丟人現眼

ㄉㄧㄡ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄢˇ

дюжэньсяньянь

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiːn²² ŋaːn¹³/

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiːn²² ŋaːn¹³/

to make a fool of oneself; to make oneself lose face


有不有

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Is there a chance for “Sea Palace” to be rebuilt elsewhere?

2011, 深圳海上皇宫被认定违建遭强拆始末(组图), Nanfang Daily

“Hǎishàng Huánggōng” yǒu bù yǒu kěnéng yìdì chóngjiàn?

「海上皇宮」有不有可能異地重建？

「海上皇宫」有不有可能异地重建？

Customised push advertising! New Facebook technology analyses “whether you are rich”

2018, http://3c.ltn.com.tw/news/32944, Liberty Times

Fāngbiàn tuīsòng guǎnggào! Liǎnshū xīn jìshù jiāng néng pànduàn nǐ “yǒu bù yǒu qián”

方便推送廣告！臉書新技術將能判斷你「有不有錢」

方便推送广告！脸书新技术将能判断你「有不有钱」

As drowning deaths happened repeatedly, are the authorities responsible? Is supervision lacking in those families? Is society not doing enough?

2018, 让“生死教训”警醒更多后来者, 天府评论

Nìwáng shìjiàn yīzài fāshēng, xiāngguān bùmén yǒu bù yǒu zérèn? Jiātíng shìfǒu quēfá jiānguǎn? Shèhuì shìfǒu zuò de bùgòu?

溺亡事件一再發生，相關部門有不有責任？家庭是否缺乏監管？社會是否做得不夠？

2018, 让“生死教训”警醒更多后来者, 天府评论

溺亡事件一再发生，相关部门有不有责任？家庭是否缺乏监管？社会是否做得不够？

(likely regional) Synonym of 有沒有／有没有 (“to have or not have”)


趨之若鶩

ㄑㄩ ㄓ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mou̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mou̯²²/

(figurative, derogatory) to go after something like a flock of ducks; to scramble for something


大跌眼鏡

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄝ ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tiːt̚³ ŋaːn¹³ kɛːŋ³³⁻³⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ tiak̚²⁻⁴ ŋaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tiːt̚³ ŋaːn¹³ kɛːŋ³³⁻³⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ tiak̚²⁻⁴ ŋaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

Literally “to suddenly drop one's eyeglasses”; said to be in reference to earlier, loosely-fitted glasses which fell off easily.

(figurative) to have one's jaws drop (often in a bad way); to be greatly surprised or astonished; to be dumbfounded


詰んだ

(Internet slang) game over, with no success possible


+α

+α (canonical)
purasu arufa (romanization)

[pɯ̟ɾa̠sɨ a̠ɾɯ̟ɸa̠]

Unclear. α may be a corruption of x, as might be used in math. Literally, it is "plus alpha".


自投羅網

ㄗˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄨㄤˇ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɔː²¹ mɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɔː²¹ mɔːŋ¹³/

to hurl oneself willingly or involuntarily into the net; to walk or fall into a trap


no string attached

Mr. [James Gillespie] Blaine's declination—it is always understood that we assume there is no string attached to his letter—is undoubtedly a wise move on his part.

1892 February 17, “Cartoons and Comments”, in H[enry] C[uyler] Bunner, editor, Puck, volume XXX, number 780, New York, N.Y.: Keppler & Schwarzmann, →OCLC, page 430, column 2:

"No," I assured him, after receiving his cordial welcome, "my offer had no string attached. I'm more than ready to help in any way I can, to find a niche for you in this old town and fit you into it. It doesn't matter where you hail from, or how you got here; New York is an all-comers' race, and the devil take the hindmost."

1919, Carolyn Wells, “Case Rivers”, in The Man Who Fell through the Earth, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, →OCLC, page 170:

As to the $12 billion State share, there is not even the pretense of an attempt at congressional oversight, Federal control, or standards of performance. The State share is totally no-string attached.

1972 July 27, Andrew J[ohn] Biemiller, witness, “Statement of Andrew J. Biemiller, Director, Department of Legislation, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Accompanied by Nathaniel Goldfinger, Director, Research Department, and Arnold Cantor, Economist, Research Department”, in Revenue Sharing: Hearings before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, Ninety-second Congress, Second Session on H.R. 14370 to Provide Payments to Localities for High-priority Expenditures, to Encourage the States to Supplement Their Revenue Sources, and to Authorize Federal Collection of State Individual Income Taxes […], Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 452:

When government delivers handouts with no string attached, more people naturally want to use and abuse them, which eventually ruins economy and drains a country's wealth. Essentially the welfare state destroys the ethic which sustains this very state.

2021, Andrei Znamenski, “Regime of Goodness: Social Democracy and the Swedish Model, 1920s–1990s”, in Socialism as a Secular Creed: A Modern Global History, Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 205:

no strings attached
no strings attached#English


自報家門

ㄗˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄇㄣˊ

цзыбаоцзямэнь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

ㄗˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄇㄣˊㄦ

цзыбаоцзямэньр

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ məɻ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² pou̯³³ kaː⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ məɻ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² pou̯³³ kaː⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

(theater, of an actor) to introduce their character

(figuratively) to give a self-introduction; to introduce oneself


水性楊花

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚ

шуйсинъянхуа

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³ jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³ jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵/

(of a woman) frivolous; fickle; lascivious


一腳踏兩船

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

yī jiǎo tà liǎng chuán [Phonetic:yì jiǎo tà liǎng chuán]

и цзяо та лян чуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kœːk̚³ taːp̚² lœːŋ¹³ syːn²¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kœːk̚³ taːp̚² lœːŋ¹³ syːn²¹/

First, he was fired by his company for something trivial. Then, after finding a part-time job with much difficulty, because someone complained that he kept giving back the wrong change, his boss fired him in a fury. In the end, he even broke up with his girlfriend who was living together with him for five years because of two-timing!

sin¹ si⁶ jan¹ wai⁶ jat¹ se¹ siu² si⁶ ji⁴ bei⁶ gung¹ si¹ gaai² gu³, zip³ zoek⁶ hou² bat¹ jung⁴ ji⁶ zoi⁶ bin⁶ lei⁶ dim³ zaau² dou³ fan⁶ paat¹ taai¹, git³ gwo² ging² jin⁴ jan¹ wai⁶ bei⁶ tau⁴ sou³ seng⁴ jat⁶ zaau² co³ cin⁴⁻², lou⁵ baan² jat¹ hei³ zi¹ haa⁶ baa² taa¹ ci⁴ teoi³, zeoi³ hau⁶ lin⁴ tung⁴ geoi¹ liu⁵ ng⁵ nin⁴ dik¹ neoi⁵ pang⁴ jau⁵ jik⁶ jan¹ wai⁶ jat¹ goek³ daap⁶ loeng⁵ syun⁴ ji⁴ fan¹ sau²!

先是因為一些小事而被公司解僱，接着好不容易在便利店找到份part-time，結果竟然因為被投訴成日找錯錢，老闆一氣之下把他辭退，最後連同居了五年的女朋友亦因為一腳踏兩船而分手！

先是因为一些小事而被公司解雇，接着好不容易在便利店找到份part-time，结果竟然因为被投诉成日找错钱，老板一气之下把他辞退，最后连同居了五年的女朋友亦因为一脚踏两船而分手！

to have two dates at the same time; to two-time


全俺が泣いた

全俺が泣いた (canonical)
zen'ore ga naita (romanization)

Parody of 全米(ぜんべい)が泣(な)いた (zenbei ga naita, “the entirety of America cried”), a clichéd Japanese tagline applied to Hollywood movies, swapping 米(べい) (bei, “the United States”) with 俺(おれ) (ore, “me”, masculine).


飲彈自盡

ㄧㄣˇ ㄉㄢˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

иньданьцзыцзинь

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐm³⁵ taːn²² t͡siː²² t͡sɵn²²/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐm³⁵ taːn²² t͡siː²² t͡sɵn²²/

to commit suicide by shooting oneself in the back of the throat


擦肩而過

ㄘㄚ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ kiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ kiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

to brush past (someone, opportunity, death, etc.)


小作怡情

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

Built on the existing 小酌怡情 (xiǎozhuóyíqíng, “drinking a small amount of alcohol keeps the mood light”), using the similar-sounding slang term 作 (zuō, “high-maintenance; pretentious; etc.”).

zh-l

(neologism) being “moderately high-maintenance” (i.e. affected and drama queen-like, yet coquettish) keeps the love relationship fun


同臺競技

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

тунтайцзинцзи

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɪŋ²² kei̯²²/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɪŋ²² kei̯²²/


含辛茹苦

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄎㄨˇ

ханьсиньжуку

/xän³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐm²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰou⁵²/

/xän³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐm²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰou⁵²/

to suffer untold hardships (to bring up one's child); to endure sufferings


惱羞成怒

ㄋㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄔㄥˊ ㄋㄨˋ

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/nou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/nou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/


長幼尊卑

ㄓㄤˇ ㄧㄡˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄅㄟ

чжанъюцзуньбэй

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

'A ruler has only to be careful of what he likes and dislikes. What the ruler likes, his ministers will practise; and what superiors do, their inferiors follow. This is the sentiment in the Book of Poetry (III, ii, ode 10, 6), "To lead the people is very easy." Seeing this, and after (the repose of the people was secured), the sages made hand-drums and drums, the stopper and the starter, the earthen whistle and the bamboo flute - the six instruments which produced the sounds of their virtuous airs. After these came the bell, the sounding-stone, the organ with thirty-six pipes, and the large lute, to be played in harmony with them; the shields, axes, ox-tails, and plumes, brandished by the pantomimes in time and tune. These they employed at the sacrifices in the temple of the former kings, at festivals in offering and receiving the pledge cup; in arranging the services of officers (in the temple) according to the rank due to each, as noble or mean, and in showing to future ages how they observed the order due to rank and to age.

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE

Wèi rén jūnzhě jǐn qí suǒ hǎo'è éryǐ yǐ. Jūn hǎo zhī, zé chén wèi zhī. Shàng xíng zhī, zé mín cóng zhī. Shī yún yòu mín kǒng yì, cǐ zhī wèi yě. Ránhòu, shèngrén zuòwèi 鞉, gǔ, 椌, 楬, xūn, chí, cǐ liùzhě dé yīn zhī yīn yě. Ránhòu zhōng qìng yú sè yǐ hé zhī, gān qī máo dí yǐ wǔ zhī, cǐ suǒyǐ jì xiān wáng zhī miào yě, suǒyǐ xiàn chóu yìn zuò yě, suǒyǐ guān xù guì jiàn gè dé qí yí yě, suǒyǐ shì hòushì yǒu zūnbēichángyòu zhī xù yě.

為人君者謹其所好惡而已矣。君好之，則臣為之。上行之，則民從之。詩云誘民孔易，此之謂也。然後，聖人作為鞉、鼓、椌、楬、塤、篪，此六者德音之音也。然後鐘磬竽瑟以和之，干戚旄狄以舞之，此所以祭先王之廟也，所以獻酬酳酢也，所以官序貴賤各得其宜也，所以示後世有尊卑長幼之序也。

为人君者谨其所好恶而已矣。君好之，则臣为之。上行之，则民从之。诗云诱民孔易，此之谓也。然后，圣人作为鞉、鼓、椌、楬、埙、篪，此六者德音之音也。然后钟磬竽瑟以和之，干戚旄狄以舞之，此所以祭先王之庙也，所以献酬酳酢也，所以官序贵贱各得其宜也，所以示后世有尊卑长幼之序也。

old and young, high and low; senior and junior; seniority rules


小酌怡情

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

drinking a small amount of alcohol keeps the mood light


笑不露齒

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔˇ

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ ㄔˇ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵/


έχω τα μάτια μου δεκατέσσερα

head

έχω τα μάτια μου δεκατέσσερα • (écho ta mátia mou dekatéssera)

écho ta mátia mou dekatéssera (romanization)
to have one's eyes fourteen (literally)

Να έχεις τα μάτια σου δεκατέσσερα σ' αυτόν τον δρόμο· είναι πολύ επικίνδυνος.

Keep your eyes peeled on that road; it's very dangerous.

Na écheis ta mátia sou dekatéssera s' aftón ton drómo; eínai polý epikíndynos.

keep one's eyes peeled
keep one's eyes peeled

(idiomatic) keep one's eyes peeled, keep an eye out (to be on the alert)

en-έχω_τα_μάτια_μου_δεκατέσσερα-el-phrase-2830u8Mu


滴酒不沾

ㄉㄧ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢ

дицзюбучжань

/ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

/ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

to never touch a drop of alcohol; to abstain from drinking; to be strictly teetotal


口不擇言

ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² jiːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² jiːn²¹/

to talk indiscreetly; to talk recklessly


破竹の勢い

ja-pos

破(は)竹(ちく)の勢(いきお)い • (hachiku no ikioi) ^(←はちくのいきほひ (fatikunoikifofi)?)

破竹の勢い (canonical)
hachiku no ikioi (romanization)
fatikunoikifofi (romanization)
はちくのいきほひ (hiragana historical)

Calque of Literary Chinese 破竹之勢, literally "the vigor and force of breaking bamboo"


名利雙收

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄕㄡ

минлишуаншоу

/miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/


看板に偽りなし

ja-phrase

かんばん に いつわり なし

看(かん)板(ばん)に偽(いつわ)りなし • (kanban ni itsuwari nashi)

看板に偽りなし (canonical)
kanban ni itsuwari nashi (romanization)

Literally, "the signboard has [tells] no lies."

there is no discrepancy between external appearance and true substance


やりきれない

「悲しくてやりきれない」

"Unbearably Sad" (song by the Folk Crusaders)


mon siège est fait

/mɔ̃ sjɛ.ʒ‿ɛ fɛ/

(literary) I've made my decision, my mind is made up


как сыр в масле кататься

head

как сыр в ма́сле ката́ться

как сыр в ма́сле ката́ться • (kak syr v másle katátʹsja)

как сыр в ма́сле ката́ться (canonical)
kak syr v másle katátʹsja (romanization)

Literally, “to roll like cheese in butter”.

lit

(simile) to live comfortably off, to live in clover

en-как_сыр_в_масле_кататься-ru-phrase-UVhhvOAB


紅蛇赤鼠

/aŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡sua²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰia(ʔ)⁵ t͡sʰi⁵⁵⁴/

(Jinjiang Hokkien) all sorts of bad things, especially people


meant to

You're meant to wash up after yourselves, don't leave it for me.

(idiomatic) supposed to, obliged to, ought to


曷知

(Taiwanese Hokkien, rhetorical question) how would [someone] know; [someone] doesn't know


法克魷

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

Phono-semantic matching of English fuck you; one of the Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures.

psm

(neologism, slang, humorous, vulgar) fuck you


凶多吉少

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕㄠˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

to be more ominous than propitious; fraught with grim possibilities


阿災

/ˀä⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ˀä⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

(Taiwan, slang) I don't know; how should I know?


褲脫我看

ㄎㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄛ ㄨㄛˇ ㄎㄢˋ

/kʰu⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹/

/kʰu⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹/

A humorous pseudo-chengyu condensed from:
:
: Original sense: One has read the title or seen the cover of a video and has found it containing something sexually attractive and has got excited and has prepared to masturbate. But later he/she (mainly "he") finds the video contains nothing for masturbating and thus is deceived by the title or the cover of the video, and he/she gets disappointed.

I've already taken my pants off (i.e. ready to masturbate), and you've only got this for me to see/watch?

Wǒ kùzi dōu tuō le, nǐ jiù ràng wǒ kàn zhège?

我褲子都脫了，你就讓我看這個？

我裤子都脱了，你就让我看这个？

(neologism, slang, humorous) Used to express disappointment after being deceived, such as by a clickbait title.


ça ne mange pas de pain

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-ça ne mange pas de pain.wav

Ça ne mange pas de pain d’essayer.

There's no harm in trying, it's worth a try.

(informal) it doesn't cost anything, it can't hurt


怎知

/t͡sən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐm³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡sən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐm³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

(rhetorical question) how would [someone] know; [someone] doesn't know


婊子立牌坊

當婊子還立牌坊
當了婊子還要立牌坊
做了婊子還要立牌坊
又要當婊子，又要立牌坊
既要當婊子，又要立牌坊
又當又立
既要做婊子，又要立牌坊

leading the life of a whore but still wanting a paifang put up to one's chastity

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ˙ㄗ ㄌㄧˋ ㄆㄞˊ ㄈㄤ

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ˙ㄗ ㄌㄧˋ ㄆㄞˊ ˙ㄈㄤ

бяоцзы ли пайфан

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ³/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ³/

(figurative, derogatory, low colloquial) to want to be able to do immoral things while maintaining a good name


靈丹妙藥

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄢ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄧㄠˋ

линданьмяояо

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ miːu̯²² jœːk̚²/

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ miːu̯²² jœːk̚²/


雙管齊下

ㄕㄨㄤ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

шуангуаньцися

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ haː²²/

/sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²³⁻³³ ha³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ ha³³/

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ haː²²/

/sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²³⁻³³ ha³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ ha³³/

From the story of Tang-dynasty painter Zhang Zao (張璪), recorded in Tu hua jian wen zhi (《圖畫見聞志》), written by Guo Ruoxu (郭若虛) during the Song dynasty.

to paint a picture with two brushes at the same time

to use a two-pronged approach; to work along both lines simultaneously


大雨傾盆

ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄆㄣˊ

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

傾盆大雨 傾盆大雨#Chinese

倾盆大雨 倾盆大雨#Chinese

Alternative form of 傾盆大雨／倾盆大雨 (qīngpéndàyǔ)


掉以輕心

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² jiː¹³ hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰin³³ sim³³/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/tiɤ³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² jiː¹³ hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰin³³ sim³³/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/tiɤ³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

to lower one's guard; to relax one's vigilance; to treat something lightly


緊鑼密鼓

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ mi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn³⁵ lɔː²¹ mɐt̚² kuː³⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ mi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn³⁵ lɔː²¹ mɐt̚² kuː³⁵/

to carry out an intense publicity campaign


密鑼緊鼓

ㄇㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄍㄨˇ

/mi⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² lɔː²¹ kɐn³⁵ kuː³⁵/

/mi⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² lɔː²¹ kɐn³⁵ kuː³⁵/

緊鑼密鼓 緊鑼密鼓#Chinese

紧锣密鼓 紧锣密鼓#Chinese

Alternative form of 緊鑼密鼓／紧锣密鼓 (jǐnluómìgǔ)


金烏玉兔

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨ ㄩˋ ㄊㄨˋ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰou̯³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰou̯³³/

(Chinese mythology) the golden crow and the jade rabbit

(literary, figuratively) sun and moon; passing of time


fendre son biscuit

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to beat


rifler la mort

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to be in danger of death


crier pour la pirogue

(Louisiana, Cajun, St. Martin Parish) to call for help


ronfler par saccades

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to go to sleep, to hit the hay


不知妻美

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧ ㄇㄟˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

(neologism) to not realise the beauty of one's wife (usually said of Liu Qiangdong)


tailler dans le gingas

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to lie


faire chiquer poteau

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to prevent a young man from dancing with a young girl


être dans les Fordoches

Borrowed from the fact that Les Fordoches is a very remote settlement in Louisiana.

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to be in distress


fendre son garganna

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to beat someone, to win


poser la chique et faire le mort

(Louisiana, Cajun, St.Martin Parish) to stay silent


faire chaudière ensemble

(Louisiana, Cajun, St. Mary Parish) to marry


熙熙攘攘

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄖㄤˇ ㄖㄤˇ

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄖㄤˊ ㄖㄤˊ

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ jœːŋ¹³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ jœːŋ¹³/

From the Records of the Grand Historian.

(ideophonic) bustling with activity; hustling and bustling


fr-phrase

avoir le respire court et le discours égaré

/a.vwaʁ lə ʁɛs.piʁ kuʁ e l(ə) dis.kuʁ e.ɡa.ʁe/

(Louisiana, Cajun, St. Mary Parish) to be dying


prendre sa routine à volonté

(Louisiana, Cajun, St. Mary Parish) to be dismissed


σπίτι μου, σπιτάκι μου

head

σπίτι μου, σπιτάκι μου • (spíti mou, spitáki mou)

spíti mou (romanization)
spitáki mou (romanization)
my home (literally)

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

home sweet home, there's no place like home (expressing comfort or joy in one's home)

en-σπίτι_μου,_σπιτάκι_μου-el-phrase-1m06m1VC


ex injuria jus non oritur

/eks inˈi̯uː.ri.aː i̯uːs noːn oˈriː.tur/

[ɛks̠ ɪnˈi̯uːriäː i̯uːs̠ noːn ɔˈriːt̪ʊr]


those were the days

That was a particularly pleasant, exciting, or noteworthy time.


累覺不愛

ㄌㄟˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄞˋ

лэйцзюэбу’ай

/leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

A pseudo-chengyu shortened from phrases similar to the one below

I am too tired and I feel like I will not love again.

太累了覺得自己不會再愛了

太累了觉得自己不会再爱了

(neologism, slang) to feel too tired to love any more


很黃很暴力

ㄏㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄣˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ

хэнь хуан хэнь баоли

/xən²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

From the script of a 2007 staged interview from China Central Television set to justify the communist regime's internet purges, uttered by Zhang Shufan, an elementary schoolgirl. It backfired as the obviously staged nature of the interview from the discrepancy between the phrase's complexity and the interviewee's age attracted widespread parody of the phrase by mainland Chinese netizens.

(chiefly Mainland China, neologism, slang) sexually explicit and violent

China Central Television
Communist Party of China
Internet censorship in China


気に障る

気に障る (canonical)
ki ni sawaru (romanization)


確認過眼神

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ

цюэжэнь го яньшэнь

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵/

From a line in JJ Lin's 2008 song Zui Chi Bi (《醉赤壁》); popularized during the Spring Festival in 2018.

(neologism, slang) from what I can see in your eyes; having confirmed it from your eyes; (I) can confidently confirm that ...


還有這種操作

ㄏㄞˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄜˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄘㄠ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

ㄏㄞˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄟˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄘㄠ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

хайю чжэчжун цаоцзо

/xaɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

хайю чжэйчжун цаоцзо

/xaɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂeɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

(neologism, slang, originally gaming slang) There's this trick too? / You can even do it like this? / How is this even possible?


吃棗藥丸

ㄔ ㄗㄠˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄢˊ

чицзаояовань

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ wän³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ wän³⁵/

zh-l

遲早要完/迟早要完 (chízǎo yào wán)

(neologism, slang) to be doomed one way or another


尋花問柳

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄨㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

сюньхуавэньлю

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ faː⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ faː⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

(figurative) to visit prostitutes; to frequent brothels


塵も積もれば山となる

ja-pos

ちり も つもれば やま と なる

塵(ちり)も積(つ)もれば山(やま)となる • (chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru)

塵も積もれば山となる (canonical)
chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru (romanization)

1979, Sohō Tokutomi, Kiyoshi Hiraizumi, Kinsei Nihon Kokumin-shi [Recent history of the Japanese people], page 6:

世に「塵も積もれば山となる」という諺があるが、わが「近世日本国民史」も、まさしくこの通りだ。

Yo ni “chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru” to iu kotowaza ga aru ga, waga “Kinsei Nihon Kokumin-shi” mo, masashiku kono tōri da.

There is an expression, "Even piled up dust becomes a mountain," and to us this certainly applies to Kinsei Nihon Kokumin-shi.

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

many a mickle makes a muckle, small things together become a large thing; literally dust, if piled up, becomes a mountain


尋芳問柳

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄤ ㄨㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

сюньфанвэньлю

/ɕyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/


de deux choses l'une

→ Dutch: van twee zaken één (calque)

it's one of those two things; there are two possibilities, there are two possible scenarios; you have two options; you choose(: either ... or)


萬人空巷

ten thousand people (turning out to the event, and) alleyways are empty

ㄨㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ваньжэнькунсян

/wän⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːn²² jɐn²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

/wän⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːn²² jɐn²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

the whole town turns out to (an event); all of the people in a place have turned out to (an event)


大差不差

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄚˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹/

(originally dialectal Mandarin, now slang) roughly the same; about the same; not far off


可惱也

/kʰɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/hɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/kʰᵘɔ⁵⁵ lau⁵⁵ jiɛ⁵⁵/

/kʰɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/hɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/kʰᵘɔ⁵⁵ lau⁵⁵ jiɛ⁵⁵/

From Yongzhou (in present day Nanning) Mandarin 可惱也／可恼也. Originally used in Cantonese opera, which was originally performed in Mandarin.

可恼也
可怒也
可鬧爺
call lao ye
call now yeah
call loud yeah

1996, 先知, “暢言欄：「肺」作動”, in 嶺南人 [Lingnan Folk], number 64, page 15:

If you're really hot stuff, as the saying goes, "A man in the light does not do things in the dark", put up a big-character poster to refute them then. Why do you need to do these petty things, making me, the Free Speech Zone, look totally eccentric? It's really ridiculous.

nei⁵ jyu⁴ gwo² jau⁵ liu⁶⁻² ge³ waa⁶⁻², so² wai⁶ ming⁴ jan⁴ bat¹ zou⁶ am³ si⁶, mai⁶ zi⁶ gei² ceot¹ zoeng¹ daai⁶ zi⁶ bou³ faan² bok³ jan⁴ dei⁶ lo¹, sai² mat¹ zou⁶ maai⁴ ni¹ gam³ syu² bui³ hang⁴ wai⁴, zung⁶ jiu³ gaau² dou³ ngo⁵ coeng³ jin⁴ laan⁴ seng⁴ san¹ gwai² ng⁵ maa⁵ luk⁶ gam², zan¹ hai⁶ ko¹ naau¹ je¹.

你如果有料嘅話，所謂明人不做暗事，咪自己出張大字報反駁人哋囉，駛乜做埋呢咁鼠輩行為，仲要搞到我暢言欄成身鬼五馬六咁，真係可怒也。

你如果有料嘅话，所谓明人不做暗事，咪自己出张大字报反驳人哋啰，驶乜做埋呢咁鼠辈行为，仲要搞到我畅言栏成身鬼五马六咁，真系可怒也。

2003, 關淑芬, 皆大歡喜II [Virtues of Harmony II], episode 276, spoken by 劉錦 (阮兆祥 [Louis Yuen]):

Ridiculous! I haven't gambled yet, and you're already saying I don't have money to go home

ko¹ naau¹ je¹, ngo⁵ mei⁶ dou² cin⁴⁻² nei⁵ zau⁶ waa⁶ ngo⁵ mou⁵ cin⁴⁻² faan¹ uk¹ kei²

可惱也，我未賭錢你就話我冇錢返屋企

可恼也，我未赌钱你就话我冇钱返屋企

2010 April 22, 謝偉俊 [Paul Tse], 會議過程正式紀錄 [Official Record of Proceedings] (香港立法會 [Legislative Council of Hong Kong]), Hong Kong, page 5052:

Chairman, I have also heard the mention of "the rites and music of decorum are in tatters". I find this very annoying. Who have disrupted the establishment and order in this Council?

zyu² zik⁶, ngo⁵ jau⁶ teng¹ dou² jat¹ se¹ syut³ faat³, syut³ sam⁶ mo¹ “lai⁵ bang¹ ngok⁶ waai⁶”, ngo⁵ jing⁶ wai⁴ ze² si⁶ ko¹ naau¹ je¹, gau³ ging² si⁶ naa⁵ se¹ jan⁴ zoi⁶ gaau² waai⁶ ngo⁵ mun⁴ ji⁵ wui⁶⁻² dik¹ gin³ zai³, ji⁵ wui⁶⁻² dik¹ kwai¹ geoi²?

主席，我又聽到一些說法，說甚麼“禮崩樂壞”，我認為這是可惱也，究竟是哪些人在攪壞我們議會的建制、議會的規矩？

主席，我又听到一些说法，说什么“礼崩乐坏”，我认为这是可恼也，究竟是哪些人在搅坏我们议会的建制、议会的规矩？

2017, 吳仲泉, 梁舜雯, 溏心風暴3 [Heart and Greed], episode 3, spoken by 梁順華 [Leung Shun Wah] (關菊英 [Susanna Kwan]):

Every year, you end up having to sit in the side room, on the side. On the side, how infuriating!

git³ gwo² zau⁶ gaau² dou³ nin⁴ nin⁴ co⁵ pin¹ teng¹, co⁵ me², co⁵ me² aa³, ko¹ naau¹ je¹!

結果就搞到年年坐偏廳，坐歪，坐歪啊，可惱也！

结果就搞到年年坐偏厅，坐歪，坐歪啊，可恼也！

(Cantonese) irritating; infuriating; ridiculous


mô Phật

[mo˧˧ fət̚˧˨ʔ]

[mow˧˧ fək̚˨˩ʔ]

[mow˧˧ fək̚˨˩˨]

Nam mô A Di Đà Phật
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật#Vietnamese


惻隱之心

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (惻隱之心):
* → Korean: 측은지심(惻隱之心) (cheugeunjisim)

ㄘㄜˋ ㄧㄣˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

цэиньчжисинь

/t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

When I say that all men have a mind which cannot bear to see the sufferings of others, my meaning may be illustrated thus: even now-a-days, if men suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they will without exception experience a feeling of alarm and distress.

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

Suǒyǐ wèi rén jiē yǒu bù rěn rén zhī xīn zhě, jīn rén zhà jiàn rúzǐ jiāng rù yú jǐng, jiē yǒu chùtì cèyǐn zhī xīn.

所以謂人皆有不忍人之心者，今人乍見孺子將入於井，皆有怵惕惻隱之心。

所以谓人皆有不忍人之心者，今人乍见孺子将入于井，皆有怵惕恻隐之心。

feeling of compassion; heart of sympathy


良師益友

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄕ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/


狗屁不通

ㄍㄡˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pʰei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pʰei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

Read. This is bullshit! Putting up dazibao on the ground is enough. Don't send it into space.

Yǐ yuè, gǒupìbùtōng! Dàzìbào zài dìshàng tiē jiù xíng le, bùyào fā dào tiānshàng qù.

已閱，狗屁不通！大字報在地上貼就行了，不要發到天上去。

已阅，狗屁不通！大字报在地上贴就行了，不要发到天上去。

(figurative, vulgar) incoherent; nonsensical; bullshit


冤家路窄

ㄩㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄨˋ ㄓㄞˇ

юаньцзялучжай

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

much as one wants to, one cannot avoid one's enemy


腦袋被驢踢了

脑袋被驴踢了
腦袋讓驢踢了
腦子被驢踢了
腦子讓驢踢了
腦被驢踢了
腦讓驢踢了

ㄋㄠˇ ˙ㄉㄞ ㄅㄟˋ ㄌㄩˊ ㄊㄧ ˙ㄌㄜ

ㄋㄠˇ ˙ㄉㄟ ㄅㄟˋ ㄌㄩˊ ㄊㄧ ˙ㄌㄜ

наодай бэй люй ти лэ

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥aɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

наодэй бэй люй ти лэ

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥eɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥aɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥eɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

(colloquial, derogatory) to be stupid; to be off one's head


狹路相逢

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ lu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/haːp̚² lou̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ lu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/haːp̚² lou̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/

From “Xiang Feng Xing” (《相逢行》), a yuefu poem of the Han dynasty.


魚水之歡

ㄩˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄢ

юйшуйчжихуань

/y³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/

/y³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/

This idiom is from the Yuan-dynasty play Romance of the Western Chamber, although the metaphor itself existed long prior to that.

the pleasure between fish and water; the pleasure of fishes in water

(euphemistic, figurative) the pleasure of close intimacy between a couple; (the pleasure of) sexual intercourse; harmonious and joyous life of a married couple

Romance of the Western Chamber
Yuan dynasty


殘花敗柳

ㄘㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄅㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

цаньхуабайлю

/t͡sʰän³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ faː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² lɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ faː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² lɐu̯¹³/

(figurative, derogatory) impure woman, such as one who leads a promiscuous life, or one who has been abused and abandoned; fallen woman


七手八腳

七手八脚
七手八跤
七手八骹

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇㄦ

цишоубацзяор

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

/t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pue(ʔ)⁵ kʰa³³/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

with many people lending a hand; chaotically


תוהו ובוהו

head

תוהו ובוהו / תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ

תוהו ובוהו / תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ • (tóhu va-vóhu)

he-phrase

תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ

תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ (canonical)
tóhu va-vóhu (romanization)

English: tohu-bohu, tohubohu

French: tohu-bohu

Esperanto: tohuvabohuo

German: Tohuwabohu

וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵי תְהוֹם וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם׃

Tanach, [[s:he:T0101#א_ב|1:2]], with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.

V-ha-áretz haytá tóhu va-vóhu v-ḥóshekh 'al-p'néi t'hóm v-rúaḥ Elohím m'raḥéfet 'al-p'néi ha-máyim.

רָאִיתִי אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה־תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְאֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵין אוֹרָם׃

Tanach, Jeremiah [[s:he:T1104#ד_כג|4:23]], with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

Ra'íti et ha-áretz v-hinéh tóhu va-vóhu v-el ha-shamáyim v-ein orám.

shapelessness and formlessness, primordial chaos


四齋蒸鵝心

Steamed goose heart with four vegetables

ㄙˋ ㄓㄞ ㄓㄥ ㄜˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

сы чжай чжэн э синь

/sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

(ACG, Internet slang, humorous, euphemistic) Alternative form of 死宅真噁心／死宅真恶心 (sǐzhái zhēn ěxīn), disguised as a legitimate name for a dish.


有屁快放

ㄧㄡˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄈㄤˋ

ю пи куай фан

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ pʰei̯³³ faːi̯³³ fɔːŋ³³/

/jɐu̯¹³ pʰei̯³³ faːi̯³³ fɔːŋ³³/


胸熱

胸が熱くなる 胸が熱くなる#Japanese


他奶奶的

ㄊㄚ ㄋㄞˇ ˙ㄋㄞ ˙ㄉㄜ

та найнай дэ

/tʰä⁵⁵ naɪ̯²¹⁴ naɪ̯⁴ d̥ə¹/

/tʰä⁵⁵ naɪ̯²¹⁴ naɪ̯⁴ d̥ə¹/

(vulgar) Synonym of 他媽的／他妈的 (tāmāde, “fuck; fucking”)


肏你八輩子祖宗

肏你八辈子祖宗
操你八輩子祖宗

ㄘㄠˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄅㄚ ㄅㄟˋ ˙ㄗ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ

цао ни ба бэйцзы цзуцзун

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

(vulgar, highly offensive) Fuck eight generations of your ancestors!


媽了個屄

ㄇㄚ ˙ㄌㄜ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄅㄧ

/mä⁵⁵ lə² g̊ə¹ pi⁵⁵/

/mä⁵⁵ lə² g̊ə¹ pi⁵⁵/

妈了个屄
媽了個逼
媽了個B
馬勒戈壁


什麼鳥

ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

ㄕㄜˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇㄦ

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄕㄜˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇㄦ

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


肏你祖宗十八代

ㄘㄠˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄞˋ

cào nǐ zǔzōng shíbā dài [Phonetic:càonízǔzōngshíbādài]

цао ни цзуцзун шиба дай

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

(vulgar, highly offensive) Fuck your ancestors to the eighteenth generation!


大鑒

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

……校長先生大鑒

……校长先生大鉴

Used in letters to humbly request that the recipient reads the message.


小肚雞腸

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨˋ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄤˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨˋ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄤˊㄦ

сяодуцзичанр

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃ɻ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃ɻ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

(figurative, of a person) narrow-minded; small-minded; petty


嫌よ嫌よも好きのうち

ja-phrase

いや よ いや よ も すき の うち

嫌(いや)よ嫌(いや)よも好(す)きのうち • (iya yo iya yo mo suki no uchi)

嫌よ嫌よも好きのうち (canonical)
iya yo iya yo mo suki no uchi (romanization)

the lady doth protest too much
the lady doth protest too much

(informal) the lady doth protest too much; a girl's protests should not necessarily be taken at face value.


口是心非

ㄎㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ

коушисиньфэй

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ siː²² sɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ siː²² sɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

to say one thing but mean another; what one thinks is different from what one says; two-faced; duplicity


雲裡霧裡

ㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/yn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ mou̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/yn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ mou̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

From A New Account of the Tales of the World.

in the clouds, in the fog / amidst the clouds and mist

(figurative) completely puzzled; utterly baffled; unable to understand; unable to make head or tail of something


onverrichter zake

Literally, “with the matter not done”. A genitive absolute.

(adverbial) without having done what one intended, without having done what one set out to do


相夫教子

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄈㄨ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

сянфуцзяоцзы

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ³³ fuː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/sœːŋ³³ fuː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

(of a woman) to support one's husband and teach one's children


the fur flies

There is a vicious fight or disagreement.


σοφόν τὸ σαφές

head

σοφόν τὸ σᾰφές

σοφόν τὸ σᾰφές • (sophón tò saphés)

σοφόν τὸ σᾰφές (canonical)
sophón tò saphés (romanization)

σοφόν: accusative singular neuter of σοφός, [ellipsis of verb ἐστί (estí, “is”)], τό: nominative singular neuter article, σαφές: nominative singular neuter of σαφής.

wise [is] the precise. Quotation from: Euripides, Orestes, 397 (translation@perseus by Coleridge)


𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌿

𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌹 𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌹#Gothic

Compound of 𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌹 (qimai)+ the clitic -𐌿 (-u).


卒溜急剌

ㄘㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄚˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ lä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ lä⁵¹/


アイ・ラブ・ユー

ja-pos

アイ・ラブ・ユー • (ai rabu yū)

[a̠i ɾa̠bɯ̟ jɯ̟ː]

2009, Sharon Sala, translated by Shiori Takeuchi, Kanashimi o tsutsumu yoru ni, translation of Cut Throat (in English):

彼女はぶつぶつ言いながら受話器を置いた。「いったいどうしたっていうの？たかが三つの単語じゃない。アイ・ラブ・ユー。アイ・ラブ・ユー。アイ・ラブ・ユー。」

Kanojo wa butsubutsu ii nagara juwaki o oita. “Ittai dō shita tte iu no? Takaga mitsu no tango janai. Ai rabu yū. Ai rabu yū. Ai rabu yū.”

She grumbled as she replaced the phone. “What is he talking about? It’s not just three words. I love you. I love you. I love you.”


然然可可

ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄎㄜˇ

жаньжанькэкэ

žanʹžanʹkɛkɛ

/ʐän³⁵ ʐän³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐän³⁵ ʐän³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

How is a thing right? It is right because it is right. How is a thing wrong? It is wrong because it is wrong. How is a thing allowable? It is allowable because it is so. How is a thing not allowable? It is not allowable because it is not so.

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

Wūhū rán? Rán yú rán. Wūhū bù rán? Bù rán yú bù rán. Wūhū kě? Kě yú kě. Wūhū bù kě? Bù kě yú bù kě.

惡乎然？然於然。惡乎不然？不然於不然。惡乎可？可於可。惡乎不可？不可於不可。

恶乎然？然于然。恶乎不然？不然于不然。恶乎可？可于可。恶乎不可？不可于不可。

(literary) to be a yes man without any opinions of one's own


說都不會話了

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄉㄡ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ˙ㄌㄜ

shuō dōu bùhuì huà le [Phonetic:shuō dōu búhuì huà le]

шо доу бухуэй хуа лэ

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ lə¹/

真的连「说都不会话了！」 [MSC, simp.]
Zhēnde lián “shuō dōu bùhuì huà le!” [Pinyin]

2000, 网络语言“说都不会话了”, 精品購物指南 真的連「說都不會話了！」 [MSC, trad.]

网友们对照这个包含众多易读错字的表格自测后，纷纷感叹自己「说都不会话了」。 [MSC, simp.]
Wǎngyǒumen duìzhào zhè ge bāohán zhòngduō yì dú cuò zì de biǎogé zìcè hòu, fēnfēn gǎntàn zìjǐ “shuō dōu bùhuì huà le”. [Pinyin]

2011, 央视女主播刘羽微博贴出读音表 称错一字罚五十, 北京晨報 網友們對照這個包含眾多易讀錯字的表格自測後，紛紛感嘆自己「說都不會話了」。 [MSC, trad.]

After testing themselves against this table of correct pronunciations of easily-mispronounced characters, netizens sigh with sadness that they can hardly speak properly now.

蚁人见到美队，激动得说都不会话了 [MSC, simp.]
Yǐrén jiàn dào Měiduì, jīdòng de shuō dōu bùhuì huà le [Pinyin]

2016, 《美国队长3》：不要骗我 明明就是“复联2.5”, Tencent Entertainment 蟻人見到美隊，激動得說都不會話了 [MSC, trad.]

Ant Man met Captain America and started gabbling out of excitement.

A self-reference demonstration of 話都不會說了／话都不会说了.


脫殼金蟬

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄢˊ

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄎㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄢˊ

тоцяоцзиньчань

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

токэцзиньчань

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

吳敬所 《國色天香 (guósètiānxiāng)·第七卷·天緣奇遇（上）》

Sù lánhuā, guì hóng shù, yíng cuì xuān zhōng, cuò bèi chūn liú zhù. Guāiqiǎo xiǎo qīng jī bù lù, jiè fēng yāo yǔ, tuōkéjīnchán qù.

素蘭花，桂紅樹，迎翠軒中，錯被春留住。乖巧小卿機不露，借風邀雨，脫殼金蟬去。

吳敬所 《國色天香 (guósètiānxiāng)·第七卷·天緣奇遇（上）》

素兰花，桂红树，迎翠轩中，错被春留住。乖巧小卿机不露，借风邀雨，脱壳金蝉去。

關漢卿 (Guan Hanqing) 《虎牢關三戰呂布·第三折》

Zuórì zhù lǚbù shā de wǒ hún bù fùtǐ, zǎo shì wǒ tuōkéjīnchán jì zǒu le, biérén dōu bù zhīdào, zé yǒu zhāngfēi zhīdào.

昨日著呂布殺的我魂不附體，早是我脫殼金蟬計走了，別人都不知道，則有張飛知道。

關漢卿 (Guan Hanqing) 《虎牢關三戰呂布·第三折》

昨日著吕布杀的我魂不附体，早是我脱壳金蝉计走了，别人都不知道，则有张飞知道。

金蟬脫殼 金蟬脫殼#Chinese

金蝉脱壳 金蝉脱壳#Chinese


nail in one's coffin

A man whom I knew frequented a certain public-house, the landlady of which, on handing him his pint of beer, would oftimes accompany it with the remark, "Here, J—, is another nail in your coffin."

1859, Henry Mudge, Physiology, Health and Disease, Demanding Abstinence from Alcoholic Drinks, and Prohibition of Their Common Sale, page 38:

"Hullo! Just in time — just had drinks all round. Come, put another nail in your coffin!"

1875, Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine, volume 15, page 383:

another nail in someone's coffin#English

Synonym of another nail in someone's coffin (“event leading to further failure”)


茫然若失

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


惘然若失

ㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ¹³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ¹³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/


悵然若失

ㄔㄤˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

Looking at her, I became so lost and could not say a word.

Wàngzhe tā, wǒ chàngránruòshī, hǎojiǔ shuō bù chū huà lái.

望著她，我悵然若失，好久說不出話來。

望着她，我怅然若失，好久说不出话来。


鳥語花香

ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/niːu̯¹³ jyː¹³ faː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/niãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/niːu̯¹³ jyː¹³ faː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/niãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

birds sing and flowers give forth their fragrance (characterizing a fine spring day)


青春靚麗

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ

цинчуньлянли

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/


屎滾尿流

ㄕˇ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄋㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

scared the shit out of
scare the shit out of

panic-stricken (to the point of becoming doubly incontinent); being scared the shit out of by someone


現學現用

ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄩㄥˋ

сяньсюэсяньюн

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːn²² hɔːk̚² jiːn²² jʊŋ²²/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːn²² hɔːk̚² jiːn²² jʊŋ²²/

to put in practice something that one just learned


螟蛉之子

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄗˇ

минлинчжицзы

/miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 196 (《詩經·小雅·小宛》):
:
See 螟蛉 (mínglíng) for more.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小宛》)

(《詩經·小雅·小宛》)

The mulberry insect has young ones, And the sphex carries them away.
Teach and train your sons, And they will become good as you are.

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

Mínglíng yǒu zǐ, guǒluǒ fù zhī.
Jiàohuì ěr zǐ, shì gǔ sì zhī.

螟蛉有子，蜾蠃負之。
教誨爾子，式穀似之。

螟蛉有子，蜾蠃负之。
教诲尔子，式谷似之。


見義勇為

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄧˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄨㄟˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiː²² jʊŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiː²² jʊŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

Paraphrased from the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》)

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

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

見義不為，無勇也。

见义不为，无勇也。


hu eald eart þu

/xuː æ͜ɑld æ͜ɑrt θuː/

[huː æ͜ɑɫd æ͜ɑrˠt θuː]


輕裝上陣

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄕㄤˋ ㄓㄣˋ

цинчжуаншанчжэнь

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

(originally) to go into battle with a light pack; (by extension) to go forward with one's burdens discarded; to join the action without any burdens


行先死先

/haːŋ²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

/haːŋ²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) One who does something first suffers first.


一介書生

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

I, Wang Bo, am merely a scholar of low status. I have no way to serve the country like Zhong Jun did, despite being a young adult as he once was.

Bó, sān chǐ wēi mìng, yījièshūshēng. Wúlù qǐngyīng, děng Zhōng Jūn zhī ruòguàn.

勃，三尺微命，一介書生。無路請纓，等終軍之弱冠。

勃，三尺微命，一介书生。无路请缨，等终军之弱冠。

nothing but a scholar; a scholar; an intellectual


渾然一體

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄧ ㄊㄧˇ

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/wɐn²² jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/wɐn²² jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

to be one integrated mass; to be a unified entity


非池中物

ㄈㄟ ㄔˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˋ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

(figurative, of a person) ambitious; full of aspiration


精神奕奕

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/


入不敷出

ㄖㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨ ㄔㄨ

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

unable to make ends meet; income cannot cover expenditure; to spend more than one earns


人心叵測

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄛˇ ㄘㄜˋ

жэньсиньпоцэ

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

the human mind is unpredictable; people may harbour an evil intent


山高皇帝遠

the mountains are high, and the emperor is far away

ㄕㄢ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄩㄢˇ

шань гао хуанди юань

/ʂän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːn⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɐi̯³³ jyːn¹³/

/saːn⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɐi̯³³ jyːn¹³/

the law of the land is not enforced here; the central authorities fail to reach this area


快刀斬亂麻

ja-r

かい%とう らん%ま を たつ

→ Japanese: 快(かい)刀乱(とうらん)麻(ま)を断(た)つ (kaitō ranma o tatsu) (calque)

ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄉㄠ ㄓㄢˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄚˊ

куайдао чжань луаньма

/kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹ mä³⁵/

/faːi̯³³ tou̯⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ lyːn²² maː²¹/

/kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴ t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ luan²²⁻²¹ muã²⁴/

/faːi̯³³ tou̯⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ lyːn²² maː²¹/

cut the Gordian knot
cut the Gordian knot

(figurative) to cut the Gordian knot; to solve a complex problem using a decisive and effective method


順水推舟

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄨㄟ ㄓㄡ

шуньшуйтуйчжоу

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰui⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/suŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰui³³⁻²³ t͡siu³³/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰui⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/suŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰui³³⁻²³ t͡siu³³/

to do something with the prevailing climate or tendency; to take advantage of the situation


兔走烏飛

ㄊㄨˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄨ ㄈㄟ

/tʰu⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰu⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

兔 (tù, “rabbit”) and 烏／乌 (wū, “crow”) refer to the moon rabbit and the three-legged crow in Chinese mythology and represent the moon and the sun, respectively.


萬無一失

/wän⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/wän⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/


お疲れ様です

お疲れ様です (canonical)
o-tsukare-sama desu (romanization)

I appreciate your efforts, thank you very much, good work


簡單明瞭

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇ

цзяньданьминляо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯²¹/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯¹³/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯²¹/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯¹³/


巾幗英雄

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ

цзиньгоинсюн

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/


kẻ đắp chăn bông kẻ lạnh lùng

head

kẻ đắp chăn bông kẻ lạnh lùng • (几撘𧜖葻几汵㳥)

几撘𧜖葻几汵㳥 (CJK)

[kɛ˧˩ ʔɗap̚˧˦ t͡ɕan˧˧ ʔɓəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˧˩ lajŋ̟˧˨ʔ lʊwŋ͡m˨˩]

[kɛ˧˨ ʔɗap̚˦˧˥ t͡ɕaŋ˧˧ ʔɓəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˧˨ lɛɲ˨˩ʔ lʊwŋ͡m˦˩]

[kɛ˨˩˦ ʔɗap̚˦˥ caŋ˧˧ ʔɓəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɛ˨˩˦ lan˨˩˨ lʊwŋ͡m˨˩]

A line in Hồ Xuân Hương (1772–1822)'s poem “Lấy chồng chung” (“A Shared Husband”):
Nôm
𪟂吒丐刧𥙩𫯳終
几撘𧜖葻几汵㳥
𠄼時𨑮𪽗咍庒𠤆
没𣎃堆吝固㤨空
Tiếng Việt
Chém cha cái kiếp lấy chồng chung
Kẻ đắp chăn bông kẻ lạnh lùng
Năm thì mười họa hay chăng chớ
Một tháng đôi lần có cũng không
English
To hell, with this husband-sharing;
One gal lies under quilts, the other chills;
I settle for just ten, nay, five mere times;
But fancy, it's not even twice a month!

A woman gets lonely when her husband leaves her for another woman. / One is favoured, and the other neglected.


打太極

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/taː³⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ kɪk̚²/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/taː³⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ kɪk̚²/

打太極拳 打太極拳#Chinese

打太极拳 打太极拳#Chinese


ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại

[ŋwajŋ̟˧˩ ʔɗi˧˧ ŋwajŋ̟˧˩ laːj˧˨ʔ]

[ŋwɛɲ˧˨ ʔɗɪj˧˧ ŋwɛɲ˧˨ laːj˨˩ʔ]

[ŋwan˨˩˦ ʔɗɪj˧˧ ŋwan˨˩˦ laːj˨˩˨]

(colloquial) Describes time passing in a flash.


嘴歪眼斜

ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄞ ㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄝˊ

цзуйвайяньсе

/t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

to have a facial droop on one side (as a result of stroke or unilateral facial nerve palsy)


赫赫有名

ㄏㄜˋ ㄏㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haːk̚⁵ haːk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haːk̚⁵ haːk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

having a great reputation; celebrated; illustrious


圖文並茂

ㄊㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄠˋ

тувэньбинмао

/tʰu³⁵ wən³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

/tʰu³⁵ wən³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

to be excellent in both text and illustrations


生無可戀

ㄕㄥ ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ lyːn³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ lyːn³⁵/

(neologism, slang) there is nothing worth yearning for in this life; a life devoid of meaning


地方支援中央

ㄉㄧˋ ㄈㄤ ㄓ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄤ

дифан чжиюань чжунъян

/ti⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tei̯²² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ wuːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

(literally) the local governments provide for the central government

(figurative, humorous) Describes a combover hairstyle.


世界中

ja-pos

世(せ)界(かい)中(じゅう) • (sekaijū) ^(←せかいぢゆう (sekaidyuu)?)

世界中 (canonical)
sekaijū (romanization)
sekaidyuu (romanization)
せかいぢゆう (hiragana historical)

From 世界 (sekai, “world”) + 中 (-jū, “all over, throughout”).

suffix

all the world is plaster wall; in a positive sense, in reference to finding employment

世界中が白壁造り: → there are plenty more fish in the sea


cơm không lành, canh không ngọt

[kəːm˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ lajŋ̟˨˩ kajŋ̟˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋɔt̚˧˨ʔ]

[kəːm˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ lɛɲ˦˩ kɛɲ˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋɔk̚˨˩ʔ]

[kəːm˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ lɛɲ˦˩ kɛɲ˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋɔk̚˨˩ʔ]

[kəːm˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ lan˨˩ kan˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋɔk̚˨˩˨]

[kəːm˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ lan˨˩ kan˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋɔk̚˨˩˨]

cơm chẳng lành, canh chẳng ngọt#Vietnamese

Synonym of cơm chẳng lành, canh chẳng ngọt


海了去了

ㄏㄞˇ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄌㄜ

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ lə¹/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ lə¹/

There are a lot of people who wish to study abroad.

Xiǎng dào wàidì liúxué de rén hǎileqùle.

想到外地留學的人海了去了。

想到外地留学的人海了去了。

(dialectal) many; much; a lot of; numerous


千兒八百

ㄑㄧㄢ ˙ㄦ ㄅㄚ ㄅㄞˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ² pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ paːt̚³ paːk̚³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ² pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ paːt̚³ paːk̚³/

This thing can't be bought without a grand.

Zhè wányìr méi qiānrbābǎi shì mǎi bù lái de.

這玩意兒沒千兒八百是買不來的。

这玩意儿没千儿八百是买不来的。

(chiefly Mandarin, colloquial) one thousand or almost a thousand; a grand


字正腔圓

ㄗˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄩㄢˊ

цзычжэнцянъюань

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɪŋ³³ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɪŋ³³ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

pronouncing every word clearly and correctly


了無牽掛

ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄚˋ

ляо’уцяньгуа

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/liːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³³/

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/liːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³³/


吃喝玩樂行

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

чихэваньлэсин

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/


βλέπω τον Χριστό φαντάρο

head

βλέπω τον Χριστό φαντάρο

βλέπω τον Χριστό φαντάρο • (vlépo ton Christó fantáro)

vlépo ton Christó fantáro (romanization)
to see Christ the soldier (literally)

Όταν έπεσα με τη μούρη, είδα τον Χριστό φαντάρο!

Ótan épesa me ti moúri, eída ton Christó fantáro!

(idiomatic, colloquial, humorous, usually in past tense) reel, see stars (to be delirious, especially as a result of injury or shock)

en-βλέπω_τον_Χριστό_φαντάρο-el-phrase-JVvHLNbI


голем кур

(idiomatic, vulgar, slang) big deal, so what


Father Charles goes down and ends battle

(music, mnemonic) A mnemonic for the order of sharps: F C G D A E B.


諱疾忌醫

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄧ

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯¹³ t͡sɐt̚² kei̯²² jiː⁵⁵/

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯¹³ t͡sɐt̚² kei̯²² jiː⁵⁵/

From a story of Marquis Huan of Cai recorded in Hanfeizi.

to avoid seeking medical attention for fear of disease

to conceal one's shortcomings for fear of criticism


คารมเป็นต่อ รูปหล่อเป็นรอง

th-phrase

คารมเป็นต่อ รูปหล่อเป็นรอง

คารมเป็นต่อ รูปหล่อเป็นรอง • (kaa-rom-bpen-dtɔ̀ɔ rûup-lɔ̀ɔ-bpen-rɔɔng)

/kʰaː˧.rom˧.pen˧.tɔː˨˩.ruːp̚˥˩.lɔː˨˩.pen˧.rɔːŋ˧/

(idiomatic, proverb) Those who are handsome will lose to those who are funny.

en-คารมเป็นต่อ_รูปหล่อเป็นรอง-th-phrase-Lc6F3u7F


察顏觀色

ㄔㄚˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄜˋ

чаяньгуаньсэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

to read a person (to interpret or infer a meaning or significance based on facial expression, tone of voice etc)


και ας

kai as (romanization)
"and let" (literally)

Εγώ θα πάω και ας μη με θέλει εκεί.

I'll go even if she doesn't want me there.


英雄救美

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄟˇ

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ kɐu̯³³ mei̯¹³/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ kɐu̯³³ mei̯¹³/

a (male) hero saves a damsel in distress


hwæt eart þu

[ʍæt æ͜ɑrˠt θuː]


hwanon eart þu

[ˈʍɑ.non æ͜ɑrˠt θuː]


hwær eart þu

[ʍæːr æ͜ɑrˠt θuː]


奶油小生

ㄋㄞˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄥ

/naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/naːi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/naːi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) handsome but effeminate young man; pretty boy


王八看綠豆——對上眼了

王八看绿豆——对上眼了
王八看綠豆——看對眼了
王八看綠豆——看上眼了
王八看綠豆——對眼了

A tortoise gazes at two mung beans ― taking a fancy to each other.(because a tortoise's eyes look like two mung beans)

ㄨㄤˊ ˙ㄅㄚ ㄎㄢˋ ㄌㄩˋ ㄉㄡˋ

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧㄢˇ ˙ㄌㄜ

ванба кань люйдоу

дуйшан янь лэ

/wɑŋ³⁵ b̥ä³ kʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴ lə⁴/

(derogatory, humorous) Describes two ugly people who find each other attractive.


歪瓜裂棗

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇ

вайгуалецзао

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

вайгуалецзаор

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡saʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵/

(derogatory) a group of unattractive people (or objects)


飄飄欲仙

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

пяопяоюйсянь

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːn⁵⁵/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːn⁵⁵/

feeling like one is flying up towards heaven like an immortal; sprightly as a fairy; high


因戲生情

ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˋ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

(of an actor and an actress) to become a love couple as a result of working together in a movie or drama series


繡花枕頭

ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓㄣˇ ˙ㄊㄡ

сюхуачжэньтоу

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄚㄦ ㄓㄣˇ ˙ㄊㄡ

сюхуарчжэньтоу

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/sɐu̯³³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/sɐu̯³³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

(figurative) one who is outwardly attractive but lacking ability or talent inside; just a pretty face


歪瓜劣棗

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇ

вайгуалецзао

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

вайгуалецзаор

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ lyːt̚³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ lyːt̚³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

歪瓜裂棗 歪瓜裂棗#Chinese

歪瓜裂枣 歪瓜裂枣#Chinese

Alternative form of 歪瓜裂棗／歪瓜裂枣 (wāiguālièzǎo)


wala koy ikasukli ana

Literally, “I have no change for that”. A reference to Benigno Aquino Jr.'s portrait in the new design series Philippine five hundred peso note.

said to someone who is propping their face with their hand


hu micel sceal ic þe

how much do I owe you
how much do I owe you


spricst þu Englisc

do you speak English
do you speak English


同甘共苦

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄢ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄨˇ

тунганьгунку

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐm⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐm⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

to share the joys and sorrows (usually emphasising the “sorrow” part)


意猶未盡

ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː³³ jɐu̯²¹ mei̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu²⁴⁻²² be⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu¹³⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ be³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ iu²³⁻³³ be³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³/

/i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː³³ jɐu̯²¹ mei̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu²⁴⁻²² be⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu¹³⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ be³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ iu²³⁻³³ be³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³/

to be left wanting more; to yearn for more; unsatisfied pleasure


無處可藏

ㄨˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄘㄤˊ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/


個毛

/g̊ə mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/g̊ə maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/g̊ə mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/g̊ə maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

A: “He's so handsome!”
B: “Handsome your ass.”

Jiǎ: “Tā hǎo shuài ò!” Yǐ: “Shuài ge máo.”

甲：「他好帥哦！」乙：「帥個毛。」

甲：「他好帅哦！」乙：「帅个毛。」

(low colloquial) Used after verbs, adjectives and occasionally even nouns to express one's disagreement.


飲食男女

ㄧㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ

иньшинаньнюй

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

desire for food and sex; basic human needs; natural disposition of mankind


相見不如懷念

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄋㄧㄢˋ

сянцзянь бужу хуайнянь

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ waːi̯²¹ niːm²²/


六親不認

ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˋ

⁸loq-chin ⁸veq-gnin; ⁸loq-chin ⁸veq-zen; ⁸loq-chin ⁷peq-gnin; ⁸loq-chin ⁷peq-zen

люциньбужэнь

/li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²²/

loh^入 chin veh^入 nyin; loh^入 chin veh^入 zen; loh^入 chin peh^入 nyin; loh^入 chin peh^入 zen

⁵loq-qin ⁵veq-nyin; ⁵loq-qin ⁵veq-zen; ⁵loq-qin ⁴peq-nyin; ⁵loq-qin ⁴peq-zen

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ n̠ʲin²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ zən²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ n̠ʲin⁴⁴/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ zən⁴⁴/

/li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²²/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ n̠ʲin²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ zən²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ n̠ʲin⁴⁴/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ zən⁴⁴/

to not recognise any of one's relatives
to be ruthless; to be heartless

to be strictly impartial, not being swayed by personal considerations


all over someone like a rash

“Do ya want some grub? I suppose I betta feed ya,” said the vile woman. “If ya starve to death I’ll have social services all over me like a bleedin’ rash.”

2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:

(simile, colloquial, derogatory) Giving someone an excessive amount of attention, especially romantic or sexual attention.


勉為其難

ㄇㄧㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄋㄢˊ

мяньвэйцинань

/mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵/

/miːn¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² ki¹³⁻²² lan¹³/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ lan²³/

/mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵/

/miːn¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² ki¹³⁻²² lan¹³/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ lan²³/

to reluctantly do something that is almost beyond one's ability or something that one does not wish to do

to force someone to do something that he/she is hardly capable of or is unwilling to do


食色性也

ㄕˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄧㄝˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚² sɪk̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ jaː¹³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚² sɪk̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ jaː¹³/

The philosopher Gao said, "To enjoy food and delight in colours is nature. Benevolence is internal and not external; righteousness is external and not internal."

Gàozǐ yuē: “Shí sè, xìng yě. Rén, nèi yě, fēi wài yě; yì, wài yě, fēi nèi yě.”

告子曰：「食色，性也。仁，內也，非外也；義，外也，非內也。」

告子曰：「食色，性也。仁，内也，非外也；义，外也，非内也。」

To enjoy food and delight in sex is nature.


vân vân và mây mây

[vən˧˧ vən˧˧ vaː˨˩ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

[vəŋ˧˧ vəŋ˧˧ vaː˦˩ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

[vəŋ˧˧ vəŋ˧˧ vaː˨˩ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

[jəŋ˧˧ jəŋ˧˧ jaː˨˩ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

An extension of vân vân (云云, “et cetera”), interpreting vân (云, “to say”) as vân (雲, “cloud”) and matching it with the native equivalent mây (“cloud”).


距離產生美

ㄐㄩˋ ㄌㄧˊ ㄔㄢˇ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄟˇ

цзюйли чаньшэн мэй

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ li³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɵy̯¹³ lei̯²¹ t͡sʰaːn³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

/kʰɵy̯¹³ lei̯²¹ t͡sʰaːn³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
absence makes the heart grow fonder

Distance makes beauty. / Absence makes the heart grow fonder.


geliefst þu on God

do you believe in God
do you believe in God


宦海浮沉

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄔㄣˊ

хуаньхайфучэнь

/xu̯än⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/waːn²² hɔːi̯³⁵ fɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/

/xu̯än⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/waːn²² hɔːi̯³⁵ fɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/


tuhakon kas manok

Literally, “The chickens will peck [you] / [your face] / [your teeth]”. A reference to rice sticking to a person's face. Yellow tooth likened to a grain of corn

m-g

The chickens will peck 􂀿you􂁀 / 􂀿your face􂁀 / 􂀿your teeth􂁀

lit

used to tell someone they have crumbs in their face

used to tell someone to brush their teeth and or that they have yellow teeth


ic nat

c. 990, Wessex Gospels, John 9:12

Then they said to him, "Where is he?" And he said, "I don't know."

Þā cwǣdon hīe tō him, "Hwǣr is hē?" Þā cwæþ hē, "Iċ nāt."

late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 4:9

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" And he answered and said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

Þā cwæþ Dryhten tō Caine, "Hwǣr is Abel þīn brōðor?" Þā andswarode hē and cwæþ, "Iċ nāt. Sæġst þū, sċolde iċ mīnne brōðor healdan?"


有頭有臉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇㄦ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ liːm¹³/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ liːm¹³/

having fame and prestige; famous; respected; prestigious


vân vân mây mây

[vən˧˧ vən˧˧ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

[vəŋ˧˧ vəŋ˧˧ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

[vəŋ˧˧ vəŋ˧˧ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

[jəŋ˧˧ jəŋ˧˧ məj˧˧ məj˧˧]

vân vân và mây mây
vân vân và mây mây#Vietnamese


共克時艱

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄜˋ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

гункэшицзянь

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ²² hɐk̚⁵ siː²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ²² hɐk̚⁵ siː²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

2020 July 29, 《总结抗击非典经验 促进改革发展稳定》, in People's Daily, →ISSN

[…]shèhuì gè fāngmiàn tuánjiéyīzhì, qíxīnxiélì, yīfāng yǒunàn, bāfāng zhīyuán, xíngchéng le gòngkèshíjiān de qiángdà hélì; […]

[…]社會各方面團結一致、齊心協力，一方有難、八方支援，形成了共克時艱的強大合力；[…]

[…]社会各方面团结一致、齐心协力，一方有难、八方支援，形成了共克时艰的强大合力；[…]

(neologism, officialese) to overcome the present difficulties in a spirit of unity


あびらうんけんそわか

ja-pos

あ-び-ら-うん-けん そわか

阿毘羅吽欠蘇婆訶 阿毘羅吽欠蘇婆訶#Japanese

阿毘羅吽欠蘇婆訶: a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ svāhā


唵阿毘羅吽欠

おん あ-び-ら-うん-けん

唵(おん)阿(あ)毘(び)羅(ら)吽(うん)欠(けん) • (on a-bi-ra-un-ken)

唵阿毘羅吽欠 (canonical)
on a-bi-ra-un-ken (romanization)

[o̞ɰ̃ a̠bʲiɾa̠ɯ̟̃ŋkẽ̞ɴ]

Transliteration of Sanskrit ॐ अविरहूम्खम् (oṃ avirahūmkham).
Equivalent to a phrase compound of 唵(おん) (on, “om”) + 阿毘羅吽欠(あびらうんけん) (a-bi-ra-un-ken, “a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ”).

bor

ॐ अविरहूम्खम्

ja-compound

(Buddhism) oṃ a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ: an incantation directed to 大日如来 (Dainichi Nyorai, “Mahavairocana”)


लावो लेणो

head

लावो लेणो (lāvo leṇo)


पहले आप

hi-phrase

पहले आप • (pahle āp) (Urdu spelling پہلے آپ)

after you (a gesture, usually polite, urging another person to take a turn at something ahead of the speaker)


क्या आप शादीशुदा हैं

क्या आप शादीशुदा हैं • (kyā āp śādīśudā ha͠i)

en-क्या_आप_शादीशुदा_हैं-hi-phrase-gR4Gjvou


आदमी हो या चूहा

آدمی ہو یا چوہا

आदमी हो या चूहा • (ādmī ho yā cūhā) (Urdu spelling آدمی ہو یا چوہا)

ādmī ho yā cūhā (romanization)
آدمی ہو یا چوہا (Urdu)

are you a man or a mouse
are you a man or a mouse

(rhetorical question) are you a man or a mouse


अंधे हो क्या

اندھے ہو کیا

अंधे हो क्या • (andhe ho kyā) (Urdu spelling اندھے ہو کیا)

andhe ho kyā (romanization)
اندھے ہو کیا (Urdu)

[ɐ̃n̪.d̪ʱeː‿ɦoː‿kjäː]

LL-Q1568 (hin)-AryamanA-अंधे हो क्या.wav

rhetorical question
rhetorical question#English

(sarcastic, rhetorical question) are you blind (a rhetorical question to an individual who has failed to see or notice something)

अंधे अंधे#Hindi

क्या क्या#Hindi

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see अंधे (andhe), हो (ho), क्या (kyā).


差點兒沒

ㄔㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

ㄔㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 差點沒／差点没 (chàdiǎn méi).


差點沒

ㄔㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

I almost fell in this pit; fortunately my eyesight was not so bad.

Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi diào jìn zhè kēngr lǐ, xìngkuī wǒ yǎnshénr hái bùsuàn tài chà.

我差點兒沒掉進這坑兒裡，幸虧我眼神兒還不算太差。

我差点儿没掉进这坑儿里，幸亏我眼神儿还不算太差。

1999, 瓊瑤, 還珠格格第二部, episode 10, 王艳 (actor):

Chī kuī da, bù shì tāmen, shì huánghòu a gēn Róng Mómo. Chàdiǎnr a, méi gěi tāmen liǎng ge yān sǐ!

吃虧的，不是她們，是皇后啊跟容嬤嬤。差點啊，沒給她們兩個淹死！

吃亏的，不是她们，是皇后啊跟容嬷嬷。差点啊，没给她们两个淹死！

However, with the help of his friends and other donation volunteers, he was eventually able to donate his haematopoietic stem cells. […] Liu Bo said that in fact he had doubted himself as well in the process, even until the moment he was about to have a general physical examination when his cells were found to be matching at high resolution. He almost gave up […]

2018, 《铁岭小伙给四川患者捐造血干细胞》, 华商晨报

Bùguò, zài péngyou yǔ juānxiàn zhìyuànzhě de bāngzhù xià, xiǎohuǒ zuìzhōng shíxiàn le juānxiàn zàoxuè gànxìbāo....... Liú Bō shuō, qíshí nèixīn yě jīnglì guò zhēngzhá, yīzhí dào gāopèi chénggōng hòu tǐjiǎn qián, tā chàdiǎn méi fàngqì

不過，在朋友與捐獻志願者的幫助下，小伙最終實現了捐獻造血幹細胞。……劉波說，其實內心也經歷過掙扎，一直到高配成功後體檢前，他差點沒放棄

2018, 《铁岭小伙给四川患者捐造血干细胞》, 华商晨报

不过，在朋友与捐献志愿者的帮助下，小伙最终实现了捐献造血干细胞。……刘波说，其实内心也经历过挣扎，一直到高配成功后体检前，他差点没放弃

I almost could not fall in this pit; fortunately I lost three kilos this month.

Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi diào jìn zhè kēngr lǐ, háihǎo wǒ zhège yuè jiǎn le liù jīn.

我差點兒沒掉進這坑兒裡，還好我這個月減了六斤。

我差点儿没掉进这坑儿里，还好我这个月减了六斤。

Fractured Her Bone, and Nearly Could Not Send Out a Distress Signal […]
The two managed to set up a tent to stay for the night before it became dark, but their mobile phones and satellite phones were without reception and they were not even able to make emergency calls. Wang Lin was only able to contact her friend (Ms./Mr. Jiang) when there was some reception close to 9 pm.

2018, 《穿越格聂景区 无锡女游客左腿骨折被困40多个小时》, 成都商报电子版

Tuǐ gǔzhé, qiújiù xìnhào chàdiǎn méi fāchū......
Liǎng rén déyǐ zài tiān hēi qián zhù jìn le zhàngpeng, dàn wèixīng diànhuà, shǒujī dōu méiyǒu xìnhào, lián bàojǐng diànhuà dōu dǎ bù chūqù. Jiāngjìn 21 diǎn, tūrán yǒu le xìnhào, Wáng Lín cái liánxì shàng le péngyou Jiǎng Mǒumǒu.

腿骨折，求救信號差點沒發出……
兩人得以在天黑前住進了帳篷，但衛星電話、手機都沒有信號，連報警電話都打不出去。將近21點，突然有了信號，王琳才聯繫上了朋友蔣某某。

腿骨折，求救信号差点没发出……
两人得以在天黑前住进了帐篷，但卫星电话、手机都没有信号，连报警电话都打不出去。将近21点，突然有了信号，王琳才联系上了朋友蒋某某。


不善言辭

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄘˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːn²² jiːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːn²² jiːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to be untalkative, ineloquent or inarticulate


輕描淡寫

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

цинмяоданьсе

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tän⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ miːu̯²¹ taːm²² sɛː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tän⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ miːu̯²¹ taːm²² sɛː³⁵/

to touch on lightly; to mention casually; to play down


吹鬚睩眼

to blow one's moustache and roll one's eyes

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³/


軟磨硬泡

ㄖㄨㄢˇ ㄇㄛˊ ㄧㄥˋ ㄆㄠˋ

жуаньмоинпао

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

to coax and pester unceasingly; to tiresomely pursue something


飄忽不定

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄏㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

to be unsteady in motion; to drift from place to place; to be erratic


新絲蘿蔔皮

新丝萝卜皮
身屍蘿蔔皮
新撕蘿蔔皮
新鮮蘿蔔皮

/sɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ paːk̚² pʰei̯²¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ paːk̚² pʰei̯²¹/

Who do you think you are? (used to put down someone who is too arrogant)

nei⁵ mat¹ je⁵ san¹ si¹ lo⁴ baak⁶ pei⁴ aa³?

你乜嘢新絲蘿蔔皮呀？

你乜嘢新丝萝卜皮呀？

(Cantonese) someone who overestimates one's capabilities


夜不歸宿

ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄙㄨˋ

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

to stay out all night; to not return home all night


普天之下

ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

See 普天之下，莫非王土 (pǔtiānzhīxià, mòfēiwángtǔ).


不管不問

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˋ

бугуаньбувэнь

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

to neither pay attention nor ask about (it); to have no interest in


पर गिन कौन रहा है

पर गिन कौन रहा है • (par gin kaun rahā hai)

दीवाली के लिए अब सिर्फ 258 और दिन बाकी हैं, पर गिन कौन रहा है?

There are only 258 days left now for Diwali, but who's counting

dīvālī ke lie ab sirph 258 aur din bākī ha͠i, par gin kaun rahā hai?

तुमने वही ग़लती अब आठ बार दोहराई हैं, पर गिन कौन रहा है?

You have related that mistake eight times now, but who's counting?

tumne vahī ġaltī ab āṭh bār dohrāī ha͠i, par gin kaun rahā hai?

मैं पिछले छह महीने से नौकरी की तलाश कर रहा हूँ, पर गिन कौन रहा है?

I'm looking for a job for past six months, but who's counting?

ma͠i pichle chah mahīne se naukrī kī talāś kar rahā hū̃, par gin kaun rahā hai?

(colloquial, rhetorical question, sarcastic, humorous) but who's counting (used as a retort or comeback, often to deprecate oneself or another for excessive concern or attention to detail)


罵罵咧咧

ㄇㄚˋ ˙ㄇㄚ ㄌㄧㄝ ㄌㄧㄝ

ㄇㄚˋ ㄇㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄝˇ

ㄇㄚˋ ㄇㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄝ ㄌㄧㄝ

/mä⁵¹ mä¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/mä⁵¹ mä¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

foul-mouthed; showering curses and abuse; continuously swearing


吹鬍子瞪眼

to blow one's moustache and stare (with anger)

ㄔㄨㄟ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄗ ㄉㄥˋ ㄧㄢˇ

чуй хуцзы дэнъянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ xu³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ tɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


嘵嘵不休

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/


放諸四海而皆準

ㄈㄤˋ ㄓㄨ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄣˇ

фан чжу сыхай эр цзе чжунь

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡syː⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³⁵/

放之四海而皆準 放之四海而皆準#Chinese

放之四海而皆准 放之四海而皆准#Chinese

Synonym of 放之四海而皆準／放之四海而皆准 (fàng zhī sìhǎi ér jiē zhǔn, “applicable everywhere”)


放之四海而皆準

ㄈㄤˋ ㄓ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄣˇ

фан чжи сыхай эр цзе чжунь

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 24 (《禮記·祭義》)

Zengzi said, "Filial piety […] push it on to the eastern sea, the western sea, the southern sea, and the northern sea, and it will be (everywhere) the law for men, and their obedience to it will be uniform."

曾子曰：「夫孝，……推而放諸東海

The Chinese found Marxism-Leninism, the universally applicable truth, and the face of China began to change.

1949, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論人民民主專政》 (“On the People's Democratic Dictatorship”). English translation based on https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-4/mswv4_65.htm

Zhōngguórén zhǎo dào le Mǎkèsī-Lièníng zhǔyì zhège fàng zhī sìhǎi ér jiē zhǔn de pǔbiàn zhēnlǐ, Zhōngguó de miànmù jiù qǐ le biànhuà le.

中國人找到了馬克思列寧主義這個放之四海而皆準的普遍真理，中國的面目就起了變化了。

中国人找到了马克思列宁主义这个放之四海而皆准的普遍真理，中国的面目就起了变化了。


避重就輕

ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

бичжунцзюцин

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pei̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² hɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi⁴¹⁻²² taŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² kʰin³³/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡siu³³⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻²¹ taŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡siu³³⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pei̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² hɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi⁴¹⁻²² taŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² kʰin³³/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡siu³³⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻²¹ taŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡siu³³⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

to pick only the easy tasks to do; to take the easy way out

to avoid the major issues and only engage in the trivial ones


搞三搞四

ㄍㄠˇ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄠˇ ㄙˋ

гаосаньгаосы

/kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/kaːu̯³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ sei̯³³/

/kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/kaːu̯³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ sei̯³³/

to do something shady; to have illicit relationships


前無古人

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

From the first verse of 《登幽州台歌》 by Chen Zi'ang (661–702).


差一點沒

ㄔㄚˋ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄟˊ

ㄔㄚ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚˋ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

他差一點沒死了。

他差一点没死了。

2018, 一扫首日丢金阴霾，杨皓然强势问鼎男子10米气步枪, Xinhua News Agency

Yáng Hàorán...... zuìzhōng dǎ chū le zīgésài 632.9 huán de chéngjì, jùlí Xiōngyálì míngjiàng Xīdí zài 5 nián qián chuàngzào de shìjiè jìlù jǐn chà 0.6 huán...... duìyú chàyīdiǎn méi néng pò diào shìjiè jìlù shìfǒu yíhàn de wèntí, Yáng Hàorán biǎoshì......

楊皓然……最終打出了資格賽632.9環的成績，距離匈牙利名將西迪在5年前創造的世界紀錄僅差0.6環……對於差一點沒能破掉世界紀錄是否遺憾的問題，楊皓然表示……

杨皓然……最终打出了资格赛632.9环的成绩，距离匈牙利名将西迪在5年前创造的世界纪录仅差0.6环……对于差一点没能破掉世界纪录是否遗憾的问题，杨皓然表示……

2013, 拉沃尔“重逢”澳网奖杯 上海站巡展星光熠熠, 腾讯体育

...... Yě cùchéng le zhè wèi chuánqí míngsù hé Àowǎng jiǎngbēi de “chóngféng”. Bùguò, yóuyú dōngnán yánhǎi de táifēng qīnxí Shànghǎi, dǎozhì tiānqì zhuàngkuàng jídù èliè, běn cì “chóngféng” chàyīdiǎn méi néng shíxiàn.

……也促成了這位傳奇名宿和澳網獎盃的「重逢」。不過，由於東南沿海的颱風侵襲上海，導致天氣狀況極度惡劣，本次「重逢」差一點沒能實現。

2013, 拉沃尔“重逢”澳网奖杯 上海站巡展星光熠熠, 腾讯体育

……也促成了这位传奇名宿和澳网奖杯的「重逢」。不过，由于东南沿海的台风侵袭上海，导致天气状况极度恶劣，本次「重逢」差一点没能实现。


前無古人，後無來者

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄨˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄜˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tsin⁴ mou⁴ gu² jan⁴, hau⁶ mou⁴ loi⁴ dze²

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵/

From the first two verses of 《登幽州台歌》 by Chen Zi'ang (661–702).

unprecedented and never to be duplicated; the first and the last; unmatched; unique


जैसा कि मैं कह रहा था

जैसा कि मैं कह रहा था • (jaisā ki ma͠i kah rahā thā)

jaisā ki ma͠i kah rahā thā (romanization)

/d͡ʒɛː.sɑː kɪ mɛ̃ː kəɦ ɾə.ɦɑː t̪ʰɑː/

[d͡ʒɛː.säː‿kɪ‿mɛ̃ː‿kɛʱ‿ɾɐ.ɦäː‿t̪ʰäː]

(idiomatic, informal) as I was saying ― Used to refer back to a previous statement in a discourse


who would have thunk it

The word thunk is a humorous, nonstandard past participle of think.

He stayed until he saw she had recovered her self possession, then he left, telegraphed to Mr. Hinsdale of Helen's safe arrival—always the same thoughtful fellow—and then went home and wrote sonnets to his lady love. "Who'd have thunk it of 'im?"

1895 September, Frances Cora Perce, “A Sonata of the Woods”, in W. S. B. Mathews, editor, Music. A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Art, Science, Technic and Literature of Music, volume VIII, Chicago, Ill.: The Music Magazine Publishing Company […], →OCLC, pages 478–479:

"Hello, Muggs!" he cried, vainly trying to bestow a pat upon that unquiet animal. "Say, Trevor, hasn't he grown? He's twice the size he was when you got him!" / "It's a way puppies have." / "You don't say so? Who'd have thunk it![…]"

1906, Ralph Henry Barbour, “In the Rowing-room”, in Captain of the Crew, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton and Company, page 147:

Think of it, the N.A.R.D. Journal has included in its propaganda work a forcible crusade against long speeches! Wonders never cease; who would have "thunk it"? Is brevity a lost art? With all the ridicule, satire, hissing and rotten eggs showered upon long windedness, it still remains with us.

1916 February 15, “Bodemann’s Aphorisms”, in Romaine Pierson, editor, The Practical Druggist and Pharmaceutical Review of Reviews, volume XXXIV, number 2, New York, N.Y.: Published by Romaine Pierson, […], →OCLC, page 31, column 1:

Who would have thunk it? Had anyone told me some 10 years ago that I would be alive to see a black person run for President of the United States and be taken seriously, I would have asked what they were tripping on.

1988, Marcia Ann Gillespie, “Something to Celebrate: Thanks to Jesse Jackson, We are Emerging from the Reagan Years with a New Willingness to Pull Together Again”, in Ms., volume 17, New York, N.Y.: Liberty Media for Women, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 22, column 1:

From somewhere in their well-fed, timorous, it-can't-happen-here ranks, a Spartacus had arisen—who would have thunk it?

2001, Stephen King, Dreamcatcher, New York, N.Y.: Pocket Books, →ISBN; 1st Gallery Books trade paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Gallery Books, January 2018, →ISBN, page 462:

(colloquial, sometimes sarcastic) A rhetorical question used to express incredulity: who would have guessed it?; who would have thought that would happen?


燈臺不照自己

灯台不照自己
燈台不照自己

ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ

dēngtái bù zhào zìjǐ [Phonetic:dēngtái bú zhào zìjǐ]

дэнтай бу чжао цзыцзи

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

丈八燈臺——照遠不照近 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近#Chinese

丈八灯台——照远不照近 丈八灯台——照远不照近#Chinese

Synonym of 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近／丈八灯台——照远不照近 (zhàng bā dēngtái, zhào yuǎn bù zhào jìn)


燈臺不自照

ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄓㄠˋ

dēngtái bù zì zhào [Phonetic:dēngtái bú zì zhào]

дэнтай бу цзы чжао

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯³³/

丈八燈臺——照遠不照近 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近#Chinese

丈八灯台——照远不照近 丈八灯台——照远不照近#Chinese


丈八燈臺——照遠不照近

丈八灯台——照远不照近
丈八燈台——照遠不照近
丈八燈臺——照得見人家，照不見自家
丈八燈臺——照見人家，照不見自己

1.8 zhang lampstand ― lighting up the far side but not the near side

ㄓㄤˋ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˊ

ㄓㄠˋ ㄩㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

zhào yuǎn bù zhào jìn [Phonetic:zhàng bā dēngtái

чжан ба дэнтай

чжао юань бу чжао цзинь

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ²² paːt̚³ tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡siːu̯³³ jyːn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːu̯³³ kʰɐn¹³/

(xiehouyu) seeing other people's shortcomings but not one's own


老少男女

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ

лаошаонаньнюй

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

男女老少 男女老少#Chinese


อย่าตัดสินคนจากภายนอก

th-phrase

อย่าตัดสินคนจากภายนอก

อย่าตัดสินคนจากภายนอก • (yàa-dtàt-sǐn-kon-jàak-paai-nɔ̂ɔk)

/jaː˨˩.tat̚˨˩.sin˩˩˦.kʰon˧.t͡ɕaːk̚˨˩.pʰaːj˧.nɔːk̚˥˩/

Don't judge a book by its cover.
don't judge a book by its cover

en-อย่าตัดสินคนจากภายนอก-th-phrase-a5uz5c6q


毅然決然

ㄧˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ

ижаньцзюэжань

/i⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ jiːn²¹/

/i⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ jiːn²¹/

without hesitation; resolutely and determinedly


橫豎撇捺

ㄏㄥˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄚˋ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nä⁵¹/

ㄏㄥˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄚˋㄦ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑɻ⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ syː²² pʰiːt̚³ naːt̚²/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nä⁵¹/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑɻ⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ syː²² pʰiːt̚³ naːt̚²/

horizontal stroke (一), vertical stroke (〡), leftward-falling stroke (丿) and rightward-falling stroke (乀); the basic strokes in Chinese writing


中華民族偉大復興

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥ

zung¹ waa⁴ man⁴ zuk⁶ wai⁵ daai⁶ fuk⁶ hing¹

Chung¹-hua² min²-tsu² wei³-ta⁴ fu⁴-hsing¹

Чжунхуа миньцзу вэйда фусин

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ min³⁵ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

dzung¹ waa⁴ man⁴ dzuk⁹ wai⁵ daai⁶ fuk⁹ hing¹

zung¹ wa⁴ men⁴ zug⁶ wei⁵ dai⁶ fug⁶ hing¹

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waː²¹ mɐn²¹ t͡sʊk̚² wɐi̯¹³ taːi̯²² fʊk̚² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

(Mainland China, officialese) the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation


五馬分屍

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ maː¹³ fɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ maː¹³ fɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

(historical) to dismember a body by having five horses pull the limbs and head

(figurative) to sentence someone capital punishment; to execute

(figurative) to split something up into small fragments


翻雲覆雨

ㄈㄢ ㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/fän⁵⁵ yn³⁵ fu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ fʊk̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/fän⁵⁵ yn³⁵ fu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ fʊk̚⁵ jyː¹³/

Fānshǒu zuò yún fùshǒu yǔ, fēnfēn qīngbó héxū shù?

翻手作雲覆手雨，紛紛輕薄何須數？

翻手作云覆手雨，纷纷轻薄何须数？

(figurative) to be fickle; to shift one's grounds constantly

(figurative) to play politics; to be tricky


回聊

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/


壁壘森嚴

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄟˇ ㄙㄣ ㄧㄢˊ

билэйсэньянь

/pi⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lɵy̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/

/pi⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lɵy̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/


天淵之別

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄩㄢ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

тяньюаньчжибе

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

as far apart as heaven from earth; poles apart; worlds apart


走肉行屍

ㄗㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕ

цзоужоусинши

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/

行屍走肉 行屍走肉#Chinese

行尸走肉 行尸走肉#Chinese

Alternative form of 行屍走肉／行尸走肉 (xíngshīzǒuròu)


行屍走肉

行尸走肉
行尸走肉
走肉行屍

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕ ㄗㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

синшицзоужоу

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/haːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/haːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

(figurative) layabout; idler; person who lives only on the material level


嘆為聽止

ㄊㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄓˇ

таньвэйтинчжи

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

zh-l

嘆為觀止／叹为观止 (tànwéiguānzhǐ)

叹为听止
歎為聽止
嘆爲聽止
歎爲聽止

to gasp in amazement (upon hearing a piece of music); to acclaim as the peak of perfection


大音希聲

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄕㄥ

/tä⁵¹ in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐm⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐm⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

Its largest square doth yet no corner show;
A vessel great, it is the slowest made;
Loud is its sound, but never word it said;
A semblance great, the shadow of a shade.

Dà fāng wú yú; dà qì wǎn chéng; dà yīn xī shēng; dà xiàng wú xíng.

大方無隅；大器晚成；大音希聲；大象無形。

大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形。

The greatest music has the faintest notes.


阿毘羅吽欠

ja-pos

阿(あ)毘(び)羅(ら)吽(うん)欠(けん) • (a-bi-ra-un-ken)

阿毘羅吽欠 (canonical)
a-bi-ra-un-ken (romanization)

Transliteration of Sanskrit अविरहूम्खम् (avirahūmkham).

(Buddhism) a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ: a mantra or incantation directed to 大日如来 (Dainichi Nyorai, “Mahavairocana”), the five syllables representing the five elements in Japanese philosophy


dolce è la vendetta

la vendetta è un piatto che va servito freddo


屬耗子的——撂爪就忘

ㄕㄨˇ ㄏㄠˋ ˙ㄗ ˙ㄉㄜ

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄓㄨㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄨㄤˋ

шу хаоцзы дэ

ляо чжуа цзю ван

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ d̥ə¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/


勾心鬥角

ㄍㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

гоусиньдоуцзяо

/koʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɐu̯³³ kɔːk̚³/

/koʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɐu̯³³ kɔːk̚³/

Wǔ bù yī lóu, shí bù yī gé. Lángyāo màn huí, yányá gāo zhuó, gè bào dìshì, gōuxīndòujiǎo.

五步一樓，十步一閣。廊腰縵迴，簷牙高啄，各抱地勢，鉤心鬥角。

五步一楼，十步一阁。廊腰缦回，檐牙高啄，各抱地势，钩心斗角。

(in palace construction) elaborate and refined


chó ngáp phải ruồi

[t͡ɕɔ˧˦ ŋaːp̚˧˦ faːj˧˩ zuəj˨˩]

[t͡ɕɔ˨˩˦ ŋaːp̚˦˧˥ faːj˧˨ ʐuj˦˩]

[cɔ˦˥ ŋaːp̚˦˥ faːj˨˩˦ ɹuj˨˩]

(literal) a dog who gets a fly in its mouth when it's yawning

Nó đậu à? Chắc là chó ngáp phải ruồi thôi!


不遑多讓

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄖㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/


ねんぴかんのんりきとうじんだんだんえ

ねんぴ ^かんのん りき とう じん だんだん え

ねんぴかんのんりきとうじんだんだんえ • (nenpi Kannon riki tō jin dandan e)

nenpi Kannon riki tō jin dandan e (romanization)

念彼観音力刀尋段段壊 念彼観音力刀尋段段壊#Japanese

en-ねんぴかんのんりきとうじんだんだんえ-ja-phrase-G9qSRm55


糜糜之音

ㄇㄧˊ ㄇㄧˊ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

/mi³⁵ mi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mi³⁵ mi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


數見不鮮

ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

шоцзяньбусянь

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


濮上之音

ㄆㄨˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

zh-l

桑間濮上／桑间濮上 (sāngjiānpúshàng)

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


桑間之音

санцзяньчжиинь

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

桑間濮上／桑间濮上 (sāngjiānpúshàng)

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


濮上

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

桑間濮上 桑間濮上#Chinese

桑间濮上 桑间濮上#Chinese

lovers' rendezvous. See 桑間濮上／桑间濮上 (sāngjiānpúshàng).


靡靡之樂

ㄇㄧˇ ㄇㄧˇ ㄓ ㄩㄝˋ

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


變徵之音

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄓˇ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

бяньчжичжиинь

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

(music) a sound that is high in tone yet solemn and somber


各司其職

ㄍㄜˋ ㄙ ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˊ

/kɤ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

each person attends to his or her own duties


亡國之音

ㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

ванго чжи инь

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 19 (《禮記·樂記》)

Hence, the airs of an age of good order indicate composure and enjoyment. The airs of an age of disorder indicate dissatisfaction and anger, and its government is perversely bad. The airs of a state going to ruin are expressive of sorrow and (troubled) thought.

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

Shìgù zhìshì zhī yīn ān yǐ lè, qí zhèng hé. Luànshì zhī yīn yuàn yǐ nù, qí zhèng guāi. Wángguó zhī yīn āi yǐ sī, qí mín kùn.

是故治世之音安以樂，其政和。亂世之音怨以怒，其政乖。亡國之音哀以思，其民困。

是故治世之音安以乐，其政和。乱世之音怨以怒，其政乖。亡国之音哀以思，其民困。


鄭衛之音

ㄓㄥˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

чжэнвэйчжиинь

čžɛnvɛjčžiinʹ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

In the Warring States Period, the states of Zheng and Wey (both located in modern-day Henan province) were infamous for producing decadent music. This was illustrated in the Book of Rites

The music of Zheng and Wey were chaotic music.

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE

鄭衛之音，亂世之音也。

郑卫之音，乱世之音也。

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese

Synonym of 靡靡之音 (mǐmǐzhīyīn, “decadent music”)


cái răng cái tóc là góc con người

[kaːj˧˦ zaŋ˧˧ kaːj˧˦ tawk͡p̚˧˦ laː˨˩ ɣawk͡p̚˧˦ kɔn˧˧ ŋɨəj˨˩]

[kaːj˨˩˦ ʐaŋ˧˧ kaːj˨˩˦ tawk͡p̚˦˧˥ laː˦˩ ɣawk͡p̚˦˧˥ kɔŋ˧˧ ŋɨj˦˩]

[kaːj˦˥ ɹaŋ˧˧ kaːj˦˥ tawk͡p̚˦˥ laː˨˩ ɣawk͡p̚˦˥ kɔŋ˧˧ ŋɨj˨˩]

(literal) teeth and headhair are the human figure

teeth and head hair are the most important when it comes to appearance


que Dios te bendiga

God bless you (said as a short prayer for the recipient)


一年四季

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ sei̯³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ t͡ɕi⁴⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ sei̯³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ t͡ɕi⁴⁵/


反目成仇

ㄈㄢˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄡˊ

фаньмучэнчоу

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ mʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² siu¹³/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu²⁴/

/huan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siu²³/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ mʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² siu¹³/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu²⁴/

/huan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siu²³/


口齒不清

ㄎㄡˇ ㄔˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

to have slurred speech; to be unable to speak clearly


半工半讀

ㄅㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄨˊ

баньгунбаньду

/pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ tu³⁵/

/puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tʊk̚²/

/pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ tu³⁵/

/puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tʊk̚²/


mắt nhắm mắt mở

[mat̚˧˦ ɲam˧˦ mat̚˧˦ məː˧˩]

[mak̚˦˧˥ ɲam˦˧˥ mak̚˦˧˥ məː˧˨]

[mak̚˦˥ ɲam˦˥ mak̚˦˥ məː˨˩˦]


mit deutschem Gruß

(Nazism) A way to close a note or letter.


đàn ông đàn ang

[ʔɗaːn˨˩ ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɗaːn˨˩ ʔaːŋ˧˧]

[ʔɗaːŋ˦˩ ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɗaːŋ˦˩ ʔaːŋ˧˧]

[ʔɗaːŋ˨˩ ʔəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɗaːŋ˨˩ ʔaːŋ˧˧]

Đàn ông đàn ang (gì) mà thấy việc là chạy!

What kind of man that flees at the sight of work?

(colloquial, disapproving) what kind of man that...


睜一隻眼閉一隻眼

睁一只眼闭一只眼
睜一隻眼，閉一隻眼
睜隻眼閉隻眼

ㄓㄥ ㄧ ㄓ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧ ㄓ ㄧㄢˇ

zhēng yī zhī yǎn bì yī zhī yǎn [Phonetic:zhēng yì zhī yǎn bì yì zhī yǎn]

чжэн и чжи янь би и чжи янь

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

[Phonetic: zhēng yì zhī yǎn bì yì zhī yǎn]


藝高人膽大

ㄧˋ ㄍㄠ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄢˇ ㄉㄚˋ

и гао жэнь даньда

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

skilled people act boldly; to be outstanding and daring


教學相長

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄤˇ

цзяосюэсянчжан

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːu̯³³ hɔːk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/kaːu̯³³ hɔːk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 18 (《禮記·學記》)

Therefore when he learns, one knows his own deficiencies; when he teaches, he knows the difficulties of learning. After he knows his deficiencies, one is able to turn round and examine himself; after he knows the difficulties, he is able to stimulate himself to effort. Hence it is said, "Teaching and learning help each other."

Gù xué ránhòu zhī bùzú, jiào ránhòu zhī kùn. Zhī bùzú, ránhòu néng zìfǎn yě; zhī kùn, ránhòu néng zìqiáng yě, gù yuē: jiào xué xiàng cháng yě.

故學然後知不足，教然後知困。知不足，然後能自反也；知困，然後能自強也，故曰：教學相長也。

故学然后知不足，教然后知困。知不足，然后能自反也；知困，然后能自强也，故曰：教学相长也。

both the teacher and the student can learn from each other and grow together


nie ma

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nie ma (past nie było, future nie będzie)

Clipping of nie masz. First attested in the first half of the 20th century. Displaced Old Polish nietu.

etydate

On nie ma czasu.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see nie, ma. [with genitive]

Nie ma chleba.

Nie ma mowy!

No way! (literally, “There is no speech!”)

Nigdy nikogo nie ma w domu.

(impersonal, idiomatic) to be gone, to not be present, to not exist, there is no [with genitive]


pangatulig luwag

Literally, “clean your ear with a ladle”.

lit

used to dismiss someone who misquoted or misheard what one said


con trai con đứa

[kɔn˧˧ t͡ɕaːj˧˧ kɔn˧˧ ʔɗɨə˧˦]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ʈaːj˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʔɗɨə˨˩˦]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ʈaːj˧˧ kɔŋ˧˧ ʔɗɨə˦˥]

Con trai con đứa (gì) mà chẳng ga-lăng gì cả!

(literally, “What kind of boy that is so not chivalrous like this?”)

You have no chivalry and you call yourself a man?

(colloquial, disapproving) what kind of boy that...


con gái con đứa

[kɔn˧˧ ɣaːj˧˦ kɔn˧˧ ʔɗɨə˧˦]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ɣaːj˨˩˦ kɔŋ˧˧ ʔɗɨə˨˩˦]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ɣaːj˦˥ kɔŋ˧˧ ʔɗɨə˦˥]

Con gái con đứa (gì) mà chẳng có ý tứ gì cả!

(literally, “What kind of girl that has no tact at all like this?”)

(colloquial, disapproving) what kind of girl that...


琴瑟和鳴

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²² mɪŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²² mɪŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

(of a married couple) in perfect harmony


無我夢中

無我夢中 (canonical)
mugamuchū (romanization)

[mɯ̟ɡa̠mɯ̟t͡ɕɨː]


無我夢中

muamongjung (romanization)
무아몽중 (hangeul)


祥雲瑞彩

ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄞˇ

сянъюньжуйцай

/ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ yn³⁵ ʐu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

colorful clouds signifying an auspicious sign


sånt är livet

Jag vann hundra spänn men råkade skrapa kontrollrutan, a ja, sånt är livet.

I won hundred bucks but somehow I forgot that you can’t scratch the control tile, oh well, that’s life.


死乞白賴

死乞白赖
死氣白賴
死乞百賴
死氣白咧
死乞百咧

ㄙˇ ˙ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄌㄞˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴ t͡ɕʰi⁴ paɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ hɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² laːi̯²²/

/sz̩²¹⁴ t͡ɕʰi⁴ paɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ hɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² laːi̯²²/

(colloquial) to continuously pester someone; pesteringly; annoyingly


斷袖餘桃

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄠˊ

дуаньсююйтао

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/


三人行

/sän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

The Master said, “When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them.”

Zǐ yuē: “Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī yān. Zé qí shàn zhě ér cóng zhī, qí bù shàn zhě ér gǎi zhī.”

子曰：「三人行，必有我師焉。擇其善者而從之，其不善者而改之。」

子曰：「三人行，必有我师焉。择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。」

(literally) three people walking together


πέφτω απ' τα σύννεφα

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πέφτω απ' τα σύννεφα • (péfto ap' ta sýnnefa)

(idiomatic) come down to earth (literally: "fall from the clouds")

en-πέφτω_απ'_τα_σύννεφα-el-phrase-dlP1Kh~A

προσγειώνω

bring down to earth; literal and figuratively

προσγείωση

landing, coming down to earth; literal and figuratively


斷袖之癖

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄓ ㄆㄧˇ

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄓ ㄆㄧˋ

дуаньсючжипи

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/

zh-l

斷袖／断袖 (duànxiù)


青雲直上

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩㄣˊ ㄓˊ ㄕㄤˋ

цинъюньчжишан

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚² sœːŋ¹³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚² sœːŋ¹³/

rise through the ranks
rise through the ranks

meteoric rise; to rise through the ranks rapidly


確有其人

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

to be a real person; to be a person that actually existed or exists


確有其事

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˋ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

to be a real thing; to be something that actually happened


天上掉餡餅

a stuffed Chinese pancake falls from the sky

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄥˇ

тяньшан дяо сяньбин

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative) to have something fall into one's lap


三頭六臂

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/sän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lʊk̚² pei̯³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɤ²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰio²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lʊk̚² pei̯³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɤ²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰio²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

Originally describing the appearance of the mythological figure Nezha.


catch no ball

Calque of Hokkien 掠無球／掠无球 (lia̍h bô kiû, “to not understand”, literally “catch no ball”).

calque

Being someone who doesn't understand Hokkien, I catch no ball as to what you say :-).

1992 March 19, soc.culture.asean (Usenet):

From the way he described population trend, he may well be right. He mentioned something about expo something function. Boy, we all catch no balls.

1993 October 15, soc.culture.malaysia (Usenet):

Ah! I see the problem. Fearless is only semi-literate. In which case, I can understand why he catch no ball. I guess we must ALL show patience to the slow-witted.

1999 April 29, soc.culture.malaysia (Usenet):

"Infini... what? Sorry, I catch no ball. Again, please."
"Infinitessimal - small, small winnings, Chin," said Clarence...

2000, Chong Yen Chung, Clarence Plays the Numbers: A Novel, page 83:

"The sense of meaning halal should debated on either symbolic reminder of hygiene also define the level of hygiene to the level of a stomach ache or death that is what make sense!"
Huh? What kind of English is this? Catch no ball....LOL.

2005 March 23, soc.culture.malaysia (Usenet):

THE ‘CATCH NO BALL BUT WILL KEEP TRYING’ AWARD INCEPTION Only the incomparable Christopher Nolan, after reviving the superhero genre, could have had the cojones to convince a tightfisted big movie studio to greenlight a movie as ridiculously convoluted and richly layered as this.

2010 December 15, “The 'catch no ball but will keep trying’ award Inception”, in TODAY:

"And now you cry...go lah...sleep with that old man...for what? Nothing! Totally liak Bo Kiu!...catch no balls!" Meaning her action was incomprehensible.

2012, Regina Long, Singapore and the Supernatural: The Weight of Fate Rests Great on Those Who Must Relate, page 55:

Catch no ball of what you're talking and saying in your content. Talking and saying, and writing are different ways of expressions. They are not the same.

2013 August 14, soc.culture.china (Usenet):

(Singapore, Malaysia, colloquial) To fail to understand something; be unable to comprehend what others are saying.


以小人之心，度君子之腹

desc

→ Vietnamese: lấy dạ tiểu nhân đo lòng quân tử (calque)

ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄓ ㄈㄨˋ

ji⁵ siu² jan⁴ zi¹ sam¹, dok⁶ gwan¹ zi² zi¹ fuk¹

yǐ xiǎorén zhī xīn, duó jūnzǐ zhī fù [Phonetic:yíxiǎorénzhīxīn,duójūnzǐzhīfù]

и сяожэнь чжи синь

до цзюньцзы чжи фу

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

yíh síu yàhn jī sām, dohk gwān jí jī fūk

ji⁵ siu² jan⁴ dzi¹ sam¹, dok⁹ gwan¹ dzi² dzi¹ fuk⁷

yi⁵ xiu² yen⁴ ji¹ sem¹, dog⁶ guen¹ ji² ji¹ fug¹

/jiː¹³ siːu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɔːk̚² kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

Its form is based on this optative statement by Yan Mo (閻沒) and Ru Kuan (女寬) to Wei Shu (魏舒), to subtly advise him not to take bribes (in Zuozhuan, Zhao 28):
*
Its meaning is based on this rhetorical question by Ran Qiu (冉求), who alluded to his - an inferior's - own inability to gauge his superiors' minds, to subtly urge Shusun Zhouchou (叔孫州仇) and Meng Yizi (孟懿子) to fight (in Zuozhuan, Ai 11):
*
The combination of form (with slight differences) and meaning is attested in a saying attributed to Yu Ai (庾敳) (in A New Account of the Tales of the World):
*

We wished that the bellies of the lowly could become the heart of the noble man, and that he would stop at what was sufficient.

Yuàn yǐ xiǎorén zhī fù wèi jūnzǐ zhī xīn, shǔ yàn ér yǐ.

願以小人之腹為君子之心，屬厭而已。

愿以小人之腹为君子之心，属厌而已。

The noble men have far-reaching considerations, but what can a petty man know?

Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg

君子有遠慮，小人何知？

君子有远虑，小人何知？

It can be called measuring a gentleman's heart with a petty man's scheming.

Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE

Kěwèi yǐ xiǎorén zhī lǜ, dù jūnzǐ zhī xīn.

可謂以小人之慮，度君子之心。

可谓以小人之虑，度君子之心。

togauge the heart of a gentleman with one's own mean measure

Who would've known that Yan Jun would use his own petty measure to gauge the heart of the superior man [Qian Qing]? This occasion was precisely "foes meeting each other with eyes glaring intensely".

Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World, 1627 CE

Shéi zhī Yán Jùn yǐ xiǎorén zhī xīn, duó jūnzǐ zhī fù? Cǐ jì biànshì chóurén xiàngjiàn, fēnwài yǎnzhēng.

誰知顏俊以小人之心，度君子之腹？此際便是仇人相見，分外眼睜。

谁知颜俊以小人之心，度君子之腹？此际便是仇人相见，分外眼睁。

to be cynical; to be skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others

A New Account of the Tales of the World
Ran Qiu
Zuozhuan


屁大點事

ㄆㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄕˋ

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

ㄆㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄕˋㄦ

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵¹/

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵¹/

(low colloquial) something utterly trivial


狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心

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狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心

狗咬吕洞宾——不识好人心

adog bites Lü Dongbin ― to fail to see the heart of a good person

ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄣ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

bùshí hǎorén xīn [Phonetic:góuyáolǚdòngbīn

гоу яо Люй Дунбинь

буши хаожэнь синь

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ pin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

bùshì hǎorén xīn [Phonetic:góuyáolǚdòngbīn

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ pin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ lɵy̯¹³ tʊŋ²² pɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

bite the hand that feeds you
bite the hand that feeds you


原地踏步

ㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄊㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ

/ɥɛn³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

(figurative) to make no progress; to be treading water


給……點顏色看看

ㄍㄟˇ ... ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄎㄢˋ ˙ㄎㄢ

гэй ... дянь яньсэ канькань

/keɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰän⁵¹ kʰän¹/

/kʰɐp̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ ŋaːn²¹ sɪk̚⁵ hɔːn³³ hɔːn³³/

teach someone a lesson
teach someone a lesson