男耕女織

ㄋㄢˊ ㄍㄥ ㄋㄩˇ ㄓ

наньгэннюйчжи

/nän³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ kaːŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/nän³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ kaːŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

Based on a passage in the Mozi:
*
飾車以文采，飾舟以刻鏤，女子廢其紡織而脩文采，故民寒。男子離其耕稼而脩刻鏤，故民饑。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]饰车以文采，饰舟以刻镂，女子废其纺织而脩文采，故民寒。男子离其耕稼而脩刻镂，故民饥。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mozi, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on Y. P. Mei's version
Shì chē yǐ wéncǎi, shì zhōu yǐ kèlòu, nǚzǐ fèi qí fǎngzhī ér xiū wéncǎi, gù mín hán. Nánzǐ lí qí gēngjià ér xiū kèlòu, gù mín jī. [Pinyin]
The carts are decorated with embroidery and boats with carving. Women have to stop weaving to do the embroidery so the people are left cold. While men have to abandon agriculture to do the carving and so the people become hungry.

飾 車 以 文采，飾 舟 以 刻鏤，女子 廢 其 紡織 而 脩 文采，故 民 寒。男子 離 其 耕稼 而 脩 刻鏤，故 民 饑。

男耕女織天下平，千古萬古無戰爭。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
男耕女织天下平，千古万古无战争。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

From: 《過居庸關》 "Crossing Juyong Pass" by 薩都剌 Sa Dula, 14th century CE

Men farm and women weave; everywhere under Heaven is peaceful. For thousands and myriads of years, there shall be no war.

Nángēngnǚzhī tiānxià píng, qiāngǔ wàngǔ wú zhànzhēng. [Pinyin]

men farm and women weave (describing the division of labour within a peasant family in the past)


鬼話連篇

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧㄢ

гуйхуаляньпянь

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵ liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵ liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

to talk a lot of nonsense; to tell a series of untruths


不同尋常

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄔㄤˊ

бутунсюньчан

/pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/


荒淫無恥

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄔˇ

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to be openly given to debauchery; to be dissipated and unshamed


何罪之有

ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

他們何罪之有呢？ [MSC, trad.]
他们何罪之有呢？ [MSC, simp.]


亡國滅種

ㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ miːt̚² t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ miːt̚² t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

the country perishes and the ethnicity becomes extinct


百上加斤

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄣ

байшанцзяцзинь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

(originally Cantonese) to aggravate an already heavy burden


菽水承歡

ㄕㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄢ

шушуй чэнхуань

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

children's filial piety to their parents


菽水之歡

ㄕㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄢ

шушуй чжи хуань

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

菽水承歡 菽水承歡#Chinese

菽水承欢 菽水承欢#Chinese

Synonym of 菽水承歡／菽水承欢 (shúshuǐ chénghuān)


菽水之養

ㄕㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄧㄤˇ

шушуй чжи ян

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

菽水承歡 菽水承歡#Chinese

菽水承欢 菽水承欢#Chinese


難辭其咎

ㄋㄢˊ ㄘˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/nän³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³³/

/nän³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³³/

can hardly absolve oneself from the blame; to be culpable; to be to blame


一匡天下

ㄧ ㄎㄨㄤ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

From the Analects, Book 14 (《論語·憲問》):
:
子曰：「管仲相桓公，霸諸侯，一匡天下，民到于今受其賜；微管仲，吾其被髮左衽矣！…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「管仲相桓公，霸诸侯，一匡天下，民到于今受其赐；微管仲，吾其被发左衽矣！…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Guǎn Zhòng xiàng Huán Gōng, bà zhūhóu, yī kuāng tiānxià, mín dào yú jīn shòu qí cì; wēi Guǎn Zhòng, wú qí bèifà zuǒrèn yǐ!...... [Pinyin]
Guan Zhong acted as prime minister to the duke Huan, made him leader of all the princes, and united and rectified the whole kingdom. Down to the present day, the people enjoy the gifts which he conferred. But for Guan Zhong, we should now be wearing our hair unbound, and the lappets of our coats buttoning on the left side. …

zh-x

^子曰：「@^管.^仲 相 @^桓.^公，霸 諸侯，一.匡.天下，民 到 于 今 受 其 賜；微 @^管.^仲，吾 其 被髮.左衽 矣！……


洗劫一空

ㄒㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄧ ㄎㄨㄥ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kiːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kiːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

to completely loot and leave nothing behind


蠶績蟹匡

ㄘㄢˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄨㄤ

ㄘㄢˊ ㄐㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄨㄤ

цаньцзисекуан

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/


功名利祿

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² lʊk̚²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² lʊk̚²/

official position (in the government) and material gains; fame, fortune and position


成群結隊

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чэнцюньцзедуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ tui⁴¹/

/siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kun¹³⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kun²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kun²³⁻³³ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ tui⁴¹/

/siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kun¹³⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kun²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kun²³⁻³³ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

忽然山中居民，成群结队，飞奔而来，报说魏兵已到。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Hūrán shān zhōng jūmín, chéngqúnjiéduì, fēibēn ér lái, bào shuō Wèi bīng yǐ dào. [Pinyin]

忽然山中居民，成群結隊，飛奔而來，報說魏兵已到。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

to gather in groups; to gather in crowds; to band together


人窮志短

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

жэньцюнчжидуань

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ tyːn³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ tyːn³⁵/

one's aspirations are stifled because of poverty


街談巷說

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

цзетаньсяншо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

街談巷議 街談巷議#Chinese

街谈巷议 街谈巷议#Chinese

Synonym of 街談巷議／街谈巷议 (jiētánxiàngyì, “town talk; street gossip”)


稗官小說

ㄅㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄛ

байгуаньсяошо

/paɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


倚馬可待

ㄧˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

During the Jin Dynasty, General Huan Wen ordered his record-keeper, Yuan Hong, to write an official document. Yuan, while propped against the front of his horse, managed to fill seven pages with remarkable speed.

a writer's ability to write an article very quickly


急不可待

ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/


指日高陞

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/


腰酸骨疼

/io⁴⁴⁻²² sŋ̍⁴⁴ kut̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiã²¹/

/io⁴⁴⁻²² sŋ̍⁴⁴ kut̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiã²¹/

(Hokkien, medicine) to have a pain in the back, especially the lower back


魂不守舍

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄕㄜˋ

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sɛː³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sɛː³³/

to be inattentive; to have lost one's concentration


在天之靈

ㄗㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

цзайтяньчжилин

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹/


凶神附體

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


凶神惡煞

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄕㄜˊ ㄋㄜˋ ㄕㄚˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ nɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ ɔːk̚³ saːt̚³/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ nɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ ɔːk̚³ saːt̚³/


如夢方醒

ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄥˋ ㄈㄤ ㄒㄧㄥˇ

/ʐu³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ maŋ¹¹ huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰẽ⁵²/

/ʐu³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ maŋ¹¹ huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰẽ⁵²/

(figuratively) to suddenly realize; to suddenly see the light; to wake up to reality


愛財如命

ㄞˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

to love money as if it were one's life; to be extremely stingy or greedy for money


自縛手腳

ㄗˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

цзыфушоуцзяо

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² pɔːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³/

/t͡siː²² pɔːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³/


愛惜羽毛

ㄞˋ ㄒㄧ ㄩˇ ㄇㄠˊ

ㄞˋ ㄒㄧˊ ㄩˇ ㄇㄠˊ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/


鞍前馬後

ㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄏㄡˋ

аньцяньмахоу

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ maː¹³ hɐu̯²²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ maː¹³ hɐu̯²²/


巴山蜀水

ㄅㄚ ㄕㄢ ㄕㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/pä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

mountains and rivers of Sichuan (including modern-day Chongqing)


文武雙全

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (文武雙全):
* → Korean: 문무쌍전(文武雙全) (munmussangjeon)
* → Vietnamese: văn võ song toàn (文武雙全)

ㄨㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

вэньушуанцюань

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

From Romance of the Three Kingdoms:
*
有南安人告曰：「此人姓姜，名維，字伯約，天水冀人也：事母至孝，文武雙全，智勇足備，真當也之英傑也。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]有南安人告曰：「此人姓姜，名维，字伯约，天水冀人也：事母至孝，文武双全，智勇足备，真当也之英杰也。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Yǒu Nán'ān rén gào yuē: “Cǐrén xìng Jiāng, míng Wéi, zì Bóyuē, Tiānshuǐ Jì rén yě: shì mǔ zhìxiào, wénwǔshuāngquán, zhìyǒngzúbèi, zhēn dāng yě zhī yīngjié yě.” [Pinyin]
A man from Nan'an said: "This man is surnamed Jiang, named Wei, styled Boyue, from Ji [district] in Tianshui [commandery]. He serves his mother very filially; he is talented in both civil and military matters; he has ample intellect and courage. Truly, he is a hero nowadays."

zh-x

有 ^南安 人 告 曰：「此-人 姓 ^姜，名 ^維，字 ^伯-約，^天水 ^冀 人 也：事 母 至孝，文武雙全，智勇-足備，真 當 也 之 英傑 也。」

A man from Nan'an said: "This man is surnamed Jiang, named Wei, styled Boyue, from Ji 􂀿district􂁀 in Tianshui 􂀿commandery􂁀. He serves his mother very filially; he is talented in both civil and military matters; he has ample intellect and courage. Truly, he is a hero nowadays."

to be good at both the arts of writing and fighting/warring; to be adept with both the pen and the sword; to be well-versed in both letters and martial arts


一毛一樣

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

From 一模一樣／一模一样 (yīmúyīyàng).

zh-l

一模一樣／一模一样 (yīmúyīyàng)

一模一樣 一模一樣#Chinese

一模一样 一模一样#Chinese

(eye dialect) Synonym of 一模一樣／一模一样 (yīmúyīyàng, “exactly the same; identical”)


拔地而起

ㄅㄚˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/pä³⁵ ti⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² tei̯²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/pä³⁵ ti⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² tei̯²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

(of a mountain peak, building, etc.) to rise steeply from the ground


因循苟且

ㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄝˇ

иньсюньгоуце

/in⁵⁵ ɕyn³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

go through the motions
go through the motions

to stick to the same old way and go through the motions


敷衍塞責

ㄈㄨ ㄧㄢˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄗㄜˊ

/fu⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ sɐk̚⁵ t͡saːk̚³/

/fu⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ sɐk̚⁵ t͡saːk̚³/

to work halfheartedly; to go through the motions; to perform one's duty in a perfunctory manner


灰頭土臉

to have one's entire head a face covered in dirt

ㄏㄨㄟ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

хуэйтоутулянь

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ liːm¹³/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ liːm¹³/


白晝見鬼

ㄅㄞˊ ㄓㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

байчжоуцзяньгуй

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


白日見鬼

ㄅㄞˊ ㄖˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

байжицзяньгуй

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


白衣蒼狗

ㄅㄞˊ ㄧ ㄘㄤ ㄍㄡˇ

/paɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

freakishness; changeable and strange; changes in human affairs often take freakish forms


百廢俱舉

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄩˇ

байфэйцзюйцзюй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

all neglected tasks are being undertaken; all that was left undone is now being undertaken


百無一是

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/


百折不回

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

байчжэбухуэй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

indomitable; unfazed by difficulties or challenges; (slightly derogatory) stubborn; persistent


大開殺戒

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄞ ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

/tä⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ kaːi̯³³/

/tä⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ kaːi̯³³/

to massacre a lot people; to slaughter many people


炎炎夏日

ㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄖˋ

/jɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ jiːm²¹ haː²² jɐt̚²/

/jɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ jiːm²¹ haː²² jɐt̚²/


冤冤相報

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (冤冤相報):
* → Vietnamese: oan oan tương báo (冤冤相報)

ㄩㄢ ㄩㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄅㄠˋ

юаньюаньсянбао

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³/

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³/

冤冤相報永無完了 [MSC, trad.]
冤冤相报永无完了 [MSC, simp.]


參差不齊

ㄘㄣ ㄘ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

(literally or figuratively) uneven; not uniform


雲譎波詭

ㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄛ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

юньцзюэбогуй

/yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

to be unpredictable and ever-changing; to be highly changeable


先聲奪人

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄖㄣˊ

сяньшэндожэнь

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tyːt̚² jɐn²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tyːt̚² jɐn²¹/

to overawe one's opponent first by a show of strength


詭譎多變

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

гуйцзюэдобянь

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/


文不對題

ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄧˊ

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ tʰɐi̯²¹/

(of writing or speech) to be beside the point; to be off-topic; to be irrelevant to the subject


波譎雲詭

ㄅㄛ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

боцзюэюньгуй

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ yn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ yn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

雲譎波詭 雲譎波詭#Chinese

云谲波诡 云谲波诡#Chinese


波詭雲譎

ㄅㄛ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

богуйюньцзюэ

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

雲譎波詭 雲譎波詭#Chinese

云谲波诡 云谲波诡#Chinese


紋風不動

ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

вэньфэнбудун

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

to be completely motionless; to be absolutely still


南橘北枳

ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄩˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓˇ

наньцзюйбэйчжи

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From an analogy in Yanzi chunqiu:
:
嬰聞之，橘生淮南則為橘，生于淮北則為枳，葉徒相似，其實味不同。所以然者何？水土異也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]婴闻之，橘生淮南则为橘，生于淮北则为枳，叶徒相似，其实味不同。所以然者何？水土异也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Annals of Master Yan, c. 3ʳᵈ century BCE
Yīng wén zhī, jú shēng huáinán zé wéi jú, shēng yú huái běi zé wéi zhǐ, yè tú xiàngsì, qí shí wèi bùtóng. Suǒyǐ rán zhě hé? Shuǐtǔ yì yě. [Pinyin]
Yan Ying heard that tangerines grown south of the Huai River become mandarin oranges, while those grown in the north become trifoliate oranges. Their leaves are similar, but their flavors are not. So why does this happen? It is because of different environments.

zh-x

^嬰 聞 之，橘 生 淮南 則 為{wéi} 橘，生 于 淮 北 則 為{wéi} 枳，葉 徒 相似，其 實 味 不同。所以 然 者 何？水土 異 也。

the same thing will change when in different environments


淮橘為枳

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄐㄩˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓˇ

хуайцзюйвэйчжи

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

a person or thing changes when in a different environment


趨利避害

ㄑㄩ ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄞˋ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lei̯²² pei̯²² hɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lei̯²² pei̯²² hɔːi̯²²/

to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages


臥病在床

ㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

вобинцзайчуан

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ŋɔː²² pɛːŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ŋɔː²² pɛːŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/


唯我獨尊

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ

вэйводуцзунь

/weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɔː¹³ tʊk̚² t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɔː¹³ tʊk̚² t͡syːn⁵⁵/

From the first words the Buddha is supposed to have uttered upon his birth: "In the heavens above and below, I alone am honored."

to be extremely conceited; to be very egotistical, holier-than-thou


剛直不阿

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kaŋ³³⁻²³ tik̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ o³³/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kaŋ³³⁻²³ tik̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ o³³/

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


形格勢禁

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄜˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

сингэшицзинь

/ɕiŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

to be restricted or hampered by circumstances


志窮力竭

ㄓˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

智窮力竭 智窮力竭#Chinese

智穷力竭 智穷力竭#Chinese

Misspelling of 智窮力竭／智穷力竭 (zhìqiónglìjié).


半大不小

ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


半老徐娘

ㄅㄢˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄤˊ

баньлаосюйнян

/pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹/

/pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹/


智窮力竭

ㄓˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

the end of one's rope
the end of one's rope

at a loss as to what to do; at one's wits' end; at the end of one's rope (both mentally and physically)


管鮑之交

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (管鮑之交):
* → Korean: 관포지교(管鮑之交) (gwanpojigyo)

→ Japanese: (calque) 管鮑(かんぽう)の交(まじ)わり (kanpō no majiwari)

ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

гуаньбаочжицзяо

/ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

From the Liezi:
:
管仲嘗歎曰：「吾少窮困時，嘗與鮑叔賈，分財多自與；鮑叔不以我為貪知我貧也。吾嘗為鮑叔謀事而大窮困，鮑叔不以我為愚，知時有利不利也。吾嘗三仕，三見逐於君，鮑叔不以我為不肖，知我不遭時也。吾嘗三戰三北，鮑叔不以我為怯，知我有老母也。公子糾敗，召忽死之，吾幽囚受辱；鮑叔不以我為无恥，知我不羞小節，而恥名不顯於天下也。生我者父母，知我者鮑叔也！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]管仲尝叹曰：「吾少穷困时，尝与鲍叔贾，分财多自与；鲍叔不以我为贪知我贫也。吾尝为鲍叔谋事而大穷困，鲍叔不以我为愚，知时有利不利也。吾尝三仕，三见逐于君，鲍叔不以我为不肖，知我不遭时也。吾尝三战三北，鲍叔不以我为怯，知我有老母也。公子纠败，召忽死之，吾幽囚受辱；鲍叔不以我为无耻，知我不羞小节，而耻名不显于天下也。生我者父母，知我者鲍叔也！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Liezi, 1ˢᵗ – 5ᵗʰ century CE
Guǎn Zhòng cháng tàn yuē: “Wú shào qióngkùn shí, cháng yǔ Bào Shū gǔ, fēncái duō zì yǔ; Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi tān zhī wǒ pín yě. Wú cháng wèi Bào Shū móushì ér dà qióngkùn, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi yú, zhī shí yǒulì bùlì yě. Wú cháng sān shì, sān jiànzhú yú jūn, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi bùxiào, zhī wǒ bù zāo shí yě. Wú cháng sān zhàn sān bèi, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi qiè, zhī wǒ yǒu lǎomǔ yě. Gōngzǐ Jiū bài, Zhàohū sǐ zhī, wú yōuqiú shòurǔ; Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi wúchǐ, zhī wǒ bù xiū xiǎojié, ér chǐ míng bù xiǎn yú tiānxià yě. Shēng wǒ zhě fùmǔ, zhī wǒ zhě Bào Shū yě!” [Pinyin]
Guan Zhong [a chancellor of the seventh-century B.C.E.] once sighed, saying: "When I was young and poor, I once did business with Bao Shu[ya] and gave the majority of the profits for myself, but Bao Shu did not think I was greedy; he understood that I was poor. I once planned for some affair with Bao Shu which ended in great disaster, but Bao Shu did not think that I was foolish; he understood that destiny can be favorable or unfavorable. I served thrice in the court and was exiled by my monarch thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was unworthy; he understood that I had not met with the times that were right for me. I fought in three battles and ran away thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was cowardly; he understood that I had an aged mother to care for. When Lord Jiu was defeated, Zhaohu died there while I suffered the disgrace of being imprisoned, but Bao Shu did not think that I was shameless; he understood that I was not ashamed over trifling matters, but was ashamed that my name might not be known to the world. It is my parents who have given birth to me, but it is Bao Shu who has understood me.

zh-x

^管 ^仲 嘗 歎 曰：「吾 少 窮困 時，嘗 與 ^鮑 ^叔 賈，分財 多 自 與；^鮑 ^叔 不 以 我 為 貪 知 我 貧 也。吾 嘗 為 ^鮑 ^叔 謀事 而 大 窮困，^鮑 ^叔 不 以 我 為 愚，知 時 有利 不利 也。吾 嘗 三 仕，三 見逐 於 君，^鮑 ^叔 不 以 我 為 不肖，知 我 不 遭 時 也。吾 嘗 三 戰 三 北{bèi}，^鮑 ^叔 不 以 我 為 怯，知 我 有 老母 也。公子 ^糾 敗，^召忽 死 之，吾 幽囚 受辱；^鮑 ^叔 不 以 我 為 无恥，知 我 不 羞 小節，而 恥 名 不 顯 於 天下 也。生 我 者 父母，知 我 者 ^鮑 ^叔 也！」

Guan Zhong [a chancellor of the seventh-century <small>B.C.E.</small>] once sighed, saying: "When I was young and poor, I once did business with Bao Shu􂀿ya􂁀 and gave the majority of the profits for myself, but Bao Shu did not think I was greedy; he understood that I was poor. I once planned for some affair with Bao Shu which ended in great disaster, but Bao Shu did not think that I was foolish; he understood that destiny can be favorable or unfavorable. I served thrice in the court and was exiled by my monarch thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was unworthy; he understood that I had not met with the times that were right for me. I fought in three battles and ran away thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was cowardly; he understood that I had an aged mother to care for. When Lord Jiu was defeated, Zhaohu died there while I suffered the disgrace of being imprisoned, but Bao Shu did not think that I was shameless; he understood that I was not ashamed over trifling matters, but was ashamed that my name might not be known to the world. It is my parents who have given birth to me, but it is Bao Shu who has understood me.


鎮靜自若

ㄓㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

чжэньцзин цзыжо

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

possessed; self-possessed; to remain calm


兩不相欠

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄢˋ

лянбусянцянь

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hiːm³³/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hiːm³³/


市井無賴

ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄌㄞˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

(derogatory) hooligan in the city; unscrupulous person in the city; scoundrel


意氣風發

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄈㄥ ㄈㄚ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ³³ huat̚⁵/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ³³ huat̚⁵/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/


通權達變

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

тунцюаньдабянь

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ taːt̚² piːn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ taːt̚² piːn³³/

to adapt to circumstances; to be adaptable to changing circumstances to act as the occasion requires


傍人門戶

ㄅㄤˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄏㄨˋ

банжэньмэньху

/pɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/pɔːŋ²² jɐn²¹ muːn²¹ wuː²²/

/pɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/pɔːŋ²² jɐn²¹ muːn²¹ wuː²²/

to depend on others; to be unable to live independently


膀大腰圓

ㄅㄤˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄠ ㄩㄢˊ

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiːu̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiːu̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/


包打天下

ㄅㄠ ㄉㄚˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

to take care of everything and not allow others to get involved


殺狗教猴

(Hakka) to make a public demonstration of punishing a wrongdoer in order to deter innocents who might mimic the example of the wrongdoer


寶刀不老

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄠˇ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

old but still got it; as vigorous and active as before; just as skilled as when one was young


心無旁騖

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄆㄤˊ ㄨˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ mou̯²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ mou̯²²/


別樹一幟

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄧ ㄓˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːt̚² syː²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː³³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːt̚² syː²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː³³/


瞠乎其後

ㄔㄥ ㄏㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄡˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯²²/

to lag behind a lot without any hope of catching up; to be left in the dust


衣食父母

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² fuː²² mou̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² fuː²² mou̯¹³/


一展身手

ㄧ ㄓㄢˇ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ

ичжаньшэньшоу

ičžanʹšɛnʹšou

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/


隻手遮天

to block out the sky with one hand (and pretend that it is not there)

ㄓ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓㄜ ㄊㄧㄢ

чжишоучжэтянь

čžišoučžɛtjanʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to hide the truth (from the public or masses)


文人相輕

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥ

вэньжэньсянцин

/wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

scholars (tend to) disparage one another


坐享其成

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄔㄥˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² hœːŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² hœːŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

to sit idle and enjoy the fruits of others' work


幕天席地

to use the sky as a tent and the land as a sleeping mat

ㄇㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/mu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/mu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ ti⁵¹/


杯水風波

ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄛ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


纖纖玉手

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄩˋ ㄕㄡˇ

сяньсяньюйшоу

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


卑不足道

ㄅㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄠˋ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

(chiefly of a person's character, standing, etc.) too trivial to be worth mentioning


望而興嘆

ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ

ванъэрсинтань

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

to look and sigh; to feel helpless; not to know what to do


修成正果

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ kʷɔː³⁵/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ kʷɔː³⁵/

(Buddhism) to finally achieve enlightenment after profound efforts and insights

(figurative) to attain the desired outcome after persistently striving


事出有因

ㄕˋ ㄔㄨ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄣ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵/

/siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐn⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵/

/siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐn⁵⁵/


泰山北斗

ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄡˇ

тайшаньбэйдоу

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tɐu̯³⁵/

eminent and accomplished figure in a field


往事如煙

ㄨㄤˇ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄢ

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ¹³ siː²² jyː²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ¹³ siː²² jyː²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

past events have faded like a puff of smoke


蛛網塵封

ㄓㄨ ㄨㄤˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄈㄥ

чжуванчэньфэн

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative, of a house, objects, etc.) to be abandoned or unused for a long time


塵封網罥

ㄔㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄨㄤˇ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

чэньфэнванцзюань

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/


高手如雲

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩㄣˊ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ yn³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ yn³⁵/


奇技淫巧

ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄧㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ in³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(usually derogatory) strange and exquisite skill or product


童言無忌

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

take no offence at a child's words; a child simply says what he/she thinks


難分難解

ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˇ

наньфэньнаньцзе

/nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵/

/nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵/

to be locked in a stalemate in a fight or struggle


難解難分

ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ

наньцзенаньфэнь

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵ naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵ naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/


大車無輗

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄜ ㄨˊ ㄋㄧˊ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ni³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ni³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「人而無信，不知其可也。大車無輗，小車無軏，其何以行之哉？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「人而无信，不知其可也。大车无𫐐，小车无𫐄，其何以行之哉？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Rén ér wú xìn, bùzhī qí kě yě. Dàchē wú ní, xiǎochē wú yuè, qí héyǐ xíng zhī zāi?” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "I do not know how a man without truthfulness is to get on. How can a large carriage be made to go without the crossbar for yoking the oxen to, or a small carriage without the arrangement for yoking the horses?"

^子曰：「人 而 無 信，不知 其 可 也。大車.無.輗，小車 無 軏，其 何以 行 之 哉？」

an untrustworthy person cannot receive trust from others and be established in society


糟糠之妻

цзаоканчжици

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

(humble) wife who has shared her husband’s hard lot


目擩耳染

ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄦˇ ㄖㄢˇ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

耳濡目染 耳濡目染#Chinese


盛極一時

ㄕㄥˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² kɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² kɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

to be thriving or very popular for a time


耳染目濡

ㄦˇ ㄖㄢˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

耳濡目染 耳濡目染#Chinese


奔走呼號

ㄅㄣ ㄗㄡˇ ㄏㄨ ㄏㄠˊ

бэньцзоухухао

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵/

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵/


望子成龍

ㄨㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

ванцзычэнлун

/wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/

/mo¹¹ t͡sɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ leŋ⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹/

/mo¹¹ t͡sɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ leŋ⁵⁵/

to hope that one's child succeeds in life


赤手空拳

ㄔˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

чишоукунцюань

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹/

(by extension) without any reliance; without anything to rely on


本鄉本土

ㄅㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄅㄣˇ ㄊㄨˇ

бэньсянбэньту

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


風調雨順

ㄈㄥ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄩˇ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

фэнтяоюйшунь

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯²¹ jyː¹³ sɵn²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²³⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²⁴⁻¹¹ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯²¹ jyː¹³ sɵn²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²³⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiau²⁴⁻¹¹ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun³³/

to have favourable weather conditions (moderate and timely wind and rain) for raising crops


非驢非馬

ㄈㄟ ㄌㄩˊ ㄈㄟ ㄇㄚˇ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ly³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ lɵy̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ maː¹³/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ly³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ lɵy̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ maː¹³/

neither fish nor fowl
neither fish nor fowl


器大活好

ㄑㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄑㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊㄦ ㄏㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɔɻ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ xu̯ɔɻ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(neologism, low colloquial, of a man) to have a big penis and be good in bed


比翼雙飛

ㄅㄧˇ ㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄈㄟ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

(of a married couple) to be together day and night; to help each other and move forward together


比翼齊飛

ㄅㄧˇ ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄟ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/


此一時，彼一時

/t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ pei̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

that was then, this is now
that was then, this is now


筆底生花

ㄅㄧˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄨㄚ

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

to begin to show one’s literary brilliance


夢筆生花

ㄇㄥˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄨㄚ

/mɤŋ⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/mɤŋ⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/


筆下生花

ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄨㄚ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ haː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ haː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/


空無一物

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐt̚²/


黃髮兒齒

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄚˋ ㄦˊ ㄔˇ

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄦˊ ㄔˇ

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ fä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ fä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

宜大夫庶士、邦國是有。既多受祉、黃髮兒齒。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
宜大夫庶士、邦国是有。既多受祉、黄发儿齿。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

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

With his excellent ministers and all his [other] officers.Our region and State shall he hold,Thus receiving many blessings,To hoary hair, and with teeth ever renewed like a child's.

Yí dàfū shù shì, bāngguó shì yǒu. Jì duō shòu zhǐ, huángfà'érchǐ. [Pinyin]


響徹雲霄

ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄔㄜˋ ㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄠ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ yn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ yn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

to resound through the skies; to be loud and clear


良藥苦口

desc

→ Japanese: 良薬は口に苦し (ryōyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi) (calque)

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ jœːk̚² fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/lœːŋ²¹ jœːk̚² fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

The analogy is found in Hanfeizi:
:
夫良藥苦於口，而智者勸而飲之，知其入而已己疾也。忠言拂於耳，而明主聽之，知其可以致功也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫良药苦于口，而智者劝而饮之，知其入而已己疾也。忠言拂于耳，而明主听之，知其可以致功也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Fú liángyào kǔ yú kǒu, ér zhìzhě quàn ér yǐn zhī, zhī qí rù ér yǐ jǐ jí yě. Zhōngyán fú yú ěr, ér míngzhǔ tīng zhī, zhī qí kěyǐ zhì gōng yě. [Pinyin]
Good medicine is bitter to taste, but a wise person tries his best to drink it, for he knows that it can cure his illness. Sincere advice grates on the ears, but a wise ruler listens to it, for he knows it can bring about success.
The same analogy is also found in Shiji and Shuoyuan.

zh-x

夫{fú} 良藥 苦 於 口，而 智者 勸 而 飲 之，知 其 入 而 已 己 疾 也。忠言 拂 於 耳，而 明主 聽 之，知 其 可以 致 功 也。

(figuratively) good advice may be uncomfortable to hear


早出晚歸

ㄗㄠˇ ㄔㄨ ㄨㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄟ

цзаочуваньгуй

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ maːn¹³ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ maːn¹³ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

to leave early in the morning and return late at night


若有所思

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄙ

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

to look pensive; to look absorbed in thought


黃髮鮐背

黄发鲐背
黃髮駘背
黃髮台背

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄚˋ ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˋ

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˋ

хуанфатайбэй

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ fä⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ fä⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/


肝腦塗地

ㄍㄢ ㄋㄠˇ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/kän⁵⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ nou̯¹³ tʰou̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/kän⁵⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ nou̯¹³ tʰou̯²¹ tei̯²²/

臣當死，往者醉失禮，王隱忍不加誅也；臣終不敢以蔭蔽之德而不顯報王也，常願肝腦塗地，用頸血湔敵久矣，臣乃夜絕纓者。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
臣当死，往者醉失礼，王隐忍不加诛也；臣终不敢以荫蔽之德而不显报王也，常愿肝脑涂地，用颈血湔敌久矣，臣乃夜绝缨者。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: c. 77 B.C.E., 劉向 (Liu Xiang), 《說苑》 (Garden of Stories), chapter 6

I should have been put to death. A few years ago, I got drunk and forgot my manners. Your Majesty showed restraint and did not put me to death. I would never dare not overtly repay Your Majesty's covert kindness. I would rather put my life on the line and drown the enemy in my own blood, for I am the one whose headpiece cord was yanked off on that night.

Chén dāng sǐ, wǎngzhě zuì shīlǐ, wáng yǐnrěn bù jiā zhū yě; chén zhōng bùgǎn yǐ yīnbì zhī dé ér bùxiǎn bào wáng yě, cháng yuàn gānnǎotúdì, yòng jǐng xuè jiān dí jiǔ yǐ, chén nǎi yè juéyīng zhě. [Pinyin]

to offer one's life sacrificially in loyalty


筆管條直

ㄅㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄓˊ

бигуаньтяочжи

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/


平平無奇

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹/


筆墨官司

ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ˙ㄙ

ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙ

бимо гуаньсы

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩²/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩²/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/


筆走龍蛇

ㄅㄧˇ ㄗㄡˇ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄜˊ

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/


低頭不語

ㄉㄧ ㄊㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/ti⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/ti⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

to bow one's head and keep silent; to hang one's head and make no reply; to lower one's head in silence (when one is timid or thinking)


閉門思過

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄙ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to shut oneself away and reflect on one’s mistakes


成何體統

ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄨㄥˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

這個社會已經成何體統？ [MSC, trad.]
这个社会已经成何体统？ [MSC, simp.]

What kind of degeneracy has this society become?

Zhège shèhuì yǐjīng chénghétǐtǒng? [Pinyin]


點睛之筆

ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄅㄧˇ

дяньцзинчжиби

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵/

the finishing touch to a painting; the crucial point that brings the subject to life


敝帚千金

ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ

бичжоуцяньцзинь

/pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

(figurative) to cherish something of little value simply because it is one's own


蓋棺論定

ㄍㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

гайгуаньлуньдин

/kaɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³³ kuːn⁵⁵ lɵn²² tɪŋ²²/

/kaɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³³ kuːn⁵⁵ lɵn²² tɪŋ²²/

to judge the accomplishments and faults of a person after their death


匠心獨運

ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄨˊ ㄩㄣˋ

цзянсиньдуюнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tu³⁵ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ tʊk̚² wɐn²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tu³⁵ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ tʊk̚² wɐn²²/

(chiefly of literature or art) to show great ingenuity; to have originality


壁上觀

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

to stand back; to observe only and not take sides


苦口苦面

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ miːn²²/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ miːn²²/


避坑落井

ㄅㄧˋ ㄎㄥ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ

/pi⁵¹ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯²² haːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

/pi⁵¹ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯²² haːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

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

to dodge a pit only to fall into a well; to fend off one difficulty only to fall prey to another; out of the frying pan, into the fire


攬身攬勢

/laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ laːm¹³⁻³⁵ sɐi̯³³/

攬身攬勢都好閒 [Cantonese, trad.]
揽身揽势都好闲 [Cantonese, simp.]
laam⁵⁻² san¹ laam⁵⁻² sai³ dou¹ hou² haan⁴ [Jyutping]


擰頭擰髻

/lɪŋ²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɪŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

/lɪŋ²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɪŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

𢴚起張賣身契豈勢咁擰頭擰髻 [Cantonese, trad.]
𢴚起张卖身契岂势咁拧头拧髻 [Cantonese, simp.]

nik¹ hei² zoeng¹ maai⁶ san¹ kai³ hei² sai³ gam² ling⁶ tau⁴ ling⁶ gai³ [Jyutping]

(Cantonese) to nod one's head in satisfaction


妖言惑眾

ㄧㄠ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ waːk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ waːk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

你就別妖言惑眾了，弄得人心惶惶。 [MSC, trad.]
你就别妖言惑众了，弄得人心惶惶。 [MSC, simp.]

Don't spread fallacies to deceive people. It is making everyone feel jittery.

Nǐ jiù bié yāoyánhuòzhòng le, nòng de rénxīnhuánghuáng. [Pinyin]

to delude the masses with strange and harmful teachings; to deceive people with lies and fallacies


雄辯滔滔

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄠ ㄊㄠ

сюнбяньтаотао

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ piːn²² tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ piːn²² tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵/

to argue forcefully and continuously; to argue strongly and eloquently


湳淋不擦

/næ̃¹¹ lĩŋ¹¹ pəʔ²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰaʔ²/

/næ̃¹¹ lĩŋ¹¹ pəʔ²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰaʔ²/


泥淋忽擦

/ni¹¹ lĩŋ¹¹ xuəʔ²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰaʔ²/

/ni¹¹ lĩŋ¹¹ xuəʔ²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰaʔ²/


白費心思

ㄅㄞˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙ

байфэйсиньсы

/paɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² fɐi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² fɐi̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/


借題發揮

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄊㄧˊ ㄈㄚ ㄏㄨㄟ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tʰi³⁵ fä⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tʰɐi̯²¹ faːt̚³ fɐi̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tʰi³⁵ fä⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tʰɐi̯²¹ faːt̚³ fɐi̯⁵⁵/

to seize on an incident to express one's own ideas


髀肉復生

ㄅㄧˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄥ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

to remain idle in comfort and ease while yearning for active service


任人宰割

ㄖㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞˇ ㄍㄜ

жэньжэньцзайгэ

žɛnʹžɛnʹczajgɛ

/ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵/

/jɐm²² jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːt̚³/

/ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵/

/jɐm²² jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːt̚³/

to be at the mercy of others; cannot but allow oneself to be trampled on by others


獨具一格

ㄉㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄧ ㄍㄜˊ

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kɤ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ kaːk̚³/

/tok̚⁴⁻² ku³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² keʔ²/

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kɤ³⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² jɐt̚⁵ kaːk̚³/

/tok̚⁴⁻² ku³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² keʔ²/


明碼實價

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

/miŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ maː¹³ sɐt̚² kaː³³/

/miŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ maː¹³ sɐt̚² kaː³³/

to have a clear and fixed price on an item/commodity


不遠萬里

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩㄢˇ ㄨㄢˋ ㄌㄧˇ

буюаньваньли

/pu⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

人家一個外國孩子，不遠萬里來到中國。 [MSC, trad.]
人家一个外国孩子，不远万里来到中国。 [MSC, simp.]

She is from a foreign country, traveling thousands of miles to China.

Rénjiā yīge wàiguó háizǐ, bùyuǎn wànlǐ láidào zhōngguó. [Pinyin]

to make light of travelling from afar; to go to the trouble of travelling a long distance


天地不容

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/


始料未及

ㄕˇ ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ liːu̯²² mei̯²² kʰɐp̚²/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liau⁴¹⁻²² bi⁴¹⁻²² kip̚²⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚¹²¹/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻¹¹ bi³³⁻¹¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻²¹ bi³³⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ liːu̯²² mei̯²² kʰɐp̚²/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liau⁴¹⁻²² bi⁴¹⁻²² kip̚²⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau²²⁻²¹ bi²²⁻²¹ kip̚¹²¹/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻¹¹ bi³³⁻¹¹ kip̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ liau³³⁻²¹ bi³³⁻²¹ kip̚⁴/


鞭打快牛

ㄅㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ

бяньдакуайню

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

to put high demands on a unit or individual that is already working well


鞭辟進裡

ㄅㄧㄢ ㄆㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧˇ

бяньпицзиньли

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(of an article, remarks, etc.) to be penetrating


鞭辟入裡

ㄅㄧㄢ ㄆㄧˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


手下敗將

ㄕㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

шоусябайцзян

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ haː²² paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/

/sɐu̯³⁵ haː²² paːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³/

one's defeated opponent; person who has been defeated by one


各說各話

ㄍㄜˋ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syːt̚³ kɔːk̚³ waː²²/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syːt̚³ kɔːk̚³ waː²²/

talk past each other
talk past each other

to talk past each other; each says their own unrelated thing


無根無據

(Hakka) mere verbal statement is no guarantee


空喙哺舌

/kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ pɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/kʰaŋ³³ t͡sʰui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ pɔ⁴¹⁻²² t͡siʔ²⁴/

/kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ pɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡siʔ¹²¹/

/kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui¹¹⁻⁵³ pɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁴¹ pɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ pɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/kʰaŋ³³ t͡sʰui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ pɔ⁴¹⁻²² t͡siʔ²⁴/

/kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui¹¹⁻⁵³ pɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁴¹ pɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

原來你是空嘴薄舌達到目的做你去 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
原来你是空嘴薄舌达到目的做你去 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

From: 1992, 愛情的騙子我問你 (Cheater of Love, I Ask You), sung by 陳小雲 (Chen Hsiao-yun), lyrics by 蔣錦鴻, composed by 俞隆華

In the end those were just your empty words, just to fulfill your desire... and then leave

goân-lâi lí sī khang-chhùi-po̍h-chi̍h ta̍t-kàu bo̍k-tek chò lí khì [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

(Southern Min) to give empty talk; to make mere verbal statements


患難與共

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄢˋ ㄩˇ ㄍㄨㄥˋ

хуаньнаньюйгун

/xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹/

/xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹/

to go through thick and thin together; to share hardships together


穩賺不賠

ㄨㄣˇ ㄓㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄟˊ

вэньчжуаньбупэй

/wən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pʰeɪ̯³⁵/

/wən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ pʰeɪ̯³⁵/


搖旗吶喊

ㄧㄠˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄋㄚˋ ㄏㄢˇ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nä⁵¹ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːu̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ naːp̚² haːm³³/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nä⁵¹ xän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːu̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ naːp̚² haːm³³/


童男童女

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄋㄩˇ

туннаньтуннюй

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³⁻³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ naːm²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ nɵy̯¹³⁻³⁵/


婚喪喜慶

ㄏㄨㄣ ㄙㄤ ㄒㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

хуньсансицин

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɪŋ³³/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun³³ sɔŋ³³ hi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰiɪŋ⁴¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ¹¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɪŋ³³/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun³³ sɔŋ³³ hi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰiɪŋ⁴¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ¹¹/

/hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰiɪŋ²¹/

celebrations and mourning; important life events (e.g. weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc.)


金碧輝映

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄧㄥˋ

цзиньбихуэйин

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

(of the furnishings and decorations of a building) magnificent, splendid, and resplendent


大書特書

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄨ ㄊㄜˋ ㄕㄨ

/tä⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ tʰɤ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ tʰɤ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

to write elaborately on; to write at length about


莫逆之交

ㄇㄛˋ ㄋㄧˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² jɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² jɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

very close friends (with complete mutual understanding)


堅壁清野

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄧㄝˇ

цзяньбицинъе

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kiːn⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jɛː¹³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kiːn⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jɛː¹³/

scorched-earth policy
scorched-earth policy


一心無二

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/


開科取士

ㄎㄞ ㄎㄜ ㄑㄩˇ ㄕˋ

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ siː²²/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ siː²²/

imperial examinations
imperial examination

(history) to hold imperial examinations in order to select talented scholars (to become officials)


變起蕭牆

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

бяньцисяоцян

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

禍起蕭牆 禍起蕭牆#Chinese

祸起萧墙 祸起萧墙#Chinese

Synonym of 禍起蕭牆／祸起萧墙 (huòqǐxiāoqiáng, “to suffer internal strife”)


變生肘腋

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄥ ㄓㄡˇ ㄧㄝˋ

бяньшэнчжоуе

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jɪk̚²/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jɪk̚²/


禍生肘腋

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄥ ㄓㄡˇ ㄧㄝˋ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛ⁵¹/


定於一尊

ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄩˊ ㄧ ㄗㄨㄣ

динъюйицзунь

/tiŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/tiŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

From Shiji:
:
今皇帝并有天下，別黑白而定一尊。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]今皇帝并有天下，别黑白而定一尊。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Jīn huángdì bìng yǒu tiānxià, bié hēibái ér dìng yī zūn. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

今 皇帝 并 有 天下，別 黑白 而 定 一 尊。

to regard the supreme authority as the only standard


閉門謝客

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄜˋ

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sɛː²² haːk̚³/

/pi⁵¹ mən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/pɐi̯³³ muːn²¹ t͡sɛː²² haːk̚³/


文武百官

ㄨㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄅㄞˇ ㄍㄨㄢ

вэньубайгуань

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

(historical) all civil and military officials; all government officials


迴光返照

(the sky) brightens again (right before sunset)

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄈㄢˇ ㄓㄠˋ

хуэйгуанфаньчжао

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ faːn³⁵ t͡siːu̯³³/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ faːn³⁵ t͡siːu̯³³/

(figurative) to experience terminal lucidity (before one's death)

(figurative) to experience a momentary spurt of activity or boom before its final demise


冰釋前嫌

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

биншицяньсянь

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jiːm²¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ jiːm²¹/

let bygones be bygones
let bygones be bygones

to bury the hatchet; to let bygones be bygones; to become reconciled


毫無二致

ㄏㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄦˋ ㄓˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²² t͡siː³³/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²² t͡siː³³/

without the slightest difference; completely identical


垂暮之年

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

чуймучжинянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ mou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ mou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

remaining years (of a person's life); old age; twilight years


拋頭露面

ㄆㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

паотоулумянь

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lou̯²² miːn²²/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ lɔ³³⁻¹¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ lɔ³³⁻²¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴ lɔ²²⁻²¹ bin²²/

/pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lou̯²² miːn²²/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ lɔ³³⁻¹¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ lɔ³³⁻²¹ bin³³/

/pʰau⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴ lɔ²²⁻²¹ bin²²/

(slightly derogatory, originally of women) to show one's face in public; to put oneself about


口口相傳

ㄎㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

коукоусянчуань

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

to be passed down orally; by word of mouth


遐邇聞名

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄦˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/haː²¹ jiː¹³ mɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/haː²¹ jiː¹³ mɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

聞名遐邇 聞名遐邇#Chinese

闻名遐迩 闻名遐迩#Chinese


坐立不安

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² laːp̚² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² laːp̚² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

to fidget; to be on tenterhooks; to feel uneasy; to be restless and agitated


疾言厲色

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɐt̚² jiːn²¹ lɐi̯²² sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɐt̚² jiːn²¹ lɐi̯²² sɪk̚⁵/

to be angry and use harsh words with a stern look


條條框框

ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄎㄨㄤˋ

ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄎㄨㄤ ㄎㄨㄤ

тяотяокуанкуан

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰaːŋ⁵⁵/


兩情相悅

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄩㄝˋ

лянцинсянъюэ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

(of two people) to be in love with each other


蜀犬吠日

ㄕㄨˇ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄖˋ

шуцюаньфэйжи

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/sʊk̚² hyːn³⁵ fɐi̯²² jɐt̚²/

/sʊk̚² hyːn³⁵ fɐi̯²² jɐt̚²/

to be surprised at something common because of one's ignorance


稱兄道弟

ㄔㄥ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² tɐi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² tɐi̯²²/

to call each other brothers; to be on intimate terms


除舊布新

ㄔㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐu̯²² pou̯³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐu̯²² pou̯³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

to demolish the old and establish the new


洋洋自得

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (洋洋自得):
* → Vietnamese: duơng dương tự đắc (洋洋自得)

ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄗˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵/

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵/

to be very pleased with oneself; to be self-satisfied


以防萬一

ㄧˇ ㄈㄤˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄧ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ fɔːŋ²¹ maːn²² jɐt̚⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ fɔːŋ²¹ maːn²² jɐt̚⁵/

to protect against a contingency; just in case


中規中矩

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄩˇ

чжунгуйчжунцзюй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³ kɵy̯³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³ kɵy̯³⁵/


臺前幕後

ㄊㄞˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄡˋ

тайцяньмухоу

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ mɔːk̚² hɐu̯²²/

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ mɔːk̚² hɐu̯²²/

感謝臺前幕後所有人的努力 [MSC, trad.]
感谢台前幕后所有人的努力 [MSC, simp.]

thank everyone involved in the show for their effort

gǎnxiè táiqiánmùhòu suǒyǒu rén de nǔlì [Pinyin]

onstage and backstage; onstage and behind the scenes


休養生息

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧ

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧˊ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

(of a person) to rest and recuperate; to convalesce; (of society) to recover (after a war or upheaval) and regain vitality


悲慟欲絕

ㄅㄟ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄩˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

бэйтунъюйцзюэ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

悲痛欲絕 悲痛欲絕#Chinese

悲痛欲绝 悲痛欲绝#Chinese

Synonym of 悲痛欲絕／悲痛欲绝 (bēitòngyùjué, “to be grief-stricken”)


悲痛欲絕

ㄅㄟ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄩˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

бэйтунъюйцзюэ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jʊk̚² t͡syːt̚³/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jʊk̚² t͡syːt̚³/

to be grief-stricken; to be extremely grieved


英雄豪傑

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄏㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

outstanding figures; people of exceptional ability; heroes


假模假樣

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄇㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄧㄤˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹/

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


落草為寇

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄘㄠˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄡˋ

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɔːk̚² t͡sʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kʰɐu̯³³/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɔːk̚² t͡sʰou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kʰɐu̯³³/

to become a bandit in the mountains and woods


便宜從事

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄕˋ

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ i³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ i³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


秘而不宣

ㄇㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄢ

/mi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/mi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵/


勤能補拙

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛ

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ

циньнэнбучжо

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ nɐŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ nɐŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚²/


標本兼治

ㄅㄧㄠ ㄅㄣˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄓˋ

бяобэньцзяньчжи

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

traditional Chinese medicine
traditional Chinese medicine

(traditional Chinese medicine or generally) to address both the symptoms and root causes of a problem


女中豪傑

ㄋㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄏㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

нюйчжунхаоцзе

/ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/nɵy̯¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ kiːt̚²/

/ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/nɵy̯¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ kiːt̚²/


婦道人家

ㄈㄨˋ ˙ㄉㄠ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄚ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄚ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ˙ㄐㄧㄚ

ㄈㄨˋ ˙ㄉㄠ ㄖㄣˊ ˙ㄐㄧㄚ

фудаожэньцзя

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fuː¹³ tou̯²² jɐn²¹ kaː⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fu⁵¹ d̥ɑʊ̯¹ ʐən³⁵ d͡ʑ̥i̯ä³/

/fuː¹³ tou̯²² jɐn²¹ kaː⁵⁵/


尊師重道

ㄗㄨㄣ ㄕ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄠˋ

цзуньшичжундао

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² tou̯²²/

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² tou̯²²/

to respect a teacher and revere his teachings


彈盡援絕

ㄉㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄩㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

даньцзиньюаньцзюэ

/tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

to run out of ammunition as reinforcements are also not forthcoming


前所未見

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

цяньсовэйцзянь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹⁻²² kiɛn⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻¹¹ kiɛn¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹⁻²² kiɛn⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻¹¹ kiɛn¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³⁻²¹ kiɛn²¹/


初生之犢

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/


貪婪無厭

ㄊㄢ ㄌㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˋ

таньланьуянь

/tʰän⁵⁵ län³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰän⁵⁵ län³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

avaricious; greedy; not able to settle for less


以己度人

ㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄧˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kei̯³⁵ tɔːk̚² jɐn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kei̯³⁵ tɔːk̚² jɐn²¹/

to measure others according to one's values; to measure other people's corn by one's own bushel


離經叛道

ㄌㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄆㄢˋ ㄉㄠˋ

лицзинпаньдао

/li³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lei̯²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn²² tou̯²²/

/li³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lei̯²¹ kɪŋ⁵⁵ puːn²² tou̯²²/

to deviate from the Confucian classics or the orthodoxy; to deviate from the mainstream thought or norms


盡其所能

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄥˊ

цзиньцисонэн

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

to the best of one's ability
to the best of one's ability


插贓嫁禍

ㄔㄚ ㄗㄤ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ wɔː²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ wɔː²²/

(Cantonese, Hong Kong) to plant or fabricate evidence


壯志凌雲

ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄓˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄣˊ

чжуанчжилинъюнь

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ lɪŋ²¹ wɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³ lɪŋ²¹ wɐn²¹/


缺斤少兩

ㄑㄩㄝ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

цюэцзиньшаолян

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/


缺斤短兩

ㄑㄩㄝ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

цюэцзиньдуаньлян

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ tyːn³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/

/kʰyːt̚³ kɐn⁵⁵ tyːn³⁵ lœːŋ¹³/


天無二日

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄦˋ ㄖˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jɐt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²² jɐt̚²/

From Confucius, quoted in Mencius and the Book of Rites.
Mencius, Book 9 (《孟子·萬章上》):
:
孔子曰：『天無二日，民無二王。』 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孔子曰：『天无二日，民无二王。』 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Kǒngzǐ yuē: ‘Tiān wú èr rì, mín wú èr wáng.’ [Pinyin]
Confucius said, "There are not two suns in the sky, nor two sovereigns over the people."
Book of Rites, Book 7 (《禮記·曾子問》):
:
孔子曰：「天無二日，土無二王，嘗禘郊社，尊無二上。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]孔子曰：「天无二日，土无二王，尝禘郊社，尊无二上。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Kǒngzǐ yuē: “Tiān wú èr rì, tǔ wú èr wáng, cháng dì jiāo shè, zūn wú èr shàng....... [Pinyin]
Confucius said, "In heaven there are not two suns; in a country there are not two kings; in the seasonal sacrifices, and those to Heaven and Earth, there are not two who occupy the highest place of honour. […]

zh-x

^孔子 曰：『天.無.二.日，民 無 二 王。』

^孔子 曰：「天.無.二.日，土 無 二 王，嘗 禘 郊 社，尊 無 二 上。……

there cannot be two monarchs or chiefs at the same time


惹人憐愛

ㄖㄜˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄞˋ

жэжэньляньай

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʐɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/


三妻四妾

ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧ ㄙˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰiːp̚³/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi²⁴⁻¹¹ si⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯ap̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰiːp̚³/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰi²⁴⁻¹¹ si⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯ap̚²/


守望相助

ㄕㄡˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄨˋ

шоувансянчжу

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɔ³³/

From Mencius:
:
死徙無出鄉，鄉田同井，出入相友，守望相助，疾病相扶持，則百姓親睦。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]死徙无出乡，乡田同井，出入相友，守望相助，疾病相扶持，则百姓亲睦。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Sǐ xǐ wú chū xiāng, xiāng tián tóng jǐng, chūrù xiàngyǒu, shǒuwàng xiàngzhù, jíbìng xiàng fúchí, zé bǎixìng qīnmù. [Pinyin]
. On occasions of death, or removal from one dwelling to another, there will be no quitting the district. In the fields of a district, those who belong to the same nine squares render all friendly offices to one another in their going out and coming in, aid one another in keeping watch and ward, and sustain one another in sickness. Thus the people are brought to live in affection and harmony.

死 徙 無 出 鄉，鄉 田 同 井，出入 相友，守望 相助，疾病 相 扶持，則 百姓 親睦。

to keep watch and defend and help one another


清心寡慾

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄩˋ

цинсиньгуаюй

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

to cleanse one's mind of distracting thoughts and limit one's worldly desires


世道人心

ㄕˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

шидаожэньсинь

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/


囊中羞澀

ㄋㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄙㄜˋ

/nɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/nɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːp̚³/

/nɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/nɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːp̚³/


河水不洗船

ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

хэшуй бу си чуань

/xɤ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ syːn²¹/

/hɔː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ syːn²¹/


移山倒海

ㄧˊ ㄕㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄞˇ

/i³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ saːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/i²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hai⁵³/

/i²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hai⁴¹/

/i²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hai⁵³/

/i³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ saːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/i²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hai⁵³/

/i²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hai⁴¹/

/i²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hai⁵³/

(literally) to move mountains and drain seas


布袋裡老鴉

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄧㄚ

будай ли лаоя

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä⁵⁵/

/pou̯³³ tɔːi̯²² lɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ aː⁵⁵/

/pou̯³³ tɔːi̯²² lɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ aː⁵⁵/


初具規模

ㄔㄨ ㄐㄩˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄇㄛˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

to have a basic framework and content; to begin to take shape


振臂一呼

ㄓㄣˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧ ㄏㄨ

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ pei̯³³ jɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐn³³ pei̯³³ jɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

to raise one's arm and cry out to rally people


口出狂言

ㄎㄡˇ ㄔㄨ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄧㄢˊ

коучукуанъянь

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹/


深山老林

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄢ ㄌㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

шэньшаньлаолинь

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/


表裡如一

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/piːu̯³⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/piːu̯³⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jyː²¹ jɐt̚⁵/

to think and act in one and the same way


披麻戴孝

ㄆㄧ ㄇㄚˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/pʰi⁵⁵ mä³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰei̯⁵⁵ maː²¹ taːi̯³³ haːu̯³³/

/pʰi⁵⁵ mä³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰei̯⁵⁵ maː²¹ taːi̯³³ haːu̯³³/

你也想著一家兒披麻帶孝為何由，故來這靈堂裡尋鬥毆。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
你也想着一家儿披麻带孝为何由，故来这灵堂里寻斗殴。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 元．無名氏《冤家債主》第二折

Nǐ yě xiǎng zhe yījiā'ér pīmádàixiào wéi héyóu, gù lái zhè língtáng lǐ xún dòu'ōu. [Pinyin]


喜上眉梢

ㄒㄧˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄕㄠ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

First attested in Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan [c. 1878].


處安思危

/ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

to think of danger in times of safety; to be vigilant in peacetime


時至今日

ㄕˊ ㄓˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄖˋ

шичжицзиньжи

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/siː²¹ t͡siː³³ kɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/siː²¹ t͡siː³³ kɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/


虎躍龍騰

like a leaping tiger and a soaring dragon

ㄏㄨˇ ㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄥˊ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵/

龍騰虎躍 龍騰虎躍#Chinese

龙腾虎跃 龙腾虎跃#Chinese


雙喜臨門

ㄕㄨㄤ ㄒㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄇㄣˊ

шуансилиньмэнь

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

two happy events happen at the same time


龍騰虎躍

like a soaring dragon and a leaping tiger

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄥˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄩㄝˋ

/lʊŋ³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹ fuː³⁵ jœːk̚³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ tʰɐŋ²¹ fuː³⁵ jœːk̚³/

active and vigorous; mighty and bustling


家賊難防

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄗㄟˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄤˊ

цзяцзэйнаньфан

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ nän³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːk̚² naːn²¹ fɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ nän³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːk̚² naːn²¹ fɔːŋ²¹/

it is difficult to guard against a thief within one's house; bad people from within are the most difficult to guard against


不世之材

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄘㄞˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

extraordinary and rare talented individual


隱惡揚善

ㄧㄣˇ ㄜˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄢˋ

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jɐn³⁵ ɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²¹ siːn²²/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jɐn³⁵ ɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²¹ siːn²²/

From the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) in the Book of Rites:
:
子曰：「舜其大知也與！舜好問而好察邇言，隱惡而揚善，執其兩端，用其中於民，其斯以為舜乎！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「舜其大知也与！舜好问而好察迩言，隐恶而扬善，执其两端，用其中于民，其斯以为舜乎！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ yuē: “Shùn qí dàzhī yě yú! Shùn hàowèn ér hào chá ěryán, yǐn è ér yáng shàn, zhí qí liǎngduān, yòng qí zhōng yú mín, qí sī yǐwèi Shùn hū!” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "There was Shun: He indeed was greatly wise! Shun loved to question others, and to study their words, though they might be shallow. He concealed what was bad in them and displayed what was good. He took hold of their two extremes, determined the Mean, and employed it in his government of the people. It was by this that he was Shun!"

子 曰：「^舜 其 大知 也 與{yú}！舜 好{hào}問 而 好{hào} 察 邇-言，@隱.惡 而 @揚.善，執 其 兩端，用 其 中 於 民，其 斯 以為 ^舜 乎！」

to conceal someone's faults and praise their merits


洞若觀火

ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

дунжогуаньхо

/tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ²² jœːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ²² jœːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/


今不如昔

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄒㄧ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄒㄧˊ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ɕi³⁵/


有名有姓

ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ³³/

/u³³⁻²¹ miã²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ sẽ²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ³³/

/u³³⁻²¹ miã²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ sẽ²¹/


有唐山公，無唐山媽

/u²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² mã⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻²² tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² suã³³ kɔŋ³³ bo²⁴⁻²² tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² suã³³ mã⁵⁵⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍¹³⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² tŋ̍¹³⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² mã⁵³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ mã⁵³/

/u³³⁻²¹ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ mã⁴¹/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) Used to describe the historical intermarriage of Han immigrant men with aboriginal women.


現學現賣

ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄞˋ

сяньсюэсяньмай

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹/


付之厥如

ㄈㄨˋ ㄓ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄨˊ

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐu³⁵/


咬薑呷醋

ㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄘㄨˋ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/


說一不二

˙ㄕㄨ ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄦˋ

/ʂu i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/ʂu i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

to mean what one says; to stand by one's word


匠心獨具

ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ

цзянсиньдуцзюй

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

(chiefly of literature or art) to show great ingenuity; to have originality


別具隻眼

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄓ ㄧㄢˇ

бецзюйчжиянь

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sɛːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sɛːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³/


別出心裁

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄘㄞˊ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/piɛt̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰai²⁴/

/piɛt̚²⁴⁻² t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ t͡sʰai²⁴/

/piɛt̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰai¹³/

/piɛt̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰai²⁴/

/piɛt̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰai²³/

/piak̚⁴⁻² t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sim³³⁻²³ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/piɛt̚²⁴⁻² t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ t͡sʰai²⁴/

/piak̚⁴⁻² t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sim³³⁻²³ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

to try to be different; to be out of the ordinary


別具匠心

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

бецзюйцзянсинь

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/piːt̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/piːt̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/


養虎遺患

ㄧㄤˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jœːŋ¹³ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ waːn²²/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jœːŋ¹³ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ waːn²²/

to not eliminate bad people or the enemy and bring future trouble to oneself


各得其所

ㄍㄜˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/kɤ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ tɐk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɔː³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ tɐk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɔː³⁵/

everyone or everything receives a suitable arrangement; each in his proper place


引喻失義

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (引喻失義):
* → Japanese: 引喩失義(いんゆしつぎ) (in'yushitsugi)

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jyː²² sɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jyː²² sɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

From Chu Shi Biao [227] by Zhuge Liang:
:
誠宜開張聖聽，以光先帝遺德，恢弘志士之氣，不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失義，以塞忠諫之路也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]诚宜开张圣听，以光先帝遗德，恢弘志士之气，不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失义，以塞忠谏之路也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 227, 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang), 出師表
Chéng yí kāizhāng shèngtīng, yǐ guāng xiāndì yídé, huīhóng zhìshì zhī qì, bùyí wàngzìfěibó, yǐnyùshīyì, yǐ sè zhōngjiàn zhī lù yě. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

誠 宜 開張 聖聽，以 光 先帝 遺德，恢弘 志士 之 氣，不宜 妄自菲{fěi}薄，引喻失義，以 塞{sè} 忠諫 之 路 也。


悔不當初

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤ ㄔㄨ

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/fuːi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵/

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/fuːi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵/


榜上有名

ㄅㄤˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/pɔːŋ³⁵ sœːŋ²² jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/paŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sĩõ¹¹ u³⁵⁻¹¹ mĩã⁵⁵/

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/pɔːŋ³⁵ sœːŋ²² jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/paŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sĩõ¹¹ u³⁵⁻¹¹ mĩã⁵⁵/


旁枝末節

ㄆㄤˊ ㄓ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/


枯瘦如柴

ㄎㄨ ㄕㄡˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄞˊ

кушоу жу чай

/kʰu⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʰu⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵/


庖丁解牛

ㄆㄠˊ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ tɪŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ tɪŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹/

From Zhuangzi.
庖丁为文惠君解牛，手之所触，肩之所倚，足之所履，膝之所踦，砉然向然，奏刀騞然，莫不中音。合于《桑林》之舞，乃中《經首》之会。文惠君曰：“嘻，善哉！技蓋至此乎？”庖丁释刀对曰：“臣之所好者道也，进乎技矣。始臣之解牛之时，所见无非牛者。三年之後，未嘗見全牛也。方今之时，臣以神遇而不以目视，官知止而神欲行。依乎天理，批大郤，导大窾，因其固然，技經肯綮之未嘗，而況大軱乎！良庖歲更刀，割也；族庖月更刀，折也。今臣之刀十九年矣，所解數千牛矣，而刀刃若新发于硎。彼節者有間，而刀刃者無厚；以無厚入有間，恢恢乎其於游刃必有余地矣，是以十九年而刀刃若新發於硎。雖然，每至於族，吾見其難為，怵然為戒，視為止，行為遲。動刀甚微，謋然已解，如土委地。提刀而立，為之四顧，為之躊躇滿志，善刀而藏之。」文惠君曰：「善哉！吾聞庖丁之言，得養生焉。” [Classical Chinese, trad.]庖丁为文惠君解牛，手之所触，肩之所倚，足之所履，膝之所踦，砉然向然，奏刀𬴃然，莫不中音。合于《桑林》之舞，乃中《经首》之会。文惠君曰：“嘻，善哉！技盖至此乎？”庖丁释刀对曰：“臣之所好者道也，进乎技矣。始臣之解牛之时，所见无非牛者。三年之后，未尝见全牛也。方今之时，臣以神遇而不以目视，官知止而神欲行。依乎天理，批大郤，导大窾，因其固然，技经肯綮之未尝，而况大𮝴乎！良庖岁更刀，割也；族庖月更刀，折也。今臣之刀十九年矣，所解数千牛矣，而刀刃若新发于硎。彼节者有间，而刀刃者无厚；以无厚入有间，恢恢乎其于游刃必有余地矣，是以十九年而刀刃若新发于硎。虽然，每至于族，吾见其难为，怵然为戒，视为止，行为迟。动刀甚微，𰵼然已解，如土委地。提刀而立，为之四顾，为之踌躇满志，善刀而藏之。」文惠君曰：「善哉！吾闻庖丁之言，得养生焉。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Páodīng wèi Wénhuìjūn jiě niú, shǒu zhī suǒ chù, jiān zhī suǒ yǐ, zú zhī suǒ lǚ, xī zhī suǒ jī, huārán xiǎng rán, zòu dāo huōrán, mò bù zhōng yīn. Hé yú “Sānglín” zhī wǔ, nǎi zhōng “Jīngshǒu” zhī huì. Wénhuìjūn yuē: “Xī, shàn zāi! Jì hé zhì cǐ hū?” Páodīng shì dāo duì yuē: “Chén zhī suǒ hǎo zhě dào yě, jìn hū jì yǐ. Shǐ chén zhī jiě niú zhī shí, suǒ jiàn wú fēi niú zhě. Sān nián zhīhòu, wèi cháng jiàn quán niú yě. Fāng jīn zhī shí, chén yǐ shén yù ér bù yǐ mù shì, guān zhī zhǐ ér shén yù xíng. Yī hū tiānlǐ, pī dàxì, dǎo dàkuǎn, yīn qí gùrán, zhījīng kěnqǐ zhī wèi cháng, érkuàng dà gū hū! Liáng páo suì gèng dāo, gē yě; zú páo yuè gèng dāo, zhé yě. Jīn chén zhī dāo shíjiǔ nián yǐ, suǒ jiě shù qiān niú yǐ, ér dāorèn ruò xīn fā yú xíng. Bǐ jié zhě yǒu jiān, ér dāorèn zhě wú hòu; yǐ wú hòu rù yǒu jiān, huīhuī hū qí yú yóu rèn bì yǒuyú dì yǐ, shì yǐ shíjiǔ nián ér dāorèn ruò xīn fā yú xíng. Suīrán, měi zhì yú zú, wú jiàn qí nán wèi, chùrán wèi jiè, shì wèi zhǐ, xíng wèi chí. Dòng dāo shèn wēi, huòrán yǐ jiě, rú tǔ wěi dì. Tí dāo ér lì, wèi zhī sìgù, wèi zhī chóuchúmǎnzhì, shàn dāo ér cáng zhī.” Wénhuìjūn yuē: “Shàn zāi! Wú wén Páodīng zhī yán, dé yǎngshēng yān.” [Pinyin]
His cook, Ding, cut up an ox for the ruler Wanhui. Whenever he applied his hand, leaned forward with his shoulder, planted his foot, and employed the pressure of his knee, in the audible ripping off of the skin, and slicing operation of the knife, the sounds were all in regular cadence. Movements and sounds proceeded as in the dance of the 'Mulberry Forest' and the blended notes of Jingshou. The ruler said, 'Ha, good! That your art should have become so perfect!' (Having finished his operation), the cook put down his knife, and replied, said,
'What your servant loves is the method of the Dao, something in advance of any art. When I first began to cut up an ox, I saw nothing but the (entire) carcass. After three years I ceased to see it as a whole. Now I deal with it in a spirit-like manner, and do not look at it with my eyes. The use of my senses is discarded, and my spirit acts as it wills. Observing the natural lines, (my knife) slips through the great crevices and slides through the great cavities, taking advantage of the facilities thus presented. My art avoids the membranous ligatures, and much more the great bones! 'A good cook changes his knife every year cutting; an ordinary cook changes his every month broken. Now my knife has been in use for nineteen years; it has cut up several thousand oxen, and yet its edge is as sharp as if it had newly come from the whetstone. There are the interstices of the joints, and the edge of the knife not thick; when that which is so thin enters where the interstice is, how easily it moves along! The blade has more than room enough. Nevertheless, whenever I come to a complicated joint, and see that there will be some difficulty, I proceed anxiously and with caution, not allowing my eyes to wander from the place, and moving my hand slowly. Then by a very slight movement of the knife, the part is quickly separated, and drops like earth to the ground. Then standing up with the knife in my hand, I look all round, and in a leisurely manner, self-satisfied, wipe it clean, and put it away.' The ruler Wanhui said, 'Good! I have heard the words of cook Ding, and learned from them to keep in good health.'

^@庖丁 为 ^@文惠君 解 牛 ，手 之 所 触，肩 之 所 倚，足 之 所 履，膝 之 所 踦，砉然 向{xiǎng} 然，奏 刀 騞然，莫 不 中 音。合 于《^@桑林》之 舞，乃 中《^@經首》之 会。^@文惠君 曰：“嘻 ，善 哉！技 蓋{hé} 至 此 乎？” ^@庖丁 释 刀 对 曰：“臣 之 所 好 者 道 也，进 乎 技 矣。始 臣 之 解 牛 之 时，所 见 无 非 牛 者。三 年 之後，未 嘗 見 全 牛 也。方 今 之 时，臣 以 神 遇 而 不 以 目 视，官 知 止 而 神 欲 行。依 乎 天理，批 大郤，导 大窾，因 其 固然，技{zhī}經 肯綮 之 未 嘗，而況 大 軱{gū} 乎！良 庖 歲 更 刀，割 也；族 庖 月 更 刀，折 也。今 臣 之 刀 十九 年 矣，所 解 數 千 牛 矣，而 刀刃 若 新 发 于 硎。彼 節 者 有 間，而 刀刃 者 無 厚；以 無 厚 入 有 間，恢恢 乎 其 於 游 刃 必 有余 地 矣，是 以 十九 年 而 刀刃 若 新 發 於 硎。雖然，每 至 於 族，吾 見 其 難 為，怵然 為 戒，視 為 止，行 為 遲。動 刀 甚 微，謋{huò}然 已 解，如 土 委 地。提 刀 而 立，為 之 四顧，為 之 躊躇滿志，善 刀 而 藏 之。」 ^@文惠君 曰：「善 哉！吾 聞 ^@庖丁 之 言，得 養生 焉。”

like a hot knife through butter
like a hot knife through butter

to be skilled at what one does; to do something with ease; like a hot knife through butter


別無長物

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄨˊ ㄓㄤˋ ㄨˋ

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄨˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄨˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/


別有天地

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄧˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

being of or showing another level of scenery; (of a place) to be amazingly beautiful and unique


別有風味

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄈㄥ ㄨㄟˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯²²/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯²²/


身手不凡

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄢˊ

шэньшоубуфань

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ fän³⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ fän³⁵/

showing extraordinary skills (e.g. in martial arts, sports, etc.)


山明水秀

ㄕㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

шаньминшуйсю

/ʂän⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu²¹/

/san³³ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siu⁴¹/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu²¹/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu¹¹/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siu²¹/

/ʂän⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu²¹/

/san³³ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡sui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siu⁴¹/

/san⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu²¹/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siu¹¹/

/san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siu²¹/

picturesque scenery; beautiful mountains and rivers


山清水秀

ㄕㄢ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

шаньциншуйсю

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³³/


父慈子孝

ㄈㄨˋ ㄘˊ ㄗˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/fu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²² t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ haːu̯³³/

/fu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²² t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ haːu̯³³/

From Liji:
:
何謂人義？父慈、子孝、兄良、弟弟、夫義、婦聽、長惠、幼順、君仁、臣忠十者，謂之人義。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]何谓人义？父慈、子孝、兄良、弟弟、夫义、妇听、长惠、幼顺、君仁、臣忠十者，谓之人义。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE
Hé wèi rén yì? Fù cí, zǐ xiào, xiōng liáng, dì tì, fū yì, fù tīng, cháng huì, yòu shùn, jūn rén, chén zhōng shí zhě, wèi zhī rén yì. [Pinyin]
What are 'the things which men consider right?' Kindness on the part of the father, and filial duty on that of the son; gentleness on the part of the elder brother, and obedience on that of the younger; righteousness on the part of the husband, and submission on that of the wife; kindness on the part of elders, and deference on that of juniors; with benevolence on the part of the ruler, and loyalty on that of the minister - these ten are the things which men consider to be right.

何 謂 人 義？父 慈、子 孝、兄 良、弟 弟{tì}、夫 義、婦 聽、長 惠、幼 順、君 仁、臣 忠 十 者，謂 之 人 義。

but used entirely sarcastically to denote unfilial child

the father is loving towards his children and the children show filial piety towards their father


照貓畫虎

ㄓㄠˋ ㄇㄠ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄏㄨˇ

чжаомаохуаху

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯³³ maːu̯⁵⁵ waːk̚² fuː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯³³ maːu̯⁵⁵ waːk̚² fuː³⁵/

to copy or imitate slavishly without attempt at originality


東躲西藏

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧ ㄘㄤˊ

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/


冰清玉潔

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

бинцинъюйцзе

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚² kiːt̚³/

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚² kiːt̚³/


民心向背

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄟˋ

миньсиньсянбэй

/min³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/min³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

人心向背 人心向背#Chinese

Synonym of 人心向背 (rénxīnxiàngbèi, “the will of the people; popular sentiment”)


人心向背

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄟˋ

жэньсиньсянбэй

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

the will of the people; popular sentiment


哄堂大笑

鬨堂大笑
轟堂大笑
烘堂大笑

ㄏㄨㄥ ㄊㄤˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/xʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²² tʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

/xʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²² tʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

the whole room bursts into laughter simultaneously


日居月諸

ㄖˋ ㄐㄧ ㄩㄝˋ ㄓㄨ

ㄖˋ ㄐㄩ ㄩㄝˋ ㄓㄨ

жи цзи юэ чжу

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

жи цзюй юэ чжу

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² kei̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² kɵy̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/lit̚²⁴⁻² ki³³ ɡuat̚²⁴⁻² t͡sɯ³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² ki⁴⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² t͡su⁴⁴/

/d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴ ɡuat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² kei̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² kɵy̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/lit̚²⁴⁻² ki³³ ɡuat̚²⁴⁻² t͡sɯ³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² ki⁴⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² t͡su⁴⁴/

/d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴ ɡuat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

From Shijing, Odes Of Bei, "Sun and Moon":
日居月諸、照臨下土。
乃如之人兮、逝不古處。
胡能有定、寧不我顧。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]日居月诸、照临下土。
乃如之人兮、逝不古处。
胡能有定、宁不我顾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rìjīyuèzhū, zhàolín xiàtǔ.
Nǎirú zhī rén xī, shì bù gǔchù.
Hú néng yǒu dìng, nìng bù wǒ gù. [Pinyin]
O sun; O moon, which enlighten this lower earth!
Here is the man, who treats me not according to the ancient rule.
How can he get his mind settled? Would he then not regard me?

日居{jī}月諸 、 照臨 下土。
乃如 之 人 兮 、 逝 不 古處。
胡 能 有 定 、 寧{nìng} 不 我 顧。

(literary) time flies quickly, time is inexorable


才調秀出

ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄔㄨ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tiːu̯²² sɐu̯³³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tiːu̯²² sɐu̯³³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

From the Book of Jin [circa 7th century C.E.].
:
王接才調秀出，見賞知音，惜其夭枉，未申驥足，嗟夫！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]王接才调秀出，见赏知音，惜其夭枉，未申骥足，嗟夫！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Book of Jin
Wáng Jiē cáidiàoxiùchū, jiàn shǎng zhīyīn, xī qí yāo wǎng, wèi shēn jìzú, jiēfū! [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

defdate

circa 7th century <small class='ce-date'>C.E.</small>

zh-x

^王 ^接 才調秀出，見 賞 知音，惜 其 夭 枉，未 申 驥足，嗟夫！

having outstanding talent; having one's talent stand out from the crowd


前言不搭後語

前言不搭后语
前言不答後語
前言不對後語

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩˇ

цяньянь бу да хоуюй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ taːp̚³ hɐu̯²² jyː¹³/


步步蓮花

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚ

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/


別抱琵琶

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄆㄧˊ ㄆㄚˊ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/


蹩手蹩腳

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

бешоу бецзяо

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


兵貴神速

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄣˊ ㄙㄨˋ

бингуйшэньсу

/piŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ su⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐn²¹ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ su⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐn²¹ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/

(literally, figuratively) speed is essential in war


克敵制勝

ㄎㄜˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄓˋ ㄕㄥˋ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sɐi̯³³ sɪŋ³³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sɐi̯³³ sɪŋ³³/


福壽雙全

ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄡˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

фушоушуанцюань

/fu³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/fʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/fu³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/fʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to enjoy both good fortune and longevity


壽頭壽腦

ㄕㄡˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄡˋ ㄋㄠˇ

шоутоушоунао

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯²² tʰɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯²² nou̯¹³/

/zɤ²² dɤ⁵⁵ zɤ³³ nɔ²¹/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯²² tʰɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯²² nou̯¹³/

/zɤ²² dɤ⁵⁵ zɤ³³ nɔ²¹/


土頭土腦

ㄊㄨˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨˇ ㄋㄠˇ

/tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰou̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ nou̯¹³/

/tʰou̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ nou̯¹³/


風急浪高

ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄤˋ ㄍㄠ

фэнцзилангао

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ lɑŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ lɑŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

to have stormy waves; to have strong winds and large waves


自輕自賤

ㄗˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

цзыцинцзыцзянь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/


風高浪急

ㄈㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄌㄤˋ ㄐㄧˊ

фэнгаоланцзи

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²² kɐp̚⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²² kɐp̚⁵/

風急浪高 風急浪高#Chinese

风急浪高 风急浪高#Chinese


不堪入耳

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄖㄨˋ ㄦˇ

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² jiː¹³/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² jiː¹³/

intolerable to the ear (e.g. of coarse language)


大軍壓境

ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

дацзюньяцзин

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

huge forces are bearing down on the border


俯拾皆是

ㄈㄨˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄕˋ

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ sɐp̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ sɐp̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/


勸和促談

ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄘㄨˋ ㄊㄢˊ

цюаньхэцутань

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

(neologism, officialese) to promote peace and talks


時勢所迫

ㄕˊ ㄕˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄆㄛˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

to be forced by circumstances to do something one is unwilling to do


鳩佔鵲巢

ㄐㄧㄡ ㄓㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄠˊ

цзючжаньцюэчао

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³ t͡sœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹/

/kɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³ t͡sœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹/

鵲巢鳩佔 鵲巢鳩佔#Chinese

鹊巢鸠占 鹊巢鸠占#Chinese


一分一毫

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ hou̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ hou̯²¹/


兵強馬壯

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

бинцянмачжуан

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹ maː¹³ t͡sɔːŋ³³/

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹ maː¹³ t͡sɔːŋ³³/


徇私枉法

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄙ ㄨㄤˇ ㄈㄚˇ

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/

/ɕyn⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/


言行不一

ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧ

/jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ hɐŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵/

/jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ hɐŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵/

one's actions do not match up to one's words


永誌不忘

ㄩㄥˇ ㄓˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɪŋ¹³ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɪŋ¹³ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

要之，上海、廣州、馬德里、蓋尼加格、拉諾勒、巴塞龍納、亞美利亞各城城名足以象徵法西斯在中西兩國境內所作之重大罪行，吾人今後定必永誌不忘。 [MSC, trad.]
要之，上海、广州、马德里、盖尼加格、拉诺勒、巴塞龙纳、亚美利亚各城城名足以象征法西斯在中西两国境内所作之重大罪行，吾人今后定必永志不忘。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1938 September 1, 運公, 《國際反對轟炸不設防城市大會議決制裁日本》, in 《東方雜誌》, volume 35, issue 17, page 50

Yàozhī, Shànghǎi, Guǎngzhōu, Mǎdélǐ, Gàiníjiāgé, Lānuòlè, Bāsàilóngnà, Yàměilìyà gè chéng chéngmíng zúyǐ xiàngzhēng fǎxīsī zài Zhōng Xī liǎng guó jìngnèi suǒ zuò zhī zhòngdà zuìxíng, wúrén jīnhòu dìngbì yǒngzhìbùwàng. [Pinyin]

永誌不忘紀念 往事不如煙 [MSC, trad.]
永志不忘纪念 往事不如烟 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2018 December 26, Jolin Tsai; Ashin (lyrics), RAZOR Chiang; Jolin Tsai (music), 《玫瑰少年》 (Womxnly), performed by Jolin Tsai

But your story will be etched in stone, it won't disappear like a puff of smoke

yǒngzhìbùwàng jìniàn, wǎngshì bù rú yān [Pinyin]


五彩斑斕

ㄨˇ ㄘㄞˇ ㄅㄢ ㄌㄢˊ

уцайбаньлань

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pän⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ paːn⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pän⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ paːn⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

all the colours in profusion; full of bright colours; multicoloured; garish display


芝麻小事

ㄓ ˙ㄇㄚ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä² ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ maː²¹ siːu̯³⁵ siː²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä² ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ maː²¹ siːu̯³⁵ siː²²/


窮鼠齧貓

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄋㄧㄝˋ ㄇㄠ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ jiːt̚² maːu̯⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋiːt̚² maːu̯⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːt̚² maːu̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ jiːt̚² maːu̯⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋiːt̚² maːu̯⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːt̚² maːu̯⁵⁵/

窮鼠齧狸 窮鼠齧狸#Chinese

穷鼠啮狸 穷鼠啮狸#Chinese


狐藉虎威

desc

→ Japanese: 虎の威を借る狐 (tora no i o karu kitsune) (partial calque)

ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄨㄟ

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wuː²¹ t͡sɛː³³ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wuː²¹ t͡sɛː³³ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

狐假虎威 狐假虎威#Chinese


窮鼠齧狸

ja-r

きゅうそ ねこ を かむ

Japanese: 窮鼠(きゅうそ)猫(ねこ)を噛(か)む (kyūso neko o kamu)

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄋㄧㄝˋ ㄌㄧˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛ⁵¹ li³⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ jiːt̚² lei̯²¹/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋiːt̚² lei̯²¹/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːt̚² lei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛ⁵¹ li³⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ jiːt̚² lei̯²¹/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋiːt̚² lei̯²¹/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːt̚² lei̯²¹/

From the Discourses on Salt and Iron (鹽鐵論·詔聖／盐铁论·诏圣):
:
死不再生，窮鼠嚙狸，匹夫奔萬乘，舍人折弓，陳勝、吳廣是也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]死不再生，穷鼠啮狸，匹夫奔万乘，舍人折弓，陈胜、吴广是也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Huan Kuan, Discourses on Salt and Iron, c. 1ˢᵗ century BCE
Sǐ bù zàishēng, qióng shǔ niè lí, pǐfū bēn wànchéng, shèrén zhé gōng, Chén Shèng, Wú Guǎng shì yě. [Pinyin]
People cannot revive if they die, so a cornered rat will bite a cat; An ordinary man would go to assault the Emperor; A servant of a noble would destroy his bow. This is precisely the case of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.

zh-x

死 不 再生，窮 鼠 嚙 狸，匹夫 奔 萬乘，舍人 折 弓，^陳 ^勝、^吳 ^廣 是 也。

窮鼠嚙狸
窮鼠齧貍
窮鼠嚙貍
穷鼠啮狸

(figurative) a cornered rat will bite a cat, weak people will attack when cornered


少年易老學難成

desc

少年老いやすく学なりがたし

→ Japanese: 少年老いやすく学なりがたし (shōnen oiyasuku gaku narigatashi) (calque)

ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ

шаонянь и лао сюэ нань чэн

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/siːu̯³³ niːn²¹ jiː²² lou̯¹³ hɔːk̚² naːn²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

From Zhu Xi's poem 《偶成》:
:
少年易老學難成，一寸光陰不可輕 [Classical Chinese, trad.]少年易老学难成，一寸光阴不可轻 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
shàonián yì lǎo xué nán chéng, yīcùn guāngyīn bùkě qīng [Pinyin]
It's easy for a youth to become old but hard to accomplish much learning. Every second of the time should not be undervalued.

zh-x

少年 易 老 學 難 成，一寸 光陰 不可 輕

if you do not study when you are young, you will grow old quickly without accomplishing much learning


堂堂之陣

ㄊㄤˊ ㄊㄤˊ ㄓ ㄓㄣˋ

тантан чжи чжэнь

/tʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/tʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐn²²/

/tʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/tʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐn²²/

A disciplined, orderly army with high morale.


走為上策

ㄗㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄘㄜˋ

цзоувэйшанцэ

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

走為上計 走為上計#Chinese

走为上计 走为上计#Chinese

Synonym of 走為上計／走为上计 (zǒuwéishàngjì, “If all else fails, retreat; Fleeing is the best stratagem (of the Thirty-Six Stratagems)”)


胡編亂造

ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄗㄠˋ

хубяньлуаньцзао

/xu³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuː²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ lyːn²² t͡sou̯²²/

/hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ luaŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sau³⁵/

/xu³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuː²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ lyːn²² t͡sou̯²²/

/hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ luaŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sau³⁵/

to fabricate (stories, etc.); to cook up


一炮而紅

ㄧ ㄆㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰaːu̯³³ jiː²¹ hʊŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰaːu̯³³ jiː²¹ hʊŋ²¹/


三十而立

ㄙㄢ ㄕˊ ㄦˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/sän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐp̚² jiː²¹ lɐp̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐp̚² jiː²¹ lɐp̚²/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「吾十有五而志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Wú shí yòu wǔ ér zhì yú xué, sānshí ér lì, sìshí ér bùhuò, wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng, liùshí ér ěr shùn, qīshí ér cóng xīn suǒ yù, bù yújǔ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.

^子曰：「吾 十 有{yòu} 五 而 志 于 學，三十.而.立，四十 而 不惑，五十 而 知 天命，六十 而 耳 順，七十 而 從.心.所.欲，不 踰矩。」

to become independent at the age of thirty


楚楚可憐

ㄔㄨˇ ㄔㄨˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ liːn²¹/

/t͡sʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ liːn²¹/


焚琴煮鶴

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (焚琴煮鶴):
* → Japanese: 焚琴煮鶴(ふんきんしゃかく) (funkin shakaku)
* → Korean: 분금자학(焚琴煮鶴) (bun'geumjahak)

ja-r

こと を やき つる を にる

→ Japanese: 琴(こと)を焚(や)き鶴(つる)を煮(に)る (koto o yaki tsuru o niru) (calque)

ㄈㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄏㄜˋ

фэнь цинь чжу хэ

/fən³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/fɐn²¹ kʰɐm²¹ t͡syː³⁵ hɔːk̚²/

/fən³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/fɐn²¹ kʰɐm²¹ t͡syː³⁵ hɔːk̚²/

From Li Shangyin's personal notes about behaviours that he considered spoiling beautiful sceneries. See also 大煞風景／大煞风景 (dàshāfēngjǐng).
:
煞風景：花間喝道﹑看花淚下﹑苔上鋪席﹑斫卻垂楊﹑花下曬裩﹑遊春重載﹑石筍繫馬﹑月下把火﹑妓筵說俗事﹑果園種菜﹑背山起樓﹑花架下養雞鴨﹑步行將軍﹑清泉濯足﹑焚琴煮鶴﹑對花啜茶。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]煞风景：花间喝道﹑看花泪下﹑苔上铺席﹑斫却垂杨﹑花下晒裩﹑游春重载﹑石笋系马﹑月下把火﹑妓筵说俗事﹑果园种菜﹑背山起楼﹑花架下养鸡鸭﹑步行将军﹑清泉濯足﹑焚琴煮鹤﹑对花啜茶。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Li Shangyin, Yishan's notes (義山雜纂)
Shàfēngjǐng: huājiān hē dào ﹑ kàn huā lèi xià ﹑ tái shàng pū xí ﹑ zhuó què chuí yáng ﹑ huā xià shài kūn ﹑ yóu chūn zhòng zǎi ﹑ shísǔn jì mǎ ﹑ yuè xià bǎ huǒ ﹑ jì yán shuō sú shì ﹑ guǒyuán zhǒng cài ﹑ bèi shān qǐlóu ﹑ huājià xià yǎng jī yā ﹑ bùxíng jiāngjūn ﹑ qīngquán zhuó zú ﹑ fénqínzhǔhè ﹑ duì huā chuò chá. [Pinyin]
(Behaviours that) spoil beautiful sceneries: Shouting at a place with flowers, crying when looking at flowers, laying a carpet on moss, chopping willow trees, hanging pants under flowers, leaving behind when going on travel in spring, tying horse onto stalagmite, lighting torches under the moon, saying vulgar things on a party with female entertainers, planting vegetables in a fruit garden, constructing buildings before mountains, raising chicken and ducks in a flower frame, military general walking, washing feet in clear springs, burning guqins and cooking cranes, drinking only tea (but not wine) when having flower viewing.

zh-l

大煞風景／大煞风景 (dàshāfēngjǐng)

zh-x

煞風景：花間 喝 道 @﹑ 看 花 淚 下 @﹑ 苔 上 鋪 席 @﹑ 斫 卻 垂 楊 @﹑ 花 下 曬 裩 @﹑ 遊 春 重 載 @﹑ 石筍 繫 馬 @﹑ 月 下 把 火 @﹑ 妓 筵 說 俗 事 @﹑ 果園 種 菜 @﹑ 背 山 起樓 @﹑ 花架 下 養 雞 鴨 @﹑ 步行 將軍 @﹑ 清泉 濯 足 @﹑ 焚琴煮鶴 @﹑ 對 花 啜 茶 。

(figuratively) vulgar, tasteless behaviors that spoil elegant or beautiful things


鬱鬱不得志

ㄩˋ ㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄓˋ

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

From the New Book of Tang:
:
變姓名為劉智遠，教授諸生自給，鬱鬱不得志，哀吟泣下。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]变姓名为刘智远，教授诸生自给，郁郁不得志，哀吟泣下。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The New Book of Tang, 1060 CE
Biàn xìngmíng wéi Liú Zhìyuǎn, jiàoshòu zhūshēng zìgěi, yùyùbùdézhì, āi yín qì xià. [Pinyin]
[Li Mi] changed his name to Liu Zhiyuan, and taught the people how to make a life. He felt depressed and sobbed in grief.

變 姓名 為{wéi} ^劉 ^智-遠，教授 諸生 自給，鬱鬱不得志，哀 吟 泣 下。

to feel depressed because one cannot achieve their ambition


高風亮節

ㄍㄠ ㄈㄥ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

гаофэнлянцзе

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ lœːŋ²² t͡siːt̚³/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ lœːŋ²² t͡siːt̚³/

to be a person of noble character and steadfast integrity


超凡脫俗

ㄔㄠ ㄈㄢˊ ㄊㄨㄛ ㄙㄨˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fän³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ su³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːu̯⁵⁵ faːn²¹ tʰyːt̚³ t͡sʊk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fän³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ su³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːu̯⁵⁵ faːn²¹ tʰyːt̚³ t͡sʊk̚²/


黑不溜秋

ㄏㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡ ㄑㄧㄡ

/xeɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/xeɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

(colloquial, derogatory) in black colour


葉落歸根

→ Vietnamese: lá rụng về cội (calque)

ㄧㄝˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄍㄣ

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵/

/jiːp̚² lɔːk̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵/

/jiːp̚² lɔːk̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

From Song dynasty book《景德傳燈錄》by 釋道原:
:
葉落歸根，來時無口。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]叶落归根，来时无口。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 宋·釋道原《景德傳燈錄》
Yèluòguīgēn, lái shí wú kǒu. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

葉落歸根，來 時 無 口。

宋·釋道原《景德傳燈錄》

a person who has been away from his or her hometown for a long time would eventually return


重修舊好

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄠˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² hou̯³⁵/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siu⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siu³³ ku⁴¹⁻²² ho⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ¹³⁻²² siu⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻¹¹ ho⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻²¹ hɤ⁴¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² hou̯³⁵/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siu⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siu³³ ku⁴¹⁻²² ho⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ¹³⁻²² siu⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻¹¹ ho⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻²¹ hɤ⁴¹/


知人善任

ㄓ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄖㄣˋ

чжижэньшаньжэнь

čžižɛnʹšanʹžɛnʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ siːn²² jɐm²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ siːn²² jɐm²²/

to know one's subordinates well enough to assign them jobs commensurate with their abilities


退避三舍

ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄙㄢ ㄕㄜˋ

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯³³ pei̯²² saːm⁵⁵ sɛː³³/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯³³ pei̯²² saːm⁵⁵ sɛː³³/

From the account of Duke Wen of Jin, who, prior to becoming the ruler of Jin, had fled from a succession crisis and had been seeking shelter in various states. After receiving him, King Cheng of Chu asked how he would pay back if he were to become the ruler of Jin. His reply was (《左傳·僖公二十三年》):
:
若以君之靈，得反晉國，晉楚治兵，遇於中原，其辟君三舍。若不獲命，其左執鞭弭，右屬櫜鞬，以與君周旋。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]若以君之灵，得反晋国，晋楚治兵，遇于中原，其辟君三舍。若不获命，其左执鞭弭，右属櫜鞬，以与君周旋。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Ruò yǐ jūn zhī líng, dé fǎn Jìn guó, Jìn Chǔ zhì bīng, yù yú zhōngyuán, qí bì jūn sān shè. Ruò bù huò mìng, qí zuǒ zhí biān mǐ, yòu shǔ gāo jiān, yǐ yǔ jūn zhōuxuán. [Pinyin]
If by your lordship's powerful influence I shall recover the State of Jin, should Chu and Jin go to war and meet in the plain of the Middle Land, I will withdraw from your lordship three stages [each of 30 li]. If then I do not receive your commands to cease from hostilities, with my whip and my bow in my left hand, and my quiver and my bowcase on my right, I will manaeuvre with your lordship.

lang

(《左傳·僖公二十三年》)

(《左傳·僖公二十三年》)

zh-x

若 以 君 之 靈，得 反 ^晉 國，^晉 ^楚 治 兵，遇 於 中原，其 辟{bì} 君 @三 @舍。若 不 獲 命，其 左 執 鞭 弭，右 屬 櫜{gāo} 鞬，以 與 君 周旋。

If by your lordship's powerful influence I shall recover the State of Jin, should Chu and Jin go to war and meet in the plain of the Middle Land, I will withdraw from your lordship three stages 􂀿each of 30 li􂁀. If then I do not receive your commands to cease from hostilities, with my whip and my bow in my left hand, and my quiver and my bowcase on my right, I will manaeuvre with your lordship.

to give way to avoid a conflict in the face of superior strength (to avoid heavy losses)


不成功便成仁

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ

бу чэнгун бянь чэнжэнь

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ piːn²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ piːn²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/


講三講四

/kɔːŋ³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ sei̯³³/

/kɔŋ³¹ sam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ kɔŋ³¹ si⁵³/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ sei̯³³/

/kɔŋ³¹ sam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ kɔŋ³¹ si⁵³/

(Cantonese, Hakka, derogatory) to gossip; to make irresponsible remarks

(Cantonese, Hakka, derogatory) to criticize, to carp


玄之又玄

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄧㄡˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ

сюаньчжиюсюань

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² jyːn²¹/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² iu²²⁻²¹ hiɛn²⁴/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ iu⁴¹⁻²² hiɛn²⁴/

/hiɛn¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² iu²²⁻²¹ hiɛn¹³/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ iu³³⁻¹¹ hiɛn²⁴/

/hiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ iu³³⁻²¹ hiɛn²³/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² jyːn²¹/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² iu²²⁻²¹ hiɛn²⁴/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ iu⁴¹⁻²² hiɛn²⁴/

/hiɛn¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² iu²²⁻²¹ hiɛn¹³/

/hiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ iu³³⁻¹¹ hiɛn²⁴/

/hiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ iu³³⁻²¹ hiɛn²³/

From Tao Te Ching:
:
玄之又玄，眾妙之門。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]玄之又玄，众妙之门。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Xuánzhīyòuxuán, zhòng miào zhī mén. [Pinyin]
Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.

玄之又玄，眾 妙 之 門。


無聲無氣

/mou̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hei̯³³/

/mo¹¹ saŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ mo¹¹ hi⁵³/

/mou̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hei̯³³/

/mo¹¹ saŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ mo¹¹ hi⁵³/


清湯寡水

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄊㄤ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

цинтангуашуй

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/


身殘志堅

ㄕㄣ ㄘㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄐㄧㄢ

шэньцаньчжицзянь

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


星星點點

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄧㄢˇ

синсиндяньдянь

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵ tiːm³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵ tiːm³⁵/


杳無音訊

ㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄣˋ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/

杳無音信 杳無音信#Chinese

杳无音信 杳无音信#Chinese


怨天怨地

ㄩㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄩㄢˋ ㄉㄧˋ

юаньтяньюаньди

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

to blame everyone and everything; to incessantly grumble about things


浩氣長存

ㄏㄠˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

хаоци чанцунь

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/hou̯²² hei̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/hou̯²² hei̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/


久病成醫

Prolonged illness makes a doctor of a patient.

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pɛːŋ²² sɪŋ²¹ jiː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pɛːŋ²² sɪŋ²¹ jiː⁵⁵/

experience is the best teacher
experience is the best teacher


不溫不火

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/pu⁵¹ wən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ wən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be in a happy medium state; neither hot nor cold


說古道今

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄍㄨˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

шогудаоцзинь

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ kuː³⁵ tou̯²² kɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ kuː³⁵ tou̯²² kɐm⁵⁵/

From General Yue Fei [circa 17th–18th c.].
:
你們又文縐縐的說古道今，我那裏省得？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]你们又文绉绉的说古道今，我那里省得？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Shuo Yue Quan Zhuan
Nǐmen yòu wénzhòuzhòu de shuōgǔdàojīn, wǒ nà lǐ xǐngdé? [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

你們 又 文縐縐 的 說古道今，我 那 裏 省得？

everything under the sun
everything under the sun


各有所長

ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄤˊ

/kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

each has its own strengths (e.g. each person as their own strengths)


天荒地老

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄤ ㄉㄧˋ ㄌㄠˇ

тяньхуандилао

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² lou̯¹³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² lou̯¹³/


含飴弄孫

ㄏㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄣ

ханьинунсунь

/xän³⁵ i³⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/hɐm²¹ jiː²¹ lʊŋ²² syːn⁵⁵/

/xän³⁵ i³⁵ nʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/hɐm²¹ jiː²¹ lʊŋ²² syːn⁵⁵/

From Book of the Later Han.
:
吾但當含飴弄孫，不能復知政事。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吾但当含饴弄孙，不能复知政事。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5ᵗʰ century CE
Wú dàn dāng hányínòngsūn, bùnéng fù zhī zhèngshì. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

吾 但 當 含飴弄孫，不能 復 知 政事。