信口開河

信口开河
信口開合
信口開闔
信口開喝

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄜˊ

синькоукайхэ

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ hɔː²¹/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ hɔː²¹/

to speak carelessly, rapidly and voluminously like the outflow of river water when the sluice gates are opened; to talk nonsense; to talk at random


קור כלבים

head

קור כלבים / קֹר כְּלָבִים

קור כלבים / קֹר כְּלָבִים • (kor klavím)

he-phrase

קֹר כְּלָבִים

קֹר כְּלָבִים (canonical)
kor klavím (romanization)

Roots
 ק־ר־ר (q-r-r)
 כ־ל־ב (k-l-b)
From קור \ קֹר (“cold”) + כְּלָבִים (“dogs”). Calque of Russian соба́чий хо́лод (sobáčij xólod).

af

קור \ קֹר (“cold”) + כְּלָבִים (“dogs”)

cal

соба́чий хо́лод

very cold (literally, "coldness of dogs", "a dog's cold")


head

my very educated mother just served us nachos

my very educated mother just served us noodles#English

(astronomy mnemonic) Alternative form of my very educated mother just served us noodles


my very educated mother just served us noodles

From the initial letters of the 8 planets' names.

(astronomy mnemonic) Used to remember the order and names of the eight planets of the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

mein Vater erklärt mir jeden Sonntag unseren Nachthimmel

my very educated mother just served us nine pizzas

my very educated mother just served us nine pumpkins


乜都假

咩都假
乜嘢都假
乜嘢都係假
乜嘢都係假嘅

/mɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ kaː³⁵/

/mɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ kaː³⁵/

Find six buckets and fill them with more water; nothing else matters

wan² ding⁶ seoi² tung² bun³ daa¹, zong¹ do¹ di¹ seoi², mat¹ dou¹ gaa²

搵定水桶半打，裝多啲水，乜都假

揾定水桶半打，装多啲水，乜都假

(Cantonese) everything else is trivial; everything else is a trifling matter


après moi le déluge

→ Czech: po mně potopa (calque)

→ Dutch: na mij de zondvloed (calque)

desc

→ English: after me the deluge, after us the deluge (calque)

→ Finnish: meidän jälkeemme vedenpaisumus (calque)

→ German: nach mir die Sintflut (calque)

→ Norwegian: etter oss syndfloden (calque)

→ Polish: po nas choćby potop, po nas choćby i potop (calque)

по́сле на́с хо́ть пото́п

→ Russian: по́сле на́с хо́ть пото́п (pósle nás xótʹ potóp) (calque)

→ Lithuanian: po manęs nors ir tvanas (calque)

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-après moi le déluge.wav

Literally, “after me, the deluge”. Attributed to French King Louis XV or his mistress Madame de Pompadour. Sometimes quoted as après nous le déluge (“after us, the deluge”).

Les sociétés qui ont de trop grands besoins s’absorbent dans le présent, elles lui sacrifient les conquêtes du passé et lui immolent l’avenir. Après nous le déluge!

1908 [1895], Charles Wagner, La vie simple; republished as Mary Louise Hendee, transl., The Simple Life, 1904:

When society has too great needs, it is absorbed with the present, sacrifices to it the conquests of the past, immolates to it the future. After us the deluge!

Used to indicate indifference to events that will happen after one’s death, or to indicate one’s own importance in maintaining order; after us the deluge


אינו יודע צורת א׳

head

אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ צוּרַת א'

אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ צוּרַת א' • (einó yodéa' tzurát álef)

he-phrase

אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ צוּרַת א'

אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ צוּרַת א' (canonical)
einó yodéa' tzurát álef (romanization)

an illiterate (someone who can't read nor write)


תנצב״ה

From 1 Samuel he:T:29, with translation of the King James Version: “…the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life…”.

נַפְשׁוֹ/נַפְשָׁהּ נפש

צְרוּרָה צרור

חַיִּים חיים

תְּהֵא נַפְשׁוֹ/נַפְשָׁהּ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים (tehé nafshó/nafshá tzrurá bitzrór haḥayím) a common used epitaph, for a male and female respectively.


il bue che dice cornuto all'asino

Literally, “the ox calling the donkey horned”, cornuto also meaning “cuckold”.

lit

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black

it takes one to know one
it takes one to know one

I know you are but what am I
I know you are but what am I

(idiomatic) pot calling the kettle black; it takes one to know one; I know you are but what am I (said to somebody who accuses someone else of a fault they share)


why oh why

A strengthened form of why, as used in questions.

Are these terrible figures greeted by hysterical "why-oh-why?" letters to the Times demanding a huge shift in resources from road-building to rail-modernisation?

Indeed, a right-wing paper is hardly ready for press without a why-oh-why article on children's failures to identify verbs and nouns.

2005, Fred Sedgwick, How to Teach with a Hangover: A Practical Guide to Overcoming Classroom Crises, A&C Black, →ISBN, page 94:

To mark the introduction of civil partnership in Britain, the Daily Telegraph duly featured a bitter polemic from 'Why-oh-Why' columnist Ferdinand Mount.

2006, Ben Summerskill, The Way We Are Now: Gay and Lesbian Lives in the 21st Century, A&C Black, →ISBN, page 7:

David Starkey and John Casey, a donnish don from Cambridge who cranks out 'why, oh why?' hand-wringing pieces for the Daily Mail, are modern equivalents.

2009, Andrew Marr, My Trade: A Short History of British Journalism, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN, page 27:

... the British health system, once the best in the world, was disintegrating in a welter of underfunding, staff shortages and collapsing morale. A hand-wringing why-oh-why piece appeared in the Daily Mail, an internal investigation was ordered.

2012, Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Random House, →ISBN, page 3:

(UK, sometimes used attributively) A statement of exasperation associated with reactionary viewpoints.


อย่างไร

From อย่าง (yàang, “like”) + ไร (rai, “what”).

com

whatever; however; no matter what; whatever happens.


咸家富貴

(May your) entire family (be) successful

/hɐm²² kaː⁵⁵ fuː³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/hɐm²² kaː⁵⁵ fuː³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

(Cantonese, sarcastic, offensive) Synonym of 咸家鏟


e vissero per sempre felici e contenti

(fairy tales) and they lived happily ever after


萬事勝意

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧˋ

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/maːn²² siː²² sɪŋ³³ jiː³³/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/maːn²² siː²² sɪŋ³³ jiː³³/

(chiefly Cantonese) may everything be better than you wish; all the best


馬到功成

ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄥˊ

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/maː¹³ tou̯³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/maː¹³ tou̯³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

(chiefly Cantonese) to instantly succeed


馬到成功

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (馬到成功):
* → Vietnamese: mã đáo thành công (馬到成功)

[As soon as] the horse arrives [to the battlefield], there is success.

ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/maː¹³ tou̯³³ sɪŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/maː¹³ tou̯³³ sɪŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/


馬到成功

mã đáo thành công
mã đáo thành công#Vietnamese

chữ Hán form of mã đáo thành công (“to instantly succeed”).


se la vì

Unadapted borrowing from French c’est la vie (“that’s life”).


apriti sesamo

From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Antoine Galland
One Thousand and One Nights
it:Apriti sesamo (frase)


dalla padella alla brace

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

(idiomatic) out of the frying pan, into the fire


मुझे पता नहीं

hi-phrase

मुझे पता नहीं • (mujhe patā nahī̃)


मैं नहीं जानता हूँ

मैं नहीं जानता हूँ • (ma͠i nahī̃ jāntā hū̃)


化干戈為玉帛

to turn weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄍㄢ ㄍㄜ ㄨㄟˊ ㄩˋ ㄅㄛˊ

хуа ганьгэ вэй юйбо

/xu̯ä⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/faː³³ kɔːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jʊk̚² paːk̚²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

to turn hostility into friendship; to bury the hatchet


南無阿弥陀仏

ja-pos

南(な)無(む)阿(あ)弥(み)陀(だ)仏(ぶつ) • (Namu Amidabutsu)

南無阿弥陀仏 (canonical)
Namu Amidabutsu (romanization)

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 南無阿彌陀佛 (MC nom mju 'a mjie da bjut), itself borrowed from Sanskrit नमोऽमिताभाय (namoʼmitābhāya).

bor+

(Buddhism) Namo Amitābhāya, a Buddhist chant.


算你好彩

/syːn³³ nei̯¹³ hou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/syːn³³ nei̯¹³ hou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) "you got lucky this time" (used when a stronger opponent lets a weaker opponent go)


shut up and take my money

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shut up and take my money.wav

From a scene in the Futurama episode "Attack of the Killer App" (2010) where Fry demands to buy an eyePhone in front of a store clerk who is talking about the product's features.

(informal) Said about something that the speaker wants to buy immediately.

Attack of the Killer App
Futurama
Philip J. Fry


three bags full, sir

/ˌθɹiː bæɡz ˈfʊl ˌsɜː/

/ˌθɹi bæɡz ˈfʊl ˌsɝ/

Referencing the nursery rhyme Baa, Baa, Black Sheep with the lyrics "Have you any wool? / Yes, sir, yes, sir, / Three bags full".

Because, if he speaks his truth, he may no longer have a job and so, instead of living his truth, he says: “Yes, Sir; of course, sir. Three bags full, Sir.” He gives his power away.

2001, Barbel Mohr, translated by Heike Müller, “How Do I Learn to Listen to My Inner Voice?”, in The Cosmic Ordering Service, Charlottesville, Va.: Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., →ISBN, page 31:

Some managers took 50% of the income, some even paid the artist nothing but a weekly salary, and still the majority of those artists said, yes sir, no sir and three bags full sir. To a great degree, Epstein changed all of that ...

2004, Paul Charles, The Complete Guide to Playing Live: A Survival Guide to the Rock Circuit, Music Sales Group, →ISBN:

Get forensic on to it right away.' 'Yes, sir,' Hatchley said through clenched teeth as he left. Banks could almost hear the 'three bags full, sir'

2014, Peter Robinson, DCI Banks: The first three novels, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN:

(often sarcastic) Intensifies a statement of agreement, indicating that the speaker is craven or obsequious.


kwitzoendre

I wonder (ponder, to feel doubt and curiosity)


不要擔心

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ

буяо даньсинь

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ taːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ taːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


c'è del marcio in Danimarca

/ˈt͡ʃ‿ɛ‿d.del ˈmar.t͡ʃo in da.niˈmar.ka/

(aphorism) something is rotten in the state of Denmark (something is not right)


I'll go to the foot of our stairs

“Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs,” said Elsie, totally flabbergasted.

2010, Anna Champney, Buried Past, Hidden Secrets, page 540:

“Did you hear that boys, I'm a girl, well I'll go to the foot of our stairs, I would never have known if he hadn't told me” she said, smiling at the Lad and by now enjoying the attention she was getting.

2015, Peter Knowles, Short Story Collection:

(UK, Northern dialect) Expressing astonishment.


an insult to one is an insult to all

When individuals are insulted based on their characteristics, that insult also applies to everybody who shares them.


useful as a chocolate teapot

Since a chocolate teapot would be melted by hot tea and is therefore a useless idea.


สบายดีไหม

สบายดีไหมครับ

สบายดีไหมคะ


đầu trâu mặt ngựa

[ʔɗəw˨˩ t͡ɕəw˧˧ mat̚˧˨ʔ ŋɨə˧˨ʔ]

[ʔɗəw˦˩ ʈəw˧˧ mak̚˨˩ʔ ŋɨə˨˩ʔ]

[ʔɗəw˨˩ ʈəw˧˧ mak̚˨˩˨ ŋɨə˨˩˨]

Calque of Chinese 牛頭馬面／牛头马面 (Ngưu Đầu Mã Diện, literally “Bull-Head and Horse-Face”), equivalent to đầu (“head”) + trâu (“water buffalo”) + mặt (“face”) + ngựa (“horse”). Compare Japanese 牛頭馬頭 (Gozu Mezu, Ngưu Đầu Mã Đầu, literally “Bull-Head and Horse-Head”).

cog

(figurative) a thug (a criminal who treats others violently or roughly)


ครั้งนั้น

head

ครั้งนั้น • (kráng-nán)

From ครั้ง (kráng, “chance; instance; occasion; time; etc.”) + นั้น (nán, “that”).

compound

(used to indicate a time or event as mentioned before or supposed to be understood.)


เหนือเกล้าเหนือกระหม่อม

th-phrase

เหนือเกล้าเหนือกระหม่อม • (nʉ̌ʉa-glâao-nʉ̌ʉa-grà-mɔ̀m)

From เหนือ (nʉ̌ʉa, “above; over; etc”) + เกล้า (glâao, “hair bun; head”) + เหนือ (nʉ̌ʉa, “above; over; etc”) + กระหม่อม (grà-mɔ̀m, “fontanel; head”); literally "above heads, above heads". The heads probably refer to the heads of a monarch's subjects, for the monarch is referred to as พระเจ้าอยู่หัว (jâao-yùu-hǔua, “divine lord above heads; divine lord at heads”).

th-l

พระเจ้าอยู่หัว

used as an intensifier to show respect to a monarch or to display his or her supremacy.

en-เหนือเกล้าเหนือกระหม่อม-th-phrase-sEZZDwe3


ĉu vi havas koramikon

LL-Q143 (epo)-NMaia-ĉu vi havas koramikon.wav

do you have a boyfriend
do you have a boyfriend


ĉu vi havas koramikinon

LL-Q143 (epo)-NMaia-ĉu vi havas koramikinon.wav

do you have a girlfriend
do you have a girlfriend


mi estas ateisto

LL-Q143 (epo)-NMaia-mi estas ateisto.wav


li estas senkonscia

LL-Q143 (epo)-NMaia-li estas senkonscia.wav


ĉu vi kredas je Dio

LL-Q143 (epo)-NMaia-ĉu vi kredas je Dio.wav

do you believe in God
do you believe in God


ŝi estas senkonscia

LL-Q143 (epo)-NMaia-ŝi estas senkonscia.wav


牛頭馬面

desc

→ Vietnamese: đầu trâu mặt ngựa (calque)

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ maː¹³ miːn²²/

/ŋi̯u¹¹ tʰeu̯¹¹ ma²⁴⁻¹¹ mi̯en⁵⁵/

/ɡu²³⁻³³ tʰau²³ be⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴ be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴ be⁴²⁻²⁴ bin²²/

/ɡu²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin³³/

/n̠ʲiɤ²² dɤ⁵⁵ mo³³ mi²¹/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ maː¹³ miːn²²/

/ŋi̯u¹¹ tʰeu̯¹¹ ma²⁴⁻¹¹ mi̯en⁵⁵/

/ɡu²³⁻³³ tʰau²³ be⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴ be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²/

/ɡu²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴ be⁴²⁻²⁴ bin²²/

/ɡu²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin³³/

/n̠ʲiɤ²² dɤ⁵⁵ mo³³ mi²¹/

(Hakka) unacceptable; scandalous; outrageous


so much the better

Its business was to block change, not advance it, and if it thereby obstructed something he himself, as a very conservative fellow, disliked, so much the better.

2016 February 20, “Obituary: Antonin Scalia: Always right”, in The Economist:


all to the better

If some people enjoy them, andI have evidence that some do, that is all to the better.

2011, Dayton Lummis, Spaceships and Liquor: Venus and Mars Are All Right Tonight, →ISBN:


so much the worse

"Ah! So much the worse! A bitter taste it is that such poor cattle always have in their mouths, and hard lives they live, Jacques.

1859, Charles Dickens, chapter V, in A Tale of Two Cities, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC:


zloděj křičí, chyťte zloděje

pot calling the kettle black (literally "a thief shouts, catch the thief")


po mně potopa

Translation of French après moi, le déluge.

used to indicate indifference to events that will happen when the speaker is no longer responsible for or affected by them


po nás potopa

Translation of French après nous, le déluge.

used to indicate indifference to events that will happen when the speaker is no longer responsible for of affected by them


it's grim up north

(UK) A phrase suggesting that the standard of life in the north of England is poor compared to that in the south.


cuántos años tienes

Literally, “how many years do you have?”.


未雨綢繆

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (未雨綢繆):
* → Japanese: 未(み)雨(う)綢(ちゅう)繆(びゅう) (miuchūbyū)
* → Korean: 미우주무(未雨綢繆) (miujumu)

ㄨㄟˋ ㄩˇ ㄔㄡˊ ㄇㄡˊ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/mei̯²² jyː¹³ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/mei̯²² jyː¹³ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 155 (《詩經·豳風·鴟鴞》)

lang

(《詩經·豳風·鴟鴞》)

(《詩經·豳風·鴟鴞》)

Before the sky was dark with rain,
I gathered the roots of the mulberry tree,
And bound round and round my window and door.

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

Dài tiān zhī wèi yīnyǔ, chè bǐ sāngdù, chóumóu yǒuhù.

迨天之未陰雨，徹彼桑土，綢繆牖戶。

迨天之未阴雨，彻彼桑土，绸缪牖户。

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

未雨綢繆才能臨危不亂。

未雨绸缪才能临危不乱。

One should, when it is not yet raining, bind tightly the window. One should not wait until one is thirsty to dig a well.
i.e. One should prepare before it is too late.

Zhu Yongchun, Zhu Zi's Family Maxims, 17ᵗʰ century CE

Yí wèi yǔ ér chóumóu, wú lín kě ér jué jǐng.

宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。

宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。

(figurative) to plan ahead; to prepare before it is too late; to take precautions


未雨綢繆

未雨綢繆 (canonical)
miuchūbyū (romanization)


narozdíl

(sometimes proscribed) Only used in narozdíl od


나무아미타불

namuamitabul (romanization)
南無阿彌陀佛 (hanja)

(Buddhism) Namo Amitābhāya, a Buddhist chant


改行自新

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

гайсинцзысинь

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ hɐŋ²² t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ hɐŋ²² t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf


Nam mô A Di Đà Phật

[naːm˧˧ mo˧˧ ʔaː˧˧ zi˧˧ ʔɗaː˨˩ fət̚˧˨ʔ]

[naːm˧˧ mow˧˧ ʔaː˧˧ jɪj˧˧ ʔɗaː˦˩ fək̚˨˩ʔ]

[naːm˧˧ mow˧˧ ʔaː˧˧ jɪj˧˧ ʔɗaː˨˩ fək̚˨˩˨]

Sino-Vietnamese word from 南無阿彌陀佛, from Chinese 南無阿彌陀佛／南无阿弥陀佛, from Sanskrit नमोऽमिताभाय (namoʼmitābhāya).
The second character 無／无 here has the unusual reading mô instead of the typical vô. The form Nam vô A Di Đà Phật is well-attested in earlier texts.

der

Chinese 南無阿彌陀佛／南无阿弥陀佛

Con lạy/niệm Nam mô A Di Đà Phật.
I pray, "Namo Amitābhāya."

(Buddhism) Namo Amitābhāya, a common phrase of salutation used by Buddhists


恰如其分

ㄑㄧㄚˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄣˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ä⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/hɐp̚⁵ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ fɐn²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ä⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/hɐp̚⁵ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ fɐn²²/

It is normal, in accordance with the merits of the case, to mete out appropriate and well grounded criticism to comrades who have erred, and even to conduct necessary struggle against them; this is to help them correct mistakes.

1956, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論十大關係》 (On the Ten Major Relationships), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Ànzhào qíngkuàng, duìyú fàn cuòwù de tóngzhì cǎiqǔ qiàrúqífèn de héhū shíjì de pīpíng, shènzhì bìyào de dòuzhēng, zhè shì zhèngcháng de, shì wèile bāngzhù tāmen gǎizhèng cuòwù.

按照情況，對於犯錯誤的同志採取恰如其分的合乎實際的批評，甚至必要的鬥爭，這是正常的，是為了幫助他們改正錯誤。

按照情况，对于犯错误的同志采取恰如其分的合乎实际的批评，甚至必要的斗争，这是正常的，是为了帮助他们改正错误。

apt; appropriate (of a comment, action, etc.)


體貼入微

ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄝ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄝ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰiːp̚³ jɐp̚² mei̯²¹/

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰiːp̚³ jɐp̚² mei̯²¹/

I can't forget that attention you gave me; it's still stuck fast in my mind all the time

naan⁴ mong⁴ nei⁵ deoi³ ngo⁵ naa⁵ zung² tai² tip³ jap⁶ mei⁴, si⁴ si⁴ hak¹ hak¹ nou⁵ hoi² zung¹ dou¹ gan² gei³

難忘您對我那種體貼入微 時時刻刻腦海中都緊記

难忘您对我那种体贴入微 时时刻刻脑海中都紧记

to be extremely considerate towards someone; to be very considerate and thoughtful; to look after with meticulous care


熱淚盈眶

ㄖㄜˋ ㄌㄟˋ ㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄤˋ

ㄖㄜˋ ㄌㄟˋ ㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄤ

/ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹ iŋ³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹ iŋ³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² lɵy̯²² jɪŋ²¹ hɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² lɵy̯²² jɪŋ²¹ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹ iŋ³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹ iŋ³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² lɵy̯²² jɪŋ²¹ hɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² lɵy̯²² jɪŋ²¹ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵/


一路走好

ㄧ ㄌㄨˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄏㄠˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³⁵/


跳樑小丑

ㄊㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄔㄡˇ

тяолянсяочоу

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːu̯³³ lœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰiːu̯³³ lœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵/

a buffoon who performs antics; a contemptible rebel; a clumsy mischief-maker


Roma locuta est, causa finita est

From Latin, literally "Rome has spoken, the case is closed".

(idiomatic) The discussion is at an end.


YMBJ

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of you must be joking.


NIBMAR

(UK, politics, historical) Abbreviation of no independence before majority rule: a policy adopted by the United Kingdom requiring the implementation of majority rule in a colony, rather than rule by the white colonial minority, before the colony could be granted independence.


有冇搞錯

/jɐu̯¹³ mou̯¹³ kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/jɐu̯¹³ mou̯¹³ kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/

(Cantonese) Are you serious?; Are you kidding me?; What's wrong with you?


IYSWIM

if you see what I mean
if you see what I mean#English


ฉันรักคุณ

th-phrase

ฉันรักคุณ • (chǎn rák kun)


like a martin to his gourd

The ball flew to its mark like a martin to his gourd and Lucky Ned Pepper fell dead in the saddle.

Whether all of the above was reason enough I don't know, but I left East St. Louis and, like a martin to its gourd, I headed back to the cotton fields of southeastern Missouri.

2008, Paul Self, No Lower Place, page 219:

(simile, US, regional) Straight, unerringly, directly.


ผมรักคุณ

ผมรักคุณ • (pǒm rák kun)


一如既往

ㄧ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄤˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki²¹³⁻⁵⁵ uaŋ⁵²⁻²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki²¹³⁻⁵⁵ uaŋ⁵²⁻²¹/


c.s.

Abbreviation of cum suis. with his (party), and associates

Abbreviation of cum sociis. with his (party), and associates


head

gli amici si vedono nel momento del bisogno

a friend in need is a friend indeed
a friend in need is a friend indeed


бөттө баш

бөттө баш • (böttö baş)

[bʏ̞ˈtːʏ̞.bäʂ]

it's all over, all is lost, the jig is up, we're screwed (said in reaction to or in anticipation of an event or situation causing great loss, upset or unpleasantness)

... that would be a disaster (after an if-clause)


gottle o' geer

Pronunciation spelling of the phrase "bottle of beer" with the labial consonants replaced by velars; labials are the hardest English consonants to produce without visible lip movement.

‘And a gottle of gear,' said Watson, trying to disguise himself as a dummy.

1992, Spike Milligan, William McGonagall: Freefall, Michael Joseph, →ISBN, page 109:

Buyer beware: if you think this is a history of end-of-pier gottle of geer merchants, think again

2001 January 13, Brian Boyd, “Not only here for the geer [Review of Dumbstruck - A Cultural History of Ventriloquism]”, in The Irish Times, page 15:

On the same bill was a ventriloquist called Arthur Worsley, who had a doll with the catchphrase 'gottle of geer'.

2016, Pat Stewart, The Girl in the Spotty Dress - Memories From The 1950s and The Photo That Changed My Life, Kings Road Publishing, →ISBN:

Stereotypical phrase spoken by the dummy of an incompetent ventriloquist


麻木不仁

ㄇㄚˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/mä³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/maː²¹ mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/mä³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/maː²¹ mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

to be indifferent and apathetic; unconcerned and unsympathetic; callous to


吹拉彈唱

ㄔㄨㄟ ㄌㄚ ㄊㄢˊ ㄔㄤˋ

чуйлатаньчан

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːn²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːn²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ³³/

singing and various modes of (wind, bow, string) instrument playing


蠢蠢欲動

ㄔㄨㄣˇ ㄔㄨㄣˇ ㄩˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

чуньчуньюйдун

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn³⁵ t͡sʰɵn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʊŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɵn³⁵ t͡sʰɵn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʊŋ²²/

ready to start wriggling; ready to make trouble; be restless and about to make trouble


つーか

っていうか っていうか#Japanese

ってゆうか ってゆうか#Japanese

Contraction of っていうか (tte iu ka); Contraction of ってゆうか (tte yuu ka).


Earth to someone

Suggesting a control room on Earth communicating with a crew on a space mission.

Hello! ...Hello? Earth to Daniel!

(humorous) Used to call the attention of a distracted person.


cuánto tiempo

Cuánto tiempo sin verte.

Hombre, ¡cuánto tiempo!


豐富多彩

ㄈㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄘㄞˇ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/


es decir

“Vimos que el efecto de estos compuestos (endocannabinoides) es bifásico, es decir, que dosis bajas estimulan la conducta sexual, mientras que dosis altas la inhiben.

2014 June 3, “Descubren sustancia que estimula el apetito sexual”, in La Prensa:

“We see that the effect of these compounds (endocannabinoids) is biphasic, that is, low doses stimulate sexual behavior, while high doses inhibit it.

i.e., in other words, that is, that is to say, namely, meaning, rather, this means, that means


no pasa nada

Si no quieres hablar de ello, no pasa nada.

If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay.


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

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

Alternative form of sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.


大家好

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² kaː⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵/

/tʰaɪ⁵³ ka⁴⁴⁻³⁵ hau³¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ke⁴⁴⁻²² ho⁵³/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ke⁴⁴⁻²² ho⁴²/

/tai²¹ kɛ³³⁻²¹ ho⁴⁴⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ ho⁵²/

/tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ ka̠³³ xɒu̯⁴¹/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² kaː⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵/

/tʰaɪ⁵³ ka⁴⁴⁻³⁵ hau³¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ke⁴⁴⁻²² ho⁵³/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ke⁴⁴⁻²² ho⁴²/

/tai²¹ kɛ³³⁻²¹ ho⁴⁴⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ ho⁵²/

/tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ ka̠³³ xɒu̯⁴¹/


bless someone's cotton socks

Used to express affection toward the named person.


sonhe com os anjos

(idiomatic) good night; sleep tight (farewell said before going to sleep)


凹凹凸凸

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵/

/nɐp̚⁵ nɐp̚⁵ tɐt̚² tɐt̚²/

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵/

/nɐp̚⁵ nɐp̚⁵ tɐt̚² tɐt̚²/


老少咸宜

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄧˊ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ haːm²¹ jiː²¹/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ haːm²¹ jiː²¹/


i det hele tatt

Ute på havet var det stille, og knapt dønninger i det hele tatt.

Out on the sea it was calm, and hardly any swell at all.


聖誕節快樂

ㄕㄥˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄜˋ

Шэнданьцзе куайлэ

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ³³ taːn³³ t͡siːt̚³ faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/sɨn⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵ t͡si̯et̚² kʰu̯ai̯⁵⁵ lok̚⁵/

/siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kʰuai²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔk̚⁴/

/sən³³ te⁵⁵ t͡ɕiɪʔ²¹ kʰua³³ loʔ⁴⁴/

/sɪŋ³³ taːn³³ t͡siːt̚³ faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/sən³³ te⁵⁵ t͡ɕiɪʔ²¹ kʰua³³ loʔ⁴⁴/


me llamo

rural northern Spain, Andes Mountains, Philippines

Me llamo Marta. ¿Y usted?


not your circus, not your monkeys

none of your business
none of someone's business

(colloquial) It's none of your business, or not your responsibility; an exhortation to stay out of a volatile or delicate situation.


io non parlo inglese

I don't speak English
I don't speak English


慘絕人寰

ㄘㄢˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

цаньцзюэжэньхуань

/t͡sʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm³⁵ t͡syːt̚² jɐn²¹ waːn²¹/

/t͡sʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm³⁵ t͡syːt̚² jɐn²¹ waːn²¹/

to be extremely tragic; to be of unparalleled savagery (in human history)


ကိစ္စမရှိဘူး

ကိစ္စ (kicca., “matter, affair”) + မ (ma., negative particle) + ရှိ (hri., “to be”) + ဘူး (bhu:, negative particle); thus literally ‘it’s no matter’.

af

ကိစ္စမရှိပါဘူး ကိစ္စမရှိပါဘူး#Burmese

Alternative form of ကိစ္စမရှိပါဘူး (kicca.ma.hri.pabhu:)


下里巴人

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

Originally the name of the rustic folk songs in the state of Chu during the Warring States period.

vulgar or low-quality literature, music or art

(figurative) popular literature, music or art

(humble) one's own artwork or composition


ဘယ်လောက်လဲ

/bɛ̀laʊʔ lɛ́/


bestes Wissen und Gewissen

Literally, “(one's) best knowledge and conscience”. Compare Dutch best weten en geweten.

lit

the best of one's knowledge
to the best of one's knowledge

the best of one's knowledge; good faith; roughly combining the senses of both English idioms, namely that one does or says something in the honest conviction of its correctness but under the condition of the fallibility of one’s knowledge and competences


眉飛色舞

ㄇㄟˊ ㄈㄟ ㄙㄜˋ ㄨˇ

/meɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/meɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

with dancing eyebrows and a radiant face; beaming with joy; exultant


siinä kaikki

Minä vain kysyin, siinä kaikki.


山珍海錯

ㄕㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄏㄞˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

шаньчжэньхайцо

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³/

exotic delicacies; (by extension) abundant food


山珍海味

ㄕㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄏㄞˇ ㄨㄟˋ

шаньчжэньхайвэй

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ mei̯²²⁻³⁵/

/san²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨn²⁴ hoi̯³¹ mi⁵⁵/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ mei̯²²⁻³⁵/

/san²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨn²⁴ hoi̯³¹ mi⁵⁵/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

My grandpa, seventy-two years old, eats delicious delicacies everyday

Gún a-kong chhit-cha̍p-lī, múi-kang lóng sī san-tin-hái-bī

阮阿公七十二 每工攏是山珍海味

阮阿公七十二 每工拢是山珍海味


南腔北調

ㄋㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

наньцянбэйдяо

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

ㄋㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄧㄠˋㄦ

наньцянбэйдяор

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti̯aʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

southern accents and northern dialects; a mixture of various accents


牆頭草

grass on top of a wall (which sways with every gust of wind)

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄘㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄡˊㄦ ㄘㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/ʑiã²² dɤ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/ʑiã²² dɤ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔ²¹/

fence sitter; a person who is on the fence


心甘情願

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄢ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄢˋ

синьганьцинъюань

/ɕin⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²²/

/ɕin⁴² kɵn⁴² t͡ɕʰin²⁴ n̠ʲyɵn¹¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ɡuan²²/

/sim³³ kam³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ɡuan⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² ɡuan²²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡuan³³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ ɡuan³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²²/

/ɕin⁴² kɵn⁴² t͡ɕʰin²⁴ n̠ʲyɵn¹¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ɡuan²²/

/sim³³ kam³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ɡuan⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² ɡuan²²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡuan³³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ ɡuan³³/

to be more than willing to do something; to be perfectly happy to do something


head

sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me

Alternative form of sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me


sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me


sticks and stones may break my bones

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


λες και

les kai (romanization)
say and (literally)

Περπατούσε λες και είχε χαλίκια στο παπούτσι.

She was walking as if she had pebbles in her shoe.

Perpatoúse les kai eíche chalíkia sto papoútsi.

Ήρθε μέσα στο δωμάτιο λες και ήταν διάσημος.

He walked into the room as if he were famous.

Írthe mésa sto domátio les kai ítan diásimos.


εγώ τα λέω, εγώ τα ακούω

εγώ τα λέω, εγώ τα ακούω

εγώ τα λέω, εγώ τα ακούω • (egó ta léo, egó ta akoúo)

el-phrase

εγώ τα λέω, εγώ τα ακούω

egó ta léo (romanization)
egó ta akoúo (romanization)

The literal meaning is "I say it, I hear it."

Του λέω συνεχώς να φτιάξει το αμάξι του, αλλά εγώ τα λέω, εγώ τα ακούω.

I keep telling him to fix his car but it's like talking to the wall.

Tou léo synechós na ftiáxei to amáxi tou, allá egó ta léo, egó ta akoúo.

like talking to a wall
like talking to a wall

like talking to a brick wall
like talking to a brick wall

(idiomatic) I might as well be talking to the wall, like talking to a wall, like talking to a brick wall

en-εγώ_τα_λέω,_εγώ_τα_ακούω-el-phrase-vM3~goGO


εμένα μου λες

head

εμένα μου λες

εμένα μου λες • (eména mou les)

el-phrase

εμένα μου λες

εμένα μου λες • (eména mou les)

Πω πω, ένας αέρας σήμερα! — Εμένα μου λες! Κόντεψε να με πάρει!
Po po, énas aéras símera! — Eména mou les! Kóntepse na me párei!
Wow, what a wind today! — You're telling me! It nearly took me away!

(idiomatic, informal, colloquial) you're telling me, don't I know, you bet.


ábrete sésamo

From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Antoine Galland
One Thousand and One Nights


אני אוהבת אותך

head

אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ

אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ • (aní ohévet otchá)

אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתְךָ (canonical)
aní ohévet otchá (romanization)


אני אוהבת אותך

אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתָךְ

אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתָךְ • (aní ohévet otách)

אֲנִי אוֹהֵבֵת אוֹתָךְ (canonical)
aní ohévet otách (romanization)


אני אוהב אותך

אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ

אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ • (aní ohév otách)

אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתָךְ (canonical)
aní ohév otách (romanization)


אני אוהב אותך

אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ

אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ • (aní ohév otchá)

אֲנִי אוֹהֵב אוֹתְךָ (canonical)
aní ohév otchá (romanization)


i skrivende stund

at the time of writing
at the time of writing


意外事故

ㄧˋ ㄨㄞˋ ㄕˋ ㄍㄨˋ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/

/jiː³³ ŋɔːi̯²² siː²² kuː³³/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/

/jiː³³ ŋɔːi̯²² siː²² kuː³³/


srl.

Abbreviation of agus araile (“etc. and so on”).


同病相憐

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (同病相憐):
* → Vietnamese: đồng bệnh tương liên (同病相憐)

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

тунбинсянлянь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ pɛːŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ pẽ³³⁻²¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pĩ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ pɛːŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ pẽ³³⁻²¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pĩ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

misery loves company
misery loves company

in the same boat; fellow sufferers sympathise with each other; misery loves company


同病相憐

đồng bệnh tương liên
đồng bệnh tương liên#Vietnamese


ใครขายไข่ไก่

th-phrase

ใครขายไข่ไก่

ใครขายไข่ไก่ • (krai-kǎai-kài-gài)

A phrase for Thai language learners used to practice speaking Thai.


搖頭晃腦

ㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄤˋ ㄋㄠˇ

яотоухуаннао

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ nou̯¹³/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ nou̯¹³/

to wag one's head; to look pleased with oneself; assume an air of self-approbation/self-conceit


搖頭擺腦

ㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄋㄠˇ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ paːi̯³⁵ nou̯¹³/

/io²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁵³/

/io²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² pai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nãu⁵⁵⁴/

/io¹³⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁵³/

/io²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁵³/

/iɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ pai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁴¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ paːi̯³⁵ nou̯¹³/

/io²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁵³/

/io²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² pai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nãu⁵⁵⁴/

/io¹³⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁵³/

/io²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁵³/

/iɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ pai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nãu⁴¹/

搖頭晃腦 搖頭晃腦#Chinese

摇头晃脑 摇头晃脑#Chinese


原汁原味

ㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄩㄢˊ ㄨㄟˋ

юаньчжиюаньвэй

/ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

ㄩㄢˊ ㄓㄦ ㄩㄢˊ ㄨㄟˋㄦ

юаньчжирюаньвэйр

/ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ wəɻ⁵¹/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ wəɻ⁵¹/


黑口黑面

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ hɐk̚⁵ miːn²²/

/haːk̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ haːk̚⁵ miːn²²/

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ hɐk̚⁵ miːn²²/

/haːk̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ haːk̚⁵ miːn²²/

(Cantonese) to scowl; to look displeased; with a scowl


死……爛……

死講爛講

死讲烂讲

(Cantonese) persistently; insistently; doggedly


同……一個餅印

同……一个饼印
同……成個餅印
同……成個餅印噉

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ pɛːŋ³⁵ jɐn³³/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ pɛːŋ³⁵ jɐn³³/

nei⁵ tung⁴ nei⁵ daai⁶ lou² jat¹ go³ beng² jan³.

你同你大佬一個餅印。

你同你大佬一个饼印。

(Cantonese, referring to people) to look identical to; to closely resemble


bloody oath

(Commonwealth, UK, Ireland, colloquial) Most certainly; you bet; used to intensify an affirmative response.


死纏爛打

ㄙˇ ㄔㄢˊ ㄌㄢˋ ㄉㄚˇ

сычаньланьда

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ län⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ laːn²² taː³⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ län⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ laːn²² taː³⁵/

to persistently pursue one's love (despite multiple rejections); undeterred chasing; obsession


雅俗共賞

ㄧㄚˇ ㄙㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄤˇ

/jä²¹⁴⁻²¹ su³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː¹³ t͡sʊk̚² kʊŋ²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/jä²¹⁴⁻²¹ su³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaː¹³ t͡sʊk̚² kʊŋ²² sœːŋ³⁵/

to suit both scholars and laypeople; to appeal to all


生死離別

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ lei̯²¹ piːt̚²/

/sẽ³³⁻²³ li⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si⁵²⁻³⁵ piek̚⁴/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ lei̯²¹ piːt̚²/

/sẽ³³⁻²³ li⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si⁵²⁻³⁵ piek̚⁴/

a moment of death and passing; when life departs


there's no use

There's no use trying to tell him; he won't listen.

There's no use in complaining. It doesn't change anything.

There's no use crying over spilt milk.

(colloquial, usually with a following present participle or infinitive expression) Used to indicate that the specified action cannot succeed or offers no advantage if successful


what's the use

What's the use trying to tell him? He won't listen.

What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile.

(colloquial, often with a following present participle or infinitive expression) Used to indicate that a specified or implied action cannot succeed or offers no advantage if successful


it's no use

It's no use trying to push the car out of the ditch; the axle is broken.

It's no use to ask him; he doesn't really know.

-Metal Sonic: It’s no use… but why can’t I defeat you?
-Sonic: Because we’re…Sonic Heroes!

2003, Sonic Heroes, spoken by Metal Sonic (Ryan Drummond), Sega:


going once, going twice, sold

Said before closing the bidding for a particular item in an auction, giving other bidders a final opportunity to bid for it.

ensimmäisen, toisen ja kolmannen kerran

phrase said before closing the bidding for a particular item in an auction

először, másodszor – senki többet? –, harmadszor: elkelt!

dou-lhe uma, dou-lhe duas, dou-lhe três; vendido!


七除八扣

ㄑㄧ ㄔㄨˊ ㄅㄚ ㄎㄡˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ pä⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ paːt̚³ kʰɐu̯³³/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ tu²³⁻³³ pat̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau²¹/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ tu²⁴⁻¹¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau¹¹/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ tu²⁴⁻¹¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰau¹¹/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ tu²³⁻³³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kʰau²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ pä⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ paːt̚³ kʰɐu̯³³/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ tu²³⁻³³ pat̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau²¹/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ tu²⁴⁻¹¹ pat̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau¹¹/

(of prices, wages, etc.) to continuously reduce until little is left


so Gott will

The word so is used in the dated sense “if”.

In einem Jahr sind wir, so Gott will, schon verheiratet.

In a year, God willing, we’ll already be married.

God willing; used to indicate acceptance of God’s will when expressing an intention or hope, and particularly to avert misfortune


one could do it in one's sleep

Said of something that can be done very easily.


有情有義

ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/

/i̯u²⁴ t͡sʰin¹¹ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/u³³⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/

/i̯u²⁴ t͡sʰin¹¹ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/u³³⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

The bachelor is full of affection; the bar's hostess is full of coldness

ū-chêng-ū-gī cha̍p-it-ko; bô-chêng-bô-gī chiú-kan-á-só

有情有義十一哥；無情無義酒矸仔嫂

有情有义十一哥；无情无义酒矸仔嫂

having affection and faith; affectionate and just/righteous


花有重開日，人無再少年

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄎㄞ ㄖˋ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

faa¹ jau⁵ cung⁴ hoi¹ jat⁶, jan⁴ mou⁴ zoi³ siu³ nin⁴

хуа ю чун кай жи

жэнь у цзай шаонянь

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ u³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

fā yáuh chùhng hōi yaht, yàhn mòuh joi siu nìhn

faa¹ jau⁵ tsung⁴ hoi¹ jat⁹, jan⁴ mou⁴ dzoi³ siu³ nin⁴

fa¹ yeo⁵ cung⁴ hoi¹ yed⁶, yen⁴ mou⁴ zoi³ xiu³ nin⁴

/faː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚² jɐn²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³³ siːu̯³³ niːn²¹/

Typically attributed to Guan Hanqing (playwright and poet in the Yuan Dynasty).

A flower may blossom again, but a person cannot get young again.


von nichts kommt nichts

Literally, “nothing comes from nothing”.

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours


花裡胡哨

花里胡哨
花裏胡哨
花哩胡哨
花藜胡哨
花麗狐哨
花狸狐哨

ㄏㄨㄚ ˙ㄌㄧ ㄏㄨˊ ㄕㄠˋ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ li² xu³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ li² xu³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/


AKICIF

(fandom slang) Initialism of all knowledge is contained in fanzines (or fandom): a humorous allusion to the tendency of irrelevant topics to be discussed in venues ostensibly devoted to fandom.


願者上鉤

ㄩㄢˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄍㄡ

юань чжэ шангоу

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ koʊ̯⁵⁵/

ㄩㄢˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄍㄡㄦ

юаньчжэшангоур

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kɤʊ̯ɻʷ⁵⁵/

/jyːn²² t͡sɛː³⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ koʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kɤʊ̯ɻʷ⁵⁵/

/jyːn²² t͡sɛː³⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵/

姜太公釣魚——願者上鉤 姜太公釣魚——願者上鉤#Chinese

姜太公钓鱼——愿者上钩 姜太公钓鱼——愿者上钩#Chinese

One who/which wishes to take the bait is captured. See 姜太公釣魚——願者上鉤／姜太公钓鱼——愿者上钩 (Jiāngtàigōng diàoyú, yuàn zhě shànggōu).


千載一遇

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄗㄞˇ ㄧ ㄩˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ y⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ y⁵¹/


雲消霧散

ㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ

юньсяо’усань

/yn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ siːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²² saːn³³/

/yn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ siːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²² saːn³³/

clouds and mist disperse; clouds dispersed and the fog lifted; troubles have disappeared


添福添壽

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄈㄨˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄡˋ

тяньфутяньшоу

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² siu²²/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² siu²²/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ siu³³/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ siu³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² siu²²/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² siu²²/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ siu³³/

/tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ siu³³/

increase one's luck and lengthen one's life


士農工商

ㄕˋ ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄕㄤ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ nʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/siː²² nʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/sɨ⁵⁵ nuŋ¹¹ kuŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/su³³⁻²¹ lɔŋ²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻¹¹ lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻¹¹ lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻²¹ lɔŋ²³⁻³³ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ nʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/siː²² nʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/sɨ⁵⁵ nuŋ¹¹ kuŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/su³³⁻²¹ lɔŋ²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻¹¹ lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻¹¹ lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/su³³⁻²¹ lɔŋ²³⁻³³ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

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

Zhǐ jiàn jiēfāng shàng, shìnónggōngshāng, wénrén mòkè, yúfū súzǐ, qí háihái dōu dào: “Kàn pāoxiùqiú qù yě!”

只見街坊上，士農工商，文人墨客，愚夫俗子，齊咳咳都道：「看拋繡球去也！」

只见街坊上，士农工商，文人墨客，愚夫俗子，齐咳咳都道：「看抛绣球去也！」

There lives a very kind crowd, their faces all smiling. They each do their own duty, whether being a scholar, farmer, artisan or merchant. That is my homeland.

Tòa chi̍t tīn lâng chin-chiàⁿ siān-liông, bīn-siōng lóng tòa-tio̍h chhiò-iông, an-hūn-siú-kí, sū-lông-kang-siong, he chiū-sī góa ê kò͘-hiong.

住一陣人真正善良，面上攏帶著笑容，安份守己，士農工商，彼就是我的故鄉。

住一阵人真正善良，面上拢带着笑容，安份守己，士农工商，彼就是我的故乡。

Scholar, farmer, artisan or merchant, everyone is a hero.

2013, 許富凱, 人在做天在看

Sū-lông-kong-siong, jîn-jîn sī eng-hiông.

士農工商，人人是英雄。

2013, 許富凱, 人在做天在看

士农工商，人人是英雄。

the four occupations of ancient China: scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants


見信如面

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

цзяньсиньжумянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ sɵn³³ jyː²¹ miːn²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ sɵn³³ jyː²¹ miːn²²/

Seeing your letter is like seeing you in person; when reading your letter, I feel as if we are talking face to face. (used in the beginning of a letter)


見字如面

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

цзяньцзыжумянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ t͡siː²² jyː²¹ miːn²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ t͡siː²² jyː²¹ miːn²²/

Seeing the handwriting in your letter is like seeing you in person; When reading your letter, I feel as if we are talking face to face. (used in the beginning of a letter)


WAI

software engineering
software engineering

(software engineering) Acronym of works as intended; current situation is what was intended and thus not subject to change.


che fine ha fatto

Ho scoperto che fine ha fatto Luca, si è trasferito a Londra

I found out what happened to Luke, he moved to London

(idiomatic, informal) what happened to... (when talking about people you lost touch with)

Che fine ha fatto il mio ombrello?

(idiomatic, informal) where's...? (when looking for lost objects)


the natives are getting restless

the natives are restless
the natives are restless#English

Alternative form of the natives are restless


閂門大吉

/saːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

/saːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

(Cantonese, humorous) to close down a business; to stop operations


關門大吉

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄇㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄇㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ

гуаньмэньдацзи

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kuan⁵⁵ mən²¹ ta²¹³ t͡ɕi²¹/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kuan⁵⁵ mən²¹ ta²¹³ t͡ɕi²¹/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

Just months after the enactment of Australia's Spam Act of 2003, several of the country's larger spam outfits appear to have closed up shop.

2005, Brian McWilliams (translated by 陳建勳), 垃圾郵件諸王紀 (Spam Kings), page 228

Àozhōu “2003 Nián Lājī Yóujiàn Fǎ” shíshī hòu shù yuè, xiǎnrán yǐ ràng gāi guó hǎo jǐ jiā dàxíng lājī yóujiàn tuánduì guānméndàjí.

澳洲「2003年垃圾郵件法」實施後數月，顯然已讓該國好幾家大型垃圾郵件團隊關門大吉。

澳洲「2003年垃圾邮件法」实施后数月，显然已让该国好几家大型垃圾邮件团队关门大吉。

Workers could not be found for the sales of fried rice and annual repairs for the nuclear power plant due to the "one fixed day off and one flexible rest day policy", causing a large increase in expenses. The bustling shop even had to close down because of this.

2017 April 3, 中時快評：一例一休 百業皆休, in 中國時報 (China Times)

Mài chǎofàn hé hédiànchǎng suìxiū, dōu yīnwèi yīlìyīxiū ér zhǎo bùdào yuángōng, bìng dǎozhì chéngběn dàzēng, rénqì qiángqiánggǔn de míngdiàn shènzhì yīncǐ guānméndàjí.

賣炒飯和核電廠歲修，都因為一例一休而找不到員工，並導致成本大增，人氣強強滾的名店甚至因此關門大吉。

卖炒饭和核电厂岁修，都因为一例一休而找不到员工，并导致成本大增，人气强强滚的名店甚至因此关门大吉。

(ironic or humorous) to close down a business; to stop operations; to close for good


וואָס מאַכט איר

head

וואָס מאַכט איר?

וואָס מאַכט איר? • (vos makht ir?)

(formal, or to multiple people) how are you?


וואָס מאַכסטו

וואָס מאַכסטו?


the joke's on someone

Person #1: You must give me exactly half of the money you earned.

Person #2: The joke's on you! I earned exactly $0.00, so you get nothing, too!

Used to point out that someone tried to say something smart but it came out foolish.


هلا

ar-particle

هَلَّا • (hallā)


मैं तुम्हारी याद करता हूँ

hi-phrase

मैं तुम्हारी याद करता हूँ • (ma͠i tumhārī yād kartā hū̃)

ma͠i tumhārī yād kartā hū̃ (romanization)

en-मैं_तुम्हारी_याद_करता_हूँ-hi-phrase-TAj-5FDj


ό,τι κι αν

ó (romanization)
ti ki an (romanization)

ό,τι και να
ό,τι και να#Greek

Alternative form of ό,τι και να (ó,ti kai na)


ό,τι και να

ó (romanization)
ti kai na (romanization)

Ό,τί και να του πεις, αυτός δεν ταράζεται.

No matter what you tell him, he isn't shaken.

Ó,tí kai na tou peis, aftós den tarázetai.

Ό,τί και να γίνει, τουλάχιστον έχεις την οικογένειά σου.

Whatever happens, at least you've got your family.

Ó,tí kai na gínei, touláchiston écheis tin oikogéneiá sou.

no matter what, whatever, any (anything, regardless of who, how much, what, etc)


螃蟹心態

ㄆㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄊㄞˋ

пансе синьтай

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ tʰaːi̯³³/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ tʰaːi̯³³/


螃蟹心理

ㄆㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˇ

пансе синьли

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/


人心不古

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ

жэньсиньбугу

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³⁵/

the moral compass of modern man lags far behind that of the ancients; people are no longer simple and honest


if it's the last thing I do

I'll get into a good college, if it's the last thing I do!

At any cost; for certain; indicates the speaker is determined, resolute in doing something.


螃蟹精神

ㄆㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ

пансе цзиншэнь

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯¹³ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯¹³ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/


יש ל־ ג׳וק בראש

head

יש ל־ ג׳וק בראש

he-phrase

יש ל־ ג׳וק בראש

Literally "there is [= to have] a cockroach in one's head".

יש לו ג׳וק בראש.


כמו ג׳וקים מסוממים

head

כמו ג׳וקים מסוממים

כמו ג׳וקים מסוממים • (k'mó jukím mĕsumamím)

he-phrase

כמו ג׳וקים מסוממים

התבטאותו הבוטה של הרמטכ״ל המשורר, שאמר כי ”אם יקומו עוד 100 ישובים בין ירושלים לשכם יתרוצצו מיידי האבנים כמו ג׳וקים מסוממים בבקבוק“, עוררה התנצחות חריפה בינו לבין חבר הכנסת יוסי שריד, וגררה לזרם תגובות חריפות.

2014 April 24, יעל גרינפטר, “רפול והג׳וקים המסוממים”, in הארץ:

The callous remark by the chief-of-staff, who said that "if another 100 settlements were to be erected between Jerusalem and Shechem, [they] will immediately start throwing rocks, like stoned cockroaches in a bottle", caused a severe argument between him and Knesset member Yossi Sarid, and gave rise to a series of harsh reactions.

Hitbat'úto ha-boté shel haramatkál hamĕshorér, she-amár ki “im yakúmu od meá yishuvím bein Yerushaláyim l'Shĕkhém yitrotzetzú miyadí ha-avaním k'mó júkim mĕsumamím ba-bakbúk”, orerá hitnatzkhút kharifá beinú l'vein khavér haknéset Yóssi Saríd, v'garerá l'zérem t'guvót kharifót.

(idiomatic, colloquial) addleheaded and panic-stricken (at the same time)

en-כמו_ג׳וקים_מסוממים-he-phrase-LqLW2b2q


क्या हाल है

hi-phrase

क्या हाल है?

کْیا حال ہَے

क्या हाल है? • (kyā hāl hai?) (Urdu spelling کْیا حال ہَے)

kyā hāl hai? (romanization)
کْیا حال ہَے (Urdu)

/kjɑː ɦɑːl ɦɛː/

[kjäː‿ɦäːl‿ɦɛː]


tbqh

(text messaging) Initialism of to be quite honest.


वन्दे मातरम्

वन्दे मातरम् • (vande mātram) (Urdu spelling وندے ماترم)

vande mātram (romanization)
وندے ماترم (Urdu)

[ʋɐ̃n̪.d̪eː‿mäːt̪.ɾɐ̃m]

Learned borrowing from Sanskrit वन्दे मातरम् (vande mātaram), literally "I praise thee, mother".

lbor

वन्दे मातरम्

the motto of India, often used nationalistically

hi:वन्दे मातरम्


耽天望地

/taːm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²² tei̯²²/

/taːm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²² tei̯²²/


thuận buồm xuôi gió

[tʰwən˧˨ʔ ʔɓuəm˨˩ suəj˧˧ zɔ˧˦]

[tʰwəŋ˨˩ʔ ʔɓuəm˦˩ suj˧˧ jɔ˨˩˦]

[tʰ⁽ʷ⁾əŋ˨˩˨ ʔɓuəm˨˩ suj˧˧ jɔ˦˥]

Calque of Chinese 一帆風順／一帆风顺 (nhất phàm phong thuận)

cal

(literal) the sail gets smoothly carried away by the wind


never fight a land war in Asia

Attributed to various military leaders, including Bernard Montgomery, Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur, the quotation has existed in various forms since the Second World War. It was popularized when used by the character Vizzini in the 1987 movie The Princess Bride (after appearing in the 1973 novel The Princess Bride). Asia is far more heavily populated than Europe or North America, and while Western armies had technological advantages post-WWII, these could be overcome (as they were in Korea by the Chinese PLA and Vietnam by the PAVN) by sheer numbers.

Although Britain is one of the world's most lucrative markets, with retail sales of £286bn last year, expensive shop rents and world-class local competition have kept international groups at bay. Indeed, some analysts put the UK in the "never fight a land war in Asia" category due to the challenges posed by the market.

2010 October 1, Zoe Wood, “Retail therapy: foreign chains glimpse window of opportunity in UK market”, in The Guardian:

Apple’s mistake in instigating a patent war with Samsung is illustrative of a larger pattern involving large stockpiles of patents. “Never fight a land war in Asia” comes to mind.

2014 July 4, Evan Jensen, “The Patent Wars”, in Lexology:

"Well listen here, Walmart," wrote blogger Caroline Gallay, "you should heed the advice of Vizzini in The Princess Bride: Never fight a land war in Asia."

2016, Philip Kotler, François Maon, A Stakeholder Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility: Pressures, Conflicts, and Reconciliation, Routledge, →ISBN, page 50:

bite off more than you can chew
bite off more than you can chew

Don't bite off more than you can chew; don't start a fight that is too big to win.


執筆忘字

ㄓˊ ㄅㄧˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː²²/

to forget how to write Chinese characters; to suffer from character amnesia


two can play this game

two can play that game
two can play that game#English

Alternative form of two can play that game


don't tell me

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see don't, tell, me.

“Sorry. Excuse me. Am I very late?”
Henrietta shrugged. They had travelled the world together on commissions for the Morning Graphic. They had been in many scrapes but the irritation she felt with him never went away. She admonished him.
“Don't tell me. You've brought that damn Morgan Aero8 sports car with you, haven't you? You've been trying to park it, keeping me waiting.”

(idiomatic) Used to introduce a guess at a fact or situation, as if forestalling the other speaker's utterance.


ปลอดภัยไว้ก่อน

th-phrase

ปลอดภัยไว้ก่อน • (bplɔ̀ɔt-pai-wái-gɔ̀ɔn)

ปลอดภัย (bplɔ̀ɔt-pai) + ไว้ (wái) + ก่อน (gɔ̀ɔn)

th-l

ปลอดภัย (bplɔ̀ɔt-pai)

ก่อน (gɔ̀ɔn)


狗嘴裡吐不出象牙

狗嘴里吐不出象牙
狗嘴裏吐不出象牙

ㄍㄡˇ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄧㄚˊ

gau² zeoi² leoi⁵ tou³ bat¹ ceot¹ zoeng⁶ ngaa⁴

gǒu zuǐ lǐ tǔ bù chū xiàngyá [Phonetic:góuzuílǐtǔbùchūxiàngyá]

kou³ tsui³ li³ tʻu³ pu⁴ chʻu¹ hsiang⁴-ya²

гоу цзуй ли ту бу чу сянъя

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ jä³⁵/

gáu jéui léuih tou bāt chēut jeuhng ngàh

gau² dzoey² loey⁵ tou³ bat⁷ tsoet⁷ dzoeng⁶ ngaa⁴

geo² zêu² lêu⁵ tou³ bed¹ cêd¹ zêng⁶ nga⁴

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ lɵy̯¹³ tʰou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ²² ŋaː²¹/

(figurative) no fine or truthful speech is to be expected from the mouth of a bad person


fazer o quê

(rhetorical question) indicates that the speaker is passively accepting a situation that is at least a little unpleasant


data venia

Literally, “with pardon given” (in Latin), from Latin datā veniā, an ablative absolute construction.

(formal) I beg to differ (said before politely disagreeing with someone else)


osb.

og so bortetter
og so bortetter#Norwegian_Nynorsk

and so on; Abbreviation of og so bortetter.


བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས

head

བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས

བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས • (bkra shis bde legs)

zh-l

扎西德勒 (zhāxīdélè)

Chinese: 扎西德勒 (zhāxīdélè)

/ʈ͡ʂə˥˥.ɕi˥˨.te˩˨.le˥˨/

བཀྲ་ཤིས (bkra shis, “good fortune, benediction”) + བདེ་ལེགས (bde legs, “bliss and happiness”)

compound

tashi delek, a Tibetan all-purpose greeting with the meaning of "blessings and good luck".


明天見

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

минтянь цзянь

/miŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

/miŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³/


豬頭三牲

ㄓㄨ ㄊㄡˊ ㄙㄢ ㄕㄥ

чжутоусаньшэн

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

This idiom arose from 豬頭／猪头 (zhūtóu, “pig head”).
In Wu it is reinterpreted as a xiehouyu: 豬頭三──牲, i.e. "A 豬頭三 is an animal/a beast/an idiot".

Referring to animals (bull, sheep and pig) used in sacrifice, or sacrificial offering in general.


有去無回

ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄩˋ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/


新仇舊恨

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄣˋ

синьчоуцзюхэнь

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯²² hɐn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯²² hɐn²²/

"new enmity [and] old hatred": deep hatred


let's be having you

This went on for a while, until one morning I came in about five to eight, not quite due on the shop floor yet, and I stopped outside the tearoom, put on my best Smiler voice: 'Right, lads, come on, let's be having you, let's have you on shop floor now, lads, come on, stop messing around in there with tea, come on, let's be having you.'

2009, Russell Watson, Finding My Voice, →ISBN, page 68:

You've just been volunteered, friend, so let's be having you.

2011, D.G. Compton, Justice City, →ISBN:

Draping a cloak round his crooked figure, he leaned on his cane and shuffled awkwardly to the door. 'Let's be having you!' he grumbled, impatiently donning his top hat. 'Or have you forgot we've a sale to attend?'

2012, Josephine Cox, Don't Cry Alone, →ISBN:

(UK, idiomatic) Expression to encourage someone to hurry up and move somewhere.


刻骨銘心

ja-r

ほね に きざみ、きも に めいずる

→ Japanese: 骨(ほね)に刻(きざ)み、肝(きも)に銘(めい)ずる (hone ni kizami, kimo ni meizuru) (calque)

carved on one's bones and engraved in one's heart

ㄎㄜˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/


拋出磚去，引回玉來

ㄆㄠ ㄔㄨ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄑㄩˋ

ㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄩˋ ㄌㄞˊ

paau¹ ceot¹ zyun¹ heoi³, jan⁵ wui⁴ juk⁶ loi⁴

паочучжуаньцюй

иньхуэйюйлай

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

pāau chēut jyūn heui, yáhn wùih yuhk lòih

paau¹ tsoet⁷ dzyn¹ hoey³, jan⁵ wui⁴ juk⁹ loi⁴

pao¹ cêd¹ jun¹ hêu³, yen⁵ wui⁴ yug⁶ loi⁴

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³ jɐn¹³ wuːi̯²¹ jʊk̚² lɔːi̯²¹/

拋磚引玉 拋磚引玉#Chinese

抛砖引玉 抛砖引玉#Chinese

Alternative form of 拋磚引玉／抛砖引玉 (pāozhuānyǐnyù)


十八般武藝

ㄕˊ ㄅㄚ ㄅㄢ ㄨˇ ㄧˋ

шиба бань уи

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ puːn⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ ŋɐi̯²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ puːn⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ ŋɐi̯²²/

skill in wielding the 18 kinds of weapons; skill in various types of combat


where do I sign up

(rhetorical question) Expresses interest in doing something.


ביז הונדערט און צוואַנציק

head

ביז הונדערט און צוואַנציק • (biz hundert un tsvantsik)

Literally "until 120", the age at which Moses died in the Jewish tradition.

(idiomatic) to a very old age (often used as a toast to a person on their birthday, or as a general wish of good health)

en-ביז_הונדערט_און_צוואַנציק-yi-phrase-IAm-kiap


噬起棚牙

/sɐi̯²² hei̯³⁵ pʰaːŋ²¹ ŋaː²¹/

/sɐi̯²² hei̯³⁵ pʰaːŋ²¹ ŋaː²¹/

(Cantonese) to put on a false smile; skin-deep smile; smile hypocritically


各就各位

everyone goes to everyone's seat/position

ㄍㄜˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄍㄜˋ ㄨㄟˋ

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³ wɐi̯²²/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐu̯²² kɔːk̚³ wɐi̯²²/

each person performs their respective role or goes to their own place

各就各位，預備，跑！

各就各位，预备，跑！


頂你個肺

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄈㄟˋ

дин ни гэ фэй

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ nei̯¹³ kɔː³³ fɐi̯³³/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ nei̯¹³ kɔː³³ fɐi̯³³/

Perhaps alteration of 屌你個閪 (diu² nei⁵ go³ hai¹, “fuck your cunt”).

zh-l

(chiefly Cantonese, vulgar) go fuck yourself; fuck you; screw you


日日如是

ㄖˋ ㄖˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jyː²¹ siː²²/

/ᵑɡit̚³² ᵑɡit̚³² ᵑɡui²² si³²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jyː²¹ siː²²/

/ᵑɡit̚³² ᵑɡit̚³² ᵑɡui²² si³²/


would it kill someone

Would it kill you to pay more attention in lectures?

(rhetorical question) Indicates the speaker is annoyed that someone is not doing something they should do.


päin prinkkalaa

Derived from Prinkkala, a manor in SW Finland, where things allegedly once went awfully wrong.

Kaikki meni päin prinkkalaa.


草蜢弄雞公

/t͡sʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ mẽ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ laŋ³³⁻²¹ ke⁴⁴⁻³³ kaŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mẽ(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ laŋ³³⁻¹¹ kue⁴⁴⁻³³ kaŋ⁴⁴/

(Southern Min) The grasshopper messing with the rooster; to overestimate one's capabilities; to seek one's demise


草蜢撩雞公——自尋死路

/t͡sʰo³¹ maŋ³¹ li̯au̯¹¹ ki̯e²⁴⁻¹¹ kuŋ²⁴ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰim¹¹ si³¹ lu⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰo³¹ maŋ¹¹ li̯au̯¹¹ ki̯e²⁴⁻¹¹ kuŋ²⁴ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰim¹¹ si³¹ lu⁵⁵/

(Hakka) The grasshopper messing with the rooster; to overestimate one's capabilities; to seek one's demise


自不量力

ㄗˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²² lɪk̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²² lɪk̚²/

to overestimate one's capabilities; to not know one's own limitations; to be overconfident


you call this

You call this a party?

(rhetorical question, informal) Used to indicate that something is unsatisfactory, inadequate, substandard.


不自量力

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² lœːŋ²² lɪk̚²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² lœːŋ²² lɪk̚²/

自不量力 自不量力#Chinese


may God be my witness

May God be my witness, I shall never disappoint you again!

Used to introduce a serious, solemn statement.


攞苦嚟辛

/lɔː³⁵ fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/lɔː³⁵ fuː³⁵ lɐi̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/lɔː³⁵ fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/lɔː³⁵ fuː³⁵ lɐi̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

Built on 辛苦 (san¹ fu², “laborious; hard; miserable; exhausting”).

make a rod for one's own back
make a rod for one's own back

(Cantonese) to ask for trouble; to make a rod for one's own back


緣木求魚

ㄩㄢˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄩˊ

/ɥɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ mʊk̚² kʰɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹/

/iɛn²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/iɛn²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²³⁻³³ hi²³/

/iɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻¹¹ hu²⁴/

/ɥɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ mʊk̚² kʰɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹/

/iɛn²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/iɛn²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²³⁻³³ hi²³/

/iɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kiu²⁴⁻¹¹ hu²⁴/

"It is even worse," was the reply. "If you climb a tree to seek for fish, although you do not get the fish, you will not suffer any subsequent calamity. But doing what you do to seek for what you desire, doing it moreover with all your heart, you will assuredly afterwards meet with calamities."

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

Yuē: “Dài yǒu shèn yān. Yuán mù qiú yú, suī bùdé yú, wú hòu zāi. Yǐ ruò suǒ wéi, qiú ruò suǒ yù, jìn xīnlì ér wéi zhī, hòu bì yǒu zāi.”

曰：「殆有甚焉。緣木求魚，雖不得魚，無後災。以若所為，求若所欲，盡心力而為之，後必有災。」

曰：「殆有甚焉。缘木求鱼，虽不得鱼，无后灾。以若所为，求若所欲，尽心力而为之，后必有灾。」

to pursue an end by impossible or unjustifiable means


งูกินหนูจนงูงงงวย

th-phrase

งูกินหนูจนงูงงงวย

งูกินหนูจนงูงงงวย • (nguu gin nǔu jon nguu ngong-nguai)

nguu gin nǔu jon nguu ngong-nguai (romanization)

/ŋuː˧.kin˧.nuː˩˩˦.t͡ɕon˧.ŋuː˧.ŋoŋ˧.ŋua̯j˧/

Literally, "a snake eats rats until it gets confused"

A phrase for Thai language learners used to practice speaking Thai.


welcome to my world

A: This job is too tough; I don't think I can do it!

B: Welcome to my world! I've been doing it for three years now.

(idiomatic, colloquial) Indicates that the speaker is very experienced with a (usually unpleasant) situation that is new to the interlocutor.


tell you what

Ellipsis of I'll tell you what or I tell you what.

(colloquial) Introduces a compromise or arrangement where the interlocutor has some benefit or advantage.


吳儂軟語

ㄨˊ ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄢˇ ㄩˇ

/u³⁵ nʊŋ³⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍²¹ nʊŋ²¹ jyːn¹³ jyː¹³/

/ɦu²² noŋ⁴⁴ n̠ʲyø²² n̠ʲy⁴⁴/

/ɦəu²² noŋ³³ ŋø⁴⁴ n̠ʲy/

/u³⁵ nʊŋ³⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍²¹ nʊŋ²¹ jyːn¹³ jyː¹³/

/ɦu²² noŋ⁴⁴ n̠ʲyø²² n̠ʲy⁴⁴/

/ɦəu²² noŋ³³ ŋø⁴⁴ n̠ʲy/

The soft speech of the Wu people in the Jiangnan region, especially Suzhou.

The soft and exquisite voice of someone.


一目十行

ja-r

いち%もく%じゅう%ぎょう

CJKV/code

いち%もく%じゅう%ぎょう

Sino-Xenic (一目十行):
* → Japanese: 一(いち)目(もく)十(じゅう)行(ぎょう) (ichimokujūgyō)

CJKV

いち%もく%じゅう%ぎょう

ㄧ ㄇㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄤˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːŋ²¹/

to be able to read ten lines at a glance; to read very quickly


仁心仁術

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨˋ

жэньсиньжэньшу

žɛnʹsinʹžɛnʹšu

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ sɵt̚²/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ sɵt̚²/

(said of a doctor) with both a benevolent mind and benevolent acts; benevolent heart and skillful execution


五臟六腑

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (五臟六腑):
* → Japanese: 五(ご)臓(ぞう)六(ろっ)腑(ぷ) (gozō roppu)
* → Korean: 오장육부(五臟六腑) (ojang'yukbu)
* → Vietnamese: ngũ tạng lục phủ (五臟六腑)

ㄨˇ ㄗㄤˋ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄈㄨˇ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sɔːŋ²² lʊk̚² fuː³⁵/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ³³⁻²¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² hu⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² hu⁵³/

/ŋou³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡saŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ lak̚⁴⁻² hu⁵²/

/ŋ̍²² zɑ̃⁵⁵ loʔ³³ fu²¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sɔːŋ²² lʊk̚² fuː³⁵/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ³³⁻²¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² hu⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² hu⁵³/

/ŋou³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡saŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ lak̚⁴⁻² hu⁵²/

/ŋ̍²² zɑ̃⁵⁵ loʔ³³ fu²¹/

The idea that the human body contains five zang organs and six fu organs is first attested in Lüshi Chunqiu.

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

Fán rén sān bǎi liùshí jié, jiǔ qiào, wǔ zàng, liù fǔ.

凡人三百六十節，九竅、五藏、六府。

凡人三百六十节，九窍、五藏、六府。

The five solid organs and six hollow organs; the internal organs


written in someone's face

written all over someone's face
written all over someone's face#English

Alternative form of written all over someone's face


PEBCAC

(humorous) Problem Exists Between Chair And Computer. Used by technical support helpdesk staff to indicate that the problem with a user’s computer or experience is due to user error.


would it hurt

Would it hurt to say "please" once in a while?

(rhetorical question) Used to point out that the interlocutor is failing to do something relatively easy that they should be doing.


just you wait

Indicates that something unpleasant is going to happen to the interlocutor, and the speaker is glad about it, as in vengeance or punishment.

odotas vain

or (colloquial) vain -> vaan in any of these


нашол па зашол

head

нашол па зашол • (našol pa zašol)

[ˈnaʃɔɫ pa ˈzaʃɔɫ]

An expression which acknowledges someone's obstinate persistence in going through with something once he's set his mind on it.


one's elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor

one's elevator doesn't go to the top floor

(US, humorous) Used as an indirect way to say that someone is mentally deficient.

(humorous) Used as an indirect way to say that someone is crazy.


would you mind putting on your seat belt?

Politely asks someone in a vehicle to put on their seat belt.

請繫上安全帶好嗎？

importaríache poñer o teu cinto de seguridade?

legyen szíves, kapcsolja be a biztonsági övet

você poderia colocar o cinto de segurança?

¿le importaría abrocharse el cinturón de seguridad?


how much do I owe you

Asking how much money is to be paid for products or services.


批孔揚秦

ㄆㄧ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

пи Кун ян Цинь

/pʰi⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/pʰi⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

Anti-Confucius Campaign
w:Criticize Lin, Criticize Confucius

Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution#English

criticise Confucius and honour the Emperor Qin Shihuang (and hence the "burning of books and burying of scholars" incident) (a reference to the Anti-Confucius Campaign during the Cultural Revolution)


焚書坑儒

ㄈㄣˊ ㄕㄨ ㄎㄥ ㄖㄨˊ

/fən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/fɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵ haːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹/

/uŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ kʰẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵/

/fən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/fɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵ haːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹/

/uŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ kʰẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵/

"burning of books and burying of scholars" (anti-intellectual event during Qin dynasty)


lang may yer lum reek

/ˈlæŋ meɪ jə ˌlʌm ˈɹiːk/

PIE word
 *dlongʰos
Borrowed from Scots lang may yer (or your) lum reek (expression of good wishes for one’s prosperity, literally “long may your chimney smoke”): from lang (“long”), lum (“chimney”), and reek (“of a chimney: to emit smoke”).

bor

The B[ritish] P[rinter] is much appreciated in our office. It is regarded as indispensable, and is beyond doubt the best Trade Journal. Lang may your lum reek.

1895 March–April, Andrew Craighead, “‘Lang May Your Lum Reek’”, in The British Printer, volume VIII, number 44, London: Raithby, Lawrence & Co. […], →OCLC, page 117:

If he will only see that Protestantism is protected, my daily prayer shall be, "Lang may your lum reek," a prayer which warms and gladdens every Scottish heart.

1896, Joseph Parker, “Note XXIX. [Concerning ‘Bits’.]”, in Might Have Been: Some Life Notes, New York, N.Y.: Frederick A[bbott] Stokes Company, →OCLC, page 187:

Lang may your lum reek and your kalipot boil!

1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 14: Oxen of the Sun]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 404:

And as they say—lang may yer lum reek!

1998, Alan Grant, Batman: Scottish Connection, London: Titan Books, →ISBN, page 47:

'And lang may yer lum reek on other folk's coal,' Jock reciprocated.

2005, Peter Kerr, From Paella to Porridge: A Farewell to Mallorca and a Scottish Adventure, Chichester, West Sussex: Summersdale Publishers, →ISBN:

In the event I don't see you again before you leave Glory—well, you know, cheerio, cheery-bye and lang may yer lum reek!

2008, Ron Benrey, Janet Benrey, chapter 14, in Season of Glory (Love Inspired Suspense), New York, N.Y.: Steeple Hill Books, →ISBN, page 155:

‘Lang may your lum reek,’ called Fingal as his guest drifted out of sight. […] ‘Lang may your lum what?’ Ben murmured to himself. Just catching the question, Alec whispered – ‘reek. Lang may your lum reek. Long may your chimney smoke. That’s what. Long may you live, you see.’

2012 May 2, Will Riding, chapter 9, in Flight of the Yellow Bowler, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 126:

"A'll see y Monday next, then," Grinning Hottie says, giving Angus one of those Macho Man half hugs with the bruising back slap. "Lang may yer lum reek." Angus laughs, slaps Grinning Hottie on the back, and repeats the salutation. He says it so fast, though, that it almost sounds like, "Long may your bum reek."

2015, Leah Marie Brown, Finding It (An It Girl Novel), New York, N.Y.: Lyrical Press, Kensington Publishing Corp., →ISBN:

wish someone well
wish someone well#English

(Scotland) Used to wish someone well, especially as a drinking toast or a farewell.


ACAB

(derogatory) Acronym of all cops are bastards: an anti-police slogan protesting against police behaviour, often used in graffiti, tattoos, and other imagery.


சௌக்கியமா

/t͡ɕɐʊ̯kːɪjɐmaː/

[sɐʊ̯kːɪjɐmaː]

From சௌக்கியம் (caukkiyam) + ஆ (ā). The first term comes from Sanskrit सौख्य (saukhya), the vrddhi derivative of सुख (sukha) with a -य (-ya) extension.


來之不易

ㄌㄞˊ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

這個勝利來之不易啊。

这个胜利来之不易啊。

to not come easily; to be hard-won or hard-earned


滄海一粟

ㄘㄤ ㄏㄞˇ ㄧ ㄙㄨˋ

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

From Su Shi's Former Ode on the Red Cliffs:
:
In some versions of the original text, 浮海 (fú hǎi, “floating in the ocean”) is written as 滄海／沧海 (cānghǎi, “large ocean”).

We are like mayflies wandering in this terrestrial world or a grain of millet drifting on a deep ocean.

Jì fúyóu yú tiāndì, miǎo fú hǎi zhī yī sù.

寄蜉蝣於天地，渺浮海之一粟。

寄蜉蝣于天地，渺浮海之一粟。


nėr už ką

(informal) Alternative form of nėra už ką


卓有成效

ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ haːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ haːu̯²²/

with outstanding results; highly effective; fruitful


先發制人

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄚ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ

сяньфачжижэнь

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sɐi̯³³ jɐn²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sɐi̯³³ jɐn²¹/

to take the initiative to subdue the enemy; to take preemptive measures


因地制宜

ㄧㄣ ㄉㄧˋ ㄓˋ ㄧˊ

/in⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ tei̯²² t͡sɐi̯³³ jiː²¹/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ ti¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵⁵/

/in⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ tei̯²² t͡sɐi̯³³ jiː²¹/

/iŋ³³⁻²³ ti¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵⁵/

to formulate strategies according to local conditions


自力更生

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (自力更生):
* → Korean: 자력갱생(自力更生) (jaryeokgaengsaeng)
* → Vietnamese: tự lực cánh sinh (自力更生)

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄥ ㄕㄥ

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄥˋ ㄕㄥ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɪk̚² kɐŋ⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

to rely on one's own efforts; to become self-reliant


內柔外剛

ㄋㄟˋ ㄖㄡˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄍㄤ

нэйжоувайган

/neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² kɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² kɔːŋ⁵⁵/

appearing tough on the outside but actually being weak-willed or gentle


得道多助

ㄉㄜˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨˋ

/tɤ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ tou̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/tɤ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ tou̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

He who finds the proper course has many to assist him. He who loses the proper course has few to assist him. When this - the being assisted by few - reaches its extreme point, his own relations revolt from the prince. When the being assisted by many reaches its highest point, the whole kingdom becomes obedient to the prince.

Dédào zhě duōzhù, shīdào zhě guǎzhù. Guǎzhù zhī zhì, qīnqī pàn zhī; duōzhù zhī zhì, tiānxià shùn zhī.

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，親戚畔之；多助之至，天下順之。

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔之；多助之至，天下顺之。


失道寡助

ㄕ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄓㄨˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，親戚畔之；多助之至，天下順之。

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔之；多助之至，天下顺之。

Fourthly and lastly, there is broad international support for China stemming from the progressive and just character of her war, which is again exactly the reverse of the meagre support for Japan's unjust cause.

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

Zuìhòu, dìsì, yóuyú Zhōngguó zhànzhēng de jìnbùxìng, zhèngyìxìng ér chǎnshēng chūlái de guójì guǎngdà yuánzhù, tóng Rìběn de shīdàoguǎzhù yòu qiàqià xiàngfǎn.

最後，第四，由於中國戰爭的進步性、正義性而產生出來的國際廣大援助，同日本的失道寡助又恰恰相反。

最后，第四，由于中国战争的进步性、正义性而产生出来的国际广大援助，同日本的失道寡助又恰恰相反。

An unjust cause attracts little support.


det er gresk for meg

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


ни лук јал, ни лук мирисал

head

ни лук јал, ни лук мирисал

ни лук јал, ни лук мирисал • (ni luk jal, ni luk mirisal)

ni luk jal (romanization)
ni luk mirisal (romanization)

(idiomatic) An expression which derisively denies someone's purported innocence (semi-literally "not only has he not eaten the garlic, he hasn't even smelled it").

en-ни_лук_јал,_ни_лук_мирисал-mk-phrase-pmjHFNbV


夜郎自大

ㄧㄝˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

/jɛ⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/jɛː²² lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

/jɛ⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/jɛː²² lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

Based on a passage in Records of the Grand Historian

The King of Dian, while talking to the Han envoys, asked: "The Han (state) and mine, which is larger?" The Yelang lord did so too. As the roads (between their principalities and China) were not open, so each, deeming himself the ruler of a principality, did not know how large and vast the Han (empire) was.

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

Diānwáng yǔ Hàn shǐzhě yán yuē: “Hàn yǔ wǒ shú dà?” Jí Yèlánghóu yì rán. Yǐ dào bù tōng, gù gè zì yǐwéi yī zhōu zhǔ, bù zhī Hàn guǎngdà.

滇王與漢使者言曰：「漢與我孰大？」及夜郎侯亦然。以道不通，故各自以為一州主，不知漢廣大。

滇王与汉使者言曰：「汉与我孰大？」及夜郎侯亦然。以道不通，故各自以为一州主，不知汉广大。

to be ignorant and arrogant; to be self-deluded

Dian Kingdom
Records of the Grand Historian
Yelang


天經地義

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² jiː²²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ keŋ³³ ti¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² jiː²²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³⁻¹¹ ɡi³³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ keŋ³³ ti¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

From an aphorism posthumously attributed to Zichan (子產) by You Ji (aka. Zitaishu, 子大叔) as recorded in the Zuozhuan.

Propriety, it is the unchanging ways of heaven, the just ways of earth, and the rightful path of every human being.

Fú lǐ, tiān zhī jīng yě, dì zhī yì yě, mín zhī xìng yě.

夫禮，天之經也，地之義也，民之行也。

夫礼，天之经也，地之义也，民之行也。

It is a matter of course to pay debts when one owes money.

欠債還錢，天經地義

欠债还钱，天经地义

conforming to the traditional Chinese notion of the rules of heaven and the principles of Earth; that which is taken as a matter of course; proper practice or convention; time-honoured principle


翻天覆地

ㄈㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄧˋ

фаньтяньфуди

/fän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/faːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ tei̯²²/

/fän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/faːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ tei̯²²/


after all is said and done

After all's said and done
One and one still is one
When we cry, when we laugh
I am half, you are half

1996, Robert Miles (lyrics and music), “One and One”, performed by Maria Nayler:

when all is said and done
when all is said and done#English

Alternative form of when all is said and done


孤軍奮鬥

ㄍㄨ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄈㄣˋ ㄉㄡˋ

гуцзюньфэньдоу

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ tɐu̯³³/

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ tɐu̯³³/

孤軍奮戰 孤軍奮戰#Chinese

孤军奋战 孤军奋战#Chinese

Alternative form of 孤軍奮戰／孤军奋战 (gūjūnfènzhàn)


黯然失色

ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄕ ㄙㄜˋ

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

to lose lustre in comparison; to be outshone; to be eclipsed; to be overshadowed


樂不思蜀

ㄌㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙ ㄕㄨˇ

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚²/

/lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚²/

From Sanguozhi, said by Liu Shan when he was living in Cao Wei after the collapse of Shu Han

Another day, the prince (Sima Zhao) asked Liu Shan, “Do you still miss Shu very much?” Liu Shan replied, “I enjoy life here and don't miss Shu at all.”

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

Tārì, wáng wèn Shàn yuē: “Pō sī Shǔ fǒu?” Shàn yuē: “Cǐjiān lè, bùsī Shǔ.”

他日，王問禪曰：「頗思蜀否？」禪曰：「此間樂，不思蜀。」

他日，王问禅曰：「颇思蜀否？」禅曰：「此间乐，不思蜀。」

(derogatory) to have so much fun that one forgets one's origins, or that one has to return; to indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty; to be too happy to be homesick

Cao Wei
Liu Shan
Sanguozhi
Shu Han
Sima Zhao


孤軍奮戰

ㄍㄨ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄈㄣˋ ㄓㄢˋ

гуцзюньфэньчжань

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ t͡siːn³³/

/ku⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fɐn¹³ t͡siːn³³/

lone army putting up a brave fight; fighting alone without help; struggling hard without support


顯而易見

ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

сяньэрицзянь

/ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hiːn³⁵ jiː²¹ jiː²² kiːn³³/

/hiɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/hiɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ ĩ³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hiːn³⁵ jiː²¹ jiː²² kiːn³³/

/hiɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/hiɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ ĩ³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/


I spy with my little eye

The phrase used in the guessing game I spy.


所作所為

ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˊ

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/


精衛填海

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄞˇ

цзинвэйтяньхай

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² tʰiːn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² tʰiːn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/


出人意料

ㄔㄨ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³ liːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³ liːu̯²²/

to exceed people's expectations; to be unexpected; to be surprising


一葉知秋

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/


舉足輕重

ㄐㄩˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

цзюйцзуцинчжун

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/


do you have Wi-Fi

Asks if there is any available Wi-Fi connection.


仁者見仁，智者見智

ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄓˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓˋ

жэньчжэ цзянь жэнь

чжичжэ цзянь чжи

žɛnʹčžɛ czjanʹ žɛnʹ

čžičžɛ czjanʹ čži

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

jan⁴ dze² gin³ jan⁴, dzi³ dze² gin³ dzi³

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ t͡siː³³ t͡sɛː³⁵ kiːn³³ t͡siː³³/

Rén zhě jiàn zhī wèi zhī rén, zhì zhě jiàn zhī wèi zhī zhì.

仁者見之謂之仁，知者見之謂之知。

仁者见之谓之仁，知者见之谓之知。

The benevolent person sees benevolence, the wise person sees wisdom

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

different people have different views; opinions differ; there's no accounting for taste


I can't find my ...

I can't find my baggage!

ma ei leia oma ... (object in the partitive case; e.g. "kohvrit" - "luggage")

en löydä ...-ni (object in partitive case; e.g. "passiani" - "my passport")

ខ្ញុំមិនអាចរកឃើញ ... របស់ខ្ញុំទេ

khñom mɨn ʼaac rɔɔk khəəñ ... rɔbɑh khñom tei


史無前例

ㄕˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹/

/siː³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ lɐi̯²²/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹/

/siː³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ lɐi̯²²/


甘井先竭

desc

→ Japanese: 甘井先ず竭く (kansei mazu tsuku) (calque)

ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ганьцзинсяньцзе

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

highly-skilled men are the first to be exhausted


what is the Wi-Fi password

와이파이 비밀번호가 무엇인가요? 와이파이 비밀번호가 어떻게 되나요? 와이파이 비밀번호 뭐에요?


selvä kuin pläkki

(figuratively) clear as a bell (of an issue, totally clear)


行之有效

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ haːu̯²²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ haːu̯²²/


古色古香

ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤ

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kuː³⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kou⁵²⁻³⁵ sek̚²⁻⁴ kou⁵²⁻³⁵ hiaŋ³³/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kuː³⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kou⁵²⁻³⁵ sek̚²⁻⁴ kou⁵²⁻³⁵ hiaŋ³³/


赳赳武夫

ㄐㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄨˇ ㄈㄨ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

/tɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

/tɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ fuː⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 7 (《詩經·周南·兔罝》)

lang

(《詩經·周南·兔罝》)

(《詩經·周南·兔罝》)

Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets; Clang clang go the blows on the pegs.
That stalwart, martial man, Might be shield and wall to his prince.

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

Sùsù tùjū, zhuó zhī zhēngzhēng.
Jiūjiū wǔfū, gōnghóu gānchéng.

肅肅兔罝，椓之丁丁。
赳赳武夫，公侯干城。

肃肃兔罝，椓之丁丁。
赳赳武夫，公侯干城。

having the qualities of a strong and valiant warrior


夙興夜寐

ㄙㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄧㄝˋ ㄇㄟˋ

/su⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɛː²² mei̯²²/

/su⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɛː²² mei̯²²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 58 (《詩經·衞風·氓》)

For three years I was your wife, And thought nothing of my toil in your house.
I rose early and went to sleep late, Not intermitting my labours for a morning.

Sān suì wéi fù, mǐ shì láo yǐ.
Sù xīng yè mèi, mǐ yǒu zhāo yǐ.

三歲為婦，靡室勞矣。
夙興夜寐，靡有朝矣。

三岁为妇，靡室劳矣。
夙兴夜寐，靡有朝矣。

@[…] Weren’t there programmers working hard all day long, China’s Internet industries would never “overtake on the bend”, evolving into billions-valued enterprises one after one. @[…]

2019 April 29, 仲青平 (Zhong Qingping), 《向所有奋斗中的劳动者致敬》, in China Youth Daily, page 1

[…] méiyǒu sùxìngyèmèi de chéngxùyuán, zhōngguó hùliánwǎng chǎnyè wúfǎ shíxiàn “wāndào chāochē”, chéngjiù yīge yòu yīge gūzhí guò yì de qǐyè; […]

[…]沒有夙興夜寐的程序員，中國互聯網產業無法實現「彎道超車」，成就一個又一個估值過億的企業；[…]

[…]没有夙兴夜寐的程序员，中国互联网产业无法实现「弯道超车」，成就一个又一个估值过亿的企业；[…]

burn the candle at both ends
burn the candle at both ends

to work hard night and day; to burn the candle at both ends


相提並論

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄊㄧˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

сянтибинлунь

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ pɪŋ²² lɵn²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²²⁻²¹ lun²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ lun²²/

/siaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ peŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ luŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ pɪŋ²² lɵn²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²²⁻²¹ lun²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²³⁻³³ piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ lun³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰe²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ lun³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰe²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ lun²²/

/siaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ peŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ luŋ³⁵/

This, too, may be called a "policy of benevolence" if you like, but it is imposed by us on the members of the enemy classes and cannot be mentioned in the same breath with the work of self-education which we carry on within the ranks of the revolutionary people.

1949, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論人民民主專政》 (On the People's Democratic Dictatorship). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Zhè yě kěyǐ shuō shì “shī rénzhèng” ba, dàn zhè shì wǒmen duìyú yuánlái shì díduì jiējí de rénmen suǒ qiángpò de shīxíng de, hé wǒmen duìyú gémìng rénmín nèibù de zìwǒ jiàoyù gōngzuò, bù néng xiāngtíbìnglùn.

這也可以說是「施仁政」吧，但這是我們對於原來是敵對階級的人們所強迫地施行的，和我們對於革命人民內部的自我教育工作，不能相提並論。

这也可以说是「施仁政」吧，但这是我们对于原来是敌对阶级的人们所强迫地施行的，和我们对于革命人民内部的自我教育工作，不能相提并论。

to discuss two very different things at the same time; to mention different things on equal terms


मैं ईसाई हूँ

hi-phrase

मैं ईसाई हूँ • (ma͠i īsāī hū̃)


από εδώ και στο εξής

head

από εδώ και στο εξής • (apó edó kai sto exís)

en-από_εδώ_και_στο_εξής-el-phrase-3a6J-aZ0


名符其實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

名副其實 名副其實#Chinese

名副其实 名副其实#Chinese

Alternative form of 名副其實／名副其实 (míngfùqíshí)


軒然大波

ㄒㄩㄢ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄛ

сюаньжаньдабо

/ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² pɔː⁵⁵/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ pʰo⁴⁴/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ pʰɤ⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² pɔː⁵⁵/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ pʰo⁴⁴/

/hiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ pʰɤ⁴⁴/


十面埋伏

ㄕˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄞˊ ㄈㄨˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ maɪ̯³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐp̚² miːn²² maːi̯²¹ fʊk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ maɪ̯³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐp̚² miːn²² maːi̯²¹ fʊk̚²/


不約而同

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩㄝ ㄦˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ tɔŋ²³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴/

/pu⁵¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ tɔŋ²³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴/

As soon as the teacher entered the classroom, the students coincidentally all quieted down at once.

Lǎoshī yī zǒujìn jiàoshī, tóngxué men jiù bùyuē'értóng ānjìng xiàlái.

老師一走進教師，同學們就不約而同安靜下來。

老师一走进教师，同学们就不约而同安静下来。

to happen to coincide; to take the same view or action without previous consultation

(neologism, slang, humorous) to become gay or lesbian after a long period without dating


有目共睹

ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄨˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² tou̯³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² tou̯³⁵/


源源不斷

ㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

юаньюаньбудуань

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tuaŋ³⁵/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tuaŋ³⁵/


今非昔比

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ ㄒㄧ ㄅㄧˇ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ ㄒㄧˊ ㄅㄧˇ

цзиньфэйсиби

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/

the present cannot compare with the past; times have changed


江山永固

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ ㄩㄥˇ ㄍㄨˋ

цзяншаньюнгу

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ wɪŋ¹³ kuː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ wɪŋ¹³ kuː³³/

The great ceremony for selecting empress consort and imperial concubines is over. I, Ronglu, humbly rejoice with Her Most Sacred Majesty the Empress Dowager and humbly rejoice with the Emperor! May my Great Qing Empire be blessed with successive rulers and endless splendor, and may my nation be stable forever!

Hòufēi dà tiǎo lǐ chéng. Núcái rónglù gōnghè shèngmǔ huángtàihòu, gōnghè huángshàng. Yuàn wǒ dàqīngcháo huángsìfánchì, jiāngshānyǒnggù.

后妃大挑禮成。奴才榮祿恭賀聖母皇太后，恭賀皇上。願我大清朝皇嗣繁熾，江山永固。

后妃大挑礼成。奴才荣禄恭贺圣母皇太后，恭贺皇上。愿我大清朝皇嗣繁炽，江山永固。

(archaic) a statement to wish one's country perpetual stability.


膾炙人口

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (膾炙人口):
* → Vietnamese: quái chá nhân khẩu (膾炙人口)

thinly sliced, roasted meat in the people's mouths

ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄡˇ

куайчжижэнькоу

/kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

universally appreciated (especially of literary works); liked by many; appealing to the masses; on everyone's lips


mas breug bhuam e, is breug thugam e

jak jsem koupil, tak prodávám
jak jsem koupil, tak prodávám#Czech

I am only passing on what I have heard without being certain that it is true. (Literally "if it is a lie from me, it is a lie to me". Compare Czech jak jsem koupil, tak prodávám.)


jak jsem koupil, tak prodávám

Literally, “how I bought, so I sell”. Compare Scottish Gaelic mas breug bhuam e, is breug thugam e.

m+

I am only passing on what I have heard without being certain that it is true.


寥寥數語

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ sou̯³³ jyː¹³/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ sou̯³³ jyː¹³/

a few words; with a few mild comments; in a nutshell


you're a long time dead

Be merry, man, for a minute, for you'll be a long time dead!

1968, Sean O'Casey, The Sean O'Casey Reader, page 259:

When opportunity knocks, take it. You're a long time dead you know!

2011, Sophie Boswell, The Power of Feng Shui, →ISBN, page 103:

'You're a long time dead,' my mother used to shout at the neighbours when they complained about the noise, and for once I agree.

2015, Rebecca Whitney, The Liar's Chair, →ISBN:

A reminder that we are all mortal, as a justification for enjoying life while one can.


知法犯法

ㄓ ㄈㄚˇ ㄈㄢˋ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

As a policeman, he dared to break the law while knowing it. What a disgrace to the police force!

san¹ wai⁴ ging² caat³, keoi⁵ ging² jin⁴ zi¹ faat³ faan⁶ faat³, zan¹ hai⁶ ging² deoi⁶⁻² ge³ ci² juk⁶!

身為警察，佢竟然知法犯法，真係警隊嘅恥辱！

身为警察，佢竟然知法犯法，真系警队嘅耻辱！


光說不做

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

all talk and no action
all talk and no action

all bark and no bite
all bark and no bite

all talk and no action; all bark and no bite


光說不幹

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ

гуаншобугань

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːn³³/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːn³³/


只說不做

ㄓˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ syːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ syːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sou̯²²/


ググれカス

[ɡɯ̟ɡɯ̟ɾe̞ ka̠sɨ]

Compound of ググれ (gugure, the imperative form of ググる (guguru, “to google”)) + かす (kasu, “dregs, scum, trash”), literally "Google it, you trash".

compound

2013, 中山, 出ない順 試験に出ない英単語 実践篇, →ISBN, archived from the original on 2016-06-07:

「ググッたら？」諸葛亮は劉備にそっけなく答えた。
☞「ググれカス」じゃなくてよかったですね。

“Guguttara?” Shokatsu Ryō wa Ryū Bi ni sokke naku kotaeta.
☞“Gugure kasu” ja nakute yokatta desu ne.

“Why not google it?” Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei dryly.
☞ Good thing it wasn't “Google it, you trash”.

(Internet slang) JFGI (just fucking Google it); GIYF (Google is your friend)


i gceannas

in the driver's seat
in the driver's seat

in command, in charge, in the driver's seat


花見花開

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄎㄞ

хуацзяньхуакай

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ kiːn³³ faː⁵⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ kiːn³³ faː⁵⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

that which makes flowers blossom upon its encounter with flowers; that which is loved by all


húm ná hám

the slightest sound, the slightest movement (used with a negative verb)


千秋萬歲

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄨㄢˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

цяньцюваньсуй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sɵy̯³³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ maːn²² sɵy̯³³/

a thousand years and ten thousand years; a long time


Paganini non ripete

Literally, “Paganini does not repeat”. The phrase originates from an episode dating back to 1825: in Teatro Falcone, Genoa, the artist was asked by King Charles Felix for an encore of a piece he had liked; but since Paganini had improvised, he was unable to repeat the performance and is said to have given this as his answer. As a result, he was expelled from the Kingdom of Sardinia for two years.

(usually humorous, sometimes menacing) said when someone is unwilling to repeat what they have already said

Charles Felix of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
Niccolò Paganini


本末倒置

ㄅㄣˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓˋ

бэньмодаочжи

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

putting the cart before the horse
put the cart before the horse


炎黃子孫

ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄗˇ ㄙㄨㄣ

Яньхуан цзысунь

/jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/jiːm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː³⁵ syːn⁵⁵/

/iam²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

/iam⁴¹⁻²² hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sun³³/

/iam²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

/iam³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

/iam³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

/jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/jiːm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː³⁵ syːn⁵⁵/

/iam²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

/iam⁴¹⁻²² hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sun³³/

/iam²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

/iam³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

/iam³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴⁴/

descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors; the Han Chinese people; the Chinese nation


Paganini non replica

Paganini non ripete
Paganini non ripete#Italian

(rare) Alternative form of Paganini non ripete


έτσι κέτσι

head

έτσι κέτσι • (étsi kétsi)

el-phrase

έτσι κέτσι • (étsi kétsi)

έτσι και έτσι
έτσι και έτσι#Greek

Alternative form of έτσι και έτσι (étsi kai étsi)


留中不發

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

I think this submitted petition shall first be kept for further consideration.

Wǒ kàn zhè dào zòuzhé xiān liúzhōngbùfā.

我看這道奏摺先留中不發。

我看这道奏折先留中不发。

(archaic) to shelve; to table; to postpone consideration


AMAB

The sample consists of participants AMAB.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy may involve testosterone for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB) and estradiol and anti-androgens for trans people AMAB.

2021, Jane Y. Xu, Michelle A. O’Connell, Lauren Notini, Ada S. Cheung, Sav Zwickl, Ken C. Pang, “Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators: A Potential Option For Non-Binary Gender-Affirming Hormonal Care?”, in Front Endocrinol, →DOI:

(LGBT) Acronym of assigned male at birth.


AFAB

The sample consists of participants AFAB.

(LGBT) Acronym of assigned female at birth.


先斬後奏

behead first, report [to the emperor] later

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓㄢˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄗㄡˋ

сяньчжаньхоуцзоу

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³³/

/siːn⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³³/

His Majesty granted me these three guillotines of canine, tiger, and dragon, by which I am authorised to kill first, report later. How can't I put you on trial?

Huángshàng yùcì lóng hǔ gǒu sān kǒu zhádāo, běnfǔ yǒu xiānzhǎnhòuzòu zhī quán. Rúhé shěn bùdé nǐ?

皇上御賜龍虎狗三口鍘刀，本府有先斬後奏之權。如何審不得你？

皇上御赐龙虎狗三口铡刀，本府有先斩后奏之权。如何审不得你？

to act first and report later; to act first and seek permission therefor later


szóra sem érdemes

From szó (“word”) + -ra (“on, onto”, case suffix) + sem (“not even”) + érdemes (“worth”), literally: “it is not even worth a word”.

affix

don't mention it, not at all (a polite way of expressing that something is too trivial to warrant thanks)


parla come mangi

(idiomatic, informal, humorous) used to invite someone who uses an excessively cultivated language to speak in a simpler and clearer way


心灰意冷

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄧˋ ㄌㄥˇ

синьхуэйилэн

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːŋ¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hue⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ jiː³³ laːŋ¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hue⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪŋ⁴¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ he⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪŋ⁵³/


I don't want it

Indicates that the speaker does not want to take something that is being offered.

nem akarom

(before a particular noun expressing action)


各有所好

ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄏㄠˋ

/kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ hou̯³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ hou̯³³/

different strokes for different folks
different strokes for different folks

there's no accounting for taste; to each his own; different strokes for different folks; chacun à son goût


il dado è tratto

Translation of Latin ālea iacta est, from Ancient Greek ἀνερρίφθω κύβος (anerrhíphthō kúbos, “let the die be cast”). See the dice is cast for more.

uder

ἀνερρίφθω κύβος

(idiomatic) the die is cast (the future is determined)


les jeux sont faits

/leɪ ˌʒɜː sɒ̃ ˈfeɪ/

Borrowed from French les jeux sont faits (literally “the games are made”). Earliest use found in James Joyce (1882–1941) in the 1920s.

bor

(gambling) In roulette, the call made by the croupier as the wheel is set in motion.

(idiomatic) Things have reached an irreversible point; you cannot go back now that you have done something.


les jeux sont faits

les jeux sont faits
les jeux sont faits#English

(gambling) les jeux sont faits, the stakes are set (call made by the croupier)

(idiomatic) the die is cast, les jeux sont faits (things have reached an irreversible point)


alea iacta est

[ˈäːɫ̪eä ˈi̯äkt̪ä ɛs̠t̪]

[ˈäːleä ˈjäkt̪ä ɛst̪]

(idiomatic) Alternative form of iacta ālea est


iacta alea est

[ˈi̯äkt̪ä ˈäːɫ̪eä ɛs̠t̪]

[ˈjäkt̪ä ˈäːleä ɛst̪]

Grammatically incorrect translation, by Suetonius, of an Ancient Greek phrase by Menander, ἀνερρίφθω κύβος (anerrhíphthō kúbos, “let the die be cast”), quoted in its original language by Julius Caesar. A more accurate translation would be iacta alea esto. See the die is cast for more.

Julius Caesar
Menander
Suetonius
la:iacta alea est


ta ts'akal

/tʰä‿t͡sʼäkʰäl/


where does it hurt

Asked to find out where a wounded or ill person is feeling pain.


is anyone here a doctor

Asked to call upon a doctor to come forth from a group of people.

この中にお医者様はいらっしゃいませんか

Kono naka ni o-isha-sama wa irasshaimasen ka?


TL;DW

(online communication) Initialism of too long; didn’t watch., signaling that a video message lacked communicative efficacy because of its length.


I can't swim

Indicates the speaker does not know how to swim.

我𫧃晓泅水

góa bōe-hiáu siû-chúi / góa bǒe-hiáu siû-chúi / góa bē-hiáu siû-chúi


do you think you can walk

Asked to find out whether an ill or wounded person is able to walk or needs to sit down or lie down.

汝会行𫧃？

lí ē kiâⁿ--bōe? / lír ě kiâⁿ--bǒe? / lí ě kiâⁿ--bǒe? / lí ē kiâⁿ--bē? / lú ē kiâⁿ--bē? / lú ē kiâⁿ--bōe?


faites vos jeux

/ˌfeɪt vəʊ ˈʒɜː/

/ˌfɛt vəʊ ˈʒɜː/

/ˌfɛt voʊ ˈʒɜ/

Borrowed from French faites vos jeux (literally “make your bets”).

(gambling) In roulette, the call made by the croupier when gamblers can place their bets.


faites vos jeux

Literally, “make your games, your bets”.

(gambling) place your bets, faites vos jeux (call made by the croupier)


are you feeling better

Asked to find out whether someone has recovered to some degree from past illness or unwellness.

汝较好无？

lí khà hó--bô? / lí khah hó--bô? / lír khà hó--bô? / lú khah hó--bô?

汝侬有较好无？

lír-lâng ū khà hó--bô? / lí-lâng ū khah hó--bô? / lú-lâng ū khah hó--bô?


知規犯規

ㄓ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄈㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟ

чжигуйфаньгуй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fän⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ faːn²² kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fän⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ faːn²² kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

He already knows that it's necessary to do that, but he doesn't want to do it, so he already knows the rule, but he breaks it anyway!

Tā míngzhī shì bìxū zhèyàng zuò, dàn tā bù yuànyì zuò, tā zhīguīfànguī!

他明知是必須這樣做，但他不願意做，他知規犯規！

他明知是必须这样做，但他不愿意做，他知规犯规！


長話短說

ㄔㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄛ

чанхуадуаньшо

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ waː²² tyːn³⁵ syːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ waː²² tyːn³⁵ syːt̚³/

to make a long story short
to make a long story short


篳門閨竇

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄉㄡˋ

бимэньгуйдоу

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ muːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ tɐu̯²²/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ muːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ tɐu̯²²/

wretched hovel; living in poverty; poverty-stricken


隔籬飯香

/kaːk̚³ lei̯²¹ faːn²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kaːk̚³ lei̯²¹ faːn²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

the grass is always greener on the other side

(Cantonese) The grass is always greener on the other side.