dayenu

Borrowed from Hebrew דַּיֵּנוּ (“it would have sufficed”): the title of a Passover song.

bor

Harriet Meyer, president of Ounce of Prevention, remembers him saying, with a dollop of Hebrew, "If only we can build a place where kids from chaotic communities can have a predictable, responsive place for the next five years, then dayenu—that would be enough."

2009, David L. Kirp, The Sandbox Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics:

I have many more adventures planned for the year and I'm brimming. But if I get no farther down the road than this one extraordinary walk among the rivers of home, then dayenu, it will have been enough.

2010, Kurt Hoelting, The Circumference of Home: One Man's Yearlong Quest for a Radically Local Life:

(in Jewish contexts) It will (or would) have been sufficient.


this is where we came in

Joe hit Paul, so Paul hit Joe, so Joe hit Paul, so Paul hit Joe, and this is where we came in.

(idiomatic) Said of a situation which has become repetitive.


痴人說夢

ㄔ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄇㄥˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ syːt̚³ mʊŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ syːt̚³ mʊŋ²²/


不分軒輊

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ ㄒㄩㄢ ㄓˋ

буфэньсюаньчжи

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/


皮裡陽秋

ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄡ

/pʰi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/


青燈黃卷

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

циндэнхуанцзюань

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/


舊雨新知

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄩˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓ

цзююйсиньчжи

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


斤斤計較

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзиньцзиньцзицзяо

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kaːu̯³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kaːu̯³³/

to fuss over minor matters; to split hairs


魂飛魄散

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄟ ㄆㄛˋ ㄙㄢˋ

хуньфэйпосань

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ saːn³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ saːn³³/

to be frightened stiff, spooked out of one's mind, terror-stricken


仰之彌高

ㄧㄤˇ ㄓ ㄇㄧˊ ㄍㄠ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

Yan Yuan, in admiration of the Master's doctrines, sighed and said, "I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I tried to penetrate them, and they seemed to become more firm; I looked at them before me, and suddenly they seemed to be behind.…

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

Yán Yuān kuìrán tàn yuē “yǎng zhī mí gāo, zuān zhī mí jiān, zhān zhī zài qián, hū yān zài hòu!......

顏淵喟然歎曰「仰之彌高，鑽之彌堅，瞻之在前，忽焉在後！……

颜渊喟然叹曰「仰之弥高，钻之弥坚，瞻之在前，忽焉在后！……

the more looked up at, the higher it seems


心懷叵測

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄆㄛˇ ㄘㄜˋ

синьхуайпоцэ

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

to harbour unfathomable motives; to have sinister intentions


文不加點

ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇ

вэньбуцзядянь

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵/

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵/

to write a flawless essay in one go; to be quick-witted and skilled at writing compositions


滿城風雨

ㄇㄢˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ

маньчэнфэнъюй

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siã²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siã²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹/


桑間濮上

ㄙㄤ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄆㄨˊ ㄕㄤˋ

санцзяньпушан

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ pʊk̚² sœːŋ²²/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ pʊk̚² sœːŋ²²/


甚囂塵上

ㄕㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄔㄣˊ ㄕㄤˋ

шэньсяочэньшан

/ʂən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹ sœːŋ²²/

/ʂən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹ sœːŋ²²/

Of late, however, the dust and din of compromise and anti-communism have once again filled the air, and once again the people are thrown into bewilderment.

1940, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《新民主主義論》 (On New Democracy), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Dànshì jìnlái de tuǒxié kōngqì, fǎngòng shēnglàng, hū yòu shènxiāochénshàng, yòu bǎ quánguó rénmín dǎrù mènhúlu lǐ le.

但是近來的妥協空氣，反共聲浪，忽又甚囂塵上，又把全國人民打入悶葫蘆裡了。

但是近来的妥协空气，反共声浪，忽又甚嚣尘上，又把全国人民打入闷葫芦里了。


食言而肥

ㄕˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ fei̯²¹/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hui²⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ pui²³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ fei̯²¹/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hui²⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ pui²³/


五福臨門

ㄨˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄇㄣˊ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ fʊk̚⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ fʊk̚⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

may the five blessings descend upon this home (namely: longevity, wealth, health, virtue and a natural death)


城門失火，殃及池魚

afire in the city gates is also a calamity for the fish in the moat

ㄔㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˊ ㄔˊ ㄩˊ

sing⁴ mun⁴ sat¹ fo², joeng¹ kap⁶ ci⁴ jyu⁴

чэнмэнь шихо

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵/

sing⁴ mun⁴ sat⁷ fo², joeng¹ kap⁹ tsi⁴ jy⁴

/sɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sɐt̚⁵ fɔː³⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚² t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹/

(figurative) to suffer as a bystander; to get caught in the crossfire


大快朵頤

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄉㄨㄛˇ ㄧˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ tɔː³⁵ jiː²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ tɔː³⁵ jiː²¹/


充耳不聞

to stuff one's ears and pretend not to hear

ㄔㄨㄥ ㄦˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˊ

чунъэрбувэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰoŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ buŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰoŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ buŋ³⁵/


如坐針氈

ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄣ ㄓㄢ

жуцзочжэньчжань

žuczočžɛnʹčžanʹ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵/


後來居上

ㄏㄡˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄐㄩ ㄕㄤˋ

хоулайцзюйшан

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³/

/hɔ²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/au³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ³³/

/au³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³/

/hɔ²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/au³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ³³/

/au³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

From a sarcastic comment by Ji An (汲黯) to the Emperor Wu of Han

The way Your Majesty manages your ministers is like nothing but keeping firewood in a pile: it is the late-comers that get the top position.

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

Bìxià yòng qúnchén rú jīxīn ěr, hòu lái zhě jū shàng.

陛下用群臣如積薪耳，後來者居上。

陛下用群臣如积薪耳，后来者居上。

the up-and-coming youngster outstrips the older generation; the pupil surpasses the master


名列前茅

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄠˊ

минлецяньмао

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ maːu̯²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ maːu̯²¹/


懷璧其罪

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

хуайбицицзуй

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯²²/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯²²/

The 3rd brother of the duke of Yu had a valuable piece of jade, which the duke asked of him. He refused it, but afterwards repented, saying, "There is the proverb in Zhou, 'A man may have no crime; — that he keeps his bi is his crime.' This jade is of no use to me; — shall I buy my hurt with it?" He then presented it to the duke.

Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Chū, Yú Shū yǒu yù, Yú Gōng qiú zhān. Fú xiàn. Jì ér huǐ zhī. Yuē: “Zhōu yàn yǒu zhī: ‘Pǐfū wú zuì, huái bì qí zuì.’ Wú yān yòng cǐ, qí yǐ gǔ hài yě?” Nǎi xiàn.

初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗獻。既而悔之。曰：「周諺有之：『匹夫無罪，懷璧其罪。』吾焉用此，其以賈害也？」乃獻。

初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗献。既而悔之。曰：「周谚有之：『匹夫无罪，怀璧其罪。』吾焉用此，其以贾害也？」乃献。

to get into trouble on account of a cherished item, fig. A person's talent will arouse the envy of others.


人盡可夫

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄨ

жэньцзинькэфу

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɵn²² hɔː³⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɵn²² hɔː³⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

(often derogatory, of a woman) having loose morals; being promiscuous


墓木已拱

ㄇㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥˇ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː¹³ kʊŋ³⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː¹³ kʊŋ³⁵/

Originally from a curse uttered by the Duke Mu of Qin to Jianshu

What do you know! Had you, old thing, died at an average age, trees by your grave would have grown larger trunks than what could be embraced with both arms!

Ěr hé zhī! Zhōngshòu, ěr mù zhī mù gǒng yǐ!

爾何知！中壽，爾墓之木拱矣！

尔何知！中寿，尔墓之木拱矣！


穩操勝券

ㄨㄣˇ ㄘㄠ ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ

вэньцаошэнцюань

/wən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ kyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ hyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ kyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ hyːn³³/

grasp it and victory is assured, to have success within one's grasp


平易近人

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ

пинъицзиньжэнь

/pʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ jiː²² kɐn²² jɐn²¹/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ jiː²² kɐn²² jɐn²¹/

amiable and approachable; easy-going, modest and unassuming

(of writing) plain and simple; easy to understand


壽比南山

ㄕㄡˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

шоубинаньшань

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² pei̯³⁵ naːm²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/siu³³⁻¹¹ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/siu³³⁻²¹ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lam²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/siu¹¹ pi⁵²⁻³⁵ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sũã³³/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² pei̯³⁵ naːm²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/siu³³⁻¹¹ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/siu³³⁻²¹ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lam²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/siu¹¹ pi⁵²⁻³⁵ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sũã³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 166 (《詩經·小雅·天保》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·天保》)

(《詩經·小雅·天保》)

Like the age of the southern hills, Never waning, never falling,
Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; May such be thy succeeding line!

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

Rú nánshān zhī shòu, bù qiān bù bēng.
Rú sōngbǎi zhī mào, wú bù ěr huò chéng.

如南山之壽，不騫不崩。
如松柏之茂，無不爾或承。

如南山之寿，不骞不崩。
如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。

[One's] life is as long-lasting as theZhongnan Mountains


背井離鄉

ㄅㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

бэйцзинлисян

/peɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/peɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

to leave one's native place and move elsewhere


玉樹臨風

ㄩˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄈㄥ

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ lin³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² syː²² lɐm²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ lin³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² syː²² lɐm²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

From the poem "飲中八仙歌" written by Du Fu (杜甫) during the Tang dynasty

Zōngzhī xiāosǎ měishàonián, jǔ shāng báiyǎn wàng qīngtiān, jiǎo rú yùshù lín fēng qián.

宗之瀟灑美少年，舉觴白眼望青天，皎如玉樹臨風前。

宗之潇洒美少年，举觞白眼望青天，皎如玉树临风前。

(of a male) to be extraordinarily talented and good-looking


司空見慣

ㄙ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

сыкунцзяньгуань

/sz̩⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kʷaːn³³/

/si³³⁻²³ kʰoŋ³³⁻²³ kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kuaŋ²¹³/

/sz̩⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kʷaːn³³/

/si³³⁻²³ kʰoŋ³³⁻²³ kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kuaŋ²¹³/

唐·孟棨《本事詩•情感》

Liú Shàngshū Yǔxī bà Hézhōu...... Lǐ Sīkōng bà zhèn zài jīng, mù Liú míng, cháng yāo zhì dì zhōng, hòu shè yǐnzhuàn. Jiǔ hān, mìng miàojì gē yǐ sòng zhī. Liú yú xí shàng fù shī yuē: ‘...... Chūnfēng yī qū “Dù Wéiniáng”. Sīkōng jiàn guàn hún xiánshì, duàn jìn Jiāngnán cìshǐ cháng.’

劉尚書禹錫罷和州……李司空罷鎮在京，慕劉名，嘗邀至第中，厚設飲饌。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。劉於席上賦詩曰：‘……春風一曲《杜韋娘》。司空見慣渾閑事，斷盡江南刺史腸。’

唐·孟棨《本事詩•情感》

刘尚书禹锡罢和州……李司空罢镇在京，慕刘名，尝邀至第中，厚设饮馔。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。刘于席上赋诗曰：‘……春风一曲《杜韦娘》。司空见惯浑闲事，断尽江南刺史肠。’


尾大不掉

ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯¹³ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

/bue⁵²⁻³⁵ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiau¹¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯¹³ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

/bue⁵²⁻³⁵ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiau¹¹/

末大必折，尾大不掉，君所知也。

a subordinate becomes too powerful for their superior to control


鐘鳴鼎食

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄕˊ

чжунминдинши

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪk̚²/

閭閻撲地，鐘鳴鼎食之家。

闾阎扑地，钟鸣鼎食之家。


遇人不淑

ㄩˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨ

ㄩˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨˊ

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

/jyː²² jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

/jyː²² jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

to be in a relationship with or marry a bad person


不欺暗室

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄢˋ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄢˋ ㄕˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


牝雞司晨

ㄆㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧ ㄙ ㄔㄣˊ

пиньцзисычэнь

/pʰin⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pʰɐn¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

/pʰin⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pʰɐn¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

Based on an ancient saying quoted in the Book of Documents:
*

The ancients have said, "The hen does not announce the morning. The crowing of a hen in the morning (indicates) the subversion of the family." Now Shou, the king of Shang, follows only the words of his wife.

The Book of Documents, circa 7ᵗʰ – 4ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Gǔrén yǒu yán yuē: ‘Pìnjī wú chén. Pìnjī zhī chén, wéi jiā zhī suǒ.’ Jīn Shāngwáng Shòu, wéi fùyán shì yòng.

古人有言曰：『牝雞無晨。牝雞之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟婦言是用。

古人有言曰：『牝鸡无晨。牝鸡之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟妇言是用。

(figurative, derogatory) a woman usurps authority, women meddle in politics, the female wears the trousers.

Book of Documents
Da Ji
King Zhou of Shang


兔死狐悲

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (兔死狐悲):
* → Korean: 토사호비(兎死狐悲) (tosahobi)

ja-r

兎死すれば狐これを悲しむ

うさぎ しすれば きつね これ を かなしむ

→ Japanese: 兎死(うさぎし)すれば狐(きつね)これを悲(かな)しむ (usagi shisureba kitsune kore o kanashimu) (calque)

ㄊㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄟ

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ wuː²¹ pei̯⁵⁵/

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ wuː²¹ pei̯⁵⁵/

(figurative) to have sympathy with a like-minded person in distress


順手牽羊

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄤˊ

шуньшоуцяньян

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɐu̯³⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²⁴/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɐu̯³⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²⁴/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³/

(figurative) to steal something under the cover of an emergency; to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain


咄咄怪事

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄕˋ

ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄕˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³ siː²²/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³ siː²²/

strange business; absurdity; extraordinary thing; paradoxical matter


集腋成裘

collect underarm fur (of a fox) to make a fur coat

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² jɪk̚² sɪŋ²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² jɪk̚² sɪŋ²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

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

many small contributions add up to something big; many a mickle makes a muckle


蒲柳之姿

ㄆㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄓ ㄗ

/pʰu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/pʰu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/


野心勃勃

ㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


不翼而飛

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚² jiː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ek̚⁴⁻² d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pue³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚² jiː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ek̚⁴⁻² d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pue³³/

Sound flies without wings; feelings are firm without roots.

Wú yì ér fēi zhě, shēng yě; wú gēn ér gù zhě, qíng yě.

無翼而飛者，聲也；無根而固者，情也。

无翼而飞者，声也；无根而固者，情也。

to be wingless and yet flying or airborne

spread like wildfire
spread like wildfire

(of news) to spread quickly; to spread like wildfire; to spread fast as if on wings

(of an object) to disappear suddenly; to disappear without a trace; to vanish into thin air


一言以蔽之

desc

→ Japanese: 一言以って之を蔽う (ichigen motte kore o ōu) (calque)

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄓ

yīyán yǐ bì zhī [Phonetic:yìyán yǐ bì zhī]

иянь и би чжи

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

The Master said, "In the Book of Poetry are three hundred pieces, but the design of them all may be embraced in one sentence — 'Having no depraved thoughts.'"

Zǐyuē: “Shī sānbǎi, yīyán yǐ bì zhī, yuē ‘sīwúxié’.”

子曰：「詩三百，一言以蔽之，曰『思無邪』。」

子曰：「诗三百，一言以蔽之，曰『思无邪』。」


女士優先

ㄋㄩˇ ㄕˋ ㄧㄡ ㄒㄧㄢ

/ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/nɵy̯¹³ siː²² jɐu̯⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

/ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/nɵy̯¹³ siː²² jɐu̯⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/


爭分奪秒

ㄓㄥ ㄈㄣ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄠˇ

чжэнфэньдомяо

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tyːt̚² miːu̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tyːt̚² miːu̯¹³/

to seize every minute; to race against time


分秒必爭

ㄈㄣ ㄇㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄥ

фэньмяобичжэн

/fən⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³ piːt̚⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² biau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/huŋ³³⁻²³ miau⁵²⁻³⁵ pik̚²⁻⁴ t͡sẽ³³/

/fən⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³ piːt̚⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² biau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/huŋ³³⁻²³ miau⁵²⁻³⁵ pik̚²⁻⁴ t͡sẽ³³/

to grasp every minute; to make full use of one's time


恬不知恥

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄔˇ

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


不虛此行

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩ ㄘ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

(figurative) it has been worthwhile; the journey has not been made in vain; the journey has been well worthwhile


名門望族

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄨˊ

минмэньванцзу

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊk̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊk̚²/


圍魏救趙

to besiege theState of Wei to rescue the State of Zhao

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄠˋ

вэйвэйцзючжао

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²² kɐu̯³³ t͡siːu̯²²/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²² kɐu̯³³ t͡siːu̯²²/

(figurative) to relieve a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers


暗渡陳倉

ㄢˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄘㄤ

аньдучэньцан

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²²⁻²¹ tin²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ³³⁻¹¹ tin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ³³⁻²¹ tin²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²²⁻²¹ tin²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ³³⁻¹¹ tin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ³³⁻²¹ tin²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

明修棧道，暗渡陳倉 明修棧道，暗渡陳倉#Chinese

明修栈道，暗渡陈仓 明修栈道，暗渡陈仓#Chinese

Short for 明修棧道，暗渡陳倉／明修栈道，暗渡陈仓 (míngxiūzhàndào, àndùchéncāng, “to do one thing under cover of another”).


偷樑換柱

to steal a rafter and replace it with a column

ㄊㄡ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨˋ

тоулянхуаньчжу

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wuːn²² t͡sʰyː¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wuːn²² t͡sʰyː¹³/

to replace the original with a fake; to perpetrate a fraud


明修棧道，暗渡陳倉

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄓㄢˋ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄢˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄘㄤ

ming⁴ sau¹ zaan⁶ dou⁶, am³ dou⁶ can⁴ cong¹

минсючжаньдао

аньдучэньцан

/miŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

mìhng sāu jaahn douh, am douh chàhn chōng

ming⁴ sau¹ dzaan⁶ dou⁶, am³ dou⁶ tsan⁴ tsong¹

ming⁴ seo¹ zan⁶ dou⁶, em³ dou⁶ cen⁴ cong¹

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡saːn²² tou̯²² ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Referring to a stratagem used by Liu Bang in 206 BC against Xiang Yu of Chu.

明修栈道，暗渡陈仓
明修棧道，暗度陳倉

repair the plank road openly while secretly crossing [the Wei River] at Chencang

to feign one thing while doing something else; to divert someone's attention towards something while secretly doing something else to achieve one's goal


指桑罵槐

to point at the mulberry tree and curse the pagoda tree

ㄓˇ ㄙㄤ ㄇㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ

чжисанмахуай

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ mä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ maː²² waːi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ mä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ maː²² waːi̯²¹/

to scold someone indirectly; to make oblique accusations


笑裡藏刀

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄘㄤˊ ㄉㄠ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːu̯³³ lɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːu̯³³ lɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

Li Yifu appeared to be mild and humble. When he was talking to others, he was always smiling. However, he was actually full of treachery and machinations. When he rose to power, he demanded people to follow him. He would set up anyone who violated his ideas. Therefore, people at that time said that he had knives in his smile, and he was also referred to as "Cat Li", referring to his insincere smiles.

Yìfǔ màozhuàng wēngōng, yǔ rén yǔ bì xīyí wēixiào, ér biǎnjì yīnzéi. Jì chù quányào, yù rén fù jǐ, wēi wǔ yì zhě, zhé jiā qīngxiàn. Gù shírén yán yìfǔ xiào zhōng yǒu dāo, yòu yǐ qí róu ér hài wù, yì wèi zhī “Lǐ māo”.

義府貌狀溫恭，與人語必嬉怡微笑，而褊忌陰賊。既處權要，欲人附己，微忤意者，輒加傾陷。故時人言義府笑中有刀，又以其柔而害物，亦謂之「李貓」。

义府貌状温恭，与人语必嬉怡微笑，而褊忌阴贼。既处权要，欲人附己，微忤意者，辄加倾陷。故时人言义府笑中有刀，又以其柔而害物，亦谓之「李猫」。

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

to act in a friendly manner with hypocritical intentions; to be a wolf in sheep's clothing


以逸待勞

ㄧˇ ㄧˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄌㄠˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐt̚² tɔːi̯²² lou̯²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐt̚² tɔːi̯²² lou̯²¹/

to wait at one's ease for the exhausted enemy; to nurture one's strength and bide one's time


蕭規曹隨

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄘㄠˊ ㄙㄨㄟˊ

сяогуйцаосуй

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

Xiao and Cao refer to Xiao He and Cao Shen, who are government officials of early Western Han dynasty. When Cao succeeded Xiao's position of grand chancellor, he adhered to Xiao's policies without amendments. First attested in Wen Xuan during Liang dynasty.

to strictly adhere to the policies of the predecessor, to follow precedent

Ministry of Education Mandarin Chinese Dictionary


借屍還魂

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄣˊ

цзешихуаньхунь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ siː⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan²⁴⁻²² hun²⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan¹³⁻²² hun¹³/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hun²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²³⁻³³ hun²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ siː⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan²⁴⁻²² hun²⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan¹³⁻²² hun¹³/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hun²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²³⁻³³ hun²³/

(figurative) a discarded or discredited idea returns in another guise


老驥伏櫪

ㄌㄠˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ fu³⁵ li⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ kʰei̯³³ fʊk̚² lɪk̚⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ fu³⁵ li⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ kʰei̯³³ fʊk̚² lɪk̚⁵/

The old steed over the manger still has the mind to do a thousand-li journey;
The heroic old man still cherishes lofty ambitions.

三國·魏·曹操《步出夏門行》

Lǎojì fúlì, zhì zài qiānlǐ; lièshì mùnián, zhuàngxīn bùyǐ.

老驥伏櫪，志在千里；烈士暮年，壯心不已。

三國·魏·曹操《步出夏門行》

老骥伏枥，志在千里；烈士暮年，壮心不已。

an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles

(figurative) an aged person with great aspirations


罄竹難書

ㄑㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

цинчжунаньшу

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ nän³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ naːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ nän³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ naːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

From Lüshi Chunqiu:
:
Another source is from Zu Junyan's letter of declaration of war against Emperor Yang of Sui on behalf of Li Mi, which was also quoted in the Old Book of Tang

These weird phenomena were due to political corruption. There were so many of them that it would not be enough to record all even if the bamboos in Jing (also known as Chu) and Yue states were used up.

Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE

Cǐ jiē luàn guó zhī suǒ shēng yě, bùnéng shēng shǔ, jìn Jīng, Yuè zhī zhú, yóu bùnéng shū.

此皆亂國之所生也，不能勝數，盡荊、越之竹，猶不能書。

此皆乱国之所生也，不能胜数，尽荆、越之竹，犹不能书。

Even using up the bamboos in Zhongnan Mountains would not be enough to write (Emperor Yang's) crimes; even using up the water in the East Sea would not be enough to wash away his crimes.

Qìng Nánshān zhī zhú, shū zuì wúqióng; jué Dōnghǎi zhī bō, liú è nán jìn.

罄南山之竹，書罪無窮；決東海之波，流惡難盡。

罄南山之竹，书罪无穷；决东海之波，流恶难尽。

so many that one cannot record all of them onbamboo slips even when they have been exhausted

Chu (state)
East China Sea
Emperor Yang of Sui
Li Mi (Sui Dynasty)
Lüshi Chunqiu
Old Book of Tang
Yue (state)
Zhongnan Mountains


道聽塗說

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (道聽塗說):
* → Japanese: 道(どう)聴(ちょう)塗(と)説(せつ) (dōchōtosetsu)
* → Korean: 도청도설(道聽塗說) (docheongdoseol)

ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄛ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ³³ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ³³ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

The Master said, "To tell, as we go along, what we have heard on the way, is to cast away our virtue."

Zǐyuē: “Dào tīng ér tú shuō, dé zhī qì yě.”

子曰：「道聽而塗說，德之棄也。」

子曰：「道听而涂说，德之弃也。」

道听涂说
道聽涂說
道聽途說
道聽途説/道听途说

to tell, as one go along, what they have heard on the way

The most ridiculous person in the world is the “know all” who picks up a smattering of hearsay knowledge and proclaims themselves “the world's Number One authority”; this merely shows that they have not taken a proper measure of themselves.

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

Shìshàng zuì kěxiào de shì nàxiē “zhīshi lǐshǒu”, yǒu le dàotīngtúshuō de yīzhībànjiě, biàn zìfēng wéi “tiānxiàdìyī”, shì zújiàn qí bùzìliàng éryǐ.

世上最可笑的是那些「知識裡手」，有了道聽塗說的一知半解，便自封為「天下第一」，適足見其不自量而已。

世上最可笑的是那些「知识里手」，有了道听涂说的一知半解，便自封为「天下第一」，适足见其不自量而已。


名門淑女

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨ ㄋㄩˇ

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨˊ ㄋㄩˇ

минмэньшунюй

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/


投筆從戎

to lay down the pen and take up the sword

ㄊㄡˊ ㄅㄧˇ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰeu̯¹¹ pit̚² t͡sʰi̯uŋ¹¹ i̯uŋ¹¹/

/tau²³⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ ziɔŋ²³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰeu̯¹¹ pit̚² t͡sʰi̯uŋ¹¹ i̯uŋ¹¹/

/tau²³⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ ziɔŋ²³/


鞠躬盡瘁

ㄐㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

ㄐㄩˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

цзюйгунцзиньцуй

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕy³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² sɵy̯²²/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕy³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² sɵy̯²²/

to bend oneself to a task and exert oneself to the utmost; to spare no effort in the performance of one's duty


五十步笑百步

desc

오십보 소백보(五十步笑百步)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (五十步笑百步):
* → Korean: 오십보 소백보(五十步笑百步) (osipbo sobaekbo)

ja-r

ご%じっ%ぽ ひゃっ%ぽ

ご%じゅっ%ぽ ひゃっ%ぽ

⇒ Japanese: 五(ご)十(じっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) (gojippo hyappo), 五(ご)十(じゅっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) (gojuppo hyappo)

desc

오십보 백보(五十步百步)

⇒ Korean: 오십보 백보(五十步百步) (osipbo baekbo)

ㄨˇ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ

уши бу сяо бай бу

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ sɐp̚² pou̯²² siːu̯³³ paːk̚³ pou̯²²/

/ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² pɔ²² t͡sʰio²¹⁻⁵³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pɔ²²/

Mencius replied, "Your majesty is fond of war - let me take an illustration from war. The soldiers move forward to the sound of the drums; and after their weapons have been crossed, on one side they throw away their coats of mail, trail their arms behind them, and run. Some run a hundred paces and stop; some run fifty paces and stop. What would you think if those who run fifty paces were to laugh at those who run a hundred paces?"
The king said, "They should not do so. Though they did not run a hundred paces, yet they also ran away."

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

Mèngzǐ duì yuē: “Wáng hàozhàn, qǐng yǐ zhàn yù. Tiánrán gǔ zhī, bīngrèn jì jiē, qì jiǎ yè bīng ér zǒu. Huò bǎi bù ér hòu zhǐ, huò wǔshí bù ér hòu zhǐ. Yǐ wǔshí bù xiào bǎi bù, zé hérú?”
Yuē: “Bùkě, zhí bù bǎi bù ěr, shì yì zǒu yě.”

孟子對曰：「王好戰，請以戰喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，棄甲曳兵而走。或百步而後止，或五十步而後止。以五十步笑百步，則何如？」
曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」

孟子对曰：「王好战，请以战喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，弃甲曳兵而走。或百步而后止，或五十步而后止。以五十步笑百步，则何如？」
曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」

[the one who has retreated] 50 steps laughs at [the one who has retreated] 100 steps

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black


lisod pukawon ang gamata

Literally, “it's difficult to wake someone who is awake”

lit

used to tell the waker or someone who refuses to wake


I don't care, imong mama dancer

By rhyming. Literally, “I don't care, your mother's a dancer”.


but of course sa Rosita's

From the line: “Asa mo? But of course sa Rosita's.” From the Rosita's Department Store series of commercials.
Literally, “but of course to Rosita's”.

(humorous) of course (indicating enthusiastic agreement)


樹上開花

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ

/ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/syː²² sœːŋ²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/syː²² sœːŋ²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

to deck the tree with false blossoms; to make something of no value appear valuable


李代桃僵

the plum tree withers in place of the peach tree

ㄌㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄊㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

лидайтаоцзян

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lei̯¹³ tɔːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lei̯¹³ tɔːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

to carry the can for someone; to take punishment in place of someone


擒賊擒王

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

циньцзэйциньван

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

See 射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王／射人先射马，擒贼先擒王 (shè rén xiān shè mǎ, qín zéi xiān qín wáng)

If you want to round up a gang, you must get its chief first; To defeat the enemy, first capture their chief; to defeat the enemy by capturing their chief first


隔岸觀火

to watch the fires burning across the river

ㄍㄜˊ ㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

гэаньгуаньхо

/kɤ³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ ŋɔːn²² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/kɤ³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ ŋɔːn²² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to delay entering the fray until all others have been exhausted by fighting amongst themselves


調虎離山

to move the tiger away from the mountain

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄕㄢ

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tiau²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tiau²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

to lure an opponent out; to get rid of an opponent or a problem to achieve one's goal


釜底抽薪

to take the firewood out from the bottom of the cauldron

ㄈㄨˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄔㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/


反客為主

ㄈㄢˇ ㄎㄜˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨˇ

фанькэвэйчжу

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn³⁵ haːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn³⁵ haːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

This Xiahou Yuan is easily provoked to anger, and being angry he is bold without discretion. Your way now is to work up the enthusiasm of your soldiers, then break camp and advance. Do this in a series of marches, and you will excite him up to the point of giving battle, when you can capture him. They call this the 'Ruse of the Interchange of Host and Guest'.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Yuān wéirén qīngzào, shì yǒng shào móu. Kě jīquàn shìzú, bázhài qiánjìn, bùwéiwèiyíng, yòu Yuān lái zhàn ér qín zhī, cǐ nǎi “fǎnkèwéizhǔ” zhī fǎ.

淵為人輕躁，恃勇少謀。可激勸士卒，拔寨前進，步步為營，誘淵來戰而擒之，此乃「反客為主」之法。

渊为人轻躁，恃勇少谋。可激劝士卒，拔寨前进，步步为营，诱渊来战而擒之，此乃「反客为主」之法。

to make the guest and host exchange roles

to turn the tables; to turn from passive to active behaviour


瞞天過海

to cross the sea without the sky knowing

ㄇㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

маньтяньгохай

/män³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/buan²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ ko²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²³⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/män³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/buan²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ ko²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²³⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

你無法瞞天過海。

你无法瞒天过海。

If he didn't order this investigation, she could have flown under the radar for years.

yàoshì tā méiyǒu xiàlìng zuò zhège diàochá tā běn kěyǐ mántiānguòhǎi hǎoduō nián

要是他沒有下令做這個調查她本可以瞞天過海好多年

要是他没有下令做这个调查她本可以瞒天过海好多年


借刀殺人

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄉㄠ ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

цзедаошажэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tou̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴⁻²² sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ sat̚³²⁻⁴ zin²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tou̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴⁻²² sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ sat̚³²⁻⁴ zin²³/

to get someone else to do one's dirty work; to attack someone using the strength of another


AFAICMO

For quotations using this term, see Citations:AFAICMO.

(Internet slang) Initialism of as far as I can make out.


訓練有素

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨˋ

/ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/fɐn³³ liːn²² jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/fɐn³³ liːn²² jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/


懸而未決

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

сюаньэрвэйцзюэ

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jiː²¹ mei̯²² kʰyːt̚³/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jiː²¹ mei̯²² kʰyːt̚³/

pending decision; yet to be settled or resolved


繩之以法

ㄕㄥˊ ㄓ ㄧˇ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ faːt̚³/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵/

/t͡sin¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ faːt̚³/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵/

/t͡sin¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

to punish according to law; to bring to justice


cuando las ranas críen pelo

(idiomatic) that'll be the day; never; when pigs fly


天下無敵

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (天下無敵):
* → Korean: 천하무적(天下無敵) (cheonhamujeok)
* → Vietnamese: thiên hạ vô địch (天下無敵)

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

樹不要皮必死無疑，人不要臉天下無敵／树不要皮必死无疑，人不要脸天下无敌

shù bùyào pí bì sǐ wúyí, rén bùyào liǎn tiānxiàwúdí


syteen tai saveen

Meni syteen tai saveen, tämä on päätökseni.


cease fire

(military) Stop engaging in hostile acts, particularly those involving firearms. A command that troops end the existing status of engaging in hostile action.


紅顏禍水

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

хунъяньхошуй

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ wɔː²² sɵy̯³⁵/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ wɔː²² sɵy̯³⁵/

charming beauty who makes men fall and leads to disasters (such as a loss of wealth or reputation, or a toppled nation); dangerous woman; femme fatale (Classifier: 灘／滩)


se juna meni jo

that ship has sailed
that ship has sailed


好人好事

ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕˋ

хаожэньхаоши

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ hou̯³⁵ siː²²/

/ho⁵²⁻³⁵ naŋ⁵⁵ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ¹¹/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ hou̯³⁵ siː²²/

/ho⁵²⁻³⁵ naŋ⁵⁵ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ¹¹/

表揚好人好事

表扬好人好事


遊手好閒

游手好闲
游手好閒
遊手好閑
游手好閑

ㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄏㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³³ haːn²¹/

/iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃²¹⁻⁵³ han²⁴/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³³ haːn²¹/

/iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃²¹⁻⁵³ han²⁴/


勃然大怒

ㄅㄛˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄨˋ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/


簡明扼要

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄜˋ ㄧㄠˋ

цзяньмин эяо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(of speech or writing) brief, clear, and to the point; concise; succinct


隨心所欲

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/


日新月異

ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄝˋ ㄧˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² sɐn⁵⁵ jyːt̚² jiː²²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² sɐn⁵⁵ jyːt̚² jiː²²/

科學技術的發展日新月異

科学技术的发展日新月异

日新月異的世界

日新月异的世界

advancing rapidly (especially in an innovative way); everchanging


OOM

If you write infinitely recursive code, you might generate an OOM error.

(programming) Initialism of out of memory.

order of magnitude
order of magnitude#English

(video games) Initialism of out of mana.


杳無音信

ㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/


從心所欲

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

The Master said, "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.

Zǐyuē: “Wú shí yòu wǔ ér zhì yú xué, sānshí ér lì, sìshí ér bùhuò, wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng, liùshí ér ěr shùn, qīshí ér cóng xīn suǒ yù, bù yújǔ.”

子曰：「吾十有五而志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。」

子曰：「吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。」

to follow what one's heart desires; to do as one likes; to act at one's pleasure


整裝待發

ㄓㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄉㄞˋ ㄈㄚ

чжэнчжуандайфа

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² faːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² faːt̚³/

to be fully equipped and ready to set off


生死攸關

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ

шэнсы югуань

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

生死攸關的問題

生死攸关的问题

生死攸關的時刻

生死攸关的时刻

生死攸關的鬥爭

生死攸关的斗争

The establishment of a clean and honest administration is a matter of life and death for both the party and the country.

Liánzhèng jiànshè shì guānxì dào dǎng hé guójiā shēngsǐyōuguān de dàshì.

廉政建設是關係到黨和國家生死攸關的大事。

廉政建设是关系到党和国家生死攸关的大事。

matter of life and death
matter of life and death


好大喜功

ㄏㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to crave greatness and success; to rejoice in grandiose deeds


before you can say knife

'Oh, we'll pull you off before you can say knife. Take care of His Excellency. I shall try to get a little sleep now.'

1893, Rudyard Kipling, “Judson and the Empire”, in Many Inventions:

‘Ginger, Ginger, before you can say knife she'll make you into a damned missionary.’ I don't know that I'd mind that so much if we had a little mission of our own.

1926, W. Somerset Maugham, “The Letter”, in More Far Eastern Tales, Random House, published 2010, →ISBN:

en moins de temps qu’il ne faut pour le dire


傻傻分不清楚

ㄕㄚˇ ㄕㄚˇ ㄈㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨˇ

шаша фэньбуцинчу

/ʂä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From the first line of the lyrics of 《野蠻遊戲》 (J-game), a 2005 song by Jolin Tsai

Tiger (lǎohǔ) or mouse (lǎoshǔ), I can't tell them apart.

老虎，老鼠，傻傻分不清楚

(neologism, slang) cannot tell (two things) apart; cannot tell one thing from another; (I'm) too silly to distinguish (the two)


安居樂業

ㄢ ㄐㄩ ㄌㄜˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lok̚⁵ ŋi̯ap̚⁵/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² ɡiap̚⁴/

/aŋ³³⁻²³ kɯ³³⁻²³ lak̚⁴⁻² ŋiap̚⁴/

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lok̚⁵ ŋi̯ap̚⁵/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² ɡiap̚⁴/

/aŋ³³⁻²³ kɯ³³⁻²³ lak̚⁴⁻² ŋiap̚⁴/


fair's fair

"Okay," I said. "If we take turns with the dishes. I'm not going to do them all the time."
 "Fair's fair," Matt said. "We rotate the dishes, and Jon and I do our own laundry."

2008, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Life as We Knew it, Houghton Miffin Harcourt, →ISBN:

An expression used when asking for fair or just treatment, or when asserting that a situation is fair.


識文斷字

ㄕˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˋ

ㄕˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˋ

шивэньдуаньцзы

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mɐn²¹ tyːn³³ t͡siː²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mɐn²¹ tyːn³³ t͡siː²²/


棒打鴛鴦

ㄅㄤˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄩㄢ ㄧㄤ

банда юаньян

/pɑŋ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰaːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pɑŋ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰaːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/


TCN

[t͡ɕɨək̚˧˦ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋwiən˧˧]

[ʈɨək̚˦˧˥ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋwiəŋ˧˧]

[ʈɨək̚˦˥ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ ŋwiəŋ˧˧]

Initialism of trước Công Nguyên (“before the Common Era”).


枕戈待旦

to keep one's spear by the pillow and await the dawn

ㄓㄣˇ ㄍㄜ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ

ㄓㄣˋ ㄍㄜ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ

чжэньгэдайдань

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³³ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² taːn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³³ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² taːn³³/


不刊之論

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

буканьчжилунь

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

indisputable statement; unalterable truth; irrefutable argument


more dollars than sense

more money than brains
more money than brains#English


que si

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see que, si.

¡Que si hubiera más tiempo!


LMWAO

(Internet slang) Initialism of laughing my white ass off.


απέξω κι ανακατωτά

head

απέξω κι ανακατωτά • (apéxo ki anakatotá)

Θα το έχετε μάθει απέξω κι ανακατωτά.

Tha to échete máthei apéxo ki anakatotá.

by heart, inside out, from top to bottom

en-απέξω_κι_ανακατωτά-el-phrase-gPx40XHn


亦步亦趨

ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄑㄩ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² pou̯²² jɪk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² pou̯²² jɪk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

Yan Yuan asked Zhongni, saying, 'Master, when you pace quietly along, I also pace along; when you go more quickly, I also do the same; when you gallop, I also gallop; but when you race along and spurn the dust, then I can only stand and look, and keep behind you.'

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

Yán Yuān wèn yú Zhòngní yuē: “Fūzǐ bù yìbù, fūzǐ qū yìqū, fūzǐ chí yìchí, fūzǐ bēnyì juéchén, ér Huí chēng ruò hū hòu yǐ.”

顏淵問於仲尼曰：「夫子步亦步，夫子趨亦趨，夫子馳亦馳，夫子奔逸絕塵，而回瞠若乎後矣。」

颜渊问于仲尼曰：「夫子步亦步，夫子趋亦趋，夫子驰亦驰，夫子奔逸绝尘，而回瞠若乎后矣。」

to imitate slavishly; to do what everyone else is doing


防民之口，甚於防川

ㄈㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄓ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄕㄣˋ ㄩˊ ㄈㄤˊ ㄔㄨㄢ

fong⁴ man⁴ zi¹ hau², sam⁶ jyu¹ fong⁴ cyun¹

фанминьчжикоу

шэньюйфанчуань

/fɑŋ³⁵ min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ y³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵/

fong⁴ man⁴ dzi¹ hau², sam⁶ jy¹ fong⁴ tsyn¹

fong⁴ men⁴ ji¹ heo², sem⁶ yu¹ fong⁴ qun¹

/fɔːŋ²¹ mɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ sɐm²² jyː⁵⁵ fɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵/

Silencing people is more sinister than blocking rivers. If the river is blocked, it will eventually burst, and many people will be injured, the same goes for the suppressed people.

Fángmínzhīkǒu, shènyúfángchuān. Chuān yōng ér kuì, shāng rén bì duō, mín yì rú zhī.

防民之口，甚於防川。川壅而潰，傷人必多，民亦如之。

防民之口，甚于防川。川壅而溃，伤人必多，民亦如之。

It is more sinister and ominous to stop civilians from speaking than to block the river flows.


use one's coconut

(Philippines, dated) Use one's head; think.


culo veo, culo quiero

Used when someone wants something that another person has


بلغ السيل الزبى

بَلَغَ ٱلسَّيْلُ ٱلزُّبَى

بَلَغَ ٱلسَّيْلُ ٱلزُّبَى • (balaḡa s-saylu z-zubā)

بَلَغَ ٱلسَّيْلُ ٱلزُّبَى (canonical)
balaḡa s-saylu z-zubā (romanization)

(idiomatic) the matter has become unbearable, reached its limit; enough is enough


一木難支

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² naːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² naːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

"one post cannot hold a falling structure"; just one person cannot save something doomed to fail


Linksmų Kalėdų

Linksmų Šv. Kalėdų ir Laimingų Naujųjų Metų!


עוף מפה

עוּף מִפֹּה • (uf mipó)

he-phrase

עוּף מִפֹּה • (uf mipó)

עוּף מִפֹּה (canonical)
uf mipó (romanization)

From עוּף (uf, “get out”) + מִפֹּה (mipó, “from here”).


蛙の面に小便

ja-pos

かえる の つら に しょうべん

かえる の つら に しょんべん

蛙(かえる)の面(つら)に小(しょう)便(べん) or 蛙(かえる)の面(つら)に小(しょん)便(べん) • (kaeru no tsura ni shōben or kaeru no tsura ni shonben)

蛙の面に小便 (canonical)
蛙の面に小便 (canonical)
kaeru no tsura ni shōben (romanization)
kaeru no tsura ni shonben (romanization)

Literally, "[like] urine on a frog's face."

like water off a duck's back
like water off a duck's back

(colloquial) like water off a duck's back


something-something

– How does that work?
– Something something motors, something something tension.

Replaces parts of a sentence a speaker either does not know or deems unimportant; blah blah blah.


相親相愛

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (相親相愛):
* → Vietnamese: tương thân tương ái (相親相愛)

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄞˋ

сянциньсянъай

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːi̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːi̯³³/

In my family, we love each other and look after each other.

Zài wǒ jiā, wǒmen xiāngqīnxiāng'ài, xiānghù zhàogù.

在我家，我們相親相愛，相互照顧。

在我家，我们相亲相爱，相互照顾。


相親相愛

tương thân tương ái
tương thân tương ái#Vietnamese


ipanabi na sa clouds

tell it to the marines
tell it to the marines


ihminen on kaiken mitta

man is the measure of all things
man is the measure of all things


投桃報李

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄠˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pou̯³³ lei̯¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pou̯³³ lei̯¹³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 256 (《詩經·大雅·抑》)

When one throws to me a peach, I return to him a plum.

投我以桃，報之以李。

投我以桃，报之以李。

to return a favor; to exchange gifts; you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.


mitä kello on

paljonko kello on
paljonko kello on#Finnish

Synonym of paljonko kello on (what's the time).


兩小無猜

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄘㄞ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ siːu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯⁵⁵/

/liã²² ɕiɔ⁵⁵ ɦu³³ t͡sʰø²¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ siːu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯⁵⁵/

/liã²² ɕiɔ⁵⁵ ɦu³³ t͡sʰø²¹/

zh-l

青梅竹馬／青梅竹马 (qīngméizhúmǎ)

(of boy and girl) becoming innocent playmates


水落石出

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄕˊ ㄔㄨ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

弄個水落石出

弄个水落石出


輕而易舉

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ ㄐㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɪk̚² kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ ku⁵³/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ki⁴¹/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ku⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɪk̚² kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ ku⁵³/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ki⁴¹/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ku⁴¹/

(of doing something) easy; without much effort


nn zp

nn (“not”) + zp (“to happen”) in the subjunctive.

(with a following verb in the subjunctive) never (will it happen that…); used as a stronger version of the negation of a subjunctive with nn.


z deště pod okap

Literally, “from the rain to the gutter”.

lit

out of the frying pan, into the fire
out of the frying pan, into the fire


z bláta do louže

Literally, “from the mud to the puddle”.


物美價廉

ㄨˋ ㄇㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

/u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mei̯¹³ kaː³³ liːm²¹/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ liam²³/

/u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mei̯¹³ kaː³³ liːm²¹/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ liam²³/


長此以往

ㄔㄤˊ ㄘˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄤˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː¹³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː¹³ wɔːŋ¹³/

if things (usually an unfavorable situation) continue this way


投懷送抱

ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄠˋ

тоухуайсунбао

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ waːi̯²¹ sʊŋ³³ pʰou̯¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ waːi̯²¹ sʊŋ³³ pʰou̯¹³/

to throw oneself into someone's else's arms; (of a girl) to unreservedly express one's fondness (of a man); to throw oneself on


價廉物美

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄨˋ ㄇㄟˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː³³ liːm²¹ mɐt̚² mei̯¹³/

/ka²¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴⁻²² but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː³³ liːm²¹ mɐt̚² mei̯¹³/

/ka²¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴⁻²² but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

(literary, of goods or service) inexpensive and of high quality


義不容辭

ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄘˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jiː²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² su¹³/

/ɡi³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ su²⁴/

/ɡi³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ su²³/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jiː²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² su¹³/

/ɡi³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ su²⁴/

/ɡi³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ su²³/

義不容辭的責任

义不容辞的责任


恨之入骨

ㄏㄣˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kʷɐt̚⁵/

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kʷɐt̚⁵/


有生之年

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄥ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³/

If I could meet him once in the rest of my life, I should die without any regret.

Yǒushēngzhīnián nénggòu hé tā jiàn yīcì miàn, wǒ sǐ yě wúhàn le.

有生之年能夠和他見一次面，我死也無憾了。

有生之年能够和他见一次面，我死也无憾了。

to witness in one's lifetime; to live long enough to see

在有生之年見證

在有生之年见证

2001 November 16, “流年 [liúnián, Elapsing Years]”, in Lin Xi (lyrics), 陳曉娟 (music), 王菲 [Faye Wong], performed by Faye Wong:

Once in our lives / We met each other by chance / Finally it couldn't be prevented

Yǒushēngzhīnián, Xiálùxiāngféng, Zhōng bùnéng xìngmiǎn

有生之年 狹路相逢 終不能幸免

有生之年 狭路相逢 终不能幸免

one's remaining years; the rest of one's life


一發不可收拾

ㄧ ㄈㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄡ ˙ㄕ

ифабукэшоуши

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/


古今中外

ㄍㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨㄞˋ

гуцзиньчжунвай

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²²/

thinkers of all times and in all countries

古今中外的思想家

ancient and modern, Chinese and abroad; all times and all places


通情達理

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄚˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ taːt̚² lei̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ taːt̚² lei̯¹³/

acting with or showing good sense; sensible; fair and reasonable


日復一日

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² fɐu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² fɐu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/


名存實亡

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄤˊ

минцуньшиван

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

to remain existing in name but no longer in reality; now nominal


滿頭大汗

ㄇㄢˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄢˋ

маньтоудахань

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹/

/muːn¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːn²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² kuã⁴¹/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ kuã³³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ kuã³³/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹/

/muːn¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːn²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² kuã⁴¹/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ kuã³³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ kuã³³/

(of one's head) wet with sweat; covered in sweat; sweating profusely


至關重要

ㄓˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ

чжигуаньчжунъяо

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² jiːu̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² jiːu̯³³/


盤山過嶺

/puã²⁴⁻¹¹ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²⁴⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ niã⁴¹/

/puã²⁴⁻¹¹ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²⁴⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ niã⁴¹/

(Southern Min) to pass over mountains and ridges; to trek over mountains; to make a long and difficult journey


nj zp

nj (“not”) + zp (“to happen”) in the perfective.

xpr-r-i-s-E9-w-d-D54-k\-t-w-r-st-t:pr-t:n-!-D35:z-p:zp-U2:ir-A-k\-N18:N23*Z1-p:n-xpr-r-m-n:U19-nw-W-i-i-mw
ḫpr js jwd.k tw r st pn nj zp mꜣ.k jw pn ḫpr(.w) m nwy

c. 2000 BCE – 1900 BCE, Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor (pHermitage/pPetersburg 1115) lines 153–154

When your parting from this place comes to pass, you will never again see this island, which will have turned into water.

(with a following verb in the subjunctive) never (has it happened that…); used as a stronger version of the negation of a perfective with nj.


something is rotten in Denmark

Among other sources who pepper the book's pages with their tips: "the Bookkeeper," a conscience-stricken woman who served C.R.P.'s finance chairman, Maurice Stans. "Something is rotten in Denmark and I'm part of it," she tremblingly warned Bernstein in her home one night a few weeks after the breakin.

1974 April 22, “The Press: Woodstein Meets Deep Throat”, in Time, →ISSN:

something is rotten in the state of Denmark#English

Ellipsis of something is rotten in the state of Denmark.


gwapo kon magtalikod

(of a person) pretty to look at from behind, as if good-looking but actually has an ugly face


gwapa kon magtalikod

(idiomatic, of a person) pretty to look at from behind, as if good-looking but actually has an ugly face; a butterface


kapugngan pa ang baha, dili ang biga

Literally, “one can stop a flood but not lust”.


我思う、故に我在り

ja-phrase

われ おも.う、ゆえ に われ あり

我(われ)思(おも)う、故(ゆえ)に我(われ)在(あ)り • (ware omou, yue ni ware ari)

我思う、故に我在り (canonical)
ware omou, yue ni ware ari (romanization)

Calque of Latin cogito, ergo sum, equivalent to a kanbun kundoku reading of Literary Chinese 我思故我在 (wǒ sī gù wǒ zài).
First cited to the 1884 revised edition of the 哲学字彙 (Tetsugaku Jii, “Philosophy Dictionary”), edited by Inoue Tetsujirō.

calque

われおもう、ゆえにわれあり

cog

I think therefore I am
I think therefore I am

Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Inoue Tetsujirō
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
ja:哲学字彙


lala og dila

(of a person) having the tendency of saying things that will actually happen immediately or within a short span of time


wala akong paki

tl-head

walâ akóng pakí (Baybayin spelling ᜏᜎ ᜀᜃᜓᜅ᜔ ᜉᜃᜒ)

walâ akóng pakí (canonical)
ᜏᜎ ᜀᜃᜓᜅ᜔ ᜉᜃᜒ (Baybayin)

From wala akong pakialam, literally, “I have no care.”, with paki being a clipping of pakialam.

Ako: “Wala akong interes na gawin un.” Millie: “Bakit, Danny? Napakarami mo pwedeng magawang maganda sa buhay. Wag mo sayangin sakin.” Ako: “Kung para sa'yo sayang ang lahat ng ginagawa ko, ibig sabihin lang nun na sayang lang din ang mga pinangarap ko mula nung nakilala kita. There is nothing else. Kung hindi lang din kita makakasama, wala akong paki sa pwedeng mangyari.” Millie: “I'm sorry, Danny.” Hindi niya na mapigilan ang mga luha habang binibitawan ang ...

2017, John Paul Sunico, Diary ng Emo, Anvil Publishing, Incorporated via PublishDrive, →ISBN:

Tol, kaibigan ko lang si Coleen, “ Defensive agad? Who cares Dude! Wala akong paki kung kaibigan siya ni Coleen o kung sino man siya dahil ang gusto kong malaman talaga ay kung ano ba siya sa buhay niJayson? Pero wala akong karapatang sabihin ang mga ganun kay Vince kaya isang “Ah Ok” na lang ang nasabi ko para matapos na lang ang nonesense conversation at introduction. “ May kasama ako, “ sabi ng lalake sabay turo sa Videoke Booth kung saan naroon siJayson.

2014, Taga Imus, Sa Celfone: Tagalog Gay Story, Taga Imus M2M Books - TGIMS Publishing Services, →ISBN, page 64:

Lord, help. “Action!” Napalunok ako nang maramdaman kong hinawakan ako ni Kevin sa balikat. Natayo siyasalikuran ko.Kita ko ang anino niya saharap ko. “ Kung magpapakain kasa insecurities, walang mangyayaring maganda,” huminga siya ng malalim “Sharm.” Sharm. Sobrang sarap pakinggan kapag sa kanya nanggagaling. “HHindi ako nagpapakain sa insecurities. ..” tiningnan ko siYssa. Sinisignal niya ako na magpatuloy o mag adlib. “Yun kasiang totoo.” “ Wala akong paki.

2014, Mina V. Esguerra, Jhing Bautista, Jonnalyn Cabigting, Leng de Chavez, Katherine C. Eustaquio-Derla, Rachelle Belaro, Rayne Mariano, Say That Things Change, Bright Girl Books:


jf

Alternative spelling of jw.f used in early religious texts


Tagalog putig itlog, nalumos tagaliog

By rhyming. Literally, “cowardly Tagalog, drowned in neckdeep water”.


lamya na

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lamya, na


nam thực như hổ, nữ thực như miêu

[naːm˧˧ tʰɨk̚˧˨ʔ ɲɨ˧˧ ho˧˩ nɨ˦ˀ˥ tʰɨk̚˧˨ʔ ɲɨ˧˧ miəw˧˧]

[naːm˧˧ tʰɨk̚˨˩ʔ ɲɨ˧˧ how˧˨ nɨ˧˨ tʰɨk̚˨˩ʔ ɲɨ˧˧ miw˧˧]

[naːm˧˧ tʰɨk̚˨˩˨ ɲɨ˧˧ how˨˩˦ nɨ˨˩˦ tʰɨk̚˨˩˨ ɲɨ˧˧ miw˧˧]

(literal) men eat like tigers, women eat like cats

(figurative) men are supposed to take large bites and eat large portions, women are supposed to take small bites and eat small portions


já vi esse filme

Literally, “I've already seen that movie”.

(idiomatic) I've already seen that same thing happening (used to indicate that the speaker is familiar to an imminent occurrence)


chưa biết mèo nào cắn mỉu nào

[t͡ɕɨə˧˧ ʔɓiət̚˧˦ mɛw˨˩ naːw˨˩ kan˧˦ miw˧˩ naːw˨˩]

[t͡ɕɨə˧˧ ʔɓiək̚˦˧˥ mɛw˦˩ naːw˦˩ kaŋ˦˧˥ miw˧˨ naːw˦˩]

[cɨə˧˧ ʔɓiək̚˦˥ mɛw˨˩ naːw˨˩ kaŋ˦˥ miw˨˩˦ naːw˨˩]

(literal) there's no telling which cat will end up having a bite on the other

(figurative) we'll see about that; just you wait


may kasal ng tikbalang

tl-head

may kasál ng tikbalang (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜃᜐᜎ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜆᜒᜃ᜔ᜊᜎᜅ᜔)

may kasál ng tikbalang (canonical)
ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜃᜐᜎ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜆᜒᜃ᜔ᜊᜎᜅ᜔ (Baybayin)

Literally, “there is a wedding between a tikbalang (half-man, half-horse creatures)”.

m-g

there is a wedding between a <i class="Latn mention" lang="tl">tikbalang</i> (half-man, half-horse creatures)

lit

a phrase uttered upon a sun shower or when rain suddenly splashed down while the sun is still shining


IWLT

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I would like to.


巧言令色

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (巧言令色):
* → Japanese: 巧言令色(こうげんれいしょく) (kōgenreishoku)
* → Korean: 교언영색(巧言令色) (gyoeonyeongsaek)

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ lɪŋ²² sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ lɪŋ²² sɪk̚⁵/

Attested in the Book of Documents (《尚書·皐陶謨》):
:
Also attested in the Analects, Book 1 (《論語·學而》)

When he can be (thus) wise and kind, what occasion will he have for anxiety about a Huan-dou? what to be removing a lord of Miao? what to fear any one of fair words, insinuating appearance, and great artfulness?

The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Néng zhé ér huì, hé yōu hū Huān Dōu? Hé qiān hū Yǒumiáo? Hé wèi hū qiǎoyán lìngsè kǒngrén?

能哲而惠，何憂乎驩兜？何遷乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？

能哲而惠，何忧乎欢兜？何迁乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？

The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."

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

子曰：「巧言令色，鮮矣仁！」

子曰：「巧言令色，鲜矣仁！」

with flourishing words and friendly countenance; with insincere courtesy


phải chi

[faːj˧˩ t͡ɕi˧˧]

[faːj˧˨ t͡ɕɪj˧˧]

[faːj˨˩˦ cɪj˧˧]

phải + chi.
Unlike pairs like hèn chi vs. hèn gì, huống chi vs. huống gì, *phải gì is not used (at least, not in the same sense as phải chi).

Phải chi mình nhẹ nhàng tựa làn mây
Lướt gió êm đềm.
Phải chi mình dịu dàng tựa nụ hoa
Nở trong bình minh.
Phải chi mình mềm thật mềm và suôn,
Sóng sánh trong chiều,
Để mãi vờn bay giữa bầu trời xanh,
Đắm say cùng gió với mây.

(Can we date this quote?), Võ Thiện Thanh (lyrics and music), “Tóc hát [The Hair Sings]”:

If only I were as light as a cloud
Surfing gentle breezes.
If only I were as delicate as a bloom
Blossoming at dawn.
If only I were soft and silky,
Fluttering in the evening,
So I could keep floating in the blue sky,
Blissfully existing among winds and clouds.


rồng đến nhà tôm

[zəwŋ͡m˨˩ ʔɗen˧˦ ɲaː˨˩ tom˧˧]

[ʐəwŋ͡m˦˩ ʔɗen˦˧˥ ɲaː˦˩ tom˧˧]

[ɹəwŋ͡m˨˩ ʔɗəːn˦˥ ɲaː˨˩ tom˧˧]

Literally, "the dragon has come to visit the shrimp's home".

Dịp gì mà rồng lại đến nhà tôm thế này?

Why would a man of class like you come to this humble home today?

(idiomatic) someone of high status has paid a visit to someone of low status


あのね

あのね、実は私、君の事が…

Ano ne, jitsu wa watashi, kimi no koto ga…


I feel you

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-I feel you.wav

(African-American Vernacular) An agreement or understanding in sentiment or belief.


不經不覺

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/


kwsk

kwsk (canonical)
kuwashiku (romanization)

Abbreviation of くわしく (kuwashiku), adverbial form of 詳(くわ)しい (kuwashii, “detailed”).

2013, Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram:

ちょっと、お店に行った感想なんかを、僕に聞かせてくれないかな？できるだけkwsk

Chotto, o-mise ni itta kansō nanka o , boku ni kikasete kurenai kana? Dekiru dake kuwashiku

I was wondering if you could tell me what you thought of the store. Please be as detailed as possible!

(Internet slang) Tell me more; I want to know more about that.


head

pagtan-aw, kitkit langaw; paglingi, kitkit bungi

used to tell someone that you tricked them to look at a particular direction


終南捷徑

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

Чжуннань цзецзин

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ naːm²¹ t͡siːt̚² kɪŋ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ naːm²¹ t͡siːt̚² kɪŋ³³/


一日も早い

ja-phrase

一(いち)日(にち)も早(はや)い • (ichinichi mo hayai)

一日も早い (canonical)
ichinichi mo hayai (romanization)
一日も早かろ (imperfective stem)
いちにちもはやかろ (imperfective stem)
ichinichi mo hayakaro (imperfective)
一日も早く (continuative stem)
いちにちもはやく (continuative stem)
ichinichi mo hayaku (continuative)
一日も早い (stem terminative)
いちにちもはやい (stem terminative)
ichinichi mo hayai (terminative)
一日も早い (attributive stem)
いちにちもはやい (attributive stem)
ichinichi mo hayai (attributive)
一日も早けれ (hypothetical stem)
いちにちもはやけれ (hypothetical stem)
ichinichi mo hayakere (hypothetical)
一日も早かれ (imperative stem)
いちにちもはやかれ (imperative stem)
ichinichi mo hayakare (imperative)
一日も早くない (informal negative)
いちにちもはやくない (informal negative)
ichinichi mo hayaku nai (informal negative)
一日も早かった (informal past)
いちにちもはやかった (informal past)
ichinichi mo hayakatta (informal past)
一日も早くなかった (informal negative past)
いちにちもはやくなかった (informal negative past)
ichinichi mo hayaku nakatta (informal negative past)
一日も早いです (formal)
いちにちもはやいです (formal)
ichinichi mo hayai desu (formal)
一日も早くないです (formal negative)
いちにちもはやくないです (formal negative)
ichinichi mo hayaku nai desu (formal negative)
一日も早かったです (formal past)
いちにちもはやかったです (formal past)
ichinichi mo hayakatta desu (formal past)
一日も早くなかったです (formal negative past)
いちにちもはやくなかったです (formal negative past)
ichinichi mo hayaku nakatta desu (formal negative past)
一日も早くて (conjunctive)
いちにちもはやくて (conjunctive)
ichinichi mo hayakute (conjunctive)
一日も早ければ (conditional)
いちにちもはやければ (conditional)
ichinichi mo hayakereba (conditional)
一日も早かったら (conditional past)
いちにちもはやかったら (conditional past)
ichinichi mo hayakattara (conditional past)
一日も早かろう (volitional)
いちにちもはやかろう (volitional)
ichinichi mo hayakarō (volitional)
一日も早く (adverbial)
いちにちもはやく (adverbial)
ichinichi mo hayaku (adverbial)
一日も早さ (noun-from-adj)
いちにちもはやさ (noun-from-adj)
ichinichi mo hayasa (noun-from-adj)


nə var, nə yox

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Azerbaijani audiorecordings-nə var, nə yox.wav

Literally, 'what is there, what is not there?'

-Salam, necəsən? Nə var nə yox?
-Hello, how are you? What's new?

- Salamatçılıqdır. Səndə nə var nə yox?
- Everything is fine. How about you?

- Hər şey yaxşıdır, şükür. Başqa nə var nə yox?
- Everything is fine, thanks [God]. What else is new?

- Heç, yavaş-yavaş.
- Not much.


faktor persekutuan terbesar

greatest common divisor
greatest common divisor


中飽私囊

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄅㄠˇ ㄙ ㄋㄤˊ

чжунбаосынан

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ nɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ paːu̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ nɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ paːu̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/


真相大白

ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄞˊ

чжэньсян дабай

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³ taːi̯²² paːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin³³ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tai⁴¹⁻²² peʔ²⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ¹²¹/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³ taːi̯²² paːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin³³ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tai⁴¹⁻²² peʔ²⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ¹²¹/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

for the truth to be completely revealed; for all the facts to be clear


jälkeen ajanlaskun alun

vuonna 1066 jälkeen ajanlaskun alun


ご愁傷様です

ご-しゅうしょう-さまです

ご愁(しゅう)傷(しょう)様(さま)です • (go-shūshō-samadesu) ^(←ごしうしやうさまです (gosiusyausamadesu)?)

ご愁傷様です (canonical)
go-shūshō-samadesu (romanization)
gosiusyausamadesu (romanization)
ごしうしやうさまです (hiragana historical)

[ɡo̞ɕɨːɕo̞ːsa̠ma̠de̞sɨ]


面目全非

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄟ

мяньмуцюаньфэй

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/miːn²² mʊk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin⁴¹⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui³³/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/miːn²² mʊk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin⁴¹⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui³³/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

(usually derogatory) to have a radically different appearance (due to changes); to change beyond recognition


やんか

豹の模様は、丸っこい輪っかが体に散らばってますやんか。その丸っこい輪っかの中に、さらに点々があるのがジャガーの模様です。

Hyō no moyō wa, marukkoi wakka ga karada ni chirabattemasu yan ka. Sono marukkoi wakka no naka ni, sara ni tenten ga aru no ga jagā no moyō desu.

Leopards have this pattern where roundish rings are scattered all over their body, yeah? When there are little dots inside those rings, that is the pattern of jaguars.


maayong pasko

used to express good wishes on or before Christmas Day


HAGS

Acronyms such as “HAGS” (have a great summer) have given a new spin to traditional good wishes for the future, and vernacular poetry has maintained its appeal.

2016, Elizabeth Tucker, “Writing”, in Simon Bronner, Cindy Dell Clark, editors, Youth Cultures in America, page 753:


maayong Pasko

ceb-head

maayong Pasko (Badlit spelling ᜋᜀᜌᜓᜅ᜔ ᜉᜐ᜔ᜃᜓ)


っつって

多いっつっても

っていって っていって#Japanese


gleðilig jól

Similar to Danish glædelig jul and Norwegian Nynorsk gledeleg jul


IANAD

(Internet) Initialism of I am not a doctor.


veselé Vianoce

/ˈvɛsɛɫɛː ˈvi̯anɔt͡sɛ/


ngày xửa ngày xưa

[ŋaj˨˩ sɨə˧˩ ŋaj˨˩ sɨə˧˧]

[ŋaj˦˩ sɨə˧˨ ŋaj˦˩ sɨə˧˧]

[ŋa(ː)j˨˩ sɨə˨˩˦ ŋa(ː)j˨˩ sɨə˧˧]

Từ láy formation of ngày xưa (“time immemorial; in ancient times; in feudal times; long ago; ye olden days; back in the day”). Compare the similar năm nảo năm nào.

once upon a time
once upon a time#English

(narratology) long ago; once upon a time


kalas og bugo

a phrase used to tell someone that he or she is taking too long to comprehend what one is saying

used to express annoyance for failing or taking too long to get the message across


bỏ mẹ

[ʔɓɔ˧˩ mɛ˧˨ʔ]

[ʔɓɔ˧˨ mɛ˨˩ʔ]

[ʔɓɔ˨˩˦ mɛ˨˩˨]

Nhìn người mẹ, cơm rau bỏ lạnh, suốt ngày bên con, mắt nhìn thầy lúc nào cũng cầu khẩn van lơn, đi ra đi vào không yên. Lúc lại cầm tay con trai mà nói: Con đừng bỏ mẹ ! Con đừng bỏ mẹ !

1998, Ngô Văn Phú, 100 TRUYỆN NGẮN DANH NHÂN DÃ SỬ [100 SHORTS BASED ON TRUE STORIES], volume 4, Nhà xuất bản Hội Nhà văn Việt Nam:

Looking at the mother, her meals went cold, she was constantly with her son, her eyes were trained on the father, looking imploringly, pacing back and forth. Sometimes she grasped her son’s hand, “Don’t leave me! Don’t leave me!”

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bỏ, mẹ.

Cẩn thận không thì bỏ mẹ đó !

Từ “bỏ mẹ” ấy hoàn toàn khác ngữ cảnh một người vỗ đùi cái đét: “Thế à? Bỏ mẹ rồi”, tức sự việc đã hỏng bét, gặp nguy khốn.

[2017, Lê Minh Quốc, Lắt Léo TIếNG VIệT [Confusing VIeTNAMeSe], Nhà xuất bản Trẻ:

The bỏ mẹ is not at all like one in the context of someone slapping their knee and going, “Thế à? Bỏ mẹ rồi,” (“Is that so? What a shit show”) which means the situation has gone south.

(Northern Vietnam, vulgar) the situation in question will go to shit


煮熟的鴨子飛了

ㄓㄨˇ ㄕㄨˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄚ ˙ㄗ ㄈㄟ ˙ㄌㄜ

ㄓㄨˇ ㄕㄡˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄚ ˙ㄗ ㄈㄟ ˙ㄌㄜ

чжу шу дэ яцзы фэй лэ

/ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu³⁵ d̥ə³ jä⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² feɪ̯⁵⁵ lə²/

чжу шоу дэ яцзы фэй лэ

/ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ jä⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² feɪ̯⁵⁵ lə²/


cadê você

[kɐˈðe βɔˈse]

Cadê você, mano?

Cadê vós?vós is being phased out by the use of vocês, a catch-all plural second-person pronoun>


kung wala kay lingaw, dakpa akong utot

Literally, “having no fun, catch my fart”.

lit

kung wala kay lingaw sa kinabuhi, dakpa akong utot

kung wala kay lingaw sa kinabuhi, dakpa imong utot


head

kung wala kay lingaw sa kinabuhi, dakpa akong utot

Literally, “having no fun in life, catch my fart”.


head

kung wala kay lingaw sa kinabuhi, dakpa imong utot

Literally, “having no fun in life, catch your fart”.


ang masuya madeads

Cebuano and English code-switching. From ang + masuya + ma- + dead + -s. Literally, “the envious will die”.

used to tell someone not to criticize or hate what one is doing


毋忘在莒

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄩˇ

уванцзайцзюй

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/


毋忘在莒

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄩˇ

уванцзайцзюй

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/


kung wala kay lingaw, dakpa imong utot

Literally, “if you aren't having fun, catch your fart”.


wya

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of where you at (“where are you at?”).


fuck this for a game of soldiers

Fuck this for a game of soldiers, I'm gonna nick a car.

'Fuck this for a game of soldiers!” Neville shouted. And without bothering to close the front door behind him, he set off down the pub.

2005, John Harvey, Flesh and Blood, →ISBN, page 134:

Night came and we reluctantly went to bed and made love, it wasn't the best ever and it certainly didn't make up for the next seven months. We did it but were too sad to enjoy it. Fuck this for a game of soldiers.

2009, Julian Beirne, Diary of a Sapper, →ISBN, page 49:

sod this for a game of soldiers
sod this for a game of soldiers#English

(vulgar) Alternative form of sod this for a game of soldiers


含笑九泉

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ханьсяоцзюцюань

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ siːu̯³³ kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/hɐm²¹ siːu̯³³ kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to smile in one's grave; to have no regrets in life; to die with satisfaction


闊佬懶理

(Cantonese) to be indifferent; to not give a damn


नए वर्ष की शुभकामनाएँ

hi-phrase

नए वर्ष की शुभकामनाएँ

नए वर्ष की शुभकामनाएँ • (nae varṣ kī śubhkāmnāẽ)

/nə.eː ʋəɾʂ kiː ʃʊbʱ.kɑːm.nɑː.ẽː/

[nɐ.eː‿ʋɐɾʃ‿kiː‿ʃʊbʱ.kä̃ːm.näː.ẽː]

en-नए_वर्ष_की_शुभकामनाएँ-hi-phrase-i7Y1uUKg


नया साल मुबारक

नया साल मुबारक • (nayā sāl mubārak)

[nɐ.jäː‿säːl‿mʊ.bäː.ɾɐk]


ख़ून का बदला ख़ून

خون کا بدلہ خون

ख़ून का बदला ख़ून • (xūn kā badlā xūn) (Urdu spelling خون کا بدلہ خون)

xūn kā badlā xūn (romanization)
خون کا بدلہ خون (Urdu)

[xũːn‿käː‿bɐd̪.läː‿xũːn]

[kʰũːn‿käː‿bɐd̪.läː‿kʰũːn]

Literally "blood in exchange for blood", or "a murder will be avenged".


दूध का दूध और पानी का पानी

दूध का दूध और पानी का पानी • (dūdh kā dūdh aur pānī kā pānī)

dūdh kā dūdh aur pānī kā pānī (romanization)

/d̪uːd̪ʱ kɑː d̪uːd̪ʱ ɔːɾ pɑː.niː kɑː pɑː.niː/

[d̪uːd̪ʱ‿käː‿d̪uːd̪ʱ‿ɔːɾ‿päː.niː‿käː‿päː.niː]

Literally "milk from milk and water from water".

(idiomatic) crystal clear, able to be understood

en-दूध_का_दूध_और_पानी_का_पानी-hi-phrase-stUBeYyd


kinsa man na imong sala

used to tell someone that they only have themselves to blame for their own problems, situation, etc.


池魚之殃

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) conflict which one is drawn into


鎩羽而歸

ㄕㄚ ㄩˇ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/saːt̚³ jyː¹³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/saːt̚³ jyː¹³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

to return in low spirits following a defeat or failure to achieve one's ambitions


to overflowing

The train was full to overflowing, and the doors would barely shut.

It is no use gaily arranging for large hauls of coal to converge on a Scunthorpe steelworks if the latter's sidings are already full to overflowing, and many sizeable traders are therefore advised each morning of traffic that is in the railway pipeline for them, to ascertain if they are able to receive it.

1962 August, G. Freeman Allen, “Traffic control on the Great Northern Line”, in Modern Railways, page 129:

In reality, 7 Middagh was sensationally cluttered, stuffed to overflowing with Americana, which reflected something essential about [George] Davis, who was a collector of all things weird, including people.

2012 May 28, John Lahr, “The Gang’s All Here”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-03-24:

And she is lovely. She is all I wanted. She filled me up to overflowing and I never got back on my feet.

2020 February 3, Jayne Tuttle, “Stopping at one child: 'Every parent feels there's more they could give'”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-04-30:

(idiomatic) So as to be absolutely full.


畫公仔畫出腸

to draw a cartoon with intestines drawn out

waak⁹ gung¹ dzai² waak⁹ tsoet⁷ tsoeng⁴⁻²

/waːk̚² kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ waːk̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) to explain something explicitly; to give too much information; to give too many details


und was nicht alles

Der Arzt hat mir Pillen, Kapseln, Salben und was nicht alles verschrieben.

The doctor prescribed me pills, capsules, salves, and whatnot.


life's a bitch

Life's a bitch, but God forbid the bitch divorce me

1996, “Affirmative Action”, in It Was Written, performed by Nas:

Glory days don't mean shit to me
 I drank a six-pack of apathy
 Life's a bitch, and so am I

1997, “The Grouch”, in Nimrod, performed by Green Day:

(idiomatic, vulgar) Life can be tough, unpleasant, unrewarding.


dein Wort in Gottes Ohr

from your lips to God's ears
from your lips to God's ears

from your lips to God's ears; expresses that the speaker wants a preceding statement to be true, but considers it doubtful or even unlikely in most cases there is no unlikely element. It is just a hope (prayer) that the statement come true.


NFBSK

(Internet slang, rare) Initialism of not for British schoolkids: general euphemism to replace an expletive, similar to hell


he aquí

From he (“(t)here is, lo!”) + aquí (“here”). Compare with Latin ecce (“behold!”), Italian ecco (“behold!”), and Portuguese eis (“behold!”).

¡He aquí, el que ha dicho tal cosa prejuiciosa!

Behold, he who has said such hurtful thing!

¡He aquí! La alma triste, todo por el amor de una doncella

Lo! The sad soul, all because of a damsel's love

He aquí los mejores perros calientes del mundo.

Here you have the best hotdogs in the world.

He aquí tus llaves, las dejaste en el carro.

Here are your keys, you left them in the car.

He aquí, tu nueva casa.
Voilà, your new house.


ei millään pahalla

(idiomatic) not for nothing (used to soften the impact of what is said next, implying that it is important)


de mal en pis

LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-de mal en pis.wav

aller de mal en pis

(literary) from bad to worse, worse and worse


僵持不下

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄔˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

Both sides stuck to their opinion and remained deadlocked.

雙方各持己見，僵持不下。

双方各持己见，僵持不下。

to be in a deadlock with both sides unyielding


ka ne

Ellipsis of Ka ne tala esas la kozo?, Ka ne tale vu pensas?, Ka ne tale vu opinionas?, etc.


老神在在

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄗㄞˋ

лаошэньцзайцзай

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau⁴¹⁻²² sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin¹³⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau³³⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/lau³³⁻²¹ sin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau⁴¹⁻²² sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin¹³⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau³³⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/lau³³⁻²¹ sin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/


led'thoil

« Anois, a mháthair », ar sise, « ó tá m’athair faghta bás agus gur fhág sé mo dhóthain do shaidhbhreas an tsaoghail agam-sa, is maith liom mé féin agus an saidhbhreas san do thabhairt do’n gcaptaen óg led’thoil-se ».

1939, Peig Sayers, “Inghean an Cheannaidhe”, in Marie-Louise Sjoestedt, Description d’un parler irlandais de Kerry (Bibliothèque de l'École des Hautes Études; 270) (overall work in French), Paris: Librairie Honoré Champion, page 194:

“Now, mother,” she said, “since my father has died and has left me enough of the world’s wealth, I wish to give myself and that wealth to the young captain please.”

Alternative form of le do thoil (“please”)


taob ang dagat

an expression of surprise at seeing a fast bleeding cut or wound


ḏj ꜥnḫ ḏd wꜣs

Perfective passive participle of rḏj (“to give”) + ꜥnḫ (“life”) + ḏd (“stability”) + wꜣs (“dominion”), thus ‘given life, stability, and dominion’. Unlike other such passive participial clauses, this one has been fossilized without any resumptive pronoun (a construction like *ḏj n.f ꜥnḫ ḏd wꜣs would be expected).

af

an honorific phrase frequently added after the name of the reigning pharaoh


ḏj ꜥnḫ

Perfective passive participle of rḏj (“to give”) + ꜥnḫ (“life”), thus ‘given life’. Unlike other such passive participial clauses, this one has been fossilized without any resumptive pronoun (a construction like *ḏj n.f ꜥnḫ would be expected).


擇日不如撞日

ㄗㄜˊ ㄖˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄖˋ

цзэжи бужу чжуан жи

/t͡sɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡saːk̚² jɐt̚²⁻³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sɔːŋ²² jɐt̚²⁻³⁵/

“to pick a date is not as good as to encounter a date”; it's better to do it now; there's no time like the present


c'est la meilleure

LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-c’est la meilleure.wav

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-c’est la meilleure.wav

Probably an ellipsis of a sentence such as c'est la meilleure histoire qu'on m'ait jamais racontée or c'est la meilleure blague que j'aie entendue.

(informal) that's rich! (an expression of surprised indignation)


what was someone thinking

What were you thinking when you left the oven on yesterday?

(idiomatic) Used to express disappointment about someone's uncharacteristic or abnormal past actions.


顆粒無收

ㄎㄜ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄕㄡ

/kʰɤ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ lɐp̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ lɐp̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵/


bienvenue au club

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-bienvenue au club.wav

(informal) welcome to the club, join the club (an expression of sympathy)


省吃儉用

ㄕㄥˇ ㄔ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄩㄥˋ

шэнчицзяньюн

/ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/saːŋ³⁵ hɛːk̚³ kiːm²² jʊŋ²²/

/siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kʰiam²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²²/

/siɪŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kʰiam⁴¹⁻²² iɔŋ⁴¹/

/siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ kʰiam²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²²/

/siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiam³³⁻¹¹ iɔŋ³³/

/siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kʰiam³³⁻²¹ iɔŋ³³/

/saːŋ³⁵ hɛːk̚³ kiːm²² jʊŋ²²/

to save money on food and daily expenses; to be thrifty


一か八か

一か八か (canonical)
ichikabachika (romanization)

Unknown. Perhaps from gambling parlance, from 一か罰か (ichi ka bachi ka, “one or nothing”, literally “one or punishment”); or from the top strokes of the kanji in the phrase 丁か半か (chō ka han ka, literally “even or odd”), from the game of chōhan. The spelling is jukujikun (熟字訓).

一か八かやってみよう。

一か八か。よし！

(idiomatic) sinking or swimming; all or nothing


打虎拍蠅

desc

đả hổ đập ruồi

→ Vietnamese: đả hổ diệt ruồi, đả hổ đập ruồi (calque) (calque)

ㄉㄚˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄞ ㄧㄥˊ

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵/

(neologism, politics, officialese) to crack down on both “tigers” and “flies” ― corrupt government officials at both higher and lower levels


jw.s pw

jw (imperfective relative form of jwj (“to come”)) + .s (“she, it”) + pw (“this is...”), literally ‘it is that it comes’.

af

imperfective relative form of <i class="Latn mention" lang="egy">jwj</i> (“to come”)

(Late Egyptian) formulaic statement made in the colophon or conclusion of a literary text; that’s how it goes, the end


jw.f pw

jw (imperfective relative form of jwj (“to come”)) + .f (“he, it”) + pw (“this is...”), literally ‘it is that it comes’.

aHa-a:n-r:a-kA-Z1-gm-m-n:A1-A1-r-m:r-niwt:t*Z1-TA-t:A1-!-D54-W-f-p-W
ꜥḥꜥ.n rdj kꜣ-gm-n.j r jmj-r nwt ṯꜣt(j) jw.f pw

c. 1900 BCE, The Instructions of Kagemni (pPrisse/pBN 183) lines 2.8–2.9

Then Kagemni was made overseer of the city and vizier. That’s how it goes. / The end.


指日可待

ㄓˇ ㄖˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚² hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚² hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/

to be expected soon; to be not a long way off


dress for the slide, not the ride

There's merit to the saying, "Dress for the slide, not the ride." Even at a modest 30 miles per hour this is.

2005, Pat Hahn, How to Ride a Motorcycle, →ISBN:

Moto pants are probably the trickiest aspect of my riding getup. I don't like any gear that really shouts “I RIDE A MOTORCYCLE,” but I also want to make sure I'm protected. Dress for the slide, not the ride, right?

2016 June 24, Morgan Gales, “UglyBros Motorpool Jeans Reviewed”, in Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine:

Riders are told to “dress for the slide, not the ride.” This means you should be completely outfitted to improve your chances of surviving a crash.

2017 July 16, Amanda Smith, “Investigative Reporter Amanda Smith learns what it takes to get a motercycle license”, in WKBN News:

“Dress for the slide, not the ride," said Florida State University Police Officer Sheffield. “Doesn't always look cool it's not always I was just going down the street. But if you get hit by a car and your head hits the asphalt or if you just simply fall over and it wipes out from underneath you. That's where a lot of the damage comes from. A lot of the injury comes from. Its traumatic brain injury."

2017 December 11, Taylor Knight, “Some Question How Safe Mopeds And Motorcycles Are For College Students”, in WUSF News:

(motorcycling) When choosing clothing for riding a motorcycle, priority should be given to protective gear that helps one survive an accident.


九曲十八彎

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄩ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢ

цзю цюй шиба вань

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä⁵⁵ wän⁵⁵/


ḥḏ tꜣ

ḥḏ (“be(come) white”) + tꜣ (“land”), literally ‘the land becomes white’, with ḥḏ as a non-attributive relative (nominal/emphatic) form, effectively making the clause adverbial in meaning.


不懂裝懂

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄉㄨㄥˇ

будунчжуандун

/pu⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³⁵/

Don't pretend to be an expert who know something well when you don't.

Bùyào bùdǒngzhuāngdǒng, zhuāngzuò zìjǐ hěn zàiháng de yàngzǐ.

不要不懂裝懂，裝作自己很在行的樣子。

不要不懂装懂，装作自己很在行的样子。

to pretend to understand when one doesn't


毀於一旦

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄩˊ ㄧ ㄉㄢˋ

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/wɐi̯³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ taːn²²/

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/wɐi̯³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ taːn²²/

the result of many years' labor was destroyed all at once

多年來的心血毀於一旦

多年来的心血毁于一旦


十有八九

ㄕˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² jɐu̯¹³ paːt̚³ kɐu̯³⁵/

/sɐp̚² jɐu̯¹³ paːt̚³ kɐu̯³⁵/


nfr ꜣ

nfr (“not even”) + ꜣ (intensifying particle).

(with following imperfective emphatic form) forms a negative counterpart of the subjunctive in main or dependent clauses


水盡鵝飛

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄜˊ ㄈㄟ

шуйцзиньэфэй

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/


ayaw pagbuot, lain-lain tag lubot

By rhyming. Literally, “we each have our own buttocks, don't tell me what to do”.

lit

ayaw pagbuot kay tagsa-tagsa ta og lubot


mit sozialistischem Gruß

Literally, “with socialist greeting[s]”.

politically correct
politically correct#English

(historical, East Germany) A politically correct way to close a note or letter.


口無遮攔

ㄎㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄓㄜ ㄌㄢˊ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

shoot one's mouth off
shoot one's mouth off

to have no misgivings or control when one speaks; to shoot one's mouth off


if not for

If not for her surgical skill, you'd be dead now, so some appreciation may be in order.

If (something) were not (or had not been) there; in the absence of (something); without.


מה ענין שמיטה אצל הר סיני

head

מָה עִנְיָן שְׁמִיטָה אֵצֶל הַר סִינַי

מָה עִנְיָן שְׁמִיטָה אֵצֶל הַר סִינַי • (má 'inyán shmitá étzel hár sináy)

he-phrase

מָה עִנְיָן שְׁמִיטָה אֵצֶל הַר סִינַי

מָה עִנְיָן שְׁמִיטָה אֵצֶל הַר סִינַי (canonical)
má 'inyán shmitá étzel hár sináy (romanization)

מה עניין שמיטה אצל הר סיני
מה עניין שמיטה אצל הר סיני#Hebrew

defective spelling of מה עניין שמיטה אצל הר סיני.

en-מה_ענין_שמיטה_אצל_הר_סיני-he-phrase-uEnISDAq


求同存異

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jiː²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jiː²²/

to seek common ground while leaving aside differences; to agree to disagree


略勝一籌

ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧ ㄔㄡˊ

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/lœːk̚² sɪŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/lœːk̚² sɪŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

to be a notch above; to be (slightly) superior


โปรดติดตามตอนต่อไป

th-phrase

โปรดติดตามตอนต่อไป • (bpròot-dtìt-dtaam-dtɔɔn-dtɔ̀ɔ-bpai)

/proːt̚˨˩.tit̚˨˩.taːm˧.tɔːn˧.tɔː˨˩.paj˧/

From โปรด (bpròot, “please”) + ติดตาม (dtìt-dtaam, “to follow; to follow up”) + ตอน (dtɔɔn, “episode; part”) + ต่อไป (dtɔ̀ɔ-bpai, “from this on; henceforwards”).

com

used to request viewers to continue seeing further parts of a show.

en-โปรดติดตามตอนต่อไป-th-phrase-hviT0YFL


uống nước nhớ nguồn

vong ân bội nghĩa

antonym(s) of “to be grateful to one's benefactor”

[ʔuəŋ˧˦ nɨək̚˧˦ ɲəː˧˦ ŋuən˨˩]

[ʔuəŋ˦˧˥ nɨək̚˦˧˥ ɲəː˨˩˦ ŋuəŋ˦˩]

[ʔuəŋ˦˥ nɨək̚˦˥ ɲəː˦˥ ŋuəŋ˨˩]

Calque of Chinese 飲水思源／饮水思源 (ẩm thuỷ tư nguyên, literally “when drinking water, remember its source”).

calque

Tôi chỉ hy vọng con cái của mình biết uống nước nhớ nguồn, chứ đừng vong ân bội nghĩa.

I only hope that my children will know how to be grateful to their benefactors, rather than be ungrateful ingrates.

Uống nước nhớ nguồn là sự biết ơn, nhớ ghi công lao mà người khác đã giúp đỡ mình (biết ơn tổ tiên, ông bà, cha mẹ, thầy cô, quê hương, Tổ quốc,...). Đạo lý uống nước nhớ nguồn là phẩm chất cơ bản trong đạo làm người.

2015, Hoàng Thúc Lân, “Đạo lý uống nước nhớ nguồn của người Việt Nam hiện nay [Modern-day Vietnamese people's moral principle of gratitude towards benefactors]”, in Tạp chí Khoa học Xã hội Việt Nam, volume 11 (PDF), pages 94–97:

Remembering the source of the water one drinks means gratitude, reminding oneself of helpful deeds others have done (being grateful to one's ancestors, grandparents, parents, teachers, country, motherland,...). The moral principle of gratitude towards one's benefactors is a basic moral quality of the Way to be Human.

(figurative) to be grateful to one's benefactor

trông lên thì chẳng bằng ai, trông xuống thì cũng chẳng ai bằng mình


tant de bo

Tant de bo les coses fossin tan senzilles!

2014, José Antonio Marina, La màgia d'escriure, Rosa Vents, →ISBN:

(followed by subjunctive) if only, I wish


head

hrknout v někom jak ve starých pendlovkách

[ɦr̩knou̯t vɲɛkom jak vɛ stariːx pɛndlofkaːx]

Literally, “to rattle (suddenly and shortly) in someone like in an old pendulum clock”.

lit

„A sneseš špatnou zprávu?“
Hrklo ve mně jak ve starých pendlovkách. „Podle toho jakou.“

2013, Jaroslav Čejka, Lidé čas a zvířata, Praha: Baronet, →ISBN, page 214:

"Can you bear bad news?"
I skipped a beat. "It depends what news."

hrknout v někom jako ve starých pendlovkách


sa imong heart

English and Cebuano codeswitching. Literally, “in your heart, to your heart”.

(sarcastic) to your heart (see usage notes)

(sarcastic) in your heart (see usage notes)


et des poussières

Il a trente ans et des poussières.


Polak nie wielbłąd, pić musi

Literally, “a Pole isn't a camel; he needs to drink”.


head

hrknout v někom jako ve starých pendlovkách

[ɦr̩knou̯t vɲɛkom jako vɛ stariːx pɛndlofkaːx]

hrknout v někom jak ve starých pendlovkách#Czech

Alternative form of hrknout v někom jak ve starých pendlovkách


jako namydlený blesk

literal meaning: like a soaped lightning

V tu ránu mu podjely nohy a Fous letěl dolů po klouzačce jako namydlený blesk.

2016, Rudolf Lukeš, Hornické pohádky, Brno: Edika, →ISBN, page 23:

In that moment Fous slipped and fell down the slide like a greased lightning.


pijmy, bo wódka stygnie

Literally, “let's drink, because the vodka is cooling down”.


chluśniem, bo uśniem

Literally, “we'll do a splash, 'cause we are going to fall asleep”.


nĩ ũndũ wa

Ĩkĩũrũo nĩ mwoyo oona nyama nĩ ũndũ wa ũkoroku.

He [hyena (hiti)] lost his life as well as the meat because of his greediness.


not here to fuck spiders

The big double gates of the holding paddock were swung open. Cattle bellowed, whips cracked, voices shouted out. Pat rode up to Alex. 'Come on, boyo, come on, we're not here to fuck spiders.' Alex grinned at him and cracked his whip.

1997, Beverly Harper, chapter 7, in Edge of the Rain (ebook), Pan Macmillan Australia, published 2009, →ISBN:

'What are you doing here, Novik?' 'Well I'm not here to fuck spiders, Karylon. I'm here for you, of course.'

But they wouldn't find out by standing around. Eva clapped her hands together. “We're not here to fuck spiders, let's do this."

2017, Dave Sinclair, The Amnesiac's Guide to Espionage: An Eva Destruction Novel, →ISBN:

(Australia, vulgar) Used to indicate one has serious business to pursue and should not be wasting time.


YHBW

(Internet slang) Initialism of you have been warned.


SFYL

Heard you invested in Ethereum just before it hit its ATH last December. SFYL.

(Internet slang, trading) Initialism of sorry for your loss, commonly said in response to someone being scammed or losing money from a risky investment. It originated from the phrase "sorry for your loss", usually addressed to people mourning loved ones and is mostly used in finance in a sarcastic way.


𐌰𐌽𐌸𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌽𐌿

𐌰𐌽𐌸𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌽𐌰 𐌰𐌽𐌸𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌽𐌰#Gothic

Compound of 𐌰𐌽𐌸𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌽𐌰 (anþarana)+ the clitic -𐌿 (-u).


Ehre, wem Ehre gebührt

Literally, “honour to whom honour is due”.

Ich kann ihn zwar nicht leiden, aber fachlich ist er brillant. Ehre, wem Ehre gebührt.

I can’t stand him, but he’s brilliant in his field. Credit where credit’s due.

Ich will hier keine lange Rede halten, aber – Ehre, wem Ehre gebührt – du warst der beste Mann, den wir je hatten.
I don’t want to make a big speech, but – credit where credit’s due – you were the best man we’ve ever had.

credit where credit's due
credit where credit's due

credit where credit's due; used to justly praise someone, or to break the solemnity of praising


鹿死誰手

ㄌㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄕㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ

ㄌㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊk̚² sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/lʊk̚²⁻³⁵ sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊk̚² sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/lʊk̚²⁻³⁵ sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

who will win the prize; who will gain supremacy; who will emerge as the victor


cáo mượn oai hùm

[kaːw˧˦ mɨən˧˨ʔ ʔwaːj˧˧ hum˨˩]

[kaːw˨˩˦ mɨəŋ˨˩ʔ ʔwaːj˧˧ hum˦˩]

[kaːw˦˥ mɨəŋ˨˩˨ (ʔ)waːj˧˧ hʊm˨˩]

From cáo (“fox”) + mượn (“borrow”) + oai (“majesty”) + hùm (“tiger”), probable calque of Chinese 狐假虎威 (hồ giả hổ uy).

com

(figurative) to use powerful connections to intimidate people


nejít někomu něco pod vousy

nejít někomu něco pod fousy
nejít někomu něco pod fousy#Czech

Alternative form of nejít někomu něco pod fousy


nejít někomu něco pod fousy

literal meaning: not to go under someone's beard

Označit cokoliv, co nám nejde pod fousy, za nacionalismus a fašismus, bývalo v západním Německu kdysi zvykem v případě, že se někdo ranou pod pás chtěl zbavit protivníka.

2004, Aleš Knapp, “Feminine mystique”, in Antologie českého rozhlasového fejetonu 2002–2004, Praha: Concordia, →ISBN, page 45:

There used to be a habit in West Germany to label whatever we do not like as nationalism or fascism when somebody wanted to get rid of their opponent with a low blow.

not to be happy about something, not to like something


鳳毛麟角

ㄈㄥˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

фэнмао линьцзяо

/fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ lɵn²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ lɵn²¹ kɔːk̚³/

rarity of rarities; rare treasures or talents; things that are few and far between


南柯一夢

ㄋㄢˊ ㄎㄜ ㄧ ㄇㄥˋ

/nän³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ ɔː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

/nän³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ ɔː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

From the short story The Governor of Nanke.

And just then he woke up and found it was all a dream, but his mouth was still full of curses.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Shàshí jué lái, nǎi nánkēyīmèng, kǒuzhōng yóu mà Cāo zéi bùzhǐ.

霎時覺來，乃南柯一夢，口中猶罵操賊不止。

霎时觉来，乃南柯一梦，口中犹骂操贼不止。

delusion of grandeur
delusion of grandeur


auf einem Bein kann man nicht stehen

Literally, “one cannot stand on one leg”.

lit

So, ich geh dann mal! — Ach, was! Hier, nimm noch eins! Auf einem Bein kann man nicht stehen.

All right, so I’m leaving now. — Ah, forget it! Here, have another one! You can’t stand on one leg!

used to encourage someone to have another drink after their first


stricto sensu

Learned borrowing from Latin strictō sēnsū and sēnsū strictō, both meaning the same. Various misspellings exist, such as stricto senso, strictu sensu, senso stricto and sensu strictu, which can be attributed to ignorance of the underlying Latin grammar causing analogical leveling of the endings. (The only grammatically correct alternative form is sensu stricto, which is also commonly found in English.)

lbor

Coordinate term: lato sensu

Near-synonym: technically

(sciences, academics) narrowly: in the narrow sense (of a polysemic word with narrow and broad senses).

in enge zin

in the strict sense — see also technically


獐頭鼠目

with the head of a buck and the eyes of a rat

ㄓㄤ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄇㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ mʊk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ mʊk̚²/

repulsively ugly and sly-looking; ugly and shifty; having a mean physiognomy; obnoxious in appearance and cunning-looking


麗日光天

ㄌㄧˋ ㄖˋ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄊㄧㄢ

лижи гуантянь

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


head

could eat the crutch from a low flying duck

Now I have to go and eat. I'm so hungry I could eat the crutch out of a low-flying duck!

1999 March 6, Tom D, “LaGrande - asking for trouble”, in alt.music.leonard-cohen (Usenet):

'And how's Dave?' 'So hungry I could eat the diff out of a shit truck,' came Dave's deep voice from beneath the tarp. 'Or eat the crutch from a low-flying duck,' Kate added.

2008, Rachael Treasure, The Rouseabout, →ISBN:

could eat the crotch out of a low flying duck#English

(Australia, slang) Alternative form of could eat the crotch out of a low flying duck


In the end he was blood from head to hocks and all over the place like a mad woman's custard.

1959, D'Arcy Niland, Woman from the country, page 212:

The story, though, is all over the place, like mad woman’s custard.

2010 January 27, Roger Perkins, “The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman: review”, in The Telegraph:

I was all over the place like a mad woman's custard.

2012, Jim Mcloughlin, David Gibb, One Common Enemy: The Laconia Incident: A Survivor's Memoir, →ISBN:

(colloquial, simile) Moving about randomly.


Right now though I'm so hungry I could eat the arse out of a low flying duck, so off to put the nose bag on.

2002 February 28, LarbGai, “SCT Stats, simplified”, in soc.culture.thai (Usenet):

After this exchange, I'm so hungry I could eat the arse out of a low-flying duck.

2009 August 4, FarmI, “Pollan Good Read On Cooking”, in rec.gardens.edible (Usenet):

By now I was so hungry I could've eaten the arse off a low-flying duck.

2010, Dave Ulliott, Devilfish: The Life & Times of a Poker Legend, →ISBN:

By now, we were ravenously hungry. 'So hungry I could eat the arse out of a low flying duck,' John joked as he threw a gnarled wattle stump on the fire.

2017, Katherine Boland, Hippy Days, Arabian Nights, →ISBN:


EN-AU ck1 could eat the crotch out of a low flying duck.ogg

Against all odds we got there, and a marvelous meal it was, even though we were all hungry enough to eat the crotch out of a low-flying duck by that time.

1995 January 4, JOHN WHAT'S-THE-M-FOR? WILLIAMS, “ZooFest Report V”, in bit.listserv.words-l (Usenet):

"'Ken oath, I'm so hungry I could eat the crotch out of a low flying duck," announced Jaime.

2001 March 12, Sydney Webb, “Foundation and Huns - Postscript”, in soc.history.what-if (Usenet):

Tis only hunger. gristlefuck: I could tear the crotch from a low-flying duck with me bare teeth!

2004, Anthony Crowley, The Frail Man, page 37:

Max stretched. “I'm so famished I could eat the crotch out of a low-flying duck.

2006, Louise Deteliga, Fashion Slaves, →ISBN, page 82:

But the ferry into Devonport was two hours late and I was famished. I could have eaten the crotch out of a low-flying duck.”

2010, Nicholas Shakespeare, Secrets of the Sea, →ISBN, page 444:

(Australia, slang) Am/are/is extremely hungry.


水火不容

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

(of two people, groups or things) to be utterly opposed and incompatible


在所難免

ㄗㄞˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

цзайсонаньмянь

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² sɔː³⁵ naːn²¹ miːn¹³/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lan⁴¹⁻²² biɛn⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻¹¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻²¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻²¹ biɛn⁴¹/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² sɔː³⁵ naːn²¹ miːn¹³/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lan⁴¹⁻²² biɛn⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻¹¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻²¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻²¹ biɛn⁴¹/

It is inevitable that everyone will make mistakes.

Rénrén dōu huì fàncuò, zhè shì zàisuǒnánmiǎn de.

人人都會犯錯，這是在所難免的。

人人都会犯错，这是在所难免的。


夢寐以求

ㄇㄥˋ ㄇㄟˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/mɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mʊŋ²² mei̯²² jiː¹³ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/mɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mʊŋ²² mei̯²² jiː¹³ kʰɐu̯²¹/

夢寐以求的工作

梦寐以求的工作

to desire strongly; to crave; to long for


麟角鳳毛

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄇㄠˊ

линьцзяо фэнмао

/lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/lɵn²¹ kɐk̚³ fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹/

/lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/lɵn²¹ kɐk̚³ fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹/