Usage of the character 八

eight; 8

sānbā

三八

[三八]

International Women's Day 婦女節／妇女节 ( Fùnüjié), 8th March
foolish
stupid

bāguà

八卦

[八卦]

the eight divinatory trigrams of the Book of Changes 易經／易经 ( Yìjīng)
gossip
gossipy

bāyīn

八音

[八音]

ancient classification system for musical instruments, based on the material of which the instrument is made (metal 金, stone 石, clay 土, leather 革, silk 絲／丝, wood 木, gourd 匏, bamboo 竹)
the eight kinds of sound produced by instruments in these categories
music

wángbā

王八

[王八]

tortoise
cuckold
(old) male owner of a brothel
pimp

bǎobā

保八

[保八]

to maintain an 8% annual growth rate of the GDP (PRC policy)

wàngbā

忘八

[忘八]

see 王八 (wángbā)

bāzì

八字

[八字]

the character 8 or 八
birthdate characters used in fortune-telling

zhuānbā

专八

[專八]

TEM-8 or Test for English Majors-Band 8, highest level proficiency test for English major students in PRC (abbr. for 英語專業八級考試／英语专业八级考试 ( Yīngyǔ Zhuānyè Bājí Kǎoshì))

bājiǎo

八角

[八角]

anise
star anise
aniseed
octagonal
Fructus Anisi stellati

Bākuò

八廓

[八廓]

Barkhor, pilgrim circuit around Jokhang temple in Lhasa, Tibet

Bāxiān

八仙

[八仙]

the Eight Immortals (Daoist mythology)

shíbā

十八

[十八]

eighteen
18

Bāqí

八旗

[八旗]

Eight Banners, military organization of Manchu later Jin dynasty 後金／后金 ( Hòu Jīn) from c. 1600, subsequently of the Qing dynasty

chǐbā

尺八

[尺八]

shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute)

èrbā

二八

[二八]

16
sixteen

Bālǎo

八老

[八老]

"the Eight Great Eminent Officials" of the CCP, abbr. for 八大元老 ( Bā Dà Yuánlǎo)

bāqiáng

八强

[八強]

(sports) top eight
quarterfinals

bājiè

八戒

[八戒]

the eight precepts (Buddhism)

qiūbā

丘八

[丘八]

soldier (from the two components of the 兵 character) (derog.)

Bālǐ

八里

[八里]

Bali or Pali township in New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xīnběishì), Taiwan

bāge

八哥

[八哥]

(bird species of China) crested myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)

bādǎn

八疸

[八疸]

eight (types of) jaundices (TCM)

bāgāng

八纲

[八綱]

(TCM) the eight principal syndromes (used to differentiate pathological conditions): yin and yang, exterior and interior, cold and heat, hypofunction and hyperfunction

bāchōng

八冲

[八沖]

eight surges (a group of eight acupoints in Chinese acupuncture, namely PC-9, TB-1, HT-9 and LV-3, bilaterally)

bāfāng

八方

[八方]

the eight points of the compass
all directions

bādù

八度

[八度]

octave

Bābù

八步

[八步]

Babu district of Hezhou city 賀州市／贺州市 ( Hèzhōushì), Guangxi

Bāsù

八宿

[八宿]

Baxoi county, Tibetan: Dpa' shod rdzong, in Chamdo prefecture 昌都地區／昌都地区 ( Chāngdūdìqū), Tibet

Bāyuè

八月

[八月]

August
eighth month (of the lunar year)

bāpó

八婆

[八婆]

meddling woman
nosy parker (Cantonese)

bāshí

八十

[八十]

eighty
80

Bādé

八德

[八德]

Bade or Pate city in Taoyuan county 桃園縣／桃园县 ( Táoyuánxiàn), north Taiwan

Bāměi

八美

[八美]

Bamay in Dawu County 道孚縣／道孚县 ( Dàofúxiàn), Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Sichuan

bākāi

八开

[八開]

octavo

wángbā

亡八

[亡八]

variant of 王八 (wángbā)

bāchéng

八成

[八成]

eighty percent
most probably
most likely

bāfēng

八风

[八風]

see 八風穴／八风穴 (bāfēngxué)

bāfǎ

八法

[八法]

eight methods of treatment (TCM)

bākǔ

八苦

[八苦]

the eight distresses - birth, age, sickness, death, parting with what we love, meeting with what we hate, unattained aims, and all the ills of the five skandhas (Buddhism)

bāgǔ

八股

[八股]

an essay in eight parts
stereotyped writing

Bāguà Shān

八卦山

[八卦山]

Bagua Mountain, Taiwan

bājìnzhì

八进制

[八進制]

octal

bāwèiyuán

八位元

[八位元]

8-bit (computing)

Bādéshì

八德市

[八德市]

Bade or Pate city in Taoyuan county 桃園縣／桃园县 ( Táoyuánxiàn), north Taiwan

bājiǎochuáng

八角床

[八角床]

traditional-style canopy bed

làbājié

腊八节

[臘八節]

Laba rice porridge festival, on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month

bāguàquán

八卦拳

[八卦拳]

baguazhang (a form of Chinese boxing)

bāzìhú

八字胡

[八字鬍]

mustache shaped like character 八

Bādàojiāng

八道江

[八道江]

Badaojiang district in Baishan city 白山市, Jilin

dǎngbāgǔ

党八股

[黨八股]

drab, stereotypical Communist Party writing style

bājífēng

八级风

[八級風]

force 8 wind
fresh gale

Jiāngbādiǎn

江八点

[江八點]

Jiang Zemin's 江澤民／江泽民 ( Jiāng Zémin) eight propositions on developing relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, presented in a 1995 speech

sānbāxiàn

三八线

[三八線]

38th parallel, forming the DMZ border between North and South Korea

Bājiǎo Jiē

八角街

[八角街]

Barkhor street, central business area and pilgrim circuit around Jokhang temple in Lhasa, Tibet, aka 八廓街 ( Bākuò Jiē)

bādàiyú

八带鱼

[八帶魚]

octopus

bājíquán

八极拳

[八極拳]

Ba Ji Quan "Eight Extremes Fist" - Martial Art

bābèitǐ

八倍体

[八倍體]

octoploid

bābiānxíng

八边形

[八邊形]

octagon

bājígōng

八级工

[八級工]

grade 8 worker (highest on the eight grade wage scale)
top-grade worker

bāhángshū

八行书

[八行書]

formal recommendation letter in eight columns

Zhū Bājiè

猪八戒

[豬八戒]

Zhu Bajie, character in Journey to the West 西遊記／西游记, with pig-like characteristics and armed with a muckrake
Pigsy in Arthur Waley's translation

Bābǎoshān

八宝山

[八寶山]

Mt Babao in Haidian district of Beijing

gāobādù

高八度

[高八度]

an octave higher (music)

bābāliù

八八六

[八八六]

Bye bye! (in chat room and text messages)

bābǎodān

八宝丹

[八寶丹]

eight-jewel elixir (TCM)

bāgēgǒu

八哥狗

[八哥狗]

pug (breed of dog)

bāyīwǔ

八一五

[八一五]

15th August (the date of Japan's surrender in 1945)

línbāge

林八哥

[林八哥]

(bird species of China) great myna (Acridotheres grandis)

làbāzhōu

腊八粥

[臘八粥]

Laba congee, ceremonial rice porridge dish eaten on the 8th day of the 12th month in the Chinese calendar

bājiǎofēng

八角枫

[八角楓]

alangium

niànbāchán

廿八躔

[廿八躔]

the twenty-eight constellations
also written 二十八宿 (èrshíbāxiù)

bāduànjǐn

八段锦

[八段錦]

eight-section brocade, a traditional eight-part sequence of qigong exercises

bāchóngzòu

八重奏

[八重奏]

octet (musical ensemble)

wángbādàn

王八蛋

[王八蛋]

bastard (insult)
son of a bitch

bāyīnhé

八音盒

[八音盒]

musical box

wàngbādàn

忘八旦

[忘八旦]

turtle's egg (highly offensive when directed at sb)

Bāměixiāng

八美乡

[八美鄉]

Bamei or Bamay township in Dawu County 道孚縣／道孚县 ( Dàofúxiàn), Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Sichuan

bāyuèfèn

八月份

[八月份]

August

bāgēr

八哥儿

[八哥兒]

erhua variant of 八哥 (bāgē)

Bālùjūn

八路军

[八路軍]

Eighth Route Army, the larger of the two major Chinese communist forces fighting the Japanese in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)

bāxiānzhuō

八仙桌

[八仙桌]

old-fashioned square table to seat eight people

bāhuìxué

八会穴

[八會穴]

the eight influential points (acupuncture)

Sānbājié

三八节

[三八節]

International Women's Day (March 8)

wàngbādàn

忘八蛋

[忘八蛋]

turtle's egg (highly offensive when directed at sb)

bāzìxíng

八字形

[八字形]

shape resembling the character 八 or 8
V-shape
splayed
figure of eight

Bākuò Jiē

八廓街

[八廓街]

Barkhor street, central business area and pilgrim circuit around Jokhang temple in Lhasa, Tibet

pībāzì

批八字

[批八字]

to have one's fortune read
system of fortune telling based on a person's date and time of birth, according to 干支 (sexagenary cycle)

bāzìjiǎo

八字脚

[八字腳]

splayfoot

Bālǐxiāng

八里乡

[八里鄉]

Bali or Pali township in New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xīnběishì), Taiwan

bājiājiàng

八家将

[八家將]

Ba Jia Jiang, the eight generals that guard the godly realm in Taiwanese folklore, represented by troupes of dancers in temple processions
(slang) lowlife gangster or young hoodlum, often written as "8+9", (bājiājiǔ)

bāzhuǎyú

八爪鱼

[八爪魚]

octopus

Bāgōngshān

八公山

[八公山]

Bagongshan, a district of Huainan City 淮南市 ( Huáinán Shì), Anhui

bājiǎoxíng

八角形

[八角形]

octagon

bāmùmán

八目鳗

[八目鰻]

lamprey (jawless proto-fish of family Petromyzontidae)

bāgǔwén

八股文

[八股文]

eight-part essay one had to master to pass the imperial exams in Ming and Qing dynasties

bāfēngxué

八风穴

[八風穴]

"eight wind points", name of a set of acupuncture points (EX-LE-10), four on each foot

Bādátōng

八达通

[八達通]

Octopus (Hong Kong smart card system for electronic payments)

Bāxiān Hú

八仙湖

[八仙湖]

see 草海 ( Cǎohǎi)

bā'èrdān

八二丹

[八二丹]

eight-to-two powder (TCM)

bāmiàntǐ

八面体

[八面體]

octahedron

bāzhēntāng

八珍汤

[八珍湯]

eight-treasure decoction, tonic formula used in Chinese medicine

bāzìméi

八字眉

[八字眉]

sloping eyebrows, formed like character for "eight"

bāzìbù

八字步

[八字步]

step with feet splayed outwards

chǒubāguài

丑八怪

[醜八怪]

ugly person

Bābùqū

八步区

[八步區]

Babu district of Hezhou city 賀州市／贺州市 ( Hèzhōushì), Guangxi

mōbāquān

摸八圈

[摸八圈]

to play mahjong

bāguàzhèn

八卦阵

[八卦陣]

eight-trigram battle array
(fig.) mystifying tactics

Bāsùxiàn

八宿县

[八宿縣]

Baxoi county, Tibetan: Dpa' shod rdzong, in Chamdo prefecture 昌都地區／昌都地区 ( Chāngdūdìqū), Tibet

bāqiángsài

八强赛

[八強賽]

quarterfinals

jiābāge

家八哥

[家八哥]

(bird species of China) common myna (Acridotheres tristis)

dībādù

低八度

[低八度]

an octave lower (music)

bāfǎquán

八法拳

[八法拳]

Ba Fa Quan "Eight Methods" - Martial Art

bābǎozhōu

八宝粥

[八寶粥]

rice congee made with red beans, lotus seeds, longan, red dates, nuts etc

bābèizi

八辈子

[八輩子]

(fig.) a long time

Bādálǐng

八达岭

[八達嶺]

Badaling, a particular section of the Great Wall that is a favorite tourist destination

bādiǎndàng

八点档

[八點檔]

8:00 p.m. time slot (on television)
(Tw) (coll.) television drama series that airs in the prime time slot of 8:00 p.m.

bāguàzhǎng

八卦掌

[八卦掌]

baguazhang (a form of Chinese boxing)

bāzhèngdào

八正道

[八正道]

the Eight-fold Noble Way (Buddhism)

Bābǎibàn

八佰伴

[八佰伴]

Yaohan retail group

bāshēngdùjuān

八声杜鹃

[八聲杜鵑]

(bird species of China) plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)

qīniǔbāwāi

七扭八歪

[七扭八歪]

misshapen
crooked
uneven (idiom)

shízhībājiǔ

十之八九

[十之八九]

most likely
mostly (in 8 or 9 cases out of 10)
vast majority

luànqībāzāo

乱七八糟

[亂七八糟]

(idiom) chaotic; in disorder; muddled

qīpīnbācòu

七拼八凑

[七拼八湊]

assembled at random
a motley collection

wángbādúzi

王八犊子

[王八犢子]

see 王八羔子 (wángbāgāozi)

bǎi'érbāshí

百儿八十

[百兒八十]

about a hundred
a hundred or so

bāxiàngchéngdào

八相成道

[八相成道]

the eight stages of the Buddha's life (Buddhism)

kuàirbāmáo

块儿八毛

[塊兒八毛]

one yuan or less
around 80 cents or one dollar

Bāqízǐdì

八旗子弟

[八旗子弟]

child of a Manchu bannerman family (nobility)
(fig.) privileged brat

húchěbāliū

胡扯八溜

[胡扯八溜]

to talk nonsense

Sānbā Dàgài

三八大盖

[三八大蓋]

(coll.) Arisaka Type 38 rifle (Japanese army rifle used 1905-1945)

qīhūnbāsù

七荤八素

[七葷八素]

confused
distracted

wàibāzìtuǐ

外八字腿

[外八字腿]

bow legs
bandy legs

wángbāgāozi

王八羔子

[王八羔子]

son of a bitch
bastard

wǔhángbāzuō

五行八作

[五行八作]

all the trades
people of all trades and professions

qīwānbāguǎi

七弯八拐

[七彎八拐]

twisting and turning
tricky and complicated

zhèng'érbābǎn

正儿八板

[正兒八板]

earnest
authentic

qiānrbābǎi

千儿八百

[千兒八百]

(coll.) one thousand or almost one thousand

Qīyé Bāyé

七爷八爷

[七爺八爺]

term used in Taiwan for 黑白無常／黑白无常 ( Hēi Bái Wúcháng)

qīzuǐbāshé

七嘴八舌

[七嘴八舌]

lively discussion with everybody talking at once

shēngchénbāzì

生辰八字

[生辰八字]

one's birth data for astrological purposes, combined from year, month, day, hour, heavenly trunk and earthly branch

bādàcàixì

八大菜系

[八大菜系]

the eight major cuisines of China, namely 川魯粵蘇浙閩湘徽／川鲁粤苏浙闽湘徽 ( Chuān Lǔ Yuè Sū Zhè Mǐn Xiāng Huī)

shuōqīshuōbā

说七说八

[說七說八]

after all

Bā Dà Yuánlǎo

八大元老

[八大元老]

"the Eight Great Eminent Officials" of the CCP, namely 鄧小平／邓小平 ( Dèng Xiǎopíng), 陳雲／陈云 ( Chén Yún), 李先念 ( Lǐ Xiānniàn), 彭真 ( Péng Zhēn), 楊尚昆／杨尚昆 ( Yáng Shàngkūn), 薄一波 ( Bó Yībō), 王震 ( Wáng Zhèn), and 宋任窮／宋任穷 ( Sòng Rènqióng)
abbr. to 八老 ( Bālǎo)

zhèng'érbājīng

正儿八经

[正兒八經]

serious
earnest
real
true

Bā Róng Bā Chǐ

八荣八耻

[八榮八恥]

Eight Honors and Eight Shames, PRC official moral guidelines

qīzhébākòu

七折八扣

[七折八扣]

lit. various cuts and deductions (idiom)
fig. greatly reduced
substantially scaled back

bābàizhījiāo

八拜之交

[八拜之交]

sworn brotherhood
intimate friendship

bāzìmìnglǐ

八字命理

[八字命理]

divination based on the eight characters of one's birth date

bāmiànlínglóng

八面玲珑

[八面玲瓏]

be smooth and slick (in establishing social relations)

bākuàifùjī

八块腹肌

[八塊腹肌]

six pack (abdominal muscles)

sìyǎngbāchā

四仰八叉

[四仰八叉]

sprawled out on one's back (idiom)

jiāqījiābā

夹七夹八

[夾七夾八]

completely mixed up
in a muddle

sìtōngbādá

四通八达

[四通八達]

roads open in all directions (idiom); accessible from all sides

Bāguó Liánjūn

八国联军

[八國聯軍]

Eight-Nation Alliance, involved in a military intervention in northern China in 1900

sìlín-bāshè

四邻八舍

[四鄰八舍]

(idiom) the whole neighborhood

èrshíbāxiù

二十八宿

[二十八宿]

the twenty-eight constellations

qīlǎobāshí

七老八十

[七老八十]

in one's seventies (age)
very old (of people)

qīshàngbāxià

七上八下

[七上八下]

at sixes and sevens
perturbed state of mind
in a mess

bābāntóufēng

八般头风

[八般頭風]

(TCM) eight kinds of "head wind" (headache)

zhèngjīngbābǎi

正经八摆

[正經八擺]

variant of 正經八百／正经八百 (zhèngjīngbābǎi)

Tiānlóng Bā Bù

天龙八部

[天龍八部]

Demigods and Semidevils, wuxia novel by Jin Yong 金庸 ( Jīn Yōng) and its TV and screen adaptations

wūqībāzāo

乌七八糟

[烏七八糟]

everything in disorder (idiom)
in a hideous mess
obscene
dirty
filthy

báilǐngbāge

白领八哥

[白領八哥]

(bird species of China) collared myna (Acridotheres albocinctus)

záqīzábā

杂七杂八

[雜七雜八]

an assortment
a bit of everything
lots of different (skills)

wàibāzìjiǎo

外八字脚

[外八字腳]

splayed feet

Bāgōngshān Qū

八公山区

[八公山區]

Bagongshan, a district of Huainan City 淮南市 ( Huáinán Shì), Anhui

Língbā Xiànzhāng

零八宪章

[零八憲章]

Charter 08, PRC pro-democracy petition of December 2008

bāfēnyīnfú

八分音符

[八分音符]

quaver
eighth note

Cháoxiǎnbādào

朝鲜八道

[朝鮮八道]

the eight provinces of Yi dynasty Korea

héngqīshùbā

横七竖八

[橫七豎八]

in disorder
at sixes and sevens (idiom)

sìmiànbāfāng

四面八方

[四面八方]

in all directions
all around
far and near

liùhébāfǎ

六合八法

[六合八法]

Liuhe Bafa - "Six Harmonies, Eight Methods" - Martial Art

Qínhuáibāyàn

秦淮八艳

[秦淮八艷]

the famous eight beautiful and talented courtesans who lived near the Qinhuai River 秦淮河 ( Qínhuái Hé) in the late Ming or early Qing

sìpíngbāwěn

四平八稳

[四平八穩]

everything steady and stable (idiom); overcautious and unimaginary

bābǎoyǎnyào

八宝眼药

[八寶眼藥]

eight-jewel eye ointment (TCM)

bāzìhúxū

八字胡须

[八字鬍鬚]

mustache shaped like character 八

zhàngbāshémáo

丈八蛇矛

[丈八蛇矛]

ancient spear-like weapon 18 Chinese feet 尺 (chǐ) in length, with a wavy spearhead like a snake's body

qīshǒubājiǎo

七手八脚

[七手八腳]

(idiom) with everyone lending a hand (eagerly but somewhat chaotically)

bāzìfāngzhēn

八字方针

[八字方針]

a policy expressed as an eight-character slogan
(esp.) the eight-character slogan for the economic policy proposed by Li Fuchun 李富春 ( Lǐ Fuchùn) in 1961: 調整、鞏固、充實、提高／调整、巩固、充实、提高 "adjust, consolidate, enrich and improve"

èrbājiārén

二八佳人

[二八佳人]

16-year-old beauty

Bādátōngkǎ

八达通卡

[八達通卡]

Octopus card (Hong Kong smart card for electronic payments)

qīlíngbāsuì

七零八碎

[七零八碎]

bits and pieces
scattered fragments

húzhōubāchě

胡诌八扯

[胡謅八扯]

to talk random nonsense (idiom); to say whatever comes into one's head

qīzuǐbāzhāng

七嘴八张

[七嘴八張]

see 七嘴八舌 (qīzuǐbāshé)

bāfēnzhīyī

八分之一

[八分之一]

one eighth

qīshàngbāluò

七上八落

[七上八落]

see 七上八下 (qīshàngbāxià)

Bāqí Dàshé

八岐大蛇

[八岐大蛇]

Yamata no Orochi, serpent with eight heads and eight tails from mythological section of Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan)

xiānbāsèdōng

仙八色鸫

[仙八色鶇]

(bird species of China) fairy pitta (Pitta nympha)

Bādàojiāngqū

八道江区

[八道江區]

Badaojiang district in Baishan city 白山市, Jilin

Zhǎowābāge

爪哇八哥

[爪哇八哥]

(bird species of China) Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus)

bājiǎohuíxiāng

八角茴香

[八角茴香]

Chinese anise
star anise
Fructus Anisi Stellati

nèibāzìjiǎo

内八字脚

[內八字腳]

intoeing
pigeon toes
knock-knees

bànjīnbāliǎng

半斤八两

[半斤八兩]

not much to choose between the two
tweedledum and tweedledee

bāgāngbiànzhèng

八纲辨证

[八綱辨證]

pattern-syndrome identification based on the eight principles (TCM)

wūqībāzāo

污七八糟

[污七八糟]

variant of 烏七八糟／乌七八糟 (wūqībāzāo)

zhèngjīngbābǎi

正经八百

[正經八百]

very serious
solemn

húshuōbādào

胡说八道

[胡說八道]

to talk rubbish

wǔhuābāmén

五花八门

[五花八門]

myriad
all kinds of
all sorts of

Bāguó Jítuán

八国集团

[八國集團]

G8 (group of eight major industrialized nations)

cáigāobādǒu

才高八斗

[才高八斗]

of great talent (idiom)

qīqībābā

七七八八

[七七八八]

almost
nearing completion
bits and piece
of all kinds

zhènggǔbāfǎ

正骨八法

[正骨八法]

the eight methods of bonesetting
Chinese osteopathy

zhèngjīngbābǎn

正经八板

[正經八板]

see 正經八百／正经八百 (zhèngjīngbābǎi)

wànrbāqiān

万儿八千

[萬兒八千]

ten thousand or almost ten thousand

Bāyuèzhī Guāng

八月之光

[八月之光]

Light in August (novel by William Faulkner 威廉·福克納／威廉·福克纳 ( Wēilián· Fúkènà))

qīlíngbāluò

七零八落

[七零八落]

(idiom) everything broken and in disorder

shíyǒubājiǔ

十有八九

[十有八九]

most likely
mostly (in 8 or 9 cases out of 10)
vast majority

bātáidàjiào

八抬大轿

[八抬大轎]

palanquin with eight carriers
(fig.) lavish treatment

qīwānbāguǎi

七湾八拐

[七灣八拐]

variant of 七彎八拐／七弯八拐 (qīwānbāguǎi)

Bāqízhìdù

八旗制度

[八旗制度]

Eight Banners system, the military and social organization of the Manchus between c. 1500 and 1911

lánbāsèdōng

蓝八色鸫

[藍八色鶇]

(bird species of China) blue pitta (Hydrornis cyaneus)

liàndānbāguàlú

炼丹八卦炉

[煉丹八卦爐]

eight trigrams furnace to cook pills of immortality
symbol of the alchemist's art
Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn, and cauldron bubble

bājiǔbùlíshí

八九不离十

[八九不離十]

pretty close
very near
about right

Bāyī Jiànjūnjié

八一建军节

[八一建軍節]

see 建軍節／建军节 ( Jiànjūnjié)

nüdàshíbābiàn

女大十八变

[女大十八變]

lit. a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood (idiom)
fig. a young woman is very different from the little girl she once was

bāzìméiyīpiě

八字没一撇

[八字沒一撇]

lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (bā) (idiom)
fig. things have not even begun to take shape
no sign of success yet

Chángqīngténg Bāxiào

常青藤八校

[常青藤八校]

Ivy League

shíwànbāqiānlǐ

十万八千里

[十萬八千里]

light-years (apart)
a million miles (apart)
(i.e. indicates a huge difference or a huge distance)

Bāwàn Dàzàngjīng

八万大藏经

[八萬大藏經]

Tripitaka Koreana, Buddhist scriptures carved on 81,340 wooden tablets and housed in the Haein Temple 海印寺 ( Hǎiyìnsì) in South Gyeongsang province of South Korea

lìtóubāsèdōng

栗头八色鸫

[栗頭八色鶇]

(bird species of China) rusty-naped pitta (Hydrornis oatesi)

shuāngbiànbāsèdōng

双辫八色鸫

[雙辮八色鶇]

(bird species of China) eared pitta (Hydrornis phayrei)

bādǎnshēnmiànhuáng

八疸身面黄

[八疸身面黃]

eight types of jaundice with yellowing of body and face (TCM)

Táng- Sòngbādàjiā

唐宋八大家

[唐宋八大家]

the eight giants of Tang and Song prose, esp. involved in the Classics movement 古文運動／古文运动 (guwěnyundòng), namely: Han Yu 韓愈／韩愈 ( Hán Yù), Liu Zongyuan 柳宗元 ( Liǔ Zongyuān), Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修／欧阳修 ( Ouyāng Xiū), the three Su's 三蘇／三苏 ( Sān Sū), Wang Anshi 王安石 ( Wáng Anshī), Zeng Gong 曾鞏／曾巩 ( Zēng Gǒng)

Bā Er Sān Pàozhàn

八二三炮战

[八二三炮戰]

bombardment of Kinmen by PRC forces that started August 23rd 1958, also called the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

Jiǔ Yībā Shìbiàn

九一八事变

[九一八事變]

the Mukden or Manchurian Railway Incident of 18th September 1931 used by the Japanese as a pretext to annex Manchuria
also known as Liutiaogou incident 柳條溝事變／柳条沟事变

bājígōngzīzhì

八级工资制

[八級工資制]

eight grade wage scale (system)

jīnguānshùbāge

金冠树八哥

[金冠樹八哥]

(bird species of China) golden-crested myna (Ampeliceps coronatus)

lüxiōngbāsèdōng

绿胸八色鸫

[綠胸八色鶇]

(bird species of China) hooded pitta (Pitta sordida)

lánbèibāsèdōng

蓝背八色鸫

[藍背八色鶇]

(bird species of China) blue-rumped pitta (Hydrornis soror)

lánchìbāsèdōng

蓝翅八色鸫

[藍翅八色鶇]

(bird species of China) blue-winged pitta (Pitta moluccensis)

lánzhěnbāsèdōng

蓝枕八色鸫

[藍枕八色鶇]

(bird species of China) blue-naped pitta (Hydrornis nipalensis)

sānshíbādùxiàn

三十八度线

[三十八度線]

38th parallel
dividing line agreed at Yalta between US and Soviet zones of influence in Korea, now the DMZ between North and South Korea

Yī Erbā Shìbiàn

一二八事变

[一二八事變]

Shanghai Incident of 28th January 1932, Chinese uprising against Japanese quarters of Shanghai

qīdàgūbādàyí

七大姑八大姨

[七大姑八大姨]

distant relatives

bāzìháiméiyīpiě

八字还没一撇

[八字還沒一撇]

lit. not even the first stroke of the character 八 (bā) has been written (idiom)
fig. things have not even gotten started yet; nothing tangible has come of one's plans yet

bāxiǎoshígōngzuòzhì

八小时工作制

[八小時工作制]

eight-hour working day

bāzìháiméiyīpiěr

八字还没一撇儿

[八字還沒一撇兒]

lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (bā) (idiom)
fig. things have not even begun to take shape
no sign of success yet

Bāshí Tiān Huányóu Dìqiú

八十天环游地球

[八十天環遊地球]

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne 儒勒·凡爾納／儒勒·凡尔纳 ( Rúlè· Fán'ěrnà)

Gāolí Bāwàn Dàzàngjīng

高丽八万大藏经

[高麗八萬大藏經]

Tripitaka Koreana, Buddhist scriptures carved on 81,340 wooden tablets and housed in the Haein Temple 海印寺 ( Hǎiyìnsì) in South Gyeongsang province of South Korea

Huángdì Bāshíyī Nànjīng

黄帝八十一难经

[黃帝八十一難經]

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Eighty-one Difficulties, medical text, c. 1st century AD

Bābǎo Shān Gémìng Gōngmù

八宝山革命公墓

[八寶山革命公墓]

Mt Babao Revolutionary Cemetery in Haidian district of Beijing

bādàgōngyèguózǔzhī

八大工业国组织

[八大工業國組織]

G8 (group of eight major industrialized nations)

qié'èrshíbāxīngpiáochóng

茄二十八星瓢虫

[茄二十八星瓢蟲]

28-spotted ladybird
hadda beetle
Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

Sān Dà Jìlü Bā Xiàng Zhùyì

三大纪律八项注意

[三大紀律八項注意]

the Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention, a military doctrine issued in 1928 by Mao Zedong for the Red Army, which included a number of injunctions demanding high standards of behavior and respect for civilians during wartime

yǎnguānliùlù'ěrtīngbāfāng

眼观六路耳听八方

[眼觀六路耳聽八方]

lit. the eyes watch six roads and the ears listen in all directions
to be observant and alert (idiom)

Bāxiānguòhǎi,gèxiǎnshéntōng

八仙过海，各显神通

[八仙過海，各顯神通]

lit. the Eight Immortals cross the sea, each showing his own special talent (idiom)
fig. (of each individual in a group) to give full play to one's unique capabilities

yǎnguānsìmiàn,ěrtīngbāfāng

眼观四面，耳听八方

[眼觀四面，耳聽八方]

lit. the eyes observe all sides and the ears listen in all directions (idiom)
fig. to be observant and alert

Bāxiānguòhǎi,gèxiǎnqínéng

八仙过海，各显其能

[八仙過海，各顯其能]

see 八仙過海，各顯神通／八仙过海，各显神通 ( Bāxiānguòhǎi,gèxiǎnshéntōng)

yǎnguānsìchù,ěrtīngbāfāng

眼观四处，耳听八方

[眼觀四處，耳聽八方]

see 眼觀四面，耳聽八方／眼观四面，耳听八方 (yǎnguānsìmiàn,ěrtīngbāfāng)