Usage of the character 天

the day after tomorrow
life after birth (the period in which one develops through experiences, contrasted with 先天 (xiāntiān))
acquired (not innate or congenital)
a posteriori

tiāntíng

天庭

[天庭]

middle of the forehead
imperial court
heaven

tiānjiè

天界

[天界]

heaven

zhōngtiān

终天

[終天]

all day long
all one's life

tiānnián

天年

[天年]

natural life span

Tiānshū

天枢

[天樞]

alpha Ursae Majoris

tiānxīn

天心

[天心]

center of the sky
will of heaven
will of the Gods
the monarch's will

tiānwáng

天王

[天王]

emperor
god
Hong Xiuquan's self-proclaimed title
see also 洪秀全 ( Hóng Xiùquán)

tiānqiǎn

天谴

[天譴]

the wrath of Heaven
imperial displeasure

tiānchéng

天成

[天成]

as if made by heaven

tiānr

天儿

[天兒]

the weather

lètiān

乐天

[樂天]

carefree
happy-go-lucky
optimistic

Tiān Shān

天山

[天山]

Tian Shan, mountain range straddling the border between China and Kyrgyzstan

tiānpéng

天篷

[天篷]

canopy

tiānchē

天车

[天車]

gantry traveling crane

tiāngōng

天公

[天公]

heaven
lord of heaven

yīntiān

阴天

[陰天]

cloudy day; overcast sky

tiānshēng

天生

[天生]

nature
disposition
innate
natural

Tiānxīn

天心

[天心]

Tianxin district of Changsha city 長沙市／长沙市 ( Chángshāshì), Hunan

tiānliáng

天良

[天良]

conscience

Tiānmìng

天命

[天命]

Mandate of Heaven
destiny
fate
one's life span

tiānzhū

天诛

[天誅]

heavenly punishment
king's punishment

tiānhú

天和

[天和]

(mahjong) heavenly hand; a hand that is completed by the dealer on their first draw
(mahjong) to obtain a heavenly hand

Tiāngōng

天宫

[天宮]

Temple in Heaven (e.g. of the Jade Emperor)
Tiangong, Chinese space station program

Tiānhuáng

天皇

[天皇]

Heavenly Sovereign, one of the three legendary sovereigns 三皇 (sānhuáng)
emperor
emperor of Japan

tiānmó

天魔

[天魔]

demonic
devil

tiāndì

天地

[天地]

heaven and earth
world
scope
field of activity

bàntiān

半天

[半天]

half of the day
a long time
quite a while
midair
CL:個／个 (gè)

tiānpíng

天平

[天平]

scales (to weigh things)

báitiān

白天

[白天]

daytime
during the day
day
CL:個／个 (gè)

hángtiān

航天

[航天]

space flight

Lètiān

乐天

[樂天]

Lotte (South Korean conglomerate)

tiānzǐ

天子

[天子]

the (rightful) emperor
"Son of Heaven" (traditional English translation)

tiānxuán

天璇

[天璇]

beta Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper

huítiān

回天

[回天]

to reverse a desperate situation

tiāndēng

天灯

[天燈]

sky lantern (miniature hot-air balloon used during festivals)

tiānwài

天外

[天外]

beyond the earth
outer space

tiānzé

天择

[天擇]

natural selection

gétiān

隔天

[隔天]

the next day
on alternate days

tiānjià

天价

[天價]

extremely expensive
sky-high price

Fàntiān

梵天

[梵天]

Nirvana (in Buddhist scripture)
Lord Brahma (the Hindu Creator)

yuǎntiān

远天

[遠天]

heaven
the distant sky

tiānlóu

天蝼

[天螻]

mole cricket
slang word for agricultural pest Gryllotalpa

tiānqù

天趣

[天趣]

natural charm (of writings, works of art etc)

tiānliàng

天量

[天量]

a staggering number; a mind-boggling amount

Tiāncháng

天长

[天長]

Tianchang, a sub-prefecture-level city in Anhui

tiānsè

天色

[天色]

color of the sky
time of day, as indicated by the color of the sky
weather

qīngtiān

青天

[青天]

clear sky
blue sky
upright and honorable (official)

tiānkēng

天坑

[天坑]

sinkhole

jīntiān

今天

[今天]

today
the present time; now

Tiānmén

天门

[天門]

Tianmen sub-prefecture level city in Hubei

cháotiān

朝天

[朝天]

to have an audience with the Emperor
to be presented at court
to look skyward
to look up

tiāntǐ

天体

[天體]

celestial body
nude body

chōngtiān

冲天

[沖天]

to soar
to rocket

tiānlù

天禄

[天祿]

auspicious sculpted animal, usu. a unicorn or deer with a long tail
possession of the empire

Fèngtiān

奉天

[奉天]

old name for Shenyang 瀋陽／沈阳 in modern Liaoning province

Tiānwǎng

天网

[天網]

Skynet (nationwide video surveillance system in China)

Tiānníng

天宁

[天寧]

Tianning district of Changzhou city 常州市 ( Chángzhōushì), Jiangsu

lǎotiān

老天

[老天]

God
Heavens

tiānzāi

天灾

[天災]

natural disaster

dōngtiān

冬天

[冬天]

winter
CL:個／个 (gè)

tiānliàng

天亮

[天亮]

to grow light (at daybreak)

tiānhàn

天旱

[天旱]

drought

Tiāncháo

天朝

[天朝]

Celestial Empire, tributary title conferred on imperial China
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

Tiānchí

天池

[天池]

Lake Tianchi in Xinjiang

hàotiān

昊天

[昊天]

clear sky

zuótiān

昨天

[昨天]

yesterday

tiānlài

天籁

[天籟]

sounds of nature

tiānxiǎn

天险

[天險]

a natural stronghold

míngtiān

明天

[明天]

tomorrow

Tiānhòu

天后

[天后]

Tin Hau, Empress of Heaven, another name for the goddess Matsu 媽祖／妈祖 ( Māzǔ)
Tin Hau (Hong Kong area around the MTR station with same name)

Tiānwèn

天问

[天問]

Tianwen, or Questions to Heaven, a long poem by Chu Yuan 屈原 ( Qū Yuán)
Tianwen, a series of interplanetary missions developed by the China National Space Administration starting in 2016, named after the poem

tiānyuān

天渊

[天淵]

distance between two poles
poles apart

Tiānshùn

天顺

[天順]

Tianshun Emperor, reign name of eighth Ming Emperor 朱祁鎮／朱祁镇 ( Zhū Qízhèn) (1427-1464), reigned 1457-1464, temple name Yingzong 英宗 ( Yīngzōng)

tiāndí

天敌

[天敵]

predator; natural enemy

tiānrén

天人

[天人]

Man and Heaven
celestial being

tiānbīng

天兵

[天兵]

celestial soldier
(old) imperial troops
(Tw, jocular) clumsy army recruit
(more generally) bungler
screw-up

tiānlěng

天冷

[天冷]

it's cold (weather)

tiānchí

天池

[天池]

"heavenly lake", lake situated on a mountain
used as the name of numerous lakes, such as 長白山天池／长白山天池 ( Chángbáishān Tiānchí)

Tiānzhǔ

天主

[天主]

God (in Catholicism)
abbr. for 天主教 ( Tiānzhǔjiào), Catholicism

fēitiān

飞天

[飛天]

flying Apsara (Buddhist art)

Tiānyǎn

天眼

[天眼]

nickname of the FAST radio telescope (in Guizhou)

zhōngtiān

中天

[中天]

culmination (astronomy)

shǔtiān

暑天

[暑天]

hot (summer) day

(TCM) menstruation
period

tiānxìng

天幸

[天幸]

providential good luck
a narrow escape

tiānxiān

天仙

[天仙]

immortal (esp. female)
deity
fairy
Goddess
fig. beautiful woman

yǔtiān

雨天

[雨天]

rainy day
rainy weather

nàtiān

那天

[那天]

that day
the other day

mótiān

摩天

[摩天]

skyscraping
towering into the sky

chéngtiān

成天

[成天]

(coll.) all day long
all the time

tiānfèn

天份

[天份]

variant of 天分 (tiānfèn)

tiāntī

天梯

[天梯]

stairway to heaven
high mountain road
tall ladder on a building or other large structure
space elevator

àntiān

按天

[按天]

daily (law)
per diem

tiānya

天呀

[天呀]

Heavens!
My goodness!

tiānlún

天伦

[天倫]

family bonds
ethical family relations

tiāndiàn

天电

[天電]

atmospherics
static

tiānshí

天时

[天時]

the time
the right time
weather conditions
destiny
course of time
heaven's natural order

Tiāndì

天帝

[天帝]

God of heaven
Celestial emperor

tiānlán

天蓝

[天藍]

sky blue

tiāndào

天道

[天道]

natural law
heavenly law
weather (dialect)

tiānhuā

天花

[天花]

smallpox
ceiling
stamen of corn
(old) snow
(dialect) sesame oil

tiānjì

天际

[天際]

horizon

tiānbiān

天边

[天邊]

horizon
ends of the earth
remotest places

lùtiān

露天

[露天]

outdoors
al fresco
in the open

tiānquán

天权

[天權]

delta Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper

tiānchèng

天秤

[天秤]

balance scale
Taiwan pr. (tiānpíng)

quántiān

全天

[全天]

whole day

Tiānjùn

天峻

[天峻]

Tianjun county (Tibetan: then cun rdzong) in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan autonomous prefecture 海西蒙古族藏族自治州 ( Hǎixī Měnggǔzú Zàngzúzìzhìzhōu), Qinghai

tiānniú

天牛

[天牛]

Longhorn beetle

Tiānshuǐ

天水

[天水]

Tianshui, prefecture-level city in Gansu

Tiān Wài

天外

[天外]

abbr. for 天津外國語大學／天津外国语大学 ( Tiānjīn Wàiguóyǔ Dàxué)

tiānzūn

天尊

[天尊]

(honorific appellation of a deity)

tiāngōu

天沟

[天溝]

(rainwater) gutter

Tiānzhèn

天镇

[天鎮]

Tianzhen county in Datong 大同 ( Dàtóng), Shanxi

tiāndǐng

天顶

[天頂]

zenith

tiānmá

天麻

[天麻]

Gastrodia elata (botany)

tiānshǐ

天使

[天使]

angel

zhètiān

这天

[這天]

today
this day

tiāntiān

天天

[天天]

every day

qiūtiān

秋天

[秋天]

autumn
CL:個／个 (gè)

tiānzhí

天职

[天職]

vocation
duty
mission in life

chūntiān

春天

[春天]

spring (season)
CL:個／个 (gè)

tiānyì

天意

[天意]

providence
the Will of Heaven

Tiānhàn

天汉

[天漢]

the Milky Way

tiānfù

天父

[天父]

Heavenly Father

tiānyá

天涯

[天涯]

the other end of the world
a faraway place

tiānzàng

天葬

[天葬]

sky burial (Tibetan funeral practice)

jǐtiān

几天

[幾天]

several days

tiānguó

天国

[天國]

Kingdom of Heaven

tiānqiàn

天堑

[天塹]

natural moat

qíngtiān

晴天

[晴天]

clear sky
sunny day

Tiānfāng

天方

[天方]

(old) Arabia
Arabian

cètiān

测天

[測天]

to make astronomical observation

màntiān

漫天

[漫天]

lit. to fill the whole sky
everywhere
as far as the eye can see

tiānqīn

天亲

[天親]

one's flesh and blood

tiānlǐ

天理

[天理]

Heaven's law
the natural order of things

mítiān

弥天

[彌天]

filling the entire sky
covering everything (of fog, crime, disaster etc)

tiānhēi

天黑

[天黑]

to get dark
dusk

xiàtiān

夏天

[夏天]

summer
CL:個／个 (gè)

dàngtiān

当天

[當天]

the same day

tiāncái

天才

[天才]

talent
gift
genius
talented
gifted

nìtiān

逆天

[逆天]

(literary) to be in defiance of the natural order
(coll.) extraordinary; incredible

shēngtiān

升天

[升天]

lit. to ascend to heaven
to die

tiāngān

天干

[天干]

the 10 heavenly stems 甲 (jiǎ), 乙 (yǐ), 丙 (bǐng), 丁 (dīng), 戊 (wù), 己 (jǐ), 庚 (gēng), 辛 (xīn), 壬 (rén), 癸 (guǐ), used cyclically in the calendar and as ordinal numbers I, II etc

tiānhòu

天候

[天候]

weather

guītiān

归天

[歸天]

to die

cāntiān

参天

[參天]

(of a tree etc) to reach up to the sky

tántiān

谈天

[談天]

to chat

liáotiān

聊天

[聊天]

to chat; to gossip

tiānxiē

天蝎

[天蠍]

Scorpio (constellation)

Tiānhé

天河

[天河]

Milky Way
Tianhe District of Guangzhou City 廣州市／广州市 ( Guǎngzhou Shì), Guangdong

dāngtiān

当天

[當天]

on that day

tiānzhū

天珠

[天珠]

dzi bead, a type of stone bead highly prized in Tibet for many centuries, reputed to hold supernatural power

tiānyǎn

天演

[天演]

natural change
evolution (early translation, since replaced by 進化／进化)

Tiānjīn

天津

[天津]

Tianjin, a municipality in northeast China, abbr. 津

Yětiān

冶天

[冶天]

ATI, brand name of AMD graphics cards

Xíngtiān

刑天

[刑天]

Xingtian, headless giant hero of Chinese mythology decapitated by the Yellow Emperor 黃帝／黄帝 ( Huángdì)

tiānkè

天课

[天課]

zakat

Tiānquán

天全

[天全]

Tianquan county in Ya'an 雅安 ( Yǎ'ān), Sichuan

shuāngtiān

霜天

[霜天]

freezing weather
frosty sky

mǎntiān

满天

[滿天]

whole sky

xiàbàntiān

下半天

[下半天]

afternoon

hángtiānjú

航天局

[航天局]

space agency

Tiānxièzuò

天蟹座

[天蟹座]

Cancer (constellation and sign of the zodiac)
variant of 巨蟹座

tiānyǎnlùn

天演论

[天演論]

the theory of evolution (early translation, since replaced by 進化論／进化论)

Hǎiqīngtiān

海青天

[海青天]

popular nickname of Hai Rui 海瑞 ( Hǎi Ruì) (1514-1587), Ming politician, famous for honesty and integrity

Tiānděngxiàn

天等县

[天等縣]

Tiandeng county in Chongzuo 崇左 ( Chóngzuǒ), Guangxi

Xīntiāndì

新天地

[新天地]

Xintiandi (shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai)

húntiānyí

浑天仪

[渾天儀]

armillary sphere (astronomy)

Tiāncháng Shì

天长市

[天長市]

Tianchang, a sub-prefecture-level city in Anhui

Tiānshānqū

天山区

[天山區]

Tianshan district (Uighur: Tiyanshan rayoni) of Urumqi city 烏魯木齊市／乌鲁木齐市 ( Wūlǔmùqí Shì), Xinjiang

Duōwéntiān

多闻天

[多聞天]

Vaisravana (one of the Heavenly Kings)

Tiānxīnqū

天心区

[天心區]

Tianxin district of Changsha city 長沙市／长沙市 ( Chángshāshì), Hunan

tiān'éróng

天鹅绒

[天鵝絨]

velvet
swan's down

Tiān'éxiàn

天峨县

[天峨縣]

Tian'e county in Hezhou 賀州／贺州 ( Hèzhōu), Guangxi

tiānzhúkuí

天竺葵

[天竺葵]

geranium (Pelargonium hortorum)

tòutiāncuò

透天厝

[透天厝]

(Tw) row house
townhouse
terrace house

tiānxiàngyí

天象仪

[天象儀]

planetarium projector

Tiānhèzuò

天鹤座

[天鶴座]

Grus (constellation)

liáotiānr

聊天儿

[聊天兒]

erhua variant of 聊天 (liáotiān)

mótiānlóu

摩天楼

[摩天樓]

skyscraper
CL:座 (zuò)

tiānqīngshí

天青石

[天青石]

lapis lazuli

Tiānlóngguó

天龙国

[天龍國]

(slang) (Tw) Taipei 臺北／台北 ( Táiběi)

Lǐ Tiānlù

李天禄

[李天祿]

Li Tianlu (1910-1998), Taiwanese master puppeteer

Tiāngēzuò

天鸽座

[天鴿座]

Columba (constellation)

sānjiǔtiān

三九天

[三九天]

the twenty seven days after the Winter Solstice, reputed to be the coldest days of the year

xìntiānwēng

信天翁

[信天翁]

albatross (family Diomedeidae)

Cháotiānqū

朝天区

[朝天區]

Chaotian district of Guangyuan city 廣元市／广元市 ( Guǎngyuánshì), Sichuan

qiányītiān

前一天

[前一天]

the day before (an event)

Tiānzhōuzuò

天舟座

[天舟座]

Argo (constellation, now divided into Carina 船底座 and Puppis 船尾座)

sītiāntái

司天台

[司天臺]

Observatory or Bureau of Astronomy (official title) from the Tang dynasty onwards

tiānxiǎode

天晓得

[天曉得]

Heaven knows!

Tiānchéngwén

天城文

[天城文]

Devanagari alphabet used in India and Nepal

Tiānzhùxiàn

天柱县

[天柱縣]

Tianzhu county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 黔東南州／黔东南州 ( Qiándōngnánzhōu), Guizhou

shàngbàntiān

上半天

[上半天]

morning

Tiānyuánqū

天元区

[天元區]

Tianyuan district of Zhuzhou city 株洲市, Hunan

Tiāntánzuò

天坛座

[天壇座]

Ara (constellation)

Tiānjùnxiàn

天峻县

[天峻縣]

Tianjun county (Tibetan: then cun rdzong) in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan autonomous prefecture 海西蒙古族藏族自治州 ( Hǎixī Měnggǔzú Zàngzúzìzhìzhōu), Qinghai

Tiānmāozuò

天猫座

[天貓座]

Lynx (constellation)

tiānpíngdòng

天平动

[天平動]

(astronomy) libration

Tiānníngqū

天宁区

[天寧區]

Tianning district of Changzhou city 常州市 ( Chángzhōushì), Jiangsu

Xiǎotiān'é

小天鹅

[小天鵝]

Little Swan (PRC appliance brand)

tiānnàshuǐ

天那水

[天那水]

paint thinner

Guǎngmùtiān

广目天

[廣目天]

Virupaksa (on of the Four Heavenly Kings)

Tiānlángxīng

天狼星

[天狼星]

Sirius, a double star in constellation Canis Major 大犬座

shǔjiǔtiān

数九天

[數九天]

nine periods of nine days each after winter solstice, the coldest time of the year

tiānrányóu

天然铀

[天然鈾]

natural uranium

dàtiān'é

大天鹅

[大天鵝]

(bird species of China) whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)

quántiānhòu

全天候

[全天候]

all-weather

tiāngāngliàng

天刚亮

[天剛亮]

daybreak

tiānshāde

天杀的

[天殺的]

Goddam!
goddamn
wretched

lǎobàntiān

老半天

[老半天]

(coll.) a long time

xiāntiānxìng

先天性

[先天性]

congenital; intrinsic; innate

shàngxītiān

上西天

[上西天]

(Buddhism) to go to the Western Paradise
(fig.) to die

tiānpàochuāng

天疱疮

[天皰瘡]

(medicine) pemphigus

tiānránqì

天然气

[天然氣]

natural gas

tiānhuābǎn

天花板

[天花板]

ceiling

qiánbàntiān

前半天

[前半天]

morning
a.m.
first half of the day

mótiānlún

摩天轮

[摩天輪]

Ferris wheel
observation wheel

Tiānqiáolì

天桥立

[天橋立]

Ama-no-hashidate in the north of Kyōto prefecture 京都府 on the Sea of Japan

Zēngzhǎngtiān

增长天

[增長天]

Virudhaka (one of the Heavenly Kings)

Tiānzhǔjiào

天主教

[天主教]

Catholicism

hǎobàntiān

好半天

[好半天]

most of the day

hángtiānyuán

航天员

[航天員]

astronaut

tóubàntiān

头半天

[頭半天]

morning
first half of the day

Tiānhòuzhàn

天后站

[天后站]

Tin Hau MTR station (Eastern District, Hong Kong Island)

guǐtiānqì

鬼天气

[鬼天氣]

awful weather

mǎntiānfēi

满天飞

[滿天飛]

to rush around everywhere
always active

Tiānzhènxiàn

天镇县

[天鎮縣]

Tianzhen county in Datong 大同 ( Dàtóng), Shanxi

nàofāntiān

闹翻天

[鬧翻天]

to create a big disturbance

Tiānlóngrén

天龙人

[天龍人]

(slang) (Tw) person from Taipei 臺北／台北 ( Táiběi)

shítiāngān

十天干

[十天干]

the ten Heavenly Stems 甲 (jiǎ), 乙 (yǐ), 丙 (bǐng), 丁 (dīng), 戊 (wù), 己 (jǐ), 庚 (gēng), 辛 (xīn), 壬 (rén), 癸 (guǐ) (used cyclically in the calendar and as ordinal number like Roman I, II, III)

Tiānqiáoqū

天桥区

[天橋區]

Tianqiao district of Jinan city 濟南市／济南市 ( Jǐnánshì), Shandong

Zhū Xiàotiān

朱孝天

[朱孝天]

Ken Zhu (1979-), Taiwanese singer and actor

tiānfùluó

天妇罗

[天婦羅]

tempura
deep-fried cooking
also called 甜不辣 (tiánbùlà)

Rèntiāntáng

任天堂

[任天堂]

Nintendo

Tiānzhùxiàn

天祝县

[天祝縣]

Tianzhu Tibetan autonomous county in Wuwei 武威 ( Wǔwēi), Gansu

Tiānlóngzuò

天龙座

[天龍座]

Draco (constellation)

Lǐtiānwáng

李天王

[李天王]

the pagoda bearing god

hédōngtiān

核冬天

[核冬天]

nuclear winter

lǎotiānyé

老天爷

[老天爺]

God
Heavens

Chíguótiān

持国天

[持國天]

Dhritarashtra (one of the Four Heavenly Kings)

Tiānquánxiàn

天全县

[天全縣]

Tianquan county in Ya'an 雅安 ( Yǎ'ān), Sichuan

yànyángtiān

艳阳天

[豔陽天]

bright sunny day; blazing hot day

píngtiānxià

平天下

[平天下]

to pacify the country

sānfútiān

三伏天

[三伏天]

see 三伏 (sānfú)

pěngshàngtiān

捧上天

[捧上天]

to praise to the skies; to shower with excessive praise

míngtiānjiàn

明天见

[明天見]

see you tomorrow
(coll., jocular) food that passes through the digestive system more or less intact (esp. enoki mushrooms)

mǎntiānxīng

满天星

[滿天星]

Baby's Breath
Gypsophila paniculata

tiānlǎoye

天老爷

[天老爺]

see 老天爺／老天爷 (lǎotiānyé)

Lǐbàitiān

礼拜天

[禮拜天]

Sunday

Tiāntùzuò

天兔座

[天兔座]

Lepus (constellation)

Tiān'é Hú

天鹅湖

[天鵝湖]

Swan Lake

Zhāng Wéntiān

张闻天

[張聞天]

Zhang Wentian (1900-1976), CCP party leader and theorist

tiānméndōng

天门冬

[天門冬]

asparagus

Tiānjīnshì

天津市

[天津市]

Tianjin, a municipality in northeast China, abbr. 津

yībàntiān

一半天

[一半天]

in a day or two; soon

Bāo Qīngtiān

包青天

[包青天]

Bao Qingtian, fictional nickname of Bao Zheng 包拯 ( Bāo Zhěng) (999-1062), Northern Song official renowned for his honesty

hòutiānxìng

后天性

[後天性]

acquired (characteristic etc)

dàqiántiān

大前天

[大前天]

three days ago

tiānchuānrì

天穿日

[天穿日]

a Hakka festival held on the 20th day of the first lunar month

tiānshuǐbì

天水碧

[天水碧]

light cyan

yuèhēitiān

月黑天

[月黑天]

the dark
night

tiāndǐxia

天底下

[天底下]

in this world
under the sun

tiānlǎor

天老儿

[天老兒]

albino (human)

bàitiāndì

拜天地

[拜天地]

to worship heaven and earth
ritual kneeling by bride and groom in a old-fashioned wedding ceremony
also called 拜堂

tiānrándāi

天然呆

[天然呆]

(loanword from Japanese "tennen boke") space cadet
muddleheaded

tiānzhúshǔ

天竺鼠

[天竺鼠]

guinea pig
cavy

xiánliáotiān

闲聊天

[閑聊天]

to chat
idle gossip

Tiānqínzuò

天琴座

[天琴座]

Lyra (constellation)

Wǔ Zétiān

武则天

[武則天]

Wu Zetian (624-705), Tang empress, reigned 690-705

dì'èrtiān

第二天

[第二天]

next day
the morrow

jǐtiānlái

几天来

[幾天來]

for the past few days

Tiāntāixiàn

天台县

[天台縣]

Tiantai county in Taizhou 台州 ( Tāizhōu), Zhejiang

zhèjǐtiān

这几天

[這幾天]

the past few days

dàhòutiān

大后天

[大後天]

three days from now
day after day after tomorrow

dǐcháotiān

底朝天

[底朝天]

upside down
upturned

dàbáitiān

大白天

[大白天]

broad daylight

Tiāntáizōng

天台宗

[天台宗]

Tiantai school of Buddhism

Mǎtiānní

马天尼

[馬天尼]

Martini

Yě Tiān'é

野天鹅

[野天鵝]

Wild Swans, family autobiography by British-Chinese writer Jung Chang 張戎／张戎 ( Zhāng Róng)
alternative title 鴻／鸿, after the author's original name 張二鴻／张二鸿 ( Zhāng Erhóng)

Màotiān Shān

帽天山

[帽天山]

Mt Maotian in Chengjiang County 澄江縣／澄江县 ( Chéngjiáng Xiàn), Yuxi, east Yunnan

Tiānménshì

天门市

[天門市]

Tianmen sub-prefecture level city in Hubei

Tiānhé Qū

天河区

[天河區]

Tianhe District of Guangzhou City 廣州市／广州市 ( Guǎngzhōu Shì), Guangdong

cháotiānjiāo

朝天椒

[朝天椒]

chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens var)

méitiānlǐ

没天理

[沒天理]

(old) unprincipled; incorrect
(modern) unnatural; against reason; incredible

bànbiāntiān

半边天

[半邊天]

half the sky
women of the new society
womenfolk

Zhān Tiānyòu

詹天佑

[詹天佑]

Zhan Tianyou (1861-1919), Chinese railroad engineer

Jīn Tiānhé

金天翮

[金天翮]

Jin Tianhe (1874-1947), late-Qing poet and novelist, co-author of A Flower in a Sinful Sea 孽海花 ( Nièhàihuà)

Tiāntāi Shān

天台山

[天台山]

Mt Tiantai near Shaoxing 紹興／绍兴 ( Shàoxīng) in Zhejiang, the center of Tiantai Buddhism 天台宗 ( Tiāntáizōng)

Tiānyīngzuò

天鹰座

[天鷹座]

Aquila (constellation)

tiānjìxiàn

天际线

[天際線]

skyline
horizon

Wén Tiānxiáng

文天祥

[文天祥]

Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283), Song dynasty politician and poet, folk hero in resisting Mongol invasion in Jiangxi in 1275

dǎtiānxià

打天下

[打天下]

to seize power
to conquer the world
to establish and expand a business
to carve out a career for oneself

Chén Tiānhuà

陈天华

[陳天華]

Chen Tianhua (1875-1905), anti-Qing revolutionary from Hunan, drowned himself in Japan in 1905

tiānwénxué

天文学

[天文學]

astronomy

Tiānchèngzuò

天秤座

[天秤座]

Libra (constellation and sign of the zodiac)

Tiānlǐjiào

天理教

[天理教]

Tenrikyo (Japanese religion)

pòtiānhuāng

破天荒

[破天荒]

unprecedented
for the first time
never before
first ever

Liú Tiānhuá

刘天华

[劉天華]

Liu Tianhua (1895-1932), Chinese musician and composer

qiánjǐtiān

前几天

[前幾天]

a few days ago
a few days before
the past few days
the previous few days

tiānwénguǎn

天文馆

[天文館]

planetarium

Tiān'ānmén

天安门

[天安門]

Tiananmen Gate, entrance of the Imperial City in Beijing

Tiāndìhuì

天地会

[天地會]

Tiandihui (Chinese fraternal organization)

tiānlánsè

天蓝色

[天藍色]

azure

Tiānshuǐshì

天水市

[天水市]

Tianshui, prefecture-level city in Gansu

Tiān'ézuò

天鹅座

[天鵝座]

Cygnus (constellation)

Zhāng Tiānyì

张天翼

[張天翼]

Zhang Tianyi (1906-1985), children's writer, author of prize-winning fairy tale Secret of the Magic Gourd 寶葫蘆的秘密／宝葫芦的秘密 ( Bǎohúlude Mìmì)

Xīngqītiān

星期天

[星期天]

Sunday
CL:個／个 (gè)

tiānshūxīng

天枢星

[天樞星]

alpha Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper

Tiānxiēzuò

天蝎座

[天蠍座]

Scorpio or Scorpius (constellation and sign of the zodiac)

kāitiānchuāng

开天窗

[開天窗]

to leave a blank to mark censored area

pǔtiānxià

普天下

[普天下]

throughout the world

liáotiānshì

聊天室

[聊天室]

chat room

xìntiānyóu

信天游

[信天游]

a style of folk music of Shaanxi

Yú Tiānbái

俞天白

[俞天白]

Yu Tianbai (1937-), novelist

tiānwéntái

天文台

[天文台]

astronomical observatory

Míng Tiānqǐ

明天启

[明天啟]

Tianqi Emperor, reign name of fifteenth Ming emperor Zhu Youxiao 朱由校 ( Zhū Yóuxiào) (1605-1627), reigned 1620-1627, temple name 明熹宗 ( Míng Xīzōng)

Tiānjiànzuò

天箭座

[天箭座]

Sagitta (constellation)

xiǎotiān'é

小天鹅

[小天鵝]

(bird species of China) tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Tiānyànzuò

天燕座

[天燕座]

Apus (constellation)

Nántiānmén

南天门

[南天門]

South Gate to Heaven, the name a gate constructed on various mountains, most notably on Mount Tai 泰山 ( Tài Shān)
(mythology) southern gate of the Heavenly Palace

hángtiānqì

航天器

[航天器]

spacecraft

Wú Tiānmíng

吴天明

[吳天明]

Wu Tianming (1939-), PRC film director

biàncáitiān

辩才天

[辯才天]

Saraswati (the Hindu goddess of wisdom and arts and consort of Lord Brahma)

Tiānlúzuò

天炉座

[天爐座]

Fornax (constellation)

lètiānpài

乐天派

[樂天派]

happy-go-lucky people
optimists

huínántiān

回南天

[回南天]

weather phenomenon characterized by condensation of warm moist air on cool surfaces during the transition from winter to spring in Southern China

tiāngāngxīng

天罡星

[天罡星]

the Big Dipper

húntiānshuō

浑天说

[渾天說]

geocentric theory in ancient Chinese astronomy

Tiānwángxīng

天王星

[天王星]

Uranus (planet)

hóngjǐngtiān

红景天

[紅景天]

roseroot (Rhodiola rosea)

sǎochútiānxià

扫除天下

[掃除天下]

to re-establish order throughout the empire

tiānrándúsù

天然毒素

[天然毒素]

natural toxin

hángtiānfēijī

航天飞机

[航天飛機]

space shuttle

tāntiānzhīgōng

贪天之功

[貪天之功]

to claim credit for other people's achievements (idiom)

gǒudǎnbāotiān

狗胆包天

[狗膽包天]

extremely daring (idiom)
foolhardy

tiānréngǎnyìng

天人感应

[天人感應]

interactions between heaven and mankind (Han Dynasty doctrine)

màntiānbiàndì

漫天遍地

[漫天遍地]

lit. to fill the whole sky and cover the land (idiom)
fig. everywhere; as far as the eye can see

rǔbáitiānkōng

乳白天空

[乳白天空]

whiteout

sàngtiānhàilǐ

丧天害理

[喪天害理]

devoid of conscience (idiom)

tiānshēnglìzhì

天生丽质

[天生麗質]

natural beauty

hēitiān-bànyè

黑天半夜

[黑天半夜]

in the middle of the night

Dànào Tiāngōng

大闹天宫

[大鬧天宮]

Monkey Wreaks Havoc in Heaven, story about the Monkey King Sun Wukong 孫悟空／孙悟空 ( Sūn Wùkōng) from the novel Journey to the West 西遊記／西游记

mántiānguòhǎi

瞒天过海

[瞞天過海]

to cross the sea by a trick (idiom)
to achieve one's aim by underhanded means

wúfǎwútiān

无法无天

[無法無天]

regardless of the law and of natural morality (idiom); maverick
undisciplined and out of control

dìjiǎotiānyá

地角天涯

[地角天涯]

The ends of the earth

tiānchādìyuǎn

天差地远

[天差地遠]

poles apart (idiom)
entirely different

jiàokǔliántiān

叫苦连天

[叫苦連天]

to whine on for days (idiom)
to endlessly grumble complaints
incessant whining

pěngdàotiānshàng

捧到天上

[捧到天上]

to praise lavishly

tiānbēngdìliè

天崩地裂

[天崩地裂]

heaven falls and earth rends (idiom); rocked by a major disaster
fig. violent revolution
major social upheaval

shāngtiānhàilǐ

伤天害理

[傷天害理]

to offend Heaven and reason (idiom); bloody atrocities that cry to heaven
outrageous acts

tiānrénhéyī

天人合一

[天人合一]

oneness of heaven and humanity
the theory that man is an integral part of nature

dǐngtiānlìdì

顶天立地

[頂天立地]

lit. able to support both heaven and earth
of indomitable spirit (idiom)

Tiānjīn Tiáoyuē

天津条约

[天津條約]

Treaty of Tianjin of 1858, a sequence of unequal treaties 不平等條約／不平等条约 between Russia, USA, England, France and Qing China

tiāndìliángxīn

天地良心

[天地良心]

in all honesty
truth to tell

xièlòutiānjī

泄漏天机

[泄漏天機]

to divulge the will of heaven (idiom); to leak a secret
to let the cat out of the bag

tiānjīngshípò

天惊石破

[天驚石破]

see 石破天驚／石破天惊 (shípòtiānjīng)

tiānméndōngkē

天门冬科

[天門冬科]

Asparagaceae, family of flowering plants which includes asparagus

guāngtiānhuàrì

光天化日

[光天化日]

the full light of day (idiom)
fig. peace and prosperity
in broad daylight

tiānwǎnghuīhuī

天网恢恢

[天網恢恢]

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

wùjìngtiānzé

物竞天择

[物競天擇]

natural selection

hàntiāndòngdì

撼天动地

[撼天動地]

earth-shaking

mántiānyuàndì

埋天怨地

[埋天怨地]

lit. to blame the heavens and reproach the earth
fig. to rave and rant

léidátiānxiàn

雷达天线

[雷達天線]

radar antenna

tiāngōngdìdào

天公地道

[天公地道]

absolutely fair and reasonable (idiom); equitable

réndìngshèngtiān

人定胜天

[人定勝天]

man can conquer nature (idiom); human wisdom can prevail over nature

tiānxiāngguósè

天香国色

[天香國色]

divine fragrance, national grace (idiom); an outstanding beauty

yìngtiānchéngyùn

应天承运

[應天承運]

lit. to respond to heaven and suit the times (idiom); to rule according to the will of heaven
the Divine Right of kings

tóubàntiānr

头半天儿

[頭半天兒]

erhua variant of 頭半天／头半天 (tóubàntiān)

Tiānsūn Niángniáng

天孙娘娘

[天孫娘娘]

Goddess of Fertility

tiānxíngchìyǎn

天行赤眼

[天行赤眼]

acute contagious conjunctivitis (TCM)

Jiǔtiān Xuánnü

九天玄女

[九天玄女]

Xuan Nü, a fairy in Chinese mythology

shípòtiānjīng

石破天惊

[石破天驚]

earth-shattering
breakthrough
remarkable and original work

bìhǎiqīngtiān

碧海青天

[碧海青天]

green sea, blue sky (idiom); sea and sky merge in one shade
loneliness of faithful widow

Tiānyá Hǎijiǎo

天涯海角

[天涯海角]

Tianya Haijiao, tourism area on the south coast of Hainan, 24 km west of Sanya 三亞／三亚 ( Sānyā)

bùgòngdàitiān

不共戴天

[不共戴天]

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

huítiānfáshù

回天乏术

[回天乏術]

(idiom) nothing can be done to remedy the situation; beyond recovery

jiǔtiānlǎnyuè

九天揽月

[九天攬月]

(idiom) to reach for the stars

tiāndōng'ānsuān

天冬氨酸

[天冬氨酸]

aspartic acid (Asp), an amino acid

zuìhòuyītiān

最后一天

[最後一天]

final day

tiānbīngtiānjiàng

天兵天将

[天兵天將]

celestial troops and generals (idiom)
fig. superior forces

shàngtiānrùdì

上天入地

[上天入地]

lit. to go up to heaven or down to Hades (idiom)
fig. to go to great lengths
to search heaven and earth

tiāngèyīfāng

天各一方

[天各一方]

(of relatives or friends) to live far apart from each other

jìndìtiāntǐ

近地天体

[近地天體]

near-Earth object (NEO)

huítiānwúlì

回天无力

[回天無力]

unable to turn around a hopeless situation (idiom)
to fail to save the situation

tiānwàiláikè

天外来客

[天外來客]

visitors from outer space

tiānnán-dìběi

天南地北

[天南地北]

far apart
from different places; from all over
(to talk) about this and that

hǎijiǎotiānyá

海角天涯

[海角天涯]

see 天涯海角 (tiānyáhǎijiǎo)

xièlùtiānjī

泄露天机

[泄露天機]

to divulge the will of heaven (idiom); to leak a secret
to let the cat out of the bag

biéyǒudòngtiān

别有洞天

[別有洞天]

place of charm and beauty
scenery of exceptional charm
completely different world

Tiānqínxīngzuò

天琴星座

[天琴星座]

Lyra, constellation containing Vega 織女星／织女星 ( Zhīnüxīng)

Tiānzhǔ Jiàohuì

天主教会

[天主教會]

the Catholic Church

ēnbǐtiāndà

恩比天大

[恩比天大]

to be as kind and benevolent as heaven (idiom)

shùnyìngtiānshí

顺应天时

[順應天時]

going with nature and the seasons (TCM)

wéitiānnìlǐ

违天逆理

[違天逆理]

lit. violating heaven and reason (idiom); immoral character

zhōngtiānzhīhèn

终天之恨

[終天之恨]

eternal regret

zuì'ètāotiān

罪恶滔天

[罪惡滔天]

(idiom) to have committed heinous crimes

tiānlǐnánróng

天理难容

[天理難容]

Heaven cannot tolerate this (idiom)
intolerable behavior

tiānhuāngdìlǎo

天荒地老

[天荒地老]

(idiom) until the end of time

yìngtiānshùnshí

应天顺时

[應天順時]

lit. to respond to heaven and suit the times (idiom); to rule according to the will of heaven
the Divine Right of kings

Tiānzhǔjiàotú

天主教徒

[天主教徒]

Catholic
follower of Catholicism

tīngtiān'ānmìng

听天安命

[聽天安命]

to accept one's situation as dictated by heaven (idiom)

yǔguòtiānqīng

雨过天青

[雨過天青]

sky clears after rain
new hopes after a disastrous period (idiom)
every cloud has a silver lining (idiom)
see also 雨過天晴／雨过天晴 (yǔguòtiānqíng)

gǎntiāndòngdì

感天动地

[感天動地]

(idiom) deeply affecting

chòuqìchōngtiān

臭气冲天

[臭氣沖天]

(idiom) to stink to high heaven

tiānxiàdàluàn

天下大乱

[天下大亂]

the whole country in rebellion

tiānluódìwǎng

天罗地网

[天羅地網]

inescapable net (idiom)
trap
dragnet

Shùnrì Yáotiān

舜日尧天

[舜日堯天]

sage Emperors Shun and Yao rule every day (idiom); all for the best in the best of all possible worlds

qīngtiānbáirì

青天白日

[青天白日]

(idiom) in broad daylight; in the middle of the day
KMT emblem, a white sun on a blue background

tiānfāndìfù

天翻地覆

[天翻地覆]

sky and the earth turning upside down (idiom); fig. complete confusion
everything turned on its head

tiānránxiānwéi

天然纤维

[天然纖維]

natural fiber

tiānshēngyīduì

天生一对

[天生一對]

a match made in heaven; a perfect couple

tiānhuābìngdú

天花病毒

[天花病毒]

variola virus

tiānyīwúfèng

天衣无缝

[天衣無縫]

lit. seamless heavenly clothes (idiom)
fig. flawless

fāntiānfùdì

翻天覆地

[翻天覆地]

sky and the earth turning upside down (idiom); fig. complete confusion
everything turned on its head

Tiānjīn Dàxué

天津大学

[天津大學]

Tianjin University

détiāndúhòu

得天独厚

[得天獨厚]

blessed by heaven (idiom)
enjoying exceptional advantages
favored by nature

qīngtiānpīlì

青天霹雳

[青天霹靂]

lit. thunderclap from a clear sky (idiom)
fig. a bolt from the blue

tiānyábǐlín

天涯比邻

[天涯比鄰]

see 天涯若比鄰／天涯若比邻 (tiānyáruòbǐlín)

dìlǎotiānhuāng

地老天荒

[地老天荒]

see 天荒地老 (tiānhuāngdìlǎo)

Qǐtiānzhīlü

杞天之虑

[杞天之慮]

man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears

bīngtiānxuědì

冰天雪地

[冰天雪地]

a world of ice and snow

huāntiānxǐdì

欢天喜地

[歡天喜地]

delighted
with great joy
in high spirits

bāodǎtiānxià

包打天下

[包打天下]

to run everything (idiom); to monopolize the whole business
not allow anyone else to have a look in

bùjiàntiānrì

不见天日

[不見天日]

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

tiānqiúchìdào

天球赤道

[天球赤道]

celestial equator

pǔtiāntóngqìng

普天同庆

[普天同慶]

everybody celebrating together
universal celebration
universal rejoicing

tōngtiānchèdì

通天彻地

[通天徹地]

to know all under heaven
exceptionally talented (idiom)

chóngjiàntiānrì

重见天日

[重見天日]

to see the light again (idiom); delivered from oppression

hóngfúqítiān

洪福齐天

[洪福齊天]

flood of good fortune fills the heavens (idiom); a lucky sign

rúrìzhōngtiān

如日中天

[如日中天]

lit. like the sun at noon (idiom)
fig. to be at the peak of one's power, career etc

Rìběntiānhuáng

日本天皇

[日本天皇]

Emperor of Japan

sèdǎnbāotiān

色胆包天

[色膽包天]

outrageously bold in one's lust
debauched (idiom)

tiānjīngdìyì

天经地义

[天經地義]

lit. heaven's law and earth's principle (idiom); fig. right and proper
right and unalterable
a matter of course

báiyītiānshǐ

白衣天使

[白衣天使]

"angel in white" (laudatory term for a nurse)

tiānzhúmǔdan

天竺牡丹

[天竺牡丹]

dahlia

zhèntiāndòngdì

震天动地

[震天動地]

to shake heaven and earth (idiom)

lòuxiètiānjī

漏泄天机

[漏洩天機]

to divulge the will of heaven (idiom); to leak a secret
to let the cat out of the bag

yóubítiān'é

疣鼻天鹅

[疣鼻天鵝]

(bird species of China) mute swan (Cygnus olor)

tiāngāoqìshuǎng

天高气爽

[天高氣爽]

see 秋高氣爽／秋高气爽 (qiūgāoqìshuǎng)

tiāndìxuángé

天地悬隔

[天地懸隔]

lit. a gulf between heaven and earth (idiom)
fig. wide difference of opinion

zhētiānbìrì

遮天蔽日

[遮天蔽日]

lit. hiding the sky and covering the earth (idiom); fig. earth-shattering
omnipresent
of universal importance

bìshuìtiāntáng

避税天堂

[避稅天堂]

tax haven

tiānchángdìjiǔ

天长地久

[天長地久]

enduring while the world lasts (idiom)
eternal

shuǐtiānyīsè

水天一色

[水天一色]

water and sky merge in one color (idiom)

mǎntiānfánxīng

满天繁星

[滿天繁星]

lit. whole sky, a multitude of stars

jùshǒutiānxiǎn

据守天险

[據守天險]

to guard a natural stronghold

yìbóyúntiān

义薄云天

[義薄雲天]

supremely honorable and righteous

yíyǎngtiānnián

颐养天年

[頤養天年]

lit. to nurture one's years (idiom)
fig. to enjoy one's later years

tōutiānhuànrì

偷天换日

[偷天換日]

to engage in fraudulent activities (idiom)
skulduggery
to hoodwink people
to cheat sb audaciously

guósètiānxiāng

国色天香

[國色天香]

national grace, divine fragrance (idiom); an outstanding beauty

huángtiānhòutǔ

皇天后土

[皇天后土]

heaven and earth (idiom)

dǎndàbāotiān

胆大包天

[膽大包天]

reckless
extremely daring

mùchuàngyǒutiān

目怆有天

[目愴有天]

to look at the sky in sorrow

tiānwéndānwèi

天文单位

[天文單位]

astronomical unit (AU)

jīngtiāndòngdì

惊天动地

[驚天動地]

world-shaking (idiom)

tiānzhēnlànmàn

天真烂漫

[天真爛漫]

innocent and unaffected

Tiānfāng Yètán

天方夜谭

[天方夜譚]

The Arabian Nights (classic story)

tiānzāirénhuò

天灾人祸

[天災人禍]

natural calamities and man-made disasters (idiom)

màntiānfēiwǔ

漫天飞舞

[漫天飛舞]

(of snow etc) to fill the sky

yìxiǎng-tiānkāi

异想天开

[異想天開]

(idiom) to imagine the wildest thing; to indulge in fantasy

shǔjiǔhántiān

数九寒天

[數九寒天]

nine periods of nine days each after winter solstice, the coldest time of the year

tiānránxiàngjiāo

天然橡胶

[天然橡膠]

natural rubber

Qǐguóyōutiān

杞国忧天

[杞國憂天]

man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears

tiānxiàdìyī

天下第一

[天下第一]

first under heaven
number one in the country

rèhuǒcháotiān

热火朝天

[熱火朝天]

in full swing (idiom)
(in a) frenzy
buzzing with activity

jìnletiāntáng

进了天堂

[進了天堂]

to die
to enter the hall of heaven

tiāndōngxiān'àn

天冬酰胺

[天冬酰胺]

asparagine (Asn), an amino acid

mítiāndàhuǎng

弥天大谎

[彌天大謊]

a pack of lies (idiom)

zuòjǐngguāntiān

坐井观天

[坐井觀天]

lit. to view the sky from the bottom of a well (idiom); ignorant and narrow-minded

chòuqìxūntiān

臭气熏天

[臭氣熏天]

overwhelming stench (idiom)

tiāndàochóuqín

天道酬勤

[天道酬勤]

Heaven rewards the diligent. (idiom)

tiānshàgūxīng

天煞孤星

[天煞孤星]

bane of others' existence

tāotiāndàzuì

滔天大罪

[滔天大罪]

heinous crime

màntiānbiànyě

漫天遍野

[漫天遍野]

lit. to fill the whole sky and cover the land; everywhere
as far as the eye can see

Tiānxīngmǎtóu

天星码头

[天星碼頭]

Star Ferry terminal, Hong Kong

sìdàtiānwáng

四大天王

[四大天王]

the four heavenly kings (Sanskrit vajra)
the four guardians or warrior attendants of Buddha

tiānxuándìgé

天悬地隔

[天懸地隔]

see 天差地遠／天差地远 (tiānchādìyuǎn)

róngxuětiānqì

融雪天气

[融雪天氣]

a thaw

jīquǎn-shēngtiān

鸡犬升天

[雞犬升天]

lit. (when a person attains enlightenment and immortality), even his chickens and dogs will ascend to heaven with him (idiom)
fig. (when somebody attains a position of power and influence), their relatives and friends also benefit
(2nd half of the saying 一人得道，雞犬升天／一人得道，鸡犬升天 (yirēn-dēdāo,jiquān-shēngtiān))

Tàipíng Tiānguó

太平天国

[太平天國]

Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864)

tiānlúnzhīlè

天伦之乐

[天倫之樂]

family love and joy
domestic bliss

yītiāndàowǎn

一天到晚

[一天到晚]

all day long; the whole day

shòumìngyútiān

受命于天

[受命於天]

to be emperor by the grace of heaven; to have the mandate of heaven

huātiānjiǔdì

花天酒地

[花天酒地]

to spend one's time in drinking and pleasure (idiom); to indulge in sensual pleasures
life of debauchery

xiāntiānbùzú

先天不足

[先天不足]

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

táoshuìtiāntáng

逃税天堂

[逃稅天堂]

tax haven

wàn'ètāotiān

万恶滔天

[萬惡滔天]

(idiom) the evil is overwhelming

sùmiàncháotiān

素面朝天

[素面朝天]

lit. to present oneself confidently to the emperor, without makeup (as did the sister of Yang Guifei 楊貴妃／杨贵妃 ( Yáng Guìfēi)) (idiom)
fig. (of a woman) to show one's natural features, without makeup
to present oneself just as one is, without artifice

bùzhōngtiānnián

不终天年

[不終天年]

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

yīshǒuzhētiān

一手遮天

[一手遮天]

lit. to hide the sky with one hand
to hide the truth from the masses

hūtiānqiāngdì

呼天抢地

[呼天搶地]

(idiom) to cry out to heaven and knock one's head against the ground (as an expression of anguish)

Tiānxiàn Bǎobǎo

天线宝宝

[天線寶寶]

Teletubbies

biéyǒutiāndì

别有天地

[別有天地]

enchanting scenery
beautiful surroundings
world of its own

tiānqìyùbào

天气预报

[天氣預報]

weather forecast

kūshēngzhèntiān

哭声震天

[哭聲震天]

(idiom) the cries of grief shake the heavens

tántiānshuōdì

谈天说地

[談天說地]

to talk endlessly; to talk about everything under the sun

yuàntiānyóurén

怨天尤人

[怨天尤人]

(idiom) to blame the gods and accuse others

tiānhuāluànzhuì

天花乱坠

[天花亂墜]

lit. a deluge of heavenly flowers (idiom)
fig. extravagant embellishments; hype

zhǐchǐtiānyá

咫尺天涯

[咫尺天涯]

so close, yet worlds apart (idiom)

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

xiètiānxièdì

谢天谢地

[謝天謝地]

Thank heavens!
Thank goodness that's worked out so well!

tiānrǎngzhībié

天壤之别

[天壤之別]

lit. as different as sky and earth (idiom)
fig. night and day difference
opposite extremes
a world of difference
a far cry from

rénzàotiāntǐ

人造天体

[人造天體]

artificial satellite

tiāntǐzhǔyì

天体主义

[天體主義]

nudism

cóngtiān'érjiàng

从天而降

[從天而降]

lit. to drop from the sky (idiom)
fig. to appear unexpectedly
to arise abruptly
out of the blue
to drop into one's lap

mótiāndàshà

摩天大厦

[摩天大廈]

skyscraper
CL:座 (zuò)

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

yīzhùqíngtiān

一柱擎天

[一柱擎天]

lit. to support the sky as a single pillar (idiom)
fig. to take a crucial responsibility upon one's shoulders

tiānxuándìzhuàn

天旋地转

[天旋地轉]

the sky spins, the earth goes round (idiom); giddy with one's head spinning
fig. huge changes in the world

zàitiānzhīlíng

在天之灵

[在天之靈]

soul and spirit of the deceased

qíngtiānpīlì

晴天霹雳

[晴天霹靂]

lit. thunderclap from a clear sky (idiom)
fig. a bolt from the blue

Tuōtǎtiānwáng

托塔天王

[托塔天王]

the pagoda bearing god

yěyǒujīntiān

也有今天

[也有今天]

(coll.) to get one's just deserts
to serve sb right
to get one's share of (good or bad things)
every dog has its day

qiánbàntiānr

前半天儿

[前半天兒]

erhua variant of 前半天 (qiánbàntiān)

kūtiānmǒlèi

哭天抹泪

[哭天抹淚]

to wail and whine
piteous weeping

tiāntǐlìxué

天体力学

[天體力學]

celestial mechanics

Qǐrényōutiān

杞人忧天

[杞人憂天]

man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears

wéitiānhàilǐ

违天害理

[違天害理]

lit. violating heaven and reason (idiom); immoral character

tiāngōngzuòměi

天公作美

[天公作美]

Heaven is cooperating (idiom)
the weather is favorable for the planned activity (a variation of 天公不作美／天公不作美 (tiāngōngbùzuòměi))

xiāntiānjiēdì

掀天揭地

[掀天揭地]

earth-shattering

tiānnán-hǎiběi

天南海北

[天南海北]

see 天南地北 (tiānnān-dibēi)

yībùdēngtiān

一步登天

[一步登天]

reaching heaven in a single bound (idiom); (esp. with negative: don't expect) instant success

yīmìngguītiān

一命归天

[一命歸天]

see 一命嗚呼／一命呜呼 (yīmìngwūhū)

zhuànhúntiānyí

转浑天仪

[轉渾天儀]

armillary sphere (astronomy)

làngjìtiānyá

浪迹天涯

[浪跡天涯]

to roam far and wide (idiom)
to travel the world

tiānxiàtàipíng

天下太平

[天下太平]

the whole world at peace (idiom); peace and prosperity

tiānfùyìbǐng

天赋异禀

[天賦異稟]

extraordinary talent
exceptionally gifted

mótiāndàlóu

摩天大楼

[摩天大樓]

skyscraper
CL:座 (zuò)

tiānzuòzhīhé

天作之合

[天作之合]

a match made in heaven (idiom)

jíréntiānxiàng

吉人天相

[吉人天相]

see 吉人自有天相 (jírénzìyǒutiānxiàng)

tiānyuānzhībié

天渊之别

[天淵之別]

a complete contrast
totally different

Qítiān Dàshèng

齐天大圣

[齊天大聖]

Great Sage the Equal of Heaven, self-proclaimed title of the Monkey King Sun Wukong 孫悟空／孙悟空 ( Sūn Wùkōng) in the novel Journey to the West 西遊記／西游记 ( Xīyóu Jì)

tīngtiānyóumìng

听天由命

[聽天由命]

(idiom) to submit to the will of heaven; to resign oneself to fate; to trust to luck

tiānchángrìjiǔ

天长日久

[天長日久]

after a long time (idiom)

sàngjìntiānliáng

丧尽天良

[喪盡天良]

devoid of conscience (idiom); utterly heartless

wǎnbantiānr

晚半天儿

[晚半天兒]

late afternoon

wēizhèntiānxià

威震天下

[威震天下]

to inspire awe throughout the empire (idiom)

xiāntiānyúxíng

先天愚型

[先天愚型]

Down syndrome; trisomy 21

rénjiāntiāntáng

人间天堂

[人間天堂]

heaven on Earth
nickname for the city Suzhou

tiānhándìdòng

天寒地冻

[天寒地凍]

cold weather, frozen ground (idiom); bitterly cold

yuàntiānzàidào

怨天载道

[怨天載道]

lit. cries of complaint fill the roads (idiom); complaints rise all around
discontent is openly voiced

tiānyáhǎijiǎo

天涯海角

[天涯海角]

the ends of the earth
separated worlds apart

tiānmǎxíngkōng

天马行空

[天馬行空]

like a heavenly steed, soaring across the skies (idiom)
(of writing, calligraphy etc) bold and imaginative
unconstrained in style

hūntiānhēidì

昏天黑地

[昏天黑地]

lit. dark sky and black earth (idiom)
fig. pitch dark
to black out
disorderly
troubled times

bàotiǎntiānwù

暴殄天物

[暴殄天物]

to waste natural resources recklessly
not to know how to use things sparingly

mántiāndàhuǎng

瞒天大谎

[瞞天大謊]

enormous lie
whopper

tiānfǔzhīguó

天府之国

[天府之國]

land of plenty (usu. used in reference to Sichuan)

chúnzhēntiānrán

纯真天然

[純真天然]

natural; authentic

tiānyáodìzhuǎn

天摇地转

[天搖地轉]

lit. the sky shakes and the ground revolves
momentous changes are underway (idiom)

hútiānhúdì

胡天胡帝

[胡天胡帝]

with all the majesty of an emperor (idiom)
reckless
intemperate

hángtiānzhōngxīn

航天中心

[航天中心]

space center

jiānjìtiānxià

兼济天下

[兼濟天下]

to make everyone's lives better

chóngdǔtiānrì

重睹天日

[重睹天日]

to see the light again (idiom); delivered from oppression

kāitiānpìdì

开天辟地

[開天闢地]

to split heaven and earth apart (idiom); refers to the Pangu 盤古／盘古 ( Pángǔ) creation myth

zhuóchòuxūntiān

浊臭熏天

[濁臭熏天]

stinks to high heaven

xǐcóngtiānjiàng

喜从天降

[喜從天降]

joy from heaven (idiom); overjoyed at unexpected good news
unlooked-for happy event

guòjiētiānqiáo

过街天桥

[過街天橋]

skywalk; pedestrian bridge

tiānfāngyètán

天方夜谭

[天方夜譚]

fantasy story

sìjiǎocháotiān

四脚朝天

[四腳朝天]

four legs facing the sky (idiom); flat on one's back

dìjiǔtiāncháng

地久天长

[地久天長]

enduring while the world lasts (idiom, from Laozi); eternal
for ever and ever (of friendship, hate etc)
also written 天長地久／天长地久

Tiānlù Lìchéng

天路历程

[天路歷程]

Pilgrim's Progress, 1678 novel by John Bunyan (first Chinese translation 1851)

yǔguòtiānqíng

雨过天晴

[雨過天晴]

sky clears after rain
new hopes after a disastrous period (idiom)
every cloud has a silver lining (idiom)
see also 雨過天青／雨过天青 (yǔguòtiānqīng)

sāntiānliǎngtóu

三天两头

[三天兩頭]

lit. twice every three days (idiom); practically every day
frequently

míngmǎntiānxià

名满天下

[名滿天下]

world famous

tiānwénxuéjiā

天文学家

[天文學家]

astronomer

tiānzàodìshè

天造地设

[天造地設]

lit. made by Heaven and arranged by Earth(idiom)
ideal
perfect
(of a match) made in heaven
to be made for one another

zhèntiāngaxiǎng

震天价响

[震天價響]

an earth-shaking noise (idiom)

tiāndìxuánhuáng

天地玄黄

[天地玄黃]

first line of the Thousand Character Classic 千字文 ( Qiānzìwén)

tiānzāidìniè

天灾地孽

[天災地孽]

catastrophes and unnatural phenomena
Heaven-sent warnings

tiānyùlùhuá

天雨路滑

[天雨路滑]

roads are slippery due to rain (idiom)

tiāndùyīngcái

天妒英才

[天妒英才]

heaven is jealous of heroic genius (idiom); the great have great hardship to contend with
those whom the Gods love die young

tiānchādìbié

天差地别

[天差地別]

(idiom) poles apart; as different as can be

tiāntǐwùlǐ

天体物理

[天體物理]

astrophysics

bēitiānmǐnrén

悲天悯人

[悲天憫人]

to bemoan the state of the universe and pity the fate of mankind

dàipénwàngtiān

戴盆望天

[戴盆望天]

lit. viewing the sky with a basin on one's head; it is hard to get a clear view of the sky while carrying a platter on one's head
fig. it is hard to get on in one's career while encumbered by family obligations
one can't perform a major task while bothered by other duties

lètiānzhīmìng

乐天知命

[樂天知命]

to be content with what one is

hǎikuòtiānkōng

海阔天空

[海闊天空]

wide sea and sky (idiom); boundless open vistas
the whole wide world
chatting about everything under the sun

pūtiāngàidì

铺天盖地

[鋪天蓋地]

lit. hiding the sky and covering the earth (idiom); fig. earth-shattering
omnipresent
of universal importance

pàohuǒliántiān

炮火连天

[砲火連天]

cannon firing for days on end (idiom); enveloped in the flames of war

nányúdēngtiān

难于登天

[難於登天]

harder than climbing to heaven (idiom)

rénmìngguāntiān

人命关天

[人命關天]

human life is beyond value (idiom)

tiānyǔshùnyán

天雨顺延

[天雨順延]

weather permitting (idiom)

húnrántiānchéng

浑然天成

[渾然天成]

to resemble nature itself
of the highest quality (idiom)

ànwútiānrì

暗无天日

[暗無天日]

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

Tiānwèn Yīhào

天问一号

[天問一號]

Tianwen-1, Chinese mission to put a robotic rover on Mars launched in 2020

lùtiānduīzhàn

露天堆栈

[露天堆棧]

open-air repository
open-air depot

wēibōtiānxiàn

微波天线

[微波天線]

microwave antenna

màntiānyàojià

漫天要价

[漫天要價]

to ask for sky-high prices

xiāntiānyǔhòutiān

先天与后天

[先天與後天]

nature versus nurture

hángkōnghángtiānjú

航空航天局

[航空航天局]

air and space agency

lùtiāndàxìyuàn

露天大戏院

[露天大戲院]

open-air amphitheater

Chángbáishān Tiānchí

长白山天池

[長白山天池]

Changbaishan Tianchi, volcanic crater lake on the border between China and North Korea

duǎnwěixìntiānwēng

短尾信天翁

[短尾信天翁]

(bird species of China) short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)

Tiānshǐbàoxǐjié

天使报喜节

[天使報喜節]

Annunciation (Christian festival on 25th March)
Lady day

Yǐtiān Túlóng Jì

倚天屠龙记

[倚天屠龍記]

Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, wuxia (武俠／武侠 (wǔxiá), martial arts chivalry) novel by Jin Yong 金庸 ( Jīn Yōng) and its screen adaptations

tiānshàngxiàdāozi

天上下刀子

[天上下刀子]

lit. knives rain down from the sky (idiom)
fig. (even if) the sky crumbles

tiānshēngdeyīduì

天生的一对

[天生的一對]

couple who were made for each other

hēijiǎoxìntiānwēng

黑脚信天翁

[黑腳信天翁]

(bird species of China) black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)

Hēinúyùtiānlù

黑奴吁天录

[黑奴籲天錄]

Uncle Tom's Cabin, translated and adapted by Lin Shu 林紓／林纾

Shèngmǔshēngtiānjié

圣母升天节

[聖母升天節]

Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Christian festival on 15th August)

tiānshàngdiàoxiànbǐng

天上掉馅饼

[天上掉餡餅]

a meat pie falls from the sky (idiom)
to have something fall into your lap

qīngtiāndàlǎoye

青天大老爷

[青天大老爺]

(coll.) just and incorruptible official

tiāngāohuángdìyuǎn

天高皇帝远

[天高皇帝遠]

lit. the sky is high and the emperor is far away (idiom)
fig. remote places are beyond the reach of the central government

bǐdēngtiānháinán

比登天还难

[比登天還難]

lit. even harder than reaching the sky (idiom)
fig. extremely difficult
far from an easy task

Tiān'ānménkāile

天安门开了

[天安門開了]

pants fly is down
the barn door is open

Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng

天安门广场

[天安門廣場]

Tiananmen Square

xiāntiānxìngquēxiàn

先天性缺陷

[先天性缺陷]

birth defect

tiānyáruòbǐlín

天涯若比邻

[天涯若比鄰]

far-flung realms as next door (idiom)
close in spirit although far away

yītiānyīgeyàng

一天一个样

[一天一個樣]

to change from day to day

Zhèjiāng Tiāntáixiàn

浙江天台县

[浙江天台縣]

Tiantai County in Zhejiang

mínyǐshíwéitiān

民以食为天

[民以食為天]

Food is the God of the people. (idiom); People view food as the primary need.
Food first, ethical niceties second

tiāntǐguāngpǔxué

天体光谱学

[天體光譜學]

astronomical spectroscopy

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

Oūzhōu Hángtiānjú

欧洲航天局

[歐洲航天局]

European Space Agency (ESA)

Guójiā Hángtiānjú

国家航天局

[國家航天局]

China National Space Administration (CNSA)

tiāntǐyǎnhuàxué

天体演化学

[天體演化學]

cosmogony

Yēsū Shēngtiānjié

耶稣升天节

[耶穌升天節]

Ascension Day (Christian festival forty days after Easter)

tiāntǐwùlǐxué

天体物理学

[天體物理學]

astrophysics

hēibèixìntiānwēng

黑背信天翁

[黑背信天翁]

(bird species of China) Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis)

Tiānwénxué Dàchéng

天文学大成

[天文學大成]

the Almagest by Ptolemy

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

tiānshídìlìrénhé

天时地利人和

[天時地利人和]

the time is right, geographical and social conditions are favorable (idiom); a good time to go to war

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

tiānyòuwúrénjīyè

天佑吾人基业

[天佑吾人基業]

annuit coeptis

tiāntǐwùlǐxuéjiā

天体物理学家

[天體物理學家]

astrophysicist

Wànwéi Tiānluó Dìwǎng

万维天罗地网

[萬維天羅地網]

World Wide Web (WWW)
lit. ten-thousand dimensional net covering heaven and earth
term coined by China News Digest and abbr. to 萬維網／万维网 ( Wànwéiwǎng)

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.

tiānbùpàdìbùpà

天不怕地不怕

[天不怕地不怕]

fearing nothing in Heaven or Earth (idiom)
fearless

Yǒuyìtiānchángdìjiǔ

友谊天长地久

[友誼天長地久]

see 友誼地久天長／友谊地久天长 ( Yǒuyìdìjiǔtiāncháng)

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.

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

Tiānjīnhuìyìzhuāntiáo

天津会议专条

[天津會議專條]

Tianjin agreement of 1885 between Li Hongzhang 李鴻章／李鸿章 ( Lǐ Hóngzhāng) and ITŌ Hirobumi 伊藤博文 ( Yīténg Bówén) to pull Qing and Japanese troops out of Korea

tiānwújuérénzhīlù

天无绝人之路

[天無絕人之路]

Heaven never bars one's way (idiom); don't despair and you will find a way through.
Never give up hope.
Never say die.

dàngtiānshìdàngtiānbì

当天事当天毕

[當天事當天畢]

never put off until tomorrow what you can do today (idiom)

lòushuǐzhuànhúntiānyí

漏水转浑天仪

[漏水轉渾天儀]

water-driven armillary sphere (Zhang Heng's famous astronomical apparatus)

Tàipíng Tiānguózhī Luàn

太平天国之乱

[太平天國之亂]

Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864), which ultimately failed but caused massive upheaval and weakened the Qing dynasty

huátiānxiàzhīdàjī

滑天下之大稽

[滑天下之大稽]

to be the most ridiculous thing in the world (idiom)

wéikǒngtiānxiàbùluàn

唯恐天下不乱

[唯恐天下不亂]

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

Yǒuyìdìjiǔtiāncháng

友谊地久天长

[友誼地久天長]

Auld Lang Syne, Scottish song with lyrics by Robert Burns 羅伯特·伯恩斯／罗伯特·伯恩斯 ( Luóbótè· Bó'ēnsī), sung to mark the start of a new year or as a farewell
also rendered 友誼萬歲／友谊万岁 ( Yǒuyìwànsuì) or 友誼天長地久／友谊天长地久 ( Yǒuyìtiānchángdìjiǔ)

jírénzìyǒutiānxiàng

吉人自有天相

[吉人自有天相]

Heaven helps the worthy (idiom)

Zǐjīnshān Tiānwéntái

紫金山天文台

[紫金山天文台]

Purple Mountain Observatory

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)

Tiānjīn Wàiguóyǔ Dàxué

天津外国语大学

[天津外國語大學]

Tianjin Foreign Studies University

yīcháotiānzǐyīcháochén

一朝天子一朝臣

[一朝天子一朝臣]

new emperor, new officials (idiom)
a new chief brings in new aides

dǎkāitiānchuāngshuōliànghuà

打开天窗说亮话

[打開天窗說亮話]

(let's) not mince words; (let's) not beat about the bush

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)

miàncháohuángtǔbèicháotiān

面朝黄土背朝天

[面朝黃土背朝天]

face to the ground, back to the sky

Kěnnídí Hángtiān Zhōngxīn

肯尼迪航天中心

[肯尼迪航天中心]

Kennedy space center, Cape Canaveral 卡納維拉爾角／卡纳维拉尔角 ( Kǎnàwéilā'ěrjiǎo), Florida

fùnünéngdǐngbànbiāntiān

妇女能顶半边天

[婦女能頂半邊天]

Woman can hold up half the sky
fig. nowadays, women have an equal part to play in society

xiétiānzǐyǐlìngtiānxià

挟天子以令天下

[挾天子以令天下]

(expr.) hold the feudal overlord and you control the whole country

Tiānzhù Zàngzú Zìzhìxiàn

天祝藏族自治县

[天祝藏族自治縣]

Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County in Wuwei 武威 ( Wǔwēi), Gansu

tiāndōngběnbǐng'èrtàizhǐ

天冬苯丙二肽酯

[天冬苯丙二肽酯]

aspartame C14H18N2O (artificial sweetener)

xiétiānzǐyǐlìngzhūhóu

挟天子以令诸侯

[挾天子以令諸侯]

(expr.) hold the feudal overlord and you control his vassals

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.

tiānxiàwūyāyībānhēi

天下乌鸦一般黑

[天下烏鴉一般黑]

all crows are black (idiom)
evil people are bad all over the world

Zhōngguó Guójiā Hángtiānjú

中国国家航天局

[中國國家航天局]

China National Space Administration (CNSA)

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)

tiānyáhéchùwúfāngcǎo

天涯何处无芳草

[天涯何處無芳草]

there are plenty more fish in the sea (idiom)

Zhōngguó Hángtiān Gōngyè Gōngsī

中国航天工业公司

[中國航天工業公司]

China Aerospace Corporation, forerunner of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) 中國航天科技集團公司／中国航天科技集团公司

Běijīng Hángkōng Hángtiān Dàxué

北京航空航天大学

[北京航空航天大學]

Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Zhōngguó Tiānzhǔjiào Aìguóhuì

中国天主教爱国会

[中國天主教愛國會]

Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association

Tiānjīn Huánqiú Jīnróng Zhōngxīn

天津环球金融中心

[天津環球金融中心]

Tianjin World Financial Center, skyscraper a.k.a. the Tianjin Tower or Jin Tower
abbr. to 津塔 ( Jīntǎ)

làihámaxiǎngchītiān'éròu

癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉

[癩蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉]

lit. the toad wants to eat swan meat (idiom)
fig. to try to punch above one's weight

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)

sāntiāndǎyú,liǎngtiānshàiwǎng

三天打鱼，两天晒网

[三天打魚，兩天曬網]

lit. to fish for three days and sun-dry the nets for two days (proverb)
fig. not to persevere in doing sth
to do sth by fits and starts

zuòyītiānhéshangzhuàngyītiānzhōng

做一天和尚撞一天钟

[做一天和尚撞一天鐘]

lit. as a monk for today, toll today's bell (idiom)
fig. to do one's job mechanically
to hold a position passively

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

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)

shàngyǒutiāntáng,xiàyǒu Sū Háng

上有天堂，下有苏杭

[上有天堂，下有蘇杭]

lit. there is heaven above, and there is 蘇杭／苏杭 ( Sū Háng) below (idiom)
fig. the beauty and affluence of Suzhou and Hangzhou is comparable with heaven

shàngtiānwúlù,rùdìwúmén

上天无路，入地无门

[上天無路，入地無門]

lit. there is no road to the sky, nor door into the earth (idiom)
fig. to be at the end of one's rope
to be trapped in a hopeless situation

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.

héshangdǎsǎn,wúfǎwútiān

和尚打伞，无法无天

[和尚打傘，無法無天]

lit. like a monk holding an umbrella — no hair, no sky (idiom) (punning on 髮／发 (fà) vs 法 (fǎ))
fig. defying the law and the principles of heaven
lawless

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

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

tiānwàiyǒutiān,rénwàiyǒurén

天外有天，人外有人

[天外有天，人外有人]

see 人外有人，天外有天 (rénwàiyǒurén,tiānwàiyǒutiān)

tiānyàoluòyǔ,niángyàojiàrén

天要落雨，娘要嫁人

[天要落雨，娘要嫁人]

the rain will fall, the womenfolk will marry (idiom)
fig. the natural order of things
something you can't go against

Měiguó Guójiā Hángtiān Hángkōngjú

美国国家航天航空局

[美國國家航天航空局]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA

móushìzàirén,chéngshìzàitiān

谋事在人，成事在天

[謀事在人，成事在天]

planning is with man, accomplishing with heaven (idiom); Man proposes but God disposes.

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

Měiguó Guójiā Hángkōng Hángtiānjú

美国国家航空航天局

[美國國家航空航天局]

NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, agency of US government

tiānxiàxīngwáng,pǐfūyǒuzé

天下兴亡，匹夫有责

[天下興亡，匹夫有責]

The rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone (idiom). Everyone bears responsibility for the prosperity of society.

tiāndī Wú Chǔ,yǎnkōngwúwù

天低吴楚，眼空无物

[天低吳楚，眼空無物]

the sky hangs low over the Yangtze, empty as far as the eye can see (idiom); nothing to see to the broad horizon

hǎohǎoxuéxí,tiāntiānxiàngshàng

好好学习，天天向上

[好好學習，天天向上]

study hard and every day you will improve (idiom)

yīrén-dédào,jīquǎn-shēngtiān

一人得道，鸡犬升天

[一人得道，雞犬升天]

lit. when a person attains enlightenment and immortality, even his chickens and dogs will ascend to heaven with him (idiom)
fig. when somebody attains a position of power and influence, their relatives and friends also benefit

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

rénwàiyǒurén,tiānwàiyǒutiān

人外有人，天外有天

[人外有人，天外有天]

in the wider world there are people more talented than oneself (idiom)

dāngyītiānhéshangzhuàngyītiānzhōng

当一天和尚撞一天钟

[當一天和尚撞一天鐘]

see 做一天和尚撞一天鐘／做一天和尚撞一天钟 (zuòyītiānhéshangzhuàngyītiānzhōng)

shānwàiyǒushān,tiānwàiyǒutiān

山外有山，天外有天

[山外有山，天外有天]

(idiom) however good sth is, there is always sth better
in the wider world there are people more talented than oneself

yīge-tiānnán,yīge-dìběi

一个天南，一个地北

[一個天南，一個地北]

(idiom) to live miles apart

Bàikēnǔ'ěr Hángtiān Fāshè Jīdì

拜科努尔航天发射基地

[拜科努爾航天發射基地]

Baikonur Cosmodrome

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)

hǎinèicúnzhījǐ,tiānyáruòbǐlín

海内存知己，天涯若比邻

[海內存知己，天涯若比鄰]

close friend in a distant land, far-flung realms as next door
close in spirit although far away

tiānxiàwúnánshì,zhǐpàyǒuxīnrén

天下无难事，只怕有心人

[天下無難事，只怕有心人]

lit. there is nothing the determined person can't accomplish (idiom)
fig. persistence will overcome

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)

Zhōngguó Shíyóu Tiānránqì Jítuán Gōngsī

中国石油天然气集团公司

[中國石油天然氣集團公司]

China National Petroleum Corporation

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

xiāntiānxiàzhīyōu'éryōu,hòutiānxiàzhīlè'érlè

先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐

[先天下之憂而憂，後天下之樂而樂]

to be the first to worry about affairs of state, and the last to enjoy oneself (quotation from the essay On Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記／岳阳楼记 ( Yuèyánglóujì) by Song writer Fan Zhongyan 范仲淹 ( Fàn Zhòngyān)

zàitiānyuànzuòbǐyìniǎo,zàidìyuànzuòliánlǐzhī

在天愿做比翼鸟，在地愿做连理枝

[在天願做比翼鳥，在地願做連理枝]

In the sky to be two birds flying wing to wing, on earth to be two trees with branches intertwined
wishing for conjugal bliss