回眸一笑

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄡˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

* 806: Bai Juyi, Song of Everlasting Regret
*: 回眸一笑百媚生 [Classical Chinese] ― huímóuyīxiào bǎi mèi shēng [Pinyin] ― She could melt one's heart with her attractive smile […]

鞏俐亮相黃金甲香港首映 回眸一笑不慎露點 [MSC, trad.]
巩俐亮相黄金甲香港首映 回眸一笑不慎露点 [MSC, simp.]

Smiling attractively at the Hong Kong premiere of Curse of the Golden Flower, Gong Li reveals more cleavage than she bargained for

Gǒng Lì liàngxiàng Huángjīnjiǎ Xiānggǎng shǒuyìng, huímóuyīxiào bùshèn lùdiǎn [Pinyin]

to smile attractively; an attractive smile


劍拔弩張

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (劍拔弩張):
* → Japanese: 剣抜弩張(けんばつどちょう) (kenbatsudochō)

swords are unsheathed, and crossbows are drawn

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄚˊ ㄋㄨˇ ㄓㄤ

цзяньбанучжан

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä³⁵ nu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ pɐt̚² nou̯¹³ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä³⁵ nu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ pɐt̚² nou̯¹³ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/


不白之冤

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄞˊ ㄓ ㄩㄢ

бубайчжиюань

/pu⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ uan³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ pe(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/pu⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ uan³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ pe(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

miscarriage of justice which remains uncorrected; unredressed grievance


抽絲剝繭

to peel the cocoon (of a silkworm) by unraveling the (raw) silk thread from which it was spun

ㄔㄡ ㄙ ㄅㄛ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

чоусыбоцзянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚⁵ kaːn³⁵/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁴¹/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁵³/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚⁵ kaːn³⁵/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁴¹/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁵³/

to painstakingly get to the bottom of something; to struggle to understand a convoluted argument or issue


粗枝大葉

ㄘㄨ ㄓ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jiːp̚²/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jiːp̚²/

好在延安許多同志已有詳盡的文章，我的粗枝大葉的東西，就當作一番開臺鑼鼓好了。 [MSC, trad.]
好在延安许多同志已有详尽的文章，我的粗枝大叶的东西，就当作一番开台锣鼓好了。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1940, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《新民主主義論》 (On New Democracy), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Fortunately, there are many comrades in Yenan who have written at length in this field, so that my rough and ready words may serve the same purpose as the beating of the gongs before a theatrical performance.

Hǎozài Yán'ān xǔduō tóngzhì yǐ yǒu xiángjìn de wénzhāng, wǒ de cūzhīdàyè de dōngxi, jiù dàngzuò yīfān kāitáiluógǔ hǎo le. [Pinyin]


步履維艱

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄩˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

булюйвэйцзянь

/pu⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² lei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² lei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

to walk with great difficulty; to have difficulty walking


斷章取義

Sino-Xenic (斷章取義):
* → Japanese: 断(だん)章(しょう)取(しゅ)義(ぎ) (danshōshugi)
* → Korean: 단장 취의(斷章取義) (danjang chwiui)

desc

→ Japanese: 章を断ち義を取る (shō o tachi gi o toru) (calque)

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄤ ㄑㄩˇ ㄧˋ

дуаньчжанцюйи

/tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ jiː²²/

/tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ jiː²²/

take something out of context
take out of context


潰不成軍

ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄩㄣ

куйбучэнцзюнь

/kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

/kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

to be utterly routed; to be soundly defeated


絞盡腦汁

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄠˇ ㄓ

цзяоцзиньнаочжи

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄠˇ ㄓㄦ

цзяоцзиньнаочжир

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² nou̯¹³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² nãu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siap̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ nãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² nou̯¹³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ nãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/


坐井觀天

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ

цзоцзингуаньтянь

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

Related to 井底之蛙 (jǐngdǐzhīwā). Directly from
老子之小仁義，非毀之也，其見者小也。坐井而觀天，曰「天小」者，非天小也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
老子之小仁义，非毁之也，其见者小也。坐井而观天，曰「天小」者，非天小也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. early 9th century, Han Yu (韓愈),《原道》, translated into English as True Faith of a Confucianist by Herbert Allen Giles, 1922.
Lǎozǐ zhī xiǎo rényì, fēi huǐ zhī yě, qí jiàn zhě xiǎo yě. Zuò jǐng ér guān tiān, yuē “tiān xiǎo” zhě, fēi tiān xiǎo yě. [Pinyin]
Lao Tzŭ merely narrowed the scope of charity and duty; he did not attempt to do without them altogether. His view of them was the narrow view of a man sitting at the bottom of a well and inferring the size of the heavens from the small portion visible to himself.

zh-x

^老子 之 小 仁義，非 毀 之 也，其 見 者 小 也。坐 井 而 觀 天，曰「天 小」者，非 天 小 也。

ignorant of the world; to be living under a rock


勢均力敵

ㄕˋ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² tɪk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² tɪk̚²/


如出一轍

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄓㄜˊ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄔㄜˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

from the same mold; peas in a pod; exactly alike


潛移默化

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄧˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːm²¹ jiː²¹ mɐk̚² faː³³/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡siam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡sʰiam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴⁻² hue²¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːm²¹ jiː²¹ mɐk̚² faː³³/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡siam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡sʰiam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴⁻² hue²¹³/

to influence secretly; to change due to unnoticeable influence


韜光養晦

ㄊㄠ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄧㄤˇ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

таогуанъянхуэй

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ fuːi̯³³/

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ fuːi̯³³/

to hide one's talents, and bide one's time for the right opportunity


言之成理

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lei̯¹³/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lei̯¹³/

to speak in a rational or convincing way; to sound reasonable


削足適履

slice off one's foot so that it will fit inside a shoe

ㄒㄩㄝ ㄗㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄌㄩˇ

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄌㄩˇ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːk̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːk̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

to force an impractical solution to a problem


鄭人買履

ㄓㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄩˇ

чжэнжэньмайлюй

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɛːŋ²² jɐn²¹ maːi̯¹³ lei̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɛːŋ²² jɐn²¹ maːi̯¹³ lei̯¹³/

鄭人有且置履者，先自度其足而置之其坐，至之市而忘操之。已得履，乃曰：“吾忘持度，反歸取之。”及反，市罷，遂不得履。人曰：“何不試之以足？”曰：“寧信度，無自信也。” [Classical Chinese, trad.]郑人有且置履者，先自度其足而置之其坐，至之市而忘操之。已得履，乃曰：“吾忘持度，反归取之。”及反，市罢，遂不得履。人曰：“何不试之以足？”曰：“宁信度，无自信也。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Zhèng rén yǒu qiě zhì lǚ zhě, xiān zì duó qí zú ér zhì zhī qí zuò, zhì zhī shì ér wàng cāo zhī. Yǐ dé lǚ, nǎi yuē: “Wú wàng chí dù, fǎn guī qǔ zhī.” Jí fǎn, shì bà, suì bù dé lǚ. Rén yuē: “Hé bù shì zhī yǐ zú?” Yuē: “Níng xìn dù, wú zì xìn yě.” [Pinyin]
There once lived a man from Zheng who was about to buy some shoes. He had measured his feet beforehand, and placed the measurements on a chair. When it came time for him to go to the market, he forgot to bring the measurements with him. He had already picked out the shoes that he wanted, and then said, "I forgot to bring the measurements, I need to go home and get them." He returned home (to get the measurements, but by the time he got back) the market was closed, so he could not get the shoes. People would ask him, "Why did you not just try on the shoes?" To this he replied, "I would rather believe the measurements, I don't trust myself."

^鄭 人 有 且 置 履 者，先 自 度{duó} 其 足 而 置 之 其 坐，至 之 市 而 忘 操 之。已 得 履，乃 曰：“吾 忘 持 度，反 歸 取 之。”及 反，市 罷，遂 不 得 履。人 曰：“何 不 試 之 以 足？”曰：“寧 信 度，無 自 信 也。”

(sarcastic) a person who rigidly adheres to rules and regulations (or established convention), while at the same time ignoring the reality of a situation


刻舟求劍

ja-r

こく%しゅう%きゅう%けん

CJKV/code

こく%しゅう%きゅう%けん

Sino-Xenic (刻舟求劍):
* → Japanese: 刻(こく)舟(しゅう)求(きゅう)剣(けん) (kokushūkyūken)
* → Korean: 각주구검(刻舟求劍) (gakjugugeom)
* → Vietnamese: khắc chu cầu kiếm (刻舟求劍)

CJKV

こく%しゅう%きゅう%けん

ja-r

ふね に きざみて けん を もとむ

→ Japanese: (calque) 舟(ふね)に刻(きざ)みて剣(けん)を求(もと)む (fune ni kizamite ken o motomu)

ㄎㄜˋ ㄓㄡ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

кэчжоуцюцзянь

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ kiːm³³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ kiːm³³/

From a story in Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals:
:
楚人有涉江者，其劍自舟中墜於水。遽契其舟，曰：是吾劍之所從墜。舟止，從其所契者入水求之。舟已行矣，而劍不行。求劍若此，不亦惑乎。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]楚人有涉江者，其剑自舟中坠于水。遽契其舟，曰：是吾剑之所从坠。舟止，从其所契者入水求之。舟已行矣，而剑不行。求剑若此，不亦惑乎。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
Chǔ rén yǒu shè jiāng zhě, qí jiàn zì zhōu zhōng zhuì yú shuǐ. Jù qì qí zhōu, yuē: shì wú jiàn zhī suǒ cóng zhuì. Zhōu zhǐ, cóng qí suǒ qì zhě rù shuǐ qiú zhī. Zhōu yǐ xíng yǐ, ér jiàn bù xíng. Qiú jiàn ruò cǐ, bù yì huò hū. [Pinyin]
There was a man from the state of Chu who was crossing a river. His sword fell from the boat into the river. He quickly made a notch on the boat saying, "This is the place where my sword fell in. When the boat stops, I will go into the water and search for my sword from the spot where I made the notch." The boat was already moving, but the sword had not moved. Is it not stupid to search for the sword in this manner?

zh-x

楚 人 有 涉 江 者，其 劍 自 舟 中 墜 於 水。遽 契 其 舟，曰：是 吾 劍 之 所 從 墜。舟 止，從 其 所 契 者 入 水 求 之。舟 已 行 矣，而 劍 不 行。求 劍 若 此，不 亦 惑 乎。

似你這樣尋根究底，便是刻舟求劍，膠柱鼓瑟了。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
似你这样寻根究底，便是刻舟求剑，胶柱鼓瑟了。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: c. 1791, Anonymous, Dream of the Red Chamber, Chapter 120 (紅樓夢/第120回)

It seems as though this kind of thorough investigation that you are conducting is like notching a moving boat in order to mark where your sword dropped into the river, you are being inflexible.

Sì nǐ zhèyàng xúngēnjiūdǐ, biànshì kèzhōuqiújiàn, jiāozhùgǔsè le. [Pinyin]

文學藝術工作者必須正視我國當前迅速變化的實際，來考察我們過去用慣了的文藝理論，而不能刻舟求劍。 [MSC, trad.]
文学艺术工作者必须正视我国当前迅速变化的实际，来考察我们过去用惯了的文艺理论，而不能刻舟求剑。 [MSC, simp.]

From: c. 1900 - 1995: Xia Yan, Unite and advance through liberation thought (解放思想團結前進)

Workers in the literary arts must squarely face the reality of the rapid changes currently taking place within our country when considering the wellworn theories of the past about literature and art, and must not stubbornly cling to tradition.

Wénxué yìshù gōngzuòzhě bìxū zhèngshì wǒguó dāngqián xùnsù biànhuà de shíjì, lái kǎochá wǒmen guòqù yòng guàn le de wényì lǐlùn, ér bùnéng kèzhōuqiújiàn. [Pinyin]

to not know how to adapt to changed conditions; to rigidly cling to an idea or approach without considering the reality of a situation; to stubbornly cling to tradition


殺雞儆猴

→ Vietnamese: giết gà doạ khỉ (calque)

杀鸡儆猴
殺鷄儆猴
殺雞警猴/殺鷄警猴/杀鸡警猴
殺雞驚猴/殺鷄驚猴/杀鸡惊猴

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄏㄡˊ

шацзицзинхоу

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄏㄡˊㄦ

шацзицзинхоур

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²¹/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²¹/

(figurative) to make a public demonstration of punishing a wrongdoer in order to deter innocents who might mimic the example of the wrongdoer


塞翁失馬

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (塞翁失馬):
* → Korean: 새옹실마(塞翁失馬) (sae'ongsilma)
* → Vietnamese: tái ông thất mã (塞翁失馬)

Japanese: 塞翁(さいおう)が馬(うま) (saiō ga uma)

Korean: 새옹지마 (塞翁之馬, sae'ongjima)

ㄙㄞˋ ㄨㄥ ㄕ ㄇㄚˇ

/saɪ̯⁵¹ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/sai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai¹¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai²¹⁻⁴¹ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

/saɪ̯⁵¹ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/sai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai¹¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai²¹⁻⁴¹ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

See 塞翁失馬，焉知非福／塞翁失马，焉知非福 (sàiwēng shī mǎ, yānzhī fēi fú).

zh-l

Every cloud has a silver lining
every cloud has a silver lining

blessing in disguise
blessing in disguise

Every cloud has a silver lining. / A setback may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.


不形於色

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄩˊ ㄙㄜˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ y³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ y³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

one's facial expression does not reveal any emotion; to not reveal any emotion on one's face


脣若塗脂

ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄓ

ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄓˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵn²¹ jœːk̚² tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/sɵn²¹ jœːk̚² tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/


燕頷虎鬚

ㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄒㄩ

яньханьхусюй

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/jiːn³³ hɐm¹³ fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/jiːn³³ hɐm¹³ fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/


威風凜凜

ㄨㄟ ㄈㄥ ㄌㄧㄣˇ ㄌㄧㄣˇ

вэйфэнлиньлинь

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐm¹³ lɐm¹³/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ lim³¹ lim³¹/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ li̯aŋ³¹ li̯aŋ³¹/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐm¹³ lɐm¹³/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ lim³¹ lim³¹/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ li̯aŋ³¹ li̯aŋ³¹/


皇天后土

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄡˋ ㄊㄨˇ

хуантяньхоуту

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² tʰou̯³⁵/

/*[ɢ]ʷˤaŋ l̥ˤi[n]|l̥ˤi[n] ɢˤ(r)oʔ tʰˤaʔ/

/*ɡʷaːŋ qʰl'iːn ɡoːʔ|ɡoːs l̥ʰaːʔ/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² tʰou̯³⁵/

/*ɡʷaːŋ qʰl'iːn ɡoːʔ|ɡoːs l̥ʰaːʔ/


同心協力

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hiːp̚³ lɪk̚²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiap̚⁴³⁻²¹ lek̚⁴³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hiːp̚³ lɪk̚²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiap̚⁴³⁻²¹ lek̚⁴³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

to join forces; to work together toward a common goal


協力同心

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hiːp̚³ lɪk̚² tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hiːp̚³ lɪk̚² tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/


措手不及

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

我預將大兵蔭蔽集結於敵必經通路之側，乘敵運動之際，突然前進，包圍而攻擊之，打他一個措手不及，迅速解決戰鬥。 [MSC, trad.]
我预将大兵荫蔽集结于敌必经通路之侧，乘敌运动之际，突然前进，包围而攻击之，打他一个措手不及，迅速解决战斗。 [MSC, simp.]

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

We should concentrate a big force under cover beforehand alongside the route which the enemy is sure to take, and while he is on the move, advance suddenly to encircle and attack him before he knows what is happening, and thus quickly conclude the battle.

Wǒ yù jiāng dàbīng yìnbì jíjié yú dí bìjīng tōnglù zhī cè, chéng dí yùndòng zhī jì, tūrán qiánjìn, bāowéi ér gōngjī zhī, dǎ tā yīge cuòshǒubùjí, xùnsù jiějué zhàndòu. [Pinyin]


不計其數

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ sou̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ke⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sɔ²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ sou̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ke⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sɔ²¹/


從天而降

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

цунтяньэрцзян

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

to happen all of a sudden; to happen out of the blue; to come out of nowhere


自天而下

ㄗˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ haː²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ haː²²/


招降納順

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄋㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

чжаосяннашунь

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²¹ naːp̚² sɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²¹ naːp̚² sɵn²²/

(archaic) to entreat the enemy to surrender and allow those who are obedient (to the government) to rejoin society


秋毫無犯

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄏㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄈㄢˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ faːn²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ faːn²²/

to not even commit the slightest violation


模稜兩可

模棱两可
模棱兩可
摸稜兩可

ㄇㄛˊ ㄌㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄎㄜˇ

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ lɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ hɔː³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ lɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ hɔː³⁵/


欺君罔上

ㄑㄧ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄨㄤˇ ㄕㄤˋ

цицзюньваншан

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ²²/


危在旦夕

ㄨㄟ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧˋ

вэйцзайданьси

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² taːn³³ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ɡui²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁵³ siɪk̚⁴/

/ɡui²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ sit̚⁴/

/ɡui²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ sit̚⁴/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² taːn³³ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ɡui²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁵³ siɪk̚⁴/

/ɡui²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ sit̚⁴/

/ɡui²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ sit̚⁴/

天下危在旦夕，陛下尚自與閹宦共飲耶！ [MSC, trad.]
天下危在旦夕，陛下尚自与阉宦共饮耶！ [MSC, simp.]

The world is crashing down upon us, and yet Your Majesty is enjoying wine with the eunuchs!

Tiānxià wēi zài dànxī, bìxià shàng zì yǔ yānhuàn gòng yǐn yē! [Pinyin]

in imminent danger; on the brink of crisis


垂簾聽政

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄓㄥˋ

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄥˋ

чуйляньтинчжэн

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ liːm²¹ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ liːm²¹ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

The idiom arose from a practice in ancient China, by which a royal lady, as an empress or empress dowager, was allowed to preside over the imperial court without actually being seen by her subjects, because women were prohibited from politics. This would usually be done by the mother of a child emperor.

to handle matters of state behind a curtain

皇上龍體違和，正需要靜養。懇請皇太后垂簾聽政，以安天下人心！ [MSC, trad.]
皇上龙体违和，正需要静养。恳请皇太后垂帘听政，以安天下人心！ [MSC, simp.]

His Majesty's imperial body is unwell and now needs rest. We earnestly beg Empress Dowager to rule the empire from behind the curtain, so as to pacify public sentiment throughout this realm under heaven!

Huángshàng lóngtǐ wéihé, zhèng xūyào jìngyǎng. Kěnqǐng huángtàihòu chuíliántīngzhèng, yǐ ān tiānxià rénxīn! [Pinyin]

(historical) (of female royal members, e.g. empress or empress dowager) to rule in place of a monarch; to serve as regent


洪爐燎髮

(to light) a big oven so that one can burn (a person's) body and head hair

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄈㄚˋ

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄈㄚˇ

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ lou̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ faːt̚³/

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ lou̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ faːt̚³/

(archaic) overkill; to go way overboard; to use a sledge hammer to crack a nut


名正言順

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (名正言順):
* → Vietnamese: danh chính ngôn thuận (名正言順)

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

минчжэнъяньшунь

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ sɵn²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun⁴¹/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sun³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ sun³³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ sɵn²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sun³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ sun³³/

Appeared in the Analects in the negative as 名不正，則言不順／名不正，则言不顺 (míng bù zhèng, zé yán bù shùn).

zh-l

to be fitting and proper; to be perfectly justified or deserved


揚湯止沸

try to stop water from boiling by scooping it up from the pot and pouring it back

ㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄤ ㄓˇ ㄈㄟˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯³³/

/jɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯³³/

(figuratively) to implement temporary solutions that do not address the root of the problem


愚公移山

ja-r

ぐ%こう %やま を うつす

→ Japanese: 愚(ぐ)公(こう)山(やま)を移(うつ)す (gukō yama o utsusu) (calque)

ㄩˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄧˊ ㄕㄢ

/y³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/ŋy³³ kɔŋ⁵⁴ i³³ suiŋ⁵⁴/

/y³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/ŋy³³ kɔŋ⁵⁴ i³³ suiŋ⁵⁴/

For more information, see the citations page.

to be resolute in one's endeavor, no matter what hardships one encounters


以儆效尤

ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄧㄡˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kɪŋ³⁵ haːu̯²² jɐu̯²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kɪŋ³⁵ haːu̯²² jɐu̯²¹/

(to make a public demonstration of punishing a wrongdoer) in order to deter innocents who might mimic the example of the wrongdoer


旌旗蔽日

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖˋ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/


草菅人命

ㄘㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

цаоцзяньжэньмин

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kuan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kuan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

to regard human life as if it were as worthless as straw


支離破碎

ㄓ ㄌㄧˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰui²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰui²¹/


截然不同

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

цзежаньбутун

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² liɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² ziɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² liɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² ziɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³/

to be completely different; to be poles apart


見利忘義

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (見利忘義):
* → Japanese: 見利忘義(けんりぼうぎ) (kenribōgi)
* → Korean: 견리망의(見利忘義) (gyeollimang'ui)

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄧˋ

цзяньливанъи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ lei̯²² mɔːŋ²¹ jiː²²/

/kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ li³⁵⁻¹¹ buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ lei̯²² mɔːŋ²¹ jiː²²/

/kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ li³⁵⁻¹¹ buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

這樣一來，一些喪盡天良的資本家，就見利忘義，躍躍欲試。 [MSC, trad.]
这样一来，一些丧尽天良的资本家，就见利忘义，跃跃欲试。 [MSC, simp.]

At the prospect of profits, some conscienceless capitalists forget all moral principles and itch to have a go.

Zhèyàngyīlái, yīxiē sàngjìntiānliáng de zīběnjiā, jiù jiànlìwàngyì, yuèyuèyùshì. [Pinyin]

to forget one's principles whenever tempted by the prospect of personal gain


既往不咎

ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

From the Analects, Book 3 (《論語·八佾》):
:
哀公問社於宰我。宰我對曰：「夏后氏以松，殷人以柏，周人以栗，曰使民戰栗。」子聞之曰：「成事不說，遂事不諫，既往不咎。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]哀公问社于宰我。宰我对曰：「夏后氏以松，殷人以柏，周人以栗，曰使民战栗。」子闻之曰：「成事不说，遂事不谏，既往不咎。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
Āigōng wèn shè yú Zǎi Wǒ. Zǎi Wǒ duìyuē: “Xiàhòushì yǐ sōng, yīnrén yǐ bǎi, zhōurén yǐ lì, yuē shǐ mín zhànlì.” Zǐ wén zhī yuē: “Chéngshì bùshuō, suìshì bùjiàn, jìwǎngbùjiù.” [Pinyin]
Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altars of the spirits of the land. Zai Wo replied, "The Xia sovereign's clan planted the pine tree about them; the men of the Yin planted the cypress; and the men of the Zhou planted the chestnut tree, meaning thereby to cause the people to be trembling in awe." When the Master heard it, he said, "Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that have had their course, it is needless to remonstrate about; things that are past, it is needless to blame."

zh-x

哀-公 問 社 於 ^宰 ^我。^宰 ^我 對-曰：「夏后氏 以 松，殷-人 以 柏，周-人 以 栗，曰 使 民 戰慄\戰栗。」子 聞 之 曰：「成事 不-說，遂事 不-諫，既往不咎。」

Things that are past, it is needless to blame.

let bygones be bygones
let bygones be bygones


化險為夷

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˊ

хуа сянь вэй и

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i³⁵/

/faː³³ hiːm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː²¹/

/hua²¹⁻⁵³ hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i³⁵/

/faː³³ hiːm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː²¹/

/hua²¹⁻⁵³ hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/


州官放火

ㄓㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄈㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

чжоугуаньфанхо

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ³³ fɔː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ³³ fɔː³⁵/

Literally: the prefectural official sets fires (but the common citizens are not allowed to light their lamps)

a tyrant boss or leader can do whatever he likes, but the common people are not allowed the slightest bit of freedom

只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈／只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

zhǐ xǔ zhōuguān fànghuǒ, bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng


八仙過海，各顯神通

TheEight Immortals cross the sea, each revealing their divine power

ㄅㄚ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥ

baat³ sin¹ gwo³ hoi², gok³ hin² san⁴ tung¹

гэсяньшэньтун

/pä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

baat⁸ sin¹ gwo³ hoi², gok⁸ hin² san⁴ tung¹

bad³ xin¹ guo³ hoi², gog³ hin² sen⁴ tung¹

/paːt̚³ siːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːk̚³ hiːn³⁵ sɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

everybody using their talents or skills to achieve a common goal


驚弓之鳥

a bird frightened by [the mere sound of] a bow [that shoots arrows]

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

цзингунчжиняо

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³/

panic-stricken person; someone who is easily frightened due to past experiences of attack or shock


一手遮天

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

ㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓㄜ ㄊㄧㄢ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to hide the truth (from the public or masses)


日積月累

ㄖˋ ㄐㄧ ㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄟˇ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːt̚² lɵy̯²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui⁴¹/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui³³/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːt̚² lɵy̯²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui⁴¹/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui³³/

to accumulate over a long period; gradual accumulation


一片冰心

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

ипяньбинсинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

From a poem by Wang Changling (王昌齡, 698–756):
洛陽親友如相問，一片冰心在玉壺。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]洛阳亲友如相问，一片冰心在玉壶。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Wang Changling (王昌齡), c. 742, At Hibiscus Inn Parting With Xin Jian (《芙蓉樓送辛漸》), translated by Witter Bynner.
Luòyáng qīnyǒu rú xiàngwèn, yīpiàn bīngxīn zài yùhú. [Pinyin]
Answer, if they ask of me at Loyang:
"One-hearted as ice in a crystal vase."

洛陽 親友 如 相-問， @一-@片 @冰-@心 在 玉-壺。


如履平地

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄩˇ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧˋ

жу люй пинди

/ʐu³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ lei̯¹³ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/

/ʐu³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ lei̯¹³ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/


敬賢禮士

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄕˋ

цзинсяньлиши

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

From 虞溥 (Yu Pu)'s《江表傳》 Accounts from the Area South of the Yangtze River, quoted in Pei Songzhi's Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms:
*
孫討虜聰明仁惠，敬賢禮士，江表英豪，咸歸附之，已據有六郡，兵精糧多，足以立事。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]孙讨虏聪明仁惠，敬贤礼士，江表英豪，咸归附之，已据有六郡，兵精粮多，足以立事。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Pei Songzhi, Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 5ᵗʰ century CE
Sūn Tǎolǔ cōngmíng rénhuì, jìngxiánlǐshì, Jiāngbiǎo yīngháo, xián guīfù zhī, yǐ jù yǒu liùjùn, bīngjīng liángduō, zú yǐ lìshì. [Pinyin]
Sun Quan, the Brigand-Queller, is brilliant and compassionate. He treats worthies with respect and elites with courtesy. The heroes and braves south of the Yangtze have all attached themselves to him. He already holds six commanderies, and his troops are superb and grain supplies, plentiful. It is enough for an undertaking.

孫 ^討-虜 聰明 仁惠，敬賢禮士，^江表 英豪，咸 歸附 之，已 據 有 六-郡，兵-精 糧-多，足 以 立-事。

to respect people of talent and ability (said of a superior)


江河日下

the (water level) of the streams and rivers goes down by the day (because of the change of seasons)

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ jɐt̚² haː²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ jɐt̚² haː²²/

to worsen by the day; to get worse with each passing day


不足為慮

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄩˋ

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/


張三李四

ㄓㄤ ㄙㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄙˋ

чжансаньлисы

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ sei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ sei̯³³/


張冠李戴

ㄓㄤ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ

чжангуаньлидай

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ taːi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ taːi̯³³/

(figurative) to confuse a person with someone else; to confuse one thing with another


熟能生巧

ㄕㄨˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

ㄕㄡˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

/ʂu³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

шоунэншэнцяо

/ʂoʊ̯³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sʊk̚² nɐŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ haːu̯³⁵/

/ʂu³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂoʊ̯³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sʊk̚² nɐŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ haːu̯³⁵/

First attested to the story The Oil Peddler by Ouyang Xiu.
:
陳康肅公堯咨善射，當世無雙，公亦以此自矜。嘗射於家圃，有賣油翁釋擔而立，睨之，久而不去。見其發矢十中八九，但微頷之。康肅問曰：「汝亦知射乎？吾射不亦精乎？」翁曰：「無他，但手熟爾。」康肅忿然曰：「爾安敢輕吾射！」翁曰：「以我酌油知之。」乃取一葫蘆置於地，以錢覆其口，徐以杓酌油瀝之，自錢孔入，而錢不濕。因曰：「我亦無他，惟手熟爾。」康肅笑而遣之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]陈康肃公尧咨善射，当世无双，公亦以此自矜。尝射于家圃，有卖油翁释担而立，睨之，久而不去。见其发矢十中八九，但微颔之。康肃问曰：「汝亦知射乎？吾射不亦精乎？」翁曰：「无他，但手熟尔。」康肃忿然曰：「尔安敢轻吾射！」翁曰：「以我酌油知之。」乃取一葫芦置于地，以钱覆其口，徐以杓酌油沥之，自钱孔入，而钱不湿。因曰：「我亦无他，惟手熟尔。」康肃笑而遣之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: "The Oil Peddler" (賣油翁) by Ouyang Xiu
Chén Kāngsùgōng Yáozī shàn shè, dāngshì wúshuāng, gōng yì yǐ cǐ zìjīn. Cháng shè yú jiā pǔ, yǒu mài yóu wēng shì dān ér lì, nì zhī, jiǔ ér bù qù. Jiàn qí fā shǐ shí zhōng bā jiǔ, dàn wēi hàn zhī. Kāngsù wèn yuē: “Rǔ yì zhī shè hū? Wú shè bù yì jīng hū?” Wēng yuē: “Wú tā, dàn shǒu shú ěr.” Kāngsù fèn rán yuē: “Ěr ān gǎn qīng wú shè!” Wēng yuē: “Yǐ wǒ zhuó yóu zhī zhī.” Nǎi qǔ yī húlú zhì yú dì, yǐ qián fù qí kǒu, xú yǐ biāo zhuó yóu lì zhī, zì qián kǒng rù, ér qián bù shī. Yīn yuē: “Wǒ yì wú tā, wéi shǒu shú ěr.” Kāngsù xiào ér qiǎn zhī. [Pinyin]
Chen Yaozi, titled Kangsu, was good at archery. He was unparalleled at the time, so he boasted of his achievements. Once, he was shooting in the yard at home when an oil peddler put down his load and stood up, looked, and did not leave for a long time. The peddler saw him hit eight to nine arrows in ten, but nodded slightly. Kangsu asked: "do you know how to shoot? isn't my shooting good?" The peddler said: "you have nothing but good technique." Kangsu angrily replied: "how dare you underestimate my archery?" The peddler said: "through my knowledge in pouring oil." Hence, he took out a bottle gourd, placing it on the ground, and covered the mouth with a coin, slowly using a ladle and dripped the oil in. The oil drips through the hole on the coin, but the coin wasn't wet. So, he said: "I have nothing too, my hands are merely proficient." Kangsu sent him away with a smile.

^@陳 ^@康肅公 ^@堯咨 善 射，當世 無雙 ，公 亦 以 此 自矜。嘗 射 於 家 圃，有 賣 油 翁 釋 擔 而 立，睨 之，久 而 不 去。見 其 發 矢 十 中 八 九，但 微 頷 之。^@康肅 問 曰：「汝 亦 知 射 乎？吾 射 不 亦 精 乎？」翁 曰：「無 他， 但 手 熟 爾。」^@康肅 忿 然 曰：「爾 安 敢 輕 吾 射！」 翁 曰：「以 我 酌 油 知 之。」乃 取 一 葫蘆 置 於 地，以 錢 覆 其 口，徐 以 杓 酌 油 瀝 之，自 錢 孔 入，而 錢 不 濕 。因 曰：「我 亦 無 他， 惟 手 熟 爾。」^@康肅 笑 而 遣 之。

practice makes perfect
practice makes perfect


滅國弒君

ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄩㄣ

/mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/miːt̚² kʷɔːk̚³ siː³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

/mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/miːt̚² kʷɔːk̚³ siː³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

(archaic) to destroy the nation and kill the ruler (emperor)


安營下寨

ㄢ ㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓㄞˋ

/ˀän⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹ haː²² t͡saːi̯²²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹ haː²² t͡saːi̯²²/


豹頭猿臂

The head of a leopard and the arms of an ape

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ

баотоуюаньби

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jyːn²¹ pei̯³³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jyːn²¹ pei̯³³/

卓視之，其人身長九尺，虎體狼腰，豹頭猿臂 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
卓视之，其人身长九尺，虎体狼腰，豹头猿臂 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Zhuo took a look at the man, who stood at a height of nine chi, had a tiger-like torso, a wolf-like waist, a panther-like head, and ape-like arms

Zhuó shì zhī, qí rén shēncháng jiǔ chǐ, hǔtǐlángyāo, bàotóuyuánbì [Pinyin]

(figurative) person with an imposing and majestic bearing


手起刀落

ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄧˇ ㄉㄠ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hei̯³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hei̯³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

(archaic) to cut down with one swift stroke of one's sword


一言興邦

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄤ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ pɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ pɔːŋ⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 13 (《論語·子路》):
:
定公問：「一言而可以興邦，有諸？」
孔子對曰：「言不可以若是其幾也。人之言曰：『為君難，為臣不易。』如知為君之難也，不幾乎一言而興邦乎？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]定公问：「一言而可以兴邦，有诸？」
孔子对曰：「言不可以若是其几也。人之言曰：『为君难，为臣不易。』如知为君之难也，不几乎一言而兴邦乎？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dìng Gōng wèn: “Yīyán ér kěyǐ xìngbāng, yǒu zhū?”
Kǒngzǐ duì yuē: “Yán bù kěyǐ ruò shì qí jī yě. Rén zhī yán yuē: ‘Wéi jūn nán, wéi chén bùyì.’ Rú zhī wéi jūn zhī nán yě, bù jī hū yīyán ér xìngbāng hū?” [Pinyin]
The Duke Ding (鲁定公) asked whether there was a single sentence which could make a country prosperous.
Confucius replied, "Such an effect cannot be expected from one sentence. There is a saying, however, which people have ― 'To be a prince is difficult; to be a minister is not easy.' If a ruler knows this ― the difficulty of being a prince ― may there not be expected from this one sentence the prosperity of his country?"

@^定 ^公 問：「@一言 而 可以 @興邦，有 諸？」
^孔子 對 曰：「言 不 可以 若 是 其 幾{jī} 也。人 之 言 曰：『為{wéi} 君 難，為{wéi} 臣 不易。』如 知 為{wéi} 君 之 難 也，不 幾{jī} 乎 @一言 而 @興邦 乎？」

One inspirational sentence can revitalize a nation.


膠柱鼓瑟

to play a zither whose bridge is glued to the sound board

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄓㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³ kuː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³ kuː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵/


耀武揚威

ㄧㄠˋ ㄨˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄨㄟ

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²² mou̯¹³ jœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau⁴¹⁻²² bu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui³³/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻¹¹ bu¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ ui⁴⁴/

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²² mou̯¹³ jœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau⁴¹⁻²² bu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui³³/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻¹¹ bu¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ ui⁴⁴/

to prance about; to thump one's chest; to swagger about; to brag of one's military prowess


倒豎虎鬚

ㄉㄠˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄒㄩ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ syː²² fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ syː²² fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

to appear fierce or angry, with one's whiskers seemingly standing straight up


奮不顧身

ㄈㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄕㄣ

фэньбугушэнь

/fən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/fɐn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin³³/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin⁴⁴/

/fən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/fɐn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin³³/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin⁴⁴/

to dash ahead without regard to one's personal safety


抱頭鼠竄

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄘㄨㄢˋ

баотоушуцуань

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

/pʰou̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

/pʰou̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³/

to cover up one's head with one's hands (ducking for cover), and scurry off like a rat

夫陸賈天下之辯士，吾前日遣之，智窮辭屈，抱頭鼠竄，顛狽而歸，僅以身免。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
夫陆贾天下之辩士，吾前日遣之，智穷辞屈，抱头鼠窜，颠狈而归，仅以身免。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

Fú Lù Gǔ tiānxià zhī biànshì, wú qiánrì qiǎn zhī, zhìqióng cíqū, bàotóushǔcuàn, diānbèi ér guī, jǐnyǐshēnmiǎn. [Pinyin]

to flee like a scared rabbit; to scurry away like a rat


百無一二

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

there are no more than a few people left


才華橫溢

ㄘㄞˊ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄏㄥˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ waː²¹ waːŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ waː²¹ waːŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/


萬古長青

ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄥ

ваньгучанцин

/wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² kuː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² kuː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/


勢不可當

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄤ

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄤˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

fierce and overwhelming; swift and unstoppable


月明如晝

ㄩㄝˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄡˋ

юэ мин жу чжоу

/ɥɛ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːt̚² mɪŋ²¹ jyː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³³/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːt̚² mɪŋ²¹ jyː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³³/

the moon shined as bright as if it were midday


飲水思源

desc

→ Vietnamese: uống nước nhớ nguồn (calque)

ㄧㄣˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄙ ㄩㄢˊ

иньшуйсыюань

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

From "Tune in the Key of Zhǐ" (徵調曲) written by Yu Xin (庾信) during the Northern and Southern dynasties:
:
落其實者思其樹；飲其流者懷其源。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]落其实者思其树；饮其流者怀其源。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Luò qí shí zhě sī qí shù; yǐn qí liú zhě huái qí yuán. [Pinyin]
When you eat the fruit, remember the trees that produced them; when you drink water, think of its source.
i.e. remember where and how the fruit/water came from. Don’t just be thankful for the fruit/water. The idiom makes use of the latter half: be thankful for all the elements and processes (both past and present) that allowed you to enjoy that humble cup of water.

zh-x

落 其 實 者 思 其 樹；飲 其 流 者 懷 其 源。

to remember where one's happiness comes from; to not forget one's roots or heritage


東道主

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² t͡syː³⁵/

/tɔŋ³³ tɔ²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ to³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² t͡syː³⁵/

/tɔŋ³³ tɔ²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ to³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹/

Attested in Zuo Zhuan (circa 4th century B.C.E.), in the entry for the 30th year of Duke Xi's reign (《左傳·僖公三十年》):
若捨鄭以為東道主，行李之往來，共其乏困，君亦無所害。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]若舍郑以为东道主，行李之往来，共其乏困，君亦无所害。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Ruò shě Zhèng yǐwéi dōngdàozhǔ, xínglǐ zhī wǎnglái, gòng qí fákùn, jūn yì wú suǒ hài. [Pinyin]
If you would spare Zheng as a host of the eastern roads, we are willing to provide hospitability and aid to your eastbound diplomatic missions. There could be no harm to you in this.
Uttered by Zhu Zhiwu (燭之武), a Zheng courtier, during his negotiation with the Count Mu of Qin (秦穆公) who was laying siege to the state of Zheng. Later used idiomatically as a generic term for a host.

4th century <small class='ce-date'>B.C.E.</small>

若 捨{shě} ^鄭 以為{wéi} 東道主，行李 之 往來，共 其 乏困，君 亦 無 所 害。

萬國爭推東道主 [MSC, trad.]
万国争推东道主 [MSC, simp.]

From: c. 1890, 黃遵憲 (Huang Zunxian), 〈蘇彝士河〉 ("Suez Canal")

host (person who receives or entertains other people as guests)


如醉如痴

ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄔ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵/

如痴如醉 如痴如醉#Chinese

Alternative form of 如痴如醉 (rúchīrúzuì, “spellbound; fascinated”)


萬水千山

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄕㄢ

ваньшуйцяньшань

/wän⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

千山萬水 千山萬水#Chinese

千山万水 千山万水#Chinese

Alternative form of 千山萬水／千山万水 (qiānshānwànshuǐ, “many rivers and mountains; distant, dangerous and difficult path”)


前赴後繼

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньфухоуцзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ fuː²² hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ fuː²² hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³/

從那時起，一代又一代的門徒前赴後繼地將福音傳向地極。 [MSC, trad.]
从那时起，一代又一代的门徒前赴后继地将福音传向地极。 [MSC, simp.]
Cóng nàshí qǐ, yīdài yòu yīdài de méntú qiánfùhòujì de jiāng fúyīn chuán xiàng dìjí. [Pinyin]

2023 December, 陳欣懿牧師 [Rev. John Chan], “宣教新趨勢”, in 我的中國心, number 75

From then on, disciples generation after generation have been bravely and fearlessly advancing the Gospel towards the ends of the earth.

to bravely and fearlessly advance wave upon wave


堅貞不屈

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩ

цзяньчжэньбуцюй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵/


得不償失

ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄕ

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵/

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵/

the loss outweighs the gain; to do more harm than good


面面俱到

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄉㄠˋ

мяньмяньцзюйдао

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/miːn²² miːn²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ tou̯³³/

/miːn²² miːn²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ tou̯³³/

attending to each and every aspect of a matter; thorough


層出不窮

ㄘㄥˊ ㄔㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡san²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san¹³⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ put̚³²⁻⁵ kiɪŋ¹³/

/t͡san²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²³/

/t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰioŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰioŋ⁵⁵/

to emerge in an endless stream; to come thick and fast


不言而喻

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄩˋ

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː²²/

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː²²/

to go without saying; to be self-evident


可歌可泣

ㄎㄜˇ ㄍㄜ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧˋ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐp̚⁵/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐp̚⁵/


門當戶對

desc

môn đăng hộ đối

CJKV/code

môn đăng hộ đối

Sino-Xenic (門當戶對):
* → Vietnamese: môn đăng hộ đối (門當戶對)

CJKV

môn đăng hộ đối

ㄇㄣˊ ㄉㄤ ㄏㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

мэньданхудуй

/mən³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²² tɵy̯³³/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻²¹ tui²¹/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻¹¹ tui¹¹/

/mən³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²² tɵy̯³³/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻²¹ tui²¹/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻¹¹ tui¹¹/

to be well-matched in terms of socio-economic status (for purposes of marriage); to have similar family backgrounds


精打細算

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄒㄧˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

цзиндасисуань

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ suan²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sŋ̍²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sue¹¹⁻⁵³ sŋ̍¹¹/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ suan²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sŋ̍²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sue¹¹⁻⁵³ sŋ̍¹¹/

careful calculation and strict budgeting


欣欣向榮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

синьсиньсянжун

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³ wɪŋ²¹/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him³³ him³³ hiɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ¹³/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iɪŋ²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³ wɪŋ²¹/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him³³ him³³ hiɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ¹³/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iɪŋ²³/

From a Fu by Tao Yuanming:
:
木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]木欣欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Yuanming, 《歸去來兮辭》, 405 CE
Mù xīnxīn yǐ xiàng róng, quán juānjuān ér shǐ liú. [Pinyin]
The trees thriving in luxuriance; the stream flowing leisurely from the spring.

zh-x

木 @欣欣 以 @向 @榮，泉 涓涓 而 始 流。

Tao Yuanming, 《歸去來兮辭》, 405 <small class="ce-date">CE</small>

這時全國各方面是欣欣向榮的，政治上有民主化的趨勢，文化上有較普遍的動員。 [MSC, trad.]
这时全国各方面是欣欣向荣的，政治上有民主化的趋势，文化上有较普遍的动员。 [MSC, simp.]

During that stage, there was a lively atmosphere in the country in every field; politically there was a trend towards democracy and culturally there was fairly widespread activity.

Zhèshí quánguó gèfāngmiàn shì xīnxīnxiàngróng de, zhèngzhì shàng yǒu mínzhǔhuà de qūshì, wénhuà shàng yǒu jiào pǔbiàn de dòngyuán. [Pinyin]


川流不息

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ liu²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ liu²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sʰuaŋ³³⁻²³ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰuaŋ³³⁻²³ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²/

2002, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “時光 [shíguāng, Time]”, in 時光·漫步 [Time, Stroll], performed by Xu Wei:
也許就在這一瞬間 你的笑容依然如晚霞般 在川流不息的時光中 神采飛揚 [MSC, trad.]
也许就在这一瞬间 你的笑容依然如晚霞般 在川流不息的时光中 神采飞扬 [MSC, simp.]

Perhaps just at this instant / Your smile was as bright as an afterglow / During the endless stream-like time

Yěxǔ jiù zài zhè yīshùnjiān, Nǐ de xiàoróng yīrán rú wǎnxiá bān, Zài chuānliúbùxī de shíguāng zhōng, Shéncǎifēiyáng [Pinyin]

(usually of traffic) flowing past in an endless stream


不卑不亢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːŋ³³/

/pu⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːŋ³³/


津津有味

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄟˋ

цзиньцзиньювэй

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin³³ tin³³ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin³³ tin³³ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

with great relish; with keen pleasure; with gusto


探頭探腦

ㄊㄢˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄢˋ ㄋㄠˇ

таньтоутаньнао

/tʰän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

/tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴ tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ nãu⁵³/

/tʰän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

/tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴ tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ nãu⁵³/


兢兢業業

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jiːp̚² jiːp̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jiːp̚² jiːp̚²/

From the Book of Documents (《尚書·皐陶謨》):
:
無教逸欲。有邦兢兢業業，一日二日萬幾。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]无教逸欲。有邦兢兢业业，一日二日万几。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Wú jiào yì yù. Yǒu bāng jīngjīng yèyè, yīrì èrrì wànjī. [Pinyin]
Let not (the Son of Heaven) set to the holders of states the example of indolence or dissoluteness. Let him be wary and fearful, (remembering that) in one day or two days there may occur ten thousand springs of things.

無 教 逸 欲。有 邦 兢兢.業業，一日 二日 萬幾{jī}。

(ideophonic) cautious and conscientious; diligent and attentive


濫竽充數

ㄌㄢˋ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄕㄨˋ

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

ㄌㄢˋ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄕㄨˋㄦ

ланьюйчуншур

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/laːm²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/laːm²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

Based on a story in Han Feizi:
:
齊宣王使人吹竽必三百人。
南郭處士請為王吹竽，宣王說之，廩食以數百人。
宣王死，湣王立，好一一聽之，處士逃。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]齐宣王使人吹竽必三百人。
南郭处士请为王吹竽，宣王说之，廪食以数百人。
宣王死，湣王立，好一一听之，处士逃。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Qí Xuānwáng shǐ rén chuī yú bì sān bǎi rén.
Nánguō chǔshì qǐng wèi wáng chuī yú, Xuānwáng yuè zhī, lǐnshí yǐ shù bǎi rén.
Xuānwáng sǐ, Mǐnwáng lì, hào yīyī tīng zhī, chǔshì táo. [Pinyin]
Whenever King Xuan of Qi had men play the yu [a mouth organ], there had to be 300 men playing simultaneously.
A reclusive scholar, by the name of Nanguo [lit. southern wall of a city], who was unable to play the instrument, asked if he could join the ensemble and play the yu for the king. King Xuan was delighted by this, and dispensed enough food rations for several hundred musicians.
Then, King Xuan died, and King Min took the throne. He preferred to listen to the yu players one-by-one, so the reclusive scholar fled. (Wiktionary translation)

齊.^宣王 使 人 吹 竽 必 三 百 人。
南郭.處{chǔ}士 請 為 王 吹 竽，^宣王 說{yuè} 之，廩食 以 數 百 人。
宣王 死，湣{Mǐn}王 立 ，好{hào} 一一 聽 之，處{chǔ}士 逃。

Whenever King Xuan of Qi had men play the yu 􂀿a mouth organ􂁀, there had to be 300 men playing simultaneously.
A reclusive scholar, by the name of Nanguo 􂀿lit. southern wall of a city􂁀, who was unable to play the instrument, asked if he could join the ensemble and play the yu for the king. King Xuan was delighted by this, and dispensed enough food rations for several hundred musicians.
Then, King Xuan died, and King Min took the throne. He preferred to listen to the yu players one-by-one, so the reclusive scholar fled. (Wiktionary translation)

topretend to play the yu in order to make up the numbers

(figurative, derogatory or humble) to fill a position without having the necessary qualifications; to be a token member of a group; to masquerade as having an ability; to sell seconds at best-quality prices


適得其反

ㄕˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄢˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ faːn³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ faːn³⁵/

to run counter to one's desire; to have the exact opposite effect of what one wished; to backfire


衣錦還鄉

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ицзиньхуаньсян

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻²² ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻²² ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

First attested in the Book of Liang:
:
高祖餞於新亭，謂曰：「卿衣錦還鄉，朕無西顧之憂矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]高祖饯于新亭，谓曰：「卿衣锦还乡，朕无西顾之忧矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 634, Yao Silian, Book of Liang
Gāozǔ jiàn yú Xīntíng, wèi yuē: “Qīng yījǐnháixiāng, zhèn wú xī gù zhī yōu yǐ.” [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this quotation)
The idiom is possibly derived from an analogy made by Xiang Yu, as recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han:
:
項王見秦宮皆以燒殘破，又心懷思欲東歸，曰：「富貴不歸故鄉，如衣錦夜行，誰知之者？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]项王见秦宫皆以烧残破，又心怀思欲东归，曰：「富贵不归故乡，如衣锦夜行，谁知之者？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Xiàng wáng jiàn Qín gōng jiē yǐ shāo cánpò, yòu xīnhuái sī yù dōng guī, yuē: “Fùguì bù guī gùxiāng, rú yījǐn yèxíng, shéi zhī zhī zhě?” [Pinyin]
Seeing the palace of Qin was burnt to the ground, Xiang Yu wondered if he should go eastward to his hometown, saying: "To not return home when one has made his fortune is like walking in the night with silken robes, who will notice?"

zh-q

^高-祖 餞 於 ^新亭，謂 曰：「卿 衣錦還鄉，朕 無 西 顧 之 憂 矣。」

^項 王 見 ^秦 宮 皆 以 燒 殘破，又 心懷 思 欲 東 歸，曰：「富貴 不 歸 故鄉，如 衣錦 夜行，誰 知 之 者？」

to return to one's hometown in silken robes

to return home a success; to return home in glory

Book of Han
Book of Liang
Records of the Grand Historian
Xiang Yu
Yao Silian


患難之交

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄢˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

хуаньнаньчжицзяо

/xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/waːn²² naːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/waːn²² naːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

a rock (a friend who always helps); a friend through thick and thin


助人為樂

ㄓㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄜˋ

чжужэньвэйлэ

čžužɛnʹvɛjlɛ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː³³ jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ lɔːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː³³ jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ lɔːk̚²/


國色天香

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

exceptionally beautiful (woman or peony)


破釜沉舟

ㄆㄛˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄓㄡ

пофучэньчжоу

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

In reference to an incident which occurred during the Battle of Julu:
:
項羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沈船，破釜甑，燒廬舍，持三日糧，以示士卒必死，無一還心。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]项羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沉船，破釜甑，烧庐舍，持三日粮，以示士卒必死，无一还心。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Xiàng Yǔ nǎi xī yǐn bīng dù Hé, jiē chén chuán, pò fǔ zèng, shāo lúshè, chí sān rì liáng, yǐ shì shìzú bì sǐ, wú yī huán xīn. [Pinyin]
Thus Xiang Yu led his entire army across the River He (i.e. the Yellow River). He had all the boats sunk, the caldrons and clay boilers broken, and the camp lodgings burned. He further ordered that only three days' provisions should be carried. With these measures, he showed that every man was now ready to die and none of them would entertain the very idea of returning.

zh-x

^項 ^羽 乃 悉 引 兵 渡 ^河，皆 沈􂀿沉􂁀{chén} 船，破 釜 甑，燒 廬舍，持 三 日 糧，以 示 士卒 必 死，無 一 還{huán} 心。

break the (cooking) pots and sink the boat

to burn one's boats; to cross the Rubicon; to reach the point of no return


怨天尤人

ㄩㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юаньтяньюжэнь

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):
:
子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下學而上達，知我者，其天乎！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下学而上达，知我者，其天乎！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Bù yuàn tiān, bù yóu rén, xià xué ér shàng dá, zhī wǒ zhě, qí tiān hū!” [Pinyin]
The Master replied, "I do not murmur against Heaven. I do not grumble against men. My studies lie low, and my penetration rises high. But there is Heaven - that knows me!"

子曰：「不 @怨 @天，不 @尤 @人，下 學 而 上 達，知 我 者，其 天 乎！」

to blame god and man; to blame everyone and everything but oneself


一心一意

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

heart and soul; wholeheartedly; with great devotion


冷嘲熱諷

ㄌㄥˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄖㄜˋ ㄈㄥˇ

ㄌㄥˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄖㄜˋ ㄈㄥˋ

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/laːŋ¹³ t͡saːu̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚² fʊŋ³³/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/laːŋ¹³ t͡saːu̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚² fʊŋ³³/

奶奶經常對媽媽冷嘲熱諷。 [MSC, trad.]
奶奶经常对妈妈冷嘲热讽。 [MSC, simp.]

Grandma always makes sarcastic remarks towards Mother.

Nǎinǎi jīngcháng duì māmā lěngcháorèfěng. [Pinyin]

burning satire and freezing irony; to sarcastically ridicule


萬家燈火

ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ваньцзядэнхо

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/


金鼓齊鳴

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄨˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзиньгу ци мин

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

Based on a quote from Zuozhuan, "Xi 22":
*
三軍以利用也，金鼓以聲氣也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]三军以利用也，金鼓以声气也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Sānjūn yǐ lì yòng yě, jīngǔ yǐ shēng qì yě. [Pinyin]
The three armies make use of sharp weapons / advantages; the instruments of brass and the drums rouse the men's spirits.

lw

s:春秋左氏傳/僖公#傳_22

zh-x

三軍 以 利 用 也，金鼓 以 聲 氣 也。

金鼓齊鳴，喊聲如江翻海沸。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
金鼓齐鸣，喊声如江翻海沸。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

The gongs and drums sounded out in unison, and men yelled and shouted, as loudly as rushing rivers and churning seas.

Jīngǔqímíng, hǎnshēng rú jiāngfānhǎifèi. [Pinyin]

the gongs and drums of war sound out in unison


唾手可得

ㄊㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄜˊ

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/tʰœː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰɔː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/tʰœː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰɔː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/


水深火熱

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄕㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄜˋ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

From Mencius:
:
如水益深，如火益熱，亦運而已矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]如水益深，如火益热，亦运而已矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Rú shuǐ yì shēn, rú huǒ yì rè, yì yùn éryǐ yǐ. [Pinyin]
If you make the water more deep and the fire more fierce, they will in like manner make another revolution.

如 水 益 深，如 火 益 熱，亦 運 而已 矣。

to be in deep distress; to live with great misery and hardship


雪上加霜

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (雪上加霜):
* → Korean: 설상가상(雪上加霜) (seolsanggasang)

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄕㄨㄤ

сюэшанцзяшуан

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

add insult to injury
add insult to injury

rub salt in the wound
rub salt in the wound

(figurative) to make a bad situation worse; to add insult to injury; to rub salt in the wound


孤立無援

ㄍㄨ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˊ

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐp̚² mou̯²¹ wuːn²¹/

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐp̚² mou̯²¹ wuːn²¹/


完璧歸趙

ㄨㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄠˋ

ваньбигуйчжао

/wän³⁵ pi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

/wän³⁵ pi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

For the full story behind this idiom, see He Shi Bi.

to return thejade disc intact to the State of Zhao

to return something to its owner in good condition

He Shi Bi#"Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao"


兵臨城下

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

бинлиньчэнся

/piŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ sɪŋ²¹ haː²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ sɪŋ²¹ haː²²/

(literal, figurative) the enemy army is just outside of the walls of the city


屍橫遍野

ㄕ ㄏㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/


喊聲震天

ㄏㄢˇ ㄕㄥ ㄓㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

ханьшэнчжэньтянь

/xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/haːm³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/haːm³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

loud screams and shouting seemingly shakes the heavens


有何不可

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɔː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɔː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

张飞大叫曰：「异姓之人，皆欲为君，何况哥哥乃汉朝宗派！莫说汉中王，就称皇帝，有何不可！」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Zhāng Fēi dàjiào yuē: “Yìxìng zhī rén, jiē yù wéi jūn, hékuàng gēgē nǎi Hàncháo zōngpài! Mò shuō Hànzhōng wáng, jiù chēng huángdì, yǒuhébùkě!” [Pinyin]

張飛大叫曰：「異姓之人，皆欲為君，何況哥哥乃漢朝宗派！莫說漢中王，就稱皇帝，有何不可！」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


心腹之患

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

синьфучжихуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ waːn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ waːn²²/


肺腑之言

ㄈㄟˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄓ ㄧㄢˊ

/feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/


萬死不辭

ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘˊ

/wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/maːn²² sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/maːn²² sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to be willing to risk any danger to do one's duty


粉身碎骨

ㄈㄣˇ ㄕㄣ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄨˇ

фэньшэньсуйгу

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kʷɐt̚⁵/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kʷɐt̚⁵/

to have one's body smashed to pieces; to die the most cruel death


淚如泉湧

ㄌㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄥˇ

лэйжуцюаньюн

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jʊŋ³⁵/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jʊŋ³⁵/


無計可施

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kɐi̯³³ hɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kɐi̯³³ hɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

at the end of one's tether
at the end of one's tether

at a loss as to what to do; at one's wits' end; at the end of one's tether


眉來眼去

ㄇㄟˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄑㄩˋ

мэйлайяньцюй

/meɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ ŋaːn¹³ hɵy̯³³/

/meɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ ŋaːn¹³ hɵy̯³³/

to make eyes at each other; to flirt with each other


進酒作樂

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄜˋ

цзиньцзюцзолэ

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

(literary) to pour alcohol and toast and to seek plesure


心神恍惚

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄏㄨ

синьшэньхуанху

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/


忍辱偷生

ㄖㄣˇ ㄖㄨˇ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

ㄖㄣˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

жэньжутоушэн

žɛnʹžutoušɛn

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to endure humiliation in order to remain alive


流芳百世

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/li̯u¹¹ foŋ²⁴ pak̚² sɨ⁵⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/li̯u¹¹ foŋ²⁴ pak̚² sɨ⁵⁵/

to leave a good name for a hundred generations


遺臭萬年

ㄧˊ ㄔㄡˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

ичоуваньнянь

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ maːn²² niːn²¹/

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ maːn²² niːn²¹/

to go down in history as a byword of infamy


人神共憤

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄈㄣˋ

жэньшэньгунфэнь

žɛnʹšɛnʹgunfɛnʹ

/ʐən³⁵ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² fɐn¹³/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² fɐn¹³/


折箭為誓

ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˋ

чжэцзяньвэйши

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡siːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡siːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐi̯²²/

The implication was that if one broke one's promise, one's fate would be similar to that of the arrow's.


罪惡貫盈

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄧㄥˊ

цзуйэ гуаньин

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² ɔːk̚³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² ɔːk̚³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/


明知就裡

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

to clearly understand the inside scoop or principle


棄舊換新

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

цицзюхуаньсинь

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

to abandon the old and exchange it for the new


彌天亙地

toblanket the skies and be all over the ground

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄣˋ ㄉㄧˋ

митяньгэньди

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

(literary) to be everywhere; to be pervasive


一覽無餘

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ y³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ y³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹/

to take in everything at a glance; to have an uninterrupted view


一覽無遺

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/


臥薪嘗膽

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (臥薪嘗膽):
* → Japanese: 臥(が)薪(しん)嘗(しょう)胆(たん) (gashinshōtan)
* → Korean: 와신상담(臥薪嘗膽) (wasinsangdam)
* → Vietnamese: ngọa tân thường đảm (臥薪嘗膽)

→ Vietnamese: nằm gai nếm mật, nếm mật nằm gai (calques)

ㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄤˊ ㄉㄢˇ

восиньчандань

/wɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ taːm³⁵/

/wɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ taːm³⁵/

From the story of the King Goujian of Yue [5th BCE], who forced himself to sleep on firewood and lick a gallbladder everyday to remember the humiliation of his previous defeat by the State of Wu.

to undergo self-imposed hardships; to nurse vengeance; to endure hardships to accomplish some ambition


毫不費力

ㄏㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ b̥u³ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯³³ lɪk̚²/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ b̥u³ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯³³ lɪk̚²/


咎由自取

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/


明目張膽

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄓㄤ ㄉㄢˇ

минмучжандань

/miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹/

/meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mak̚⁴⁻² t͡siaŋ³³⁻²³ tã⁵²/

/miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹/

/meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mak̚⁴⁻² t͡siaŋ³³⁻²³ tã⁵²/


不義之財

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄓ ㄘㄞˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ŋi³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ŋi³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/


魑魅魍魎

ja-r

魑魅魍魎(ちみもうりょう) (chimimōryō)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (魑魅魍魎):
* → Japanese: 魑魅魍魎(ちみもうりょう) (chimimōryō)
* → Korean: 이매망량(魑魅魍魎) (imaemangnyang)

ㄔ ㄇㄟˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

чимэй ванлян

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ mei̯²² mɔːŋ¹³ lœːŋ¹³/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ mei̯²² mɔːŋ¹³ lœːŋ¹³/

the four demons chi, mei, wang and liang; demons and monsters of all kinds


不共戴天

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

бугундайтянь

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʊŋ²² taːi̯³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʊŋ²² taːi̯³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 1 (《禮記·曲禮上》):
:
父之讎，弗與共戴天。兄弟之讎不反兵。交游之讎不同國。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]父之雠，弗与共戴天。兄弟之雠不反兵。交游之雠不同国。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Fù zhī chóu, fú yǔ gòng dài tiān. Xiōngdì zhī chóu bù fǎn bīng. Jiāoyóu zhī chóu bù tóng guó. [Pinyin]
With the enemy who has slain his father, one should not live under the same heaven. With the enemy who has slain his brother, one should never have his sword to seek (to deal vengeance). With the enemy who has slain his intimate friend, one should not live in the same state (without seeking to slay him).

zh-x

父 之 讎，弗 與 @共.戴.天。兄弟 之 讎 不 反 兵。交游 之 讎 不 同 國。


同舟共濟

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄡ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

тунчжоугунцзи

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡se⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡se⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

From The Art of War:
:
夫吳人與越人相惡也，當其同舟而濟，遇風，其相救也如左右手。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫吴人与越人相恶也，当其同舟而济，遇风，其相救也如左右手。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Art of War, circa 5ᵗʰ century BCE
Fū Wú rén yǔ Yuè rén xiàng è yě, dāng qí tóng zhōu ér jì, yù fēng, qí xiàng jiù yě rú zuǒ yòu shǒu. [Pinyin]
For the men of Wu and the men of Yue are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right.

夫 ^吳 人 與 ^越 人 相 惡 也，當 其 同 舟 而 濟，遇 風，其 相 救 也 如 左 右 手。

to work together to overcome difficulties; to pull together in times of trouble


鋪霜湧雪

ㄆㄨ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄩㄥˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

пушуанъюнсюэ

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ syːt̚³/

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ syːt̚³/

Literally: blanketed with frost and piled on with snow

rapidly and continually increasing in number


絕處逢生

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

цзюэчуфэншэн

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰyː³³ fʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡suat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰyː³³ fʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to get saved at a critical moment; to survive a crisis; to be unexpectedly rescued from a desperate situation


決一死戰

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄧ ㄙˇ ㄓㄢˋ

цзюэисычжань

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

欲達此目的，便須決一死戰，便須準備著一切犧牲，堅持到底，不達目的，決不停止。 [MSC, trad.]
欲达此目的，便须决一死战，便须准备着一切牺牲，坚持到底，不达目的，决不停止。 [MSC, simp.]

To achieve this aim we must wage a life-and-death struggle, be prepared for any sacrifice, persevere to the end and never stop short of the goal.

Yù dá cǐ mùdì, biàn xū juéyīsǐzhàn, biàn xū zhǔnbèi zhe yīqiè xīshēng, jiānchí dàodǐ, bù dá mùdì, jué bù tíngzhǐ. [Pinyin]


不以為意

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ jiː³³/

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ jiː³³/

to be oblivious to (or of); not to take it seriously


虛無縹緲

虚无缥缈
虛無縹渺
虛無飄渺

ㄒㄩ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄇㄧㄠˇ

ㄒㄩ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄠˇ ㄇㄧㄠˇ

/ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯¹³ miːu̯¹³/

/ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯¹³ miːu̯¹³/

2000, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “那一年 [In that Year]”, in 那一年 [In that Year], performed by Xu Wei:
這麼多年你還在不停奔跑 眼看著明天依然虛無縹緲 [MSC, trad.]
这么多年你还在不停奔跑 眼看着明天依然虚无缥缈 [MSC, simp.]

You've been keeping on running since so many years ago / What you can only do is to let tomorrow be still unpredictable

Zhème duōnián nǐ háizài bùtíng bēnpǎo, Yǎn kàn zhe míngtiān yīrán xūwúpiāomiǎo [Pinyin]

purely imaginary; entirely unreal; visionary; illusory


功微德薄

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄛˊ

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ tɐk̚⁵ pɔːk̚²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ tɐk̚⁵ pɔːk̚²/

(of a person) having few accomplishments or virtues


塚中枯骨

ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄎㄨ ㄍㄨˇ

чжунчжункугу

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵/

孔融曰：「袁公路塚中枯骨，何足掛齒！」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
孔融曰：「袁公路冢中枯骨，何足挂齿！」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

Kong Rong said, "Yuan Gonglu is a deadbeat; he's not even worth mentioning!"

Kǒng Róng yuē: “Yuán Gōnglù zhǒngzhōngkūgǔ, hézúguàchǐ!” [Pinyin]

a deadbeat; a useless person; a person without any power or influence


死不瞑目

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/


有勇無謀

ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄇㄡˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

操曰：「吾料呂布有勇無謀，不足慮也。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
操曰：「吾料吕布有勇无谋，不足虑也。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
(Cao) Cao said: "I think Lü Bu is all brawn and no brains; we need not worry about him."

Cāo yuē: “Wú liào Lǚ Bù yǒuyǒngwúmóu, bù zú lǜ yě.” [Pinyin]

all brawn and no brains
all brawn and no brains

to be foolhardy; to be brave but to lack a strategic mind; all brawn and no brains


面面相覷

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄩˋ

мяньмяньсянцюй

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/miːn²² miːn²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³³/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/miːn²² miːn²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³³/

to look at each other (in fear) without knowing what to do; to look at each other in blank dismay


大雨如注

ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄨˋ

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ jyː²¹ t͡syː³³/

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ jyː²¹ t͡syː³³/


經天緯地

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄧˋ

цзинтяньвэйди

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ wɐi̯¹³ tei̯²²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ wɐi̯¹³ tei̯²²/

經 (to weave vertically) + 天 (the heavens) + 緯 (to weave horizontally) + 地 (the earth)

(a talent for) managing affairs of state


殘暴不仁

ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

цаньбаобужэнь

/t͡sʰän³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/


死亦瞑目

ㄙˇ ㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/


朝夕難保

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄠˇ

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄠˇ

чжаосинаньбао

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² naːn²¹ pou̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² naːn²¹ pou̯³⁵/

one's days are numbered; one is on the verge of death (or defeat etc.)


深根固本

ㄕㄣ ㄍㄣ ㄍㄨˋ ㄅㄣˇ

шэньгэньгубэнь

šɛnʹgɛnʹgubɛnʹ

/ʂən⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kuː³³ puːn³⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kuː³³ puːn³⁵/


古往今來

ㄍㄨˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

гуванцзиньлай

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kuː³⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ kɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kuː³⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ kɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

through the ages; from antiquity to modernity


十全十美

ㄕˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕˊ ㄇㄟˇ

шицюаньшимэй

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐp̚² mei̯¹³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sŋ̍²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/zəʔ¹¹ ʑi²³ zəʔ¹¹ me²³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐp̚² mei̯¹³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sŋ̍²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/zəʔ¹¹ ʑi²³ zəʔ¹¹ me²³/

人生沒你怎算十全十美 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
人生没你怎算十全十美 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

From: 2016, 郭之儀 (lyrics and music), 十全十美, performed by 蔡秋鳳 [Kerris Tsai]

How can life without you count as perfect?

lîn-seng bô lí chóaⁿ sǹg si̍p-choân-si̍p-bí [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]


顛沛流離

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄆㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/tiːn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³ lɐu̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/tiːn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³ lɐu̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

她從此過上了顛沛流離的生活。 [MSC, trad.]
她从此过上了颠沛流离的生活。 [MSC, simp.]

From now on she'll lead the life of a vagrant.

Tā cóng cǐ guò shàng le diānpèiliúlí de shēnghuó. [Pinyin]

to wander about in a desperate plight; to be destitute and homeless


沒精打采

ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

мэйцзиндацай

/meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/muːt̚² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/


無精打采

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁴¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁴¹/

可是有一段，陸小璐突然變得無精打采起來，雖然天天還是一大早就起來化妝，試穿漂亮衣服，但她的精神明顯沒有過去好。 [MSC, trad.]
可是有一段，陆小璐突然变得无精打采起来，虽然天天还是一大早就起来化妆，试穿漂亮衣服，但她的精神明显没有过去好。 [MSC, simp.]

One day though Lu suddenly turned listless. Even though she still put on makeup in the morning and tried on clothes, she was no longer in such a good mood as she used to be.

Kěshì yǒu yī duàn, Lù Xiǎolù tūrán biàndé wújīngdǎcǎi qǐlái, suīrán tiāntiān háishì yīdàzǎo jiù qǐlái huàzhuāng, shìchuān piàoliàng yīfú, dàn tā de jīngshén míngxiǎn méiyǒu guòqù hǎo. [Pinyin]


脫穎而出

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄧㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄔㄨ

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/tʰyːt̚³ wɪŋ²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/tʰyːt̚³ wɪŋ²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

我希望我能幫您在競爭中脫穎而出。 [MSC, trad.]
我希望我能帮您在竞争中脱颖而出。 [MSC, simp.]

I hope I can help you rise above your competitors.

Wǒ xīwàng wǒ néng bāng nín zài jìngzhēng zhōng tuōyǐng'érchū. [Pinyin]

(of talent) to be revealed; to come to the fore; to rise above others


出其不意

ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

to take somebody by surprise; to catch somebody unawares


不了了之

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄓ

/pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

他本來請我旅遊，但後來就不了了之了。 [MSC, trad.]
他本来请我旅游，但后来就不了了之了。 [MSC, simp.]

He had invited me to go travelling with him, but the idea came to nothing.

Tā běnlái qǐng wǒ lǚyóu, dàn hòulái jiù bùliǎoliǎozhī le. [Pinyin]


守口如瓶

to shut one's mouth tight like a bottle.

ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ pan²³/

放心，我會守口如瓶的。 [MSC, trad.]
放心，我会守口如瓶的。 [MSC, simp.]

Fàngxīn, wǒ huì shǒukǒurúpíng de. [Pinyin]

keep one's mouth shut
keep one's mouth shut

to keep one's mouth shut; to remain tight-lipped


舉手之勞

ㄐㄩˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓ ㄌㄠˊ

цзюйшоучжилао

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²¹/

甲：謝謝幫我做飯。乙：舉手之勞。 [MSC, trad.]
甲：谢谢帮我做饭。乙：举手之劳。 [MSC, simp.]

A: Thanks for helping me make dinner. B: No trouble at all.

Jiǎ: xièxiè bāng wǒ zuòfàn. Yǐ: jǔshǒuzhīláo. [Pinyin]

方玄綽不費舉手之勞的領了錢，酌還些舊債，卻還缺一大筆款，這是因為官俸也頗有些拖欠了。 [MSC, trad.]
方玄绰不费举手之劳的领了钱，酌还些旧债，却还缺一大笔款，这是因为官俸也颇有些拖欠了。 [MSC, simp.]

Fāngxuánchuò bù fèi jǔshǒuzhīláo de lǐng le qián, zhuó huán xiē jiù zhài, què hái quē yī dà bǐ kuǎn, zhè shì yīnwèi guānfèng yě pō yǒuxiē tuōqiàn le. [Pinyin]

something that requires little effort; no trouble at all


勢如破竹

ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄓㄨˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ pʰɔː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ pʰɔː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

like a hot knife cutting through butter; with irresistible force


自由自在

ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ (j)i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu¹³⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu²⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ iu²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sai³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ (j)i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu¹³⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu²⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ iu²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sai³⁵/


飢不擇食

ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² sɪk̚²/

beggars can't be choosers
beggars can't be choosers

(figurative) to be not choosy when one is hungry or when matters are urgent; beggars can't be choosers


敗兵折將

ㄅㄞˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

байбинчжэцзян

/paɪ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːi̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/paɪ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːi̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

to suffer a major defeat in battle resulting in the loss of a number of soldiers and generals


心猿意馬

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄇㄚˇ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jiː³³ maː¹³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jiː³³ maː¹³/

unable to concentrate, inattentive and vacillating


後繼無人

ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

(idiomatic) having no successor or heir; figuratively referring to having no one to continue practising a skilled profession or a talent


嗷嗷待哺

ㄠˊ ㄠˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄅㄨˇ

/ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋou̯²¹ ŋou̯²¹ taːi̯⁵⁵ pou̯²²/

/ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋou̯²¹ ŋou̯²¹ taːi̯⁵⁵ pou̯²²/


畫蛇添足

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (畫蛇添足):
* → Japanese: 画(が)蛇(だ)添(てん)足(そく) (gada tensoku); 画(が)蛇(じゃ)添(てん)足(そく) (gaja tensoku)
* → Korean: 화사첨족(畫蛇添足) (hwasacheomjok)
* → Vietnamese: hoạ xà thiêm túc (畫蛇添足)

→ Vietnamese: vẽ rắn thêm chân (calque)

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄕㄜˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗㄨˊ

хуашэтяньцзу

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/waːk̚² sɛː²¹ tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/fa⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sa¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ t͡siʊk̚¹/

/hua²²⁻²¹ sia²⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɔk̚³²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/waːk̚² sɛː²¹ tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/fa⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sa¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ t͡siʊk̚¹/

/hua²²⁻²¹ sia²⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɔk̚³²/

From Annals of the Warring States:
:
楚有祠者，賜其舍人卮酒，舍人相謂曰：「數人飲之不足，一人飲之有餘，請畫地為蛇，先成者飲酒。」一人蛇先成，引酒且飲之，乃左手持卮，右手畫蛇曰：「吾能為之足。」未成，一人之蛇成，奪其卮曰：「蛇固無足，子安能為之足？」遂飲其酒。為蛇足者，終亡其酒。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]楚有祠者，赐其舍人卮酒，舍人相谓曰：「数人饮之不足，一人饮之有余，请画地为蛇，先成者饮酒。」一人蛇先成，引酒且饮之，乃左手持卮，右手画蛇曰：「吾能为之足。」未成，一人之蛇成，夺其卮曰：「蛇固无足，子安能为之足？」遂饮其酒。为蛇足者，终亡其酒。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Chǔ yǒu cí zhě, cì qí shè rén zhī jiǔ, shè rén xiāng wèi yuē: “Shù rén yǐn zhī bùzú, yī rén yǐn zhī yǒuyú, qǐng huà dì wéi shé, xiān chéng zhě yǐnjiǔ.” Yī rén shé xiān chéng, yǐn jiǔ qiě yǐn zhī, nǎi zuǒshǒu chí zhī, yòu shǒu huà shé yuē: “Wú néng wéi zhī zú.” Wèi chéng, yī rén zhī shé chéng, duó qí zhī yuē: “Shé gù wú zú, zǐ ān néng wéi zhī zú?” Suì yǐn qí jiǔ. Wéi shé zú zhě, zhōng wáng qí jiǔ. [Pinyin]
Once, there was a host of a sacrificial ceremony in Chu. He gave a jug of wine to his servants. The servants discussed with each other, saying: “This jug of wine is not enough for all of us to drink, but abundant for one of us to drink. We'll all draw a snake on the ground, with the one who draws the fastest getting the wine.” One man finished first. He grabbed the wine jug and was about to drink. Holding the jug of wine in his left hand, he said: “I can draw feet for the snake.” and started drawing the feet with his right hand. Before he had finished drawing the feet, another man finished drawing his snake, snatched the wine and said: "A snake actually has no feet, how can you draw feet on a snake?" Then, he drank the wine. The one who added feet to the snake lost the wine in the end.

zh-x

楚 有 祠 者，賜 其 舍 人 卮 酒，舍 人 相{xiāng} 謂 曰：「數 人 飲 之 不足，一 人 飲 之 有餘，請 畫 地 為{wéi} 蛇，先 成 者 飲酒。」一 人 蛇 先 成，引 酒 且 飲 之，乃 左手 持 卮，右 手 畫 蛇 曰：「吾 能 為{wéi} 之 足。」未 成，一 人 之 蛇 成，奪 其 卮 曰：「蛇 固 無 足，子 安 能 為{wéi} 之 足？」遂 飲 其 酒。為{wéi} 蛇 足 者，終 亡 其 酒。

(figurative, derogatory) to improve something unnecessarily; to gild the lily


自愧不如

ㄗˋ ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

to be ashamed of not being as good as someone else


別有用心

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/


改過自新

ㄍㄞˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

гайгоцзысинь

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf


橫行無忌

ㄏㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ hɐŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ hɐŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/


一無所有

ㄧ ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/i⁵⁵ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

當你一無所有的時候，你怎麼辦？ [MSC, trad.]
当你一无所有的时候，你怎么办？ [MSC, simp.]

What do you do when you have nothing at all?

Dāng nǐ yīwúsuǒyǒu de shíhou, nǐ zěnmebàn? [Pinyin]


自相矛盾

ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄇㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄣˋ

цзысянмаодунь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ maːu̯²¹ tʰɵn¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ maːu̯²¹ tʰɵn¹³/

self-contradictory; paradoxical; to contradict oneself


約定俗成

ㄩㄝ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jœːk̚³ tɪŋ²² t͡sʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³/

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jœːk̚³ tɪŋ²² t͡sʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³/

元宵節賞花燈是約定俗成的習俗。 [MSC, trad.]
元宵节赏花灯是约定俗成的习俗。 [MSC, simp.]

It is customary to put up lanterns during the Lantern Festival.

Yuánxiāojié shǎng huādēng shì yuēdìngsúchéng de xísú. [Pinyin]

conventional; customary; socially fixed; having an unwritten law


不足之處

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓ ㄔㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/


一五一十

/i⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚²/

/it̚⁵ ŋ̍²¹³⁻¹³ it̚⁵ sɨt̚²/

/it̚¹ n̩³¹ it̚¹ səp̚⁵/

/iɪʔ³³ ŋ̍⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ zəʔ²¹/

/i⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚²/

/it̚⁵ ŋ̍²¹³⁻¹³ it̚⁵ sɨt̚²/

/it̚¹ n̩³¹ it̚¹ səp̚⁵/

/iɪʔ³³ ŋ̍⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ zəʔ²¹/

他把這件事情一五一十地告訴了我。 [MSC, trad.]
他把这件事情一五一十地告诉了我。 [MSC, simp.]

Tā bǎ zhè jiàn shìqíng yīwǔyīshí de gàosù le wǒ. [Pinyin]


變幻莫測

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄘㄜˋ

бяньхуаньмоцэ

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

墨爾本天氣變幻莫測；人們都說這裡一日四季。 [MSC, trad.]
墨尔本天气变幻莫测；人们都说这里一日四季。 [MSC, simp.]

Melbourne's weather is unpredictable; they say it has four seasons in one day.

Mò'ěrběn tiānqì biànhuànmòcè; rénmen dōu shuō zhèlǐ yī rì sì jì. [Pinyin]


一仍舊貫

ㄧ ㄖㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

ижэнцзюгуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² kuːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² kuːn³³/


一刀兩斷

ja-r

一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一刀兩斷):
* → Japanese: 一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)
* → Korean: 일도양단(一刀兩斷) (ildoyangdan)
* → Vietnamese: nhất đao lưỡng đoạn (一刀兩斷)

ㄧ ㄉㄠ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

идаоляндуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

但這孩子卻也有可敬的地方：他的從容，他的沉默，他的獨斷獨行，他的一去不回頭，都是力的表現，都是強者適者的表現。決不婆婆媽媽的，決不粘粘搭搭的，一針見血，一刀兩斷，這正是白種人之所以為白種人。 [MSC, trad.]
但这孩子却也有可敬的地方：他的从容，他的沉默，他的独断独行，他的一去不回头，都是力的表现，都是强者适者的表现。决不婆婆妈妈的，决不粘粘搭搭的，一针见血，一刀两断，这正是白种人之所以为白种人。 [MSC, simp.]

But there was something about the child that could be respected. His leisurely way, his reticence, his arbitrariness, his way of walking ahead without looking back. These were manifestations of his power, the power of the strongest, of the fittest. The child was, by no means, overly careful, or irresolute. The child could hit the nail on the head and make a clean break. The child was a quintessential Caucasian.

Dàn zhè háizi què yě yǒu kějìng de dìfang: tā de cóngróng, tā de chénmò, tā de dúduàndúxíng, tā de yī qù bù huítóu, dōu shì lì de biǎoxiàn, dōu shì qiángzhě shìzhě de biǎoxiàn. Juébù pópomāma de, juébù niánniándādā de, yīzhēnjiànxiě, yīdāoliǎngduàn, zhè zhèngshì báizhǒngrén zhī suǒ yǐ wéi báizhǒngrén. [Pinyin]

to sever with one blow; to make a clean break


心胸狹窄

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄓㄞˇ

синьсюнсячжай

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚² t͡saːk̚³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚³ t͡saːk̚³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚² t͡saːk̚³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚³ t͡saːk̚³/

small-minded; intolerant; selfish; petty


一見鍾情

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

ицзяньчжунцин

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² kieŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

故事讲述了灰姑娘在森林拾火柴时与王子邂逅，王子对她一见钟情。 [MSC, simp.]
Gùshì jiǎngshù le huīgūniáng zài sēnlín shí huǒchái shí yǔ wángzǐ xièhòu, wángzǐ duì tā yījiànzhōngqíng. [Pinyin]

http://sh.sina.com.cn/citylink/en/kx/2010-08-09/162059758.html 故事講述了灰姑娘在森林拾火柴時與王子邂逅，王子對她一見鍾情。 [MSC, trad.]

The story depicts Cinderella's accidental encounter with the prince when she was picking matches in the forest. The prince fell in love with her at first sight.

你相信一见钟情吗？彼此对视1秒钟，来自对方的电流就会迅速穿越肉体直达心灵。 [MSC, simp.]
Nǐ xiàngxìn yījiànzhōngqíng ma? Bǐcǐ duìshì 1 miǎozhōng, láizì duìfāng de diànliú jiù huì xùnsù chuānyuè ròutǐ zhídá xīnlíng. [Pinyin]

http://fashion.enorth.com.cn/system/2010/08/11/004926030.shtml 你相信一見鍾情嗎？彼此對視1秒鐘，來自對方的電流就會迅速穿越肉體直達心靈。 [MSC, trad.]

Do you believe in love at first sight? Looking at each other for one second, and the electric signal from him/her will rapidly pass through your body to reach your soul.

to fall in love at first sight; love at first sight


克己奉公

ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊŋ²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊŋ²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to be wholeheartedly devoted to public duty; to work selflessly for the public interest


真才實學

ㄓㄣ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ

чжэньцайшисюэ

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/


立竿見影

ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄥˇ

лиганьцзяньин

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

情況十分危急，我們需要一個立竿見影的解決方法。 [MSC, trad.]
情况十分危急，我们需要一个立竿见影的解决方法。 [MSC, simp.]

The situation is very urgent; we need a solution with immediate effect.

Qíngkuàng shífēn wēijí, wǒmen xūyào yī ge lìgānjiànyǐng de jiějué fāngfǎ. [Pinyin]

producing instant results; having immediate effect


栩栩如生

ㄒㄩˇ ㄒㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄥ

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

to appear lifelike and vivid; vividly; realistically


幸災樂禍

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄞ ㄌㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² wɔː²²/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² wɔː²²/

對犯錯誤的同志不給幫助，反而幸災樂禍，這就是宗派主義。 [MSC, trad.]
对犯错误的同志不给帮助，反而幸灾乐祸，这就是宗派主义。 [MSC, simp.]

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

To deny them help and, what is worse, to gloat over their mistakes, is sectarianism.

Duì fàn cuòwù de tóngzhì bù gěi bāngzhù, fǎn'ér xìngzāilèhuò, zhè jiù shì zōngpàizhǔyì. [Pinyin]

to take joy in calamity and rejoice the disaster; schadenfreude


得過且過

ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/tɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/tɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to muddle along; to drift along; to be perfunctory with one's work; to get by however one can


貪得無厭

ㄊㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˋ

/tʰän⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiːm³³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiːm³³/

avaricious; greedy; not able to settle for less


八拜之交

ㄅㄚ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

бабайчжицзяо

/pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ paːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ paːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

This is derived from an ancient meeting etiquette where the younger members of a family or a community request to meet with the elders.

sworn brotherhood; intimacy of relations between platonic friends


得隴望蜀

ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄨㄥˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄨˇ

/tɤ³⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐk̚⁵ lʊŋ¹³ mɔːŋ²² sʊk̚²/

/tɤ³⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐk̚⁵ lʊŋ¹³ mɔːŋ²² sʊk̚²/

From Book of Jin:
魏武曰：「人苦無足，既得隴右，復欲得蜀！」 [MSC, trad.]魏武曰：「人苦无足，既得陇右，复欲得蜀！」 [MSC, simp.]
Wèi Wǔ yuē: “Rén kǔ wúzú, jì dé Lǒngyòu, fù yù dé Shǔ!” [Pinyin]
(Emperor) Wu of Wei said: "Men suffer from insatiability, already having Longyou yet still wanting to get Shu!"

zh-x

^魏 ^武 曰：「人 苦 無足，既 @得 @^隴右，復 @欲 @得 @^蜀！」

湘雲笑道：「得隴望蜀，人之常情。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
湘云笑道：「得陇望蜀，人之常情。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18ᵗʰ century CE

Xiangyun laughed and said: "Already having Long yet still wanting Shu; it's only human nature."

Xiāngyún xiào dào: “Délǒngwàngshǔ, rénzhīchángqíng.” [Pinyin]


暗箭傷人

to hurt someone with an arrow shot from the dark

ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄤ ㄖㄣˊ

аньцзяньшанжэнь

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ɐm³³ t͡siːn³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ɐm³³ t͡siːn³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

to injure someone with unscrupulous or underhand means; to backstab


聲名狼藉

ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄤˊ ㄐㄧˊ

шэнминланцзи

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

infamous; having an extremely bad reputation


破爛不堪

ㄆㄛˋ ㄌㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ

поланьбукань

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ laːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ laːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵/

so tattered and torn (especially said of clothing) that it is totally unacceptable to present oneself in public in such a state


同歸於盡

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

тунгуйюйцзинь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/


魚死網破

the fish are dead, the fishnet is broken

ㄩˊ ㄙˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄆㄛˋ

/y³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ pʰɔː³³/

/y³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ pʰɔː³³/

他就是張網捕魚，我也拼他個魚死網破。 [MSC, trad.]
他就是张网捕鱼，我也拼他个鱼死网破。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 《杜鵑山》 (The Azalea Mountain), Scene 5

Tā jiùshì zhāngwǎng bǔyú, wǒ yě pīn tā ge yúsǐwǎngpò. [Pinyin]

to fight till both you and your foe perish


西裝革履

ㄒㄧ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄍㄜˊ ㄌㄩˇ

сичжуангэлюй

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ lei̯¹³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ lei̯¹³/


百折不撓

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄠˊ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

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


不由分說

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄣ ㄕㄨㄛ

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

to allow no expectation; without listening to somebody's protests; despite objections


風餐露宿

to dine on the wind and sleep among the dew

ㄈㄥ ㄘㄢ ㄌㄨˋ ㄙㄨˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵ lou̯²² sʊk̚⁵/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ lou¹¹ suaʔ²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵ lou̯²² sʊk̚⁵/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ lou¹¹ suaʔ²/

to endure the hardship of living and travelling out in the wild


雪中送炭

to delivercoal to someone on a snowy day

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄢˋ

сюэчжунсунтань

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/


迫不得已

ㄆㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˇ

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/