變幻莫測

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄘㄜˋ

бяньхуаньмоцэ

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

墨爾本天氣變幻莫測；人們都說這裡一日四季。 [MSC, trad.]
墨尔本天气变幻莫测；人们都说这里一日四季。 [MSC, simp.]

Melbourne's weather is unpredictable; they say it has four seasons in one day.

Mò'ěrběn tiānqì biànhuànmòcè; rénmen dōu shuō zhèlǐ yī rì sì jì. [Pinyin]


一仍舊貫

ㄧ ㄖㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

ижэнцзюгуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² kuːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² kuːn³³/


一刀兩斷

ja-r

一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一刀兩斷):
* → Japanese: 一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)
* → Korean: 일도양단(一刀兩斷) (ildoyangdan)
* → Vietnamese: nhất đao lưỡng đoạn (一刀兩斷)

ㄧ ㄉㄠ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

идаоляндуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

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

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

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

to sever with one blow; to make a clean break


心胸狹窄

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄓㄞˇ

синьсюнсячжай

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚² t͡saːk̚³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚³ t͡saːk̚³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚² t͡saːk̚³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚³ t͡saːk̚³/

small-minded; intolerant; selfish; petty


一見鍾情

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

ицзяньчжунцин

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² kieŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

故事讲述了灰姑娘在森林拾火柴时与王子邂逅，王子对她一见钟情。 [MSC, simp.]
Gùshì jiǎngshù le huīgūniáng zài sēnlín shí huǒchái shí yǔ wángzǐ xièhòu, wángzǐ duì tā yījiànzhōngqíng. [Pinyin]

http://sh.sina.com.cn/citylink/en/kx/2010-08-09/162059758.html 故事講述了灰姑娘在森林拾火柴時與王子邂逅，王子對她一見鍾情。 [MSC, trad.]

The story depicts Cinderella's accidental encounter with the prince when she was picking matches in the forest. The prince fell in love with her at first sight.

你相信一见钟情吗？彼此对视1秒钟，来自对方的电流就会迅速穿越肉体直达心灵。 [MSC, simp.]
Nǐ xiàngxìn yījiànzhōngqíng ma? Bǐcǐ duìshì 1 miǎozhōng, láizì duìfāng de diànliú jiù huì xùnsù chuānyuè ròutǐ zhídá xīnlíng. [Pinyin]

http://fashion.enorth.com.cn/system/2010/08/11/004926030.shtml 你相信一見鍾情嗎？彼此對視1秒鐘，來自對方的電流就會迅速穿越肉體直達心靈。 [MSC, trad.]

Do you believe in love at first sight? Looking at each other for one second, and the electric signal from him/her will rapidly pass through your body to reach your soul.

to fall in love at first sight; love at first sight


克己奉公

ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊŋ²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊŋ²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to be wholeheartedly devoted to public duty; to work selflessly for the public interest


胸大無腦

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄋㄠˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ u³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ u³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(slang) big-breasted, but small-brained; big-breasted bimbo


真才實學

ㄓㄣ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ

чжэньцайшисюэ

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/


立竿見影

ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄥˇ

лиганьцзяньин

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

情況十分危急，我們需要一個立竿見影的解決方法。 [MSC, trad.]
情况十分危急，我们需要一个立竿见影的解决方法。 [MSC, simp.]

The situation is very urgent; we need a solution with immediate effect.

Qíngkuàng shífēn wēijí, wǒmen xūyào yī ge lìgānjiànyǐng de jiějué fāngfǎ. [Pinyin]

producing instant results; having immediate effect


栩栩如生

ㄒㄩˇ ㄒㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄥ

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

to appear lifelike and vivid; vividly; realistically


幸災樂禍

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄞ ㄌㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² wɔː²²/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² wɔː²²/

對犯錯誤的同志不給幫助，反而幸災樂禍，這就是宗派主義。 [MSC, trad.]
对犯错误的同志不给帮助，反而幸灾乐祸，这就是宗派主义。 [MSC, simp.]

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

To deny them help and, what is worse, to gloat over their mistakes, is sectarianism.

Duì fàn cuòwù de tóngzhì bù gěi bāngzhù, fǎn'ér xìngzāilèhuò, zhè jiù shì zōngpàizhǔyì. [Pinyin]

to take joy in calamity and rejoice the disaster; schadenfreude


得過且過

ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/tɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/tɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to muddle along; to drift along; to be perfunctory with one's work; to get by however one can


貪得無厭

ㄊㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˋ

/tʰän⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiːm³³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiːm³³/

avaricious; greedy; not able to settle for less


八拜之交

ㄅㄚ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

бабайчжицзяо

/pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ paːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ paːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

This is derived from an ancient meeting etiquette where the younger members of a family or a community request to meet with the elders.

sworn brotherhood; intimacy of relations between platonic friends


得隴望蜀

ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄨㄥˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄨˇ

/tɤ³⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐk̚⁵ lʊŋ¹³ mɔːŋ²² sʊk̚²/

/tɤ³⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐk̚⁵ lʊŋ¹³ mɔːŋ²² sʊk̚²/

From Book of Jin:
魏武曰：「人苦無足，既得隴右，復欲得蜀！」 [MSC, trad.]魏武曰：「人苦无足，既得陇右，复欲得蜀！」 [MSC, simp.]
Wèi Wǔ yuē: “Rén kǔ wúzú, jì dé Lǒngyòu, fù yù dé Shǔ!” [Pinyin]
(Emperor) Wu of Wei said: "Men suffer from insatiability, already having Longyou yet still wanting to get Shu!"

zh-x

^魏 ^武 曰：「人 苦 無足，既 @得 @^隴右，復 @欲 @得 @^蜀！」

湘雲笑道：「得隴望蜀，人之常情。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
湘云笑道：「得陇望蜀，人之常情。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18ᵗʰ century CE

Xiangyun laughed and said: "Already having Long yet still wanting Shu; it's only human nature."

Xiāngyún xiào dào: “Délǒngwàngshǔ, rénzhīchángqíng.” [Pinyin]


暗箭傷人

to hurt someone with an arrow shot from the dark

ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄤ ㄖㄣˊ

аньцзяньшанжэнь

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ɐm³³ t͡siːn³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ɐm³³ t͡siːn³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

to injure someone with unscrupulous or underhand means; to backstab


聲名狼藉

ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄤˊ ㄐㄧˊ

шэнминланцзи

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

infamous; having an extremely bad reputation


破爛不堪

ㄆㄛˋ ㄌㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ

поланьбукань

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ laːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ laːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵/

so tattered and torn (especially said of clothing) that it is totally unacceptable to present oneself in public in such a state


同歸於盡

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

тунгуйюйцзинь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/


魚死網破

the fish are dead, the fishnet is broken

ㄩˊ ㄙˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄆㄛˋ

/y³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ pʰɔː³³/

/y³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ pʰɔː³³/

他就是張網捕魚，我也拼他個魚死網破。 [MSC, trad.]
他就是张网捕鱼，我也拼他个鱼死网破。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 《杜鵑山》 (The Azalea Mountain), Scene 5

Tā jiùshì zhāngwǎng bǔyú, wǒ yě pīn tā ge yúsǐwǎngpò. [Pinyin]

to fight till both you and your foe perish


西裝革履

ㄒㄧ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄍㄜˊ ㄌㄩˇ

сичжуангэлюй

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ lei̯¹³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ lei̯¹³/


百折不撓

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄠˊ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

indomitable; unfazed by difficulties or challenges; (slightly derogatory) stubborn; persistent


不由分說

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄣ ㄕㄨㄛ

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

to allow no expectation; without listening to somebody's protests; despite objections


風餐露宿

to dine on the wind and sleep among the dew

ㄈㄥ ㄘㄢ ㄌㄨˋ ㄙㄨˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵ lou̯²² sʊk̚⁵/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ lou¹¹ suaʔ²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵ lou̯²² sʊk̚⁵/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ lou¹¹ suaʔ²/

to endure the hardship of living and travelling out in the wild


雪中送炭

to delivercoal to someone on a snowy day

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄢˋ

сюэчжунсунтань

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/


迫不得已

ㄆㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˇ

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/


匡君救主

ㄎㄨㄤ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄨˇ

куанцзюньцзючжу

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(archaic) to rescue the emperor; to save the king


出生入死

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄥ ㄖㄨˋ ㄙˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² si⁵²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² si⁵²/

From Tao Te Ching.
This phrase 出生入死 has various interpretations, including "coming forth into life and entering death" or "exiting life and entering death" (see 出生 (chūshēng)).
The meaning "to risk one's own life" is attested earliest in 秋興賦 Evocative Rhapsody on Autumn by 潘岳 (Pan Yue):
聞至人之休風兮，齊天地於一指。彼知安而忘危兮，故出生而入死。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]闻至人之休风兮，齐天地于一指。彼知安而忘危兮，故出生而入死。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: 潘岳 Pan Yue, 《秋興賦》 Evocative Rhapsody on Autumn, 3th century CE
Wén zhìrén zhī xiūfēng xī, qí tiāndì yú yī zhǐ. Bǐ zhī ān ér wàng wēi xī, gù chūshēng ér rùsǐ. [Pinyin]
I've heard of the wisemen's blissful manners, equalling Heaven and Earth with one finger / index / indication. They knew safety yet disregarded danger; so, coming forth into life / exiting life, they entered death.

聞 至人 之 休-風 兮，齊 天地 於 一 指。彼 知 安 而 忘 危 兮，故 出生 而 入死。

risking one's life; without regard to one's own life


曇花一現

ㄊㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

таньхуаисянь

/tʰän³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ faː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²²/

/tʰän³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ faː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²²/

曇花／昙花 (tánhuā) is short for 優曇婆羅花／优昙婆罗花 (yōutánpóluó huā), a transcription of Sanskrit उडुम्बर (uḍumbara, “cluster fig (Ficus racemosa)”).
Uḍumbara is a sacred tree in Buddhism; its flowers are enclosed within its fruit, and the tree is said to bloom only once every 3000 years, thus it symbolises events of rare occurrence.

zh-l

曇花／昙花 (tánhuā)

優曇婆羅花／优昙婆罗花 (yōutánpóluó huā)

cog

flower of thecluster fig (Ficus racemosa) only shows itself for a short time

like a flash in the pan; ephemeral; short-lived; not long-term


彼眾我寡

ㄅㄧˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(literary) They are many and we are few (we are outnumbered).


漫山遍野

ㄇㄢˋ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ

маньшаньбянье

/män⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² saːn⁵⁵ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/män⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² saːn⁵⁵ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

From the Romance of the Three Kingdoms
:
西涼州前部先鋒馬岱，引軍一萬五千，浩浩蕩蕩，漫山遍野而來。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]西凉州前部先锋马岱，引军一万五千，浩浩荡荡，漫山遍野而来。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Xīliáng zhōu qiánbù xiānfēng Mǎ Dài, yǐnjūn yīwàn wǔqiān, hàohàodàngdàng, mànshānbiànyě ér lái. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

^西涼 州 前部 先鋒 ^馬 ^岱，引軍 一萬 五-千，浩浩蕩蕩，漫山遍野 而 來。

to be numerous and all over the mountains and plains


不成體統

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄨㄥˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/


心驚膽戰

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄢˇ ㄓㄢˋ

синьцзинданьчжань

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

to tremble with fear; to shake with fright


天下歸心

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ

тяньсягуйсинь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

to win over the support and trust of the entire nation


一面之交

ㄧ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

имяньчжицзяо

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

(literary) a casual relationship; acquaintance


好賢禮士

ㄏㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄕˋ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

to prize men of virtue and to show courtesy to talented men of letters


棄暗投明

ㄑㄧˋ ㄢˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ ɐm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ ɐm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf

to forsake darkness and come to the light; to forsake darkness for light; to turn over a new leaf


交臂失之

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

to narrowly miss a golden opportunity (to meet someone etc.)


交頭接耳

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄦˇ

цзяотоуцзеэр

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ jiː¹³/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ jiː¹³/

to speak in each other's ears; to whisper to each other


失之交臂

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³/

遇上挫折失之交臂，別以輕生將之丟棄，主的愛與希冀，定有奇妙轉機。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
遇上挫折失之交臂，别以轻生将之丢弃，主的爱与希冀，定有奇妙转机。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]
jyu⁶ soeng⁵ co³ zit³ sat¹ zi¹ gaau¹ bei³, bit⁶ ji⁵ hing¹ sang¹ zoeng¹ zi¹ diu¹ hei³, zyu² dik¹ oi³ jyu⁵ hei¹ kei³, ding⁶ jau⁵ kei⁴ miu⁶ zyun² gei¹. [Jyutping]

2006, 劉殷傑 [Jackie Lau] (lyrics and music), “數算奇異恩典 [Count His Grace]”

If you are met with setbacks or miss a golden opportunity, do not take your life and give up on it; with the Lord's love and hope, there must be a wonderful turn for the better.

to narrowly miss a golden opportunity (to meet someone, etc.)


一模一樣

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iũ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔ¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ iɔ̃²²/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ moʔ⁴⁴ iɪʔ⁵⁵ ɦiã⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iũ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔ¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ iɔ̃²²/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ moʔ⁴⁴ iɪʔ⁵⁵ ɦiã⁵¹/


易子而食

/i⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɪk̚² t͡siː³⁵ jiː²¹ sɪk̚²/

/i⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɪk̚² t͡siː³⁵ jiː²¹ sɪk̚²/

From Zuo Zhuan:
:
敝邑易子而食，析骸以爨。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Bìyì yìzǐ'érshí, xīháiyǐcuàn. [Pinyin]
In the city we are exchanging our children and eating them, and splitting up their bones for fuel.

敝邑 易子而食，析骸以爨。

people exchange their children with one another and eat them (describing dire famines caused by disasters)


乘虛而入

ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄩ ㄦˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zip̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zip̚⁴/

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


明知故犯

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄍㄨˋ ㄈㄢˋ

минчжигуфань

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kuː³³ faːn²²/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kuː³³ faːn²²/

叫極佢都唔聽，仲明知故犯。 [Cantonese, trad.]
叫极佢都唔听，仲明知故犯。 [Cantonese, simp.]

He doesn't listen after being told many times, and he still knowingly does wrong.

giu³ gik⁶ keoi⁵ dou¹ m⁴ teng¹, zung⁶ ming⁴ zi¹ gu³ faan⁶. [Jyutping]


東施效顰

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄆㄧㄣˊ

дуншисяопинь

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰin³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ haːu̯²² pʰɐn²¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰin³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ haːu̯²² pʰɐn²¹/

Based on a story in "The Circling Sky", in Zhuangzi (《莊子·天運》). Xishi (西施), a famous beauty in Chinese history, often frowned because of her heart disease. An ugly woman of the same village imitated Xishi to try to be as beautiful as her, but in turn made herself uglier and scared away the villagers.
:
西施病心而矉其里，其里之醜人見而美之，歸亦捧心而矉其里。其里之富人見之，堅閉門而不出；貧人見之，挈妻子而去之走。彼知矉美而不知矉之所以美。惜乎！而夫子其窮哉！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]西施病心而𪾸其里，其里之丑人见而美之，归亦捧心而𪾸其里。其里之富人见之，坚闭门而不出；贫人见之，挈妻子而去之走。彼知𪾸美而不知𪾸之所以美。惜乎！而夫子其穷哉！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Xīshī bìng xīn ér pín qí lǐ, qí lǐ zhī chǒu rén jiàn ér měi zhī, guī yì pěng xīn ér pín qí lǐ. Qí lǐ zhī fùrén jiàn zhī, jiān bìmén ér bù chū; pín rén jiàn zhī, qiè qī zǐ ér qù zhī zǒu. Bǐ zhī pín měi ér bùzhī pín zhīsuǒyǐ měi. Xī hū! Ér fūzǐ qí qióng zāi! [Pinyin]
When Xishi was having heart disease, she would knit her brows and frown on all in her neighbourhood. An ugly woman of the neighbourhood, seeing and admiring her beauty, went home, and also laying her hands on her heart proceeded to stare and frown on all around her. When the rich people of the village saw her, they shut fast their doors and would not go out; when the poor people saw her, they took their wives and children and ran away from her. The woman knew how to admire the frowning beauty, but she did not know how it was that she, though frowning, was beautiful. Alas! It is indeed all over with your Master!
The ugly woman was unnamed in the original text but people later named her 東施, as 東／东 (dōng, “east”) is the antonym of 西 (xī, “west”)

西施 病 心 而 矉{pín} 其 里 ， 其 里 之 醜 人 見 而 美 之 ， 歸 亦 捧 心 而 矉{pín} 其 里 。 其 里 之 富人 見 之 ， 堅 閉門 而 不 出 ；貧 人 見 之 ， 挈 妻 子 而 去 之 走 。 彼 知 矉{pín} 美 而 不知 矉{pín} 之所以 美 。惜 乎 ！ 而 夫子 其 窮 哉 ！

东施效颦
東施傚顰
東施效矉
東施傚矉

to imitate others only to make a fool of oneself; to attempt a crude or awkward imitation


遠交近攻

ㄩㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

юаньцзяоцзиньгун

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɐn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɐn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

collaborating with distant allies and attacking nearby enemies (from the Thirty-Six Stratagems)


膽戰心驚

ㄉㄢˇ ㄓㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ

даньчжаньсиньцзин

/tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³ sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡siaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ sim³³⁻²³ kĩã³³/

/tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³ sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡siaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ sim³³⁻²³ kĩã³³/

to tremble with fear; to be terror-stricken


實事求是

ㄕˊ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄕˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐt̚² siː²² kʰɐu̯²¹ siː²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐt̚² siː²² kʰɐu̯²¹ siː²²/

to seek truth from facts; to be practical and pragmatic


吃喝玩樂

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄨㄢˊㄦ ㄌㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wɑɻ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ wuːn²² lɔːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wɑɻ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ wuːn²² lɔːk̚²/

他不務正業，天天就知道吃喝玩樂。 [MSC, trad.]
他不务正业，天天就知道吃喝玩乐。 [MSC, simp.]

He won't do an honest day's work, and instead spends his days just having fun.

Tā bùwùzhèngyè, tiāntiān jiù zhīdào chīhēwánlè. [Pinyin]

eat, drink and be merry
eat, drink and be merry

(derogatory) to eat, drink and be merry; to seek pleasure instead of doing work


對牛彈琴

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (對牛彈琴):
* → Korean: 대우탄금(對牛彈琴) (dae'utan'geum)
* → Vietnamese: đối ngưu đàn cầm (對牛彈琴)

ja-r

牛 に 対 して 琴 を 弾ず

うし に たい して こと を だんず

→ Japanese: 牛(うし)に対(たい)して琴(こと)を弾(だん)ず (ushi ni tai shite koto o danzu) (calque)

→ Vietnamese: đàn gảy tai trâu (calque)

desc

สีซอให้ควายฟัง

→ Thai: สีซอให้ควายฟัง (sǐi-sɔɔ-hâi-kwaai-fang) (calque)

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄊㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

дуйнютаньцинь

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɐu̯²¹ tʰaːn²¹ kʰɐm²¹/

/tu̯i⁵⁵ ŋi̯u¹¹ tʰan¹¹ kʰim¹¹/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu¹³⁻²² tuã¹³⁻²² kʰim¹³/

/tui¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuã²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡu²³⁻³³ tuã²³⁻³³ kʰim²³/

/tui²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tũã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰim⁵⁵/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɐu̯²¹ tʰaːn²¹ kʰɐm²¹/

/tu̯i⁵⁵ ŋi̯u¹¹ tʰan¹¹ kʰim¹¹/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu¹³⁻²² tuã¹³⁻²² kʰim¹³/

/tui¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuã²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡu²³⁻³³ tuã²³⁻³³ kʰim²³/

/tui²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tũã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰim⁵⁵/

First attested in c. 3rd century CE in the story of the Warring States-era musician Gongming Yi (公明儀) playing the zither to a cow, recorded in Mouzi Lihuolun. Mouzi used this example to illustrate the correct way to explain Buddhism to people with Confucian backgrounds.
:
公明儀為牛彈《清角》之操，伏食如故。非牛不聞，不合其耳矣。轉為蚊虻之聲、孤犢之鳴，即掉尾、奮耳，蹀躞而聽。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]公明仪为牛弹《清角》之操，伏食如故。非牛不闻，不合其耳矣。转为蚊虻之声、孤犊之鸣，即掉尾、奋耳，蹀躞而听。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Sengyou, Hongming Ji, c. 5ᵗʰ Century AD
Gōngmíng Yí wèi niú dàn “Qīngjiǎo” zhī cāo, fú shí rúgù. Fēi niú bù wén, bù hé qí ěr yǐ. Zhuǎn wèi wén méng zhī shēng, gū dú zhī míng, jí diào wěi, fèn ěr, diéxiè ér tīng. [Pinyin]
Gongming Yi played the song Qing Jue to a cow. It continued eating grass as if nothing had happened. [The problem] was not that the cow did not listen, it was [the music] not suitable for the cow's ears instead. He then made noises of mosquitoes, flies, and lone calves, and the cow started wagging its tail, turned its ears, and listened while strolling.

etydate

3rd century <small class='ce-date'>CE</small>

zh-x

@^公明 @^儀 為 牛 彈 《 @^清角 》 之 操 ， 伏 食 如故 。 非 牛 不 聞 ， 不 合 其 耳 矣 。 轉 為 蚊 虻 之 聲 、 孤 犢 之 鳴 ， 即 掉 尾 、 奮 耳， 蹀躞 而 聽 。

Gongming Yi played the song Qing Jue to a cow. It continued eating grass as if nothing had happened. 􂀿The problem􂁀 was not that the cow did not listen, it was 􂀿the music􂁀 not suitable for the cow's ears instead. He then made noises of mosquitoes, flies, and lone calves, and the cow started wagging its tail, turned its ears, and listened while strolling.

talk to a brick wall
talk to a brick wall

to talk about something that one's listener can not understand or turns a deaf ear to; to talk to a brick wall

Mouzi Lihuolun
Sengyou
Warring States
zh:弘明集


不得而知

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄦˊ ㄓ

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tit̚⁵⁻²⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ tit̚³²⁻⁵ li¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tit̚⁵⁻²⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ tit̚³²⁻⁵ li¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

to be unable to know or find out; to remain unknown; to be unable to ascertain


引人注目

ㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ

иньжэньчжуму

inʹžɛnʹčžumu

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡syː³³ mʊk̚²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ¹³⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su¹¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su²¹⁻⁴¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡syː³³ mʊk̚²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ¹³⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su¹¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su²¹⁻⁴¹ bɔk̚⁴/

to draw attention; to catch people's eyes; to stand out; to be conspicuous


順其自然

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄗˋ ㄖㄢˊ

шуньцицзыжань

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡siː²² jiːn²¹/

/sun³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ziɛn²³/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡siː²² jiːn²¹/

/sun³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ziɛn²³/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

let nature take its course
let nature take its course

to let it be; to let nature take its course; que sera sera


大放厥詞

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄤˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄘˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɔːŋ³³ kʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɔːŋ³³ kʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to talk a lot of nonsense, to let out a spate of stuff and nonsense


添油加醋

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄘㄨˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊㄦ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄘㄨˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

(figurative) to add color and emphasis to (a narration); to exaggerate


信口雌黃

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄘˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄘ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

синькоуцыхуан

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹/

Paper used in ancient China were yellowish in color and orpiment was used as correction fluid. The idiom is therefore used as a metaphor of a person trying to correct oneself when he/she is talking nonsense.

to make irresponsible remarks, to utter nonsense


禮賢下士

ㄌㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˋ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ jiːn²¹ haː²² siː²²/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ jiːn²¹ haː²² siː²²/

(of a ruler, etc.) to treat people of talent and virtue with courtesy and respect


一臂之力

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ liak̚²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ liak̚²⁴/

我會助你一臂之力。 [MSC, trad.]
我会助你一臂之力。 [MSC, simp.]


水中撈月

水中捞月
水中捉月
水底摸月
海中撈月
海底撈月

to scoop (the reflection of) the moon out of the water

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄠ ㄩㄝˋ

шуйчжунлаоюэ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuat̚⁴/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuat̚⁴/

(figurative) to make a hopeless, futile or vain effort at doing something; to ask for the moon


犬馬之力

ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄓ ㄌㄧˋ

цюаньмачжили

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

(archaic) (to employ) one's humble strength (in service to one's ruler)


四分五裂

ㄙˋ ㄈㄣ ㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/sz̩⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ fɐn⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ liːt̚²/

/sz̩⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ fɐn⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ liːt̚²/


雞犬不驚

to not startle the chickens and dogs [of the enemy]

ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

цзицюаньбуцзин

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

(of an army) well-disciplined and not injuring the people in the least


胡言亂語

ㄏㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

хуяньлуаньюй

/xu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ jiːn²¹ lyːn²² jyː¹³/

/xu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ jiːn²¹ lyːn²² jyː¹³/

to talk nonsense; to drivel; drivel; nonsense; gibberish; double Dutch


貪心不足

ㄊㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ

таньсиньбуцзу

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/


寡不敵眾

ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kʷaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

/ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kʷaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

to be hopelessly outnumbered; to fight against hopeless odds


青出於藍

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (青出於藍):
* → Korean: 청출어람(靑出於藍) (cheongchureoram)

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ lam²³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ nã²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ nã²³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ lam²³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ nã²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ nã²³/

Short for 青出於藍，而青於藍／青出于蓝，而青于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán, ér qīng yú lán, “Blue is obtained from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself”).

zh-short

(figurative) the student has surpassed his or her teacher


眾所周知

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄡ ㄓ

чжунсочжоучжи

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu³³ ti³³/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ so⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡siu³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu³³ ti³³/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

as everyone knows; as is known to all; it is well-known that; it is common knowledge that


殺一儆百

ㄕㄚ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄞˇ

/ʂä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪk̚³²/

/ʂä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪk̚³²/


冰天雪地

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄉㄧˋ

бинтяньсюэди

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³ tei̯²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³ tei̯²²/

冬天的時候哈爾濱是冰天雪地。 [MSC, trad.]
冬天的时候哈尔滨是冰天雪地。 [MSC, simp.]

During winter Harbin is a world of ice and snow.

Dōngtiān de shíhòu Hā'ěrbīn shì bīngtiānxuědì. [Pinyin]

landscape covered in snow and ice; covered in snow and ice; extremely cold


總而言之

ㄗㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ

цзунъэряньчжи

/t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

all things considered
all things considered


精疲力盡

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цзинпилицзинь

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɵn²²/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰi²³⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰi²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɵn²²/


欺人太甚

ㄑㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄣˋ

цижэньтайшэнь

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂən⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ sɐm²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂən⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ sɐm²²/


李下瓜田

ㄌㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ haː²² kʷaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn²¹/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ haː²² kʷaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn²¹/

瓜田李下 瓜田李下#Chinese


意味深長

ㄧˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄣ ㄔㄤˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ mei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ mei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

to have profound meanings; to be thought-provoking


東奔西走

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄅㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄗㄡˇ

дунбэньсицзоу

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

to rush about busily; to busy oneself; to run about; to be on the move


悶聲不響

ㄇㄣ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

мэньшэнбусян

/mən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/

/mən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/


古今東西

ㄍㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ

гуцзиньдунси

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

ancient and modern, Eastern and Western; all times and all places


旗幟鮮明

ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цичжисяньмин

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ siːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ siːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

to have a clear-cut stand; one's attitude or position is clearly defined


徹頭徹尾

ㄔㄜˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄔㄜˋ ㄨㄟˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ mei̯¹³/

/tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ bue⁵³/

/tʰiak̚²⁻⁴ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰiak̚²⁻⁴ bue⁵²⁻²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ mei̯¹³/

/tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ bue⁵³/

呢一件事呢，係一個徹頭徹尾嘅暴亂嘅事件。 [Cantonese, trad.]
呢一件事呢，系一个彻头彻尾嘅暴乱嘅事件。 [Cantonese, simp.]
nei¹ jat¹ gin⁶ si⁶ ne¹, hai⁶ jat¹ go³ cit³ tau⁴ cit³ mei⁵ ge³ bou⁶ lyun⁶ ge³ si⁶ gin⁶⁻². [Jyutping]

From: 2016: 林鄭月娥 (Carrie Lam), 旺角事件屬暴亂 莫以藉口作掩飾


不言不語

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (不言不語):
* → Japanese: 不(ふ)言(げん)不(ふ)語(ご) (fugenfugo)
* → Korean: 불언불어(不言不語) (bureonbureo)

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/


春夏秋冬

ja-r

春夏秋冬(しゅんかしゅうとう) (shunkashūtō)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (春夏秋冬):
* → Japanese: 春夏秋冬(しゅんかしゅうとう) (shunkashūtō)
* → Korean: 춘하추동(春夏秋冬) (chunhachudong)
* → Vietnamese: xuân hạ thu đông (春夏秋冬)

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄉㄨㄥ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ tuŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ha⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴ tʊŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰuŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ŋa²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ ^((t͡sʰ-))ʒieu⁵⁵ ⁽ᵗ⁻⁾løyŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun³³ ha⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiu³³ taŋ³³/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ ɦia³³ t͡ɕʰiɤ³³ toŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ tuŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ha⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴ tʊŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun³³ ha⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiu³³ taŋ³³/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ ɦia³³ t͡ɕʰiɤ³³ toŋ²¹/

four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter; a year


自給自足

ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄗˋ ㄗㄨˊ

цзыцзицзыцзу

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʰɐp̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʰɐp̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚⁵/

實現自給自足／实现自给自足

to be self-supporting and self-sufficient; autarky


公明正大

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄉㄚˋ

гунминчжэнда

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²²/

光明正大 光明正大#Chinese

Alternative form of 光明正大 (guāngmíngzhèngdà)


眾志成城

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄥˊ

чжунчжичэнчэн

čžunčžičɛnčɛn

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡siː³³ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sĩã⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡siː³³ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sĩã⁵⁵/

眾心成城，眾口鑠金。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]众心成城，众口铄金。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Zhòng xīn chéng chéng, zhòng kǒu shuò jīn. [Pinyin]
The hearts of the masses can forge a stronghold; the mouths of the masses can melt gold.

zh-x

眾.心.成.城，眾 口 鑠 金。

智者竭其智，勇者奮其勇，富者輸其財，舉國一致，眾志成城。 [MSC, trad.]
智者竭其智，勇者奋其勇，富者输其财，举国一致，众志成城。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1915: 李大釗 (Li Dazhao), 《警告全國父老書》 (A Letter of Warning to All the Elders of the Country)

The wise exhaust their wisdom; the brave consume their bravery; the wealthy lose their wealth; [when] the entire country shares a common goal, the will of the masses forge a stronghold.

Zhì zhě jié qí zhì, yǒng zhě fèn qí yǒng, fù zhě shū qí cái, jǔguó yīzhì, zhòngzhì chéngchéng. [Pinyin]


茫然自失

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄕ

манжаньцзыши

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² sɐt̚⁵/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² sɐt̚⁵/


孤注一擲

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

/kou³³⁻²³ t͡su²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² tã³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

/kou³³⁻²³ t͡su²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² tã³⁵/

put all one's eggs in one basket
put all one's eggs in one basket

to go all out; to bet the farm on one thing in order to succeed; to put all one's eggs in one basket


自暴自棄

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (自暴自棄):
* → Japanese: 自(じ)暴(ぼう)自(じ)棄(き) (jibōjiki)
* → Korean: 자포자기(自暴自棄) (japojagi)

ㄗˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄗˋ ㄑㄧˋ

ㄗˋ ㄆㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² pou̯²² t͡siː²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siː²² pou̯²² t͡siː²² hei̯³³/

From Mencius (《孟子·離婁上》):
:
自暴者，不可與有言也；自棄者，不可與有為也。言非禮義，謂之自暴也；吾身不能居仁由義，謂之自棄也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]自暴者，不可与有言也；自弃者，不可与有为也。言非礼义，谓之自暴也；吾身不能居仁由义，谓之自弃也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zìbào zhě, bùkě yǔ yǒu yán yě; zìqì zhě, bù kě yǔ yǒu wéi yě. Yán fēi lǐyì, wèi zhī zìbào yě; wú shēn bùnéng jū rén yóu yì, wèi zhī zìqì yě. [Pinyin]
With those who do violence to themselves, it is impossible to speak. With those who throw themselves away, it is impossible to do anything. To disown in his conversation propriety and righteousness, is what we mean by doing violence to one's self. To say "I am not able to dwell in benevolence or pursue the path of righteousness," is what we mean by throwing one's self away.

zh-x

@自暴 者，不可 與 有 言 也；@自棄 者，不 可 與 有 為{wéi} 也。言 非 禮義，謂 之 @自暴 也；吾 身 不能 居 仁 由 義，謂 之 @自棄 也。


興高采烈

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄠ ㄘㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hɪŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ liːt̚²/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hɪŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ liːt̚²/


肆無忌憚

ㄙˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄢˋ

/sz̩⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/sɯ²¹³ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/sɯ²¹³ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³⁵/


小題大作

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰe²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰe²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

make a mountain out of a molehill
make a mountain out of a molehill

blow out of proportion
blow out of proportion

to make a fuss over a trifling matter; to make a mountain out of a molehill; to blow out of proportion


變本加厲

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄣˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄧˋ

бяньбэньцзяли

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/piːn³³ puːn³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ lɐi̯²²/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻²² le²²/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/piːn³³ puːn³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ lɐi̯²²/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻²² le²²/

From the preface of Wenxuan (文選 (wénxuǎn)) by Xiao Tong (蕭統):
:
蓋踵其事而增華，變其本而加厲。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]盖踵其事而增华，变其本而加厉。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Gài zhǒng qí shì ér zēng huá, biàn qí běn ér jiā lì. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

蓋 踵 其 事 而 增 華，變 其 本 而 加 厲。

to get worse; to become aggravated; to intensify one's effort to do something wrong


同工同酬

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄔㄡˊ

тунгунтунчоу

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

男女同工同酬。

Men and women should get equal pay for equal work.

男女同工不同酬。 [MSC, trad. and simp.]
Nánnǚ tóng gōng bù tóng chóu. [Pinyin]
Women do not get the same pay for the same job as men.

equal pay for equal work
equal pay for equal work


無處不在

ㄨˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ to³⁵/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ to³⁵/

ubiquitous; omnipresent; to be everywhere


撲朔迷離

ㄆㄨ ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄧˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ mi³⁵ li³⁵/

/pʰɔːk̚³ sɔːk̚³ mɐi̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ mi³⁵ li³⁵/

/pʰɔːk̚³ sɔːk̚³ mɐi̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

From The Ballad of Mulan (《木蘭詩》):
:
雄兔腳撲朔，雌兔眼迷離。雙兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]雄兔脚扑朔，雌兔眼迷离。双兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 6th century, 《木蘭詩》 (The Ballad of Mulan)
Xióng tù jiǎo pūshuò, cí tù yǎn mílí. Shuāng tù bàng dì zǒu, ān néng biàn wǒ shì xióng cí? [Pinyin]
The buck bounds here and there,
Whilst the doe has narrow eyes.
But when the two rabbits run side by side,
How can you tell the female from the male?

雄 兔 腳 撲朔，雌 兔 眼 迷離。雙 兔 傍 地 走，安 能 辨 我 是 雄 雌？

The Ballad of Mulan
s:Translation:Ballad of Mulan


明鏡高懸

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄠ ㄒㄩㄢˊ

минцзингаосюань

/miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ kɛːŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ kɛːŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

According to Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, had a mirror which could show the good or evil of a person. This gave rise to the phrase.

(figurative) perspicacious and impartial in judgment


丟三落四

ㄉㄧㄡ ㄙㄢ ㄌㄚˋ ㄙˋ

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ lä⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² sei̯³³/

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ lä⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² sei̯³³/


毛骨悚然

ㄇㄠˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄨㄥˇ ㄖㄢˊ

маогусунжань

/mɑʊ̯³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʷɐt̚⁵ sʊŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹/

/mɑʊ̯³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʷɐt̚⁵ sʊŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹/


成千上萬

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄨㄢˋ

чэнцяньшанвань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ maːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ maːn²²/

成千上萬他的支持者聚集在他的周圍。 [MSC, trad.]
成千上万他的支持者聚集在他的周围。 [MSC, simp.]

Thousands upon thousands of his supporters congregated around him.

Chéngqiānshàngwàn tā de zhīchízhě jùjí zài tā de zhōuwéi. [Pinyin]

匈牙利事件發生以後，我國有些人感到高興。他們希望在中國也出現一個那樣的事件，有成千上萬的人上街，去反對人民政府。 [MSC, trad.]
匈牙利事件发生以后，我国有些人感到高兴。他们希望在中国也出现一个那样的事件，有成千上万的人上街，去反对人民政府。 [MSC, simp.]

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

Certain people in our country were delighted by the Hungarian incident. They hoped that something similar would happen in China, that thousands upon thousands of people would take to the streets to demonstrate against the People's Government.

Xiōngyálì shìjiàn fāshēng yǐhòu, wǒguó yǒuxiē rén gǎndào gāoxìng. Tāmen xīwàng zài Zhōngguó yě chūxiàn yīge nàyàng de shìjiàn, yǒu chéngqiānshàngwàn de rén shàngjiē, qù fǎnduì Rénmín Zhèngfǔ. [Pinyin]

by the thousands and tens of thousands; untold numbers; innumerable; thousands upon thousands


蟾宮折桂

ㄔㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄓㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

чаньгунчжэгуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːm²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːm²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ kʷɐi̯³³/

The phrase alludes to several Chinese legends: one that credited the phases of the moon to a great osmanthus tree (桂 (guì)) growing and shedding its leaves and blossoms each month; another granting the immortal Chang'e an enormous mansion on the moon (月宮／月宫 (yuègōng)), whose grounds included the tree; another (older than the Chang'e stories) seeing a pareidolic toad in the shadows of the moon and associating the toad with good luck and wealth (金蟾 (jīnchán)). Branches of sweet-smelling blossoms from the tree were thought to (rarely) fall to Earth and grant good luck to whosoever found them. The association with the tests had to do with the holding of the examinations around the time of the blossoming of the osmanthus and the Mid-Autumn Festival honoring its connections to the moon and Chang'e.

zh-l

月宮／月宫 (yuègōng)

tobreak off osmanthus [blossoms] in the Toad Palace

imperial examination
imperial examination

(historical) to pass the imperial examination


甜言蜜語

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ mi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

/tiam²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bik̚⁴⁻² ɡɯ⁵²/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ mi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

/tiam²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bik̚⁴⁻² ɡɯ⁵²/

sweet words and honeyed phrases; cajolery


家喻戶曉

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄩˋ ㄏㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː⁵⁵ jyː²² wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː⁵⁵ jyː²² wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

known to every household; ubiquitously known; widespread; extremely well-known


改邪歸正

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (改邪歸正):
* → Vietnamese: cải tà quy chính (改邪歸正)

to give up (one's) evil and return to good

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄥˋ

гайсегуйчжэн

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

the straight and narrow
the straight and narrow

to reform; to rehabilitate; to turn over a new leaf; to stop committing evil acts and stay on the straight and narrow


半途而廢

ㄅㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˋ

/pän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ jiː²¹ fɐi̯³³/

/puan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hue²¹/

/pän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ jiː²¹ fɐi̯³³/

/puan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hue²¹/

From the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) in the Book of Rites:
:
子曰：「素隱行怪，後世有述焉，吾弗為之矣。君子遵道而行，半涂而廢，吾弗能已矣。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「素隐行怪，后世有述焉，吾弗为之矣。君子遵道而行，半涂而废，吾弗能已矣。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Sù yǐn xíng guài, hòushì yǒu shù yān, wú fú wéi zhī yǐ. Jūnzǐ zūn dào ér xíng, bàntú ér fèi, wú fúnéng yǐ yǐ....... [Pinyin]
The Master said, "To live in obscurity, and yet practice wonders, in order to be mentioned with honor in future ages: this is what I do not do. The good man tries to proceed according to the right path, but when he has gone halfway, he abandons it: I am not able so to stop. […]

zh-x

子曰：「素 隱 行 怪，後世 有 述 焉，吾 弗 為{wéi} 之 矣。君子 遵 道 而 行，@半涂.而.廢，吾 弗-能 已 矣。……

to give up halfway through a task; to not finish what one has started


重色輕友

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² sɪk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sʊŋ²² sɪk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

hoes before bros; prioritising one's opposite-sex friend/partner over one's same-sex friends


心不在焉

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄧㄢ

синьбуцзайянь

/ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² jiːn²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² jiːn²¹/

From the Great Learning (《大學》) in the Book of Rites:
:
心不在焉，視而不見，聽而不聞，食而不知其味。此謂修身在正其心。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]心不在焉，视而不见，听而不闻，食而不知其味。此谓修身在正其心。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Xīn bùzài yān, shì ér bùjiàn, tīng ér bù wén, shí ér bùzhī qí wèi. Cǐ wèi xiūshēn zài zhèng qí xīn. [Pinyin]
When the mind is not present, we look without seeing; we hear without understanding; and we eat and do not know the taste of what we eat. This is what is meant by saying that the cultivation of the person depends on the rectifying of the mind.

心.不在.焉，視.而.不見，聽.而.不.聞 ，食 而 不知 其 味。此 謂 修身 在 正 其 心。


水到渠成

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄑㄩˊ ㄔㄥˊ

шуйдаоцюйчэн

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɵy̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɵy̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

to achieve something without effort; effortless; something which comes naturally


自取其辱

ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄨˇ

ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jʊk̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jʊk̚²/


奇恥大辱

ㄑㄧˊ ㄔˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄖㄨˇ

ㄑㄧˊ ㄔˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/


盲人摸象

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

манжэньмосян

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

From Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra. See Blind men and an elephant.

Theblind man touches some parts of an elephant (and concludes what an elephant looks like).

(figurative) to draw (incorrect) conclusions from partial understanding

Blind men and an elephant
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
zh:盲人摸象


禍不單行

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/wɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ taːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/hua³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tũã³³⁻²³ kĩã⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/wɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ taːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/hua³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tũã³³⁻²³ kĩã⁵⁵/

misfortunes never come singly
misfortunes never come singly

it never rains but it pours
it never rains but it pours

misfortunes never come singly; it never rains but it pours


暴風驟雨

ㄅㄠˋ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄡˋ ㄩˇ

ㄅㄠˋ ㄈㄥ ㄗㄡˋ ㄩˇ

баофэнчжоуюй

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

баофэнцзоуюй

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pou̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯²² jyː¹³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pou̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯²² jyː¹³/


無懈可擊

having no weakness/undefended area that can be assaulted

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧ

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧˊ

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ haːi̯²² hɔː³⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ haːi̯²² hɔː³⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

unassailable; unbeatable; incontrovertible; unimpeachable


何去何從

ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄩˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ

/xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ hɵy̯³³ hɔː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ hɵy̯³³ hɔː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

what course to follow or take; where to proceed from here


肌膚之親

intimacy between the human skin and flesh

цзифучжицинь

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

intimacy between man and woman arising from close skin-to-skin contact, especially sexual intercourse


約法三章

ㄩㄝ ㄈㄚˇ ㄙㄢ ㄓㄤ

юэфасаньчжан

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚³ faːt̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚³ faːt̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

From Shiji, Volume 8:
:
父老苦秦苛法久矣，誹謗者族，偶語者棄市。吾與諸侯約，先入關者王之，吾當王關中。與父老約，法三章耳：殺人者死，傷人及盜抵罪。餘悉除去秦法。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]父老苦秦苛法久矣，诽谤者族，偶语者弃市。吾与诸侯约，先入关者王之，吾当王关中。与父老约，法三章耳：杀人者死，伤人及盗抵罪。余悉除去秦法。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Shiji, Volume 8
Fùlǎo kǔ qín kē fǎ jiǔ yǐ, fěibàng zhě zú, ǒuyǔ zhě qìshì. Wú yǔ zhūhóu yuē, xiān rùguān zhě wáng zhī, wú dāng wáng guānzhōng. Yǔ fùlǎo yuē, fǎ sān zhāng ěr: shārén zhě sǐ, shāngrén jí dào dǐ zuì. Yú xī chúqù qín fǎ. [Pinyin]
Elders are suffering from Qin's draconian law for a long time: those who libel had their family exterminated, those who whisper were publicly executed in markets. I have promised with other feudal rulers that the person who first entered the pass (Hangu Pass) would become the king (of Guanzhong), and I shall reign as the king of Guanzhong. I also promise with elders that there will be only three laws: murderers shall be punished with death, those who hurt others and steal from others shall be punished according to their offence. The rest of Qin laws are repealed.

父老 苦 秦 苛 法 久 矣 ， 誹謗 者 族 ， 偶語 者 棄市 。 吾 與 諸侯 約 ， 先 入關 者 王 之 ， 吾 當 王 關中 。 與 父老 約 ， 法 三 章 耳 ： 殺人 者 死 ， 傷人 及 盜 抵 罪 。 餘 悉 除去 秦 法 。

to agree on a three-point law; to make a few rules to be observed by everyone

Guanzhong
Hangu Pass
Nine familial exterminations
Shiji


無奇不有

there is no oddity that does not exist (cannot be found)

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

大千世界無奇不有 [MSC, trad.]
大千世界无奇不有 [MSC, simp.]

nothing is too strange in this boundless universe

to be full of strange sights; nothing is too strange in the world


物是人非

ㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟ

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐt̚² siː²² jɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐt̚² siː²² jɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

the things are still there but the person or people no longer are (describing the passing of a loved one or a revisit of a once familiar place)


喜新厭舊

ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

сисиньяньцзю

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ jiːm³³ kɐu̯²²/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ jiːm³³ kɐu̯²²/

我真的懂 你不是喜新厭舊 是我沒有 陪在你身邊當你寂寞時候 [MSC, trad.]
我真的懂 你不是喜新厌旧 是我没有 陪在你身边当你寂寞时候 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2003, 孫燕姿 (Stefanie Sun) (lyrics 楊明學), 《我不難過》 (I Am Fine)

I know,That in fact you are not fickle in affection;It was me,Who was not with you when you were lonely.

wǒ zhēnde dǒng, nǐ bùshì xǐxīnyànjiù, shì wǒ méiyǒu, péi zài nǐ shēnbiān dāng nǐ jìmò shíhòu [Pinyin]

to love the new and loathe the old; to be fickle in affection (usually said of men)

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


賢妻良母

贤妻良母
賢母良妻
良母賢妻
良妻賢母

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄨˇ

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ mou̯¹³/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ mou̯¹³/

a Good Wife, Wise Mother; the ideal role for a woman in the traditional Chinese society


千言萬語

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

цяньяньваньюй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ iɛn²¹ uan²¹³ y⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ maːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ iɛn²¹ uan²¹³ y⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ maːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

thousands and thousands of words; to have much to say


背道而馳

ㄅㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄔˊ

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/puːi̯³³ tou̯²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/puːi̯³³ tou̯²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to run in opposite directions; to run counter to; to be inconsistent with


百毒不侵

ㄅㄞˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐm⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐm⁵⁵/

hundreds of types of toxin cannot penetrate the body; immune to external poisonous attacks or influences (may be used humorously to refer to a virus-proof computer, or a person who has become accustomed to the food scandals in China)


東山再起

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄗㄞˋ ㄑㄧˇ

дуншаньцзайци

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ hei̯³⁵/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi⁴¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ hei̯³⁵/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi⁴¹/

Based on Xie An (謝安) of the Jin (晉) dynasty, who quit his office and lived in seclusion in Dongshan (a mountain in Zhejiang, China), but later returned to office.

to come back from a previous failure; to rise again


刀槍不入

ㄉㄠ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐp̚²/

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐp̚²/

swords and spears cannot penetrate the body; to be bulletproof; impervious; invulnerable


男女老少

ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ

наньнюйлаошао

/nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³/

/nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³/

young and old of both sexes; everyone in society


重男輕女

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (重男輕女):
* → Korean: 중남경녀(重男輕女) (jungnamgyeongnyeo)
* → Vietnamese: trọng nam khinh nữ (重男輕女)

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄋㄩˇ

чжуннаньциннюй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² naːm²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³/

/tiɔŋ²² lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁴¹/

/toŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiŋ³³⁻²³ nɯŋ⁵²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² naːm²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³/

/tiɔŋ²² lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁴¹/

/toŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiŋ³³⁻²³ nɯŋ⁵²/

valuing men and belittling women; favouring boys over girls


夷為平地

ㄧˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/i³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/

/i³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/


龍鳳呈祥

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˊ

лунфэнчэнсян

/lʊŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/lʊŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

prosperity brought by the dragon and the phoenix


不相上下

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² haː²²/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² haː²²/

張成澤利用經常陪同金正恩同志進行現場指導的機會，試圖向對內外顯示他是同革命的首腦部不相上下的特別存在，以造成對他的幻想。 [MSC, trad.]
张成泽利用经常陪同金正恩同志进行现场指导的机会，试图向对内外显示他是同革命的首脑部不相上下的特别存在，以造成对他的幻想。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2013, Korean Central News Agency, “Traitor Jang Song Thaek Executed”

Abusing the honor of often accompanying Kim Jong Un during his field guidance, Jang tried hard to create illusion about him by projecting himself internally and externally as a special being on a par with the headquarters of the revolution.

Zhāng Chéngzé lìyòng jīngcháng péitóng Jīn Zhèng'ēn tóngzhì jìnxíng xiànchǎng zhǐdǎo de jīhuì, shìtú xiàng duì nèiwài xiǎnshì tā shì tóng gémìng de shǒunǎobù bùxiāngshàngxià de tèbié cúnzài, yǐ zàochéng duì tā de huànxiǎng. [Pinyin]

to rival one another; to be on a par; to be equally matched; to be about the same


循序漸進

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

сюньсюйцзяньцзинь

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siːm²² t͡sɵn³³/

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siːm²² t͡sɵn³³/

to proceed in an orderly way, step by step; to follow the established order; to make steady progress incrementally


群魔亂舞

evil spirits of all kinds dance in riotous revelry

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄨˇ

цюньмолуаньу

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ mɔː⁵⁵ lyːn²² mou̯¹³/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ mɔː⁵⁵ lyːn²² mou̯¹³/

(figurative) rogues of all kinds running wild; evil-doers dominating the stage unrestrained


生死未卜

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵/

it's hard to tell whether the person is alive or not; whether the person is alive or dead remains unknown


一見傾心

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

ицзяньцинсинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

to lose one's heart to him/her at first sight; to fall in love at first sight


抑揚頓挫

ㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ tɵn²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

/i⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ tɵn²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

rising and falling in cadence; intonation; speaking in measured tones; (of speech) cadenced


針鋒相對

ㄓㄣ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чжэньфэнсяндуй

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

to be diametrically opposed; to be in sharp opposition; to go toe-to-toe with somebody in action or speech; to give tit for tat


興致勃勃

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡siː³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡siː³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


目瞪口呆

ㄇㄨˋ ㄉㄥˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄉㄞ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɤŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋɔːi̯²¹/

/ᵐbɵk̚³² aŋ³³ heu⁵⁵ ᵑɡᵘɔi²²/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɤŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋɔːi̯²¹/

/ᵐbɵk̚³² aŋ³³ heu⁵⁵ ᵑɡᵘɔi²²/


怪模怪樣

ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄧㄤˋ

ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄧㄤˋ

гуаймугуайян

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

гуаймогуайян

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/


切切私語

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

竊竊私語 竊竊私語#Chinese

窃窃私语 窃窃私语#Chinese

Synonym of 竊竊私語／窃窃私语 (qièqièsīyǔ, “to talk in whispers”)


竊竊私語

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

/siːt̚³ siːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/siːt̚³ siːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/


撩人心弦

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

ляожэньсиньсянь

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

to tug at one's heartstrings; be heart-stirring; nerve-racking, or tantalising


遊刃有餘

ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²² jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²² jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

to handle a blade skillfully; to do a task with skills and ease; to achieve something effortlessly


縱橫交錯

ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

цзунхэнцзяоцо

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

arranged in a crisscross pattern; crisscrossed


佛口蛇心

mouth (or words) of a Buddha, heart of a snake

ㄈㄛˊ ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄜˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/fu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fɐt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/fu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fɐt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

to speak with benevolence and mercy but be vicious and malicious in reality


不出所料

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ liːu̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ liːu̯²²/

果然不出我所料


虎頭蛇尾

ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄜˊ ㄨㄟˇ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɛː²¹ mei̯¹³/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɛː²¹ mei̯¹³/

to start off strong, but finish weak; to be inconsistent with one's effort


人面獸心

Sino-Xenic (人面獸心):
* → Japanese: 人面獣心(じんめんじゅうしん) (jinmenjūshin)
* → Korean: 인면수심(人面獸心) (inmyeonsusim)
* → Vietnamese: nhân diện thú tâm (人面獸心)

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

жэньмяньшоусинь

/ʐən³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ miːn²² sɐu̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ miːn²² sɐu̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵/

From the Book of Han, concerning the Xiongnu nomads to China's north:
:
夷狄之人貪而好利，被髮左衽，人面獸心。其與中國殊章服，異習俗，飲食不同，言語不通，辟居北垂寒露之野，逐草隨畜，射獵為生，隔以山谷，雍以沙幕，天地所以絕外內也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夷狄之人贪而好利，被发左衽，人面兽心。其与中国殊章服，异习俗，饮食不同，言语不通，辟居北垂寒露之野，逐草随畜，射猎为生，隔以山谷，雍以沙幕，天地所以绝外内也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Yídí zhī rén tān ér hǎolì, bèifà zuǒrèn, rénmiànshòuxīn. Qí yǔ Zhōngguó shū zhāngfú, yì xísú, yǐnshí bùtóng, yányǔ bùtōng, pì jū běichuí hánlù zhī yě, zhú cǎo suí xù, shèliè wèishēng, gé yǐ shāngǔ, yōng yǐ shāmù, tiāndì suǒyǐ jué wàinèi yě. [Pinyin]
The Yi and the Di [foreign, barbarian, non-Chinese] people are greedy and desirous of gain; they wear their hair down their backs and fasten their garments on the left; they have human faces but the hearts of wild beasts. Their ceremonial garments differ from those worn in the Central States [of China]; their customs and diet differ from ours; and our languages are mutually unintelligible. They dwell far away, in the cold, on the bare lands of the north, driving their herds in pursuit of pasture, and hunting with the bow and arrow in order to sustain themselves. They are separated from us by mountains and valleys and cut off by the desert. By these means did Heaven and Earth divide inner from outer.

zh-x

夷狄 之 人 貪 而 好利，被髮 左衽，人面獸心。其 與 ^中國 殊 章服，異 習俗，飲食 不同，言語 不通，辟 居 北垂 寒露 之 野，逐 草 隨 畜，射獵 為生，隔 以 山谷，雍 以 沙幕，天地 所以 絕 外內 也。

The Yi and the Di 􂀿foreign, barbarian, non-Chinese􂁀 people are greedy and desirous of gain; they wear their hair down their backs and fasten their garments on the left; they have human faces but the hearts of wild beasts. Their ceremonial garments differ from those worn in the Central States 􂀿of China􂁀; their customs and diet differ from ours; and our languages are mutually unintelligible. They dwell far away, in the cold, on the bare lands of the north, driving their herds in pursuit of pasture, and hunting with the bow and arrow in order to sustain themselves. They are separated from us by mountains and valleys and cut off by the desert. By these means did Heaven and Earth divide inner from outer.


寶刀未老

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄠ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄠˇ

баодаовэйлао

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

old but still got it; as vigorous and active as before; just as skilled as when one was young


骨瘦如柴

ㄍㄨˇ ㄕㄡˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄞˊ

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹/

瘦如豺 (“as thin as a dhole”) was first described in Song Dynasty dictionary Piya, where also mention the homophonous alternative form using 柴 (chái, “stick”), which is now more common.

as thin as a stick; emaciated; unhealthily skinny


弱不禁風

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄥ

жобуцзиньфэн

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

First attested in a Southern Song poem by Lu You
白菡萏香初過雨，紅蜻蜓弱不禁風。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]白菡萏香初过雨，红蜻蜓弱不禁风。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Shortly after midnight on 21st July 1196, Lu You (陸遊),《六月二十四日夜分夢范至能、李知㡬、尤延之同集江亭，諸公請予賦詩記江湖之樂，詩成而覺，忘數字而已》
Bái hàndàn xiāng chū guò yǔ, hóng qīngtíng ruò bù jīn fēng. [Pinyin]
White lotus flowers being fragrant right after rain; red dragonflies fail to stand the wind.

lw

s:劎南詩槀_(四庫全書本)/卷34

zh-x

白 菡萏 香 初 過 雨，紅 蜻蜓 弱.不.禁{jīn}.風。

having so delicate a constitution as to be unable to stand any breeze; being too frail to withstand even a gust of wind (of a person, e.g. a woman or a patient, of a structure, etc.)


願賭服輸

ㄩㄢˋ ㄉㄨˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄨ

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyːn²² tou̯³⁵ fʊk̚² syː⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyːn²² tou̯³⁵ fʊk̚² syː⁵⁵/

If one participates a gamble willingly, one has to bear all the consequence of losing.


與眾不同

ㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

展現出與眾不同的魅力 [MSC, trad.]
展现出与众不同的魅力 [MSC, simp.]

zhǎnxiàn chū yǔzhòngbùtóng de mèilì [Pinyin]

different; distinct; distinctive; standing out from the crowd


沾沾自喜

ㄓㄢ ㄓㄢ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧˇ

чжаньчжаньцзыси

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiam⁴⁴⁻²² tiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiam⁴⁴⁻²² tiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

不要沾沾自喜於一得之功。 [MSC, trad.]
不要沾沾自喜于一得之功。 [MSC, simp.]

Don't be complacent over an occasional/minor/single success.

Bùyào zhānzhānzìxǐ yú yīdézhīgōng. [Pinyin]

庸俗的事務主義家不是這樣，他們尊重經驗而看輕理論，因而不能通觀客觀過程的全體，缺乏明確的方針，沒有遠大的前途，沾沾自喜於一得之功和一孔之見。 [MSC, trad.]
庸俗的事务主义家不是这样，他们尊重经验而看轻理论，因而不能通观客观过程的全体，缺乏明确的方针，没有远大的前途，沾沾自喜于一得之功和一孔之见。 [MSC, simp.]

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

As against this, vulgar “practical people” respect experience but despise theory, and therefore cannot have a comprehensive view of an entire objective process, lack clear direction and long-range perspective, and are complacent over occasional successes and glimpses of the truth.

Yōngsú de shìwùzhǔyìjiā bùshì zhèyàng, tāmen zūnzhòng jīngyàn ér kànqīng lǐlùn, yīn'ér bùnéng tōngguān kèguān guòchéng de quántǐ, quēfá míngquè de fāngzhēn, méiyǒu yuǎndà de qiántú, zhānzhānzìxǐ yú yīdézhīgōng hé yīkǒngzhījiàn. [Pinyin]

to feel complacent; to be pleased with oneself


出爾反爾

ㄔㄨ ㄦˇ ㄈㄢˇ ㄦˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiː¹³ faːn³⁵ jiː¹³/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ hueŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻²¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiː¹³ faːn³⁵ jiː¹³/

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王下》). Originally means "you get treated in the same way that you treat others". Now "to contradict oneself".
:
曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎爾者，反乎爾者也。』夫民今而後得反之也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎尔者，反乎尔者也。』夫民今而后得反之也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Céngzǐ yuē: ‘Jiè zhī jiè zhī! Chū hū ěr zhě, fǎn hū ěr zhě yě.’ Fú mín jīn ér hòu dé fǎn zhī yě. [Pinyin]
The philosopher Zeng said, "Beware, beware. What proceeds from you, will return to you again." Now at length the people have paid back the conduct of their officers to them.

曾子 曰：『戒 之 戒 之！@出 乎 @爾 者，@反 乎 @爾 者 也。』夫{fú} 民 今 而 後 得 反 之 也。


斷子絕孫

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄨㄣ

дуаньцзыцзюэсунь

/tu̯än⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/tʰyːn¹³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡syːt̚² syːn⁵⁵/

/tu̯än⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/tʰyːn¹³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡syːt̚² syːn⁵⁵/

(often as a curse) to have no descendants


赤身露體

ㄔˋ ㄕㄣ ㄌㄨˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ lou̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ lou̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

耶和華說：「誰告訴你赤身露體呢？莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那樹上的果子嗎？」 [Taiwanese Mandarin, trad.]
耶和华说：「谁告诉你赤身露体呢？莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那树上的果子吗？」 [Taiwanese Mandarin, simp.]

From: 新標點和合本 (Chinese Union Version with New Punctuation), 創世記 (Genesis) 3:11

And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Yéhéhuá shuō: “Shéi gàosù nǐ chìshēn lùtǐ ne? Mòfēi nǐ chī le wǒ fēnfù nǐ bùkě chī de nà shù shàng de guǒzi ma?” [Pinyin]


知命之年

ㄓ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

чжиминчжинянь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「吾十有五而志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Wú shí yòu wǔ ér zhì yú xué, sānshí ér lì, sìshí ér bùhuò, wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng, liùshí ér ěr shùn, qīshí ér cóng xīn suǒ yù, bù yújǔ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.

^子曰：「吾 十 有{yòu} 五 而 志 于 學，三十.而.立，四十 而 不惑，五十 而 知 天命，六十 而 耳 順，七十 而 從.心.所.欲，不 踰矩。」


心如刀割

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄉㄠ ㄍㄜ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³/

我心如刀割 ― wǒ xīnrúdāogē ― I am heartbroken

怎麼看你笑著 我卻心如刀割 [MSC, trad.]
怎么看你笑着 我却心如刀割 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2019, 周興哲 (Eric Chou), 《怎麼了》 (What's Wrong)

How come when I see you smiling, I am heartbroken?

zěnme kàn nǐ xiào zhe, wǒ què xīnrúdāogē [Pinyin]


白頭偕老

ㄅㄞˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄠˇ

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰɔ²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lo⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹/

/peʔ⁴⁻² tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ lau⁵²/

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰɔ²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lo⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹/

/peʔ⁴⁻² tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ lau⁵²/

(said of a couple) to live together until the white hairs of old age; to live to a ripe old age in conjugal bliss until death do us part; to remain happily married to a ripe old age


不由自主

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

to not be able to restrain oneself; to feel an irresistible urge (to do something); can't help but; involuntarily; spontaneously


花容月貌

countenance of flowers, appearance of the moon

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄇㄠˋ

хуажунъюэмао

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ jyːt̚² maːu̯²²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ jyːt̚² maːu̯²²/

(of a woman) beautiful, attractive, gorgeous


好吃懶做

ㄏㄠˋ ㄔ ㄌㄢˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

хаочиланьцзо

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ hɛːk̚³ laːn¹³ t͡sou̯²²/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ hɛːk̚³ laːn¹³ t͡sou̯²²/

to be fond of eating and averse to work; to be piggish


不省人事

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (不省人事):
* → Vietnamese: bất tỉnh nhân sự (不省人事)

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ siː²²/

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ siː²²/

to lose consciousness; to be unconscious


因人而異

ㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ

/in⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

/in⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

to differ from person to person; to vary with each individual


以偏概全

ㄧˇ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄍㄞˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ипяньгайцюань

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to take a part for the whole; to generalise


一生一世

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sẽ³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² si²¹³/

/iɪʔ³³ sã⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ sz̩²¹/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ sã²³ iɪʔ⁵⁵ sz̩ʷ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sẽ³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² si²¹³/

/iɪʔ³³ sã⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ sz̩²¹/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ sã²³ iɪʔ⁵⁵ sz̩ʷ⁵¹/

我哋呢班打工仔 一生一世為錢幣做奴隸 [Cantonese, trad.]
我哋呢班打工仔 一生一世为钱币做奴隶 [Cantonese, simp.]

From: 1977 March 26, Theme Song, The Private Eyes (半斤八兩), sung by Sam Hui (許冠傑) at the 1st Hong Kong Gold Disc Award Presentation (第一屆香港金唱片頒獎典禮)

Working folks like us slaving for money our entire lives

ngo⁵ dei⁶ ne¹ baan¹ daa² gung¹ zai², jat¹ sang¹ jat¹ sai³ wai⁴ cin⁴ bai⁶ zou⁶ nou⁴ dai⁶ [Jyutping]


露齒而笑

ㄌㄨˋ ㄔˇ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

ㄌㄡˋ ㄔˇ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/loʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː²¹ siːu̯³³/

/lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/loʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː²¹ siːu̯³³/


久仰大名

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

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


難以置信

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄓˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

наньичжисинь

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡siː³³ sɵn³³/

/laŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ ti²¹³⁻⁵⁵ siŋ²¹³/

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡siː³³ sɵn³³/

/laŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ ti²¹³⁻⁵⁵ siŋ²¹³/


四面八方

ㄙˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄚ ㄈㄤ

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ miːn²² paːt̚³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/si⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

/ɕi⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ miːn²² paːt̚³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/si⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

/ɕi⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

in all directions; all around; far and wide


千方百計

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄈㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньфанбайцзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ kɐi̯³³/

by every possible means; by hook or by crook


自立自強

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ lip̚⁴⁻² t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ lip̚⁴⁻² t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiaŋ⁵⁵/


難以啟齒

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˇ ㄔˇ

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ kʰɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ kʰɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to be too embarrassed to mention something; to find it difficult to speak about something


滔滔不絕

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (滔滔不絕):
* → Korean: 도도불절(滔滔不絶) (dodobuljeol)
* → Vietnamese: thao thao bất tuyệt (滔滔不絕)

ㄊㄠ ㄊㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

таотаобуцзюэ

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

nineteen to the dozen
nineteen to the dozen

(of talking) endless; talking nineteen to the dozen


人山人海

Sino-Xenic (人山人海):
* → Korean: 인산인해(人山人海) (insaninhae)

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄞˇ

жэньшаньжэньхай

žɛnʹšanʹžɛnʹxaj

/ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ saːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋin¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋin¹¹ hoɪ³¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³/

/zin²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ saːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋin¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋin¹¹ hoɪ³¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³/

/zin²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹/

A chengyu expressing the idea of "a mountain (山 (shān)) of people (人 (rén)), a sea (海 (hǎi)) of people (人 (rén))".


逐字逐句

ㄓㄨˊ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ

чжуцзычжуцзюй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚² t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚² kɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚² t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚² kɵy̯³³/

word by word and phrase by phrase, in a literal manner


言歸正傳

ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄢˋ

яньгуйчжэнчжуань

/jɛn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡syːn²²⁻³⁵/

/jɛn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡syːn²²⁻³⁵/

to return to the main topic; to go back to business, to finish a digression and get back to the main subject (cf. "retournons à nos moutons")


傾盆大雨

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄆㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹ taːi̯²² jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹ taːi̯²² jyː¹³/


開門見山

ㄎㄞ ㄇㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄢ

каймэньцзяньшань

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ kiːn³³ saːn⁵⁵/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ kiːn³³ saːn⁵⁵/


驚天動地

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄧˋ

цзинтяньдунди

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²⁻²¹ te²²/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²⁻²¹ te²²/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

(of sound or influence) world-shaking; earth-shattering


不離不棄

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ li³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ li³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

你若不離不棄，我必生死相依。 [MSC, trad.]
你若不离不弃，我必生死相依。 [MSC, simp.]

If you do not leave me, I will be by your side until the life ends.

Nǐ ruò bùlíbùqì, wǒ bì shēngsǐxiàngyī. [Pinyin]


朝朝暮暮

ㄓㄠ ㄓㄠ ㄇㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ

чжаочжаомуму

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²² mou̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²² mou̯²²/

妾在巫山之陽，高丘之阻，旦為朝雲，暮為行雨。朝朝暮暮，陽臺之下。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
妾在巫山之阳，高丘之阻，旦为朝云，暮为行雨。朝朝暮暮，阳台之下。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: c. 3rd century BCE, Song Yu (宋玉), At the Tower of Gaotang (《高唐賦》)

I am by the sun-kissed slopes of Mount Wu, and the steep footpath through the rugged land.I am the luminous clouds at sunrise, and the strolling shower of eventide.Day after day, night by another night, I am here by this Tower of the Sun.

Qiè zài Wūshān zhīyáng, gāoqiū zhīzǔ, dànwéi zhāoyún, mùwéi xíngyǔ. Zhāozhāo mùmù, yángtái zhīxià. [Pinyin]

兩情若是久長時，又豈在朝朝暮暮。 [Ci, trad.]
两情若是久长时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。 [Ci, simp.]

From: c. 11th century, Qin Guan, 《鵲橋仙·七夕》

If love between both sides lasts sempiternally, then would (staying together) every day and night be the point?

Liǎngqíng ruòshì jiǔcháng shí, yòu qǐzài zhāozhāomùmù. [Pinyin]

from dawn to dusk; all the time; day after day


隔牆有耳

ㄍㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄦˇ

/kɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː¹³/

/kaːk̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː¹³/


泛泛而談

ㄈㄢˋ ㄈㄢˋ ㄦˊ ㄊㄢˊ

фаньфаньэртань

/fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/faːn³³ faːn³³ jiː²¹ tʰaːm²¹/

/fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/faːn³³ faːn³³ jiː²¹ tʰaːm²¹/

他只是泛泛而談，沒有細說。 [MSC, trad.]
他只是泛泛而谈，没有细说。 [MSC, simp.]

He only spoke in generalities; he didn't go into detail.

Tā zhǐ shì fànfàn'értán, méiyǒu xìshuō. [Pinyin]


博大精深

ㄅㄛˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣ

бодацзиншэнь

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ taːi̯²² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/pʰak̚²⁻⁴ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰim³³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ taːi̯²² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/pʰak̚²⁻⁴ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰim³³/

蘊含博大精深的學問 [MSC, trad.]
蕴含博大精深的学问 [MSC, simp.]

(of concepts) wide-ranging and profound; deep


狐假虎威

→ Vietnamese: cáo mượn oai hùm (calque)

ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄨㄟ

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wuː²¹ kaː³⁵ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wuː²¹ kaː³⁵ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

From Zhan Guo Ce, 5th – 3rd centuries BCE.
虎求百獸而食之，得狐。狐曰：『子無敢食我也。天帝使我長百獸，今子食我，是逆天帝命也。子以我為不信，吾為子先行，子隨我後，觀百獸之見我而敢不走乎？』虎以為然，故遂與之行。獸見之皆走。虎不知獸畏己而走也，以為畏狐也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]虎求百兽而食之，得狐。狐曰：『子无敢食我也。天帝使我长百兽，今子食我，是逆天帝命也。子以我为不信，吾为子先行，子随我后，观百兽之见我而敢不走乎？』虎以为然，故遂与之行。兽见之皆走。虎不知兽畏己而走也，以为畏狐也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Hǔ qiú bǎishòu ér shí zhī, dé hú. Hú yuē: ‘Zǐ wú gǎn shí wǒ yě. Tiāndì shǐ wǒ cháng bǎishòu, jīn zǐ shí wǒ, shì nì tiāndì mìng yě. Zǐ yǐ wǒ wèi bùxìn, wú wèi zǐ xiānxíng, zǐ suí wǒ hòu, guān bǎishòu zhī jiàn wǒ ér gǎn bù zǒu hū?’ Hǔ yǐwèi rán, gù suì yǔ zhī xíng. Shòu jiàn zhī jiē zǒu. Hǔ bù zhī shòu wèi jǐ ér zǒu yě, yǐwèi wèi hú yě. [Pinyin]
The tiger, which hunts and eats all the animals, caught a fox. The fox said, "Don't you dare eat me. Heaven made me master of all the animals. If you eat me now, you will go against Heaven's will. If you don't believe me, I'll go in front of you and you can follow me. Observe whether the animals can see me and dare to not run away!" The tiger believed that this was true, so he followed behind the fox. Whoever saw the tiger ran away. The tiger did not know that the animals were running away because they were afraid of him, and he thought that they were afraid of the fox.

zh-x

虎 求 百獸 而 食 之，得 狐。狐 曰：『子 無 敢 食 我 也。天帝 使 我 長 百獸，今 子 食 我，是 逆 天帝 命 也。子 以 我 為 不信，吾 為 子 先行，子 隨 我 後，觀 百獸 之 見 我 而 敢 不 走 乎？』虎 以為 然，故 遂 與 之 行。獸 見 之 皆 走。虎 不 知 獸 畏 己 而 走 也，以為 畏 狐 也。

(figurative, derogatory) to use powerful connections to intimidate people


堅持不懈

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄔˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ haːi̯²²/

/kiaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hai³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ haːi̯²²/

/kiaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hai³⁵/

to persevere; to keep going until the end


長途跋涉

ㄔㄤˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄅㄚˊ ㄕㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pɐt̚² siːp̚³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puak̚⁴⁻² siap̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pɐt̚² siːp̚³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puak̚⁴⁻² siap̚⁴/


置之不理

ㄓˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

to ignore; to brush aside; to pay no heed to


挹彼注茲

ㄧˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄓㄨˋ ㄗ

/i⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

to draw from one to make good the deficits of another


門庭若市

ㄇㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

/mən³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² siː¹³/

/mən³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² siː¹³/

令初下，群臣進諫，門庭若市。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]令初下，群臣进谏，门庭若市。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Lìng chū xià, qúnchén jìnjiàn, méntíng ruò shì. [Pinyin]
Upon giving the order, a mass of ministers came to admonish; the front yard was as crowded as a market.

令 初 下，群臣 進諫，門庭.若.市。

front yard as busy as a marketplace; a place with many visitors


問寒問暖

ㄨㄣˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ

вэньханьвэньнуань

/wən⁵¹ xän³⁵ wən⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²² hɔːn²¹ mɐn²² nyːn¹³/

/wən⁵¹ xän³⁵ wən⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²² hɔːn²¹ mɐn²² nyːn¹³/

to show concern for someone's welfare; to enquire about someone's well-being


喜出望外

ㄒㄧˇ ㄔㄨ ㄨㄤˋ ㄨㄞˋ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/hi⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ mo¹¹ ɡua¹¹/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/hi⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ mo¹¹ ɡua¹¹/

to be pleasantly surprised by unexpected good news


不知不覺

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

2002, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “時光 [shíguāng, Time]”, in 時光·漫步 [Time, Stroll], performed by Xu Wei:
在不知不覺的一瞬間 又想起你 [MSC, trad.]
在不知不觉的一瞬间 又想起你 [MSC, simp.]

In an instant / I remembered you unconsciously

Zài bùzhībùjué de yīshùnjiān, Yòu xiǎngqǐ nǐ [Pinyin]


無所不為

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (無所不為):
* → Korean: 무소불위(無所不爲) (musoburwi)

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

to stop at nothing; to do all manner of evil


七嘴八舌

ㄑㄧ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄚ ㄕㄜˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paːt̚³ siːt̚²/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁴¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui¹¹⁻⁵³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siʔ⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paːt̚³ siːt̚²/

a discussion with everybody talking at once


招財進寶

招财进宝
*⿱𡩧⿺進⿰貝招

ㄓㄠ ㄘㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄅㄠˇ

чжаоцайцзиньбао

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³ pou̯³⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³ pou̯³⁵/

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year#English

to usher in wealth and prosperity (traditional greeting, especially during Chinese New Year)


並駕齊驅

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄑㄩ

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/pɪŋ²² kaː³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ ka²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²³⁻³³ kʰu⁴⁴/

/piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰu⁴⁴/

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/pɪŋ²² kaː³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ ka²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²³⁻³³ kʰu⁴⁴/

/piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰu⁴⁴/

他曾盡力和他的敵手並駕齊驅的。 [MSC, trad.]
他曾尽力和他的敌手并驾齐驱的。 [MSC, simp.]

Tā céng jìnlì hé tā de díshǒu bìngjiàqíqū de. [Pinyin]

那兩匹馬並駕齊驅，同時跑到終點。 [MSC, trad.]
那两匹马并驾齐驱，同时跑到终点。 [MSC, simp.]

The two horses were neck and neck at the finish file.

Nà liǎng pǐ mǎ bìngjiàqíqū, tóngshí pǎo dào zhōngdiǎn. [Pinyin]

繪圖文字和口頭語言很可能是並駕齊驅發展起來的。 [MSC, trad.]
绘图文字和口头语言很可能是并驾齐驱发展起来的。 [MSC, simp.]

Picture language and oral language probably developed side by side.

Huìtú wénzì hé kǒutóu yǔyán hěn kěnéng shì bìngjiàqíqū fāzhǎn qǐlái de. [Pinyin]

(figurative) to keep pace with; to keep abreast of; to advance at an equal pace with; to run neck and neck; to be on a par with


郢書燕說

ㄧㄥˇ ㄕㄨ ㄧㄢ ㄕㄨㄛ

ㄧㄥˇ ㄕㄨ ㄧㄢ ㄩㄝˋ

/iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/jɪŋ¹³ syː⁵⁵ jiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/jɪŋ¹³ syː⁵⁵ jiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

Literally, “Ying writes a letter and Yan reads it” (or “Yan delights in it”).
This idiom came from an anecdote told by Han Fei (韓非):
故先王有郢書而後世多燕說。…郢人有遺燕相國書者。夜書，火不明，因謂持燭者曰：「舉燭。」云而過書「舉燭」。「舉燭」非書意也。燕相受書而說之，曰：「舉燭者，尚明也。尚明也者，舉賢而任之。」燕相白王，王大說，國以治。治則治矣，非書意也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]故先王有郢书而后世多燕说。…郢人有遗燕相国书者。夜书，火不明，因谓持烛者曰：「举烛。」云而过书「举烛」。「举烛」非书意也。燕相受书而说之，曰：「举烛者，尚明也。尚明也者，举贤而任之。」燕相白王，王大说，国以治。治则治矣，非书意也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Gù xiānwáng yǒu Yǐngshū ér hòushì duō Yānyuè.... Yǐng rén yǒu wèi Yān xiàngguó shū zhě. Yè shū, huǒ bù míng, yīn wèi chí zhú zhě yuē: “Jǔ zhú.” Yún ér guò shū “jǔzhú”. “Jǔzhú” fēi shū yì yě. Yān xiàng shòu shū ér yuè zhī, yuē: “Jǔzhú zhě, shàng míng yě. Shàng míng yě zhě, jǔ xián ér rèn zhī.” Yān xiàng bái Wáng, Wáng dà yuè, guó yǐ zhì. Zhì zé zhì yǐ, fēi shū yì yě. [Pinyin]
Therefore, the ancient wise kings left us with much easily-misunderstood classics, and posterior generations delight in their distorted interpretations.… A man from Ying was writing a letter to the Chancellor of Yan. As he was writing at night and the lighting was poor, he ordered to “hold up the candle”, but he wrote down what he uttered by mistake. The words "to hold up the candle" was meaningless in the letter's context. When the Chancellor of Yan received the letter, he was much delighted, for he interpreted “to hold up the candle” as “to honour light”, and hence “to promote the wise”. The Chancellor recounted this to the King, who was also much delighted, and his State became well-governed because of those measures. Well-governed as it was, it had never been the letter's intended effect.

zh-x

故 先王 有 @^郢@書 而 後世 多 @^燕{Yān}@說{yuè}。…^郢 人 有 遺{wèi} ^燕{Yān} 相國 書 者。夜 書，火 不 明，因 謂 持 燭 者 曰：「舉 燭。」云 而 過 書 「@舉燭」。「@^舉燭」非 書 意 也。燕{yān} 相{xiàng} 受 書 而 說{yuè} 之，曰：「@舉燭 者，尚 明 也。尚 明 也 者，舉 賢 而 任 之。」^燕{Yān} 相{xiàng} 白 ^王，^王 大 說{yuè}，國 以 治。治 則 治 矣，非 書 意 也。

to misinterpret the original meaning; to distort the meaning in order to fit one's ideas; to pile up errors


聚精會神

ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄣˊ

цзюйцзинхуэйшэнь

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ wuːi̯²² sɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ wuːi̯²² sɐn²¹/

to maintain one's concentration; to stay focused; to be attentive or absorbed


原形畢露

ㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ jɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ jɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/


改朝換代

ㄍㄞˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄞˋ

гайчаохуаньдай

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ wuːn²² tɔːi̯²²/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ wuːn²² tɔːi̯²²/


非同小可

ㄈㄟ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄎㄜˇ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/

/fei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/


心滿意足

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄇㄢˇ ㄧˋ ㄗㄨˊ

синьманьицзу

/ɕin⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ muːn¹³ jiː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim³³ muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡siɔk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ muːn¹³ jiː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim³³ muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡siɔk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡siɔk̚³²/


桀驁不馴

桀骜不驯
桀驁不遜
桀敖不馴

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄣˋ

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄣˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕyn³⁵/

/kiːt̚² ŋou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕyn³⁵/

/kiːt̚² ŋou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn²¹/

wild; intractable; stubborn; obstinate and unruly


痛改前非

ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄞˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄟ

тунгайцяньфэй

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³³ kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³³ kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

to sincerely mend one's ways; to thoroughly rectify one's errors; to turn over a new leaf


息息相關

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄢ

ㄒㄧˊ ㄒㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄢ

сисисянгуань

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/ɕi³⁵ ɕi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/sek̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²³ kuaŋ³³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/ɕi³⁵ ɕi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/sek̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²³ kuaŋ³³/

to be closely linked; to be closely bound up


爭權奪利

ㄓㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄌㄧˋ

чжэнцюаньдоли

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ tyːt̚² lei̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ tyːt̚² lei̯²²/

to scramble for power and wealth; to struggle for power


一意孤行

ㄧ ㄧˋ ㄍㄨ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³ kuː⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔ³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³ kuː⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔ³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²³/

to insist on doing things one's own way; to cling obstinately to one's course; to persist in wilful and arbitrary actions


思來想去

ㄙ ㄌㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄩˋ

/sz̩⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ sœːŋ³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/sz̩⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ sœːŋ³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

to think about over and over; to wonder or ponder about something


一笑置之

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³ t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³ t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

to laugh off; to dismiss with laughter; to make light of


事與願違

ㄕˋ ㄩˇ ㄩㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/siː²² jyː¹³ jyːn²² wɐi̯²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/siː²² jyː¹³ jyːn²² wɐi̯²¹/

to get the opposite of what one intended


別有洞天

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

being of or showing another level of scenery; (of a place) to be amazingly beautiful and unique


海底摸針

ㄏㄞˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄇㄛ ㄓㄣ

хайдимочжэнь

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hoi̯³¹ tai̯³¹ mi̯a²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨm²⁴/

/hai³³⁻³⁵ tɛ³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ muo⁵⁵ t͡sɛiŋ⁵⁵/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ mɔ̃⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hoi̯³¹ tai̯³¹ mi̯a²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨm²⁴/

/hai³³⁻³⁵ tɛ³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ muo⁵⁵ t͡sɛiŋ⁵⁵/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ mɔ̃⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

海底摸針相思海，摸針戇大呆。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
海底摸针相思海，摸针戆大呆。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

Hái-tóe-bong-chiam siuⁿ-si hái, bong chiam gōng-tōa-tai. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

可惜人海茫茫，要找會合的人，喔～，親像海底摸針，阮早就無央望。 [Hokkien, trad.]
可惜人海茫茫，要找会合的人，喔～，亲像海底摸针，阮早就无央望。 [Hokkien, simp.]
Khó-sioh lîn-hái bâng-bâng, beh chhē ē-ha̍h ê lâng, o͘h ~, chhin-chhiūⁿ hái-té-bong-chiam, gún chá-tiō bô ǹg-bāng. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

From: 2013, 江蕙 (Jody Chiang) feat. 陳嘉樺 (Ella Chen), 歹逗陣

Unfortunately, there is a vast sea of people, whoa. To look for someone who can get along with me is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I've got no hope early on.

a needle in a haystack
a needle in a haystack


不修邊幅

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄈㄨˊ

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ piːn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ piːn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

to not care about one's appearance; to be slovenly in dress and manner; to be unkempt


喪家之犬

ㄙㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄓ ㄑㄩㄢˇ

санцзячжицюань

/sɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔːŋ³³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵/

/sɔːŋ³³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵/

喪家之狗 喪家之狗#Chinese

丧家之狗 丧家之狗#Chinese


以身作則

ㄧˇ ㄕㄣ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄜˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sɐk̚⁵/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ siŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚²/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sɐk̚⁵/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ siŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚²/


目中無人

ㄇㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

мучжунъужэнь

mučžunʺužɛnʹ

/mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

to be prideful; to be haughty; to be arrogant


殺雞嚇猴

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄡˊ

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ haːk̚³ hɐu̯²¹/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ haːk̚³ hɐu̯²¹/

to punish an individual as an example to others


殺人越貨

ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ jɐn²¹ jyːt̚² fɔː³³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² uat̚⁴⁻³² he²¹/

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ jɐn²¹ jyːt̚² fɔː³³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² uat̚⁴⁻³² he²¹/

to kill somebody for their property; to murder for money


驚慌失措

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄨㄤ ㄕ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

цзинхуаншицо

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

to lose one's head over fear; to panic; to be thrown into a panic; to be frightened out of one's wits; to be in a state of panic


火上澆油

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄧㄡˊ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ²² kiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ²² kiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

add fuel to the fire
add fuel to the fire

to add fuel to the fire (to worsen a conflict)


火上加油

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²⁴/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻²² iu²⁴/

/hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²³/

/hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²³/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²⁴/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻²² iu²⁴/

/hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²³/

/hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²³/


亂七八糟

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄚ ㄗㄠ

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄚ ㄗㄠ

луаньцибацзао

/lu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lyːn²² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ paːt̚³ t͡sou̯⁵⁵/

/lɔn⁵³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰit̚¹ pat̚¹ t͡sau⁴⁴/

/luan²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ pat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sau⁴⁴/

/luan³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰi⁴⁴⁻³³ pa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sau⁴⁴/

/luan³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi⁴⁴⁻³³ pa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sau⁴⁴/

/luaŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰik̚²⁻⁴ poiʔ²⁻⁴ t͡sau³³/

/lõ²¹⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi²⁴ pa̠²⁴ t͡sɒu̯³³/

/lõ²¹⁻¹¹ t͡ɕʰi²⁴ pa̠²⁴ t͡sɒu̯³³/

/lu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lyːn²² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ paːt̚³ t͡sou̯⁵⁵/

/lɔn⁵³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰit̚¹ pat̚¹ t͡sau⁴⁴/

/luan³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰi⁴⁴⁻³³ pa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sau⁴⁴/

/luan³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi⁴⁴⁻³³ pa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sau⁴⁴/

/luaŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰik̚²⁻⁴ poiʔ²⁻⁴ t͡sau³³/

/lõ²¹⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi²⁴ pa̠²⁴ t͡sɒu̯³³/

/lõ²¹⁻¹¹ t͡ɕʰi²⁴ pa̠²⁴ t͡sɒu̯³³/

這就是鬼島亂七八糟的鬼島 [Taiwanese Mandarin, trad.]
这就是鬼岛乱七八糟的鬼岛 [Taiwanese Mandarin, simp.]

From: 2019, 黃明志 ft. 大支 (Namewee ft. Dwagie), 《鬼島》 ("Ghost Island")

This is the Ghost Island (nickname for Taiwan), an out-of-order Ghost Island

zhè jiùshì guǐdǎo luànqībāzāo de guǐdǎo [Pinyin]