一石二鳥

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄦˋ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɛːk̚² jiː²² niːu̯¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² zi³³⁻²¹ niãu⁴¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɛːk̚² jiː²² niːu̯¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² zi³³⁻²¹ niãu⁴¹/

Wasei kango (和製漢語), orthographically borrowed from Japanese 一(いっ)石(せき)二(に)鳥(ちょう) (isseki nichō); itself a calque of English kill two birds with one stone.

wasei kango

kill two birds with one stone
kill two birds with one stone

to kill two birds with one stone; to do one task and finish two or more goals


一言九鼎

one utterance, [worth the weight of] nineding (鼎) vessels

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄧㄥˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁵³/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁵³/

words of enormous weight; solemn promise or pledge


一日三秋

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lit̚²⁴⁻² sam³³ t͡sʰiu³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵⁴ lit̚⁵⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴³⁻²¹ sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚²⁻⁵ d͡zit̚⁵⁻² sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ d͡zit̚⁴⁻¹ sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ zit̚⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ d͡zit̚⁴³⁻²¹ sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ lit̚²⁴⁻² sam³³ t͡sʰiu³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵⁴ lit̚⁵⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴³⁻²¹ sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚²⁻⁵ d͡zit̚⁵⁻² sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ d͡zit̚⁴⁻¹ sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ zit̚⁴⁻³² sam⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ d͡zit̚⁴³⁻²¹ sam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

Short for 一日不見，如隔三秋／一日不见，如隔三秋 (yīrìbùjiàn, rúgésānqiū).

zh-etym-short

A single day apart seems like three years.


三令五申

ㄙㄢ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄨˇ ㄕㄣ

саньлинъушэнь

/sän⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ lɪŋ²² ŋ̍¹³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² liɪŋ²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sam³³ liɪŋ⁴¹⁻²² ŋɔ̃⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sin³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² liɪŋ²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sã³³⁻²³ leŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋou³⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³/

/sän⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ lɪŋ²² ŋ̍¹³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² liɪŋ²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sam³³ liɪŋ⁴¹⁻²² ŋɔ̃⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sin³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² liɪŋ²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/sã³³⁻²³ leŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋou³⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³/

儘管你三令五申，有許多員工就是不肯照辦。 [MSC, trad.]
尽管你三令五申，有许多员工就是不肯照办。 [MSC, simp.]

No matter how much you warn and admonish them, there are many employees who just aren't willing to do as they are told.

Jǐnguǎn nǐ sānlìngwǔshēn, yǒu xǔduō yuángōng jiùshì bù kěn zhàobàn. [Pinyin]

to repeatedly order, instruct, admonish or warn


一網打盡

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一網打盡):
* → Japanese: 一網打尽(いちもうだじん) (ichimōdajin)
* → Korean: 일망타진(一網打盡) (ilmangtajin)

ㄧ ㄨㄤˇ ㄉㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³/

Japanese and Korean sources attribute the source to 《宋史·卷三一四·范純仁傳》, although the Hanyu Da Cidian gives an earlier quotation from 《東軒筆錄》卷四.

lang

《宋史·卷三一四·范純仁傳》

《宋史·卷三一四·范純仁傳》

to round up the herd with one throw; roundup, wholesale arrest


大海撈針

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄌㄠ ㄓㄣ

дахайлаочжэнь

/tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/tua²²⁻²¹ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵ laːu̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/tua²²⁻²¹ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

needle in a haystack
needle in a haystack


捷足先登

the quick of foot will be the first to ascend

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄥ

цзецзусяньдэн

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚⁴⁻² t͡sok̚² sãĩ³³⁻²³ teŋ³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siap̚⁴⁻² t͡sok̚² sãĩ³³⁻²³ teŋ³³/

early bird gets the worm
early bird gets the worm

to take the first step; to act early on; the early bird gets the worm


多多益善

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (多多益善):
* → Korean: 다다익선(多多益善) (dadaikseon)

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧˋ ㄕㄢˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ siːn²²/

/to⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɛn³³/

/tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɛn³³/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ siːn²²/

/to⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɛn³³/

/tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɛn³³/

From a quote by the Han dynasty general Han Xin, recorded in Shiji: Once Emperor Gaozu of Han talks with him about how many soldiers a military officer can command. Han Xin asserted that the emperor can command no more than one million, but when asked about himself, he said:
:
臣多多而益善耳。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Chén duōduō ér yì shàn ěr. [Pinyin]
As for me, the more, the better.

zh-x

臣 多多 而 益 善 耳。

the more the merrier
the more the merrier

Emperor Gaozu of Han
Han Xin
Han dynasty
Shiji

韓信點兵，多多益善

Han Xin counts his troops, the more the merrier


入鄉隨俗

when entering a village, follow the customs

ㄖㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄙㄨˊ

/ʐu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ su³⁵/

/jɐp̚² hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚²/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sui²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔk̚⁴/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚⁴/

/zip̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sui²³⁻³³ siɔk̚⁴/

/d͡zip̚⁴⁻² hĩẽ³³⁻²³ sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sok̚⁴/

/ʐu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ su³⁵/

/jɐp̚² hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚²/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sui²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔk̚⁴/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚⁴/

/zip̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sui²³⁻³³ siɔk̚⁴/

/d͡zip̚⁴⁻² hĩẽ³³⁻²³ sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sok̚⁴/

when in Rome, do as the Romans do
when in Rome, do as the Romans do


大同小異

ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄧˋ

/tä⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tʰʊŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jiː²²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ĩ³³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ĩ³³/

/tai²²⁻²¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ĩ²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

/tä⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tʰʊŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jiː²²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ĩ³³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ĩ³³/

/tai²²⁻²¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ĩ²²/

/tai³³⁻²¹ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i³³/

largely the same (with only) minor differences

各個殖民地半殖民地國家的革命必然會有某些不同特點，但這是大同中的小異。 [MSC, trad.]
各个殖民地半殖民地国家的革命必然会有某些不同特点，但这是大同中的小异。 [MSC, simp.]

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

Each of the revolutions of the colonial and semi-colonial countries will necessarily have specific characteristics of its own, but these will be minor variations on a general theme.

Gège zhímíndì bànzhímíndì guójiā de gémìng bìrán huì yǒu mǒuxiē bùtóng tèdiǎn, dàn zhè shì dàtóng zhōng de xiǎoyì. [Pinyin]

almost the same; almost identical; similar in most respects


事半功倍

ㄕˋ ㄅㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄟˋ

шибаньгунбэй

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/siː²² puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯¹³/

/su²²⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pue²²/

/su⁴¹⁻²² puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔŋ³³ pue⁴¹/

/su²²⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pue²²/

/su³³⁻¹¹ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pue³³/

/su³³⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pue³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/siː²² puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯¹³/

/su²²⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pue²²/

/su⁴¹⁻²² puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔŋ³³ pue⁴¹/

/su²²⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pue²²/

/su³³⁻¹¹ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pue³³/

/su³³⁻²¹ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pue³³/

From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑上》):
:
當今之時，萬乘之國行仁政，民之悅之，猶解倒懸也。故事半古之人，功必倍之，惟此時為然。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]当今之时，万乘之国行仁政，民之悦之，犹解倒悬也。故事半古之人，功必倍之，惟此时为然。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dāngjīn zhī shí, wànshèng zhī guó xíng rénzhèng, mín zhī yuè zhī, yóu jiě dàoxuán yě. Gù shì bàn gǔ zhī rén, gōng bì bèi zhī, wéi cǐshí wéi rán. [Pinyin]
At the present time, in a country of ten thousand chariots, let benevolent government be put in practice, and the people will be delighted with it, as if they were relieved from hanging by the heels. With half the merit of the ancients, double their achievements is sure to be realized. It is only at this time that such could be the case.

當今 之 時，萬乘{shèng} 之 國 行 仁政，民 之 悅 之，猶 解 倒{dào}懸 也。故 @事 @半 古 之 人，@功 必 @倍 之，惟 此時 為{wéi} 然。

to yield twice the result with half the effort


愛不釋手

ㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄕㄡˇ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/ai¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³/

/ai²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siu⁵³/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/ai¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³/

/ai²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siu⁵³/

to love something too much to part with it


安分守己

ㄢ ㄈㄣˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧˇ

аньфэньшоуцзи

/ˀän⁵⁵ fən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ fɐn²² sɐu̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ fun⁵⁵ su³¹ ki³¹/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² hun²²⁻²¹ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁵³/

/an³³ hun⁴¹⁻²² siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ki⁵⁵⁴/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² hun²²⁻²¹ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁵³/

/an⁴⁴⁻³³ hun³³⁻¹¹ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁵³/

/an⁴⁴⁻³³ hun³³⁻²¹ siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴¹/

/ˀän⁵⁵ fən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ fɐn²² sɐu̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ fun⁵⁵ su³¹ ki³¹/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² hun²²⁻²¹ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁵³/

/an³³ hun⁴¹⁻²² siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ki⁵⁵⁴/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² hun²²⁻²¹ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁵³/

/an⁴⁴⁻³³ hun³³⁻¹¹ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁵³/

/an⁴⁴⁻³³ hun³³⁻²¹ siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴¹/

to abide by the law and do one's duty; to be content with one's lot


天長地久

ja-r

てん%ちょう ち%きゅう

CJKV/code

てん%ちょう ち%きゅう

Sino-Xenic (天長地久):
* → Japanese: 天(てん)長地(ちょうち)久(きゅう) (tenchō chikyū)
* → Korean: 천장지구(天長地久) (cheonjangjigu)
* → Vietnamese: thiên trường địa cửu (天長地久)

CJKV

てん%ちょう ち%きゅう

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

тяньчандицзю

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² te²²⁻²¹ kiu⁵³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ kiu⁴¹/

/tʰiɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² te⁴¹⁻²² kiu⁵⁵⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ kiu⁵³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ kiu⁴¹/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ kiu⁵³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵ ti¹¹ ku⁵²/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² te²²⁻²¹ kiu⁵³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ kiu⁴¹/

/tʰiɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² te⁴¹⁻²² kiu⁵⁵⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ kiu⁵³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ kiu⁴¹/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ kiu⁵³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵ ti¹¹ ku⁵²/

From Tao Te Ching:
:
天長地久。天地所以能長且久者，以其不自生，故能長生。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]天长地久。天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Tiānchángdìjiǔ. Tiāndì suǒyǐ néng cháng qiě jiǔ zhě, yǐ qí bù zìshēng, gù néng chángshēng. [Pinyin]
Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. This is how they are able to continue and endure.

zh-x

天長地久。天地 所以 能 長 且 久 者，以 其 不 自生，故 能 長生。

天长地久
靝⿰萬丈埊⿰多年

天長地久有時盡，此恨綿綿無絕期。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
天长地久有时尽，此恨绵绵无绝期。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: 806: 白居易 (Bai Juyi), 長恨歌 ("Song of Everlasting Regret")

As long as the universe lasts, and until time stops for good, the regret of our parting will continue without end.

Tiānchángdìjiǔ yǒu shí jìn, cǐ hèn miánmián wú jué qī. [Pinyin]

enduring as the universe; everlasting and unchanging


不歡而散

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄦˊ ㄙㄢˋ

бухуаньэрсань

/pu⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fuːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ saːn³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ huan⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² san²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ huan³³ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ huan⁴⁴⁻²² li¹³⁻²² san²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ li²³⁻³³ san²¹/

/pu⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fuːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ saːn³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ huan⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² san²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ huan³³ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ huan⁴⁴⁻²² li¹³⁻²² san²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ li²³⁻³³ san²¹/

part [break up; end; disperse] in discord [with ill feelings; anger]; break up in disagreement; depart unhappily; end on a sour note; part in dudgeon; part on bad terms.


不堪一擊

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄧ ㄐㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪk̚³²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪk̚³²/

cannot withstand a single blow; collapse at the first blow


一鳴驚人

ㄧ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄖㄣˊ

иминцзинжэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ biɪŋ¹³⁻²² kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² d͡zin¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ³³ lin²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ biɪŋ¹³⁻²² kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² d͡zin¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ³³ lin²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

From Han Feizi, Chapter 21 (《韓非子·喻老》):
:
楚莊王蒞政三年，無令發，無政為也。右司馬御座而與王隱曰：「有鳥止南方之阜，三年不翅不飛不鳴，嘿然無聲，此為何名？」王曰：「三年不翅，將以長羽翼。不飛不鳴，將以觀民則。雖無飛，飛必沖天；雖無鳴，鳴必驚人。子釋之，不穀知之矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]楚庄王莅政三年，无令发，无政为也。右司马御座而与王隐曰：「有鸟止南方之阜，三年不翅不飞不鸣，嘿然无声，此为何名？」王曰：「三年不翅，将以长羽翼。不飞不鸣，将以观民则。虽无飞，飞必冲天；虽无鸣，鸣必惊人。子释之，不谷知之矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Chǔ Zhuāng wáng lì zhèng sān nián, wú lìng fā, wú zhèng wèi yě. Yòusīmǎ yù zuò ér yǔ wáng yǐn yuē: “Yǒu niǎo zhǐ nánfāng zhī fù, sān nián bù chì bù fēi bù míng, hēirán wú shēng, cǐ wèi hé míng?” Wáng yuē: “Sān nián bù chì, jiāng yǐ zhǎng yǔyì. Bù fēi bù míng, jiāng yǐ guān mín zé. Suī wú fēi, fēi bì chōngtiān; suī wú míng, míng bì jīngrén. Zǐ shì zhī, bùgǔ zhīzhī yǐ.” [Pinyin]
King Zhuang, for three years after he took the reins of government, issued no decree and formulated no policy. Therefore, one day the Right Commissioner of the Army, when attending on the Throne, made before the King an intimation, saying: "There is a bird which has perched or a hill-top in the south. For three years it has neither fluttered nor flown nor sung but kept silent without making any sound. What is the name of that bird?" In reply the King said: "For three years it has not fluttered in order thereby to grow its wings and feathers, and has neither flown nor sung in order thereby to look at the conditions of the people. Though it has not flown, yet once it starts flying, it will soar high up into the sky. Though it has not sung, yet once it starts singing, it will surprise everybody. Leave it as it has been. I, the King, understand what you mean."

^楚 @^莊 王 蒞 政 三 年，無 令 發，無 政 為 也。右-司馬 御 座 而 與 王 隱 曰：「有 鳥 止 南方 之 阜，三 年 不 翅 不 飛 不 鳴 ，嘿-然 無 聲，此 為 何 名？」王 曰：「三 年 不 翅，將 以 長{zhǎng} 羽翼。不 飛 不 鳴 ，將 以 觀 民 則。雖 無 飛，飛 必 沖天；雖 無 鳴，@鳴 必 @驚人。子 釋 之，不穀 知之 矣。」

可比賽的過程卻是讓人大跌眼鏡，與之前輿論的低調相比，兩只隊伍的表現可謂不鳴則已一鳴驚人。 [MSC, trad.]
可比赛的过程却是让人大跌眼镜，与之前舆论的低调相比，两只队伍的表现可谓不鸣则已一鸣惊人。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2006: anon, 《ESWC ——“梦，开始的地方》 (Electronic Sports World Cup -- "A dream is the starting place")

But as the game progressed, everybody had to take off their glasses in disbelief. Compared to the previous low expections in public opinion polls, the performance of the two teams was literally a bolt from the blue.

Kě bǐsài de guòchéng què shì ràng rén dàdiēyǎnjìng, yǔ zhīqián yúlùn de dīdiào xiāngbǐ, liǎng zhī duìwǔ de biǎoxiàn kěwèi bù míng zé yǐ yīmíngjīngrén. [Pinyin]

set the world on fire
set the world on fire

to amaze the world with a single brilliant feat; to become famous overnight; to set the world on fire; a bolt from the blue


井底之蛙

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (井底之蛙):
* → Korean: 정저지와(井底之蛙) (jeongjeojiwa)

ja-r

井の中の蛙 大%海を知らず

い の なか の かわず たい%かい を しらず

い の なか の かわず

→ Japanese: (calque) 井(い)の中(なか)の蛙(かわず)大(たい)海(かい)を知(し)らず (i no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu), 井(い)の中(なか)の蛙(かわず) (i no naka no kawazu), 井(せい)底(てい)の蛙(かわず) (seitei no kawazu) (calque)

q

→ Korean: 우물 안 개구리 (umul an gaeguri) (calque; more common than the Sino-Korean form)

→ Vietnamese: ếch ngồi đáy giếng (calque)

ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄓ ㄨㄚ

/t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ te⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² ua⁴⁴/

/t͡sẽ⁵²⁻³⁵ tõĩ⁵² t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ ua³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ te⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² ua⁴⁴/

/t͡sẽ⁵²⁻³⁵ tõĩ⁵² t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ ua³³/

From Zhuangzi:
:
井鼃不可以語於海者，拘於虛也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]井鼃不可以语于海者，拘于虚也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Jǐng wā bù kěyǐ yù yú hǎi zhě, jū yú xū yě. [Pinyin]
A frog in a well cannot be talked with about an ocean - it is confined to its own narrow place.
Note: 鼃 is an ancient character for frog. In modern times, it has often been replaced with 蛙 (wā).

zh-x

井 鼃 不 可以 語{yù} 於 海 者，拘 於 虛 也。

a frog at the bottom of a well (who can only see a small part of the sky through the opening)

汝乃井底之蛙，安知玄奧乎！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
汝乃井底之蛙，安知玄奥乎！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

You're (like) a frog at the bottom of a well (who can only see part of the sky), how would you know about anything that is profound!

Rǔ nǎi jǐngdǐzhīwā, ān zhī xuán'ào hū! [Pinyin]

可知我井底之蛙，成日家只說現在的這幾個人是有一無二的。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
可知我井底之蛙，成日家只说现在的这几个人是有一无二的。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
[You] can tell that I am a frog at the bottom of a well; all day, all [I] talk about is that these several people are so unique.

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

Kě zhī wǒ jǐngdǐzhīwā, chéngrìjia zhǐ shuō xiànzài de zhè jǐ ge rén shì yǒuyīwú'èr de. [Pinyin]

a “frog in a well”, a person of very limited outlook and experience


今生今世

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕㄥ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˋ

цзиньшэнцзиньши

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/kim⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kim⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹/

/kim⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kim⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/kim⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kim⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹/

/kim⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kim⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹/

in this lifetime; for the rest of one's life


無論如何

ㄨˊ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

/u³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ lɵn²² jyː²¹ hɔː²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ lun³³⁻²¹ zu²³⁻³³ hɤ²³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ luŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ho⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ lɵn²² jyː²¹ hɔː²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ lun³³⁻²¹ zu²³⁻³³ hɤ²³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ luŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ho⁵⁵/

in any case; at any rate; whatever happens; no matter what


四平八穩

ㄙˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄣˇ

ㄙˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄣˇ

/sz̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ pä⁵⁵ wən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sz̩²¹³ pʰin²¹ pa²¹ uən⁵³/

/sz̩⁵⁵ pʰiŋ²⁴ pa²¹ uẽ⁵³/

/sei̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹ paːt̚³ wɐn³⁵/

/sz̩⁵³⁻⁵⁵ pʰiaŋ¹¹ pat̚¹ ʋun³¹/

/sz̩⁴⁵ pʰĩŋ¹¹ paʔ² və̃ŋ⁵³/

/si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ piŋ⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ pɛiʔ²⁴⁻³⁵ yŋ³³/

/su²¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² pat̚³²⁻⁴ un⁵³/

/sz̩³³ bin⁵⁵ paʔ³³ uən²¹/

/sz̩³³ bin⁴⁴ paʔ³³ uən⁴⁴/

/sz̩⁴⁴ bin²³ paʔ⁴⁴ uən³⁴/

/sz̩⁵² bin³³ poʔ⁵⁵ uən⁵¹/

/sz̩⁴⁵ pin¹³ pa̠²⁴ u̯ən⁴¹/

/sz̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ pä⁵⁵ wən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sz̩²¹³ pʰin²¹ pa²¹ uən⁵³/

/sz̩⁵⁵ pʰiŋ²⁴ pa²¹ uẽ⁵³/

/sei̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹ paːt̚³ wɐn³⁵/

/sz̩⁵³⁻⁵⁵ pʰiaŋ¹¹ pat̚¹ ʋun³¹/

/sz̩⁴⁵ pʰĩŋ¹¹ paʔ² və̃ŋ⁵³/

/si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ piŋ⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ pɛiʔ²⁴⁻³⁵ yŋ³³/

/su²¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ²⁴⁻²² pat̚³²⁻⁴ un⁵³/

/sz̩³³ bin⁵⁵ paʔ³³ uən²¹/

/sz̩³³ bin⁴⁴ paʔ³³ uən⁴⁴/

/sz̩⁴⁴ bin²³ paʔ⁴⁴ uən³⁴/

/sz̩⁵² bin³³ poʔ⁵⁵ uən⁵¹/

/sz̩⁴⁵ pin¹³ pa̠²⁴ u̯ən⁴¹/

very stable and steady; completely stable and safe


百口莫辯

ㄅㄞˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

байкоумобянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ hɐu̯³⁵ mɔːk̚² piːn²²/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² piɛn³³/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² piɛn³³/

/paːk̚³ hɐu̯³⁵ mɔːk̚² piːn²²/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² piɛn³³/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² piɛn³³/

unable to give a convincing explanation in self-defense; difficult to clarify; beyond justification (when wronged or treated unjustly)


耳熟能詳

so familiar to the ears, that it can be (told) in detail

ㄦˇ ㄕㄨˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˊ

ㄦˇ ㄕㄡˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˊ

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ sʊk̚² nɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/hi³³⁻¹¹ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ²⁴/

/d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ sek̚⁴⁻² leŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siaŋ⁵⁵/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ sʊk̚² nɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/hi³³⁻¹¹ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ²⁴/

/d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ sek̚⁴⁻² leŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siaŋ⁵⁵/

以下就讓我們來看一些耳熟能詳的中文在英語中是如何表達的 [MSC, trad.]
以下就让我们来看一些耳熟能详的中文在英语中是如何表达的 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2004, 苏萍 (Su Ping), 耳熟能详的中文用英语怎么说, 上海小学 (Shanghai Primary School)

Below, let us take a look at how some well-worn Chinese phrases are expressed in English

yǐxià jiù ràng wǒmen lái kàn yīxiē ěrshúnéngxiáng de zhōngwén zài yīngyǔ zhōng shì rúhé biǎodá de [Pinyin]

heard a million times, to the point where one can recite it in one's sleep; well-worn (phrase)


別開生面

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄎㄞ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

бекайшэнмянь

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/piːt̚² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ miːn²²/

/piɛt̚⁴⁻³² kʰai⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ biɛn³³/

/piak̚⁴⁻² kʰai³³⁻²³ sẽ³³⁻²³ mĩ¹¹/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/piːt̚² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ miːn²²/

/piɛt̚⁴⁻³² kʰai⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ biɛn³³/

/piak̚⁴⁻² kʰai³³⁻²³ sẽ³³⁻²³ mĩ¹¹/

to forge a new path; to stand out from the rest


無法無天

ㄨˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄨˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

/u³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/bu²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/u³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/bu²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

From
* 無／无 (wú, “not have”) + 法 (fǎ) (short for 法紀／法纪 (fǎjì, “law”)): ("no (respect for) law") +
* 無／无 (wú, “not have”) + 天 (tiān) (short for 天理 (tiānlǐ, “heavenly justice”).
Literally "no (respect for) heaven(ly) justice".

zh-l

法紀／法纪 (fǎjì, “law”)


林林總總

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄨㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄥˇ

линьлиньцзунцзун

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

/lɐm²¹ lɐm²¹ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

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

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

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

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

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

/lɐm²¹ lɐm²¹ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

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

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

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

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


半斤八兩

ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄚ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

баньцзиньбалян

/pän⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːn³³ kɐn⁵⁵ paːt̚³ lœːŋ¹³⁻³⁵/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻²² pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kun³³ pue(ʔ)⁵ niũ⁵⁵⁴/

/puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ niũ⁴¹/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kɯŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nie⁵²/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ keŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nio⁵²⁻²¹/

/pän⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːn³³ kɐn⁵⁵ paːt̚³ lœːŋ¹³⁻³⁵/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻²² pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kun³³ pue(ʔ)⁵ niũ⁵⁵⁴/

/puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ niũ⁴¹/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kɯŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nie⁵²/

/pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ keŋ³³⁻²³ poiʔ²⁻⁴ nio⁵²⁻²¹/

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

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

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


原封不動

ㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

юаньфэнбудун

/ɥɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/ɡuan¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/ɡuan²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/ɥɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/ɡuan¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ²²/

/ɡuan²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/ɡuan²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

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


唯利是圖

ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ lei̯²² siː²² tʰou̯²¹/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² tɔ²⁴/

/ui¹³⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ¹³/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²³⁻³³ li³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ tɔ²³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ lei̯²² siː²² tʰou̯²¹/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²⁴⁻²² li⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² tɔ²⁴/

/ui¹³⁻²² li²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ tɔ¹³/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ tɔ²⁴/

/ui²³⁻³³ li³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ tɔ²³/

蘇聯和一切資本主義國家的上層成分之唯利是圖者根本相反，它是以援助一切弱小民族和革命戰爭為其職志的。 [MSC, trad.]
苏联和一切资本主义国家的上层成分之唯利是图者根本相反，它是以援助一切弱小民族和革命战争为其职志的。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 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

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

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

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


得寸進尺

ㄉㄜˊ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄔˇ

дэцуньцзиньчи

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

/tɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

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

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

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

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

/tɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

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


眼花繚亂

眼花缭乱
眼花撩亂
眼花瞭亂

ㄧㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

яньхуаляолуань

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ faː⁵⁵ liːu̯²¹ lyːn²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hue³³ liau²⁴⁻²² luan⁴¹/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ luan³³/

/ɡan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ luan³³/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ faː⁵⁵ liːu̯²¹ lyːn²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hue³³ liau²⁴⁻²² luan⁴¹/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² luan²²/

/ɡan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ luan³³/

/ɡan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ luan³³/

to be dazzled and bewildered by the sight of something


閉門造車

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄗㄠˋ ㄔㄜ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄗㄠˋ ㄐㄩ

бимэньцзаочэ

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

бимэньцзаоцзюй

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sou̯²² kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁻⁵³ bun²⁴⁻²² t͡so²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰia⁴⁴/

/pi²¹⁻⁴¹ mŋ̍²³⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴/

/pi¹¹⁻⁵³ mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sou̯²² kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁻⁵³ bun²⁴⁻²² t͡so²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰia⁴⁴/

/pi²¹⁻⁴¹ mŋ̍²³⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴/

/pi¹¹⁻⁵³ mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴/

在中國男籃敗在希臘隊腳下後，姚明並沒有發火，而是中肯地提出了自己的意見，他說：“閉門造車打國內的聯賽永遠都是這樣，必須讓他們出去打比賽，不是一個一個隊的出去，而是一個一個隊員的出去，殺入外面每一個隊。這樣，我們的籃球整體水準才有可能提升。” [MSC, trad.]
在中国男篮败在希腊队脚下后，姚明并没有发火，而是中肯地提出了自己的意见，他说：“闭门造车打国内的联赛永远都是这样，必须让他们出去打比赛，不是一个一个队的出去，而是一个一个队员的出去，杀入外面每一个队。这样，我们的篮球整体水准才有可能提升。” [MSC, simp.]

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

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

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

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


滿面春風

ㄇㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄈㄥ

маньмяньчуньфэн

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ miːn²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰun³³ hɔŋ³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ miːn²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰun³³ hɔŋ³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/


德高望重

high level of morals; enjoys fame and prestige

ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄠ ㄨㄤˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

дэгаованчжун

/tɤ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊŋ²²/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ²²/

/tɤ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊŋ²²/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ²²/


南轅北轍

ㄋㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄜˊ

ㄋㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄔㄜˋ

наньюаньбэйчжэ

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

наньюаньбэйчэ

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ jyːn²¹ pɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ tiɛt̚²⁴/

/lam¹³⁻²² uan¹³⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁵ tiɛt̚¹²¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ uan²⁴⁻¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²³⁻³³ uan²³⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ jyːn²¹ pɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ tiɛt̚²⁴/

/lam¹³⁻²² uan¹³⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁵ tiɛt̚¹²¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ uan²⁴⁻¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²³⁻³³ uan²³⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

From a story in Zhanguo Ce:
:
魏王欲攻邯鄲，季梁聞之，中道而反，衣焦不申，頭塵不去，往見王曰：「今者臣來，見人於太行，方北面而持其駕，告臣曰：『吾欲之楚。』臣曰：『君之楚，將奚為北面？』曰：『吾馬良。』臣曰：『馬雖良，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾用多。』臣曰：『用雖多，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾御者善。』『此是者愈善，而離楚愈遠耳。』今王動欲成霸王，舉欲信於天下。恃王國之大，兵之精銳，而攻邯鄲，以廣地尊名，王之動愈數，而離王愈遠耳。猶至楚而北行也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]魏王欲攻邯郸，季梁闻之，中道而反，衣焦不申，头尘不去，往见王曰：「今者臣来，见人于太行，方北面而持其驾，告臣曰：『吾欲之楚。』臣曰：『君之楚，将奚为北面？』曰：『吾马良。』臣曰：『马虽良，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾用多。』臣曰：『用虽多，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾御者善。』『此是者愈善，而离楚愈远耳。』今王动欲成霸王，举欲信于天下。恃王国之大，兵之精锐，而攻邯郸，以广地尊名，王之动愈数，而离王愈远耳。犹至楚而北行也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Wèi wáng yù gōng Hándān, Jì Liáng wén zhī, zhōng dào ér fǎn, yī jiāo bù shēn, tóu chén bù qù, wǎng jiàn wáng yuē: “Jīn zhě chén lái, jiàn rén yú Tàixíng, fāng běi miàn ér chí qí jià, gào chén yuē: ‘Wú yù zhī Chǔ.’ Chén yuē: ‘Jūn zhī Chǔ, jiāng xī wèi běi miàn?’ Yuē: ‘Wú mǎ liáng.’ Chén yuē: ‘Mǎ suī liáng, cǐ fēi Chǔ zhī lù yě.’ Yuē: ‘Wú yòng duō.’ Chén yuē: ‘Yòng suī duō, cǐ fēi Chǔ zhī lù yě.’ Yuē: ‘Wú yù zhě shàn.’ ‘cǐ shì zhě yù shàn, ér lí Chǔ yù yuǎn ěr.’ Jīn wáng dòng yù chéng bàwáng, jǔ yù xìn yú tiānxià. Shì wángguó zhī dà, bīng zhī jīngruì, ér gōng Hándān, yǐ guǎng dì zūn míng, wáng zhī dòng yù shù, ér lí wáng yù yuǎn ěr. Yóu zhì Chǔ ér běi xíng yě.” [Pinyin]
The king of Wei was about to attack Handan. Ji Liang heard about it, and turned back in the middle of his journey. He did not straighten the wrinkles in his clothes, nor did he brush the dust off of his head, but went straight to the king. He said, "Today, on the road to the Taihang Mountains, I encountered a man whose carriage was heading north. The man told me, 'I am going to Chu.' I said, 'If you're going to Chu, then why are you facing north?' He said, 'My horse is good.' I said, 'although your horse is good, this is not the road to Chu.' He said, 'I have abundant resources.' I said, 'although you have abundant resources, this is not the road to Chu.' He said, 'My driver is excellent.' I said, 'the better your driver and all the other things, the further from Chu will you be.' At present, the actions of your highness are because you want to become a supreme overlord. Yet, you would like your behavior to be trusted by all under the heavens. Relying on the power of your kingdom and the quality of your soldiers, you attack Handan. In this way, you plan to expand your territories and garner respect for your name. However, the more actions taken by you the king, the further from a king you become. It's akin to traveling north to get to Chu.

zh-x

^魏 王 欲 攻 ^邯鄲，^季 ^梁 聞 之，中 道 而 反，衣 焦 不 申，頭 塵 不 去，往 見 王 曰：「今 者 臣 來，見 人 於 ^太行，方 北 面 而 持 其 駕，告 臣 曰：『吾 欲 之 ^楚。』臣 曰：『君 之 ^楚，將 奚 為 北 面？』曰：『吾 馬 良。』臣 曰：『馬 雖 良，此 非 ^楚 之 路 也。』曰：『吾 用 多。』臣 曰：『用 雖 多，此 非 ^楚 之 路 也。』曰：『吾 御 者 善。』『此 是 者 愈 善，而 離 ^楚 愈 遠 耳。』今 王 動 欲 成 霸王，舉 欲 信 於 天下。恃 王國 之 大，兵 之 精銳，而 攻 ^邯鄲，以 廣 地 尊 名，王 之 動 愈 數，而 離 王 愈 遠 耳。猶 至 ^楚 而 北 行 也。」

south (bound) shafts (of a cart running on) north (bound) ruts (in the road)

to be counterproductive; to run counter to; to work at cross-purposes; to sabotage your own progress; to go off in the wrong direction


獨一無二

/tu³⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²²/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ zi³³/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³/

/tu³⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²²/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ zi³³/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³/

unique; unparalleled; unmatched; singular


一知半解

ㄧ ㄓ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːn³³ kaːi̯³⁵/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² puan²¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːn³³ kaːi̯³⁵/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² puan²¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

世上最可笑的是那些「知識裡手」，有了道聽塗說的一知半解，便自封為「天下第一」，適足見其不自量而已。 [MSC, trad.]
世上最可笑的是那些「知识里手」，有了道听涂说的一知半解，便自封为「天下第一」，适足见其不自量而已。 [MSC, simp.]

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

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

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

to sort of understand; to only halfway understand; to be unsure of the meaning (of a word or phrase)


異口同聲

ㄧˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

/i⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² hɐu̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siã⁴⁴/

/i⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² hɐu̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siã⁴⁴/

to speak with one voice; to say the same thing; to carry identical opinions; to be unanimous


莫名其妙

to be impossible to describe what the profundity is

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² mɪŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ miːu̯²²/

/bɔk̚²⁴⁻² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau⁴¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ miãu³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ miãu³³/

/mok̚⁴⁻² meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ miou³⁵/

/moʔ¹¹ min³³ d͡ʑi²² miɔ⁴⁴/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² mɪŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ miːu̯²²/

/bɔk̚²⁴⁻² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau⁴¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ miãu³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ miãu³³/

/mok̚⁴⁻² meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ miou³⁵/

/moʔ¹¹ min³³ d͡ʑi²² miɔ⁴⁴/


討價還價

ㄊㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

таоцзяхуаньцзя

/tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʰou̯³⁵ kaː³³ waːn²¹ kaː³³/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka²¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻²² ka²¹/

/tʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ huan²³⁻³³ ke²¹/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ ke¹¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka⁵⁵ ɦue³³ ka²¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka³³ ɦue²² ka⁴⁴/

/tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʰou̯³⁵ kaː³³ waːn²¹ kaː³³/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka²¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻²² ka²¹/

/tʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ huan²³⁻³³ ke²¹/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ ke¹¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka⁵⁵ ɦue³³ ka²¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka³³ ɦue²² ka⁴⁴/

to negotiate back and forth; to bargain; to haggle


不白之冤

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄞˊ ㄓ ㄩㄢ

бубайчжиюань

/pu⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ uan³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ pe(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/pu⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ uan³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ pe(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

miscarriage of justice which remains uncorrected; unredressed grievance


抽絲剝繭

to peel the cocoon (of a silkworm) by unraveling the (raw) silk thread from which it was spun

ㄔㄡ ㄙ ㄅㄛ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

чоусыбоцзянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚⁵ kaːn³⁵/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁴¹/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁵³/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚⁵ kaːn³⁵/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁴¹/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁵³/

to painstakingly get to the bottom of something; to struggle to understand a convoluted argument or issue


絞盡腦汁

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄠˇ ㄓ

цзяоцзиньнаочжи

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄠˇ ㄓㄦ

цзяоцзиньнаочжир

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² nou̯¹³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² nãu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siap̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ nãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² nou̯¹³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ nãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/


如出一轍

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄓㄜˊ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄔㄜˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

from the same mold; peas in a pod; exactly alike


潛移默化

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄧˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːm²¹ jiː²¹ mɐk̚² faː³³/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡siam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡sʰiam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴⁻² hue²¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːm²¹ jiː²¹ mɐk̚² faː³³/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡siam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡sʰiam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴⁻² hue²¹³/

to influence secretly; to change due to unnoticeable influence


塞翁失馬

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (塞翁失馬):
* → Korean: 새옹실마(塞翁失馬) (sae'ongsilma)
* → Vietnamese: tái ông thất mã (塞翁失馬)

Japanese: 塞翁(さいおう)が馬(うま) (saiō ga uma)

Korean: 새옹지마 (塞翁之馬, sae'ongjima)

ㄙㄞˋ ㄨㄥ ㄕ ㄇㄚˇ

/saɪ̯⁵¹ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/sai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai¹¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai²¹⁻⁴¹ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

/saɪ̯⁵¹ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/sai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai¹¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai²¹⁻⁴¹ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

See 塞翁失馬，焉知非福／塞翁失马，焉知非福 (sàiwēng shī mǎ, yānzhī fēi fú).

zh-l

Every cloud has a silver lining
every cloud has a silver lining

blessing in disguise
blessing in disguise

Every cloud has a silver lining. / A setback may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.


同心協力

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hiːp̚³ lɪk̚²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiap̚⁴³⁻²¹ lek̚⁴³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hiːp̚³ lɪk̚²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiap̚⁴³⁻²¹ lek̚⁴³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

to join forces; to work together toward a common goal


不計其數

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ sou̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ke⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sɔ²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ sou̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ke⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sɔ²¹/


危在旦夕

ㄨㄟ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧˋ

вэйцзайданьси

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² taːn³³ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ɡui²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁵³ siɪk̚⁴/

/ɡui²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ sit̚⁴/

/ɡui²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ sit̚⁴/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² taːn³³ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ɡui²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁵³ siɪk̚⁴/

/ɡui²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ sit̚⁴/

/ɡui²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ sit̚⁴/

天下危在旦夕，陛下尚自與閹宦共飲耶！ [MSC, trad.]
天下危在旦夕，陛下尚自与阉宦共饮耶！ [MSC, simp.]

The world is crashing down upon us, and yet Your Majesty is enjoying wine with the eunuchs!

Tiānxià wēi zài dànxī, bìxià shàng zì yǔ yānhuàn gòng yǐn yē! [Pinyin]

in imminent danger; on the brink of crisis


名正言順

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (名正言順):
* → Vietnamese: danh chính ngôn thuận (名正言順)

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

минчжэнъяньшунь

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ sɵn²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun⁴¹/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sun³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ sun³³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ sɵn²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sun³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ sun³³/

Appeared in the Analects in the negative as 名不正，則言不順／名不正，则言不顺 (míng bù zhèng, zé yán bù shùn).

zh-l

to be fitting and proper; to be perfectly justified or deserved


草菅人命

ㄘㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

цаоцзяньжэньмин

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kuan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kuan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

to regard human life as if it were as worthless as straw


支離破碎

ㄓ ㄌㄧˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰui²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰui²¹/


截然不同

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

цзежаньбутун

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² liɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² ziɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² liɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² ziɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³/

to be completely different; to be poles apart


化險為夷

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˊ

хуа сянь вэй и

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i³⁵/

/faː³³ hiːm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː²¹/

/hua²¹⁻⁵³ hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i³⁵/

/faː³³ hiːm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː²¹/

/hua²¹⁻⁵³ hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/


日積月累

ㄖˋ ㄐㄧ ㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄟˇ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːt̚² lɵy̯²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui⁴¹/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui³³/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːt̚² lɵy̯²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui⁴¹/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui³³/

to accumulate over a long period; gradual accumulation


耀武揚威

ㄧㄠˋ ㄨˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄨㄟ

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²² mou̯¹³ jœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau⁴¹⁻²² bu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui³³/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻¹¹ bu¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ ui⁴⁴/

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²² mou̯¹³ jœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau⁴¹⁻²² bu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui³³/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻¹¹ bu¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ ui⁴⁴/

to prance about; to thump one's chest; to swagger about; to brag of one's military prowess


奮不顧身

ㄈㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄕㄣ

фэньбугушэнь

/fən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/fɐn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin³³/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin⁴⁴/

/fən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/fɐn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin³³/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin⁴⁴/

to dash ahead without regard to one's personal safety


飲水思源

desc

→ Vietnamese: uống nước nhớ nguồn (calque)

ㄧㄣˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄙ ㄩㄢˊ

иньшуйсыюань

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

From "Tune in the Key of Zhǐ" (徵調曲) written by Yu Xin (庾信) during the Northern and Southern dynasties:
:
落其實者思其樹；飲其流者懷其源。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]落其实者思其树；饮其流者怀其源。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Luò qí shí zhě sī qí shù; yǐn qí liú zhě huái qí yuán. [Pinyin]
When you eat the fruit, remember the trees that produced them; when you drink water, think of its source.
i.e. remember where and how the fruit/water came from. Don’t just be thankful for the fruit/water. The idiom makes use of the latter half: be thankful for all the elements and processes (both past and present) that allowed you to enjoy that humble cup of water.

zh-x

落 其 實 者 思 其 樹；飲 其 流 者 懷 其 源。

to remember where one's happiness comes from; to not forget one's roots or heritage


東道主

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² t͡syː³⁵/

/tɔŋ³³ tɔ²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ to³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² t͡syː³⁵/

/tɔŋ³³ tɔ²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ to³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹/

Attested in Zuo Zhuan (circa 4th century B.C.E.), in the entry for the 30th year of Duke Xi's reign (《左傳·僖公三十年》):
若捨鄭以為東道主，行李之往來，共其乏困，君亦無所害。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]若舍郑以为东道主，行李之往来，共其乏困，君亦无所害。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Ruò shě Zhèng yǐwéi dōngdàozhǔ, xínglǐ zhī wǎnglái, gòng qí fákùn, jūn yì wú suǒ hài. [Pinyin]
If you would spare Zheng as a host of the eastern roads, we are willing to provide hospitability and aid to your eastbound diplomatic missions. There could be no harm to you in this.
Uttered by Zhu Zhiwu (燭之武), a Zheng courtier, during his negotiation with the Count Mu of Qin (秦穆公) who was laying siege to the state of Zheng. Later used idiomatically as a generic term for a host.

4th century <small class='ce-date'>B.C.E.</small>

若 捨{shě} ^鄭 以為{wéi} 東道主，行李 之 往來，共 其 乏困，君 亦 無 所 害。

萬國爭推東道主 [MSC, trad.]
万国争推东道主 [MSC, simp.]

From: c. 1890, 黃遵憲 (Huang Zunxian), 〈蘇彝士河〉 ("Suez Canal")

host (person who receives or entertains other people as guests)


層出不窮

ㄘㄥˊ ㄔㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡san²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san¹³⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ put̚³²⁻⁵ kiɪŋ¹³/

/t͡san²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²³/

/t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰioŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰioŋ⁵⁵/

to emerge in an endless stream; to come thick and fast


門當戶對

desc

môn đăng hộ đối

CJKV/code

môn đăng hộ đối

Sino-Xenic (門當戶對):
* → Vietnamese: môn đăng hộ đối (門當戶對)

CJKV

môn đăng hộ đối

ㄇㄣˊ ㄉㄤ ㄏㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

мэньданхудуй

/mən³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²² tɵy̯³³/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻²¹ tui²¹/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻¹¹ tui¹¹/

/mən³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²² tɵy̯³³/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻²¹ tui²¹/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻¹¹ tui¹¹/

to be well-matched in terms of socio-economic status (for purposes of marriage); to have similar family backgrounds


精打細算

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄒㄧˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

цзиндасисуань

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ suan²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sŋ̍²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sue¹¹⁻⁵³ sŋ̍¹¹/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ suan²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sŋ̍²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sue¹¹⁻⁵³ sŋ̍¹¹/

careful calculation and strict budgeting


欣欣向榮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

синьсиньсянжун

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³ wɪŋ²¹/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him³³ him³³ hiɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ¹³/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iɪŋ²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³ wɪŋ²¹/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him³³ him³³ hiɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ¹³/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iɪŋ²³/

From a Fu by Tao Yuanming:
:
木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]木欣欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Yuanming, 《歸去來兮辭》, 405 CE
Mù xīnxīn yǐ xiàng róng, quán juānjuān ér shǐ liú. [Pinyin]
The trees thriving in luxuriance; the stream flowing leisurely from the spring.

zh-x

木 @欣欣 以 @向 @榮，泉 涓涓 而 始 流。

Tao Yuanming, 《歸去來兮辭》, 405 <small class="ce-date">CE</small>

這時全國各方面是欣欣向榮的，政治上有民主化的趨勢，文化上有較普遍的動員。 [MSC, trad.]
这时全国各方面是欣欣向荣的，政治上有民主化的趋势，文化上有较普遍的动员。 [MSC, simp.]

During that stage, there was a lively atmosphere in the country in every field; politically there was a trend towards democracy and culturally there was fairly widespread activity.

Zhèshí quánguó gèfāngmiàn shì xīnxīnxiàngróng de, zhèngzhì shàng yǒu mínzhǔhuà de qūshì, wénhuà shàng yǒu jiào pǔbiàn de dòngyuán. [Pinyin]


川流不息

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ liu²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ liu²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sʰuaŋ³³⁻²³ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰuaŋ³³⁻²³ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²/

2002, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “時光 [shíguāng, Time]”, in 時光·漫步 [Time, Stroll], performed by Xu Wei:
也許就在這一瞬間 你的笑容依然如晚霞般 在川流不息的時光中 神采飛揚 [MSC, trad.]
也许就在这一瞬间 你的笑容依然如晚霞般 在川流不息的时光中 神采飞扬 [MSC, simp.]

Perhaps just at this instant / Your smile was as bright as an afterglow / During the endless stream-like time

Yěxǔ jiù zài zhè yīshùnjiān, Nǐ de xiàoróng yīrán rú wǎnxiá bān, Zài chuānliúbùxī de shíguāng zhōng, Shéncǎifēiyáng [Pinyin]

(usually of traffic) flowing past in an endless stream


津津有味

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄟˋ

цзиньцзиньювэй

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin³³ tin³³ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin³³ tin³³ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

with great relish; with keen pleasure; with gusto


探頭探腦

ㄊㄢˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄢˋ ㄋㄠˇ

таньтоутаньнао

/tʰän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

/tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴ tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ nãu⁵³/

/tʰän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

/tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴ tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ nãu⁵³/


衣錦還鄉

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ицзиньхуаньсян

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻²² ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻²² ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

First attested in the Book of Liang:
:
高祖餞於新亭，謂曰：「卿衣錦還鄉，朕無西顧之憂矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]高祖饯于新亭，谓曰：「卿衣锦还乡，朕无西顾之忧矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 634, Yao Silian, Book of Liang
Gāozǔ jiàn yú Xīntíng, wèi yuē: “Qīng yījǐnháixiāng, zhèn wú xī gù zhī yōu yǐ.” [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this quotation)
The idiom is possibly derived from an analogy made by Xiang Yu, as recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han:
:
項王見秦宮皆以燒殘破，又心懷思欲東歸，曰：「富貴不歸故鄉，如衣錦夜行，誰知之者？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]项王见秦宫皆以烧残破，又心怀思欲东归，曰：「富贵不归故乡，如衣锦夜行，谁知之者？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Xiàng wáng jiàn Qín gōng jiē yǐ shāo cánpò, yòu xīnhuái sī yù dōng guī, yuē: “Fùguì bù guī gùxiāng, rú yījǐn yèxíng, shéi zhī zhī zhě?” [Pinyin]
Seeing the palace of Qin was burnt to the ground, Xiang Yu wondered if he should go eastward to his hometown, saying: "To not return home when one has made his fortune is like walking in the night with silken robes, who will notice?"

zh-q

^高-祖 餞 於 ^新亭，謂 曰：「卿 衣錦還鄉，朕 無 西 顧 之 憂 矣。」

^項 王 見 ^秦 宮 皆 以 燒 殘破，又 心懷 思 欲 東 歸，曰：「富貴 不 歸 故鄉，如 衣錦 夜行，誰 知 之 者？」

to return to one's hometown in silken robes

to return home a success; to return home in glory

Book of Han
Book of Liang
Records of the Grand Historian
Xiang Yu
Yao Silian


破釜沉舟

ㄆㄛˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄓㄡ

пофучэньчжоу

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

In reference to an incident which occurred during the Battle of Julu:
:
項羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沈船，破釜甑，燒廬舍，持三日糧，以示士卒必死，無一還心。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]项羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沉船，破釜甑，烧庐舍，持三日粮，以示士卒必死，无一还心。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Xiàng Yǔ nǎi xī yǐn bīng dù Hé, jiē chén chuán, pò fǔ zèng, shāo lúshè, chí sān rì liáng, yǐ shì shìzú bì sǐ, wú yī huán xīn. [Pinyin]
Thus Xiang Yu led his entire army across the River He (i.e. the Yellow River). He had all the boats sunk, the caldrons and clay boilers broken, and the camp lodgings burned. He further ordered that only three days' provisions should be carried. With these measures, he showed that every man was now ready to die and none of them would entertain the very idea of returning.

zh-x

^項 ^羽 乃 悉 引 兵 渡 ^河，皆 沈􂀿沉􂁀{chén} 船，破 釜 甑，燒 廬舍，持 三 日 糧，以 示 士卒 必 死，無 一 還{huán} 心。

break the (cooking) pots and sink the boat

to burn one's boats; to cross the Rubicon; to reach the point of no return


怨天尤人

ㄩㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юаньтяньюжэнь

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):
:
子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下學而上達，知我者，其天乎！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下学而上达，知我者，其天乎！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Bù yuàn tiān, bù yóu rén, xià xué ér shàng dá, zhī wǒ zhě, qí tiān hū!” [Pinyin]
The Master replied, "I do not murmur against Heaven. I do not grumble against men. My studies lie low, and my penetration rises high. But there is Heaven - that knows me!"

子曰：「不 @怨 @天，不 @尤 @人，下 學 而 上 達，知 我 者，其 天 乎！」

to blame god and man; to blame everyone and everything but oneself


一心一意

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

heart and soul; wholeheartedly; with great devotion


萬家燈火

ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ваньцзядэнхо

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/


狼心狗行

ㄌㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

лан синь гоу син

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/


雪上加霜

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (雪上加霜):
* → Korean: 설상가상(雪上加霜) (seolsanggasang)

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄕㄨㄤ

сюэшанцзяшуан

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

add insult to injury
add insult to injury

rub salt in the wound
rub salt in the wound

(figurative) to make a bad situation worse; to add insult to injury; to rub salt in the wound


明目張膽

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄓㄤ ㄉㄢˇ

минмучжандань

/miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹/

/meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mak̚⁴⁻² t͡siaŋ³³⁻²³ tã⁵²/

/miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹/

/meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mak̚⁴⁻² t͡siaŋ³³⁻²³ tã⁵²/


同舟共濟

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄡ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

тунчжоугунцзи

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡se⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡se⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

From The Art of War:
:
夫吳人與越人相惡也，當其同舟而濟，遇風，其相救也如左右手。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫吴人与越人相恶也，当其同舟而济，遇风，其相救也如左右手。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Art of War, circa 5ᵗʰ century BCE
Fū Wú rén yǔ Yuè rén xiàng è yě, dāng qí tóng zhōu ér jì, yù fēng, qí xiàng jiù yě rú zuǒ yòu shǒu. [Pinyin]
For the men of Wu and the men of Yue are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right.

zh-x

夫 ^吳 人 與 ^越 人 相 惡 也，當 其 同 舟 而 濟，遇 風，其 相 救 也 如 左 右 手。

to work together to overcome difficulties; to pull together in times of trouble


絕處逢生

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

цзюэчуфэншэн

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰyː³³ fʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡suat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰyː³³ fʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to get saved at a critical moment; to survive a crisis; to be unexpectedly rescued from a desperate situation


死不瞑目

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/


十全十美

ㄕˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕˊ ㄇㄟˇ

шицюаньшимэй

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐp̚² mei̯¹³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sŋ̍²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/zəʔ¹¹ ʑi²³ zəʔ¹¹ me²³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐp̚² mei̯¹³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sŋ̍²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/zəʔ¹¹ ʑi²³ zəʔ¹¹ me²³/

人生沒你怎算十全十美 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
人生没你怎算十全十美 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

From: 2016, 郭之儀 (lyrics and music), 十全十美, performed by 蔡秋鳳 [Kerris Tsai]

How can life without you count as perfect?

lîn-seng bô lí chóaⁿ sǹg si̍p-choân-si̍p-bí [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]


無精打采

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁴¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁴¹/

可是有一段，陸小璐突然變得無精打采起來，雖然天天還是一大早就起來化妝，試穿漂亮衣服，但她的精神明顯沒有過去好。 [MSC, trad.]
可是有一段，陆小璐突然变得无精打采起来，虽然天天还是一大早就起来化妆，试穿漂亮衣服，但她的精神明显没有过去好。 [MSC, simp.]

One day though Lu suddenly turned listless. Even though she still put on makeup in the morning and tried on clothes, she was no longer in such a good mood as she used to be.

Kěshì yǒu yī duàn, Lù Xiǎolù tūrán biàndé wújīngdǎcǎi qǐlái, suīrán tiāntiān háishì yīdàzǎo jiù qǐlái huàzhuāng, shìchuān piàoliàng yīfú, dàn tā de jīngshén míngxiǎn méiyǒu guòqù hǎo. [Pinyin]


守口如瓶

to shut one's mouth tight like a bottle.

ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ pan²³/

放心，我會守口如瓶的。 [MSC, trad.]
放心，我会守口如瓶的。 [MSC, simp.]

Fàngxīn, wǒ huì shǒukǒurúpíng de. [Pinyin]

keep one's mouth shut
keep one's mouth shut

to keep one's mouth shut; to remain tight-lipped


自由自在

ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ (j)i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu¹³⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu²⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ iu²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sai³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ (j)i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu¹³⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu²⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ iu²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sai³⁵/


畫蛇添足

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (畫蛇添足):
* → Japanese: 画(が)蛇(だ)添(てん)足(そく) (gada tensoku); 画(が)蛇(じゃ)添(てん)足(そく) (gaja tensoku)
* → Korean: 화사첨족(畫蛇添足) (hwasacheomjok)
* → Vietnamese: hoạ xà thiêm túc (畫蛇添足)

→ Vietnamese: vẽ rắn thêm chân (calque)

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄕㄜˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗㄨˊ

хуашэтяньцзу

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/waːk̚² sɛː²¹ tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/fa⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sa¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ t͡siʊk̚¹/

/hua²²⁻²¹ sia²⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɔk̚³²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/waːk̚² sɛː²¹ tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/fa⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sa¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ t͡siʊk̚¹/

/hua²²⁻²¹ sia²⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɔk̚³²/

From Annals of the Warring States:
:
楚有祠者，賜其舍人卮酒，舍人相謂曰：「數人飲之不足，一人飲之有餘，請畫地為蛇，先成者飲酒。」一人蛇先成，引酒且飲之，乃左手持卮，右手畫蛇曰：「吾能為之足。」未成，一人之蛇成，奪其卮曰：「蛇固無足，子安能為之足？」遂飲其酒。為蛇足者，終亡其酒。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]楚有祠者，赐其舍人卮酒，舍人相谓曰：「数人饮之不足，一人饮之有余，请画地为蛇，先成者饮酒。」一人蛇先成，引酒且饮之，乃左手持卮，右手画蛇曰：「吾能为之足。」未成，一人之蛇成，夺其卮曰：「蛇固无足，子安能为之足？」遂饮其酒。为蛇足者，终亡其酒。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Chǔ yǒu cí zhě, cì qí shè rén zhī jiǔ, shè rén xiāng wèi yuē: “Shù rén yǐn zhī bùzú, yī rén yǐn zhī yǒuyú, qǐng huà dì wéi shé, xiān chéng zhě yǐnjiǔ.” Yī rén shé xiān chéng, yǐn jiǔ qiě yǐn zhī, nǎi zuǒshǒu chí zhī, yòu shǒu huà shé yuē: “Wú néng wéi zhī zú.” Wèi chéng, yī rén zhī shé chéng, duó qí zhī yuē: “Shé gù wú zú, zǐ ān néng wéi zhī zú?” Suì yǐn qí jiǔ. Wéi shé zú zhě, zhōng wáng qí jiǔ. [Pinyin]
Once, there was a host of a sacrificial ceremony in Chu. He gave a jug of wine to his servants. The servants discussed with each other, saying: “This jug of wine is not enough for all of us to drink, but abundant for one of us to drink. We'll all draw a snake on the ground, with the one who draws the fastest getting the wine.” One man finished first. He grabbed the wine jug and was about to drink. Holding the jug of wine in his left hand, he said: “I can draw feet for the snake.” and started drawing the feet with his right hand. Before he had finished drawing the feet, another man finished drawing his snake, snatched the wine and said: "A snake actually has no feet, how can you draw feet on a snake?" Then, he drank the wine. The one who added feet to the snake lost the wine in the end.

zh-x

楚 有 祠 者，賜 其 舍 人 卮 酒，舍 人 相{xiāng} 謂 曰：「數 人 飲 之 不足，一 人 飲 之 有餘，請 畫 地 為{wéi} 蛇，先 成 者 飲酒。」一 人 蛇 先 成，引 酒 且 飲 之，乃 左手 持 卮，右 手 畫 蛇 曰：「吾 能 為{wéi} 之 足。」未 成，一 人 之 蛇 成，奪 其 卮 曰：「蛇 固 無 足，子 安 能 為{wéi} 之 足？」遂 飲 其 酒。為{wéi} 蛇 足 者，終 亡 其 酒。

(figurative, derogatory) to improve something unnecessarily; to gild the lily


約定俗成

ㄩㄝ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jœːk̚³ tɪŋ²² t͡sʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³/

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jœːk̚³ tɪŋ²² t͡sʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³/

元宵節賞花燈是約定俗成的習俗。 [MSC, trad.]
元宵节赏花灯是约定俗成的习俗。 [MSC, simp.]

It is customary to put up lanterns during the Lantern Festival.

Yuánxiāojié shǎng huādēng shì yuēdìngsúchéng de xísú. [Pinyin]

conventional; customary; socially fixed; having an unwritten law


一刀兩斷

ja-r

一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一刀兩斷):
* → Japanese: 一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)
* → Korean: 일도양단(一刀兩斷) (ildoyangdan)
* → Vietnamese: nhất đao lưỡng đoạn (一刀兩斷)

ㄧ ㄉㄠ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

идаоляндуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

但這孩子卻也有可敬的地方：他的從容，他的沉默，他的獨斷獨行，他的一去不回頭，都是力的表現，都是強者適者的表現。決不婆婆媽媽的，決不粘粘搭搭的，一針見血，一刀兩斷，這正是白種人之所以為白種人。 [MSC, trad.]
但这孩子却也有可敬的地方：他的从容，他的沉默，他的独断独行，他的一去不回头，都是力的表现，都是强者适者的表现。决不婆婆妈妈的，决不粘粘搭搭的，一针见血，一刀两断，这正是白种人之所以为白种人。 [MSC, simp.]

But there was something about the child that could be respected. His leisurely way, his reticence, his arbitrariness, his way of walking ahead without looking back. These were manifestations of his power, the power of the strongest, of the fittest. The child was, by no means, overly careful, or irresolute. The child could hit the nail on the head and make a clean break. The child was a quintessential Caucasian.

Dàn zhè háizi què yě yǒu kějìng de dìfang: tā de cóngróng, tā de chénmò, tā de dúduàndúxíng, tā de yī qù bù huítóu, dōu shì lì de biǎoxiàn, dōu shì qiángzhě shìzhě de biǎoxiàn. Juébù pópomāma de, juébù niánniándādā de, yīzhēnjiànxiě, yīdāoliǎngduàn, zhè zhèngshì báizhǒngrén zhī suǒ yǐ wéi báizhǒngrén. [Pinyin]

to sever with one blow; to make a clean break


真才實學

ㄓㄣ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ

чжэньцайшисюэ

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/


立竿見影

ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄥˇ

лиганьцзяньин

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

情況十分危急，我們需要一個立竿見影的解決方法。 [MSC, trad.]
情况十分危急，我们需要一个立竿见影的解决方法。 [MSC, simp.]

The situation is very urgent; we need a solution with immediate effect.

Qíngkuàng shífēn wēijí, wǒmen xūyào yī ge lìgānjiànyǐng de jiějué fāngfǎ. [Pinyin]

producing instant results; having immediate effect


栩栩如生

ㄒㄩˇ ㄒㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄥ

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

to appear lifelike and vivid; vividly; realistically


同歸於盡

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

тунгуйюйцзинь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/


不由分說

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄣ ㄕㄨㄛ

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

to allow no expectation; without listening to somebody's protests; despite objections


雪中送炭

to delivercoal to someone on a snowy day

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄢˋ

сюэчжунсунтань

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/


一模一樣

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iũ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔ¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ iɔ̃²²/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ moʔ⁴⁴ iɪʔ⁵⁵ ɦiã⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iũ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔ¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ iɔ̃²²/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ moʔ⁴⁴ iɪʔ⁵⁵ ɦiã⁵¹/


對牛彈琴

Sino-Xenic (對牛彈琴):
* → Korean: 대우탄금(對牛彈琴) (dae'utan'geum)
* → Vietnamese: đối ngưu đàn cầm (對牛彈琴)

ja-r

牛 に 対 して 琴 を 弾ず

うし に たい して こと を だんず

→ Japanese: 牛(うし)に対(たい)して琴(こと)を弾(だん)ず (ushi ni tai shite koto o danzu) (calque)

→ Vietnamese: đàn gảy tai trâu (calque)

desc

สีซอให้ควายฟัง

→ Thai: สีซอให้ควายฟัง (sǐi-sɔɔ-hâi-kwaai-fang) (calque)

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄊㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

дуйнютаньцинь

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɐu̯²¹ tʰaːn²¹ kʰɐm²¹/

/tu̯i⁵⁵ ŋi̯u¹¹ tʰan¹¹ kʰim¹¹/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu¹³⁻²² tuã¹³⁻²² kʰim¹³/

/tui¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuã²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡu²³⁻³³ tuã²³⁻³³ kʰim²³/

/tui²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tũã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰim⁵⁵/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɐu̯²¹ tʰaːn²¹ kʰɐm²¹/

/tu̯i⁵⁵ ŋi̯u¹¹ tʰan¹¹ kʰim¹¹/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡu²⁴⁻²² tuã²⁴⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡu¹³⁻²² tuã¹³⁻²² kʰim¹³/

/tui¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuã²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰim²⁴/

/tui²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡu²³⁻³³ tuã²³⁻³³ kʰim²³/

/tui²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tũã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰim⁵⁵/

First attested in c. 3rd century CE in the story of the Warring States-era musician Gongming Yi (公明儀) playing the zither to a cow, recorded in Mouzi Lihuolun. Mouzi used this example to illustrate the correct way to explain Buddhism to people with Confucian backgrounds.
:
公明儀為牛彈《清角》之操，伏食如故。非牛不聞，不合其耳矣。轉為蚊虻之聲、孤犢之鳴，即掉尾、奮耳，蹀躞而聽。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]公明仪为牛弹《清角》之操，伏食如故。非牛不闻，不合其耳矣。转为蚊虻之声、孤犊之鸣，即掉尾、奋耳，蹀躞而听。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Sengyou, Hongming Ji, c. 5ᵗʰ Century AD
Gōngmíng Yí wèi niú dàn “Qīngjiǎo” zhī cāo, fú shí rúgù. Fēi niú bù wén, bù hé qí ěr yǐ. Zhuǎn wèi wén méng zhī shēng, gū dú zhī míng, jí diào wěi, fèn ěr, diéxiè ér tīng. [Pinyin]
Gongming Yi played the song Qing Jue to a cow. It continued eating grass as if nothing had happened. [The problem] was not that the cow did not listen, it was [the music] not suitable for the cow's ears instead. He then made noises of mosquitoes, flies, and lone calves, and the cow started wagging its tail, turned its ears, and listened while strolling.

etydate

3rd century <small class='ce-date'>CE</small>

zh-x

@^公明 @^儀 為 牛 彈 《 @^清角 》 之 操 ， 伏 食 如故 。 非 牛 不 聞 ， 不 合 其 耳 矣 。 轉 為 蚊 虻 之 聲 、 孤 犢 之 鳴 ， 即 掉 尾 、 奮 耳， 蹀躞 而 聽 。

Gongming Yi played the song Qing Jue to a cow. It continued eating grass as if nothing had happened. 􂀿The problem􂁀 was not that the cow did not listen, it was 􂀿the music􂁀 not suitable for the cow's ears instead. He then made noises of mosquitoes, flies, and lone calves, and the cow started wagging its tail, turned its ears, and listened while strolling.

talk to a brick wall
talk to a brick wall

to talk about something that one's listener can not understand or turns a deaf ear to; to talk to a brick wall

Mouzi Lihuolun
Sengyou
Warring States
zh:弘明集


不得而知

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄦˊ ㄓ

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tit̚⁵⁻²⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ tit̚³²⁻⁵ li¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tit̚⁵⁻²⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ tit̚³²⁻⁵ li¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

to be unable to know or find out; to remain unknown; to be unable to ascertain


引人注目

ㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ

иньжэньчжуму

inʹžɛnʹčžumu

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡syː³³ mʊk̚²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ¹³⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su¹¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su²¹⁻⁴¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡syː³³ mʊk̚²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡su⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bɔk̚²⁴/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ¹³⁻²² t͡su²¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚¹²¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su¹¹⁻⁵³ bɔk̚⁴/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡su²¹⁻⁴¹ bɔk̚⁴/

to draw attention; to catch people's eyes; to stand out; to be conspicuous


順其自然

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄗˋ ㄖㄢˊ

шуньцицзыжань

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡siː²² jiːn²¹/

/sun³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ziɛn²³/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡siː²² jiːn²¹/

/sun³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ziɛn²³/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

let nature take its course
let nature take its course

to let it be; to let nature take its course; que sera sera


一臂之力

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ liak̚²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ liak̚²⁴/

我會助你一臂之力。 [MSC, trad.]
我会助你一臂之力。 [MSC, simp.]


水中撈月

水中捞月
水中捉月
水底摸月
海中撈月
海底撈月

to scoop (the reflection of) the moon out of the water

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄠ ㄩㄝˋ

шуйчжунлаоюэ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuat̚⁴/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuat̚⁴/

(figurative) to make a hopeless, futile or vain effort at doing something; to ask for the moon


青出於藍

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (青出於藍):
* → Korean: 청출어람(靑出於藍) (cheongchureoram)

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ lam²³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ nã²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ nã²³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ lam²³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ nã²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ nã²³/

Short for 青出於藍，而青於藍／青出于蓝，而青于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán, ér qīng yú lán, “Blue is obtained from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself”).

zh-short

(figurative) the student has surpassed his or her teacher


眾所周知

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄡ ㄓ

чжунсочжоучжи

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu³³ ti³³/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ so⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡siu³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu³³ ti³³/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

as everyone knows; as is known to all; it is well-known that; it is common knowledge that


殺一儆百

ㄕㄚ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄞˇ

/ʂä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪk̚³²/

/ʂä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪk̚³²/


總而言之

ㄗㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ

цзунъэряньчжи

/t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

all things considered
all things considered


精疲力盡

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цзинпилицзинь

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɵn²²/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰi²³⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰi²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɵn²²/


徹頭徹尾

ㄔㄜˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄔㄜˋ ㄨㄟˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ mei̯¹³/

/tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ bue⁵³/

/tʰiak̚²⁻⁴ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰiak̚²⁻⁴ bue⁵²⁻²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ mei̯¹³/

/tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ bue⁵³/

呢一件事呢，係一個徹頭徹尾嘅暴亂嘅事件。 [Cantonese, trad.]
呢一件事呢，系一个彻头彻尾嘅暴乱嘅事件。 [Cantonese, simp.]
nei¹ jat¹ gin⁶ si⁶ ne¹, hai⁶ jat¹ go³ cit³ tau⁴ cit³ mei⁵ ge³ bou⁶ lyun⁶ ge³ si⁶ gin⁶⁻². [Jyutping]

From: 2016: 林鄭月娥 (Carrie Lam), 旺角事件屬暴亂 莫以藉口作掩飾


春夏秋冬

ja-r

春夏秋冬(しゅんかしゅうとう) (shunkashūtō)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (春夏秋冬):
* → Japanese: 春夏秋冬(しゅんかしゅうとう) (shunkashūtō)
* → Korean: 춘하추동(春夏秋冬) (chunhachudong)
* → Vietnamese: xuân hạ thu đông (春夏秋冬)

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄉㄨㄥ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ tuŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ha⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴ tʊŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰuŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ŋa²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ ^((t͡sʰ-))ʒieu⁵⁵ ⁽ᵗ⁻⁾løyŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun³³ ha⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiu³³ taŋ³³/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ ɦia³³ t͡ɕʰiɤ³³ toŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ tuŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ha⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴ tʊŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun³³ ha⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiu³³ taŋ³³/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ ɦia³³ t͡ɕʰiɤ³³ toŋ²¹/

four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter; a year


小題大作

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰe²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰe²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

make a mountain out of a molehill
make a mountain out of a molehill

blow out of proportion
blow out of proportion

to make a fuss over a trifling matter; to make a mountain out of a molehill; to blow out of proportion


變本加厲

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄣˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄧˋ

бяньбэньцзяли

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/piːn³³ puːn³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ lɐi̯²²/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻²² le²²/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/piːn³³ puːn³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ lɐi̯²²/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³/

/piɛn²¹⁻⁵³ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻²² le²²/

From the preface of Wenxuan (文選 (wénxuǎn)) by Xiao Tong (蕭統):
:
蓋踵其事而增華，變其本而加厲。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]盖踵其事而增华，变其本而加厉。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Gài zhǒng qí shì ér zēng huá, biàn qí běn ér jiā lì. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

蓋 踵 其 事 而 增 華，變 其 本 而 加 厲。

to get worse; to become aggravated; to intensify one's effort to do something wrong


甜言蜜語

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ mi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

/tiam²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bik̚⁴⁻² ɡɯ⁵²/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ mi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

/tiam²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bik̚⁴⁻² ɡɯ⁵²/

sweet words and honeyed phrases; cajolery


半途而廢

ㄅㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˋ

/pän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ jiː²¹ fɐi̯³³/

/puan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hue²¹/

/pän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ jiː²¹ fɐi̯³³/

/puan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hue²¹/

From the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) in the Book of Rites:
:
子曰：「素隱行怪，後世有述焉，吾弗為之矣。君子遵道而行，半涂而廢，吾弗能已矣。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「素隐行怪，后世有述焉，吾弗为之矣。君子遵道而行，半涂而废，吾弗能已矣。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Sù yǐn xíng guài, hòushì yǒu shù yān, wú fú wéi zhī yǐ. Jūnzǐ zūn dào ér xíng, bàntú ér fèi, wú fúnéng yǐ yǐ....... [Pinyin]
The Master said, "To live in obscurity, and yet practice wonders, in order to be mentioned with honor in future ages: this is what I do not do. The good man tries to proceed according to the right path, but when he has gone halfway, he abandons it: I am not able so to stop. […]

子曰：「素 隱 行 怪，後世 有 述 焉，吾 弗 為{wéi} 之 矣。君子 遵 道 而 行，@半涂.而.廢，吾 弗-能 已 矣。……

to give up halfway through a task; to not finish what one has started


千言萬語

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

цяньяньваньюй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ iɛn²¹ uan²¹³ y⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ maːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ iɛn²¹ uan²¹³ y⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ maːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

thousands and thousands of words; to have much to say


東山再起

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄗㄞˋ ㄑㄧˇ

дуншаньцзайци

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ hei̯³⁵/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi⁴¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ hei̯³⁵/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi⁴¹/

Based on Xie An (謝安) of the Jin (晉) dynasty, who quit his office and lived in seclusion in Dongshan (a mountain in Zhejiang, China), but later returned to office.

to come back from a previous failure; to rise again


重男輕女

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (重男輕女):
* → Korean: 중남경녀(重男輕女) (jungnamgyeongnyeo)
* → Vietnamese: trọng nam khinh nữ (重男輕女)

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄋㄩˇ

чжуннаньциннюй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² naːm²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³/

/tiɔŋ²² lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁴¹/

/toŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiŋ³³⁻²³ nɯŋ⁵²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² naːm²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³/

/tiɔŋ²² lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁴¹/

/toŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiŋ³³⁻²³ nɯŋ⁵²/

valuing men and belittling women; favouring boys over girls


針鋒相對

ㄓㄣ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чжэньфэнсяндуй

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

to be diametrically opposed; to be in sharp opposition; to go toe-to-toe with somebody in action or speech; to give tit for tat


沾沾自喜

ㄓㄢ ㄓㄢ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧˇ

чжаньчжаньцзыси

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiam⁴⁴⁻²² tiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiam⁴⁴⁻²² tiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

不要沾沾自喜於一得之功。 [MSC, trad.]
不要沾沾自喜于一得之功。 [MSC, simp.]

Don't be complacent over an occasional/minor/single success.

Bùyào zhānzhānzìxǐ yú yīdézhīgōng. [Pinyin]

庸俗的事務主義家不是這樣，他們尊重經驗而看輕理論，因而不能通觀客觀過程的全體，缺乏明確的方針，沒有遠大的前途，沾沾自喜於一得之功和一孔之見。 [MSC, trad.]
庸俗的事务主义家不是这样，他们尊重经验而看轻理论，因而不能通观客观过程的全体，缺乏明确的方针，没有远大的前途，沾沾自喜于一得之功和一孔之见。 [MSC, simp.]

As against this, vulgar “practical people” respect experience but despise theory, and therefore cannot have a comprehensive view of an entire objective process, lack clear direction and long-range perspective, and are complacent over occasional successes and glimpses of the truth.

Yōngsú de shìwùzhǔyìjiā bùshì zhèyàng, tāmen zūnzhòng jīngyàn ér kànqīng lǐlùn, yīn'ér bùnéng tōngguān kèguān guòchéng de quántǐ, quēfá míngquè de fāngzhēn, méiyǒu yuǎndà de qiántú, zhānzhānzìxǐ yú yīdézhīgōng hé yīkǒngzhījiàn. [Pinyin]

to feel complacent; to be pleased with oneself


白頭偕老

ㄅㄞˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄠˇ

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰɔ²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lo⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹/

/peʔ⁴⁻² tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ lau⁵²/

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰɔ²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lo⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹/

/peʔ⁴⁻² tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ lau⁵²/

(said of a couple) to live together until the white hairs of old age; to live to a ripe old age in conjugal bliss until death do us part; to remain happily married to a ripe old age


一生一世

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sẽ³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² si²¹³/

/iɪʔ³³ sã⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ sz̩²¹/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ sã²³ iɪʔ⁵⁵ sz̩ʷ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sẽ³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² si²¹³/

/iɪʔ³³ sã⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ sz̩²¹/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ sã²³ iɪʔ⁵⁵ sz̩ʷ⁵¹/

我哋呢班打工仔 一生一世為錢幣做奴隸 [Cantonese, trad.]
我哋呢班打工仔 一生一世为钱币做奴隶 [Cantonese, simp.]

From: 1977 March 26, Theme Song, The Private Eyes (半斤八兩), sung by Sam Hui (許冠傑) at the 1st Hong Kong Gold Disc Award Presentation (第一屆香港金唱片頒獎典禮)

Working folks like us slaving for money our entire lives

ngo⁵ dei⁶ ne¹ baan¹ daa² gung¹ zai², jat¹ sang¹ jat¹ sai³ wai⁴ cin⁴ bai⁶ zou⁶ nou⁴ dai⁶ [Jyutping]


人山人海

Sino-Xenic (人山人海):
* → Korean: 인산인해(人山人海) (insaninhae)

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄞˇ

жэньшаньжэньхай

žɛnʹšanʹžɛnʹxaj

/ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ saːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋin¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋin¹¹ hoɪ³¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³/

/zin²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ saːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋin¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋin¹¹ hoɪ³¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³/

/zin²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹/

A chengyu expressing the idea of "a mountain (山 (shān)) of people (人 (rén)), a sea (海 (hǎi)) of people (人 (rén))".


驚天動地

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄧˋ

цзинтяньдунди

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²⁻²¹ te²²/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²⁻²¹ te²²/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

(of sound or influence) world-shaking; earth-shattering


長途跋涉

ㄔㄤˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄅㄚˊ ㄕㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pɐt̚² siːp̚³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puak̚⁴⁻² siap̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pɐt̚² siːp̚³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puak̚⁴⁻² siap̚⁴/


不知不覺

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

2002, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “時光 [shíguāng, Time]”, in 時光·漫步 [Time, Stroll], performed by Xu Wei:
在不知不覺的一瞬間 又想起你 [MSC, trad.]
在不知不觉的一瞬间 又想起你 [MSC, simp.]

In an instant / I remembered you unconsciously

Zài bùzhībùjué de yīshùnjiān, Yòu xiǎngqǐ nǐ [Pinyin]


無所不為

Sino-Xenic (無所不為):
* → Korean: 무소불위(無所不爲) (musoburwi)

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

to stop at nothing; to do all manner of evil


七嘴八舌

ㄑㄧ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄚ ㄕㄜˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paːt̚³ siːt̚²/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁴¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui¹¹⁻⁵³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siʔ⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paːt̚³ siːt̚²/

a discussion with everybody talking at once


並駕齊驅

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄑㄩ

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/pɪŋ²² kaː³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ ka²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²³⁻³³ kʰu⁴⁴/

/piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰu⁴⁴/

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/pɪŋ²² kaː³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/piɪŋ³³⁻²¹ ka²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²³⁻³³ kʰu⁴⁴/

/piɪŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰu⁴⁴/

他曾盡力和他的敵手並駕齊驅的。 [MSC, trad.]
他曾尽力和他的敌手并驾齐驱的。 [MSC, simp.]

Tā céng jìnlì hé tā de díshǒu bìngjiàqíqū de. [Pinyin]

那兩匹馬並駕齊驅，同時跑到終點。 [MSC, trad.]
那两匹马并驾齐驱，同时跑到终点。 [MSC, simp.]

The two horses were neck and neck at the finish file.

Nà liǎng pǐ mǎ bìngjiàqíqū, tóngshí pǎo dào zhōngdiǎn. [Pinyin]

繪圖文字和口頭語言很可能是並駕齊驅發展起來的。 [MSC, trad.]
绘图文字和口头语言很可能是并驾齐驱发展起来的。 [MSC, simp.]

Picture language and oral language probably developed side by side.

Huìtú wénzì hé kǒutóu yǔyán hěn kěnéng shì bìngjiàqíqū fāzhǎn qǐlái de. [Pinyin]

(figurative) to keep pace with; to keep abreast of; to advance at an equal pace with; to run neck and neck; to be on a par with


非同小可

ㄈㄟ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄎㄜˇ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/

/fei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³/


心滿意足

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄇㄢˇ ㄧˋ ㄗㄨˊ

синьманьицзу

/ɕin⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ muːn¹³ jiː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim³³ muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡siɔk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ muːn¹³ jiː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim³³ muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡siɔk̚⁵/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡siɔk̚³²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡siɔk̚³²/


息息相關

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄢ

ㄒㄧˊ ㄒㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄢ

сисисянгуань

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/ɕi³⁵ ɕi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/sek̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²³ kuaŋ³³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/ɕi³⁵ ɕi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴⁴/

/sek̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²³ kuaŋ³³/

to be closely linked; to be closely bound up


一意孤行

ㄧ ㄧˋ ㄍㄨ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³ kuː⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔ³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³ kuː⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔ³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɪŋ²³/

to insist on doing things one's own way; to cling obstinately to one's course; to persist in wilful and arbitrary actions


海底摸針

ㄏㄞˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄇㄛ ㄓㄣ

хайдимочжэнь

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hoi̯³¹ tai̯³¹ mi̯a²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨm²⁴/

/hai³³⁻³⁵ tɛ³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ muo⁵⁵ t͡sɛiŋ⁵⁵/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ mɔ̃⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hoi̯³¹ tai̯³¹ mi̯a²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɨm²⁴/

/hai³³⁻³⁵ tɛ³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ muo⁵⁵ t͡sɛiŋ⁵⁵/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹ bɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siam⁴⁴/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³ mɔ̃⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siam⁴⁴/

海底摸針相思海，摸針戇大呆。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
海底摸针相思海，摸针戆大呆。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

Hái-tóe-bong-chiam siuⁿ-si hái, bong chiam gōng-tōa-tai. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

可惜人海茫茫，要找會合的人，喔～，親像海底摸針，阮早就無央望。 [Hokkien, trad.]
可惜人海茫茫，要找会合的人，喔～，亲像海底摸针，阮早就无央望。 [Hokkien, simp.]
Khó-sioh lîn-hái bâng-bâng, beh chhē ē-ha̍h ê lâng, o͘h ~, chhin-chhiūⁿ hái-té-bong-chiam, gún chá-tiō bô ǹg-bāng. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

From: 2013, 江蕙 (Jody Chiang) feat. 陳嘉樺 (Ella Chen), 歹逗陣

Unfortunately, there is a vast sea of people, whoa. To look for someone who can get along with me is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I've got no hope early on.

a needle in a haystack
a needle in a haystack


以身作則

ㄧˇ ㄕㄣ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄜˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sɐk̚⁵/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ siŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚²/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sɐk̚⁵/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪk̚³²/

/ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ siŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚²/


目中無人

ㄇㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

мучжунъужэнь

mučžunʺužɛnʹ

/mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

to be prideful; to be haughty; to be arrogant


殺人越貨

ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ jɐn²¹ jyːt̚² fɔː³³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² uat̚⁴⁻³² he²¹/

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ jɐn²¹ jyːt̚² fɔː³³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² uat̚⁴⁻³² he²¹/

to kill somebody for their property; to murder for money