Mandarin features lots of four-character “set phrases” that indicate a description, an emotion, a situation, etc. I find them fascinating, so I’m gathering the ones I come across as I go. I’ll put them here, in case others are curious, too.

四面八方 – All directions; all around

遮天蔽日 – hiding the sky and covering the earth; earth-shattering

震耳欲聋 – ear-splitting; deafening

剑拔弩张 – a state of mutual hostility; with swords drawn and bows bent

滥杀无辜 – wanton slaughter the innocent

螳臂当车 – a mantis trying to obstruct a chariot

自不量力 – overestimate one’s ability

铺天盖地 – eclipsing the sky and blanketing the earth

周而复始 – The cycle comes back to the start; to move in circles

天下大乱 – disorder under heaven

不信不语 – not say a word; keep silent

心事重重 – be laden with anxiety

小心翼翼 – cautious, careful, prudent

习以为常 – accustomed to

臭名昭著 – of ill repute, notorious

血流成河 – rivers of blood

不动声色 – maintain one’s composure

瓢泼大雨 – downpour (rain)

尽收眼底 – have a panoramic view of something

名不见经传 – name not encountered in the classics (unknown, nobody)

如雷贯耳 – reverberate like thunder (well-known reputation)

名满天下 – famous throughout the land; renowned far and wide

心口不一 – say one thing and mean another

言不由衷 – say something without meaning it

慢条斯理 – slowly, leisurely

一蹶不振 – collapse after a single setback

以泪洗面 – have a tearful face

囤积居奇 – to hoard and profiteer

菜花横溢 – exceptional talent

见异思迁 – change at once on seeing something different; never satisfied with what one has

道貌岸然 – post as a person of high morals; sanctimonious

虚情假意 – false display of affection

居高临下 – to be in a high location; occupy a commanding position

不容置疑 – not open to doubt; allow (or admit) no doubt

名存实亡 – cease to exist except in name

口蜜腹剑 – honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted; hypocrite

佛口蛇心 – Buddha’s mouth and viper’s heart; two-faced

萍水相逢 – meet by chance like drifting duck weed

处变不惊 – remain calm in the presence of volatile situations

魂飞魄散 – to be scared out of one’s wits; be half dead with fright

不紧不慢 – to take one’s time; unhurried

一动不动 – still, motionless

奄奄一息 – at one’s last gasp; on the verge of death

伤天害理 – offend against heaven and reason; atrocities

赶尽杀绝 – kill, wipe out the whole lot; ruthless; eradicate

魂飞魄散 – soul flies away and scatters; frightened out of one’s wits

 永无止境 – without end, never ending

空无一人 – not a soul in sight

自上而下 – from top to bottom; top-down

英姿飒爽 – valiant and heroic in bearing; bold and brave

干脆利落 – be clear cut; come straight to the point; direct

罪魁祸首 – Chief culprit; arch criminal; main cause of disaster

恶贯满盈 – strung through and filled with evil; filled with extreme evil

来势汹汹 – bear down menacingly

面不改色 – not change color; remain calm; not bat an eyelid