螳臂當車

→ Japanese: 蟷螂の斧

ㄊㄤˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄉㄤ ㄔㄜ

ㄊㄤˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄉㄤˇ ㄔㄜ

/tʰɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰɔːŋ²¹ pei̯³³ tɔːŋ³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² pi²¹⁻⁵³ tɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰia⁴⁴/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ki⁴⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku⁴⁴/

/tʰɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰɔːŋ²¹ pei̯³³ tɔːŋ³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² pi²¹⁻⁵³ tɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰia⁴⁴/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ki⁴⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku⁴⁴/

From Zhuangzi:
汝不知夫螳蜋乎？怒其臂以當車轍，不知其不勝任也，是其才之美者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]汝不知夫螳蜋乎？怒其臂以当车辙，不知其不胜任也，是其才之美者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rǔ bùzhī fú tángláng hū? Nù qí bì yǐ dāng chēzhé, bùzhī qí bù shēngrèn yě, shì qí cái zhī měi zhě yě. [Pinyin]
Do you not know the praying mantis? It angrily stretches out its arms, to block the car tracks, unconscious of its inability for such a task, but showing how much it thinks of its own powers.

汝 不知 夫{fú} 螳螂\螳蜋{láng} 乎？怒 其 臂 以 當{dāng} 車轍，不知 其 不 勝{shēng}任 也，是 其 才 之 美 者 也。

a mantis blocking a vehicle with its arms

飘扬，共和国的旗帜 (in Chinese), 1989
稍有常識的人都會看出，如果我們的鐵騎繼續前進，這個螳臂當車的歹徒，難道能夠阻擋得了嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
稍有常识的人都会看出，如果我们的铁骑继续前进，这个螳臂当车的歹徒，难道能够阻挡得了吗？ [MSC, simp.]

Everyone with some common sense can see that if our tanks continued to move forward, how can this ruffian with no knowledge in his ability resist?

Shāo yǒu chángshí de rén dōuhuì kànchū, rúguǒ wǒmen de tiěqí jìxù qiánjìn, zhège tángbìdāngchē de dǎitú, nándào nénggòu zǔdǎng de liǎo ma? [Pinyin]

(figurative) to overrate oneself and attempt something impossible


干將莫邪

ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄇㄛˋ ㄧㄝˊ

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ jɛ³⁵/

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ jɛ³⁵/


飢腸轆轆

ㄐㄧ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lʊk̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lʊk̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/


齊大非偶

ㄑㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄟ ㄡˇ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(of someone from a humble background) to decline a marriage proposal from a rich family as one dare not aspire to such an honour


千錘百煉

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

цяньчуйбайлянь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ paːk̚³ liːn²²/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ paːk̚³ liːn²²/


朝秦暮楚

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (朝秦暮楚):
* → Korean: 조진모초(朝秦暮楚) (jojinmocho)

in the morning, Qin; in the evening, Chu

ㄓㄠ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄔㄨˇ

чжаоциньмучу

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn²¹ mou̯²² t͡sʰɔː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn²¹ mou̯²² t͡sʰɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to be quick to switch sides


厝火積薪

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³³ fɔː³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³³ fɔː³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/


載歌載舞

ㄗㄞˋ ㄍㄜ ㄗㄞˋ ㄨˇ

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ kɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ mou̯¹³/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ kɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ mou̯¹³/

singing and dancing; festive celebrations


罪行累累

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄌㄟˇ

цзуйсинлэйлэй

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


畏葸不前

ㄨㄟˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/


虛與委蛇

/ɕy⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³ wɐi̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹/

/ɕy⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³ wɐi̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹/

From the book Zhuangzi:
:
鄉吾示之以未始出吾宗，吾與之虛而委蛇。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]乡吾示之以未始出吾宗，吾与之虚而委蛇。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Xiàng wú shì zhī yǐ wèi shǐ chū wú zōng, wú yǔ zhī xū ér wēiyí. [Pinyin]
I was showing him myself after the pattern of what was before I began to come from my author. I confronted him with pure vacancy, and an easy indifference.

zh-x

鄉{xiàng} 吾 示 之 以 未 始 出 吾 宗，吾 與 之 虛 而 委{wēi}蛇{yí}。

sham politeness and compliance; courtesy without sincerity; false civility


一曝十寒

ㄧ ㄆㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xän³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xän³⁵/

(figurative) to work for a bit then skimp


呼天搶地

ㄏㄨ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄉㄧˋ

/xu⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/fuː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/fuː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

/xu⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/fuː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/fuː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

to cry bitterly and loudly in excessive grief


博聞強識

博闻强识
博聞彊識
博聞強志/博聞彊志/博闻强志

ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓˋ

бовэньцянчжи

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


呶呶不休

ㄋㄠˊ ㄋㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡ

/nɑʊ̯³⁵ nɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/naːu̯²¹ naːu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/nɑʊ̯³⁵ nɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/naːu̯²¹ naːu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/


自怨自艾

ㄗˋ ㄩㄢˋ ㄗˋ ㄧˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jyːn³³ t͡siː²² ŋaːi̯²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jyːn³³ t͡siː²² ŋaːi̯²²/


官運亨通

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄩㄣˋ ㄏㄥ ㄊㄨㄥ

гуаньюньхэнтун

/ku̯än⁵⁵ yn⁵¹ xɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ wɐn²² hɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ yn⁵¹ xɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ wɐn²² hɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of a political career) everything is going smoothly


怙惡不悛

ㄏㄨˋ ㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢ

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/wuː²² ɔːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ syːn⁵⁵/

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/wuː²² ɔːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ syːn⁵⁵/

to keep doing evil without a sense of repentance


拾級而上

ㄕㄜˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

/ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

From the Book of Rites, Book 1 (《禮記·曲禮上》):
:
主人與客讓登，主人先登，客從之，拾級聚足，連步以上。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]主人与客让登，主人先登，客从之，拾级聚足，连步以上。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zhǔrén yǔ kè ràng dēng, zhǔrén xiān dēng, kè cóng zhī, shèjí jùzú, lián bù yǐ shàng. [Pinyin]
They then offer to each other the precedence in going up, but the host commences first, followed (immediately) by the other. They bring their feet together on every step, thus ascending by successive paces.

主人 與 客 讓 登，主人 先 登，客 從 之，@拾{shè}級 聚-足，連 步 以 @上。


便宜行事

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕˋ

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ i³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːn²² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹ siː²²/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ i³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːn²² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹ siː²²/


相形見絀

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨˋ

сянсинцзяньчу

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kiːn³³ t͡syːt̚³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kiːn³³ t͡syːt̚³/

接著講理查遜的《帕摩娜》，這是當時風行的盧梭書信體小說，但是比起我讀過的《少年維特之煩惱》來，又相形見絀了。 [MSC, trad.]
接著讲理查逊的《帕摩娜》，这是当时风行的卢梭书信体小说，但是比起我读过的《少年维特之烦恼》来，又相形见绌了。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2016, Xu Yuanchong, Dreams and Truths, Henan Literature and Art Publishing House (March 2017), page 109

Then Richardson's Pamela was taught. It's an epistolary novel popular at the time. However, The Sorrows of Young Werther, which I had read before, made it pale by comparison.

Jiēzhe jiǎng Lǐcháxùn de “Pàmónà”, zhè shì dāngshí fēngxíng de Lúsuō shūxìn tǐ xiǎoshuō, dànshì bǐqǐ wǒ dúguo de “Shàonián Wéitè Zhī Fánnǎo” lái, yòu xiàngxíngjiànchù le. [Pinyin]


佶屈聱牙

ㄐㄧˊ ㄑㄩ ㄠˊ ㄧㄚˊ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ jä³⁵/

/kiːt̚² wɐt̚⁵ ŋou̯²¹ ŋaː²¹/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ jä³⁵/

/kiːt̚² wɐt̚⁵ ŋou̯²¹ ŋaː²¹/

From 9th century, Han Yu (韓愈), 《進學解》:
周誥殷盤，佶屈聱牙。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]周诰殷盘，佶屈聱牙。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 813, Han Yu, "On Advancing Scholarship" (《進學解》)
Zhōu Gào Yīn Pán, jíqū'áoyá. [Pinyin]
The Announcements of Zhou and Pan Geng of Yin, with their unpronounceable phonology crooked and rough on the teeth.

^周 ^誥 ^殷 ^盤，佶屈聱牙。

(of a text) difficult to read and understand


前倨後恭

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

цяньцзюйхоугун

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kɵy̯³³ hɐu̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kɵy̯³³ hɐu̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

Quoted from Su Qin, where he was ridiculng his sister-in-law for her attitude after he became famous:
蘇秦笑謂其嫂曰：「何前倨而後恭也？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]苏秦笑谓其嫂曰：「何前倨而后恭也？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Sū Qín xiào wèi qí sǎo yuē: “Hé qián jù ér hòu gōng yě?” [Pinyin]
Su Qin smiled and said to his sister-in-law, “Why were you so arrogant in the past but so respectful to me now?”

@蘇 @^秦 笑 謂 其 嫂 曰 ： 「何 @前 @倨 而 @後 @恭 也？」

to change from arrogance to humility (describing behaviour of snobbish people)


餓殍遍野

ㄜˋ ㄆㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ

/ˀɤ⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɔː²² pʰiːu̯¹³ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/ŋɔː²² pʰiːu̯¹³ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

strewn with corpses of victims of starvation


不蔓不枝

neitherspreading about nor branching out

ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ män⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ maːn²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ män⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ maːn²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

(figurative) succinct and to the point; written in a pithy and smooth style; concise (of an article, speech, etc.)


叱吒風雲

ㄔˋ ㄓㄚˋ ㄈㄥ ㄩㄣˊ

ㄔˋ ㄔㄚˋ ㄈㄥ ㄩㄣˊ

чичжа фэнъюнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

чича фэнъюнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ t͡saː⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ t͡saː⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/


椎心泣血

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

чуйсиньцисюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

чжуйсиньцисе

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/


開花結果

ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄍㄨㄛˇ

ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄍㄨㄛˇ

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚㄦ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄍㄨㄛˇㄦ

кайхуарцзегор

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ kiːt̚³ kʷɔː³⁵/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ kiːt̚³ kʷɔː³⁵/


量體裁衣

ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄊㄧˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄧ

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄧˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄧ

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

to act according to actual circumstances


暴虎馮河

ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄜˊ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

The earliest reference was attested in the Classic of Poetry, poem 195 (《詩經·小雅·小旻》), in the negative :
:
不敢暴虎，不敢馮河。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]不敢暴虎，不敢冯河。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Bùgǎn bàohǔ, bùgǎn pínghé. [Pinyin]
They dare not without weapons attack a tiger;
They dare not without a boat cross the He.
The literal meaning was also commented upon in the Erya, likely quoting from Kong Anguo's commentary on the Analects.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

zh-x

不敢 @暴虎，不敢 @馮{píng}河。

to fight tiger bare-handed and wade rivers

暴虎馮河，死而無悔者，吾不與也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
暴虎冯河，死而无悔者，吾不与也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

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

He who will unarmed attack a tiger, or cross a river without a boat, dying without any regret, I would not have act with me.

Bàohǔpínghé, sǐ ér wúhuǐ zhě, wú bù yǔ yě. [Pinyin]

Analects
Classic of Poetry
Erya
Kong Anguo


稗官野史

ㄅㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄧㄝˇ ㄕˇ

/paɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵ jɛː¹³ siː³⁵/

/paɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵ jɛː¹³ siː³⁵/

anecdotal history; romances; books of anecdotes


揠苗助長

ㄧㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄠˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄓㄤˇ

/jä⁵¹ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄠˊㄦ ㄓㄨˋ ㄓㄤˇ

ямяорчжучжан

/jä⁵¹ mi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/aːt̚³ miːu̯²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/at̚³²⁻⁴ biau²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ⁵³/

/jä⁵¹ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jä⁵¹ mi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/aːt̚³ miːu̯²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/at̚³²⁻⁴ biau²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ⁵³/

From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑上》):
:
宋人有閔其苗之不長而揠之者，芒芒然歸。謂其人曰：「今日病矣，予助苗長矣。」其子趨而往視之，苗則槁矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]宋人有闵其苗之不长而揠之者，芒芒然归。谓其人曰：「今日病矣，予助苗长矣。」其子趋而往视之，苗则槁矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Sòng rén yǒu mǐn qí miáo zhī bù zhǎng ér yà zhī zhě, mángmángrán guī. Wèi qí rén yuē: “Jīnrì bìng yǐ, yú zhù miáo zhǎng yǐ.” Qí zǐ qū ér wǎng shì zhī, miáo zé gǎo yǐ. [Pinyin]
There was a man of Song, who was grieved that his growing corn was not longer, and so he pulled it up. Having done this, he returned home, looking very troubled, and said to his people, “I am tired today. I have been helping the corn to grow long.” His son ran to look at it, and found the corn all withered.

宋 人 有 閔 其 苗 之 不 長{zhǎng} 而 @揠 之 者，芒芒然 歸。謂 其 人 曰：「今日 病 矣，予{yú} 助 @苗 長{zhǎng} 矣。」其 子 趨 而 往 視 之，苗 則 槁 矣。

(figurative) to be hasty and use inappropriate methods in order to achieve a goal quickly, but by doing so ruin things instead and fail in the end


莘莘學子

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄗˇ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄗˇ

шэньшэньсюэцзы

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

синьсиньсюэцзы

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡siː³⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡siː³⁵/


縱橫捭闔

ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄜˊ

ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄜˊ

цзунхэнбайхэ

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

(figurative) to manoeuvre amongst various countries or political groupings in order to unite or divide


歃血為盟

ㄕㄚˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄥˊ

ㄕㄚˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄥˊ

ㄕㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄥˊ

/ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ʂä⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ʂä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/saːp̚³ hyːt̚³ wɐi̯²¹ mɐŋ²¹/

/sap̚³²⁻⁴ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ʂä⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ʂä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/saːp̚³ hyːt̚³ wɐi̯²¹ mɐŋ²¹/

/sap̚³²⁻⁴ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

to smear the lips with blood when taking an oath


審時度勢

ㄕㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄕˋ

ㄕㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

/ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐm³⁵ siː²¹ tɔːk̚² sɐi̯³³/

/ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐm³⁵ siː²¹ tɔːk̚² sɐi̯³³/

to judge the hour and size up the situation; to take stock


見怪不怪

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

цзяньгуайбугуай

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

to keep one's calm in the face of the unexpected; to not wonder at strange sights


火中取栗

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄩˇ ㄌㄧˋ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

to pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire; to be someone's cat's-paw


故弄玄虛

ㄍㄨˋ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄩ

гунунсюаньсюй

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ nʊŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ lʊŋ²² jyːn²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ nʊŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ lʊŋ²² jyːn²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

deliberately mystifying; to make something unnecessarily mysterious


家徒四壁

there is nothing in the house except four bare walls

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ sei̯³³ pɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ sei̯³³ pɪk̚⁵/


有名無實

ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄕˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ sɐt̚²/


平分秋色

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄣ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄙㄜˋ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ fən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ fən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


虛懷若谷

ㄒㄩ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/ɕy⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From Tao Te Ching Chapter 15 "敦兮其若樸，曠兮其若谷".


一衣帶水

ㄧ ㄧ ㄉㄞˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ i⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ sɵy̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ i⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ sɵy̯³⁵/

中國和日本是一衣帶水的鄰邦。 [MSC, trad.]
中国和日本是一衣带水的邻邦。 [MSC, simp.]

China and Japan are neighbouring countries separated only by a narrow strip of water.

Zhōngguó hé Rìběn shì yīyīdàishuǐ de línbāng. [Pinyin]


下不為例

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹/

/haː²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ lɐi̯²²/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹/

/haː²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ lɐi̯²²/


力不從心

ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/liɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴/

/liɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/liɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/liɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴/

/liɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/liɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

to lack the ability to do what one wants; one's strength does not match one's ambitions; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak


白山黑水

ㄅㄞˊ ㄕㄢ ㄏㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

байшаньхэйшуй

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² saːn⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² saːn⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

白山 (Báishān, literally “white mountains”) refers to 長白山／长白山 (Chángbáishān, “Changbai Mountain”), while 黑水 (Hēishuǐ, literally “black waters”) refers to the Songhua (Sungari) River, historically referred to as 混同江. First attested in the History of Jin:
:
生女直地有混同江、長白山，混同江亦號黑龍江，所謂「白山、黑水」是也。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]生女直地有混同江、长白山，混同江亦号黑龙江，所谓「白山、黑水」是也。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: 1344 CE, Toqto'a (lead editor), History of Jin
Shēngnǚzhí dì yǒu Hùntóngjiāng, Chángbáishān, Hùntóngjiāng yì hào Hēilóngjiāng, suǒwèi “báishān, hēishuǐ” shìyě. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

生女直 地 有 ^混同江、^長白山，^混同江 亦 號 ^黑龍江，所謂「白山、黑水」是也。


拔苗助長

ㄅㄚˊ ㄇㄧㄠˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄓㄤˇ

бамяочжучжан

/pä³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄅㄚˊ ㄇㄧㄠˊㄦ ㄓㄨˋ ㄓㄤˇ

бамяорчжучжан

/pä³⁵ mi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² miːu̯²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/puat̚⁴⁻³² biau²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ⁵³/

/pä³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pä³⁵ mi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² miːu̯²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/puat̚⁴⁻³² biau²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ⁵³/

zh-l

揠苗助長／揠苗助长 (yàmiáozhùzhǎng)

to try to help the shoots grow by pulling them upward


九牛二虎之力

the strength of nine bulls and two tigers

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄦˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄓ ㄌㄧˋ

цзю ню эр ху чжи ли

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jiː²² fuː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/


想入非非

ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄈㄟ ㄈㄟ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ³⁵ jɐp̚² fei̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/sĩõ³⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² hui³³⁻²³ hui³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ³⁵ jɐp̚² fei̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/sĩõ³⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² hui³³⁻²³ hui³³/

to indulge in fantastical thoughts; to daydream


金城湯池

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (金城湯池):
* → Japanese: 金(きん)城(じょう)湯(とう)池(ち) (kinjōtōchi)

[[[city]] with]metal walls and boiling moat

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄥˊ ㄊㄤ ㄔˊ

цзиньчэнтанчи

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/*k(r)[ə]m [d]eŋ l̥aŋ|l̥ˤaŋ|r̥ˤaŋ Cə.lraj/

/*krɯm djeŋ l̥ʰaːŋ|l̥ʰaːŋs|hljaŋ l'aːl|l'al/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/


有恃無恐

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄨˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː¹³ mou̯²¹ hʊŋ³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː¹³ mou̯²¹ hʊŋ³⁵/

Paraphrase of a story [634 BCE] from the Zuo Zhuan:
:
夏，齊孝公伐我北鄙…齊侯曰：「魯人恐乎？」對曰：「小人恐矣，君子則否。」齊侯曰：「室如縣罄，野無青草，何恃而不恐？」對曰：「恃先王之命。…恃此以不恐。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夏，齐孝公伐我北鄙…齐侯曰：「鲁人恐乎？」对曰：「小人恐矣，君子则否。」齐侯曰：「室如县罄，野无青草，何恃而不恐？」对曰：「恃先王之命。…恃此以不恐。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Xià, Qí Xiàogōng fá wǒ běi bǐ... Qíhóu yuē: “Lǔrén kǒng hū?” Duì yuē: “Xiǎorén kǒng yǐ, jūnzǐ zé fǒu.” Qíhóu yuē: “Shì rú xuán qìng, yě wú qīngcǎo, héshì ér bùkǒng?” Duì yuē: “Shì xiānwáng zhī mìng.... Shì cǐ yǐ bùkǒng.” [Pinyin]
In summer, Duke Xiao of Qi invaded our northern frontiers… "Are the people of Lu afraid?" asked the Duke of Qi. "The inferior are afraid indeed, but the superior ones are not," said Zhan Xi in reply. The Duke asks, "Your households suffer from such want like empty containers hang upside down, and not even green grass grow on your fields, let alone food. Whence your lack of fear?" "We rely on the indisputable and everlasting commandments of the Sovereign Forefather," said Xi. "… thus supported, we have nothing to fear."

zh-x

夏，^齊 ^孝-公 伐 我 北 鄙… ^齊-侯 曰：「^魯-人 恐 乎？」對 曰：「小人 恐 矣，君子 則 否。」^齊-侯 曰：「室 如 縣{xuán} 罄，野 無 青草，何-恃 而 不-恐？」對 曰：「恃 先王 之 命。…恃 此 以 不-恐。」

得不到的永遠在騷動 被偏愛的都有恃無恐 [MSC, trad.]
得不到的永远在骚动 被偏爱的都有恃无恐 [MSC, simp.]

Deprived, in a disturbance;Possessed, how supercilious.

dé bùdào de yǒngyuǎn zài sāodòng, bèi piān'ài de dōu yǒushìwúkǒng [Pinyin]

to be emboldened in the knowledge that one has backing; to fear nothing with someone at one's back

Duke Xiao of Qi
King Cheng of Zhou
Zuo Zhuan


事到如今

ㄕˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣ

шидаожуцзинь

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/siː²² tou̯³³ jyː²¹ kɐm⁵⁵/

/su³³⁻²¹ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ zu²³⁻³³ kim⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻¹¹ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ lu²⁴⁻¹¹ kim⁴⁴/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/siː²² tou̯³³ jyː²¹ kɐm⁵⁵/

/su³³⁻²¹ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ zu²³⁻³³ kim⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻¹¹ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ lu²⁴⁻¹¹ kim⁴⁴/

事到如今要怎樣 阮也不敢做主意 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
事到如今要怎样 阮也不敢做主意 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

What should I do at this point? I don't dare make a decision.

sū-kàu-lû-kim beh cháiⁿ-iūⁿ, gún iā m̄-káⁿ chòe chú-ì [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

as things stand; currently; getting this far; up to this point


臨陣磨槍

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄓㄣˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄑㄧㄤ

линьчжэньмоцян

/lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lɐm²¹ t͡sɐn²² mɔː²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/

/lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lɐm²¹ t͡sɐn²² mɔː²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/


不速之客

ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄨˋ ㄓ ㄎㄜˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ su⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haːk̚³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ su⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haːk̚³/

From I Ching, Hexagram 5 (《易经·需卦》):
:
上六：入于穴，有不速之客三人來，敬之終吉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]上六：入于穴，有不速之客三人来，敬之终吉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Shàng liù: rù yú xué, yǒu bùsù zhī kè sān rén lái, jìng zhī zhōng jí. [Pinyin]
The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject entered into the cavern. (But) there are three guests coming, without being urged, (to his help). If he receive them respectfully, there will be good fortune in the end.

上 六：入 于 穴，有 不速.之.客 三 人 來，敬 之 終 吉。

她是晚会上的不速之客。 [MSC, trad. and simp.]
Tā shì wǎnhuì shàng de bùsùzhīkè. [Pinyin]
She was an uninvited guest at the party.

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 5


飽經滄桑

ㄅㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄘㄤ ㄙㄤ

баоцзинцансан

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

to experience many vicissitudes; to have experienced many vicissitudes of life; to have lived through many changes


報仇雪恥

ㄅㄠˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄔˇ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pou̯³³ sɐu̯²¹ syːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/pou̯³³ sɐu̯²¹ syːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to avenge a wrong and wipe out or erase humiliation; to take revenge for an insult


報喜不報憂

ㄅㄠˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄧㄡ

bàoxǐ bù bàoyōu [Phonetic:bàoxǐ bú bàoyōu]

баоси бу баою

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pou̯³³ hei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ pou̯³³ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pou̯³³ hei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ pou̯³³ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

to report the good news but not the bad news; to report only what is good while withholding what is unpleasant


飽學之士

ㄅㄠˇ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄓ ㄕˋ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːu̯³⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːu̯³⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

erudite person; learned scholar; man of learning


飽以老拳

ㄅㄠˇ ㄧˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

баоилаоцюань

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ jiː¹³ lou̯¹³ kʰyːn²¹/

/paːu̯³⁵ jiː¹³ lou̯¹³ kʰyːn²¹/

to spend the whole day eating (i.e. not doing any work)


寶山空回

return empty-handed from a mountain of treasure

ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄢ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

баошанькунхуэй

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ saːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ saːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

to fail to benefit from a visit to a great master, a center of learning, etc.


飽經風霜

ㄅㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄤ

баоцзинфэншуан

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴/

weather-beaten; having had one's fill of hardships; having experienced the hardship of life


飽食終日

ㄅㄠˇ ㄕˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖˋ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

See 飽食終日，無所用心／饱食终日，无所用心 (bǎoshízhōngrì, wúsuǒyòngxīn).


包攬詞訟

ㄅㄠ ㄌㄢˇ ㄘˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ

баолань цысун

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ laːm¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ²²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ laːm¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ²²/

to pettifog; to engage in legal pettifoggery; to practice chicanery


包辦代替

ㄅㄠ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄊㄧˋ

баобань дайти

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²² tɔːi̯²² tʰɐi̯³³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²² tɔːi̯²² tʰɐi̯³³/

to take away somebody else's work; to run things all by oneself without consulting others


半新不舊

ㄅㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

баньсинь буцзю

/pän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ sɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯²²/

/pän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ sɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯²²/

no longer new; showing signs of wear; worn


包羅萬象

ㄅㄠ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

баолованьсян

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/

/pau⁴⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² ban²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/

/pau⁴⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² ban²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/


包藏禍心

ㄅㄠ ㄘㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

баоцанхосинь

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ wɔː²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ wɔː²² sɐm⁵⁵/

《左傳·昭公元年》:
小國無罪，恃實其罪。將恃大國之安靖己，而無乃包藏禍心以圖之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]小国无罪，恃实其罪。将恃大国之安靖己，而无乃包藏祸心以图之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Xiǎoguó wúzuì, shì shí qí zuì. Jiāng shì dàguó zhī ānjìng jǐ, ér wúnǎi bāocánghuòxīn yǐ tú zhī. [Pinyin]
Our small country has not done wrong; the only real fault of ours, if any, is that we have had no choice but to rely on others. If only our trust on your mighty country were enough to keep ourselves at peace! But are you not, with concealed malice, conspiring to take us over?

zh-x

小國 無罪，恃 實 其 罪。將{jiāng} 恃 大國 之 安靖 己，而 無乃 包藏禍心 以 圖 之。

to harbor evil intentions; to conceal malice


半信半疑

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (半信半疑):
* → Japanese: 半(はん)信(しん)半(はん)疑(ぎ) (hanshinhangi)
* → Korean: 반신반의(半信半疑) (bansinbanui)
* → Vietnamese: bán tín bán nghi (半信半疑)

ㄅㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄅㄢˋ ㄧˊ

баньсиньбаньи

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹ i³⁵/

/puːn³³ sɵn³³ puːn³³ jiː²¹/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹ i³⁵/

/puːn³³ sɵn³³ puːn³³ jiː²¹/

half-believing, half-doubting; not quite convinced


八面見光

ㄅㄚ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄤ

бамянь цзяньгуан

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

smooth and slick (in making social contacts)


金蘭之交

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄌㄢˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

цзиньланьчжицзяо

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ län³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ laːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ län³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ laːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/


八面威風

ㄅㄚ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟ ㄈㄥ

бамяньвэйфэн

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ miːn²² wɐi̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/pat̚² mi̯en⁵⁵ vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴/

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ miːn²² wɐi̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/pat̚² mi̯en⁵⁵ vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴/

intimidating, commanding presence; aura of awesome might


跋山涉水

ㄅㄚˊ ㄕㄢ ㄕㄜˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/pä³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² saːn⁵⁵ siːp̚³ sɵy̯³⁵/

/puat̚⁴⁻³² san⁴⁴⁻²² siap̚⁴⁻³² sui⁵³/

/pä³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² saːn⁵⁵ siːp̚³ sɵy̯³⁵/

/puat̚⁴⁻³² san⁴⁴⁻²² siap̚⁴⁻³² sui⁵³/

to travel afar under difficult conditions; to travel over land and water


跋前疐後

ㄅㄚˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄏㄡˋ

бацяньчжихоу

/pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡siː³³ hɐu̯²²/

/pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡siː³³ hɐu̯²²/

Originally from the Classic of Poetry (《詩》), 《豳風·狼跋》:
狼跋其胡，載疐其尾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]狼跋其胡，载疐其尾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Láng bá qí hú, zǎi zhì qí wěi. [Pinyin]
The wolf springs forward on his dewlap,
Or trips back on his tail.
Han Yu wrote in the 9th century:
然而公不見信於人，私不見助於友，跋前疐後，動輒得咎。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]然而公不见信于人，私不见助于友，跋前疐后，动辄得咎。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 813, Han Yu, "On Encouraging Scholarship" (《進學解》)
Rán'ér gōng bù jiàn xìn yú rén, sī bù jiàn zhù yú yǒu, báqiánzhìhòu, dòngzhé dé jiù. [Pinyin]
Yet you, in public affairs, fail to gain the trust of others. In private, none of your friends are willing to help you. You go forward and step on your dewlap, and step back only to trip on your tail. As soon as you move at all, you incur fault upon yourself.

zh-x

狼 @跋 其 胡，載 @疐 其 尾。

然而 公 不 見 信 於 人，私 不 見 助 於 友，跋前疐後，動輒 得 咎。

他正處於跋前疐後的尷尬局面。 [MSC, trad.]
他正处于跋前疐后的尴尬局面。 [MSC, simp.]

Tā zhèng chǔyú báqiánzhìhòu de gāngà júmiàn. [Pinyin]

to encounter obstacles ahead and behind; to be beset with difficulties; to be surrounded by problems


白璧微瑕

ㄅㄞˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄚˊ

ㄅㄞˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄚˊ

/paɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/paːk̚² pɪk̚⁵ mei̯²¹ haː²¹/

/paɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/paːk̚² pɪk̚⁵ mei̯²¹ haː²¹/

minor blemish in a thing of beauty; slight defect in a person of integrity


八面玲瓏

ㄅㄚ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

бамяньлинлун

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/paːt̚³ miːn²² lɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/paːt̚³ miːn²² lɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/


八面光

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ miːn²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ miːn²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵/


白雲蒼狗

white clouds are so changeable in shape that they look now like white garments and now like grey hounds

ㄅㄞˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄘㄤ ㄍㄡˇ

байюньцангоу

/paɪ̯³⁵ yn³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² wɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ yn³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² wɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

freakishness; changeable and strange; changes in human affairs often take freakish forms


白手成家

ㄅㄞˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄚ

байшоучэнцзя

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² sɐu̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kaː⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² sɐu̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kaː⁵⁵/

to build up from nothing; to start from scratch


白面書生

ㄅㄞˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

баймяньшушэн

/paɪ̯³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² miːn²² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/pɛiʔ⁵⁻²¹ mieŋ²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ ^((t͡s-))ʒy⁵⁵ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾lɛiŋ⁵⁵/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² bin³³⁻²¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² bin³³⁻¹¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bin³³⁻²¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bin³³⁻¹¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/paɪ̯³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² miːn²² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² bin³³⁻²¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² bin³³⁻¹¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bin³³⁻²¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bin³³⁻¹¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

young scholar who is well-versed in academic theories but lacks real-life experience; young and inexperienced person without practical experience


包辦替代

ㄅㄠ ㄅㄢˋ ㄊㄧˋ ㄉㄞˋ

баобань тидай

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²² tʰɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²² tʰɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²²/

包辦代替 包辦代替#Chinese

包办代替 包办代替#Chinese

Alternative form of 包辦代替／包办代替 (bāobàn dàitì)


遍體鱗傷

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄤ

бяньтилиньшан

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lɵn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ tʰe⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰe⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² siɔŋ³³/

/pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ tʰe⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin¹³⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰe⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰe⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lin²³⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lɵn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ tʰe⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰe⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² siɔŋ³³/

/pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ tʰe⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin¹³⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰe⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰe⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lin²³⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

2004 December 9, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “曾經的你 [You in the Past]”, in 每一刻都是嶄新的 [Every Moment Is Completely New], performed by Xu Wei:
愛情總讓你渴望又感到煩惱 曾讓你遍體鱗傷 [MSC, trad.]
爱情总让你渴望又感到烦恼 曾让你遍体鳞伤 [MSC, simp.]

Love always made you eager and upset / It once made you seriously wounded

Àiqíng zǒng ràng nǐ kěwàng yòu gǎndào fánnǎo, Céng ràng nǐ biàntǐlínshāng [Pinyin]

to be covered all over with cuts and bruises; to be seriously wounded


老夫老妻

ㄌㄠˇ ㄈㄨ ㄌㄠˇ ㄑㄧ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵/


滄海桑田

ja-r

滄海桑田(そうかいそうでん) (sōkaisōden)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (滄海桑田):
* → Japanese: 滄海桑田(そうかいそうでん) (sōkaisōden)
* → Korean: 창해상전(滄海桑田) (changhaesangjeon)
* → Vietnamese: thương hải tang điền (滄海桑田)

→ Vietnamese: bể dâu (calque)

ㄘㄤ ㄏㄞˇ ㄙㄤ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

цанхайсантянь

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn²¹/

/t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ hai⁵² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn²¹/

/t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ hai⁵² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ⁵⁵/

Originally 東海桑田／东海桑田 (literally “East China sea becoming mulberry fields”). From Shenxian Zhuan (神仙傳·麻姑):
麻姑自說云：「接待以來，已見東海三為桑田。向到蓬萊，水又淺于往者會時略半也。豈將復還為陵陸乎。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]麻姑自说云：「接待以来，已见东海三为桑田。向到蓬莱，水又浅于往者会时略半也。岂将复还为陵陆乎。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Mágū zì shuō yún: “Jiēdài yǐlái, yǐ jiàn Dōnghǎi sān wèi sāngtián. Xiàng dào Pénglái, shuǐ yòu qiǎn yú wǎngzhě huì shí lüè bàn yě. Qǐ jiāng fùhái wèi líng lù hū.” [Pinyin]
Magu said: "Since we met last time, I have seen the East China Sea turned into mulberry fields thrice. When I visited Penglai Island just now, I saw that the water was shallower than half of it was when we met. Is it going to turn into land again?"

zh-x

麻姑 自 說 云：「接待 以來，已 見 ^東海 三 為 桑田。向 到 ^蓬萊，水 又 淺 于 往者 會 時 略 半 也。豈 將 復還 為 陵 陸 乎。」

the vast sea (turned into) mulberry fields

time brings drastic changes to the world; the vicissitudes of life


格殺勿論

Beat (someone) dead, and (the killer) will not be prosecuted.

ㄍㄜˊ ㄕㄚ ㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

/kɤ³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/kaːk̚³ saːt̚³ mɐt̚² lɵn²²/

/kɤ³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/kaːk̚³ saːt̚³ mɐt̚² lɵn²²/

Use of deadly force authorized; it is permitted to kill (someone) without any legal consequence.


授受不親

ㄕㄡˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

шоушоубуцинь

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² sɐu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² sɐu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

(of a man and woman) to not have direct contact when giving or receiving an item


十指相扣

ㄕˊ ㄓˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄎㄡˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/


大吉大利

ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ taːi̯²² lei̯²²/

/tʰaɪ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ kit̚¹ tʰaɪ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ li⁵³/

/tai²²⁻²¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tai²²⁻²¹ li²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³⁻²¹ li³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³⁻¹¹ li³³/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ kik̚²⁻⁴ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ li³⁵/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ taːi̯²² lei̯²²/

/tʰaɪ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ kit̚¹ tʰaɪ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ li⁵³/

/tai²²⁻²¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tai²²⁻²¹ li²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³⁻²¹ li³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³⁻¹¹ li³³/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ kik̚²⁻⁴ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ li³⁵/


彬彬有禮

ㄅㄧㄣ ㄅㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧˇ

/pin⁵⁵ pin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐn⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɐi̯¹³/

/pin⁵⁵ pin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐn⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɐi̯¹³/


自欺欺人

ㄗˋ ㄑㄧ ㄑㄧ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡siː²² hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi³³⁻²³ kʰi³³⁻²³ naŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡siː²² hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi³³⁻²³ kʰi³³⁻²³ naŋ⁵⁵/

to deceive oneself as well as others; to fool oneself alongside others


取而代之

ㄑㄩˇ ㄦˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄓ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ jiː²¹ tɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ jiː²¹ tɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

to take the place of; to substitute for; to replace


大相徑庭

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄥˊ

дасянцзинтин

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² sœːŋ³³ kɪŋ³³ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² sœːŋ³³ kɪŋ³³ tʰɪŋ²¹/

From Zhuangzi:
:
吾驚怖其言，猶河漢而無極也；大有徑庭，不近人情焉。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吾惊怖其言，犹河汉而无极也；大有径庭，不近人情焉。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Wú jīngbù qí yán, yóu héhàn ér wújí yě; dà yǒu jìngtíng, bù jìn rénqíng yān. [Pinyin]
I was frightened and scared by his words; they were like the Milky Way which cannot be traced to its beginning or end. They had no connexion with one another, and were not akin to the experiences of men.

吾 驚怖 其 言，猶 河漢 而 無極 也；大 有 徑庭，不 近 人情 焉。

completely different; poles apart; as different as can be


百煉成鋼

ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄍㄤ

байляньчэнган

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ liːn²² sɪŋ²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ liːn²² sɪŋ²¹ kɔːŋ³³/


百孔千瘡

ㄅㄞˇ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄤ

байкунцяньчуан

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

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


百聽不厭

ㄅㄞˇ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ

байтин буянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ tʰɪŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ tʰɪŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

worth hearing a hundred times; never boring to listen to it


百喙莫辯

ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

байхуэймобянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² piːn²²/

/paːk̚³ fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² piːn²²/


百萬雄師

ㄅㄞˇ ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄕ

байвань сюнши

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ maːn²² hʊŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ maːn²² hʊŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/


百問不厭

ㄅㄞˇ ㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ

байвэнь буянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mɐn²² pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mɐn²² pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

never get impatient with somebody's questions (of a shop assistant, teacher, etc.)


百無禁忌

ㄅㄞˇ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧˋ

байуцзиньцзи

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

nothing is taboo; anything goes; all taboos are lifted (a magic formula credited with the power to neutralize offenses committed against taboos)


百無聊賴

ㄅㄞˇ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄞˋ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ laːi̯²²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ laːi̯²²/

bored to death; bored stiff; overcome with boredom


百年之後

ㄅㄞˇ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄏㄡˋ

байняньчжихоу

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/*pˤrak C.nˤi[ŋ] tə [ɢ]ˤ(r)oʔ|[ɢ]ˤ(r)oʔ-s/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²²/

为存者立庙，使视其先人。魂而有灵，吾百年之后何恨哉！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 202, Cao Cao, 軍譙令
Wèi cún zhě lì miào, shǐ shì qí xiānrén. Hún ér yǒu líng, wú bǎi nián zhīhòu hé hèn zāi! [Pinyin]

為存者立廟，使視其先人。魂而有靈，吾百年之後何恨哉！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]

I built the temple for the survivors so that they can pay their respects to their ancestors. If the souls know this, what would I regret after hundred years?

(euphemistic) after somebody's death; when somebody has passed away


百問不厭，百拿不煩

ㄅㄞˇ ㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ

ㄅㄞˇ ㄋㄚˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄢˊ

baak³ man⁶ bat¹ jim³, baak³ naa⁴ bat¹ faan⁴

байвэнь буянь

байна буфань

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nä³⁵ pu⁵¹ fän³⁵/

baak⁸ man⁶ bat⁷ jim³, baak⁸ naa⁴ bat⁷ faan⁴

/paːk̚³ mɐn²² pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³ paːk̚³ naː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ faːn²¹/

to patiently answer the customer's questions and show them the goods they want; to serve the customers patiently and tirelessly (of a shop assistant)


百讀不厭

ㄅㄞˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

worth reading a hundred times; can be reread many times with delight


百川歸海

ㄅㄞˇ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄏㄞˇ

байчуаньгуйхай

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚³ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

natural trend; all eyes look toward; all things tend to go in the same logical direction; everyone turns to somebody for guidance


半路出家

ㄅㄢˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄐㄧㄚ

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

to switch to a job one was not trained for; to change professions completely


百花爭妍

ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓㄥ ㄧㄢˊ

байхуачжэнъянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/paːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/paːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

a hundred flowers contend in beauty; the flowers are a riot of color


百步穿楊

ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄧㄤˊ

байбучуаньян

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/paːk̚³ pou̯²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/paːk̚³ pou̯²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

Derived from the story of the archer 養由基 (Yang Youji) as presented in Zhan Guo Ce.

to shoot an arrow through a willow leaf at a hundred paces; to split a willow wand at a hundred paces

(figurative, of archery, gun shooting, basketball, etc.) to shoot with great precision


敗軍之將

ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄤ

байцзюньчжицзян

/paɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːi̯²² kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/paɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/paːi̯²² kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/

general of a defeated army; defeated general


半壁江山

ㄅㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ

баньбицзяншань

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/puːn³³ pɪk̚⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/puːn³³ pɪk̚⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

half of the country (usually referring to the unoccupied part of an invaded country)


斑駁陸離

ㄅㄢ ㄅㄛˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄧˊ

/pän⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ lu⁵¹ li³⁵/

/paːn⁵⁵ pɔːk̚³ lʊk̚² lei̯²¹/

/pän⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ lu⁵¹ li³⁵/

/paːn⁵⁵ pɔːk̚³ lʊk̚² lei̯²¹/


百裡挑一

ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄠ ㄧ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ lɵy̯¹³ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ lɵy̯¹³ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵/


阪上走丸

ㄅㄢˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄨㄢˊ

баньшанцзоувань

/pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän³⁵/

/paːn³⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jyːn²¹⁻³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jyːn²¹⁻³⁵/

/pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän³⁵/

/paːn³⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jyːn²¹⁻³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jyːn²¹⁻³⁵/

rapidly developing situation; rapid changes


自命不凡

ㄗˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄢˊ

цзыминбуфань

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fän³⁵/

/t͡siː²² mɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ faːn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fän³⁵/

/t͡siː²² mɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ faːn²¹/

to think no end of oneself; to think too much of oneself; to be self-important


半壁河山

ㄅㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄢ

баньбихэшань

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/puːn³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɔː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/puːn³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɔː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/


板板六十四

ㄅㄢˇ ㄅㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄕˊ ㄙˋ

баньбань люшисы

/pän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sz̩⁵¹/

/paːn³⁵ paːn³⁵ lʊk̚² sɐp̚² sei̯³³/

/paːn³⁵ paːn³⁵ lʊk̚² sɐp̚² sei̯³³/

During Song dynasty, the number of coins that could be produced with one mold was 64 as prescribed by law.

(regional) unaccommodating; inflexible; hard-nosed


敗興而歸

ㄅㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

байсин эргуй

/paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/paːi̯²² hɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/paːi̯²² hɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

to return in low spirits; to come back disappointed


敗子回頭

ㄅㄞˋ ㄗˇ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ

байцзыхуэйтоу

/paɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/paːi̯²² t͡siː³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/paɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/paːi̯²² t͡siː³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/


搬弄是非

ㄅㄢ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

баньнуншифэй

/pän⁵⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/puːn⁵⁵ lʊŋ²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

/pän⁵⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/puːn⁵⁵ lʊŋ²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

to sow discord; to tell tales; to make mischief


百花爭豔

ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓㄥ ㄧㄢˋ

байхуачжэнъянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiːm²²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiːm²²/


半死不活

ㄅㄢˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

/pän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/pän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/


稀奇古怪

ㄒㄧ ㄑㄧˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

/ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

crazy; bizarre; weird; fantastic; strange


戛然而止

ㄐㄧㄚˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄓˇ

цзяжаньэрчжи

/t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(especially of a sound) to stop abruptly


旗鼓相當

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (旗鼓相當):
* → Japanese: 旗(き)鼓(こ)相(あい)当(あ)たる (kiko aiataru)

two armies have equivalent banners and drums

ㄑㄧˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄤ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵/

to be well-matched; to match in capabilities


冒天下之大不韙

ㄇㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˇ

мао тянься чжи дабувэй

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

to act in defiance of universal condemnation


惟妙惟肖

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

вэймяовэйсяо

/weɪ̯³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/


不分伯仲

unable to distinguish eldest brother from second brother

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ ㄅㄛˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

буфэньбочжун

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/


不能自拔

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗˋ ㄅㄚˊ

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pä³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² pɐt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pä³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² pɐt̚²/

to be in an inextricable situation; to be unable to stop


引人入勝

ㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ

иньжэньжушэн

inʹžɛnʹžušɛn

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jɐn²¹ jɐp̚² sɪŋ³³/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ zip̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² lip̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jɐn²¹ jɐp̚² sɪŋ³³/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zin²³⁻³³ zip̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² lip̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹/

to be bewitching; attractive; spectacular


反覆無常

ㄈㄢˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄔㄤˊ

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sœːŋ²¹/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sœːŋ²¹/

to be capricious; to be erratic; to be fickle


反復無常

ㄈㄢˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄔㄤˊ

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

反覆無常 反覆無常#Chinese

反复无常 反复无常#Chinese

Alternative form of 反覆無常／反复无常 (fǎnfùwúcháng)


洪荒之力

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄤ ㄓ ㄌㄧˋ

хунхуанчжили

/xʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/xʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

Originated from a post-match interview with Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui.

(neologism, slang, humorous) all of one's ability or power; the entirety of one's potential; mystic powers


異曲同工

ㄧˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʰʊk̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻²² kʰiɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʰʊk̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻²² kʰiɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ kʰiɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

different approaches but equally satisfactory results


大街小巷

ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kaːi̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ ke⁴⁴⁻³³ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ haŋ³³/

/tua³³⁻²¹ ke⁴⁴⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ haŋ³³/

/tua¹¹ koi³³⁻²³ sio⁵²⁻³⁵ haŋ¹¹/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kaːi̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ ke⁴⁴⁻³³ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ haŋ³³/

/tua³³⁻²¹ ke⁴⁴⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ haŋ³³/

/tua¹¹ koi³³⁻²³ sio⁵²⁻³⁵ haŋ¹¹/

high streets and back lanes; throughout the city


萎靡不振

ㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄣˋ

ㄨㄟ ㄇㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄣˋ

ㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄣˋ

вэймибучжэнь

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

to be in low spirits; to be lethargic-looking; out of sorts


一分為二

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ fɐn²² wɐi̯²¹ jiː²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ fɐn²² wɐi̯²¹ jiː²²/


融會貫通

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

жунхуэйгуаньтун

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ wuːi̯²² kuːn³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ioŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hue³⁵⁻¹¹ kuaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰoŋ³³/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ wuːi̯²² kuːn³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ioŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hue³⁵⁻¹¹ kuaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰoŋ³³/

to gain a thorough understanding of something by integrating knowledge from different areas


無孔不入

ㄨˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/u³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐp̚²/

/u³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐp̚²/

to seize every opportunity; to be all pervasive


各有千秋

ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ

/kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/


澧蘭沅芷

ㄌㄧˇ ㄌㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓˇ

лиланьюаньчжи

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ län³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ län³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From 《湘夫人》 by Qu Yuan (屈原 (Qūyuán)):
: 沅有茝兮澧有蘭／沅有茝兮澧有兰 [Classical Chinese] ― Yuán yǒu zhǐ xī Lǐ yǒu lán [Pinyin] ― The Yuan has angelicas; the Li has orchids

zh-x

^沅 有 茝 兮 ^澧 有 蘭


千篇一律

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄧ ㄌㄩˋ

цяньпяньилюй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lɵt̚²/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² pʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn³³ pʰiɛn³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lut̚²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² pʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ lut̚¹²¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lɵt̚²/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² pʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn³³ pʰiɛn³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lut̚²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴/


一吐為快

ㄧ ㄊㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

get something off one's chest
get something off one's chest


一聲不響

ㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/


一年一度

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄧ ㄉㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tou̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tou̯²²/


一呼百應

ㄧ ㄏㄨ ㄅㄞˇ ㄧㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ paːk̚³ jɪŋ³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ paːk̚³ jɪŋ³³/

to be able to rally multitudes at one's call


一病不起

ㄧ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɛːŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɛːŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³⁵/

to fall gravely ill and never recover since


一反常態

ㄧ ㄈㄢˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄊㄞˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ sœːŋ²¹ tʰaːi̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ sœːŋ²¹ tʰaːi̯³³/

to act out of character; uncharacteristically


一往無前

ㄧ ㄨㄤˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

to advance indomitably; to press forward


一命嗚呼

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²² wuː⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²² wuː⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵/


一唱一和

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ wɔː²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ wɔː²²/


一往直前

ㄧ ㄨㄤˇ ㄓˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

一往無前 一往無前#Chinese

一往无前 一往无前#Chinese


一盤散沙

ㄧ ㄆㄢˊ ㄙㄢˇ ㄕㄚ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂä⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰuːn²¹ saːn³⁵ saː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂä⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰuːn²¹ saːn³⁵ saː⁵⁵/


一紙空文

ㄧ ㄓˇ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄨㄣˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/


臨陣脫逃

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄓㄣˋ ㄊㄨㄛ ㄊㄠˊ

линьчжэньтотао

/lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

to irresponsibly flee in the face of danger


一拍即合

ㄧ ㄆㄞ ㄐㄧˊ ㄏㄜˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰaːk̚³ t͡sɪk̚⁵ hɐp̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰaːk̚³ t͡sɪk̚⁵ hɐp̚²/

(of two parties) to hit it off immediately; things fit together at one go


一敗塗地

ㄧ ㄅㄞˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ tei̯²²/


中西合璧

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ ㄏㄜˊ ㄅㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ hɐp̚² pɪk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ hɐp̚² pɪk̚⁵/

to harmoniously combine Chinese and Western elements


一馬平川

ㄧ ㄇㄚˇ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄢ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ maː¹³ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ maː¹³ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵/

wide expanse of flat land; wide stretch of flat country


一而再，再而三

цзай эр сань

/i⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ saːm⁵⁵/

again and again; time and again; repeatedly


東觀西望

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧ ㄨㄤˋ

дунгуаньсиван

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²²/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²²/


臨淵羨魚

tostand on the edge of a pool and idly long for fish

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄩㄢ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄩˊ

линьюаньсяньюй

/lin³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ y³⁵/

/lɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ siːn²² jyː²¹/

/lin³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ y³⁵/

/lɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ siːn²² jyː²¹/

to wish for something good but take no action to obtain it; irresoluteness


一落千丈

ㄧ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄓㄤˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tŋ̍²²/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lo(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡sʰiɛn³³ tŋ̍⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ lo(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tŋ̍²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tŋ̍²²/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lo(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡sʰiɛn³³ tŋ̍⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lo(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍³³/

(figurative) to suffer a devastating decline; to decline drastically


一諾千金

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一諾千金):
* → Japanese: 一諾千金(いちだくせんきん) (ichidakusenkin)
* → Korean: 일낙천금(一諾千金) (illakcheon'geum)

ㄧ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ

иноцяньцзинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ nɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ nɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

From Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian.
「楚人諺曰『得黃金百，不如得季布一諾』」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]「楚人谚曰『得黄金百，不如得季布一诺』」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
“Chǔrén yàn yuē ‘Dé huángjīn bǎi, bùrú dé Jì Bù yī nuò’” [Pinyin]
The people of Chu have a saying: "receiving 100 jin of gold is nothing compared to accepting a promise from Ji Bu."

zh-x

「^楚人 諺 曰『^得 黃金 百，不如 得 ^季 ^布 一 諾』」

Records of the Grand Historian
Sima Qian


樂善好施

ㄌㄜˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄏㄠˋ ㄕ

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/lɔːk̚² siːn²² hou̯³³ siː⁵⁵/

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/lɔːk̚² siːn²² hou̯³³ siː⁵⁵/


買櫝還珠

ㄇㄞˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄓㄨ

майдухуаньчжу

/maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

From Han Feizi, Chapter 32 (《韓非子·外儲說左上》). Originally meant to criticize those who put too much rhetoric into their writings, causing people to be impressed with their words but miss their useful ideas.
:
楚人有賣其珠於鄭者，爲木蘭之櫝，薰以桂椒，綴以珠玉，飾以玫瑰，輯以翡翠。鄭人買其櫝而還其珠。此可謂善賣櫝矣，未可謂善鬻珠也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]楚人有卖其珠于郑者，为木兰之椟，薰以桂椒，缀以珠玉，饰以玫瑰，辑以翡翠。郑人买其椟而还其珠。此可谓善卖椟矣，未可谓善鬻珠也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Chǔ rén yǒu mài qí zhū yú Zhèng zhě, wéi mùlán zhī dú, xūn yǐ guìjiāo, zhuì yǐ zhūyù, shì yǐ méiguī, jí yǐ fěicuì. Zhèng rén mǎi qí dú ér huán qí zhū. Cǐ kěwèi shàn mài dú yǐ, wèi kěwèi shàn yù zhū yě. [Pinyin]
Once upon a time a man of Chu was selling pearls in Zheng. For the pearls he made magnolia boxes, which he perfumed with cassia spice, bound with beads, decorated them with red gems, and filled harmoniously with the kingfisher's feather. In the long run people in Zheng bought the caskets but returned the pearls. This may be said to be good in selling caskets but cannot be said to be good in trading pearls.

lang

(《韓非子·外儲說左上》)

(《韓非子·外儲說左上》)

zh-x

楚 人 有 賣 其 珠 於 ^鄭 者，爲{wéi} 木蘭 之 櫝，薰 以 桂椒，綴 以 珠玉，飾 以 玫瑰，輯 以 翡翠。鄭 人 @買 其 @櫝 而 @還{huán} 其 @珠。此 可謂 善 賣 櫝 矣，未 可謂 善 鬻 珠 也。

tobuy a wooden box and return the pearls inside


樂不可支

ㄌㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓ

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

次二：樂不可支，辰於天。測曰：樂不可支，以時歲也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
次二：乐不可支，辰于天。测曰：乐不可支，以时岁也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Yang Xiong, The Canon of Supreme Mystery, 2 BCE

Cì èr: lèbùkězhī, chén yú tiān. Cè yuē: lèbùkězhī, yǐ shí suì yě. [Pinyin]

百姓歌曰：「桑無附枝，麥穗兩岐。張君為政，樂不可支。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
百姓歌曰：「桑无附枝，麦穗两岐。张君为政，乐不可支。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5ᵗʰ century CE

Bǎixìng gē yuē: “Sāng wú fù zhī, màisuì liǎng qí. Zhāng jūn wèizhèng, lèbùkězhī.” [Pinyin]


一言既出，駟馬難追

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一言既出，駟馬難追):
* → Vietnamese: nhất ngôn ký xuất, tứ mã nan truy (一言既出，駟馬難追)

ja-r

一言既に出ずれば駟馬も追い難し

いちごん すで に いずれば しば も おい がた し

→ Japanese: 一言既(いちごんすで)に出(い)ずれば駟馬(しば)も追(お)い難(がた)し (ichigon sude ni izureba shiba mo oi gata shi) (calque)

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄔㄨ

ㄙˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄟ

jat¹ jin⁴ gei³ ceot¹, si³ maa⁵ naan⁴ zeoi¹

сымананьчжуй

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

jat⁷ jin⁴ gei³ tsoet⁷, si³ maa⁵ naan⁴ dzoey¹

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ kei̯³³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ siː³³ maː¹³ naːn²¹ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵/

Based on a passage in the Analects, Book 12 (《論語·顏淵》):
:
子貢曰：「惜乎！夫子之說君子也。駟不及舌。……」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子贡曰：「惜乎！夫子之说君子也。驷不及舌。……」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐgòng yuē: “Xī hū! Fūzǐ zhī shuō jūnzǐ yě. Sì bùjí shé.......” [Pinyin]
Zigong said: "How regrettable are your words about the superior person. A four-horse-team cannot overtake the tongue. …"

zh-x

@^子貢 曰：「惜 乎！夫子 之 說 君子 也。駟 不及 舌。……」

Zigong said: "How regrettable are your words about the superior person. A four-horse-team cannot overtake the tongue. 􂀿...􂁀"

once said, a team of horses cannot unsay it

A word once spoken cannot be taken back; A promise must be kept


一擲千金

ㄧ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ

ㄧ ㄓˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ

ичжицяньцзинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

to spend money like water; to be extravagant


一擁而入

ㄧ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/


例行公事

ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄕˋ

/li⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐi̯²² hɐŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

/li⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐi̯²² hɐŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

to do one's routine business; to do as a mere formality; routine business


迫在眉睫

ㄆㄛˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

поцзаймэйцзе

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² mei̯²¹ t͡siːt̚²/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² mei̯²¹ t͡siːt̚²/


臨危授命

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟ ㄕㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

линьвэйшоумин

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/


鷽鳩笑鵬

ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄆㄥˊ

сюэцзюсяопэн

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵/


力挽狂瀾

ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄢˇ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄢˊ

ливанькуанлань

/li⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ län³⁵/

/lɪk̚² waːn¹³ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ laːn²¹/

/li⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ län³⁵/

/lɪk̚² waːn¹³ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ laːn²¹/


勞民傷財

ㄌㄠˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄤ ㄘㄞˊ

лаоминьшанцай

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ min³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/lou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ min³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/lou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/


剛柔相濟

ㄍㄤ ㄖㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˋ

ганжоусянцзи

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/


剛愎自用

ㄍㄤ ㄅㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ t͡siː²² jʊŋ²²/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ t͡siː²² jʊŋ²²/


鷸蚌相爭

ㄩˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄥ

юйбансянчжэн

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/lɵt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/lɵt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːt̚² pʰɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

neighbors who can't agree lose out to a third party


九霄雲外

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄩㄣˊ ㄨㄞˋ

цзюсяоюньвай

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ yn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siau⁴⁴⁻²² hun²⁴⁻²² ɡue²²/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ yn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siau⁴⁴⁻²² hun²⁴⁻²² ɡue²²/

他早已把這事抛到九霄雲外去了。 [MSC, trad.]
他早已把这事抛到九霄云外去了。 [MSC, simp.]

Tā zǎoyǐ bǎ zhè shì pāo dào jiǔxiāoyúnwài qù le. [Pinyin]


如法炮製

ㄖㄨˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄆㄠˊ ㄓˋ

/ʐu³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ faːt̚³ pʰaːu̯³³ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/zu²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/

/zi²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/

/ʐu³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ faːt̚³ pʰaːu̯³³ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/zu²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/

/zi²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/


漸入佳境

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

цзяньжуцзяцзин

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siːm²² jɐp̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵/

/t͡siam³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ka⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siːm²² jɐp̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵/

/t͡siam³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ka⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

From an episode in the seventh-century history Book of Jin, concerning the famous painter Gu Kaizhi.

to start doing well; to be getting better


不為人知

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ

бувэйжэньчжи

buvɛjžɛnʹčži

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/


匡時濟世

ㄎㄨㄤ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄕˋ

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to rescue the society in crisis and help the people


歷歷可數

ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄨˇ

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

every one of them can be seen distinctly; can be counted one by one


歷歷在目

ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² lɪk̚² t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/

/lɪk̚⁵ lɪk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² lɪk̚² t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/

/lɪk̚⁵ lɪk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/


適可而止

ㄕˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁵³/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁵³/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵³/

to stop when appropriate; not to overdo; enough is enough


面壁思過

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄙ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/miːn²² pɪk̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/miːn²² pɪk̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to face the wall and ponder about one's misdeeds


大失所望

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² sɐt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɔːŋ²²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² sit̚⁵⁻²⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔŋ⁴¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁵ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/

/tä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² sɐt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɔːŋ²²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² sit̚⁵⁻²⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔŋ⁴¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁵ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/


森羅萬象

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (森羅萬象):
* → Korean: 삼라만상(森羅萬象) (samnamansang)

ㄙㄣ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

сэньлованьсян

/sən⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/

/sən⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/


皆大歡喜

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄒㄧˇ

цзедахуаньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/kai³³⁻²³ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ hueŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/kai³³⁻²³ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ hueŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²/

to everyone's delight and satisfaction; everyone is happy


萬眾一心

→ Bouyei: wanqzungqyifxiny

ㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ

ваньчжунъисинь

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/maːn²² t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/maːn²² t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴/

我們萬眾一心，冒著敵人的炮火，前進！ [MSC, trad.]
我们万众一心，冒著敌人的炮火，前进！ [MSC, simp.]

We are united as one, face the enemy's fire, march on!

Wǒmen wànzhòngyīxīn, mào zhù dírén de pàohuǒ, qiánjìn! [Pinyin]


說來話長

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄌㄞˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄔㄤˊ

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/syːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ waː²² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/syːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ waː²² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


大言不慚

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄢˊ

/tä⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰan¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²³/

/tä⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰan¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²³/


小鹿亂撞

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

сяолулуаньчжуан

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ lʊk̚² lyːn²² t͡sɔːŋ²²/

/siːu̯³⁵ lʊk̚² lyːn²² t͡sɔːŋ²²/

have butterflies in one's stomach
have butterflies in one's stomach

(figurative) to have butterflies in one's stomach (often used to describe a lovestruck person); (of one's heart) to go pit-a-pat; to flutter


有條不紊

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

From the Book of Documents:
:
若網在綱，有條而不紊；若農服田，力穡乃亦有秋。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]若网在纲，有条而不紊；若农服田，力穑乃亦有秋。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE
Ruò wǎng zài gāng, yǒu tiáo ér bù wěn; ruò nóng fútián, lì sè nǎi yì yǒu qiū. [Pinyin]
When the net has its line, there is order and not confusion; and when the husbandman labours upon his fields, and reaps with all his might, there is the (abundant) harvest.

zh-x

若 網 在 綱，有 條 而 不 紊；若 農 服田，力 穡 乃 亦 有 秋。


無話不說

ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

/u³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ waː²² pɐt̚⁵ syːt̚³/

/u³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ waː²² pɐt̚⁵ syːt̚³/

從無話不說到無話可說 [MSC, trad.]
从无话不说到无话可说 [MSC, simp.]

From being able to talk about everything, to having nothing to talk about

cóng wúhuàbùshuō dào wúhuàkěshuō [Pinyin]

to be able to talk about everything (with each other)


拖家帶口

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄞˋ ㄎㄡˇ

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dragged down by having a family to feed; to bring along one's large family


九死一生

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄙˇ ㄧ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/


鑄劍為犁

ㄓㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˊ

чжуцзяньвэйли

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡syː³³ kiːm³³ wɐi̯²¹ lɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡syː³³ kiːm³³ wɐi̯²¹ lɐi̯²¹/

beat one's swords into ploughshares
beat one's swords into ploughshares


欲擒故縱

ㄩˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄥˋ

юйциньгуцзун

/y⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊk̚² kʰɐm²¹ kuː³³ t͡sʊŋ³³/

/y⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊk̚² kʰɐm²¹ kuː³³ t͡sʊŋ³³/

to loosen the reins in order to grasp them better


狡兔三窟

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄎㄨ

цзяотусаньку

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯³³ saːm⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯³³ saːm⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

First attested in the Strategies of the Warring States, completed in the second century BC, as part of advice given by a retainer named Feng Xuan to his master Lord Mengchang (died 279 BC):
馮諼曰；「狡兔有三窟，僅得免其死耳。今君有一窟，未得高枕而臥也。請為君復鑿二窟。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]冯谖曰；「狡兔有三窟，仅得免其死耳。今君有一窟，未得高枕而卧也。请为君复凿二窟。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Féng Xuān yuē; “jiǎo tù yǒu sān kū, jǐn dé miǎn qí sǐ ěr. Jīn jūn yǒu yī kū, wèi dé gāozhěn ér wò yě. Qǐng wèi jūn fù záo èr kū.” [Pinyin]
Feng Xuan said, "A crafty rabbit has three burrows, but even so it barely manages to escape death. As of now, my lord has one burrow. You cannot yet lie down on a pile of pillows and sleep. Please allow me to dig the two other burrows for you, my lord."

^馮 ^諼 曰；「狡 兔 有 三 窟，僅 得 免 其 死 耳。今 君 有 一 窟，未 得 高枕 而 臥 也。請 為 君 復 鑿 二 窟。」

(figurative) a crafty person has more than one hideout; a sly individual has more than one plan to fall back on


囫圇吞棗

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (囫圇吞棗):
* → Korean: 홀륜탄조(囫圇呑棗) (hollyuntanjo)

ㄏㄨˊ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄗㄠˇ

хулуньтуньцзао

/xu³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄏㄨˊ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

хулуньтуньцзаор

/xu³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡saʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ tʰɐn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/xu³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ tʰɐn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵/

From a story in the Blue Cliff Record (《碧巖錄》):
:
若是知有底人，細嚼來嚥；若是不知有底人，一似渾崙吞箇棗。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]若是知有底人，细嚼来咽；若是不知有底人，一似浑仑吞个枣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Ruòshì zhī yǒu de rén, xì jué lái yān; ruòshì bùzhī yǒu de rén, yīsì húnlún tūn gè zǎo. [Pinyin]
Those who know the ins and outs will chew and swallow it slowly and carefully; those who don't will act like swallowing a jujube whole.

zh-x

若是 知 有 底{de} 人，細 嚼 來 嚥；若是 不知 有 底{de} 人，一似 渾崙 吞 箇 棗。

囫囵吞枣
渾崙吞棗
鶻崙吞棗

(figurative) to accept without thinking; to read without understanding


豐衣足食

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

having ample food and clothing; well-fed and clothed


臨渴掘井

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (臨渴掘井):
* → Japanese: 臨(りん)渇(かつ)掘(くっ)井(せい) (rinkatsukussei)
* → Korean: 임갈굴정(臨渴掘井) (imgalguljeong)
* → Vietnamese: lâm khát quật tỉnh (臨渴掘井)

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄥˇ

линькэцзюэцзин

/lin³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ hɔːt̚³ kʷɐt̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

/lim²⁴⁻²² kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡sĩ⁵³/

/lim²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁵³/

/lim²³⁻³³ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɐm²¹ hɔːt̚³ kʷɐt̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

/lim²⁴⁻²² kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡sĩ⁵³/

/lim²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁵³/

/lim²³⁻³³ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁴¹/

Based on the Annals of Master Yan:
:
溺而後問隊，迷而後問路，譬之猶臨難而遽鑄兵，臨噎而遽掘井，雖速亦無及已。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]溺而后问队，迷而后问路，譬之犹临难而遽铸兵，临噎而遽掘井，虽速亦无及已。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Annals of Master Yan, c. 3ʳᵈ century BCE
Nì érhòu wèn suì, mí érhòu wèn lù, pì zhī yóu línnàn ér jù zhùbīng, lín yē ér jù juéjǐng, suī sù yì wú jí yǐ. [Pinyin]
To ask the way after drowning and to ask for directions after getting lost is like, for example, quickly making weapons when facing a disaster or quickly digging a well when choking; though fast, it is too late.

zh-x

溺 而後 問 隊{suì}，迷 而後 問.路，譬 之 猶 臨難{nàn} 而 遽 鑄兵，臨 噎 而 遽 掘井，雖 速 亦 無 及 已。

宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

From: Zhu Yongchun, Zhu Zi's Family Maxims, 17ᵗʰ century CE

One should, when it is not yet raining, bind tightly the window. One should not wait until one is thirsty to dig a well.i.e. One should prepare before it is too late.

Yí wèi yǔ ér chóumóu, wú lín kě ér jué jǐng. [Pinyin]

(figurative) to fail to make a timely preparation and look for a solution at the last minute


不學無術

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄨˊ ㄕㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːk̚² mou̯²¹ sɵt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːk̚² mou̯²¹ sɵt̚²/

to be tactless due to the lack of knowledge; without learning or skills; to be not keen on learning anything


量力而為

ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˊ

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

量力而行 量力而行#Chinese


量力而行

ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

cut one's coat according to one's cloth
cut one's coat according to one's cloth

to act according to one's capability; to weigh one's abilities and do it; cut one's coat according to one's cloth


有備無患

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (有備無患):
* → Japanese: 有(ゆう)備(び)無(む)患(かん) (yūbimukan)
* → Korean: 유비무환(有備無患) (yubimuhwan)

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄟˋ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ pei̯²² mou̯²¹ waːn²²/

/i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰi⁵⁵ vu¹¹ fam⁵⁵/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² huan⁴¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ huan³³/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ huan³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ pei̯²² mou̯²¹ waːn²²/

/i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰi⁵⁵ vu¹¹ fam⁵⁵/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² huan⁴¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ huan³³/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ huan³³/

to be prepared against adverse events; just in case


身不由己

Sino-Xenic (身不由己):
* → Vietnamese: thân bất do kỷ (身不由己)

ㄕㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧˇ

/ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

From the Southern drama play 張協狀元 "Top Graduate Zhang Xie", included in the Yongle Encyclopedia:
是則無妻我身自不由己，須有爹媽在家鄉尤未知。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]是则无妻我身自不由己，须有爹妈在家乡尤未知。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
Shìzé wúqī wǒ shēnzìbùyóujǐ, xū yǒu diēmā zài jiāxiāng yóu wèizhī. [Pinyin]
Although I have no wife, I have no choice in this matter; father and mother are back home and still do not know.

zh-x

是-則 無-妻 我 @身自不由己，須 有 爹媽 在 家鄉 尤 未知。

關公曰：「汝怎敢抗吾？」禁曰：「上命差遣，身不由己。望君侯憐憫，誓以死報。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
关公曰：「汝怎敢抗吾？」禁曰：「上命差遣，身不由己。望君侯怜悯，誓以死报。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Lord Guan said: "How dare you oppose me?" (Yu) Jin said: "We were ordered from above, (we did so) not on our own accord. We hope ye, milord, would have mercy. We swear we'll repay that with death."

Guāngōng yuē: “Rǔ zěn gǎn kàng wú?” Jìn yuē: “Shàngmìng chāiqiǎn, shēnbùyóujǐ. Wàng jūnhóu liánmǐn, shì yǐ sǐ bào.” [Pinyin]

to be unable to determine for oneself; to be involuntary


國泰民安

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (國泰民安):
* → Japanese: 国(こく)泰(たい)民(みん)安(あん) (kokutaimin'an)
* → Korean: 국태민안(國泰民安) (guktaeminan)
* → Vietnamese: quốc thái dân an (國泰民安)

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄢ

готайминьань

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/kuoʔ²⁴⁻⁵⁵ tʰai²¹³⁽⁻²¹⁾ miŋ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ^((Ø-))ŋaŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ tʰai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin²⁴⁻²² an³³/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin¹³⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻¹¹ an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ bin²³⁻³³ an⁴⁴/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ tʰai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin²⁴⁻²² an³³/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin¹³⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻¹¹ an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ bin²³⁻³³ an⁴⁴/

the country flourishes and the people are living in peace


慷慨激昂

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (慷慨激昂):
* → Vietnamese: khảng khái khích ngang (慷慨激昂)

ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄧ ㄤˊ

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ˀɑŋ³⁵/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²⁴/

/kʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²³/

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ˀɑŋ³⁵/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²⁴/

/kʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²³/


綽綽有餘

ㄔㄨㄛˋ ㄔㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 223 (《詩經·小雅·角弓》):
:
此令兄弟，綽綽有裕。
不令兄弟，交相為瘉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]此令兄弟，绰绰有裕。
不令兄弟，交相为愈。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Cǐ lìng xiōngdì, chuòchuò yǒu yù.
Bù lìng xiōngdì, jiāoxiàng wéi yù. [Pinyin]
Those brothers who are good, Continue to display much generous feeling; But between brothers who are not good, Their intercourse is marked by troubles.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·角弓》)

(《詩經·小雅·角弓》)

zh-x

此 令 兄弟，@綽綽 有 裕。
^不 令 兄弟，交相 為{wéi} 瘉。


萬念俱灰

ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄏㄨㄟ

ваньняньцзюйхуэй

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² niːm²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² niːm²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵/

every hope turns to dust; completely disheartened


人傑地靈

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

жэньцзедилин

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ti⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kiːt̚² tei̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ti⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kiːt̚² tei̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

the greatness of a person lends glory to a place; a place derives reflected glory from an illustrious son


唉聲嘆氣

ㄞ ㄕㄥ ㄊㄢˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/aːi̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³ hei̯³³/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/aːi̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³ hei̯³³/

to sigh in disappointment or alas; to heave a sigh


圖窮匕見

ㄊㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

/tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² jiːn²²/

/tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² jiːn²²/

From the story of Jing Ke [227 BC], who tried to assassinate Ying Zheng (who later became the first emperor of China) using a dagger concealed inside a map scroll.

When the map is unrolled, the dagger is revealed

to expose the hidden malicious intents at the end


走馬觀花

ㄗㄡˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄚ

цзоумагуаньхуа

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ maː¹³ kuːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³ kuan⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ maː¹³ kuːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³ kuan⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴/

From the story of Tang-dynasty poet Meng Jiao (孟郊) admiring flowers while riding on horseback, after his success in the imperial examinations at the age of 46. He composed the following poem at the time to express his joy:
:
昔日齷齪不足誇，今朝放蕩思無涯。春風得意馬蹄疾，一日看盡長安花。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]昔日龌龊不足夸，今朝放荡思无涯。春风得意马蹄疾，一日看尽长安花。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 796 CE, Meng Jiao, 《登科後》 (After Passing the Examination), translation from Scripture in Chinese Chengyu (2010) by James Beasley
Xīrì wòchuò bùzú kuā, jīnzhāo fàngdàng sī wúyá. Chūnfēng déyì mǎtí jí, yīrì kàn jìn Cháng'ān huā. [Pinyin]
The reservations of yesterday are nothing to boast about;
Today, feeling unrestrained, my joy is boundless.
The spring breeze kisses my face as the horse picks up speed;
In one day I will see all the flowers and beauties of Chang'an.

昔日 齷齪 不足 誇，今朝{zhāo} 放蕩 思 無涯。春風.得意 馬蹄 疾，一日 看 盡 ^長安 花。

796 <small class='ce-date'>CE</small>, Meng Jiao, 《登科後》 (After Passing the Examination), translation from Scripture in Chinese Chengyu (2010) by James Beasley

(figurative) to make a hurried and cursory observation; to gain only a superficial understanding of something


面紅耳赤

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄦˇ ㄔˋ

мяньхунъэрчи

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹/

/miːn²² hʊŋ²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹/

/miːn²² hʊŋ²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

red in the face (from embarrassment, anxiety or anger)


拍案驚奇

ㄆㄞ ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄑㄧˊ

пайаньцзинци

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

(figurative) to be surprised by the excellence (of something)


詩情畫意

ㄕ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ waː²²⁻³⁵ jiː³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ waː²²⁻³⁵ jiː³³/

(figurative) picturesque or poetic charm


追風逐電

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ

чжуйфэнчжудянь

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² tiːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² tiːn²²/

get on like a house on fire
get on like a house on fire

(figurative) to chase swiftly; to get on like a house on fire; fast-paced progress


厚德載物

ㄏㄡˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄨˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

From I Ching, Hexagram 2 (《易经·坤卦》):
:
地勢坤，君子以厚德載物。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]地势坤，君子以厚德载物。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dì shì kūn, jūnzǐ yǐ hòudé zài wù. [Pinyin]
The (capacity and sustaining) power of the earth is what is denoted by Kun. The superior man, in accordance with this, with his large virtue supports (men and) things.

地 勢 坤，君子 以 厚德.載{zài}.物。

the virtuous ones will have great responsibility

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 2


好景不長

ㄏㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄤˊ

хаоцзинбучан

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hou̯³³ kɪŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hou̯³³ kɪŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


亡羊補牢

ㄨㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄌㄠˊ

/wɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ lou̯²¹/

/wɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ lou̯²¹/

From Zhan Guo Ce:
:
見兔而顧犬，未為晚也；亡羊而補牢，未為遲也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]见兔而顾犬，未为晚也；亡羊而补牢，未为迟也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Jiàn tù ér gù quǎn, wèi wéi wǎn yě; wáng yáng ér bǔ láo, wèi wéi chí yě. [Pinyin]
Sending the hunting dogs outside only when one sees the rabbits is not considered too late, and repairing a sheep pen only after a sheep is lost is not considered tardy.
This is also the origin for the idiom 見兔顧犬／见兔顾犬.

見 兔 而 顧 犬，未 為{wéi} 晚 也；亡 羊 而 補 牢，未 為{wéi} 遲 也。

to close the stable door after the horse has bolted; to act belatedly


韋編三絕

ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄙㄢ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

вэйбяньсаньцзюэ

/weɪ̯³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/wɐi̯¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/weɪ̯³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/wɐi̯¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

From the story of Confucius studying the Classic of Changes so diligently that the tanned leather threads which connected the bamboo slips broke several times.

the leather binding (of the bamboo scroll) has broken three times


行雲流水

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

синъюньлюшуй

/ɕiŋ³⁵ yn³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐŋ²¹ wɐn²¹ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ yn³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐŋ²¹ wɐn²¹ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

(of calligraphy, writing, etc.) very smooth and natural; natural and unforced style


仕途多蹇

ㄕˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


撥亂反正

ㄅㄛ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄈㄢˇ ㄓㄥˋ

болуаньфаньчжэн

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/puːt̚² lyːn²² faːn³⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/puːt̚² lyːn²² faːn³⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

From the Commentary of Gongyang:
君子曷為為《春秋》？撥亂世，反諸正，莫近諸《春秋》。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]君子曷为为《春秋》？拨乱世，反诸正，莫近诸《春秋》。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Gongyang, c. 206 BCE– 9 CE
Jūnzǐ héwèi wéi “Chūnqiū”? Bō luànshì, fǎn zhū zhèng, mò jìn zhū “Chūnqiū”. [Pinyin]
For what (purpose) did the Noble One compose the Spring and Autumn Annals? To repair a chaotic world and redress it in goodness and justice — there is no other way closer to (achieving this ideal) than (the meanings contained in the words of) the Spring and Autumn.
The character 撥 in this phrase is traditionally glossed as 治 (zhì, “to impose order; to govern/manage; to repair/cure; etc.”) — for instance by He Xiu (何休, 129–182 CE) and Yan Shigu (顏師古, 581–645 CE) — whereas 亂 is interpreted as "disordered; chaotic; upside-down". Alternatively (and rarely), 亂 is used as a verb that means "to apply order; to arrange; to manage", and is considered a synonym of 撥 here.

君子 曷-為{wèi} 為{wéi} 《^春秋》？撥 亂世，反 諸 正，莫 近 諸 《^春秋》。

zh-m

漢興，撥亂反正，日不暇給，猶命叔孫通制禮儀，以正君臣之位。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
汉兴，拨乱反正，日不暇给，犹命叔孙通制礼仪，以正君臣之位。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE

In the early days since Han arose, (the imperial government) was thoroughly immersed in the business of righting the wrongs (of Qin and the wars that followed) as if there were never enough hours in each day, yet it was still able to commission Shusun Tong with the creation of court ceremonies, in order that the monarch and the subjects could find themselves in their rightful places.

Hàn xìng, bōluànfǎnzhèng, rì bù xiá jǐ, yóu mìng Shūsūn Tōng zhì lǐyí, yǐ zhèng jūnchén zhī wèi. [Pinyin]

to bring order out of chaos; to set right what have been thrown into disorder; to restore justice

Commentary of Gongyang
Spring and Autumn Annals
Yan Shigu
zh:何休


花言巧語

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄩˇ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ haːu̯³⁵ jyː¹³/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ kʰa⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹/

/faː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ haːu̯³⁵ jyː¹³/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ kʰa⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹/

原來你是花言巧語真情予你騙騙去 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
原来你是花言巧语真情予你骗骗去 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

From: 1992, 愛情的騙子我問你 (Cheater of Love, I Ask You), sung by 陳小雲 (Chen Hsiao-yun), lyrics by 蔣錦鴻, composed by 俞隆華

Turns out it was all your sweet talk, you were really setting out to swindle me

goân-lâi lí sī hoa-giân-khá-gí chin-chêng hō͘ lí phiàn phiàn khì [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

sweet but insincere (usually flattering) speech; slick talk; dishonest rhetoric


黃粱一夢

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧ ㄇㄥˋ

хуанлянъимэн

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

fanciful dream of wealth and rank; pipe dream; one's hopes coming to nothing


有口皆碑

ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄅㄟ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

to enjoy an extensive public reputation; to be universally acclaimed


大快人心

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

дакуайжэньсинь

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

(of the punishment of a criminal, etc.) to be to the satisfaction of the people


紙上談兵

ㄓˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄊㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄥ

чжишантаньбин

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ tʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ²² tʰaːm²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tam²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ tʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ²² tʰaːm²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tam²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

to engage in theoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practice; armchair strategist; idle theorizing


胸有成竹

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄨˊ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

to have grown an image of bamboo in one's mind (when trying to draw a bamboo plant)

(figurative) to have a well-thought-out plan; to plan in advance


負荊請罪

ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

фуцзинцинцзуй

/fu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɵy̯²²/

/fu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɵy̯²²/

From the story of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru.

to bring a bramble and ask for punishment

to offer someone a humble apology, requesting punishment and forgiveness


望梅止渴

ㄨㄤˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄓˇ ㄎㄜˇ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²² muːi̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔːt̚³/

/mo¹¹ bue⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵²⁻³⁵ kuaʔ²/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²² muːi̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔːt̚³/

/mo¹¹ bue⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵²⁻³⁵ kuaʔ²/

From the tale of the warlord Cao Cao deceiving his severely dehydrated troops with the promise of a forest of plums not far ahead.
魏武行役，失汲道，軍皆渴，乃令曰：「前有大梅林，饒子，甘酸，可以解渴。」士卒聞之，口皆出水，乘此得及前源。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]魏武行役，失汲道，军皆渴，乃令曰：「前有大梅林，饶子，甘酸，可以解渴。」士卒闻之，口皆出水，乘此得及前源。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE
Wèi Wǔ xíng yì, shī jí dào, jūn jiē kě, nǎi lìng yuē: “Qián yǒu dà méilín, ráo zǐ, gān suān, kěyǐ jiěkě.” Shìzú wén zhī, kǒu jiē chūshuǐ, chéng cǐ dé jí qián yuán. [Pinyin]
Emperor Wu of Wei (Cao Cao) was leading his army., but failed to find a path with water source, and his army was thirty. He then ordered, “There is a big plum forest ahead with many fruits. They are very sweet and sour and you can relieve your thirst there.” When the army heard what he said, they drooled and then they seized the opportunity to reach the water source ahead

zh-x

@^魏 @^武 行 役 ，失 汲 道，軍 皆 渴，乃 令 曰：「前 有 大 梅林，饒 子，甘 酸，可以 解渴。」士卒 聞 之，口 皆 出水，乘 此 得 及 前 源。

to quench one's thirst by thinking of plums


左圖右史

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄨˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄕˇ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative) to have a large library collection


江郎才盡

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄌㄤˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цзянланцайцзинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

初，淹罷宣城郡，遂宿冶亭，夢一美丈夫，自稱郭璞，謂淹曰：「我有筆在卿處多年矣，可以見還。」淹探懷中，得五色筆以授之。爾後為詩，不復成語，故世傳江淹才盡。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]初，淹罢宣城郡，遂宿冶亭，梦一美丈夫，自称郭璞，谓淹曰：「我有笔在卿处多年矣，可以见还。」淹探怀中，得五色笔以授之。尔后为诗，不复成语，故世传江淹才尽。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhong Rong, The Critique of Poetry (詩品)
Chū, Yān bà Xuānchéng jùn, suì sù Yětíng, mèng yī měi zhàngfū, zìchēng Guō Pú, wèi Yān yuē: “Wǒ yǒu bǐ zài qīng chù duōnián yǐ, kěyǐ jiàn hái.” Yān tàn huái zhōng, dé wǔsè bǐ yǐ shòu zhī. Ěrhòu wèi shī, bù fù chéng yǔ, gù shì chuán Jiāng Yān cái jìn. [Pinyin]
At first, Jiang Yan resigned from his official post at Xuancheng. Then, he resided at Yeting (in Nanjing). There he dreamt a handsome man who called himself Guo Pu. He said, "I have a writing brush that you borrowed for many years. Can you return it to me now?" Jiang Yan then searched inside his clothes, and he found a five-coloured brush and then returned to him. After that, when Jiang tried to write poems, he could never write a single sentence again. Therefore, it was said that Jiang's talent has been exhausted.

初， @^淹 罷 ^宣城 郡 ， 遂 宿 ^@冶亭 ， 夢 一 美 丈夫 ， 自稱 @^郭 @^璞 ， 謂 @^淹 曰 ： 「 我 有 筆 在 卿 處 多年 矣 ， 可以 見 還 。」 @^淹 探 懷 中 ， 得 五色 筆 以 授 之 。 爾後 為 詩 ， 不 復 成 語 ， 故 世 傳 @^江 @^淹 才 盡 。

(figurative) to have used up one's creative powers; to have writer's block

Guo Pu
Jiang Yan
Jiang Yan (poet)
Zhong Rong
zh:詩品


依樣畫葫蘆

ㄧ ㄧㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄌㄨ

иян хуа хулу

/i⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu³⁵ lu³/

/jiː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² waːk̚² wuː²¹ lou̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu³⁵ lu³/

/jiː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² waːk̚² wuː²¹ lou̯²¹/

(figurative) to copy something mechanically without attempt at originality


曲高和寡

ㄑㄩˇ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔː²² kʷaː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔː²² kʷaː³⁵/

From an ancient piece of dialogue disputably bearing the author's name of Song Yu
楚襄王問於宋玉曰：「先生其有遺行與？何士民衆庶，不譽之甚也？」宋玉對曰：「唯！然！有之。願大王寬其罪，使得畢其辭。客有歌於郢中者，其始曰《下里》《巴人》，國中屬而和者數千人；其為《陽阿》《薤露》，國中屬而和者數百人；其為《陽春》《白雪》，國中屬而和者不過數十人；引商刻羽，雜以流徵，國中屬而和者，不過數人而已。是其曲彌高，其和彌寡。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]楚襄王问于宋玉曰：「先生其有遗行与？何士民众庶，不誉之甚也？」宋玉对曰：「唯！然！有之。愿大王宽其罪，使得毕其辞。客有歌于郢中者，其始曰《下里》《巴人》，国中属而和者数千人；其为《阳阿》《薤露》，国中属而和者数百人；其为《阳春》《白雪》，国中属而和者不过数十人；引商刻羽，杂以流徵，国中属而和者，不过数人而已。是其曲弥高，其和弥寡。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 3rd century BC, Song Yu ,宋玉《對楚王問》, translated into English as Unpopularity by Herbert Allen Giles, 1922.
Chǔ xiāngwáng wèn yú Sòngyù yuē: “Xiānshēng qí yǒu yíxíng yú? Hé shìmínzhòngshù, bùyù zhī shèn yě?” Sòngyù duì yuē: “Wéi! Rán! Yǒu zhī. Yuàn dàwáng kuān qí zuì, shǐ dé bì qí cí. Kè yǒu gē yú Yǐngzhōng zhě, qí shǐ yuē “xiàlǐ” “bārén”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě shùqiān rén; qí wéi “yáng'ē” “xièlù”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě shùbǎi rén; qí wéi “yángchūn” “báixuě”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě bùguò shùshí rén; yǐn shāng kè yǔ, zá yǐ liúzhǐ, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě, bùguò shù rén éryǐ. Shì qí qū mí gāo, qí hè mí guǎ.” [Pinyin]
The Prince of Ch'u said to his prime minister, "What have you done that should cause the officers and people of this State to abuse you so clamorously?"
"Abuse me indeed they do," replied the minister; "but pardon my boldness, and I will explain. A stranger was singing in one of our villages the other day, and this was the subject of his lay: There is the music of the masses; there is the music of a narrower circle; that of a narrower circle still; and lastly, the classical music of the cultured few. This classical music is too lofty, and too difficult of comprehension, for the masses."

^楚.襄王 問 於 ^宋-玉 曰：「先生 其 有 遺行 與{yú}？何 士民-衆庶，不-譽 之 甚 也？」^宋-玉 對 曰：「唯！然！有 之。願 大王 寬 其 罪，使 得 畢 其 辭。客 有 歌 於 ^郢中 者，其 始 曰《下里》《巴人》，國中 屬{zhǔ} 而 和{hè} 者 數千 人；其 為{wéi}《陽-阿{ē}》《薤-露》，國中 屬{zhǔ} 而 和{hè} 者 數-百 人；其 為{wéi}《陽春》《白雪》，國中 屬{zhǔ} 而 和{hè} 者 不過 數十 人；引 商 刻 羽，雜 以 流徵􂀿徵􂁀{zhǐ}，國中 屬{zhǔ} 而 和{hè} 者，不過 數 人 而已。是 其 曲 彌 高，其 和{hè} 彌 寡。」

songs of a highbrow type will find very few people joining in the chorus

to be highbrow and unpopular, as it cannot be easily understood by the common people


沆瀣一氣

ㄏㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄧ ㄑㄧˋ

/xɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/xɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

A story during the Tang dynasty:
:
又乾符二年，崔沆放崔瀣，譚者稱「座主門生，沆瀣一氣」。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]又乾符二年，崔沆放崔瀣，谭者称「座主门生，沆瀣一气」。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Song dynasty, 錢易 (Qian Yi), 《南部新書》
Yòu Qiánfú èr nián, Cuī Hàng fàng Cuī Xiè, tánzhě chēng “zuòzhǔ ménshēng, hàngxièyīqì”. [Pinyin]
In the second year of Qianfu (i.e. 875 CE), a student, named Cui Xie, was admitted by an examiner, named Cui Hang, during the imperial examinations. Both Xie and Hang meant “mist of vapour in the air” in Classical Chinese, and people at the time remarked: “the examiner and the student ― Hang and Xie ― are of the same gang”.

又 ^乾􂀿乾􂁀符 二 年，^崔 ^沆 放 ^崔 ^瀣，譚-者 稱「座主 門生，沆瀣一氣」。

In the second year of Qianfu (i.e. 875 <small class='ce-date'>CE</small>), a student, named Cui Xie, was admitted by an examiner, named Cui Hang, during the imperial examinations. Both Xie and Hang meant “mist of vapour in the air” in Classical Chinese, and people at the time remarked: “the examiner and the student ― Hang and Xie ― are of the same gang”.

2020, Wang Chen, “zh:关于《全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制的决定（草案）》的说明 (Explanation on the Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security (Draft))”, in Communique of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, page 285:
近年來，一些外國和境外勢力公然干預香港事務，通過立法、行政、非政府組織等多種方式進行插手和搗亂，與香港反中亂港勢力勾連合流、沆瀣一氣 [MSC, trad.]
近年来，一些外国和境外势力公然干预香港事务，通过立法、行政、非政府组织等多种方式进行插手和捣乱，与香港反中乱港势力勾连合流、沆瀣一气 [MSC, simp.]

Moreover in recent years, certain foreign or external forces have flagrantly interfered in Hong Kong's affairs. They have made intervention and created disturbances in various ways, such as by legislative and administrative means and through non-governmental organizations. In collusion with those anti-China Hong Kong disputers, these same forces colluded with them in disruption […]

jìnnián lái, yīxiē wàiguó hé jìngwài shìlì gōngrán gānyù xiānggǎng shìwù, tōngguò lìfǎ, xíngzhèng, fēizhèngfǔzǔzhī děng duōzhǒng fāngshì jìnxíng chāshǒu hé dǎoluàn, yǔ xiānggǎng fǎnzhōngluàngǎng shìlì gōulián héliú, hàngxièyīqì [Pinyin]

(derogatory, literary) to act in collusion; to gang up


名落孫山

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄣ ㄕㄢ

минлосуньшань

/miŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɔːk̚² syːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ loʔ⁴⁻² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ sũã³³/

/miŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɔːk̚² syːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ loʔ⁴⁻² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ sũã³³/

A story during the Song dynasty:
:
吳人孫山，滑稽才子也。赴舉他郡，鄉人托以子偕往。鄉人子失意，山綴榜末。先歸，鄉人問其子得失，山曰：「解名盡處是孫山，賢郎更在孫山外。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吴人孙山，滑稽才子也。赴举他郡，乡人托以子偕往。乡人子失意，山缀榜末。先归，乡人问其子得失，山曰：「解名尽处是孙山，贤郎更在孙山外。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Song dynasty, poet Fan Gongcheng (范公偁), 《過庭錄》
Wú rén Sūn Shān, huájī cáizǐ yě. Fù jǔ tā jùn, xiāngrén tuō yǐ zǐ xié wǎng. Xiāngrén zǐ shīyì, Shān zhuì bǎngmò. Xiān guī, xiāngrén wèn qí zǐ déshī, Shān yuē: “Jièmíng jìnchù shì Sūn Shān, xiánláng gèng zài Sūn Shān wài.” [Pinyin]
Sun Shan, a talented and humorous scholar from the Wu region, went to a different prefecture for the imperial examination. A fellow villager sent his son to go with Sun for the exam. When exam results were announced, the son of the fellow villager failed to make it in the list of successful candidates, while Sun Shan was the last name on the list. When they returned, the villager asked Sun how his son had performed, and Sun replied with a poem:
　My humble name appeared at the bottom of the list of successful candidates,
　While your dear son ranked behind me.

^吳 人 ^孫 ^山，滑稽 才子 也。赴 舉 他 郡，鄉人 托 以 子 偕 往。鄉人 子 失意，^山 綴 榜-末。先 歸，鄉人 問 其 子 得失，^山 曰：「解{jiè}名 盡處 是 ^孫 ^山，賢郎 更 在 ^孫 ^山 外。」

to fall behind Sun Shan (who ranked last on the admitted candidates)

(figurative) to fail an exam; to fall behind (in a competition)


呆若木雞

ㄉㄞ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧ

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²¹ jœːk̚² mʊk̚² kɐi̯⁵⁵/

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²¹ jœːk̚² mʊk̚² kɐi̯⁵⁵/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 19 (《莊子·達生》):
:
紀渻子為王養鬬雞。
十日而問：「雞已乎？」曰：「未也，方虛憍而恃氣。」
十日又問，曰：「未也，猶應嚮景。」
十日又問，曰：「未也，猶疾視而盛氣。」
十日又問，曰：「幾矣，雞雖有鳴者，已无變矣，望之似木雞矣，其德全矣。異雞无敢應者，反走矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]纪渻子为王养鬬鸡。
十日而问：「鸡已乎？」曰：「未也，方虚㤭而恃气。」
十日又问，曰：「未也，犹应向景。」
十日又问，曰：「未也，犹疾视而盛气。」
十日又问，曰：「几矣，鸡虽有鸣者，已无变矣，望之似木鸡矣，其德全矣。异鸡无敢应者，反走矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translation from The Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu (2013), by Burton Watson
Jì Xǐng Zǐ wèi wáng yǎng dòujī.
Shí rì ér wèn: “Jī yǐ hū?” Yuē: “Wèi yě, fāng xūjiāo ér shì qì.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Wèi yě, yóu yìng xiǎng yǐng.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Wèi yě, yóu jí shì ér shèng qì.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Jī yǐ, jī suī yǒu míng zhě, yǐ wú biàn yǐ, wàng zhī sì mù jī yǐ, qí dé quán yǐ. Yì jī wú gǎn yìng zhě, fǎn zǒu yǐ.” [Pinyin]
Ji Xing Zi was training gamecocks for the king. After ten days the king asked if they were ready. "Not yet. They're too haughty and rely on their nerve."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "Not yet. They still respond to noises and movements."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "Not yet. They still look around fiercely and are full of spirit."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "They're close enough. Another cock can crow and they show no sign of change. Look at them from a distance and you'd think they were made of wood. Their virtue is complete. Other cocks won't dare face them, but will turn and run."
In the past, this term was describing the quality of being able to stay calm.

@^紀.^渻{xǐng}.^子 為{wèi} 王 養 鬥雞\鬬{dòu}雞。
十 日 而 問：「雞 已 乎？」曰：「未 也，方 虛驕\虛憍 而 恃 氣。」
十 日 又 問，曰：「未 也，猶 應 嚮{xiǎng} 景{yǐng}。」
十 日 又 問，曰：「未 也，猶 疾 視 而 盛 氣。」
十 日 又 問，曰：「幾{jī} 矣，雞 雖 有 鳴 者，已 无 變 矣，望 之 似 @木 @雞 矣，其 德 全 矣。異 雞 无 敢 應 者，反 走 矣。」


趾高氣揚

ㄓˇ ㄍㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹/

From the book Zuozhuan:
:
莫敖必敗。舉趾高，心不固矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]莫敖必败。举趾高，心不固矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Mò'áo bì bài. Jǔ zhǐ gāo, xīn bù gù yǐ. [Pinyin]
The Mo'ao will certainly be defeated. He walks high in his steps; ― his mind is not firm.

莫敖 必 敗。舉 趾 高，心 不 固 矣。

to walk with a high-stepping gait and look proud

(derogatory) to be on one's high horse; to be very self-righteous; to be arrogant


知足常樂

ㄓ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

a contented mind is a perpetual feast
a contented mind is a perpetual feast

one who is contented is always happy; to be content with one's lot and be cheerful in life; a contented mind is a perpetual feast


感激涕零

ㄍㄢˇ ㄐㄧ ㄊㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

ганьцзитилин

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ lɪŋ²¹/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ lɪŋ²¹/

to shed tears of gratitude; to be overwhelmingly moved by another person's kindness


疑神疑鬼

ㄧˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

/i³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁵³/

/ɡi²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ ɡi²³⁻³³ kui⁴¹/

/i³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁵³/

/ɡi²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ ɡi²³⁻³³ kui⁴¹/

to be extremely suspicious; to be afraid of one's own shadow


恍然大悟

ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

/hɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃²²/

/hɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋo³⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

/hɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃²²/

/hɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋo³⁵/


高抬貴手

ㄍㄠ ㄊㄞˊ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˇ

гаотайгуйшоу

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

An expression for requesting forgiveness or accommodation: to be generous; to be magnanimous; (ironic) give me a break


每況愈下

ㄇㄟˇ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

мэйкуанъюйся

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/muːi̯¹³ fɔːŋ³³ jyː²² haː²²/

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/muːi̯¹³ fɔːŋ³³ jyː²² haː²²/

Corrupted from 每下愈況／每下愈况 (měixiàyùkuàng) under folk etymology, reinterpreting 況／况 (kuàng) (originally meaning "more") as "condition; situation".

zh-l

每下愈況／每下愈况 (měixiàyùkuàng)

out of the frying pan and into the fire
out of the frying pan and into the fire

to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire; to go from bad to worse; to steadily deteriorate


蒸蒸日上

ㄓㄥ ㄓㄥ ㄖˋ ㄕㄤˋ

чжэнчжэнжишан

čžɛnčžɛnžišan

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³/

資產階級分子和從舊社會來的知識分子的絕大多數都是愛國的，他們願意為蒸蒸日上的社會主義祖國服務。 [MSC, trad.]
资产阶级分子和从旧社会来的知识分子的绝大多数都是爱国的，他们愿意为蒸蒸日上的社会主义祖国服务。 [MSC, simp.]

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

The vast majority of the bourgeoisie and the intellectuals who come from the old society are patriotic and are willing to serve their flourishing socialist motherland.

Zīchǎn jiējí fènzǐ hé cóng jiùshèhuì lái de zhīshi fènzǐ de juédàduōshù dōu shì àiguó de, tāmen yuànyì wèi zhēngzhēngrìshàng de shèhuì zhǔyì zǔguó fúwù. [Pinyin]

to become more prosperous by the day; to make progress


垂頭喪氣

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄙㄤˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

From “Goodbye to Penury” (《送窮文》) by Han Yu (韓愈):
:
主人於是垂頭喪氣，上手稱謝，燒車與船，延之上座。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]主人于是垂头丧气，上手称谢，烧车与船，延之上座。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Zhǔrén yúshì chuítóusàngqì, shàngshǒu chēngxiè, shāo chē yǔ chuán, yán zhī shàngzuò. [Pinyin]
The master then bowed his head and felt disheartened, raised his hand to thank them [the ghosts of poverty], burned the cart and boat, and invited them to the seat of honour.

zh-x

主人 於是 垂頭喪氣，上手 稱謝，燒 車 與 船，延 之 上座。

The master then bowed his head and felt disheartened, raised his hand to thank them 􂀿the ghosts of poverty􂁀, burned the cart and boat, and invited them to the seat of honour.

他受一點挫折就垂頭喪氣了。 [MSC, trad.]
他受一点挫折就垂头丧气了。 [MSC, simp.]

He became frustrated after experiencing a little setback.

Tā shòu yīdiǎn cuòzhé jiù chuítóusàngqì le. [Pinyin]