魚水之歡

ㄩˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄢ

юйшуйчжихуань

/y³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/

/y³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/

This idiom is from the Yuan-dynasty play Romance of the Western Chamber, although the metaphor itself existed long prior to that.

the pleasure between fish and water; the pleasure of fishes in water

(euphemistic, figurative) the pleasure of close intimacy between a couple; (the pleasure of) sexual intercourse; harmonious and joyous life of a married couple

Romance of the Western Chamber
Yuan dynasty


七手八腳

七手八脚
七手八跤
七手八骹

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇㄦ

цишоубацзяор

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

/t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pue(ʔ)⁵ kʰa³³/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

with many people lending a hand; chaotically


殘花敗柳

ㄘㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄅㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

цаньхуабайлю

/t͡sʰän³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ faː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² lɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ faː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² lɐu̯¹³/

(figurative, derogatory) impure woman, such as one who leads a promiscuous life, or one who has been abused and abandoned; fallen woman


小肚雞腸

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨˋ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄤˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨˋ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄤˊㄦ

сяодуцзичанр

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃ɻ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃ɻ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

(figurative, of a person) narrow-minded; small-minded; petty


相夫教子

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄈㄨ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

сянфуцзяоцзы

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ³³ fuː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/sœːŋ³³ fuː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

(of a woman) to support one's husband and teach one's children


口是心非

ㄎㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ

коушисиньфэй

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ siː²² sɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ siː²² sɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

to say one thing but mean another; what one thinks is different from what one says; two-faced; duplicity


雲裡霧裡

ㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/yn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ mou̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/yn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ mou̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

From A New Account of the Tales of the World.

in the clouds, in the fog / amidst the clouds and mist

(figurative) completely puzzled; utterly baffled; unable to understand; unable to make head or tail of something


惘然若失

ㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ¹³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ¹³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/


鳥語花香

ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/niːu̯¹³ jyː¹³ faː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/niãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/niːu̯¹³ jyː¹³ faː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/niãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

birds sing and flowers give forth their fragrance (characterizing a fine spring day)


悵然若失

ㄔㄤˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

望著她，我悵然若失，好久說不出話來。 [MSC, trad.]
望着她，我怅然若失，好久说不出话来。 [MSC, simp.]

Looking at her, I became so lost and could not say a word.

Wàngzhe tā, wǒ chàngránruòshī, hǎojiǔ shuō bù chū huà lái. [Pinyin]


現學現用

ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄩㄥˋ

сяньсюэсяньюн

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːn²² hɔːk̚² jiːn²² jʊŋ²²/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːn²² hɔːk̚² jiːn²² jʊŋ²²/

to put in practice something that one just learned


見義勇為

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄧˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄨㄟˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiː²² jʊŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiː²² jʊŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

Paraphrased from the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
見義不為，無勇也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]见义不为，无勇也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jiàn yì bù wéi, wú yǒng yě. [Pinyin]
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.


螟蛉之子

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄗˇ

минлинчжицзы

/miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 196 (《詩經·小雅·小宛》):
:
螟蛉有子，蜾蠃負之。
教誨爾子，式穀似之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]螟蛉有子，蜾蠃负之。
教诲尔子，式谷似之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Mínglíng yǒu zǐ, guǒluǒ fù zhī.
Jiàohuì ěr zǐ, shì gǔ sì zhī. [Pinyin]
The mulberry insect has young ones, And the sphex carries them away.
Teach and train your sons, And they will become good as you are.
See 螟蛉 (mínglíng) for more.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小宛》)

(《詩經·小雅·小宛》)

zh-x

@螟蛉 有 @子，蜾蠃 負 之。
教誨 爾 子，式 穀 似 之。


輕裝上陣

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄕㄤˋ ㄓㄣˋ

цинчжуаншанчжэнь

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

(originally) to go into battle with a light pack; (by extension) to go forward with one's burdens discarded; to join the action without any burdens


一介書生

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

From Tengwang Ge Xu by 王勃 (Wang Bo):
:
勃，三尺微命，一介書生。無路請纓，等終軍之弱冠。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]勃，三尺微命，一介书生。无路请缨，等终军之弱冠。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 王勃 (Wang Bo), 《滕王閣序》
Bó, sān chǐ wēi mìng, yījièshūshēng. Wúlù qǐngyīng, děng Zhōng Jūn zhī ruòguàn. [Pinyin]
I, Wang Bo, am merely a scholar of low status. I have no way to serve the country like Zhong Jun did, despite being a young adult as he once was.

^勃，三 尺 微 命，一介書生。無路 請纓，等 ^終 ^軍 之 弱冠。

nothing but a scholar; a scholar; an intellectual


渾然一體

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄧ ㄊㄧˇ

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/wɐn²² jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/wɐn²² jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

to be one integrated mass; to be a unified entity


人心叵測

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄛˇ ㄘㄜˋ

жэньсиньпоцэ

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

the human mind is unpredictable; people may harbour an evil intent


精神奕奕

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/


非池中物

ㄈㄟ ㄔˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˋ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

(figurative, of a person) ambitious; full of aspiration


入不敷出

ㄖㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨ ㄔㄨ

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

unable to make ends meet; income cannot cover expenditure; to spend more than one earns


順水推舟

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄨㄟ ㄓㄡ

шуньшуйтуйчжоу

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰui⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/suŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰui³³⁻²³ t͡siu³³/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰui⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/suŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰui³³⁻²³ t͡siu³³/

to do something with the prevailing climate or tendency; to take advantage of the situation


萬無一失

/wän⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/wän⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/


簡單明瞭

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇ

цзяньданьминляо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯²¹/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯¹³/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯²¹/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯¹³/


巾幗英雄

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ

цзиньгоинсюн

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/


赫赫有名

ㄏㄜˋ ㄏㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haːk̚⁵ haːk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haːk̚⁵ haːk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

having a great reputation; celebrated; illustrious


圖文並茂

ㄊㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄠˋ

тувэньбинмао

/tʰu³⁵ wən³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

/tʰu³⁵ wən³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

to be excellent in both text and illustrations


生無可戀

ㄕㄥ ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ lyːn³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ lyːn³⁵/

(neologism, slang) there is nothing worth yearning for in this life; a life devoid of meaning


字正腔圓

ㄗˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄩㄢˊ

цзычжэнцянъюань

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɪŋ³³ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɪŋ³³ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

pronouncing every word clearly and correctly


了無牽掛

ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄚˋ

ляо’уцяньгуа

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/liːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³³/

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/liːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³³/


英雄救美

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄟˇ

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ kɐu̯³³ mei̯¹³/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ kɐu̯³³ mei̯¹³/

a (male) hero saves a damsel in distress


奶油小生

ㄋㄞˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄥ

/naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/naːi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/naːi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) handsome but effeminate young man; pretty boy


歪瓜裂棗

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇ

вайгуалецзао

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

вайгуалецзаор

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡saʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵/

(derogatory) a group of unattractive people (or objects)


繡花枕頭

ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓㄣˇ ˙ㄊㄡ

сюхуачжэньтоу

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄚㄦ ㄓㄣˇ ˙ㄊㄡ

сюхуарчжэньтоу

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/sɐu̯³³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/sɐu̯³³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

(figurative) one who is outwardly attractive but lacking ability or talent inside; just a pretty face


飄飄欲仙

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

пяопяоюйсянь

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːn⁵⁵/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːn⁵⁵/

feeling like one is flying up towards heaven like an immortal; sprightly as a fairy; high


歪瓜劣棗

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇ

вайгуалецзао

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

вайгуалецзаор

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ lyːt̚³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ lyːt̚³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

歪瓜裂棗 歪瓜裂棗#Chinese

歪瓜裂枣 歪瓜裂枣#Chinese

Alternative form of 歪瓜裂棗／歪瓜裂枣 (wāiguālièzǎo)


無處可藏

ㄨˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄘㄤˊ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/


同甘共苦

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄢ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄨˇ

тунганьгунку

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐm⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐm⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

to share the joys and sorrows (usually emphasising the “sorrow” part)


有頭有臉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇㄦ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ liːm¹³/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ liːm¹³/

having fame and prestige; famous; respected; prestigious


因戲生情

ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˋ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

(of an actor and an actress) to become a love couple as a result of working together in a movie or drama series


飲食男女

ㄧㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ

иньшинаньнюй

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

desire for food and sex; basic human needs; natural disposition of mankind


宦海浮沉

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄔㄣˊ

хуаньхайфучэнь

/xu̯än⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/waːn²² hɔːi̯³⁵ fɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/

/xu̯än⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/waːn²² hɔːi̯³⁵ fɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/


意猶未盡

ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː³³ jɐu̯²¹ mei̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu²⁴⁻²² be⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu¹³⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ be³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ iu²³⁻³³ be³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³/

/i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː³³ jɐu̯²¹ mei̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu²⁴⁻²² be⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu¹³⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ be³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ iu²³⁻³³ be³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³/

to be left wanting more; to yearn for more; unsatisfied pleasure


共克時艱

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄜˋ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

гункэшицзянь

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ²² hɐk̚⁵ siː²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ²² hɐk̚⁵ siː²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

[…]社會各方面團結一致、齊心協力，一方有難、八方支援，形成了共克時艱的強大合力；[…] [MSC, trad.]
[…]社会各方面团结一致、齐心协力，一方有难、八方支援，形成了共克时艰的强大合力；[…] [MSC, simp.]
[…]shèhuì gè fāngmiàn tuánjiéyīzhì, qíxīnxiélì, yīfāng yǒunàn, bāfāng zhīyuán, xíngchéng le gòngkèshíjiān de qiángdà hélì; […] [Pinyin]

From: 2020 July 29, 《总结抗击非典经验 促进改革发展稳定》, in People's Daily, →ISSN

(neologism, officialese) to overcome the present difficulties in a spirit of unity


不善言辭

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄘˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːn²² jiːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːn²² jiːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to be untalkative, ineloquent or inarticulate


飄忽不定

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄏㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

to be unsteady in motion; to drift from place to place; to be erratic


輕描淡寫

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

цинмяоданьсе

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tän⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ miːu̯²¹ taːm²² sɛː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tän⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ miːu̯²¹ taːm²² sɛː³⁵/

to touch on lightly; to mention casually; to play down


不管不問

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˋ

бугуаньбувэнь

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

to neither pay attention nor ask about (it); to have no interest in


夜不歸宿

ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄙㄨˋ

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

to stay out all night; to not return home all night


普天之下

ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

See 普天之下，莫非王土 (pǔtiānzhīxià, mòfēiwángtǔ).


搞三搞四

ㄍㄠˇ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄠˇ ㄙˋ

гаосаньгаосы

/kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/kaːu̯³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ sei̯³³/

/kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/kaːu̯³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ sei̯³³/

to do something shady; to have illicit relationships


放諸四海而皆準

ㄈㄤˋ ㄓㄨ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄣˇ

фан чжу сыхай эр цзе чжунь

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡syː⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³⁵/

放之四海而皆準 放之四海而皆準#Chinese

放之四海而皆准 放之四海而皆准#Chinese

Synonym of 放之四海而皆準／放之四海而皆准 (fàng zhī sìhǎi ér jiē zhǔn, “applicable everywhere”)


放之四海而皆準

ㄈㄤˋ ㄓ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄣˇ

фан чжи сыхай эр цзе чжунь

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 24 (《禮記·祭義》):
:
曾子曰：「夫孝，……推而放諸東海而準，推而放諸西海而準，推而放諸南海而準，推而放諸北海而準。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]曾子曰：「夫孝，……推而放诸东海而准，推而放诸西海而准，推而放诸南海而准，推而放诸北海而准。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zēngzǐ yuē: “Fú xiào,...... Tuī ér fàng zhū dōnghǎi ér zhǔn, tuī ér fàng zhū xīhǎi ér zhǔn, tuī ér fàng zhū nánhǎi ér zhǔn, tuī ér fàng zhū běihǎi ér zhǔn.” [Pinyin]
Zengzi said, "Filial piety […] push it on to the eastern sea, the western sea, the southern sea, and the northern sea, and it will be (everywhere) the law for men, and their obedience to it will be uniform."

^曾{Zēng}子 曰：「夫{Fú} 孝，……推 而 @放 諸 東海 而 準，推 而 放 諸 西海 而 準，推 而 放 諸 南海 而 準，推 而 放 諸 北海 @而 @準。」

Zengzi said, "Filial piety 􂀿…􂁀 push it on to the eastern sea, the western sea, the southern sea, and the northern sea, and it will be (everywhere) the law for men, and their obedience to it will be uniform."

中國人找到了馬克思列寧主義這個放之四海而皆準的普遍真理，中國的面目就起了變化了。 [MSC, trad.]
中国人找到了马克思列宁主义这个放之四海而皆准的普遍真理，中国的面目就起了变化了。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1949, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論人民民主專政》 (“On the People's Democratic Dictatorship”). English translation based on https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-4/mswv4_65.htm

The Chinese found Marxism-Leninism, the universally applicable truth, and the face of China began to change.

Zhōngguórén zhǎo dào le Mǎkèsī-Lièníng zhǔyì zhège fàng zhī sìhǎi ér jiē zhǔn de pǔbiàn zhēnlǐ, Zhōngguó de miànmù jiù qǐ le biànhuà le. [Pinyin]


前無古人

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

From the first verse of 《登幽州台歌》 by Chen Zi'ang (661–702).


燈臺不自照

ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄓㄠˋ

dēngtái bù zì zhào [Phonetic:dēngtái bú zì zhào]

дэнтай бу цзы чжао

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯³³/

丈八燈臺——照遠不照近 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近#Chinese

丈八灯台——照远不照近 丈八灯台——照远不照近#Chinese

Synonym of 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近／丈八灯台——照远不照近 (zhàng bā dēngtái, zhào yuǎn bù zhào jìn)


老少男女

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ

лаошаонаньнюй

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

男女老少 男女老少#Chinese


前無古人，後無來者

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄨˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄜˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tsin⁴ mou⁴ gu² jan⁴, hau⁶ mou⁴ loi⁴ dze²

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵/

From the first two verses of 《登幽州台歌》 by Chen Zi'ang (661–702).

unprecedented and never to be duplicated; the first and the last; unmatched; unique


毅然決然

ㄧˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ

ижаньцзюэжань

/i⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ jiːn²¹/

/i⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ jiːn²¹/

without hesitation; resolutely and determinedly


橫豎撇捺

ㄏㄥˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄚˋ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nä⁵¹/

ㄏㄥˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄚˋㄦ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑɻ⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ syː²² pʰiːt̚³ naːt̚²/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nä⁵¹/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑɻ⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ syː²² pʰiːt̚³ naːt̚²/

horizontal stroke (一), vertical stroke (〡), leftward-falling stroke (丿) and rightward-falling stroke (乀); the basic strokes in Chinese writing


壁壘森嚴

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄟˇ ㄙㄣ ㄧㄢˊ

билэйсэньянь

/pi⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lɵy̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/

/pi⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lɵy̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/


天淵之別

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄩㄢ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

тяньюаньчжибе

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

as far apart as heaven from earth; poles apart; worlds apart


走肉行屍

ㄗㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕ

цзоужоусинши

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/

行屍走肉 行屍走肉#Chinese

行尸走肉 行尸走肉#Chinese

Alternative form of 行屍走肉／行尸走肉 (xíngshīzǒuròu)


大音希聲

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄕㄥ

/tä⁵¹ in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐm⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐm⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

From Tao Te Ching:
:
大方無隅；大器晚成；大音希聲；大象無形。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Dà fāng wú yú; dà qì wǎn chéng; dà yīn xī shēng; dà xiàng wú xíng. [Pinyin]
Its largest square doth yet no corner show;
A vessel great, it is the slowest made;
Loud is its sound, but never word it said;
A semblance great, the shadow of a shade.

大 方 無 隅；大.器.晚.成；大.音.希.聲；大 象 無 形。

The greatest music has the faintest notes.


不遑多讓

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄖㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/


數見不鮮

ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

шоцзяньбусянь

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


各司其職

ㄍㄜˋ ㄙ ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˊ

/kɤ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

each person attends to his or her own duties


桑間之音

санцзяньчжиинь

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

zh-l

桑間濮上／桑间濮上 (sāngjiānpúshàng)

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


變徵之音

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄓˇ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

бяньчжичжиинь

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

(music) a sound that is high in tone yet solemn and somber


亡國之音

ㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

ванго чжи инь

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 19 (《禮記·樂記》):
:
是故治世之音安以樂，其政和。亂世之音怨以怒，其政乖。亡國之音哀以思，其民困。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]是故治世之音安以乐，其政和。乱世之音怨以怒，其政乖。亡国之音哀以思，其民困。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Shìgù zhìshì zhī yīn ān yǐ lè, qí zhèng hé. Luànshì zhī yīn yuàn yǐ nù, qí zhèng guāi. Wángguó zhī yīn āi yǐ sī, qí mín kùn. [Pinyin]
Hence, the airs of an age of good order indicate composure and enjoyment. The airs of an age of disorder indicate dissatisfaction and anger, and its government is perversely bad. The airs of a state going to ruin are expressive of sorrow and (troubled) thought.

zh-x

是故 治世 之 音 安 以 樂{lè}，其 政 和。亂世 之 音 怨 以 怒，其 政 乖。亡國.之.音 哀 以 思，其 民 困。


一年四季

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ sei̯³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ t͡ɕi⁴⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ sei̯³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ t͡ɕi⁴⁵/


反目成仇

ㄈㄢˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄡˊ

фаньмучэнчоу

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ mʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² siu¹³/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu²⁴/

/huan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siu²³/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ mʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² siu¹³/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu²⁴/

/huan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siu²³/


半工半讀

ㄅㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄨˊ

баньгунбаньду

/pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ tu³⁵/

/puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tʊk̚²/

/pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ tu³⁵/

/puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tʊk̚²/


口齒不清

ㄎㄡˇ ㄔˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

to have slurred speech; to be unable to speak clearly


教學相長

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄤˇ

цзяосюэсянчжан

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːu̯³³ hɔːk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/kaːu̯³³ hɔːk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 18 (《禮記·學記》):
:
故學然後知不足，教然後知困。知不足，然後能自反也；知困，然後能自強也，故曰：教學相長也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]故学然后知不足，教然后知困。知不足，然后能自反也；知困，然后能自强也，故曰：教学相长也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Gù xué ránhòu zhī bùzú, jiào ránhòu zhī kùn. Zhī bùzú, ránhòu néng zìfǎn yě; zhī kùn, ránhòu néng zìqiáng yě, gù yuē: jiào xué xiàng cháng yě. [Pinyin]
Therefore when he learns, one knows his own deficiencies; when he teaches, he knows the difficulties of learning. After he knows his deficiencies, one is able to turn round and examine himself; after he knows the difficulties, he is able to stimulate himself to effort. Hence it is said, "Teaching and learning help each other."

故 學 然後 知 不足，教 然後 知 困。知 不足，然後 能 自-反 也；知 困，然後 能 自強 也，故 曰：教.學.相.長 也。

both the teacher and the student can learn from each other and grow together


琴瑟和鳴

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²² mɪŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²² mɪŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

(of a married couple) in perfect harmony


死乞白賴

死乞白赖
死氣白賴
死乞百賴
死氣白咧
死乞百咧

ㄙˇ ˙ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄌㄞˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴ t͡ɕʰi⁴ paɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ hɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² laːi̯²²/

/sz̩²¹⁴ t͡ɕʰi⁴ paɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ hɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² laːi̯²²/

(colloquial) to continuously pester someone; pesteringly; annoyingly


斷袖餘桃

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄠˊ

дуаньсююйтао

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/


確有其人

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

to be a real person; to be a person that actually existed or exists


斷袖之癖

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄓ ㄆㄧˇ

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄓ ㄆㄧˋ

дуаньсючжипи

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/

zh-l

斷袖／断袖 (duànxiù)


三頭六臂

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/sän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lʊk̚² pei̯³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɤ²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰio²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lʊk̚² pei̯³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɤ²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰio²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

Originally describing the appearance of the mythological figure Nezha.


確有其事

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˋ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

to be a real thing; to be something that actually happened


高高在上

ㄍㄠ ㄍㄠ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄤˋ

гаогаоцзайшан

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² sœːŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko³³ ko³³ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² siɔŋ⁴¹/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻³³ ko⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³/

/kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɤ⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ³³/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² sœːŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko³³ ko³³ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² siɔŋ⁴¹/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻³³ ko⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³/

/kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɤ⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 288 (《詩經·周頌·敬之》):
:
敬之敬之，天維顯思，命不易哉。
無曰高高在上，陟降厥士，日監在茲。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]敬之敬之，天维显思，命不易哉。
无曰高高在上，陟降厥士，日监在兹。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jìng zhī jìng zhī, tiān wéi xiǎn sī, mìng bù yì zāi.
Wú yuē gāo gāo zài shàng, zhì jiàng jué shì, rì jiān zài zī. [Pinyin]
Let me be reverent, let me be reverent, [in attending to my duties];
[The way of] Heaven is evident,
And its appointment is not easily [preserved].
Let me not say that It is high aloft above me.
It ascends and descends about our doings;
It daily inspects us wherever we are.

lang

(《詩經·周頌·敬之》)

(《詩經·周頌·敬之》)

zh-x

敬 之 敬 之，天 維 顯 思，命 不 易 哉。
無 曰 高.高.在.上，陟 降 厥 士，日 監 在 茲。

Let me be reverent, let me be reverent, 􂀿in attending to my duties􂁀;
􂀿The way of􂁀 Heaven is evident,
And its appointment is not easily 􂀿preserved􂁀.
Let me not say that It is high aloft above me.
It ascends and descends about our doings;
It daily inspects us wherever we are.

(originally) high aloft; (now commonly) setting oneself high above the masses; not in touch with the common people or reality; aloof and remote


腳底抹油

脚底抹油
腳底抹油——溜了

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄇㄛˇ ㄧㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚³ jɐu̯²¹/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚² jɐu̯²¹/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚³ jɐu̯²¹/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚² jɐu̯²¹/

to cut and run; to quickly remove oneself from an undesirable situation


以史為鑒

ㄧˇ ㄕˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ siː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kaːm³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ siː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kaːm³³/

to take history as a mirror; to draw lessons from history; to look to the past for guidance; to learn from history


涎皮賴臉

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

сяньпилайлянь

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ pʰei̯²¹ laːi̯²² liːm¹³/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ pʰei̯²¹ laːi̯²² liːm¹³/


投鼠忌器

to hesitate to pelt a rat for fear of smashing the dishes beside it; spare the rat to save the dishes

ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ kei̯²² hei̯³³/

/tau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi²¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ kei̯²² hei̯³³/

/tau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi²¹³/

to be doubtful about acting against an evil


差天共地

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰa³³ tʰĩ³³ kaŋ⁴¹⁻²² tue⁴¹/

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰa³³ tʰĩ³³ kaŋ⁴¹⁻²² tue⁴¹/

(Cantonese, Quanzhou Hokkien) to be poles apart; to be like night and day; to be a world of difference between them


海誓山盟

ㄏㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄕㄢ ㄇㄥˊ

хайшишаньмэн

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ sɐi̯²² saːn⁵⁵ mɐŋ²¹/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ sɐi̯²² saːn⁵⁵ mɐŋ²¹/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

山盟海誓 山盟海誓#Chinese

Alternative form of 山盟海誓 (shānménghǎishì)


門可羅雀

ㄇㄣˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

/mən³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ lɔː²¹ t͡sœːk̚³/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

/mən³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ lɔː²¹ t͡sœːk̚³/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

From a story in the Records of the Grand Historian:
:
始翟公為廷尉，賓客闐門；及廢，門外可設雀羅。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]始翟公为廷尉，宾客阗门；及废，门外可设雀罗。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Shǐ Zhái Gōng wéi tíngwèi, bīnkè tián mén; jí fèi, ménwài kě shè què luó. [Pinyin]
When Zhai Gong was a court official, guests filled his door, but when he was dismissed, a net could be used to catch sparrows outside his gate.

始 ^翟 ^公 為{wéi} 廷尉，賓客 闐 門；及 廢，門外 可 設 雀 羅。

can use a net to catch sparrows at the gate


秋高氣爽

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄍㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɔːŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɔːŋ³⁵/

the autumn sky is clear and the air is crisp


一葉障目

ㄧ ㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡sœːŋ³³ mʊk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡sœːŋ³³ mʊk̚²/

blinded by only looking at one thing and not considering others; confused by partial or superficial things


因勢利導

ㄧㄣ ㄕˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄠˇ

/in⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ lei̯²² tou̯²²/

/in⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ lei̯²² tou̯²²/

to capitalize on the trend; to make the best of new opportunities


雞犬升天

ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄕㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

цзицюаньшэнтянь

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

When a man gets to the top, all his friends and relations get there with him. / to ride on somebody else's success


再作馮婦

ㄗㄞˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ

цзайцзофэнфу

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sɔːk̚³ fʊŋ²¹ fuː¹³/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sɔːk̚³ fʊŋ²¹ fuː¹³/

to get back to the business that was once left


虎口餘生

ㄏㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄕㄥ

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to survive a disaster; to have a narrow escape


山雞舞鏡

ㄕㄢ ㄐㄧ ㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

шаньцзиуцзин

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ kɛːŋ³³/

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ kɛːŋ³³/


出奇制勝

ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˋ ㄕㄥˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ sɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²³⁻³³ t͡se²¹⁻⁴¹ siɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ¹¹/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ²¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ sɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²³⁻³³ t͡se²¹⁻⁴¹ siɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ¹¹/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ²¹³/


狼狽為奸

ㄌㄤˊ ㄅㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

ланбэйвэйцзянь

/lɑŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ puːi̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/lɑŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ puːi̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

(figurative) to act in collusion with each other; to work hand in glove with somebody (to nefarious ends)


合浦珠還

ㄏㄜˊ ㄆㄨˇ ㄓㄨ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

хэпучжухуань

/xɤ³⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

/xɤ³⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

(figurative, of a person) to return after leaving; (of something) to be regained after being lost


繞樑三日

ㄖㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄙㄢ ㄖˋ

жаолянсаньжи

/ʐɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹ saːm⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/ʐɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹ saːm⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

(especially of one's voice or of music) sonorous and resounding


煮豆燃萁

ㄓㄨˇ ㄉㄡˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄑㄧˊ

чжудоужаньци

/ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡syː³⁵ tɐu̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡syː³⁵ tɐu̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

From The Quatrain of Seven Steps, a poem attributed to Cao Zhi, a prince of Cao Wei, in response to threat of execution by his elder brother, Emperor Wen of Wei.
煮豆持作羹，漉菽以為汁。萁在釜下然，豆在釜中泣。本自同根生，相煎何太急。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]煮豆持作羹，漉菽以为汁。萁在釜下然，豆在釜中泣。本自同根生，相煎何太急。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE
Zhǔ dòu chí zuò gēng, lù shū yǐ wèi zhī. Qí zài fǔ xià rán, dòu zài fǔ zhōng qì. Běn zì tóng gēn shēng, xiàng jiān hé tài jí. [Pinyin]
Beans are boiled to make broth, pulses are filtered to extract juice. Bean-stalks beneath the pot burn; bean-seeds inside the pot sob: "We are born of one same root. Why incinerate each other too ardently?

煮 豆 持 作 羹，漉 菽 以 為 汁。萁 在 釜 下 然，豆 在 釜 中 泣。本 自 同 根 生，相 煎 何 太 急。

to have a fratricidal strife; to have a fight between one's own men

Cao Wei
Cao Zhi
The Quatrain of Seven Steps


狼子野心

ㄌㄤˊ ㄗˇ ㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

/lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː³⁵ jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː³⁵ jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/


盲人瞎馬

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄚ ㄇㄚˇ

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ hɐt̚² maː¹³/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ hɐt̚² maː¹³/


如痴如醉

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³/

in ecstasies over; intoxicated by something; enchanted; carried away; spellbound; fascinated


終身大事

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄣ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ

чжуншэньдаши

čžunšɛnʹdaši

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siː²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siː²²/

big event in one's life (usually referring to marriage)


成雙成對

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄔㄥˊ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чэншуанчэндуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tɵy̯³³/

/sɨn¹¹ suŋ²⁴ sɨn¹¹ tu̯i⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tɵy̯³³/

/sɨn¹¹ suŋ²⁴ sɨn¹¹ tu̯i⁵⁵/


心裡有鬼

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

/ɕin⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

to harbour intentions that can't bear daylight


心如止水

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

синьжучжишуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

one's mind is as calm as still water; to remain unmoved by circumstances; at peace with oneself


心中有鬼

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

синьчжунъюгуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

心裡有鬼 心裡有鬼#Chinese

心里有鬼 心里有鬼#Chinese


刨根問底

ㄆㄠˊ ㄍㄣ ㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄧˇ

паогэньвэньди

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²² tɐi̯³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²² tɐi̯³⁵/

get to the bottom of
get to the bottom of


心裡有數

ㄒㄧㄣ ˙ㄌㄧ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

ㄒㄧㄣ ˙ㄌㄧ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨˋㄦ

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

to know very well in one's heart (e.g. what to do next, whether it is likely to succeed, etc.); to know the score


身臨其境

ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

шэньлиньцицзин

/ʂən⁵⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² lim²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ⁵³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² lim²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ⁵³/

to be personally on the scene; to be in a place or situation in person


口說無憑

ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ syːt̚³ mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ syːt̚³ mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/


三從四德

ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄙˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sei̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sei̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

the Three Obediences and Four Virtues (traditional Chinese social and familial code of conduct on womanhood)


藍天白雲

ㄌㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄞˊ ㄩㄣˊ

ланьтяньбайюнь

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ yn³⁵/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ paːk̚² wɐn²¹/

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ yn³⁵/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ paːk̚² wɐn²¹/


絕色天香

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ

цзюэсэтяньсян

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

woman of incomparable beauty; unrivalled beauty


絕色佳人

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

цзюэсэцзяжэнь

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/


青春年華

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚˊ

цинчуньняньхуа

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ niːn²¹ waː²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ niːn²¹ waː²¹/


前度劉郎

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄌㄤˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ tou̯²² lɐu̯²¹ lɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ tou̯²² lɐu̯²¹ lɔːŋ²¹/

From a poem by Liu Yuxi, written when he returned to the capital after 14 years in exile and revisited a peach garden.
:
百畝庭中半是苔，桃花淨盡菜花開。
種桃道士歸何處，前度劉郎今又來。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]百亩庭中半是苔，桃花净尽菜花开。
种桃道士归何处，前度刘郎今又来。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yuxi, 《再游玄都觀》, 828 CE
Bǎi mǔ tíng zhōng bàn shì tái, táohuā jìng jìn càihuā kāi.
Zhòng táo dàoshì guī héchù, qián dù Liú láng jīn yòu lái. [Pinyin]
The courtyard of a hundred mu is half-covered with moss, the peach blossoms are gone and only mallow flowers remain.
 The priests who planted the peach trees are nowhere to be found, yet that Mr. Liu last time around is now here again!

百 畝 庭 中 半 是 苔，桃花 淨 盡 菜花 開。
種{zhòng} 桃 道士 歸 何處，@前 @度 @^劉 @郎 今 又 來。

Liu Yuxi, 《再游玄都觀》, 828 <small class="ce-date">CE</small>

someone who returns to a place they have once abandoned


因噎廢食

to not eat because of [fear or experience of] choking

ㄧㄣ ㄧㄝ ㄈㄟˋ ㄕˊ

/in⁵⁵ jɛ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jiːt̚³ fɐi̯³³ sɪk̚²/

/in⁵⁵ jɛ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jiːt̚³ fɐi̯³³ sɪk̚²/

不能因為死刑可能造成誤判而廢除死刑，這是因噎廢食 [MSC, trad.]
不能因为死刑可能造成误判而废除死刑，这是因噎废食 [MSC, simp.]

The death penalty should not be abolished because of possible miscarriages, this is like not eating for fear of choking

bù néng yīnwèi sǐxíng kěnéng zào chéng wùpàn ér fèichú sǐxíng, zhè shì yīnyēfèishí [Pinyin]

to avoid something essential because of a slight risk of making a mistake


雙宿雙飛

ㄕㄨㄤ ㄙㄨˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄈㄟ

шуансушуанфэй

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

live in each other's pockets
live in each other's pockets

(of a pair of lovers) to be intimate and inseparable; to live in each other's pockets


捉姦在床

ㄓㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄗㄞˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

чжоцзяньцзайчуан

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

to catch adulterers in the act; to catch (one's partner) in bed with someone else


高樓大廈

ㄍㄠ ㄌㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄚˋ

ㄍㄠ ㄌㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² haː²²/

/kau³³⁻²³ lau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ he¹¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² haː²²/

/kau³³⁻²³ lau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ he¹¹/

high-rise building (Classifier: 座 m c; 棟／栋 m c; 幢 m; 躉／趸 c)


推己及人

ㄊㄨㄟ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

туйцзицзижэнь

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² jɐn²¹/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² jɐn²¹/

to put oneself in the place of another; to do unto others as you would have them do unto you


頭破血流

head broken open and blood flowing (bleeding)

ㄊㄡˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

ㄊㄡˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

ㄊㄡˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹/

/tʰau²³⁻³³ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ hue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ lau²³/

/tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰua¹¹⁻⁵³ hui(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lau²⁴/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹/

/tʰau²³⁻³³ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ hue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ lau²³/

/tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰua¹¹⁻⁵³ hui(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lau²⁴/

打得頭破血流／打得头破血流


一飽眼福

ㄧ ㄅㄠˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄈㄨˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːu̯³⁵ ŋaːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːu̯³⁵ ŋaːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵/


嘔心瀝血

ㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

ㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

ㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚⁵ hyːt̚³/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² hyːt̚³/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚⁵ hyːt̚³/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² hyːt̚³/

blood, sweat and tears
blood, sweat and tears

determination and hard work; put your blood, sweat and tears into it


苟且偷生

ㄍㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/


斷鶴續鳧

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (斷鶴續鳧):
* → Japanese: 断鶴続鳧(だんかくぞくふ) (dankakuzokufu)

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄜˋ ㄒㄩˋ ㄈㄨˊ

дуаньхэсюйфу

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹ fu³⁵/

/tyːn²² hɔːk̚² t͡sʊk̚² fuː²¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹ fu³⁵/

/tyːn²² hɔːk̚² t͡sʊk̚² fuː²¹/

From the book Zhuangzi:
長者不為有餘，短者不為不足，是故鳧脛雖短，續之則憂，鶴脛雖長，斷之則悲。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]长者不为有余，短者不为不足，是故凫胫虽短，续之则忧，鹤胫虽长，断之则悲。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Cháng zhě bù wéi yǒuyú, duǎn zhě bù wéi bùzú, shìgù fú jìng suī duǎn, xù zhī zé yōu, hè jìng suī cháng, duàn zhī zé bēi. [Pinyin]
What is long should not be considered too long, nor what is short too short. A duck's legs, for instance, are short, but if we try to lengthen them, it occasions pain; and a crane's legs are long, but if we try to cut off a portion of them, it produces grief.

zh-x

長 者 不 為{wéi} 有餘，短 者 不 為{wéi} 不足，是故 鳧 脛 雖 短，續 之 則 憂，鶴 脛 雖 長，斷 之 則 悲。

to shorten the legs of a crane and lengthen those of a wild duck


比肩繼踵

ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

бицзяньцзичжун

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

比肩接踵 比肩接踵#Chinese


比肩接踵

ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

бицзяньцзечжун

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/


嗟來之食

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sɛː⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sɛː⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/

From the Book of Rites, Book 4 (《禮記·檀弓下》):
:
齊大饑，黔敖為食於路，以待餓者而食之。有餓者蒙袂輯屨，貿貿然來。黔敖左奉食，右執飲，曰：「嗟！來食。」揚其目而視之，曰：「予唯不食嗟來之食，以至於斯也。」從而謝焉；終不食而死。曾子聞之曰：「微歟！其嗟也可去，其謝也可食。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]齐大饥，黔敖为食于路，以待饿者而食之。有饿者蒙袂辑屦，贸贸然来。黔敖左奉食，右执饮，曰：「嗟！来食。」扬其目而视之，曰：「予唯不食嗟来之食，以至于斯也。」从而谢焉；终不食而死。曾子闻之曰：「微欤！其嗟也可去，其谢也可食。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Qí dàjī, Qián Áo wéi shí yú lù, yǐ dài èzhě ér shí zhī. Yǒu èzhě méng mèi jí jù, màomàorán lái. Qián Áo zuǒ fèng shí, yòu zhí yǐn, yuē: “Jiē! Lái shí.” Yáng qí mù ér shì zhī, yuē: “Yǔ wéi bù shí jiē lái zhī shí, yǐzhìyú sī yě.” Cóng ér xiè yān; zhōng bù shí ér sǐ. Zēngzǐ wén zhī yuē: “Wēi yú! Qí jiē yě kě qù, qí xiè yě kě shí.” [Pinyin]
During a great dearth in Qi, Qian Ao had food prepared on the road to wait for the starving people, and supplied them food. (One day), there came a famished fellow, and it looked like he could hardly see, his face covered with his sleeves, and his feet dragging together. Qian Ao, with some food in his left hand and with some drinks in right hand, said to him, "Alas! Come and eat!" The fellow stared at him and said, "It was because I did not eat 'alas come here's' food, that I am now in this state." Qian Ao immediately apologised for his words, but the man after all did not take the food and died. Zengzi heard about it and said, "Are you kidding me? If Qian Ao expressed his pity, the fellow should just get away. But since he had apologised, the fellow should have eaten the food."

齊 大-饑，@^黔 @^敖 為{wéi} 食 於 路，以 待 餓-者 而 食 之。有 餓-者 蒙 袂 輯 屨，貿-貿-然 來。@^黔 @^敖 左 奉 食，右 執 飲，曰：「嗟！來 食。」揚 其 目 而 視 之，曰：「予 唯 不 食 嗟.來.之.食，以至於 斯 也。」從 而 謝 焉；終 不 食 而 死。@曾{Zēng}子 聞 之 曰：「微 歟！其 嗟 也 可 去，其 謝 也 可 食。」

food handed out in contempt; contemptuous handout


不識之無

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹/


一見如故

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ jyː²¹ kuː³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ jyː²¹ kuː³³/

to be familiar at first sight; to hit it off


一口咬定

ㄧ ㄎㄡˇ ㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ tɪŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ tɪŋ²²/

to assert resolutely and stick to one's statement


一男半女

ㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄋㄩˇ

инаньбаньнюй

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ nän³⁵ pän⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ naːm²¹ puːn³³ nɵy̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ nän³⁵ pän⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ naːm²¹ puːn³³ nɵy̯¹³/

a child; a son or daughter (emphasizing the small number of children)


一切從簡

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kaːn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kaːn³⁵/


一索得男

ㄧ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄋㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ nän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɔːk̚³ tɐk̚⁵ naːm²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ nän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɔːk̚³ tɐk̚⁵ naːm²¹/

to give birth to a boy as one's first baby


一走了之

ㄧ ㄗㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄓ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

to quit; to walk away from a situation irresponsibly


一無所長

ㄧ ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄤˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

to not have any special skills or qualifications


苦口婆心

ㄎㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄆㄛˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ pʰɔː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ pʰɔː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/


心領神會

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧㄥˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

синьлиншэньхуэй

/ɕin⁵⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪŋ¹³ sɐn²¹ wuːi̯²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪŋ¹³ sɐn²¹ wuːi̯²²/

understand without need for a full explanation


一步登天

ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pou̯²² tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pou̯²² tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to advance to a high position easily; to achieve instant success


一般見識

ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕˊ

ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ

ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄕ

ибаньцзяньши

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/i⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ puːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ sɪk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/i⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ puːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ sɪk̚⁵/

(usually with negative connotation) to be at the same level of understanding; to lower oneself to someone's level


引以為榮

ㄧㄣˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

to be proud of someone or something; to take someone or something as a great honour


詞不達意

ㄘˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚² jiː³³/

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚² jiː³³/

words do not express one's intent; poorly expressed; senseless; inarticulate


朝思暮想

ㄓㄠ ㄙ ㄇㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯²² sœːŋ³⁵/

to yearn for something day and night; to long for something deeply


列祖列宗

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄨㄥ

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵ liːt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵ liːt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


出人頭地

ㄔㄨ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² te²²/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ti¹¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² te²²/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ti¹¹/

to be outstanding; to stand out among others


應有盡有

ㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/iŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/in⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰin⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹/

/eŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵/

/iŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/in⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰin⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹/

/eŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵/

to have everything one needs; to be comprehensive; to be complete


庸人自擾

ㄩㄥ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄖㄠˇ

юнжэньцзыжао

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯¹³/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯¹³/

get one's panties in a bunch
get one's panties in a bunch

to ask for trouble for no reason; to get one's panties in a bunch


博士買驢

ㄅㄛˊ ㄕˋ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄩˊ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ siː²² maːi̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ siː²² maːi̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹/

(of words) long-winded, vague and never getting to the point


乘龍佳婿

ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄒㄩˋ

чэнлунцзясюй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/


千萬買鄰

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

цяньваньмайлинь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːi̯¹³ lɵn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːi̯¹³ lɵn²¹/


玩物喪志

ㄨㄢˋ ㄨˋ ㄙㄤˋ ㄓˋ

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wuːn²² mɐt̚² sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wuːn²² mɐt̚² sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/

to indulge in what one likes and lose one's sense of purpose; infatuation saps the will


奇貨可居

ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄩ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ fɔː³³ hɔː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ fɔː³³ hɔː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

Earliest attested in Records of the Grand Historian:
呂不韋賈邯鄲，見而憐之，曰「此奇貨可居」。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吕不韦贾邯郸，见而怜之，曰「此奇货可居」。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Lǚ bùwéi gǔ hándān, jiàn ér lián zhī, yuē “cǐ qíhuòkějū”. [Pinyin]
Lü Buwei, who was trading in Handan, saw (Qin prince Yiren) and pitied him and said (to himself): "This is a rare good that can be hoarded."

呂 不-韋 賈 邯-鄲，見 而 憐 之，曰「此 奇貨可居」。

rare goods can be hoarded [to be sold when prices go up]

to rely on some special skill, advantage, accomplishment, etc. to profiteer

Handan
King Zhuangxiang of Qin
Lü Buwei
Records of the Grand Historian


舉案齊眉

ㄐㄩˇ ㄢˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄟˊ

цзюйаньцимэй

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ ɔːn³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ ɔːn³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mei̯²¹/

to have mutual respect between husband and wife


魚目混珠

ㄩˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄓㄨ

/y³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² wɐn²² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/hi²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/y³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² wɐn²² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/hi²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

如果動物吃的刀豆氨酸太多，它就可能魚目混珠，代替精氨酸而摻入蛋白質中。 [MSC, trad.]
如果动物吃的刀豆氨酸太多，它就可能鱼目混珠，代替精氨酸而掺入蛋白质中。 [MSC, simp.]

If the animals eat too much canavanine, it may be passed off as arginine and be mixed into proteins.

Rúguǒ dòngwù chī de dāodòu ānsuān tài duō, tā jiù kěnéng yúmùhùnzhū, dàitì jīng'ānsuān ér chānrù dànbáizhì zhōng. [Pinyin]


含血噴人

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ханьсюэпэньжэнь

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

ханьсепэньжэнь

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ jɐn²¹/

/kam²⁴⁻²² huiʔ³² pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ laŋ²⁴/

/ham²³⁻³³ hiɛt̚³² pʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ zin²³/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ jɐn²¹/

/kam²⁴⁻²² huiʔ³² pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ laŋ²⁴/

/ham²³⁻³³ hiɛt̚³² pʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ zin²³/

to slander someone; to falsely accuse someone


意氣揚揚

ja-r

意気揚揚(いきようよう) (ikiyōyō)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (意氣揚揚):
* → Japanese: 意気揚揚(いきようよう) (ikiyōyō)
* → Korean: 의기양양(意氣揚揚) (uigiyang'yang)

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/


藍田生玉

Lantian [in Shaanxi] produces [good] jade.

ㄌㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄥ ㄩˋ

ланьтяньшэнъюй

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

outstanding children come from a prestigious family


為富不仁

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ fuː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ fuː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

From Mencius (《孟子·滕文公上》):
陽虎曰：「為富不仁矣，為仁不富矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]阳虎曰：「为富不仁矣，为仁不富矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yáng Hǔ yuē: “Wéi fù bù rén yǐ, wéi rén bù fù yǐ.” [Pinyin]
Yang Hu said, "He who seeks to be rich will not be benevolent. He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich."

zh-x

@^陽.^虎 曰：「為{Wéi}.富.不.仁 矣，為{wéi} 仁 不 富 矣。」

他們有點罵人了，罵洋人叫「洋鬼子」，罵軍閥叫「搶錢司令」，罵土豪劣紳叫「為富不仁」。 [MSC, trad.]
他们有点骂人了，骂洋人叫「洋鬼子」，骂军阀叫「抢钱司令」，骂土豪劣绅叫「为富不仁」。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1925, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《中國社會各階級的分析》 (Analysis of the Classes in Chinese Society), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

They become rather abusive, denouncing the foreigners as “foreign devils”, the warlords as “robber generals” and the local tyrants and evil gentry as “the heartless rich”.

Tāmen yǒudiǎn màrén le, mà yángrén jiào “yángguǐzi”, mà jūnfá jiào “qiǎngqián sīlìng”, mà tǔháo lièshēn jiào “wéifùbùrén”. [Pinyin]

to be rich and cruel; to be rich and heartless


乞哀告憐

ㄑㄧˇ ㄞ ㄍㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐt̚⁵ ɔːi̯⁵⁵ kou̯³³ liːn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐt̚⁵ ɔːi̯⁵⁵ kou̯³³ liːn²¹/

荒時暴月，向親友乞哀告憐，借得幾斗幾升，敷衍三日五日，債務叢集，如牛負重。 [MSC, trad.]
荒时暴月，向亲友乞哀告怜，借得几斗几升，敷衍三日五日，债务丛集，如牛负重。 [MSC, simp.]

In hard times they piteously beg help from relatives and friends, borrowing a few tou or sheng of grain to last them a few days, and their debts pile up like loads on the backs of oxen.

Huāngshíbàoyuè, xiàng qīnyǒu qǐ'āigàolián, jiè dé jǐ dǒu jǐ shēng, fūyǎn sān rì wǔ rì, zhàiwù cóngjí, rúniúfùzhòng. [Pinyin]


寥寥無幾

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˇ

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵⁵⁴/

/liau¹³⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² bu¹³⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻¹¹ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/liau²³⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵⁵⁴/

/liau¹³⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² bu¹³⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻¹¹ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/liau²³⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/


叫苦不迭

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/kiːu̯³³ fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːt̚²/

/kio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiak̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/kiːu̯³³ fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːt̚²/

/kio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiak̚²/

偶與此輩傾談，便見叫苦不迭。 [MSC, trad.]
偶与此辈倾谈，便见叫苦不迭。 [MSC, simp.]

If by chance you get into intimate conversation with them, they invariably pour out their endless grievances.

Ǒu yǔ cǐbèi qīngtán, biàn jiàn jiàokǔbùdié. [Pinyin]

to complain of one's suffering endlessly


聞所未聞

ㄨㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄣˊ

вэньсовэйвэнь

/wən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² mɐn²¹/

/wən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² mɐn²¹/

to hear something one has never heard before; (of something) unheard-of, rare


千里迢迢

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ

цяньлитяотяо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ siːu̯²¹ siːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ tʰiau²³⁻³³ tʰiau²³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiou³³⁻²³ tʰiou³³/

/t͡sʰãĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiau³³⁻²³ tʰiau³³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ siːu̯²¹ siːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ tʰiau²³⁻³³ tʰiau²³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiou³³⁻²³ tʰiou³³/

/t͡sʰãĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiau³³⁻²³ tʰiau³³/


見所未見

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

цзяньсовэйцзянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

/kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

to see something one has never seen before; (of something) rare; unprecedented


掃地以盡

ㄙㄠˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sɵn²²/

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sɵn²²/

地主的體面威風，掃地以盡。 [MSC, trad.]
地主的体面威风，扫地以尽。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1927, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《湖南農民運動考察報告》 (Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Every bit of the dignity and prestige built up by the landlords is being swept into the dust.

Dìzhǔ de tǐmiàn wēifēng, sǎodìyǐjìn. [Pinyin]

掃地俱盡 掃地俱盡#Chinese

扫地俱尽 扫地俱尽#Chinese

(derogatory) Synonym of 掃地俱盡／扫地俱尽 (sǎodìjùjìn, “to be swept away; to be completely destroyed or discredited”)


掃地俱盡

ㄙㄠˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

саодицзюйцзинь

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

to be swept away; to be completely destroyed or discredited


急風暴雨

ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐp̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯²² jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐp̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯²² jyː¹³/

這個攻擊的形勢，簡直是急風暴雨，順之者存，違之者滅。 [MSC, trad.]
这个攻击的形势，简直是急风暴雨，顺之者存，违之者灭。 [MSC, simp.]

In force and momentum the attack is tempestuous; those who bow before it survive and those who resist perish.

Zhège gōngjī de xíngshì, jiǎnzhí shì jífēngbàoyǔ, shùn zhī zhě cún, wéi zhī zhě miè. [Pinyin]

現在的情況是：革命時期的大規模的急風暴雨式的群眾階級鬥爭基本結束，但是階級鬥爭還沒有完全結束。 [MSC, trad.]
现在的情况是：革命时期的大规模的急风暴雨式的群众阶级斗争基本结束，但是阶级斗争还没有完全结束。 [MSC, simp.]

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

Today, matters stand as follows. The large-scale, turbulent class struggles of the masses characteristic of times of revolution have in the main come to an end, but class struggle is by no means entirely over.

Xiànzài de qíngkuàng shì: gémìng shíqī de dàguīmó de jífēngbàoyǔ shì de qúnzhòng jiējí dòuzhēng jīběn jiéshù, dànshì jiējí dòuzhēng hái méiyǒu wánquán jiéshù. [Pinyin]


榮神益人

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄖㄣˊ

жуншэньижэнь

žunšɛnʹižɛnʹ

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɪŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɪŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

(Christianity) to glorify God and help people


為非作歹

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄟ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄞˇ

вэйфэйцзодай

/weɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ taːi̯³⁵/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁵³/

/ui²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁴¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ taːi̯³⁵/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁵³/

/ui²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁴¹/


街談巷議

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄧˋ

цзетаньсянъи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ hɔːŋ²² jiː¹³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ hɔːŋ²² jiː¹³/

我初到長沙時，會到各方面的人，聽到許多的街談巷議。 [MSC, trad.]
我初到长沙时，会到各方面的人，听到许多的街谈巷议。 [MSC, simp.]

Soon after my arrival in Changsha, I met all sorts of people and picked up a good deal of gossip.

Wǒ chū dào Chángshā shí, huì dào gè fāngmiàn de rén, tīng dào xǔduō de jiētánxiàngyì. [Pinyin]


急功近利

ㄐㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧˋ

цзигунцзиньли

/t͡ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐn²² lei̯²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐn²² lei̯²²/

to seek quick success and instant benefits


自出機杼

ㄗˋ ㄔㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄓㄨˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/


一己之利

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/


別出機杼

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄔㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄓㄨˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

original; distinctive (of literary compositions)


寸土寸金

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цуньтуцуньцзинь

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵/

every inch of land is an inch of gold; land is extremely expensive in an area


直腸直肚

ㄓˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄓˊ ㄉㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚² tʰou̯¹³/

/t͡set̚³² t͡sʰiaŋ²² t͡set̚³² u⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ t͡sʰoŋ¹¹ t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ tu³¹/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²³⁻³³ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚² tʰou̯¹³/

/t͡set̚³² t͡sʰiaŋ²² t͡set̚³² u⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ t͡sʰoŋ¹¹ t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ tu³¹/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²³⁻³³ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

calling a spade a spade
call a spade a spade

frank and straightforward; speaking bluntly; blunt and outspoken; calling a spade a spade


將心比心

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

цзянсиньбисинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡si̯oŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴ pi³¹ sim²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡si̯oŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴ pi³¹ sim²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

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


拾人牙慧

ㄕˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jä³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² jɐn²¹ ŋaː²¹ wɐi̯²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jä³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² jɐn²¹ ŋaː²¹ wɐi̯²²/

殷中軍云：康伯未得我牙後慧。 [MSC, trad.]
殷中军云：康伯未得我牙后慧。 [MSC, simp.]
From: 《世說新語•文學》
Yīn Zhōngjūn yún: Kāngbó wèi dé wǒ yá hòu huì. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^殷 ^中軍 云：^康伯 未 得 我 牙 後 慧。


別風淮雨

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄈㄥ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄩˇ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ jyː¹³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ jyː¹³/

full of wrongly written characters; spreading falsehood


搖搖欲墜

shaking or swaying as if about to collapse

ㄧㄠˊ ㄧㄠˊ ㄩˋ ㄓㄨㄟˋ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡sɵy̯²²/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡sɵy̯²²/


堆積如山

ㄉㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄢ

дуйцзижушань

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

having enormous amounts of; having heaps of


天生麗質

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓˋ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓˊ

тяньшэнличжи

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɐi̯²² t͡sɐt̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻¹¹ t͡sit̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻²¹ t͡sit̚³²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɐi̯²² t͡sɐt̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻¹¹ t͡sit̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻²¹ t͡sit̚³²/

(of a female) to be a natural beauty; to be smart and beautiful


志同道合

ㄓˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² hɐp̚²/

/t͡sɨ⁵⁵ tʰuŋ¹¹ tʰo⁵⁵ hap̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² hɐp̚²/

/t͡sɨ⁵⁵ tʰuŋ¹¹ tʰo⁵⁵ hap̚⁵/


道不拾遺

ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/tou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/tou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

有些地方真個道不拾遺，夜不閉戶。 [MSC, trad.]
有些地方真个道不拾遗，夜不闭户。 [MSC, simp.]

In some places it is literally true that people do not take any articles left by the wayside and that doors are not bolted at night.

Yǒuxiē dìfāng zhēngè dàobùshíyí, yèbùbìhù. [Pinyin]

路不拾遺 路不拾遺#Chinese

路不拾遗 路不拾遗#Chinese

Synonym of 路不拾遺／路不拾遗 (lùbùshíyí, “no one pockets lost property on the road”)


減租減息

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗㄨ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧ

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗㄨ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧˊ

цзяньцзуцзяньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵/

這個鬥爭不勝利，一切減租減息，要求土地及其它生產手段等等的經濟鬥爭，決無勝利之可能。 [MSC, trad.]
这个斗争不胜利，一切减租减息，要求土地及其它生产手段等等的经济斗争，决无胜利之可能。 [MSC, simp.]

Without victory in this struggle, no victory is possible in the economic struggle to reduce rent and interest, to secure land and other means of production, and so on.

Zhège dòuzhēng bù shènglì, yīqiè jiǎnzūjiǎnxī, yāoqiú tǔdì jí qítā shēngchǎn shǒuduàn děngděng de jīngjì dòuzhēng, jué wú shènglì zhī kěnéng. [Pinyin]

to reduce rent and interest; to reduce rent and lower the interest rate


坐臥不寧

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄥˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² ŋɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² ŋɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

那劣紳不知何日要戴高帽子，每日在家放心不下，坐臥不寧。 [MSC, trad.]
那劣绅不知何日要戴高帽子，每日在家放心不下，坐卧不宁。 [MSC, simp.]

Not knowing when he would be crowned, the man was in daily suspense, unable to sit down or sleep at ease.

Nà lièshēn bùzhī hérì yào dài gāomàozi, měirì zài jiā fàngxīn bù xià, zuòwòbùníng. [Pinyin]

to be unable to sit down or sleep at ease; to be restless


囤積居奇

ㄊㄨㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄩ ㄑㄧˊ

туньцзицзюйци

/tʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/tʰyːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

/tʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/tʰyːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

to hoard and corner; to hoard and profiteer; to corner the market; to engross the market


唯命是從

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²² siː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²² siː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

to follow orders as if one's life depended on it; to do what one is told without fail


才疏學淺

ㄘㄞˊ ㄕㄨ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄑㄧㄢˇ

цайшусюэцянь

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵/

(self-deprecatory) to be of humble talent and shallow learning


稱心如意

ㄔㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ

ㄔㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː³³/


心中有數

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨˋ

синьчжунъюшу

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

to know very well in one's heart (e.g. what to do next, whether it is likely to succeed, etc.); to know the score


金科玉律

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄎㄜ ㄩˋ ㄌㄩˋ

цзинькэюйлюй

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lɵt̚²/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lɵt̚²/

沒有可以奉為金科玉律的教科書 [MSC, trad.]
没有可以奉为金科玉律的教科书 [MSC, simp.]

There is no such a textbook we can respect as absolute truth

méiyǒu kěyǐ fèng wèi jīnkēyùlǜ de jiàokēshū [Pinyin]

他把他家裡那種種可笑規矩，看成聖賢的金科玉律。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
他把他家里那种种可笑规矩，看成圣贤的金科玉律。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《歧路燈》第一○三回

Tā bǎ tā jiālǐ nà zhǒngzhǒng kěxiào guījǔ, kànchéng shèngxián de jīnkēyùlǜ. [Pinyin]

或是古人這句話是有所為而言的，後人就奉了他做金科玉律，豈不是誤盡了天下女子嗎？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
或是古人这句话是有所为而言的，后人就奉了他做金科玉律，岂不是误尽了天下女子吗？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《二十年目睹之怪現狀》第二一回

Huòshì gǔrén zhè jù huà shì yǒusuǒ wèi ér yán de, hòurén jiù fèng le tā zuò jīnkēyùlǜ, qǐbùshì wù jìn le tiānxià nǚzǐ ma? [Pinyin]

a law, discipline, norm or regulation that is considered absolute and not allowed to be disputed or challenged


頤指氣使

to command others with facial expressions

ㄧˊ ㄓˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˇ

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³ siː³⁵/

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³ siː³⁵/

今遜等有地千里，有祿萬鍾，頤指氣使，無不隨順。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
今逊等有地千里，有禄万钟，颐指气使，无不随顺。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: 唐．元稹《追封李遜等母制》

Jīn xùn děng yǒu dì qiānlǐ, yǒu lù wànzhōng, yízhǐqìshǐ, wúbù suíshùn. [Pinyin]

公卿頤指氣使，果然鼠憑社貴，真個狐藉虎威，好氣勢也呵！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
公卿颐指气使，果然鼠凭社贵，真个狐借虎威，好气势也呵！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 明．朱鼎《玉鏡臺記》第二八齣

Gōngqīng yízhǐqìshǐ, guǒrán shǔpíngshèguì, zhēn ge hújièhǔwēi, hǎo qìshì yě hē! [Pinyin]

也沒有可以對中國人民頤指氣使的教師爺 [MSC, trad.]
也没有可以对中国人民颐指气使的教师爷 [MSC, simp.]

There is also no such a tutor who can speak disdainfully toward Chinese people

yě méiyǒu kěyǐ duì zhōngguó rénmín yízhǐqìshǐ de jiàoshī yé [Pinyin]


生龍活虎

ㄕㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄨˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² fuː³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² fuː³⁵/


龍精虎猛

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄨˇ ㄇㄥˇ

лунцзинхумэн

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ maːŋ¹³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ maːŋ¹³/


心血來潮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

синьсюэлайчао

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

синьселайчао

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hyːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim³³ hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ lai¹³⁻²² tiau¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²³⁻³³ tiau²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hyːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim³³ hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ lai¹³⁻²² tiau¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²³⁻³³ tiau²³/

to be carried away by impulse; to do something on a whim


自立為王

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄤˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


窮鄉僻壤

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄆㄧˋ ㄖㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

開一萬個法政學校，能不能在這樣短時間內普及政治教育於窮鄉僻壤的男女老少，像現在農會所做的政治教育一樣呢？我想不能吧。 [MSC, trad.]
开一万个法政学校，能不能在这样短时间内普及政治教育于穷乡僻壤的男女老少，像现在农会所做的政治教育一样呢？我想不能吧。 [MSC, simp.]

Even if ten thousand schools of law and political science had been opened, could they have brought as much political education to the people, men and women, young and old, all the way into the remotest corners of the countryside, as the peasant associations have done in so short a time? I don't think they could.

Kāi yīwàn gè fǎzhèng xuéxiào, néng bù néng zài zhèyàng duǎnshíjiān nèi pǔjí zhèngzhì jiàoyù yú qióngxiāngpìrǎng de nánnǚlǎoshào, xiàng xiànzài nónghuì suǒ zuò de zhèngzhì jiàoyù yīyàng ne? Wǒ xiǎng bùnéng ba. [Pinyin]


踽踽獨行

ㄐㄩˇ ㄐㄩˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

цзюйцзюйдусин

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/


善罷甘休

ㄕㄢˋ ㄅㄚˋ ㄍㄢ ㄒㄧㄡ

шаньбаганьсю

/ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pä⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːn²² paː²² kɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pä⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːn²² paː²² kɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

他受你如此侮辱，怎肯善罷甘休？ [MSC, trad.]
他受你如此侮辱，怎肯善罢甘休？ [MSC, simp.]

As you have insulted him, he won't let you go easily.

Tā shòu nǐ rúcǐ wǔrǔ, zěn kěn shànbàgānxiū? [Pinyin]

(chiefly in the negative) to let go or give up easily


奉為圭臬

ㄈㄥˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄋㄧㄝˋ

/fɤŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚²/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚²/

to look up to as a standard; to hold up as a model; to take as a guiding principle


陟罰臧否

ㄓˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄗㄤ ㄆㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵/

to reward good people and to punish bad people


涕泗滂沱

ㄊㄧˋ ㄙˋ ㄆㄤ ㄊㄨㄛˊ

ㄊㄧˋ ㄙˋ ㄆㄤˊ ㄊㄨㄛˊ

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³³ siː³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔː²¹/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³³ siː³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔː²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 145 (《詩經·陳風·澤陂》):
:
有美一人，傷如之何。
寤寐無為，涕泗滂沱。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]有美一人，伤如之何。
寤寐无为，涕泗滂沱。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yǒu měi yīrén, shāng rúzhīhé.
Wùmèi wúwéi, tìsì pāngtuó. [Pinyin]
There is the beautiful lady; I am tortured for her, but what avails it?
Waking or sleeping, I do nothing; From my eyes and nose the water streams.

lang

(《詩經·陳風·澤陂》)

(《詩經·陳風·澤陂》)

zh-x

有 美 一人，傷 如之何。
寤寐 無為{wéi}，涕泗.滂沱。


煢煢孑立

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰiːt̚³ laːp̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰiːt̚³ laːp̚²/

The ideophonic component 煢煢 has been attested in various forms, e.g. 睘睘 (OC *ɡʷeŋ ɡʷeŋ), as early as the Book of Poetry. One of the earliest idiomatic attestation was in a fu composition by Zhang Heng (《思玄賦》, "Deep Contemplations"):
:
何孤行之煢煢兮，孑不群而介立。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]何孤行之茕茕兮，孑不群而介立。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 2nd century, Zhang Heng (張衡), Deep Contemplations (《思玄賦》)
Hé gūxíng zhī qióngqióng xī, jié bùqún ér jièlì. [Pinyin]
What a desolate path I tread alone,
What forlorn stance my isolation is.
As chengyu it was arguably popularised with the publication of Li Mi's petition to the Emperor Wu of Jin [267]:
:
外無期功強近之親，內無應門五尺之僮；煢煢孑立，形影相弔。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]外无期功强近之亲，内无应门五尺之僮；茕茕孑立，形影相吊。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 267, Li Mi, A Petition Regarding My True Circumstances (《陳情表》)
Wài wú jīgōng qiǎngjìn zhī qīn, nèi wú yìngmén wǔchǐ zhī tóng; qióngqióng jiélì, xíngyǐng xiàngdiào. [Pinyin]
Outside there is none I may venture to call a relative, and inside there is not even a servant boy to help. A complete isolation is my existence; only my figure and its shadow console each other.

och-l

睘睘 (OC *ɡʷeŋ ɡʷeŋ)

zh-x

何 孤-行 之 @煢煢 兮，@孑 不-群 而 介-@立。

外 無 期{jī}-功 強{qiǎng}-近 之 親，內 無 應{yìng}門 五-尺 之 僮；煢煢.孑立，形影相吊\形影.相弔。

茕茕孑立
㷀㷀孑立
惸惸孑立
睘睘孑立
嬛嬛孑立

Book of Poetry
Emperor Wu of Jin
Zhang Heng
zh:李密 (西晉)


形影相吊

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

синъин сяндяо

/ɕiŋ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³/


拔刀相助

ㄅㄚˊ ㄉㄠ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄨˋ

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

to intervene in an injustice; to rush to the rescue


簞食壺漿

ㄉㄢ ㄙˋ ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

ㄉㄢ ㄕˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

даньсыхуцзян

/tän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

даньшихуцзян

/tän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚² wuː²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚² wuː²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王下》):
:
以萬乘之國伐萬乘之國，簞食壺漿，以迎王師。豈有他哉？避水火也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]以万乘之国伐万乘之国，箪食壶浆，以迎王师。岂有他哉？避水火也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yǐ wànshèng zhī guó fá wànshèng zhī guó, dān shí hú jiāng, yǐ yíng wángshī. Qǐ yǒu tā zāi? Bì shuǐhuǒ yě. [Pinyin]
When, with all the strength of your country of ten thousand chariots, you attacked another country of ten thousand chariots, and the people brought baskets of rice and vessels of congee, to meet your Majesty's host, was there any other reason for this but that they hoped to escape out of fire and water?

以 萬乘{shèng} 之 國 伐 萬乘{shèng} 之 國，簞.食.壺.漿，以 迎 王師。豈 有 他 哉？避 水火 也。


猝不及防

ㄘㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄤˊ

/t͡sʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² fɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² fɔːŋ²¹/

to be caught off guard; to be taken by surprise


百忙之中

ㄅㄞˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄓ ㄓㄨㄥ

байманчжичжун

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

感謝您百忙之中抽空見我。 [MSC, trad.]
感谢您百忙之中抽空见我。 [MSC, simp.]

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me.

Gǎnxiè nín bǎimángzhīzhōng chōukòng jiàn wǒ. [Pinyin]

(honorific) during a busy time; busy schedule


難以為繼

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/


以德服人

ㄧˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

以力服人者，非心服也，力不贍也；以德服人者，中心悅而誠服也，如七十子之服孔子也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
以力服人者，非心服也，力不赡也；以德服人者，中心悦而诚服也，如七十子之服孔子也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit, because their strength is not adequate to resist. When one subdues men by virtue, in their hearts' core they are pleased, and sincerely submit, as was the case with the seventy disciples in their submission to Confucius.

Yǐ lì fú rén zhě, fēi xīn fú yě, lì bù shàn yě; yǐ dé fú rén zhě, zhōngxīn yuè ér chéngfú yě, rú qīshí zǐ zhī fú Kǒngzǐ yě. [Pinyin]


心悅誠服

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄨˊ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːt̚² sɪŋ²¹ fʊk̚²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːt̚² sɪŋ²¹ fʊk̚²/

From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑上》):
以力服人者，非心服也，力不贍也；以德服人者，中心悅而誠服也，如七十子之服孔子也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]以力服人者，非心服也，力不赡也；以德服人者，中心悦而诚服也，如七十子之服孔子也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yǐ lì fú rén zhě, fēi xīn fú yě, lì bù shàn yě; yǐ dé fú rén zhě, zhōngxīn yuè ér chéngfú yě, rú qīshí zǐ zhī fú Kǒngzǐ yě. [Pinyin]
When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit, because their strength is not adequate to resist. When one subdues men by virtue, in their hearts' core they are pleased, and sincerely submit, as was the case with the seventy disciples in their submission to Confucius.

以 力 服 人 者，非 心 服 也，力 不 贍 也；以.德.服.人 者，中心 @悅 而 @誠服 也，如 七十 子 之 服 ^孔子 也。

to be sincerely convinced; to sincerely admire; to submit willingly


廣開言路

ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄎㄞ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄨˋ

гуанкайяньлу

/ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lou̯²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lou̯²²/

From the Book of the Later Han.
朝廷廣開言事之路，故且一切假貸；若懷迷不反，當顯明刑書。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]朝廷广开言事之路，故且一切假贷；若怀迷不反，当显明刑书。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5ᵗʰ century CE
Cháotíng guǎng kāi yánshì zhī lù, gùqiě yīqiè jiǎdài; ruò huái mí bù fǎn, dāng xiǎnmíng xíngshū. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

朝廷 廣 開 言事 之 路，故且 一切 假貸；若 懷 迷 不 反，當 顯明 刑書。

to encourage the free airing of views; to create conditions for the subordinates and the masses to fully express their opinions


反躬自問

ㄈㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄨㄣˋ

фаньгунцзывэнь

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

to ask oneself; to examine oneself; to examine one's conscience


持之以恆

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ hɐŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ hɐŋ²¹/


名不符實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²¹ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²¹ sɐt̚²/

名不副實 名不副實#Chinese

名不副实 名不副实#Chinese

Synonym of 名不副實／名不副实 (míngbùfùshí, “the name falls short of the reality; to be unworthy of the name”)


名不副實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː³³ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː³³ sɐt̚²/

the name does not reflect the reality; more in name than in reality; to be unworthy of the name; to fall short of one's reputation


一哄而起

ㄧ ㄏㄨㄥ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/


名實相符

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄨˊ

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹/

名實相副 名實相副#Chinese

名实相副 名实相副#Chinese

Synonym of 名實相副／名实相副 (míngshíxiāngfù, “to be worthy of the name; to live up to one's reputation”)


放下屠刀

ㄈㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄠ

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ haː²² tʰou̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ haː²² tʰou̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf

to repent and mend one's ways; to turn over a new leaf


洗心革面

ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

сисиньгэмянь

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ miːn²²/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ miːn²²/

(figurative) to reform oneself; to turn over a new leaf


棄舊圖新

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² tʰou̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² tʰou̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/


物歸原主

ㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓㄨˇ

/u⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/u⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡syː³⁵/


名實相副

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄨˋ

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³/

to be worthy of the name; to live up to one's reputation


革面洗心

ㄍㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

гэмяньсисинь

/kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaːk̚³ miːn²² sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaːk̚³ miːn²² sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


眾目睽睽

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄟˊ

чжунмукуйкуй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mʊk̚² kʷʰɐi̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mʊk̚² kʷʰɐi̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯²¹/


平心定氣

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ

пинсиньдинци

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

平心靜氣 平心靜氣#Chinese

平心静气 平心静气#Chinese

(uncommon) Synonym of 平心靜氣／平心静气 (píngxīnjìngqì, “calm, dispassionate”)


心直口快

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓˊ ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

синьчжикоукуай

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

frank and outspoken; plainspoken and straightforward


平心易氣

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² hei̯³³/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² hei̯³³/

平心靜氣 平心靜氣#Chinese

平心静气 平心静气#Chinese


心直嘴快

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓˊ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

синьчжицзуйкуай

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

心直口快 心直口快#Chinese

(uncommon) Synonym of 心直口快 (xīnzhíkǒukuài, “frank and outspoken; plainspoken and straightforward”)


心有餘悸

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kʷɐi̯³³/

/sim³³⁻²³ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui²¹³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kʷɐi̯³³/

/sim³³⁻²³ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui²¹³/

經過這麼多年，我對此事仍然心有餘悸。 [MSC, trad.]
经过这么多年，我对此事仍然心有余悸。 [MSC, simp.]

I'm still in shock of it after all these years.

Jīngguò zhème duō nián, wǒ duì cǐ shì réngrán xīnyǒuyújì. [Pinyin]


口直心快

ㄎㄡˇ ㄓˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

коучжисинькуай

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ faːi̯³³/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ faːi̯³³/

心直口快 心直口快#Chinese

(uncommon) Synonym of 心直口快 (xīnzhíkǒukuài, “outspoken and straightforward”)


口快心直

ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓˊ

коукуайсиньчжи

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

心直口快 心直口快#Chinese


平心靜氣

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ

пинсиньцзинци

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

我現在最頭痛的，是不能平心靜氣地和父母談話。 [MSC, trad.]
我现在最头痛的，是不能平心静气地和父母谈话。 [MSC, simp.]

The biggest headache for me now is that I can’t talk to my parents calmly.

Wǒ xiànzài zuì tóutòng de, shì bùnéng píngxīnjìngqì de hé fùmǔ tánhuà. [Pinyin]


心無二用

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄦˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/

one cannot keep one's mind on two things at the same time; one should concentrate on one's work


心亂如麻

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄚˊ

синьлуаньжума

/ɕin⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mä³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lyːn²² jyː²¹ maː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³⁵ lɔn⁵³⁻⁵⁵ i¹¹ ma¹¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mä³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lyːn²² jyː²¹ maː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³⁵ lɔn⁵³⁻⁵⁵ i¹¹ ma¹¹/

to have one's mind as confused as a tangled skein; to be utterly confused and disconcerted; to be terribly upset


心明眼亮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

синьминъяньлян

/ɕin⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ ŋaːn¹³ lœːŋ²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ ŋaːn¹³ lœːŋ²²/

to see and think clearly; to be sharp-eyed and clearheaded


眼明心亮

ㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

яньминсиньлян

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ lœːŋ²²/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ lœːŋ²²/


憂國憂民

ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

to be concerned about the country and the people


毫無疑義

ㄏㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ ㄧˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ i³⁵ i⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ i³⁵ i⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

新的工業大部分應當擺在內地，使工業佈局逐步平衡，並且利於備戰，這是毫無疑義的。 [MSC, trad.]
新的工业大部分应当摆在内地，使工业布局逐步平衡，并且利于备战，这是毫无疑义的。 [MSC, simp.]

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

Without doubt, the greater part of the new industry should be located in the interior so that industry may gradually become evenly distributed; moreover, this will help our preparations against war.

Xīn de gōngyè dàbùfèn yīngdāng bǎi zài nèidì, shǐ gōngyè bùjú zhúbù pínghéng, bìngqiě lìyú bèizhàn, zhè shì háowúyíyì de. [Pinyin]

without the slightest doubt; beyond all doubt; undoubtedly


心有餘而力不足

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄦˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ

синь ююй эр ли буцзу

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ jiː²¹ lɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

From Dream of the Red Chamber:
賈政冷笑道：「你有多大本領！上頭說了一句大開門的散話，如今又要一句連轉帶煞，豈不心有餘而力不足呢？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]贾政冷笑道：「你有多大本领！上头说了一句大开门的散话，如今又要一句连转带煞，岂不心有余而力不足呢？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
Jiǎ Zhèng lěng xiàodào: “Nǐ yǒu duōdà běnlǐng! Shàngtóu shuō le yījù dà kāimén de sànhuà, rújīn yòu yào yījù lián zhuǎn dài shā, qǐbù xīnyǒuyú'érlìbùzú ne?” [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

賈{Jiǎ} ^政 冷 笑-道：「你 有 多大 本領！上頭 說 了 一句 大 開門 的 散-話，如今 又 要 一句 連 轉 帶 煞{shā}，豈不 心有餘而力不足 呢？」

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; to be unable to do what one wants very much to do; to have the ambition but lack the ability


憂民憂國

ㄧㄡ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

(uncommon) to be concerned about the people and the country


艱難困苦

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄣˋ ㄎㄨˇ

цзяньнанькуньку

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kʷʰɐn³³ fuː³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kʷʰɐn³³ fuː³⁵/


心花怒放

the flower in one's heart is in full bloom

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄨˋ ㄈㄤˋ

синьхуануфан

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ nou̯²² fɔːŋ³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ nou̯²² fɔːŋ³³/

韋小寶聽得皇帝居然學會了一句「他媽的」，不禁心花怒放，哈哈大笑。 [MSC, trad.]
韦小宝听得皇帝居然学会了一句「他妈的」，不禁心花怒放，哈哈大笑。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1972, Jin Yong, The Deer and the Cauldron, Chapter 12

Unexpectedly, Wei Xiaobao heard the emperor had mastered the word "fuck". He couldn't help becoming extremely happy and chortled.

Wéi Xiǎobǎo tīng dé huángdì jūrán xuéhuì le yījù “tāmāde”, bùjìn xīnhuānùfàng, hāhādàxiào. [Pinyin]

to burst with joy; to be wild with joy; to be elated; to be extremely happy


心口如一

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

to say what one thinks; to be frank and unreserved


心灰意懶

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄧˋ ㄌㄢˇ

синьхуэйилань

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːn¹³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːn¹³/


心廣體胖

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄆㄢˊ

синьгуантипань

/ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰän³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ³⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰän³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ³⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

心寬體胖 心寬體胖#Chinese

心宽体胖 心宽体胖#Chinese

Synonym of 心寬體胖／心宽体胖 (xīnkuāntǐpán, “carefree and contented; fit and happy”)


驚心動魄

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄆㄛˋ

цзинсиньдунпо

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² pʰaːk̚³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² pʰaːk̚³/


心慌意亂

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

синьхуанъилуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː³³ lyːn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː³³ lyːn²²/


心驚肉跳

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄖㄡˋ ㄊㄧㄠˋ

синьцзинжоутяо

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰiːu̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰiːu̯³³/

to palpitate with anxiety and fear; to be filled with apprehension


心平氣和

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/ɕin⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³ wɔː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³ wɔː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ²³/

心平氣和地交換意見 [MSC, trad.]
心平气和地交换意见 [MSC, simp.]


珠圓玉潤

ㄓㄨ ㄩㄢˊ ㄩˋ ㄖㄨㄣˋ

чжуюаньюйжунь

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jʊk̚² jɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jʊk̚² jɵn²²/

round as pearls and smooth as jade; excellent singing; polished writing


狂轟濫炸

ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄥ ㄌㄢˋ ㄓㄚˋ

куанхунланьчжа

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xʊŋ⁵⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ laːm²² t͡saː³³/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xʊŋ⁵⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ laːm²² t͡saː³³/


珠聯璧合

ㄓㄨ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ lyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ hɐp̚²/

/t͡su³³⁻²³ liaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ piaʔ²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ lyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ hɐp̚²/

/t͡su³³⁻²³ liaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ piaʔ²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴/


巧奪天工

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ

цяодотяньгун

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ tyːt̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ tyːt̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of worksmanship, craftsmanship) excelling nature; wonderful; superb; skilful


巧立名目

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ laːp̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ laːp̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

巧立名目搜刮民財 [MSC, trad.]
巧立名目搜刮民财 [MSC, simp.]

to extort people's wealth under all sorts of pretexts

to concoct various pretexts; to invent all sorts of names


頭頭是道

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕˋ ㄉㄠˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siː²² tou̯²²/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siː²² tou̯²²/

Originally a Buddhist term, meaning the Tao is everywhere.

clear and logical; closely reasoned and well argued


頭疼腦熱

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄥˊ ㄋㄠˇ ㄖㄜˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹ nou̯¹³ jiːt̚²/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹ nou̯¹³ jiːt̚²/

headache and slight fever; slight illness (or mishap)


頭痛醫頭，腳痛醫腳

treat the head when the head hurts, treat the foot when the foot hurts

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧ ㄊㄡˊ

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

tau⁴ tung³ ji¹ tau⁴, goek³ tung³ ji¹ goek³

тоутун и тоу

цзяотун и цзяо

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tau⁴ tung³ ji¹ tau⁴, goek⁸ tung³ ji¹ goek⁸

teo⁴ tung³ yi¹ teo⁴, gêg³ tung³ yi¹ gêg³

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ³³ jiː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kœːk̚³ tʰʊŋ³³ jiː⁵⁵ kœːk̚³/

to treat symptoms but not the disease; to take stopgap measures rather than getting to the root cause of the problem


生氣蓬勃

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄆㄥˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ pʰʊŋ²¹ puːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ pʰʊŋ²¹ puːt̚²/


正氣凜然

ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄢˊ

чжэнцилиньжань

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ hei̯³³ lɐm¹³ jiːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ hei̯³³ lɐm¹³ jiːn²¹/


移風易俗

ㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄧˋ ㄙㄨˊ

/i³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ su³⁵/

/jiː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʊk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hoŋ³³⁻²³ ek̚⁴⁻² sok̚⁴/

/i³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ su³⁵/

/jiː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʊk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hoŋ³³⁻²³ ek̚⁴⁻² sok̚⁴/

to change prevailing habits and customs; to transform social traditions


坐山觀虎鬥

to sit on top of the mountain to watch the tigers fight

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄢ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨˇ ㄉㄡˋ

цзошаньгуаньхудоу

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² saːn⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tɐu̯³³/

/t͡sɔː²² saːn⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tɐu̯³³/

(figuratively) to watch in safety while others fight, then reaping the spoils when both sides suffer.


以此類推

ㄧˇ ㄘˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄊㄨㄟ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²² tʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²² tʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

to deduce the rest by analogy; and so on; and so forth


跋涉千里

ㄅㄚˊ ㄕㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² siːp̚³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² siːp̚³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/


無稽之談

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹/


上綱上線

ㄕㄤˋ ㄍㄤ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

шанганшансянь

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sœːŋ¹³ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ siːn³³/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sœːŋ¹³ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ siːn³³/

Originally used for describing the behaviour when denouncing and criticizing people thought to be capitalist roaders during the Cultural Revolution.

(chiefly Mainland China) to be overcritical of a small issue by raising it to the level of important issues, such as the country, politics, society, ideology, etc.


不成器

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ seŋ³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ seŋ³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³/

孩子不學好不成器。 [MSC, trad.]
孩子不学好不成器。 [MSC, simp.]

Children who fail to learn from good examples will not grow up to be useful people.

(figurative) to not grow up to be a talented or useful person


震耳欲聾

to shock the ear almost to the point of going deaf

ㄓㄣˋ ㄦˇ ㄩˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

чжэньэрюйлун

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ jiː¹³ jʊk̚² lʊŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ jiː¹³ jʊk̚² lʊŋ²¹/


人丁興旺

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄨㄤˋ

жэньдинсинван

/ʐən³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ tɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²²/

/ʐən³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ tɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²²/

to have a growing family; to have a flourishing population


震古爍今

ㄓㄣˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

чжэньгушоцзинь

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ kuː³⁵ sœːk̚³ kɐm⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ kuː³⁵ sœːk̚³ kɐm⁵⁵/

surpassing the ancients and amazing the contemporaries; earthshaking; splendid


仙山瓊閣

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄢ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄍㄜˊ

сяньшаньцюнгэ

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰɪŋ²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰɪŋ²¹ kɔːk̚³/


人浮於事

ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄩˊ ㄕˋ

/ʐən³⁵ fu³⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fɐu̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/ʐən³⁵ fu³⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fɐu̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

to have more hands than needed; to be overstaffed


人歡馬叫

ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄇㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

жэньхуаньмацзяо

/ʐən³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ kiːu̯³³/

/ʐən³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ kiːu̯³³/

people bustling and horses neighing: (of a country scene) busy; prosperous


人跡罕至

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄏㄢˇ ㄓˋ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄏㄢˇ ㄓˋ

жэньцзиханьчжи

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː³³/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː³³/


藝高膽大

ㄧˋ ㄍㄠ ㄉㄢˇ ㄉㄚˋ

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

藝高人膽大 藝高人膽大#Chinese

艺高人胆大 艺高人胆大#Chinese

Alternative form of 藝高人膽大／艺高人胆大 (yì gāo rén dǎndà)


前世今生

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕㄥ

цяньшицзиньшэн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɐi̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɐi̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

the preceding and current lives; past and present


你儂我儂

ㄋㄧˇ ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄨㄥˊ

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ nʊŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ nʊŋ²¹/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ nʊŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ nʊŋ²¹/

From Guan Daosheng's poem in the early Yuan dynasty.

the intimate relations between man and woman; to bill and coo


疲於奔命

ㄆㄧˊ ㄩˊ ㄅㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/pʰi³⁵ y³⁵ pən⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²²/

/pʰi³⁵ y³⁵ pən⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²²/

《左傳·成公七年》:
巫臣自晉遺二子書曰：「爾以讒慝貪惏事君，而多殺不辜，余必使爾罷於奔命以死。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]巫臣自晋遗二子书曰：「尔以谗慝贪惏事君，而多杀不辜，余必使尔罢于奔命以死。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Wūchén zì Jìn wèi èrzǐ shū yuē: “Ěr yǐ chántè tānlán shìjūn, ér duō shā bùgū, yú bì shǐ ěr pí yú bēnmìng yǐ sǐ.” [Pinyin]
Wuchen sent a letter to the two from Jin, in which it was written: "You have been serving the monarch with your slanderous counsels, evil deeds, and rapacious greed. You have killed many innocent people. I swear I will make you die restless and exhausted."

巫-臣 自 ^晉 遺{wèi} 二-子 書 曰：「爾 以 讒-慝 貪婪\貪惏{lán} 事-君，而 多 殺 不辜，余 必 使 爾 @罷{pí}.於.奔命 以 死。」

中國農民有很大的潛伏力，只要組織和指揮得當，能使日本軍隊一天忙碌二十四小時，使之疲於奔命。 [MSC, trad.]
中国农民有很大的潜伏力，只要组织和指挥得当，能使日本军队一天忙碌二十四小时，使之疲于奔命。 [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

The Chinese peasants have very great latent power; properly organized and directed, they can keep the Japanese army busy twenty-four hours a day and worry it to death.

Zhōngguó nóngmín yǒu hěn dà de qiánfúlì, zhǐyào zǔzhī hé zhǐhuī dédàng, néng shǐ Rìběn jūnduì yītiān mánglù èrshísì xiǎoshí, shǐ zhī píyúbēnmìng. [Pinyin]

to be tired and exhausted from constantly running around; to be tired to death with hustling and bustling


紙醉金迷

ㄓˇ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄇㄧˊ

чжицзуйцзиньми

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ mi³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ mɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ mi³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ mɐi̯²¹/

From the story of the Tang-dynasty person Meng Fu (孟斧) recorded in Qing Yi Lu (《清異錄》).

intoxicated by paper and mesmerised by gold

to indulge in a life of luxury and dissipation


大有人在

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞˋ

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³/

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³/


大興土木

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄨˇ ㄇㄨˋ

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯³⁵ mʊk̚²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² hiɪŋ³³ tʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯³⁵ mʊk̚²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² hiɪŋ³³ tʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

to carry out a large-scale construction project (usually to build houses)


喃喃自語

ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄩˇ

наньнаньцзыюй

/nän³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːm²¹ naːm²¹ t͡siː²² jyː¹³/

/lam²³⁻³³ lam²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ ɡu⁵³/

/nän³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːm²¹ naːm²¹ t͡siː²² jyː¹³/

/lam²³⁻³³ lam²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ ɡu⁵³/

to mumble to oneself; to whisper to oneself