大事化小，小事化無

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄨˊ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄨˊ

даши хуа сяо

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵/

/taːi̯²² siː²² faː³³ siːu̯³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ siː²² faː³³ mou̯²¹/

/tua³³⁻²¹ su³³ hua²¹⁻⁴¹ siɤ⁴¹ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su³³ hua²¹⁻⁴¹ bɤ²³/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ su³³ hua¹¹⁻⁵³ sio⁵³ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su³³ hua¹¹⁻⁵³ bo²⁴/

Literally: Reduce major issues to minor ones, and minor ones to nothing.

Turn big problems into small ones, and small ones into no problems at all.


好酒沉甕底

The best wine is at the bottom of the jug.

ㄏㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄧˇ

hǎojiǔ chén wèngdǐ [Phonetic:háojiǔchénwèngdǐ]

ㄏㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄧˇ

хаоцзю чэнь вэнди

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ wəŋ⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tim²³⁻³³ aŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ te⁴¹/

It ain't over until the fat lady sings
it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings

The best is saved for last; It ain't over until the fat lady sings.


言多必失

ㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄧˋ ㄕ

ㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄧˋ ㄕ

/jɛn³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jiːn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ to⁴⁴⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/jɛn³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jiːn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ to⁴⁴⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

the more one says, the easier it is to make a mistake


鷸蚌相爭，漁人得利

ㄩˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄥ

ㄩˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄩˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄥ

ㄩˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄧˋ

юйбан сянчжэн

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʐən³⁵ tɤ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/wɐt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jɐn²¹ tɐk̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/lɵt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jɐn²¹ tɐk̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/jyːt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jɐn²¹ tɐk̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/ut̚⁴⁻³² paŋ²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴ ɡu²⁴⁻²² lin²⁴ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ li²²/

When Zhao was about to attack Yan, Su Dai spoke to King Hui of Zhao on behalf of the king of Yan. He said, “On my way here today, as I crossed the Yi River, I spotted an oyster that had opened its shell to sun itself. Just then, a snipe began to peck at the flesh inside its shell. The oyster closed its shell on the beak of the snipe so that it could not get away.
The snipe said, “It is not raining today, nor will it rain tomorrow. You shall die, Oyster.”
To which the oyster replied, “You shall not escape my grip today, nor shall you escape it tomorrow. It is you who will die (of hunger), Snipe.” Neither side would yield, at which point, a fisherman came by and snatched them both into his net.
Today, Zhao is on the verge of attacking Yan. Yan and Zhao have been at odds for a long time, and have caused their people to suffer. I am afraid that the fisherman in this case will be the mighty Qin. For this reason, I hope that your highness will give the matter your mature consideration. King Hui said, “ok fine” and called off the attack. (Wiktionary translation)

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Zhào qiě fá Yān, Sū Dài wèi Yān wáng wèi Huì wáng yuē: “Jīn zhě chén lái, guò Yìshuǐ, bàng fāng chū pù, ér yù zhuó qí ròu, bàng hé ér qián qí huì. Yù yuē: ‘Jīnrì bù yù, míngrì bù yù, jí yǒu sǐ bàng.’ Bàng yì wèi yù yuē: ‘Jīnrì bù chū, míngrì bù chū, jí yǒu sǐ yù.’ Liǎng zhě bù kěn shě, yú zhě dé ér bìng qín zhī. Jīn Zhào qiě fá Yān, Yān, Zhào jiǔ xiāngzhī, yǐ bì dàzhòng, chén kǒng qiáng Qín zhī wéi yúfù yě. Gù yuàn wáng zhī shújì zhī yě.” Huì wáng yuē: “Shàn.” Nǎi zhǐ.

趙且伐燕，蘇代為燕王謂惠王曰：「今者臣來，過易水，蚌方出曝，而鷸啄其肉，蚌合而鉗其喙。鷸曰：『今日不雨，明日不雨，即有死蚌。』蚌亦謂鷸曰：『今日不出，明日不出，即有死鷸。』兩者不肯舍，漁者得而並禽之。今趙且伐燕，燕、趙久相支，以弊大眾，臣恐強秦之為漁父也。故願王之熟計之也。」惠王曰：「善。」乃止。

赵且伐燕，苏代为燕王谓惠王曰：「今者臣来，过易水，蚌方出曝，而鹬啄其肉，蚌合而钳其喙。鹬曰：『今日不雨，明日不雨，即有死蚌。』蚌亦谓鹬曰：『今日不出，明日不出，即有死鹬。』两者不肯舍，渔者得而并禽之。今赵且伐燕，燕、赵久相支，以弊大众，臣恐强秦之为渔父也。故愿王之熟计之也。」惠王曰：「善。」乃止。

鹬蚌相争，渔人得利
鷸蚌相爭，漁翁得利
鷸蚌相爭，漁人獲利
鷸蚌相持，漁人得利

When the snipe and the oyster fight, it is the fisherman who reaps the reward

When two parties fight, it is always the third one who wins


皇天不負苦心人

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

huángtiān bù fù kǔxīn rén [Phonetic:huángtiān bú fù kǔxīn rén]

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

хуантянь бу фу кусинь жэнь

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²² fuː³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/foŋ¹¹ tʰi̯en²⁴ put̚² fu⁵⁵ kʰu³¹ sim²⁴ ŋin¹¹/

/hɔŋ²³⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hu³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hu³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

Heaven helps those who help themselves
heaven helps those who help themselves

Heaven helps those who help themselves; Providence doesn't let down a man who does his best.


浪子回頭金不換

ㄌㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

làngzǐ huítóu jīn bù huàn [Phonetic:làngzǐ huítóu jīn bú huàn]

ㄌㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

ланцзы хуэйтоу цзинь бу хуань

/lɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/lɔːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ kɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wuːn²²/

/lɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³ hue²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰio²⁴ kim⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ huan³³/

/lɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹ hue²³⁻³³ tʰiɤ²³ kim⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ huan³³/

/lɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹ hue²³⁻³³ tʰau²³ kim⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ uã³³/

/lɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³ hue²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ kim⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ uã³³/

From the novel 覺世名言十二樓 by Li Yu (1611–1680)

Súyǔ dào de hǎo: “Làngzǐ huítóu jīnbùhuàn.” Dànfán zǒu guò xiélù de rén, guī dào zhèngjīng lù shàng, gèng bǐ zìyòu xué hǎo de bùtóng, jiàozuò “dàwù zhīhòu, yǒng bù zài mí”, nǎlǐ hái kěn huítóu zuò nà bùduānbùzhèng de shì!

俗語道得好：「浪子回頭金不換。」但凡走過邪路的人，歸到正經路上，更比自幼學好的不同，叫做「大悟之後，永不再迷」，哪裡還肯回頭做那不端不正的事！

俗语道得好：「浪子回头金不换。」但凡走过邪路的人，归到正经路上，更比自幼学好的不同，叫做「大悟之后，永不再迷」，哪里还肯回头做那不端不正的事！

A wayward son who returns is more precious than gold.

It is rare when someone who has gone astray turns over a new leaf, so we should accept that person with open arms when the person does reform.


萬事起頭難

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄋㄢˊ

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄋㄢˊ

ваньши цитоу нань

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ nän³⁵/

/maːn²² siː²² hei̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sz̩⁵³⁻⁵⁵ hi³¹ tʰeu¹¹ nan¹¹/

/ban³³⁻²¹ su³³ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²³⁻³³ lan²³/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ su³³ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴/

/ban²²⁻²¹ su²² kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/ban²²⁻²¹ su²² kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² lan¹³/

/ban⁴¹⁻²² sɯ⁴¹ kʰi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/maːn²² siː²² hei̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sz̩⁵³⁻⁵⁵ hi³¹ tʰeu¹¹ nan¹¹/

getting started is always the hardest part


牛仔毋捌虎

牛仔不八虎
牛仔呣捌虎
牛仔伓別虎

/ɡu²⁴⁻²¹ a⁴² m̩²²⁻²¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁴²/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²² a⁵⁵⁴ m̩⁴¹⁻²² pat̚⁵⁻²⁴ hɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²² a⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁵³/

/ɡu²⁴⁻³³ a⁵³ m̩³³⁻¹¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁵³/

/ɡu²³⁻³³ a⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁴¹/

/ɡu²⁴⁻³³ a⁵³ m̩³³⁻¹¹ bat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁵³/

/ɡu²³⁻³³ a⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ bat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁴¹/

/ɡu¹³⁻²² a⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ bat̚³²⁻⁵ hɔ⁵³/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²¹ a⁴² m̩²²⁻²¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁴²/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²² a⁵⁵⁴ m̩⁴¹⁻²² pat̚⁵⁻²⁴ hɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²² a⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁵³/

/ɡu²⁴⁻³³ a⁵³ m̩³³⁻¹¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁵³/

/ɡu²³⁻³³ a⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁴¹/

/ɡu²⁴⁻³³ a⁵³ m̩³³⁻¹¹ bat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁵³/

/ɡu²³⁻³³ a⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ bat̚³²⁻⁴ hɔ⁴¹/

/ɡu¹³⁻²² a⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ bat̚³²⁻⁵ hɔ⁵³/

(Southern Min) a young person is often willing to take risks


一分錢一分貨

ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

yī fēn qián yī fēn huò [Phonetic:yì fēn qián yì fēn huò]

ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

и фэнь цянь и фэнь хо

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ fɔː³³/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² hun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sĩ²³⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² hun⁴⁴⁻³³ hue²¹/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² hun⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² hun⁴⁴⁻³³ he¹¹/

you get what you pay for
you get what you pay for


欲速則不達

yù sù zé bù dá

ㄩˋ ㄙㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˊ

yù sù zé bù dá

ㄩˋ ㄙㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˊ

yù sù zé bù dá

юй су цзэ бу да

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵/

/jʊk̚² t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚²/

/iɔk̚⁴⁻³² sɔk̚³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ tat̚⁴/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵/

/jʊk̚² t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚²/

The Master said, "Do not be desirous to have things done quickly; do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished."

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐyuē: “Wú yù sù, wú jiàn xiǎolì. Yù sù, zé bù dá; jiàn xiǎolì, zé dàshì bùchéng.”

子曰：「無欲速，無見小利。欲速，則不達；見小利，則大事不成。」

子曰：「无欲速，无见小利。欲速，则不达；见小利，则大事不成。」

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

haste makes waste; slow and steady wins the race


己所不欲，勿施於人

desc

己の欲せざる所は人に施すなかれ

→ Japanese: 己の欲せざる所は人に施すなかれ (calque) (kundoku form)

ㄐㄧˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˋ

ㄐㄧˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˋ

/t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kei̯³⁵ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊk̚² mɐt̚² siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ki⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔk̚⁴ but̚⁴⁻³² si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ zin²³/

* From the Analects, Book 12 (《論語·顏淵》):
* From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》)

Zhonggong asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "It is, when you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ the people as if you were assisting at a great sacrifice; not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself; to have no murmuring against you in the country, and none in the family."

Zhònggōng wèn rén. Zǐyuē: “Chūmén rú jiàn dà bīn, shǐ mín rú chéng dà jì. Jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén. Zài bāng wú yuàn, zài jiā wú yuàn.”

仲弓問仁。子曰：「出門如見大賓，使民如承大祭。己所不欲，勿施於人。在邦無怨，在家無怨。」

仲弓问仁。子曰：「出门如见大宾，使民如承大祭。己所不欲，勿施于人。在邦无怨，在家无怨。」

Zigong asked, saying, "Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?" The Master said, "Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others ."

Zǐgòng wèn yuē, yǒu yī yán, ér kěyǐ zhōngshēn xíng zhī zhě hū. Zǐyuē, qí shù hū, jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén.”

子貢問曰、有一言、而可以終身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、 己所不欲，勿施於人。」

子贡问曰、有一言、而可以终身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、 己所不欲，勿施于人。」

Do not do unto others what you would not like others to do unto yourself.

do unto others as you would have them do unto you


天生我材必有用

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄨㄛˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄨㄛˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄥˋ

тянь шэн во цай би ю юн

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ²²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iɔŋ³³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iɔŋ³³/

Heaven has made us talents; we're not made in vain.
A thousand gold coins spent, more will turn up again.

Qiang Jin Jiu, Translated by Yang Xianyi

Tiān shēng wǒ cái bì yǒu yòng, qiānjīn sàn jìn huán fùlái.

天生我材必有用，千金散盡還復來。

天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来。

Everybody has something that they were born to be good at; if you search hard enough, you will find your niche in life; everyone is put on this Earth to achieve something.


遠親不如近鄰

ㄩㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

ㄩㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

юаньцинь бужу цзиньлинь

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ lin³⁵/

/jyːn¹³ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ kɐn²² lɵn²¹/

/uan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ kin³³⁻²¹ lin²³/

/uan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰin³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² kun³³⁻²² lin²⁴/

Probably from an opera from the Yuan dynasty:
:
Compare English better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off (Proverbs 27:10b KJV).

noncog

Yuan dynasty, 秦簡夫, 《東堂老勸破家子弟》, 第四折

Qǐ bù wén yuǎnqīn hē bùsì wǒ jìnlín, wǒ zěn gǎn zuò de ge yǒu kǒu piān wú xìn.

豈不聞遠親呵不似我近鄰，我怎敢做的個有口偏無信。

Yuan dynasty, 秦簡夫, 《東堂老勸破家子弟》, 第四折

岂不闻远亲呵不似我近邻，我怎敢做的个有口偏无信。

Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Nǐ míngrì tǎnghuò zài qù zuò shí, dài le xiē qián zài shēnbiān, yě mǎi xiē jiǔshí yǔ tā huílǐ. Chángyán dào: ‘Yuǎnqīn bùrú jìnlín’, xiū yào shī le rénqíng.

你明日倘或再去做時，帶了些錢在身邊，也買些酒食與他回禮。常言道：『遠親不如近鄰』，休要失了人情。

你明日倘或再去做时，带了些钱在身边，也买些酒食与他回礼。常言道：『远亲不如近邻』，休要失了人情。

Nearby neighbours are better than distant cousins (because they can help and take care of each other).


三思而後行

ㄙㄢ ㄙ ㄦˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

ㄙㄢˋ ㄙ ㄦˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

ㄙㄢ ㄙ ㄦˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

саньсы эр хоусин

/sän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

саньсы эр хоусин

/sän⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm³³ siː⁵⁵ jiː²¹ hɐu̯²² hɐŋ²¹/

/sam²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²³/

/sän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/sän⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm³³ siː⁵⁵ jiː²¹ hɐu̯²² hɐŋ²¹/

/sam²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²³/

Ji Wen thought thrice, and then acted. When the Master was informed of it, he said, "Twice may do."

Jì Wén Zǐ sānsī ér hòuxíng. Zǐ wén zhī, yuē: ‘Zài, sī kě yǐ.’

季文子三思而後行。子聞之，曰：『再，斯可矣。』

季文子三思而后行。子闻之，曰：『再，斯可矣。』

look before you leap
look before you leap


知人知面不知心

know the person, know the face, but not know the heart

ㄓ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄓ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

чжи жэнь чжи мянь бу чжи синь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ miːn²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ti⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ biɛn³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

one may know a person from the outside but may not understand their true nature


百年樹人

ㄅㄞˇ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄅㄞˇ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

байняньшужэнь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/paːk̚³ niːn²¹ syː²² jɐn²¹/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² su²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²³⁻³³ su³³⁻²¹ zin²³/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ nĩ²⁴⁻²² su²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiu³³⁻²¹ zin²³/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/paːk̚³ niːn²¹ syː²² jɐn²¹/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² su²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²³⁻³³ su³³⁻²¹ zin²³/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ nĩ²⁴⁻²² su²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiu³³⁻²¹ zin²³/

十年樹木，百年樹人 十年樹木，百年樹人#Chinese

十年树木，百年树人 十年树木，百年树人#Chinese

short for 十年樹木，百年樹人／十年树木，百年树人 (shínián shùmù, bǎinián shùrén, “it takes a long time for good education to bear fruit (i.e. to produce a competent person)”)


家和萬事興

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄜˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄥ

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄜˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄥ

цзя хэ ваньши син

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ maːn²² siː²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/ka⁴⁴⁻²² ho²⁴⁻²¹ ban²²⁻²¹ sɯ²²⁻²¹ heŋ⁴⁴/

/ka⁴⁴⁻²² ho²⁴⁻²¹ ban²²⁻²¹ su²²⁻²¹ heŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ maːn²² siː²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all undertakings


食飯皇帝大

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pŋ̍³³ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ te²¹⁻⁴¹ tua³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pŋ̍²² hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² te²¹⁻⁵³ tua²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ pŋ̍³³ hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ te¹¹⁻⁵³ tua³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pŋ̍⁴¹ hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² te⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tua⁴¹/

/t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ puĩ²² hɔŋ¹³⁻²² te²¹⁻⁵³ tua²²/


天無絕人之路

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄌㄨˋ

тянь у цзюэ жэнь чжи лу

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡syːt̚² jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²²/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² zin²³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ³³/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² lin²⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ³³/

/tʰi⁵⁵ ɦu³³ ʑiɪʔ¹¹ n̠ʲin²² t͡sz̩²² lu²³/

Heaven never bars one's way; there is always a way out.


江山易改，本性難移

江山易改，本性难移
江山易改，稟性難移

The rivers and mountains are easily altered, but one's inherent nature is difficult to change

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ ㄧˋ ㄍㄞˇ

ㄅㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˊ

gong¹ saan¹ ji⁶ goi², bun² sing³ naan⁴ ji⁴

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ ㄧˋ ㄍㄞˇ

ㄅㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˊ

цзяншань и гай

бэньсин нань и

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ i⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵ i³⁵/

gong¹ san¹ yi⁶ goi², bun² xing³ nan⁴ yi⁴

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jiː²² kɔːi̯³⁵ puːn³⁵ sɪŋ³³ naːn²¹ jiː²¹/

/kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ i³³⁻²¹ kai²¹ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²¹ lan²³⁻³³ i²³/

/kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ i³³⁻¹¹ kai¹¹ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹¹ lan²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴/

2021 March 14, “愛情你比我想的閣較偉大 [Oh Love, You Are Much Greater Than I Imagined]”, 黃奇斌 [Ki-pin N̂g] (lyrics), 黃奇斌 [Ki-pin N̂g] (music), performed by 茄子蛋 [EggPlantEgg]:

[Though] things change any moment / But I’m still the same person / Love you always, till the end

sui-jiân Kang-san ī-kài tān pún-sèng lân-î ài lí ài kah pe̍h ba̍k-bâi

雖然江山易改但本性難移愛你愛甲白目眉

虽然江山易改但本性难移爱你爱甲白目眉

a leopard can't change its spots
a leopard can't change its spots


玉不琢，不成器

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ tœːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

/ɡiɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔk̚³² put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/ɡiɔk̚²⁴⁻² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔk̚⁵ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/ɡiɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ tɔk̚³² put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/ɡiɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔk̚³² put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/ɡiɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔk̚³² put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/ɡek̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ tok̚² puk̚²⁻⁴ seŋ³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³/

/jʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ tœːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

From the Book of Rites, Book 18 (《禮記·學記》)

The jade uncut will not form a vessel for use; and if men do not learn, they do not know the way (in which they should go). On this account the ancient kings, when establishing states and governing the people, made instruction and schools a primary object.

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

Yù bù zhuó, bù chéng qì; rén bù xué, bù zhī dào. Shìgù gǔ zhī wáng zhě jiàn guó jūn mín, jiào xué wèi xiān.

玉不琢，不成器；人不學，不知道。是故古之王者建國君民，教學為先。

玉不琢，不成器；人不学，不知道。是故古之王者建国君民，教学为先。

One must be educated and endure trials to succeed.


一樣米飼百樣人

一样米饲百样人
一樣米飼百樣儂

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² iũ²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³ t͡sʰi²²⁻²¹ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ iũ²²⁻²¹ laŋ²⁴/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² iũ⁴¹⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰi⁴¹⁻²² pa(ʔ)⁵ iũ⁴¹⁻²² laŋ²⁴/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² iũ³³⁻²¹ bi⁴¹ t͡sʰi³³⁻²¹ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ iũ³³⁻²¹ laŋ²³/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² iũ³³⁻¹¹ bi⁵³ t͡sʰi³³⁻¹¹ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ iũ³³⁻¹¹ laŋ²⁴/

/t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ iɔ̃²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³ t͡sʰi²²⁻²¹ pɛ(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ iɔ̃²²⁻²¹ laŋ¹³/

(Southern Min) Everybody thinks and acts a little differently.


人為財死，鳥為食亡

人为财死，鸟为食亡
人爲財死，鳥爲食亡

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄙˇ

ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄕˊ ㄨㄤˊ

jan⁴ wai⁶ coi⁴ sei², niu⁵ wai⁶ sik⁶ mong⁴

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄙˇ

ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄕˊ ㄨㄤˊ

jên² wei⁴ tsʻai² ssŭ³, niao³ wei⁴ shih² wang²

жэнь вэй цай сы

няо вэй ши ван

/ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

yàhn waih chòih séi, níuh waih sihk mòhng

jan⁴ wai⁶ tsoi⁴ sei², niu⁵ wai⁶ sik⁹ mong⁴

yen⁴ wei⁶ coi⁴ séi², niu⁵ wei⁶ xig⁶ mong⁴

/jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sei̯³⁵ niːu̯¹³ wɐi̯²² sɪk̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

/zin²³ ui³³⁻²¹ t͡sai²³ su⁴¹ niãu⁴¹ ui³³⁻²¹ sit̚⁴ bɔŋ²³/

men would die in pursuit of wealth just like how birds would die in pursuit for food; human beings would sacrifice even their lives in pursuit of wealth


揀啊揀，揀著一個賣龍眼

拣啊拣，拣着一个卖龙眼
揀啊揀，揀著一个賣龍眼

choose and choose, choose one that sells longan

(Southern Min) be too choosy and you'll choose the worst


春天後母面，欲變一時間

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ bu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ piɛn²¹ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ kan⁴⁴/

(Southern Min) weather in the spring is unpredictable


細漢偷挽匏，大漢偷牽牛

stealthily picking calabashes when one is a child, stealthily leading cows when one is grown up

/sue²¹⁻⁵³ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² ban⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pu²⁴ tua²²⁻²¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/sue⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ han⁴¹ tʰau³³ ban⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pu²⁴ tua⁴¹⁻²² han⁴¹ tʰau³³ kʰan³³ ɡu²⁴/

/se²¹⁻⁵³ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² ban⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pu¹³ tua²²⁻²¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² ɡu¹³/

/se²¹⁻⁴¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ ban⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pu²³ tua³³⁻²¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡu²³/

(Hokkien) One who commits small wrongs at a young age, if left uncorrected, will continue to commit crimes that are more serious.


歹竹出好筍

ㄉㄞˇ ㄓㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄏㄠˇ ㄙㄨㄣˇ

dǎi zhú chū hǎo sǔn [Phonetic:dǎizhúchūháosǔn]

ㄉㄞˇ ㄓㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄏㄠˇ ㄙㄨㄣˇ

дай чжу чу хао сунь

/taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁵³/

/pʰai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁵³/

/pʰai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tiak̚⁵ t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ ho⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sun⁵⁵⁴/

/pʰãi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ hɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴¹/

/pʰãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁵³/

(Taiwan, southern Fujian, originally Hokkien, figurative) an exceptional child is born from lowly parents


千金買厝，萬金買厝邊

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kim⁴⁴ be⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu²¹ ban³³⁻²¹ kim⁴⁴ be⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁴¹ pĩ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) It is important to have good and friendly neighbors; Good neighbors are more important and precious than a good house


遠水不救近火

ㄩㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

yuǎn shuǐ bù jiù jìn huǒ [Phonetic:yuánshuǐbújiùjìnhuǒ]

ㄩㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

юань шуй бу цзю цзинь хо

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³ kɐn²² fɔː³⁵/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹⁻⁵³ kin²²⁻²¹ hɔ̃⁵³/

Suppose a fire breaks out and we rush to fetch water from the sea. Though the seawater is plentiful, the flames would continue to rage, for distant waters cannot quench a fire close at hand.

Shīhuǒ ér qǔ shuǐ yú hǎi, hǎishuǐ suī duō, huǒ bì bù miè yǐ, yuǎn shuǐ bù jiù jìn huǒ yě.

失火而取水於海，海水雖多，火必不滅矣，遠水不救近火也。

失火而取水于海，海水虽多，火必不灭矣，远水不救近火也。

远水不救近火
遠水救不了近火
遠水救不得近火

(figurative) a slow remedy cannot resolve an emergency


食水果拜樹頭

to pay respect to the roots when one eats the fruit

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu³³⁻²¹ tʰau²³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu²²⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

食果子拜樹頭 食果子拜樹頭#Chinese

食果子拜树头 食果子拜树头#Chinese

alternative form of 食果子拜樹頭 /食果子拜树头 (“to remember where one's happiness comes from; to not forget one's roots or heritage”)


欲嫁才縛跤

欲嫁才缚跤
要嫁則縛腳
要嫁才縛腳

to bind one's feet just before one gets married

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke¹¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pak̚⁴⁻³² kʰa⁴⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pak̚⁴⁻³² kʰa⁴⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ke²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ pak̚⁴⁻³² kʰa⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) to fail to make a timely preparation; to do something at the last minute


走甲離褲跤

/t͡sau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sau⁴²⁻²⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² li²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ²¹⁻⁴² kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ²¹⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ li³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰa⁴⁴/

走甲裂褲跤 走甲裂褲跤#Chinese

走甲裂裤跤 走甲裂裤跤#Chinese

(Hokkien) alternative form of 走甲裂褲跤 /走甲裂裤跤 (“to flee after being defeated”)


大鼎炒狗蟻

/tua²²⁻²¹ tiã⁵³ t͡sʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hia²²/

/tua⁴¹⁻²² tiã⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰa⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hia⁴¹/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ tiã⁵³ t͡sʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hia³³/

/tua³³⁻²¹ tiã⁴¹ t͡sʰa⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hia³³/


仙人拍鼓有時錯，跤步踏差啥人無

head

仙人拍鼓有時錯，跤步踏差啥人無

仙人拍鼓有时错，跤步踏差啥人无

The gods can beat drums incorrectly sometimes- who has never taken a wrong step?

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɤ²¹ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ pɔ³³⁻²¹ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³/


三百六十行，行行出狀元

ㄙㄢ ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄤˊ

ㄏㄤˊ ㄏㄤˊ ㄔㄨ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄩㄢˊ

saam¹ baak³ luk⁶ sap⁶ hong⁴, hong⁴ hong⁴ ceot¹ zong⁶ jyun⁴

ㄙㄢ ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄤˊ

ㄏㄤˊ ㄏㄤˊ ㄔㄨ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄩㄢˊ

саньбай люши хан

ханхан чу чжуанъюань

/sän⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

sāam baak luhk sahp hòhng, hòhng hòhng chēut johng yùhn

saam¹ baak⁸ luk⁹ sap⁹ hong⁴, hong⁴ hong⁴ tsoet⁷ dzong⁶ jyn⁴

sam¹ bag³ lug⁶ seb⁶ hong⁴, hong⁴ hong⁴ cêd¹ zong⁶ yun⁴

/saːm⁵⁵ paːk̚³ lʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːŋ²¹ hɔːŋ²¹ hɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sɔːŋ²² jyːn²¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ lak̚⁴⁻³² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² haŋ²³ haŋ²³⁻³³ haŋ²³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ɡuan²³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lak̚⁴⁻³² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² haŋ²⁴ haŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ haŋ²⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ɡuan²⁴/

One can become successful with accomplishment in any industry or profession


人咧做，天咧看

/laŋ²⁴ le(ʔ)⁵ t͡sue⁴¹ tʰĩ³³ le(ʔ)⁵ kʰuã⁴¹/

/laŋ²⁴ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sue²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰuã²¹/

/laŋ¹³ li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡so²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰuã²¹/

/laŋ²³ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sɤ²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kʰuã²¹/

(Hokkien) the heavens are looking when humans act; be careful of how you act


食果子拜樹頭

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ke⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁵³ pai²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu²²⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si⁵⁵⁴ pai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻²² tʰau²⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴¹ pai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu³³⁻²¹ tʰau²³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ kue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁵³ pai²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu²²⁻²¹ tʰau¹³/

(Hokkien) remember where one's happiness comes from; do not forget one's roots or heritage


戲仔釘，三日無拍就上鉎

three days of not hitting a theater nail makes it rust

/hi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ a⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tan³³ sã³³ lit̚²⁴⁻² bo²⁴⁻²² pʰa(ʔ)⁵ t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiũ²² san³³/

spare the rod and spoil the child
spare the rod and spoil the child

(Quanzhou Hokkien) spare the rod and spoil the child


無魚，蝦嘛好

If there is no fish, shrimp is also good

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ hi²³ he²³ mã³³⁻²¹ hɤ⁴¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ hi²³ he²³ mã³³⁻²¹ hɤ⁴¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

行情無好無魚蝦嘛好

行情无好无鱼虾嘛好

(Hokkien) it is alright to settle for something less; it is better to have something than have nothing


無魚，蝦也好

/u³⁵ y³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

bô hî, hê ā hó

bô hî, hê ā hó

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

bô hṳ̂, hê iā hó

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ⁵⁵ he⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ia¹¹ ho⁵²/

/u³⁵ y³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ⁵⁵ he⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ia¹¹ ho⁵²/


未食五日節粽，破裘毋甘放

未食五日節粽，破裘毋甘放

未食五日节粽，破裘毋甘放

/bue³³⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡saŋ²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ hiu²³ m̩³³⁻²¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ paŋ²¹/

(Hokkien) Winter clothes cannot be stored away before the Dragon Boat Festival (because temperatures are thought to be still unstable before the Dragon Boat Festival).


垃圾食，垃圾大

/la(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² sap̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siaʔ⁴³ la(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² sap̚³²⁻⁴ tua²²/

(Hokkien) what doesn't kill you makes you stronger


樹倒老猴散

/t͡sʰiu²² to⁴²⁻²⁴ lau²²⁻²¹ kau²⁴ suã²¹/

/t͡sʰiu²² to⁴²⁻²⁴ lau²²⁻²¹ kau²⁴ suã²¹/

(Singapore Hokkien, figurative) When a leader loses power, his/her followers disperse.


第一賣冰，第二做醫生

[to earn riches] first sell ice, then become a doctor

ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ ㄇㄞˋ ㄅㄧㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄕㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ ㄇㄞˋ ㄅㄧㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄕㄥ

диэр цзо ишэн

/ti⁵¹ i⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/te³³⁻²¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ be³³⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴ te³³⁻²¹ zi³³⁻²¹ t͡sɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ i⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

The Taiwanese saying goes: "Sell ice first, then consider becoming a doctor". In Huwei, though, maybe it ought to be changed to "sell stew first" instead?

2017 June 20, 文藝好青年／第一賣冰，第二做醫生？NO，虎尾第一是賣肉羮, FTV News (民視新聞台)

Táiwān yǒu jù súyàn shuō: “Dìyīmàibīng, dì'èrzuòyīshēng.” Shìshí zhèngmíng zài hǔwěi dìyī zhě, yìnggāi shì mài ròugēng ba?

台灣有句俗諺說：「第一賣冰，第二做醫生。」事實證明在虎尾第一者，應該是賣肉羮吧？

台湾有句俗谚说：「第一卖冰，第二做医生。」事实证明在虎尾第一者，应该是卖肉羮吧？

(Taiwan) a proverb on making money, reflecting the popularity of shaved ice, especially during the summer, and the relatively low skills needed to make it


一年換二十四個頭家

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² nĩ²³⁻³³ uã³³⁻²¹ zi³³⁻²¹ t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² si²¹⁻⁴¹ e²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ ke⁴⁴/

Possibly referring to the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar year.

一年换二十四个头家
一年換二十四个頭家

(Taiwanese Hokkien) someone who is always changing jobs, a job-hopper


龍交龍，鳳交鳳

dragons befriend dragons, phoenixes befriend phoenixes

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ²³ hɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ³³/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ²⁴ hɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ³³/

Are Sean Lien and Ting Hsin on good terms? Ko Wen-je's mother: "Like-minded folks come together"

2014 October 12, 連勝文與頂新交好？ 柯文哲母：龍交龍鳳交鳳, Taiwan People's News (民報)

Liánshèngwén yǔ dǐngxīn jiāohǎo? Kēwénzhé mǔ: lóngjiāolóngfèngjiāofèng

連勝文與頂新交好？柯文哲母：龍交龍鳳交鳳

连胜文与顶新交好？柯文哲母：龙交龙凤交凤

birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together

(Southern Min) birds of a feather flock together


龍交龍，鳳交鳳，隱痀的交侗戇

龍交龍，鳳交鳳，隱痀的交侗戇

龙交龙，凤交凤，隐痀的交侗戆

dragons befriend dragons, phoenixes befriend phoenixes, and hunchbacks befriend morons


牛牽到北京也是牛

/ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ ɡu²³/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) a leopard can't change its spots


日頭赤焱焱，隨人顧性命

/lit̚²⁴⁻² tʰau²⁴ t͡sʰia(ʔ)⁵ iã⁴¹⁻²² iã⁴¹ sui²⁴⁻²² laŋ²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sĩ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã⁴¹/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ iã²²⁻²¹ iã²² sui²⁴⁻²² laŋ²⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sĩ²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

/d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰau¹³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ iã²²⁻²¹ iã²² sui¹³⁻²² laŋ¹³ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sɛ̃²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ iã³³⁻²¹ iã³³ sui²³⁻³³ laŋ²³ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sẽ²¹⁻⁴¹ miã³³/

(Hokkien) People tend to protect themselves first in adversity.


加減趁，較袂散

/ke⁴⁴⁻³³ kiam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰan²¹ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ be³³⁻²¹ san²¹/

/ke⁴⁴⁻³³ kiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰan¹¹ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ be³³⁻¹¹ san¹¹/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) one is better off do some work for some money than doing nothing


食尾牙面憂憂，食頭牙撚喙鬚

食尾牙面憂憂，食頭牙撚喙鬚

食尾牙面忧忧，食头牙撚喙须

worried when having last dinner with employer before Chinese New Year, but touching beard calmly when having the first dinner with employer after Chinese New Year

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡe²⁴ bin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡe²⁴ liɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡe²³ bin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³⁻³³ ɡe²³ liɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

(Southern Min) Employees are more prone to dismissal before than after Chinese New Year.

Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan


臭頭仔嘛會做皇帝，做總統你嘛有機會

臭頭仔嘛會做皇帝，做總統你嘛有機會

/t͡sʰau¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ a⁵³ mã³³⁻¹¹ e³³⁻¹¹ t͡so¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ te¹¹ t͡so¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁵³ li⁵³ mã³³⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ hue³³/

/t͡sʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰau²³⁻³³ a⁴¹ mã³³⁻²¹ e³³⁻²¹ t͡sɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ te²¹ t͡sɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁴¹ li⁴¹ mã³³⁻²¹ u³³⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ hue³³/

臭頭仔 /臭头仔 refers to Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of Ming Dynasty.

臭头仔嘛会做皇帝，做总统你嘛有机会

A country bumpkin can become the emperor too, and you have the chance to become the President too.

every dog has its day
every dog has its day

(Taiwanese Hokkien) every dog has its day


貪字貧字殼

From the graphical similarity between 貪 (“to be greedy; greed”) and 貧 (“to be poor; poverty”).

the character 'greed' is shelled in the character 'poverty'

(Southern Min) Do not be greedy or you will suffer losses


惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著赤查某

惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著赤查某

惹熊惹虎，毋通惹着赤查某
惹熊惹虎，毋通惹着赤查某
惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著刺查某

One may mess with a bear or a tiger, but should never mess with a shrew

/zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ him²³ zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hɔ⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ tʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔ⁴¹/


食四面風，講五色話

eat winds from every direction and speaking languages of various colors

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ su²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ su¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ su²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ si¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² huaŋ³³ kaŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siak̚⁵⁻²⁴ ue⁴¹/

(Southern Min) to be flexible and know what to say in different situations and to different people

見人說人話，見鬼說鬼話 / 见人说人话，见鬼说鬼话

jiàn rén shuō rénhuà, jiàn guǐ shuō guǐhuà


行路倚壁邊，做事較大天

/kiã²³⁻³³ lɔ³³ ua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue²¹⁻⁴¹ su³³ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tua³³⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/kiã²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔ³³ ua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue¹¹⁻⁵³ su³³ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tua³³⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/kiã²⁴⁻²² lɔ²² ua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue²¹⁻⁵³ su²² kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tua²²⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) those who are humble and conceal their talents are often the ones who do great things


拍拳看勢，順風攑旗

拍拳看势，顺风𫽥旗
拍拳看勢，順風揭旗

Shadowboxing should be done in accordance with boxing postures, and the flag should be raised in the direction of the wind.

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun²⁴⁻²² kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ se²¹ sun²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ki²⁴/

/pʰa(ʔ)⁵ kun²⁴⁻²² kʰuã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ se⁴¹ sun⁴¹⁻²² huaŋ³³ ka(ʔ)²⁴⁻² ki²⁴/

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun¹³⁻²² kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ si²¹ sun²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ ki¹³/

(Hokkien) to speak and act in accordance to rules and laws and complying with the circumstances


入鄉隨俗，入港隨灣

when entering a village, follow the customs, when entering a port, follow the bends

rib⁸ hion¹ sui⁵ sog⁸, rib⁸ gang² sui⁵ uang¹

/lip̚²⁴⁻² hiũ³³ sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚²⁴ lip̚²⁴⁻² kaŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sui²⁴⁻²² uan³³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² hiũ⁴⁴⁻²² sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚⁴ lip̚⁴⁻³² kaŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui²⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɔ̃⁴⁴⁻²² sui¹³⁻²² siɔk̚¹²¹ d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kaŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/d͡zip̚⁴⁻² hĩõ³³⁻²³ sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sok̚⁴ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² kaŋ⁵² sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ uaŋ³³/

when in Rome, do as the Romans do
when in Rome, do as the Romans do

(Southern Min) when in Rome, do as the Romans do


一人一半，感情𣍐散

一人一半，感情𫧃散
一人一半，感情袂散
一人一半，感情不散
一人一半，感情襪散

/t͡sit̚⁴³⁻²¹ laŋ²⁴ t͡sit̚⁴³⁻²¹ puã²¹ kam⁴²⁻²⁴ t͡seŋ²⁴ bue²²⁻²¹ suã²¹/

(Hokkien) If things are shared equally, feelings of affection will never diminish


囝婿是半子

/kiã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sai¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ puan¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/kiã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sai²¹ si³³⁻²¹ puan²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/kiã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sai²¹ si²²⁻²¹ puan²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/kiã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sai⁴¹ si²² puan⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sɯ⁵⁵⁴/

(Hokkien) a son-in-law is part of one's family like one's half son


囝婿是半囝

/kiã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sai²¹ si²²⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kiã⁵³/

/kiã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sai⁴¹ si²² puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kã⁵⁵⁴/

/kiã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sai²¹ si²²⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kiã⁵³/

/kiã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sai⁴¹ si²² puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kã⁵⁵⁴/


是毋是，罵家己

No matter it is right or wrong, criticize yourself first

/si³³ m̩³³⁻²¹ si³³ mẽ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ ki³³/

/si³³ m̩³³⁻¹¹ si³³ mẽ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ ki³³/

(Hokkien) One should reflect on oneself first whenever there are conflicts.


牛著是牛，牽到北京也是牛

牛著是牛，牽到北京也是牛

牛着是牛，牵到北京也是牛
牛就是牛，牽到北京也是牛

An ox is an ox, even if it is brought to Beijing

/ɡu²⁴ to²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²⁴ to⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴ kʰan³³ kau⁴¹ pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiã³³ ia⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu¹³ to²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁵ kiã⁴⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³/

/ɡu²⁴ to³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²³ tɤ³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ ɡu²³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ ɡu²³/


牛著是牛，牽到北京猶是牛

牛著是牛，牽到北京猶是牛

牛着是牛，牵到北京犹是牛

/ɡu²⁴ tio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²⁴ tio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² si⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴ kʰan³³ kau⁴¹ pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiã³³ ia⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si²² ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu¹³ lo(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁵ kiã⁴⁴ iau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³/

(Hokkien) a leopard can't change its spots


一歲生張，百歲牢老

one's inherent disposition at one year old is stuck till one's old age at a hundred years old

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² he²¹⁻⁵³ sĩ⁴⁴⁻²² tiũ⁴⁴ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ he²¹⁻⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² lau²²/


一歲生根，百歲牢老

to take root at one year old and to be stuck till one's old age at a hundred years old

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² he²¹⁻⁵³ sĩ⁴⁴⁻²² kun⁴⁴ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ he²¹⁻⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² lau²²/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² hə⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sĩ³³ kun³³ pa(ʔ)⁵ hə⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tiau²⁴⁻²² lau²²/

/t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hue²¹⁻⁵³ sɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² kin⁴⁴ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hue²¹⁻⁵³ tiau¹³⁻²² lau²²/