任人擺佈

ㄖㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ

жэньжэньбайбу

/ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

/ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

to allow oneself to be ordered about; to be at the mercy of others


百無一失

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

no danger of anything going wrong; no risk at all


百足之蟲，至死不僵

ㄅㄞˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

ㄓˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄤ

байцзучжичун

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

百足之蟲，死而不僵 百足之蟲，死而不僵#Chinese

百足之虫，死而不僵 百足之虫，死而不僵#Chinese

Synonym of 百足之蟲，死而不僵／百足之虫，死而不僵 (bǎizúzhīchóng, sǐ'érbùjiāng, “old institutions die hard”)


百足之蟲，至斷不蹶

ㄅㄞˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

ㄓˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

байцзучжичун

чжидуаньбуцзюэ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

百足之蟲，死而不僵 百足之蟲，死而不僵#Chinese

百足之虫，死而不僵 百足之虫，死而不僵#Chinese


百足之蟲，死而不僵

a centipede does not topple over even when dead

ㄅㄞˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

ㄙˇ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄤ

baak³ zuk¹ zi¹ cung⁴, sei² ji⁴ bat¹ goeng¹

байцзучжичун

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

baak⁸ dzuk⁷ dzi¹ tsung⁴, sei² ji⁴ bat⁷ goeng¹

bag³ zug¹ ji¹ cung⁴, séi² yi⁴ bed¹ gêng¹

/paːk̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sei̯³⁵ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kœːŋ⁵⁵/


半饑半飽

ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄢˋ ㄅㄠˇ

баньцзибаньбао

/pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


半……不……

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

半死不活

半新不舊／半新不旧

半……半…… 半……半……#Chinese

Synonym of 半……半…… (bàn bàn, “half …, half …”)


擺事實，講道理

ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄕˊ , ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄕˊ , ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄠˋ ˙ㄌㄧ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ li¹/

/paːi̯³⁵ siː²² sɐt̚² kɔːŋ³⁵ tou̯²² lei̯¹³/

to present the facts and reason things out


百足之蟲，斷而不蹶

ㄅㄞˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

байцзучжичун

дуаньэрбуцзюэ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

百足之蟲，死而不僵 百足之蟲，死而不僵#Chinese

百足之虫，死而不僵 百足之虫，死而不僵#Chinese


半文半白

ㄅㄢˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄅㄞˊ

баньвэньбаньбай

/pän⁵¹ wən³⁵ pän⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

/pän⁵¹ wən³⁵ pän⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

現在許多同志的文章，空話連篇的也有，但比較少；主要的缺點就是古文多，半文半白的味道很大。 [MSC, trad.]
现在许多同志的文章，空话连篇的也有，但比较少；主要的缺点就是古文多，半文半白的味道很大。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1955, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《農業合作化的一場辯論和當前的階級鬥爭》 (The Debate on the Co-operative Transformation of Agriculture and the Current Class Struggle), 《毛澤東選集·第五卷》 (Selected Works of Mao Zedong: Volume V) (1977). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Now, of the articles written by many comrades, some are long-winded and devoid of substance, but these are relatively few; the chief defects are an overuse of classical Chinese and too strong a flavour of the semi-literary, semi-vernacular style.

Xiànzài xǔduō tóngzhì de wénzhāng, kōnghuàliánpiān de yě yǒu, dàn bǐjiào shǎo; zhǔyào de quēdiǎn jiùshì gǔwén duō, bànwénbànbái de wèidào hěn dà. [Pinyin]


詩詞歌賦

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kɔː⁵⁵ fuː³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kɔː⁵⁵ fuː³³/

the various types of traditional Chinese poetry, such as shi, ci, qu and fu


端屎端尿

ㄉㄨㄢ ㄕˇ ㄉㄨㄢ ㄋㄧㄠˋ

дуаньшидуаньняо

/tu̯än⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tyːn⁵⁵ siː³⁵ tyːn⁵⁵ niːu̯²²/

/tu̯än⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tyːn⁵⁵ siː³⁵ tyːn⁵⁵ niːu̯²²/

to attend to someone's bowel and urinary needs


絆手絆腳

ㄅㄢˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

баньшоубаньцзяо

/pän⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːn²² sɐu̯³⁵ puːn²² kœːk̚³/

/puːn²² sɐu̯³⁵ puːn²² kœːk̚³/

礙手礙腳 礙手礙腳#Chinese

碍手碍脚 碍手碍脚#Chinese

Synonym of 礙手礙腳／碍手碍脚 (àishǒu'àijiǎo, “to be in the way; to be a hindrance”)


低人一等

ㄉㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧ ㄉㄥˇ

/ti⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tɐŋ³⁵/

/ti⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tɐŋ³⁵/

to be inferior to others (in social status, etc.)


裝模作樣

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄇㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄤˋ

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄇㄛˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄤˋ

чжуанмуцзоян

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

чжуанмоцзоян

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²²/

to behave in an affected way; to put on an act


保家衛國

ㄅㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² kʷɔːk̚³/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² kʷɔːk̚³/

to protect one's homes and defend one's country


實至名歸

ㄕˊ ㄓˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐt̚² t͡siː³³ mɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚²⁴⁻² t͡si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si¹¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁴¹ miã²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐt̚² t͡siː³³ mɪŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚²⁴⁻² t͡si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si²¹⁻⁵³ miã¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si¹¹⁻⁵³ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡si²¹⁻⁴¹ miã²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

fame follows merit; to live up to one's reputation; to deserve one's fame


誇大其詞

ㄎㄨㄚ ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄘˊ

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/kʷʰaː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/kʷʰaː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/


抱薪救火

ㄅㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

баосиньцзюхо

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ fɔː³⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯¹³ sɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ fɔː³⁵/

to adopt a wrong method to save a situation and end up by making it worse


抱恨終天

ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄣˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

баохэньчжунтянь

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

to regret something to the end of one's days


嘉言善行

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

цзяяньшаньсин

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ siːn²² hɐŋ²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ siːn²² hɐŋ²²/


懷冤抱屈

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄩㄢ ㄅㄠˋ ㄑㄩ

хуайюаньбаоцюй

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/


嘉言懿行

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː³³ hɐŋ²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː³³ hɐŋ²²/


竹苞松茂

ㄓㄨˊ ㄅㄠ ㄙㄨㄥ ㄇㄠˋ

чжубаосунмао

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 189 (《詩經·小雅·斯干》):
如竹苞矣、如松茂矣。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rú zhú bāo yǐ, rú sōng mào yǐ. [Pinyin]
[Has the palace arisen], firm as the roots of a clump of bamboos,
[With its roof] like the luxuriant head of a pine tree.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·斯干》)

(《詩經·小雅·斯干》)

zh-x

如 @竹 @苞 矣、如 @松 @茂 矣。

􂀿Has the palace arisen􂁀, firm as the roots of a clump of bamboos,
􂀿With its roof􂁀 like the luxuriant head of a pine tree.

Symbolizes prosperity of family, used to celebrate someone moving to a new residence or on the person's birthday.


抱殘守缺

to cherish the outmoded and preserve the outworn

ㄅㄠˋ ㄘㄢˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄩㄝ

баоцаньшоуцюэ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ t͡sʰaːn²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ kʰyːt̚³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ t͡sʰaːn²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ kʰyːt̚³/

to be conservative and not receptive to new things; to be a stickler for ancient ways and things

to be faithful to ancient ways and things


卑躬屈節

ㄅㄟ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄩ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

бэйгунцюйцзе

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐt̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐt̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

to bow and scrape; to cringe; to act servilely or obsequiously


抱頭痛哭

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄨ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ³³ hʊk̚⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ³³ hʊk̚⁵/

to weep in each other's arms; to cry on each other's shoulders


卑躬屈膝

ㄅㄟ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄑㄩ ㄒㄧ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/


背城借一

to make a last-ditch stand before the city wall

ㄅㄟˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄧ

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/puːi̯³³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɛː³³ jɐt̚⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/puːi̯³³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɛː³³ jɐt̚⁵/

to fight to the last ditch; to put up a desperate struggle


悲天憫人

ㄅㄟ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄇㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄣˊ

бэйтяньминьжэнь

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ min²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɐn¹³ jɐn²¹/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ min²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɐn¹³ jɐn²¹/

to bemoan the state of the universe and pity the fate of humankind


推崇備至

ㄊㄨㄟ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄟˋ ㄓˋ

туйчунбэйчжи

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² t͡siː³³/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² t͡siː³³/

to highly recommend; to have the greatest esteem (for)


關懷備至

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄅㄟˋ ㄓˋ

гуаньхуайбэйчжи

/ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pei̯²² t͡siː³³/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pei̯²² t͡siː³³/

to show the utmost solicitude; to show somebody every consideration


悲喜交集

ㄅㄟ ㄒㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧˊ

бэйсицзяоцзи

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/


暴厲恣睢

ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄙㄨㄟ

ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄘ ㄙㄨㄟ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

暴戾恣睢 暴戾恣睢#Chinese

Alternative form of 暴戾恣睢 (“extremely cruel and despotic”)


備而不用

ㄅㄟˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/pei̯²² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/pi³³⁻²¹ zi²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ³³/

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/pei̯²² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/pi³³⁻²¹ zi²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ³³/

to have something ready just in case; to keep something for possible future use


背城一戰

ㄅㄟˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧ ㄓㄢˋ

бэйчэнъичжань

bɛjčɛnʺičžanʹ

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

背城借一 背城借一#Chinese

Synonym of 背城借一 (bèichéng-jièyī, “to fight to the last ditch, to put up a desperate struggle”)


悖入悖出

ㄅㄟˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄅㄟˋ ㄔㄨ

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

From the Great Learning (《大學》) in the Book of Rites:
是故財聚則民散，財散則民聚。是故言悖而出者，亦悖而入；貨悖而入者，亦悖而出。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]是故财聚则民散，财散则民聚。是故言悖而出者，亦悖而入；货悖而入者，亦悖而出。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Shìgù cái jù zé mín sàn, cái sàn zé mín jù. Shìgù yán bèi ér chū zhě, yì bèi ér rù; huò bèi ér rù zhě, yì bèi ér chū. [Pinyin]
Hence, the accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people; and the letting it be scattered among them is the way to collect the people. And hence, the ruler's words going forth contrary to right, will come back to him in the same way, and wealth, gotten by improper ways, will take its departure by the same.

是故 財 聚 則 民 散，財 散 則 民 聚。是故 言 悖 而 出 者，亦 悖 而 入；貨 @悖 而 @入 者，亦 @悖 而 @出。


本固枝榮

when the root is firm, the branches flourish

ㄅㄣˇ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

бэньгучжижун

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/puːn³⁵ kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹/

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/puːn³⁵ kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹/

only when the foundation is consolidated can the parts develop


捭闔縱橫

ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄥˊ

ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ

байхэцзунхэн

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

縱橫捭闔 縱橫捭闔#Chinese

纵横捭阖 纵横捭阖#Chinese

Synonym of 縱橫捭闔／纵横捭阖 (zònghéngbǎihé, “to manoeuvre amongst various political groupings”)


抱殘守闕

ㄅㄠˋ ㄘㄢˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄩㄝ

баоцаньшоуцюэ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

抱殘守缺 抱殘守缺#Chinese

抱残守缺 抱残守缺#Chinese

Synonym of 抱殘守缺／抱残守缺 (bàocánshǒuquē, “to be conservative; to stick to ancient ways or things”)


暴戾恣睢

ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄙㄨㄟ

ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄘ ㄙㄨㄟ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/


虛驚一場

ㄒㄩ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧ ㄔㄤˇ

ㄒㄩ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧ ㄔㄤˊ

сюйцзинъичан

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²⁴/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²³/

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²⁴/

/hi⁴⁴⁻³³ kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiũ²³/


力學不倦

ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

лисюэбуцзюань

/li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² hɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

/li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² hɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/


歌舞昇平

ㄍㄜ ㄨˇ ㄕㄥ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/kɤ⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/kɔː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/ko³³⁻²³ bu⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ³³⁻²³ pʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/kɔː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/ko³³⁻²³ bu⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ³³⁻²³ pʰeŋ⁵⁵/


大行其道

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄉㄠˋ

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɐŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ tou̯²²/

/tä⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɐŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ tou̯²²/


溜之大吉

ㄌㄧㄡ ㄓ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/lɐu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵/


單打獨鬥

ㄉㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄉㄡˋ

/tän⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːn⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʊk̚² tɐu̯³³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/

/tan³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² tau⁴¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tau²¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau¹¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/

/tän⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːn⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʊk̚² tɐu̯³³/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/

/tan³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² tau⁴¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tau²¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau¹¹/

/tan⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² tau²¹/


獨佔鰲頭

ㄉㄨˊ ㄓㄢˋ ㄠˊ ㄊㄡˊ

дучжаньаотоу

/tu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʊk̚² t͡siːm³³ ŋou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/tu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʊk̚² t͡siːm³³ ŋou̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/


分崩離析

ㄈㄣ ㄅㄥ ㄌㄧˊ ㄒㄧ

/fən⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵⁵ li³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sɪk̚⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵⁵ li³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sɪk̚⁵/

From the Analects, Book 16 (《論語·季氏》):
:
孔子曰：「……故遠人不服，則修文德以來之。既來之，則安之。今由與求也，相夫子，遠人不服而不能來也；邦分崩離析而不能守也。……」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孔子曰：「……故远人不服，则修文德以来之。既来之，则安之。今由与求也，相夫子，远人不服而不能来也；邦分崩离析而不能守也。……」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Kǒng Zǐ yuē: “...... Gù yuǎn rén bùfú, zé xiū wéndé yǐ lái zhī. Jì lái zhī, zé ān zhī. Jīn Yóu yǔ Qiú yě, xiàng fūzǐ, yuǎn rén bùfú ér bùnéng lái yě; bāng fēnbēng líxī ér bùnéng shǒu yě.......” [Pinyin]
Confucius said. "… Therefore, if remoter people are not submissive, all the influences of civil culture and virtue are to be cultivated to attract them to be so; and when they have been so attracted, they must be made contented and tranquil. Now, here are you, You and Qiu, assisting your chief. Remoter people are not submissive, and, with your help, he cannot attract them to him. In his own territory there are divisions and downfalls, leavings and separations, and, with your help, he cannot preserve it. …"

^孔.^子 曰：「……故 遠 人 不服，則 修 文-德 以 來 之。既 來 之，則 安 之。今 @^由 與 @^求 也，相 夫子，遠 人 不服 而 不能 來 也；邦 分崩.離析 而 不能 守 也。……」

(of a country or a group) to disintegrate; to fall apart


接踵而來

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄌㄞˊ

цзечжунъэрлай

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ lai²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ lai²³/

接踵而至 接踵而至#Chinese

Synonym of 接踵而至 (jiēzhǒng'érzhì, “to follow each other and arrive successively”)


救死扶傷

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄙˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄤ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ sei̯³⁵ fuː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ sei̯³⁵ fuː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

與單于連戰十有餘日，所殺過當，虜救死扶傷不給。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]与单于连战十有余日，所杀过当，虏救死扶伤不给。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. 1st century BCE. Translated by Burton Watson.
Yǔ Chányú lián zhàn shí yǒuyú rì, suǒ shā guò dāng, lǔ jiùsǐfúshāng bù jǐ. [Pinyin]
For over ten days they continued in combat with the Chanyu. The enemy fell in disproportionate numbers; those who tried to rescue their dead and wounded could not even save themselves.

與 ^單{chán}于 連 戰 十 有餘 日，所 殺 過 當{dāng}，虜 救死扶傷 不 給{jǐ}。

Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. 1st century <small class='ce-date'>BCE</small>. Translated by Burton Watson.

to rescue the dying and treat the sick and the wounded


選賢舉能

ㄒㄩㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄩˇ ㄋㄥˊ

сюаньсяньцзюйнэн

/ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

/syːn³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɵy̯³⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

/syːn³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɵy̯³⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

選賢與能 選賢與能#Chinese

选贤与能 选贤与能#Chinese

Synonym of 選賢與能／选贤与能 (“to choose and appoint people of talents, virtue, and ability”)


見死不救

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

цзяньсыбуцзю

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiu⁴¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu¹¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

/kiːn³³ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiu⁴¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kiu²¹/

/kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu¹¹/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹/

(figuratively) to neglect a person in danger and not assist him or her


老氣橫秋

ㄌㄠˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ hei̯³³ waːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ hei̯³³ waːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/


畏首畏尾

to beafraid of the head, terrified of the tail

ㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˇ

вэйшоувэйвэй

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³/

/wɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯³³ mei̯¹³/

to be afraid of the slightest thing; ever fearful and nervous; to be full of misgivings; to be overcautious


縮手縮腳

ㄙㄨㄛ ㄕㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/su̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sʊk̚⁵ kœːk̚³/

/sʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sʊk̚⁵ kœːk̚³/

許多人不承認社會主義社會還有矛盾，因而使得他們在社會矛盾面前縮手縮腳，處於被動地位。 [MSC, trad.]
许多人不承认社会主义社会还有矛盾，因而使得他们在社会矛盾面前缩手缩脚，处于被动地位。 [MSC, simp.]

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

Many do not admit that contradictions still exist in socialist society, with the result that they become irresolute and passive when confronted with social contradictions.

Xǔduō rén bù chéngrèn shèhuì zhǔyì shèhuì hái yǒu máodùn, yīn'ér shǐdé tāmen zài shèhuì máodùn miànqián suōshǒusuōjiǎo, chǔyú bèidòng dìwèi. [Pinyin]

(figurative) to be overcautious and constrained


不相伯仲

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ²²/


天公地道

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄠˋ

тяньгундидао

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² tou̯²²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² tou̯²²/

absolutely fair and reasonable; right and proper


論功行賞

ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄤˇ

луньгунсиншан

/lu̯ən⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

/lu̯ən⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

to reward people based on their merits and achievements


始終如一

ㄕˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

to remain the same all along; to be consistent throughout


手不釋卷

ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

шоубушицзюань

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kyːn³⁵/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kyːn³⁵/


剛正不阿

ㄍㄤ ㄓㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄜ

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ ɔː⁵⁵/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ ɔː⁵⁵/

to be upright and not flatter; to be righteous and not curry favor with others


出水芙蓉

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ fuː²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ fuː²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

(figurative) refreshingly and elegantly composed piece of literary work (poem, article, etc.), art or calligraphy


眾矢之的

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕˇ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

a common target of criticism or attack by everyone


反敗為勝

ㄈㄢˇ ㄅㄞˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄥˋ

фаньбайвэйшэн

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ paːi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ sɪŋ³³/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ paːi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ sɪŋ³³/

to turn the tables; to turn defeat into victory


絕口不提

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧˊ

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹/

to not say a word about a particular thing


茶餘飯後

ㄔㄚˊ ㄩˊ ㄈㄢˋ ㄏㄡˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ y³⁵ fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː²¹ jyː²¹ faːn²² hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ y³⁵ fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː²¹ jyː²¹ faːn²² hɐu̯²²/


彌天大謊

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄤˇ

митяньдахуан

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fɔːŋ⁵⁵/


荷槍實彈

ㄏㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄕˊ ㄉㄢˋ

/xɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/hɔː²² t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚² taːn²²⁻³⁵/

/xɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/hɔː²² t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚² taːn²²⁻³⁵/


粉飾太平

ㄈㄣˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

фэньшитайпин

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/fɐn³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/fɐn³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

to present a false picture of peace and cover up the ongoing turmoil in society


同年而語

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄩˇ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ niːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː¹³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ niːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː¹³/


暗通款曲

ㄢˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄢˇ ㄑㄩ

аньтункуаньцюй

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fuːn³⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fuːn³⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵/


近在咫尺

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄓˇ ㄔˇ

цзиньцзайчжичи

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

/kɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/


內憂外患

ㄋㄟˋ ㄧㄡ ㄨㄞˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

нэйювайхуань

/neɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²² waːn²²/

/neɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐu̯⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²² waːn²²/

(of a country) internal and external troubles; internal upheaval and external invasions


各懷鬼胎

ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄞ

гэхуайгуйтай

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ waːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ waːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

each person has his or her own (hidden) thoughts or intentions


欣喜若狂

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄨㄤˊ

синьсижокуан

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/


舉棋不定

ㄐㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/


運籌帷幄

ㄩㄣˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄛˋ

/yn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ⁵¹/

/wɐn²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ ɐk̚⁵/

/yn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ⁵¹/

/wɐn²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ ɐk̚⁵/

to devise strategies behind the frontline


船堅炮利

ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄆㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ

чуаньцзяньпаоли

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/syːn²¹ kiːn⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³³ lei̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/syːn²¹ kiːn⁵⁵ pʰaːu̯³³ lei̯²²/

to have a powerful navy (and by extension, military), with excellent weaponry


招兵買馬

ㄓㄠ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄇㄞˇ ㄇㄚˇ

чжаобинмайма

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ maː¹³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio³³ piɪŋ³³ mãi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ mã⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡siɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ mã⁴¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ maːi̯¹³ maː¹³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio³³ piɪŋ³³ mãi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ mã⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡sio⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³/

/t͡siɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ mãi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ mã⁴¹/

to raise or enlarge an army by recruiting soldiers and buying horses

to rally people or to enlarge an organization


歡喜若狂

ㄏㄨㄢ ㄒㄧˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄨㄤˊ

хуаньсижокуан

/xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/

/xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ jœːk̚² kʷʰɔːŋ²¹/

欣喜若狂 欣喜若狂#Chinese

Synonym of 欣喜若狂 (xīnxǐruòkuáng, “ecstatic; over the moon; overjoyed”)


政通人和

ㄓㄥˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄜˊ

чжэнтунжэньхэ

čžɛntunžɛnʹxɛ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ wɔː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ wɔː²¹/

From Memorial to Yueyang Tower (岳陽樓記) by 范仲淹 (Fan Zhongyan):
:
慶曆四年春，滕子京謫守巴陵郡。越明年，政通人和，百廢具興。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]庆历四年春，滕子京谪守巴陵郡。越明年，政通人和，百废具兴。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 1046, 范仲淹 (Fan Zhongyan), 《岳陽樓記》
Qìnglì sì nián chūn, Téng Zǐjīng zhéshǒu Bālíng jùn. Yuè míngnián, zhèngtōngrénhé, bǎifèijùxìng. [Pinyin]
In spring of the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Qingli, Teng Zijing was demoted and exiled to Baling County. After two years, governance is smooth, and the people are happy and harmonious; all the previously abandoned tasks are being undertaken.

^慶曆 四 年 春，^@滕 ^@子京 謫守 ^巴陵 郡。越 明年，政通人和，百廢具{jù}興。

to have smooth governance and a happy and harmonious society


禍國殃民

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄤ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/wɔː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jœːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/wɔː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jœːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

to bring disaster to both the country and the people


碩果僅存

ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

шогоцзиньцунь

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/sɛːk̚² kʷɔː³⁵ kɐn³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/sɛːk̚² kʷɔː³⁵ kɐn³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/


節節敗退

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

цзецзебайтуй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siːt̚³ paːi̯²² tʰɵy̯³³/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ tʰe²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ tʰe¹¹/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ tʰue²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ tʰue¹¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siːt̚³ paːi̯²² tʰɵy̯³³/

(figuratively) to lose (competitions) successively


槍林彈雨

ㄑㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄩˇ

цянлиньданьюй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ tän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ taːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ tän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ taːn²² jyː¹³/

showering bullets; fierce battles with intense gunfire


秘不發喪

ㄇㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚ ㄙㄤ

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

to not announce someone's (usually the emperor's) death


怒火中燒

ㄋㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄠ

/nu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/nou̯²² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵/

/nu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/nou̯²² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵/


舊調重彈

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄢˊ

цзюдяочунтань

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/kɐu̯²² tiːu̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰaːn²¹/

/kɐu̯²² tiːu̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰaːn²¹/


脫胎換骨

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄊㄞ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ

тотайхуаньгу

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰyːt̚³ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ wuːn²² kʷɐt̚⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰyːt̚³ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ wuːn²² kʷɐt̚⁵/

(figurative) to completely reform oneself


改弦更張

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄥ ㄓㄤ

гайсяньгэнчжан

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ kɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

The latter component has been attested as late as the Book of Han in a passage quoting verbatim from a letter by Dong Zhongshu to the Emperor Wu of Han [104 BCE].

to re-tune the strings or re-string the instrument

to reform or revamp (a system or policy)

Book of Han
Dong Zhongshu
Emperor Wu of Han


避而不談

ㄅㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄢˊ

/pi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

/pei̯²² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰaːm²¹/

/pi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

/pei̯²² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰaːm²¹/


大獲全勝

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕㄥˋ

дахоцюаньшэн

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² wɔːk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɪŋ³³/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² wɔːk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɪŋ³³/


改弦易轍

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄓㄜˊ

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄔㄜˋ

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²³⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/

/kai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²³⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴⁻³² tiɛt̚⁴/


迂迴曲折

ㄩ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄩ ㄓㄜˊ

юйхуэйцюйчжэ

/y⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/jyː⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹ kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

/y⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/jyː⁵⁵ wuːi̯²¹ kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

with many twists and turns; twisted; tortuous


曲折縈紆

ㄑㄩ ㄓㄜˊ ㄧㄥˊ ㄩ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ y⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ y⁵⁵/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵/


獲益良多

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄛ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/wɔːk̚² jɪk̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/wɔːk̚² jɪk̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/


大模大樣

ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ mu³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² jœːŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ mu³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² jœːŋ²²/


揚長而去

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄦˊ ㄑㄩˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰu²¹/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jiː²¹ hɵy̯³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰi²¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ kʰu²¹/


身敗名裂

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (身敗名裂):
* → Vietnamese: thân bại danh liệt (身敗名裂)

ㄕㄣ ㄅㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

шэньбайминле

/ʂən⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ paːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚²/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚⁴/

/sin³³ pai⁴¹⁻²² miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚²⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã¹³⁻²² liɛt̚¹²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻¹¹ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ liɛt̚⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻²¹ miã²³⁻³³ liɛt̚⁴/

/ʂən⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ paːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚²/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚⁴/

/sin³³ pai⁴¹⁻²² miã²⁴⁻²² liɛt̚²⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² pai²²⁻²¹ miã¹³⁻²² liɛt̚¹²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻¹¹ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ liɛt̚⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pai³³⁻²¹ miã²³⁻³³ liɛt̚⁴/

to lose one's status and have one's reputation destroyed


新瓶舊酒

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

синьпинцзюцзю

/ɕin⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

old wine in a new bottle
old wine in a new bottle

old wine in a new bottle; an existing concept offered again in a newer form


厭舊貪新

ㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ

яньцзютаньсинь

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jiːm³³ kɐu̯²² tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jiːm³³ kɐu̯²² tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


明辨是非

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

минбяньшифэй

/miŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ piːn²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ piːn²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

to know right from wrong; to distinguish between right and wrong


暢通無阻

ㄔㄤˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɔː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɔː³⁵/


急轉直下

ㄐㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄓˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

цзичжуаньчжися

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² haː²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ t͡syːn³⁵ t͡sɪk̚² haː²²/

take a turn for the worse
take a turn for the worse

to suddenly and rapidly worsen or deteriorate; to take a turn for the worse


力竭聲嘶

ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄥ ㄙ

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

聲嘶力竭 聲嘶力竭#Chinese

声嘶力竭 声嘶力竭#Chinese

Synonym of 聲嘶力竭／声嘶力竭 (shēngsīlìjié, “to shout oneself hoarse; to shout with all one's might”)


後患無窮

ㄏㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

хоухуаньуцюн

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² waːn²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² waːn²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

to have endless future troubles and calamities


扣人心弦

ㄎㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

коужэньсиньсянь

/kʰoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʰɐu̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/


見微知著

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟ ㄓ ㄓㄨˋ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓ ㄓㄨˋ

цзяньвэйчжичжу

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ mei̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ mei̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³/

to be able to tell the truth or general trend from a tiny phenomenon or early signs


明哲保身

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄣ

минчжэбаошэнь

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siːt̚³ pou̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siːt̚³ pou̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 260 (《詩經·大雅·烝民》):
:
既明且哲，以保其身。
夙夜匪解，以事一人。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jì míng qiě zhé, yǐ bǎo qí shēn.
Sùyè fěi xiè, yǐ shì yīrén. [Pinyin]
Intelligent is he and wise, Protecting his own person.
Never idle, day or night, In the service of the One man.

lang

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

zh-x

既 @明 且 @哲，以 @保 其 @身。
^夙夜匪懈\夙夜.匪.解{xiè}，以 事 一人。

to protect oneself above all other considerations; to place one's own interests at the foremost


狂妄自大

ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

куанванцзыда

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

egotistical; wildly arrogant; self-important


罪不可赦

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄜˋ

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɛː³³/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɛː³³/

to be gravely sinful and cannot be pardoned


略知一二

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/lœːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/lœːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/


死有餘辜

ㄙˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄍㄨ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ku⁵⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kuː⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ku⁵⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ kuː⁵⁵/

to be so gravely sinful that even death of the person is insufficient to pay for his or her crimes


三足鼎立

ㄙㄢ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˋ

саньцзудинли

/sän⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ lɐp̚²/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ laːp̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ lɐp̚²/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ laːp̚²/

中國在三國時代分裂為曹魏、孫吳和蜀漢三個政權，形成三足鼎立的局面。 [MSC, trad.]
中国在三国时代分裂为曹魏、孙吴和蜀汉三个政权，形成三足鼎立的局面。 [MSC, simp.]

During the Three Kingdoms, China was divided in the states of Wei, Wu and Shu, resulting in tripartite confrontation.

Zhōngguó zài sānguó shídài fēnliè wèi cáowèi, sūnwú hé shǔhàn sān ge zhèngquán, xíngchéng sānzúdǐnglì de júmiàn. [Pinyin]

to be in a situation of tripartite confrontation


紆尊降貴

ㄩ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

юйцзуньцзянгуй

/y⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kɔːŋ³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/y⁵⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː⁵⁵ t͡syːn⁵⁵ kɔːŋ³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

to condescend; to descend to a less dignified level and act humbly


以理服人

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ lei̯¹³ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ lei̯¹³ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/


通風報信

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

тунфэнбаосинь

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³ sɵn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³ sɵn³³/

to secretly pass on information to others; to tip somebody off


越俎代庖

ㄩㄝˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄆㄠˊ

/ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jyːt̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²² pʰaːu̯²¹/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jyːt̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²² pʰaːu̯²¹/

From Zhuangzi:
:
庖人雖不治庖，尸祝不越樽俎而代之矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]庖人虽不治庖，尸祝不越樽俎而代之矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE
Páorén suī bù zhìpáo, shīzhù bù yuè zūnzǔ ér dài zhī yǐ. [Pinyin]
Though the cook were not attending to his kitchen, the representative of the dead and the officer of prayer would not leave their cups and stands to take his place.

庖人 雖 不 治庖，尸祝 不 越 樽俎 而 代 之 矣。

(the priest) leave his cups and takes the place of the cook

to overstep one's bounds and meddle in other's affairs


不為所動

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ui¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³/


雷電交加

ㄌㄟˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄚ

лэйдяньцзяоцзя

/leɪ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯⁵⁵ tiːn²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

/leɪ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯⁵⁵ tiːn²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

thunder and lightning occur simultaneously or alternately


風馳電掣

ㄈㄥ ㄔˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄜˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

on the wings of the wind
on the wings of the wind

very swift; on the wings of the wind; at lightning speed


心狠手辣

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄣˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄌㄚˋ

синьхэньшоула

/ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐn³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ laːt̚²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐn³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ laːt̚²/


鑄成大錯

ㄓㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡syː³³ sɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡syː³³ sɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

to make a grave and irreversible mistake


好勇鬥狠

ㄏㄠˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄉㄡˋ ㄏㄣˇ

хаоюндоухэнь

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː³³ jʊŋ¹³ tɐu̯³³ hɐn³⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː³³ jʊŋ¹³ tɐu̯³³ hɐn³⁵/

From Mencius:
:
好勇鬥很，以危父母，五不孝也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]好勇斗很，以危父母，五不孝也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Hǎo yǒng dòu hěn, yǐ wēi fùmǔ, wǔ bùxiào yě. [Pinyin]
The fifth is being fond of bravery, fighting and quarrelling so as to endanger his parents.

好 勇 鬥 很，以 危 父母，五 不孝 也。

eager to demonstrate bravery and fight with others; bellicose


聲嘶力竭

ㄕㄥ ㄙ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³/

to shout oneself hoarse; to shout with all one's might


不懷好意

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ waːi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ jiː³³/

/pu⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ waːi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ jiː³³/


懷恨在心

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄏㄣˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

хуайхэньцзайсинь

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/waːi̯²¹ hɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/waːi̯²¹ hɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵/

to hold a grudge against; to harbor resentment towards


雖敗猶榮

ㄙㄨㄟ ㄅㄞˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

to experience a glorious defeat; to feel honored despite having been defeated


忠肝義膽

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄢ ㄧˋ ㄉㄢˇ

чжунганьидань

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² taːm³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² taːm³⁵/

loyal and righteous; faithful and virtuous


無言以對

ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

/u³⁵ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ tɵy̯³³/

/u³⁵ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ tɵy̯³³/

to be left speechless; to be unable to respond


盡忠職守

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓˊ ㄕㄡˇ

цзиньчжунчжишоу

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

to be faithful and dedicated to one's duties


眾叛親離

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄆㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˊ

чжунпаньциньли

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ puːn²² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ puːn²² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹/

(of a person) to be isolated and forsaken by everyone


少之又少

ㄕㄠˇ ㄓ ㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄠˇ

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² siːu̯³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² siːu̯³⁵/


降薪

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

to cut someone's pay; to reduce someone's salary


官商勾結

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄕㄤ ㄍㄡ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

гуаньшангоуцзе

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːt̚³/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːt̚³/

collusion between the government and businesses


當家花旦

ㄉㄤ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄉㄢˋ

данцзяхуадань

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tän⁵¹/

popular and leading actress; prima donna


生殺大權

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄚ ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

шэншадацюань

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/


吃一塹，長一智

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɛːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːm³³ t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

人們經過失敗之後，也就從失敗取得教訓，改正自己的思想使之適合於外界的規律性，人們就能變失敗為勝利，所謂「失敗者成功之母」，「吃一塹長一智」，就是這個道理。 [MSC, trad.]
人们经过失败之后，也就从失败取得教训，改正自己的思想使之适合于外界的规律性，人们就能变失败为胜利，所谓「失败者成功之母」，「吃一堑长一智」，就是这个道理。 [MSC, simp.]

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

After they fail, they draw their lessons, correct their ideas to make them correspond to the laws of the external world, and can thus turn failure into success; this is what is meant by “failure is the mother of success” and “a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit”.

Rénmen jīngguò shībài zhīhòu, yě jiù cóng shībài qǔdé jiàoxùn, gǎizhèng zìjǐ de sīxiǎng shǐ zhī shìhé yú wàijiè de guīlǜxìng, rénmen jiù néng biàn shībài wéi shènglì, suǒwèi “shībài zhě chénggōng zhī mǔ”, “chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì”, jiùshì zhège dàolǐ. [Pinyin]

a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit; wisdom grows out of experience


計上心來

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

цзишансиньлай

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐi̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐi̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/


眉頭一皺，計上心來

ㄇㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧ ㄓㄡˋ

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

jì shàng xīn lái [Phonetic:méitóu yí zhòu

мэйтоу и чжоу

цзи шан синь лай

/meɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

knit the brows and a stratagem comes to mind


眉頭一縱，計上心來

ㄇㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧ ㄗㄨㄥˋ

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

jì shàng xīn lái [Phonetic:méitóu yí zòng

мэйтоу и цзун

цзи шан синь лай

/meɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

眉頭一皺，計上心來 眉頭一皺，計上心來#Chinese

眉头一皱，计上心来 眉头一皱，计上心来#Chinese

Synonym of 眉頭一皺，計上心來／眉头一皱，计上心来 (méitóu yī zhòu, jì shàng xīn lái, “knit the brows and a stratagem comes to mind”)


自作主張

ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄨˇ ㄓㄤ

цзыцзочжучжан

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

to make decisions without consulting others beforehand


前功盡廢

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄈㄟˋ

цяньгунцзиньфэй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɐi̯³³/

前功盡棄 前功盡棄#Chinese

前功尽弃 前功尽弃#Chinese

Synonym of 前功盡棄／前功尽弃 (qiángōngjìnqì, “all previous achievements go down the drain; all the previous effort is wasted”)


移情別戀

ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

/i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ piːt̚² lyːn³⁵/

/i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ piːt̚² lyːn³⁵/

to turn one's back on one's lover and develop affection for another; to have a new sweetheart


身歷其境

ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

шэньлицицзин

/ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁵³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁵³/

工人們，農人們，全國被軍閥和外力壓迫的同胞們！二月七日長辛店和漢口的大慘殺，你們已經耳聞目見或身歷其境了。 [MSC, trad.]
工人们，农人们，全国被军阀和外力压迫的同胞们！二月七日长辛店和汉口的大惨杀，你们已经耳闻目见或身历其境了。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

Workers, peasants, fellow countrypeople who are oppressed by warlords and foreign powers! You might have heard about, seen, or even personally faced the massacre which took place in Changxindian and Hankou on 7 February.

Gōngrénmen, nóngrénmen, quánguó bèi jūnfá hé wàilì yāpò de tóngbāomen! Èr yuè qī rì Chángxīndiàn hé Hànkǒu de dàcǎnshā, nǐmen yǐjīng ěrwénmùjiàn huò shēnlìqíjìng le. [Pinyin]

身臨其境 身臨其境#Chinese

身临其境 身临其境#Chinese

Synonym of 身臨其境／身临其境 (shēnlínqíjìng, “to be personally on the scene”)


不見蹤影

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄥˇ

буцзяньцзунъин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

to disappear; to vanish; to be nowhere to be seen


耳聞目見

ㄦˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

эрвэньмуцзянь

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

From: 1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

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


迷途知返

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄓ ㄈㄢˇ

/mi³⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐi̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn³⁵/

/mi³⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐi̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn³⁵/

to become aware of one's errors and turn back from one's wrong path; to realize one's mistakes and correct oneself


方寸大亂

ㄈㄤ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

фанцуньдалуань

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ taːi̯²² lyːn²²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ taːi̯²² lyːn²²/

to be agitated; to be troubled and nervous


勢不兩立

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄌㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ lɐp̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ lɐp̚²/

irreconcilable; antagonistic and unable to coexist; at daggers drawn


一擁而上

ㄧ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/

(of a large crowd) to rush forward together


蜂擁而至

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

фэнъюнъэрчжи

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/


繩之於法

ㄕㄥˊ ㄓ ㄩˊ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

繩之以法 繩之以法#Chinese

绳之以法 绳之以法#Chinese

Synonym of 繩之以法／绳之以法 (shéngzhīyǐfǎ, “to punish according to law; to bring to justice”)


血本無歸

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ puːn³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ pun⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ puːn³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ pun⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

to lose one's shirt; to lose all of one's savings


蜂擁而上

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

фэнъюнъэршан

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

(of a large crowd) to rush forward together; to swarm


天下第一

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵/

number one in the world; peerless; unequaled


居心不良

ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

цзюйсиньбулян

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

to harbor bad intentions; to be malicious


手忙腳亂

ㄕㄡˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

шоуманцзяолуань

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

to act in an disorderly and flustered manner


兜口兜面

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯⁵⁵ miːn²²/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯⁵⁵ miːn²²/

(Cantonese) to one's face; directly towards someone


未卜先知

to already know without having performed divination

ㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓ

вэйбусяньчжи

/weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bue¹¹ pok̚²⁻⁴ sãĩ³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bue¹¹ pok̚²⁻⁴ sãĩ³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

to predict accurately; to foretell accurately


兜頭蓋臉

ㄉㄡ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

доутоугайлянь

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/


多才多藝

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²²/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²²/

to possess a great deal of different skills and talents


劈頭蓋臉

ㄆㄧ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

питоугайлянь

/pʰi⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɛːk̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/

/pʰi⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɛːk̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/


可有可無

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨˊ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/


人生苦短

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄎㄨˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

жэньшэнкудуань

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tyːn³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tyːn³⁵/


循環往復

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄈㄨˋ

сюньхуаньванфу

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ fʊk̚²/

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ fʊk̚²/

實踐、認識、再實踐、再認識，這種形式，循環往復以至無窮，而實踐和認識之每一循環的內容，都比較地進到了高一級的程度。 [MSC, trad.]
实践、认识、再实践、再认识，这种形式，循环往复以至无穷，而实践和认识之每一循环的内容，都比较地进到了高一级的程度。 [MSC, simp.]

This form repeats itself in endless cycles, and with each cycle the content of practice and knowledge rises to a higher level.

Shíjiàn, rènshi, zài shíjiàn, zài rènshi, zhè zhǒng xíngshì, xúnhuánwǎngfù yǐzhì wúqióng, ér shíjiàn hé rènshi zhī měi yī xúnhuán de nèiróng, dōu bǐjiào de jìndào le gāo yī jí de chéngdù. [Pinyin]


前所未料

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

цяньсовэйляо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

在這種情形之下，由於實踐中發現前所未料的情況，因而部分地改變思想、理論、計劃、方案的事是常有的，全部地改變的事也是有的。 [MSC, trad.]
在这种情形之下，由于实践中发现前所未料的情况，因而部分地改变思想、理论、计划、方案的事是常有的，全部地改变的事也是有的。 [MSC, simp.]

In such a situation, ideas, theories, plans or programmes are usually altered partially and sometimes even wholly, because of the discovery of unforeseen circumstances in the course of practice.

Zài zhè zhǒng qíngxíng zhī xià, yóuyú shíjiàn zhōng fāxiàn qiánsuǒwèiliào de qíngkuàng, yīn'ér bùfēn de gǎibiàn sīxiǎng, lǐlùn, jìhuà, fāng'àn de shì shì cháng yǒu de, quánbù de gǎibiàn de shì yě shì yǒu de. [Pinyin]


以管窺天

ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄊㄧㄢ

игуанькуйтянь

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ kuːn³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ kuːn³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to have narrow and superficial knowledge and views


為時未晚

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄢˇ

вэйшивэйвань

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ mei̯²² maːn¹³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ mei̯²² maːn¹³/


為時已晚

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄢˇ

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ jiː¹³ maːn¹³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ jiː¹³ maːn¹³/


歲月如梭

time moves as quickly as a weaver's shuttle

ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛ

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚² jyː²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚² jyː²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/


隨波逐流

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄛ ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ pɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² lɐu̯²¹/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ pɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² lɐu̯²¹/

(derogatory) to go with the flow; to swim with the tide; to act or behave the same way as the majority of others


供過於求

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄩˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ jyː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ jyː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

to have an oversupply; the supply exceeds the demand


三催四請

ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨㄟ ㄙˋ ㄑㄧㄥˇ

саньцуйсыцин

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵/


罪有應得

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄥ ㄉㄜˊ

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

to deserve one's punishment for one's crimes or bad behavior


大動肝火

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² tʊŋ²² kɔːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² tʊŋ²² kɔːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/


禮崩樂壞

ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄥ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄞˋ

либэнъюэхуай

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ pɐŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːk̚² waːi̯²²/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ pɐŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːk̚² waːi̯²²/

From the Analects, Book 17 (《論語·陽貨》):
:
宰我問：「三年之喪，期已久矣。君子三年不為禮，禮必壞；三年不為樂，樂必崩。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]宰我问：「三年之丧，期已久矣。君子三年不为礼，礼必坏；三年不为乐，乐必崩。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǎi Wǒ wèn: “Sān nián zhī sāng, qī yǐ jiǔ yǐ. Jūnzǐ sān nián bù wéi lǐ, lǐ bì huài; sān nián bù wéi yuè, yuè bì bēng....... [Pinyin]
Zai Wo asked about the three years' mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. "If the superior man abstains for three years from the observances of propriety, those observances will be quite lost. If for three years he abstains from music, music will be ruined. …

@^宰.^我 問：「三 年 之 喪{sāng}，期 已 久 矣。君子 三 年 不 為{wéi} 禮，@禮 必 @壞；三 年 不 為{wéi} 樂，@樂 必 @崩。……

(literally) feudal system collapses and rites and music deteriorate


又驚又喜

ㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˋ ㄒㄧˇ

/joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵/

to be pleasantly surprised; to be surprised and delighted


風狂雨驟

ㄈㄥ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄩˇ ㄓㄡˋ

ㄈㄥ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄩˇ ㄗㄡˋ

фэнкуанъюйчжоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

фэнкуанъюйцзоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/


食無定時

/sɪk̚² mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² siː²¹/

/sɪk̚² mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² siː²¹/

(Cantonese) to eat meals at irregular times; to have an irregular eating schedule


崢嶸歲月

ㄓㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ

чжэнжунсуйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡saːŋ⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡saːŋ⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/


護國佑民

ㄏㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/xu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/wuː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯²² mɐn²¹/

/xu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/wuː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯²² mɐn²¹/


萬劫不復

ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/maːn²² kiːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/ban³³⁻²¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/maːn²² kiːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/ban³³⁻²¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

萬劫不復的深淵／万劫不复的深渊 ― wànjiébùfù de shēnyuān

如果從奴隸生活中尋出「美」來，讚歎，撫摩，陶醉，那可簡直是萬劫不復的奴才了！ [MSC, trad.]
如果从奴隶生活中寻出「美」来，赞叹，抚摩，陶醉，那可简直是万劫不复的奴才了！ [MSC, simp.]
Rúguǒ cóng núlì shēnghuó zhōng xún chū “měi” lái, zàntàn, fǔmó, táozuì, nà kě jiǎnzhí shì wànjiébùfù de núcái le! [Pinyin]

1933, Lu Xun, “漫與”, in 南腔北調集, 同文書店, published 1934, page 198

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

to be doomed eternally; to be beyond redemption; to be never able to recover


旁敲側擊

ㄆㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄘㄜˋ ㄐㄧ

ㄆㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄘㄜˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

beat around the bush
beat around the bush

to express something indirectly by making oblique statements; to beat around the bush


打橫嚟講

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

(Cantonese) to use lame arguments and perverted logic; to not talk sense


後悔莫及

ㄏㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

хоухуэймоцзи

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/hio³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/hio³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/


從輕發落

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄈㄚ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ loʔ²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁵ loʔ¹²¹/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lɤʔ⁴/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ loʔ²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lɤʔ⁴/


片面之詞

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄘˊ

пяньмяньчжицы

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/


後起之秀

ㄏㄡˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ siu⁴¹/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au³³⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu¹¹/

/au³³⁻²¹ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ siu⁴¹/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au³³⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu¹¹/

/au³³⁻²¹ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu²¹/

a young rising star; a young and promising talent


不以為恥

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔˇ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


無日無之

/u³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

not a single day without a particular thing happening


衣冠梟獍

ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

игуаньсяоцзин

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/


無暝無日

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mi²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ mĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/bo¹³⁻²² mɛ̃¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² d͡zit̚¹²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ mẽ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ mi²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ d͡zit̚⁴³/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mi²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ mĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/bo¹³⁻²² mɛ̃¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² d͡zit̚¹²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ mẽ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ mi²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ d͡zit̚⁴³/

(Hokkien) day and night (doing a task unceasingly)


三言兩語

ㄙㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄩˇ

саньяньлянъюй

/sän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ jyː¹³/

/sæ̃¹¹ ie¹¹ liɒ̃⁵³⁻¹¹ y⁵³/

/san³³ i̯ẽ¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ y⁴¹/

/sän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ jyː¹³/

/sæ̃¹¹ ie¹¹ liɒ̃⁵³⁻¹¹ y⁵³/

/san³³ i̯ẽ¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ y⁴¹/


倒果為因

ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄣ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

to reverse the cause and the effect; to reverse causality


通宵達旦

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄉㄚˊ ㄉㄢˋ

тунсяодадань

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ taːt̚² taːn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ taːt̚² taːn³³/


言之過早

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄠˇ

яньчжигоцзао

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sa⁵³/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sa⁵³/

too soon to tell; premature to speak about something


必經之路

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄌㄨˋ

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²²/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²²/

the route that one must take to reach a particular destination


病入膏肓

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄨㄤ

бинжугаохуан

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² jɐp̚² kou̯⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² jɐp̚² kou̯⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Duke Huan of Qin
Duke Jing of Jin (Ju)
Qin (state)
zh:醫緩

:
公疾病，求醫於秦，秦伯使醫緩為之。未至，公夢疾為二豎子，曰：「彼良醫也，懼傷我焉逃之？」其一曰：「居肓之上、膏之下，若我何？」醫至，曰：「疾不可為也，在肓之上，膏之下，攻之不可，達之不及，藥不至焉，不可為也。」公曰：「良醫也。」厚為之禮而歸之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]公疾病，求医于秦，秦伯使医缓为之。未至，公梦疾为二竖子，曰：「彼良医也，惧伤我焉逃之？」其一曰：「居肓之上、膏之下，若我何？」医至，曰：「疾不可为也，在肓之上，膏之下，攻之不可，达之不及，药不至焉，不可为也。」公曰：「良医也。」厚为之礼而归之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Gōng jíbìng, qiúyī yú qín, qín bó shǐ yī huǎn wèi zhī. Wèi zhì, gōng mèng jí wèi èr shùzǐ, yuē: “Bǐ liáng yī yě, jù shāng wǒ yān táo zhī?” Qí yī yuē: “Jū huāng zhī shàng, gāo zhī xià, ruò wǒ hé?” Yī zhì, yuē: “Jí bùkě wèi yě, zài huāng zhī shàng, gāo zhī xià, gōng zhī bù kě, dá zhī bù jí, yào bù zhì yān, bùkě wèi yě.” Gōng yuē: “Liáng yī yě.” Hòu wèi zhī lǐ ér guī zhī. [Pinyin]
Duke Jing of Jin was sick. He tried to find a doctor in Qin. The Count of Qin (Duke Huan of Qin) sent a doctor called Huan to cure him. Before Doctor Huan arrived, Duke Jing had a dream in which his disease appeared as two children. One of them said, "He's a good doctor. I'm afraid that he will harm us. Where should we hide ourselves?" The other said, "Let's go to the fat region between the heart and the diaphragm. Then he can't get rid of us." When Doctor Huan arrived, he said, "This disease can't be cured. It's at the fat region between the heart and the diaphragm. Neither medicine nor acupuncture would be effective, so it can't be cured." Duke Jing replied, "You're a good doctor". He then offered generous gifts to Doctor Huan and saw him out.

公 疾病 ， 求醫 於 秦 ， 秦 伯 使 醫 @緩 為 之。 未 至 ， 公 夢 疾 為 二 豎子 ， 曰 ：「 彼 良 醫 也 ， 懼 傷 我 焉 逃 之 ？ 」 其 一 曰 ：「 居 肓 之 上 、 膏 之 下 ， 若 我 何 ？」 醫 至 ， 曰 ：「 疾 不可 為 也 ， 在 肓 之 上 ， 膏 之 下 ， 攻 之 不 可 ， 達 之 不 及 ， 藥 不 至 焉 ， 不可 為 也 。」 公 曰 ：「 良 醫 也 。」 厚 為 之 禮 而 歸 之 。

有病就要及早求醫，不要等到病入膏肓。 [MSC, trad.]
有病就要及早求医，不要等到病入膏肓。 [MSC, simp.]

Seek medical care if you have symptoms, don't wait until it's too late to cure.

Yǒu bìng jiù yào jízǎo qiúyī, bùyào děng dào bìngrùgāohuāng. [Pinyin]

to be incurable as one is critically ill

這家公司的財政狀況已經病入膏肓。 [MSC, trad.]
这家公司的财政状况已经病入膏肓。 [MSC, simp.]

The financial situation of this company is hopeless.

Zhè jiā gōngsī de cáizhèng zhuàngkuàng yǐjīng bìngrùgāohuāng. [Pinyin]

(figuratively) to be hopeless as the situation has gone too bad


令人咋舌

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕㄜˊ

линжэньцзэшэ

linžɛnʹczɛšɛ

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ t͡saː³³ siːt̚³/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ t͡saː³³ siːt̚³/

to leave people speechless with fear or surprise


戕害不辜

ㄑㄧㄤ ㄏㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨ

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ hɔːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ hɔːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵/


飲飽食醉

to be full from drinking and drunk from eating

/jɐm³⁵ paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³³/

/jɐm³⁵ paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³³/

(Cantonese) to be satisfied after having a lot to eat and drink; to get one's fill


不能自已

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗˋ ㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² jiː¹³/

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² jiː¹³/

to be unable to control one's intense emotions


若隱若現

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jɐn³⁵ jœːk̚² jiːn²²/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jɐn³⁵ jœːk̚² jiːn²²/


模糊不清

ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ wuː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ wuː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

(literally and figuratively) blurry; vague; obscure


木已成舟

the wood has already been made into a boat

ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄡ

/mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/


寡廉鮮恥

ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄔˇ

гуаляньсяньчи

/ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷaː³⁵ liːm²¹ siːn³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/kʷaː³⁵ liːm²¹ siːn³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


十萬火急

ㄕˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wän⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɐp̚² maːn²² fɔː³⁵ kɐp̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wän⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɐp̚² maːn²² fɔː³⁵ kɐp̚⁵/


時移世易

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː²¹ jiː²¹ sɐi̯³³ jɪk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː²¹ jiː²¹ sɐi̯³³ jɪk̚²/

times have changed; things have changed and are now different than they used to be


功德無量

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ liɔŋ³³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² liɔŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɔŋ³³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ liɔŋ³³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² liɔŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɔŋ³³/

(of deeds) great; of boundless beneficence; to do immeasurable good


語重心長

ㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄤˊ

юйчжунсиньчан

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴/


呱呱墮地

ㄍㄨ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ

ㄨㄚ ㄨㄚ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

呱呱墜地 呱呱墜地#Chinese

呱呱坠地 呱呱坠地#Chinese

Synonym of 呱呱墜地／呱呱坠地 (gūgūzhuìdì, “(of a baby) to be born”)


呱呱墜地

ㄍㄨ ㄍㄨ ㄓㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧˋ

ㄨㄚ ㄨㄚ ㄓㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/


先睹為快

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

сяньдувэйкуай

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

to be the first to witness something and regard such action as a pleasure


衛道之士

ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓ ㄕˋ

/weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²² tou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²² tou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

(sometimes derogatory) people who defend a certain religion, doctrine, orthodoxy or traditional principles


自愧弗如

ㄗˋ ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯³³ fɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯³³ fɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

自愧不如 自愧不如#Chinese

Synonym of 自愧不如 (zìkuì-bùrú, “to be ashamed of not being as good as someone else”)


孤芳自賞

ㄍㄨ ㄈㄤ ㄗˋ ㄕㄤˇ

/ku⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

to be conceited and indulge in self-admiration


親痛仇快

ㄑㄧㄣ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

циньтунчоукуай

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ sɐu̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ sɐu̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

全體共產黨員、廣大人民群眾和各界愛國人士，一定要響應黨和政府的號召，明辨是非，顧全大局，迅速行動起來，挺身而出與製造暴亂的極少數人作堅決的鬥爭，而不要做任何親痛仇快的事情。 [MSC, trad.]
全体共产党员、广大人民群众和各界爱国人士，一定要响应党和政府的号召，明辨是非，顾全大局，迅速行动起来，挺身而出与制造暴乱的极少数人作坚决的斗争，而不要做任何亲痛仇快的事情。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1989 June 4, 《中共中央、国务院告全体共产党员和全国人民书》, in People's Daily, →ISSN, page 1

Quántǐ gòngchǎndǎngyuán, guǎngdà rénmín qúnzhòng hé gèjiè àiguó rénshì, yīdìng yào xiǎngyìng Dǎng hé zhèngfǔ de hàozhào, míngbiànshìfēi, gùquán dàjú, xùnsù xíngdòng qǐlái, tǐngshēn'érchū yǔ zhìzào bàoluàn de jíshàoshù rén zuò jiānjué de dòuzhēng, ér bùyào zuò rènhé qīntòngchóukuài de shìqíng. [Pinyin]

親者痛，仇者快 親者痛，仇者快#Chinese

亲者痛，仇者快 亲者痛，仇者快#Chinese

Synonym of 親者痛，仇者快／亲者痛，仇者快 (qīn zhě tòng, chóu zhě kuài, “that which saddens people close to oneself and brings joy to one's enemies (should not be done)”)


沉冤得雪

ㄔㄣˊ ㄩㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

чэньюаньдэсюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ syːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ syːt̚³/

沉冤昭雪 沉冤昭雪#Chinese

Synonym of 沉冤昭雪 (chényuānzhāoxuě, “gross injustice or grievances redressed”)


如獲至寶

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄠˇ

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ wɔːk̚² t͡siː³³ pou̯³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ wɔːk̚² t͡siː³³ pou̯³⁵/


可喜可賀

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄜˋ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔː²²/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔː²²/


有驚無險

ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄢˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hiːm³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hiːm³⁵/

to have had only frightening moments but no dangers; to be successful at the end though having encountered obstacles


飽讀詩書

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕ ㄕㄨ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ tʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ tʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵/


和顏悅色

ㄏㄜˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/xɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ ŋaːn²¹ jyːt̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/hua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zuak̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/

/xɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ ŋaːn²¹ jyːt̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/hua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zuak̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/


躊躇滿志

ㄔㄡˊ ㄔㄨˊ ㄇㄢˇ ㄓˋ

чоучуманьчжи

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyː²¹ muːn¹³ t͡siː³³/

/tʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mũã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡si²¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyː²¹ muːn¹³ t͡siː³³/

/tʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mũã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡si²¹³/

提刀而立，為之四顧，為之躊躇滿志，善刀而藏之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]提刀而立，为之四顾，为之踌躇满志，善刀而藏之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Tí dāo ér lì, wèizhī sìgù, wèizhī chóuchú mǎnzhì, shàn dāo ér cáng zhī. [Pinyin]
Then standing up with the knife in my hand, I look all round, and in a leisurely manner, with an air of satisfaction, wipe it clean, and put it in its sheath.

提 刀 而 立，為-之 四-顧，為-之 躊躇.滿志，善 刀 而 藏 之。


長篇大論

ㄔㄤˊ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

чанпяньдалунь

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵn²²/


勞苦功高

ㄌㄠˊ ㄎㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fuː³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fuː³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

to have worked hard and made enormous contributions


屈指一算

ㄑㄩ ㄓˇ ㄧ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

цюйчжиисуань

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ syːn³³/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ syːn³³/


博覽群書

ㄅㄛˊ ㄌㄢˇ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄕㄨ

боланьцюньшу

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ laːm¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ laːm¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

to be well-read; to have read extensively and be learned


客死他鄉

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄊㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/


客死異鄉

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ jiː²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ jiː²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

客死他鄉 客死他鄉#Chinese

客死他乡 客死他乡#Chinese

Synonym of 客死他鄉／客死他乡 (kèsǐtāxiāng, “to die in a foreign land”)


蔚為奇觀

ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄢ

вэйвэйцигуань

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵/


朝氣勃勃

ㄓㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/


生氣勃勃

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


深藏不露

ㄕㄣ ㄘㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄘㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ

шэньцанбулоу

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

hide one's light under a bushel
hide one's light under a bushel

to hide one's light under a bushel; to conceal one's talents


四處漂泊

ㄙˋ ㄔㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄅㄛˊ

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ t͡sʰyː³³ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pɔːk̚²/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ t͡sʰyː³³ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pɔːk̚²/

to rove; to wander around; to roam around


居無定所

ㄐㄩ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² sɔː³⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² sɔː³⁵/


拍案叫絕

ㄆㄞ ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

пайаньцзяоцзюэ

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kiːu̯³³ t͡syːt̚²/

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kiːu̯³³ t͡syːt̚²/


生殺予奪

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄚ ㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

(to hold power over the) life, death, reward and punishment (of others)


話中有話

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

хуачжунъюхуа

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/waː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ waː²²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/waː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ waː²²/

there are unspoken implications in one's words


烈日當空

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄖˋ ㄉㄤ ㄎㄨㄥ

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² jɐt̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² jɐt̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/


地大物博

ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˋ ㄅㄛˊ

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tei̯²² taːi̯²² mɐt̚² pɔːk̚³/

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tei̯²² taːi̯²² mɐt̚² pɔːk̚³/


零碎不全

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

линсуйбуцюань

/liŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/liŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

只有感覺的材料十分豐富（不是零碎不全）和合於實際（不是錯覺），才能根據這樣的材料造出正確的概念和論理來。 [MSC, trad.]
只有感觉的材料十分丰富（不是零碎不全）和合于实际（不是错觉），才能根据这样的材料造出正确的概念和论理来。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhǐyǒu gǎnjué de cáiliào shífēn fēngfù (bùshì língsuìbùquán) hé héyú shíjì (bùshì cuòjué), cái néng gēnjù zhèyàng de cáiliào zàochū zhèngquè de gàiniàn hé lùnlǐ lái. [Pinyin]

It is only when the data of perception are very rich (not fragmentary) and correspond to reality (are not illusory) that they can be the basis for forming correct concepts and theories.


閉目塞聽

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄜˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ mʊk̚² sɐk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ mʊk̚² sɐk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

一個閉目塞聽、同客觀外界根本絕緣的人，是無所謂認識的。 [MSC, trad.]
一个闭目塞听、同客观外界根本绝缘的人，是无所谓认识的。 [MSC, simp.]

For a person who shuts their eyes, stops their ears and totally cuts themselves off from the objective world there can be no such thing as knowledge.

Yī gè bìmùsètīng, tóng kèguān wàijiè gēnběn juéyuán de rén, shì wúsuǒwèi rènshi de. [Pinyin]


由表及裡

ㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/joʊ̯³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²¹ piːu̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² lɵy̯¹³/

/jɐu̯²¹ piːu̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² lɵy̯¹³/

要完全地反映整個的事物，反映事物的本質，反映事物的內部規律性，就必須經過思考作用，將豐富的感覺材料加以去粗取精、去偽存真、由此及彼、由表及裡的改造製作工夫，造成概念和理論的系統，就必須從感性認識躍進到理性認識。 [MSC, trad.]
要完全地反映整个的事物，反映事物的本质，反映事物的内部规律性，就必须经过思考作用，将丰富的感觉材料加以去粗取精、去伪存真、由此及彼、由表及里的改造制作工夫，造成概念和理论的系统，就必须从感性认识跃进到理性认识。 [MSC, simp.]

Fully to reflect a thing in its totality, to reflect its essence, to reflect its inherent laws, it is necessary through the exercise of thought to reconstruct the rich data of sense perception, discarding the dross and selecting the essential, eliminating the false and retaining the true, proceeding from the one to the other and from the outside to the inside, in order to form a system of concepts and theories—it is necessary to make a leap from perceptual to rational knowledge.

Yào wánquán de fǎnyìng zhěnggè de shìwù, fǎnyìng shìwù de běnzhì, fǎnyìng shìwù de nèibù guīlǜxìng, jiù bìxū jīngguò sīkǎo zuòyòng, jiāng fēngfù de gǎnjué cáiliào jiāyǐ qùcūqǔjīng, qùwěicúnzhēn, yóucǐjíbǐ, yóubiǎojílǐ de gǎizào zhìzuò gōngfu, zàochéng gàiniàn hé lǐlùn de xìtǒng, jiù bìxū cóng gǎnxìng rènshi yuèjìn dào lǐxìng rènshi. [Pinyin]

from the outside to the inside; from the superficial to the profound; from outward appearance to inner essence


由此及彼

ㄧㄡˊ ㄘˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄧˇ

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


向壁虛造

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄩ ㄗㄠˋ

сянбисюйцзао

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

From the preface to the Shuowen Jiezi by Xu Shen.

向壁虚造
嚮壁虛造
鄉壁虛造

向壁虛構 向壁虛構#Chinese

向壁虚构 向壁虚构#Chinese

Synonym of 向壁虛構／向壁虚构 (xiàngbìxūgòu, “to make up out of one's head; to fabricate”)


向壁虛構

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄡˋ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

我對平劇並非內行，但以上的意見也絕非向壁虛構，有暇打算對戲劇問題另寫專文討論。 [MSC, trad.]
我对平剧并非内行，但以上的意见也绝非向壁虚构，有暇打算对戏剧问题另写专文讨论。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1941, 王實味 (Wang Shiwei), 《文藝民族形式問題上的舊錯誤與新偏向》, quoted from the Marxists Internet Archive

I am not an expert in Peking Opera, but the opinions above are by no means groundless fabrication. I plan to write a special article on drama when I have time.

Wǒ duì píngjù bìngfēi nèiháng, dàn yǐshàng de yìjiàn yě juéfēi xiàngbìxūgòu, yǒu xiá dǎsuàn duì xìjù wèntí lìng xiě zhuānwén tǎolùn. [Pinyin]

to make up out of one's head; to fabricate; to imagine without ground


去偽存真

去伪存真
去僞存真
去僞存眞

ㄑㄩˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄣ

ㄑㄩˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄣ

цюйвэйцуньчжэнь

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ ŋɐi̯²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ ŋɐi̯²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

to discard the false and retain the true; to sift the true from the false


去粗取精

ㄑㄩˋ ㄘㄨ ㄑㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

цюйцуцюйцзин

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to discard the dross and select the essential


艱苦卓絕

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

цзянькучжоцзюэ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

黨有幾十萬黨員，他們在領導人民，向著敵人作艱苦卓絕的鬥爭。 [MSC, trad.]
党有几十万党员，他们在领导人民，向着敌人作艰苦卓绝的斗争。 [MSC, simp.]

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

The Party has several hundred thousand members who are leading the people in extremely hard and bitter struggles against the enemy.

Dǎng yǒu jǐshíwàn dǎngyuán, tāmen zài lǐngdǎo rénmín, xiàngzhe dírén zuò jiānkǔzhuójué de dòuzhēng. [Pinyin]


暢行無阻

ㄔㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

鏟除這兩方面的禍根，才能使黨在團結全黨同志和團結全國人民的偉大事業中暢行無阻。 [MSC, trad.]
铲除这两方面的祸根，才能使党在团结全党同志和团结全国人民的伟大事业中畅行无阻。 [MSC, simp.]

Only by uprooting this evil in both its aspects can the Party advance unimpeded in its great task of achieving unity among all Party comrades and among all the people of our country.

Chǎnchú zhè liǎng fāngmiàn de huògēn, cái néng shǐ Dǎng zài tuánjié quándǎng tóngzhì hé tuánjié quánguó rénmín de wěidà shìyè zhōng chàngxíngwúzǔ. [Pinyin]

to meet no obstacle wherever one goes; to proceed without hindrance


黔驢之技

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄩˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньлюйчжицзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯²²/

zh-l

黔驢技窮／黔驴技穷 (qiánlǘjìqióng)

tricks of the donkey in the prefecture of Qian


自作多情

ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴/

(in general) to indulge in one's own wishful thinking; to flatter oneself


真心實意

ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

чжэньсиньшии

čžɛnʹsinʹšii

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

同志們，真正的銅牆鐵壁是什麼？是群眾，是千百萬真心實意地擁護革命的群眾。 [MSC, trad.]
同志们，真正的铜墙铁壁是什么？是群众，是千百万真心实意地拥护革命的群众。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1934, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《關心群眾生活，注意工作方法》 (Be Concerned with the Well-Being of the Masses, Pay Attention to Methods of Work), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on the Foreign Language Press edition

Comrades! What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution.

Tóngzhìmen, zhēnzhèng de tóngqiángtiěbì shì shénme? Shì qúnzhòng, shì qiānbǎiwàn zhēnxīnshíyì de yōnghù gémìng de qúnzhòng. [Pinyin]

from the bottom of one's heart
from the bottom of one's heart

genuine and sincere; from the bottom of one's heart; in real earnest


包醫百病

ㄅㄠ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄧㄥˋ

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹/

直到現在，還有不少的人，把馬克思列寧主義書本上的某些個別字句看作現成的靈丹聖藥，似乎只要得了它，就可以不費氣力地包醫百病。 [MSC, trad.]
直到现在，还有不少的人，把马克思列宁主义书本上的某些个别字句看作现成的灵丹圣药，似乎只要得了它，就可以不费气力地包医百病。 [MSC, simp.]

Even now, there are not a few people who still regard odd quotations from Marxist-Leninist works as a ready-made panacea which, once acquired, can easily cure all maladies.

Zhídào xiànzài, háiyǒu bùshǎo de rén, bǎ Mǎkèsī-Lièníng zhǔyì shūběn shàng de mǒuxiē gèbié zìjù kànzuò xiànchéng de língdānshèngyào, sìhū zhǐyào dé le tā, jiù kěyǐ bù fèi qìlì de bāoyībǎibìng. [Pinyin]

包治百病 包治百病#Chinese

Synonym of 包治百病 (bāozhìbǎibìng, “guaranteed to cure all illnesses; cure-all”)


靈丹聖藥

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄢ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ

линданьшэнъяо

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

靈丹妙藥 靈丹妙藥#Chinese

灵丹妙药 灵丹妙药#Chinese

Synonym of 靈丹妙藥／灵丹妙药 (língdānmiàoyào, “miracle cure; wonder pill; panacea”)


造謠中傷

ㄗㄠˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄤ

цзаояочжуншан

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

to fabricate rumors to slander others; to spread slanderous rumors


吹吹拍拍

ㄔㄨㄟ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄆㄞ ㄆㄞ

чуйчуйпайпай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ pʰaːk̚³/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ pʰaːk̚³/

為了這些，就要拉攏一些人，排擠一些人，在同志中吹吹拍拍，拉拉扯扯，把資產階級政黨的庸俗作風也搬進共產黨裡來了。 [MSC, trad.]
为了这些，就要拉拢一些人，排挤一些人，在同志中吹吹拍拍，拉拉扯扯，把资产阶级政党的庸俗作风也搬进共产党里来了。 [MSC, simp.]

With this aim, they draw some people in, push others out and resort to boasting, flattery and touting among the comrades, thus importing the vulgar style of the bourgeois political parties into the Communist Party.

Wèile zhèxiē, jiù yào lālǒng yīxiē rén, páijǐ yīxiē rén, zài tóngzhì zhōng chuīchuīpāipāi, lālāchěchě, bǎ zīchǎn jiējí zhèngdǎng de yōngsú zuòfēng yě bānjìn Gòngchǎndǎng lǐ lái le. [Pinyin]


拉拉扯扯

ㄌㄚ ㄌㄚ ㄔㄜˇ ㄔㄜˇ

/lä⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/laːi̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵/

/lä⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/laːi̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵/


克己復禮

ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/haːk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/haːk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

From the Analects, Book 12 (《論語·顏淵》):
:
顏淵問仁。子曰：「克己復禮為仁。一日克己復禮，天下歸仁焉。為仁由己，而由人乎哉？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]颜渊问仁。子曰：「克己复礼为仁。一日克己复礼，天下归仁焉。为仁由己，而由人乎哉？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yán Yuān wèn rén. Zǐyuē: “Kè jǐ fù lǐ wèi rén. Yīrì kè jǐ fù lǐ, tiānxià guī rén yān. Wéi rén yóu jǐ, ér yóu rén hū zāi?” [Pinyin]
Yan Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?"

zh-x

@^顏.^淵 問 仁。^子曰：「克.己.復.禮 為 仁。一日 克.己.復.禮，天下 歸 仁 焉。為{wéi} 仁 由 己，而 由 人 乎 哉？」

to subdue oneself and return to propriety


以德報德

ㄧˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):
:
或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Huòyuē: “Yǐ dé bào yuàn, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Héyǐ bàodé? Yǐ zhí bào yuàn, yǐ dé bào dé.” [Pinyin]
Some one said, "What do you say concerning the principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness?" The Master said, "With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness."

或曰：「以.德.報.怨，何如？」子 曰：「何以 報德？以.直.報.怨，以.德.報.德。」


以直報怨

ㄧˇ ㄓˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩㄢˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² pou̯³³ jyːn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² pou̯³³ jyːn³³/


乍暖還寒

ㄓㄚˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄢˊ

чжануаньхуаньхань

/ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ xän³⁵/

/t͡saː³³ nyːn¹³ waːn²¹ hɔːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ xän³⁵/

/t͡saː³³ nyːn¹³ waːn²¹ hɔːn²¹/

乍暖還寒時候，最難將息。 [Ci, trad.]
乍暖还寒时候，最难将息。 [Ci, simp.]

Zhànuǎnháihán shíhòu, zuì nán jiāngxī. [Pinyin]

(of weather) with temperatures fluctuating between warm and cold


時日無多

ㄕˊ ㄖˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄛ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

to have a limited amount of time remaining (until a deadline, etc)


驢年馬月

ㄌㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄩㄝˋ

/ly³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

ㄌㄩˊㄦ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄩㄝˋ

люйрняньмаюэ

/lyə̯ɻ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²¹ niːn²¹ maː¹³ jyːt̚²/

/ly³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lyə̯ɻ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²¹ niːn²¹ maː¹³ jyːt̚²/

time that will never come; impossible date; the remote future; God knows when; an unknown and long time; donkey's years


未嘗不可

ㄨㄟˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mei̯²² sœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mei̯²² sœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/


博文約禮

ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄩㄝ ㄌㄧˇ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ jœːk̚³ lɐi̯¹³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ jœːk̚³ lɐi̯¹³/

From the Analects, Book 6 (《論語·雍也》):
:
子曰：「君子博學於文，約之以禮，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「君子博学于文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ bóxué yú wén, yuē zhī yǐ lǐ, yì kěyǐ fú pàn yǐ fū!” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right."
Also Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
:
夫子循循然善誘人，博我以文，約我以禮。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫子循循然善诱人，博我以文，约我以礼。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Fūzǐ xúnxúnrán shàn yòu rén, bó wǒ yǐ wén, yuē wǒ yǐ lǐ. [Pinyin]
The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlarged my mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.

子曰：「君子 博學 於 @文，@約 之 以 @禮，亦 可以 弗 畔 矣 夫！」

夫子 循-循-然 善 誘 人，@博 我 以 @文，@約 我 以 @禮。

to extensively study texts and restrain oneself with propriety


諄諄告誡

ㄓㄨㄣ ㄓㄨㄣ ㄍㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

чжуньчжуньгаоцзе

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

馬克思、恩格斯、列寧、斯大林給了我們這樣的根據嗎？沒有。相反地，他們總是諄諄告誡我們，要密切聯繫群眾，而不要脫離群眾。 [MSC, trad.]
马克思、恩格斯、列宁、斯大林给了我们这样的根据吗？没有。相反地，他们总是谆谆告诫我们，要密切联系群众，而不要脱离群众。 [MSC, simp.]

Have Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin given us any grounds? They have not. On the contrary, they have always earnestly enjoined us to form close ties with the masses and not divorce ourselves from them.

Mǎkèsī, Ēngésī, Lièníng, Sīdàlín gěi le wǒmen zhèyàng de gēnjù ma? Méiyǒu. Xiāngfǎn de, tāmen zǒngshì zhūnzhūngàojiè wǒmen, yào mìqiè liánxì qúnzhòng, ér bùyào tuōlí qúnzhòng. [Pinyin]

to tirelessly counsel; to admonish repeatedly


以鄰為壑

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄜˋ

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²¹ wɐi̯²² kʰɔːk̚³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²¹ wɐi̯²² kʰɔːk̚³/

From Mencius (《孟子·告子下》):
禹之治水，水之道也。是故禹以四海為壑，今吾子以鄰國為壑。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]禹之治水，水之道也。是故禹以四海为壑，今吾子以邻国为壑。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yǔ zhī zhìshuǐ, shuǐ zhī dào yě. Shìgù Yǔ yǐ sìhǎi wéi hè, jīn wúzǐ yǐ línguó wéi hè. [Pinyin]
Yu's regulation of the waters was according to the laws of water. He therefore made the four seas their receptacle, while you make the neighbouring States their receptacle.

^禹 之 治水，水 之 道 也。是故 ^禹 以 四海 為{wéi} 壑，今 吾子 @以 鄰國 @為{wéi} @壑。

use the neighbour's field as an outlet for one's overflow

誰要是對別人的困難不管，別人要調他所屬的幹部不給，或以壞的送人，「以鄰為壑」，全不為別部、別地、別人想一想，這樣的人就叫做本位主義者，這就是完全失掉了共產主義的精神。 [MSC, trad.]
谁要是对别人的困难不管，别人要调他所属的干部不给，或以坏的送人，「以邻为壑」，全不为别部、别地、别人想一想，这样的人就叫做本位主义者，这就是完全失掉了共产主义的精神。 [MSC, simp.]

Whoever is indifferent to the difficulties of others, refuses to transfer cadres to other units on request, or releases only the inferior ones, "using the neighbour's field as an outlet for their overflow", and does not give the slightest consideration to other departments, localities or people—such a person is a selfish departmentalist who has entirely lost the spirit of communism.

Shéi yàoshi duì biérén de kùnnán bù guǎn, biérén yào diào tā suǒshǔ de gànbù bù gěi, huò yǐ huài de sòng rén, “yǐlínwéihè”, quán bù wèi biébù, biédì, biérén xiǎng yi xiǎng, zhèyàng de rén jiù jiàozuò běnwèizhǔyìzhě, zhè jiùshì wánquán shīdiào le gòngchǎnzhǔyì de jīngshén. [Pinyin]

(figuratively) to benefit oneself at others' expense


劍走偏鋒

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ

цзяньцзоупяньфэн

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(martial arts) to use a sword with fast, flexible and unexpected movements


羊腸小道

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄠˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ tou̯²²/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ tou̯²²/


作賊心虛

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩ

цзоцзэйсиньсюй

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

to feel anxious because one is guilty and has committed wrongdoings


日理萬機

ㄖˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

to deal with numerous matters daily; to be very busy


歷久不衰

ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨㄞ

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/


擇善固執

ㄗㄜˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓˊ

цзэшаньгучжи

/t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡saːk̚² siːn²² kuː³³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡saːk̚² siːn²² kuː³³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

From the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) in the Book of Rites:
:
誠之者，擇善而固執之者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]诚之者，择善而固执之者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Chéng zhī zhě, zé shàn ér gùzhí zhī zhě yě. [Pinyin]
He who attains to sincerity is he who chooses what is good, and firmly holds it fast.

誠 之 者，@擇.善 而 @固執 之 者 也。


博聞強記

ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄐㄧˋ

бовэньцянцзи

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹ kei̯³³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹ kei̯³³/

博學強記 博學強記#Chinese

博学强记 博学强记#Chinese

Synonym of 博學強記／博学强记 (bóxuéqiángjì, “to have a lot of knowledge and a good memory”)


經久不息

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


亂臣賊子

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄗˇ

луаньчэньцзэйцзы

/lu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lyːn²² sɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡siː³⁵/

/lyːn²² sɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡siː³⁵/

From Mencius:
:
孔子成《春秋》，而亂臣賊子懼。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孔子成《春秋》，而乱臣贼子惧。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Kǒngzǐ chéng “chūnqiū”, ér luànchénzéizǐ jù. [Pinyin]
Confucius completed the "Spring and Autumn," and rebellious ministers and villainous sons were struck with terror.

孔子 成 《春秋》，而 亂臣賊子 懼。

rebellious minister disloyal to the monarch


舉不勝舉

ㄐㄩˇ ㄅㄨˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄐㄩˇ

цзюйбушэнцзюй

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kɵy̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kɵy̯³⁵/

too numerous to mention one by one; too numerous to count one by one.


未老先衰

ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄨㄞ

вэйлаосяньшуай

/weɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² lou̯¹³ siːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² lou̯¹³ siːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

to decline in health before becoming old


故土難離

ㄍㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/ku⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ li³⁵/

/ku⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ li³⁵/


疾風知勁草

ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄘㄠˇ

цзифэнчжицзинцао

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

(figuratively) to show one's true colors after a stern test; a steadfast and staunch person unyielding in their integrity


疾風勁草

ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄘㄠˇ

цзифэнцзинцао

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/


不留餘地

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄩˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹ tei̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹ tei̯²²/

to leave no room; to make no allowance for


冥思苦想

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄙ ㄎㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sœːŋ³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sœːŋ³⁵/

冥思苦索 冥思苦索#Chinese

Synonym of 冥思苦索 (míngsīkǔsuǒ, “to think long and hard”)


冥思苦索

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄙ ㄎㄨˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sɔːk̚³/

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sɔːk̚³/

只有蠢人，才是他一個人，或者邀集一堆人，不作調查，而只是冥思苦索地「想辦法」，「打主意」。 [MSC, trad.]
只有蠢人，才是他一个人，或者邀集一堆人，不作调查，而只是冥思苦索地「想办法」，「打主意」。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1930, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《反對本本主義》 (Oppose Book Worship), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-6/mswv6_11.htm

Only a blockhead cudgels his brains on his own, or together with a group, to "find solution" or "evolve an idea" without making any investigation.

Zhǐyǒu chǔnrén, cái shì tā yī gè rén, huòzhě yāojí yī duī rén, bù zuò diàochá, ér zhǐshì míngsīkǔsuǒ de “xiǎng bànfǎ”, “dǎ zhǔyì”. [Pinyin]

to think long and hard; to rack one's brains; to cudgel one's brains


放長線釣大魚

to throw a long line to catch a big fish

ㄈㄤˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˊ

фан чансянь дяо даюй

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ y³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːn³³ tiːu̯³³ taːi̯²² jyː²¹⁻³⁵/

同年六月，上海發表了《工人階級說話了》，賡即展開了反「右派」鬥爭，大家這才明白，原來是「放長線釣大魚」，讓你浮出水面，一網打盡。 [MSC, trad.]
同年六月，上海发表了《工人阶级说话了》，赓即展开了反「右派」斗争，大家这才明白，原来是「放长线钓大鱼」，让你浮出水面，一网打尽。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2015, 赵芳举, 《夕阳忆语──时代的变迁和我的托派生涯》, chapter 19

In June of the same year, an article titled "The working class has spoken out" was published in Shanghai, which was immediately followed by the Anti-Rightist Campaign. Then the people realized that it was a long-term plan to make [the "Rightists"] identify themselves and catch them all.

Tóngnián liùyuè, Shànghǎi fābiǎo le “Gōngrén jiējí shuōhuà le”, gēngjí zhǎnkāi le fǎn “yòupài” dòuzhēng, dàjiā zhè cái míngbai, yuánlái shì “fàng chángxiàn diào dàyú”, ràng nǐ fúchū shuǐmiàn, yīwǎngdǎjìn. [Pinyin]

to adopt a long-term plan to secure something big


完完全全

ㄨㄢˊ ㄨㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ваньваньцюаньцюань

/wän³⁵ wän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/wän³⁵ wän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

你完完全全調查明白了，你對那個問題就有解決的辦法了。 [MSC, trad.]
你完完全全调查明白了，你对那个问题就有解决的办法了。 [MSC, simp.]

When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it.

Nǐ wánwánquánquán diàochá míngbai le, nǐ duì nàge wèntí jiù yǒu jiějué de bànfǎ le. [Pinyin]

(emphatic) completely; absolutely; entirely


十月懷胎

ㄕˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄊㄞ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² jyːt̚² waːi̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² jyːt̚² waːi̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

(literally) to be pregnant for ten months


每事問

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

From the Analects.
入太廟，每事問。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]入太庙，每事问。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rù tàimiào, měi shì wèn. [Pinyin]
When he [the Master] entered the ancestral temple of the state, he asked about everything.

When he 􂀿the Master􂁀 entered the ancestral temple of the state, he asked about everything.

邁開你的兩腳，到你的工作範圍的各部分各地方去走走，學個孔夫子的「每事問」，任憑什麼才力小也能解決問題。 [MSC, trad.]
迈开你的两脚，到你的工作范围的各部分各地方去走走，学个孔夫子的「每事问」，任凭什么才力小也能解决问题。 [MSC, simp.]

Just get moving on your two legs, go the rounds of every section placed under your charge and “inquire into everything” as Confucius did, and then you will be able to solve the problems, however little is your ability.

Màikāi nǐ de liǎngjiǎo, dào nǐ de gōngzuò fànwéi de gè bùfen gè dìfang qù zǒuzǒu, xué ge Kǒng Fūzǐ de “měishìwèn”, rènpíng shénme cáilì xiǎo yě néng jiějué wèntí. [Pinyin]


盛衰榮辱

ㄕㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄞ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨˇ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄞ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨˋ

шэншуайжунжу

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

我們調查所要得到的結論，是各階級現在的以及歷史的盛衰榮辱的情況。 [MSC, trad.]
我们调查所要得到的结论，是各阶级现在的以及历史的盛衰荣辱的情况。 [MSC, simp.]

The outcome of our investigation should be a picture of the present situation of each class and the ups and downs of its development.

Wǒmen diàochá suǒ yào dédào de jiélùn, shì gè jiējí xiànzài de yǐjí lìshǐ de shèngshuāiróngrǔ de qíngkuàng. [Pinyin]

prosperity and decline, glory and humiliation; vicissitudes of life


短兵相接

ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄝ

дуаньбинсянцзе

/tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/tyːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³/

/tuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/tyːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³/

在這樣日益走向尖銳的短兵相接的階級鬥爭的形勢之下，無產階級要取得勝利，就完全要靠他的政黨——共產黨的鬥爭策略的正確和堅決。 [MSC, trad.]
在这样日益走向尖锐的短兵相接的阶级斗争的形势之下，无产阶级要取得胜利，就完全要靠他的政党——共产党的斗争策略的正确和坚决。 [MSC, simp.]
Zài zhèyàng rìyì zǒuxiàng jiānruì de duǎnbīngxiāngjiē de jiējí dòuzhēng de xíngshì zhī xià, wúchǎn jiējí yào qǔdé shènglì, jiù wánquán yào kào tā de zhèngdǎng — Gòngchǎndǎng de dòuzhēng cèlüè de zhèngquè hé jiānjué. [Pinyin]

In a situation when the class struggle grows increasingly acute and is waged at close quarters, the proletariat has to depend for its victory entirely on the correct and firm tactics of struggle of its own party, the Communist Party.

to fight hand to hand; to be in close combat


果不其然

ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄢˊ

/ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/kʷɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiːn²¹/

/kuo²¹³⁻²¹ pɨt̚¹ t͡ɕʰi²⁴ lɛn³⁵/

/ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/kʷɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiːn²¹/

/kuo²¹³⁻²¹ pɨt̚¹ t͡ɕʰi²⁴ lɛn³⁵/

今日果不其然！如今拿了銀子家去罵這死砍頭短命的奴才！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
今日果不其然！如今拿了银子家去骂这死砍头短命的奴才！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

Jīnrì guǒbùqírán! Rújīn ná le yínzǐ jiā qù mà zhè sǐ kǎntóu duǎnmìng de núcái! [Pinyin]


空洞無物

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄨˊ ㄨˋ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ mɐt̚²/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ mɐt̚²/

我們的教條主義者違背列寧的指示，從來不用腦筋具體地分析任何事物，做起文章或演說來，總是空洞無物的八股調，在我們黨內造成了一種極壞的作風。 [MSC, trad.]
我们的教条主义者违背列宁的指示，从来不用脑筋具体地分析任何事物，做起文章或演说来，总是空洞无物的八股调，在我们党内造成了一种极坏的作风。 [MSC, simp.]

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

Our dogmatists have violated Lenin's teachings; they never use their brains to analyse anything concretely, and in their writings and speeches they always use stereotypes devoid of content, thereby creating a very bad style of work in our Party.

Wǒmen de jiàotiáozhǔyìzhě wéibèi Lièníng de zhǐshì, cónglái bù yòng nǎojīn jùtǐ de fēnxī rènhé shìwù, zuòqǐ wénzhāng huò yǎnshuō lai, zǒngshì kōngdòngwúwù de bāgǔdiào, zài wǒmen Dǎng nèi zàochéng le yī zhǒng jí huài de zuòfēng. [Pinyin]

utter lack of substance; devoid of content


閉關鎖國

ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

帝國主義的俄國變為社會主義的蘇聯，封建的閉關鎖國的日本變為帝國主義的日本，這些國家的地理和氣候並沒有變化。 [MSC, trad.]
帝国主义的俄国变为社会主义的苏联，封建的闭关锁国的日本变为帝国主义的日本，这些国家的地理和气候并没有变化。 [MSC, simp.]

Imperialist Russia changed into the socialist Soviet Union, and feudal Japan, which had locked its doors against the world, changed into imperialist Japan, although no change occurred in the geography and climate of either country.

Dìguó zhǔyì de Éguó biànwéi shèhuì zhǔyì de Sūlián, fēngjiàn de bìguānsuǒguó de Rìběn biànwéi dìguó zhǔyì de Rìběn, zhèxiē guójiā de dìlǐ hé qìhòu bìng méiyǒu biànhuà. [Pinyin]

to cut off one's country from the outside world


兼聽則明

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄗㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзяньтинцзэмин

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kiːm⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɐk̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kiːm⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɐk̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

Listen to both/all sides and you will be enlightened.


以形補形

ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɪŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ jɪŋ²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɪŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ jɪŋ²¹/

to supposedly heal or nourish a body part by eating something that is visually similar to the respective body part, often the corresponding body part of an animal


概莫能外

ㄍㄞˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄨㄞˋ

/kaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰɔːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² nɐŋ²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/kaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰɔːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² nɐŋ²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

這是共通的道理，古今中外，概莫能外。 [MSC, trad.]
这是共通的道理，古今中外，概莫能外。 [MSC, simp.]

This is a universal truth for all times and all countries, which admits of no exception.

Zhè shì gòngtōng de dàolǐ, gǔjīnzhōngwài, gàimònéngwài. [Pinyin]

to be no exception; to admit of no exception whatsoever


止於至善

ㄓˇ ㄩˊ ㄓˋ ㄕㄢˋ

чжиюйчжишань

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ siːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ siːn²²/

From the Great Learning (《大學》) in the Book of Rites:
:
大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dàxué zhī dào, zài míng míngdé, zài xīn mín, zài zhǐ yú zhì shàn. [Pinyin]
What the Great Learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

大學 之 道，在 明 明德，在 親{xīn} 民，在 止.於.至.善。


謀財害命

ㄇㄡˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄏㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

моуцайхаймин

/moʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/mɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯²² mɪŋ²²/

/moʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/mɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯²² mɪŋ²²/

to murder for money; to kill someone for his or her property


迎風飄舞

ㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄥ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄨˇ

/iŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³/

/iŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³/