- 倒吊蜡烛 dàodiàolàzhú dyer's oleanderWrightia tinctoria (flowering plant in Apocynaceae family, common names dyer's oleander or pala indigo)
- 蜡烛不点不亮 làzhúbùdiǎnbùliàng needs pushingsome people have to be pushed for them to take action
- 蜡烛两头烧 làzhúliǎngtóushāo overextendto burn the candle at both ends; to labor under a double burden, typically by managing two heavy responsibilities simultaneously