胳膊肘朝外拐

ㄍㄜ ˙ㄅㄛ ㄓㄡˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄞˇ

гэбочжоу чао вай гуай

/kɤ⁵⁵ b̥u̯ɔ² ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄍㄜ ˙ㄅㄛ ㄓㄡˇㄦ ㄔㄠˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄞˇ

гэбочжоурчаовайгуай

/kɤ⁵⁵ b̥u̯ɔ² ʈ͡ʂɤʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ pɔːk̚³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² kʷaːi̯³⁵/

to side with outsiders rather than one's own


aller tijden

Literally, “of all times”. Cognate to German aller Zeiten.

Dit is het beste boek aller tijden.

Hij is de snelste hardloper aller tijden.

De film wordt beschouwd als een van de grootste komedies aller tijden.

The movie is considered one of the greatest comedies of all time.

Haar prestatie wordt geprezen als een van de beste zangoptredens aller tijden.

Her performance is praised as one of the best singing performances of all time.

Dit is de meest indrukwekkende kunsttentoonstelling aller tijden.

This is the most impressive art exhibition of all time.

De atleet heeft records verbroken en wordt beschouwd als een van de beste sporters aller tijden.

The athlete has broken records and is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time.

(postpositive, modifying a superlative noun phrase) of all time, ever


枝繁葉茂

ㄓ ㄈㄢˊ ㄧㄝˋ ㄇㄠˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(chiefly of a family or collective) to thrive; to prosper


uit het vuistje

Literally, “from the fist [diminutive]”. Compare French sur le pouce.

De kleuter at de pannenkoek uit het vuistje, zonder bord of bestek, en knoeide al zijn kleren onder.

The toddler ate the pancake "from the fist", without a plate or cutlery, and made a mess of all his clothes.

Ik wil mijn pita graag uit het vuistje, zonder iets erbij.

I'd like my pita "from the fist", without anything to go along with it.

(idiomatic, of food) without the use of cutlery or tableware


漏洞百出

ㄌㄡˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄔㄨ

/loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²² tʊŋ²² paːk̚³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²² tʊŋ²² paːk̚³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/


五大三粗

ㄨˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵/

broad-armed, burly and powerful; big and tall


指揮若定

ㄓˇ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

чжихуэйжодин

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jœːk̚² tɪŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jœːk̚² tɪŋ²²/

to command and issue orders in a calm and poised manner


qui dit mieux

any advance on that? who can top that? who can do better? who can raise the stakes?


l'heure est grave

/l‿œʁ ɛ ɡʁav/

we are at a critical time, the situation is serious


再造之恩

цзайцзаочжиэнь

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵/


what's not to like

What's not to like about Robin Hood? I'll steal from the rich and give to a poor bear: me.

1964, William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (motion picture), spoken by Yogi Bear (Daws Butler):

[…]–one would think that this comedy offered satisfactions for gender theorists, feminists, queer theorists, Marxists, and ecocritics alike. What's not to like in As You Like It?

2009, Linda Woodbridge, “Country Matters: As You Like It and the Pastoral-Bashing Impulse”, in Harold Bloom, editor, William Shakespeare: Comedies, Infobase Publishing, →ISBN, page 23:

Kill white people and get paid for it? What's not to like?

2012, Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained (motion picture), spoken by Django (Jamie Foxx):

(informal, rhetorical question, sometimes sarcastic) Rhetorically implying that what is spoken of is undoubtedly good.


金戈鐵馬

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄜ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄇㄚˇ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tʰiːt̚³ maː¹³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tʰiːt̚³ maː¹³/


戒備森嚴

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄟˋ ㄙㄣ ㄧㄢˊ

цзебэйсэньянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kaːi̯³³ pei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kaːi̯³³ pei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/


黨指揮槍

ㄉㄤˇ ㄓˇ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄑㄧㄤ

dǎng zhǐhuī qiāng [Phonetic:dángzhǐhuīqiāng]

дан чжихуэй цян

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/

Regardless of the risks and challenges we face, and whether it is peacetime or wartime, we must unwaveringly uphold the principle of the Party commands the gun.

2019 December 12, 深入学习贯彻党的十九届四中全会精神 钟新：把党对人民军队的绝对领导贯彻到军队建设各领域全过程, People's Daily

Wúlùn yùdào shénme fēngxiǎn tiǎozhàn, wúlùn píngshí háishì zhànshí, dōu bìxū háobù dòngyáo dì jiānchí dǎngzhǐhuīqiāng de yuánzé.

無論遇到什麼風險挑戰，無論平時還是戰時，都必須毫不動搖地堅持黨指揮槍的原則。

无论遇到什么风险挑战，无论平时还是战时，都必须毫不动摇地坚持党指挥枪的原则。

Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China

"the Party commands the gun"; the Communist Party of China has control over and commands the Chinese military


同室操戈

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕˋ ㄘㄠ ㄍㄜ

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕˇ ㄘㄠ ㄍㄜ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ kʷɔː⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ kʷɔː⁵⁵/

to fight each other who is in the same group; to have internal conflict or strife


以攻為守

ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

to actively attack as a means of defense


衣錦榮歸

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ицзиньжунгуй

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ kim⁵²⁻³⁵ ioŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui³³/

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ wɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ kim⁵²⁻³⁵ ioŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kui³³/

衣錦還鄉 衣錦還鄉#Chinese

衣锦还乡 衣锦还乡#Chinese

Synonym of 衣錦還鄉／衣锦还乡 (“to return home a success; to return home in glory”)


a chi di dovere

to whom it may concern
to whom it may concern


a tutti gli interessati

Literally, “to all the interested ones”.


深仇大恨

ㄕㄣ ㄔㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄣˋ

шэньчоудахэнь

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɐn²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɐn²²/


大做文章

ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄤ

дацзовэньчжан

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sou̯²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sou̯²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

make a big thing out of
make a big thing out of

to make a big thing out of a certain matter to escalate the situation and achieve one's own goals


塘底石——水乾先見

/tʰɔːŋ²¹ tɐi̯³⁵ sɛːk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

(Cantonese) somebody whose true character only shows when they are broke


like a martin to its gourd

like a martin to his gourd
like a martin to his gourd#English

Alternative form of like a martin to his gourd


久聞大名

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзювэньдамин

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ mɐn²¹ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ mɐn²¹ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

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


何樂不為

ㄏㄜˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/xɤ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚²⁴⁻² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho¹³⁻²² lɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/xɤ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho²⁴⁻²² lɔk̚²⁴⁻² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴/

/ho¹³⁻²² lɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

(rhetorical) why not do it?; what is there against it?


老婆跋落溪——淒涼

/lau³⁵⁻¹¹ pʰua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puaʔ⁴⁻² loʔ⁴⁻² kʰoi³³ t͡sʰi³³⁻²³ liaŋ⁵⁵/

A pun on 淒涼／凄凉, which is homophonous to 妻涼/妻凉 (“the wife is cold”).

the wife falls into the river—the wife is cold


桃李滿天下

ㄊㄠˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄇㄢˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

táolǐ mǎn tiānxià [Phonetic:táolímǎntiānxià]

таоли мань тянься

/tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ lei̯¹³ muːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

/tʰou̯²¹ lei̯¹³ muːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

(of a teacher) to have taught a great number of students over a long period


生生不息

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


孺子可教

ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kaːu̯³³/

From the story of Zhang Liang meeting his master (translation was adapted from Xinhua News Agency)

One day, Zhang Liang took a stroll on a bridge in Xiapi and met an old man in clothes made with coarse fibre there. The man walked toward Zhang and chucked his shoe down the bridge on purpose, after which he yelled at Zhang, "Hey boy, go down and fetch me my shoe!" Zhang was astonished. At first he wanted to beat the old man, but considering that the man was old, he then controlled his temper, and went down the bridge to take the shoe for him. The old man then told Zhang, “Put on the shoe for me!” Zhang kneeled and put the shoe on the old man's feet considering that he had already took the shoe for him. The man did not show any sign of gratitude and walked away laughing. Zhang felt surprised and looked at the old man. The old man came back after walking a distance and praised Zhang: "This child can be taught! Meet me here again at dawn five days later."

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

Liáng cháng xián cóngróng bù yóu xiàpī yí shàng, yǒu yī lǎofù, yì hè, zhì Liáng suǒ, zhí duò qí lǚ yí xià, gù wèi Liáng yuē: “Rúzǐ, xià qǔ lǚ!” Liáng èrán, yù ōu zhī. Wèi qí lǎo, qiángrěn, xià qǔ lǚ. Fù yuē: “Lǚ wǒ!” Liáng yè wèi qǔ lǚ, yīn cháng guì lǚ zhī. Fù yǐ zú shòu, xiào ér qù. Liáng shū dàjīng, suí mù zhī. Fù qù lǐ suǒ, fù hái, yuē: “Rúzǐkějiào yǐ. Hòu wǔ rì píngmíng, yǔ wǒ huì cǐ.”

良嘗閒從容步游下邳圯上，有一老父，衣褐，至良所，直墮其履圯下，顧謂良曰：「孺子，下取履！」良鄂然，欲毆之。為其老，彊忍，下取履。父曰：「履我！」良業為取履，因長跪履之。父以足受，笑而去。良殊大驚，隨目之。父去里所，復還，曰：「孺子可教矣。後五日平明，與我會此。」

良尝闲从容步游下邳圯上，有一老父，衣褐，至良所，直堕其履圯下，顾谓良曰：「孺子，下取履！」良鄂然，欲殴之。为其老，强忍，下取履。父曰：「履我！」良业为取履，因长跪履之。父以足受，笑而去。良殊大惊，随目之。父去里所，复还，曰：「孺子可教矣。后五日平明，与我会此。」


炙鳳烹龍

ㄓˋ ㄈㄥˋ ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

чжифэнпэнлун

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


炰鳳烹龍

ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

паофэнпэнлун

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


烹龍庖鳳

ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ

пэнлунпаофэн

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


炮鳳烹龍

ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

паофэнпэнлун

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


烹龍煮鳳

ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄈㄥˋ

пэнлунчжуфэн

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


炮龍烹鳳

ㄆㄠˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄥ ㄈㄥˋ

паолунпэнфэн

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


大器小用

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄩㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³³ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hei̯³³ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

大材小用 大材小用#Chinese


炮鳳煮龍

ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄓㄨˇ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

паофэнчжулун

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵/

烹龍炮鳳 烹龍炮鳳#Chinese

烹龙炮凤 烹龙炮凤#Chinese


牛鼎烹雞

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄆㄥ ㄐㄧ

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

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


烹龍炮鳳

ㄆㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄠˊ ㄈㄥˋ

пэнлунпаофэн

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/pʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/


老公撥扇——淒涼

/lou̯¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːt̚³ siːn³³ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

/lo³¹ kuŋ²⁴ pʰat̚² san⁵⁵ t͡sʰi²⁴ li̯oŋ¹¹/

/lau³¹ kʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ pʰat̚¹ san⁵³ t͡sʰi⁴⁴⁻³⁵ liɔŋ¹¹/


que demande le peuple

what's not to like? what more could you ask for?


入口即化

ㄖㄨˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/ʐu⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐp̚² hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ faː³³/

/ʐu⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐp̚² hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ faː³³/


精盡人亡

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

цзинцзиньжэньван

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² jɐn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² jɐn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

When a male's semen is exhausted, he dies


el año catapum

Y no me vengas ahora, Mario, que papá podrá caerte mejor o peor, pero no es un cualquiera, tú lo sabes, en el ABC desde el año catapum, que no es de hoy.

1974, Miguel Delibes, Cinco horas con Mario., Ediciones Destino, →ISBN, page 179:

And don’t come to me now, Mario, you may like dad better or worse, but he’s not just anybody, you know that, it’s been the ABC since the good days of yesteryear, which aren’t today.

Tenías opiniones muy tajantes respecto a tu ropa ya desde el año catapum.

2016 June 2, Eve Chase, “Ten: Lorna”, in El secreto de Black Rabbit Hall, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial España, →ISBN:

Had very strong opinions about clothes from the year dot you did.

an age long ago, particularly a good one


各自為政

ㄍㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ

гэцзывэйчжэн

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡siː²² wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡siː²² wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³/

each acts on their own according to their own preferences or desires without any overall coordination


長命百歲

ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

чонминбыйсуй

ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

чанминбайсуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²⁴ miŋ⁴⁴ pei²⁴ suei⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɪŋ²² paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²⁴ miŋ⁴⁴ pei²⁴ suei⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɪŋ²² paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³/

live to be a hundred!; live a long life! (expressing good wishes, usually to a child or birthday greetings to older people)


後知後覺

ㄏㄡˋ ㄓ ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

хоучжихоуцзюэ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³/

to only become aware of something after it has happened


the sun sets on something

As the sun set on his running career, McGough – pronounced “McGeow” in Monaghan – reinvented himself as a masseur, learning that trade first via the Celtic football team.

2018 February 16, Frank McNally, “All-Star (and Ulster) Scot – An Irishman’s Diary about The Runner McGough”, in The Irish Times:


一隻二隻

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jiː²² t͡sɛːk̚³/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jiː²² t͡sɛːk̚³/

(Cantonese, derogatory) every one of you guys (or those guys)


一個二個

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ jiː²² kɔː³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ jiː²² kɔː³³/

(Cantonese, often derogatory) every one of you guys (or those guys); you guys


做到隻積噉

/t͡sou̯²² tou̯³³ t͡sɛːk̚³ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kɐm³⁵/

Popularized through the theme song of the movie The Private Eyes (半斤八兩) by Sam Hui.

做到只积噉
做到隻積咁
做到隻積
做到隻積咁嘅樣


借古喻今

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цзегуюйцзинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ kuː³⁵ jyː²² kɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ kuː³⁵ jyː²² kɐm⁵⁵/

to allude to present events or figures by referencing historical events or figures


फ़लाना-ढिमकाना

hi-phrase

फ़लाना-ढिमकाना • (falānā-ḍhimkānā)

[fɐ.läː.näː.ɖʱɪ̃m.käː.näː]

/pʰə.lɑː.nɑː.ɖʱɪm.kɑː.nɑː/

[pʰɐ.läː.näː.ɖʱɪ̃m.käː.näː]

Reduplication of फ़लाना (falānā, “et cetera”).

reduplication

(Delhi, colloquial) et cetera, and so on


目空一切

ㄇㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ

/mu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³/

/mu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³/

to be very arrogant; to be very conceited


гюн яхшы болсун

head

гюн яхшы болсун • (gün yaxşı bolsun)


make a day of it

To spend the day enjoying oneself by engaging in pleasurable activities.


have a night of it

`One might think from the look of you that you had been having a night of it.' I only groaned by way of answer. I had, indeed, been having a night of it, such as I hope never to have again.

1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

To spend a night uncomfortably or unpleasantly, such as in pain, under duress, in illness, etc.


yygq

ㄧㄣ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/in⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/in⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

2020 September, 霍文博 (Huo Wenbo), 《“热门·电竞”微博语篇研究》 [Research on “Hot · E-sports” Micro-blog Text] (PhD), Changchun: Jilin University, page 80

yòu dào le wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yygq huánjié, Gòngzǐ Gē zhòngquánchūjī le

又到了我最喜歡的yygq環節，貢子哥重拳出擊了

又到了我最喜欢的yygq环节，贡子哥重拳出击了

陰陽怪氣 陰陽怪氣#Chinese

阴阳怪气 阴阳怪气#Chinese

(Internet slang) Initialism of 陰陽怪氣／阴阳怪气 (yīnyángguàiqì).


出口成髒

ㄔㄨ ㄎㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄗㄤ

чукоу чэнцзан

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵/

Pun on 出口成章 (chūkǒuchéngzhāng), by replacing 章 (zhāng, “chapter”) with 髒／脏 (zāng, “foul”).


欺軟怕硬

ㄑㄧ ㄖㄨㄢˇ ㄆㄚˋ ㄧㄥˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ iŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ iŋ⁵¹/


күпме тора

күпме тора? • (küpme tora?) (takes argument in nominative in front of it)

[ˈkɵp.mɪ̞.tʊ̞ˈɾɑ]

how much does it cost
how much does it cost


all'inferno

all'inferno la gente!


敬酒唔飲飲罰酒

to drink a penalty toast after refusing to drink when toasted

/kɪŋ³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ m̩²¹ jɐm³⁵ jɐm³⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to be forced to do something after initially turning down a request to do that thing


有樣學樣

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄧㄤˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ hɔːk̚² jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ hɔːk̚² jœːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

to imitate or copy and actions of another


滿身瘡痍

ㄇㄢˇ ㄕㄣ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄧˊ

маньшэньчуанъи

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/


群而不黨

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

The Master said, "The superior man is dignified, but does not wrangle. He is sociable, but not a partisan."

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

Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ jīn ér bù zhēng, qún ér bù dǎng.”

子曰：「君子矜而不爭，群而不黨。」

子曰：「君子矜而不争，群而不党。」

to get along well with others but not form a clique with others


日曬雨淋

ㄖˋ ㄕㄞˋ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧㄣˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² saːi̯³³ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² saːi̯³³ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

to be exposed to the sun and rain; to be exposed to the elements


改惡從善

ㄍㄞˇ ㄜˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄢˋ

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ ɔːk̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²²/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ ɔːk̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ siːn²²/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf

to stop doing evil and be a good person; to turn over a new leaf


風吹雨打

ㄈㄥ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄩˇ ㄉㄚˇ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³ taː³⁵/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰue⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tã⁴¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰe⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰue³³⁻²³ hou³⁵⁻¹¹ ta⁵²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³ taː³⁵/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰue⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tã⁴¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰe⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰue³³⁻²³ hou³⁵⁻¹¹ ta⁵²/

What surprised me the most was that these houses were buffeted by the wind and rain for several years, and yet some were completely fine after it.

2019 Oct 8, 增进对中华文化的认同感和自豪感（侨界传真）, People's Daily

“zuì ràng wǒ jīngtàn de shì zhèxiē fángzǐ jīnglì le zhème duōnián de fēngchuīyǔdǎ, yǒuxiē hái néng wánzhěng bǎocún xiàlái.”

「最讓我驚嘆的是這些房子經歷了這麼多年的風吹雨打，有些還能完整保存下來。」

「最让我惊叹的是这些房子经历了这么多年的风吹雨打，有些还能完整保存下来。」

…, normal artworks can't be damaged by the wind and rain and thus can't be shown outdoors, …

2020 Jun 4, 戶外琺瑯展取代畢典 興大畢業生歡喜合影, China Times

......, yībān yìshùpǐn yīn bùnéng shòu fēngchuīyǔdǎ, wúfǎ zài hùwài zhǎnchū,......

……，一般藝術品因不能受風吹雨打，無法在戶外展出，……

……，一般艺术品因不能受风吹雨打，无法在户外展出，……

So after good timber is stored for ten to twenty years and battered by the wind and rain, carbonizing it could yield better results instead.

2021 Jan 17, 蘋中人：職人製琴也治琴 李十三, Apple Daily (Taiwan)

suǒyǐ hǎo de mùtóu jīngguò yī, èrshí nián cúnfàng, jiāshàng fēngchuīyǔdǎ, fǎndào néng ràng mùtóu tànhuà xiàoguǒ gèng jiā,......

所以好的木頭經過一、二十年存放，加上風吹雨打，反倒能讓木頭碳化效果更佳，……

所以好的木头经过一、二十年存放，加上风吹雨打，反倒能让木头碳化效果更佳，……

to be blown by the wind and battered by the rain

(figuratively) to experience setbacks or hardships


名從主人

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

минцунчжужэнь

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

In ancient China, there was a principle called "the name follows its owner." Some ancient rhyme dictionaries even had multiple pronunciations for characters specifically for the local readings of certain place names. For example, in the 'Guangyun' dictionary, the character '房' in '阿房宫' (Epang Palace) had a unique pronunciation corresponding to the 'tang' rhyme in the 'bing' category, which is different from the general pronunciation of the character.

2018 May 22, 汉语拼音60年｜乌鲁木齐、拉萨、呼和浩特的地名拼音, The Paper

Zhōngguó gǔdài jiù yǒu suǒwèi “míngcóngzhǔrén” de yuánzé. Yīxiē gǔdài yùnshū shàng de duōyīnzì shènzhì shì zhuānmén wèi mǒuxiē dìmíng de dāngdì dúyīn suǒ shè. Rú Ēfánggōng de fáng zài Guǎngyùn zhōng jiù dān yǒu yīge bìng mǔ táng yùn de yīděng dúyīn (tóng “páng”), hé zhège zì yībān qíngkuàng xià de dúyīn bùyīyàng.

中國古代就有所謂「名從主人」的原則。一些古代韻書上的多音字甚至是專門為某些地名的當地讀音所設。如阿房宮的房在廣韻中就單有一個並母唐韻的一等讀音（同「旁」），和這個字一般情況下的讀音不一樣。

中国古代就有所谓「名从主人」的原则。一些古代韵书上的多音字甚至是专门为某些地名的当地读音所设。如阿房宫的房在广韵中就单有一个并母唐韵的一等读音（同「旁」），和这个字一般情况下的读音不一样。

In accordance with the principle of "the name follows its owner", our country (China) agreed to the request of South Korea, and changed the name Hànchéng to Shǒu'ěr.

2020 Nov 12, 汉城名称变为首尔，韩国为什么只要求中国更改？

Ànzhào míngcóngzhǔrén de yuánzé, wǒguó yě tóngyì le Hánguó de qǐngqiú, jiāng Hànchéng gǎiwéi le Shǒu'ěr.

按照名從主人的原則，我國也同意了韓國的請求，將漢城改為了首爾。

2020 Nov 12, 汉城名称变为首尔，韩国为什么只要求中国更改？

按照名从主人的原则，我国也同意了韩国的请求，将汉城改为了首尔。

to refer to something by the name its owner refers to it by


有頭有面

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²⁻³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ miːn²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) having fame and prestige; famous; respected


求科普

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(neologism, slang) Can someone explain this to me? Can someone break this down for me?


牙牙學語

ㄧㄚˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄩˇ

/jä³⁵ jä³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː²¹ ŋaː²¹ hɔːk̚² jyː¹³/

/jä³⁵ jä³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː²¹ ŋaː²¹ hɔːk̚² jyː¹³/

(of a baby) to babble out one's first words


飲飲食食

/jɐm³⁵ jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² sɪk̚²/

/jɐm³⁵ jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² sɪk̚²/

(Cantonese) to eat and drink (generally speaking); to wine and dine


金石良言

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄢˊ

цзиньшилянъянь

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/


金石絲竹

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄙ ㄓㄨˊ

цзиньшисычжу

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

(figuratively) all kinds of musical instruments


吃吃喝喝

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵/

to eat and drink (especially for social purposes); to wine and dine


quitte ou double

C’est quitte ou double !

It's double or quits!; It's double or nothing!


ça passe ou ça casse

(informal) it's make-or-break time, it's a sink or swim situation, it's touch and go


盜亦有道

ㄉㄠˋ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tou̯²² jɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ tou̯²²/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tou̯²² jɪk̚² jɐu̯¹³ tou̯²²/

One of Robber Zhi’s followers once asked Zhi, "Does the thief, too, have a Way?" Zhi replied, "How could he get anywhere if he didn't have a Way? Making shrewd guesses as to how much booty is stashed away in the room is sageliness; being the first one in is bravery; being the last one out is righteousness; knowing whether or not the job can be pulled off is wisdom; dividing up the loot fairly is benevolence. No one in the world ever succeeded in becoming a great thief if he didn't have all five!"

Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translation from The Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu (2013), by Burton Watson

Gù Zhí zhī tú wèn yú Zhí yuē: “Dào yì yǒu dào hū?” Zhí yuē: “Hé shì ér wú yǒu dào yé? Fú wàng yì shì zhōng zhī cáng, shèng yě; rù xiān, yǒng yě; chū hòu, yì yě; zhī kěfǒu, zhì yě; fēn jūn, rén yě. Wǔ zhě bú bèi ér néng chéng dàdào zhě, tiānxià wèi zhī yǒu yě.”

故跖之徒問於跖曰：「盜亦有道乎？」跖曰：「何適而无有道邪？夫妄意室中之藏，聖也；入先，勇也；出後，義也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。五者不備而能成大盜者，天下未之有也。」

故跖之徒问于跖曰：「盗亦有道乎？」跖曰：「何适而无有道邪？夫妄意室中之藏，圣也；入先，勇也；出后，义也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。五者不备而能成大盗者，天下未之有也。」

even robbers and thieves have moral principles


點……法

點醜樣法呀？

点丑样法呀？


不證自明

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄗˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

бучжэнцзымин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/


沒有之一

/meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

Shànghǎi shì wǒ zuì xǐhuān de chéngshì, méiyǒuzhīyī.

上海是我最喜欢的城市，沒有之一。

上海是我最喜欢的城市，没有之一。

(colloquial, modifying superlatives) single; sole


鎮館之寶

ㄓㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄓ ㄅㄠˇ

чжэньгуаньчжибао

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


龍子龍孫

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄗˇ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄣ

лунцзы лунсунь

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/


汗馬功勞

ㄏㄢˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄌㄠˊ

ханьмагунлао

/xän⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hɔːn²² maː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹/

/xän⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hɔːn²² maː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹/

(figuratively) achievement or contribution as a result of hard work


一舉手一投足

desc

일거수일투족(一擧手一投足)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一舉手一投足):
* → Korean: 일거수일투족(一擧手一投足) (ilgeosu'iltujok)

ㄧ ㄐㄩˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧ ㄊㄡˊ ㄗㄨˊ

yī jǔshǒu yī tóuzú [Phonetic:yìjúshǒuyìtóuzú]

и цзюйшоу и тоуцзу

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵/


巨細無遺

ㄐㄩˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

to include both large and small matters; to omit neither large or small matters


巨細靡遺

ㄐㄩˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄇㄧˇ ㄧˊ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/kɵy̯²² sɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/kɵy̯²² sɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

to include and not omit both large and small matters; to omit neither large or small matters


花紅柳綠

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄩˋ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ lɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ lɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/


やきもちをやく

yakimochi o yaku (romanization)
やきもちをやか
yakimochi o yaka
やきもちをやき
yakimochi o yaki
やきもちをやく
yakimochi o yaku
やきもちをやけ
yakimochi o yake
やきもちをやかれる (passive)
yakimochi o yakareru (passive)
やきもちをやかせる (causative)
やきもちをやかす (causative)
yakimochi o yakaseru (causative)
yakimochi o yakasu (causative)
やきもちをやける (potential)
yakimochi o yakeru (potential)
やきもちをやこう (volitional)
yakimochi o yakō (volitional)
やきもちをやかない (negative)
yakimochi o yakanai (negative)
やきもちをやかず (continuative negative)
yakimochi o yakazu (continuative negative)
やきもちをやきます (formal)
yakimochi o yakimasu (formal)
やきもちをやいた (perfective)
yakimochi o yaita (perfective)
やきもちをやいて (conjunctive)
yakimochi o yaite (conjunctive)
やきもちをやけば (conditional hypothetical)
yakimochi o yakeba (conditional hypothetical)

(lit. "to roast roasted rice cakes") (idiomatic) to be jealous (usually of a rival in love)


GUR

(golf) Initialism of ground under repair.


福如東海

ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄏㄞˇ

/fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊk̚⁵ jyː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊk̚⁵ jyː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

May your happiness and good fortune be boundless like the East Sea.


福如東海，壽比南山

ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄕㄡˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

fuk¹ jyu⁴ dung¹ hoi², sau⁶ bei² naam⁴ saan¹

шоубинаньшань

/fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

fuk⁷ jy⁴ dung¹ hoi², sau⁶ bei² naam⁴ saan¹

fug¹ yu⁴ dung¹ hoi², seo⁶ béi² nam⁴ san¹

/fʊk̚⁵ jyː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ sɐu̯²² pei̯³⁵ naːm²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

May your happiness and good fortune be boundless like the East Sea, and may you live as long as the South Mountain!


پشمام ریخت

head

پشمام ریخت • (pašmâm rixt)

حاجی اصن پشمام ریخت وقتی اینو فهمیدم!

Man, I was totally freaked out when I learned about this!

hâji asan pašmâm rixt vaqti ino fahmidam!


だったりして

(sentence-final, same as だ) could it be that […] ? (speculation)


添磚加瓦

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄨㄚˇ

тяньчжуаньцзява

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

to contribute meagerly to a cause; to do one's bit


通俗來說

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄙㄨˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄛ

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ su³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ su³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


白馬非馬

ㄅㄞˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄈㄟ ㄇㄚˇ

байма фэй ма

/paɪ̯³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² maː¹³ fei̯⁵⁵ maː¹³/

/paɪ̯³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² maː¹³ fei̯⁵⁵ maː¹³/

(Chinese philosophy) A white horse is not a horse (a paradox and a sophistry)


追本溯源

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄅㄣˇ ㄙㄨˋ ㄩㄢˊ

чжуйбэньсуюань

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ sou̯³³ jyːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ sou̯³³ jyːn²¹/

to trace to the source; to trace to the origin


臨危不亂

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

линьвэйбулуань

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

Only by taking precautions can you remain calm in the face of danger.

未雨綢繆才能臨危不亂。

未雨绸缪才能临危不乱。

to remain calm when faced with a dangerous situation


食龍肉都冇味

食龙肉都冇味
食龍肉都無味

/sɪk̚² lʊŋ²¹ jʊk̚² tou̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ mei̯²²/

(Cantonese) to not be in the mood (for something); to have no appetite (for something)


ei kunnian kukko laula

"the rooster of honour isn't singing" (literally)

Hänelle ei kunnian kukko laula.

He/she won't get away with his/her deeds.

(idiomatic) used to refer to someone's misdeeds and how they likely won't get away with doing them.


法力無邊

ㄈㄚˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄢ

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

to have boundless and enormous power (usually supernatural power)


恩威並施

/ˀən⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² siː⁵⁵/

/ˀən⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² siː⁵⁵/

to use carrots and sticks; to use grace and might simultaneously


十里不同音

ㄕˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄣ

шили бу тунъинь

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

(of dialects) to have different pronunciations (or a different dialect) every ten lis


分而治之

фэньэрчжичжи

fɛnʹerčžičži

/fən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

to divide and rule; to divide and conquer


血肉模糊

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wuː²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wuː²¹/

to be badly mangled or mutilated beyond recognition


拋頭顱灑熱血

抛头颅洒热血
拋頭顱，灑熱血

ㄆㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄙㄚˇ ㄖㄜˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

ㄆㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄙㄚˇ ㄖㄜˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

ㄆㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄙㄚˇ ㄖㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

паотоулусажэсюэ

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

паотоулусажэсе

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lou̯²¹ saː³⁵ jiːt̚² hyːt̚³/

to shed one's blood and lay down one's life (for a just cause)


方寸不亂

ㄈㄤ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

фанцуньбулуань

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/


意氣之爭

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/


니애미

Univerbation of 니 (ni, “you, your”) + 애미 (aemi, alternative spelling of 에미 (emi, disparaging term for "mother")), originating from an implication that the addressee is engaging in incest (Cho Hang-beom 2019, pp. 372—378). Compare English motherfucker, Chinese 你媽的／你妈的 (nǐmāde).
First attested as 네 어미 (ne eomi) in Blood Rain (血의 淚/혈의 누), 1906, presumably because prudishness prevented it from appearing in writing earlier; the source in question was the first modern-style novel in Korean.

univerbation

alternative spelling of <i class="Kore mention" lang="ko">에미</i> (emi, disparaging term for "mother")

zh-l

你媽的／你妈的 (nǐmāde)

(vulgar, offensive) fuck, fuck you; a highly profane expression, often used as an insult


the wrong side of

She looked to be the wrong side of forty.

Two weary, worn-out men, one of them on the wrong side of forty, a rocking-stone to take off from, a trembling point of rock some few feet across to land upon, and a bottomless gulf to be cleared in a raging gale!

Older than (the stated age, typically a decade).

the wrong side of the tracks, the wrong side of the law, the wrong side of history

Used in various other expressions to refer to an inimical or disfavoured condition.


l'ora è grave

Literally, “the hour is grave”. Compare French l’heure est grave.

we are at a critical time, the situation is serious


舌戰群儒

ㄕㄜˊ ㄓㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ

шэчжаньцюньжу

šɛčžanʹcjunʹžu

/ʂɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/ʂɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

From the title of the 43rd chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Zhuge Liang Debated with Groups of Confucian Scholars, Lu Zijing Tried Hard to Refute Opposing Opinions

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Zhūgě Liàng shézhànqúnrú, Lǔ Zǐjìng lìpáizhòngyì

諸葛亮舌戰群儒 魯子敬力排眾議

诸葛亮舌战群儒 鲁子敬力排众议

to have an intense debate with many people at the same time (and defeat them)

Lu Su
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhuge Liang


верхи не могут, низы не хотят

head

верхи́ не мо́гут, низы́ не хотя́т

верхи́ не мо́гут, низы́ не хотя́т • (verxí ne mógut, nizý ne xotját)

верхи́ не мо́гут (canonical)
низы́ не хотя́т (canonical)
verxí ne mógut (romanization)
nizý ne xotját (romanization)

[vʲɪrˈxʲi nʲɪ‿ˈmoɡʊt | nʲɪˈzɨ nʲɪ‿xɐˈtʲat]

Literally, “the upper classes should be unable [to rule and govern in the old way], the lower classes should not want [to live in the old way]”. From the principle outlined in the work “May Day Action by the Revolutionary Proletariat}}. (1913) by Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin.

m-g

the upper classes should be unable 􂀿to rule and govern in the old way􂁀, the lower classes should not want 􂀿to live in the old way􂁀

lit

en-верхи_не_могут,_низы_не_хотят-ru-phrase-mR7gcEbF


სასიამოვნოა თქვენი გაცნობა

head

სასიამოვნოა თქვენი გაცნობა

სასიამოვნოა თქვენი გაცნობა • (sasiamovnoa tkveni gacnoba)

sasiamovnoa tkveni gacnoba (romanization)

სასიამოვნო (sasiamovno, “pleasant”) + -ა (-a, “is”) + თქვენი (tkveni, “your”) + გაცნობა (gacnoba, “getting to know”)
Georgian phrasebook
 This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

phrasebook

en-სასიამოვნოა_თქვენი_გაცნობა-ka-phrase-ieI0nRxd


last I heard

the last I heard
the last I heard#English


the last I heard

(informal) Used to introduce one's most recent information on a subject, while acknowledging that things may have changed since the speaker was informed.


有殺錯冇放過

/jɐu̯¹³ saːt̚³ t͡sʰɔː³³ mou̯¹³ fɔːŋ³³ kʷɔː³³/

(Cantonese) to rather kill the innocent than let go of anyone guilty or an intended target


이상 무

Orthographic borrowing from Japanese 異状(いじょう)無(な)し (ijō nashi, “no abnormalities, nothing abnormal”). Equivalent to 이상(異狀) (isang, “abnormality”) + 무(無) (mu, “nonexistence”).

ja-r

(especially military) no abnormalities, all clear, everything is going well and normally


tiedä häntä

Tiedä häntä, saattaa se onnistuakin.


passar bem

Literally, “be well”. The use of the infinitive to issue an order is very formal.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see passar, bem.

good riddance (a formal yet terse farewell, often implicitly suggesting the wish to never see the person again)


be thankful for small mercies

Even though things are bad, you should remember that the situation could be worse and therefore be happy about the little things that are good.

iloitse pienistä asioista

even though things are bad, you should remember that the situation could be worse


I'll leave it up to you

I will let you be in charge; you can make the decisions or choices.


cho ... xin hai chữ "bình yên"

[t͡ɕɔ˧˧ sin˧˧ haːj˧˧ t͡ɕɨ˦ˀ˥ ʔɓïŋ˨˩ ʔiən˧˧]

[t͡ɕɔ˧˧ sin˧˧ haːj˧˧ t͡ɕɨ˧˨ ʔɓɨn˦˩ ʔiəŋ˧˧]

[cɔ˧˧ sɨn˧˧ haːj˧˧ cɨ˨˩˦ ʔɓɨn˨˩ ʔiəŋ˧˧]

(literal) please give me the word "peace"

Thôi bà nội ơi! Cho con/tôi/tao/tớ/mình xin hai chữ "bình yên"!

Oh puh-lease, sista! Gimme a break, will ya?


if these walls could talk

(idiomatic) Used to denote a location with an interesting or controversial history.


殘兵敗將

ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

цаньбинбайцзян

/t͡sʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/


exeunt omnes

From Latin exeunt omnēs (“they all exit; exit all”).

bor

(theater) In plays, an instruction that all actors should leave the stage.

mind el

in plays, an instruction that all actors should leave the stage


再生父母

ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² mou̯¹³/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² mou̯¹³/

Also, I plan to give a banner to the hospital staff. It was them who took me back from death's door; to me, they are my saviors.

2020 Feb 06, 离开武汉重症患者的自述：阎王没收我 要好好活下去, China News Service

Lìngwài, wǒ hái jìhuà gěi yīhù rényuán sòng yī miàn dà dà de jǐnqí. Shì tāmen bǎ wǒ cóng guǐménguān lǐ lā huílái, duì wǒ lái jiǎng, tāmen jiù shì wǒ de zàishēngfùmǔ.

另外，我還計劃給醫護人員送一面大大的錦旗。是他們把我從鬼門關裡拉回來，對我來講，他們就是我的再生父母。

另外，我还计划给医护人员送一面大大的锦旗。是他们把我从鬼门关里拉回来，对我来讲，他们就是我的再生父母。

person that has extended great grace to someone else, particularly a person that has saved their life


鳳凰在笯

ㄈㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄋㄨˊ

фэнхуан цзай ну

/fɤŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ nu³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ nu³⁵/

a talented person who cannot show his or her ambitions


tout craché

C’est son père tout craché !

Ça, c’est du X tout craché.


mieux que rien

C’est mieux que rien !

Half a loaf is better than none!; It's better than nothing.

[…] car il nous appartient que les choses changent dans le sens du meilleur, d’un meilleur peut-être précaire, et qui pourrait s’énoncer par cette maxime : mieux que rien, mieux qu’hier et mieux qu’aujourd’hui.

2001, Elisabeth de Fontenay, Diderot ou le matérialisme enchanté:


il n'y a plus de jeunesse

il n’ y a plus de jeunesse ! (canonical)

youth isn't what it used to be! the youth are all rotten!


j'en passe et des meilleures

j’ en passe et des meilleures (canonical)

j’en passe et des meilleurs
j'en passe et des meilleurs#French

Alternative spelling of j’en passe et des meilleurs


投閒置散

ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄙㄢˇ

тоусяньчжисань

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ haːn²¹ t͡siː³³ saːn³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ haːn²¹ t͡siː³³ saːn³⁵/


y'a plus de jeunesse

il n’y a plus de jeunesse
il n'y a plus de jeunesse#French

(informal) Alternative form of il n’y a plus de jeunesse


죽다 살았다

(idiomatic, hyperbolic) to have come out safely from a painful or risky situation (literally, "to have been dying and then live")


et j'en passe

Il a invité sa tante, son oncle, ses voisins, et j’en passe !

He invited his aunt, his uncle, and his cousins, to name a few!

(informal) and many more, and that's not all, and I could go on, to name but a few


j'en passe et des meilleurs

j’ en passe et des meilleurs (canonical)

Literally, “I omit some of it and there's even better”. Originally a quote from Hernani by Victor Hugo.

lit

(informal) and that's the least of it, and that's not the half of it, and that's not all, and I could go on, and so on and so forth


罪該萬死

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄞ ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˇ

цзуйгайваньсы

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² kɔːi̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² kɔːi̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sei̯³⁵/


you better believe it

you'd better believe it
you'd better believe it#English

Alternative form of you'd better believe it


pis que pendre

dire pis que pendre de quelqu’un

to speak ill of someone, to cast aspersions on someone, to vilify someone, to drag someone's name through the mud

écrire pis que pendre de/sur quelqu’un

(literary) terrible things about someone, nasty things about someone


plutôt deux fois qu'une

Literally, “and rather twice than once”.

doubly, so as to make sure, so that there be absolutely no doubt


m. v.

Abbreviation. Compare German a. G. (abbreviation of als Gast (“as a guest”)).

noncog

abbreviation of <i class="Latn mention" lang="de">als Gast</i> (“as a guest”)

Lear, Britannia királya: Nagy István m. v.

Lear, King of Britain: István Nagy (as a guest)

(theater) Abbreviation of mint vendég (“as a guest”): used on playbills or theater programs after the name of a person (actor, director etc.) who participates in the performance but is not a member of the theater company.


tous les coups sont permis

une lutte où tous les coups sont permis

en amour comme à la guerre, tous les coups sont permis


y'a plus qu'à

Colloquial ellipsis of il n’y a plus qu’à X (literally “now all that's left is to X”).

ellipsis

C’était tout vu ! Y’avait plus qu’à ! Aimer. Vivre. Rire. Exister.

2016, Gaël Faye, Petit Pays [Small Country]:

put that into practice
put into practice

(informal) now all we have to do is to put that into action, and now you gotta put that into practice (now that someone knows all that there is to know about something, there's nothing left but to do it)


養家糊口

ㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨˊ ㄎㄡˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuː²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuː²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

to support one's family (often with the meaning of to barely manage to do so with one's meagre income)


after us the deluge

‘After us the deluge,’ was retorted with a laugh: / ‘If bread's the staff of life, they must walk without a staff.’ / ‘While I've a loaf they're welcome to my blessing and the chaff.’

1861, Christina Rossetti, A Royal Princess:

“How about, ‘After us the deluge,’” said Paul. “Hmm?” Doctor Pond tried to make sense of the quotation, seemingly decided that it was some archaic, pleasant sentiment for those who understood poetry, and smiled.

[1952, Kurt Vonnegut, Player Piano, page 152:

A nihilistic expression of indifference to whatever happens after one is gone.


một nghề cho chín còn hơn chín nghề

[mot̚˧˨ʔ ŋe˨˩ t͡ɕɔ˧˧ t͡ɕin˧˦ kɔn˨˩ həːn˧˧ t͡ɕin˧˦ ŋe˨˩]

[mok̚˨˩ʔ ŋej˦˩ t͡ɕɔ˧˧ t͡ɕin˦˧˥ kɔŋ˦˩ həːŋ˧˧ t͡ɕin˦˧˥ ŋej˦˩]

[mok̚˨˩˨ ŋej˨˩ cɔ˧˧ cɨn˦˥ kɔŋ˨˩ həːŋ˧˧ cɨn˦˥ ŋej˨˩]

(literal) one trade to be chín (“well done; ripe”) is better than chín (“nine”) trades

it's better to be a master of one trade than a jack of all trades


以退為進

ㄧˇ ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

итуйвэйцзинь

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tʰɵy̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ tʰɵy̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/


無以為繼

ㄨˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

生活無以為繼

生活无以为继

黄宗昊, 林冈 (2015) “产业政策与金融: 台湾地区发展经验”, in 世界经济研究, number 9, →ISSN, page 109

Suízhe Měiguó màoyì bǎohùzhǔyì de xīngqǐ, Táiwān dìqū zhìchéngpǐn shūchū Měiguó shòudào chōngjī, liándài yě yǐngxiǎng dào shàngyóu yuánliào gōngyìng de shíhuàyè. Tóngshí dǎo nèi de huánjìng bǎohù yìshí zhújiàn xīngqǐ, gāo wūrǎn de shíhuàyè cháng chéngwéi shèhuì yùndòng de kàngzhēng duìxiàng. Zhèxiē nèiwài qíngshì de biànqiān dōu shǐdé 20 shìjì 70 niándài bèi dāngjú dàlì fúchí de shíhuàyè wúyǐwéijì.

隨著美國貿易保護主義的興起，台灣地區製成品輸出美國受到衝擊，連帶也影響到上游原料供應的石化業。同時島內的環境保護意識逐漸興起，高污染的石化業常成為社會運動的抗爭對象。這些內外情勢的變遷都使得20世紀70年代被當局大力扶持的石化業無以為繼。

随着美国贸易保护主义的兴起，台湾地区制成品输出美国受到冲击，连带也影响到上游原料供应的石化业。同时岛内的环境保护意识逐渐兴起，高污染的石化业常成为社会运动的抗争对象。这些内外情势的变迁都使得20世纪70年代被当局大力扶持的石化业无以为继。

to have no way to continue; to not be able to be sustained


屌那媽

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː³³ maː⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː¹³ maː⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː³³ maː⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː¹³ maː⁵⁵/

The second syllable is the contraction of 你阿 (nei5 aa3).

Fuck it! Bring it on! (translated as "Fuck his mom! Hit the hard!" in Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Park in Dongguan)

掉哪媽！頂硬上！

掉哪妈！顶硬上！


甫母

/pʰu⁵²⁻³⁵ bo⁵²⁻²¹/

/pʰu⁵²⁻³⁵ bo⁵²⁻²¹/

(Teochew, vulgar, offensive) fuck your mother; fuck you


養家活口

ㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄎㄡˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ kaː⁵⁵ wuːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵/

to support one's family financially; to provide for one's family


盡如人意

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

цзиньжужэньи

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/


adını çək, qulağını bur

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Azerbaijani audiorecordings-adını çək, qulağını bur.wav

Literally, "speak his name [and] twist his ear".

(idiomatic) speak of the devil (expression used when a person mentioned in the current conversation happens to arrive)


承前啟後

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнцяньцихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

to inherit the teachings of previous generations in order to inspire future actions


鮑鮑換包包

ㄅㄠˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄠ ㄅㄠ

ㄅㄠ ㄅㄠ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄠ ㄅㄠ

баобао хуань баобао

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

(neologism, slang, chiefly Taiwan, of a woman) to exchange sex for an expensive handbag or other luxury gifts (as a form of enjo kōsai)


少見多怪

ㄕㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

шаоцзяньдогуай

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

to be easily surprised because of ignorance


分工合作

ㄈㄣ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

фэньгунхэцзо

/fən⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/fən⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

proper division of labor and co-ordination


不知去向

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄑㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³ hœːŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hiɔŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰu¹¹⁻⁵³ hiɔŋ¹¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³ hœːŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hiɔŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰu¹¹⁻⁵³ hiɔŋ¹¹/

to not know where someone or something went


já cá não está quem falou

Literally, “who spoke is not here any more”.

lit

to concede an argument, dropping the previously raised objections


tirar as palavras da boca

Literally, “take the words from the mouth”.

Você tirou as palavras da minha boca! (Brazil)/Tiraste-me as palavras da boca! (Portugal)

take the words out of someone's mouth
take the words out of someone's mouth

(idiomatic) to say what someone was about to say; take the words out of someone's mouth


kuin koira veräjästä

(simile) scot-free (without consequence or penalty)


πάλι καλά

head

πάλι καλά • (páli kalá)

Πάλι καλά που πήρες μαζί τον φακό, αλλιώς θα χανόμασταν.

Just as well you took a torch with you, otherwise we would have been lost.

Páli kalá pou píres mazí ton fakó, alliós tha chanómastan.

(idiomatic) just as well, luckily, good thing (that), thank God (an occurrence, or situation is not only fortunate, but that on the contrary, it could have been a lot worse)


חלומות באספמיה

חֲלוֹמוֹת בְּאַסְפַּמְיָה

חֲלוֹמוֹת בְּאַסְפַּמְיָה • (khalomót b'espamyá)

he-phrase

חֲלוֹמוֹת בְּאַסְפַּמְיָה

חֲלוֹמוֹת בְּ אַסְפַּמְיָה (canonical)
khalomót b'espamyá (romanization)

Supposedly based on אדם ישן כאן ורואה חלום באספמיא (“A person sleeps here, and sees a dream in Spain.”), Spain being a distant place, thought at the time to be the end of the world.

אנחנו אומרים שתרבות היא התאגדות של בני־אדם. אדם בודד רוצה להגן על עצמו ועושה זאת בדרך של יצירת מסגרת: משפחה, חברה, אומה. המטרה העליונה – יצירת מסגרת אנושית אוניברסאלית – נראית כחלום באספמיה.

1986, Ehud Ben Ezer, אין שאננים בציון: שיחות על מחיר הציונות.:

We say that culture is an association of human beings. An individual wants to protect themselves and does so by creating a framework: family, society, nation. The ultimate goal - creating a universal human framework - seems like a pipe dream.

[…] אך כאשר בוחנים את גובה חסמי השוק, התקציב והרגולציה, שניצבים כיום בפני חדירת הרכב החשמלי לשוק הישראלי, היעדים הללו נראים כמו חלומות באספמיה.

2021 January 31, Dovi Ben-Gdalyahu, “רכב חשמלי הוא הקטגוריה הצומחת בעולם. כך נותרה ישראל מאחור”, in Globes:

[…] but when [we] examine the scale of market barriers, the budget and regulation, faced by the entrance of electric cars to the Israeli market, these targets look like pipe dreams.

(idiomatic, formal) Pipe dreams, near impossibilities.


игра не стоит свеч

head

игра́ не сто́ит свеч

игра́ не сто́ит свеч • (igrá ne stóit sveč)

игра́ не сто́ит свеч (canonical)
igrá ne stóit sveč (romanization)

Calque of French le jeu n’en vaut pas la chandelle.

clq

en-игра_не_стоит_свеч-ru-phrase-7UkCh~4B


third time lucky

third time's a charm
third time's a charm#English


기차 떠나고 손 흔들다

ko-pos

기차 떠나고 손 흔들다

기차 떠나고 손 흔들다 • (gicha tteonago son heundeulda)

gicha tteonago son heundeulda (romanization)

l'esprit de l'escalier
l'esprit de l'escalier

"to wave after the train has left"; to be affected by l'esprit de l'escalier


раз уж на то пошло

head

раз уж на то пошло́

раз уж на то пошло́ • (raz už na to pošló)

раз уж на то пошло ́ (canonical)
raz už na to pošló (romanization)


求神拜佛

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄈㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ paːi̯³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ paːi̯³³ fɐt̚²/

1934, Lu Xun, 《中國人失掉自信力了嗎》

Cóng gōngkāi de wénzì shàng kàn qǐlái: liǎng nián yǐqián, wǒmen zǒng zìkuā zhe “dìdàwùbó”, shì shìshí; bùjiǔ jiù bùzài zìkuā le, zhǐ xīwàng zhù Guólián, yěshì shìshí; xiànzài shì jì bù kuā zìjǐ, yě bùxìn Guólián, gǎiwèi yīwèi qiúshénbàifó, huáigǔshāngjīn le — què yěshì shìshí.

從公開的文字上看起來：兩年以前，我們總自誇著「地大物博」，是事實；不久就不再自誇了，只希望著國聯，也是事實；現在是既不誇自己，也不信國聯，改為一味求神拜佛，懷古傷今了——卻也是事實。

1934, Lu Xun, 《中國人失掉自信力了嗎》

从公开的文字上看起来：两年以前，我们总自夸着「地大物博」，是事实；不久就不再自夸了，只希望著国联，也是事实；现在是既不夸自己，也不信国联，改为一味求神拜佛，怀古伤今了——却也是事实。

2021 January 15, 张楠茜, 《拯救可橙： 被父母强送矫治的跨性别者》, in 《鳳凰週刊》 [Phoenix Weekly], →ISSN, issue 747, page 42

Kěchéng zuòwéi jiānxìngrén, nánxìng de shēngyù nénglì cúnzài zhàng'ài, jiācháng nányǐ jiēshòu, māmā shènzhì zài jiālǐ qiúshénbàifó zuò fǎshì.

可橙作為間性人，男性的生育能力存在障礙，家長難以接受，媽媽甚至在家裡求神拜佛做法事。

可橙作为间性人，男性的生育能力存在障碍，家长难以接受，妈妈甚至在家里求神拜佛做法事。

to pray to gods and Buddha for help or blessings


腸が煮えくり返る

ja-pos

はらわた が にえくりかえる

腸(はらわた)が煮(に)えくり返(かえ)る • (harawata ga niekurikaeru)

腸が煮えくり返る (canonical)
harawata ga niekurikaeru (romanization)
腸が煮えくり返ら
はらわたがにえくりかえら
harawata ga niekurikaera
腸が煮えくり返り
はらわたがにえくりかえり
harawata ga niekurikaeri
腸が煮えくり返る
はらわたがにえくりかえる
harawata ga niekurikaeru
腸が煮えくり返れ
はらわたがにえくりかえれ
harawata ga niekurikaere
腸が煮えくり返られる (passive)
はらわたがにえくりかえられる (passive)
harawata ga niekurikaerareru (passive)
腸が煮えくり返らせる (causative)
腸が煮えくり返らす (causative)
はらわたがにえくりかえらせる (causative)
はらわたがにえくりかえらす (causative)
harawata ga niekurikaeraseru (causative)
harawata ga niekurikaerasu (causative)
腸が煮えくり返れる (potential)
はらわたがにえくりかえれる (potential)
harawata ga niekurikaereru (potential)
腸が煮えくり返ろう (volitional)
はらわたがにえくりかえろう (volitional)
harawata ga niekurikaerō (volitional)
腸が煮えくり返らない (negative)
はらわたがにえくりかえらない (negative)
harawata ga niekurikaeranai (negative)
腸が煮えくり返らず (continuative negative)
はらわたがにえくりかえらず (continuative negative)
harawata ga niekurikaerazu (continuative negative)
腸が煮えくり返ります (formal)
はらわたがにえくりかえります (formal)
harawata ga niekurikaerimasu (formal)
腸が煮えくり返った (perfective)
はらわたがにえくりかえった (perfective)
harawata ga niekurikaetta (perfective)
腸が煮えくり返って (conjunctive)
はらわたがにえくりかえって (conjunctive)
harawata ga niekurikaette (conjunctive)
腸が煮えくり返れば (conditional hypothetical)
はらわたがにえくりかえれば (conditional hypothetical)
harawata ga niekurikaereba (conditional hypothetical)

Compound of 腸 + が + 煮えくり返る, literally "the intestines boil".

com

腸 + が + 煮えくり返る

to be furious, to have one's blood boiling


NB.

NB

nemzeti bajnokság; the Hungarian professional league for association football clubs


不敢恭維

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟˊ

буганьгунвэй

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

to be not good; to not deserve a compliment


la tête dans le guidon

le nez dans le guidon
le nez dans le guidon#French


pour le meilleur et pour le pire

for better or for worse
for better or for worse

in sickness and in health
in sickness and in health

for better or for worse; in weal and woe; in sickness and in health


pour le meilleur comme pour le pire

pour le meilleur et pour le pire
pour le meilleur et pour le pire#French

Alternative form of pour le meilleur et pour le pire


le nez dans le guidon

avoir le nez dans le guidon, être le nez dans le guidon

to be so caught up in something that one can't see the wood for the trees, to lose perspective

(informal, figuratively) so focused on what one's doing that one becomes unaware of one's surroundings and oblivious to anything else, that one can no longer see the bigger picture

ne pas voir plus loin que le bout de son nez


連根拔起

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄣ ㄅㄚˊ ㄑㄧˇ

ляньгэньбаци

/li̯ɛn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ pä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚² hei̯³⁵/


一眼二足三胆四力

ja-phrase

いちがん にそく さんたん しりき

一(いち)眼(がん)二(に)足(そく)三(さん)胆(たん)四(し)力(りき) • (ichigan nisoku santan shiriki)

一眼二足三胆四力 (canonical)
ichigan nisoku santan shiriki (romanization)

(lit. one eye, two legs/feet, three courage, four power) "first, eyes, second, feet, third, courage, fourth, power". The essentials of [kendo] in descending order of importance

lit. one eye; two legs/feet; three courage; four power; lit. one eye; two legs/feet; three courage; four power


yere of our lord

English: year of our Lord

Here endeth the book named the dictes or sayengis of the philosophres enprynted. by me william Caxton at westmestre the yere of our lord .M.CCCC.Lxx vij.

1477, William Caxton, “Et sic est finis”, in The Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres, Westminster, London: William Caxton, folio 74, recto:

Here ends the book named 'The Dict[ations] or Sayings of the Philosophers Enprinted. By me, William Caxton at Westminster, the Year of Our Lord .M.CCCC.LXX VIJ.'


helvetti pääsee valloilleen

all hell breaks loose
all hell breaks loose


bon pied, bon œil

Literally, “good foot, good eye”, meaning one is still able to walk briskly and still has a good eyesight.

avoir bon pied bon œil

to be fit as a fiddle, to be fighting fit


per as

(historical) by means of nonmotorised road vehicle(s); by carriage, cart or wagon

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see per, as.


九五之尊

the honor of nine-five [to which only the emperor is entitled]

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨˇ ㄓ ㄗㄨㄣ

цзюучжицзунь

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sun⁴⁴/


qui casca l'asino

therein lies the rub
therein lies the rub


stick a fork in me, I'm done

A pun on the senses of done meaning "finished" and "fully cooked".


顎が落ちる

顎が落ちる (canonical)
ago ga ochiru (romanization)
顎が落ち
あごがおち
ago ga ochi
顎が落ちる
あごがおちる
ago ga ochiru
顎が落ちれ
あごがおちれ
ago ga ochire
顎が落ちよ (imperative literary)
顎が落ちろ (colloquial imperative)
あごがおちよ (imperative literary)
あごがおちろ (colloquial imperative)
ago ga ochiyo (imperative literary)
ago ga ochiro (colloquial imperative)
顎が落ちられる (passive)
あごがおちられる (passive)
ago ga ochirareru (passive)
顎が落ちさせる (causative)
顎が落ちさす (causative)
あごがおちさせる (causative)
あごがおちさす (causative)
ago ga ochisaseru (causative)
ago ga ochisasu (causative)
顎が落ちられる (potential)
顎が落ちれる (colloquial potential)
あごがおちられる (potential)
あごがおちれる (colloquial potential)
ago ga ochirareru (potential)
ago ga ochireru (colloquial potential)
顎が落ちよう (volitional)
あごがおちよう (volitional)
ago ga ochiyō (volitional)
顎が落ちない (negative)
顎が落ちぬ (negative)
顎が落ちん (negative)
あごがおちない (negative)
あごがおちぬ (negative)
あごがおちん (negative)
ago ga ochinai (negative)
ago ga ochinu (negative)
ago ga ochin (negative)
顎が落ちず (continuative negative)
あごがおちず (continuative negative)
ago ga ochizu (continuative negative)
顎が落ちます (formal)
あごがおちます (formal)
ago ga ochimasu (formal)
顎が落ちた (perfective)
あごがおちた (perfective)
ago ga ochita (perfective)
顎が落ちて (conjunctive)
あごがおちて (conjunctive)
ago ga ochite (conjunctive)
顎が落ちれば (conditional hypothetical)
あごがおちれば (conditional hypothetical)
ago ga ochireba (conditional hypothetical)

Compound of 顎 + が + 落ちる. Compare English jaw-dropping.

顎が落ちるほど美味しい


國仇家恨

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄣˋ

гочоуцзяхэнь

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɐu̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xən⁵¹/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɐu̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɐn²²/

hatred of a country for invading one's own country and destroying one's own home or family


трамвай губу отдавит

head

трамва́й губу́ отда́вит

трамва́й губу́ отда́вит • (tramváj gubú otdávit)

трамва́й губу́ отда́вит (canonical)
tramváj gubú otdávit (romanization)

Literally, “the tram will crush your lip”.

lit

(folk, colloquial) a teasing rhyme for the offended person

en-трамвай_губу_отдавит-ru-phrase-3cYcracn


ты дурак или родом так

head

ты дура́к и́ли ро́дом так?

ты дура́к и́ли ро́дом так? • (ty durák íli ródom tak?)

ты дура́к и́ли ро́дом так (canonical)
ty durák íli ródom tak? (romanization)

Ru-ты дурак или родом так.ogg

Literally, “are you a fool or are you born like that?”.

lit

(folk, colloquial) an insult to someone who is being stupid

en-ты_дурак_или_родом_так-ru-phrase-6mV~0iX2


ты мыло ел или так сдурел

head

ты мы́ло ел и́ли так сдуре́л?

ты мы́ло ел и́ли так сдуре́л? • (ty mýlo jel íli tak sdurél?)

ты мы́ло ел и́ли так сдуре́л (canonical)
ty mýlo jel íli tak sdurél? (romanization)

[tɨ ˈmɨɫə jeɫ ˈilʲɪ taɡ zdʊˈrʲeɫ]

Ru-ты мыло ел или так сдурел.ogg

Literally, “have you eaten soap or have you gone crazy [without soap]?”.

m-g

have you eaten soap or have you gone crazy 􂀿without soap􂁀?

lit

(folk, colloquial) a comment on a person's stupid act

en-ты_мыло_ел_или_так_сдурел-ru-phrase-3JifoFfr


смешно дураку, что нос на боку

head

смешно́ дураку́, что нос на боку́

смешно́ дураку́, что нос на боку́ • (smešnó durakú, što nos na bokú)

смешно́ дураку́ (canonical)
что нос на боку́ (canonical)
smešnó durakú (romanization)
što nos na bokú (romanization)

Literally, “it's funny to the fool that the nose is on the side”.

lit

(folk, colloquial) about an unreasonable, stupid laugh

en-смешно_дураку,_что_нос_на_боку-ru-phrase-57NU55HS


head

е́сли дя́дя с дя́дей спит, то у дя́ди буде́т СПИД • (jésli djádja s djádej spit, to u djádi budét SPID)

е́сли дя́дя с дя́дей спит (canonical)
то у дя́ди буде́т СПИД (canonical)
jésli djádja s djádej spit (romanization)
to u djádi budét SPID (romanization)

[ˈjes⁽ʲ⁾lʲɪ ˈdʲædʲə ˈz‿dʲædʲɪj spʲit | to ʊ‿ˈdʲædʲɪ bʊˈdʲet͡s spʲit]

Literally, “if a man sleeps with a man, then the man will have AIDS”.

lit

если дядя с дядей спит, то у дяди будет СПИД

(folk, colloquial) about unprotected sex (pronounced in a singsong voice)

en-если_дядя_с_дядей_спит,_то_у_дяди_будет_СПИД-ru-phrase-rEUnssKb


一姫二太郎

ja-pos

一(いち)姫(ひめ)二(に)太(た)郎(ろう) • (ichi hime ni tarō) ^(←いちひめにたらう (iti fime ni tarau)?)

一姫二太郎 (canonical)
ichi hime ni tarō (romanization)
iti fime ni tarau (romanization)
いちひめにたらう (hiragana historical)

[ɲ̟i ta̠ɾo̞ː]

一 (ichi, “first”) + 姫 (hime, “girl; lady”) + 二 (ni, “second”) + 太郎 (tarō, generic male name; generic name for the eldest son)

af

it'd be auspicious to have a daughter first, then a son


米已成炊

the grain has already been cooked into rice

ㄇㄧˇ ㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄟ

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐi̯¹³ jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐi̯¹³ jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/


il y a à boire et à manger

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-il y a à boire et à manger.wav


that's done it

(UK, informal) Used to express annoyance or announce that one has reached the limit of one's patience or temper.

(idiomatic) Used to announce a successful solution to a problem.


por fora

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see por, fora.


lyte och men

(law) long-term suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of function


tamo junto

Eye dialect spelling of estamos juntos (“we're together”).

A general term to express agreement or friendship, especially among men.


公諸於眾

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄓㄨ ㄩˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

гунчжуюйчжун

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

公之於眾 公之於眾#Chinese

公之于众 公之于众#Chinese

Misconstruction of 公之於眾／公之于众 (gōngzhīyúzhòng, “to reveal to the public”)


nang·ko mitelbejok

Equivalent to na·a + -ko + mitela + -be- + -jok.


I put it to you

I put it to you that the accused planned the attack beforehand.


il n'y a pas le feu au lac

(informal) where's the fire? what's the rush?


vite fait bien fait

(informal) job's a good 'un, Bob's your uncle, quick and easy (carried out quickly and efficiently)


have several seats

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-have several seats.wav

(idiomatic, humorous, African-American Vernacular) A directive for someone to calm down or modify their attitude, and to refrain from speaking about an issue in which they have limited knowledge or experience.


I'll be dipped

I'll be dipped in shit
I'll be dipped in shit#English

(euphemistic, colloquial) Short for I'll be dipped in shit (“expression of astonishment”).


誰が

誰 (dare, “who”) + が (ga, nominative marker)

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 誰, が.


誰が

誰 (ta, “who”, archaic pronoun) + が (ga, nominative marker)

(archaic) Synonym of 誰が (dare ga, “who”, nominative)


誰が

Old Japanese [Term?], from 誰 (ta, “who”, archaic pronoun) + が (ga, archaic genitive marker). 誰 took the reading tare as a free morpheme, but ta if followed by ga. Compare 我が (a ga, wa ga, “my”) and 汝が (na ga, “your”).

誰がために鐘は鳴る

今宵は誰がために踊るのでしょう
霞む 私は朧月
手繰り寄せる 朱殷の糸口よ
貴方に続けと願う

2018, Mafumafu (lyrics and music), “朧月 [Hazy Moon]”:

For whom will I dance tonight?
I'm a hazy moon that's growing dim
The dark-red ends of the threads are reeling in
I wish they'll connect me with you

Koyoi wa ta ga tame ni odoru no deshō
Kasumu watashi wa oborozuki
Taguriyoseru shuan no itoguchi yo
Anata ni tsuzuke to negau

「来过来一下」
そして心に背いて
誰が為に芽吹くの？
薄れずに 色味帯びていく
憂いと彼岸の花

2019, Mafumafu (lyrics and music), “曼珠沙華 [Red Spider Lily]”:

'Lái guòlái yīxià'
Against the heart,
For whom will it sprout, I wonder?
Tinging with everlasting tones
That is the lily of sorrow

'Lái guòlái yīxià'
Soshite kokoro ni somuite
Ta ga tame ni mebuku no?
Usurezu ni iromi obite iku
Urei to Higan no hana

(literary) Synonym of 誰の (dare no, “whose”)


鑽山打洞

/t͡sõ³³ san³³ ta̠⁴¹ tʊŋ²¹⁻¹¹/

/t͡sõ³³ san³³ ta̠⁴¹ tən²¹⁻¹¹/

/t͡sõ³³ san³³ ta̠⁴¹ tʊŋ²¹⁻¹¹/

/t͡sõ³³ san³³ ta̠⁴¹ tən²¹⁻¹¹/

(Xiang) to curry favor or find opportunity anywhere to achieve a goal


臠起臠起

/lõ³³ t͡ɕʰi³ lõ³³ t͡ɕʰi³/

/lõ³³ t͡ɕʰi³ lõ³³ t͡ɕʰi³/

(Xiang) to be in low spirits; to be lethargic-looking; out of sorts


nang·na namgipa sal ong·china

Equivalent to na·a + -na + nama + -gipa + sal + ong· + -chi + -na


devant l'éternel

devant l’Éternel
devant l'Éternel#French

Alternative spelling of devant l’Éternel


devant l'Éternel

Literally, “before the eternal one”, i.e. before God.

(often humorous) Used after a noun for emphasis: great, excellent; confirmed; inveterate


próba szerencse

próba (“trial, attempt”) + szerencse (“luck”), literally: “trial―luck”, that is, a trial might as well end up in a lucky outcome.

(idiomatic) hit-or-miss, trial and error

próba-szerencse

nonstandard but fairly common, especially in attributive role


what do you want

(informal) Indicates that the listener is paying attention to the speaker, and wishes to know why they were approached or interrupted.

咩呀？

to indicate that the listener is paying attention

(informal) A rude greeting, implying that the speaker does not wish to engage in formalities.


師出有名

ㄕ ㄔㄨ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

to do something for a good and proper reason


何什搞

/o¹³ ʂʐ̩³ kɒu̯⁴¹/

/o¹³ sz̩³ kɒu̯⁴¹/

/o¹³ ʂʐ̩³ kɒu̯⁴¹/

/o¹³ sz̩³ kɒu̯⁴¹/

(Xiang, interrogative) What to do?; What should be done?


呵嘶呵嘶

/o⁴⁵ sz̩³³ o⁴⁵ sz̩³³/

/o⁴⁵ sz̩³³ o⁴⁵ sz̩³³/

(Xiang) to do all one can; to do one's utmost; to spare no effort; to go all-out


head

a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle

/ə ˈwʊmən ˌniːdz ə ˈmæn laɪk ə ˈfɪʃ ˌniːdz ə ˈbaɪsɪkl̩/

/ə ˈwʊmən ˌnidz ə ˈmæn laɪk ə ˈfɪʃ ˌnidz ə ˈbaɪˌsɪkəl/

Nothin' much to say I guess / You're just the same as all the rest / Been tryin' to throw your arms around the world / And a woman needs a man / Like a fish needs a bicycle / When you're tryin' to throw your arms around the world

1991 November 18, “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World”, in Bono [stage name; Paul David Hewson] (lyrics), Achtung Baby, performed by U2:

a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle#English

Alternative form of a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle


faltaría más

(idiomatic) don't mention it; you're welcome


một nụ cười bằng mười thang thuốc bổ

[mot̚˧˨ʔ nu˧˨ʔ kɨəj˨˩ ʔɓaŋ˨˩ mɨəj˨˩ tʰaːŋ˧˧ tʰuək̚˧˦ ʔɓo˧˩]

[mok̚˨˩ʔ nʊw˨˩ʔ kɨj˦˩ ʔɓaŋ˦˩ mɨj˦˩ tʰaːŋ˧˧ tʰuək̚˦˧˥ ʔɓow˧˨]

[mok̚˨˩˨ nʊw˨˩˨ kɨj˨˩ ʔɓaŋ˨˩ mɨj˨˩ tʰaːŋ˧˧ tʰuək̚˦˥ ʔɓow˨˩˦]

Literally, "one smile or laugh is as good as ten prescriptions of supplements".

Laughter is the best medicine.
laughter is the best medicine


語驚四座

ㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄙˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɔː²²/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɔː²²/

one's words or speech astonishes every attendee


de unde și până unde

Literally, “from where and until where”. Calque of Ottoman Turkish [script needed] (nereden nereye, “for some reason or other; I don't quite know why”, literally “from where to where”). Compare Greek από πού κι ως πού (apó poú ki os poú).

cog

από πού κι ως πού

why; for what reason (used to express strong disagreement)


そんでも

(informal) Alternative form of それでも (sore de mo)


am wn i

Contracted from am a wn i (literally “for that which I know”).


HVJ

(Internet slang, text messaging) Acronym of hou van je or hou van jou (“[I] love you”)


HJB

(Internet slang, text messaging) Acronym of hou je bek (“shut up”).


pezzo per pezzo

Dai Navy SEAL agli analisti della CIA che avevano messo insieme pezzo per pezzo la pista che conduceva ad Abbottabad... tutti avevano lavorato insieme... per raggiungere un obbiettivo condiviso.

2020, Barack Obama, chapter 27, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

From the SEALs themselves, to the CIA analysts who'd pieced together the trail to Abbottabad... they had all worked together... to achieve a shared goal.


piece by piece

Rather than tackling the entire project at once, work on each assignment piece by piece.

When the war with Japan broke out the F.M.S.R. had a busy time, but it could not make up for the lack of other communications or for general shortage of military equipment, so, piece by piece, it fell into Japanese hands.

1950 October, R. A. Marshall, “Kuala Lumpur, an important Malayan Railway Centre”, in Railway Magazine, page 705:


感人肺腑

ㄍㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄈㄨˇ

ганьжэньфэйфу

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/


das Leben ist kein Ponyhof

Playful adaptation of the older snowclone Das Leben ist kein X, where X is conventionally based on a verb.

Rezepte gegen die neue Weltangst gibt es nicht, und es wäre töricht, sie unter den konservativen Weltbildteppich zu kehren und den chronisch Furchtsamen einzureden, das Leben sei kein Ponyhof.

2013 September 12, Thomas Assheuer, “Herz der Finsternis”, in Die Zeit:

life isn't beer and skittles, life's a bitch


傷敵一千，自損八百

伤敌一千，自损八百
傷敵一千自損八百

To injure one thousand enemy soldiers while one loses eight hundred soldiers

ㄕㄤ ㄉㄧˊ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄢ

ㄗˋ ㄙㄨㄣˇ ㄅㄚ ㄅㄞˇ

soeng¹ dik⁶ jat¹ cin¹, zi⁶ syun² baat³ baak³

шан ди ицянь

цзы сунь бабай

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ti³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

soeng¹ dik⁹ jat⁷ tsin¹, dzi⁶ syn² baat⁸ baak⁸

sêng¹ dig⁶ yed¹ qin¹, ji⁶ xun² bad³ bag³

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² syːn³⁵ paːt̚³ paːk̚³/

to inflict damage on the enemy while one's own side suffers a smaller but comparable level of damage


無欲無求

ㄨˊ ㄩˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/u³⁵ y⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/u³⁵ y⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jʊk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/


殺敵一千，自損八百

杀敌一千，自损八百
殺敵一千自損八百

To kill one thousand enemy soldiers while one loses eight hundred soldiers

ㄕㄚ ㄉㄧˊ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄢ

ㄗˋ ㄙㄨㄣˇ ㄅㄚ ㄅㄞˇ

saat³ dik⁶ jat¹ cin¹, zi⁶ syun² baat³ baak³

цзы сунь бабай

/ʂä⁵⁵ ti³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

saat⁸ dik⁹ jat⁷ tsin¹, dzi⁶ syn² baat⁸ baak⁸

/saːt̚³ tɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² syːn³⁵ paːt̚³ paːk̚³/

傷敵一千，自損八百 傷敵一千，自損八百#Chinese

伤敌一千，自损八百 伤敌一千，自损八百#Chinese

Synonym of 傷敵一千，自損八百／伤敌一千，自损八百 (shāng dí yīqiān, zì sǔn bābǎi, “to inflict damage on the enemy while one's own side suffers a smaller but comparable level of damage”)


khôn nhà dại chợ

[xon˧˧ ɲaː˨˩ zaːj˧˨ʔ t͡ɕəː˧˨ʔ]

[kʰoŋ˧˧ ɲaː˦˩ jaːj˨˩ʔ t͡ɕəː˨˩ʔ]

[xoŋ˧˧ ɲaː˦˩ jaːj˨˩ʔ t͡ɕəː˨˩ʔ]

[kʰoŋ˧˧ ɲaː˨˩ jaːj˨˩˨ cəː˨˩˨]

[xoŋ˧˧ ɲaː˨˩ jaːj˨˩˨ cəː˨˩˨]

khôn (“clever”) + nhà (“home”) + dại (“foolish”) + chợ (“market”).

compound

clever at home but foolish out on the street; a smart aleck among family but timid among strangers


cả giận, mất khôn

[kaː˧˩ zən˧˨ʔ mət̚˧˦ xon˧˧]

[kaː˧˨ jəŋ˨˩ʔ mək̚˦˧˥ kʰoŋ˧˧]

[kaː˧˨ jəŋ˨˩ʔ mək̚˦˧˥ xoŋ˧˧]

[kaː˨˩˦ jəŋ˨˩˨ mək̚˦˥ kʰoŋ˧˧]

[kaː˨˩˦ jəŋ˨˩˨ mək̚˦˥ xoŋ˧˧]

losing temper will lead to a lapse in judgment


prest de

head

prest de m (feminine singular presta de, masculine plural prests de, feminine plural prestas de)

presta de (feminine singular)
prests de (masculine plural)
prestas de (feminine plural)

Sa furor era pas presta de s'assuausar e quò seriá gaire prudent de lo laissar tornar au fogier.


YEKIOYD

# Acronym of you either know it or you don't;

acronym

in quizzing, an answer which is not guessable, or able to be figured out from the questions.


功高震主

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄓㄣˋ ㄓㄨˇ

гунгаочжэньчжу

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ t͡syː³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ t͡syː³⁵/

one's merits and contributions are so great that one's monarch or leader feels uneasy and insecure


один с сошкой, а семеро с ложкой

head

оди́н с со́шкой, а се́меро с ло́жкой

оди́н с со́шкой, а се́меро с ло́жкой • (odín s sóškoj, a sémero s lóžkoj)

оди́н с со́шкой (canonical)
а се́меро с ло́жкой (canonical)
odín s sóškoj (romanization)
a sémero s lóžkoj (romanization)

[ɐˈdʲin ˈs‿soʂkəj | ɐ‿ˈsʲemʲɪrə ˈs‿ɫoʂkəj]

Literally, “one with a plow, and seven with a spoon”. Russian folk proverb.

lit

се́меро стоя́т да слу́шают, се́меро едя́т да ку́шают

(folk) many people feed on the labor of one worker.

en-один_с_сошкой,_а_семеро_с_ложкой-ru-phrase-6c8C0SLc


tốt khoe xấu che

[tot̚˧˦ xwɛ˧˧ səw˧˦ t͡ɕɛ˧˧]

[tok̚˦˧˥ kʰwɛ˧˧ səw˨˩˦ t͡ɕɛ˧˧]

[tok̚˦˧˥ xwɛ˧˧ səw˨˩˦ t͡ɕɛ˧˧]

[tok̚˦˥ kʰwɛ˧˧ səw˦˥ cɛ˧˧]

[tok̚˦˥ xwɛ˧˧ səw˦˥ cɛ˧˧]

people tend to show what's good about themselves and hide what's bad


nincs mese

nincs (“there is no”) + mese (“fairy tale”)

affix

1987, Q24288241 (Q24288241) (translator), Zsiványok (emlékezés), Európa Zsebkönyvek, originally The Reivers: A Reminiscence by William Faulkner
Nincs mese: magának is éppúgy meg kell szoknia az autókat, mint másoknak.

You might as well give up: you got to get used to automobiles like everybody else.

(idiomatic) and that’s the end (of the story), and that’s it (there is no place for negotiation over the matter, it has to be implemented, whether we like it or not: usually used in case of an external necessity)


粗聲粗氣

ㄘㄨ ㄕㄥ ㄘㄨ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³/


ní anse

Introduces an explanatory answer to a question


ouwe jongens krentenbrood

oude jongens krentenbrood
oude jongens krentenbrood#Dutch

Alternative form of oude jongens krentenbrood


oude jongens krentenbrood

Er hing een sfeer van oude jongens krentenbrood op de reünie.

There was a comradely atmosphere at the reunion.

(idiomatic, informal, Netherlands) a comradely mood or atmosphere, as between old friends


曲突徙薪

ㄑㄩ ㄊㄨ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄑㄩ ㄊㄨˊ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ tɐt̚² saːi̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ tɐt̚² saːi̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

From a story in Biography of Huo Guang and Jin Midi（霍光金日磾傳）, Book of Han

I heard that there was once a guest visiting a homeowner, and he observed that his stove was equipped with a straight chimney, and there was firewood piled up next to it. The guest told the owner, "Replace your chimney with a crooked one and move the firewood far away from it. Otherwise, there will be fire risk." But the owner ignored him. Soon his house was really on fire, and his neighbours went to put out fire together. Fortunately, they were able to put it out. The homeowner then slaughtered cows and prepared wine to thank his neighbours. Those who were burnt were arranged to sit at the front, and the others sat according to their contributions. However, he did not invite the person that told him to modify the chimney. Someone then said to him, "If you had listened to what your guest said, you would have eliminated fire without beef and wine. Now you are inviting people according to their contributions, then how can you forget the mercy of the person that told you to replace the chimney with a crooked one and move firewood away, but let those people got burnt seriously be the important guests?" The homeowner realized that and invited him.

Chén wén kè yǒu guò zhǔrén zhě, jiàn qí zào zhí tū, bàng yǒu jī xīn. Kè wèi zhǔrén, gēng wéi qū tū, yuǎn xǐ qí xīn, bù zhě qiě yǒu huǒhuàn. Zhǔrén mòrán bù yìng. É'ér jiā guǒ shīhuǒ, línlǐ gòng jiù zhī, xìng ér dé xī. Yúshì shā niú zhì jiǔ, xiè qí línrén, zhuó làn zhě zài yú shàng háng, yú gè yǐ gōng cì zuò, ér bù lù yán qū tū zhě. Rén wèi zhǔrén yuē: “Xiàngshǐ tīng kè zhī yán, bù fèi niú jiǔ, zhōng wáng huǒhuàn. Jīn lùn gōng ér qǐng bīn, qūtūxǐxīn wáng ēnzé, jiāotóulàn'é wèi shàngkè yē?” Zhǔrén nǎi wù ér qǐng zhī.

臣聞客有過主人者，見其灶直突，傍有積薪。客謂主人，更為曲突，遠徙其薪，不者且有火患。主人嘿然不應。俄而家果失火，鄰里共救之，幸而得息。於是殺牛置酒，謝其鄰人，灼爛者在於上行，餘各以功次坐，而不錄言曲突者。人謂主人曰：「鄉使聽客之言，不費牛酒，終亡火患。今論功而請賓，曲突徙薪亡恩澤，焦頭爛額為上客耶？」主人乃寤而請之。

臣闻客有过主人者，见其灶直突，傍有积薪。客谓主人，更为曲突，远徙其薪，不者且有火患。主人嘿然不应。俄而家果失火，邻里共救之，幸而得息。于是杀牛置酒，谢其邻人，灼烂者在于上行，余各以功次坐，而不录言曲突者。人谓主人曰：「乡使听客之言，不费牛酒，终亡火患。今论功而请宾，曲突徙薪亡恩泽，焦头烂额为上客耶？」主人乃寤而请之。

to bend the chimney and move the firewood away from it

to take preventive measures; to take precautions (to prevent trouble from happening)


積勞成疾

ㄐㄧ ㄌㄠˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄧˊ

цзилаочэнцзи

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ lou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ lou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐt̚²/

to fall ill because one is overworked and exhausted for a long period of time; to fall ill from prolonged overwork


head

biết thì thưa thốt, không biết thì dựa cột mà nghe

[ʔɓiət̚˧˦ tʰi˨˩ tʰɨə˧˧ tʰot̚˧˦ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓiət̚˧˦ tʰi˨˩ zɨə˧˨ʔ kot̚˧˨ʔ maː˨˩ ŋɛ˧˧]

[ʔɓiək̚˦˧˥ tʰɪj˦˩ tʰɨə˧˧ tʰok̚˦˧˥ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓiək̚˦˧˥ tʰɪj˦˩ jɨə˨˩ʔ kok̚˨˩ʔ maː˦˩ ŋɛ˧˧]

[ʔɓiək̚˦˧˥ tʰɪj˦˩ tʰɨə˧˧ tʰok̚˦˧˥ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓiək̚˦˧˥ tʰɪj˦˩ jɨə˨˩ʔ kok̚˨˩ʔ maː˦˩ ŋɛ˧˧]

[ʔɓiək̚˦˥ tʰɪj˨˩ tʰɨə˧˧ tʰok̚˦˥ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓiək̚˦˥ tʰɪj˨˩ jɨə˨˩˨ kok̚˨˩˨ maː˨˩ ŋɛ˧˧]

[ʔɓiək̚˦˥ tʰɪj˨˩ tʰɨə˧˧ tʰok̚˦˥ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓiək̚˦˥ tʰɪj˨˩ jɨə˨˩˨ kok̚˨˩˨ maː˨˩ ŋɛ˧˧]

(literal) if you know about something, do talk about it, if you don't, lean back on a pillar and listen

(figurative) only talk about something if you know about it well, otherwise just keep quiet and listen to what others have to say


pan e porco

Xa sei que meu pai,
por probe en extremo,
non tén pan e porco,
nen tén un larengo

I know that my father,
because he's extremely poor,
has no sustenance,
not even a piglet

(idiomatic, dated) sustenance, nourishment


說的比唱的好聽

ㄕㄨㄛ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄅㄧˇ ㄔㄤˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄠˇ ㄊㄧㄥ

шо дэ би чан дэ хаотин

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ d̥ə² pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ d̥ə¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

說的比唱的還好聽 說的比唱的還好聽#Chinese

说的比唱的还好听 说的比唱的还好听#Chinese

Alternative form of 說的比唱的還好聽／说的比唱的还好听 (shuō de bǐ chàng de hái hǎotīng, “what someone said is pleasant to hear but empty and deceitful”)


說的比唱的還好聽

说的比唱的还好听
說的比唱的好聽

what someonesaid is even more pleasant to hear than a song

ㄕㄨㄛ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄅㄧˇ ㄔㄤˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄞˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄊㄧㄥ

shuo¹ tê⁵ pi³ chʻang⁴ tê⁵ hai² hao³-tʻing¹

шо дэ би чан дэ хай хаотин

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ d̥ə² pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ d̥ə¹ xaɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

what someone said is pleasant to hear but empty and deceitful


okey dokey, artichokey

okey-dokey extended with a further arbitrary rhyme.


that'll learn someone

that'll teach someone
that'll teach someone#English

Alternative form of that'll teach someone


that'll teach someone

A big red-faced man next to Jeremy was crying over and over again: "That'll teach him to meddle with our women." "That'll teach him to meddle with our women."

1992, Hugh Walpole, Jeremy and the Ruffians:

Used after someone has done something bad and has got punished for it, to learn from their mistake


出雙入對

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄖㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² tɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² tɵy̯³³/

to frequently do things together (especially said of a couple suspected to be in love)


/ən ˈkʋɪnːə ˈʉːtn̩ manː æːr sɔm ən fɪsk ˈʉːtn̩ sʏkːəl/

nb-en kvinne uten mann er som en fisk uten sykkel.ogg

From English a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle, a well-known feminist slogan coined in 1970 by the Australian filmmaker, social activist, and writer Irina Dunn (born 1948); according to her recollection, adapted from the phrase “A man needs God like a fish needs a bicycle” which she read in a philosophical text. The original phrase appears to be “A man without faith is like a fish without a bicycle”, coined by Charles S. Harris in 1955 and published in a 1958 article in the Swarthmore Phoenix. The phrase is often erroneously attributed to the American feminist journalist and social political activist Gloria Steinem (born 1934), but she disclaimed this in a letter to Time magazine published on 16 September 2000.

der

(figuratively, humorous, simile) a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle (a woman is capable of living a complete and independent life without a man)


つー

つーことは、 […]

つーか、いいのかこれ？


ブルータス、お前もか

ja-pos

^ブルータス、お-まえ も か

ブルータス、お前(まえ)もか • (Burūtasu, o-mae mo ka)

ブルータス、お前もか (canonical)
Burūtasu, o-mae mo ka (romanization)

ブルータス (Burūtasu, “Brutus”) + お前 (o-mae, “you”) + も (mo, “too”) + か (ka, question marker), calque of English et tu, Brute

af

……あ…あの とっても言(い)いにくいんだけど… …痛(いた)くしませんので
ブルータス(小野寺)お前(まえ)もか!!!

2015, Naoshi Komi, “第(だい)155話(わ) アルコト [Chapter 155: A Certain Something]”, in ニセコイ [False Love], volume 18 (fiction), Shueisha:

……So…Umm This is hard for me to say but… …I promise this won't hurt
Et tu, Onodera!!!

……A…Ano Totte mo iinikui n dakedo… …Itaku shimasen no de
Burūtasu o-mae mo ka!!!


若即若離

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧˊ

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li³⁵/

/jœːk̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jœːk̚² lei̯²¹/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li³⁵/

/jœːk̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jœːk̚² lei̯²¹/

to be neither friendly nor aloof; to maintain a lukewarm relationship


never a dull moment

There is never a dull moment in the boat while girls are towing it.

1889, Jerome K. Jerome, chapter 9, in Three Men in a Boat […] :

Never a dull moment in this novel; never, indeed, a moment when there was not some anxious situation to face, some formidable difficulty to overcome.

1907, John F. Macdonald, “French Life and the French Stage”, in The Fortnightly, volume 81, Chapman and Hall, page 168:

(informal) There is always something interesting happening; there is no chance of boredom.


先下手為強

先下手为强
先下手爲強
先下手爲强

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

сянь сяшоу вэй цян

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ haː²² sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹/

/si̯en²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ su³¹ vi¹¹ kʰi̯oŋ¹¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ haː²² sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹/

/si̯en²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ su³¹ vi¹¹ kʰi̯oŋ¹¹/


綠樹成蔭

ㄌㄩˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧㄣ

люйшучэнъинь

/ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² syː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

/ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² syː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

to have many green leafy trees that form a pleasant shade


biri var idi, biri yox idi

Literally, “one was, one wasn't”. Compare Turkish bir varmış, bir yokmuş, Persian یکی بود یکی نبود (yeki bud, yeki nabud).

cog

یکی بود یکی نبود

Biri var idi, bir yox idi, bir dənə qız var idi. Günlərin bir günündə, o...

Once upon a time, there was a girl. One day, she...

(used at the beginnings of fairytales) once upon a time


حاجيتك ما جيتك

head

حاجيتك ما جيتك

حاجيتك ما جيتك • (ḥājītak mā jītak)

Literally, “I narrate to you what I brought to you”.

lit

حاجيتك ما جيتك ببنت فبلاد برانية ..

Once upon a time, there was a girl in a foreign land ...

ḥājītak mā jītak be-bint fe-blād barrāniyya ...

(used at the beginning of children's stories) once upon a time


il n'y a pas le feu

il n’y a pas le feu au lac
il n'y a pas le feu au lac#French

Alternative form of il n’y a pas le feu au lac


밥 뭇나

밥 (bap, “rice; food”) + 뭇나 (munna, past polar question-interrogative form of 묵다 (mukda, “to eat”)). Literally "Did you eat something?"
Compare the semantics of Chinese 你吃飯了嗎／你吃饭了吗 (nǐ chīfàn le ma).

af

past polar question-interrogative form of <i class="Kore mention" lang="ko">묵다</i> (mukda, “to eat”)

(Gyeongsang) what's up; a casual greeting between friends


閑古鳥が鳴く

ja-pos

閑(かん)古(こ)鳥(どり)が鳴(な)く • (kankodori ga naku)

閑古鳥が鳴く (canonical)
kankodori ga naku (romanization)

[kã̠ŋko̞do̞ɾʲi ɡa̠ na̠kɯ̟]

Phrase composed of 閑古鳥 (kankodori, “cuckoo bird”) + が (ga, subject particle) 鳴く (naku, “to call, to cry”, such as an animal sound). Literally, “the cuckoo-bird calls”.
Used as a metaphor for loneliness or desolateness; see the 閑古鳥 (kankodori) entry for more. Compare English crickets, which similarly uses an animal noise to allude to a lack of response or activity.
Attested since 1929. Appears to have largely replaced the older version, 閑古鳥が歌う (kankodori ga utau, literally “the cuckoo bird sings”), which is not listed in some dictionaries.

(figurative) describes a state of having few visitors, of being lonesome, desolate, or unpopular, especially in business


顛三倒四

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄙㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄙˋ

дяньсаньдаосы

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

(of words or behaviour) disorderly; chaotic; topsy-turvy; confused


溫文爾雅

ㄨㄣ ㄨㄣˊ ㄦˇ ㄧㄚˇ

/wən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ ŋaː¹³/

/wən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ ŋaː¹³/

gentle and polite; elegant and dignified


粗製濫造

ㄘㄨ ㄓˋ ㄌㄢˋ ㄗㄠˋ

цучжиланьцзао

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ laːm²² t͡sou̯²²/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ laːm²² t͡sou̯²²/

to manufacture in a rough and slipshod way; to churn out shoddy products or pieces of work; to produce products in large quantity without regard for quality


表面文章

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄤ

бяомяньвэньчжан

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/piːu̯³⁵ miːn²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/piːu̯³⁵ miːn²² mɐn²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

focus solely on form or appearance without emphasis on content or effectiveness; ostentatiousness


街頭巷尾

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄨㄟˇ

цзетоусянвэй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² mei̯¹³/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ mei̯¹³/

/koi³³⁻²³ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ haŋ¹¹ bue⁵²/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² mei̯¹³/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ mei̯¹³/

/koi³³⁻²³ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ haŋ¹¹ bue⁵²/


徇私舞弊

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄙ ㄨˇ ㄅㄧˋ

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄙ ㄨˇ ㄅㄧˋ

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ pɐi̯²²/

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ pɐi̯²²/

to engage in malpractices for selfish ends; to be involved in corruption


精神抖擻

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄉㄡˇ ㄙㄡˇ

цзиншэньдоусоу

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ tɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ tɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

in high spirits; fresh with energy; vigorous and energetic; glowing with health and vigor


見獵心喜

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˇ

цзяньлесиньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to see others doing what one used to love doing and therefore be eager to try doing it again


視死如生

ㄕˋ ㄙˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄥ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/


1ミリも知らない

ja-phrase

いち-ミリ も しらない

1(いち)ミリも知(し)らない • (ichi-miri mo shiranai)

1ミリも知らない (canonical)
ichi-miri mo shiranai (romanization)

(informal) "not knowing even a millimeter": completely ignorant in regards to something

(Internet slang) Describing an online genre of derivative art where one is presented only surface information about existing work (the character profiles of an anime, or a clip without audio, etc.) and humorously tries to fill in the gaps.


藏富於民

ㄘㄤˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄩˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ y³⁵ min³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ fuː³³ jyː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ y³⁵ min³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ fuː³³ jyː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

to store wealth in the people; to leave wealth with the people


bütün ölkələrin proletarları, birləşin

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Zardabi Bakuvi-bütün ölkələrin proletarları, birləşin.wav

workers of the world, unite
workers of the world, unite


高山仰止

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄤˇ ㄓˇ

гаошаньянчжи

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 218 (《詩經·小雅·車舝》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·車舝》)

(《詩經·小雅·車舝》)

The high hill is looked up to; The great road is easy to be travelled on.

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

高山仰止，景行行止。

to admire and venerate (someone great and noble)


閑古鳥が歌う

ja-pos

閑(かん)古(こ)鳥(どり)が歌(うた)う • (kankodori ga utau)

閑古鳥が歌う (canonical)
kankodori ga utau (romanization)

[kã̠ŋko̞do̞ɾʲi ɡa̠ ɯ̟ta̠ɯ̟]

Phrase composed of 閑古鳥 (kankodori, “cuckoo bird”) + が (ga, subject particle) 歌う (utau, “to sing”). Literally, “the cuckoo-bird sings”.
Used as a metaphor for loneliness or desolateness; see the 閑古鳥 (kankodori) entry for more. Compare English crickets, which similarly uses an animal noise to allude to a lack of response or activity.
Attested since 1772. Appears to be largely replaced by the younger version, 閑古鳥が鳴く (kankodori ga naku, literally “the cuckoo bird calls”), with this older version not listed in some dictionaries.

(figurative, uncommon, possibly archaic) describes a state of having few visitors, of being lonesome, desolate, or unpopular, especially in business


壯志未酬

ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄓˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄔㄡˊ

чжуанчживэйчоу

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ mei̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ mei̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

to have great ambitions that have not been realized


cầu được ước thấy

head

cầu được ước thấy

vi-phrase

cầu được ước thấy

[kəw˨˩ ʔɗɨək̚˧˨ʔ ʔɨək̚˧˦ tʰəj˧˦]

[kəw˦˩ ʔɗɨək̚˨˩ʔ ʔɨək̚˦˧˥ tʰəj˨˩˦]

[kəw˨˩ ʔɗɨək̚˨˩˨ ʔɨək̚˦˥ tʰəj˦˥]

(figurative) the person/people in question (has/have) got what they want


將心比己

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ

цзянсиньбицзи

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

put oneself in someone's shoes
put oneself in someone's shoes


bogu iza leđa

sh-phrase

bogu iza leđa (Cyrillic spelling богу иза леђа)

богу иза леђа (Cyrillic)

the middle of nowhere
the middle of nowhere

the middle of nowhere, the backwoods, the ends of the earth


gde je Bog rekao laku noć

gde je Bog rekao laku noć (Cyrillic spelling где је Бог рекао лаку ноћ)

где је Бог рекао лаку ноћ (Cyrillic)

(Ekavian) the middle of nowhere, the backwoods, the ends of the earth


gdje je Bog rekao laku noć

gdje je Bog rekao laku noć (Cyrillic spelling гдје је Бог рекао лаку ноћ)

гдје је Бог рекао лаку ноћ (Cyrillic)

(Ijekavian) the middle of nowhere, the backwoods, the ends of the earth


акобогда

Calque of Arabic إن شاء الله (ʔin šāʔ allāh, “if God has willed [it]”). Literally "if God allows (it)." See dȁti for more on dȁ.

bor

Акобогда, сутра крећемо!


akobogda

sh-phrase

akòbōgdā (Cyrillic spelling ако̀бо̄гда̄)

akòbōgdā (canonical)
ако̀бо̄гда̄ (Cyrillic)

Akobogda, sutra krećemo!


that ever walked on two legs

Oh, it didn’t surprise me in the least to hear this, and at the same time to be told that Fresleven was the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 198:


I'm not going to lie

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-I'm not going to lie.wav

(colloquial) Implying that one is willing to to be honest, or to tell the truth.


仰仔辦

/ŋiɔŋ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋe³¹ pʰan⁵³/

/ŋiɔŋ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋe³¹ pʰan⁵³/

(Hakka, interrogative) What to do?; What should be done?


養蛇食雞

/i̯oŋ²⁴ sa¹¹ sɨt̚⁵ ki̯e²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ sa¹¹ sət̚⁵ ke⁴⁴/

/i̯oŋ²⁴ sa¹¹ sɨt̚⁵ ki̯e²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ sa¹¹ sət̚⁵ ke⁴⁴/

(Hakka) to bring trouble to oneself by inviting an enemy


I am rubber, you are glue

I'm rubber, you're glue
I'm rubber, you're glue#English

Alternative form of I'm rubber, you're glue


A for effort

/ˈeɪ fə ˈɛfət/

/ˈeɪ fəɹ ˈɛfɚt/

(humorous, often sarcastic) An expression indicating that an attempted action or undertaking failed, but the effort in the attempt was admirable (enough so to be ranked highest, as A)


特事特辦

ㄊㄜˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄢˋ

/tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹/

/tɐk̚² siː²² tɐk̚² paːn²²/

/tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹/

/tɐk̚² siː²² tɐk̚² paːn²²/

to handle special matters with special methods or arrangements


福善禍淫

ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄣˊ

/fu³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ in³⁵/

/hok̚²⁻⁴ sieŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ im⁵⁵/

/fu³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ in³⁵/

/hok̚²⁻⁴ sieŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ im⁵⁵/

Goodness is rewarded and wickedness is punished.


因禍得福

ㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄨˊ

/in⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɔː²² tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ tik̚²⁻⁴ hok̚²/

/in⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ wɔː²² tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/in⁴⁴⁻³³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚³²/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ hua³⁵⁻¹¹ tik̚²⁻⁴ hok̚²/


寸步不讓

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

to not make to slightest concession; to not yield even slightly


寸土不讓

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

to not give up a single inch of one's territory


ご想像にお任せします

ja-pos

ご-そうぞう に お-まかせ します

ご想(そう)像(ぞう)にお任(まか)せします • (go-sōzō ni o-makase shimasu)

ご想像にお任せします (canonical)
go-sōzō ni o-makase shimasu (romanization)

ご + 想像 + に + お + 任せ + します

com

ご + 想像 + に + お + 任せ + します


başın sağ olsun

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Zardabi Bakuvi-başın sağ olsun.wav

Literally, “may your head be alive/at good health”


başın sağ olsun

[bɑˈʃɯn̪ s̪ɑː o̞ɫ̪ˈs̪un̪]


dat i beneït

(idiomatic) set in stone (that has been decided or done and cannot be changed)


como cada fillo de veciño

E may-lo Alcalde habíase d’alegrar, qu’el tamen está picado, qu’ainda n-hay ano é medio cabal que lle morreo á muller, é tamen pagou á farda como cada fillo de veciño.

1823, Pedro Boado Sánchez, Diálogo entre dos Labradores gallegos afligidos:

And the mayor would also be glad, because he's also piqued, because there's not a whole year and a half that his wife died and he also paid the burden as every mother's son

(idiomatic) as everyone; as every mother's son


ㅈㄱㄴ

(Internet slang) Initialism of 제곧내 (jegonnae, “see title”).


제곧내

Short for 제목이 곧 내용 (jemog-i got naeyong, “the title is the content”).

(Internet slang) Used as a filler for the content of a post when the title already says everything one wants to say.


南無阿弥豆腐

ja-pos

南(な)無(む)阿(お)弥(み)豆(どう)腐(ふ) • (Namu Omidōfu)

南無阿弥豆腐 (canonical)
Namu Omidōfu (romanization)

Blend of 南無阿弥陀仏 (Namu Amidabutsu, “Namo Amitābhāya”) + 豆腐 (tōfu), from the fact that Buddhist monks eat a lot of tofu and the way the phrase Namu Amidabutsu can be misheard.

blend

南無阿弥陀仏 南無阿弥陀仏#Japanese

(Buddhism, humorous) Synonym of 南無阿弥陀仏 (Namu Amidabutsu, “Namo Amitābhāya”)


как не в себя

head

как не в себя́

как не в себя́ • (kak ne v sebjá)

как не в себя ́ (canonical)
kak ne v sebjá (romanization)

Literally, “as not into oneself”. From the 20th century?

– Хера́чит па́рень ка́к не в себя́.
– Э́то ли́рико-драмати́ческий те́нор?
– Xeráčit párenʹ kák ne v sebjá.
– Éto líriko-dramatíčeskij ténor?
– The guy sings very powerfully.
– Is this a tenore spinto?

(idiomatic) much, very much; strongly, powerfully


todo es ponerse

the first step is always the hardest
the first step is always the hardest


komen lê zafær

Inherited from French comment [vont] les affaires (“how are things?”).


ç’apé kouri

(idiomatic, as a question) is it going well?


komen ça va

Inherited from French comment ça va (“how's it going?”).


अहल ईमान

hi-phrase

اَہَل اِیمان

अहल ईमान • (ahal īmān) (Urdu spelling اَہَل اِیمان)

ahal īmān (romanization)
اَہَل اِیمان (Urdu)

Borrowed from Urdu اَہَل اِیمان (ahal īmān), from Classical Persian اهل ایمان (ahl-i īmān), of which some Persian Muslim scholars use these words for the Quranic Arabic words يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا (yā ʔayyuhā llaḏīna ʔāmanū, “O ye who believe”), which is a Quranic instruction towards the Muslim believers.

bor+

اَہَل اِیمان

bor

(Islam) people of faith, O ye who believe (a Quranic instruction towards the Muslim believers)


yyds

ㄩㄥˇ ㄩㄢˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕㄣˊ

юнъюаньдэ шэнь

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ ʂən³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ ʂən³⁵/

Pinyin initial of 永遠的神 (literally “always (being) the best”).

zh-l

(Internet slang) greatest of all time; GOAT (Used to express appreciation.)


yyds

ㄩㄥˇ ㄩㄢˇ ㄉㄢ ㄕㄣ

юнъюань даньшэнь

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

Pinyin initial of 永遠單身 (literally “always (being) single”).


ისგუ მაზიგ მი

head

ისგუ მაზიგ მი

Literally, "your grief to me". Calque of Georgian შენი ჭირი მე (šeni č̣iri me).

calque

შენი ჭირი მე

(idiomatic) darling, dear (expression of endearment)


სქანი ჭირი მა

head

სქანი ჭირი მა

სქანი ჭირი მა • (skani č̣iri ma)

calque

შენი ჭირი მე


у кожному жарті є часточка правди

head

у кожному жарті є часточка правди • (u kožnomu žarti je častočka pravdy)

u kožnomu žarti je častočka pravdy (romanization)

there's a grain of truth in every joke
there's a grain of truth in every joke

there's a grain of truth in every joke (whenever a person is joking, they are actually disguising thoughts and emotions, either subconsciously or deliberately)

en-у_кожному_жарті_є_часточка_правди-uk-phrase-slmH4B06


για καλά

για καλά • (gia kalá)

el-phrase

για καλά • (gia kalá)


άπαξ δια παντός

head

άπαξ δια παντός • (ápax dia pantós)

el-phrase

άπαξ δια παντός • (ápax dia pantós)


για τα καλά

head

για τα καλά • (gia ta kalá)

el-phrase

για τα καλά • (gia ta kalá)


年中無休

ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄡ

няньчжунъусю

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/niːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/niːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵/


un mata e o outro esfola

Attested since the 19th century. Literally, “one kills and the other skins”.

lit

(idiomatic) two of a kind; two peas in a pod


lo que me faltaba

(idiomatic, sarcastic) that's all I needed!


aquí hay tema

(Spain, colloquial) someone could well be in (with a chance of having sex)


carry me out

(UK, informal) Exclamation of pretended astonishment on hearing news too good to be true, or a story too marvellous to be believed.


carry me out and bury me decently

(archaic) Alternative form of carry me out (“exclamation of pretended astonishment”)


老態龍鍾

ㄌㄠˇ ㄊㄞˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

лаотайлунчжун

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ tʰaːi̯³³ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ tʰaːi̯³³ lʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


never trust me

Pet[ruchio]. Now for my life Hortentio feares his Widow.
Wid[ow]. Then neuer truſt me if I be affeard.

c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 227, column 2:

Never trust me if I had not a suspicion from the first that 'twas that ill-looked fellow B— who made that story Mr. D— told you.

1888, Letters from Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple, 1652-1654:

(UK, slang, obsolete) Used in oaths, suggesting that one should never be trusted again if what one says now is not true.


盆滿缽滿

ㄆㄣˊ ㄇㄢˇ ㄅㄛ ㄇㄢˇ

пэньманьбомань

/pʰən³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰən³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(originally Cantonese) to have made a lot of money


change a word, get a third

(music industry, colloquial) Making very minor alterations to a song's lyrics can entitle a person to one third of the royalty payments.


BYF

(Internet slang) Initialism of before you follow.


化民成俗

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄙㄨˊ

хуаминьчэнсу

/xu̯ä⁵¹ min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ su³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ su³⁵/

to transform the people and refine their way of life


入土為安

ㄖㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄢ

/ʐu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² tʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² tʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

(of a deceased person) to be buried so that they can rest in peace


zu viel des Guten

zuviel des Guten
zuviel des Guten#German


बेत्रि

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बेत्रि • (bētri)

कॆंह बॅड्य कुल्य गॅय बोनि फ्र्यस्त पिपल बेत्रि

Some big trees are plane trees, poplar trees, fig trees, etc.

keṃha bạḍya kulya gạya bōni phryasta pipala bētri


sono innamorato di te

I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you


like strange bulldogs

strange is used with the sense of unfamiliar, unacquainted.

When I think of those folks, living in one room and getting along like a couple of strange bulldogs, I feel like stringing with the man who says that we get our hell on this earth sometimes.

1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post:

"Some disagreement," admitted Harmon, grinning. "These up-State farmers and I love each other like a couple of strange bulldogs. Still—"

1918, Holworthy Hall, The Man Nobody Knew:

These three got along like strange bulldogs, due to the fact that they were all captains and no privates when the three of them were together.

1925, The First Yale Unit: A Story of Naval Aviation, 1916-1919:

(simile, dated, of two or more people) Wary and unfriendly; on the verge of a fight.


một cách

[mok̚˨˩ʔ kat̚˦˧˥]

LL-Q9199 (vie)-Penn Zero MSSJ-một cách.wav

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see một, cách.


don't @ me

A user functionality on social media services such as Twitter, wherein a user can be notified of another's post by typing their username after an @.

The Star Wars prequels were great, don't @ me.

(social media) A demand for no debate regarding a controversial statement.


asked and answered

(US, law) A type of objection in which the same attorney continues to ask the same question but has already received an answer.


u potpunosti

sh-phrase

u potpunosti (Cyrillic spelling у потпуности)

у потпуности (Cyrillic)

Razumijem ga u potpunosti.


一隻雞、一隻鴨

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ aːp̚³/

/t͡sit̚⁴³⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² kue⁴⁴ t͡sit̚⁴³⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² aʔ³²/

When a Hokkien person and a Cantonese person talk to each other, it's like a chicken talking to a duck.

Fújiànrén hé guǎngdōngrén jiǎnghuà jiù xiàng shì yī zhī jī, yī zhī yā.

福建人和廣東人講話就像是一隻雞、一隻鴨。

福建人和广东人讲话就像是一只鸡、一只鸭。

mutually unintelligible
mutually unintelligible

(Singapore, originally Hainanese) to speak mutually unintelligible languages


sonova

"Well , I'll be a sonova bee ! " He turned a scowling face towards me.

1940, Florence Ruth Howard, Green Entry, page 270:

Then the cop brought his club down and caught the steward on the forehead. “Kill that sonova bitch !”

1952, Robert V. Williams, The Hard Way, page 45:

Between you, me and de Commish, I never t'ought you'd make it, ya ole sonova gun.

1988, Hanoch Teller, Above the B ottom Line: Stories and Advice on Integrity, page 53:

“You'll have to kill me first, you sonova whore,” she snarled in Spanish.

2000, Chris R. Jamison, The Chesler Legacy, page 49:


se ja sama

(idiomatic) insignificant, all the same, something that doesn't matter


畏之如虎

ㄨㄟˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨˇ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be extremely scared of someone or something


شحال فالساعة

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شحال فالساعة؟

شحال فالساعة؟ • (šḥāl f-es-sāʕa)

شحال فالساعة ؟ (canonical)
šḥāl f-es-sāʕa (romanization)