Chinese Dictionary

Usage of the character 如

as
as if
such as

if

in the amount stipulated (by prior agreement)
in full
in the same amount

as before
as ever

very similar

as before
as usual
(to be) like old friends

Rugao, county-level city in Nantong 南通 ( Nántōng), Jiangsu

grassy

like the clouds in the sky (i.e. numerous)

for example
for instance
such as

for example; for instance; such as

as things really are
realistic

just as
precisely as

consistent
the same
unvarying

to be just like

(literary) in this way
so

for example; for instance; such as

not equal to; not as good as; inferior to
it would be better to

how about
what kind of

Rudong county in Nantong 南通 ( Nántōng), Jiangsu

like
as

as follows

as one wants; according to one's wishes
ruyi scepter, a symbol of power and good fortune

to be better than

variant of 宛如 (wǎnrú)

similar to; like

to be just like

nowadays; now

if

to have one's wishes fulfilled

how
what way
what

just as if

to be like sth
similar to
alike

such as

it would be better

to be as if...
to be rather like...

flowery

like this; so; such

(literary) like this
such (as this)
so much
so many

as the title suggests; as indicated in the title

Tathata

fiery

Chiuju township in Pingtung County 屏東縣／屏东县 ( Píngdōng Xiàn), Taiwan

(literary) to be exactly like
to be exactly as if

if
in case
in the event that

tathagata (Buddha's name for himself, having many layers of meaning - Sanskrit: thus gone, having been Brahman, gone to the absolute etc)

unobstructed
unconstrained
smoothly
with ease
freely

thus

as scheduled
on time
punctual

it is exactly as

picturesque

(various things) such as
such as (the following)

to go to the toilet

if

like
similar to
as if

because of this

(dialect) condom

Biru county, Tibetan: 'Bri ru rdzong, in Nagchu prefecture 那曲地區／那曲地区 ( Nàqǔdìqū), central Tibet

Cyndi Wang (1982-), Taiwanese singer and actress

if
if one were to say

for example

Ling Xiangru (dates unknown, 3rd century BC), famous statesman of Zhao 趙國／赵国

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

Rugao, county-level city in Nantong 南通 ( Nántōng), Jiangsu

for example

(old) concubine

Zhāng Chúnrú

Iris Chang (1968-2004), Chinese American historian and author of "The Rape of Nanking"

Rudong county in Nantong 南通 ( Nántōng), Jiangsu

Ruby Lin (1976-), Taiwanese actress and pop singer

Chiuju township in Pingtung County 屏東縣／屏东县 ( Píngdōng Xiàn), Taiwan

lit. as if drunk and stupefied (idiom)
intoxicated by sth
obsessed with
mad about sth
also written 如癡如醉／如痴如醉 (rúchīrúzuì)

shìjiǔrúmìng

to love wine as one's life (idiom); fond of the bottle

extreme poverty (idiom); destitute
penniless
poor as church mice

móuchénrúyǔ

strategic experts as thick as rain (idiom); no shortage of advisers on strategy

màoměirúhuā

(of a woman) lovely as a flower (idiom)
beautiful

familiarity at first sight

see 稱心如意／称心如意 (chènxīnrúyì)

so I have heard (idiom)
the beginning clause of Buddha's quotations as recorded by his disciple, Ananda (Buddhism)

as solid as rock (idiom); as sure as houses

Yàoshīrúlái

Medicine Buddha (Sanskrit: Bhaisajyaguru)

rúyìsuànpán

counting one's chickens before they are hatched

tears falling like rain (idiom)

yùnyòngzìrú

to have a fluent command of (idiom)

rúyǐngsuíxíng

as the shadow follows the body (idiom)
closely associated with each other
to follow relentlessly

yīrúwǎngcháng

as usual

rénrúqímíng

(idiom) to live up to one's name; true to one's name

(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as always

like a hot knife through butter (idiom)
with irresistible force

to be precisely the same
to be no different

penniless

xīnrúzhǐshuǐ

to be at peace with oneself

hàorúyānhǎi

vast as the open sea (idiom); fig. extensive (library)

shìdàorújīn

as matters stand
things having reached this stage

yòngbīngrúshén

to lead military operations with extraordinary skill

méntíngrúshì

see 門庭若市／门庭若市 (méntíngruòshì)

things like this (idiom); and so on
and the rest
etc

huìmòrúshēn

important matter that must be kept secret (idiom); don't breathe a word of it to anyone!

qínshòubùrú

worse than a beast
to behave immorally

rúshǔjiāzhēn

lit. as if enumerating one's family valuables (idiom)
fig. to be very familiar with a matter

yóurénrúzhī

crowded with visitors; packed with tourists

(idiom) to do (sth) with great aplomb

suìyuèrúsuō

time flies (idiom)

the wise may appear stupid (idiom); a genius not appreciated in his own time

to feel ashamed at being inferior (idiom)

(idiom) back to where we were; absolutely no improvement; things haven't changed at all

lit. as if weeping and complaining (idiom)
fig. mournful (music or singing)

green grass like cushion (idiom); green meadow so inviting to sleep on

àicáirúmìng

lit. to love money as much as one's own life (idiom)
fig. avaricious
tightfisted

green grass like cushion (idiom); green meadow so inviting to sleep on

like ants pursuing a stink (idiom); the mob chases the rich and powerful
the crowd runs after trash

rúyìlángjūn

ideal husband; Mr. Right

(idiom) to love the common people as one's own children (praise for a virtuous ruler)

ānrú Tài Shān

as secure as Mount Taishan
as solid as a rock

gǔshòurúchái

as thin as a match
emaciated (idiom)

cóngjiànrúliú

to follow admonition as natural flow (idiom); to accept criticism or correction (even from one's inferiors)

miànrúhuītǔ

ashen-faced (idiom)

without two nickels to rub together (idiom)
impoverished

jiāpíngrúcháo

a hit
tremendous popularity

yīrúsuǒliào

as expected

to love one's country as one's own family (praise for a virtuous ruler)

tiězhèngrúshān

irrefutable evidence

shǒushēnrúyù

to keep oneself pure
to preserve one's integrity
to remain chaste

shìrúkòuchóu

to regard as an enemy

qīnrúshǒuzú

as close as brothers (idiom); deep friendship

external appearance and inner thoughts coincide (idiom); to say what one means
to think and act as one

xǔxǔrúshēng

vivid and lifelike (idiom); true to life
realistic

jírúxīnghuǒ

lit. as hurried as a shooting star (idiom); requiring immediate action
extremely urgent

suìyuèrúliú

the passage of the years
the flow of time

ashen-faced (idiom)

yīqīngrúshuǐ

lit. as clear as water (idiom)
fig. (of officials etc) honest and incorruptible

shēnqīngrúyàn

as lithe as a swallow (of athlete or beautiful girl)

yīqiánrúmìng

stingy; penny-pinching

leaving much to be desired
unsatisfactory
undesirable

to regard as useless
to view as no better than weeds

to burn with impatience
torn with anxiety

dǎnxiǎorúshǔ

(idiom) chicken-hearted; gutless

rúhuòzhìbǎo

as if gaining the most precious treasure

lit. like a tiger that has grown wings
with redoubled power (idiom)

to have all one's wishes (idiom)
best wishes
all the best
may all your hopes be fulfilled

liàoshìrúshén

to prophesy with supernatural accuracy (idiom)
to have an incredible foresight

wēirúzhāolù

precarious as the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence

yìngduìrúliú

to respond fluently
to answer smartly

guǒrúsuǒliào

just as expected

chènxīnrúyì

(idiom) after one's own heart; gratifying; satisfactory; everything one could wish

everything as before

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

dàobèirúliú

to know by heart (so well that you can recite it backwards)

fēngyǔrúhuì

lit. wind and rain darken the sky (idiom); fig. the situation looks grim

sweating like rain (idiom); to perspire profusely
sweating like a pig

ashen-faced (idiom)

to arise abruptly
to arrive suddenly
happening suddenly

yuánláirúcǐ

so that's how it is; I see

not only that, but ...

stuck together as by glue (of lovers)
joined at the hip

as if degenerating into smoke (idiom); ignorant and unable to see where things are heading

(of scenery) stunning
spectacular
picturesque

Vairocana, Buddha of supreme enlightenment

delicate as a flower, refined as a precious jade (idiom)
(of a woman) exquisite

bàotiàorúléi

to stamp with fury; to fly into a rage

duījīrúshān

to pile up like a mountain (idiom)
a mountain of (paperwork etc)
a large number of sth

totally satisfying

to drip with sweat
sweat poured off (him)

shǐzhōngrúyī

unswerving from start to finish (idiom)

worse than a dog or pig
lower than low

lit. to follow the recipe (idiom)
fig. to follow a set pattern

àizhīrúmìng

to love sb (or sth) as one loves life itself

rúshìzhòngfù

as if relieved from a burden (idiom)
to have a weight off one's mind

rúhuángzhīshé

lit. a tongue like a reed (idiom)
fig. a glib tongue

tǎngnéngrúcǐ

if this can be done

pouring with rain
rain bucketing down

rúyuē'érzhì

to arrive as planned
right on schedule

as the arm moves the finger (idiom)
freely and effortlessly
to have perfect command of

to perform the ritual bows
to follow the customary ceremonies

things are not as good as they used to be

lit. to kill people like scything flax (idiom)
fig. to kill people like flies

like wildfire (idiom)
unstoppable

rúzuòzhēnzhān

lit. as if sitting on pins and needles (idiom)
fig. to be in an uncomfortable situation

like gold or jade (idiom)
gorgeous
lovely
splendorous

gǔshòurúchái

variant of 骨瘦如柴 (gǔshòurúchái)

to feel as if having one's heart cut out (idiom)
to be torn with grief

how about it?
what do you think?

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

rúyíngzhúchòu

like flies pursuing a stink (idiom); the mob chases the rich and powerful
the crowd runs after trash

wǎngshìrúfēng

the past is vanished like the wind; gone beyond recall

rúhuǒwǎnxiá

clouds at sunset glowing like fire

rúniǎoshòusàn

lit. to scatter like birds and beasts (idiom)
fig. to flee in all directions

cóngshànrúliú

readily following good advice (idiom); willing to accept other people's views

four seasons like spring
favorable climate throughout the year

dànyuànrúcǐ

if only it were so
I hope so (idiom)

jí'è-rúchóu

(idiom) to hate evil as one hates an enemy

bīnzhìrúguī

guests feel at home (in a hotel, guest house etc)
a home away from home

rénshēngrúmèng

life is but a dream (idiom)

rúyǒusuǒshī

to seem as if something is amiss (idiom)

jūnlìngrúshān

military orders are like mountains (idiom)
a military order must be obeyed

lit. to make one's way through a dangerous pass as if walking on level ground (idiom)
fig. to handle a crisis effortlessly

duōrúniúmáo

as numerous as the hairs of an ox (idiom)
innumerable
countless

thus and so
such and such

qìchuǎnrúniú

to breathe heavily like an ox (idiom)
to huff and puff

nuòrúbìngdú

norovirus (loanword)

to view death as a return home
to not be afraid of dying
to face death with equanimity (idiom)

the sun and moon like a shuttle (idiom); How time flies!

be that as it may

lit. heart and mouth as one (idiom); to say what you think
honest and straightforward

yìrúfānzhǎng

see 易如反掌 (yìrúfǎnzhǎng)

(idiom) to be dead drunk; to be plastered

liǎorúzhǐzhǎng

to know sth like the back of one's hand (idiom)
to know (a person, a place etc) inside out

lit. like maggots feeding on a corpse (idiom)
fig. fixed on sth
to cling on without letting go
to pester obstinately

wánhǎorúchū

intact
untouched
as good as before

mùguāngrúdòu

short-sighted
limited vision

rúléiguàn'ěr

lit. like thunder piercing the ear
a well-known reputation (idiom)

wēirúlěiluǎn

precarious as pile of eggs (idiom); ready to fall and break at any moment
in a dangerous state

lit. as if meeting a great enemy (idiom)
fig. cautious
with great preoccupation
with strict precaution

see 如泣如訴／如泣如诉 (rúqìrúsù)

shǒukǒurúpíng

lit. to guard one's mouth like a closed bottle (idiom); tight-lipped
reticent
not breathing a word

yìrúfǎnzhǎng

easy as a hand's turn (idiom); very easy
no effort at all

to consider oneself as being not as good as the others

as one pleases (idiom)

to bury the hatchet
to become reconciled

lit. beautiful as peach and prune
fig. radiant beauty

to look upon as dirt
considered worthless

fúrú Dōng Hǎi

may your happiness be as immense as the East Sea (idiom)

to handle matters with ease (idiom)
to hold one's own

free to come and go (idiom)
to have room to maneuver

family-like close relationship (idiom)

cāozòngzìrú

to operate (a machine etc) with ease

wěnrú Tài Shān

steady as Mt Tai
as safe as houses

huǎngrúgéshì

like a thing of the previous generation; as if it were a lifetime ago

qiǎoshérúhuáng

lit. to have a tongue like the reed of a wind instrument (idiom)
fig. to have a glib tongue

jiànbùrúfēi

running as fast as flying

to hunger for sth (idiom); eagerly
to long for sth

xiāngjìngrúbīn

to treat each other as an honored guest (idiom)
mutual respect between husband and wife

liǎorúzhǐzhǎng

variant of 了如指掌 (liǎorúzhǐzhǎng)

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

rújiǎbāohuàn

replacement guaranteed if not genuine
fig. authentic

(idiom) enthralled; mesmerized; enraptured

rúgěngzàihóu

lit. as if having a fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom)
fig. very upset and needing to express one's displeasure

xīnrúdāojiǎo

to feel a pain like a knife being twisted in one's heart (idiom)

to handle easily (idiom); effortless

rúrìzhōngtiān

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

hānshēngrúléi

thunderous snoring

whatever the case
in any event
no matter what
by all possible means

lit. like wolves and tigers
ruthless

lit. to follow the recipe (idiom)
to follow the same plan

miàoyǔrúzhū

sparkling with wit (idiom)

yuǎnfēirúcǐ

far from it being so (idiom)

lit. as if walking on thin ice (idiom)
fig. to be extremely cautious
to be skating on thin ice

lit. to squander money like dirt (idiom)
fig. to spend money like water
extravagant

like a fish back in water (idiom); glad to be back in one's proper surroundings

kōngkōngrúyě

as empty as anything (idiom); completely bereft
to have nothing
vacuous
hollow
empty (argument, head etc)

love others as self

jiānrúpánshí

solid as a boulder (idiom); absolutely secure
rock-firm and unyielding

lit. as sweet as syrup (idiom, from Book of Songs); to endure hardship gladly
a glutton for punishment

a day drags past like a year (idiom); time hangs heavy
time crawls when one is wretched

hàolìngrúshān

lit. order like a mountain
a military order is inviolable
strict discipline

able to reply quickly and fluently (idiom); having a ready answer

the writing style mirrors the writer (idiom)

jí'è-rúchóu

variant of 嫉惡如仇／嫉恶如仇 (jié-ruchou)

gāoshǒurúyún

(idiom) teeming with experts

yǎorúhuánghè

to be gone forever (idiom)
to disappear without a trace

zhífǎrúshān

to maintain the law as firm as a mountain (idiom); to enforce the law strictly

xīnluànrúmá

one's thoughts in a whirl (idiom); confused
disconcerted
upset

lit. to view as worn-out shoes (idiom)
fig. to consider to be worthless

rúyuànyǐcháng

to have one's wish fulfilled

páoxiàorúléi

to be in a thundering rage (idiom)

(idiom) appropriate
apt
just right

handling any occasion smoothly (idiom); equal to any situation

yǎnrúbáizhòu

as bright as daylight (idiom)

bànjūnrúbànhǔ

伴君如伴虎

[伴君如伴虎]

being close to the sovereign can be as perilous as lying with a tiger (idiom)

kètóurúdǎosuàn

磕头如捣蒜

[磕頭如搗蒜]

lit. to kowtow like grinding garlic (idiom)
fig. to pound the ground with one's head

qìzhīrúbìxǐ

弃之如敝屣

[棄之如敝屣]

to toss away like a pair of worn-out shoes (idiom)

Emítuórúlái

阿弥陀如来

[阿彌陀如來]

Amitabha, Buddha of infinite light

géhángrúgéshān

隔行如隔山

[隔行如隔山]

different trades, worlds apart (idiom); to sb outside the profession, it is a closed book

rénshēngrúzhāolù

人生如朝露

[人生如朝露]

human life as the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence

jiùchǎngrújiùhuǒ

救场如救火

[救場如救火]

the show must go on (idiom)

bīngbàirúshāndǎo

兵败如山倒

[兵敗如山倒]

troops in defeat like a landslide (idiom); a beaten army in total collapse

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

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

rúduòwǔlǐwùzhōng

如堕五里雾中

[如墮五里霧中]

as if lost in a thick fog (idiom)
in a fog
muddled
completely unfamiliar with sth

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

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

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.

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)

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.

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

yīrìbùrúyīrì

一日不如一日

[一日不如一日]

to be getting worse by the day

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

yīdàibùrúyīdài

一代不如一代

[一代不如一代]

to be getting worse with each generation

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

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)

qiúrénbùrúqiújǐ

求人不如求己

[求人不如求己]

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

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)

jūnzǐzhījiāodànrúshuǐ

君子之交淡如水

[君子之交淡如水]

a gentleman's friendship, insipid as water (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子／庄子 ( Zhuāngzǐ))

hǎosǐbùrúlàihuózhe

好死不如赖活着

[好死不如賴活著]

better a bad life than a good death (idiom)

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

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)

rúrényǐnshuǐ,lěngnuǎnzìzhī

如人饮水，冷暖自知

[如人飲水，冷暖自知]

the person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold (Zen proverb); self-awareness comes from within
to know best by personal experience

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)

cóngshànrúdēng,cóng'èrúbēng

从善如登，从恶如崩

[從善如登，從惡如崩]

doing good is like a hard climb, doing evil is like an easy fall (idiom)

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)

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

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)

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

bìngláirúshāndǎo,bìngqùrúchōusī

病来如山倒，病去如抽丝

[病來如山倒，病去如抽絲]

sickness comes like a landslide, but goes slowly like spinning silk (idiom); expect to convalesce slowly

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

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

shūzhōngzìyǒuhuángjīnwū,shūzhōngzìyǒuyánrúyù

书中自有黄金屋，书中自有颜如玉

[書中自有黃金屋，書中自有顏如玉]

lit. in books are sumptuous houses and graceful ladies (proverb)
fig. be diligent in your studies, success and glory will follow