馬耳東風

ㄇㄚˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nĩ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nĩ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

From a poem by Li Bai:
:
世人聞此皆掉頭，有如東風射馬耳。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]世人闻此皆掉头，有如东风射马耳。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tang dynasty, Li Bai, 《答王十二寒夜獨酌有懷》
Shìrén wén cǐ jiē diàotóu, yǒu rú dōngfēng shè mǎ ěr. [Pinyin]
When the people of this world hear this, all shake their heads,
As if the east wind shot through the horse’s ear.

lang

《答王十二寒夜獨酌有懷》

《答王十二寒夜獨酌有懷》

zh-x

世人 聞 此 皆 掉頭，有 如 東風 射 馬 耳。

not the least bit concerned; completely indifferent


依依不捨

/i⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ i³³⁻²³ puk̚²⁻⁴ sia²¹³/

/i⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ i³³⁻²³ puk̚²⁻⁴ sia²¹³/

讓我依依不捨的不止你的溫柔 [MSC, trad.]
让我依依不舍的不止你的温柔 [MSC, simp.]

What makes me linger is more than your tenderness

ràng wǒ yīyībùshě de bùzhǐ nǐ de wēnróu [Pinyin]

to be reluctant to part; to feel broken-hearted at having to leave; to linger


忘恩負義

ㄨㄤˋ ㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jɐn⁵⁵ fuː²² jiː²²/

/mɔŋ¹¹ ɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ fu⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵³/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ɯŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ eŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jɐn⁵⁵ fuː²² jiː²²/

/mɔŋ¹¹ ɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ fu⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵³/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ɯŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ eŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

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

to be devoid of gratefulness; to forget someone’s kindness and turn one’s back on him; to bite the hand that feeds one


掩耳盜鈴

ㄧㄢˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jiːm³⁵ jiː¹³ tou̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jiːm³⁵ jiː¹³ tou̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

From a story in Lüshi Chunqiu:
:
范氏之亡也，百姓有得鐘者，欲負而走。則鐘大不可負，以椎毀之，鐘況然有音。恐人聞之而奪己也，遽揜其耳。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]范氏之亡也，百姓有得钟者，欲负而走。则钟大不可负，以椎毁之，钟况然有音。恐人闻之而夺己也，遽揜其耳。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
Fàn shì zhī wáng yě, bǎixìng yǒu dé zhōng zhě, yù fù ér zǒu. Zé zhōng dà bùkě fù, yǐ chúi huǐ zhī, zhōng huàngrán yǒu yīn. Kǒng rén wén zhī ér duó jǐ yě, jù yǎn qí ěr. [Pinyin]
When the Fan family was wiped out, there was a thief who wanted to carry their bell on his back and leave. Since the bell was too big for him to carry, he smashed it with a hammer, but the bell clanged loudly. For fear that people would hear it and take it from him, he quickly covered his ears.

范 氏 之 亡 也，百姓 有 得 鐘 者，欲 負 而 走。則 鐘 大 不可 負，以 椎{chúi} 毀 之，鐘 況{huàng}然{rán} 有 音。恐 人 聞 之 而 奪 己 也，遽 揜{yǎn} 其 耳。

掩耳盗铃
盜鐘掩耳
盜鈴掩耳
竊鈴掩耳
塞耳盜鐘
塞耳偷鈴
掩耳盜鐘
掩耳偷鈴

tocover one’s ears while stealing a bell

bury one's head in the sand
bury one's head in the sand

to fool oneself; to bury one's head in the sand


滿載而歸

ㄇㄢˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

маньцзайэргуй

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

to return home fully loaded; to return home fruitfully


種瓜得瓜

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄚ

чжунгуадэгуа

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵/


三長兩短

ㄙㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

саньчанляндуань

/sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄙㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇㄦ

саньчанляндуаньр

/sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn³⁵/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ nŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ nŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/san³³ ʈ͡ʂan¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ tõ⁴¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn³⁵/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ nŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ nŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/san³³ ʈ͡ʂan¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ tõ⁴¹/

Extended from 長短／长短 (chángduǎn), which already has the meaning of “mishap”. 三 and 兩／两 are two arbitrary numbers which can also mean “some” (see 二三 (èrsān) and 三兩／三两 (sānliǎng)).
Folk etymology states that the term is a euphemism referring to a coffin, which consists of 3 pieces of long and 2 pieces of short wood excluding the cover.

unexpected misfortune; unexpected accident; sudden death


接踵而至

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

цзечжунъэрчжи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

to follow each other and arrive successively; to be unceasing


傾城傾國

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

傾國傾城 傾國傾城#Chinese

倾国倾城 倾国倾城#Chinese


過關斬將

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

гогуаньчжаньцзян

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

過五關斬六將 過五關斬六將#Chinese

过五关斩六将 过五关斩六将#Chinese

Short for 過五關斬六將／过五关斩六将 (guò wǔ guān zhǎn liù jiàng).


死馬當活馬醫

to medically treat a dead horse as a living horse

ㄙˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄧ

sǐmǎ dàng huómǎ yī [Phonetic:símǎdànghuómǎyī]

сыма дан хома и

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵/

to keep trying everything in a desperate situation; to resort to desperate measures in desperate times


吃不了兜著走

吃不了兜着走
吃不了，兜著走/吃不了，兜着走

ㄔ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄡ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄗㄡˇ

чи буляо доу чжэ цзоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative, colloquial) to find oneself in serious trouble; to bear all the consequences


傾國傾城

desc

Vietnamese: → nghiêng nước nghiêng thành (calque), → nghiêng thành đổ nước (calque)

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

From the story of Consort Li, a concubine to the Emperor Wu of Han:
:
孝武李夫人，本以倡進。初，夫人兄延年性知音，善歌舞，武帝愛之。每為新聲變曲，聞者莫不感動。
延年侍上起舞，歌曰：「北方有佳人，絕世而獨立，一顧傾人城，再顧傾人國。寧不知傾城與傾國，佳人難再得！」
上歎息曰：「善！世豈有此人乎？」
平陽主因言延年有女弟，上乃召見之，實妙麗善舞。由是得幸，生一男，是為昌邑哀王。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孝武李夫人，本以倡进。初，夫人兄延年性知音，善歌舞，武帝爱之。每为新声变曲，闻者莫不感动。
延年侍上起舞，歌曰：「北方有佳人，绝世而独立，一顾倾人城，再顾倾人国。宁不知倾城与倾国，佳人难再得！」
上叹息曰：「善！世岂有此人乎？」
平阳主因言延年有女弟，上乃召见之，实妙丽善舞。由是得幸，生一男，是为昌邑哀王。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Xiàowǔ Lǐ fūrén, běn yǐ chàng jìn. Chū, fūrén xiōng Yánnián xìng zhī yīn, shàn gēwǔ, Wǔ dì ài zhī. Měi wéi xīn shēng biàn qǔ, wén zhě mò bù gǎndòng.
Yánnián shì shàng qǐwǔ, gē yuē: “Běifāng yǒu jiārén, juéshì ér dúlì, yī gù qīng rén chéng, zài gù qīng rén guó. Nìng bùzhī qīngchéng yǔ qīngguó, jiārén nán zài dé!”
Shàng tànxī yuē: “Shàn! Shì qǐ yǒu cǐ rén hū?”
Píngyáng zhǔ yīn yán Yánnián yǒu nǚdì, shàng nǎi zhàojiàn zhī, shí miàolì shàn wǔ. Yóu shì dé xìng, shēng yī nán, shì wéi Chāngyì Āiwáng. [Pinyin]
Consort Li, concubine to the Emperor Wu of Han, was originally a dancing performer. Her brother Yannian was a gifted musician and dancer, beloved by the emperor. Every time he composed something new, it never failed to move those listening to it.
One day, Yannian did a dance and sang, “There is a beauty in the north, who stands out among the generations. One look will topple the men of the city. A second look will topple the men of the country. I would rather not know about toppled cities and toppled countries, because a beauty of this caliber may not come around again!”
His majesty sighed and said, “Wow! Can there really be such a person in this world?”
Whereupon Pingyang mentioned that Yannian had a sister. His majesty summoned her, and she was indeed a sight to behold, and a good dancer. As a result, she received the emperor's favor, and bore him a son; this was Prince Ai of Changyi. (Wiktionary translation)

zh-x

孝武 ^李 夫人，本 以 倡 進。初，夫人 兄 ^延-年 性 知 音，善 歌舞，^武 帝 愛 之。每 為{wéi} 新 聲 變 曲{qǔ}，聞 者 莫 不 感動。
延-年 侍 上 起舞，歌 曰：「北方 有 佳人，絕世 而 獨立，一 顧 傾 人 城，再 顧 傾 人 國。寧{nìng} 不知 傾城 與 傾國，佳人 難 再 得！」
上 歎息 曰：「善！世 豈 有 此 人 乎？」
平陽 主 因 言 ^延-年 有 女弟，上 乃 召見 之，實 妙麗 善 舞。由 是 得 幸，生 一 男，是 為{wéi} ^昌邑 ^哀王。

capable of causing the downfall of a city or state

(figurative, of a woman) to be devastatingly beautiful; to be drop-dead gorgeous


乘勝追擊

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄐㄧˊ

чэншэнчжуйцзи

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

to follow up a victory with pursuit and attack; to continue pursuing a retreating army


一舉一動

ㄧ ㄐㄩˇ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

zh-l

舉動／举动 (jǔdòng)

each and every move; every single action


有朝一日

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴/


日日夜夜

ㄖˋ ㄖˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jɛː²² jɛː²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻²¹ ia³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻¹¹ ia³³/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jɛː²² jɛː²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻²¹ ia³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻¹¹ ia³³/


拭目以待

ㄕˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mʊk̚² jiː¹³ tɔːi̯²²/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tai²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mʊk̚² jiː¹³ tɔːi̯²²/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tai²²/

to anticipate or wait for something to happen


尊姓大名

ㄗㄨㄣ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзуньсиндамин

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ biɪŋ²³/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ biɪŋ²³/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

這位新朋友，請問尊姓大名啊？——尊字不敢當啊，我叫李靜。 [MSC, trad.]
这位新朋友，请问尊姓大名啊？——尊字不敢当啊，我叫李静。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhè wèi xīn péngyou, qǐngwèn zūnxìngdàmíng a? — zūn zì bù gǎndāng a, wǒ jiào Lǐ Jìng. [Pinyin]

May I know the esteemed name of our new friend? — My name is hardly esteemed. I am Li Jing.


舉一反三

ㄐㄩˇ ㄧ ㄈㄢˇ ㄙㄢ

цзюйифаньсань

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵/

/kɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ sã³³/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵/

/kɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ sã³³/

From the Analects, Book 7 (《論語·述而》):
:
子曰：「不憤不啟，不悱不發，舉一隅不以三隅反，則不復也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「不愤不启，不悱不发，举一隅不以三隅反，则不复也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Bù fèn bù qǐ, bù fěi bù fā, jǔ yī yú bù yǐ sān yú fǎn, zé bù fù yě.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "I do not open up the truth to one who is not eager to get knowledge, nor help out any one who is not anxious to explain himself. When I have presented one corner of a subject to any one, and he cannot from it learn the other three, I do not repeat my lesson."

zh-x

子曰：「不 憤 不 啟，不 悱 不 發，@舉 @一 隅 不 以 @三 隅 @反，則 不 復 也。」

to learn by analogy; to infer other cases based on one instance


忐忑不安

ㄊㄢˇ ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

таньтэбу’ань

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn³⁵ tʰɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn³⁵ tʰɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/


入木三分

ㄖㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄣ

жумусаньфэнь

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² mʊk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² mʊk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

written in a forceful hand; penetrating; profound


大顯神通

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥ

дасяньшэньтун

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

to display one's remarkable skill or prowess; to give full play to one's brilliant abilities


出言不遜

ㄔㄨ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄣˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn³³/


甘拜下風

ㄍㄢ ㄅㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄈㄥ

ганьбайсяфэн

/kän⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ paːi̯³³ haː²² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kän⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ paːi̯³³ haː²² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(humble) to step down gracefully; to concede defeat; to play second fiddle


不得要領

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˇ

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ lɪŋ¹³/

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ lɪŋ¹³/


華而不實

ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ

/xu̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/waː²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚²/

/xu̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/waː²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚²/

having a handsome exterior but hollow inside; flashy and without substance


篳路藍縷

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄢˊ ㄌㄩˇ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ län³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɵy̯¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɐu̯¹³/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ län³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɵy̯¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɐu̯¹³/

From Zuozhuan:
:
訓之以若敖、蚡冒篳路藍縷以啟山林。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]训之以若敖、蚡冒筚路蓝缕以启山林。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg
Xùn zhī yǐ Ruò'áo, Fénmào bìlù lánlǚ yǐ qǐ shānlín. [Pinyin]
He admonishes them on how the Chu ancestors Ruo'ao and Fenmao, riding in rugged wooden carts and clad in tattered hemp, opened up hills and forests for cultivation.

訓 之 以 ^若敖、^蚡冒 篳路.藍縷 以 啟 山林。

筚路蓝缕
蓽路藍縷
蓽露藍蔞
篳路襤褸

drive a cart in rags to blaze a new trail

(figurative, of a pioneer) braving hardships and difficulties in beginning an undertaking


不知所云

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐn²¹/

今當遠離，臨表涕泣，不知所云。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
今当远离，临表涕泣，不知所云。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

I am going to leave Your Majesty soon. Now, as I read this memorial, I am unable to hold back my tears and I do not know what to say.

Jīn dāng yuǎnlí, lín biǎo tìqì, bùzhīsuǒyún. [Pinyin]

to not know what someone is driving at; to be unintelligible


廢寢忘食

ㄈㄟˋ ㄑㄧㄣˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕˊ

фэйциньванши

/feɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

/feɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

to be completely wrapped up in one's work and skip one's sleep and meals


重見天日

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖˋ

чунцзяньтяньжи

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kiːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/teŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kieŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰieŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zik̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kiːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

delivered from oppression; to regain freedom


不合時宜

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐp̚² siː²¹ jiː²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ hap̚²⁴⁻² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si¹³⁻²² ɡi¹³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ ɡi²³/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴⁻² si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐp̚² siː²¹ jiː²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ hap̚²⁴⁻² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si¹³⁻²² ɡi¹³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ ɡi²³/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴⁻² si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

untimely; premature; inopportune; ill-timed; out of fashion; behind the times


後生可畏

ㄏㄡˋ ㄕㄥ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄟˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/hɐu̯²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/hɐu̯²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

From the Analects, Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
:
子曰：「後生可畏，焉知來者之不如今也？四十、五十而無聞焉，斯亦不足畏也已。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「后生可畏，焉知来者之不如今也？四十、五十而无闻焉，斯亦不足畏也已。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Hòushēng kěwèi, yān zhī láizhě zhī bùrú jīn yě? Sìshí, wǔshí ér wú wén yān, sī yì bùzú wèi yě yǐ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? If he reach the age of forty or fifty, and has not made himself heard of, then indeed he will not be worth being regarded with respect."

子曰：「後生.可畏，焉 知 來者 之 不如 今 也？四十、五十 而 無 聞 焉，斯 亦 不足 畏 也 已。」

a young person displaying exceptional skills; a young person's abilities must be respected; though inexperienced, the younger generations will surpass us in time


才高八斗

ㄘㄞˊ ㄍㄠ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄡˇ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ paːt̚³ tɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ paːt̚³ tɐu̯³⁵/

From Xie Lingyun's comment about Cao Zhi:
謝靈運嘗曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建獨占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]谢灵运尝曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建独占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Song dynasty, anonymous, 《釋常談》 (Shi Chang Tan)
Xiè Língyùn cháng yuē: “Tiānxià cái yǒu yī dàn, Cáo Zǐjiàn dúzhàn bā dǒu, wǒ dé yī dǒu, tiānxià gòng fēn yī dǒu. [Pinyin]
Xie Lingyun once said, “If all talents in the world weigh one dan (i.e. 10 dous) in total, Cao Zijian (courtesy name of Cao Zhi) owned 8 dous, I own 1 dou, and all others in the world share the remaining 1 dou.”
In this statement, Xie expressed his admiration of Cao Zhi as well as his pride.

@謝 @^靈運 嘗 曰 ： 「 天下 才 有 一 石{dàn} ， @^曹 @^子建 獨占 八 斗 ， 我 得 一 斗 ， 天下 共 分 一 斗 。


鞭長莫及

ㄅㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

бяньчанмоцзи

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/piːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² kip̚²⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ¹³⁻²² bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kip̚¹²¹/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/piːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² kip̚²⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

beyond one's influence; too far to be able to help


分庭抗禮

ㄈㄣ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄤˋ ㄌㄧˇ

фэньтинканли

/fən⁵⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɔːŋ³³ lɐi̯¹³/

/fən⁵⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɔːŋ³³ lɐi̯¹³/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 31 (《莊子·漁父》), where Zilu gives some comments after a conversation between Confucius and a fisherman.
:
萬乘之主，千乘之君，見夫子未嘗不分庭伉禮，夫子猶有倨敖之容。今漁父杖拏逆立，而夫子曲要磬折，言拜而應，得无太甚乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]万乘之主，千乘之君，见夫子未尝不分庭伉礼，夫子犹有倨敖之容。今渔父杖拿逆立，而夫子曲要磬折，言拜而应，得无太甚乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translation from The Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu (2013), by Burton Watson
Wànshèng zhī zhǔ, qiānshèng zhī jūn, jiàn fūzǐ wèicháng bù fēntíng kànglǐ, fūzǐ yóu yǒu jù'ào zhī róng. Jīn yúfù zhàng ná nì lì, ér fūzǐ qūyāo qìngzhé, yán bài ér yìng, dé wú tàishèn hū? [Pinyin]
The rulers of ten thousand chariots, the lords of a thousand chariots, when they receive you, invariably seat you on the same level as themselves and treat you with the etiquette due to an equal, and still you maintain a stiff and haughty air. But now this old fisherman, pole in hand, presents himself in front of you, and you double up at the waist, as bent as a chiming stone, and bow every time you reply to his words — this is going too far, isn’t it?

萬乘{shèng} 之 主，千乘{shèng} 之 君，見 夫子 未嘗 不 @分庭 @伉禮，夫子 猶 有 倨傲\倨敖{ào} 之 容。今 漁父 杖 拏 逆 立，而 夫子 曲腰\曲要{yāo} 磬折，言 拜 而 應，得 无 太甚 乎？

to stand up (to someone) as an equal; to function as rivals


大材小用

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄩㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
use a sledgehammer to crack a nut

to use a talented person in an insignificant position; to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut


出類拔萃

ㄔㄨ ㄌㄟˋ ㄅㄚˊ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹ pä³⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pɐt̚² sɵy̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹ pä³⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pɐt̚² sɵy̯²²/

From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑上》):
:
麒麟之於走獸，鳳凰之於飛鳥，太山之於丘垤，河海之於行潦，類也。聖人之於民，亦類也。出於其類，拔乎其萃，自生民以來，未有盛於孔子也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]麒麟之于走兽，凤凰之于飞鸟，太山之于丘垤，河海之于行潦，类也。圣人之于民，亦类也。出于其类，拔乎其萃，自生民以来，未有盛于孔子也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Qílín zhī yú zǒushòu, fènghuáng zhī yú fēiniǎo, tàishān zhī yú qiūdié, héhǎi zhī yú xíngliáo, lèi yě. Shèngrén zhī yú mín, yì lèi yě. Chū yú qí lèi, bá hū qí cuì, zì shēng mín yǐ lái, wèiyǒu shèng yú Kǒngzǐ yě. [Pinyin]
There is the Qi-lin among quadrupeds, the Feng-huang among birds, the Tai mountain among mounds and ant-hills, and rivers and seas among rain-pools. Though different in degree, they are the same in kind. So the sages among mankind are also the same in kind. But they stand out from their fellows, and rise above the level, and from the birth of mankind till now, there never has been one so complete as Confucius.

麒麟 之 於 走獸，鳳凰 之 於 飛鳥，太山 之 於 丘垤，河海 之 於 行潦，類 也。聖人 之 於 民，亦 類 也。@出 於 其 @類，拔 乎 其 萃，自 生 民 以 來，未有 盛 於 ^孔子 也。

to excel the common; surpassing; preeminent; outstanding


黔驢技窮

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄩˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

цяньлюйцзицюн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ kei̯²² kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ kei̯²² kʰʊŋ²¹/

Based on a fable written by Tang-dynasty writer Liu Zongyuan:
:
黔無驢，有好事者船載以入，至則無可用，放之山下。虎見之，龐然大物也，以為神。蔽林間窺之，稍出近之，憖憖然，莫相知。他日，驢一鳴，虎大駭，遠遁，以為且噬己也，甚恐。然往來視之，覺無異能者，益習其聲，又近出前後，終不敢搏。稍近益狎，蕩倚衝冒。驢不勝怒，蹄之。虎因喜，計之曰：「技止此耳！」因跳踉大㘚，斷其喉，盡其肉，乃去。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]黔无驴，有好事者船载以入，至则无可用，放之山下。虎见之，庞然大物也，以为神。蔽林间窥之，稍出近之，慭慭然，莫相知。他日，驴一鸣，虎大骇，远遁，以为且噬己也，甚恐。然往来视之，觉无异能者，益习其声，又近出前后，终不敢搏。稍近益狎，荡倚冲冒。驴不胜怒，蹄之。虎因喜，计之曰：「技止此耳！」因跳踉大㘎，断其喉，尽其肉，乃去。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tang dynasty, Liu Zongyuan, 《三戒·黔之驢》 (The Donkey of Qian)
Qián wú lǘ, yǒu hàoshì zhě chuán zài yǐ rù, zhì zé wú kě yòng, fàng zhī shān xià. Hǔ jiàn zhī, pángrán dàwù yě, yǐ wéi shén. Bì lín jiān kuī zhī, shāo chū jìn zhī, yìnyìn rán, mò xiāng zhī. Tā rì, lǘ yī míng, hǔ dàhài, yuǎndùn, yǐwéi qiě shì jǐ yě, shèn kǒng. Rán wǎnglái shì zhī, jué wú yìnéng zhě, yì xí qí shēng, yòu jìn chū qiánhòu, zhōng bù gǎn bó. Shāo jìn yì xiá, dàng yǐ chōng mào. Lǘ bù shèng nù, tí zhī. Hǔ yīn xǐ, jì zhī yuē: “Jì zhǐ cǐ ěr!” Yīn tiàoliàng dà hǎn, duàn qí hóu, jìn qí ròu, nǎi qù. [Pinyin]
The prefecture of Qian (now in Chongqing and Guizhou) did not have any donkeys. There was a busybody who had the idea of introducing one, and had it shipped to the region. However, he found that there was not much use of the donkey after it had arrived, so he left the donkey at the foot of a hill.
In time a tiger saw it. Having never seen a donkey before, the tiger was impressed by its size and thought it was a supernatural being, so it hid in the bushes to take a peek. The tiger remained very cautious in coming nearer to the donkey.
One day, the donkey brayed. The terrified tiger fled in horror, fearing that the donkey was going to bite him. However, as the tiger observed further, it did not seem to have any other special powers. Over time, the tiger became accustomed to the bray of the donkey and came closer to the donkey, but did not dare attack it still. As it became closer to the donkey, it flirted with the donkey by touching it, leaning on it, and bumping into it. The donkey was greatly enraged, and gave the tiger a kick. The tiger rejoiced, thinking: “The donkey's tricks are merely these!” Then the tiger roared and pounced on the donkey, gnawed at its neck, and ate the donkey's entire flesh. After that, the tiger went off contented.

黔 無 驢，有 好{hào}事 者 船 載{zài} 以 入，至 則 無 可 用，放 之 山 下。虎 見 之，龐然.大物 也，以 為{wéi} 神。蔽 林 間 窺 之，稍 出 近 之，憖{yìn}憖{yìn} 然，莫 相{xiāng} 知。他 日，驢 一 鳴，虎 大駭，遠遁，以為{wéi} 且 噬 己 也，甚 恐。然 往來 視 之，覺{jué} 無 異能 者，益 習 其 聲，又 近 出 前後，終 不 敢 搏。稍 近 益 狎，蕩 倚 衝 冒。驢 不 勝 怒，蹄 之。虎 因 喜，計 之 曰：「技 止 此 耳！」因 跳踉 大 㘚，斷 其 喉，盡 其 肉，乃 去。

The donkey in the prefecture of Qian has exhausted its tricks

(figurative) to exhaust one's limited abilities


駭人聽聞

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄨㄣˊ

хайжэньтинвэнь

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

該仙子何以迫不及待，並不奏聞請旨，任聽部下逞豔於非時之候，獻媚於世主之前，致令時序顛倒，駭人聽聞。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
该仙子何以迫不及待，并不奏闻请旨，任听部下逞艳于非时之候，献媚于世主之前，致令时序颠倒，骇人听闻。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《鏡花緣》第六回

Gāi xiānzǐ héyǐ pòbùjídài, bìngbù zòuwén qǐng zhǐ, rèn tīng bùxià chěng yàn yú fēi shí zhī hòu, xiànmèi yú shìzhǔ zhīqián, zhì lìng shíxù diāndǎo, hàiréntīngwén. [Pinyin]

2024 August 9, 察客, “下午察：中國倒賣屍體案留下的問號 [Afternoon investigation: Question marks left behind by China’s corpse reselling case]”, in Lianhe Zaobao:
中國律師易勝華星期四（8月8日）在網絡上公佈一份材料，揭發山西奧瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盜竊、侮辱、故意毀壞原本應火化的數千具屍體，駭人聽聞的案情迅速引爆輿論。 [MSC, trad.]
中国律师易胜华星期四（8月8日）在网络上公布一份材料，揭发山西奥瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盗窃、侮辱、故意毁坏原本应火化的数千具尸体，骇人听闻的案情迅速引爆舆论。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhōngguó lǜshī Yì Shènghuá xīngqīsì (8yuè 8 rì) zài wǎngluò shàng gōngbù yī fèn cáiliào, jiēfā Shānxī Àoruì shēngwù cáiliào yǒuxiàngōngsī shèxián dàoqiè, wǔrǔ, gùyì huǐhuài yuánběn yìng huǒhuà de shùqiān jù shītǐ, hàiréntīngwén de ànqíng xùnsù yǐnbào yúlùn. [Pinyin]

Chinese lawyer Yi Shenghua published a document on the Internet on Thursday (August 8), revealing that Shanxi Orui Biomaterials Co., Ltd. was suspected of stealing, insulting, and deliberately destroying thousands of corpses that were supposed to be cremated. The shocking case quickly aroused public opinion.

shocking; horrifying; atrocious; terrible


九牛一毛

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊㄦ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

假令僕伏法受誅，若九牛亡一毛，與螻蟻何以異？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]假令仆伏法受诛，若九牛亡一毛，与蝼蚁何以异？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. 1st century BCE. Translated by Burton Watson.
Jiǎlìng pú fúfǎ shòuzhū, ruò jiǔniú wáng yīmáo, yǔ lóuyǐ héyǐ yì? [Pinyin]
If I fell before the law and was executed, it would make no more difference to most people than one hair off nine oxen, for I was a mere ant to them.

假令 僕 伏法 受誅，若 @九-@牛 亡 @一-@毛，與 螻蟻 何以 異？

Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. 1st century <small class='ce-date'>BCE</small>. Translated by Burton Watson.


赴湯蹈火

to go through boiling water and tread on fire

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to defy all difficulties and dangers; to fear and shun no difficulties or dangers


目不識丁

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧㄥ

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄧㄥ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

According to the Old Book of Tang, the Tang-dynasty official Zhang Hongjing once scornfully said to his soldiers:
:
「……今天下無事，汝輩挽得兩石力弓，不如識一丁字。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]「……今天下无事，汝辈挽得两石力弓，不如识一丁字。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Old Book of Tang, 945 CE
“...... Jīn tiānxià wúshì, rǔbèi wǎn dé liǎng dàn lì gōng, bùrú shí yī dīng zì.” [Pinyin]
“ […] Now that the world is in peace, although you all are able to draw a bow that takes two dan [a unit of measure] of force to be drawn, that is not as good as being able to read the simplest characters like 丁.”

「……今 天下 無事，汝輩 挽 得 兩 石{dàn} 力 弓，不如 識 一 丁 字。」

“ […] Now that the world is in peace, although you all are able to draw a bow that takes two dan 􂀿a unit of measure􂁀 of force to be drawn, that is not as good as being able to read the simplest characters like 丁.”

(derogatory) to not even know the most basic characters; to be densely illiterate

Old Book of Tang
Tang dynasty
Zhang Hongjing


懲前毖後

to punish those before to prevent those after

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

ㄔㄥˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнцяньбихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

to criticize former mistakes firmly to prevent them happening again


汗流浹背

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄟˋ

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄟˋ

ханьлюцзябэй

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/


不脛而走

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄗㄡˇ

буцзинъэрцзоу

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

to get round fast; to spread like wildfire


大義滅親

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/*lˤat-s|lˤa[t]-s ŋ(r)aj-s [m]et [tsʰ]i[n]/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

From Zuo Zhuan. Zhou Yu (w:zh:州吁) had murdered his brother, Duke Huan of Wey (w:zh:衛桓公), and taken his place. But he could not gain the favor of the people of Wey. Shi Que (w:zh:石碏), an officer loyal to the state, devised a scheme and had the usurper killed. Shi Que's son Shi Hou was a close associate of Zhou Yu, so Shi Que had his son killed as well. The people praised his act (《左傳·隱公四年》):
:
君子曰：「石碏，純臣也，惡州籲而厚與焉。『大義滅親』，其是之謂乎！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]君子曰：「石碏，纯臣也，恶州吁而厚与焉。『大义灭亲』，其是之谓乎！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jūnzǐ yuē: “Shí Què, chún chén yě, wù Zhōu Yù ér Hòu yǔ yān. ‘dàyì miè qīn’, qí shì zhī wèi hū!” [Pinyin]
A superior man may say, "Shi Que was a minister without blemish. He hated Zhou Yu, with whom his own son Hou was art and part; — and did he not so afford an illustration of the saying that great righteousness is supreme over the affections?"

君子 曰：「@石.^碏，純 臣 也，惡{wù} @^州.^籲 而 @^厚 與 焉。『大義.滅.親』，其 是 之 謂 乎！」

to place righteousness before family; to be ready to punish one's own family if justice demands it


不假思索

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄙ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/


三七二十一

ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧ ㄦˋ ㄕˊ ㄧ

сань ци эршии

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

Originally a line in the Chinese multiplication table.

(figurative) (to not care about) the actual situation; facts of the matter


點頭哈腰

ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄚ ㄧㄠ

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

to uncritically and enthusiastically support someone; (specifically) to be excessively but superficially obsequious


朝九晚五

ㄓㄠ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˇ ㄨˇ

чжаоцзюваньу

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

(of a job) to start at 9 am and finish at 5 pm, as a daily routine; 9 to 5


如臨深淵

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄩㄢ

жулиньшэньюань

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/


戰戰兢兢

ja-r

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

CJKV/code

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

Sino-Xenic (戰戰兢兢):
* → Japanese: 戦(せん)々(せん)恐(きょう)々(きょう) (sensenkyōkyō)
* → Korean: 전전긍긍(戰戰兢兢) (jeonjeon'geunggeung)

CJKV

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

ㄓㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥ

чжаньчжаньцзинцзин

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 195 (《詩經·小雅·小旻》):
:
戰戰兢兢，如臨深淵，如履薄冰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zhànzhàn jīngjīng, rú lín shēnyuān, rú lǚ bóbīng. [Pinyin]
We should be apprehensive and careful,
As if we were on the brink of a deep gulf,
As if we were treading on thin ice.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

zh-x

戰戰.兢兢，如.臨.深淵，如.履.薄冰。

(ideophonic) trembling with fear; apprehensive and careful; fearful and cautious


源遠流長

ㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄤˊ

юаньюаньлючан

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

having a long and rich history; to extend to the dim and distant past


汗牛充棟

(enough books) to make a pack-ox sweat or to fill a house to the rafters

ㄏㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

ханьнючундун

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/


瑕不掩瑜

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄩˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

From the Book of Rites, Book 48 (《禮記·聘義》):
:
夫昔者君子比德於玉焉：溫潤而澤，仁也；縝密以栗，知也；廉而不劌，義也；垂之如隊，禮也；叩之其聲清越以長，其終詘然，樂也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁達，信也；氣如白虹，天也；精神見於山川，地也；圭璋特達，德也。天下莫不貴者，道也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫昔者君子比德于玉焉：温润而泽，仁也；缜密以栗，知也；廉而不刿，义也；垂之如队，礼也；叩之其声清越以长，其终诎然，乐也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁达，信也；气如白虹，天也；精神见于山川，地也；圭璋特达，德也。天下莫不贵者，道也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Fú xīzhě jūnzǐ bǐ dé yú yù yān: wēnrùn ér zé, rén yě; zhěnmì yǐ lì, zhì yě; lián ér bù guì, yì yě; chuí zhī rú zhuì, lǐ yě; kòu zhī qí shēng qīngyuè yǐ cháng, qí zhōng qūrán, yuè yě; xiá bù yǎn yú, yú bù yǎn xiá, zhōng yě; fú yǐn páng dá, xìn yě; qì rú bái hóng, tiān yě; jīngshén jiàn yú shānchuān, dì yě; guī zhāng tè dá, dé yě. Tiānxià mò bù guì zhě, dào yě. [Pinyin]
Anciently superior men found the likeness of all excellent qualities in jade. Soft, smooth, and glossy, it appeared to them like benevolence; fine, compact, and strong - like intelligence; angular, but not sharp and cutting - like righteousness; hanging down (in beads) as if it would fall to the ground - like (the humility of) propriety; when struck, yielding a note, clear and prolonged, yet terminating abruptly - like music; its flaws not concealing its beauty, nor its beauty concealing its flaws - like loyalty; with an internal radiance issuing from it on every side - like good faith; bright as a brilliant rainbow - like heaven; exquisite and mysterious, appearing in the hills and streams - like the earth; standing out conspicuous in the symbols of rank - like virtue; esteemed by all under the sky, - like the path of truth and duty.

夫{fú} 昔者 君子 比 德 於 玉 焉：溫潤 而 澤，仁 也；縝密 以 栗，知{zhì} 也；廉 而 不 劌，義 也；垂 之 如 隊{zhuì}，禮 也；叩 之 其 聲 清越 以 長，其 終 詘-然，樂 也；瑕.不.掩.瑜、瑜 不 掩 瑕，忠 也；孚 尹 旁 達，信 也；氣 如 白 虹，天 也；精神 見 於 山川，地 也；圭 璋 特 達，德 也。天下 莫 不 貴 者，道 也。

a blemish does not obscure jade's luster

small defects cannot obscure the great virtues; the pros outweigh the cons


子虛烏有

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(figurative) fictitious; nonexistent; made-up; fabricated


蠅營狗苟

ㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄍㄡˇ

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

朝悔其行，暮已復然。蠅營狗苟，驅去復還。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
朝悔其行，暮已复然。蝇营狗苟，驱去复还。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tang Dynasty, Han Yu, 《送窮文》
Zhāo huǐ qí xíng, mù yǐ fù rán. Yíngyínggǒugǒu, qū qù fù huán. [Pinyin]
In the morning, I regret my behavior, but in the evening, it all returns to the same. The five ghosts attached to me, I can't drive them away. (This is to say that he holds his good qualities very firmly, hence 蠅營狗苟 here should be understood literally.)

朝{zhāo} 悔 其 行，暮 已 復 然。蠅營狗苟，驅 去 復 還{huán}。

swarm as flies do for good; hang round as dogs do for food

(figuratively) to shamelessly seek personal gain; profit by ingratiating oneself with the rich


理屈詞窮

reasons are faulty and words have run out

ㄌㄧˇ ㄑㄩ ㄘˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

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

to be unable to put forth any convincing arguments to justify one's opinion; to not have a leg to stand on


言外之意

ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄓ ㄧˋ

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

unsaid meaning of one's words; unspoken implication


長年累月

ㄔㄤˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄩㄝˋ

чанняньлэйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

over many years and months; year in, year out


梅開二度

ㄇㄟˊ ㄎㄞ ㄦˋ ㄉㄨˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

to do the same thing twice (e.g. to remarry or score twice in a game)


一點一滴

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

zh-l

點滴／点滴 (diǎndī)


鱗次櫛比

parallelly lined up like fish scales and teeth of a comb

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄧˇ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄧˋ

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

(usually of buildings) row upon row; tightly packed


一竅不通

doesn't (even) enter a single aperture (of one's head)

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

it's all Greek to me
it's all Greek to me

to not understand a thing about the topic; it's all Greek to me


多愁善感

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄔㄡˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄍㄢˇ

дочоушаньгань

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

melancholy and moody; depressed personality


嘆為觀止

ㄊㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓˇ

таньвэйгуаньчжи

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

吳公子札來聘……見舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之無不幬也，如地之無不載也。雖甚盛德，其蔑以加於此矣，觀止矣。若有他樂，吾不敢請已。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吴公子札来聘……见舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之无不帱也，如地之无不载也。虽甚盛德，其蔑以加于此矣，观止矣。若有他乐，吾不敢请已。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Wú Gōngzǐ Zhá lái pìn...... Jiàn wǔ “Sháoxiāo” zhě, yuē: ‘Dé zhì yǐ zāi, dà yǐ! Rú tiān zhī wú bù chóu yě, rú dì zhī wú bù zǎi yě. Suī shèn shèng dé, qí miè yǐ jiā yú cǐ yǐ, guān zhǐ yǐ. Ruò yǒu tā yuè, wú bù gǎn qǐng yǐ. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

^吳 ^公子 ^札 來 聘……見 舞《^韶箾》者，曰：‘德 至 矣 哉，大 矣！如 天 之 無 不 幬 也，如 地 之 無 不 載 也。雖 甚 盛.德，其 蔑 以 加 於 此 矣，觀.止 矣。若 有 他 樂，吾 不 敢 請 已。

叹为观止
歎為觀止
嘆爲觀止
歎爲觀止

to gasp in amazement; to acclaim as the peak of perfection


請君入甕

ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄥˋ

цинцзюньжувэн

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

From the story of Lai Junchen's questioning of Zhou Xing, who were both secret police officials and famous for torturing dissidents:
:
唐秋官侍郎周興與來俊臣對推事。俊臣別奉進止鞫興，興不之知也。及同食，謂興曰：「囚多不肯承，若為作法？」興曰：「甚易也。取大甕，以炭四面炙之，令囚人處之其中，何事不吐！」即索大甕，以火圍之，起謂興曰：「有內狀勘老兄，請兄入此甕。」興惶恐叩頭，咸即款伏。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]唐秋官侍郎周兴与来俊臣对推事。俊臣别奉进止鞫兴，兴不之知也。及同食，谓兴曰：「囚多不肯承，若为作法？」兴曰：「甚易也。取大瓮，以炭四面炙之，令囚人处之其中，何事不吐！」即索大瓮，以火围之，起谓兴曰：「有内状勘老兄，请兄入此瓮。」兴惶恐叩头，咸即款伏。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 7ᵗʰ century CE, Zhang Zhuo, Chaoye Qianzai (《朝野僉載》)
Táng qiūguān shìláng zhōuxìng yǔ láijùnchén duì tuīshì. Jùnchén bié fèngjìnzhǐ jū xìng, xìng bù zhī zhī yě. Jí tóng shí, wèi xìng yuē: “Qiú duō bùkěn chéng, ruò wèi zuòfǎ?” Xìng yuē: “Shèn yì yě. Qǔ dà wèng, yǐ tàn sìmiàn zhì zhī, lìng qiúrén chù zhī qí zhōng, héshì bù tù!” Jí suǒ dà wèng, yǐ huǒ wéi zhī, qǐ wèi xìng yuē: “Yǒu nèizhuàng kān lǎoxiōng, qǐng xiōng rù cǐ wèng.” Xìng huángkǒng kòutóu, xián jí kuǎnfú. [Pinyin]
In the Tang Dynasty, Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were judges of the Ministry of Justice. One day, Lai Junchen received an edict [from Wu Zetian] to interrogate Zhou Xing [about his suspected crimes], and Zhou did not know about that. When they were having lunch, Lai asked Zhou, "Most of the criminals are not willing to admit [their crimes]. How would you deal with them then?" Zhou then answered, "That's easy. Get a big jar, heat it with charcoal, then ask the criminal to get into it. He'll definitely admit everything." Lai then [ordered someone to] take a big jar [for him] and then set up fire around the jar. He stood up and then told Zhou, "I received an order [from her Majesty] to question you. Now, please get into this jar." Zhou then panicked and kowtowed, and then pleaded guilty immediately.

唐 @秋官 侍郎 @周興 與 @來俊臣 對 推事。@俊臣 別 奉進止 鞫 @興，@興 不 之 知 也。 及 同 食，謂 @興 曰：「 囚 多 不肯 承， 若 為 作法？」@興 曰 ：「 甚 易 也 。 取 大 甕 ， 以 炭 四面 炙 之 ， 令 囚人 處 之 其 中 ， 何事 不 吐 ！」 即 索 大 甕 ， 以 火 圍 之 ， 起 謂 興 曰 ：「 有 內狀 勘 老兄 ， 請 兄 入 此 甕。」 @興 惶恐 叩頭 ， 咸 即 款伏 。

In the Tang Dynasty, Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were judges of the Ministry of Justice. One day, Lai Junchen received an edict 􂀿from Wu Zetian􂁀 to interrogate Zhou Xing 􂀿about his suspected crimes􂁀, and Zhou did not know about that. When they were having lunch, Lai asked Zhou, "Most of the criminals are not willing to admit 􂀿their crimes􂁀. How would you deal with them then?" Zhou then answered, "That's easy. Get a big jar, heat it with charcoal, then ask the criminal to get into it. He'll definitely admit everything." Lai then 􂀿ordered someone to􂁀 take a big jar 􂀿for him􂁀 and then set up fire around the jar. He stood up and then told Zhou, "I received an order 􂀿from her Majesty􂁀 to question you. Now, please get into this jar." Zhou then panicked and kowtowed, and then pleaded guilty immediately.

7ᵗʰ century <small class='ce-date'>CE</small>, Zhang Zhuo, Chaoye Qianzai (《朝野僉載》)

pay back in someone's own coin
pay back in someone's own coin

taste of his/her own medicine
taste of one's own medicine

to pay back in someone's own coin; to give someone a taste of his/her own medicine; to make someone's act backfire on him or her; to treat someone in his or her own ways

Lai Junchen
Ministry of Justice (Imperial China)
Tang Dynasty
Wu Zetian
Zhou Xing (secret police official)
zh:張鷟

以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身

yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn


即以其人之道，還治其人之身

head

即以其人之道，還治其人之身

即以其人之道，还治其人之身

jí yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄕㄣ

jí yǐ cí rén jhih dào, huán jhìh cí rén jhih shen

chi² i³ chʻi² jên² chih¹ tao⁴, huan² chih⁴ chʻi² jên² chih¹ shên¹

jí yǐ chí rén jr̄ dàu-, hwán jr̀ chí rén jr̄ shēn

jyi yii chyi ren jy daw, hwan jyh chyi ren jy shen

цзи и ци жэнь чжи дао

хуань чжи ци жэнь чжи шэнь

xuanʹ čži ci žɛnʹ čži šɛnʹ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

以其人之道，還治其人之身 以其人之道，還治其人之身#Chinese

以其人之道，还治其人之身 以其人之道，还治其人之身#Chinese

Synonym of 以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身 (yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn)


捧腹大笑

ㄆㄥˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

to laugh uproariously; to burst out laughing


火冒三丈

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄙㄢ ㄓㄤˋ

хомаосаньчжан

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

to fly into a rage; to flare up; to lose one's temper


權宜之計

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

цюаньичжицзи

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

expedient measure; stopgap; makeshift stratagem


一家之主

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/


子曰詩云

The master spoke; the Classic of Poetry said

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/


不予置評

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄓˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

警方對這些報道不予置評。 [MSC, trad.]
警方对这些报道不予置评。 [MSC, simp.]

The police has refused to comment on these reports.

Jǐngfāng duì zhèxiē bàodào bùyǔzhìpíng. [Pinyin]


狐朋狗友

ㄏㄨˊ ㄆㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(derogatory) disreputable friends; evil associates; gang of scoundrels


青出於藍，而勝於藍

thecolor blue is made out of indigo, but is better than indigo

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

ㄦˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

cing¹ ceot¹ jyu¹ laam⁴, ji⁴ sing³ jyu¹ laam⁴

chʻing¹ chʻu¹ yü² lan², êrh² shêng⁴ yü² lan²

цин чу юй лань

эр шэн юй лань

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ län³⁵/

tsing¹ tsoet⁷ jy¹ laam⁴, ji⁴ sing³ jy¹ laam⁴

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹ jiː²¹ sɪŋ³³ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

青出於藍，而青於藍 青出於藍，而青於藍#Chinese

青出于蓝，而青于蓝 青出于蓝，而青于蓝#Chinese

Synonym of 青出於藍，而青於藍／青出于蓝，而青于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán, ér qīng yú lán)


當仁不讓

ㄉㄤ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

данжэньбужан

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):
:
子曰：「當仁不讓於師。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「当仁不让于师。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Dāng rén bù ràng yú shī.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher."

zh-x

^子曰：「當.仁.不.讓 於 師。」

to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others


聽了風就是雨

to presume it'll rain once (one) hears wind

ㄊㄧㄥ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄩˇ

тин лэ фэн цзю ши юй

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ lə² fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to easily believe in hearsay; to overreact to rumors


久假不歸

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

Originally, “to borrow the name of renyi (benevolence and righteousness) without actually practicing them”. From Jin Xin I of Mencius:
:
孟子曰：「堯舜，性之也；湯武，身之也；五霸，假之也。久假而不歸，惡知其非有也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰：「尧舜，性之也；汤武，身之也；五霸，假之也。久假而不归，恶知其非有也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Mèngzǐ yuē: “Yáo Shùn, xìng zhī yě; Tāng Wǔ, shēn zhī yě; wǔ bà, jiǎ zhī yě. Jiǔ jiǎ ér bù guī, wū zhī qí fēi yǒu yě.” [Pinyin]
Mencius said, 'Benevolence and righteousness were natural to Yao and Shun. Tang and Wu made them their own. The five chiefs of the princes feigned them. Having borrowed them long and not returned them, how could it be known they did not own them?'

^孟子 曰：「^堯 ^舜，性 之 也；^湯 ^武，身 之 也；五 霸，假 之 也。久 假 而 不 歸，惡{wū} 知 其 非 有 也。」

to borrow something and not return it for a long time


天生一對

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

тяньшэнъидуй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³/

a couple who were made for each other; a perfectly matching pair


期期艾艾

ㄑㄧˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄞˋ ㄞˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ ŋaːi̯²² ŋaːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ ŋaːi̯²² ŋaːi̯²²/

昌為人口吃，又盛怒，曰：‘臣口不能言，然臣期期知其不可。’ [Classical Chinese, trad.]昌为人口吃，又盛怒，曰：‘臣口不能言，然臣期期知其不可。’ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Chāng wèi rén kǒuchī, yòu shèngnù, yuē: ‘Chén kǒu bù néng yán, rán chén qīqī zhī qí bùkě.’ [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)
鄧艾口吃，語稱艾艾。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]邓艾口吃，语称艾艾。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE
Dèng Ài kǒuchī, yǔ chēng ài'ài. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^昌 為 人 口吃，又 盛怒，曰：‘臣 口 不 能 言，然 臣 期期 知 其 不可。’

^鄧 ^艾 口吃，語 稱 艾艾。


陰差陽錯

ㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄧㄤˊ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/in⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/in⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔː³³/

Constructed from 陰陽／阴阳 (yīnyáng) and 差錯／差错 (chācuò).

an accident, mistake or event arising from many different unforeseen causes; a strange combination of circumstances; accidentally; serendipitously


壁立千仞

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˋ

билицяньжэнь

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹/


在劫難逃

ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄊㄠˊ

цзайцзенаньтао

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

(originally Buddhism) there is no escaping fate; inexorably doomed


沐猴而冠

ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄡˊ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

мухоуэргуань

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ kuːn³³/

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ kuːn³³/


無可厚非

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄈㄟ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ hɐu̯¹³ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kau³⁵⁻¹¹ hui³³/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ hɐu̯¹³ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kau³⁵⁻¹¹ hui³³/

not altogether inexcusable; hard to blame; reasonable; understandable


泣不成聲

ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to choke with sobs; to cry so much that one cannot utter a word


深思熟慮

ㄕㄣ ㄙ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄙ ㄕㄡˊ ㄌㄩˋ

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ ly⁵¹/

шэньсышоулюй

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lɵy̯²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lɵy̯²²/

經過一番深思熟慮後做出的決定 [MSC, trad.]
经过一番深思熟虑后做出的决定 [MSC, simp.]

jīngguò yī fān shēnsīshúlǜ hòu zuòchū de juédìng [Pinyin]

deliberation; deep and careful consideration


人艱不拆

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄞ

жэньцзяньбучай

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

From a line in the lyrics of Lying (《說謊》), a 2009 song by Yoga Lin, condensed to resemble a four-character chengyu (idiom):
:
別說我說謊 人生已經如此地艱難 有些事情 就不要拆穿 [MSC, trad.]别说我说谎 人生已经如此地艰难 有些事情 就不要拆穿 [MSC, simp.]
bié shuō wǒ shuōhuǎng, rénshēng yǐjīng rúcǐ de jiānnán, yǒuxiē shìqíng, jiù bùyào chāichuān [Pinyin]
Don't say that I'm lying;
Life has been so hard already;
Some things,
Are better not exposed.

別 說 我 說謊　人生 已經 如此 地{de} 艱難　有些 事情　就 不要 拆穿

(neologism, slang, humorous) Life is hard already; some things need not be revealed.


膽小如鼠

ㄉㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨˇ

/tän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ syː³⁵/

/taːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ syː³⁵/

to be timid as a mouse; to be very timid


忠言逆耳

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄧˋ ㄦˇ

чжунъяньниэр

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ni⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚²¹ jiː¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ni⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚²¹ jiː¹³/

From Shiji:
:
且忠言逆耳利於行，毒藥苦口利於病，願沛公聽樊噲言！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]且忠言逆耳利于行，毒药苦口利于病，愿沛公听樊哙言！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Qiě zhōngyánnì'ěr lì yú xíng, dúyào kǔkǒu lì yú bìng, yuàn Pèigōng tīng Fán Kuài yán! [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

zh-q

且 忠言逆耳 利 於 行，毒藥 苦口 利 於 病，願 ^沛公 聽 ^樊 ^噲 言！

sincere advice may be unpleasant to the ear (but it is beneficial)


置若罔聞

ㄓˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄨㄣˊ

чжижованвэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ mɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ mɐn²¹/


兵戎相見

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

бинжунсянцзянь

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³/


痴人說夢

ㄔ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄇㄥˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ syːt̚³ mʊŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ syːt̚³ mʊŋ²²/


皮裡陽秋

ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄡ

/pʰi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/


舊雨新知

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄩˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓ

цзююйсиньчжи

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


青燈黃卷

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

циндэнхуанцзюань

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/


仰之彌高

ㄧㄤˇ ㄓ ㄇㄧˊ ㄍㄠ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
:
顏淵喟然歎曰「仰之彌高，鑽之彌堅，瞻之在前，忽焉在後！…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]颜渊喟然叹曰「仰之弥高，钻之弥坚，瞻之在前，忽焉在后！…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yán Yuān kuìrán tàn yuē “yǎng zhī mí gāo, zuān zhī mí jiān, zhān zhī zài qián, hū yān zài hòu!...... [Pinyin]
Yan Yuan, in admiration of the Master's doctrines, sighed and said, "I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I tried to penetrate them, and they seemed to become more firm; I looked at them before me, and suddenly they seemed to be behind.…

zh-x

^@顏 ^@淵 喟然 歎 曰「仰.之.彌.高，鑽{zuān} 之 彌 堅，瞻 之 在 前，忽 焉 在 後！……

the more looked up at, the higher it seems


不分軒輊

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ ㄒㄩㄢ ㄓˋ

буфэньсюаньчжи

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/


斤斤計較

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзиньцзиньцзицзяо

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kaːu̯³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kaːu̯³³/

to fuss over minor matters; to split hairs


甚囂塵上

ㄕㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄔㄣˊ ㄕㄤˋ

шэньсяочэньшан

/ʂən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹ sœːŋ²²/

/ʂən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹ sœːŋ²²/

但是近來的妥協空氣，反共聲浪，忽又甚囂塵上，又把全國人民打入悶葫蘆裡了。 [MSC, trad.]
但是近来的妥协空气，反共声浪，忽又甚嚣尘上，又把全国人民打入闷葫芦里了。 [MSC, simp.]

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

Of late, however, the dust and din of compromise and anti-communism have once again filled the air, and once again the people are thrown into bewilderment.

Dànshì jìnlái de tuǒxié kōngqì, fǎngòng shēnglàng, hū yòu shènxiāochénshàng, yòu bǎ quánguó rénmín dǎrù mènhúlu lǐ le. [Pinyin]


桑間濮上

ㄙㄤ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄆㄨˊ ㄕㄤˋ

санцзяньпушан

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ pʊk̚² sœːŋ²²/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ pʊk̚² sœːŋ²²/


文不加點

ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇ

вэньбуцзядянь

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵/

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵/

to write a flawless essay in one go; to be quick-witted and skilled at writing compositions


滿城風雨

ㄇㄢˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ

маньчэнфэнъюй

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siã²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siã²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹/


五福臨門

ㄨˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄇㄣˊ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ fʊk̚⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ fʊk̚⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

may the five blessings descend upon this home (namely: longevity, wealth, health, virtue and a natural death)


魂飛魄散

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄟ ㄆㄛˋ ㄙㄢˋ

хуньфэйпосань

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ saːn³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ saːn³³/

to be frightened stiff, spooked out of one's mind, terror-stricken


懷璧其罪

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

хуайбицицзуй

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯²²/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯²²/

From Zuo Zhuan (《左傳·桓公十年》):
:
初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗獻。既而悔之。曰：「周諺有之：『匹夫無罪，懷璧其罪。』吾焉用此，其以賈害也？」乃獻。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗献。既而悔之。曰：「周谚有之：『匹夫无罪，怀璧其罪。』吾焉用此，其以贾害也？」乃献。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Chū, Yú Shū yǒu yù, Yú Gōng qiú zhān. Fú xiàn. Jì ér huǐ zhī. Yuē: “Zhōu yàn yǒu zhī: ‘Pǐfū wú zuì, huái bì qí zuì.’ Wú yān yòng cǐ, qí yǐ gǔ hài yě?” Nǎi xiàn. [Pinyin]
The 3rd brother of the duke of Yu had a valuable piece of jade, which the duke asked of him. He refused it, but afterwards repented, saying, "There is the proverb in Zhou, 'A man may have no crime; — that he keeps his bi is his crime.' This jade is of no use to me; — shall I buy my hurt with it?" He then presented it to the duke.

初，^虞 ^叔 有 玉，^虞 ^公 求 旃。弗 獻。既 而 悔 之。曰：「周 諺 有 之：『匹夫 無 罪，懷.璧.其.罪。』吾 焉 用 此，其 以 賈 害 也？」乃 獻。

to get into trouble on account of a cherished item, fig. A person's talent will arouse the envy of others.


心懷叵測

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄆㄛˇ ㄘㄜˋ

синьхуайпоцэ

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

to harbour unfathomable motives; to have sinister intentions


城門失火，殃及池魚

afire in the city gates is also a calamity for the fish in the moat

ㄔㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˊ ㄔˊ ㄩˊ

sing⁴ mun⁴ sat¹ fo², joeng¹ kap⁶ ci⁴ jyu⁴

чэнмэнь шихо

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵/

sing⁴ mun⁴ sat⁷ fo², joeng¹ kap⁹ tsi⁴ jy⁴

/sɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sɐt̚⁵ fɔː³⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚² t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹/

(figurative) to suffer as a bystander; to get caught in the crossfire


司空見慣

ㄙ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

сыкунцзяньгуань

/sz̩⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kʷaːn³³/

/si³³⁻²³ kʰoŋ³³⁻²³ kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kuaŋ²¹³/

/sz̩⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kʷaːn³³/

/si³³⁻²³ kʰoŋ³³⁻²³ kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kuaŋ²¹³/

劉尚書禹錫罷和州……李司空罷鎮在京，慕劉名，嘗邀至第中，厚設飲饌。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。劉於席上賦詩曰：‘……春風一曲《杜韋娘》。司空見慣渾閑事，斷盡江南刺史腸。’ [Classical Chinese, trad.]刘尚书禹锡罢和州……李司空罢镇在京，慕刘名，尝邀至第中，厚设饮馔。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。刘于席上赋诗曰：‘……春风一曲《杜韦娘》。司空见惯浑闲事，断尽江南刺史肠。’ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 唐·孟棨《本事詩•情感》
Liú Shàngshū Yǔxī bà Hézhōu...... Lǐ Sīkōng bà zhèn zài jīng, mù Liú míng, cháng yāo zhì dì zhōng, hòu shè yǐnzhuàn. Jiǔ hān, mìng miàojì gē yǐ sòng zhī. Liú yú xí shàng fù shī yuē: ‘...... Chūnfēng yī qū “Dù Wéiniáng”. Sīkōng jiàn guàn hún xiánshì, duàn jìn Jiāngnán cìshǐ cháng.’ [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^劉 ^尚書 ^禹-錫 罷 ^和州……^李 ^司空 罷 鎮 在 京，慕 ^劉 名，嘗 邀 至 第 中，厚 設 飲饌。酒 酣，命 妙妓 歌 以 送 之。^劉 於 席 上 賦 詩 曰：‘……春風 一 曲《^杜 ^韋-娘》。^司空.見.慣 渾 閑事，斷 盡 ^江南 刺史 腸。’

唐·孟棨《本事詩•情感》


後來居上

ㄏㄡˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄐㄩ ㄕㄤˋ

хоулайцзюйшан

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³/

/hɔ²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/au³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ³³/

/au³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³/

/hɔ²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/au³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ³³/

/au³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

From a sarcastic comment by Ji An (汲黯) to the Emperor Wu of Han:
陛下用群臣如積薪耳，後來者居上。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]陛下用群臣如积薪耳，后来者居上。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Bìxià yòng qúnchén rú jīxīn ěr, hòu lái zhě jū shàng. [Pinyin]
The way Your Majesty manages your ministers is like nothing but keeping firewood in a pile: it is the late-comers that get the top position.

陛下 用 群臣 如 積-薪 耳，@後 @來 者 @居 @上。

the up-and-coming youngster outstrips the older generation; the pupil surpasses the master


鐘鳴鼎食

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄕˊ

чжунминдинши

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪk̚²/

閭閻撲地，鐘鳴鼎食之家。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
闾阎扑地，钟鸣鼎食之家。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

Lǘyánpūdì, zhōngmíngdǐngshí zhī jiā. [Pinyin]


充耳不聞

to stuff one's ears and pretend not to hear

ㄔㄨㄥ ㄦˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˊ

чунъэрбувэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰoŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ buŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰoŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ buŋ³⁵/


壽比南山

ㄕㄡˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

шоубинаньшань

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² pei̯³⁵ naːm²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/siu³³⁻¹¹ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/siu³³⁻²¹ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lam²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/siu¹¹ pi⁵²⁻³⁵ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sũã³³/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² pei̯³⁵ naːm²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/siu³³⁻¹¹ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/siu³³⁻²¹ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lam²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/siu¹¹ pi⁵²⁻³⁵ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sũã³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 166 (《詩經·小雅·天保》):
:
如南山之壽，不騫不崩。
如松柏之茂，無不爾或承。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]如南山之寿，不骞不崩。
如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rú nánshān zhī shòu, bù qiān bù bēng.
Rú sōngbǎi zhī mào, wú bù ěr huò chéng. [Pinyin]
Like the age of the southern hills, Never waning, never falling,
Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; May such be thy succeeding line!

lang

(《詩經·小雅·天保》)

(《詩經·小雅·天保》)

zh-x

如 @南山 之 @壽，不 騫 不 崩。
如 松柏 之 茂，無 不 爾 或 承。

[One's] life is as long-lasting as theZhongnan Mountains


墓木已拱

ㄇㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥˇ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː¹³ kʊŋ³⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː¹³ kʊŋ³⁵/

Originally from a curse uttered by the Duke Mu of Qin to Jianshu:
爾何知！中壽，爾墓之木拱矣！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]尔何知！中寿，尔墓之木拱矣！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Ěr hé zhī! Zhōngshòu, ěr mù zhī mù gǒng yǐ! [Pinyin]
What do you know! Had you, old thing, died at an average age, trees by your grave would have grown larger trunks than what could be embraced with both arms!

爾 何 知！中-壽，爾 @墓 之 @木 @拱 矣！


背井離鄉

ㄅㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

бэйцзинлисян

/peɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/peɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

to leave one's native place and move elsewhere


穩操勝券

ㄨㄣˇ ㄘㄠ ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ

вэньцаошэнцюань

/wən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ kyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ hyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ kyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ hyːn³³/

grasp it and victory is assured, to have success within one's grasp


如坐針氈

ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄣ ㄓㄢ

жуцзочжэньчжань

žuczočžɛnʹčžanʹ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵/


人盡可夫

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄨ

жэньцзинькэфу

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɵn²² hɔː³⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɵn²² hɔː³⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

(often derogatory, of a woman) having loose morals; being promiscuous


尾大不掉

ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯¹³ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

/bue⁵²⁻³⁵ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiau¹¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯¹³ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

/bue⁵²⁻³⁵ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiau¹¹/

From Zuo Zhuan:
:
末大必折，尾大不掉，君所知也。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Mòdàbìzhé, wěidàbùdiào, jūn suǒ zhī yě. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

末大必折，尾大不掉，君 所 知 也。

a subordinate becomes too powerful for their superior to control


兔死狐悲

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (兔死狐悲):
* → Korean: 토사호비(兎死狐悲) (tosahobi)

ja-r

兎死すれば狐これを悲しむ

うさぎ しすれば きつね これ を かなしむ

→ Japanese: 兎死(うさぎし)すれば狐(きつね)これを悲(かな)しむ (usagi shisureba kitsune kore o kanashimu) (calque)

ㄊㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄟ

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ wuː²¹ pei̯⁵⁵/

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ wuː²¹ pei̯⁵⁵/

(figurative) to have sympathy with a like-minded person in distress


咄咄怪事

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄕˋ

ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄕˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³ siː²²/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³ siː²²/

strange business; absurdity; extraordinary thing; paradoxical matter


牝雞司晨

ㄆㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧ ㄙ ㄔㄣˊ

пиньцзисычэнь

/pʰin⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pʰɐn¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

/pʰin⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pʰɐn¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

Based on an ancient saying quoted in the Book of Documents:
*
古人有言曰：『牝雞無晨。牝雞之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟婦言是用。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]古人有言曰：『牝鸡无晨。牝鸡之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟妇言是用。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 7ᵗʰ – 4ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Gǔrén yǒu yán yuē: ‘Pìnjī wú chén. Pìnjī zhī chén, wéi jiā zhī suǒ.’ Jīn Shāngwáng Shòu, wéi fùyán shì yòng. [Pinyin]
The ancients have said, "The hen does not announce the morning. The crowing of a hen in the morning (indicates) the subversion of the family." Now Shou, the king of Shang, follows only the words of his wife.

zh-x

古人 有 言 曰：『@牝雞 無 @晨。@牝雞 之 @晨，惟 家 之 索。』今 ^商-王 ^受，惟 婦-言 是 用。

(figurative, derogatory) a woman usurps authority, women meddle in politics, the female wears the trousers.

Book of Documents
Da Ji
King Zhou of Shang


不欺暗室

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄢˋ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄢˋ ㄕˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


玉樹臨風

ㄩˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄈㄥ

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ lin³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² syː²² lɐm²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ lin³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² syː²² lɐm²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

From the poem "飲中八仙歌" written by Du Fu (杜甫) during the Tang dynasty:
:
宗之瀟灑美少年，舉觴白眼望青天，皎如玉樹臨風前。 [MSC, trad.]宗之潇洒美少年，举觞白眼望青天，皎如玉树临风前。 [MSC, simp.]
Zōngzhī xiāosǎ měishàonián, jǔ shāng báiyǎn wàng qīngtiān, jiǎo rú yùshù lín fēng qián. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^@宗之 瀟灑 美少年，舉 觴 白眼 望 青天，皎 如 玉樹 臨 風 前。

(of a male) to be extraordinarily talented and good-looking


順手牽羊

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄤˊ

шуньшоуцяньян

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɐu̯³⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²⁴/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɐu̯³⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²⁴/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³/

(figurative) to steal something under the cover of an emergency; to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain


大快朵頤

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄉㄨㄛˇ ㄧˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ tɔː³⁵ jiː²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ tɔː³⁵ jiː²¹/


名列前茅

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄠˊ

минлецяньмао

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ maːu̯²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ maːu̯²¹/


蒲柳之姿

ㄆㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄓ ㄗ

/pʰu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/pʰu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/


食言而肥

ㄕˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ fei̯²¹/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hui²⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ pui²³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ fei̯²¹/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hui²⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ pui²³/


野心勃勃

ㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


一言以蔽之

desc

→ Japanese: 一言以って之を蔽う (ichigen motte kore o ōu) (calque)

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄓ

yīyán yǐ bì zhī [Phonetic:yìyán yǐ bì zhī]

иянь и би чжи

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「詩三百，一言以蔽之，曰『思無邪』。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「诗三百，一言以蔽之，曰『思无邪』。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Shī sānbǎi, yīyán yǐ bì zhī, yuē ‘sīwúxié’.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "In the Book of Poetry are three hundred pieces, but the design of them all may be embraced in one sentence — 'Having no depraved thoughts.'"

zh-x

^子曰：「^詩 三百，一言.以.蔽.之，曰『思無邪』。」


集腋成裘

collect underarm fur (of a fox) to make a fur coat

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² jɪk̚² sɪŋ²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² jɪk̚² sɪŋ²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

many small contributions add up to something big; many a mickle makes a muckle


爭分奪秒

ㄓㄥ ㄈㄣ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄠˇ

чжэнфэньдомяо

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tyːt̚² miːu̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tyːt̚² miːu̯¹³/

to seize every minute; to race against time


恬不知恥

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄔˇ

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


分秒必爭

ㄈㄣ ㄇㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄥ

фэньмяобичжэн

/fən⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³ piːt̚⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² biau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/huŋ³³⁻²³ miau⁵²⁻³⁵ pik̚²⁻⁴ t͡sẽ³³/

/fən⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³ piːt̚⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² biau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/huŋ³³⁻²³ miau⁵²⁻³⁵ pik̚²⁻⁴ t͡sẽ³³/

to grasp every minute; to make full use of one's time


不虛此行

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩ ㄘ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

(figurative) it has been worthwhile; the journey has not been made in vain; the journey has been well worthwhile


圍魏救趙

to besiege theState of Wei to rescue the State of Zhao

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄠˋ

вэйвэйцзючжао

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²² kɐu̯³³ t͡siːu̯²²/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²² kɐu̯³³ t͡siːu̯²²/

(figurative) to relieve a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers


以逸待勞

ㄧˇ ㄧˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄌㄠˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐt̚² tɔːi̯²² lou̯²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐt̚² tɔːi̯²² lou̯²¹/

to wait at one's ease for the exhausted enemy; to nurture one's strength and bide one's time


偷樑換柱

to steal a rafter and replace it with a column

ㄊㄡ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨˋ

тоулянхуаньчжу

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wuːn²² t͡sʰyː¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wuːn²² t͡sʰyː¹³/

to replace the original with a fake; to perpetrate a fraud


指桑罵槐

to point at the mulberry tree and curse the pagoda tree

ㄓˇ ㄙㄤ ㄇㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ

чжисанмахуай

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ mä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ maː²² waːi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ mä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ maː²² waːi̯²¹/

to scold someone indirectly; to make oblique accusations


道聽塗說

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (道聽塗說):
* → Japanese: 道(どう)聴(ちょう)塗(と)説(せつ) (dōchōtosetsu)
* → Korean: 도청도설(道聽塗說) (docheongdoseol)

ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄛ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ³³ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ³³ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

From the Analects, Book 17 (《論語·陽貨》):
:
子曰：「道聽而塗說，德之棄也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「道听而涂说，德之弃也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Dào tīng ér tú shuō, dé zhī qì yě.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "To tell, as we go along, what we have heard on the way, is to cast away our virtue."

zh-x

^子曰：「@道.聽 而 @塗.說，德 之 棄 也。」

道听涂说
道聽涂說
道聽途說
道聽途説/道听途说

to tell, as one go along, what they have heard on the way

世上最可笑的是那些「知識裡手」，有了道聽塗說的一知半解，便自封為「天下第一」，適足見其不自量而已。 [MSC, trad.]
世上最可笑的是那些「知识里手」，有了道听涂说的一知半解，便自封为「天下第一」，适足见其不自量而已。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1937, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《實踐論》 (On Practice), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

The most ridiculous person in the world is the “know all” who picks up a smattering of hearsay knowledge and proclaims themselves “the world's Number One authority”; this merely shows that they have not taken a proper measure of themselves.

Shìshàng zuì kěxiào de shì nàxiē “zhīshi lǐshǒu”, yǒu le dàotīngtúshuō de yīzhībànjiě, biàn zìfēng wéi “tiānxiàdìyī”, shì zújiàn qí bùzìliàng éryǐ. [Pinyin]


笑裡藏刀

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄘㄤˊ ㄉㄠ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːu̯³³ lɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːu̯³³ lɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

First used for describing Li Yifu:
:
義府貌狀溫恭，與人語必嬉怡微笑，而褊忌陰賊。既處權要，欲人附己，微忤意者，輒加傾陷。故時人言義府笑中有刀，又以其柔而害物，亦謂之「李貓」。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]义府貌状温恭，与人语必嬉怡微笑，而褊忌阴贼。既处权要，欲人附己，微忤意者，辄加倾陷。故时人言义府笑中有刀，又以其柔而害物，亦谓之「李猫」。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Old Book of Tang, 945 CE
Yìfǔ màozhuàng wēngōng, yǔ rén yǔ bì xīyí wēixiào, ér biǎnjì yīnzéi. Jì chù quányào, yù rén fù jǐ, wēi wǔ yì zhě, zhé jiā qīngxiàn. Gù shírén yán yìfǔ xiào zhōng yǒu dāo, yòu yǐ qí róu ér hài wù, yì wèi zhī “Lǐ māo”. [Pinyin]
Li Yifu appeared to be mild and humble. When he was talking to others, he was always smiling. However, he was actually full of treachery and machinations. When he rose to power, he demanded people to follow him. He would set up anyone who violated his ideas. Therefore, people at that time said that he had knives in his smile, and he was also referred to as "Cat Li", referring to his insincere smiles.

@^義府 貌狀 溫恭 ， 與 人 語 必 嬉怡 微笑 ，而 褊忌 陰賊 。 既 處 權要 ， 欲 人 附 己 ， 微 忤 意 者 ， 輒 加 傾陷 。 故 時人 言 @@義府 笑 中 有 刀 ， 又 以 其 柔 而 害 物 ， 亦 謂 之 「@^李 貓」。

wolf in sheep's clothing
wolf in sheep's clothing

to act in a friendly manner with hypocritical intentions; to be a wolf in sheep's clothing


老驥伏櫪

ㄌㄠˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ fu³⁵ li⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ kʰei̯³³ fʊk̚² lɪk̚⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ fu³⁵ li⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ kʰei̯³³ fʊk̚² lɪk̚⁵/

From a poem by Cao Cao:
:
老驥伏櫪，志在千里；烈士暮年，壯心不已。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]老骥伏枥，志在千里；烈士暮年，壮心不已。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 三國·魏·曹操《步出夏門行》
Lǎojì fúlì, zhì zài qiānlǐ; lièshì mùnián, zhuàngxīn bùyǐ. [Pinyin]
The old steed over the manger still has the mind to do a thousand-li journey;
The heroic old man still cherishes lofty ambitions.

老驥.伏櫪，志 在 千里；烈士 暮年，壯心 不已。

三國·魏·曹操《步出夏門行》

an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles

(figurative) an aged person with great aspirations


明修棧道，暗渡陳倉

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄓㄢˋ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄢˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄘㄤ

ming⁴ sau¹ zaan⁶ dou⁶, am³ dou⁶ can⁴ cong¹

минсючжаньдао

аньдучэньцан

/miŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

mìhng sāu jaahn douh, am douh chàhn chōng

ming⁴ sau¹ dzaan⁶ dou⁶, am³ dou⁶ tsan⁴ tsong¹

ming⁴ seo¹ zan⁶ dou⁶, em³ dou⁶ cen⁴ cong¹

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡saːn²² tou̯²² ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Referring to a stratagem used by Liu Bang in 206 BC against Xiang Yu of Chu.

明修栈道，暗渡陈仓
明修棧道，暗度陳倉

repair the plank road openly while secretly crossing [the Wei River] at Chencang

to feign one thing while doing something else; to divert someone's attention towards something while secretly doing something else to achieve one's goal


罄竹難書

ㄑㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

цинчжунаньшу

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ nän³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ naːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ nän³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ naːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

From Lüshi Chunqiu:
:
此皆亂國之所生也，不能勝數，盡荊、越之竹，猶不能書。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]此皆乱国之所生也，不能胜数，尽荆、越之竹，犹不能书。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
Cǐ jiē luàn guó zhī suǒ shēng yě, bùnéng shēng shǔ, jìn Jīng, Yuè zhī zhú, yóu bùnéng shū. [Pinyin]
These weird phenomena were due to political corruption. There were so many of them that it would not be enough to record all even if the bamboos in Jing (also known as Chu) and Yue states were used up.
Another source is from Zu Junyan's letter of declaration of war against Emperor Yang of Sui on behalf of Li Mi, which was also quoted in the Old Book of Tang:
:
罄南山之竹，書罪無窮；決東海之波，流惡難盡。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]罄南山之竹，书罪无穷；决东海之波，流恶难尽。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Old Book of Tang, 945 CE
Qìng Nánshān zhī zhú, shū zuì wúqióng; jué Dōnghǎi zhī bō, liú è nán jìn. [Pinyin]
Even using up the bamboos in Zhongnan Mountains would not be enough to write (Emperor Yang's) crimes; even using up the water in the East Sea would not be enough to wash away his crimes.

此 皆 亂 國 之 所 生 也 ， 不能 勝{shēng} 數{shǔ} ， 盡 ^荊 、 ^越 之 竹 ， 猶 不能 書 。

罄 ^南山 之 竹 ， 書 罪 無窮 @； 決 ^東海 之 波 ， 流 惡 難 盡。

so many that one cannot record all of them onbamboo slips even when they have been exhausted

Chu (state)
East China Sea
Emperor Yang of Sui
Li Mi (Sui Dynasty)
Lüshi Chunqiu
Old Book of Tang
Yue (state)
Zhongnan Mountains


投筆從戎

to lay down the pen and take up the sword

ㄊㄡˊ ㄅㄧˇ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰeu̯¹¹ pit̚² t͡sʰi̯uŋ¹¹ i̯uŋ¹¹/

/tau²³⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ ziɔŋ²³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰeu̯¹¹ pit̚² t͡sʰi̯uŋ¹¹ i̯uŋ¹¹/

/tau²³⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ ziɔŋ²³/


星星之火，可以燎原

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄩㄢˊ

синсин чжи хо

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː¹³ liːu̯²¹ jyːn²¹/

From the Book of Documents:
若火之燎于原，不可嚮邇，其猶可撲滅？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]若火之燎于原，不可向迩，其犹可扑灭？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE
Ruò huǒ zhī liáo yú yuán, bùkě xiàng'ěr, qí yóu kě pūmiè? [Pinyin]
When fire is burning the grassland, one (already) cannot stay near it, then how can one put it out?
Later popularized through a letter from Mao Zedong to Lin Biao (see 星星之火，可以燎原 on the Chinese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ᶻʰ).

若 火 之 燎 於\于 原 ， 不可 向邇\嚮邇 ， 其 猶 可 撲滅 ？

pedia

an insignificant cause can have a massive effect


名門淑女

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨ ㄋㄩˇ

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨˊ ㄋㄩˇ

минмэньшунюй

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/


借屍還魂

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄣˊ

цзешихуаньхунь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ siː⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan²⁴⁻²² hun²⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan¹³⁻²² hun¹³/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hun²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²³⁻³³ hun²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ siː⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan²⁴⁻²² hun²⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan¹³⁻²² hun¹³/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hun²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²³⁻³³ hun²³/

(figurative) a discarded or discredited idea returns in another guise


名門望族

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄨˊ

минмэньванцзу

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊk̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊk̚²/


蕭規曹隨

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄘㄠˊ ㄙㄨㄟˊ

сяогуйцаосуй

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

Xiao and Cao refer to Xiao He and Cao Shen, who are government officials of early Western Han dynasty. When Cao succeeded Xiao's position of grand chancellor, he adhered to Xiao's policies without amendments. First attested in Wen Xuan during Liang dynasty.

to strictly adhere to the policies of the predecessor, to follow precedent

Ministry of Education Mandarin Chinese Dictionary


五十步笑百步

desc

오십보 소백보(五十步笑百步)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (五十步笑百步):
* → Korean: 오십보 소백보(五十步笑百步) (osipbo sobaekbo)

ja-r

ご%じっ%ぽ ひゃっ%ぽ

ご%じゅっ%ぽ ひゃっ%ぽ

⇒ Japanese: 五(ご)十(じっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) (gojippo hyappo), 五(ご)十(じゅっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) (gojuppo hyappo)

desc

오십보 백보(五十步百步)

⇒ Korean: 오십보 백보(五十步百步) (osipbo baekbo)

ㄨˇ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ

уши бу сяо бай бу

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ sɐp̚² pou̯²² siːu̯³³ paːk̚³ pou̯²²/

/ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² pɔ²² t͡sʰio²¹⁻⁵³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pɔ²²/

From a parable in Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》):
:
孟子對曰：「王好戰，請以戰喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，棄甲曳兵而走。或百步而後止，或五十步而後止。以五十步笑百步，則何如？」
曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子对曰：「王好战，请以战喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，弃甲曳兵而走。或百步而后止，或五十步而后止。以五十步笑百步，则何如？」
曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Mèngzǐ duì yuē: “Wáng hàozhàn, qǐng yǐ zhàn yù. Tiánrán gǔ zhī, bīngrèn jì jiē, qì jiǎ yè bīng ér zǒu. Huò bǎi bù ér hòu zhǐ, huò wǔshí bù ér hòu zhǐ. Yǐ wǔshí bù xiào bǎi bù, zé hérú?”
Yuē: “Bùkě, zhí bù bǎi bù ěr, shì yì zǒu yě.” [Pinyin]
Mencius replied, "Your majesty is fond of war - let me take an illustration from war. The soldiers move forward to the sound of the drums; and after their weapons have been crossed, on one side they throw away their coats of mail, trail their arms behind them, and run. Some run a hundred paces and stop; some run fifty paces and stop. What would you think if those who run fifty paces were to laugh at those who run a hundred paces?"
The king said, "They should not do so. Though they did not run a hundred paces, yet they also ran away."

zh-x

孟子 對 曰：「王 好{hào}戰，請 以 戰 喻。填然 鼓 之，兵刃 既 接，棄 甲 曳 兵 而 走。或 百 步 而 後 止，或 五十 步 而 後 止。以 五十.步.笑.百.步，則 何如？」
^曰：「不可，直 不 百 步 耳，是 亦 走 也。」

[the one who has retreated] 50 steps laughs at [the one who has retreated] 100 steps

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black


鞠躬盡瘁

ㄐㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

ㄐㄩˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

цзюйгунцзиньцуй

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕy³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² sɵy̯²²/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕy³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² sɵy̯²²/

to bend oneself to a task and exert oneself to the utmost; to spare no effort in the performance of one's duty


暗渡陳倉

ㄢˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄘㄤ

аньдучэньцан

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²²⁻²¹ tin²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ³³⁻¹¹ tin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ³³⁻²¹ tin²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²²⁻²¹ tin²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ³³⁻¹¹ tin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ³³⁻²¹ tin²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

明修棧道，暗渡陳倉 明修棧道，暗渡陳倉#Chinese

明修栈道，暗渡陈仓 明修栈道，暗渡陈仓#Chinese

Short for 明修棧道，暗渡陳倉／明修栈道，暗渡陈仓 (míngxiūzhàndào, àndùchéncāng, “to do one thing under cover of another”).


隔岸觀火

to watch the fires burning across the river

ㄍㄜˊ ㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

гэаньгуаньхо

/kɤ³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ ŋɔːn²² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/kɤ³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ ŋɔːn²² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to delay entering the fray until all others have been exhausted by fighting amongst themselves


反客為主

ㄈㄢˇ ㄎㄜˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨˇ

фанькэвэйчжу

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn³⁵ haːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn³⁵ haːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

From Romance of the Three Kingdoms:
:
淵為人輕躁，恃勇少謀。可激勸士卒，拔寨前進，步步為營，誘淵來戰而擒之，此乃「反客為主」之法。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]渊为人轻躁，恃勇少谋。可激劝士卒，拔寨前进，步步为营，诱渊来战而擒之，此乃「反客为主」之法。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Yuān wéirén qīngzào, shì yǒng shào móu. Kě jīquàn shìzú, bázhài qiánjìn, bùwéiwèiyíng, yòu Yuān lái zhàn ér qín zhī, cǐ nǎi “fǎnkèwéizhǔ” zhī fǎ. [Pinyin]
This Xiahou Yuan is easily provoked to anger, and being angry he is bold without discretion. Your way now is to work up the enthusiasm of your soldiers, then break camp and advance. Do this in a series of marches, and you will excite him up to the point of giving battle, when you can capture him. They call this the 'Ruse of the Interchange of Host and Guest'.

^淵 為{wéi}人 輕躁，恃 勇 少 謀。可 激勸 士卒，拔寨 前進，步步{wéi}為營，誘 ^淵 來 戰 而 擒 之，此 乃「反客為{wéi}主」之 法。

to make the guest and host exchange roles

to turn the tables; to turn from passive to active behaviour


樹上開花

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ

/ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/syː²² sœːŋ²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/syː²² sœːŋ²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

to deck the tree with false blossoms; to make something of no value appear valuable


擒賊擒王

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

циньцзэйциньван

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

See 射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王／射人先射马，擒贼先擒王 (shè rén xiān shè mǎ, qín zéi xiān qín wáng)

If you want to round up a gang, you must get its chief first; To defeat the enemy, first capture their chief; to defeat the enemy by capturing their chief first


調虎離山

to move the tiger away from the mountain

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄕㄢ

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tiau²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tiau²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

to lure an opponent out; to get rid of an opponent or a problem to achieve one's goal


瞞天過海

to cross the sea without the sky knowing

ㄇㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

маньтяньгохай

/män³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/buan²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ ko²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²³⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/män³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/buan²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ ko²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²³⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

你無法瞞天過海。 [MSC, trad.]
你无法瞒天过海。 [MSC, simp.]

From: Double Indemnity, 1944 (OpenSubtitles)

要是他沒有下令做這個調查她本可以瞞天過海好多年 [MSC, trad.]
要是他没有下令做这个调查她本可以瞒天过海好多年 [MSC, simp.]

From: Glass Houses, 2011 (OpenSubtitles)

If he didn't order this investigation, she could have flown under the radar for years.

yàoshì tā méiyǒu xiàlìng zuò zhège diàochá tā běn kěyǐ mántiānguòhǎi hǎoduō nián [Pinyin]


借刀殺人

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄉㄠ ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

цзедаошажэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tou̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴⁻²² sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ sat̚³²⁻⁴ zin²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tou̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴⁻²² sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ sat̚³²⁻⁴ zin²³/

to get someone else to do one's dirty work; to attack someone using the strength of another


釜底抽薪

to take the firewood out from the bottom of the cauldron

ㄈㄨˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄔㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/


天下無敵

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (天下無敵):
* → Korean: 천하무적(天下無敵) (cheonhamujeok)
* → Vietnamese: thiên hạ vô địch (天下無敵)

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

樹不要皮必死無疑，人不要臉天下無敵／树不要皮必死无疑，人不要脸天下无敌

shù bùyào pí bì sǐ wúyí, rén bùyào liǎn tiānxiàwúdí


懸而未決

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

сюаньэрвэйцзюэ

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jiː²¹ mei̯²² kʰyːt̚³/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jiː²¹ mei̯²² kʰyːt̚³/

pending decision; yet to be settled or resolved


繩之以法

ㄕㄥˊ ㄓ ㄧˇ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ faːt̚³/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵/

/t͡sin¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ faːt̚³/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵/

/t͡sin¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

to punish according to law; to bring to justice


訓練有素

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨˋ

/ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/fɐn³³ liːn²² jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/fɐn³³ liːn²² jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/


紅顏禍水

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

хунъяньхошуй

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ wɔː²² sɵy̯³⁵/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ wɔː²² sɵy̯³⁵/

charming beauty who makes men fall and leads to disasters (such as a loss of wealth or reputation, or a toppled nation); dangerous woman; femme fatale (Classifier: 灘／滩)


好人好事

ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕˋ

хаожэньхаоши

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ hou̯³⁵ siː²²/

/ho⁵²⁻³⁵ naŋ⁵⁵ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ¹¹/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ hou̯³⁵ siː²²/

/ho⁵²⁻³⁵ naŋ⁵⁵ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ¹¹/

表揚好人好事／表扬好人好事


遊手好閒

游手好闲
游手好閒
遊手好閑
游手好閑

ㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄏㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³³ haːn²¹/

/iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃²¹⁻⁵³ han²⁴/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³³ haːn²¹/

/iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃²¹⁻⁵³ han²⁴/


勃然大怒

ㄅㄛˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄨˋ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/


簡明扼要

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄜˋ ㄧㄠˋ

цзяньмин эяо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(of speech or writing) brief, clear, and to the point; concise; succinct


隨心所欲

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/


日新月異

ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄝˋ ㄧˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² sɐn⁵⁵ jyːt̚² jiː²²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² sɐn⁵⁵ jyːt̚² jiː²²/

科學技術的發展日新月異 [MSC, trad.]
科学技术的发展日新月异 [MSC, simp.]

kēxuéjìshù de fāzhǎn rìxīnyuèyì [Pinyin]

日新月異的世界／日新月异的世界

advancing rapidly (especially in an innovative way); everchanging


杳無音信

ㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/


生死攸關

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ

шэнсы югуань

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

生死攸關的問題／生死攸关的问题

生死攸關的時刻／生死攸关的时刻

生死攸關的鬥爭／生死攸关的斗争

廉政建設是關係到黨和國家生死攸關的大事。 [MSC, trad.]
廉政建设是关系到党和国家生死攸关的大事。 [MSC, simp.]

The establishment of a clean and honest administration is a matter of life and death for both the party and the country.

Liánzhèng jiànshè shì guānxì dào dǎng hé guójiā shēngsǐyōuguān de dàshì. [Pinyin]

matter of life and death
matter of life and death


好大喜功

ㄏㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to crave greatness and success; to rejoice in grandiose deeds


整裝待發

ㄓㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄉㄞˋ ㄈㄚ

чжэнчжуандайфа

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² faːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² faːt̚³/

to be fully equipped and ready to set off


安居樂業

ㄢ ㄐㄩ ㄌㄜˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lok̚⁵ ŋi̯ap̚⁵/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² ɡiap̚⁴/

/aŋ³³⁻²³ kɯ³³⁻²³ lak̚⁴⁻² ŋiap̚⁴/

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lok̚⁵ ŋi̯ap̚⁵/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² ɡiap̚⁴/

/aŋ³³⁻²³ kɯ³³⁻²³ lak̚⁴⁻² ŋiap̚⁴/


棒打鴛鴦

ㄅㄤˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄩㄢ ㄧㄤ

банда юаньян

/pɑŋ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰaːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pɑŋ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰaːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/


識文斷字

ㄕˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˋ

ㄕˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˋ

шивэньдуаньцзы

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mɐn²¹ tyːn³³ t͡siː²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mɐn²¹ tyːn³³ t͡siː²²/


枕戈待旦

to keep one's spear by the pillow and await the dawn

ㄓㄣˇ ㄍㄜ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ

ㄓㄣˋ ㄍㄜ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ

чжэньгэдайдань

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³³ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² taːn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³³ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² taːn³³/


不刊之論

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

буканьчжилунь

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

indisputable statement; unalterable truth; irrefutable argument


亦步亦趨

ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄑㄩ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² pou̯²² jɪk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² pou̯²² jɪk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

顏淵問於仲尼曰：「夫子步亦步，夫子趨亦趨，夫子馳亦馳，夫子奔逸絕塵，而回瞠若乎後矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]颜渊问于仲尼曰：「夫子步亦步，夫子趋亦趋，夫子驰亦驰，夫子奔逸绝尘，而回瞠若乎后矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yán Yuān wèn yú Zhòngní yuē: “Fūzǐ bù yìbù, fūzǐ qū yìqū, fūzǐ chí yìchí, fūzǐ bēnyì juéchén, ér Huí chēng ruò hū hòu yǐ.” [Pinyin]
Yan Yuan asked Zhongni, saying, 'Master, when you pace quietly along, I also pace along; when you go more quickly, I also do the same; when you gallop, I also gallop; but when you race along and spurn the dust, then I can only stand and look, and keep behind you.'

zh-x

^顏 ^淵 問 於 ^仲尼 曰：「夫子 @步 @亦-@步，夫子 @趨 @亦-@趨，夫子 馳 亦-馳，夫子 奔-逸 絕塵，而 ^回 瞠 若 乎 後 矣。」

to imitate slavishly; to do what everyone else is doing


一木難支

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² naːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² naːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

"one post cannot hold a falling structure"; just one person cannot save something doomed to fail


相親相愛

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (相親相愛):
* → Vietnamese: tương thân tương ái (相親相愛)

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄞˋ

сянциньсянъай

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːi̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːi̯³³/

在我家，我們相親相愛，相互照顧。 [MSC, trad.]
在我家，我们相亲相爱，相互照顾。 [MSC, simp.]

In my family, we love each other and look after each other.

Zài wǒ jiā, wǒmen xiāngqīnxiāng'ài, xiānghù zhàogù. [Pinyin]


投桃報李

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄠˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pou̯³³ lei̯¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pou̯³³ lei̯¹³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 256 (《詩經·大雅·抑》):
:
投我以桃，報之以李。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]投我以桃，报之以李。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Tóu wǒ yǐ táo, bào zhī yǐ lǐ. [Pinyin]
When one throws to me a peach, I return to him a plum.

zh-x

@投 我 以 @桃，@報 之 以 @李。

to return a favor; to exchange gifts; you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.


兩小無猜

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄘㄞ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ siːu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯⁵⁵/

/liã²² ɕiɔ⁵⁵ ɦu³³ t͡sʰø²¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ siːu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯⁵⁵/

/liã²² ɕiɔ⁵⁵ ɦu³³ t͡sʰø²¹/

zh-l

青梅竹馬／青梅竹马 (qīngméizhúmǎ)

(of boy and girl) becoming innocent playmates


輕而易舉

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ ㄐㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɪk̚² kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ ku⁵³/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ki⁴¹/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ku⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɪk̚² kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ ku⁵³/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ki⁴¹/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ku⁴¹/

(of doing something) easy; without much effort


民脂民膏

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄠ

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄓˇ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄠ

миньчжиминьгао

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ kou̯⁵⁵/

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ kou̯⁵⁵/

wealth gathered from the people by a government


價廉物美

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄨˋ ㄇㄟˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː³³ liːm²¹ mɐt̚² mei̯¹³/

/ka²¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴⁻²² but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː³³ liːm²¹ mɐt̚² mei̯¹³/

/ka²¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴⁻²² but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

(literary, of goods or service) inexpensive and of high quality


物美價廉

ㄨˋ ㄇㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

/u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mei̯¹³ kaː³³ liːm²¹/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ liam²³/

/u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mei̯¹³ kaː³³ liːm²¹/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ liam²³/


長此以往

ㄔㄤˊ ㄘˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄤˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː¹³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː¹³ wɔːŋ¹³/

if things (usually an unfavorable situation) continue this way


恨之入骨

ㄏㄣˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kʷɐt̚⁵/

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kʷɐt̚⁵/


義不容辭

ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄘˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jiː²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² su¹³/

/ɡi³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ su²⁴/

/ɡi³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ su²³/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jiː²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² su¹³/

/ɡi³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ su²⁴/

/ɡi³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ su²³/

義不容辭的責任／义不容辞的责任


有生之年

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄥ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³/

有生之年能夠和他見一次面，我死也無憾了。 [MSC, trad.]
有生之年能够和他见一次面，我死也无憾了。 [MSC, simp.]

If I could meet him once in the rest of my life, I should die without any regret.

Yǒushēngzhīnián nénggòu hé tā jiàn yīcì miàn, wǒ sǐ yě wúhàn le. [Pinyin]

在有生之年見證／在有生之年见证

to witness in one's lifetime; to live long enough to see

2001 November 16, “流年 [liúnián, Elapsing Years]”, in Lin Xi (lyrics), 陳曉娟 (music), 王菲 [Faye Wong], performed by Faye Wong:
有生之年 狹路相逢 終不能幸免 [MSC, trad.]
有生之年 狭路相逢 终不能幸免 [MSC, simp.]

Once in our lives / We met each other by chance / Finally it couldn't be prevented

Yǒushēngzhīnián, Xiálùxiāngféng, Zhōng bùnéng xìngmiǎn [Pinyin]

one's remaining years; the rest of one's life


一發不可收拾

ㄧ ㄈㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄡ ˙ㄕ

ифабукэшоуши

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/


投懷送抱

ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄠˋ

тоухуайсунбао

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ waːi̯²¹ sʊŋ³³ pʰou̯¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ waːi̯²¹ sʊŋ³³ pʰou̯¹³/

to throw oneself into someone's else's arms; (of a girl) to unreservedly express one's fondness (of a man); to throw oneself on


古今中外

ㄍㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨㄞˋ

гуцзиньчжунвай

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²²/

古今中外的思想家 [MSC, trad. and simp.]
gǔjīnzhōngwài de sīxiǎngjiā [Pinyin]
thinkers of all times and in all countries

ancient and modern, Chinese and abroad; all times and all places


名存實亡

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄤˊ

минцуньшиван

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

to remain existing in name but no longer in reality; now nominal


通情達理

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄚˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ taːt̚² lei̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ taːt̚² lei̯¹³/

acting with or showing good sense; sensible; fair and reasonable


至關重要

ㄓˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ

чжигуаньчжунъяо

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² jiːu̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² jiːu̯³³/


日復一日

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² fɐu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² fɐu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/


滿頭大汗

ㄇㄢˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄢˋ

маньтоудахань

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹/

/muːn¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːn²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² kuã⁴¹/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ kuã³³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ kuã³³/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹/

/muːn¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːn²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² kuã⁴¹/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ kuã³³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ kuã³³/

(of one's head) wet with sweat; covered in sweat; sweating profusely