3 (fig.) to take the plunge (e.g. leave a secure job, or enter prostitution etc)
Idioms (20)
人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
rén bù kě mào xiàng , hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng
1 you can't judge a person by appearance, just as you can't measure the sea with a pint pot (idiom)
侯门似海
hóu mén sì hǎi
1 lit. the gate of a noble house is like the sea
2 there is a wide gap between the nobility and the common people (idiom)
八仙过海，各显神通
Bā xiān guò hǎi , gè xiǎn shén tōng
1 lit. the Eight Immortals cross the sea, each showing his own special talent (idiom)
2 fig. (of each individual in a group) to give full play to one's unique capabilities
刀山火海
dāo shān huǒ hǎi
1 lit. mountains of daggers and seas of flames
2 fig. extreme danger (idiom)
名扬四海
míng yáng sì hǎi
1 to become known far and wide (idiom)
2 famous
吴下阿蒙
Wú xià ā Méng
1 General Lü Meng 呂蒙|吕蒙 of the southern state of Wu (idiom); model of self-improvement by diligent study (from unlettered soldier to top strategist of Wu)
四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
1 lit. all four oceans are peaceful
2 worldwide peace (idiom)
四海为家
sì hǎi wéi jiā
1 to regard the four corners of the world all as home (idiom)
2 to feel at home anywhere
3 to roam about unconstrained
4 to consider the entire country, or world, to be one's own
四海皆准
sì hǎi jiē zhǔn
1 appropriate to any place and any time (idiom); universally applicable
2 a panacea
四海飘零
sì hǎi piāo líng
1 drifting aimlessly all over the place (idiom)
土阶茅茨
tǔ jiē máo cí
1 lit. earthen steps and a thatched hut
2 frugal living conditions (idiom)
大海捞针
dà hǎi lāo zhēn
1 lit. to fish a needle from the sea
2 to find a needle in a haystack (idiom)
学海泛舟
xué hǎi fàn zhōu
1 sailing on the sea of learning (idiom)
学海无涯
xué hǎi wú yá
1 sea of learning, no horizon (idiom); no limits to what one still has to learn
2 ars longa, vita brevis
对症下药
duì zhèng xià yào
1 lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness (idiom); fig. to study a problem to find the right way to solve it
2 to take appropriate steps
对症发药
duì zhèng fā yào
1 lit. to prescribe the right medicine for an illness (idiom); fig. to study a problem to find the right way to solve it
2 to take appropriate steps
山珍海错
shān zhēn hǎi cuò
1 rarities from the mountain and the sea (idiom); fig. a sumptuous spread of food delicacies
山盟海誓
shān méng hǎi shì
1 to pledge undying love (idiom); oath of eternal love
2 to swear by all the Gods
山高海深
shān gāo hǎi shēn
1 high as the mountain and deep as the sea (idiom); fig. infinite bounty
恨海难填
hèn hǎi nán tián
1 sea of hatred is hard to fill (idiom); irreconcilable division