差以毫釐，失之千里

ㄔㄚ ㄧˇ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄔㄚ ㄧˇ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

差之毫釐，謬以千里 差之毫釐，謬以千里#Chinese

synonym of 差之毫釐，謬以千里 (chāzhīháolí, miùyǐqiānlǐ)


差之毫釐，謬以千里

差之毫厘，谬以千里
差之毫釐，繆以千里

ㄔㄚ ㄓ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

ㄔㄚ ㄓ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tsaa¹ dzi¹ hou⁴ lei⁴, mau⁶ ji⁵ tsin¹ lei⁵

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ lei̯²¹ mɐu̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

small discrepancies lead to great errors


敵人的敵人就是朋友

ㄉㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄆㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ

dik⁶ jan⁴ dik¹ dik⁶ jan⁴ zau⁶ si⁶ pang⁴ jau⁵

ㄉㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄆㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ

ti²-jên² ti⁴ ti²-jên² chiu⁴-shih⁴ pʻêng²-yu³

дижэнь ди дижэнь цзюши пэнъю

/ti³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ti⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dihk yàhn dīk dihk yàhn jauh sih pàhng yáuh

dik⁹ jan⁴ dik⁷ dik⁹ jan⁴ dzau⁶ si⁶ pang⁴ jau⁵

dig⁶ yen⁴ dig¹ dig⁶ yen⁴ zeo⁶ xi⁶ peng⁴ yeo⁵

/tɪk̚² jɐn²¹ tɪk̚⁵ tɪk̚² jɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² pʰɐŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³/

the enemy of my enemy is my friend
the enemy of my enemy is my friend


錢不是萬能，但沒錢萬萬不能

head

錢不是萬能，但沒錢萬萬不能

钱不是万能，但没钱万万不能

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄥˊ

ㄉㄢˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ

dàn méi qián wànwàn bùnéng [Phonetic:qián búshì wànnéng

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄥˊ

ㄉㄢˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ

цянь буши ваньнэн

дань мэй цянь ваньвань бунэн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ tän⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

money is not everything, but without money, you are nothing


人靠衣裝，佛靠金裝

人靠衣装，佛靠金装
人要衣裝，佛要金裝 (alternative)
人要衣装，佛要金装 (alternative)

a man relies on his clothes, the statue of Buddha relies on its gold

ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄠˋ ㄧ ㄓㄨㄤ

ㄈㄛˊ ㄎㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄤ

jan⁴ kaau³ ji¹ zong¹, fat⁶ kaau³ gam¹ zong¹

ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄠˋ ㄧ ㄓㄨㄤ

ㄈㄛˊ ㄎㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄤ

жэнь као ичжуан

фо као цзиньчжуан

/ʐən³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

jan⁴ kaau³ ji¹ dzong¹, fat⁹ kaau³ gam¹ dzong¹

yen⁴ kao³ yi¹ zong¹, fed⁶ kao³ gem¹ zong¹

/jɐn²¹ kʰaːu̯³³ jiː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐt̚² kʰaːu̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

clothes maketh the man
clothes maketh the man

fine feathers make fine birds
fine feathers make fine birds

clothes maketh the man; fine feathers make fine birds


平生不做虧心事，半夜敲門也不驚

平生不做虧心事，半夜敲門也不驚

平生不做亏心事，半夜敲门也不惊

if one has not committed something of guilt in their entire life, they will not be afraid when someone is knocking on their doors in the middle of the night

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

ping⁴ sang¹ bat¹ zou⁶ kwai¹ sam¹ si⁶, bun³ je⁶ haau¹ mun⁴ jaa⁵ bat¹ ging¹

bàn yèqiāo mén yě bù jīng [Phonetic:píngshēng bú zuò kuīxīn shì

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

pʻing²-shêng¹ pu⁴ tso⁴ kʻuei¹-hsin¹ shih⁴

пиншэн бу цзо куйсинь ши

бань ецяо мэнь е бу цзин

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

pìhng sāng bāt jouh kwāi sām sih, bun yeh hāau mùhn yáh bāt gīng

ping⁴ sang¹ bat⁷ dzou⁶ kwai¹ sam¹ si⁶, bun³ je⁶ haau¹ mun⁴ jaa⁵ bat⁷ ging¹

ping⁴ seng¹ bed¹ zou⁶ kuei¹ sem¹ xi⁶, bun³ yé⁶ hao¹ mun⁴ ya⁵ bed¹ ging¹

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sou̯²² kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ siː²² puːn³³ jɛː²² haːu̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ jaː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

if one were not guilty, they have nothing to hide


夫妻本是同林鳥，大難臨頭各自飛

夫妻本是同林鳥，大難臨頭各自飛

夫妻本是同林鸟，大难临头各自飞

ㄈㄨ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄣˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄈㄟ

fu¹ cai¹ bun² si⁶ tung⁴ lam⁴ niu⁵, daai⁶ naan⁶ lam⁴ tau⁴ gok³ zi⁶ fei¹

ㄈㄨ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄣˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄈㄟ

фуцибэньшитунлиньняо

дананьлинь тоугэ цзы фэй

/fu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ lin³⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ nän³⁵ lin³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

fū chāi bún sih tùhng làhm níuh, daaih naahn làhm tàuh gok jih fēi

fu¹ tsai¹ bun² si⁶ tung⁴ lam⁴ niu⁵, daai⁶ naan⁶ lam⁴ tau⁴ gok⁸ dzi⁶ fei¹

fu¹ cei¹ bun² xi⁶ tung⁴ lem⁴ niu⁵, dai⁶ nan⁶ lem⁴ teo⁴ gog³ ji⁶ féi¹

/fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ siː²² tʰʊŋ²¹ lɐm²¹ niːu̯¹³ taːi̯²² naːn²² lɐm²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³ t͡siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

夫妻本是同林鳥 夫妻本是同林鳥#Chinese

夫妻本是同林鸟 夫妻本是同林鸟#Chinese

synonym of 夫妻本是同林鳥 /夫妻本是同林鸟 (fūqī běn shì tóng lín niǎo)


害人之心不可有，防人之心不可無

害人之心不可有，防人之心不可無

害人之心不可有，防人之心不可无

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ

ㄈㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨˊ

hoi⁶ jan⁴ zi¹ sam¹ bat¹ ho² jau⁵, fong⁴ jan⁴ zi¹ sam¹ bat¹ ho² mou⁴

fángrén zhī xīn bùkě wú [Phonetic:hàirénzhīxīnbùkéyǒu

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ

ㄈㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨˊ

хайжэнь чжи синь букэ ю

фанжэнь чжи синь букэ у

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

hoih yàhn jī sām bāt hó yáuh, fòhng yàhn jī sām bāt hó mòuh

hoi⁶ jan⁴ dzi¹ sam¹ bat⁷ ho² jau⁵, fong⁴ jan⁴ dzi¹ sam¹ bat⁷ ho² mou⁴

hoi⁶ yen⁴ ji¹ sem¹ bed¹ ho² yeo⁵, fong⁴ yen⁴ ji¹ sem¹ bed¹ ho² mou⁴

/hɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ fɔːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/

one should not try to harm others, but you should also be prudent and guard against those who harm you


若要人不知，除非己莫為

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄔㄨˊ ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄟˊ

joek⁶ jiu³ jan⁴ bat¹ zi¹, ceoi⁴ fei¹ gei² mok⁶ wai⁴

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄔㄨˊ ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄟˊ

jo⁴ yao⁴ jên² pu⁴-chih¹ chʻu²-fei¹ chi³ mo⁴ wei²

жо яо жэнь бучжи чуфэй цзи мо вэй

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

yeuhk yiu yàhn bāt jī, chèuih fēi géi mohk wàih

joek⁹ jiu³ jan⁴ bat⁷ dzi¹, tsoey⁴ fei¹ gei² mok⁹ wai⁴

yêg⁶ yiu³ yen⁴ bed¹ ji¹, cêu⁴ féi¹ géi² mog⁶ wei⁴

/jœːk̚² jiːu̯³³ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ mɔːk̚² wɐi̯²¹/

The earliest appearance of similar expressions was in Mei Cheng (枚乘)'s Petition to the Prince of Wu

Do not speak if you do not want others to hear; do not do if you do not want others to know.

Yù rén wù wén, mò ruò wù yán; yù rén wù zhī, mò ruò wù wèi.

欲人勿聞，莫若勿言；欲人勿知，莫若勿為。

欲人勿闻，莫若勿言；欲人勿知，莫若勿为。

if one wants others to not know [of their wrongdoings], only [happens] when themselves had not done it

murder will out; one should not do it if they do not want others to know


騙得了一時，騙不了一世

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄧ ㄕˋ

piàn bù liǎo yīshì [Phonetic:piàn de liǎo yìshí

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄧ ㄕˋ

пянь дэ ляо иши

пянь бу ляо иши

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ d̥ə¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

you can fool people once but you cannot fool them forever


貧賤夫妻百事哀

ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄨ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄞ

ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄨ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄞ

пиньцзянь фуци байши ай

/pʰin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɐn²¹ t͡siːn²² fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ paːk̚³ siː²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵/

Misinterpretation of a verse by the Tang dynasty poet Yuan Zhen. The original meaning in the poem is irrelevant to the modern meaning.

For poor couples, everything is sorrowful.


小時偷針，大時偷金

one who steals a needle during childhood will steal gold as an adult

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕˊ ㄊㄡ ㄓㄣ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄊㄡ ㄐㄧㄣ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕˊ ㄊㄡ ㄓㄣ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄊㄡ ㄐㄧㄣ

hsiao³ shih² tʻou¹ chên¹, ta⁴ shih² tʻou¹ chin¹

сяо ши тоу чжэнь

да ши тоу цзинь

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

siu² si⁴ tau¹ dzam¹, daai⁶ si⁴ tau¹ gam¹

/siːu̯³⁵ siː²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siː²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

One who commits small wrongs at a young age, if left uncorrected, will continue to commit crimes that are more serious.


冤有頭，債有主

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡saːi̯³³ jɐu̯¹³ t͡syː³⁵/

reprisal for a wrong should be directed at the perpetrator


英雄莫問出處

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄣˋ ㄔㄨ ㄔㄨˋ

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄣˋ ㄔㄨ ㄔㄨˋ

инсюн мо вэнь чучу

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² mɐn²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/


兔子不吃窩邊草

A rabbit does not eat grass around his burrow

ㄊㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔ ㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄘㄠˇ

ㄊㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔ ㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄘㄠˇ

туцзы бу чи во бянь цао

/tʰu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

don't shit where you eat
don't shit where you eat

don't dip your pen in company ink
don't dip your pen in company ink

don't shit where you eat; don't dip your pen in company ink


第一賣冰，第二做醫生

[to earn riches] first sell ice, then become a doctor

ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ ㄇㄞˋ ㄅㄧㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄕㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ ㄇㄞˋ ㄅㄧㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄕㄥ

диэр цзо ишэн

/ti⁵¹ i⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/te³³⁻²¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ be³³⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴ te³³⁻²¹ zi³³⁻²¹ t͡sɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ i⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

The Taiwanese saying goes: "Sell ice first, then consider becoming a doctor". In Huwei, though, maybe it ought to be changed to "sell stew first" instead?

2017 June 20, 文藝好青年／第一賣冰，第二做醫生？NO，虎尾第一是賣肉羮, FTV News (民視新聞台)

Táiwān yǒu jù súyàn shuō: “Dìyīmàibīng, dì'èrzuòyīshēng.” Shìshí zhèngmíng zài hǔwěi dìyī zhě, yìnggāi shì mài ròugēng ba?

台灣有句俗諺說：「第一賣冰，第二做醫生。」事實證明在虎尾第一者，應該是賣肉羮吧？

台湾有句俗谚说：「第一卖冰，第二做医生。」事实证明在虎尾第一者，应该是卖肉羮吧？

(Taiwan) a proverb on making money, reflecting the popularity of shaved ice, especially during the summer, and the relatively low skills needed to make it


做一行怨一行

work a profession, complain about the same profession

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄏㄤˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄧ ㄏㄤˊ

zuò yīháng yuàn yīháng [Phonetic:zuò yìháng yuàn yìháng]

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄏㄤˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄧ ㄏㄤˊ

цзо ихан юань ихан

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɑŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɑŋ³⁵/

2022 September 2022, 業績治百病, Cheng Ping Keat (鄭秉吉), Oriental Daily News

“zuòyīxíngyuànyīxíng”, wǒmen cháng tīng dào hěnduō rén máiyuàn zìjǐ rù cuò xíng, bàoyuàn zìjǐ cóngshì de xíngyè jìngzhēng jīliè, jíshǐ tóurù hěnduō jīnglì yě nán zhuàn dào qián.

「做一行怨一行」，我們常聽到很多人埋怨自己入錯行，抱怨自己從事的行業競爭激烈，即使投入很多精力也難賺到錢。

「做一行怨一行」，我们常听到很多人埋怨自己入错行，抱怨自己从事的行业竞争激烈，即使投入很多精力也难赚到钱。

no matter the work, there will be something to take issue with; the grass is always greener on the other side jobwise


池中無魚蝦自大

when there is no fish in a pond, the shrimps will become arrogant

ㄔˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄚ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄔˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄚ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

чи чжун у юй ся цзыда

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ y³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹ haː⁵⁵ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

when the cat's away the mice will play
when the cat's away the mice will play

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king; when the cat's away the mice will play


三天不打，上房揭瓦

Don't beat (a child) for three days and (the child will) scale the roof to rip the tiles

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˇ

ㄕㄤˋ ㄈㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄨㄚˇ

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˇ

ㄕㄤˋ ㄈㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄨㄚˇ

саньтяньбуда

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

spare the rod and spoil the child
spare the rod and spoil the child


人多口雜

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄎㄡˇ ㄗㄚˊ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄎㄡˇ ㄗㄚˊ

жэньдокоуцза

/ʐən³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵/

人多嘴雜 人多嘴雜#Chinese

人多嘴杂 人多嘴杂#Chinese


車到山前必有路

A cart will find its way round the hill when it gets there

ㄔㄜ ㄉㄠˋ ㄕㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄔㄜ ㄉㄠˋ ㄕㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄨˋ

чэдаошаньцяньбиюлу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ tou̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lou̯²²/

we'll cross that bridge when we come to it; things will eventually sort themselves out


山不轉水轉

ㄕㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄢˋ

shān bùzhuàn shuǐ zhuàn [Phonetic:shān búzhuàn shuǐ zhuàn]

ㄕㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄢˋ

шань бучжуань шуй чжуань

/ʂän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːn³³ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡syːn³³/

/saːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːn³³ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡syːn³³/

the world is small enough for people to meet again


嫁出去的女兒，潑出去的水

嫁出去的女兒，潑出去的水

嫁出去的女儿，泼出去的水

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄋㄩˇ ㄦˊ

ㄆㄛ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄋㄩˇ ㄦˊ

ㄆㄛ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

цзя чуцюй дэ нюйэр

по чуцюй дэ шуй

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

a daughter married off is like water that has been splashed out; a daughter married off cannot be taken back


三個臭皮匠，勝過一個諸葛亮

三個臭皮匠，勝過一個諸葛亮

三个臭皮匠，胜过一个诸葛亮

three unskilled cobblers are superior to one Zhuge Liang

ㄙㄢ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄔㄡˋ ㄆㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

saam¹ go³ cau³ pei⁴ zoeng⁶, sing³ gwo³ jat¹ go³ zyu¹ got³ loeng⁶

shèngguò yīge Zhūgě Liàng [Phonetic:sān ge chòupíjiàng

сань гэ чоупицзян

шэнго игэ Чжугэ Лян

/sän⁵⁵ g̊ə² ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

shèngguò yīge Zhūgé Liàng [Phonetic:sān ge chòupíjiàng

/sän⁵⁵ g̊ə² ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

sāam go chau pèih jeuhng, sing gwo yāt go jyū got leuhng

saam¹ go³ tsau³ pei⁴ dzoeng⁶, sing³ gwo³ jat⁷ go³ dzy¹ got⁸ loeng⁶

sam¹ go³ ceo³ péi⁴ zêng⁶, xing³ guo³ yed¹ go³ ju¹ god³ lêng⁶

/saːm⁵⁵ kɔː³³ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ pʰei̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ²² sɪŋ³³ kʷɔː³³ jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ t͡syː⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³ lœːŋ²²/

三個臭皮匠，勝過諸葛亮 三個臭皮匠，勝過諸葛亮#Chinese

三个臭皮匠，胜过诸葛亮 三个臭皮匠，胜过诸葛亮#Chinese

synonym of 三個臭皮匠，勝過諸葛亮 /三个臭皮匠，胜过诸葛亮 (sān ge chòupíjiàng, shèngguò Zhūgě Liàng)


各花入各眼

ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄢˇ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄢˇ

гэхуажугэянь

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kɔːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³/

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kɔːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³/


慢工出細活

ㄇㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

ㄇㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

маньгун чу сихо

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

ㄇㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊㄦ

маньгунчусихор

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔɻ³⁵/

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔɻ³⁵/

soft fire makes sweet malt
soft fire makes sweet malt

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

slow and meticulous work leads to fine quality; soft fire makes sweet malt; slow and steady wins the race


天下烏鴉一般黑

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨ ㄧㄚ ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄏㄟ

tiānxià wūyā yībān hēi [Phonetic:tiānxià wūyā yìbān hēi]

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨ ㄧㄚ ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄏㄟ

тянься уя ибань хэй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² wuː⁵⁵ aː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ puːn⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

bad people or things are similar everywhere


一朝天子一朝臣

One reign of emperor, one reign of ministers

ㄧ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗˇ ㄧ ㄔㄠˊ ㄔㄣˊ

yī cháo tiānzǐ yī cháo chén [Phonetic:yì cháo tiānzǐ yì cháo chén]

ㄧ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗˇ ㄧ ㄔㄠˊ ㄔㄣˊ

и чао тяньцзы и чао чэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ sɐn²¹/

When a leader falls from power, his/her subordinates may fall from power too.


金窩銀窩，不如自己的狗窩

金窩銀窩，不如自己的狗窩

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨㄛ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄛ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄡˇ ㄨㄛ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨㄛ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄛ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄡˇ ㄨㄛ

цзинь во инь во

бужу цзыцзи дэ гоуво

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ in³⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɔ⁵⁵/

In this phrase, 狗窩 /狗窝 (gǒuwō) is a self-deprecatory term of one's home.

金窝银窝，不如自己的狗窝

A gold house or a silver house is not as good as one's doghouse

there's no place like home
there's no place like home


吉人自有天相

ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

цзижэнь цзыю тяньсян

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³/

A good person naturally enjoys the help from the Heaven. (Used as blessing words for people in difficulties)


蜀中無大將，廖化作先鋒

When there are no generals left in Shu Han, even Liao Hua can become the leader

ㄕㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ

suk⁶ zung¹ mou⁴ daai⁶ zoeng³, liu⁶ faa³ zok³ sin¹ fung¹

ㄕㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ

Шу чжун у дацзян

Ляо Хуа цзо сяньфэн

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

suhk jūng mòuh daaih jeung, liuh fa jok sīn fūng

suk⁹ dzung¹ mou⁴ daai⁶ dzoeng³, liu⁶ faa³ dzok⁸ sin¹ fung¹

sug⁶ zung¹ mou⁴ dai⁶ zêng³, liu⁶ fa³ zog³ xin¹ fung¹

/sʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³ liːu̯²² faː³³ t͡sɔːk̚³ siːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/


愚者千慮，必有一得

ㄩˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄩˋ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧ ㄉㄜˊ

jyu⁴ ze² cin¹ leoi⁶, bit¹ jau⁵ jat¹ dak¹

ㄩˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄩˋ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧ ㄉㄜˊ

юйчжэцяньлюй

/y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

jy⁴ dze² tsin¹ loey⁶, bit⁷ jau⁵ jat⁷ dak⁷

/jyː²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

Lord Guangwu (Li Zuoche) said, “I have heard a saying that a wise person may make mistakes after thinking thousand times; an unintelligent person may have some good ideas after thinking thousand times.”

The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

Guǎngwǔ jūn yuē: ‘Chén wén zhìzhěqiānlǜ，bìyǒuyīshī; yúzhěqiānlǜ，bìyǒuyīdé.’

廣武君曰：『臣聞智者千慮，必有一失；愚者千慮，必有一得。』

广武君曰：『臣闻智者千虑，必有一失；愚者千虑，必有一得。』

愚者千虑，必有一得
愚者千慮，亦有一得

even the foolish ones can sometimes have good ideas after making deep and careful consideration; even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while


他山之石，可以攻玉

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄩˋ

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄩˋ

/tʰä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

taa¹ saan¹ dzi¹ sek⁹, ho² ji⁵ gung¹ juk⁹

/tʰaː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² hɔː³⁵ jiː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 184 (《詩經·小雅·鶴鳴》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·鶴鳴》)

(《詩經·小雅·鶴鳴》)

Pleasant is that garden, In which are the sandal trees;
But beneath them is the paper-mulberry tree,
The stones of those hills, May be used to polish gems.

The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Lè bǐ zhī yuán, yuán yǒu shù tán, qí xià wéi gǔ.
Tā shān zhī shí, kěyǐ gōng yù.

樂彼之園，爰有樹檀，其下維穀。
他山之石，可以攻玉。

乐彼之园，爰有树檀，其下维谷。
他山之石，可以攻玉。

Stones from another hill can be used to polish my jade

(figurative) advice from others may help remedy one's own shortcomings


寧為雞口，無為牛後

ja-r

鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ

けいこう となるも ぎゅうご となるなかれ

→ Japanese: 鶏口(けいこう)となるも牛後(ぎゅうご)となるなかれ (keikō tonarumo gyūgo tonarunakare) (calque)

desc

→ Vietnamese: Thà làm đầu gà, hơn làm đuôi trâu (calque)

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄏㄡˋ

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄏㄡˋ

нин вэй цзикоу

/niŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

Quoted from Su Qin's speech to King Xuanhui of Han, persuading him to unite with other states to fight against Qin

(Su Qin said,) “I have heard that there is a saying that ‘it is better to be the beak of a chicken than the arse of an ox’. Now if Your Majesty would like to bow to the west and submit to Qin, that is no difference with being an ox's arse, isn't it?”

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Chén wén bǐyǔ yuē: “Níng wèi jī kǒu, wú wèi niú hòu”. Jīn dàwáng xīmiàn jiāobì ér chénshì qín, héyǐ yì yú niú hòu hū?

臣聞鄙語曰：「寧為雞口，無為牛後」。今大王西面交臂而臣事秦，何以異於牛後乎？

臣闻鄙语曰：「宁为鸡口，无为牛后」。今大王西面交臂而臣事秦，何以异于牛后乎？

寧爲鷄口，無爲牛後
宁为鸡口，无为牛后
寧為雞口，不為牛後

Better be the beak of a chicken (smaller but cleaner) than the arse of an ox (bigger but dirtier)

Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Chéngchí jiāngù, liángcǎo fēngzú, shàng kě zhànshǒu. Gǔyǔ yǒu yún: ‘Níngwèijīkǒu, wúwèiniúhòu’.

城池堅固，糧草豐足，尚可戰守。古語有云：『寧為雞口，無為牛後』。

城池坚固，粮草丰足，尚可战守。古语有云：『宁为鸡口，无为牛后』。

big fish in a small pond
big fish in a small pond

(figurative) It is better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.


糟糠之妻不下堂

ㄗㄠ ㄎㄤ ㄓ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄤˊ

zāokāng zhī qī bù xiàtáng [Phonetic:zāokāng zhī qī bú xiàtáng]

ㄗㄠ ㄎㄤ ㄓ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄤˊ

tsao¹-kʻang¹ chih¹ chʻi¹ pu⁴ hsia⁴-tʻang²

цзаокан чжи ци бу сятан

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

Treasure those who had been good to you when you were in need.


竊鉤者誅，竊國者侯

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄡ ㄓㄜˇ ㄓㄨ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄏㄡˊ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄡ ㄓㄜˇ ㄓㄨ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄏㄡˊ

chʻieh⁴ kou¹ chê³ chu¹, chʻieh⁴ kuo² chê³ hou²

це гоу чжэ чжу

це го чжэ хоу

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ koʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

Here is one who steals a hook (for his girdle) - he is put to death for it: here is another who steals a state - he becomes its prince. But it is at the gates of the princes that we find benevolence and righteousness (most strongly) professed - is not this stealing benevolence and righteousness, sageness and wisdom?

Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Bǐ qiè gōu zhě zhū, qiè guó zhě wèi zhūhóu, zhūhóu zhī mén, ér rényì cún yān, zé shìfēi qiè rényì shèng zhì yé?

彼竊鉤者誅，竊國者為諸侯，諸侯之門，而仁義存焉，則是非竊仁義聖知邪？

彼窃钩者诛，窃国者为诸侯，诸侯之门，而仁义存焉，则是非窃仁义圣知邪？

竊鈎者誅，竊國者侯
窃钩者诛，窃国者侯

(sarcastic) Used to criticize political corruption to an extent that right and wrong is falsified.


在家千日好，出門一時難

ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ㄔㄨ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ

zoi⁶ gaa¹ cin¹ jat⁶ hou², ceot¹ mun⁴ jat¹ si⁴ naan⁴

chūmén yīshí nán [Phonetic:zàijiā qiānrì hǎo

ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ㄔㄨ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ

цзайцзя цяньжи хао

чумэнь иши нань

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ mən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵/

joih gā chīn yaht hóu, chēut mùhn yāt sìh nàahn

dzoi⁶ gaa¹ tsin¹ jat⁹ hou², tsoet⁷ mun⁴ jat⁷ si⁴ naan⁴

zoi⁶ ga¹ qin¹ yed⁶ hou², cêd¹ mun⁴ yed¹ xi⁴ nan⁴

/t͡sɔːi̯²² kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚² hou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ muːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ naːn²¹/

It is good to stay at home, but there are many difficulties outside.


尺有所短，寸有所長

ㄔˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄤˊ

cek³ jau⁵ so² dyun², cyun³ jau⁵ so² coeng⁴

ㄔˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄤˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

chek yáuh só dyún, chyun yáuh só chèuhng

tsek⁸ jau⁵ so² dyn², tsyn³ jau⁵ so² tsoeng⁴

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ tyːn³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

Sometimes a foot may lack the strength,
While an inch is just fit in length,
Things have their flaws, and the wise may
Sometimes prove to be dim in sight.
Divining may not all reveal;
All oracles not be applied.

The Verses of Chu, 4ᵗʰ century BCE – 2ⁿᵈ century CE

Fū chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn, cùn yǒu suǒ cháng, wù yǒu suǒ bùzú, zhì yǒu suǒ bùmíng, shù yǒusuǒ bùdài, shén yǒusuǒ bùtōng.

夫尺有所短，寸有所長，物有所不足，智有所不明，數有所不逮，神有所不通。

夫尺有所短，寸有所长，物有所不足，智有所不明，数有所不逮，神有所不通。

(figurative) everyone has their weak points as well as their strong ones; Everybody has their own merits and demerits


你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何

head

你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何

你的样子如何，你的命运也必如何

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

nei⁵ dik¹ joeng⁶ zi² jyu⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik¹ ming⁶ wan⁶ jaa⁵ bit¹ jyu⁴ ho⁴

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

ни дэ янцзы жухэ

ни дэмин юнь е бижу хэ

/ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ jɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

néih dīk yeuhng jí yùh hòh, néih dīk mihng wahn yáh bīt yùh hòh

nei⁵ dik⁷ joeng⁶ dzi² jy⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik⁷ ming⁶ wan⁶ jaa⁵ bit⁷ jy⁴ ho⁴

néi⁵ dig¹ yêng⁶ ji² yu⁴ ho⁴, néi⁵ dig¹ ming⁶ wen⁶ ya⁵ bid¹ yu⁴ ho⁴

/nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹ nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ mɪŋ²² wɐn²² jaː¹³ piːt̚⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹/

你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何 你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何#Chinese

你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何 你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何#Chinese

your face, your fate
your face, your fate

(Hong Kong, neologism) synonym of 你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何 /你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何 (nǐ de yàngzǐ rúhé, nǐ de rìzǐ yě bì rúhé, “your face, your fate”)


來說是非者，便是是非人

ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄓㄜˇ

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄖㄣˊ

loi⁴ syut³ si⁶ fei¹ ze², bin⁶ si⁶ si⁶ fei¹ jan⁴

ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄓㄜˇ

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄖㄣˊ

лай шо шифэй чжэ

бянь ши шифэй жэнь

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

lòih syut sih fēi jé, bihn sih sih fēi yàhn

loi⁴ syt⁸ si⁶ fei¹ dze², bin⁶ si⁶ si⁶ fei¹ jan⁴

loi⁴ xud³ xi⁶ féi¹ zé², bin⁶ xi⁶ xi⁶ féi¹ yen⁴

/lɔːi̯²¹ syːt̚³ siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ piːn²² siː²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

People who like to talk about rumours are those who create rumours.


臺上一分鐘，臺下十年功

台上一分钟，台下十年功
台上一分鐘，台下十年功

ㄊㄞˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ

ㄊㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

táixià shínián gōng [Phonetic:tái shàng yì fēnzhōng

ㄊㄞˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ

ㄊㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

тай шан и фэньчжун

тайся шинянь гун

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

a minute performing on stage represents a decade of work off-stage


小財不出，大財不入

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

One must sacrifice a small amount of money to earn big money.


君子喻於義，小人喻於利

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄌㄧˋ

gwan¹ zi² jyu⁶ jyu¹ ji⁶, siu² jan⁴ jyu⁶ jyu¹ lei⁶

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄌㄧˋ

chün¹-tzŭ³ yü⁴ yü² i⁴

цзюньцзы юй юй и

сяожэнь юй юй ли

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ y³⁵ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ y⁵¹ y³⁵ li⁵¹/

gwān jí yuh yū yih, síu yàhn yuh yū leih

gwan¹ dzi² jy⁶ jy¹ ji⁶, siu² jan⁴ jy⁶ jy¹ lei⁶

guen¹ ji² yu⁶ yu¹ yi⁶, xiu² yen⁴ yu⁶ yu¹ léi⁶

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jyː²² jyː⁵⁵ jiː²² siːu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jyː²² jyː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

The Master said, "The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain."

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

Zǐ yuē, jūnzǐ yù yú yì, xiǎorén yù yú lì.

子曰、君子喻於義、小人喻於利。

子曰、君子喻于义、小人喻于利。

A high-minded person knows with regard to righteousness, a small-minded person knows with regard to profit

High-minded people value doing the right thing, but low-minded people value doing the profitable thing


見人講人話，見鬼講鬼話

speaking the language of humans when seeing a human, and speaking the language of devils when seeing a devil

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

gin³ jan⁴ gong² jan⁴ waa⁶⁻², gin³ gwai² gong² gwai² waa⁶⁻²

jiàn rén jiǎng rénhuà, jiàn guǐ jiǎng guǐhuà [Phonetic:jiànrénjiǎngrénhuà,jiànguíjiángguǐhuà]

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

цзянь жэнь цзян жэньхуа

цзянь гуй цзян гуйхуа

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

gin yàhn góng yàhn wá, gin gwái góng gwái wá

gin³ yen⁴ gong² yen⁴ wa⁶⁻², gin³ guei² gong² guei² wa⁶⁻²

/kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ waː²²⁻³⁵ kiːn³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/

(figurative) to be flexible and know what to say in different situations and to different people; (derogatory) to be crafty and two-faced

見人說人話，見鬼說鬼話／见人说人话，见鬼说鬼话

jiàn rén shuō rénhuà, jiàn guǐ shuō guǐhuà


觀棋不語真君子，起手無回大丈夫

觀棋不語真君子，起手無回大丈夫

观棋不语真君子，起手无回大丈夫

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄓㄣ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ

ㄑㄧˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ˙ㄈㄨ

ㄑㄧˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ

gun¹ kei⁴ bat¹ jyu⁵ zan¹ gwan¹ zi², hei² sau² mou⁴ wui⁴ daai⁶ zoeng⁶ fu¹

qǐshǒu wú huí dàzhàngfu [Phonetic:guānqíbùyǔzhēnjūnzǐ

гуань ци бу юй чжэнь цзюньцзы

цишоу у хуэй дачжанфу

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu¹/

qǐshǒu wú huí dàzhàngfū [Phonetic:guānqíbùyǔzhēnjūnzǐ

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

gūn kèih bāt yúh jān gwān jí, héi sáu mòuh wùih daaih jeuhng fū

gun¹ kei⁴ bat⁷ jy⁵ dzan¹ gwan¹ dzi², hei² sau² mou⁴ wui⁴ daai⁶ dzoeng⁶ fu¹

gun¹ kéi⁴ bed¹ yu⁵ zen¹ guen¹ ji², héi² seo² mou⁴ wui⁴ dai⁶ zêng⁶ fu¹

/kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ wuːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² fuː⁵⁵/

Do not make any comments on a chess game when watching it, and do not regret your move when playing a chess game.


夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也

夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也

ㄈㄨˊ ㄙㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄙㄤ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄙㄤˋ ㄧㄝˇ

fu⁴ saam¹ nin⁴ zi¹ song¹, tin¹ haa⁶ zi¹ tung¹ song⁶ jaa⁵

ㄈㄨˊ ㄙㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄙㄤ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄙㄤˋ ㄧㄝˇ

фу сань нянь чжи сан

тянься чжи тунсан е

/fu³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

fùh sāam nìhn jī sōng, tīn hah jī tūng sohng yáh

fu⁴ saam¹ nin⁴ dzi¹ song¹, tin¹ haa⁶ dzi¹ tung¹ song⁶ jaa⁵

fu⁴ sam¹ nin⁴ ji¹ song¹, tin¹ ha⁶ ji¹ tung¹ song⁶ ya⁵

/fuː²¹ saːm⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ²² jaː¹³/

Zai Wo asked about the three years' mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. "If the superior man abstains for three years from the observances of propriety, those observances will be quite lost. If for three years he abstains from music, music will be ruined. Within a year the old grain is exhausted, and the new grain has sprung up, and, in procuring fire by friction, we go through all the changes of wood for that purpose. After a complete year, the mourning may stop." The Master said, "If you were, after a year, to eat good rice, and wear embroidered clothes, would you feel at ease?" "I should," replied Wo. The Master said, "If you can feel at ease, do it. But a superior man, during the whole period of mourning, does not enjoy pleasant food which he may eat, nor derive pleasure from music which he may hear. He also does not feel at ease, if he is comfortably lodged. Therefore he does not do what you propose. But now you feel at ease and may do it." Zai Wo then went out, and the Master said, "This shows Yu's want of virtue. It is not till a child is three years old that it is allowed to leave the arms of its parents. And the three years' mourning is universally observed throughout the empire. Did Yu enjoy the three years' love of his parents?"

Zǎi Wǒ wèn: “Sān nián zhī sàng, qī yǐjiǔ yǐ. Jūnzǐ sān nián bùwèi lǐ, lǐ bì huài; sān nián bùwèi yuè, yuè bì bēng. Jiù gǔ jì méi, xīn gǔ jì shēng, zuàn suì gǎi huǒ, qī kě yǐ yǐ.” Zǐ yuē: “Shí fū dào, yī fū jǐn, yú nǚ ān hū?” Yuē: “Ān.” “Nǚ ān zé wèi zhī! Fū jūnzǐ zhī jūsàng, shí zhǐ bùgān, wén yuè bùyuè, jūchù bù'ān, gù bùwèi yě. Jīn nǚ ān, zé wèi zhī!” Zǎi Wǒ chū. Zǐ yuē: “Yǔ zhī bùrén yě! Zǐ shēng sān nián, ránhòu miǎn yú fùmǔ zhī huái. Fū sān nián zhī sàng, tiānxià zhī tōngsàng yě. Yǔ yě, yǒu sān nián zhī ài yú qí fùmǔ hū?”

宰我問：「三年之喪，期已久矣。君子三年不為禮，禮必壞；三年不為樂，樂必崩。舊穀既沒，新穀既升，鑽燧改火，期可已矣。」子曰：「食夫稻，衣夫錦，於女安乎？」曰：「安。」「女安則為之！夫君子之居喪，食旨不甘，聞樂不樂，居處不安，故不為也。今女安，則為之！」宰我出。子曰：「予之不仁也！子生三年，然後免於父母之懷。夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也。予也，有三年之愛於其父母乎？」

宰我问：「三年之丧，期已久矣。君子三年不为礼，礼必坏；三年不为乐，乐必崩。旧谷既没，新谷既升，钻燧改火，期可已矣。」子曰：「食夫稻，衣夫锦，于女安乎？」曰：「安。」「女安则为之！夫君子之居丧，食旨不甘，闻乐不乐，居处不安，故不为也。今女安，则为之！」宰我出。子曰：「予之不仁也！子生三年，然后免于父母之怀。夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也。予也，有三年之爱于其父母乎？」

夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也

The three years' mourning is the common funeral rite of all under Heaven

One should mourn one's parents for three years when they die


三年之喪

ㄙㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄙㄤ

ㄙㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄙㄤ

сань нянь чжи сан

/sän⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Zǎi Wǒ wèn: “Sān nián zhī sàng, qī yǐjiǔ yǐ. Jūnzǐ sān nián bùwèi lǐ, lǐ bì huài; sān nián bùwèi yuè, yuè bì bēng. Jiù gǔ jì méi, xīn gǔ jì shēng, zuàn suì gǎi huǒ, qī kě yǐ yǐ.” Zǐ yuē: “Shí fū dào, yī fū jǐn, yú nǚ ān hū?” Yuē: “Ān.” “nǚ ān zé wèi zhī! Fū jūnzǐ zhī jūsàng, shí zhǐ bùgān, wén yuè bùyuè, jūchù bù'ān, gù bùwèi yě. Jīn nǚ ān, zé wèi zhī!” Zǎi Wǒ chū. Zǐ yuē: “Yǔ zhī bùrén yě! Zǐ shēng sān nián, ránhòu miǎn yú fùmǔ zhī huái. Fū sān nián zhī sàng, tiānxià zhī tōngsàng yě. Yǔ yě, yǒu sān nián zhī ài yú qí fùmǔ hū?”

夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也 / 夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也

fú sān nián zhī sāng, tiānxià zhī tōngsàng yě


溫言在口，大棒在手

ㄨㄣ ㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄡˇ

wan¹ jin⁴ zoi⁶ hau², daai⁶ paang⁵ zoi⁶ sau²

ㄨㄣ ㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄡˇ

вэньянь цзай коу

дабан цзай шоу

/wən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

wān yìhn joih háu, daaih páahng joih sáu

wan¹ jin⁴ dzoi⁶ hau², daai⁶ paang⁵ dzoi⁶ sau²

wen¹ yin⁴ zoi⁶ heo², dai⁶ pang⁵ zoi⁶ seo²

/wɐn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² hɐu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² pʰaːŋ¹³ t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐu̯³⁵/

Calque of English speak softly and carry a big stick.

calque

gentle words in mouth, big stick on hand

2024 January 14, Lianhe Zaobao, 美学者提醒：台湾选后应保持克制同时加强备战 (American Scholar Reminds: Post-Election Taiwan Should Exercise Restraint while Enhance War-Preperation):

Larry Diamond also quotes the late U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt's famous quote "speak softly and carry a big stick". He says the Biden Administration follows this path by not pursuing provocation...

Dàiyǎmén yě yǐnshù měiguó yǐgù zǒngtǒng lǎo luósīfú míngyán “wēnyánzàikǒu, dàbàngzàishǒu”, zhǐ bàidēng zhèngfǔ zhèngshì yīxún cǐ lùxiàn, bù cǎiqǔ tiǎoxìn jǔcuò......

戴雅門也引述美國已故總統老羅斯福名言“溫言在口，大棒在手”，指拜登政府正是依循此路線，不採取挑釁舉措……

戴雅门也引述美国已故总统老罗斯福名言“温言在口，大棒在手”，指拜登政府正是依循此路线，不采取挑衅举措……

speak softly and carry a big stick
speak softly and carry a big stick


寧欺白鬚公，莫欺少年窮

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ

ning⁴ hei¹ baak⁶ sou¹ gung¹, mok⁶ hei¹ siu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

нин ци байсюй гун

мо ци шаонянь цюн

/niŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/niŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

nìhng hēi baahk sōu gūng, mohk hēi siu nìhn kùhng

ning⁴ hei¹ baak⁹ sou¹ gung¹, mok⁹ hei¹ siu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

ning⁴ héi¹ bag⁶ sou¹ gung¹, mog⁶ héi¹ xiu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

/nɪŋ²¹ hei̯⁵⁵ paːk̚² sou̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³³ niːn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

Originally Cantonese. First attested in the vernacular novel 廿載繁華夢 by Huang Shizhong (黃世仲／黄世仲) from Panyu, Guangdong.

Do not look down on a young person for being poor


會哭的孩子有奶吃

会哭的孩子有奶吃
會哭的孩子有奶喫

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄎㄨ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄞˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄞˇ ㄔ

huì kū de háizi yǒu nǎi chī [Phonetic:huìkūdeháiziyóunǎichī]

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄎㄨ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄞˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄞˇ ㄔ

хуэй ку дэ хайцзы ю най чи

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵ d̥ə² xaɪ̯³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

the squeaky wheel gets the grease
the squeaky wheel gets the grease


蠅附驥尾而致千里

The fly on the tail of a noble steed travels a thousand miles.

ㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

ㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

ying² fu⁴ chi⁴ wei³ êrh² chih⁴ chʻien¹-li³

ин фу цзи вэй эр чжи цяньли

/iŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants

a dwarf stands on the shoulders of giants


蒼蠅附驥尾而致千里

The housefly on the tail of a noble steed travels a thousand miles.

ㄘㄤ ˙ㄧㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

ㄘㄤ ˙ㄧㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

tsʻang¹-ying⁵ fu⁴ chi⁴ wei³ êrh² chih⁴ chʻien¹-li³

цанъин фу цзи вэй эр чжи цяньли

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ iŋ² fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


養兒一百歲，長憂九十九

When a parent raises a child for 100 years, he/she would worry for him/her for 99 years

ㄧㄢˇ ㄍㄜˊㄦ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

ㄔㄤˊ ㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

joeng⁵ ji⁴ jat¹ baak³ seoi³, coeng⁴ jau¹ gau² sap⁶ gau²

cháng yōu jiǔshíjiǔ [Phonetic:yǎngér yìbǎi suì

ㄧㄢˇ ㄍㄜˊㄦ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

ㄔㄤˊ ㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

яньгэр ибай суй

чан ю цзюшицзю

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤɻ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

yéuhng yìh yāt baak seui, chèuhng yāu gáu sahp gáu

joeng⁵ ji⁴ jat⁷ baak⁸ soey³, tsoeng⁴ jau¹ gau² sap⁹ gau²

yêng⁵ yi⁴ yed¹ bag³ sêu³, cêng⁴ yeo¹ geo² seb⁶ geo²

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ jɐt̚⁵ paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ sɐp̚² kɐu̯³⁵/

A parent always cares about their children no matter how old they are.


教會徒弟，餓死師傅

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ

цзяохуэй туди

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

If a master teaches his apprentice everything without reservation, the apprentice may surpass the master, causing the master to lose his livelihood


一人計短，二人計長

ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄦˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄔㄤˊ

jat¹ jan⁴ gai³ dyun², ji⁶ jan⁴ gai³ coeng⁴

èr rén jì cháng [Phonetic:yì rén jì duǎn

ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄦˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄔㄤˊ

i¹ jên² chi⁴ tuan³, êrh⁴ jên² chi⁴ chʻang²

и жэнь цзи дуань

эр жэнь цзи чан

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

jat⁷ jan⁴ gai³ dyn², ji⁶ jan⁴ gai³ tsoeng⁴

yed¹ yen⁴ gei³ dün², yi⁶ yen⁴ gei³ cêng⁴

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ kɐi̯³³ tyːn³⁵ jiː²² jɐn²¹ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

two heads are better than one
two heads are better than one

two heads are better than one; it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone


蘿蔔白菜，各有所愛

Daikon or bok choi; everyone has their preference.

ㄌㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄅㄛ ㄅㄞˊ ㄘㄞˋ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄞˋ

luóbo báicài, gè yǒu suǒ ài [Phonetic:luóbobáicài,gèyóusuǒài]

ㄌㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄅㄛ ㄅㄞˊ ㄘㄞˋ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄞˋ

/lu̯ɔ³⁵ b̥u̯ɔ³ paɪ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

one man's trash is another man's treasure, to each his own


近水樓臺先得月

近水楼台先得月
近水樓台先得月

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄡˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄩㄝˋ

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄡˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄩㄝˋ

цзиньшуйлоутай сянь дэ юэ

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ loʊ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/kɐn²² sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jyːt̚²/

proximity or closeness to someone or something grants an advantage or priority in gaining certain benefits


外來的和尚好念經

Monks from afar are better at chanting sutras

ㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄞˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

ㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄞˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

wai⁴-lai² tê⁵ ho²-shang⁴ hao³ nien⁴-ching¹

вайлай дэ хэшан хао няньцзин

/waɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

(sarcastic) People always value opinions from foreign sources higher than their fellows' advice.


相見好，同住難

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄋㄢˊ

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄋㄢˊ

сянцзянь хао

тун чжу нань

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ nän³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hou̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː²² naːn²¹/

it is easy for people to meet each other but hard for them to live together peacefully


得道多助，失道寡助

ㄉㄜˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨˋ

ㄕ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄓㄨˋ

ㄉㄜˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨˋ

ㄕ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄓㄨˋ

/tɤ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

dak⁷ dou⁶ do¹ dzo⁶, sat⁷ dou⁶ gwaa² dzo⁶

/tɐk̚⁵ tou̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²² sɐt̚⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

He who finds the proper course has many to assist him. He who loses the proper course has few to assist him. When this - the being assisted by few - reaches its extreme point, his own relations revolt from the prince. When the being assisted by many reaches its highest point, the whole kingdom becomes obedient to the prince.

Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Dédào zhě duōzhù, shīdào zhě guǎzhù. Guǎzhù zhī zhì, qīnqī pàn zhī; duōzhù zhī zhì, tiānxià shùn zhī.

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，親戚畔之；多助之至，天下順之。

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔之；多助之至，天下顺之。

a just cause attracts abundant support while an unjust cause finds little support


誰大誰惡誰正確

ㄕㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄟˊ ㄜˋ ㄕㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄜˋ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

ㄕㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄟˊ ㄜˋ ㄕㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

шэй да шэй э шэй чжэнцюэ

/ʂeɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄜˋ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

шуй да шуй э шуй чжэнцюэ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ taːi̯²² sɵy̯²¹ ɔːk̚³ sɵy̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ kʰɔːk̚³/

From the 2018 TVB drama The Learning Curve of a Warlord.


差若毫釐，謬以千里

desc

→ Vietnamese: sai một li đi một dặm (calque)

ㄔㄚ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

caa¹ joek⁶ hou⁴ lei⁴, mau⁶ ji⁵ cin¹ lei⁵

ㄔㄚ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tsaa¹ joek⁹ hou⁴ lei⁴, mau⁶ ji⁵ tsin¹ lei⁵

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² hou̯²¹ lei̯²¹ mɐu̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

From the Book of Rites, which apparently paraphrases the Classic of Changes:
*

This sentiment is found in the words of the Yi, ‘The superior man is careful at the commencement; a mistake, then, of a hair's breadth, will lead to an error of a thousand li.’

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

“Yì” yuē: “Jūnzǐ shèn shǐ, chā ruò háolí, miù yǐ qiānlǐ.” Cǐ zhī wèi yě.

《易》曰：「君子慎始，差若豪氂，繆以千里。」此之謂也。

《易》曰：「君子慎始，差若豪牦，缪以千里。」此之谓也。

small discrepancies lead to great errors


太陽光大，父母恩大，君子量大，小人氣大

head

太陽光大，父母恩大，君子量大，小人氣大

太阳光大，父母恩大，君子量大，小人气大

ㄊㄞˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ ㄣ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄊㄞˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ ㄣ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ

тайян гуан да

цзюньцзы лян да

сяожэнь ци да

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

the sun shines brightly, one's parents have a lot of kindness, a gentleman is magnanimousm while a small-minded person has a bad temper

en-太陽光大，父母恩大，君子量大，小人氣大-zh-proverb-5shMo18y


千年王八萬年龜

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄤˊ ˙ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄤˊ ˙ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

chʻien¹ nien² wang²-pa⁵ wan⁴ nien² kuei¹

цянь нянь ванба вань нянь гуй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ b̥ä³ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

chʻien¹ nien² wang²-pa¹ wan⁴ nien² kuei¹

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ pä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

Turtles live a life that is long as a thousand or ten thousand years. (a Chinese folk belief)


十月懷胎，一朝分娩

ㄕˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄊㄞ

ㄧ ㄓㄠ ㄈㄣ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

ㄕˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄊㄞ

ㄧ ㄓㄠ ㄈㄣ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

шиюэ хуайтай

ичжао фэньмянь

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figuratively) to prepare for something a long time, before it happening at once


同姓三分親

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄣ ㄑㄧㄣ

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄣ ㄑㄧㄣ

тунсин саньфэнь цинь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

people sharing the same surname enjoy closer blood or social relations


名師出高徒

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕ ㄔㄨ ㄍㄠ ㄊㄨˊ

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕ ㄔㄨ ㄍㄠ ㄊㄨˊ

минши чу гаоту

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/


有麝自然香

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ю шэ цзыжань сян

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɛː²² t͡siː²² jiːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɛː²² t͡siː²² jiːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

good wine needs no bush
good wine needs no bush


金無足赤，人無完人

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔˋ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄨㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔˋ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄨㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ

цзинь у цзучи

жэнь у ваньжэнь

žɛnʹ u vanʹžɛnʹ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ u³⁵ wän³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

there is no perfect person; one cannot expect a person to be without any flaws or mistakes


彈指一揮間

ㄊㄢˊ ㄓˇ ㄧ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄐㄧㄢ

tánzhǐ yī huī jiān [Phonetic:tánzhǐ yì huī jiān]

ㄊㄢˊ ㄓˇ ㄧ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄐㄧㄢ

таньчжи и хуэй цзянь

/tʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn²¹ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn²¹ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵/