工 夫 gōng fu period of time (may be months, or mere seconds) / spare time / skill / labor / effort 架 空 jià kōng to build (a hut etc) on stilts / to install (power lines etc) overhead / (fig.) unfounded / impractical / (fig.) to make sb a mere figurehead 小 意 思 xiǎo yì si small token / mere trifle (used of one's gifts) 过 场 guò chǎng interlude / to cross the stage / to do sth as a mere formality / to go through the motions 例 行 公 事 lì xíng gōng shì routine business / usual practice / mere formality 毛 毛 雨 máo mao yǔ drizzle / light rain / (fig.) mere trifle / sth that has only a weak effect 谈 虎 色 变 tán hǔ sè biàn to turn pale at the mention of a tiger (idiom) / to be scared at the mere mention of 望 风 而 逃 wàng fēng ér táo to flee at the mere sight of (idiom) 骨 头 架 子 gǔ tou jià zi skeleton / skinny person / a mere skeleton 侥 by mere luck 徼 by mere luck 惊 弓 之 鸟 jīng gōng zhī niǎo lit. a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow (idiom) / fig. sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences 身 外 之 物 shēn wài zhī wù mere worldly possessions 儌 by mere luck 一 朝 被 蛇 咬 ， 十 年 怕 井 绳 yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo , shí nián pà jǐng shéng lit. once bitten by a snake, one is scared all one's life at the mere sight of a rope (saying) / fig. once bitten, twice shy 光 动 嘴 guāng dòng zuǐ empty talk / mere rhetoric / palaver 浮 利 fú lì mere worldly, superficial gain, such as wealth and fame 突 尼 斯 母 婴 权 利 协 会 Association tunisienne des droits de l'enfant et la mere 屁 事 pì shì (vulgar) trifling matter / mere trifle / goddamn thing / goddamn business 流 于 形 式 liú yú xíng shì to become a mere formality 大 恩 不 言 谢 dà ēn bù yán xiè (maxim) a mere "thank you" is an insufficient response to a huge favor / (expression of gratitude) words cannot express my appreciation for what you have done 空 口 无 凭 kōng kǒu wú píng mere verbal statement cannot be taken as proof (idiom)
jiǎo