引以為榮

ㄧㄣˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

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


詞不達意

ㄘˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚² jiː³³/

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚² jiː³³/

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


朝思暮想

ㄓㄠ ㄙ ㄇㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯²² sœːŋ³⁵/

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


列祖列宗

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄨㄥ

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵ liːt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵ liːt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


出人頭地

ㄔㄨ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² te²²/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ti¹¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² te²²/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ti¹¹/

to be outstanding; to stand out among others


應有盡有

ㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ

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

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/in⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰin⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹/

/eŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵/

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

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/in⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰin⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹/

/eŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵/

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


庸人自擾

ㄩㄥ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄖㄠˇ

юнжэньцзыжао

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯¹³/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯¹³/

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

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


博士買驢

ㄅㄛˊ ㄕˋ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄩˊ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ siː²² maːi̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ siː²² maːi̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹/

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


乘龍佳婿

ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄒㄩˋ

чэнлунцзясюй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/


千萬買鄰

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

цяньваньмайлинь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːi̯¹³ lɵn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːi̯¹³ lɵn²¹/


玩物喪志

ㄨㄢˋ ㄨˋ ㄙㄤˋ ㄓˋ

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wuːn²² mɐt̚² sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wuːn²² mɐt̚² sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/

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


奇貨可居

ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄩ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ fɔː³³ hɔː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ fɔː³³ hɔː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

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

zh-x

呂 不-韋 賈 邯-鄲，見 而 憐 之，曰「此 奇貨可居」。

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

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

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


舉案齊眉

ㄐㄩˇ ㄢˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄟˊ

цзюйаньцимэй

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ ɔːn³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ ɔːn³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mei̯²¹/

to have mutual respect between husband and wife


魚目混珠

ㄩˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄓㄨ

/y³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² wɐn²² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/hi²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/y³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² wɐn²² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/hi²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

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

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

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


含血噴人

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ханьсюэпэньжэнь

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

ханьсепэньжэнь

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ jɐn²¹/

/kam²⁴⁻²² huiʔ³² pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ laŋ²⁴/

/ham²³⁻³³ hiɛt̚³² pʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ zin²³/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ jɐn²¹/

/kam²⁴⁻²² huiʔ³² pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ laŋ²⁴/

/ham²³⁻³³ hiɛt̚³² pʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ zin²³/

to slander someone; to falsely accuse someone


意氣揚揚

ja-r

意気揚揚(いきようよう) (ikiyōyō)

CJKV/code

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

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/


藍田生玉

Lantian [in Shaanxi] produces [good] jade.

ㄌㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄥ ㄩˋ

ланьтяньшэнъюй

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

outstanding children come from a prestigious family


為富不仁

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ fuː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ fuː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

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

zh-x

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

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

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

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

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

to be rich and cruel; to be rich and heartless


艱難竭蹶

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

цзяньнаньцзецзюэ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/


乞哀告憐

ㄑㄧˇ ㄞ ㄍㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐt̚⁵ ɔːi̯⁵⁵ kou̯³³ liːn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐt̚⁵ ɔːi̯⁵⁵ kou̯³³ liːn²¹/

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

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

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


寥寥無幾

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˇ

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵⁵⁴/

/liau¹³⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² bu¹³⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻¹¹ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/liau²³⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵⁵⁴/

/liau¹³⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² bu¹³⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻¹¹ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/liau²³⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/


叫苦不迭

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/kiːu̯³³ fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːt̚²/

/kio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiak̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/kiːu̯³³ fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːt̚²/

/kio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiak̚²/

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

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

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

to complain of one's suffering endlessly


如牛負重

like an ox carrying heavy loads on the back

ㄖㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/ʐu³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/


本小利微

ㄅㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄅㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ

бэньсяоливэй

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/


聞所未聞

ㄨㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄣˊ

вэньсовэйвэнь

/wən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² mɐn²¹/

/wən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² mɐn²¹/

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


千里迢迢

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ

цяньлитяотяо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ siːu̯²¹ siːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ tʰiau²³⁻³³ tʰiau²³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiou³³⁻²³ tʰiou³³/

/t͡sʰãĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiau³³⁻²³ tʰiau³³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ siːu̯²¹ siːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ tʰiau²³⁻³³ tʰiau²³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiou³³⁻²³ tʰiou³³/

/t͡sʰãĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiau³³⁻²³ tʰiau³³/


見所未見

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

цзяньсовэйцзянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

/kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

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


掃地以盡

ㄙㄠˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sɵn²²/

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sɵn²²/

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

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

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

Dìzhǔ de tǐmiàn wēifēng, sǎodìyǐjìn. [Pinyin]

掃地俱盡 掃地俱盡#Chinese

扫地俱尽 扫地俱尽#Chinese

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


掃地俱盡

ㄙㄠˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

саодицзюйцзинь

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

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

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

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

to be swept away; to be completely destroyed or discredited


急風暴雨

ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐp̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯²² jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐp̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯²² jyː¹³/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


懸心吊膽

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄢˇ

сюаньсиньдяодань

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

但他們往往遭農會嚴厲拒絕，所以他們總是懸心吊膽地過日子 [MSC, trad.]
但他们往往遭农会严厉拒绝，所以他们总是悬心吊胆地过日子 [MSC, simp.]

But more often than not they are turned down flat by the peasant associations, and so they are always on tenterhooks

Dàn tāmen wǎngwǎng zāo nónghuì yánlì jùjué, suǒyǐ tāmen zǒngshì xuánxīndiàodǎn de guò rìzi [Pinyin]

提心吊膽 提心吊膽#Chinese

提心吊胆 提心吊胆#Chinese

Synonym of 提心吊膽／提心吊胆 (tíxīndiàodǎn, “to be on tenterhooks”)


榮神益人

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄖㄣˊ

жуншэньижэнь

žunšɛnʹižɛnʹ

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɪŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɪŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

(Christianity) to glorify God and help people


為非作歹

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄟ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄞˇ

вэйфэйцзодай

/weɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ taːi̯³⁵/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁵³/

/ui²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁴¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ taːi̯³⁵/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁵³/

/ui²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁴¹/


街談巷議

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄧˋ

цзетаньсянъи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ hɔːŋ²² jiː¹³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ hɔːŋ²² jiː¹³/

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

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

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


急功近利

ㄐㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧˋ

цзигунцзиньли

/t͡ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐn²² lei̯²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐn²² lei̯²²/

to seek quick success and instant benefits


罰不當罪

ㄈㄚˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

/fä³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fä³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/


自不待言

ㄗˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄧㄢˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

to go without saying; to be self-evident


自出機杼

ㄗˋ ㄔㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄓㄨˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/


一己之利

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/


別出機杼

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄔㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄓㄨˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

original; distinctive (of literary compositions)


寸土寸金

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цуньтуцуньцзинь

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵/

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


直腸直肚

ㄓˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄓˊ ㄉㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚² tʰou̯¹³/

/t͡set̚³² t͡sʰiaŋ²² t͡set̚³² u⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ t͡sʰoŋ¹¹ t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ tu³¹/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²³⁻³³ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚² tʰou̯¹³/

/t͡set̚³² t͡sʰiaŋ²² t͡set̚³² u⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ t͡sʰoŋ¹¹ t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ tu³¹/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²³⁻³³ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

calling a spade a spade
call a spade a spade

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


將心比心

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

цзянсиньбисинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡si̯oŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴ pi³¹ sim²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡si̯oŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴ pi³¹ sim²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

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


拾人牙慧

ㄕˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jä³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² jɐn²¹ ŋaː²¹ wɐi̯²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jä³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² jɐn²¹ ŋaː²¹ wɐi̯²²/

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

^殷 ^中軍 云：^康伯 未 得 我 牙 後 慧。


別風淮雨

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄈㄥ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄩˇ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ jyː¹³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ jyː¹³/

full of wrongly written characters; spreading falsehood


搖搖欲墜

shaking or swaying as if about to collapse

ㄧㄠˊ ㄧㄠˊ ㄩˋ ㄓㄨㄟˋ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡sɵy̯²²/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡sɵy̯²²/


一敗如水

ㄧ ㄅㄞˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

當第一時期，富農耳裡聽得的是所謂江西一敗如水，蔣介石打傷了腳，坐飛機回廣東了。 [MSC, trad.]
当第一时期，富农耳里听得的是所谓江西一败如水，蒋介石打伤了脚，坐飞机回广东了。 [MSC, simp.]

In the first period, what appealed to the rich peasants was the talk about the Northern Expeditionary Army's sustaining a crushing defeat in Jiangxi, about Chiang Kai-shek's being wounded in the leg and flying back to Guangdong.

Dāng dìyī shíqī, fùnóng ěr lǐ tīng dé de shì suǒwèi Jiāngxī yībàirúshuǐ, Jiǎng Jièshí dǎ shāng le jiǎo, zuò fēijī huí Guǎngdōng le. [Pinyin]


堆積如山

ㄉㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄢ

дуйцзижушань

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

having enormous amounts of; having heaps of


天生麗質

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓˋ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓˊ

тяньшэнличжи

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɐi̯²² t͡sɐt̚⁵/

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

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

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɐi̯²² t͡sɐt̚⁵/

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

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

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


志同道合

ㄓˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² hɐp̚²/

/t͡sɨ⁵⁵ tʰuŋ¹¹ tʰo⁵⁵ hap̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² hɐp̚²/

/t͡sɨ⁵⁵ tʰuŋ¹¹ tʰo⁵⁵ hap̚⁵/


毫不遲疑

ㄏㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔˊ ㄧˊ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

他們和土豪劣紳是死對頭，他們毫不遲疑地向土豪劣紳營壘進攻。 [MSC, trad.]
他们和土豪劣绅是死对头，他们毫不迟疑地向土豪劣绅营垒进攻。 [MSC, simp.]

They are deadly enemies of the camp of the local tyrants and evil gentry and attack it without the slightest hesitation.

Tāmen hé tǔháo lièshēn shì sǐduìtou, tāmen háobùchíyí de xiàng tǔháo lièshēn yínglěi jìngōng. [Pinyin]

without the slightest hesitation; did not hesitate (to)


道不拾遺

ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/tou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/tou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

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

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

Yǒuxiē dìfāng zhēngè dàobùshíyí, yèbùbìhù. [Pinyin]

路不拾遺 路不拾遺#Chinese

路不拾遗 路不拾遗#Chinese

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


減租減息

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗㄨ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧ

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗㄨ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧˊ

цзяньцзуцзяньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵/

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

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

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

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


罪惡昭著

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄜˋ ㄓㄠ ㄓㄨˋ

цзуйэчжаочжу

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/


坐臥不寧

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄥˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² ŋɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² ŋɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

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

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

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

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


囤積居奇

ㄊㄨㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄩ ㄑㄧˊ

туньцзицзюйци

/tʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/tʰyːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

/tʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/tʰyːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

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


唯命是聽

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

在這樣的會議裡，各民眾團體的意見影響縣長，縣長總是唯命是聽。 [MSC, trad.]
在这样的会议里，各民众团体的意见影响县长，县长总是唯命是听。 [MSC, simp.]

At such council meetings the magistrate is influenced by the views of the public organizations and invariably does their bidding.

Zài zhèyàng de huìyì lǐ, gè mínzhòng tuántǐ de yìjiàn yǐngxiǎng xiànzhǎng, xiànzhǎng zǒngshì wéimìngshìtīng. [Pinyin]

唯命是從 唯命是從#Chinese

唯命是从 唯命是从#Chinese

Synonym of 唯命是從／唯命是从 (wéimìngshìcóng, “to follow orders as if one's life depended on it; to do what one is told without fail”)


唯命是從

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²² siː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²² siː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

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


才疏學淺

ㄘㄞˊ ㄕㄨ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄑㄧㄢˇ

цайшусюэцянь

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵/

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


風輕雲淡

ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩㄣˊ ㄉㄢˋ

фэнцинъюньдань

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ kʰeŋ³³⁻²³ huŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tã³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ kʰeŋ³³⁻²³ huŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tã³⁵/


稱心如意

ㄔㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ

ㄔㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː³³/


心中有數

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨˋ

синьчжунъюшу

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

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


金科玉律

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄎㄜ ㄩˋ ㄌㄩˋ

цзинькэюйлюй

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lɵt̚²/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lɵt̚²/

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

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

méiyǒu kěyǐ fèng wèi jīnkēyùlǜ de jiàokēshū [Pinyin]

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

From: 《歧路燈》第一○三回

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

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

From: 《二十年目睹之怪現狀》第二一回

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

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


頤指氣使

to command others with facial expressions

ㄧˊ ㄓˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˇ

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

/jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³ siː³⁵/

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

/jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³ siː³⁵/

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

From: 唐．元稹《追封李遜等母制》

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

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

From: 明．朱鼎《玉鏡臺記》第二八齣

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

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

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

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


生龍活虎

ㄕㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄨˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² fuː³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² fuː³⁵/


龍精虎猛

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄨˇ ㄇㄥˇ

лунцзинхумэн

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ maːŋ¹³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ maːŋ¹³/


心血來潮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

синьсюэлайчао

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

синьселайчао

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hyːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim³³ hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ lai¹³⁻²² tiau¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²³⁻³³ tiau²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hyːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim³³ hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ lai¹³⁻²² tiau¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²³⁻³³ tiau²³/

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


自立為王

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄤˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


窮鄉僻壤

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄆㄧˋ ㄖㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

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

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

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


踽踽獨行

ㄐㄩˇ ㄐㄩˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

цзюйцзюйдусин

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/


善罷甘休

ㄕㄢˋ ㄅㄚˋ ㄍㄢ ㄒㄧㄡ

шаньбаганьсю

/ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pä⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːn²² paː²² kɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pä⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːn²² paː²² kɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

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

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

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

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


奉為圭臬

ㄈㄥˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄋㄧㄝˋ

/fɤŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚²/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚²/

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


陟罰臧否

ㄓˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄗㄤ ㄆㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵/

to reward good people and to punish bad people


涕泗滂沱

ㄊㄧˋ ㄙˋ ㄆㄤ ㄊㄨㄛˊ

ㄊㄧˋ ㄙˋ ㄆㄤˊ ㄊㄨㄛˊ

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³³ siː³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔː²¹/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³³ siː³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔː²¹/

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

lang

(《詩經·陳風·澤陂》)

(《詩經·陳風·澤陂》)

zh-x

有 美 一人，傷 如之何。
寤寐 無為{wéi}，涕泗.滂沱。


煢煢孑立

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰiːt̚³ laːp̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰiːt̚³ laːp̚²/

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

och-l

睘睘 (OC *ɡʷeŋ ɡʷeŋ)

zh-x

何 孤-行 之 @煢煢 兮，@孑 不-群 而 介-@立。

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

茕茕孑立
㷀㷀孑立
惸惸孑立
睘睘孑立
嬛嬛孑立

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


弊絕風清

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ

бицзюэфэнцин

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

賭：從前的「賭痞」，現在自己在那裡禁賭了，農會勢盛地方，和牌一樣弊絕風清。 [MSC, trad.]
赌：从前的「赌痞」，现在自己在那里禁赌了，农会势盛地方，和牌一样弊绝风清。 [MSC, simp.]

Gambling. Former hardened gamblers are now themselves suppressing gambling; this abuse, too, has been swept away in places where the peasant association is powerful.

Dǔ: cóngqián de “dǔpǐ”, xiànzài zìjǐ zài nàlǐ jìndǔ le, nónghuì shìshèng dìfang, hé pái yīyàng bìjuéfēngqīng. [Pinyin]

corruption swept away and social mores cleared


形影相吊

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

синъин сяндяо

/ɕiŋ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³/


九世之仇

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄔㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

From the story of two ancient states during the Western Zhou dynasty:
Duke Ai of Qi had a dispute with his neighbouring state Ji (紀). King Yi of Zhou sided with Marquis of Ji and executed Duke Ai. Later, Duke Xiang of Qi, the ninth-generation descendant of Duke Ai, conquered the State of Ji to revenge for him.
:
遠祖者，幾世乎？九世矣。九世猶可以復讎乎？雖百世可也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]远祖者，几世乎？九世矣。九世犹可以复雠乎？虽百世可也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 《春秋公羊傳·莊公四年》 (Gongyang Zhuan)
Yuǎnzǔ zhě, jǐ shì hū? Jiǔ shì yǐ. Jiǔ shì yóu kěyǐ fùchóu hū? Suī bǎishì kě yě. [Pinyin]
Can the ninth generation descendant revenge (for his ancestor)? Even the hundredth descendant can (do it).

lw

s:春秋公羊傳/莊公#莊公四年

zh-x

遠祖 者，幾 世 乎？九 世 矣。九 世 猶 可以 復讎 乎？雖 百世 可 也。

irreconcilable resentments (from generations of hatred since the remote past)


拔刀相助

ㄅㄚˊ ㄉㄠ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄨˋ

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

to intervene in an injustice; to rush to the rescue


簞食壺漿

ㄉㄢ ㄙˋ ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

ㄉㄢ ㄕˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

даньсыхуцзян

/tän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

даньшихуцзян

/tän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚² wuː²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚² wuː²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

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

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


英年早婚

ㄧㄥ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄣ

инняньцзаохунь

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

(slang, neologism) beautiful people getting married at an early age to the disappointment of their admirers


家裡有礦

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄤˋ

jiālǐ yǒu kuàng [Phonetic:jiālíyǒukuàng]

цзяли ю куан

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/


猝不及防

ㄘㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄤˊ

/t͡sʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² fɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² fɔːŋ²¹/

to be caught off guard; to be taken by surprise


百忙之中

ㄅㄞˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄓ ㄓㄨㄥ

байманчжичжун

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

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

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

Gǎnxiè nín bǎimángzhīzhōng chōukòng jiàn wǒ. [Pinyin]

(honorific) during a busy time; busy schedule


重利盤剝

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄆㄢˊ ㄅㄛ

чжунлипаньбо

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

to exploit by practising usury; to lend money at exorbitant rates of interest


大謬不然

ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄢˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

而事乃有大謬不然者。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
而事乃有大谬不然者。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: 1st century BCE. Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. Translated by Burton Watson.

But, quite contrary to my hopes, things came to a terrible misunderstanding.

Ér shì nǎi yǒu dàmiù bùrán zhě. [Pinyin]

(chiefly literary) to be utterly wrong; to be grossly mistaken


難以為繼

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/


以德服人

ㄧˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

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

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

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

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


心悅誠服

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄨˊ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːt̚² sɪŋ²¹ fʊk̚²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːt̚² sɪŋ²¹ fʊk̚²/

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

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

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


難乎為繼

ㄋㄢˊ ㄏㄨ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

наньхувэйцзи

/nän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/nän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/


廣開言路

ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄎㄞ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄨˋ

гуанкайяньлу

/ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lou̯²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lou̯²²/

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

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

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


反躬自問

ㄈㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄨㄣˋ

фаньгунцзывэнь

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

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


持之以恆

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ hɐŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ hɐŋ²¹/


名不符實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²¹ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²¹ sɐt̚²/

名不副實 名不副實#Chinese

名不副实 名不副实#Chinese

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


名不副實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː³³ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː³³ sɐt̚²/

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


一哄而起

ㄧ ㄏㄨㄥ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/


名實相符

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄨˊ

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹/

名實相副 名實相副#Chinese

名实相副 名实相副#Chinese

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


反戈一擊

ㄈㄢˇ ㄍㄜ ㄧ ㄐㄧˊ

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

to turn one's weapon around and strike; (figuratively) to turn against those one has wrongly sided with


放下屠刀

ㄈㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄠ

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ haː²² tʰou̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ haː²² tʰou̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf

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


洗心革面

ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

сисиньгэмянь

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ miːn²²/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ miːn²²/

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


棄舊圖新

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² tʰou̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² tʰou̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/


物歸原主

ㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓㄨˇ

/u⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/u⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡syː³⁵/


名實相副

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄨˋ

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³/

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


革面洗心

ㄍㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

гэмяньсисинь

/kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaːk̚³ miːn²² sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaːk̚³ miːn²² sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


眾目睽睽

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄟˊ

чжунмукуйкуй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mʊk̚² kʷʰɐi̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mʊk̚² kʷʰɐi̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯²¹/


平心定氣

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ

пинсиньдинци

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

平心靜氣 平心靜氣#Chinese

平心静气 平心静气#Chinese

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


心直口快

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓˊ ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

синьчжикоукуай

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

frank and outspoken; plainspoken and straightforward


平心易氣

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² hei̯³³/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² hei̯³³/

平心靜氣 平心靜氣#Chinese

平心静气 平心静气#Chinese


心直嘴快

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓˊ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

синьчжицзуйкуай

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

心直口快 心直口快#Chinese

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


心餘力絀

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄔㄨˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ y³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ y³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

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


心有餘悸

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kʷɐi̯³³/

/sim³³⁻²³ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui²¹³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kʷɐi̯³³/

/sim³³⁻²³ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui²¹³/

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

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

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


口直心快

ㄎㄡˇ ㄓˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

коучжисинькуай

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ faːi̯³³/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ faːi̯³³/

心直口快 心直口快#Chinese

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


口快心直

ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓˊ

коукуайсиньчжи

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

心直口快 心直口快#Chinese


平心靜氣

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ

пинсиньцзинци

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

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

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

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


心無二用

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄦˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/

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


心亂如麻

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄚˊ

синьлуаньжума

/ɕin⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mä³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lyːn²² jyː²¹ maː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³⁵ lɔn⁵³⁻⁵⁵ i¹¹ ma¹¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mä³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lyːn²² jyː²¹ maː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³⁵ lɔn⁵³⁻⁵⁵ i¹¹ ma¹¹/

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


心明眼亮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

синьминъяньлян

/ɕin⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ ŋaːn¹³ lœːŋ²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ ŋaːn¹³ lœːŋ²²/

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


眼明心亮

ㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

яньминсиньлян

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ lœːŋ²²/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ lœːŋ²²/


憂國憂民

ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

to be concerned about the country and the people


毫無疑義

ㄏㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ ㄧˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ i³⁵ i⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ i³⁵ i⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

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

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

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

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

without the slightest doubt; beyond all doubt; undoubtedly


心有餘而力不足

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄦˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ

синь ююй эр ли буцзу

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

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ jiː²¹ lɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

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

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


憂民憂國

ㄧㄡ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ min³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

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


心慈手軟

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄘˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄖㄨㄢˇ

синьцышоужуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

對待犯罪分子不能心慈手軟。 [MSC, trad.]
对待犯罪分子不能心慈手软。 [MSC, simp.]

We should not be softhearted towards criminals.

Duìdài fànzuìfènzǐ bùnéng xīncíshǒuruǎn. [Pinyin]


艱難困苦

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄣˋ ㄎㄨˇ

цзяньнанькуньку

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kʷʰɐn³³ fuː³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kʷʰɐn³³ fuː³⁵/


心花怒放

the flower in one's heart is in full bloom

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄨˋ ㄈㄤˋ

синьхуануфан

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ nou̯²² fɔːŋ³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ nou̯²² fɔːŋ³³/

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

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

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

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

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


心口如一

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

to say what one thinks; to be frank and unreserved


心灰意懶

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄧˋ ㄌㄢˇ

синьхуэйилань

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːn¹³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːn¹³/


心廣體胖

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄆㄢˊ

синьгуантипань

/ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰän³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ³⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰän³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ³⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

心寬體胖 心寬體胖#Chinese

心宽体胖 心宽体胖#Chinese

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


驚心動魄

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄆㄛˋ

цзинсиньдунпо

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² pʰaːk̚³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² pʰaːk̚³/


心慌意亂

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

синьхуанъилуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː³³ lyːn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː³³ lyːn²²/


心驚肉跳

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄖㄡˋ ㄊㄧㄠˋ

синьцзинжоутяо

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰiːu̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰiːu̯³³/

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


驚魂未定

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

цзинхуньвэйдин

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

not yet recovered from a fright; still badly shaken; still in a state of shock


心平氣和

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/ɕin⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³ wɔː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³ wɔː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ho¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ ho²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ²³/

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


心勞日拙

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄠˊ ㄖˋ ㄓㄨㄛ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄠˊ ㄖˋ ㄓㄨㄛˊ

синьлаожичжо

/ɕin⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

to fare worse and worse for all one's scheming


珠圓玉潤

ㄓㄨ ㄩㄢˊ ㄩˋ ㄖㄨㄣˋ

чжуюаньюйжунь

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jʊk̚² jɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jʊk̚² jɵn²²/

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


狂轟濫炸

ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄥ ㄌㄢˋ ㄓㄚˋ

куанхунланьчжа

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xʊŋ⁵⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ laːm²² t͡saː³³/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xʊŋ⁵⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ laːm²² t͡saː³³/


珠聯璧合

ㄓㄨ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ lyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ hɐp̚²/

/t͡su³³⁻²³ liaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ piaʔ²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ lyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ hɐp̚²/

/t͡su³³⁻²³ liaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ piaʔ²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴/


巧奪天工

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ

цяодотяньгун

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ tyːt̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ tyːt̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

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


巧立名目

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ laːp̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ laːp̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

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

to extort people's wealth under all sorts of pretexts

to concoct various pretexts; to invent all sorts of names


頭痛額熱

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄜˊ ㄖㄜˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹/

頭疼腦熱 頭疼腦熱#Chinese

头疼脑热 头疼脑热#Chinese

(uncommon) Synonym of 頭疼腦熱／头疼脑热 (tóuténgnǎorè)


頭頭是道

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕˋ ㄉㄠˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siː²² tou̯²²/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siː²² tou̯²²/

Originally a Buddhist term, meaning the Tao is everywhere.

clear and logical; closely reasoned and well argued


頭疼腦熱

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄥˊ ㄋㄠˇ ㄖㄜˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹ nou̯¹³ jiːt̚²/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹ nou̯¹³ jiːt̚²/

headache and slight fever; slight illness (or mishap)


頭痛醫頭，腳痛醫腳

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

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧ ㄊㄡˊ

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

tau⁴ tung³ ji¹ tau⁴, goek³ tung³ ji¹ goek³

тоутун и тоу

цзяотун и цзяо

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

tau⁴ tung³ ji¹ tau⁴, goek⁸ tung³ ji¹ goek⁸

teo⁴ tung³ yi¹ teo⁴, gêg³ tung³ yi¹ gêg³

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ³³ jiː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kœːk̚³ tʰʊŋ³³ jiː⁵⁵ kœːk̚³/

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


頭痛腦熱

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄋㄠˇ ㄖㄜˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

頭疼腦熱 頭疼腦熱#Chinese

头疼脑热 头疼脑热#Chinese

Synonym of 頭疼腦熱／头疼脑热 (tóuténgnǎorè, “headache and slight fever; slight illness”)


生氣蓬勃

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄆㄥˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ pʰʊŋ²¹ puːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ pʰʊŋ²¹ puːt̚²/


正氣凜然

ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄢˊ

чжэнцилиньжань

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ hei̯³³ lɐm¹³ jiːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ hei̯³³ lɐm¹³ jiːn²¹/


移風易俗

ㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄧˋ ㄙㄨˊ

/i³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ su³⁵/

/jiː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʊk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hoŋ³³⁻²³ ek̚⁴⁻² sok̚⁴/

/i³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ su³⁵/

/jiː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʊk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hoŋ³³⁻²³ ek̚⁴⁻² sok̚⁴/

to change prevailing habits and customs; to transform social traditions


坐山觀虎鬥

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

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄢ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨˇ ㄉㄡˋ

цзошаньгуаньхудоу

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² saːn⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tɐu̯³³/

/t͡sɔː²² saːn⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tɐu̯³³/

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


以此類推

ㄧˇ ㄘˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄊㄨㄟ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²² tʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²² tʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

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


跋涉千里

ㄅㄚˊ ㄕㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² siːp̚³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² siːp̚³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/


無稽之談

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹/


上綱上線

ㄕㄤˋ ㄍㄤ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

шанганшансянь

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sœːŋ¹³ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ siːn³³/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sœːŋ¹³ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ siːn³³/

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

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


不成器

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ seŋ³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ seŋ³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³/

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

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

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


震耳欲聾

to shock the ear almost to the point of going deaf

ㄓㄣˋ ㄦˇ ㄩˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

чжэньэрюйлун

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ jiː¹³ jʊk̚² lʊŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ jiː¹³ jʊk̚² lʊŋ²¹/


人丁興旺

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄨㄤˋ

жэньдинсинван

/ʐən³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ tɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²²/

/ʐən³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ tɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²²/

to have a growing family; to have a flourishing population


震古爍今

ㄓㄣˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

чжэньгушоцзинь

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ kuː³⁵ sœːk̚³ kɐm⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ kuː³⁵ sœːk̚³ kɐm⁵⁵/

surpassing the ancients and amazing the contemporaries; earthshaking; splendid


仙山瓊閣

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄢ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄍㄜˊ

сяньшаньцюнгэ

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰɪŋ²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰɪŋ²¹ kɔːk̚³/


人浮於事

ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄩˊ ㄕˋ

/ʐən³⁵ fu³⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fɐu̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/ʐən³⁵ fu³⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fɐu̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

to have more hands than needed; to be overstaffed


人歡馬叫

ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄇㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

жэньхуаньмацзяо

/ʐən³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ kiːu̯³³/

/ʐən³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ kiːu̯³³/

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


人跡罕至

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄏㄢˇ ㄓˋ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄏㄢˇ ㄓˋ

жэньцзиханьчжи

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː³³/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː³³/


藝高膽大

ㄧˋ ㄍㄠ ㄉㄢˇ ㄉㄚˋ

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

藝高人膽大 藝高人膽大#Chinese

艺高人胆大 艺高人胆大#Chinese

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


前世今生

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕㄥ

цяньшицзиньшэн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɐi̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɐi̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

the preceding and current lives; past and present


你儂我儂

ㄋㄧˇ ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄨㄥˊ

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ nʊŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ nʊŋ²¹/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ nʊŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ nʊŋ²¹/

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

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


疲於奔命

ㄆㄧˊ ㄩˊ ㄅㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/pʰi³⁵ y³⁵ pən⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²²/

/pʰi³⁵ y³⁵ pən⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ jyː⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²²/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


紙醉金迷

ㄓˇ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄇㄧˊ

чжицзуйцзиньми

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ mi³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ mɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ mi³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ mɐi̯²¹/

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

intoxicated by paper and mesmerised by gold

to indulge in a life of luxury and dissipation


大有人在

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞˋ

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³/

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³/


大興土木

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄨˇ ㄇㄨˋ

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯³⁵ mʊk̚²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² hiɪŋ³³ tʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯³⁵ mʊk̚²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² hiɪŋ³³ tʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ hiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴/

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


喃喃自語

ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄩˇ

наньнаньцзыюй

/nän³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːm²¹ naːm²¹ t͡siː²² jyː¹³/

/lam²³⁻³³ lam²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ ɡu⁵³/

/nän³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːm²¹ naːm²¹ t͡siː²² jyː¹³/

/lam²³⁻³³ lam²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ ɡu⁵³/

to mumble to oneself; to whisper to oneself


大勢所趨

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄑㄩ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² sɐi̯³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ se¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/

/tua³³⁻²¹ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ si¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/

/tua³³⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² sɐi̯³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ se¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/

/tua³³⁻²¹ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ si¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/

/tua³³⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu⁴⁴/


人人自危

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄨㄟˊ

жэньжэньцзывэй

žɛnʹžɛnʹczyvɛj

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² ŋɐi̯²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ɡui²³/

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² ŋɐi̯²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ɡui²³/

to be in a tense and terrible situation, causing people to be in uneasy and worried


以身試法

ㄧˇ ㄕㄣ ㄕˋ ㄈㄚˇ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ siː³³ faːt̚³/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰi²¹⁻⁵³ huat̚³²/

/i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sin³³ t͡sʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ huat̚⁵/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰi²¹⁻⁵³ huat̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ huat̚³²/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ siː³³ faːt̚³/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰi²¹⁻⁵³ huat̚³²/

/i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sin³³ t͡sʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ huat̚⁵/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰi²¹⁻⁵³ huat̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ huat̚³²/


在所不惜

ㄗㄞˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄗㄞˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sai³³⁻²¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sai³³⁻²¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

to not hesitate to make any sacrifice; to do something despite the cost


恩將仇報

ㄣ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄔㄡˊ ㄅㄠˋ

эньцзянчоубао

/ˀən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ pou̯³³/

/ˀən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ pou̯³³/

bite the hand that feeds one
bite the hand that feeds one

to bite the hand that feeds one; to requite kindness with enmity


聲聲口口

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ

шэншэнкоукоу

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

口口聲聲 口口聲聲#Chinese

口口声声 口口声声#Chinese

(uncommon) Synonym of 口口聲聲／口口声声 (“keep on (saying); repeatedly (say)”)


口口聲聲

ㄎㄡˇ ˙ㄎㄡ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ

ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ

коукоушэншэн

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴ kʰoʊ̯⁴ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴ kʰoʊ̯⁴ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

keep on (saying); repeatedly (say); (say) over and over again


命裡註定

命里注定
命裡注定
命裏註定
命裏注定

ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/miŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/miŋ⁵¹ li¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²² lɵy̯²² t͡syː³³ tɪŋ²²/

/miŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/miŋ⁵¹ li¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²² lɵy̯²² t͡syː³³ tɪŋ²²/

命中註定 命中註定#Chinese

命中注定 命中注定#Chinese

Synonym of 命中註定／命中注定 (mìngzhōngzhùdìng, “predestined; decreed by fate”)


命中註定

ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

минчжунчжудин

/miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡syː³³ tɪŋ²²/

/miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡syː³³ tɪŋ²²/

罷罷，拋妻棄子，也是命中註定，事已如此，也顧他不得了。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
罢罢，抛妻弃子，也是命中注定，事已如此，也顾他不得了。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《石點頭》卷三

Bà bà, pāo qī qì zǐ, yěshì mìngzhōngzhùdìng, shì yǐ rúcǐ, yě gù tā bùdé le. [Pinyin]

predestined; destined; fated; decreed by fate


以怨報德

ㄧˇ ㄩㄢˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jyːn³³ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jyːn³³ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

子曰：「以德報怨，則寬身之仁也；以怨報德，則刑戮之民也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
子曰：「以德报怨，则宽身之仁也；以怨报德，则刑戮之民也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

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

The Master said, ‘They who return kindness for injury are such as have a regard for their own persons. They who return injury for kindness are men to be punished and put to death.’

Zǐ yuē: “Yǐ dé bào yuàn, zé kuānshēn zhī rén yě; yǐ yuàn bào dé, zé xínglù zhī mín yě.” [Pinyin]

to return evil for good; to return injury for kindness; to bite the hand that feeds one


以德報怨

ㄧˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩㄢˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ jyːn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ jyːn³³/

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):
:
或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Huòyuē: “Yǐ dé bào yuàn, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Héyǐ bàodé? Yǐ zhí bào yuàn, yǐ dé bào dé.” [Pinyin]
Some one said, "What do you say concerning the principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness?" The Master said, "With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness."

或曰：「以.德.報.怨，何如？」子 曰：「何以 報德？以.直.報.怨，以.德.報.德。」

to return good for evil; to return kindness for injury


是可忍，孰不可忍

ㄕㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄖㄣˇ

шу бу кэ жэнь

šu bu kɛ žɛnʹ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː²² hɔː³⁵ jɐn³⁵ sʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐn³⁵/

From the Analects, Book 3 (《論語·八佾》):
:
孔子謂季氏：「八佾舞於庭，是可忍也，孰不可忍也？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孔子谓季氏：「八佾舞于庭，是可忍也，孰不可忍也？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Kǒngzǐ wèi Jì shì: “Bāyì wǔ yú tíng, shì kě rěn yě, shú bùkě rěn yě?” [Pinyin]
Confucius said of the head of the Ji family (w:zh:季平子), who had eight rows of pantomimes in his area, "If he can bear to do this, what may he not bear to do?"

^孔子 謂 @^季.氏：「八佾 舞 於 庭，@是 @可 @忍 也，@孰 @不可 @忍 也？」

在二十世紀的前五十年當中，法國兩度為德國所征服，這對具有光榮歷史的法國人民來說，是一件是可忍，孰不可忍的奇恥大辱。 [MSC, trad.]
在二十世纪的前五十年当中，法国两度为德国所征服，这对具有光荣历史的法国人民来说，是一件是可忍，孰不可忍的奇耻大辱。 [MSC, simp.]

During the first half of the 20th century, France was subjugated twice by Germany, which has been an extremely huge disgrace that definitely cannot be tolerated to the French people, who had a glorious history.

Zài èrshí shìjì de qián wǔshí nián dāngzhōng, Fǎguó liǎng dù wéi Déguó suǒ zhēngfú, zhè duì jùyǒu guāngróng lìshǐ de Fǎguó rénmín lái shuō, shì yījiàn shì kě rěn, shú bù kě rěn de qíchǐdàrǔ. [Pinyin]


殘民以逞

ㄘㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄔㄥˇ

цаньминьичэн

/t͡sʰän³⁵ min³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(of the persons in power) to do harm to the people for one's own ends; to harm the people to please oneself


恃強凌弱

ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ kʰœːŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ kʰœːŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚²/

to use one's strength to bully the weak; bullying


毫不留情

ㄏㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/


神秘莫測

ㄕㄣˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄘㄜˋ

/ʂən³⁵ mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ pei̯³³ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

/ʂən³⁵ mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ pei̯³³ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/


一窮二白

ㄧ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄦˋ ㄅㄞˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ jiː²² paːk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ jiː²² paːk̚²/

Possibly from On the Ten Major Relationships, a speech delivered by Mao Zedong in 1956 on the socialist construction of the People's Republic of China.
我曾經說過，我們一為「窮」，二為「白」。「窮」，就是沒有多少工業，農業也不發達。「白」，就是一張白紙，文化水平、科學水平都不高。 [MSC, trad.]我曾经说过，我们一为「穷」，二为「白」。「穷」，就是没有多少工业，农业也不发达。「白」，就是一张白纸，文化水平、科学水平都不高。 [MSC, simp.]
From: 1956, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論十大關係》 (On the Ten Major Relationships), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition
Wǒ céngjīng shuō guò, wǒmen yī wéi “qióng”, èr wéi “bái”. “Qióng”, jiùshì méiyǒu duōshao gōngyè, nóngyè yě bù fādá. “Bái”, jiùshì yī zhāng báizhǐ, wénhuà shuǐpíng, kēxué shuǐpíng dōu bù gāo. [Pinyin]
As I have said elsewhere, we are first “poor” and second “blank”. By “poor” I mean we do not have much industry and our agriculture is underdeveloped. By “blank” I mean we are like a blank sheet of paper and our cultural and scientific level is not high.

我 曾經 說 過，我們 一 為{wéi} 「窮」，二 為{wéi} 「白」。「^窮」，就是 沒有 多少{shao} 工業，農業 也 不.發達。「^白」，就是 一 張 白紙，文化 水平、科學 水平 都 不 高。

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

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

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

poor and blank; economically impoverished and culturally backward


無窮無盡

ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɔŋ²⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/bu²³⁻³³ kiɔŋ²³ bu²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɔŋ²⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/bu²³⁻³³ kiɔŋ²³ bu²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/


匿影藏形

ㄋㄧˋ ㄧㄥˇ ㄘㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/ni⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/nɪk̚⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/ni⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/nɪk̚⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

to hide from public notice; to conceal one's identity; to lie low


大喜過望

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ mɔːŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ mɔːŋ²²/

to be delighted that things are better than one expected; to be overjoyed


投井下石

ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˊ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ haː²² sɛːk̚²/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ haː²² sɛːk̚²/

落井下石 落井下石#Chinese

kick someone when they are down
kick someone when they are down

Synonym of 落井下石 (luòjǐngxiàshí, “to kick someone when they are down”)


逆來順受

ㄋㄧˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄡˋ

нилайшуньшоу

/ni⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪk̚² lɔːi̯²¹ sɵn²² sɐu̯²²/

/ŋiʔ⁵⁻³³ l̃ai⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾luŋ²⁴²⁻⁵³ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾niɛu²⁴²/

/ni⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪk̚² lɔːi̯²¹ sɵn²² sɐu̯²²/

to meekly submit to oppression, maltreatment, etc.; to resign oneself to adversity


深明大義

ㄕㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ

/ʂən⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiː²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiː²²/

to be deeply conscious of the righteousness of a cause


大有文章

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄤ

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

there's something behind all this; there's more to it than meets the eye


大庭廣眾

ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

датингуанчжун

/tä⁵¹ tʰiŋ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tʰɪŋ²¹ kʷɔːŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³/

/tä⁵¹ tʰiŋ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tʰɪŋ²¹ kʷɔːŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³/

public place with numerous people; (before) a big crowd; (on) a public occasion


大張旗鼓

ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤ ㄑㄧˊ ㄍㄨˇ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵/

on a grand scale; in a big way; with great fanfare


大義凜然

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄢˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² lɐm¹³ jiːn²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² lɐm¹³ jiːn²¹/


大是大非

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄟ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² siː²² taːi̯²² fei̯⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² siː²² taːi̯²² fei̯⁵⁵/

major issues of principle; cardinal questions of right and wrong


大有作為

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɔːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɔːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹/

there is plenty of scope for one's talents; be able to develop one's ability to the full; to be able to accomplish much


杜詩韓文

ㄉㄨˋ ㄕ ㄏㄢˊ ㄨㄣˊ

душиханьвэнь

/tu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xän³⁵ wən³⁵/

/tou̯²² siː⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ mɐn²¹/

/tu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xän³⁵ wən³⁵/

/tou̯²² siː⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ mɐn²¹/

(literary) poetry of Du Fu (杜甫) and prose of Han Yu (韓愈); exemplary writings of Du Fu and Han Yu


大手大腳

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/tä⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² sɐu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² kœːk̚³/

/taːi̯²² sɐu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² kœːk̚³/


大聲疾呼

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄥ ㄐㄧˊ ㄏㄨ

/tä⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ xu⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐt̚² fuː⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ xu⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐt̚² fuː⁵⁵/

我們可以大聲疾呼，而不要隱晦曲折，使人民大眾不易看懂。 [MSC, trad.]
我们可以大声疾呼，而不要隐晦曲折，使人民大众不易看懂。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《在延安文藝座談會上的講話》 (Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Here we can shout at the top of our voices and have no need for veiled and roundabout expressions, which are hard for the people to understand.

Wǒmen kěyǐ dàshēngjíhū, ér bùyào yǐnhuìqūzhé, shǐ rénmín dàzhòng bùyì kàndǒng. [Pinyin]

我們要大聲疾呼，喚醒這些同志：速速改變保守思想！換取共產黨人的進步的鬥爭思想！ [MSC, trad.]
我们要大声疾呼，唤醒这些同志：速速改变保守思想！换取共产党人的进步的斗争思想！ [MSC, simp.]

From: 1930, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《反對本本主義》 (Oppose Book Worship), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-6/mswv6_11.htm

To awaken these comrades we must raise our voices and cry out to them: Change your conservative ideas without delay! Replace them by progressive and militant Communist ideas!

Wǒmen yào dàshēngjíhū, huànxǐng zhèxiē tóngzhì: sùsù gǎibiàn bǎoshǒu sīxiǎng! Huànqǔ Gòngchǎndǎngrén de jìnbù de dòuzhēng sīxiǎng! [Pinyin]

to raise a cry of warning; to loudly appeal to the public


鑿空之論

ㄗㄠˊ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

цзаокунчжилунь

/t͡sɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/t͡sɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

far-fetched argument; unlikely statement


大難臨頭

ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ

дананьлиньтоу

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ lin³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² naːn²² lɐm²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ lin³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² naːn²² lɐm²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/

夫妻本是同林鳥，大難臨頭各自飛／夫妻本是同林鸟，大难临头各自飞

fūqīběnshìtónglínniǎo, dànánlín tóugè zì fēi


大權獨攬

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄌㄢˇ

дацюаньдулань

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tu³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ tʊk̚² laːm¹³/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tu³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ tʊk̚² laːm¹³/

to centralize power in one person's hands to deal with major issues; to arrogate all authority to oneself


大逆不道

ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ tou̯²²/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ tou̯²²/

treason and heresy; worst offense; greatest outrage


獨攬大權

ㄉㄨˊ ㄌㄢˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

дуланьдацюань

/tu³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʊk̚² laːm¹³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/

/tu³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʊk̚² laːm¹³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/

大權獨攬 大權獨攬#Chinese

大权独揽 大权独揽#Chinese


後顧之憂

ㄏㄡˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓ ㄧㄡ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/


大權旁落

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄆㄤˊ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

дацюаньпанло

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

power has fallen into the hands of others


獨斷專行

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (獨斷專行):
* → Japanese: 独断(どくだん)専行(せんこう) (dokudansenkō)

ㄉㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

дудуаньчжуаньсин

/tu³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² tyːn³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/tu³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² tyːn³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/


獨斷獨行

ㄉㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

дудуаньдусин

/tu³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² tyːn²² tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tuan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/tɔk̚²⁴⁻² tuan⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tuan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɪŋ¹³/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tuan¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tuan²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²³/

/tu³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² tyːn²² tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tuan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/tɔk̚²⁴⁻² tuan⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tuan¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tuan²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²³/

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

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

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


共商大計

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄤ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˋ

/kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʊŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kɐi̯³³/

/kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʊŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kɐi̯³³/


蔚為大觀

ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄢ

вэйвэйдагуань

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵/


大旱雲霓

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄩㄣˊ ㄋㄧˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ yn³⁵ ni³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ yn³⁵ ni³⁵/

大旱望雲霓 大旱望雲霓#Chinese

大旱望云霓 大旱望云霓#Chinese

Synonym of 大旱望雲霓／大旱望云霓 (dàhàn wàng yúnní)


大旱望雲霓

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄩㄣˊ ㄋㄧˊ

дахань ван юньни

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ yn³⁵ ni³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ yn³⁵ ni³⁵/

From the Mencius.
臣聞七十里為政於天下者，湯是也。……民望之，若大旱之望雲霓也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]臣闻七十里为政于天下者，汤是也。……民望之，若大旱之望云霓也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Chén wén qīshí lǐ wéizhèng yú tiānxià zhě, Tāng shì yě....... Mín wàng zhī, ruò dàhàn zhī wàng yúnní yě. [Pinyin]
I have heard of one who with seventy li exercised all the functions of government throughout the kingdom. That was Tang. […] Thus, the people looked to him, as we look in a time of great drought to the clouds and rainbows.

zh-x

臣 聞 七十 里 為{wéi}政 於 天下 者，^湯 是 也。……民 望 之，若 大旱 之 望 雲霓 也。

I have heard of one who with seventy li exercised all the functions of government throughout the kingdom. That was Tang. 􂀿…􂁀 Thus, the people looked to him, as we look in a time of great drought to the clouds and rainbows.


大好河山

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄢ

/tä⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hou̯³⁵ hɔː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hou̯³⁵ hɔː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

beautiful rivers and mountains of a country; one's beloved motherland


大旱望雲

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄩㄣˊ

даханьванъюнь

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ yn³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ yn³⁵/

大旱望雲霓 大旱望雲霓#Chinese

大旱望云霓 大旱望云霓#Chinese


大旱之望雲霓

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄓ ㄨㄤˋ ㄩㄣˊ ㄋㄧˊ

дахань чжи ван юньни

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ yn³⁵ ni³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ yn³⁵ ni³⁵/

如大旱之望雲霓／如大旱之望云霓

as if longing for a rain cloud during a drought

大旱望雲霓 大旱望雲霓#Chinese

大旱望云霓 大旱望云霓#Chinese


大幹快上

ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄢˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄕㄤˋ

даганькуайшан

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/


大功告成

ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠˋ ㄔㄥˊ

/tä⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³ sɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ko²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² kɔŋ³³ ko⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ko²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ko¹¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ siɪŋ²³/

/tä⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³ sɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ko²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² kɔŋ³³ ko⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ko²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ko¹¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ siɪŋ²³/

From zh:漢書/卷099上
:
十萬眾並集，平作二旬，大功畢成。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]十万众并集，平作二旬，大功毕成。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Shí wàn zhòng bìng jí, píng zuò èr xún, dà gōng bì chéng. [Pinyin]
Ten thousand people gathered, and in the span of twenty days, they finished building it.

十 萬 眾 並 集，平 作 二 旬，@大 @功 @畢 @成 。

(of a project, work, etc.) to be accomplished; to be crowned with success


大而無當

ㄉㄚˋ ㄦˊ ㄨˊ ㄉㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ u³⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jiː²¹ mou̯²¹ tɔːŋ³³/

/tä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ u³⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jiː²¹ mou̯²¹ tɔːŋ³³/

吾聞言於接輿，大而無當，往而不反。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吾闻言于接舆，大而无当，往而不反。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Wú wén yán yú Jiēyú, dà ér wú dàng, wǎng ér bù fǎn. [Pinyin]
I heard Jie Yu talking words which were great, but had nothing corresponding to them in reality; once gone, they could not be brought back.

吾 聞 言 於 ^接-輿，大.而.無.當{dàng}，往 而 不 反。

大而無當的計劃 [MSC, trad.]
大而无当的计划 [MSC, simp.]


大風大浪

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄥ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɔːŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɔːŋ²²/


富商巨賈

ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄤ ㄐㄩˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/fu⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kɵy̯²² kuː³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kɵy̯²² kuː³⁵/

富商大賈 富商大賈#Chinese

富商大贾 富商大贾#Chinese


富商大賈

ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄤ ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/fu⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kuː³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kuː³⁵/


口若懸河

ㄎㄡˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄏㄜˊ

коужосюаньхэ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ jœːk̚² jyːn²¹ hɔː²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ jœːk̚² jyːn²¹ hɔː²¹/

eloquent; glib; voluble; having the gift of the gab


額手稱慶

ㄜˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

/ˀɤ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/ˀɤ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

put one's hand on one's forehead in jubilation, be overjoyed


大地回春

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄨㄣ

дадихуэйчунь

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² tei̯²² wuːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² tei̯²² wuːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵/

spring returns to the earth; spring is here again


大醇小疵

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄘ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² sɵn²¹ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² sɵn²¹ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵/

sound on the whole though defective in details


大步流星

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄥ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² pou̯²² lɐu̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² pou̯²² lɐu̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/


大處落墨

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄛˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

(figuratively) to concentrate on the key points


大打出手

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄔㄨ ㄕㄡˇ

/tä⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² taː³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/tä⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² taː³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/


大吹大擂

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄟˊ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ leɪ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵy̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ leɪ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵy̯²¹/

to make a great fanfare; to make a big noise


打鴨子上架

ㄉㄚˇ ㄧㄚ ˙ㄗ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

да яцзы шан цзя

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ aːp̚³ t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ¹³ kaː³³⁻³⁵/

/taː³⁵ aːp̚³ t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ¹³ kaː³³⁻³⁵/

趕鴨子上架 趕鴨子上架#Chinese

赶鸭子上架 赶鸭子上架#Chinese

(figuratively) Synonym of 趕鴨子上架／赶鸭子上架 (gǎn yāzi shàng jià, “to make someone do something entirely beyond them”)


大慈大悲

desc

đại từ đại bi

CJKV/code

đại từ đại bi

Sino-Xenic (大慈大悲):
* → Japanese: 大慈大悲(だいじだいひ) (daijidaihi)
* → Korean: 대자대비(大慈大悲) (daejadaebi)
* → Vietnamese: đại từ đại bi (大慈大悲)

CJKV

đại từ đại bi

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄟ

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ tä⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰiː²¹ taːi̯²² pei̯⁵⁵/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡su²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ pi⁴⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ t͡su²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ pi⁴⁴/

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ tä⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰiː²¹ taːi̯²² pei̯⁵⁵/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡su²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ pi⁴⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ t͡su²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ pi⁴⁴/

(Buddhism or figuratively) infinitely compassionate and merciful (e.g. of the buddhas and bodhisattvas)


殺雞驚猴

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄡˊ

шацзицзинхоу

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯²¹/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯²¹/

殺雞儆猴 殺雞儆猴#Chinese

杀鸡儆猴 杀鸡儆猴#Chinese

Alternative form of 殺雞儆猴／杀鸡儆猴 (shājījǐnghóu)


倒背如流

ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ puːi̯²² jyː²¹ lɐu̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ puːi̯²² jyː²¹ lɐu̯²¹/


打家劫舍

ㄉㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄜˋ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ kiːp̚³ sɛː³³/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ kiːp̚³ sɛː³³/


打恭作揖

ㄉㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ

ㄉㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄧ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

打躬作揖 打躬作揖#Chinese


打躬作揖

ㄉㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ

ㄉㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄧ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/taː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ jɐp̚⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/taː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ jɐp̚⁵/

to fold the hands and make deep bows; to do obeisance; to beg humbly


打拱作揖

ㄉㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ

ㄉㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄧ

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/taː³⁵ kʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ jɐp̚⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/taː³⁵ kʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ jɐp̚⁵/

打躬作揖 打躬作揖#Chinese


打抱不平

ㄉㄚˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ pʰou̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰo²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pʰo⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰo²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ piɪŋ¹³/

/tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰo³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pʰɤ³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²³/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ pʰou̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰo²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pʰo⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰo²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ piɪŋ¹³/

/tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰo³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pʰɤ³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²³/

to take up the cudgels for the injured party; to defend somebody against an injustice


一枕黃粱

ㄧ ㄓㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

ичжэньхуанлян

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹/


一語道破

ㄧ ㄩˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄆㄛˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ tou̯²² pʰɔː³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ tou̯²² pʰɔː³³/

hit the nail on the head
hit the nail on the head

to lay bare the truth with one penetrating remark; to hit the nail on the head


一語破的

ㄧ ㄩˇ ㄆㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ pʰɔː³³ tɪk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ pʰɔː³³ tɪk̚⁵/


一葉蔽目，不見泰山

一叶蔽目，不见泰山
一葉蔽目，不見太山

a leaf before the eye shuts outMount Tai

ㄧ ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄨˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

бу цзянь Тайшань

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

一葉障目，不見泰山 一葉障目，不見泰山#Chinese

一叶障目，不见泰山 一叶障目，不见泰山#Chinese

Synonym of 一葉障目，不見泰山／一叶障目，不见泰山 (yī yè zhàng mù, bù jiàn Tàishān)


一葉障目，不見泰山

ㄧ ㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄇㄨˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

bù jiàn Tàishān [Phonetic:yí yè zhàng mù

бу цзянь Тайшань

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

to have one's view of the important overshadowed by the trivial


一指蔽目，不見泰山

a finger before the eye shuts outMount Tai

ㄧ ㄓˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄨˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

бу цзянь Тайшань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

一葉障目，不見泰山 一葉障目，不見泰山#Chinese

一叶障目，不见泰山 一叶障目，不见泰山#Chinese


一應俱全

ㄧ ㄧㄥ ㄐㄩˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

иинцзюйцюань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ku⁴¹⁻²² t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ku³³⁻¹¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ku³³⁻²¹ t͡suan²³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ku⁴¹⁻²² t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ku³³⁻¹¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ku³³⁻²¹ t͡suan²³/


一德一心

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

嗚呼！乃一德一心，立定厥功，惟克永世。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
呜呼！乃一德一心，立定厥功，惟克永世。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Oh! unite your energies, unite your hearts; so shall you forthwith surely accomplish the work, to last for all ages!

Wūhū! Nǎi yīdéyīxīn, lì dìng jué gōng, wéi kè yǒngshì. [Pinyin]


一心一德

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

共產黨人一心一德，忠實執行自己的宣言。 [MSC, trad.]
共产党人一心一德，忠实执行自己的宣言。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1937, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《反對日本進攻的方針、辦法和前途》 (Policies, Measures and Perspectives for Resisting the Japanese Invasion), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

We Communists are whole-heartedly and faithfully carrying out our own manifesto.

Gòngchǎndǎngrén yīxīnyīdé, zhōngshí zhíxíng zìjǐ de xuānyán. [Pinyin]


一蟹不如一蟹

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

yī xiè bùrú yī xiè [Phonetic:yí xiè bùrú yí xiè]

и се бужу и се

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ haːi̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵ haːi̯¹³/

From Words of Aizi by Su Shi:
:
艾子行於海上，見一物圓而褊，且多足，問居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「蝤蛑也。」既又見一物，圓褊多足，問居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「螃蟹也。」又於後得一物，狀貌皆若前所見而極小，問居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「彭越也。」艾子喟然嘆曰：「何一蟹不如一蟹也！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]艾子行于海上，见一物圆而褊，且多足，问居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「蝤蛑也。」既又见一物，圆褊多足，问居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「螃蟹也。」又于后得一物，状貌皆若前所见而极小，问居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「彭越也。」艾子喟然叹曰：「何一蟹不如一蟹也！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Su Shi, 《艾子雜說》 (Words of Aizi)
Àizǐ xíng yú hǎi shàng, jiàn yī wù yuán ér biǎn, qiě duō zú, wèn jūrén yuē: “Cǐ hé wù yě?” Yuē: “Qiúmóu yě.” Jì yòu jiàn yī wù, yuán biǎn duō zú, wèn jūrén yuē: “Cǐ hé wù yě?” Yuē: “Pángxiè yě.” Yòu yú hòu dé yī wù, zhuàngmào jiē ruò qián suǒ jiàn ér jí xiǎo, wèn jūrén yuē: “Cǐ hé wù yě?” Yuē: “Péngyuè yě.” Àizǐ kuìrán tàn yuē: “Hé yīxièbùrúyīxiè yě!” [Pinyin]
Aizi was strolling by the sea. He saw a round and flat creature with many legs. He asked a local person, "What is this?" "It's a swimming crab (Portunidae)," answered that person. Then Aizi saw another creature, also round and flat, with many legs. Aizi then asked, "What is this?" "It's a common crab (Brachyura)." After that Aizi saw another creature again. It looked like those he just saw but was very small. He asked, "What is this?" "It's an sesarmid crab (Sesarmidae)." Aizi then sighed and said, "Why each crab I saw is smaller than the one before?"

zh-x

@艾子 行 於 海 上 ， 見 一 物 圓 而 褊 ， 且 多 足 ， 問 居人 曰 ： 「此 何 物 也 ？ 」 曰 ： 「 蝤蛑 也 。 」 既 又 見 一 物 ， 圓 褊 多 足 ， 問 居人 曰 ： 「此 何 物 也 ？ 」 曰 ： 「 螃蟹 也 。 」 又 於 後 得 一 物 ， 狀貌 皆 若 前 所 見 而 極 小 ， 問 居人 曰 ： 「 此 何 物 也 ？ 」 曰 ： 「 彭越 也 。」 @艾子 喟然 嘆 曰 ： 「何 一蟹不如一蟹 也 ！」

each crab is smaller than the one before


一星半點

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ

исинбаньдянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ

исинбаньдяньр

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tiːm³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tiːm³⁵/

這可是細活，不能有一星半點差錯。 [MSC, trad.]
这可是细活，不能有一星半点差错。 [MSC, simp.]

This is a high precision job. There mustn't be the slightest slip.

Zhè kě shì xìhuó, bùnéng yǒu yīxīngbàndiǎn chācuò. [Pinyin]


一星半點兒

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ

исинбаньдяньр

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

一星半點 一星半點#Chinese

一星半点 一星半点#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 一星半點／一星半点 (yīxīng-bàndiǎn, “a tiny bit; a very small amount”).


一文不名

ㄧ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/


一望無際

ㄧ ㄨㄤˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/jit̚⁵⁵ ᵐbɔŋ³² ᵐbu²² tai³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/jit̚⁵⁵ ᵐbɔŋ³² ᵐbu²² tai³³/

一望無際的大草原 [MSC, trad.]
一望无际的大草原 [MSC, simp.]

to stretch as far as the eye can see; to stretch to the horizon


一通百通

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄅㄞˇ ㄊㄨㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

一法通，百法通 一法通，百法通#Chinese

Short for 一法通，百法通 (yī fǎ tōng, bǎi fǎ tōng).


一推六二五

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄟ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄦˋ ㄨˇ

yī tuī liù èr wǔ [Phonetic:yì tuī liù èr wǔ]

и туй лю эр у

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

一退六二五 一退六二五#Chinese

Alternative form of 一退六二五 (yī tuì liù èr wǔ, “to evade (or deny) all responsibility”)


一法通，百法通

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

一法通，萬法通 一法通，萬法通#Chinese

一法通，万法通 一法通，万法通#Chinese

Synonym of 一法通，萬法通／一法通，万法通 (yī fǎ tōng, wàn fǎ tōng)


一法通，萬法通

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

grasp this one thing and you'll grasp everything; sort this one thing out and you'll sort out all the rest


一物降一物

ㄧ ㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄧ ㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚² hɔːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚² hɔːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/

there is always one thing to conquer another; everything has its vanquisher


一退六二五

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄦˋ ㄨˇ

yī tuì liù èr wǔ [Phonetic:yí tuì liù èr wǔ]

и туй лю эр у

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Originally an abacus formula (珠算口訣) for converting between hexadecimal and decimal systems of weights, meaning 1/16 = .0625.
Pun on 退 (tuì, “push back”) → 推 (tuī, “evade”).

push back one (column of digits) and .625


一息尚存

ㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄕㄤˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

ㄧ ㄒㄧˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn²¹/

我只要一息尚存，就要努力為黨工作。 [MSC, trad.]
我只要一息尚存，就要努力为党工作。 [MSC, simp.]

I'll work hard for the Party as long as I live.

Wǒ zhǐyào yīxīshàngcún, jiùyào nǔlì wèi Dǎng gōngzuò. [Pinyin]

so long as one still has a breath left; till one's last gasp


一手包辦

ㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄠ ㄅㄢˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²²/

to keep everything in one's own hands; to take everything on oneself


一掃而光

ㄧ ㄙㄠˇ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄤ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sou̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sou̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵/

一掃而空 一掃而空#Chinese

一扫而空 一扫而空#Chinese


一時半刻

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄎㄜˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ puːn³³ hɐk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ puːn³³ hɐk̚⁵/

他一時半刻還回不來。 [MSC, trad.]
他一时半刻还回不来。 [MSC, simp.]

He won't be back for a little while yet.


一身兩役

ㄧ ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ jɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ jɪk̚²/

to hold two jobs at the same time; to serve in a dual capacity


水天一色

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧ ㄙㄜˋ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

From the famous line of Tengwang Ge Xu.
:
落霞與孤鶩齊飛，秋水共長天一色。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]落霞与孤鹜齐飞，秋水共长天一色。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 675, 王勃 (Wang Bo), 《滕王閣序》 (Tengwang Ge Xu), translated based on the Wikisource translation.
Luòxiá yǔ gūwù qí fēi, qiūshuǐ gòng chángtiān yīsè. [Pinyin]
The sunset is flying together with lonely wild goose, and the autumn water and the sky at the horizon are of one hue.

落霞 與 孤鶩 齊 飛，秋水 共 長天 一色。

the water and the sky merge in one color


孑然一身

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄧ ㄕㄣ

цзежаньишэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/kʰiːt̚³ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/kʰiːt̚³ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

all alone in the world, with no relatives or friends; solitary


一身是膽

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ siː²² taːm³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ siː²² taːm³⁵/

to know no fear; to be absolutely fearless


一失足成千古恨

ㄧ ㄕ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄍㄨˇ ㄏㄣˋ

yī shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn [Phonetic:yì shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn]

и шицзу чэн цяньгу хэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ hɐn²²/

a single slip may cause lasting sorrow; the error of a moment becomes the regret of a lifetime

一失足成千古恨，再回頭已百年身／一失足成千古恨，再回头已百年身

yī shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn, zài huítóu yǐ bǎinián shēn


風靡一時

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

風行一時 風行一時#Chinese

风行一时 风行一时#Chinese

Synonym of 風行一時／风行一时 (fēngxíngyīshí, “to be popular for a while; to be all the rage”)


風行一時

ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

to be popular for a while; to be all the rage


漆黑一團

ㄑㄧ ㄏㄟ ㄧ ㄊㄨㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹/

不論是近百年的和古代的中國史，在許多黨員的心目中還是漆黑一團。 [MSC, trad.]
不论是近百年的和古代的中国史，在许多党员的心目中还是漆黑一团。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1941, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《改造我們的學習》 (Reform Our Study), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Many Party members are still in a fog about Chinese history, whether of the last hundred years or of ancient times.

Bùlùn shì jìn bǎinián de hé gǔdài de Zhōngguóshǐ, zài xǔduō Dǎngyuán de xīnmù zhōng háishì qīhēiyītuán. [Pinyin]

在這種態度下，就是割斷歷史，只懂得希臘，不懂得中國，對於中國昨天和前天的面目漆黑一團。 [MSC, trad.]
在这种态度下，就是割断历史，只懂得希腊，不懂得中国，对于中国昨天和前天的面目漆黑一团。 [MSC, simp.]

With this attitude, he chops up history, knows only ancient Greece but not China and is in a fog about the China of yesterday and the day before yesterday.

Zài zhè zhǒng tàidù xià, jiùshì gēduàn lìshǐ, zhǐ dǒngde Xīlà, bù dǒngde Zhōngguó, duìyú Zhōngguó zuótiān hé qiántiān de miànmù qīhēiyītuán. [Pinyin]

一團漆黑 一團漆黑#Chinese

一团漆黑 一团漆黑#Chinese


一錢不值

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

not worth a penny; utterly worthless; mere trash


一去不返

ㄧ ㄑㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄢˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵/

一去不復返 一去不復返#Chinese

一去不复返 一去不复返#Chinese

Synonym of 一去不復返／一去不复返 (yīqùbùfùfǎn, “gone forever; gone never to return”)


一偏之見

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

ипяньчжицзянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/


一去不復返

desc

→ Vietnamese: một đi không trở lại (calque)

ㄧ ㄑㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄈㄢˇ

ицюйбуфуфань

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚² faːn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚² faːn³⁵/

From the following song attributed to Jing Ke in 《史記·刺客列傳》 (Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Assassins).
風蕭蕭兮易水寒，壯士一去兮不復還！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]风萧萧兮易水寒，壮士一去兮不复还！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Fēng xiāoxiāo xī Yìshuǐ hán, zhuàngshì yī qù xī bù fùhuán! [Pinyin]
Bleakly and weakly the wind blows; cold the Yi river flows. The valiant man, once gone, never comes back.

zh-x

風 蕭蕭 兮 ^易水 寒，壯士 一 去 兮 不 復還{huán}！

黃鶴一去不復返，白雲千載空悠悠。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
黄鹤一去不复返，白云千载空悠悠。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: 8th century CE, 崔顥 (Cui Hao), 黃鶴樓 (Huánghèlóu) "Yellow Crane Tower"

The yellow crane, once gone, never comes back; the white clouds, for one thousand years, drift aloft carefreely.

Huánghè yīqùbùfùfǎn, báiyún qiānzǎi kōng yōuyōu. [Pinyin]

人民所厭惡的國家分裂和混亂的局面，已經一去不復返了。 [MSC, trad.]
人民所厌恶的国家分裂和混乱的局面，已经一去不复返了。 [MSC, simp.]

The days of national disunity and chaos which the people detested are gone, never to return.

Rénmín suǒ yàn'è de guójiā fēnliè hé hùnluàn de júmiàn, yǐjīng yīqùbùfùfǎn le. [Pinyin]

List of Records of the Grand Historian chapters#Biographies


一平二調

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄦˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

平均主義 平均主義#Chinese

People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China

(historical) equalitarianism (平均主義) and indiscriminate transfer of resources (*無償調撥) in the people's communes during the Great Leap Forward of the People's Republic of China


一年到頭兒

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊㄦ

иняньдаотоур

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

一年到頭 一年到頭#Chinese

一年到头 一年到头#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 一年到頭／一年到头 (yīniándàotóu, “throughout the year; all the year round”).


一面之詞

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

the statement of only one of the parties


一暴十寒

ㄧ ㄆㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːn²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːn²¹/

From Mencius (《孟子·告子上》):
:
雖有天下易生之物也，一日暴之、十日寒之，未有能生者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]虽有天下易生之物也，一日暴之、十日寒之，未有能生者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Suī yǒu tiānxià yì shēng zhī wù yě, yīrì pù zhī, shírì hán zhī, wèi yǒu néng shēng zhě yě. [Pinyin]
Suppose the case of the most easily growing thing in the world; if you let it have one day's genial heat, and then expose it for ten days to cold, it will not be able to grow.

雖 有 天下 易 生 之 物 也，一日 @暴{pù} 之、十日 @寒 之，未 有 能 生 者 也。

(figurative) to work hard for one day and do nothing for ten; to work by fits and starts; to act without perseverance or persistence


串通一氣

ㄔㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄑㄧˋ

чуаньтунъици

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

to work hand in glove; to act in collusion


一偏之論

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

ипяньчжилунь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/


一年到頭

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊㄦ

иняньдаотоур

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ tou̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ tɒu̯⁴⁵ tʰəu̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ tou̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ tɒu̯⁴⁵ tʰəu̯¹³/


一脈相承

ㄧ ㄇㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

to come down in one continuous line; can be traced to the same origin


一溜歪斜

ㄧ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄨㄞ ㄒㄧㄝˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

(dialectal) (to walk, etc.) unsteadily in a zigzag


一鱗半爪

ㄧ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄓㄠˇ

илиньбаньчжао

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lin³⁵ pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ puːn³³ t͡saːu̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lin³⁵ pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ puːn³³ t͡saːu̯³⁵/