de gustibus non est disputandum

dē gustibus nōn est disputandum (canonical)

[d̪eːˈɡʊs̠t̪ɪbʊs̠ ˈnoːnɛs̠t̪ d̪ɪs̠pʊˈt̪än̪d̪ʊ̃ˑ]

Uncertain; likely of non-classical origin. An alternative, more recent form is de gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum (“there’s no arguing about tastes and colors”).

Et propterea de gustibus non est disputandum, eo quòd tot sint sententiae quot capita, ut est in proverbio.

1584, Giuseppe Mascardi, Conclusiones omnium probationum, quae in utroque Foro quotidie versantur, Iudicibus, Advocatis, Causidicis, omnibus denique Iuris Pontoficii, Caesareique professoribus utiles, practicabiles, ac necessariae:

And therefore there is no debate about taste, because there are as many opinions as there are heads, as the proverb goes.

[…] id enim fieri debet ob variam sensuum dispositionem, et sub hoc respectu verissimum est: de gustibus non est disputandum.

1849, Franciscus Rothenflue, Institutiones philosophiae theoreticae in usum praelectionum, volume I, page 117:

[…] indeed, it ought to be possible, on account of the varied array of inclinations [that exist], and in this respect it is very true: there's no accounting for taste

Et cum tanta sit inter Protestantes in determinandis articulis fundamentalibus opinionum diversitas, utique redit et his tritum illud proverbium: De gustibus non est disputandum, quod in praxim misere deductum fuit: […]

1856, Thomas ex Charmes, Theologia dogmatica, volume I, page 178:

And since the diversity of opinions among Protestants on determining the fundamental articles is so great, it certainly recalls that trite proverb: there's no accounting for taste, which was derived from unpleasant practical experience […]

[…] morales controversiae gustu dirimi non possunt, nec per adagium: „de gustibus non est disputandum”, quod in moralibus absurdum est.

1886, Julio Costa-Rossetti, Philosophia moralis seu Institutiones Ethicae et Juris naturae, page 122:

[…] moral debates cannot be ended with one's taste, nor with the adage: "there's no accounting for taste", which is absurd for morals.

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste

there's no accounting for taste (lit. 'one shouldn't discuss tastes.')

dē gustibus et colōribus nōn disputandum est

dē gustibus et dē colōribus nōn disputandum

dē gustibus et dē colōribus nōn est disputandum


bound to

The leaking fuel tank was bound to explode sooner or later.

(only with a bare infinitive) Indicates something which cannot be avoided.


slá

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of sei lá (“I don't know”).


XFF

(Internet) Initialism of X-Forwarded-For: an HTTP header indicating that a message or request was forwarded by a proxy.


para gustos hay colores

para gustos colores
para gustos colores#Spanish


tfb

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of too fucking bad.


我不知道

ㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ˙ㄉㄠ

во бу чжидао

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d̥ɑʊ̯²/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯³³/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d̥ɑʊ̯²/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯³³/


咄咄逼人

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄧ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧ ㄖㄣˊ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹ pi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/tɵt̚⁵ tɵt̚⁵ pɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡syːt̚³ t͡syːt̚³ pɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹ pi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/tɵt̚⁵ tɵt̚⁵ pɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡syːt̚³ t͡syːt̚³ pɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/


ceterum censeo

From Cato the Elder's practice of ending every speech, no matter the topic, with ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam ("furthermore, I propose that Carthage is to be destroyed").

"furthermore, I propose": a formulaic expression used to end a speech by reinforcing one, often unrelated, major view


周瑜打黃蓋——一個願打，一個願挨

head

周瑜打黃蓋——一個願打，一個願挨

ㄓㄡ ㄩˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄞˋ

ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄩㄢˋ ㄉㄚˇ

ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄩㄢˋ ㄞˊ

yī ge yuàn ái [Phonetic:Zhōu Yú dǎ Huáng Gài

Чжоу Юй да Хуан Гай

и гэ юань да

и гэ юань ай

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ɥɛn⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ɥɛn⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ jyː²¹ taː³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ kɔːi̯³³ jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ jyːn²² taː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ jyːn²² ŋaːi̯²¹/

Battle of Red Cliffs
Cao Cao
Huang Gai
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhou Yu

A xiehouyu from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Zhou Yu wanted Huang Gai, his subordinate, to pretend to defect to Cao Cao's side so that Huang Gai could gain Cao Cao's trust. This allowed Huang Gai to set fire to Cao Cao's fleet during the Battle of Red Cliffs, forcing Cao Cao to retreat. Zhou Yu had Huang Gai flogged in front of Cao Cao's spies so that they would not be suspicious.

周瑜打黄盖——一个愿打，一个愿挨
周瑜打黃蓋——一個願打，一個願捱

Zhou Yu beats Huang Gai ― one is willing to give a beating, and one is willing to take a beating

(literally) one is willing to give a beating, and one is willing to take a beating

In the end, it's like the story of Zhou Yu attacking Huang Gai: one willingly attacked, and one willingly bore the attack. In other words, both sides are willing accomplices in the pursuit of frivolous entertainment.

2006, 苗壮 (Miao Zhuang), 短信欺诈是周瑜打黄盖？ (Are we willingly submitting ourselves to text message scams?)

Zuìzhōng de zhuàngtài jiù jiāng shì Zhōu Yú dǎ Huáng Gài — yīgè yuàn dǎ yīgè yuàn ái, dàjiā yīqǐ cānyù, tú ge qīngsōng yúlè.

最終的狀態就將是周瑜打黃蓋——一個願打一個願挨，大家一起參與，圖個輕鬆娛樂。

最终的状态就将是周瑜打黄盖——一个愿打一个愿挨，大家一起参与，图个轻松娱乐。

(figurative) both parties agree of free will, mutual consent; to willingly submit to something


披肝瀝膽

ㄆㄧ ㄍㄢ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄢˇ

пиганьлидань

/pʰi⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ li⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰi⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ li⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to talk without reserve; to have a heart to heart talk


承先啟後

ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄑㄧˇ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнсяньцихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ siːn⁵⁵ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ siːn⁵⁵ kʰɐi̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

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


彼一時，此一時

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

That was one time, and this is another. It is a rule that a true royal sovereign should arise in the course of five hundred years, and that during that time there should be men illustrious in their generation. From the commencement of the Zhou dynasty till now, more than seven hundred years have elapsed. Judging numerically, the date is past. Examining the character of the present time, we might expect the rise of such individuals in it.

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

Bǐ yīshí, cǐ yīshí yě. Wǔbǎi nián bì yǒu wángzhě xīng, qíjiān bì yǒu míng shì zhě. Yóu Zhōu ér lái, qībǎi yǒuyú suì yǐ. Yǐ qí shù zé guò yǐ, yǐ qí shí kǎo zhī zé kě yǐ.

彼一時，此一時也。五百年必有王者興，其間必有名世者。由周而來，七百有餘歲矣。以其數則過矣，以其時考之則可矣。

彼一时，此一时也。五百年必有王者兴，其间必有名世者。由周而来，七百有余岁矣。以其数则过矣，以其时考之则可矣。

that was then, this is now
that was then, this is now


拋磚引玉

ㄆㄠ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄧㄣˇ ㄩˋ

паочжуаньиньюй

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ jʊk̚²/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻²² t͡suan⁴⁴⁻²² in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡suan⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡suan⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/pʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɪk̚⁴/

/pʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɪk̚⁴/

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ jʊk̚²/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻²² t͡suan⁴⁴⁻²² in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡suan⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡suan⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/pʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɪk̚⁴/

/pʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡiɪk̚⁴/

One of the Thirty-Six Strategems, originally in reference to tossing brickbats at one's enemy to get an (exploitable) reaction or win a greater prize.

More than 20 years ago, Zeng Qi was the first Hong Kong businessman to go to Xiamen to invest. At the time, he thought of himself as a a plain rock that attracts jade, making it possible for even more businessmen from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas to return to the motherland to invest.

20 duō nián qián, Zēng Qí shì dì yī ge dào Xiàmén tóuzī de gǎngshāng, dāngshí tā xiǎng de jiùshì dāng yī ge “pāozhuān yǐnyù de rén”, ràng gèng duō de Gǎng, Ào, Tái, qiáoshāng huíguó tóuzī.

20多年前，曾琦是第一個到廈門投資的港商，當時他想的就是當一個「拋磚引玉的人」，讓更多的港、澳、台、僑商回國投資。

20多年前，曾琦是第一个到厦门投资的港商，当时他想的就是当一个「抛砖引玉的人」，让更多的港、澳、台、侨商回国投资。

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

(original meaning, rare) to achieve success by goading one's opponent


東一句西一句

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄐㄩˋ ㄒㄧ ㄧ ㄐㄩˋ

dōng yījù xī yījù [Phonetic:dōng yíjù xī yíjù]

дун ицзюй си ицзюй

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

Literally: east one sentence, west one sentence


杯盤狼藉

ㄅㄟ ㄆㄢˊ ㄌㄤˊ ㄐㄧˊ

бэйпаньланцзи

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰän³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰän³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

describes wine cups and plates spread over a dining table in disarray after a feast


波光粼粼

ㄅㄛ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

богуанлиньлинь

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ lin³⁵/

/pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɵn²¹ lɵn²¹/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ lin³⁵/

/pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɵn²¹ lɵn²¹/


林林總總

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄨㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄥˇ

линьлиньцзунцзун

/lin³⁵ lin³⁵ t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ lɐm²¹ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/lim²⁴⁻²² lim²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

/lim²⁴⁻²² lim²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁵⁵⁴/

/lim¹³⁻²² lim¹³⁻²² t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

/lim²⁴⁻¹¹ lim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

/lim²³⁻³³ lim²³⁻³³ t͡sɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁴¹/

/lɐm²¹ lɐm²¹ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/lim²⁴⁻²² lim²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

/lim¹³⁻²² lim¹³⁻²² t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

/lim²⁴⁻¹¹ lim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

/lim²³⁻³³ lim²³⁻³³ t͡sɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ⁴¹/


東家長西家短

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

дунцзя чан сицзя дуань

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


泥牛入海

ㄋㄧˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/ni³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɐi̯²¹ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐp̚² hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ni³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɐi̯²¹ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐp̚² hɔːi̯³⁵/


杯酒釋兵權

ㄅㄟ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

бэй цзю ши бин цюань

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

From an incident that took place in the Song Dynasty.

relinquish one's military command over a glass of wine


明知山有虎，偏向虎山行

clearly know there's tigers on the mountain, yet willfully go toward the tigers' mountain

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄨˇ

ㄆㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄕㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

piān xiàng hǔ shān xíng [Phonetic:míngzhīshānyóuhǔ

минчжи шань ю ху

пянь сян ху шань син

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

to take a risk despite knowing the dangers involved


and change

Kate saw a wedge of land rearing up nineteen thousand feet and change, its pointed peak testing the boundaries of the sky.

1993, Dana Stabenow, A Fatal Thaw, →ISBN, page 179:

She wasn't much taller than five feet and change, and when she pulled off her mask she looked reassuringly human.

2010, Robert Charles Wilson, Spin - Volume 1, →ISBN:

“Six hundred and change shares of Grauptham House,” she said. “As soon as we have these notarized in the morning."

2012, Paul Melko, The Broken Universe, →ISBN, page 181:

Seven years and a few months after leaving Earth, we where about to survey the last of six planets around an amazingly stable star some eight hundred and change light years from Earth.

2013, Tony Pypka, Raptor, →ISBN, page 180:

It cost me two dollars and change. (i.e., more than $2 but less than $3)

How fast was he going? A hundred and change. (i.e., more than 100 but less than 110).

"A Million and 1 Questions" by Jay Z.
This ain't your speed young man, run in your lane / So I can come through doin' a hundred and change

(idiomatic) and some quantity, but less than the increment to the next round number.

ja vähän yli

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see and, change.


河東獅吼

ㄏㄜˊ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕ ㄏㄡˇ

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯³³/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ haːu̯⁵⁵/

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯³³/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ haːu̯⁵⁵/

From a line in Su Shi's poem 《寄吳德仁兼簡陳季常》 ("Poem sent for Wu Deren and for Chen Jichang as well"), depicting Chen Zao's overbearing wife, who was originally from the Hedong Commandery (translation from Qiu, 2013):
*

The lay practitioner of Dragon Hill is also pitiful,
he stays up discoursing on emptiness and fullness all night long.
Suddenly he hears a lion’s roar from east-of-the river,
the cane drops from his hand, he is at a loss.

Lóngqiū jūshì yì kělián,
Tán kōng shuō yǒu yè bùmián,
Hū wén Hédōng shīzǐ hǒu,
Zhù zhàng luò shǒu xīn mángrán.

龍丘居士亦可憐，
談空說有夜不眠，
忽聞河東獅子吼，
柱杖落手心茫然。

龙丘居士亦可怜，
谈空说有夜不眠，
忽闻河东狮子吼，
柱杖落手心茫然。

the "lioness's roar", used to describe the loud complaining of an overbearing wife from the perspective of her henpecked husband.

Hedong Commandery
Longqiu
Su Shi
zh:吳瑛 (宋朝)
zh:陳慥


杯水車薪

ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄔㄜ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄣ

бэйшуйчэсинь

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

бэйшуйцзюйсинь

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/pue⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/pue⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰia⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

Mencius said, "Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practice benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole wagon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence."

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī shèng bùrén yě, yóu shuǐ shèng huǒ. Jīn zhī wéi rén zhě, yóu yǐ yī bēi shuǐ, jiù yī chē xīn zhī huǒ yě; bù xī, zé wèi zhī shuǐ bù shèng huǒ, cǐ yòu yǔ yú bùrén zhī shèn zhě yě. Yì zhōng bì wáng éryǐ yǐ.”

孟子曰：「仁之勝不仁也，猶水勝火。今之為仁者，猶以一杯水，救一車薪之火也；不熄，則謂之水不勝火，此又與於不仁之甚者也。亦終必亡而已矣。」

孟子曰：「仁之胜不仁也，犹水胜火。今之为仁者，犹以一杯水，救一车薪之火也；不熄，则谓之水不胜火，此又与于不仁之甚者也。亦终必亡而已矣。」

to use a cup of water to put out a burning cart full of firewood


杯弓蛇影

ㄅㄟ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄕㄜˊ ㄧㄥˇ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɛː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːi̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɛː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵/

Yue Guang had a frequent guest, who used to call on him regularly but had failed to turn up for some time. When Yue asked the reason why, the man answered: “On my last visit, you kindly treated me to wine. Just as I was going to take a sip, I saw a snake wriggling in the goblet and I felt quite sick. Nevertheless, I drank; then I soon fell ill.”
Now in those days it was a custom prevailing in Henan Prefecture for a prefect to have a bow painted to look like a snake and hung in his hall. Suspecting that the snake alluded to was nothing but a reflection of the decorated bow, he invited the man again for a drink and set the table in the usual spot.
“Do you still see something in the wine cup?” asked the host.
“Yes, exactly as before.” was the answer.
Then Yue Guang explained what he thought the whole trouble must have been. At that, the guest realized what had happened and instantly relieved of his obsession, and returned to normal.

648 CE, the Book of Jin, Chapter 43, translation from 100 Chinese Idioms and Their Stories

Yuè Guǎng cháng yǒu qīnkè jiǔ quē bù fù lái, Guǎng wèn qí gù, dá yuē: “Qián zài zuò, méng cì jiǔ, fāng yù yǐn, jiàn bēi zhōng yǒu shé, yì shèn è zhī, jì yǐn ér jí zuò.” Shí Hénán tīngshì bì shàng yǒu jiǎo qī huà zuò shé, Guǎng yì bēi zhōng shé jí jiǎo yǐng yě. Fù zhì jiǔ yú qián chù, wèi kè yuē: “Jiǔ zhōng fù yǒu suǒjiàn bù?” Dá yuē: “Suǒjiàn rú chū.” Guǎng nǎi gào qí suǒyǐ. Huòrán yì jiě, chénkē dùn yù.

樂廣嘗有親客久闕不復來，廣問其故，答曰：「前在坐，蒙賜酒，方欲飲，見杯中有蛇，意甚惡之，既飲而疾作。」時河南廳事壁上有角漆畫作蛇，廣意杯中蛇即角影也。復置酒於前處，謂客曰：「酒中復有所見不？」答曰：「所見如初。」廣乃告其所以。豁然意解，沉痾頓愈。

乐广尝有亲客久阙不复来，广问其故，答曰：「前在坐，蒙赐酒，方欲饮，见杯中有蛇，意甚恶之，既饮而疾作。」时河南厅事壁上有角漆画作蛇，广意杯中蛇即角影也。复置酒于前处，谓客曰：「酒中复有所见不？」答曰：「所见如初。」广乃告其所以。豁然意解，沉疴顿愈。

to mistake the shadow of a bow in one's cup for a snake

(figurative) false alarm; self-created suspicion; atmosphere of fear and admonition


孟母三遷

ㄇㄥˋ ㄇㄨˇ ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧㄢ

мэнмусаньцянь

/mɤŋ⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/maːŋ²² mou̯¹³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

/mɤŋ⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/maːŋ²² mou̯¹³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

The Mother of Meng Ke of Zou is called Mother Meng. When Mencius was little, they dwelt next to a graveyard; he played at performing funeral rites between the graves and eagerly pounding earth into tombs; Mother Meng said: "This is not the place to stay and raise my child." Then they moved to dwell next to the market, he played at displaying and selling wares as the merchants did; Mother Meng again said: "This is not the place to stay and raise my child." Again they moved next to a school, he played at arranging sacrifical altars and sacrificial vessels, greeting, yielding, advancing, and withdrawing; Mother Meng said: "Truly, my child can stay here". And they ended up staying there. Mencius grew up, learnt the Six Arts, and became a famous and great scholar.

The Biographies of Exemplary Women, 2ⁿᵈ century BCE

Zōu Mèng Kē zhī mǔ yě. Hào mèngmǔ. Qí shè jìn mù. Mèngzǐ zhī shào yě, xīyóu wéi mùjiān zhī shì, yǒngyuè zhùmái. Mèngmǔ yuē: “Cǐ fēi wú suǒyǐ jū chùzǐ yě.” Nǎi qù shè shìbàng. Qí xīxì wéi gǔrén xuàn mài zhī shì. Mèngmǔ yòu yuē: “Cǐ fēi wú suǒyǐ jū chùzǐ yě.” Fù xǐ shè xuégōng zhī bàng. Qí xīyóu nǎi shè zǔdòu yīràng jìntuì. Mèngmǔ yuē: “Zhēn kěyǐ jū wúzǐ yǐ.” Suì jū jí. Mèngzǐ cháng, xué liùyì, zú chéng dàrú zhī míng.

鄒孟軻之母也。號孟母。其舍近墓。孟子之少也，嬉遊為墓間之事，踴躍築埋。孟母曰：「此非吾所以居處子也。」乃去舍市傍。其嬉戲為賈人衒賣之事。孟母又曰：「此非吾所以居處子也。」復徙舍學宮之傍。其嬉遊乃設俎豆揖讓進退。孟母曰：「真可以居吾子矣。」遂居及。孟子長，學六藝，卒成大儒之名。

邹孟轲之母也。号孟母。其舍近墓。孟子之少也，嬉游为墓间之事，踊跃筑埋。孟母曰：「此非吾所以居处子也。」乃去舍市傍。其嬉戏为贾人衒卖之事。孟母又曰：「此非吾所以居处子也。」复徙舍学宫之傍。其嬉游乃设俎豆揖让进退。孟母曰：「真可以居吾子矣。」遂居及。孟子长，学六艺，卒成大儒之名。

The mother ofMencius changed her abode three times (to avoid bad influence on her son).

(of parents) to be concerned with their children's growth

Biographies of Exemplary Women
Mencius
Mencius#Mother
Six Arts
Zou (state)


now you're cooking

Alice: "Why are you still using that old software? You should try out the new version."

Bob: "Hey, this is really nice; much better than that crusty stuff we were using before."

Alice: "Now you're cooking!"

(idiomatic) A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.


cooking with gas

From the suggestion, heavily advertised in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that stoves using natural gas as a fuel cook more effectively than, for instance, wood-burning or electric stoves.

She said, 'What are you doing? Tell me, I want to know.'
The blind man said, 'We're drawing a cathedral. Me and him are working on it. Press hard,' he said to me. 'That's right. That's good,' he said. 'Sure. You got it, bub. I can tell. You didn't think you could. But you can, can't you? You're cooking with gas now. You know what I'm saying? We're really going to have us something here in a minute. How's the old arm?' he said. 'Put some people in there now. What's a cathedral without people?'

1983, Raymond Carver, Cathedral (short story)

With the updated software, I was really cooking with gas. I got the project done in half the time.

(idiomatic) Functioning particularly effectively; achieving something substantial.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cook, with, gas.


now you're talking

Alice: "I think we should stop coding and go grab a couple of pints."

Bob: "Now you're talking!"

(idiomatic) A phrase indicating agreement with a previously stated suggestion to change a course of action.


波濤洶湧

ㄅㄛ ㄊㄠ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄩㄥˇ

ㄅㄛ ㄊㄠˊ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄩㄥˇ

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵/

(neologism, informal, of a woman) having huge breasts (in this sense, 洶／汹 (xiōng) is a pun for 胸 (xiōng, “breast”), and 波 (bō) also refers to breasts)


каждому своё

ка́ждому своё

ка́ждому своё • (káždomu svojó)

ка́ждому своё (canonical)
káždomu svojó (romanization)


知其不可而為

ㄓ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˊ

чжи ци букэ эр вэй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

Zilu happening to pass the night in Shi Men, the gatekeeper said to him, "Whom do you come from?" Zi Lu said, "From Mr. Kong." "It is he, is it not?" said the other, "who knows the impracticable nature of the times and yet will be doing in them."

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

Zǐlù sù yú Shímén. Chén mén yuē: “Xī zì?” Zǐlù yuē: “Zì Kǒng shì.” Yuē: “Shì zhī qí bùkě ér wéi zhī zhě yú?”

子路宿於石門。晨門曰：「奚自？」子路曰：「自孔氏。」曰：「是知其不可而為之者與？」

子路宿于石门。晨门曰：「奚自？」子路曰：「自孔氏。」曰：「是知其不可而为之者与？」

to (stubbornly) do something even though you know it is impossible; to understand the difficulty of a feat but to attempt it anyway because it is the right thing to do (e.g. strive to eliminate world hunger)


око за око, зуб за зуб

о́ко за о́ко, зуб за зуб

о́ко за о́ко, зуб за зуб • (óko za óko, zub za zub)

о́ко за о́ко (canonical)
зуб за зуб (canonical)
óko za óko (romanization)
zub za zub (romanization)

eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

en-око_за_око,_зуб_за_зуб-ru-phrase-9Go7teg-


око за око, зуб за зуб

sh-idiom

о̏ко за о̏ко, зу̑б за зу̑б

о̏ко за о̏ко, зу̑б за зу̑б (Latin spelling ȍko za ȍko, zȗb za zȗb)

о̏ко за о̏ко (canonical)
зу̑б за зу̑б (canonical)
ȍko za ȍko, zȗb za zȗb (romanization)

(idiomatic) eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

en-око_за_око,_зуб_за_зуб-sh-phrase-9Go7teg-


око за око, зуб за зуб

head

о́ко за о́ко, зуб за зуб

en-око_за_око,_зуб_за_зуб-uk-phrase-9Go7teg-


no comment

The district attorney said, "No comment," when the reporter asked if he knew the identity of the murder suspect, for fear that the culprit might be a flight risk.

(idiomatic) An "official" refusal to relay any further information, used for example in response to a question by a newspaper reporter or police officer.

لا تعليق

Wrex: And Shepard--I like what you've done with the Normandy. Got tired of always hanging around the cargo bay before.
Wrex: I still don't have a window like Liara does... but maybe that's because I don't kiss as well. [laughter]
Shepard: No comment.
Wrex: Yeah [laughter]... I missed this place.

2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Normandy SR-2:

(idiomatic) A refusal to make the obvious impolite retort.

لا تعليق

refusal to say the obvious impolite retort


股掌之上

ㄍㄨˇ ㄓㄤˇ ㄓ ㄕㄤˋ

gǔ zhǎng zhī shàng [Phonetic:gúzhǎngzhīshàng]

гу чжан чжи шан

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/


知書達禮

ㄓ ㄕㄨ ㄉㄚˊ ㄌㄧˇ

ㄓ ㄕㄨ ㄉㄚˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵ taːt̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵ taːt̚² lɐi̯¹³/


肥頭大耳

→ Vietnamese: tai to mặt lớn (calque)

ㄈㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄦˇ

/feɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² jiː¹³/

/feɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² jiː¹³/

fat and pudgy; robust and prosperous (a compliment in former times)


金玉良言

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄩˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄢˊ

цзиньюйлянъянь

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ y⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ y⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/


表裡一致

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧ ㄓˋ

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

the same on both the inside and out; honest and sincere; to mean what one says


迎頭趕上

ㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄢˇ ㄕㄤˋ

интоу ганьшан

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

proceed with determination; catch up forthwith; come up from behind; work [try] hard to catch up


金碧輝煌

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

цзиньбихуэйхуан

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹/

(of the furnishings and decorations of a building or structure) magnificent, splendid and resplendent


金剛不壞之身

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄤ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄞˋ ㄓ ㄕㄣ

jīngāng bùhuài zhī shēn [Phonetic:jīngāng búhuài zhī shēn]

цзиньган бухуай чжи шэнь

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/


長生不老

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (長生不老):
* → Vietnamese: trường sinh bất lão (長生不老)

ㄔㄤˊ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄠˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³/


長生不老

trường sinh bất lão
trường sinh bất lão#Vietnamese

chữ Hán form of trường sinh bất lão (“immortal”).


長他人志氣，滅自己威風

ㄓㄤˇ ㄊㄚ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧˋ

ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄨㄟ ㄈㄥ

чжан тажэнь чжици

ме цзыцзи вэйфэн

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

to help the opposition's aspirations, while undermining one's own power and prestige; aiding the enemy


青天白日滿地紅

blue sky, white sun, red all over the ground

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄞˊ ㄖˋ ㄇㄢˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

цинтянь байжи маньди хун

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ paːk̚² jɐt̚² muːn¹³ tei̯²² hʊŋ²¹/

Republic of China
Republic of China#English

a nickname for the flag of the Republic of China


半斤八兩

ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄚ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

баньцзиньбалян

/pän⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːn³³ kɐn⁵⁵ paːt̚³ lœːŋ¹³⁻³⁵/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻²² pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kun³³ pue(ʔ)⁵ niũ⁵⁵⁴/

/puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ niũ⁴¹/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kɯŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nie⁵²/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ keŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nio⁵²⁻²¹/

/pän⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːn³³ kɐn⁵⁵ paːt̚³ lœːŋ¹³⁻³⁵/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻²² pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kun³³ pue(ʔ)⁵ niũ⁵⁵⁴/

/puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ niũ⁴¹/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kɯŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nie⁵²/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ keŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nio⁵²⁻²¹/

From the historical Chinese measurement system, wherein one 斤 (jīn) was equal to 16 兩／两 (liǎng).

six of one, half a dozen of the other
six of one, half a dozen of the other

(chiefly derogatory) six of one, half a dozen of the other; not much to choose between the two


姜太公釣魚——願者上鉤

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄊㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˊ

ㄩㄢˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄍㄡ

Цзянтайгун дяоюй

юань чжэ шангоу

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ koʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³ jyː²¹⁻³⁵ jyːn²² t͡sɛː³⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵/

Grand Duke Jiang often went angling at the Weishui River, but he would fish in a bizarre way. He hung a straight hook, with no bait, three feet above the water. Over and over again, he said to himself, "Fish, if you are desperate to live, come and gulp down the hook by yourself."

Grand Duke Jiang goes fishing ― a willing person takes the bait.

(xiehouyu) like the fish rising to Grand Duke Jiang's hookless and baitless line; a willing victim letting himself be caught of his own will


恃寵而驕

ㄕˋ ㄔㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄠ

ши чун эр цзяо

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

to be conceited because one is in someone's good graces


拼命三郎

ㄆㄧㄣ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄢ ㄌㄤˊ

пиньмин саньлан

/pʰin⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

/pʰin⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

Literally: "risks life" third squire
: Shi Xiu's nickname in the Water Margin. Later used as a metaphor for someone who is fearless in battle, or an extremely industrious person.


春花秋月

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄩㄝˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

From a poem by ruler of the Southern Tang dynasty Li Yu

When will there be no more moon and spring flowers,
For me who had so many memorable hours?
My attic which last night invernal wind did stand,
Reminds cruelly of the lost moonlit land.
Carved balustrades and marble steps must still be there,
But rosy faces cannot be as fair.
If you ask me how much my sorrow has increased,
Just see the over brimming river flowing east!

Li Yu, The Beautiful Lady Yu (虞美人), translated by Xu Yuanchong

Chūn huā qiū yuè héshí liǎo, wǎngshì zhī duōshǎo. Xiǎo lóu zuóyè yòu dōngfēng, gùguó bùkān huíshǒu yuèmíng zhōng. Diāo lán yù qì yìng yóu zài, zhǐshì zhūyán gǎi. Wèn jūn néng yǒu jǐduō chóu, qiàsì yī jiāng chūnshuǐ xiàng dōng liú.

春花秋月何時了，往事知多少。小樓昨夜又東風，故國不堪回首月明中。雕欄玉砌應猶在，只是朱顏改。問君能有幾多愁，恰似一江春水向東流。

春花秋月何时了，往事知多少。小楼昨夜又东风，故国不堪回首月明中。雕栏玉砌应犹在，只是朱颜改。问君能有几多愁，恰似一江春水向东流。

a metaphor for a wonderful time spent in a beautiful location


恨不相逢未嫁時

ㄏㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄥˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄕˊ

хэнь бу сянфэн вэй цзя ши

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/hɐn²² pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹ mei̯²² kaː³³ siː²¹/

regret meeting a true lover only after one's marriage; What a pity that we didn't meet before you and I were married!


春暖花開

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄋㄨㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄎㄞ

чуньнуаньхуакай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ nyːn¹³ faː⁵⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ nyːn¹³ faː⁵⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

during the warmth of spring all the flowers bloom


既生瑜，何生亮

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lœːŋ²²/

/ki²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² d͡zu²⁴ ho²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² liaŋ²²/

/ki⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ siɪŋ³³ d͡zu²⁴ ho²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³ liaŋ⁴¹/

/ki²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² d͡zu¹³ ho¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² liaŋ²²/

/ki¹¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ d͡zu²⁴ ho²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liaŋ³³/

/ki²¹⁻⁴¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ zu²³ hɤ²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liaŋ³³/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lœːŋ²²/

Zhou Yu was young and ambitious, but was always being upstaged by Zhuge Liang, who was more talented.

SinceYu has already been born, so why was Liang ever born?

Microsoft dukes it out with Sony; Video game console makers bemoan the new contender

2005: 程实 (Cheng Shi), 微软掐架索尼 游戏机既生瑜何生亮

Wēiruǎn qiājià Suǒní, yóuxìjī jì shēng Yú hé shēng Liàng

微軟掐架索尼 遊戲機既生瑜何生亮

2005: 程实 (Cheng Shi), 微软掐架索尼 游戏机既生瑜何生亮

微软掐架索尼 游戏机既生瑜何生亮

used to lament the fact that there is someone better than you who is outshining you at every turn; to bemoan a new contender


拜倒石榴裙下

to grovel at the feet of a pomegranate-colored skirt

ㄅㄞˋ ㄉㄠˇ ㄕˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

байдао шилюцюнь ся

/paɪ̯⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

to grovel at the feet of a beautiful woman; he is wrapped around her fingers; he is completely taken with her


دور

Contraction of دورور (durur, “it stands”).

(old or provincial by the 19th century) Alternative spelling of در (dur, “it is”)


急急如律令

ja-r

きゅう% きゅう% にょ% りつ%りょう

desc

급급여율령(急急如律令)

CJKV/code

きゅう% きゅう% にょ% りつ%りょう

Sino-Xenic (急急如律令):
* → Japanese: 急(きゅう)急(きゅう)如(にょ)律(りつ)令(りょう) (kyū kyū nyo ritsuryō)
* → Korean: 급급여율령(急急如律令) (geupgeubyeoyullyeong)
* → Vietnamese: cấp cấp như luật lệnh (急急如律令)

CJKV

きゅう% きゅう% にょ% りつ%りょう

promptly, promptly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances

ㄐㄧˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ ㄌㄧㄥˋ

цзи цзи жу люйлин

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kɐp̚⁵ jyː²¹ lɵt̚² lɪŋ²²/

/kip̚³²⁻⁴ kip̚³² zu²³⁻³³ lut̚⁴⁻³² liɪŋ³³/

/kip̚³²⁻⁴ kip̚³² lu²⁴⁻¹¹ lut̚⁴⁻³² liɪŋ³³/

/kip̚³²⁻⁴ kip̚³² zi²³⁻³³ lut̚⁴⁻³² liɪŋ³³/

/kip̚²⁻⁴ kip̚²⁻⁴ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ luk̚⁴⁻² leŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kɐp̚⁵ jyː²¹ lɵt̚² lɪŋ²²/

(Taoism) An incantation used to ward off evil spirits.


急急如律令

ja-phrase

きゅうきゅう-にょ-りつりょう

きふきふ-によ-りつりやう

急(きゅう)急(きゅう)如(にょ)律(りつ)令(りょう) • (kyūkyū-nyo-ritsuryō) ^(←きふきふによりつりやう (kifukifu-nyo-rituryau)?)

急急如律令 (canonical)
kyūkyū-nyo-ritsuryō (romanization)
kifukifu-nyo-rituryau (romanization)
きふきふによりつりやう (hiragana historical)

[kʲɨːkʲɨːɲ̟o̞ɾʲit͡sɨɾʲo̞ː]

From Middle Chinese 急急如律令 (MC kip kip nyo|nyoH lwit ljen|ljeng|leng|ljengH|lengH).

ltc-l

(Onmyodo) An incantation used to ward off evil spirits.


急急如律令

ko-pos

急急如律令 • (geupgeubyeoyullyeong) (hangeul 급급여율령)

geupgeubyeoyullyeong (romanization)
급급여율령 (hangeul)

급급여율령 급급여율령#Korean


急急如律令

cấp cấp như luật lệnh
cấp cấp như luật lệnh#Vietnamese


ես քեզ սիրում եմ

head

ես քեզ սիրում եմ • (es kʻez sirum em)


柳暗花明

ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

лю’аньхуамин

/li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

From the poem "You Shan Xi Cun"《游山西村》(Traveling to a Village West of the Mountains), written in the first lunar month of 1167 by the Southern Song Dynasty poet Lu You (陆游, 1125-1210)

Over numerous mountains and streams, I had my doubts that I could find the road. Then out of the shade of the willows, came bright flowers and another village.

Shānzhòngshuǐfù yí wú lù, liǔ'ànhuāmíng yòu yī cūn.

山重水複疑無路，柳暗花明又一村。

山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。

at one's darkest hour, a glimmer of hope


洞房花燭夜

ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄈㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓㄨˊ ㄧㄝˋ

дунфан хуачжу е

/tʊŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

There was a 4-verse poem describing things that make people delightful: “Rain after long drought, Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, The candle-lit night in the bridal chamber, And the time when one was admitted in the imperial examination.”

Jiù chuán yǒu shī sì jù, sòng shìrén déyì zhě yún: ‘Jiǔ hàn féng gānyǔ, tāxiāng yù gùzhī, dòngfáng huāzhú yè, jīnbǎng guàmíng shí.

舊傳有詩四句，誦世人得意者云：『久旱逢甘雨，他鄉遇故知，洞房花燭夜，金榜掛名時。

旧传有诗四句，诵世人得意者云：『久旱逢甘雨，他乡遇故知，洞房花烛夜，金榜挂名时。

spend a candle-lit night in the bridal chamber


柳暗花明又一村

ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄧ ㄘㄨㄣ

liǔ'ànhuāmíng yòu yīcūn [Phonetic:liǔ'ànhuāmíng yòu yìcūn]

лю’аньхуамин ю ицунь

/li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯¹³ ɐm³³ faː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵/

From a line in “Touring Shanxi Village” (遊山西村) by Lu You (陸游)

Over numerous mountains and streams, I had my doubts that I could find the road.
Then out of the shade of the willows, came bright flowers and another village.

c. 1125–1210, Lu You, Touring Shanxi Village

Shānchóngshuǐfù yí wú lù, liǔ àn huā míng yòu yī cūn.

山重水複疑無路，柳暗花明又一村。

山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。

(figurative) at one's darkest hour, a glimmer of hope; to have a way out; to find a silver lining


HAHO

(parachuting) Acronym of high altitude, high opening.


в Тулу со своим самоваром

в Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром

в Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром • (v Túlu so svoím samovárom)

в Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром (canonical)
v Túlu so svoím samovárom (romanization)

Literally, “(going) to Tula with your own samovar”; compare to owls to Athens and coals to Newcastle. The phrase derives from the fact that Tula is well-known for samovars. The phrase was coined by Chekhov.

lit

И колле́ги удивлённо пожима́ют плеча́ми: В Ту́лу со свои́м самова́ром?

2005, “Отдых без супруга”, in Комсомольская правда:

And your colleagues shrug their shoulders in surprise: with your own samovar to Tula?

I kollégi udivljónno požimájut plečámi: V Túlu so svoím samovárom?

coals to Newcastle; (to do) something pointless

en-в_Тулу_со_своим_самоваром-ru-phrase-vqKoedOB


眉清目秀

ㄇㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mʊk̚² sɐu̯³³/

/meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mʊk̚² sɐu̯³³/


秋風掃落葉

The autumn wind sweeps away the fallen leaves.

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄈㄥ ㄙㄠˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄝˋ

цюфэн сао лое

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

Chinese badminton team wins hands down, blows their opponents out of the water

2004: Mao Xuanlei (毛煊磊), www.sportsonline.com.cn

Zhōngguó yǔqiú chūxiàn wú xuánniàn, jībài duìshǒu rú “qiūfēng sǎo luòyè”

中國羽球出線無懸念 擊敗對手如「秋風掃落葉」

中国羽球出线无悬念 击败对手如「秋风扫落叶」

blow out of the water
blow out of the water

(figurative) to take by storm; to blow away (in a competition); to blow out of the water


皇帝不急，急死太監

Theemperor is not worried, but the eunuchs are worried to death.

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ

ㄐㄧˊ ㄙˇ ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ , ㄐㄧˊ ㄙˇ ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ , ㄐㄧˊ ㄙˇ ㄊㄞˋ ˙ㄐㄧㄢ

хуанди буцзи

цзисы тайцзянь

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ d͡ʑ̥i̯ɛn¹/

(figurative) The person involved is calm and collected, but observers are very worried.


為人處世

ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄨˇ ㄕˋ

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰyː³⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰyː³⁵ sɐi̯³³/

how one gets along in the world; one's attitude about and way of doing things


LFG

(Internet slang) Initialism of looking for group.

Coordinate term: let's go

(Internet slang) Initialism of let's fucking go.

lexical functional grammar
w:lexical functional grammar

(linguistics) Initialism of lexical functional grammar.


紅透半邊天

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄡˋ ㄅㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ

хун тоу баньбяньтянь

/xʊŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


紅粉佳人

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄣˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

хунфэньцзяжэнь

/xʊŋ³⁵ fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ fɐn³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ fɐn³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/


背水一戰

ㄅㄟˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄧ ㄓㄢˋ

бэйшуйичжань

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/puːi̯³³ sɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³/

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/puːi̯³³ sɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³/

From the Records of the Grand Historian 背水陣／背水阵 (bèishuǐzhèn) (originally 背水陳, literally "arrange the battle array with soldiers' back to the river", 陳／陈 (chén) is an ancient variant of 陣／阵 (zhèn)).

zh-l

背水陣／背水阵 (bèishuǐzhèn)

to be forced to stand and fight; to make a desperate last stand


要風得風，要雨得雨

ㄧㄠˋ ㄈㄥ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄥ

ㄧㄠˋ ㄩˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄩˇ

яо фэн дэ фэн

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Literally: to get wind if one wants it, to get rain if one wants it


要錢不要命

ㄧㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

yào qián bù yào mìng [Phonetic:yào qián bú yào mìng]

яо цянь бу яо мин

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/


趴趴走

/pʰä⁵⁵ pʰä⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰä⁵⁵ pʰä⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Borrowed from Hokkien 拋拋走／抛抛走 (pha-pha-cháu), from 拋拋／抛抛 (“to freely roam about as one pleases”) + 走 (“to run”).

(Taiwanese Mandarin) to run all over the place; to go all over the place; to rush about or around


風和日麗

ㄈㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ jɐt̚² lɐi̯²²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ jɐt̚² lɐi̯²²/

the bright sunshine and gentle breezes; warm and sunny weather


風韻猶存

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄣˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

фэнъюньюцунь

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn¹³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn¹³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

(usually said of a middle-aged woman) to continue to possess a graceful appearance or demeanor


面惡心善

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄢˋ

мянь э синь шань

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂän⁵¹/


風流倜儻

ㄈㄥ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄊㄧˋ ㄊㄤˇ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰi⁵¹ tʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɪk̚⁵ tʰɔːŋ³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰi⁵¹ tʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɪk̚⁵ tʰɔːŋ³⁵/

(of one's appearance and manner) natural and unrestrained; charming; casual and elegant; dashing


Tips should always be welcome if given in a constructive way, saying "L2P noob your way of casting sucks" is NOT a tip.

2007, Shammy, “An angry player”, in alt.games.warcraft (Usenet):

(Internet, derogatory) Initialism of learn to play; used in Internet games as a slur against weak or inexperienced players.


食之無味，棄之可惜

ㄑㄧˋ ㄓ ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧ

ㄑㄧˋ ㄓ ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵/

/sɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ mei̯²² hei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

Adapted from a story about Yang Xiu's interpretation of Cao Cao's thoughts in Sanguozhi , and became well known through its adapted version in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms

As for chicken ribs, it's pitiful to throw them away, yet there is not much (meat) to eat. If we know that the King (Cao Cao) is using them to compare Hanzhong, we can know that he wants to retreat.

Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE

Fū jīlèi, qì zhī rú kěxī, shí zhī wú suǒdé, yǐ bǐ hànzhōng, zhī wáng yù hái yě.

夫雞肋，棄之如可惜，食之無所得，以比漢中，知王欲還也。

夫鸡肋，弃之如可惜，食之无所得，以比汉中，知王欲还也。

some food may lack flavor, but it would still be a pity to throw it away

Li Ka-shing did not wish to let go of a twenty year dream of his, he just could not bear to part with it.

Lǐ Jiāchéng xīn yǒu bùgān qì 20 nián mèngxiǎng shí zhī wúwèi qì zhī kěxī

李嘉誠心有不甘棄20年夢想食之無味棄之可惜

李嘉诚心有不甘弃20年梦想食之无味弃之可惜

too arduous to relish, too wasteful to discard.(some things have no apparent value, but one still can't bear to throw them away)

Cao Cao
Hanzhong
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Sanguozhi
Yang Xiu (Han dynasty)


俯仰無愧

ㄈㄨˇ ㄧㄤˇ ㄨˊ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

to have done nothing to make one feel ashamed


倒抽一口氣

ㄉㄠˋ ㄔㄡ ㄧ ㄎㄡˇ ㄑㄧˋ

dào chōu yīkǒu qì [Phonetic:dào chōu yìkǒu qì]

дао чоу икоу ци

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

Literally: to breath in one mouthful of air


卿卿我我

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄛˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔː¹³ ŋɔː¹³/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔː¹³ ŋɔː¹³/

The chengyu, or at least the reduplication of 卿 (MC khjaeng) in it, appears to be influenced by a story in the A New Account of the Tales of the World. Wang Rong, one of the Seven Sages (竹林七賢), felt discomfited by his wife calling him 卿 (MC khjaeng), a second-person term of endearment then typically used by the man to refer to the woman (i.e. men's speech). The wife, in retort, famously said
:
Here in the construct 卿卿, the first 卿 is used by conversion (or anthimeria) as a verb that means "to call someone by 卿", which was idiomatic due to the high degree of elasticity of the Chinese language.

I endear my dear and love my dear, and that's why I call my dear "my dear". If I were not to call my dear "my dear", who else is supposed to call my dear "my dear"?

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

Qīn qīng ài qīng, shìyǐ qīng qīng; wǒ bù qīng qīng, shéi dāng qīng qīng?

親卿愛卿，是以卿卿；我不卿卿，誰當卿卿？

亲卿爱卿，是以卿卿；我不卿卿，谁当卿卿？

whispers of love; lovers' talk; to bill and coo; to be very much in love; intimate relations

A New Account of the Tales of the World
Wang Rong (Jin dynasty)


乘風破浪

ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥ ㄆㄛˋ ㄌㄤˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɔː³³ lɔːŋ²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔŋ³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴ pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔŋ³³/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴ pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ lɔŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɔː³³ lɔːŋ²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔŋ³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴ pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔŋ³³/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴ pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ lɔŋ²²/

From the story of Liu Song general Zong Que (宗悫).

When Zong Que was young, (his uncle) Zong Bing asked what his ambitions were. He replied, "I wish to ride the high winds and sail ten thousand li in the waves."

Què niánshào shí, Bǐng wèn qí zhì, Què yuē: “Yuàn chéng cháng fēng pò wànlǐ làng.”

慤年少時，炳問其志，慤曰：「願乘長風破萬里浪。」

悫年少时，炳问其志，悫曰：「愿乘长风破万里浪。」

to fearlessly and steadfastly pursue a goal without regard to setbacks


首屈一指

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯³⁵ wɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ wɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

In Chinese culture, one common method of counting is to begin with an open hand, then begin folding the fingers into the palm starting with the thumb.

Not only is this a first for Chengdu in terms of sharing help information over the net, it is the first in the country.

Kāitōng wǎnglù gòngxiǎng jiùzhù xùnxī, zhè yī zuòfǎ bùjǐn zài Chéngdū shàng shǔ shǒucì, zài quánguó yě shì shǒuqūyīzhǐ.

開通網路共享救助訊息，這一做法不僅在成都尚屬首次，在全國也是首屈一指。

开通网路共享救助讯息，这一做法不仅在成都尚属首次，在全国也是首屈一指。

The silver jewelry of the Hmong people comes in first place out of all of ethnic jewelry.

miáozú de yín shì zài gè mínzú de shǒushì zhōng shǒuqūyīzhǐ

苗族的銀飾在各民族的首飾中首屈一指

苗族的银饰在各民族的首饰中首屈一指

number one; come first on the list; be matchless; be second to none; come out first; thumbs up


原封不動

ㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

юаньфэнбудун

/ɥɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/ɡuan¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/ɡuan²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/ɥɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/ɡuan¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/ɡuan²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

intact in its original state; to remain unchanged; the original article still in its original package; in mint condition


لله

head

لِلّٰهِ • (li-llāhi)

لِلّٰهِ (canonical)
li-llāhi (romanization)

Compounded from لِ (li, “for, to”) + الله (allāh, “Allah”).

الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ (al-ḥamdu li-llāhi, “praise God”)

الله الله#Arabic

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see لِـ (li-), الله (allāh).


لله

لَلّٰه • (la-llāh)

لَلّٰه (canonical)
la-llāh (romanization)

الله الله#Arabic

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see لَـ (la-), الله (allāh).


脣亡齒寒

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (脣亡齒寒):
* → Korean: 순망치한(脣亡齒寒) (sunmangchihan)

ja-r

くちびる ほろびて は さむし

→ Japanese: 唇(くちびる)亡(ほろ)びて歯(は)寒(さむ)し (kuchibiru horobite wa samushi) (calque)

→ Vietnamese: môi hở răng lạnh (calque)

ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄔˇ ㄏㄢˊ

чуньванчихань

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän³⁵/

/sɵn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɔːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän³⁵/

/sɵn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɔːn²¹/

The marquis of Jin once again wanted to attack Guo by way of Yu. Gong Zhiqi admonished the duke of Yu, saying, “Guo is exterior to Yu. If Guo should perish, Yu is sure to follow. The road should not be opened for Jin; the bandits are not to be ignored. Once was more than enough, how can you do it a second time? The two sayings, ‘The cheekbone and gum depend on one another’ and ‘When the lips perish, the teeth become cold’ both apply to the relationship between Guo and Yu.”

Jìn hóu fù jiǎdào yú Yú yǐ fá Guó. Gōng Zhīqí jiàn yuē: “Guó, Yú zhī biǎo yě, Guó wáng, Yú bì cóng zhī. Jìn bùkě qǐ, kòu bùkě wàn. Yī zhī wèi shèn, qí kě zài hū. Yàn suǒwèi fǔchēxiāngyī, chúnwángchǐhán zhě, qí Yú Guó zhī wèi yě.”

晉侯復假道於虞以伐虢。宮之奇諫曰：「虢，虞之表也，虢亡，虞必從之。晉不可啟，寇不可翫。一之謂甚，其可再乎。諺所謂輔車相依，脣亡齒寒者，其虞虢之謂也。」

晋侯复假道于虞以伐虢。宫之奇谏曰：「虢，虞之表也，虢亡，虞必从之。晋不可启，寇不可玩。一之谓甚，其可再乎。谚所谓辅车相依，唇亡齿寒者，其虞虢之谓也。」

to share a common lot; to share the same fate


弱水三千，只取一瓢飲

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧㄢ

ㄓˇ ㄑㄩˇ ㄧ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄧㄣˇ

zhǐ qǔ yīpiáo yǐn [Phonetic:ruòshuǐsānqiān

жошуйсаньцянь

чжи цюй ипяо инь

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From: Chapter 91 of the Dream of the Red Chamber
* Literally: (although) the Ruo River is three thousand li long, one only drinks one ladle worth of water from it.
*: Later on, this phrase was used as a metaphor for choosing only one companion out of all potential mates.

there are so many potential lovers to choose from, but you only pick one from among those potential lovers


娓娓動聽

ㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

вэйвэйдунтин

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mei̯¹³ mei̯¹³ tʊŋ²² tʰɪŋ³³/

/mei̯¹³ mei̯¹³ tʊŋ²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mei̯¹³ mei̯¹³ tʊŋ²² tʰɪŋ³³/

/mei̯¹³ mei̯¹³ tʊŋ²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

talk in an impressive way; smooth-spoken; speak with absorbing interest; vivid and interesting


捕風捉影

ㄅㄨˇ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄧㄥˇ

/pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pou̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

/pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pou̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

to make groundless accusations; to grasp at straws


旁若無人

ㄆㄤˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

to selfishly do what one wants without regard to other people's wishes


徐娘半老

ㄒㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄌㄠˇ

сюйнянбаньлао

/ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵ pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹ puːn³³ lou̯¹³/

/ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵ pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹ puːn³³ lou̯¹³/


that's life

[T]hen he shrugged his shoulders and said, with admirable philosophy: "Well, that's life, ain't it, bud?"

1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 87:


時勢造英雄

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (時勢造英雄):
* → Vietnamese: thời thế tạo anh hùng (時勢造英雄)

ㄕˊ ㄕˋ ㄗㄠˋ ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ

шиши цзао инсюн

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/siː²¹ sɐi̯³³ t͡sou̯²² jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/siː²¹ sɐi̯³³ t͡sou̯²² jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

From Liang Qichao's Biography of Li Hongzhang (《李鴻章傳》)

The time creates the hero, yet the hero also creates the time.

Shíshì zào yīngxióng, yīngxióng yì zào shíshì.

時勢造英雄，英雄亦造時勢。

时势造英雄，英雄亦造时势。


柴米油鹽醬醋茶

ㄔㄞˊ ㄇㄧˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄘㄨˋ ㄔㄚˊ

чай ми ю янь цзян цу ча

/ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵/

tsaai⁴ mai⁵ jau⁴ jim⁴ dzoeng³ tsou³ tsaa⁴

/t͡sʰaːi̯²¹ mɐi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ jiːm²¹ t͡sœːŋ³³ t͡sʰou̯³³ t͡sʰaː²¹/

From a poem in the Yuan Dynasty dynasty play 劉行首／刘行首.

firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea


桃園三結義

ㄊㄠˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄧˋ

таоюань сань цзеи

/tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ jyːn²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kiːt̚³ jiː²²/

/tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ jyːn²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kiːt̚³ jiː²²/

Guan Yu
Liu Bei
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhang Fei

From the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Liu Bei made an oath in the peach garden.

The baseball teams of China, Japan and Korea join forces in preparation for the 2008 Olymipics in Beijing

Bèizhàn 2008 nián běijīng àoyùnhuì, zhōng rì hán bàngqiú duì “táoyuán sān jiéyì”

備戰2008年北京奧運會，中日韓棒球隊“桃園三結義”

备战2008年北京奥运会，中日韩棒球队“桃园三结义”


氣宇軒昂

ㄑㄧˋ ㄩˇ ㄒㄩㄢ ㄤˊ

ㄑㄧˋ ㄩˇ ㄒㄩㄢ ㄤˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ jyː¹³ hiːn⁵⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ jyː¹³ hiːn⁵⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/


烏雲密布

ㄨ ㄩㄣˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ

/u⁵⁵ yn³⁵ mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/wuː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ mɐt̚² pou̯³³/

/u⁵⁵ yn³⁵ mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/wuː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ mɐt̚² pou̯³³/

the sky is covered with dark clouds; dark clouds gather in the sky; to have an overcast sky


班門弄斧

desc

→ Vietnamese: múa rìu qua mắt thợ (calque)

ㄅㄢ ㄇㄣˊ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄈㄨˇ

баньмэньнунфу

/pän⁵⁵ mən³⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ lʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/pan⁴⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² lɔŋ²²⁻²¹ hu⁵³/

/pan⁴⁴⁻³³ bun²³⁻³³ lɔŋ³³⁻²¹ hu⁴¹/

/pan⁴⁴⁻³³ bun²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ hu⁵³/

/pan⁴⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² lɔŋ²²⁻²¹ pɔ⁵³/

/pän⁵⁵ mən³⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ lʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/pan⁴⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² lɔŋ²²⁻²¹ hu⁵³/

/pan⁴⁴⁻³³ bun²³⁻³³ lɔŋ³³⁻²¹ hu⁴¹/

/pan⁴⁴⁻³³ bun²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ hu⁵³/

/pan⁴⁴⁻²² bun²⁴⁻²² lɔŋ²²⁻²¹ pɔ⁵³/

(sometimes humble) to show off one's inferior talent or skill in front of an expert


病急亂投醫

One who is critically ill will turn to any doctor he can find.

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧ

бин цзи луань тоу и

/piŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² kɐp̚⁵ lyːn²² tʰɐu̯²¹ jiː⁵⁵/

/pẽ¹¹ kip̚²⁻⁴ luaŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ tau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ui³³/

/piŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² kɐp̚⁵ lyːn²² tʰɐu̯²¹ jiː⁵⁵/

/pẽ¹¹ kip̚²⁻⁴ luaŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ tau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ui³³/

to turn to anyone for help or try anything in a desperate plight


一清二楚

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄦˋ ㄔㄨˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰɔː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰɔː³⁵/

perfectly clear; crystal clear; completely unambiguous


病從口入，禍從口出

bệnh tòng khẩu nhập, hoạ tòng khẩu xuất#Vietnamese

chữ Hán form of bệnh tòng khẩu nhập, hoạ tòng khẩu xuất.


non constat

(law, religion, sciences) It is not certain; It is doubted.


it's too late for sorry

The grieving mother who lost her daughter in an accident told the drunk driver "It's too late for sorry!" after he tried to apologize.

An expression of anger or disgust uttered toward someone who offers an apology after causing great harm.


j't'ai cassé

Literally, “I've broken you”; colloquial pronunciation of je t’ai cassé, from the French comedy Brice de Nice (2005).

T’es comme le H de Hawaii; tu sers à rien. J’t’ai cassé!

You're like the P in pterodactyl: completely useless. Zing!

(slang) emphasising a successfully delivered insult; gotcha, zing


goodbye, cruel world

committing suicide
commit suicide#English

An exclamation made before committing suicide, in speech, text, or in a suicide note.

(humorous) A call said before taking a stiff drink, especially a shot of vodka.


I hate you

I hate you and I will not see you again!

Expression of hatred, or intense disdain or dislike directed at someone.

আমি তোকে ঘৃণা করি

very familiar or disparaging, singular object

আমি তোদের ঘৃণা করি

very familiar or disparaging, plural object


神龍見首不見尾

one can see the head of a heavenly dragon, but not the tail

ㄕㄣˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˇ

shén lóng jiàn shǒu bù jiàn wěi [Phonetic:shén lóng jiàn shǒu bú jiàn wěi]

shên² lung² chien⁴ shou³ pu⁴ chien⁴ wei³

шэнь лун цзянь шоу бу цзянь вэй

/ʂən³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

[Phonetic: shén lóng jiàn shǒu bú jiàn wěi]

From the time Michael Jordan arrived in Beijing from Guangdong, he took the approach of remaining aloof, and played hide and seek with a slew of Chinese Media and fans.

2004: 郭凯 ed. (Guo Kai), 飞人“神龙见首不见尾” 乔丹没给中国男篮面子 (His Airness "is a no where to be found," Jordan disses Chinese basketball players)

Zài zuówǎn cóng Guǎngdōng dǐdá Běijīng hòu, Qiáodān yě shǐzhōng cǎiqǔ “shénlóngjiànshǒubùjiànwěi” de móshì yǔ yī gān Zhōngguó méitǐ hé Zhōngguó qiúmí zhuōmícáng.

在昨晚從廣東抵達北京後，喬丹也始終採取“神龍見首不見尾”的模式與一干中國媒體和中國球迷捉迷藏。

在昨晚从广东抵达北京后，乔丹也始终采取“神龙见首不见尾”的模式与一干中国媒体和中国球迷捉迷藏。

to maintain an air of mystery, to not reveal oneself; to play cat and mouse; to remain aloof


ingen ko på isen

Short form of "der er ingen ko på isen, så længe rumpen er i land" (there is no cow on the ice as long as the buttock is on land).

(idiomatic) the coast is clear; there is no cause for concern.


ingen ko på isen

Literally, "no cow on the ice". Short version of "det är ingen ko på isen så länge rumpan är i land" (there is no cow on the ice as long as the buttock is on land).

(idiomatic) the coast is clear; (there is) no immediate danger


œil pour œil, dent pour dent

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lyokoï-œil pour œil, dent pour dent.wav

Literally, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”.


草木皆兵

ㄘㄠˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄅㄧㄥ

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ mʊk̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ mʊk̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

From record of Battle of Fei River in Book of Jin

Fu Jian and Fu Rong climbed up the citadel (in Shouyang) to observe the royal Jin army. Jian saw that the troops were in neat order, and the soldiers were of best quality. Then when Jian looked at the trees on Bagongshan, he thought that the trees resembled humans (and was afraid that there were ambushes) “There are strong enemies there too! How can you say that Jin has only few troops?” said Jian to Rong disappointedly and worriedly.

648 CE, Fang Xuanling (lead editor), Book of Jin

Jiān yǔ fúróng dēng chéng ér wàng wángshī, jiàn bùzhèn qízhěng, jiāngshì jīngruì, yòu běi wàng bāgōngshān shàng cǎomù, jiē lèi rénxíng, gù wèi róng yuē: “Cǐ yì qíngdí yě, hé wèi shào hū!” Wǔrán yǒu jù sè.

堅與苻融登城而望王師，見部陣齊整，將士精銳，又北望八公山上草木，皆類人形，顧謂融曰：「此亦勍敵也，何謂少乎！」憮然有懼色。

坚与苻融登城而望王师，见部阵齐整，将士精锐，又北望八公山上草木，皆类人形，顾谓融曰：「此亦勍敌也，何谓少乎！」怃然有惧色。

(When the wind blows the) grass and trees, (one thinks that) the soldiers (enemy) are everywhere

Describes a situation in which someone is being overly paranoid: to apprehend danger in every sound

Bagong Mountain Scenic Spot
Battle of Fei River
Book of Jin
Jin dynasty (266–420)
Shou County


DWIM

(computing, humorous) Initialism of do what I mean: a wished-for feature in computer systems, offering magical freedom from the often frustrating discrepancies between one's intentions and the actual effects of a command.


金屋藏嬌

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨ ㄘㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄠ

цзиньуцанцзяо

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ kiːu̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ kiːu̯⁵⁵/

The Emperor was born in the Hall of the Pliant Orchid on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month in the year of the rooster under the second stem. When he was four years old, he was made Prince of Jiaodong. When he was not that old, Elder Princess Liu Piao sat him on her knee and asked, "Would you like to have a wife?" The Prince of Jiaodong said, "Yes, I would like a wife." Elder Princess pointed to the hundreds of attendants on her left and right, but the prince said no to all of them. The last one she pointed to was her own daughter, "Is A-Jiao alright?" asked the Elder Princess. The Prince smiled and said, "Good! If I can have A-Jiao for my wife, I should build a golden house where I may keep her.

c. 32 - 92: Ban Gu, 漢武帝故事 (The Story of Emperor Wu of Han) (Wiktionary translation)

Dì yǐ yǐyǒu nián qīyuè qī rì shēng yú Yīlándiàn. Nián sì suì, lì wèi Jiāodōng wáng. Shù suì, zhǎng gōngzhǔ piáo bào zhì xī shàng, wèn yuē: “Ér yù dé fù bù?” Jiāodōng wáng yuē: “Yù dé fù.” Zhǎng zhǔ zhǐ zuǒyòu cháng yù bǎi yú rén, jiē yún bù yòng. Mò zhǐ qí nǚ wèn yuē: “Ā Jiāo hǎo bù?” Yúshì nǎi xiào duì yuē: “Hǎo! Ruò dé Ā Jiāo zuò fù, dāng zuò jīnwūzhù zhī yě.”

帝以乙酉年七月七日生於猗蘭殿。年四歲，立為膠東王。數歲，長公主嫖抱置膝上，問曰：「兒欲得婦不？」膠東王曰：「欲得婦。」長主指左右長御百餘人，皆云不用。末指其女問曰：「阿嬌好不？」於是乃笑對曰：「好！若得阿嬌作婦，當作金屋貯之也。」

帝以乙酉年七月七日生于猗兰殿。年四岁，立为胶东王。数岁，长公主嫖抱置膝上，问曰：「儿欲得妇不？」胶东王曰：「欲得妇。」长主指左右长御百余人，皆云不用。末指其女问曰：「阿娇好不？」于是乃笑对曰：「好！若得阿娇作妇，当作金屋贮之也。」

to keep (Empress Chen) Jiao (inside one's) golden house

to keep a mistress in a tucked away in a luxurious house or apartment


ooo

hugs (usually placed at the end of a letter or in text messaging, sometimes alongside xxx meaning kisses)


WYMM

will you marry me
will you marry me#English

(text messaging) Initialism of will you marry me.


who writes this stuff

(ironic) A rhetorical question commenting on the writing of a book, play, movie, etc.


逆水行舟

ㄋㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄡ

нишуйсинчжоу

/ni⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ hɐŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/ni⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ hɐŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

to diligently engage in one's studies (like a boat going against the currents)

Russia makes strong counterattack to NATO's eastern expansion; fights the tide by strengthening extraterritorial troops

2006, 俄强力反击北约东扩 逆水行舟加强境外军力(图) (news headline)

É qiánglì fǎnjī Běiyuē dōng kuò, nìshuǐxíngzhōu jiāqiáng jìngwài jūnlì

俄強力反擊北約東擴 逆水行舟加強境外軍力

俄强力反击北约东扩 逆水行舟加强境外军力


sticks and stones

En-us-sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.oga

1957, Brendan Gill, The Day the Money Stopped
‘You cheap dead-beat son of a bitch.’ / ‘Sticks and stones.’

1993, The Independent, 15 May
He has come through the worst and now presents a stoical ‘sticks and stones’ front to his detractors.

Elizabeth Swann: You're despicable!
Jack Sparrow: Sticks and stones, love.

2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (film)

(Kate): That's gross! You're a pervert.
(Trekkie):Oh, sticks and stones, Kate Monster.

2003, “The Internet Is For Porn”, in Avenue Q soundtrack:

sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me#English

(idiomatic) Ellipsis of sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

(idiomatic) any obsolete technology (usually of military and law enforcement purposes) when used in comparison to state of the art technology used by the antagonists or competitors.


骨鯁在喉

ㄍㄨˇ ㄍㄥˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄏㄡˊ

гугэнцзайхоу

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² hɐu̯²¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² hɐu̯²¹/

to have something that one must get off one's chest; to have to say or speak up about something to feel comfortable


偷雞摸狗

ㄊㄡ ㄐㄧ ㄇㄛ ㄍㄡˇ

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mɔː³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mɔː³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

to not do things in an open and above board manner


鬼也不上門

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄣˊ

guǐ yě bù shàng mén [Phonetic:guíyěbúshàngmén]

гуй е бу шан мэнь

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ mən³⁵/


偷得浮生半日閒

ㄊㄡ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

тоу дэ фушэн баньжи сянь

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

take some time out from a hectic work schedule


狼吞虎嚥

ㄌㄤˊ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄏㄨˇ ㄧㄢˋ

лантуньхуянь

/lɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/lɔːŋ²¹ tʰɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ jiːn³³/

/lɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/lɔːŋ²¹ tʰɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ jiːn³³/


唯利是圖

ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ lei̯²² siː²² tʰou̯²¹/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² tɔ²⁴/

/ui¹³⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ¹³/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²³⁻³³ li³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ tɔ²³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ lei̯²² siː²² tʰou̯²¹/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² tɔ²⁴/

/ui¹³⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ¹³/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²³⁻³³ li³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ tɔ²³/

In direct contrast to all the members of the upper strata in the capitalist countries who seek nothing but profits, the Soviet Union considers it its duty to help all weak nations and all revolutionary wars.

1938, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論持久戰》 (On Protracted War), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Sūlián hé yīqiè zīběnzhǔyì guójiā de shàngcéng chéngfèn zhī wéilìshìtú zhě gēnběn xiāngfǎn, tā shì yǐ yuánzhù yīqiè ruòxiǎo mínzú hé gémìng zhànzhēng wéi qí zhízhì de.

蘇聯和一切資本主義國家的上層成分之唯利是圖者根本相反，它是以援助一切弱小民族和革命戰爭為其職志的。

苏联和一切资本主义国家的上层成分之唯利是图者根本相反，它是以援助一切弱小民族和革命战争为其职志的。

to be bent solely on profit; to seek nothing but profits


let's roll

(informal) Let's go; used to suggest that a plan should be put into action.


the terrorists will have won

If you throttle the free press, the terrorists will have won.

1979, Edwin Nobles Lowe with Harry D. Shargel, Legal and other aspects of terrorism, page 222:

If governments overact and become oppressive, the terrorists will have won, for their theory is that repression will eventually lead to revolution.

1989, Susheela Bhan, Terrorism: an Annotated Bibliography, page 116:

If we have to wear sweaters and turn down our thermostat, the terrorists will have won.

2009, Andrea Cohen-Kiener, Claiming Earth As Common Ground: The Ecological Crisis Through the Lens of Faith, page 17:

(idiomatic) Phrase used to indicate that if a specified activity is not continued or carried out, those who seek to disrupt normal activities through terror will have succeeded, which is an unacceptable result.


that said

According to Garner's fourth edition, it's an elliptical nominative absolute standing for that having been said.

Christmas is exploited by capitalism. That said, it is still a religious festival.


RTS

(mail) Initialism of return to sender. Used on a misaddressed envelope to have the post office return the letter to the sender.


be there or be square

There's a huge party on Saturday night; be there or be square.

(humorous) Used to encourage someone to attend an event.


婀娜多姿

ㄜ ㄋㄨㄛˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄗ

/ˀɤ⁵⁵ nu̯ɔ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/ɔː⁵⁵ nɔː¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ɔː³⁵ nɔː¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ɔː⁵⁵ nɔː²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ˀɤ⁵⁵ nu̯ɔ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/ɔː⁵⁵ nɔː¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ɔː³⁵ nɔː¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ɔː⁵⁵ nɔː²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/


得理不饒人

ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄠˊ ㄖㄣˊ

дэ ли бу жао жэнь

/tɤ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tɤ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

become haughty or unreasonable if one's position has support


救人如救火

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

цзю жэнь жу цзюхо

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kɐu̯³³ fɔː³⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kɐu̯³³ fɔː³⁵/

Literally: aiding a person is like aiding (in putting out a) fire

said or written by a person who is in desperate need of assistance; help me!!!; help!!!

describes a situation in which a person is in desperate need of assistance


so quiet you can hear a pin drop

one could hear a pin drop
one could hear a pin drop#English

Alternative form of one could hear a pin drop


得寸進尺

ㄉㄜˊ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄔˇ

дэцуньцзиньчи

/tɤ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰun¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sin¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰioʔ³²/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sin²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiɤʔ³²/

/tit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰun¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sin¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰioʔ³²/

/tit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sin²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiɤʔ³²/

/tɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

to be extremely greedy; give them an inch and they'll take a mile


望而生畏

ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄕㄥ ㄨㄟˋ

ванъэршэнвэй

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯³³/

Chinese classics are difficult to read uncollated. Ordinary people are often terrified by the sight of them, and prefer to remain at a respectful distance.

Wǒguó jīngdiǎn, wèijīng zhěnglǐ, dú qǐlái tèbié nán, yībānrén wǎngwǎng wàng'érshēngwèi, jiéguǒ shì jìng'éryuǎnzhī.

我國經典，未經整理，讀起來特別難，一般人往往望而生畏，結果是敬而遠之。

我国经典，未经整理，读起来特别难，一般人往往望而生畏，结果是敬而远之。

to be terrified by the sight of someone or something


time is of the essence

When transporting organs for transplant, time is of the essence.

You must realize that time is of the essence in regards to your money management and wealth creation.

2002, Ronald Hammond, Practical Money Management & Wealth Creation for Youth and Young Adults, page 53:

Patients lack the expertise to promptly obtain critically time-dependent referrals. When time is of the essence, the clinician and staff must assume direct responsibility to assure the stat referral to a microsurgeon is promptly accomplished.

2011, Kenneth M. Hargreaves, Steven R. Cohen, editors, Cohen's Pathways of the PULP, 10th edition, page 426:

Time is of the essence is the mantra in business transactions. Fulfilling the mantra of time is of the essence, depends on the capability of making realistic time estimates of what it takes to complete a series of tasks regardless of their complexity and making appropriate decisions.

2015, Gerard H. Gaynor, Decisions: An Engineering and Management Perspective, page 103:

Time was of the essence, U.S. and Ukrainian officials believed.

2022 September 13, Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt, Helene Cooper, “The Critical Moment Behind Ukraine’s Rapid Advance”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(set phrase) Time is an essential consideration (in regard to an action or response); haste is necessary.

Most construction phase agreements and some pre-construction agreements contain a time is of the essence provision. If time is of the essence, a delay caused by the fault of the construction manager would constitute a breach of contract and could result in the construction manager's being liable for damages incurred by the owner as a result of the delay. If there is no time is of the essence provision, reasonableness will be the guide when measuring the timelines of the services provided by the construction manager.

2007, Paul H. Martinez, Rashida Y. V. MacMurray, “Chapter 10: Construction Manager's Responsibilities: Pre-Design, Design and Pre-Construction Phase”, in Stephen A. Hess, Jerome V. Bales, P. Douglas Folk, L. Tyrone Holt, editors, Design Professional and Construction Manager Law, page 297:

In a variety of contracts, the courts have held that the requirement that time is of the essence should be applied to the respective obligations of both parties (examples are between (a) buyer and seller, (b) ship owner and charterer, (c) purchaser and vendor, and (d) contractor and owner). Time is normally of the essence where:[…].

2010, John Adriaanse, Construction Contract Law: The Essentials, 3rd edition, page 172:

If there is no express stipulation in the contract that time is of the essence, it can be made so by serving a notice fixing a specified time for completion.

2015, MacRoberts Solicitors, MacRoberts on Scottish Construction Contracts, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, page 142:

(law, in a contract) Failure to complete the required performance by the date certain set forth will constitute an incurable breach.


one could hear a pin drop

Told the waiter Big Joe was settin' me up / Aw!, you coulda heard a pin drop, it got deathly quiet / And the waiter's face turned kinda white

1967, Tommy Faile (lyrics and music), “Phantom 309”, performed by Red Sovine:

(idiomatic) Extremely quiet, for example, as during a lull in a normally bustling place or scene, or at a sudden dramatic or tense moment.


det är rena grekiskan

It's all Greek to me
it's all Greek to me


眼花繚亂

眼花缭乱
眼花撩亂
眼花瞭亂

ㄧㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

яньхуаляолуань

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ faː⁵⁵ liːu̯²¹ lyːn²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hue³³ liau²⁴⁻²² luan⁴¹/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ luan³³/

/ɡan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ luan³³/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ faː⁵⁵ liːu̯²¹ lyːn²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hue³³ liau²⁴⁻²² luan⁴¹/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ luan³³/

/ɡan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ luan³³/

to be dazzled and bewildered by the sight of something


眼不見為淨

(if the) eye does not see (it, it) is clean

ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

яньбуцзяньвэйцзин

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/

/ŋaːn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind

to turn a blind eye to something; out of sight, out of mind


don't get someone started

"Do you know what the veterinary bill was?" / "Oh, don't get me started."

Don't get him started on conspiracy theories, or you'll never hear the end of it!

(idiomatic) Used to attempt to avoid or abbreviate a discussion that speaker or hearer may wish to avoid.


第一把交椅

ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ ㄅㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄧˇ

дии ба цзяои

/ti⁵¹ i⁵⁵ pä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ paː³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ jiː³⁵/

/tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ paː³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ jiː³⁵/


祭神如神在

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄗㄞˋ

цзи шэнь жу шэнь цзай

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

Literally: worship the gods as if they were standing right next to someone


粗茶淡飯

ㄘㄨ ㄔㄚˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄈㄢˋ

цучаданьфань

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː²¹ taːm²² faːn²²/

/t͡sʰu²⁴ t͡sʰa¹¹ tʰam²⁴⁻¹¹ fan⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰou³³⁻²³ te⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tã³⁵⁻¹¹ puŋ¹¹/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː²¹ taːm²² faːn²²/

/t͡sʰu²⁴ t͡sʰa¹¹ tʰam²⁴⁻¹¹ fan⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰou³³⁻²³ te⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tã³⁵⁻¹¹ puŋ¹¹/

to lead a simple life; to live without fancy food or drink


and then some

It created a disruption, and then some.

“Space travel isn’t a tax-free holiday for the wealthy,” said Representative Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon. “We pay taxes on plane tickets. Billionaires flying into space — producing no scientific value — should do the same, and then some!”

2021 July 20, Neil Vigdor, quoting Earl Blumenauer, “Bezos thanks Amazon workers and customers for his vast wealth, prompting backlash.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

I told you that we faced a generation-defining moment, and that we as a society would not be judged by some government action, but by the small acts of kindness that we showed one another. You met that challenge, and then some, and I've never been prouder to be British.

2024 May 22, Rishi Sunak, UK PM election statement:

Case in point: Her 2019 When We All Fall Asleep Tour has an estimated total gross of $18 million while her 2022 Happier Than Ever Tour reportedly made *checks notes* $131.8 million. ¶ Oh, and she's on track to make that (and then some!) again on her upcoming HIT ME HARD AND SOFT Tour. We simply love to see it.

2024 September 4, Mehera Bonner, Samantha Olson, “Behold, A Breakdown of Billie Eilish's Massive Net Worth”, in Cosmopolitan:

(idiomatic, colloquial) Used to confirm preceding utterance, while implying that what was said or asked is an understatement.


շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի

head

շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի

շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի • (šnorhavor Nor Tari)

[ʃ(ə)noɾɑvóɾ noɾ tɑɾí]

[ʃ(ə)noɾɑvóɾ noɾ dɑɾí]


眼睛長在頭頂上

ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓㄤˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄕㄤˋ

yen³-ching¹ chang³ tsai⁴ tʻou²-ting³ shang⁴

яньцзин чжан цзай тоудин шан

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

to regard everyone as beneath one's notice


CRS

I dunno. To use those Windows keys successfully, you have to memorize stuff and as most everyone knows, I CRS <G>

2000 October 22, Ron Badour, “Re: Large icons, large screen”, in microsoft.public.win95.general.discussion (Usenet):

(Internet slang) Initialism of can't remember shit.


術業有專攻

ㄕㄨˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ

шу е ю чжуаньгун

/ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

From: 聞道有先後，術業有專攻

to possess a knowledge of a special skill


逐水草而居

ㄓㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄘㄠˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄩ

zhú shuǐcǎo ér jū [Phonetic:zhúshuícǎoérjū]

чжу шуйцао эр цзюй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

Literally: to live by following the water and grass


閉門造車

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄗㄠˋ ㄔㄜ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄗㄠˋ ㄐㄩ

бимэньцзаочэ

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

бимэньцзаоцзюй

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sou̯²² kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁻⁵³ bun²⁴⁻²² t͡so²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰia⁴⁴/

/pi²¹⁻⁴¹ mŋ̍²³⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴/

/pi¹¹⁻⁵³ mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sou̯²² kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁻⁵³ bun²⁴⁻²² t͡so²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰia⁴⁴/

/pi²¹⁻⁴¹ mŋ̍²³⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴/

/pi¹¹⁻⁵³ mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴/

After the men's basketball team for China lost at the hands of Greece, Yao Ming did not become angry. Instead, he offered his own opinion, which cut right to the heart of the matter, "It will always be like this if we operate in a vacuum, and are forever only playing local league games in our own country. We need to let them go abroad to compete. It's not about individual teams going abroad. Rather, it's about individual team members going abroad and fighting their way onto the teams of other countries. That's the only way we'll be able raise the level of our basketball as a whole.

2006: 宇争 (Yu Zheng), 中肯提出意见 姚明:请别再闭门造车 (Yao Ming's opinion hits home: "Please don't operate in a vacuum anymore")

Zài Zhōngguó nánlán bài zài Xīlà duì jiǎoxià hòu, Yáo Míng bìng méiyǒu fāhuǒ, érshì zhōngkěn dì tíchū le zìjǐ de yìjiàn, tā shuō: “Bìménzàochē dǎ guónèi de liánsài yǒngyuǎn dōu shì zhèyàng, bìxū ràng tāmen chūqù dǎ bǐsài, bùshì yīge yīge duì de chūqù, érshì yīge yīge duìyuán de chūqù, shā rù wàimiàn měi yīge duì. Zhèyàng, wǒmen de lánqiú zhěngtǐ shuǐzhǔn cái yǒu kěnéng tíshēng.”

在中國男籃敗在希臘隊腳下後，姚明並沒有發火，而是中肯地提出了自己的意見，他說：“閉門造車打國內的聯賽永遠都是這樣，必須讓他們出去打比賽，不是一個一個隊的出去，而是一個一個隊員的出去，殺入外面每一個隊。這樣，我們的籃球整體水準才有可能提升。”

在中国男篮败在希腊队脚下后，姚明并没有发火，而是中肯地提出了自己的意见，他说：“闭门造车打国内的联赛永远都是这样，必须让他们出去打比赛，不是一个一个队的出去，而是一个一个队员的出去，杀入外面每一个队。这样，我们的篮球整体水准才有可能提升。”

do something irrespective of external circumstances; to operate in a vacuum


頂天立地

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ lɐp̚² tei̯²²/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ laːp̚² tei̯²²/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ lɐp̚² tei̯²²/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ laːp̚² tei̯²²/

Literally: stand upright on one's two legs between heaven and earth

fiercely independent; of indomitable spirit; fear nothing on earth; undertake a Herculean task; upstanding and dauntless


博學強記

ㄅㄛˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɔːk̚³ hɔːk̚² kʰœːŋ²¹ kei̯³³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɔːk̚³ hɔːk̚² kʰœːŋ²¹ kei̯³³/

to have a lot of knowledge and a good memory


фтопку

фто́пку! • (ftópku!)

фто́пку! (canonical)
ftópku! (romanization)

Deliberate misspelling of в то́пку (v tópku, literally “into the furnace”).


悲歡歲月

ㄅㄟ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ

бэйхуаньсуйюэ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

all the good and bad things that happened in the past; the old days; back in the day


惡人先告狀

ㄜˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄍㄠˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

эжэнь сянь гаочжуан

/ˀɤ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːk̚³ jɐn²¹ siːn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ t͡sɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/oʔ³³ n̠ʲin³³ ɕi⁴⁴ kɔ⁴⁴ zɑ̃²³/

/ɔːk̚³ jɐn²¹ siːn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ t͡sɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/oʔ³³ n̠ʲin³³ ɕi⁴⁴ kɔ⁴⁴ zɑ̃²³/

the bad guy is the first to sling accusations

the guilty party filing a suit first, to pre-empt action by the victim


go fly a kite

A guy came to my door selling some weird coupon subscription. I told him to go fly a kite.

(informal, idiomatic, chiefly imperative) To go away; get lost; leave.


插翅難飛

even with wings it would be difficult to fly away

ㄔㄚ ㄔˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄟ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ nän³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sʰiː³³ naːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ nän³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sʰiː³³ naːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/


惡向膽邊生

ㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄉㄢˇ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ

э сян дань бянь шэн

/ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ɔːk̚³ hœːŋ³³ taːm³⁵ piːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ɔːk̚³ hœːŋ³³ taːm³⁵ piːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

From the proverb: 怒從心上起，惡向膽邊生／怒从心上起，恶向胆边生.

zh-l

怒從心上起，惡向膽邊生／怒从心上起，恶向胆边生

A guy was taking his wife home after a night of drinking, when an empty taxicab in front of them saw a customer on the side of the road, and slammed on his breaks. The wife was not wearing a seatbelt, so her head slammed into the windshield, and she was hurt badly! The driver lost it, and got out of the car along with his buddy, and started beating up the taxicab driver. They laid him out after only a few punches, but then a cop car came, so they split!

2006: anon., 酒后坏事 (Terrible deeds after drinking too much)

Jiǔ hòu zǎi zhù tóng zuì de qī huíjiā, qiánmiàn kōng zǎi chūzūchē jiàn dào lùbiān yǒu kè, tūrán jíchà, qī yīn wú guà ānquándài, yītóu zhuàng xiàng dǎngfēngbōlí, hěn shāng! Jí èxiàngdǎnbiānshēng, yǔ yǒurén xiàchē zhuī dǎ deshìlǎo, lìng qí sān quán dǎodì, zuìhòu jǐngchē dào, táo!

酒後載著同醉的妻回家，前面空載出租車見到路邊有客，突然急剎，妻因無掛安全帶，一頭撞向擋風玻璃，很傷！即惡向膽邊生，與友人下車追打的士佬，令其三拳倒地，最後警車到，逃！

酒后载著同醉的妻回家，前面空载出租车见到路边有客，突然急刹，妻因无挂安全带，一头撞向挡风玻璃，很伤！即恶向胆边生，与友人下车追打的士佬，令其三拳倒地，最后警车到，逃！

to be so angry, that one reacts badly without even thinking; to lose it; to lose one's temper


曾經滄海難為水

ㄘㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄘㄤ ㄏㄞˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

tsʻêng² ching¹ tsʻang¹-hai³ nan² wei² shui³

цэн цзин цанхай нань вэй шуй

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Mencius said, "Having climbed the East Peak (of Mount Tai), Lu seemed small to Confucius. Having climbed to the top of Mount Tai, the whole world below seemed small. Those who have seen the ocean will have difficulty taking rivers seriously.

Mèngzǐ yuē: Kǒngzǐ dēng Dōngshān ér xiǎo Lǔ, dēng Tàishān ér xiǎo tiānxià. Gù guān yú hǎi zhě nán wèi shuǐ.

孟子曰：孔子登東山而小魯，登泰山而小天下。故觀於海者難為水。

孟子曰：孔子登东山而小鲁，登泰山而小天下。故观于海者难为水。

Having crossed the vast oceans, I can no longer take a river seriously. If it's not on Mount Wushan, it's not a cloud. I don't care to look back on my leisurely walks among the flowers and shrubs, half due to religious devotion, and half due to you.

c. 779 - 831: Yuan Zhen, Missing you (part four of five) (離思五首（其四）) (Wiktionary translation)

Céng jīng cānghǎi nán wèi shuǐ, chúquè Wūshān bùshì yún. Qǔcì huācóng lǎn huígù, bàn yuán xiūdào bàn yuán jūn.

曾經滄海難為水，除卻巫山不是雲。取次花叢懶回顧，半緣修道半緣君。

曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云。取次花丛懒回顾，半缘修道半缘君。

2001: Zhong Jin (仲进) ed., 曾经沧海难为水亚洲首富李兆基徘徊于房地产陷阱 (headline of a news article)

Been there, done that ... Asia's richest man, Li Zhaoji, avoids being sucked into the real estate

céngjīngcānghǎinánwèishuǐ yàzhōu shǒu fù lǐ zhào jī páihuái yú fángdìchǎn xiànjǐng

曾經滄海難為水亞洲首富李兆基徘徊於房地產陷阱

曾经沧海难为水亚洲首富李兆基徘徊于房地产陷阱

been there, done that
been there, done that


ladies first

A phrase encouraging perceived polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men


惺惺相惜

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧ

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧˊ

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

to have a friendship based on intellectual compatibility


ինչպես եք

head

ինչպե՞ս եք • (inčʻpes ekʻ)

ինչպե՞ս եք (canonical)
inčʻpes ekʻ (romanization)

(somewhat formal) how are you? (polite or plural)


ինչպես ես

ինչպե՞ս ես • (inčʻpes es)

ինչպե՞ս ես (canonical)
inčʻpes es (romanization)

(somewhat formal) how are you? (singular)


無所遁形

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ən⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tɵn²² jɪŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ən⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tɵn²² jɪŋ²¹/


畫虎不成反類犬

to try to draw a tiger and end up with the likeness of a dog

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄢˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄑㄩㄢˇ

хуа ху бучэн фань лэй цюань

/xu̯ä⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːk̚² fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ faːn³⁵ lɵy̯²² hyːn³⁵/


無心插柳柳成蔭

unwittingly plant a willow tree which later provides shade

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧㄣˋ

wúxīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yìn [Phonetic:wúxīnchāliúliǔchéngyìn]

усинь ча лю лю чэн инь

/u³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːp̚³ lɐu̯¹³ lɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ jɐm³³/

to do something which unintentionally returns positive results

有心栽花花不開，無心插柳柳成蔭／有心栽花花不开，无心插柳柳成荫

yǒuxīn zāi huā huā bù kāi, wúxīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yìn


無何有之鄉

ㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄤ

/u³⁵ xɤ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ xɤ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

You, Sir, have a large tree and are troubled because it is of no use - why do you not plant it in a tract where there is nothing else, or in a wide and barren wild? There you might saunter idly by its side, or in the enjoyment of untroubled ease sleep beneath it.

Jīn zǐ yǒu dàshù, huàn qí wúyòng, hé bù shù zhī yú wúhéyǒuzhīxiāng, guǎngmò zhī yě, pánghuáng hū wúwéi qí cè, xiāoyáo hū qǐnwò qí xià?

今子有大樹，患其無用，何不樹之於無何有之鄉，廣莫之野，彷徨乎無為其側，逍遙乎寢臥其下？

今子有大树，患其无用，何不树之于无何有之乡，广莫之野，彷徨乎无为其侧，逍遥乎寝卧其下？


無用武之地

ㄨˊ ㄩㄥˋ ㄨˇ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

у юнъу чжи ди

/u³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/u³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

Literally: (a hero) has no place to use his weapons

there is no place where one's talents can be displayed


YGWYPF

you get what you pay for
you get what you pay for#English


登泰山而小天下

ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

têng¹ Tʻai⁴-shan¹ êrh² hsiao³ tʻien¹-hsia⁴

дэн Тайшань эр сяо тянься

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

Mencius said, "Having climbed the East Peak (of Mount Tai), Lu seemed small to Confucius. Having climbed to the top of Mount Tai, the whole world below seemed small.

Mèngzǐ yuē: Kǒngzǐ dēng Dōngshān ér xiǎo Lǔ, dēng Tàishān ér xiǎo tiānxià.

孟子曰：孔子登東山而小魯，登泰山而小天下。

孟子曰：孔子登东山而小鲁，登泰山而小天下。


發憤忘食

ㄈㄚ ㄈㄣˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕˊ

/fä⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/faːt̚³ fɐn¹³ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

/fä⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/faːt̚³ fɐn¹³ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

to study or work hard, neglecting one's meals; be so immersed in work as to forget one's meals


guuu-wi

→ English: cooee


BOGO

(chiefly US) Acronym of buy one, get one (free).


it is what it is

That every thing has a real constitution, whereby it is what it is, and on which its sensible qualities depend, is past doubt.

1690, John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding:

(literally, sometimes philosophical) This thing has its own distinct nature; this thing is itself.

Unfortunately the insurance doesn't cover that. Sorry, but it is what it is.

I shall not criticize the Treaty of Versailles. It is a fact. It is what it is.

1926 March 8, “La Semaine du Parlement”, in Time:

I would prefer to start further up than where I am, but it is what it is and we'll just go out there and get to work.

2005 November 20, Viv Bernstein, “Stewart Poised to Head Onto Road Less Traveled”, in New York Times, retrieved 2008-07-24:

Air Force One comin' in through the gate
Johnson sworn in at 2:38
Let me know when you decide to throw in the towel
It is what it is, and it's murder most foul

(idiomatic) Synonym of that's life: A phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances, usually without complaint; Thus meaning: this circumstance is simply a fact and must be accepted or dealt with as it exists.

that's life

This circumstance is simply a fact and must be accepted

niin se vain on

(by extension) Synonym of let it be: that is, because this concern is a constraint rather than a problem that can be solved (see "Lord grant us the wisdom to know the difference"), further analysis and discussion of it is unproductive, so let it be; accept the fact and let the matter rest.

let it be

But more important, while I am aware that "it is what it is" can be used in the "que sera sera" way, I do not agree that my interpretation of it is therefore incorrect. Rather, it is an example of how common it is in language for words and expressions to have more than one meaning, despite the fact that we rarely notice it. […] Regarding my troubles, he detachedly intoned, "Well, it is what it is." […] I recounted thinking: What a gorgeously chilly way of saying "Your problems don't matter to me." He was not using the phrase's other, "que sera sera" meaning, counseling me to accept how things unfold in a Zen-like way. / Those who think of the Zen version of "it is what it is" aren't wrong, however: It is often used that way when referring to oneself, for example. But those who agree with me that the expression can be dismissive are also correct in thinking of dismissive exchanges such as my own. "It is what it is" has two meanings. / The issue here is language change. The expression "it is what it is" began as counsel about coping. However, an implication floats over the proactive, constructive intent of the phrase: its element of distance, coolness, indifference. Implications like this can take over the word or expression's meaning and create either a new meaning or at least an alternative, 2.0 version.

2023 September 12, John McWhorter, “What Is 'It Is What It Is'?”, in New York Times, retrieved 2023-09-13:

(by extension, sometimes) Synonym of who cares or synonym of I don't care


量入為出

ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄨ

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ²² jɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ²² jɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 5 (《禮記·王制》)

The chief minister determined the expenditure of the states, and it was the rule that he should do so at the close of the year. When the five kinds of grain had all been gathered in, he then determined the expenditure - according to the size of each territory, as large or small, and the returns of the year, as abundant or poor. On the average of thirty years he determined the expenditure, regulating the outgoing by the income. A tenth of the (year's) expenditure was for sacrifices.

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

Zhǒngzǎi zhì guóyòng, bì yú suì zhī miǎo, wǔgǔ jiē rù ránhòu zhì guóyòng. Yòng dì xiǎodà, shì nián zhī fēnghào. Yǐ sānshí nián zhī tōng zhì guóyòng, liàng rù yǐ wéi chū, jì yòng shù zhī lè.

冢宰制國用，必於歲之杪，五穀皆入然後制國用。用地小大，視年之豐耗。以三十年之通制國用，量入以為出，祭用數之仂。

冢宰制国用，必于岁之杪，五谷皆入然后制国用。用地小大，视年之丰耗。以三十年之通制国用，量入以为出，祭用数之仂。

年轻白领理财的首要是要量入为出，强制储蓄。 [MSC, simp.]
Niánqīng báilǐng lǐcái de shǒuyào shì yào liàngrùwéichū, qiángzhì chǔxù. [Pinyin]

2005: Shenzhen Business News staff, Shenzhen Business News 年輕白領理財的首要是要量入為出，強制儲蓄。 [MSC, trad.]

The most important thing for young white-collar workers, in terms of managing money, is to make ends meet and to focus on saving.

make ends meet; adjust one's expense to one's income; base one's expenditures upon one's income


月光族

/ɥɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/jyːt̚² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚²/

/ɦyɪʔ¹¹ kuɑ̃²² zoʔ²³/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/jyːt̚² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚²/

/ɦyɪʔ¹¹ kuɑ̃²² zoʔ²³/

Reanalysis of 月光 (yuèguāng, “moonlight”) as 一到月底就把零用錢用光光／一到月底就把零用钱用光光 ("to spend all of one's spare cash by the end of the month") + 族 (zú, “a category of people”).

live paycheck to paycheck
live paycheck to paycheck


黃鼠狼給雞拜年——沒安好心

黃鼠狼給雞拜年——沒安好心

黄鼠狼给鸡拜年——没安好心

The weasel pays the chicken a courtesy call on New Year's Day ― he does not have good intentions!

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄌㄤˊ ㄍㄟˇ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄞˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

ㄇㄟˊ ㄢ ㄏㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

хуаншулан гэй цзи байнянь

мэй ань хаосинь

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑŋ³⁵ keɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ syː³⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ kʰɐp̚⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ paːi̯³³ niːn²¹ muːt̚² ɔːn⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

wolf in sheep's clothing
wolf in sheep's clothing

(xiehouyu) Greeks bearing gifts; wolf in sheep's clothing


開門七件事

ㄎㄞ ㄇㄣˊ ㄑㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ

каймэнь ци цзянь ши

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ kiːn²² siː²²/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ kiːn²² siː²²/

From a poem in the Yuan Dynasty dynasty play 劉行首／刘行首.

the seven items (needed) for going into business (firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea)


亂點鴛鴦譜

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄩㄢ ㄧㄤ ㄆㄨˇ

луань дянь юаньянпу

/lu̯än⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄩㄢ ㄧㄤ ㄆㄨˇㄦ

луаньдяньюаньянпур

/lu̯än⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰuɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

* 1626: Feng Menglong, Common sayings for the ages, Chapter eight, Prefecture Chief Qiao arbitrarily fills out the marriage contracts (醒世恆言/第08卷 喬太守亂點鴛鴦譜)
* A chapter from a novel written in vernacular Mandarin in the Ming Dynasty. The novel is a collection of humorous folktales.
* Chapter eight synopsis:
*: In the Song Dynasty, the Liu family had one daughter and one son. The son (Liu Pu) was betrothed to Sun Zhuyi, while the daughter (Liu Huiniang) was betrothed to the Pei Zheng. When Liu Pu got sick, Sun Zhuyi's widowed mother worried that she would have to pay the dowry, only to have her son-in-law die of an illness soon after the marriage. A plan was hatched to send her own son (Sun Yulang), disguised as her daughter, to the Liu's. If Liu Pu's health did not improve within three days, Sun Yulang was to return home, and no dowry would be paid. Since Liu Pu was too ill to spend the wedding night with his new "bride," it was agreed that Liu Pu's sister (Liu Huiniang) would take his place. Sun Yuliang, still disguised as his sister, was smitten with Liu Huiniang, and took advantage of her that night in the bridal chamber. When Pei Zheng's father discovered what had happened, he became outraged, and filed a complaint with Prefecture Chief Qiao. After hearing from all parties, Prefecture Chief Qiao decided to solve the problem by decreeing that Sun Yulang give up his betrothal to Xu Wenge, so that she could marry Pei Zheng. Sun Yuliang would then marry Liu Huiniang, and Sun Zhuyi would marry Liu Pu.

lang

醒世恆言/第08卷 喬太守亂點鴛鴦譜

醒世恆言/第08卷 喬太守亂點鴛鴦譜

The unique creativity and superb abilities of foreign hardware fanatics has always received high praise from domestic gamers. However, some innovations truly defy description. For example, one can't help but getting the sense that the mod design of the computer mouse below, euphemistically called "LogiNoki" by its creator, is an odd pairing. Its creator paired the Nokia 6610 cellphone with the Logitech G5 computer mouse by taking the screen and the control chip from the 6610, and inserting it into the "guts" of the G5. This combination produces a computer mouse with an LCD screen.

2006, 乐天 (Le Tian), 乱点鸳鸯谱 诺基亚6610塞进罗技G5里 (An odd pair ... Nokia 6610 inserted into Logitech G5)

Guówài de yìngtǐ fāshāoyǒu dútè de chuàngyì hé gāochāo de dòngshǒu nénglì, yīxiàng wéi guónèi wánjiā suǒ chēngdào. Bùguò yǒu xiē gǎizào kànqǐlái quèshí yǒu xiē bùlúnbùlèi, bǐfāng shuō xiàmiàn zhège bèi zuòzhě měiqímíngyuē “LogiNoki” de huáshǔ MOD zuòpǐn, jiù gěi rén yīzhǒng luàn diǎn yuānyāngpǔ de gǎnjué, zuòzhě ràng Nuòjīyà 6610 shǒujī hé Luójì G5 huáshǔ còu chéng le yīduì, jiāng 6610 de yíngmù hé kòngzhì jīngpiàn chāi xià sāi jìn G5 de “dùzi” lǐ, zǔhé chéng yīge dài LCD yíngmù de huáshǔ.

國外的硬體發燒友獨特的創意和高超的動手能力，一向為國內玩家所稱道。不過有些改造看起來確實有些不倫不類，比方說下面這個被作者美其名曰「LogiNoki」的滑鼠MOD作品，就給人一種亂點鴛鴦譜的感覺，作者讓諾基亞6610手機和羅技G5滑鼠湊成了一對，將6610的螢幕和控制晶片拆下塞進G5的「肚子」裡，組合成一個帶LCD螢幕的滑鼠。

国外的硬体发烧友独特的创意和高超的动手能力，一向为国内玩家所称道。不过有些改造看起来确实有些不伦不类，比方说下面这个被作者美其名曰「LogiNoki」的滑鼠MOD作品，就给人一种乱点鸳鸯谱的感觉，作者让诺基亚6610手机和罗技G5滑鼠凑成了一对，将6610的萤幕和控制晶片拆下塞进G5的「肚子」里，组合成一个带LCD萤幕的滑鼠。

an arbitrary pairing of two people or two things; an odd pairing


嗤之以鼻

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pei̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pei̯²²/

turn up one's nose; to scoff at; to sneer; to deride; to pooh-pooh


債臺高築

ㄓㄞˋ ㄊㄞˊ ㄍㄠ ㄓㄨˋ

ㄓㄞˋ ㄊㄞˊ ㄍㄠ ㄓㄨˊ

чжайтайгаочжу

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/t͡saːi̯³³ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/t͡saːi̯³³ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

From the legend of King Nan of Zhou, the last king of Zhou dynasty, who hid himself on a platform in the palace to avoid people demanding him to pay back the debt for wars, as quoted in the Book of Han

Zì yōu, píng zhī hòu, rì yǐ língyí, zhì hū èqū héluò zhījiān, fēnwèi èr zhōu, yǒu táo zhài zhī tái, bèi qiè tiě zhī yán.

自幽、平之後，日以陵夷，至虖阸䧢河洛之間，分為二周，有逃責之臺，被竊鐵之言。

自幽、平之后，日以陵夷，至呼阸𨸟河洛之间，分为二周，有逃责之台，被窃铁之言。

up to one's eyeballs
up to one's eyeballs

be up to one's eyeballs in debt; racked with debt


愛莫能助

ㄞˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄓㄨˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² nɐŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² nɐŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/


好高騖遠

ㄏㄠˋ ㄍㄠ ㄨˋ ㄩㄢˇ

хаогао’уюань

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

bite off more than one can chew
bite off more than one can chew


惹事生非

ㄖㄜˇ ㄕˋ ㄕㄥ ㄈㄟ

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɛː¹³ siː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɛː¹³ siː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

to incur unnecessary trouble; to stir up ill will


愁眉不展

ㄔㄡˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢˇ

чоумэйбучжань

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯²¹ mei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯²¹ mei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵/


暗暗自責

ㄢˋ ㄢˋ ㄗˋ ㄗㄜˊ

ань ань цзы цзэ

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/


源源不絕

ㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

юаньюаньбуцзюэ

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡suat̚²⁴/

/ɡuan¹³⁻²² ɡuan¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡suat̚¹²¹/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/ɡuan²³⁻³³ ɡuan²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/ɡuan²³⁻³³ ɡuan²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

to flow continuously without stopping; a stream; a continuous flow


歲月不饒人

ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄠˊ ㄖㄣˊ

суйюэ бу жаожэнь

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/


مال

māl (romanization)
مال
مالي (first-person singular)
مالنا (first-person plural)
مالك (masculine second-person singular)
مالك (feminine second-person singular)
مالكم (plural second-person)
ماله (masculine singular third-person)
مالها (feminine singular third-person)
مالهم (plural third-person)

ajp-prep-inflection

مالها (mālha)

مالنا (mālna)

(شو) مالك؟
(šū) mālak?
What's wrong with you?

(شو) مال أحمد؟
(šū) māl ʔaḥmad?
What's up with Ahmad?

ماله الحمار؟


損人不利己

ㄙㄨㄣˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧˇ

sǔnrén bù lìjǐ [Phonetic:sǔnrén bú lìjǐ]

суньжэнь бу лицзи

/su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/syːn³⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²² kei̯³⁵/

/syːn³⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²² kei̯³⁵/

cut off one's nose to spite one's face
cut off one's nose to spite one's face

to harm others without gaining anything in the process; to cut off one's nose to spite one's face


當之無愧

ㄉㄤ ㄓ ㄨˊ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯¹³/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯¹³/

to merit the reward; to be deserving; to be a good pick


腦滿腸肥

ㄋㄠˇ ㄇㄢˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄈㄟˊ

наоманьчанфэй

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/


睜眼說瞎話

ㄓㄥ ㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄒㄧㄚ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

чжэн янь шо сяхуа

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

There is research based on crime rate data that shows the death penalty can deter murder, but death penalty opponents say research shows that the death penalty can’t deter murder, aren’t they lying blatantly?

Míngmíng yǒu jīyú fànzuìlǜ shùjù de yánjiū zhīchí sǐxíng kě xiàzǔ móushā, fèisǐ què shuō yánjiū rènwèi sǐxíng bùnéng xiàzǔ móushā, zhè bùshì zhēngyǎnshuōxiāhuà ma?

明明有基於犯罪率數據的研究支持死刑可嚇阻謀殺，廢死卻說研究認為死刑不能嚇阻謀殺，這不是睜眼說瞎話嗎？

明明有基于犯罪率数据的研究支持死刑可吓阻谋杀，废死却说研究认为死刑不能吓阻谋杀，这不是睁眼说瞎话吗？

to lie; to talk nonsense; to tell stories


萬象更新

ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

ваньсянгэнсинь

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²² kɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²² kɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

everything has been completely renovated


聖誕快樂

ㄕㄥˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄜˋ

Шэндань куайлэ

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ³³ taːn³³ faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰuai²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔk̚⁴/

/siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰuai¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ³³ taːn³³ faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰuai²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔk̚⁴/

/siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰuai¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/


först till kvarn

Ellipsis of först till kvarn får först mala. Literally, “first to the mill [gets to grind first]”, a principle found throughout Germanic people regarding the usage of mills.

ellipsis

first come, first served
first come, first served


落落大方

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄤ

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/


落花有意，流水無情

the flower that falls (into the stream) has the desire, but the stream has no feelings (for the flower)

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧˋ

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/


落荒而逃

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄤ ㄦˊ ㄊㄠˊ

лохуанъэртао

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/loʔ⁴⁻² huaŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ to⁵⁵/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/loʔ⁴⁻² huaŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ to⁵⁵/


落井下石

to throw stones at someone who fell down a well

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˊ

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ haː²² sɛːk̚²/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ haː²² sɛːk̚²/

kick someone when they are down
kick someone when they are down


祝你好運

ㄓㄨˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄏㄠˇ ㄩㄣˋ

чжу ни хаоюнь

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ nei̯¹³ hou̯³⁵ wɐn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ nei̯¹³ hou̯³⁵ wɐn²²/


畫龍點睛

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (畫龍點睛):
* → Japanese: 画竜点睛(がりょうてんせい) (garyōtensei)
* → Korean: 화룡점정(畵龍點睛) (hwaryongjeomjeong)

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

хуалундяньцзин

/xu̯ä⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² lʊŋ²¹ tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² lʊŋ²¹ tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

Furthermore, [the sixth-century painter Zhang Sengyou] drew four dragons in the Anle Temple at Jinling, but did not dot in the eyes. He said: "If I dot them in, they shall fly away." People thought this was absurd, and so asked him to dot them in. At an instant, thunder and lightning broke through the walls, and two of the dragons ascended the clouds to rise to the heavens. The ones which had not had their eyes dotted in were still there.

Yòu Jīnlíng Ānlèsì huà sì lóng, bù diǎnjīng. Yún: diǎn zhī jí fēi qù. Rén yǐwèi dàn, gù qǐng diǎn zhī. Xūyú, léidiàn pò bì, èr lóng chéngyún téng shàngtiān. Wèi diǎnjīng zhě xiàncún.

又金陵安樂寺畫四龍，不點睛。云：點之即飛去。人以為誕，固請點之。須臾，雷電破壁，二龍乘雲騰上天。未點睛者見存。

又金陵安乐寺画四龙，不点睛。云：点之即飞去。人以为诞，固请点之。须臾，雷电破壁，二龙乘云腾上天。未点睛者见存。

(figurative) something one step away from perfection

(figurative) to put on the finishing touches


first come, first served

This complicated situation means that strategically managing services through the central Manchester area and beyond is not possible for signallers in the Greater Manchester area, and trains are invariably dealt with on a 'first come, first served' basis.

2020 January 2, Philip Haigh, “Is there relief to congestion along Castlefield Corridor?”, in Rail, page 22:

(idiomatic) One will be dealt with in the order in which one arrives.

先到者，先招待

people will be dealt with in the order they arrive

den, der kommer først til mølle, får først malet

den som kommer først til mølla, får først malt

primeiro a chegar, primeiro a ser atendido

пе́рвым при́был — первым обслу́жен (pérvym príbyl — pervym obslúžen)


裡外不是人

ㄌㄧˇ ㄨㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄣˊ

lǐwài bùshì rén [Phonetic:lǐwài búshì rén]

ливай буши жэнь

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

I wouldn't get involved in this if I were you! You'll try to please all of them, but in the end, you'll please none of them.

Zhè jiàn shì nǐ háishì bié chāshǒu ba! Miǎndé dào zuìhòu lǐwàibùshìrén, hǎoxīnméihǎobào.

這件事你還是別插手吧！免得到最後裡外不是人，好心沒好報。

这件事你还是别插手吧！免得到最后里外不是人，好心没好报。

unable to make anybody happy; please none of them


խոսքը սար ու ձոր չգցել

head

խոսքը սար ու ձոր չգցել • (xoskʻə sar u jor čʻgcʻel)

/ˈχoskʰə sɑɾ u d͡zoɾ t͡ʃʰəɡəˈt͡sʰel/

[χóskʰə sɑɾ u d͡zoɾ t͡ʃʰəɡət͡sʰél]

[χóskʰə sɑɾ u t͡sʰoɾ t͡ʃʰəkʰət͡sʰél]

call a spade a spade
call a spade a spade

en-խոսքը_սար_ու_ձոր_չգցել-hy-phrase-xXx0~tE~


DYK

DYK that Ricky Ledee, son of the Sonora Poncena singer Tonito Ledee, who died in an automobile accident, is a promising baseball player in the New York Yankee top minor league team, Columbus?

1997, FFigue3292, “Did you know?”, in rec.music.afro-latin (Usenet):

(Internet, text messaging) Initialism of did you know?


雍容大方

ㄩㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄤ

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/