不著邊際

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄐㄧˋ

бучжобяньцзи

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² piːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² piːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³/

neither here nor there
neither here nor there

not to the point; wide of the mark; irrelevant; neither here nor there


不值一文

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˊ ㄧ ㄨㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

not worth a penny; utterly worthless; no use whatsoever


不知進退

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

бучжицзиньтуй

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³ tʰɵy̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³ tʰɵy̯³³/

to have no sense of propriety; to not know where to stop


不足為訓

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄩㄣˋ

буцзувэйсюнь

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ fɐn³³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ fɐn³³/

not fit to serve as a model; not to be taken as an example; not an example to be followed; unauthoritative


不知分寸

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄈㄣ ㄘㄨㄣˋ

бучжифэньцунь

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³/

to lack tact; to have no sense of propriety


不足輕重

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

буцзуцинчжун

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³/


不知凡幾

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄈㄢˊ ㄐㄧˇ

бучжифаньцзи

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn²¹ kei̯³⁵/


布帛菽粟

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄕㄨ ㄙㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/pou̯³³ paːk̚² sʊk̚² sʊk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/pou̯³³ paːk̚² sʊk̚² sʊk̚⁵/


停滯不前

ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

тинчжибуцянь

/tʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/tʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

地主階級這樣殘酷的剝削和壓迫所造成的農民的極端的窮苦和落後，就是中國社會幾千年在經濟上和社會生活上停滯不前的基本原因。 [MSC, trad.]
地主阶级这样残酷的剥削和压迫所造成的农民的极端的穷苦和落后，就是中国社会几千年在经济上和社会生活上停滞不前的基本原因。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1939, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《中國革命和中國共產黨》 (The Chinese Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

The extreme poverty and backwardness of the peasants resulting from ruthless landlord exploitation and oppression is the basic reason why Chinese society remained at the same stage of socio-economic development for several thousand years.

Dìzhǔ jiējí zhèyàng cánkù de bōxuē hé yāpò suǒ zàochéng de nóngmín de jíduān de qióngkǔ hé luòhòu, jiù shì Zhōngguó shèhuì jǐ qiān nián zài jīngjì shàng hé shèhuì shēnghuó shàng tíngzhìbùqián de jīběn yuányīn. [Pinyin]

to cease developing and be unable to progress; stagnant


不祧之祖

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄠ ㄓ ㄗㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵/


不知死活

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙˇ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ wuːt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ wuːt̚²/

to act recklessly; to do something regardless of danger


不知好歹

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄏㄠˇ ㄉㄞˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵ taːi̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵ taːi̯³⁵/

cannot tell good from bad; to mistake good for bad; to be unable to see others' good intentions


不著痕跡

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄣˊ ㄐㄧ

бучжохэньцзи

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ xən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ xən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² hɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ xən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ xən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² hɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/


不知所以

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jiː¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jiː¹³/

to now know why it is so; to not know the reason


不戰不和

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄜˊ

бучжань бухэ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹/


不肖子孫

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ ㄙㄨㄣ

бусяо цзысунь

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵ syːn⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵ syːn⁵⁵/


不虞之譽

/pu⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː²²/

/pu⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː²²/


不易之論

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

perfectly sound proposition; undeniable truth; irrefutable argument


不贊一詞

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄢˋ ㄧ ㄘˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːn³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːn³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to not say a word; to keep quiet; to make no comment


不遠千里

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

буюаньцяньли

/pu⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyːn¹³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyːn¹³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》):
孟子見梁惠王。王曰：「叟不遠千里而來，亦將有以利吾國乎？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子见梁惠王。王曰：「叟不远千里而来，亦将有以利吾国乎？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Mèngzǐ jiàn Liáng Huì wáng. Wáng yuē: “Sǒu bù yuǎn qiānlǐ ér lái, yì jiāng yǒu yǐ lì wú guó hū?” [Pinyin]
Mencius went to see king Hui of Liang. The king said, "Venerable sir, since you have not counted it far to come here, a distance of a thousand li, may I presume that you are provided with counsels to profit my kingdom?"

zh-x

孟子 見 ^梁 ^惠 王。王 曰：「叟 不.遠.千里 而 來，亦 將 有 以 利 吾 國 乎？」

to make light of travelling a thousand li

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


天高地厚

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄠ ㄉㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

тяньгаодихоу

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ tei̯²² hɐu̯¹³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kau³³ ti¹¹ kau³⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ tei̯²² hɐu̯¹³/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kau³³ ti¹¹ kau³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 192 (《詩經·小雅·正月》):
:
謂天蓋高，不敢不局。
謂地蓋厚，不敢不蹐。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]谓天盖高，不敢不局。
谓地盖厚，不敢不蹐。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Wèi tiān gài gāo, bùgǎn bù jú.
Wèi dì gài hòu, bùgǎn bù jí. [Pinyin]
We say of the heavens that they are high,
But I dare not but stoop under them.
We say of the earth that it is thick,
But I dare not but walk daintily on it.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·正月》)

(《詩經·小雅·正月》)

zh-x

謂 @天 蓋 @高，不敢 不 跼\局。
謂 @地 蓋 @厚，不敢 不 蹐。

as high as the heavens and as deep as the earth


不足掛齒

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄔˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ kʷaː³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ kʷaː³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

(sometimes humble) not worth mentioning; nothing to speak of


不甘後人

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ

буганьхоужэнь

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹/

to not be content to lag behind; to hate being outdone; to be not content to fall behind or not exceed


不祥之兆

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄓ ㄓㄠˋ

бусянчжичжао

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ siːu̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ siːu̯²²/


不分畛域

to not discriminate on geographical grounds

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ ㄓㄣˇ ㄩˋ

буфэньчжэньюй

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn³⁵ wɪk̚²/

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn³⁵ wɪk̚²/


不服水土

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰou̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰou̯³⁵/

to not be accustomed to the local climate; to be not acclimatized (of an outsider)


不分彼此

to make no distinction between one's own and somebody else's

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ ㄅㄧˇ ㄘˇ

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to share everything; to be on very intimate terms


不乏先例

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ fä³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚² siːn⁵⁵ lɐi̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ fä³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚² siːn⁵⁵ lɐi̯²²/


不甘落後

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄡˋ

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² hɐu̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² hɐu̯²²/

to be not content to lag behind; to be unwilling to be left behind


不乏其人

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚² kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐt̚² kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

such people are not rare; there is no lack of such people


不甘示弱

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ siː²² jœːk̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ siː²² jœːk̚²/

to be unwilling to be outdone; not to be outdone


不敢問津

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

буганьвэньцзинь

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ mɐn²² t͡sɵn⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ mɐn²² t͡sɵn⁵⁵/

to not dare to inquire (e.g. about the price of expensive goods)


不乾不淨

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

буганьбуцзин

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛːŋ²²/


不苟言笑

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/pu⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ siːu̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ siːu̯³³/

reserved; reticent; taciturn; sober; sedate


不攻自破

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄆㄛˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² pʰɔː³³/

/pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² pʰɔː³³/

to collapse of itself (of a rumor, etc.); to be discredited


不甘寂寞

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧˋ ㄇㄛˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧˊ ㄇㄛˋ

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² mɔːk̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² mɔːk̚²/

to hate to be neglected or overlooked; to be anxious to participate


晴天霹靂

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄆㄧ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ lɪk̚⁵/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² pʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ liɪk̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰi⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ lɪk̚⁵/

bolt from the blue; sudden and unexpected bad news


不法之徒

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚˇ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ

/pu⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/


新春佳節

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

синьчуньцзяцзе

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³/

the joyous occasion of the Spring Festival


不過爾爾

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄦˇ ㄦˇ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ jiː¹³ jiː¹³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ jiː¹³ jiː¹³/


不寒而慄

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ xän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn²¹ jiː²¹ lɵt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ xän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn²¹ jiː²¹ lɵt̚²/

to tremble with fear; to shudder; to shiver all over despite not being cold


不違農時

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄕˊ

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ nʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ nʊŋ²¹ siː²¹/

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ nʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ nʊŋ²¹ siː²¹/

to not miss the farming season; to do farm work in the right season


不為已甚

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˇ ㄕㄣˋ

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː¹³ sɐm²²/

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː¹³ sɐm²²/

to not go too far; to refrain from going to extremes; to never go beyond reasonable limits


不同凡響

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

бутунфаньсян

/pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ fän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ faːn²¹ hœːŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ fän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ faːn²¹ hœːŋ³⁵/

outstanding; out of the ordinary; out of the common run (usually of literary and artistic works)


遵紀守法

ㄗㄨㄣ ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄈㄚˇ

цзуньцзишоуфа

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ faːt̚³/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ faːt̚³/


不時之需

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/


不容置辯

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

бужунчжибянь

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ piːn²²/

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ piːn²²/


不衫不履

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄩˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

to be dressed negligently; to be not properly dressed


不忍坐視

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡sʰɔː¹³ siː²²/

/pu⁵¹ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡sʰɔː¹³ siː²²/


不容置疑

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ jiː²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ jiː²¹/

to allow or admit no doubt; to not open to doubt; to be beyond doubt; to be absolutely certain


不聲不響

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/

quiet; silent; without speaking; taciturn


盲婚啞嫁

ㄇㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄣ ㄧㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

/mɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/maːŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ aː³⁵ kaː³³/

/mɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/maːŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ aː³⁵ kaː³³/

arranged marriage
arranged marriage#English


不甚了了

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄠˇ

бушэньляоляо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂən⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐm²² liːu̯¹³ liːu̯¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐm²² liːu̯¹³ liːu̯¹³/

to not know much about something; to be unclear about something


不失時機

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ kei̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ kei̯⁵⁵/

to not let the opportunity slip; to seize the opportune moment; to lose no time


不容置喙

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

бужунчжихуэй

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ fuːi̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ fuːi̯³³/

to not allow others to interfere; to brook no intervention


不聞不問

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˋ

бувэньбувэнь

/pu⁵¹ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

/pu⁵¹ wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

to not bother to ask or to listen; to show no interest in; to be indifferent to


不屈不撓

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄠˊ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

中國人民，百年以來，不屈不撓、再接再厲的英勇鬥爭，使得帝國主義至今不能滅亡中國，也永遠不能滅亡中國。 [MSC, trad.]
中国人民，百年以来，不屈不挠、再接再厉的英勇斗争，使得帝国主义至今不能灭亡中国，也永远不能灭亡中国。 [MSC, simp.]

Thanks to the Chinese people's unrelenting and heroic struggle during the last hundred years, imperialism has not been able to subjugate China, nor will it ever be able to do so.

Zhōngguó rénmín, bǎinián yǐlái, bùqūbùnáo, zàijiēzàilì de yīngyǒng dòuzhēng, shǐdé dìguó zhǔyì zhìjīn bùnéng mièwáng Zhōngguó, yě yǒngyuǎn bùnéng mièwáng Zhōngguó. [Pinyin]


不無小補

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ pou̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ pou̯³⁵/

to not be without some advantage; to be of some help


不宣而戰

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄢ ㄦˊ ㄓㄢˋ

бусюаньэрчжань

/pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ syːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siːn³³/

/pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ syːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siːn³³/

to open hostilities without declaring war; to start an undeclared war


胡言漢語

ㄏㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄢˋ ㄩˇ

/xu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

这二老汉，各人好与三十棒。何故？一个说长说短，一个胡言汉语。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 1252, 五燈會元
Zhè èr lǎohàn, gè rén hǎo yǔ sānshí bàng. Hégù? Yī gè shuōchángshuōduǎn, yī gè húyánhànyǔ. [Pinyin]

這二老漢，各人好與三十棒。何故？一箇說長說短，一箇胡言漢語。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

to talk nonsense; to rave; babbling nonsense


不死不活

ㄅㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

/pu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wuːt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wuːt̚²/


不幸之幸

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ hɐŋ²²/

good fortune in the midst of bad; a stroke of good luck in a stretch of bad; redeeming feature in a piece of misfortune


不偏不倚

ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jiː³⁵/


不勝枚舉

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄩˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄩˇ

бушэнмэйцзюй

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ muːi̯²¹ kɵy̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ muːi̯²¹ kɵy̯³⁵/

too numerous to mention individually (or one by one)


不幸中的大幸

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

bùxìng zhōng de dàxìng [Phonetic:búxìng zhōng de dàxìng]

бусин чжун дэ дасин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ d̥ə² tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐŋ²² t͡sʊŋ³³ tɪk̚⁵ taːi̯²² hɐŋ²²/


不容分說

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄣ ㄕㄨㄛ

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

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


不識大體

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄧˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tä⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ taːi̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tä⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ taːi̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

to fail to see the larger issues; to ignore the general issues


不勝其煩

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄢˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄢˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ faːn²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ faːn²¹/


不識抬舉

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄊㄞˊ ˙ㄐㄩ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄞˊ ˙ㄐㄩ

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ d͡ʑ̥y³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ d͡ʑ̥y³/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ d͡ʑ̥y³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ d͡ʑ̥y³/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯³⁵/

to fail to appreciate somebody's kindness; to be unable to appreciate favors; to not recognize a favor


以人廢言

ㄧˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄧㄢˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ jiːn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐn²¹ fɐi̯³³ jiːn²¹/

From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):
:
子曰：「君子不以言舉人，不以人廢言。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「君子不以言举人，不以人废言。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén, bù yǐ rén fèi yán.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "The superior man does not promote a man simply on account of his words, nor does he put aside good words because of the man."

子曰：「君子 不 以 言 舉 人，不 以.人.廢.言。」

to reject an opinion because the speaker is not good or not to one's liking


不惜工本

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄣˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄣˇ

буси гунбэнь

/pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³⁵/

to spare no expense; to spare neither labor nor money


不厭其詳

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤˊ

bùyàn qí xiáng [Phonetic:búyàn qí xiáng]

буянь ци сян

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

to go into details; to dwell at length upon


不破不立

ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɔː³³ pɐt̚⁵ laːp̚²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɔː³³ pɐt̚⁵ laːp̚²/

There is no construction without destruction. There's no making without breaking. To make, you must break.


不平則鳴

ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐk̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐk̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

injustice provokes outcry; where there is injustice, there will be protest


不名一文

ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧ ㄨㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/


不厭其煩

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄢˊ

буянь ци фань

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³ kʰei̯²¹ faːn²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³³ kʰei̯²¹ faːn²¹/

to not mind taking the trouble; to take great pains; to be very patient


不寧唯是

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ niŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ siː²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ niŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ siː²²/


不念舊惡

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄜˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ niːm²² kɐu̯²² ɔːk̚³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ niːm²² kɐu̯²² ɔːk̚³/

From the Analects, Book 5 (《論語·公冶長》):
:
子曰：「伯夷、叔齊不念舊惡，怨是用希。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「伯夷、叔齐不念旧恶，怨是用希。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Bóyí, Shūqí bù niàn jiù'è, yuàn shì yòng xī.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "Boyi and Shuqi did not keep the former wickednesses of men in mind, and hence the resentments directed towards them were few."

子曰：「@^伯夷、@^叔齊 不.念.舊惡，怨 是 用 希。」

let bygones be bygones
let bygones be bygones

to not bear a grudge; to forgive and forget; to let bygones be bygones


不能贊一辭

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗㄢˋ ㄧ ㄘˊ

бунэнцзаньицы

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡saːn³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡saːn³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to be unable to say a word (in criticism of an impeccable piece of writing)


不稂不莠

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/pu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/


不可逾越

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˊ ㄩㄝˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jyː²¹ jyːt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jyː²¹ jyːt̚²/


不可捉摸

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄇㄛ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ mɔː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ mɔː³⁵/

difficult to ascertain; unpredictable; elusive


不郎不秀

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

/pu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³³/


不吝指教

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˋ ㄓˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

булиньчжицзяо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡siː³⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡siː³⁵ kaːu̯³³/

to not be stinting with comments or criticism


不識時務

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄕˋ ㄨˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄕˋ ㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²²/


不可終日

unable to carry on even for a single day

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

人心惶惶，不可終日 [MSC, trad.]
人心惶惶，不可终日 [MSC, simp.]

people were so anxious that they felt they couldn't live for a single day

(figurative) very frightened; very anxious


不露聲色

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄕㄥ ㄙㄜˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

to maintain one's composure; to stay calm and collected; to not turn a hair; to not bat an eyelid; to not show or betray one's feelings or intentions


不落窠臼

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄜ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚² fɔː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚² fɔː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯¹³/

to have an original style; to be unconventional; to be original


不毛之地

ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/


不可一世

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧ ㄕˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

to consider oneself the best in the world; to have an overweening or insufferable arrogance


望其項背

can see the neck and back of somebody ahead

ㄨㄤˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄟˋ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² kʰei̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² puːi̯³³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² kʰei̯²¹ hɔːŋ²² puːi̯³³/

to get within a little distance of somebody; to be a match for somebody; to stand comparison with somebody


不落俗套

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨˊ ㄊㄠˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sʊk̚² tʰou̯³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɔːk̚² t͡sʊk̚² tʰou̯³³/

to conform to no conventional pattern; to depart from convention; to be unconventional or offbeat


不名一錢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

/pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/


不枝不蔓

neitherbranching out nor spreading about

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄢˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ män⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ maːn²²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ män⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ maːn²²/

不蔓不枝 不蔓不枝#Chinese

Synonym of 不蔓不枝 (bùmànbùzhī, “succinct and to the point; written in a pithy and smooth style; concise (of an article, speech, etc.)”)


同日而語

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄖˋ ㄦˊ ㄩˇ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐt̚² jiː²¹ jyː¹³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐt̚² jiː²¹ jyː¹³/


不情之請

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄥˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵/

(humble) my presumptuous request; if I may be so bold to ask a favor


不期然而然

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄖㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄖㄢˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄖㄢˊ

буцижаньэржань

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹/

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


不期而遇

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄦˊ ㄩˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄦˊ ㄩˋ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiː²¹ jyː²²/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiː²¹ jyː²²/

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


不可偏廢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄈㄟˋ

букэ пяньфэй

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fɐi̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fɐi̯³³/

to not do one thing at the expense of another


不可企及

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʰei̯¹³ kʰɐp̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʰei̯¹³ kʰɐp̚²/


唯唯諾諾

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄨㄛˋ

ㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄨㄛˋ

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ nɔːk̚² nɔːk̚²/

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ nɔːk̚² nɔːk̚²/

From Han Feizi, Chapter 9 (《韓非子·八姦》):
:
優笑侏儒，左右近習，此人主未命而唯唯，未使而諾諾，先意承旨，觀貌察色以先主心者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]优笑侏儒，左右近习，此人主未命而唯唯，未使而诺诺，先意承旨，观貌察色以先主心者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version
Yōu xiào zhūrú, zuǒyòu jìn xí, cǐ rénzhǔ wèi mìng ér wéiwéi, wèi shǐ ér nuònuò, xiān yì chéng zhǐ, guān mào chá sè yǐ xiān zhǔ xīn zhě yě. [Pinyin]
Actors, jokers, and clowns as well as attendants and courtiers would say, "At your service, at your service," before the sovereign has given any order, and say, "Yes, yes," before he has commanded them to do anything, thus taking orders ahead of his words and looking at his facial expressions and judging his needs by his colour in order thereby to render him service before he makes up his mind.

優 笑 侏儒，左右 近 習，此 人主 未 命 而 @唯唯，未 使 而 @諾諾，先 意 承 旨，觀 貌 察 色 以 先 主 心 者 也。

to always follow others' opinion; to be a yes man without any opinions of one's own


實心實意

ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩²⁴ ɕiŋ²⁴ ʂʐ̩²⁴ i⁴⁴/

/sɐt̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩²⁴ ɕiŋ²⁴ ʂʐ̩²⁴ i⁴⁴/

/sɐt̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/


雞犬不寧

(even) thechickens and dogs are unsettled

ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄥˊ

цзицюаньбунин

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

(raising such a fearful din that) everyone is nervous; great disturbance or turmoil


信以為真

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄣ

синьивэйчжэнь

/ɕin⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵn³³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵn³³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

在那種情況下，我對他的話也只有信以為真了。 [MSC, trad.]
在那种情况下，我对他的话也只有信以为真了。 [MSC, simp.]

In such a situation, I had no option but to believe what he said.

Zài nà zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, wǒ duì tā de huà yě zhǐyǒu xìnyǐwèizhēn le. [Pinyin]


匪夷所思

ㄈㄟˇ ㄧˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄙ

/feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/fei̯³⁵ jiː²¹ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

húiⁿ î só sṳ

/hũĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ³³/

/feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/fei̯³⁵ jiː²¹ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/hũĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ³³/

From I Ching, Hexagram 59 (《易经·渙卦》):
:
六四：渙其群，元吉。渙有丘，匪夷所思。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]六四：涣其群，元吉。涣有丘，匪夷所思。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Liù sì: huàn qí qún, yuán jí. Huàn yǒu qiū, fěi yí suǒ sī. [Pinyin]
The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject scattering the (different) parties (in the state); which leads to great good fortune. From the dispersion (he collects again good men standing out, a crowd) like a mound, which is what ordinary men would not have thought of.

六 四：渙 其 群，元 吉。渙 有 丘，匪.夷.所.思。

not what an ordinary person can imagine; unimaginable; unusual; fantastic

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 59


站不住腳

ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

чжаньбучжуцзяо

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡saːm²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²² kœːk̚³/

/t͡saːm²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²² kœːk̚³/

你的論點簡直站不住腳。 [MSC, trad.]
你的论点简直站不住脚。 [MSC, simp.]

Your argument does not hold water at all.

Nǐ de lùndiǎn jiǎnzhí zhànbùzhùjiǎo. [Pinyin]

not have a leg to stand on
not have a leg to stand on

to be ill-founded; to be groundless; to not have a leg to stand on; to be unable to hold water


融為一體

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧ ㄊㄧˇ

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/


不敗之地

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/


英年早逝

ㄧㄥ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄠˇ ㄕˋ

инняньцзаоши

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ sɐi̯²²/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ sɐi̯²²/

to pass away at the prime of one's life; to die young


不關痛癢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄤˇ

бугуаньтунъян

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jœːŋ¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jœːŋ¹³/

of no consequence; immaterial; unimportant


下問

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/haː²² mɐn²²/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/haː²² mɐn²²/

(literary) to ask someone who is less learned or of lesser status than oneself


不辭辛苦

ㄅㄨˋ ㄘˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵/

to spare no effort; to take pains; to take the trouble to; to go to the trouble of doing something


不逞之徒

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˇ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/


不差累黍

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄟˇ ㄕㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² syː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² syː³⁵/


不辨菽麥

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄨ ㄇㄞˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄨˊ ㄇㄞˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ piːn²² sʊk̚² mɐk̚²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ piːn²² sʊk̚² mɐk̚²/

to have no knowledge of practical matters; to be ignorant of practical matters


不打自招

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄗˋ ㄓㄠ

/pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ taː³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ taː³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯⁵⁵/

to confess without being pressed; to make a willing confession; to give oneself away


擋風遮雨

ㄉㄤˇ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄜ ㄩˇ

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

我願陪在你的身邊 為你擋風遮雨 [MSC, trad.]
我愿陪在你的身边 为你挡风遮雨 [MSC, simp.]

I'm willing to be by your side,To shelter you from the wind and rain.

wǒ yuàn péi zài nǐ de shēnbiān, wèi nǐ dǎngfēngzhēyǔ [Pinyin]


渾身解數

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄨˋ

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄕㄨˋ

хуньшэньсешу

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

хуньшэньцзешу

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/wɐn²² sɐn⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ sou̯³³/

/wɐn²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ haːi̯²² sou̯³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/wɐn²² sɐn⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ sou̯³³/

/wɐn²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ haːi̯²² sou̯³³/

使出渾身解數／使出浑身解数

all of one's skill; everything within one's power


天馬行空

a heavenly steed soaring across the skies

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄇㄚˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄥ

тяньмасинкун

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ hɐŋ²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ hɐŋ²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) progressing swiftly; unrestricted and developing rapidly


不堪入目

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄖㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² mʊk̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² mʊk̚²/


低聲細語

ㄉㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/ti⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/

/ti⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/


彈冠相慶

ㄊㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

таньгуаньсянцин

/tʰän³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/tʰaːn²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ³³/

/tʰän³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/tʰaːn²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ³³/

Derived from a statement illustraing the friendship between Wang Ji and Gong Yu of Western Han:
:
吉與貢禹為友，世稱『王陽在位，貢公彈冠。』言其取舍同也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吉与贡禹为友，世称『王阳在位，贡公弹冠。』言其取舍同也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Jí yǔ Gòng Yǔ wèi yǒu, shìchēng ‘Wáng Yáng zàiwèi, Gòng gōng dànguàn.’ Yán qí qǔshě tóng yě. [Pinyin]
Wang Ji and Gong Yu were friends. It was said that "When Wang Ji was holding his position, Gong Yu could also became an official too." It was also said that they had same interests.
Originally describing friends following each other in career.

@^吉 與 ^@貢 ^@禹 為 友 ， 世稱 『 @^王 @^陽 在位 ， @^貢 公 @彈冠 。』 言 其 取舍{shě} 同 也 。

(derogatory) to congratulate each other (when a bad person gains success)


繁文縟節

ㄈㄢˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ㄈㄢˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

фаньвэньжуцзе

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/faːn²¹ mɐn²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siːt̚³/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/faːn²¹ mɐn²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siːt̚³/

trivial and overelaborate formalities; red tape


金甌無缺

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄡ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ɐu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ɐu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

(literary, figurative) firm uninvaded nation


落花流水

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːk̚² faː⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² faː⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

(by extension) utterly defeated; in a sorry state


倒行逆施

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄋㄧˋ ㄕ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ni⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ hɐŋ²¹ jɪk̚² siː⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ni⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ hɐŋ²¹ jɪk̚² siː⁵⁵/

《史記·伍子胥列傳》:
伍子胥曰：「為我謝申包胥曰，『吾日莫途遠，吾故倒行而逆施之。』」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]伍子胥曰：「为我谢申包胥曰，『吾日莫途远，吾故倒行而逆施之。』」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Wǔ Zǐxū yuē: “Wèi wǒ xiè Shēn Bāoxū yuē, ‘wú rìmù túyuǎn, wú gù dǎoxíng ér nìshī zhī.’” [Pinyin]
Wu Zixu said: "Go apologise on my behalf to Shen Baoxu, and tell him that I had had still a long way to travel but the sun was already setting, and that I, therefore, turned my ways upside down." (i.e., My life had always been in peril and my great objective of exacting revenge had been almost beyond reach, yet life was already running out. Therefore, I no longer cared whether my means to the end was perverted.)

@伍 ^@子胥 曰：「為{wèi} 我 謝 ^@申 ^@包胥 曰，『吾 日暮\日莫{mù} 途-遠，吾 故 @倒{dǎo}-@行{xíng} 而 @逆-@施 之。』」

to do things in a perverse way; to go against good; to commit evil deeds


道貌岸然

ㄉㄠˋ ㄇㄠˋ ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ

даомаоаньжань

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/tou̯²² maːu̯²² ŋɔːn²² jiːn²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/tou̯²² maːu̯²² ŋɔːn²² jiːn²¹/


矢志不渝

ㄕˇ ㄓˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

unwavering; unshaken; persistent; steadfast; unswerving


笑而不語

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

to smile without saying anything; smilence


地久天長

ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ

дицзютяньчан

/ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

天長地久 天長地久#Chinese

天长地久 天长地久#Chinese

Alternative form of 天長地久／天长地久 (tiānchángdìjiǔ)


一仆一碌

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/

(Cantonese) doddering; stumbling; rolling and crawling


異國他鄉

ㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/i⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

foreign countries or lands; far away from one's native place


腳踏實地

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² sɐt̚² tei̯²²/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa³³⁻²³ taʔ⁴⁻² sik̚⁴⁻² ti¹¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² sɐt̚² tei̯²²/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa³³⁻²³ taʔ⁴⁻² sik̚⁴⁻² ti¹¹/

to have one's feet on the ground; to be realistic and steady


千瘡百孔

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

цяньчуанбайкун

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵/

riddled with gaping wounds; afflicted with many ills; in very bad condition


代代相傳

ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

дайдайсянчуань

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to pass down from generation to generation


沒日沒夜

ㄇㄟˊ ㄖˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄝˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² jɐt̚² muːt̚² jɛː²²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² jɐt̚² muːt̚² jɛː²²/


漂洋過海

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/pʰeu̯²⁴ i̯oŋ¹¹ ko⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/pʰieu⁵⁵ yoŋ⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ⁽ᵏ⁻⁾ŋuo²¹³⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ai³³/

/pʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/pʰiou³³⁻²³ ĩẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kue²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/pʰeu̯²⁴ i̯oŋ¹¹ ko⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/pʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/pʰiou³³⁻²³ ĩẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kue²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

to sail across the sea to a foreign land; to travel across the sea; to go abroad


滿洋直界

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚⁴⁻³² kai²¹/

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚²⁴⁻² kai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚⁴⁻³² kai²¹/

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚²⁴⁻² kai⁴¹/

(Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien) everywhere


熱火朝天

ㄖㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

жэхо чаотянь

/ʐɤ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/liɛt̚²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴ tiau²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn³³/

/ʐɤ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/liɛt̚²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴ tiau²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn³³/

buzzing or bustling with activity; in full swing


三不五時

ㄙㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨˇ ㄕˊ

/sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ siː²¹/

/sam²⁴ put̚² ŋ̍³¹ sɨ¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ si²³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻¹¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si¹³/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ²² si²⁴/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²² si²⁴/

/sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ siː²¹/

/sam²⁴ put̚² ŋ̍³¹ sɨ¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ si²³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻¹¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si¹³/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ²² si²⁴/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²² si²⁴/

一杯酒 兩角銀 三不五時嘛來鬥陣 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
一杯酒 两角银 三不五时嘛来斗阵 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

With a bottle of wine costing [only] twenty cents, lets get together every now and then

chi̍t poe chiú, nn̄g kak gîn, sam-put-gō͘-sî mā lâi tàu-tīn [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

她說：「剃頭不好看；我要做菜姑。三不五時還可以去看歌仔戲、歌劇。」 [Taiwanese Mandarin, trad.]
她说：「剃头不好看；我要做菜姑。三不五时还可以去看歌仔戏、歌剧。」 [Taiwanese Mandarin, simp.]

From: 2005 December 20, 釋悟因, 戰後佛教在台灣——佛教面對現代挑戰的回應, in 香光莊嚴雜誌, issue 84, page 19

She said, "Shaving the head bald doesn't look good; I want to be a vegetarian Buddhist. From time to time I can even go see operas."

Tā shuō: “Tìtóu bù hǎokàn; wǒ yào zuò càigū. Sānbùwǔshí hái kěyǐ qù kàn gēzǐxì, gējù.” [Pinyin]

(Cantonese, Southern Min, Taiwanese Mandarin, Taiwanese Hakka) sometimes; from time to time; occasionally; now and then


三沐三薰

ㄙㄢ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄒㄩㄣ

саньмусаньсюнь

/sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵/


三薰三沐

ㄙㄢ ㄒㄩㄣ ㄙㄢ ㄇㄨˋ

саньсюньсаньму

/sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/


沐猴冠冕

ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄡˊ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

мухоугуаньмянь

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


三釁三沐

ㄙㄢ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄇㄨˋ

саньсиньсаньму

/sän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

From an anecdote recorded in the Guoyu, describing the honour given to Guan Zhong by the Duke of Qi upon receiving him as a former enemy and fugitive. The original text reads 三釁三浴, where 浴 (OC *loɡ, “bathing”) appears instead of 沐 (OC *moːɡ, “hair-washing”).


萬壽無疆

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

ваньшоууцзян

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

Occurred several times in the Classic of Poetry, for example, in poem 154 (《詩經·豳風·七月》):
:
躋彼公堂，稱彼兕觥，萬壽無疆。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]跻彼公堂，称彼兕觥，万寿无疆。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jī bǐ gōngtáng, chēng bǐ sì gōng, wànshòu wújiāng. [Pinyin]
And go to the hall of our prince,
There raise the cup of rhinoceros horn,
And wish him long life, that he may live for ever.

lang

(《詩經·豳風·七月》)

(《詩經·豳風·七月》)

zh-x

躋 彼 公堂，稱 彼 兕 觥，萬壽.無疆。

祝毛主席萬壽無疆 [MSC, trad.]
祝毛主席万寿无疆 [MSC, simp.]


車載斗量

enough to fill carts and be measured by the bushel

ㄔㄜ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

чэцзайдоулян

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tɐu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tɐu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹/


完美無缺

ㄨㄢˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

/wän³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/wän³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

perfect and without blemish; flawless; infallible


睽違已久

ㄎㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

/kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to have parted for a long time; to have not met for a long period of time


大浪淘沙

ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄤˋ ㄊㄠˊ ㄕㄚ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵/

only the real gold remains after tides have washed the sands away; a tough competition aiming to weed out the less competent


光輝燦爛

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄘㄢˋ ㄌㄢˋ

гуанхуэйцаньлань

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn³³ laːn²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn³³ laːn²²/


赤膊上陣

ㄔˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄓㄣˋ

чибошанчжэнь

čibošančžɛnʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ pɔːk̚³ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ pɔːk̚³ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

(figurative) to go all out; to go full speed ahead; to do something (often bad) without reservations or concealment


鬥智鬥勇

ㄉㄡˋ ㄓˋ ㄉㄡˋ ㄩㄥˇ

/toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯³³ t͡siː³³ tɐu̯³³ jʊŋ¹³/

/tɐu̯³³ t͡siː³³ tɐu̯³³ jʊŋ¹³/

to engage in a battle of wits and valour


論資排輩

ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄗ ㄆㄞˊ ㄅㄟˋ

луньцзыпайбэй

/lu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɵn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³/

/lu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɵn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³/

to give the highest priority to seniority (when deciding someone's duties or status)


起早貪黑

ㄑㄧˇ ㄗㄠˇ ㄊㄢ ㄏㄟ

цицзаотаньхэй

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ tʰaːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ tʰaːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/


掛一漏萬

to touch on one and miss out ten thousand

ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄧ ㄌㄡˋ ㄨㄢˋ

/ku̯ä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/kʷaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² maːn²²/

/ku̯ä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/kʷaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² maːn²²/

(humble) to be inexhaustive; to leave many important items out


妙語連珠

ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄨ

мяоюйляньчжу

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² jyː¹³ liːn²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² jyː¹³ liːn²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/


治國安邦

ㄓˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄢ ㄅㄤ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

to administer state affairs well and ensure national security


獨抒性靈

ㄉㄨˊ ㄕㄨ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

/tu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/tu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

(of literature) to provide a free space for the expression of the writer's feelings and originality


平起平坐

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/


應接不暇

ㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˊ

/iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ t͡siːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

/iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ t͡siːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

to have more on than one can attend to; to be overwhelmed by (beautiful scenery, customers, tasks, etc.)


文以載道

ㄨㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄠˋ

вэньицзайдао

/wən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

/wən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

literature is a vehicle for moral teaching


象箸玉杯

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄩˋ ㄅㄟ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² t͡syː²² jʊk̚² puːi̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² t͡syː²² jʊk̚² puːi̯⁵⁵/

ivory chopsticks and jade cups; (figurative) a luxurious lifestyle


深情厚誼

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧˊ

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/


一生何求

ㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

From the name of a 1989 Cantonese song (“Yat sang ho kau”). The name follows the SOV word order (when the object is an interrogative pronoun) of Classical Chinese.

What can (I) pursue in this life? What else can (I) seek in life?


文如其人

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

вэньжуцижэнь

vɛnʹžucižɛnʹ

/wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/


應運而生

ㄧㄥˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄕㄥ

/iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ wɐn²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ un⁴¹⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ un³³⁻¹¹ li²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ un³³⁻²¹ li²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ wɐn²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ un⁴¹⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ un³³⁻¹¹ li²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ un³³⁻²¹ li²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/


雨後春筍

ㄩˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄙㄨㄣˇ

юйхоучуньсунь

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː¹³ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ sɵn³⁵/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² sun⁵³/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁴¹/

/jyː¹³ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ sɵn³⁵/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² sun⁵³/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁴¹/

(figurative) many things coming into being in rapid succession (after a certain timepoint)


天人合一

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

Heaven and Man are one (an ancient Chinese philosophical concept)


自導自演

ㄗˋ ㄉㄠˇ ㄗˋ ㄧㄢˇ

цзыдаоцзыянь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tou̯²² t͡siː²² jiːn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² tou̯²² t͡siː²² jiːn³⁵/

to direct (a show) and act by oneself; to stage (a farce) all by oneself; false flag


心存不軌

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

синьцуньбугуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/


崇洋媚外

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄟˋ ㄨㄞˋ

чунъянмэйвай

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ mei̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ mei̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/


連生貴子

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄗˇ

ляньшэнгуйцзы

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/


口傳心授

ㄎㄡˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄡˋ

коучуаньсиньшоу

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

oral teaching from the instructor and understanding from the students


五湖四海

ㄨˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄨˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ wuː²¹ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋ̍³¹ fu¹¹ si⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/ŋu³³⁻²¹ hu⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ sy²¹³⁻⁵³ hai³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²³ su²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋou⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/u⁴¹ ɸu¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ xai̯⁴¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ wuː²¹ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋ̍³¹ fu¹¹ si⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/ŋu³³⁻²¹ hu⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ sy²¹³⁻⁵³ hai³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²³ su²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋou⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/u⁴¹ ɸu¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ xai̯⁴¹/

all regions; all corners of the country or world; all places


石沉大海

ㄕˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵/

to receive no response; to never hear back from someone or about something


如影隨形

ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/ʐu³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

/ʐu³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

closely associated with each other; inseparable


忍氣吞聲

忍气吞声
吞聲忍氣
吞聲飲氣
氣忍聲吞
聲吞氣忍

ㄖㄣˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄕㄥ

жэньцитуньшэн

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ hei̯³³ tʰɐn⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋi̯un²⁴⁻¹¹ hi⁵⁵ tun²⁴⁻¹¹ saŋ²⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰun³³ siã³³/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ hei̯³³ tʰɐn⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋi̯un²⁴⁻¹¹ hi⁵⁵ tun²⁴⁻¹¹ saŋ²⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰun³³ siã³³/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

太太忍氣吞聲，脫了錦緞衣服，繫上圍裙，走到廚下，把魚接在手內。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
太太忍气吞声，脱了锦缎衣服，系上围裙，走到厨下，把鱼接在手内。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

Tàitài rěnqìtūnshēng, tuō le jǐnduàn yīfú, jì shàng wéiqún, zǒu dào chúxià, bǎ yú jiē zài shǒu nèi. [Pinyin]

to silently eat humble pie; to suppress anger and quietly bear humiliation


回味無窮

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/wuːi̯²¹ mei̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/wuːi̯²¹ mei̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

leaving a rich aftertaste; (figuratively) memorable, lingering in memory


善有善報

ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄅㄠˋ

шаньюшаньбао

/ʂän⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn²² jɐu̯¹³ siːn²² pou̯³³/

/ʂän⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn²² jɐu̯¹³ siːn²² pou̯³³/

one good turn deserves another
one good turn deserves another

good deeds leads to good outcomes; one good turn deserves another


屁者先知

ㄆㄧˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓ

пичжэсяньчжи

/pʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

he who smelt it dealt it
he who smelt it dealt it

(humorous) One who farts is the first to notice (the smell of farts); he who smelt it dealt it. (a pseudo-chengyu used to ridicule a person who complains of the smell of flatulence)


固若金湯

ㄍㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄤ

гужоцзиньтан

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ jœːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ jœːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/


錯落有致

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː³³/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː³³/


一顰一笑

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰin³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰin³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

every frown and smile; every facial expression


誤入歧途

ㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄨˊ

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/ŋ̍²² jɐp̚² kʰei̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ tɔ²³/

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/ŋ̍²² jɐp̚² kʰei̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ tɔ²³/

to fall into the wrong path (in life); to be misguided; to go astray


料事如神

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/liːu̯²² siː²² jyː²¹ sɐn²¹/

/li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/liːu̯²² siː²² jyː²¹ sɐn²¹/

to prophesy with supernatural accuracy; to predict like a prophet


束手就擒

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

шушоуцзюцинь

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² kʰɐm²¹/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰim¹³/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu³³⁻¹¹ kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu³³⁻²¹ kʰim²³/

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² kʰɐm²¹/

have one's hands tied
have one's hands tied

to have one's hands tied and wait to be captured


救命之恩

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄣ

цзюминчжиэнь

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

多謝救命之恩。／多谢救命之恩。


河東獅子

desc

sư tử Hà Đông

→ Vietnamese: sư tử Hà Đông (calque)

ㄏㄜˊ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕ ˙ㄗ

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

zh-l

河東獅吼／河东狮吼 (hédōng-shīhǒu)

an overbearing wife (whose henpecking is comparable to a lioness's roar)


冇大冇細

/mou̯¹³ taːi̯²² mou̯¹³ sɐi̯³³/

/ᵐbau³³ ai³² ᵐbau³³ ɬai³³⁻³³⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

/mou̯¹³ taːi̯²² mou̯¹³ sɐi̯³³/

/ᵐbau³³ ai³² ᵐbau³³ ɬai³³⁻³³⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

(Cantonese, Xiang) to have no sense of who is senior and who is junior; to show no respect to elders


沒大沒小

ㄇㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/meɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² taːi̯²² muːt̚² siːu̯³⁵/

/meɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² taːi̯²² muːt̚² siːu̯³⁵/


血肉橫飛

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

сюэжоухэнфэй

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² waːŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² waːŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

blood and flesh flying in all directions; bodies blown to pieces


大發雷霆

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄚ ㄌㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁵ lui¹³⁻²² tiɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ²³/

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁵ lui¹³⁻²² tiɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ²³/


遁入空門

ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄇㄣˊ

дуньжукунмэнь

/tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/tɵn²² jɐp̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

/tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/tɵn²² jɐp̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

to take refuge in religious life (especially to become a Buddhist monk)


隔三差五

ㄍㄜˊ ㄙㄢ ㄔㄚˋ ㄨˇ

/kɤ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³/

/kɤ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³/

every once in a while
every once in a while

every now and then; every so often; every once in a while


浮生若夢

ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄥ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄥˋ

/fu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/fɐu̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mʊŋ²²/

/fu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/fɐu̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mʊŋ²²/

This fleeting (lit. floating) life is like a dream. / Life is but a dream.


似水流年

ㄙˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/sz̩⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ niːn²¹/

/sz̩⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ niːn²¹/

years passing by quickly, like the water stream; time flies


關門捉賊

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄇㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄗㄟˊ

гуаньмэньчжоцзэй

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʊk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʊk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

(figurative) to capture the enemy by cutting off their escape route


水洩不通

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ siap̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰoŋ³³/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ siap̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰoŋ³³/

densely packed; extremely crowded; impenetrable


上屋抽梯

remove the ladder (when the enemy has) ascended to the roof

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

(figurative) to lure someone to a treacherous place or situation then cut off their avenue of escape


劍膽琴心

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

цзяньданьциньсинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

to have the courage of a warrior and the soul of a musician; to temper force with humanity


心有靈犀

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧ

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

心有靈犀一點通 心有靈犀一點通#Chinese

心有灵犀一点通 心有灵犀一点通#Chinese

Synonym of 心有靈犀一點通／心有灵犀一点通 (xīn yǒu língxī yīdiǎn tōng)


走為上計

ㄗㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧˋ

цзоувэйшанцзи

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sœːŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sœːŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

From the Book of Southern Qi:
:
敬則曰：「檀公三十六策，走是上計。汝父子唯應急走耳。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]敬则曰：「檀公三十六策，走是上计。汝父子唯应急走耳。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Southern Qi, by Xiao Zixian, 6ᵗʰ century CE
Jìngzé yuē: “Tán Gōng sānshíliùcè, zǒu shì shàngjì. Rǔ fùzǐ wéi yìng jí zǒu ěr.” [Pinyin]
Jingze said, "Among the thirty-six stratagems of Duke Tan, fleeing is the best stratagem. You and your father should quickly flee."

zh-x

^敬-則 曰：「^檀 ^公 三十六策，走 是 上計。汝 父子 唯 應 急 走 耳。」

If all else fails, retreat. / Fleeing is the best stratagem (of the Thirty-Six Stratagems).


火龍火馬

/hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ be⁵⁵⁴/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɔŋ¹³ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɛ⁵³/

/hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ be⁵⁵⁴/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɔŋ¹³ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɛ⁵³/

(Southern Min) to burn with anxiety or impatience


恍如隔世

ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄜˊ ㄕˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jyː²¹ kaːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jyː²¹ kaːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

to feel as if one has been separated from the outside world for ages; to feel like something is from another world; to feel that people and things have changed as if a lifetime has passed


假痴不癲

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄔ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄢ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːn⁵⁵/

to hide behind the mask of a fool, a madman, etc. to create confusion about one's true intentions


聽天由命

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²²/

to resign oneself to fate; to be reconciled to one's lot


三顧茅廬

ㄙㄢ ㄍㄨˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄌㄨˊ

/sän⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ kuː³³ maːu̯²¹ lou̯²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ kuː³³ maːu̯²¹ lou̯²¹/

From the story of Liu Bei paying three visits to the thatched cottage of Zhuge Liang (later his chancellor) in order to recruit him during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

(figurative) to sincerely and repeatedly request someone to take up a post


假道伐虢

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄈㄚ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kaː³⁵ tou̯²² fɐt̚² kʷɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kaː³⁵ tou̯²² fɐt̚² kʷɪk̚⁵/

From a historical event recorded in Zuo Zhuan.
《左傳·僖公二年》:
:
晉荀息請以屈產之乘，與垂棘之璧，假道於虞以伐虢。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]晋荀息请以屈产之乘，与垂棘之璧，假道于虞以伐虢。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jìn Xún Xī qǐng yǐ Qū chǎn zhī shèng, yǔ Chuí Jí zhī bì, jiǎdào yú Yú yǐ fá Guó. [Pinyin]
Xun Xi of Jin requested leave from the marquis to take his team of Qu horses and his Bi of Chui Ji jade, and with them borrow a way from Yu to march through it and attack Guo
《左傳·僖公五年》:
:
冬，十二月，丙子朔，晉滅虢，虢公醜奔京師。師還，館于虞，遂襲虞，滅之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]冬，十二月，丙子朔，晋灭虢，虢公丑奔京师。师还，馆于虞，遂袭虞，灭之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dōng, shí'èryuè, bǐngzǐ shuò, Jìn miè Guó, Guó gōng Chǒu bēn jīngshī. Shī huán, guǎn yú Yú, suì xí Yú, miè zhī. [Pinyin]
In winter, in the 12th month, on bing-zi, the 1st day of the moon, Jin extinguished Guo, and Chou, the duke, fled to the capital. The army, on its return, took up its quarters in Yu, surprised the city, and extinguished the state.

晉 ^@荀 ^@息 請 以 ^@屈 產 之 乘{shèng}，與 ^@垂 ^@棘 之 璧，@假道 於 ^虞 以 @伐 ^@虢。

冬，十二月，丙子 朔，^晉 滅 ^虢，^虢 公 ^@醜 奔 京師。師 還{huán}，館 于 ^虞，遂 襲 ^虞，滅 之。

to obtain safe passage to conquer theState of Guo

(figurative) to make peace with a smaller enemy and use it as a springboard to attack another common enemy, before turning on the first


放手一搏

ㄈㄤˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧ ㄅㄛˊ

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/

to cast aside one's misgivings, concerns, etc. and give it one's all (as a final attempt); to go all out; to take the plunge


人心惶惶

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

жэньсиньхуанхуан

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ²³/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ²³/

everyone is anxious; people are filled with anxiety


傳宗接代

ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄉㄞˋ

чуаньцзунцзедай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ tɔːi̯²²/

/tʰuan²³⁻³³ t͡sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³/

/tʰuan²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ tɔːi̯²²/

to carry on one's ancestral line; to go on from generation to generation


刻不容緩

ㄎㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄢˇ

кэбужунхуань

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²²/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²¹/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ uan³³/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ uan³³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²²/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²¹/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ uan³³/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ uan³³/

to not tolerate any further delay; to be very urgent


前功盡棄

前功尽弃
前功盡廢
前功皆棄
前功盡滅

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˋ

цяньгунцзиньци

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

all previous achievements go down the drain; all the previous effort is wasted


勇往直前

ㄩㄥˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄓˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

юнванчжицянь

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jʊŋ¹³ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tit̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɛn¹³/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²³/

/jʊŋ¹³ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tit̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɛn¹³/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²³/

2004 December 9, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “曾經的你 [You in the Past]”, in 每一刻都是嶄新的 [Every Moment Is Completely New], performed by Xu Wei:
走在勇往直前的路上 [MSC, trad. and simp.]

Zǒu zài yǒngwǎngzhíqián de lùshàng [Pinyin]Walking on the road of braveness and determinedness

to advance bravely and determinedly, without any fear


兩敗俱傷

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄕㄤ

лянбайцзюйшан

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ paːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/l̃uoŋ³³⁻²¹ pai⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ky²⁴²⁻⁵⁵ suoŋ⁵⁵/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ ku³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ ku³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liã²² ba⁴⁴ d͡ʑy³³ sɑ̃⁵³/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ paːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/l̃uoŋ³³⁻²¹ pai⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ky²⁴²⁻⁵⁵ suoŋ⁵⁵/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ ku³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ ku³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liã²² ba⁴⁴ d͡ʑy³³ sɑ̃⁵³/

both sides suffer; everyone loses; neither side wins


無大無細

/mo⁵³⁻²¹ ⁽ᵗ⁻⁾luai²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ mo⁵³⁻²¹ sɑ²¹³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sue¹¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² sue⁴¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² se²¹/

/bɤ²⁴⁻³³ tua³³⁻¹¹ bɤ²⁴⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tua¹¹ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ soi²¹³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sue¹¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² sue⁴¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² se²¹/

/bɤ²⁴⁻³³ tua³³⁻¹¹ bɤ²⁴⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tua¹¹ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ soi²¹³/

(Hakka, Eastern Min, Southern Min) to have no sense of who is senior and who is junior; to show no respect to elders


劃清界線

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

хуацинцзесянь

/xu̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/waːk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯³³ siːn³³/

/ue³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai²¹⁻⁴¹ suã²¹/

/ue³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai¹¹⁻⁵³ suã¹¹/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/waːk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯³³ siːn³³/

/ue³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai²¹⁻⁴¹ suã²¹/

/ue³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai¹¹⁻⁵³ suã¹¹/

(figurative) to draw a line; to have nothing to do with each other


目無尊長

ㄇㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄓㄤˇ

мууцзуньчжан

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/


身無分文

ㄕㄣ ㄨˊ ㄈㄣ ㄨㄣˊ

шэньуфэньвэнь

šɛnʹufɛnʹvɛnʹ

/ʂən⁵⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

身無分文的姑娘們是如何維持生活的？ [MSC, trad.]
身无分文的姑娘们是如何维持生活的？ [MSC, simp.]

Shēnwúfēnwén de gūniángmen shì rúhé wéichí shēnghuó de? [Pinyin]


烏心毒行

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²²/

/ɔ³³ sim³³ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²²/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²²/

/ɔ³³ sim³³ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²²/

(Hokkien) cruel and evil; ruthless and vicious


顛倒黑白

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄟ ㄅㄞˊ

дяньдаохэйбай

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

to confuse right and wrong; to confound right with wrong; to distort the truth; to misrepresent the facts


如臨大敵

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ tä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lɐm²¹ taːi̯²² tɪk̚²/

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ tä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lɐm²¹ taːi̯²² tɪk̚²/

to have strict precautions; to be overly critical of the current situation


無地自容

ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tei̯²² t͡siː²² jʊŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tei̯²² t͡siː²² jʊŋ²¹/


如虎添翼

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧˋ

/ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ jɪk̚²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ jɪk̚²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/


恨入骨髓

ㄏㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄨㄟˇ

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

恨之入骨 恨之入骨#Chinese


恨之切骨

ㄏㄣˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

恨之入骨 恨之入骨#Chinese


恨入心髓

ㄏㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄟˇ

хэньжусиньсуй

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² jɐp̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɵy̯¹³/

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² jɐp̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɵy̯¹³/

恨之入骨 恨之入骨#Chinese


有眼不識荊山玉

有眼不识荆山玉
有眼不識金鑲玉
有眼不識金香玉
有眼不識荆山玉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄩˋ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄩˋ

yǒu yǎn bùshí jīngshān yù [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbùshíjīngshānyù]

ю янь буши цзиншань юй

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

yǒu yǎn bùshì jīngshān yù [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbúshìjīngshānyù]

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

to fail to recognize precious things or outstanding people


有眼不識金鑲玉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄩˋ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄩˋ

юяньбушицзиньсянъюй

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

有眼不識荊山玉 有眼不識荊山玉#Chinese

有眼不识荆山玉 有眼不识荆山玉#Chinese

Misconstruction of 有眼不識荊山玉／有眼不识荆山玉 (yǒu yǎn bùshí jīngshān yù)


醉貌咕咚

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ˙ㄇㄠ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄨㄥ

цзуймаогудун

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯¹ ku⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯¹ ku⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

heavily intoxicated; inebriated; dead drunk


十八廿二

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ jaː²² jiː²²⁻³⁵/

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ jaː²² jiː²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese, Leizhou Min, often of a woman) in the bloom of youth; in one's tender youth


循循善誘

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄡˋ

сюньсюньшанью

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sʰɵn²¹ siːn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sʰɵn²¹ siːn²² jɐu̯¹³/

From the Analects, Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
顏淵喟然歎曰：「仰之彌高，鑽之彌堅，瞻之在前，忽焉在後！夫子循循然善誘人：博我以文，約我以禮。…… [Classical Chinese, trad.]颜渊喟然叹曰：「仰之弥高，钻之弥坚，瞻之在前，忽焉在后！夫子循循然善诱人：博我以文，约我以礼。…… [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yán Yuān kuìrán tàn yuē: “Yǎng zhī mí gāo, zuàn zhī mí jiān, zhān zhī zài qián, hū yān zài hòu! Fūzǐ xúnxún rán shànyòu rén: bó wǒ yǐ wén, yuē wǒ yǐ lǐ....... [Pinyin]
Yan Yuan, in admiration of the Master's doctrines, sighed and said, "I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I tried to penetrate them, and they seemed to become more firm; I looked at them before me, and suddenly they seemed to be behind. The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlarged my mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.…

^@顏.^淵 喟然 歎 曰：「仰.之.彌.高，鑽 之 彌 堅，瞻 之 在 前，忽 焉 在 後！夫子 @循@循 然 @善誘 人：博 我 以 文，約 我 以 禮。……

to teach in a systematic and skilful way


孜孜不倦

ㄗ ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

цзыцзыбуцзюань

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

From the Records of the Three Kingdoms:
:
自去長史，優遊無事垂三十年。乃更潛心典籍，孜孜不倦。年踰八十，猶手自校書，刊定謬誤。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]自去长史，优游无事垂三十年。乃更潜心典籍，孜孜不倦。年逾八十，犹手自校书，刊定谬误。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE
Zì qù zhǎngshǐ, yōuyóu wúshì chuí sānshí nián. Nǎi gèng qiánxīn diǎnjí, zīzī bùjuàn. Nián yú bāshí, yóu shǒu zì jiàoshū, kāndìng miùwù. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

自 去 長{zhǎng}史，優遊 無事 垂 三十 年。乃 更 潛心 典籍，孜孜.不倦。年 踰 八十，猶 手 自 校{jiào}書，刊定 謬誤。


走走停停

ㄗㄡˇ ㄗㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ

цзоуцзоутинтин

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/


空空如也

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄝˇ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jaː¹³/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jaː¹³/

From the Analects, Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
:
子曰：「吾有知乎哉？無知也。有鄙夫問於我，空空如也，我叩其兩端而竭焉。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「吾有知乎哉？无知也。有鄙夫问于我，空空如也，我叩其两端而竭焉。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Wú yǒu zhī hū zāi? Wúzhī yě. Yǒu bǐfū wèn yú wǒ, kōngkōng rú yě, wǒ kòu qí liǎngduān ér jié yān.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "Am I indeed possessed of knowledge? I am not knowing. But if a mean person, who appears quite empty-like, ask anything of me, I set it forth from one end to the other, and exhaust it."
Originally, reduplication of 空 with particles was native to Classical Chinese grammar. In vernacular or modern Chinese, the chengyu with its air of classicality is often used for humorous effects.

子曰：「吾 有 知 乎 哉？無知 也。有 鄙-夫 問 於 我，空空.如.也，我 叩 其 兩-端 而 竭 焉。」

他講課的時候，教室經常空空如也。 [MSC, trad.]
他讲课的时候，教室经常空空如也。 [MSC, simp.]

When he teaches, the classroom is often empty.

Tā jiǎngkè de shíhòu, jiàoshì jīngcháng kōngkōngrúyě. [Pinyin]


供認不諱

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

гунжэньбухуэй

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/keŋ³³⁻²³ d͡ziŋ¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hui²¹³/

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/keŋ³³⁻²³ d͡ziŋ¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hui²¹³/

to confess everything; to make a full confession; to plead guilty


憐香惜玉

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧ ㄩˋ

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧˊ ㄩˋ

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ y⁵¹/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/lin²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/lin²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ y⁵¹/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/lin²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/lin²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

「死到臨頭，自身難保，居然尚有憐香惜玉之心。」 [MSC, trad.]
「死到临头，自身难保，居然尚有怜香惜玉之心。」 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1966, Jin Yong, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Chapter 11

"You're going to die soon, it's difficult for you to protect yourself, but you still set your mind on treating these girls tenderly and protectively!"

“Sǐdàolíntóu, zìshēnnánbǎo, jūrán shàng yǒu liánxiāngxīyù zhī xīn.” [Pinyin]

to have tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex


轉瞬即逝

ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕˋ

чжуаньшуньцзиши

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

美好時光是那樣的短暫，宛若天空滑過的流星般轉瞬即逝。 [MSC, trad.]
美好时光是那样的短暂，宛若天空滑过的流星般转瞬即逝。 [MSC, simp.]

Happy times are so short; like a shooting star, they are gone in an instant.

Měihǎo shíguāng shì nàyàng de duǎnzàn, wǎnruò tiānkōng huá guò de liúxīng bān zhuǎnshùnjíshì. [Pinyin]


神出鬼沒

ㄕㄣˊ ㄔㄨ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄛˋ

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚²/

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚²/

to appear and disappear unpredictably like a ghost


夜闌人靜

ㄧㄝˋ ㄌㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

еланьжэньцзин

/jɛ⁵¹ län³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɛː²² laːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/

/jɛ⁵¹ län³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɛː²² laːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/


狸貓換太子

ㄌㄧˊ ㄇㄠ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄗˇ

лимао хуань тайцзы

/li³⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lei̯²¹ maːu̯⁵⁵ wuːn²² tʰaːi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/li²³⁻³³ ba²³ uã³³⁻²¹ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ ba²⁴ uã³³⁻¹¹ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/li²³⁻³³ ba²³ uã³³⁻²¹ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ ba²⁴ uã³³⁻¹¹ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

From a folk story in The Three Heroes and Five Gallants.

to substitute someone's valuable item with another item


聚少離多

ㄐㄩˋ ㄕㄠˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄉㄨㄛ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

(often of a couple) to be more often separated than together


三生有幸

ㄙㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

саньшэнъюсин

/sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɐŋ²²/

/sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɐŋ²²/


天造地設

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗㄠˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄕㄜˋ

тяньцзаодишэ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² tei̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ te³³⁻²¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² tei̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ te³³⁻²¹ siɛt̚³²/


感同身受

ㄍㄢˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˋ

ганьтуншэньшоу

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

Originally used to express gratitude on someone else's behalf.

有的淚水掛在臉上，不擦也不抹，就那麼隨著戲，感同身受地將自己敞開在這個世界裡。 [MSC, trad.]
有的泪水挂在脸上，不擦也不抹，就那么随着戏，感同身受地将自己敞开在这个世界里。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2018 September 28, 王剑冰 (Wang Jianbing), 《那牵曳阳光的一缕亮腔》, in 《光明日报》 [Guangming Daily], →ISSN, page 15

Yǒude lèishuǐ guà zài liǎn shàng, bù cā yě bù mǒ, jiù nàme suízhe xì, gǎntóngshēnshòu dì jiāng zìjǐ chǎngkāi zài zhège shìjiè lǐ. [Pinyin]

to feel as if it has happened to oneself


娶妻生子

ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄗˇ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

(of a man) to get married and have children


如約而至

ㄖㄨˊ ㄩㄝ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/ʐu³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/


一來一往

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³/


斤斤較量

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

цзиньцзинь цзяолян

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ lœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ lœːŋ²²/


亭臺樓閣

ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄌㄡˊ ㄍㄜˊ

/tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/

pavilions, terraces and towers (in general); traditional Chinese architecture


吃喝嫖賭抽

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄨˇ ㄔㄡ

чихэпяодучоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵/

to go dining, wining, whoring, gambling and smoking; to lead a dissipated life


苦辣酸甜

ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄚˋ ㄙㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

куласуаньтянь

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣#Chinese


輕重緩急

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄢˇ ㄐㄧˊ

цинчжунхуаньцзи

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ wuːn²² kɐp̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ wuːn²² kɐp̚⁵/

relative importance and urgency (of matters)


摸爬滾打

ㄇㄛ ㄆㄚˊ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄉㄚˇ

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pʰä³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː³⁵ pʰaː²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ taː³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pʰä³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː³⁵ pʰaː²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ taː³⁵/

to go through arduous training or hard work


甜酸苦辣

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄚˋ

тяньсуанькула

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯än⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/tʰiːm²¹ syːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯än⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/tʰiːm²¹ syːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣#Chinese


江河湖海

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄏㄜˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄏㄞˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ xu³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ wuː²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ xu³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ wuː²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

rivers, lakes and seas (in general); bodies of water


南北東西

ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ

наньбэйдунси

/nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

東西南北 東西南北#Chinese

东西南北 东西南北#Chinese

Alternative form of 東西南北／东西南北 (dōngxīnánběi)


聽說讀寫

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

listening, speaking, reading and writing; various aspects of learning a foreign language


金銀銅鐵

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ

цзиньиньтунте

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³/

gold, silver, copper and iron; metals (in general)


圍追堵截

ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄉㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

вэйчжуйдуцзе

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

to encircle, pursue, obstruct and intercept; to resort to all methods to destroy and annihilate


王侯將相

ㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ванхоуцзянсян

/wɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hɐu̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ³³ sœːŋ³³/

/wɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hɐu̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ³³ sœːŋ³³/

Slogan of the revolters in the Dazexiang uprising, as recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian:
:
王侯將相，寧有種乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]王侯将相，宁有种乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Wáng hóu jiàng xiàng, nìng yǒu zhǒng hū? [Pinyin]
Do kings, barons, generals, and ministers rise from only a fixed family background?

(figurative) kings and nobles (in general); royalty and nobility

Dazexiang uprising
Records of the Grand Historian


吃喝嫖賭

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

to go dining, wining, whoring and gambling; to lead a dissipated life


金銀銅鐵錫

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧ

цзиньиньтунтеси

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³ sɛːk̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³ sɛːk̚³/

the five metals of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin


雞鴨魚肉

ㄐㄧ ㄧㄚ ㄩˊ ㄖㄡˋ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

chicken, duck, fish and (other) meat; the various types or sources of meat in a meal


筆墨紙硯

ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄓˇ ㄧㄢˋ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² t͡siː³⁵ hiːn³⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² t͡siː³⁵ hiːn³⁵/

brush, ink, paper and inkstone; Four Treasures of the Study


說學逗唱

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄉㄡˋ ㄔㄤˋ

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

narration, imitation, joking and singing (the four basic techniques of xiangsheng)


陰晴圓缺

ㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

иньцинъюаньцюэ

/in⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

/in⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

(of the Moon) dim, bright, full or crescent; the various shapes of the Moon; (figurative) unpredictability of life; vicissitudes of life


刀槍棍棒

ㄉㄠ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄤˋ

даоцянгуньбан

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹/

swords, spears, cudgels and clubs; all kinds of weapons


虎豹豺狼

ㄏㄨˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄔㄞˊ ㄌㄤˊ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

豺狼虎豹 豺狼虎豹#Chinese

Alternative form of 豺狼虎豹 (cháilánghǔbào)


花鳥魚蟲

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥˊㄦ

хуаняоюйчунр

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊ̃ɻ³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊ̃ɻ³⁵/

flowers, birds, insects and fish (the stereotypical items of enjoyment of an elderly Chinese person)


冷熱酸甜

ㄌㄥˇ ㄖㄜˋ ㄙㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

лэнжэсуаньтянь

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

冷熱酸甜，想吃就吃！ [MSC, trad.]
冷热酸甜，想吃就吃！ [MSC, simp.]

Hot and cold, sweet and sour... Eat to your heart’s content! (toothpaste advertisement)

Lěng rè suān tián, xiǎng chī jiù chī! [Pinyin]

cold, hot, sour and sweet; different kinds of flavours


赤朱丹彤

ㄔˋ ㄓㄨ ㄉㄢ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

чичжуданьтун

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tän⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tän⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/


鍋碗瓢盆

ㄍㄨㄛ ㄨㄢˇ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄆㄣˊ

гованьпяопэнь

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰən³⁵/

ㄍㄨㄛ ㄨㄢˇ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄆㄣˊㄦ

гованьпяопэньр

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰəɻ³⁵/

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰəɻ³⁵/

woks, bowls, gourd ladles and basins; items of the kitchen; pots and pans


妖魔鬼怪

ㄧㄠ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

all demons and ghosts; all forces of evil


坑蒙拐騙偷

ㄎㄥ ㄇㄥ ㄍㄨㄞˇ ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄡ

кэнмэнгуайпяньтоу

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵/

to entrap, make blind, swindle, deceive and steal; the various fraud techniques


張王李趙

ㄓㄤ ㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓㄠˋ

Чжанванличжао

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lei̯¹³ t͡siːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lei̯¹³ t͡siːu̯²²/

Zhang, Wang, Li and Zhao (the four most common surnames)


打砸搶燒

ㄉㄚˇ ㄗㄚˊ ㄑㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄠ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

(often officialese) to assault, vandalise, loot and commit arson; to burn and loot


酒色財氣

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hei̯³³/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hei̯³³/

wine, sex, avarice and temper; the four cardinal vices


聲色犬馬

ㄕㄥ ㄙㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄇㄚˇ

шэнсэцюаньма

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

sound (i.e. going to the theatre), beauty (i.e. visiting brothels), keeping dogs and riding horses; (figurative) various types of sensual pleasure


琴瑟琵琶

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄆㄧˊ ㄆㄚˊ

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄆㄧˊ ˙ㄆㄚ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ pʰei̯²¹ pʰaː²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ pʰei̯²¹ pʰaː²¹/

qin, se, and pipa (all of which are traditional Chinese musical instruments); Chinese musical instruments (in general)


多快好省

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕㄥˇ

докуайхаошэн

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From the slogan proposed by Mao Zedong in the Great Leap Forward Movement:
:
鼓足幹勁、力爭上游、多快好省地建設社會主義 [MSC, trad.]
鼓足干劲、力争上游、多快好省地建设社会主义 [MSC, simp.]
gǔ zú gànjìn, lì zhēng shàngyóu, duōkuàihǎoshĕng de jiànshè shèhuìzhǔyì [Pinyin]
Go all out; aim high; achieve greater, faster, better and more economical results in building socialism

鼓 足 幹勁 、 力 爭 上游 、 多快好省{shĕng} 地{de} 建設 社會主義

(officialese) greater, faster, better and more economical


刀槍劍戟

ㄉㄠ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧˇ

даоцянцзяньцзи

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːm³³ kɪk̚⁵/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːm³³ kɪk̚⁵/

single-edged and double-edged swords, spears and halberds; all kinds of ancient weapons


聲光化電

ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˋ

шэнгуанхуадянь

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

(dated) sound, light, chemistry and electricity; various branches of Western scientific knowledge


趙錢孫李

ㄓㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄣ ㄌㄧˇ

Чжаоцяньсуньли

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯²² t͡sʰiːn²¹ syːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/tiɤ³³ t͡sĩ²³ sun⁴⁴ li⁴¹/

/t͡siːu̯²² t͡sʰiːn²¹ syːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/tiɤ³³ t͡sĩ²³ sun⁴⁴ li⁴¹/

Hundred Family Surnames
w:Hundred Family Surnames

Zhao, Qian, Sun and Li (the first four surnames in the Hundred Family Surnames)


嬉笑怒罵

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄋㄨˋ ㄇㄚˋ

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³³ nou̯²² maː²²/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³³ nou̯²² maː²²/

(literally) merry laughter and angry scolding; (figurative) all kinds of emotions


經史子集

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˇ ㄗˇ ㄐㄧˊ

цзиншицзыцзи

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ siː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ siː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

the four traditional types of Chinese classic texts; Chinese canonical texts in general


風霜雨雪

ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄩˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

фэншуанъюйсюэ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ syːt̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ syːt̚³/

(figurative) all kinds of hardships and sufferings


東西南北中

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄥ

дунсинаньбэйчжун

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

east, west, south, north and centre; all places


子丑寅卯

ㄗˇ ㄔㄡˇ ㄧㄣˊ ㄇㄠˇ

цзычоуиньмао

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in³⁵ mɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ maːu̯¹³/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ maːu̯¹³/

(literally) zi, chou, yin and mao (the first four earthly branches)


吃喝拉撒

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ sä⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ sä⁵⁵/


花鳥蟲魚

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄩˊ

хуаняочунъюй

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ y³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyː²¹/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ y³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyː²¹/

花鳥魚蟲 花鳥魚蟲#Chinese

花鸟鱼虫 花鸟鱼虫#Chinese

Alternative form of 花鳥魚蟲／花鸟鱼虫 (huāniǎoyúchóng)


赤橙黃綠

ㄔˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄩˋ

чичэнхуанлюй

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ly⁵¹/

red, orange, yellow and green; colours (in general)


衣食住行

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡syː²² hɐŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡syː²² hɐŋ²¹/

From 民生主義·第三講 in 三民主義 [1924], a collection of speeches delivered by Sun Yat-sen in 1924.
:
民生的需要，從前經濟學家都是說衣、食、住三種；照我的研究，應該有四種，於衣食住之外，還有一種就是行。行也是一種很重的需要；行就是走路……大家都能各盡各的義務，大家自然可以得衣食住行的四種需要。 [MSC, trad.]民生的需要，从前经济学家都是说衣、食、住三种；照我的研究，应该有四种，于衣食住之外，还有一种就是行。行也是一种很重的需要；行就是走路……大家都能各尽各的义务，大家自然可以得衣食住行的四种需要。 [MSC, simp.]
From: 1924, Sun Yat-sen, 三民主義
Mínshēng de xūyào, cóngqián jīngjìxuéjiā dōu shì shuō yī, shí, zhù sān zhǒng; zhào wǒ de yánjiū, yìnggāi yǒu sì zhǒng, yú yī shí zhù zhīwài, háiyǒu yī zhǒng jiù shì xíng. Xíng yě shì yī zhǒng hěn zhòng de xūyào; xíng jiù shì zǒulù...... Dàjiā dōu néng gè jìn gè de yìwù, dàjiā zìrán kěyǐ dé yīshízhùxíng de sì zhǒng xūyào. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

lw

s:三民主義/民生主義第三講

zh-x

民生 的 需要，從前 經濟學家 都 是 說 衣、食、住 三 種；照 我 的 研究，應該 有 四 種，於 衣 食 住 之外，還有 一 種 就 是 行。行 也 是 一 種 很 重 的 需要；行 就 是 走路……大家 都 能 各 盡 各 的 義務，大家 自然 可以 得 衣食住行 的 四 種 需要。

food, clothing, housing and transportation; basic necessities of life


綾羅綢緞

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄡˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

линлочоудуань

/liŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ lɔː²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ tyːn²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan⁴¹/

/liɪŋ¹³⁻²² lo¹³⁻²² tiu¹³⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ tiu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuan³³/

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ lɤ²³⁻³³ tiu²³⁻³³ tuan³³/

/liŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ lɔː²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ tyːn²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan⁴¹/

/liɪŋ¹³⁻²² lo¹³⁻²² tiu¹³⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ tiu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuan³³/

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ lɤ²³⁻³³ tiu²³⁻³³ tuan³³/


高矮胖瘦

ㄍㄠ ㄞˇ ㄆㄤˋ ㄕㄡˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ɐi̯³⁵ puːn²² sɐu̯³³/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ɐi̯³⁵ puːn²² sɐu̯³³/


坑蒙拐騙

ㄎㄥ ㄇㄥ ㄍㄨㄞˇ ㄆㄧㄢˋ

кэнмэнгуайпянь

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/haːŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³⁵ pʰiːn³³/

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/haːŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³⁵ pʰiːn³³/

to entrap, make blind, swindle and deceive; the various fraud techniques


甲乙丙丁

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄧˇ ㄅㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄧㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

jia, yi, bing and ding (the first four heavenly stems)


三更半暝

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mɛ̃¹³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ mẽ²³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kẽ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² me²⁴/

/sã³³⁻²³ kẽ³³⁻²³ pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ mẽ⁵⁵/

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mɛ̃¹³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ mẽ²³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kẽ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² me²⁴/

/sã³³⁻²³ kẽ³³⁻²³ pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ mẽ⁵⁵/

(Southern Min) in the middle of the night; late at night


星光半夜

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

(Hakka) in the middle of the night; late at night


三更半夜

ㄙㄢ ㄍㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ

ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ

саньгэнбанье

/sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

саньцзинбанье

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²⁻³⁵/

/ɬam³³ kaŋ³³ pᵘɔn³³ jiɛ³²⁻²¹⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ pan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ kã³³ pø³³ ɦia²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²⁻³⁵/

/ɬam³³ kaŋ³³ pᵘɔn³³ jiɛ³²⁻²¹⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ pan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ kã³³ pø³³ ɦia²¹/


妝嫫費黛

putting makeup onMomu (a legendarily ugly woman) is a waste of eyeliner

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄇㄛˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ

чжуанмофэйдай

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/


舊情復燃

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄖㄢˊ

цзюцинфужань

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/


竹籃打水

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

чжуланьдашуй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊㄦ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

чжуланьрдашуй

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

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ laːm²¹ taː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

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

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ laːm²¹ taː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

(figurative) wild-goose chase; wasted effort


瞻前顧後

ㄓㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨˋ ㄏㄡˋ

чжаньцяньгухоу

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kuː³³ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kuː³³ hɐu̯²²/


一心二用

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄦˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/


豬朋狗友

ㄓㄨ ㄆㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/


無妄之災

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ t͡sai³³/

/bu¹³⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ t͡sai³³/

/bu¹³⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

From I Ching, Hexagram 25 (《易经·无妄》):
:
六三：无妄之災，或繫之牛，行人之得，邑人之災。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]六三：无妄之灾，或系之牛，行人之得，邑人之灾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Liù sān: wú wàng zhī zāi, huò jì zhī niú, xíngrén zhī dé, yìrén zhī zāi. [Pinyin]
The third SIX, divided, shows calamity happening to one who is free from insincerity - as in the case of an ox that has been tied up. A passer by finds it (and carries it off), while the people in the neighbourhood have the calamity (of being accused and apprehended).

六 三：@无.妄.之.災，或 繫 之 牛，行人 之 得，邑人 之 災。

unexpected calamity; undeserved ill turn

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 25


不請自來

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄗˋ ㄌㄞˊ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː²² lɔːi̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː²² lɔːi̯²¹/


物轉星移

ㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄧˊ

учжуаньсинъи

/u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/


路不拾遺

ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

no one picks up lost articles on the street


光宗耀祖

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄠˋ ㄗㄨˇ

гуанцзунъяоцзу

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/kuaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ iau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sou⁵²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/kuaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ iau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sou⁵²/

to bring honour to one's ancestors and clan


念念不忘

ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ

няньняньбуван

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːm²² niːm²² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/niam³⁵⁻¹¹ niam³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ buaŋ⁵⁵/

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːm²² niːm²² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/niam³⁵⁻¹¹ niam³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ buaŋ⁵⁵/

to keep in mind constantly; to never forget


牢獄之災

лаоюйчжицзай

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/


有緣無分

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (有緣無分):
* → Vietnamese: hữu duyên vô phận (有緣無分)

desc

→ Vietnamese: có duyên không phận (calque)

ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄈㄣˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ mou̯²¹ fɐn²²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ mou̯²¹ fɐn²²/

(of two people) to be destined to meet, but not fated to be together; not meant to be together; (in general) to be not destined for each other


無影無蹤

ㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄥ

/u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


銷聲匿跡

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄋㄧˋ ㄐㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄋㄧˋ ㄐㄧ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ nɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²/

/siau⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bi(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ziaʔ³²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ nɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bi(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ziaʔ³²/

to keep silent and lie low; to vanish (from the public eye); to disappear from the scene


分道揚鑣

ㄈㄣ ㄉㄠˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄧㄠ

фэньдаоянбяо

/fən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jœːŋ²¹ piːu̯⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² piau⁴⁴/

/fən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jœːŋ²¹ piːu̯⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² piau⁴⁴/

From the Book of Wei, chapter 14 (《魏書·神元平文諸帝子孫列傳第二》), where Emperor Xiaowen mediates between two officials arguing over their priority of passage.
:
高祖曰：「洛陽我之豐沛，自應分路揚鑣。自今以後，可分路而行。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]高祖曰：「洛阳我之丰沛，自应分路扬镳。自今以后，可分路而行。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Wei Shou, Book of Wei, 551 – 554 CE
Gāozǔ yuē: “Luòyáng wǒ zhī fēngpèi, zì yīng fēnlù yángbiāo. Zì jīn yǐhòu, kě fēnlù ér xíng.” [Pinyin]
Emperor Gaozu said: "Luoyang is my territory, you should divide the road and urge your horses on. From now on, you can go separate ways."

zh-x

高祖 曰：「洛陽 我 之 豐沛，自 應{yīng} @分路 @揚鑣。自 今 以後，可 分路 而 行。」

to take different roads and urge the horses on


望穿秋水

ㄨㄤˋ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

ванчуаньцюшуй

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/baŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sui⁴¹/

/baŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sui⁵³/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/


奔走相告

ㄅㄣ ㄗㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄠˋ

бэньцзоусянгао

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³/

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³/


暴殄天物

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨˋ

баотяньтяньу

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/pou̯²² tʰiːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

/*[b]ˤawk-s [d]ˤə[n]ʔ l̥ˤi[n]|l̥ˤi[n] C.mut/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/pou̯²² tʰiːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

今商王受無道，暴殄天物，害虐烝民。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
今商王受无道，暴殄天物，害虐烝民。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Documents, circa 7ᵗʰ – 4ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Shou, the present king of Shang, is without principle, cruel and destructive to the creatures of Heaven, injurious and tyrannical to the multitudes of the people.

Jīn Shāngwáng Shòu wúdào, bàotiǎntiānwù, hàinüè zhēngmín. [Pinyin]

(rare) to cruelly destroy nature's creatures

to recklessly waste natural products (or things in general)


楊花水性

ㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²¹/

/jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²¹/

(of a woman) frivolous; fickle; lascivious


抱得美人歸

ㄅㄠˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

бао дэ мэйжэнь гуй

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/


盡善盡美

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (盡善盡美):
* → Vietnamese: tận thiện tận mỹ (盡善盡美)

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄇㄟˇ

цзиньшаньцзиньмэй

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² siːn²² t͡sɵn²² mei̯¹³/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ siɛn³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻²¹ siɛn³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ bi⁴¹/

/t͡sɵn²² siːn²² t͡sɵn²² mei̯¹³/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ siɛn³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻²¹ siɛn³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ bi⁴¹/

From the Analects, Book 3 (《論語·八佾》):
:
子謂韶，「盡美矣，又盡善也。」謂武，「盡美矣，未盡善也」。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子谓韶，「尽美矣，又尽善也。」谓武，「尽美矣，未尽善也」。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ wèi Sháo, “jìn měi yǐ, yòu jìn shàn yě.” Wèi Wǔ, “jìn měi yǐ, wèi jìn shàn yě”. [Pinyin]
The Master said of the Shao that it was perfectly beautiful and also perfectly good. He said of the Wu that it was perfectly beautiful but not perfectly good.

zh-x

子 謂 ^韶，「@盡 @美 矣，又 @盡 @善 也。」謂 ^武，「@盡 @美 矣，未 @盡 @善 也」。

to exhaust what is good and beautiful; to be unsurpassed in goodness and beauty


雞骨支床

ㄐㄧ ㄍㄨˇ ㄓ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

цзигучжичуан

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

The original meaning was that, when relatives died, people would grieve excessively and become thin and weary on sleeping mats. Later used by analogy to mean that people could finish their filial duty if they attended their parents' funeral(s). Also means "very thin".


世風日下

ㄕˋ ㄈㄥ ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² haː²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² haː²²/

the world's morals are worsening day by day.


瞭如指掌

ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓˇ ㄓㄤˇ

ляожучжичжан

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯¹³ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯¹³ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

know like the back of one's hand
know like the back of one's hand


居安思危

цзюйаньсывэй

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/kɯ³³⁻²³ ũã³³⁻²³ sɯ³³⁻²³ ŋũĩ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/kɯ³³⁻²³ ũã³³⁻²³ sɯ³³⁻²³ ŋũĩ⁵⁵/

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


和藹可親

ㄏㄜˊ ㄞˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄣ

/xɤ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/wɔː²¹ ɔːi̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/huo⁵³⁻³³ ai³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ kʰo³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ ai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ ai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/xɤ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/wɔː²¹ ɔːi̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/huo⁵³⁻³³ ai³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ kʰo³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ ai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ ai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

老師應該是和藹可親、平易近人 [MSC, trad.]
老师应该是和蔼可亲、平易近人 [MSC, simp.]

From: 2014 November 19, 寒風, 大家談中國：老師辱罵學生，何以「素質教育」？, BBC News

Teachers should be affable and approachable

Lǎoshī yīnggāi shì hé'ǎikěqīn, píngyìjìnrén [Pinyin]


宵衣旰食

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄧ ㄍㄢˋ ㄕˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ kän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ kɔːn³³ sɪk̚²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ kän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ kɔːn³³ sɪk̚²/


芸芸眾生

ㄩㄣˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄥ

юньюньчжуншэн

/yn³⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/yn³⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵/


日上三竿

日曬三杆
日高三丈
日出三竿
三竿日上

when the sun has already risen to as high as three poles stacked up

ㄖˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄢ

жишансаньгань

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/


細思極恐

ㄒㄧˋ ㄙ ㄐㄧˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

/ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

細思恐極 細思恐極#Chinese

细思恐极 细思恐极#Chinese

(Mainland China, neologism, Internet slang) Alternative form of 細思恐極／细思恐极 (xìsīkǒngjí, “The more one thinks about it, the more petrified one becomes.”)


等閒之輩

ㄉㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄅㄟˋ

дэнсяньчжибэй

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ³⁵ haːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːi̯³³/

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ³⁵ haːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːi̯³³/