English Meaning/ Definition of Chinese idioms and phrases that appear in novels
| Idioms | Meaning |
| 三天打鱼，两天晒网 | Unable to persevere in work and study |
| 人在屋檐下 | When people are inferior to others in power and opportunities, they have to bow their heads and give in |
| 牡丹花下死，做鬼也风流 | The consequence is death at most, regardless if you are a ghost, you will be happy, contented! |
| 留着青山在，不怕没柴烧 | While there is life, there is hope |
| 瘦死的骆驼比马大 | People who have special expertise in one aspect, even if they suddenly become poor in this aspect, are better than some people who have just come out in this aspect (just started in the field) |
| 青出一蓝而胜于蓝 | Pupil surpasses the teacher |
| 有过之无不及 与 有过之而无不及 | Not to be inferior in any aspects |
| 见人说人话，见鬼说鬼话 | Say different things to different people |
| 打是亲，骂是爱 | Parents strict teaching style is out of love for the kid |
| 子不教父子过 | It is the father’s fault for not teaching the child properly |
| 不見棺材不掉淚 | To refuse to be convinced until one is faced with the grim reality |
| 百口莫辩 | Even a hundred mouthes can’t explain it properly |
| 天外有天，人外有人 | Moral that one shouldn’t be too arrogant as there’s always better out there |
| 天不從人願 | Things don’t go as people would like |
| 欲将取之，必先予之 | If you want to seize something, then you have to temporarily pay the price to induce the other party to relax their vigilance, and then looking for opportunities to take it. |
| 死道友不死贫道 | Hurting others for your own benefit (better for you to die than me) |
| 长得虎头虎脑 | Looks healthy, simple and straightforward |
| 闻新人笑，不闻旧人哭 | When someone only listens to a new person and focuses on them, but ignore people from the past |
| 势同水火 | Two sides opposing like fire and water |
| 鸡飞又狗跳 | Great disorder/ turmoil |
| 无事献殷勤，非奸即盗 | One who is unaccountably solicitous/ hiding evil intentions |
| 酒廊饭袋 | Someone who only eats and drinks and has no ability |
| 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 | Powerful people can do whatever they want, while ordinary people are restricted to legitimate activities |
| 情人眼里总是出西施 | If you like them, no matter how they look, you would think they are beautiful |
| 三岁看到老 | One can see how their adulthood will be when they are three years old |
| 夜长梦多 | Undue delay may bring trouble |
| 顺水推舟 | To take advantage of the situation for one’s own benefit; to go with the flow |
Meanings of Chinese slang that appear in novels
| Slang | Meaning |
| 吃素的 | Easygoing |
