駭人聽聞

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄨㄣˊ

хайжэньтинвэнь

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

該仙子何以迫不及待，並不奏聞請旨，任聽部下逞豔於非時之候，獻媚於世主之前，致令時序顛倒，駭人聽聞。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
该仙子何以迫不及待，并不奏闻请旨，任听部下逞艳于非时之候，献媚于世主之前，致令时序颠倒，骇人听闻。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 《鏡花緣》第六回

Gāi xiānzǐ héyǐ pòbùjídài, bìngbù zòuwén qǐng zhǐ, rèn tīng bùxià chěng yàn yú fēi shí zhī hòu, xiànmèi yú shìzhǔ zhīqián, zhì lìng shíxù diāndǎo, hàiréntīngwén. [Pinyin]

2024 August 9, 察客, “下午察：中國倒賣屍體案留下的問號 [Afternoon investigation: Question marks left behind by China’s corpse reselling case]”, in Lianhe Zaobao:
中國律師易勝華星期四（8月8日）在網絡上公佈一份材料，揭發山西奧瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盜竊、侮辱、故意毀壞原本應火化的數千具屍體，駭人聽聞的案情迅速引爆輿論。 [MSC, trad.]
中国律师易胜华星期四（8月8日）在网络上公布一份材料，揭发山西奥瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盗窃、侮辱、故意毁坏原本应火化的数千具尸体，骇人听闻的案情迅速引爆舆论。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhōngguó lǜshī Yì Shènghuá xīngqīsì (8yuè 8 rì) zài wǎngluò shàng gōngbù yī fèn cáiliào, jiēfā Shānxī Àoruì shēngwù cáiliào yǒuxiàngōngsī shèxián dàoqiè, wǔrǔ, gùyì huǐhuài yuánběn yìng huǒhuà de shùqiān jù shītǐ, hàiréntīngwén de ànqíng xùnsù yǐnbào yúlùn. [Pinyin]

Chinese lawyer Yi Shenghua published a document on the Internet on Thursday (August 8), revealing that Shanxi Orui Biomaterials Co., Ltd. was suspected of stealing, insulting, and deliberately destroying thousands of corpses that were supposed to be cremated. The shocking case quickly aroused public opinion.

shocking; horrifying; atrocious; terrible


九牛一毛

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊㄦ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

假令僕伏法受誅，若九牛亡一毛，與螻蟻何以異？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]假令仆伏法受诛，若九牛亡一毛，与蝼蚁何以异？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. 1st century BCE. Translated by Burton Watson.
Jiǎlìng pú fúfǎ shòuzhū, ruò jiǔniú wáng yīmáo, yǔ lóuyǐ héyǐ yì? [Pinyin]
If I fell before the law and was executed, it would make no more difference to most people than one hair off nine oxen, for I was a mere ant to them.

zh-x

假令 僕 伏法 受誅，若 @九-@牛 亡 @一-@毛，與 螻蟻 何以 異？

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


赴湯蹈火

to go through boiling water and tread on fire

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to defy all difficulties and dangers; to fear and shun no difficulties or dangers


目不識丁

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧㄥ

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄧㄥ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

According to the Old Book of Tang, the Tang-dynasty official Zhang Hongjing once scornfully said to his soldiers:
:
「……今天下無事，汝輩挽得兩石力弓，不如識一丁字。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]「……今天下无事，汝辈挽得两石力弓，不如识一丁字。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Old Book of Tang, 945 CE
“...... Jīn tiānxià wúshì, rǔbèi wǎn dé liǎng dàn lì gōng, bùrú shí yī dīng zì.” [Pinyin]
“ […] Now that the world is in peace, although you all are able to draw a bow that takes two dan [a unit of measure] of force to be drawn, that is not as good as being able to read the simplest characters like 丁.”

「……今 天下 無事，汝輩 挽 得 兩 石{dàn} 力 弓，不如 識 一 丁 字。」

“ […] Now that the world is in peace, although you all are able to draw a bow that takes two dan 􂀿a unit of measure􂁀 of force to be drawn, that is not as good as being able to read the simplest characters like 丁.”

(derogatory) to not even know the most basic characters; to be densely illiterate

Old Book of Tang
Tang dynasty
Zhang Hongjing


懲前毖後

to punish those before to prevent those after

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

ㄔㄥˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнцяньбихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

to criticize former mistakes firmly to prevent them happening again


汗流浹背

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄟˋ

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄟˋ

ханьлюцзябэй

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/


不脛而走

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄗㄡˇ

буцзинъэрцзоу

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

to get round fast; to spread like wildfire


大義滅親

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/*lˤat-s|lˤa[t]-s ŋ(r)aj-s [m]et [tsʰ]i[n]/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

From Zuo Zhuan. Zhou Yu (w:zh:州吁) had murdered his brother, Duke Huan of Wey (w:zh:衛桓公), and taken his place. But he could not gain the favor of the people of Wey. Shi Que (w:zh:石碏), an officer loyal to the state, devised a scheme and had the usurper killed. Shi Que's son Shi Hou was a close associate of Zhou Yu, so Shi Que had his son killed as well. The people praised his act (《左傳·隱公四年》):
:
君子曰：「石碏，純臣也，惡州籲而厚與焉。『大義滅親』，其是之謂乎！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]君子曰：「石碏，纯臣也，恶州吁而厚与焉。『大义灭亲』，其是之谓乎！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Jūnzǐ yuē: “Shí Què, chún chén yě, wù Zhōu Yù ér Hòu yǔ yān. ‘dàyì miè qīn’, qí shì zhī wèi hū!” [Pinyin]
A superior man may say, "Shi Que was a minister without blemish. He hated Zhou Yu, with whom his own son Hou was art and part; — and did he not so afford an illustration of the saying that great righteousness is supreme over the affections?"

君子 曰：「@石.^碏，純 臣 也，惡{wù} @^州.^籲 而 @^厚 與 焉。『大義.滅.親』，其 是 之 謂 乎！」

to place righteousness before family; to be ready to punish one's own family if justice demands it


不假思索

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄙ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/


三七二十一

ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧ ㄦˋ ㄕˊ ㄧ

сань ци эршии

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

Originally a line in the Chinese multiplication table.

(figurative) (to not care about) the actual situation; facts of the matter


點頭哈腰

ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄚ ㄧㄠ

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

to uncritically and enthusiastically support someone; (specifically) to be excessively but superficially obsequious


朝九晚五

ㄓㄠ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˇ ㄨˇ

чжаоцзюваньу

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

(of a job) to start at 9 am and finish at 5 pm, as a daily routine; 9 to 5


如臨深淵

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄩㄢ

жулиньшэньюань

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/


戰戰兢兢

ja-r

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

CJKV/code

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

Sino-Xenic (戰戰兢兢):
* → Japanese: 戦(せん)々(せん)恐(きょう)々(きょう) (sensenkyōkyō)
* → Korean: 전전긍긍(戰戰兢兢) (jeonjeon'geunggeung)

CJKV

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

ㄓㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥ

чжаньчжаньцзинцзин

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 195 (《詩經·小雅·小旻》):
:
戰戰兢兢，如臨深淵，如履薄冰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zhànzhàn jīngjīng, rú lín shēnyuān, rú lǚ bóbīng. [Pinyin]
We should be apprehensive and careful,
As if we were on the brink of a deep gulf,
As if we were treading on thin ice.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

zh-x

戰戰.兢兢，如.臨.深淵，如.履.薄冰。

(ideophonic) trembling with fear; apprehensive and careful; fearful and cautious


源遠流長

ㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄤˊ

юаньюаньлючан

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

having a long and rich history; to extend to the dim and distant past


汗牛充棟

(enough books) to make a pack-ox sweat or to fill a house to the rafters

ㄏㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

ханьнючундун

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/


瑕不掩瑜

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄩˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

From the Book of Rites, Book 48 (《禮記·聘義》):
:
夫昔者君子比德於玉焉：溫潤而澤，仁也；縝密以栗，知也；廉而不劌，義也；垂之如隊，禮也；叩之其聲清越以長，其終詘然，樂也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁達，信也；氣如白虹，天也；精神見於山川，地也；圭璋特達，德也。天下莫不貴者，道也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]夫昔者君子比德于玉焉：温润而泽，仁也；缜密以栗，知也；廉而不刿，义也；垂之如队，礼也；叩之其声清越以长，其终诎然，乐也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁达，信也；气如白虹，天也；精神见于山川，地也；圭璋特达，德也。天下莫不贵者，道也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Fú xīzhě jūnzǐ bǐ dé yú yù yān: wēnrùn ér zé, rén yě; zhěnmì yǐ lì, zhì yě; lián ér bù guì, yì yě; chuí zhī rú zhuì, lǐ yě; kòu zhī qí shēng qīngyuè yǐ cháng, qí zhōng qūrán, yuè yě; xiá bù yǎn yú, yú bù yǎn xiá, zhōng yě; fú yǐn páng dá, xìn yě; qì rú bái hóng, tiān yě; jīngshén jiàn yú shānchuān, dì yě; guī zhāng tè dá, dé yě. Tiānxià mò bù guì zhě, dào yě. [Pinyin]
Anciently superior men found the likeness of all excellent qualities in jade. Soft, smooth, and glossy, it appeared to them like benevolence; fine, compact, and strong - like intelligence; angular, but not sharp and cutting - like righteousness; hanging down (in beads) as if it would fall to the ground - like (the humility of) propriety; when struck, yielding a note, clear and prolonged, yet terminating abruptly - like music; its flaws not concealing its beauty, nor its beauty concealing its flaws - like loyalty; with an internal radiance issuing from it on every side - like good faith; bright as a brilliant rainbow - like heaven; exquisite and mysterious, appearing in the hills and streams - like the earth; standing out conspicuous in the symbols of rank - like virtue; esteemed by all under the sky, - like the path of truth and duty.

夫{fú} 昔者 君子 比 德 於 玉 焉：溫潤 而 澤，仁 也；縝密 以 栗，知{zhì} 也；廉 而 不 劌，義 也；垂 之 如 隊{zhuì}，禮 也；叩 之 其 聲 清越 以 長，其 終 詘-然，樂 也；瑕.不.掩.瑜、瑜 不 掩 瑕，忠 也；孚 尹 旁 達，信 也；氣 如 白 虹，天 也；精神 見 於 山川，地 也；圭 璋 特 達，德 也。天下 莫 不 貴 者，道 也。

a blemish does not obscure jade's luster

small defects cannot obscure the great virtues; the pros outweigh the cons


子虛烏有

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(figurative) fictitious; nonexistent; made-up; fabricated


蠅營狗苟

ㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄍㄡˇ

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

朝悔其行，暮已復然。蠅營狗苟，驅去復還。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
朝悔其行，暮已复然。蝇营狗苟，驱去复还。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tang Dynasty, Han Yu, 《送窮文》
Zhāo huǐ qí xíng, mù yǐ fù rán. Yíngyínggǒugǒu, qū qù fù huán. [Pinyin]
In the morning, I regret my behavior, but in the evening, it all returns to the same. The five ghosts attached to me, I can't drive them away. (This is to say that he holds his good qualities very firmly, hence 蠅營狗苟 here should be understood literally.)

朝{zhāo} 悔 其 行，暮 已 復 然。蠅營狗苟，驅 去 復 還{huán}。

swarm as flies do for good; hang round as dogs do for food

(figuratively) to shamelessly seek personal gain; profit by ingratiating oneself with the rich


理屈詞窮

reasons are faulty and words have run out

ㄌㄧˇ ㄑㄩ ㄘˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

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

to be unable to put forth any convincing arguments to justify one's opinion; to not have a leg to stand on


言外之意

ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄓ ㄧˋ

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

unsaid meaning of one's words; unspoken implication


長年累月

ㄔㄤˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄩㄝˋ

чанняньлэйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

over many years and months; year in, year out


花花世界

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ kai¹¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ kai²¹/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ kai¹¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ kai²¹/

(chiefly derogatory) the human world; the world of mortals


梅開二度

ㄇㄟˊ ㄎㄞ ㄦˋ ㄉㄨˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

to do the same thing twice (e.g. to remarry or score twice in a game)


一點一滴

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

zh-l

點滴／点滴 (diǎndī)


鱗次櫛比

parallelly lined up like fish scales and teeth of a comb

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄧˇ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄧˋ

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

(usually of buildings) row upon row; tightly packed


一竅不通

doesn't (even) enter a single aperture (of one's head)

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

it's all Greek to me
it's all Greek to me

to not understand a thing about the topic; it's all Greek to me


多愁善感

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄔㄡˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄍㄢˇ

дочоушаньгань

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

melancholy and moody; depressed personality


嘆為觀止

ㄊㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓˇ

таньвэйгуаньчжи

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

吳公子札來聘……見舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之無不幬也，如地之無不載也。雖甚盛德，其蔑以加於此矣，觀止矣。若有他樂，吾不敢請已。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]吴公子札来聘……见舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之无不帱也，如地之无不载也。虽甚盛德，其蔑以加于此矣，观止矣。若有他乐，吾不敢请已。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Wú Gōngzǐ Zhá lái pìn...... Jiàn wǔ “Sháoxiāo” zhě, yuē: ‘Dé zhì yǐ zāi, dà yǐ! Rú tiān zhī wú bù chóu yě, rú dì zhī wú bù zǎi yě. Suī shèn shèng dé, qí miè yǐ jiā yú cǐ yǐ, guān zhǐ yǐ. Ruò yǒu tā yuè, wú bù gǎn qǐng yǐ. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

zh-x

^吳 ^公子 ^札 來 聘……見 舞《^韶箾》者，曰：‘德 至 矣 哉，大 矣！如 天 之 無 不 幬 也，如 地 之 無 不 載 也。雖 甚 盛.德，其 蔑 以 加 於 此 矣，觀.止 矣。若 有 他 樂，吾 不 敢 請 已。

叹为观止
歎為觀止
嘆爲觀止
歎爲觀止

to gasp in amazement; to acclaim as the peak of perfection


請君入甕

ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄥˋ

цинцзюньжувэн

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

From the story of Lai Junchen's questioning of Zhou Xing, who were both secret police officials and famous for torturing dissidents:
:
唐秋官侍郎周興與來俊臣對推事。俊臣別奉進止鞫興，興不之知也。及同食，謂興曰：「囚多不肯承，若為作法？」興曰：「甚易也。取大甕，以炭四面炙之，令囚人處之其中，何事不吐！」即索大甕，以火圍之，起謂興曰：「有內狀勘老兄，請兄入此甕。」興惶恐叩頭，咸即款伏。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]唐秋官侍郎周兴与来俊臣对推事。俊臣别奉进止鞫兴，兴不之知也。及同食，谓兴曰：「囚多不肯承，若为作法？」兴曰：「甚易也。取大瓮，以炭四面炙之，令囚人处之其中，何事不吐！」即索大瓮，以火围之，起谓兴曰：「有内状勘老兄，请兄入此瓮。」兴惶恐叩头，咸即款伏。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 7ᵗʰ century CE, Zhang Zhuo, Chaoye Qianzai (《朝野僉載》)
Táng qiūguān shìláng zhōuxìng yǔ láijùnchén duì tuīshì. Jùnchén bié fèngjìnzhǐ jū xìng, xìng bù zhī zhī yě. Jí tóng shí, wèi xìng yuē: “Qiú duō bùkěn chéng, ruò wèi zuòfǎ?” Xìng yuē: “Shèn yì yě. Qǔ dà wèng, yǐ tàn sìmiàn zhì zhī, lìng qiúrén chù zhī qí zhōng, héshì bù tù!” Jí suǒ dà wèng, yǐ huǒ wéi zhī, qǐ wèi xìng yuē: “Yǒu nèizhuàng kān lǎoxiōng, qǐng xiōng rù cǐ wèng.” Xìng huángkǒng kòutóu, xián jí kuǎnfú. [Pinyin]
In the Tang Dynasty, Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were judges of the Ministry of Justice. One day, Lai Junchen received an edict [from Wu Zetian] to interrogate Zhou Xing [about his suspected crimes], and Zhou did not know about that. When they were having lunch, Lai asked Zhou, "Most of the criminals are not willing to admit [their crimes]. How would you deal with them then?" Zhou then answered, "That's easy. Get a big jar, heat it with charcoal, then ask the criminal to get into it. He'll definitely admit everything." Lai then [ordered someone to] take a big jar [for him] and then set up fire around the jar. He stood up and then told Zhou, "I received an order [from her Majesty] to question you. Now, please get into this jar." Zhou then panicked and kowtowed, and then pleaded guilty immediately.

唐 @秋官 侍郎 @周興 與 @來俊臣 對 推事。@俊臣 別 奉進止 鞫 @興，@興 不 之 知 也。 及 同 食，謂 @興 曰：「 囚 多 不肯 承， 若 為 作法？」@興 曰 ：「 甚 易 也 。 取 大 甕 ， 以 炭 四面 炙 之 ， 令 囚人 處 之 其 中 ， 何事 不 吐 ！」 即 索 大 甕 ， 以 火 圍 之 ， 起 謂 興 曰 ：「 有 內狀 勘 老兄 ， 請 兄 入 此 甕。」 @興 惶恐 叩頭 ， 咸 即 款伏 。

In the Tang Dynasty, Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were judges of the Ministry of Justice. One day, Lai Junchen received an edict 􂀿from Wu Zetian􂁀 to interrogate Zhou Xing 􂀿about his suspected crimes􂁀, and Zhou did not know about that. When they were having lunch, Lai asked Zhou, "Most of the criminals are not willing to admit 􂀿their crimes􂁀. How would you deal with them then?" Zhou then answered, "That's easy. Get a big jar, heat it with charcoal, then ask the criminal to get into it. He'll definitely admit everything." Lai then 􂀿ordered someone to􂁀 take a big jar 􂀿for him􂁀 and then set up fire around the jar. He stood up and then told Zhou, "I received an order 􂀿from her Majesty􂁀 to question you. Now, please get into this jar." Zhou then panicked and kowtowed, and then pleaded guilty immediately.

7ᵗʰ century <small class='ce-date'>CE</small>, Zhang Zhuo, Chaoye Qianzai (《朝野僉載》)

pay back in someone's own coin
pay back in someone's own coin

taste of his/her own medicine
taste of one's own medicine

to pay back in someone's own coin; to give someone a taste of his/her own medicine; to make someone's act backfire on him or her; to treat someone in his or her own ways

Lai Junchen
Ministry of Justice (Imperial China)
Tang Dynasty
Wu Zetian
Zhou Xing (secret police official)
zh:張鷟

以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身

yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn


即以其人之道，還治其人之身

head

即以其人之道，還治其人之身

即以其人之道，还治其人之身

jí yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄕㄣ

jí yǐ cí rén jhih dào, huán jhìh cí rén jhih shen

chi² i³ chʻi² jên² chih¹ tao⁴, huan² chih⁴ chʻi² jên² chih¹ shên¹

jí yǐ chí rén jr̄ dàu-, hwán jr̀ chí rén jr̄ shēn

jyi yii chyi ren jy daw, hwan jyh chyi ren jy shen

цзи и ци жэнь чжи дао

хуань чжи ци жэнь чжи шэнь

xuanʹ čži ci žɛnʹ čži šɛnʹ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

以其人之道，還治其人之身 以其人之道，還治其人之身#Chinese

以其人之道，还治其人之身 以其人之道，还治其人之身#Chinese

Synonym of 以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身 (yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn)


捧腹大笑

ㄆㄥˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

to laugh uproariously; to burst out laughing


火冒三丈

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄙㄢ ㄓㄤˋ

хомаосаньчжан

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

to fly into a rage; to flare up; to lose one's temper


權宜之計

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

цюаньичжицзи

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

expedient measure; stopgap; makeshift stratagem


一家之主

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/


令人髮指

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄚˋ ㄓˇ

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄓˇ

линжэньфачжи

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ faːt̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ faːt̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

raise someone's hackles
raise someone's hackles

(figurative) to raise someone's hackles; to arouse one's anger; highly offensive; objectionable


子曰詩云

The master spoke; the Classic of Poetry said

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/


不予置評

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄓˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

警方對這些報道不予置評。 [MSC, trad.]
警方对这些报道不予置评。 [MSC, simp.]

The police has refused to comment on these reports.

Jǐngfāng duì zhèxiē bàodào bùyǔzhìpíng. [Pinyin]


狐朋狗友

ㄏㄨˊ ㄆㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(derogatory) disreputable friends; evil associates; gang of scoundrels


青出於藍，而勝於藍

thecolor blue is made out of indigo, but is better than indigo

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

ㄦˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

cing¹ ceot¹ jyu¹ laam⁴, ji⁴ sing³ jyu¹ laam⁴

chʻing¹ chʻu¹ yü² lan², êrh² shêng⁴ yü² lan²

цин чу юй лань

эр шэн юй лань

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ län³⁵/

tsing¹ tsoet⁷ jy¹ laam⁴, ji⁴ sing³ jy¹ laam⁴

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹ jiː²¹ sɪŋ³³ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

青出於藍，而青於藍 青出於藍，而青於藍#Chinese

青出于蓝，而青于蓝 青出于蓝，而青于蓝#Chinese

Synonym of 青出於藍，而青於藍／青出于蓝，而青于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán, ér qīng yú lán)


當仁不讓

ㄉㄤ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

данжэньбужан

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):
:
子曰：「當仁不讓於師。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「当仁不让于师。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Dāng rén bù ràng yú shī.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher."

zh-x

^子曰：「當.仁.不.讓 於 師。」

to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others


聽了風就是雨

to presume it'll rain once (one) hears wind

ㄊㄧㄥ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄩˇ

тин лэ фэн цзю ши юй

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ lə² fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to easily believe in hearsay; to overreact to rumors


久假不歸

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

Originally, “to borrow the name of renyi (benevolence and righteousness) without actually practicing them”. From Jin Xin I of Mencius:
:
孟子曰：「堯舜，性之也；湯武，身之也；五霸，假之也。久假而不歸，惡知其非有也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子曰：「尧舜，性之也；汤武，身之也；五霸，假之也。久假而不归，恶知其非有也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Mèngzǐ yuē: “Yáo Shùn, xìng zhī yě; Tāng Wǔ, shēn zhī yě; wǔ bà, jiǎ zhī yě. Jiǔ jiǎ ér bù guī, wū zhī qí fēi yǒu yě.” [Pinyin]
Mencius said, 'Benevolence and righteousness were natural to Yao and Shun. Tang and Wu made them their own. The five chiefs of the princes feigned them. Having borrowed them long and not returned them, how could it be known they did not own them?'

^孟子 曰：「^堯 ^舜，性 之 也；^湯 ^武，身 之 也；五 霸，假 之 也。久 假 而 不 歸，惡{wū} 知 其 非 有 也。」

to borrow something and not return it for a long time


天生一對

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

тяньшэнъидуй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³/

a couple who were made for each other; a perfectly matching pair


期期艾艾

ㄑㄧˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄞˋ ㄞˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ ŋaːi̯²² ŋaːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ ŋaːi̯²² ŋaːi̯²²/

昌為人口吃，又盛怒，曰：‘臣口不能言，然臣期期知其不可。’ [Classical Chinese, trad.]昌为人口吃，又盛怒，曰：‘臣口不能言，然臣期期知其不可。’ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Chāng wèi rén kǒuchī, yòu shèngnù, yuē: ‘Chén kǒu bù néng yán, rán chén qīqī zhī qí bùkě.’ [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)
鄧艾口吃，語稱艾艾。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]邓艾口吃，语称艾艾。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE
Dèng Ài kǒuchī, yǔ chēng ài'ài. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^昌 為 人 口吃，又 盛怒，曰：‘臣 口 不 能 言，然 臣 期期 知 其 不可。’

^鄧 ^艾 口吃，語 稱 艾艾。


難兄難弟

ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄋㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ

наньсюннаньди

/nän³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²¹ tɐi̯²²/

/nän³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²¹ tɐi̯²²/

List of people of the Three Kingdoms (C)

Based on a tale in A New Account of the Tales of the World:
:
陳元方子長文有英才，與季方子孝先，各論其父功德，爭之不能決，咨於太丘。太丘曰：「元方難為兄，季方難為弟。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]陈元方子长文有英才，与季方子孝先，各论其父功德，争之不能决，咨于太丘。太丘曰：「元方难为兄，季方难为弟。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE
Chén Yuánfāng zǐ Chángwén yǒu yīngcái, yǔ Jìfāng zǐ Xiàoxiān, gè lùn qí fù gōngdé, zhēng zhī bùnéng jué, zī yú Tàiqiū. Tàiqiū yuē: “Yuánfāng nán wéi xiōng, Jìfāng nán wéi dì.” [Pinyin]
The talented son of Yuanfang (Chen Ji), Changwen (Chen Qun), argued with the son of Jifang (Chen Chen), Xiaoxian (Chen Zhong), about the merits and virtues of their fathers. Unable to settle their argument, they consulted Taiqiu (Chen Shi, mayor of Taiqiu County). Taiqiu said, "Jifang is too outstanding for Yuanfang to be his elder brother, and Yuanfang is too outstanding for Jifang to be his younger brother."

@^陳 @^元方 子 @^長文 有 英才，與 @^季方 子 @^孝先，各 論 其 父 功德，爭 之 不能 決，咨 於 @^太丘。@^太丘 曰：「@^元方 難 為{wéi} 兄，@^季方 難 為{wéi} 弟。」

(ironic) of the same ilk; to be both bad


難兄難弟

ㄋㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄋㄢˋ ㄉㄧˋ

наньсюннаньди

/nän⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²² tɐi̯²²/

/nän⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/naːn²² hɪŋ⁵⁵ naːn²² tɐi̯²²/


陰差陽錯

ㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄧㄤˊ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/in⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/in⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔː³³/

Constructed from 陰陽／阴阳 (yīnyáng) and 差錯／差错 (chācuò).

an accident, mistake or event arising from many different unforeseen causes; a strange combination of circumstances; accidentally; serendipitously


壁立千仞

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˋ

билицяньжэнь

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹/


在劫難逃

ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄊㄠˊ

цзайцзенаньтао

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

(originally Buddhism) there is no escaping fate; inexorably doomed


沐猴而冠

ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄡˊ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

мухоуэргуань

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ kuːn³³/

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² hɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ kuːn³³/


無可厚非

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄈㄟ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ hɐu̯¹³ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kau³⁵⁻¹¹ hui³³/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ hɐu̯¹³ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ kau³⁵⁻¹¹ hui³³/

not altogether inexcusable; hard to blame; reasonable; understandable


無可非議

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄟ ㄧˋ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ jiː¹³/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ jiː¹³/


泣不成聲

ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to choke with sobs; to cry so much that one cannot utter a word


深思熟慮

ㄕㄣ ㄙ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄩˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄙ ㄕㄡˊ ㄌㄩˋ

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ ly⁵¹/

шэньсышоулюй

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lɵy̯²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lɵy̯²²/

經過一番深思熟慮後做出的決定 [MSC, trad.]
经过一番深思熟虑后做出的决定 [MSC, simp.]

jīngguò yī fān shēnsīshúlǜ hòu zuòchū de juédìng [Pinyin]

deliberation; deep and careful consideration


人艱不拆

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄞ

жэньцзяньбучай

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

From a line in the lyrics of Lying (《說謊》), a 2009 song by Yoga Lin, condensed to resemble a four-character chengyu (idiom):
:
別說我說謊 人生已經如此地艱難 有些事情 就不要拆穿 [MSC, trad.]别说我说谎 人生已经如此地艰难 有些事情 就不要拆穿 [MSC, simp.]
bié shuō wǒ shuōhuǎng, rénshēng yǐjīng rúcǐ de jiānnán, yǒuxiē shìqíng, jiù bùyào chāichuān [Pinyin]
Don't say that I'm lying;
Life has been so hard already;
Some things,
Are better not exposed.

別 說 我 說謊　人生 已經 如此 地{de} 艱難　有些 事情　就 不要 拆穿

(neologism, slang, humorous) Life is hard already; some things need not be revealed.


膽小如鼠

ㄉㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨˇ

/tän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ syː³⁵/

/taːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ syː³⁵/

to be timid as a mouse; to be very timid


忠言逆耳

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄧˋ ㄦˇ

чжунъяньниэр

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ni⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚²¹ jiː¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ni⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ jɪk̚²¹ jiː¹³/

From Shiji:
:
且忠言逆耳利於行，毒藥苦口利於病，願沛公聽樊噲言！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]且忠言逆耳利于行，毒药苦口利于病，愿沛公听樊哙言！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Qiě zhōngyánnì'ěr lì yú xíng, dúyào kǔkǒu lì yú bìng, yuàn Pèigōng tīng Fán Kuài yán! [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

zh-q

且 忠言逆耳 利 於 行，毒藥 苦口 利 於 病，願 ^沛公 聽 ^樊 ^噲 言！

sincere advice may be unpleasant to the ear (but it is beneficial)


置若罔聞

ㄓˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄨㄣˊ

чжижованвэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ mɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jœːk̚² mɔːŋ¹³ mɐn²¹/


無中生有

ㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻²³ sẽ³³⁻²³ u³⁵/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻²³ sẽ³³⁻²³ u³⁵/

From Chapter 40 of Tao Te Ching:
:
天下萬物生於有，有生於無。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]天下万物生于有，有生于无。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Tiānxià wànwù shēng yú yǒu, yǒu shēng yú wú. [Pinyin]
All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and named); that existence sprang from It as non-existent (and not named).

zh-x

天下 萬物 生 於 有，有 生 於 無。


兵戎相見

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

бинжунсянцзянь

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³/


首當其衝

ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄤ ㄑㄧˊ ㄔㄨㄥ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

Formed based on a line in the Book of Han:
鄭當其衝，不能修德。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]郑当其冲，不能修德。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1ˢᵗ century CE
Zhèng dāng qí chōng, bùnéng xiū dé. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)
First attested in the Draft History of Qing:
歐艦東來，粵東首當其衝。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]欧舰东来，粤东首当其冲。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 1929, Zhao Erxun (lead editor), Draft History of Qing
Ōu jiàn dōng lái, Yuèdōng shǒudāngqíchōng. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^鄭 當 其 衝，不能 修 德。

^歐 艦 東 來，^粵東 首當其衝。

特別是文化人和青年學生，感覺銳敏，首當其衝。 [MSC, trad.]
特别是文化人和青年学生，感觉锐敏，首当其冲。 [MSC, simp.]

From: 1940, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《新民主主義論》 (On New Democracy), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Most susceptible, and the first to be affected, are the intellectuals and the young students.

Tèbié shì wénhuàrén hé qīngnián xuéshēng, gǎnjué ruìmǐn, shǒudāngqíchōng. [Pinyin]

to be the first to suffer (attack or disaster)

(neologism, proscribed) taking the lead; first

(neologism, proscribed) more important, crucial or prominent


生死存亡

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

шэнсыцуньван

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹/

關係到人類的生死存亡 [MSC, trad.]
关系到人类的生死存亡 [MSC, simp.]

to concern the survival of the human race

guānxì dào rénlèi de shēngsǐcúnwáng [Pinyin]

生死存亡的關頭／生死存亡的关头

matter of life and death
matter of life and death

matter of life and death; critical moment


痴人說夢

ㄔ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄇㄥˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ syːt̚³ mʊŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ syːt̚³ mʊŋ²²/


皮裡陽秋

ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄡ

/pʰi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/


舊雨新知

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄩˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓ

цзююйсиньчжи

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


青燈黃卷

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

циндэнхуанцзюань

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/


仰之彌高

ㄧㄤˇ ㄓ ㄇㄧˊ ㄍㄠ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

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！…… [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！…… [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, zuān zhī mí jiān, zhān zhī zài qián, hū yān zài hòu!...... [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.…

^@顏 ^@淵 喟然 歎 曰「仰.之.彌.高，鑽{zuān} 之 彌 堅，瞻 之 在 前，忽 焉 在 後！……

the more looked up at, the higher it seems


不分軒輊

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ ㄒㄩㄢ ㄓˋ

буфэньсюаньчжи

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³/


斤斤計較

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзиньцзиньцзицзяо

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kaːu̯³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ kaːu̯³³/

to fuss over minor matters; to split hairs


甚囂塵上

ㄕㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄔㄣˊ ㄕㄤˋ

шэньсяочэньшан

/ʂən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹ sœːŋ²²/

/ʂən⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm²² hiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹ sœːŋ²²/

但是近來的妥協空氣，反共聲浪，忽又甚囂塵上，又把全國人民打入悶葫蘆裡了。 [MSC, trad.]
但是近来的妥协空气，反共声浪，忽又甚嚣尘上，又把全国人民打入闷葫芦里了。 [MSC, simp.]

Of late, however, the dust and din of compromise and anti-communism have once again filled the air, and once again the people are thrown into bewilderment.

Dànshì jìnlái de tuǒxié kōngqì, fǎngòng shēnglàng, hū yòu shènxiāochénshàng, yòu bǎ quánguó rénmín dǎrù mènhúlu lǐ le. [Pinyin]


桑間濮上

ㄙㄤ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄆㄨˊ ㄕㄤˋ

санцзяньпушан

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ pʊk̚² sœːŋ²²/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ pʊk̚² sœːŋ²²/


文不加點

ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇ

вэньбуцзядянь

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵/

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ tiːm³⁵/

to write a flawless essay in one go; to be quick-witted and skilled at writing compositions


滿城風雨

ㄇㄢˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ

маньчэнфэнъюй

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siã²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn¹³ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siã²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã¹³⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siã²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siã²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹/


五福臨門

ㄨˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄇㄣˊ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ fʊk̚⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ lin³⁵ mən³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ fʊk̚⁵ lɐm²¹ muːn²¹/

may the five blessings descend upon this home (namely: longevity, wealth, health, virtue and a natural death)


魂飛魄散

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄟ ㄆㄛˋ ㄙㄢˋ

хуньфэйпосань

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ saːn³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ saːn³³/

to be frightened stiff, spooked out of one's mind, terror-stricken


懷璧其罪

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

хуайбицицзуй

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯²²/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯²²/

From Zuo Zhuan (《左傳·桓公十年》):
:
初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗獻。既而悔之。曰：「周諺有之：『匹夫無罪，懷璧其罪。』吾焉用此，其以賈害也？」乃獻。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]初，虞叔有玉，虞公求旃。弗献。既而悔之。曰：「周谚有之：『匹夫无罪，怀璧其罪。』吾焉用此，其以贾害也？」乃献。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Chū, Yú Shū yǒu yù, Yú Gōng qiú zhān. Fú xiàn. Jì ér huǐ zhī. Yuē: “Zhōu yàn yǒu zhī: ‘Pǐfū wú zuì, huái bì qí zuì.’ Wú yān yòng cǐ, qí yǐ gǔ hài yě?” Nǎi xiàn. [Pinyin]
The 3rd brother of the duke of Yu had a valuable piece of jade, which the duke asked of him. He refused it, but afterwards repented, saying, "There is the proverb in Zhou, 'A man may have no crime; — that he keeps his bi is his crime.' This jade is of no use to me; — shall I buy my hurt with it?" He then presented it to the duke.

初，^虞 ^叔 有 玉，^虞 ^公 求 旃。弗 獻。既 而 悔 之。曰：「周 諺 有 之：『匹夫 無 罪，懷.璧.其.罪。』吾 焉 用 此，其 以 賈 害 也？」乃 獻。

to get into trouble on account of a cherished item, fig. A person's talent will arouse the envy of others.


心懷叵測

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄆㄛˇ ㄘㄜˋ

синьхуайпоцэ

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

to harbour unfathomable motives; to have sinister intentions


城門失火，殃及池魚

afire in the city gates is also a calamity for the fish in the moat

ㄔㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˊ ㄔˊ ㄩˊ

sing⁴ mun⁴ sat¹ fo², joeng¹ kap⁶ ci⁴ jyu⁴

чэнмэнь шихо

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵/

sing⁴ mun⁴ sat⁷ fo², joeng¹ kap⁹ tsi⁴ jy⁴

/sɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sɐt̚⁵ fɔː³⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚² t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹/

(figurative) to suffer as a bystander; to get caught in the crossfire


司空見慣

ㄙ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

сыкунцзяньгуань

/sz̩⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kʷaːn³³/

/si³³⁻²³ kʰoŋ³³⁻²³ kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kuaŋ²¹³/

/sz̩⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kʷaːn³³/

/si³³⁻²³ kʰoŋ³³⁻²³ kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kuaŋ²¹³/

劉尚書禹錫罷和州……李司空罷鎮在京，慕劉名，嘗邀至第中，厚設飲饌。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。劉於席上賦詩曰：‘……春風一曲《杜韋娘》。司空見慣渾閑事，斷盡江南刺史腸。’ [Classical Chinese, trad.]刘尚书禹锡罢和州……李司空罢镇在京，慕刘名，尝邀至第中，厚设饮馔。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。刘于席上赋诗曰：‘……春风一曲《杜韦娘》。司空见惯浑闲事，断尽江南刺史肠。’ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 唐·孟棨《本事詩•情感》
Liú Shàngshū Yǔxī bà Hézhōu...... Lǐ Sīkōng bà zhèn zài jīng, mù Liú míng, cháng yāo zhì dì zhōng, hòu shè yǐnzhuàn. Jiǔ hān, mìng miàojì gē yǐ sòng zhī. Liú yú xí shàng fù shī yuē: ‘...... Chūnfēng yī qū “Dù Wéiniáng”. Sīkōng jiàn guàn hún xiánshì, duàn jìn Jiāngnán cìshǐ cháng.’ [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^劉 ^尚書 ^禹-錫 罷 ^和州……^李 ^司空 罷 鎮 在 京，慕 ^劉 名，嘗 邀 至 第 中，厚 設 飲饌。酒 酣，命 妙妓 歌 以 送 之。^劉 於 席 上 賦 詩 曰：‘……春風 一 曲《^杜 ^韋-娘》。^司空.見.慣 渾 閑事，斷 盡 ^江南 刺史 腸。’

唐·孟棨《本事詩•情感》


後來居上

ㄏㄡˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄐㄩ ㄕㄤˋ

хоулайцзюйшан

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³/

/hɔ²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/au³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ³³/

/au³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ kɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³/

/hɔ²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²²/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

/au³³⁻²¹ lai²³⁻³³ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ³³/

/au³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ ku⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ³³/

From a sarcastic comment by Ji An (汲黯) to the Emperor Wu of Han:
陛下用群臣如積薪耳，後來者居上。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]陛下用群臣如积薪耳，后来者居上。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
Bìxià yòng qúnchén rú jīxīn ěr, hòu lái zhě jū shàng. [Pinyin]
The way Your Majesty manages your ministers is like nothing but keeping firewood in a pile: it is the late-comers that get the top position.

陛下 用 群臣 如 積-薪 耳，@後 @來 者 @居 @上。

the up-and-coming youngster outstrips the older generation; the pupil surpasses the master


鐘鳴鼎食

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄕˊ

чжунминдинши

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tɪŋ³⁵ sɪk̚²/

閭閻撲地，鐘鳴鼎食之家。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
闾阎扑地，钟鸣鼎食之家。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

Lǘyánpūdì, zhōngmíngdǐngshí zhī jiā. [Pinyin]


充耳不聞

to stuff one's ears and pretend not to hear

ㄔㄨㄥ ㄦˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˊ

чунъэрбувэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰoŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ buŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰoŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ buŋ³⁵/


壽比南山

ㄕㄡˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

шоубинаньшань

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² pei̯³⁵ naːm²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/siu³³⁻¹¹ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/siu³³⁻²¹ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lam²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/siu¹¹ pi⁵²⁻³⁵ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sũã³³/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/sɐu̯²² pei̯³⁵ naːm²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/siu³³⁻¹¹ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/siu³³⁻²¹ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lam²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/siu¹¹ pi⁵²⁻³⁵ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sũã³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 166 (《詩經·小雅·天保》):
:
如南山之壽，不騫不崩。
如松柏之茂，無不爾或承。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]如南山之寿，不骞不崩。
如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Rú nánshān zhī shòu, bù qiān bù bēng.
Rú sōngbǎi zhī mào, wú bù ěr huò chéng. [Pinyin]
Like the age of the southern hills, Never waning, never falling,
Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; May such be thy succeeding line!

lang

(《詩經·小雅·天保》)

(《詩經·小雅·天保》)

zh-x

如 @南山 之 @壽，不 騫 不 崩。
如 松柏 之 茂，無 不 爾 或 承。

[One's] life is as long-lasting as theZhongnan Mountains


平易近人

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ

пинъицзиньжэнь

/pʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ jiː²² kɐn²² jɐn²¹/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ jiː²² kɐn²² jɐn²¹/

(of writing) plain and simple; easy to understand


墓木已拱

ㄇㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥˇ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː¹³ kʊŋ³⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²² mʊk̚² jiː¹³ kʊŋ³⁵/

Originally from a curse uttered by the Duke Mu of Qin to Jianshu:
爾何知！中壽，爾墓之木拱矣！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]尔何知！中寿，尔墓之木拱矣！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Ěr hé zhī! Zhōngshòu, ěr mù zhī mù gǒng yǐ! [Pinyin]
What do you know! Had you, old thing, died at an average age, trees by your grave would have grown larger trunks than what could be embraced with both arms!

爾 何 知！中-壽，爾 @墓 之 @木 @拱 矣！


背井離鄉

ㄅㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

бэйцзинлисян

/peɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/peɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/puːi̯³³ t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pue²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²²⁻²¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

to leave one's native place and move elsewhere


穩操勝券

ㄨㄣˇ ㄘㄠ ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ

вэньцаошэнцюань

/wən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ kyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ hyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ kyːn³³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ hyːn³³/

grasp it and victory is assured, to have success within one's grasp


如坐針氈

ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄣ ㄓㄢ

жуцзочжэньчжань

žuczočžɛnʹčžanʹ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɔː²² t͡sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵/


人盡可夫

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄨ

жэньцзинькэфу

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɵn²² hɔː³⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɵn²² hɔː³⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

(often derogatory, of a woman) having loose morals; being promiscuous


尾大不掉

ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯¹³ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

/bue⁵²⁻³⁵ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiau¹¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mei̯¹³ taːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ tiːu̯²²/

/bue⁵²⁻³⁵ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiau¹¹/

From Zuo Zhuan:
:
末大必折，尾大不掉，君所知也。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE
Mòdàbìzhé, wěidàbùdiào, jūn suǒ zhī yě. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

末大必折，尾大不掉，君 所 知 也。

a subordinate becomes too powerful for their superior to control


兔死狐悲

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (兔死狐悲):
* → Korean: 토사호비(兎死狐悲) (tosahobi)

ja-r

兎死すれば狐これを悲しむ

うさぎ しすれば きつね これ を かなしむ

→ Japanese: 兎死(うさぎし)すれば狐(きつね)これを悲(かな)しむ (usagi shisureba kitsune kore o kanashimu) (calque)

ㄊㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄟ

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ wuː²¹ pei̯⁵⁵/

/tʰu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰou̯³³ sei̯³⁵ wuː²¹ pei̯⁵⁵/

(figurative) to have sympathy with a like-minded person in distress


遇人不淑

ㄩˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨ

ㄩˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨˊ

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

/jyː²² jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

/jyː²² jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

to be in a relationship with or marry a bad person


咄咄怪事

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄕˋ

ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄕˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³ siː²²/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰyːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³ siː²²/

strange business; absurdity; extraordinary thing; paradoxical matter


牝雞司晨

ㄆㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧ ㄙ ㄔㄣˊ

пиньцзисычэнь

/pʰin⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pʰɐn¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

/pʰin⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pʰɐn¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

Based on an ancient saying quoted in the Book of Documents:
*
古人有言曰：『牝雞無晨。牝雞之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟婦言是用。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]古人有言曰：『牝鸡无晨。牝鸡之晨，惟家之索。』今商王受，惟妇言是用。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 7ᵗʰ – 4ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Gǔrén yǒu yán yuē: ‘Pìnjī wú chén. Pìnjī zhī chén, wéi jiā zhī suǒ.’ Jīn Shāngwáng Shòu, wéi fùyán shì yòng. [Pinyin]
The ancients have said, "The hen does not announce the morning. The crowing of a hen in the morning (indicates) the subversion of the family." Now Shou, the king of Shang, follows only the words of his wife.

zh-x

古人 有 言 曰：『@牝雞 無 @晨。@牝雞 之 @晨，惟 家 之 索。』今 ^商-王 ^受，惟 婦-言 是 用。

(figurative, derogatory) a woman usurps authority, women meddle in politics, the female wears the trousers.

Book of Documents
Da Ji
King Zhou of Shang


不欺暗室

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄢˋ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧ ㄢˋ ㄕˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


玉樹臨風

ㄩˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄈㄥ

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ lin³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² syː²² lɐm²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ lin³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² syː²² lɐm²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

From the poem "飲中八仙歌" written by Du Fu (杜甫) during the Tang dynasty:
:
宗之瀟灑美少年，舉觴白眼望青天，皎如玉樹臨風前。 [MSC, trad.]宗之潇洒美少年，举觞白眼望青天，皎如玉树临风前。 [MSC, simp.]
Zōngzhī xiāosǎ měishàonián, jǔ shāng báiyǎn wàng qīngtiān, jiǎo rú yùshù lín fēng qián. [Pinyin]
(please add an English translation of this usage example)

^@宗之 瀟灑 美少年，舉 觴 白眼 望 青天，皎 如 玉樹 臨 風 前。

(of a male) to be extraordinarily talented and good-looking


順手牽羊

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄤˊ

шуньшоуцяньян

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɐu̯³⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²⁴/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɐu̯³⁵ hiːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²⁴/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³/

(figurative) to steal something under the cover of an emergency; to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain


大快朵頤

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄉㄨㄛˇ ㄧˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ tɔː³⁵ jiː²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ tɔː³⁵ jiː²¹/


名列前茅

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄠˊ

минлецяньмао

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ maːu̯²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ liːt̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ maːu̯²¹/


蒲柳之姿

ㄆㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄓ ㄗ

/pʰu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/pʰu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/


食言而肥

ㄕˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ fei̯²¹/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hui²⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ pui²³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ fei̯²¹/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hui²⁴/

/sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ pui²³/


野心勃勃

ㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


不翼而飛

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚² jiː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ek̚⁴⁻² d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pue³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚² jiː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ek̚⁴⁻² d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pue³³/

Chapter 26 of Guanzi:
:
無翼而飛者，聲也；無根而固者，情也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]无翼而飞者，声也；无根而固者，情也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Guanzi, 5ᵗʰ century BCE to 220 CE
Wú yì ér fēi zhě, shēng yě; wú gēn ér gù zhě, qíng yě. [Pinyin]
Sound flies without wings; feelings are firm without roots.

無 翼 而 飛 者，聲 也；無 根 而 固 者，情 也。

to be wingless and yet flying or airborne

spread like wildfire
spread like wildfire

(of news) to spread quickly; to spread like wildfire; to spread fast as if on wings

(of an object) to disappear suddenly; to disappear without a trace; to vanish into thin air


一言以蔽之

desc

→ Japanese: 一言以って之を蔽う (ichigen motte kore o ōu) (calque)

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄓ

yīyán yǐ bì zhī [Phonetic:yìyán yǐ bì zhī]

иянь и би чжи

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ pɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

From the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》):
:
子曰：「詩三百，一言以蔽之，曰『思無邪』。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「诗三百，一言以蔽之，曰『思无邪』。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Shī sānbǎi, yīyán yǐ bì zhī, yuē ‘sīwúxié’.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "In the Book of Poetry are three hundred pieces, but the design of them all may be embraced in one sentence — 'Having no depraved thoughts.'"

zh-x

^子曰：「^詩 三百，一言.以.蔽.之，曰『思無邪』。」


集腋成裘

collect underarm fur (of a fox) to make a fur coat

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² jɪk̚² sɪŋ²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² jɪk̚² sɪŋ²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

many small contributions add up to something big; many a mickle makes a muckle


爭分奪秒

ㄓㄥ ㄈㄣ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄠˇ

чжэнфэньдомяо

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tyːt̚² miːu̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tyːt̚² miːu̯¹³/

to seize every minute; to race against time


恬不知恥

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄔˇ

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


分秒必爭

ㄈㄣ ㄇㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄥ

фэньмяобичжэн

/fən⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³ piːt̚⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² biau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/huŋ³³⁻²³ miau⁵²⁻³⁵ pik̚²⁻⁴ t͡sẽ³³/

/fən⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³ piːt̚⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² biau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/huŋ³³⁻²³ miau⁵²⁻³⁵ pik̚²⁻⁴ t͡sẽ³³/

to grasp every minute; to make full use of one's time


不虛此行

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩ ㄘ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

(figurative) it has been worthwhile; the journey has not been made in vain; the journey has been well worthwhile


圍魏救趙

to besiege theState of Wei to rescue the State of Zhao

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄠˋ

вэйвэйцзючжао

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²² kɐu̯³³ t͡siːu̯²²/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²² kɐu̯³³ t͡siːu̯²²/

(figurative) to relieve a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers


以逸待勞

ㄧˇ ㄧˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄌㄠˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐt̚² tɔːi̯²² lou̯²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɐt̚² tɔːi̯²² lou̯²¹/

to wait at one's ease for the exhausted enemy; to nurture one's strength and bide one's time


偷樑換柱

to steal a rafter and replace it with a column

ㄊㄡ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨˋ

тоулянхуаньчжу

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wuːn²² t͡sʰyː¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ wuːn²² t͡sʰyː¹³/

to replace the original with a fake; to perpetrate a fraud


指桑罵槐

to point at the mulberry tree and curse the pagoda tree

ㄓˇ ㄙㄤ ㄇㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ

чжисанмахуай

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ mä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ maː²² waːi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɑŋ⁵⁵ mä⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ maː²² waːi̯²¹/

to scold someone indirectly; to make oblique accusations


道聽塗說

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (道聽塗說):
* → Japanese: 道(どう)聴(ちょう)塗(と)説(せつ) (dōchōtosetsu)
* → Korean: 도청도설(道聽塗說) (docheongdoseol)

ㄉㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄛ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ³³ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ³³ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tou̯²² tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹ syːt̚³/

From the Analects, Book 17 (《論語·陽貨》):
:
子曰：「道聽而塗說，德之棄也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「道听而涂说，德之弃也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Dào tīng ér tú shuō, dé zhī qì yě.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "To tell, as we go along, what we have heard on the way, is to cast away our virtue."

zh-x

^子曰：「@道.聽 而 @塗.說，德 之 棄 也。」

道听涂说
道聽涂說
道聽途說
道聽途説/道听途说

to tell, as one go along, what they have heard on the way

世上最可笑的是那些「知識裡手」，有了道聽塗說的一知半解，便自封為「天下第一」，適足見其不自量而已。 [MSC, trad.]
世上最可笑的是那些「知识里手」，有了道听涂说的一知半解，便自封为「天下第一」，适足见其不自量而已。 [MSC, simp.]

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

The most ridiculous person in the world is the “know all” who picks up a smattering of hearsay knowledge and proclaims themselves “the world's Number One authority”; this merely shows that they have not taken a proper measure of themselves.

Shìshàng zuì kěxiào de shì nàxiē “zhīshi lǐshǒu”, yǒu le dàotīngtúshuō de yīzhībànjiě, biàn zìfēng wéi “tiānxiàdìyī”, shì zújiàn qí bùzìliàng éryǐ. [Pinyin]


笑裡藏刀

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄘㄤˊ ㄉㄠ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːu̯³³ lɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/siːu̯³³ lɵy̯¹³ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

First used for describing Li Yifu:
:
義府貌狀溫恭，與人語必嬉怡微笑，而褊忌陰賊。既處權要，欲人附己，微忤意者，輒加傾陷。故時人言義府笑中有刀，又以其柔而害物，亦謂之「李貓」。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]义府貌状温恭，与人语必嬉怡微笑，而褊忌阴贼。既处权要，欲人附己，微忤意者，辄加倾陷。故时人言义府笑中有刀，又以其柔而害物，亦谓之「李猫」。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Old Book of Tang, 945 CE
Yìfǔ màozhuàng wēngōng, yǔ rén yǔ bì xīyí wēixiào, ér biǎnjì yīnzéi. Jì chù quányào, yù rén fù jǐ, wēi wǔ yì zhě, zhé jiā qīngxiàn. Gù shírén yán yìfǔ xiào zhōng yǒu dāo, yòu yǐ qí róu ér hài wù, yì wèi zhī “Lǐ māo”. [Pinyin]
Li Yifu appeared to be mild and humble. When he was talking to others, he was always smiling. However, he was actually full of treachery and machinations. When he rose to power, he demanded people to follow him. He would set up anyone who violated his ideas. Therefore, people at that time said that he had knives in his smile, and he was also referred to as "Cat Li", referring to his insincere smiles.

@^義府 貌狀 溫恭 ， 與 人 語 必 嬉怡 微笑 ，而 褊忌 陰賊 。 既 處 權要 ， 欲 人 附 己 ， 微 忤 意 者 ， 輒 加 傾陷 。 故 時人 言 @@義府 笑 中 有 刀 ， 又 以 其 柔 而 害 物 ， 亦 謂 之 「@^李 貓」。

wolf in sheep's clothing
wolf in sheep's clothing

to act in a friendly manner with hypocritical intentions; to be a wolf in sheep's clothing


老驥伏櫪

ㄌㄠˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ fu³⁵ li⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ kʰei̯³³ fʊk̚² lɪk̚⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ fu³⁵ li⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ kʰei̯³³ fʊk̚² lɪk̚⁵/

From a poem by Cao Cao:
:
老驥伏櫪，志在千里；烈士暮年，壯心不已。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]老骥伏枥，志在千里；烈士暮年，壮心不已。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: 三國·魏·曹操《步出夏門行》
Lǎojì fúlì, zhì zài qiānlǐ; lièshì mùnián, zhuàngxīn bùyǐ. [Pinyin]
The old steed over the manger still has the mind to do a thousand-li journey;
The heroic old man still cherishes lofty ambitions.

老驥.伏櫪，志 在 千里；烈士 暮年，壯心 不已。

三國·魏·曹操《步出夏門行》

an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles

(figurative) an aged person with great aspirations


明修棧道，暗渡陳倉

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄓㄢˋ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄢˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄘㄤ

ming⁴ sau¹ zaan⁶ dou⁶, am³ dou⁶ can⁴ cong¹

минсючжаньдао

аньдучэньцан

/miŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

mìhng sāu jaahn douh, am douh chàhn chōng

ming⁴ sau¹ dzaan⁶ dou⁶, am³ dou⁶ tsan⁴ tsong¹

ming⁴ seo¹ zan⁶ dou⁶, em³ dou⁶ cen⁴ cong¹

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡saːn²² tou̯²² ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Referring to a stratagem used by Liu Bang in 206 BC against Xiang Yu of Chu.

明修栈道，暗渡陈仓
明修棧道，暗度陳倉

repair the plank road openly while secretly crossing [the Wei River] at Chencang

to feign one thing while doing something else; to divert someone's attention towards something while secretly doing something else to achieve one's goal


罄竹難書

ㄑㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

цинчжунаньшу

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ nän³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ naːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ nän³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ naːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

From Lüshi Chunqiu:
:
此皆亂國之所生也，不能勝數，盡荊、越之竹，猶不能書。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]此皆乱国之所生也，不能胜数，尽荆、越之竹，犹不能书。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
Cǐ jiē luàn guó zhī suǒ shēng yě, bùnéng shēng shǔ, jìn Jīng, Yuè zhī zhú, yóu bùnéng shū. [Pinyin]
These weird phenomena were due to political corruption. There were so many of them that it would not be enough to record all even if the bamboos in Jing (also known as Chu) and Yue states were used up.
Another source is from Zu Junyan's letter of declaration of war against Emperor Yang of Sui on behalf of Li Mi, which was also quoted in the Old Book of Tang:
:
罄南山之竹，書罪無窮；決東海之波，流惡難盡。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]罄南山之竹，书罪无穷；决东海之波，流恶难尽。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: The Old Book of Tang, 945 CE
Qìng Nánshān zhī zhú, shū zuì wúqióng; jué Dōnghǎi zhī bō, liú è nán jìn. [Pinyin]
Even using up the bamboos in Zhongnan Mountains would not be enough to write (Emperor Yang's) crimes; even using up the water in the East Sea would not be enough to wash away his crimes.

此 皆 亂 國 之 所 生 也 ， 不能 勝{shēng} 數{shǔ} ， 盡 ^荊 、 ^越 之 竹 ， 猶 不能 書 。

罄 ^南山 之 竹 ， 書 罪 無窮 @； 決 ^東海 之 波 ， 流 惡 難 盡。

so many that one cannot record all of them onbamboo slips even when they have been exhausted

Chu (state)
East China Sea
Emperor Yang of Sui
Li Mi (Sui Dynasty)
Lüshi Chunqiu
Old Book of Tang
Yue (state)
Zhongnan Mountains


投筆從戎

to lay down the pen and take up the sword

ㄊㄡˊ ㄅㄧˇ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰeu̯¹¹ pit̚² t͡sʰi̯uŋ¹¹ i̯uŋ¹¹/

/tau²³⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ ziɔŋ²³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰeu̯¹¹ pit̚² t͡sʰi̯uŋ¹¹ i̯uŋ¹¹/

/tau²³⁻³³ pit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ ziɔŋ²³/


星星之火，可以燎原

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄩㄢˊ

синсин чжи хо

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː¹³ liːu̯²¹ jyːn²¹/

From the Book of Documents:
若火之燎于原，不可嚮邇，其猶可撲滅？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]若火之燎于原，不可向迩，其犹可扑灭？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE
Ruò huǒ zhī liáo yú yuán, bùkě xiàng'ěr, qí yóu kě pūmiè? [Pinyin]
When fire is burning the grassland, one (already) cannot stay near it, then how can one put it out?
Later popularized through a letter from Mao Zedong to Lin Biao (see 星星之火，可以燎原 on the Chinese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ᶻʰ).

若 火 之 燎 於\于 原 ， 不可 向邇\嚮邇 ， 其 猶 可 撲滅 ？

pedia

an insignificant cause can have a massive effect


名門淑女

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨ ㄋㄩˇ

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨˊ ㄋㄩˇ

минмэньшунюй

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ sʊk̚² nɵy̯¹³/


借屍還魂

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄣˊ

цзешихуаньхунь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ siː⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan²⁴⁻²² hun²⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan¹³⁻²² hun¹³/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hun²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²³⁻³³ hun²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ siː⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan²⁴⁻²² hun²⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻²² huan¹³⁻²² hun¹³/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hun²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²³⁻³³ hun²³/

(figurative) a discarded or discredited idea returns in another guise


名門望族

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄨˊ

минмэньванцзу

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊk̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊk̚²/


蕭規曹隨

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄘㄠˊ ㄙㄨㄟˊ

сяогуйцаосуй

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

Xiao and Cao refer to Xiao He and Cao Shen, who are government officials of early Western Han dynasty. When Cao succeeded Xiao's position of grand chancellor, he adhered to Xiao's policies without amendments. First attested in Wen Xuan during Liang dynasty.

to strictly adhere to the policies of the predecessor, to follow precedent

Ministry of Education Mandarin Chinese Dictionary


五十步笑百步

desc

오십보 소백보(五十步笑百步)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (五十步笑百步):
* → Korean: 오십보 소백보(五十步笑百步) (osipbo sobaekbo)

ja-r

ご%じっ%ぽ ひゃっ%ぽ

ご%じゅっ%ぽ ひゃっ%ぽ

⇒ Japanese: 五(ご)十(じっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) (gojippo hyappo), 五(ご)十(じゅっ)歩(ぽ)百(ひゃっ)歩(ぽ) (gojuppo hyappo)

desc

오십보 백보(五十步百步)

⇒ Korean: 오십보 백보(五十步百步) (osipbo baekbo)

ㄨˇ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ

уши бу сяо бай бу

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ sɐp̚² pou̯²² siːu̯³³ paːk̚³ pou̯²²/

/ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² pɔ²² t͡sʰio²¹⁻⁵³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pɔ²²/

From a parable in Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》):
:
孟子對曰：「王好戰，請以戰喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，棄甲曳兵而走。或百步而後止，或五十步而後止。以五十步笑百步，則何如？」
曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]孟子对曰：「王好战，请以战喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，弃甲曳兵而走。或百步而后止，或五十步而后止。以五十步笑百步，则何如？」
曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Mèngzǐ duì yuē: “Wáng hàozhàn, qǐng yǐ zhàn yù. Tiánrán gǔ zhī, bīngrèn jì jiē, qì jiǎ yè bīng ér zǒu. Huò bǎi bù ér hòu zhǐ, huò wǔshí bù ér hòu zhǐ. Yǐ wǔshí bù xiào bǎi bù, zé hérú?”
Yuē: “Bùkě, zhí bù bǎi bù ěr, shì yì zǒu yě.” [Pinyin]
Mencius replied, "Your majesty is fond of war - let me take an illustration from war. The soldiers move forward to the sound of the drums; and after their weapons have been crossed, on one side they throw away their coats of mail, trail their arms behind them, and run. Some run a hundred paces and stop; some run fifty paces and stop. What would you think if those who run fifty paces were to laugh at those who run a hundred paces?"
The king said, "They should not do so. Though they did not run a hundred paces, yet they also ran away."

zh-x

孟子 對 曰：「王 好{hào}戰，請 以 戰 喻。填然 鼓 之，兵刃 既 接，棄 甲 曳 兵 而 走。或 百 步 而 後 止，或 五十 步 而 後 止。以 五十.步.笑.百.步，則 何如？」
^曰：「不可，直 不 百 步 耳，是 亦 走 也。」

[the one who has retreated] 50 steps laughs at [the one who has retreated] 100 steps

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black


鞠躬盡瘁

ㄐㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

ㄐㄩˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

цзюйгунцзиньцуй

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕy³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² sɵy̯²²/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕy³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² sɵy̯²²/

to bend oneself to a task and exert oneself to the utmost; to spare no effort in the performance of one's duty


暗渡陳倉

ㄢˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄘㄤ

аньдучэньцан

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²²⁻²¹ tin²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ³³⁻¹¹ tin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ³³⁻²¹ tin²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³³ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/am²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²²⁻²¹ tin²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am¹¹⁻⁵³ tɔ³³⁻¹¹ tin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/am²¹⁻⁴¹ tɔ³³⁻²¹ tin²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

明修棧道，暗渡陳倉 明修棧道，暗渡陳倉#Chinese

明修栈道，暗渡陈仓 明修栈道，暗渡陈仓#Chinese

Short for 明修棧道，暗渡陳倉／明修栈道，暗渡陈仓 (míngxiūzhàndào, àndùchéncāng, “to do one thing under cover of another”).


李代桃僵

the plum tree withers in place of the peach tree

ㄌㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄊㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

лидайтаоцзян

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lei̯¹³ tɔːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lei̯¹³ tɔːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

to carry the can for someone; to take punishment in place of someone


隔岸觀火

to watch the fires burning across the river

ㄍㄜˊ ㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

гэаньгуаньхо

/kɤ³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ ŋɔːn²² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/kɤ³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ ŋɔːn²² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to delay entering the fray until all others have been exhausted by fighting amongst themselves


反客為主

ㄈㄢˇ ㄎㄜˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨˇ

фанькэвэйчжу

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn³⁵ haːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn³⁵ haːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

From Romance of the Three Kingdoms:
:
淵為人輕躁，恃勇少謀。可激勸士卒，拔寨前進，步步為營，誘淵來戰而擒之，此乃「反客為主」之法。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]渊为人轻躁，恃勇少谋。可激劝士卒，拔寨前进，步步为营，诱渊来战而擒之，此乃「反客为主」之法。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE
Yuān wéirén qīngzào, shì yǒng shào móu. Kě jīquàn shìzú, bázhài qiánjìn, bùwéiwèiyíng, yòu Yuān lái zhàn ér qín zhī, cǐ nǎi “fǎnkèwéizhǔ” zhī fǎ. [Pinyin]
This Xiahou Yuan is easily provoked to anger, and being angry he is bold without discretion. Your way now is to work up the enthusiasm of your soldiers, then break camp and advance. Do this in a series of marches, and you will excite him up to the point of giving battle, when you can capture him. They call this the 'Ruse of the Interchange of Host and Guest'.

^淵 為{wéi}人 輕躁，恃 勇 少 謀。可 激勸 士卒，拔寨 前進，步步{wéi}為營，誘 ^淵 來 戰 而 擒 之，此 乃「反客為{wéi}主」之 法。

to make the guest and host exchange roles

to turn the tables; to turn from passive to active behaviour


樹上開花

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ

/ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/syː²² sœːŋ²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/syː²² sœːŋ²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

to deck the tree with false blossoms; to make something of no value appear valuable


擒賊擒王

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

циньцзэйциньван

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

See 射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王／射人先射马，擒贼先擒王 (shè rén xiān shè mǎ, qín zéi xiān qín wáng)

If you want to round up a gang, you must get its chief first; To defeat the enemy, first capture their chief; to defeat the enemy by capturing their chief first


調虎離山

to move the tiger away from the mountain

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄕㄢ

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tiau²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² fuː³⁵ lei̯²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tiau²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻²¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

/tiau²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ li²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/tiau¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ san⁴⁴/

to lure an opponent out; to get rid of an opponent or a problem to achieve one's goal


瞞天過海

to cross the sea without the sky knowing

ㄇㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

маньтяньгохай

/män³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/buan²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ ko²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²³⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/män³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/buan²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ ko²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/muã²³⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ kue²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

你無法瞞天過海。 [MSC, trad.]
你无法瞒天过海。 [MSC, simp.]

From: Double Indemnity, 1944 (OpenSubtitles)

要是他沒有下令做這個調查她本可以瞞天過海好多年 [MSC, trad.]
要是他没有下令做这个调查她本可以瞒天过海好多年 [MSC, simp.]

From: Glass Houses, 2011 (OpenSubtitles)

If he didn't order this investigation, she could have flown under the radar for years.

yàoshì tā méiyǒu xiàlìng zuò zhège diàochá tā běn kěyǐ mántiānguòhǎi hǎoduō nián [Pinyin]


借刀殺人

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄉㄠ ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

цзедаошажэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tou̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴⁻²² sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ sat̚³²⁻⁴ zin²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ tou̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴⁻²² sat̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ sat̚³²⁻⁴ zin²³/

to get someone else to do one's dirty work; to attack someone using the strength of another


釜底抽薪

to take the firewood out from the bottom of the cauldron

ㄈㄨˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄔㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sin⁴⁴/


天下無敵

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (天下無敵):
* → Korean: 천하무적(天下無敵) (cheonhamujeok)
* → Vietnamese: thiên hạ vô địch (天下無敵)

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² mou̯²¹ tɪk̚²/

樹不要皮必死無疑，人不要臉天下無敵／树不要皮必死无疑，人不要脸天下无敌

shù bùyào pí bì sǐ wúyí, rén bùyào liǎn tiānxiàwúdí


懸而未決

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

сюаньэрвэйцзюэ

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jiː²¹ mei̯²² kʰyːt̚³/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jiː²¹ mei̯²² kʰyːt̚³/

pending decision; yet to be settled or resolved


繩之以法

ㄕㄥˊ ㄓ ㄧˇ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ faːt̚³/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵/

/t͡sin¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ faːt̚³/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵/

/t͡sin¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

/t͡sin²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²/

to punish according to law; to bring to justice


訓練有素

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨˋ

/ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/fɐn³³ liːn²² jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su⁵¹/

/fɐn³³ liːn²² jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/


紅顏禍水

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

хунъяньхошуй

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ wɔː²² sɵy̯³⁵/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ wɔː²² sɵy̯³⁵/

charming beauty who makes men fall and leads to disasters (such as a loss of wealth or reputation, or a toppled nation); dangerous woman; femme fatale (Classifier: 灘／滩)


好人好事

ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕˋ

хаожэньхаоши

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ hou̯³⁵ siː²²/

/ho⁵²⁻³⁵ naŋ⁵⁵ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ¹¹/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ hou̯³⁵ siː²²/

/ho⁵²⁻³⁵ naŋ⁵⁵ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ¹¹/

表揚好人好事／表扬好人好事


遊手好閒

游手好闲
游手好閒
遊手好閑
游手好閑

ㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄏㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³³ haːn²¹/

/iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃²¹⁻⁵³ han²⁴/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hou̯³³ haːn²¹/

/iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ̃²¹⁻⁵³ han²⁴/


勃然大怒

ㄅㄛˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄨˋ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/


簡明扼要

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄜˋ ㄧㄠˋ

цзяньмин эяо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(of speech or writing) brief, clear, and to the point; concise; succinct


隨心所欲

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/


日新月異

ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄝˋ ㄧˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² sɐn⁵⁵ jyːt̚² jiː²²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² sɐn⁵⁵ jyːt̚² jiː²²/

科學技術的發展日新月異 [MSC, trad.]
科学技术的发展日新月异 [MSC, simp.]

kēxuéjìshù de fāzhǎn rìxīnyuèyì [Pinyin]

日新月異的世界／日新月异的世界

advancing rapidly (especially in an innovative way); everchanging


杳無音信

ㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ in⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³/


從心所欲

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

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

zh-x

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

to follow what one's heart desires; to do as one likes; to act at one's pleasure


生死攸關

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ

шэнсы югуань

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

生死攸關的問題／生死攸关的问题

生死攸關的時刻／生死攸关的时刻

生死攸關的鬥爭／生死攸关的斗争

廉政建設是關係到黨和國家生死攸關的大事。 [MSC, trad.]
廉政建设是关系到党和国家生死攸关的大事。 [MSC, simp.]

The establishment of a clean and honest administration is a matter of life and death for both the party and the country.

Liánzhèng jiànshè shì guānxì dào dǎng hé guójiā shēngsǐyōuguān de dàshì. [Pinyin]


好大喜功

ㄏㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ taːi̯²² hei̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to crave greatness and success; to rejoice in grandiose deeds


整裝待發

ㄓㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄉㄞˋ ㄈㄚ

чжэнчжуандайфа

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² faːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² faːt̚³/

to be fully equipped and ready to set off


安居樂業

ㄢ ㄐㄩ ㄌㄜˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lok̚⁵ ŋi̯ap̚⁵/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² ɡiap̚⁴/

/aŋ³³⁻²³ kɯ³³⁻²³ lak̚⁴⁻² ŋiap̚⁴/

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² jiːp̚²/

/on²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lok̚⁵ ŋi̯ap̚⁵/

/an⁴⁴⁻²² ku⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² ɡiap̚⁴/

/aŋ³³⁻²³ kɯ³³⁻²³ lak̚⁴⁻² ŋiap̚⁴/


棒打鴛鴦

ㄅㄤˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄩㄢ ㄧㄤ

банда юаньян

/pɑŋ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰaːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

/pɑŋ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰaːŋ¹³ taː³⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/


識文斷字

ㄕˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˋ

ㄕˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˋ

шивэньдуаньцзы

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mɐn²¹ tyːn³³ t͡siː²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wən³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mɐn²¹ tyːn³³ t͡siː²²/


枕戈待旦

to keep one's spear by the pillow and await the dawn

ㄓㄣˇ ㄍㄜ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ

ㄓㄣˋ ㄍㄜ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ

чжэньгэдайдань

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³³ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² taːn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³³ kʷɔː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² taːn³³/


不刊之論

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

буканьчжилунь

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

indisputable statement; unalterable truth; irrefutable argument


亦步亦趨

ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄑㄩ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² pou̯²² jɪk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/jɪk̚² pou̯²² jɪk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

顏淵問於仲尼曰：「夫子步亦步，夫子趨亦趨，夫子馳亦馳，夫子奔逸絕塵，而回瞠若乎後矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]颜渊问于仲尼曰：「夫子步亦步，夫子趋亦趋，夫子驰亦驰，夫子奔逸绝尘，而回瞠若乎后矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yán Yuān wèn yú Zhòngní yuē: “Fūzǐ bù yìbù, fūzǐ qū yìqū, fūzǐ chí yìchí, fūzǐ bēnyì juéchén, ér Huí chēng ruò hū hòu yǐ.” [Pinyin]
Yan Yuan asked Zhongni, saying, 'Master, when you pace quietly along, I also pace along; when you go more quickly, I also do the same; when you gallop, I also gallop; but when you race along and spurn the dust, then I can only stand and look, and keep behind you.'

^顏 ^淵 問 於 ^仲尼 曰：「夫子 @步 @亦-@步，夫子 @趨 @亦-@趨，夫子 馳 亦-馳，夫子 奔-逸 絕塵，而 ^回 瞠 若 乎 後 矣。」

to imitate slavishly; to do what everyone else is doing


一木難支

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² naːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² naːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

"one post cannot hold a falling structure"; just one person cannot save something doomed to fail


相親相愛

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (相親相愛):
* → Vietnamese: tương thân tương ái (相親相愛)

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄞˋ

сянциньсянъай

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːi̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːi̯³³/

在我家，我們相親相愛，相互照顧。 [MSC, trad.]
在我家，我们相亲相爱，相互照顾。 [MSC, simp.]

In my family, we love each other and look after each other.

Zài wǒ jiā, wǒmen xiāngqīnxiāng'ài, xiānghù zhàogù. [Pinyin]


投桃報李

ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄠˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pou̯³³ lei̯¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pou̯³³ lei̯¹³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 256 (《詩經·大雅·抑》):
:
投我以桃，報之以李。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]投我以桃，报之以李。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Tóu wǒ yǐ táo, bào zhī yǐ lǐ. [Pinyin]
When one throws to me a peach, I return to him a plum.

zh-x

@投 我 以 @桃，@報 之 以 @李。

to return a favor; to exchange gifts; you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.


兩小無猜

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄘㄞ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ siːu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯⁵⁵/

/liã²² ɕiɔ⁵⁵ ɦu³³ t͡sʰø²¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ siːu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯⁵⁵/

/liã²² ɕiɔ⁵⁵ ɦu³³ t͡sʰø²¹/

zh-l

青梅竹馬／青梅竹马 (qīngméizhúmǎ)

(of boy and girl) becoming innocent playmates


水落石出

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄕˊ ㄔㄨ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ lɔːk̚² sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/


輕而易舉

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ ㄐㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɪk̚² kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ ku⁵³/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ki⁴¹/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ku⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɪk̚² kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² i²²⁻²¹ ku⁵³/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ki⁴¹/

/kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ ku⁴¹/

(of doing something) easy; without much effort


民脂民膏

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄠ

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄓˇ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄠ

миньчжиминьгао

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ kou̯⁵⁵/

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/min³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ min³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ kou̯⁵⁵/

wealth gathered from the people by a government


價廉物美

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄨˋ ㄇㄟˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː³³ liːm²¹ mɐt̚² mei̯¹³/

/ka²¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴⁻²² but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː³³ liːm²¹ mɐt̚² mei̯¹³/

/ka²¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴⁻²² but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

(literary, of goods or service) inexpensive and of high quality


物美價廉

ㄨˋ ㄇㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

/u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mei̯¹³ kaː³³ liːm²¹/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ liam²³/

/u⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mei̯¹³ kaː³³ liːm²¹/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ liam²⁴/

/but̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ liam²³/


長此以往

ㄔㄤˊ ㄘˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄤˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː¹³ wɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː¹³ wɔːŋ¹³/

if things (usually an unfavorable situation) continue this way


恨之入骨

ㄏㄣˋ ㄓ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kʷɐt̚⁵/

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kʷɐt̚⁵/


義不容辭

ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄘˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jiː²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² su¹³/

/ɡi³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ su²⁴/

/ɡi³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ su²³/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jiː²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² su²⁴/

/ɡi²²⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁵ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² su¹³/

/ɡi³³⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ su²⁴/

/ɡi³³⁻²¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ su²³/

義不容辭的責任／义不容辞的责任


有生之年

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄥ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ t͡si³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³/

有生之年能夠和他見一次面，我死也無憾了。 [MSC, trad.]
有生之年能够和他见一次面，我死也无憾了。 [MSC, simp.]

If I could meet him once in the rest of my life, I should die without any regret.

Yǒushēngzhīnián nénggòu hé tā jiàn yīcì miàn, wǒ sǐ yě wúhàn le. [Pinyin]

在有生之年見證／在有生之年见证

to witness in one's lifetime; to live long enough to see

2001 November 16, “流年 [liúnián, Elapsing Years]”, in Lin Xi (lyrics), 陳曉娟 (music), 王菲 [Faye Wong], performed by Faye Wong:
有生之年 狹路相逢 終不能幸免 [MSC, trad.]
有生之年 狭路相逢 终不能幸免 [MSC, simp.]

Once in our lives / We met each other by chance / Finally it couldn't be prevented

Yǒushēngzhīnián, Xiálùxiāngféng, Zhōng bùnéng xìngmiǎn [Pinyin]

one's remaining years; the rest of one's life


一發不可收拾

ㄧ ㄈㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄡ ˙ㄕ

ифабукэшоуши

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/


投懷送抱

ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄠˋ

тоухуайсунбао

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ waːi̯²¹ sʊŋ³³ pʰou̯¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ waːi̯²¹ sʊŋ³³ pʰou̯¹³/

to throw oneself into someone's else's arms; (of a girl) to unreservedly express one's fondness (of a man); to throw oneself on


古今中外

ㄍㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨㄞˋ

гуцзиньчжунвай

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kuː³⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²²/

古今中外的思想家 [MSC, trad. and simp.]
gǔjīnzhōngwài de sīxiǎngjiā [Pinyin]
thinkers of all times and in all countries

ancient and modern, Chinese and abroad; all times and all places


名存實亡

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄤˊ

минцуньшиван

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

to remain existing in name but no longer in reality; now nominal


通情達理

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄚˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ taːt̚² lei̯¹³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tä³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ taːt̚² lei̯¹³/

acting with or showing good sense; sensible; fair and reasonable


至關重要

ㄓˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ

чжигуаньчжунъяо

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² jiːu̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²² jiːu̯³³/


日復一日

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² fɐu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² fɐu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/


滿頭大汗

ㄇㄢˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄢˋ

маньтоудахань

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹/

/muːn¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːn²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² kuã⁴¹/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ kuã³³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ kuã³³/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹/

/muːn¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːn²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² kuã⁴¹/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ kuã²²/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ kuã³³/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ kuã³³/

(of one's head) wet with sweat; covered in sweat; sweating profusely


盤山過嶺

/puã²⁴⁻¹¹ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²⁴⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ niã⁴¹/

/puã²⁴⁻¹¹ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²⁴⁻²² suã⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹⁻⁵³ niã⁵³/

/puã²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ niã⁴¹/

(Southern Min) to pass over mountains and ridges; to trek over mountains; to make a long and difficult journey


巧言令色

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (巧言令色):
* → Japanese: 巧言令色(こうげんれいしょく) (kōgenreishoku)
* → Korean: 교언영색(巧言令色) (gyoeonyeongsaek)

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ lɪŋ²² sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/haːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ lɪŋ²² sɪk̚⁵/

Attested in the Book of Documents (《尚書·皐陶謨》):
:
能哲而惠，何憂乎驩兜？何遷乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]能哲而惠，何忧乎欢兜？何迁乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Néng zhé ér huì, hé yōu hū Huān Dōu? Hé qiān hū Yǒumiáo? Hé wèi hū qiǎoyán lìngsè kǒngrén? [Pinyin]
When he can be (thus) wise and kind, what occasion will he have for anxiety about a Huan-dou? what to be removing a lord of Miao? what to fear any one of fair words, insinuating appearance, and great artfulness?
Also attested in the Analects, Book 1 (《論語·學而》):
:
子曰：「巧言令色，鮮矣仁！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]子曰：「巧言令色，鲜矣仁！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐ yuē: “Qiǎoyán lìngsè, xiān yǐ rén!” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."

zh-x

能 哲 而 惠，何 憂 乎 ^驩 ^兜？何 遷 乎 ^有苗？何 畏 乎 巧言.令色 孔壬？

子 曰：「巧言.令色，鮮 矣 仁！」

with flourishing words and friendly countenance; with insincere courtesy


不經不覺

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/


終南捷徑

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

Чжуннань цзецзин

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ naːm²¹ t͡siːt̚² kɪŋ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ naːm²¹ t͡siːt̚² kɪŋ³³/


真相大白

ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄞˊ

чжэньсян дабай

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³ taːi̯²² paːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin³³ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tai⁴¹⁻²² peʔ²⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ¹²¹/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³ taːi̯²² paːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin³³ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tai⁴¹⁻²² peʔ²⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ peʔ¹²¹/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ peʔ⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ peʔ⁴/

for the truth to be completely revealed; for all the facts to be clear


中飽私囊

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄅㄠˇ ㄙ ㄋㄤˊ

чжунбаосынан

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ nɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ paːu̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ nɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ paːu̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/


面目全非

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄟ

мяньмуцюаньфэй

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/miːn²² mʊk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin⁴¹⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui³³/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/miːn²² mʊk̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin⁴¹⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² hui³³/

/bin²²⁻²¹ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡suan¹³⁻²² hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/bin³³⁻²¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴/

(usually derogatory) to have a radically different appearance (due to changes); to change beyond recognition


毋忘在莒

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄩˇ

уванцзайцзюй

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/


毋忘在莒

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄩˇ

уванцзайцзюй

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/


闊佬懶理

(Cantonese) to be indifferent; to not give a damn


含笑九泉

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ханьсяоцзюцюань

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ siːu̯³³ kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/hɐm²¹ siːu̯³³ kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to smile in one's grave; to have no regrets in life; to die with satisfaction


池魚之殃

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) to get implicated into a conflict


鎩羽而歸

ㄕㄚ ㄩˇ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/saːt̚³ jyː¹³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/saːt̚³ jyː¹³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

to return in low spirits following a defeat or failure to achieve one's ambitions


僵持不下

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄔˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

雙方各持己見，僵持不下。 [MSC, trad.]
双方各持己见，僵持不下。 [MSC, simp.]

Both sides stuck to their opinion and remained deadlocked.

Shuāngfāng gèchíjǐjiàn, jiāngchíbùxià. [Pinyin]

to be in a deadlock with both sides unyielding


老神在在

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄗㄞˋ

лаошэньцзайцзай

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau⁴¹⁻²² sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin¹³⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau³³⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/lau³³⁻²¹ sin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯¹³ sɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau⁴¹⁻²² sin²⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/lau²²⁻²¹ sin¹³⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/lau³³⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/lau³³⁻²¹ sin²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/


顆粒無收

ㄎㄜ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄕㄡ

/kʰɤ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ lɐp̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ lɐp̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐu̯⁵⁵/


省吃儉用

ㄕㄥˇ ㄔ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄩㄥˋ

шэнчицзяньюн

/ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/saːŋ³⁵ hɛːk̚³ kiːm²² jʊŋ²²/

/siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kʰiam²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²²/

/siɪŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kʰiam⁴¹⁻²² iɔŋ⁴¹/

/siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ kʰiam²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²²/

/siɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiam³³⁻¹¹ iɔŋ³³/

/siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kʰiam³³⁻²¹ iɔŋ³³/

/saːŋ³⁵ hɛːk̚³ kiːm²² jʊŋ²²/

to save money on food and daily expenses; to be thrifty


打虎拍蠅

desc

đả hổ đập ruồi

→ Vietnamese: đả hổ diệt ruồi, đả hổ đập ruồi (calque) (calque)

ㄉㄚˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄞ ㄧㄥˊ

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵/

(neologism, politics, officialese) to crack down on both “tigers” and “flies” ― corrupt government officials at both higher and lower levels


九曲十八彎

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄩ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢ

цзю цюй шиба вань

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä⁵⁵ wän⁵⁵/


指日可待

ㄓˇ ㄖˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚² hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚² hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/

to be expected soon; to be not a long way off


不懂裝懂

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄉㄨㄥˇ

будунчжуандун

/pu⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³⁵/

不要不懂裝懂，裝作自己很在行的樣子。 [MSC, trad.]
不要不懂装懂，装作自己很在行的样子。 [MSC, simp.]

Don't pretend to be an expert who know something well when you don't.

Bùyào bùdǒngzhuāngdǒng, zhuāngzuò zìjǐ hěn zàiháng de yàngzǐ. [Pinyin]

to pretend to understand when one doesn't


毀於一旦

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄩˊ ㄧ ㄉㄢˋ

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/wɐi̯³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ taːn²²/

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/wɐi̯³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ taːn²²/

多年來的心血毀於一旦 [MSC, trad.]
多年来的心血毁于一旦 [MSC, simp.]

the result of many years' labor was destroyed all at once

duōnián lái de xīnxuè huǐyúyīdàn [Pinyin]


十有八九

ㄕˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² jɐu̯¹³ paːt̚³ kɐu̯³⁵/

/sɐp̚² jɐu̯¹³ paːt̚³ kɐu̯³⁵/


水盡鵝飛

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄜˊ ㄈㄟ

шуйцзиньэфэй

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/


口無遮攔

ㄎㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄓㄜ ㄌㄢˊ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ län³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ laːn²¹/

shoot one's mouth off
shoot one's mouth off

to have no misgivings or control when one speaks; to shoot one's mouth off


求同存異

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jiː²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jiː²²/

to seek common ground while leaving aside differences; to agree to disagree


略勝一籌

ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧ ㄔㄡˊ

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/lœːk̚² sɪŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/lœːk̚² sɪŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

/liɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²³/

/liak̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiu²⁴/

to be a notch above; to be (slightly) superior


鹿死誰手

ㄌㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄕㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ

ㄌㄨˋ ㄙˇ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊk̚² sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/lʊk̚²⁻³⁵ sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊk̚² sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

/lʊk̚²⁻³⁵ sei̯³⁵ sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵/

who will win the prize; who will gain supremacy; who will emerge as the victor


鳳毛麟角

ㄈㄥˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

фэнмао линьцзяо

/fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ lɵn²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ lɵn²¹ kɔːk̚³/

rarity of rarities; rare treasures or talents; things that are few and far between


南柯一夢

ㄋㄢˊ ㄎㄜ ㄧ ㄇㄥˋ

/nän³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ ɔː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

/nän³⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ ɔː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

From the short story The Governor of Nanke.

霎時覺來，乃南柯一夢，口中猶罵操賊不止。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
霎时觉来，乃南柯一梦，口中犹骂操贼不止。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

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

And just then he woke up and found it was all a dream, but his mouth was still full of curses.

Shàshí jué lái, nǎi nánkēyīmèng, kǒuzhōng yóu mà Cāo zéi bùzhǐ. [Pinyin]

delusion of grandeur
delusion of grandeur


麗日光天

ㄌㄧˋ ㄖˋ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄊㄧㄢ

лижи гуантянь

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


麟角鳳毛

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄇㄠˊ

линьцзяо фэнмао

/lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/lɵn²¹ kɐk̚³ fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹/

/lin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/lɵn²¹ kɐk̚³ fʊŋ²² mou̯²¹/


獐頭鼠目

with the head of a buck and the eyes of a rat

ㄓㄤ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄇㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ mʊk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ mʊk̚²/

repulsively ugly and sly-looking; ugly and shifty; having a mean physiognomy; obnoxious in appearance and cunning-looking


水火不容

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

(of two people, groups or things) to be utterly opposed and incompatible


夢寐以求

ㄇㄥˋ ㄇㄟˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/mɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mʊŋ²² mei̯²² jiː¹³ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/mɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mʊŋ²² mei̯²² jiː¹³ kʰɐu̯²¹/

夢寐以求的工作／梦寐以求的工作

to desire strongly; to crave; to long for


在所難免

ㄗㄞˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

цзайсонаньмянь

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² sɔː³⁵ naːn²¹ miːn¹³/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lan⁴¹⁻²² biɛn⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻¹¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻²¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻²¹ biɛn⁴¹/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² sɔː³⁵ naːn²¹ miːn¹³/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lan⁴¹⁻²² biɛn⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sai²²⁻²¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan²²⁻²¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻¹¹ biɛn⁵³/

/t͡sai³³⁻²¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lan³³⁻²¹ biɛn⁴¹/

人人都會犯錯，這是在所難免的。 [MSC, trad.]
人人都会犯错，这是在所难免的。 [MSC, simp.]

It is inevitable that everyone will make mistakes.

Rénrén dōu huì fàncuò, zhè shì zàisuǒnánmiǎn de. [Pinyin]


各持己見

ㄍㄜˋ ㄔˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

гэчицзицзянь

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sʰiː²¹ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sʰiː²¹ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

在這個問題上，專家學者們各持己見。 [MSC, trad.]
在这个问题上，专家学者们各持己见。 [MSC, simp.]

Experts and scholars have disagreeing views on this issue.

Zài zhège wèntí shàng, zhuānjiā xuézhě men gèchíjǐjiàn. [Pinyin]


至高無上

ㄓˋ ㄍㄠ ㄨˊ ㄕㄤˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kou̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sœːŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː³³ kou̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sœːŋ²²/

至高無上的美／至高无上的美

至高無上的權力／至高无上的权力


憂心忡忡

ㄧㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄔㄨㄥ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

Occurred a few times in the Classic of Poetry, for example, in poem 14 (《詩經·召南·草蟲》):
:
喓喓草蟲，趯趯阜螽。
未見君子，憂心忡忡。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]喓喓草虫，趯趯阜螽。
未见君子，忧心忡忡。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yāoyāo cǎochóng, yuèyuè fùzhōng.
Wèi jiàn jūnzǐ, yōuxīn chōngchōng. [Pinyin]
Yao-yao went the grass-insects, And the hoppers sprang about.
While I do not see my lord, My sorrowful heart is agitated.

lang

(《詩經·召南·草蟲》)

(《詩經·召南·草蟲》)

zh-x

喓{yāo}-喓{yāo} 草蟲，趯{yuè}-趯{yuè} 阜螽。
未 見 君子，憂心.忡忡。


聚沙成塔

sand grains accumulate to make a tower a tower

ㄐㄩˋ ㄕㄚ ㄔㄥˊ ㄊㄚˇ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² saː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰaːp̚³/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯²² saː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰaːp̚³/

by gathering small amounts one gets a huge quantity, many a mickle makes a muckle


麥秀黍油

ㄇㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄨˇ ㄧㄡˊ

/maɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/maɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

the wheat and corn grow but the fatherland is no more


公筷母匙

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄨˇ ㄔˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ faːi̯³³ mou̯¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ faːi̯³³ mou̯¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹/


與世長辭

ㄩˇ ㄕˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄘˊ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐi̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐi̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/


略跡原情

ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄐㄧ ㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

люэцзиюаньцин

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/lœːk̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/lœːk̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/


成千成萬

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄥˊ ㄨㄢˋ

чынчянчынван

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄥˊ ㄨㄢˋ

чэнцяньчэнвань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰəŋ²⁴ t͡ɕʰiæ̃²⁴ ʈ͡ʂʰəŋ²⁴ væ̃⁴⁴/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ maːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰəŋ²⁴ t͡ɕʰiæ̃²⁴ ʈ͡ʂʰəŋ²⁴ væ̃⁴⁴/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ maːn²²/

by the thousands and tens of thousands; untold numbers; innumerable; thousands upon thousands


炙手可熱

ㄓˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄖㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

/t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛt̚⁴/

/t͡sia²¹⁻⁵³ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛt̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

/t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛt̚⁴/

/t͡sia²¹⁻⁵³ siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛt̚⁴/

Du Fu
Stephen Owen (sinologist)
Tang dynasty
Yang Guifei
Yang Guozhong

From a poem by Du Fu:
:
炙手可熱勢絕倫，慎莫近前丞相嗔。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]炙手可热势绝伦，慎莫近前丞相嗔。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Tang dynasty, Du Fu, Fair Ladies: A Ballad (《麗人行》), translation by Stephen Owen, The Poetry of Du Fu
Note: This is a satire of the minister Yang Guozhong on the occasion of a visit, when he was accompanied by his favourite Lady Yang (Yang Guifei), and her two sisters.
Zhìshǒukěrè shì juélún, shèn mò jìnqián chéngxiàng chēn. [Pinyin]
Heat that can burn the hands, power beyond all measure―
Take care not to come close before the Minister's angry glare!

炙手可熱 勢 絕倫，慎 莫 近前 丞相 嗔。

selling like hotcakes
selling like hotcakes

(neologism) popular; hot; selling like hotcakes


不置可否

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄡˇ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ foʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³ hɔː³⁵ fɐu̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³ hɔː³⁵ fɐu̯³⁵/

to not express an opinion; to decline to comment; to be noncommittal


以毒攻毒

ㄧˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄨˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tʊk̚² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tʊk̚² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

fight fire with fire
fight fire with fire


步調一致

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄧ ㄓˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pou̯²² tiːu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pou̯²² tiːu̯²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

to march in step; to keep in step; to act in unison


步人後塵

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄔㄣˊ

бужэньхоучэнь

/pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pou̯²² jɐn²¹ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/pou̯²² jɐn²¹ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɐn²¹/


不足為憑

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/

to afford little or no evidence; to have flimsy evidence; cannot be taken as evidence


步步為營

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/pou̯²² pou̯²² wɐi̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/pou̯²² pou̯²² wɐi̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

to advance gradually and dig in at every step; to consolidate at every step; to act cautiously


布衣蔬食

/pu⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pou̯³³ jiː⁵⁵ sɔː⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/

/pu⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pou̯³³ jiː⁵⁵ sɔː⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/


不值一駁

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˊ ㄧ ㄅㄛˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/