唯唯諾諾

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄨㄛˋ

ㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄨㄛˋ

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ nɔːk̚² nɔːk̚²/

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ nɔːk̚² nɔːk̚²/

From Han Feizi, Chapter 9 (《韓非子·八姦》):
:
優笑侏儒，左右近習，此人主未命而唯唯，未使而諾諾，先意承旨，觀貌察色以先主心者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]优笑侏儒，左右近习，此人主未命而唯唯，未使而诺诺，先意承旨，观貌察色以先主心者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Yōu xiào zhūrú, zuǒyòu jìn xí, cǐ rénzhǔ wèi mìng ér wéiwéi, wèi shǐ ér nuònuò, xiān yì chéng zhǐ, guān mào chá sè yǐ xiān zhǔ xīn zhě yě. [Pinyin]
Actors, jokers, and clowns as well as attendants and courtiers would say, "At your service, at your service," before the sovereign has given any order, and say, "Yes, yes," before he has commanded them to do anything, thus taking orders ahead of his words and looking at his facial expressions and judging his needs by his colour in order thereby to render him service before he makes up his mind.

優 笑 侏儒，左右 近 習，此 人主 未 命 而 @唯唯，未 使 而 @諾諾，先 意 承 旨，觀 貌 察 色 以 先 主 心 者 也。

to always follow others' opinion; to be a yes man without any opinions of one's own


實心實意

ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩²⁴ ɕiŋ²⁴ ʂʐ̩²⁴ i⁴⁴/

/sɐt̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩²⁴ ɕiŋ²⁴ ʂʐ̩²⁴ i⁴⁴/

/sɐt̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/


雞犬不寧

(even) thechickens and dogs are unsettled

ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄥˊ

цзицюаньбунин

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

(raising such a fearful din that) everyone is nervous; great disturbance or turmoil


信以為真

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄣ

синьивэйчжэнь

/ɕin⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵn³³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵn³³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

在那種情況下，我對他的話也只有信以為真了。 [MSC, trad.]
在那种情况下，我对他的话也只有信以为真了。 [MSC, simp.]

In such a situation, I had no option but to believe what he said.

Zài nà zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, wǒ duì tā de huà yě zhǐyǒu xìnyǐwèizhēn le. [Pinyin]


匪夷所思

ㄈㄟˇ ㄧˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄙ

/feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/fei̯³⁵ jiː²¹ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

húiⁿ î só sṳ

/hũĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ³³/

/feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/fei̯³⁵ jiː²¹ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/hũĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ³³/

From I Ching, Hexagram 59 (《易经·渙卦》):
:
六四：渙其群，元吉。渙有丘，匪夷所思。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]六四：涣其群，元吉。涣有丘，匪夷所思。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Liù sì: huàn qí qún, yuán jí. Huàn yǒu qiū, fěi yí suǒ sī. [Pinyin]
The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject scattering the (different) parties (in the state); which leads to great good fortune. From the dispersion (he collects again good men standing out, a crowd) like a mound, which is what ordinary men would not have thought of.

zh-x

六 四：渙 其 群，元 吉。渙 有 丘，匪.夷.所.思。

not what an ordinary person can imagine; unimaginable; unusual; fantastic

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 59


站不住腳

ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

чжаньбучжуцзяо

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡saːm²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²² kœːk̚³/

/t͡saːm²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²² kœːk̚³/

你的論點簡直站不住腳。 [MSC, trad.]
你的论点简直站不住脚。 [MSC, simp.]

Your argument does not hold water at all.

Nǐ de lùndiǎn jiǎnzhí zhànbùzhùjiǎo. [Pinyin]

not have a leg to stand on
not have a leg to stand on

to be ill-founded; to be groundless; to not have a leg to stand on; to be unable to hold water


融為一體

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧ ㄊㄧˇ

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/


不敗之地

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/


英年早逝

ㄧㄥ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄠˇ ㄕˋ

инняньцзаоши

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ sɐi̯²²/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ sɐi̯²²/

to pass away at the prime of one's life; to die young


不關痛癢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄤˇ

бугуаньтунъян

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jœːŋ¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jœːŋ¹³/

of no consequence; immaterial; unimportant


下問

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/haː²² mɐn²²/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/haː²² mɐn²²/

(literary) to ask someone who is less learned or of lesser status than oneself


不辭辛苦

ㄅㄨˋ ㄘˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵/

to spare no effort; to take pains; to take the trouble to; to go to the trouble of doing something


不逞之徒

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˇ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/


不差累黍

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄟˇ ㄕㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² syː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² syː³⁵/


不辨菽麥

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄨ ㄇㄞˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄨˊ ㄇㄞˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ piːn²² sʊk̚² mɐk̚²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ piːn²² sʊk̚² mɐk̚²/

to have no knowledge of practical matters; to be ignorant of practical matters


不打自招

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄗˋ ㄓㄠ

/pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ taː³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ taː³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯⁵⁵/

to confess without being pressed; to make a willing confession; to give oneself away


擋風遮雨

ㄉㄤˇ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄜ ㄩˇ

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

我願陪在你的身邊 為你擋風遮雨 [MSC, trad.]
我愿陪在你的身边 为你挡风遮雨 [MSC, simp.]

I'm willing to be by your side,To shelter you from the wind and rain.

wǒ yuàn péi zài nǐ de shēnbiān, wèi nǐ dǎngfēngzhēyǔ [Pinyin]


渾身解數

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄨˋ

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄕㄨˋ

хуньшэньсешу

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

хуньшэньцзешу

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/wɐn²² sɐn⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ sou̯³³/

/wɐn²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ haːi̯²² sou̯³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/wɐn²² sɐn⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ sou̯³³/

/wɐn²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ haːi̯²² sou̯³³/

使出渾身解數／使出浑身解数

all of one's skill; everything within one's power


不堪入目

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄖㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² mʊk̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² mʊk̚²/


低聲細語

ㄉㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/ti⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/

/ti⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/


彈冠相慶

ㄊㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

таньгуаньсянцин

/tʰän³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/tʰaːn²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ³³/

/tʰän³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/tʰaːn²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ³³/

Derived from a statement illustraing the friendship between Wang Ji and Gong Yu of Western Han:
:
吉與貢禹為友，世稱『王陽在位，貢公彈冠。』言其取舍同也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吉与贡禹为友，世称『王阳在位，贡公弹冠。』言其取舍同也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Jí yǔ Gòng Yǔ wèi yǒu, shìchēng ‘Wáng Yáng zàiwèi, Gòng gōng dànguàn.’ Yán qí qǔshě tóng yě. [Pinyin]
Wang Ji and Gong Yu were friends. It was said that "When Wang Ji was holding his position, Gong Yu could also became an official too." It was also said that they had same interests.
Originally describing friends following each other in career.

@^吉 與 ^@貢 ^@禹 為 友 ， 世稱 『 @^王 @^陽 在位 ， @^貢 公 @彈冠 。』 言 其 取舍{shě} 同 也 。

(derogatory) to congratulate each other (when a bad person gains success)


繁文縟節

ㄈㄢˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ㄈㄢˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

фаньвэньжуцзе

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/faːn²¹ mɐn²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siːt̚³/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/faːn²¹ mɐn²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siːt̚³/

trivial and overelaborate formalities; red tape


倒行逆施

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄋㄧˋ ㄕ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ni⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ hɐŋ²¹ jɪk̚² siː⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ni⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ hɐŋ²¹ jɪk̚² siː⁵⁵/

《史記·伍子胥列傳》:
伍子胥曰：「為我謝申包胥曰，『吾日莫途遠，吾故倒行而逆施之。』」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]伍子胥曰：「为我谢申包胥曰，『吾日莫途远，吾故倒行而逆施之。』」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Wǔ Zǐxū yuē: “Wèi wǒ xiè Shēn Bāoxū yuē, ‘wú rìmù túyuǎn, wú gù dǎoxíng ér nìshī zhī.’” [Pinyin]
Wu Zixu said: "Go apologise on my behalf to Shen Baoxu, and tell him that I had had still a long way to travel but the sun was already setting, and that I, therefore, turned my ways upside down." (i.e., My life had always been in peril and my great objective of exacting revenge had been almost beyond reach, yet life was already running out. Therefore, I no longer cared whether my means to the end was perverted.)

@伍 ^@子胥 曰：「為{wèi} 我 謝 ^@申 ^@包胥 曰，『吾 日暮\日莫{mù} 途-遠，吾 故 @倒{dǎo}-@行{xíng} 而 @逆-@施 之。』」

to do things in a perverse way; to go against good; to commit evil deeds


矢志不渝

ㄕˇ ㄓˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

unwavering; unshaken; persistent; steadfast; unswerving


笑而不語

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

to smile without saying anything; smilence


地久天長

ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ

дицзютяньчан

/ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

天長地久 天長地久#Chinese

天长地久 天长地久#Chinese

Alternative form of 天長地久／天长地久 (tiānchángdìjiǔ)


一仆一碌

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/

(Cantonese) doddering; stumbling; rolling and crawling


異國他鄉

ㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/i⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

foreign countries or lands; far away from one's native place


腳踏實地

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² sɐt̚² tei̯²²/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa³³⁻²³ taʔ⁴⁻² sik̚⁴⁻² ti¹¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² sɐt̚² tei̯²²/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa³³⁻²³ taʔ⁴⁻² sik̚⁴⁻² ti¹¹/

to have one's feet on the ground; to be realistic and steady


千瘡百孔

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

цяньчуанбайкун

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵/

riddled with gaping wounds; afflicted with many ills; in very bad condition


代代相傳

ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

дайдайсянчуань

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to pass down from generation to generation


沒日沒夜

ㄇㄟˊ ㄖˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄝˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² jɐt̚² muːt̚² jɛː²²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² jɐt̚² muːt̚² jɛː²²/


漂洋過海

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/pʰeu̯²⁴ i̯oŋ¹¹ ko⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/pʰieu⁵⁵ yoŋ⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ⁽ᵏ⁻⁾ŋuo²¹³⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ai³³/

/pʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/pʰiou³³⁻²³ ĩẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kue²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/pʰeu̯²⁴ i̯oŋ¹¹ ko⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/pʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/pʰiou³³⁻²³ ĩẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kue²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

to sail across the sea to a foreign land; to travel across the sea; to go abroad


熱火朝天

ㄖㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

жэхо чаотянь

/ʐɤ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/liɛt̚²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴ tiau²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn³³/

/ʐɤ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/liɛt̚²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴ tiau²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn³³/

buzzing or bustling with activity; in full swing


三不五時

ㄙㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨˇ ㄕˊ

/sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ siː²¹/

/sam²⁴ put̚² ŋ̍³¹ sɨ¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ si²³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻¹¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si¹³/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ²² si²⁴/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²² si²⁴/

/sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ siː²¹/

/sam²⁴ put̚² ŋ̍³¹ sɨ¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ si²³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻¹¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si¹³/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ²² si²⁴/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²² si²⁴/

一杯酒 兩角銀 三不五時嘛來鬥陣 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
一杯酒 两角银 三不五时嘛来斗阵 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

With a bottle of wine costing [only] twenty cents, lets get together every now and then

chi̍t poe chiú, nn̄g kak gîn, sam-put-gō͘-sî mā lâi tàu-tīn [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

她說：「剃頭不好看；我要做菜姑。三不五時還可以去看歌仔戲、歌劇。」 [Taiwanese Mandarin, trad.]
她说：「剃头不好看；我要做菜姑。三不五时还可以去看歌仔戏、歌剧。」 [Taiwanese Mandarin, simp.]

From: 2005 December 20, 釋悟因, 戰後佛教在台灣——佛教面對現代挑戰的回應, in 香光莊嚴雜誌, issue 84, page 19

She said, "Shaving the head bald doesn't look good; I want to be a vegetarian Buddhist. From time to time I can even go see operas."

Tā shuō: “Tìtóu bù hǎokàn; wǒ yào zuò càigū. Sānbùwǔshí hái kěyǐ qù kàn gēzǐxì, gējù.” [Pinyin]

(Cantonese, Southern Min, Taiwanese Mandarin, Taiwanese Hakka) sometimes; from time to time; occasionally; now and then


萬壽無疆

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

ваньшоууцзян

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

Occurred several times in the Classic of Poetry, for example, in poem 154 (《詩經·豳風·七月》):
:
躋彼公堂，稱彼兕觥，萬壽無疆。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]跻彼公堂，称彼兕觥，万寿无疆。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jī bǐ gōngtáng, chēng bǐ sì gōng, wànshòu wújiāng. [Pinyin]
And go to the hall of our prince,
There raise the cup of rhinoceros horn,
And wish him long life, that he may live for ever.

lang

(《詩經·豳風·七月》)

(《詩經·豳風·七月》)

zh-x

躋 彼 公堂，稱 彼 兕 觥，萬壽.無疆。

祝毛主席萬壽無疆 [MSC, trad.]
祝毛主席万寿无疆 [MSC, simp.]


車載斗量

enough to fill carts and be measured by the bushel

ㄔㄜ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

чэцзайдоулян

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tɐu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tɐu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹/


完美無缺

ㄨㄢˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

/wän³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/wän³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

perfect and without blemish; flawless; infallible


光輝燦爛

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄘㄢˋ ㄌㄢˋ

гуанхуэйцаньлань

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn³³ laːn²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn³³ laːn²²/


鬥智鬥勇

ㄉㄡˋ ㄓˋ ㄉㄡˋ ㄩㄥˇ

/toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯³³ t͡siː³³ tɐu̯³³ jʊŋ¹³/

/tɐu̯³³ t͡siː³³ tɐu̯³³ jʊŋ¹³/

to engage in a battle of wits and valour


論資排輩

ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄗ ㄆㄞˊ ㄅㄟˋ

луньцзыпайбэй

/lu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɵn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³/

/lu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɵn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³/

to give the highest priority to seniority (when deciding someone's duties or status)


起早貪黑

ㄑㄧˇ ㄗㄠˇ ㄊㄢ ㄏㄟ

цицзаотаньхэй

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ tʰaːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ tʰaːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/


掛一漏萬

to touch on one and miss out ten thousand

ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄧ ㄌㄡˋ ㄨㄢˋ

/ku̯ä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/kʷaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² maːn²²/

/ku̯ä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/kʷaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² maːn²²/

(humble) to be inexhaustive; to leave many important items out


妙語連珠

ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄨ

мяоюйляньчжу

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² jyː¹³ liːn²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² jyː¹³ liːn²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/


平起平坐

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/


應接不暇

ㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˊ

/iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ t͡siːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

/iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ t͡siːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

to have more on than one can attend to; to be overwhelmed by (beautiful scenery, customers, tasks, etc.)


文以載道

ㄨㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄠˋ

вэньицзайдао

/wən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

/wən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

literature is a vehicle for moral teaching


象箸玉杯

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄩˋ ㄅㄟ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² t͡syː²² jʊk̚² puːi̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² t͡syː²² jʊk̚² puːi̯⁵⁵/

ivory chopsticks and jade cups; (figurative) a luxurious lifestyle


深情厚誼

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧˊ

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/


一生何求

ㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

From the name of a 1989 Cantonese song (“Yat sang ho kau”). The name follows the SOV word order (when the object is an interrogative pronoun) of Classical Chinese.

What can (I) pursue in this life? What else can (I) seek in life?


文如其人

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

вэньжуцижэнь

vɛnʹžucižɛnʹ

/wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/


應運而生

ㄧㄥˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄕㄥ

/iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ wɐn²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ un⁴¹⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ un³³⁻¹¹ li²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ un³³⁻²¹ li²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ wɐn²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ un⁴¹⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ un³³⁻¹¹ li²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ un³³⁻²¹ li²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/


雨後春筍

ㄩˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄙㄨㄣˇ

юйхоучуньсунь

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː¹³ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ sɵn³⁵/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² sun⁵³/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁴¹/

/jyː¹³ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ sɵn³⁵/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² sun⁵³/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁴¹/

(figurative) many things coming into being in rapid succession (after a certain timepoint)


天人合一

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

Heaven and Man are one (an ancient Chinese philosophical concept)


自導自演

ㄗˋ ㄉㄠˇ ㄗˋ ㄧㄢˇ

цзыдаоцзыянь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tou̯²² t͡siː²² jiːn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² tou̯²² t͡siː²² jiːn³⁵/

to direct (a show) and act by oneself; to stage (a farce) all by oneself; false flag


心存不軌

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

синьцуньбугуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/


崇洋媚外

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄟˋ ㄨㄞˋ

чунъянмэйвай

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ mei̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ mei̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/


連生貴子

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄗˇ

ляньшэнгуйцзы

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/


口傳心授

ㄎㄡˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄡˋ

коучуаньсиньшоу

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

oral teaching from the instructor and understanding from the students


五湖四海

ㄨˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄨˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ wuː²¹ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋ̍³¹ fu¹¹ si⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/ŋu³³⁻²¹ hu⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ sy²¹³⁻⁵³ hai³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²³ su²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋou⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/u⁴¹ ɸu¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ xai̯⁴¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ wuː²¹ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋ̍³¹ fu¹¹ si⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/ŋu³³⁻²¹ hu⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ sy²¹³⁻⁵³ hai³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²³ su²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋou⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/u⁴¹ ɸu¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ xai̯⁴¹/

all regions; all corners of the country or world; all places


石沉大海

ㄕˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵/

to receive no response; to never hear back from someone or about something


如影隨形

ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/ʐu³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

/ʐu³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

closely associated with each other; inseparable


忍氣吞聲

忍气吞声
吞聲忍氣
吞聲飲氣
氣忍聲吞
聲吞氣忍

ㄖㄣˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄕㄥ

жэньцитуньшэн

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ hei̯³³ tʰɐn⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋi̯un²⁴⁻¹¹ hi⁵⁵ tun²⁴⁻¹¹ saŋ²⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰun³³ siã³³/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ hei̯³³ tʰɐn⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋi̯un²⁴⁻¹¹ hi⁵⁵ tun²⁴⁻¹¹ saŋ²⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰun³³ siã³³/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

太太忍氣吞聲，脫了錦緞衣服，繫上圍裙，走到廚下，把魚接在手內。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
太太忍气吞声，脱了锦缎衣服，系上围裙，走到厨下，把鱼接在手内。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

Tàitài rěnqìtūnshēng, tuō le jǐnduàn yīfú, jì shàng wéiqún, zǒu dào chúxià, bǎ yú jiē zài shǒu nèi. [Pinyin]

to silently eat humble pie; to suppress anger and quietly bear humiliation


回味無窮

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/wuːi̯²¹ mei̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/wuːi̯²¹ mei̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

leaving a rich aftertaste; (figuratively) memorable, lingering in memory


善有善報

ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄅㄠˋ

шаньюшаньбао

/ʂän⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn²² jɐu̯¹³ siːn²² pou̯³³/

/ʂän⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn²² jɐu̯¹³ siːn²² pou̯³³/

one good turn deserves another
one good turn deserves another

good deeds leads to good outcomes; one good turn deserves another


固若金湯

ㄍㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄤ

гужоцзиньтан

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ jœːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ jœːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/


錯落有致

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː³³/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː³³/


一顰一笑

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰin³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰin³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

every frown and smile; every facial expression


誤入歧途

ㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄨˊ

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/ŋ̍²² jɐp̚² kʰei̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ tɔ²³/

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/ŋ̍²² jɐp̚² kʰei̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ tɔ²³/

to fall into the wrong path (in life); to be misguided; to go astray


料事如神

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/liːu̯²² siː²² jyː²¹ sɐn²¹/

/li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/liːu̯²² siː²² jyː²¹ sɐn²¹/

to prophesy with supernatural accuracy; to predict like a prophet


束手就擒

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

шушоуцзюцинь

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² kʰɐm²¹/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰim¹³/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu³³⁻¹¹ kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu³³⁻²¹ kʰim²³/

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² kʰɐm²¹/

have one's hands tied
have one's hands tied

to have one's hands tied and wait to be captured


河東獅子

desc

sư tử Hà Đông

→ Vietnamese: sư tử Hà Đông (calque)

ㄏㄜˊ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕ ˙ㄗ

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

zh-l

河東獅吼／河东狮吼 (hédōng-shīhǒu)

an overbearing wife (whose henpecking is comparable to a lioness's roar)


冇大冇細

/mou̯¹³ taːi̯²² mou̯¹³ sɐi̯³³/

/ᵐbau³³ ai³² ᵐbau³³ ɬai³³⁻³³⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

/mou̯¹³ taːi̯²² mou̯¹³ sɐi̯³³/

/ᵐbau³³ ai³² ᵐbau³³ ɬai³³⁻³³⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

(Cantonese, Xiang) to have no sense of who is senior and who is junior; to show no respect to elders


沒大沒小

ㄇㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/meɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² taːi̯²² muːt̚² siːu̯³⁵/

/meɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² taːi̯²² muːt̚² siːu̯³⁵/


血肉橫飛

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

сюэжоухэнфэй

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² waːŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² waːŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

blood and flesh flying in all directions; bodies blown to pieces


大發雷霆

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄚ ㄌㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁵ lui¹³⁻²² tiɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ²³/

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁵ lui¹³⁻²² tiɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ²³/


遁入空門

ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄇㄣˊ

дуньжукунмэнь

/tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/tɵn²² jɐp̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

/tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/tɵn²² jɐp̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

to take refuge in religious life (especially to become a Buddhist monk)


隔三差五

ㄍㄜˊ ㄙㄢ ㄔㄚˋ ㄨˇ

/kɤ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³/

/kɤ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³/

every once in a while
every once in a while

every now and then; every so often; every once in a while


浮生若夢

ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄥ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄥˋ

/fu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/fɐu̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mʊŋ²²/

/fu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/fɐu̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mʊŋ²²/

This fleeting (lit. floating) life is like a dream. / Life is but a dream.


似水流年

ㄙˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/sz̩⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ niːn²¹/

/sz̩⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ niːn²¹/

years passing by quickly, like the water stream; time flies


關門捉賊

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄇㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄗㄟˊ

гуаньмэньчжоцзэй

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʊk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʊk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

(figurative) to capture the enemy by cutting off their escape route


水洩不通

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ siap̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰoŋ³³/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ siap̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰoŋ³³/

densely packed; extremely crowded; impenetrable


上屋抽梯

remove the ladder (when the enemy has) ascended to the roof

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

(figurative) to lure someone to a treacherous place or situation then cut off their avenue of escape


心有靈犀

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧ

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

心有靈犀一點通 心有靈犀一點通#Chinese

心有灵犀一点通 心有灵犀一点通#Chinese

Synonym of 心有靈犀一點通／心有灵犀一点通 (xīn yǒu língxī yīdiǎn tōng)


走為上計

ㄗㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧˋ

цзоувэйшанцзи

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sœːŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sœːŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

From the Book of Southern Qi:
:
敬則曰：「檀公三十六策，走是上計。汝父子唯應急走耳。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]敬则曰：「檀公三十六策，走是上计。汝父子唯应急走耳。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Southern Qi, by Xiao Zixian, 6ᵗʰ century CE
Jìngzé yuē: “Tán Gōng sānshíliùcè, zǒu shì shàngjì. Rǔ fùzǐ wéi yìng jí zǒu ěr.” [Pinyin]
Jingze said, "Among the thirty-six stratagems of Duke Tan, fleeing is the best stratagem. You and your father should quickly flee."

zh-x

^敬-則 曰：「^檀 ^公 三十六策，走 是 上計。汝 父子 唯 應 急 走 耳。」

If all else fails, retreat. / Fleeing is the best stratagem (of the Thirty-Six Stratagems).


恍如隔世

ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄜˊ ㄕˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jyː²¹ kaːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jyː²¹ kaːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

to feel as if one has been separated from the outside world for ages; to feel like something is from another world; to feel that people and things have changed as if a lifetime has passed


假痴不癲

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄔ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄢ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːn⁵⁵/

to hide behind the mask of a fool, a madman, etc. to create confusion about one's true intentions


聽天由命

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²²/

to resign oneself to fate; to be reconciled to one's lot


三顧茅廬

ㄙㄢ ㄍㄨˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄌㄨˊ

/sän⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ kuː³³ maːu̯²¹ lou̯²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ kuː³³ maːu̯²¹ lou̯²¹/

From the story of Liu Bei paying three visits to the thatched cottage of Zhuge Liang (later his chancellor) in order to recruit him during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

(figurative) to sincerely and repeatedly request someone to take up a post


假道伐虢

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄈㄚ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kaː³⁵ tou̯²² fɐt̚² kʷɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kaː³⁵ tou̯²² fɐt̚² kʷɪk̚⁵/

From a historical event recorded in Zuo Zhuan.
《左傳·僖公二年》:
:
晉荀息請以屈產之乘，與垂棘之璧，假道於虞以伐虢。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]晋荀息请以屈产之乘，与垂棘之璧，假道于虞以伐虢。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jìn Xún Xī qǐng yǐ Qū chǎn zhī shèng, yǔ Chuí Jí zhī bì, jiǎdào yú Yú yǐ fá Guó. [Pinyin]
Xun Xi of Jin requested leave from the marquis to take his team of Qu horses and his Bi of Chui Ji jade, and with them borrow a way from Yu to march through it and attack Guo
《左傳·僖公五年》:
:
冬，十二月，丙子朔，晉滅虢，虢公醜奔京師。師還，館于虞，遂襲虞，滅之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]冬，十二月，丙子朔，晋灭虢，虢公丑奔京师。师还，馆于虞，遂袭虞，灭之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dōng, shí'èryuè, bǐngzǐ shuò, Jìn miè Guó, Guó gōng Chǒu bēn jīngshī. Shī huán, guǎn yú Yú, suì xí Yú, miè zhī. [Pinyin]
In winter, in the 12th month, on bing-zi, the 1st day of the moon, Jin extinguished Guo, and Chou, the duke, fled to the capital. The army, on its return, took up its quarters in Yu, surprised the city, and extinguished the state.

晉 ^@荀 ^@息 請 以 ^@屈 產 之 乘{shèng}，與 ^@垂 ^@棘 之 璧，@假道 於 ^虞 以 @伐 ^@虢。

冬，十二月，丙子 朔，^晉 滅 ^虢，^虢 公 ^@醜 奔 京師。師 還{huán}，館 于 ^虞，遂 襲 ^虞，滅 之。

to obtain safe passage to conquer theState of Guo

(figurative) to make peace with a smaller enemy and use it as a springboard to attack another common enemy, before turning on the first


放手一搏

ㄈㄤˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧ ㄅㄛˊ

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/

to cast aside one's misgivings, concerns, etc. and give it one's all (as a final attempt); to go all out; to take the plunge


人心惶惶

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

жэньсиньхуанхуан

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ²³/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ²³/

everyone is anxious; people are filled with anxiety


傳宗接代

ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄉㄞˋ

чуаньцзунцзедай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ tɔːi̯²²/

/tʰuan²³⁻³³ t͡sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³/

/tʰuan²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ tɔːi̯²²/

to carry on one's ancestral line; to go on from generation to generation


刻不容緩

ㄎㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄢˇ

кэбужунхуань

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²²/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²¹/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ uan³³/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ uan³³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²²/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²¹/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ uan³³/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ uan³³/

to not tolerate any further delay; to be very urgent


前功盡棄

前功尽弃
前功盡廢
前功皆棄
前功盡滅

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˋ

цяньгунцзиньци

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

all previous achievements go down the drain; all the previous effort is wasted


勇往直前

ㄩㄥˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄓˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

юнванчжицянь

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jʊŋ¹³ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tit̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɛn¹³/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²³/

/jʊŋ¹³ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tit̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɛn¹³/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²³/

2004 December 9, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “曾經的你 [You in the Past]”, in 每一刻都是嶄新的 [Every Moment Is Completely New], performed by Xu Wei:
走在勇往直前的路上 [MSC, trad. and simp.]

Zǒu zài yǒngwǎngzhíqián de lùshàng [Pinyin]Walking on the road of braveness and determinedness

to advance bravely and determinedly, without any fear


兩敗俱傷

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄕㄤ

лянбайцзюйшан

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ paːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/l̃uoŋ³³⁻²¹ pai⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ky²⁴²⁻⁵⁵ suoŋ⁵⁵/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ ku³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ ku³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liã²² ba⁴⁴ d͡ʑy³³ sɑ̃⁵³/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ paːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/l̃uoŋ³³⁻²¹ pai⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ky²⁴²⁻⁵⁵ suoŋ⁵⁵/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ ku³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ ku³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liã²² ba⁴⁴ d͡ʑy³³ sɑ̃⁵³/

both sides suffer; everyone loses; neither side wins


目無尊長

ㄇㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄓㄤˇ

мууцзуньчжан

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/


身無分文

ㄕㄣ ㄨˊ ㄈㄣ ㄨㄣˊ

шэньуфэньвэнь

šɛnʹufɛnʹvɛnʹ

/ʂən⁵⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

身無分文的姑娘們是如何維持生活的？ [MSC, trad.]
身无分文的姑娘们是如何维持生活的？ [MSC, simp.]

Shēnwúfēnwén de gūniángmen shì rúhé wéichí shēnghuó de? [Pinyin]


顛倒黑白

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄟ ㄅㄞˊ

дяньдаохэйбай

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

to confuse right and wrong; to confound right with wrong; to distort the truth; to misrepresent the facts


如臨大敵

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ tä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lɐm²¹ taːi̯²² tɪk̚²/

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ tä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lɐm²¹ taːi̯²² tɪk̚²/

to have strict precautions; to be overly critical of the current situation


無地自容

ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tei̯²² t͡siː²² jʊŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tei̯²² t͡siː²² jʊŋ²¹/


如虎添翼

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧˋ

/ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ jɪk̚²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ jɪk̚²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/


恨入心髓

ㄏㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄟˇ

хэньжусиньсуй

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² jɐp̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɵy̯¹³/

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² jɐp̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɵy̯¹³/

恨之入骨 恨之入骨#Chinese


十八廿二

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ jaː²² jiː²²⁻³⁵/

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ jaː²² jiː²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese, Leizhou Min, often of a woman) in the bloom of youth; in one's tender youth


循循善誘

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄡˋ

сюньсюньшанью

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sʰɵn²¹ siːn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sʰɵn²¹ siːn²² jɐu̯¹³/

From the Analects, Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
顏淵喟然歎曰：「仰之彌高，鑽之彌堅，瞻之在前，忽焉在後！夫子循循然善誘人：博我以文，約我以禮。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]颜渊喟然叹曰：「仰之弥高，钻之弥坚，瞻之在前，忽焉在后！夫子循循然善诱人：博我以文，约我以礼。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yán Yuān kuìrán tàn yuē: “Yǎng zhī mí gāo, zuàn zhī mí jiān, zhān zhī zài qián, hū yān zài hòu! Fūzǐ xúnxún rán shànyòu rén: bó wǒ yǐ wén, yuē wǒ yǐ lǐ....... [Pinyin]
Yan Yuan, in admiration of the Master's doctrines, sighed and said, "I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I tried to penetrate them, and they seemed to become more firm; I looked at them before me, and suddenly they seemed to be behind. The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlarged my mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.…

^@顏.^淵 喟然 歎 曰：「仰.之.彌.高，鑽 之 彌 堅，瞻 之 在 前，忽 焉 在 後！夫子 @循@循 然 @善誘 人：博 我 以 文，約 我 以 禮。……

to teach in a systematic and skilful way


孜孜不倦

ㄗ ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

цзыцзыбуцзюань

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

From the Records of the Three Kingdoms:
:
自去長史，優遊無事垂三十年。乃更潛心典籍，孜孜不倦。年踰八十，猶手自校書，刊定謬誤。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]自去长史，优游无事垂三十年。乃更潜心典籍，孜孜不倦。年逾八十，犹手自校书，刊定谬误。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE
Zì qù zhǎngshǐ, yōuyóu wúshì chuí sānshí nián. Nǎi gèng qiánxīn diǎnjí, zīzī bùjuàn. Nián yú bāshí, yóu shǒu zì jiàoshū, kāndìng miùwù. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

自 去 長{zhǎng}史，優遊 無事 垂 三十 年。乃 更 潛心 典籍，孜孜.不倦。年 踰 八十，猶 手 自 校{jiào}書，刊定 謬誤。


走走停停

ㄗㄡˇ ㄗㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ

цзоуцзоутинтин

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/


空空如也

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄝˇ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jaː¹³/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jaː¹³/

From the Analects, Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
:
子曰：「吾有知乎哉？無知也。有鄙夫問於我，空空如也，我叩其兩端而竭焉。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「吾有知乎哉？无知也。有鄙夫问于我，空空如也，我叩其两端而竭焉。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Wú yǒu zhī hū zāi? Wúzhī yě. Yǒu bǐfū wèn yú wǒ, kōngkōng rú yě, wǒ kòu qí liǎngduān ér jié yān.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "Am I indeed possessed of knowledge? I am not knowing. But if a mean person, who appears quite empty-like, ask anything of me, I set it forth from one end to the other, and exhaust it."
Originally, reduplication of 空 with particles was native to Classical Chinese grammar. In vernacular or modern Chinese, the chengyu with its air of classicality is often used for humorous effects.

子曰：「吾 有 知 乎 哉？無知 也。有 鄙-夫 問 於 我，空空.如.也，我 叩 其 兩-端 而 竭 焉。」

他講課的時候，教室經常空空如也。 [MSC, trad.]
他讲课的时候，教室经常空空如也。 [MSC, simp.]

When he teaches, the classroom is often empty.

Tā jiǎngkè de shíhòu, jiàoshì jīngcháng kōngkōngrúyě. [Pinyin]


供認不諱

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

гунжэньбухуэй

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/keŋ³³⁻²³ d͡ziŋ¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hui²¹³/

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/keŋ³³⁻²³ d͡ziŋ¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hui²¹³/

to confess everything; to make a full confession; to plead guilty


憐香惜玉

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧ ㄩˋ

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧˊ ㄩˋ

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ y⁵¹/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/lin²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/lin²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ y⁵¹/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/lin²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/lin²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

「死到臨頭，自身難保，居然尚有憐香惜玉之心。」 [MSC, trad.]
「死到临头，自身难保，居然尚有怜香惜玉之心。」 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1966, Jin Yong, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Chapter 11

"You're going to die soon, it's difficult for you to protect yourself, but you still set your mind on treating these girls tenderly and protectively!"

“Sǐdàolíntóu, zìshēnnánbǎo, jūrán shàng yǒu liánxiāngxīyù zhī xīn.” [Pinyin]

to have tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex


神出鬼沒

ㄕㄣˊ ㄔㄨ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄛˋ

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚²/

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚²/

to appear and disappear unpredictably like a ghost


夜闌人靜

ㄧㄝˋ ㄌㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

еланьжэньцзин

/jɛ⁵¹ län³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɛː²² laːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/

/jɛ⁵¹ län³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɛː²² laːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/


狸貓換太子

ㄌㄧˊ ㄇㄠ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄗˇ

лимао хуань тайцзы

/li³⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lei̯²¹ maːu̯⁵⁵ wuːn²² tʰaːi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/li²³⁻³³ ba²³ uã³³⁻²¹ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ ba²⁴ uã³³⁻¹¹ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/li²³⁻³³ ba²³ uã³³⁻²¹ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ ba²⁴ uã³³⁻¹¹ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

From a folk story in The Three Heroes and Five Gallants.

to substitute someone's valuable item with another item


三生有幸

ㄙㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

саньшэнъюсин

/sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɐŋ²²/

/sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɐŋ²²/


天造地設

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗㄠˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄕㄜˋ

тяньцзаодишэ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² tei̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ te³³⁻²¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² tei̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ te³³⁻²¹ siɛt̚³²/


感同身受

ㄍㄢˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˋ

ганьтуншэньшоу

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

Originally used to express gratitude on someone else's behalf.

有的淚水掛在臉上，不擦也不抹，就那麼隨著戲，感同身受地將自己敞開在這個世界裡。 [MSC, trad.]
有的泪水挂在脸上，不擦也不抹，就那么随着戏，感同身受地将自己敞开在这个世界里。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2018 September 28, 王剑冰 (Wang Jianbing), 《那牵曳阳光的一缕亮腔》, in 《光明日报》 [Guangming Daily], →ISSN, page 15

Yǒude lèishuǐ guà zài liǎn shàng, bù cā yě bù mǒ, jiù nàme suízhe xì, gǎntóngshēnshòu dì jiāng zìjǐ chǎngkāi zài zhège shìjiè lǐ. [Pinyin]

to feel as if it has happened to oneself


娶妻生子

ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄗˇ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

(of a man) to get married and have children


如約而至

ㄖㄨˊ ㄩㄝ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/ʐu³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/


一來一往

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³/


斤斤較量

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

цзиньцзинь цзяолян

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ lœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ lœːŋ²²/


亭臺樓閣

ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄌㄡˊ ㄍㄜˊ

/tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/

pavilions, terraces and towers (in general); traditional Chinese architecture


輕重緩急

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄢˇ ㄐㄧˊ

цинчжунхуаньцзи

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ wuːn²² kɐp̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ wuːn²² kɐp̚⁵/

relative importance and urgency (of matters)


摸爬滾打

ㄇㄛ ㄆㄚˊ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄉㄚˇ

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pʰä³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː³⁵ pʰaː²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ taː³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pʰä³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː³⁵ pʰaː²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ taː³⁵/

to go through arduous training or hard work


甜酸苦辣

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄚˋ

тяньсуанькула

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯än⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/tʰiːm²¹ syːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯än⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/tʰiːm²¹ syːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣#Chinese


江河湖海

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄏㄜˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄏㄞˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ xu³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ wuː²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ xu³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ wuː²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

rivers, lakes and seas (in general); bodies of water


金銀銅鐵

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ

цзиньиньтунте

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³/

gold, silver, copper and iron; metals (in general)


王侯將相

ㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ванхоуцзянсян

/wɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hɐu̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ³³ sœːŋ³³/

/wɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hɐu̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ³³ sœːŋ³³/

Slogan of the revolters in the Dazexiang uprising, as recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian:
:
王侯將相，寧有種乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]王侯将相，宁有种乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Wáng hóu jiàng xiàng, nìng yǒu zhǒng hū? [Pinyin]
Do kings, barons, generals, and ministers rise from only a fixed family background?

(figurative) kings and nobles (in general); royalty and nobility

Dazexiang uprising
Records of the Grand Historian


吃喝嫖賭

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

to go dining, wining, whoring and gambling; to lead a dissipated life


金銀銅鐵錫

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧ

цзиньиньтунтеси

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³ sɛːk̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³ sɛːk̚³/

the five metals of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin


筆墨紙硯

ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄓˇ ㄧㄢˋ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² t͡siː³⁵ hiːn³⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² t͡siː³⁵ hiːn³⁵/

brush, ink, paper and inkstone; Four Treasures of the Study


陰晴圓缺

ㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

иньцинъюаньцюэ

/in⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

/in⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

(of the Moon) dim, bright, full or crescent; the various shapes of the Moon; (figurative) unpredictability of life; vicissitudes of life


妖魔鬼怪

ㄧㄠ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

all demons and ghosts; all forces of evil


酒色財氣

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hei̯³³/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hei̯³³/

wine, sex, avarice and temper; the four cardinal vices


琴瑟琵琶

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄆㄧˊ ㄆㄚˊ

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄆㄧˊ ˙ㄆㄚ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ pʰei̯²¹ pʰaː²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ pʰei̯²¹ pʰaː²¹/

qin, se, and pipa (all of which are traditional Chinese musical instruments); Chinese musical instruments (in general)


刀槍劍戟

ㄉㄠ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧˇ

даоцянцзяньцзи

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːm³³ kɪk̚⁵/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːm³³ kɪk̚⁵/

single-edged and double-edged swords, spears and halberds; all kinds of ancient weapons


經史子集

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˇ ㄗˇ ㄐㄧˊ

цзиншицзыцзи

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ siː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ siː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

the four traditional types of Chinese classic texts; Chinese canonical texts in general


風霜雨雪

ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄩˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

фэншуанъюйсюэ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ syːt̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ syːt̚³/

(figurative) all kinds of hardships and sufferings


花鳥蟲魚

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄩˊ

хуаняочунъюй

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ y³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyː²¹/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ y³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyː²¹/

花鳥魚蟲 花鳥魚蟲#Chinese

花鸟鱼虫 花鸟鱼虫#Chinese

Alternative form of 花鳥魚蟲／花鸟鱼虫 (huāniǎoyúchóng)


衣食住行

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡syː²² hɐŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡syː²² hɐŋ²¹/

From 民生主義·第三講 in 三民主義 [1924], a collection of speeches delivered by Sun Yat-sen in 1924.
:
民生的需要，從前經濟學家都是說衣、食、住三種；照我的研究，應該有四種，於衣食住之外，還有一種就是行。行也是一種很重的需要；行就是走路……大家都能各盡各的義務，大家自然可以得衣食住行的四種需要。 [MSC, trad.]民生的需要，从前经济学家都是说衣、食、住三种；照我的研究，应该有四种，于衣食住之外，还有一种就是行。行也是一种很重的需要；行就是走路……大家都能各尽各的义务，大家自然可以得衣食住行的四种需要。 [MSC, simp.]
From: 1924, Sun Yat-sen, 三民主義
Mínshēng de xūyào, cóngqián jīngjìxuéjiā dōu shì shuō yī, shí, zhù sān zhǒng; zhào wǒ de yánjiū, yìnggāi yǒu sì zhǒng, yú yī shí zhù zhīwài, háiyǒu yī zhǒng jiù shì xíng. Xíng yě shì yī zhǒng hěn zhòng de xūyào; xíng jiù shì zǒulù...... Dàjiā dōu néng gè jìn gè de yìwù, dàjiā zìrán kěyǐ dé yīshízhùxíng de sì zhǒng xūyào. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

lw

s:三民主義/民生主義第三講

zh-x

民生 的 需要，從前 經濟學家 都 是 說 衣、食、住 三 種；照 我 的 研究，應該 有 四 種，於 衣 食 住 之外，還有 一 種 就 是 行。行 也 是 一 種 很 重 的 需要；行 就 是 走路……大家 都 能 各 盡 各 的 義務，大家 自然 可以 得 衣食住行 的 四 種 需要。

food, clothing, housing and transportation; basic necessities of life


綾羅綢緞

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄡˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

линлочоудуань

/liŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ lɔː²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ tyːn²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan⁴¹/

/liɪŋ¹³⁻²² lo¹³⁻²² tiu¹³⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ tiu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuan³³/

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ lɤ²³⁻³³ tiu²³⁻³³ tuan³³/

/liŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ lɔː²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ tyːn²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan⁴¹/

/liɪŋ¹³⁻²² lo¹³⁻²² tiu¹³⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ tiu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuan³³/

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ lɤ²³⁻³³ tiu²³⁻³³ tuan³³/


高矮胖瘦

ㄍㄠ ㄞˇ ㄆㄤˋ ㄕㄡˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ɐi̯³⁵ puːn²² sɐu̯³³/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ɐi̯³⁵ puːn²² sɐu̯³³/


坑蒙拐騙

ㄎㄥ ㄇㄥ ㄍㄨㄞˇ ㄆㄧㄢˋ

кэнмэнгуайпянь

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/haːŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³⁵ pʰiːn³³/

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/haːŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³⁵ pʰiːn³³/

to entrap, make blind, swindle and deceive; the various fraud techniques


三更半夜

ㄙㄢ ㄍㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ

ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ

саньгэнбанье

/sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

саньцзинбанье

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²⁻³⁵/

/ɬam³³ kaŋ³³ pᵘɔn³³ jiɛ³²⁻²¹⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ pan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ kã³³ pø³³ ɦia²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²⁻³⁵/

/ɬam³³ kaŋ³³ pᵘɔn³³ jiɛ³²⁻²¹⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ pan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ kã³³ pø³³ ɦia²¹/

in the middle of the night; late at night


竹籃打水

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

чжуланьдашуй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊㄦ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

чжуланьрдашуй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lɑɻ³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ laːm²¹ taː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lɑɻ³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ laːm²¹ taː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

(figurative) wild-goose chase; wasted effort


瞻前顧後

ㄓㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨˋ ㄏㄡˋ

чжаньцяньгухоу

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kuː³³ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kuː³³ hɐu̯²²/


一心二用

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄦˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/


豬朋狗友

ㄓㄨ ㄆㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/


無妄之災

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ t͡sai³³/

/bu¹³⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ t͡sai³³/

/bu¹³⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

From I Ching, Hexagram 25 (《易经·无妄》):
:
六三：无妄之災，或繫之牛，行人之得，邑人之災。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]六三：无妄之灾，或系之牛，行人之得，邑人之灾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Liù sān: wú wàng zhī zāi, huò jì zhī niú, xíngrén zhī dé, yìrén zhī zāi. [Pinyin]
The third SIX, divided, shows calamity happening to one who is free from insincerity - as in the case of an ox that has been tied up. A passer by finds it (and carries it off), while the people in the neighbourhood have the calamity (of being accused and apprehended).

六 三：@无.妄.之.災，或 繫 之 牛，行人 之 得，邑人 之 災。

unexpected calamity; undeserved ill turn

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 25


不請自來

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄗˋ ㄌㄞˊ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː²² lɔːi̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː²² lɔːi̯²¹/


路不拾遺

ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

no one picks up lost articles on the street


光宗耀祖

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄠˋ ㄗㄨˇ

гуанцзунъяоцзу

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/kuaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ iau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sou⁵²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/kuaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ iau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sou⁵²/

to bring honour to one's ancestors and clan


念念不忘

ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ

няньняньбуван

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːm²² niːm²² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/niam³⁵⁻¹¹ niam³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ buaŋ⁵⁵/

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːm²² niːm²² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/niam³⁵⁻¹¹ niam³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ buaŋ⁵⁵/

to keep in mind constantly; to never forget


牢獄之災

лаоюйчжицзай

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/


有緣無分

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (有緣無分):
* → Vietnamese: hữu duyên vô phận (有緣無分)

desc

→ Vietnamese: có duyên không phận (calque)

ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄈㄣˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ mou̯²¹ fɐn²²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ mou̯²¹ fɐn²²/

(of two people) to be destined to meet, but not fated to be together; not meant to be together; (in general) to be not destined for each other


無影無蹤

ㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄥ

/u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


銷聲匿跡

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄋㄧˋ ㄐㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄋㄧˋ ㄐㄧ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ nɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²/

/siau⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bi(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ziaʔ³²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ nɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bi(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ziaʔ³²/

to keep silent and lie low; to vanish (from the public eye); to disappear from the scene


分道揚鑣

ㄈㄣ ㄉㄠˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄧㄠ

фэньдаоянбяо

/fən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jœːŋ²¹ piːu̯⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² piau⁴⁴/

/fən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jœːŋ²¹ piːu̯⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² piau⁴⁴/

From the Book of Wei, chapter 14 (《魏書·神元平文諸帝子孫列傳第二》), where Emperor Xiaowen mediates between two officials arguing over their priority of passage.
:
高祖曰：「洛陽我之豐沛，自應分路揚鑣。自今以後，可分路而行。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]高祖曰：「洛阳我之丰沛，自应分路扬镳。自今以后，可分路而行。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Wei Shou, Book of Wei, 551 – 554 CE
Gāozǔ yuē: “Luòyáng wǒ zhī fēngpèi, zì yīng fēnlù yángbiāo. Zì jīn yǐhòu, kě fēnlù ér xíng.” [Pinyin]
Emperor Gaozu said: "Luoyang is my territory, you should divide the road and urge your horses on. From now on, you can go separate ways."

zh-x

高祖 曰：「洛陽 我 之 豐沛，自 應{yīng} @分路 @揚鑣。自 今 以後，可 分路 而 行。」

to take different roads and urge the horses on


望穿秋水

ㄨㄤˋ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

ванчуаньцюшуй

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/baŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sui⁴¹/

/baŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sui⁵³/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/


奔走相告

ㄅㄣ ㄗㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄠˋ

бэньцзоусянгао

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³/

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³/


楊花水性

ㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²¹/

/jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²¹/

(of a woman) frivolous; fickle; lascivious


抱得美人歸

ㄅㄠˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

бао дэ мэйжэнь гуй

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/


盡善盡美

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (盡善盡美):
* → Vietnamese: tận thiện tận mỹ (盡善盡美)

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄇㄟˇ

цзиньшаньцзиньмэй

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² siːn²² t͡sɵn²² mei̯¹³/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ siɛn³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻²¹ siɛn³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ bi⁴¹/

/t͡sɵn²² siːn²² t͡sɵn²² mei̯¹³/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ siɛn³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻²¹ siɛn³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ bi⁴¹/

From the Analects, Book 3 (《論語·八佾》):
:
子謂韶，「盡美矣，又盡善也。」謂武，「盡美矣，未盡善也」。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子谓韶，「尽美矣，又尽善也。」谓武，「尽美矣，未尽善也」。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ wèi Sháo, “jìn měi yǐ, yòu jìn shàn yě.” Wèi Wǔ, “jìn měi yǐ, wèi jìn shàn yě”. [Pinyin]
The Master said of the Shao that it was perfectly beautiful and also perfectly good. He said of the Wu that it was perfectly beautiful but not perfectly good.

zh-x

子 謂 ^韶，「@盡 @美 矣，又 @盡 @善 也。」謂 ^武，「@盡 @美 矣，未 @盡 @善 也」。

to exhaust what is good and beautiful; to be unsurpassed in goodness and beauty


雞骨支床

ㄐㄧ ㄍㄨˇ ㄓ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

цзигучжичуан

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

The original meaning was that, when relatives died, people would grieve excessively and become thin and weary on sleeping mats. Later used by analogy to mean that people could finish their filial duty if they attended their parents' funeral(s). Also means "very thin".


世風日下

ㄕˋ ㄈㄥ ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² haː²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² haː²²/

the world's morals are worsening day by day.


瞭如指掌

ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓˇ ㄓㄤˇ

ляожучжичжан

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯¹³ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯¹³ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

know like the back of one's hand
know like the back of one's hand


居安思危

цзюйаньсывэй

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/kɯ³³⁻²³ ũã³³⁻²³ sɯ³³⁻²³ ŋũĩ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/kɯ³³⁻²³ ũã³³⁻²³ sɯ³³⁻²³ ŋũĩ⁵⁵/

to think of danger in times of safety; to be vigilant in peacetime


和藹可親

ㄏㄜˊ ㄞˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄣ

/xɤ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/wɔː²¹ ɔːi̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/huo⁵³⁻³³ ai³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ kʰo³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ ai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ ai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/xɤ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/wɔː²¹ ɔːi̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/huo⁵³⁻³³ ai³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ kʰo³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ ai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ ai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

老師應該是和藹可親、平易近人 [MSC, trad.]
老师应该是和蔼可亲、平易近人 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2014 November 19, 寒風, 大家談中國：老師辱罵學生，何以「素質教育」？, BBC News

Teachers should be affable and approachable

Lǎoshī yīnggāi shì hé'ǎikěqīn, píngyìjìnrén [Pinyin]


宵衣旰食

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄧ ㄍㄢˋ ㄕˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ kän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ kɔːn³³ sɪk̚²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ kän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ kɔːn³³ sɪk̚²/


日上三竿

日曬三杆
日高三丈
日出三竿
三竿日上

when the sun has already risen to as high as three poles stacked up

ㄖˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄢ

жишансаньгань

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/


等閒之輩

ㄉㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄅㄟˋ

дэнсяньчжибэй

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ³⁵ haːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːi̯³³/

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ³⁵ haːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːi̯³³/


精蟲上腦

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄋㄠˇ

цзинчуншаннао

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ¹³ nou̯¹³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ¹³ nou̯¹³/

(of a man) to lose the ability to think rationally when driven by sexual impulse


黯然神傷

ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄕㄤ

аньжаньшэньшан

anʹžanʹšɛnʹšan

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/


無往不利

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹/

/bu¹³⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/

/bu²³⁻³³ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹/

/bu¹³⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/

/bu²³⁻³³ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/


無念無想

ㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/u³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ niːm²² mou̯²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ niːm²² mou̯²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

(originally Buddhism) to be free from all distracting thoughts; to be in a frame of mind void of all thoughts and ideas


沽名釣譽

ㄍㄨ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˋ

/ku⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tiːu̯³³ jyː²²/

/ku²⁴ mi̯aŋ¹¹ ti̯au̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tiːu̯³³ jyː²²/

/ku²⁴ mi̯aŋ¹¹ ti̯au̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

to angle for fame; to fish for compliments


鴻雁傳書

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

хунъяньчуаньшу

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/


忍無可忍

ㄖㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄖㄣˇ

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn³⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ jɐn³⁵/

/d͡zim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ d͡zim⁵³/

/zim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zim⁴¹/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn³⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ jɐn³⁵/

/d͡zim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ d͡zim⁵³/

/zim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zim⁴¹/

to reach the limit of one's patience; to be unable to bear any more


執迷不悟

ㄓˊ ㄇㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ mi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/t͡sɐp̚⁵ mɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚⁵⁻²⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁵ be¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ mi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/t͡sɐp̚⁵ mɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚⁵⁻²⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁵ be¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

to wilfully persist in going about things the wrong way; to refuse to realise one's error


耐人尋味

ㄋㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄨㄟˋ

найжэньсюньвэй

/naɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹ mei̯²²/

/nãi²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴⁻²² sim²⁴⁻²² bi²²/

/nãi³³⁻²¹ zin²³⁻³³ sim²³⁻³³ bi³³/

/naɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹ mei̯²²/

/nãi²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴⁻²² sim²⁴⁻²² bi²²/

/nãi³³⁻²¹ zin²³⁻³³ sim²³⁻³³ bi³³/

to be thought-provoking; to provide food for thought


與日俱增

ㄩˇ ㄖˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄗㄥ

юйжицзюйцзэн

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː¹³ jɐt̚² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː¹³ jɐt̚² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to grow with each passing day; to increase steadily


不可磨滅

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄇㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄝˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mɔː²¹ miːt̚²/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ bua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mɔː²¹ miːt̚²/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ bua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴/

不可磨滅的印象／不可磨灭的印象

不可磨滅的貢獻／不可磨灭的贡献


突飛猛進

ㄊㄨ ㄈㄟ ㄇㄥˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ㄊㄨˊ ㄈㄟ ㄇㄥˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

туфэймэнцзинь

/tʰu⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰu³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tɐt̚² fei̯⁵⁵ maːŋ¹³ t͡sɵn³³/

/tʰu⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰu³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tɐt̚² fei̯⁵⁵ maːŋ¹³ t͡sɵn³³/

社會主義制度促進了我國生產力的突飛猛進的發展，這一點，甚至連國外的敵人也不能不承認了。 [MSC, trad.]
社会主义制度促进了我国生产力的突飞猛进的发展，这一点，甚至连国外的敌人也不能不承认了。 [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

The socialist system has promoted the rapid development of the productive forces of our country, a fact even our enemies abroad have had to acknowledge.

Shèhuì zhǔyì zhìdù cùjìn le wǒguó shēngchǎnlì de tūfēiměngjìn de fāzhǎn, zhè yī diǎn, shènzhì lián guówài de dírén yě bùnéngbù chéngrèn le. [Pinyin]


一筆一畫

ㄧ ㄅㄧˇ ㄧ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ waːk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ waːk̚²/


鴻雁哀鳴

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˋ ㄞ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

хунъяньаймин

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

(of disaster victims) living a miserable life of vagrancy


相安無事

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ siː²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² su²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ siː²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² su²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/


紅白大事

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄞˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ

/xʊŋ³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ paːk̚² taːi̯²² siː²²/

/xʊŋ³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ paːk̚² taːi̯²² siː²²/

Red (紅事): weddings; white (白事): funerals.

matters related to weddings and funerals


花枝招展

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓ ㄓㄠ ㄓㄢˇ

хуачжичжаочжань

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːn³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːn³⁵/

(typically of a woman) gorgeously dressed; all dolled up; seductively dressed


魚龍混雜

fish (bad) and dragon (good) mixed together

ㄩˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄗㄚˊ

юйлунхуньцза

/y³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lʊŋ²¹ wɐn²² t͡saːp̚²/

/y³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lʊŋ²¹ wɐn²² t͡saːp̚²/

good and bad things or people being mixed together indiscriminately


好來好去

ㄏㄠˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄑㄩˋ

хаолайхаоцюй

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ lɐi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/hou̯³⁵ lei̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ lɐi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/hou̯³⁵ lei̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

(now chiefly Cantonese) to begin well and end well


花天酒地

flowers in the sky, alcohol on the ground

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄧˋ

хуатяньцзюди

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tei̯²²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tei̯²²/

(figurative) to indulge in sensual pleasures; to spend one's time in drinking and pleasure; life of debauchery


脈脈含情

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ xän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mɐk̚² mɐk̚²/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ xän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mɐk̚² mɐk̚²/

含情脈脈 含情脈脈#Chinese

含情脉脉 含情脉脉#Chinese

Alternative form of 含情脈脈／含情脉脉 (hánqíngmòmò)


畫餅充飢

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄧㄥˇ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄐㄧ

хуабинчунцзи

/xu̯ä⁵¹ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² pɛːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² pɛːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

Quoted from Cao Rui, from the Records of the Three Kingdoms:
:
時舉中書郎，詔曰：「得其人與否，在盧生耳。選舉莫取有名，名如畫地作餅，不可啖也。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]时举中书郎，诏曰：「得其人与否，在卢生耳。选举莫取有名，名如画地作饼，不可啖也。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE
Shí jǔ zhōngshūláng, zhào yuē: “Dé qí rén yǔ fǒu, zài Lúshēng ěr. Xuǎnjǔ mò qǔ yǒumíng, míng rú huàdì zuò bǐng, bùkě dàn yě.” [Pinyin]
At that time the Emperor of Wei was hiring the Central Secretary. He issued an edict to Lu Yu: “Whether we can hire the person depends on you. Please do not pick those who only have fame [but without talent]. Fame is just like a flatbread drawn on the ground, you cannot eat it.”

時 舉 中書郎 ， 詔 曰 ：「 得 其 人 與 否 ，在 ^@盧生 耳 。 選舉 莫 取 有名 ， 名 如 畫地 作 餅 ， 不可 啖 也 。」

At that time the Emperor of Wei was hiring the Central Secretary. He issued an edict to Lu Yu: “Whether we can hire the person depends on you. Please do not pick those who only have fame 􂀿but without talent􂁀. Fame is just like a flatbread drawn on the ground, you cannot eat it.”

to draw a flatbread to allay one's hunger

(figurative) to feed on illusions; (of something attractive-looking) to be of no actual use; like a pie in the sky

Cao Rui
Records of the Three Kingdoms
zh:盧毓


千秋萬代

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄞˋ

цяньцюваньдай

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ maːn²² tɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ maːn²² tɔːi̯²²/

generation after generation; for generations to come


騎虎難下

ride a tiger and find it difficult to dismount

ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kʰɛː²¹ fuː³⁵ naːn²¹ haː²²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kʰɛː²¹ fuː³⁵ naːn²¹ haː²²/

(figurative) to get into a situation where both proceeding forward and backing down are difficult


拜神唔見雞

to worship the gods and lose the chicken [that was prepared for worship]

/paːi̯³³ sɐn²¹ m̩²¹ kiːn³³ kɐi̯⁵⁵/

/paːi̯³³ sɐn²¹ m̩²¹ kiːn³³ kɐi̯⁵⁵/


婚喪嫁娶

ㄏㄨㄣ ㄙㄤ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄩˇ

хуньсанцзяцюй

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

marriages and funerals (generally speaking)


心力交瘁

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

синьлицзяоцуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kaːu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯²²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui¹¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kaːu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯²²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui¹¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹/


天不假年

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

тяньбуцзянянь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ niːn²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ niːn²¹/


性命攸關

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ

синминъюгуань

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/


大魚大肉

ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄖㄡˋ

/tä⁵¹ y³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː²¹ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/

/tä⁵¹ y³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː²¹ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/

dish with generous amounts of meat and fish; lavish meal


三天兩頭

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄊㄡˊ

саньтяньлянтоу

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄊㄡˊㄦ

саньтяньлянтоур

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

every two or three days (something bad happens); almost everyday


日行一善

ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄧ ㄕㄢˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːn²²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːn²²/

to do a good deed every day; to do a good turn daily


善解人意

ㄕㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

шаньцзежэньи

/ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/siːn²² kaːi̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/

/ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/siːn²² kaːi̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/


與時俱進

ㄩˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

юйшицзюйцзинь

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ siː²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ siː²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³/

to move with the times; to keep abreast of current developments


與虎謀皮

ㄩˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄇㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ moʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/jyː¹³ fuː³⁵ mɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ moʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/jyː¹³ fuː³⁵ mɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

Originally 與狐謀皮／与狐谋皮 (yǔhúmóupí, “to ask a fox for its skin”). See the entry for details.
狐 (hú, “fox”) was replaced with 虎 (“tiger”) because the two characters have similar pronunciation. In addition, tiger is a fierce animal, making this form reflecting the meaning more.

zh-l

to request others (usually bad people) for something against their interests (which is impossible)


鰥寡孤獨

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄨˊ

гуаньгуагуду

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王下》):
:
老而無妻曰鰥，老而無夫曰寡，老而無子曰獨，幼而無父曰孤。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]老而无妻曰鳏，老而无夫曰寡，老而无子曰独，幼而无父曰孤。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Lǎo ér wú qī yuē guān, lǎo ér wú fū yuē guǎ, lǎo ér wú zǐ yuē dú, yòu ér wú fù yuē gū. [Pinyin]
There were the old and wifeless, or widowers; the old and husbandless, or widows; the old and childless, or solitaries; the young and fatherless, or orphans

zh-x

老 而 無 妻 曰 @鰥，老 而 無 夫 曰 @寡，老 而 無 子 曰 @獨，幼 而 無 父 曰 @孤。


與生俱來

ㄩˇ ㄕㄥ ㄐㄩˋ ㄌㄞˊ

юйшэнцзюйлай

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ ku⁴¹⁻²² lai²⁴/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai¹³/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻²¹ lai²³/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ ku⁴¹⁻²² lai²⁴/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai¹³/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻²¹ lai²³/

existing since birth; innate; inborn; inherent


多事之秋

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄡ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/


望洋興嘆

ㄨㄤˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ

ванъянсинтань

/wɑŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jœːŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jœːŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

From the book Zhuangzi.
於是焉河伯始旋其面目，望洋向若而歎。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]于是焉河伯始旋其面目，望洋向若而叹。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yúshì yān Hébó shǐ xuán qí miànmù, wàngyáng xiàng Ruò ér tàn. [Pinyin]
Then he began to turn his face round, looked across the expanse, as if he were confronting Ruo, and said with a sigh.

於是 焉 ^河伯 始 旋 其 面-目，@望洋 向 ^若 而 @歎。

to lament one's littleness in face of something vast and great; to feel powerless in face of a great task


一言難盡

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ияньнаньцзинь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ naːn²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/iɪʔ³³ ɦi⁴⁴ ne²² ʑin⁴⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ naːn²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/iɪʔ³³ ɦi⁴⁴ ne²² ʑin⁴⁴/

(of complicated matters) to be hard to explain in a few words; there is a lot to say; it's a long story


一言兩句

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄩˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ kɵy̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ kɵy̯³³/


一言一語

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/


各執己見

ㄍㄜˋ ㄓˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

гэчжицзицзянь

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/


一言半語

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄩˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ jyː¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ jyː¹³/


暢所欲言

ㄔㄤˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ ㄧㄢˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚² jiːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚² jiːn²¹/

論壇給了大家一個各抒己見、暢所欲言的機會。 [MSC, trad.]
论坛给了大家一个各抒己见、畅所欲言的机会。 [MSC, simp.]

The forum gave everyone an opportunity to express their opinions and speak freely.

Lùntán gěi le dàjiā yīge gèshūjǐjiàn, chàngsuǒyùyán de jīhuì. [Pinyin]

to speak freely; to say freely what one wants to say


各抒己見

ㄍㄜˋ ㄕㄨ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

гэшуцзицзянь

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/


一言立信

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lɐp̚² sɵn³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ laːp̚² sɵn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lɐp̚² sɵn³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ laːp̚² sɵn³³/

to establish one's reputation with a single word (statement)


一字一句

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³³/

一字一句地說／一字一句地说


一言僨事

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄣˋ ㄕˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn¹³ siː²²/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn³³ siː²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn¹³ siː²²/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn³³ siː²²/

一家仁，一國興仁；一家讓，一國興讓；一人貪戾，一國作亂。其機如此。此謂一言僨事，一人定國。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
一家仁，一国兴仁；一家让，一国兴让；一人贪戾，一国作乱。其机如此。此谓一言偾事，一人定国。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From the loving example of one family a whole state becomes loving, and from its courtesies the whole state becomes courteous while, from the ambition and perverseness of the One man, the whole state may be led to rebellious disorder; – such is the nature of the influence. This verifies the saying, "Affairs may be ruined by a single sentence; a kingdom may be settled by its One man."

From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Yījiā rén, yīguó xīng rén; yījiā ràng, yīguó xīng ràng; yīrén tānlì, yīguó zuòluàn. Qí jī rúcǐ. Cǐ wèi yīyán fèn shì, yīrén dìng guó. [Pinyin]


直言不諱

ㄓˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

чжияньбухуэй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

call a spade a spade
call a spade a spade

to call a spade a spade; to speak without reservation; not to mince one's words


無濟於事

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄩˊ ㄕˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

to no avail; of no use; does not help the matter


一言半句

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ

ияньбаньцзюй

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ kɵy̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ kɵy̯³³/

一言半語 一言半語#Chinese

一言半语 一言半语#Chinese

Synonym of 一言半語／一言半语 (yīyánbànyǔ, “a few words”)


眾說紛紜

众说纷纭
衆說紛紜
眾説紛紜

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄈㄣ ㄩㄣˊ

чжуншофэньюнь

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ syːt̚³ fɐn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ syːt̚³ fɐn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/


情不自禁

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цинбуцзыцзинь

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² kɐm³³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡su²²⁻²¹ kim²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² kɐm³³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡su²²⁻²¹ kim²¹/

我情不自禁地哭了起來。 [MSC, trad.]
我情不自禁地哭了起来。 [MSC, simp.]

cannot hold back one's emotion; can't help


眾口一詞

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄧ ㄘˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ hɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ hɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/


莫衷一是

ㄇㄛˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄕˋ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ si²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ si³³/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ si²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ si³³/

cannot decide which is right; unable to reach a unanimous conclusion


深信不疑

ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˊ

/ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/

我對那人說的話深信不疑。 [MSC, trad.]
我对那人说的话深信不疑。 [MSC, simp.]

I firmly believe in / have no doubt about what that person says.

Wǒ duì nà rén shuō de huà shēnxìnbùyí. [Pinyin]


情有可原

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ jyːn²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan¹³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ jyːn²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan¹³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²³/


比比皆是

ㄅㄧˇ ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄕˋ

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pei̯³³ pei̯³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pei̯³⁵ pei̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kai³³ si⁴¹/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/

/pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pei̯³³ pei̯³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pei̯³⁵ pei̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kai³³ si⁴¹/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/

/pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/


無所不在

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (無所不在):
* → Korean: 무소부재(無所不在) (musobujae)

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

ubiquitous; omnipresent; to be everywhere


打情罵俏

ㄉㄚˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄠˋ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ maː²² t͡sʰiːu̯³³/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ maː²² t͡sʰiːu̯³³/

to exchange flirtatious banter with each other; to flirt


大權在握

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄨㄛˋ

дацюаньцзайво

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² aːk̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² aːk̚⁵/

to have (hold) great power in one's hands; to be in a position of power


謹小慎微

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄣˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄣˋ ㄨㄟˊ

цзиньсяошэньвэй

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐn³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɐn²² mei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐn³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɐn²² mei̯²¹/


聲名鵲起

ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄑㄧˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/


苦不堪言

ㄎㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄧㄢˊ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kʰam³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn¹³/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kʰam³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn¹³/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³/


連篇累牘

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄌㄟˇ ㄉㄨˊ

ляньпяньлэйду

/li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵/

/liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ tʊk̚²/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵/

/liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ tʊk̚²/

(of a piece of writing) lengthy; tedious; verbose


漠不關心

ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ

мобугуаньсинь

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


油然而生

ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄕㄥ

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

(of a thought, feeling, emotion, etc.) to arise spontaneously


如日中天

ㄖㄨˊ ㄖˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

жужичжунтянь

/ʐu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɐt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/zu²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɐt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/zu²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

at the height of prosperity or power; at its zenith


視若無睹

ㄕˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː²² jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

/si²²⁻²¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² bu²⁴⁻²² tɔ⁵³/

/si³³⁻²¹ ziɔk̚⁴⁻³² bɤ²³⁻³³ tɔ⁴¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː²² jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

/si²²⁻²¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² bu²⁴⁻²² tɔ⁵³/

/si³³⁻²¹ ziɔk̚⁴⁻³² bɤ²³⁻³³ tɔ⁴¹/


生不如死

ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄙˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵/

would rather be dead than alive; living hell


海不揚波

ㄏㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄛ

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ pɔː⁵⁵/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ pɔː⁵⁵/

calm and tranquil; peaceful and carefree


家傳戶曉

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

цзячуаньхусяо

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ xu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

known to every household; ubiquitously known; widespread; extremely well-known


咬牙切齒

ㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄚˊ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄔˇ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaːu̯¹³ ŋaː²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/ka³⁵⁻¹¹ ɡe⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiak̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵²⁻²¹/

/ŋaːu̯¹³ ŋaː²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/ka³⁵⁻¹¹ ɡe⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiak̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵²⁻²¹/


自娛自樂

ㄗˋ ㄩˊ ㄗˋ ㄌㄜˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jyː²¹ t͡siː²² lɔːk̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jyː²¹ t͡siː²² lɔːk̚²/

娛樂／娱乐 (yúlè, “to entertain”) augmented with 自 (zì, “self”).

to entertain oneself; to amuse oneself; to have fun on one's own; to goof off


天理難容

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

тяньлинаньжун

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ naːn²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ naːn²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

此人不紅，天理難容！ [MSC, trad.]
此人不红，天理难容！ [MSC, simp.]

This guy not becoming famous in the future, is something intolerable by the course of nature. (rhyming slang, humorous)

Cǐrén bù hóng, tiānlǐ nán róng! [Pinyin]

providence would not forgive (something); Heaven will not tolerate (if something happens or does not happen)


血流漂杵

enough blood flowing to float wooden clubs

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄔㄨˇ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄔㄨˇ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄔㄨˇ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

rivers of blood (on the battlefield); blood bath


深山幽谷

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨˇ

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊk̚⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊk̚⁵/


深山窮谷

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄢ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄍㄨˇ

шэньшаньцюнгу

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ kʊk̚⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ kʊk̚⁵/


下喬木入幽谷

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄠˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨˇ

ся цяому жу югу

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/haː²² kʰiːu̯²¹ mʊk̚² jɐp̚² jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊk̚⁵/

to forsake light for darkness; to go from a good situation into a bad one


趨之若鶩

ㄑㄩ ㄓ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mou̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mou̯²²/

(figurative, derogatory) to go after something like a flock of ducks; to scramble for something


無親無故

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kuː³³/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kuː³³/


雞飛蛋打

the chicken has flown the coop and the eggs are broken

ㄐㄧ ㄈㄟ ㄉㄢˋ ㄉㄚˇ

цзифэйданьда

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tän⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ taːn²²⁻³⁵ taː³⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tän⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ taːn²²⁻³⁵ taː³⁵/

(figurative) everything is lost; a dead loss


情何以堪

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧˇ ㄎㄢ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ jiː¹³ hɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ jiː¹³ hɐm⁵⁵/

你讓我情何以堪？ [MSC, trad.]
你让我情何以堪？ [MSC, simp.]

How did you expect me to take it? / Did you think of me at all?

how can someone stand it emotionally? how can something be endured?


答非所問

ㄉㄚˊ ㄈㄟ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄣˋ

/tä³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹/

/taːp̚³ fei̯⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɐn²²/

/tä³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹/

/taːp̚³ fei̯⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɐn²²/

to give an irrelevant answer to a question


耳鬢廝磨

ㄦˇ ㄅㄧㄣˋ ㄙ ㄇㄛˊ

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pin⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pɐn³³ siː⁵⁵ mɔː²¹/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pin⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pɐn³³ siː⁵⁵ mɔː²¹/

(one's) ear rubbing (the other's) hair at the temple

(of a boy and a girl) to have a close childhood relationship; (of a couple) very intimate; deeply in love


自投羅網

ㄗˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄨㄤˇ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɔː²¹ mɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɔː²¹ mɔːŋ¹³/

to hurl oneself willingly or involuntarily into the net; to walk or fall into a trap


坐地起價

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋㄦ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑɻ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² tei̯²² hei̯³⁵ kaː³³/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² tei̯²² hei̯³⁵ kaː³³/

to raise the price at the transaction location


丟人現眼

ㄉㄧㄡ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄢˇ

дюжэньсяньянь

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiːn²² ŋaːn¹³/

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiːn²² ŋaːn¹³/

to make a fool of oneself; to make oneself lose face


庸脂俗粉

ㄩㄥ ㄓ ㄙㄨˊ ㄈㄣˇ

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su³⁵ fən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² fɐn³⁵/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su³⁵ fən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² fɐn³⁵/

ordinary, unrefined women who adorn themselves with cheap face powder


假冒偽劣

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄇㄠˋㄦ ㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

цзямаорвэйле

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ maʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚³/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚³/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚²/

假冒偽劣產品／假冒伪劣产品

打擊假冒偽劣／打击假冒伪劣

to crack down on counterfeit and low-quality (goods)

fake, forged, counterfeit and poor-quality; counterfeit and shoddy (generally speaking)


大跌眼鏡

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄝ ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tiːt̚³ ŋaːn¹³ kɛːŋ³³⁻³⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ tiak̚²⁻⁴ ŋaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tiːt̚³ ŋaːn¹³ kɛːŋ³³⁻³⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ tiak̚²⁻⁴ ŋaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

Literally “to suddenly drop one's eyeglasses”; said to be in reference to earlier, loosely-fitted glasses which fell off easily.

(figurative) to have one's jaws drop (often in a bad way); to be greatly surprised or astonished; to be dumbfounded


擦肩而過

ㄘㄚ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ kiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ kiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

to brush past (someone, opportunity, death, etc.)


飲彈自盡

ㄧㄣˇ ㄉㄢˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

иньданьцзыцзинь

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐm³⁵ taːn²² t͡siː²² t͡sɵn²²/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐm³⁵ taːn²² t͡siː²² t͡sɵn²²/

to commit suicide by shooting oneself in the back of the throat


同臺競技

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

тунтайцзинцзи

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɪŋ²² kei̯²²/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɪŋ²² kei̯²²/


惱羞成怒

ㄋㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄔㄥˊ ㄋㄨˋ

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/nou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/nou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/


長幼尊卑

ㄓㄤˇ ㄧㄡˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄅㄟ

чжанъюцзуньбэй

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

From the Book of Rites:
為人君者謹其所好惡而已矣。君好之，則臣為之。上行之，則民從之。詩云誘民孔易，此之謂也。然後，聖人作為鞉、鼓、椌、楬、塤、篪，此六者德音之音也。然後鐘磬竽瑟以和之，干戚旄狄以舞之，此所以祭先王之廟也，所以獻酬酳酢也，所以官序貴賤各得其宜也，所以示後世有尊卑長幼之序也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]为人君者谨其所好恶而已矣。君好之，则臣为之。上行之，则民从之。诗云诱民孔易，此之谓也。然后，圣人作为鞉、鼓、椌、楬、埙、篪，此六者德音之音也。然后钟磬竽瑟以和之，干戚旄狄以舞之，此所以祭先王之庙也，所以献酬酳酢也，所以官序贵贱各得其宜也，所以示后世有尊卑长幼之序也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Wèi rén jūnzhě jǐn qí suǒ hǎo'è éryǐ yǐ. Jūn hǎo zhī, zé chén wèi zhī. Shàng xíng zhī, zé mín cóng zhī. Shī yún yòu mín kǒng yì, cǐ zhī wèi yě. Ránhòu, shèngrén zuòwèi 鞉, gǔ, 椌, 楬, xūn, chí, cǐ liùzhě dé yīn zhī yīn yě. Ránhòu zhōng qìng yú sè yǐ hé zhī, gān qī máo dí yǐ wǔ zhī, cǐ suǒyǐ jì xiān wáng zhī miào yě, suǒyǐ xiàn chóu yìn zuò yě, suǒyǐ guān xù guì jiàn gè dé qí yí yě, suǒyǐ shì hòushì yǒu zūnbēichángyòu zhī xù yě. [Pinyin]
'A ruler has only to be careful of what he likes and dislikes. What the ruler likes, his ministers will practise; and what superiors do, their inferiors follow. This is the sentiment in the Book of Poetry (III, ii, ode 10, 6), "To lead the people is very easy." Seeing this, and after (the repose of the people was secured), the sages made hand-drums and drums, the stopper and the starter, the earthen whistle and the bamboo flute - the six instruments which produced the sounds of their virtuous airs. After these came the bell, the sounding-stone, the organ with thirty-six pipes, and the large lute, to be played in harmony with them; the shields, axes, ox-tails, and plumes, brandished by the pantomimes in time and tune. These they employed at the sacrifices in the temple of the former kings, at festivals in offering and receiving the pledge cup; in arranging the services of officers (in the temple) according to the rank due to each, as noble or mean, and in showing to future ages how they observed the order due to rank and to age.

zh-x

為 人 君-者 謹 其 所 好惡 而已 矣。君 好 之，則 臣 為 之。上 行 之，則 民 從 之。詩 云 誘 民 孔 易，此 之 謂 也。然後，聖人 作為 鞉、鼓、椌、楬、塤、篪，此 六-者 德 音 之 音 也。然後 鐘 磬 竽 瑟 以 和 之，干 戚 旄 狄 以 舞 之，此 所以 祭 先 王 之 廟 也，所以 獻 酬 酳 酢 也，所以 官 序 貴 賤 各 得 其 宜 也，所以 示 後世 有 尊卑長幼 之 序 也。

old and young, high and low; senior and junior; seniority rules


小酌怡情

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

drinking a small amount of alcohol keeps the mood light


笑不露齒

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔˇ

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ ㄔˇ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵/


含辛茹苦

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄎㄨˇ

ханьсиньжуку

/xän³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐm²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰou⁵²/

/xän³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐm²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰou⁵²/

to suffer untold hardships (to bring up one's child); to endure sufferings


滴酒不沾

ㄉㄧ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢ

дицзюбучжань

/ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

/ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

to never touch a drop of alcohol; to abstain from drinking; to be strictly teetotal


名利雙收

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄕㄡ

минлишуаншоу

/miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/


口不擇言

ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² jiːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² jiːn²¹/

to talk indiscreetly; to talk recklessly


凶多吉少

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕㄠˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

to be more ominous than propitious; fraught with grim possibilities


靈丹妙藥

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄢ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄧㄠˋ

линданьмяояо

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ miːu̯²² jœːk̚²/

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ miːu̯²² jœːk̚²/


雙管齊下

ㄕㄨㄤ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

шуангуаньцися

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ haː²²/

/sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²³⁻³³ ha³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ ha³³/

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ haː²²/

/sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²³⁻³³ ha³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ ha³³/

From the story of Tang-dynasty painter Zhang Zao (張璪), recorded in Tu hua jian wen zhi (《圖畫見聞志》), written by Guo Ruoxu (郭若虛) during the Song dynasty.

to paint a picture with two brushes at the same time

to use a two-pronged approach; to work along both lines simultaneously


緊鑼密鼓

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ mi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn³⁵ lɔː²¹ mɐt̚² kuː³⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ mi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn³⁵ lɔː²¹ mɐt̚² kuː³⁵/

to carry out an intense publicity campaign


掉以輕心

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² jiː¹³ hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰin³³ sim³³/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/tiɤ³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² jiː¹³ hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰin³³ sim³³/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/tiɤ³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

to lower one's guard; to relax one's vigilance; to treat something lightly


密鑼緊鼓

ㄇㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄍㄨˇ

/mi⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² lɔː²¹ kɐn³⁵ kuː³⁵/

/mi⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² lɔː²¹ kɐn³⁵ kuː³⁵/

緊鑼密鼓 緊鑼密鼓#Chinese

紧锣密鼓 紧锣密鼓#Chinese

Alternative form of 緊鑼密鼓／紧锣密鼓 (jǐnluómìgǔ)


大雨傾盆

ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄆㄣˊ

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

傾盆大雨 傾盆大雨#Chinese

倾盆大雨 倾盆大雨#Chinese

Alternative form of 傾盆大雨／倾盆大雨 (qīngpéndàyǔ)


不知妻美

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧ ㄇㄟˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

(neologism) to not realise the beauty of one's wife (usually said of Liu Qiangdong)


熙熙攘攘

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄖㄤˇ ㄖㄤˇ

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄖㄤˊ ㄖㄤˊ

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ jœːŋ¹³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ jœːŋ¹³/

From the Records of the Grand Historian.

(ideophonic) bustling with activity; hustling and bustling


尋芳問柳

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄤ ㄨㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

сюньфанвэньлю

/ɕyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

to visit prostitutes; to frequent brothels


萬人空巷

ten thousand people (turning out to the event, and) alleyways are empty

ㄨㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ваньжэнькунсян

/wän⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːn²² jɐn²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

/wän⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːn²² jɐn²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

the whole town turns out to (an event); all of the people in a place have turned out to (an event)


惻隱之心

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (惻隱之心):
* → Korean: 측은지심(惻隱之心) (cheugeunjisim)

ㄘㄜˋ ㄧㄣˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

цэиньчжисинь

/t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑上》):
:
所以謂人皆有不忍人之心者，今人乍見孺子將入於井，皆有怵惕惻隱之心。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]所以谓人皆有不忍人之心者，今人乍见孺子将入于井，皆有怵惕恻隐之心。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Suǒyǐ wèi rén jiē yǒu bù rěn rén zhī xīn zhě, jīn rén zhà jiàn rúzǐ jiāng rù yú jǐng, jiē yǒu chùtì cèyǐn zhī xīn. [Pinyin]
When I say that all men have a mind which cannot bear to see the sufferings of others, my meaning may be illustrated thus: even now-a-days, if men suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they will without exception experience a feeling of alarm and distress.

zh-x

所以 謂 人 皆 有 不 忍 人 之 心 者，今 人 乍 見 孺子 將 入 於 井，皆 有 怵惕 惻隱.之.心。

feeling of compassion; heart of sympathy


良師益友

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄕ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/


狗屁不通

ㄍㄡˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pʰei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pʰei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

已閱，狗屁不通！大字報在地上貼就行了，不要發到天上去。 [MSC, trad.]
已阅，狗屁不通！大字报在地上贴就行了，不要发到天上去。 [MSC, simp.]

Read. This is bullshit! Putting up dazibao on the ground is enough. Don't send it into space.

Yǐ yuè, gǒupìbùtōng! Dàzìbào zài dìshàng tiē jiù xíng le, bùyào fā dào tiānshàng qù. [Pinyin]

(figurative, vulgar) incoherent; nonsensical; bullshit


冤家路窄

ㄩㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄨˋ ㄓㄞˇ

юаньцзялучжай

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

much as one wants to, one cannot avoid one's enemy


狹路相逢

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ lu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/haːp̚² lou̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ lu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/haːp̚² lou̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/

From “Xiang Feng Xing” (《相逢行》), a yuefu poem of the Han dynasty.