一應俱全

ㄧ ㄧㄥ ㄐㄩˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

иинцзюйцюань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ku⁴¹⁻²² t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ku³³⁻¹¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ku³³⁻²¹ t͡suan²³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ku⁴¹⁻²² t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ku³³⁻¹¹ t͡suan²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ku³³⁻²¹ t͡suan²³/


一德一心

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

嗚呼！乃一德一心，立定厥功，惟克永世。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
呜呼！乃一德一心，立定厥功，惟克永世。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

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

Oh! unite your energies, unite your hearts; so shall you forthwith surely accomplish the work, to last for all ages!

Wūhū! Nǎi yīdéyīxīn, lì dìng jué gōng, wéi kè yǒngshì. [Pinyin]


一心一德

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

共產黨人一心一德，忠實執行自己的宣言。 [MSC, trad.]
共产党人一心一德，忠实执行自己的宣言。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1937, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《反對日本進攻的方針、辦法和前途》 (Policies, Measures and Perspectives for Resisting the Japanese Invasion), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

We Communists are whole-heartedly and faithfully carrying out our own manifesto.

Gòngchǎndǎngrén yīxīnyīdé, zhōngshí zhíxíng zìjǐ de xuānyán. [Pinyin]


一瀉千里

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɛː³³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɛː³³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/


一蟹不如一蟹

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

yī xiè bùrú yī xiè [Phonetic:yí xiè bùrú yí xiè]

и се бужу и се

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ haːi̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵ haːi̯¹³/

From Words of Aizi by Su Shi:
:
艾子行於海上，見一物圓而褊，且多足，問居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「蝤蛑也。」既又見一物，圓褊多足，問居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「螃蟹也。」又於後得一物，狀貌皆若前所見而極小，問居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「彭越也。」艾子喟然嘆曰：「何一蟹不如一蟹也！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]艾子行于海上，见一物圆而褊，且多足，问居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「蝤蛑也。」既又见一物，圆褊多足，问居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「螃蟹也。」又于后得一物，状貌皆若前所见而极小，问居人曰：「此何物也？」曰：「彭越也。」艾子喟然叹曰：「何一蟹不如一蟹也！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Su Shi, 《艾子雜說》 (Words of Aizi)
Àizǐ xíng yú hǎi shàng, jiàn yī wù yuán ér biǎn, qiě duō zú, wèn jūrén yuē: “Cǐ hé wù yě?” Yuē: “Qiúmóu yě.” Jì yòu jiàn yī wù, yuán biǎn duō zú, wèn jūrén yuē: “Cǐ hé wù yě?” Yuē: “Pángxiè yě.” Yòu yú hòu dé yī wù, zhuàngmào jiē ruò qián suǒ jiàn ér jí xiǎo, wèn jūrén yuē: “Cǐ hé wù yě?” Yuē: “Péngyuè yě.” Àizǐ kuìrán tàn yuē: “Hé yīxièbùrúyīxiè yě!” [Pinyin]
Aizi was strolling by the sea. He saw a round and flat creature with many legs. He asked a local person, "What is this?" "It's a swimming crab (Portunidae)," answered that person. Then Aizi saw another creature, also round and flat, with many legs. Aizi then asked, "What is this?" "It's a common crab (Brachyura)." After that Aizi saw another creature again. It looked like those he just saw but was very small. He asked, "What is this?" "It's an sesarmid crab (Sesarmidae)." Aizi then sighed and said, "Why each crab I saw is smaller than the one before?"

zh-x

@艾子 行 於 海 上 ， 見 一 物 圓 而 褊 ， 且 多 足 ， 問 居人 曰 ： 「此 何 物 也 ？ 」 曰 ： 「 蝤蛑 也 。 」 既 又 見 一 物 ， 圓 褊 多 足 ， 問 居人 曰 ： 「此 何 物 也 ？ 」 曰 ： 「 螃蟹 也 。 」 又 於 後 得 一 物 ， 狀貌 皆 若 前 所 見 而 極 小 ， 問 居人 曰 ： 「 此 何 物 也 ？ 」 曰 ： 「 彭越 也 。」 @艾子 喟然 嘆 曰 ： 「何 一蟹不如一蟹 也 ！」

each crab is smaller than the one before


一星半點

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ

исинбаньдянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ

исинбаньдяньр

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tiːm³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tiːm³⁵/

這可是細活，不能有一星半點差錯。 [MSC, trad.]
这可是细活，不能有一星半点差错。 [MSC, simp.]

This is a high precision job. There mustn't be the slightest slip.

Zhè kě shì xìhuó, bùnéng yǒu yīxīngbàndiǎn chācuò. [Pinyin]


一星半點兒

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ

исинбаньдяньр

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

一星半點 一星半點#Chinese

一星半点 一星半点#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 一星半點／一星半点 (yīxīng-bàndiǎn, “a tiny bit; a very small amount”).


一文不名

ㄧ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/


一望無際

ㄧ ㄨㄤˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/jit̚⁵⁵ ᵐbɔŋ³² ᵐbu²² tai³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/jit̚⁵⁵ ᵐbɔŋ³² ᵐbu²² tai³³/

一望無際的大草原 [MSC, trad.]
一望无际的大草原 [MSC, simp.]

to stretch as far as the eye can see; to stretch to the horizon


一通百通

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄅㄞˇ ㄊㄨㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

一法通，百法通 一法通，百法通#Chinese

Short for 一法通，百法通 (yī fǎ tōng, bǎi fǎ tōng).


一推六二五

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄟ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄦˋ ㄨˇ

yī tuī liù èr wǔ [Phonetic:yì tuī liù èr wǔ]

и туй лю эр у

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

一退六二五 一退六二五#Chinese

Alternative form of 一退六二五 (yī tuì liù èr wǔ, “to evade (or deny) all responsibility”)


一誤再誤

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍²² t͡sɔːi̯³³ ŋ̍²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍²² t͡sɔːi̯³³ ŋ̍²²/

to make one error after another; to keep on making mistakes


一法通，百法通

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

一法通，萬法通 一法通，萬法通#Chinese

一法通，万法通 一法通，万法通#Chinese

Synonym of 一法通，萬法通／一法通，万法通 (yī fǎ tōng, wàn fǎ tōng)


一法通，萬法通

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

grasp this one thing and you'll grasp everything; sort this one thing out and you'll sort out all the rest


一物降一物

ㄧ ㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄧ ㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚² hɔːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚² hɔːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/

there is always one thing to conquer another; everything has its vanquisher


一退六二五

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄦˋ ㄨˇ

yī tuì liù èr wǔ [Phonetic:yí tuì liù èr wǔ]

и туй лю эр у

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Originally an abacus formula (珠算口訣) for converting between hexadecimal and decimal systems of weights, meaning 1/16 = .0625.
Pun on 退 (tuì, “push back”) → 推 (tuī, “evade”).

push back one (column of digits) and .625


一息尚存

ㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄕㄤˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

ㄧ ㄒㄧˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn²¹/

我只要一息尚存，就要努力為黨工作。 [MSC, trad.]
我只要一息尚存，就要努力为党工作。 [MSC, simp.]

I'll work hard for the Party as long as I live.

Wǒ zhǐyào yīxīshàngcún, jiùyào nǔlì wèi Dǎng gōngzuò. [Pinyin]

so long as one still has a breath left; till one's last gasp


一手包辦

ㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄠ ㄅㄢˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵ paːn²²/

to keep everything in one's own hands; to take everything on oneself


一掃而光

ㄧ ㄙㄠˇ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄤ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sou̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sou̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵/

一掃而空 一掃而空#Chinese

一扫而空 一扫而空#Chinese


一團漆黑

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄑㄧ ㄏㄟ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ haːk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ haːk̚⁵/


一團和氣

ㄧ ㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹ wɔː²¹ hei̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹ wɔː²¹ hei̯³³/

明知不對，也不同他們作原則上的爭論，任其下去，求得和平和親熱。或者輕描淡寫地說一頓，不作徹底解決，保持一團和氣。 [MSC, trad.]
明知不对，也不同他们作原则上的争论，任其下去，求得和平和亲热。或者轻描淡写地说一顿，不作彻底解决，保持一团和气。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1937, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《反對自由主義》 (Combat Liberalism), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

To let things slide for the sake of peace and friendship when a person has clearly gone wrong, and refrain from principled argument. Or to touch on the matter lightly instead of going into it thoroughly, so as to keep on good terms.

Míngzhī bùduì, yě bù tóng tāmen zuò yuánzé shàng de zhēnglùn, rèn qí xiàqù, qiú dé hépíng hé qīnrè. Huòzhě qīngmiáodànxiě de shuō yī dùn, bù zuò chèdǐ jiějué, bǎochí yītuánhéqì. [Pinyin]

to keep on good terms with everyone at the expense of principle; to keep on the right side of everyone


一時半刻

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄎㄜˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ puːn³³ hɐk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ puːn³³ hɐk̚⁵/

他一時半刻還回不來。 [MSC, trad.]
他一时半刻还回不来。 [MSC, simp.]

He won't be back for a little while yet.


一身兩役

ㄧ ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ jɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ jɪk̚²/

to hold two jobs at the same time; to serve in a dual capacity


水天一色

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧ ㄙㄜˋ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

From the famous line of Tengwang Ge Xu.
:
落霞與孤鶩齊飛，秋水共長天一色。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]落霞与孤鹜齐飞，秋水共长天一色。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 675, 王勃 (Wang Bo), 《滕王閣序》 (Tengwang Ge Xu), translated based on the Wikisource translation.
Luòxiá yǔ gūwù qí fēi, qiūshuǐ gòng chángtiān yīsè. [Pinyin]
The sunset is flying together with lonely wild goose, and the autumn water and the sky at the horizon are of one hue.

落霞 與 孤鶩 齊 飛，秋水 共 長天 一色。

the water and the sky merge in one color


孑然一身

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄧ ㄕㄣ

цзежаньишэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/kʰiːt̚³ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/kʰiːt̚³ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

/kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴/

all alone in the world, with no relatives or friends; solitary


一身是膽

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ siː²² taːm³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ siː²² taːm³⁵/

to know no fear; to be absolutely fearless


一失足成千古恨

ㄧ ㄕ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄍㄨˇ ㄏㄣˋ

yī shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn [Phonetic:yì shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn]

и шицзу чэн цяньгу хэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ hɐn²²/

a single slip may cause lasting sorrow; the error of a moment becomes the regret of a lifetime

一失足成千古恨，再回頭已百年身／一失足成千古恨，再回头已百年身

yī shīzú chéng qiāngǔ hèn, zài huítóu yǐ bǎinián shēn


風靡一時

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

風行一時 風行一時#Chinese

风行一时 风行一时#Chinese

Synonym of 風行一時／风行一时 (fēngxíngyīshí, “to be popular for a while; to be all the rage”)


風行一時

ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

to be popular for a while; to be all the rage


漆黑一團

ㄑㄧ ㄏㄟ ㄧ ㄊㄨㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu̯än³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʰyːn²¹/

不論是近百年的和古代的中國史，在許多黨員的心目中還是漆黑一團。 [MSC, trad.]
不论是近百年的和古代的中国史，在许多党员的心目中还是漆黑一团。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1941, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《改造我們的學習》 (Reform Our Study), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Many Party members are still in a fog about Chinese history, whether of the last hundred years or of ancient times.

Bùlùn shì jìn bǎinián de hé gǔdài de Zhōngguóshǐ, zài xǔduō Dǎngyuán de xīnmù zhōng háishì qīhēiyītuán. [Pinyin]

在這種態度下，就是割斷歷史，只懂得希臘，不懂得中國，對於中國昨天和前天的面目漆黑一團。 [MSC, trad.]
在这种态度下，就是割断历史，只懂得希腊，不懂得中国，对于中国昨天和前天的面目漆黑一团。 [MSC, simp.]

With this attitude, he chops up history, knows only ancient Greece but not China and is in a fog about the China of yesterday and the day before yesterday.

Zài zhè zhǒng tàidù xià, jiùshì gēduàn lìshǐ, zhǐ dǒngde Xīlà, bù dǒngde Zhōngguó, duìyú Zhōngguó zuótiān hé qiántiān de miànmù qīhēiyītuán. [Pinyin]

一團漆黑 一團漆黑#Chinese

一团漆黑 一团漆黑#Chinese


一錢不值

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

not worth a penny; utterly worthless; mere trash


一去不返

ㄧ ㄑㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄢˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵/

一去不復返 一去不復返#Chinese

一去不复返 一去不复返#Chinese

Synonym of 一去不復返／一去不复返 (yīqùbùfùfǎn, “gone forever; gone never to return”)


一偏之見

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

ипяньчжицзянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/


一去不復返

desc

→ Vietnamese: một đi không trở lại (calque)

ㄧ ㄑㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄈㄢˇ

ицюйбуфуфань

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚² faːn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚² faːn³⁵/

From the following song attributed to Jing Ke in 《史記·刺客列傳》 (Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Assassins).
風蕭蕭兮易水寒，壯士一去兮不復還！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]风萧萧兮易水寒，壮士一去兮不复还！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Fēng xiāoxiāo xī Yìshuǐ hán, zhuàngshì yī qù xī bù fùhuán! [Pinyin]
Bleakly and weakly the wind blows; cold the Yi river flows. The valiant man, once gone, never comes back.

zh-x

風 蕭蕭 兮 ^易水 寒，壯士 一 去 兮 不 復還{huán}！

黃鶴一去不復返，白雲千載空悠悠。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
黄鹤一去不复返，白云千载空悠悠。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: 8th century CE, 崔顥 (Cui Hao), 黃鶴樓 (Huánghèlóu) "Yellow Crane Tower"

The yellow crane, once gone, never comes back; the white clouds, for one thousand years, drift aloft carefreely.

Huánghè yīqùbùfùfǎn, báiyún qiānzǎi kōng yōuyōu. [Pinyin]

人民所厭惡的國家分裂和混亂的局面，已經一去不復返了。 [MSC, trad.]
人民所厌恶的国家分裂和混乱的局面，已经一去不复返了。 [MSC, simp.]

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

The days of national disunity and chaos which the people detested are gone, never to return.

Rénmín suǒ yàn'è de guójiā fēnliè hé hùnluàn de júmiàn, yǐjīng yīqùbùfùfǎn le. [Pinyin]

List of Records of the Grand Historian chapters#Biographies


一平二調

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄦˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

平均主義 平均主義#Chinese

People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China

(historical) equalitarianism (平均主義) and indiscriminate transfer of resources (*無償調撥) in the people's communes during the Great Leap Forward of the People's Republic of China


一抔黃土

ㄧ ㄆㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄨˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figuratively) declining, insignificant reactionary force


一年到頭兒

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊㄦ

иняньдаотоур

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

一年到頭 一年到頭#Chinese

一年到头 一年到头#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 一年到頭／一年到头 (yīniándàotóu, “throughout the year; all the year round”).


一面之詞

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

the statement of only one of the parties


一暴十寒

ㄧ ㄆㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːn²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːn²¹/

From Mencius (《孟子·告子上》):
:
雖有天下易生之物也，一日暴之、十日寒之，未有能生者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]虽有天下易生之物也，一日暴之、十日寒之，未有能生者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Suī yǒu tiānxià yì shēng zhī wù yě, yīrì pù zhī, shírì hán zhī, wèi yǒu néng shēng zhě yě. [Pinyin]
Suppose the case of the most easily growing thing in the world; if you let it have one day's genial heat, and then expose it for ten days to cold, it will not be able to grow.

雖 有 天下 易 生 之 物 也，一日 @暴{pù} 之、十日 @寒 之，未 有 能 生 者 也。

(figurative) to work hard for one day and do nothing for ten; to work by fits and starts; to act without perseverance or persistence


串通一氣

ㄔㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄑㄧˋ

чуаньтунъици

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

to work hand in glove; to act in collusion


一偏之論

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

ипяньчжилунь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/


一年到頭

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊㄦ

иняньдаотоур

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ tou̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ tɒu̯⁴⁵ tʰəu̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ tou̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ tɒu̯⁴⁵ tʰəu̯¹³/


一脈相承

ㄧ ㄇㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

to come down in one continuous line; can be traced to the same origin


一溜歪斜

ㄧ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄨㄞ ㄒㄧㄝˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

(dialectal) (to walk, etc.) unsteadily in a zigzag


一鱗半爪

ㄧ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄓㄠˇ

илиньбаньчжао

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lin³⁵ pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ puːn³³ t͡saːu̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lin³⁵ pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ puːn³³ t͡saːu̯³⁵/


一來二去

ㄧ ㄌㄞˊ ㄦˋ ㄑㄩˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jiː²² hɵy̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jiː²² hɵy̯³³/

他們常在地裡一塊兒幹活，一來二去地也就熟了。 [MSC, trad.]
他们常在地里一块儿干活，一来二去地也就熟了。 [MSC, simp.]

As they often work together in the fields, they have got to know each other quite well.

Tāmen cháng zài dì li yīkuàir gànhuó, yīlái'èrqù de yě jiù shú le. [Pinyin]

in the course of contacts; gradually; little by little


一己之私

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/


一環扣一環

ㄧ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄎㄡˋ ㄧ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

yī huán kòu yī huán [Phonetic:yì huán kòu yì huán]

и хуань коу и хуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵/


一揮而就

ㄧ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯²²/

a flourish of the pen and it's done; to finish a piece of writing or a painting at one go


各執一端

ㄍㄜˋ ㄓˊ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄢ

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tu̯än⁵⁵/


各執一詞

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/


一回生，二回熟

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂu³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² wuːi̯²¹ sʊk̚²/

first time awkward, second time skillful; difficult at first, easy later on


一得之愚

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵/


一得之功

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

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.]

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

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]


一定之規

ㄧ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄍㄨㄟ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/


一個心眼兒

ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄢˇㄦ

и гэ синьяньр

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ sɐm⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³ jiː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ sɐm⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³ jiː²¹/

一個心眼 一個心眼#Chinese

一个心眼 一个心眼#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 一個心眼／一个心眼 (yī gè xīnyǎn).


一個心眼

ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄢˇ

и гэ синьянь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄢˇㄦ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


一己之見

ㄧ ㄐㄧˇ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

ицзичжицзянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kiːn³³/


一髮千鈞

A thousand jun hangs from a strip of hair.

ㄧ ㄈㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ

ㄧ ㄈㄚˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ

ифацяньцзюнь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ fä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ fä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

千鈞一髮 千鈞一髮#Chinese

千钧一发 千钧一发#Chinese

Synonym of 千鈞一髮／千钧一发 (qiānjūnyīfà, “imminent peril; a matter of life or death”)


竹籃兒打水

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊㄦ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

чжуланьрдашуй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lɑɻ³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lɑɻ³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

竹籃打水 竹籃打水#Chinese

竹篮打水 竹篮打水#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 竹籃打水／竹篮打水 (zhúlándǎshuǐ, “wasted effort”).


一唱百和

when one starts singing, all the others join in

ㄧ ㄔㄤˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄜˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

(of a suggestion, etc.) to meet with general approval


一差二誤

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jiː²² ŋ̍²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jiː²² ŋ̍²²/

一差二錯 一差二錯#Chinese

一差二错 一差二错#Chinese

Synonym of 一差二錯／一差二错 (yīchā'èrcuò, “possible mistake or mishap”)


夜以繼日

ㄧㄝˋ ㄧˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄖˋ

/jɛ⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɛː²² jiː¹³ kɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/jɛ⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɛː²² jiː¹³ kɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

周公思兼三王，以施四事，其有不合者，仰而思之，夜以繼日。幸而得之，坐以待旦。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]周公思兼三王，以施四事，其有不合者，仰而思之，夜以继日。幸而得之，坐以待旦。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Zhōugōng sī jiān sān wáng, yǐ shī sì shì, qí yǒu bùhé zhě, yǎng ér sī zhī, yèyǐjìrì. Xìng'ér dé zhī, zuò yǐ dài dàn. [Pinyin]
The duke of Zhou desired to unite in himself the virtues of those kings, those founders of the three dynasties, that he might display in his practice the four things which they did. If he saw any thing in them not suited to his time, he looked up and thought about it, from daytime into the night, and when he was fortunate enough to master the difficulty, he sat waiting for the morning.

周公 思 兼 三 王 ， 以 施 四 事 ， 其 有 不合 者 ， 仰 而 思 之 ， 夜以繼日 。 幸而 得 之 ， 坐 以 待 旦 。


一定不移

ㄧ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

一定不易 一定不易#Chinese

Synonym of 一定不易 (yīdìngbùyì, “unalterable”)


一動不動

ㄧ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

to not move an inch; to be perfectly still


一定不易

ㄧ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/

From 《淮南子·主術訓》.


一波未平，一波再起

hardly has one wave subsided when another rises

ㄧ ㄅㄛ ㄨㄟˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

ㄧ ㄅㄛ ㄗㄞˋ ㄑㄧˇ

и бо вэй пин

и бо цзай ци

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

一波未平，一波又起 一波未平，一波又起#Chinese

Synonym of 一波未平，一波又起 (yī bō wèi píng, yī bō yòu qǐ, “one trouble follows another”)


一本萬利

a small investment brings a 10,000-fold profit

ㄧ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨㄢˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

to make big profits with a small capital


一鼻孔出氣

ㄧ ㄅㄧˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˋ

yī bíkǒng chūqì [Phonetic:yì bíkǒng chūqì]

и бикун чуци

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯²² hʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯²² hʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ hei̯³³/


一差二錯

ㄧ ㄔㄚ ㄦˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰɔː³³/


竹籃打水一場空

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄧ ㄔㄤˊ ㄎㄨㄥ

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄧ ㄔㄤˇ ㄎㄨㄥ

zhúlán dǎshuǐ yīchángkōng [Phonetic:zhúlándáshuǐyìchángkōng]

чжулань дашуй ичанкун

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

zhúlán dǎshuǐ yīchǎngkōng [Phonetic:zhúlándáshuǐyìchǎngkōng]

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

as futile as drawing water with a bamboo basket


一差兩訛

ㄧ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄜˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ ŋɔː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ ŋɔː²¹/

一差二錯 一差二錯#Chinese

一差二错 一差二错#Chinese


一筆抹殺

一笔抹杀
一筆抹煞
一筆抹摋

ㄧ ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˇ ㄕㄚ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂä⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚³ saːt̚³/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚² saːt̚³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂä⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚³ saːt̚³/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚² saːt̚³/

這些成績是不能一筆抹殺的。 [MSC, trad.]
这些成绩是不能一笔抹杀的。 [MSC, simp.]

Zhèxiē chéngjì shì bùnéng yībǐmǒshā de. [Pinyin]

to blot out at one stroke; to condemn out of hand; to totally negate


一板一眼

one accented beat and one unaccented beat

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːn³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːn³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

(figuratively) following a prescribed pattern in speech or action; scrupulous and methodical


一差半錯

ㄧ ㄔㄚ ㄅㄢˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ puːn³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ puːn³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

一差二錯 一差二錯#Chinese

一差二错 一差二错#Chinese


一板三眼

one accented beat and three unaccented beats

ㄧ ㄅㄢˇ ㄙㄢ ㄧㄢˇ

ибаньсаньянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

一板一眼 一板一眼#Chinese

Synonym of 一板一眼 (yībǎnyīyǎn, “scrupulous and methodical”)


熱情洋溢

ㄖㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧˋ

/ʐɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːt̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/

/ʐɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːt̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/


惹是生非

ㄖㄜˇ ㄕˋ ㄕㄥ ㄈㄟ

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɛː¹³ siː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɛː¹³ siː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

to provoke a dispute; to stir up trouble


仁人志士

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓˋ ㄕˋ

жэньжэньчжиши

žɛnʹžɛnʹčžiši

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː³³ siː²²/

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː³³ siː²²/


惹火燒身

ㄖㄜˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄠ ㄕㄣ

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɛː¹³ fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɛː¹³ fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/


志士仁人

ㄓˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ

чжишижэньжэнь

čžišižɛnʹžɛnʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ siː²² jɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ siː²² jɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/


人煙稀少

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢ ㄒㄧ ㄕㄠˇ

жэньяньсишао

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵/


人煙湊集

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢ ㄘㄡˋ ㄐㄧˊ

жэньяньцоуцзи

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

人煙稠密 人煙稠密#Chinese

人烟稠密 人烟稠密#Chinese

Synonym of 人煙稠密／人烟稠密 (rényānchóumì, “to be densely populated”)


人煙輻輳

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢ ㄈㄨˊ ㄘㄡˋ

жэньяньфуцоу

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ fu³⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ fu³⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

人煙稠密 人煙稠密#Chinese

人烟稠密 人烟稠密#Chinese


人煙稠密

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢ ㄔㄡˊ ㄇㄧˋ

жэньяньчоуми

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ mi⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ mɐt̚²/

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ mi⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ mɐt̚²/


一筆抹倒

ㄧ ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˇ ㄉㄠˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚³ tou̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚² tou̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚³ tou̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ muːt̚² tou̯³⁵/

一筆抹殺 一筆抹殺#Chinese

一笔抹杀 一笔抹杀#Chinese


一波未平，一波又起

ㄧ ㄅㄛ ㄨㄟˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

ㄧ ㄅㄛ ㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧˇ

и бо вэй пин

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɔː⁵⁵ mei̯²² pʰɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ pɔː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵/


人煙浩穰

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢ ㄏㄠˋ ㄖㄤˊ

жэньяньхаожан

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

人煙稠密 人煙稠密#Chinese

人烟稠密 人烟稠密#Chinese


流言蜚語

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄟ ㄩˇ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³/


馬翻人仰

ㄇㄚˇ ㄈㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄤˇ

мафаньжэньян

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

人仰馬翻 人仰馬翻#Chinese

人仰马翻 人仰马翻#Chinese


日以繼夜

ㄖˋ ㄧˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jiː¹³ kɐi̯³³ jɛː²²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jiː¹³ kɐi̯³³ jɛː²²/

From 夜以繼日／夜以继日 (yèyǐjìrì).

zh-m

夜以繼日／夜以继日 (yèyǐjìrì)


馬仰人翻

ㄇㄚˇ ㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄢ

маянжэньфань

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ fän⁵⁵/

/maː¹³ jœːŋ¹³ jɐn²¹ faːn⁵⁵/

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ fän⁵⁵/

/maː¹³ jœːŋ¹³ jɐn²¹ faːn⁵⁵/

人仰馬翻 人仰馬翻#Chinese

人仰马翻 人仰马翻#Chinese


人仰馬翻

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄤˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄈㄢ

жэньянмафань

/ʐən³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ jœːŋ¹³ maː¹³ faːn⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ jœːŋ¹³ maː¹³ faːn⁵⁵/

to be utterly routed; to suffer a crushing defeat


人心喪盡

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

жэньсиньсанцзинь

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/


刀俎餘生

ㄉㄠ ㄗㄨˇ ㄩˊ ㄕㄥ

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

虎口餘生 虎口餘生#Chinese

虎口余生 虎口余生#Chinese

Synonym of 虎口餘生／虎口余生 (hǔkǒuyúshēng, “to survive a disaster; to have a narrow escape”)


深入人心

ㄕㄣ ㄖㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

шэньжужэньсинь

šɛnʹžužɛnʹsinʹ

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

to strike root in the hearts of the people; to have a real impact on the people


邀買人心

ㄧㄠ ㄇㄞˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

яомайжэньсинь

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/


收買人心

ㄕㄡ ㄇㄞˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

шоумайжэньсинь

/ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

to curry favor with the public; to try to win popular support


無蹤無影

ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ

/u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

無影無蹤 無影無蹤#Chinese

无影无踪 无影无踪#Chinese

Synonym of 無影無蹤／无影无踪 (wúyǐngwúzōng, “without a trace; vanished into thin air”)


人為刀俎，我為魚肉

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄠ ㄗㄨˇ

ㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄩˊ ㄖㄡˋ

жэнь вэй даоцзу

во вэй юйжоу

/ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ y³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔː³⁵ ŋɔː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ jyː²¹ jʊk̚²/

From 《史記·項羽本紀》 (Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Xiang Yu).
如今人方為刀俎，我為魚肉，何辭為？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]如今人方为刀俎，我为鱼肉，何辞为？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Rújīn rén fāng wéi dāozǔ, wǒ wéi yúròu, hé cí wéi? [Pinyin]
Now they are like the butcher's knife and chopping block, and we are like the fish and meat, what's the use of saying goodbye?

zh-x

如今 人 方 為{wéi} 刀俎，我 為{wéi} 魚肉，何 辭 為{wéi}？

to be the meat on somebody's chopping block

(figuratively) to be at somebody's mercy

List of Records of the Grand Historian chapters#Annals


收攬人心

ㄕㄡ ㄌㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

шоуланьжэньсинь

/ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/


熱氣騰騰

ㄖㄜˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄊㄥˊ ㄊㄥˊ

/ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jiːt̚² hei̯³³ tʰɐŋ²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹/

nyih^入 chi den den; nyih^入 chi den^去 den

/n̠ʲiɪʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰi²² dən²² dən²³/

/n̠ʲiɪʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰi²³ dən²² dən⁴⁴/

/ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jiːt̚² hei̯³³ tʰɐŋ²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹/

/n̠ʲiɪʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰi²² dən²² dən²³/

/n̠ʲiɪʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰi²³ dən²² dən⁴⁴/


人言可畏

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄟˋ

жэньянькэвэй

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/ʐən³⁵ jɛn³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 76 (《詩經·鄭風·將仲子》):
:
仲可懷也，人之多言，亦可畏也。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]仲可怀也，人之多言，亦可畏也。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zhòng kě huái yě, rén zhī duō yán, yì kěwèi yě. [Pinyin]
You, O Zhong, are to be loved,
But the talk of people, Is also to be feared.

lang

(《詩經·鄭風·將仲子》)

(《詩經·鄭風·將仲子》)

zh-x

^仲 可 懷 也，人 之 多 言，亦 @可畏 也。


身經百戰

ㄕㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄢˋ

шэньцзинбайчжань

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ t͡siːn³³/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siɛn²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siɛn¹¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡siɛn²¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ t͡siːn³³/


肩不能挑，手不能提

incapable of carrying anything either on one's shoulders or in one's hands

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄠ

ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄊㄧˊ

цзянь бунэн тяо

шоу бунэн ти

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

在一大群肩不能挑手不能提的學生面前做一點勞動的事，比如自己挑行李吧，也覺得不像樣子。 [MSC, trad.]
在一大群肩不能挑手不能提的学生面前做一点劳动的事，比如自己挑行李吧，也觉得不像样子。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《在延安文藝座談會上的講話》 (Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

I then used to feel it undignified to do even a little manual labour, such as carrying my own luggage in the presence of my fellow students, who were incapable of carrying anything, either on their shoulders or in their hands.

Zài yī dà qún jiān bùnéng tiāo shǒu bùnéng tí de xuéshēng miànqián zuò yīdiǎn láodòng de shì, bǐrú zìjǐ tiāo xínglǐ ba, yě juéde bù xiàng yàngzi. [Pinyin]

肩不能挑擔，手不能提籃 肩不能挑擔，手不能提籃#Chinese

肩不能挑担，手不能提篮 肩不能挑担，手不能提篮#Chinese

(figuratively) Synonym of 肩不能挑擔，手不能提籃／肩不能挑担，手不能提篮 (jiān bùnéng tiāodàn, shǒu bùnéng tílán, “unable to do manual labor”)


無影無跡

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ iã⁴²⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²¹ t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² iã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siaʔ⁵/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo¹³⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² t͡siaʔ³²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ iã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² liaʔ³²/

/bo¹³⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² liaʔ³²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ĩã⁵²⁻³⁵ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siaʔ²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ iã⁴²⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²¹ t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² iã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siaʔ⁵/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo¹³⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² t͡siaʔ³²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ iã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡siaʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² liaʔ³²/

/bo¹³⁻²² iã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² liaʔ³²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ĩã⁵²⁻³⁵ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siaʔ²/


陰陽怪氣

ㄧㄣ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/in⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³³ hei̯³³/

/in⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³³ hei̯³³/


條不二直

/tiau²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹⁻²² tit̚²⁴/

/tiau²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ li²²⁻²¹ tit̚⁴/

/tiau²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹⁻²² tit̚²⁴/

/tiau²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ li²²⁻²¹ tit̚⁴/

(Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien) direct and plainspoken; straightforward


頭理路直

/tʰau¹³⁻²² li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lɔ²²⁻²¹ tit̚¹²¹/

/tʰau¹³⁻²² li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lɔ²²⁻²¹ tit̚¹²¹/

(Zhangzhou Hokkien) direct and plainspoken; straightforward


頭路理直

/tʰau¹³⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹/

/tʰau¹³⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹/


頭路直

/tʰau²⁴⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ tit̚⁴/

/tʰau¹³⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ tit̚¹²¹/

/tʰau²⁴⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ tit̚⁴/

/tʰau¹³⁻²² lɔ²²⁻²¹ tit̚¹²¹/

(Xiamen and Zhangzhou Hokkien) direct and plainspoken; straightforward


相輔相成

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²⁴/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²³/

/siaŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵ siaŋ³³⁻²³ seŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²⁴/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²⁴/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²³/

/siaŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵ siaŋ³³⁻²³ seŋ⁵⁵/

這同用說服教育的方法去解決人民內部的矛盾，是相輔相成的兩個方面。 [MSC, trad.]
这同用说服教育的方法去解决人民内部的矛盾，是相辅相成的两个方面。 [MSC, simp.]

This and the method of persuasion and education complement each other in resolving contradictions among the people.

Zhè tóng yòng shuōfú jiàoyù de fāngfǎ qù jiějué rénmín nèibù de máodùn, shì xiāngfǔxiāngchéng de liǎng gè fāngmiàn. [Pinyin]

to be mutually supporting; to complement each other


英雄無用武之地

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄩㄥˋ ㄨˇ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

инсюн у юнъу чжи ди

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ u³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ jʊŋ²² mou̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

From 「英雄無所用武」 in 《三國志·諸葛亮傳》.

a hero with no place to display their prowess

(figuratively) to have no opportunity to display one's talents


千千萬萬

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨㄢˋ ㄨㄢˋ

цяньцяньваньвань

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːn²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːn²²/

AABB-type reduplication of 千萬／千万 (qiānwàn).

zh-l

千萬／千万 (qiānwàn)

zh-AABB

列寧還在一九〇五年就已著重指出過，我們的文藝應當「為千千萬萬勞動人民服務」。 [MSC, trad.]
列宁还在一九〇五年就已着重指出过，我们的文艺应当「为千千万万劳动人民服务」。 [MSC, simp.]

As far back as 1905 Lenin pointed out emphatically that our literature and art should “serve … the millions and tens of millions of working people”.

Lièníng hái zài yījiǔlíngwǔ nián jiù yǐ zhuózhòng zhǐchū guò, wǒmen de wényì yīngdāng “wèi qiānqiānwànwàn láodòng rénmín fúwù”. [Pinyin]


決一勝負

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄧ ㄕㄥˋ ㄈㄨˋ

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ fuː²²/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ fuː²²/


肩不能挑擔，手不能提籃

unable to carry a load on one's shoulders or a basket in one's hands

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄠ ㄉㄢˋ

ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄊㄧˊ ㄌㄢˊ

цзянь бунэн тяодань

шоу бунэн тилань

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tän⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ tʰi³⁵ län³⁵/

(figuratively) to lack physical strength and be incapable of manual labor


取之不竭

ㄑㄩˇ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

取之不盡，用之不竭 取之不盡，用之不竭#Chinese

取之不尽，用之不竭 取之不尽，用之不竭#Chinese

Synonym of 取之不盡，用之不竭／取之不尽，用之不竭 (qǔ zhī bù jìn, yòng zhī bù jié, “(of resources) inexhaustible”)


取之無禁

ㄑㄩˇ ㄓ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цюйчжиуцзинь

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

取之不盡，用之不竭 取之不盡，用之不竭#Chinese

取之不尽，用之不竭 取之不尽，用之不竭#Chinese


取之無禁，用之不竭

ㄑㄩˇ ㄓ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ㄩㄥˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

chʻü³ chih¹ wu² chin⁴, yung⁴ chih¹ pu⁴ chieh²

цюй чжи у цзинь

юн чжи бу цзе

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

取之不盡，用之不竭 取之不盡，用之不竭#Chinese

取之不尽，用之不竭 取之不尽，用之不竭#Chinese


用之不竭

ㄩㄥˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/jʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/jʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

取之不盡，用之不竭 取之不盡，用之不竭#Chinese

取之不尽，用之不竭 取之不尽，用之不竭#Chinese


取之不盡，用之不竭

ㄑㄩˇ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ㄩㄥˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ceoi² zi¹ bat¹ zeon⁶, jung⁶ zi¹ bat¹ kit³

chʻü³ chih¹ pu⁴ chin⁴, yung⁴ chih¹ pu⁴ chieh²

цюй чжи бу цзинь

юн чжи бу цзе

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

tsoey² dzi¹ bat⁷ dzoen⁶, jung⁶ dzi¹ bat⁷ kit⁸

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵn²² jʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰiːt̚³/

From the Former Ode on the Red Cliffs by Su Shi, in the form 「取之無禁，用之不竭」.

它們是一切文學藝術的取之不盡、用之不竭的唯一的源泉。 [MSC, trad.]
它们是一切文学艺术的取之不尽、用之不竭的唯一的源泉。 [MSC, simp.]

They provide literature and art with an inexhaustible source, their only source.

Tāmen shì yīqiè wénxué yìshù de qǔ zhī bù jìn, yòng zhī bù jié de wéiyī de yuánquán. [Pinyin]


振振有詞

ㄓㄣˋ ㄓㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄘˊ

чжэньчжэньюцы

čžɛnʹčžɛnʹjucy

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ t͡sɐn³³ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/t͡sɐn³³ t͡sɐn³³ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹/


取之不盡，用之有餘

取之不尽，用之有余
取之不尽，用之有馀

ㄑㄩˇ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ㄩㄥˋ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ

chʻü³ chih¹ pu⁴ chin⁴, yung⁴ chih¹ yu³ yü²

цюй чжи бу цзинь

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

取之不盡，用之不竭 取之不盡，用之不竭#Chinese

取之不尽，用之不竭 取之不尽，用之不竭#Chinese


莫余毒也

ㄇㄛˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄧㄝˇ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

人莫予毒 人莫予毒#Chinese


莫予毒也

ㄇㄛˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄧㄝˇ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

人莫予毒 人莫予毒#Chinese


人命關天

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ

жэньмингуаньтянь

/ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²² kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²² kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

a case involving human life is to be treated with the utmost care


人情練達

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄚˊ

жэньцинляньда

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹ tä³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹ tä³⁵/

experienced in the ways of the world; worldly-wise


振聾發聵

ㄓㄣˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄚ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

чжэньлунфакуй

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ fä⁵⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn³³ lʊŋ²¹ faːt̚³ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ fä⁵⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn³³ lʊŋ²¹ faːt̚³ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

to rouse the deaf and awaken the unhearing; to awaken the deaf; to enlighten the benighted


性命交關

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄍㄨㄢ

синминцзяогуань

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ min³³ t͡ɕiɔ³³ kue²¹/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ min³³ t͡ɕiɔ³³ kue²¹/

to be a matter of life and death; of vital importance


性命關天

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ

синмингуаньтянь

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

性命交關 性命交關#Chinese

性命交关 性命交关#Chinese

Synonym of 性命交關／性命交关 (xìngmìngjiāoguān, “to be a matter of life and death; of vital importance”)


人莫予毒

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄨˊ

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ tu³⁵/

Found in the chapters 《僖公二十八年》 (28th year of Duke Xi) and 《宣公十二年》 (12th year of Duke Xuan) of 《左傳》 (Zuo zhuan), in the form 「莫余毒也已」.


來勢洶洶

ㄌㄞˊ ㄕˋ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄒㄩㄥ

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ sɐi̯³³ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ sɐi̯³³ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

arriving fiercely; bearing down menacingly; coming with great momentum or intensity


年冬月節

/nĩ²⁴⁻²² taŋ³³ ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡sueʔ⁵/

/nĩ²⁴⁻²² taŋ³³ ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡sueʔ⁵/

(Quanzhou Hokkien) on New Year's Day or other festivals


取之不盡

ㄑㄩˇ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цюйчжибуцзинь

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

取之不盡，用之不竭 取之不盡，用之不竭#Chinese

取之不尽，用之不竭 取之不尽，用之不竭#Chinese


逢年過節

ㄈㄥˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

фэнняньгоцзе

/fɤŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²¹ niːn²¹ kʷɔː³³ t͡siːt̚³/

/fɤŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²¹ niːn²¹ kʷɔː³³ t͡siːt̚³/


不平之鳴

ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

不平則鳴 不平則鳴#Chinese

不平则鸣 不平则鸣#Chinese

Alternative form of 不平則鳴／不平则鸣 (bùpíngzémíng)


詐傻扮懵

/t͡saː³³ sɔː²¹ paːn²² mʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡ʃa²⁴ ʃɔ⁴² pan⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹/

/t͡saː³³ sɔː²¹ paːn²² mʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡ʃa²⁴ ʃɔ⁴² pan⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹/

(Cantonese) to play dumb; to feign ignorance


天兵天將

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

тяньбинтяньцзян

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

soldiers and generals of Heaven; army of Heaven


默不作聲

ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄥ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɪŋ⁵⁵/


龍馬精神

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ

лунмацзиншэнь

/lʊŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ maː¹³ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

/leŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ be⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ siŋ⁵⁵/

/lʊŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ maː¹³ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

/leŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ be⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ siŋ⁵⁵/

strong as an ox; remaining vigorous even as one ages


觸類旁通

ㄔㄨˋ ㄌㄟˋ ㄆㄤˊ ㄊㄨㄥ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/


短小精悍

ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄢˋ

дуаньсяо цзинхань

/tu̯än²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xän⁵¹/

/tyːn³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn²²/

/tyːn³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn²²/

short and pithy; terse and forceful (of a piece of writing)


目染耳濡

ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄢˇ ㄦˇ ㄖㄨˊ

/mu⁵¹ ʐän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵/

/mu⁵¹ ʐän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵/

to be influenced by the surrounding environment


星羅棋布

scattered about like stars in the sky or chess pieces on a board

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ pou̯³³/

/t͡sʰẽ³³⁻²³ lo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pu²¹³/

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ pou̯³³/

/t͡sʰẽ³³⁻²³ lo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pu²¹³/

to be spread all over the place; to be dotted with


耳濡目染

ㄦˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄢˇ

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ jyː²¹ mʊk̚² jiːm¹³/

/nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² liam⁵³/

/nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² ziam⁴¹/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ jyː²¹ mʊk̚² jiːm¹³/

/nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² liam⁵³/

/nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² ziam⁴¹/


親朋戚友

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

Rearranged from 親戚／亲戚 (can¹ cik¹) + 朋友 (pang⁴ jau⁵).

(Cantonese) friends and relatives; kith and kin


觸手可及

ㄔㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʰɐp̚²/


東奔西跑

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄅㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄆㄠˇ

дунбэньсипао

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ pʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ pʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³⁵/

to run this way and that; to rush about busily; to rush around


羞花閉月

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄅㄧˋ ㄩㄝˋ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

Refers to two of the Four Beauties of Chinese legends, Yang Guifei (whose appearance made flowers hide away in shame) and Diao Chan (whose appearance had the same effect on the moon).

(of women) extremely beautiful; drop dead gorgeous


蚍蜉撼大樹

ㄆㄧˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄏㄢˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄨˋ

пифуханьдашу

/pʰi³⁵ fu³⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ fɐu̯²¹ hɐm²² taːi̯²² syː²²/

/pʰi³⁵ fu³⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ fɐu̯²¹ hɐm²² taːi̯²² syː²²/

蚍蜉撼樹 蚍蜉撼樹#Chinese

蚍蜉撼树 蚍蜉撼树#Chinese


蚍蜉撼樹

ㄆㄧˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄏㄢˋ ㄕㄨˋ

/pʰi³⁵ fu³⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ fɐu̯²¹ hɐm²² syː²²/

/pʰi³⁵ fu³⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/pʰei̯²¹ fɐu̯²¹ hɐm²² syː²²/

to ridiculously overrate oneself; to be self-important


無頭無尾

ㄨˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˇ

/u³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ mei̯¹³/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² be⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ be⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ be⁵³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ bue⁴¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ bue⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ bə⁴²/

/u³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ mei̯¹³/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² be⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ be⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ be⁵³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ bue⁴¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ bue⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ bə⁴²/

(figurative, of a matter) to have no clue of the reason or cause; to be unclear; to be incomprehensible; to be nonsensical


望文生義

ㄨㄤˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄧˋ

ванвэньшэнъи

/wɑŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² mɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiː²²/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² mɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiː²²/

to interpret a text with superficial explanations; folk etymology


文質彬彬

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (文質彬彬):
* → Japanese: 文質彬彬(ぶんしつひんぴん) (bunshitsu hinpin)
* → Korean: 문질빈빈(文質彬彬) (munjilbinbin)

ㄨㄣˊ ㄓˋ ㄅㄧㄣ ㄅㄧㄣ

ㄨㄣˊ ㄓˊ ㄅㄧㄣ ㄅㄧㄣ

вэньчжибиньбинь

/wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pin⁵⁵ pin⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pin⁵⁵ pin⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡sɐt̚⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pin⁵⁵ pin⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pin⁵⁵ pin⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡sɐt̚⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 6 (《論語·雍也》):
:
子曰：「質勝文則野，文勝質則史。文質彬彬，然後君子。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「质胜文则野，文胜质则史。文质彬彬，然后君子。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Zhì shèng wén zé yě, wén shèng zhì zé shǐ. Wén zhì bīnbīn, ránhòu jūnzǐ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "Where the solid qualities are in excess of accomplishments, we have rusticity; where the accomplishments are in excess of the solid qualities, we have the manners of a clerk. When the accomplishments and solid qualities are equally blended, we then have the man of virtue."

zh-x

子曰：「質 勝 文 則 野，文 勝 質 則 史。文.質.彬彬，然後 君子。」

(literary, originally) well balanced between literary talent and simplicity; displaying literary talent yet not frivolous


形左實右

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄕˊ ㄧㄡˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

From Bombard the Headquarters, a big-character poster written by Mao Zedong shortly after the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966.
聯繫到一九六二年的右傾和一九六四年形「左」[[#Chinese|]]而實右的錯誤傾向，豈不是可以發人深醒的嗎？ [MSC, trad.]联系到一九六二年的右倾和一九六四年形「左」[[#Chinese|]]而实右的错误倾向，岂不是可以发人深醒的吗？ [MSC, simp.]
From: 1966, Mao Zedong, Bombard The Headquarters – My Big-Character Poster
Liánxì dào yījiǔliù'èr nián de yòuqīng hé yījiǔliùsì nián xíng “zuǒ” ér shí yòu de cuòwù qīngxiàng, qǐ bùshì kěyǐ fārénshēnxǐng de ma? [Pinyin]
Viewed in connection with the Right deviation in 1962 and the wrong tendency of 1964 which was ‘Left’ in form but Right in essence, shouldn’t this make one wide awake?
(Note: some editions did not have the "而".)

聯繫{xì} 到 @一九六二 年 的 右傾 和 @一九六四 年 形 「左」 而 實 右 的 錯誤 傾向，豈.不是 可以 發人深醒 的 嗎？

1966, Mao Zedong, <cite>Bombard The Headquarters – My Big-Character Poster</cite>

(politics) left in form but right in essence

Bombard the Headquarters
Cultural Revolution
Mao Zedong


燃膏繼晷

ㄖㄢˊ ㄍㄠ ㄐㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

жаньгаоцзигуй

/ʐän³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐän³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

焚膏繼晷 焚膏繼晷#Chinese

焚膏继晷 焚膏继晷#Chinese

burn the midnight oil
burn the midnight oil

Synonym of 焚膏繼晷／焚膏继晷 (féngāojìguǐ, “to burn the midnight oil”)


繼晷焚膏

ㄐㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄣˊ ㄍㄠ

цзигуйфэньгао

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

焚膏繼晷 焚膏繼晷#Chinese

焚膏继晷 焚膏继晷#Chinese


焚膏繼晷

ㄈㄣˊ ㄍㄠ ㄐㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

фэньгаоцзигуй

/fən³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/fən³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

焚膏油以繼晷，恆兀兀以窮年。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]焚膏油以继晷，恒兀兀以穷年。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 813, 韓愈 (Han Yu), 《進學解》
Fén gāoyóu yǐ jì guǐ, héng wùwù yǐ qióng nián. [Pinyin]
You burn the oil to lengthen the day, and you keep working hard the whole year long.

焚 膏油 以 繼 晷，恆 兀兀 以 窮 年。

to burn oil (candle) to lengthen the day


盡興而歸

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

цзиньсинъэргуй

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

to return after thoroughly enjoying oneself


盡心盡力

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧˋ

цзиньсиньцзиньли

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² lɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² lɪk̚²/

to spare no effort; to try one's best; to do one's utmost


盡人皆知

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓ

цзиньжэньцзечжи

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵn²² jɐn²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵn²² jɐn²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

to be known to all; to be common knowledge


按捺不住

ㄢˋ ㄋㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨˋ

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ nä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ naːt̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²²/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ nä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ naːt̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²²/

按捺不住激動的心情 [MSC, trad.]
按捺不住激动的心情 [MSC, simp.]

to be unable to hold back one's excitement

unable to control oneself; unable to contain one's feelings


按需分配

ㄢˋ ㄒㄩ ㄈㄣ ㄆㄟˋ

аньсюйфэньпэй

/ˀän⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ sɵy̯⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³/

/ˀän⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ sɵy̯⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³/

各盡所能，按需分配 [MSC, trad.]
各尽所能，按需分配 [MSC, simp.]

from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs

distribution according to need
distribution according to need

distribution according to need (principle of distribution in a communist society)


按下葫蘆浮起瓢

hardly has one gourd been pushed under water when another bobs up

ㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄌㄨ ㄈㄨˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄆㄧㄠˊ

ань ся хулу фу ци пяо

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xu³⁵ lu³ fu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɔːn³³ haː²² wuː²¹ lou̯²¹ fɐu̯²¹ hei̯³⁵ pʰiːu̯²¹/

to solve one problem only to find another cropping up


蚤朝晏退

ㄗㄠˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

цзаочаояньтуй

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

賢者之治國者也，蚤朝晏退，聽獄治政，是以國家治而刑法正。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
贤者之治国者也，蚤朝晏退，听狱治政，是以国家治而刑法正。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Mozi, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on Y. P. Mei's version

When the virtuous rules the country, he goes to court early and retires late, hearing lawsuits and attending to the government. As a result, the country is well governed and laws are justly administered.

Xiánzhě zhī zhìguózhě yě, zǎocháoyàntuì, tīngyù zhìzhèng, shì yǐ guójiā zhì ér xíngfǎ zhèng. [Pinyin]

to go to court early and retire late; to be diligent in governmental affairs


蚤朝晏罷

ㄗㄠˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄚˋ

цзаочаояньба

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pä⁵¹/

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pä⁵¹/

且夫君王蚤朝晏罷，非為吳邪？ [MSC, trad.]
且夫君王蚤朝晏罢，非为吴邪？ [MSC, simp.]

Moreover, the Lord goes to court early and retires late, diligent in governmental affairs, isn't it for the sake of Wu?

Qiěfú jūnwáng zǎo cháo yàn bà, fēi wèi wú yé? [Pinyin]


步步緊逼

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄅㄧ

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵⁵/


錦繡前程

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ

цзиньсюцяньчэн

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/


按倒葫蘆瓢起來

ㄢˋ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄌㄨ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄌㄞˊ

ㄢˋ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄌㄨ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄑㄧˇ ˙ㄌㄞ

ань дао хулу пяо цилай

/ˀän⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ lu³ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ lu³ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴ laɪ̯⁴/

按下葫蘆浮起瓢 按下葫蘆浮起瓢#Chinese

按下葫芦浮起瓢 按下葫芦浮起瓢#Chinese

Synonym of 按下葫蘆浮起瓢／按下葫芦浮起瓢 (àn xià húlu fú qǐ piáo, “to solve one problem only to find another cropping up”)


前程似錦

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ

цяньчэнсыцзинь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː¹³ kɐm³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː¹³ kɐm³⁵/

to have splendid prospects; to have an infinitely bright future


錦片前程

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ

цзиньпяньцяньчэн

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

錦繡前程 錦繡前程#Chinese

锦绣前程 锦绣前程#Chinese

Synonym of 錦繡前程／锦绣前程 (jǐnxiùqiánchéng, “splendid prospects; glorious future”)


謹言慎行

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

цзиньяньшэньсин

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂən⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɐn³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐn²² hɐŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂən⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɐn³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐn²² hɐŋ²¹/

to speak and act cautiously; to be discreet in word and deed


錦繡山河

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄢ ㄏㄜˊ

цзиньсюшаньхэ

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ hɔː²¹/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ hɔː²¹/

land of charm and beauty; beautiful land


錦繡河山

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄢ

цзиньсюхэшань

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ hɔː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ hɔː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/


錦繡江山

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕㄢ

цзиньсюцзяншань

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sɐu̯³³ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/


暗無天日

ㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖˋ

/ˀän⁵¹ u³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/ɐm³³ mou̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/ˀän⁵¹ u³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/ɐm³³ mou̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

舊社會暗無天日。 [MSC, trad.]
旧社会暗无天日。 [MSC, simp.]

The old society was an abyss of darkness.


聽天安命

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

тинтяньаньмин

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²²/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²²/

聽天由命 聽天由命#Chinese

听天由命 听天由命#Chinese

Synonym of 聽天由命／听天由命 (tīngtiānyóumìng, “to resign oneself to fate; to be reconciled to one's lot”)


聽天委命

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

тинтяньвэймин

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

聽天由命 聽天由命#Chinese

听天由命 听天由命#Chinese


聽天任命

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

тинтяньжэньмин

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

聽天由命 聽天由命#Chinese

听天由命 听天由命#Chinese


盡人力，聽天命

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

цзинь жэньли

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ li⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

盡人事，聽天命 盡人事，聽天命#Chinese

尽人事，听天命 尽人事，听天命#Chinese

Synonym of 盡人事，聽天命／尽人事，听天命 (jìn rénshì, tīng tiānmìng, “to do one's level best and leave the rest to God's will”)


聽憑尊便

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

тинпинцзуньбянь

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

according to your preference; it's up to you; do as you like; have it your way


悉聽尊便

ㄒㄧ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

ㄒㄧ ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

ситинцзуньбянь

/ɕi⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ɕi⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ piːn²²/

/ɕi⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ɕi⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ piːn²²/


一切就緒

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄒㄩˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² sɵy̯¹³/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² sɵy̯¹³/


寓意深遠

ㄩˋ ㄧˋ ㄕㄣ ㄩㄢˇ

юйи шэньюань

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²² jiː³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn¹³/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²² jiː³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn¹³/


盡人事，聽天命

desc

人事を尽くして天命を待つ

→ Japanese: 人事を尽くして天命を待つ (jinji o tsukushite tenmei o matsu) (partial calque)

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

цзинь жэньши

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn²² jɐn²¹ siː²² tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²²/

From Flowers in the Mirror (鏡花緣) by 李汝珍 (Li Ruzhen):
:
元女道：「仙姑豈不聞『小不忍則亂大謀』？又諺云：『盡人事以聽天命。』今仙姑既不能忍，又人事未盡，以致如此，何能言得天命？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]元女道：「仙姑岂不闻『小不忍则乱大谋』？又谚云：『尽人事以听天命。』今仙姑既不能忍，又人事未尽，以致如此，何能言得天命？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: 李汝珍, 《鏡花緣》
Yuánnǚ dào: “Xiāngū qǐ bù wén ‘xiǎobùrěnzéluàndàmóu’? Yòu yàn yún: ‘Jìn rénshì yǐ tīng tiānmìng.’ Jīn xiāngū jì bùnéng rěn, yòu rénshì wèi jìn, yǐzhì rúcǐ, hé néng yán dé tiānmìng?” [Pinyin]
Xuannü said: "Haven't you heard that 'lack of forbearance in small matters upsets great plans'? And there is also an idiom saying 'man proposes, God disposes'. But you neither forbear, nor propose. That being so, how can you say that's what God disposes?"

zh-x

@元女 道：「仙姑 豈 不 聞『小不忍則亂大謀』？又 諺 云：『盡 人事 以 聽 天命。』今 仙姑 既 不能 忍，又 人事 未 盡，以致 如此，何 能 言 得 天命？」

man proposes, God disposes
man proposes, God disposes

to do one's level best and leave the rest to God's will; man proposes, God disposes


千載難逢

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄗㄞˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄥˊ

цяньцзайнаньфэн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ naːn²¹ fʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ naːn²¹ fʊŋ²¹/

once in a blue moon; not occurring once in a thousand years


人壽年豐

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄡˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄥ

жэньшоуняньфэн

/ʐən³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐu̯²² niːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐu̯²² niːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

the land yields good harvests and the people enjoy good health


人情之常

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄔㄤˊ

жэньцинчжичан

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

人之常情 人之常情#Chinese

Synonym of 人之常情 (rénzhīchángqíng, “human nature; what is natural and normal in human relationships”)


人心所向

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

жэньсиньсосян

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ hœːŋ³³/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ hœːŋ³³/

會不會因為國際國內的大勢所趨和人心所向，經過我們的奮鬥，使內戰限制在局部的範圍，或者使全面內戰拖延時間爆發呢？ [MSC, trad.]
会不会因为国际国内的大势所趋和人心所向，经过我们的奋斗，使内战限制在局部的范围，或者使全面内战拖延时间爆发呢？ [MSC, simp.]

From: 1945, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《抗日戰爭勝利後的時局和我們的方針》 (The Situation and Our Policy After the Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Given the general trend of the international and internal situation and the feelings of the people, is it possible, through our own struggles, to localize the civil war or delay the outbreak of a country-wide civil war?

Huì bù huì yīnwèi guójì guónèi de dàshìsuǒqū hé rénxīnsuǒxiàng, jīngguò wǒmen de fèndòu, shǐ nèizhàn xiànzhì zài júbù de fànwéi, huòzhě shǐ quánmiàn nèizhàn tuōyán shíjiān bàofā ne? [Pinyin]

popular sentiment; common aspiration of the people


人世滄桑

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕˋ ㄘㄤ ㄙㄤ

жэньшицансан

/ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

tremendous changes in the world; vicissitudes of human affairs


錦上添花

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄚ

цзиньшантяньхуа

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sœːŋ²² tʰiːm⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰiam³³⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰiam³³⁻²¹ hua⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tʰiam²²⁻²¹ hua⁴⁴/

/kim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴/

/kim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ sœːŋ²² tʰiːm⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰiam³³⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰiam³³⁻²¹ hua⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tʰiam²²⁻²¹ hua⁴⁴/

/kim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴/

/kim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

/ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴⁴/

對於他們，第一步需要還不是「錦上添花」，而是「雪中送炭」。 [MSC, trad.]
对于他们，第一步需要还不是「锦上添花」，而是「雪中送炭」。 [MSC, simp.]

For them the prime need is not “more flowers on the brocade” but “fuel in snowy weather”.

Duìyú tāmen, dì yī bù xūyào hái bùshì “jǐnshàngtiānhuā”, érshì “xuězhōngsòngtàn”. [Pinyin]


不近人情

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

буцзиньжэньцин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐn²² jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐn²² jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

From Zhuangzi:
:
吾驚怖其言，猶河漢而無極也；大有徑庭，不近人情焉。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吾惊怖其言，犹河汉而无极也；大有径庭，不近人情焉。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Wú jīngbù qí yán, yóu héhàn ér wújí yě; dà yǒu jìngtíng, bù jìn rénqíng yān. [Pinyin]
I was frightened by them; they were like the Milky Way which cannot be traced to its beginning or end. They had no connexion with one another, and were not akin to the experiences of men.

吾 驚怖 其 言，猶 河漢 而 無極 也；大 有 徑庭，不 近 人情 焉。

not amenable to reason; inconsiderate of human feelings; unkind; insensitive


人微言輕

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟ ㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ

жэньвэйяньцин

/ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

the words of the lowly carry little weight


身輕言微

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄟ

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄟˊ

шэньцинъяньвэй

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/


人同此心，心同此理

ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄘˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄘˇ ㄌㄧˇ

jên² tʻung² tzʻŭ³ hsin¹, hsin¹ tʻung² tzʻŭ³ li³

ren torng tsyy shin, shin torng tsyy lii

жэнь тун цы синь

синь тун цы ли

/ʐən³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


毀人不倦

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

хуэйжэньбуцзюань

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

zh-l

誨人不倦／诲人不倦 (huìrénbùjuàn)


默而識之

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɐk̚² jiː²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɐk̚² jiː²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 7 (《論語·述而》):
:
子曰：「默而識之，學而不厭，誨人不倦，何有於我哉？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「默而识之，学而不厌，诲人不倦，何有于我哉？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ yuē: “Mò ér zhì zhī, xué ér bù yàn, huì rén bù juàn, hé yǒu yú wǒ zāi?” [Pinyin]
The Master said, “The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied - which one of these things belongs to me?”

zh-x

^子 曰：「默.而.識{zhì}.之，學.而.不.厭，誨.人.不.倦，何 有 於 我 哉？」


學而不厭

ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/hɔːk̚² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/hɔːk̚² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³/

From the Analects, Book 7 (《論語·述而》):
:
子曰：「默而識之，學而不厭，誨人不倦，何有於我哉？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「默而识之，学而不厌，诲人不倦，何有于我哉？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ yuē: “Mò ér zhì zhī, xué ér bù yàn, huì rén bù juàn, hé yǒu yú wǒ zāi?” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied - which one of these things belongs to me?"

對自己，「學而不厭」，對人家，「誨人不倦」，我們應取這種態度。 [MSC, trad.]
对自己，「学而不厌」，对人家，「诲人不倦」，我们应取这种态度。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1938, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《中國共產黨在民族戰爭中的地位》 (The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in the National War). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Our attitude towards ourselves should be “to be insatiable in learning” and towards others “to be tireless in teaching”.

Duì zìjǐ, “xué ér bù yàn”, duì rénjia, “huì rén bù juàn”, wǒmen yīng qǔ zhè zhǒng tàidù. [Pinyin]


絢麗多彩

ㄒㄩㄢˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄘㄞˇ

сюаньлидоцай

/ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hyːn³³ lɐi̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/hyːn³³ lɐi̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

2004 December 9, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “旅行 [lǚxíng, Journey]”, in 每一刻都是嶄新的 [Every Moment Is Completely New], performed by Xu Wei:
誰畫出這天地 又畫下我和你 讓我們的世界絢麗多彩 [MSC, trad.]
谁画出这天地 又画下我和你 让我们的世界绚丽多彩 [MSC, simp.]

Who drew this sky and this ground / Then drew you and me / Made our world gorgeous and colourful

Shéi huàchū zhè tiāndì, Yòu huàxià wǒ hé nǐ, Ràng wǒmen de shìjiè xuànlìduōcǎi [Pinyin]

(figurative) wonderful; brilliant; impressive; magnificent


誨人不倦

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

хуэйжэньбуцзюань

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/fuːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/fuːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/


振奮人心

ㄓㄣˋ ㄈㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

чжэньфэньжэньсинь

čžɛnʹfɛnʹžɛnʹsinʹ

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡siŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ huŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sim³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡siŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ huŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sim³³/

to boost popular morale; to fill people with enthusiasm


一禾九穗

ㄧ ㄏㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ sɵy̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ sɵy̯²²/


高瞻遠矚

ㄍㄠ ㄓㄢ ㄩㄢˇ ㄓㄨˇ

гаочжаньюаньчжу

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

你這麼高瞻遠矚的想法還有點兒道理啊 [MSC, trad.]
你这么高瞻远瞩的想法还有点儿道理啊 [MSC, simp.]

nǐ zhème gāozhānyuǎnzhǔ de xiǎngfǎ hái yǒudiǎn'ér dàolǐ a [Pinyin]

to stand high and see far; to take a broad and long-term view; to show great foresight


屋上建瓴

ㄨ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

ушанцзяньлин

/u⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/u⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

高屋建瓴 高屋建瓴#Chinese


建瓴高屋

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄠ ㄨ

цзяньлингао’у

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵⁵/

高屋建瓴 高屋建瓴#Chinese


高聳入雲

ㄍㄠ ㄙㄨㄥˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄩㄣˊ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ yn³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ³⁵ jɐp̚² wɐn²¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ yn³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ³⁵ jɐp̚² wɐn²¹/

to reach to the sky; to tower into the clouds


高深莫測

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄣ ㄇㄛˋ ㄘㄜˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

too profound to be understood; enigmatic; unfathomable


莫測高深

ㄇㄛˋ ㄘㄜˋ ㄍㄠ ㄕㄣ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


高談闊論

ㄍㄠ ㄊㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

гаотаньколунь

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ kʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ fuːt̚³ lɵn²²/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ kʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ fuːt̚³ lɵn²²/

換盞傳杯，高談闊論。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
换盏传杯，高谈阔论。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《三俠五義》第二一回

Huàn zhǎn chuán bēi, gāotánkuòlùn. [Pinyin]

他們三個人圍著煙燈談天，席面上主賓四位，也在那裡高談闊論起來。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
他们三个人围着烟灯谈天，席面上主宾四位，也在那里高谈阔论起来。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《文明小史》第一八回

Tāmen sān gèrén wéi zhe yāndēng tántiān, xímiàn shàng zhǔ bīn sì wèi, yě zài nàlǐ gāotánkuòlùn qǐlái. [Pinyin]

to indulge in loud and empty talk; to talk volubly or bombastically


高視闊步

ㄍㄠ ㄕˋ ㄎㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

to carry oneself proudly; to strut; to prance


另請高明

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄍㄠ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

линцингаомин

/liŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/liŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

to find someone better qualified (than myself)


高屋建瓴

ㄍㄠ ㄨ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

гао’уцзяньлин

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ʊk̚⁵ kiːn³³ lɪŋ²¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ʊk̚⁵ kiːn³³ lɪŋ²¹/

From 《史記·高祖本紀》 (Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Gaozu).
地勢便利，其以下兵於諸侯，譬猶居高屋之上建瓴水也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]地势便利，其以下兵于诸侯，譬犹居高屋之上建瓴水也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Dìshì biànlì, qí yǐ xià bīng yú zhūhóu, pìyóu jū gāo wū zhī shàng jiàn líng shuǐ yě. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

地勢 便利，其 以 下 兵 於 諸侯，譬猶 居 高 屋 之 上 建 瓴 水 也。

to sweep down irresistibly from a commanding height; to operate from a strategically advantageous position


高歌猛進

ㄍㄠ ㄍㄜ ㄇㄥˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

гаогэмэнцзинь

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ maːŋ¹³ t͡sɵn³³/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ maːŋ¹³ t͡sɵn³³/


空口說空話

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

кункоу шо кунхуа

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

空口說白話 空口說白話#Chinese

空口说白话 空口说白话#Chinese

Synonym of 空口說白話／空口说白话 (kōngkǒu shuō báihuà, “to make empty promises”)


高官厚祿

ㄍㄠ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄡˋ ㄌㄨˋ

гаогуаньхоулу

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ hɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ hɐu̯¹³ lʊk̚²/

high position and handsome salary; high posts with salaries to match


空口無憑

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/

空口無憑，立字為證。 [MSC, trad.]
空口无凭，立字为证。 [MSC, simp.]

Words of mouth being no guarantee, a written statement is hereby given.

Kōngkǒu wú píng, lìzì wéi zhèng. [Pinyin]


空口講白話

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄞˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

kōngkǒu jiǎng báihuà [Phonetic:kōngkóujiǎngbáihuà]

кункоу цзян байхуа

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ paːk̚² waː²²/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ paːk̚² waː²²/

空口說白話 空口說白話#Chinese

空口说白话 空口说白话#Chinese


空口說白話

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄅㄞˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

кункоу шо байхуа

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ syːt̚³ paːk̚² waː²²/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ syːt̚³ paːk̚² waː²²/

指望你今天送錢來，原來是空口說白話。 [MSC, trad.]
指望你今天送钱来，原来是空口说白话。 [MSC, simp.]

I expected you to send money today, but it turned out to be empty talk.

Zhǐwàng nǐ jīntiān sòng qián lái, yuánlái shì kōngkǒushuōbáihuà. [Pinyin]


過猶不及

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kʷɔː³³ jɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kʷɔː³³ jɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

From the Analects, Book 11 (《論語·先進》):
:
子貢問：「師與商也孰賢？」子曰：「師也過，商也不及。」曰：「然則師愈與？」子曰：「過猶不及。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子贡问：「师与商也孰贤？」子曰：「师也过，商也不及。」曰：「然则师愈与？」子曰：「过犹不及。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐgòng wèn: “Shī yǔ Shāng yě shú xián?” Zǐyuē: “Shī yě guò, Shāng yě bùjí.” Yuē: “Ránzé Shī yù yú?” Zǐyuē: “Guò yóu bùjí.” [Pinyin]
Zigong asked which of the two, Shi or Shang, was the superior. The Master said, "Shi goes beyond the due mean, and Shang does not come up to it." "Then," said Zigong, "the superiority is with Shi, I suppose." The Master said, "To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short."

@^子貢 問：「@^師 與 @^商 也 孰 賢？」^子曰：「@^師 也 過，@^商 也 不及。」曰：「然則 @^師 愈 與{yú}？」^子曰：「過.猶.不及。」

doing too much is just as bad as not doing enough


義結金蘭

ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄌㄢˊ

ицзецзиньлань

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/jiː²² kiːt̚³ kɐm⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/jiː²² kiːt̚³ kɐm⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

to become sworn brothers (or sisters); to adopt each other as sworn brothers; to become true confederates and blood brothers (forever); to enter into a masonic bond with each other; to swear eternal friendship; to take an oath of brotherhood; to be close friends


有志之士

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

person of noble aspirations; person with lofty ideas


空話連篇

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧㄢ

кунхуаляньпянь

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

endless pages of empty verbiage; long talk with no real substance


高不輳，低不就

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

高不成，低不就 高不成，低不就#Chinese

Synonym of 高不成，低不就 (gāo bù chéng, dī bù jiù, “unable to aim high but unwilling to aim lower; too choosy to succeed”)


空中樓閣

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄡˊ ㄍㄜˊ

кунчжунлоугэ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/


高不湊，低不就

高不成，低不就 高不成，低不就#Chinese


有案可稽

ㄧㄡˇ ㄢˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

to be a matter of record; to be well documented; the evidence is certain


有案可查

ㄧㄡˇ ㄢˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄚˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ ɔːn³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰaː²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ ɔːn³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰaː²¹/


有礙觀瞻

ㄧㄡˇ ㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄢ

ю’айгуаньчжань

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ ŋɔːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ ŋɔːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

to be repugnant to the eye; to be an eyesore


高不成，低不就

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ti⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tɐi̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯²²/

unable to aim high but unwilling to aim lower; too choosy to succeed (in choosing a job or one's spouse)


有隙可乘

ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄥˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kʷʰɪk̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kʷʰɪk̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/


有鼻子有眼兒

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇㄦ

yǒu bízi yǒu yǎnr [Phonetic:yǒubíziyóuyǎnr]

ю бицзы ю яньр

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

有鼻子有眼 有鼻子有眼#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 有鼻子有眼 (yǒu bízi yǒu yǎn, “with every detail vividly described”).


有血有肉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

(of descriptions in literary works, etc.) true to life; vivid


有氣無力

ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ u³⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ hei̯³³ mou̯²¹ lɪk̚²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ u³⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ hei̯³³ mou̯²¹ lɪk̚²/


有去無還

ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄩˋ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/


有職無權

ㄧㄡˇ ㄓˊ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

to hold the post but not the power; to be a figurehead


無的放矢

to shoot an arrow without a target; to shoot at random

ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄈㄤˋ ㄕˇ

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ tɪk̚⁵ fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ tɪk̚⁵ fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to have no definite object in view; to have no definite objective in speech or action


有始無終

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕˇ ㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


有始有終

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄨㄥ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

一切過程都有始有終，一切過程都轉化為它們的對立物。 [MSC, trad.]
一切过程都有始有终，一切过程都转化为它们的对立物。 [MSC, simp.]

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

All processes have a beginning and an end, all processes transform themselves into their opposites.

Yīqiè guòchéng dōu yǒushǐyǒuzhōng, yīqiè guòchéng dōu zhuǎnhuà wéi tāmen de duìlìwù. [Pinyin]


有識之士

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/u³³⁻²¹ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ su³³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ su³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/u³³⁻²¹ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ su³³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ su³³/

person with breadth of vision; person of insight


有求必應

ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄥˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ iŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ kʰɐu̯²¹ piːt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ iŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ kʰɐu̯²¹ piːt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³/

to respond to every plea; to grant whatever is requested


有目共賞

ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄤˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² kʊŋ²² sœːŋ³⁵/


有日子

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚² t͡siː³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚² t͡siː³⁵/


五音不全

ㄨˇ ㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ jɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ jɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

can't carry a tune
can't carry a tune in a bucket


有過之而無不及

ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄓ ㄦˊ ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ

ю го чжи эр у бу цзи

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ u³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kʷɔː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː²¹ mou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

to go even further than; to outdo (usually of something bad)


有口難辯

ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

юкоунаньбянь

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

有口難分 有口難分#Chinese

有口难分 有口难分#Chinese

Synonym of 有口難分／有口难分 (yǒukǒunánfēn, “to find it hard to vindicate oneself”)


有福同享，有難同當

ㄧㄡˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄢˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄤ

jau⁵ fuk¹ tung⁴ hoeng², jau⁵ naan⁶ tung⁴ dong¹

yu³ fu² tʻung² hsiang³, yu³ nan⁴ tʻung² tang¹

yeou fwu torng sheang, yeou nann torng dang

ю фу тун сян

ю нань тун дан

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

yáuh fūk tùhng héung, yáuh naahn tùhng dōng

jau⁵ fuk⁷ tung⁴ hoeng², jau⁵ naan⁶ tung⁴ dong¹

yeo⁵ fug¹ tung⁴ hêng², yeo⁵ nan⁶ tung⁴ dong¹

/jɐu̯¹³ fʊk̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ naːn²² tʰʊŋ²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵/

to share joys and sorrows; to share weal and woe; to stick together through thick and thin


有口莫辯

ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

有口難分 有口難分#Chinese

有口难分 有口难分#Chinese


有口難分

ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ

юкоунаньфэнь

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵/


有福同享，有禍同當

ㄧㄡˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄤ

jau⁵ fuk¹ tung⁴ hoeng², jau⁵ wo⁶ tung⁴ dong¹

yu³ fu² tʻung² hsiang³, yu³ huo⁴ tʻung² tang¹

yeou fwu torng sheang, yeou huoh torng dang

ю фу тун сян

ю хо тун дан

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

yáuh fūk tùhng héung, yáuh woh tùhng dōng

jau⁵ fuk⁷ tung⁴ hoeng², jau⁵ wo⁶ tung⁴ dong¹

yeo⁵ fug¹ tung⁴ hêng², yeo⁵ wo⁶ tung⁴ dong¹

/jɐu̯¹³ fʊk̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ wɔː²² tʰʊŋ²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵/

有福同享，有難同當 有福同享，有難同當#Chinese

有福同享，有难同当 有福同享，有难同当#Chinese

Synonym of 有福同享，有難同當／有福同享，有难同当 (yǒu fú tóng xiǎng, yǒu nàn tóng dāng)


有口難言

ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ naːn²¹ jiːn²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ naːn²¹ jiːn²¹/

這都是官吏每無心正法，使百姓有口難言。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
这都是官吏每无心正法，使百姓有口难言。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: Yuan Dynasty, Guan Hanqing, The Injustice to Dou E

Zhè dōu shì guānlìměi wúxīn zhèngfǎ, shǐ bǎixìng yǒukǒunányán. [Pinyin]

cannot bring oneself to mention something; to find it hard or embarrassing to bring up a matter


有過之無不及

ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄓ ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ

ю го чжи у бу цзи

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

在這四十八天中，世界人民的注視斯大林格勒，和去年十月間世界人民的注視莫斯科，其關心程度，是有過之無不及的。 [MSC, trad.]
在这四十八天中，世界人民的注视斯大林格勒，和去年十月间世界人民的注视莫斯科，其关心程度，是有过之无不及的。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《第二次世界大戰的轉折點》 (The Turning Point in World War II), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on the Foreign Language Press edition

Throughout these forty-eight days, the people of the world watched Stalingrad with even greater concern than they watched Moscow last October.

Zài zhè sìshíbā tiān zhōng, shìjiè rénmín de zhùshì Sīdàlíngélè, hé qùnián shíyuè jiān shìjiè rénmín de zhùshì Mòsīkē, qí guānxīn chéngdù, shì yǒuguòzhīwúbùjí de. [Pinyin]

有過之而無不及 有過之而無不及#Chinese

有过之而无不及 有过之而无不及#Chinese

Synonym of 有過之而無不及／有过之而无不及 (yǒu guò zhī ér wú bù jí, “to go even further than; to outdo”)


有利可圖

ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄊㄨˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ lei̯²² hɔː³⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ li⁴¹⁻²² kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ lei̯²² hɔː³⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ li⁴¹⁻²² kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²³/

to have good prospects of gain; to stand to grain; to be profitable


有的放矢

ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄈㄤˋ ㄕˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

不是為了要解決中國革命的理論問題、策略問題而到馬克思、恩格斯、列寧、斯大林那裡找立場，找觀點，找方法，而是為了單純地學理論而去學理論。不是有的放矢，而是無的放矢。 [MSC, trad.]
不是为了要解决中国革命的理论问题、策略问题而到马克思、恩格斯、列宁、斯大林那里找立场，找观点，找方法，而是为了单纯地学理论而去学理论。不是有的放矢，而是无的放矢。 [MSC, simp.]
[The one with a subjectivist attitude] goes to Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin not to seek the stand, viewpoint and method with which to solve the theoretical and tactical problems of the Chinese revolution but to study theory purely for theory's sake. He does not shoot the arrow at the target but shoots at random.

From: 1941, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《改造我們的學習》 (Reform Our Study), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on the Foreign Language Press edition

Bùshì wèile yào jiějué Zhōngguó gémìng de lǐlùn wèntí, cèlüè wèntí ér dào Mǎkèsī, Ēngésī, Lièníng, Sīdàlín nàlǐ zhǎo lìchǎng, zhǎo guāndiǎn, zhǎo fāngfǎ, érshì wèile dānchún de xué lǐlùn ér qù xué lǐlùn. Bùshì yǒudìfàngshǐ, érshì wúdìfàngshǐ. [Pinyin]

拿一句通俗的話來講，就是「有的放矢」。「矢」就是箭，「的」就是靶，放箭要對準靶。馬克思列寧主義和中國革命的關係，就是箭和靶的關係。 [MSC, trad.]
拿一句通俗的话来讲，就是「有的放矢」。「矢」就是箭，「的」就是靶，放箭要对准靶。马克思列宁主义和中国革命的关系，就是箭和靶的关系。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《整頓黨的作風》 (Rectify the Party's Style of Work), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Ná yī jù tōngsú de huà lái jiǎng, jiùshì “yǒudìfàngshǐ”. “Shǐ” jiùshì jiàn, “dì” jiùshì bǎ, fàngjiàn yào duìzhǔn bǎ. Mǎkèsī-Lièníng zhǔyì hé Zhōngguó gémìng de guānxì, jiùshì jiàn hé bǎ de guānxì. [Pinyin]To use a common expression, it is yǒudìfàngshǐ. Shǐ means the arrow, dì means the target; the arrow is shot at the target. As the arrow is to the target, so is Marxism-Leninism to the Chinese revolution.

to have a definite object in view; to have a definite objective in speech or action


有機可乘

ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧ ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄥˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kei̯⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ki³³ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kei̯⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ki³³ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²³/

there's an opportunity to take advantage of; there's a loophole that can be used


無形之中

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄓㄨㄥ

/u³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

Synonym of 無形中／无形中 (wúxíngzhōng, “imperceptibly; virtually”)


無以復加

ㄨˊ ㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ fʊk̚² kaː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jiː¹³ fʊk̚² kaː⁵⁵/


一望無垠

ㄧ ㄨㄤˋ ㄨˊ ㄧㄣˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ in³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² mou̯²¹ ŋɐn²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ in³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² mou̯²¹ ŋɐn²¹/

as far as the eye can see
as far as the eye can see

to stretch as far as the eye can see; to stretch to the horizon


無源之水

ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


無邊無際

ㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ piːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/u³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ piːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³/


未足輕重

ㄨㄟˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

вэйцзуцинчжун

/weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

無足輕重 無足輕重#Chinese

无足轻重 无足轻重#Chinese

Synonym of 無足輕重／无足轻重 (wúzúqīngzhòng, “of little importance or consequence; insignificant; of little account”)


無足輕重

ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/u³⁵ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/

/u³⁵ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/

無足輕重的人物／无足轻重的人物

insignificant figure; inconsequential figure; a nobody; a nonentity

of little importance or consequence; insignificant; of little account


言者無心，聽者有意

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄓㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧˋ

яньчжэ усинь

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

jin⁴ dze² mou⁴ sam¹, ting¹ dze² jau⁵ ji³

/jiːn²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jiː³³/

A casual remark sounds deliberate to a suspicious listener. / A careless word may be important information to an attentive listener.


無知妄說

ㄨˊ ㄓ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

因為這種議論或批評，沒有經過周密調查，不過是無知妄說。 [MSC, trad.]
因为这种议论或批评，没有经过周密调查，不过是无知妄说。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1941, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《〈農村調查〉的序言和跋》 (Preface and Postscript to "Rural Surveys"), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on the Foreign Language Press edition

For such views or criticisms, which are not based on thorough investigation, are nothing but ignorant twaddle.

Yīnwèi zhè zhǒng yìlùn huò pīpíng, méiyǒu jīngguò zhōumì diàochá, bùguò shì wúzhīwàngshuō. [Pinyin]


無根之木，無源之水

a tree without roots, water without a source

ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

угэнь чжи му

уюань чжи шуй

/u³⁵ kən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

無源之水，無本之木 無源之水，無本之木#Chinese

无源之水，无本之木 无源之水，无本之木#Chinese

(figuratively) Synonym of 無源之水，無本之木／无源之水，无本之木 (wúyuán zhī shuǐ, wúběn zhī mù, “baseless”)


無可比擬

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄅㄧˇ ㄋㄧˇ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

這是自有世界歷史和中國歷史以來無可比擬的大變化。 [MSC, trad.]
这是自有世界历史和中国历史以来无可比拟的大变化。 [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

This is a tremendous change unparalleled in the history of China and of the world.

Zhè shì zì yǒu shìjiè lìshǐ hé Zhōngguó lìshǐ yǐlái wúkěbǐnǐ de dà biànhuà. [Pinyin]


無堅不摧

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄨㄟ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

to overrun all fortifications; to carry all before one; to be all-conquering


無可置疑

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓˋ ㄧˊ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ t͡siː³³ jiː²¹/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ t͡siː³³ jiː²¹/


前途無量

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰu³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰu³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

to have a great future; to have boundless prospects


無價之寶

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄅㄠˇ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kaː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kaː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵/


無拘無束

ㄨˊ ㄐㄩ ㄨˊ ㄕㄨˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/

unrestrained; unconstrained; free and easy


無可諱言

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄢˊ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hui¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hui²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hui²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hui¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hui²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³/

這些都是無可諱言的事實。 [MSC, trad.]
这些都是无可讳言的事实。 [MSC, simp.]

Zhèxiē dōu shì wúkěhuìyán de shìshí. [Pinyin]

there is no hiding the fact; undeniable; indisputable


無可爭辯

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓㄥ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ piːn²²/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ piːn²²/


問心無愧

ㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

вэньсиньукуй

/wən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²² sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯¹³/

/bun²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² kʰui²¹/

/bun⁴¹⁻²² sim³³ bo²⁴⁻²² kʰui⁴¹/

/bun²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² kʰui²¹/

/bun³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰui¹¹/

/bun³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kʰui²¹/

/wən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²² sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯¹³/

/bun²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² kʰui²¹/

/bun⁴¹⁻²² sim³³ bo²⁴⁻²² kʰui⁴¹/

/bun²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² kʰui²¹/

/bun³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰui¹¹/

/bun³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kʰui²¹/

to feel no qualms upon self-examination; to have a clear conscience


問心有愧

ㄨㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

вэньсиньюкуй

/wən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²² sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʷʰɐi̯¹³/

/wən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²² sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʷʰɐi̯¹³/


五穀豐登

ㄨˇ ㄍㄨˇ ㄈㄥ ㄉㄥ

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ kʊk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ kʊk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵/


無足重輕

ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

/u³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

無足輕重 無足輕重#Chinese

无足轻重 无足轻重#Chinese


如墜五里霧中

ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄟˋ ㄨˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ

rú zhuì wǔ lǐ wù zhōng [Phonetic:rúzhuìwúlǐwùzhōng]

жу чжуй у ли у чжун

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² ŋ̍¹³ lei̯¹³ mou̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

如墮五里霧中 如墮五里霧中#Chinese

如堕五里雾中 如堕五里雾中#Chinese

Synonym of 如墮五里霧中／如堕五里雾中 (rú duò wǔ lǐ wù zhōng, “as if lost in a thick fog; utterly mystified”)


左右為難

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄢˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ nän³⁵/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯²² wɐi̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/t͡so⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu²²⁻²¹ ui²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/t͡so⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ iu⁴¹⁻²² ui²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/t͡so⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu²²⁻²¹ ui¹³⁻²² lan¹³/

/t͡so⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu³³⁻¹¹ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴/

/t͡sɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iu³³⁻²¹ ui²³⁻³³ lan²³/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ nän³⁵/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯²² wɐi̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/t͡so⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu²²⁻²¹ ui²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/t͡so⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ iu⁴¹⁻²² ui²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/t͡so⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu²²⁻²¹ ui¹³⁻²² lan¹³/

/t͡so⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu³³⁻¹¹ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴/

/t͡sɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iu³³⁻²¹ ui²³⁻³³ lan²³/

between a rock and a hard place
between a rock and a hard place


五日京兆

ㄨˇ ㄖˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓㄠˋ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

During the Western Han dynasty, Zhang Chang was a Jingzhaoyin (an official position) who was going to be dismissed from his post. A subordinate refused to handle cases for him upon knowing this, and said, "He's going to be a Jingzhaoyin for no longer than five days. How could he handle any more cases?" See 《漢書•張敞傳》.

an official who doesn't expect to remain long in office


無盡無休

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄡ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/


無往不在

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/


無倚無靠

ㄨˊ ㄧˇ ㄨˊ ㄎㄠˋ

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰaːu̯³³/

/u³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰaːu̯³³/

無依無靠 無依無靠#Chinese

无依无靠 无依无靠#Chinese

Synonym of 無依無靠／无依无靠 (wúyīwúkào, “to have no one to depend on; to be helpless”)


無靠無依

/u³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵/

無依無靠 無依無靠#Chinese

无依无靠 无依无靠#Chinese


無往不勝

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/


無往而不勝

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ

уванъэрбушэн

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/


無慮無憂

ㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ ㄨˊ ㄧㄡ

/u³⁵ ly⁵¹ u³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ly⁵¹ u³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/


無憂無慮

ㄨˊ ㄧㄡ ㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ

/u³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/

/u³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/


無為而治

ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

/u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

Although this idea is most commonly associated with Taoism, the exact wording first appeared in Confucian text. From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):
:
子曰：「無為而治者，其舜也與！夫何為哉？恭己正南面而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「无为而治者，其舜也与！夫何为哉？恭己正南面而已矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Wúwèi ér zhì zhě, qí Shùn yě yú! Fú héwéi zāi? Gōng jǐ zhèng nánmiàn éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "May not Shun be instanced as having governed efficiently without exertion? What did he do? He did nothing but gravely and reverently occupy his royal seat."
The earliest appearance in Taoist texts is worded differently. From Tao Te Ching, Chapter 57:
:
故聖人云：我無為，而民自化；我好靜，而民自正；我無事，而民自富；我無欲，而民自樸。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]故圣人云：我无为，而民自化；我好静，而民自正；我无事，而民自富；我无欲，而民自朴。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Gù shèngrén yún: wǒ wúwéi, ér mín zì huà; wǒ hào jìng, ér mín zì zhèng; wǒ wúshì, ér mín zì fù; wǒ wúyù, ér mín zì pǔ. [Pinyin]
Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of purpose), and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct. I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of themselves become rich; I will manifest no ambition, and the people will of themselves attain to the primitive simplicity.'

子曰：「無為.而.治 者，其 ^舜 也 與{yú}！夫{fú} 何為{wéi} 哉？恭 己 正 南面 而已 矣。」

故 聖人 云：我 @無為{wéi}，@而 民 自 化；我 好{hào} 靜，而 民 自 正；我 無事，而 民 自 富；我 無欲，而 民 自 樸。

(Taoism) to govern by doing nothing that goes against nature; (by extension) to govern by nonaction; to govern by noninterference


無所措手

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

無所措手足 無所措手足#Chinese

无所措手足 无所措手足#Chinese

Synonym of 無所措手足／无所措手足 (wú suǒ cuò shǒu zú, “to be at a loss as to what to do”)


無所畏懼

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄩˋ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³ kɵy̯²²/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³ kɵy̯²²/


無所措手足

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄗㄨˊ

у со цо шоу цзу

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

From the Analects:
名不正，則言不順；言不順，則事不成；事不成，則禮樂不興；禮樂不興，則刑罰不中；刑罰不中，則民無所措手足。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]名不正，则言不顺；言不顺，则事不成；事不成，则礼乐不兴；礼乐不兴，则刑罚不中；刑罚不中，则民无所措手足。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Míng bù zhèng, zé yán bù shùn; yán bù shùn, zé shì bù chéng; shì bù chéng, zé lǐyuè bù xīng; lǐyuè bù xīng, zé xíngfá bù zhòng; xíngfá bù zhòng, zé mín wú suǒ cuò shǒuzú. [Pinyin]
If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success. When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music will not flourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot.

名 不 正，則 言 不 順；言 不 順，則 事 不 成；事 不 成，則 禮樂 不 興{xīng}；禮樂 不 興{xīng}，則 刑罰 不 中{zhòng}；刑罰 不 中{zhòng}，則 民 無.所.措.手足。


無所用心

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ jʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ jʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

See 飽食終日，無所用心／饱食终日，无所用心 (bǎoshízhōngrì, wúsuǒyòngxīn).

zh-l

to not give serious thought to anything; carefree; happy-go-lucky


無所適從

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄕˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²⁴/

to not know what course to take; to be at a loss of what to do


如墮五里霧中

ㄖㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄨˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ

rú duò wǔ lǐ wù zhōng [Phonetic:rúduòwúlǐwùzhōng]

жу до у ли у чжун

/ʐu³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ tɔː²² ŋ̍¹³ lei̯¹³ mou̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

as if lost in a thick fog; utterly mystified


無功而祿

ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄦˊ ㄌㄨˋ

/u³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/u³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu⁵¹/

無功受祿 無功受祿#Chinese

无功受禄 无功受禄#Chinese

Synonym of 無功受祿／无功受禄 (wúgōngshòulù, “to get a reward without deserving it”)


無所不包

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄠ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵/


無依無靠

/u³⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰaːu̯³³/

/u³⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰaːu̯³³/

to have no one to depend on; to be helpless


言有盡而意無窮

ㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

янь ю цзинь эр и уцюн

/jɛn³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

(of poetry or prose) there's an end to the words, but not to their message


無所不能

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (無所不能):
* → Korean: 무소불능(無所不能) (musobulleung)

[one] does not have anything that [one] cannot do

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɪŋ²⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɪŋ²³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ leŋ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɪŋ²⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɪŋ²³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ leŋ⁵⁵/


無所不知

Sino-Xenic (無所不知):
* → Korean: 무소부지(無所不知) (musobuji)

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/


無暇他顧

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄊㄚ ㄍㄨˋ

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ku⁵¹/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ku⁵¹/

to have no time to attend to other things


鴻鵠之志

ja-r

こうこく の こころざし

→ Japanese: 鴻鵠(こうこく)の志(こころざし) (kōkoku no kokorozashi) (calque)

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄓ ㄓˋ

/xʊŋ³⁵ xu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ hʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/

/xʊŋ³⁵ xu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ hʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/

See 燕雀安知鴻鵠志／燕雀安知鸿鹄志 (yànquè ān zhī hónghú zhì).

zh-l

(figurative) the ambitions of a great person


無出其右

ㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄧㄡˋ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jɐu̯²²/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jɐu̯²²/


無補於事

ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄩˊ ㄕˋ

/u³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ pou̯³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/u³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ pou̯³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

於事無補 於事無補#Chinese

于事无补 于事无补#Chinese

Synonym of 於事無補／于事无补 (yúshìwúbǔ, “unhelpful or useless to the situation”)


無恥之尤

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

brazen in the extreme; the height of shamelessness


無恥讕言

ㄨˊ ㄔˇ ㄌㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ län³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ län³⁵ jɛn³⁵/


無惡不作

ㄨˊ ㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/u³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ ɔːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³/

/u³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ ɔːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³/

to stop at nothing in doing evil; to commit all manners of crime


無事生非

/u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ siː²² saːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ siː²² saːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

to make trouble out of nothing; to be deliberately provocative


無病呻吟

ㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄕㄣ ㄧㄣˊ

/u³⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ in³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ pɛːŋ²² sɐn⁵⁵ jɐm²¹/

/u³⁵ piŋ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ in³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ pɛːŋ²² sɐn⁵⁵ jɐm²¹/

to make a fuss about imaginary worries; to pine and whine about nothing

(of literature and art) to adopt a sentimental pose


眼觀六路

to keep an eye on the six directions (above, below, front, rear, left, and right)

ㄧㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄨˋ

яньгуаньлюлу

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

keeping a close eye on various things; considering the many aspects of a situation


污泥濁水

ㄨ ㄋㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/u⁵⁵ ni³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː⁵⁵ nɐi̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

/u⁵⁵ ni³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː⁵⁵ nɐi̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

中國人民將會看見，中國的命運一經操在人民自己的手裡，中國就將如太陽升起在東方那樣，以自己的輝煌的光焰普照大地，迅速地蕩滌反動政府留下來的污泥濁水，治好戰爭的創傷，建設起一個嶄新的強盛的名副其實的人民共和國。 [MSC, trad.]
中国人民将会看见，中国的命运一经操在人民自己的手里，中国就将如太阳升起在东方那样，以自己的辉煌的光焰普照大地，迅速地荡涤反动政府留下来的污泥浊水，治好战争的创伤，建设起一个崭新的强盛的名副其实的人民共和国。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1949, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《在新政治協商會議籌備會上的講話》 (Address to the Preparatory Meeting of the New Political Consultative Conference), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on the Foreign Language Press edition

The Chinese people will see that, once China's destiny is in the hands of the people, China, like the sun rising in the east, will illuminate every corner of the land with a brilliant flame, swiftly clean up the mire left by the reactionary government, heal the wounds of war and build a new, powerful and prosperous people's republic worthy of the name.

Zhōngguó rénmín jiāng huì kànjiàn, Zhōngguó de mìngyùn yījīng cāo zài rénmín zìjǐ de shǒu lǐ, Zhōngguó jiù jiāng rú tàiyáng shēngqǐ zài dōngfāng nàyàng, yǐ zìjǐ de huīhuáng de guāngyàn pǔzhào dàdì, xùnsù de dàngdí fǎndòng zhèngfǔ liú xiàlái de wūnízhuóshuǐ, zhìhǎo zhànzhēng de chuāngshāng, jiànshè qǐ yī gè zhǎnxīn de qiángshèng de míngfùqíshí de rénmín gònghéguó. [Pinyin]


眼高手低

ㄧㄢˇ ㄍㄠ ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄧ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵⁵/

/ŋaːn¹³ kou̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ tɐi̯⁵⁵/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵⁵/

/ŋaːn¹³ kou̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ tɐi̯⁵⁵/

to have grandiose aims but puny abilities; to be fastidious but incompetent


無所不至

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (無所不至):
* → Korean: 무소부지(無所不至) (musobuji)

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˋ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si¹¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si²¹/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si²¹/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si¹¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si²¹/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡si²¹/

From the Analects, Book 17 (《論語·陽貨》):
:
子曰：「鄙夫！可與事君也與哉？其未得之也，患得之；既得之，患失之。苟患失之，無所不至矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「鄙夫！可与事君也与哉？其未得之也，患得之；既得之，患失之。苟患失之，无所不至矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Bǐ fū! Kě yǔ shì jūn yě yǔ zāi? Qí wèi dé zhī yě, huàn dé zhī; jì dé zhī, huàn shī zhī. Gǒu huàn shī zhī, wú suǒ bù zhì yǐ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "There are those mean creatures! How impossible it is along with them to serve one's prince! While they have not got their aims, their anxiety is how to get them. When they have got them, their anxiety is lest they should lose them. When they are anxious lest such things should be lost, there is nothing to which they will not proceed."

zh-x

^子曰：「鄙 夫！可 與 事 君 也 與 哉？其 未 得 之 也，患 得 之；既 得 之，患 失 之。苟 患 失 之，無.所.不.至 矣。」

to spare no pains (to do evil); to be capable of anything; to stop at nothing


無功受祿

ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄕㄡˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/u³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² lʊk̚²/

/u³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² lʊk̚²/


嚴刑拷打

ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄠˇ ㄉㄚˇ

/jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːm²¹ jɪŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵/

/jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːm²¹ jɪŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵/


嚴絲合縫

ㄧㄢˊ ㄙ ㄏㄜˊ ㄈㄥˋ

/jɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ siː⁵⁵ hɐp̚² fʊŋ²¹/

/jɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ siː⁵⁵ hɐp̚² fʊŋ²¹/

to fit together perfectly; to join tightly; to dovetail


大飽眼福

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄠˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄈㄨˊ

/tä⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/taːi̯²² paːu̯³⁵ ŋaːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/taːi̯²² paːu̯³⁵ ŋaːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵/