人民的名义

[StChris]

Welcome to the party, abcdefg. I was starting to get a little worried that the show was becoming a little too much like the usual 家庭剧 (of which there are already hundreds), but it returned to politics and intrigue in the last episode. 

[StChris]

Episode 17

 

遏制 èzhì to check / to contain / to hold back / to keep within limits / to constrain / to restrain

提拔 tíbá to promote to a higher job / to select for promotion

化名 huàmíng to use an alias / assumed name / pseudonym

自投罗网 zìtóuluówǎng to walk right into the trap

兵贵神速 bīngguìshénsù lit. speed is a crucial asset in war (idiom) / fig. swift and resolute (in doing sth)

预案 yù'àn contingency plan

周密 zhōumì careful / thorough / meticulous / dense / impenetrable

走露风声 zǒulùfēngshēng to leak information

精干 jīnggàn crack (troops) / special (forces) / highly capable

便服 biànfú everyday clothes / informal dress / civilian clothes

费心 fèixīn to take a lot of trouble (over sb or sth) / may I trouble you (to do sth)

垫付 diànfù to advance funds to sb for later repayment

惭愧 cánkuì ashamed

榔头 lángtou hammer / large hammer / sledgehammer

棒槌 bàngchuí wooden club (used to beat clothes in washing)

上访 shàngfǎng to seek an audience with higher-ups (esp. government officials) to petition for sth

杰作 jiézuò masterpiece

好自为之 hǎozìwéizhī to do one's best / to shape up / to behave

难兄难弟 nánxiōngnándì lit. hard to differentiate between elder and younger brother (idiom) / fig. one is just as bad as the other

东拉西扯 dōnglāxīchě to talk about this and that (idiom); to ramble incoherently

假肢 jiǎzhī artificial limb / prosthetic

替补 tìbǔ to substitute for sb / reserve player

应付 yìngfu to deal with / to cope

均 jūn all

出具 chūjù to issue (document, certificate etc) / to provide

面壁思过 miànbìsīguò to face the wall and ponder about one's misdeeds / to stand in the corner (punishment) / (fig.) to examine one's conscience

操场 cāochǎng playground / sports field / drill ground / CL: 個｜个

俯卧撑 fǔwòchēng press-up (physical exercise) / push-up

死不悔改 sǐbùhuǐgǎi not to repent even facing death (idiom) / unrepentant / very obstinate

抬举 táijǔ to lift sth up / to elevate sb / to honor sb (with compliments, gifts, promotions etc) / to show great regard / to speak highly

意气用事 yìqìyòngshì to let emotions affect one's decisions

单刀直入 dāndāozhírù to get straight to the point (idiom)

压力山大 yālìshāndà (jocularly) to be under great pressure (a pun on 亞歷山大｜亚历山大)

心领 xīnlǐng I appreciate your kindness (conventional reply to turn down an offer)

急剧 jíjù rapid / sudden

剥削 bōxuē to exploit / exploitation

金条 jīntiáo gold bar

饶恕 ráoshù to forgive / to pardon / to spare

[Yadang]

A little late to the party myself, but these vocab lists are enticing, thanks StChris!

[StChris]

Episode 18

 

惠农政策 Huìnóngzhèngcè A policy for supporting the development of the countryside

财迷心窍 cáimíxīnqiào mad about money (idiom)

黑箱操作 hēixiāngcāozuò covert activities (election rigging etc) / under-the-table manipulations / black operations

连累 liánlěi to involve / to implicate sb / to spread to others (harm, trouble, damage etc)

一醉方休 yīzuìfāngxiū to get thoroughly drunk (idiom) / to get plastered

老奸巨猾 lǎojiānjùhuá cunning / crafty / wily old fox

不共戴天 bùgòngdàitiān (of enemies) cannot live under the same sky / absolutely irreconcilable

增援 zēngyuán to reinforce

拦截 lánjié to intercept

待命 dàimìng to be on call / to be on standby

缉拿 jīná to arrest / to seize

归案 guī'àn to bring to justice / arrested and brought to trial

搭理 dāli to acknowledge / to respond / to answer / to pay attention / to heed / to deal with

暗渡陈仓 àndù Chéncāng lit. secretly crossing the Wei River 渭河 at Chencang (idiom, refers to a stratagem used by Liu Bang 劉邦｜刘邦 in 206 BC against Xiang Yu 項羽｜项羽 of Chu) / fig. to feign one thing while doing another / to cheat under cover of a diversion

引渡 yǐndù to extradite

邪乎 xiéhu extraordinary / severe / exaggerated / overstated / fantastic / incredible

大义凛然 dàyìlǐnrán devotion to righteousness that inspires reverence (idiom)

逍遥 xiāoyáo free and unfettered

非议 fēiyì to criticize

弃车保帅 qìjūbǎoshuài rook sacrifice to save the king (in Chinese chess); fig. to protect a senior figure by blaming an underling / to pass the buck

结义 jiéyì to swear brotherhood

带头 dàitóu to set an example

专断 zhuānduàn to act arbitrarily / to make decisions without consulting others

有目共睹 yǒumùgòngdǔ anyone with eyes can see it (idiom); obvious to all / sth speaks for itself / is there for all to see

传唤 chuánhuàn a summons (to the police) / subpoena

不近人情 bùjìnrénqíng not amenable to reason / unreasonable

[StChris]

Episode 19

 

人之常情 rénzhīchángqíng human nature (idiom) / a behavior that is only natural

徇私枉法 xùnsīwǎngfǎ to bend the law in order to favor one's relatives or associates (idiom)

推三推四 tuīsāntuīsì to use all sorts of excuses

大腕 dàwàn star / big shot / celebrity / leading actor / authority (slang)

警笛 jǐngdí siren

空穴来风 kōngxuéláifēng lit. wind from an empty cave (idiom) / fig. unfounded (story) / baseless (claim)

口供 kǒugòng oral confession (as opposed to 筆供｜笔供) / statement / deposition

何许 héxǔ (literary) what place / what time / how

心知肚明 xīnzhīdùmíng to be well aware

勾肩搭背 gōujiāndābèi arms around each other's shoulders (idiom)

肃然起敬 sùránqǐjìng to feel deep veneration for sb (idiom)

激励 jīlì to encourage / to urge / motivation / incentive

出任 chūrèn to take up a post / to start in a new job

岳父 yuèfù wife's father, father-in-law

端倪 duānní boundary / clue / indication / to obtain clues / to infer

呼之欲出 hūzhīyùchū lit. ready to appear at the call (idiom) / fig. on the verge of coming out into the open / (of a person's choice etc) on the point of being disclosed / (of an artistic depiction) vividly portrayed

穷追 qióngzhuī to pursue relentlessly

举止 jǔzhǐ bearing / manner / mien

谈吐 tántǔ style of conversation

实事求是 shíshìqiúshì to seek truth from facts (idiom) / to be practical and realistic

果断 guǒduàn firm / decisive

匹敌 pǐdí to be equal to / to be well-matched / rival

蛮干 mángàn to act rashly / to act precipitously regardless of the consequences / reckless / foolhardy / daredevil

莽撞 mǎngzhuàng rude and impetuous

挥霍 huīhuò to squander money / extravagant / prodigal / free and easy / agile

阴险 yīnxiǎn treacherous / sinister

赚头 zhuàntou profit (colloquial)

[StChris]

Episode 20

 

凭证 píngzhèng proof / certificate / receipt / voucher

镜头 jìngtóu camera lens / camera shot (in a movie etc) / scene

信口开河 xìnkǒukāihé to speak without thinking (idiom) / to blurt sth out

服刑 fúxíng to serve a prison sentence

知无不言，言无不尽 zhīwúbùyán, yánwúbùjìn not hiding anything he knows, not stopping before he has said it through (idiom) / frank / outspoken

寻常 xúncháng usual / common / ordinary

世道 shìdào the ways of the world / the morals of the time

妇联 fùlián women's league / women's association

硬气 yìngqì firm / unyielding / strong-willed

维稳 wéiwěn to maintain social stability

场地 chǎngdì space / site / place / sports pitch

偷鸡不成蚀把米 tōujībùchéngshíbǎmǐ lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom) / fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off / to go for wool and come back shorn

憨厚 hānhou simple and honest / straightforward

会审 huìshěn joint hearing / to review jointly (i.e. with other checkers)

匍匐 púfú to crawl / to creep

淡出 dànchū to fade out (cinema) / to withdraw from (politics, acting etc) / to fade from (memory)

坑蒙拐骗 kēngmēngguǎipiàn to swindle / to cheat

窟窿 kūlong hole / pocket / cavity / loophole / debt

精益求精 jīngyìqiújīng to perfect sth that is already outstanding (idiom); constantly improving

刺绣 cìxiù to embroider / embroidery

滥用 lànyòng to misuse / to abuse

怨天尤人 yuàntiānyóurén (idiom) to blame the gods and accuse others

分文不取 fēnwénbùqǔ to give for free

挽救 wǎnjiù to save / to remedy / to rescue

[StChris]

Episode 21

 

资助 zīzhù to subsidize / to provide financial aid / subsidy

分红 fēnhóng dividend / to award a bonus

批捕 pībǔ to authorize an arrest

失足 shīzú to lose one's footing / to slip / to take a wrong step in life

落水 luòshuǐ to fall into water / to sink / overboard / fig. to degenerate / to sink (into depravity) / to go to the dogs

探亲 tànqīn to go home to visit one's family

疑阵 yízhèn a diversion / a feint attack to mislead the enemy

撬开 qiàokāi to pry open / to lever open

铩羽而归 shāyǔ'érguī to return in low spirits following a defeat or failure to achieve one's ambitions (idiom)

直觉 zhíjué intuition

基建 jījiàn capital construction (project) / infrastructure

版面 bǎnmiàn page of a publication (e.g. newspaper or website) / printing space (reserved for some content) / page layout

三令五申 sānlìngwǔshēn to order again and again (idiom)

十恶不赦 shí'èbùshè wicked beyond redemption (idiom) / heinous

玩忽职守 wánhūzhíshǒu to neglect one's duty / dereliction of duty / malpractice

如日中天 rúrìzhōngtiān wildly successful

收缩 shōusuō to pull back / to shrink / to contract / (physiology) systole

战线 zhànxiàn battle line / battlefront / front

淘气 táoqì naughty / mischievous

象牙塔 xiàngyátǎ ivory tower

暗算 ànsuàn to plot against

大水冲了龙王庙 dàshuǐchōngle Lóng Wángmiào lit. surging waters flooded the Dragon King temple (idiom) / fig. to fail to recognize a familiar person / a dispute between close people who fail to recognize each other

大快人心 dàkuàirénxīn to the satisfaction of everyone

出洋相 chūyángxiàng to make a fool of oneself

抵赖 dǐlài to refuse to admit (what one has done) / to disavow / to renege

康庄大道 kāngzhuāngdàdào broad and open road (idiom); fig. brilliant future prospects

消停 xiāotíng to calm down / to stop / to pause / calmly / peaceful / restful

越狱 yuèyù to break out of prison / to jailbreak (an iOS device etc)

传奇 chuánqí legendary / fantasy saga / romance / short stories of the Tang and Song Dynasty

日期 rìqī date / CL: 個｜个

命名 mìngmíng to give a name to / to dub / to christen / to designate / named after /naming

清除 qīngchú to clear away / to eliminate / to get rid of

招惹 zhāorě to provoke / to tease

唾手可得 tuòshǒukědé easily obtained / readily available

渺茫 miǎománg uncertain / remote / distant and indistinct / vague

蓄意 xùyì deliberate / premeditated / malice

就事论事 jiùshìlùnshì to discuss sth on its own merits / to judge the matter as it stands

如愿 rúyuàn to have one's wishes fulfilled

顾全大局 gùquándàjú to take the big picture into consideration (idiom) / to work for the benefits of all

瞻前顾后 zhānqiángùhòu to look forward and back / to consider prudently / overcautious

[StChris]

Episode 22

 

缉毒 jīdú to counter narcotics trafficking / drug enforcement

知遇之恩 zhīyùzhī'ēn lit. the kindness of recognizing sb's worth and employing him (idiom) / patronage / protection

概括 gàikuò to summarize / to generalize / briefly / CL: 個｜个

会师 huìshī to collaborate / to join forces / to effect a junction

弦 xián bow string / string of musical instrument / watchspring / chord (segment of curve) / hypotenuse / CL: 根

费解 fèijiě to be puzzled / hard to understand / unintelligible / incomprehensible

讲和 jiǎnghé to make peace / to reconcile

分而治之 fēn'érzhìzhī divide and rule (strategy) / divide and conquer

讳 huì to avoid mentioning / taboo word / name of deceased emperor or superior

麻木不仁 mámùbùrén numbed / insensitive / apathetic / thick-skinned

月偏食 yuèpiānshí partial eclipse of the moon

心灰意冷 xīnhuīyìlěng discouraged / downhearted

浩淼 hàomiǎo vast / extending into the distance

得过且过 déguòqiěguò satisfied just to get through (idiom); to muddle through / without high ambitions, but getting by

节制 jiézhì to control / to restrict / to moderate / to temper / moderation / sobriety / to administer

劣根性 liègēnxìng deep-rooted bad habits

呼啸 hūxiào to whistle / to scream / to whiz

分解 fēnjiě to resolve / to decompose / to break down

混淆 hùnxiáo to obscure / to confuse / to mix up / to blur / to mislead

驱使 qūshǐ to urge / to prompt / to spur on / to order sb about

显贵 xiǎnguì dignitary / distinguished person / royalty / nobleman / big shot

落井下石 luòjǐngxiàshí to throw stones at sb who fell down a well (idiom); to hit a person who is down

无可厚非 wúkěhòufēi not to be censured too strictly (idiom) / not altogether inexcusable / understandable

[StChris]

Episode 23

 

选择性 xuǎnzéxìng selective / selectiveness / selectivity

截图 jiétú screenshot (computing)

筛查 shāichá screening (medicine), to sift

新马泰 Xīn MǎTài abbr. for Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

质押 zhìyā to pawn / to pledge

债台高筑 zhàitáigāozhù lit. build a high desk of debt (idiom); heavily in debt

查封 cháfēng to sequester / to seize (assets) / to seal up / to close down

卷宗 juànzōng file / folder / dossier

及格 jígé to pass an exam or a test / to meet a minimum standard

排山倒海 páishāndǎohǎi lit. to topple the mountains and overturn the seas (idiom); earth-shattering / fig. gigantic / of spectacular significance

枉 wǎng to twist / crooked / unjust / in vain

罪责 zuìzé guilt

嫖娼 piáochāng to visit prostitutes / to go whoring

洋妞 yángniū young foreign girl

顾虑 gùlǜ misgivings / apprehensions

言辞 yáncí words / expression / what one says

出尔反尔 chū'ěrfǎn'ěr old: to reap the consequences of one's words (idiom, from Mencius); modern: to go back on one's word / to blow hot and cold / to contradict oneself / inconsistent

无奇不有 wúqíbùyǒu nothing is too bizarre / full of extraordinary things

农家乐 nóngjiālè rural tourism / agritourism

乐不思蜀 lèbùsī Shǔ indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty (idiom)

要职 yàozhí key job / important position

收敛 shōuliǎn to vanish / to moderate / to exercise restraint / to curb (one's mirth, arrogance etc) / to astringe / (math.) to converge

廉耻 liánchǐ honor and shame / sense of honor

毕恭毕敬 bìgōngbìjìng reverent and respectful / extremely deferential

沸反盈天 fèifǎnyíngtiān raise a rumpus, all is in uproar

处分 chǔfèn to discipline sb / to punish / disciplinary action / to deal with (a matter) / CL: 個｜个

袒护 tǎnhù to shield (a miscreant) from punishment, criticism etc / to take sb's side

姑息 gūxī excessively tolerant / to overindulge (sb) / overly conciliatory / to seek appeasement at any price

三番五次 sānfānwǔcì over and over again (idiom)

畅所欲言 chàngsuǒyùyán lit. fluently saying all one wants (idiom); to preach freely on one's favorite topic / to hold forth to one's heart's content

奴才相 núcaixiàng servile behaviour

可圈可点 kěquānkědiǎn remarkable (performance, achievement etc) / worthy of praise

低三下四 dīsānxiàsì servile

拉帮结派 lābānjiégpài to form cliques

是非曲直 shìfēiqūzhí lit. right and wrong, crooked and straight (idiom); fig. merits and demerits / pros and cons

众所周知 zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī as everyone knows (idiom)

民营 mínyíng privately run (i.e. by a company, not the state)

扫黄 sǎohuáng campaign against pornography

会所 huìsuǒ clubhouse / club

卖淫 màiyín prostitution / to prostitute oneself

迷魂阵 míhúnzhèn stratagem to trap sb / to bewitch and trap

三令五申 sānlìngwǔshēn to order again and again (idiom)

锁定 suǒdìng to focus attention on / to target

不谋而合 bùmóu'érhé to agree without prior consultation / to happen to hold the same view

[StChris]

Episode 24

 

铁面 tiěmiàn iron mask (as defensive armor) / fig. upright and selfless person

高见 gāojiàn wise opinion / brilliant idea (honorific)

势必 shìbì to be bound to / undoubtedly will

丑陋 chǒulòu ugly

拥护 yōnghù to endorse / to support

爱戴 àidài to love and respect / love and respect

知趣 zhīqù to act tactfully / tactful / discreet

折服 zhéfú to convince / to subdue / to be convinced / to be bowled over

免 miǎn to excuse sb / to exempt / to remove or dismiss from office / to avoid / to avert / to escape / to be prohibited

头一回 tóuyīhuí the first time / for the first time

顶风 dǐngfēng to face into the wind / against the wind / fig. against the law

捉迷藏 zhuōmícáng to play hide-and-seek

雷厉风行 léilìfēngxíng pass like thunder and move like the wind (idiom); swift and decisive reaction

定性 dìngxìng to determine the nature (usually of error or crime) / to determine chemical composition / qualitative / fixed

抬杠 táigàng to bicker / to argue for the sake of arguing

颈椎 jǐngzhuī cervical vertebra / the seven cervical vertebrae in the neck of humans and most mammals

鸵鸟 tuóniǎo ostrich

肆无忌惮 sìwújìdàn absolutely unrestrained / unbridled / without the slightest scruple

高干 gāogàn high cadre / top party member

豪门 háomén rich and powerful (families) / aristocratic / big shots

趾高气扬 zhǐgāoqìyáng high and mighty (idiom); arrogant

嫉恶如仇 jíèrúchóu to hate evil as one hates an enemy (idiom)

池鱼之祸 chíyúzhīhuò a disaster not of one's own making

心如止水 xīnrúzhǐshuǐ to be at peace with oneself

修行 xiūxíng religious practice (Buddhism)

大体 dàtǐ overall situation / the big picture

易如反掌 yìrúfǎnzhǎng easy as a hand's turn (idiom); very easy / no effort at all

适可而止 shìkě'érzhǐ to stop before going too far (idiom); to stop while one can / don't overdo it / stop while you're ahead

迷恋 míliàn to be infatuated with / to indulge in

博取 bóqǔ to win (favors, confidence etc)

[StChris]

Episode 25

 

不折不扣 bùzhébùkòu a hundred percent / to the letter / out-and-out

义务 yìwù volunteer (work etc)

火眼金睛 huǒyǎnjīnjīng piercing eyes / discerning eyes

苍蝇不叮无缝蛋 cāngyingbùdīngwúfèngdàn lit. flies do not attack an intact egg (idiom) / fig. no smoke without a fire

厮混 sīhùn to hang out together with (derog.) / to mix with

蓄谋 xùmòu to premeditate / to plot

剑拔弩张 jiànbánǔzhāng lit. with swords drawn and bows bent (idiom); fig. a state of mutual hostility / at daggers drawn

一手遮天 yīshǒuzhētiān lit. to hide the sky with one hand / to hide the truth from the masses

伪造 wěizào to forge / to fake / to counterfeit

洗牌 xǐpái to shuffle cards

坐收渔利 zuòshōuyúlì benefit from others' dispute (idiom)

[StChris]

Episode 26

 

不解风情 bùjiěfēngqíng unromantic / insensitive

两袖清风 liǎngxiùqīngfēng lit. both sleeves flowing in the breeze (idiom); having clean hands / uncorrupted / unsoiled by corrupt practices

羊毛出在羊身上 yángmáochūzàiyángshēnshàng lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid. / Nothing comes for free

另眼相看 lìngyǎnxiāngkàn to treat sb favorably

标注 biāozhù to mark out / to tag / to put a sign on sth explaining or calling attention to / to annotate (e.g. a character with its pinyin)

气魄 qìpò spirit / boldness / positive outlook / imposing attitude

虎视眈眈 hǔshìdāndān to glare like a tiger watching his prey (idiom) / to eye covetously

消沉 xiāochén depressed / bad mood / low spirit

撒泼 sāpō to make an unreasonable scene

不屑 bùxiè to disdain to do sth / to think sth not worth doing / to feel it beneath one's dignity

何尝 hécháng (rhetorical question) when? / how? / it's not that...

男儿膝下有黄金 part of a longer phrase (男儿膝下有黄金 只跪苍天和娘亲). It basically refers to a mans pride and says that he should only kneel before God and his mother

整 zhěng to give sb a hard time / to mess with sb

沟壑 gōuhè gorge / gulch / ravine / deep ditch

纵横 zònghéng lit. warp and weft in weaving; vertically and horizontal / length and breadth / criss-crossed / able to move unhindered / abbr. for 合縱連橫｜合纵连横, School of Diplomacy during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC)

构想 gòuxiǎng to conceive / concept

有情人终成眷属 yǒuqíngrénzhōngchéngjuànshǔ love will find a way (idiom)

陈年 chénnián old / stored for many years

清醒 qīngxǐng clear-headed / sober / awake

拗不过 niùbuguò can't persuade / unable to make (sb) change their mind / unable to resist (sb)

信念 xìnniàn faith / belief / conviction

分道扬镳 fēndàoyángbiāo lit. to take different roads and urge the horses on (idiom) / fig. to part ways

达则兼济天下，穷则独善其身 normally written the other way around （穷则独善其身，达则兼济天下）. It means you should concentrate on looking after and improving your own condition when poor, and help the rest of the world once you are strong and rich

济 jì to cross a river / to aid or relieve / to be of help

拯救 zhěngjiù to save / to rescue

因小失大 yīnxiǎoshīdà to save a little only to lose a lot (idiom)

娴熟 xiánshú adept / skilled

三天两头 sāntiānliǎngtóu lit. twice every three days (idiom); practically every day / frequently

风采 fēngcǎi svelte / elegant manner / graceful bearing

中纪委 Zhōngjìwěi Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), organization within the CCP which investigates corruption and other wrongdoing among Party cadres / abbr. for 中共中央紀律檢查委員會｜中共中央纪律检查委员会

由不得 yóubùde to be beyond control of

等闲之辈 děngxiánzhībèi (in the negative) (not) to be trifled with

犟 jiàng variant of 強｜强, stubborn / obstinate / tenacious / unbending / pig-headed

孽缘 nièyuán ill-fated relationship

风口浪尖 fēngkǒulàngjiān where the wind and the waves are the fiercest / at the heart of the struggle

退缩 tuìsuō to shrink back / to cower

惹祸 rěhuò to stir up trouble / to invite disaster

为所欲为 wéisuǒyùwéi to do whatever one pleases

[StChris]

Episode 27

 

早知今日何必当初 zǎozhījīnrìhébìdāngchū if I (you, she, he...) had known it would come to this, I (you, she, he...) would not have acted thus (idiom) / to regret vainly one's past behavior

开拓 kāituò to break new ground (for agriculture) / to open up (a new seam) / to develop (border regions) / fig. to open up (new horizons)

廉 lián incorruptible / honest / inexpensive / to investigate (old) / side wall of a traditional Chinese house (old)

疑惑 yíhuò to doubt / to distrust / unconvincing / to puzzle over / misgivings / suspicions

人不知鬼不觉 rénbùzhīguǐbùjué in absolute secrecy

访贫问苦 fǎngpínwènkǔ to visit the poor and ask about their suffering (idiom)

狮子大开口 shīzidàkāikǒu to be greedy and demand an exorbitant price

正大光明 zhèngdàguāngmíng just and honorable

以天下为己任 yǐtiānxiàwéijǐrèn to take upon oneself responsibility for the prosperity of the nation

促膝谈心 cùxītánxīn to sit side-by-side and have a heart-to-heart talk (idiom)

引咎 yǐnjiù to take the blame / to accept responsibility (for a mistake)

偿命 chángmìng to pay with one's life

下海 xiàhǎi to go out to sea / to enter the sea (to swim etc) / (fig.) to take the plunge (e.g. leave a secure job, or enter prostitution etc)

善罢甘休 shànbàgānxiū to leave the matter at that / to be prepared to let go / to be willing to take things lying down

身临其境 shēnlínqíjìng to travel to a place personally (idiom)

[StChris]

Episode 28

 

说三道四 shuōsāndàosì to make thoughtless remarks (idiom) / to criticize / gossip

威信 wēixìn prestige / reputation / trust / credit with the people

轻重 qīngzhòng degree of seriousness / whether sth is slight or serious

任劳任怨 rènláorènyuàn to undertake a task despite criticism (idiom); to bear the burden of office willingly

勤政廉政 qínzhèngliánzhèng honest and industrious government functionaries (idiom)

底朝天 dǐcháotiān upside down / upturned

埋没 máimò to engulf / to bury / to overlook / to stifle / to neglect / to fall into oblivion

团结 tuánjié to unite / unity / solidarity / united

五湖四海 wǔhúsìhǎi all parts of the country

肆意妄为 sìyìwàngwéi to behave unscrupulously

丧钟 sāngzhōng knell

海蛎子 hǎilìzi oyster

受虐狂 shòunüèkuáng masochism / masochist

上交 shàngjiāo to hand over to / to give to higher authority

如若 rúruò if

乱点鸳鸯 luàndiǎnyuānyāng mismatch (or mistake) a man and woman for a couple

血本无归 xuèběnwúguī to lose one's life savings (e.g. after a bankruptcy) / no return for one's hard-earned savings

看守所 kānshǒusuǒ detention center

悖论 bèilùn paradox (logic)

惠 huì favor / benefit / to bestow / (literary) benevolence /(honorific)

包拯 Bāo Zhěng Bao Zheng (999-1062), Northern Song official renowned for his honesty / modern day metaphor for an honest politician

博爱 bó'ài universal fraternity (or brotherhood) / universal love

融洽 róngqià harmonious / friendly relations / on good terms with one another

同床异梦 tóngchuángyìmèng lit. to share the same bed with different dreams (idiom); ostensible partners with different agendas / strange bedfellows / marital dissension

即兴 jíxìng improvisation (in the arts) / impromptu / extemporaneous

无妨 wúfáng no harm (in doing it) / One might as well. / It won't hurt. / no matter / it's no bother

刺猬 cìwei hedgehog

敞开 chǎngkāi to open wide / unrestrictedly

心扉 xīnfēi inner heart / soul

周旋 zhōuxuán to mix with others / to socialize / to deal with / to contend

苛刻 kēkè harsh / severe / demanding

愧对 kuìduì ashamed to face

唯美 wéiměi aesthetics

抒情 shūqíng to express emotion / lyric

相见恨晚 xiāngjiànhènwǎn to regret not having met earlier (idiom); It is nice to meet you finally. / It feels like we have known each other all along.

手铐 shǒukào manacles / handcuffs

惨淡 cǎndàn dark / gloomy / dismal / by painstaking effort

广厦万间，夜眠七尺；良田千顷，日仅三餐    no matter how may rooms your mansion has you can only sleep in one bed a night, no matter how much farmland you have you can only eat 3 meals a day ( i.e. don't be greedy)

顷 qǐng unit of area equal to 100 畝｜亩 or 6.67 hectares / a short while / a little while ago / circa. (for approximate dates)

怜悯 liánmǐn to take pity on / pity / mercy

敬畏 jìngwèi to revere

兼而有之 jiān'éryǒuzhī to have both (at the same time)

高瞻远瞩 gāozhānyuǎnzhǔ to stand tall and see far (idiom); taking the long and broad view / acute foresight

王法 wángfǎ the law / the law of the land / the law of a state (in former times) / criterion

闪烁 shǎnshuò flickering / twinkling / evasive / vague (of speech)

吃请 chīqǐng to be a guest at a dinner party / to be wined and dined (as a bribe)

[StChris]

Episode 29

 

风声鹤唳 fēngshēnghèlì lit. wind sighing and crane calling (idiom) / fig. to panic at the slightest move / to be jittery

说一不二 shuōyībù'èr to say one and mean just that (idiom); to keep one's word

犯不上 fànbushàng not worthwhile

惹火上身 rěhuǒshàngshēn stir up the fire and you get burnt (idiom); to get one's fingers burnt / fig. to suffer on account of one's own meddling

动静 dòngjìng sound of activity or people talking / news of activity

假公济私 jiǎgōngjìsī official authority used for private interests (idiom); to attain private ends by abusing public position

心梗 xīngěng abbr. for 心肌梗塞, myocardial infarction / heart attack

传达 chuándá to pass on / to convey / to relay / to transmit / transmission

圣旨 shèngzhǐ imperial edict

投鼠忌器 tóushǔjìqì lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom) / to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents

表彰 biǎozhāng to honor / to commend / to cite (in dispatches)

老资格 lǎozīgé veteran

保驾 bǎojià escort the Emperor (also used jocularly)

护航 hùháng a naval escort / to convoy

行政 xíngzhèng administrative / executive (attributive)

捅娄子 tǒnglóuzi to make a mess of sth

牛皮 niúpí cowhide / leather / fig. flexible and tough / boasting / big talk

带头 dàitóu to take the lead / to be the first / to set an example

逃荒 táohuāng to escape from a famine / to get away from a famine-stricken region

遭殃 zāoyāng to suffer a calamity

买通 mǎitōng to bribe

拍板 pāibǎn clapper-board / auctioneer's hammer / to beat time with clappers

前腐后继 qiánfǔhòujì describes a situation where successive holders of a certain position are all eventually fired for corruption

无动于衷 wúdòngyúzhōng aloof / indifferent / unconcerned

司空见惯 sīkōngjiànguàn a common occurrence (idiom)

畅所欲言 chàngsuǒyùyán lit. fluently saying all one wants (idiom); to preach freely on one's favorite topic / to hold forth to one's heart's content

宝塔 bǎotǎ pagoda

靠拢 kàolǒng to draw close to

阴沉沉 yīnchénchén dark (weather, mood)

瘆 shèn to terrify

返点 fǎndiǎn sales bonus / affiliate reward / rebate / commission

属实 shǔshí to turn out to be true / verified / true

降职 jiàngzhí to demote (to a lower rank)

知无不言，言无不尽 zhīwúbùyán, yánwúbùjìn not hiding anything he knows, not stopping before he has said it through (idiom) / frank / outspoken

言者无罪，闻者足戒 yánzhěwúzuì, wénzhězújiè don't blame the speaker, take note of his warning (idiom); an exhortation to speak one's mind without fear of reprisals, and with the expectation of being taken seriously

打棍子 dǎgùnzi to bludgeon / to hit with a big stick, criticise unsparingly or unfoundedly

辩证法 biànzhèngfǎ dialectics / dialectic or Socratic method of debate

情有可原 qíngyǒukěyuán pardonable (of interruption, misunderstanding etc)

楷模 kǎimó model / example

诡辩 guǐbiàn specious arguments / sophistry

[StChris]

Episode 30

 

套近乎 tàojìnhū to worm one's way into being friends with sb (usually derogatory)

依附 yīfù to adhere / to attach oneself to / to append

德才兼备 décáijiānbèi having both integrity and talent (idiom)

慰问 wèiwèn to express sympathy, greetings, consolation etc

伎俩 jìliǎng trick / scheme / ploy / tactic / stratagem / gimmick / ruse / trickery / skill / also written 技倆｜技俩

扎实 zhāshi strong / solid / sturdy / firm / practical

活跃 huóyuè active / lively / excited / to enliven / to brighten up

装疯卖傻 zhuāngfēngmàishǎ to play the fool (idiom) / to feign madness

触目惊心 chùmùjīngxīn lit. shocks the eye, astonishes the heart (idiom); shocking / horrible to see / a ghastly sight

不露声色 bùlùshēngsè not show one's feeling or intentions

执迷不悟 zhímíbùwù to obstinately persist in going about things the wrong way (idiom)

见风使舵 jiànfēngshǐduò lit. see the wind and set the helm (idiom); fig. to act pragmatically / to be flexible and take advantage of the situation

马前卒 mǎqiánzú lackey / errand boy / lit. runner before a carriage

知其不可而为之 zhīqíbùkě'érwéizhī to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom) - in the show the character actually says 明知不可为而为之, but google keeps redirecting me to 知其不可而为之, so I assume that they are different versions of the same phrase

板上钉钉 bǎnshàngdìngdīng that clinches it / that's final / no two ways about it

一失足成千古恨 yīshīzúchéngqiāngǔhèn a single slip may cause everlasting sorrow (idiom)

一文不值 yīwénbùzhí worthless (idiom) / no use whatsoever

[StChris]

Episode 31

 

跌眼镜 diēyǎnjìng to be taken aback

任人唯贤 rènrénwéixián to appoint people according to their merits (idiom); appointment on the basis of ability and integrity

武断 wǔduàn arbitrary / subjective / dogmatic

朕 zhèn I / we (imperial use) / subtle

受累 shòulèi to get dragged into / to get involved (on sb else's account

摆平 bǎipíng to be fair / to be impartial / to settle (a matter etc)

咬紧牙关 yǎojǐnyáguān lit. to bite the teeth tightly (idiom); fig. to grit one's teeth and bear the pain / to bite the bullet

轰走 hōngzǒu to drive away

识趣 shíqù tactful / discreet

远房 yuǎnfáng distantly related / a distant relative

轮奸 lúnjiān to gang rape

黄花闺女 huánghuāguīnǚ maiden / virgin

油盐不进 yóuyánbùjìn to not listen to the entreaties of others

六亲不认 liùqīnbùrèn not recognizing one's family (idiom); self-centered and not making any allowances for the needs of one's relatives

纳闷 nàmèn puzzled / bewildered

火化 huǒhuà to cremate / to incinerate

与其 yǔqí rather than... / 與其｜与其 A 不如 B (rather than A, better to B)

遗照 yízhào picture of the deceased

抚恤金 fǔxùjīn compensation payment (for injury) / relief payment

合不拢口 hébùlǒngkǒu unable to conceal one's happiness, amazement, shock etc / grinning from ear to ear / mouth agape / gobsmacked

盯梢 dīngshāo to follow sb / to tail / to shadow

以绝后患 yǐjuéhòuhuàn to deal with an issue now to prevent future trouble

报仇雪恨 bàochóuxuěhèn to take revenge and wipe out a grudge (idiom)

提成 tíchéng to take a percentage

狙击 jūjī to snipe (shoot from hiding)

步枪 bùqiāng rifle / CL: 把, 枝

今非昔比 jīnfēixībǐ things are very different now (idiom) / times have changed

招摇 zhāoyáo to act ostentatiously / to brag / to show off

相安无事 xiāng'ānwúshì to live together in harmony

间接 jiànjiē indirect

冤家 yuānjia enemy / foe / (in opera) sweetheart or destined love

聚头 jùtóu to meet / to get together

不是冤家不聚头 bùshìyuānjiābùjùtóu destiny will make enemies meet (idiom) / (often said about lovers who have a disagreement)

殚精竭虑 dānjīngjiélǜ to exhaust one's thoughts and ingenuity (idiom); to think sth through thoroughly / to rack one's brains / to leave no stone unturned

[StChris]

Episode 32

 

沾亲带故 zhānqīndàigù related in some way, have ties of kinship or friendship

花样百出 huāyàngbǎichū a wide variety

一人得道，鸡犬升天 yīréndédào, jīquǎnshēngtiān lit. when a man achieves the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to Heaven (idiom) / fig. to ride on sb else's success / Once one man gets a government position, all his cronies get in too / Once sb has cracked the problem, every Tom, Dick and Harry can do it

百口莫辩 bǎikǒumòbiàn unable to defend oneself even if one had 100 mouths (when treated unjustly or wrongly accused)

嘲讽 cháofěng to sneer at / to ridicule / to taunt

痛恨 tònghèn to detest / to loathe / to abhor

捣鬼 dǎoguǐ to play tricks / to cause mischief

例行 lìxíng routine (task, procedure etc) / as usual

传讯 chuánxùn to summon (a witness) / to subpoena

溜之大吉 liūzhīdàjí to steal away / to beat it

涉世 shèshì to see the world / to go out into society / to gain experience

诧异 chàyì flabbergasted / astonished

将军 jiāngjūn to check or checkmate / fig. to embarrass / to challenge / to put sb on the spot

考证 kǎozhèng to do textual research / to make textual criticism

疏漏 shūlòu to slip / to overlook by negligence / careless omission / oversight

当下 dāngxià immediately / at once / at that moment / at the moment

发家致富 fājiāzhìfù to become rich / enrichment

巧取豪夺 qiǎoqǔháoduó secure (sb.'s belongings, rights, etc.) by force or trickery

雅观 yǎguān elegant and tasteful

记载 jìzǎi to write down / to record / written account

诽谤 fěibàng to slander / to libel

抛头颅，洒热血 pāotóulú，sǎrèxuè shed one's blood and lay down one's life (for a just cause)

坐享其成 zuòxiǎngqíchéng to reap where one has not sown (idiom)

幽灵 yōulíng specter / apparition / ghost

剿灭 jiǎomiè to eliminate (by armed force)

教皇 Jiàohuáng Roman Catholic pope / Supreme Pontiff

沙皇 shāhuáng czar (loanword)

梅特涅 Méitèniè Klemens von Metternich (a German diplomat and statesman and one of the most important diplomats of his era, serving as the Austrian Empire's Foreign Minister from 1809 and Chancellor from 1821 until the liberal revolutions of 1848 forced his resignation)

基佐 jīzuǒ a French historian, orator, and statesman. Guizot was a dominant figure in French politics prior to the Revolution of 1848.

激进 jījìn radical / extreme / extremist

枷锁 jiāsuǒ stocks and chain / in fetters

撤离 chèlí to withdraw from / to evacuate

账面 zhàngmiàn an item in accounts / an entry

抹平 mǒpíng to flatten / to level / to smooth out

短路 duǎnlù short circuit

流畅 liúchàng flowing (of speech, writing) / fluent / smooth and easy

背诵 bèisòng to recite / to repeat from memory

功底 gōngdǐ training in the basic skills / knowledge of the fundamentals

得益 déyì to derive benefit

回旋 huíxuán to turn around / maneuvering room / leeway

姑且 gūqiě for the time being / tentatively

挡箭牌 dǎngjiànpái shield / (fig.) excuse

陈述 chénshù an assertion / to declare / to state

侬 nóng you (Wu dialect) / I, me (classical)

置之不理 zhìzhībùlǐ to pay no heed to (idiom) / to ignore / to brush aside

攻破 gōngpò to make a breakthrough / to break through / to breach (military)

写字楼 xiězìlóu office building

事必躬亲 shìbìgōngqīn to attend to everything personally

提纲 tígāng outline / synopsis / notes

宽心 kuānxīn relieved / comforted / to relieve anxieties / at ease / relaxed / reassuring / happy

猖狂 chāngkuáng savage / furious

[StChris]

Episode 33

 

项庄舞剑 Xiàng Zhuāngwǔjiàn lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦｜刘邦 (idiom, refers to plot to kill Liu Bang during Feast at Hongmen 鴻門宴｜鸿门宴 in 206 BC) / fig. an elaborate deception hiding malicious intent

心狠手辣 xīnhěnshǒulà vicious and merciless (idiom)

于连 yúlián Julian, a character in the 19^th century French novel The Red and the Black.  It chronicles the attempts of a provincial young man (Julian) to rise socially beyond his modest upbringing through a combination of talent, hard work, deception, and hypocrisy. He ultimately allows his passions to betray him.

违心 wéixīn false / untrue to one's convictions / against one's will / disloyal

围拢 wéilǒng to crowd around

神情 shénqíng look / expression

不解 bùjiě to not understand / to be puzzled by / indissoluble

混沌 hùndùn primal chaos / formless mass before creation in Chinese mythology / muddled / innocent as a baby

深山 shēnshān deep in the mountains

旷野 kuàngyě wilderness

良久 liángjiǔ a good while / a long time

沉甸甸 chéndiàndiàn heavy

浅见 qiǎnjiàn shallow opinion / humble opinion

充当 chōngdāng to serve as / to act as / to play the role of

澎湃 péngpài to surge

悚然 sǒngrán frightened / terrified

看破红尘 kānpòhóngchén to see through the world of mortals (idiom, of Buddhist monk) / disillusioned with human society / to reject the world for a monastic life

何尝 hécháng (rhetorical question) when? / how? / it's not that...

注定 zhùdìng to foreordain / to be bound to / to be destined to / to be doomed to / inevitably

正午 zhèngwǔ midday / noon / noonday

不济 bùjì not good / of no use

由衷 yóuzhōng heartfelt / sincere / unfeigned

抵达 dǐdá to arrive / to reach (a destination)

躯壳 qūqiào the body (housing the soul)

头悬梁，锥刺股 tóuxuánliáng, zhuīcìgǔ lit. with his head attached to a beam and stabbing his thigh with an awl (idiom) / fig. to study assiduously and tirelessly

臭味相投 chòuwèixiāngtóu to share vile habits / partners in notoriety / birds of a feather

失身 shīshēn to lose one's virginity / to lose one's chastity

交底 jiāodǐ to fill sb in (on the details of sth) / to put all one's cards on the table #

栽赃 zāizāng to frame sb (by planting sth on them)

阀门 fámén valve (mechanical)

听天由命 tīngtiānyóumìng to submit to the will of heaven / to resign oneself to fate / to trust to luck

铤而走险 tǐng'érzǒuxiǎn to take a risk out of desperation (idiom)

旁敲侧击 pángqiāocèjī to make insinuations / to take an indirect approach (in making inquiries) (idiom)

树大根深 shùdàgēnshēn big tree with deep roots (said of an influential person or a huge organisation)

叙 xù to narrate / to chat

雄赳赳 xióngjiūjiū valiantly / gallantly

嗅 xiù to smell / to sniff / to nose

就事论事 jiùshìlùnshì to discuss sth on its own merits / to judge the matter as it stands

撂 liào to put down / to leave behind / to throw or knock down / to abandon or discard

当断则断 dāngduànzéduàn to make a decision when it's time to decide

万劫不复 wànjiébùfù consigned to eternal damnation / with no hope of reprieve

杀气 shāqì murderous spirit / aura of death / to vent one's anger

狐假虎威 hújiǎhǔwēi lit. the fox exploits the tiger's might (idiom); fig. to use powerful connections to intimidate people

斗心眼 dǒuxīnyǎn fight a battle of wits

不看僧面看佛面 bùkànsēngmiànkànFómiàn Buddha / Buddhism not for the monk's sake , but for the Buddha's – (do something for somebody) out of deference to somebody else

随员 suíyuán attendant

如雷贯耳 rúléiguàn'ěr lit. like thunder piercing the ear / a well-known reputation (idiom)

益虫 yìchóng beneficial insect

贼心不死 zéixīnbùsǐ refuse to give up on one's evil designs

卧底 wòdǐ to hide (as an undercover agent) / an insider (in a gang of thieves) / a mole

[StChris]

Episode 34 
 

戒严 jièyán to impose martial law / to impose emergency measures

巴结 bājie to fawn on / to curry favor with / to make up to

身价 shēnjià social status / price of a slave / price of a person (a sportsman etc) / worth / value (of stocks, valuables etc)

先锋 xiānfēng vanguard / pioneer

竞标 jìngbiāo compete for a bid

请便 qǐngbiàn Please do as you wish! / You are welcome to do whatever you like! / Please make yourself at home

诡谲 guǐjué weird / sly / treacherous

所作所为 suǒzuòsuǒwéi one's conduct and deeds

打包票 dǎbāopiào to vouch for / to guarantee

告状 gàozhuàng to tell on sb / to complain (to a teacher, a superior etc) / to bring a lawsuit

弥天 mítiān filling the entire sky / covering everything (of fog, crime, disaster etc)

亲信 qīnxìn trusted aide

无可奉告 wúkěfènggào (idiom) "no comment"

身居要职 shēnjūyàozhí hold an important post

火拼 huǒpīn fight openly (between factions)