Chinese word of the day
Useful everyday words alternate with chengyu, sayings and modern slang. Each comes with pinyin, its meaning, an example sentence and a note on how it is used. Add it to your reviews in one tap.
Words and expressions in the rotation
- 吃醋 (chīcù) to be jealous (in love)
- 对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín) to waste your words on the wrong audience
- 东西 (dōngxi) thing; stuff
- 三天打鱼，两天晒网 (sān tiān dǎ yú, liǎng tiān shài wǎng) to work in fits and starts
- 摸鱼 (mōyú) to slack off at work
- 塞翁失马 (sài wēng shī mǎ) a blessing in disguise
- 矛盾 (máodùn) contradiction; torn between two choices
- 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 (zhòng guā dé guā, zhòng dòu dé dòu) you reap what you sow
- 开夜车 (kāi yèchē) to pull an all-nighter
- 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) to spoil something by overdoing it
- 马上 (mǎshàng) right away
- 一分钱一分货 (yì fēn qián yì fēn huò) you get what you pay for
- 炒鱿鱼 (chǎo yóuyú) to fire someone
- 入乡随俗 (rù xiāng suí sú) when in Rome, do as the Romans do
- 熊猫 (xióngmāo) giant panda
- 活到老，学到老 (huó dào lǎo, xué dào lǎo) you’re never too old to learn
- 躺平 (tǎngpíng) to opt out of the rat race
- 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) to give up halfway
- 电脑 (diànnǎo) computer
- 说曹操，曹操到 (shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào) speak of the devil
- 拍马屁 (pāi mǎpì) to suck up to someone
- 一举两得 (yì jǔ liǎng dé) to kill two birds with one stone
- 火车 (huǒchē) train
- 吃一堑，长一智 (chī yí qiàn, zhǎng yí zhì) learn from your mistakes
- 吃瓜 (chī guā) to watch drama unfold as a bystander
- 马马虎虎 (mǎma hūhū) so-so; careless
- 买卖 (mǎimai) business; trade
- 船到桥头自然直 (chuán dào qiáo tóu zìrán zhí) things will work out
- 内卷 (nèijuǎn) pointless rat-race competition
- 乱七八糟 (luànqībāzāo) a complete mess
- 多少 (duōshao) how much; how many
- 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 (sān ge chòu píjiang, dǐng ge Zhūgě Liàng) two heads are better than one
- 佛系 (fóxì) laid-back; whatever happens, happens
- 三心二意 (sān xīn èr yì) half-hearted; unable to commit
- 冰箱 (bīngxiāng) fridge
- 天下没有免费的午餐 (tiānxià méiyǒu miǎnfèi de wǔcān) there’s no such thing as a free lunch
- 社恐 (shèkǒng) socially anxious; an introvert
- 大惊小怪 (dà jīng xiǎo guài) to make a fuss about nothing
- 黄瓜 (huángguā) cucumber
- 不到长城非好汉 (bú dào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn) you have to see it through
- 打工人 (dǎgōngrén) wage slave; ordinary worker
- 小题大做 (xiǎo tí dà zuò) to make a mountain out of a molehill
- 西红柿 (xīhóngshì) tomato
- 喝西北风 (hē xīběifēng) to have nothing to eat
- 吐槽 (tǔcáo) to roast; to complain jokingly
- 滔滔不绝 (tāotāo bù jué) to talk on and on
- 小心 (xiǎoxīn) careful; watch out
- 狗拿耗子，多管闲事 (gǒu ná hàozi, duō guǎn xiánshì) mind your own business
- 柠檬精 (níngméngjīng) someone who’s jealous
- 津津有味 (jīnjīn yǒu wèi) with great relish
- 开心 (kāixīn) happy
- 天上掉馅饼 (tiānshàng diào xiànbǐng) something for nothing
- 种草 (zhòngcǎo) to make someone want to buy something
- 井底之蛙 (jǐng dǐ zhī wā) someone with a narrow view of the world
- 担心 (dānxīn) to worry
- 一山不容二虎 (yì shān bù róng èr hǔ) this town isn’t big enough for the both of us
- 剁手 (duòshǒu) to shop too much online
- 守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù) to wait for luck instead of working
- 粗心 (cūxīn) careless
- 好马不吃回头草 (hǎo mǎ bù chī huítóu cǎo) don’t go back to an ex (or an old job)
- 网红 (wǎnghóng) influencer; internet-famous
- 亡羊补牢 (wáng yáng bǔ láo) better late than never
- 吃苦 (chīkǔ) to put up with hardship
- 千里送鹅毛，礼轻情意重 (qiān lǐ sòng émáo, lǐ qīng qíngyì zhòng) it’s the thought that counts
- 学霸 (xuébà) top student
- 自相矛盾 (zì xiāng máo dùn) to contradict oneself
- 吃亏 (chīkuī) to lose out; to be at a disadvantage
- 情人眼里出西施 (qíngrén yǎn lǐ chū Xīshī) beauty is in the eye of the beholder
- 颜值 (yánzhí) looks; attractiveness
- 掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng) to fool only yourself
- 眼红 (yǎnhóng) envious
- 远亲不如近邻 (yuǎnqīn bù rú jìnlín) a good neighbour beats family far away
- 土豪 (tǔháo) someone flashy with new money
- 拔苗助长 (bá miáo zhù zhǎng) to spoil things by being too eager
- 厚脸皮 (hòuliǎnpí) shameless; cheeky
- 车到山前必有路 (chē dào shān qián bì yǒu lù) things will work out
- 单身狗 (dānshēngǒu) single person (self-mocking)
- 狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi) to bully others using someone else’s power
- 丢脸 (diūliǎn) embarrassing; to lose face
- 不管黑猫白猫，捉到老鼠就是好猫 (bùguǎn hēi māo bái māo, zhuō dào lǎoshǔ jiù shì hǎo māo) what matters is results
- 靠谱 (kàopǔ) reliable; makes sense
- 刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn) to cling to a method after things have changed
- 头疼 (tóuténg) a headache (a problem)
- 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒 (bīng dòng sān chǐ, fēi yí rì zhī hán) Rome wasn’t built in a day
- 放鸽子 (fàng gēzi) to stand someone up
- 胸有成竹 (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú) to have a plan already worked out
- 宝贝 (bǎobèi) baby; darling; treasure
- 谋事在人，成事在天 (móu shì zài rén, chéng shì zài tiān) man proposes, God disposes
- 泼冷水 (pō lěngshuǐ) to discourage; to dampen enthusiasm
- 一见钟情 (yí jiàn zhōng qíng) love at first sight
- 江湖 (jiānghú) the world of wandering heroes; the rough outside world
- 早起的鸟儿有虫吃 (zǎo qǐ de niǎor yǒu chóng chī) the early bird catches the worm
- 背黑锅 (bēi hēiguō) to take the blame for someone else
- 七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià) on edge; anxious
- 缘分 (yuánfèn) the fate that brings people together
- 饭后百步走，活到九十九 (fàn hòu bǎi bù zǒu, huó dào jiǔshíjiǔ) a walk after dinner keeps you healthy
- 吹牛 (chuīniú) to brag; to boast
- 目瞪口呆 (mù dèng kǒu dāi) stunned; dumbfounded
- 面子 (miànzi) reputation; dignity
- 老王卖瓜，自卖自夸 (lǎo Wáng mài guā, zì mài zì kuā) to blow your own trumpet
- 碰钉子 (pèng dīngzi) to be rebuffed; to hit a wall
- 手忙脚乱 (shǒu máng jiǎo luàn) in a frantic rush
- 热闹 (rènao) lively; bustling
- 三十六计，走为上计 (sānshíliù jì, zǒu wéi shàng jì) when in doubt, get out
- 走后门 (zǒu hòumén) to use connections
- 卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn) to endure hardship to reach a goal
- 客气 (kèqi) polite; formal
- 加油 (jiāyóu) come on! you can do it!
- 画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng) the finishing touch
- 糊涂 (hútu) muddled; confused
- 打酱油 (dǎ jiàngyóu) it’s none of my business; just passing by
- 熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo) practice makes perfect
- 小气 (xiǎoqì) stingy
- 吃软饭 (chī ruǎnfàn) to live off a partner
- 雪中送炭 (xuě zhōng sòng tàn) help in someone’s hour of need
- 大方 (dàfang) generous; natural and at ease
- 马大哈 (mǎdàhā) scatterbrain
- 锦上添花 (jǐn shàng tiān huā) to make something good even better
- 老外 (lǎowài) foreigner (casual)
- 戴高帽 (dài gāomào) to flatter
- 人山人海 (rén shān rén hǎi) huge crowds
- 落汤鸡 (luòtāngjī) soaked to the skin
- 凑热闹 (còu rènao) to join in the fun; to tag along
- 落井下石 (luò jǐng xià shí) to kick someone when they’re down
- 夜猫子 (yèmāozi) night owl
- 破防 (pòfáng) to be emotionally hit; to lose composure
- 杀鸡儆猴 (shā jī jǐng hóu) to punish one person as a warning to others
- 铁饭碗 (tiěfànwǎn) a job for life
- 凡尔赛 (Fán’ěrsài) humble-bragging
- 杯弓蛇影 (bēi gōng shé yǐng) to be scared of nothing
- 马路 (mǎlù) street; road
- 白眼狼 (báiyǎnláng) an ungrateful person
- 叶公好龙 (yè gōng hào lóng) to claim to love something you actually fear
- 天花板 (tiānhuābǎn) ceiling; (slang) the very best
- 绿帽子 (lǜmàozi) being cheated on
- 朝三暮四 (zhāo sān mù sì) fickle; always changing your mind
- 花心 (huāxīn) fickle in love; a player
- 小鲜肉 (xiǎoxiānròu) a young, good-looking male star
- 班门弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ) to show off in front of an expert
- 胆小鬼 (dǎnxiǎoguǐ) coward
- 二百五 (èrbǎiwǔ) an idiot
- 指鹿为马 (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ) to deliberately call black white
- 酒鬼 (jiǔguǐ) drunkard
- 坑爹 (kēngdiē) a rip-off; awful
- 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng) all theory and no practice
- 红包 (hóngbāo) a red envelope of money
- 高富帅 (gāofùshuài) Mr Perfect
- 杞人忧天 (qǐ rén yōu tiān) to worry about nothing
- 熬夜 (áoyè) to stay up late
- 老司机 (lǎosījī) an old hand; an expert
- 骑虎难下 (qí hǔ nán xià) in too deep to back out
- 跳槽 (tiàocáo) to switch jobs
- 宅男 (zháinán) a homebody; an indoorsy guy
- 鸡飞狗跳 (jī fēi gǒu tiào) total chaos
- 八卦 (bāguà) gossip; nosy
- 点赞 (diǎnzàn) to like a post
- 九牛一毛 (jiǔ niú yì máo) a drop in the ocean
- 山寨 (shānzhài) knockoff; copycat
- 刷屏 (shuāpíng) to flood everyone’s feed
- 鸡毛蒜皮 (jī máo suàn pí) petty little things
- 扫兴 (sǎoxìng) disappointing; a buzzkill
- 秒杀 (miǎoshā) a flash sale; to crush instantly
- 守口如瓶 (shǒu kǒu rú píng) to keep a secret
- 喝喜酒 (hē xǐjiǔ) to go to a wedding
- 拖后腿 (tuō hòutuǐ) to hold someone back
- 如鱼得水 (rú yú dé shuǐ) completely in your element
- 开绿灯 (kāi lǜdēng) to give the go-ahead
- 虎头蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi) a strong start and a weak finish
- 唱反调 (chàng fǎndiào) to always take the opposite view
- 鹤立鸡群 (hè lì jī qún) to stand out from the crowd
- 穿小鞋 (chuān xiǎoxié) to make life hard for someone below you
- 望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě) to console yourself with a fantasy
- 半边天 (bànbiāntiān) women
- 走马观花 (zǒu mǎ guān huā) to take a quick, shallow look
- 跑龙套 (pǎo lóngtào) to play a bit part
- 老马识途 (lǎo mǎ shí tú) experience is the best guide
- 炒冷饭 (chǎo lěngfàn) to rehash old material
- 呆若木鸡 (dāi ruò mù jī) frozen in shock
- 吃闭门羹 (chī bìméngēng) to be turned away at the door
- 废寝忘食 (fèi qǐn wàng shí) to be completely absorbed in work
- 抱佛脚 (bào fójiǎo) to cram at the last minute
- 爱屋及乌 (ài wū jí wū) love me, love my dog
- 菜鸟 (càiniǎo) a newbie
- 盲人摸象 (máng rén mō xiàng) to judge the whole from one part
- 大佬 (dàlǎo) a big shot; a pro
- 破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu) to burn your bridges
- 杠精 (gàngjīng) someone who argues about everything
- 四面楚歌 (sì miàn Chǔ gē) surrounded by enemies
- 翻车 (fānchē) to fail in public
- 三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ) a rumour repeated often enough is believed
- 打退堂鼓 (dǎ tuìtánggǔ) to back out
- 碰瓷 (pèngcí) to fake an accident for money
- 吃土 (chī tǔ) to be broke
- 狗粮 (gǒuliáng) a couple’s showing off, as seen by singles
- 老铁 (lǎotiě) bro; close friend
- 牛 (niú) awesome; impressive
- 拍拖 (pāituō) to date; to go out with
- 咸鱼 (xiányú) a slacker; a do-nothing
- 鸡汤 (jītāng) feel-good platitudes
- 卖萌 (màiméng) to act cute
- 气管炎 (qìguǎnyán) a henpecked husband