拈輕怕重

ㄋㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄆㄚˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄆㄚˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

няньцинпачжун

/ni̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/niːm⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰaː³³ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/

/ni̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/niːm⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰaː³³ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/

to pick easy jobs and avoid the hard ones


但求無過

ㄉㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/tän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/taːn²² kʰɐu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kʷɔː³³/

/tän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/taːn²² kʰɐu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kʷɔː³³/

to hope only to make no mistakes; to seek only to avoid blame


大展身手

ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄢˇ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ

дачжаньшэньшоу

dačžanʹšɛnʹšou

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/


日暮途窮

ㄖˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚² mou̯²² tʰou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚² mou̯²² tʰou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

to be in a very desperate situation and close to perishing


急中生智

ㄐㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄓˋ

цзичжуншэнчжи

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/

to suddenly come up with a solution in an emergency


風雨交加

ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄚ

фэнъюйцзяоцзя

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

strong wind blows and heavy rain pours simultaneously; to have a storm


行若狗彘

one's behavior is like that of dogs and pigs

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄓˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ jœːk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ jœːk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²²/


愁眉鎖眼

ㄔㄡˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄢˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯²¹ mei̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

/sɐu̯²¹ mei̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

大家以為有了出路，愁眉鎖眼的姿態為之一掃。 [MSC, trad.]
大家以为有了出路，愁眉锁眼的姿态为之一扫。 [MSC, simp.]

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

There is a general feeling that a way out of the impasse has been found, and people no longer knit their brows in despair.

Dàjiā yǐwéi yǒu le chūlù, chóuméisuǒyǎn de zītài wéi zhī yī sǎo. [Pinyin]

to knit one's brows in despair; to look worried


開臺鑼鼓

ㄎㄞ ㄊㄞˊ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄍㄨˇ

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɔː²¹ kuː³⁵/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɔː²¹ kuː³⁵/

好在延安許多同志已有詳盡的文章，我的粗枝大葉的東西，就當作一番開臺鑼鼓好了。 [MSC, trad.]
好在延安许多同志已有详尽的文章，我的粗枝大叶的东西，就当作一番开台锣鼓好了。 [MSC, simp.]

Fortunately, there are many comrades in Yenan who have written at length in this field, so that my rough and ready words may serve the same purpose as the beating of the gongs before a theatrical performance.

Hǎozài Yán'ān xǔduō tóngzhì yǐ yǒu xiángjìn de wénzhāng, wǒ de cūzhīdàyè de dōngxi, jiù dàngzuò yīfān kāitáiluógǔ hǎo le. [Pinyin]

beating the gongs and drums before a theatrical performance; curtain-raiser


三魂七魄

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (三魂七魄):
* → Korean: 삼혼칠백(三魂七魄) (samhonchilbaek)

→ Vietnamese: ba hồn bảy vía (calque)

ㄙㄢ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧ ㄆㄛˋ

саньхуньципо

/sän⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ pʰaːk̚³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ pʰiɪk̚³²/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ pʰiɪk̚³²/

/sän⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ pʰaːk̚³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ pʰiɪk̚³²/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ pʰiɪk̚³²/


千慮一得

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄩˋ ㄧ ㄉㄜˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

對於全國先進的文化工作者，我們的東西，只當作引玉之磚，千慮之一得。 [MSC, trad.]
对于全国先进的文化工作者，我们的东西，只当作引玉之砖，千虑之一得。 [MSC, simp.]

Our observations may contain a grain of truth for the nation's advanced cultural workers and may serve as a modest spur to induce them to come forward with valuable contributions of their own.

Duìyú quánguó xiānjìn de wénhuà gōngzuòzhě, wǒmen de dōngxi, zhǐ dàngzuò yǐnyùzhīzhuān, qiānlǜ zhī yīdé. [Pinyin]

(humble, used to introduce one's opinion) even a fool may sometimes have a good idea


千慮一失

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

even a wise person sometimes makes a mistake; no one is always free from errors


引玉之磚

ㄧㄣˇ ㄩˋ ㄓ ㄓㄨㄢ

иньюйчжичжуань

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

(self-deprecatory) one's own relatively worthless words, opinions, or services, offered in order to attract others' more valuable contributions


向隅獨泣

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄑㄧˋ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

向隅而泣 向隅而泣#Chinese

Synonym of 向隅而泣 (xiàngyú'érqì, “to weep alone in a corner”)


好為人師

ㄏㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕ

хаовэйжэньши

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siː⁵⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siː⁵⁵/

From Mencius; see 人之患在好為人師／人之患在好为人师 (rén zhī huàn zài hàowéirénshī).

zh-l

科學的態度是「實事求是」，「自以為是」和「好為人師」那樣狂妄的態度是決不能解決問題的。 [MSC, trad.]
科学的态度是「实事求是」，「自以为是」和「好为人师」那样狂妄的态度是决不能解决问题的。 [MSC, simp.]

To "seek truth from facts" is the scientific approach, and presumptuously to claim infallibility and lecture people will never settle anything.

Kēxué de tàidù shì “shíshìqiúshì”, “zìyǐwéishì” hé “hàowéirénshī” nàyàng kuángwàng de tàidù shì jué bùnéng jiějué wèntí de. [Pinyin]

to be fond of teaching others; to like to be a master to others


向隅而泣

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄩˊ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˋ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

誰不懂得這個歷史特點，誰就不能指導這個革命和進行這個革命到勝利，誰就會被人民拋棄，變為向隅而泣的可憐蟲。 [MSC, trad.]
谁不懂得这个历史特点，谁就不能指导这个革命和进行这个革命到胜利，谁就会被人民抛弃，变为向隅而泣的可怜虫。 [MSC, simp.]

Whoever fails to understand such historical characteristics will not be able to direct the revolution and lead it to victory, but will be cast aside by the people and left to grieve out in the cold.

Shéi bù dǒngde zhège lìshǐ tèdiǎn, shéi jiù bùnéng zhǐdǎo zhège gémìng hé jìnxíng zhège gémìng dào shènglì, shéi jiù huì bèi rénmín pāoqì, biànwéi xiàngyú'érqì de kěliánchóng. [Pinyin]

left out in the cold
leave someone out in the cold

to weep alone in a corner; to be left out in the cold


大敵當前

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄉㄤ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/tä⁵¹ ti³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/taːi̯²² tɪk̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ti³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/taːi̯²² tɪk̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

大敵當前，他們要聯合工農反對敵人；工農覺悟，他們又聯合敵人反對工農。 [MSC, trad.]
大敌当前，他们要联合工农反对敌人；工农觉悟，他们又联合敌人反对工农。 [MSC, simp.]

When confronted by a formidable enemy, they united with the workers and peasants against the enemy, but when the workers and peasants awakened, they turned round to unite with the enemy against the workers and peasants.

Dàdídāngqián, tāmen yào liánhé gōngnóng fǎnduì dírén; gōngnóng juéwù, tāmen yòu liánhé dírén fǎnduì gōngnóng. [Pinyin]

to be confronted with a formidable enemy


風急雨驟

ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧˊ ㄩˇ ㄓㄡˋ

ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧˊ ㄩˇ ㄗㄡˋ

фэнцзиюйчжоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

фэнцзиюйцзоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐp̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐp̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/

to have a furious storm, with gusty winds and heavy rain


多種多樣

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧㄤˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/

因此，全世界多種多樣的國家體制中，按其政權的階級性質來劃分，基本地不外乎這三種。 [MSC, trad.]
因此，全世界多种多样的国家体制中，按其政权的阶级性质来划分，基本地不外乎这三种。 [MSC, simp.]

Thus the numerous types of state system in the world can be reduced to three basic kinds according to the class character of their political power.

Yīncǐ, quánshìjiè duōzhǒngduōyàng de guójiā tǐzhì zhōng, àn qí zhèngquán de jiējí xìngzhì lái huàfēn, jīběn de bùwàihū zhè sān zhǒng. [Pinyin]


狗彘不若

ㄍㄡˇ ㄓˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːk̚²/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːk̚²/

(derogatory, literary) base; contemptible; vile


豬狗不如

ㄓㄨ ㄍㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/


躍躍欲試

ㄩㄝˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄩˋ ㄕˋ

/ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jœːk̚² jʊk̚² siː³³/

/ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jœːk̚² jʊk̚² siː³³/

這樣一來，一些喪盡天良的資本家，就見利忘義，躍躍欲試。 [MSC, trad.]
这样一来，一些丧尽天良的资本家，就见利忘义，跃跃欲试。 [MSC, simp.]

At the prospect of profits, some conscienceless capitalists forget all moral principles and itch to have a go.

Zhèyàngyīlái, yīxiē sàngjìntiānliáng de zīběnjiā, jiù jiànlìwàngyì, yuèyuèyùshì. [Pinyin]


做賊心虛

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩ

цзоцзэйсиньсюй

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/t͡sou̯²² t͡sʰaːk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/t͡sou̯²² t͡sʰaːk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

但是他們做賊心虛，怕共產黨阻擋他們的去路，更怕老百姓罵漢奸。 [MSC, trad.]
但是他们做贼心虚，怕共产党阻挡他们的去路，更怕老百姓骂汉奸。 [MSC, simp.]

But, with the cowardice of thieves, they fear that the Communists will block their exit and, what is more, that the common people will brand them as traitors.

Dànshì tāmen zuòzéixīnxū, pà Gòngchǎndǎng zǔdǎng tāmen de qùlù, gèng pà lǎobǎixìng mà hànjiān. [Pinyin]


英雄好漢

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄢˋ

инсюнхаохань

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɔːn³³/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɔːn³³/

它向全世界宣告，紅軍是英雄好漢，帝國主義者和他們的走狗蔣介石等輩則是完全無用的。 [MSC, trad.]
它向全世界宣告，红军是英雄好汉，帝国主义者和他们的走狗蒋介石等辈则是完全无用的。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1935, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論反對日本帝國主義的策略》 (On Tactics Against Japanese Imperialism), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

It has proclaimed to the world that the Red Army is an army of heroes, while the imperialists and their running dogs, Chiang Kai-shek and his like, are impotent.

Tā xiàng quánshìjiè xuāngào, Hóngjūn shì yīngxiónghǎohàn, dìguózhǔyìzhě hé tāmen de zǒugǒu Jiǎng Jièshí děngbèi zé shì wánquán wúyòng de. [Pinyin]


終天之恨

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄏㄣˋ

чжунтяньчжихэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

歷來中國革命的失敗，都是被帝國主義絞殺的，無數革命的先烈，為此而抱終天之恨。 [MSC, trad.]
历来中国革命的失败，都是被帝国主义绞杀的，无数革命的先烈，为此而抱终天之恨。 [MSC, simp.]

Earlier revolutions failed in China because imperialism strangled them, and innumerable revolutionary martyrs died with eternal regret.

Lìlái Zhōngguó gémìng de shībài, dōu shì bèi dìguózhǔyì jiǎoshā de, wúshù gémìng de xiānliè, wèicǐ ér bào zhōngtiānzhīhèn. [Pinyin]


乏善可陳

ㄈㄚˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄣˊ

фашанькэчэнь

fašanʹkɛčɛnʹ

/fä³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/fɐt̚² siːn²² hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹/

/hat̚⁴⁻³² siɛn²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tin²⁴/

/hat̚²⁴⁻² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tin²⁴/

/hat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tin¹³/

/hat̚⁴⁻³² siɛn³³⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tin²⁴/

/hat̚⁴⁻³² siɛn³³⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tin²³/

/fä³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/fɐt̚² siːn²² hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹/

/hat̚⁴⁻³² siɛn²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tin²⁴/

/hat̚²⁴⁻² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tin²⁴/

/hat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tin¹³/

/hat̚⁴⁻³² siɛn³³⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tin²⁴/

/hat̚⁴⁻³² siɛn³³⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tin²³/


煞有介事

ㄕㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕˋ

/ʂä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kaːi̯³³ siː²²/

/ʂä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kaːi̯³³ siː²²/


自尋死路

ㄗˋ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄙˇ ㄌㄨˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕyn³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ lou̯²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕyn³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ lou̯²²/

中國資產階級頑固派如不覺悟，他們的事情是並不美妙的，他們將得到一個自尋死路的前途。 [MSC, trad.]
中国资产阶级顽固派如不觉悟，他们的事情是并不美妙的，他们将得到一个自寻死路的前途。 [MSC, simp.]

Unless the die-hards among the Chinese bourgeoisie wake up, their future will be far from bright—they will only bring about their own destruction.

Zhōngguó zīchǎnjiējí wángùpài rú bù juéwù, tāmen de shìqíng shì bìngbù měimiào de, tāmen jiāng dédào yīge zìxúnsǐlù de qiántú. [Pinyin]

to seek one's demise; to bring about one's own destruction


牽強附會

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (牽強附會):
* → Japanese: 牽(けん)強(きょう)付(ふ)会(かい) (kenkyōfukai)
* → Korean: 견강부회(牽强附會) (gyeon'gangbuhoe)

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄤˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

цяньцянфухуэй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/hiːn⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ¹³ fuː²² wuːi̯²²/

/hiːn⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ¹³ fuː²² wuːi̯²²/

後儒牽強附會，費盡心思，不知都是古今學不分明的緣故。 [MSC, trad.]
后儒牵强附会，费尽心思，不知都是古今学不分明的缘故。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1904, Zeng Pu, Chapter 11 of 孽海花 [A Flower in a Sinful Sea]

Hòu rú qiānqiángfùhuì, fèijìnxīnsī, bùzhī dōu shì gǔ jīn xué bù fēnmíng de yuángù. [Pinyin]

to make a far-fetched analogy; to connect unrelated things together


羊腸小徑

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

янчансяоцзин

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/


洋洋得意

ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

我願頑固派先生們，於其「限共」、「溶共」、「反共」等工作洋洋得意之餘，也去翻閱一下這個宣言。 [MSC, trad.]
我愿顽固派先生们，于其「限共」、「溶共」、「反共」等工作洋洋得意之余，也去翻阅一下这个宣言。 [MSC, simp.]

I wish the die-hard gentlemen would spare a moment from the work of "restricting communism", "corroding communism" and "combating communism", in which they are so gleefully engaged, to glance through this manifesto.

Wǒ yuàn wángùpài xiānshengmen, yú qí “xiàngòng”, “rónggòng”, “fǎngòng” děng gōngzuò yángyángdéyì zhī yú, yě qù fānyuè yīxià zhège xuānyán. [Pinyin]

得意洋洋 得意洋洋#Chinese

Synonym of 得意洋洋 (déyìyángyáng, “smug; puffed up”)


折戟沉沙

ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄕㄚ

чжэцзичэньша

čžɛczičɛnʹša

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵/

From the poem 《赤壁》 by Du Mu.
折戟沈沙鐵未銷，自將磨洗認前朝。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]折戟沈沙铁未销，自将磨洗认前朝。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Du Mu, early 9th century. By the Purple Cliff (《赤壁》), translated by Witter Bynner.
Zhéjǐ chénshā tiě wèixiāo, zìjiāng móxǐ rèn qiáncháo. [Pinyin]
On a part of a spear still unrusted in the sand
I have burnished the symbol of an ancient kingdom.

zh-x

@折-@戟 @沈{chén}-@沙 鐵 未-銷， 自-將 磨-洗 認 前-朝{cháo}。

to be defeated and sustain heavy damage or casualties


雷霆萬鈞

ㄌㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄩㄣ

лэйтинваньцзюнь

/leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ maːn²² kʷɐn⁵⁵/

/leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ maːn²² kʷɐn⁵⁵/

惟獨共產主義的思想體系和社會制度，正以排山倒海之勢，雷霆萬鈞之力，磅礴於全世界，而葆其美妙之青春。 [MSC, trad.]
惟独共产主义的思想体系和社会制度，正以排山倒海之势，雷霆万钧之力，磅礴于全世界，而葆其美妙之青春。 [MSC, simp.]

The communist ideological and social system alone is full of youth and vitality, sweeping the world with the momentum of an avalanche and the force of a thunderbolt.

Wéidú gòngchǎnzhǔyì de sīxiǎng tǐxì hé shèhuì zhìdù, zhèng yǐ páishāndǎohǎi zhī shì, léitíngwànjūn zhī lì, pángbó yú quánshìjiè, ér bǎo qí měimiào zhī qīngchūn. [Pinyin]

as powerful as a thunderbolt; with an irresistable force


荒謬絕倫

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄌㄨㄣˊ

хуанмюцзюэлунь

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐu̯²² t͡syːt̚² lɵn²¹/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐu̯²² t͡syːt̚² lɵn²¹/

因為共產黨的最低綱領和三民主義的政治原則基本上相同，就狂叫「收起」共產主義，豈非荒謬絕倫之至？ [MSC, trad.]
因为共产党的最低纲领和三民主义的政治原则基本上相同，就狂叫「收起」共产主义，岂非荒谬绝伦之至？ [MSC, simp.]

Is it not, therefore, in the highest degree absurd to clamour for communism to be "folded up" on the ground that the Communist Party's minimum programme is in basic agreement with the political tenets of the Three People's Principles?

Yīnwèi Gòngchǎndǎng de zuìdī gānglǐng hé sānmínzhǔyì de zhèngzhì yuánzé jīběnshàng xiāngtóng, jiù kuángjiào “shōuqǐ” gòngchǎnzhǔyì, qǐfēi huāngmiùjuélún zhī zhì? [Pinyin]

absolutely ridiculous; preposterous; absurd in the highest degree


所向無敵

ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˊ

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ hœːŋ³³ mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ hœːŋ³³ mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

其聲勢之浩大，威力之猛烈，簡直是所向無敵的。 [MSC, trad.]
其声势之浩大，威力之猛烈，简直是所向无敌的。 [MSC, simp.]

Its influence has been so great and its impact so powerful that it is invincible wherever it goes.

Qí shēngshì zhī hàodà, wēilì zhī měngliè, jiǎnzhí shì suǒxiàngwúdí de. [Pinyin]

all-conquering; invincible wherever one goes


生搬硬套

ㄕㄥ ㄅㄢ ㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄠˋ

шэнбаньинтао

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/saːŋ⁵⁵ puːn⁵⁵ ŋaːŋ²² tʰou̯³³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/saːŋ⁵⁵ puːn⁵⁵ ŋaːŋ²² tʰou̯³³/


頌古非今

ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧㄣ

сунгуфэйцзинь

/sʊŋ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ²² kuː³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/sʊŋ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ²² kuː³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

但是這種尊重，是給歷史以一定的科學的地位，是尊重歷史的辯證法的發展，而不是頌古非今，不是讚揚任何封建的毒素。 [MSC, trad.]
但是这种尊重，是给历史以一定的科学的地位，是尊重历史的辩证法的发展，而不是颂古非今，不是赞扬任何封建的毒素。 [MSC, simp.]

However, respect for history means giving it its proper place as a science, respecting its dialectical development, and not eulogizing the past at the expense of the present or praising every drop of feudal poison.

Dànshì zhè zhǒng zūnzhòng, shì gěi lìshǐ yǐ yīdìng de kēxué de dìwèi, shì zūnzhòng lìshǐ de biànzhèngfǎ de fāzhǎn, ér bùshì sònggǔfēijīn, bùshì zànyáng rènhé fēngjiàn de dúsù. [Pinyin]

to eulogize the past and belittle the present


艱難險阻

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄗㄨˇ

цзяньнаньсяньцзу

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ hiːm³⁵ t͡sɔː³⁵/

/kaːn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ hiːm³⁵ t͡sɔː³⁵/


不大不小

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/


市井之徒

ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/siː¹³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/siː¹³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

(derogatory) vulgar and unscrupulous person in a city; hooligan


明爭暗鬥

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥ ㄢˋ ㄉㄡˋ

минчжэнъаньдоу

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ ɐm³³ tɐu̯³³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ am⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tɔ⁴¹/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ¹¹/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ ɐm³³ tɐu̯³³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ am⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tɔ⁴¹/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ¹¹/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ²¹/


有目共見

ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² kiːn³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² kiːn³³/

有目共睹 有目共睹#Chinese

Synonym of 有目共睹 (yǒumùgòngdǔ, “to be obvious to all”)


奴顏媚骨

ㄋㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄟˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/nu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(derogatory) bowing and scraping; sycophancy and obsequiousness


偃旗息鼓

to lower one's banners and muffle one's drums

ㄧㄢˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧ ㄍㄨˇ

ㄧㄢˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧˊ ㄍㄨˇ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪk̚⁵ kuː³⁵/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪk̚⁵ kuː³⁵/


單人獨馬

ㄉㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄇㄚˇ

даньжэньдума

/tän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tu³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tu³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


人命危淺

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄨㄟ ㄑㄧㄢˇ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄢˇ

жэньминвэйцянь

/ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be critically ill; to be close to death


單兵獨馬

ㄉㄢ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄉㄨˊ ㄇㄚˇ

/tän⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ tu³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tän⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ tu³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

一個要招收廣大的人馬，好把敵人包圍而消滅之。一個則依靠單兵獨馬，去同強大的敵人打硬仗。 [MSC, trad.]
一个要招收广大的人马，好把敌人包围而消灭之。一个则依靠单兵独马，去同强大的敌人打硬仗。 [MSC, simp.]

The former requires the recruiting of large forces for the purpose of surrounding and annihilating the enemy. The latter means fighting single-handed in desperate combat against a formidable enemy.

Yīgè yào zhāoshōu guǎngdà de rénmǎ, hǎo bǎ dírén bāowéi ér xiāomiè zhī. Yīgè zé yīkào dānbīngdúmǎ, qù tóng qiángdà de dírén dǎ yìngzhàng. [Pinyin]


匹馬單槍

ㄆㄧˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄢ ㄑㄧㄤ

ㄆㄧ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄢ ㄑㄧㄤ

/pʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰi⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰi⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/


威迫利誘

ㄨㄟ ㄆㄛˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧㄡˋ

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

威逼利誘 威逼利誘#Chinese

威逼利诱 威逼利诱#Chinese

Synonym of 威逼利誘／威逼利诱 (wēibīlìyòu, “to coerce and bribe”)


應天受命

ㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

интяньшоумин

/iŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/jɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² mɪŋ²²/

/iŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/jɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² mɪŋ²²/

to conform to the laws of Heaven and accept the Mandate of Heaven; to assume the throne


單槍匹馬

ㄉㄢ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄆㄧˇ ㄇㄚˇ

ㄉㄢ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄆㄧ ㄇㄚˇ

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pʰit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pʰit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/


觥籌交錯

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

гунчоуцзяоцо

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

From 醉翁亭記 [1046] by Ouyang Xiu:
:
射者中，弈者勝，觥籌交錯，起坐而喧嘩者，眾賓歡也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]射者中，弈者胜，觥筹交错，起坐而喧哗者，众宾欢也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Song dynasty, Ouyang Xiu, 《醉翁亭記》
Shè zhě zhōng, yì zhě shèng, gōngchóujiāocuò, qǐ zuò ér xuānhuá zhě, zhòng bīn huān yě. [Pinyin]
The shooters of dice hit their mark, and players of Chinese chess are victorious. Wine cups and game tallies cross back and forth, and people sit and stand in an uproar. The multitude of guests is happy.

射 者 中，弈 者 勝，觥籌交錯，起 坐 而 喧嘩 者，眾 賓 歡 也。

to have many people drinking alcohol together


觥籌交舉

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄩˇ

гунчоуцзяоцзюй

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɵy̯³⁵/

觥籌交錯 觥籌交錯#Chinese

觥筹交错 觥筹交错#Chinese

Synonym of 觥籌交錯／觥筹交错 (gōngchóujiāocuò, “to have many people drinking alcohol together”)


八面受敵

ㄅㄚ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵/


衝鋒陷陣

ㄔㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄣˋ

чунфэнсяньчжэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐm²² t͡sɐn²²/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ham²²⁻²¹ tin²²/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³ ham⁴¹⁻²² tin⁴¹/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ham²²⁻²¹ tin²²/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ham³³⁻¹¹ tin³³/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ham³³⁻²¹ tin³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐm²² t͡sɐn²²/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ham²²⁻²¹ tin²²/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³ ham⁴¹⁻²² tin⁴¹/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ham²²⁻²¹ tin²²/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ham³³⁻¹¹ tin³³/

/t͡sʰiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ham³³⁻²¹ tin³³/

魯迅是在文化戰線上，代表全民族的大多數，向著敵人衝鋒陷陣的最正確、最勇敢、最堅決、最忠實、最熱忱的空前的民族英雄。 [MSC, trad.]
鲁迅是在文化战线上，代表全民族的大多数，向着敌人冲锋陷阵的最正确、最勇敢、最坚决、最忠实、最热忱的空前的民族英雄。 [MSC, simp.]

Representing the great majority of the nation, Lu Xun breached and stormed the enemy citadel; on the cultural front he was the bravest and most correct, the firmest, the most loyal and the most ardent national hero, a hero without parallel in our history.

Lǔ Xùn shì zài wénhuà zhànxiàn shàng, dàibiǎo quán mínzú de dàduōshù, xiàngzhe dírén chōngfēngxiànzhèn de zuì zhèngquè, zuì yǒnggǎn, zuì jiānjué, zuì zhōngshí, zuì rèchén de kōngqián de mínzú yīngxióng. [Pinyin]

to charge and break enemy ranks; to fight valiantly


威逼利誘

ㄨㄟ ㄅㄧ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧㄡˋ

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ lei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ lei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

to coerce and bribe; to threaten and bribe


四面受敵

ㄙˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵/


八方受敵

ㄅㄚ ㄈㄤ ㄕㄡˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/pä⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵/


烽煙四起

ㄈㄥ ㄧㄢ ㄙˋ ㄑㄧˇ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hei̯³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hei̯³⁵/


殺人放火

ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³³ fɔː³⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³³ fɔː³⁵/

to commit violent crimes in a habitual manner, especially as gangsters or outlaws


杯觥交錯

ㄅㄟ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

бэйгунцзяоцо

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐŋ⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

to have many people drinking alcohol together at a feast


左顧右盼

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨˋ ㄧㄡˋ ㄆㄢˋ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ kuː³³ jɐu̯²² pʰaːn³³/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ kuː³³ jɐu̯²² pʰaːn³³/


為時不遠

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩㄢˇ

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyːn¹³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyːn¹³/

希特勒被消滅以後，打敗日本侵略者就為時不遠了。 [MSC, trad.]
希特勒被消灭以后，打败日本侵略者就为时不远了。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1945, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論聯合政府》 (On Coalition Government), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

After Hitler is wiped out, the defeat of the Japanese aggressors will not be far distant.

Xītèlè bèi xiāomiè yǐhòu, dǎbài Rìběn qīnlüèzhě jiù wéishíbùyuǎn le. [Pinyin]


歪打正著

ㄨㄞ ㄉㄚˇ ㄓㄥˋ ㄓㄠˊ

вайдачжэнчжао

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡sœːk̚²/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡sœːk̚²/

to have used the wrong method or have had no intention of doing something but arrive at the correct result nevertheless


談虎色變

ㄊㄢˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

таньхусэбянь

/tʰän³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ fuː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ piːn³³/

/tʰän³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ fuː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ piːn³³/

to become scared when a particular thing is mentioned


手足無措

ㄕㄡˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨˊ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ u³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰou̯³³/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ u³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰou̯³³/

From the Analects, Book 13 (《論語·子路》):
:
名不正，則言不順；言不順，則事不成；事不成，則禮樂不興；禮樂不興，則刑罰不中；刑罰不中，則民無所措手足。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]名不正，则言不顺；言不顺，则事不成；事不成，则礼乐不兴；礼乐不兴，则刑罚不中；刑罚不中，则民无所措手足。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Míng bù zhèng, zé yán bù shùn; yán bù shùn, zé shì bù chéng; shì bù chéng, zé lǐyuè bù xīng; lǐyuè bù xīng, zé xíngfá bù zhòng; xíngfá bù zhòng, zé mín wú suǒ cuò shǒuzú. [Pinyin]
If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success. When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music will not flourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot.

名 不.正，則 言 不 順；言 不 順，則 事 不.成；事 不.成，則 禮樂 不 興{xīng}；禮樂 不 興{xīng}，則 刑罰 不 中{zhòng}；刑罰 不 中{zhòng}，則 民 @無 所 @措 @手足。

to have no way to move the hands or feet


專心致志

ㄓㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓˋ ㄓˋ

чжуаньсиньчжичжи

čžuanʹsinʹčžičži

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ t͡siː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ t͡siː³³/

From Mencius (《孟子·告子上》):
:
今夫弈之為數，小數也；不專心致志，則不得也。弈秋，通國之善弈者也。使弈秋誨二人弈，其一人專心致志，惟弈秋之為聽。一人雖聽之，一心以為有鴻鵠將至，思援弓繳而射之，雖與之俱學，弗若之矣。為是其智弗若與？曰：「非然也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]今夫弈之为数，小数也；不专心致志，则不得也。弈秋，通国之善弈者也。使弈秋诲二人弈，其一人专心致志，惟弈秋之为听。一人虽听之，一心以为有鸿鹄将至，思援弓缴而射之，虽与之俱学，弗若之矣。为是其智弗若与？曰：「非然也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jīnfú yì zhī wéi shù, xiǎo shù yě; bù zhuānxīn zhìzhì, zé bùdé yě. Yìqiū, tōngguó zhī shàn yì zhě yě. Shǐ Yìqiū huì èrrén yì, qí yīrén zhuānxīn zhìzhì, wéi Yìqiū zhī wéi tīng. Yīrén suī tīng zhī, yīxīn yǐwèi yǒu hónghú jiāng zhì, sī yuán gōngzhuó ér shè zhī, suī yǔ zhī jù xué, fú ruò zhī yǐ. Wéishì qí zhì fú ruò yú? Yuē: “Fēi rán yě.” [Pinyin]
Now chess-playing is but a small art, but without his whole mind being given, and his will bent to it, a man cannot succeed at it. Yi Qiu is the best chess-player in all the kingdom. Suppose he is teaching two men to play. The one gives to the subject his whole mind and bends to it all his will, doing nothing but listening to Yi Qiu. Another one, although he seems to be listening to him, has his whole mind running on a swan which he thinks is approaching, and wishes to bend his bow, adjust the string to the arrow, and shoot it. Although he is learning along with another one, he does not come up to him. Why? Because he isn't as intelligent as another one? Not so.

今夫{fú} 弈 之 為{wéi} 數，小 數 也；不 專心.致志，則 不得 也。@^弈秋，通國 之 善 弈 者 也。使 @^弈秋 誨 二人 弈，其 一人 專心.致志，惟 @^弈秋 之 為{wéi} 聽。一人 雖 聽 之，一心 以為 有 鴻鵠 將 至，思 援 弓繳{zhuó} 而 射 之，雖 與 之 俱 學，弗 若 之 矣。為{wéi}是 其 智 弗 若 與{yú}？曰：「非 然 也。」

to be wholly focused; with single-hearted devotion


客似雲來

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˋ ㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄞˊ

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ yn³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/haːk̚³ t͡sʰiː¹³ wɐn²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ yn³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/haːk̚³ t͡sʰiː¹³ wɐn²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

to have a lot of customers coming to a shop or business


難以言喻

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄩˋ

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ y⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ jiːn²¹ jyː²²/

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ y⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ jiːn²¹ jyː²²/

to be difficult to be described by words


竭澤而漁

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄦˊ ㄩˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y³⁵/

/kʰiːt̚³ t͡saːk̚² jiː²¹ jyː²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y³⁵/

/kʰiːt̚³ t͡saːk̚² jiː²¹ jyː²¹/

kill the goose that lays the golden egg
kill the goose that lays the golden egg

to kill the goose that lays the golden egg; to extract everything available at the moment at the sacrifice of long-term benefits


惡貫滿盈

ㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄢˇ ㄧㄥˊ

эгуаньманьин

/ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ³⁵/

/ɔːk̚³ kuːn³³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/

/ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ³⁵/

/ɔːk̚³ kuːn³³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/

to have committed a great number of crimes or sins


異想天開

ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄎㄞ

/i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː²² sœːŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² kʰui⁴⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻²² siɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰĩ³³ kʰui³³/

/i²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² kʰui⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰui⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰui⁴⁴/

/i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː²² sœːŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² kʰui⁴⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻²² siɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰĩ³³ kʰui³³/

/i²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² kʰui⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰui⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰui⁴⁴/


含英咀華

ㄏㄢˊ ㄧㄥ ㄐㄩˇ ㄏㄨㄚˊ

ханьинцзюйхуа

/xän³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ jɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ waː²¹/

/xän³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ jɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ waː²¹/

From 9th century, Han Yu (韓愈), 《進學解》:
沉浸醲郁，含英咀華。作爲文章，其書滿家。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]沉浸𬪩郁，含英咀华。作为文章，其书满家。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 813, Han Yu, "On Encouraging Scholarship" (《進學解》)
Chén jìn nóng yù, hányīngjǔhuá. Zuò wèi wénzhāng, qí shū mǎn jiā. [Pinyin]
You immerse yourself in the richness of literature, and you chew in your mouth the flowering passages. In your literary creations, there is an abundance of essential merits found in all the great masters before you.

沉 浸 醲 郁，含英咀華。作 爲 文章，其 書 滿 家。

(figurative) to savour the merits of a literary work; to appreciate the subtleties in a literary work by rumination


明日黃花

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄖˋ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚ

минжихуанхуа

/miŋ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚² wɔːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴⁻³² hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴/

/miŋ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚² wɔːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴⁻³² hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴/

an object or person that is past their prime; what is obsolete


寢食不安

ㄑㄧㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

циньшибу’ань

/t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/


擁兵自重

ㄩㄥ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

ㄩㄥˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

юнбинцзычжун

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊŋ³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʊŋ²²/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊŋ³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʊŋ²²/

to control a sizable army and defy orders from higher or central authorities


寢食難安

ㄑㄧㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄢ

циньшинаньань

/t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/


暮四朝三

ㄇㄨˋ ㄙˋ ㄓㄠ ㄙㄢ

мусычжаосань

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵/

朝三暮四 朝三暮四#Chinese


暮楚朝秦

ㄇㄨˋ ㄔㄨˇ ㄓㄠ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

мучучжаоцинь

/mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

朝秦暮楚 朝秦暮楚#Chinese


佔為己有

ㄓㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ

чжаньвэйцзию

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

他把財產完全佔為己有 [MSC, trad.]
他把财产完全占为己有 [MSC, simp.]

tā bǎ cáichǎn wánquán zhànwèijǐyǒu [Pinyin]

to appropriate to oneself; to take something which is not yours


朝四暮三

ㄓㄠ ㄙˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄢ

чжаосымусань

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵/

朝三暮四 朝三暮四#Chinese


桑榆晚景

ㄙㄤ ㄩˊ ㄨㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ

санъюйваньцзин

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ maːn¹³ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ maːn¹³ kɪŋ³⁵/


桑榆暮景

ㄙㄤ ㄩˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ

санъюймуцзин

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ mou̯²² kɪŋ³⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ mou̯²² kɪŋ³⁵/


力有未逮

ㄌㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ

/li⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²² tɐi̯²²/

/li⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²² tɐi̯²²/


喜氣洋洋

ㄒㄧˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/


人貴自知

ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄗˋ ㄓ

жэнь гуй цзычжи

/ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/


永無寧日

ㄩㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄖˋ

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ niŋ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɪŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ nɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɪŋ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ niŋ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɪŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ nɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɪŋ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

to never have a peaceful day; to always be in turmoil or disorder


指點江山

ㄓˇ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ

чжидяньцзяншань

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ tiːm³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ tiːm³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/


止戈為武

ㄓˇ ㄍㄜ ㄨㄟˊ ㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ kʷɔː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ mou̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ kʷɔː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ mou̯¹³/

From the analysis of the character 武 as being composed of 止 (“to stop”) and 戈 (“war”) in Zuozhuan:
:
潘黨曰：「君盍築武軍，而收晉尸以為京觀，臣聞克敵，必示子孫，以無忘武功。」楚子曰：「非爾所知也，夫文，止戈為武。武王克商，作頌曰：『載戢干戈，載櫜弓矢，我求懿德，肆于時夏，允王保之。』」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]潘党曰：「君盍筑武军，而收晋尸以为京观，臣闻克敌，必示子孙，以无忘武功。」楚子曰：「非尔所知也，夫文，止戈为武。武王克商，作颂曰：『载戢干戈，载櫜弓矢，我求懿德，肆于时夏，允王保之。』」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Pān Dǎng yuē: “Jūn hé zhù wǔjūn, ér shōu Jìn shī yǐwèi jīngguān, chén wén kè dí, bì shì zǐsūn, yǐ wú wàng wǔgōng.” Chǔ zǐ yuē: “Fēi ěr suǒ zhī yě, fú wén, zhǐgēwéiwǔ. Wǔwáng kè Shāng, zuò sòng yuē: ‘Zǎi jí gāngē, zǎi gāo gōngshǐ, wǒ qiú yìdé, sì yú shí xià, yǔn wáng bǎo zhī.’” [Pinyin]
Pan Dang said to him, 'Why should your lordship not signalize your triumph by making a mound, and collect in it the bodies of the Jinites so as to form a grand monument? I have heard that successful battles should be shown to posterity, so that the prowess of them may not be forgotten." The viscount said, "You do not know what you are talking about. The character for 'prowess' is formed by those for 'to stay' and 'a spear'. When king Wu had subdued Shang, he made the ode, which says, 'He has called in shields and spears; He has returned to their cases bows and arrows. I will seek true virtue, and display it throughout the great land, that as king I may indeed preserve our appointment.'"

^潘 ^黨 曰：「君 盍 築 武軍，而 收 ^晉 尸 以為 京觀，臣 聞 克 敵，必 示 子孫，以 無 忘 武功。」^楚 子 曰：「非 爾 所 知 也，夫{fú} 文，止戈為{wéi}武。^武王 克 ^商，作 頌 曰：『載 戢 干戈，載 櫜{gāo} 弓矢，我 求 懿德，肆 于 時 夏，允 王 保 之。』」

to end a war is the true military accomplishment


汰舊換新

ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

тайцзюхуаньсинь

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʰaːi̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/tʰaːi̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

to eliminate the old and replace them with the new


休戚與共

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄑㄧ ㄩˇ ㄍㄨㄥˋ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ jyː¹³ kʊŋ²²/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ jyː¹³ kʊŋ²²/

to be closely connected and share joys and sorrows


歧路亡羊

ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄨㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ lu⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ lou̯²² mɔːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ lu⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ lou̯²² mɔːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

to become lost in a complex situation; to go astray


興師動眾

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄕ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

синшидунчжун

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² t͡sʊŋ³³/

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² t͡sʊŋ³³/


過街老鼠

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄨˇ

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔː³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ syː³⁵/

/kʷɔː³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ syː³⁵/

From 過街老鼠——人人喊打／过街老鼠——人人喊打 (guòjiē lǎoshǔ, rénrén hǎn dǎ).


遠走高飛

to run far away like a beast and fly high like a bird

ㄩㄢˇ ㄗㄡˇ ㄍㄠ ㄈㄟ

юаньцзоугаофэй

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/uan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/uan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

1989, Cui Jian (lyrics and music), “假行僧 [Fake Monk]”, in 新長征路上的搖滾 [Rock 'n' Roll on the New Long March], performed by Cui Jian:
要愛上我你就別怕後悔 總有一天我要遠走高飛 我不想留在一個地方 也不願有人跟隨 [MSC, trad.]
要爱上我你就别怕后悔 总有一天我要远走高飞 我不想留在一个地方 也不愿有人跟随 [MSC, simp.]

Don't be afraid of being regretful if you fall in love with me / I'll leave here for very faraway places one fine day / I'm unwilling to stay at one place / I'm unwilling to be followed by anyone too

Yào àishàng wǒ nǐ jiù biépà hòuhuǐ, Zǒng yǒu yītiān wǒ yào yuǎnzǒugāofēi, Wǒ bùxiǎng liú zài yīge dìfang, Yě bùyuàn yǒurén gēnsuí [Pinyin]

2011, Chan Ya-wen (lyrics and music), “欠情歌”, in 山伯英台, performed by Chan Ya-wen:
遠走高飛趕向前途 委屈要躲躲無路 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
远走高飞赶向前途 委屈要躲躲无路 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]
[I] leave for a very faraway place, rushing towards prospects; [I] feel aggrieved, want to hide, but there's no way to hide

oán-cháu-ko-hui kóaⁿ hiòng chiân-tô͘, úi-khut beh bih bih bô-lō͘ [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

to leave somewhere for a very faraway place (in order to escape)


環環相扣

ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄎㄡˋ

хуаньхуаньсянкоу

/xu̯än³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/waːn²¹ waːn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

/xu̯än³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/waːn²¹ waːn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

(of many things) to be closely connected


舞文弄墨

to dance around with words and play with ink

ㄨˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄇㄛˋ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/mou̯¹³ mɐn²¹ lʊŋ²² mɐk̚²/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/mou̯¹³ mɐn²¹ lʊŋ²² mɐk̚²/

to show off one's literary skills; to be playful with language and words (in writing); to juggle with words


另眼相看

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄎㄢˋ

линъяньсянкань

/liŋ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²² ŋaːn¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵/

/lɪŋ²² ŋaːn¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn³³/

/liŋ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²² ŋaːn¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵/

/lɪŋ²² ŋaːn¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn³³/

see someone in a new light
see someone in a new light

to see someone in a new light; to view someone differently


本末顛倒

ㄅㄣˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ

бэньмодяньдао

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

putting the cart before the horse
put the cart before the horse


靜觀其變

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

цзингуаньцибянь

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ²² kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ piːn³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ²² kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ piːn³³/

see which way the cat jumps
see which way the cat jumps

wait and see; see which way the cat jumps; to delay taking action based on the outcome of something else.


風雲變幻

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄣˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

фэнъюньбяньхуань

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ piːn³³ waːn²²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ piːn³³ waːn²²/

changeable situation; volatile situation


暴露無遺

ㄆㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ

/pʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/pou̯²² lou̯²² mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/pʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/pou̯²² lou̯²² mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

to be completely exposed; to come out into the open


議論紛紛

ㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄈㄣ ㄈㄣ

илуньфэньфэнь

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²² fɐn⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²² fɐn⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/


蹉跎歲月

ㄘㄨㄛ ㄊㄨㄛˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ tʰɔː²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ tʰɔː²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/

to idle away one's time; to waste one's time; to allow time to slip away


大起大落

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ taːi̯²² lɔːk̚²/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ taːi̯²² lɔːk̚²/

to go through the ups and downs of rapid change


搓手頓腳

to wring one's hands and stamp one's feet

ㄘㄨㄛ ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

цошоудуньцзяо

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ tɵn²² kœːk̚³/

/t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ tɵn²² kœːk̚³/


摧枯拉朽

crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood

ㄘㄨㄟ ㄎㄨ ㄌㄚ ㄒㄧㄡˇ

/t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ nɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ nɐu̯³⁵/


一言蔽之

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/


馬不停蹄

ㄇㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧˊ

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² te²⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tʰiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² te²⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ tʰiɪŋ¹³⁻²² te¹³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ te²⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiɪŋ²³⁻³³ te²³/

/be⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰeŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ toi⁵⁵/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² te²⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tʰiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² te²⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ tʰiɪŋ¹³⁻²² te¹³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ te²⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiɪŋ²³⁻³³ te²³/

/be⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰeŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ toi⁵⁵/


風雲人物

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˋ

фэнъюньжэньу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ u⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ mɐt̚²⁻³⁵/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ but̚⁴/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ u⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ mɐt̚²⁻³⁵/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ but̚⁴/

heroic figure; famed personage; man of the hour


敲詐勒索

ㄑㄧㄠ ㄓㄚˋ ㄌㄜˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to blackmail and impose exactions on; to extort and racketeer


砥礪名節

ㄉㄧˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/


男盜女娼

ㄋㄢˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄋㄩˇ ㄔㄤ

наньдаонюйчан

/nän³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ tou̯²² nɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/

/nän³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ tou̯²² nɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/


風生水起

ㄈㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄑㄧˇ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ hei̯³⁵/


起死回生

ㄑㄧˇ ㄙˇ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ sei̯³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ sei̯³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

相公一片热肠救你，那指望报答？但愿你此去，改行从善，莫负相公起死回生之德！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: 1627, Feng Menglong, 醒世恆言 (Stories to Awaken the World)
Xiànggōng yīpiàn rècháng jiù nǐ, nǎ zhǐwàng bàodá? Dànyuàn nǐ cǐ qù, gǎixíng cóngshàn, mò fù xiànggōng qǐsǐhuíshēng zhī dé! [Pinyin]

相公一片熱腸救你，那指望報答？但願你此去，改行從善，莫負相公起死回生之德！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

(chiefly of a medical doctor) to bring the dying back to life; to turn around a hopeless situation


以眼還眼

ㄧˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄧㄢˇ

ияньхуаньянь

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ ŋaːn¹³ waːn²¹ ŋaːn¹³/

/jiː¹³ ŋaːn¹³ waːn²¹ ŋaːn¹³/

From the Chinese translation of the biblical phrase "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" (以眼還眼，以牙還牙／以眼还眼，以牙还牙 (yǐyǎnhuányǎn, yǐyáhuányá)).


招搖過市

ㄓㄠ ㄧㄠˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ kʷɔː³³ siː¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ kʷɔː³³ siː¹³/

居衛月餘，靈公與夫人同車，宦者雍渠參乘。出，使孔子為次乘，招搖市過之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]居卫月余，灵公与夫人同车，宦者雍渠参乘。出，使孔子为次乘，招摇市过之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Jū Wèi yuè yú, Línggōng yǔ fūrén tóngchē, huànzhě Yōngqú cānshèng. Chū, shǐ Kǒngzǐ wéi cìshèng, zhāoyáo shì guò zhī. [Pinyin]
One day, not long after the first month of Confucius's stay in Wey, Duke Ling and the Lady went out with the eunuch Yongqu joining them in their personal carriage. They ordered Confucius to follow them in another carriage as entourage, and paraded through the busy market streets.

zh-x

居 ^衛 月 餘，^靈-公 與 夫人 同-車，宦者 ^雍-渠 參-乘{shèng}。出，使 ^孔子 為{wéi} 次-乘{shèng}，招搖 市 過 之。

to act ostentatiously in public; to flaunt one's scandals


貫徹始終

ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄔㄜˋ ㄕˇ ㄓㄨㄥ

гуаньчэшичжун

/ku̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kuːn³³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kon⁵⁵ t͡sʰat̚⁵ sɨ³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴/

/kuan²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kuan⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siɔŋ³³/

/kuan²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kuan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kuan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ku̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kuːn³³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kon⁵⁵ t͡sʰat̚⁵ sɨ³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴/

/kuan²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kuan²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kuan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kuan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

to follow through; to carry through to the end


痴心妄想

ㄔ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

чисиньвансян

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ³⁵/

to obsessively fantasize about something that cannot come true


裨補闕漏

ㄅㄧˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄑㄩㄝ ㄌㄡˋ

/pi⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ kʰyːt̚³ lɐu̯²²/

/pi⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ kʰyːt̚³ lɐu̯²²/


宋襄之仁

ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓ ㄖㄣˊ

сунсянчжижэнь

/sʊŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sʊŋ³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/sʊŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sʊŋ³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

From the story of the Battle of Hongshui between the state of Song and Chu in 638 BCE, in which Duke Xiang of Song, in order to display his benevolence, waited for the Chu army to fully cross the river and rearrange itself into a battle formation before attacking it, leading to the thorough defeat of the Song army.

the ridiculous act of showing benevolence towards one's enemy

Chu (state)
Duke Xiang of Song
Song (state)


尸祿素餐

ㄕ ㄌㄨˋ ㄙㄨˋ ㄘㄢ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ lʊk̚² sou̯³³ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ lʊk̚² sou̯³³ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵/

尸位素餐 尸位素餐#Chinese

(derogatory or humble) Synonym of 尸位素餐 (shīwèisùcān)


尸利素餐

ㄕ ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄨˋ ㄘㄢ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ lei̯²² sou̯³³ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ lei̯²² sou̯³³ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵/

尸位素餐 尸位素餐#Chinese


悻悻而去

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄦˇ ㄑㄩˋ

синсинъэрцюй

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² hɐŋ²² jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² hɐŋ²² jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/


返魂乏術

ㄈㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄚˊ ㄕㄨˋ

фаньхуньфашу

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən³⁵ fä³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ wɐn²¹ fɐt̚² sɵt̚²/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən³⁵ fä³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ wɐn²¹ fɐt̚² sɵt̚²/


故態復萌

ㄍㄨˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄥˊ

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/kuː³³ tʰaːi̯³³ fʊk̚² mɐŋ²¹/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/kuː³³ tʰaːi̯³³ fʊk̚² mɐŋ²¹/

to return to one's old bad habits; to relapse into a former undesirable state


絕子絕孫

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄗˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄨㄣ

цзюэцзыцзюэсунь

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/

你故意淹死了兩千二百個小工，每一個小工的性命你扣三百塊錢！姓周的，你發的是絕子絕孫的昧心財！你現在還—— [MSC, trad.]
你故意淹死了两千二百个小工，每一个小工的性命你扣三百块钱！姓周的，你发的是绝子绝孙的昧心财！你现在还—— [MSC, simp.]
Nǐ gùyì yānsǐ le liǎng qiān èr bǎi ge xiǎogōng, měi yīge xiǎogōng de xìngmìng nǐ kòu sān bǎi kuài qián! Xìng Zhōu de, nǐ fā de shì juézǐjuésūn de mèixīncái! Nǐ xiànzài hái — [Pinyin]

(often as a curse) to have no descendants


紅杏出牆

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/xʊŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ hɐŋ²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ hɐŋ²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

(of a wife) to have an affair; to cheat on her husband


爐火純青

ㄌㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥ

/lu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fɔː³⁵ sɵn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/lu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fɔː³⁵ sɵn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

to have reached high perfection or complete mastery


拋妻棄子

ㄆㄠ ㄑㄧ ㄑㄧˋ ㄗˇ

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/


重整旗鼓

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄥˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄍㄨˇ

чунчжэн цигу

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵/

/teŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sĩã⁵²⁻³⁵ ki⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kou⁵²/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kuː³⁵/

/teŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sĩã⁵²⁻³⁵ ki⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kou⁵²/

to rally one's forces (after a defeat); to begin all over again


懲一儆百

ㄔㄥˊ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄞˇ

чэнъи цзинбай

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/tʰeŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² keŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ peʔ²/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/tʰeŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² keŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ peʔ²/


厚古薄今

ㄏㄡˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄅㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄣ

хоугубоцзинь

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯¹³ kuː³⁵ pɔːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯¹³ kuː³⁵ pɔːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵/

to set great store by the past but look down on the present


謙沖自牧

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄇㄨˋ

цяньчунцзыму

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/hiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/hiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mʊk̚²/

using humility in practicing self-cultivation


慎始敬終

ㄕㄣˋ ㄕˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ

шэньшицзинчжун

/ʂən⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂən⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

to be cautious and careful from beginning to end


喪權辱國

ㄙㄤˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄖㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

ㄙㄤˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

санцюаньжуго

/sɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɔːŋ³³ kʰyːn²¹ jʊk̚² kʷɔːk̚³/

/sɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɔːŋ³³ kʰyːn²¹ jʊk̚² kʷɔːk̚³/

to cause the country to lose its sovereignty and be humiliated


四鄰八舍

ㄙˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄚ ㄕㄜˋ

/sz̩⁵¹ lin³⁵ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ lɵn²¹ paːt̚³ sɛː³³/

/si⁴⁵ lin¹³ pa̠²⁴ ʂɤ̞⁴⁵/

/ɕi⁴⁵ lin¹³ pa̠²⁴ sɤ̞⁴⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹ lin³⁵ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ lɵn²¹ paːt̚³ sɛː³³/

/si⁴⁵ lin¹³ pa̠²⁴ ʂɤ̞⁴⁵/

/ɕi⁴⁵ lin¹³ pa̠²⁴ sɤ̞⁴⁵/

all the neighbors; the neighbors all around


生靈塗炭

ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄊㄢˋ

шэнлинтутань

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ tʰaːn³³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ tʰaːn³³/

the people are living in extreme suffering and misery


和衷共濟

ㄏㄜˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

хэчжунгунцзи

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

同志們！在今天的大會上，我還要代表黨中央和國務院，號召全黨全軍全國各族人民，和衷共濟，團結一致，立即行動起來，在各自的崗位上為制止動亂和穩定局勢做出貢獻。 [MSC, trad.]
同志们！在今天的大会上，我还要代表党中央和国务院，号召全党全军全国各族人民，和衷共济，团结一致，立即行动起来，在各自的岗位上为制止动乱和稳定局势做出贡献。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1989 May 19, 李鹏 (Li Peng), 在首都党政军干部大会上李鹏同志的讲话 [Speech by Comrade Li Peng at the Conference of Party, Government and Military Cadres in the Capital], on 中华人民共和国国务院公报 1989年第9号

Comrades! At today's conference, I also want to represent the Party Central Committee and the State Council to call on the whole Party, the whole Army and the people of all ethnic groups in the whole country to work together to overcome the difficulties, unite and act immediately, and contribute to stopping the turmoil and stabilizing the situation in their respective positions.

Tóngzhì men! Zài jīntiān de dàhuì shàng, wǒ hái yào dàibiǎo dǎngzhōngyāng hé Guówùyuàn, hàozhào quándǎng quánjūn quánguó gè zú rénmín, hézhōnggòngjì, tuánjié yīzhì, lìjí xíngdòng qǐlái, zài gèzì de gǎngwèi shàng wèi zhìzhǐ dòngluàn hé wěndìng júshì zuòchū gòngxiàn. [Pinyin]

to work together to overcome difficulties


看風使舵

ㄎㄢˋ ㄈㄥ ㄕˇ ㄉㄨㄛˋ

/kʰän⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɔːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

/kʰän⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɔːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

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


見風轉舵

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄉㄨㄛˋ

цзяньфэнчжуаньдо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn³³ tʰɔː²¹/

/t͡ɕiɛn³⁵ fuŋ⁴² t͡sɵn²¹³⁻²⁴ tʰo¹¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn³³ tʰɔː²¹/

/t͡ɕiɛn³⁵ fuŋ⁴² t͡sɵn²¹³⁻²⁴ tʰo¹¹/

to bend with the wind; to change one's position, attitude, behaviour, etc. depending on the situation


橫行霸道

ㄏㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ pä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ hɐŋ²¹ paː³³ tou̯²²/

/ɦuɑ̃²² ɦin⁵⁵ po³³ dɔ²¹/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ pä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ hɐŋ²¹ paː³³ tou̯²²/

/ɦuɑ̃²² ɦin⁵⁵ po³³ dɔ²¹/

to act in a fierce, domineering and unreasonable way


胡作非為

ㄏㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄟ ㄨㄟˊ

/xu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/wuː²¹ t͡sɔːk̚³ fei̯⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/hɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hui⁴⁴⁻³³ ui²⁴/

/hɔ²³⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hui⁴⁴⁻³³ ui²³/

/hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sak̚² hui³³⁻²³ ui⁵⁵/

/xu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/wuː²¹ t͡sɔːk̚³ fei̯⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/hɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hui⁴⁴⁻³³ ui²⁴/

/hɔ²³⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hui⁴⁴⁻³³ ui²³/

/hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sak̚² hui³³⁻²³ ui⁵⁵/

你我既然要成全這個女孩兒，豈有由他胡作非為、身入空門之理？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
你我既然要成全这个女孩儿，岂有由他胡作非为、身入空门之理？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: Wenkang, Ernü Yingxiongzhuan, 1878 CE

Nǐwǒ jìrán yào chéngquán zhège nǚhái'ér, qǐ yǒu yóu tā húzuòfēiwèi, shēn rù kōngmén zhī lǐ? [Pinyin]

委的沒有賭博，小的是經過老爺教訓過的，再不敢胡作非為。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
委的没有赌博，小的是经过老爷教训过的，再不敢胡作非为。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《歧路燈》第六五回

Wěide méiyǒu dǔbó, xiǎode shì jīngguò lǎoyé jiàoxùn guò de, zài bùgǎn húzuòfēiwèi. [Pinyin]

to disregard rules and do evil as one pleases; to act wildly in defiance or public opinion or the law


同生共死

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄙˇ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² sei̯³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² sei̯³⁵/


天作之合

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓ ㄏㄜˊ

тяньцзочжихэ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐp̚²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² hap̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn³³ t͡sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ hap̚²⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² hap̚¹²¹/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ hap̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ hap̚⁴/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐp̚²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² hap̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn³³ t͡sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ hap̚²⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ hap̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ hap̚⁴/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 236 (《詩經·大雅·大明》):
:
天監在下，有命既集。
文王初載，天作之合。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]天监在下，有命既集。
文王初载，天作之合。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Tiān jiān zàixià, yǒu mìng jì jí.
Wénwáng chū zǎi, tiān zuò zhī hé. [Pinyin]
Heaven surveyed this lower world; And its appointment lighted [on king Wen].
In his early years, It made for him a mate.

lang

(《詩經·大雅·大明》)

(《詩經·大雅·大明》)

zh-x

天 監 在下，有 命 既 集。
^文王 初 載，天.作.之.合。

Heaven surveyed this lower world; And its appointment lighted 􂀿on king Wen􂁀.
In his early years, It made for him a mate.

heaven-made match; a match made in heaven


辯才無礙

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄨˊ ㄞˋ

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

(figurative) extremely eloquent; unobstructed eloquence


十年八載

ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄚ ㄗㄞˇ

шиняньбацзай

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² niːn²¹ paːt̚³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² niːn²¹ paːt̚³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵/

(chiefly Cantonese) about ten years; many years


缺一不可

ㄑㄩㄝ ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ 不ke²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ 不ke²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

not a single one is dispensable; none can be absent


切中肯綮

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄣˇ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

цечжункэньцин

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ kʰən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

From a fable in 《莊子·養生主》. See 庖丁解牛 (páodīngjiěniú).
The modern term, which literally means "to exactly cut where muscles and bones attach", is completely opposite to the original fable's theme.


蛇鼠一窩

ㄕㄜˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄧ ㄨㄛ

/ʂɤ³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɔ⁵⁵/

/sɛː²¹ syː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ wɔː⁵⁵/

/ʂɤ³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɔ⁵⁵/

/sɛː²¹ syː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ wɔː⁵⁵/

(of bad people) to be working together; to be acting in collusion with one another


插科打諢

(of anactor of traditional Chinese opera) to make people laugh through actions and jokes (during a performance)

ㄔㄚ ㄎㄜ ㄉㄚˇ ㄏㄨㄣˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ fɔː⁵⁵ taː³⁵ wɐn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ fɔː⁵⁵ taː³⁵ wɐn²²/

左冷禪籌劃這一場五嶽並派，原擬辦得莊嚴隆重，好教天下英雄齊生敬畏之心，不料斜刺里鑽了這六個憊懶家伙出來，插科打諢，將一個盛大的典禮搞得好似一場兒戲 [MSC, trad.]
左冷禅筹划这一场五岳并派，原拟办得庄严隆重，好教天下英雄齐生敬畏之心，不料斜刺里钻了这六个惫懒家伙出来，插科打诨，将一个盛大的典礼搞得好似一场儿戏 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1969 October 12, Jin Yong, The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, chapter 32

Zuo Lengchan originally designed this ceremony for a combination of the Five Mountain Sword Sects as a solemn and grand one which could make all the warriors in China revere it. Six naughty guys who suddenly appeared, however, made a ceremony which should be grand look like a trivial one by jesting and teasing […]

Zuǒ Lěngchán chóuhuà zhè yīchǎng wǔyuè bìngpài, yuán nǐ bànde zhuāngyán lóngzhòng, hǎo jiào tiānxià yīngxióng qí shēng jìngwèi zhī xīn, bùliào xiécìlǐ zuànle zhè liùgè bèilǎn jiāhuo chūlái, chākēdǎhùn, jiāng yīgè shèngdà de diǎnlǐ gǎode hǎosì yīchǎng érxì [Pinyin]

to jest; to joke; to tell a joke; to crack a joke; to wisecrack


瑰意琦行

ㄍㄨㄟ ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/


徒勞無功

ㄊㄨˊ ㄌㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

/tʰu³⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯²¹ lou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰu³⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯²¹ lou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to make a futile effort; to work fruitlessly


龍陽之好

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄓ ㄏㄠˋ

лунъянчжихао

/lʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ hou̯³³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ hou̯³³/


龍陽之癖

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄓ ㄆㄧˇ

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄓ ㄆㄧˋ

/lʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/

/lʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/


滿天神佛

ㄇㄢˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄣˊ ㄈㄛˊ

маньтяньшэньфо

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/muːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɐt̚²/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/muːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɐt̚²/

there are multitudinous deities or celestial beings


履舄交錯

ㄌㄩˇ ㄒㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

люйси цзяоцо

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/lei̯¹³ sɪk̚⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/lei̯¹³ sɪk̚⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/


監守自盜

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄕㄡˇ ㄗˋ ㄉㄠˋ

цзяньшоуцзыдао

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kaːm⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²² tou̯²²/

/kaːm⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²² tou̯²²/

to steal money or property one guards; to embezzle


身首異處

to have the head and body in different places

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧˋ ㄔㄨˋ

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰyː³³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰyː³³/


溜鬚拍馬

ㄌㄧㄡ ㄒㄩ ㄆㄞ ㄇㄚˇ

/li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐu̯²² sou̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ maː¹³/

/li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐu̯²² sou̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ maː¹³/

(chiefly Mandarin, colloquial) to brownnose; to kiss someone's ass; to suck up


四世同堂

ㄙˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄤˊ

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ²¹/


噤若寒蟬

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄔㄢˊ

цзиньжоханьчань

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ xän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/kɐm³³ jœːk̚² hɔːn²¹ siːm²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ xän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/kɐm³³ jœːk̚² hɔːn²¹ siːm²¹/

Cicadas sing in summer and autumn than die soon. The ancients did not realize this and thought cicadas could not make a sound when it was cold, so they use it to describe not dare to speak out. From the Book of the Later Han:
:
劉勝位為大夫，見禮上賓，而知善不薦，聞惡無言，隱情惜己，自同寒蟬，此罪人也。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]刘胜位为大夫，见礼上宾，而知善不荐，闻恶无言，隐情惜己，自同寒蝉，此罪人也。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5ᵗʰ century CE
Liú Shèng wèi wèi dàfū, jiàn lǐ shàngbīn, ér zhī shàn bù jiàn, wén è wúyán, yǐnqíng xī jǐ, zì tóng hánchán, cǐ zuìrén yě. [Pinyin]
As a scholar-official, Liu Sheng was treated like a distinguished guest, but he couldn't recommend virtuous person, refused to refute evil words, pretended to be deaf and mute, cherished his reputation, and kept silent, he's a sinner.

劉 ^勝 位 為 大夫，見 禮 上賓，而 知 善 不 薦，聞 惡 無言，隱情 惜 己，自 同 寒蟬，此 罪人 也。

自從被上司數落之後，他便噤若寒蟬，再也不敢發表意見了。 [MSC, trad.]
自从被上司数落之后，他便噤若寒蝉，再也不敢发表意见了。 [MSC, simp.]

Ever since he was scolded by his boss, he had become silent and never dared to express his opinions again.

Zìcóng bèi shàngsī shǔluò zhī hòu, tā biàn jìnruòhánchán, zài yě bùgǎn fābiǎo yìjiàn le. [Pinyin]

to remain silent out of fear; to refrain unwillingly from speaking out


駕輕就熟

to drive a light carriage on a familiar route

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄨˊ

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

цзяцинцзюшоу

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵/

/kaː³³ hɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² sʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵/

/kaː³³ hɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² sʊk̚²/

to perform a task with which one is very familiar with great ease; (to deem a task) a piece of cake; (to go for) a hay ride


一潭死水

ㄧ ㄊㄢˊ ㄙˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰän³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰaːm²¹ sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰaːm²¹ sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/


死氣沉沉

ㄙˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄔㄣˊ

сыцичэньчэнь

sycičɛnʹčɛnʹ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ hei̯³³ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ hei̯³³ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/

lifeless; spiritless; lacking vitality or vigour


揭竿而起

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄍㄢ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰiːt̚³ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰiːt̚³ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/


棄筆從戎

ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

投筆從戎 投筆從戎#Chinese

投笔从戎 投笔从戎#Chinese


春秋大夢

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄥˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² mʊŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² mʊŋ²²/

做你的春秋大夢！ [MSC, trad.]
做你的春秋大梦！ [MSC, simp.]


私相授受

ㄙ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄕㄡˋ ㄕㄡˋ

/sz̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² sɐu̯²²/

/sz̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² sɐu̯²²/

to make underhand dealings among one another


不可告人

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄍㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ kou̯³³ jɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ kou̯³³ jɐn²¹/

(of something negative) hidden; not to be divulged


先入為主

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨˇ

сяньжувэйчжу

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ zip̚⁴⁻³² ui²³⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² lip̚⁴⁻³² ui²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ zip̚⁴⁻³² ui²³⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² lip̚⁴⁻³² ui²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³/

to be prejudiced by a first impression; to have a preconception


天衣無縫

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (天衣無縫):
* → Japanese: 天衣無縫(てんいむほう) (ten'imuhō)

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧ ㄨˊ ㄈㄥˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fʊŋ²¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fʊŋ²²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² i⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ²²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fʊŋ²¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fʊŋ²²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² i⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ²²/


敝帚自珍

ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄡˇ ㄗˋ ㄓㄣ

бичжоуцзычжэнь

/pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

(figurative) to cherish something of little value simply because it is one's own


聞風喪膽

ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄙㄤˋ ㄉㄢˇ

вэньфэнсандань

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ³³ taːm³⁵/

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ³³ taːm³⁵/

to be extremely terrified of a certain person, group or thing


頭會箕斂

ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

тоухуэйцзилянь

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

Originally used to describe oppressive taxation of the Qin dynasty:
:
外內騷動，百姓罷敝，頭會箕斂，以供軍費，財匱力盡，民不聊生。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]外内骚动，百姓疲敝，头会箕敛，以供军费，财匮力尽，民不聊生。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Wàinèi sāodòng, bǎixìng píbì, tóuhuì jīliǎn, yǐgōng jūnfèi, cáikuì lìjìn, mín bùliáo shēng. [Pinyin]
On the frontiers and in the interior there was widespread unrest, and the populace were destitute and exhausted. Still, taxation was levied by polling and goods were amassed by the basketful to make up for the expenses of war. Their wealth destroyed and labour worn out, the people simply couldn't make a living at all.

zh-x

外-內 騷動，百姓 疲\罷􂀿疲􂁀{pí}-敝，頭會.箕斂，以-供 軍-費，財-匱 力-盡，民.不聊.生。

to collect revenue bypolling and amass them in baskets

(literary) to plunder the populace, especially by excessive levies; to overtax; to oppress and exploit the people


自討苦吃

ㄗˋ ㄊㄠˇ ㄎㄨˇ ㄔ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² tʰou̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ hɛːk̚³/

/t͡siː²² tʰou̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ hɛːk̚³/

make a rod for one's own back
make a rod for one's own back

to ask for trouble; to make a rod for one's own back


言出必行

ㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄨ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ piːt̚⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ pit̚⁵⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ pit̚³²⁻⁵ hiɪŋ¹³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²³/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ piːt̚⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ pit̚⁵⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ pit̚³²⁻⁵ hiɪŋ¹³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²³/


述而不作

ㄕㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/ʂu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɵt̚² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³/

/ʂu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɵt̚² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³/

From the Analects, Book 7 (《論語·述而》):
:
子曰：「述而不作，信而好古，竊比於我老彭。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「述而不作，信而好古，窃比于我老彭。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Shù ér bùzuò, xìn ér hàogǔ, qiè bǐ yú wǒ Lǎopéng.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "A transmitter and not a maker, believing in and loving the ancients, I venture to compare myself with the Venerable Peng."
The identity of 老彭 was unclear. According to the Elder Dai's Book of Rites (《大戴禮記》), a wise nobleman of the Shang-era bore that appellation.

子曰：「述.而.不作，信 而 好{hào}-古，竊 比 於 我 ^老-彭。」

(literary) to refrain from unwarranted innovations; to resist the temptation to speculate


駕鶴西遊

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄜˋ ㄒㄧ ㄧㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

被難

to be killed in a disaster, political incident


駕鶴西去

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄜˋ ㄒㄧ ㄑㄩˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/kaː³³ hɔːk̚² sɐi̯⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/kaː³³ hɔːk̚² sɐi̯⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³/


陳陳相因

ㄔㄣˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄧㄣ

чэньчэньсянъинь

čɛnʹčɛnʹsjanʺinʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

Originally refers to the way old grains a stockpiled in warehouses:
:
太倉之粟，陳陳相因，充溢露積於外，至腐敗不可食。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]太仓之粟，陈陈相因，充溢露积于外，至腐败不可食。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Tàicāng zhī sù, chénchén xiàngyīn, chōngyì lùjī yú wài, zhì fǔbài bùkě shí. [Pinyin]
In the Imperial Granary, old grains are stacked upon even older ones and are in turn followed by more old grains. They overflow the storage and are exposed outside in piles, until becoming rotten and unfit for consumption.

太-倉 之 粟，陳陳.相因，充溢 露-積 於 外，至 腐敗 不可 食。

(figurative) to become stagnant or obsolete due to rigid adherence to tradition; to be devoid of any innovation


傲骨嶙峋

ㄠˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ

аогу линьсюнь

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ ɕyn³⁵/

/ŋou̯²² kʷɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ sɵn⁵⁵/

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ ɕyn³⁵/

/ŋou̯²² kʷɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ sɵn⁵⁵/

(of people) proud and indomitable; steadfast and honest


好整以暇

ㄏㄠˋ ㄓㄥˇ ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˊ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

remain calm and composed while handling pressing affairs; take things easy


非死即傷

ㄈㄟ ㄙˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕㄤ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

to be either dead or wounded; to be injured, if not die


畢生難忘

ㄅㄧˋ ㄕㄥ ㄋㄢˊ ㄨㄤˋ

бишэннаньван

/pi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ naːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

/pi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ naːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

difficult to forget for one's entire life


管中窺豹

ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄅㄠˋ

гуаньчжункуйбао

/ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kuːn³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³³/

/ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kuːn³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³³/

to see only part of the big picture; to have only a limited view of something


以小見大

ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄚˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ taːi̯²²/

/jiː¹³ siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ taːi̯²²/

see the forest for the trees
see the forest for the trees

to see the forest for the trees; to discern the big picture or an overall pattern from small details


駟馬難追

ㄙˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄟ

сымананьчжуй

/sz̩⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/siː³³ maː¹³ naːn²¹ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/su¹¹⁻⁵³ mã⁵³ lan²⁴⁻¹¹ tui⁴⁴/

/su²¹⁻⁴¹ mã⁴¹ lan²³⁻³³ tui⁴⁴/

/sz̩⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/siː³³ maː¹³ naːn²¹ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/su¹¹⁻⁵³ mã⁵³ lan²⁴⁻¹¹ tui⁴⁴/

/su²¹⁻⁴¹ mã⁴¹ lan²³⁻³³ tui⁴⁴/

words cannot be taken back once they are spoken


放虎歸山

ㄈㄤˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄕㄢ

фанхугуйшань

/fɑŋ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ fuː³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/fɑŋ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ fuː³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

to set free an enemy or a bad person which leads to future disasters


彌留之際

ㄇㄧˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

/mi³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/mi³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³/


窗明几淨

ㄔㄨㄤ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

чуанминцзицзин

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

clean; tidy; neat; a well-organised place


朝令夕改

to change orders issued in the morning at the night (on the same day)

ㄓㄠ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧ ㄍㄞˇ

ㄓㄠ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄍㄞˇ

чжаолинсигай

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ lɪŋ²² t͡sɪk̚² kɔːi̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ lɪŋ²² t͡sɪk̚² kɔːi̯³⁵/

政策朝令夕改，令人無所適從。 [MSC, trad.]
政策朝令夕改，令人无所适从。 [MSC, simp.]

The policies change frequently and erratically, which make people not know what course to take.

Zhèngcè zhāolìngxīgǎi, lìng rén wúsuǒshìcóng. [Pinyin]

(of policies or orders) to change frequently and erratically


忘乎所以

ㄨㄤˋ ㄏㄨ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧˇ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ fuː²¹ sɔː³⁵ jiː¹³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ fuː²¹ sɔː³⁵ jiː¹³/

to forget oneself; to lose self-control; beside oneself (typically as a result of one's own behaviour)


自鳴得意

ㄗˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² mɪŋ²¹ tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² mɪŋ²¹ tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³/


前呼後擁

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩㄥˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xu⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ fuː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² jʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xu⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ fuː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² jʊŋ³⁵/

describes the grand and loud scene of government officials or important personages touring, with many attendants yelling to clear the way and clustering around the officials or personages to protect them


世衰道微

ㄕˋ ㄕㄨㄞ ㄉㄠˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄕˋ ㄕㄨㄞ ㄉㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ

шишуайдаовэй

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ sɵy̯⁵⁵ tou̯²² mei̯²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ sɵy̯⁵⁵ tou̯²² mei̯²¹/

From Mencius:
:
世衰道微，邪說暴行有作，臣弒其君者有之，子弒其父者有之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]世衰道微，邪说暴行有作，臣弑其君者有之，子弑其父者有之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Shìshuāidàowēi, xiéshuō bàoxìng yǒu zuò, chén shì qí jūn zhě yǒu zhī, zǐ shì qí fù zhě yǒu zhī. [Pinyin]
Again the world fell into decay, and principles faded away. Perverse speakings and oppressive deeds waxed rife again. There were instances of ministers who murdered their sovereigns, and of sons who murdered their fathers.

世衰道微，邪說 暴行{xìng} 有 作，臣 弒 其 君 者 有 之，子 弒 其 父 者 有 之。

the world falls into decay and moral values deteriorate


音信杳然

ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄢˊ

иньсиньяожань

/in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³ miːu̯¹³ jiːn²¹/

/in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³ miːu̯¹³ jiːn²¹/

to disappear without a trace; to become uncontactable


聽而不聞

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˊ

тинъэрбувэнь

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

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 bù jiàn, 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。

to hear but not pay attention or care; to turn a deaf ear; to be indifferent


水過鴨背

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄚ ㄅㄟˋ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ aːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ aːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

like water off a duck's back
like water off a duck's back


王不見王

ㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄤˊ

ванбуцзяньван

/wɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ wɔːŋ²¹/

/wɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ wɔːŋ²¹/

(xiangqi) the rule that the two kings (generals) must never be on the same file without any pieces in between them


一丈差九尺

ㄧ ㄓㄤˋ ㄔㄚ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄔˇ

ичжанчацзючи

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰioʔ³²/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² tŋ̍⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰa³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰioʔ⁵/

/t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tŋ̍²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰioʔ³²/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰioʔ³²/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiɤʔ³²/


缺衣少食

ㄑㄩㄝ ㄧ ㄕㄠˇ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kʰyːt̚³ jiː⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kʰyːt̚³ jiː⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚²/

to have insufficient food and clothing due to poverty


兔死狗烹

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (兔死狗烹):
* → Korean: 토사구팽(兎死狗烹) (tosagupaeng)

ja-r

こうとし して そうく にらる

→ Japanese: 狡兎死(こうとし)して走狗烹(そうくに)らる (kōtoshi shite sōku niraru) (calque)

ㄊㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄍㄡˇ ㄆㄥ

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pʰaːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pʰaːŋ⁵⁵/

From the Records of the Grand Historian, c. 91 BCE, quoting the fifth-century BCE strategist Fan Li:
:
蜚鳥盡，良弓藏；狡兔死，走狗烹。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]蜚鸟尽，良弓藏；狡兔死，走狗烹。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Fěi niǎo jìn, liáng gōng cáng; jiǎo tù sǐ, zǒugǒu pēng. [Pinyin]
When the flying birds are done with, the good bow is stored away; when the sly rabbit dies, the hunting dog is boiled [to eat].

zh-x

蜚 鳥 盡，良 弓 藏；狡 兔 死，走狗 烹。

When the flying birds are done with, the good bow is stored away; when the sly rabbit dies, the hunting dog is boiled 􂀿to eat􂁀.

to boil the dog once it caught the rabbit

to get rid of somebody once they have served their purpose


藝不壓身

ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄚ ㄕㄣ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ aːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ aːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵/

Skills and arts are not a burden to a person; Learn more skills and arts


一手一腳

ㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kœːk̚³/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kœːk̚³/


忍俊不禁

ㄖㄣˇ ㄐㄩㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

жэньцзюньбуцзинь

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ t͡sɵn³³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ t͡sɵn³³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm⁵⁵/


數以萬計

ㄕㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧˋ

/ʂu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ jiː¹³ maːn²² kɐi̯³³/

/ʂu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ jiː¹³ maːn²² kɐi̯³³/

numbered by the ten thousands; a large number


投機取巧

ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

тоуцзицюйцяо

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ haːu̯³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ haːu̯³⁵/


畏難苟安

ㄨㄟˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄢ

вэйнаньгоу’ань

/weɪ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

to fear danger and seek safety by unprincipled behavior


化外之地

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄨㄞˋ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/faː³³ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/faː³³ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

(historical) place inhabited by uncivilized people; place inhabited by non-Han ethnic groups that is less influenced by Han Chinese culture or not ruled or controlled by the Chinese government


瞬息萬變

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

шуньсиваньбянь

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɵn³³ sɪk̚⁵ maːn²² piːn³³/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɵn³³ sɪk̚⁵ maːn²² piːn³³/

myriad changes occur in an instant; rapid substantial change


財大氣粗

ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄘㄨ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² hei̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² hei̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵/

to be rich and act in a rude and overbearing manner


形單影隻

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄢ ㄧㄥˇ ㄓ

синданьинчжи

/ɕiŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³/


字如其人

ㄗˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡siː²² jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡siː²² jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

one's handwriting reflects one's personality


捫心自問

ㄇㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄗˋ ㄨㄣˋ

мэньсиньцзывэнь

/mən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

/mən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

to reflect on oneself; to ask oneself honestly


涸轍之鮒

ㄏㄜˊ ㄓㄜˊ ㄓ ㄈㄨˋ

ㄏㄜˊ ㄔㄜˋ ㄓ ㄈㄨˋ

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuː²²/

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/xɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuː²²/

(figurative) a person in a desperate situation; a person in a tight spot


優哉游哉

ㄧㄡ ㄗㄞ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗㄞ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 222 (《詩經·小雅·采菽》):
:
樂只君子，福祿膍之。
優哉游哉，亦是戾矣。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]乐只君子，福禄膍之。
优哉游哉，亦是戾矣。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Lè zhǐ jūnzǐ, fúlù pí zhī.
Yōuzāiyóuzāi, yì shì lì yǐ. [Pinyin]
To be rejoiced in are the princes, And their happiness and dignities are enlarged.
How joyous, how happy, Is their coming here!

lang

(《詩經·小雅·采菽》)

(《詩經·小雅·采菽》)

zh-x

樂{lè} 只 君子，福祿 膍{pí} 之。
@優哉游哉，亦 是 戾 矣。


鋒芒畢露

ㄈㄥ ㄇㄤˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ mɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ mɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

to fail to show restraint and display one's talent or vigour to the fullest extent


杳無人煙

ㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

师兄差疑了，似这杳无人烟之处，又无个怪兽妖禽，怕他怎的？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, 16ᵗʰ century CE
Shīxiōng chā yí le, sì zhè yǎowúrényān zhī chù, yòu wú ge guàishòu yāoqín, pà tā zěnde? [Pinyin]

師兄差疑了，似這杳無人煙之處，又無個怪獸妖禽，怕他怎的？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]


書香門第

family filled up with the aroma of books

ㄕㄨ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄇㄣˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʂu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/syː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹ tɐi̯²²/

/ʂu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/syː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹ tɐi̯²²/


經世濟民

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

цзиншицзиминь

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ min³⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ min³⁵/

to administer the state to relieve the suffering of the people


形同虛設

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄩ ㄕㄜˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

ineffectual; futile; with the setup or appearance but without the intended utility; set up but useless


刎頸之交

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (刎頸之交):
* → Korean: 문경지교(刎頸之交) (mun'gyeongjigyo)

desc

→ Japanese: 刎頸の交わり (funkei no majiwari) (calque)

ㄨㄣˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

вэньцзинчжицзяо

/wən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn¹³ kɛːŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn¹³ kɛːŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

Figuratively, a solid friendship of no regret even if one is to be beheaded for the other, from the Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru in the Records of the Grand Historian (《史記·廉頗藺相如列傳》).
:
既罷歸國，以相如功大，拜為上卿，位在廉頗之右。廉頗曰：「我為趙將，有攻城野戰之大功，而藺相如徒以口舌為勞，而位居我上，且相如素賤人，吾羞，不忍為之下。」宣言曰：「我見相如，必辱之。」相如聞，不肯與會。相如每朝時，常稱病，不欲與廉頗爭列。已而相如出，望見廉頗，相如引車避匿。於是舍人相與諫曰：「臣所以去親戚而事君者，徒慕君之高義也。今君與廉頗同列，廉君宣惡言而君畏匿之，恐懼殊甚，且庸人尚羞之，況於將相乎！臣等不肖，請辭去。」藺相如固止之，曰：「公之視廉將軍孰與秦王？」曰：「不若也。」相如曰：「夫以秦王之威，而相如廷叱之，辱其群臣，相如雖駑，獨畏廉將軍哉？顧吾念之，彊秦之所以不敢加兵於趙者，徒以吾兩人在也。今兩虎共鬥，其勢不俱生。吾所以為此者，以先國家之急而後私讎也。」廉頗聞之，肉袒負荊，因賓客至藺相如門謝罪。曰：「鄙賤之人，不知將軍寬之至此也。」卒相與驩，為刎頸之交。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]既罢归国，以相如功大，拜为上卿，位在廉颇之右。廉颇曰：「我为赵将，有攻城野战之大功，而蔺相如徒以口舌为劳，而位居我上，且相如素贱人，吾羞，不忍为之下。」宣言曰：「我见相如，必辱之。」相如闻，不肯与会。相如每朝时，常称病，不欲与廉颇争列。已而相如出，望见廉颇，相如引车避匿。于是舍人相与谏曰：「臣所以去亲戚而事君者，徒慕君之高义也。今君与廉颇同列，廉君宣恶言而君畏匿之，恐惧殊甚，且庸人尚羞之，况于将相乎！臣等不肖，请辞去。」蔺相如固止之，曰：「公之视廉将军孰与秦王？」曰：「不若也。」相如曰：「夫以秦王之威，而相如廷叱之，辱其群臣，相如虽驽，独畏廉将军哉？顾吾念之，强秦之所以不敢加兵于赵者，徒以吾两人在也。今两虎共斗，其势不俱生。吾所以为此者，以先国家之急而后私雠也。」廉颇闻之，肉袒负荆，因宾客至蔺相如门谢罪。曰：「鄙贱之人，不知将军宽之至此也。」卒相与欢，为刎颈之交。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Jì bà guī guó, yǐ Xiàng rú gōng dà, bài wèi shàngqīng, wèi zài Lián Pō zhī yòu. Lián Pō yuē: “Wǒ wèi Zhàojiāng, yǒu gōngchéng yězhàn zhī dàgōng, ér Lìn Xiàngrú tú yǐ kǒushé wèi láo, ér wèi jū wǒ shàng, qiě Xiàngrú sù jiànrén, wú xiū, bù rěn wèi zhī xià.” Xuānyán yuē: “Wǒ jiàn Xiàngrú, bì rǔ zhī.” Xiàngrú wén, bù kěn yǔ huì. Xiàngrú měi cháo shí, cháng chēng bìng, bù yù yǔ Lián Pō zhēng liè. Yǐ'ér Xiàngrú chū, wàngjiàn Lián Pō, Xiàngrú yǐn chē bìnì. Yú shì shèrén xiàngyǔ jiàn yuē: “Chén suǒyǐ qù qīnqī ér shì jūn zhě, tú mù jūn zhī gāoyì yě. Jīn jūn yǔ Lián Pō tóng liè, Lián jūn xuān èyán ér jūn wèinì zhī, kǒngjù shū shèn, qiě yōngrén shàng xiū zhī, kuàng yú jiāngxiàng hū! Chén děng bùxiào, qǐng cíqù.” Lìn Xiàngrú gù zhǐzhī, yuē: “Gōng zhī shì Lián jiāngjūn shú yǔ Qínwáng?” Yuē: “Bùruò yě.” Xiàngrú yuē: “Fú yǐ Qínwáng zhī wēi, ér Xiàngrú tíngchì zhī, rǔ qí qúnchén, Xiàngrú suī nú, dú wèi Lián jiāngjūn zāi? Gù wú niàn zhī, qiáng Qín zhīsuǒyǐ bùgǎn jiā bīng yú Zhào zhě, tú yǐ wú liǎng rén zài yě. Jīn liǎnghǔ gòngdòu, qí shì bù jù shēng. Wú suǒyǐ wéi cǐ zhě, yǐ xiān guójiā zhī jí ér hòu sīchóu yě.” Lián Pō wén zhī, ròutǎn fù jīng, yīn bīnkè zhì Lìn Xiàngrú mén xièzuì. Yuē: “Bǐjiàn zhī rén, bù zhī jiāngjūn kuān zhī zhìcǐ yě.” Zú xiāngyǔ huān, wèi wěnjǐngzhījiāo. [Pinyin]
They were already over and returned to the country; because of his achievement was great, Xiangru was appointed as a high-ranking official, and his rank was higher than Lian Po. Lian Po said: "I have become a general of Zhao, have some great achievements of siege and field battle; still, Lin Xiangru is above me by just achieving a feat by the conversation, and Xiangru was originally a lowly person; I am ashamed and can't bear to be under him." He declared: "When I see Xiangru, I'll be sure to humiliate him." Xiangru heard that and then he was reluctant to meet him. Every time Xiangru went to the court, he described himself as ill, and he didn't want to fight for the rank with Lian Po. Before long, Xiangru went out and observed Lian Po, and Xiangru hid by pulling the car. At that time, his servants remonstrated him together to say: "My lord, the reason why I left from my relatives to serve you is just because I admire your respectable personality. Now you have become in the same order with Lian Po; when Lord Lian stated bad words, you hid for fear of this, and awed too much; even mediocre people would be ashamed for that, and for generals and ministers, much more so! We are dishonorable; let us take our leave." Lin Xiangru insisted that they stay, saying "In your estimation, is General Lian more considerable than the king of Qin?" They said: "No, he isn't." Xiangru said: "Even under the intimidation of the king of Qin, I scolded him in his court and humiliated his men; though I am dull, should I be afraid of General Lian? What I am keenly aware is this, that the only reason why the mighty Qin dare not threaten Zhao with war is the presence of Lian and me. We are two tigers who cannot both survive a conflict with each other. The reason why I do that [not to hold a grudge against Lian] is to put the national emergency above my personal resentment." On hearing of that, Lian Po stripped his clothes off, bore a flogging rod, and came to Lin Xiangru's home via a retainer to apologize, "This mean and lowly person didn't know that you, general, is generous to this much." Finally, they got along with each other and vowed a friendship till death.

lang

《史記·廉頗藺相如列傳》

《史記·廉頗藺相如列傳》

zh-x

既 罷 歸.國，以 ^相 如 功 大，拜 為 上卿，位 在 ^廉 ^頗 之 右。^廉 ^頗 曰：「我 為 ^趙-將，有 攻城 野戰 之 大功，而 ^藺 ^相-如 徒 以 口舌 為 勞，而 位 居 我 上，且 ^相-如 素 賤人，吾 羞，不 忍 為 之 下。」宣言 曰：「我 見 ^相-如，必 辱 之。」^相-如 聞，不 肯 與 會。^相-如 每 朝 時，常 稱 病，不 欲 與 ^廉 ^頗 爭 列。已而 ^相-如 出，望見 ^廉 ^頗，^相-如 引 車 避匿。於 是 舍人 相與 諫 曰：「臣 所以 去 親戚 而 事 君 者，徒 慕 君 之 高義 也。今 君 與 ^廉 ^頗 同 列，^廉 君 宣 惡言 而 君 畏-匿 之，恐懼 殊 甚，且 庸人 尚 羞 之，況 於 將-相 乎！臣 等 不肖，請 辭去。」^藺 ^相{xiàng}-如 固 止-之，曰：「公 之 視 ^廉 將軍 孰 與{yǔ} ^秦-王？」曰：「不若 也。」^相{xiàng}-如 曰：「夫{fú} 以 ^秦-王 之 威，而 ^相-如 廷-叱 之，辱 其 群臣，^相-如 雖 駑，獨 畏 ^廉 將軍 哉？顧 吾 念 之，彊 ^秦 之所以 不敢 加.兵 於 ^趙 者，徒 以 吾 兩 人 在 也。今 兩-虎 共-鬥，其 勢 不 俱 生。吾 所以 為{wéi} 此 者，以 先 國家 之 急 而 後 私讎 也。」^廉 ^頗 聞 之，肉袒 負.荊，因 賓客 至 ^藺 ^相{xiàng}-如 門 謝罪。曰：「鄙賤 之 人，不 知 將軍 寬 之 至-此 也。」卒 相{xiāng}與 驩，為 刎頸之交。

They were already over and returned to the country; because of his achievement was great, Xiangru was appointed as a high-ranking official, and his rank was higher than Lian Po. Lian Po said: "I have become a general of Zhao, have some great achievements of siege and field battle; still, Lin Xiangru is above me by just achieving a feat by the conversation, and Xiangru was originally a lowly person; I am ashamed and can't bear to be under him." He declared: "When I see Xiangru, I'll be sure to humiliate him." Xiangru heard that and then he was reluctant to meet him. Every time Xiangru went to the court, he described himself as ill, and he didn't want to fight for the rank with Lian Po. Before long, Xiangru went out and observed Lian Po, and Xiangru hid by pulling the car. At that time, his servants remonstrated him together to say: "My lord, the reason why I left from my relatives to serve you is just because I admire your respectable personality. Now you have become in the same order with Lian Po; when Lord Lian stated bad words, you hid for fear of this, and awed too much; even mediocre people would be ashamed for that, and for generals and ministers, much more so! We are dishonorable; let us take our leave." Lin Xiangru insisted that they stay, saying "In your estimation, is General Lian more considerable than the king of Qin?" They said: "No, he isn't." Xiangru said: "Even under the intimidation of the king of Qin, I scolded him in his court and humiliated his men; though I am dull, should I be afraid of General Lian? What I am keenly aware is this, that the only reason why the mighty Qin dare not threaten Zhao with war is the presence of Lian and me. We are two tigers who cannot both survive a conflict with each other. The reason why I do that 􂀿not to hold a grudge against Lian􂁀 is to put the national emergency above my personal resentment." On hearing of that, Lian Po stripped his clothes off, bore a flogging rod, and came to Lin Xiangru's home via a retainer to apologize, "This mean and lowly person didn't know that you, general, is generous to this much." Finally, they got along with each other and vowed a friendship till death.

friendship of decapitation; throat-slashing friends

friends sworn to death; eternal friends; best friends who can face hardships together

Lian Po
Lin Xiangru
Qin (state)
Records of the Grand Historian
Zhao (state)


萬馬奔騰

ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄅㄣ ㄊㄥˊ

ваньмабэньтэн

/wän⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pən⁵⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵/

/maːn²² maː¹³ pɐn⁵⁵ tʰɐŋ²¹/

/wän⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pən⁵⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵/

/maːn²² maː¹³ pɐn⁵⁵ tʰɐŋ²¹/

thousands of horses galloping, used to describe the magnificence of a scene


一字之師

/i⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

a teacher of one word; one who can significantly improve the quality of another's writing by changing one word and thus becomes his teacher


戮力一心

ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² lɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² lɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


自高自大

ㄗˋ ㄍㄠ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² kou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² kou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

self-important; conceited; arrogant; self-aggrandizing


邪不干正

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄓㄥˋ

себуганьчжэн

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

邪不勝正 邪不勝正#Chinese

邪不胜正 邪不胜正#Chinese


邪不敵正

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄓㄥˋ

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sɪŋ³³/

邪不勝正 邪不勝正#Chinese

邪不胜正 邪不胜正#Chinese


邪不壓正

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄚ ㄓㄥˋ

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ aːt̚³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ aːt̚³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

邪不勝正 邪不勝正#Chinese

邪不胜正 邪不胜正#Chinese


有感而發

ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄢˇ ㄦˊ ㄈㄚ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɐm³⁵ jiː²¹ faːt̚³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ huat̚³²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɐm³⁵ jiː²¹ faːt̚³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ huat̚³²/

to express (something) after feeling touched


邪不犯正

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (邪不犯正):
* → Korean: 사불범정(邪不犯正) (sabulbeomjeong)

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄢˋ ㄓㄥˋ

себуфаньчжэн

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ faːn²² t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ faːn²² t͡sɪŋ³³/

邪不勝正 邪不勝正#Chinese

邪不胜正 邪不胜正#Chinese


邪不勝正

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄓㄥˋ

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/


邪不伐正

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄓㄥˋ

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚ ㄓㄥˋ

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɪŋ³³/

邪不勝正 邪不勝正#Chinese

邪不胜正 邪不胜正#Chinese


算無遺策

ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ ㄘㄜˋ

/su̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/su̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/


光芒萬丈

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄇㄤˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄤˋ

гуанманваньчжан

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mɑŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mɑŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/

阿瑟是一位光芒萬丈的騎士。 [MSC, trad.]
阿瑟是一位光芒万丈的骑士。 [MSC, simp.]

Arthur is a knight in shining armor (literally: knight who (emits) countless rays of light).

Āsè shì yīwèi guāngmángwànzhàng de qíshì. [Pinyin]


一時三刻

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sän⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ saːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sän⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ saːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

(literary or Cantonese) brief period of time (especially in negative sentences)


早知今日，悔不當初

if one had known about this day from the beginning, there would have been no point in starting

ㄗㄠˇ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄖˋ

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤ ㄔㄨ

цзаочжи цзиньжи

хуэй бу данчу

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/


淺嘗輒止

ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄓㄜˊ ㄓˇ

цяньчанчжэчжи

cjanʹčančžɛčži

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn³⁵ sœːŋ²¹ t͡siːp̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn³⁵ sœːŋ²¹ t͡siːp̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

to stop after getting a little knowledge of a subject and not study further or deeper


因材施教

ㄧㄣ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

иньцайшицзяо

/in⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/in⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai²⁴⁻²² si⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹/

/in⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai¹³⁻²² si⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹/

/in⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/in⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai²⁴⁻²² si⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹/

/in⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai¹³⁻²² si⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹/

to teach according to the student's ability


暢通易達

ㄔㄤˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄧˋ ㄉㄚˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tä³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² taːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tä³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² taːt̚²/

(chiefly Hong Kong) free and easily accessible (mainly used to describe facilities designed for the handicapped)


車毀人亡

ㄔㄜ ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

чэхуэйжэньван

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ wɐi̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ wɐi̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

the vehicle is destroyed and the people die in the crash


漸行漸遠

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄩㄢˇ

цзяньсинцзяньюань

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːm²² hɐŋ²¹ t͡siːm²² jyːn¹³/

/t͡siːm²² hɐŋ²¹ t͡siːm²² jyːn¹³/

to become increasingly distant; to grow apart


歡呼雀躍

ㄏㄨㄢ ㄏㄨ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄩㄝˋ

хуаньхуцюэюэ

/xu̯än⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/fuːn⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jœːk̚²/

/xu̯än⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/fuːn⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jœːk̚²/


反腐倡廉

ㄈㄢˇ ㄈㄨˇ ㄔㄤˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

фаньфучанлянь

/fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ fuː²² t͡sʰœːŋ³³ liːm²¹/

/fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ fuː²² t͡sʰœːŋ³³ liːm²¹/

(neologism, politics, officialese) to fight corruption and uphold integrity; to fight corruption and build a clean government


薪火相傳

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

синьхосянчуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuan²³/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuan²⁴/

/seŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²⁻³⁵ siaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰuaŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuan²³/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuan²⁴/

/seŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²⁻³⁵ siaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰuaŋ⁵⁵/

to pass down (good tradition, knowledge, skill, etc.) from generation to generation


殺良冒功

ㄕㄚ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

/ʂä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to kill or incriminate someone innocent, for a reward from the authorities or to make one's (military or police) performance look better


裝聾作啞

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄚˇ

чжуанлунцзоя

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɔːk̚³ aː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɔːk̚³ aː³⁵/

to pretend to not know; to deliberately to not ask or listen


大展宏圖

ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄨˊ

дачжаньхунту

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xʊŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siːn³⁵ wɐŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xʊŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siːn³⁵ wɐŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹/


大展鴻圖

ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄨˊ

дачжаньхунту

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xʊŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siːn³⁵ hʊŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xʊŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siːn³⁵ hʊŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

大展宏圖 大展宏圖#Chinese

大展宏图 大展宏图#Chinese

Alternative form of 大展宏圖／大展宏图 (dàzhǎnhóngtú, “to carry out one's great plan”)


斗轉星移

the Big Dipper has turned and the stars have moved

ㄉㄡˇ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄧˊ

доучжуаньсинъи

/toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/tɐu̯³⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹/

/toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/tɐu̯³⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹/


民窮財盡

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

миньцюнцайцзинь

/min³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/min³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/


回嗔作喜

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄣ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧˇ

хуэйчэнь цзоси

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


魂牽夢縈

concerning with souls and getting carried away into dreams

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄇㄥˋ ㄧㄥˊ

хуньцяньмэнъин

/xu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/wɐn²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mʊŋ²² jɪŋ²¹/

/xu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/wɐn²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mʊŋ²² jɪŋ²¹/

(figurative) missing or longing for someone very much


天差地別

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄚ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tei̯²² piːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tei̯²² piːt̚²/

to be completely different; to be poles apart


水底撈針

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄌㄠ ㄓㄣ

шуйдилаочжэнь

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

大海撈針 大海撈針#Chinese

大海捞针 大海捞针#Chinese


東海撈針

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄏㄞˇ ㄌㄠ ㄓㄣ

дунхайлаочжэнь

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

大海撈針 大海撈針#Chinese

大海捞针 大海捞针#Chinese


海底撈針

ㄏㄞˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄌㄠ ㄓㄣ

хайдилаочжэнь

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

needle in a haystack
needle in a haystack


國士無雙

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄕˋ ㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄤ

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ siː²² mou̯²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ siː²² mou̯²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

distinguished person of talent in the country that is matchless


居高不下

ㄐㄩ ㄍㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

to stay high (and not decrease); to remain high


一期一會

ㄧ ㄑㄧˊ ㄧ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²²/

Wasei kango (和製漢語), orthographically borrowed from Japanese 一(いち)期(ご)一(いち)会(え) (ichigo ichie).

wasei kango

you should treasure every encounter, for it will never recur


浪得虛名

ㄌㄤˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄒㄩ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/lɑŋ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/lɔːŋ²² tɐk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/lɑŋ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/lɔːŋ²² tɐk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

to not live up to one's illustrious reputation


名不虛傳

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (名不虛傳):
* → Korean: 명불허전(名不虛傳) (myeongbulheojeon)
* → Vietnamese: danh bất hư truyền (名不虛傳)

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

минбусюйчуань

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to live up to one's illustrious reputation


以戰養戰

ㄧˇ ㄓㄢˋ ㄧㄤˇ ㄓㄢˋ

ичжаньянчжань

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡siːn³³ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siːn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡siːn³³ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siːn³³/

to use resources obtained in a war to support that war


見好就收

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄡ

цзянь хао цзю шоу

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ hou̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ hou̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² sɐu̯⁵⁵/


眉目傳情

ㄇㄟˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

мэйму чуаньцин

/meɪ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/mei̯²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/meɪ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/mei̯²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

to flash amorous glances; to make eyes at somebody


芒刺在背

ㄇㄤˊ ㄘˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄅㄟˋ

манцыцзайбэй

/mɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡sɔːi̯²² puːi̯³³/

/mɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡sɔːi̯²² puːi̯³³/

From the Book of Han [circa 2nd century AD].
:
宣帝始立，謁見高廟，大將軍光從驂乘，上内嚴憚之，若有芒刺在背。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]宣帝始立，谒见高庙，大将军光从骖乘，上内严惮之，若有芒刺在背。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Shu
Xuāndì shǐ lì, yèjiàn gāo miào, dàjiāngjūn guāng cóng cān chéng, shàng nèi yán dàn zhī, ruò yǒu mángcìzàibèi. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

宣-帝 始 立，謁見 高 廟，大將軍 光 從 驂 乘，上 内 嚴 憚 之，若 有 芒刺在背。

to be jittery; to be on pins and needles


蠻針瞎灸

carelessly injecting; blindly cauterizing

ㄇㄢˊ ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

маньчжэньсяцзю

/män³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to do things with disregard for the customs or rules


外強中乾

ㄨㄞˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄢ

вайцянчжунгань

/waɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²² kʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/

/waɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²² kʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/

to appear strong on the outside but in reality be weak on the inside


逼良為娼

ㄅㄧ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄤ

/pi⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/


色厲內荏

ㄙㄜˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄋㄟˋ ㄖㄣˇ

/sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ lɐi̯²² nɔːi̯²² jɐm¹³/

/sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ lɐi̯²² nɔːi̯²² jɐm¹³/

From the Analects, Book 17 (《論語·陽貨》):
:
子曰：「色厲而內荏，譬諸小人，其猶穿窬之盜也與？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「色厉而内荏，譬诸小人，其犹穿窬之盗也与？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Sè lì ér nèi rěn, pì zhū xiǎorén, qí yóu chuān yú zhī dào yě yú?” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "He who puts on an appearance of stern firmness, while inwardly he is weak, is like one of the small, mean people - yea, is he not like the thief who breaks through, or climbs over, a wall?"

^子曰：「@色.厲 而 @內.荏，譬 諸 小人，其 猶 穿 窬 之 盜 也 與{yú}？」

to appear tough on the outside but be weak and timid on the inside


一拍兩散

ㄧ ㄆㄞ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄙㄢˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰaːk̚³ lœːŋ¹³ saːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰaːk̚³ lœːŋ¹³ saːn³³/

(originally Cantonese) to part ways; to break up


獨來獨往

ㄉㄨˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ

/tu³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ tu³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊk̚² lɔːi̯²¹ tʊk̚² wɔːŋ¹³/

/tu³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ tu³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊk̚² lɔːi̯²¹ tʊk̚² wɔːŋ¹³/

to be a loner; to be alone and avoid the company of others


步態蹣跚

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄆㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

бутай паньшань

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² tʰaːi̯³³ pʰuːn²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² tʰaːi̯³³ pʰuːn²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

步履蹣跚 步履蹣跚#Chinese

步履蹒跚 步履蹒跚#Chinese


得意忘形

ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³ mɔːŋ²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³ mɔːŋ²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

to be so excited that one gets carried away


情投意合

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ jiː³³ hɐp̚²/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² tau²⁴⁻²² i²¹⁻⁵³ hap̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ jiː³³ hɐp̚²/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² tau²⁴⁻²² i²¹⁻⁵³ hap̚⁴/

to have affection for and be compatible with each other (often of a romantic couple)


胞與

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

民胞物與 民胞物與#Chinese

民胞物与 民胞物与#Chinese


民胞物與

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄠ ㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/min³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ paːu̯⁵⁵ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

/min³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ paːu̯⁵⁵ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

all people are brothers and sisters and all things are the same kind


羊入虎口

ㄧㄤˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ jɐp̚² fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ jɐp̚² fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

to enter a dangerous situation where one will certainly suffer