南無妙法蓮華経

ja-pos

^なむ ^みょうほう ^れんげ ^きょう

^なむ ^めうほふ ^れんげ ^きやう

南(な)無(む)妙(みょう)法(ほう)蓮(れん)華(げ)経(きょう) • (Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō) ^(←なむめうほふれんげきやう (Namu Meufofu Renge Kyau)?)

南無妙法蓮華経 (canonical)
Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (romanization)
Namu Meufofu Renge Kyau (romanization)
なむめうほふれんげきやう (hiragana historical)

From 南無 (namu, Buddhist salutation or expression of faith) + 妙法蓮華経 (Myōhō Renge Kyō, “Lotus Sutra”).

com

(Buddhism) a mantra commonly chanted in the Nichiren school of Buddhism, praising the Lotus Sutra


күҙ күрер

head

күҙ күрер • (küź kürer)

[ˈkɵð.kɵˈɾɪ̞ɾ]

Ҡайғырма, барып еткәс, күҙ күрер.

Never mind. When we reach (the destination), we shall see (what to do next).

Был хаҡта әле уйламағанмын, күҙ күрер.

I haven't thought about this yet. I will decide later.

(idiomatic) said to express the idea that the speaker will decide on his/her further actions at some moment in the future rather than now

(idiomatic) said to express the idea that what may happen in the future cannot be known at that specific time; we shall see, time will tell, it remains to be seen


je te dis merde

(vulgar, theater, slang, idiomatic) break a leg! good luck!


唵蘇羅薩縛帝曳娑婆訶

ja-pos

^おん ^そらそばてい えい そわか

唵(おん)蘇(そ)羅(ら)薩(そ)縛(ば)帝(てい)曳(えい)娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) • (On Sorasobatei ei sowaka)

唵蘇羅薩縛帝曳娑婆訶 (canonical)
On Sorasobatei ei sowaka (romanization)

唵‧蘇羅薩縛帝‧曳‧娑婆訶

唵(おん) (on, “om”) + 蘇(そ)羅(ら)薩(そ)縛(ば)帝(てい) (Sorasobatei, “Saraswati”) + 曳(えい) (ei, transcription of Sanskrit "aym") + 娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) (sowaka, “svāhā”) , compare om aim Saraswatyai namah.


左圖右史

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄨˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄕˇ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative) to have a large library collection


高山流水

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

гаошаньлюшуй

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

From the friendship story of Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi, recorded in the book Liezi. See Bo Ya on Wikipedia for more.

(figurative) sublime musical composition

(figurative) intimate and understanding friend


江郎才盡

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄌㄤˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цзянланцайцзинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

At first, Jiang Yan resigned from his official post at Xuancheng. Then, he resided at Yeting (in Nanjing). There he dreamt a handsome man who called himself Guo Pu. He said, "I have a writing brush that you borrowed for many years. Can you return it to me now?" Jiang Yan then searched inside his clothes, and he found a five-coloured brush and then returned to him. After that, when Jiang tried to write poems, he could never write a single sentence again. Therefore, it was said that Jiang's talent has been exhausted.

初，淹罷宣城郡，遂宿冶亭，夢一美丈夫，自稱郭璞，謂淹曰：「我有筆在卿處多年矣，可以見還。」淹探懷中，得五色筆以授之。爾後為詩，不復成語，故世傳江淹才盡

(figurative) to have used up one's creative powers; to have writer's block

Guo Pu
Jiang Yan
Jiang Yan (poet)
Zhong Rong
zh:詩品


依樣畫葫蘆

ㄧ ㄧㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄌㄨ

иян хуа хулу

/i⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu³⁵ lu³/

/jiː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² waːk̚² wuː²¹ lou̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu³⁵ lu³/

/jiː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² waːk̚² wuː²¹ lou̯²¹/

(figurative) to copy something mechanically without attempt at originality


名落孫山

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄣ ㄕㄢ

минлосуньшань

/miŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɔːk̚² syːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ loʔ⁴⁻² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ sũã³³/

/miŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɔːk̚² syːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ loʔ⁴⁻² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ sũã³³/

Sun Shan, a talented and humorous scholar from the Wu region, went to a different prefecture for the imperial examination. A fellow villager sent his son to go with Sun for the exam. When exam results were announced, the son of the fellow villager failed to make it in the list of successful candidates, while Sun Shan was the last name on the list. When they returned, the villager asked Sun how his son had performed, and Sun replied with a poem:
　My humble name appeared at the bottom of the list of successful candidates,
　While your dear son ranked behind me.

Song dynasty, poet Fan Gongcheng (范公偁), 《過庭錄》

Wú rén Sūn Shān, huájī cáizǐ yě. Fù jǔ tā jùn, xiāngrén tuō yǐ zǐ xié wǎng. Xiāngrén zǐ shīyì, Shān zhuì bǎngmò. Xiān guī, xiāngrén wèn qí zǐ déshī, Shān yuē: “Jièmíng jìnchù shì Sūn Shān, xiánláng gèng zài Sūn Shān wài.”

吳人孫山，滑稽才子也。赴舉他郡，鄉人托以子偕往。鄉人子失意，山綴榜末。先歸，鄉人問其子得失，山曰：「解名盡處是孫山，賢郎更在孫山外。」

吴人孙山，滑稽才子也。赴举他郡，乡人托以子偕往。乡人子失意，山缀榜末。先归，乡人问其子得失，山曰：「解名尽处是孙山，贤郎更在孙山外。」

to fall behind Sun Shan (who ranked last on the admitted candidates)

(figurative) to fail an exam; to fall behind (in a competition)


曲高和寡

ㄑㄩˇ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔː²² kʷaː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔː²² kʷaː³⁵/

From an ancient piece of dialogue disputably bearing the author's name of Song Yu

The Prince of Ch'u said to his prime minister, "What have you done that should cause the officers and people of this State to abuse you so clamorously?"
"Abuse me indeed they do," replied the minister; "but pardon my boldness, and I will explain. A stranger was singing in one of our villages the other day, and this was the subject of his lay: There is the music of the masses; there is the music of a narrower circle; that of a narrower circle still; and lastly, the classical music of the cultured few. This classical music is too lofty, and too difficult of comprehension, for the masses."

c. 3rd century BC, Song Yu ,宋玉《對楚王問》, translated into English as Unpopularity by Herbert Allen Giles, 1922.

Chǔ xiāngwáng wèn yú Sòngyù yuē: “Xiānshēng qí yǒu yíxíng yú? Hé shìmínzhòngshù, bùyù zhī shèn yě?” Sòngyù duì yuē: “Wéi! Rán! Yǒu zhī. Yuàn dàwáng kuān qí zuì, shǐ dé bì qí cí. Kè yǒu gē yú Yǐngzhōng zhě, qí shǐ yuē “xiàlǐ” “bārén”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě shùqiān rén; qí wéi “yáng'ē” “xièlù”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě shùbǎi rén; qí wéi “yángchūn” “báixuě”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě bùguò shùshí rén; yǐn shāng kè yǔ, zá yǐ liúzhǐ, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě, bùguò shù rén éryǐ. Shì qí qū mí gāo, qí hè mí guǎ.”

楚襄王問於宋玉曰：「先生其有遺行與？何士民衆庶，不譽之甚也？」宋玉對曰：「唯！然！有之。願大王寬其罪，使得畢其辭。客有歌於郢中者，其始曰《下里》《巴人》，國中屬而和者數千人；其為《陽阿》《薤露》，國中屬而和者數百人；其為《陽春》《白雪》，國中屬而和者不過數十人；引商刻羽，雜以流徵，國中屬而和者，不過數人而已。是其曲彌高，其和彌寡。」

楚襄王问于宋玉曰：「先生其有遗行与？何士民众庶，不誉之甚也？」宋玉对曰：「唯！然！有之。愿大王宽其罪，使得毕其辞。客有歌于郢中者，其始曰《下里》《巴人》，国中属而和者数千人；其为《阳阿》《薤露》，国中属而和者数百人；其为《阳春》《白雪》，国中属而和者不过数十人；引商刻羽，杂以流徵，国中属而和者，不过数人而已。是其曲弥高，其和弥寡。」

songs of a highbrow type will find very few people joining in the chorus

to be highbrow and unpopular, as it cannot be easily understood by the common people


沆瀣一氣

ㄏㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄧ ㄑㄧˋ

/xɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/xɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

In the second year of Qianfu (i.e. 875 CE), a student, named Cui Xie, was admitted by an examiner, named Cui Hang, during the imperial examinations. Both Xie and Hang meant “mist of vapour in the air” in Classical Chinese, and people at the time remarked: “the examiner and the student ― Hang and Xie ― are of the same gang”.

Yòu Qiánfú èr nián, Cuī Hàng fàng Cuī Xiè, tánzhě chēng “zuòzhǔ ménshēng, hàngxièyīqì”.

又乾符二年，崔沆放崔瀣，譚者稱「座主門生，沆瀣一氣」。

又乾符二年，崔沆放崔瀣，谭者称「座主门生，沆瀣一气」。

2020, Wang Chen, “zh:关于《全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制的决定（草案）》的说明 (Explanation on the Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security (Draft))”, in Communique of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress^(zh:Page:中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会常务委员会公报2020年第二号.pdf/10), page 285:

Moreover in recent years, certain foreign or external forces have flagrantly interfered in Hong Kong's affairs. They have made intervention and created disturbances in various ways, such as by legislative and administrative means and through non-governmental organizations. In collusion with those anti-China Hong Kong disputers, these same forces colluded with them in disruption […]

jìnnián lái, yīxiē wàiguó hé jìngwài shìlì gōngrán gānyù xiānggǎng shìwù, tōngguò lìfǎ, xíngzhèng, fēizhèngfǔzǔzhī děng duōzhǒng fāngshì jìnxíng chāshǒu hé dǎoluàn, yǔ xiānggǎng fǎnzhōngluàngǎng shìlì gōulián héliú, hàngxièyīqì

近年來，一些外國和境外勢力公然干預香港事務，通過立法、行政、非政府組織等多種方式進行插手和搗亂，與香港反中亂港勢力勾連合流、沆瀣一氣

近年来，一些外国和境外势力公然干预香港事务，通过立法、行政、非政府组织等多种方式进行插手和捣乱，与香港反中乱港势力勾连合流、沆瀣一气

(derogatory, literary) to act in collusion; to gang up


唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶

ja-pos

おん かかか びさんまえい そわか

オン カカカ ビサンマエイ ソワカ

唵(おん)訶(か)訶(か)訶(か)尾(び)娑(さん)摩(ま)曳(えい)娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) or 唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶(オンカカカビサンマエイソワカ) • (on kakaka bisanmaei sowaka)

唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶 (canonical)
唵訶訶訶尾娑摩曳娑婆訶 (canonical)
on kakaka bisanmaei sowaka (romanization)

[o̞ŋ ka̠ka̠ka̠ bʲisã̠mːa̠e̞ː so̞β̞a̠ka̠]

唵‧訶‧訶‧訶‧尾娑摩曳‧娑婆訶

From Sanskrit ॐ हहह विस्मये स्वाहा (oṃ hahaha vismaye svāhā): 唵(おん) (on, “om”) + 訶(か)訶(か)訶(か) (kakaka, onomatopoeia for laughter) + 尾(び)娑(さん)摩(ま)曳(えい) (bisanmaei, transcription of "vismaye") + 娑(そ)婆(わ)訶(か) (sowaka, “svāhā”).

der

おんかかかびさんまえいそわか

ja-compound

(Buddhism) An esoteric Buddhist mantra (Om! Ha ha ha! O wondrous one, svāhā!).


醍醐灌頂

ㄊㄧˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄥˇ

тихугуаньдин

/tʰi³⁵ xu³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐi̯²¹ wuː²¹ kuːn³³ tɪŋ³⁵/

/tʰi³⁵ xu³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐi̯²¹ wuː²¹ kuːn³³ tɪŋ³⁵/

(Buddhism) to enlighten someone with wisdom for achieving nirvana

(figurative) to inspire someone with insightful words


呆若木雞

ㄉㄞ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧ

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²¹ jœːk̚² mʊk̚² kɐi̯⁵⁵/

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²¹ jœːk̚² mʊk̚² kɐi̯⁵⁵/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 19 (《莊子·達生》):
:
In the past, this term was describing the quality of being able to stay calm.

Ji Xing Zi was training gamecocks for the king. After ten days the king asked if they were ready. "Not yet. They're too haughty and rely on their nerve."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "Not yet. They still respond to noises and movements."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "Not yet. They still look around fiercely and are full of spirit."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "They're close enough. Another cock can crow and they show no sign of change. Look at them from a distance and you'd think they were made of wood. Their virtue is complete. Other cocks won't dare face them, but will turn and run."

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

Jì Xǐng Zǐ wèi wáng yǎng dòujī.
Shí rì ér wèn: “Jī yǐ hū?” Yuē: “Wèi yě, fāng xūjiāo ér shì qì.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Wèi yě, yóu yìng xiǎng yǐng.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Wèi yě, yóu jí shì ér shèng qì.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Jī yǐ, jī suī yǒu míng zhě, yǐ wú biàn yǐ, wàng zhī sì mù jī yǐ, qí dé quán yǐ. Yì jī wú gǎn yìng zhě, fǎn zǒu yǐ.”

紀渻子為王養鬬雞。
十日而問：「雞已乎？」曰：「未也，方虛憍而恃氣。」
十日又問，曰：「未也，猶應嚮景。」
十日又問，曰：「未也，猶疾視而盛氣。」
十日又問，曰：「幾矣，雞雖有鳴者，已无變矣，望之似木雞矣，其德全矣。異雞无敢應者，反走矣。」

纪渻子为王养鬬鸡。
十日而问：「鸡已乎？」曰：「未也，方虚㤭而恃气。」
十日又问，曰：「未也，犹应向景。」
十日又问，曰：「未也，犹疾视而盛气。」
十日又问，曰：「几矣，鸡虽有鸣者，已无变矣，望之似木鸡矣，其德全矣。异鸡无敢应者，反走矣。」


મજામાં છું

head

મજામાં છું • (majāmā̃ chũ)

gu-phrase

મજામાં છું • (majāmā̃ chũ)

/ˈmə.d͡ʒɑ.mɑ̃‿ˈt͡ʃʰũ/

મ‧જા‧માં‧છું

Literally, “I am in fun”. Compare Marathi मी मजेत आहे (mī majet āhe).


オンアラハシャノウ

ja-pos

オンアラハシャノウ or おんあらはしゃのう • (on'arahashanō) ^(←オンアラハシヤナウ (on'arafasyanau)?)

オンアラハシャノウ (canonical)
おんあらはしゃのう (canonical)
on'arahashanō (romanization)
on'arafasyanau (romanization)
オンアラハシヤナウ (historical katakana)

[o̞ɰ̃ a̠ɾa̠ha̠ɕa̠no̞ː]

オン‧ア‧ラ‧ハ‧シャ‧ノウ

/on a ra pa sa nau/ → /on a ra ɸa sya nau/ → /on a ra ha ɕa noː/
From Sanskrit ॐ अरपचन धीः (oṃ arapacana dhīḥ): 唵(オン) (on, “oṃ”) + アラハシャノウ (arahashanō, “arapacana”, a Buddhist mnemonic of the Sanskrit alphabet).

ja-compound

(Buddhism, chiefly Shingon) An esoteric Buddhist mantra, directed to Monju Bosatsu (Mañjuśrī bodhisattva)


オンマイタレイヤソワカ

ja-pos

おん まいたれいや そわか

オンマイタレイヤソワカ or おんまいたれいやそわか • (onmaitareiyasowaka) ^(←オンマイタレイヤソハカ (onmaitareiyasofaka)?)

オンマイタレイヤソワカ (canonical)
おんまいたれいやそわか (canonical)
onmaitareiyasowaka (romanization)
onmaitareiyasofaka (romanization)
オンマイタレイヤソハカ (historical katakana)

オン‧マイタレイヤ‧ソワカ

From Sanskrit ॐ मैत्रेय स्वाहा (oṃ maitreya svāhā): 唵(オン) (on, “oṃ”) + マイタレイヤ (maitareiya, “Maitreya”, literally “compassionate one”) + ソワカ (sowaka, “svāhā”).

bor

ॐ मैत्रेय स्वाहा

ja-compound

(Buddhism, chiefly Shingon) An esoteric Buddhist mantra, directed to Miroku Bosatsu (Maitreya bodhisattva)


趾高氣揚

ㄓˇ ㄍㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹/

The Mo'ao will certainly be defeated. He walks high in his steps; ― his mind is not firm.

莫敖必敗。舉趾高，心不固矣。

莫敖必败。举趾高，心不固矣。

to walk with a high-stepping gait and look proud

(derogatory) to be on one's high horse; to be very self-righteous; to be arrogant


知足常樂

ㄓ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

a contented mind is a perpetual feast
a contented mind is a perpetual feast

one who is contented is always happy; to be content with one's lot and be cheerful in life; a contented mind is a perpetual feast


感激涕零

ㄍㄢˇ ㄐㄧ ㄊㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

ганьцзитилин

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ lɪŋ²¹/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ lɪŋ²¹/

to shed tears of gratitude; to be overwhelmingly moved by another person's kindness


that ship has already sailed

that ship has sailed
that ship has sailed#English

Alternative form of that ship has sailed


that train has already left the station

that train has left the station
that train has left the station#English

Alternative form of that train has left the station


accidents will happen

Accidents will happen, even when a project is carefully planned.


that train has left the station

The expression "You've missed the boat" was replaced by "That train has left the station" and will one day be replaced by "That space shuttle has already started the countdown".

1981 March 22, William Safire, “On Language: Do you speak ASPIC?”, in New York Times, retrieved 2017-09-17:

Mr. Chairman, we can't prohibit borrowing by the federal government. That train has already left the station. We're too deep in debt not to borrow.

1994, Proposed Constitutional Amendments to Balance the Federal Budget: Floor action and committee hearings for the 101st Congress: A legislative history, Volume 4, page 533:

"This is like the Jewish United Way," Rabbi Latz said, " . . . You can't stop the Jews, or certainly the rest of humanity, from doing good. That train has left the station."

2006 August 1, Susan Paynter, “Shootings can't undo the good”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 2017-09-17:

“The enormous momentum generated by the business and investment community to address climate change cannot be reversed and cannot be ignored by the Trump administration,” he said. “That train has left the station and to stand in its way is folly.”

2016 November 16, Adam Withnall, “Donald Trump must not make any 'irrevocable choices' over climate change, warns John Kerry”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 2017-09-17:

Kevin Sabet . . . said he doesn’t think Canada should legalize pot at all but if that train has left the station, Canada at the very least needs to slow it down.

2017 September 12, Mia Rabson, “Police ask feds to postpone date for legal pot”, in The Star, Canada, retrieved 2017-09-17:

That opportunity has already passed; that cannot be undone.


make yourselves at home

make yourself at home
make yourself at home#English


キモス

キモス (canonical)
きもす (canonical)
kimosu (romanization)

(Internet slang) Contraction of キモいです (kimoi desu).


萬紫千紅

ㄨㄢˋ ㄗˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

ваньцзыцяньхун

/wän⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/maːn²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/wän⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/maːn²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

Describes a scene where flowers bloom synchronously.

a profusion of flourishing trades; prosperous


恍然大悟

ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

/hɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃²²/

/hɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋo³⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

/hɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃²²/

/hɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋo³⁵/


一問三不知

ㄧ ㄨㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ

yī wèn sān bùzhī [Phonetic:yí wèn sān bùzhī]

и вэнь сань бучжи

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

A superior man, in forming his plans, considers everything ― the beginning, the middle and the end ― and then he enters on his course. But now I took mine, without knowing any one of these three; is it not hard?

Jūnzǐ zhī móu yě, shǐ zhōng zhōng jiē jǔ zhī ér hòu rù yān. Jīn wǒ shì sān bùzhī ér rù zhī, bù yì nán hū?

君子之謀也，始衷終皆舉之而後入焉。今我是三不知而入之，不亦難乎？

君子之谋也，始衷终皆举之而后入焉。今我是三不知而入之，不亦难乎？

to reply ‘don't know’ whatever the question

to answer “no idea” to every question; to have absolutely no idea of what is going on, or pretend to be unaware; completely ignorant


高抬貴手

ㄍㄠ ㄊㄞˊ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˇ

гаотайгуйшоу

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

An expression for requesting forgiveness or accommodation: to be generous; to be magnanimous; (ironic) give me a break


疑神疑鬼

ㄧˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

/i³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁵³/

/ɡi²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ ɡi²³⁻³³ kui⁴¹/

/i³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁵³/

/ɡi²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ ɡi²³⁻³³ kui⁴¹/

to be extremely suspicious; to be afraid of one's own shadow


貪新忘舊

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kɐu̯²²/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kɐu̯²²/

(Cantonese) to love the new and forget the old; to be fickle in affection

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


紅番排隊去廁所——語無倫次

head

紅番排隊去廁所——語無倫次

hung⁴ faan¹ paai⁴ doey⁶⁻² hoey³ tsi³ so²

/hʊŋ²¹ faːn⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ tɵy̯²²⁻³⁵ hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰiː³³ sɔː³⁵/

In stereotypes, American aboriginal people usually wear headpieces with feathers. Thus Red Indians lining up to go to the washroom is 羽毛輪廁／羽毛轮厕 (jyu5 mou4 leon4 ci3, “(people decorated with) feathers waiting for their turn to use the washroom”), which is a homophonic pun of 語無倫次／语无伦次 (jyu5 mou4 leon4 ci3).

红番排队去厕所——语无伦次

Red Indians lining up to go to the washroom—(people decorated with)feathers waiting for their turn to use the washroom

(Cantonese, humorous) to speak incoherently; to ramble in one's statement; confused and incomprehensible speech


三長兩短

ㄙㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

саньчанляндуань

/sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄙㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇㄦ

саньчанляндуаньр

/sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn³⁵/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ nŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ nŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ zã²¹ liã²² tø⁴⁴/

/san³³ ʈ͡ʂan¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ tõ⁴¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn³⁵/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ nŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ nŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ zã²¹ liã²² tø⁴⁴/

/san³³ ʈ͡ʂan¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ tõ⁴¹/

Extended from 長短／长短 (chángduǎn), which already has the meaning of “mishap”. 三 and 兩／两 are two arbitrary numbers which can also mean “some” (see 二三 (èrsān) and 三兩／三两 (sānliǎng)).
Folk etymology states that the term is a euphemism referring to a coffin, which consists of 3 pieces of long and 2 pieces of short wood excluding the cover.

unexpected misfortune; unexpected accident; sudden death


蒸蒸日上

ㄓㄥ ㄓㄥ ㄖˋ ㄕㄤˋ

чжэнчжэнжишан

čžɛnčžɛnžišan

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³/

The vast majority of the bourgeoisie and the intellectuals who come from the old society are patriotic and are willing to serve their flourishing socialist motherland.

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

Zīchǎn jiējí fènzǐ hé cóng jiùshèhuì lái de zhīshi fènzǐ de juédàduōshù dōu shì àiguó de, tāmen yuànyì wèi zhēngzhēngrìshàng de shèhuì zhǔyì zǔguó fúwù.

資產階級分子和從舊社會來的知識分子的絕大多數都是愛國的，他們願意為蒸蒸日上的社會主義祖國服務。

资产阶级分子和从旧社会来的知识分子的绝大多数都是爱国的，他们愿意为蒸蒸日上的社会主义祖国服务。

to become more prosperous by the day; to make progress


每況愈下

ㄇㄟˇ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

мэйкуанъюйся

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/muːi̯¹³ fɔːŋ³³ jyː²² haː²²/

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/muːi̯¹³ fɔːŋ³³ jyː²² haː²²/

Corrupted from 每下愈況／每下愈况 (měixiàyùkuàng) under folk etymology, reinterpreting 況／况 (kuàng) (originally meaning "more") as "condition; situation".

zh-l

每下愈況／每下愈况 (měixiàyùkuàng)

out of the frying pan and into the fire
out of the frying pan and into the fire

to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire; to go from bad to worse; to steadily deteriorate


滿載而歸

ㄇㄢˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

маньцзайэргуй

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

to return home fully loaded; to return home fruitfully


垂頭喪氣

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄙㄤˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

From “Goodbye to Penury” (《送窮文》) by Han Yu (韓愈)

The master then bowed his head and felt disheartened, raised his hand to thank them [the ghosts of poverty], burned the cart and boat, and invited them to the seat of honour.

Zhǔrén yúshì chuítóusàngqì, shàngshǒu chēngxiè, shāo chē yǔ chuán, yán zhī shàngzuò.

主人於是垂頭喪氣，上手稱謝，燒車與船，延之上座。

主人于是垂头丧气，上手称谢，烧车与船，延之上座。

He became frustrated after experiencing a little setback.

Tā shòu yīdiǎn cuòzhé jiù chuítóusàngqì le.

他受一點挫折就垂頭喪氣了。

他受一点挫折就垂头丧气了。


打開天窗說亮話

to open the skylight to say candid words

ㄉㄚˇ ㄎㄞ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ta³-kʻai¹ tʻien¹-chʻuang¹ shuo¹ liang⁴-hua⁴

дакай тяньчуан шо лянхуа

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ lœːŋ²² waː²²/

/tã³³ kʰe³³ tʰi⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑ̃³³ səʔ⁴⁴ liã²² ɦo⁴⁴/

beat around the bush
beat around the bush

(figurative) to speak candidly; to not beat around the bush


如火如荼

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄊㄨˊ

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/jyː²¹ fɔː³⁵ jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/jyː²¹ fɔː³⁵ jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

From a statement in Guoyu describing how spectacular the Wu army was

Ten thousand warriors form a phalanx [in the middle], with white clothes, white banners, white armours, and white arrows, and they looked like cogon spikes. The army on the left also wore like this, with red clothes, red banners, red armours, and red arrows, and they looked like fire. The army on the left also wore like this, with black clothes, black banners, black armours, and black arrows, and they looked like ink.

Wàn rén yǐ wèi fāngzhèn, jiē bái shang, bái qí, sù jiǎ, bái yǔ zhī zēng, wàng zhī rú tú. Zuǒ jūn yì rú zhī, jiē chì shang, chì yú, dān jiǎ, zhū yǔ zhī zēng, wàng zhī rú huǒ. Yòu jūn yì rú zhī, jiē xuán shang, xuán qí, hēi jiǎ, wū yǔ zhī zēng, wàng zhī rú mò.

萬人以為方陣，皆白裳、白旂、素甲、白羽之矰，望之如荼。左軍亦如之，皆赤裳、赤旟、丹甲、朱羽之矰，望之如火。右軍亦如之，皆玄裳、玄旗、黑甲、烏羽之矰，望之如墨。

万人以为方阵，皆白裳、白旗、素甲、白羽之矰，望之如荼。左军亦如之，皆赤裳、赤𭤰、丹甲、朱羽之矰，望之如火。右军亦如之，皆玄裳、玄旗、黑甲、乌羽之矰，望之如墨。

(literal) (to have) a mighty army like wildfire

奧運比賽進行得如火如荼。

奥运比赛进行得如火如荼。

a daunting and vigorous momentum; flourishing; magnificent


起承轉合

ㄑㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄏㄜˊ

цичэнчжуаньхэ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡syːn³⁵ hɐp̚²/

/hei̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡syːn³⁵ hɐp̚²/

(poetry) structure of traditional Chinese poetry: introduction, elucidation, transition and conclusion

(by extension) composition of a piece of literature


当社比

compared to our company's previous products


依依不捨

/i⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ i³³⁻²³ puk̚²⁻⁴ sia²¹³/

/i⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ i³³⁻²³ puk̚²⁻⁴ sia²¹³/

What makes me linger is more than your tenderness

讓我依依不捨的不止你的溫柔

让我依依不舍的不止你的温柔

to be reluctant to part; to feel broken-hearted at having to leave; to linger


馬耳東風

ㄇㄚˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nĩ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nĩ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

lang

《答王十二寒夜獨酌有懷》

《答王十二寒夜獨酌有懷》

When the people of this world hear this, all shake their heads,
As if the east wind shot through the horse’s ear.

Shìrén wén cǐ jiē diàotóu, yǒu rú dōngfēng shè mǎ ěr.

世人聞此皆掉頭，有如東風射馬耳。

世人闻此皆掉头，有如东风射马耳。

not the least bit concerned; completely indifferent


馬耳東風

馬耳東風 (canonical)
bajitōfū (romanization)

[ba̠ʑito̞ːɸɯ̟ː]


忘恩負義

ㄨㄤˋ ㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jɐn⁵⁵ fuː²² jiː²²/

/mɔŋ¹¹ ɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ fu⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵³/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ɯŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ eŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jɐn⁵⁵ fuː²² jiː²²/

/mɔŋ¹¹ ɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ fu⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵³/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ɯŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ eŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

bite the hand that feeds one
bite the hand that feeds one

to be devoid of gratefulness; to forget someone’s kindness and turn one’s back on him; to bite the hand that feeds one


文字通り

文字通り (canonical)
mojidōri (romanization)

literally (not figuratively or hyperbolic)


掩耳盜鈴

ㄧㄢˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jiːm³⁵ jiː¹³ tou̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jiːm³⁵ jiː¹³ tou̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

When the Fan family was wiped out, there was a thief who wanted to carry their bell on his back and leave. Since the bell was too big for him to carry, he smashed it with a hammer, but the bell clanged loudly. For fear that people would hear it and take it from him, he quickly covered his ears.

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

Fàn shì zhī wáng yě, bǎixìng yǒu dé zhōng zhě, yù fù ér zǒu. Zé zhōng dà bùkě fù, yǐ chúi huǐ zhī, zhōng huàngrán yǒu yīn. Kǒng rén wén zhī ér duó jǐ yě, jù yǎn qí ěr.

范氏之亡也，百姓有得鐘者，欲負而走。則鐘大不可負，以椎毀之，鐘況然有音。恐人聞之而奪己也，遽揜其耳。

范氏之亡也，百姓有得钟者，欲负而走。则钟大不可负，以椎毁之，钟况然有音。恐人闻之而夺己也，遽揜其耳。

掩耳盗铃
盜鐘掩耳
盜鈴掩耳
竊鈴掩耳
塞耳盜鐘
塞耳偷鈴
掩耳盜鐘
掩耳偷鈴

tocover one’s ears while stealing a bell

Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18ᵗʰ century CE

Nàpà zài niàn sānshí běn “shījīng”, yěshì yǎn'ěrdàolíng, hǒngrén éryǐ.

那怕再念三十本《詩經》，也是掩耳盜鈴，哄人而已。

那怕再念三十本《诗经》，也是掩耳盗铃，哄人而已。

Tā suī yòng líng zhēgài, yǐ yǎn zhòngrén ěrmù, nà zhī quèshì yǎn'ěrdàolíng.

他雖用綾遮蓋，以掩眾人耳目，那知卻是掩耳盜鈴。

他虽用绫遮盖，以掩众人耳目，那知却是掩耳盗铃。

bury one's head in the sand
bury one's head in the sand

(figurative) to fool oneself; to bury one's head in the sand


接踵而至

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

цзечжунъэрчжи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

to follow each other and arrive successively; to be unceasing


種瓜得瓜

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄚ

чжунгуадэгуа

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵/


nichts für ungut

/nɪçt͡s fyːɐ̯ ʊŋˈɡuːt/

Guten Morgen, Ihr Gnaden allerseits. Ihr Gnaden, nichts für ungut, Sie haben mich ein wenig lange warten lassen. Unser eins, nichts für ungut, hat ein bischen mehr zu thun, als im Vorhause zu stehn und zu paffen, nichts für ungut.

1789, Gustav Friedrich Großmann, Nicht mehr als Sechs Schüsseln, 2nd edition, Zweyter Akt. Dritter Auftritt.:

Was ist das, Herr Doktor? – Das ist Einfalt, bester Herr Sargnagel! Hähähä! Aber nichts für ungut!


tms.

Abbreviation of tai muuta sellaista (“or something like that”).


傾城傾國

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

傾國傾城 傾國傾城#Chinese

倾国倾城 倾国倾城#Chinese


過關斬將

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

гогуаньчжаньцзян

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

過五關斬六將 過五關斬六將#Chinese

过五关斩六将 过五关斩六将#Chinese

Short for 過五關斬六將／过五关斩六将 (guò wǔ guān zhǎn liù jiàng).


按圖索驥

ㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˋ

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ saːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ sɔːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ saːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ sɔːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

Jīn bù xún bó zhě zhī dào, nǎi yù yǐ sāndài xuǎnjǔ zhī fǎ qǔ dāngshí zhī shì, yóu chá bóyuè zhī tú, qiú qíjì yú shì, ér bùkě dé, yì yǐ míng yǐ.

今不循伯者之道，乃欲以三代選舉之法取當時之士，猶察伯樂之圖，求騏驥於市，而不可得，亦已明矣。

今不循伯者之道，乃欲以三代选举之法取当时之士，犹察伯乐之图，求骐骥于市，而不可得，亦已明矣。

to look for a fine horse using only a picture

(figurative, derogatory) to do things along rigid, conventional lines

(figurative) to try and find something with the help of a clue


傾國傾城

desc

Vietnamese: → nghiêng nước nghiêng thành (calque), → nghiêng thành đổ nước (calque)

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

From the story of Consort Li, a concubine to the Emperor Wu of Han

Consort Li, concubine to the Emperor Wu of Han, was originally a dancing performer. Her brother Yannian was a gifted musician and dancer, beloved by the emperor. Every time he composed something new, it never failed to move those listening to it.
One day, Yannian did a dance and sang, “There is a beauty in the north, who stands out among the generations. One look will topple the men of the city. A second look will topple the men of the country. I would rather not know about toppled cities and toppled countries, because a beauty of this caliber may not come around again!”
His majesty sighed and said, “Wow! Can there really be such a person in this world?”
Whereupon Pingyang mentioned that Yannian had a sister. His majesty summoned her, and she was indeed a sight to behold, and a good dancer. As a result, she received the emperor's favor, and bore him a son; this was Prince Ai of Changyi. (Wiktionary translation)

Xiàowǔ Lǐ fūrén, běn yǐ chàng jìn. Chū, fūrén xiōng Yánnián xìng zhī yīn, shàn gēwǔ, Wǔ dì ài zhī. Měi wéi xīn shēng biàn qǔ, wén zhě mò bù gǎndòng.
Yánnián shì shàng qǐwǔ, gē yuē: “Běifāng yǒu jiārén, juéshì ér dúlì, yī gù qīng rén chéng, zài gù qīng rén guó. Nìng bùzhī qīngchéng yǔ qīngguó, jiārén nán zài dé!”
Shàng tànxī yuē: “Shàn! Shì qǐ yǒu cǐ rén hū?”
Píngyáng zhǔ yīn yán Yánnián yǒu nǚdì, shàng nǎi zhàojiàn zhī, shí miàolì shàn wǔ. Yóu shì dé xìng, shēng yī nán, shì wéi Chāngyì Āiwáng.

孝武李夫人，本以倡進。初，夫人兄延年性知音，善歌舞，武帝愛之。每為新聲變曲，聞者莫不感動。
延年侍上起舞，歌曰：「北方有佳人，絕世而獨立，一顧傾人城，再顧傾人國。寧不知傾城與傾國，佳人難再得！」
上歎息曰：「善！世豈有此人乎？」
平陽主因言延年有女弟，上乃召見之，實妙麗善舞。由是得幸，生一男，是為昌邑哀王。

孝武李夫人，本以倡进。初，夫人兄延年性知音，善歌舞，武帝爱之。每为新声变曲，闻者莫不感动。
延年侍上起舞，歌曰：「北方有佳人，绝世而独立，一顾倾人城，再顾倾人国。宁不知倾城与倾国，佳人难再得！」
上叹息曰：「善！世岂有此人乎？」
平阳主因言延年有女弟，上乃召见之，实妙丽善舞。由是得幸，生一男，是为昌邑哀王。

capable of causing the downfall of a city or state

(figurative, of a woman) to be devastatingly beautiful; to be drop-dead gorgeous


死馬當活馬醫

to medically treat a dead horse as a living horse

ㄙˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄧ

sǐmǎ dàng huómǎ yī [Phonetic:símǎdànghuómǎyī]

сыма дан хома и

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵/

to keep trying everything in a desperate situation; to resort to desperate measures in desperate times


吃不了兜著走

吃不了兜着走
吃不了，兜著走/吃不了，兜着走

ㄔ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄡ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄗㄡˇ

чи буляо доу чжэ цзоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative, colloquial) to find oneself in serious trouble; to bear all the consequences


恨鐵不成鋼

ㄏㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄍㄤ

хэнь те бу чэн ган

/xən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐn²² tʰiːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

/xən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐn²² tʰiːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

(figurative) to feel resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations; to be impatient to see improvement


walay sapayan

it doesn't matter; it is not important; do not fret


bein darkmans

Bein darkmans then, bouse, mort and ken, / the bien coue's bingd a wast: / On chates to trine, by Rome-coues dine, / for his long lib at last.

1612, Thomas Dekker, “The Canting Song”, in Lanthorne and candle-light:


been darkmans

Been Darkmans then booz Mort and Ken, / The been Coves bing awast / On Chats to trine by Rum-Coves dine, / For his long lib at last.

1673, Richard Head, “Canting Song”, in The Canting Academy, page 23:


你做初一我做十五

you do the first day of the month; I'll do the fifteenth

ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕˊ ㄨˇ

ни цзо чуи во цзо шиу

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

nei⁵ dzou⁶ tso¹ jat⁷ ngo⁵ dzou⁶ sap⁹ ng⁵

/nei̯¹³ t͡sou̯²² t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sou̯²² sɐp̚² ŋ̍¹³/

(chiefly Cantonese) an eye for an eye; tit for tat


有眼不識泰山

to have eyes but fail to recognizeMount Tai

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

yǒu yǎn bù shí Tàishān [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbùshítàishān]

ю янь бу ши Тайшань

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

yǒu yǎn bù shì Tàishān [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbúshìtàishān]

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ ŋaːn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵/

to fail to recognize someone important or someone's great talent; to be blind to the fact


another string to one's bow

(idiomatic) Another skill, ability or resource to be used in case of failure.


白髮人送黑髮人

white-haired person seeing off black-haired person (in a funeral)

ㄅㄞˊ ㄈㄚˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄟ ㄈㄚˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄅㄞˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄟ ㄈㄚˇ ㄖㄣˊ

байфажэнь сун хэйфажэнь

/paɪ̯³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ fä⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

(of an old person) to see one's child die earlier than oneself


乘勝追擊

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄐㄧˊ

чэншэнчжуйцзи

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

to follow up a victory with pursuit and attack; to continue pursuing a retreating army


一舉一動

ㄧ ㄐㄩˇ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

zh-l

舉動／举动 (jǔdòng)

each and every move; every single action


有朝一日

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴/


到此一遊

ㄉㄠˋ ㄘˇ ㄧ ㄧㄡˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

to come here for travel; (as vandalism) (someone) was here


拭目以待

ㄕˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mʊk̚² jiː¹³ tɔːi̯²²/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tai²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mʊk̚² jiː¹³ tɔːi̯²²/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tai²²/

to anticipate or wait for something to happen


舉一反三

ㄐㄩˇ ㄧ ㄈㄢˇ ㄙㄢ

цзюйифаньсань

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵/

/kɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ sã³³/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵/

/kɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ sã³³/

The Master said, "I do not open up the truth to one who is not eager to get knowledge, nor help out any one who is not anxious to explain himself. When I have presented one corner of a subject to any one, and he cannot from it learn the other three, I do not repeat my lesson."

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

Zǐyuē: “Bù fèn bù qǐ, bù fěi bù fā, jǔ yī yú bù yǐ sān yú fǎn, zé bù fù yě.”

子曰：「不憤不啟，不悱不發，舉一隅不以三隅反，則不復也。」

子曰：「不愤不启，不悱不发，举一隅不以三隅反，则不复也。」

to learn by analogy; to infer other cases based on one instance


忐忑不安

ㄊㄢˇ ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

таньтэбу’ань

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn³⁵ tʰɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn³⁵ tʰɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/


日日夜夜

ㄖˋ ㄖˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jɛː²² jɛː²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻²¹ ia³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻¹¹ ia³³/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jɛː²² jɛː²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻²¹ ia³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻¹¹ ia³³/


je n'ai pas d'argent

/ʒə n‿e pɑ d‿aʁ.ʒɑ̃/


avez-vous des frères et sœurs

do you have any brothers or sisters?
do you have any brothers or sisters?

do you have any brothers or sisters? (formal)


toothpaste is out of the tube

From the practical impossibility of getting toothpaste back into a tube once it is squirted out.

(idiomatic) A situation that cannot be recovered or reversed back to its original state.


尊姓大名

ㄗㄨㄣ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзуньсиндамин

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ biɪŋ²³/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ biɪŋ²³/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

May I know the esteemed name of our new friend? — My name is hardly esteemed. I am Li Jing.

Zhè wèi xīn péngyou, qǐngwèn zūnxìngdàmíng a? — zūn zì bù gǎndāng a, wǒ jiào Lǐ Jìng.

這位新朋友，請問尊姓大名啊？——尊字不敢當啊，我叫李靜。

这位新朋友，请问尊姓大名啊？——尊字不敢当啊，我叫李静。


牛鬼蛇神

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄕㄜˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐn²¹/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐn²¹/

(figurative) all sorts of bad things, especially people

(historical, politics) cow demons and snake spirits


十里洋場

ㄕˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˇ

ㄕˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

the Shanghai of old, with its foreign settlements

(figurative) bustling, cosmopolitan city


廢寢忘食

ㄈㄟˋ ㄑㄧㄣˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕˊ

фэйциньванши

/feɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

/feɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

to be completely wrapped up in one's work and skip one's sleep and meals


入木三分

ㄖㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄣ

жумусаньфэнь

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² mʊk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² mʊk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

written in a forceful hand; penetrating; profound


不得要領

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˇ

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ lɪŋ¹³/

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ lɪŋ¹³/


甘拜下風

ㄍㄢ ㄅㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄈㄥ

ганьбайсяфэн

/kän⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ paːi̯³³ haː²² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kän⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ paːi̯³³ haː²² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(humble) to step down gracefully; to concede defeat; to play second fiddle


重見天日

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖˋ

чунцзяньтяньжи

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kiːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/teŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kieŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰieŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zik̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kiːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

delivered from oppression; to regain freedom


篳路藍縷

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄢˊ ㄌㄩˇ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ län³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɵy̯¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɐu̯¹³/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ län³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɵy̯¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɐu̯¹³/

He admonishes them on how the Chu ancestors Ruo'ao and Fenmao, riding in rugged wooden carts and clad in tattered hemp, opened up hills and forests for cultivation.

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

Xùn zhī yǐ Ruò'áo, Fénmào bìlù lánlǚ yǐ qǐ shānlín.

訓之以若敖、蚡冒篳路藍縷以啟山林。

训之以若敖、蚡冒筚路蓝缕以启山林。

筚路蓝缕
蓽路藍縷
蓽露藍蔞
篳路襤褸

drive a cart in rags to blaze a new trail

(figurative, of a pioneer) braving hardships and difficulties in beginning an undertaking


不知所云

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐn²¹/

I am going to leave Your Majesty soon. Now, as I read this memorial, I am unable to hold back my tears and I do not know what to say.

Jīn dāng yuǎnlí, lín biǎo tìqì, bùzhīsuǒyún.

今當遠離，臨表涕泣，不知所云。

今当远离，临表涕泣，不知所云。

to not know what someone is driving at; to be unintelligible


不脛而走

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄗㄡˇ

буцзинъэрцзоу

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

to get round fast; to spread like wildfire


才高八斗

ㄘㄞˊ ㄍㄠ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄡˇ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ paːt̚³ tɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ paːt̚³ tɐu̯³⁵/

From Xie Lingyun's comment about Cao Zhi:
In this statement, Xie expressed his admiration of Cao Zhi as well as his pride.

Xie Lingyun once said, “If all talents in the world weigh one dan (i.e. 10 dous) in total, Cao Zijian (courtesy name of Cao Zhi) owned 8 dous, I own 1 dou, and all others in the world share the remaining 1 dou.”

Song dynasty, anonymous, 《釋常談》 (Shi Chang Tan)

Xiè Língyùn cháng yuē: “Tiānxià cái yǒu yī dàn, Cáo Zǐjiàn dúzhàn bā dǒu, wǒ dé yī dǒu, tiānxià gòng fēn yī dǒu.

謝靈運嘗曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建獨占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。

谢灵运尝曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建独占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。


出言不遜

ㄔㄨ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄣˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn³³/


不合時宜

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐp̚² siː²¹ jiː²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ hap̚²⁴⁻² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si¹³⁻²² ɡi¹³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ ɡi²³/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴⁻² si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐp̚² siː²¹ jiː²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ hap̚²⁴⁻² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si¹³⁻²² ɡi¹³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ ɡi²³/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴⁻² si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

untimely; premature; inopportune; ill-timed; out of fashion; behind the times


大材小用

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄩㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

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

to use a talented person in an insignificant position; to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut


大顯神通

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥ

дасяньшэньтун

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

to display one's remarkable skill or prowess; to give full play to one's brilliant abilities


分庭抗禮

ㄈㄣ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄤˋ ㄌㄧˇ

фэньтинканли

/fən⁵⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɔːŋ³³ lɐi̯¹³/

/fən⁵⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɔːŋ³³ lɐi̯¹³/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 31 (《莊子·漁父》), where Zilu gives some comments after a conversation between Confucius and a fisherman.

The rulers of ten thousand chariots, the lords of a thousand chariots, when they receive you, invariably seat you on the same level as themselves and treat you with the etiquette due to an equal, and still you maintain a stiff and haughty air. But now this old fisherman, pole in hand, presents himself in front of you, and you double up at the waist, as bent as a chiming stone, and bow every time you reply to his words — this is going too far, isn’t it?

Wànshèng zhī zhǔ, qiānshèng zhī jūn, jiàn fūzǐ wèicháng bù fēntíng kànglǐ, fūzǐ yóu yǒu jù'ào zhī róng. Jīn yúfù zhàng ná nì lì, ér fūzǐ qūyāo qìngzhé, yán bài ér yìng, dé wú tàishèn hū?

萬乘之主，千乘之君，見夫子未嘗不分庭伉禮，夫子猶有倨敖之容。今漁父杖拏逆立，而夫子曲要磬折，言拜而應，得无太甚乎？

万乘之主，千乘之君，见夫子未尝不分庭伉礼，夫子犹有倨敖之容。今渔父杖拿逆立，而夫子曲要磬折，言拜而应，得无太甚乎？

to stand up (to someone) as an equal; to function as rivals


華而不實

ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ

/xu̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/waː²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚²/

/xu̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/waː²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚²/

having a handsome exterior but hollow inside; flashy and without substance


大義滅親

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/*lˤat-s|lˤa[t]-s ŋ(r)aj-s [m]et [tsʰ]i[n]/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

From Zuo Zhuan. Zhou Yu (w:zh:州吁) had murdered his brother, Duke Huan of Wey (w:zh:衛桓公), and taken his place. But he could not gain the favor of the people of Wey. Shi Que (w:zh:石碏), an officer loyal to the state, devised a scheme and had the usurper killed. Shi Que's son Shi Hou was a close associate of Zhou Yu, so Shi Que had his son killed as well. The people praised his act (《左傳·隱公四年》)

A superior man may say, "Shi Que was a minister without blemish. He hated Zhou Yu, with whom his own son Hou was art and part; — and did he not so afford an illustration of the saying that great righteousness is supreme over the affections?"

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

Jūnzǐ yuē: “Shí Què, chún chén yě, wù Zhōu Yù ér Hòu yǔ yān. ‘dàyì miè qīn’, qí shì zhī wèi hū!”

君子曰：「石碏，純臣也，惡州籲而厚與焉。『大義滅親』，其是之謂乎！」

君子曰：「石碏，纯臣也，恶州吁而厚与焉。『大义灭亲』，其是之谓乎！」

to place righteousness before family; to be ready to punish one's own family if justice demands it


出類拔萃

ㄔㄨ ㄌㄟˋ ㄅㄚˊ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹ pä³⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pɐt̚² sɵy̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹ pä³⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pɐt̚² sɵy̯²²/

There is the Qi-lin among quadrupeds, the Feng-huang among birds, the Tai mountain among mounds and ant-hills, and rivers and seas among rain-pools. Though different in degree, they are the same in kind. So the sages among mankind are also the same in kind. But they stand out from their fellows, and rise above the level, and from the birth of mankind till now, there never has been one so complete as Confucius.

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

Qílín zhī yú zǒushòu, fènghuáng zhī yú fēiniǎo, tàishān zhī yú qiūdié, héhǎi zhī yú xíngliáo, lèi yě. Shèngrén zhī yú mín, yì lèi yě. Chū yú qí lèi, bá hū qí cuì, zì shēng mín yǐ lái, wèiyǒu shèng yú Kǒngzǐ yě.

麒麟之於走獸，鳳凰之於飛鳥，太山之於丘垤，河海之於行潦，類也。聖人之於民，亦類也。出於其類，拔乎其萃，自生民以來，未有盛於孔子也。

麒麟之于走兽，凤凰之于飞鸟，太山之于丘垤，河海之于行潦，类也。圣人之于民，亦类也。出于其类，拔乎其萃，自生民以来，未有盛于孔子也。

to excel the common; surpassing; preeminent; outstanding


後生可畏

ㄏㄡˋ ㄕㄥ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄟˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/hɐu̯²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/hɐu̯²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

The Master said, "A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? If he reach the age of forty or fifty, and has not made himself heard of, then indeed he will not be worth being regarded with respect."

Zǐyuē: “Hòushēng kěwèi, yān zhī láizhě zhī bùrú jīn yě? Sìshí, wǔshí ér wú wén yān, sī yì bùzú wèi yě yǐ.”

子曰：「後生可畏，焉知來者之不如今也？四十、五十而無聞焉，斯亦不足畏也已。」

子曰：「后生可畏，焉知来者之不如今也？四十、五十而无闻焉，斯亦不足畏也已。」

a young person displaying exceptional skills; a young person's abilities must be respected; though inexperienced, the younger generations will surpass us in time


駭人聽聞

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄨㄣˊ

хайжэньтинвэнь

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

Gāi xiānzǐ héyǐ pòbùjídài, bìngbù zòuwén qǐng zhǐ, rèn tīng bùxià chěng yàn yú fēi shí zhī hòu, xiànmèi yú shìzhǔ zhīqián, zhì lìng shíxù diāndǎo, hàiréntīngwén.

該仙子何以迫不及待，並不奏聞請旨，任聽部下逞豔於非時之候，獻媚於世主之前，致令時序顛倒，駭人聽聞。

该仙子何以迫不及待，并不奏闻请旨，任听部下逞艳于非时之候，献媚于世主之前，致令时序颠倒，骇人听闻。

2024 August 9, 察客, “下午察：中國倒賣屍體案留下的問號 [Afternoon investigation: Question marks left behind by China’s corpse reselling case]”, in Lianhe Zaobao:

Chinese lawyer Yi Shenghua published a document on the Internet on Thursday (August 8), revealing that Shanxi Orui Biomaterials Co., Ltd. was suspected of stealing, insulting, and deliberately destroying thousands of corpses that were supposed to be cremated. The shocking case quickly aroused public opinion.

Zhōngguó lǜshī Yì Shènghuá xīngqīsì (8yuè 8 rì) zài wǎngluò shàng gōngbù yī fèn cáiliào, jiēfā Shānxī Àoruì shēngwù cáiliào yǒuxiàngōngsī shèxián dàoqiè, wǔrǔ, gùyì huǐhuài yuánběn yìng huǒhuà de shùqiān jù shītǐ, hàiréntīngwén de ànqíng xùnsù yǐnbào yúlùn.

中國律師易勝華星期四（8月8日）在網絡上公佈一份材料，揭發山西奧瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盜竊、侮辱、故意毀壞原本應火化的數千具屍體，駭人聽聞的案情迅速引爆輿論。

中国律师易胜华星期四（8月8日）在网络上公布一份材料，揭发山西奥瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盗窃、侮辱、故意毁坏原本应火化的数千具尸体，骇人听闻的案情迅速引爆舆论。

shocking; horrifying; atrocious; terrible


赴湯蹈火

to go through boiling water and tread on fire

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to defy all difficulties and dangers; to fear and shun no difficulties or dangers


汗流浹背

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄟˋ

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄟˋ

ханьлюцзябэй

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/


黔驢技窮

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄩˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

цяньлюйцзицюн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ kei̯²² kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ kei̯²² kʰʊŋ²¹/

Based on a fable written by Tang-dynasty writer Liu Zongyuan

The prefecture of Qian (now in Chongqing and Guizhou) did not have any donkeys. There was a busybody who had the idea of introducing one, and had it shipped to the region. However, he found that there was not much use of the donkey after it had arrived, so he left the donkey at the foot of a hill.
In time a tiger saw it. Having never seen a donkey before, the tiger was impressed by its size and thought it was a supernatural being, so it hid in the bushes to take a peek. The tiger remained very cautious in coming nearer to the donkey.
One day, the donkey brayed. The terrified tiger fled in horror, fearing that the donkey was going to bite him. However, as the tiger observed further, it did not seem to have any other special powers. Over time, the tiger became accustomed to the bray of the donkey and came closer to the donkey, but did not dare attack it still. As it became closer to the donkey, it flirted with the donkey by touching it, leaning on it, and bumping into it. The donkey was greatly enraged, and gave the tiger a kick. The tiger rejoiced, thinking: “The donkey's tricks are merely these!” Then the tiger roared and pounced on the donkey, gnawed at its neck, and ate the donkey's entire flesh. After that, the tiger went off contented.

Tang dynasty, Liu Zongyuan, 《三戒·黔之驢》 (The Donkey of Qian)

Qián wú lǘ, yǒu hàoshì zhě chuán zài yǐ rù, zhì zé wú kě yòng, fàng zhī shān xià. Hǔ jiàn zhī, pángrán dàwù yě, yǐ wéi shén. Bì lín jiān kuī zhī, shāo chū jìn zhī, yìnyìn rán, mò xiāng zhī. Tā rì, lǘ yī míng, hǔ dàhài, yuǎndùn, yǐwéi qiě shì jǐ yě, shèn kǒng. Rán wǎnglái shì zhī, jué wú yìnéng zhě, yì xí qí shēng, yòu jìn chū qiánhòu, zhōng bù gǎn bó. Shāo jìn yì xiá, dàng yǐ chōng mào. Lǘ bù shèng nù, tí zhī. Hǔ yīn xǐ, jì zhī yuē: “Jì zhǐ cǐ ěr!” Yīn tiàoliàng dà hǎn, duàn qí hóu, jìn qí ròu, nǎi qù.

黔無驢，有好事者船載以入，至則無可用，放之山下。虎見之，龐然大物也，以為神。蔽林間窺之，稍出近之，憖憖然，莫相知。他日，驢一鳴，虎大駭，遠遁，以為且噬己也，甚恐。然往來視之，覺無異能者，益習其聲，又近出前後，終不敢搏。稍近益狎，蕩倚衝冒。驢不勝怒，蹄之。虎因喜，計之曰：「技止此耳！」因跳踉大㘚，斷其喉，盡其肉，乃去。

黔无驴，有好事者船载以入，至则无可用，放之山下。虎见之，庞然大物也，以为神。蔽林间窥之，稍出近之，慭慭然，莫相知。他日，驴一鸣，虎大骇，远遁，以为且噬己也，甚恐。然往来视之，觉无异能者，益习其声，又近出前后，终不敢搏。稍近益狎，荡倚冲冒。驴不胜怒，蹄之。虎因喜，计之曰：「技止此耳！」因跳踉大㘎，断其喉，尽其肉，乃去。

The donkey in the prefecture of Qian has exhausted its tricks

(figurative) to exhaust one's limited abilities


九牛一毛

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊㄦ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

If I fell before the law and was executed, it would make no more difference to most people than one hair off nine oxen, for I was a mere ant to them.

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

Jiǎlìng pú fúfǎ shòuzhū, ruò jiǔniú wáng yīmáo, yǔ lóuyǐ héyǐ yì?

假令僕伏法受誅，若九牛亡一毛，與螻蟻何以異？

假令仆伏法受诛，若九牛亡一毛，与蝼蚁何以异？


懲前毖後

to punish those before to prevent those after

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

ㄔㄥˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнцяньбихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

to criticize former mistakes firmly to prevent them happening again


upward of

Police believe that upward of 30 local burglaries may have been carried out by the suspects.

I have been your wife in this obedience / Upward of twenty years.

1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:


千鈞一髮

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄧ ㄈㄚˋ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄧ ㄈㄚˇ

цяньцзюньифа

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

Based on a passage in Liezi:
*
Later used to metaphorically mean "a crucial and emergent moment" in Book of Han & by Tang dynasty's writer Han Yu (Chen, 2014):
*
*

Long deceived the King of Wei, saying: "There are intentions (concepts) but these are not minds. There are zhi (pointings out, significations, representations) but these do not reach (things). There are things but they are not exhausted. There are shadows but they do not move. A hair draws (a weight of) one thousand jun. [A] white horse is not [a] horse. An orphan calf never had a mother."

Lóng kuáng Wèiwáng yuē: ‘Yǒuyìbùxīn. Yǒuzhǐbùzhì. Yǒuwùbùjìn. Yǒuyǐngbùyí. Fàyǐnqiānjūn. Báimǎfēimǎ. Gūdú wèicháng yǒu mǔ.’

龍誑魏王曰：『有意不心。有指不至。有物不盡。有影不移。髮引千鈞。白馬非馬。孤犢未嘗有母。』

龙诳魏王曰：『有意不心。有指不至。有物不尽。有影不移。发引千钧。白马非马。孤犊未尝有母。』

Although I am clumsy, I know the danger to tie a hundredweight to a thread up to the [roof]less sky and down to the bottomless abyss.

Fū yǐ yīlǚ zhī rèn xì qiānjūn zhī zhòng, shàng xiàn wújí zhī gāo, xià chuí bùcè zhī yuān, suī shènyú zhī rén yóu zhī āi qí jiāngjué yě.

夫以一縷之任係千鈞之重，上縣無極之高，下垂不測之淵，雖甚愚之人猶知哀其將絕也。

夫以一缕之任系千钧之重，上县无极之高，下垂不测之渊，虽甚愚之人犹知哀其将绝也。

It is so emergent like a hundred weight hanging by a hair.

韓愈 Han Yu 〈與孟尚書書〉, "Letter to Secretary Meng", included in 《全唐文》 The whole collection of Tang period literature, Vol. 553

其危如一發引千鈞

其危如一发引千钧

A thousand jun (unit of mass) hangs from a strip of hair.

imminent peril; a matter of life or death

Book of Han
Gongsun Long
Han Yu
Liezi
Tang dynasty


גמר טוב

head

גְּמַר טוֹב • (g'már tov)

גְּמַר טוֹב (canonical)
g'már tov (romanization)

Shortened form of גְּמַר חֲתִימָה טוֹבָה (g'már khatimá tová)

May you be signed and sealed in the Book of Life; a common greeting on and before Yom Kippur.


先使未來錢

/siːn⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ mei̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

(Cantonese) to spend money not yet earned


三七二十一

ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧ ㄦˋ ㄕˊ ㄧ

сань ци эршии

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

Originally a line in the Chinese multiplication table.

(figurative) (to not care about) the actual situation; facts of the matter


目不識丁

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧㄥ

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄧㄥ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

According to the Old Book of Tang, the Tang-dynasty official Zhang Hongjing once scornfully said to his soldiers

“ […] Now that the world is in peace, although you all are able to draw a bow that takes two dan [a unit of measure] of force to be drawn, that is not as good as being able to read the simplest characters like 丁.”

“...... Jīn tiānxià wúshì, rǔbèi wǎn dé liǎng dàn lì gōng, bùrú shí yī dīng zì.”

「……今天下無事，汝輩挽得兩石力弓，不如識一丁字。」

「……今天下无事，汝辈挽得两石力弓，不如识一丁字。」

(derogatory) to not even know the most basic characters; to be densely illiterate

Old Book of Tang
Tang dynasty
Zhang Hongjing


不假思索

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄙ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/


鞭長莫及

ㄅㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

бяньчанмоцзи

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/piːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² kip̚²⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ¹³⁻²² bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kip̚¹²¹/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/piːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² kip̚²⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

beyond one's influence; too far to be able to help


點頭哈腰

ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄚ ㄧㄠ

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

to uncritically and enthusiastically support someone; (specifically) to be excessively but superficially obsequious


朝九晚五

ㄓㄠ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˇ ㄨˇ

чжаоцзюваньу

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

(of a job) to start at 9 am and finish at 5 pm, as a daily routine; 9 to 5


I'm your huckleberry

Uncertain, but dates to the late nineteenth century in the United States. Compare huckleberry in the sense "person of little consequence", or the idiom huckleberry above a persimmon.

The other day, while enjoying a social game of seven-up with that pure and gentle poet, Jim Lowell, I said, “Jim, let’s take a drink.” Tears bedimmed his gentle and pure orbs, as in faltering accents he replied: “I’m your huckleberry.”

1879 April 16, Joseph Cook, “Ultimate America”, in Puck, page 84:

See here, if you want me to go into this or any other deal with you, I’m with you to the limit. If you don’t, and you just wish me to go along as your private secretary and professor of wisdom-toothing, I’m your huckleberry, and I’ll pay my own board-bills besides.

1907, Edwin Lefevre, Sampson Rock of Wall Street: A Novel, page 177:

Holliday took a quick step toward him. “I’m your huckleberry, Ringo,” replied the cheerful doctor. “That’s just my game.”

1927, Walter Nobel Burns, Tombstone: An Iliad of the Southwest, →OCLC, page 138:

(dated, informal, US) I am your partner; I will join you; I will work with you; I will fight you; I will dance with you.


vanha kuin taivas

verbatim translation: "old as the heaven"


如臨深淵

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄩㄢ

жулиньшэньюань

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/


戰戰兢兢

ja-r

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

CJKV/code

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

Sino-Xenic (戰戰兢兢):
* → Japanese: 戦(せん)々(せん)恐(きょう)々(きょう) (sensenkyōkyō)
* → Korean: 전전긍긍(戰戰兢兢) (jeonjeon'geunggeung)

CJKV

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

ㄓㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥ

чжаньчжаньцзинцзин

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 195 (《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

We should be apprehensive and careful,
As if we were on the brink of a deep gulf,
As if we were treading on thin ice.

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

Zhànzhàn jīngjīng, rú lín shēnyuān, rú lǚ bóbīng.

戰戰兢兢，如臨深淵，如履薄冰。

战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。

(ideophonic) trembling with fear; apprehensive and careful; fearful and cautious


二八佳人

ㄦˋ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

/ˀɤɻ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː²² paːt̚³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ˀɤɻ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː²² paːt̚³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/


汗牛充棟

(enough books) to make a pack-ox sweat or to fill a house to the rafters

ㄏㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

ханьнючундун

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/


源遠流長

ㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄤˊ

юаньюаньлючан

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

having a long and rich history; to extend to the dim and distant past


お茶を挽く

お茶を挽く (canonical)
o-cha o hiku (romanization)


石に灸

石に灸 (canonical)
ishi ni kyū (romanization)

Literally "[performing] moxibustion on a stone".


暖簾に腕押し

ja-pos

暖(の)簾(れん)に腕(うで)押(お)し • (noren ni udeoshi)

暖簾に腕押し (canonical)
noren ni udeoshi (romanization)

暖簾 (“curtain”) + に + 腕 (“arm”) + 押し (“pushing”), literally “pushing a curtain with one's arm”


一昨日来い

一昨日来い (canonical)
ototoi koi (romanization)

Literally “come [[[here]]] the day before yesterday”.


鴨が葱を背負って来る

ja-pos

カモ が ネギ を しょって くる

鴨(カモ)が葱(ネギ)を背負(しょ)って来(く)る • (kamo ga negi o shotte kuru)

鴨が葱を背負って来る (canonical)
kamo ga negi o shotte kuru (romanization)

Literally "the duck carries its own leek"; i.e. the duck carries the ingredients for a duck-meat dish.

a fool and his money are soon parted
a fool and his money are soon parted


明るけりゃ月夜だと思う

あかるけりゃ つきよ だ と おも.う

明(あか)るけりゃ月(つき)夜(よ)だと思(おも)う • (akarukerya tsukiyo da to omou)

明るけりゃ月夜だと思う (canonical)
akarukerya tsukiyo da to omou (romanization)


瑕不掩瑜

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄩˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

From the Book of Rites, Book 48 (《禮記·聘義》)

Anciently superior men found the likeness of all excellent qualities in jade. Soft, smooth, and glossy, it appeared to them like benevolence; fine, compact, and strong - like intelligence; angular, but not sharp and cutting - like righteousness; hanging down (in beads) as if it would fall to the ground - like (the humility of) propriety; when struck, yielding a note, clear and prolonged, yet terminating abruptly - like music; its flaws not concealing its beauty, nor its beauty concealing its flaws - like loyalty; with an internal radiance issuing from it on every side - like good faith; bright as a brilliant rainbow - like heaven; exquisite and mysterious, appearing in the hills and streams - like the earth; standing out conspicuous in the symbols of rank - like virtue; esteemed by all under the sky, - like the path of truth and duty.

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

Fú xīzhě jūnzǐ bǐ dé yú yù yān: wēnrùn ér zé, rén yě; zhěnmì yǐ lì, zhì yě; lián ér bù guì, yì yě; chuí zhī rú zhuì, lǐ yě; kòu zhī qí shēng qīngyuè yǐ cháng, qí zhōng qūrán, yuè yě; xiá bù yǎn yú, yú bù yǎn xiá, zhōng yě; fú yǐn páng dá, xìn yě; qì rú bái hóng, tiān yě; jīngshén jiàn yú shānchuān, dì yě; guī zhāng tè dá, dé yě. Tiānxià mò bù guì zhě, dào yě.

夫昔者君子比德於玉焉：溫潤而澤，仁也；縝密以栗，知也；廉而不劌，義也；垂之如隊，禮也；叩之其聲清越以長，其終詘然，樂也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁達，信也；氣如白虹，天也；精神見於山川，地也；圭璋特達，德也。天下莫不貴者，道也。

夫昔者君子比德于玉焉：温润而泽，仁也；缜密以栗，知也；廉而不刿，义也；垂之如队，礼也；叩之其声清越以长，其终诎然，乐也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁达，信也；气如白虹，天也；精神见于山川，地也；圭璋特达，德也。天下莫不贵者，道也。

a blemish does not obscure jade's luster

small defects cannot obscure the great virtues; the pros outweigh the cons


犬に論語

犬に論語 (canonical)
inu ni Rongo (romanization)

Literally, “[[[reading]]] the Analects to a dog”.

lit

cast pearls before swine
cast pearls before swine


虫の居所が悪い

ja-phrase

むし の いどころ が わるい

虫(むし)の居(い)所(どころ)が悪(わる)い • (mushi no idokoro ga warui)

虫の居所が悪い (canonical)
mushi no idokoro ga warui (romanization)

[mɯ̟ɕi no̞ ido̞ko̞ɾo̞ ɡa̠ β̞a̠ɾɯ̟i]


来た、見た、勝った

ja-pos

来(き)た、見(み)た、勝(か)った • (kita, mita, katta)

来た、見た、勝った (canonical)
kita, mita, katta (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 来た (kita, “came”, past tense of 来る (kuru)) + 見た (mita, “saw”, past tense of 見る (miru)) + 勝った (katta, “won”, past tense of 勝つ (katsu)), calque of Latin vēnī, vīdī, vīcī (“I came, I saw, I conquered”).

cal

I came, I saw, I conquered
I came, I saw, I conquered

ja:来た、見た、勝った


a la verga

(idiomatic, vulgar, Latin America) fuck it; fuck this

¡Vete a la verga!

(idiomatic, vulgar, Latin America) the fuck


馬の耳に念仏

ja-pos

うま の みみ に ねんぶつ

馬(うま)の耳(みみ)に念(ねん)仏(ぶつ) • (uma no mimi ni nenbutsu)

馬の耳に念仏 (canonical)
uma no mimi ni nenbutsu (romanization)

Literally, “chanting prayers to the Buddha to a horse’s ear”.


子虛烏有

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(figurative) fictitious; nonexistent; made-up; fabricated


蠅營狗苟

ㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄍㄡˇ

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

In the morning, I regret my behavior, but in the evening, it all returns to the same. The five ghosts attached to me, I can't drive them away. (This is to say that he holds his good qualities very firmly, hence 蠅營狗苟 here should be understood literally.)

Zhāo huǐ qí xíng, mù yǐ fù rán. Yíngyínggǒugǒu, qū qù fù huán.

朝悔其行，暮已復然。蠅營狗苟，驅去復還。

朝悔其行，暮已复然。蝇营狗苟，驱去复还。

swarm as flies do for good; hang round as dogs do for food

(figuratively) to shamelessly seek personal gain; profit by ingratiating oneself with the rich


身在福中不知福

ㄕㄣ ㄗㄞˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄈㄨˊ

шэнь цзай фу чжун бучжи фу

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

to live in plenty without appreciating it; to be oblivious to the good life that one has (and hence be ungrateful)


貴圈真亂

ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄑㄩㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

гуйцюань чжэнь луань

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄑㄩㄢㄦ ㄓㄣ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

гуйцюаньрчжэньлуань

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯³³ hyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ lyːn²²/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯³³ hyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ lyːn²²/

(neologism, slang, ironic, humorous) The lifestyle of people in your social circle is something I cannot easily comprehend.


理屈詞窮

reasons are faulty and words have run out

ㄌㄧˇ ㄑㄩ ㄘˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

not have a leg to stand on
not have a leg to stand on

to be unable to put forth any convincing arguments to justify one's opinion; to not have a leg to stand on


言外之意

ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄓ ㄧˋ

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

unsaid meaning of one's words; unspoken implication


花花世界

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ kai¹¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ kai²¹/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ kai¹¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ kai²¹/

the dazzling and bustling world; the world of sensual pleasures; this mortal world

(chiefly derogatory) the human world; the world of mortals


梅開二度

ㄇㄟˊ ㄎㄞ ㄦˋ ㄉㄨˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

to do the same thing twice (e.g. to remarry or score twice in a game)


以物易物

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ mɐt̚² jɪk̚² mɐt̚²/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ mɐt̚² jɪk̚² mɐt̚²/


南無

Transliteration of Sanskrit नमो (namo), from Sanskrit नमस् (námas, literally “a bow”), possibly via Middle Chinese 南無 (MC nom mju).
Compare Mandarin 南無／南无 (námó).

der

(Buddhism) Used in Buddhist salutations or expressions of faith: to salute; to homage or to take refuge (a Buddha or a Bodhisattva).


南無

Likely a borrowing from Mandarin 南無／南无 (námó).


da sei Gott vor

Literally, “God be in front of it”, or more loosely translated as “may He block it from happening”. The splitting of the pronominal adverb davor suggests a northern or western German origin.

lit

God forbid; said when mentioning a possible and undesirable future event


hvad fuck

Hvad fuck skete der? spurgte jeg Mohammed, ...

2016, Manu Sareen, Iqbal Farooq og den hemmelige ismaskine, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

What the fuck happened? I asked Mohammed, ...

Hvad fuck hjælper det, ...

2013, Caroline Ørsum, Den første freak på månen, Rosinante & Co, →ISBN:

Hvad fuck mon det handler om?

2011, Alberte Winding, Anne-Marie Donslund, Daniel Zimakoff, Glenn Ringtved, Er I der? - en facebookroman, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:


長年累月

ㄔㄤˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄩㄝˋ

чанняньлэйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

over many years and months; year in, year out


袖振り合うも多生の縁

ja-phrase

そで ふりあう も たしょう の えん

袖(そで)振(ふ)り合(あ)うも多(た)生(しょう)の縁(えん) • (sode furiau mo tashō no en)

袖振り合うも多生の縁 (canonical)
sode furiau mo tashō no en (romanization)

Literally, “even the [chance] contact of [two peoples'] sleeves is [the result of] fate from a previous life”.

m-g

even the 􂀿chance􂁀 contact of 􂀿two peoples'􂁀 sleeves is 􂀿the result of􂁀 fate from a previous life


the hell you say

"The hell you say!" rejoined McBane. "I'll leave this car when I get good and ready, and that won't be till I've finished this cigar. See?"

1901, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter 5, in The Marrow of Tradition:

"The hell you say!" ejaculated the man, in amazement. "This Glidden is a German agent—perhaps a spy. He's no labor leader."

1919, Zane Grey, chapter 15, in The Desert of Wheat:

"The hell you say," Mr. Brzezinski replied indignantly, according to Mr. Allen, "Henry was working for our side."

1983 June 13, Terence Smith, “Kissinger role in '68 race stirs conflicting views”, in New York Times, retrieved 2017-10-10:

"The hell you say! Mister, I was appointed to the position by the city council! . . . I am a public servant, and you have no authority over me."

2013, Robert Vaughan, When Hell Came to Texas, →ISBN:

(idiomatic) I vehemently disagree with you; I will not obey you.

(idiomatic) What you are saying is unbelievable; it cannot be true.

Head office brought in all those new policies without consulting anyone and now people are upset and nothing is working right? The hell you say!

(idiomatic) (ironic) Ironically indicates lack of surprise.


nfr pw

nfr (“not even, not at all”) + pw (“this (is)”).

compound

(followed by the thing negated) there is no … at all


多得……唔少

/tɔː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ m̩²¹ siːu̯³⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ m̩²¹ siːu̯³⁵/

2014, 阿濃 [A Nong], 《美言一百》 [Beautiful Words 100], Hong Kong: Breakthrough Ltd., →ISBN, page 17:

zi⁶ gei² waan⁴⁻² zau⁶ hou² laa¹, zung⁶ jiu³ to¹ maai⁴ tiu⁴ zai² lok⁶ seoi², dang⁶ keoi⁵ jam¹ gung¹, gaau² zoek⁶ go³ siu² hok⁶ gai¹, fan¹ fan¹ zung¹ sai² ding⁶ baat³ jyut⁶ sap⁶ ng⁵ jap⁶ heoi³ mau¹, do¹ dak¹ nei⁵ m⁴ siu².

自己玩就好啦，仲要拖埋條仔落水，戥佢陰公，搞着個小學雞，分分鐘洗定八月十五入去踎，多得你唔少。

自己玩就好啦，仲要拖埋条仔落水，戥佢阴公，搞着个小学鸡，分分钟洗定八月十五入去踎，多得你唔少。

2021 July 14, Kelvin C., 生仔要考牌 [Parent Licenses], Hong Kong: Idea Publication, →ISBN, page 27:

Everyone knows that a shoe sole is full of germs. He just stepped on the chair like that. If the next person doesn't know and sits there, it would really be many thanks to him [for the germs].

daai⁶ gaa¹ dou¹ zi¹ haai⁴ dai² hai⁶ hou² do¹ sai³ kwan², gam² joeng⁶⁻² bei² keoi⁵ caai² haa⁵ zoeng¹ dang³, haa⁶ jat¹ sau² m⁴ zi¹ zau⁶ co⁵ lok⁶ heoi³, zau⁶ zan¹ hai⁶ do¹ dak¹ keoi⁵ m⁴ siu².

大家都知鞋底係好多細菌，咁樣俾佢踩下張櫈，下一手唔知就坐落去，就真係多得佢唔少。

大家都知鞋底系好多细菌，咁样俾佢踩下张凳，下一手唔知就坐落去，就真系多得佢唔少。

(Cantonese) thanks for nothing to (someone); thanks a lot to (someone) (sarcastic remark said of someone who is being unhelpfully meddlesome)


nfr n

(chiefly Old Egyptian, with a following imperfective emphatic form) not, that not

(Middle Egyptian, with a following imperfective emphatic form) used to negate the protasis of conditional sentences


一點一滴

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

zh-l

點滴／点滴 (diǎndī)


head

als Pasen en Pinksteren op een dag vallen

/ɑls ˈpaː.sə(n)ɛn ˈpɪŋk.stə.rə(n)ɔp ˌeːn ˈdɑx fɑ.lə(n)/

Nl-als Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen.ogg

Literally, “if/when Easter and Pentecost fall on one (i.e. the same) day”. Cf. German wenn Ostern und Pfingsten auf einen Tag fallen.

cog

when hell freezes over
when hell freezes over

when hell freezes over; when pigs can fly (never)

wanneer Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen


鱗次櫛比

parallelly lined up like fish scales and teeth of a comb

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄧˇ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄧˋ

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

(usually of buildings) row upon row; tightly packed


一竅不通

doesn't (even) enter a single aperture (of one's head)

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

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

to not understand a thing about the topic; it's all Greek to me


多愁善感

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄔㄡˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄍㄢˇ

дочоушаньгань

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

melancholy and moody; depressed personality


嘆為觀止

ㄊㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓˇ

таньвэйгуаньчжи

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

Wú Gōngzǐ Zhá lái pìn...... Jiàn wǔ “Sháoxiāo” zhě, yuē: ‘Dé zhì yǐ zāi, dà yǐ! Rú tiān zhī wú bù chóu yě, rú dì zhī wú bù zǎi yě. Suī shèn shèng dé, qí miè yǐ jiā yú cǐ yǐ, guān zhǐ yǐ. Ruò yǒu tā yuè, wú bù gǎn qǐng yǐ.

吳公子札來聘……見舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之無不幬也，如地之無不載也。雖甚盛德，其蔑以加於此矣，觀止矣。若有他樂，吾不敢請已。

吴公子札来聘……见舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之无不帱也，如地之无不载也。虽甚盛德，其蔑以加于此矣，观止矣。若有他乐，吾不敢请已。

叹为观止
歎為觀止
嘆爲觀止
歎爲觀止

to gasp in amazement; to acclaim as the peak of perfection


請君入甕

ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄥˋ

цинцзюньжувэн

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

From the story of Lai Junchen's questioning of Zhou Xing, who were both secret police officials and famous for torturing dissidents

In the Tang Dynasty, Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were judges of the Ministry of Justice. One day, Lai Junchen received an edict [from Wu Zetian] to interrogate Zhou Xing [about his suspected crimes], and Zhou did not know about that. When they were having lunch, Lai asked Zhou, "Most of the criminals are not willing to admit [their crimes]. How would you deal with them then?" Zhou then answered, "That's easy. Get a big jar, heat it with charcoal, then ask the criminal to get into it. He'll definitely admit everything." Lai then [ordered someone to] take a big jar [for him] and then set up fire around the jar. He stood up and then told Zhou, "I received an order [from her Majesty] to question you. Now, please get into this jar." Zhou then panicked and kowtowed, and then pleaded guilty immediately.

7ᵗʰ century CE, Zhang Zhuo, Chaoye Qianzai (《朝野僉載》)

Táng qiūguān shìláng zhōuxìng yǔ láijùnchén duì tuīshì. Jùnchén bié fèngjìnzhǐ jū xìng, xìng bù zhī zhī yě. Jí tóng shí, wèi xìng yuē: “Qiú duō bùkěn chéng, ruò wèi zuòfǎ?” Xìng yuē: “Shèn yì yě. Qǔ dà wèng, yǐ tàn sìmiàn zhì zhī, lìng qiúrén chù zhī qí zhōng, héshì bù tù!” Jí suǒ dà wèng, yǐ huǒ wéi zhī, qǐ wèi xìng yuē: “Yǒu nèizhuàng kān lǎoxiōng, qǐng xiōng rù cǐ wèng.” Xìng huángkǒng kòutóu, xián jí kuǎnfú.

唐秋官侍郎周興與來俊臣對推事。俊臣別奉進止鞫興，興不之知也。及同食，謂興曰：「囚多不肯承，若為作法？」興曰：「甚易也。取大甕，以炭四面炙之，令囚人處之其中，何事不吐！」即索大甕，以火圍之，起謂興曰：「有內狀勘老兄，請兄入此甕。」興惶恐叩頭，咸即款伏。

唐秋官侍郎周兴与来俊臣对推事。俊臣别奉进止鞫兴，兴不之知也。及同食，谓兴曰：「囚多不肯承，若为作法？」兴曰：「甚易也。取大瓮，以炭四面炙之，令囚人处之其中，何事不吐！」即索大瓮，以火围之，起谓兴曰：「有内状勘老兄，请兄入此瓮。」兴惶恐叩头，咸即款伏。

pay back in someone's own coin
pay back in someone's own coin

taste of his/her own medicine
taste of one's own medicine

to pay back in someone's own coin; to give someone a taste of his/her own medicine; to make someone's act backfire on him or her; to treat someone in his or her own ways

Lai Junchen
Ministry of Justice (Imperial China)
Tang Dynasty
Wu Zetian
Zhou Xing (secret police official)
zh:張鷟

以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身

yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn


即以其人之道，還治其人之身

head

即以其人之道，還治其人之身

即以其人之道，还治其人之身

jí yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄕㄣ

jí yǐ cí rén jhih dào, huán jhìh cí rén jhih shen

chi² i³ chʻi² jên² chih¹ tao⁴, huan² chih⁴ chʻi² jên² chih¹ shên¹

jí yǐ chí rén jr̄ dàu-, hwán jr̀ chí rén jr̄ shēn

jyi yii chyi ren jy daw, hwan jyh chyi ren jy shen

цзи и ци жэнь чжи дао

хуань чжи ци жэнь чжи шэнь

xuanʹ čži ci žɛnʹ čži šɛnʹ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

以其人之道，還治其人之身 以其人之道，還治其人之身#Chinese

以其人之道，还治其人之身 以其人之道，还治其人之身#Chinese

Synonym of 以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身 (yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn)


以其人之道，還治其人之身

以其人之道，還治其人之身

ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄕㄣ

ji⁵ kei⁴ jan⁴ zi¹ dou⁶, waan⁴ zi⁶ kei⁴ jan⁴ zi¹ san¹

yǐ cí rén jhih dào, huán jhìh cí rén jhih shen

i³ chʻi² jên² chih¹ tao⁴, huan² chih⁴ chʻi² jên² chih¹ shên¹

yǐ chí rén jr̄ dàu-, hwán jr̀ chí rén jr̄ shēn

yii chyi ren jy daw, hwan jyh chyi ren jy shen

и ци жэнь чжи дао

хуань чжи ци жэнь чжи шэнь

xuanʹ čži ci žɛnʹ čži šɛnʹ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

yíh kèih yàhn jī douh, wàahn jih kèih yàhn jī sān

ji⁵ kei⁴ jan⁴ dzi¹ dou⁶, waan⁴ dzi⁶ kei⁴ jan⁴ dzi¹ san¹

yi⁵ kéi⁴ yen⁴ ji¹ dou⁶, wan⁴ ji⁶ kéi⁴ yen⁴ ji¹ sen¹

/jiː¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯²² waːn²¹ t͡siː²² kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

Originally used by Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi

lang

《四書章句集註·中庸章句》

《四書章句集註·中庸章句》

Therefore, the noble man's (ruler's) bringing good order to others, since it is by his Way as a man, reflects his own good order as a person.

12ᵗʰ century CE, Zhu Xi, 《四書章句集註·中庸章句》, translation from Johnston and Wang (2012), Daxue and Zhongyong: Bilingual Edition

Gù jūnzǐ zhī zhì rén yě, jí yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn.

故君子之治人也，即以其人之道，還治其人之身。

故君子之治人也，即以其人之道，还治其人之身。

以其人之道，还治其人之身

taste of their own medicine
taste of one's own medicine

to pay back with the opponent's own method; to give the enemy a taste of their own medicine; an eye for an eye


捧腹大笑

ㄆㄥˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

to laugh uproariously; to burst out laughing


火冒三丈

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄙㄢ ㄓㄤˋ

хомаосаньчжан

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

to fly into a rage; to flare up; to lose one's temper


Roma locuta, causa finita

Rome has spoken, the discussion is over (used to end a debate or discussion, with "Rome" acting as a metonym for the Catholic papacy)


權宜之計

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

цюаньичжицзи

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

expedient measure; stopgap; makeshift stratagem


令人髮指

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄚˋ ㄓˇ

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄓˇ

линжэньфачжи

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ faːt̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ faːt̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

raise someone's hackles
raise someone's hackles

(figurative) to raise someone's hackles; to arouse one's anger; highly offensive; objectionable

(figurative, rare) frightening; scary; hair-raising


一家之主

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/


מה קורה

head

מַה קוֹרֶה? • (ma koré?)

מַה קוֹרֶה (canonical)
ma koré? (romanization)

Literally “what is happening?”: מה (“what”) + קורה (“happens”)


מה המצב

מַה הַמַצָּב?

מַה הַמַצָּב? • (ma hamatsáv?)

מַה הַמַצָּב (canonical)
ma hamatsáv? (romanization)

Literally “what is the situation?”: מה (“what”) + ה־ (“the”) + מצב (“situation”)


মোৰ নাম ...

মোৰ নাম Jeff।


子曰詩云

The master spoke; the Classic of Poetry said

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/


有鼻子有眼

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ

yǒu bízi yǒu yǎn [Phonetic:yǒubíziyóuyǎn]

ю бицзы ю янь

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇㄦ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(of a narration) with every detail vividly described; as if it is true


where away

'Where away the nicht sae late, laird?' says John.
'I go to save a soul from hell,' was the answer.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

(archaic) Where are you going? What is your destination?

(nautical) A query uttered by the officer of the deck as to the direction of an object sighted by the lookout.


不予置評

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄓˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

The police has refused to comment on these reports.

警方對這些報道不予置評。

警方对这些报道不予置评。


狐朋狗友

ㄏㄨˊ ㄆㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(derogatory) disreputable friends; evil associates; gang of scoundrels


mogawas ang pari nga walay ulo

Literally, “a headless priest will come out (from the wound)”.


當仁不讓

ㄉㄤ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

данжэньбужан

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

The Master said, "Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher."

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

子曰：「當仁不讓於師。」

子曰：「当仁不让于师。」

to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others


שבוע טוב

head

שָׁבוּעַ טוֹב

שָׁבוּעַ טוֹב • (shavúa tov)

שָׁבוּעַ טוֹב (canonical)
shavúa tov (romanization)

Calque of Yiddish אַ גוטע וואָך (a gute vokh).

calque

אַ גוטע וואָך

Used Saturday night through Sunday (and sometimes later) to express good wishes for the coming week following the Jewish sabbath.


可惜了兒的

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧ ㄌㄧㄠˇㄦ ˙ㄉㄜ

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇㄦ ˙ㄉㄜ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/


έξω κούκλα, μέσα πανούκλα

head

έξω κούκλα, μέσα πανούκλα • (éxo koúkla, mésa panoúkla)

éxo koúkla (romanization)
mésa panoúkla (romanization)

describing a beautiful but troublesome woman (literally: "outside: a doll; inside: a plague")

en-έξω_κούκλα,_μέσα_πανούκλα-el-phrase-fIazcpG6


聽了風就是雨

to presume it'll rain once (one) hears wind

ㄊㄧㄥ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄩˇ

тин лэ фэн цзю ши юй

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ lə² fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to easily believe in hearsay; to overreact to rumors


君が代

ki₁mi₁ ga yo₂ (romanization)
きみがよ (hiragana)

Japanese: 君が代 (kimi ga yo)

Analyzable as a noun phrase composed of 君 (kimi, “lord, master”) + が (ga, ancient possessive particle) + 代 (yo, “life, lifespan; reign”).

compound

, text here
君之齒母 吾代毛所知哉 磐代乃 岡之草根乎 去来結手名
ki₁mi₁ ga yo₂ mo waga yo₂ mo siru ya ipasiro₁ no₂ woka no₂ kusane wo iza musubite na
The span of your life[,] and of my life too, is determined by the grass on Iwashiro Hill. Come, let us bind it together.


head

Misattributed to W.C. Fields. Original source unknown.

I said, "What do you do, Bill?" He says "Well, if I can't dazzle them with my brilliance I baffle them with my bull," and doggone if he doesn't.

1958, Pacific Northwest Advisory Board, 100th Regular Meeting, page 10:

The maxim that "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull" won't serve. An artful proposal may sometimes win a grant for a less than brilliant project, but a rare exception doesn't make a rule.

1984, Roy Meador, Guidelines for preparing proposals, →ISBN:

This is where the opposing attorney would love to hammer you in a lie in an effort to offset or divert attention to their less than honest descriptions of whatever the issue you are at the time discussing. If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull !

2006, Raymond A. Heninger, Without Honor, →ISBN, page 78:

If so, there's no better recipe than that of W.C. Fields, who asserted: 'If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull."

2009, John Farndon, Do You Think You're Clever?, →ISBN:

As Skip had always heard “If you can't dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with bull” is a pretty effective way out of a tight spot.

2011, Carl Capatina, You Don't Know Me, But My Name is Yea, →ISBN, page 108:

If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull. The phrase her mentor liked to quote had actually been a bit more descriptive than that, but it was the philosophy that was important.

2012, Christine Flynn, Finally His Bride, →ISBN:

(slang, somewhat vulgar) When one doesn't have all the facts or have a brilliant explanation, one can often convince people or win an argument by using nonsense.

if you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, blind them with bullshit


wym

what (do) you mean?
what do you mean#English

(Internet slang) Abbreviation of what (do) you mean?.


comment les zaricos

From comment sont les zaricos (“how are the snap beans?”).

(Louisiana, Cajun, informal) how are you


久假不歸

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

Originally, “to borrow the name of renyi (benevolence and righteousness) without actually practicing them”. From Jin Xin I of Mencius

Mencius said, 'Benevolence and righteousness were natural to Yao and Shun. Tang and Wu made them their own. The five chiefs of the princes feigned them. Having borrowed them long and not returned them, how could it be known they did not own them?'

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

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Yáo Shùn, xìng zhī yě; Tāng Wǔ, shēn zhī yě; wǔ bà, jiǎ zhī yě. Jiǔ jiǎ ér bù guī, wū zhī qí fēi yǒu yě.”

孟子曰：「堯舜，性之也；湯武，身之也；五霸，假之也。久假而不歸，惡知其非有也。」

孟子曰：「尧舜，性之也；汤武，身之也；五霸，假之也。久假而不归，恶知其非有也。」

to borrow something and not return it for a long time


佔著茅坑不拉屎

ㄓㄢˋ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄇㄠˊ ㄎㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄚ ㄕˇ

чжань чжэ маокэн бу ла ши

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄓㄢˋ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄇㄠˊ ㄎㄥㄦ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄚ ㄕˇ

чжаньчжэмаокэнрбулаши

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤ̃ɻ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


không có chi

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˧˦ t͡ɕi˧˧]

[kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˨˩˦ t͡ɕɪj˧˧]

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˨˩˦ t͡ɕɪj˧˧]

[kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˦˥ cɪj˧˧]

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˦˥ cɪj˧˧]

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) you are welcome; no problem


忽必烈

/xu⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/xu⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

From Mongolian ᠬᠤᠪᠢᠯᠠᠢ (qubilai) (Cyrillic script Хубилай).
; “aching in buttocks or anus”

大媽坐中安全帶扣 激動喊變「忽必烈」︰我要投訴

A middle-aged woman accidentally sat on the buckle, screaming painfully, "I will complain"

譬如淂記最近便推出玩味十足的「忽必烈四人餐」，以「辣到舌尖」和「屁股開花」為主打，包含麻辣、香辣、辛辣和酸辣的菜式，愛辣之人一定要試試啦！

The Duckee restaurant has recently lauched a new set called the "Kublai Khan" set for 4'" and the dishes will make you feel hot to the tongue tip and even your anus (when defaecating). This set includes different kinds of hot and spicy dishes and would be a must-taste for spicy food lovers.

(Cantonese, humorous) aching in buttocks or anus


không có gì

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˧˦ zi˨˩]

[kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˨˩˦ jɪj˦˩]

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˨˩˦ jɪj˦˩]

[kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˦˥ jɪj˨˩]

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ kɔ˦˥ jɪj˨˩]

LL-Q9199 (vie)-Jessica Nguyen (Pamputt)-không có gì.wav

(Northern Vietnam) you are welcome, no problem


天生一對

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

тяньшэнъидуй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³/

a couple who were made for each other; a perfectly matching pair


期期艾艾

ㄑㄧˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄞˋ ㄞˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ ŋaːi̯²² ŋaːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ ŋaːi̯²² ŋaːi̯²²/

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

Chāng wèi rén kǒuchī, yòu shèngnù, yuē: ‘Chén kǒu bù néng yán, rán chén qīqī zhī qí bùkě.’

昌為人口吃，又盛怒，曰：‘臣口不能言，然臣期期知其不可。’

昌为人口吃，又盛怒，曰：‘臣口不能言，然臣期期知其不可。’

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

鄧艾口吃，語稱艾艾。

邓艾口吃，语称艾艾。


難兄難弟

ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄋㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ

наньсюннаньди

/nän³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²¹ tɐi̯²²/

/nän³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²¹ tɐi̯²²/

List of people of the Three Kingdoms (C)

Based on a tale in A New Account of the Tales of the World

The talented son of Yuanfang (Chen Ji), Changwen (Chen Qun), argued with the son of Jifang (Chen Chen), Xiaoxian (Chen Zhong), about the merits and virtues of their fathers. Unable to settle their argument, they consulted Taiqiu (Chen Shi, mayor of Taiqiu County). Taiqiu said, "Jifang is too outstanding for Yuanfang to be his elder brother, and Yuanfang is too outstanding for Jifang to be his younger brother."

Chén Yuánfāng zǐ Chángwén yǒu yīngcái, yǔ Jìfāng zǐ Xiàoxiān, gè lùn qí fù gōngdé, zhēng zhī bùnéng jué, zī yú Tàiqiū. Tàiqiū yuē: “Yuánfāng nán wéi xiōng, Jìfāng nán wéi dì.”

陳元方子長文有英才，與季方子孝先，各論其父功德，爭之不能決，咨於太丘。太丘曰：「元方難為兄，季方難為弟。」

陈元方子长文有英才，与季方子孝先，各论其父功德，争之不能决，咨于太丘。太丘曰：「元方难为兄，季方难为弟。」

hard to tell who is better; to be as good; equally-matched two

(ironic) of the same ilk; to be both bad


難兄難弟

ㄋㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄋㄢˋ ㄉㄧˋ

наньсюннаньди

/nän⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²² tɐi̯²²/

/nän⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²² tɐi̯²²/


än är inte Polen förlorat

Calque of Polish jeszcze Polska nie zginęła (“Poland is not lost yet”), a famous line from the Polish national anthem. Cognate to German noch ist Polen nicht verloren.

calque

hope springs eternal
hope springs eternal

(idiomatic) all isn’t lost; hope springs eternal

Poland Is Not Yet Lost
Polish national anthem


comment sont les zaricos

From comment (“how”) + sont (“are”), the third-person plural indicative present of être (“to be”) + les (“the”) + zaricos (“green beans”). Literally, “how're the green beans?”.

(Louisiana, Cajun, informal) how are you?


gå til sengs med fienden

sleep with the enemy
sleep with the enemy


陰差陽錯

ㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄧㄤˊ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/in⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/in⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔː³³/

Constructed from 陰陽／阴阳 (yīnyáng) and 差錯／差错 (chācuò).

an accident, mistake or event arising from many different unforeseen causes; a strange combination of circumstances; accidentally; serendipitously


壁立千仞

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˋ

билицяньжэнь

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹/


til døden skiller oss ad

till death do us part
till death do us part


si ça se trouve

Je comprends pas pourquoi on se dépêche comme ça. Si ça se trouve, ils ne sont même pas encore partis.

I don't understand why we're in such a hurry. They might not even have left yet.


عليها السلام

head

عَلَيْهَا ٱلسَّلامُ

عَلَيْهَا ٱلسَّلامُ • (ʕalayhā s-salāmu)

عَلَيْهَا ٱلسَّلامُ (canonical)
ʕalayhā s-salāmu (romanization)

→ Azerbaijani: əleyhassəlam

desc

علیها السلام

→ Persian: علیها السلام ('aleyhâ-s-salâm)

алайҳоссалом

→ Tajik: алайҳоссалом (alayhossalom)

→ Turkish: aleyhasselam

علیہا السلام

→ Urdu: علیہا السلام ('alayhā-s-salām)

→ Uzbek: alayhossalom

(Islam) peace be upon her; a eulogy used after mentioning certain venerated women (see below)

ṣallā llāhu ʕalayhi wa-ʔālihī wa-sallama

صَلَّىٰ ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ


how do you like that

Well, how do you like that? He cancelled on us again!


بلغت القلوب الحناجر

head

بَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ

بَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ • (balaḡati l-qulūbu l-ḥanājira)

بَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ (canonical)
balaḡati l-qulūbu l-ḥanājira (romanization)

Literally ”the hearts [have] reached the throats”. Qurtubi explains that the hearts have reached the throats from fear, and if the throat were not narrow enough they would have left the bodies. Razi exposes that due to the extremely high heart rate caused by fear the person might feel as if their heart were about to leave the body.

إِذْ جَاؤُوكُمْ مِن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الأَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللّٰهِ الظُّنُونَا

[Remember] when they came at you from above you and from below you, and when the gazes shifted, and the hearts reached the throats and you assumed about Allah assumptions.

ʔiḏ jāʔūkum min fawqikum wa-min ʔasfala minkum wa-ʔiḏ zāḡati l-ʔabṣāru wa-balaḡati l-qulūbu l-ḥanājira wa-taẓunnūna bi-l-lāhi ẓ-ẓunūnā


snb.t ꜥnḫ.t

snb (“be healthy”) + .t(j) (second-person singular stative ending) + ꜥnḫ (“to live”) + .t(j) (second-person singular stative ending), thus literally ‘you being healthy and alive’.

compound

Used to make a polite request; if you please, please.


delay no more

Deliberate Hobson-Jobson of Cantonese 屌你老母 (diu² nei⁵ lou⁵ mou⁵⁻², “fuck your mother”).

der

Delay no more sea tiger! Sea tiger eat shit la!

Delay No More to All who Against the Korea Team!!

2002 June 26, alt.sports.soccer.worldcup2002 (Usenet):

how dare you thing yourself god? Yes, you are the god of your own world. Delay no more.

The G.O.D. emporium on Hollywood Road joined in the local action by dressing its window mannequins in t-shirts that read, "Delay no more: Supporting local culture" and "Delay no more: Save local markets."

2012, Kwok-bun Chan, editor, Hybrid Hong Kong, Abingdon: Routledge, →ISBN:


在劫難逃

ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄊㄠˊ

цзайцзенаньтао

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

(originally Buddhism) there is no escaping fate; inexorably doomed


沐猴而冠

ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄡˊ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

мухоуэргуань

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ kuːn³³/

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ kuːn³³/


tio kaj alio

this and that; one thing and another; such and such


無可非議

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄟ ㄧˋ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ jiː¹³/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ jiː¹³/


無可厚非

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄈㄟ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ hɐu̯¹³ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kau³⁵⁻¹¹ hui³³/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ hɐu̯¹³ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kau³⁵⁻¹¹ hui³³/

not altogether inexcusable; hard to blame; reasonable; understandable


泣不成聲

ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to choke with sobs; to cry so much that one cannot utter a word


膽小如鼠

ㄉㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨˇ

/tän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ syː³⁵/

/taːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ syː³⁵/

to be timid as a mouse; to be very timid


人艱不拆

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄞ

жэньцзяньбучай

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

From a line in the lyrics of Lying (《說謊》), a 2009 song by Yoga Lin, condensed to resemble a four-character chengyu (idiom)

Don't say that I'm lying;
Life has been so hard already;
Some things,
Are better not exposed.

bié shuō wǒ shuōhuǎng, rénshēng yǐjīng rúcǐ de jiānnán, yǒuxiē shìqíng, jiù bùyào chāichuān

別說我說謊 人生已經如此地艱難 有些事情 就不要拆穿

别说我说谎 人生已经如此地艰难 有些事情 就不要拆穿

(neologism, slang, humorous) Life is hard already; some things need not be revealed.


置若罔聞

ㄓˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄨㄣˊ

чжижованвэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ mɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ mɐn²¹/


忠言逆耳

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄧˋ ㄦˇ

чжунъяньниэр

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ni⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚²¹ jiː¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ni⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚²¹ jiː¹³/

Qiě zhōngyánnì'ěr lì yú xíng, dúyào kǔkǒu lì yú bìng, yuàn Pèigōng tīng Fán Kuài yán!

且忠言逆耳利於行，毒藥苦口利於病，願沛公聽樊噲言！

且忠言逆耳利于行，毒药苦口利于病，愿沛公听樊哙言！

sincere advice may be unpleasant to the ear (but it is beneficial)


深思熟慮

ㄕㄣ ㄙ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄙ ㄕㄡˊ ㄌㄩˋ

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ ly⁵¹/

шэньсышоулюй

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lɵy̯²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lɵy̯²²/

jīngguò yī fān shēnsīshúlǜ hòu zuòchū de juédìng

經過一番深思熟慮後做出的決定

经过一番深思熟虑后做出的决定

deliberation; deep and careful consideration


無中生有

ㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻²³ sẽ³³⁻²³ u³⁵/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻²³ sẽ³³⁻²³ u³⁵/

All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and named); that existence sprang from It as non-existent (and not named).

Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Tiānxià wànwù shēng yú yǒu, yǒu shēng yú wú.

天下萬物生於有，有生於無。

天下万物生于有，有生于无。

(Taoism) all existence sprang from nonexistence

to fabricate; to make up unfounded rumor; to trump up


聞名世界

ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

вэньминшицзе

/wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

known the world over; world-famous; renowned


兵戎相見

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

бинжунсянцзянь

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³/


首當其衝

ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄤ ㄑㄧˊ ㄔㄨㄥ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

Formed based on a line in the Book of Han:
First attested in the Draft History of Qing

鄭當其衝，不能修德。

郑当其冲，不能修德。

1929, Zhao Erxun (lead editor), Draft History of Qing

Ōu jiàn dōng lái, Yuèdōng shǒudāngqíchōng.

歐艦東來，粵東首當其衝。

欧舰东来，粤东首当其冲。

Most susceptible, and the first to be affected, are the intellectuals and the young students.

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

Tèbié shì wénhuàrén hé qīngnián xuéshēng, gǎnjué ruìmǐn, shǒudāngqíchōng.

特別是文化人和青年學生，感覺銳敏，首當其衝。

特别是文化人和青年学生，感觉锐敏，首当其冲。

to be the first to suffer (attack or disaster)

(neologism, proscribed) taking the lead; first

(neologism, proscribed) more important, crucial or prominent


生死存亡

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

шэнсыцуньван

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

to concern the survival of the human race

關係到人類的生死存亡

关系到人类的生死存亡

生死存亡的關頭

生死存亡的关头

matter of life and death
matter of life and death

matter of life and death; critical moment