1 hell on earth (idiom); suffering the torments of Buddhist hell while still alive
2 fig. having an uncomfortable time
伤筋断骨
shāng jīn duàn gǔ
1 to suffer serious injury (idiom)
割袍断义
gē páo duàn yì
1 to rip one's robe as a sign of repudiating a sworn brotherhood (idiom)
2 to break all friendly ties
字里行间
zì lǐ háng jiān
1 between the words and the lines (idiom); implied meaning
2 connotations
弹指一挥间
tán zhǐ yī huī jiān
1 in a flash (idiom)
弹指之间
tán zhǐ zhī jiān
1 a snap of the fingers (idiom); in an instant
2 in a short moment
3 in a flash
4 in the twinkling of an eye
快刀断乱麻
kuài dāo duàn luàn má
1 lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
2 cutting the Gordian knot
应机立断
yìng jī lì duàn
1 to act on an opportunity (idiom); to take prompt advantage of a situation
投鞭断流
tóu biān duàn liú
1 arms enough to stem the stream (idiom); formidable army
挑拨离间
tiǎo bō lí jiàn
1 to sow dissension (idiom); to drive a wedge between
接连不断
jiē lián bù duàn
1 in unbroken succession (idiom)
断港绝潢
duàn gǎng jué huáng
1 to be unable to continue
2 to come to a dead end (idiom)
断章取义
duàn zhāng qǔ yì
1 to quote out of context (idiom)
断线风筝
duàn xiàn fēng zhēng
1 a kite with cut string (idiom); fig. gone beyond recall
断袖之癖
duàn xiù zhī pǐ
1 lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve.
柔肠寸断
róu cháng cùn duàn
1 lit. to feel as if one's intestines have been cut short
2 broken-hearted (idiom)
残垣断壁
cán yuán duàn bì
1 crumbling fences and dilapidated walls (idiom)
源源不断
yuán yuán bù duàn
1 a steady flow (idiom); an unending stream
独断专行
dú duàn zhuān xíng
1 to decide and act alone (idiom); to take arbitrary action