生殺與奪

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄚ ㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

生殺予奪 生殺予奪#Chinese

生杀予夺 生杀予夺#Chinese

Alternative form of 生殺予奪／生杀予夺 (shēngshāyǔduó, “(to hold power over the) life, death, reward and punishment (of others)”)


卓爾不群

ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄦˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄣˊ

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kʷʰɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kʷʰɐn²¹/

to excel the common; outstanding; preeminent


千奇百怪

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

цяньцибайгуай

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ paːk̚³ kʷaːi̯³³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ paːk̚³ kʷaːi̯³³/

黨內無派，千奇百怪 [MSC, trad.]
党内无派，千奇百怪 [MSC, simp.]

To have no factions within a party is very odd.


峰迴路轉

ㄈㄥ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˇ

фэнхуэйлучжуань

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹ lou̯²² t͡syːn³⁵/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hue²⁴⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡suan⁵³/

/hɔŋ³³ hue²⁴⁻²² lɔ⁴¹⁻²² t͡suan⁵⁵⁴/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hue¹³⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡suan⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡suan⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue²³⁻³³ lɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡suan⁴¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹ lou̯²² t͡syːn³⁵/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hue²⁴⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡suan⁵³/

/hɔŋ³³ hue²⁴⁻²² lɔ⁴¹⁻²² t͡suan⁵⁵⁴/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hue¹³⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡suan⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡suan⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue²³⁻³³ lɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡suan⁴¹/


隨鄉兒入鄉兒

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄤㄦ ㄖㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤㄦ

суйсянржусянр

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑ̃ɻ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑ̃ɻ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

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

(Beijing Mandarin) when in Rome, do as the Romans do


從善如流

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²² jyː²¹ lɐu̯²¹/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɛn²²⁻²¹ lu²⁴⁻²² liu²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɛn³³⁻²¹ zu²³⁻³³ liu²³/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɛn³³⁻²¹ zi²³⁻³³ liu²³/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²² jyː²¹ lɐu̯²¹/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɛn²²⁻²¹ lu²⁴⁻²² liu²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɛn³³⁻²¹ zu²³⁻³³ liu²³/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɛn³³⁻²¹ zi²³⁻³³ liu²³/

to be happy and quick to accept good advice


忠孝兩全

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

чжунсяолянцюань

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ haːu̯³³ lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ haːu̯³³ lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to be loyal to one's country and show filial piety to one's parents at the same time


物盡其用

ㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄩㄥˋ

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐt̚² t͡sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ jʊŋ²²/

/but̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ ki²⁴⁻²² iɔŋ²²/

/but̚²⁴⁻² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² iɔŋ⁴¹/

/but̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ ki¹³⁻²² iɔŋ²²/

/but̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ iɔŋ³³/

/but̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ iɔŋ³³/

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐt̚² t͡sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ jʊŋ²²/

/but̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ ki²⁴⁻²² iɔŋ²²/

/but̚²⁴⁻² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² iɔŋ⁴¹/

/but̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ ki¹³⁻²² iɔŋ²²/

/but̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ iɔŋ³³/

/but̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ iɔŋ³³/

to fully utilize something; to use something to the full


富甲一方

ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄧ ㄈㄤ

/fu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³³ kaːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³³ kaːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/


越演越烈

ㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/ɥɛ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

愈演愈烈 愈演愈烈#Chinese

Synonym of 愈演愈烈 (yùyǎnyùliè, “to become more and more intense and serious”)


愈演愈烈

ㄩˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄩˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/y⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/jyː²² jiːn³⁵ jyː²² liːt̚²/

/y⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/jyː²² jiːn³⁵ jyː²² liːt̚²/

to become more and more intense and serious


牛高馬大

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄍㄠ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄚˋ

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ maː¹³ taːi̯²²/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ maː¹³ taːi̯²²/


名譽掃地

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄩˋ ㄙㄠˇ ㄉㄧˋ

/miŋ³⁵ y⁵¹ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ jyː²² sou̯³³ tei̯²²/

/miŋ³⁵ y⁵¹ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ jyː²² sou̯³³ tei̯²²/

to fall into disrepute; to have one's reputation completely ruined


各取所需

ㄍㄜˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄩ

/kɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ sɔː³⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ sɔː³⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/


步步高升

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄠ ㄕㄥ

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² pou̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² pou̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to advance step by step (especially in a career)


明文規定

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

минвэньгуйдин

/miŋ³⁵ wən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ mɐn²¹ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² kui³³ tiɪŋ⁴¹/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² bun¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bun²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bun²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ³³/

/miŋ³⁵ wən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ mɐn²¹ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² kui³³ tiɪŋ⁴¹/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² bun¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bun²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bun²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ³³/

to be defined clearly in writing; to be written out in black and white


連綿不斷

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

ляньмяньбудуань

/li̯ɛn³⁵ mi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ mi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/


有備而來

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄟˋ ㄦˊ ㄌㄞˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ pei̯²² jiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ pei̯²² jiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/


神機妙算

ㄕㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

шэньцзимяосуань

/ʂən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ miːu̯²² syːn³³/

/sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁴⁴ miãu³³⁻¹¹ suan¹¹/

/sin²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴ miãu³³⁻²¹ suan²¹/

/ʂən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ miːu̯²² syːn³³/

/sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁴⁴ miãu³³⁻¹¹ suan¹¹/

/sin²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴ miãu³³⁻²¹ suan²¹/

brilliant intelligence; brilliant foresight

諸葛亮借東風——神機妙算／诸葛亮借东风——神机妙算

Zhūgě Liàng jiè dōngfēng, shénjīmiàosuàn


以和為貴

→ Japanese: 和を以て貴しと為す (calque)

ㄧˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ wɔː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ wɔː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³/

武林要以和為貴，要講武德，不要搞窩裡鬥。 [MSC, trad.]
武林要以和为贵，要讲武德，不要搞窝里斗。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2020, 马保国 (Ma Baoguo), 《健身房的年轻后生不讲武德偷袭马老师，把马保国老师的眼睛给蹭了一下》

In the community of martial arts, harmony must be prized and maintained. Martial ethics must be emphasized. Internal strifles are not allowed.

Wǔlín yào yǐhéwéiguì, yào jiǎng wǔdé, bùyào gǎo wōlǐdòu. [Pinyin]


水乳交融

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄖㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

шуйжуцзяожун

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ jyː¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ jyː¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

to get along well; to be very compatible; to be congruous


山搖地動

ㄕㄢ ㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

шаньяо дидун

/ʂän⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ²²/

/ʂän⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ²²/


地動山搖

ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄠˊ

дидун шаньяо

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tei̯²² tʊŋ²² saːn⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹/

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tei̯²² tʊŋ²² saːn⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹/


男左女右

ㄋㄢˊ ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄩˇ ㄧㄡˋ

/nän³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ t͡sɔː³⁵ nɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯²²/

/nän³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ t͡sɔː³⁵ nɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯²²/

the left refers to males and the right to females; the left is for males, the right is for females; males and females are different (traditional saying)


劣跡斑斑

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄅㄢ ㄅㄢ

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄅㄢ

лецзибаньбань

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵/


歐母畫荻

ㄡ ㄇㄨˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

修母畫荻 修母畫荻#Chinese

修母画荻 修母画荻#Chinese


畫荻教子

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

хуади цзяо цзы

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ti³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːk̚² tɪk̚² kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ti³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːk̚² tɪk̚² kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

修母畫荻 修母畫荻#Chinese

修母画荻 修母画荻#Chinese


修母畫荻

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄇㄨˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

Ouyang Xiu (歐陽脩) was an 11th-century Chinese scholar. His father died when he was young, and since his family was poor, his mother Zheng, who was literate, taught him by writing in the dirt with a reed stalk.

a mother's admirable dedication to the education of her children


乘龍快婿

ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄒㄩˋ

чэнлун куайсюй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ faːi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ faːi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

Based on the legend of Xiao Shi (萧史) and Nongyu (弄玉), the son-in-law and daughter of Duke Mu of Qin (秦穆公, r. 659 BC-621 BC, during China's Spring and Autumn Period. According to the legend, after the couple had retired to the seclusion of the middle peak of Mount Hua, one day Nongyu took her jade sheng (mouth organ) and mounted a colorful phoenix, and Xiao Shi took his jade xiao (vertical flute) and stepped onto a golden dragon. For a time, the dragon and the phoenix flew into the air. People at that time referred to Xiao Shi as "dragon-riding son-in-law," and this expression has evolved into a modern-day Chinese chengyu with the implied meaning of "ideal son-in-law."


物傷其類

ㄨˋ ㄕㄤ ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄟˋ

/u⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/

/u⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/

to grieve the misfortune of one's fellow beings


一錢太守

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄡˇ

yī qián tàishǒu [Phonetic:yì qián tàishǒu]

и цянь тайшоу

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From Liu Chong, a governor of the Han Dynasty.


夜半三更

ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄢˋ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄥ

ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄢˋ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄥ

ебаньсаньгэн

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵/

/iɛ²¹³ pan²¹³ san⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵/

/jɛː²² puːn³³ saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵/

/iɛ²¹³ pan²¹³ san⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵/

/jɛː²² puːn³³ saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵/

夜半三更，無端端走嚟攬我一嘢，你都係驚我唔開心啫。 [Cantonese, trad.]
夜半三更，无端端走嚟揽我一嘢，你都系惊我唔开心啫。 [Cantonese, simp.]
je⁶ bun³ saam¹ gaang¹, mou⁴ dyun¹ dyun¹ zau² lai⁴ laam² ngo⁵ jat¹ je⁵, nei⁵ dou¹ hai⁶ geng¹ ngo⁵ m⁴ hoi¹ sam¹ ze¹. [Jyutping]

2009, 陳寶華 [Ella Chan], 黃予嬌, 26:34 from the start, in 絕代商驕 [You're Hired], episode 17 (television production), spoken by 麥提爽 [Mak Tai Song] (黃子華 [Dayo Wong]), via TVB

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

in the middle of the night; late at night


犁庭掃穴

ㄌㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄠˇ ㄒㄩㄝˊ

ㄌㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄠˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

/li³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/li³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/lɐi̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ sou̯³³ jyːt̚²/

/li³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/li³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/lɐi̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ sou̯³³ jyːt̚²/


專橫跋扈

ㄓㄨㄢ ㄏㄥˋ ㄅㄚˊ ㄏㄨˋ

чжуаньхэнбаху

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ xɤŋ⁵¹ pä³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pɐt̚² wuː²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ xɤŋ⁵¹ pä³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pɐt̚² wuː²²/

imperious and arbitrary; domineering and unreasonable


自求多福

ㄗˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄈㄨˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʰɐu̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʰɐu̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 235 (《詩經·大雅·文王》):
:
無念爾祖，聿脩厥德。
永言配命，自求多福。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]无念尔祖，聿脩厥德。
永言配命，自求多福。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Wú niàn ěr zǔ, yù xiū jué dé.
Yǒng yán pèi mìng, zì qiú duō fú. [Pinyin]
Ever think of your ancestor, Cultivating your virtue,
Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven]. So shall you be seeking for much happiness.

lang

(《詩經·大雅·文王》)

(《詩經·大雅·文王》)

zh-x

無 念 爾 祖，聿 脩 厥 德。
^永 言 配 命，自.求.多.福。

Ever think of your ancestor, Cultivating your virtue,
Always striving to accord with the will 􂀿of Heaven􂁀. So shall you be seeking for much happiness.

to seek well-being or welfare using one's own abilities


談天說地

ㄊㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄉㄧˋ

таньтяньшоди

/tʰän³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³ tei̯²²/

/tʰän³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³ tei̯²²/


地廣人稀

ㄉㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧ

дигуанжэньси

/ti⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/tei̯²² kʷɔːŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ hei̯⁵⁵/

/ti⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/tei̯²² kʷɔːŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ hei̯⁵⁵/


知書識禮

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ lɐi̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ lɐi̯¹³/


殫精竭慮

ㄉㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄩˋ

даньцзинцзелюй

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/taːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰiːt̚³ lɵy̯²²/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/taːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰiːt̚³ lɵy̯²²/

to exhaust one's energy and rack one's brain


開疆拓土

ㄎㄞ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄊㄨㄛˋ ㄊㄨˇ

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ kœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːk̚³ tʰou̯³⁵/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ kœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːk̚³ tʰou̯³⁵/


棋逢敵手

ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄥˊ ㄉㄧˊ ㄕㄡˇ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fɤŋ³⁵ ti³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ fʊŋ²¹ tɪk̚² sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fɤŋ³⁵ ti³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ fʊŋ²¹ tɪk̚² sɐu̯³⁵/


千家萬戶

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨˋ

цяньцзяваньху

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ maːn²² wuː²²/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁴² ka⁴² uan¹¹ fu¹¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ fu⁵³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ ke³³⁻²³ buaŋ¹¹ hou³⁵/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕi̯a̠³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ɸu⁴⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕi̯a̠³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ɸu⁴⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ maːn²² wuː²²/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁴² ka⁴² uan¹¹ fu¹¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ fu⁵³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ ke³³⁻²³ buaŋ¹¹ hou³⁵/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕi̯a̠³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ɸu⁴⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕi̯a̠³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ɸu⁴⁵/


不可名狀

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

букэминчжуан

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔːŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔːŋ²²/


傷痕累累

ㄕㄤ ㄏㄣˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄌㄟˇ

шанхэньлэйлэй

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ xən³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɐn²¹ lɵy̯²¹ lɵy̯²¹/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴ lui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lui⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³ lui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lui⁴¹/

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ xən³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɐn²¹ lɵy̯²¹ lɵy̯²¹/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴ lui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lui⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³ lui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lui⁴¹/

(literal, figurative) riddled with scars and/or bruises


拔刀相向

ㄅㄚˊ ㄉㄠ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³/

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³/

to use force (to fight, start a war, etc.)


等而下之

ㄉㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɐŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɐŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/


大不如前

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/tai³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ t͡siɛn²³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ t͡siɛn²³/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/tai³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ t͡siɛn²³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ t͡siɛn²³/

他已經七十多歲了，體力大不如前。 [MSC, trad.]
他已经七十多岁了，体力大不如前。 [MSC, simp.]

He is in his seventies. He does not have as much energy as before.

Tā yǐjīng qīshí duō suì le, tǐlì dàbùrúqián. [Pinyin]


深不可測

ㄕㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄘㄜˋ

/ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/


始料不及

ㄕˇ ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ liːu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ liːu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

(of an event that occurred) to be unexpected; to be unanticipated


相持不下

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

/sio⁴⁴⁻²² ti²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ha²²/

/sio³³ ti²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ha⁴¹/

/sio⁴⁴⁻²² ti¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ha²²/

/sio⁴⁴⁻³³ ti²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ha³³/

/siɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ ti²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ha³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

/sio⁴⁴⁻²² ti²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ha²²/

/sio³³ ti²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ha⁴¹/

/sio⁴⁴⁻²² ti¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ha²²/

/sio⁴⁴⁻³³ ti²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ha³³/

/siɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ ti²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ha³³/

to be locked in a stalemate; neither side is winning or yielding in a standoff


悔之莫及

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

хуэйчжимоцзи

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fuːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fuːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/


少言寡語

ㄕㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄩˇ

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


細微末節

ㄒㄧˋ ㄨㄟ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ㄒㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ mei̯²¹ muːt̚² t͡siːt̚³/

/ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ mei̯²¹ muːt̚² t͡siːt̚³/

trivial detail; tiny and insignificant detail


異軍突起

ㄧˋ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄊㄨ ㄑㄧˇ

ㄧˋ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄊㄨˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²² kʷɐn⁵⁵ tɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻²² tut̚⁴⁻³² kʰi⁵³/

/i⁴¹⁻²² kun³³ tut̚²⁴⁻² kʰi⁵⁵⁴/

/i²²⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻²² tut̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ tut̚⁴⁻³² kʰi⁵³/

/i³³⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ tut̚⁴⁻³² kʰi⁴¹/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²² kʷɐn⁵⁵ tɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻²² tut̚⁴⁻³² kʰi⁵³/

/i⁴¹⁻²² kun³³ tut̚²⁴⁻² kʰi⁵⁵⁴/

/i²²⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻²² tut̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ tut̚⁴⁻³² kʰi⁵³/

/i³³⁻²¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ tut̚⁴⁻³² kʰi⁴¹/


先花後果

to blossom flowers first and bear fruits afterwards

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄡˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ

сяньхуахоуго

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kʷɔː³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kʷɔː³⁵/

生下三女一男：兒子名曰承祖，長女名玉英，次女名桃英，三女名月英。元來是先花後果的，倒是玉英居長，次即承祖。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
生下三女一男：儿子名曰承祖，长女名玉英，次女名桃英，三女名月英。元来是先花后果的，倒是玉英居长，次即承祖。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
[She bore three daughters and one son.] The son was named Chengzu, the eldest daughter Yuying, the second daughter Taoying, and the third daughter Yueying. Yuying was the eldest of the four and Chengzu the son was the second.

From: Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World, 1627 CE

Shēngxià sān nǚ yī nán: érzǐ míng yuē Chéngzǔ, chángnǚ míng Yùyīng, cìnǚ míng Táoyīng, sānnǚ míng Yuèyīng. Yuánlái shì xiānhuāhòuguǒ de, dǎoshì Yùyīng jū cháng, cì jí Chéngzǔ. [Pinyin]

(obsolete) to give birth to a girl first and then a boy


後果前因

ㄏㄡˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄣ

хоугоцяньинь

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kʷɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kʷɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

前因後果 前因後果#Chinese

前因后果 前因后果#Chinese


迥乎不同

ㄐㄩㄥˇ ㄏㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

迥然不同 迥然不同#Chinese


冰炭不同器

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄑㄧˋ

бин тань бутун ци

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/


乖覺可喜

ㄍㄨㄞ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧˇ

гуайцзюэкэси

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷaːi̯⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/kʷaːi̯⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵/


冰炭不同罏

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ

бинтаньбутунлу

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵/

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵/

冰炭不同器 冰炭不同器#Chinese


冰炭不同爐

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ

бин тань бутун лу

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵/

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵/

冰炭不同器 冰炭不同器#Chinese


先甘後苦

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄍㄢ ㄏㄡˋ ㄎㄨˇ

сяньганьхоуку

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to indulge in short-term gratification, but end up suffering in the long run


先苦後甘

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄍㄢ

сянькухоугань

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ kän⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ kän⁵⁵/

to suffer short-term pain for long-term gain


不進則退

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

буцзиньцзэтуй

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐk̚⁵ tʰɵy̯³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐk̚⁵ tʰɵy̯³³/


功德圓滿

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄜˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄇㄢˇ

гундэюаньмань

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jyːn²¹ muːn¹³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jyːn²¹ muːn¹³/

to conclude successfully; to end satisfactorily


見賢思齊

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄙ ㄑㄧˊ

цзяньсяньсыци

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiːn²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiːn²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

From the Analects, Book 4 (《論語·里仁》):
:
子曰：「見賢思齊焉，見不賢而內自省也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Jiàn xián sī qí yān, jiàn bù xián ér nèi zìxǐng yě.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."

子曰：「見.賢.思.齊 焉，見 不 賢 而 內 自省 也。」

to see a virtuous person and think of following their example


君子不器

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (君子不器):
* → Korean: 군자불기(君子不器) (gunjabulgi)
* → Vietnamese: quân tử bất khí (君子不器)

ja-r

くん%し は き ならず

→ Japanese: 君(くん)子(し)は器(き)ならず (kunshi wa ki narazu) (calque)

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ

цзюньцзыбуци

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「君子不器。」 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ bù qì.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "The accomplished scholar is not a utensil."

zh-x

^子曰：「君子.不.器。」

A gentleman is no specialist; Unlike a tool fashioned for a specific purpose, a gentleman is well-rounded, someone who has talents suited to any task.


歡蹦亂跳

ㄏㄨㄢ ㄅㄥˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄠˋ

хуаньбэн луаньтяо

/xu̯än⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fuːn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ lyːn²² tʰiːu̯³³/

/fᵘɔn³³ paŋ⁵⁵ lᵘɔn³² hiau³³/

/xu̯än⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fuːn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ lyːn²² tʰiːu̯³³/

/fᵘɔn³³ paŋ⁵⁵ lᵘɔn³² hiau³³/


老魚跳波

ㄌㄠˇ ㄩˊ ㄊㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄛ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

(figurative, of music) exquisite; pleasant


乘火打劫

ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ fɔː³⁵ taː³⁵ kiːp̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ fɔː³⁵ taː³⁵ kiːp̚³/

to take advantage of another person's misfortune for personal gain


久負盛名

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ fuː²² sɪŋ²² mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ fuː²² sɪŋ²² mɪŋ²¹/

to have a good reputation for a long time


操之過急

ㄘㄠ ㄓ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ kɐp̚⁵/

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ kɐp̚⁵/


正中下懷

ㄓㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ

чжэнчжунсяхуай

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ³³ haː²² waːi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ³³ haː²² waːi̯²¹/


舟車勞頓

ㄓㄡ ㄔㄜ ㄌㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄣˋ

чжоучэлаодунь

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ tɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ tɵn²²/

to become exhausted from travelling (in a vehicle, on a boat, train, airplane, etc.); to be fatigued by a long journey


莫之與京

ㄇㄛˋ ㄓ ㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

From the Commentary of Zuo:
:
有媯之後，將育于姜，五世其昌，並于正卿，八世之後，莫之與京。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]有妫之后，将育于姜，五世其昌，并于正卿，八世之后，莫之与京。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Yǒuguī zhīhòu, jiāng yù yú Jiāng, wǔshìqíchāng, bìng yú zhèngqīng, bā shì zhīhòu, mòzhīyǔjīng. [Pinyin]
The posterity of this scion of the Gui [surname of the House of Chen] will be nourished among the Jiang [surname of the House of Qi]. In five generations they will be prosperous, and the highest ministers in Qi; in eight, there will be none to compare with them for greatness.

^@有媯 之後，將 育 于 ^姜，五世其昌，並 于 正卿，八 世 之後，莫之與京。

The posterity of this scion of the Gui 􂀿surname of the House of Chen􂁀 will be nourished among the Jiang 􂀿surname of the House of Qi􂁀. In five generations they will be prosperous, and the highest ministers in Qi; in eight, there will be none to compare with them for greatness.


怒目而視

ㄋㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄕˋ

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/nou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː²¹ siː²²/

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/nou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː²¹ siː²²/


利令智昏

ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄏㄨㄣ

лилинчжихунь

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/lei̯²² lɪŋ²² t͡siː³³ fɐn⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/lei̯²² lɪŋ²² t͡siː³³ fɐn⁵⁵/

to be blinded by the lust for gains; to lose one's head because of greed


緩不濟急

ㄏㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧˊ

хуаньбуцзицзи

/xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/wuːn²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ kɐp̚⁵/

/uan²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡se²¹⁻⁵³ kip̚³²/

/uan⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡se⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kip̚⁵/

/uan²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡se²¹⁻⁵³ kip̚³²/

/uan³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡se¹¹⁻⁵³ kip̚³²/

/uan³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡se²¹⁻⁴¹ kip̚³²/

/xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/wuːn²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ kɐp̚⁵/

/uan²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡se²¹⁻⁵³ kip̚³²/

/uan⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡se⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kip̚⁵/

/uan²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡se²¹⁻⁵³ kip̚³²/

/uan³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡se¹¹⁻⁵³ kip̚³²/

/uan³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡se²¹⁻⁴¹ kip̚³²/

(of an action or plan) to be too slow and unable to address an urgent situation


千姿百態

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄗ ㄅㄞˇ ㄊㄞˋ

цяньцзыбайтай

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ paːk̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ paːk̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/


待時而動

ㄉㄞˋ ㄕˊ ㄦˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/taɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːi̯²² siː²¹ jiː²¹ tʊŋ²²/

/taɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːi̯²² siː²¹ jiː²¹ tʊŋ²²/


積不相能

ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄋㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

(literary) to not get along for a long time


一較高下

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄍㄠ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːu̯³³ kou̯⁵⁵ haː²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːu̯³³ kou̯⁵⁵ haː²²/

to compete against one another and determine who is superior


一決高下

ㄧ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄍㄠ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³ kou̯⁵⁵ haː²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³ kou̯⁵⁵ haː²²/


因利乘便

ㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

иньличэнбянь

/in⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²² sɪŋ²¹ piːn²²/

/in⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²² sɪŋ²¹ piːn²²/

to make use of an advantageous situation


一決勝負

ㄧ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄈㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³ sɪŋ³³ fuː²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³ sɪŋ³³ fuː²²/

to have a showdown to determine the victor


飛來橫禍

ㄈㄟ ㄌㄞˊ ㄏㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ xɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ waːŋ²¹ wɔː²²/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ xɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ waːŋ²¹ wɔː²²/

unexpected disaster that suddenly befalls


足不出戶

ㄗㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄏㄨˋ

/t͡su³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xu⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ wuː²²/

/t͡su³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xu⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ wuː²²/

to not leave the house; to be confined to the house (but still able to ...)


一決雌雄

→ Japanese: 雌(し)雄(ゆう)を決(けっ)する (shiyū o kessuru) (calque)

ㄧ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄘˊ ㄒㄩㄥˊ

ㄧ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄘ ㄒㄩㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/


有理有據

ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄩˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ lei̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kɵy̯³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ lei̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kɵy̯³³/

to have solid grounds; well-grounded; well-founded


目無餘子

ㄇㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄩˊ ㄗˇ

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ y³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ y³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/


鑽木取火

ㄗㄨㄢ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

цзуаньмуцюйхо

/t͡su̯än⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ mʊk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ mʊk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵/


獨夫民賊

ㄉㄨˊ ㄈㄨ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ

дуфуминьцзэй

/tʊk̚² fuː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

/tʊk̚² fuː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

tyrant who has no support and brings disaster to the country and the people


好景不常

ㄏㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄤˊ

хаоцзинбучан

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hou̯³³ kɪŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hou̯³³ kɪŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹/


針尖對麥芒

ㄓㄣ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄞˋ ㄇㄤˊ

чжэньцзянь дуй майман

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹ mɑŋ³⁵/

(of two equally strong sides) sharply opposed to each other, neither making any concessions


逐鹿中原

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄩㄢˊ

чжулучжунъюань

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚² lʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚² lʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

to fight for the throne and control over China


拂袖而去

ㄈㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄩˋ

/fu³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/fɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/

/fu³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/fɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/


尋人尋物

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄨˋ

сюньжэньсюньу

/ɕyn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ u⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ u⁵¹/

廣播尋人尋物／广播寻人寻物


習非成是

ㄒㄧˊ ㄈㄟ ㄔㄥˊ ㄕˋ

/ɕi³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡saːp̚² fei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ siː²²/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² hui⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² si²²/

/ɕi³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡saːp̚² fei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ siː²²/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² hui⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² si²²/

to be accustomed to mistakes that they instead are regarded as right


口腹之欲

ㄎㄡˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓ ㄩˋ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

desire for food; desire to eat and drink


大廈將傾

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² haː²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² haː²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

to be about to collapse; to be about to crumble


成敗利鈍

ㄔㄥˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄣˋ

чэнбайлидунь

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ paːi̯²² lei̯²² tɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ paːi̯²² lei̯²² tɵn²²/

success or failure; smoothness or setback


妙手回春

ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄨㄣ

мяошоухуэйчунь

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² sɐu̯³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² sɐu̯³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵/

(of a doctor) to have superb medical skills and bring the dying back to life


輕拿輕放

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄋㄚˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄈㄤˋ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ nä³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ nä³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹/

易碎物品請輕拿輕放。 [MSC, trad.]
易碎物品请轻拿轻放。 [MSC, simp.]

Yìsuì wùpǐn qǐng qīngnáqīngfàng. [Pinyin]


迎頭痛擊

ㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧ

ㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ³³ kɪk̚⁵/

/ɡiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ kiɪk̚³²/

/ɡiɪŋ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ tʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ kiɪk̚³²/

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ³³ kɪk̚⁵/

/ɡiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ kiɪk̚³²/

/ɡiɪŋ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ tʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ kiɪk̚³²/

to give a serious attack head-on or directly


城下之盟

ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄇㄥˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐŋ²¹/

treaty or oath forced to make with the enemy when the it is right outside of the walls of the city


風言風語

ㄈㄥ ㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ

фэнъянь фэнъюй

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/


挑肥揀瘦

ㄊㄧㄠ ㄈㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄡˋ

тяофэйцзяньшоу

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ feɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fei̯²¹ kaːn³⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ feɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fei̯²¹ kaːn³⁵ sɐu̯³³/

to pick the best for oneself; to choose whatever is to one's advantage


枝繁葉茂

ㄓ ㄈㄢˊ ㄧㄝˋ ㄇㄠˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(chiefly of a family or collective) to thrive; to prosper


漏洞百出

ㄌㄡˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄔㄨ

/loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²² tʊŋ²² paːk̚³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²² tʊŋ²² paːk̚³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/


五大三粗

ㄨˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵/

broad-armed, burly and powerful; big and tall


指揮若定

ㄓˇ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

чжихуэйжодин

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jœːk̚² tɪŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jœːk̚² tɪŋ²²/

to command and issue orders in a calm and poised manner


再造之恩

цзайцзаочжиэнь

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵/


戒備森嚴

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄟˋ ㄙㄣ ㄧㄢˊ

цзебэйсэньянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kaːi̯³³ pei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kaːi̯³³ pei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/


以攻為守

ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

to actively attack as a means of defense


衣錦榮歸

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ицзиньжунгуй

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ kim⁵²⁻³⁵ ioŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui³³/

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ kim⁵²⁻³⁵ ioŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui³³/

衣錦還鄉 衣錦還鄉#Chinese

衣锦还乡 衣锦还乡#Chinese

Synonym of 衣錦還鄉／衣锦还乡 (“to return home a success; to return home in glory”)


深仇大恨

ㄕㄣ ㄔㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄣˋ

шэньчоудахэнь

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɐn²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɐn²²/


大做文章

ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄤ

дацзовэньчжан

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sou̯²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sou̯²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

make a big thing out of
make a big thing out of

to make a big thing out of a certain matter to escalate the situation and achieve one's own goals


孺子可教

ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kaːu̯³³/

From the story of Zhang Liang meeting his master (translation was adapted from Xinhua News Agency):
:
良嘗閒從容步游下邳圯上，有一老父，衣褐，至良所，直墮其履圯下，顧謂良曰：「孺子，下取履！」良鄂然，欲毆之。為其老，彊忍，下取履。父曰：「履我！」良業為取履，因長跪履之。父以足受，笑而去。良殊大驚，隨目之。父去里所，復還，曰：「孺子可教矣。後五日平明，與我會此。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]良尝闲从容步游下邳圯上，有一老父，衣褐，至良所，直堕其履圯下，顾谓良曰：「孺子，下取履！」良鄂然，欲殴之。为其老，强忍，下取履。父曰：「履我！」良业为取履，因长跪履之。父以足受，笑而去。良殊大惊，随目之。父去里所，复还，曰：「孺子可教矣。后五日平明，与我会此。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Liáng cháng xián cóngróng bù yóu xiàpī yí shàng, yǒu yī lǎofù, yì hè, zhì Liáng suǒ, zhí duò qí lǚ yí xià, gù wèi Liáng yuē: “Rúzǐ, xià qǔ lǚ!” Liáng èrán, yù ōu zhī. Wèi qí lǎo, qiángrěn, xià qǔ lǚ. Fù yuē: “Lǚ wǒ!” Liáng yè wèi qǔ lǚ, yīn cháng guì lǚ zhī. Fù yǐ zú shòu, xiào ér qù. Liáng shū dàjīng, suí mù zhī. Fù qù lǐ suǒ, fù hái, yuē: “Rúzǐkějiào yǐ. Hòu wǔ rì píngmíng, yǔ wǒ huì cǐ.” [Pinyin]
One day, Zhang Liang took a stroll on a bridge in Xiapi and met an old man in clothes made with coarse fibre there. The man walked toward Zhang and chucked his shoe down the bridge on purpose, after which he yelled at Zhang, "Hey boy, go down and fetch me my shoe!" Zhang was astonished. At first he wanted to beat the old man, but considering that the man was old, he then controlled his temper, and went down the bridge to take the shoe for him. The old man then told Zhang, “Put on the shoe for me!” Zhang kneeled and put the shoe on the old man's feet considering that he had already took the shoe for him. The man did not show any sign of gratitude and walked away laughing. Zhang felt surprised and looked at the old man. The old man came back after walking a distance and praised Zhang: "This child can be taught! Meet me here again at dawn five days later."

^@良 嘗 閒 從容 步 游 下邳 圯 上， 有 一 老父，衣{yì} 褐，至 @^良 所，直 墮 其 履 圯 下，顧 謂 ^@良 曰：「孺子，下 取 履！」^@良 愕然\鄂然 ， 欲 毆 之。為 其 老，強忍\彊忍，下 取 履。父 曰：「履 我！」^@良 業 為 取 履，因 長 跪 履 之 。父 以 足 受，笑 而 去。^@良 殊 大驚，隨 目 之。父 去 里 所，復 還，曰：「孺子可教 矣。後 五 日 平明，與 我 會 此。」


久聞大名

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзювэньдамин

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ mɐn²¹ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ mɐn²¹ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

(polite, honorific) I have been looking forward to meeting you for a long time


何樂不為

ㄏㄜˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/xɤ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚²⁴⁻² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho¹³⁻²² lɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/xɤ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚²⁴⁻² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho¹³⁻²² lɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

(rhetorical) why not do it?; what is there against it?


生生不息

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


炙鳳烹龍

ㄓˋ ㄈㄥˋ ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

чжифэнпэнлун

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


牛鼎烹雞

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄆㄥ ㄐㄧ

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

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


烹龍煮鳳

ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄈㄥˋ

пэнлунчжуфэн

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


炰鳳烹龍

ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

паофэнпэнлун

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


炮龍烹鳳

ㄆㄠˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄥ ㄈㄥˋ

паолунпэнфэн

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


烹龍庖鳳

ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ

пэнлунпаофэн

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


炮鳳煮龍

ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄓㄨˇ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

паофэнчжулун

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


炮鳳烹龍

ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

паофэнпэнлун

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


大器小用

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄩㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³³ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³³ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

大材小用 大材小用#Chinese


烹龍炮鳳

ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ

пэнлунпаофэн

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/


入口即化

ㄖㄨˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/ʐu⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐp̚² hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ faː³³/

/ʐu⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐp̚² hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ faː³³/


各自為政

ㄍㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ

гэцзывэйчжэн

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡siː²² wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡siː²² wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³/

each acts on their own according to their own preferences or desires without any overall coordination


長命百歲

ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

чонминбыйсуй

ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

чанминбайсуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²⁴ miŋ⁴⁴ pei²⁴ suei⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɪŋ²² paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²⁴ miŋ⁴⁴ pei²⁴ suei⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɪŋ²² paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³/

live to be a hundred!; live a long life! (expressing good wishes, usually to a child or birthday greetings to older people)


後知後覺

ㄏㄡˋ ㄓ ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

хоучжихоуцзюэ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³/

to only become aware of something after it has happened


目空一切

ㄇㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ

/mu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³/

/mu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³/

to be very arrogant; to be very conceited


借古喻今

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цзегуюйцзинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ kuː³⁵ jyː²² kɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ kuː³⁵ jyː²² kɐm⁵⁵/

to allude to present events or figures by referencing historical events or figures


yygq

ㄧㄣ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/in⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/in⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

又到了我最喜歡的yygq環節，貢子哥重拳出擊了 [MSC, trad.]
又到了我最喜欢的yygq环节，贡子哥重拳出击了 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2020 September, 霍文博 (Huo Wenbo), 《“热门·电竞”微博语篇研究》 [Research on “Hot · E-sports” Micro-blog Text] (PhD), Changchun: Jilin University, page 80

yòu dào le wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yygq huánjié, Gòngzǐ Gē zhòngquánchūjī le [Pinyin]

陰陽怪氣 陰陽怪氣#Chinese

阴阳怪气 阴阳怪气#Chinese

(Internet slang) Initialism of 陰陽怪氣／阴阳怪气 (yīnyángguàiqì).


出口成髒

ㄔㄨ ㄎㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄗㄤ

чукоу чэнцзан

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵/

Pun on 出口成章 (chūkǒuchéngzhāng), by replacing 章 (zhāng, “chapter”) with 髒／脏 (zāng, “foul”).


欺軟怕硬

ㄑㄧ ㄖㄨㄢˇ ㄆㄚˋ ㄧㄥˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ iŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ iŋ⁵¹/


有樣學樣

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄧㄤˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ hɔːk̚² jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ hɔːk̚² jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

to imitate or copy and actions of another


滿身瘡痍

ㄇㄢˇ ㄕㄣ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄧˊ

маньшэньчуанъи

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/


日曬雨淋

ㄖˋ ㄕㄞˋ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧㄣˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² saːi̯³³ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² saːi̯³³ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

to be exposed to the sun and rain; to be exposed to the elements


群而不黨

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):
:
子曰：「君子矜而不爭，群而不黨。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「君子矜而不争，群而不党。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ jīn ér bù zhēng, qún ér bù dǎng.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "The superior man is dignified, but does not wrangle. He is sociable, but not a partisan."

^子曰：「君子 矜 而 不 爭，群.而.不.黨。」

to get along well with others but not form a clique with others


改惡從善

ㄍㄞˇ ㄜˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄢˋ

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ ɔːk̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²²/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ ɔːk̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²²/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf

to stop doing evil and be a good person; to turn over a new leaf


名從主人

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

минцунчжужэнь

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

中國古代就有所謂「名從主人」的原則。一些古代韻書上的多音字甚至是專門為某些地名的當地讀音所設。如阿房宮的房在廣韻中就單有一個並母唐韻的一等讀音（同「旁」），和這個字一般情況下的讀音不一樣。 [MSC, trad.]
中国古代就有所谓「名从主人」的原则。一些古代韵书上的多音字甚至是专门为某些地名的当地读音所设。如阿房宫的房在广韵中就单有一个并母唐韵的一等读音（同「旁」），和这个字一般情况下的读音不一样。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhōngguó gǔdài jiù yǒu suǒwèi “míngcóngzhǔrén” de yuánzé. Yīxiē gǔdài yùnshū shàng de duōyīnzì shènzhì shì zhuānmén wèi mǒuxiē dìmíng de dāngdì dúyīn suǒ shè. Rú Ēfánggōng de fáng zài Guǎngyùn zhōng jiù dān yǒu yīge bìng mǔ táng yùn de yīděng dúyīn (tóng “páng”), hé zhège zì yībān qíngkuàng xià de dúyīn bùyīyàng. [Pinyin]
In ancient China, there was a principle called "the name follows its owner." Some ancient rhyme dictionaries even had multiple pronunciations for characters specifically for the local readings of certain place names. For example, in the 'Guangyun' dictionary, the character '房' in '阿房宫' (Epang Palace) had a unique pronunciation corresponding to the 'tang' rhyme in the 'bing' category, which is different from the general pronunciation of the character.

From: 2018 May 22, 汉语拼音60年｜乌鲁木齐、拉萨、呼和浩特的地名拼音, The Paper

按照名從主人的原則，我國也同意了韓國的請求，將漢城改為了首爾。 [MSC, trad.]
按照名从主人的原则，我国也同意了韩国的请求，将汉城改为了首尔。 [MSC, simp.]
In accordance with the principle of "the name follows its owner", our country (China) agreed to the request of South Korea, and changed the name Hànchéng to Shǒu'ěr.

From: 2020 Nov 12, 汉城名称变为首尔，韩国为什么只要求中国更改？

Ànzhào míngcóngzhǔrén de yuánzé, wǒguó yě tóngyì le Hánguó de qǐngqiú, jiāng Hànchéng gǎiwéi le Shǒu'ěr. [Pinyin]

to refer to something by the name its owner refers to it by


牙牙學語

ㄧㄚˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄩˇ

/jä³⁵ jä³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː²¹ ŋaː²¹ hɔːk̚² jyː¹³/

/jä³⁵ jä³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː²¹ ŋaː²¹ hɔːk̚² jyː¹³/

(of a baby) to babble out one's first words


金石絲竹

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄙ ㄓㄨˊ

цзиньшисычжу

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

(figuratively) all kinds of musical instruments


金石良言

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄢˊ

цзиньшилянъянь

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/


吃吃喝喝

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵/

to eat and drink (especially for social purposes); to wine and dine


盜亦有道

ㄉㄠˋ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tou̯²² jɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ tou̯²²/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tou̯²² jɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ tou̯²²/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 10 (《莊子·胠篋》).
:
故跖之徒問於跖曰：「盜亦有道乎？」跖曰：「何適而无有道邪？夫妄意室中之藏，聖也；入先，勇也；出後，義也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。五者不備而能成大盜者，天下未之有也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]故跖之徒问于跖曰：「盗亦有道乎？」跖曰：「何适而无有道邪？夫妄意室中之藏，圣也；入先，勇也；出后，义也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。五者不备而能成大盗者，天下未之有也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translation from The Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu (2013), by Burton Watson
Gù Zhí zhī tú wèn yú Zhí yuē: “Dào yì yǒu dào hū?” Zhí yuē: “Hé shì ér wú yǒu dào yé? Fú wàng yì shì zhōng zhī cáng, shèng yě; rù xiān, yǒng yě; chū hòu, yì yě; zhī kěfǒu, zhì yě; fēn jūn, rén yě. Wǔ zhě bú bèi ér néng chéng dàdào zhě, tiānxià wèi zhī yǒu yě.” [Pinyin]
One of Robber Zhi’s followers once asked Zhi, "Does the thief, too, have a Way?" Zhi replied, "How could he get anywhere if he didn't have a Way? Making shrewd guesses as to how much booty is stashed away in the room is sageliness; being the first one in is bravery; being the last one out is righteousness; knowing whether or not the job can be pulled off is wisdom; dividing up the loot fairly is benevolence. No one in the world ever succeeded in becoming a great thief if he didn't have all five!"

故 ^跖 之 徒 問 於 ^跖 曰：「@盜 @亦 @有 @道 乎？」跖 曰：「何 適 而 无 有 道 邪{yé}？夫{fú} 妄 意 室 中 之 藏，聖 也；入 先，勇 也；出 後，義 也；知 可否，知{zhì} 也；分 均，仁 也。五 者 不{bú} 備 而 能 成 大盜 者，天下 未 之 有 也。」

even robbers and thieves have moral principles


巨細無遺

ㄐㄩˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

to include both large and small matters; to omit neither large or small matters


巨細靡遺

ㄐㄩˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄇㄧˇ ㄧˊ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/kɵy̯²² sɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/kɵy̯²² sɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

to include and not omit both large and small matters; to omit neither large or small matters


花紅柳綠

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄩˋ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ lɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ lɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/


添磚加瓦

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄨㄚˇ

тяньчжуаньцзява

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

to contribute meagerly to a cause; to do one's bit


追本溯源

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄅㄣˇ ㄙㄨˋ ㄩㄢˊ

чжуйбэньсуюань

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ sou̯³³ jyːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ sou̯³³ jyːn²¹/

to trace to the source; to trace to the origin


臨危不亂

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

линьвэйбулуань

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

未雨綢繆才能臨危不亂。 [MSC, trad.]
未雨绸缪才能临危不乱。 [MSC, simp.]

Only by taking precautions can you remain calm in the face of danger.

Wèiyǔchóumóu cái néng línwēibùluàn. [Pinyin]

to remain calm when faced with a dangerous situation


法力無邊

ㄈㄚˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄢ

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

to have boundless and enormous power (usually supernatural power)


分而治之

фэньэрчжичжи

fɛnʹerčžičži

/fən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

to divide and rule; to divide and conquer


恩威並施

/ˀən⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² siː⁵⁵/

/ˀən⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² siː⁵⁵/

to use carrots and sticks; to use grace and might simultaneously


方寸不亂

ㄈㄤ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

фанцуньбулуань

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/


血肉模糊

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wuː²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wuː²¹/

to be badly mangled or mutilated beyond recognition


意氣之爭

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/


舌戰群儒

ㄕㄜˊ ㄓㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ

шэчжаньцюньжу

šɛčžanʹcjunʹžu

/ʂɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/ʂɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

From the title of the 43rd chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms:
:
諸葛亮舌戰群儒 魯子敬力排眾議 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]诸葛亮舌战群儒 鲁子敬力排众议 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Zhūgě Liàng shézhànqúnrú, Lǔ Zǐjìng lìpáizhòngyì [Pinyin]
Zhuge Liang Debated with Groups of Confucian Scholars, Lu Zijing Tried Hard to Refute Opposing Opinions

^諸葛 ^亮 舌戰群儒　^魯 ^子-敬 力排眾議

to have an intense debate with many people at the same time (and defeat them)

Lu Su
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhuge Liang


投閒置散

ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄙㄢˇ

тоусяньчжисань

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ haːn²¹ t͡siː³³ saːn³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ haːn²¹ t͡siː³³ saːn³⁵/


殘兵敗將

ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

цаньбинбайцзян

/t͡sʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/


再生父母

ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² mou̯¹³/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² mou̯¹³/

另外，我還計劃給醫護人員送一面大大的錦旗。是他們把我從鬼門關裡拉回來，對我來講，他們就是我的再生父母。 [MSC, trad.]
另外，我还计划给医护人员送一面大大的锦旗。是他们把我从鬼门关里拉回来，对我来讲，他们就是我的再生父母。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2020 Feb 06, 离开武汉重症患者的自述：阎王没收我 要好好活下去, China News Service

Also, I plan to give a banner to the hospital staff. It was them who took me back from death's door; to me, they are my saviors.

Lìngwài, wǒ hái jìhuà gěi yīhù rényuán sòng yī miàn dà dà de jǐnqí. Shì tāmen bǎ wǒ cóng guǐménguān lǐ lā huílái, duì wǒ lái jiǎng, tāmen jiù shì wǒ de zàishēngfùmǔ. [Pinyin]

person that has extended great grace to someone else, particularly a person that has saved their life


鳳凰在笯

ㄈㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄋㄨˊ

фэнхуан цзай ну

/fɤŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ nu³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ nu³⁵/

a talented person who cannot show his or her ambitions


罪該萬死

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄞ ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˇ

цзуйгайваньсы

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² kɔːi̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² kɔːi̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sei̯³⁵/


養家活口

ㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄎㄡˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵/

to support one's family financially; to provide for one's family


養家糊口

ㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨˊ ㄎㄡˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuː²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuː²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

to support one's family (often with the meaning of to barely manage to do so with one's meagre income)


以退為進

ㄧˇ ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

итуйвэйцзинь

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tʰɵy̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tʰɵy̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/


無以為繼

ㄨˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

生活無以為繼／生活无以为继

隨著美國貿易保護主義的興起，台灣地區製成品輸出美國受到衝擊，連帶也影響到上游原料供應的石化業。同時島內的環境保護意識逐漸興起，高污染的石化業常成為社會運動的抗爭對象。這些內外情勢的變遷都使得20世紀70年代被當局大力扶持的石化業無以為繼。 [MSC, trad.]
随着美国贸易保护主义的兴起，台湾地区制成品输出美国受到冲击，连带也影响到上游原料供应的石化业。同时岛内的环境保护意识逐渐兴起，高污染的石化业常成为社会运动的抗争对象。这些内外情势的变迁都使得20世纪70年代被当局大力扶持的石化业无以为继。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 黄宗昊, 林冈 (2015) “产业政策与金融: 台湾地区发展经验”, in 世界经济研究, number 9, →ISSN, page 109

Suízhe Měiguó màoyì bǎohùzhǔyì de xīngqǐ, Táiwān dìqū zhìchéngpǐn shūchū Měiguó shòudào chōngjī, liándài yě yǐngxiǎng dào shàngyóu yuánliào gōngyìng de shíhuàyè. Tóngshí dǎo nèi de huánjìng bǎohù yìshí zhújiàn xīngqǐ, gāo wūrǎn de shíhuàyè cháng chéngwéi shèhuì yùndòng de kàngzhēng duìxiàng. Zhèxiē nèiwài qíngshì de biànqiān dōu shǐdé 20 shìjì 70 niándài bèi dāngjú dàlì fúchí de shíhuàyè wúyǐwéijì. [Pinyin]

to have no way to continue; to not be able to be sustained


盡如人意

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

цзиньжужэньи

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/


承前啟後

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнцяньцихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

to inherit the teachings of previous generations in order to inspire future actions


少見多怪

ㄕㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

шаоцзяньдогуай

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

to be easily surprised because of ignorance


不知去向

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄑㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³ hœːŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hiɔŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰu¹¹⁻⁵³ hiɔŋ¹¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³ hœːŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hiɔŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰu¹¹⁻⁵³ hiɔŋ¹¹/

to not know where someone or something went


分工合作

ㄈㄣ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

фэньгунхэцзо

/fən⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/fən⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

proper division of labor and co-ordination


不敢恭維

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟˊ

буганьгунвэй

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

to be not good; to not deserve a compliment


求神拜佛

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄈㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ paːi̯³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ paːi̯³³ fɐt̚²/

從公開的文字上看起來：兩年以前，我們總自誇著「地大物博」，是事實；不久就不再自誇了，只希望著國聯，也是事實；現在是既不誇自己，也不信國聯，改為一味求神拜佛，懷古傷今了——卻也是事實。 [MSC, trad.]
从公开的文字上看起来：两年以前，我们总自夸着「地大物博」，是事实；不久就不再自夸了，只希望著国联，也是事实；现在是既不夸自己，也不信国联，改为一味求神拜佛，怀古伤今了——却也是事实。 [MSC, simp.]
Cóng gōngkāi de wénzì shàng kàn qǐlái: liǎng nián yǐqián, wǒmen zǒng zìkuā zhe “dìdàwùbó”, shì shìshí; bùjiǔ jiù bùzài zìkuā le, zhǐ xīwàng zhù Guólián, yěshì shìshí; xiànzài shì jì bù kuā zìjǐ, yě bùxìn Guólián, gǎiwèi yīwèi qiúshénbàifó, huáigǔshāngjīn le — què yěshì shìshí. [Pinyin]

可橙作為間性人，男性的生育能力存在障礙，家長難以接受，媽媽甚至在家裡求神拜佛做法事。 [MSC, trad.]
可橙作为间性人，男性的生育能力存在障碍，家长难以接受，妈妈甚至在家里求神拜佛做法事。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2021 January 15, 张楠茜, 《拯救可橙： 被父母强送矫治的跨性别者》, in 《鳳凰週刊》 [Phoenix Weekly], →ISSN, issue 747, page 42

Kěchéng zuòwéi jiānxìngrén, nánxìng de shēngyù nénglì cúnzài zhàng'ài, jiācháng nányǐ jiēshòu, māmā shènzhì zài jiālǐ qiúshénbàifó zuò fǎshì. [Pinyin]

to pray to gods and Buddha for help or blessings


連根拔起

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄣ ㄅㄚˊ ㄑㄧˇ

ляньгэньбаци

/li̯ɛn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/


九五之尊

the honor of nine-five [to which only the emperor is entitled]

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨˇ ㄓ ㄗㄨㄣ

цзюучжицзунь

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/


國仇家恨

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄣˋ

гочоуцзяхэнь

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɐu̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɐu̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

hatred of a country for invading one's own country and destroying one's own home or family


公諸於眾

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄓㄨ ㄩˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

гунчжуюйчжун

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

公之於眾 公之於眾#Chinese

公之于众 公之于众#Chinese

Misconstruction of 公之於眾／公之于众 (gōngzhīyúzhòng, “to reveal to the public”)


米已成炊

the grain has already been cooked into rice

ㄇㄧˇ ㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄟ

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐi̯¹³ jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐi̯¹³ jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/


師出有名

ㄕ ㄔㄨ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

to do something for a good and proper reason


語驚四座

ㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄙˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɔː²²/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɔː²²/

one's words or speech astonishes every attendee


感人肺腑

ㄍㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄈㄨˇ

ганьжэньфэйфу

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/


無欲無求

ㄨˊ ㄩˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/u³⁵ y⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/u³⁵ y⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/


功高震主

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄓㄣˋ ㄓㄨˇ

гунгаочжэньчжу

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ t͡syː³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ t͡syː³⁵/

one's merits and contributions are so great that one's monarch or leader feels uneasy and insecure


粗聲粗氣

ㄘㄨ ㄕㄥ ㄘㄨ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³/


曲突徙薪

ㄑㄩ ㄊㄨ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄑㄩ ㄊㄨˊ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ tɐt̚² saːi̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ tɐt̚² saːi̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

From a story in Biography of Huo Guang and Jin Midi（霍光金日磾傳）, Book of Han:
:
臣聞客有過主人者，見其灶直突，傍有積薪。客謂主人，更為曲突，遠徙其薪，不者且有火患。主人嘿然不應。俄而家果失火，鄰里共救之，幸而得息。於是殺牛置酒，謝其鄰人，灼爛者在於上行，餘各以功次坐，而不錄言曲突者。人謂主人曰：「鄉使聽客之言，不費牛酒，終亡火患。今論功而請賓，曲突徙薪亡恩澤，焦頭爛額為上客耶？」主人乃寤而請之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]臣闻客有过主人者，见其灶直突，傍有积薪。客谓主人，更为曲突，远徙其薪，不者且有火患。主人嘿然不应。俄而家果失火，邻里共救之，幸而得息。于是杀牛置酒，谢其邻人，灼烂者在于上行，余各以功次坐，而不录言曲突者。人谓主人曰：「乡使听客之言，不费牛酒，终亡火患。今论功而请宾，曲突徙薪亡恩泽，焦头烂额为上客耶？」主人乃寤而请之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Chén wén kè yǒu guò zhǔrén zhě, jiàn qí zào zhí tū, bàng yǒu jī xīn. Kè wèi zhǔrén, gēng wéi qū tū, yuǎn xǐ qí xīn, bù zhě qiě yǒu huǒhuàn. Zhǔrén mòrán bù yìng. É'ér jiā guǒ shīhuǒ, línlǐ gòng jiù zhī, xìng ér dé xī. Yúshì shā niú zhì jiǔ, xiè qí línrén, zhuó làn zhě zài yú shàng háng, yú gè yǐ gōng cì zuò, ér bù lù yán qū tū zhě. Rén wèi zhǔrén yuē: “Xiàngshǐ tīng kè zhī yán, bù fèi niú jiǔ, zhōng wáng huǒhuàn. Jīn lùn gōng ér qǐng bīn, qūtūxǐxīn wáng ēnzé, jiāotóulàn'é wèi shàngkè yē?” Zhǔrén nǎi wù ér qǐng zhī. [Pinyin]
I heard that there was once a guest visiting a homeowner, and he observed that his stove was equipped with a straight chimney, and there was firewood piled up next to it. The guest told the owner, "Replace your chimney with a crooked one and move the firewood far away from it. Otherwise, there will be fire risk." But the owner ignored him. Soon his house was really on fire, and his neighbours went to put out fire together. Fortunately, they were able to put it out. The homeowner then slaughtered cows and prepared wine to thank his neighbours. Those who were burnt were arranged to sit at the front, and the others sat according to their contributions. However, he did not invite the person that told him to modify the chimney. Someone then said to him, "If you had listened to what your guest said, you would have eliminated fire without beef and wine. Now you are inviting people according to their contributions, then how can you forget the mercy of the person that told you to replace the chimney with a crooked one and move firewood away, but let those people got burnt seriously be the important guests?" The homeowner realized that and invited him.

臣 聞 客 有 過 主人 者 ， 見 其 灶 直 突 ， 傍 有 積 薪 。 客 謂 主人 ， 更{gēng} 為{wéi} 曲 突 ， 遠 徙 其 薪 ， 不 者 且 有 火患 。 主人 默然\嘿{mò}然 不 應 。 俄而 家 果 失火 ， 鄰里 共 救 之 ， 幸 而 得 息 。 於是 殺 牛 置 酒 ， 謝 其 鄰人 ， 灼 爛 者 在 於 上 行{háng} ， 餘 各 以 功 次 坐 ， 而 不 錄 言 曲 突 者 。 人 謂 主人 曰 ：「鄉{xiàng}使 聽 客 之 言 ， 不 費 牛 酒 ， 終 亡 火患 。 今 論 功 而 請 賓 ， 曲突徙薪 亡 恩澤 ， 焦頭爛額 為 上客 耶 ？ 」 主人 乃 寤 而 請 之 。

to bend the chimney and move the firewood away from it

to take preventive measures; to take precautions (to prevent trouble from happening)


積勞成疾

ㄐㄧ ㄌㄠˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄧˊ

цзилаочэнцзи

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ lou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ lou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐt̚²/

to fall ill because one is overworked and exhausted for a long period of time; to fall ill from prolonged overwork


出雙入對

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄖㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² tɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² tɵy̯³³/

to frequently do things together (especially said of a couple suspected to be in love)


綠樹成蔭

ㄌㄩˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧㄣ

люйшучэнъинь

/ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² syː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

/ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² syː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

to have many green leafy trees that form a pleasant shade


節衣縮食

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄧ ㄙㄨㄛ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚³ jiː⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚³ jiː⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

to save money by reducing daily expenses


精神抖擻

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄉㄡˇ ㄙㄡˇ

цзиншэньдоусоу

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ tɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ tɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

in high spirits; fresh with energy; vigorous and energetic; glowing with health and vigor


溫文爾雅

ㄨㄣ ㄨㄣˊ ㄦˇ ㄧㄚˇ

/wən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ ŋaː¹³/

/wən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ ŋaː¹³/

gentle and polite; elegant and dignified


粗製濫造

ㄘㄨ ㄓˋ ㄌㄢˋ ㄗㄠˋ

цучжиланьцзао

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ laːm²² t͡sou̯²²/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ laːm²² t͡sou̯²²/

to manufacture in a rough and slipshod way; to churn out shoddy products or pieces of work; to produce products in large quantity without regard for quality


街頭巷尾

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄨㄟˇ

цзетоусянвэй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² mei̯¹³/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ mei̯¹³/

/koi³³⁻²³ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ haŋ¹¹ bue⁵²/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² mei̯¹³/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ mei̯¹³/

/koi³³⁻²³ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ haŋ¹¹ bue⁵²/


表面文章

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄤ

бяомяньвэньчжан

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/piːu̯³⁵ miːn²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/piːu̯³⁵ miːn²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

focus solely on form or appearance without emphasis on content or effectiveness; ostentatiousness


見獵心喜

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˇ

цзяньлесиньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to see others doing what one used to love doing and therefore be eager to try doing it again


徇私舞弊

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄙ ㄨˇ ㄅㄧˋ

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄙ ㄨˇ ㄅㄧˋ

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ pɐi̯²²/

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ pɐi̯²²/

to engage in malpractices for selfish ends; to be involved in corruption


顛三倒四

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄙㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄙˋ

дяньсаньдаосы

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

(of words or behaviour) disorderly; chaotic; topsy-turvy; confused


視死如生

ㄕˋ ㄙˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄥ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/


高山仰止

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄤˇ ㄓˇ

гаошаньянчжи

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 218 (《詩經·小雅·車舝》):
:
高山仰止，景行行止。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Gāoshān yǎng zhǐ, jǐngxíng xíng zhǐ. [Pinyin]
The high hill is looked up to; The great road is easy to be travelled on.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·車舝》)

(《詩經·小雅·車舝》)

zh-x

高山.仰.止，景行 行 止。

to admire and venerate (someone great and noble)


壯志未酬

ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄓˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄔㄡˊ

чжуанчживэйчоу

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ mei̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ mei̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

to have great ambitions that have not been realized


將心比己

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ

цзянсиньбицзи

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

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


特事特辦

ㄊㄜˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄢˋ

/tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹/

/tɐk̚² siː²² tɐk̚² paːn²²/

/tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹/

/tɐk̚² siː²² tɐk̚² paːn²²/

to handle special matters with special methods or arrangements


福善禍淫

ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄣˊ

/fu³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ in³⁵/

/hok̚²⁻⁴ sieŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ im⁵⁵/

/fu³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ in³⁵/

/hok̚²⁻⁴ sieŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ im⁵⁵/

Goodness is rewarded and wickedness is punished.


因禍得福

ㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄨˊ

/in⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɔː²² tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ tik̚²⁻⁴ hok̚²/

/in⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɔː²² tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ tik̚²⁻⁴ hok̚²/


寸土不讓

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

to not give up a single inch of one's territory


寸步不讓

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

to not make to slightest concession; to not yield even slightly


老態龍鍾

ㄌㄠˇ ㄊㄞˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

лаотайлунчжун

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ tʰaːi̯³³ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ tʰaːi̯³³ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


盆滿缽滿

ㄆㄣˊ ㄇㄢˇ ㄅㄛ ㄇㄢˇ

пэньманьбомань

/pʰən³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰən³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(originally Cantonese) to have made a lot of money


化民成俗

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄙㄨˊ

хуаминьчэнсу

/xu̯ä⁵¹ min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ su³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ su³⁵/

to transform the people and refine their way of life


入土為安

ㄖㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄢ

/ʐu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² tʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² tʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

(of a deceased person) to be buried so that they can rest in peace


畏之如虎

ㄨㄟˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨˇ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be extremely scared of someone or something


中道而廢

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄉㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˋ

чжундаоэрфэй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

change horses in midstream
change horses in midstream

to give up halfway through a task; to not finish what one has started; to change horses in midstream


中途而廢

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄊㄨˊ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/


出言有章

ㄔㄨ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄤ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

words flow from the mouth as from the pen of a master


接人待物

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄨˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ jɐn²¹ tɔːi̯²² mɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ jɐn²¹ tɔːi̯²² mɐt̚²/

getting along with others; dealing with people


各盡其職

ㄍㄜˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˊ

гэцзиньцичжи

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

each person attends to his or her own duties


南征北戰

ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄥ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄢˋ

наньчжэнбэйчжань

nanʹčžɛnbɛjčžanʹ

/nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ t͡siːn³³/

/nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ t͡siːn³³/

to have engaged in many combats in various places


少不更事

ㄕㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄥ ㄕˋ

ㄕㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˋ

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

young and inexperienced in life; wet behind the ears


少不經事

ㄕㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˋ

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


難上加難

ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄋㄢˊ

наньшанцзянань

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ nän³⁵/

/naːn²¹ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

/lan²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ nän³⁵/

/naːn²¹ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

/lan²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/


殺雞駭猴

to kill the chicken to startle the monkey

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄏㄞˋ ㄏㄡˊ

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

to punish an individual as an example to others


字裡行間

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄏㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

цзылиханцзянь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɵy̯¹³ hɔːŋ²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɵy̯¹³ hɔːŋ²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/


九流三教

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзюлюсаньцзяо

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/kɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

三教九流 三教九流#Chinese


不吝賜教

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˋ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˋ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

булиньцыцзяо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

булиньсыцзяо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡sʰiː³³ kaːu̯³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡sʰiː³³ kaːu̯³³/

to not be stinting with comments or criticism


風雨兼程

ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄔㄥˊ

фэнъюйцзяньчэн

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/


夙夜匪懈

ㄙㄨˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄈㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jɛː²² fei̯³⁵ haːi̯²²/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jɛː²² fei̯³⁵ haːi̯²²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 260 (《詩經·大雅·烝民》):
:
既明且哲，以保其身。
夙夜匪解，以事一人。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jì míng qiě zhé, yǐ bǎo qí shēn.
Sùyè fěi xiè, yǐ shì yīrén. [Pinyin]
Intelligent is he and wise, Protecting his own person.
Never idle, day or night, In the service of the One man.

lang

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

zh-x

既 明 且 哲，以 保 其 身。
@^夙夜.匪.解{xiè}，以 事 一人。

夙夜匪懈，主義是從。 [MSC, trad.]
夙夜匪懈，主义是从。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 中華民國國歌(The National Anthem of the Republic of China)

Work day or night, follow the Principles.


天寒地凍

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

тяньханьдидун

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xän³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xän³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ³³/


可乘之機

ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

opportunity that can be exploited to one's advantage


老淚縱橫

ㄌㄠˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ

лаолэйцзунхэн

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

tears running down the face of an elderly person


痛徹心扉

ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ

тунчэсиньфэй

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/


稱王稱霸

ㄔㄥ ㄨㄤˊ ㄔㄥ ㄅㄚˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ paː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ paː³³/

to proclaim oneself hegemon; to seek hegemony; to domineer; to lord it over others


人模狗樣

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋ

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹/

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋㄦ

жэньмогоуянр

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑ̃ɻ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ mou̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑ̃ɻ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ mou̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ²²/


吳下阿蒙

[like] the generalLü Meng of the Kingdom Wu

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄚ ㄇㄥˊ

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄚˋ ㄇㄥˊ

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀä⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀä⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍²¹ haː²² aː³³ mʊŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀä⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀä⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍²¹ haː²² aː³³ mʊŋ²¹/

ignorant person; person who has meagre and superficial knowledge


裝腔作勢

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

чжуанцянцзоши

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/


無牽無掛

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷaː³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kua¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kua²¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷaː³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kua¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kua²¹/


好逸惡勞

ㄏㄠˋ ㄧˋ ㄨˋ ㄌㄠˊ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hou̯³³ jɐt̚² wuː³³ lou̯²¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hou̯³³ jɐt̚² wuː³³ lou̯²¹/

(derogatory) to indulge in comfort and despise laboring


舐犢情深

ㄕˋ ㄉㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄣ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːi̯³⁵ tʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːi̯³⁵ tʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

deep parental love; deep affection of parents towards their children


無關緊要

ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄧㄠˋ

угуаньцзиньяо

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ kɐn³⁵ jiːu̯³³/

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ kɐn³⁵ jiːu̯³³/


盛氣凌人

ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ

шэнцилинжэнь

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² hei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² hei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

to be arrogant and overbearing and bully others


將勤補拙

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛ

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ

цзянциньбучжо

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐn²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐn²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚³/

to make up for one's lack of natural talent with hard work


一元復始

ㄧ ㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyːn²¹ fʊk̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyːn²¹ fʊk̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/


兵不血刃

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄣˋ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄣˋ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄣˋ

бинбусюэжэнь

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hyːt̚³ jɐn²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hyːt̚³ jɐn²²/

(in a battle) to win without fighting or without much fight


不吐不快

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

/pu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːi̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːi̯³³/

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

to have to get something off one's chest; to have to say something to feel comfortable


性情中人

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ

синцинчжунжэнь

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

person who expresses their true emotions; genuine person


兩袖清風

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄈㄥ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of a government official) to be uncorrupted and upright and never take bribes


貪贓枉法

ㄊㄢ ㄗㄤ ㄨㄤˇ ㄈㄚˇ

таньцзанванфа

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/


用兵如神

ㄩㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/jʊŋ⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/jʊŋ⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

to direct military operations with extraordinary skill


調兵遣將

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

дяобинцяньцзян

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tiːu̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/tiːu̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/


懲惡勸善

ㄔㄥˊ ㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ

ㄔㄥˇ ㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ

чэнъэцюаньшань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ hyːn³³ siːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ hyːn³³ siːn²²/

From the Zuo zhuan, late 4th century BCE:
:
春秋之稱，微而顯，志而晦，婉而成章，盡而不污，懲惡而勸善，非聖人誰能脩之？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]春秋之称，微而显，志而晦，婉而成章，尽而不污，惩恶而劝善，非圣人谁能脩之？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Chūnqiū zhī chēng, wēi ér xiǎn, zhì ér huì, wǎn ér chéngzhāng, jìn ér bù wū, chéng'è ér quànshàn, fēi shèngrén shéi néng xiū zhī? [Pinyin]
The Spring and Autumn Annals, in the appellations which it uses, is clear with an exquisite minuteness, distinct through obscurity, elegant by its gentle turns, and full without descending to be low, condemning what is evil, and encouraging what is good;—who but the sage [Confucius] could have compiled it as it is?

春秋 之 稱，微 而 顯，志 而 晦，婉 而 成章，盡 而 不 污，懲惡 而 勸善，非 聖人 誰 能 脩 之？

The Spring and Autumn Annals, in the appellations which it uses, is clear with an exquisite minuteness, distinct through obscurity, elegant by its gentle turns, and full without descending to be low, condemning what is evil, and encouraging what is good;—who but the sage 􂀿Confucius􂁀 could have compiled it as it is?

to punish the wicked and encourage the good


甕中捉鱉

ㄨㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄝ

вэнчжунчжобе

/wəŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/ʊŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚³ piːt̚³/

/wəŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/ʊŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚³ piːt̚³/

to catch or arrest a target already within one's grasp (and cannot escape)


鬼斧神工

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄨˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

гуйфушэньгун

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

superlative craftsmanship; supernaturally fine craft (as if done by the spirits)


大費周章

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄓㄡ ㄓㄤ

дафэйчжоучжан

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

to spend a lot of time and effort to handle a complicated matter; to go to a lot of trouble to handle a difficult matter


南蠻鴃舌

ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄕㄜˊ

наньманьцзюэшэ

/nän³⁵ män³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/nän³⁵ män³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

From Mencius:
:
今也南蠻鴃舌之人，非先王之道，子倍子之師而學之，亦異於曾子矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]今也南蛮𫛞舌之人，非先王之道，子倍子之师而学之，亦异于曾子矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Jīn yě nánmánjuéshé zhī rén, fēi xiānwáng zhī dào, zǐ bèi zǐ zhī shī ér xué zhī, yì yì yú Zēngzǐ yǐ. [Pinyin]
Now here is this shrike-tongued barbarian of the south, whose doctrines are not those of the ancient kings. You turn away from your master and become his disciple. Your conduct is different indeed from that of the philosopher Zeng.
Note that in the pre-Qin period when this term was coined, the Chinese language was not spoken in the area known as South China today. See Old Yue language.

今 也 南蠻鴃{jué}舌 之 人，非 先王 之 道，子 倍 子 之 師 而 學 之，亦 異 於 曾{Zēng}子 矣。

(derogatory) to speak the language of the southern barbarians or a dialect of southern China


感恩戴德

ㄍㄢˇ ㄣ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ганьэньдайдэ

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀən⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai¹¹⁻⁵³ tiɪk̚³²/

/kam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai²¹⁻⁴¹ tiɪk̚³²/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀən⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai¹¹⁻⁵³ tiɪk̚³²/

/kam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai²¹⁻⁴¹ tiɪk̚³²/

to be (deeply) grateful for someone's benevolence or favor


手到擒來

ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄞˊ

шоудаоциньлай

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɐm²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɐm²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

to capture someone or something or do something easily and effortlessly


意義深長

ㄧˋ ㄧˋ ㄕㄣ ㄔㄤˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

to have profound meanings; to be thought-provoking


憂心如焚

ㄧㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄈㄣˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ fən³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fɐn²¹/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ fən³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fɐn²¹/

extremely anxious; extremely worried; burning with anxiety


見風使舵

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄥ ㄕˇ ㄉㄨㄛˋ

цзяньфэншидо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

to bend with the wind; to change one's position, attitude, behaviour, etc. depending on the situation (usually with negative connotation)


一時無兩

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³/


藥到病除

ㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄨˊ

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɛːŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɛːŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

one's illness is cured after taking the medicine


以血洗血

→ Japanese: 血で血を洗う (calque)

ㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

ㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

eye for an eye; return violence for violence


百廢待舉

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄐㄩˇ

байфэйдайцзюй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

百廢待興 百廢待興#Chinese

百废待兴 百废待兴#Chinese

Synonym of 百廢待興／百废待兴 (bǎifèidàixīng, “many abandoned or neglected tasks or projects are waiting to be undertaken”)


百廢待興

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄥ

байфэйдайсин

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

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

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

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

many abandoned or neglected tasks or projects are waiting to be undertaken


御用文人

ㄩˋ ㄩㄥˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юйюнвэньжэнь

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyː²² jʊŋ²² mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyː²² jʊŋ²² mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/

(derogatory) writer hired by the ruler or government to sing its praises


童心未泯

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄧㄣˇ

тунсиньвэйминь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ min²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ min²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

one's childish disposition remains even though he/she is grownup


棄車保帥

(in theXiangqi chess game) to abandon a chariot in order to protect the general

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄩ ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄞˋ

цицзюйбаошуай

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³³ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³³ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

to sacrifice something of lesser importance to preserve something crucial


有說有笑

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ siːu̯³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ siːu̯³³/


血肉相連

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

сюэжоусянлянь

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

сежоусянлянь

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

to be very intimately connected; to be connected by flesh and blood


相見恨晚

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄣˋ ㄨㄢˇ

сянцзяньхэньвань

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hɐn²² maːn¹³/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hɐn²² maːn¹³/

to regret not having met earlier; if only we had met earlier (used to express the happiness when meeting with someone for the first time)


穿針引線

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

чуаньчжэньиньсянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ siːn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ siːn³³/

(figuratively) to act as a go-between; to act as a middleman


一字一珠

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/


敢作敢為

ㄍㄢˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ

ганьцзоганьвэй

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

to act with courage and resolution; to dare to act


過橋抽板

to cross a bridge and take away the planks

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄠˊ ㄔㄡ ㄅㄢˇ

гоцяочоубань

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔː³³ kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ paːn³⁵/

/kʷɔː³³ kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ paːn³⁵/

to abandon one's benefactor upon achieving one's goal


奉若神明

ㄈㄥˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

фэнжошэньмин

/fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²² jœːk̚² sɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²² jœːk̚² sɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

to worship or revere someone or something as if they are a deity


人亡政息

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄒㄧˊ

жэньванчжэнси

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

From the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) in the Book of Rites:
:
哀公問政。子曰：「文、武之政，布在方策，其人存，則其政舉；其人亡，則其政息。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]哀公问政。子曰：「文、武之政，布在方策，其人存，则其政举；其人亡，则其政息。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Āi Gōng wèn zhèng. Zǐyuē: “Wén, Wǔ zhī zhèng, bù zài fāng cè, qí rén cún, zé qí zhèng jǔ; qí rén wáng, zé qí zhèng xī....... [Pinyin]
The Duke Ai asked about government. The Master said, "The government of Wen and Wu is displayed in the records - the tablets of wood and bamboo. Let there be the men and the government will flourish; but without the men, their government decays and ceases. […]

@^哀.^公 問 政。子曰：「@^文、@^武 之 政，布 在 方 策，其 人 存，則 其 政 舉；其 @人.亡，則 其 @政.息。……

a person in power dies or leaves office and his or her policies are abandoned

Book of Rites
King Wen of Zhou
King Wu of Zhou


大吵大鬧

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄠˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄠˋ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² naːu̯²²/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² naːu̯²²/

to create a noisy disturbance; to kick up a fuss; to make a scene


胸無城府

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄨˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fuː³⁵/

to be frank and sincere and not scheming


借花敬佛

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄈㄛˊ

цзехуацзинфо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ fɐt̚²/

(chiefly Cantonese) to offer something that one has received (as a gift, favour, etc.) to someone else


借花獻佛

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄛˊ

цзехуасяньфо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ hiːn³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hue⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ put̚⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ hiːn³³ fɐt̚²/


輕車熟路

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄜ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄜ ㄕㄡˊ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄩ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

to perform a task with which one is very familiar with great ease


乘人之危

ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟ

ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟˊ

чэнжэньчживэй

čɛnžɛnʹčživɛj

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

to exploit someone's difficulties or precarious situation


慷慨就義

ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧˋ

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²²/

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²²/

to valiantly lay down one's life for a just cause; to die a martyr


作惡多端

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄜˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄢ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ ɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ ɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

to have done a great number of evil deeds


死不足惜

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧ

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧˊ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

one's death is not or will not be regrettable; one's death is not or will not be a cause for regret


文弱書生

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

/wən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jœːk̚² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jœːk̚² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

scholar or intellectual who is gentle and frail


志大才疏

ㄓˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕㄨ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

to have great ambitions but little talent or ability


惶恐不安

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

хуанкунбу’ань

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

to be terrified and very anxious; to be panicky


字字珠璣

цзыцзычжуцзи

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡siː²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡siː²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

(of the language of a piece of writing or speech) beautiful and exquisite


優勝劣汰

ㄧㄡ ㄕㄥˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄊㄞˋ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ lyːt̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ lyːt̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/

survival of the fittest
survival of the fittest

the superior win and remain and the inferior is eliminated; survival of the fittest


雄才大略

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄩㄝˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² lœːk̚²/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² lœːk̚²/

to have outstanding ability and great strategy


珠璣咳唾

ㄓㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄎㄜˊ ㄊㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

to speak or write words of excellent literary style


滿腹珠璣

ㄇㄢˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄨ ㄐㄧ

маньфучжуцзи

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/


擔驚受恐

ㄉㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄡˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

даньцзиншоукун

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

擔驚受怕 擔驚受怕#Chinese

担惊受怕 担惊受怕#Chinese

Synonym of 擔驚受怕／担惊受怕 (dānjīngshòupà, “to feel anxious and afraid; to be apprehensive”)


恐惶悚懼

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄙㄨㄥˇ ㄐㄩˋ

кунхуансунцзюй

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²²/


恐後爭先

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄓㄥ ㄒㄧㄢ

кунхоучжэнсянь

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

爭先恐後 爭先恐後#Chinese

争先恐后 争先恐后#Chinese

Synonym of 爭先恐後／争先恐后 (zhēngxiānkǒnghòu, “to vie to be first and fear to be last”)


恐懼不安

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄐㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

кунцзюйбу’ань

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/


臨死不恐

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

/lin³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

/lin³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

to have no fear even when faced with death; to be courageous and determined


臨難不恐

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

линьнаньбукун

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

to have no fear when faced with calamity


臨難不懼

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩˋ

линьнаньбуцзюй

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

臨難不恐 臨難不恐#Chinese

临难不恐 临难不恐#Chinese

Synonym of 臨難不恐／临难不恐 (línnànbùkǒng, “to have no fear when faced with calamity”)


擔驚受怕

ㄉㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄡˋ ㄆㄚˋ

даньцзиншоупа

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹/

/taːm⁵⁵ kɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² pʰaː³³/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹/

/taːm⁵⁵ kɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² pʰaː³³/

to feel anxious and afraid; to be apprehensive


誠恐誠惶

ㄔㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

чэнкунчэнхуан

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


家無擔石

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄨˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ u³⁵ tän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ u³⁵ tän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

to have very little food left; to have poverty-stricken


孤身隻影

/ku⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɪŋ³⁵/


口吐珠璣

ㄎㄡˇ ㄊㄨˇ ㄓㄨ ㄐㄧ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/


亙古未有

ㄍㄣˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/kən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kuː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

/kən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kuː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

unprecedented; unheard of; to have never ever occurred


左鄰右里

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ lɵn²¹ jɐu̯²² lei̯¹³/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ lɵn²¹ jɐu̯²² lei̯¹³/


電閃雷鳴

ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄢˇ ㄌㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

дяньшаньлэймин

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/


紅顏薄命

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (紅顏薄命):
* → Vietnamese: hồng nhan bạc mệnh (紅顏薄命)

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

хунъяньбомин

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ pɔːk̚² mɪŋ²²/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ pɔːk̚² mɪŋ²²/

beautiful women often suffer unhappy fates


一錯再錯

ㄧ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

to make the same mistake(s) again and again; to continue making error after error


七老八十

ㄑㄧ ㄌㄠˇ ㄅㄚ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³ paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ lau³³⁻¹¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sap̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³ paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/


馬失前蹄

ㄇㄚˇ ㄕ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧˊ

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

to suddenly fail through miscalculation or inattentiveness


驍勇善戰

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄩㄥˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ

сяоюншаньчжань

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ¹³ siːn²² t͡siːn³³/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ¹³ siːn²² t͡siːn³³/


心腹大患

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

синьфудахуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² waːn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² waːn²²/


聲情並茂

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄠˋ

шэнцинбинмао

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

(of a singer, speaker, etc.) excellent in both voice and the expression of emotions


滴水不漏

ㄉㄧ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ

/ti⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²²/

/ti⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²²/

completely rigorous; watertight; very tight


養兒防老

ㄧㄤˇ ㄦˊ ㄈㄤˊ ㄌㄠˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ fɔːŋ²¹ lou̯¹³/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ fɔːŋ²¹ lou̯¹³/

(of parents) to bring up children for the purpose of being looked after in old age


顛倒是非

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

дяньдаошифэй

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn³³ to⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² hui³³/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn³³ to⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² hui³³/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

to confound right with wrong; to distort the truth


見縫插針

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄥˋ ㄔㄚ ㄓㄣ

цзяньфэнчачжэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

to make use of every bit of available time or space


天各一方

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧ ㄈㄤ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ³³/


燈火通明

ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/


肅然起敬

ㄙㄨˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

сужаньцицзин

/su⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hei̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/

/sok̚²⁻⁴ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

/su⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hei̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/

/sok̚²⁻⁴ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

to feel great respect and admiration (for somebody); to be filled with deep respect (for somebody)


飲恨而終

ㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

иньхэньэрчжун

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ hɐn²² jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ hɐn²² jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


對簿公堂

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄊㄤˊ

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ pou̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ pou̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

to confront someone in court; to go to court


天怒人怨

Heaven is angry and the people are resentful

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄋㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩㄢˋ

тяньнужэньюань

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ nou̯²² jɐn²¹ jyːn³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ nou̯²² jɐn²¹ jyːn³³/

there is widespread anger and discontent among the people (because of the harm or evil someone has done)


神州陸沉

ㄕㄣˊ ㄓㄡ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ

шэньчжоулучэнь

šɛnʹčžoulučɛnʹ

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹/

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹/

From Shishuo Xinyu:
:
桓公入洛，過淮泗，踐北境，與諸僚屬登平乘樓，眺矚中原，慨然曰：「遂使神州陸沉，百年丘虛，王夷甫諸人不得不任其責！」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]桓公入洛，过淮泗，践北境，与诸僚属登平乘楼，眺瞩中原，慨然曰：「遂使神州陆沉，百年丘虚，王夷甫诸人不得不任其责！」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE
Huán Gōng rù Luò, guò Huái Sì, jiàn běi jìng, yǔ zhū liáoshǔ dēng píngchénglóu, tiàozhǔ Zhōngyuán, kǎirán yuē: “Suì shǐ Shénzhōulùchén, bǎinián qiūxū, wáng Yífǔ zhūrén bùdé bù rèn qí zé!” [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

^桓 ^公 入 ^洛，過 ^淮 ^泗，踐 北 境，與 諸 僚屬 登 平乘樓，眺矚 ^中原，慨然 曰：「遂 使 ^神州陸沉，百年 丘虛，王 ^夷-甫 諸人 不得 不 任 其 責！」

China is invaded and occupied by enemies


光彩耀目

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄘㄞˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

光彩奪目 光彩奪目#Chinese

光彩夺目 光彩夺目#Chinese

Synonym of 光彩奪目／光彩夺目 (guāngcǎiduómù, “brilliant and dazzling”)


學有所成

ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄥˊ

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

to have made achievements in one's studies; to have completed one's studies


胸無大志

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡siː³³/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡siː³³/

to have no great ambitions or aspirations


順水人情

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

шуньшуйжэньцин

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

favour done (for others) at little or no cost


雄心勃勃

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


貪財好色

ㄊㄢ ㄘㄞˊ ㄏㄠˋ ㄙㄜˋ

таньцайхаосэ

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

to be greedy for money and lust for women


假公濟私

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧˋ ㄙ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ siː⁵⁵/

to exploit public office for private gain


鼎鼎大名

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/


劫後餘生

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩˊ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːp̚³ hɐu̯²² jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːp̚³ hɐu̯²² jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to survive a disaster; to outlive a calamity


荒淫無度

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ tou̯²²/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ tou̯²²/

to live an debauched life without any restraint; to excessively indulge in liquor and women


趁虛而入

ㄔㄣˋ ㄒㄩ ㄦˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn³³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn³³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

to enter or invade by exploiting of one's opponent's unpreparedness or weakness; to break through a weak point or advance when one's opponent is off guard


賣國求榮

ㄇㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/


蝸角之爭

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (蝸角之爭):
* → Korean: 와각지쟁(蝸角之爭) (wagakjijaeng)

ja-r

か%ぎゅう%かく%じょう の あらそい

→ Japanese: 蝸(か)牛(ぎゅう)角(かく)上(じょう)の争(あらそ)い (kagyūkakujō no arasoi) (calque)

ㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄓ ㄓㄥ

ㄍㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄓ ㄓㄥ

воцзяочжичжэн

/wɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

гуацзяочжичжэн

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

From Zhuangzi:
:
戴晉人曰：「有所謂蝸者，君知之乎？」曰：「然。」「有國於蝸之左角者曰觸氏，有國於蝸之右角者曰蠻氏，時相與爭地而戰，伏屍數萬，逐北旬有五日而後反。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]戴晋人曰：「有所谓蜗者，君知之乎？」曰：「然。」「有国于蜗之左角者曰触氏，有国于蜗之右角者曰蛮氏，时相与争地而战，伏尸数万，逐北旬有五日而后反。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Dài Jìnrén yuē: “Yǒu suǒwèi wō zhě, jūn zhī zhī hū?” Yuē: “Rán.” “yǒu guó yú wō zhī zuǒ jiǎo zhě yuē Chù shì, yǒu guó yú wō zhī yòu jiǎo zhě yuē Mán shì, shí xiàngyǔ zhēng dì ér zhàn, fú shī shùwàn, zhú běi xún yǒu wǔ rì ér hòu fǎn.” [Pinyin]
Dai Jinren said, "There is a creature called the snail—does Your Majesty know it?"
"Yes."
"On top of its left horn is a kingdom called Buffet, and on top of its right horn is a kingdom called Maul. At times they quarrel over territory and go to war, strewing the field with corpses by the ten thousands, the victor pursuing the vanquished for half a month before returning home."

zh-x

^戴 ^晉-人 曰：「有 所謂 蝸 者，君 知 之 乎？」曰：「然。」「有 國 於 蝸 之 左 角 者 曰 ^觸 氏，有 國 於 蝸 之 右 角 者 曰 ^蠻 氏，時 相與 爭 地 而 戰，伏 屍 數萬，逐 北 旬 有 五 日 而 後 反。」

petty squabble; quarrel over trivial matters


勢如水火

ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


巧取豪奪

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄑㄩˇ ㄏㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ hou̯²¹ tyːt̚²/

/haːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ hou̯²¹ tyːt̚²/

to take away (others' money and property) by trickery or by force


獨具匠心

ㄉㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

дуцзюйцзянсинь

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

(chiefly of literature or art) to show great ingenuity; to have originality


火燎眉毛

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄇㄠˊ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/


一觸即潰

ㄧ ㄔㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

to collapse on the first encounter (with enemy forces)


火燒眉毛

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄠ ㄇㄟˊ ㄇㄠˊ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ mou̯²¹/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ mou̯²¹/


閉關鎖港

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (閉關鎖港):
* → Korean: 중남경녀(閉關鎖港) (jungnamgyeongnyeo)
* → Vietnamese: bế quan toả cảng (閉關鎖港)

ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄤˇ

bìguān suǒ gǎng [Phonetic:bìguānsuógǎng]

бигуань со ган

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

香港立法會4月28日三讀通過《入境條例》修訂草案，將於8月1日正式生效。多個民間團體批評修訂條例有如「閉關鎖港」。 [MSC, trad.]
香港立法会4月28日三读通过《入境条例》修订草案，将于8月1日正式生效。多个民间团体批评修订条例有如「闭关锁港」。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2021 April 30, 《香港修訂入境條例 民團批閉關鎖港或變大監獄》

Xiānggǎng Lìfǎhuì 4yuè 28 rì sāndú tōngguò “Rùjìng Tiáolì” xiūdìng cǎo'àn, jiāng yú 8yuè 1rì zhèngshì shēngxiào. Duōge mínjiān tuántǐ pīpíng xiūdìng tiáolì yǒurú “bìguānsuǒgǎng”. [Pinyin]

to cut off a country from the outside world