A
爱心工程 Loving Care Project
安家费 settling-in allowance
安慰奖 consolation prize
暗箱操作 black case work
按资排辈 to assign priority according to seniority
按揭贷款 mortgage loan
按揭购房 to buy a house on mortgage; to mortgage a house
B
把关 guard a pass
霸权主义 hegemonism
吧台 bar counter
把握大局 grasp the overall situation
拔河(游戏) tug-of-war
摆花架子 a metaphor for presenting an attractive facade but in reality lacking substance
拜金主义 money worship
百年老店 century-old shop
白热化 be white-hot
摆脱贫困 shake off poverty; lift oneself from poverty
拜把兄弟 sworn brothers
摆架子 put on airs
白马王子 Prince Charming
拜年 pay New Year call
摆谱儿 put on airs; show off; keep up appearances
班车 shuttle bus
半拉子工程 uncompleted project
板楼，板式楼 slab-type apartment building
斑马线 zebra stripes
班门弄斧 teach one's grandma to suck eggs
搬迁户 a relocated unit or household
半脱产 a partial sabbatical from work
帮倒忙 trying to help but causing more trouble in the process
傍大款 (of a girl) find a sugar daddy; be a mistress for a rich man; lean on a moneybags
包产到户 fixing of farm output quotas for each household;
production contracted to each household
包产到户 fixing of farm output quotas for each household;
production contracted to each household
包车 to charter a vehicle (bus, train car, etc.); a chartered vehicle
保持国民经济发展的良好势头 maintain a good momentum of growth in the national economy
保兑银行 confirming bank
暴发户 new rich; upstart (persons or households who suddenly became rich through
unscrupulous means or unexpected opportunities)
曝光 make public; expose
保护伞 protective umbrella
保健按摩 therapeutic massage
保健品 health care products
爆冷门 produce an unexpected winner; a dark horse bobbing up
暴力片 splatter film
背投屏幕 rear projection screen
被摘牌的公司 delisted company
本命年 one's year of birth considered in relation to the 12 Terrestrial Branches
奔小康 strive for a relatively comfortable life
本本主义 bookishness
蹦迪 disco dancing
蹦极 bungee, bungee jumping
闭关政策 closed-door policy
闭门羹 given cold-shoulder
比上不足，比下有余 "worse off than some, better off than many;
to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst"
逼上梁山 be driven to drastic alternatives
变相涨价 disguised inflation
边远贫困地区 outlying poverty-stricken areas
边缘知识人 Marginal intellectuals
贬值 devalue, devaluate, depreciate (of a currency)
表面文章 lip service; surface formality
表演赛 demonstration match
并网发电 combined to the grid
伯乐 a good judge of talent (a name of a legendary person in the state of Qin during
the Spring and Autumn Period who excelled in evaluating horses)
剥离不良资产 strip bad assets off
薄利多销 small profit, large sale volume
博彩（业） lottery industry
剥夺冠军 strip the gold medal of somebody
薄利多销 small profits but quick returns; small profits and good sales
BP 机 beeper, pager
B to B (B2B) business to business
B to C (B2C) business to consumer
不打不成交 "No discord, no concord. "
不到长城非好汉 He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.
不分上下的总统选举结果 the neck-and-neck presidential election result
不感冒 have no interest
不管部部长 minister without portfolio
不良贷款 non-performing loan
不买帐 not take it; not go for it
步行街 pedestrian street
步行天桥 pedestrian overpass
不以物喜，不以己悲 not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personnal losses
不正之风 bad (harmful) practice; unhealthy tendency
C
擦边球 "edge ball, touch ball"
菜篮子工程 shopping basket program
菜鸟，新手 green hand
采取高姿态 show magnanimity
财务报表 financial statement
参拜靖国神社 visit to the Yasukuni war shrine
参政、议政 participate in the management of State affairs
仓储式超市 stockroom-style supermarket
层层转包和违法分保 multi-level contracting and illegal sub-contracting
茶道 sado
差额选举 competitive election
查房 make/go the rounds of the wards
拆东墙补西墙 rob Peter to pay Paul
拆迁户 households or units relocated due to building demolition
禅 dhyana
产粮大省 granary province
产品积压 overstocked products
产品结构 product mix
产品科技含量 technological element of a product
产品生命周期分析 LCA (Life Cycle Analysis)
产权明晰、权责明确、政企分开、科学管理 "clearly established ownership,
well defined power and responsibility, separation of enterprise from administration,
and scientific management "
产权制度、产权关系 property relations; property order
唱高调 mouth high-sounding words
长江三角洲 Yangtze River delta
长江中下游 the middle and lower reaches of Changjiang River
长期共存、互相监督、肝胆相照、荣辱与共 "long-term coexistence, mutual supervision,
sincere treatment with each other and the sharing of weal or woe "
畅通工程 Smooth Traffic Project
常务理事 executive member of the council
超前消费 pre-mature consumption; overconsuming; excessive consumption;
spend beyond one's means
超前意识 superior consciousness
超载过牧 overgraze
炒作 speculation (stock); sensationalization (news)
扯皮 shirk; pass the buck
城镇社会保障体系 urban social security system
承包 contract with
城乡信用社 credit corroborative in both urban and rural areas
吃老本 live on one's own fat; bask in one's past glory; rest on one's laurels
持续、稳定、协调发展 sustained, stable and coordinated development
吃大锅饭 "egalitarian practice of ""everybody eating from the same big pot"" "
吃皇粮 "receive salaries, subsidies, or other supported from the government"
充电 recharge one's batteries; update one's knowledge; brush up
冲帐 strike a balance; counter-balance accounts; reverse an entry
重复建设 building redundant project; duplication of similar projects
充值卡 rechargeable card
筹备委员会 preparatory committee
筹划指导委员会 steering committee
臭老九 stinking ninth category (of class enemies next to landlords, reactionaries
and even spies, etc. , a term of abuse by ultra-Leftists for teachers and other educated
people in the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution)
出风头 show off;in the limelight
出家 pravrajana; cloister
出口转内销 domestic sales of commodities orginally produced for exports
触摸屏 touchscreen
出气筒 punching bag
传销 pyramid sales; multi-level marketing
穿小鞋 make it hot for; make trouble for
春运 (passenger) transport during the Spring Festival
此地无银三百两 A guilty person gives himself away by consciously protesting his innocence.
辞旧迎新 bid farewell to the old and usher in the new; ring out the old year and ring in the new
从粗放经济转变为集约经济 shift from extensive economy to intensive economy
粗放经营 extensive operation
粗放式管理 extensive management
促进全球经济一体化 foster integration with the global economy
D
打白条 issue IOU
打包儿 use doggy bags to take food home
大包干 all-round responsibility system
大而全 large and comprehensive; large and all-inclusive
大规模杀伤性武器 mass destruction weapon
打黑 crack down on speculation and profiteering
打假 crack down on counterfeit goods
打假办 Office of Cracking down on Fake Products
大减价 markdown sales
大贱卖 big offering
大款 tycoon
大腕 top notch, big shot
大型电视系列片,长篇电视连续剧 maxi-series
大学生创业 university students' innovative undertaking
大要案 major and serious criminal cases
大专生 junior college student
大专文凭 associate degree
待岗 "await job assignment, post-waiting"
代培 train on contract; be commissioned to train; directional training
代销店 commission agent
带薪分流 assign redundant civil servants to other jobs while allowing
them to retain their original rank and benefits
带薪假期 paid holiday
待业 job-waiting
待业人员 job-waiting people
呆帐 dead account
代职 function in an acting capacity
单边主义 unilateralism
党风建设 construction of the Party conduct
党群关系 Party-masses relationship
党政机关 Party and government organizations
盗版VCD pirated VCD
德智体美劳 "all around development of moral, intellectual, physical,
aesthetics and labour education "
邓小平外交思想 Deng Xiaoping's diplomatic thoughts
低调 low keyed (a metaphor for taking a cautious and slow approach)
地方保护主义 regional protectionism
地方财政包干制 system whereby local authorities take full
responsibility for their finances
第三代移动电话(3G手机) third generation mobile; 3G mobile
电脑盲 computer illiterate
电脑迷 mouse potato
点球 penalty kick
电视直销 TV home shopping
点子公司 consultancy company
吊销执照 revoke license
丁克一族 DINK (Double Income No Kids)
钉子户 person or household who refuses to move and bargains for unreasonably
high compensation when the land is requisitioned for a construction project
"东突"恐怖分子 East Turkistan terrorist
"豆腐渣"工程 jerry-built project
渡假外交 holiday-making diplomacy
独生子女 the only child in one's family
对外招商 attract foreign investment
多媒体短信服务 MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
多元化 pluralism
多种经营 diversified economy
F
法人代表 legal representative
发烧友 fancier; zealot; enthusiastic fan
发展不平衡 disparate development
发展是硬道理 Development is of overriding importance. / Development is the absolute need.
法治国家 a country under the rule of law
法制国家 a state with an adequate legal system
反败为胜 "bring about a complete turnabout, pull out of the fire"
翻版 reprint; reproduction; mirror image
反腐倡廉 combat corruption and build a clean government
翻两番 quadruple
翻牌公司 government-body-turned company
反倾销措施 anti-dumping measures against …
防抱死系统 ABS (anti-lock braking system)
放下架子 to relinguish haughty airs; to get off one's high horse; throw off one's airs
放心店 trustworthy shop
放心肉 quality-assured meat
放行单 release permit
费改税 transform administrative fees into taxes
费改税改革 tax-for-fees reform
分流 reposition of redundant personnel
分期付款 installment payment
疯牛病 mad cow disease; bovine spongiform enceohalopathy (BSE)
风险基金 VC funds
风险投资 venture capital; risk investment
浮动工资 floating wages; fluctuating wages
复读机 repeater
覆盖率 coverage rate
富贵病 rich man's disease (which calls for a long period of rest and expensive diet)
复合型人才 inter-disciplinary talent
福利彩票 welfare lotteries
福利分房 welfare-oriented public housing distribution system
扶贫 poverty alleviation
扶贫办公室 Poverty Relief Office
复式住宅 duplex apartment; compound apartment (a type of residential housing that
maximizes usable space by increasing the number of the storey building)
服务行业 catering industry
G
改制上市 An enterprise is re-organized according to modern corporate system
so that it will get listed on the stock market.
干部队伍革命化、年轻化、知识化、专业化 " make the ranks of cadres more revolutionary,
younger in average age, better educated and professionally more competent "
岗位培训 on-the-job training
高分低能 high scores and low abilities
高峰 peak time
高峰论坛 summit (forum)
高考 (university) entrance examination
高难度动作 stunner, stunt
高清晰度 high definition
高手 master hand, expert
(精通电脑和网络的)高手 geek
高新技术产业开发区 high and new technology industrial development zone
高原反应,高山反应 altitude stress; altitude sickness
个人数字助理 PDA (personal digital assistant)
个人演唱会 solo concert
个人自扫门前雪， 莫管他人瓦上霜 hoe one's own potatoes
功夫不负有心人 Everything comes to him who waits.
公告板服务 Bulletin Board Service (BBS)
公积金 "public accumulation funds, public reserve funds"
公检法 " public security organs, procuratorial organs and people's courts"
公务员 civil servants; governmental employee
恭喜发财 May you be prosperous!; Wish you prosperity.
个体经济 private economy
跟屁虫 1.one's shadow; to tag along; 2. flatterer, boot licker, ass-kisser, brown-noser
广告词 jingle
广告电话直销 direct response advertising
广告妙语 attention-getter
光谷 optical valley
光机电一体化 "optical, mechanical and electronic integration"
归口管理 put under centralized management by specialized departments
规模经济 scale economy
规模效益 scale merit
国产化率 import substitution rate; localization rate of parts and components
国家重点科技攻关项目 national key scientific and technological project
国脚 player of the national football team; footballer of the national team
国库券 treasury bonds
国泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace
国家重点科技攻关项目 national key scientific and technological project
国脚 player of the national football team; footballer of the national team
国库券 treasury bonds
H
海量存储 mass memory
海市蜃楼,镜花水月,无稽之谈 a mare's nest
海峡交流基金会(海基会) Strait Exchange Foundation of (Taiwan, China)(SEF)
海峡两岸关系协会 the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
海峡两岸交流基金会 the Straits Exchange Foundation
海协会 （ARATS) Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait
寒带 frigid zone
好了伤疤忘了疼 once on shore, one prays no more
好事不出门，恶事传千里 "Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide. "
盒饭 packed meal; box lunch
和服 Kimono
和平共处五项原则： 互相尊重领土完整和主权、互不侵犯、互不干涉内政、平等互利、和平共处
Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty,
mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit,
and peaceful coexistence
和平演变 peaceful evolution
和气生财 Harmony brings wealth
贺岁片 New Year's Film
黑店 gangster inn
黑客 hacker
黑社会 Mafia-style organizations; gangland
黑心棉 shoddy cotton
鸿门宴 Hongmen banquet--a feast or meeting set up as a trap for the invited
红旗单位 advanced (model) establishment
虎父无犬子 A wise goose never lays a tame egg.
户口簿 residence booklet
户口管理制度 "domicile system, residence registration system "
呼啦圈 hu la hoop
胡子工程 long-drawn-out project (a project which takes so long that young workers become bearded)
滑板车 scooter
画中画 picture-in-picture (PIP)
坏帐 bad account
会考 unified examination; general examination
回扣 kickback
灰色经济 grey economy
婚前同居 premarital cohabit
婚前协议 prenup
婚纱摄影 bride photo
婚外恋 extramarital love
活到老，学到老 One is never too old to learn.
火炬计划 Torch Program (a plan to develop new and high technology)
J
基本国情 fundamental realities of the country
基本路线要管一百年 The basic line must be followed unswervingly for a very long time to come.
基地组织 al-Qaeda group
计划单列市 city specifically designated in the state plan
计划经济 planned economy
计划生育责任制 responsibility system of family planning
集体观念 groupism; collective spirit
集体婚礼 collective wedding ceremony; group wedding
集体经济 collective economy
吉祥如意 Everything goes well
继续深化国有企业改革、使企业真正成为市场竞争的主体 to deepen SOE reform to enable them to become
main players in the market competition;
积压产品 overstocked commodities (inventories)
嘉宾 "distinguished guest, honored guest"
假唱 lip-synch
假动作 "deception, feint"
甲骨文 oracle bone inscriptions
假冒伪劣产品 counterfeit and shoddy products
假球;黑哨 soccer fraud; black whistle
假日经济 holiday economy
家庭联产承包责任制 the household contract responsibility system
减负 alleviate burdens on sb.
渐进式台独 gradual Taiwan independence
见面会 meet-and-greet
减员增效 downsizing for efficiency; cut payroll to improve efficiency
脚踩两只船 sit on the fence
假帐 accounting fraud
借调 temporarily transfer
借读生 transient student
解放生产力 emancipate the productive forces
解放思想、实事求是的思想路线 ideological line of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts
近水楼台先得月 "First come, first served; A water-front pavilion gets the moonlight first--the
advantage of being in a favored position."
金无足赤,人无完人 Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect.
靖国神社 Yasukuni Shrine
经济房 low-cost housing
经济林 cash tree
精品 competitive products
精神文明建设 promote cultural and ideological progress; develop socialist culture and ethics
竞争上岗 take up a job through competition
酒肉朋友 fair-weather friend
举报电话 informants' hot-line telephone
居委会 neighborhood committee; residents' committee
具有中国特色的 with Chinese characteristics
君子之交淡如水 the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal; a hedge between keeps friendship green
K
开发式扶贫 poverty reduction through development projects;
development-oriented poverty relief
开发一代，储存一代，预研一代 (产品） to develop this generation
of products while researching on the next generation of products
开后门 under-the-counter deals; offer advantages to one's
friends or relatives by underhand means
开题报告 opening speech; opening report
开小灶 give special favor
开夜车 burn the midnight oil; work over night
可持续发展 sustainable development
可持续发展战略 strategy of sustainable development
科技成果转化为生产力 transfer of scientific and technological achievements
科技成果市场化、产业化 commercialize scientific and technological results;
to gear sicentific and technological achievements to the market and production
科技含量 technology content
科技是第一生产力 Science and technology constitute a primary productive force.
课件（教师多媒体教学演示片） courseware
科教兴国 rely on science and education to rejuvenate the nation
口头禅 pet phrase
跨世纪工程 a trans-century project
跨越式发展 develop by strides
会计电算化 accounting computerization
宽带接入 broadband access
跨越式发展 great-leap-forward development
亏损企业 enterprises running in the red/under deficit
困难职工 the needy
扩大内需，刺激消费 expand domestic demand and consumption
L
拉动经济增长 fuel economic growth
拉关系 try to curry favor with
垃圾邮件 junk e-mail
啦啦队 cheering squad
来电 fall in love with someone
老三届 junior and senior high school graduates of 1966~1968;
school leavers of 1966~1968
老少边穷地区 "former revolutionary base areas, areas inhabited by minority
nationalities, remote and border areas and poverty-stricken areas "
老生常谈，陈词滥调 cut and dried, cliché
老油条 wily old bird; old slicker
老字号 an old and famous shop or enterprise; time-honoured brand
利改税 substitution of tax payment for profit delivery
礼仪小姐 ritual girl
联产承包责任制 system of contracted responsibility linking remuneration
to output; contract system with remuneration linked to output
练摊 to be a vendor
廉政建设 construction of a clean and honest administration
廉政、勤政、务实、高效政府 an honest, diligent, pragmatic and efficient government
两岸直航促进会 Association for Promotion of Cross-Straits Direct Transportation
两弹一艇 "A-bomb, H-bomb and nuclear-powered submarine"
两弹一星 atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb and artificial satellite
两个文明一起抓 place equal emphasis on material and ethical progress
两会 two Conferences (i.e. the National People's Congress and the
Chinese Political Consultative Conference)
两手抓两手都要硬 We must address ourselves to the problem of both material and
spiritual civilization(both material as well as culture and ideological progress)
without any letup.
两手抓，两手都要硬 grasp both links at the same time and attach sufficient
importance to both
两思（致富思源，富而思进） to think of the source of getting rich and of
making progress after becoming affluence
良性循环 virtuous circle
粮油关系 grain and oil rationing registration
两院院士 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering
《聊斋志异》 Strange Tales of a Lonely Studio
另类 a different, special, completely new or fashionabel type or trend
留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 "Where there is life, there is hope."
流动人口 transient population
流星雨 meteor shower
录取分数线 enrollment mark
录取通知书 letter of admission
乱集资、乱摊派、乱收费 "unwarranted pooling of funds, arbitrary requisition
of donations and exaction of fees from enterprises "
乱收费、乱摊派、乱罚款 "arbitrary charges, fund-raising quotas and fines"
《论语》 Analects of Confucius
绿色奥运,科技奥运,人文奥运 green, high-tech and people friendly Olympic Games
绿色食品 green food
M
马到成功achieveimmediatevictory;wininstantsuccess
马拉松式竞选活动campaignathon
买空卖空bullsandbears;fictitioustransaction
买一送一"two-for-oneoffer,buyonegetonefree"
盲流blindinflux(labourersaimlesslyflowingfromruralareasintolargecities)
盲流和倒流人员transientfromthecountryside
每逢佳节倍思亲Onfestiveoccasionsmorethaneveronethinksofone'sdearonesfaraway./Itisonthefestivaloccasionswhenonemisseshisdearmost.
美食节gourmetfestival
没有规矩不成方圆Nothingcanbeaccomplishedwithoutnormsorstandards.
门户网站portals
门前三包"beresponsibleforgeneralsanitation,greencoveringandkeepinggoodsocialorderinadesignatedareaoutsidetheunitbuilding"
蒙古包(Mongolian)yurt
朦胧诗mistypoetry
孟子Mencius
民办教师citizen-managedteachers(teachersinruralcitizen-managedorstate-managedschoolswhodonotreceivethenormalremunerationfromthegovernment)
民工migrantlaborer
民以食为天peopleregardfoodastheirprimewant;foodthefirstnecessityofman
民营企业individually-runenterprises
民族凝聚力nationalcohesion
民族优越感ethnocentrism
名利双收gaininbothfameandwealth
明明白白消费（2000年保护消费者权益工作主题）transparentconsumption
名优famousactor;famoushighqualitybrand
模仿秀imitationshow
模拟测试mocktest;simulatedexam
谋事在人，成事在天"Theplanninglieswithman,theoutcomewithHeaven./Manproposes,Goddisposes."
目标管理managementbyobjectives;quotamanagement
幕后操纵pullstringsbehindthescenes;wire-pulling
睦邻友好关系(合作)good-neighborlyandfriendlyrelations(cooperation)
N
纳米 nanometer
纳斯达克 National Association of Securities Deal Automated Quotations (NASDAQ)
难得糊涂 "Where ignorance is bliss, it's folly to be wise."
南水北调 South-to-North water diversion
内退 early retirement
O
偶像 idol
欧元 Euro
P
排华政策 policy of discrimination against the Chinese
拍拖 being in love; having a love affair
排外主义 exclusivism
盘活存量资产 liquidize remnant assets
泡沫经济 bubble economy
泡妞 chase after the girls
抛砖引玉 a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions;
throw a sprat to catch a whale
赔了夫人又折兵, 花钱填无底洞 throw good money after bad
配套政策 supporting policies
碰钉子 get snubbed
碰头会 "brief meeting ( A brief, small-scale, informal meeting with no fixed agenda,
the main purpose of which is to exchange information.) "
碰一鼻子灰 be sent off with a flea in one's ear; be snubbedd; get a rebuff
皮包公司 bogus company
啤酒肚 beer belly
骗汇、逃汇、套汇 "obtain foreign currency and false pretenses, not turn over foreign
currency owed to the government and illegal arbitrage "
片面追求升学率 place undue emphasis on the proportion of students entering schools
of a higher level
平等、互利、互相尊重主权和领土完整 equality，mutual benefit， mutual respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity
平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚 "never burn incense when all is well, but clasp Buddha's
feet when in distress"
评头论足 nit-pick
破釜沉舟 cut off all means of retreat； burn one's own way of retreat and be
determined to fight to the end
泼冷水 pour cold wate on the enthusiasm of； dampen the spirit of；
throw a wet blanket over
泼水节 Water-Sprinkling Festival
Q
旗袍 cheong-sam; Chi-pao
企业重组 reshuffle of the enterprises
企业孵化器 enterprise incubator
千里之行始于足下 a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--
the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
前怕狼,后怕虎 fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind/ hesitate
in doing something
前人栽树,后人乘凉 One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.
/ One sows and another reaps.
前事不忘,后事之师 Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
千禧婴儿 millennium infant; millennium baby
前瞻性 perspectiveness
抢得先机 take the preemptive opportunities
强龙难压地头蛇 Even a dragon (from the outside) finds it hard to control a snake
in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies.
强强联手 win-win co-operation
强权外交 power diplomacy
侨胞 countrymen residing abroad
巧妇难为无米之炊 If you have no hand you can't make a fist./ One can't make
bricks without straw.
翘尾巴 be cocky; get stuck-up
敲竹杠 make somebody pay through the nose; put the lug on; rob by a trick
勤工俭学 part-work and part-study system; work-study program
倾销 dump; dumping
求大同,存小异 seek common ground on major question while reserving differences
on minor ones
全面实施以德育为核心、以创新精神和实践能力为重点的素质教育 carry on the quality
education centering on moral education and emphasizing creativity and practice
全面小康社会 all-round well-off society
全民健身计划纲要 outline of the nationwide body-building plan
全球定位系统 global positioning system (GPS)
全球移动通信系统(全球通) global system for mobile communications (GSM)
拳头产品 competitive products; knock-out products; blockbuster
R
人才交流 talents exchange
人才流失 brain drain
人逢喜事精神爽 Joy puts heart into a man.
人海战术 huge-crowd strategy
人机交互 human-computer interaction
人气 popularity
人情债 debt of gratitude
人性化管理 human-based management
人之初,性本善 Man's nature at birth is good.
入境问俗,入乡随俗 When in Rome do as the Romans do.
瑞雪兆丰年 A timely snow promises a good harvest.
弱肉强食法则 law of the jungle
弱势群体 disadvantageous groups
S
塞翁失马，焉知非福 Misfortune may be an actual blessing.
三八红旗手 woman pace-setter
三八线 38th Parallel
三步走战略 the three-step development strategy
三大作风 the Party's three important styles of work (integrating theory with practice,
forging close links with the masses and practicing self-criticism)
三高农业 "three highs" agriculture (high yield, high quality and high efficiency agriculture)
三个代表 three represents theory (the Party must always represent the requirements of the
development of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of the development of China's
advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China.)
三个有利于 three favorables (whether it promotes the growth of the productive forces in a
socialist society, increases the overall strenth of the socialist state and raises the people's living standards
《三国演义》 The Romance of the Three Kingdoms
三好学生 merit student; three good student(good in study, attitude and health)
三讲教育（讲学习、讲政治、讲正气） three emphases education (to stress theoretical study,
political awareness and good conduct)
三角恋爱 love triangle
三角债 chain debt
三来一补企业 "the enterprises that process raw materials on clients' demands, assemble parts
for the clients and process according to the clients' samples; or engage in compensation trade."
三连冠 three successive championships
三民主义 the Three People's Principles (Nationalism, Democracy and the People's Livelihood)
put forward by Dr. Sun Yat-sen
三陪 girls who provides illegal sexual services, esp. prostitute
三十而立 "A man should be independent at the age of thirty. / At thirty, a man should be able
to think for himself."
三通 "three direct links of trade, mail, and air and shipping services across the Taiwan Straits "
三通一平 "three supplies and one leveling; supply of water, electricity and road and leveled ground
(conditions ready for further economic development)"
三下乡 "a program under which officials, doctors, scientist and college students go to the countryside
to spread scientific and literacy knowledge and offer medical service to farmers"
"三沿"开放（沿海、沿边、沿江） "Sea-shore, River-shore, Border-shore" opening-up
三字经 three-character scripture
三资企业(中外合资企业,中外合作企业,外商独资企业) "three kinds of foreign-invested enterprises or ventures:
Sino-foreign joint ventures, cooperative businesses and exclusively foreign-owned enterprises in China "
扫黄,打非 eliminate pornography and illegal publications
扫盲 eliminate illiteracy
山不在高，有仙则名 "No matter how high the mountain is, its name will spread far and wide if there is a fairy; "
上岗 go to one's post; go on duty
上岗证 work license
上山下乡 (of educated urban youth) go and work in the countryside or mountain areas
上市 to be listed
上市公司 listed companies
上有天堂，下有苏杭 "Just as there is paradise in heaven, ther are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth."
少数服从多数、下级服从上级、局部服从全体、全党服从中央 "the minority is subordinate to the majority,
the lower level to the higher level, the part to the whole and the entire membership of the Party to
the Central Committee "
社会福利彩票 social welfare lotteries
社会主义精神文明建设 socialist ideological and ethical progress
社会主义市场经济 socialist market economy
深加工 deep processing; further processing
身体素质 physique; physical constitution
身外之物 worldly possessions
神州行电话卡 Shenzhou pre-paid card
圣战(伊斯兰教徒对异教徒的战争) jihad
时不我待 Time and tide wait for no man.
实践是检验真理的唯一标准 Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.
失恋 be disappointed in love; be jilted
世上无难事，只要肯攀登 "Where there is a will, there is a way. "
实事求是 seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
十五计划《纲要》突出了战略性、宏观性、政策性 The Outline for the Tenth Five-Year highlights its
strategic vision, broad perspectives and policy considerations
实现零的突破 "fulfil the zero (gold medal, medal, etc) breakthrough"
实现小康目标 to achieve the goal of ensuring our people a relative comfortable life
实现中华民族伟大复兴 bring about a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
实行计划生育、控制人口数量、提高人口素质 promotion of family planning to control the population
size and improve the health of the people
事业单位 public institution
十一界三中全会 the Third Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party
瘦肉精(盐酸克伦特罗) clenobuterol hydrochloride
涮羊肉 instant-boiled mutton
双刃剑 double-edged sword
双赢局面 win-win situation
《水浒传》 Heroes of the Marshes; Water Margins
水货 smuggled goods
水墨画 Chinese brush drawing; ink and wash painting
谁言寸草心，报得三春晖 "Such kindness of warm sun, can't be repaid by grass. "
水涨船高 When the river rises, the boat floats high.
说曹操,曹操到 Talk of the devil and he comes.
说起来容易做起来难 Easier said than done.
死而后已 until my heart stops beating
四个现代化 four modernizations (the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense,
and science and technology)
T
台湾是中国神圣领土不可分割的一部分 Taiwan is an inalienable part of the
inviolable territory of China.
台湾同胞 Taiwan compatriots
台湾、香港、澳门保持原有的资本主义制度和生活方式长期不变 Taiwan, Hong Kong
and Macao will retain the current capitalist system and way of life for a long time to come.
炭疽 anthrax
踢皮球 pass the buck
逃废银行债务 evasion of repayment of bank loans
韬光养晦 hide one's capacities and bide one's time
讨价还价 wheel and deal
统筹兼顾 make overall plans adn take all factors into consideration; overall
planning and all-round consideration
同乡会 an association of fellow provincials or townsmen
筒子楼 tube-shaped apartment
团队精神 team spirit; esprit de corps
团结就是力量 Unity is strength.
退耕还林还草 grain for green
退耕还林还牧 convert the land for forestry and pasture
鸵鸟政策 ostrich policy; ostrichism
脱贫致富 "cast (shake, throw) off poverty and set out on a road to prosperity"
拖欠工资 arrears of wage
W
挖墙脚 undermine the foundation of sth.; cut the ground from under sb's feet
歪风邪气 unhealthy practices and evil phenomena
外卖 take-out
外滩(上海) The Bund
外星人 extraterrestrial being (ET)
外需 overseas market demand
网吧 Internet bar
网虫 netter; Internet geek
网民 netizen; net citizen; cyber citizen
网上冲浪 surf the Internet
往事如风 "The past has vanished (from memory) like wind.; What in past, is past."
网友 net friend
望子成龙 hold high hopes for one's child
伪君子 hypocrite; a wolf in sheep's clothing
威武之师,文明之师 mighty force and civilized force
文本短信服务 SMS (Short Messaging Service)
稳定压倒一切 Maintaining stability is of top priority
文科 liberal arts
我们在国际上说话是算数的 We always live up to our international commitments.
五保户 household enjoying the five guarantees (childless and infirm old persons who are guarateed food,
clothing, medical care, housing and burial expenses)
屋顶花园 broof garden
无风不起浪 There are no waves without wind. There's no smoke without fire.
无缝网络 Seamless Network
无氟冰箱 Freon-free refrigerator
无公害蔬菜 "green" vegetable
物价局 Price Bureau
五讲四美三热爱 the movement of "five stresses, four points of beauty and three loves"
(The five stresses are: stress on decorum, manners, hygiene, discipline and morals.
The four points of beauty are: beauty of the mind, language, behavior adn the enviornment.
The three loves are: love of the motherland, socialism and the Communist Party.)
五金化工 metals and chemicals
物流 logistics; the interflow of goods and materials
屋漏又逢连阴雨 Misfortunes never come singly. When it rains it pours.
无人售票 self-service ticketing
无线应用协议 WAP（wireless application protocol）
污水处理 sewage treatment/ disposal
武侠小说 tales of roving knights; martial arts novel; kung fu novel
无形资产 intangible assets; immaterial property
业主 home owner
物业公司 property management company
物业管理 estate management, property management
物以类聚，人以群分 Birds of a feather flock together.
无源之水,无本之木 water without a source, and a tree wiithout roots
物质文明 material progress
物质文明建设和精神文明建设一起抓 pay attention to ethical as well as material progress
物种起源 origin of species
无中生有 make/create something out of nothing
X
西部大开发 Western Development
西电东送 transmit the electricity from the western areas to East China;
West-East electricity transmission project
西电东送 transmission of electricity from the western to the eastern region
洗礼 baptism
西气东输 transmit the natural gas from the western areas to East China;
West-East natural gas transmission project
洗钱 money laundering
希望工程 Hope Project
《西厢记》 The Romance of West Chamber
《西行漫记》 Red Star over China
夕阳产业 sunset industry
西洋景 Peep Show
喜忧参半 mingled hope and fear
《西游记》 Pilgrimage to the West; Journey to the West
下放权力给 delegating the management of ... (to ...)
下岗职工 laid-off workers
下岗职工基本生活费 subsistence allowances for laid-off workers
下海 plunge into the commercial sea
现代企业制度 modern enterprise system; modern corporate system
先发制人战略 pre-emptive strategy
县级市 county-level city
先入为主 First impressions are firmly entrenched.
先下手为强 catch the ball before the bound
香港明天更好基金会 Better Hong Kong Foundation
香港特别行政区 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR)
向钱看 "mammonism, put money above all"
像热锅上的蚂蚁 like an ant on a hot pan
乡统筹,村提留 fees paid by farmers for overall township planning and village reserve
小而全 small and all-inclusive
小金库 a private coffer
小康 a comfortable level of living; a better-off life; moderate prosperity
小康之家 well-off family; comfortably-off family
效率优先,兼顾公平 give priority to efficiency with due consideration to fairness
校训 school motto
宵夜 a stoke of midnight
效益工资 achievements-related wages; wages based on benefits
邪恶轴心 axis of evil
邪教 heathendom
斜拉索桥 stayed-cable bridge
写真集 photo album
信得过产品 trustworthy product
新的经济增长点 new point for/ sources of economic growth
新干线 "the Shinkansen, bullet train"
新官上任三把火 a new broom sweeps clean
心理素质 psychological quality
信息高速公路 information superhighway
心想事成 May all your wish come true
新新人类 New Human Being；X Generation
形成全方位、多层次、宽领域的开放格局 form an all-directional,
multi-layered and wide-ranging opening pattern
形而上学 metaphysics
性价比 cost performance
形式主义 formalism
形象小姐/先生 image representative of a product or a brand
虚开增值税发票 write false value added tax invoices
许可证制度 license granting mechanisms
虚心使人进步,骄傲使人落后 Modesty helps one go forward,
whereas conceit makes one lag behind.
悬而未决的问题 outstanding question
选美 beauty contest
学而优则仕 (a Confucian slogan for education) a good scholar can become an official;
he who excels in study can follow an official career
学历教育 education with record of formal schooling
学生减负 alleviate the burden on students
Y
亚太经济合作组织 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)
亚洲金融危机 financial crisis in Asia
严打措施 "Strike-Hard"" drive "
严打斗争 "Strike-Hard Operation, campaign to crack down relentlessly on criminal activities"
沿海经济开发区 open coastal economic area
眼前利益服从长远利益,局部利益服从整体利益,个人和集体利益服从国家利益
subordinate immediate interests to long-term interests, partial interests to overall interests
and the interests of individuals and collectives to those of the state
言情小说 romantic fiction; sentimental novel
严以律己,宽以待人 be strict with oneself and lenient towards others
阳春（最经济方式） no-frills
羊肉串小摊 barbecue stall
洋务运动 Westernization Movement
摇钱树 cash cow
摇头丸 dancing outreach
以产定人,减员增效 employ workers in accordance with production needs and
increase efficiency while reducing the staff
一次性筷子 throwaway chopsticks
一次性用品 disposable goods
一刀切 cut it even at one stroke--make it rigidly uniform; impose uniformity in all cases;
allow no flexibility
移动通讯 mobile communication
依法治国 manage state affairs according to law; run state affairs according to law
以法治国，以德治国 to govern the country with law and moral
一帆风顺 Wishing you every success
一方有难,八方支援 When disaster struck, help came from all sides.
一个中心,两个基本点 one central task, two basic points
以公有制为主体，多种经济成分共同发展 the pattern with the public sector remaining
dominant and diverse sectors of the economy developing side by side
一国两制 "One country, two systems"
义和团运动 Boxer Uprising
以经济建设为中心 focusing on the central task of economic construction
一揽子(计划) one-package (plan)
一切向钱看 money-oriented
以权谋私 abuse of power for personal gains
以人为本 people oriented; people foremost
以上海浦东开发开放为龙头,进一步开放长江沿岸城市 open more cities along the Yangtze River,
while concentrating on the development and opening of the Pudong Area of Shanghai
一手抓物质文明，一手抓精神文明；一手抓经济建设，一手抓民主法制；一手抓改革开放，
一手抓打击犯罪惩治腐败 We must always work for material progress and at the same time for cultural
and ethical progress; We should develop the economy and at the same time strengthen democracy
and the legal system; We should promote reform and opening to the outside world and at the same
time fight crime and punish corruption.
义演 benefit performance; charity performance
以眼还眼,以牙还牙 an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
一言既出，驷马难追 A real man never goes back on his words.
以质量求生存、求发展、求效益 "strive for survival, development and efficiency on the basis of quality"
以质量求发展 strategy of development through quality; win the market with quality products
硬道理 "absolute principle, top priority"
英雄所见略同 Great minds think alike.
营养不良 malnutrition
有法可依,有法必依,执法必严,违法必究 There must be laws to go by, the laws must be observed
and strictly enforced, and lawbreakers must be prosecuted.
有个奔头 have something to look forward to; have somehthing to expect
忧患意识 awareness of unexpected development; being prepared for unexpected development;
being prepared for any eventualities
优化资源配置 optimize the allocation of resources
优化组合 optimization grouping; optional regrouping
有理想、有道德、有文化、有纪律 "with lofty ideals, integrety, knowledge and a strong
sense of discipline"
有理,有利,有节 on just grounds, to one's advantage and with restraint； with good reason,
with advantage and with restraint
有钱能使鬼推磨 Money makes the mare go. Money talks.
有情人终成眷属 "Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well."
优胜劣汰 survival of the fittest
优势互补 (of two countries or companies) have complementary advantages
有识之士 people of vision
有缘千里来相会 Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.
有中国特色的社会主义道路 road of socialism with Chinese characteristics
有中国特色的社会主义民主政治 a socilalist democracy with Chinese characteristics
鹬蚌相争，渔人得利 "when the snip and the calm grapple, it is the fisherman who stands to benefit;
two dogs strive for a bone, and a third runs away with it"
预防为主,谁污染谁治理和强化环境管理三大政策 three major principles for environment control:
to put prevention first, to hold those who cause pollution responsible for cleaning up and to
improve environmental protection and management
与国际惯例接轨 become compatible with internationally accepted practices
与国际市场接轨 integrate with the world market; become integrated into the global market
欲穷千里目，更上一层楼 "to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further;
Ascend further, were you to look farther; Would eye embrace a thousand milesGo up, one flight."
与时俱进 advance with the times
冤假错案 "cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced;
unjust, false or wrong cases"
冤家宜解不宜结 Better make friends than make enemies.
援藏干部 cadres sent to support/aid Tibet