WHAT IS DONE CANNOT BE UNDONE
覆水难收 fù shuĭ nán shōu
What it means:
倒在地上的水难收回来。 比喻事情已成定局，无法挽回。（多用在夫妻离异）
dào zài dì shàng de shuĭ nán shōu huí lái. bĭ yù shì qing yĭ chéng dìng jú wú fă wăn huí duō yòng zài fū qī lí yì.
What is done cannot be undone.
How to use the metaphor:
当年是你抛弃他们母子， 现在要求复婚，恐怕是覆水难收了。
dāng nián shì nĭ pāo qì tā men mŭ zĭ, xiàn zài yāo qiú fù hūn, kŏng pà shì fù shuĭ nán shōu le.
I’m afraid the harm you caused, when you abandoned the mother and child years ago, cannot be undone, even if you’re asking for reconciliation now.
WASTE EFFORTS ON THE WRONG PEOPLE
对牛弹琴 duì niú tán qín
What it means:
比喻同外行人说内行话，白费唇舌。
bĭ yù tóng wài háng rén shuō nèi háng huà, bái fèi chún shé.
Waste efforts on the wrong people.
How to use the metaphor:
说了半天，你还是不懂我的意思，我简直是在对牛弹琴了。
shuō le bàn tiān, nĭ hái shi bù dŏng wŏ de yìsi, wŏ jiăn zhí shì zài duì niú tán qín le.
We’ve been talking for hours and you still don’t understand what I mean. Clearly, you’re not the person I should be talking to. I am wasting my time.
TO START SOMETHING NEW OR ORIGINAL
别开生面 bié kāi shēng miàn
What it means:
另创一种新风格。
lìng chuàng yì zhŏng xīn fēng gé.
To start something new or original.
How to use the metaphor:
学校为家长举办一个别开生面的家庭竞赛会， 获得许多家长的赞赏。
xué xiào wèi jiā zhăng jŭ bàn yī gè bié kāi shēng miàn de jiā tíng jìng sài huì, huò dé xŭ duō jiā zhăng de zàn shăng.
The school won praise from parents for the very original and unique family telematch that it organized.
TO DO THINGS IN A SYSTEMATIC AND ORDERLY MANNER
按部就班 àn bù jiù bān
What it means:
按照一定的条理、步骤进行。
àn zhào yí dìng de tiáo lĭ, bù zhòu jìn xíng.
To do things in a systematic and orderly manner.
How to use the metaphor:
学习一定要按部就班， 不能走捷径。
xué xí yí dìng yào àn bù jiù bān, bù néng zŏu jié jìng.
There is no short cut to learning. It must be done in a systematic and orderly manner.
TO BE REWARDED DESPITE NOT MAKING ANY EFFORT
不劳而获 bù láo ér huò
What it means:
自己没有付出劳力而占有别人的成果。
zì jǐ méi yǒu fù chū láo lì ér zhàn yǒu bié rén de chéng guǒ.
To be rewarded despite not making any effort
How to use the metaphor:
世界上没有不劳而获的事， 凡是都要靠自己的努力。
shì jiè shàng méi yŏu bù láo ér huò de shì, fán shì dōu yào kào zì jĭ de nŭ lì.
Only those who work hard will reap rewards. Nothing comes free in this world.
LOOK FOR NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK
海底捞针 hăi dĭ lāo zhēn
What it means:
在大海中捞起一根针，比喻希望甚微。
zài dà hăi zhōng lāo qĭ yì gēn, zhēn bĭ yù xī wàng shèn wēi.
Look for needle in a haystack.
How to use the metaphor:
在没有线索的情况下去找一个失踪的人，简直是海底捞针。
zài méi yŏu xiàn suŏ de qíng kuàng xià qù zhăo yí gè shī zōng de rén, jiăn zhí shì hăi dĭ lāo zhēn.
Searching for a missing person, without a shred of clue, is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.
INCORRIGIBLE
不可救药 bù kě jiù yào
What it means:
无法挽救的意思。
wú fă wăn jiù de yì si.
Incorrigible.
How to use the metaphor:
他做恶多端， 为钱财杀人， 还不知悔改， 根本是不可救药。
tā zuò è duō duān, wèi qián cái shā rén, hái bù zhī huĭ găi, gēnběn shì bù kě jiù yào.
He is incorrigible. He remains unremorseful despite committing evil deeds like murder in his quest to get rich.
MAKE A QUICK DECISION AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT
当机立断 dāng jī lì duàn
What it means:
在关键时刻立即作出决断。
zài guān jiàn shí kè lì jí zuò chū jué duàn.
Make a quick decision at a crucial moment.
How to use the metaphor:
眼看妹妹呼吸越来越困难， 他当机立断，立刻把她送进医院。
yăn kàn mèi mei hū xī yuè lái yuè kùn nan, tā dāng jī lì duàn, lì kè bă tā sòng jìn yī yuan.
He made a quick decision to send his sister to hospital as soon as he realized that she was having difficulties breathing.
HEAVY TRAFFIC
车水马龙 chē shuĭ mǎ lóng
What it means:
形容车马众多，穿梭不息。
xíng róng chē mă zhòng duō, chuān suō bù xī.
Heavy traffic.
How to use the metaphor:
每逢周末，商业购物区车水马龙，非常热闹。
měi féng zhōu mò, shāng yè gòu wù qū chē shuĭ mă lóng, fēi cháng rè nào.
Roads in the business and shopping districts are usually jam-packed on weekends.
FOUND EVERYWHERE
比比皆是 bĭ bĭ jiē shì
What it means:
到处都是。 形容很常见。
dào chù dōu shì. xíng róng hĕn cháng jiàn.
Found everywhere..
How to use the metaphor:
在我国， 善心人士慷慨解囊的例子比比皆是。
zài wŏ guó, shàn xīn rén shì kāng kăi jiĕ náng de lì zi bĭ bĭ jiē shì.
There are countless examples of kind and generous people here in my country.
EACH HAS ITS OWN MERITS
各有千秋 gè yŏu qiān qiū
What it means:
各有各的价值；各有各的长处和特点。
gè yŏu gè de jià zhí; gè yŏu gè de cháng chù hé tè diăn.
Each has its own merits.
How to use the metaphor:
这两件参赛作品，各有千秋，很难定出胜负。
zhè liăng jiàn cān sài zuò pĭn, gè yŏu qiān qiū, hĕn nán dìng chū sheng fù
Both of these entries to the competition have their own merits. It will be a tough call selecting the winner.
Source: 365 Chinese Idioms booklet produced by Panpac Education in conjunction with the Speak Mandarin Campaign.