抱薪救火

ㄅㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

баосиньцзюхо

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ fɔː³⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ fɔː³⁵/

Use words to stop other people's gossip, and use actions to quell troubles, just like raising dust to quell it, or carrying firewood to put out a fire.

Zhǐ yán yǐ yán, zhǐ shì yǐ shì, pì yóu yáng kè ér mǐ chén, bào xīn ér jiùhuǒ.

止言以言，止事以事，譬猶揚堁而弭塵，抱薪而救火。

止言以言，止事以事，譬犹扬堁而弭尘，抱薪而救火。

Moreover, ceding land to Qin is like carrying firewood to put out a fire. The fire will not go out until the firewood is burned out.

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

Qiě fú yǐ dì shì Qín pì yóu bàoxīnjiùhuǒ, xīn bùjìn, huǒ bùmiè.

且夫以地事秦譬猶抱薪救火，薪不盡，火不滅。

且夫以地事秦譬犹抱薪救火，薪不尽，火不灭。

to adopt a wrong method to save a situation and end up by making it worse


悖入悖出

ㄅㄟˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄅㄟˋ ㄔㄨ

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

From the Great Learning (《大學》) in the Book of Rites

Hence, the accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people; and the letting it be scattered among them is the way to collect the people. And hence, the ruler's words going forth contrary to right, will come back to him in the same way, and wealth, gotten by improper ways, will take its departure by the same.

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

Shìgù cái jù zé mín sàn, cái sàn zé mín jù. Shìgù yán bèi ér chū zhě, yì bèi ér rù; huò bèi ér rù zhě, yì bèi ér chū.

是故財聚則民散，財散則民聚。是故言悖而出者，亦悖而入；貨悖而入者，亦悖而出。

是故财聚则民散，财散则民聚。是故言悖而出者，亦悖而入；货悖而入者，亦悖而出。


暴厲恣睢

ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄙㄨㄟ

ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄘ ㄙㄨㄟ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

暴戾恣睢 暴戾恣睢#Chinese

Alternative form of 暴戾恣睢 (“extremely cruel and despotic”)


悲喜交集

ㄅㄟ ㄒㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧˊ

бэйсицзяоцзи

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/


you got a mouse in your pocket

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-you got a mouse in your pocket.wav

From the idea of another referent included in "we," besides the speaker, being invisible.

Your back teeth don't know what your front teeth are saying. 'We know nothing about anything.' Who's we, Connors, you got a mouse in your pocket?

1979, Rosemary Edelman, Fireworks: a novel, →ISBN, page 52:

(rhetorical question, informal, sarcastic) Used as a response to statements starting with "we," usually indicating the speaker does not want to be involved in the interlocutor's statements.


is there a mouse in your pocket

you got a mouse in your pocket
you got a mouse in your pocket#English

Alternative form of you got a mouse in your pocket


IHDK

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I honestly don't know.


本固枝榮

when the root is firm, the branches flourish

ㄅㄣˇ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

бэньгучжижун

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/puːn³⁵ kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹/

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/puːn³⁵ kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹/

only when the foundation is consolidated can the parts develop


識少少，扮代表

/sɪk̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ paːn²² tɔːi̯²² piːu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to know a little bit but pretend to be an expert; to behave as if one knows it all


實至名歸

ㄕˊ ㄓˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐt̚² t͡siː³³ mɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚²⁴⁻² t͡si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si¹¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁴¹ miã²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐt̚² t͡siː³³ mɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚²⁴⁻² t͡si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si¹¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁴¹ miã²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

fame follows merit; to live up to one's reputation; to deserve one's fame


卑躬屈節

ㄅㄟ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄩ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

бэйгунцюйцзе

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐt̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐt̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

to bow and scrape; to cringe; to act servilely or obsequiously


anak sa pobreng utin

Literally, “child of an impoverished penis”.

lit

a mere mortal; an ordinary person; someone without special abilities or status


冇雷公咁遠

/mou̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐm³³ jyːn¹³/

/mou̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐm³³ jyːn¹³/


πουλιέμαι σα νερό

head

πουλιέμαι σα νερό

πουλιέμαι σα νερό • (pouliémai sa neró)

el-phrase

πουλιέμαι σα νερό

πουλιέμαι σα νερό • (pouliémai sa neró)

(idiomatic) sell like hot cakes (literally: I am selling like water. Usually in the 3rd person.)


力學不倦

ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

лисюэбуцзюань

/li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² hɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

/li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² hɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/


獨佔鰲頭

ㄉㄨˊ ㄓㄢˋ ㄠˊ ㄊㄡˊ

дучжаньаотоу

/tu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʊk̚² t͡siːm³³ ŋou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/tu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʊk̚² t͡siːm³³ ŋou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/


接踵而來

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄌㄞˊ

цзечжунъэрлай

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ lai²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ lai²³/

接踵而至 接踵而至#Chinese

Synonym of 接踵而至 (jiēzhǒng'érzhì, “to follow each other and arrive successively”)


不相伯仲

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ²²/


單打獨鬥

ㄉㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄉㄡˋ

/tän⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːn⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʊk̚² tɐu̯³³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/

/tan³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² tau⁴¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tau²¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau¹¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/

/tän⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːn⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʊk̚² tɐu̯³³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/

/tan³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² tau⁴¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tau²¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau¹¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/


歌舞昇平

ㄍㄜ ㄨˇ ㄕㄥ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/kɤ⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/kɔː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/ko³³⁻²³ bu⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ³³⁻²³ pʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/kɔː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/ko³³⁻²³ bu⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ³³⁻²³ pʰeŋ⁵⁵/


救死扶傷

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄙˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄤ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ sei̯³⁵ fuː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ sei̯³⁵ fuː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

For over ten days they continued in combat with the Chanyu. The enemy fell in disproportionate numbers; those who tried to rescue their dead and wounded could not even save themselves.

Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. 1st century BCE. Translated by Burton Watson.

Yǔ Chányú lián zhàn shí yǒuyú rì, suǒ shā guò dāng, lǔ jiùsǐfúshāng bù jǐ.

與單于連戰十有餘日，所殺過當，虜救死扶傷不給。

与单于连战十有余日，所杀过当，虏救死扶伤不给。

to rescue the dying and treat the sick and the wounded


溜之大吉

ㄌㄧㄡ ㄓ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/


大行其道

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄉㄠˋ

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɐŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ tou̯²²/

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɐŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ tou̯²²/


分崩離析

ㄈㄣ ㄅㄥ ㄌㄧˊ ㄒㄧ

/fən⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵⁵ li³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sɪk̚⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵⁵ li³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sɪk̚⁵/

Confucius said. "… Therefore, if remoter people are not submissive, all the influences of civil culture and virtue are to be cultivated to attract them to be so; and when they have been so attracted, they must be made contented and tranquil. Now, here are you, You and Qiu, assisting your chief. Remoter people are not submissive, and, with your help, he cannot attract them to him. In his own territory there are divisions and downfalls, leavings and separations, and, with your help, he cannot preserve it. …"

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

Kǒng Zǐ yuē: “...... Gù yuǎn rén bùfú, zé xiū wéndé yǐ lái zhī. Jì lái zhī, zé ān zhī. Jīn Yóu yǔ Qiú yě, xiàng fūzǐ, yuǎn rén bùfú ér bùnéng lái yě; bāng fēnbēng líxī ér bùnéng shǒu yě.......”

孔子曰：「……故遠人不服，則修文德以來之。既來之，則安之。今由與求也，相夫子，遠人不服而不能來也；邦分崩離析而不能守也。……」

孔子曰：「……故远人不服，则修文德以来之。既来之，则安之。今由与求也，相夫子，远人不服而不能来也；邦分崩离析而不能守也。……」

(of a country or a group) to disintegrate; to fall apart


選賢舉能

ㄒㄩㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄩˇ ㄋㄥˊ

сюаньсяньцзюйнэн

/ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

/syːn³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɵy̯³⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

/syːn³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɵy̯³⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

選賢與能 選賢與能#Chinese

选贤与能 选贤与能#Chinese

Synonym of 選賢與能／选贤与能 (“to choose and appoint people of talents, virtue, and ability”)


見死不救

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

цзяньсыбуцзю

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiu⁴¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu¹¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

/kiːn³³ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiu⁴¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu¹¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

to neglect a dying person and not rescue him or her

(figuratively) to neglect a person in danger and not assist him or her


老氣橫秋

ㄌㄠˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ hei̯³³ waːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ hei̯³³ waːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/


馬死落地行

If the horse dies, get off and (continue to) walk (on your own)

/maː¹³ sei̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² tei̯²² haːŋ²¹/

/maː¹³ sei̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² tei̯²² haːŋ²¹/

(Cantonese) to have lost one's advantages and is forced to get through an adverse situation with difficulty


縮手縮腳

ㄙㄨㄛ ㄕㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/su̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sʊk̚⁵ kœːk̚³/

/sʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sʊk̚⁵ kœːk̚³/

to curl up one's limbs (due to the cold)

Many do not admit that contradictions still exist in socialist society, with the result that they become irresolute and passive when confronted with social contradictions.

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

Xǔduō rén bù chéngrèn shèhuì zhǔyì shèhuì hái yǒu máodùn, yīn'ér shǐdé tāmen zài shèhuì máodùn miànqián suōshǒusuōjiǎo, chǔyú bèidòng dìwèi.

許多人不承認社會主義社會還有矛盾，因而使得他們在社會矛盾面前縮手縮腳，處於被動地位。

许多人不承认社会主义社会还有矛盾，因而使得他们在社会矛盾面前缩手缩脚，处于被动地位。

(figurative) to be overcautious and constrained


çəkiclə zindan arasında

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Azerbaijani audiorecordings-çəkiclə zindan arasında.wav

between the hammer and the anvil
between the hammer and the anvil


畏首畏尾

to beafraid of the head, terrified of the tail

ㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˇ

вэйшоувэйвэй

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³/

/wɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³/

to be afraid of the slightest thing; ever fearful and nervous; to be full of misgivings; to be overcautious


智商捉急

ㄓˋ ㄕㄤ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄐㄧˊ

чжишан чжоцзи

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

(neologism, slang, humorous) to be stupid; to be an idiot;


虛驚一場

ㄒㄩ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧ ㄔㄤˇ

ㄒㄩ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧ ㄔㄤˊ

сюйцзинъичан

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²⁴/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²³/

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²⁴/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²³/


論功行賞

ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄤˇ

луньгунсиншан

/lu̯ən⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

/lu̯ən⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

to reward people based on their merits and achievements


天公地道

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄠˋ

тяньгундидао

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² tou̯²²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² tou̯²²/

absolutely fair and reasonable; right and proper


手不釋卷

ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

шоубушицзюань

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kyːn³⁵/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kyːn³⁵/


始終如一

ㄕˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

to remain the same all along; to be consistent throughout


碩果僅存

ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

шогоцзиньцунь

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/sɛːk̚² kʷɔː³⁵ kɐn³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/sɛːk̚² kʷɔː³⁵ kɐn³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/


剛正不阿

ㄍㄤ ㄓㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄜ

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ ɔː⁵⁵/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ ɔː⁵⁵/

to be upright and not flatter; to be righteous and not curry favor with others


出水芙蓉

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ fuː²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ fuː²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

(literally) lotus flower which just sprung into blossom above the water

(figurative) refreshingly and elegantly composed piece of literary work (poem, article, etc.), art or calligraphy

(figurative) naturally beautiful woman; natural beauty

(figurative) beautiful woman who emerges from, or half-submerged in a pool of water


反敗為勝

ㄈㄢˇ ㄅㄞˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄥˋ

фаньбайвэйшэн

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ paːi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ sɪŋ³³/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ paːi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ sɪŋ³³/

to turn the tables; to turn defeat into victory


眾矢之的

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕˇ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

a common target of criticism or attack by everyone


絕口不提

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧˊ

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹/

to not say a word about a particular thing


茶餘飯後

ㄔㄚˊ ㄩˊ ㄈㄢˋ ㄏㄡˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ y³⁵ fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː²¹ jyː²¹ faːn²² hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ y³⁵ fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː²¹ jyː²¹ faːn²² hɐu̯²²/


荷槍實彈

ㄏㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄕˊ ㄉㄢˋ

/xɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/hɔː²² t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚² taːn²²⁻³⁵/

/xɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/hɔː²² t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚² taːn²²⁻³⁵/


粉飾太平

ㄈㄣˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

фэньшитайпин

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/fɐn³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/fɐn³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

to present a false picture of peace and cover up the ongoing turmoil in society


彌天大謊

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄤˇ

митяньдахуан

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fɔːŋ⁵⁵/


運籌帷幄

ㄩㄣˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄛˋ

/yn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ⁵¹/

/wɐn²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ ɐk̚⁵/

/yn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ⁵¹/

/wɐn²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ ɐk̚⁵/

to devise strategies behind the frontline


暗通款曲

ㄢˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄢˇ ㄑㄩ

аньтункуаньцюй

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fuːn³⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fuːn³⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵/


同年而語

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄩˇ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ niːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː¹³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ niːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː¹³/


近在咫尺

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄓˇ ㄔˇ

цзиньцзайчжичи

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

/kɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/


各懷鬼胎

ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄞ

гэхуайгуйтай

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ waːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ waːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

each person has his or her own (hidden) thoughts or intentions


欣喜若狂

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄨㄤˊ

синьсижокуан

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/


內憂外患

ㄋㄟˋ ㄧㄡ ㄨㄞˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

нэйювайхуань

/neɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²² waːn²²/

/neɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²² waːn²²/

(of a country) internal and external troubles; internal upheaval and external invasions


歡喜若狂

ㄏㄨㄢ ㄒㄧˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄨㄤˊ

хуаньсижокуан

/xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/

/xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/

欣喜若狂 欣喜若狂#Chinese

Synonym of 欣喜若狂 (xīnxǐruòkuáng, “ecstatic; over the moon; overjoyed”)


舉棋不定

ㄐㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/


船堅炮利

ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄆㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ

чуаньцзяньпаоли

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/syːn²¹ kiːn⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³³ lei̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/syːn²¹ kiːn⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³³ lei̯²²/

to have a powerful navy (and by extension, military), with excellent weaponry


政通人和

ㄓㄥˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄜˊ

чжэнтунжэньхэ

čžɛntunžɛnʹxɛ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ wɔː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ wɔː²¹/

From Memorial to Yueyang Tower (岳陽樓記) by 范仲淹 (Fan Zhongyan)

In spring of the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Qingli, Teng Zijing was demoted and exiled to Baling County. After two years, governance is smooth, and the people are happy and harmonious; all the previously abandoned tasks are being undertaken.

Qìnglì sì nián chūn, Téng Zǐjīng zhéshǒu Bālíng jùn. Yuè míngnián, zhèngtōngrénhé, bǎifèijùxìng.

慶曆四年春，滕子京謫守巴陵郡。越明年，政通人和，百廢具興。

庆历四年春，滕子京谪守巴陵郡。越明年，政通人和，百废具兴。

to have smooth governance and a happy and harmonious society


禍國殃民

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄤ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/wɔː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jœːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/wɔː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jœːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

to bring disaster to both the country and the people


鼻哥窿都冇肉

/pei̯²² kɔː⁵⁵ lʊŋ⁵⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ jʊk̚²/

Referring to the dilation of nostrils when one is shocked.

there is even no flesh in one's nostrils

haak³ dou³ bei⁶ go¹ lung¹ dou¹ mou⁵ juk⁶

嚇到鼻哥窿都冇肉

吓到鼻哥窿都冇肉

geng¹ dou³ bei⁶ go¹ lung¹ dou¹ mou⁵ juk⁶

驚到鼻哥窿都冇肉

惊到鼻哥窿都冇肉

one's pants scared off
scare the pants off

(Cantonese) to be terrified; to be petrified; to have one's pants scared off


節節敗退

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

цзецзебайтуй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siːt̚³ paːi̯²² tʰɵy̯³³/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ tʰe²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ tʰe¹¹/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ tʰue²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ tʰue¹¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siːt̚³ paːi̯²² tʰɵy̯³³/

(of an army) to lose battles one after another and retreat in defeat

(figuratively) to lose (competitions) successively


招兵買馬

ㄓㄠ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄇㄞˇ ㄇㄚˇ

чжаобинмайма

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ maː¹³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio³³ piɪŋ³³ mãi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ mã⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡siɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ mã⁴¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ maː¹³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio³³ piɪŋ³³ mãi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ mã⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡siɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ mã⁴¹/

to raise or enlarge an army by recruiting soldiers and buying horses

to rally people or to enlarge an organization


秘不發喪

ㄇㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚ ㄙㄤ

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

to not announce someone's (usually the emperor's) death


暢通無阻

ㄔㄤˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɔː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɔː³⁵/


舊調重彈

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄢˊ

цзюдяочунтань

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/kɐu̯²² tiːu̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰaːn²¹/

/kɐu̯²² tiːu̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰaːn²¹/


怒火中燒

ㄋㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄠ

/nu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/nou̯²² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵/

/nu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/nou̯²² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵/


脫胎換骨

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄊㄞ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ

тотайхуаньгу

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰyːt̚³ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ wuːn²² kʷɐt̚⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰyːt̚³ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ wuːn²² kʷɐt̚⁵/

宋．葛長庚《沁園春．要做神仙》

Cháng wēn yǎng, shǐ tuōtāihuàngǔ, shēn zài yúnduān.

常溫養，使脫胎換骨，身在雲端。

宋．葛長庚《沁園春．要做神仙》

常温养，使脱胎换骨，身在云端。

Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, 16ᵗʰ century CE

Nà chánglǎo zì fú le cǎo hái dān, zhēnshì tuōtāihuàngǔ, shén shuǎng tǐ jiàn.

那長老自服了草還丹，真是脫胎換骨，神爽體健。

那长老自服了草还丹，真是脱胎换骨，神爽体健。

(figurative) to completely reform oneself


避而不談

ㄅㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄢˊ

/pi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

/pei̯²² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰaːm²¹/

/pi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

/pei̯²² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰaːm²¹/


槍林彈雨

ㄑㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄩˇ

цянлиньданьюй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ tän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ taːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ tän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ taːn²² jyː¹³/

showering bullets; fierce battles with intense gunfire


大獲全勝

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕㄥˋ

дахоцюаньшэн

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² wɔːk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɪŋ³³/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² wɔːk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɪŋ³³/


紆尊降貴

ㄩ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

юйцзуньцзянгуй

/y⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kɔːŋ³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/y⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kɔːŋ³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

to condescend; to descend to a less dignified level and act humbly


迂迴曲折

ㄩ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄩ ㄓㄜˊ

юйхуэйцюйчжэ

/y⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/jyː⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹ kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

/y⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/jyː⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹ kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

with many twists and turns; twisted; tortuous


獲益良多

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄛ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/wɔːk̚² jɪk̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/wɔːk̚² jɪk̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/


曲折縈紆

ㄑㄩ ㄓㄜˊ ㄧㄥˊ ㄩ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ y⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ y⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵/


改弦易轍

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄓㄜˊ

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄔㄜˋ

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²³⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²³⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

to reform or revamp (a system or policy)


身敗名裂

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (身敗名裂):
* → Vietnamese: thân bại danh liệt (身敗名裂)

ㄕㄣ ㄅㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

шэньбайминле

/ʂən⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ paːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚²/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚⁴/

/sin³³ pai⁴¹⁻²² miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚²⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã¹³⁻²² liɛt̚¹²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻¹¹ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ liɛt̚⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻²¹ miã²³⁻³³ liɛt̚⁴/

/ʂən⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ paːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚²/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚⁴/

/sin³³ pai⁴¹⁻²² miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚²⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã¹³⁻²² liɛt̚¹²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻¹¹ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ liɛt̚⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻²¹ miã²³⁻³³ liɛt̚⁴/

to lose one's status and have one's reputation destroyed


身敗名裂

thân bại danh liệt
thân bại danh liệt#Vietnamese

chữ Hán form of thân bại danh liệt (“to lose one's status and reputation”).


揚長而去

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄦˊ ㄑㄩˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰu²¹/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰu²¹/


新瓶裝舊酒

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

синьпинчжуанцзюцзю

/ɕin⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

新瓶舊酒 新瓶舊酒#Chinese

新瓶旧酒 新瓶旧酒#Chinese

old wine in a new bottle
old wine in a new bottle

Synonym of 新瓶舊酒／新瓶旧酒 (xīnpíngjiùjiǔ, “old wine in a new bottle; an existing concept offered again in a newer form”)


明辨是非

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

минбяньшифэй

/miŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ piːn²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ piːn²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

to know right from wrong; to distinguish between right and wrong


新瓶舊酒

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

синьпинцзюцзю

/ɕin⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

old wine in a new bottle; an existing concept offered again in a newer form


聲嘶力竭

ㄕㄥ ㄙ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³/

to shout oneself hoarse; to shout with all one's might


急轉直下

ㄐㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄓˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

цзичжуаньчжися

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² haː²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² haː²²/

take a turn for the worse
take a turn for the worse

to suddenly and rapidly worsen or deteriorate; to take a turn for the worse


後患無窮

ㄏㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

хоухуаньуцюн

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² waːn²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² waːn²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

to have endless future troubles and calamities


三足鼎立

ㄙㄢ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˋ

саньцзудинли

/sän⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ lɐp̚²/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ laːp̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ lɐp̚²/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ laːp̚²/

During the Three Kingdoms, China was divided in the states of Wei, Wu and Shu, resulting in tripartite confrontation.

Zhōngguó zài sānguó shídài fēnliè wèi cáowèi, sūnwú hé shǔhàn sān ge zhèngquán, xíngchéng sānzúdǐnglì de júmiàn.

中國在三國時代分裂為曹魏、孫吳和蜀漢三個政權，形成三足鼎立的局面。

中国在三国时代分裂为曹魏、孙吴和蜀汉三个政权，形成三足鼎立的局面。

to be in a situation of tripartite confrontation


力竭聲嘶

ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄥ ㄙ

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

聲嘶力竭 聲嘶力竭#Chinese

声嘶力竭 声嘶力竭#Chinese

Synonym of 聲嘶力竭／声嘶力竭 (shēngsīlìjié, “to shout oneself hoarse; to shout with all one's might”)


厭舊貪新

ㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ

яньцзютаньсинь

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jiːm³³ kɐu̯²² tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jiːm³³ kɐu̯²² tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


明哲保身

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄣ

минчжэбаошэнь

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siːt̚³ pou̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siːt̚³ pou̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 260 (《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

lang

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

Intelligent is he and wise, Protecting his own person.
Never idle, day or night, In the service of the One man.

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

Jì míng qiě zhé, yǐ bǎo qí shēn.
Sùyè fěi xiè, yǐ shì yīrén.

既明且哲，以保其身。
夙夜匪解，以事一人。

to protect or defend oneself with wisdom and sound judgement

to protect oneself above all other considerations; to place one's own interests at the foremost


扣人心弦

ㄎㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

коужэньсиньсянь

/kʰoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/


見微知著

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟ ㄓ ㄓㄨˋ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓ ㄓㄨˋ

цзяньвэйчжичжу

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ mei̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ mei̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³/

to be able to tell the truth or general trend from a tiny phenomenon or early signs

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


罪不可赦

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄜˋ

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɛː³³/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɛː³³/

to be gravely sinful and cannot be pardoned


改弦更張

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄥ ㄓㄤ

гайсяньгэнчжан

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

The latter component has been attested as late as the Book of Han in a passage quoting verbatim from a letter by Dong Zhongshu to the Emperor Wu of Han [104 BCE].

to re-tune the strings or re-string the instrument

Book of Han
Dong Zhongshu
Emperor Wu of Han


死有餘辜

ㄙˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄍㄨ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ku⁵⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kuː⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ku⁵⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kuː⁵⁵/

to be so gravely sinful that even death of the person is insufficient to pay for his or her crimes


略知一二

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/lœːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/lœːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/


狂妄自大

ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

куанванцзыда

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

egotistical; wildly arrogant; self-important


大模大樣

ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ mu³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² jœːŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ mu³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² jœːŋ²²/


以理服人

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ lei̯¹³ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ lei̯¹³ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/


fuck 12

From fuck + 12, of uncertain origin. Widespread use of the phrase as an anti-police slogan grew following the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
* Possibly from 1312, an alternative form of ACAB (“all cops are bastards”) in which the letters are substituted with their position in the alphabet.
* Alternatively, from the American police procedural television series Adam-12 (1968–1975), in which 1-Adam-12 refers to a patrol unit and its radio call sign.
Likely popularized by "F*ck 12", a song by American hip hop group Migos from their 2013 mixtape Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas), which uses 12 in reference to the police while describing a narcotics raid: “12 kickin' in my front door […] 12 in my home, they won't leave me alone”.

Vehicles with the words "Fuck 12" painted on the sides and windows drove down West Florissant Avenue, honking in support of protesters on the street as others would chant the straight-to-the-point slogan.

2014 August 17, Ray Downs, “Ferguson Protesters Defy State of Emergency Curfew and Fight Tear Gas”, in Riverfront Times:

Kwame Shakur, deputy chairman of the New African Black Panther Party, showed up with a megaphone and led the protesters in chants of "All power to the people" and "Fuck 12."

2020 May 7, Tyler Fenwick, “'We're just trying to get answers': Fatal IMPD shooting captured on Facebook Live”, in Indianapolis Recorder:

(slang, vulgar, derogatory) Fuck the police, an anti-police slogan protesting police behaviour.

Adam-12
Migos
Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas)
killing of Michael Brown
murder of George Floyd


通風報信

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

тунфэнбаосинь

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³ sɵn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³ sɵn³³/

to secretly pass on information to others; to tip somebody off


thiếu trước hụt sau

[tʰiəw˧˦ t͡ɕɨək̚˧˦ hut̚˧˨ʔ saw˧˧]

[tʰiw˨˩˦ ʈɨək̚˦˧˥ hʊk̚˨˩ʔ ʂaw˧˧]

[tʰiw˨˩˦ ʈɨək̚˦˧˥ hʊk̚˨˩ʔ saw˧˧]

[tʰiw˦˥ ʈɨək̚˦˥ hʊk͡p̚˨˩˨ ʂa(ː)w˧˧]

[tʰiw˦˥ ʈɨək̚˦˥ hʊk͡p̚˨˩˨ sa(ː)w˧˧]

Literally "lacking before and lacking after".


不為所動

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/


風馳電掣

ㄈㄥ ㄔˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄜˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

on the wings of the wind
on the wings of the wind

very swift; on the wings of the wind; at lightning speed


雷電交加

ㄌㄟˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄚ

лэйдяньцзяоцзя

/leɪ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯⁵⁵ tiːn²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

/leɪ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯⁵⁵ tiːn²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

thunder and lightning occur simultaneously or alternately


鑄成大錯

ㄓㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡syː³³ sɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡syː³³ sɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

to make a grave and irreversible mistake


心狠手辣

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄣˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄌㄚˋ

синьхэньшоула

/ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐn³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ laːt̚²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐn³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ laːt̚²/


好勇鬥狠

ㄏㄠˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄉㄡˋ ㄏㄣˇ

хаоюндоухэнь

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː³³ jʊŋ¹³ tɐu̯³³ hɐn³⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː³³ jʊŋ¹³ tɐu̯³³ hɐn³⁵/

The fifth is being fond of bravery, fighting and quarrelling so as to endanger his parents.

Hǎo yǒng dòu hěn, yǐ wēi fùmǔ, wǔ bùxiào yě.

好勇鬥很，以危父母，五不孝也。

好勇斗很，以危父母，五不孝也。

eager to demonstrate bravery and fight with others; bellicose


高射炮打蚊子

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄜˋ ㄆㄠˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄨㄣˊ ˙ㄗ

гаошэпао да вэньцзы

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³/

First part of a xiehouyu. The second part could be:
# 大材小用 (dàcái-xiǎoyòng)

toshoot a mosquito with an anti-aircraft gun

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


懷恨在心

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄏㄣˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

хуайхэньцзайсинь

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/waːi̯²¹ hɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/waːi̯²¹ hɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵/

to hold a grudge against; to harbor resentment towards


不懷好意

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ waːi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ jiː³³/

/pu⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ waːi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ jiː³³/


唯恐天下不亂

ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

wéi kǒng tiānxià bù luàn [Phonetic:wéi kǒng tiānxià bú luàn]

вэй кун тянься бу луань

/weɪ̯³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/d͡zui³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰioŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰĩ³³⁻²³ e³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ luaŋ³⁵/


雖敗猶榮

ㄙㄨㄟ ㄅㄞˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

to experience a glorious defeat; to feel honored despite having been defeated


忠肝義膽

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄢ ㄧˋ ㄉㄢˇ

чжунганьидань

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² taːm³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² taːm³⁵/

loyal and righteous; faithful and virtuous


盡忠職守

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓˊ ㄕㄡˇ

цзиньчжунчжишоу

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

to be faithful and dedicated to one's duties


無言以對

ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

/u³⁵ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ tɵy̯³³/

/u³⁵ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ tɵy̯³³/

to be left speechless; to be unable to respond


眾叛親離

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄆㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˊ

чжунпаньциньли

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ puːn²² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ puːn²² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹/

(of a person) to be isolated and forsaken by everyone


少之又少

ㄕㄠˇ ㄓ ㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄠˇ

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² siːu̯³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² siːu̯³⁵/


官商勾結

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄕㄤ ㄍㄡ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

гуаньшангоуцзе

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːt̚³/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːt̚³/

collusion between the government and businesses


不戰而屈人之兵

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄩ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄥ

bù zhàn ér qū rén zhī bīng [Phonetic:bú zhàn ér qū rén zhī bīng]

бу чжань эр цюй жэнь чжи бин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ jiː²¹ wɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

The Art of War, circa 5ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on Lionel Giles's version

Shìgù bǎizhànbǎishèng, fēi shàn zhī shàn zhě yě; bù zhàn ér qū rén zhī bīng, shàn zhī shàn zhě yě.

是故百戰百勝，非善之善者也；不戰而屈人之兵，善之善者也。

是故百战百胜，非善之善者也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。

to subdue the enemy without fighting; to win without fighting


越俎代庖

ㄩㄝˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄆㄠˊ

/ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jyːt̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²² pʰaːu̯²¹/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jyːt̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²² pʰaːu̯²¹/

Though the cook were not attending to his kitchen, the representative of the dead and the officer of prayer would not leave their cups and stands to take his place.

Páorén suī bù zhìpáo, shīzhù bù yuè zūnzǔ ér dài zhī yǐ.

庖人雖不治庖，尸祝不越樽俎而代之矣。

庖人虽不治庖，尸祝不越樽俎而代之矣。

(the priest) leave his cups and takes the place of the cook

to overstep one's bounds and meddle in other's affairs


侵刪

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

(Internet slang, neologism) If this constitutes copyright infringement, please notify me and I will remove it.


生殺大權

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄚ ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

шэншадацюань

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/


當家花旦

ㄉㄤ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄉㄢˋ

данцзяхуадань

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tän⁵¹/

popular and leading actress; prima donna


吃一塹，長一智

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɛːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːm³³ t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

After they fail, they draw their lessons, correct their ideas to make them correspond to the laws of the external world, and can thus turn failure into success; this is what is meant by “failure is the mother of success” and “a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit”.

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

Rénmen jīngguò shībài zhīhòu, yě jiù cóng shībài qǔdé jiàoxùn, gǎizhèng zìjǐ de sīxiǎng shǐ zhī shìhé yú wàijiè de guīlǜxìng, rénmen jiù néng biàn shībài wéi shènglì, suǒwèi “shībài zhě chénggōng zhī mǔ”, “chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì”, jiùshì zhège dàolǐ.

人們經過失敗之後，也就從失敗取得教訓，改正自己的思想使之適合於外界的規律性，人們就能變失敗為勝利，所謂「失敗者成功之母」，「吃一塹長一智」，就是這個道理。

人们经过失败之后，也就从失败取得教训，改正自己的思想使之适合于外界的规律性，人们就能变失败为胜利，所谓「失败者成功之母」，「吃一堑长一智」，就是这个道理。

a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit; wisdom grows out of experience


且行且珍惜

ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧ

ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧˊ

це син це чжэньси

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

Cherish something when it has been, or while it is being pursued.


眉頭一皺，計上心來

ㄇㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧ ㄓㄡˋ

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

jì shàng xīn lái [Phonetic:méitóu yí zhòu

мэйтоу и чжоу

цзи шан синь лай

/meɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

knit the brows and a stratagem comes to mind


اندیشه نیک، گفتار نیک، کردار نیک

head

اندیشه نیک، گفتار نیک، کردار نیک

اندیشه نیک، گفتار نیک، کردار نیک • (andiš-e nik, goftâr-e nik, kerdâr-e nik)

andiš-e nik (romanization)
goftâr-e nik (romanization)
kerdâr-e nik (romanization)

[ʔan.deː.ʃi neːk ɡuf.tɑː.ɾi neːk kiɾ.dɑː.ɾi neːk]

[ʔän̪.d̪eː.ʃɪ neːk ɡʊf.t̪ʰɑː.ɾɪ neːk kʰɪɾ.d̪ɑː.ɾɪ neːk]

[ʔän̪.d̪i.ʃi neːk ɡuf.t̪ʰɔː.ɾi neːk kʰiɾ.d̪ɔː.ɾi neːk]

[ʔæn̪.d̪iː.ʃe niːkʲ ɡ̥of.t̪ʰɒː.ɹe niːkʲ kʰʲeɹ.d̪ɒː.ɹe niːkʲ]

[ʔän̪.d̪e.ʃi nek ɡuf.t̪ʰɔ.ɾi nek kʰiɾ.d̪ɔ.ɾi nek]

Calque of Avestan 𐬵𐬎𐬨𐬀𐬙𐬀 𐬵𐬏𐬑𐬙𐬀 𐬵𐬬𐬀𐬭𐬱𐬙𐬀 (humata hūxta hvaršta).

cal

𐬵𐬎𐬨𐬀𐬙𐬀 𐬵𐬏𐬑𐬙𐬀 𐬵𐬬𐬀𐬭𐬱𐬙𐬀

Good thoughts, Good words, Good deeds
Good thoughts, Good words, Good deeds

Good thoughts, Good words, Good deeds; a phrase that represents the three pillars of Zoroastrian Faith

en-اندیشه_نیک،_گفتار_نیک،_کردار_نیک-fa-phrase-3Vcga6yM


眉頭一縱，計上心來

ㄇㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧ ㄗㄨㄥˋ

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

jì shàng xīn lái [Phonetic:méitóu yí zòng

мэйтоу и цзун

цзи шан синь лай

/meɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

眉頭一皺，計上心來 眉頭一皺，計上心來#Chinese

眉头一皱，计上心来 眉头一皱，计上心来#Chinese

Synonym of 眉頭一皺，計上心來／眉头一皱，计上心来 (méitóu yī zhòu, jì shàng xīn lái, “knit the brows and a stratagem comes to mind”)


計上心來

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

цзишансиньлай

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐi̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐi̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/


deuces wild

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-deuces wild.wav

Refers to various card games where deuces are used as wild cards. Probably coined by Los Angeles Dodgers sportscaster Vin Scully.

The deuces are wild, he would announce before a pitch. Two balls, two strikes, two out, two on, and two to two in the bottom of the second. Bosch could hear Scully's voice in his head as he considered that the deuces were now wild in his own game

If there were two balls and two strikes on a batter, with two outs in an inning—what is called “deuces wild” in baseball—the bullpen would work like mad to get its pitcher out of the inning.

2011, Travis Haney, Gamecock Glory: The University of South Carolina Baseball Team's Journey to the 2010 NCAA Championship.:

(baseball) A situation in a ballgame where there are two balls, two strikes, two outs and two men on base.


自作主張

ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄨˇ ㄓㄤ

цзыцзочжучжан

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

to make decisions without consulting others beforehand


前功盡廢

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄈㄟˋ

цяньгунцзиньфэй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɐi̯³³/

前功盡棄 前功盡棄#Chinese

前功尽弃 前功尽弃#Chinese

Synonym of 前功盡棄／前功尽弃 (qiángōngjìnqì, “all previous achievements go down the drain; all the previous effort is wasted”)


移情別戀

ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

/i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ piːt̚² lyːn³⁵/

/i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ piːt̚² lyːn³⁵/

to turn one's back on one's lover and develop affection for another; to have a new sweetheart


方寸大亂

ㄈㄤ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

фанцуньдалуань

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ taːi̯²² lyːn²²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ taːi̯²² lyːn²²/

to be agitated; to be troubled and nervous


迷途知返

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄓ ㄈㄢˇ

/mi³⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐi̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn³⁵/

/mi³⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐi̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn³⁵/

to become aware of one's errors and turn back from one's wrong path; to realize one's mistakes and correct oneself


手忙腳亂

ㄕㄡˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

шоуманцзяолуань

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

to act in an disorderly and flustered manner


不見蹤影

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄥˇ

буцзяньцзунъин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

to disappear; to vanish; to be nowhere to be seen


一擁而上

ㄧ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/

(of a large crowd) to rush forward together


分からん

informal negative of 分かゆん
(informal) I don't understand

informal negative of 分かゆん
I don't understand


蜂擁而上

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

фэнъюнъэршан

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

(of a large crowd) to rush forward together; to swarm


蜂擁而至

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

фэнъюнъэрчжи

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/


耳聞目見

ㄦˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

эрвэньмуцзянь

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

Workers, peasants, fellow countrypeople who are oppressed by warlords and foreign powers! You might have heard about, seen, or even personally faced the massacre which took place in Changxindian and Hankou on 7 February.

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

Gōngrénmen, nóngrénmen, quánguó bèi jūnfá hé wàilì yāpò de tóngbāomen! Èr yuè qī rì Chángxīndiàn hé Hànkǒu de dàcǎnshā, nǐmen yǐjīng ěrwénmùjiàn huò shēnlìqíjìng le.

工人們，農人們，全國被軍閥和外力壓迫的同胞們！二月七日長辛店和漢口的大慘殺，你們已經耳聞目見或身歷其境了。

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

工人们，农人们，全国被军阀和外力压迫的同胞们！二月七日长辛店和汉口的大惨杀，你们已经耳闻目见或身历其境了。

to hear with one's ears and see with one's eyes; to personally see and hear


分かやびらん

formal negative of 分かゆん
(formal) I don't understand.

formal negative of 分かゆん
I don't understand.


勢不兩立

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄌㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ lɐp̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ lɐp̚²/

irreconcilable; antagonistic and unable to coexist; at daggers drawn


ακόμη κι αν

head

ακόμη κι αν • (akómi ki an)

el-phrase

ακόμη κι αν • (akómi ki an)

akómi ki an (romanization)
"even and if" (literally)

Δεν θα τον ψηφίσω ακόμη κι αν μου δώσουν 1.000.000 ευρώ.

I won't vote for him even if they give me 1,000,000 euros.

Den tha ton psifíso akómi ki an mou dósoun 1.000.000 evró.


氣勢如虹

ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ hʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ hʊŋ²¹/


ακόμα κι αν

head

ακόμα κι αν • (akóma ki an)

el-phrase

ακόμα κι αν • (akóma ki an)

akóma ki an (romanization)
"even and if" (literally)

Δεν θα τον ψηφίσω ακόμα κι αν μου δώσουν 1.000.000 ευρώ.

Den tha ton psifíso akóma ki an mou dósoun 1.000.000 evró.


ακόμη και αν

head

ακόμη και αν • (akómi kai an)

el-phrase

ακόμη και αν • (akómi kai an)

akómi kai an (romanization)
"even and if" (literally)

Δεν θα τον ψηφίσω ακόμη και αν μου δώσουν 1.000.000 ευρώ.

Den tha ton psifíso akómi kai an mou dósoun 1.000.000 evró.


ακόμα και αν

head

ακόμα και αν • (akóma kai an)

el-phrase

ακόμα και αν • (akóma kai an)

akóma kai an (romanization)
"even and if" (literally)

Δε θα τον ψηφίσω ακόμα και αν μου δώσουν 1.000.000 ευρώ.

De tha ton psifíso akóma kai an mou dósoun 1.000.000 evró.


繩之於法

ㄕㄥˊ ㄓ ㄩˊ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

繩之以法 繩之以法#Chinese

绳之以法 绳之以法#Chinese

Synonym of 繩之以法／绳之以法 (shéngzhīyǐfǎ, “to punish according to law; to bring to justice”)


身歷其境

ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

шэньлицицзин

/ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁵³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁵³/

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

身臨其境 身臨其境#Chinese

身临其境 身临其境#Chinese

Synonym of 身臨其境／身临其境 (shēnlínqíjìng, “to be personally on the scene”)


天下第一

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵/

number one in the world; peerless; unequaled


血本無歸

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ puːn³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ pun⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ puːn³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ pun⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

to lose one's shirt; to lose all of one's savings


δόξα τω Θεώ

head

δόξα τω Θεώ!

δόξα τω Θεώ! • (dóxa to Theó!)

el-phrase

δόξα τω Θεώ!

δόξα τω Θεώ! • (dóxa to Theó!)

δόξα τω Θεώ ! (canonical)
dóxa to Theó! (romanization)

In polytonic script, δόξα τῷ Θεῷ (dóxa tôi Theôi), from δόξα f (dóxa, “glory”) and dative case τῷ (tôi, “to the”) θεῷ m (theôi, “god”), written with uppercase Θεός (Theós).


居心不良

ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

цзюйсиньбулян

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

to harbor bad intentions; to be malicious


あるは

ある (aru, “to be, to exist”, rentaikei of the classical verb ari) + は (wa, topic marker). Arose from kanbun kundoku.

compound

(usually repeated in the form あるは…あるは… (aru wa … aru wa …), obsolete) some; sometimes; in some cases


ha a nagyanyámnak kereke volna, gurulna

[ˈhɒɒ ˈnɒɟɒɲaːmnɒk ˈkɛrɛkɛvolnɒ ˈɡurulnɒ]

ha (“if”) + a (“the”) + nagyanya (“grandmother”) + -m (“my”, possessive suffix) + -nak (“to”, dative suffix) + kerék (“wheel”) + -e (“her”, possessive suffix) + volna (“there would be; if [she] had”) + gurul (“roll”) + -na (“would”, conditional suffix).
Literally: “If my grandmother had a wheel [or: wheels], she would roll.”

af

if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle

if pigs had wings they would fly
if pigs had wings they would fly

(idiomatic) if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle, if pigs had wings they would fly, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride, if ifs and ans were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands (there is no point in discussing unreal and/or impossible scenarios)

the following variants also occur: nagyanyámnak

[to] my aunt; [to] my grandfather; wheelbarrow

nagynénikémnek. A nagypapámnak () occurs with talicska ().

akkor can occur without any change in meaning

ő volna

she would/could be a tram/trolley-bus/steam-locomotive/omnibus


juice is worth the squeeze

the juice is worth the squeeze (canonical)

Another part of the problem may be that I have talked to one of these folks that were looking for grants, and he told me, Ken, the juice isn't worth the squeeze from trying to get the money from the Feds and the complications that go into this.

2008, United States. Congress, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2010:

I'm not sure the juice is worth the squeeze on this one ... maybe I'll just take the hit on the exam and learn it later.

2010, Jeff Wiese, Teaching in the Hospital, page 5:

We need to ask ourselves whether the juice is worth the squeeze. Let's say we have a perfect fraud model that can completely identify all the fraud occurring in a portfolio. However, if the model takes so long to run in production that it crashes the production system, that model is far from desirable.

2014, Revathi Subramanian, Bank Fraud: Using Technology to Combat Losses, page 114:

So our purpose, work, and efforts should result in “juice” worth the “squeeze” of the life we choose.

2018, John Mason, Seize Today: How Asking the Right Questions Will Change Your Life:

(informal) The effort put into something is justified by the outcome.


兜口兜面

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯⁵⁵ miːn²²/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯⁵⁵ miːn²²/

(Cantonese) to one's face; directly towards someone


劈頭蓋臉

ㄆㄧ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

питоугайлянь

/pʰi⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɛːk̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/

/pʰi⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɛːk̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/


多才多藝

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²²/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²²/

to possess a great deal of different skills and talents


兜頭蓋臉

ㄉㄡ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

доутоугайлянь

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/


ひのもとの

日の本の: rising sun, allusion to 大和 (Yamato₂, “ancient Japan”)


可有可無

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨˊ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/


未卜先知

to already know without having performed divination

ㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓ

вэйбусяньчжи

/weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bue¹¹ pok̚²⁻⁴ sãĩ³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bue¹¹ pok̚²⁻⁴ sãĩ³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

to predict accurately; to foretell accurately


日の本の

日の本の (canonical)
hi no moto no (romanization)

日のもとのやまとなるまでつもるともことのは見ればたれがいとはむ

hi no moto no Yamato naru made tsumoru to mo koto no ha mireba tare ga itowan

the rising sun, allusion to 大和 (Yamato, a placename)


日の本の

Japanese: 日の本の (hi no moto no)

, text here
...日本之山跡國乃鎭十方座祇可間...
...pi₁ no₂ moto₂ no₂ Yamato₂-no₂-kuni no₂ sidume₂ to₂ mo imasu kami₂ ka mo...

the rising sun, allusion to 大和 (Yamato₂, “ancient Japan”)


前所未料

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

цяньсовэйляо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

In such a situation, ideas, theories, plans or programmes are usually altered partially and sometimes even wholly, because of the discovery of unforeseen circumstances in the course of practice.

Zài zhè zhǒng qíngxíng zhī xià, yóuyú shíjiàn zhōng fāxiàn qiánsuǒwèiliào de qíngkuàng, yīn'ér bùfēn de gǎibiàn sīxiǎng, lǐlùn, jìhuà, fāng'àn de shì shì cháng yǒu de, quánbù de gǎibiàn de shì yě shì yǒu de.

在這種情形之下，由於實踐中發現前所未料的情況，因而部分地改變思想、理論、計劃、方案的事是常有的，全部地改變的事也是有的。

在这种情形之下，由于实践中发现前所未料的情况，因而部分地改变思想、理论、计划、方案的事是常有的，全部地改变的事也是有的。


為時未晚

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄢˇ

вэйшивэйвань

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ mei̯²² maːn¹³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ mei̯²² maːn¹³/


循環往復

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄈㄨˋ

сюньхуаньванфу

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ fʊk̚²/

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ fʊk̚²/

This form repeats itself in endless cycles, and with each cycle the content of practice and knowledge rises to a higher level.

Shíjiàn, rènshi, zài shíjiàn, zài rènshi, zhè zhǒng xíngshì, xúnhuánwǎngfù yǐzhì wúqióng, ér shíjiàn hé rènshi zhī měi yī xúnhuán de nèiróng, dōu bǐjiào de jìndào le gāo yī jí de chéngdù.

實踐、認識、再實踐、再認識，這種形式，循環往復以至無窮，而實踐和認識之每一循環的內容，都比較地進到了高一級的程度。

实践、认识、再实践、再认识，这种形式，循环往复以至无穷，而实践和认识之每一循环的内容，都比较地进到了高一级的程度。


為時已晚

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄢˇ

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ jiː¹³ maːn¹³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ jiː¹³ maːn¹³/


以管窺天

ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄊㄧㄢ

игуанькуйтянь

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ kuːn³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ kuːn³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to have narrow and superficial knowledge and views


από πού κρατάει η σκούφια

head

από πού κρατάει η σκούφια

από πού κρατάει η σκούφια • (apó poú kratáei i skoúfia)

el-phrase

από πού κρατάει η σκούφια

apó poú kratáei i skoúfia (romanization)

Από πού κρατάει η σκούφια του;

(idiomatic) (literally) from where is one's cap retain(ed)

en-από_πού_κρατάει_η_σκούφια-el-phrase-sC5KuAxK


隨波逐流

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄛ ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ pɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² lɐu̯²¹/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ pɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² lɐu̯²¹/

(derogatory) to go with the flow; to swim with the tide; to act or behave the same way as the majority of others


歲月如梭

time moves as quickly as a weaver's shuttle

ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛ

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚² jyː²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚² jyː²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/


三催四請

ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨㄟ ㄙˋ ㄑㄧㄥˇ

саньцуйсыцин

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵/


又驚又喜

ㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˋ ㄒㄧˇ

/joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵/

to be pleasantly surprised; to be surprised and delighted


大動肝火

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² tʊŋ²² kɔːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² tʊŋ²² kɔːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/


罪有應得

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄥ ㄉㄜˊ

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

to deserve one's punishment for one's crimes or bad behavior


崢嶸歲月

ㄓㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ

чжэнжунсуйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡saːŋ⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡saːŋ⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/


供過於求

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄩˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ jyː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ jyː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

to have an oversupply; the supply exceeds the demand


credat Judaeus Apella, non ego

crēdat Jūdaeus Apella (canonical)
nōn ego (canonical)

crēdat iūdaeus Apella, nōn ego
credat iudaeus Apella, non ego#Latin

alternative typography of crēdat iūdaeus Apella, nōn ego


人生苦短

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄎㄨˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

жэньшэнкудуань

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tyːn³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tyːn³⁵/


credat iudaeus Apella, non ego

crēdat iūdaeus Apella (canonical)
nōn ego (canonical)

tell it to the marines
tell it to the marines

tell it to the marines (literally, “let the Jew Apella believe it; I do not”)


風狂雨驟

ㄈㄥ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄩˇ ㄓㄡˋ

ㄈㄥ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄩˇ ㄗㄡˋ

фэнкуанъюйчжоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

фэнкуанъюйцзоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/


da bọc xương

[zaː˧˧ ʔɓawk͡p̚˧˨ʔ sɨəŋ˧˧]

[jaː˧˧ ʔɓawk͡p̚˨˩ʔ sɨəŋ˧˧]

[jaː˧˧ ʔɓawk͡p̚˨˩˨ sɨəŋ˧˧]

nothing but skin and bones; mere bag of bones


禮崩樂壞

ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄥ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄞˋ

либэнъюэхуай

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ pɐŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːk̚² waːi̯²²/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ pɐŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːk̚² waːi̯²²/

Zai Wo asked about the three years' mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. "If the superior man abstains for three years from the observances of propriety, those observances will be quite lost. If for three years he abstains from music, music will be ruined. …

Zǎi Wǒ wèn: “Sān nián zhī sāng, qī yǐ jiǔ yǐ. Jūnzǐ sān nián bù wéi lǐ, lǐ bì huài; sān nián bù wéi yuè, yuè bì bēng.......

宰我問：「三年之喪，期已久矣。君子三年不為禮，禮必壞；三年不為樂，樂必崩。……

宰我问：「三年之丧，期已久矣。君子三年不为礼，礼必坏；三年不为乐，乐必崩。……

(literally) feudal system collapses and rites and music deteriorate

(figuratively) social order collapses and morals deteriorate


護國佑民

ㄏㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/xu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/wuː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯²² mɐn²¹/

/xu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/wuː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯²² mɐn²¹/


萬劫不復

ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/maːn²² kiːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/ban³³⁻²¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/maːn²² kiːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/ban³³⁻²¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

萬劫不復的深淵／万劫不复的深渊 ― wànjiébùfù de shēnyuān

1933, Lu Xun, “漫與”, in 南腔北調集, 同文書店, published 1934, page 198:

Rúguǒ cóng núlì shēnghuó zhōng xún chū “měi” lái, zàntàn, fǔmó, táozuì, nà kě jiǎnzhí shì wànjiébùfù de núcái le!

如果從奴隸生活中尋出「美」來，讚歎，撫摩，陶醉，那可簡直是萬劫不復的奴才了！

如果从奴隶生活中寻出「美」来，赞叹，抚摩，陶醉，那可简直是万劫不复的奴才了！

to be doomed eternally; to be beyond redemption; to be never able to recover


旁敲側擊

ㄆㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄘㄜˋ ㄐㄧ

ㄆㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄘㄜˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

beat around the bush
beat around the bush

to express something indirectly by making oblique statements; to beat around the bush


食無定時

/sɪk̚² mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² siː²¹/

/sɪk̚² mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² siː²¹/

(Cantonese) to eat meals at irregular times; to have an irregular eating schedule


無日無之

/u³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

not a single day without a particular thing happening


飛砂走奶

/fei̯⁵⁵ saː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ naːi̯¹³/

/fei̯⁵⁵ saː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ naːi̯¹³/

(Hong Kong Cantonese, of coffee or tea) black; without sugar or milk


危急存亡之秋

desc

위급존망지추(危急存亡之秋)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (危急存亡之秋):
* → Korean: 위급존망지추(危急存亡之秋) (wigeupjonmangjichu)

ja-r

き%きゅう そん%ぼう の とき

→ Japanese: (calque) 危(き)急(きゅう)存(そん)亡(ぼう)の秋(とき) (kikyū sonbō no toki)

ㄨㄟ ㄐㄧˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄡ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄡ

вэйцзицуньванчжицю

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ kɐp̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

From Chu Shi Biao by 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang)

Today, China is divided into three parts, and the Kingdom of Han is weak and fatigued. This is truly a critical moment determining our survival.

227, 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang), 《出師表》

Jīn tiānxià sānfēn, yìzhōu píbì, cǐ chéng wēijícúnwángzhīqiū yě.

今天下三分，益州疲弊，此誠危急存亡之秋也。

今天下三分，益州疲弊，此诚危急存亡之秋也。

a critical moment determining someone's or something's survival


打橫嚟講

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

(Cantonese) to use lame arguments and perverted logic; to not talk sense


衣冠梟獍

ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

игуаньсяоцзин

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/


後悔莫及

ㄏㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

хоухуэймоцзи

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/hio³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/hio³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/


後起之秀

ㄏㄡˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ siu⁴¹/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au³³⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu¹¹/

/au³³⁻²¹ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ siu⁴¹/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au³³⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu¹¹/

/au³³⁻²¹ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu²¹/

a young rising star; a young and promising talent


's e

'S e poileas a th' annam.

yes (in answer to a question formed with an e)


令人咋舌

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕㄜˊ

линжэньцзэшэ

linžɛnʹczɛšɛ

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ t͡saː³³ siːt̚³/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ t͡saː³³ siːt̚³/

to leave people speechless with fear or surprise


不以為恥

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔˇ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


片面之詞

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄘˊ

пяньмяньчжицы

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/


不以為恥，反以為榮

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔˇ

ㄈㄢˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

bat⁷ ji⁵ wai⁴ tsi², faan² ji⁵ wai⁴ wing⁴

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ faːn³⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

(derogatory) to be proud of something shameful instead of being ashamed


無暝無日

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mi²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ mĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/bo¹³⁻²² mɛ̃¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² d͡zit̚¹²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ mẽ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ mi²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ d͡zit̚⁴³/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mi²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ mĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/bo¹³⁻²² mɛ̃¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² d͡zit̚¹²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ mẽ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ mi²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ d͡zit̚⁴³/

(Hokkien) day and night (doing a task unceasingly)


必經之路

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄌㄨˋ

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²²/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²²/

the route that one must take to reach a particular destination

the stage that one must experience to attain a certain goal


word is

Word is that the eatery will reopen soon under new management.

But the word is they were having problems with the new design.


通宵達旦

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄉㄚˊ ㄉㄢˋ

тунсяодадань

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ taːt̚² taːn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ taːt̚² taːn³³/


倒果為因

ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄣ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

to reverse the cause and the effect; to reverse causality


言之過早

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄠˇ

яньчжигоцзао

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sa⁵³/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sa⁵³/

too soon to tell; premature to speak about something


三言兩語

ㄙㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄩˇ

саньяньлянъюй

/sän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ jyː¹³/

/sæ̃¹¹ ie¹¹ liɒ̃⁵³⁻¹¹ y⁵³/

/san³³ i̯ẽ¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ y⁴¹/

/sän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ jyː¹³/

/sæ̃¹¹ ie¹¹ liɒ̃⁵³⁻¹¹ y⁵³/

/san³³ i̯ẽ¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ y⁴¹/


從輕發落

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄈㄚ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ loʔ²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁵ loʔ¹²¹/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lɤʔ⁴/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ loʔ²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lɤʔ⁴/


戕害不辜

ㄑㄧㄤ ㄏㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨ

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ hɔːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ hɔːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵/


飲飽食醉

to be full from drinking and drunk from eating

/jɐm³⁵ paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³³/

/jɐm³⁵ paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³³/

(Cantonese) to be satisfied after having a lot to eat and drink; to get one's fill


病入膏肓

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄨㄤ

бинжугаохуан

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² jɐp̚² kou̯⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² jɐp̚² kou̯⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Duke Huan of Qin
Duke Jing of Jin (Ju)
Qin (state)
zh:醫緩

Duke Jing of Jin was sick. He tried to find a doctor in Qin. The Count of Qin (Duke Huan of Qin) sent a doctor called Huan to cure him. Before Doctor Huan arrived, Duke Jing had a dream in which his disease appeared as two children. One of them said, "He's a good doctor. I'm afraid that he will harm us. Where should we hide ourselves?" The other said, "Let's go to the fat region between the heart and the diaphragm. Then he can't get rid of us." When Doctor Huan arrived, he said, "This disease can't be cured. It's at the fat region between the heart and the diaphragm. Neither medicine nor acupuncture would be effective, so it can't be cured." Duke Jing replied, "You're a good doctor". He then offered generous gifts to Doctor Huan and saw him out.

Gōng jíbìng, qiúyī yú qín, qín bó shǐ yī huǎn wèi zhī. Wèi zhì, gōng mèng jí wèi èr shùzǐ, yuē: “Bǐ liáng yī yě, jù shāng wǒ yān táo zhī?” Qí yī yuē: “Jū huāng zhī shàng, gāo zhī xià, ruò wǒ hé?” Yī zhì, yuē: “Jí bùkě wèi yě, zài huāng zhī shàng, gāo zhī xià, gōng zhī bù kě, dá zhī bù jí, yào bù zhì yān, bùkě wèi yě.” Gōng yuē: “Liáng yī yě.” Hòu wèi zhī lǐ ér guī zhī.

公疾病，求醫於秦，秦伯使醫緩為之。未至，公夢疾為二豎子，曰：「彼良醫也，懼傷我焉逃之？」其一曰：「居肓之上、膏之下，若我何？」醫至，曰：「疾不可為也，在肓之上，膏之下，攻之不可，達之不及，藥不至焉，不可為也。」公曰：「良醫也。」厚為之禮而歸之。

公疾病，求医于秦，秦伯使医缓为之。未至，公梦疾为二竖子，曰：「彼良医也，惧伤我焉逃之？」其一曰：「居肓之上、膏之下，若我何？」医至，曰：「疾不可为也，在肓之上，膏之下，攻之不可，达之不及，药不至焉，不可为也。」公曰：「良医也。」厚为之礼而归之。

Seek medical care if you have symptoms, don't wait until it's too late to cure.

Yǒu bìng jiù yào jízǎo qiúyī, bùyào děng dào bìngrùgāohuāng.

有病就要及早求醫，不要等到病入膏肓。

有病就要及早求医，不要等到病入膏肓。

to be incurable as one is critically ill

The financial situation of this company is hopeless.

Zhè jiā gōngsī de cáizhèng zhuàngkuàng yǐjīng bìngrùgāohuāng.

這家公司的財政狀況已經病入膏肓。

这家公司的财政状况已经病入膏肓。

(figuratively) to be hopeless as the situation has gone too bad


倒錢落海

/tou̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹⁻³⁵ lɔːk̚² hɔːi̯³⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹⁻³⁵ lɔːk̚² hɔːi̯³⁵/

Popularized through an anti-gambling TV commercial by the Hong Kong government in 2005 (with the slogan quoted below).

Excessive gambling costs more than you can afford. (literally, “Gambling addiction is like pouring money into the sea.”)

2005, Hong Kong anti-gambling TV commercial

cam⁴ mai⁴ dou² bok³, dou² cin⁴ lok⁶ hoi²

沉迷賭博，倒錢落海

沉迷赌博，倒钱落海

[The Save Lantau Alliance] is concerned that if the government still carries out the "Lantau Tomorrow Vision" plan under decreasing population, decreasing need of commercial land use, decrease in reserves and structural deficit, this project costing billions of dollars will be a complete waste of money and would adversely affect several generations.

2022, Petition by Save Lantau Alliance to LegCo

Zài Xiānggǎng rénkǒu jí shāngyè yòngdì xūyào xiàjiàng, chǔbèi dàfú xiàjiàng jí jiégòuxìng cáichì wēijī xià, réng qiǎng tuī míngrì Dàyǔ Jiāoyǐzhōu tiánhǎi jìhuà, dānxīn wànyì gōngchéng, dǎoqiánluòhǎi, huò yán jǐ dài.

在香港人口及商業用地需要下降、儲備大幅下降及結構性財赤危機下，仍強推明日大嶼交椅洲填海計劃，擔心萬億工程，倒錢落海，禍延幾代。

在香港人口及商业用地需要下降、储备大幅下降及结构性财赤危机下，仍强推明日大屿交椅洲填海计划，担心万亿工程，倒钱落海，祸延几代。

(Hong Kong Cantonese) to pour money down the drain; to squander money


木已成舟

the wood has already been made into a boat

ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄡ

/mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/


qui fait le malin, tombe dans le ravin

/ki fɛ l(ə) ma.lɛ̃ | tɔ̃b dɑ̃ l(ə) ʁa.vɛ̃/

Literally, “he who gets cute, falls into the ravine”.

lit

qui fait le malin tombe dans le ravin#French

Alternative spelling of qui fait le malin tombe dans le ravin


eigen schuld, dikke bult

Literally, “own fault, fat bump (type of injury)”.

reaping what one sows
reap what one sows

serving someone right
serve someone right

Expresses that one thinks a realised negative outcome is deserved; e.g. just deserts, reaping what one sows, having it coming, serving someone right


不能自已

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗˋ ㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² jiː¹³/

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² jiː¹³/

to be unable to control one's intense emotions


many moons ago

In reference to lunar calendars, which were more commonly used in pre-modern times.

(informal, idiomatic) A (very) long time ago.


模糊不清

ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ wuː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ wuː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

(literally and figuratively) blurry; vague; obscure


寡廉鮮恥

ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄔˇ

гуаляньсяньчи

/ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷaː³⁵ liːm²¹ siːn³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/kʷaː³⁵ liːm²¹ siːn³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


若隱若現

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jɐn³⁵ jœːk̚² jiːn²²/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jɐn³⁵ jœːk̚² jiːn²²/


時移世易

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː²¹ jiː²¹ sɐi̯³³ jɪk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː²¹ jiː²¹ sɐi̯³³ jɪk̚²/

times have changed; things have changed and are now different than they used to be


十萬火急

ㄕˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wän⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɐp̚² maːn²² fɔː³⁵ kɐp̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wän⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɐp̚² maːn²² fɔː³⁵ kɐp̚⁵/


功德無量

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ liɔŋ³³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² liɔŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɔŋ³³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ liɔŋ³³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² liɔŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɔŋ³³/

(of deeds) great; of boundless beneficence; to do immeasurable good


可喜可賀

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄜˋ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔː²²/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔː²²/


呱呱墮地

ㄍㄨ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ

ㄨㄚ ㄨㄚ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

呱呱墜地 呱呱墜地#Chinese

呱呱坠地 呱呱坠地#Chinese

Synonym of 呱呱墜地／呱呱坠地 (gūgūzhuìdì, “(of a baby) to be born”)


呱呱墜地

ㄍㄨ ㄍㄨ ㄓㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧˋ

ㄨㄚ ㄨㄚ ㄓㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/


孤芳自賞

ㄍㄨ ㄈㄤ ㄗˋ ㄕㄤˇ

/ku⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

to be conceited and indulge in self-admiration


先睹為快

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

сяньдувэйкуай

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

to be the first to witness something and regard such action as a pleasure


衛道之士

ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓ ㄕˋ

/weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²² tou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²² tou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

(sometimes derogatory) people who defend a certain religion, doctrine, orthodoxy or traditional principles


自愧弗如

ㄗˋ ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯³³ fɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯³³ fɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

自愧不如 自愧不如#Chinese

Synonym of 自愧不如 (zìkuì-bùrú, “to be ashamed of not being as good as someone else”)


各打五十大板

ㄍㄜˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄨˇ ㄕˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄢˇ

gè dǎ wǔshí dàbǎn [Phonetic:gèdáwǔshídàbǎn]

гэ да уши дабань

/kɤ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tä⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ taː³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ sɐp̚² taːi̯²² paːn³⁵/

(figurative) to blame, criticize or punish both sides indiscriminately without determining who is right and who is wrong


親痛仇快

ㄑㄧㄣ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

циньтунчоукуай

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ sɐu̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ sɐu̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

1989 June 4, 《中共中央、国务院告全体共产党员和全国人民书》, in People's Daily, →ISSN, page 1

Quántǐ gòngchǎndǎngyuán, guǎngdà rénmín qúnzhòng hé gèjiè àiguó rénshì, yīdìng yào xiǎngyìng Dǎng hé zhèngfǔ de hàozhào, míngbiànshìfēi, gùquán dàjú, xùnsù xíngdòng qǐlái, tǐngshēn'érchū yǔ zhìzào bàoluàn de jíshàoshù rén zuò jiānjué de dòuzhēng, ér bùyào zuò rènhé qīntòngchóukuài de shìqíng.

全體共產黨員、廣大人民群眾和各界愛國人士，一定要響應黨和政府的號召，明辨是非，顧全大局，迅速行動起來，挺身而出與製造暴亂的極少數人作堅決的鬥爭，而不要做任何親痛仇快的事情。

全体共产党员、广大人民群众和各界爱国人士，一定要响应党和政府的号召，明辨是非，顾全大局，迅速行动起来，挺身而出与制造暴乱的极少数人作坚决的斗争，而不要做任何亲痛仇快的事情。

親者痛，仇者快 親者痛，仇者快#Chinese

亲者痛，仇者快 亲者痛，仇者快#Chinese

Synonym of 親者痛，仇者快／亲者痛，仇者快 (qīn zhě tòng, chóu zhě kuài, “that which saddens people close to oneself and brings joy to one's enemies (should not be done)”)


沉冤得雪

ㄔㄣˊ ㄩㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

чэньюаньдэсюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ syːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ syːt̚³/

沉冤昭雪 沉冤昭雪#Chinese

Synonym of 沉冤昭雪 (chényuānzhāoxuě, “gross injustice or grievances redressed”)


識時務者為俊傑

ㄕˊ ㄕˊ ㄨˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄩㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ㄕˋ ㄕˊ ㄨˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄩㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

шишиучжэвэйцзюньцзе

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²² t͡sɛː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³ kiːt̚²/

a wise man submits to circumstances; he who can suit his actions to the time is wise


語重心長

ㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄤˊ

юйчжунсиньчан

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴/


顰蹙を買う

ja-pos

顰(ひん)蹙(しゅく)を買(か)う or 顰蹙(ヒンシュク)を買(か)う • (hinshuku o kau)

顰蹙を買う (canonical)
顰蹙を買う (canonical)
hinshuku o kau (romanization)
顰蹙を買わ
ひんしゅくをかわ
hinshuku o kawa
顰蹙を買い
ひんしゅくをかい
hinshuku o kai
顰蹙を買う
ひんしゅくをかう
hinshuku o kau
顰蹙を買え
ひんしゅくをかえ
hinshuku o kae
顰蹙を買われる (passive)
ひんしゅくをかわれる (passive)
hinshuku o kawareru (passive)
顰蹙を買わせる (causative)
顰蹙を買わす (causative)
ひんしゅくをかわせる (causative)
ひんしゅくをかわす (causative)
hinshuku o kawaseru (causative)
hinshuku o kawasu (causative)
顰蹙を買える (potential)
ひんしゅくをかえる (potential)
hinshuku o kaeru (potential)
顰蹙を買おう (volitional)
ひんしゅくをかおう (volitional)
hinshuku o kaō (volitional)
顰蹙を買わない (negative)
ひんしゅくをかわない (negative)
hinshuku o kawanai (negative)
顰蹙を買わず (continuative negative)
ひんしゅくをかわず (continuative negative)
hinshuku o kawazu (continuative negative)
顰蹙を買います (formal)
ひんしゅくをかいます (formal)
hinshuku o kaimasu (formal)
顰蹙を買った (perfective)
ひんしゅくをかった (perfective)
hinshuku o katta (perfective)
顰蹙を買って (conjunctive)
ひんしゅくをかって (conjunctive)
hinshuku o katte (conjunctive)
顰蹙を買えば (conditional hypothetical)
ひんしゅくをかえば (conditional hypothetical)
hinshuku o kaeba (conditional hypothetical)

[çĩɰ̃ɕɨkɯ̟ o̞ ka̠ɯ̟]

Phrase composed of 顰蹙 (hinshuku, “scowl, frown”) + を (o, object particle) + 買う (kau, “buy; incur, bring about”). Literally, “to incur a frown”.

2002, 山崎武也, 『20代からの気のきいた「マナー」がわかる本』
声高にしゃべりすぎて、近くのテーブルの人たちのひんしゅくを買うことのないようにする。
Kowadaka ni shaberi-sugite, chikaku no tēburu no hitotachi no hinshuku o kau koto no nai yō ni suru.
Try not to talk too loudly and displease people from nearby tables.

2003, 三神万里子, 『メガバンク決算；日・米・欧、どこが違うのか？』
「露骨すぎる」と業界内で顰蹙を買ったほどである。
“Rokotsu sugiru” to gyōkainai de hinshuku o katta hodo de aru.
It was enough to cause displeasure within the industry as being "too explicit".

2005, 永守重信, 『情熱・熱意・執念の経営 すぐやる! 必ずやる! 出来るまでやる!』
不合格となって怒り出す学生もいたし、世間から顰蹙も買いました。
Fugōkaku to natte okoridasu gakusei mo ita shi, seken kara hinshuku mo kaimashita.
Some students flew into a rage after they were rejected, and they were frowned upon by the public.

to displease someone (due to one's speech or conduct), to be frowned upon


that's your lot

Hendrix is hilarious, as ever, explaining new song Izabella is “about a cat, blah blah, woof woof …” It’s a real shame they wouldn’t keep this lineup together. Hendrix repeatedly comments on the “patience” of the crowd. He plays the national anthem, his guitar dive-bombs at the end of Hey Joe and, that’s your lot. The applause dies away surprisingly quickly.

2019 August 15, Bob Stanley, “'Groovy, groovy, groovy': listening to Woodstock 50 years on – all 38 discs”, in The Guardian:

(UK, colloquial, idiomatic) That is the end; there is no more; that's it; that's all


如獲至寶

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄠˇ

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ wɔːk̚² t͡siː³³ pou̯³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ wɔːk̚² t͡siː³³ pou̯³⁵/


長篇大論

ㄔㄤˊ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

чанпяньдалунь

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵn²²/


勞苦功高

ㄌㄠˊ ㄎㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fuː³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fuː³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

to have worked hard and made enormous contributions


飽讀詩書

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕ ㄕㄨ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ tʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ tʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵/


有驚無險

ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄢˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hiːm³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hiːm³⁵/

to have had only frightening moments but no dangers; to be successful at the end though having encountered obstacles


和顏悅色

ㄏㄜˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/xɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ ŋaːn²¹ jyːt̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/hua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zuak̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/

/xɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ ŋaːn²¹ jyːt̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/hua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zuak̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/


躊躇滿志

ㄔㄡˊ ㄔㄨˊ ㄇㄢˇ ㄓˋ

чоучуманьчжи

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyː²¹ muːn¹³ t͡siː³³/

/tʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mũã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡si²¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyː²¹ muːn¹³ t͡siː³³/

/tʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mũã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡si²¹³/

Then standing up with the knife in my hand, I look all round, and in a leisurely manner, with an air of satisfaction, wipe it clean, and put it in its sheath.

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

Tí dāo ér lì, wèizhī sìgù, wèizhī chóuchú mǎnzhì, shàn dāo ér cáng zhī.

提刀而立，為之四顧，為之躊躇滿志，善刀而藏之。

提刀而立，为之四顾，为之踌躇满志，善刀而藏之。


屈指一算

ㄑㄩ ㄓˇ ㄧ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

цюйчжиисуань

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ syːn³³/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ syːn³³/


客死異鄉

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ jiː²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ jiː²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

客死他鄉 客死他鄉#Chinese

客死他乡 客死他乡#Chinese

Synonym of 客死他鄉／客死他乡 (kèsǐtāxiāng, “to die in a foreign land”)


客死他鄉

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄊㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/


蔚為奇觀

ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄢ

вэйвэйцигуань

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵/


眾人皆醉我獨醒

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˇ

чжунжэнь цзе цзуй во ду син

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dzung³ jan⁴ gaai¹ dzoey³ ngo⁵ duk⁹ sing²

/t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐn²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʊk̚² sɪŋ³⁵/

Qu Yuan replied, "The entire world is corrupt and I am clean alone; everyone is drunk while I am sober alone. Thus, I was exiled."

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

Qūyuán yuē: “Jǔshì jiē zhuó wǒ dú qīng, zhòngrénjiēzuìwǒdúxǐng, shìyǐ jiàn fàng.”

屈原曰：「舉世皆濁我獨清，眾人皆醉我獨醒，是以見放。」

屈原曰：「举世皆浊我独清，众人皆醉我独醒，是以见放。」

everyone is drunk and I am the only one sober

(figuratively) everyone is wrong while I am the only one correct; everyone is depraved while I am the only one virtuous


朝氣勃勃

ㄓㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/


博覽群書

ㄅㄛˊ ㄌㄢˇ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄕㄨ

боланьцюньшу

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ laːm¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ laːm¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

to be well-read; to have read extensively and be learned


生氣勃勃

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


深藏不露

ㄕㄣ ㄘㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄘㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ

шэньцанбулоу

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

hide one's light under a bushel
hide one's light under a bushel

to hide one's light under a bushel; to conceal one's talents


四處漂泊

ㄙˋ ㄔㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄅㄛˊ

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ t͡sʰyː³³ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pɔːk̚²/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ t͡sʰyː³³ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pɔːk̚²/

to rove; to wander around; to roam around


居無定所

ㄐㄩ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² sɔː³⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² sɔː³⁵/


拍案叫絕

ㄆㄞ ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

пайаньцзяоцзюэ

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kiːu̯³³ t͡syːt̚²/

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kiːu̯³³ t͡syːt̚²/


烈日當空

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄖˋ ㄉㄤ ㄎㄨㄥ

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² jɐt̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² jɐt̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/


生殺予奪

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄚ ㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

(to hold power over the) life, death, reward and punishment (of others)


好白菜都讓豬拱了

好白菜都让猪拱了
好白菜都讓豬給拱了
好白菜都被豬給拱了
好白菜都被豬拱了
好白菜讓豬拱了
好白菜被豬拱了

ㄏㄠˇ ㄅㄞˊ ㄘㄞˋ ㄉㄡ ㄖㄤˋ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄨㄥˇ ˙ㄌㄜ

hao³ pai²-tsʻai⁴ tou¹ jang⁴ chu¹ kung³ lê⁵

хао байцай доу жан чжу гун лэ

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴ lə⁴/

(literally) All the good cabbage crops have been eaten or ruined by the pigs.

(figurative, humorous or derogatory) Those that of high quality have all been spoiled or taken by someone unfitting.

(figurative, humorous or derogatory, specifically) All the good(-looking) girls have been taken or ruined by the ugly men (or scumbags).


話中有話

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

хуачжунъюхуа

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/waː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ waː²²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/waː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ waː²²/

there are unspoken implications in one's words


地大物博

ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˋ ㄅㄛˊ

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tei̯²² taːi̯²² mɐt̚² pɔːk̚³/

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tei̯²² taːi̯²² mɐt̚² pɔːk̚³/


fr-phrase

/kʁwa d(ə) bwa | kʁwa d(ə) fɛʁ | si ʒə mɑ̃ | ʒə vɛ(.z‿)ɑ̃.n‿ɑ̃.fɛʁ/

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-croix de bois, croix de fer, si je mens, je vais en enfer.wav

cross my heart and hope to die
cross my heart and hope to die


零碎不全

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

линсуйбуцюань

/liŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/liŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

It is only when the data of perception are very rich (not fragmentary) and correspond to reality (are not illusory) that they can be the basis for forming correct concepts and theories.

Zhǐyǒu gǎnjué de cáiliào shífēn fēngfù (bùshì língsuìbùquán) hé héyú shíjì (bùshì cuòjué), cái néng gēnjù zhèyàng de cáiliào zàochū zhèngquè de gàiniàn hé lùnlǐ lái.

只有感覺的材料十分豐富（不是零碎不全）和合於實際（不是錯覺），才能根據這樣的材料造出正確的概念和論理來。

只有感觉的材料十分丰富（不是零碎不全）和合于实际（不是错觉），才能根据这样的材料造出正确的概念和论理来。


閉目塞聽

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄜˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ mʊk̚² sɐk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ mʊk̚² sɐk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

For a person who shuts their eyes, stops their ears and totally cuts themselves off from the objective world there can be no such thing as knowledge.

Yī gè bìmùsètīng, tóng kèguān wàijiè gēnběn juéyuán de rén, shì wúsuǒwèi rènshi de.

一個閉目塞聽、同客觀外界根本絕緣的人，是無所謂認識的。

一个闭目塞听、同客观外界根本绝缘的人，是无所谓认识的。


WCPGW

(Internet slang) Initialism of what could possibly go wrong?: a sarcastic response to a bad idea that would lead to obvious problems.


由表及裡

ㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/joʊ̯³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²¹ piːu̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² lɵy̯¹³/

/jɐu̯²¹ piːu̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² lɵy̯¹³/

Fully to reflect a thing in its totality, to reflect its essence, to reflect its inherent laws, it is necessary through the exercise of thought to reconstruct the rich data of sense perception, discarding the dross and selecting the essential, eliminating the false and retaining the true, proceeding from the one to the other and from the outside to the inside, in order to form a system of concepts and theories—it is necessary to make a leap from perceptual to rational knowledge.

Yào wánquán de fǎnyìng zhěnggè de shìwù, fǎnyìng shìwù de běnzhì, fǎnyìng shìwù de nèibù guīlǜxìng, jiù bìxū jīngguò sīkǎo zuòyòng, jiāng fēngfù de gǎnjué cáiliào jiāyǐ qùcūqǔjīng, qùwěicúnzhēn, yóucǐjíbǐ, yóubiǎojílǐ de gǎizào zhìzuò gōngfu, zàochéng gàiniàn hé lǐlùn de xìtǒng, jiù bìxū cóng gǎnxìng rènshi yuèjìn dào lǐxìng rènshi.

要完全地反映整個的事物，反映事物的本質，反映事物的內部規律性，就必須經過思考作用，將豐富的感覺材料加以去粗取精、去偽存真、由此及彼、由表及裡的改造製作工夫，造成概念和理論的系統，就必須從感性認識躍進到理性認識。

要完全地反映整个的事物，反映事物的本质，反映事物的内部规律性，就必须经过思考作用，将丰富的感觉材料加以去粗取精、去伪存真、由此及彼、由表及里的改造制作工夫，造成概念和理论的系统，就必须从感性认识跃进到理性认识。

from the outside to the inside; from the superficial to the profound; from outward appearance to inner essence


去粗取精

ㄑㄩˋ ㄘㄨ ㄑㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

цюйцуцюйцзин

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to discard the dross and select the essential


由此及彼

ㄧㄡˊ ㄘˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄧˇ

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


向壁虛造

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄩ ㄗㄠˋ

сянбисюйцзао

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

From the preface to the Shuowen Jiezi by Xu Shen.

向壁虚造
嚮壁虛造
鄉壁虛造

向壁虛構 向壁虛構#Chinese

向壁虚构 向壁虚构#Chinese

Synonym of 向壁虛構／向壁虚构 (xiàngbìxūgòu, “to make up out of one's head; to fabricate”)


向壁虛構

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄡˋ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

I am not an expert in Peking Opera, but the opinions above are by no means groundless fabrication. I plan to write a special article on drama when I have time.

1941, 王實味 (Wang Shiwei), 《文藝民族形式問題上的舊錯誤與新偏向》, quoted from the Marxists Internet Archive

Wǒ duì píngjù bìngfēi nèiháng, dàn yǐshàng de yìjiàn yě juéfēi xiàngbìxūgòu, yǒu xiá dǎsuàn duì xìjù wèntí lìng xiě zhuānwén tǎolùn.

我對平劇並非內行，但以上的意見也絕非向壁虛構，有暇打算對戲劇問題另寫專文討論。

我对平剧并非内行，但以上的意见也绝非向壁虚构，有暇打算对戏剧问题另写专文讨论。

to make up out of one's head; to fabricate; to imagine without ground


艱苦卓絕

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

цзянькучжоцзюэ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

The Party has several hundred thousand members who are leading the people in extremely hard and bitter struggles against the enemy.

1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《整頓黨的作風》 (Rectify the Party's Style of Work), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Dǎng yǒu jǐshíwàn dǎngyuán, tāmen zài lǐngdǎo rénmín, xiàngzhe dírén zuò jiānkǔzhuójué de dòuzhēng.

黨有幾十萬黨員，他們在領導人民，向著敵人作艱苦卓絕的鬥爭。

党有几十万党员，他们在领导人民，向着敌人作艰苦卓绝的斗争。


黔驢之技

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄩˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньлюйчжицзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯²²/

zh-l

黔驢技窮／黔驴技穷 (qiánlǘjìqióng)

tricks of the donkey in the prefecture of Qian


暢行無阻

ㄔㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Only by uprooting this evil in both its aspects can the Party advance unimpeded in its great task of achieving unity among all Party comrades and among all the people of our country.

Chǎnchú zhè liǎng fāngmiàn de huògēn, cái néng shǐ Dǎng zài tuánjié quándǎng tóngzhì hé tuánjié quánguó rénmín de wěidà shìyè zhōng chàngxíngwúzǔ.

鏟除這兩方面的禍根，才能使黨在團結全黨同志和團結全國人民的偉大事業中暢行無阻。

铲除这两方面的祸根，才能使党在团结全党同志和团结全国人民的伟大事业中畅行无阻。

to meet no obstacle wherever one goes; to proceed without hindrance


真心實意

ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

чжэньсиньшии

čžɛnʹsinʹšii

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

Comrades! What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution.

1934, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《關心群眾生活，注意工作方法》 (Be Concerned with the Well-Being of the Masses, Pay Attention to Methods of Work), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on the Foreign Language Press edition

Tóngzhìmen, zhēnzhèng de tóngqiángtiěbì shì shénme? Shì qúnzhòng, shì qiānbǎiwàn zhēnxīnshíyì de yōnghù gémìng de qúnzhòng.

同志們，真正的銅牆鐵壁是什麼？是群眾，是千百萬真心實意地擁護革命的群眾。

同志们，真正的铜墙铁壁是什么？是群众，是千百万真心实意地拥护革命的群众。

from the bottom of one's heart
from the bottom of one's heart

genuine and sincere; from the bottom of one's heart; in real earnest


包醫百病

ㄅㄠ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄧㄥˋ

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹/

Even now, there are not a few people who still regard odd quotations from Marxist-Leninist works as a ready-made panacea which, once acquired, can easily cure all maladies.

Zhídào xiànzài, háiyǒu bùshǎo de rén, bǎ Mǎkèsī-Lièníng zhǔyì shūběn shàng de mǒuxiē gèbié zìjù kànzuò xiànchéng de língdānshèngyào, sìhū zhǐyào dé le tā, jiù kěyǐ bù fèi qìlì de bāoyībǎibìng.

直到現在，還有不少的人，把馬克思列寧主義書本上的某些個別字句看作現成的靈丹聖藥，似乎只要得了它，就可以不費氣力地包醫百病。

直到现在，还有不少的人，把马克思列宁主义书本上的某些个别字句看作现成的灵丹圣药，似乎只要得了它，就可以不费气力地包医百病。

包治百病 包治百病#Chinese

Synonym of 包治百病 (bāozhìbǎibìng, “guaranteed to cure all illnesses; cure-all”)


造謠中傷

ㄗㄠˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄤ

цзаояочжуншан

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

to fabricate rumors to slander others; to spread slanderous rumors


靈丹聖藥

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄢ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ

линданьшэнъяо

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

靈丹妙藥 靈丹妙藥#Chinese

灵丹妙药 灵丹妙药#Chinese

Synonym of 靈丹妙藥／灵丹妙药 (língdānmiàoyào, “miracle cure; wonder pill; panacea”)


拉拉扯扯

ㄌㄚ ㄌㄚ ㄔㄜˇ ㄔㄜˇ

/lä⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/laːi̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵/

/lä⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/laːi̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵/

to hold each other's arms and hands in a lovey-dovey manner

With this aim, they draw some people in, push others out and resort to boasting, flattery and touting among the comrades, thus importing the vulgar style of the bourgeois political parties into the Communist Party.

Wèile zhèxiē, jiù yào lālǒng yīxiē rén, páijǐ yīxiē rén, zài tóngzhì zhōng chuīchuīpāipāi, lālāchěchě, bǎ zīchǎn jiējí zhèngdǎng de yōngsú zuòfēng yě bānjìn Gòngchǎndǎng lǐ lái le.

為了這些，就要拉攏一些人，排擠一些人，在同志中吹吹拍拍，拉拉扯扯，把資產階級政黨的庸俗作風也搬進共產黨裡來了。

为了这些，就要拉拢一些人，排挤一些人，在同志中吹吹拍拍，拉拉扯扯，把资产阶级政党的庸俗作风也搬进共产党里来了。


吹吹拍拍

ㄔㄨㄟ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄆㄞ ㄆㄞ

чуйчуйпайпай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ pʰaːk̚³/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ pʰaːk̚³/


時日無多

ㄕˊ ㄖˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄛ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

to have a limited amount of time remaining (until a deadline, etc)


克己復禮

ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/haːk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/haːk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

Yan Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?"

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

Yán Yuān wèn rén. Zǐyuē: “Kè jǐ fù lǐ wèi rén. Yīrì kè jǐ fù lǐ, tiānxià guī rén yān. Wéi rén yóu jǐ, ér yóu rén hū zāi?”

顏淵問仁。子曰：「克己復禮為仁。一日克己復禮，天下歸仁焉。為仁由己，而由人乎哉？」

颜渊问仁。子曰：「克己复礼为仁。一日克己复礼，天下归仁焉。为仁由己，而由人乎哉？」

to subdue oneself and return to propriety


以直報怨

ㄧˇ ㄓˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩㄢˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² pou̯³³ jyːn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² pou̯³³ jyːn³³/

Some one said, "What do you say concerning the principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness?" The Master said, "With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness."

Huòyuē: “Yǐ dé bào yuàn, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Héyǐ bàodé? Yǐ zhí bào yuàn, yǐ dé bào dé.”

或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」

或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」


以德報德

ㄧˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」

或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」


博文約禮

ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄩㄝ ㄌㄧˇ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ jœːk̚³ lɐi̯¹³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ jœːk̚³ lɐi̯¹³/

From the Analects, Book 6 (《論語·雍也》):
:
Also Book 9 (《論語·子罕》)

The Master said, "The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right."

Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ bóxué yú wén, yuē zhī yǐ lǐ, yì kěyǐ fú pàn yǐ fū!”

子曰：「君子博學於文，約之以禮，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」

子曰：「君子博学于文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」

The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlarged my mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.

Fūzǐ xúnxúnrán shàn yòu rén, bó wǒ yǐ wén, yuē wǒ yǐ lǐ.

夫子循循然善誘人，博我以文，約我以禮。

夫子循循然善诱人，博我以文，约我以礼。

to extensively study texts and restrain oneself with propriety


去偽存真

去伪存真
去僞存真
去僞存眞

ㄑㄩˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄣ

ㄑㄩˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄣ

цюйвэйцуньчжэнь

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ ŋɐi̯²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ ŋɐi̯²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

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

to discard the false and retain the true; to sift the true from the false


自作多情

ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴/

to display affection regardless of whether the other party accepts it; to imagine that one's affection is reciprocated

(in general) to indulge in one's own wishful thinking; to flatter oneself


驢年馬月

ㄌㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄩㄝˋ

/ly³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

ㄌㄩˊㄦ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄩㄝˋ

люйрняньмаюэ

/lyə̯ɻ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²¹ niːn²¹ maː¹³ jyːt̚²/

/ly³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lyə̯ɻ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²¹ niːn²¹ maː¹³ jyːt̚²/

time that will never come; impossible date; the remote future; God knows when; an unknown and long time; donkey's years


未嘗不可

ㄨㄟˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mei̯²² sœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mei̯²² sœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/


乍暖還寒

ㄓㄚˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄢˊ

чжануаньхуаньхань

/ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ xän³⁵/

/t͡saː³³ nyːn¹³ waːn²¹ hɔːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ xän³⁵/

/t͡saː³³ nyːn¹³ waːn²¹ hɔːn²¹/

乍暖還寒時候，最難將息。

乍暖还寒时候，最难将息。

(of weather) with temperatures fluctuating between warm and cold


老虎屁股摸不得

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ˙ㄍㄨ ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ˙ㄍㄨ ㄇㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄇㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

lǎohǔ pìgu mō bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgumōbùdé]

лаоху пигу мо будэ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ g̊u¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lǎohǔ pìgǔ mō bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgǔmōbùdé]

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lǎohǔ pìgu māo bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgumāobùdé]

лаоху пигу мао будэ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ g̊u¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lǎohǔ pìgǔ māo bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgǔmāobùdé]

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lang

《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

Anyone, who doesn't allow others to speak, like a tiger whose backside can never be touched by anyone, will always fail.

1962, Mao Zedong, 《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

Bùxǔ rén jiǎnghuà, lǎohǔ pìgu mō bùdé, fánshì cǎiqǔ zhè zhǒng tàidù de rén, shí gè jiù yǒu shí gè yào shībài.

不許人講話，老虎屁股摸不得，凡是採取這種態度的人，十個就有十個要失敗。

1962, Mao Zedong, 《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

不许人讲话，老虎屁股摸不得，凡是采取这种态度的人，十个就有十个要失败。

no one dares to touch a tiger's backside

Shortly after the war, Hua Guofeng summed up the outcome in a pithy phrase contemptuous of Soviet leaders: “As for threatening us, they did that by maneuvers near the border, sending ships to the South China Sea. But they did not dare to move. So after all we could still touch the buttocks of the tiger.”

[2011, Henry Kissinger, On China, New York: Penguin Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, pages 368–369:

(colloquial, derogatory, figuratively) to be self-conceited or self-important; can't tolerate differing opinions; not to be provoked


以鄰為壑

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄜˋ

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²¹ wɐi̯²² kʰɔːk̚³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²¹ wɐi̯²² kʰɔːk̚³/

Yu's regulation of the waters was according to the laws of water. He therefore made the four seas their receptacle, while you make the neighbouring States their receptacle.

禹之治水，水之道也。是故禹以四海為壑，今吾子以鄰國

use the neighbour's field as an outlet for one's overflow

Whoever is indifferent to the difficulties of others, refuses to transfer cadres to other units on request, or releases only the inferior ones, "using the neighbour's field as an outlet for their overflow", and does not give the slightest consideration to other departments, localities or people—such a person is a selfish departmentalist who has entirely lost the spirit of communism.

Shéi yàoshi duì biérén de kùnnán bù guǎn, biérén yào diào tā suǒshǔ de gànbù bù gěi, huò yǐ huài de sòng rén, “yǐlínwéihè”, quán bù wèi biébù, biédì, biérén xiǎng yi xiǎng, zhèyàng de rén jiù jiàozuò běnwèizhǔyìzhě, zhè jiùshì wánquán shīdiào le gòngchǎnzhǔyì de jīngshén.

誰要是對別人的困難不管，別人要調他所屬的幹部不給，或以壞的送人，「以鄰為壑」，全不為別部、別地、別人想一想，這樣的人就叫做本位主義者，這就是完全失掉了共產主義的精神。

谁要是对别人的困难不管，别人要调他所属的干部不给，或以坏的送人，「以邻为壑」，全不为别部、别地、别人想一想，这样的人就叫做本位主义者，这就是完全失掉了共产主义的精神。

(figuratively) to benefit oneself at others' expense


劍走偏鋒

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ

цзяньцзоупяньфэн

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(martial arts) to use a sword with fast, flexible and unexpected movements

(figuratively) to break the normal procedure and find a new or different solution in order to be unexpected and novelty


諄諄告誡

ㄓㄨㄣ ㄓㄨㄣ ㄍㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

чжуньчжуньгаоцзе

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

Have Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin given us any grounds? They have not. On the contrary, they have always earnestly enjoined us to form close ties with the masses and not divorce ourselves from them.

Mǎkèsī, Ēngésī, Lièníng, Sīdàlín gěi le wǒmen zhèyàng de gēnjù ma? Méiyǒu. Xiāngfǎn de, tāmen zǒngshì zhūnzhūngàojiè wǒmen, yào mìqiè liánxì qúnzhòng, ér bùyào tuōlí qúnzhòng.

馬克思、恩格斯、列寧、斯大林給了我們這樣的根據嗎？沒有。相反地，他們總是諄諄告誡我們，要密切聯繫群眾，而不要脫離群眾。

马克思、恩格斯、列宁、斯大林给了我们这样的根据吗？没有。相反地，他们总是谆谆告诫我们，要密切联系群众，而不要脱离群众。

to tirelessly counsel; to admonish repeatedly