長命百歲

ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

чонминбыйсуй

ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

чанминбайсуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²⁴ miŋ⁴⁴ pei²⁴ suei⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɪŋ²² paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²⁴ miŋ⁴⁴ pei²⁴ suei⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɪŋ²² paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³/

live to be a hundred!; live a long life! (expressing good wishes, usually to a child or birthday greetings to older people)


一個二個

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ jiː²² kɔː³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ jiː²² kɔː³³/

(Cantonese, often derogatory) every one of you guys (or those guys); you guys


後知後覺

ㄏㄡˋ ㄓ ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

хоучжихоуцзюэ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³/

to only become aware of something after it has happened


一隻二隻

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jiː²² t͡sɛːk̚³/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jiː²² t͡sɛːk̚³/

(Cantonese, derogatory) every one of you guys (or those guys)


目空一切

ㄇㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ

/mu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³/

/mu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³/

to be very arrogant; to be very conceited


借古喻今

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цзегуюйцзинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ kuː³⁵ jyː²² kɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ kuː³⁵ jyː²² kɐm⁵⁵/

to allude to present events or figures by referencing historical events or figures


有樣學樣

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄧㄤˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ hɔːk̚² jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ hɔːk̚² jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

to imitate or copy and actions of another


日曬雨淋

ㄖˋ ㄕㄞˋ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧㄣˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² saːi̯³³ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² saːi̯³³ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

to be exposed to the sun and rain; to be exposed to the elements


群而不黨

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):
:
子曰：「君子矜而不爭，群而不黨。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「君子矜而不争，群而不党。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ jīn ér bù zhēng, qún ér bù dǎng.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "The superior man is dignified, but does not wrangle. He is sociable, but not a partisan."

zh-x

^子曰：「君子 矜 而 不 爭，群.而.不.黨。」

to get along well with others but not form a clique with others


改惡從善

ㄍㄞˇ ㄜˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄢˋ

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ ɔːk̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²²/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ ɔːk̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²²/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf

to stop doing evil and be a good person; to turn over a new leaf


名從主人

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

минцунчжужэнь

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

中國古代就有所謂「名從主人」的原則。一些古代韻書上的多音字甚至是專門為某些地名的當地讀音所設。如阿房宮的房在廣韻中就單有一個並母唐韻的一等讀音（同「旁」），和這個字一般情況下的讀音不一樣。 [MSC, trad.]
中国古代就有所谓「名从主人」的原则。一些古代韵书上的多音字甚至是专门为某些地名的当地读音所设。如阿房宫的房在广韵中就单有一个并母唐韵的一等读音（同「旁」），和这个字一般情况下的读音不一样。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhōngguó gǔdài jiù yǒu suǒwèi “míngcóngzhǔrén” de yuánzé. Yīxiē gǔdài yùnshū shàng de duōyīnzì shènzhì shì zhuānmén wèi mǒuxiē dìmíng de dāngdì dúyīn suǒ shè. Rú Ēfánggōng de fáng zài Guǎngyùn zhōng jiù dān yǒu yīge bìng mǔ táng yùn de yīděng dúyīn (tóng “páng”), hé zhège zì yībān qíngkuàng xià de dúyīn bùyīyàng. [Pinyin]
In ancient China, there was a principle called "the name follows its owner." Some ancient rhyme dictionaries even had multiple pronunciations for characters specifically for the local readings of certain place names. For example, in the 'Guangyun' dictionary, the character '房' in '阿房宫' (Epang Palace) had a unique pronunciation corresponding to the 'tang' rhyme in the 'bing' category, which is different from the general pronunciation of the character.

From: 2018 May 22, 汉语拼音60年｜乌鲁木齐、拉萨、呼和浩特的地名拼音, The Paper

按照名從主人的原則，我國也同意了韓國的請求，將漢城改為了首爾。 [MSC, trad.]
按照名从主人的原则，我国也同意了韩国的请求，将汉城改为了首尔。 [MSC, simp.]
In accordance with the principle of "the name follows its owner", our country (China) agreed to the request of South Korea, and changed the name Hànchéng to Shǒu'ěr.

From: 2020 Nov 12, 汉城名称变为首尔，韩国为什么只要求中国更改？

Ànzhào míngcóngzhǔrén de yuánzé, wǒguó yě tóngyì le Hánguó de qǐngqiú, jiāng Hànchéng gǎiwéi le Shǒu'ěr. [Pinyin]

to refer to something by the name its owner refers to it by


有頭有面

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²⁻³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) having fame and prestige; famous; respected


牙牙學語

ㄧㄚˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄩˇ

/jä³⁵ jä³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː²¹ ŋaː²¹ hɔːk̚² jyː¹³/

/jä³⁵ jä³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː²¹ ŋaː²¹ hɔːk̚² jyː¹³/

(of a baby) to babble out one's first words


飲飲食食

/jɐm³⁵ jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² sɪk̚²/

/jɐm³⁵ jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² sɪk̚²/

(Cantonese) to eat and drink (generally speaking); to wine and dine


金石絲竹

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄙ ㄓㄨˊ

цзиньшисычжу

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

(figuratively) all kinds of musical instruments


金石良言

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄢˊ

цзиньшилянъянь

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/


盜亦有道

ㄉㄠˋ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tou̯²² jɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ tou̯²²/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tou̯²² jɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ tou̯²²/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 10 (《莊子·胠篋》).
:
故跖之徒問於跖曰：「盜亦有道乎？」跖曰：「何適而无有道邪？夫妄意室中之藏，聖也；入先，勇也；出後，義也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。五者不備而能成大盜者，天下未之有也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]故跖之徒问于跖曰：「盗亦有道乎？」跖曰：「何适而无有道邪？夫妄意室中之藏，圣也；入先，勇也；出后，义也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。五者不备而能成大盗者，天下未之有也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translation from The Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu (2013), by Burton Watson
Gù Zhí zhī tú wèn yú Zhí yuē: “Dào yì yǒu dào hū?” Zhí yuē: “Hé shì ér wú yǒu dào yé? Fú wàng yì shì zhōng zhī cáng, shèng yě; rù xiān, yǒng yě; chū hòu, yì yě; zhī kěfǒu, zhì yě; fēn jūn, rén yě. Wǔ zhě bú bèi ér néng chéng dàdào zhě, tiānxià wèi zhī yǒu yě.” [Pinyin]
One of Robber Zhi’s followers once asked Zhi, "Does the thief, too, have a Way?" Zhi replied, "How could he get anywhere if he didn't have a Way? Making shrewd guesses as to how much booty is stashed away in the room is sageliness; being the first one in is bravery; being the last one out is righteousness; knowing whether or not the job can be pulled off is wisdom; dividing up the loot fairly is benevolence. No one in the world ever succeeded in becoming a great thief if he didn't have all five!"

故 ^跖 之 徒 問 於 ^跖 曰：「@盜 @亦 @有 @道 乎？」跖 曰：「何 適 而 无 有 道 邪{yé}？夫{fú} 妄 意 室 中 之 藏，聖 也；入 先，勇 也；出 後，義 也；知 可否，知{zhì} 也；分 均，仁 也。五 者 不{bú} 備 而 能 成 大盜 者，天下 未 之 有 也。」

even robbers and thieves have moral principles


巨細靡遺

ㄐㄩˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄇㄧˇ ㄧˊ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/kɵy̯²² sɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/kɵy̯²² sɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

to include and not omit both large and small matters; to omit neither large or small matters


花紅柳綠

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄩˋ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ lɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ lɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/


添磚加瓦

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄨㄚˇ

тяньчжуаньцзява

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

to contribute meagerly to a cause; to do one's bit


追本溯源

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄅㄣˇ ㄙㄨˋ ㄩㄢˊ

чжуйбэньсуюань

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ sou̯³³ jyːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ sou̯³³ jyːn²¹/

to trace to the source; to trace to the origin


臨危不亂

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

линьвэйбулуань

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

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]

to remain calm when faced with a dangerous situation


法力無邊

ㄈㄚˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄢ

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

to have boundless and enormous power (usually supernatural power)


分而治之

фэньэрчжичжи

fɛnʹerčžičži

/fən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

to divide and rule; to divide and conquer


恩威並施

/ˀən⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² siː⁵⁵/

/ˀən⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² siː⁵⁵/

to use carrots and sticks; to use grace and might simultaneously


方寸不亂

ㄈㄤ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

фанцуньбулуань

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/


血肉模糊

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wuː²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wuː²¹/

to be badly mangled or mutilated beyond recognition


意氣之爭

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/


投閒置散

ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄙㄢˇ

тоусяньчжисань

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ haːn²¹ t͡siː³³ saːn³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ haːn²¹ t͡siː³³ saːn³⁵/


殘兵敗將

ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

цаньбинбайцзян

/t͡sʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/


再生父母

ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² mou̯¹³/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² mou̯¹³/

另外，我還計劃給醫護人員送一面大大的錦旗。是他們把我從鬼門關裡拉回來，對我來講，他們就是我的再生父母。 [MSC, trad.]
另外，我还计划给医护人员送一面大大的锦旗。是他们把我从鬼门关里拉回来，对我来讲，他们就是我的再生父母。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2020 Feb 06, 离开武汉重症患者的自述：阎王没收我 要好好活下去, China News Service

Also, I plan to give a banner to the hospital staff. It was them who took me back from death's door; to me, they are my saviors.

Lìngwài, wǒ hái jìhuà gěi yīhù rényuán sòng yī miàn dà dà de jǐnqí. Shì tāmen bǎ wǒ cóng guǐménguān lǐ lā huílái, duì wǒ lái jiǎng, tāmen jiù shì wǒ de zàishēngfùmǔ. [Pinyin]

person that has extended great grace to someone else, particularly a person that has saved their life


罪該萬死

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄞ ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˇ

цзуйгайваньсы

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² kɔːi̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² kɔːi̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sei̯³⁵/


養家活口

ㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄎㄡˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵/

to support one's family financially; to provide for one's family


養家糊口

ㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨˊ ㄎㄡˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuː²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuː²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

to support one's family (often with the meaning of to barely manage to do so with one's meagre income)


以退為進

ㄧˇ ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

итуйвэйцзинь

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tʰɵy̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tʰɵy̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/


無以為繼

ㄨˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

生活無以為繼／生活无以为继

隨著美國貿易保護主義的興起，台灣地區製成品輸出美國受到衝擊，連帶也影響到上游原料供應的石化業。同時島內的環境保護意識逐漸興起，高污染的石化業常成為社會運動的抗爭對象。這些內外情勢的變遷都使得20世紀70年代被當局大力扶持的石化業無以為繼。 [MSC, trad.]
随着美国贸易保护主义的兴起，台湾地区制成品输出美国受到冲击，连带也影响到上游原料供应的石化业。同时岛内的环境保护意识逐渐兴起，高污染的石化业常成为社会运动的抗争对象。这些内外情势的变迁都使得20世纪70年代被当局大力扶持的石化业无以为继。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 黄宗昊, 林冈 (2015) “产业政策与金融: 台湾地区发展经验”, in 世界经济研究, number 9, →ISSN, page 109

Suízhe Měiguó màoyì bǎohùzhǔyì de xīngqǐ, Táiwān dìqū zhìchéngpǐn shūchū Měiguó shòudào chōngjī, liándài yě yǐngxiǎng dào shàngyóu yuánliào gōngyìng de shíhuàyè. Tóngshí dǎo nèi de huánjìng bǎohù yìshí zhújiàn xīngqǐ, gāo wūrǎn de shíhuàyè cháng chéngwéi shèhuì yùndòng de kàngzhēng duìxiàng. Zhèxiē nèiwài qíngshì de biànqiān dōu shǐdé 20 shìjì 70 niándài bèi dāngjú dàlì fúchí de shíhuàyè wúyǐwéijì. [Pinyin]

to have no way to continue; to not be able to be sustained


承前啟後

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнцяньцихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

to inherit the teachings of previous generations in order to inspire future actions


少見多怪

ㄕㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

шаоцзяньдогуай

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

to be easily surprised because of ignorance


不知去向

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄑㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³ hœːŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hiɔŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰu¹¹⁻⁵³ hiɔŋ¹¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³ hœːŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hiɔŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰu¹¹⁻⁵³ hiɔŋ¹¹/

to not know where someone or something went


分工合作

ㄈㄣ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

фэньгунхэцзо

/fən⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/fən⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

proper division of labor and co-ordination


不敢恭維

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟˊ

буганьгунвэй

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

to be not good; to not deserve a compliment


求神拜佛

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄈㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ paːi̯³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ paːi̯³³ fɐt̚²/

從公開的文字上看起來：兩年以前，我們總自誇著「地大物博」，是事實；不久就不再自誇了，只希望著國聯，也是事實；現在是既不誇自己，也不信國聯，改為一味求神拜佛，懷古傷今了——卻也是事實。 [MSC, trad.]
从公开的文字上看起来：两年以前，我们总自夸着「地大物博」，是事实；不久就不再自夸了，只希望著国联，也是事实；现在是既不夸自己，也不信国联，改为一味求神拜佛，怀古伤今了——却也是事实。 [MSC, simp.]
Cóng gōngkāi de wénzì shàng kàn qǐlái: liǎng nián yǐqián, wǒmen zǒng zìkuā zhe “dìdàwùbó”, shì shìshí; bùjiǔ jiù bùzài zìkuā le, zhǐ xīwàng zhù Guólián, yěshì shìshí; xiànzài shì jì bù kuā zìjǐ, yě bùxìn Guólián, gǎiwèi yīwèi qiúshénbàifó, huáigǔshāngjīn le — què yěshì shìshí. [Pinyin]

可橙作為間性人，男性的生育能力存在障礙，家長難以接受，媽媽甚至在家裡求神拜佛做法事。 [MSC, trad.]
可橙作为间性人，男性的生育能力存在障碍，家长难以接受，妈妈甚至在家里求神拜佛做法事。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2021 January 15, 张楠茜, 《拯救可橙： 被父母强送矫治的跨性别者》, in 《鳳凰週刊》 [Phoenix Weekly], →ISSN, issue 747, page 42

Kěchéng zuòwéi jiānxìngrén, nánxìng de shēngyù nénglì cúnzài zhàng'ài, jiācháng nányǐ jiēshòu, māmā shènzhì zài jiālǐ qiúshénbàifó zuò fǎshì. [Pinyin]

to pray to gods and Buddha for help or blessings


連根拔起

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄣ ㄅㄚˊ ㄑㄧˇ

ляньгэньбаци

/li̯ɛn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/


九五之尊

the honor of nine-five [to which only the emperor is entitled]

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨˇ ㄓ ㄗㄨㄣ

цзюучжицзунь

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/


國仇家恨

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄣˋ

гочоуцзяхэнь

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɐu̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɐu̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

hatred of a country for invading one's own country and destroying one's own home or family


米已成炊

the grain has already been cooked into rice

ㄇㄧˇ ㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄟ

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐi̯¹³ jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐi̯¹³ jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/


師出有名

ㄕ ㄔㄨ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

to do something for a good and proper reason


語驚四座

ㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄙˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɔː²²/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɔː²²/

one's words or speech astonishes every attendee


感人肺腑

ㄍㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄈㄨˇ

ганьжэньфэйфу

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/


無欲無求

ㄨˊ ㄩˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/u³⁵ y⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/u³⁵ y⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/


功高震主

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄓㄣˋ ㄓㄨˇ

гунгаочжэньчжу

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ t͡syː³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ t͡syː³⁵/

one's merits and contributions are so great that one's monarch or leader feels uneasy and insecure


粗聲粗氣

ㄘㄨ ㄕㄥ ㄘㄨ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³/


曲突徙薪

ㄑㄩ ㄊㄨ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄑㄩ ㄊㄨˊ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ tɐt̚² saːi̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ tɐt̚² saːi̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

From a story in Biography of Huo Guang and Jin Midi（霍光金日磾傳）, Book of Han:
:
臣聞客有過主人者，見其灶直突，傍有積薪。客謂主人，更為曲突，遠徙其薪，不者且有火患。主人嘿然不應。俄而家果失火，鄰里共救之，幸而得息。於是殺牛置酒，謝其鄰人，灼爛者在於上行，餘各以功次坐，而不錄言曲突者。人謂主人曰：「鄉使聽客之言，不費牛酒，終亡火患。今論功而請賓，曲突徙薪亡恩澤，焦頭爛額為上客耶？」主人乃寤而請之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]臣闻客有过主人者，见其灶直突，傍有积薪。客谓主人，更为曲突，远徙其薪，不者且有火患。主人嘿然不应。俄而家果失火，邻里共救之，幸而得息。于是杀牛置酒，谢其邻人，灼烂者在于上行，余各以功次坐，而不录言曲突者。人谓主人曰：「乡使听客之言，不费牛酒，终亡火患。今论功而请宾，曲突徙薪亡恩泽，焦头烂额为上客耶？」主人乃寤而请之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Chén wén kè yǒu guò zhǔrén zhě, jiàn qí zào zhí tū, bàng yǒu jī xīn. Kè wèi zhǔrén, gēng wéi qū tū, yuǎn xǐ qí xīn, bù zhě qiě yǒu huǒhuàn. Zhǔrén mòrán bù yìng. É'ér jiā guǒ shīhuǒ, línlǐ gòng jiù zhī, xìng ér dé xī. Yúshì shā niú zhì jiǔ, xiè qí línrén, zhuó làn zhě zài yú shàng háng, yú gè yǐ gōng cì zuò, ér bù lù yán qū tū zhě. Rén wèi zhǔrén yuē: “Xiàngshǐ tīng kè zhī yán, bù fèi niú jiǔ, zhōng wáng huǒhuàn. Jīn lùn gōng ér qǐng bīn, qūtūxǐxīn wáng ēnzé, jiāotóulàn'é wèi shàngkè yē?” Zhǔrén nǎi wù ér qǐng zhī. [Pinyin]
I heard that there was once a guest visiting a homeowner, and he observed that his stove was equipped with a straight chimney, and there was firewood piled up next to it. The guest told the owner, "Replace your chimney with a crooked one and move the firewood far away from it. Otherwise, there will be fire risk." But the owner ignored him. Soon his house was really on fire, and his neighbours went to put out fire together. Fortunately, they were able to put it out. The homeowner then slaughtered cows and prepared wine to thank his neighbours. Those who were burnt were arranged to sit at the front, and the others sat according to their contributions. However, he did not invite the person that told him to modify the chimney. Someone then said to him, "If you had listened to what your guest said, you would have eliminated fire without beef and wine. Now you are inviting people according to their contributions, then how can you forget the mercy of the person that told you to replace the chimney with a crooked one and move firewood away, but let those people got burnt seriously be the important guests?" The homeowner realized that and invited him.

臣 聞 客 有 過 主人 者 ， 見 其 灶 直 突 ， 傍 有 積 薪 。 客 謂 主人 ， 更{gēng} 為{wéi} 曲 突 ， 遠 徙 其 薪 ， 不 者 且 有 火患 。 主人 默然\嘿{mò}然 不 應 。 俄而 家 果 失火 ， 鄰里 共 救 之 ， 幸 而 得 息 。 於是 殺 牛 置 酒 ， 謝 其 鄰人 ， 灼 爛 者 在 於 上 行{háng} ， 餘 各 以 功 次 坐 ， 而 不 錄 言 曲 突 者 。 人 謂 主人 曰 ：「鄉{xiàng}使 聽 客 之 言 ， 不 費 牛 酒 ， 終 亡 火患 。 今 論 功 而 請 賓 ， 曲突徙薪 亡 恩澤 ， 焦頭爛額 為 上客 耶 ？ 」 主人 乃 寤 而 請 之 。

to bend the chimney and move the firewood away from it

to take preventive measures; to take precautions (to prevent trouble from happening)


積勞成疾

ㄐㄧ ㄌㄠˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄧˊ

цзилаочэнцзи

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ lou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ lou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐt̚²/

to fall ill because one is overworked and exhausted for a long period of time; to fall ill from prolonged overwork


出雙入對

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄖㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² tɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² tɵy̯³³/

to frequently do things together (especially said of a couple suspected to be in love)


綠樹成蔭

ㄌㄩˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧㄣ

люйшучэнъинь

/ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² syː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

/ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² syː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

to have many green leafy trees that form a pleasant shade


節衣縮食

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄧ ㄙㄨㄛ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚³ jiː⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚³ jiː⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

to save money by reducing daily expenses


精神抖擻

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄉㄡˇ ㄙㄡˇ

цзиншэньдоусоу

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ tɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ tɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

in high spirits; fresh with energy; vigorous and energetic; glowing with health and vigor


溫文爾雅

ㄨㄣ ㄨㄣˊ ㄦˇ ㄧㄚˇ

/wən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ ŋaː¹³/

/wən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ ŋaː¹³/

gentle and polite; elegant and dignified


粗製濫造

ㄘㄨ ㄓˋ ㄌㄢˋ ㄗㄠˋ

цучжиланьцзао

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ laːm²² t͡sou̯²²/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ laːm²² t͡sou̯²²/

to manufacture in a rough and slipshod way; to churn out shoddy products or pieces of work; to produce products in large quantity without regard for quality


街頭巷尾

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄨㄟˇ

цзетоусянвэй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² mei̯¹³/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ mei̯¹³/

/koi³³⁻²³ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ haŋ¹¹ bue⁵²/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² mei̯¹³/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ mei̯¹³/

/koi³³⁻²³ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ haŋ¹¹ bue⁵²/


表面文章

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄤ

бяомяньвэньчжан

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/piːu̯³⁵ miːn²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/piːu̯³⁵ miːn²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

focus solely on form or appearance without emphasis on content or effectiveness; ostentatiousness


見獵心喜

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˇ

цзяньлесиньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to see others doing what one used to love doing and therefore be eager to try doing it again


徇私舞弊

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄙ ㄨˇ ㄅㄧˋ

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄙ ㄨˇ ㄅㄧˋ

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ pɐi̯²²/

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ pɐi̯²²/

to engage in malpractices for selfish ends; to be involved in corruption


顛三倒四

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄙㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄙˋ

дяньсаньдаосы

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

(of words or behaviour) disorderly; chaotic; topsy-turvy; confused


高山仰止

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄤˇ ㄓˇ

гаошаньянчжи

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 218 (《詩經·小雅·車舝》):
:
高山仰止，景行行止。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Gāoshān yǎng zhǐ, jǐngxíng xíng zhǐ. [Pinyin]
The high hill is looked up to; The great road is easy to be travelled on.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·車舝》)

(《詩經·小雅·車舝》)

zh-x

高山.仰.止，景行 行 止。

to admire and venerate (someone great and noble)


壯志未酬

ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄓˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄔㄡˊ

чжуанчживэйчоу

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ mei̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ mei̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

to have great ambitions that have not been realized


將心比己

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ

цзянсиньбицзи

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

put oneself in someone's shoes
put oneself in someone's shoes


特事特辦

ㄊㄜˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄢˋ

/tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹/

/tɐk̚² siː²² tɐk̚² paːn²²/

/tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹/

/tɐk̚² siː²² tɐk̚² paːn²²/

to handle special matters with special methods or arrangements


因禍得福

ㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄨˊ

/in⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɔː²² tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ tik̚²⁻⁴ hok̚²/

/in⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɔː²² tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ tik̚²⁻⁴ hok̚²/


寸土不讓

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

to not give up a single inch of one's territory


寸步不讓

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

to not make to slightest concession; to not yield even slightly


老態龍鍾

ㄌㄠˇ ㄊㄞˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

лаотайлунчжун

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ tʰaːi̯³³ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ tʰaːi̯³³ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


盆滿缽滿

ㄆㄣˊ ㄇㄢˇ ㄅㄛ ㄇㄢˇ

пэньманьбомань

/pʰən³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰən³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(originally Cantonese) to have made a lot of money


入土為安

ㄖㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄢ

/ʐu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² tʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² tʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

(of a deceased person) to be buried so that they can rest in peace


接人待物

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄨˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ jɐn²¹ tɔːi̯²² mɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ jɐn²¹ tɔːi̯²² mɐt̚²/

getting along with others; dealing with people


南征北戰

ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄥ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄢˋ

наньчжэнбэйчжань

nanʹčžɛnbɛjčžanʹ

/nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ t͡siːn³³/

/nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ t͡siːn³³/

to have engaged in many combats in various places


少不更事

ㄕㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄥ ㄕˋ

ㄕㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˋ

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

young and inexperienced in life; wet behind the ears


難上加難

ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄋㄢˊ

наньшанцзянань

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ nän³⁵/

/naːn²¹ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

/lan²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ nän³⁵/

/naːn²¹ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

/lan²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/


字裡行間

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄏㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

цзылиханцзянь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɵy̯¹³ hɔːŋ²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɵy̯¹³ hɔːŋ²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/


九流三教

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзюлюсаньцзяо

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/kɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

三教九流 三教九流#Chinese


不吝賜教

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˋ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˋ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

булиньцыцзяо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

булиньсыцзяо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡sʰiː³³ kaːu̯³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡sʰiː³³ kaːu̯³³/

to not be stinting with comments or criticism


夙夜匪懈

ㄙㄨˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄈㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jɛː²² fei̯³⁵ haːi̯²²/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jɛː²² fei̯³⁵ haːi̯²²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 260 (《詩經·大雅·烝民》):
:
既明且哲，以保其身。
夙夜匪解，以事一人。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jì míng qiě zhé, yǐ bǎo qí shēn.
Sùyè fěi xiè, yǐ shì yīrén. [Pinyin]
Intelligent is he and wise, Protecting his own person.
Never idle, day or night, In the service of the One man.

lang

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

zh-x

既 明 且 哲，以 保 其 身。
@^夙夜.匪.解{xiè}，以 事 一人。

夙夜匪懈，主義是從。 [MSC, trad.]
夙夜匪懈，主义是从。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 中華民國國歌(The National Anthem of the Republic of China)

Work day or night, follow the Principles.


天寒地凍

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

тяньханьдидун

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xän³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xän³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ³³/


可乘之機

ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

opportunity that can be exploited to one's advantage


稱王稱霸

ㄔㄥ ㄨㄤˊ ㄔㄥ ㄅㄚˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ paː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ paː³³/

to proclaim oneself hegemon; to seek hegemony; to domineer; to lord it over others


人模狗樣

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋ

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹/

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋㄦ

жэньмогоуянр

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑ̃ɻ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ mou̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑ̃ɻ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ mou̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ²²/


吳下阿蒙

[like] the generalLü Meng of the Kingdom Wu

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄚ ㄇㄥˊ

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄚˋ ㄇㄥˊ

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀä⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀä⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍²¹ haː²² aː³³ mʊŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀä⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀä⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍²¹ haː²² aː³³ mʊŋ²¹/

ignorant person; person who has meagre and superficial knowledge


裝腔作勢

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

чжуанцянцзоши

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/


無牽無掛

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷaː³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kua¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kua²¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷaː³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kua¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kua²¹/


好逸惡勞

ㄏㄠˋ ㄧˋ ㄨˋ ㄌㄠˊ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hou̯³³ jɐt̚² wuː³³ lou̯²¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hou̯³³ jɐt̚² wuː³³ lou̯²¹/

(derogatory) to indulge in comfort and despise laboring


舐犢情深

ㄕˋ ㄉㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄣ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːi̯³⁵ tʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːi̯³⁵ tʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

deep parental love; deep affection of parents towards their children


無關緊要

ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄧㄠˋ

угуаньцзиньяо

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ kɐn³⁵ jiːu̯³³/

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ kɐn³⁵ jiːu̯³³/


盛氣凌人

ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ

шэнцилинжэнь

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² hei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² hei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

to be arrogant and overbearing and bully others


將勤補拙

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛ

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ

цзянциньбучжо

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐn²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐn²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚³/

to make up for one's lack of natural talent with hard work


一元復始

ㄧ ㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyːn²¹ fʊk̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyːn²¹ fʊk̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/


兵不血刃

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄣˋ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄣˋ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄣˋ

бинбусюэжэнь

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hyːt̚³ jɐn²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hyːt̚³ jɐn²²/

(in a battle) to win without fighting or without much fight


不吐不快

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

/pu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːi̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːi̯³³/

get something off one's chest
get off one's chest

to have to get something off one's chest; to have to say something to feel comfortable


性情中人

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ

синцинчжунжэнь

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

person who expresses their true emotions; genuine person


兩袖清風

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄈㄥ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of a government official) to be uncorrupted and upright and never take bribes


貪贓枉法

ㄊㄢ ㄗㄤ ㄨㄤˇ ㄈㄚˇ

таньцзанванфа

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/


調兵遣將

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

дяобинцяньцзян

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tiːu̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/tiːu̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/


懲惡勸善

ㄔㄥˊ ㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ

ㄔㄥˇ ㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ

чэнъэцюаньшань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ hyːn³³ siːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ hyːn³³ siːn²²/

From the Zuo zhuan, late 4th century BCE:
:
春秋之稱，微而顯，志而晦，婉而成章，盡而不污，懲惡而勸善，非聖人誰能脩之？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]春秋之称，微而显，志而晦，婉而成章，尽而不污，惩恶而劝善，非圣人谁能脩之？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Chūnqiū zhī chēng, wēi ér xiǎn, zhì ér huì, wǎn ér chéngzhāng, jìn ér bù wū, chéng'è ér quànshàn, fēi shèngrén shéi néng xiū zhī? [Pinyin]
The Spring and Autumn Annals, in the appellations which it uses, is clear with an exquisite minuteness, distinct through obscurity, elegant by its gentle turns, and full without descending to be low, condemning what is evil, and encouraging what is good;—who but the sage [Confucius] could have compiled it as it is?

春秋 之 稱，微 而 顯，志 而 晦，婉 而 成章，盡 而 不 污，懲惡 而 勸善，非 聖人 誰 能 脩 之？

The Spring and Autumn Annals, in the appellations which it uses, is clear with an exquisite minuteness, distinct through obscurity, elegant by its gentle turns, and full without descending to be low, condemning what is evil, and encouraging what is good;—who but the sage 􂀿Confucius􂁀 could have compiled it as it is?

to punish the wicked and encourage the good


甕中捉鱉

ㄨㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄝ

вэнчжунчжобе

/wəŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/ʊŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚³ piːt̚³/

/wəŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/ʊŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚³ piːt̚³/

to catch or arrest a target already within one's grasp (and cannot escape)


鬼斧神工

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄨˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

гуйфушэньгун

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

superlative craftsmanship; supernaturally fine craft (as if done by the spirits)


大費周章

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄓㄡ ㄓㄤ

дафэйчжоучжан

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

to spend a lot of time and effort to handle a complicated matter; to go to a lot of trouble to handle a difficult matter


南蠻鴃舌

ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄕㄜˊ

наньманьцзюэшэ

/nän³⁵ män³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/nän³⁵ män³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

From Mencius:
:
今也南蠻鴃舌之人，非先王之道，子倍子之師而學之，亦異於曾子矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]今也南蛮𫛞舌之人，非先王之道，子倍子之师而学之，亦异于曾子矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Jīn yě nánmánjuéshé zhī rén, fēi xiānwáng zhī dào, zǐ bèi zǐ zhī shī ér xué zhī, yì yì yú Zēngzǐ yǐ. [Pinyin]
Now here is this shrike-tongued barbarian of the south, whose doctrines are not those of the ancient kings. You turn away from your master and become his disciple. Your conduct is different indeed from that of the philosopher Zeng.
Note that in the pre-Qin period when this term was coined, the Chinese language was not spoken in the area known as South China today. See Old Yue language.

今 也 南蠻鴃{jué}舌 之 人，非 先王 之 道，子 倍 子 之 師 而 學 之，亦 異 於 曾{Zēng}子 矣。

(derogatory) to speak the language of the southern barbarians or a dialect of southern China


感恩戴德

ㄍㄢˇ ㄣ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ганьэньдайдэ

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀən⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai¹¹⁻⁵³ tiɪk̚³²/

/kam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai²¹⁻⁴¹ tiɪk̚³²/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀən⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai¹¹⁻⁵³ tiɪk̚³²/

/kam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai²¹⁻⁴¹ tiɪk̚³²/

to be (deeply) grateful for someone's benevolence or favor


手到擒來

ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄞˊ

шоудаоциньлай

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɐm²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɐm²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

to capture someone or something or do something easily and effortlessly


憂心如焚

ㄧㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄈㄣˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ fən³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fɐn²¹/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ fən³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fɐn²¹/

extremely anxious; extremely worried; burning with anxiety


見風使舵

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄥ ㄕˇ ㄉㄨㄛˋ

цзяньфэншидо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

to bend with the wind; to change one's position, attitude, behaviour, etc. depending on the situation (usually with negative connotation)


一時無兩

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³/


藥到病除

ㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄨˊ

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɛːŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɛːŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

one's illness is cured after taking the medicine


百廢待舉

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄐㄩˇ

байфэйдайцзюй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

百廢待興 百廢待興#Chinese

百废待兴 百废待兴#Chinese

Synonym of 百廢待興／百废待兴 (bǎifèidàixīng, “many abandoned or neglected tasks or projects are waiting to be undertaken”)


百廢待興

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄥ

байфэйдайсин

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

新中國成立之初，中國一窮二白，百廢待興。 [MSC, trad.]
新中国成立之初，中国一穷二白，百废待兴。 [MSC, simp.]

In the early days after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China was impoverished, with a great number of things waiting to be rebuilt and tasks to be undertaken.

Xīnzhōngguó chénglì zhī chū, Zhōngguó yīqióng'èrbái, bǎifèidàixīng. [Pinyin]

many abandoned or neglected tasks or projects are waiting to be undertaken


御用文人

ㄩˋ ㄩㄥˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юйюнвэньжэнь

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyː²² jʊŋ²² mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyː²² jʊŋ²² mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/

(derogatory) writer hired by the ruler or government to sing its praises


棄車保帥

(in theXiangqi chess game) to abandon a chariot in order to protect the general

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄩ ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄞˋ

цицзюйбаошуай

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³³ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³³ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

to sacrifice something of lesser importance to preserve something crucial


有說有笑

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ siːu̯³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ siːu̯³³/


火車未到站

the train has not yet arrived at the station

/fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mei̯²² tou̯³³ t͡saːm²²/

/fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mei̯²² tou̯³³ t͡saːm²²/

(Cantonese) to have one's trousers unzipped; to have one's fly down


血肉相連

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

сюэжоусянлянь

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

сежоусянлянь

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

to be very intimately connected; to be connected by flesh and blood


相見恨晚

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄣˋ ㄨㄢˇ

сянцзяньхэньвань

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hɐn²² maːn¹³/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hɐn²² maːn¹³/

to regret not having met earlier; if only we had met earlier (used to express the happiness when meeting with someone for the first time)


穿針引線

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

чуаньчжэньиньсянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ siːn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ siːn³³/

(figuratively) to act as a go-between; to act as a middleman


敢作敢為

ㄍㄢˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ

ганьцзоганьвэй

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

to act with courage and resolution; to dare to act


加鹽加醋

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːm²¹ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːm²¹ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

(Cantonese, figurative) to add colour to (a narration); to exaggerate; to embellish


過橋抽板

to cross a bridge and take away the planks

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄠˊ ㄔㄡ ㄅㄢˇ

гоцяочоубань

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔː³³ kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ paːn³⁵/

/kʷɔː³³ kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ paːn³⁵/

to abandon one's benefactor upon achieving one's goal


奉若神明

ㄈㄥˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

фэнжошэньмин

/fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²² jœːk̚² sɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²² jœːk̚² sɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

to worship or revere someone or something as if they are a deity


大吵大鬧

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄠˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄠˋ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² naːu̯²²/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² naːu̯²²/

to create a noisy disturbance; to kick up a fuss; to make a scene


胸無城府

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄨˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fuː³⁵/

to be frank and sincere and not scheming


借花敬佛

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄈㄛˊ

цзехуацзинфо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ fɐt̚²/

(chiefly Cantonese) to offer something that one has received (as a gift, favour, etc.) to someone else


借花獻佛

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄛˊ

цзехуасяньфо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ hiːn³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hue⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ put̚⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ hiːn³³ fɐt̚²/


輕車熟路

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄜ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄜ ㄕㄡˊ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄩ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

to perform a task with which one is very familiar with great ease


乘人之危

ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟ

ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟˊ

чэнжэньчживэй

čɛnžɛnʹčživɛj

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

to exploit someone's difficulties or precarious situation


慷慨就義

ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧˋ

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²²/

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²²/

to valiantly lay down one's life for a just cause; to die a martyr


作惡多端

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄜˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄢ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ ɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ ɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

to have done a great number of evil deeds


死不足惜

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧ

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧˊ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

one's death is not or will not be regrettable; one's death is not or will not be a cause for regret


文弱書生

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

/wən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jœːk̚² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jœːk̚² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

scholar or intellectual who is gentle and frail


志大才疏

ㄓˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕㄨ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

to have great ambitions but little talent or ability


惶恐不安

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

хуанкунбу’ань

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

to be terrified and very anxious; to be panicky


字字珠璣

цзыцзычжуцзи

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡siː²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡siː²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

(of the language of a piece of writing or speech) beautiful and exquisite


優勝劣汰

ㄧㄡ ㄕㄥˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄊㄞˋ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ lyːt̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ lyːt̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/

survival of the fittest
survival of the fittest

the superior win and remain and the inferior is eliminated; survival of the fittest


雄才大略

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄩㄝˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² lœːk̚²/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² lœːk̚²/

to have outstanding ability and great strategy


恐惶悚懼

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄙㄨㄥˇ ㄐㄩˋ

кунхуансунцзюй

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²²/


恐後爭先

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄓㄥ ㄒㄧㄢ

кунхоучжэнсянь

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

爭先恐後 爭先恐後#Chinese

争先恐后 争先恐后#Chinese

Synonym of 爭先恐後／争先恐后 (zhēngxiānkǒnghòu, “to vie to be first and fear to be last”)


恐懼不安

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄐㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

кунцзюйбу’ань

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/


臨死不恐

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

/lin³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

/lin³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

to have no fear even when faced with death; to be courageous and determined


臨難不恐

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

линьнаньбукун

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

to have no fear when faced with calamity


臨難不懼

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩˋ

линьнаньбуцзюй

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

臨難不恐 臨難不恐#Chinese

临难不恐 临难不恐#Chinese

Synonym of 臨難不恐／临难不恐 (línnànbùkǒng, “to have no fear when faced with calamity”)


擔驚受怕

ㄉㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄡˋ ㄆㄚˋ

даньцзиншоупа

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹/

/taːm⁵⁵ kɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² pʰaː³³/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹/

/taːm⁵⁵ kɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² pʰaː³³/

to feel anxious and afraid; to be apprehensive


誠恐誠惶

ㄔㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

чэнкунчэнхуан

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


孤身隻影

/ku⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɪŋ³⁵/


亙古未有

ㄍㄣˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/kən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kuː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

/kən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kuː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

unprecedented; unheard of; to have never ever occurred


左鄰右里

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ lɵn²¹ jɐu̯²² lei̯¹³/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ lɵn²¹ jɐu̯²² lei̯¹³/


紅顏薄命

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (紅顏薄命):
* → Vietnamese: hồng nhan bạc mệnh (紅顏薄命)

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

хунъяньбомин

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ pɔːk̚² mɪŋ²²/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ pɔːk̚² mɪŋ²²/

beautiful women often suffer unhappy fates


一錯再錯

ㄧ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

to make the same mistake(s) again and again; to continue making error after error


七老八十

ㄑㄧ ㄌㄠˇ ㄅㄚ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³ paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ lau³³⁻¹¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sap̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³ paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/


馬失前蹄

ㄇㄚˇ ㄕ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧˊ

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

to suddenly fail through miscalculation or inattentiveness


驍勇善戰

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄩㄥˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ

сяоюншаньчжань

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ¹³ siːn²² t͡siːn³³/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ¹³ siːn²² t͡siːn³³/


心腹大患

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

синьфудахуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² waːn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² waːn²²/


聲情並茂

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄠˋ

шэнцинбинмао

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

(of a singer, speaker, etc.) excellent in both voice and the expression of emotions


滴水不漏

ㄉㄧ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ

/ti⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²²/

/ti⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²²/

completely rigorous; watertight; very tight


養兒防老

ㄧㄤˇ ㄦˊ ㄈㄤˊ ㄌㄠˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ fɔːŋ²¹ lou̯¹³/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ fɔːŋ²¹ lou̯¹³/

(of parents) to bring up children for the purpose of being looked after in old age


顛倒是非

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

дяньдаошифэй

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn³³ to⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² hui³³/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn³³ to⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² hui³³/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

to confound right with wrong; to distort the truth


見縫插針

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄥˋ ㄔㄚ ㄓㄣ

цзяньфэнчачжэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

to make use of every bit of available time or space


天各一方

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧ ㄈㄤ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ³³/


燈火通明

ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/


肅然起敬

ㄙㄨˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

сужаньцицзин

/su⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hei̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/

/sok̚²⁻⁴ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

/su⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hei̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/

/sok̚²⁻⁴ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

to feel great respect and admiration (for somebody); to be filled with deep respect (for somebody)


飲恨而終

ㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

иньхэньэрчжун

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ hɐn²² jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ hɐn²² jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


對簿公堂

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄊㄤˊ

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ pou̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ pou̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

to confront someone in court; to go to court


天怒人怨

Heaven is angry and the people are resentful

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄋㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩㄢˋ

тяньнужэньюань

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ nou̯²² jɐn²¹ jyːn³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ nou̯²² jɐn²¹ jyːn³³/

there is widespread anger and discontent among the people (because of the harm or evil someone has done)


神州陸沉

ㄕㄣˊ ㄓㄡ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ

шэньчжоулучэнь

šɛnʹčžoulučɛnʹ

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹/

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹/

From Shishuo Xinyu:
:
桓公入洛，過淮泗，踐北境，與諸僚屬登平乘樓，眺矚中原，慨然曰：「遂使神州陸沉，百年丘虛，王夷甫諸人不得不任其責！」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]桓公入洛，过淮泗，践北境，与诸僚属登平乘楼，眺瞩中原，慨然曰：「遂使神州陆沉，百年丘虚，王夷甫诸人不得不任其责！」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE
Huán Gōng rù Luò, guò Huái Sì, jiàn běi jìng, yǔ zhū liáoshǔ dēng píngchénglóu, tiàozhǔ Zhōngyuán, kǎirán yuē: “Suì shǐ Shénzhōulùchén, bǎinián qiūxū, wáng Yífǔ zhūrén bùdé bù rèn qí zé!” [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

^桓 ^公 入 ^洛，過 ^淮 ^泗，踐 北 境，與 諸 僚屬 登 平乘樓，眺矚 ^中原，慨然 曰：「遂 使 ^神州陸沉，百年 丘虛，王 ^夷-甫 諸人 不得 不 任 其 責！」

China is invaded and occupied by enemies


學有所成

ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄥˊ

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

to have made achievements in one's studies; to have completed one's studies


橫街窄巷

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²/

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²/

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵/


胸無大志

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡siː³³/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡siː³³/

to have no great ambitions or aspirations


順水人情

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

шуньшуйжэньцин

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

favour done (for others) at little or no cost


雄心勃勃

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


貪財好色

ㄊㄢ ㄘㄞˊ ㄏㄠˋ ㄙㄜˋ

таньцайхаосэ

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

to be greedy for money and lust for women


假公濟私

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧˋ ㄙ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ siː⁵⁵/

to exploit public office for private gain


鼎鼎大名

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/


劫後餘生

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩˊ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːp̚³ hɐu̯²² jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːp̚³ hɐu̯²² jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to survive a disaster; to outlive a calamity


荒淫無度

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ tou̯²²/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ tou̯²²/

to live an debauched life without any restraint; to excessively indulge in liquor and women


趁虛而入

ㄔㄣˋ ㄒㄩ ㄦˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn³³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn³³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

to enter or invade by exploiting of one's opponent's unpreparedness or weakness; to break through a weak point or advance when one's opponent is off guard


巧取豪奪

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄑㄩˇ ㄏㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ hou̯²¹ tyːt̚²/

/haːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ hou̯²¹ tyːt̚²/

to take away (others' money and property) by trickery or by force


獨具匠心

ㄉㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

дуцзюйцзянсинь

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

(chiefly of literature or art) to show great ingenuity; to have originality


一觸即潰

ㄧ ㄔㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

to collapse on the first encounter (with enemy forces)


火燒眉毛

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄠ ㄇㄟˊ ㄇㄠˊ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ mou̯²¹/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ mou̯²¹/


明若觀火

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (明若觀火):
* → Korean: 명약관화(明若觀火) (myeong'yakgwanhwa)

ja-r

ひ を みる より も あきらか だ

→ Japanese: (calque) 火(ひ)を見(み)るよりも明(あき)らかだ (hi o miru yori mo akiraka da)

desc

→ Korean: 불 보듯 뻔하다 (bul bodeut ppeonhada), 불 보듯 훤하다 (bul bodeut hwonhada) (calque) (calque)

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

минжогуаньхо

/miŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

From the Book of Documents, mid-first millennium BCE, quoting King Pan Geng (reigned c. 1290–1263 BCE), in a speech reproaching his vassals for opposing his efforts to relocate the capital:
:
今汝聒聒，起信險膚，予弗知乃所訟。非予自荒茲德，惟汝含德，不惕予一人。予若觀火，予亦拙謀作乃逸。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]今汝聒聒，起信险肤，予弗知乃所讼。非予自荒兹德，惟汝含德，不惕予一人。予若观火，予亦拙谋作乃逸。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 7ᵗʰ – 4ᵗʰ centuries BCE
Jīn rǔ guōguō, qǐ xìn xiǎn fū, yǔ fú zhī nǎi suǒ sòng. Fēi yǔ zì huāng zī dé, wéi rǔ hán dé, bù tì yǔ yīrén. Yǔ ruò guān huǒ, yǔ yì zhuōmóu zuò nǎi yì. [Pinyin]
Now, [however], you keep clamouring, and get the confidence [of the people] by alarming and shallow speeches; I do not know what you are wrangling about. [In this movement of the capital] I am not myself abandoning my proper virtue, but you conceal the goodness of my intentions, and do not stand in awe of me, the One man. I see you as clearly as one sees a fire; but I, likewise, by my undecided plans, have produced your error.

zh-x

今 汝 聒聒，起 信 險 膚，予 弗 知 乃 所 訟。非 予 自 荒 茲 德，惟 汝 含 德，不 惕 予 一人。予 若 觀 火，予 亦 拙謀 作 乃 逸。

Now, 􂀿however􂁀, you keep clamouring, and get the confidence 􂀿of the people􂁀 by alarming and shallow speeches; I do not know what you are wrangling about. 􂀿In this movement of the capital􂁀 I am not myself abandoning my proper virtue, but you conceal the goodness of my intentions, and do not stand in awe of me, the One man. I see you as clearly as one sees a fire; but I, likewise, by my undecided plans, have produced your error.

to be clearly evident; to be as clear as day


捨己為人

ㄕㄜˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄣˊ

шэцзивэйжэнь

šɛczivɛjžɛnʹ

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/sɛː³⁵ kei̯³⁵ wɐi̯²² jɐn²¹/

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/sɛː³⁵ kei̯³⁵ wɐi̯²² jɐn²¹/

to sacrifice one's own interests for the sake of others


聞一知十

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (聞一知十):
* → Korean: 문일지십(聞一知十) (muniljisip)

ja-r

いち を き.いて じゅう を しる

→ Japanese: 一(いち)を聞(き)いて十(じゅう)を知(し)る (ichi o kiite jū o shiru) (calque)

desc

하나를 들으면 열을 안다

하나를 보면 열을 안다

→ Korean: 하나를 들으면 열을 안다 (hanareul deureumyeon yeoreul anda), 하나를 보면 열을 안다 (hanareul bomyeon yeoreul anda, literally “to know ten by seeing one”) (calque) (partial calque)

/wən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

/wən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

From the Analects, Book 5 (《論語·公冶長》):
:
子謂子貢曰：「女與回也孰愈？」
對曰：「賜也何敢望回。回也聞一以知十，賜也聞一以知二。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子谓子贡曰：「女与回也孰愈？」
对曰：「赐也何敢望回。回也闻一以知十，赐也闻一以知二。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ wèi Zǐgòng yuē: “Nǚ yǔ Huí yě shú yù?”
Duì yuē: “Cì yě hégǎn wàng Huí. Huí yě wén yī yǐ zhī shí, cì yě wén yī yǐ zhī èr.” [Pinyin]
The Master said to Zigong, "Which do you consider superior, yourself or [Yan] Hui?"
Zigong replied, "How dare I compare myself with Hui? Hui hears one point and knows all [lit. ten points] about a subject; I hear one point, and know a second."

zh-x

子 謂 ^子-貢 曰：「女 與 ^回 也 孰 愈？」
對 曰：「賜 也 何敢 望 ^回。^回 也 @聞 @一 以 @知 @十，賜 也 聞 一 以 知 二。」

The Master said to Zigong, "Which do you consider superior, yourself or 􂀿Yan􂁀 Hui?"
Zigong replied, "How dare I compare myself with Hui? Hui hears one point and knows all 􂀿lit. ten points􂁀 about a subject; I hear one point, and know a second."

to be quick on the uptake; to understand the whole situation from just a few clues


行俠仗義

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄓㄤˋ ㄧˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ hɐp̚² t͡sœːŋ²² jiː²²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ hɐp̚² t͡sœːŋ²² jiː²²/

to be chivalrous; to have a sense of justice and be willing to help others


大恩大德

ㄉㄚˋ ㄣ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/tä⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² tɐk̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² tɐk̚⁵/


苦中作樂

ㄎㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄜˋ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/


兩全其美

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄟˇ

лянцюаньцимэй

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹ mei̯¹³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ bi⁴¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹ mei̯¹³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ bi⁴¹/

to reach a resolution that satisfies both sides by taking both sides into consideration; to have it both ways; to have the best of both worlds


眼明手快

ㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

яньминшоукуай

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

to be sharp-eyed and quick-moving; to have acute eyesight and be quick in one's movements


愛民如子

to love the people as if they are one's own children

ㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˇ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

(of a ruler) to greatly love and cherish one's subjects


抱憾終生

ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄥ

баоханьчжуншэн

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to feel regret for the rest of one's life


抱憾終身

ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄣ

баоханьчжуншэнь

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

抱憾終生 抱憾終生#Chinese

抱憾终生 抱憾终生#Chinese

Synonym of 抱憾終生／抱憾终生 (bàohànzhōngshēng, “to feel regret for the rest of one's life”)


來日方長

ㄌㄞˊ ㄖˋ ㄈㄤ ㄔㄤˊ

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


認賊作父

ㄖㄣˋ ㄗㄟˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄨˋ

жэньцзэйцзофу

/ʐən⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²² t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡sɔːk̚³ fuː²²/

/ʐən⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²² t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡sɔːk̚³ fuː²²/

to regard an enemy as one's father; to willingly join the enemy


一醉方休

ㄧ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄤ ㄒㄧㄡ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/


新來乍到

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋ

синьлайчжадао

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋㄦ

синьлайчжадаор

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ taʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡saː³³ tou̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ taʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡saː³³ tou̯³³/

to have just arrived; to be newly arrived; to be a newcomer


為人師表

ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕ ㄅㄧㄠˇ

вэйжэньшибяо

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siː⁵⁵ piːu̯³⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siː⁵⁵ piːu̯³⁵/

為人師表要有良好的私德。 [MSC, trad.]
为人师表要有良好的私德。 [MSC, simp.]

Good personal morality is required to set an example for others to learn.

Wéirénshībiǎo yào yǒu liánghǎo de sīdé. [Pinyin]

to set an example for others to learn; to be a teacher


意氣用事

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄩㄥˋ ㄕˋ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jʊŋ²² siː²²/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jʊŋ²² siː²²/

我勸你還是不要意氣用事。 [MSC, trad.]
我劝你还是不要意气用事。 [MSC, simp.]

Wǒ quàn nǐ háishì bùyào yìqìyòngshì. [Pinyin]


樂觀其成

ㄌㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄔㄥˊ

лэгуаньцичэн

/lɤ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/lɤ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

to be happy to see something be successful


狗急跳牆

the dog jumps over the wall when it is in a hurry

ㄍㄡˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

гоуцзитяоцян

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐp̚⁵ tʰiːu̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ kip̚²⁻⁴ tʰiau²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰĩõ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐp̚⁵ tʰiːu̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ kip̚²⁻⁴ tʰiau²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰĩõ⁵⁵/

one will take bold risks and desperate actions when forced into desperation


同道中人

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ

тундаочжунжэнь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

person that share the same interests and aspirations


窮追不捨

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄜˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

to not stop pursuing (someone or something)


蔚然成風

ㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥ

вэйжаньчэнфэн

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯³³ jiːn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯³³ jiːn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

something becomes a trend or common practice; something becomes the order of the day


男耕女織

ㄋㄢˊ ㄍㄥ ㄋㄩˇ ㄓ

наньгэннюйчжи

/nän³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ kaːŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/nän³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ kaːŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

Based on a passage in the Mozi:
*
飾車以文采，飾舟以刻鏤，女子廢其紡織而脩文采，故民寒。男子離其耕稼而脩刻鏤，故民饑。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]饰车以文采，饰舟以刻镂，女子废其纺织而脩文采，故民寒。男子离其耕稼而脩刻镂，故民饥。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mozi, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on Y. P. Mei's version
Shì chē yǐ wéncǎi, shì zhōu yǐ kèlòu, nǚzǐ fèi qí fǎngzhī ér xiū wéncǎi, gù mín hán. Nánzǐ lí qí gēngjià ér xiū kèlòu, gù mín jī. [Pinyin]
The carts are decorated with embroidery and boats with carving. Women have to stop weaving to do the embroidery so the people are left cold. While men have to abandon agriculture to do the carving and so the people become hungry.

飾 車 以 文采，飾 舟 以 刻鏤，女子 廢 其 紡織 而 脩 文采，故 民 寒。男子 離 其 耕稼 而 脩 刻鏤，故 民 饑。

男耕女織天下平，千古萬古無戰爭。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
男耕女织天下平，千古万古无战争。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

From: 《過居庸關》 "Crossing Juyong Pass" by 薩都剌 Sa Dula, 14th century CE

Men farm and women weave; everywhere under Heaven is peaceful. For thousands and myriads of years, there shall be no war.

Nángēngnǚzhī tiānxià píng, qiāngǔ wàngǔ wú zhànzhēng. [Pinyin]

men farm and women weave (describing the division of labour within a peasant family in the past)


鬼話連篇

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧㄢ

гуйхуаляньпянь

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵ liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵ liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

to talk a lot of nonsense; to tell a series of untruths


荒淫無恥

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄔˇ

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to be openly given to debauchery; to be dissipated and unshamed


何罪之有

ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

他們何罪之有呢？ [MSC, trad.]
他们何罪之有呢？ [MSC, simp.]


亡國滅種

ㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ miːt̚² t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ miːt̚² t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

the country perishes and the ethnicity becomes extinct


百上加斤

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄣ

байшанцзяцзинь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

(originally Cantonese) to aggravate an already heavy burden


難辭其咎

ㄋㄢˊ ㄘˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/nän³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³³/

/nän³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³³/

can hardly absolve oneself from the blame; to be culpable; to be to blame


洗劫一空

ㄒㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄧ ㄎㄨㄥ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kiːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kiːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

to completely loot and leave nothing behind


功名利祿

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² lʊk̚²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² lʊk̚²/

official position (in the government) and material gains; fame, fortune and position


成群結隊

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чэнцюньцзедуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ tui⁴¹/

/siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kun¹³⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kun²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kun²³⁻³³ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ tui⁴¹/

/siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kun¹³⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kun²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kun²³⁻³³ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

忽然山中居民，成群结队，飞奔而来，报说魏兵已到。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Hūrán shān zhōng jūmín, chéngqúnjiéduì, fēibēn ér lái, bào shuō Wèi bīng yǐ dào. [Pinyin]

忽然山中居民，成群結隊，飛奔而來，報說魏兵已到。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

to gather in groups; to gather in crowds; to band together


人窮志短

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

жэньцюнчжидуань

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ tyːn³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ tyːn³⁵/

one's aspirations are stifled because of poverty


急不可待

ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/


魂不守舍

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄕㄜˋ

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sɛː³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sɛː³³/

to be inattentive; to have lost one's concentration


在天之靈

ㄗㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

цзайтяньчжилин

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹/


愛財如命

ㄞˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

to love money as if it were one's life; to be extremely stingy or greedy for money


自縛手腳

ㄗˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

цзыфушоуцзяо

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² pɔːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³/

/t͡siː²² pɔːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³/


鞍前馬後

ㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄏㄡˋ

аньцяньмахоу

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ maː¹³ hɐu̯²²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ maː¹³ hɐu̯²²/


巴山蜀水

ㄅㄚ ㄕㄢ ㄕㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/pä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

mountains and rivers of Sichuan (including modern-day Chongqing)


文武雙全

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (文武雙全):
* → Korean: 문무쌍전(文武雙全) (munmussangjeon)
* → Vietnamese: văn võ song toàn (文武雙全)

ㄨㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

вэньушуанцюань

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

From Romance of the Three Kingdoms:
*
有南安人告曰：「此人姓姜，名維，字伯約，天水冀人也：事母至孝，文武雙全，智勇足備，真當也之英傑也。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]有南安人告曰：「此人姓姜，名维，字伯约，天水冀人也：事母至孝，文武双全，智勇足备，真当也之英杰也。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Yǒu Nán'ān rén gào yuē: “Cǐrén xìng Jiāng, míng Wéi, zì Bóyuē, Tiānshuǐ Jì rén yě: shì mǔ zhìxiào, wénwǔshuāngquán, zhìyǒngzúbèi, zhēn dāng yě zhī yīngjié yě.” [Pinyin]
A man from Nan'an said: "This man is surnamed Jiang, named Wei, styled Boyue, from Ji [district] in Tianshui [commandery]. He serves his mother very filially; he is talented in both civil and military matters; he has ample intellect and courage. Truly, he is a hero nowadays."

zh-x

有 ^南安 人 告 曰：「此-人 姓 ^姜，名 ^維，字 ^伯-約，^天水 ^冀 人 也：事 母 至孝，文武雙全，智勇-足備，真 當 也 之 英傑 也。」

A man from Nan'an said: "This man is surnamed Jiang, named Wei, styled Boyue, from Ji 􂀿district􂁀 in Tianshui 􂀿commandery􂁀. He serves his mother very filially; he is talented in both civil and military matters; he has ample intellect and courage. Truly, he is a hero nowadays."

to be good at both the arts of writing and fighting/warring; to be adept with both the pen and the sword; to be well-versed in both letters and martial arts


拔地而起

ㄅㄚˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/pä³⁵ ti⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² tei̯²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/pä³⁵ ti⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² tei̯²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

(of a mountain peak, building, etc.) to rise steeply from the ground


敷衍塞責

ㄈㄨ ㄧㄢˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄗㄜˊ

/fu⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ sɐk̚⁵ t͡saːk̚³/

/fu⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ sɐk̚⁵ t͡saːk̚³/

go through the motions
go through the motions

to work halfheartedly; to go through the motions; to perform one's duty in a perfunctory manner


灰頭土臉

to have one's entire head a face covered in dirt

ㄏㄨㄟ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

хуэйтоутулянь

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ liːm¹³/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ liːm¹³/


白衣蒼狗

ㄅㄞˊ ㄧ ㄘㄤ ㄍㄡˇ

/paɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

freakishness; changeable and strange; changes in human affairs often take freakish forms


百無一是

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/


百折不回

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

байчжэбухуэй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

indomitable; unfazed by difficulties or challenges; (slightly derogatory) stubborn; persistent


大開殺戒

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄞ ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

/tä⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ kaːi̯³³/

/tä⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ kaːi̯³³/

to massacre a lot people; to slaughter many people


炎炎夏日

ㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄖˋ

/jɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ jiːm²¹ haː²² jɐt̚²/

/jɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ jiːm²¹ haː²² jɐt̚²/


冤冤相報

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (冤冤相報):
* → Vietnamese: oan oan tương báo (冤冤相報)

ㄩㄢ ㄩㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄅㄠˋ

юаньюаньсянбао

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³/

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³/

冤冤相報永無完了 [MSC, trad.]
冤冤相报永无完了 [MSC, simp.]


參差不齊

ㄘㄣ ㄘ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

(literally or figuratively) uneven; not uniform


雲譎波詭

ㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄛ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

юньцзюэбогуй

/yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

to be unpredictable and ever-changing; to be highly changeable


先聲奪人

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄖㄣˊ

сяньшэндожэнь

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tyːt̚² jɐn²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tyːt̚² jɐn²¹/

to overawe one's opponent first by a show of strength


文不對題

ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄧˊ

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ tʰɐi̯²¹/

(of writing or speech) to be beside the point; to be off-topic; to be irrelevant to the subject


紋風不動

ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

вэньфэнбудун

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

to be completely motionless; to be absolutely still


趨利避害

ㄑㄩ ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄞˋ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lei̯²² pei̯²² hɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lei̯²² pei̯²² hɔːi̯²²/

to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages


臥病在床

ㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

вобинцзайчуан

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ŋɔː²² pɛːŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ŋɔː²² pɛːŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/


半老徐娘

ㄅㄢˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄤˊ

баньлаосюйнян

/pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹/

/pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹/


兩不相欠

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄢˋ

лянбусянцянь

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hiːm³³/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hiːm³³/


意氣風發

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄈㄥ ㄈㄚ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ³³ huat̚⁵/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ³³ huat̚⁵/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/


通權達變

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

тунцюаньдабянь

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ taːt̚² piːn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ taːt̚² piːn³³/

to adapt to circumstances; to be adaptable to changing circumstances to act as the occasion requires


傍人門戶

ㄅㄤˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄏㄨˋ

банжэньмэньху

/pɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/pɔːŋ²² jɐn²¹ muːn²¹ wuː²²/

/pɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/pɔːŋ²² jɐn²¹ muːn²¹ wuː²²/

to depend on others; to be unable to live independently


膀大腰圓

ㄅㄤˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄠ ㄩㄢˊ

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiːu̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiːu̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/


包打天下

ㄅㄠ ㄉㄚˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

to take care of everything and not allow others to get involved


寶刀不老

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄠˇ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

old but still got it; as vigorous and active as before; just as skilled as when one was young


心無旁騖

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄆㄤˊ ㄨˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ mou̯²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ mou̯²²/


別樹一幟

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄧ ㄓˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːt̚² syː²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː³³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːt̚² syː²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː³³/


瞠乎其後

ㄔㄥ ㄏㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄡˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯²²/

to lag behind a lot without any hope of catching up; to be left in the dust


衣食父母

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² fuː²² mou̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² fuː²² mou̯¹³/


一展身手

ㄧ ㄓㄢˇ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ

ичжаньшэньшоу

ičžanʹšɛnʹšou

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/


隻手遮天

to block out the sky with one hand (and pretend that it is not there)

ㄓ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓㄜ ㄊㄧㄢ

чжишоучжэтянь

čžišoučžɛtjanʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to hide the truth (from the public or masses)


文人相輕

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥ

вэньжэньсянцин

/wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

scholars (tend to) disparage one another


坐享其成

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄔㄥˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² hœːŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² hœːŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

to sit idle and enjoy the fruits of others' work


卑不足道

ㄅㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄠˋ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

(chiefly of a person's character, standing, etc.) too trivial to be worth mentioning


望而興嘆

ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ

ванъэрсинтань

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

to look and sigh; to feel helpless; not to know what to do


事出有因

ㄕˋ ㄔㄨ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄣ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵/

/siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐn⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵/

/siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐn⁵⁵/


泰山北斗

ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄡˇ

тайшаньбэйдоу

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tɐu̯³⁵/

eminent and accomplished figure in a field


往事如煙

ㄨㄤˇ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄢ

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ¹³ siː²² jyː²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ¹³ siː²² jyː²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

past events have faded like a puff of smoke


童言無忌

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

take no offence at a child's words; a child simply says what he/she thinks


大車無輗

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄜ ㄨˊ ㄋㄧˊ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ni³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ni³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「人而無信，不知其可也。大車無輗，小車無軏，其何以行之哉？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「人而无信，不知其可也。大车无𫐐，小车无𫐄，其何以行之哉？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Rén ér wú xìn, bùzhī qí kě yě. Dàchē wú ní, xiǎochē wú yuè, qí héyǐ xíng zhī zāi?” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "I do not know how a man without truthfulness is to get on. How can a large carriage be made to go without the crossbar for yoking the oxen to, or a small carriage without the arrangement for yoking the horses?"

zh-x

^子曰：「人 而 無 信，不知 其 可 也。大車.無.輗，小車 無 軏，其 何以 行 之 哉？」

an untrustworthy person cannot receive trust from others and be established in society


盛極一時

ㄕㄥˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² kɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² kɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

to be thriving or very popular for a time


望子成龍

ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

ванцзычэнлун

/wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/

/mo¹¹ t͡sɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ leŋ⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/

/mo¹¹ t͡sɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ leŋ⁵⁵/

to hope that one's child succeeds in life


風調雨順

ㄈㄥ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄩˇ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

фэнтяоюйшунь

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯²¹ jyː¹³ sɵn²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²³⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²⁴⁻¹¹ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯²¹ jyː¹³ sɵn²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²³⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²⁴⁻¹¹ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

to have favourable weather conditions (moderate and timely wind and rain) for raising crops


非驢非馬

ㄈㄟ ㄌㄩˊ ㄈㄟ ㄇㄚˇ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ly³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ lɵy̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ maː¹³/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ly³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ lɵy̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ maː¹³/

neither fish nor fowl
neither fish nor fowl


比翼雙飛

ㄅㄧˇ ㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄈㄟ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

(of a married couple) to be together day and night; to help each other and move forward together


比翼齊飛

ㄅㄧˇ ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄟ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/


此一時，彼一時

/t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ pei̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

that was then, this is now
that was then, this is now


筆下生花

ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄨㄚ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ haː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ haː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

to begin to show one’s literary brilliance


空無一物

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/


良藥苦口

desc

→ Japanese: 良薬は口に苦し (ryōyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi) (calque)

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ jœːk̚² fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/lœːŋ²¹ jœːk̚² fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

The analogy is found in Hanfeizi:
:
夫良藥苦於口，而智者勸而飲之，知其入而已己疾也。忠言拂於耳，而明主聽之，知其可以致功也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫良药苦于口，而智者劝而饮之，知其入而已己疾也。忠言拂于耳，而明主听之，知其可以致功也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Fú liángyào kǔ yú kǒu, ér zhìzhě quàn ér yǐn zhī, zhī qí rù ér yǐ jǐ jí yě. Zhōngyán fú yú ěr, ér míngzhǔ tīng zhī, zhī qí kěyǐ zhì gōng yě. [Pinyin]
Good medicine is bitter to taste, but a wise person tries his best to drink it, for he knows that it can cure his illness. Sincere advice grates on the ears, but a wise ruler listens to it, for he knows it can bring about success.
The same analogy is also found in Shiji and Shuoyuan.

zh-x

夫{fú} 良藥 苦 於 口，而 智者 勸 而 飲 之，知 其 入 而 已 己 疾 也。忠言 拂 於 耳，而 明主 聽 之，知 其 可以 致 功 也。

(figuratively) good advice may be uncomfortable to hear


早出晚歸

ㄗㄠˇ ㄔㄨ ㄨㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄟ

цзаочуваньгуй

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ maːn¹³ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ maːn¹³ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

to leave early in the morning and return late at night


若有所思

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄙ

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

to look pensive; to look absorbed in thought


平平無奇

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/


筆墨官司

ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ˙ㄙ

ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙ

бимо гуаньсы

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩²/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩²/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/


低頭不語

ㄉㄧ ㄊㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/ti⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/ti⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

to bow one's head and keep silent; to hang one's head and make no reply; to lower one's head in silence (when one is timid or thinking)


閉門思過

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄙ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to shut oneself away and reflect on one’s mistakes


成何體統

ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄨㄥˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

這個社會已經成何體統？ [MSC, trad.]
这个社会已经成何体统？ [MSC, simp.]

What kind of degeneracy has this society become?

Zhège shèhuì yǐjīng chénghétǐtǒng? [Pinyin]


點睛之筆

ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄅㄧˇ

дяньцзинчжиби

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵/

the finishing touch to a painting; the crucial point that brings the subject to life


敝帚千金

ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ

бичжоуцяньцзинь

/pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

(figurative) to cherish something of little value simply because it is one's own


匠心獨運

ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄨˊ ㄩㄣˋ

цзянсиньдуюнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tu³⁵ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ tʊk̚² wɐn²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tu³⁵ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ tʊk̚² wɐn²²/

to show great ingenuity; to have originality


苦口苦面

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ miːn²²/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ miːn²²/


避坑落井

ㄅㄧˋ ㄎㄥ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ

/pi⁵¹ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯²² haːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

/pi⁵¹ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯²² haːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

out of the frying pan, into the fire
out of the frying pan, into the fire

to dodge a pit only to fall into a well; to fend off one difficulty only to fall prey to another; out of the frying pan, into the fire


攬身攬勢

/laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐi̯³³/

攬身攬勢都好閒 [Cantonese, trad.]
揽身揽势都好闲 [Cantonese, simp.]
laam⁵⁻² san¹ laam⁵⁻² sai³ dou¹ hou² haan⁴ [Jyutping]


擰頭擰髻

/lɪŋ²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɪŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

/lɪŋ²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɪŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

𢴚起張賣身契豈勢咁擰頭擰髻 [Cantonese, trad.]
𢴚起张卖身契岂势咁拧头拧髻 [Cantonese, simp.]

nik¹ hei² zoeng¹ maai⁶ san¹ kai³ hei² sai³ gam² ling⁶ tau⁴ ling⁶ gai³ [Jyutping]

(Cantonese) to nod one's head in satisfaction


妖言惑眾

ㄧㄠ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ waːk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ waːk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

你就別妖言惑眾了，弄得人心惶惶。 [MSC, trad.]
你就别妖言惑众了，弄得人心惶惶。 [MSC, simp.]

Don't spread fallacies to deceive people. It is making everyone feel jittery.

Nǐ jiù bié yāoyánhuòzhòng le, nòng de rénxīnhuánghuáng. [Pinyin]

to delude the masses with strange and harmful teachings; to deceive people with lies and fallacies


雄辯滔滔

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄠ ㄊㄠ

сюнбяньтаотао

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ piːn²² tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ piːn²² tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵/

to argue forcefully and continuously; to argue strongly and eloquently


白費心思

ㄅㄞˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙ

байфэйсиньсы

/paɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² fɐi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² fɐi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/


借題發揮

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄊㄧˊ ㄈㄚ ㄏㄨㄟ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tʰi³⁵ fä⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tʰɐi̯²¹ faːt̚³ fɐi̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tʰi³⁵ fä⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tʰɐi̯²¹ faːt̚³ fɐi̯⁵⁵/

to seize on an incident to express one's own ideas


任人宰割

ㄖㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞˇ ㄍㄜ

жэньжэньцзайгэ

žɛnʹžɛnʹczajgɛ

/ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵/

/jɐm²² jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːt̚³/

/ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵/

/jɐm²² jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːt̚³/

to be at the mercy of others; cannot but allow oneself to be trampled on by others


獨具一格

ㄉㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄧ ㄍㄜˊ

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kɤ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ kaːk̚³/

/tok̚⁴⁻² ku³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² keʔ²/

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kɤ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ kaːk̚³/

/tok̚⁴⁻² ku³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² keʔ²/


明碼實價

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

/miŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ maː¹³ sɐt̚² kaː³³/

/miŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ maː¹³ sɐt̚² kaː³³/

to have a clear and fixed price on an item/commodity


天地不容

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/


始料未及

ㄕˇ ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ liːu̯²² mei̯²² kʰɐp̚²/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liau⁴¹⁻²² bi⁴¹⁻²² kip̚²⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚¹²¹/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻¹¹ bi³³⁻¹¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻²¹ bi³³⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ liːu̯²² mei̯²² kʰɐp̚²/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liau⁴¹⁻²² bi⁴¹⁻²² kip̚²⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚¹²¹/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻¹¹ bi³³⁻¹¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻²¹ bi³³⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/


手下敗將

ㄕㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

шоусябайцзян

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ haː²² paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/

/sɐu̯³⁵ haː²² paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/

one's defeated opponent; person who has been defeated by one


各說各話

ㄍㄜˋ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syːt̚³ kɔːk̚³ waː²²/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syːt̚³ kɔːk̚³ waː²²/

talk past each other
talk past each other

to talk past each other; each says their own unrelated thing


童男童女

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄋㄩˇ

туннаньтуннюй

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³⁻³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³⁻³⁵/


婚喪喜慶

ㄏㄨㄣ ㄙㄤ ㄒㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

хуньсансицин

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɪŋ³³/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun³³ sɔŋ³³ hi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰiɪŋ⁴¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ¹¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɪŋ³³/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun³³ sɔŋ³³ hi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰiɪŋ⁴¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ¹¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

celebrations and mourning; important life events (e.g. weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc.)


金碧輝映

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄧㄥˋ

цзиньбихуэйин

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

(of the furnishings and decorations of a building) magnificent, splendid, and resplendent


莫逆之交

ㄇㄛˋ ㄋㄧˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² jɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² jɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

very close friends (with complete mutual understanding)


開科取士

ㄎㄞ ㄎㄜ ㄑㄩˇ ㄕˋ

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ siː²²/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ siː²²/

imperial examinations
imperial examination

(history) to hold imperial examinations in order to select talented scholars (to become officials)


變生肘腋

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄥ ㄓㄡˇ ㄧㄝˋ

бяньшэнчжоуе

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jɪk̚²/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jɪk̚²/


閉門謝客

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄜˋ

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sɛː²² haːk̚³/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sɛː²² haːk̚³/


文武百官

ㄨㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄅㄞˇ ㄍㄨㄢ

вэньубайгуань

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

(historical) all civil and military officials; all government officials


冰釋前嫌

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

биншицяньсянь

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jiːm²¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jiːm²¹/

let bygones be bygones
let bygones be bygones

to bury the hatchet; to let bygones be bygones; to become reconciled


毫無二致

ㄏㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄦˋ ㄓˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²² t͡siː³³/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²² t͡siː³³/

without the slightest difference; completely identical


垂暮之年

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

чуймучжинянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ mou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ mou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

remaining years (of a person's life); old age; twilight years


拋頭露面

ㄆㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

паотоулумянь

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lou̯²² miːn²²/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ lɔ³³⁻¹¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ lɔ³³⁻²¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴ lɔ²²⁻²¹ bin²²/

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lou̯²² miːn²²/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ lɔ³³⁻¹¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ lɔ³³⁻²¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴ lɔ²²⁻²¹ bin²²/

(slightly derogatory, originally of women) to show one's face in public; to put oneself about


遐邇聞名

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄦˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/haː²¹ jiː¹³ mɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/haː²¹ jiː¹³ mɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

聞名遐邇 聞名遐邇#Chinese

闻名遐迩 闻名遐迩#Chinese


坐立不安

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² laːp̚² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² laːp̚² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

to fidget; to be on tenterhooks; to feel uneasy; to be restless and agitated


疾言厲色

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɐt̚² jiːn²¹ lɐi̯²² sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɐt̚² jiːn²¹ lɐi̯²² sɪk̚⁵/

to be angry and use harsh words with a stern look


條條框框

ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄎㄨㄤˋ

ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄎㄨㄤ ㄎㄨㄤ

тяотяокуанкуан

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵/


兩情相悅

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄩㄝˋ

лянцинсянъюэ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

(of two people) to be in love with each other


蜀犬吠日

ㄕㄨˇ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄖˋ

шуцюаньфэйжи

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/sʊk̚² hyːn³⁵ fɐi̯²² jɐt̚²/

/sʊk̚² hyːn³⁵ fɐi̯²² jɐt̚²/

to be surprised at something common because of one's ignorance


稱兄道弟

ㄔㄥ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² tɐi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² tɐi̯²²/

to call each other brothers; to be on intimate terms


除舊布新

ㄔㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐu̯²² pou̯³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐu̯²² pou̯³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

to demolish the old and establish the new


洋洋自得

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (洋洋自得):
* → Vietnamese: duơng dương tự đắc (洋洋自得)

ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄗˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵/

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵/

to be very pleased with oneself; to be self-satisfied


以防萬一

ㄧˇ ㄈㄤˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄧ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ fɔːŋ²¹ maːn²² jɐt̚⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ fɔːŋ²¹ maːn²² jɐt̚⁵/

to protect against a contingency; just in case


臺前幕後

ㄊㄞˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄡˋ

тайцяньмухоу

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ mɔːk̚² hɐu̯²²/

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ mɔːk̚² hɐu̯²²/

感謝臺前幕後所有人的努力 [MSC, trad.]
感谢台前幕后所有人的努力 [MSC, simp.]

thank everyone involved in the show for their effort

gǎnxiè táiqiánmùhòu suǒyǒu rén de nǔlì [Pinyin]

onstage and backstage; onstage and behind the scenes


休養生息

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧ

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧˊ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

(of a person) to rest and recuperate; to convalesce; (of society) to recover (after a war or upheaval) and regain vitality


悲痛欲絕

ㄅㄟ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄩˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

бэйтунъюйцзюэ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jʊk̚² t͡syːt̚³/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jʊk̚² t͡syːt̚³/

to be grief-stricken; to be extremely grieved


落草為寇

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄘㄠˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄡˋ

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɔːk̚² t͡sʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kʰɐu̯³³/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɔːk̚² t͡sʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kʰɐu̯³³/

to become a bandit in the mountains and woods


勤能補拙

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛ

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ

циньнэнбучжо

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ nɐŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ nɐŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚²/


女中豪傑

ㄋㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄏㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

нюйчжунхаоцзе

/ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/nɵy̯¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ kiːt̚²/

/ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/nɵy̯¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ kiːt̚²/


婦道人家

ㄈㄨˋ ˙ㄉㄠ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄚ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄚ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ˙ㄐㄧㄚ

ㄈㄨˋ ˙ㄉㄠ ㄖㄣˊ ˙ㄐㄧㄚ

фудаожэньцзя

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fuː¹³ tou̯²² jɐn²¹ kaː⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fuː¹³ tou̯²² jɐn²¹ kaː⁵⁵/


尊師重道

ㄗㄨㄣ ㄕ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄠˋ

цзуньшичжундао

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² tou̯²²/

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² tou̯²²/

to respect a teacher and revere his teachings


前所未見

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

цяньсовэйцзянь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹⁻²² kiɛn⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻¹¹ kiɛn¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹⁻²² kiɛn⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻¹¹ kiɛn¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/


貪婪無厭

ㄊㄢ ㄌㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˋ

таньланьуянь

/tʰän⁵⁵ län³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰän⁵⁵ län³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

avaricious; greedy; not able to settle for less


以己度人

ㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kei̯³⁵ tɔːk̚² jɐn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kei̯³⁵ tɔːk̚² jɐn²¹/

to measure others according to one's values; to measure other people's corn by one's own bushel


離經叛道

ㄌㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄆㄢˋ ㄉㄠˋ

лицзинпаньдао

/li³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lei̯²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn²² tou̯²²/

/li³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lei̯²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn²² tou̯²²/

to deviate from the Confucian classics or the orthodoxy; to deviate from the mainstream thought or norms


插贓嫁禍

ㄔㄚ ㄗㄤ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ wɔː²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ wɔː²²/

(Cantonese, Hong Kong) to plant or fabricate evidence


壯志凌雲

ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄓˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄣˊ

чжуанчжилинъюнь

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ lɪŋ²¹ wɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ lɪŋ²¹ wɐn²¹/


缺斤少兩

ㄑㄩㄝ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

цюэцзиньшаолян

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/


缺斤短兩

ㄑㄩㄝ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

цюэцзиньдуаньлян

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ tyːn³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ tyːn³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/


天無二日

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄦˋ ㄖˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jɐt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jɐt̚²/

From Confucius, quoted in Mencius and the Book of Rites.
Mencius, Book 9 (《孟子·萬章上》):
:
孔子曰：『天無二日，民無二王。』 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孔子曰：『天无二日，民无二王。』 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Kǒngzǐ yuē: ‘Tiān wú èr rì, mín wú èr wáng.’ [Pinyin]
Confucius said, "There are not two suns in the sky, nor two sovereigns over the people."
Book of Rites, Book 7 (《禮記·曾子問》):
:
孔子曰：「天無二日，土無二王，嘗禘郊社，尊無二上。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]孔子曰：「天无二日，土无二王，尝禘郊社，尊无二上。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Kǒngzǐ yuē: “Tiān wú èr rì, tǔ wú èr wáng, cháng dì jiāo shè, zūn wú èr shàng....... [Pinyin]
Confucius said, "In heaven there are not two suns; in a country there are not two kings; in the seasonal sacrifices, and those to Heaven and Earth, there are not two who occupy the highest place of honour. […]

zh-x

^孔子 曰：『天.無.二.日，民 無 二 王。』

^孔子 曰：「天.無.二.日，土 無 二 王，嘗 禘 郊 社，尊 無 二 上。……

there cannot be two monarchs or chiefs at the same time


三妻四妾

ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧ ㄙˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰiːp̚³/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi²⁴⁻¹¹ si⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯ap̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰiːp̚³/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi²⁴⁻¹¹ si⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯ap̚²/