周郎妙計安天下，賠了夫人又折兵

周郎妙計安天下，賠了夫人又折兵

ㄓㄡ ㄌㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄆㄟˊ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄈㄨ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄧㄥ

чжоулан мяоцзи ань тянься

пэй лэфу жэнь ючжэ бин

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ pʰeɪ̯³⁵ lə³ fu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

From a story in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which Zhou Yu attempts to kidnap Liu Bei by marrying his lord Sun Quan's sister to Liu. Liu Bei escaped, bringing Lady Sun with him, and Zhou Yu's troops were ambushed as they gave chase.
#*

The [Shu] soldiers on the bank yelled out together loudly: “Master Zhou's brilliant scheme to secure the empire, he lost the lady and his troops too!”

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Àn shàng jūnshì qíshēng dàjiào yuē: “Zhōuláng miàojì ān tiānxià, péi le fūrén yòu zhébīng!”

岸上軍士齊聲大叫曰：「周郎妙計安天下，賠了夫人又折兵！」

岸上军士齐声大叫曰：「周郎妙计安天下，赔了夫人又折兵！」

周郎妙计安天下，赔了夫人又折兵
周郎妙計高天下，賠了夫人又折兵
周郎妙計安天下，陪了夫人又折兵

Master Zhou's brilliant scheme to secure the empire, he lost the lady and troops too.

Liu Bei
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Sun Quan
Zhou Yu


地覆天翻

ㄉㄧˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄈㄢ

дифутяньфань

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵/

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵/

天翻地覆 天翻地覆#Chinese


激外外

/kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ ɡua³³/

/kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡua³³⁻²¹ ɡua³³/

/kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ ɡua³³/

/kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡua³³⁻²¹ ɡua³³/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) to stand back; to not care and be indifferent about a matter


東鱗西爪

a scale from the east, a claw from the west

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄒㄧ ㄓㄨㄚˇ

дунлиньсичжуа

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ lɵn²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ lɵn²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯³⁵/


能牙利爪

ㄋㄥˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓㄠˇ

/nɤŋ³⁵ jä³⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɤŋ³⁵ jä³⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


止惡揚善

ㄓˇ ㄜˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄢˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

to stop evil deeds and promote good deeds


有耳無喙

/u²²⁻²¹ hi²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰui²¹/

/u³³⁻¹¹ hi³³⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰui¹¹/

/u²²⁻²¹ hi²²⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² t͡sʰui²¹/

/u³³⁻²¹ hĩ³³⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹/

/u²² hi²² bo²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰui⁴¹/

/u²²⁻²¹ hi²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰui²¹/

/u³³⁻¹¹ hi³³⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰui¹¹/

/u²²⁻²¹ hi²²⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² t͡sʰui²¹/

/u³³⁻²¹ hĩ³³⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹/

/u²² hi²² bo²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰui⁴¹/

(Hokkien, figurative) Describes someone who listens but doesn't typically speak up with their opinion especially when they are expected to


勝殘去殺

ㄕㄥˋ ㄘㄢˊ ㄑㄩˋ ㄕㄚ

шэнцаньцюйша

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ ʂä⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ ʂä⁵⁵/

The Master said, "'If good men were to govern a country in succession for a hundred years, they would be able to transform the violently bad, and dispense with capital punishments.' True indeed is this saying!"

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

Zǐyuē: “Shàn rén wèi bāng bǎinián, yì kěyǐ shèngcánqùshā yǐ. Chéng zāi shì yán yě!”

子曰：「善人為邦百年，亦可以勝殘去殺矣。誠哉是言也！」

子曰：「善人为邦百年，亦可以胜残去杀矣。诚哉是言也！」

to influence the wicked to abandon crime by means of virtue


吃個秈米飯發個糯米嗲

吃个籼米饭发个糯米嗲
吃個籼米飯發個糯米嗲

To eat long grain rice but act like it's sticky rice

⁷chiq ⁸gheq ¹shi-mi₆-ve₆ ⁷faq ⁷gheq ⁶nu-mi₆ ⁵tia

chih^入 gheh^入 shi^平 mi^去 ve^去 fah^入 gheh^入 nu^去 mi^去 tia^去

⁴qiq ⁵hheq ¹xi-mi₃-ve₃ ⁴faq ⁴hheq ³nu-mi₃ ²tia

/t͡ɕʰiɪʔ⁴⁴ ɦəʔ²² ɕi⁵⁵ mi³³ ve²¹ faʔ⁴⁴ ɦəʔ⁴⁴ nu²² mi⁴⁴ tia³⁴/

(Shanghainese) to live in poverty but still be content


落雨了

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ y²¹⁴ lə⁴/

/loʔ²² ɦy²³ ləʔ/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ y²¹⁴ lə⁴/

/loʔ²² ɦy²³ ləʔ/


落雨啦

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ y²¹⁴ lä⁴/

/lɔːk̚² jyː¹³ lɐ³³/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ y²¹⁴ lä⁴/

/lɔːk̚² jyː¹³ lɐ³³/


我蠻好

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋu²³ me⁴⁴ hɔ³⁴/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋu²³ me⁴⁴ hɔ³⁴/

(regional or dialectal) I'm fine (conventional response to "how are you?")


我很好

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

I'm fine (Conventional response to "how are you?")


越鳧楚乙

ㄩㄝˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄔㄨˇ ㄧˇ

/ɥɛ⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From a passage in the Book of Southern Qi. 乙 (yǐ) is an orthographic variant of 𠃉, more commonly written as 鳦／𱉇 (yǐ) today.

In the past there was a swan flying towards the sky, but it was extremely far away and could not be seen easily. The people of Yue thought it was a duck, while the people of Chu thought it was a swallow.

The Book of Southern Qi, by Xiao Zixian, 6ᵗʰ century CE

Xī yǒu hóng fēi tiān shǒu, jī yuǎn nán liàng. Yuè rén yǐwèi fú, Chǔ rén yǐwèi yǐ.

昔有鴻飛天首，積遠難亮。越人以爲鳧，楚人以爲乙。

昔有鸿飞天首，积远难亮。越人以为凫，楚人以为乙。

(literary) to make an incorrect judgment due to one's own subjectivity


江湖一點訣，講破毋值錢

江湖一点诀，讲破毋值钱
江湖一點訣，講破伓值錢

/kaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ɔ²⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² tiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kuat̚³² kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ tat̚⁴⁻³² t͡sĩ²⁴/

/kaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ɔ¹³⁻²² t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kuat̚³² kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ tat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sĩ¹³/

/kaŋ³³ ɔ²⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² tiam⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kuat̚⁵ kaŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pʰua⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ m̩⁴¹⁻²² tat̚²⁴⁻² t͡sĩ²⁴/

(Hokkien) a bit of tricks from the private and plebian domain beyond the control of the government become worthless when disclosed


弗搭界

/vəʔ²² taʔ⁵⁵ ka²¹/

/vəʔ²² taʔ⁵⁵ ka²¹/


勿搭界

/vəʔ²² taʔ⁵⁵ ka²¹/

/vəʔ²² taʔ⁵⁵ ka²¹/


對勿住

/te³³ vəʔ⁵⁵ zz̩²¹/

/te³³ vəʔ⁵⁵ zz̩²¹/


勿礙

/vəʔ²² ŋe⁴⁴/

/fəʔ⁵⁵ ŋe⁵²³/

/vəʔ²² ŋe⁴⁴/

/fəʔ⁵⁵ ŋe⁵²³/


鶴長鳧短

ㄏㄜˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

хэчанфудуань

/xɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Thus a duck's legs, for instance, are short, but if we try to lengthen them, it occasions pain; and a crane's legs are long, but if we try to cut off a portion of them, it produces grief.

Shìgù fú jìng suī duǎn, xù zhī zé yōu; hè jìng suī cháng, duàn zhī zé bēi.

是故鳧脛雖短，續之則憂；鶴脛雖長，斷之則悲。

是故凫胫虽短，续之则忧；鹤胫虽长，断之则悲。

a crane's legs are long, a duck's are short

things should be allowed to take their natural course


四體不勤，五穀不分

ㄙˋ ㄊㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

ㄨˇ ㄍㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ

сыти бу цинь

/sz̩⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐn²¹ ŋ̍¹³ kʊk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

When Zilu was following (the Master), he met an old man who was holding a weeding implement with a stick. Zilu asked, “Did you see my Master?” The man said, “You four limbs don't work, and you can't even distinguish the five kinds of cereals. Who is your master?”

Zǐlù cóng ér hòu, yù zhàngrén yǐ zhàng hé yóu. Zǐlù wèn yuē: ‘Zǐ jiàn fūzǐ hū?’ Zhàngrén yuē: ‘Sìtǐ bù qín, wǔgǔ bùfēn, shú wèi fūzǐ?’

子路從而後，遇丈人以杖荷蓧。子路問曰：『子見夫子乎？』丈人曰：『四體不勤，五穀不分，孰為夫子？』

子路从而后，遇丈人以杖荷𦰏。子路问曰：『子见夫子乎？』丈人曰：『四体不勤，五谷不分，孰为夫子？』

One's four limbs never move and cannot distinguish the five kinds of cereals

(of scholars) to be detached from practical life (e.g. by not engaging in manual labor) and lack practical knowledge and skills


人力回天

ㄖㄣˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

жэньлихуэйтянь

/ʐən³⁵ li⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ lɪk̚² wuːi̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ li⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ lɪk̚² wuːi̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to rely on human effort to save a difficult situation


手下留情

ㄕㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ haː²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ haː²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

to show mercy when implementing a punishment or fighting


洗腳唔抹腳

to wash one's feet but not wipe the feet

/sɐi̯³⁵ kœːk̚³ m̩²¹ maːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kœːk̚³ m̩²¹ maːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

(Cantonese) to expend lavishly without consideration on other aspects


異途同歸

ㄧˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/i⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

to reach the same goal through different paths


起居飲食

ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄩ ㄧㄣˇ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚²/

飲食起居 飲食起居#Chinese

饮食起居 饮食起居#Chinese

Synonym of 飲食起居／饮食起居 (yǐnshíqǐjū, “activities and rest; daily life”)


風和日暖

ㄈㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ

фэнхэжинуань

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ jɐt̚² nyːn¹³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ jɐt̚² nyːn¹³/

Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Fēnghérìnuǎn, shí guò yědiàn shāncūn; lù zhí shā píng, yè sù yóutíng yìguǎn.

風和日暖，時過野店山村；路直沙平，夜宿郵亭驛館。

风和日暖，时过野店山村；路直沙平，夜宿邮亭驿馆。

1926, Lu Xun, “奔月”, in 故事新編, 文化生活出版社, published 1935, pages 23–24:

Tā zhǐdé rào chū shùlín, kàn nà hòumiàn què yòu shì bìlǜ de gāoliáng tián, yuǎnchù sàn diǎn zhe jǐ jiān xiǎoxiǎo de tǔwū. Fēnghérìnuǎn, yāquèwúshēng.

他只得繞出樹林，看那後面却又是碧綠的高粱田，遠處散點着幾間小小的土屋。風和日暖，鴉雀無聲。

他只得绕出树林，看那后面却又是碧绿的高粱田，远处散点着几间小小的土屋。风和日暖，鸦雀无声。

to have warm sunshine and gentle breezes


說長道短

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄔㄤˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

шочандаодуань

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tou̯²² tyːn³⁵/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tou̯²² tyːn³⁵/


熱臉貼冷屁股

ㄖㄜˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄧㄝ ㄌㄥˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ

жэ лянь те лэн пигу

/ʐɤ⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːt̚² liːm¹³ tʰiːp̚³ laːŋ¹³ pʰei̯³³ kuː³⁵/


乞食趕廟公

/kʰit̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ kuã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bio²²⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kuã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bio⁴¹⁻²² kɔŋ³³/

/kʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kuã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bio²²⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kuã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ biɤ³³⁻²¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

/kʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kuã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bio³³⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) to seize or usurp what is other's


負債累累

ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄞˋ ㄌㄟˇ ㄌㄟˇ

фучжай лэйлэй

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² t͡saːi̯³³ lɵy̯²¹ lɵy̯²¹/

/fuː²² t͡saːi̯³³ lɵy̯²¹ lɵy̯²¹/


打跛腳都唔使憂

打跛脚都唔使忧
打跛腳唔使憂

no worries even if one beats his leg and becomes lame

/taː³⁵ pɐi̯⁵⁵ kœːk̚³ tou̯⁵⁵ m̩²¹ sɐi̯³⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) to have no worries because one has become rich


殺漢滅回

ㄕㄚ ㄏㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

шаханьмехуэй

/ʂä⁵⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

Literally "kill the Han, destroy the Hui". Used as early as the Second East Turkestan Republic, an unrecognised Uyghur separatist state in northern Xinjiang which existed during 1944 to 1946.

Protect religion, kill the Han and destroy the Hui

保衛宗教殺漢滅回

保卫宗教杀汉灭回

(politics) A slogan calling for inciting violence against China


有商有量

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄤ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lœːŋ²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lœːŋ²¹/

able to engage in discussions or dialogue


光復香港、時代革命

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄈㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄤˇ

ㄕˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄍㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

гуанфу Сянган

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ kɤ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fʊk̚² hœːŋ⁵⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ siː²¹ tɔːi̯²² kaːk̚³ mɪŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kaŋ⁴¹ si²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ³³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kaŋ⁵³ si²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ³³/

Coined by Hong Kong independence activist Edward Leung in 2016, later used extensively during the 2019 Hong Kong protests as an anti-Chinese and pro-independence slogan.

光復香港、時代革命

光复香港、时代革命

(politics) Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times, a slogan calling for support for the 2019 Hong Kong protests


枯木逢春

ㄎㄨ ㄇㄨˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄣ

/kʰu⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ mʊk̚² fʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵/

/kʰu⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ mʊk̚² fʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵/

to get a new lease of life in a desperate situation


興味索然

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄢˊ

синвэйсожань

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ mei̯²² saːk̚³ jiːn²¹/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ mei̯²² saːk̚³ jiːn²¹/


興之所至

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓˋ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː³³/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː³³/


一句講嗮

一句讲嗮
一句講晒/一句讲晒

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³³ kɔːŋ³⁵ saːi̯³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³³ kɔːŋ³⁵ saːi̯³³/

jat¹ geoi³ gong² saai³, nei⁵ heoi³ ding⁶ m⁴ heoi³?

一句講嗮，你去定唔去？

一句讲嗮，你去定唔去？

(Cantonese) to be brief and direct; to speak directly to the point


一官半職

ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄅㄢˋ ㄓˊ

игуаньбаньчжи

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ puːn³³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ puːn³³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

low-ranking official position (in the government)


摩肩接踵

to rub shoulders following (one another's) heels

ㄇㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

моцзяньцзечжун

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː⁵⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/mɔː⁵⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

The flow of people at every famous tourist attraction can be described without exaggeration crowded to the point of rubbing shoulders and following each others heels

2024May 2, 每个城市都“来了一亿人”，14亿人不够分了！不凑热闹的本地人去哪儿了？

měi ge chūmíng jǐngdiǎn de rén liúliàng kěyǐ háobù kuāzhāng de yòng mójiānjiēzhǒng lái xíngróng

每个出名景点的人流量可以毫不夸张的用摩肩接踵来形容

to be crowded; to be filled with people.


睹物思人

ㄉㄨˇ ㄨˋ ㄙ ㄖㄣˊ

/tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ mɐt̚² siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ mɐt̚² siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

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

Zhè Wáng Shípéng yě bùtōng de hěn, bùguǎn zài nǎlǐ jì yī jì bàle, bìdìng pǎo dào jiāng biānzǐ shàng lái zuò shénme! Súyǔ shuō ‘dǔwùsīrén’, tiānxià de shuǐ zǒng guī yī yuán, bùjū nǎlǐ de shuǐ yǎo yī wǎn kàn zhe kū qù, yě jiù jìnqíng le.

這王十朋也不通的很，不管在那裡祭一祭罷了，必定跑到江邊子上來作什麼！俗語說『睹物思人』，天下的水總歸一源，不拘那裡的水舀一碗看著哭去，也就盡情了。

这王十朋也不通的很，不管在那里祭一祭罢了，必定跑到江边子上来作什么！俗语说『睹物思人』，天下的水总归一源，不拘那里的水舀一碗看着哭去，也就尽情了。

seeing things left behind by someone or the belongings of the deceased triggers one's memories of that person


大富大貴

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² fuː³³ taːi̯²² kʷɐi̯³³/

/tua³³⁻²¹ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ tua³³⁻²¹ kui²¹/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ tua³³⁻¹¹ kui¹¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² fuː³³ taːi̯²² kʷɐi̯³³/

/tua³³⁻²¹ hu²¹⁻⁴¹ tua³³⁻²¹ kui²¹/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ hu¹¹⁻⁵³ tua³³⁻¹¹ kui¹¹/


天理不容

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹/

Huàshuō shārénchángmìng, shì rénshìjiān zuì dà de shì, fēitóngxiǎokě. Suǒyǐ shì zhēn nán jiǎ, shì jiǎ nán zhēn. Zhēn de shíjié, zòngrán yǒuqián kěyǐ tōngshén, mùxià tuōtáo xiànwǎng, dàodǐ tiānlǐbùróng, wúxīn zhī zhōng, zìrán bàilù.

話說殺人償命，是人世間最大的事，非同小可。所以是真難假，是假難真。真的時節，縱然有錢可以通神，目下脫逃憲網，到底天理不容，無心之中，自然敗露。

话说杀人偿命，是人世间最大的事，非同小可。所以是真难假，是假难真。真的时节，纵然有钱可以通神，目下脱逃宪网，到底天理不容，无心之中，自然败露。

providence would not forgive (something)


片甲不留

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/


順天者昌，逆天者亡

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄜˇ ㄔㄤ

ㄋㄧˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄜˇ ㄨㄤˊ

seon⁶ tin¹ ze² coeng¹, jik⁶ tin¹ ze² mong⁴

shun⁴ tʻien¹ chê³ chʻang¹, ni⁴ tʻien¹ chê³ wang²

shuenn tian jee chang, nih tian jee wang

шунь тянь чжэ чан

ни тянь чжэ ван

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ³⁵/

soen⁶ tin¹ dze² tsoeng¹, jik⁹ tin¹ dze² mong⁴

sên⁶ tin¹ zé² cêng¹, yig⁶ tin¹ zé² mong⁴

/sɵn²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

Why do you oppose the decree of Heaven and betray the sentiment of the people to take this action? Didn't the ancients say "Follow heaven and prosper, rebel against and fall?"

1994, China Central Television, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, episode 69 收姜維 (ensub)

Hé nǎi qiáng yào nì tiānlǐ, bèi rénqíng ér xíngshì? Qǐbù wén gǔrén yún: shùntiānzhěchāng, nìtiānzhěwáng.

何乃強要逆天理，揹人情而行事？豈不聞古人云：順天者昌，逆天者亡。

何乃强要逆天理，背人情而行事？岂不闻古人云：顺天者昌，逆天者亡。

those who follow (the mandate of) heaven will prosper; those who resist will perish


畫虎類犬

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄑㄩㄢˇ

хуахулэйцюань

/xu̯ä⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːk̚² fuː³⁵ lɵy̯²² hyːn³⁵/

/waːk̚² fuː³⁵ lɵy̯²² hyːn³⁵/

畫虎不成反類犬 畫虎不成反類犬

画虎不成反类犬 画虎不成反类犬

Short for 畫虎不成反類犬／画虎不成反类犬 (huà hǔ bùchéng fǎn lèi quǎn).


功成身退

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄣ ㄊㄨㄟˋ

гунчэншэньтуй

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ tʰɵy̯³³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ tʰɵy̯³³/

to retire after accomplishing great tasks


名成利就

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² t͡sɐu̯²²/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² t͡sɐu̯²²/

(chiefly Cantonese) to reap both fame and fortune


近水樓臺

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄡˊ ㄊㄞˊ

цзиньшуйлоутай

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ loʊ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐn²² sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ loʊ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐn²² sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹/

to have a close relationship with someone or be in close proximity to something, which confers advantages


掌上明珠

ㄓㄤˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄨ

чжаншанминчжу

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ sœːŋ²² mɪŋ²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ sœːŋ²² mɪŋ²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

apple of someone's eye
apple of someone's eye


上有政策，下有對策

ㄕㄤˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄥˋ ㄘㄜˋ

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄜˋ

soeng⁶ jau⁵ zing³ caak³, haa⁶ jau⁵ deoi³ caak³

шан ю чжэнцэ

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

seuhng yáuh jing chaak, hah yáuh deui chaak

soeng⁶ jau⁵ dzing³ tsaak⁸, haa⁶ jau⁵ doey³ tsaak⁸

sêng⁶ yeo⁵ jing³ cag³, ha⁶ yeo⁵ dêu³ cag³

/sœːŋ²² jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰaːk̚³ haː²² jɐu̯¹³ tɵy̯³³ t͡sʰaːk̚³/

Those above have policies while those below have their own ways of getting around them.


太平盛世

ㄊㄞˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄕˋ

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²² sɐi̯³³/

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²² sɐi̯³³/


接踵摩肩

ㄇㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

моцзяньцзечжун

摩肩接踵 摩肩接踵#Chinese

Alternative form of 摩肩接踵 (mójiānjiēzhǒng, “crowded”)


荒山野嶺

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄥˇ

хуаншаньелин

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɛː¹³ lɛːŋ¹³/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɛː¹³ lɛːŋ¹³/


荒郊野外

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄧㄝˇ ㄨㄞˋ

хуанцзяоевай

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁴⁴⁻²² ia⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua²²/

/hɔŋ³³ kau³³ ia⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡua⁴¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁴⁴⁻²² ia⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ ia⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ ia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡua³³/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁴⁴⁻²² ia⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua²²/

/hɔŋ³³ kau³³ ia⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡua⁴¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁴⁴⁻²² ia⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ ia⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ ia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡua³³/


險過剃頭

/hiːm³⁵ kʷɔː³³ tʰɐi̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/hiːm³⁵ kʷɔː³³ tʰɐi̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/


咁啱得咁巧

/kɐm³³ ŋaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kɐm³³ kʰiːu̯³⁵/

/kɐm³³ ŋaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kɐm³³ kʰiːu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) coincidentally; by chance; fortuitously


接踵比肩

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢ

цзечжунбицзянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

比肩接踵 比肩接踵#Chinese

Alternative form of 比肩接踵 (bǐjiānjiēzhǒng)


附庸風雅

ㄈㄨˋ ㄩㄥ ㄈㄥ ㄧㄚˇ

/fu⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² jʊŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

/fu⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ jä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² jʊŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ ŋaː¹³/

to put on an air of pretension despite one's own lack of cultural knowledge


日本郵船——遲早完

/jɐt̚² puːn³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ syːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ jyːn²¹/

The second part of this xiehouyu is a fictional Japanese ship named 池早丸 (ci⁴ zou² jyun², “Ikehaya Maru”), which is a near-honophonic pun on 遲早完／迟早完 (ci⁴ zou² jyun⁴), due to the tendency of Japanese ships to be named with the kanji 丸(まる) (maru).

Japanese cruise - will end sooner or later

(Cantonese) will be done for very soon; will meet someone's end sooner or later


好巧不巧

ㄏㄠˇ ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

as luck would have it
as luck would have it


撫心自問

ㄈㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄗˋ ㄨㄣˋ

фусиньцзывэнь

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

/fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

to reflect on oneself; to ask oneself honestly


不明就裡

ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

to not know the inside story; to be unfamiliar with the details of the situation


走漏風聲

ㄗㄡˇ ㄌㄡˋ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄥ

цзоулоуфэншэн

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ loʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ loʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/


不知就裡

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/


快高長大

ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄍㄠ ㄓㄤˇ ㄉㄚˋ

куайгаочжанда

/kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/faːi̯³³ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵ taːi̯²²/

/kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/faːi̯³³ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵ taːi̯²²/


守賊一暝，做賊一更

one night to guard against thieves, two hours to be a thief

/t͡siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰat̚²⁴⁻² t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² mĩ²⁴ t͡sue⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰat̚²⁴⁻² t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² kĩ³³/

/t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰat̚⁴⁻³² t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² mĩ²⁴ t͡sue²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰat̚⁴⁻³² t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² kĩ⁴⁴/

/t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ mɛ̃¹³ t͡so²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kɛ̃⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) impossible to defend effectively; hard to guard against


食殺，穿拍結

to eat ferociously, to tie a knot in wearing

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² sat̚⁵ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴¹⁻²² pʰa(ʔ)⁵ kat̚⁵/

/t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ sat̚³² t͡sʰiɪŋ²²⁻²¹ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kat̚³²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sat̚³² t͡sʰiɪŋ²²⁻²¹ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kat̚³²/

(Hokkien) to spend freely in food but thriftily in clothes


老奸巨猾

ㄌㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄩˋ ㄏㄨㄚˊ

лаоцзяньцзюйхуа

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xu̯ä³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ kaːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯²² waːt̚²/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xu̯ä³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ kaːn⁵⁵ kɵy̯²² waːt̚²/

to be extremely cunning and crafty; to be a wily old fox; to be an old hand at trickery and deception


湮沒無聞

ㄧㄢ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ

ㄧㄣ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ

/jɛn⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/in⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ muːt̚² mou̯²¹ mɐn²¹/

/jɛn⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/in⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ muːt̚² mou̯²¹ mɐn²¹/

2020 September 19, 袁源隆, “雷競璇：記住那些被時代遺忘的古巴華僑”, in 明周文化:

[…] or else the unique journey of Cuban Chinese diaspora will fade into obscurity

… bat¹ jin⁴ gu² baa¹ waa⁴ kiu⁴ dik¹ duk⁶ dak⁶ lik⁶ cing⁴ zau⁶ wui⁵ jan¹ mut⁶ mou⁴ man⁴

[…]不然古巴華僑的獨特歷程就會湮沒無聞

[…]不然古巴华侨的独特历程就会湮没无闻


飛騰之兆

ㄈㄟ ㄊㄥˊ ㄓ ㄓㄠˋ

фэйтэн чжи чжао

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

an omen that indicates future advancement


巫山雲雨

/u⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ yn³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ yn³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(literary) a rendezvous between two lovers


丟入爪哇國裡

to throw [something] into the land of Java

ㄉㄧㄡ ㄖㄨˋ ㄓㄠˇ ㄨㄚ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄌㄧˇ

дю жу Чжаова го ли

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wä⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


淚如雨下

ㄌㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ jyː¹³ haː²²/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ jyː¹³ haː²²/


手到拿來

ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄋㄚˊ ㄌㄞˊ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ nä³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ naː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ nä³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ naː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

to capture someone or something or do something easily and effortlessly


急不及待

ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄉㄞˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² tɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² tɔːi̯²²/

急不可待 急不可待#Chinese

Synonym of 急不可待 (jíbùkědài, “to be too impatient to wait”)


千古絕唱

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄍㄨˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄔㄤˋ

цяньгуцзюэчан

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰœːŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰœːŋ³³/


巧言如流

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

цяоянь жу лю

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/


渺無人煙

ㄇㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄢ

мяо’ужэньянь

/mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

/mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/miːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

to be deserted; to be desolate; to be uninhabited


淚水漣漣

ㄌㄟˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

лэйшуй ляньлянь

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/lɵy̯²² sɵy̯³⁵ liːn²¹ liːn²¹/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/lɵy̯²² sɵy̯³⁵ liːn²¹ liːn²¹/


白手興家

ㄅㄞˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄚ

байшоусинцзя

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² sɐu̯³⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² sɐu̯³⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

to start an enterprise from scratch; to build up from nothing; to start from scratch


臺灣錢，淹跤目

The money in Taiwan goes up to one's ankles.

Тайвань цянь

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ wän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

/tai²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² t͡sĩ²⁴ im⁴⁴⁻²² kʰa⁴⁴⁻²² bak̚⁴/

/tai²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² t͡sĩ²⁴ im³³ kʰa³³ bak̚²⁴/

/tai¹³⁻²² uan¹³⁻²² t͡sĩ¹³ im⁴⁴⁻²² kʰa⁴⁴⁻²² bak̚¹²¹/

/tai²⁴⁻¹¹ uan²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sĩ²⁴ im⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ bak̚⁴/

/tai²³⁻³³ uan²³⁻³³ t͡sĩ²³ im⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ bak̚⁴/

(Taiwan, historical) money is to be made everywhere in Taiwan


目定口呆

ㄇㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄉㄞ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² tɪŋ²² hɐu̯³⁵ ŋɔːi̯²¹/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² tɪŋ²² hɐu̯³⁵ ŋɔːi̯²¹/

1910, 吳趼人 [Wu Jianren], 《二十年目睹之怪現狀》 [Bizarre Happenings Eyewitnessed over Two Decades], chapter 93

Bófēn tīng le, bùjiào mùdìngkǒudāi, zhàng hóng le liǎn, huídá bù shànglái, zhǐhǎo dāshàn zhe zǒu le.

伯芬聽了，不覺目定口呆，漲紅了臉，回答不上來，只好搭訕著走了。

伯芬听了，不觉目定口呆，涨红了脸，回答不上来，只好搭讪着走了。

目瞪口呆 目瞪口呆#Chinese

Synonym of 目瞪口呆 (mùdèngkǒudāi, “to be stupefied; to be dumbfounded”)


後生遙遙

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹/

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹/

2017, Cuson Lo, 怪叔叔耆遇記, Hong Kong: 非凡出版, →ISBN, page 51:

You're young and still have a long life ahead of you. What old are you talking about...

後生遙遙講咩老…

后生遥遥讲咩老…

(Cantonese) young, with a long life full of potential ahead


昨非今是

ㄗㄨㄛˊ ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˋ

цзофэйцзиньши

/t͡su̯ɔ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to be correct now, but realize one was incorrect in the past


黑狗得食，白狗當災

/hɐk̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ tɐk̚⁵ sɪk̚² paːk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/haːk̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ tɐk̚⁵ sɪk̚² paːk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) someone benefits from their misdeeds, while someone else is punished or suffers consequences on behalf of the wrongdoer


鼠心狼肺

ㄕㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄤˊ ㄈㄟˋ

шусиньланфэй

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

狼心狗肺 狼心狗肺#Chinese


狼多肉少

ㄌㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄖㄡˋ ㄕㄠˇ

/lɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːu̯³⁵/

/lɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːu̯³⁵/

a situation where many individuals fight over scarce resources


狗肺狼心

ㄍㄡˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

гоуфэйлансинь

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

狼心狗肺 狼心狗肺#Chinese


感人肺肝

ㄍㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄍㄢ

ганьжэньфэйгань

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ kän⁵⁵/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ kän⁵⁵/


水母目蝦

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄨˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

From a perception that shrimp traveled with jellyfish and that jellyfish would move according to its attendant shrimp.


黑狗偷食，白狗當災

/hɐk̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚² paːk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ haːk̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚² paːk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/


狼嗥鬼叫

ㄌㄤˊ ㄏㄠˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

ланхаогуйцзяо

/lɑŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɑŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/


狼心狗幸

ㄌㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

лансинь гоу син

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

狼心狗行 狼心狗行#Chinese


知少少，扮代表

/t͡siː⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ paːn²² tɔːi̯²² piːu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to know a little bit but pretend to be an expert; to behave as if one knows it all


電燈柱掛老鼠箱

/tiːn²² tɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³ kʷaː³³ lou̯¹³ syː³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese, figurative, of a couple) with significant height difference


防君子不防小人

ㄈㄤˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ

фан цзюньцзы бу фан сяожэнь

/fɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ fɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/fɔːŋ²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹/

(of policies, measures, etc.) can only prevent people with moral values from commiting but cannot prevent those with malicious intentions


推三阻四

ㄊㄨㄟ ㄙㄢ ㄗㄨˇ ㄙˋ

туйсаньцзусы

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔː³⁵ sei̯³³/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔː³⁵ sei̯³³/

to find excuses to put off doing something


一時唔偷雞做保長

to act as the leader of the bao the one time they do not steal chickens

jat⁷ si⁴ m⁴ tau¹ gai¹ dzou⁶ bou² dzoeng²

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ m̩²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² pou̯³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

2007, 石凱婷 [Hoi Ting Shek], 《溏心風暴》 [Heart of Greed], episode 9, spoken by 凌莉 [Ling Lei] (米雪 [Michelle Yim]):

hai⁶ mai⁶ gam² tung⁴ ze² fu¹ gong² je⁵ aa³? nei⁵ gun² haa⁵ nei⁵ zi⁶ gei² laa¹, jat¹ si⁴ m⁴ tau¹ gai¹ zou⁶ bou² zoeng².

係咪噉同姐夫講嘢啊？你管下你自己啦，一時唔偷雞做保長。

系咪噉同姐夫讲嘢啊？你管下你自己啦，一时唔偷鸡做保长。

2019, 梁柏堅 [Leung Pak-kin], 《時勢好惡，做基督徒好難》 [Sing XXXX to the Lord], Hong Kong: Breakthrough Ltd., →ISBN, page 116:

soeng⁶ dai³ min⁶ cin⁴, ngo⁵ mun⁴ dou¹ si⁶ zeoi⁶ jan⁴, mut⁶ jau⁵ bei² seoi⁴ gang³ gou¹ soeng⁶. zik¹ si² ngo⁵ mun⁴ ji⁶ zing³ jim⁴ ci⁴, jaa⁵ zi² si⁶ “jat¹ si⁴ m⁴ tau¹ gai¹ zou⁶ bou² zoeng²”, mong⁴ gei³ ngo⁵ mun⁴ mut⁶ do¹ gau² zi¹ cin⁴ coi⁴ jau⁶ giu³ gwo³ sing³ ling⁴ daam¹ jau¹.

上帝面前，我們都是罪人，沒有比誰更高尚。即使我們義正嚴詞，也只是「一時唔偷雞做保長」，忘記我們沒多久之前才又叫過聖靈擔憂。

上帝面前，我们都是罪人，没有比谁更高尚。即使我们义正严词，也只是「一时唔偷鸡做保长」，忘记我们没多久之前才又叫过圣灵担忧。

(Cantonese) someone who has a reputation of doing bad hypocritically accuses someone else of committing a fault


無殼蝸牛

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˊ ㄨㄛ ㄋㄧㄡˊ

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄡˊ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔːk̚³ wɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ hɔːk̚³ wɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹/

(Taiwan, Hong Kong, figuratively) people who cannot afford to buy their own home


另結新歡

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄢ

линцзесиньхуань

/liŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/lɪŋ²² kiːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/

/liŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/lɪŋ²² kiːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/


客隨主便

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

кэсуйчжубянь

/kʰɤ⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/


過街老鼠——人人喊打

arat crosses the street ― everyone cries to kill it

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄨˇ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄢˇ ㄉㄚˇ

жэньжэнь хань да

žɛnʹžɛnʹ xanʹ da

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔː³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ syː³⁵ jɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ haːm³³ taː³⁵/


朝更暮改

to change in the morning and alter at dusk

ㄓㄠ ㄍㄥ ㄇㄨˋ ㄍㄞˇ

чжаогэнмугай

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

朝更夕改 朝更夕改#Chinese


朝更夕改

to change in the morning and alter in the evening

ㄓㄠ ㄍㄥ ㄒㄧ ㄍㄞˇ

чжаогэнсигай

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


更名改姓

ㄍㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

гэнмин гайсин

/kɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

改名換姓 改名換姓#Chinese

改名换姓 改名换姓#Chinese


改名易姓

ㄍㄞˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

改名換姓 改名換姓#Chinese

改名换姓 改名换姓#Chinese


頂港有名聲，下港上出名

has reputation in north Taiwan, and is also the most famous in south Taiwan

/tiɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kaŋ⁴¹ u³³⁻²¹ miã²³⁻³³ siã⁴⁴ e³³⁻²¹ kaŋ⁴¹ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ miã²³/

/tiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kaŋ⁵³ u³³⁻¹¹ miã²⁴⁻¹¹ siã⁴⁴ e³³⁻¹¹ kaŋ⁵³ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ miã²⁴/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) famous all over Taiwan


朝饔夕飧

breakfast in the morning, supper in the evening

ㄓㄠ ㄩㄥ ㄒㄧˋ ㄙㄨㄣ

чжаоюнсисунь

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² syːn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² syːn⁵⁵/

talentless (used to describe someone who does little other than eat)


變名易姓

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

бянь мин исин

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

改名換姓 改名換姓#Chinese

改名换姓 改名换姓#Chinese


威過威士忌

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ wɐi̯⁵⁵ siː²² kei̯²²⁻³⁵/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ wɐi̯⁵⁵ siː²² kei̯²²⁻³⁵/


朦過蒙太奇

/mʊŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ mʊŋ²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹/

/mʊŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ mʊŋ²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹/

(Cantonese, simile, especially of a video) very blurry


呵咾甲會觸舌

/o⁴⁴⁻³³ lo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ e³³⁻¹¹ tak̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siʔ⁴/

/ɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ e³³⁻²¹ tak̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siʔ⁴/

(Southern Min) to click one's tongue in admiration


櫛風沐雨

to be combed by the wind and bathed by the rain

ㄓˋ ㄈㄥ ㄇㄨˋ ㄩˇ

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄈㄥ ㄇㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːt̚³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ mʊk̚² jyː¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːt̚³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ mʊk̚² jyː¹³/

to travel and work despite harsh conditions


天朗氣清

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄤˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

тяньланцицин

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ lɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lɔːŋ¹³ hei̯³³ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ lɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lɔːŋ¹³ hei̯³³ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

Shìrì yě, tiānlǎngqìqīng, huìfēng héchàng.

是日也，天朗氣清，惠風和暢。

是日也，天朗气清，惠风和畅。


水鬼升城隍

/sɵy̯³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ kui⁵² seŋ³³⁻²³ sĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋ³³/

/sɵy̯³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

(chiefly Cantonese) someone originally in a lowly position abruptly rises to a high position (usually undeservedly)


溫良恭儉

ㄨㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

вэньлянгунцзянь

/wən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

溫良恭儉讓 溫良恭儉讓#Chinese

温良恭俭让 温良恭俭让#Chinese

Synonym of 溫良恭儉讓／温良恭俭让 (wēnliánggōngjiǎnràng, “the five Confucian virtues of cordiality, kindness, courtesy, restraint, and modesty”)


一時唔偷雞就做保長

jat¹ si⁴ m⁴ tau¹ gai¹ zau⁶ zou⁶ bou² zoeng²

jat⁷ si⁴ m⁴ tau¹ gai¹ dzau⁶ dzou⁶ bou² dzoeng²

yed¹ xi⁴ m⁴ teo¹ gei¹ zeo⁶ zou⁶ bou² zêng²

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ m̩²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² t͡sou̯²² pou̯³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

一時唔偷雞做保長 一時唔偷雞做保長#Chinese

一时唔偷鸡做保长 一时唔偷鸡做保长#Chinese

Alternative form of 一時唔偷雞做保長／一时唔偷鸡做保长


手曲屈入無屈出

手蹺屈入無屈出
手曲屈入无屈出

/t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰiau⁴⁴⁻²² kʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lip̚⁴⁻³² bo²⁴⁻²² kʰut̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²/

/t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰut̚³²⁻⁴ zip̚⁴⁻³² bɤ²³⁻³³ kʰut̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²/

(Hokkien) people always protect and are partial to one's own or one's own people


手後蹬屈入無屈出

手後䟓屈入無屈出
手后蹬屈入无屈出

/t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au²²⁻²¹ tĩ⁴⁴ kʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lip̚⁴⁻³² bo²⁴⁻²² kʰut̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²/

/t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ au²² tĩ³³ kʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ lip̚²⁴⁻² bo²⁴⁻²² kʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰut̚⁵/

/t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au²²⁻²¹ tɛ̃⁴⁴ kʰut̚³²⁻⁵ d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² kʰut̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰut̚³²/

/ chhiú-ǎu-tiⁿ khut-li̍p bô khut-chhut /


呼呼大睡

ㄏㄨ ㄏㄨ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄟˋ

/xu⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/xu⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/


有稜有角

ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ kɔːk̚³/

/jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ kɔːk̚³/

to have sharp and distinct edges and corners

(figuratively) to have a forceful personality and definite views of one's own


溫良恭儉讓

ㄨㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄖㄤˋ

вэньлянгунцзяньжан

/wən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɐn⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːm²² jœːŋ²²/

/wɐn⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːm²² jœːŋ²²/

Zi Qin asked Zi Gong, saying, "When our master comes to any country, he does not fail to learn all about its government. Does he ask his information? or is it given to him?" Zi Gong said, "Our master is benign, upright, courteous, temperate, and complaisant and thus he gets his information. The master's mode of asking information! - is it not different from that of other men?"

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐ Qín wèn yú Zǐ Gòng yuē: “Fūzǐ zhì yú shì bāng yě, bì wén qí zhèng, qiú zhī yú? Yì yǔ zhī yú?” Zǐ Gòng yuē: “Fūzǐ wēn, liáng, gōng, jiǎn, ràng yǐ dé zhī. Fūzǐ zhī qiú zhī yě, qízhū yì hū rén zhī qiú zhī yú?”

子禽問於子貢曰：「夫子至於是邦也，必聞其政，求之與？抑與之與？」子貢曰：「夫子溫、良、恭、儉、讓以得之。夫子之求之也，其諸異乎人之求之與？」

子禽问于子贡曰：「夫子至于是邦也，必闻其政，求之与？抑与之与？」子贡曰：「夫子温、良、恭、俭、让以得之。夫子之求之也，其诸异乎人之求之与？」

[A] revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.

1927, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《湖南農民運動考察報告》 (Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Gémìng bùshì qǐngkè chīfàn, bùshì zuòwénzhāng, bùshì huìhuà xiùhuā, bùnéng nàyàng yǎzhì, nàyàng cóngróngbùpò, wénzhìbīnbīn, nàyàng wēnliánggōngjiǎnràng. Gémìng shì bàodòng, shì yī ge jiējí tuīfān yī ge jiējí de bàoliè xíngdòng.

革命不是請客吃飯，不是做文章，不是繪畫繡花，不能那樣雅致，那樣從容不迫，文質彬彬，那樣溫良恭儉讓。革命是暴動，是一個階級推翻一個階級的暴烈行動。

革命不是请客吃饭，不是做文章，不是绘画绣花，不能那样雅致，那样从容不迫，文质彬彬，那样温良恭俭让。革命是暴动，是一个阶级推翻一个阶级的暴烈行动。

the five Confucian virtues of cordiality, kindness, courtesy, restraint, and modesty


骨肉至親

ㄍㄨˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

гужоучжицинь

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ jʊk̚² t͡siː³³ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ jʊk̚² t͡siː³³ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/


念念有詞

ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄘˊ

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/niːm²² niːm²² jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/niːm²² niːm²² jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to mumble to oneself; to talk to oneself continuously


易學難精

ㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄥ

исюэнаньцзин

/i⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² hɔːk̚² naːn²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² hɔːk̚² naːn²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to be easy to pick up but hard to master


咸身澹汗

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ tam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kũã¹¹/

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ tam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kũã¹¹/

(Teochew) covered with sweat; sweatsoaked


風高物燥

ㄈㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄨˋ ㄗㄠˋ

фэнгао’уцзао

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɐt̚² t͡sʰou̯³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɐt̚² t͡sʰou̯³³/


冇眼屎乾淨盲

/mou̯¹³ ŋaːn¹³ siː³⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːŋ²² maːŋ²¹/

2017, 李專, 誰都懂叫你放手，但誰懂得教你怎樣放手？, Hong Kong: 日閲堂出版社, →ISBN, page 41:

gaa² jyu⁴ nei⁵ han² lek¹ lek¹ zyu¹, nang⁴ gau³ han² sam¹ jat¹ dim², jau⁶ waak⁶ ze² deoi³ fong¹ sat⁶ zoi⁶ soeng¹ dak¹ han² sam¹ han² sam¹, cing² zaau² tin¹ faan¹ ceot¹ so² jau⁵ taa¹ sung³ nei⁵ dik¹ lai⁵ mat⁶, cing⁴ syu¹ wo⁴ taa¹ fong³ zoi⁶ nei⁵ gaa¹ leoi⁵ dik¹ dung¹ sai¹, cit³ dai² hei³ diu⁶, mou⁵ ngaan⁵ si² gon¹ zeng⁶ maang⁴.

假如你很叻叻豬，能夠狠心一點，又或者對方實在傷得很深很深，請找天翻出所有他送你的禮物、情書和他放在你家裏的東西，徹底棄掉，冇眼屎乾淨盲。

假如你很叻叻猪，能够狠心一点，又或者对方实在伤得很深很深，请找天翻出所有他送你的礼物、情书和他放在你家里的东西，彻底弃掉，冇眼屎干净盲。

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind

(Cantonese) to rather ignore or give up something for peace of mind than get upset over it; to turn a blind eye to something; out of sight, out of mind


汗流汁滴

/kuã³³⁻¹¹ lau²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sap̚³²⁻⁴ tiʔ³²/

/kuã³³⁻²¹ lau²³⁻³³ t͡sap̚³²⁻⁴ tiʔ³²/

/kũã¹¹ lau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sap̚²⁻⁴ tiʔ²/

/kuã³³⁻¹¹ lau²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sap̚³²⁻⁴ tiʔ³²/

/kuã³³⁻²¹ lau²³⁻³³ t͡sap̚³²⁻⁴ tiʔ³²/

/kũã¹¹ lau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sap̚²⁻⁴ tiʔ²/

(Southern Min) with sweat trickling down; drenched in sweat


雷公劈豆腐——搵軟嘅嚟蝦

head

雷公劈豆腐——搵軟嘅嚟蝦

雷公劈豆腐——搵软嘅嚟虾

The thunder strikes on a piece of tofu - bullying a soft thing

/lɵy̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɛːk̚³ tɐu̯²² fuː²² wɐn³⁵ jyːn¹³ kɛː³³ lɐi̯²¹ haː⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɛːk̚³ tɐu̯²² fuː²² wɐn³⁵ jyːn¹³ kɛː³³ lei̯²¹ haː⁵⁵/


賊眉鼠眼

ㄗㄟˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄧㄢˇ

цзэймэйшуянь

/t͡seɪ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːk̚² mei̯²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

/t͡seɪ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːk̚² mei̯²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

to look shifty or furtive; to look like a crook


賊眉賊眼

ㄗㄟˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄧㄢˇ

цзэймэйцзэйянь

/t͡seɪ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːk̚² mei̯²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² ŋaːn¹³/

/t͡seɪ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːk̚² mei̯²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² ŋaːn¹³/


欲言又止

ㄩˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄓˇ

/y⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊk̚² jiːn²¹ jɐu̯²² t͡siː³⁵/

/y⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊk̚² jiːn²¹ jɐu̯²² t͡siː³⁵/


大吉利事

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lɐi̯²² siː²²/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lei̯²² siː²²/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lɐi̯²² siː²²/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lei̯²² siː²²/

大吉利市 大吉利市#Chinese

(Cantonese) Alternative form of 大吉利市 (“touch wood”)


大吉利是

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lɐi̯²² siː²²/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lei̯²² siː²²/

/tʰaɪ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ kit̚¹ li⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sz̩⁵³/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lɐi̯²² siː²²/

/taːi̯²² kɐt̚⁵ lei̯²² siː²²/

/tʰaɪ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ kit̚¹ li⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sz̩⁵³/

大吉利市 大吉利市#Chinese


啋過你把口

/t͡sʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ nei̯¹³ paː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ nei̯¹³ paː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

啋過你把衰口

啋过你把衰口

(Cantonese) phrase used to admonish someone for saying or mentioning something inauspicious or unpleasant; touch wood


會曉偷食，𣍐曉拭喙

to know how to eat on the sly, but not know how to wipe one's mouth

/e³³⁻¹¹ hiau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siaʔ⁴ bue³³⁻¹¹ hiau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui¹¹/

/e²²⁻²¹ hiau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siaʔ⁴ bue²²⁻²¹ hiau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui²¹/

/e²² hiau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰau³³ t͡siaʔ²⁴ bue²² hiau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰui⁴¹/

/e²²⁻²¹ hiau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siaʔ¹²¹ be²²⁻²¹ hiau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰui²¹/

/e³³⁻²¹ hiau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siaʔ⁴ be³³⁻²¹ hiau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui²¹/

(Hokkien) to do something bad and not know how to destroy evidence and deal with the aftermath


語死早

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Short for 語文老師死得早／语文老师死得早 (yǔwén lǎoshī sǐ de zǎo, “My Chinese teacher died too early”).

zh-etym-short

(Mainland China, Internet slang, self-deprecatory) Used for joking one's poor ability in writing.


張樣張相

/tĩõ³³⁻²³ ĩõ¹¹ tĩõ³³⁻²³ sĩõ²¹³/

/tĩõ³³⁻²³ ĩõ¹¹ tĩõ³³⁻²³ sĩõ²¹³/

(Teochew) to behave in an affected way; to put on an act


過咗海就係神仙

As long as you can cross the sea, you can become an immortal

/kʷɔː³³ t͡sɔː³⁵ hɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² hɐi̯²² sɐn²¹ siːn⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) to not care about what happen afterwards once the target is reached


甘居人後

ㄍㄢ ㄐㄩ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄡˋ

ганьцзюйжэньхоу

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

to be content with falling behind others


清靜無為

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ

цинцзинъувэй

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/


孤魂野鬼

ㄍㄨ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄧㄝˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

/ku⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ jɛː¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ jɛː¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

(religion) wandering soul that is unable to reincarnate

(figurative) one who is in difficult circumstances and has nobody to lean on


奇難雜症

ㄑㄧˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄗㄚˊ ㄓㄥˋ

цинаньцзачжэн

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡sä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ naːn²¹ t͡saːp̚² t͡sɪŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡sä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ naːn²¹ t͡saːp̚² t͡sɪŋ³³/

(medicine) obscure disease or disease difficult to treat

(figuratively) problem difficult to tackle


一腹火

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² pak̚³²⁻⁴ he⁵³/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ hə⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁵ hue⁵³/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² pak̚³²⁻⁴ he⁵³/

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ hə⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁵ hue⁵³/

(Hokkien) to be furious; to be full of pent-up anger


一肚子氣

ㄧ ㄉㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄑㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯¹³ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯¹³ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³/


得人疼，較好拍拚

/tit̚³²⁻⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² tʰiã²¹ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ piã²¹/

/tit̚³²⁻⁵ laŋ¹³⁻²² tʰiã²¹ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ piã²¹/

/tit̚⁵⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² tʰiã⁴¹ kʰa(ʔ)⁵ ho⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pʰa(ʔ)⁵ piã⁴¹/

(Hokkien) the benefits of working hard cannot compare to that of being loved and adored (by one's superiors, etc.)


拿苦來辛

ㄋㄚˊ ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/nä³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/naː²¹ fuː³⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/nä³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/naː²¹ fuː³⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

make a rod for one's own back
make a rod for one's own back

(Hong Kong) to ask for trouble; to make a rod for one's own back


聯群結隊

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

ляньцюньцзедуй

/li̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/lyːn²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/lyːn²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

(chiefly Cantonese) to gather in groups; to gather in crowds; to band together


逍遙自在

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄧㄠˊ ㄗˋ ㄗㄞˋ

сяояоцзыцзай

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiːu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

free and unfettered; leisurely and carefree


無利可圖

ㄨˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄊㄨˊ

/u³⁵ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ lei̯²² hɔː³⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ li³³⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²⁴/

/u³⁵ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ lei̯²² hɔː³⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ li³³⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔ²⁴/


失覺

/sɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/sɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

失覺嗮／失觉嗮 [Cantonese] ― sat¹ gok³ saai³ [Jyutping]


損兵折將

ㄙㄨㄣˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

суньбинчжэцзян

/su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/syːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/syːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ t͡sœːŋ³³/


蛇頭鼠眼

ㄕㄜˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄧㄢˇ

/ʂɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛː²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

/ʂɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛː²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

to look ugly and shifty; to be obnoxious in appearance and cunning-looking


遠見卓識

ㄩㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄕˊ

ㄩㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄕˋ

юаньцзяньчжоши

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyːn¹³ kiːn³³ t͡sʰœːk̚³ sɪk̚⁵/

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyːn¹³ kiːn³³ t͡sʰœːk̚³ sɪk̚⁵/


一沉百踩

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ paːk̚³ t͡sʰaːi̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ paːk̚³ t͡sʰaːi̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) someone who is experiencing misfortune is further bullied or taunted by others


國是日非

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄕˋ ㄖˋ ㄈㄟ

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

the state of affairs in the country is deteriorating day by day


萬萬不可

ㄨㄢˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

ваньваньбукэ

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² maːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² maːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/


誓不兩立

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄌㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/se²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lip̚⁴/

/se¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lip̚⁴/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/se²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lip̚⁴/

/se¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lip̚⁴/

mutually exclusive; extremely antagonistic; irreconcilable


加官進爵

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

цзягуаньцзиньцзюэ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sœːk̚³/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sœːk̚³/

to be promoted to a higher office or rank


互惠互利

ㄏㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/


包退包換

ㄅㄠ ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄠ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

баотуйбаохуань

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/


名列榜首

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄤˇ ㄕㄡˇ

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/miŋ³⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


物超所值

ㄨˋ ㄔㄠ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓˊ

/u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/


接風洗塵

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧˇ ㄔㄣˊ

цзефэнсичэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

give a welcome dinner to guests from afar


和尚擔遮——無法無天

/wɔː²¹ sœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ taːm⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ faːt̚³ mou̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) no respect for law and order; unruly


老婆擔遮——陰功

/lou̯¹³ pʰɔː²¹ taːm⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

Pun on the derived meaning 陰公／阴公 (jam¹ gung¹, “the husband is shaded”), which can also be interpreted as 陰公／阴公 (jam¹ gung¹, “pitiful; woeful”).

When the wife carries an umbrella, the husband is shaded.


根深柢固

ㄍㄣ ㄕㄣ ㄉㄧˇ ㄍㄨˋ

гэньшэньдигу

/kən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

/kən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

deep-rooted; ineradicable; ingrained; inveterate; radicated


過路財神

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

someone who handles large sums of money for a short time but has no legal possession


如指諸掌

ㄖㄨˊ ㄓˇ ㄓㄨ ㄓㄤˇ

жучжичжучжан

žučžičžučžan

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


樂觀進取

ㄌㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄩˇ

лэгуань цзиньцюй

/lɤ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɤ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to maintain a positive outlook on life; to be optimistic


洞如觀火

ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

дунжугуаньхо

/tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

洞若觀火 洞若觀火#Chinese

洞若观火 洞若观火#Chinese


洞如指掌

ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓˇ ㄓㄤˇ

дунжучжичжан

/tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

瞭如指掌 瞭如指掌#Chinese

了如指掌 了如指掌#Chinese


十指不沾陽春水

one's fingers have never touched the water from a spring day

ㄕˊ ㄓˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢ ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

shih² chih³ pu⁴ chan¹ yang²-chʻun¹ shui³

ши чжи бу чжань янчунь шуй

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

sap⁹ dzi² bat⁷ dzim¹ joeng⁴ tsoen¹ soey²

/sɐp̚² t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/


大菌食細菌，細菌當補品

big bacteria eats small bacteria—small bacteria is a tonic

daai⁶ kwan² sik⁶ sai³ kwan², sai³ kwan² dong¹ bou² ban²

daaih kwán sihk sai kwán, sai kwán dōng bóu bán

daai⁶ kwan² sik⁹ sai³ kwan², sai³ kwan² dong¹ bou² ban²

dai⁶ kuen² xig⁶ sei³ kuen², sei³ kuen² dong¹ bou² ben²

/taːi̯²² kʷʰɐn³⁵ sɪk̚² sɐi̯³³ kʷʰɐn³⁵ sɐi̯³³ kʷʰɐn³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ pɐn³⁵/

(Cantonese) an excuse for consuming unsanitary food or drinks


陳規陋習

ㄔㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄌㄡˋ ㄒㄧˊ

чэньгуйлоуси

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐn²¹ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lɐu̯²² t͡saːp̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐn²¹ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lɐu̯²² t͡saːp̚²/

outdated and objectionable rules and customs


八字還沒有一撇

ㄅㄚ ㄗˋ ㄏㄞˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧ ㄆㄧㄝˇ

бацзыхаймэйюипе

/pä⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

八字還沒一撇 八字還沒一撇#Chinese

八字还没一撇 八字还没一撇#Chinese

Synonym of 八字還沒一撇／八字还没一撇 (bāzì hái méi yī piě)


五花大綁

ㄨˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄤˇ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ faː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² pɔːŋ³⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ faː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² pɔːŋ³⁵/

(In relation to a person) to be tightly binded

(specifically) a type of restraint by tying a rope on the restrained person's neck, then that person's arms


八字都沒一撇

ㄅㄚ ㄗˋ ㄉㄡ ㄇㄟˊ ㄧ ㄆㄧㄝˇ

бацзыдоумэйипе

/pä⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

八字還沒一撇 八字還沒一撇#Chinese

八字还没一撇 八字还没一撇#Chinese


臨深履薄

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄌㄩˇ ㄅㄛˊ

линьшэньлюйбо

/lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/


三代粒積，一代開空

money saved up by three generations, spent completely by one generation

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ liap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɪk̚³² it̚³²⁻⁵ tai²²⁻²¹ kʰai⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ liap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³² it̚³²⁻⁴ tai²²⁻²¹ kʰai⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/sã³³ tai⁴¹⁻²² liap̚²⁴⁻² t͡siak̚⁵ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ tai⁴¹⁻²² kʰai³³ kʰɔŋ³³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² te²²⁻²¹ liap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɪk̚³² it̚³²⁻⁵ te²²⁻²¹ kʰai⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) wealth and enterprise built by the older generation with much difficulty are suddenly squandered by the younger generation


三代粒積，一代傾空

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ liap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³² it̚³²⁻⁴ tai²²⁻²¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ liap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɪk̚³² it̚³²⁻⁵ tai²²⁻²¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ⁴⁴/

/sã³³ tai⁴¹⁻²² liap̚²⁴⁻² t͡siak̚⁵ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ tai⁴¹⁻²² kʰiɪŋ³³ kʰɔŋ³³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² te²²⁻²¹ liap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɪk̚³² it̚³²⁻⁵ te²²⁻²¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ⁴⁴/


勞神費力

ㄌㄠˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄌㄧˋ

лаошэньфэйли

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/


捷見官毋畏，捷食酒𣍐醉

often seeing an official makes oneself not scared, often drinking alcohol makes oneself not easily drunk

/t͡siap̚⁴⁻³² kĩ²¹⁻⁵³ kuã⁴⁴⁻²² m̩²²⁻²¹ ui²¹ t͡siap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue²²⁻²¹ t͡sui²¹/

/t͡siap̚²⁴⁻² kĩ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kuã³³ m̩⁴¹⁻²² ui⁴¹ t͡siap̚²⁴⁻² t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bue²² t͡sui⁴¹/

/t͡siap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kĩ²¹⁻⁵³ kuã⁴⁴⁻²² m̩²²⁻²¹ ui²¹ t͡siap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be²²⁻²¹ t͡sui²¹/

(Hokkien) often doing something makes oneself get used to it and not be easily affected


捷見官𣍐畏，捷食酒𣍐醉

/t͡siap̚⁴⁻³² kĩ²¹⁻⁵³ kuã⁴⁴⁻²² bue²²⁻²¹ ui²¹ t͡siap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue²²⁻²¹ t͡sui²¹/

/t͡siap̚²⁴⁻² kĩ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kuã³³ bue²² ui⁴¹ t͡siap̚²⁴⁻² t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bue²² t͡sui⁴¹/

/t͡siap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kĩ²¹⁻⁵³ kuã⁴⁴⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ ui²¹ t͡siap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be²²⁻²¹ t͡sui²¹/


矮子看戲

ㄞˇ ˙ㄗ ㄎㄢˋ ㄒㄧˋ

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ kʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ kʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

矮人觀場 矮人觀場#Chinese

矮人观场 矮人观场#Chinese


晨鐘暮鼓

ring the bells in the morning, beat the drums in the evening

ㄔㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄇㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ

чэньчжунмугу

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²² kuː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²² kuː³⁵/


暮鼓晨鐘

ㄇㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

мугучэньчжун

/mu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²² kuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²² kuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

晨鐘暮鼓 晨鐘暮鼓#Chinese

晨钟暮鼓 晨钟暮鼓#Chinese

Alternative form of 晨鐘暮鼓／晨钟暮鼓 (chénzhōngmùgǔ)


矮人觀場

ㄞˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄔㄤˇ

ㄞˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄔㄤˊ

айжэньгуаньчан

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/


好山好水好無聊

good mountains, good water, and good at being boring

ㄏㄠˇ ㄕㄢ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ

hǎo shān hǎo shuǐ hǎo wúliáo [Phonetic:hǎoshānháoshuíhǎowúliáo]

хао шань хао шуй хао уляо

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

Many Chinese international students, after their graduation, stay in America, marry, have kids, and settle down. Most of them are always busy just making a living, rushing between work and home all day. It's no wonder that some of our Mainland Chinese friends that have arrived in the United States lament that this place is "truly beautiful and truly boring."

2015 August 25, 美国真的是好山好水好无聊吗?, Voice of America

Zhōngguó liúxuéshēng bìyè hòu liú zài měiguó, jiéhūnshēngzǐ, chéngjiālìyè, juédàduōshù rén dōu shì zhěngtiān bēnbō yú gōngsī hé xiǎojiātíng, wèishēng jì mánglù. Nánguài yǒuxiē zhōngguódàlù de péngyǒu láidào měiguó, gǎntàn zhèlǐ shì “hǎoshānhǎoshuǐhǎowúliáo”.

中國留學生畢業後留在美國，結婚生子，成家立業，絕大多數人都是整天奔波於公司和小家庭，為生計忙碌。難怪有些中國大陸的朋友來到美國，感嘆這裡是「好山好水好無聊」。

中国留学生毕业后留在美国，结婚生子，成家立业，绝大多数人都是整天奔波于公司和小家庭，为生计忙碌。难怪有些中国大陆的朋友来到美国，感叹这里是「好山好水好无聊」。

used to describe places with lots of appeal but a lack of engaging activities


肥頭耷耳

/fei̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tɐp̚⁵ jiː¹³/

/fei̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tɐp̚⁵ jiː¹³/


不值一提

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˊ ㄧ ㄊㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹/


卌九日烏

/siap̚³²⁻⁴ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lit̚⁴⁻³² ɔ⁴⁴/

/siap̚⁵⁻²⁴ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lit̚²⁴⁻² ɔ³³/

/siap̚³²⁻⁵ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ɔ⁴⁴/

/siak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lit̚²⁴⁻² ɔ³³/

/siap̚³²⁻⁴ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lit̚⁴⁻³² ɔ⁴⁴/

/siap̚⁵⁻²⁴ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lit̚²⁴⁻² ɔ³³/

/siap̚³²⁻⁵ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ɔ⁴⁴/

/siak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lit̚²⁴⁻² ɔ³³/

(Hokkien) having gloomy weather for a long period of time (and not being able to see sunlight)

(Hokkien) having a gloomy and displeased (or even scowling) expression often in one's face


稱體裁衣

ㄔㄣˋ ㄊㄧˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄧ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵/

to act according to actual circumstances


稱孤道寡

ㄔㄥ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵/


尸鳩之平

ㄕ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄓ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

шицзю чжи пин

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

(of a ruler) to treat one's subjects fairly


鳲鳩之仁

шицзю чжи жэнь

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

尸鳩之仁 尸鳩之仁#Chinese


鳲鳩之平

ㄕ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄓ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

шицзю чжи пин

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

尸鳩之平 尸鳩之平#Chinese


鳩奪鵲巢

ㄐㄧㄡ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄠˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

鵲巢鳩佔 鵲巢鳩佔#Chinese

鹊巢鸠占 鹊巢鸠占#Chinese


鳩僭鵲巢

ㄐㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄠˊ

цзюцзяньцюэчао

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

鵲巢鳩佔 鵲巢鳩佔#Chinese

鹊巢鸠占 鹊巢鸠占#Chinese


一家一業，無家澀疊

family is household duties, no family is neat and tidy

chi̍t-ke-chi̍t-gia̍p, bô-ke siap-tia̍p / chi̍t-kee-chi̍t-gia̍p, bô-kee siap-tia̍p

/t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² ke³³ t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² ɡiap̚²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² ke³³ siap̚⁵⁻²⁴ tiap̚²⁴/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² ke⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² ɡiap̚⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² ke⁴⁴⁻²² siap̚³²⁻⁴ tiap̚⁴/

/t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kɛ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ɡiap̚¹²¹ bo¹³⁻²² kɛ⁴⁴⁻²² siap̚³²⁻⁵ tiap̚¹²¹/

(Hokkien) having a family brings all kinds of family affairs with its own difficulties and suffering, but having no family can be a relief


鳩居鵲巢

ㄐㄧㄡ ㄐㄩ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄠˊ

цзюцзюйцюэчао

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

鵲巢鳩佔 鵲巢鳩佔#Chinese

鹊巢鸠占 鹊巢鸠占#Chinese


視險若夷

ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ i³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ i³⁵/

視險如夷 視險如夷#Chinese

视险如夷 视险如夷#Chinese


視險如夷

ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/


得一想二

/tɐk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ³⁵ jiː²²/

/tɐk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ³⁵ jiː²²/

(Cantonese) to wish to acquire more after obtaining something


新鮮出爐

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄔㄨ ㄌㄨˊ

синьсяньчулу

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ lu³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lou̯²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ lu³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lou̯²¹/

fresh from the oven; hot off the press (of food, news etc)


尸鳩之仁

шицзю чжи жэнь

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

尸鳩之平 尸鳩之平#Chinese


捨車保帥

ㄕㄜˋ ㄐㄩ ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄞˋ

шэцзюйбаошуай

/ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɛː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

/ʂɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɛː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

棄車保帥 棄車保帥#Chinese

弃车保帅 弃车保帅#Chinese


丟車保帥

ㄉㄧㄡ ㄐㄩ ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄞˋ

дюцзюйбаошуай

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

棄車保帥 棄車保帥#Chinese

弃车保帅 弃车保帅#Chinese


楚河漢界

ㄔㄨˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄏㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔː³⁵ hɔː²¹ hɔːn³³ kaːi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔː³⁵ hɔː²¹ hɔːn³³ kaːi̯³³/

During the Chu–Han Contention, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu once signed a ceasefire treaty diving their lands along the Hong Canal (鴻溝／鸿沟 (hónggōu))

spheres of influence
sphere of influence

(figurative) the boundary between the spheres of influence of two parties at war

(xiangqi) the separation line between two sides


奇珍異寶

ㄑㄧˊ ㄓㄣ ㄧˋ ㄅㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ i⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²² pou̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ i⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²² pou̯³⁵/


毒蛇猛獸

ㄉㄨˊ ㄕㄜˊ ㄇㄥˇ ㄕㄡˋ

/tu³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² sɛː²¹ maːŋ¹³ sɐu̯³³/

/tu³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² sɛː²¹ maːŋ¹³ sɐu̯³³/

Sun Yat-sen
Three Principles of the People

From the Three Principles of the People by Sun Yat-sen. [1924-09-03].

Zài tàigǔ shídài, rén shí shòu, shòu yì shí rén, bǐcǐ xiàng jìngzhēng, biàndì dōu shì dúshéměngshòu, rénlèi de sìzhōu dōu shì huòhài, suǒyǐ rénlèi yào tú shēngcún, biàn yào qù fèndòu.

在太古時代，人食獸，獸亦食人，彼此相競爭，遍地都是毒蛇猛獸，人類的四周都是禍害，所以人類要圖生存，便要去奮鬥。

在太古时代，人食兽，兽亦食人，彼此相竞争，遍地都是毒蛇猛兽，人类的四周都是祸害，所以人类要图生存，便要去奋斗。


只羨鴛鴦不羨仙

ㄓˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄩㄢ ㄧㄤ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

zhǐ xiàn yuānyāng bù xiàn xiān [Phonetic:zhǐ xiàn yuānyāng bú xiàn xiān]

chih³ hsien⁴ yüan¹-yang¹ pu⁴ hsien⁴ hsien¹

чжи сянь юаньян бу сянь сянь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɥɛn⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ siːn²² jyːn⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siːn²² siːn⁵⁵/

[Phonetic: zhǐ xiàn yuānyāng bú xiàn xiān]


柔中有剛

ㄖㄡˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄤ

жоучжунъюган

/ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵/


心心念念

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ

синьсиньняньнянь

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹/

Xìngkuī Bǎoyù bèi yī ge Dàiyù chánmián zhù le, xīnxīnniànniàn zhǐ diànjì zhe Dàiyù, bìng bù lǐlùn zhè shì.

幸虧寶玉被一個黛玉纏綿住了，心心念念只惦記著黛玉，並不理論這事。

幸亏宝玉被一个黛玉缠绵住了，心心念念只惦记着黛玉，并不理论这事。

to set one's heart on; to constantly think about; to yearn


奇珍異獸

ㄑㄧˊ ㄓㄣ ㄧˋ ㄕㄡˋ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²² sɐu̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²² sɐu̯³³/


有條有理

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ lei̯³³/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ lei̯³³/


真人真事

ㄓㄣ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄣ ㄕˋ

чжэньжэньчжэньши

čžɛnʹžɛnʹčžɛnʹši

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ siː²²/

/t͡siŋ³³⁻²³ naŋ⁵⁵ t͡siŋ³³⁻²³ sɯ¹¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ siː²²/

/t͡siŋ³³⁻²³ naŋ⁵⁵ t͡siŋ³³⁻²³ sɯ¹¹/

true story; events that actually happened to real people


太陽從西邊出來

ㄊㄞˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧ ˙ㄅㄧㄢ ㄔㄨ ㄌㄞˊ

tʻai⁴-yang² tsʻung² hsi¹-pien⁵ chʻu¹-lai²

тайян цун сибянь чулай

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ b̥i̯ɛn² ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

(idiomatic) pigs might fly (used when one thinks that there is no chance for something to happen)


配套成龍

ㄆㄟˋ ㄊㄠˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

пэйтаочэнлун

/pʰeɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/pʰeɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

成龍配套 成龍配套#Chinese

成龙配套 成龙配套#Chinese

Alternative form of 成龍配套／成龙配套 (chénglóngpèitào)


珍禽異獸

ㄓㄣ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄕㄡˋ

чжэньциньишоу

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ jiː²² sɐu̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ jiː²² sɐu̯³³/


成年累月

ㄔㄥˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄩㄝˋ

чэнняньлэйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯²² jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯²² jyːt̚²/

over many years and months; year in, year out


成千累萬

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄟˇ ㄨㄢˋ

чэнцяньлэйвань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ maːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ maːn²²/

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


鍋嫌水壺黑

ㄍㄨㄛ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄏㄟ

го сянь шуйху хэй

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black#English

(rare) literal translation of pot calling the kettle black


成龍配套

ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄟˋ ㄊㄠˋ

чэнлунпэйтао

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ pʰuːi̯³³ tʰou̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ pʰuːi̯³³ tʰou̯³³/


開源節流

ㄎㄞ ㄩㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

кайюаньцзелю

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡siːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡siːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹/

(figurative) to increase income and reduce spending


碎屍萬段

ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄕ ㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

суйшиваньдуань

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³³ siː⁵⁵ maːn²² tyːn²²/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³³ siː⁵⁵ maːn²² tyːn²²/

我要把你碎屍萬段！

我要把你碎尸万段！

to dismember a corpse into numerous small pieces; to cut up a corpse into many small pieces


珊瑚在網

ㄕㄢ ㄏㄨˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄨㄤˇ

шаньху цзай ван

/ʂän⁵⁵ xu³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂän⁵⁵ xu³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


成竹在胸

ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄨˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄒㄩㄥ

чэнчжуцзайсюн

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² hʊŋ⁵⁵/

胸有成竹 胸有成竹#Chinese

Alternative form of 胸有成竹 (xiōngyǒuchéngzhú)


迅雷不及掩耳盜鈴

ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄌㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

xùnléi bù jí yǎn'ěrdàolíng [Phonetic:xùnléibùjíyáněrdàolíng]

hsün⁴-lei² pu⁴ chi² yen³-êrh³-tao⁴-ling²

сюньлэй бу цзи яньэрдаолин

/ɕyn⁵¹ leɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

Blend of 迅雷不及掩耳 (xùnléi bùjí yǎn ěr) + 掩耳盜鈴／掩耳盗铃 (yǎn'ěrdàolíng)

blend

迅雷不及掩耳 迅雷不及掩耳#Chinese

(neologism, humorous) Synonym of 迅雷不及掩耳 (xùnléi bùjí yǎn ěr)


水內撈月

to scoop (the reflection of) the moon out of the water

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lai²²⁻²¹ hɔ²⁴⁻²² ɡeʔ⁴/

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lai²²⁻²¹ hɔ²⁴⁻²² ɡeʔ⁴/

(Xiamen Hokkien, figurative) to make a hopeless, futile or vain effort at doing something; to ask for the moon


精神爽利

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ sɔːŋ³⁵ lei̯²²/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ sɔːŋ³⁵ lei̯²²/


承上啟下

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

to form a connecting link between the preceding and the following


沒沒無聞

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ wən³⁵/


塞耳偷鈴

ㄙㄞ ㄦˇ ㄊㄡ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

/saɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

/saɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

掩耳盜鈴 掩耳盜鈴#Chinese

掩耳盗铃 掩耳盗铃#Chinese


攜老扶幼

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄠˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄧㄡˋ

ㄒㄧ ㄌㄠˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄧㄡˋ

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɕi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

扶老攜幼 扶老攜幼#Chinese

扶老携幼 扶老携幼#Chinese

Alternative form of 扶老攜幼／扶老携幼 (fúlǎoxiéyòu, “to bring the young and old along; to take everyone along”)


盜鈴掩耳

ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄦˇ

даолинъяньэр

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

掩耳盜鈴 掩耳盜鈴#Chinese

掩耳盗铃 掩耳盗铃#Chinese


晦盲否塞

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄤˊ ㄆㄧˇ ㄙㄜˋ

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ mɑŋ³⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ mɑŋ³⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

a country in a state of chaos, preventing information from the masses from reaching the top


秉燭夜談

ㄅㄧㄥˇ ㄓㄨˊ ㄧㄝˋ ㄊㄢˊ

/piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

/piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/


自打嘴巴

ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ˙ㄅㄚ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴ b̥ä⁴/

/t͡siː²² taː³⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paː⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴ b̥ä⁴/

/t͡siː²² taː³⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paː⁵⁵/

to be inconsistent; to contradict oneself


談空說有

ㄊㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄧㄡˇ

/tʰän³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³/

/tʰän³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³/

From Su Shi's poem 《寄吳德仁兼簡陳季常》 ("Poem sent for Wu Deren and for Chen Jichang as well") (translation from Qiu, 2013):
*
Originally meaning "to discuss non-existence and existence → to discuss Buddhist doctrines", it then underwent semantic pejoration to "gossip, idle talk, empty talk".

The lay practitioner of Dragon Hill is also pitiful,
he stays up discoursing on emptiness and fullness all night long.
Suddenly he hears a lion’s roar from east-of-the river,
the cane drops from his hand, he is at a loss.

Lóngqiū jūshì yì kělián,
Tán kōng shuō yǒu yè bùmián,
Hū wén hédōng shīzǐ hǒu,
Zhù zhàng luò shǒu xīn mángrán.

龍丘居士亦可憐，
談空說有夜不眠，
忽聞河東獅子吼，
柱杖落手心茫然。

龙丘居士亦可怜，
谈空说有夜不眠，
忽闻河东狮子吼，
柱杖落手心茫然。

Bhava
Longqiu
Su Shi
z:吳瑛 (宋朝)
zh:陳慥
Śūnyatā


賣弄玄虛

ㄇㄞˋ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄩ

майнунсюаньсюй

/maɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ nʊŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/maɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ nʊŋ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

故弄玄虛 故弄玄虛#Chinese

故弄玄虚 故弄玄虚#Chinese


學口學舌

/hɔːk̚² hɐu̯³⁵ hɔːk̚² siːt̚²/

/hɔːk̚² hɐu̯³⁵ hɔːk̚² siːt̚²/

(Cantonese) to imitate someone else's speech

(Cantonese) to spread someone else's words around


冇遮冇掩

/mou̯¹³ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ jiːm³⁵/

/mou̯¹³ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ jiːm³⁵/

(Cantonese) unconcealed; out in the open


投資不過山海關

ㄊㄡˊ ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄢ ㄏㄞˇ ㄍㄨㄢ

tóuzī bù guò Shānhǎiguān [Phonetic:tóuzī bú guò Shānhǎiguān]

тоуцзы бу го Шаньхайгуань

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/


去冰

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵/

large green tea without sugar, without ice

大杯綠茶無唐去冰

大杯绿茶无唐去冰

(when ordering drinks) without ice; ice-free


接續香煙

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄒㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄧㄢ

цзесюй сянъянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

to continue the family line; to have descendants


目不斜視

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄕˋ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɛː²¹ siː²²/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɛː²¹ siː²²/

to look straight ahead without casting any sidelong glances


掩街僻巷

(Jinjiang Hokkien) remote and backward places


自成一格

ㄗˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧ ㄍㄜˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kaːk̚³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² sɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kaːk̚³/


懲一戒百

ㄔㄥˊ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄞˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


程門立雪

ㄔㄥˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

чэнмэньлисюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ laːp̚² syːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ mən³⁵ li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ muːn²¹ laːp̚² syːt̚³/


懲惡揚善

ㄔㄥˊ ㄜˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄢˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²¹ siːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²¹ siːn²²/


懲一警百

ㄔㄥˊ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄞˇ

чэнъицзинбай

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/


寧枉勿縱

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄥˋ

нинванъуцзун

/niŋ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/nɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ³⁵ mɐt̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

/niŋ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/nɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ³⁵ mɐt̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

it is better to wrong the innocent than to let go of the guilty


寧缺勿濫

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄝ ㄨˋ ㄌㄢˋ

/niŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/nɪŋ²¹ kʰyːt̚³ mɐt̚² laːm²²/

/niŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/nɪŋ²¹ kʰyːt̚³ mɐt̚² laːm²²/

would rather go without than have some something less than satisfactory; it is better to leave a deficiency uncovered than have it covered without discretion


淡而不厭

ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄜˊㄦ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˋ

/tä⁵¹ nɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛn⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ nɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛn⁵¹/


寧縱勿枉

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄨˋ ㄨㄤˇ

нинцзунъуван

/niŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ mɐt̚² wɔːŋ³⁵/

/niŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ mɐt̚² wɔːŋ³⁵/

it is better to let go of the guilty than to wrong the innocent


孤苦無依

/ku⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː⁵⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː⁵⁵/


黑不提白不提

ㄏㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧˊ ㄅㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧˊ

хэйбутибайбути

/xeɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/xeɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

(colloquial) to completely avoid mentioning something


眾所鳩知

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ kɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ kɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

From a speech error on a press conference in 2012 by James Shing, the then CEO of Asia Television.

眾所周知 眾所周知#Chinese

众所周知 众所周知#Chinese

(Hong Kong Cantonese, vulgar, sarcastic) Synonym of 眾所周知／众所周知 (zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī)


鼻孔朝天

ㄅㄧˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

бикунчаотянь

/pi³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pi³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

to have one's nose in the air; arrogant; haughty


江洋大盜

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋ

цзянъяндадао

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

infamous pirate; (by extension) notorious bandit or robber


欺上瞞下

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ män³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² muːn²¹ haː²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ män³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² muːn²¹ haː²²/

to deceive and hide the truth from those above and below


碩大無比

ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄧˇ

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ u³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ u³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


籍籍無名

ㄐㄧˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ u³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ u³⁵ miŋ³⁵/


假手他人

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄊㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

цзяшоутажэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

to get one's own task done by somebody else


乏善足陳

ㄈㄚˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔㄣˊ

фашаньцзучэнь

/fä³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/fɐt̚² siːn²² t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹/

/fä³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/fɐt̚² siːn²² t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹/

乏善可陳 乏善可陳#Chinese

乏善可陈 乏善可陈#Chinese

Synonym of 乏善可陳／乏善可陈 (fáshànkěchén, “to have nothing notable or praiseworthy”)


寂寂無名

ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ miŋ³⁵/


食指大動

ㄕˊ ㄓˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

to be excited to dig into the delicious food


大驚失色

ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕ ㄙㄜˋ

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


能寫會算

ㄋㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

нэнсехуэйсуань

/nɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/nɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/


雜念大家出蠻皮新婦

雜唸大家出蠻皮新婦
雜念大家出慢皮新婦
杂念大家出蛮皮新妇

a mother-in-law that loves to talk endlessly makes a stubborn daughter-in-law

cha̍p-liām tōa-kee chhut bân-phôe sin-pū

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² liam²²⁻²¹ ta⁴⁴⁻²² ke⁴⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ban²⁴⁻²² pʰe²⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² pu²²/

/t͡sap̚²⁴⁻² liam⁴¹⁻²² ta³³ ke³³ t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ ban²⁴⁻²² pʰə²⁴⁻²² sin³³ pu⁴¹/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² liam³³⁻²¹ ta⁴⁴⁻³³ ke⁴⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ban²³⁻³³ pʰue²³⁻³³ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ pu³³/

tsa̍p-liām tuā-kee tshut bân-phuê sin-pū

/t͡sap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ liam²²⁻²¹ tua²²⁻²¹ kɛ⁴⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ ban¹³⁻²² pʰue¹³⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² pu²²/

/ cha̍p-liām ta-ke chhut bân-phêr sin-pū /

(Hokkien) if a mother-in-law continues to talk endlessly, a daughter-in-law will become stubborn and disagreeable


七拼八湊

ㄑㄧ ㄆㄧㄣ ㄅㄚ ㄘㄡˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pʰin⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ³³ paːt̚³ t͡sʰɐu̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pʰin⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ pʰɪŋ³³ paːt̚³ t͡sʰɐu̯³³/

to rig up; to throw together; to piece together


十喙九尻川

/t͡sap̚²⁴⁻² t͡sʰui⁴¹ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰa³³ t͡sʰŋ̍³³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰui¹¹ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰŋ̍⁴⁴/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰui²¹ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰŋ̍⁴⁴/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰui²¹ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰa⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰŋ̍⁴⁴/

/t͡sap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰa⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰuĩ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) opinion is divided; there are many people with diverging opinions


冤崩爛臭

/jyːn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ laːn²² t͡sʰɐu̯³³/

/jyːn⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ laːn²² t͡sʰɐu̯³³/


攻城略地

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lœːk̚² tei̯²²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ly̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lœːk̚² tei̯²²/

攻城掠地 攻城掠地#Chinese

Alternative form of 攻城掠地 (gōngchénglüèdì)


陣寒陣熱

/t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ hon¹¹ t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ ŋi̯et̚⁵/

/t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ hon¹¹ t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ ŋi̯at̚⁵/

/t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ hon¹¹ t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ ŋi̯et̚⁵/

/t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ hon¹¹ t͡sʰɨn⁵⁵ ŋi̯at̚⁵/

(Hakka) to have one's body get hot and cold when sick

(Hakka) to have a sudden temperature change (of weather)


低言細語

/tai̯²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ se⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/tai̯²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ se⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/tai̯²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ se⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/tai̯²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ se⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/


打卵見黃

(Hakka) producing instant results; having immediate effect


十學九不成

/sip̚²⁴⁻² hak̚²⁴⁻² kiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

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

(Quanzhou Hokkien) to be a jack of all trades, master of none


十藝九不成

/sip̚²⁴⁻² ɡe⁴¹⁻²² kiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

/sip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ɡe²²⁻²¹ kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ siɪŋ¹³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² ɡe²²⁻²¹ kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ²⁴/

(Hokkien) to be a jack of all trades, master of none


好貓管百家

a good cat manages the rodent infestation of a hundred families

/ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ niãu⁴⁴ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke⁴⁴/

/ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ niãu⁴⁴ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pɛ(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kɛ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) to have strong deterrent force that frightens everyone

(Hokkien) to meddle in other people's business; to bother to interfere others' business


低眉順眼

ㄉㄧ ㄇㄟˊ ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄧㄢˇ

димэйшуньянь

/ti⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ sɵn²² ŋaːn¹³/

/ti⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ sɵn²² ŋaːn¹³/

1934, Lu Xun, “從孩子的照相說起”, in 且介亭雜文, 上海三閒書屋, published 1937, page 92:

Dàn Zhōngguó yībān de qūshì, què zhǐ zài xiàng xùnliáng zhī lèi — “jìng” de yī fāngmiàn fāzhǎn, dīméishùnyǎn, wéiwéinuònuò, cái suàn yī ge hǎo háizǐ, míng zhī yuē “yǒuqù”.

但中國一般的趨勢，卻只在向馴良之類——「靜」的一方面發展，低眉順眼，唯唯諾諾，才算一個好孩子，名之曰「有趣」。

但中国一般的趋势，却只在向驯良之类——「静」的一方面发展，低眉顺眼，唯唯诺诺，才算一个好孩子，名之曰「有趣」。


輕聲細語

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/


說話算話

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

шохуасуаньхуа

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ waː²² syːn³³ waː²²/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ waː²² syːn³³ waː²²/

as good as one's word
as good as one's word

to be as good as one's word; to be true to one's word; to keep one's word


嫖賭飲吹

ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄨˇ ㄧㄣˇ ㄔㄨㄟ

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵ jɐm³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵ jɐm³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

(usually of a man) to visit prostitutes, gamble, drink, and smoke opium; to have bad habits


秋後的螞蚱

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄏㄡˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄇㄚˋ ˙ㄓㄚ

цюхоу ди мачжа

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ ɖ͡ʐ̥ä¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² tɪk̚⁵ maː²² t͡saː³³/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² tɪk̚⁵ maː²² t͡saː³³/

From 秋後的螞蚱——蹦躂不了幾天／秋后的蚂蚱——蹦跶不了几天 (qiūhòu dì màzha, bèngda bùliǎo jǐtiān).

zh-l

秋後的螞蚱——蹦躂不了幾天

someone or something (especially being unpleasant) that is active now, but is ultimately doomed to fail


秋後的螞蚱——蹦躂不了幾天

head

秋後的螞蚱——蹦躂不了幾天

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄏㄡˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄇㄚˋ ˙ㄓㄚ

ㄅㄥˋ ˙ㄉㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄢ

bèngda bùliǎo jǐtiān [Phonetic:qiūhòudìmàzha

цюхоу ди мачжа

бэнда буляо цзитянь

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ ɖ͡ʐ̥ä¹ pɤŋ⁵¹ d̥ä¹ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʷɔː³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ syː³⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ kei̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

Adult grasshoppers and locusts die in winter.

秋后的蚂蚱——蹦跶不了几天

grasshopper after autumn ― can only hop for a few more days


龍象共舞

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄨˇ

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


五方雜處

ㄨˇ ㄈㄤ ㄗㄚˊ ㄔㄨˇ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

1910, 吳趼人 [Wu Jianren], 二十年目睹之怪現狀 [Bizarre Happenings Eyewitnessed over Two Decades], chapter 67:

Wǒmen Shànghǎi běn shì yī ge jí chúnpǔ de dìfāng, zì tōngshāng zhīhòu, wǔfāngzáchǔ, huàirén rìjiàn qí duō le.

我們上海本是一個極純樸的地方，自通商之後，五方雜處，壞人日見其多了。

我们上海本是一个极纯朴的地方，自通商之后，五方杂处，坏人日见其多了。

to be inhabited by people from many places


散兵游勇

ㄙㄢˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˊ ㄩㄥˇ

/sän²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jʊŋ¹³/

/sän²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jʊŋ¹³/

(figuratively) person who does not belong to a group


池魚之禍

ㄔˊ ㄩˊ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

(figurative) conflict which one is drawn into


玲瓏浮凸

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄊㄨ

/liŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ tʰu⁵⁵/

/lɪŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ fɐu̯²¹ tɐt̚²/

/liŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ tʰu⁵⁵/

/lɪŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ fɐu̯²¹ tɐt̚²/

(of a woman) nimble and curvy; voluptuous


好使好用

/hou̯³⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ hou̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/hou̯³⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ hou̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/


兩手揈揈

/lœːŋ¹³ sɐu̯³⁵ fɪŋ²² fɪŋ²²/

/lœːŋ¹³ sɐu̯³⁵ fɪŋ²² fɪŋ²²/

(Cantonese) to be emptyhanded; to bring nothing


仰人鼻息

ㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄧˊ ㄒㄧ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ pi³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ pi³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/


未見官先打三十大板

未见官先打三十大板
未見官先打八十大板

to be caned 30 times before one can meet the judge

mei⁶ gin³ gun¹ sin¹ daa² saam¹ sap⁶ daai⁶ ban²

mei⁶ gin³ gun¹ sin¹ daa² saam¹ sap⁹ daai⁶ ban²

méi⁶ gin³ gun¹ xin¹ da² sam¹ seb⁶ dai⁶ ben²

/mei̯²² kiːn³³ kuːn⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵ taː³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ sɐp̚² taːi̯²² pɐn³⁵/

(Cantonese) to need to pay a high price before one can get what one wants


慾令智昏

ㄩˋ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄏㄨㄣ

юйлинчжихунь

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² lɪŋ²² t͡siː³³ fɐn⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² lɪŋ²² t͡siː³³ fɐn⁵⁵/

desire causes a person to lose their wits


色令智昏

ㄙㄜˋ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄏㄨㄣ

сэлинчжихунь

/sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ lɪŋ²² t͡siː³³ fɐn⁵⁵/

/sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ lɪŋ²² t͡siː³³ fɐn⁵⁵/

sexual desire causes a person to lose their wits


挈瓶之知

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄓˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

挈瓶小智 挈瓶小智#Chinese


智勇兼全

ㄓˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

чжиюн цзянь цюань

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

智勇雙全 智勇雙全#Chinese

智勇双全 智勇双全#Chinese

Synonym of 智勇雙全／智勇双全 (zhìyǒngshuāngquán)


百龍之智

having the wisdom of a hundredGongsun Longs

ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄓ ㄓˋ

байлунчжичжи

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


大智如愚

ㄉㄚˋ ㄓˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siː³³ jyː²¹ jyː²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡siː³³ jyː²¹ jyː²¹/

大智若愚 大智若愚#Chinese


挈瓶小智

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄓˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to have shallow or superficial knowledge


現金為王

ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄤˊ

сяньцзинь вэй ван

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/jiːn²² kɐm⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/jiːn²² kɐm⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


明刀明槍

/mɪŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) to be open and frank in one's actions and intentions; to act without any disguise


漁翁撒網

ㄩˊ ㄨㄥ ㄙㄚ ㄨㄤˇ

/y³⁵ wəŋ⁵⁵ sä⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ mɔːŋ¹³/

/y³⁵ wəŋ⁵⁵ sä⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ mɔːŋ¹³/


日了狗了

ㄖˋ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄍㄡˇ ˙ㄌㄜ

жи лэ гоу лэ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ lə¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ lə¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴/

(vulgar) It was so fucked up. (Used when someone has experienced something unlucky, absurd, etc.)


無名之輩

ㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄅㄟˋ

/u³⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/u³⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/


日子有功

/jɐt̚² t͡siː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² t͡siː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵/


砸鍋賣鐵

ㄗㄚˊ ㄍㄨㄛ ㄇㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄝˇ

/t͡sä³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sä³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

I have to sell everything I have and scrape together money from everywhere to pay off my debts.

Wǒ zhèhuì'ér shì záguōmàitiě, dōngnuóxīcòu, cái háiqīng zhàiwù.

我這會兒是砸鍋賣鐵，東挪西湊，才還清債務。

我这会儿是砸锅卖铁，东挪西凑，才还清债务。

2024 August 30, 察客, “下午察：地方政府“砸鍋賣鐵”來化債？”, in Lianhe Zaobao:

Local governments want to roll up their sleeves and sell everything they have, many people immediately sense the seriousness of local debt pressure. There are also some people who are more concerned about: whose pot should be smashed and whose iron should be sold?

Dìfāng zhèngfǔ yào lū qǐ xiùzǐ “záguōmàitiě”, xǔduō rén lìjí xiù dào dìfāng zhàiwù yālì de yánzhòngxìng. Háiyǒu yībùfēn rén gèng guānxīn: yào zá shéi de guō, mài shéi de tiě?

地方政府要擼起袖子“砸鍋賣鐵”，許多人立即嗅到地方債務壓力的嚴重性。還有一部分人更關心：要砸誰的鍋，賣誰的鐵？

地方政府要撸起袖子“砸锅卖铁”，许多人立即嗅到地方债务压力的严重性。还有一部分人更关心：要砸谁的锅，卖谁的铁？


屍山血海

ㄕ ㄕㄢ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄕ ㄕㄢ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄕ ㄕㄢ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄏㄞˇ

шишаньсюэхай

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


安已不

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵/

Reversal of 不安 (bat¹ on¹) + insertion of the particle 已 (ji⁵, “already”).

(Hong Kong Cantonese, Internet slang) already feeling uneasy


東挪西湊

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄋㄨㄛˊ ㄒㄧ ㄘㄡˋ

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ nu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ nu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

1628 CE, Ling Mengchu, Slapping the Table in Amazement I

Guò le liǎng yuè, yòu jìn jírì, què yòu qiàn yíngqīn zhī fèi. Liù lǎo zhǐdé dōngnuóxīcòu, xún le jǐ jiàn yīshì zhī lèi, wǎng diǎnpū zhōng jiě le jǐ shí liǎng yínzǐ, què yě bù gōu shǐyòng.

過了兩月，又近吉日，卻又欠迎親之費。六老只得東挪西湊，尋了幾件衣飾之類，往典鋪中解了幾十兩銀子，卻也不勾使用。

过了两月，又近吉日，却又欠迎亲之费。六老只得东挪西凑，寻了几件衣饰之类，往典铺中解了几十两银子，却也不勾使用。


點賣

si⁶ tau⁴⁻², ceng² man⁶ di¹ jyu⁴ dim² maai⁶ gaa³?

事頭，請問啲魚點賣㗎？

事头，请问啲鱼点卖㗎？

how much does it cost
how much does it cost

(Cantonese) how much money?, how much is it?, how much does it cost?


智商捉雞

(one's) intelligence is catching chickens

ㄓˋ ㄕㄤ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄐㄧ

чжишан чжоцзи

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

智商捉急 智商捉急#Chinese

(neologism, slang, humorous) Alternative form of 智商捉急 (zhìshāng zhuōjí, “to be stupid; to be an idiot;”)


推杯換盞

ㄊㄨㄟ ㄅㄟ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄢˇ

туйбэйхуаньчжань

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to drink together in a convivial atmosphere


魯魚帝虎

ㄌㄨˇ ㄩˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄏㄨˇ

/lu²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ti⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ jyː²¹ tɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/

/lu²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ti⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ jyː²¹ tɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵/

魯魚亥豕 魯魚亥豕#Chinese

鲁鱼亥豕 鲁鱼亥豕#Chinese


左支右絀

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄓ ㄧㄡˋ ㄔㄨˋ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² t͡syːt̚²/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² t͡syːt̚²/

to be lacking in resources to deal with every problem at once


君臣佐使

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄔㄣˊ ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄕˇ

цзюньчэньцзоши

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

traditional Chinese medicine
traditional Chinese medicine

(traditional Chinese medicine) sovereign, minister, assistant and courier, the four roles performed by medicinals within a formula


離開就會辜負多少愛

ㄌㄧˊ ㄎㄞ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄨ ˙ㄈㄨ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕㄠˇ ㄞˋ .

Li²-kʻai¹ chiu⁴ hui⁴ ku¹-fu⁵ to¹-shao³ ai⁴.

Ликай цзю хуэй гуфу дошао ай.

/li³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ fu² tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

The pinyin initials of the nine characters are "LKJHGFDSA", which are the letters typed by hitting all the keys in the middle row of the letter part of the QWERTY keyboard sorted from right to left.

So much love will be betrayed if one leaves.

(Internet slang) LKJHGFDSA; the letters typed by hitting all the keys in the middle row of the letter part of the QWERTY keyboard sorted from right to left


愛上對方過後就哭了

ㄞˋ ˙ㄕㄤ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄤ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄎㄨ ˙ㄌㄜ .

Ai⁴-shang⁵ tui⁴-fang¹ kuo⁴-hou⁴ chiu⁴ kʻu¹ lê⁵.

Айшан дуйфан гохоу цзю ку лэ.

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɑŋ¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵ lə²/

The pinyin initials of the nine characters are "ASDFGHJKL", which are the letters typed by hitting all the keys in the middle row of the letter part of the QWERTY keyboard sorted from left to right.

One cries after having loved the other party.

(Internet slang) ASDFGHJKL; the letters typed by hitting all the keys in the middle row of the letter part of the QWERTY keyboard sorted from left to right


出音味來

ㄔㄨ ㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄞˊ

чу инь вэй лай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ in⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ in⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

A Mandarin homophone of 初音未來／初音未来 (“Hatsune Miku”), intended to read literally "the feeling (or smell, taste) arrives once the sound comes out".

(Internet, humorous, chiefly ACG slang) Used to express approval of music (or other kinds of noises) that is able to immediately evoke a particular person, a particular scene from a show, etc.


新嚟新豬肉

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɐi̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɐi̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

(Cantonese) newcomers are liable to be exploited or bullied


仔細老婆嫩

/t͡sɐi̯³⁵ sɐi̯³³ lou̯¹³ pʰɔː²¹ nyːn²²/

/t͡sɐi̯³⁵ sɐi̯³³ lou̯¹³ pʰɔː²¹ nyːn²²/

(Cantonese) to have small children and a young wife


大蛇屙尿

/taːi̯²² sɛː²¹ ɔː⁵⁵ niːu̯²²/

/taːi̯²² sɛː²¹ ɔː⁵⁵ niːu̯²²/

大蛇屙屎 大蛇屙屎#Chinese


埋街食井水

/maːi̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/maːi̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to stop working as a prostitute


素昧平生

ㄙㄨˋ ㄇㄟˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/sou̯³³ muːi̯²² pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ meɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/sou̯³³ muːi̯²² pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to be strangers to each other; to have never met before


厥功至偉

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄓˋ ㄨㄟˇ

цзюэгунчживэй

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to have made significant contributions to a project or cause


始終不渝

ㄕˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

to remain the same all along; to be consistent throughout without change


酩酊大醉

ㄇㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

миндиндацзуй

/miŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mɪŋ¹³ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sɵy̯³³/

/mɪŋ¹³ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sɵy̯³³/


仗義疏財

ㄓㄤˋ ㄧˋ ㄕㄨ ㄘㄞˊ

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² jiː²² sɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² jiː²² sɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Yuánlái nà Dōngxī cūn bǎozhèng xìng Cháo, míng Gài, zǔ shì běn xiàn běn xiāng fùhù, píngshēng zhàngyìshūcái, zhuān ài jiéshí tiānxià hǎohàn, dàn yǒu rén lái tóubēn tā de, bùlùn hǎodǎi, biàn liú zài zhuāng shàng zhù.

原來那東溪村保正姓晁，名蓋，祖是本縣本鄉富戶，平生仗義疏財，專愛結識天下好漢，但有人來投奔他的，不論好歹，便留在莊上住。

原来那东溪村保正姓晁，名盖，祖是本县本乡富户，平生仗义疏财，专爱结识天下好汉，但有人来投奔他的，不论好歹，便留在庄上住。

to be generous in aiding the needy; to give money for a righteous cause


長貧難顧

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰɐn²¹ naːn²¹ kuː³³/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰɐn²¹ naːn²¹ kuː³³/

(Cantonese) it is difficult to support a poor person in the long term


梯山航海

ㄊㄧ ㄕㄢ ㄏㄤˊ ㄏㄞˇ

тишаньханхай

/tʰi⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰi⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


雜七雜八

ㄗㄚˊ ㄑㄧ ㄗㄚˊ ㄅㄚ

/t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sä³⁵ pä⁵⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡saːp̚² paːt̚³/

/t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sä³⁵ pä⁵⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡saːp̚² paːt̚³/


自命清高

ㄗˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄠ

цзыминцингао

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² mɪŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² mɪŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

to consider oneself morally superior to others and refuse to associate with others


比肩隨踵

ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

бицзяньсуйчжун

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/


碗頭箸尾

/uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² ti²²⁻²¹ be⁵³/

/uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² ti²²⁻²¹ be⁵³/

(Xiamen Hokkien) remains of a meal; leftovers; crumbs from the table


碗頭碗尾

/uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue⁵³/

/uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻²² uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰau¹³⁻²² uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue⁵³/

(Xiamen and Zhangzhou Hokkien) remains of a meal; leftovers; crumbs from the table


殘茶剩飯

ㄘㄢˊ ㄔㄚˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄈㄢˋ

цаньчашэнфань

/t͡sʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ t͡sʰaː²¹ sɪŋ²² faːn²²/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ t͡sʰaː²¹ sɪŋ²² faːn²²/


轉彎踅角

/tŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ uan⁴⁴⁻³³ se(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kak̚³²/

/tŋ̍⁵³⁻⁴⁴ uan⁴⁴⁻³³ se(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kak̚³²/

/tŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ uan⁴⁴⁻³³ se(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kak̚³²/

/tŋ̍⁵³⁻⁴⁴ uan⁴⁴⁻³³ se(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kak̚³²/

beat around the bush
beat around the bush

(Taiwanese Hokkien, figurative) to speak in a roundabout way; to beat around the bush; to equivocate


大肆咆哮

ㄉㄚˋ ㄙˋ ㄆㄠˊ ㄒㄧㄠ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/


咆哮大怒

ㄆㄠˊ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄨˋ

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹/


以盲辨色

ㄧˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/


菩薩低眉

ㄆㄨˊ ㄙㄚˋ ㄉㄧ ㄇㄟˊ

/pʰu³⁵ sä⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/

/pʰu³⁵ sä⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/


片甲不還

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄞˊ

пяньцзябухай

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xaɪ̯³⁵/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xaɪ̯³⁵/

片甲不留 片甲不留#Chinese


片甲不存

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

пяньцзябуцунь

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ kaːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ kaːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

片甲不留 片甲不留#Chinese


片甲無存

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄨˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ

пяньцзяуцунь

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵/

片甲不留 片甲不留#Chinese


盲人說象

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

манжэнь шо сян

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

盲人摸象 盲人摸象#Chinese


眾盲摸象

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄇㄤˊ ㄇㄛ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

чжунманмосян

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ mɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ maːŋ²¹ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ mɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ maːŋ²¹ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

盲人摸象 盲人摸象#Chinese


斷袖分桃

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄈㄣ ㄊㄠˊ

дуаньсю фэньтао

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/


咆哮如雷

ㄆㄠˊ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ

паосяо жу лэй

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹/


一佛出世，二佛生天

ㄧ ㄈㄛˊ ㄔㄨ ㄕˋ ㄦˋ ㄈㄛˊ ㄕㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ

yī fó chūshì èr fó shēng tiān tiān [Phonetic:yì fó chūshì èr fó shēng tiān tiān]

i¹ fo² chʻu¹-shih⁴ êrh⁴ fo² shêng¹ tʻien¹ tʻien¹

и фо чуши эр фо шэн тянь тянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

[Phonetic: yì fó chūshì èr fó shēng tiān tiān]

一佛出世，二佛涅槃 一佛出世，二佛涅槃#Chinese

Synonym of 一佛出世，二佛涅槃 (yīfóchūshì, èrfónièpán)


桃灼呈祥

the brilliance of peaches presents auspiciousness

ㄊㄠˊ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˊ

таочжочэнсян

/tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

a congratulatory phrase for the marriage of someone's daughter


獨領風騷

ㄉㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄥˇ ㄈㄥ ㄙㄠ

/tu³⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² lɪŋ¹³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

/tu³⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² lɪŋ¹³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

to be outstanding and peerless (in a particular area)


東瓜茄子

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄑㄧㄝˊ ˙ㄗ

дунгуа цецзы

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³/


恣意妄為

ㄗˋ ㄧˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jiː³³ mɔːŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jiː³³ mɔːŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

to act recklessly or arbitrarily without restraint


行色匆匆

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄘㄨㄥ ㄘㄨㄥ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐŋ²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐŋ²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

to look hurried when walking or departing


斯文敗類

ㄙ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄌㄟˋ

сывэньбайлэй

/sz̩⁵⁵ wən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ paːi̯²² lɵy̯²²/

/sz̩⁵⁵ wən³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ mɐn²¹ paːi̯²² lɵy̯²²/

cultured person who behaves in a disgraceful manner


旺丁唔旺財

/wɔːŋ²² tɪŋ⁵⁵ m̩²¹ wɔːŋ²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/wɔːŋ²² tɪŋ⁵⁵ m̩²¹ wɔːŋ²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

(Cantonese, of businesses) to be popular with people visiting but not sales


驗明正身

ㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄕㄣ

яньминчжэншэнь

/jɛn⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jiːm²² mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɛːŋ³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/jɛn⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jiːm²² mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɛːŋ³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

It is now ordered that your Court is to execute the condemned XXX after his/her identity and crimes are identified, and to interrogate whether there are any last words and letters within 7 days after this Order is issued. The result of the execution is to be reported to this Court.

Xiàn mìnglìng nǐ yuàn zì jiēdào zhíxíng sǐxíng mìnglìng zhī rì qǐ qī rì yǐnèi, jiāng zuìfàn × × × yànmíngzhèngshēn, héduì fànzuì shìshí wúwù, xùnwèn yǒuwú yíyán, xìnzhá zhīhòu, jiāofù zhíxíng sǐxíng, bìng jiāng zhíxíng sǐxíng qíngkuàng bàogào běn yuàn.

現命令你院自接到執行死刑命令之日起七日以內，將罪犯×××驗明正身，核對犯罪事實無誤，訊問有無遺言、信札之後，交付執行死刑，並將執行死刑情况報告本院。

现命令你院自接到执行死刑命令之日起七日以内，将罪犯×××验明正身，核对犯罪事实无误，讯问有无遗言、信札之后，交付执行死刑，并将执行死刑情况报告本院。


三拳兩腳

ㄙㄢ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

саньцюаньлянцзяо

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


丟那媽

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː³³ maː⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː¹³ maː⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː³³ maː⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ naː¹³ maː⁵⁵/

(Cantonese, vulgar) Alternative form of 屌那媽／屌那妈 (“fuck; fuck you”)

1933 茅盾 (Mao Dun), 《子夜》 (Midnight: A Romance of China, 1930)

“diūnàmā! Nà yītiān hěn bùqiǎo, xú màn lì lài zài wǒ nàlǐ hái méi zǒu, nà qié ménrén jiù lái le. "

“丟那媽！那一天很不巧，徐曼麗賴在我那里还没走，那茄門人就來了。"

“丢那妈！那一天很不巧，徐曼丽赖在我那里还没走，那茄门人就来了。"

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 丟／丢 (diū), 那, 媽／妈 (mā)


盡收眼底

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄡ ㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄧˇ

цзиньшоуяньди

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(of scenery etc.) to be all in sight; to take in the whole view


垂垂老矣

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄠˇ ㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


武則天守寡——失去理智

ㄨˇ ㄗㄜˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

ㄕ ㄑㄩˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓˋ

У Цзэтянь шоугуа

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

Wu Zetian's husband was Emperor Gaozong of Tang, whose real name was 李治 (Lǐ Zhì) and is now homophonous to 理智 (lǐzhì) in Mandarin.

When Wu Zetian became a widow - she had lost Li Zhi (her mind)