一勞永逸

ㄧ ㄌㄠˊ ㄩㄥˇ ㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ lou̯²¹ wɪŋ¹³ jɐt̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lɤ²³⁻³³ iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ lo¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo²⁴⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lɔ²⁴⁻²² iɪŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ iak̚²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ lou̯²¹ wɪŋ¹³ jɐt̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lɤ²³⁻³³ iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ lo¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo²⁴⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iɪk̚⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lɔ²⁴⁻²² iɪŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ iak̚²⁴/

這個解決方案不是一勞永逸的。 [MSC, trad.]
这个解决方案不是一劳永逸的。 [MSC, simp.]

Zhège jiějué fāng'àn bùshì yīláoyǒngyì de. [Pinyin]


衣冠楚楚

ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄔㄨˇ ㄔㄨˇ

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 150 (《詩經·曹風·蜉蝣》):
:
蜉蝣之羽，衣裳楚楚。
心之憂矣，於我歸處。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]蜉蝣之羽，衣裳楚楚。
心之忧矣，于我归处。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Fúyóu zhī yǔ, yīshāng chǔchǔ.
Xīn zhī yōu yǐ, yú wǒ guī chǔ. [Pinyin]
The wings of the ephemera, Are robes, bright and splendid.
My heart is grieved; Would they but come and abide with me!

lang

(《詩經·曹風·蜉蝣》)

(《詩經·曹風·蜉蝣》)

zh-x

蜉蝣 之 羽，衣裳{shāng} @楚楚。
心 之 憂 矣，於 我 歸 處{chǔ}。

immaculately dressed; well-groomed; dapper


杞人憂天

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (杞人憂天):
* → Korean: 기인우천(杞人憂天) (giinucheon)

ㄑㄧˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄡ ㄊㄧㄢ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kei̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ki⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ iu⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kei̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ki⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ iu⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

From a story in Liezi, early first millennium, "Heaven's Gifts", adapted from the translation by A. C. Graham:
杞國有人，憂天地崩墜，身亡所寄，廢寢食者。又有憂彼之所憂者，因往曉之，曰：「天，積氣耳，亡處亡氣。若屈伸呼吸，終日在天中行止，奈何憂崩墜乎？」
其人曰：「天果積氣，日月星宿不當墜邪？」
曉之者曰：「日月星宿，亦積氣中之有光耀者，只使墜，亦不能有所中傷。」
其人曰：「奈地壞何？」
曉者曰：「地積塊耳，充塞四虛，亡處亡塊。若躇步跐蹈，終日在地上行止，奈何憂其壞？」
其人舍然大喜，曉之者亦舍然大喜。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]杞国有人，忧天地崩坠，身亡所寄，废寝食者。又有忧彼之所忧者，因往晓之，曰：「天，积气耳，亡处亡气。若屈伸呼吸，终日在天中行止，奈何忧崩坠乎？」
其人曰：「天果积气，日月星宿不当坠邪？」
晓之者曰：「日月星宿，亦积气中之有光耀者，只使坠，亦不能有所中伤。」
其人曰：「奈地坏何？」
晓者曰：「地积块耳，充塞四虚，亡处亡块。若躇步跐蹈，终日在地上行止，奈何忧其坏？」
其人舍然大喜，晓之者亦舍然大喜。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Liezi, 1ˢᵗ – 5ᵗʰ century CE
Qǐ guó yǒu rén, yōu tiāndì bēngzhuì, shēn wáng suǒ jì, fèi qǐnshí zhě. Yòu yǒu yōu bǐ zhī suǒ yōu zhě, yīn wǎng xiǎo zhī, yuē: “Tiān, jīqì ěr, wáng chù wáng qì. Ruò qūshēn hūxī, zhōngrì zài tiān zhōng xíngzhǐ, nàihé yōu bēngzhuì hū?”
Qí rén yuē: “Tiān guǒ jīqì, rìyuè xīngsù bùdāng zhuì xié?”
Xiǎo zhī zhě yuē: “Rìyuè xīngsù, yì jīqì zhōng zhī yǒu guāngyào zhě, zhǐ shǐ zhuì, yì bùnéng yǒu suǒ zhōngshāng.”
Qí rén yuē: “Nài dì huài hé?”
Xiǎo zhě yuē: “Dì jīkuài ěr, chōngsài sì xū, wáng chù wáng kuài. Ruò chú bù cīdǎo, zhōngrì zài dìshàng xíngzhǐ, nàihé yōu qí huài?”
Qí rén shèrán dàxǐ, xiǎo zhī zhě yì shèrán dàxǐ. [Pinyin]
There was a man of Qi country who was so worried that heaven and earth might fall down, and his body would have nowhere to lodge, that he forgot to eat and sleep. There was another man who was worried that he should be so worried about it, and therefore went to enlighten him, saying, "Heaven is nothing but the accumulated air; there is no place where there is not air. You walk and stand all day inside heaven, stretching and bending, breathing in and breathing out; why should you worry about it falling down?"
The man said, "If heaven really is accumulated air, shouldn't the sun and moon and stars fall down?"
The man who sought to enlighten him said, "The sun and moon and stars are air which shines inside the accumulated air. Even if they did fall down, they couldn't hit or harm anyone."
The man said, "What about the earth giving way?"
The man who sought to enlighten him said, "The earth is nothing but accumulated soil, filling the void in all four directions; there is no place where there is not soil. You walk and stand all day on the earth, stamping about with abrupt spurts and halts; why should you worry about it giving way?"
The man was satisfied and greatly cheered; and so was the man who enlightened him.

zh-x

^杞 國 有 人，憂 天地 崩墜，身 亡 所 寄，廢 寢食 者。又 有 憂 彼 之 所 憂 者，因 往 曉 之，曰：「天，積氣 耳，亡 處 亡 氣。若 屈伸 呼吸，終日 在 天 中 行止，奈何 憂 崩墜 乎？」
其 人 曰：「天 果 積氣，日月 星宿 不當 墜 邪？」
曉 之 者 曰：「日月 星宿，亦 積氣 中 之 有 光耀 者，只 使 墜，亦 不能 有 所 中傷。」
其 人 曰：「奈 地 壞 何？」
曉 者 曰：「地 積塊 耳，充塞 四 虛，亡 處 亡 塊。若 躇 步 跐蹈，終日 在 地上 行止，奈何 憂 其 壞？」
其 人 舍然 大喜，曉 之 者 亦 舍然 大喜。

the man of Qi fear that the sky might fall


堅定不移

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

/kiːn⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

/kiːn⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/


前所未有

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

這就是整個兒地推翻世界和中國的黑暗面，把它們轉變過來成為前所未有的光明世界。 [MSC, trad.]
这就是整个儿地推翻世界和中国的黑暗面，把它们转变过来成为前所未有的光明世界。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1937, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《實踐論》 (On Practice), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

That is, to completely banish darkness from the world and from China and change the world into a world of light such as never previously existed.

Zhè jiù shì zhěnggèr de tuīfān shìjiè hé Zhōngguó de hēi'ànmiàn, bǎ tāmen zhuǎnbiàn guolai chéngwéi qiánsuǒwèiyǒu de guāngmíng shìjiè. [Pinyin]


披髮左衽

ㄆㄧ ㄈㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄣˋ

ㄆㄧ ㄈㄚˇ ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄣˋ

/pʰi⁵⁵ fä⁵¹ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pʰi⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pʰei̯⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sɔː³⁵ jɐm²²/

/pʰi⁵⁵ fä⁵¹ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pʰi⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pʰei̯⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sɔː³⁵ jɐm²²/

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):
:
子曰：「管仲相桓公，霸諸侯，一匡天下，民到于今受其賜；微管仲，吾其被髮左衽矣！…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「管仲相桓公，霸诸侯，一匡天下，民到于今受其赐；微管仲，吾其被发左衽矣！…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Guǎn Zhòng xiàng Huán Gōng, bà zhūhóu, yī kuāng tiānxià, mín dào yú jīn shòu qí cì; wēi Guǎn Zhòng, wú qí bèifà zuǒrèn yǐ!...... [Pinyin]
Guan Zhong acted as prime minister to the duke Huan, made him leader of all the princes, and united and rectified the whole kingdom. Down to the present day, the people enjoy the gifts which he conferred. But for Guan Zhong, we should now be wearing our hair unbound, and the lappets of our coats buttoning on the left side. …

^子曰：「@^管.^仲 相 @^桓.^公，霸 諸侯，一.匡.天下，民 到 于 今 受 其 賜；微 @^管.^仲，吾 其 @被髮.左衽 矣！……


獲益匪淺

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄧˋ ㄈㄟˇ ㄑㄧㄢˇ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔːk̚² jɪk̚⁵ fei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn³⁵/

/wɔːk̚² jɪk̚⁵ fei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn³⁵/


全力以赴

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ lɪk̚² jiː¹³ fuː²²/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu²¹/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu¹¹/

/t͡suan²³⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hu²¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ lɪk̚² jiː¹³ fuː²²/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu²¹/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu¹¹/

/t͡suan²³⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hu²¹/

to do all one can; to do one's utmost; to spare no effort; to go all-out


厚顏無恥

ㄏㄡˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄔˇ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐu̯¹³ ŋaːn²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐu̯¹³ ŋaːn²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

我從未見過有如此厚顏無恥之人！ [MSC, trad.]
我从未见过有如此厚颜无耻之人！ [MSC, simp.]

From: 1994, China Central Television, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, episode 69 收姜維, 40m06s

I have never met such a shameless person like you!

Wǒ cóngwèi jiàn guò yǒu rúcǐ hòuyánwúchǐ zhī rén! [Pinyin]


可想而知

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄦˊ ㄓ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sœːŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sœːŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/


舉世聞名

ㄐㄩˇ ㄕˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзюйшивэньмин

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐi̯³³ mɐn²² mɪŋ²¹/

/ku⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ bun²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/ki⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ bun²³⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐi̯³³ mɐn²² mɪŋ²¹/

/ku⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ bun²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/ki⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ bun²³⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/


敬而遠之

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (敬而遠之):
* → Korean: 경이원지(敬而遠之) (gyeong'iwonji)
* → Vietnamese: kính nhi viễn chi (敬而遠之)

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄩㄢˇ ㄓ

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄓ

цзинъэрюаньчжи

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ jyːn¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ jyːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ jyːn¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ jyːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 6 (《論語·雍也》):
:
子曰：「務民之義，敬鬼神而遠之，可謂知矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「务民之义，敬鬼神而远之，可谓知矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ yuē: “Wù mín zhī yì, jìng guǐshén ér yuàn zhī, kěwèi zhì yǐ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "To give one's self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom."

zh-x

子 曰：「務 民 之 義，@敬 鬼神 @而 @遠{yuàn} @之，可謂 知{zhì} 矣。」

我國經典，未經整理，讀起來特別難，一般人往往望而生畏，結果是敬而遠之。 [MSC, trad.]
我国经典，未经整理，读起来特别难，一般人往往望而生畏，结果是敬而远之。 [MSC, simp.]

Chinese classics are difficult to read uncollated. Ordinary people are often terrified by the sight of them, and prefer to remain at a respectful distance.

Wǒguó jīngdiǎn, wèijīng zhěnglǐ, dú qǐlái tèbié nán, yībānrén wǎngwǎng wàng'érshēngwèi, jiéguǒ shì jìng'éryuǎnzhī. [Pinyin]

to stay at a respectful distance from; to give a wide berth (to)


理直氣壯

ㄌㄧˇ ㄓˊ ㄑㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

личжицичжуан

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/lei̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚² hei̯³³ t͡sɔːŋ³³/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/lei̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚² hei̯³³ t͡sɔːŋ³³/

with justice on one's side and in an assertive tone


理所當然

ㄌㄧˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄤ ㄖㄢˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liɛn²⁴/

/li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴/

/li⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ziɛn²³/

/li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liɛn²⁴/

/li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴/

/li⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ziɛn²³/

to be only right and proper; to be taken as a matter of course; naturally


互利互惠

ㄏㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄏㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/wuː²² lei̯²² wuː²² wɐi̯²²/

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/wuː²² lei̯²² wuː²² wɐi̯²²/


品學兼優

ㄆㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄧㄡ

пиньсюэцзянью

/pʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐn³⁵ hɔːk̚² kiːm⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² kiam⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁴⁴/

/pʰin⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hak̚²⁴⁻² kiam³³ iu³³/

/pʰin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kiam⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁴⁴/

/pʰin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² kiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴/

/pʰin⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² kiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴/

/pʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐn³⁵ hɔːk̚² kiːm⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² kiam⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁴⁴/

/pʰin⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hak̚²⁴⁻² kiam³³ iu³³/

/pʰin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kiam⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁴⁴/

/pʰin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² kiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴/

/pʰin⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² kiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴/

一個品學兼優的好學生 [MSC, trad.]
一个品学兼优的好学生 [MSC, simp.]

a good student who excels both ethically and academically

yīge pǐnxuéjiānyōu de hǎo xuéshēng [Pinyin]

to excel both ethically and academically; to be an exemplar of virtue and scholarship


天壤之別

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖㄤˇ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

тяньжанчжибе

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

to be poles apart; to be like night and day; to be a world of difference between them


名副其實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ fuː³³ kʰei̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

/miã²⁴⁻²² hu²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/

/miã²⁴⁻²² hu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sit̚²⁴/

/miã¹³⁻²² hu²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sit̚¹²¹/

/miã²⁴⁻¹¹ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴/

/miã²³⁻³³ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sik̚⁴/

/miŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ fuː³³ kʰei̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

/miã²⁴⁻²² hu²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/

/miã²⁴⁻²² hu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sit̚²⁴/

/miã¹³⁻²² hu²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sit̚¹²¹/

/miã²⁴⁻¹¹ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴/

/miã²³⁻³³ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sik̚⁴/

to be not just in name, but also in reality; to be worthy of the name; to live up to reputation


萍水相逢

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄥˊ

пиншуйсянфэн

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/


聰明伶俐

ㄘㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ lei̯²²/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ lei̯²²/


鐵面無私

ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄙ

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ u³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/tʰiːt̚³ miːn²² mou̯²¹ siː⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ u³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/tʰiːt̚³ miːn²² mou̯²¹ siː⁵⁵/


合作無間

ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

хэцзо’уцзянь

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³ mou̯²¹ kaːn³³/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³ mou̯²¹ kaːn³³/

to have good collaboration with someone; to cooperate in perfect harmony


流離失所

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄌㄧˊ ㄕ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐu̯²¹ lei̯²¹ sɐt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐu̯²¹ lei̯²¹ sɐt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵/

to become destitute and homeless; to be displaced


信口開河

信口开河
信口開合
信口開闔
信口開喝

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄜˊ

синькоукайхэ

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ hɔː²¹/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ hɔː²¹/

to speak carelessly, rapidly and voluminously like the outflow of river water when the sluice gates are opened; to talk nonsense; to talk at random


未雨綢繆

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (未雨綢繆):
* → Japanese: 未(み)雨(う)綢(ちゅう)繆(びゅう) (miuchūbyū)
* → Korean: 미우주무(未雨綢繆) (miujumu)

ㄨㄟˋ ㄩˇ ㄔㄡˊ ㄇㄡˊ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/mei̯²² jyː¹³ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/mei̯²² jyː¹³ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 155 (《詩經·豳風·鴟鴞》):
:
迨天之未陰雨，徹彼桑土，綢繆牖戶。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]迨天之未阴雨，彻彼桑土，绸缪牖户。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dài tiān zhī wèi yīnyǔ, chè bǐ sāngdù, chóumóu yǒuhù. [Pinyin]
Before the sky was dark with rain,
I gathered the roots of the mulberry tree,
And bound round and round my window and door.

lang

(《詩經·豳風·鴟鴞》)

(《詩經·豳風·鴟鴞》)

zh-x

迨 天 之 @未 陰雨，徹 彼 桑土{dù}，@綢繆{móu} 牖戶。

未雨綢繆才能臨危不亂。 [MSC, trad.]
未雨绸缪才能临危不乱。 [MSC, simp.]

Only by taking precautions can you remain calm in the face of danger.

Wèiyǔchóumóu cái néng línwēibùluàn. [Pinyin]

宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

From: Zhu Yongchun, Zhu Zi's Family Maxims, 17ᵗʰ century CE

One should, when it is not yet raining, bind tightly the window. One should not wait until one is thirsty to dig a well.i.e. One should prepare before it is too late.

Yí wèi yǔ ér chóumóu, wú lín kě ér jué jǐng. [Pinyin]

(figurative) to plan ahead; to prepare before it is too late; to take precautions


改行自新

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

гайсинцзысинь

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ hɐŋ²² t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ hɐŋ²² t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf


體貼入微

ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄝ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄝ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰiːp̚³ jɐp̚² mei̯²¹/

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰiːp̚³ jɐp̚² mei̯²¹/

難忘您對我那種體貼入微 時時刻刻腦海中都緊記 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
难忘您对我那种体贴入微 时时刻刻脑海中都紧记 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

From: 許冠傑, 難忘您

I can't forget that attention you gave me; it's still stuck fast in my mind all the time

naan⁴ mong⁴ nei⁵ deoi³ ngo⁵ naa⁵ zung² tai² tip³ jap⁶ mei⁴, si⁴ si⁴ hak¹ hak¹ nou⁵ hoi² zung¹ dou¹ gan² gei³ [Jyutping]

to be extremely considerate towards someone; to be very considerate and thoughtful; to look after with meticulous care


跳樑小丑

ㄊㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄔㄡˇ

тяолянсяочоу

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːu̯³³ lœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰiːu̯³³ lœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵/

a buffoon who performs antics; a contemptible rebel; a clumsy mischief-maker


一如既往

ㄧ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄤˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki²¹³⁻⁵⁵ uaŋ⁵²⁻²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki²¹³⁻⁵⁵ uaŋ⁵²⁻²¹/


麻木不仁

ㄇㄚˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/mä³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/maː²¹ mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/mä³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/maː²¹ mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

to be indifferent and apathetic; unconcerned and unsympathetic; callous to


蠢蠢欲動

ㄔㄨㄣˇ ㄔㄨㄣˇ ㄩˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

чуньчуньюйдун

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn³⁵ t͡sʰɵn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʊŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɵn³⁵ t͡sʰɵn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʊŋ²²/

ready to start wriggling; ready to make trouble; be restless and about to make trouble


老少咸宜

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄧˊ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ haːm²¹ jiː²¹/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ haːm²¹ jiː²¹/


慘絕人寰

ㄘㄢˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

цаньцзюэжэньхуань

/t͡sʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm³⁵ t͡syːt̚² jɐn²¹ waːn²¹/

/t͡sʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm³⁵ t͡syːt̚² jɐn²¹ waːn²¹/

to be extremely tragic; to be of unparalleled savagery (in human history)


山珍海錯

ㄕㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄏㄞˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

шаньчжэньхайцо

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/

exotic delicacies; (by extension) abundant food


山珍海味

ㄕㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄏㄞˇ ㄨㄟˋ

шаньчжэньхайвэй

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ mei̯²²⁻³⁵/

/san²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨn²⁴ hoi̯³¹ mi⁵⁵/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ mei̯²²⁻³⁵/

/san²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨn²⁴ hoi̯³¹ mi⁵⁵/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

阮阿公七十二 每工攏是山珍海味 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
阮阿公七十二 每工拢是山珍海味 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

My grandpa, seventy-two years old, eats delicious delicacies everyday

Gún a-kong chhit-cha̍p-lī, múi-kang lóng sī san-tin-hái-bī [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]


同病相憐

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (同病相憐):
* → Vietnamese: đồng bệnh tương liên (同病相憐)

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

тунбинсянлянь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ pɛːŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ pẽ³³⁻²¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pĩ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ pɛːŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ pẽ³³⁻²¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pĩ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

misery loves company
misery loves company

in the same boat; fellow sufferers sympathise with each other; misery loves company


有情有義

ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/

/i̯u²⁴ t͡sʰin¹¹ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/u³³⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/

/i̯u²⁴ t͡sʰin¹¹ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/u³³⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

有情有義十一哥；無情無義酒矸仔嫂 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
有情有义十一哥；无情无义酒矸仔嫂 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

The bachelor is full of affection; the bar's hostess is full of coldness

ū-chêng-ū-gī cha̍p-it-ko; bô-chêng-bô-gī chiú-kan-á-só [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

having affection and faith; affectionate and just/righteous


豬頭三牲

ㄓㄨ ㄊㄡˊ ㄙㄢ ㄕㄥ

чжутоусаньшэн

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

This idiom arose from 豬頭／猪头 (zhūtóu, “pig head”).
In Wu it is reinterpreted as a xiehouyu: 豬頭三──牲, i.e. "A 豬頭三 is an animal/a beast/an idiot".

Referring to animals (bull, sheep and pig) used in sacrifice, or sacrificial offering in general.


新仇舊恨

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄣˋ

синьчоуцзюхэнь

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯²² hɐn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯²² hɐn²²/

"new enmity [and] old hatred": deep hatred


刻骨銘心

ja-r

ほね に きざみ、きも に めいずる

→ Japanese: 骨(ほね)に刻(きざ)み、肝(きも)に銘(めい)ずる (hone ni kizami, kimo ni meizuru) (calque)

carved on one's bones and engraved in one's heart

ㄎㄜˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/


自不量力

ㄗˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²² lɪk̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²² lɪk̚²/

to overestimate one's capabilities; to not know one's own limitations; to be overconfident


緣木求魚

ㄩㄢˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄩˊ

/ɥɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ mʊk̚² kʰɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹/

/iɛn²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/iɛn²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²³⁻³³ hi²³/

/iɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻¹¹ hu²⁴/

/ɥɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ mʊk̚² kʰɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹/

/iɛn²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/iɛn²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²³⁻³³ hi²³/

/iɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻¹¹ hu²⁴/

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》):
:
曰：「殆有甚焉。緣木求魚，雖不得魚，無後災。以若所為，求若所欲，盡心力而為之，後必有災。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]曰：「殆有甚焉。缘木求鱼，虽不得鱼，无后灾。以若所为，求若所欲，尽心力而为之，后必有灾。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yuē: “Dài yǒu shèn yān. Yuán mù qiú yú, suī bùdé yú, wú hòu zāi. Yǐ ruò suǒ wéi, qiú ruò suǒ yù, jìn xīnlì ér wéi zhī, hòu bì yǒu zāi.” [Pinyin]
"It is even worse," was the reply. "If you climb a tree to seek for fish, although you do not get the fish, you will not suffer any subsequent calamity. But doing what you do to seek for what you desire, doing it moreover with all your heart, you will assuredly afterwards meet with calamities."

zh-x

曰：「殆 有 甚 焉。緣.木.求.魚，雖 不得 魚，無 後 災。以 若 所 為{wéi}，求 若 所 欲，盡 心力 而 為{wéi} 之，後 必 有 災。」

to pursue an end by impossible or unjustifiable means


一目十行

ja-r

いち%もく%じゅう%ぎょう

CJKV/code

いち%もく%じゅう%ぎょう

Sino-Xenic (一目十行):
* → Japanese: 一(いち)目(もく)十(じゅう)行(ぎょう) (ichimokujūgyō)

CJKV

いち%もく%じゅう%ぎょう

ㄧ ㄇㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄤˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːŋ²¹/

to be able to read ten lines at a glance; to read very quickly


焚書坑儒

ㄈㄣˊ ㄕㄨ ㄎㄥ ㄖㄨˊ

/fən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/fɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵ haːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹/

/uŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ kʰẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵/

/fən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/fɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵ haːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹/

/uŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ kʰẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵/

"burning of books and burying of scholars" (anti-intellectual event during Qin dynasty)


來之不易

ㄌㄞˊ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

這個勝利來之不易啊。 [MSC, trad.]
这个胜利来之不易啊。 [MSC, simp.]

to not come easily; to be hard-won or hard-earned


滄海一粟

ㄘㄤ ㄏㄞˇ ㄧ ㄙㄨˋ

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

From Su Shi's Former Ode on the Red Cliffs:
:
寄蜉蝣於天地，渺浮海之一粟。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]寄蜉蝣于天地，渺浮海之一粟。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Jì fúyóu yú tiāndì, miǎo fú hǎi zhī yī sù. [Pinyin]
We are like mayflies wandering in this terrestrial world or a grain of millet drifting on a deep ocean.
In some versions of the original text, 浮海 (fú hǎi, “floating in the ocean”) is written as 滄海／沧海 (cānghǎi, “large ocean”).

zh-q

寄 蜉蝣 於 天地 ， 渺 浮 海 之 一 粟 。


卓有成效

ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ haːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ haːu̯²²/

with outstanding results; highly effective; fruitful


先發制人

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄚ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ

сяньфачжижэнь

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sɐi̯³³ jɐn²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sɐi̯³³ jɐn²¹/

to take the initiative to subdue the enemy; to take preemptive measures


因地制宜

ㄧㄣ ㄉㄧˋ ㄓˋ ㄧˊ

/in⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ tei̯²² t͡sɐi̯³³ jiː²¹/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ ti¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵⁵/

/in⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ tei̯²² t͡sɐi̯³³ jiː²¹/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ ti¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵⁵/

to formulate strategies according to local conditions


自力更生

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (自力更生):
* → Korean: 자력갱생(自力更生) (jaryeokgaengsaeng)
* → Vietnamese: tự lực cánh sinh (自力更生)

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄥ ㄕㄥ

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄥˋ ㄕㄥ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

to rely on one's own efforts; to become self-reliant


內柔外剛

ㄋㄟˋ ㄖㄡˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄍㄤ

нэйжоувайган

/neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² kɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² kɔːŋ⁵⁵/

appearing tough on the outside but actually being weak-willed or gentle


失道寡助

ㄕ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄓㄨˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑下》):
:
得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，親戚畔之；多助之至，天下順之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔之；多助之至，天下顺之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dédào zhě duōzhù, shīdào zhě guǎzhù. Guǎzhù zhī zhì, qīnqī pàn zhī; duōzhù zhī zhì, tiānxià shùn zhī. [Pinyin]
He who finds the proper course has many to assist him. He who loses the proper course has few to assist him. When this - the being assisted by few - reaches its extreme point, his own relations revolt from the prince. When the being assisted by many reaches its highest point, the whole kingdom becomes obedient to the prince.

zh-x

得道 者 多助，@失道 者 @寡助。寡助 之 至，親戚 畔 之；多助 之 至，天下 順 之。

最後，第四，由於中國戰爭的進步性、正義性而產生出來的國際廣大援助，同日本的失道寡助又恰恰相反。 [MSC, trad.]
最后，第四，由于中国战争的进步性、正义性而产生出来的国际广大援助，同日本的失道寡助又恰恰相反。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1938, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論持久戰》 (On Protracted War), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Fourthly and lastly, there is broad international support for China stemming from the progressive and just character of her war, which is again exactly the reverse of the meagre support for Japan's unjust cause.

Zuìhòu, dìsì, yóuyú Zhōngguó zhànzhēng de jìnbùxìng, zhèngyìxìng ér chǎnshēng chūlái de guójì guǎngdà yuánzhù, tóng Rìběn de shīdàoguǎzhù yòu qiàqià xiàngfǎn. [Pinyin]

An unjust cause attracts little support.


得道多助

ㄉㄜˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨˋ

/tɤ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ tou̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/tɤ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ tou̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

@得道 者 @多助，失道 者 寡助。寡助 之 至，親戚 畔 之；多助 之 至，天下 順 之。


翻天覆地

ㄈㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄧˋ

фаньтяньфуди

/fän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/faːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ tei̯²²/

/fän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/faːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ tei̯²²/


夜郎自大

ㄧㄝˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

/jɛ⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/jɛː²² lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

/jɛ⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/jɛː²² lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

Based on a passage in Records of the Grand Historian:
滇王與漢使者言曰：「漢與我孰大？」及夜郎侯亦然。以道不通，故各自以為一州主，不知漢廣大。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]滇王与汉使者言曰：「汉与我孰大？」及夜郎侯亦然。以道不通，故各自以为一州主，不知汉广大。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Diānwáng yǔ Hàn shǐzhě yán yuē: “Hàn yǔ wǒ shú dà?” Jí Yèlánghóu yì rán. Yǐ dào bù tōng, gù gè zì yǐwéi yī zhōu zhǔ, bù zhī Hàn guǎngdà. [Pinyin]
The King of Dian, while talking to the Han envoys, asked: "The Han (state) and mine, which is larger?" The Yelang lord did so too. As the roads (between their principalities and China) were not open, so each, deeming himself the ruler of a principality, did not know how large and vast the Han (empire) was.

^滇-王 與 ^漢 使-者 言 曰：「^漢 與 我 孰 大？」及 ^夜郎-侯 亦 然。以 道 不 通，故 各 自 以為{wéi} 一 州 主，不 知 ^漢 廣大。

to be ignorant and arrogant; to be self-deluded

Dian Kingdom
Records of the Grand Historian
Yelang


天經地義

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² jiː²²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ keŋ³³ ti¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² jiː²²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ keŋ³³ ti¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

From an aphorism posthumously attributed to Zichan (子產) by You Ji (aka. Zitaishu, 子大叔) as recorded in the Zuozhuan.
夫禮，天之經也，地之義也，民之行也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫礼，天之经也，地之义也，民之行也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Fú lǐ, tiān zhī jīng yě, dì zhī yì yě, mín zhī xìng yě. [Pinyin]
Propriety, it is the unchanging ways of heaven, the just ways of earth, and the rightful path of every human being.

夫{fú} 禮，@天 之 @經 也，@地 之 @義 也，民 之 行{xìng} 也。

欠債還錢，天經地義 [MSC, trad.]
欠债还钱，天经地义 [MSC, simp.]

It is a matter of course to pay debts when one owes money.

conforming to the traditional Chinese notion of the rules of heaven and the principles of Earth; that which is taken as a matter of course; proper practice or convention; time-honoured principle


黯然失色

ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄕ ㄙㄜˋ

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

to lose lustre in comparison; to be outshone; to be eclipsed; to be overshadowed


孤軍奮戰

ㄍㄨ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄈㄣˋ ㄓㄢˋ

гуцзюньфэньчжань

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ t͡siːn³³/

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ t͡siːn³³/

lone army putting up a brave fight; fighting alone without help; struggling hard without support


孤軍奮鬥

ㄍㄨ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄈㄣˋ ㄉㄡˋ

гуцзюньфэньдоу

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ tɐu̯³³/

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ tɐu̯³³/

孤軍奮戰 孤軍奮戰#Chinese

孤军奋战 孤军奋战#Chinese

Alternative form of 孤軍奮戰／孤军奋战 (gūjūnfènzhàn)


樂不思蜀

ㄌㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙ ㄕㄨˇ

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚²/

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚²/

From Sanguozhi, said by Liu Shan when he was living in Cao Wei after the collapse of Shu Han:
:
他日，王問禪曰：「頗思蜀否？」禪曰：「此間樂，不思蜀。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]他日，王问禅曰：「颇思蜀否？」禅曰：「此间乐，不思蜀。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE
Tārì, wáng wèn Shàn yuē: “Pō sī Shǔ fǒu?” Shàn yuē: “Cǐjiān lè, bùsī Shǔ.” [Pinyin]
Another day, the prince (Sima Zhao) asked Liu Shan, “Do you still miss Shu very much?” Liu Shan replied, “I enjoy life here and don't miss Shu at all.”

他日，王 問 @禪{Shàn} 曰：「頗 思 ^蜀 否？」@禪{Shàn} 曰：「此間 樂{lè}，不思 ^蜀。」

(derogatory) to have so much fun that one forgets one's origins, or that one has to return; to indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty; to be too happy to be homesick

Cao Wei
Liu Shan
Sanguozhi
Shu Han
Sima Zhao


顯而易見

ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

сяньэрицзянь

/ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hiːn³⁵ jiː²¹ jiː²² kiːn³³/

/hiɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/hiɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ ĩ³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hiːn³⁵ jiː²¹ jiː²² kiːn³³/

/hiɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/hiɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ ĩ³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/


所作所為

ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˊ

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/


史無前例

ㄕˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹/

/siː³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ lɐi̯²²/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹/

/siː³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ lɐi̯²²/


精衛填海

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄞˇ

цзинвэйтяньхай

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² tʰiːn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² tʰiːn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/


出人意料

ㄔㄨ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³ liːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³ liːu̯²²/

to exceed people's expectations; to be unexpected; to be surprising


舉足輕重

ㄐㄩˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

цзюйцзуцинчжун

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/


一葉知秋

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/


仁者見仁，智者見智

ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄓˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓˋ

жэньчжэ цзянь жэнь

чжичжэ цзянь чжи

žɛnʹčžɛ czjanʹ žɛnʹ

čžičžɛ czjanʹ čži

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

jan⁴ dze² gin³ jan⁴, dzi³ dze² gin³ dzi³

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ t͡siː³³ t͡sɛː³⁵ kiːn³³ t͡siː³³/

From I Ching:
:
仁者見之謂之仁，知者見之謂之知。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]仁者见之谓之仁，知者见之谓之知。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE
Rén zhě jiàn zhī wèi zhī rén, zhì zhě jiàn zhī wèi zhī zhì. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

仁 者 見 之 謂 之 仁 ， 知{zhì} 者 見 之 謂 之 知{zhì} 。

The benevolent person sees benevolence, the wise person sees wisdom

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste

different people have different views; opinions differ; there's no accounting for taste


行之有效

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ haːu̯²²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ haːu̯²²/


古色古香

ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤ

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kuː³⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kou⁵²⁻³⁵ sek̚²⁻⁴ kou⁵²⁻³⁵ hiaŋ³³/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kuː³⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kou⁵²⁻³⁵ sek̚²⁻⁴ kou⁵²⁻³⁵ hiaŋ³³/


赳赳武夫

ㄐㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄨˇ ㄈㄨ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

/tɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

/tɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 7 (《詩經·周南·兔罝》):
肅肅兔罝，椓之丁丁。
赳赳武夫，公侯干城。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]肃肃兔罝，椓之丁丁。
赳赳武夫，公侯干城。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Sùsù tùjū, zhuó zhī zhēngzhēng.
Jiūjiū wǔfū, gōnghóu gānchéng. [Pinyin]
Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets; Clang clang go the blows on the pegs.
That stalwart, martial man, Might be shield and wall to his prince.

lang

(《詩經·周南·兔罝》)

(《詩經·周南·兔罝》)

zh-x

肅-肅 兔-罝，椓 之 丁{zhēng}丁{zhēng}。
@赳赳.武夫，公-侯 干-城。

having the qualities of a strong and valiant warrior


夙興夜寐

ㄙㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄧㄝˋ ㄇㄟˋ

/su⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɛː²² mei̯²²/

/su⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɛː²² mei̯²²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 58 (《詩經·衞風·氓》):
:
三歲為婦，靡室勞矣。
夙興夜寐，靡有朝矣。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]三岁为妇，靡室劳矣。
夙兴夜寐，靡有朝矣。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Sān suì wéi fù, mǐ shì láo yǐ.
Sù xīng yè mèi, mǐ yǒu zhāo yǐ. [Pinyin]
For three years I was your wife, And thought nothing of my toil in your house.
I rose early and went to sleep late, Not intermitting my labours for a morning.

三 歲 為{wéi} 婦，靡 室 勞 矣。
@夙.興{xīng}.夜.寐，靡 有 朝{zhāo} 矣。

[…]沒有夙興夜寐的程序員，中國互聯網產業無法實現「彎道超車」，成就一個又一個估值過億的企業；[…] [MSC, trad.]
[…]没有夙兴夜寐的程序员，中国互联网产业无法实现「弯道超车」，成就一个又一个估值过亿的企业；[…] [MSC, simp.]
[…] méiyǒu sùxìngyèmèi de chéngxùyuán, zhōngguó hùliánwǎng chǎnyè wúfǎ shíxiàn “wāndào chāochē”, chéngjiù yīge yòu yīge gūzhí guò yì de qǐyè; […] [Pinyin]
@[…] Weren’t there programmers working hard all day long, China’s Internet industries would never “overtake on the bend”, evolving into billions-valued enterprises one after one. @[…]

From: 2019 April 29, 仲青平 (Zhong Qingping), 《向所有奋斗中的劳动者致敬》, in China Youth Daily, page 1

burn the candle at both ends
burn the candle at both ends

to work hard night and day; to burn the candle at both ends


相提並論

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄊㄧˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

сянтибинлунь

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ pɪŋ²² lɵn²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²²⁻²¹ lun²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ lun²²/

/siaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ peŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ luŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ pɪŋ²² lɵn²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²²⁻²¹ lun²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ lun²²/

/siaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ peŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ luŋ³⁵/

這也可以說是「施仁政」吧，但這是我們對於原來是敵對階級的人們所強迫地施行的，和我們對於革命人民內部的自我教育工作，不能相提並論。 [MSC, trad.]
这也可以说是「施仁政」吧，但这是我们对于原来是敌对阶级的人们所强迫地施行的，和我们对于革命人民内部的自我教育工作，不能相提并论。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1949, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論人民民主專政》 (On the People's Democratic Dictatorship). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

This, too, may be called a "policy of benevolence" if you like, but it is imposed by us on the members of the enemy classes and cannot be mentioned in the same breath with the work of self-education which we carry on within the ranks of the revolutionary people.

Zhè yě kěyǐ shuō shì “shī rénzhèng” ba, dàn zhè shì wǒmen duìyú yuánlái shì díduì jiējí de rénmen suǒ qiángpò de shīxíng de, hé wǒmen duìyú gémìng rénmín nèibù de zìwǒ jiàoyù gōngzuò, bù néng xiāngtíbìnglùn. [Pinyin]

to discuss two very different things at the same time; to mention different things on equal terms


江山永固

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ ㄩㄥˇ ㄍㄨˋ

цзяншаньюнгу

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ wɪŋ¹³ kuː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ wɪŋ¹³ kuː³³/

后妃大挑禮成。奴才榮祿恭賀聖母皇太后，恭賀皇上。願我大清朝皇嗣繁熾，江山永固。 [MSC, trad.]
后妃大挑礼成。奴才荣禄恭贺圣母皇太后，恭贺皇上。愿我大清朝皇嗣繁炽，江山永固。 [MSC, simp.]

The great ceremony for selecting empress consort and imperial concubines is over. I, Ronglu, humbly rejoice with Her Most Sacred Majesty the Empress Dowager and humbly rejoice with the Emperor! May my Great Qing Empire be blessed with successive rulers and endless splendor, and may my nation be stable forever!

Hòufēi dà tiǎo lǐ chéng. Núcái rónglù gōnghè shèngmǔ huángtàihòu, gōnghè huángshàng. Yuàn wǒ dàqīngcháo huángsìfánchì, jiāngshānyǒnggù. [Pinyin]

(archaic) a statement to wish one's country perpetual stability.


有目共睹

ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄨˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² tou̯³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² tou̯³⁵/


名符其實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

名副其實 名副其實#Chinese

名副其实 名副其实#Chinese

Alternative form of 名副其實／名副其实 (míngfùqíshí)


源源不斷

ㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

юаньюаньбудуань

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tuaŋ³⁵/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tuaŋ³⁵/


膾炙人口

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (膾炙人口):
* → Vietnamese: quái chá nhân khẩu (膾炙人口)

thinly sliced, roasted meat in the people's mouths

ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄡˇ

куайчжижэнькоу

/kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

universally appreciated (especially of literary works); liked by many; appealing to the masses; on everyone's lips


軒然大波

ㄒㄩㄢ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄛ

сюаньжаньдабо

/ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² pɔː⁵⁵/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ pʰo⁴⁴/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ pʰɤ⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² pɔː⁵⁵/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ pʰo⁴⁴/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ pʰɤ⁴⁴/


今非昔比

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ ㄒㄧ ㄅㄧˇ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ ㄒㄧˊ ㄅㄧˇ

цзиньфэйсиби

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/

the present cannot compare with the past; times have changed


寥寥數語

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ sou̯³³ jyː¹³/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ sou̯³³ jyː¹³/

a few words; with a few mild comments; in a nutshell


知法犯法

ㄓ ㄈㄚˇ ㄈㄢˋ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

身為警察，佢竟然知法犯法，真係警隊嘅恥辱！ [Cantonese, trad.]
身为警察，佢竟然知法犯法，真系警队嘅耻辱！ [Cantonese, simp.]
san¹ wai⁴ ging² caat³, keoi⁵ ging² jin⁴ zi¹ faat³ faan⁶ faat³, zan¹ hai⁶ ging² deoi⁶⁻² ge³ ci² juk⁶! [Jyutping]

As a policeman, he dared to break the law while knowing it. What a disgrace to the police force!


本末倒置

ㄅㄣˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓˋ

бэньмодаочжи

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

putting the cart before the horse
put the cart before the horse


留中不發

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

我看這道奏摺先留中不發。 [MSC, trad.]
我看这道奏折先留中不发。 [MSC, simp.]

I think this submitted petition shall first be kept for further consideration.

Wǒ kàn zhè dào zòuzhé xiān liúzhōngbùfā. [Pinyin]

(archaic) to shelve; to table; to postpone consideration


心灰意冷

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄧˋ ㄌㄥˇ

синьхуэйилэн

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːŋ¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hue⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːŋ¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hue⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/


先斬後奏

behead first, report [to the emperor] later

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓㄢˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄗㄡˋ

сяньчжаньхоуцзоу

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³³/

/siːn⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³³/

皇上御賜龍虎狗三口鍘刀，本府有先斬後奏之權。如何審不得你？ [MSC, trad.]
皇上御赐龙虎狗三口铡刀，本府有先斩后奏之权。如何审不得你？ [MSC, simp.]

His Majesty granted me these three guillotines of canine, tiger, and dragon, by which I am authorised to kill first, report later. How can't I put you on trial?

Huángshàng yùcì lóng hǔ gǒu sān kǒu zhádāo, běnfǔ yǒu xiānzhǎnhòuzòu zhī quán. Rúhé shěn bùdé nǐ? [Pinyin]

to act first and report later; to act first and seek permission therefor later


各有所好

ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄏㄠˋ

/kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ hou̯³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ hou̯³³/

different strokes for different folks
different strokes for different folks

there's no accounting for taste; to each his own; different strokes for different folks; chacun à son goût


知規犯規

ㄓ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄈㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟ

чжигуйфаньгуй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fän⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ faːn²² kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fän⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ faːn²² kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

他明知是必須這樣做，但他不願意做，他知規犯規！ [MSC, trad.]
他明知是必须这样做，但他不愿意做，他知规犯规！ [MSC, simp.]

He already knows that it's necessary to do that, but he doesn't want to do it, so he already knows the rule, but he breaks it anyway!

Tā míngzhī shì bìxū zhèyàng zuò, dàn tā bù yuànyì zuò, tā zhīguīfànguī! [Pinyin]


長話短說

ㄔㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄛ

чанхуадуаньшо

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ waː²² tyːn³⁵ syːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ waː²² tyːn³⁵ syːt̚³/

to make a long story short
to make a long story short


篳門閨竇

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄉㄡˋ

бимэньгуйдоу

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ muːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ tɐu̯²²/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ muːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ tɐu̯²²/

wretched hovel; living in poverty; poverty-stricken


人情冷暖

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄥˇ ㄋㄨㄢˇ

жэньцинлэннуань

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ laːŋ¹³ nyːn¹³/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ laːŋ¹³ nyːn¹³/

fickleness of human nature; changing of one's attitude to another according to social status


見仁見智

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓˋ

цзяньжэньцзяньчжи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ kiːn³³ t͡siː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ kiːn³³ t͡siː³³/

Short for 仁者見仁，智者見智／仁者见仁，智者见智 (rénzhě jiàn rén, zhìzhě jiàn zhì), from I Ching.


榮華富貴

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/wɪŋ²¹ waː²¹ fuː³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/wɪŋ²¹ waː²¹ fuː³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

若不是你貪圖榮華富貴泯滅天良，又豈會落到如今這般田地？ [MSC, trad.]
若不是你贪图荣华富贵泯灭天良，又岂会落到如今这般田地？ [MSC, simp.]

If you have not craved for wealth and fame till you lost your conscience, how could you now fall into such a condition as this?

Ruò bùshì nǐ tāntú rónghuáfùguì mǐnmiè tiānliáng, yòu qǐ huì luò dào rújīn zhèbān tiándì? [Pinyin]

high social position and great financial wealth


冒名頂替

ㄇㄠˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄊㄧˋ

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi⁵¹/

/mou̯²² mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ tʰɐi̯³³/

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi⁵¹/

/mou̯²² mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ tʰɐi̯³³/

冒名頂替，入贅皇家。 [MSC, trad.]
冒名顶替，入赘皇家。 [MSC, simp.]
[Through] false pretense, [you] became a member of the royal family.

Màomíngdǐngtì, rùzhuì huángjiā. [Pinyin]


雞毛蒜皮

ㄐㄧ ㄇㄠˊ ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄆㄧˊ

цзимаосуаньпи

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯än⁵¹ pʰi³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ syːn³³ pʰei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯än⁵¹ pʰi³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ syːn³³ pʰei̯²¹/


無可救藥

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧㄠˋ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ kɐu̯³³ jœːk̚²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kiu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ioʔ⁴/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ kɐu̯³³ jœːk̚²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kiu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ioʔ⁴/

utterly hopeless; unable to be saved (helped); beyond the point of help


無藥可救

no medicine can save; unable to be saved by any medicine

ㄨˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/u³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jœːk̚² hɔː³⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ ioʔ⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiu¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ iɤʔ⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kiu²¹/

/u³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jœːk̚² hɔː³⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ ioʔ⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiu¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ iɤʔ⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kiu²¹/

他是個無藥可救的蘿莉控。 [MSC, trad.]
他是个无药可救的萝莉控。 [MSC, simp.]

Tā shì ge wúyàokějiù de luólìkòng. [Pinyin]He is a hopeless lolicon.


有聲有色

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄜˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sɪk̚⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sɪk̚⁵/


小心翼翼

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/

Occurred a few times in the Classic of Poetry, for example, poem 236 (《詩經·大雅·大明》):
:
維此文王，小心翼翼。
昭事上帝，聿懷多福。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]维此文王，小心翼翼。
昭事上帝，聿怀多福。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Wéi cǐ Wénwáng, xiǎoxīn yìyì.
Zhāo shì Shàngdì, yù huái duō fú. [Pinyin]
This king Wen, Watchfully and reverently,
With entire intelligence served God, And so secured the great blessing.

lang

(《詩經·大雅·大明》)

(《詩經·大雅·大明》)

zh-x

維 此 ^文王，小心.翼翼。
^昭 事 ^上帝，聿 懷 多 福。

cautious; prudent; wary; with great care; cautiously


怨聲載道

ㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄥ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄠˋ

юаньшэнцзайдао

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

/i̯en⁵⁵ saŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai̯⁵⁵ tʰo⁵⁵/

/(j)i̯an⁵⁵ saŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai̯⁵⁵ tʰo⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

/i̯en⁵⁵ saŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai̯⁵⁵ tʰo⁵⁵/

/(j)i̯an⁵⁵ saŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai̯⁵⁵ tʰo⁵⁵/

變法變得人心惶惶，怨聲載道。居然還找日本人當顧問。這不是引狼入室，請鬼來開藥方呢？ [MSC, trad.]
变法变得人心惶惶，怨声载道。居然还找日本人当顾问。这不是引狼入室，请鬼来开药方呢？ [MSC, simp.]

The administrative reform has turned public sentiment into fright that hue and cry can be heard from every corner. Yet you went to extremes to get a Japanese to serve as your adviser? Isn't this an act of leading a wolf into your chamber, inviting a ghost to write for you a medication order?

Biànfǎ biàndé rénxīn huánghuáng, yuànshēngzǎidào. Jūrán hái zhǎo rìběnrén dāng gùwèn. Zhè bùshì yǐnlángrùshì, qǐngguǐláikāiyàofāng ne? [Pinyin]

public discontent is everywhere; discontent is publicly voiced; complaints rise all around


男女老幼

ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄧㄡˋ

/nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ jɐu̯³³/

/nam¹¹ ŋ̍³¹ lo³¹ i̯u⁵⁵/

/nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ jɐu̯³³/

/nam¹¹ ŋ̍³¹ lo³¹ i̯u⁵⁵/

the male and the female, the old and the young: everybody


百鳥朝鳳

a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix

ㄅㄞˇ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ

байняочаофэн

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ fʊŋ²²/

/paːk̚³ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ fʊŋ²²/


陳詞濫調

ㄔㄣˊ ㄘˊ ㄌㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

чэньцыланьдяо

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ laːm²² tiːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ laːm²² tiːu̯²²/

old words and hackneyed talk; clichés; platitudes


曲折離奇

ㄑㄩ ㄓㄜˊ ㄌㄧˊ ㄑㄧˊ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ li³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³ lei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ li³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³ lei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

(of an event, a story) convoluted and eccentric; complicated and bizarre


老生常談

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄥ ㄔㄤˊ ㄊㄢˊ

лаошэнчантань

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ tʰaːm²¹/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ tʰaːm²¹/


溫故知新

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (溫故知新):
* → Japanese: 温(おん)故(こ)知(ち)新(しん) (onkochishin)
* → Korean: 온고지신(溫故知新) (on'gojisin)
* → Vietnamese: ôn cố tri tân (溫故知新)

ㄨㄣ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

вэньгучжисинь

/wən⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/wɐn⁵⁵ kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/wən⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/wɐn⁵⁵ kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「溫故而知新，可以為師矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「温故而知新，可以为师矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Wēn gù ér zhī xīn, kěyǐ wéi shī yǐ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge, so as continually to be acquiring new, he may be a teacher of others."

zh-x

^子曰：「@溫 @故 而 @知 @新，可以 為{wéi} 師 矣。」

reviewing learnt knowledge helps one understand it better; reviewing the past helps one understand the present


由此可見

ㄧㄡˊ ㄘˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kiːn³³/

/jɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kiːn³³/


因小失大

ja-r

いん%しょう%しつ%だい

CJKV/code

いん%しょう%しつ%だい

Sino-Xenic (因小失大):
* → Japanese: 因(いん)小(しょう)失(しつ)大(だい) (inshōshitsudai)

CJKV

いん%しょう%しつ%だい

ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕ ㄉㄚˋ

/in⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɐt̚⁵ taːi̯²²/

/in⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɐt̚⁵ taːi̯²²/

spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar
spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar

penny wise and pound foolish
penny wise and pound foolish

to try to save a little only to lose a lot; to spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar; to be penny wise and pound foolish


對症下藥

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄧㄠˋ

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄧㄠˋㄦ

дуйчжэнсяяор

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jaʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹/

/tɵy̯³³ t͡sɪŋ³³ haː²² jœːk̚²/

/tɵy̯³³ t͡sɪŋ³³ haː²² jœːk̚²/

to suit the medicine to the illness; to suit the remedy to the case; to prescribe the right remedy for an illness


微不足道

ㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄠˋ

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

not worth mentioning; insignificant; negligible


笑容可掬

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄩ

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄩˊ

сяожункэцзюй

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy³⁵/

/siːu̯³³ jʊŋ²¹ hɔː³⁵ kʊk̚⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy³⁵/

/siːu̯³³ jʊŋ²¹ hɔː³⁵ kʊk̚⁵/


錯綜複雜

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄗㄚˊ

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄗㄚˊ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ³³ fʊk̚⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡sʰak̚²⁻⁴ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ hok̚⁴⁻² t͡sap̚⁴/

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ³³ fʊk̚⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡sʰak̚²⁻⁴ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ hok̚⁴⁻² t͡sap̚⁴/


電光石火

ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄕˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

дяньгуан шихо

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːn²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² fɔː³⁵/

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːn²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² fɔː³⁵/


盤根錯節

盘根错节
槃根錯節
蟠根錯節

ㄆㄢˊ ㄍㄣ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

паньгэньцоцзе

/pʰän³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰuːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³/

/pʰän³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰuːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³/

great tangled root system; complicated affair; complicated and difficult to deal with


防不勝防

ㄈㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄈㄤˊ

ㄈㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥ ㄈㄤˊ

/fɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ³⁵/

/fɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ fɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ²⁴/

/hɔŋ¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ¹³/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴/

/hɔŋ²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ²³/

/huaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ huaŋ⁵⁵/

/fɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ³⁵/

/fɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ fɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ²⁴/

/hɔŋ¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ¹³/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴/

/hɔŋ²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ²³/

/huaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ huaŋ⁵⁵/

the utmost care could not prevent it from happening; to be impossible to defend effectively


不知所措

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

to be at a loss for what to do; to lose one's bearings


一事無成

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²² mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/it̚² sɨ⁵⁵ vu¹¹ sɨn¹¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sɯ¹¹ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ seŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²² mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/it̚² sɨ⁵⁵ vu¹¹ sɨn¹¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sɯ¹¹ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ seŋ⁵⁵/

to be unable to achieve anything; to be a total failure


大器晚成

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄨㄢˇ ㄔㄥˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³³ maːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³³ maːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹/

From Tao Te Ching:
:
大方無隅，大器晚成。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]大方无隅，大器晚成。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Dà fāng wú yú, dàqìwǎnchéng. [Pinyin]
Its largest square doth yet no corner show; a vessel great, it is the slowest made.

zh-x

大 方 無 隅，大器晚成。

a great talent takes time to mature; in the fullness of time, a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state


速戰速決

ㄙㄨˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄙㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

сучжаньсуцзюэ

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²¹⁻⁵³ sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kuat̚³²/

/sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡siɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ kuat̚⁵/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ t͡siɛn²¹⁻⁵³ sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ kuat̚³²/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kuat̚³²/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kuat̚³²/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²¹⁻⁵³ sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kuat̚³²/

/sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡siɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ kuat̚⁵/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ t͡siɛn²¹⁻⁵³ sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ kuat̚³²/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kuat̚³²/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kuat̚³²/

to take prompt action to achieve a quick victory; to adopt a blitzkrieg strategy


前後矛盾

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄣˋ

цяньхоумаодунь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ hɐu̯²² maːu̯²¹ tʰɵn¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ hɐu̯²² maːu̯²¹ tʰɵn¹³/


沸沸揚揚

ㄈㄟˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ

/feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fɐi̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/huk̚²⁻⁴ huk̚²⁻⁴ iaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fɐi̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/huk̚²⁻⁴ huk̚²⁻⁴ iaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵⁵/


突如其來

ㄊㄨ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄞˊ

ㄊㄨˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄞˊ

/tʰu⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰu³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/tɐt̚² jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/tʰu⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰu³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/tɐt̚² jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

From I Ching, Hexagram 30 (《易经·離卦》):
:
九四：突如其來如，焚如，死如，棄如。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]九四：突如其来如，焚如，死如，弃如。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jiǔ sì: tū rú qí lái rú, fén rú, sǐ rú, qì rú. [Pinyin]
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the manner of its subject's coming. How abrupt it is, as with fire, with death, to be rejected (by all)!

九 四：突.如.其.來 如，焚 如，死 如，棄 如。

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 30


一觸即發

ㄧ ㄔㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄚ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ faːt̚³/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁵ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁵ huat̚³²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ huat̚³²/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sit̚⁵⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ faːt̚³/

could break out or flare up at any time (of a situation); on the verge of crisis; in a tense and volatile situation


老謀深算

ㄌㄠˇ ㄇㄡˊ ㄕㄣ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

лаомоушэньсуань

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ moʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ mɐu̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ syːn³³/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ moʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ mɐu̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ syːn³³/

experienced and astute; circumspect and far-seeing; scheming and calculating


老馬識途

desc

→ Vietnamese: ngựa quen đường cũ (calque)

ㄌㄠˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄕˊ ㄊㄨˊ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨˊ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ maː¹³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/lo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ maː¹³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/lo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔ²⁴/

From a story in Han Feizi, Chapter 22 (《韓非子·說林上》):
:
管仲、隰朋從於桓公而伐孤竹，春往冬反，迷惑失道，管仲曰：「老馬之智可用也。」乃放老馬而隨之，遂得道。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]管仲、隰朋从于桓公而伐孤竹，春往冬反，迷惑失道，管仲曰：「老马之智可用也。」乃放老马而随之，遂得道。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Guǎn Zhòng, Xí Péng cóng yú Huán gōng ér fá Gūzhú, chūn wǎng dōng fǎn, míhuò shī dào, Guǎn Zhòng yuē: “Lǎo mǎ zhī zhì kě yòng yě.” Nǎi fàng lǎo mǎ ér suí zhī, suì dé dào. [Pinyin]
Guan Zhong and Xi Peng (隰朋) accompanied Duke Huan in the expedition against Guzhu. When spring was gone and winter came again, they went astray and lost the way. Thereupon Guan Zhong said: "The wisdom of old horses is trustworthy." So they let old horses go of themselves and followed them from behind, till they found the way.

zh-x

@^管.^仲、@^隰.^朋 從 於 @^桓 公 而 伐 @^孤竹，春 往 冬 反，迷惑 失 道，@^管.^仲 曰：「老 馬 之 智 可 用 也。」乃 放 老 馬 而 隨 之，遂 得 道。

an experienced worker knows what to do; an old hand knows the ropes

Duke Huan of Qi
Guan Zhong
Guzhu
Han Feizi
zh:隰朋


不治之症

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˋ ㄓ ㄓㄥˋ

бучжичжичжэн

bučžičžičžɛn

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/


不倫不類

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄟˋ

/pu⁵¹ lu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lɵy̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ lu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lɵy̯²²/

neither fish nor fowl
neither fish nor fowl


三緘其口

ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄎㄡˇ

саньцзяньцикоу

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːm⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːm⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

keeping one's mouth shut more than once; be extremely selective in one's words


貧富懸殊

ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

пиньфусюаньшу

/pʰin³⁵ fu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pʰɐn²¹ fuː³³ jyːn²¹ syː²¹/

/pʰin³⁵ fu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pʰɐn²¹ fuː³³ jyːn²¹ syː²¹/

to have a wide gap between the rich and the poor


玩火自焚

ㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄗˋ ㄈㄣˊ

ваньхоцзыфэнь

/wän³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ fən³⁵/

ㄨㄢˊㄦ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄗˋ ㄈㄣˊ

ваньрхоцзыфэнь

/wɑɻ³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ fən³⁵/

/waːn²¹⁻³⁵ fɔː³⁵ t͡siː²² fɐn²¹/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su²²⁻²¹ hun²⁴/

/uan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡su³³⁻²¹ hun²³/

/wän³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ fən³⁵/

/wɑɻ³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ fən³⁵/

/waːn²¹⁻³⁵ fɔː³⁵ t͡siː²² fɐn²¹/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su²²⁻²¹ hun²⁴/

/uan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡su³³⁻²¹ hun²³/

sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

he who plays with fire will get burnt; sow the wind, reap the whirlwind


氣勢磅礴

气势磅礴
氣勢磅薄
氣勢旁礴
氣勢旁薄
氣勢磅礡

ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˋ ㄆㄤˊ ㄅㄛˊ

ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˋ ㄆㄤ ㄅㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ pɔːk̚²/

/kʰi²¹³⁻⁵⁵ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ pʰaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ poʔ⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ pɔːk̚²/

/kʰi²¹³⁻⁵⁵ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ pʰaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ poʔ⁴/

of great momentum; grand and magnificent


飾非文過

ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄨㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄨㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ wən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ mɐn²² kʷɔː³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ wən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ mɐn²² kʷɔː³³/


文過飾非

ㄨㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

ㄨㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

/wən³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn²² kʷɔː³³ sɪk̚⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn²² kʷɔː³³ sɪk̚⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/


齊頭並進

ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цитоубинцзинь

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ pɪŋ²² t͡sɵn³³/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ pɪŋ²² t͡sɵn³³/

to go on or advance simultaneously; to do two or more things at once


愛恨情仇

ㄞˋ ㄏㄣˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄔㄡˊ

айхэньцинчоу

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/ɔːi̯³³ hɐn²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/ɔːi̯³³ hɐn²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

才明白愛恨情仇 最傷最痛是後悔 [MSC, trad.]
才明白爱恨情仇 最伤最痛是后悔 [MSC, simp.]

Only then did I realize that in love and hatred, the most damaging, the most painful is regret

cái míngbái àihènqíngchóu, zuì shāng zuì tòng shì hòuhuǐ [Pinyin]


鼓舌如簧

ㄍㄨˇ ㄕㄜˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kuː³⁵ siːt̚² jyː²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kuː³⁵ siːt̚² jyː²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

to wag one's tongue (for honeyed words, malicious gossip, etc.)


黨同伐異

ㄉㄤˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄚˊ ㄧˋ

ㄉㄤˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄚ ㄧˋ

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ fä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ fä⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ fɐt̚² jiː²²/

/tɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² huat̚⁴⁻³² i²²/

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ fä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ fä⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ fɐt̚² jiː²²/

/tɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² huat̚⁴⁻³² i²²/

to unite with those who agree and fight those who differ


時過境遷

ㄕˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄢ

шигоцзинцянь

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ kʷɔː³³ kɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ kʷɔː³³ kɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/


事在人為

ㄕˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ

шицзайжэньвэй

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

it all depends on human effort; human effort can achieve everything; human effort is a decisive factor


一絲不苟

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

From the novel The Scholars, chapter 4:
:
上司訪知，見世叔一絲不苟，陞遷就在指日。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]上司访知，见世叔一丝不苟，升迁就在指日。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Wu Jingzi, The Scholars, 1750 CE
Shàngsī fǎngzhī, jiàn shìshū yīsī bùgǒu, shēngqiān jiù zài zhǐrì. [Pinyin]
When your superior hears about this, seeing that you have been scrupulous in every detail, you will be promoted in no time.

上司 訪知，見 世叔 一絲.不苟，升遷\陞遷 就 在 指日。

to be scrupulous about every detail; to not be the least bit negligent; to not overlook any detail


事過境遷

ㄕˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄢ

шигоцзинцянь

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/siː²² kʷɔː³³ kɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

/su²²⁻²¹ ko²¹⁻⁵³ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/siː²² kʷɔː³³ kɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

/su²²⁻²¹ ko²¹⁻⁵³ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴/

the issue is in the past and the situation has changed; things change with the passage of time


自生自滅

ㄗˋ ㄕㄥ ㄗˋ ㄇㄧㄝˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² miːt̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² miːt̚²/

to (let something) emerge and perish on its own; to let something go its own way


龍飛鳳舞

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄟ ㄈㄥˋ ㄨˇ

/lʊŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ²² mou̯¹³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ²² mou̯¹³/

vivid and vigorous flourishes in calligraphy


龍躍鳳鳴

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄈㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

лунъюэфэнмин

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːk̚² fʊŋ²² mɪŋ²¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːk̚³ fʊŋ²² mɪŋ²¹/

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːk̚² fʊŋ²² mɪŋ²¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːk̚³ fʊŋ²² mɪŋ²¹/


龍肝鳳髓

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄢ ㄈㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄟˇ

лунганьфэнсуй

/lʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ kɔːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ²² sɵy̯¹³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ kɔːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ²² sɵy̯¹³/


龍蛇混雜

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄜˊ ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄗㄚˊ

луншэхуньцза

/lʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ sɛː²¹ wɐn²² t͡saːp̚²/

/lʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ sɛː²¹ wɐn²² t͡saːp̚²/

good and bad people mixed up; wise and unwise huddled together


哽哽咽咽

ㄍㄥˇ ㄍㄥˇ ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/kɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ jiːt̚³ jiːt̚³/

/kɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ jiːt̚³ jiːt̚³/


一技之長

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ ki³³ t͡si³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ ki⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ ki³³ t͡si³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ ki⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³/


無能為力

ㄨˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/u³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ nɐŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ lɪk̚²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪk̚⁴/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ liɪŋ²³⁻³³ ui²³⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/u³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ nɐŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ lɪk̚²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪk̚⁴/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ liɪŋ²³⁻³³ ui²³⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/


恰到好處

ㄑㄧㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄔㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/hɐp̚⁵ tou̯³³ hou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/

/hɐp̚⁵ tou̯³³ hou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/


一哄而散

ㄧ ㄏㄨㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄙㄢˋ

ㄧ ㄏㄨㄥ ㄦˊ ㄙㄢˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xʊŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ saːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xʊŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ saːn³³/

(of people) to disperse in a hubbub; to break up in an uproar; to abruptly part ways


爭先恐後

ㄓㄥ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄡˋ

чжэнсянькунхоу

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/t͡saŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ si̯en²⁴ kʰi̯uŋ³¹ heu̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/t͡saŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ si̯en²⁴ kʰi̯uŋ³¹ heu̯⁵⁵/


提心吊膽

to carry the heart and hang the gallbladder

ㄊㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄢˇ

тисиньдяодань

/tʰi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐi̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³ taːm³⁵/

/tʰe²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiau²¹⁻⁵³ tã⁵³/

/tʰe²⁴⁻²² sim³³ tiau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tã⁵⁵⁴/

/tʰe¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiau²¹⁻⁵³ tã⁵³/

/tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ tã⁵³/

/tʰe²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ tã⁴¹/

/tʰi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐi̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³ taːm³⁵/

/tʰe²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiau²¹⁻⁵³ tã⁵³/

/tʰe²⁴⁻²² sim³³ tiau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tã⁵⁵⁴/

/tʰe¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiau²¹⁻⁵³ tã⁵³/

/tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ tã⁵³/

/tʰe²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ tã⁴¹/

to be on tenterhooks; to be scared or jittery; to be in constant fear


無情無義

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄧˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ i⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²²/

/mo¹¹ t͡sʰin¹¹ mo¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² ɡi²²/

/bo¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² ɡi²²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ ɡi³³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ t͡seŋ²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ ɡi²²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² ɡi⁴¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ i⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²²/

/mo¹¹ t͡sʰin¹¹ mo¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² ɡi²²/

/bo¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² ɡi²²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ ɡi³³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ t͡seŋ²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ ɡi²²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² ɡi⁴¹/


急流勇退

ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄩㄥˇ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ jʊŋ¹³ tʰɵy̯³³/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ jʊŋ¹³ tʰɵy̯³³/

山口百惠的急流勇退 [MSC, trad. and simp.]
Shānkǒu Bǎihuì de jíliúyǒngtuì [Pinyin]
Momoe Yamaguchi's retirement at the height of her career

withdrawing (receding, drawing back) while ahead (often so as to avoid disaster, etc.)


無微不至

ㄨˊ ㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˋ

ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˋ

/u³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ mei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

/u³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ mei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/


美輪美奐

ㄇㄟˇ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

ㄇㄟˇ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

мэйлуньмэйхуань

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ən³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än⁵¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lun²⁴⁻²² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²¹/

/bi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lun²⁴⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huan⁴¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lun¹³⁻²² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lun²⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan¹¹/

/bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lun²³⁻³³ bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²¹/

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ən³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än⁵¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lun²⁴⁻²² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²¹/

/bi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lun²⁴⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huan⁴¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lun¹³⁻²² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lun²⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan¹¹/

/bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lun²³⁻³³ bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²¹/

From the Book of Rites, Book 4 (《禮記·檀弓下》):
:
晉獻文子成室，晉大夫發焉。張老曰：「美哉輪焉！美哉奐焉！拌於斯，哭於斯，聚國族於斯。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]晋献文子成室，晋大夫发焉。张老曰：「美哉轮焉！美哉奂焉！拌于斯，哭于斯，聚国族于斯。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jìn xiàn Wénzǐ chéng shì, Jìn dàfū fā yān. Zhāng Lǎo yuē: “Měi zāi lún yān! Měi zāi huàn yān! Bàn yú sī, kū yú sī, jù guózú yú sī.” [Pinyin]
(The ruler of) Jin having congratulated Wen-zi on the completion of his residence, the Great officers of the state went to the house-warming. Zhang Lao said, "How elegant it is, and lofty! How elegant and splendid! Here will you have your songs! Here will you have your wailings! Here will you assemble the representatives of the great families of the state!"

^晉 獻 @^文子 成 室，^晉 大夫 發 焉。@^張.^老 曰：「@美 哉 @輪 焉！@美 哉 @奐 焉！拌 於 斯，哭 於 斯，聚 國族 於 斯。」

美轮美奂
美侖美奐
美奐美輪

splendid and magnificent houses; sumptuous mansion; spectacular; magnificent


人情世故

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄕˋ ㄍㄨˋ

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯³³ kuː³³/

/lin²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ²¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² se⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔ⁴¹/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯³³ kuː³³/

/lin²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ²¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² se⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔ⁴¹/

the ways of the world; traditional code of conduct; worldly wisdom


是非分明

ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄈㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

шифэйфэньмин

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/


是非顛倒

ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ

шифэйдяньдао

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


是非不分

ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

to be unable to distinguish right and wrong


上天無路，入地無門

there is no road to heaven and no door into the earth

ㄕㄤˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄖㄨˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄇㄣˊ

soeng⁵ tin¹ mou⁴ lou⁶, jap⁶ dei⁶ mou⁴ mun⁴

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ u³⁵ mən³⁵/

séuhng tīn mòuh louh, yahp deih mòuh mùhn

soeng⁵ tin¹ mou⁴ lou⁶, jap⁹ dei⁶ mou⁴ mun⁴

sêng⁵ tin¹ mou⁴ lou⁶, yeb⁶ déi⁶ mou⁴ mun⁴

/sœːŋ¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ lou̯²² jɐp̚² tei̯²² mou̯²¹ muːn²¹/

no way of escape; in desperate straits; in a desperate situation; at the end of the line


是非曲直

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

right and wrong; proper and improper; truth and falsehood


是非黑白

ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄏㄟ ㄅㄞˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵ paːk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

/siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵ paːk̚²/


上上大吉

ㄕㄤˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sœːŋ²² sœːŋ²² taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sœːŋ²² sœːŋ²² taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

most auspicious (a phrase usually used in divination)


上氣不接下氣

ㄕㄤˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧˋ

шанци бу цзе сяци

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/sœːŋ²² hei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːp̚³ haː²² hei̯³³/


上行下效

ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ²² hɐŋ²¹ haː²² haːu̯²²/

/siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ hau²²/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ²² hɐŋ²¹ haː²² haːu̯²²/

/siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ hau²²/

(originally derogatory) subordinates follow the example of their superiors


安如磐石

ㄢ ㄖㄨˊ ㄆㄢˊ ㄕˊ

/ˀän⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ pʰän³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ pʰuːn²¹ sɛːk̚²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ pʰän³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ pʰuːn²¹ sɛːk̚²/


藹然可親

ㄞˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄣ

айжанькэцинь

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/ɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/ɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/


上竄下跳

ㄕㄤˋ ㄘㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄧㄠˋ

шанцуаньсятяо

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn³³ haː²² tʰiːu̯³³/

/sœːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn³³ haː²² tʰiːu̯³³/


哀鴻遍野

ㄞ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/ai³³⁻²³ hoŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ piaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵²⁻²¹/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/ai³³⁻²³ hoŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ piaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵²⁻²¹/

a land of wailing and despair; land swarming with disaster victims; disaster victims moaning everywhere


鞍馬勞頓

ㄢ ㄇㄚˇ ㄌㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄣˋ

аньмалаодунь

/ˀän⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ lou̯²¹ tɵn²²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ lou̯²¹ tɵn²²/

to be travel-worn; to be fatigued by a long journey


難言之隱

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄧㄣˇ

наньяньчжиинь

/nän³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn³⁵/

/nän³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn³⁵/

something too embarrassing to mention; an embarrassing illness


安土重遷

ㄢ ㄊㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄢ

аньтучжунцянь

/ˀän⁵⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

/on²⁴ tʰu³¹ t͡sʰuŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯en²⁴/

/ˀän⁵⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

/on²⁴ tʰu³¹ t͡sʰuŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯en²⁴/

安土重遷，黎民之性；骨肉相附，人情所願也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
安土重迁，黎民之性；骨肉相附，人情所愿也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE

Āntǔzhòngqiān, límín zhī xìng; gǔròu xiàng fù, rénqíng suǒ yuàn yě. [Pinyin]

to hate to leave one's native land or where one has lived long; to love one's homeland and not wish to leave it


不可收拾

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄡ ㄕˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄡ ˙ㄕ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻²² sip̚³²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siu³³ sip̚⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻²² sip̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ sip̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ sip̚³²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻²² sip̚³²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siu³³ sip̚⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻²² sip̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ sip̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ sip̚³²/

irremediable; unsalvageable; unmanageable; out of hand


蜜餞砒霜

ㄇㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄆㄧ ㄕㄨㄤ

мицзяньпишуан

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pʰi⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐt̚² t͡siːn³³ pʰei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/miʔ⁵⁻²¹ t͡sieŋ²¹³⁽⁻²¹⁾ pʰie⁵⁵ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾louŋ⁵⁵/

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pʰi⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐt̚² t͡siːn³³ pʰei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

sugarcoated poison; the flattering words of a vicious person


愛屋及烏

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ u⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ u⁵⁵/

/ɔːi̯³³ ʊk̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² wuː⁵⁵/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kip̚⁴⁻³² ɔ⁴⁴/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ u⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ u⁵⁵/

/ɔːi̯³³ ʊk̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² wuː⁵⁵/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔk̚³²⁻⁴ kip̚⁴⁻³² ɔ⁴⁴/

From Shangshu Dazhuan (《尚書大傳》):
:
愛人者，兼其屋上之烏。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]爱人者，兼其屋上之乌。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Ài rén zhě, jiān qí wū shàng zhī wū. [Pinyin]
One who loves someone also loves the crow on his roof.

愛 人 者，兼 其 屋 上 之 烏。

love me, love my dog; love for a person extends even to the crows on his roof; involvement with somebody and everyone connected


哀兵必勝

ㄞ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄧˋ ㄕㄥˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ sɪŋ³³/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ sɪŋ³³/

an army burning with indignation is bound to win


涇渭分明

to be as different as the waters of the (muddy)Jing and the (limpid) Wei

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзинвэйфэньмин

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² fɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² fɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

to be entirely different; to be completely distinct (right and wrong; good and bad)


深入淺出

ㄕㄣ ㄖㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄔㄨ

шэньжуцяньчу

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻³³ zip̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰiɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²/

/t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻²² d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²/

/t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻³³ lip̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰiɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²/

/t͡sʰim³³ lip̚²⁴⁻² t͡sʰiɛn⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰut̚⁵/

/t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻²² lip̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰiɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

to explain a complex matter using simple language; simple and easy to understand; explaining in simple terms despite being immensely knowledgeable


口誅筆伐

ㄎㄡˇ ㄓㄨ ㄅㄧˇ ㄈㄚˊ

ㄎㄡˇ ㄓㄨ ㄅㄧˇ ㄈㄚ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä³⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚²/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä³⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚²/

to condemn in speech and writing; to denounce by word and pen


混淆視聽

ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄠˊ ㄕˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄕˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

ㄏㄨㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˊ ㄕˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

хуньсяошитин

/xu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐn²² ŋaːu̯²¹ siː²² tʰɪŋ³³/

/wɐn²² ŋaːu̯²¹ siː²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐn²² ŋaːu̯²¹ siː²² tʰɪŋ³³/

/wɐn²² ŋaːu̯²¹ siː²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

to mislead the public with prevarication and deliberate falsehoods; to obscure the facts


五顏六色

ㄨˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ ŋaːn²¹ lʊk̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡan²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪk̚³²/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡan²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪk̚³²/

/ŋ̍²² ŋe⁵⁵ loʔ³³ səʔ²¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ ŋaːn²¹ lʊk̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡan²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪk̚³²/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡan²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪk̚³²/

/ŋ̍²² ŋe⁵⁵ loʔ³³ səʔ²¹/

multicoloured; colourful; variegated; of many colors


天花亂墜

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄟˋ

тяньхуалуаньчжуй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ lyːn²² t͡sɵy̯²²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ lyːn²² t͡sɵy̯²²/

Originally referring to a Buddhist priest expounding the Buddhist sutras, so flawless and persuasive that it moved the god of heaven, leading to a deluge of heavenly flowers.

他把手中保健品的功效說得天花亂墜。 [MSC, trad.]
他把手中保健品的功效说得天花乱坠。 [MSC, simp.]

He talked the legs off an iron chair to advertise for the healthcare product in his hands.

Tā bǎ shǒu zhōng bǎojiànpǐn de gōngxiào shuō de tiānhuāluànzhuì. [Pinyin]

(derogatory) wild boast about something; extravagant embellishments; hype


上諂下驕

ㄕㄤˋ ㄔㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄠ

шанчаньсяцзяо

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ²² t͡sʰiːm³⁵ haː²² kiːu̯⁵⁵/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ²² t͡sʰiːm³⁵ haː²² kiːu̯⁵⁵/

obsequious towards one's superiors and arrogant towards one's inferiors


上不著天，下不著地

ㄕㄤˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄉㄧˋ

soeng⁶ bat¹ zoek⁶ tin¹, haa⁶ bat¹ zoek⁶ dei⁶

шанбучжаотянь

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

seuhng bāt jeuhk tīn, hah bāt jeuhk deih

soeng⁶ bat⁷ dzoek⁹ tin¹, haa⁶ bat⁷ dzoek⁹ dei⁶

sêng⁶ bed¹ zêg⁶ tin¹, ha⁶ bed¹ zêg⁶ déi⁶

/sœːŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² tei̯²²/


懸崖絕壁

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄧˋ

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄧㄞˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄧˋ

сюаньяцзюэби

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jä³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

сюаньяйцзюэби

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ ŋaːi̯²¹ t͡syːt̚² pɪk̚⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jä³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ ŋaːi̯²¹ t͡syːt̚² pɪk̚⁵/

sheer precipices and overhanging rocks; perilous cliffs and precipices


懸崖峭壁

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄧˋ

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄧㄞˊ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

сюаньяйцяоби

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ ŋaːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯³³ pɪk̚⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ ŋaːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯³³ pɪk̚⁵/


懸崖勒馬

to rein in the horse at the edge of the precipice

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄇㄚˇ

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄧㄞˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄇㄚˇ

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jä³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jaɪ̯³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn²¹ ŋaːi̯²¹ lɐk̚² maː¹³/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡai²⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴⁻³² mã⁵³/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jä³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jaɪ̯³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn²¹ ŋaːi̯²¹ lɐk̚² maː¹³/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡai²⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴⁻³² mã⁵³/

to desist from doing something before it is too late; to pull back before it is too late


阿諛奉承

ㄜ ㄩˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄔㄥˊ

/ˀɤ⁵⁵ y³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/ɔː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fʊŋ²² sɪŋ²¹/

/ˀɤ⁵⁵ y³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/ɔː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fʊŋ²² sɪŋ²¹/


大江南北

north and south sides of the great (Yangtze) river

ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ

дацзяннаньбэй

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² kɔːŋ⁵⁵ naːm²¹ pɐk̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² kɔːŋ⁵⁵ naːm²¹ pɐk̚⁵/


撫養成人

ㄈㄨˇ ㄧㄤˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/


扼喉撫背

to strangle the front and press the back

ㄜˋ ㄏㄡˊ ㄈㄨˇ ㄅㄟˋ

/ˀɤ⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/aːk̚⁵ hɐu̯²¹ fuː³⁵ puːi̯³³/

/ˀɤ⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/aːk̚⁵ hɐu̯²¹ fuː³⁵ puːi̯³³/

to hold the best strategic positions which will render the enemy helpless; to occupy all military key points


撫躬自問

ㄈㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄨㄣˋ

фугунцзывэнь

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ bun²²/

/bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ bun²²/

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ bun²²/

/bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ bun²²/

to perform self-examination; to examine one's conscience; to examine oneself


撫今追昔

ㄈㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄒㄧ

ㄈㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄒㄧˊ

фуцзиньчжуйси

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kim⁴⁴⁻²² tui⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²/

/bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kim⁴⁴⁻²² tui⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²/

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kim⁴⁴⁻²² tui⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²/

/bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kim⁴⁴⁻²² tui⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²/

to contemplate the present and recall the past with emotion; to recall the past and compare it with the present


東西南北

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ

дунсинаньбэй

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ naːm²¹ pɐk̚⁵/

/tuŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ si²⁴ nam¹¹ pet̚²/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ naːm²¹ pɐk̚⁵/

/tuŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ si²⁴ nam¹¹ pet̚²/

east, west, south and north; everywhere; all corners of the world


憶昔撫今

ㄧˋ ㄒㄧ ㄈㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ

ㄧˋ ㄒㄧˊ ㄈㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ

/i⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ fuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ fuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

to recall the past and compare it with the present; to reflect on the past in light of the present


酸甜苦辣鹹

ㄙㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

суаньтянькуласянь

/su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/syːn⁵⁵ tʰiːm²¹ fuː³⁵ laːt̚² haːm²¹/

/syːn⁵⁵ tʰiːm²¹ fuː³⁵ laːt̚² haːm²¹/

酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣#Chinese


失魂落魄

ㄕ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄆㄛˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ wɐn²¹ lɔːk̚² pʰaːk̚³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ wɐn²¹ lɔːk̚² pʰaːk̚³/

driven to distraction
driven to distraction

driven to distraction; panic-stricken; to lose one's wits


喜怒哀樂

ㄒㄧˇ ㄋㄨˋ ㄞ ㄌㄜˋ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nu⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ nou̯²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nu⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ nou̯²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

From the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) in the Book of Rites:
:
喜怒哀樂之未發，謂之中；發而皆中節，謂之和；中也者，天下之大本也；和也者，天下之達道也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]喜怒哀乐之未发，谓之中；发而皆中节，谓之和；中也者，天下之大本也；和也者，天下之达道也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Xǐ nù āi lè zhī wèi fā, wèi zhī zhōng; fā ér jiē zhòng jié, wèi zhī hé; zhōng yě zhě, tiānxià zhī dà běn yě; hé yě zhě, tiānxià zhī dá dào yě. [Pinyin]
While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium. When those feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there ensues what may be called the state of Harmony. This Equilibrium is the great root from which grow all the human actings in the world, and this Harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue.

喜.怒.哀.樂{lè} 之 未 發，謂 之 中；發 而 皆 中{zhòng} 節，謂 之 和；中 也 者，天下 之 大 本 也；和 也 者，天下 之 達 道 也。

happiness, anger, sorrow and joy; the emotions of life


形同陌路

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ mɐk̚² lou̯²²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ mɐk̚² lou̯²²/

to treat each other as passers-by; to act as if they are strangers


生老病死

ja-r

しょう%ろう%びょう%し

CJKV/code

しょう%ろう%びょう%し

Sino-Xenic (生老病死):
* → Japanese: 生(しょう)老(ろう)病(びょう)死(し) (shōrōbyōshi)
* → Korean: 생로병사(生老病死) (saengnobyeongsa)
* → Vietnamese: sinh lão bệnh tử (生老病死)

CJKV

しょう%ろう%びょう%し

ㄕㄥ ㄌㄠˇ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄙˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ pɛːŋ²² sei̯³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ pɛːŋ²² sei̯³⁵/

From the four sights of human existence encountered by the young Buddha, which motivated his desire to end human suffering.

(originally Buddhism) to be born, to get old, to become ill and to die; fate of humankind; mortality


你死我活

ㄋㄧˇ ㄙˇ ㄨㄛˇ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

/ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ sei̯³⁵ ŋɔː¹³ wuːt̚²/

/ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ sei̯³⁵ ŋɔː¹³ wuːt̚²/

拼個你死我活／拼个你死我活

irreconcilable adversaries; two parties cannot coexist


人生如夢

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄥˋ

жэньшэнжумэн

žɛnʹšɛnžumɛn

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ mʊŋ²²/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ mʊŋ²²/


漁夫之利

/y³⁵ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

/y³⁵ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

漁人之利 漁人之利#Chinese

渔人之利 渔人之利#Chinese

Synonym of 漁人之利／渔人之利 (yúrénzhīlì, “the benefits reaped by a third party when two sides quarrel”)


並行不悖

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄟˋ

/piŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɪŋ²² hɐŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ puːi̯²²/

/piŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɪŋ²² hɐŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ puːi̯²²/


燙手山芋

ㄊㄤˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄕㄢ ㄩˋ

таншоу шаньюй

/tʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/tʰɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ saːn⁵⁵ wuː²²/

/tʰŋ̍²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻²² ɔ²²/

/tʰŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ suã³³ ɔ⁴¹/

/tʰŋ̍²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻²² ɔ²²/

/tʰŋ̍¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ɔ³³/

/tʰŋ̍²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ɔ³³/

/tʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/tʰɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ saːn⁵⁵ wuː²²/

/tʰŋ̍²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻²² ɔ²²/

/tʰŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ suã³³ ɔ⁴¹/

/tʰŋ̍²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻²² ɔ²²/

/tʰŋ̍¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ɔ³³/

/tʰŋ̍²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ɔ³³/

hot potato (awkward or delicate problem)


板上釘釘

ㄅㄢˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄉㄧㄥ

баньшандиндин

/pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

ㄅㄢˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄉㄧㄥㄦ

баньшандиндинр

/pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ tiɤ̯̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/paːn³⁵ sœːŋ²² tɛːŋ⁵⁵ tɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ tiɤ̯̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/paːn³⁵ sœːŋ²² tɛːŋ⁵⁵ tɛːŋ⁵⁵/


梟首示眾

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

сяошоу шичжун

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ siː²² t͡sʊŋ³³/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ siː²² t͡sʊŋ³³/

to behead somebody and display the head in public; to cut of a person's head and hang it up as a warning to all


妄自尊大

ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄉㄚˋ

ванцзыцзуньда

/wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː²² t͡syːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²²/

/wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː²² t͡syːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²²/

我們的許多同志，喜歡對黨外人員妄自尊大，看人家不起，藐視人家，而不願尊重人家，不願了解人家的長處。 [MSC, trad.]
我们的许多同志，喜欢对党外人员妄自尊大，看人家不起，藐视人家，而不愿尊重人家，不愿了解人家的长处。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《整頓黨的作風》 (Rectify the Party's Style of Work), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Many of our comrades tend to be overbearing in their relations with non-Party people, look down upon them, despise or refuse to respect them or appreciate their strong points.

Wǒmen de xǔduō tóngzhì, xǐhuan duì dǎngwài rényuán wàngzìzūndà, kàn rénjia bùqǐ, miǎoshì rénjia, ér bù yuàn zūnzhòng rénjia, bù yuàn liǎojiě rénjia de chángchù. [Pinyin]

to be arrogant; to be self-important; to suffer from megalomania


鋪天蓋地

ㄆㄨ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄞˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/pʰu⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/pʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːi̯³³ tei̯²²/

/pʰu⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/pʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːi̯³³ tei̯²²/

to flood in; earth-shattering; to be omnipresent; everywhere


來龍去脈

ㄌㄞˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄑㄩˋ ㄇㄞˋ

ㄌㄞˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄑㄩˋ ㄇㄛˋ

лайлунцюймай

/laɪ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/laɪ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ lʊŋ²¹ hɵy̯³³ mɐk̚²/

/laɪ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/laɪ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ lʊŋ²¹ hɵy̯³³ mɐk̚²/

In fengshui terminology, 龍脈／龙脉 (lóngmài) refers to a stretch of rolling hills, the start and end points of which are termed 來龍／来龙 and 去脈／去脉, respectively.

zh-l

龍脈／龙脉 (lóngmài)

(figurative) origin and development; the entire process; sequence of events; ins and outs


虎視眈眈

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (虎視眈眈):
* → Japanese: 虎視眈眈(こしたんたん) (koshitantan)
* → Korean: 호시탐탐(虎視眈眈) (hositamtam)
* → Vietnamese: hổ thị đam đam (虎視眈眈)

ㄏㄨˇ ㄕˋ ㄉㄢ ㄉㄢ

хушиданьдань

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ tän⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ siː²² taːm⁵⁵ taːm⁵⁵/

/hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ tam⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁴⁴/

/hɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² tam³³ tam³³/

/hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ tam⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁴⁴/

/hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ tam⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴⁴/

/hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ tam⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴⁴/

/hõũ⁵²⁻³⁵ si³⁵⁻¹¹ tam³³⁻²³ tam³³/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ tän⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ siː²² taːm⁵⁵ taːm⁵⁵/

/hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ tam⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁴⁴/

/hɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² tam³³ tam³³/

/hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ tam⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁴⁴/

/hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ tam⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴⁴/

/hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ tam⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴⁴/

/hõũ⁵²⁻³⁵ si³⁵⁻¹¹ tam³³⁻²³ tam³³/

From I Ching, Hexagram 27 (《易经·頤卦》):
:
六四：顛頤，吉，虎視眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]六四：颠颐，吉，虎视眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Liùsì: diān yí, jí, hǔshì dāndān, qí yù zhúzhú, wú jiù. [Pinyin]
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one looking downwards for (the power to) nourish. There will be good fortune. Looking with a tiger's downward unwavering glare, and with his desire that impels him to spring after spring, he will fall into no error.

zh-x

六四：顛 頤，吉，虎視.眈眈，其 欲 逐-逐，无 咎。

to glare like a tiger watching its prey; to glare at with fierceness; to keep a vigilant eye on; to eye covetously

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 27


僧多粥少

ㄙㄥ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄡ ㄕㄠˇ

сэндочжоушао

/sɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ siau⁴¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ siau⁵³/

/sɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

not enough to go around; having demands exceeding supply


靡靡之音

ㄇㄧˇ ㄇㄧˇ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mei̯¹³ mei̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mei̯¹³ mei̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

From Han Feizi, Chapter 10 (《韓非子·十過》):
:
未終，師曠撫止之，曰：「此亡國之聲，不可遂也。」平公曰：「此道奚出？」師曠曰：「此師延之所作，與紂為靡靡之樂也，及武王伐紂，師延東走，至於濮水而自投，故聞此聲者必於濮水之上。先聞此聲者其國必削，不可遂。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]未终，师旷抚止之，曰：「此亡国之声，不可遂也。」平公曰：「此道奚出？」师旷曰：「此师延之所作，与纣为靡靡之乐也，及武王伐纣，师延东走，至于濮水而自投，故闻此声者必于濮水之上。先闻此声者其国必削，不可遂。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Wèi zhōng, shī Kuàng fǔ zhǐ zhī, yuē: “Cǐ wángguó zhī shēng, bùkě suì yě.” Píng gōng yuē: “Cǐ dào xī chū?” Shī Kuàng yuē: “Cǐ shī Yán zhī suǒ zuò, yǔ Zhòu wéi mǐmǐ zhī yuè yě, jí Wǔ wáng fá Zhòu, shī Yán dōng zǒu, zhì yú Pú shuǐ ér zì tóu, gù wén cǐ shēng zhě bì yú Pú shuǐ zhī shàng. Xiān wén cǐ shēng zhě qí guó bì xuē, bùkě suì.” [Pinyin]
Before the performance was finished, Musician Kuang (師曠) held down his hands and stopped the music, saying, "This is a state-ruining piece of music, which should not be performed to its end." "Where does this music come from? Do you know?" asked Duke Ping. "This was composed by Musician Yen," replied Musician Kuang, "and presented to King Zhou. It was a piece of frivolous music. When King Wu attacked Zhou, Musician Yen ran eastward as far as the Pu Water, where he drowned himself. Therefore, this music has been heard only by the Pu Water. At any rate, whoever hears this music performed, is bound to see his native soil dismembered. Its performance, therefore, should not be completed."

未 終，師 @^曠 撫 止 之，曰：「此 亡國 之 聲，不可 遂 也。」^平 公 曰：「此 道 奚 出？」@^師.^曠 曰：「此 師 @^延 之 所 作，與 ^@紂 為{wéi} @靡靡 @之 樂 也，及 ^@武 王 伐 ^@紂，師 @^延 東 走，至 於 @^濮 水 而 自 投，故 聞 此 聲 者 必 於 @^濮 水 之 上。先 聞 此 聲 者 其 國 必 削，不可 遂。」

decadent or obscene music; cheap, low-class tunes; popular music

Duke Ping of Jin
Han Feizi
King Wu of Zhou
King Zhou of Shang
zh:師曠


落手落腳

/lɔːk̚² sɐu̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² kœːk̚³/

/lɔːk̚² sɐu̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² kœːk̚³/

get one's hands dirty
get one's hands dirty

(Cantonese) to get one's hands dirty; to involve oneself in doing work


碌碌無為

ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/lʊk̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/lʊk̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

seemingly always on the run, but actually achieving nothing; to lead a busy, but vain and humdrum life; plodding hard but accomplishing little of significance


債務累累

ㄓㄞˋ ㄨˋ ㄌㄟˇ ㄌㄟˇ

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡saːi̯³³ mou̯²² lɵy̯²¹ lɵy̯²¹/

/t͡saːi̯³³ mou̯²² lɵy̯²¹ lɵy̯²¹/


大智若愚

ㄉㄚˋ ㄓˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄩˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² jyː²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² jyː²¹/

having great intelligence but appearing foolish; a man of great wisdom appearing slow-witted


混淆是非

ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄠˊ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

ㄏㄨㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˊ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

хуньсяо шифэй

/xu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

хуньяо шифэй

/xu̯ən⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wɐn²² ŋaːu̯²¹ siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wɐn²² ŋaːu̯²¹ siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/


千辛萬苦

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨㄢˋ ㄎㄨˇ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨㄢˋ ㄎㄨˇ

цяньсиньваньку

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ uan²¹³ kʰu⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ maːn²² fuː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁴² ɕin⁴² uan¹¹ kʰu²¹³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ kʰu³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² ban²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɛn³³ sin³³ ban⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² ban²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ ban³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ sin³³ u̯an⁴⁵ kʰu⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ ɕin³³ u̯an⁴⁵ kʰu⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ uan²¹³ kʰu⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ maːn²² fuː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁴² ɕin⁴² uan¹¹ kʰu²¹³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ kʰu³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² ban²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɛn³³ sin³³ ban⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² ban²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ ban³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ sin³³ u̯an⁴⁵ kʰu⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ ɕin³³ u̯an⁴⁵ kʰu⁴¹/

不容易深切了解我國人民曾經怎樣經歷千辛萬苦的鬥爭才擺脫了帝國主義和國民黨反動派的壓迫 [MSC, trad.]
不容易深切了解我国人民曾经怎样经历千辛万苦的斗争才摆脱了帝国主义和国民党反动派的压迫 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1957, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《關於正確處理人民內部矛盾的問題》 (On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

it is not easy for them thoroughly to comprehend the hardships our people went through in the struggle to free themselves from the oppression of the imperialists and Kuomintang reactionaries

bù róngyì shēnqiè liǎojiě wǒguó rénmín céngjīng zěnyàng jīnglì qiānxīnwànkǔ de dòuzhēng cái bǎituō le dìguó zhǔyì hé Guómíndǎng fǎndòngpài de yāpò [Pinyin]

trials and tribulations
trials and tribulations

suffering untold hardships; trials and tribulations


身外之物

/ʂən⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

錢乃身外之物。／钱乃身外之物。

mere worldly possessions; things external to one's life


之乎者也

ㄓ ㄏㄨ ㄓㄜˇ ㄧㄝˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ fuː²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ jaː¹³/

/t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ hu¹¹ t͡sia⁵²⁻³⁵ ia⁵²⁻²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ hu³³ t͡se³³ ɦie²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ fuː²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ jaː¹³/

/t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ hu¹¹ t͡sia⁵²⁻³⁵ ia⁵²⁻²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ hu³³ t͡se³³ ɦie²¹/

The four common particles in Classical Chinese.

他對人說話，總是滿口之乎者也，教人半懂不懂的。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
他对人说话，总是满口之乎者也，教人半懂不懂的。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 魯迅 Lu Xun, 《孔乙己》 Kung I-chi, 1919; translation by Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang.

He used so many archaisms in his speech, it was impossible to understand half he said.

Tā duìrén shuōhuà, zǒngshì mǎnkǒu zhīhūzhěyě, jiào rén bàn dǒng bùdǒng de. [Pinyin]

(metonymically) unintelligible speech or article filled with archaisms; pedantic expressions; grandiloquent speech; semi-incomprehensible talk


我行我素

ㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄙㄨˋ

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ hɐŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ sou̯³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ²¹/

/ɡua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²³⁻³³ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ²¹/

/ɡua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ¹¹/

uá kiâⁿ uá sù

/ua⁵² kĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ua⁵²⁻³⁵ su²¹³/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ hɐŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ sou̯³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ²¹/

/ɡua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²³⁻³³ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ²¹/

/ɡua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ¹¹/

/ua⁵² kĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ua⁵²⁻³⁵ su²¹³/

to persist in one's old ways; to continue in one's own way no matter what others say


屢教不改

ㄌㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄞˇ

люйцзяобугай

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯¹³ kaːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːi̯³⁵/

/lɵy̯¹³ kaːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːi̯³⁵/

佢屢教不改㗎，明明識禮貌都唔守。 [Cantonese, trad.]
佢屡教不改㗎，明明识礼貌都唔守。 [Cantonese, simp.]

He does wrong after being taught many times; he knows politeness rules, but he doesn't follow them anyway.

keoi⁵ leoi⁵ gaau³ bat¹ goi² gaa³, ming⁴ ming⁴ sik¹ lai⁵ maau⁶ dou¹ m⁴ sau². [Jyutping]

犯錯誤的人，除了極少數堅持錯誤、屢教不改的以外，大多數是可以改正的。 [MSC, trad.]
犯错误的人，除了极少数坚持错误、屡教不改的以外，大多数是可以改正的。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1956, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論十大關係》 (On the Ten Major Relationships), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Except for a few who cling to their mistakes and fail to mend their ways after repeated admonition, the majority of those who have erred can correct their mistakes.

Fàn cuòwù de rén, chúle jíshǎoshù jiānchí cuòwù, lǚjiàobùgǎi de yǐwài, dàduōshù shì kěyǐ gǎizhèng de. [Pinyin]

to have been taught many times, but still do wrong anyway; to be incorrigible


春意闌珊

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄧˋ ㄌㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

чуньиланьшань

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ i⁵¹ län³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːn²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ i⁵¹ län³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːn²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

簾外雨潺潺，春意闌珊。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
帘外雨潺潺，春意阑珊。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: c. 978, Li Yu, 《浪淘沙令·簾外雨潺潺》, translated by Xu Yuanchong

The curtain cannot keep out the patter of rain; Springtime is on the wane.

Lián wài yǔ chánchán, chūnyìlánshān. [Pinyin]


四方八面

ㄙˋ ㄈㄤ ㄅㄚ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

/sz̩⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːt̚³ miːn²²/

/si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ huoŋ⁵⁵⁽⁻²¹⁾ pɛiʔ²⁴⁻⁵⁵ miɛŋ²⁴²/

/sz̩⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːt̚³ miːn²²/

四面八方 四面八方#Chinese

Synonym of 四面八方 (sìmiànbāfāng, “in all directions; all around; far and near”)


世外桃源

ㄕˋ ㄨㄞˋ ㄊㄠˊ ㄩㄢˊ

шивайтаоюань

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ ŋɔːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ jyːn²¹/

/se²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡua³³⁻²¹ tʰɤ²³⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/se¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ tʰo²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡuan²⁴/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ ŋɔːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ jyːn²¹/

/se²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡua³³⁻²¹ tʰɤ²³⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/se¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ tʰo²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡuan²⁴/

Based on The Peach Blossom Spring (《桃花源記》) by Tao Yuanming (陶淵明).

沒有派對的日子，帕安島十分寧靜，像與世隔絕般的世外桃源，吸引了一批以靈修、瑜珈過活的年輕人移居此地，開班授徒。就連泰皇都被這世外桃源吸引 [MSC, trad.]
没有派对的日子，帕安岛十分宁静，像与世隔绝般的世外桃源，吸引了一批以灵修、瑜珈过活的年轻人移居此地，开班授徒。就连泰皇都被这世外桃源吸引 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2009, 談齊好, 《至smart遊14：蘇梅》, page 258

On days when there are no parties, Koh Phangan is extremely serene, just like a utopia, separate from the world. It has attracted a group of young people who live engaging in spirituality and yoga to move here, set up classes and teach students. Even the Thai emperor has been attracted by this utopia

Méiyǒu pàiduì de rìzǐ, Pà'ān Dǎo shífēn níngjìng, xiàng yǔshìgéjué bān de shìwàitáoyuán, xīyǐn le yī pī yǐ língxiū, yújiā guòhuó de niánqīngrén yíjū cǐdì, kāibān shòutú. Jiù lián tàihuáng dōu bèi zhè shìwàitáoyuán xīyǐn [Pinyin]

The Peach Blossom Land; Shangri-La; Arcadia; lotus land; utopia; unexpectedly fantastic place off the beaten path, usually an unspoiled wilderness of great beauty; land of idyllic beauty; fictitious land of peace; heaven of peace and happiness; retreat away from the turmoil of the world; place for taking refuge


樑上君子

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ

ляншанцзюньцзы

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ sœːŋ²² kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/liɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹/

/liɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³/

/liɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡su⁵³/

/liɔŋ²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ sœːŋ²² kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/liɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹/

/liɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³/

/liɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡su⁵³/

/liɔŋ²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹/

From a story in the Book of the Later Han.


窈窕淑女

ㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄨ ㄋㄩˇ

ㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄨˊ ㄋㄩˇ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miːu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯¹³ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/jiːu̯³⁵ tʰiːu̯¹³ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/iau⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰiau⁵²⁻³⁵ sok̚²⁻⁴ nɯŋ⁵²⁻²¹/

/miːu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯¹³ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/jiːu̯³⁵ tʰiːu̯¹³ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/iau⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰiau⁵²⁻³⁵ sok̚²⁻⁴ nɯŋ⁵²⁻²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 1 (《詩經·周南·關雎》):
:
窈窕淑女，君子好逑。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yǎotiǎo shūnǚ, jūnzǐ hǎoqiú. [Pinyin]
The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady:
For our prince a good mate she.

lang

(《詩經·周南·關雎》)

(《詩經·周南·關雎》)

zh-x

窈窕.淑女，君子 好逑。

因為在前邊領路的那位窈窕淑女明明很從容地就走過去了 [MSC, trad.]
因为在前边领路的那位窈窕淑女明明很从容地就走过去了 [MSC, simp.]

Because obviously that virtuous and beautiful girl who led the way ahead had walked past very calmly

Yīnwèi zài qiánbiān lǐnglù de nàwèi yǎotiǎoshūnǚ míngmíng hěn cóngróng de jiù zǒu guoqu le [Pinyin]


自吹自擂

ㄗˋ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄗˋ ㄌㄟˊ

цзычуйцзылэй

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ leɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lɵy̯²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ leɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lɵy̯²¹/

to toot one's own horn; to boast about oneself


事後諸葛亮

ㄕˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

ㄕˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

шихоу Чжугэ Лян

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/siː²² hɐu̯²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³ lœːŋ²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/siː²² hɐu̯²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³ lœːŋ²²/

twenty-twenty hindsight
twenty-twenty hindsight

expert in hindsight; twenty-twenty hindsight; to have pseudo-intellectual opinion after the fact but not before


胡攪蠻纏

ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄇㄢˊ ㄔㄢˊ

хуцзяоманьчань

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/wuː²¹ kaːu̯³⁵ maːn²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/wuː²¹ kaːu̯³⁵ maːn²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

to pester somebody endlessly; to be unreasonable; to plague somebody with unreasonable demands; to argue tediously and vexatiously