梨花帶雨

ㄌㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄉㄞˋ ㄩˇ

/li³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/li³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

玉容寂寞泪闌干，梨花一枝春帶雨。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]玉容寂寞泪阑干，梨花一枝春带雨。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: 806 CE, Bai Juyi, Song of Everlasting Regret
Yùróng jìmò lèi lángān, líhuā yī zhī chūn dài yǔ. [Pinyin]
Her jade countenance was sad, and crisscrossed with tears, like a pear blossom bathed in springtime rain.

玉容 寂寞 泪 闌干，梨花 一 枝 春 帶 雨。


默默無聞

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/mɐk̚² mɐk̚² mou̯²¹ mɐn²¹/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/mɐk̚² mɐk̚² mou̯²¹ mɐn²¹/


行不苟合

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄏㄜˊ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

Attested in Hanji:
:
建爲人口辯，初名廉直，行不苟合。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]建为人口辩，初名廉直，行不苟合。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Hanji, author: Xun Yue, 200 AD
Jiàn wéirén kǒubiàn, chū míng liánzhí, xíngbùgǒuhé. [Pinyin]
[Zhu] Jian had a silver tongue. He was first known to be honest and upright, and assertive.

zh-x

建 爲{wéi}人 口辯，初 名 廉直，行不苟合。

􂀿Zhu􂁀 Jian had a silver tongue. He was first known to be honest and upright, and assertive.


尖嘴猴腮

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄡˊ ㄙㄞ

цзяньцзуйхоусай

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ saɪ̯⁵⁵/


豆蔻年華

ㄉㄡˋ ㄎㄡˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚˊ

доукоуняньхуа

/toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵/

/tɐu̯²² kʰɐu̯³³ niːn²¹ waː²¹/

/toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵/

/tɐu̯²² kʰɐu̯³³ niːn²¹ waː²¹/

(figuratively) thirteen to fourteen years of age (of a girl); maidenhood


甘之如飴

/kän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː²¹/

/kän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː²¹/


如飢似渴

ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧ ㄙˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː¹³ hɔːt̚³/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː¹³ hɔːt̚³/

as if thirsting or hungering for something; with great eagerness


鼎足而三

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄦˊ ㄙㄢ

динцзуэрсань

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵⁵/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ sän⁵⁵/

to have three sides (e.g. rivals) coexisting


片言隻語

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄩˇ

пяньяньчжиюй

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːn³³ jiːn²¹ t͡sɛːk̚³ jyː¹³/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːn³³ jiːn²¹ t͡sɛːk̚³ jyː¹³/

隻言片語 隻言片語#Chinese

只言片语 只言片语#Chinese


顛鸞倒鳳

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄌㄨㄢˊ ㄉㄠˇ ㄈㄥˋ

дяньлуаньдаофэн

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ lu̯än³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/tiːn⁵⁵ lyːn²¹ tou̯³⁵ fʊŋ²²/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ lu̯än³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/tiːn⁵⁵ lyːn²¹ tou̯³⁵ fʊŋ²²/


正人君子

ㄓㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ

чжэнжэньцзюньцзы

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

From Jiutangshu:
:
胤所悅者闒茸下輩，所惡者正人君子。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]胤所悦者阘茸下辈，所恶者正人君子。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Old Book of Tang, 945 CE
Yìn suǒ yuè zhě tàróng xià bèi, suǒ wù zhě zhèngrénjūnzǐ. [Pinyin]
[Cui] Yin was fond of incompetent people, but hated the upright and honest ones.

胤 所 悅 者 闒茸 下 輩，所 惡{wù} 者 正人君子。

􂀿Cui􂁀 Yin was fond of incompetent people, but hated the upright and honest ones.

(formal, sometimes sarcastic) an upright and honest person


一語中的

ㄧ ㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ³³ tɪk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ³³ tɪk̚⁵/


神魂顛倒

ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ

шэньхуньдяньдао

/ʂən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ tiːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵/

/ʂən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ tiːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵/

From Stories to Awaken the World:
:
小娘們多有愛他的，奉得神魂顛倒，連家裡也不思想。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]小娘们多有爱他的，奉得神魂颠倒，连家里也不思想。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World, 1627 CE
Xiǎo niángmen duō yǒu ài tā de, fèng dé shénhúndiāndǎo, lián jiā lǐ yě bù sīxiǎng. [Pinyin]
Young ladies fell in love with him, becoming so obsessed with him that they didn't think of their own families.

小 娘們 多 有 愛 他 的，奉 得 神魂顛倒，連 家 裡 也 不 思想。

(sometimes derogatory) possessed; obsessed


戎馬倥傯

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄥˇ

жунмакунцзун

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


怪力亂神

ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄣˊ

гуайлилуаньшэнь

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹ ʂən³⁵/

/kʷaːi̯³³ lɪk̚² lyːn²² sɐn²¹/

/kuai²¹⁻⁵³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² luan²²⁻²¹ sin²⁴/

/kuai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ liɪk̚²⁴⁻² luan⁴¹⁻²² sin²⁴/

/kuai²¹⁻⁵³ liɪk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ luan²²⁻²¹ sin¹³/

/kuai¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² luan³³⁻¹¹ sin²⁴/

/kuai²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² luan³³⁻²¹ sin²³/

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹ ʂən³⁵/

/kʷaːi̯³³ lɪk̚² lyːn²² sɐn²¹/

/kuai²¹⁻⁵³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² luan²²⁻²¹ sin²⁴/

/kuai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ liɪk̚²⁴⁻² luan⁴¹⁻²² sin²⁴/

/kuai²¹⁻⁵³ liɪk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ luan²²⁻²¹ sin¹³/

/kuai¹¹⁻⁵³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² luan³³⁻¹¹ sin²⁴/

/kuai²¹⁻⁴¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² luan³³⁻²¹ sin²³/

From the Analects, Book 7 (《論語·述而》):
:
子不語：怪、力、亂、神。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子不语：怪、力、乱、神。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ bù yǔ: guài, lì, luàn, shén. [Pinyin]
The subjects on which the Master did not talk, were — extraordinary things, feats of strength, disorder, and spiritual beings.

子 不 語：@怪、@力、@亂、@神。

(dated, literal) monstrousness, violence, rebellion and supernaturalism


乾手淨腳

/kɔːn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛːŋ²² kœːk̚³/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛːŋ²² kœːk̚³/

(Cantonese) done well and neatly, without loose ends


乾淨俐落

ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄌㄧˋ ˙ㄌㄨㄛ

ганьцзинлило

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ lu̯ɔ¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːŋ²² lei̯²² lɔːk̚²/

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ lu̯ɔ¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːŋ²² lei̯²² lɔːk̚²/


投石問路

to toss a stone to find out what's ahead

ㄊㄡˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ sɛːk̚² mɐn²² lou̯²²/

/tau²⁴⁻²² t͡sio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bun²²⁻²¹ lɔ²²/

/tau²⁴⁻²² t͡sio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² bun⁴¹⁻²² lɔ⁴¹/

/tau¹³⁻²² t͡sio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ bun²²⁻²¹ lɔ²²/

/tau²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sio(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bun³³⁻¹¹ lɔ³³/

/tau²³⁻³³ t͡siɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bun³³⁻²¹ lɔ³³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ sɛːk̚² mɐn²² lou̯²²/

/tau²⁴⁻²² t͡sio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bun²²⁻²¹ lɔ²²/

/tau²⁴⁻²² t͡sio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² bun⁴¹⁻²² lɔ⁴¹/

/tau¹³⁻²² t͡sio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ bun²²⁻²¹ lɔ²²/

/tau²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sio(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bun³³⁻¹¹ lɔ³³/

/tau²³⁻³³ t͡siɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bun³³⁻²¹ lɔ³³/


為反而反

ㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄢˇ ㄦˊ ㄈㄢˇ

вэйфаньэрфань

/weɪ̯⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ faːn³⁵ jiː²¹ faːn³⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ faːn³⁵ jiː²¹ faːn³⁵/

opposing for the sake of opposing; contrary


一望而知

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/


寂寂無聞

ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ

ㄐㄧˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

to be obscure; to be not little-known; to be not famed


及時行樂

ㄐㄧˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄜˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/kʰɐp̚² siː²¹ hɐŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/kʰɐp̚² siː²¹ hɐŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/


因時制宜

/in⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ siː²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ jiː²¹/

/in⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ siː²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ jiː²¹/

to use methods appropriate to the current situation


燈火闌珊

ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

дэнхоланьшань

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ län³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ laːn²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²⁻³⁵ laŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ saŋ³³/

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ län³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ laːn²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²⁻³⁵ laŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ saŋ³³/


咬薑啜醋

/ŋau̯²⁴⁻¹¹ ki̯oŋ²⁴ t͡sʰot̚² t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵/

/ŋau̯²⁴⁻¹¹ ki̯oŋ²⁴ t͡sʰot̚² t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵/

咬薑啜醋幾十年 毋識埋怨 [Sixian Hakka, trad.]
咬姜啜醋几十年 毋识埋怨 [Sixian Hakka, simp.]

ngâu-kiông-chhot-chhṳ kí sṳ̍p ngièn, m̀-sṳt mài-yen [Pha̍k-fa-sṳ]

(Hakka) to economize on one's food and clothing; to live a poor and simple life


流水行雲

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄣˊ

люшуйсинъюнь

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ yn³⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ hɐŋ²¹ wɐn²¹/

/liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ kĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ huŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ yn³⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ hɐŋ²¹ wɐn²¹/

/liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ kĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ huŋ⁵⁵/

(of calligraphy, writing, etc.) very smooth and natural; natural and unforced style


犯顏直諫

ㄈㄢˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

фаньяньчжицзянь

/fän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/faːn²² ŋaːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚² kaːn³³/

/fän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/faːn²² ŋaːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚² kaːn³³/

From Han Feizi:
:
犯顏極諫，臣不如東郭牙，請立以為諫臣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]犯颜极谏，臣不如东郭牙，请立以为谏臣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Fànyán jí jiàn, chén bùrú Dōngguō Yá, qǐng lì yǐ wéi jiànchén. [Pinyin]
In moving against the facial expression of the ruler and making utmost remonstrations, I am not as good as Dongguo Ya. May Your Highness appoint him Minister of Censorship.

犯顏 極 諫，臣 不如 ^東郭 ^牙，請 立 以 為{wéi} 諫臣。

constructive criticism
constructive criticism

to give constructive criticism to the emperor at the risk of offending him


苦思冥想

ㄎㄨˇ ㄙ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/


招搖撞騙

ㄓㄠ ㄧㄠˊ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄆㄧㄢˋ

чжаояочжуанпянь

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ t͡sɔːŋ²² pʰiːn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ t͡sɔːŋ²² pʰiːn³³/

我是對得天的，從不敢起這要錢的念頭。只是奴才在外招搖撞騙，鬧出事來我就吃不住了。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
我是对得天的，从不敢起这要钱的念头。只是奴才在外招摇撞骗，闹出事来我就吃不住了。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

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

Wǒ shì duì dé tiān de, cóng bùgǎn qǐ zhè yào qián de niàntou. Zhǐshì núcái zàiwài zhāoyáozhuàngpiàn, nào chū shì lái wǒ jiù chībùzhù le. [Pinyin]

你若借此招搖撞騙，可要置你於死地！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
你若借此招摇撞骗，可要置你于死地！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 1907 CE, Liu E, The Travels of Lao Can

Nǐ ruò jiè cǐ zhāoyáozhuàngpiàn, kě yào zhì nǐ yú sǐdì! [Pinyin]

冒充人民警察招搖撞騙的，依照前款的規定從重處罰。 [MSC, trad.]
冒充人民警察招摇撞骗的，依照前款的规定从重处罚。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1997, 《中华人民共和国刑法》 [Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China]

Whoever impersonates a people's policeman to go about and deceive people shall be given a heavier punishment in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Màochōng rénmín jǐngchá zhāoyáozhuàngpiàn de, yīzhào qián kuǎn de guīdìng cóngzhòng chùfá. [Pinyin]

to pass oneself off as someone prominent and swindle people


心口不一

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧ

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵/


機不可失

ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ki⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sit̚³²/

/ki⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sit̚³²/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ki⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sit̚³²/

/ki⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sit̚³²/


故技重施

ㄍㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄕ

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


藥石罔效

ㄧㄠˋ ㄕˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² sɛːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ haːu̯²²/

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² sɛːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ haːu̯²²/


較勝一籌

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧ ㄔㄡˊ

цзяошэнъичоу

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kaːu̯³³ sɪŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/kaːu̯³³ sɪŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/


油鹽不進

ㄧㄡˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/joʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/joʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/


頑固不化

ㄨㄢˊ ㄍㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/wän³⁵ ku⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/wän³⁵ ku⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/


春秋鼎盛

desc

→ Japanese: 春秋鼎に盛んなり (shunjū masa ni sakan nari) (calque)

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄕㄥˋ

чуньцюдиншэн

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²²/


非親非故

ㄈㄟ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ ㄍㄨˋ

фэйциньфэйгу

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ku⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kuː³³/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ku⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kuː³³/

(of two people) to be neither relatives nor friends


情非得已

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄟ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/

From Flowers in the Mirror [circa 19th century].
:
適才躲避桌下，自知失儀露醜，實系情非得已，諸位姐姐莫要發笑。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]适才躲避桌下，自知失仪露丑，实系情非得已，诸位姐姐莫要发笑。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Jing Hua Yuan
Shìcái duǒbì zhuō xià, zìzhī shī yí lù chǒu, shí xì qíngfēidéyǐ, zhūwèi jiějiě mò yào fāxiào. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

適才 躲避 桌 下，自知 失 儀 露 醜，實 系 情非得已，諸位 姐姐 莫 要 發笑。

to have circumstances beyond one's control


先入之見

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄖㄨˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

сяньжучжицзянь

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kiːn³³/


日升月恆

ㄖˋ ㄕㄥ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄥˊ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚² sɪŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚² hɐŋ²¹/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚² sɪŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚² hɐŋ²¹/

From Shijing:
如月之恆、如日之升。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]如月之恒、如日之升。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rú yuè zhī héng, rú rì zhī shēng. [Pinyin]
Like the moon advancing to the full,
Like the sun ascending the heavens.

如 月 之 恆、如 日 之 升。

(figuratively) in the ascendant; ever increasing


日月升恆

ㄖˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄥˊ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚² jyːt̚² sɪŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚² jyːt̚² sɪŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

日升月恆 日升月恆#Chinese


春秋筆法

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄅㄧˇ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

春秋 (chūnqiū) refers to Confucius' Spring and Autumn Annals, in which Confucius seldom made direct comments when evaluating historical events, but rather relied on different writing styles and vocabularies to convey his opinion.

這篇文章並沒有春秋筆法，只是記錄事實而已。 [MSC, trad.]
这篇文章并没有春秋笔法，只是记录事实而已。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhè piān wénzhāng bìng méiyǒu chūnqiūbǐfǎ, zhǐshì jìlù shìshí éryǐ. [Pinyin]

to make value-laden evaluations through writing styles and vocabularies


步步高

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

人民生活步步高

the lives of the people improve step by step

步步高升 步步高升#Chinese


世事難料

ㄕˋ ㄕˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ nän³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ siː²² naːn²¹ liːu̯²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ nän³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ siː²² naːn²¹ liːu̯²²/

worldly affairs are difficult to predict


不計前嫌

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

буцзицяньсянь

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jiːm²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jiːm²¹/


東拼西湊

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄆㄧㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄘㄡˋ

дунпиньсицоу

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰin⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ³³ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³³/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰin⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ³³ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³³/

to assemble bits and pieces; to gather from all over the place


竹報平安

ㄓㄨˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄢ

чжубаопинъань

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ pou̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ pou̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

letter sent home to report that all is well


吉祥如意

ㄐㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/kɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jyː²¹ jiː³³/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/kɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jyː²¹ jiː³³/

to be lucky and have everything go as one wishes


賣兒鬻女

ㄇㄞˋ ㄦˊ ㄩˋ ㄋㄩˇ

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːi̯²² jiː²¹ jʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːi̯²² jiː²¹ jʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

to be forced to sell one's children because one is destitute


博採眾長

ㄅㄛˊ ㄘㄞˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄤˊ

боцайчжунчан

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/


身強體壯

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄧˇ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

шэньцянтичжуан

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

(of a person) strong and sturdy; robust and strong


身強力壯

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

шэньцянличжуан

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɔːŋ³³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɔːŋ³³/


孔武有力

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄨˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧˋ

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ mou̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ lɪk̚²/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ mou̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ lɪk̚²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 80 (《詩經·鄭風·羔裘》):
:
羔裘豹飾，孔武有力。
彼其之子，邦之司直。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]羔裘豹饰，孔武有力。
彼其之子，邦之司直。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Gāo qiú bào shì, kǒng wǔ yǒu lì.
Bǐ qí zhī zǐ, bāng zhī sī zhí. [Pinyin]
His lambs's fur, with its cuffs of leopard-skin. Looks grandly martial and strong.
That officer, In the country will ever hold to the right.

lang

(《詩經·鄭風·羔裘》)

(《詩經·鄭風·羔裘》)

zh-x

羔 裘 豹 飾，孔.武.有.力。
彼 其 之 子，邦 之 司 直。

to have great physical strength and courage


跛鱉千里

ㄅㄛˇ ㄅㄧㄝ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/pu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


薄物細故

ㄅㄛˊ ㄨˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄍㄨˋ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/


梧桐半死

ㄨˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄙˇ

/u³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ pän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ pän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to have lost a spouse; to be a widow or widower


獨尊儒術

ㄉㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨˋ

/tu³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² t͡syːn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ sɵt̚²/

/tu³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² t͡syːn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ sɵt̚²/


獨步天下

ㄉㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/tu³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² pou̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

/tu³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² pou̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/


風裡來雨裡去

ㄈㄥ ㄌㄧˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄑㄩˋ

фэнлилайюйлицюй

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

风里来雨里去
風裡來，雨裡去

(figurative, Mainland China) with great hardship in life and work


東一榔頭西一棒子

东一榔头西一棒子
東一榔頭，西一棒子

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄌㄤˊ ˙ㄊㄡ ㄒㄧ ㄧ ㄅㄤˋ ㄗˇ

dung¹ jat¹ long⁴ tau⁴ sai¹ jat¹ paang⁵ zi²

dōng yī lángtou xī yī bàngzǐ [Phonetic:dōng yì lángtou xī yí bàngzǐ]

дун и лантоу си и банцзы

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³ ɕi⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dung¹ jat⁷ long⁴ tau⁴ sai¹ jat⁷ paang⁵ dzi²

dung¹ yed¹ long⁴ teo⁴ sei¹ yed¹ pang⁵ ji²

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ pʰaːŋ¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

[Phonetic: dōng yì lángtou xī yí bàngzǐ]

(figurative) doing things without clear organisation or objective


東一榔頭，西一棒子

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄌㄤˊ ˙ㄊㄡ

dung¹ jat¹ long⁴ tau⁴, sai¹ jat¹ paang⁵ zi²

дун и лантоу

dung¹ jat⁷ long⁴ tau⁴, sai¹ jat⁷ paang⁵ dzi²

dung¹ yed¹ long⁴ teo⁴, sei¹ yed¹ pang⁵ ji²

東一榔頭西一棒子 東一榔頭西一棒子#Chinese

东一榔头西一棒子 东一榔头西一棒子#Chinese

Alternative form of 東一榔頭西一棒子／东一榔头西一棒子 (dōng yī lángtou xī yī bàngzǐ)


五彩賓紛

ㄨˇ ㄘㄞˇ ㄅㄧㄣ ㄈㄣ

уцайбиньфэнь

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pin⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pin⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

五彩繽紛 五彩繽紛#Chinese

五彩缤纷 五彩缤纷#Chinese

(uncommon) Alternative form of 五彩繽紛／五彩缤纷 (wǔcǎibīnfēn)


信馬由韁

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

/ɕin⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

信馬由韁地遊蕩／信马由缰地游荡

to give a horse free rein; having free rein


裹足不前

ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʷɔː³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²⁴/

/kɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡siɛn²⁴/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁵ put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡siɛn¹³/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²⁴/

/kɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²³/

/ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʷɔː³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²⁴/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁵ put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡siɛn¹³/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²⁴/

/kɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siɔk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛn²³/


海晏河清

ㄏㄞˇ ㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄥ

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

to have peace and tranquility throughout the country or the world


明媒正娶

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩˇ

минмэйчжэнцюй

/miŋ³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːi̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/


揮灑自如

ㄏㄨㄟ ㄙㄚˇ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨˊ

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/fɐi̯⁵⁵ saː³⁵ t͡siː²² jyː²¹/

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/fɐi̯⁵⁵ saː³⁵ t͡siː²² jyː²¹/

to write or paint without constraint; to be skilful in writing, calligraphy, or painting


一時苟安

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵/


坐收漁利

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡ ㄩˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² sɐu̯⁵⁵ jyː²¹ lei̯²²/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² sɐu̯⁵⁵ jyː²¹ lei̯²²/

to reap the benefits of two other parties fighting


一筆帶過

ㄧ ㄅㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/


十之八九

ㄕˊ ㄓ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ paːt̚³ kɐu̯³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ paːt̚³ kɐu̯³⁵/


歡聚一堂

ㄏㄨㄢ ㄐㄩˋ ㄧ ㄊㄤˊ

хуаньцзюйитан

/xu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/fuːn⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

/xu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/fuːn⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/


群賢畢至

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄓˋ

цюньсяньбичжи

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


沉痾難起

ㄔㄣˊ ㄎㄜ ㄋㄢˊ ㄑㄧˇ

чэнькэнаньци

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


豔壓群芳

ㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄚ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄤ

/jɛn⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɛn⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

(of a woman) to be more beautiful than others


齊心合力

ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄜˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐp̚² lɪk̚²/

/t͡sʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sim³³⁻²³ hap̚⁴⁻² lak̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐp̚² lɪk̚²/

/t͡sʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sim³³⁻²³ hap̚⁴⁻² lak̚⁴/


夜不閉戶

ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄨˋ

/jɛ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ pɐi̯³³ wuː²²/

/jɛ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ pɐi̯³³ wuː²²/

doors are left open at night (because of good public order)


遠渡重洋

ㄩㄢˇ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ

юаньдучунъян

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn¹³ tou̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn¹³ tou̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/


念茲在茲

ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄗ ㄗㄞˋ ㄗ

няньцзыцзайцзы

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/niːm²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/niːm²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵/


自立門戶

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄏㄨˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² muːn²¹ wuː²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² muːn²¹ wuː²²/

to establish one's own group, school of thought, business, etc.; to strike out on one's own


薪盡火傳

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

синьцзиньхочуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

knowledge or a skill is passed on from generation to generation (from teacher to student)


豪言壯語

ㄏㄠˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄩˇ

хаояньчжуанъюй

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡sɔːŋ³³ jyː¹³/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡sɔːŋ³³ jyː¹³/

brave and proud words; bold and grandiose words


一屍兩命

ㄧ ㄕ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ mɛːŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ mɛːŋ²²/

a pregnant woman and her fetus die together


齋戒沐浴

ㄓㄞ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄩˋ

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/t͡saːi̯⁵⁵ kaːi̯³³ mʊk̚² jʊk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/t͡saːi̯⁵⁵ kaːi̯³³ mʊk̚² jʊk̚²/

to fast (by abstaining from meat, wine, etc.) and bathe oneself and change into clean clothes before a ritual or ceremony


異彩紛呈

ㄧˋ ㄘㄞˇ ㄈㄣ ㄔㄥˊ

/i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/


皮之不存，毛將焉附

ㄆㄧˊ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

ㄇㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄧㄢ ㄈㄨˋ

pʻi² chih¹ pu⁴ tsʻun², mao² chiang¹ yen¹ fu⁴

пи чжи бу цунь

мао цзян янь фу

/pʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

"the skin is gone; where will the fur go?"; referring to the loss of crucial foundations


鑄下大錯

ㄓㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

鑄成大錯 鑄成大錯#Chinese

铸成大错 铸成大错#Chinese

Alternative form of 鑄成大錯／铸成大错 (zhùchéngdàcuò)


生死搏鬥

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄅㄛˊ ㄉㄡˋ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ pɔːk̚³ tɐu̯³³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ pɔːk̚³ tɐu̯³³/


仨瓜倆棗

ㄙㄚ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄚˇ ㄗㄠˇ

/sä⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


無往不復

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

nothing departs that does not return; cyclical


補苴罅漏

ㄅㄨˇ ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄡˋ

/pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ loʊ̯⁵¹/


補偏救弊

ㄅㄨˇ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/pou̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ pɐi̯²²/

/pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/pou̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ pɐi̯²²/


大可不必

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/tä⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ piːt̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ piːt̚⁵/


不亢不卑

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄤˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄟ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/


赤子之心

чицзычжисинь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪk̚³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪk̚³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

From Mencius [circa 4th century BC].
:
大人者，不失其赤子之心者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Dàrén zhě, bùshī qí chìzǐzhīxīn zhě yě. [Pinyin]
A gentleman is that who do not lose the purity as an infant.

大人 者，不失 其 赤子之心 者 也。


前塵往事

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄕˋ

цяньчэньванши

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ siː²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ siː²²/


不尷不尬

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄚˋ

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kä⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kä⁵¹/


荷蘭銀行支票

/hɔː²¹ laːn⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ hɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯³³/

Calque of English Holland bank cheque, a disguised romanisation of Cantonese 好 (hou2, “very”) + 撚 (lan2, “fucking”) + 笨柒 (ban6 cat6, “stupid”)

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 荷蘭／荷兰 (Hélán), 銀行／银行 (yínháng), 支票 (zhīpiào).


不哼不哈

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄚ

/pu⁵¹ xɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ xä⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ xɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ xä⁵⁵/


不過意

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ jiː³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ jiː³³/


不咎既往

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄤˇ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³ kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³ kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³/

let bygones be bygones
let bygones be bygones


不見經傳

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄢˋ

буцзяньцзинчжуань

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡syːn²²/


不解之緣

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄓ ㄩㄢˊ

буцзечжиюань

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/


不教而誅

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄓㄨ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

to deal out punishments without a period of instruction; to punish without prior warning


不即不離

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ li³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ li³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹/


不管不顧

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³/

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³/


不經之談

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄊㄢˊ

буцзинчжитань

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹/


斷壁殘垣

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄘㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ

дуаньбицаньюань

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/tyːn²² pɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːn²¹ wuːn²¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/tyːn²² pɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːn²¹ wuːn²¹/

dilapidated and collapsed walls; ruins of a building


斷垣殘壁

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄩㄢˊ ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ

дуаньюаньцаньби

/tu̯än⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡sʰän³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡sʰän³⁵ pi⁵¹/


不可向邇

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄦˇ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


歸心似箭

ㄍㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

гуйсиньсыцзянь

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡siːn³³/

/kui³³⁻²³ sim³³⁻²³ sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sĩ²¹³/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡siːn³³/

/kui³³⁻²³ sim³³⁻²³ sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sĩ²¹³/

to have one's heart set on returning home; to have an urge to return home


魚米之鄉

ㄩˊ ㄇㄧˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄤ

/y³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mɐi̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/y³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mɐi̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

land where rice and fish are abundantly produced


老弱婦孺

ㄌㄠˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ jœːk̚² fuː¹³ jyː²¹/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ jœːk̚² fuː¹³ jyː²¹/

the elderly, the infirm, women, and children


不期而然

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄦˊ ㄖㄢˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄦˊ ㄖㄢˊ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

to happen unexpectedly; to turn out contrary to one's expectations


不期而會

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄦˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄦˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

to meet unexpectedly or by chance; to have a chance encounter


徒有虛名

ㄊㄨˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄩ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/tʰu³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tʰou̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/tʰu³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tʰou̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

to have a reputation for something one actually lacks; having a fake reputation


壯士斷腕

ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄨㄢˋ

чжуаншидуаньвань

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

to decisively take drastic but necessary measures at a critical moment


歷久彌新

ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ nei̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ nei̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

to last long and become even more vigorous as time passes


不堪其擾

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄠˇ

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be unable to bear a repeated disturbance


不疼不癢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄤˇ

/pu⁵¹ tʰɤŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ tʰɤŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

not getting to the substance of the matter; perfunctory; superficial

不痛不癢

not getting into the substance of the matter


直搗黃龍

ㄓˊ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

чжидаохуанлун

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚² tou̯³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪk̚² tou̯³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/

Quoted from Yue Fei:
:
飛大喜，語其下曰：「直抵黃龍府，與諸君痛飲爾！」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]飞大喜，语其下曰：「直抵黄龙府，与诸君痛饮尔！」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: 1345 CE, Toqto'a (lead editor), History of Song
Fēi dàxǐ, yǔ qí xià yuē: “Zhídǐ Huánglóngfǔ, yǔ zhūjūn tòngyǐn ěr!” [Pinyin]
Yue Fei became very delighted and said to his subordinates, "We will attack to Huanglong Prefecture (an important city of the Jurchen Empire) directly, and then let's drink our fill there!"

飛 大喜 ， 語 其 下 曰 ： 「 直抵 @^黃龍府 ， 與 諸君 痛飲 爾 ！ 」

to attack the enemy's headquarters or lair directly


不是玩兒的

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄨㄢˊㄦ ˙ㄉㄜ

буши ваньр дэ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wɑɻ³⁵ d̥ə³/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː²² wuːn²² jiː²¹ tɪk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wɑɻ³⁵ d̥ə³/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː²² wuːn²² jiː²¹ tɪk̚⁵/


不瘟不火

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/pu⁵¹ wən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ wən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(of a performance) neither dull nor overpowering; just right


勸善懲惡

ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄜˋ

ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄔㄥˇ ㄜˋ

цюаньшаньчэнъэ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/hyːn³³ siːn²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/hyːn³³ siːn²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³/

zh-l

懲惡勸善／惩恶劝善 (chéng'èquànshàn)

to encourage the good and punish the wicked


冒大不韙

ㄇㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˇ

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

to act in defiance of universal condemnation


善男信女

ㄕㄢˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄩˇ

шаньнань синьнюй

/ʂän⁵¹ nän³⁵ ɕin⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːn²² naːm²¹ sɵn³³ nɵy̯¹³⁻³⁵/

/siːn²² naːm²¹ sɵn³³ nɵy̯¹³/

/siɛn³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ sin¹¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵³/

/siɛn²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² sin²¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵³/

/siɛn³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ sin²¹⁻⁴¹ lu⁴¹/

/siɛn⁴¹⁻²² lam²⁴⁻²² sin⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/siɛn²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² sin²¹⁻⁵³ li⁵³/

/ʂän⁵¹ nän³⁵ ɕin⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːn²² naːm²¹ sɵn³³ nɵy̯¹³⁻³⁵/

/siːn²² naːm²¹ sɵn³³ nɵy̯¹³/

/siɛn³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ sin¹¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵³/

/siɛn²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² sin²¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵³/

/siɛn³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ sin²¹⁻⁴¹ lu⁴¹/

/siɛn⁴¹⁻²² lam²⁴⁻²² sin⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/siɛn²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² sin²¹⁻⁵³ li⁵³/

devotees or followers of Buddhism, later extended to Taoism and other Chinese traditions


犯天下之大不韙

ㄈㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˇ

фань тянься чжи дабувэй

/fän⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


霧裡看花

ㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄎㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚ

/u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

to be unable to see the truth of the situation clearly


母以子貴

ㄇㄨˇ ㄧˇ ㄗˇ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

/mu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

a mother becomes more respected because of her son


甜言美語

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄩˇ

тяньяньмэйюй

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mei̯¹³ jyː¹³/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mei̯¹³ jyː¹³/

sweet words and honeyed phrases; cajolery


不知所終

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄨㄥ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

to not know what has become of someone; to not know someone's whereabouts; to not know what happened to someone


將功補過

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to make amends for one's faults by good deeds


親力親為

ㄑㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˊ

циньлициньвэй

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹/


高位厚祿

ㄍㄠ ㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

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


潑油救火

ㄆㄛ ㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From the Romance of the Three Kingdoms [circa 14th century AD].
:
今使他為先鋒，是潑油救火也。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]今使他为先锋，是泼油救火也。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Jīn shǐ tā wèi xiānfēng, shì pōyóujiùhuǒ yě. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

今 使 他 為 先鋒，是 潑油救火 也。

pour fuel on the fire
pour fuel on the fire


公報私仇

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄠˋ ㄙ ㄔㄡˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³ siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³ siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹/

to use one's official position to avenge a personal grudge


馬革裹屍

to have one's corpse shrouded in horse leather

ㄇㄚˇ ㄍㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄕ

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maː¹³ kaːk̚³ kʷɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maː¹³ kaːk̚³ kʷɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

to die in the battlefield (of a soldier)


琴瑟合鳴

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

琴瑟和鳴 琴瑟和鳴#Chinese

琴瑟和鸣 琴瑟和鸣#Chinese

Alternative form of 琴瑟和鳴／琴瑟和鸣 (qínsèhémíng)


分文不取

ㄈㄣ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩˇ

фэньвэньбуцюй

/fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/


害人害己

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄞˋ ㄐㄧˇ

хайжэньхайцзи

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯²² kei̯³⁵/

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯²² kei̯³⁵/


濟濟一堂

ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄧ ㄊㄤˊ

/t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐi̯³⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐi̯³⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

many people gather together in the same place


深居簡出

ㄕㄣ ㄐㄩ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄔㄨ

шэньцзюйцзяньчу

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kaːn³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kaːn³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

to live a secluded life and rarely come out of one's home


後會無期

ㄏㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² wuːi̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² wuːi̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

to not know when paths will cross once more


過目不忘

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʷɔː³³ mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʷɔː³³ mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/


軟硬兼施

ㄖㄨㄢˇ ㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄕ

жуаньин цзяньши

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ ŋaːŋ²² kiːm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ ŋaːŋ²² kiːm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/


笑而不答

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵/

問余何意棲碧山，笑而不答心自閒。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
问余何意栖碧山，笑而不答心自闲。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

Wèn yú héyì qī Bìshān, xiào'érbùdá xīn zì xián. [Pinyin]

to only smile but not answer the question


天涯地角

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄚˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

тянья дицзяо

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jä³⁵ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jä³⁵ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From 《武皇帝作相時與嶺南酋豪書》 "Writing about When Emperor Wu was still a Minister and the Lingnan Chieftains" by 徐陵 (Xu Ling):
天涯藐藐，地角悠悠，言面無由，但以情企。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]天涯藐藐，地角悠悠，言面无由，但以情企。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
Tiānyá miǎomiǎo, dìjiǎo yōuyōu, yánmiàn wúyóu, dàn yǐ qíng qǐ. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

lang

《武皇帝作相時與嶺南酋豪書》

《武皇帝作相時與嶺南酋豪書》

zh-x

@天涯 藐藐，@地角 悠悠，言-面 無由，但 以 情 企。


餐風宿露

ㄘㄢ ㄈㄥ ㄙㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/t͡sʰän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

to endure the hardship of living and travelling out in the wild


殘杯冷炙

ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄟ ㄌㄥˇ ㄓˋ

цаньбэйлэнчжи

/t͡sʰän³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


斷編殘簡

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄘㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

дуаньбяньцаньцзянь

/tu̯än⁵¹ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


殘編斷簡

ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

цаньбяньдуаньцзянь

/t͡sʰän³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


殘垣斷壁

ㄘㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ

цаньюаньдуаньби

/t͡sʰän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ wuːn²¹ tyːn²² pɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ wuːn²¹ tyːn²² pɪk̚⁵/


沁人心脾

ㄑㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄧˊ

циньжэньсиньпи

/t͡ɕʰin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/sɐm³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/sɐm³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹/


嘴硬心軟

ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨㄢˇ

цзуйинсиньжуань

/t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯³⁵ ŋaːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn¹³/

/t͡sɵy̯³⁵ ŋaːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn¹³/

to have a foul mouth hiding a soft heart


殘渣餘孽

ㄘㄢˊ ㄓㄚ ㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄝˋ

/t͡sʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵⁵ y³⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ t͡saː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiːp̚²/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵⁵ y³⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ t͡saː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiːp̚²/


相得益彰

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˋ ㄓㄤ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jɪk̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tit̚³²⁻⁴ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tit̚³²⁻⁴ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jɪk̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tit̚³²⁻⁴ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tit̚³²⁻⁴ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴/

Based on a passage in Records of the Grand Historian [circa 2nd century AD].
:
夷、叔齊雖賢，得夫子而名益彰。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夷、叔齐虽贤，得夫子而名益彰。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Shi Ji
Yí, shū qí suī xián, dé fūzǐ ér míng yì zhāng. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

夷、叔 齊 雖 賢，得 夫子 而 名 益 彰。

to help and complement each other so both can hone their talents better


狗頭軍師

ㄍㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄕ

гоутоуцзюньши

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

an incompetent person who likes to give suggestions to others


粉墨登場

ㄈㄣˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄉㄥ ㄔㄤˇ

ㄈㄣˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄉㄥ ㄔㄤˊ

фэньмодэнчан

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/fɐn³⁵ mɐk̚² tɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/fɐn³⁵ mɐk̚² tɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


扭虧為盈

ㄋㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄥˊ

/ni̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/nɐu̯³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/ni̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/nɐu̯³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

to turn loss into gain; to be back in the black


禍福相依

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄧ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

fortune and misfortune are interdependent (bad things can lead to good results; good things can lead to bad results)


曠夫怨女

ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄈㄨ ㄩㄢˋ ㄋㄩˇ

куанфу юаньнюй

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

怨女曠夫 怨女曠夫#Chinese

怨女旷夫 怨女旷夫#Chinese

Alternative form of 怨女曠夫／怨女旷夫 (yuànnǚ kuàngfū)


痴男怨女

ㄔ ㄋㄢˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄋㄩˇ

чинаньюаньнюй

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ nän³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ nän³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


怨女曠夫

ㄩㄢˋ ㄋㄩˇ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄈㄨ

юаньнюй куанфу

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

a grieving woman and a desolate man (a woman without a husband and a man without a wife)


風清氣正

ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄓㄥˋ

фэнцинцичжэн

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/hoŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰeŋ³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sĩã²¹³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/


望而卻步

ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ kʰœːk̚³ pou̯²²/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ kʰœːk̚³ pou̯²²/


磨穿鐵硯

ㄇㄛˊ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄧㄢˋ

мочуаньтеянь

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/mɔː²¹ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ tʰiːt̚³ jiːn²²/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/mɔː²¹ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ tʰiːt̚³ jiːn²²/

(figuratively) to show extreme diligence in one's studies


虎口奪食

ㄏㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄕˊ

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

to be extremely brave; to take an enormous risk


遮天蔽日

ㄓㄜ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖˋ

/ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/


喜憂參半

ㄒㄧˇ ㄧㄡ ㄘㄢ ㄅㄢˋ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

to have a mixture of happy and sad feelings


德不配位

ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄟˋ ㄨㄟˋ

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹/

to have talents that are a poor fit for one's job


藏龍臥虎

ㄘㄤˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨˇ

/t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ wɔ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ ŋɔː²² fuː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ wɔ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ ŋɔː²² fuː³⁵/

to have many hidden talented individuals


就事論事

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄕˋ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² lɵn²² siː²²/

/t͡siu³⁵⁻¹¹ sɯ¹¹ luŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ sɯ¹¹/

/t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² lɵn²² siː²²/

/t͡siu³⁵⁻¹¹ sɯ¹¹ luŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ sɯ¹¹/

to consider the matter in isolation; to judge the case as it stands (and not a specific individual)


犬馬之勞

ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄓ ㄌㄠˊ

цюаньмачжилао

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

玄德曰：「公既奉詔討賊，備敢不效犬馬之勞？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
玄德曰：「公既奉诏讨贼，备敢不效犬马之劳？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

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

Xuándé yuē: “Gōng jì fèngzhào tǎozéi, Bèi gǎn bù xiào quǎnmǎzhīláo?” [Pinyin]

humble and faithful service to one's master (e.g. the emperor)


一擺半擺

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² pai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ pai⁴¹/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² pai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ pai⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ pai⁵³/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² mai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mai⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² pai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ pai⁴¹/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² pai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ pai⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² pai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ pai⁵³/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² mai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mai⁵⁵⁴/


黃湯辣水

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄤ ㄌㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

хуантанлашуй

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ lä⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ laːt̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ lä⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ laːt̚² sɵy̯³⁵/


清光滑辣

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄌㄚˋ

цингуанхуала

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ lä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ waːt̚² laːt̚²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ lä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ waːt̚² laːt̚²/


圖謀不軌

ㄊㄨˊ ㄇㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

/tʰu³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰu³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


油腔滑調

ㄧㄡˊ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ waːt̚² tiːu̯²²/

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯²¹ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ waːt̚² tiːu̯²²/

for one's words to be unserious and insincere


曾經滄海

ㄘㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄘㄤ ㄏㄞˇ

цэнцзинцанхай

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

been there, done that
been there, done that


曾幾何時

ㄘㄥˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˊ

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ kei̯³⁵ hɔː²¹ siː²¹/

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ kei̯³⁵ hɔː²¹ siː²¹/


貪小便宜

ㄊㄢ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄆㄧㄢˊ ˙ㄧ

ㄊㄢ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄆㄧㄢˊ ㄧˊ

таньсяопяньи

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ pʰiːn²¹ jiː²¹⁻³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ pʰiːn²¹ jiː²¹/

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ pʰiːn²¹ jiː²¹⁻³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ pʰiːn²¹ jiː²¹/


風雨如晦

ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

фэнъюйжухуэй

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ jyː²¹ fuːi̯³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ jyː²¹ fuːi̯³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 90 (《詩經·鄭風·風雨》):
:
風雨如晦，雞鳴不已。
既見君子，云胡不喜。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]风雨如晦，鸡鸣不已。
既见君子，云胡不喜。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Fēngyǔ rú huì, jīmíng bùyǐ.
Jì jiàn jūnzǐ, yún hú bù xǐ. [Pinyin]
Through the wind and rain all looks dark, And the cock crows without ceasing.
But I have seen my husband, And how should I not rejoice?

lang

(《詩經·鄭風·風雨》)

(《詩經·鄭風·風雨》)

zh-x

風雨.如.晦，雞鳴 不已。
既 見 君子，云 胡 不 喜。


面有菜色

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄘㄞˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/miːn²² jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/miːn²² jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

to have a sallow complexion and look famished


無聲無說

/bo²⁴⁻²² siã³³ bo²⁴⁻²² səʔ⁵/

/bo²⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² seʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ seʔ³²/

/bo¹³⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² sueʔ³²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² siã³³ bo²⁴⁻²² səʔ⁵/

/bo²⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² seʔ³²/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ seʔ³²/

/bo¹³⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² sueʔ³²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

(Hokkien) quiet; silent; not making a sound


放屁辣臊

ㄈㄤˋ ㄆㄧˋ ㄌㄚˋ ㄙㄠ

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lä⁵¹ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ pʰei̯³³ laːt̚² sou̯⁵⁵/

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lä⁵¹ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ pʰei̯³³ laːt̚² sou̯⁵⁵/


蹄疾步穩

ㄊㄧˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˇ

/tʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ wən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ wən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


薑桂老辣

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄌㄚˋ

цзянгуйлаола

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/kœːŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ lou̯¹³ laːt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/kœːŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ lou̯¹³ laːt̚²/


穩中求進

ㄨㄣˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

вэньчжунцюцзинь

/wən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/

/wən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³/

to seek further progress on the basis of stability


敢為人先

ㄍㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢ

ганьвэйжэньсянь

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siːn⁵⁵/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siːn⁵⁵/

to have the courage to do what others have not done; to have the courage to take the lead


招風招雨

чжаофэнчжаоюй

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jyː¹³/


只爭朝夕

ㄓˇ ㄓㄥ ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧˋ

чжичжэнчжаоси

čžičžɛnčžaosi

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/


飛禽走獸

ㄈㄟ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄡˇ ㄕㄡˋ

фэйциньцзоушоу

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɐu̯³³/


躊躇不前

ㄔㄡˊ ㄔㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

to be hesitant or indecisive; to waver; to shilly-shally


認祖歸宗

ㄖㄣˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄗㄨㄥ

жэньцзугуйцзун

/ʐən⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ²² t͡sou̯³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ²² t͡sou̯³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of an adopted child) to find and acknowledge one's ancestors and restore their original surname

(of someone who lives in a foreign place) to return to one's ancestral home


眾望所歸

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨㄟ

чжунвансогуй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mɔːŋ²² sɔː³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mɔːŋ²² sɔː³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/


靜水流深

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄣ

цзиншуйлюшэнь

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

still waters run deep
still waters run deep


摸老虎屁股

ㄇㄛ ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ˙ㄍㄨ

мо лаоху пигу

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ g̊u¹/

/mɔː³⁵ lou̯¹³ fuː³⁵ pʰei̯³³ kuː³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ g̊u¹/

/mɔː³⁵ lou̯¹³ fuː³⁵ pʰei̯³³ kuː³⁵/

(Mainland China, figurative, colloquial) to offend an influential person


掇臀捧屁

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄊㄨㄣˊ ㄆㄥˇ ㄆㄧˋ

ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄨㄣˊ ㄆㄥˇ ㄆㄧˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ³⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹/

/t͡syːt̚³ tʰyːn²¹ pʰʊŋ³⁵ pʰei̯³³/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ³⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹/

/t͡syːt̚³ tʰyːn²¹ pʰʊŋ³⁵ pʰei̯³³/


插翅難逃

even with wings it would be difficult to escape

ㄔㄚ ㄔˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄊㄠˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/


插槓子

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ kɑŋ⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ kɑŋ⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

(figurative, chiefly derogatory) to interfere; to interrupt; to cut in; to have a hand in at a wrong time


毋知死

/m̩³³⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴¹/

/m̩⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai³³ si⁵⁵⁴/

/m̩²²⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻²² si⁵³/

/m̩³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁵³/

/m̩³³⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴¹/

/m̩⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai³³ si⁵⁵⁴/

/m̩²²⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻²² si⁵³/

/m̩³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁵³/

(Hokkien) to act recklessly; to do something regardless of danger


毋知死活

/m̩⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai³³ si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ uaʔ²⁴/

/m̩³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ⁴/

/m̩³³⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ⁴/

/m̩⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai³³ si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ uaʔ²⁴/

/m̩³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ⁴/

/m̩³³⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ⁴/


茶餘酒後

ㄔㄚˊ ㄩˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄡˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː²¹ jyː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː²¹ jyː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯²²/


察察為明

ㄔㄚˊ ㄔㄚˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ t͡sʰaːt̚³ wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ t͡sʰaːt̚³ wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

to think one is discerning and shrewd for focusing on minutiae, but neglecting the bigger picture


察察而明

ㄔㄚˊ ㄔㄚˊ ㄦˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/


虎背熊腰

to have the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear

ㄏㄨˇ ㄅㄟˋ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄧㄠ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ puːi̯³³ hʊŋ²¹ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ puːi̯³³ hʊŋ²¹ jiːu̯⁵⁵/


奼紫嫣紅

ㄔㄚˋ ㄗˇ ㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰaː³³ t͡siː³⁵ jiːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰaː³³ t͡siː³⁵ jiːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/


拆東牆，補西牆

to tear down the east wall to repair the west wall

/ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

rob Peter to pay Paul
rob Peter to pay Paul


妙趣橫生

ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄑㄩˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

мяоцюйхэншэн

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² t͡sʰɵy̯³³ waːŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/miau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hũẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² t͡sʰɵy̯³³ waːŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/miau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hũẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/


饞涎欲滴

ㄔㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄩˋ ㄉㄧ

чаньсяньюйди

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ y⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm²¹ jiːn²¹ jʊk̚² tɪk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ y⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm²¹ jiːn²¹ jʊk̚² tɪk̚²/


無像鬼

/bo²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiũ³³⁻²² kui⁵⁵⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiũ³³⁻²² kui⁵⁵⁴/

(Philippine Hokkien) to behave shamelessly or mischievously


纏綿悱惻

ㄔㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄟˇ ㄘㄜˋ

чаньмяньфэйцэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ mi̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ miːn²¹ fei̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ mi̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ miːn²¹ fei̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/


誤打誤撞

ㄨˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

/u⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ŋ̍²² taː³⁵ ŋ̍²² t͡sɔːŋ²²/

/u⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ŋ̍²² taː³⁵ ŋ̍²² t͡sɔːŋ²²/


形隻影單

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄢ

синчжииндань

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵/

形單影隻 形單影隻#Chinese

形单影只 形单影只#Chinese


神憎鬼厭

ㄕㄣˊ ㄗㄥ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄧㄢˋ

шэньцзэнгуйянь

/ʂən³⁵ t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ jiːm³³/

/ʂən³⁵ t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ jiːm³³/

to be extremely detestable; to be extremely irritating

神檯貓屎——神憎鬼厭／神台猫屎——神憎鬼厌

san4 toi4 maau1 si2, san4 zang1 gwai2 jim3


輸打贏要

beat (the opponent) when one loses, but only accept (the results) when one wins

ㄕㄨ ㄉㄚˇ ㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄠˋ

/ʂu⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/syː⁵⁵ taː³⁵ jɛːŋ²¹ jiːu̯³³/

/ʂu⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/syː⁵⁵ taː³⁵ jɛːŋ²¹ jiːu̯³³/

(chiefly Cantonese) to refuse to accept the outcome after losing


氣壯如牛

ㄑㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/


有心無力

ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ lɪk̚²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ lɪk̚²/

to have the will but not the power or strength to do something


一漿十餅

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕˊ ㄅㄧㄥˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐp̚² pɛːŋ³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐp̚² pɛːŋ³⁵/


牛嚼牡丹

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄇㄨˇ ㄉㄢ

нюцзюэмудань

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡siːu̯²² maːu̯¹³ taːn⁵⁵/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡siːu̯²² maːu̯¹³ taːn⁵⁵/

not knowing the value of food, hence wasting it


昊天罔極

ㄏㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄤˇ ㄐㄧˊ

хаотяньванцзи

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hou̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ kɪk̚²/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hou̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ kɪk̚²/

From the Classic of Poetry.
父兮生我，母兮鞠我，拊我畜我，長我育我，顧我復我，出入腹我。欲報之德，昊天罔極。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]父兮生我，母兮鞠我，拊我畜我，长我育我，顾我复我，出入腹我。欲报之德，昊天罔极。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Fù xī shēng wǒ, mǔ xī jū wǒ, fǔ wǒ xù wǒ, zhǎng wǒ yù wǒ, gù wǒ fù wǒ, chū rù fù wǒ. Yù bào zhī dé, hàotiānwǎngjí. [Pinyin]
O my father, who begat me! O my mother, who nourished me! Ye indulged me, ye fed me, ye held me up, ye supported me, ye looked after me, ye never left me, out and in ye bore me in your arms. If I would return your kindness, it is like great Heaven, illimitable.

父 兮 生 我，母 兮 鞠 我，拊 我 畜 我，長{zhǎng} 我 育 我，顧 我 復 我，出 入 腹 我。欲 報 之 德，昊天罔極。

the immeasurable kindness of parents and elders, as boundless as the sky


動人心弦

ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

дунжэньсиньсянь

/tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʊŋ²² jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʊŋ²² jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

to be deeply moving; to tug at one's heartstrings


量出為入

ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄔㄨ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/lœːŋ²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐp̚²/

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/lœːŋ²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐp̚²/

From volume 234, Zizhi Tongjian:
:
是以聖王立程，量入為出，雖遇災難，下無困窮。理化既衰，則乃反是，量出為入，不恤所無。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
是以圣王立程，量入为出，虽遇灾难，下无困穷。理化既衰，则乃反是，量出为入，不恤所无。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: 1084 CE, Sima Guang, Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government
Shìyǐ shèngwáng lì chéng, liàngrùwèichū, suī yù zāinán, xià wú kùnqióng. Lǐ huà jì shuāi, zé nǎi fǎnshì, liàngchūwèirù, bù xù suǒ wú. [Pinyin]
A wise ruler, therefore, measures the expenditures according to his revenues. Although he may encounter disasters, the lower level can still avoid poverty. When the manners weaken, on the other hand, it will be upside down: He measures the revenues according to his expenditures, and has no sympathy for those who have nothing. (Wiktionary translation)

是以 聖王 立 程，量入為出，雖 遇 災難，下 無 困窮。理 化 既 衰，則 乃 反是，量出為入，不 恤 所 無。

2020, 李述德 (Lee Sush-der), 《國政芻言》政府財政應量出為入, 台灣醒報 (Awakening News Networks):
政府施政為民服務，一般應該先決定政務優先順序，再據以籌措適量財源，以資因應，此乃政府財政「量出為入」的原則，實不宜以政府有錢或沒錢來決定應否執行政務。 [MSC, trad.]
政府施政为民服务，一般应该先决定政务优先顺序，再据以筹措适量财源，以资因应，此乃政府财政「量出为入」的原则，实不宜以政府有钱或没钱来决定应否执行政务。 [MSC, simp.]

Generally, when it comes to serving the people, the government should decide the priority of government affairs first, then raise the appropriate revenue to get by. This is the principle of measuring revenues within the expenditure. The government should not decide affairs by the revenue of the treasury.

Zhèngfǔ shīzhèng wèi mín fúwù, yībān yìnggāi xiān juédìng zhèngwù yōuxiān shùnxù, zài jù yǐ chóucuò shìliàng cáiyuán, yǐ zī yīnyìng, cǐ nǎi zhèngfǔ cáizhèng “liàngchūwèirù” de yuánzé, shí bùyí yǐ zhèngfǔ yǒuqián huò méiqián lái juédìng yìngfǒu zhíxíng zhèngwù. [Pinyin]

2013, 譚介輝, 淺談量入為出與量出為入, 人民日報理論版 (People's Daily: theory page):
量出為入，強調應收才收、收支匹配，意味著支出決定於職能的實現，預算收入為支出提供保証，但不能據此片面地認為支出決定收入，為好大喜功、脫離實際找借口。 [MSC, trad.]
量出为入，强调应收才收、收支匹配，意味著支出决定于职能的实现，预算收入为支出提供保証，但不能据此片面地认为支出决定收入，为好大喜功、脱离实际找借口。 [MSC, simp.]

To measure government's revenues according to its expenditures emphasise collecting taxes only when necessary and balancing the budget. The principle implies that the expenditure should be based on a function's implementation, and the revenue guarantees the expenditure. The principle cannot be unilaterally interpreted as the expenditure decides the revenue, making excuses of craving greatness or being out of touch.

Liàngchūwèirù, qiángdiào yìng shōu cái shōu, shōuzhī pǐpèi, yìwèi zhù zhīchū juédìng yú zhínéng de shíxiàn, yùsuàn shōurù wèi zhīchū tígōng bǎozhèng, dàn bùnéng jù cǐ piànmiàn dì rènwèi zhīchū juédìng shōurù, wèi hǎodàxǐgōng, tuōlí shíjì zhǎo jièkǒu. [Pinyin]

to measure one's revenues according to one's expenditures


噓寒問暖

ㄒㄩ ㄏㄢˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ

сюйханьвэньнуань

/ɕy⁵⁵ xän³⁵ wən⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ mɐn²² nyːn¹³/

/ɕy⁵⁵ xän³⁵ wən⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ mɐn²² nyːn¹³/

to show concern for someone by asking about their lives


水浸眼眉

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɐm³³ ŋaːn¹³ mei̯²¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɐm³³ ŋaːn¹³ mei̯²¹/


尋新求變

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

сюньсиньцюбянь

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/


街知巷聞

known in the streets and heard in the alleys

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²² mɐn²¹/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²² mɐn²¹/

(Cantonese) very well-known; ubiquitously known


不在少數

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄠˇ ㄕㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² siːu̯³⁵ sou̯³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² siːu̯³⁵ sou̯³³/


趨吉避凶

ㄑㄩ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄥ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ pi⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ pei̯²² hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ pi⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ pei̯²² hʊŋ⁵⁵/

to seek good fortune and avoid disasters


七擒七縱

ㄑㄧ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄑㄧ ㄗㄨㄥˋ

цициньцицзун

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰiɪʔ³³ d͡ʑin⁴⁴ t͡ɕʰiɪʔ³³ t͡soŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰiɪʔ³³ d͡ʑin⁴⁴ t͡ɕʰiɪʔ³³ t͡soŋ⁴⁴/

to use strategies optimally; to be strategic


飛象過河

ㄈㄟ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²² kʷɔː³³ hɔː²¹/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²² kʷɔː³³ hɔː²¹/

(xiangqi) to move one's elephant across the river (a move that is against the rules of xiangqi)


謙謙君子

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ

цяньцяньцзюньцзы

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hiːm⁵⁵ hiːm⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/hiːm⁵⁵ hiːm⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

From I Ching, Hexagram 15 (《易经·謙卦》):
:
初六：謙謙君子，用涉大川，吉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]初六：谦谦君子，用涉大川，吉。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Chū liù: qiānqiān jūnzǐ, yòng shè dà chuān, jí. [Pinyin]
The first SIX, divided, shows us the superior man who adds humility to humility. (Even) the great stream may be crossed with this, and there will be good fortune.

初 六：謙謙.君子，用 涉 大 川，吉。

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 15


醉生夢死

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄥˋ ㄙˇ

цзуйшэнмэнсы

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²² sei̯³⁵/

to lead a befuddled life as if one is drunk or dreaming


三番四次

/saːm⁵⁵ faːn⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰiː³³/

/saːm⁵⁵ faːn⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰiː³³/

(Cantonese, Nanning Pinghua) again and again; over and over again


滿肚子火

ㄇㄢˇ ㄉㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


一肚子火

ㄧ ㄉㄨˋ ㄗˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


梅花間竹

/muːi̯²¹ faː⁵⁵ kaːn³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/muːi̯²¹ faː⁵⁵ kaːn³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/


蓬首垢面

ㄆㄥˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄍㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

пэншоугоумянь

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ koʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ kɐu̯³³ miːn²²/

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ koʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ kɐu̯³³ miːn²²/

蓬頭垢面 蓬頭垢面#Chinese

蓬头垢面 蓬头垢面#Chinese

Synonym of 蓬頭垢面／蓬头垢面 (péngtóugòumiàn, “messy hair and dirty face”)


良辰美景

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ

лянчэньмэйцзин

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ mei̯¹³ kɪŋ³⁵/

/lœːŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ mei̯¹³ kɪŋ³⁵/


搬石砸腳

ㄅㄢ ㄕˊ ㄗㄚˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

баньшицзацзяо

/pän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

shoot oneself in the foot
shoot oneself in the foot

(neologism) to shoot oneself in the foot


深耕細作

ㄕㄣ ㄍㄥ ㄒㄧˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

шэньгэнсицзо

/ʂən⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ t͡sɔːk̚³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ t͡sɔːk̚³/

(figuratively) to develop deeply and thoroughly


長歌當哭

ㄔㄤˊ ㄍㄜ ㄉㄤˋ ㄎㄨ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵/

to sing to vent one’s grief or indignation


緣慳一面

ㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

юаньцяньимянь

/ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

to not have the chance or luck to meet somebody because of destiny


雞飛狗走

ㄐㄧ ㄈㄟ ㄍㄡˇ ㄗㄡˇ

цзифэйгоуцзоу

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

雞飛狗跳 雞飛狗跳#Chinese

鸡飞狗跳 鸡飞狗跳#Chinese

(chiefly Cantonese) Synonym of 雞飛狗跳／鸡飞狗跳 (jīfēigǒutiào, “complete turmoil; total chaos”)


雞飛狗跳

ㄐㄧ ㄈㄟ ㄍㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄠˋ

цзифэйгоутяо

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːu̯³³/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːu̯³³/


鐵樹開花

ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄕㄨˋ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ

те шукай хуа

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/tʰiːt̚³ syː²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/tʰiːt̚³ syː²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

From the fact that king sago palm rarely blossoms, which is especially true if the plant was cultivated outside of tropical areas.


虎虎生風

ㄏㄨˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄕㄥ ㄈㄥ

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/


時來運轉

ㄕˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄩㄣˋ ㄓㄨㄢˇ

шилайюньчжуань

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ yn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ yn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


鴻運當頭

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄩㄣˋ ㄉㄤ ㄊㄡˊ

хунъюньдантоу

/xʊŋ³⁵ yn⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ wɐn²² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² un²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² un⁴¹⁻²² tŋ̍³³ tʰau²⁴/

/hɔŋ¹³⁻²² un²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau¹³/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ un³³⁻¹¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴/

/hɔŋ²³⁻³³ un³³⁻²¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³/

/xʊŋ³⁵ yn⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ wɐn²² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² un²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² un⁴¹⁻²² tŋ̍³³ tʰau²⁴/

/hɔŋ¹³⁻²² un²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau¹³/

/hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ un³³⁻¹¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴/

/hɔŋ²³⁻³³ un³³⁻²¹ tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³/

to experience a huge stroke of good luck


扭轉乾坤

ㄋㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄣ

нючжуаньцянькунь

/ni̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵⁵/

/nɐu̯³⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ kʰiːn²¹ kʷʰɐn⁵⁵/

/liu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɛn²⁴⁻²² kʰun⁴⁴/

/liu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡suan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰiɛn²⁴⁻²² kʰun³³/

/liu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɛn¹³⁻²² kʰun⁴⁴/

/liu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰun⁴⁴/

/liu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɛn²³⁻³³ kʰun⁴⁴/

/nɐu̯³⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ kʰiːn²¹ kʷʰɐn⁵⁵/


神龍失勢

ㄕㄣˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄕ ㄕˋ

шэньлун шиши

/ʂən³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂən³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

a fall from grace, in which a once-powerful figure is rendered impotent after losing the dominance they had relied on


痌瘝在抱

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄗㄞˋ ㄅㄠˋ

тунгуаньцзайбао

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² pʰou̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² pʰou̯¹³/

to be concerned for the populace's sufferings


雲淡風輕

ㄩㄣˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ

юньданьфэнцин

/yn³⁵ tän⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/yn³⁵ tän⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/


哭爹喊娘

to cry for one's father and scream for one's mother

ㄎㄨ ㄉㄧㄝ ㄏㄢˇ ㄋㄧㄤˊ

/kʰu⁵⁵ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰu⁵⁵ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/


狗血噴頭

ㄍㄡˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄆㄣ ㄊㄡˊ

ㄍㄡˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄊㄡˊ

ㄍㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄊㄡˊ

гоусюэпэньтоу

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

гоусепэньтоу

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/ˈkiɛu²¹³⁻¹³ ɕyɵt̚⁵ pʰɨn⁴² tʰɛu²⁴/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ tʰɔ²⁴/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/ˈkiɛu²¹³⁻¹³ ɕyɵt̚⁵ pʰɨn⁴² tʰɛu²⁴/

/kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ tʰɔ²⁴/

bite someone's head off
bite someone's head off

(figurative) to bite someone's head off; to scold fiercely; to curse; to berate


狗尾續貂

ㄍㄡˇ ㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄩˋ ㄉㄧㄠ

гоувэйсюйдяо

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵¹ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ mei̯¹³ t͡sʊk̚² tiːu̯⁵⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵¹ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ mei̯¹³ t͡sʊk̚² tiːu̯⁵⁵/


如假包換

ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄠ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

жуцзябаохуань

/ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ kaː³⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵ wuːn²²/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ kaː³⁵ paːu̯⁵⁵ wuːn²²/


低枝倒掛

ㄉㄧ ㄓ ㄉㄠˇ ㄍㄨㄚˋ

/ti⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/ti⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ä⁵¹/


上善若水

ㄕㄤˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

шаншаньжошуй

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From the Tao Te Ching [circa 4th century BC].
:
上善若水，水善利萬物而不爭。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]上善若水，水善利万物而不争。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Dao De Jing
Shàngshànruòshuǐ, shuǐ shàn lì wànwù ér bùzhēng. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

上善若水，水 善 利 萬物 而 不爭。


慢條斯理

ㄇㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄙ ㄌㄧˇ

/män⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄇㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄙ ㄌㄧˇㄦ

маньтяосылир

/män⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ liə̯ɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² tʰiːu̯²¹ siː⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/män⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/män⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ liə̯ɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² tʰiːu̯²¹ siː⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/


滄海遺珠

ㄘㄤ ㄏㄞˇ ㄧˊ ㄓㄨ

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

From the comment of Yan Liben about Di Renjie quoted in New Book of Tang:
仲尼稱觀過知仁，君可謂滄海遺珠矣。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]仲尼称观过知仁，君可谓沧海遗珠矣。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The New Book of Tang, 1060 CE
Zhòngní chēng guān guò zhī rén, jūn kěwèi cānghǎiyízhū yǐ. [Pinyin]
Confucius said that by observing the mistakes made by a person, it can be known that whether he is kind or not. [Based on what I have observed,] I think that you're like a pearl left in the ocean.

仲尼 稱 觀 過 知 仁 ， 君 可謂 滄海遺珠 矣 。

Confucius said that by observing the mistakes made by a person, it can be known that whether he is kind or not. 􂀿Based on what I have observed,􂁀 I think that you're like a pearl left in the ocean.

a person with talent or something valuable, but is neglected by the society


周章狼狽

ㄓㄡ ㄓㄤ ㄌㄤˊ ㄅㄟˋ

чжоучжанланбэй

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/


大中至正

ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓˋ ㄓㄥˋ

дачжунчжичжэн

dačžunčžičžɛn

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/


草草了事

ㄘㄠˇ ㄘㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄕˋ

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³⁵ liːu̯¹³ siː²²/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³⁵ liːu̯¹³ siː²²/


迎新棄舊

/ŋiã²³⁻³³ sin⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ ku³³/

/ŋiã²⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²/

/ŋiã²⁴⁻¹¹ sin⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ ku³³/

/ŋiã²³⁻³³ sin⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ ku³³/

/ŋiã²⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ ku²²/

/ŋiã²⁴⁻¹¹ sin⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ ku³³/

2011, “山伯英台”, 詹雅雯 (lyrics), 詹雅雯 (music)performed by 詹雅雯:
阿嬤講可憐愛情無自由 卡贏自由戀愛迎新棄舊 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
阿嬷讲可怜爱情无自由 卡赢自由恋爱迎新弃旧 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

a-má kóng khó-liân ài-chêng bô chū-iû, khah iâⁿ chū-iû loân-ài ngiâ-sin-khì-kū [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

(Hokkien) to love the new and loathe the old; to be fickle in affection

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


家成業就

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ jiːp̚³ t͡sɐu̯³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ jiːp̚³ t͡sɐu̯³³/

to be married, having started a family, and achieved success in one's career


家嘈屋閉

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ ʊk̚⁵ pɐi̯³³/

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ ʊk̚⁵ pɐi̯³³/

(Cantonese) to be quarrelsome within a household


蛇蠍美人

ㄕㄜˊ ㄒㄧㄝ ㄇㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ

шэсе мэйжэнь

šɛse mɛjžɛnʹ

/ʂɤ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/ʂɤ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

femme fatale; a beautiful but dangerous woman


歐風美雨

/ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


風風火火

ㄈㄥ ㄈㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ fɔː³⁵/


阮囊羞澀

ㄖㄨㄢˇ ㄋㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄙㄜˋ

жуаньнансюсэ

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/jyːn¹³ nɔːŋ²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵ saːp̚³/

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/jyːn¹³ nɔːŋ²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵ saːp̚³/


國進民退

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

гоцзиньминьтуй

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ min³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ min³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

(officialese) state enterprises advance, while the private sector retreats


撼天動地

ㄏㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄧˋ

ханьтяньдунди

/xän⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/hɐm²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/xän⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/hɐm²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/


曲學阿世

ㄑㄩ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄜ ㄕˋ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

(derogatory, of a scholar) to change one's opinion, theory or philosophy opportunistically


雲泥之別

ㄩㄣˊ ㄋㄧˊ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

/yn³⁵ ni³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/yn³⁵ ni³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

starkly different, one being considerably better or higher in status than the other


玉體橫陳

ㄩˋ ㄊㄧˇ ㄏㄥˊ ㄔㄣˊ

/y⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/y⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/


溢於言表

ㄧˋ ㄩˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄠˇ

/i⁵¹ y³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² jyː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ piːu̯³⁵/

/i⁵¹ y³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² jyː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ piːu̯³⁵/

喜悅之情溢於言表 [MSC, trad.]
喜悦之情溢于言表 [MSC, simp.]


中氣十足

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˊ ㄗㄨˊ

чжунци шицзу

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐp̚² t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐp̚² t͡sʊk̚⁵/


老羞成怒

ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄔㄥˊ ㄋㄨˋ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/


轉彎抹角

ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄨㄢ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

чжуаньваньмоцзяо

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡syːn³³ waːn⁵⁵ muːt̚² kɔːk̚³/

/t͡syːn³³ waːn⁵⁵ muːt̚³ kɔːk̚³/

/t͡syːn³³ waːn⁵⁵ muːt̚² kɔːk̚³/

/t͡syːn³³ waːn⁵⁵ muːt̚³ kɔːk̚³/

to twist and turn; to turn a corner here and there


路見不平

ㄌㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

луцзяньбупин

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/lou̯²² kiːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/lɔ³³⁻¹¹ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/lɔ³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²³/

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/lou̯²² kiːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/lɔ³³⁻¹¹ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²⁴/

/lɔ³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ piɪŋ²³/

to stand up for the truth and fight for justice


狗屁倒灶

ㄍㄡˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄉㄠˇ ㄗㄠˋ

гоупидаоцзао

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(dialectal Mandarin, Wu) disorganized; chaotic


修身養性

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄕㄣ ㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

сюшэнь янсин

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɪŋ³³/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɪŋ³³/

to behave properly to improve one's character


坐而論道

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄦˊ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄠˋ

цзоэрлуньдао

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² jiː²¹ lɵn²² tou̯²²/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² jiː²¹ lɵn²² tou̯²²/

(derogatory) to indulge in empty talk instead of doing anything useful


水花四濺

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

шуйхуасыцзянь

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

the crashing splash of water after it is struck or obstructed (as in waves crashing on rocks)


頓口無言

ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/tu̯ən⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/tu̯ən⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ jɛn³⁵/


非錢不行

ㄈㄟ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

фэйцяньбусин

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

nothing can be done without money (to pay off corrupt officials)


官官相衛

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄨㄟˋ

гуаньгуаньсянвэй

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuːn⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²²/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuːn⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²²/

(derogatory) officials shielding each other; officials covering up for each other


傷風敗俗

ㄕㄤ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄞˋ ㄙㄨˊ

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ su³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sʊk̚²/

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ su³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ paːi̯²² t͡sʊk̚²/


五風十雨

It winds every five days and rains every ten days

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

favorable weather conditions for farming


飛揚跋扈

ㄈㄟ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄚˊ ㄏㄨˋ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ pä³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚² wuː²²/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ pä³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚² wuː²²/


頂禮膜拜

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄇㄛˊ ㄅㄞˋ

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄞˋ

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ paɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ lɐi̯¹³ mou̯²¹ paːi̯³³/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ paɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ lɐi̯¹³ mou̯²¹ paːi̯³³/

(sometimes sarcastic) to worship somebody with great respect


握髮吐哺

ㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄚˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˇ

ㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄚˇ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˇ

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/aːk̚⁵ faːt̚³ tʰou̯³³ pou̯²²/

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/aːk̚⁵ faːt̚³ tʰou̯³³ pou̯²²/

From The Biography of the Duke of Zhou (魯周公世家) in the Records of the Grand Historian:
:
「然我一沐三握髮，一飯三[[#Chinese|]]吐哺，起以待士，猶恐失天下之賢人。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]「然我一沐三握发，一饭三[[#Chinese|]]吐哺，起以待士，犹恐失天下之贤人。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
“rán wǒ yī mù sān wò fà, yī fàn sān tù bǔ, qǐ yǐ dài shì, yóu kǒng shī tiānxià zhī xiánrén.” [Pinyin]
[the Duke of Zhou said,] " […] Yet each time I bathe, I am called away three times, wringing out my hair in haste; each time I dine, I rush off three times, spitting out my food in haste, in order to wait upon some gentleman. I do so because I am always fearful that I may otherwise fail to gain the service of a worthy man."

「 然 我 一 沐 三 握 髮 ， 一 飯 三 吐 哺 ， 起 以 待 士 ， 猶 恐 失 天下 之 賢人 。 」

􂀿the Duke of Zhou said,􂁀 " […] Yet each time I bathe, I am called away three times, wringing out my hair in haste; each time I dine, I rush off three times, spitting out my food in haste, in order to wait upon some gentleman. I do so because I am always fearful that I may otherwise fail to gain the service of a worthy man."

Duke of Zhou
Records of the Grand Historian


老成持重

ㄌㄠˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

лаочэн чичжун

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ²²/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ²²/


沒齒難忘

ㄇㄛˋ ㄔˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄨㄤˋ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵ naːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵ naːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

您的救命之恩，我沒齒難忘。 [MSC, trad.]
您的救命之恩，我没齿难忘。 [MSC, simp.]

I shall never forget that you have saved my life.

Nín de jiùmìng zhī ēn, wǒ mòchǐnánwàng. [Pinyin]

memorable for the rest of one's life (usually for describing someone else's mercy or kind deed)


無頭公案

ㄨˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄢˋ

/u³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɔːn³³/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ an⁴¹/

/bo¹³⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an²¹/

/u³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɔːn³³/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ an⁴¹/

/bo¹³⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an²¹/


形容枯槁

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄎㄨ ㄍㄠˇ

синжун кугао

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


海枯石爛

ㄏㄞˇ ㄎㄨ ㄕˊ ㄌㄢˋ

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ län⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ fuː⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² laːn²²/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ län⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ fuː⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² laːn²²/


風流雲散

ㄈㄥ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄙㄢˋ

фэнлююньсань

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ yn³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ wɐn²¹ saːn³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ yn³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ wɐn²¹ saːn³³/


俯仰之間

ㄈㄨˇ ㄧㄤˇ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄢ

фуянчжицзянь

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵/

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵/

以大為小，以強為弱，在俯仰之間耳。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]以大为小，以强为弱，在俯仰之间耳。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Yǐ dà wéi xiǎo, yǐ qiáng wéi ruò, zài fǔyǎngzhījiān ěr. [Pinyin]
It only takes an instant for a big and strong power to turn into a small and weak one.

以 大 為{wéi} 小，以 強 為{wéi} 弱，在 俯仰之間 耳。


肝腸寸斷

ㄍㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

ганьчанцуньдуань

/kän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn³³ tyːn²²/

/kän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn³³ tyːn²²/


定分止爭

ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄈㄣ ㄓˇ ㄓㄥ

динфэньчжичжэн

dinfɛnʹčžičžɛn

/tiŋ⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/tiŋ⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/


春風得意

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄈㄥ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ tet̚² i⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ tet̚² i⁵⁵/

to ride high; to feel pleasant because of success


背脊骨落

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːk̚³ kʷɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːk̚³ kʷɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚²/

(Cantonese) to have obtained benefits but cannot enjoy them or could only do so uncomfortably


置之度外

ㄓˋ ㄓ ㄉㄨˋ ㄨㄞˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tu⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tu⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

to leave (one's own safety or interest) out of consideration


揚長避短

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

янчанбидуань

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pei̯²² tyːn³⁵/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pei̯²² tyːn³⁵/

to make best use of one's advantages while avoiding their shortcomings


如魚得水

ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/ʐu³⁵ y³⁵ tɤ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ jyː²¹ tɐk̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ y³⁵ tɤ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ jyː²¹ tɐk̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

to find oneself in a suitable environment where one can perform well, or to meet people who share common ideas or interests


博而不精

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (博而不精):
* → Korean: 박이부정(博而不精) (bagibujeong)

ㄅㄛˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

jack of all trades, master of none
jack of all trades, master of none

to be a jack of all trades, master of none


當打之年

ㄉㄤ ㄉㄚˇ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

дандачжинянь

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

Originally used to describe martial artists.

one's prime time; one's most active and successful time in life


矇混過關

ㄇㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ

мэнхунь гогуань

/mɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/mɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

(derogatory) to slip by; to gloss over one's fault


逆流而上

ㄋㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

/ni⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɪk̚² lɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/

/ni⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɪk̚² lɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/


富麗堂皇

ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄊㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

фули танхуан

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/fuː³³ lɐi̯²² tʰɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/fuː³³ lɐi̯²² tʰɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


花團錦簇

bouquets of flowers and piles of brocades

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄘㄨˋ

хуатуаньцзиньцу

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tʰyːn²¹ kɐm³⁵ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tʰyːn²¹ kɐm³⁵ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/


風口浪尖

where the wind is the strongest and waves are the highest

ㄈㄥ ㄎㄡˇ ㄌㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄢ

фэнкоуланцзянь

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ lɔːŋ²² t͡siːm⁵⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ lɔːŋ²² t͡siːm⁵⁵/


方方面面

ㄈㄤ ㄈㄤ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

фанфанмяньмянь

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ miːn²² miːn²²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ miːn²² miːn²²/

AABB-type reduplication of 方面 (fāngmiàn).


神不知鬼不覺

ㄕㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

шэнь бучжи гуй буцзюэ

/ʂən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/


雲開日出

ㄩㄣˊ ㄎㄞ ㄖˋ ㄔㄨ

/yn³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/yn³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/


不見兔子不撒鷹

Don't release the falcon (to hunt) if you can't spot a hare

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄚ ㄧㄥ

bùjiàn tùzi bù sā yīng [Phonetic:bújiàn tùzi bù sā yīng]

буцзянь туцзы бу са ин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ pu⁵¹ sä⁵⁵ iŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ tʰou̯³³ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ saːt̚³ jɪŋ⁵⁵/

don't rush to take actions until you've made your objective clear


令行禁止

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄓˇ

линсинцзиньчжи

/liŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² hɐŋ²¹ kɐm³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/liŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² hɐŋ²¹ kɐm³³ t͡siː³⁵/

令則行，禁則止。憲之所及，俗之所被，如百體之從心，政之所期也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]令则行，禁则止。宪之所及，俗之所被，如百体之从心，政之所期也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Guanzi, 5ᵗʰ century BCE to 220 CE
Lìng zé xíng, jìn zé zhǐ. Xiàn zhī suǒjí, sú zhī suǒ bèi, rú bǎitǐ zhī cóng xīn, zhèng zhī suǒ qī yě. [Pinyin]
If there is an order, carry it out. If there is an prohibition on something, stop doing it. Wherever the laws and customs reach should [accept and abide by them,] just like how one's organs follow their heart, which is what politicians expect.

zh-x

令 則 行，禁 則 止。憲 之 所及，俗 之 所 被，如 百體 之 從 心，政 之 所 期 也。

If there is an order, carry it out. If there is an prohibition on something, stop doing it. Wherever the laws and customs reach should 􂀿accept and abide by them,􂁀 just like how one's organs follow their heart, which is what politicians expect.

to carry out orders and proclaim prohibitions; to abide by orders


以身相許

ㄧˇ ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄩˇ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɵy̯³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɵy̯³⁵/


身輕如燕

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄢˋ

шэньцинжуянь

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiːn³³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiːn³³/


緩兵之計

ㄏㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

хуаньбинчжицзи

/xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/wuːn²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/uan²²⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹/

/uan⁴¹⁻²² piɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ ke⁴¹/

/uan²²⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹/

/uan³³⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹/

/uan³³⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke²¹/

/xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/wuːn²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/uan²²⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹/

/uan⁴¹⁻²² piɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ ke⁴¹/

/uan²²⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹/

/uan³³⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹/

/uan³³⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke²¹/


如釋重負

ㄖㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄈㄨˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ fuː²²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ hu²²/

/zu²³⁻³³ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ hu³³/

/zi²³⁻³³ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ hu³³/

/ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ fuː²²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ hu²²/

/zu²³⁻³³ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ hu³³/

/zi²³⁻³³ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ hu³³/

to feel as if a weight has been lifted from one’s shoulders


讚口不絕

ㄗㄢˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

цзанькоубуцзюэ

/t͡sän⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡saːn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/t͡san²¹⁻⁵³ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/t͡san⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡suat̚²⁴/

/t͡san²¹⁻⁵³ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡suat̚¹²¹/

/t͡san¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/t͡san²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡suat̚⁴/

/t͡sän⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡saːn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

讚不絕口 讚不絕口#Chinese

赞不绝口 赞不绝口#Chinese

(nonstandard) Alternative form of 讚不絕口／赞不绝口 (zànbùjuékǒu)


舌劍唇槍

ㄕㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄤ

шэцзяньчуньцян

/ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/


客客氣氣

ㄎㄜˋ ㄎㄜˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

AABB-type reduplication of 客氣／客气 (kèqi).

zh-l

客氣／客气 (kèqi)


唇槍舌劍

ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄕㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

чуньцяншэцзянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɵn²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ siːt̚² kiːm³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɵn²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ siːt̚² kiːm³³/


揭不開鍋

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄞ ㄍㄨㄛ

ㄐㄧㄝ ˙ㄅㄨ ㄎㄞ ㄍㄨㄛ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ b̥u² kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ b̥u² kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵/


櫛比鱗次

ㄓˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹ lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³ lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹ lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³ lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³/

鱗次櫛比 鱗次櫛比#Chinese

鳞次栉比 鳞次栉比#Chinese


天差地遠

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄚ ㄉㄧˋ ㄩㄢˇ

тяньчадиюань

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tei̯²² jyːn¹³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tei̯²² jyːn¹³/

to be completely different; to be poles apart


似懂非懂

toseem to understand, but not to understand

ㄙˋ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ㄈㄟ ㄉㄨㄥˇ

/sz̩⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ tʊŋ³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ³⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ tʊŋ³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ³⁵/

to not really understand; to half-understand


公親變事主

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄓㄨˇ

гунцинь бянь шичжу

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ piɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ su³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ piɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ su³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹/

你著細膩，毋通公親變事主。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
你著细腻，毋通公亲变事主。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

Be careful not to get yourself involved while negotiating between parties.

Lí tio̍h sè-jī, m̄-thang kong-chhin-piàn-sū-chú. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]


朝發夕至

ㄓㄠ ㄈㄚ ㄒㄧˋ ㄓˋ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to set out in the morning and arrive in the evening


戴罪立功

ㄉㄞˋ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

дайцзуйлигун

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯³³ t͡sɵy̯²² laːp̚² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯³³ t͡sɵy̯²² laːp̚² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to atone for one's crimes or mistakes by making contributions; to redeem oneself


舉目無親

ㄐㄩˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

to be a lonely stranger in a strange land with no one to depend on


維民所止

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓˇ

вэйминьсочжи

/weɪ̯³⁵ min³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

Classic of Poetry
Jin Yong
imperial examination
zh:查嗣庭

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 303 (《詩經·商頌·玄鳥》):
:
邦畿千里，維民所止，肇域彼四海。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]邦畿千里，维民所止，肇域彼四海。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Bāngjī qiānlǐ, wéi mín suǒ zhǐ, zhào yù bǐ sìhǎi. [Pinyin]
The royal domain of a thousand li, is where the people rest; But there commence the boundaries that reach to the four seas.
The sense of censorship is from a legend of the Qing scholar Zha Siting (查嗣庭), a distant relative of the novelist Louis Cha a.k.a. Jin Yong. It was said that he quoted the sentence above for a question in the imperial examination and was then imprisoned because 維／维 (wéi) and 止 (zhǐ) looked like the beheaded form of 雍正 (Yōngzhèng), who was the reigning emperor at that time.

lang

(《詩經·商頌·玄鳥》)

(《詩經·商頌·玄鳥》)

zh-x

邦畿 千里，維.民.所.止，肇 域 彼 四海。

A phrase used to satirize censorship of speech.


開枝散葉

ㄎㄞ ㄓ ㄙㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ saːn³³ jiːp̚²/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ saːn³³ jiːp̚²/


夏雨雨人

the summer rainfall rains down on the people

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄩˇ ㄩˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

to provide timely assistance or education


春風風人

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄈㄥ ㄈㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ

чуньфэнфэнжэнь

čunʹfɛnfɛnžɛnʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/


曾參殺人

ㄗㄥ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

Цзэн Шэнь шажэнь

Czɛn Šɛnʹ šažɛnʹ

/t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

A tale in Zhan Guo Ce:
昔者曾子處費，費人有與曾子同名族者而殺人，人告曾子母曰：「曾參殺人。』曾子之母曰：『吾者不殺人。』置自若。有頃焉，人又曰：『曾參殺人。』其母尚置自若也。頃之，一人又告之曰：『曾參殺人。』其母懼，投杼逾牆而走。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]昔者曾子处费，费人有与曾子同名族者而杀人，人告曾子母曰：「曾参杀人。』曾子之母曰：『吾者不杀人。』置自若。有顷焉，人又曰：『曾参杀人。』其母尚置自若也。顷之，一人又告之曰：『曾参杀人。』其母惧，投杼逾墙而走。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE
Xīzhě Zēngzǐ chù Fèi, Fèi rén yǒu yǔ Zēngzǐ tóng míng zú zhě ér shārén, rén gào Zēngzǐ mǔ yuē: “Zēng Shēn shārén.’ Zēngzǐ zhī mǔ yuē: ‘Wú zhě bù shārén.’ Zhì zìruò. Yǒuqǐng yān, rén yòu yuē: ‘Zēng Shēn shārén.’ Qí mǔ shàng zhì zìruò yě. Qǐngzhī, yīrén yòu gào zhī yuē: ‘Zēng Shēn shārén.’ Qí mǔ jù, tóu zhù yú qiáng ér zǒu. [Pinyin]
In the past when Zengzi (real name Zeng Shen) was living in Fei County, there was a man who had the same name as him committed murder. Somebody then informed Zengzi’s mother, “Zeng Shen committed murder.” Zengzi's mother replied, “My son will never commit a murder,” and she kept calm. A short while later, another person informed her, “Zeng Shen committed murder.” She still kept calm. A short while later, yet another person informed her, “Zeng Shen committed murder.” Zengzi's mother feared, cast aside her weaving shuttle, leapt across the walls, and fled.

昔者 曾{Zēng}子 處 ^費 ， ^費 人 有 與 曾{Zēng}子 同 名 族 者 而 殺人 ， 人 告 曾{Zēng}子 母 曰 ： 「 @曾{Zēng} @參{Shēn} 殺人 。』 曾{Zēng}子 之 母 曰 ：『 吾 者 不 殺人 。』 置 自若 。 有頃 焉 ， 人 又 曰 ：『 @曾{Zēng} @參{Shēn} 殺人。』 其 母 尚 置 自若 也 。 頃之 ， 一人 又 告 之 曰：『 @曾{Zēng} @參{Shēn} 殺人。』 其 母 懼 ， 投 杼 逾 牆 而 走。

(figurative) Used as an example to show that the effects of rumours can be fearsome.


不知所謂

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²²/

(chiefly Cantonese) ridiculous; absurd; nonsense


黃絹幼婦

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄐㄩㄢˋ ㄧㄡˋ ㄈㄨˋ

хуанцзюаньюфу

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

zh-m

齏臼／齑臼 (jījiù)

(literary) A visual pun, describing the characters that constitute the word 絕妙／绝妙 (juémiào), and hence used as a synonym of it.


千夫所指

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄈㄨ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fu⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

criticism from the public; universal condemnation


潔身自愛

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄣ ㄗˋ ㄞˋ

цзешэньцзыай

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kiːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² ɔːi̯³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kiːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² ɔːi̯³³/

to keep one's integrity and not follow the ways of evil people


不食周粟

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄓㄡ ㄙㄨˋ

бу ши Чжоу су

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

Boyi and Shuqi
Shang dynasty
Zhou dynasty

Boyi and Shuqi (approximately 1046 BCE), two princes of the former Shang dynasty, refused to eat the food of the newly founded (in their opinion, usurping) Zhou dynasty. They lived in seclusion in Shouyang Mountain and ate fiddlehead ferns before starving to death:
武王已平殷亂，天下宗周，而伯夷、叔齊恥之，義不食周粟，隱於首陽山，采薇而食之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]武王已平殷乱，天下宗周，而伯夷、叔齐耻之，义不食周粟，隐于首阳山，采薇而食之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Wǔ wáng yǐ píng Yīn luàn, tiānxià zōng Zhōu, ér Bóyí, Shūqí chǐ zhī, yì bù shí Zhōu sù, yǐn yú Shǒuyáng Shān, cǎiwēi ér shí zhī. [Pinyin]
King Wu pacified the unrest of Yin (Shang), and the whole nation switched allegiance to the Zhou dynasty. But Boyi and Shuqi considered it disgraceful and expressed their loyalty to Yin by not eating any grain of Zhou. They secluded themselves in Shouyang Mountain, where they gathered ferns to eat.

zh-x

武 王 已 平 ^殷 亂，天下 宗 ^周，而 ^伯-夷、^叔-齊 恥 之，義 不 食 ^周 粟，隱 於 ^首-陽 ^山，采薇 而 食 之。

(literary, literal) to refuse to eat the food of the Zhou dynasty


大模廝樣

ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄨˊ ㄙ ㄧㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ mu³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² mou̯²¹ siː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ mu³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² mou̯²¹ siː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/

大模大樣 大模大樣#Chinese

大模大样 大模大样#Chinese


華佗再世

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄊㄨㄛˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕˋ

ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄊㄨㄛˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕˋ

Хуа То цзайши

/xu̯ä⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/xu̯ä³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/waː²² tʰɔː²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

/waː²¹ tʰɔː²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/xu̯ä³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/waː²² tʰɔː²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

/waː²¹ tʰɔː²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

a doctor with excellent medical skills, just like Hua Tuo reincarnated


走馬看花

taking a ride on a horse while looking at the flowers

ㄗㄡˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄎㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚ

цзоумаканьхуа

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

to look roughly and hastily, without being able to get a good look at things


憶苦思甜

ㄧˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄙ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

/i⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɪk̚⁵ fuː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ tʰiːm²¹/

/i⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɪk̚⁵ fuː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ tʰiːm²¹/

to recall one's difficult past and savour one's joyful present


同工異曲

ja-r

同工異曲(どうこういきょく) (dōkōikyoku)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (同工異曲):
* → Japanese: 同工異曲(どうこういきょく) (dōkōikyoku)

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄧˋ ㄑㄩˇ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² kʰʊk̚⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² kʰʊk̚⁵/

異曲同工 異曲同工#Chinese

异曲同工 异曲同工#Chinese


花拳繡腿

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨㄟˇ

хуацюаньсютуй

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faː⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ sɐu̯³³ tʰɵy̯³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ sɐu̯³³ tʰɵy̯³⁵/

highly embellished and ineffectual; fancy but impractical skills; all show and no go; pugilistic


男歡女愛

ㄋㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄋㄩˇ ㄞˋ

наньхуаньнюйай

/nän³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ ɔːi̯³³/

/nän³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ ɔːi̯³³/

passionate love between a man and a woman


橫刀奪愛

ㄏㄥˊ ㄉㄠ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄞˋ

/xɤŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ tyːt̚² ɔːi̯³³/

/xɤŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ tyːt̚² ɔːi̯³³/

to rob somebody of something or someone they cherish


花錢找罪受

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄠˇ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˋ

хуа цянь чжао цзуй шоу

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹⁻³⁵ t͡saːu̯³⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² sɐu̯²²/

to spend money on something that turns out to be unsatisfactory or even disastrous


百密一疏

ㄅㄞˇ ㄇㄧˋ ㄧ ㄕㄨ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɐt̚² jɐt̚⁵ sɔː⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɐt̚² jɐt̚⁵ sɔː⁵⁵/

我覺得你呢個借刀殺人計劃百密一疏，呢度係公海，唔可以亂嚟，只有呢隻船註冊嘅國家先至可以拉我㗎！ [Cantonese, trad.]
我觉得你呢个借刀杀人计划百密一疏，呢度系公海，唔可以乱嚟，只有呢只船注册嘅国家先至可以拉我㗎！ [Cantonese, simp.]
ngo⁵ gok³ dak¹ nei⁵ ni¹ go³ ze³ dou¹ saat³ jan⁴ gai³ waak⁶ baak³ mat⁶ jat¹ so¹, ni¹ dou⁶ hai⁶ gung¹ hoi², m⁴ ho² ji⁵ lyun⁶⁻² lai⁴, zi² jau⁵ ne¹ zek³ syun⁴ zyu³ caak³ ge³ gwok³ gaa¹ sin¹ zi³ ho² ji⁵ laa¹ ngo⁵ gaa³! [Jyutping]

I think that your plan of killing [Ko Yee] with my hand missed out a thing. We're in the international waters. You can't act recklessly. Only the country in which this ship was registered can arrest me.

something was missed in a sophisticated plan


奇談怪論

ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

цитаньгуайлунь

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰän³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ tʰaːm²¹ kʷaːi̯³³ lɵn²²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰän³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ tʰaːm²¹ kʷaːi̯³³ lɵn²²/


重新做人

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄖㄣˊ

чунсиньцзожэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² jɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² jɐn²¹/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf


耳聞目睹

ㄦˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄉㄨˇ

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ mɐn²¹ mʊk̚² tou̯³⁵/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː¹³ mɐn²¹ mʊk̚² tou̯³⁵/

to hear with one's ears and see with one's eyes; to personally see and hear


兼而有之

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kiːm⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kiːm⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/


欺行霸市

ㄑㄧ ㄏㄤˊ ㄅㄚˋ ㄕˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ pä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ pä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

(Mainland China) to oppress others in the same trade and monopolize the market


鴛鴦蝴蝶

ㄩㄢ ㄧㄤ ㄏㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄝˊ

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ xu³⁵ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²¹ tiːp̚²/

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ xu³⁵ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²¹ tiːp̚²/

mandarin ducks and butterflies (i.e. love birds)

(derogatory) Used in reference to populist and romantic writing around 1900


妙筆生花

ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄨㄚ

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/


欺男霸女

ㄑㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄚˋ ㄋㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ pä⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hei̯⁵⁵ naːm²¹ paː³³ nɵy̯¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ pä⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hei̯⁵⁵ naːm²¹ paː³³ nɵy̯¹³/

to oppress the people; to act tyrannically


大呼小叫

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

/tä⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² fuː⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ kiːu̯³³/

/tä⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² fuː⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ kiːu̯³³/


冰雪聰明

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄘㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

бинсюэцунмин

/piŋ⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

From a poem by Du Fu:
:
冰雪淨聰明，雷霆走精銳。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]冰雪净聪明，雷霆走精锐。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tang dynasty, Du Fu, Seeing Off Attendant Censor Fan (23) on his Way to a Post as Administrative Assistant in Hanzhong (《送樊二十三侍御赴漢中判官》), translation by Stephen Owen, The Poetry of Du Fu
Bīngxuě jìng cōngmíng, léitíng zǒu jīngruì. [Pinyin]
Your apprehension is as bright as ice and snow, your military sharpness speeds like thunder.

lang

《送樊二十三侍御赴漢中判官》

《送樊二十三侍御赴漢中判官》

zh-x

冰雪 淨 聰明，雷霆 走 精銳。

Du Fu
Stephen Owen (sinologist)
Tang dynasty


有頭威，冇尾陣

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ wɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ mei̯¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

(Cantonese) to start off strong, but finish weak; to be inconsistent with one's effort


根正苗紅

ㄍㄣ ㄓㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄠˊ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

гэньчжэнмяохун

/kən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ miːu̯²¹ hʊŋ²¹/

/kən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ miːu̯²¹ hʊŋ²¹/


吆五喝六

ㄧㄠ ㄨˇ ㄏㄜˋ ㄌㄧㄡˋ

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ hɔːt̚³ lʊk̚²/

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ hɔːt̚³ lʊk̚²/


吉人天相

ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

цзижэньтяньсян

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³/

Short for 吉人自有天相 (jírén zìyǒu tiānxiàng).

short for

我們希望他吉人天相，早日康復。 [MSC, trad.]
我们希望他吉人天相，早日康复。 [MSC, simp.]

We hope that he will be blessed by the Heaven and get well soon.

Wǒmen xīwàng tā jíréntiānxiàng, zǎorì kāngfù. [Pinyin]

A good person enjoys the help from the Heaven. (Used as blessing words for people in difficulties)


公事公辦

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄕˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄢˋ

гуншигунбань

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ siː²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ paːn²²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ siː²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ paːn²²/

to do official business according to official rules; to handle matters without bias and favouritism


功高蓋主

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄍㄞˋ ㄓㄨˇ

гунгаогайчжу

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡syː³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡syː³⁵/

one's contributions or feats are so great that one's monarch or superior feels uneasy and insecure


大吹法螺

→ Japanese: 法螺(ほら)を吹(ふ)く (hora o fuku) (calque), 法螺(ほら)吹(ふ)き (hora fuki) (calque)

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄈㄚˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔː²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔː²¹/

From earlier 吹大法螺 (chuīdàfǎluó). This term appeared in various Buddhist texts. The following is one of the examples from the Lotus Sutra:
:
今佛世尊欲說大法，雨大法雨，吹大法螺，擊大法鼓，演大法義。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]今佛世尊欲说大法，雨大法雨，吹大法螺，击大法鼓，演大法义。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Lotus Sutra, translated by Kumārajīva (English translation extracted from https://www.bdk.or.jp/document/dgtl-dl/dBET_T0262_LotusSutra_2007.pdf)
Jīn fó shìzūn yù shuō dàfǎ, yǔ dàfǎ yǔ, chuī dàfǎ luó, jī dàfǎ gǔ, yǎn dàfǎ yì. [Pinyin]
I am very sure that the Buddha, the Bhagavat, will now teach the great Dharma, rain down the great Dharma, blow the conch of the great Dharma, beat the drum of the great Dharma, and reveal the meaning of the great Dharma.

zh-x

今 佛 世尊 欲 說 大法 ， 雨 大法 雨 ， @吹 @大法 @螺 ， 擊 大法 鼓 ， 演 大法 義 。

to play the Buddhist conch shell trumpet


吹大法螺

ㄔㄨㄟ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄚˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɔː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɔː²¹/

大吹法螺 大吹法螺#Chinese


同聲同氣

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ hei̯³³/


甘死如飴

ㄍㄢ ㄙˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˊ

/kän⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/

/kän⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/


大飲大食

/taːi̯²² jɐm³⁵ taːi̯²² sɪk̚²/

/taːi̯²² jɐm³⁵ taːi̯²² sɪk̚²/

(Cantonese) to indulge in eating and drinking; to binge eat and drink


良辰吉日

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄖˋ

лянчэньцзижи

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/lœːŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ kɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/lœːŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ kɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/


熟門熟路

ㄕㄨˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

/ʂu³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/sʊk̚² muːn²¹ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

/ʂu³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/sʊk̚² muːn²¹ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

to know something very well; to be very familiar with something


大吃大喝

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄜ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xɤ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hɛːk̚³ taːi̯²² hɔːt̚³/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xɤ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hɛːk̚³ taːi̯²² hɔːt̚³/


擦身而過

ㄘㄚ ㄕㄣ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

to brush past (someone, opportunity, death, etc.)


年輕力壯

ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

няньцинличжуан

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ lɪk̚² t͡sɔːŋ³³/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ lɪk̚² t͡sɔːŋ³³/


年富力強

ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/niːn²¹ fuː³³ lɪk̚² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/niːn²¹ fuː³³ lɪk̚² kʰœːŋ²¹/


人所共知

ㄖㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄓ

жэньсогунчжи

/ʐən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

to be known by everyone; to be common knowledge


獨闢蹊徑

ㄉㄨˊ ㄆㄧˋ ㄒㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

/tu³⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² pʰɪk̚⁵ hɐi̯²¹ kɪŋ³³/

/tu³⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² pʰɪk̚⁵ hɐi̯²¹ kɪŋ³³/

to blaze a trail; to pioneer a new approach


單人匹馬

ㄉㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄆㄧˇ ㄇㄚˇ

даньжэньпима

/tän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pʰɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/tän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pʰɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/


有行無市

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄤˊ ㄨˊ ㄕˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


長袖善舞

ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² siːn²² mou̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² siːn²² mou̯¹³/

鄙諺曰：「長袖善舞，多錢善賈。」此言多資之易為工也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]鄙谚曰：「长袖善舞，多钱善贾。」此言多资之易为工也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Bǐyàn yuē: “Cháng xiù shàn wǔ, duō qián shàn gǔ.” Cǐ yán duō zī zhī yì wèi gōng yě. [Pinyin]
There was a saying that “Long sleeves make a good dance, more money makes better business.” This means that if you have more resources, you can do things easier.

鄙諺 曰 ：「 長.袖.善.舞，多 錢 善 賈 。」 此 言 多 資 之 易 為 工 也 。

to have tricks up one’s sleeve and be likely to succeed

(of businesspeople or politicians) be able to make good use of one's connections


睡眼惺忪

ㄕㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄙㄨㄥ

шуйяньсинсун

/ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵⁵/

drowsy-eyed (describing the state when a person just wakes up)


妻離子散

ㄑㄧ ㄌㄧˊ ㄗˇ ㄙㄢˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ saːn³³/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ saːn³³/

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》):
:
彼奪其民時，使不得耕耨以養其父母，父母凍餓，兄弟妻子離散。彼陷溺其民，王往而征之，夫誰與王敵？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]彼夺其民时，使不得耕耨以养其父母，父母冻饿，兄弟妻子离散。彼陷溺其民，王往而征之，夫谁与王敌？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Bǐ duó qí mín shí, shǐ bùdé gēng nòu yǐ yǎng qí fùmǔ, fùmǔ dòng'è, xiōngdì qīzǐ lísàn. Bǐ xiàn nì qí mín, wáng wǎng ér zhēng zhī, fú shuí yǔ wáng dí? [Pinyin]
The rulers of those States rob their people of their time, so that they cannot plough and weed their fields, in order to support their parents. Their parents suffer from cold and hunger. Brothers, wives, and children are separated and scattered abroad. Those rulers, as it were, drive their people into pit-falls, or drown them. Your Majesty will go to punish them. In such a case, who will oppose your Majesty?

彼 奪 其 民 時，使 不得 耕 耨 以 養 其 父母，父母 凍餓，兄弟 妻子 離散。彼 陷 溺 其 民，王 往 而 征 之，夫{fú} 誰{shuí} 與 王 敵？