| 小人得志 |
xiǎo rén dé zhì |
lit. a vile character flourishes (idiom) / fig. an inferior person gets into a position of power, becoming conceited and arrogant |
| 小 |
xiǎo |
small / tiny / few / young |
| 小人 |
xiǎo rén |
person of low social status (old) / I, me (used to refer humbly to oneself) / nasty person / vile character |
| 人 |
rén |
person; people / CL:个,位 |
| 得 |
dé |
to obtain / to get / to gain / to catch (a disease) / proper / suitable / proud / contented / to allow / to permit / ready / finished |
| 得 |
dè |
used in 得瑟 |
| 得 |
de |
structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc |
| 得 |
děi |
to have to / must / ought to / to need to |
| 得志 |
dé zhì |
to accomplish one's ambition / a dream come true / to enjoy success |
| 志 |
zhì |
aspiration / ambition / the will |
| 志 |
zhì |
sign / mark / to record / to write a footnote |