jǐnyǎobùfàng

紧咬不放

[緊咬不放]

(idiom) unwilling to let go
like a dog with a bone
dogged

bùgānrénhòu

不甘人后

[不甘人後]

(idiom) not want to be outdone
not content to lag behind

bùyìlèhū

不亦乐乎

[不亦樂乎]

lit. isn't that a joy? (quote from Confucius)
fig. (jocular) extremely; awfully

bùsuídàliú

不随大流

[不隨大流]

not following the crowd
to go against the tide

bùjìqíshù

不计其数

[不計其數]

lit. their number cannot be counted (idiom); fig. countless
innumerable

lüshìbùshuǎng

屡试不爽

[屢試不爽]

well-tried
time-tested

bùkěnìzhuǎn

不可逆转

[不可逆轉]

irreversible

shìbùliǎnglì

势不两立

[勢不兩立]

the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences
incompatible standpoints

yèbùchéngmián

夜不成眠

[夜不成眠]

to be unable to sleep at night

quēyībùkě

缺一不可

[缺一不可]

not a single one is dispensable
can't do without either

bùbìjiānxiǎn

不避艰险

[不避艱險]

shrink or flinch from no difficulty or danger
make light of difficulties and dangers

kǎnkěbùpíng

坎坷不平

[坎坷不平]

potholed and bumpy road (idiom); fig. full of disappointment and dashed hopes

qìbùfènr

气不忿儿

[氣不忿兒]

furious
indignant

lüquànbùtīng

屡劝不听

[屢勸不聽]

(idiom) refusing to listen to advice or remonstrance; incorrigible

bùzhībùjué

不知不觉

[不知不覺]

unconsciously
unwittingly

bùbàizhīdì

不败之地

[不敗之地]

(idiom) invincible position

zīzībùjuàn

孜孜不倦

[孜孜不倦]

lit. diligent and never slacking (idiom); continuous concentrated effort
assiduous (in study)
to concentrate

bābùnénggòu

巴不能够

[巴不能夠]

avid
eager for
longing for
to look forward to

fēngbōbùduàn

风波不断

[風波不斷]

constantly in turmoil
crisis after crisis

xiàobùkěyǎng

笑不可仰

[笑不可仰]

to double up with laughter (idiom)

rěnjùnbùjīn

忍俊不禁

[忍俊不禁]

cannot help laughing
unable to restrain a smile

mùbùkuīyuán

目不窥园

[目不窺園]

lit. not even peek at the garden
fig. to be absorbed in one's studies (idiom)

bùgùyīqiè

不顾一切

[不顧一切]

(idiom) to disregard all negative considerations; to cast aside all concerns

bù'ānhǎoxīn

不安好心

[不安好心]

to have bad intentions

mòbùyúchǐ

莫不逾侈

[莫不逾侈]

there is no-one who is not extravagant

bùfēnzàobái

不分皂白

[不分皂白]

not distinguishing black or white (idiom); not to distinguish between right and wrong

bùjiāxiūshì

不加修饰

[不加修飾]

undecorated
unvarnished
no frills

mùbùzhuǎnshùn

目不转瞬

[目不轉瞬]

gazing fixedly (idiom)

bùfēnbózhòng

不分伯仲

[不分伯仲]

lit. unable to distinguish eldest brother from second brother (idiom); they are all equally excellent
nothing to choose between them

fùdānbuqǐ

负担不起

[負擔不起]

cannot afford
cannot bear the burden

jībùzéshí

饥不择食

[飢不擇食]

when hungry, you can't pick what you eat (idiom); beggars can't be choosers
When matters are urgent, don't spend time choosing alternatives.

yèbùbìhù

夜不闭户

[夜不閉戶]

lit. doors not locked at night (idiom); fig. stable society

bùkānrùmù

不堪入目

[不堪入目]

unbearable to look at
an eyesore

bùkětōngyuē

不可通约

[不可通約]

having no common measure
incommensurable
incommensurate

gòngrèn-bùhuì

供认不讳

[供認不諱]

to make a full confession; to plead guilty

zuòbùchuítáng

坐不垂堂

[坐不垂堂]

lit. don't sit under the eaves (where tiles may fall from the roof) (idiom); fig. keep out of danger

wúzhēngbùxìn

无征不信

[無徵不信]

without proof one can't believe it (idiom)

suìbùwǒyǔ

岁不我与

[歲不我與]

Time and tide wait for no man (idiom)

bùdòngshēngsè

不动声色

[不動聲色]

not a word or movement (idiom); remaining calm and collected
not batting an eyelid

shèngzhībùwǔ

胜之不武

[勝之不武]

(fig.) to fight a one-sided battle
to have an unfair advantage in a contest

bùwéiyǐshèn

不为已甚

[不為已甚]

refrain from going to extremes in meting out punishment
not be too hard on subject

shǐzhōngbùyú

始终不渝

[始終不渝]

unswerving
unflinching

àibùshìshǒu

爱不释手

[愛不釋手]

(idiom) to like sth so much that one is reluctant to put it down; to find sth utterly irresistible

rènshibùnéng

认识不能

[認識不能]

agnosia

débùchángshī

得不偿失

[得不償失]

the gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)

mùbùjiànjié

目不见睫

[目不見睫]

lit. the eye cannot see the eyelashes (idiom); fig. unable to see one's own faults
to lack self-awareness
truths too close to home

cùnbùbùràng

寸步不让

[寸步不讓]

(idiom) not to yield an inch

zhuōmōbùdìng

捉摸不定

[捉摸不定]

unpredictable; elusive; hard to pin down

jíbùkědài

急不可待

[急不可待]

impatient
eager to
anxious to

jīquǎnbùníng

鸡犬不宁

[雞犬不寧]

lit. not even the chickens and dogs are left undisturbed (idiom)
fig. great commotion
pandemonium

bìbùkěquē

必不可缺

[必不可缺]

see 必不可少 (bìbùkěshǎo)

yǐn'érbùfā

引而不发

[引而不發]

to pull the bow without shooting (idiom from Mencius); ready and waiting for action
to go through the motions
to practice
a trial run

pínjiànbùnéngyí

贫贱不能移

[貧賤不能移]

not shaken by poverty
to preserve one's ambitions although destitute

bājiǔbùlíshí

八九不离十

[八九不離十]

pretty close
very near
about right

wúfēngbùqǐlàng

无风不起浪

[無風不起浪]

lit. without wind there cannot be waves (idiom); there must be a reason
no smoke without fire

bùkěqīnfànquán

不可侵犯权

[不可侵犯權]

inviolability

bùyǐcíhàizhì

不以辞害志

[不以辭害志]

don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom); don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say

Bùlièdiān Zhànyì

不列颠战役

[不列顛戰役]

Battle of Britain (Jul-Oct 1940)

tānduōjiáobùlàn

贪多嚼不烂

[貪多嚼不爛]

to bite off more than one can chew (idiom)

mōbuzháotóunǎo

摸不着头脑

[摸不著頭腦]

to be unable to make any sense of the matter
to be at a loss

zhìbiāobùzhìběn

治标不治本

[治標不治本]

to treat the symptoms but not the root cause

xūnyóubùtóngqì

薰莸不同器

[薰蕕不同器]

lit. fragrant herbs and foul herbs do not go into the same vessel (idiom)
bad people and good people do not mix

bùxìnrèndòngyì

不信任动议

[不信任動議]

motion of no confidence (against the government, in parliamentary debates)

nüdàbùzhōngliú

女大不中留

[女大不中留]

when a girl is of age, she must be married off (idiom)

hébùshíròumí

何不食肉糜

[何不食肉糜]

lit. "Why don't they eat meat?" (said by Emperor Hui of Jin 晉惠帝／晋惠帝 ( Jìn Huìdì) 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

rénqióngzhìbùqióng

人穷志不穷

[人窮志不窮]

(idiom) poor but with great ambitions; poor but principled

kěyùbùkěqiú

可遇不可求

[可遇不可求]

can be discovered but not sought (idiom)
one can only come across such things serendipitously

bùyǐcíhàizhì

不以词害志

[不以詞害誌]

don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom); don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say

wúlìbùqǐzǎo

无利不起早

[無利不起早]

(saying) people don't get up early unless there is some benefit in doing so
won't lift a finger unless there's something in it for oneself

bùzhèngdàngjìngzhēng

不正当竞争

[不正當競爭]

unfair competition
illicit competition

bùxìnrèntóupiào

不信任投票

[不信任投票]

vote of no-confidence

bùjìmíngtóupiào

不记名投票

[不記名投票]

secret ballot

wúqiǎobùchéngshū

无巧不成书

[無巧不成書]

curious coincidence

bùchéngrènzhǔyì

不承认主义

[不承認主義]

policy of non-recognition

chíbùtóngzhèngjiàn

持不同政见

[持不同政見]

(politically) dissenting
dissident

shuōbùchūhuàlái

说不出话来

[說不出話來]

speechless

yǎnbùjiànwéijìng

眼不见为净

[眼不見為淨]

what remains unseen is deemed to be clean
what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over (idiom)

yīqùbùfùfǎn

一去不复返

[一去不復返]

gone forever

děngzhōubùděngshì

等周不等式

[等周不等式]

the isoperimetric inequality

tàiyángyǒngbùluò

太阳永不落

[太陽永不落]

(on which) the sun never sets

shānbùzhuànlùzhuàn

山不转路转

[山不轉路轉]

see 山不轉水轉／山不转水转 (shānbùzhuànshuǐzhuàn)

hèntiěbùchénggāng

恨铁不成钢

[恨鐵不成鋼]

lit. disappointed that iron does not turn into steel (idiom)
fig. frustrated with sb who has failed to meet one's expectations

bùyǐrénfèiyán

不以人废言

[不以人廢言]

not to reject a word because of the speaker (idiom, from Analects); to judge on the merits of the case rather than preference between advisers

bùdǐkàngzhǔyì

不抵抗主义

[不抵抗主義]

policy of nonresistance

míngbùjiànjīngzhuàn

名不见经传

[名不見經傳]

(lit.) name not encountered in the classics
unknown (person)
nobody

bùjíwùdòngcí

不及物动词

[不及物動詞]

intransitive verb

bàoxǐbùbàoyōu

报喜不报忧

[報喜不報憂]

to report only the good news, not the bad news
to hold back unpleasant news
to sweep bad news under the carpet

xiàopínbùxiàochāng

笑贫不笑娼

[笑貧不笑娼]

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)

zhǐbāobùzhùhuǒ

纸包不住火

[紙包不住火]

lit. paper can't wrap fire; fig. the truth will out

yùsù'érbùdá

欲速而不达

[欲速而不達]

see 欲速則不達／欲速则不达 (yùsùzébùdá)

yǒubùshǎomíngtang

有不少名堂

[有不少名堂]

there is a lot to it
not a straightforward matter

Xiǎoyě Bùyóuměi

小野不由美

[小野不由美]

Ono Fuyumi (1960-), Japanese novelist

bùdàibǔtèquán

不逮捕特权

[不逮捕特權]

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

bùdǎbùchéngcái

不打不成才

[不打不成才]

spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)

bùzhèngchángzhuàngkuàng

不正常状况

[不正常狀況]

abnormal state

chīyìngbùchīruǎn

吃硬不吃软

[吃硬不吃軟]

susceptible to force but not persuasion

rénshēnglùbùshú

人生路不熟

[人生路不熟]

everything is unfamiliar

shǒujiǎobùgānjìng

手脚不干净

[手腳不乾淨]

thieving
light-fingered
prone to stealing

chénggǔbùquánzhèng

成骨不全症

[成骨不全症]

osteogenesis imperfecta (OI); brittle bone disease

yīwènsānbùzhī

一问三不知

[一問三不知]

lit. to reply "don't know" whatever the question (idiom)
fig. absolutely no idea of what's going on
complete ignorance

shàngbùliǎotáimiàn

上不了台面

[上不了檯面]

better kept under the table (idiom)
not to be disclosed
too inferior to show in public

Xīnbùlúnruìkè

新不伦瑞克

[新不倫瑞克]

New Brunswick province, Canada

chéngbuliǎoqìhòu

成不了气候

[成不了氣候]

won't get far; unlikely to be successful

hélè'érbùwéi

何乐而不为

[何樂而不為]

What can you have against it? (idiom)
We should do this.
Go for it!

chīliángbùguǎnshì

吃粮不管事

[吃糧不管事]

to eat without working (idiom)
to take one's pay and not care about the rest

bùdòngdiǎndìnglǐ

不动点定理

[不動點定理]

fixed point theorem (math.)

bùmíngfēixíngwù

不明飞行物

[不明飛行物]

unidentified flying object (UFO)

bùzhīzhěbùzuì

不知者不罪

[不知者不罪]

One who does not know is not guilty
If one does not know any better, one cannot be held responsible

bùzhuólùfēixíng

不着陆飞行

[不著陸飛行]

nonstop flight

wúgōngbùshòulù

无功不受禄

[無功不受祿]

Don't get a reward if it's not deserved. (idiom)

duìshìbùduìrén

对事不对人

[對事不對人]

it's nothing personal (idiom)

dà'ēnbùyánxiè

大恩不言谢

[大恩不言謝]

(maxim) a mere "thank you" is an insufficient response to a huge favor
(expression of gratitude) words cannot express my appreciation for what you have done

jiùjíbùjiùqióng

救急不救穷

[救急不救窮]

help the starving but not the poor (idiom)

shārénbùzhǎyǎn

杀人不眨眼

[殺人不眨眼]

to murder without blinking an eye (idiom)
ruthless
cold-blooded

miàozàibùyánzhōng

妙在不言中

[妙在不言中]

the charm lies in what is left unsaid (idiom)

gāochùbùshènghán

高处不胜寒

[高處不勝寒]

it's lonely at the top (idiom)

shàngbùdétáipán

上不得台盘

[上不得臺盤]

(idiom) lacking in social grace and unfit to be a representative

bùqièhéshíjì

不切合实际

[不切合實際]

impractical
not conforming to reality

yìduōbùyāshēn

艺多不压身

[藝多不壓身]

it's always good to have more skills (idiom)

bùkěshǔmíngcí

不可数名词

[不可數名詞]

uncountable noun (in grammar of European languages)

Xīn Bùlièdiān Dǎo

新不列颠岛

[新不列顛島]

New Britain, island of northeast Papua New Guinea

zhēnrénbùlòuxiàng

真人不露相

[真人不露相]

the sage presents as an ordinary person (idiom)

Hànzéibùliǎnglì

汉贼不两立

[漢賊不兩立]

lit. Shu Han 蜀漢／蜀汉 ( Shǔ Hàn) and Cao Wei 曹魏 ( Cáo Wèi) cannot coexist (idiom)
fig. two enemies cannot live under the same sky
(former KMT slogan against CCP) "gentlemen and thieves cannot coexist"

bùwèizuǒyòutǎn

不为左右袒

[不為左右袒]

to remain neutral in a quarrel (idiom)

shuōhuàbùdànghuà

说话不当话

[說話不當話]

to fail to keep to one's word
to break a promise

jīngbùqǐtuījiū

经不起推究

[經不起推究]

does not bear examination

Bùkōngchéngjiùfó

不空成就佛

[不空成就佛]

Amoghasiddhi Buddha

Bùlièdiān Zhūdǎo

不列颠诸岛

[不列顛諸島]

British Isles

fùguìbùnéngyín

富贵不能淫

[富貴不能淫]

not corrupted by wealth and honors

shānbùzhuànshuǐzhuàn

山不转水转

[山不轉水轉]

it's a small world
only mountains never meet

rénbùkěmàoxiàng

人不可貌相

[人不可貌相]

you can't judge a person by appearance (idiom)
you can't judge a book by its cover
often in combination 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量 (rénbùkěmàoxiàng,hǎishuǐbùkědǒuliáng)

bùxiāngróngyuánlǐ

不相容原理

[不相容原理]

(Pauli) exclusion principle (physics)

bùděngjiàjiāohuàn

不等价交换

[不等價交換]

exchange of unequal values

shūxiěbùnéngzhèng

书写不能症

[書寫不能症]

agraphia

dúmùbùchénglín

独木不成林

[獨木不成林]

a lone tree does not make a forest (idiom)
one cannot accomplish much on one's own

huángtǔbùlùtiān

黄土不露天

[黃土不露天]

a slogan used in reference to a project to improve greenery in some parts of Northern China

zhōngkànbùzhōngyòng

中看不中用

[中看不中用]

impressive-looking but useless

kāigōngbùfàngjiàn

开弓不放箭

[開弓不放箭]

lit. to draw the bow without shooting the arrow (idiom)
fig. to bluff
to be all talk and no action
false bravado

fānliǎnbùrènrén

翻脸不认人

[翻臉不認人]

to fall out with sb and become hostile

lǐduōrénbùguài

礼多人不怪

[禮多人不怪]

nobody will find fault with extra courtesy (idiom)
courtesy costs nothing

píxiàoròubùxiào

皮笑肉不笑

[皮笑肉不笑]

to put on a fake smile (idiom)
to smile insincerely

bùshǒuxiānshǐyòng

不首先使用

[不首先使用]

no first use (policy for nuclear weapons)
NFU

yùsùzébùdá

欲速则不达

[欲速則不達]

(idiom) (the Analects) haste makes waste; things can't be rushed

gòng'èbùjìngēn

共轭不尽根

[共軛不盡根]

(math.) conjugate surd

sǔnrénbùlìjǐ

损人不利己

[損人不利己]

to harm others without benefiting oneself (idiom)

hǔdúbùshízǐ

虎毒不食子

[虎毒不食子]

a tiger, though cruel, will not devour its cubs (idiom)
even wild beasts look after their young

luóqígǔbùqí

锣齐鼓不齐

[鑼齊鼓不齊]

(idiom) not well coordinated

yǒukǔshuōbuchū

有苦说不出

[有苦說不出]

having unspeakable bitter suffering
(often used after 啞巴吃黃連／哑巴吃黄连 (yǎbachīhuánglián))

rénshēngdìbùshú

人生地不熟

[人生地不熟]

to be a stranger in a strange land (idiom)
in an unfamiliar place without friends or family

bùshìchīsùde

不是吃素的

[不是吃素的]

not to be trifled with
to be reckoned with

chuǎnbuguòqìlái

喘不过气来

[喘不過氣來]

to be unable to breathe

huódebùnàifán

活得不耐烦

[活得不耐煩]

to be tired of living
(coll.) to be asking for trouble

bùzhèngdàngguānxì

不正当关系

[不正當關係]

improper relationship; illicit relationship

bīngtànbùxiāngróng

冰炭不相容

[冰炭不相容]

as incompatible or irreconcilable as ice and hot coals

Bù Jiéméng Yùndòng

不结盟运动

[不結盟運動]

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

chīruǎnbùchīyìng

吃软不吃硬

[吃軟不吃硬]

lit. eats soft food, but refuses hard food (idiom)
amenable to coaxing but not coercion

yùyùbùdézhì

郁郁不得志

[鬱鬱不得志]

soured by the loss of one's hopes

bùqīrán'érrán

不期然而然

[不期然而然]

happen unexpectedly
turn out contrary to one's expectations

wúdúbùzhàngfu

无毒不丈夫

[無毒不丈夫]

no poison, no great man (idiom); A great man has to be ruthless.

bùdàngyīhuíshì

不当一回事

[不當一回事]

not regard as a matter (of any importance)

bùdǎbùchéngqì

不打不成器

[不打不成器]

spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)

bùdǎbùxiāngshí

不打不相识

[不打不相識]

lit. don't fight, won't make friends (idiom); an exchange of blows may lead to friendship
no discord, no concord

bùpíngděngtiáoyuē

不平等条约

[不平等條約]

(term coined c. 1920s) unequal treaty – a treaty between China and one or more aggressor nations (including Russia, Japan and various Western powers) which imposed humiliating conditions on China (in the 19th and early 20th centuries)

rǔtángbùnàizhèng

乳糖不耐症

[乳糖不耐症]

lactose intolerance

gǎnqiánbùgǎnhòu

赶前不赶后

[趕前不趕後]

it's better to hurry at the start than to rush later (idiom)

xiǔmùbùkědiāo

朽木不可雕

[朽木不可雕]

lit. rotten wood cannot be carved (idiom)
fig. you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

bēibēibùzúdào

卑卑不足道

[卑卑不足道]

to be too petty or insignificant to mention
to not be worth mentioning (idiom)

shíjiānbùzǎole

时间不早了

[時間不早了]

it's getting late; time's getting on

fùbùguòsāndài

富不过三代

[富不過三代]

wealth never survives three generations (idiom)

zháosānbùzháoliǎng

着三不着两

[著三不著兩]

scatter-brained
thoughtless

fèilìbùtǎohǎo

费力不讨好

[費力不討好]

arduous and thankless task (idiom); strenuous and unrewarding

hǎofànbùpàwǎn

好饭不怕晚

[好飯不怕晚]

the meal is remembered long after the wait is forgotten
the good things in life are worth waiting for

chīlìbùtǎohǎo

吃力不讨好

[吃力不討好]

arduous and thankless task (idiom); strenuous and unrewarding

wúkěwúbùkě

无可无不可

[無可無不可]

neither for nor against sth
indifferent

huàntāngbùhuànyào

换汤不换药

[換湯不換藥]

different broth but the same old medicine (idiom); a change in name only
a change in form but not in substance

tiāngōngbùzuòměi

天公不作美

[天公不作美]

Heaven is not cooperating (idiom)
the weather is not favorable for the planned activity

Měisuǒbùdámǐyà

美索不达米亚

[美索不達米亞]

Mesopotamia

sāncùnbùlànzhīshé

三寸不烂之舌

[三寸不爛之舌]

to have a silver tongue
to have the gift of the gab

lüchúnbùduìmǎzuǐ

驴唇不对马嘴

[驢唇不對馬嘴]

lit. a donkey's lips do not match a horse's mouth (idiom)
fig. wide of the mark; irrelevant; incongruous

yǐbùbiànyìngwànbiàn

以不变应万变

[以不變應萬變]

(idiom) to deal with varying circumstances by adhering to a basic principle

chīrénbùtǔgǔtóu

吃人不吐骨头

[吃人不吐骨頭]

ruthless
vicious and greedy

bùdǎbùchéngxiāngshí

不打不成相识

[不打不成相識]

don't fight, won't make friends (idiom); an exchange of blows may lead to friendship

dòngbudòngjiùshēngqì

动不动就生气

[動不動就生氣]

to be quick to take offense; to have a short fuse

yánjiàobùrúshēnjiào

言教不如身教

[言教不如身教]

Explaining in words is not as good as teaching by example (idiom). Action speaks louder than words.

bùshírénjiānyānhuǒ

不食人间烟火

[不食人間煙火]

lit. not eating the food of common mortals
fig. placing oneself above the common populace

shēnshǒubùjiànwǔzhǐ

伸手不见五指

[伸手不見五指]

pitch-dark (idiom)

chíbùtóngzhèngjiànzhě

持不同政见者

[持不同政見者]

(political) dissident

yīfābùkěshōushi

一发不可收拾

[一發不可收拾]

once it gets started there's no stopping it

bùguīzésìbiānxíng

不规则四边形

[不規則四邊形]

irregular quadrilateral
trapezium

wénmíngbùrújiànmiàn

闻名不如见面

[聞名不如見面]

knowing sb by their reputation can't compare to meeting them in person (idiom)

bùkězàishēngzīyuán

不可再生资源

[不可再生資源]

nonrenewable resource

chūyūní'érbùrǎn

出淤泥而不染

[出淤泥而不染]

lit. to grow out of the mud unsullied (idiom)
fig. to be principled and incorruptible

gǒugǎibùliǎochīshǐ

狗改不了吃屎

[狗改不了吃屎]

lit. a dog can't stop himself from eating shit (idiom)
fig. bad habits are hard to change

xuéránhòuzhībùzú

学然后知不足

[學然後知不足]

to learn is to know one's ignorance (the Book of Rites 禮記／礼记 ( Lǐjì))

yěhǎobuliǎoduōshǎo

也好不了多少

[也好不了多少]

hardly any better
just as bad

yuǎnshuǐbùjiùjìnhuǒ

远水不救近火

[遠水不救近火]

see 遠水救不了近火／远水救不了近火 (yuǎnshuǐjiùbuliǎojìnhuǒ)

bùwènqīnghóngzàobái

不问青红皂白

[不問青紅皂白]

not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom)
not to distinguish between right and wrong

lànnífúbùshàngqiáng

烂泥扶不上墙

[爛泥扶不上牆]

useless (idiom)
worthless
inept

shénbùzhīguǐbùjué

神不知鬼不觉

[神不知鬼不覺]

top secret
hush-hush

rénbùzhīguǐbùjué

人不知鬼不觉

[人不知鬼不覺]

in absolute secrecy

hǎonánbùgēnnüdòu

好男不跟女斗

[好男不跟女鬥]

a real man doesn't fight with womenfolk (idiom)

bùděngbiānsānjiǎoxíng

不等边三角形

[不等邊三角形]

scalene triangle

chībuliǎodōuzhezǒu

吃不了兜着走

[吃不了兜著走]

lit. if you can't eat it all, you'll have to take it home (idiom)
fig. you'll have to take the consequences

wànbiànbùlíqízōng

万变不离其宗

[萬變不離其宗]

many superficial changes but no departure from the original stand (idiom); plus ça change, plus ça reste la mème chose

bùquèdìngxìngyuánlǐ

不确定性原理

[不確定性原理]

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (1927)

kěwàng'érbùkějí

可望而不可即

[可望而不可即]

in sight but unattainable (idiom)
inaccessible
also written 可望而不可及 (kěwàng'érbùkějí)

yǒuyǎnbùshí Tài Shān

有眼不识泰山

[有眼不識泰山]

lit. to have eyes but fail to recognize Mt Tai (idiom)
fig. to fail to recognize sb important or sb's great talent
to be blind to the fact

shénshèngbùkěqīnfàn

神圣不可侵犯

[神聖不可侵犯]

sacred
inviolable

fēngmǎniúbùxiāngjí

风马牛不相及

[風馬牛不相及]

to be completely unrelated to one another (idiom)
irrelevant

shàngqìbùjiēxiàqì

上气不接下气

[上氣不接下氣]

out of breath (idiom)
to gasp for air

gǎnnù'érbùgǎnyán

敢怒而不敢言

[敢怒而不敢言]

angry, but not daring to speak out (idiom); obliged to remain silent about one's resentment
unable to voice objections

hǎishuǐbùkědǒuliáng

海水不可斗量

[海水不可斗量]

see 人不可貌相，海水不可斗量 (rénbùkěmàoxiàng,hǎishuǐbùkědǒuliáng)

míngrénbùzuò'ànshì

明人不做暗事

[明人不做暗事]

an honest person does not act surreptitiously (idiom)

bùjiànyīdiǎnzōngyǐng

不见一点踪影

[不見一點蹤影]

no trace to be seen

bùkětóngrì'éryǔ

不可同日而语

[不可同日而語]

lit. mustn't speak of two things on the same day (idiom); not to be mentioned in the same breath
incomparable

zhēnjīnbùpàhuǒliàn

真金不怕火炼

[真金不怕火煉]

True gold fears no fire. (idiom)

gōngjìngbùrúcóngmìng

恭敬不如从命

[恭敬不如從命]

deference is no substitute for obedience (idiom)
(said to accept sb's request, invitation etc)

Bùlièdiān Bǎowèizhàn

不列颠保卫战

[不列顛保衛戰]

see 不列顛戰役／不列颠战役 ( Bùlièdiān Zhànyì)

jiāchǒubùkěwàichuán

家丑不可外传

[家醜不可外傳]

lit. family shames must not be spread abroad (idiom); fig. don't wash your dirty linen in public

jiǎozhèngbùpàxiéwāi

脚正不怕鞋歪

[腳正不怕鞋歪]

lit. a straight foot has no fear of a crooked shoe
an upright man is not afraid of gossip (idiom)

yīdàibùrúyīdài

一代不如一代

[一代不如一代]

to be getting worse with each generation

bùguīzésānjiǎoxíng

不规则三角形

[不規則三角形]

scalene triangle (math.)

nánnüshòushòubùqīn

男女授受不亲

[男女授受不親]

men and women should not touch hands when they give or receive things (citation, from Mencius)

jiāchǒubùkěwàiyáng

家丑不可外扬

[家醜不可外揚]

lit. family shames must not be spread abroad (idiom)
fig. don't wash your dirty linen in public

yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín

远亲不如近邻

[遠親不如近鄰]

A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor (idiom). Take whatever help is on hand, even from strangers.

bùzúwéiwàiréndào

不足为外人道

[不足為外人道]

no use to tell others
let's keep this between ourselves (idiom)

lànníhúbùshàngqiáng

烂泥糊不上墙

[爛泥糊不上牆]

see 爛泥扶不上牆／烂泥扶不上墙 (lànnífúbùshàngqiáng)

yīrìbùrúyīrì

一日不如一日

[一日不如一日]

to be getting worse by the day

héshuǐbùfànjǐngshuǐ

河水不犯井水

[河水不犯井水]

lit. river water does not interfere with well water (idiom); Do not interfere with one another.
Mind your own business.

jǐngshuǐbùfànhéshuǐ

井水不犯河水

[井水不犯河水]

everyone minds their own business

tiānjībùkěxièlù

天机不可泄露

[天機不可泄露]

lit. mysteries of heaven must not be revealed (idiom); must not be revealed
I am not at liberty to inform you.

bùdēngdàyǎzhītáng

不登大雅之堂

[不登大雅之堂]

lit. not fit for elegant hall (of artwork)
not presentable
coarse
unrefined

bùqūfēndàxiǎoxiě

不区分大小写

[不區分大小寫]

case insensitive
not distinguishing capitals from lowercase letters

gāobùchéngdībùjiù

高不成低不就

[高不成低不就]

can't reach the high or accept the low (idiom); not good enough for a high post, but too proud to take a low one

ěrwénbùrúmùjiàn

耳闻不如目见

[耳聞不如目見]

seeing sth for oneself is better than hearing about it from others

tiānjībùkěxièlòu

天机不可泄漏

[天機不可泄漏]

lit. mysteries of heaven must not be revealed (idiom); must not be revealed
I am not at liberty to inform you.

bǎiwénbùrúyījiàn

百闻不如一见

[百聞不如一見]

seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times (idiom); seeing for oneself is better than hearing from many others
seeing is believing

guǎngjìbùrúdànmò

广记不如淡墨

[廣記不如淡墨]

see 好記性不如爛筆頭／好记性不如烂笔头 (hǎojìxìngbùrúlànbǐtóu)

fúbùqǐde Adǒu

扶不起的阿斗

[扶不起的阿斗]

weak and inept person
hopeless case

rénsuànbùrútiānsuàn

人算不如天算

[人算不如天算]

man proposes, God disposes (idiom)
one's plans can be derailed by unforeseen events

kěwàng'érbùkějí

可望而不可及

[可望而不可及]

in sight but unattainable (idiom)
inaccessible

qiǎozhàbùrúzhuōchéng

巧诈不如拙诚

[巧詐不如拙誠]

the unvarnished truth is better than a cunning ruse (idiom)
honesty is the best policy

huìgūbùzhīchūnqiū

蟪蛄不知春秋

[蟪蛄不知春秋]

lit. short-lived cicada does not know the seasons; fig. to see only a small piece of the big picture

bùdéqímén'érrù

不得其门而入

[不得其門而入]

to be unable to get into (a house, an organization, a field of study, a particular type of career etc)

niútóubùduìmǎzuǐ

牛头不对马嘴

[牛頭不對馬嘴]

see 驢唇不對馬嘴／驴唇不对马嘴 (lüchúnbùduìmǎzui)

yīshānbùróng'èrhǔ

一山不容二虎

[一山不容二虎]

lit. the mountain can't have two tigers (idiom)
fig. this town ain't big enough for the two of us
(of two rivals) to be fiercely competitive

wéikǒngtiānxiàbùluàn

唯恐天下不乱

[唯恐天下不亂]

to wish for the whole world to be in chaos (idiom)

qiǎngniǔdeguābùtián

强扭的瓜不甜

[強扭的瓜不甜]

lit. if you have to use force to break a melon off the vine, it won't taste sweet (because it's only when the melon is ripe that it can be removed with just a slight twist) (idiom)
fig. if sth is not meant to be, it's no use trying to force it to happen

wúsuǒbùyòngqíjí

无所不用其极

[無所不用其極]

committing all manner of crimes
completely unscrupulous

bùzhītiāngāodìhòu

不知天高地厚

[不知天高地厚]

not to know the immensity of heaven and earth
an exaggerated opinion of one's own abilities

kěyī'érbùkězài

可一而不可再

[可一而不可再]

may be done once and once only; just this once

làzhúbùdiǎnbùliàng

蜡烛不点不亮

[蠟燭不點不亮]

some people have to be pushed for them to take action

yàobǔbùrúshíbǔ

药补不如食补

[藥補不如食補]

the benefits of medicine are not as great as those of good nutrition

míngbuzhèngyánbushùn

名不正言不顺

[名不正言不順]

(of a title, degree etc) illegitimately conferred

bùchénggōngbiànchéngrén

不成功便成仁

[不成功便成仁]

to succeed or die trying (idiom)

bùbǎohézhīfángsuān

不饱和脂肪酸

[不飽和脂肪酸]

unsaturated fatty acid

bǎisībùdéqíjiě

百思不得其解

[百思不得其解]

see 百思不解 (bǎisībùjiě)

bùfèichuīhuīzhīlì

不费吹灰之力

[不費吹灰之力]

as easy as blowing off dust
effortless
with ease

bùfēnqīnghóngzàobái

不分青红皂白

[不分青紅皂白]

not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom)
not to distinguish between right and wrong

chángtòngbùrúduǎntòng

长痛不如短痛

[長痛不如短痛]

better to just get the pain over with, rather than prolong the agony

zérìbùrúzhuàngrì

择日不如撞日

[擇日不如撞日]

lit. carefully setting an auspicious date does not beat seizing an opportunity (idiom)
fig. seize the occasion

yuǎnshuǐbùjiějìnkě

远水不解近渴

[遠水不解近渴]

lit. distant water does not cure present thirst; fig. urgent need
a slow remedy does not address immediate needs

péngyouqībùkěqī

朋友妻不可欺

[朋友妻不可欺]

you should not covet your friend's wife (idiom)

Nàbùlèsīwángguó

那不勒斯王国

[那不勒斯王國]

Kingdom of Naples (1282-1860)

tiānbùpàdìbùpà

天不怕地不怕

[天不怕地不怕]

fearing nothing in Heaven or Earth (idiom)
fearless

qiúrénbùrúqiújǐ

求人不如求己

[求人不如求己]

if you want sth done well, do it yourself (idiom)

wùwèiyánzhībùyù

勿谓言之不预

[勿謂言之不預]

(idiom) don't say you haven't been forewarned (threat used by the PRC in international diplomacy)

qǐngjiàngbùrújījiàng

请将不如激将

[請將不如激將]

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

yīfā'érbùkěshōu

一发而不可收

[一發而不可收]

to be impossible to stop once started

bùdéyǐ'érwéizhī

不得已而为之

[不得已而為之]

to have no other choice
to be the last resort

bùxiǎnshānbùlùshuǐ

不显山不露水

[不顯山不露水]

lit. to not show the mountain and to not reveal the water (idiom); fig. to hide the key facts

gāobùcòudībùjiù

高不凑低不就

[高不湊低不就]

can't reach the high or accept the low (idiom); not good enough for a high post, but too proud to take a low one

zuìwēngzhīyìbùzàijiǔ

醉翁之意不在酒

[醉翁之意不在酒]

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

shùyùjìng'érfēngbùzhǐ

树欲静而风不止

[樹欲靜而風不止]

lit. the trees long for peace but the wind will never cease (idiom)
fig. the world changes, whether you want it or not

liǎngshǒubùzhānyángchūnshuǐ

两手不沾阳春水

[兩手不沾陽春水]

see 十指不沾陽春水／十指不沾阳春水 (shízhǐbùzhānyángchūnshuǐ)

huángshàngbùjíjítàijiàn

皇上不急急太监

[皇上不急急太監]

see 皇帝不急太監急／皇帝不急太监急 (huángdìbùjítàijiànjí)

zhīqíbùkě'érwéizhī

知其不可而为之

[知其不可而為之]

to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom)

bùpàguān,zhǐpàguǎn

不怕官，只怕管

[不怕官，只怕管]

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

jìngjiǔbùchīchīfájiǔ

敬酒不吃吃罚酒

[敬酒不吃吃罰酒]

lit. to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit (idiom)
fig. to turn down a request only to be forced later to comply with it under pressure

dītóubùjiàntáitóujiàn

低头不见抬头见

[低頭不見抬頭見]

see 抬頭不見低頭見／抬头不见低头见 (táitóubùjiàndītóujiàn)

zhànzheshuōhuàbùyāoténg

站着说话不腰疼

[站著說話不腰疼]

lit. it's all very well to talk, but getting things done is another matter (idiom)
fig. to be an armchair expert; to blabber on

sǐzhūbùpàkāishuǐtàng

死猪不怕开水烫

[死豬不怕開水燙]

lit. a dead pig doesn't fear scalding water (idiom)
fig. a person who has nothing more to lose will go to any lengths, regardless of the consequences

yuānjiāyíjiěbùyíjié

冤家宜解不宜结

[冤家宜解不宜結]

It is better to squash enmity rather than keeping it alive (proverb)

jūnzǐdòngkǒubùdòngshǒu

君子动口不动手

[君子動口不動手]

a gentleman uses his mouth and not his fist

yǒuguòzhī'érwúbùjí

有过之而无不及

[有過之而無不及]

not to be inferior in any aspects (idiom)
to surpass
to outdo
(derog.) to be even worse

xiǎobùrěnzéluàndàmóu

小不忍则乱大谋

[小不忍則亂大謀]

(idiom) great plans can be ruined by just a touch of impatience

Huángtiānbùfùkǔxīnrén

皇天不负苦心人

[皇天不負苦心人]

Heaven will not disappoint the person who tries (idiom). If you try hard, you're bound to succeed eventually.

rénshēnghéchùbùxiāngféng

人生何处不相逢

[人生何處不相逢]

it's a small world (idiom)

shízhǐbùzhānyángchūnshuǐ

十指不沾阳春水

[十指不沾陽春水]

to have no need to fend for oneself (idiom)
to lead a pampered life

chángliúshuǐ,bùduànxiàn

长流水，不断线

[長流水，不斷線]

continuous and patient effort (idiom)

dàobùtóngbùxiāngwéimóu

道不同不相为谋

[道不同不相為謀]

lit. persons who walk different paths cannot make plans together
to go separate ways (idiom)

Bùlièdiān Gēlúnbǐyà

不列颠哥伦比亚

[不列顛哥倫比亞]

British Columbia, Pacific province of Canada

huàbùtóujībànjùduō

话不投机半句多

[話不投機半句多]

(idiom) when views are irreconcilable, it's a waste of breath to continue discussion

chūshēngzhīdúbùpàhǔ

初生之犊不怕虎

[初生之犢不怕虎]

see 初生之犢不畏虎／初生之犊不畏虎 (chūshēngzhīdúbùwèihǔ)

tōujībùzháoshíbǎmǐ

偷鸡不着蚀把米

[偷雞不著蝕把米]

see 偷雞不成蝕把米／偷鸡不成蚀把米 (tōujībùchéngshíbǎmǐ)

duōxíngbùyìbìzìbì

多行不义必自毙

[多行不義必自斃]

persisting in evil brings about self-destruction (idiom)

huòbǐsānjiābùchīkuī

货比三家不吃亏

[貨比三家不吃虧]

shop around first and you won't get ripped off (idiom)

zàishēngbùliángxìngpínxuè

再生不良性贫血

[再生不良性貧血]

aplastic anemia

jūnzǐbùjìxiǎorénguò

君子不计小人过

[君子不計小人過]

see 大人不記小人過／大人不记小人过 (dàrénbùjìxiǎorénguò)

xīnyǒuyú,lìbùzú

心有余，力不足

[心有餘，力不足]

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.

bùshìyuānjiābùjùtóu

不是冤家不聚头

[不是冤家不聚頭]

destiny will make enemies meet (idiom)
(often said about lovers who have a disagreement)

bùshí Lúshānzhēnmiànmù

不识庐山真面目

[不識廬山真面目]

lit. not to know the true face of Lushan Mountain (idiom)
fig. can't see the forest for the trees

shēnzhèngbùpàyǐngzixié

身正不怕影子斜

[身正不怕影子斜]

lit. when a man stands straight, he doesn't worry that his shadow is slanting (idiom)
fig. as long as one conducts oneself honorably, one need not worry about what people think; a clean hand wants no washing

bùkànsēngmiànkànfómiàn

不看僧面看佛面

[不看僧面看佛面]

lit. not for the monk's sake but for the Buddha's sake (idiom)
fig. (to do sth for sb) out of deference to sb else

xīnyǒuyú'érlìbùzú

心有余而力不足

[心有餘而力不足]

the will is there, but not the strength (idiom)
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

bùpàmàn,jiùpàzhàn

不怕慢，就怕站

[不怕慢，就怕站]

it's better to make slow progress than no progress at all (proverb)

gēbonǐngbuguòdàtuǐ

胳膊拧不过大腿

[胳膊擰不過大腿]

(idiom) the weak cannot overcome the strong

nán'éryǒulèibùqīngtán

男儿有泪不轻弹

[男兒有淚不輕彈]

real men do not easily cry (idiom)

módāobùwùkǎncháigōng

磨刀不误砍柴工

[磨刀不誤砍柴工]

lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
a beard well lathered is half shaved

yěhǎobùdàonǎlǐqù

也好不到哪里去

[也好不到哪裡去]

just as bad; not much better

tiānshàngbùhuìdiàoxiànbǐng

天上不会掉馅饼

[天上不會掉餡餅]

there is no such thing as a free lunch (idiom)

chīshuǐbùwàngwājǐngrén

吃水不忘挖井人

[吃水不忘挖井人]

see 吃水不忘掘井人 (chīshuǐbùwàngjuéjǐngrén)

yǎnbùjiàn,xīnbùfán

眼不见，心不烦

[眼不見，心不煩]

what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over (idiom)

yǎoréngǒurbùlùchǐ

咬人狗儿不露齿

[咬人狗兒不露齒]

lit. the dog that bites does not show its fangs (idiom)
fig. You can't tell the really dangerous enemy from his external appearance.

méiyǒubùtòufēngdeqiáng

没有不透风的墙

[沒有不透風的牆]

(idiom) no secret can be kept forever

bǎohànbùzhī'èhànjī

饱汉不知饿汉饥

[飽漢不知餓漢飢]

The well-fed cannot know how the starving suffer (idiom).

niúbùhēshuǐnán'ànjiǎo

牛不喝水难按角

[牛不喝水難按角]

(idiom) you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink

bùdào Huáng Héxīnbùsǐ

不到黄河心不死

[不到黃河心不死]

lit. not to stop until one reaches the Yellow River (idiom)
fig. to persevere until one reaches one's goal
to keep going while some hope is left

chīshuǐbùwàngjuéjǐngrén

吃水不忘掘井人

[吃水不忘掘井人]

Drinking the water of a well, one should never forget who dug it. (idiom)

yībùzuò,èrbùxiū

一不做，二不休

[一不做，二不休]

lit. either don't do it, or don't rest (idiom)
fig. if you do it at all, you may as well go the whole hog
in for a penny, in for a pound

bùkěchèxiāoxìnyòngzhèng

不可撤销信用证

[不可撤銷信用證]

irrevocable letter of credit

yǎoréndegǒubùlòuchǐ

咬人的狗不露齿

[咬人的狗不露齒]

lit. the dog that bites doesn't show its teeth (idiom)
fig. the most sinister of people can look quite harmless

qiánglóngbùyādìtóushé

强龙不压地头蛇

[強龍不壓地頭蛇]

lit. strong dragon cannot repress a snake (idiom); fig. a local gangster who is above the law

bùdàohuǒhòubùjiēguō

不到火候不揭锅

[不到火候不揭鍋]

don't act until the time is ripe (idiom)

màotiānxiàzhīdàbùwěi

冒天下之大不韪

[冒天下之大不韙]

see 冒大不韙／冒大不韪 (màodàbùwěi)

cāngyingbùdīngwúfèngdàn

苍蝇不叮无缝蛋

[蒼蠅不叮無縫蛋]

lit. flies do not attack an intact egg (idiom)
fig. no smoke without a fire

shàngliángbùzhèngxiàliángwāi

上梁不正下梁歪

[上梁不正下梁歪]

lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices

bùguǎnsānqī'èrshíyī

不管三七二十一

[不管三七二十一]

regardless of the consequences
recklessly relying on a hopelessly optimistic forecast

hǎosǐbùrúlàihuózhe

好死不如赖活着

[好死不如賴活著]

better a bad life than a good death (idiom)

bùdào Chángchéngfēihǎohàn

不到长城非好汉

[不到長城非好漢]

lit. until you reach the Great Wall, you're not a proper person; fig. to get over difficulties before reaching the goal

bùgǎnyuè Léichíyībù

不敢越雷池一步

[不敢越雷池一步]

dare not go one step beyond the prescribed limit

bǎorénbùzhī'èrénjī

饱人不知饿人饥

[飽人不知餓人飢]

The well-fed cannot know how the starving suffer (idiom).

chūshēngniúdúbùpàhǔ

初生牛犊不怕虎

[初生牛犢不怕虎]

lit. newborn calves do not fear tigers (idiom)
fig. the young are fearless

huángdìnü'érbùchóujià

皇帝女儿不愁嫁

[皇帝女兒不愁嫁]

lit. the emperor's daughter does not worry about whether she will be able to marry (idiom)
fig. highly sought after

gāndǎléi,bùxiàyǔ

干打雷，不下雨

[乾打雷，不下雨]

all thunder but no rain (idiom)
a lot of noise but no action

yǎnlǐróngbudéshāzi

眼里容不得沙子

[眼裡容不得沙子]

can't bear having grit in one's eye (idiom)
unable to put sth objectionable out of one's mind
not prepared to turn a blind eye

shēnzàifúzhōngbùzhīfú

身在福中不知福

[身在福中不知福]

to live in plenty without appreciating it (idiom); not to know when one is well off

dàrénbùjìxiǎorénguò

大人不记小人过

[大人不記小人過]

a person of great moral stature does not remember the offenses committed by one of low moral stature

bùjiàntùzibùsāyīng

不见兔子不撒鹰

[不見兔子不撒鷹]

you don't release the hawk until you've seen the hare (idiom)
one doesn't act before one is sure to succeed

wúshìbùdēngsānbǎodiàn

无事不登三宝殿

[無事不登三寶殿]

lit. one doesn't visit a temple without a cause (idiom)
fig. to visit sb with an ulterior motive (esp. to ask for sth)

féishuǐbùliúwàiréntián

肥水不流外人田

[肥水不流外人田]

lit. don't let one's own fertile water flow into others' field
fig. keep the goodies within the family (proverb)

kǎntóubùguòfēngchuīmào

砍头不过风吹帽

[砍頭不過風吹帽]

to regard decapitation as no more important than the wind blowing off your hat (idiom)

tiàojìn Huáng Héxǐbùqīng

跳进黄河洗不清

[跳進黃河洗不清]

lit. even jumping into the Yellow River can't get you clean
fig. to become inexorably mixed up
mired in controversy
in deep trouble

huàhǔbùchéngfǎnlèiquǎn

画虎不成反类犬

[畫虎不成反類犬]

to try to draw a tiger but end up with a likeness of a dog (idiom)
to try to do sth overambitious and end up botching it

bùzuòsǐjiùbùhuìsǐ

不作死就不会死

[不作死就不會死]

serves you right for doing sth so stupid (Internet slang)

méiyǒushénmebùkěnéng

没有什么不可能

[沒有什麼不可能]

nothing is impossible
there's nothing impossible about it

jiǔxiāngbùpàxiàngzishēn

酒香不怕巷子深

[酒香不怕巷子深]

fragrant wine fears no dark alley (idiom)
quality goods need no advertising

huòwènsānjiābùchīkuī

货问三家不吃亏

[貨問三家不吃虧]

see 貨比三家不吃虧／货比三家不吃亏 (huòbǐsānjiābùchīkuī)

yǒuchóubùbàofēijūnzǐ

有仇不报非君子

[有仇不報非君子]

a real man, if he takes a hit, will seek to even the score (idiom)

dōngfāngbùliàngxīfāngliàng

东方不亮西方亮

[東方不亮西方亮]

if it isn't bright in the east, it'll be bright in the west (idiom)
if something doesn't work here, it might work somewhere else

yīgebāzhǎngpāibùxiǎng

一个巴掌拍不响

[一個巴掌拍不響]

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

sānjùhuàbùlíběnháng

三句话不离本行

[三句話不離本行]

to talk shop all the time (idiom)

bùjiànguāncaibùluòlèi

不见棺材不落泪

[不見棺材不落淚]

lit. not to shed a tear until one sees the coffin (idiom)
fig. refuse to be convinced until one is faced with grim reality

zǎimàiyétiánbùxīnténg

崽卖爷田不心疼

[崽賣爺田不心疼]

lit. the child sells the father's farm without regret (idiom)
fig. to sell one's inheritance without a second thought for how hard one's forebears worked for it

bùzhuàngnánqiángbùhuítóu

不撞南墙不回头

[不撞南牆不回頭]

to stubbornly insist on one's own ideas (idiom)

shārénbùguòtóudiǎndì

杀人不过头点地

[殺人不過頭點地]

It's all exaggeration, you don't need to take it seriously
a fuss about nothing
nothing to write home about

yīkǒuchībùchéngpàngzi

一口吃不成胖子

[一口吃不成胖子]

lit. you cannot get fat with only one mouthful (proverb)
fig. any significant achievement requires time, effort and persistence

yuǎnshuǐjiùbuliǎojìnhuǒ

远水救不了近火

[遠水救不了近火]

water in a distant place is of little use in putting out a fire right here
(fig.) a slow remedy does not address the current emergency

huángshàngbùjítàijiànjí

皇上不急太监急

[皇上不急太監急]

see 皇帝不急太監急／皇帝不急太监急 (huángdìbùjítàijiànjí)

tùzibùchīwōbiāncǎo

兔子不吃窝边草

[兔子不吃窩邊草]

lit. a rabbit never eats the grass beside its own burrow (idiom)
fig. even a scoundrel does not do harm in his immediate neighborhood

bùzìyóu,wúnìngsǐ

不自由，毋宁死

[不自由，毋寧死]

give me liberty or give me death

yǎnlǐróubudéshāzi

眼里揉不得沙子

[眼裡揉不得沙子]

see 眼裡容不得沙子／眼里容不得沙子 (yǎnlǐróngbudéshāzi)

luóbokuàilebùxǐní

萝卜快了不洗泥

[蘿蔔快了不洗泥]

when radishes are selling fast, one doesn't take the time to wash the soil off them (idiom)
fig. when business is booming, merchants tend to offer goods of inferior quality

làngzǐhuítóujīnbùhuàn

浪子回头金不换

[浪子回頭金不換]

a prodigal son returned home is worth more than gold

tùziwěibachángbuliǎo

兔子尾巴长不了

[兔子尾巴長不了]

rabbits don't have long tails (idiom)
its days are numbered
won't last long

bùwánquánguīnàtuīlǐ

不完全归纳推理

[不完全歸納推理]

inference by incomplete induction

bùhuànguǎ'érhuànbùjūn

不患寡而患不均

[不患寡而患不均]

do not worry about scarcity, but rather about uneven distribution (idiom, from Analects)

shuǐqiǎnyǎngbùzhùdàyú

水浅养不住大鱼

[水淺養不住大魚]

lit. shallow waters cannot harbor big fish (idiom)
fig. ambitious, talented people cannot reach their full potential in a small organization

liǎng'ěrbùwénchuāngwàishì

两耳不闻窗外事

[兩耳不聞窗外事]

to pay no attention to outside matters

xiàchóngbùkěyǐyǔbīng

夏虫不可以语冰

[夏蟲不可以語冰]

a summer insect cannot discuss ice (idiom)

tōujībùchéngshíbǎmǐ

偷鸡不成蚀把米

[偷雞不成蝕把米]

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

rénxīnbùzúshétūnxiàng

人心不足蛇吞象

[人心不足蛇吞象]

a man who is never content is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant (idiom)

hǎohànbùchīyǎnqiánkuī

好汉不吃眼前亏

[好漢不吃眼前虧]

a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him (idiom)

chūshēngzhīdúbùwèihǔ

初生之犊不畏虎

[初生之犢不畏虎]

lit. a new-born calf has no fear of the tiger (idiom)
fig. the fearlessness of youth

hǎomǎbùchīhuítóucǎo

好马不吃回头草

[好馬不吃回頭草]

lit. a good horse doesn't turn around and graze the same patch again (idiom)
fig. once you've moved on, don't go back again (romantic relationship, job etc)
leave the past behind

nǎhúbùkāitínǎhú

哪壶不开提哪壶

[哪壺不開提哪壺]

lit. mention the pot that doesn't boil (idiom); to touch a sore spot
to talk about sb's weak point

huángdìbùjítàijiànjí

皇帝不急太监急

[皇帝不急太監急]

lit. the emperor is not worried, but his eunuchs are (idiom)
fig. the observers are more anxious than the person involved

bùzhēngmántouzhēngkǒuqì

不蒸馒头争口气

[不蒸饅頭爭口氣]

not to be crushed (idiom)
to be determined to have one's revenge

zhēnjīnbùpàhuǒláishāo

真金不怕火来烧

[真金不怕火來燒]

see 真金不怕火煉／真金不怕火炼 (zhēnjīnbùpàhuǒliàn)

niúbùhēshuǐqiǎng'àntóu

牛不喝水强按头

[牛不喝水強按頭]

lit. to try to make an ox drink by forcing its head down to the water (idiom)
fig. to try to impose one's will on sb

zhànzhemáokēngbùlāshǐ

占着茅坑不拉屎

[占著茅坑不拉屎]

lit. to occupy a latrine but not shit (proverb)
fig. to be a dog in the manger

zhīrénzhīmiànbùzhīxīn

知人知面不知心

[知人知面不知心]

one may know a person for a long time without understanding his true nature (idiom)

táitóubùjiàndītóujiàn

抬头不见低头见

[抬頭不見低頭見]

(idiom) (of people in a small town etc) to cross paths regularly

lái'érbùwǎngfēilǐyě

来而不往非礼也

[來而不往非禮也]

not to reciprocate is against etiquette (classical)
to respond in kind

shèngbùjiāo,bàibùněi

胜不骄，败不馁

[勝不驕，敗不餒]

no arrogance in victory, no despair in defeat

hǎohànbùtídāngniányǒng

好汉不提当年勇

[好漢不提當年勇]

a real man doesn't boast about his past achievements (idiom)

duōyuánbùbǎohézhīfángsuān

多元不饱和脂肪酸

[多元不飽和脂肪酸]

polyunsaturated fatty acid

Bùlièdiān Gēlúnbǐyàshěng

不列颠哥伦比亚省

[不列顛哥倫比亞省]

British Columbia, Pacific province of Canada

shìkěrěn,shúbùkěrěn

是可忍，孰不可忍

[是可忍，孰不可忍]

if this can be tolerated, what cannot? (idiom)
enough is enough

bāoziyǒuròubùzàizhěshàng

包子有肉不在褶上

[包子有肉不在褶上]

a book is not judged by its cover (idiom)

gǒuzuǐlitǔbùchūxiàngyá

狗嘴里吐不出象牙

[狗嘴裏吐不出象牙]

lit. no ivory comes from the mouth of a dog (idiom)
fig. one does not expect fine words from a scoundrel

lābùchūshǐláiyuànmáofáng

拉不出屎来怨茅房

[拉不出屎來怨茅房]

lit. to blame the toilet because one is having difficulty completing a bowel movement (idiom)
fig. to blame others for problems caused by one's own shortcomings

bùshìyúsǐjiùshìwǎngpò

不是鱼死就是网破

[不是魚死就是網破]

lit. either the fish dies or the net gets torn (idiom)
fig. it's a life-and-death struggle
it's either him or me

pǎolehéshàngpǎobùliǎomiào

跑了和尚跑不了庙

[跑了和尚跑不了廟]

the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom)
you can run this time, but you'll have to come back
I'll get you sooner or later
also written 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟／跑得了和尚，跑不了庙 (pǎodéliǎohéshàng,pǎobùliǎomiào)

bǎizúzhīchóngsǐ'érbùjiāng

百足之虫死而不僵

[百足之蟲死而不僵]

a centipede dies but never falls down
old institutions die hard

zhùyìlìbùzúguòdòngzhèng

注意力不足过动症

[注意力不足過動症]

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Bù Kuòsàn Héwǔqì Tiáoyuē

不扩散核武器条约

[不擴散核武器條約]

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

bǐshàngbùzúbǐxiàyǒuyú

比上不足比下有余

[比上不足比下有餘]

to fall short of the best but be better than the worst
can pass muster

yúyǔxióngzhǎngbùkějiāndé

鱼与熊掌不可兼得

[魚與熊掌不可兼得]

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

yǒngbùshēngxiùdeluósīdīng

永不生锈的螺丝钉

[永不生銹的螺絲釘]

a "screw that never rusts" — sb who selflessly and wholeheartedly serves the Communist Party, like Lei Feng 雷鋒／雷锋 ( Léi Fēng), to whom the metaphor is attributed

láidezǎobùrúláideqiǎo

来得早不如来得巧

[來得早不如來得巧]

arriving early can't beat coming at the right time
perfect timing

xiǎodòngbùbǔdàdòngchīkǔ

小洞不补大洞吃苦

[小洞不補大洞吃苦]

A small hole not plugged will make you suffer a big hole (idiom); a stitch in time saves nine

zhǐjiànshùmùbùjiànsēnlín

只见树木不见森林

[只見樹木不見森林]

unable to see the wood for the trees
fig. only able to see isolated details, and not the bigger picture

xīnjíchībuliǎorèdòufu

心急吃不了热豆腐

[心急吃不了熱豆腐]

hasty men don't get to eat hot tofu (idiom)
one just has to be patient
haste will ruin everything

huángdìbùjíjísǐtàijiàn

皇帝不急急死太监

[皇帝不急急死太監]

see 皇帝不急太監急／皇帝不急太监急 (huángdìbùjítàijiànjí)

jīnqiánbùnéngmǎiláixìngfú

金钱不能买来幸福

[金錢不能買來幸福]

money can't buy happiness

duōyīshìbùrúshǎoyīshì

多一事不如少一事

[多一事不如少一事]

it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble (idiom)
the less complications the better

hǎojìxìngbùrúlànbǐtóu

好记性不如烂笔头

[好記性不如爛筆頭]

the palest ink is better than the best memory (idiom)

bùdāngjiābùzhīcháimǐguì

不当家不知柴米贵

[不當家不知柴米貴]

a person who doesn't manage a household would not be aware how expensive it is (idiom)

yījiārénbùshuōliǎngjiāhuà

一家人不说两家话

[一家人不說兩家話]

lit. family members speak frankly with one another, not courteously, as if they were from two different families (idiom)
fig. people don't need to be deferential when they ask a family member for help
people from the same family should stick together (and good friends likewise)

guāngjiǎodebùpàchuānxiéde

光脚的不怕穿鞋的

[光腳的不怕穿鞋的]

lit. the barefooted people are not afraid of those who wear shoes (idiom)
fig. the poor, who have nothing to lose, do not fear those in power

bùzàiqíwèibùmóuqízhèng

不在其位不谋其政

[不在其位不謀其政]

don't meddle in affairs that are not part of your position (Confucius)

mǐbùyǒuchū,xiǎnkèyǒuzhōng

靡不有初，鲜克有终

[靡不有初，鮮克有終]

almost everything has a start, but not many things have an end (idiom); don't start sth you can't handle

gōngwúbùkè,zhànwúbùshèng

攻无不克，战无不胜

[攻無不克，戰無不勝]

to triumph in every battle and win every fight (idiom); all-conquering
ever victorious
nothing they can't do

jǐsuǒbùyù,wùshīyúrén

己所不欲，勿施于人

[己所不欲，勿施於人]

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.

rénbùwèijǐ,tiānzhūdìmiè

人不为己，天诛地灭

[人不為己，天誅地滅]

Look out for yourself, or heaven and earth will combine to destroy you.
Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost.

shízhīwúwèi,qìzhībùgān

食之无味，弃之不甘

[食之無味，棄之不甘]

see 食之無味，棄之可惜／食之无味，弃之可惜 (shízhīwúwèi,qìzhīkěxī)

qǔzhībùjìn,yòngzhībùjié

取之不尽，用之不竭

[取之不盡，用之不竭]

limitless supply (of)
inexhaustible

liúshuǐbùfǔ,hùshūbùdù

流水不腐，户枢不蠹

[流水不腐，戶樞不蠹]

lit. flowing water does not rot, nor a door-hinge rust (idiom)
fig. constant activity prevents decay

zuǐshàngméimáo,bànshìbùláo

嘴上没毛，办事不牢

[嘴上沒毛，辦事不牢]

a youth without facial hair cannot be relied upon (proverb)

chībùdàopútaoshuōpútaosuān

吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸

[吃不到葡萄說葡萄酸]

sour grapes (set expr. based on Aesop)
lit. to say grapes are sour when you can't eat them

láizhěbùshàn,shànzhěbùlái

来者不善，善者不来

[來者不善，善者不來]

He who comes is surely ill-intentioned, no-one well-meaning will come (idiom).
Be careful not to trust foreigners.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!

yīzhīhàozhìbùbìngyǐwéigōng

医之好治不病以为功

[醫之好治不病以為功]

doctors like to treat those who are not sick so that they can get credit for the patient's "recovery" (idiom)

chéngshìbùzú,bàishìyǒuyú

成事不足，败事有余

[成事不足，敗事有餘]

unable to accomplish anything but liable to spoil everything (idiom)
unable to do anything right
never make, but always mar

Mòhuòluòwéiqíbùliánxùmiàn

莫霍洛维奇不连续面

[莫霍洛維奇不連續面]

Moho (aka Mohorovičić discontinuity, the lower boundary of the earth's lithosphere)
abbr. to 莫霍面 ( Mòhuòmiàn)

bùqiúyǒugōng,dànqiúwúguò

不求有功，但求无过

[不求有功，但求無過]

lit. not aiming to achieve the best possible result, but rather trying to avoid making mistakes (idiom)
fig. to take a risk-averse approach

jībùkěshī,shíbùzàilái

机不可失，时不再来

[機不可失，時不再來]

Opportunity knocks but once. (idiom)

dǎshébùsǐ,hòuhuànwúqióng

打蛇不死，后患无穷

[打蛇不死，後患無窮]

(idiom) if you beat the snake without killing it, endless evils will ensue

bùpàzéitōujiùpàzéidiànjì

不怕贼偷就怕贼惦记

[不怕賊偷就怕賊惦記]

much worse than having something stolen is when a thief has you in his sights (idiom)

xíngbùgǎixìng,zuòbùgǎimíng

行不改姓，坐不改名

[行不改姓，坐不改名]

see 行不更名，坐不改姓 (xíngbùgēngmíng,zuòbùgǎixìng)

méiyǒuguīju,bùchéngfāngyuán

没有规矩，不成方圆

[沒有規矩，不成方圓]

without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules

zhànwúbùshèng,gōngwúbùqǔ

战无不胜，攻无不取

[戰無不勝，攻無不取]

to triumph in every battle and win every fight (idiom); all-conquering
ever victorious
nothing they can't do

lùjiànbùpíng,bádāoxiāngzhù

路见不平，拔刀相助

[路見不平，拔刀相助]

lit. to intervene when one sees an injustice (idiom)
fig. to rush to the rescue
to play the white knight

niǎobùlāshǐ,jībùshēngdàn

鸟不拉屎，鸡不生蛋

[鳥不拉屎，雞不生蛋]

lit. (a place where) birds don't defecate and hens don't lay eggs (idiom)
fig. god-forsaken
remote and desolate

fǎwǎnghuīhuī,shū'érbùlòu

法网灰灰，疏而不漏

[法網灰灰，疏而不漏]

The net of justice is wide, but no-one escapes.

qiánshìbùwàng,hòushìzhīshī

前事不忘，后事之师

[前事不忘，後事之師]

don't forget past events, they can guide you in future (idiom); benefit from past experience

jiālěiqiānjīn,zuòbùchuítáng

家累千金，坐不垂堂

[家累千金，坐不垂堂]

lit. a wealthy person does not sit under the eaves (idiom); fig. a rich man does not expose himself to danger

bùjīngyīshì,bùzhǎngyīzhì

不经一事，不长一智

[不經一事，不長一智]

lit. you can't gain knowledge without practical experience (idiom)
fig. wisdom only comes with experience

jiùdebùqù,xīndebùlái

旧的不去，新的不来

[舊的不去，新的不來]

lit. If the old doesn't go, the new will not come.
You can't make progress by clinging to old notions.

nìshuǐxíngzhōu,bùjìnzétuì

逆水行舟，不进则退

[逆水行舟，不進則退]

like rowing a boat upstream, if you stop moving forward you fall back (idiom)

yīrìbùjiàn,rúgésānqiū

一日不见，如隔三秋

[一日不見，如隔三秋]

one day apart seems like three years (idiom)

zuǐshàngwúmáo,bànshìbùláo

嘴上无毛，办事不牢

[嘴上無毛，辦事不牢]

see 嘴上沒毛，辦事不牢／嘴上没毛，办事不牢 (zuǐshàngméimáo,bànshìbùláo)

débùpèiwèi,bìyǒuzāiyāng

德不配位，必有灾殃

[德不配位，必有災殃]

calamity will befall those whose moral standards are not in keeping with their social status

zhījǐzhībǐ,bǎizhànbùdài

知己知彼，百战不殆

[知己知彼，百戰不殆]

know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法／孙子兵法 ( Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ))

kěyǐyìhuì,bùkěyánchuán

可以意会，不可言传

[可以意會，不可言傳]

can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子／庄子 ( Zhuāngzǐ)); mysterious and subtle

shìbùguānjǐ,gāogāoguàqǐ

事不关己，高高挂起

[事不關己，高高掛起]

to feel unconcerned and let matters rest (idiom)

yīzhāobùshèn,mǎnpánjiēshū

一着不慎，满盘皆输

[一著不慎，滿盤皆輸]

One careless move and the whole game is lost. (idiom)

zhàng'èr Jīngāngmōbuzháotóunǎo

丈二金刚摸不着头脑

[丈二金剛摸不著頭腦]

see 丈二和尚，摸不著頭腦／丈二和尚，摸不着头脑 (zhàng'èrhéshang,mōbuzháotóunǎo)

bùrùhǔxué,yāndéhǔzǐ

不入虎穴，焉得虎子

[不入虎穴，焉得虎子]

How do you catch the tiger cub without entering the tiger's lair? (idiom); Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

xíngbùgēngmíng,zuòbùgǎixìng

行不更名，坐不改姓

[行不更名，坐不改姓]

I am who I am and not ashamed of it; to be proud of one's name and stand by one's actions

tiānxiàméiyǒubùsàndeyánxí

天下没有不散的筵席

[天下沒有不散的筵席]

all good things must come to an end (idiom)

bùyǐwùxǐ,bùyǐjǐbēi

不以物喜，不以己悲

[不以物喜，不以己悲]

not to become attached to material things, not to pity oneself

jībùkěshī,shībùzàilái

机不可失，失不再来

[機不可失，失不再來]

opportunity knocks but once (idiom)

wéifù-bùrén,wéirén-bùfù

为富不仁，为仁不富

[為富不仁，為仁不富]

(idiom, from Mencius) the rich are not benevolent, and the benevolent are not rich

bùpàyīwàn,jiùpàwànyī

不怕一万，就怕万一

[不怕一萬，就怕萬一]

better to be safe than sorry (proverb)
to be prepared just in case

nánrénbùhuài,nürénbù'ài

男人不坏，女人不爱

[男人不壞，女人不愛]

women love bad guys

tiānwǎnghuīhuī,shū'érbùlòu

天网恢恢，疏而不漏

[天網恢恢，疏而不漏]

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

nìngzuòjītóu,bùzuòfèngwěi

宁做鸡头，不做凤尾

[寧做雞頭，不做鳳尾]

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

zhànwúbùshèng,gōngwúbùkè

战无不胜，攻无不克

[戰無不勝，攻無不克]

to triumph in every battle and win every fight (idiom); all-conquering
ever victorious
nothing they can't do

bùxiàoyǒusān,wúhòuwéidà

不孝有三，无后为大

[不孝有三，無後為大]

There are three ways to be unfilial; having no sons is the worst. (citation from Mencius 孟子 ( Mèngzǐ))

bùyàozàiyīkēshùshàngdiàosǐ

不要在一棵树上吊死

[不要在一棵樹上吊死]

don't insist on only taking one road to Rome (idiom)
there's more than one way to skin a cat

chībiérénjiáoguòdemóbùxiāng

吃别人嚼过的馍不香

[吃別人嚼過的饃不香]

lit. bread previously chewed by someone has no flavor (idiom)
fig. there's no joy in discovering something if someone else got there first

rénzàijiānghú,shēnbùyóujǐ

人在江湖，身不由己

[人在江湖，身不由己]

you can't always do as you like
one has to compromise in this world (idiom)

chīshǐdōugǎnbushàngrèhude

吃屎都赶不上热乎的

[吃屎都趕不上熱乎的]

lit. if you were eating warm shit, it'd be stone cold by the time you finished it (idiom)
fig. (of a person) too slow; can't keep up

xiāntiānbùzú,hòutiānshītiáo

先天不足，后天失调

[先天不足，後天失調]

to be born with a weak constitution and suffer from ill health during one's life
(fig.) to be problematic from the start, and get even worse over time

jūnzibàochóu,shíniánbùwǎn

君子报仇，十年不晚

[君子報仇，十年不晚]

lit. for a nobleman to take revenge, ten years is not too long (idiom)
fig. revenge is a dish best served cold

zhībǐzhījǐ,bǎizhànbùdài

知彼知己，百战不殆

[知彼知己，百戰不殆]

knowing the enemy and yourself will get you unscathed through a hundred battles (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War")

shēngmìngbùxī,zhàndòubùzhǐ

生命不息，战斗不止

[生命不息，戰鬥不止]

while there is life, the fight continues (idiom); to fight to the last

pǎolehéshàng,pǎobùliǎosì

跑了和尚，跑不了寺

[跑了和尚，跑不了寺]

the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom)
you can run this time, but you'll have to come back
I'll get you sooner or later

tiānxiàméiyǒubùsàndeyànxí

天下没有不散的宴席

[天下沒有不散的宴席]

see 天下沒有不散的筵席／天下没有不散的筵席 (tiānxiàméiyǒubùsàndeyánxí)

sāntiānbùdǎ,shàngfángjiēwǎ

三天不打，上房揭瓦

[三天不打，上房揭瓦]

three days without a beating, and a child will scale the roof to rip the tiles (idiom)
spare the rod, spoil the child

nìngwéijītóu,bùwéifèngwěi

宁为鸡头，不为凤尾

[寧為雞頭，不為鳳尾]

see 寧做雞頭，不做鳳尾／宁做鸡头，不做凤尾 (nìngzuòjītóu,bùzuòfèngwěi)

shíbùyànjīng,kuàibùyànxì

食不厌精，脍不厌细

[食不厭精，膾不厭細]

lit. to eat but finely ground grain and finely chopped meat (idiom, from Analects)
fig. to be fastidious about one's food

yǒujièyǒuhuán,zàijièbùnán

有借有还，再借不难

[有借有還，再借不難]

return what you borrowed on time, you may borrow again next time (idiom)

qiánbùzháocūn,hòubùzháodiàn

前不着村，后不着店

[前不著村，後不著店]

lit. no village ahead and no inn behind (idiom)
fig. to be stranded in the middle of nowhere
to be in a predicament

niǎobùshēngdàn,gǒubùlāshǐ

鸟不生蛋，狗不拉屎

[鳥不生蛋，狗不拉屎]

lit. (a place where) birds don't lay eggs and dogs don't defecate (idiom)
fig. god-forsaken
remote and desolate

dànànbùsǐ,bìyǒuhòufú

大难不死，必有后福

[大難不死，必有後福]

one is bound for good fortune after surviving a great disaster (proverb)

tiānwǎnghuīhuī,shū'érbùshī

天网恢恢，疏而不失

[天網恢恢，疏而不失]

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

nìngwéiyùsuì,bùwéiwǎquán

宁为玉碎，不为瓦全

[寧為玉碎，不為瓦全]

Better broken jade than intact tile.
Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)

zhīwúbùyán,yánwúbùjìn

知无不言，言无不尽

[知無不言，言無不盡]

lit. not hiding anything he knows, not stopping before he has said it through (idiom)
fig. frank; outspoken

bùgānbùjìng,chīleméibìng

不干不净，吃了没病

[不乾不淨，吃了沒病]

a little dirt never killed anybody (proverb)
a couple of germs won't do you any harm

chūqíbùyì,gōngqíbùbèi

出其不意，攻其不备

[出其不意，攻其不備]

to catch an enemy off guard with a surprise attack (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法／孙子兵法 ( Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ))

hǎojièhǎohuán,zàijièbùnán

好借好还，再借不难

[好借好還，再借不難]

see 有借有還，再借不難／有借有还，再借不难 (yǒujièyǒuhuán,zàijièbùnán)

xué'érbùyàn,huìrénbùjuàn

学而不厌，诲人不倦

[學而不厭，誨人不倦]

study tirelessly, teach with endless enthusiasm (idiom, from Analects)

zhǐkěyìhuì,bùkěyánchuán

只可意会，不可言传

[只可意會，不可言傳]

can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子／庄子 ( Zhuāngzǐ)); mysterious and subtle

bīngtànbùyán,lěngrèzìmíng

冰炭不言，冷热自明

[冰炭不言，冷熱自明]

ice or coals, whether hot or cold goes without saying (idiom); fig. sincerity is not expressed in words

liǎngguóxiāngzhēng,bùzhǎnláishǐ

两国相争，不斩来使

[兩國相爭，不斬來使]

when two kingdoms are at war, they don't execute envoys (idiom)

lǎotiānyé'èbùsǐxiājiāquè

老天爷饿不死瞎家雀

[老天爺餓不死瞎家雀]

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

shěbùdeháizitàobùzhùláng

舍不得孩子套不住狼

[捨不得孩子套不住狼]

one who is not prepared to risk his child will never catch the wolf (proverb)
(fig.) one who is unwilling to take risks will not achieve great things

zhǐzhīqíyī,bùzhīqí'èr

只知其一，不知其二

[只知其一，不知其二]

to know the first, but not know the second (idiom); only partial information

qiánbùbācūn,hòubùbādiàn

前不巴村，后不巴店

[前不巴村，後不巴店]

see 前不著村，後不著店／前不着村，后不着店 (qiánbùzháocūn,hòubùzháodiàn)

sìtǐbùqín,wǔgǔbùfēn

四体不勤，五谷不分

[四體不勤，五穀不分]

never move your four limbs, can't distinguish the five crops (idiom); living as a parasite

pǎodéliǎohéshàng,pǎobùliǎomiào

跑得了和尚，跑不了庙

[跑得了和尚，跑不了廟]

the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom)
you can run this time, but you'll have to come back
I'll get you sooner or later

bùyǐguīju,bùnéngchéngfāngyuán

不以规矩，不能成方圆

[不以規矩，不能成方圓]

without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules

shòurényǐyúbùrúshòurényǐyú

授人以鱼不如授人以渔

[授人以魚不如授人以漁]

give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime
knowledge is the best charity

shòuzhīyǐyúbùrúshòuzhīyǐyú

授之以鱼不如授之以渔

[授之以魚不如授之以漁]

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)

duǒguòchūyī,duǒbùguòshíwǔ

躲过初一，躲不过十五

[躲過初一，躲不過十五]

see 躲得過初一，躲不過十五／躲得过初一，躲不过十五 (duǒdeguòchūyī,duǒbùguòshíwǔ)

mǎwěichuāndòufu,tíbuqǐlai

马尾穿豆腐，提不起来

[馬尾穿豆腐，提不起來]

lit. like tofu strung on horsetail, you can't lift it
fig. let's not talk of this (pun on 提 (tí))

bùshìyījiārénbùjìnyījiāmén

不是一家人不进一家门

[不是一家人不進一家門]

people who don't belong together, don't get to live together (idiom)
marriages are predestined
people marry because they share common traits

zhīqírán'érbùzhīqísuǒyǐrán

知其然而不知其所以然

[知其然而不知其所以然]

(idiom) to know that it is so but not why it is so

zhàng'èrhéshang,mōbuzháotóunǎo

丈二和尚，摸不着头脑

[丈二和尚，摸不著頭腦]

lit. like a three-meter high monk, you can't rub his head (idiom)
fig. at a total loss

Dùxīngshìjīròuyíngyǎngbùliángzhèng

杜兴氏肌肉营养不良症

[杜興氏肌肉營養不良症]

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Abùláití· Abùdūrèxītí

阿不来提·阿不都热西提

[阿不來提·阿不都熱西提]

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

jīnwōyínwōbùrúzìjǐdegǒuwō

金窝银窝不如自己的狗窝

[金窩銀窩不如自己的狗窩]

there's no place like home (idiom)

duǒdeguòchūyī,duǒbùguòshíwǔ

躲得过初一，躲不过十五

[躲得過初一，躲不過十五]

lit. you may go undetected during the new moon, but at full moon you'll be found out (idiom)
fig. you can't put it off forever
sooner or later you'll have to deal with it

liúdeqīngshānzài,bùpàméicháishāo

留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

[留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒]

While the green hills last, there'll be wood to burn (idiom). Where there's life there's hope.

dānsībùchéngxiàn,dúmùbùchénglín

单丝不成线，独木不成林

[單絲不成線，獨木不成林]

(idiom) one strand does not make a thread, one tree does not make a forest

sǐle Zhāngtúfū,bùchīhùnmáozhū

死了张屠夫，不吃混毛猪

[死了張屠夫，不吃混毛豬]

lit. just because Zhang the butcher dies, doesn't mean we'll have to eat pork mixed with bristles (idiom)
fig. nobody is indispensable

yěhuǒshāobùjìn,chūnfēngchuīyòushēng

野火烧不尽，春风吹又生

[野火燒不盡，春風吹又生]

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 (yěhuǒchūnfēng)

yīpíngzibùxiǎng,bànpíngzihuàngdang

一瓶子不响，半瓶子晃荡

[一瓶子不響，半瓶子晃蕩]

lit. a full bottle makes no sound; a half-filled bottle sloshes (idiom)
fig. empty vessels make the most noise

chángzàihébiānzǒu,nǎyǒubùshīxié

常在河边走，哪有不湿鞋

[常在河邊走，哪有不濕鞋]

a person who regularly walks by the river cannot avoid getting their shoes wet (proverb)
(fig.) it comes with the territory (e.g. a person with the power to grant favors will inevitably succumb to temptation and take a bribe)

bùzuòkuīxīnshì,bùpàguǐqiāomén

不做亏心事，不怕鬼敲门

[不做虧心事，不怕鬼敲門]

he who never wrongs others does not fear the knock in the night; you can rest with a clear conscience

bùpàbùshíhuò,jiùpàhuòbǐhuò

不怕不识货，就怕货比货

[不怕不識貨，就怕貨比貨]

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

bùtīnglǎorényán,chīkuīzàiyǎnqián

不听老人言，吃亏在眼前

[不聽老人言，吃虧在眼前]

(idiom) ignore your elders at your peril

érbùxiánmǔchǒu,gǒubùxiánjiāpín

儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫

[兒不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧]

a son won't abandon his mother for being ugly, just as a dog won't abandon its owner for being poor (proverb)

guātiánbùnàlü,lǐxiàbùzhěngguān

瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠

[瓜田不納履，李下不整冠]

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

shàozhuàngbùnǔlì,lǎodàtúshāngbēi

少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲

[少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲]

if you are lazy in your prime, you'll be sorry in your old age

qiánbùjiàngǔrén,hòubùjiànláizhě

前不见古人，后不见来者

[前不見古人，後不見來者]

unique
unprecedented (idiom)

bùpàbùshíhuò,zhǐpàhuòbǐhuò

不怕不识货，只怕货比货

[不怕不識貨，只怕貨比貨]

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

hǎoshìbùchūmén,èshìchuánqiānlǐ

好事不出门，恶事传千里

[好事不出門，惡事傳千里]

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)

ruòyàorénbùzhī,chúfēijǐmòwéi

若要人不知，除非己莫为

[若要人不知，除非己莫為]

If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it (idiom). fig. If you do something bad, people will inevitably hear about it.

xuérúnìshuǐxíngzhōu,bùjìnzétuì

学如逆水行舟，不进则退

[學如逆水行舟，不進則退]

study is like rowing upstream – if you don't keep pushing forward, you fall behind

nìngchāishízuòmiào,bùhuǐyīzhuānghūn

宁拆十座庙，不毁一桩婚

[寧拆十座廟，不毀一樁婚]

rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)

xiùcaibùchūmén,quánzhītiānxiàshì

秀才不出门，全知天下事

[秀才不出門，全知天下事]

a learned person need not leave his home to know what's going on in the world (idiom)

yǎbachīhuánglián,yǒukǔshuōbuchū

哑巴吃黄连，有苦说不出

[啞巴吃黃連，有苦說不出]

to be forced to suffer in silence (idiom)
unable to speak of one's bitter suffering
sometimes written 啞子吃黃連，有苦說不出／哑子吃黄连，有苦说不出

gǒuyǎo Lü Dòngbīn,bùshíhǎorénxīn

狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心

[狗咬呂洞賓，不識好人心]

a dog biting Lü Dongbin (idiom)
to ill reward a person's kindness

xiùcaibùchūmén,néngzhītiānxiàshì

秀才不出门，能知天下事

[秀才不出門，能知天下事]

a learned person need not leave his home to know what's going on in the world (idiom)

zǐbùxiánmǔchǒu,gǒubùxiánjiāpín

子不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫

[子不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧]

see 兒不嫌母醜，狗不嫌家貧／儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫 (érbùxiánmǔchǒu,gǒubùxiánjiāpín)

línyuānxiànyú,bùrútuì'érjiéwǎng

临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网

[臨淵羨魚，不如退而結網]

better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond longing for fish (idiom)
one should take practical steps to achieve one's aim

píngshíbùshāoxiāng,línshíbàofójiǎo

平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚

[平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳]

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)

shīziduōlebùyǎng,zhàiduōlebùchóu

虱子多了不痒，债多了不愁

[虱子多了不癢，債多了不愁]

lit. covered with lice, one doesn't feel the itching anymore; up to one's ears in debt, one ceases to worry about it (idiom)
fig. to be past worrying (about sth)

rénbùkěmàoxiàng,hǎishuǐbùkědǒuliáng

人不可貌相，海水不可斗量

[人不可貌相，海水不可斗量]

you can't judge a person by appearance, just as you can't measure the sea with a pint pot (idiom)

qiānlǐmǎchángyǒu,ér Bó Lèbùchángyǒu

千里马常有，而伯乐不常有

[千里馬常有，而伯樂不常有]

lit. there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (idiom)
fig. many have talent, but few can recognize talent when they see it

xué'érbùsīzéwǎng,sī'érbùxuézédài

学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆

[學而不思則罔，思而不學則殆]

To learn without thinking is confusing, to think without learning is dangerous (Confucius)

zhǐxǔzhōuguānfànghuǒ,bùxǔbǎixìngdiǎndēng

只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

[只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈]

only the official is allowed to light the fire
Gods may do what cattle may not
quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi

yībù'èrshísìshǐ,bùzhīcónghéshuōqǐ

一部二十四史，不知从何说起

[一部二十四史，不知從何說起]

It's a long and intricate story, I hardly know where to start.

dāobùmóyàoshēngxiù,rénbùxuéyàoluòhòu

刀不磨要生锈，人不学要落后

[刀不磨要生銹，人不學要落後]

(idiom) a blade will get rusty if it is not sharpened; a man will fall behind if he doesn't study

jiāchǒubùkěwàichuán,liúyánqièmòqīngxìn

家丑不可外传，流言切莫轻信

[家醜不可外傳，流言切莫輕信]

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.

yòuyàomǎrpǎo,yòuyàomǎrbùchīcǎo

又要马儿跑，又要马儿不吃草

[又要馬兒跑，又要馬兒不吃草]

lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom)
fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too

yòuyàomǎrhǎo,yòuyàomǎrbùchīcǎo

又要马儿好，又要马儿不吃草

[又要馬兒好，又要馬兒不吃草]

see 又要馬兒跑，又要馬兒不吃草／又要马儿跑，又要马儿不吃草 (yòuyàomǎrpǎo,yòuyàomǎrbùchīcǎo)

mǎwúyècǎobùféi,rénwúwàikuàibùfù

马无夜草不肥，人无外快不富

[馬無夜草不肥，人無外快不富]

a horse cannot get fat without an extra ration, a man cannot get rich without an extra income (idiom)

tiānyǒubùcèfēngyún,rényǒudànxīhuòfú

天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福

[天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福]

fortune as unpredictable as the weather, every day may bring fortune or calamity (idiom); sth unexpected may happen at any moment

qiānlǐdāchángpéng,méiyǒubùsàndeyànxí

千里搭长棚，没有不散的宴席

[千里搭長棚，沒有不散的宴席]

even if you build a thousand-league awning for it, every banquet must come to an end (idiom)

dāngguānbùwèimínzuòzhǔbùrúhuíjiāmàihóngshǔ

当官不为民做主不如回家卖红薯

[當官不為民做主不如回家賣紅薯]

if an official does not put the people first, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes

píngshēngbùzuòkuīxīnshì,bànyèqiāoménxīnbùjīng

平生不做亏心事，半夜敲门心不惊

[平生不做虧心事，半夜敲門心不驚]

He who never wrongs others does not fear the knock in the night.
Rest with a clear conscience.

jiǔbùzuìrénrénzìzuì,sèbùmírénrénzìmí

酒不醉人人自醉，色不迷人人自迷

[酒不醉人人自醉，色不迷人人自迷]

wine doesn't make men drunk: men get themselves intoxicated. Lust does not overpower men: men surrender themselves to lust

tàpòtiěxiéwúmìchù,déláiquánbùfèigōngfu

踏破铁鞋无觅处，得来全不费工夫

[踏破鐵鞋無覓處，得來全不費工夫]

to travel far and wide looking for sth, only to find it easily

hàirénzhīxīnbùkěyǒu,fángrénzhīxīnbùkěwú

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]

refrain from hurting others, yet guard against those trying to hurt you (proverb)

bùguǎnbáimāohēimāo,zhuōzhùlǎoshǔjiùshìhǎomāo

不管白猫黑猫，捉住老鼠就是好猫

[不管白貓黑貓，捉住老鼠就是好貓]

it doesn't matter whether a cat is white or black; as long as it catches mice it's a good cat (variant of a Sichuanese saying used in a speech by Deng Xiaoping 鄧小平／邓小平 ( Dèng Xiǎopíng) in 1962, usually associated with his economic reforms starting in 1978, in which pragmatism was favored over ideological purity)

céngjīngcānghǎinánwéishuǐ,chúquè Wū Shānbùshìyún

曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云

[曾經滄海難為水，除卻巫山不是雲]

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

yǒuyìzāihuāhuābùfā,wúxīnchāliǔliǔchéngyīn

有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴

[有意栽花花不發，無心插柳柳成陰]

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

yǒuchóubùbàofēijūnzǐ,yǒuyuānbùshēnwǎngwéirén

有仇不报非君子，有冤不伸枉为人

[有仇不報非君子，有冤不伸枉為人]

one who doesn't avenge an injustice is not a gentleman, one who doesn't redress a wrong is not a man (idiom)

qiánbùshìwànnéngde,méiqiánshìwànwànbùnéngde

钱不是万能的，没钱是万万不能的

[錢不是萬能的，沒錢是萬萬不能的]

money isn't everything, but without money you can do nothing (idiom)

bùpàshényīyàngdeduìshǒu,jiùpàzhūyīyàngdeduìyǒu

不怕神一样的对手，就怕猪一样的队友

[不怕神一樣的對手，就怕豬一樣的隊友]

(idiom) a boneheaded teammate can do you more harm than the most formidable opponent