到喉唔到肺

/tou̯³³ hɐu̯²¹ m̩²¹ tou̯³³ fɐi̯³³/

/tou̯³³ hɐu̯²¹ m̩²¹ tou̯³³ fɐi̯³³/


宵衣旰食

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄧ ㄍㄢˋ ㄕˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ kän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ kɔːn³³ sɪk̚²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ kän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ kɔːn³³ sɪk̚²/


芸芸眾生

ㄩㄣˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄥ

юньюньчжуншэн

/yn³⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/yn³⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

(specifically) all mortals; the people; the masses; mankind


日上三竿

日曬三杆
日高三丈
日出三竿
三竿日上

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

ㄖˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄢ

жишансаньгань

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³ saːm⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵/


細思極恐

ㄒㄧˋ ㄙ ㄐㄧˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

/ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

細思恐極 細思恐極#Chinese

细思恐极 细思恐极#Chinese

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


精蟲上腦

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄋㄠˇ

цзинчуншаннао

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ¹³ nou̯¹³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sœːŋ¹³ nou̯¹³/

(of a man) to lose the ability to think rationally when driven by sexual impulse


等閒之輩

ㄉㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄅㄟˋ

дэнсяньчжибэй

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ³⁵ haːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːi̯³³/

/tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ³⁵ haːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːi̯³³/


你妹的

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯⁵¹ d̥ə¹/


黯然神傷

ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄕㄤ

аньжаньшэньшан

anʹžanʹšɛnʹšan

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʂən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɐm³⁵ jiːn²¹ sɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/


無往不利

ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹/

/bu¹³⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/

/bu²³⁻³³ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹/

/bu¹³⁻²² ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ li²²/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/

/bu²³⁻³³ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³/


無念無想

ㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/u³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ niːm²² mou̯²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ niːm²² mou̯²¹ sœːŋ³⁵/

(originally Buddhism) to be free from all distracting thoughts; to be in a frame of mind void of all thoughts and ideas


左右逢源

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄩㄢˊ

цзоюфэнъюань

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯²² fʊŋ²¹ jyːn²¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯²² fʊŋ²¹ jyːn²¹/

Mencius said, "The superior man makes his advances in what he is learning with deep earnestness and by the proper course, wishing to get hold of it as in himself. Having got hold of it in himself, he abides in it calmly and firmly. Abiding in it calmly and firmly, he reposes a deep reliance on it. Reposing a deep reliance on it, he seizes it on the left and right, meeting everywhere with it as a fountain from which things flow. It is on this account that the superior man wishes to get hold of what he is learning as in himself."

Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Jūnzǐ shēnzào zhī yǐ dào, yù qí zì dé zhī yě. Zì dé zhī, zé jū zhī ān; jū zhī ān, zé zī zhī shēn; zī zhī shēn, zé qǔ zhī zuǒyòu féng qí yuán, gù jūnzǐ yù qí zì dé zhī yě.”

孟子曰：「君子深造之以道，欲其自得之也。自得之，則居之安；居之安，則資之深；資之深，則取之左右逢其原，故君子欲其自得之也。」

孟子曰：「君子深造之以道，欲其自得之也。自得之，则居之安；居之安，则资之深；资之深，则取之左右逢其原，故君子欲其自得之也。」

(figurative) to be able to achieve success one way or another; to have everything going one's way

butter one's bread on both sides
butter one's bread on both sides

(figurative) to butter one's bread on both sides; to be tactful and win advantage from both sides


沽名釣譽

ㄍㄨ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˋ

/ku⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tiːu̯³³ jyː²²/

/ku²⁴ mi̯aŋ¹¹ ti̯au̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ tiːu̯³³ jyː²²/

/ku²⁴ mi̯aŋ¹¹ ti̯au̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

to angle for fame; to fish for compliments


鴻雁傳書

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

хунъяньчуаньшу

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/


討回公道

ㄊㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄠˋ

таохуэйгундао

/tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²²/

/tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯³⁵ wuːi̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²²/


引火燒身

ㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄠ ㄕㄣ

иньхошаошэнь

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɐn¹³ fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɐn¹³ fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

(figurative) to play with fire and bring trouble to oneself; to invite trouble

(figurative) to volunteer one's own shortcomings and errors to encourage criticism from others


執迷不悟

ㄓˊ ㄇㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ mi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/t͡sɐp̚⁵ mɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚⁵⁻²⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁵ be¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ mi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ u⁵¹/

/t͡sɐp̚⁵ mɐi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚⁵⁻²⁴ be²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁵ be¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ŋɔ̃²²/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

/t͡sip̚³²⁻⁴ be²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ŋɔ̃³³/

to wilfully persist in going about things the wrong way; to refuse to realise one's error


不可磨滅

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄇㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄝˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mɔː²¹ miːt̚²/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ bua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mɔː²¹ miːt̚²/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵²⁻³⁵ bua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴/

不可磨滅的印象

不可磨灭的印象

不可磨滅的貢獻

不可磨灭的贡献


與日俱增

ㄩˇ ㄖˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄗㄥ

юйжицзюйцзэн

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː¹³ jɐt̚² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡sɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː¹³ jɐt̚² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to grow with each passing day; to increase steadily


有完沒完

ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄨㄢˊ

ю вань мэй вань

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ wän³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ wän³⁵/

(colloquial) Is there an end to this? Have you had enough?


突飛猛進

ㄊㄨ ㄈㄟ ㄇㄥˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ㄊㄨˊ ㄈㄟ ㄇㄥˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

туфэймэнцзинь

/tʰu⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰu³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tɐt̚² fei̯⁵⁵ maːŋ¹³ t͡sɵn³³/

/tʰu⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰu³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tɐt̚² fei̯⁵⁵ maːŋ¹³ t͡sɵn³³/

The socialist system has promoted the rapid development of the productive forces of our country, a fact even our enemies abroad have had to acknowledge.

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

Shèhuì zhǔyì zhìdù cùjìn le wǒguó shēngchǎnlì de tūfēiměngjìn de fāzhǎn, zhè yī diǎn, shènzhì lián guówài de dírén yě bùnéngbù chéngrèn le.

社會主義制度促進了我國生產力的突飛猛進的發展，這一點，甚至連國外的敵人也不能不承認了。

社会主义制度促进了我国生产力的突飞猛进的发展，这一点，甚至连国外的敌人也不能不承认了。


忍無可忍

ㄖㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄖㄣˇ

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn³⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ jɐn³⁵/

/d͡zim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ d͡zim⁵³/

/zim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zim⁴¹/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn³⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ jɐn³⁵/

/d͡zim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ d͡zim⁵³/

/zim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zim⁴¹/

to reach the limit of one's patience; to be unable to bear any more


耐人尋味

ㄋㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄨㄟˋ

найжэньсюньвэй

/naɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹ mei̯²²/

/nãi²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴⁻²² sim²⁴⁻²² bi²²/

/nãi³³⁻²¹ zin²³⁻³³ sim²³⁻³³ bi³³/

/naɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/nɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹ mei̯²²/

/nãi²²⁻²¹ lin²⁴⁻²² sim²⁴⁻²² bi²²/

/nãi³³⁻²¹ zin²³⁻³³ sim²³⁻³³ bi³³/

to be thought-provoking; to provide food for thought


一筆一畫

ㄧ ㄅㄧˇ ㄧ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ waːk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ waːk̚²/


雷聲大雨點小

ㄌㄟˊ ㄕㄥ ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

léishēng dà yǔdiǎn xiǎo [Phonetic:léishēngdàyúdiánxiǎo]

лэйшэн да юйдянь сяо

/leɪ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jyː¹³ tiːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

Tā měicì dōu shuō yào rúhé gǎishàn yuángōng de fúlì, què zǒngshì léishēngdàyǔdiǎnxiǎo.

他每次都說要如何改善員工的福利，卻總是雷聲大雨點小。

他每次都说要如何改善员工的福利，却总是雷声大雨点小。

The Plum in the Golden Vase, circa 1610 CE

Nǐ jì bù gàn shàng, zuórì nà děng léishēngdàyǔdiǎnxiǎo, yào dǎ zhù jiào tā shàngdiào.

你既不幹上，昨日那等雷聲大雨點小，要打著教他上吊。

你既不干上，昨日那等雷声大雨点小，要打著教他上吊。

雷聲大，雨點小 雷聲大，雨點小#Chinese

雷声大，雨点小 雷声大，雨点小#Chinese

Alternative form of 雷聲大，雨點小／雷声大，雨点小 (léishēng dà, yǔdiǎn xiǎo, “much said but little done”)


鴻雁哀鳴

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˋ ㄞ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

хунъяньаймин

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

(of disaster victims) living a miserable life of vagrancy


相安無事

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ siː²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² su²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ siː²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² su²²/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/

/siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ su³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ an⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ su³³/


好看無好食

/ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ bo²⁴⁻²² ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siaʔ⁴/

/ho⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰuã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² ho⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siaʔ²⁴/

/ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ bo¹³⁻²² ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siaʔ¹²¹/

/ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰuã¹¹⁻⁵³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siaʔ⁴/

/hɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰuã²¹⁻⁴¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ hɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siaʔ⁴/

(Hokkien) superficially excellent but actually worthless (useless, etc.)


紅白大事

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄞˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ

/xʊŋ³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ paːk̚² taːi̯²² siː²²/

/xʊŋ³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ paːk̚² taːi̯²² siː²²/

Red (紅事): weddings; white (白事): funerals.

matters related to weddings and funerals


全劇終

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄓㄨㄥ

цюаньцзюйчжун

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʰɛːk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʰɛːk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

the end (used at the end of a play, film, etc.)


你大爺的

ㄋㄧˇ ㄉㄚˋ ˙ㄧㄝ ˙ㄉㄜ

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɛ¹ d̥ə¹/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɛ¹ d̥ə¹/

去你大爺的！

去你大爷的！


花天酒地

flowers in the sky, alcohol on the ground

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄧˋ

хуатяньцзюди

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tei̯²²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tei̯²²/

(figurative) to indulge in sensual pleasures; to spend one's time in drinking and pleasure; life of debauchery


好聚好散

ㄏㄠˇ ㄐㄩˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄙㄢˋ

хаоцзюйхаосань

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² hou̯³⁵ saːn³³/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² hou̯³⁵ saːn³³/

Those who got together happily should also break up happily. / to part without hard feelings


魚龍混雜

fish (bad) and dragon (good) mixed together

ㄩˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄗㄚˊ

юйлунхуньцза

/y³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lʊŋ²¹ wɐn²² t͡saːp̚²/

/y³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lʊŋ²¹ wɐn²² t͡saːp̚²/

good and bad things or people being mixed together indiscriminately


花枝招展

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓ ㄓㄠ ㄓㄢˇ

хуачжичжаочжань

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːn³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːn³⁵/

(typically of a woman) gorgeously dressed; all dolled up; seductively dressed


畫餅充飢

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄧㄥˇ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄐㄧ

хуабинчунцзи

/xu̯ä⁵¹ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² pɛːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² pɛːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

Quoted from Cao Rui, from the Records of the Three Kingdoms

At that time the Emperor of Wei was hiring the Central Secretary. He issued an edict to Lu Yu: “Whether we can hire the person depends on you. Please do not pick those who only have fame [but without talent]. Fame is just like a flatbread drawn on the ground, you cannot eat it.”

Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE

Shí jǔ zhōngshūláng, zhào yuē: “Dé qí rén yǔ fǒu, zài Lúshēng ěr. Xuǎnjǔ mò qǔ yǒumíng, míng rú huàdì zuò bǐng, bùkě dàn yě.”

時舉中書郎，詔曰：「得其人與否，在盧生耳。選舉莫取有名，名如畫地作餅，不可啖也。」

时举中书郎，诏曰：「得其人与否，在卢生耳。选举莫取有名，名如画地作饼，不可啖也。」

to draw a flatbread to allay one's hunger

(figurative) to feed on illusions; (of something attractive-looking) to be of no actual use; like a pie in the sky

Cao Rui
Records of the Three Kingdoms
zh:盧毓


好來好去

ㄏㄠˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄑㄩˋ

хаолайхаоцюй

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ lɐi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/hou̯³⁵ lei̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/hou̯³⁵ lɐi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/hou̯³⁵ lei̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³/

(now chiefly Cantonese) to begin well and end well


脈脈含情

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ xän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mɐk̚² mɐk̚²/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ xän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mɐk̚² mɐk̚²/

含情脈脈 含情脈脈#Chinese

含情脉脉 含情脉脉#Chinese

Alternative form of 含情脈脈／含情脉脉 (hánqíngmòmò)


可遇不可求

ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

кэ юй букэ цю

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ jyː²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/hɔː³⁵ jyː²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

(of something good or fortunate) can only be come across serendipitously; good things may happen, but may not be sought; just have to let it happen, you can't force it


丫的

(Beijing Mandarin, vulgar) fuck; fucking


想心想肝

/siũ²² sim³³ siũ²² kuã³³/

/siũ²² sim³³ siũ²² kuã³³/

(Quanzhou Hokkien) to rack one's brains; to search everything for an answer


千秋萬代

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄞˋ

цяньцюваньдай

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ maːn²² tɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ maːn²² tɔːi̯²²/

generation after generation; for generations to come


騎虎難下

ride a tiger and find it difficult to dismount

ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kʰɛː²¹ fuː³⁵ naːn²¹ haː²²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kʰɛː²¹ fuː³⁵ naːn²¹ haː²²/

(figurative) to get into a situation where both proceeding forward and backing down are difficult


呾唔聽

/tã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ m³⁵⁻¹¹ tʰĩã³³/

/tã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ m³⁵⁻¹¹ tʰĩã³³/


講唔聽

/kɔːŋ³⁵ m̩²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ m̩²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵/


拜神唔見雞

to worship the gods and lose the chicken [that was prepared for worship]

/paːi̯³³ sɐn²¹ m̩²¹ kiːn³³ kɐi̯⁵⁵/

/paːi̯³³ sɐn²¹ m̩²¹ kiːn³³ kɐi̯⁵⁵/


講不聽

ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɪŋ³³/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɪŋ³³/

/kɔːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵/


婚喪嫁娶

ㄏㄨㄣ ㄙㄤ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄩˇ

хуньсанцзяцюй

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/xu̯ən⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

marriages and funerals (generally speaking)


心力交瘁

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

синьлицзяоцуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kaːu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯²²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui¹¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kaːu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯²²/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui¹¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² kau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰui²¹/


立等可取

(the customer) stands to wait, (and the product) is available

ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄥˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄩˇ

/li⁵¹ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² tɐŋ³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/laːp̚² tɐŋ³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/lɐp̚² tɐŋ³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/laːp̚² tɐŋ³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

(of product of service) will become available after a short wait


天不假年

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

тяньбуцзянянь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ niːn²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ niːn²¹/


性命攸關

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ

синминъюгуань

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ mɪŋ²² jɐu̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵/


左耳入，右耳出

zuǒ'ěr rù, yòu'ěr chū [Phonetic:zuóěrrù,yòuěrchū]

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ jiː¹³ jɐp̚² jɐu̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

go in one ear and out the other
go in one ear and out the other

(chiefly Cantonese) to go in one ear and out the other


芝麻開門

ㄓ ˙ㄇㄚ ㄎㄞ ㄇㄣˊ

чжима каймэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä² kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ maː²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä² kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ maː²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹/


三天兩頭

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄊㄡˊ

саньтяньлянтоу

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄊㄡˊㄦ

саньтяньлянтоур

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

every two or three days (something bad happens); almost everyday


日行一善

ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄧ ㄕㄢˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːn²²/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² hɐŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːn²²/

to do a good deed every day; to do a good turn daily


善解人意

ㄕㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

шаньцзежэньи

/ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/siːn²² kaːi̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/

/ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/siːn²² kaːi̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/


與時俱進

ㄩˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

юйшицзюйцзинь

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ siː²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ siː²¹ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³/

to move with the times; to keep abreast of current developments


大魚大肉

ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄖㄡˋ

/tä⁵¹ y³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː²¹ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/

/tä⁵¹ y³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː²¹ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/

dish with generous amounts of meat and fish; lavish meal


與生俱來

ㄩˇ ㄕㄥ ㄐㄩˋ ㄌㄞˊ

юйшэнцзюйлай

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ ku⁴¹⁻²² lai²⁴/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai¹³/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻²¹ lai²³/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɪŋ³³ ku⁴¹⁻²² lai²⁴/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ku²²⁻²¹ lai¹³/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻¹¹ lai²⁴/

/i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ku³³⁻²¹ lai²³/

existing since birth; innate; inborn; inherent


與虎謀皮

ㄩˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄇㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ moʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/jyː¹³ fuː³⁵ mɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

/y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ moʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/jyː¹³ fuː³⁵ mɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

Originally 與狐謀皮／与狐谋皮 (yǔhúmóupí, “to ask a fox for its skin”). See the entry for details.
狐 (hú, “fox”) was replaced with 虎 (“tiger”) because the two characters have similar pronunciation. In addition, tiger is a fierce animal, making this form reflecting the meaning more.

zh-l

to request others (usually bad people) for something against their interests (which is impossible)


鰥寡孤獨

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄨˊ

гуаньгуагуду

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

There were the old and wifeless, or widowers; the old and husbandless, or widows; the old and childless, or solitaries; the young and fatherless, or orphans

Lǎo ér wú qī yuē guān, lǎo ér wú fū yuē guǎ, lǎo ér wú zǐ yuē dú, yòu ér wú fù yuē gū.

老而無妻曰鰥，老而無夫曰寡，老而無子曰獨，幼而無父曰孤。

老而无妻曰鳏，老而无夫曰寡，老而无子曰独，幼而无父曰孤。


與人為善

ㄩˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄢˋ

юйжэньвэйшань

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ siːn²²/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ siːn²²/

(literary) to do good with others; to help people practise virtue

to be kind to others; to do good to others


RBQ

(neologism, Internet slang) Alternative form of 惹不起 (rěbùqǐ)


許許多多

ㄒㄩˇ ㄒㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄛ

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵/

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵/

Life presents us with many opportunities — as well as many times to be timid, hesitate or withdraw.

Shēnghuó zhōng yǒu xǔxǔduōduō de jīyù, yě yǒu xǔxǔduōduō de dǎnqiè, chíyí hé tuìsuō.

生活中有許許多多的機遇，也有許許多多的膽怯、遲疑和退縮。

生活中有许许多多的机遇，也有许许多多的胆怯、迟疑和退缩。


多事之秋

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄡ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/


一言一行

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

every word and action; words and deeds; what one says and does


一言難盡

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ияньнаньцзинь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ naːn²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/iɪʔ³³ ɦi⁴⁴ ne²² ʑin⁴⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ naːn²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/iɪʔ³³ ɦi⁴⁴ ne²² ʑin⁴⁴/

(of complicated matters) to be hard to explain in a few words; there is a lot to say; it's a long story


一言兩句

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄩˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ kɵy̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ kɵy̯³³/


一字一板

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ paːn³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ paːn³⁵/


一言半語

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄩˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ jyː¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ jyː¹³/


一言一語

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/


暢所欲言

ㄔㄤˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩˋ ㄧㄢˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚² jiːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ jʊk̚² jiːn²¹/

The forum gave everyone an opportunity to express their opinions and speak freely.

Lùntán gěi le dàjiā yīge gèshūjǐjiàn, chàngsuǒyùyán de jīhuì.

論壇給了大家一個各抒己見、暢所欲言的機會。

论坛给了大家一个各抒己见、畅所欲言的机会。

to speak freely; to say freely what one wants to say


各執己見

ㄍㄜˋ ㄓˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

гэчжицзицзянь

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/


各抒己見

ㄍㄜˋ ㄕㄨ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

гэшуцзицзянь

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ syː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

論壇給了大家一個各抒己見、暢所欲言的機會。

论坛给了大家一个各抒己见、畅所欲言的机会。


各行其是

ㄍㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˋ

/kɤ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ hɐŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² si²²/

/kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² si⁴¹/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ hiɪŋ¹³⁻²² ki¹³⁻²² si²²/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ si³³/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ si³³/

/kɤ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ hɐŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² si²²/

/kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² si⁴¹/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ hiɪŋ¹³⁻²² ki¹³⁻²² si²²/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ si³³/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ hiɪŋ²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ si³³/

each acting what they think is right; each going their own way


一言立信

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lɐp̚² sɵn³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ laːp̚² sɵn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ lɐp̚² sɵn³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ laːp̚² sɵn³³/

to establish one's reputation with a single word (statement)


一字一句

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³³/

一字一句地說

一字一句地说


望洋興嘆

ㄨㄤˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ

ванъянсинтань

/wɑŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jœːŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jœːŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

Then he began to turn his face round, looked across the expanse, as if he were confronting Ruo, and said with a sigh.

Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Yúshì yān Hébó shǐ xuán qí miànmù, wàngyáng xiàng Ruò ér tàn.

於是焉河伯始旋其面目，望洋向若而歎。

于是焉河伯始旋其面目，望洋向若而叹。

to lament one's littleness in face of something vast and great; to feel powerless in face of a great task


鶯歌燕舞

ㄧㄥ ㄍㄜ ㄧㄢˋ ㄨˇ

/iŋ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɐŋ⁵⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ jiːn³³ mou̯¹³/

/iŋ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɐŋ⁵⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ jiːn³³ mou̯¹³/


眾口一詞

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄧ ㄘˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ hɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ hɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/


一言半句

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ

ияньбаньцзюй

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ kɵy̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ puːn³³ kɵy̯³³/

一言半語 一言半語#Chinese

一言半语 一言半语#Chinese

Synonym of 一言半語／一言半语 (yīyánbànyǔ, “a few words”)


眾說紛紜

众说纷纭
衆說紛紜
眾説紛紜

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄈㄣ ㄩㄣˊ

чжуншофэньюнь

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ syːt̚³ fɐn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ syːt̚³ fɐn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/


直言不諱

ㄓˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

чжияньбухуэй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

call a spade a spade
call a spade a spade

to call a spade a spade; to speak without reservation; not to mince one's words


無濟於事

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄩˊ ㄕˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ jyː⁵⁵ siː²²/

to no avail; of no use; does not help the matter


一言僨事

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄣˋ ㄕˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn¹³ siː²²/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn³³ siː²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn¹³ siː²²/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ fɐn³³ siː²²/

From the loving example of one family a whole state becomes loving, and from its courtesies the whole state becomes courteous while, from the ambition and perverseness of the One man, the whole state may be led to rebellious disorder; – such is the nature of the influence. This verifies the saying, "Affairs may be ruined by a single sentence; a kingdom may be settled by its One man."

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Yījiā rén, yīguó xīng rén; yījiā ràng, yīguó xīng ràng; yīrén tānlì, yīguó zuòluàn. Qí jī rúcǐ. Cǐ wèi yīyán fèn shì, yīrén dìng guó.

一家仁，一國興仁；一家讓，一國興讓；一人貪戾，一國作亂。其機如此。此謂一言僨事，一人定國。

一家仁，一国兴仁；一家让，一国兴让；一人贪戾，一国作乱。其机如此。此谓一言偾事，一人定国。


不要不要的

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄠˋ ˙ㄉㄜ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

帥得不要不要的

帅得不要不要的

(neologism, slang) An adjectival complement emphasising a heightened or extreme degree of a quality.


莫衷一是

ㄇㄛˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧ ㄕˋ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ si²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ si³³/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ si²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ si³³/

cannot decide which is right; unable to reach a unanimous conclusion


圖樣圖森破

ㄊㄨˊ ㄧㄤˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙㄣ ㄆㄛˋ

туянтусэньпо

/tʰu³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ sən⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tʰu³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ sən⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

From English too young, too simple, used by Chinese Communist Party former general secretary Jiang Zemin to scold Hong Kong journalists in a now-(in)famous interview.

(Mainland China, neologism, slang, humorous) “too young, too simple, sometimes naive” (used to criticise someone foolish or imprudent, caused by a lack of social experiences)


情不自禁

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цинбуцзыцзинь

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² kɐm³³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡su²²⁻²¹ kim²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² kɐm³³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡su²²⁻²¹ kim²¹/

我情不自禁地哭了起來。

我情不自禁地哭了起来。

cannot hold back one's emotion; can't help


深信不疑

ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˊ

/ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɵn³³ pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹/

I firmly believe in / have no doubt about what that person says.

我對那人說的話深信不疑。

我对那人说的话深信不疑。


情有可原

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ jyːn²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan¹³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ jyːn²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰo⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan¹³/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡuan²³/


無所不在

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (無所不在):
* → Korean: 무소부재(無所不在) (musobujae)

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

ubiquitous; omnipresent; to be everywhere


打情罵俏

ㄉㄚˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄠˋ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ maː²² t͡sʰiːu̯³³/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ maː²² t͡sʰiːu̯³³/

to exchange flirtatious banter with each other; to flirt


比比皆是

ㄅㄧˇ ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄕˋ

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pei̯³³ pei̯³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pei̯³⁵ pei̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kai³³ si⁴¹/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/

/pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pei̯³³ pei̯³³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pei̯³⁵ pei̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kai³³ si⁴¹/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² si²²/

/pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/

/pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ si³³/


謹小慎微

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄣˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄣˋ ㄨㄟˊ

цзиньсяошэньвэй

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐn³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɐn²² mei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐn³⁵ siːu̯³⁵ sɐn²² mei̯²¹/


一夜成名

ㄧ ㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɛː²² sɪŋ²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɛː²² sɪŋ²¹ mɪŋ²¹/


聲名鵲起

ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄑㄧˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sœːk̚³ hei̯³⁵/


一舉成名

ㄧ ㄐㄩˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

(archaic) to become famous after passing an imperial examination

to become famous with one move; to become famous overnight


大權在握

ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄨㄛˋ

дацюаньцзайво

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² aːk̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² aːk̚⁵/

to have (hold) great power in one's hands; to be in a position of power


數一數二

ㄕㄨˇ ㄧ ㄕㄨˇ ㄦˋ

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/sou̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sou̯³⁵ jiː²²/

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/sou̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sou̯³⁵ jiː²²/


苦不堪言

ㄎㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄧㄢˊ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kʰam³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn¹³/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kʰam³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁵ kʰam⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn¹³/

/kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴/

/kʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kʰam⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³/


漠不關心

ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ

мобугуаньсинь

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/mɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


連篇累牘

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄌㄟˇ ㄉㄨˊ

ляньпяньлэйду

/li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵/

/liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ tʊk̚²/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵/

/liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ tʊk̚²/

(of a piece of writing) lengthy; tedious; verbose


油然而生

ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄕㄥ

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

(of a thought, feeling, emotion, etc.) to arise spontaneously


如日中天

ㄖㄨˊ ㄖˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

жужичжунтянь

/ʐu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɐt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/zu²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɐt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/zu²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

at the height of prosperity or power; at its zenith


如喪考妣

ㄖㄨˊ ㄙㄤˋ ㄎㄠˇ ㄅㄧˇ

/ʐu³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹ kʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ sɔːŋ³³ haːu̯³⁵ pei̯³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹ kʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ sɔːŋ³³ haːu̯³⁵ pei̯³⁵/

After twenty-eight years the Di deceased, when the people mourned for him as for a parent for three years. Within the four seas all the eight kinds of instruments of music were stopped and hushed.

The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Shí yǒu bā zǎi, Dì nǎi cúluò. Bǎixìng rú sàng kǎobǐ, sān zǎi, sìhǎi è mì bāyīn.

十有八載，帝乃殂落。百姓如喪考妣，三載，四海遏密八音。

十有八载，帝乃殂落。百姓如丧考妣，三载，四海遏密八音。

宋．司馬光《涑水記聞》卷六

Bìxià bùxìng Běichéng, Běichéng bǎixìng rúsàngkǎobǐ.

陛下不幸北城，北城百姓如喪考妣。

宋．司馬光《涑水記聞》卷六

陛下不幸北城，北城百姓如丧考妣。

(now derogatory) grieved or anxious as if one had lost one's parents

《五燈會元．卷一九．何山守珣禪師》

Yuē: ‘Cǐ shēng ruò bù chè qù, shì bù zhǎn cǐ.’ Yúshì zhòu zuò xiāo lì, rúsàngkǎobǐ.

曰：『此生若不徹去，誓不展此。』於是晝坐宵立，如喪考妣。

《五燈會元．卷一九．何山守珣禪師》

曰：『此生若不彻去，誓不展此。』于是昼坐宵立，如丧考妣。


白兔赤烏

ㄅㄞˊ ㄊㄨˋ ㄔˋ ㄨ

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ u⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² tʰou̯³³ t͡sʰɛːk̚⁵ wuː⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ u⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² tʰou̯³³ t͡sʰɛːk̚⁵ wuː⁵⁵/

(literary, figuratively) passing of time


註孤生

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

Short for 註定孤獨一生／注定孤独一生 (zhùdìng gūdú yīshēng, “doomed to a lonely life”), translation of the English “forever alone” meme.

zh-etym-short

(neologism, Internet slang) forever alone


隨遇而安

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄩˋ ㄦˊ ㄢ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jyː²² jiː²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jyː²² jiː²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

to feel at home wherever one is; to accept the circumstances with good will


視若無睹

ㄕˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː²² jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

/si²²⁻²¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² bu²⁴⁻²² tɔ⁵³/

/si³³⁻²¹ ziɔk̚⁴⁻³² bɤ²³⁻³³ tɔ⁴¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː²² jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

/si²²⁻²¹ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² bu²⁴⁻²² tɔ⁵³/

/si³³⁻²¹ ziɔk̚⁴⁻³² bɤ²³⁻³³ tɔ⁴¹/


拽得跟二五八萬一樣

to be arrogant like 2, 5, and 8 characters (in mahjong)

ㄓㄨㄞˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄣ ㄦˋ ㄨˇ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄧ ㄧㄤˋ

zhuǎi de gēn èr wǔ bā wàn yīyàng [Phonetic:zhuǎi de gēn èr wǔ bā wàn yíyàng]

chuai³ tê⁵ kên¹ êrh⁴ wu³ pa¹ wan⁴ i¹-yang⁴

чжуай дэ гэнь эр у ба вань иян

/ʈ͡ʂu̯aɪ̯²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ kən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

[Phonetic: zhuǎi de gēn èr wǔ bā wàn yíyàng]

Intensified form of 拽 (zhuǎi, “arrogant”).


拽得跟二五八萬似的

ㄓㄨㄞˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄣ ㄦˋ ㄨˇ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ ˙ㄉㄜ

ㄓㄨㄞˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄣ ㄦˋ ㄨˇ ㄅㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˋ ˙ㄉㄜ

chuai³ tê⁵ kên¹ êrh⁴ wu³ pa¹ wan⁴ shih⁴-tê⁵

чжуай дэ гэнь эр у ба вань шидэ

/ʈ͡ʂu̯aɪ̯²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ kən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ d̥ə¹/

chuai³ tê⁵ kên¹ êrh⁴ wu³ pa¹ wan⁴ ssŭ⁴-tê⁵

чжуай дэ гэнь эр у ба вань сыдэ

/ʈ͡ʂu̯aɪ̯²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ kən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ d̥ə¹/


生不如死

ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄙˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵/

would rather be dead than alive; living hell


海不揚波

ㄏㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄛ

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ pɔː⁵⁵/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ pɔː⁵⁵/

calm and tranquil; peaceful and carefree


係噉先

/hɐi̯²² kɐm³⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

/hɐi̯²² kɐm³⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) Used at the beginning of parting phrases to end a conversation.


家傳戶曉

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

цзячуаньхусяо

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ xu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

known to every household; ubiquitously known; widespread; extremely well-known


卑鄙無恥

ㄅㄟ ㄅㄧˇ ㄨˊ ㄔˇ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


卑鄙齷齪

ㄅㄟ ㄅㄧˇ ㄨㄛˋ ㄔㄨㄛˋ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵ ɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵ ɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/


自彈自唱

ㄗˋ ㄊㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄔㄤˋ

цзытаньцзычан

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² tʰaːn²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰœːŋ³³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² tʰaːn²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰœːŋ³³/

to sing and accompany oneself on an instrument

(figurative, derogatory) to orchestrate everything on one's own; to control the scene


自娛自樂

ㄗˋ ㄩˊ ㄗˋ ㄌㄜˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jyː²¹ t͡siː²² lɔːk̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jyː²¹ t͡siː²² lɔːk̚²/

娛樂／娱乐 (yúlè, “to entertain”) augmented with 自 (zì, “self”).

to entertain oneself; to amuse oneself; to have fun on one's own; to goof off


咬牙切齒

ㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄚˊ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄔˇ

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋaːu̯¹³ ŋaː²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/ka³⁵⁻¹¹ ɡe⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiak̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵²⁻²¹/

/ŋaːu̯¹³ ŋaː²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/ka³⁵⁻¹¹ ɡe⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiak̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵²⁻²¹/


天理難容

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

тяньлинаньжун

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ naːn²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ naːn²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

This guy not becoming famous in the future, is something intolerable by the course of nature. (rhyming slang, humorous)

此人不紅，天理難容！

此人不红，天理难容！

providence would not forgive (something); Heaven will not tolerate (if something happens or does not happen)


血流漂杵

enough blood flowing to float wooden clubs

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄔㄨˇ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄔㄨˇ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄔㄨˇ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

rivers of blood (on the battlefield); blood bath


深山窮谷

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄢ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄍㄨˇ

шэньшаньцюнгу

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ kʊk̚⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ kʊk̚⁵/


深山幽谷

ㄕㄣ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨˇ

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊk̚⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊk̚⁵/


下喬木入幽谷

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄠˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨˇ

ся цяому жу югу

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/haː²² kʰiːu̯²¹ mʊk̚² jɐp̚² jɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊk̚⁵/

to forsake light for darkness; to go from a good situation into a bad one


無親無故

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kuː³³/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kuː³³/


情何以堪

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧˇ ㄎㄢ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ jiː¹³ hɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɔː²¹ jiː¹³ hɐm⁵⁵/

How did you expect me to take it? / Did you think of me at all?

你讓我情何以堪？

你让我情何以堪？

how can someone stand it emotionally? how can something be endured?


人設崩塌

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄜˋ ㄅㄥ ㄊㄚ

жэньшэ бэнта

žɛnʹšɛ bɛnta

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰä⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰä⁵⁵/

(neologism, slang) to have one's good public image destroyed by something scandalous


答非所問

ㄉㄚˊ ㄈㄟ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄣˋ

/tä³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹/

/taːp̚³ fei̯⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɐn²²/

/tä³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹/

/taːp̚³ fei̯⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɐn²²/

to give an irrelevant answer to a question


雞飛蛋打

the chicken has flown the coop and the eggs are broken

ㄐㄧ ㄈㄟ ㄉㄢˋ ㄉㄚˇ

цзифэйданьда

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tän⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ taːn²²⁻³⁵ taː³⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tän⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵ taːn²²⁻³⁵ taː³⁵/

(figurative) everything is lost; a dead loss


坐地起價

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋㄦ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑɻ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² tei̯²² hei̯³⁵ kaː³³/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː²² tei̯²² hei̯³⁵ kaː³³/

to raise the price at the transaction location


耳鬢廝磨

ㄦˇ ㄅㄧㄣˋ ㄙ ㄇㄛˊ

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pin⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pɐn³³ siː⁵⁵ mɔː²¹/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pin⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pɐn³³ siː⁵⁵ mɔː²¹/

(one's) ear rubbing (the other's) hair at the temple

(of a boy and a girl) to have a close childhood relationship; (of a couple) very intimate; deeply in love


庸脂俗粉

ㄩㄥ ㄓ ㄙㄨˊ ㄈㄣˇ

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su³⁵ fən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² fɐn³⁵/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su³⁵ fən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² fɐn³⁵/

ordinary, unrefined women who adorn themselves with cheap face powder


假冒偽劣

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄇㄠˋㄦ ㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

цзямаорвэйле

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ maʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚³/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚³/

/kaː³⁵ mou̯²² ŋɐi̯²² lyːt̚²/

假冒偽劣產品

假冒伪劣产品

to crack down on counterfeit and low-quality (goods)

打擊假冒偽劣

打击假冒伪劣

fake, forged, counterfeit and poor-quality; counterfeit and shoddy (generally speaking)


丟人現眼

ㄉㄧㄡ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄢˇ

дюжэньсяньянь

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiːn²² ŋaːn¹³/

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiːn²² ŋaːn¹³/

to make a fool of oneself; to make oneself lose face


有不有

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Is there a chance for “Sea Palace” to be rebuilt elsewhere?

2011, 深圳海上皇宫被认定违建遭强拆始末(组图), Nanfang Daily

“Hǎishàng Huánggōng” yǒu bù yǒu kěnéng yìdì chóngjiàn?

「海上皇宮」有不有可能異地重建？

「海上皇宫」有不有可能异地重建？

Customised push advertising! New Facebook technology analyses “whether you are rich”

2018, http://3c.ltn.com.tw/news/32944, Liberty Times

Fāngbiàn tuīsòng guǎnggào! Liǎnshū xīn jìshù jiāng néng pànduàn nǐ “yǒu bù yǒu qián”

方便推送廣告！臉書新技術將能判斷你「有不有錢」

方便推送广告！脸书新技术将能判断你「有不有钱」

As drowning deaths happened repeatedly, are the authorities responsible? Is supervision lacking in those families? Is society not doing enough?

2018, 让“生死教训”警醒更多后来者, 天府评论

Nìwáng shìjiàn yīzài fāshēng, xiāngguān bùmén yǒu bù yǒu zérèn? Jiātíng shìfǒu quēfá jiānguǎn? Shèhuì shìfǒu zuò de bùgòu?

溺亡事件一再發生，相關部門有不有責任？家庭是否缺乏監管？社會是否做得不夠？

2018, 让“生死教训”警醒更多后来者, 天府评论

溺亡事件一再发生，相关部门有不有责任？家庭是否缺乏监管？社会是否做得不够？

(likely regional) Synonym of 有沒有／有没有 (“to have or not have”)


趨之若鶩

ㄑㄩ ㄓ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mou̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mou̯²²/

(figurative, derogatory) to go after something like a flock of ducks; to scramble for something


大跌眼鏡

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄝ ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tiːt̚³ ŋaːn¹³ kɛːŋ³³⁻³⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ tiak̚²⁻⁴ ŋaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tiːt̚³ ŋaːn¹³ kɛːŋ³³⁻³⁵/

/tai³⁵⁻¹¹ tiak̚²⁻⁴ ŋaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

Literally “to suddenly drop one's eyeglasses”; said to be in reference to earlier, loosely-fitted glasses which fell off easily.

(figurative) to have one's jaws drop (often in a bad way); to be greatly surprised or astonished; to be dumbfounded


自投羅網

ㄗˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄨㄤˇ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɔː²¹ mɔːŋ¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tʰɐu̯²¹ lɔː²¹ mɔːŋ¹³/

to hurl oneself willingly or involuntarily into the net; to walk or fall into a trap


自報家門

ㄗˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄇㄣˊ

цзыбаоцзямэнь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

ㄗˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄇㄣˊㄦ

цзыбаоцзямэньр

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ məɻ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² pou̯³³ kaː⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ məɻ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² pou̯³³ kaː⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

(theater, of an actor) to introduce their character

(figuratively) to give a self-introduction; to introduce oneself


水性楊花

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚ

шуйсинъянхуа

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³ jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³ jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵/

(of a woman) frivolous; fickle; lascivious


一腳踏兩船

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

yī jiǎo tà liǎng chuán [Phonetic:yì jiǎo tà liǎng chuán]

и цзяо та лян чуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kœːk̚³ taːp̚² lœːŋ¹³ syːn²¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kœːk̚³ taːp̚² lœːŋ¹³ syːn²¹/

First, he was fired by his company for something trivial. Then, after finding a part-time job with much difficulty, because someone complained that he kept giving back the wrong change, his boss fired him in a fury. In the end, he even broke up with his girlfriend who was living together with him for five years because of two-timing!

sin¹ si⁶ jan¹ wai⁶ jat¹ se¹ siu² si⁶ ji⁴ bei⁶ gung¹ si¹ gaai² gu³, zip³ zoek⁶ hou² bat¹ jung⁴ ji⁶ zoi⁶ bin⁶ lei⁶ dim³ zaau² dou³ fan⁶ paat¹ taai¹, git³ gwo² ging² jin⁴ jan¹ wai⁶ bei⁶ tau⁴ sou³ seng⁴ jat⁶ zaau² co³ cin⁴⁻², lou⁵ baan² jat¹ hei³ zi¹ haa⁶ baa² taa¹ ci⁴ teoi³, zeoi³ hau⁶ lin⁴ tung⁴ geoi¹ liu⁵ ng⁵ nin⁴ dik¹ neoi⁵ pang⁴ jau⁵ jik⁶ jan¹ wai⁶ jat¹ goek³ daap⁶ loeng⁵ syun⁴ ji⁴ fan¹ sau²!

先是因為一些小事而被公司解僱，接着好不容易在便利店找到份part-time，結果竟然因為被投訴成日找錯錢，老闆一氣之下把他辭退，最後連同居了五年的女朋友亦因為一腳踏兩船而分手！

先是因为一些小事而被公司解雇，接着好不容易在便利店找到份part-time，结果竟然因为被投诉成日找错钱，老板一气之下把他辞退，最后连同居了五年的女朋友亦因为一脚踏两船而分手！

to have two dates at the same time; to two-time


飲彈自盡

ㄧㄣˇ ㄉㄢˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

иньданьцзыцзинь

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐm³⁵ taːn²² t͡siː²² t͡sɵn²²/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jɐm³⁵ taːn²² t͡siː²² t͡sɵn²²/

to commit suicide by shooting oneself in the back of the throat


擦肩而過

ㄘㄚ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ kiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ kiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

to brush past (someone, opportunity, death, etc.)


小作怡情

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

Built on the existing 小酌怡情 (xiǎozhuóyíqíng, “drinking a small amount of alcohol keeps the mood light”), using the similar-sounding slang term 作 (zuō, “high-maintenance; pretentious; etc.”).

zh-l

(neologism) being “moderately high-maintenance” (i.e. affected and drama queen-like, yet coquettish) keeps the love relationship fun


同臺競技

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

тунтайцзинцзи

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɪŋ²² kei̯²²/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kɪŋ²² kei̯²²/


含辛茹苦

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄎㄨˇ

ханьсиньжуку

/xän³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐm²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰou⁵²/

/xän³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐm²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ham⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰou⁵²/

to suffer untold hardships (to bring up one's child); to endure sufferings


惱羞成怒

ㄋㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄔㄥˊ ㄋㄨˋ

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/nou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ nu⁵¹/

/nou̯¹³ sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ nou̯²²/


長幼尊卑

ㄓㄤˇ ㄧㄡˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄅㄟ

чжанъюцзуньбэй

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐu̯³³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

'A ruler has only to be careful of what he likes and dislikes. What the ruler likes, his ministers will practise; and what superiors do, their inferiors follow. This is the sentiment in the Book of Poetry (III, ii, ode 10, 6), "To lead the people is very easy." Seeing this, and after (the repose of the people was secured), the sages made hand-drums and drums, the stopper and the starter, the earthen whistle and the bamboo flute - the six instruments which produced the sounds of their virtuous airs. After these came the bell, the sounding-stone, the organ with thirty-six pipes, and the large lute, to be played in harmony with them; the shields, axes, ox-tails, and plumes, brandished by the pantomimes in time and tune. These they employed at the sacrifices in the temple of the former kings, at festivals in offering and receiving the pledge cup; in arranging the services of officers (in the temple) according to the rank due to each, as noble or mean, and in showing to future ages how they observed the order due to rank and to age.

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE

Wèi rén jūnzhě jǐn qí suǒ hǎo'è éryǐ yǐ. Jūn hǎo zhī, zé chén wèi zhī. Shàng xíng zhī, zé mín cóng zhī. Shī yún yòu mín kǒng yì, cǐ zhī wèi yě. Ránhòu, shèngrén zuòwèi 鞉, gǔ, 椌, 楬, xūn, chí, cǐ liùzhě dé yīn zhī yīn yě. Ránhòu zhōng qìng yú sè yǐ hé zhī, gān qī máo dí yǐ wǔ zhī, cǐ suǒyǐ jì xiān wáng zhī miào yě, suǒyǐ xiàn chóu yìn zuò yě, suǒyǐ guān xù guì jiàn gè dé qí yí yě, suǒyǐ shì hòushì yǒu zūnbēichángyòu zhī xù yě.

為人君者謹其所好惡而已矣。君好之，則臣為之。上行之，則民從之。詩云誘民孔易，此之謂也。然後，聖人作為鞉、鼓、椌、楬、塤、篪，此六者德音之音也。然後鐘磬竽瑟以和之，干戚旄狄以舞之，此所以祭先王之廟也，所以獻酬酳酢也，所以官序貴賤各得其宜也，所以示後世有尊卑長幼之序也。

为人君者谨其所好恶而已矣。君好之，则臣为之。上行之，则民从之。诗云诱民孔易，此之谓也。然后，圣人作为鞉、鼓、椌、楬、埙、篪，此六者德音之音也。然后钟磬竽瑟以和之，干戚旄狄以舞之，此所以祭先王之庙也，所以献酬酳酢也，所以官序贵贱各得其宜也，所以示后世有尊卑长幼之序也。

old and young, high and low; senior and junior; seniority rules


小酌怡情

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

drinking a small amount of alcohol keeps the mood light


笑不露齒

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔˇ

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ ㄔˇ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵/


滴酒不沾

ㄉㄧ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢ

дицзюбучжань

/ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

/ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɪk̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːm⁵⁵/

to never touch a drop of alcohol; to abstain from drinking; to be strictly teetotal


口不擇言

ㄎㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² jiːn²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² jiːn²¹/

to talk indiscreetly; to talk recklessly


名利雙收

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄕㄡ

минлишуаншоу

/miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/


紅蛇赤鼠

/aŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡sua²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰia(ʔ)⁵ t͡sʰi⁵⁵⁴/

(Jinjiang Hokkien) all sorts of bad things, especially people


曷知

(Taiwanese Hokkien, rhetorical question) how would [someone] know; [someone] doesn't know


法克魷

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

Phono-semantic matching of English fuck you; one of the Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures.

psm

(neologism, slang, humorous, vulgar) fuck you


凶多吉少

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕㄠˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

to be more ominous than propitious; fraught with grim possibilities


阿災

/ˀä⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ˀä⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

(Taiwan, slang) I don't know; how should I know?


褲脫我看

ㄎㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄛ ㄨㄛˇ ㄎㄢˋ

/kʰu⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹/

/kʰu⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰän⁵¹/

A humorous pseudo-chengyu condensed from:
:
: Original sense: One has read the title or seen the cover of a video and has found it containing something sexually attractive and has got excited and has prepared to masturbate. But later he/she (mainly "he") finds the video contains nothing for masturbating and thus is deceived by the title or the cover of the video, and he/she gets disappointed.

I've already taken my pants off (i.e. ready to masturbate), and you've only got this for me to see/watch?

Wǒ kùzi dōu tuō le, nǐ jiù ràng wǒ kàn zhège?

我褲子都脫了，你就讓我看這個？

我裤子都脱了，你就让我看这个？

(neologism, slang, humorous) Used to express disappointment after being deceived, such as by a clickbait title.


怎知

/t͡sən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐm³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡sən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐm³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

(rhetorical question) how would [someone] know; [someone] doesn't know


婊子立牌坊

當婊子還立牌坊
當了婊子還要立牌坊
做了婊子還要立牌坊
又要當婊子，又要立牌坊
既要當婊子，又要立牌坊
又當又立
既要做婊子，又要立牌坊

leading the life of a whore but still wanting a paifang put up to one's chastity

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ˙ㄗ ㄌㄧˋ ㄆㄞˊ ㄈㄤ

ㄅㄧㄠˇ ˙ㄗ ㄌㄧˋ ㄆㄞˊ ˙ㄈㄤ

бяоцзы ли пайфан

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ³/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ li⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ fɑŋ³/

(figurative, derogatory, low colloquial) to want to be able to do immoral things while maintaining a good name


靈丹妙藥

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄢ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄧㄠˋ

линданьмяояо

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ miːu̯²² jœːk̚²/

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ taːn⁵⁵ miːu̯²² jœːk̚²/


雙管齊下

ㄕㄨㄤ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

шуангуаньцися

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ haː²²/

/sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²³⁻³³ ha³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ ha³³/

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ haː²²/

/sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²⁴⁻²² ha²²/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡se²³⁻³³ ha³³/

/siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sue²⁴⁻¹¹ ha³³/

From the story of Tang-dynasty painter Zhang Zao (張璪), recorded in Tu hua jian wen zhi (《圖畫見聞志》), written by Guo Ruoxu (郭若虛) during the Song dynasty.

to paint a picture with two brushes at the same time

to use a two-pronged approach; to work along both lines simultaneously


大雨傾盆

ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄆㄣˊ

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹/

傾盆大雨 傾盆大雨#Chinese

倾盆大雨 倾盆大雨#Chinese

Alternative form of 傾盆大雨／倾盆大雨 (qīngpéndàyǔ)


掉以輕心

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² jiː¹³ hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰin³³ sim³³/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/tiɤ³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯²² jiː¹³ hɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰin³³ sim³³/

/tio²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴/

/tio³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

/tiɤ³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴/

to lower one's guard; to relax one's vigilance; to treat something lightly


緊鑼密鼓

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ mi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn³⁵ lɔː²¹ mɐt̚² kuː³⁵/

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ mi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐn³⁵ lɔː²¹ mɐt̚² kuː³⁵/

to carry out an intense publicity campaign


密鑼緊鼓

ㄇㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄍㄨˇ

/mi⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² lɔː²¹ kɐn³⁵ kuː³⁵/

/mi⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² lɔː²¹ kɐn³⁵ kuː³⁵/

緊鑼密鼓 緊鑼密鼓#Chinese

紧锣密鼓 紧锣密鼓#Chinese

Alternative form of 緊鑼密鼓／紧锣密鼓 (jǐnluómìgǔ)


金烏玉兔

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨ ㄩˋ ㄊㄨˋ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰou̯³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² tʰou̯³³/

(Chinese mythology) the golden crow and the jade rabbit

(literary, figuratively) sun and moon; passing of time


不知妻美

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧ ㄇㄟˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

(neologism) to not realise the beauty of one's wife (usually said of Liu Qiangdong)


熙熙攘攘

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄖㄤˇ ㄖㄤˇ

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧ ㄖㄤˊ ㄖㄤˊ

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ jœːŋ¹³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵ ʐɑŋ³⁵/

/hei̯⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ jœːŋ¹³/

From the Records of the Grand Historian.

(ideophonic) bustling with activity; hustling and bustling


累覺不愛

ㄌㄟˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄞˋ

лэйцзюэбу’ай

/leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

A pseudo-chengyu shortened from phrases similar to the one below

I am too tired and I feel like I will not love again.

太累了覺得自己不會再愛了

太累了觉得自己不会再爱了

(neologism, slang) to feel too tired to love any more


很黃很暴力

ㄏㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄣˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ

хэнь хуан хэнь баоли

/xən²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

From the script of a 2007 staged interview from China Central Television set to justify the communist regime's internet purges, uttered by Zhang Shufan, an elementary schoolgirl. It backfired as the obviously staged nature of the interview from the discrepancy between the phrase's complexity and the interviewee's age attracted widespread parody of the phrase by mainland Chinese netizens.

(chiefly Mainland China, neologism, slang) sexually explicit and violent

China Central Television
Communist Party of China
Internet censorship in China


確認過眼神

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ

цюэжэнь го яньшэнь

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵/

From a line in JJ Lin's 2008 song Zui Chi Bi (《醉赤壁》); popularized during the Spring Festival in 2018.

(neologism, slang) from what I can see in your eyes; having confirmed it from your eyes; (I) can confidently confirm that ...


還有這種操作

ㄏㄞˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄜˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄘㄠ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

ㄏㄞˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄟˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄘㄠ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

хайю чжэчжун цаоцзо

/xaɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

хайю чжэйчжун цаоцзо

/xaɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂeɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

(neologism, slang, originally gaming slang) There's this trick too? / You can even do it like this? / How is this even possible?


吃棗藥丸

ㄔ ㄗㄠˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄢˊ

чицзаояовань

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ wän³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ wän³⁵/

zh-l

遲早要完/迟早要完 (chízǎo yào wán)

(neologism, slang) to be doomed one way or another


尋花問柳

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄨㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

сюньхуавэньлю

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ faː⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ faː⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

(figurative) to visit prostitutes; to frequent brothels


尋芳問柳

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄤ ㄨㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

сюньфанвэньлю

/ɕyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²² lɐu̯¹³/


萬人空巷

ten thousand people (turning out to the event, and) alleyways are empty

ㄨㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ваньжэнькунсян

/wän⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːn²² jɐn²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

/wän⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːn²² jɐn²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

the whole town turns out to (an event); all of the people in a place have turned out to (an event)


大差不差

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄚˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹/

(originally dialectal Mandarin, now slang) roughly the same; about the same; not far off


可惱也

/kʰɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/hɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/kʰᵘɔ⁵⁵ lau⁵⁵ jiɛ⁵⁵/

/kʰɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/hɔː⁵⁵ naːu̯⁵⁵ jɛː⁵⁵/

/kʰᵘɔ⁵⁵ lau⁵⁵ jiɛ⁵⁵/

From Yongzhou (in present day Nanning) Mandarin 可惱也／可恼也. Originally used in Cantonese opera, which was originally performed in Mandarin.

可恼也
可怒也
可鬧爺
call lao ye
call now yeah
call loud yeah

1996, 先知, “暢言欄：「肺」作動”, in 嶺南人 [Lingnan Folk], number 64, page 15:

If you're really hot stuff, as the saying goes, "A man in the light does not do things in the dark", put up a big-character poster to refute them then. Why do you need to do these petty things, making me, the Free Speech Zone, look totally eccentric? It's really ridiculous.

nei⁵ jyu⁴ gwo² jau⁵ liu⁶⁻² ge³ waa⁶⁻², so² wai⁶ ming⁴ jan⁴ bat¹ zou⁶ am³ si⁶, mai⁶ zi⁶ gei² ceot¹ zoeng¹ daai⁶ zi⁶ bou³ faan² bok³ jan⁴ dei⁶ lo¹, sai² mat¹ zou⁶ maai⁴ ni¹ gam³ syu² bui³ hang⁴ wai⁴, zung⁶ jiu³ gaau² dou³ ngo⁵ coeng³ jin⁴ laan⁴ seng⁴ san¹ gwai² ng⁵ maa⁵ luk⁶ gam², zan¹ hai⁶ ko¹ naau¹ je¹.

你如果有料嘅話，所謂明人不做暗事，咪自己出張大字報反駁人哋囉，駛乜做埋呢咁鼠輩行為，仲要搞到我暢言欄成身鬼五馬六咁，真係可怒也。

你如果有料嘅话，所谓明人不做暗事，咪自己出张大字报反驳人哋啰，驶乜做埋呢咁鼠辈行为，仲要搞到我畅言栏成身鬼五马六咁，真系可怒也。

2003, 關淑芬, 皆大歡喜II [Virtues of Harmony II], episode 276, spoken by 劉錦 (阮兆祥 [Louis Yuen]):

Ridiculous! I haven't gambled yet, and you're already saying I don't have money to go home

ko¹ naau¹ je¹, ngo⁵ mei⁶ dou² cin⁴⁻² nei⁵ zau⁶ waa⁶ ngo⁵ mou⁵ cin⁴⁻² faan¹ uk¹ kei²

可惱也，我未賭錢你就話我冇錢返屋企

可恼也，我未赌钱你就话我冇钱返屋企

2010 April 22, 謝偉俊 [Paul Tse], 會議過程正式紀錄 [Official Record of Proceedings] (香港立法會 [Legislative Council of Hong Kong]), Hong Kong, page 5052:

Chairman, I have also heard the mention of "the rites and music of decorum are in tatters". I find this very annoying. Who have disrupted the establishment and order in this Council?

zyu² zik⁶, ngo⁵ jau⁶ teng¹ dou² jat¹ se¹ syut³ faat³, syut³ sam⁶ mo¹ “lai⁵ bang¹ ngok⁶ waai⁶”, ngo⁵ jing⁶ wai⁴ ze² si⁶ ko¹ naau¹ je¹, gau³ ging² si⁶ naa⁵ se¹ jan⁴ zoi⁶ gaau² waai⁶ ngo⁵ mun⁴ ji⁵ wui⁶⁻² dik¹ gin³ zai³, ji⁵ wui⁶⁻² dik¹ kwai¹ geoi²?

主席，我又聽到一些說法，說甚麼“禮崩樂壞”，我認為這是可惱也，究竟是哪些人在攪壞我們議會的建制、議會的規矩？

主席，我又听到一些说法，说什么“礼崩乐坏”，我认为这是可恼也，究竟是哪些人在搅坏我们议会的建制、议会的规矩？

2017, 吳仲泉, 梁舜雯, 溏心風暴3 [Heart and Greed], episode 3, spoken by 梁順華 [Leung Shun Wah] (關菊英 [Susanna Kwan]):

Every year, you end up having to sit in the side room, on the side. On the side, how infuriating!

git³ gwo² zau⁶ gaau² dou³ nin⁴ nin⁴ co⁵ pin¹ teng¹, co⁵ me², co⁵ me² aa³, ko¹ naau¹ je¹!

結果就搞到年年坐偏廳，坐歪，坐歪啊，可惱也！

结果就搞到年年坐偏厅，坐歪，坐歪啊，可恼也！

(Cantonese) irritating; infuriating; ridiculous


惻隱之心

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (惻隱之心):
* → Korean: 측은지심(惻隱之心) (cheugeunjisim)

ㄘㄜˋ ㄧㄣˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

цэиньчжисинь

/t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɐk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ jɐn³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

When I say that all men have a mind which cannot bear to see the sufferings of others, my meaning may be illustrated thus: even now-a-days, if men suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they will without exception experience a feeling of alarm and distress.

Suǒyǐ wèi rén jiē yǒu bù rěn rén zhī xīn zhě, jīn rén zhà jiàn rúzǐ jiāng rù yú jǐng, jiē yǒu chùtì cèyǐn zhī xīn.

所以謂人皆有不忍人之心者，今人乍見孺子將入於井，皆有怵惕惻隱之心。

所以谓人皆有不忍人之心者，今人乍见孺子将入于井，皆有怵惕恻隐之心。

feeling of compassion; heart of sympathy


良師益友

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄕ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/


狗屁不通

ㄍㄡˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pʰei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ pʰei̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

Read. This is bullshit! Putting up dazibao on the ground is enough. Don't send it into space.

Yǐ yuè, gǒupìbùtōng! Dàzìbào zài dìshàng tiē jiù xíng le, bùyào fā dào tiānshàng qù.

已閱，狗屁不通！大字報在地上貼就行了，不要發到天上去。

已阅，狗屁不通！大字报在地上贴就行了，不要发到天上去。

(figurative, vulgar) incoherent; nonsensical; bullshit


冤家路窄

ㄩㄢ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄨˋ ㄓㄞˇ

юаньцзялучжай

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

much as one wants to, one cannot avoid one's enemy


腦袋被驢踢了

脑袋被驴踢了
腦袋讓驢踢了
腦子被驢踢了
腦子讓驢踢了
腦被驢踢了
腦讓驢踢了

ㄋㄠˇ ˙ㄉㄞ ㄅㄟˋ ㄌㄩˊ ㄊㄧ ˙ㄌㄜ

ㄋㄠˇ ˙ㄉㄟ ㄅㄟˋ ㄌㄩˊ ㄊㄧ ˙ㄌㄜ

наодай бэй люй ти лэ

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥aɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

наодэй бэй люй ти лэ

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥eɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥aɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

/nɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥eɪ̯⁴ peɪ̯⁵¹ ly³⁵ tʰi⁵⁵ lə²/

(colloquial, derogatory) to be stupid; to be off one's head


狹路相逢

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ lu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/haːp̚² lou̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ lu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ³⁵/

/haːp̚² lou̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ²¹/

From “Xiang Feng Xing” (《相逢行》), a yuefu poem of the Han dynasty.


魚水之歡

ㄩˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄢ

юйшуйчжихуань

/y³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/

/y³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fuːn⁵⁵/

This idiom is from the Yuan-dynasty play Romance of the Western Chamber, although the metaphor itself existed long prior to that.

the pleasure between fish and water; the pleasure of fishes in water

(euphemistic, figurative) the pleasure of close intimacy between a couple; (the pleasure of) sexual intercourse; harmonious and joyous life of a married couple

Romance of the Western Chamber
Yuan dynasty


殘花敗柳

ㄘㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄅㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

цаньхуабайлю

/t͡sʰän³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ faː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² lɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ faː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² lɐu̯¹³/

(figurative, derogatory) impure woman, such as one who leads a promiscuous life, or one who has been abused and abandoned; fallen woman


七手八腳

七手八脚
七手八跤
七手八骹

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇㄦ

цишоубацзяор

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

/t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pue(ʔ)⁵ kʰa³³/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ paːt̚³ kœːk̚³/

with many people lending a hand; chaotically


四齋蒸鵝心

Steamed goose heart with four vegetables

ㄙˋ ㄓㄞ ㄓㄥ ㄜˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

сы чжай чжэн э синь

/sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

(ACG, Internet slang, humorous, euphemistic) Alternative form of 死宅真噁心／死宅真恶心 (sǐzhái zhēn ěxīn), disguised as a legitimate name for a dish.


有屁快放

ㄧㄡˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄈㄤˋ

ю пи куай фан

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ pʰei̯³³ faːi̯³³ fɔːŋ³³/

/jɐu̯¹³ pʰei̯³³ faːi̯³³ fɔːŋ³³/


他奶奶的

ㄊㄚ ㄋㄞˇ ˙ㄋㄞ ˙ㄉㄜ

та найнай дэ

/tʰä⁵⁵ naɪ̯²¹⁴ naɪ̯⁴ d̥ə¹/

/tʰä⁵⁵ naɪ̯²¹⁴ naɪ̯⁴ d̥ə¹/

(vulgar) Synonym of 他媽的／他妈的 (tāmāde, “fuck; fucking”)


肏你八輩子祖宗

肏你八辈子祖宗
操你八輩子祖宗

ㄘㄠˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄅㄚ ㄅㄟˋ ˙ㄗ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ

цао ни ба бэйцзы цзуцзун

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

(vulgar, highly offensive) Fuck eight generations of your ancestors!


媽了個屄

ㄇㄚ ˙ㄌㄜ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄅㄧ

/mä⁵⁵ lə² g̊ə¹ pi⁵⁵/

/mä⁵⁵ lə² g̊ə¹ pi⁵⁵/

妈了个屄
媽了個逼
媽了個B
馬勒戈壁


什麼鳥

ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

ㄕㄜˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇㄦ

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄕㄜˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇㄦ

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤ³⁵ mə³ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


肏你祖宗十八代

ㄘㄠˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄞˋ

cào nǐ zǔzōng shíbā dài [Phonetic:càonízǔzōngshíbādài]

цао ни цзуцзун шиба дай

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

(vulgar, highly offensive) Fuck your ancestors to the eighteenth generation!


大鑒

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

……校長先生大鑒

……校长先生大鉴

Used in letters to humbly request that the recipient reads the message.


小肚雞腸

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨˋ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄤˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄨˋ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄤˊㄦ

сяодуцзичанр

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃ɻ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃ɻ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯¹³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

(figurative, of a person) narrow-minded; small-minded; petty


口是心非

ㄎㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ

коушисиньфэй

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ siː²² sɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ siː²² sɐm⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

to say one thing but mean another; what one thinks is different from what one says; two-faced; duplicity


雲裡霧裡

ㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/yn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ mou̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/yn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ mou̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

From A New Account of the Tales of the World.

in the clouds, in the fog / amidst the clouds and mist

(figurative) completely puzzled; utterly baffled; unable to understand; unable to make head or tail of something


相夫教子

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄈㄨ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

сянфуцзяоцзы

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ³³ fuː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/sœːŋ³³ fuː⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡su⁵⁵⁴/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

(of a woman) to support one's husband and teach one's children


卒溜急剌

ㄘㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄚˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ lä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ lä⁵¹/


然然可可

ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄎㄜˇ

жаньжанькэкэ

žanʹžanʹkɛkɛ

/ʐän³⁵ ʐän³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐän³⁵ ʐän³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

How is a thing right? It is right because it is right. How is a thing wrong? It is wrong because it is wrong. How is a thing allowable? It is allowable because it is so. How is a thing not allowable? It is not allowable because it is not so.

Wūhū rán? Rán yú rán. Wūhū bù rán? Bù rán yú bù rán. Wūhū kě? Kě yú kě. Wūhū bù kě? Bù kě yú bù kě.

惡乎然？然於然。惡乎不然？不然於不然。惡乎可？可於可。惡乎不可？不可於不可。

恶乎然？然于然。恶乎不然？不然于不然。恶乎可？可于可。恶乎不可？不可于不可。

(literary) to be a yes man without any opinions of one's own


說都不會話了

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄉㄡ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ˙ㄌㄜ

shuō dōu bùhuì huà le [Phonetic:shuō dōu búhuì huà le]

шо доу бухуэй хуа лэ

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ lə¹/

真的连「说都不会话了！」 [MSC, simp.]
Zhēnde lián “shuō dōu bùhuì huà le!” [Pinyin]

2000, 网络语言“说都不会话了”, 精品購物指南 真的連「說都不會話了！」 [MSC, trad.]

网友们对照这个包含众多易读错字的表格自测后，纷纷感叹自己「说都不会话了」。 [MSC, simp.]
Wǎngyǒumen duìzhào zhè ge bāohán zhòngduō yì dú cuò zì de biǎogé zìcè hòu, fēnfēn gǎntàn zìjǐ “shuō dōu bùhuì huà le”. [Pinyin]

2011, 央视女主播刘羽微博贴出读音表 称错一字罚五十, 北京晨報 網友們對照這個包含眾多易讀錯字的表格自測後，紛紛感嘆自己「說都不會話了」。 [MSC, trad.]

After testing themselves against this table of correct pronunciations of easily-mispronounced characters, netizens sigh with sadness that they can hardly speak properly now.

蚁人见到美队，激动得说都不会话了 [MSC, simp.]
Yǐrén jiàn dào Měiduì, jīdòng de shuō dōu bùhuì huà le [Pinyin]

2016, 《美国队长3》：不要骗我 明明就是“复联2.5”, Tencent Entertainment 蟻人見到美隊，激動得說都不會話了 [MSC, trad.]

Ant Man met Captain America and started gabbling out of excitement.

A self-reference demonstration of 話都不會說了／话都不会说了.


脫殼金蟬

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄢˊ

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄎㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄢˊ

тоцяоцзиньчань

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

токэцзиньчань

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵/

吳敬所 《國色天香 (guósètiānxiāng)·第七卷·天緣奇遇（上）》

Sù lánhuā, guì hóng shù, yíng cuì xuān zhōng, cuò bèi chūn liú zhù. Guāiqiǎo xiǎo qīng jī bù lù, jiè fēng yāo yǔ, tuōkéjīnchán qù.

素蘭花，桂紅樹，迎翠軒中，錯被春留住。乖巧小卿機不露，借風邀雨，脫殼金蟬去。

吳敬所 《國色天香 (guósètiānxiāng)·第七卷·天緣奇遇（上）》

素兰花，桂红树，迎翠轩中，错被春留住。乖巧小卿机不露，借风邀雨，脱壳金蝉去。

關漢卿 (Guan Hanqing) 《虎牢關三戰呂布·第三折》

Zuórì zhù lǚbù shā de wǒ hún bù fùtǐ, zǎo shì wǒ tuōkéjīnchán jì zǒu le, biérén dōu bù zhīdào, zé yǒu zhāngfēi zhīdào.

昨日著呂布殺的我魂不附體，早是我脫殼金蟬計走了，別人都不知道，則有張飛知道。

關漢卿 (Guan Hanqing) 《虎牢關三戰呂布·第三折》

昨日著吕布杀的我魂不附体，早是我脱壳金蝉计走了，别人都不知道，则有张飞知道。

金蟬脫殼 金蟬脫殼#Chinese

金蝉脱壳 金蝉脱壳#Chinese


茫然若失

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


惘然若失

ㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ¹³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ¹³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/


悵然若失

ㄔㄤˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ³³ jiːn²¹ jœːk̚² sɐt̚⁵/

Looking at her, I became so lost and could not say a word.

Wàngzhe tā, wǒ chàngránruòshī, hǎojiǔ shuō bù chū huà lái.

望著她，我悵然若失，好久說不出話來。

望着她，我怅然若失，好久说不出话来。


鳥語花香

ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/niːu̯¹³ jyː¹³ faː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/niãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/niːu̯¹³ jyː¹³ faː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/niãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

birds sing and flowers give forth their fragrance (characterizing a fine spring day)


青春靚麗

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ

цинчуньлянли

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/


屎滾尿流

ㄕˇ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄋㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

scared the shit out of
scare the shit out of

panic-stricken (to the point of becoming doubly incontinent); being scared the shit out of by someone


現學現用

ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄩㄥˋ

сяньсюэсяньюн

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːn²² hɔːk̚² jiːn²² jʊŋ²²/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jiːn²² hɔːk̚² jiːn²² jʊŋ²²/

to put in practice something that one just learned


螟蛉之子

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄗˇ

минлинчжицзы

/miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 196 (《詩經·小雅·小宛》):
:
See 螟蛉 (mínglíng) for more.

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小宛》)

(《詩經·小雅·小宛》)

The mulberry insect has young ones, And the sphex carries them away.
Teach and train your sons, And they will become good as you are.

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

Mínglíng yǒu zǐ, guǒluǒ fù zhī.
Jiàohuì ěr zǐ, shì gǔ sì zhī.

螟蛉有子，蜾蠃負之。
教誨爾子，式穀似之。

螟蛉有子，蜾蠃负之。
教诲尔子，式谷似之。


見義勇為

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄧˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄨㄟˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiː²² jʊŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kiːn³³ jiː²² jʊŋ¹³ wɐi̯²¹/

Paraphrased from the Analects, Book 2 (《論語·爲政》)

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

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

見義不為，無勇也。

见义不为，无勇也。


輕裝上陣

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄕㄤˋ ㄓㄣˋ

цинчжуаншанчжэнь

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

(originally) to go into battle with a light pack; (by extension) to go forward with one's burdens discarded; to join the action without any burdens


行先死先

/haːŋ²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

/haːŋ²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) One who does something first suffers first.


一介書生

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

I, Wang Bo, am merely a scholar of low status. I have no way to serve the country like Zhong Jun did, despite being a young adult as he once was.

Bó, sān chǐ wēi mìng, yījièshūshēng. Wúlù qǐngyīng, děng Zhōng Jūn zhī ruòguàn.

勃，三尺微命，一介書生。無路請纓，等終軍之弱冠。

勃，三尺微命，一介书生。无路请缨，等终军之弱冠。

nothing but a scholar; a scholar; an intellectual


渾然一體

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄧ ㄊㄧˇ

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/wɐn²² jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʐän³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/wɐn²² jiːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

to be one integrated mass; to be a unified entity


非池中物

ㄈㄟ ㄔˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˋ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

(figurative, of a person) ambitious; full of aspiration


精神奕奕

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/


入不敷出

ㄖㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨ ㄔㄨ

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

unable to make ends meet; income cannot cover expenditure; to spend more than one earns


人心叵測

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄆㄛˇ ㄘㄜˋ

жэньсиньпоцэ

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pʰɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

the human mind is unpredictable; people may harbour an evil intent


山高皇帝遠

the mountains are high, and the emperor is far away

ㄕㄢ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄩㄢˇ

шань гао хуанди юань

/ʂän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːn⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɐi̯³³ jyːn¹³/

/saːn⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɐi̯³³ jyːn¹³/

the law of the land is not enforced here; the central authorities fail to reach this area


快刀斬亂麻

ja-r

かい%とう らん%ま を たつ

→ Japanese: 快(かい)刀乱(とうらん)麻(ま)を断(た)つ (kaitō ranma o tatsu) (calque)

ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄉㄠ ㄓㄢˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄚˊ

куайдао чжань луаньма

/kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹ mä³⁵/

/faːi̯³³ tou̯⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ lyːn²² maː²¹/

/kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ to⁴⁴ t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ luan²²⁻²¹ muã²⁴/

/faːi̯³³ tou̯⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ lyːn²² maː²¹/

cut the Gordian knot
cut the Gordian knot

(figurative) to cut the Gordian knot; to solve a complex problem using a decisive and effective method


順水推舟

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄊㄨㄟ ㄓㄡ

шуньшуйтуйчжоу

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰui⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/sun³³⁻²¹ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/suŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰui³³⁻²³ t͡siu³³/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/sun²²⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰui⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/suŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰui³³⁻²³ t͡siu³³/

to do something with the prevailing climate or tendency; to take advantage of the situation


兔走烏飛

ㄊㄨˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄨ ㄈㄟ

/tʰu⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰu⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

兔 (tù, “rabbit”) and 烏／乌 (wū, “crow”) refer to the moon rabbit and the three-legged crow in Chinese mythology and represent the moon and the sun, respectively.


萬無一失

/wän⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/wän⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/

/ban³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sit̚³²/


簡單明瞭

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇ

цзяньданьминляо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯²¹/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯¹³/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯²¹/

/kaːn³⁵ taːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ liːu̯¹³/


巾幗英雄

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ

цзиньгоинсюн

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/


打太極

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/taː³⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ kɪk̚²/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/taː³⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ kɪk̚²/

打太極拳 打太極拳#Chinese

打太极拳 打太极拳#Chinese


嘴歪眼斜

ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄞ ㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄝˊ

цзуйвайяньсе

/t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

to have a facial droop on one side (as a result of stroke or unilateral facial nerve palsy)


赫赫有名

ㄏㄜˋ ㄏㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haːk̚⁵ haːk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haːk̚⁵ haːk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²¹/

having a great reputation; celebrated; illustrious


圖文並茂

ㄊㄨˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄠˋ

тувэньбинмао

/tʰu³⁵ wən³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

/tʰu³⁵ wən³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

to be excellent in both text and illustrations


生無可戀

ㄕㄥ ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ lyːn³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ lyːn³⁵/

(neologism, slang) there is nothing worth yearning for in this life; a life devoid of meaning


地方支援中央

ㄉㄧˋ ㄈㄤ ㄓ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄤ

дифан чжиюань чжунъян

/ti⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tei̯²² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ wuːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jœːŋ⁵⁵/

(literally) the local governments provide for the central government

(figurative, humorous) Describes a combover hairstyle.


海了去了

ㄏㄞˇ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄌㄜ

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ lə¹/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ lə¹/

There are a lot of people who wish to study abroad.

Xiǎng dào wàidì liúxué de rén hǎileqùle.

想到外地留學的人海了去了。

想到外地留学的人海了去了。

(dialectal) many; much; a lot of; numerous


千兒八百

ㄑㄧㄢ ˙ㄦ ㄅㄚ ㄅㄞˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ² pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ paːt̚³ paːk̚³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ² pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ paːt̚³ paːk̚³/

This thing can't be bought without a grand.

Zhè wányìr méi qiānrbābǎi shì mǎi bù lái de.

這玩意兒沒千兒八百是買不來的。

这玩意儿没千儿八百是买不来的。

(chiefly Mandarin, colloquial) one thousand or almost a thousand; a grand


字正腔圓

ㄗˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄩㄢˊ

цзычжэнцянъюань

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɪŋ³³ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɪŋ³³ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

pronouncing every word clearly and correctly


了無牽掛

ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄚˋ

ляо’уцяньгуа

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/liːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³³/

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/liːu̯¹³ mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ kʷaː³³/


吃喝玩樂行

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

чихэваньлэсин

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/


諱疾忌醫

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄧ

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯¹³ t͡sɐt̚² kei̯²² jiː⁵⁵/

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯¹³ t͡sɐt̚² kei̯²² jiː⁵⁵/

From a story of Marquis Huan of Cai recorded in Hanfeizi.

to avoid seeking medical attention for fear of disease

to conceal one's shortcomings for fear of criticism


察顏觀色

ㄔㄚˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄜˋ

чаяньгуаньсэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

to read a person (to interpret or infer a meaning or significance based on facial expression, tone of voice etc)


英雄救美

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄟˇ

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ kɐu̯³³ mei̯¹³/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ kɐu̯³³ mei̯¹³/

a (male) hero saves a damsel in distress


奶油小生

ㄋㄞˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄥ

/naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/naːi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/naːi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) handsome but effeminate young man; pretty boy


王八看綠豆——對上眼了

王八看绿豆——对上眼了
王八看綠豆——看對眼了
王八看綠豆——看上眼了
王八看綠豆——對眼了

A tortoise gazes at two mung beans ― taking a fancy to each other.(because a tortoise's eyes look like two mung beans)

ㄨㄤˊ ˙ㄅㄚ ㄎㄢˋ ㄌㄩˋ ㄉㄡˋ

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧㄢˇ ˙ㄌㄜ

ванба кань люйдоу

дуйшан янь лэ

/wɑŋ³⁵ b̥ä³ kʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴ lə⁴/

(derogatory, humorous) Describes two ugly people who find each other attractive.


歪瓜裂棗

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇ

вайгуалецзао

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

вайгуалецзаор

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡saʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵/

(derogatory) a group of unattractive people (or objects)


飄飄欲仙

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

пяопяоюйсянь

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːn⁵⁵/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊk̚² siːn⁵⁵/

feeling like one is flying up towards heaven like an immortal; sprightly as a fairy; high


因戲生情

ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˋ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

(of an actor and an actress) to become a love couple as a result of working together in a movie or drama series


繡花枕頭

ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓㄣˇ ˙ㄊㄡ

сюхуачжэньтоу

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄚㄦ ㄓㄣˇ ˙ㄊㄡ

сюхуарчжэньтоу

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/sɐu̯³³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/sɐu̯³³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

(figurative) one who is outwardly attractive but lacking ability or talent inside; just a pretty face


歪瓜劣棗

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇ

вайгуалецзао

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄨㄞ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

вайгуалецзаор

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ lyːt̚³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ lyːt̚³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

歪瓜裂棗 歪瓜裂棗#Chinese

歪瓜裂枣 歪瓜裂枣#Chinese

Alternative form of 歪瓜裂棗／歪瓜裂枣 (wāiguālièzǎo)


同甘共苦

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄢ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄨˇ

тунганьгунку

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐm⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐm⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² fuː³⁵/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kam³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² kʰɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kam⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ⁵³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁴¹/

to share the joys and sorrows (usually emphasising the “sorrow” part)


意猶未盡

ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː³³ jɐu̯²¹ mei̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu²⁴⁻²² be⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu¹³⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ be³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ iu²³⁻³³ be³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³/

/i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jiː³³ jɐu̯²¹ mei̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu²⁴⁻²² be⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ iu¹³⁻²² be²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ be³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ iu²³⁻³³ be³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³/

to be left wanting more; to yearn for more; unsatisfied pleasure


無處可藏

ㄨˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄘㄤˊ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/


個毛

/g̊ə mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/g̊ə maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/g̊ə mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/g̊ə maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

A: “He's so handsome!”
B: “Handsome your ass.”

Jiǎ: “Tā hǎo shuài ò!” Yǐ: “Shuài ge máo.”

甲：「他好帥哦！」乙：「帥個毛。」

甲：「他好帅哦！」乙：「帅个毛。」

(low colloquial) Used after verbs, adjectives and occasionally even nouns to express one's disagreement.


飲食男女

ㄧㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ

иньшинаньнюй

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm³⁵ sɪk̚² naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

desire for food and sex; basic human needs; natural disposition of mankind


相見不如懷念

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄋㄧㄢˋ

сянцзянь бужу хуайнянь

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ waːi̯²¹ niːm²²/


六親不認

ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˋ

⁸loq-chin ⁸veq-gnin; ⁸loq-chin ⁸veq-zen; ⁸loq-chin ⁷peq-gnin; ⁸loq-chin ⁷peq-zen

люциньбужэнь

/li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²²/

loh^入 chin veh^入 nyin; loh^入 chin veh^入 zen; loh^入 chin peh^入 nyin; loh^入 chin peh^入 zen

⁵loq-qin ⁵veq-nyin; ⁵loq-qin ⁵veq-zen; ⁵loq-qin ⁴peq-nyin; ⁵loq-qin ⁴peq-zen

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ n̠ʲin²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ zən²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ n̠ʲin⁴⁴/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ zən⁴⁴/

/li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²²/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ n̠ʲin²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ vəʔ¹¹ zən²³/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ n̠ʲin⁴⁴/

/loʔ¹¹ t͡ɕʰin³³ pəʔ³³ zən⁴⁴/

to not recognise any of one's relatives
to be ruthless; to be heartless

to be strictly impartial, not being swayed by personal considerations


勉為其難

ㄇㄧㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄋㄢˊ

мяньвэйцинань

/mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵/

/miːn¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² ki¹³⁻²² lan¹³/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ lan²³/

/mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵/

/miːn¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ naːn²¹/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² ki¹³⁻²² lan¹³/

/biɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴/

/biɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ lan²³/

to reluctantly do something that is almost beyond one's ability or something that one does not wish to do

to force someone to do something that he/she is hardly capable of or is unwilling to do


食色性也

ㄕˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄧㄝˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚² sɪk̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ jaː¹³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕiŋ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚² sɪk̚⁵ sɪŋ³³ jaː¹³/

The philosopher Gao said, "To enjoy food and delight in colours is nature. Benevolence is internal and not external; righteousness is external and not internal."

Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Gàozǐ yuē: “Shí sè, xìng yě. Rén, nèi yě, fēi wài yě; yì, wài yě, fēi nèi yě.”

告子曰：「食色，性也。仁，內也，非外也；義，外也，非內也。」

告子曰：「食色，性也。仁，内也，非外也；义，外也，非内也。」

To enjoy food and delight in sex is nature.


距離產生美

ㄐㄩˋ ㄌㄧˊ ㄔㄢˇ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄟˇ

цзюйли чаньшэн мэй

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ li³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɵy̯¹³ lei̯²¹ t͡sʰaːn³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

/kʰɵy̯¹³ lei̯²¹ t͡sʰaːn³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ mei̯¹³/

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
absence makes the heart grow fonder

Distance makes beauty. / Absence makes the heart grow fonder.


宦海浮沉

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄔㄣˊ

хуаньхайфучэнь

/xu̯än⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/waːn²² hɔːi̯³⁵ fɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/

/xu̯än⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/waːn²² hɔːi̯³⁵ fɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹/


有頭有臉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇㄦ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ liːm¹³/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ liːm¹³/

having fame and prestige; famous; respected; prestigious


共克時艱

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄜˋ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

гункэшицзянь

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ²² hɐk̚⁵ siː²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰɤ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʊŋ²² hɐk̚⁵ siː²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

2020 July 29, 《总结抗击非典经验 促进改革发展稳定》, in People's Daily, →ISSN

[…]shèhuì gè fāngmiàn tuánjiéyīzhì, qíxīnxiélì, yīfāng yǒunàn, bāfāng zhīyuán, xíngchéng le gòngkèshíjiān de qiángdà hélì; […]

[…]社會各方面團結一致、齊心協力，一方有難、八方支援，形成了共克時艱的強大合力；[…]

[…]社会各方面团结一致、齐心协力，一方有难、八方支援，形成了共克时艰的强大合力；[…]

(neologism, officialese) to overcome the present difficulties in a spirit of unity


差點兒沒

ㄔㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

ㄔㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 差點沒／差点没 (chàdiǎn méi).


差點沒

ㄔㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

I almost fell in this pit; fortunately my eyesight was not so bad.

Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi diào jìn zhè kēngr lǐ, xìngkuī wǒ yǎnshénr hái bùsuàn tài chà.

我差點兒沒掉進這坑兒裡，幸虧我眼神兒還不算太差。

我差点儿没掉进这坑儿里，幸亏我眼神儿还不算太差。

1999, 瓊瑤, 還珠格格第二部, episode 10, 王艳 (actor):

Chī kuī da, bù shì tāmen, shì huánghòu a gēn Róng Mómo. Chàdiǎnr a, méi gěi tāmen liǎng ge yān sǐ!

吃虧的，不是她們，是皇后啊跟容嬤嬤。差點啊，沒給她們兩個淹死！

吃亏的，不是她们，是皇后啊跟容嬷嬷。差点啊，没给她们两个淹死！

However, with the help of his friends and other donation volunteers, he was eventually able to donate his haematopoietic stem cells. […] Liu Bo said that in fact he had doubted himself as well in the process, even until the moment he was about to have a general physical examination when his cells were found to be matching at high resolution. He almost gave up […]

2018, 《铁岭小伙给四川患者捐造血干细胞》, 华商晨报

Bùguò, zài péngyou yǔ juānxiàn zhìyuànzhě de bāngzhù xià, xiǎohuǒ zuìzhōng shíxiàn le juānxiàn zàoxuè gànxìbāo....... Liú Bō shuō, qíshí nèixīn yě jīnglì guò zhēngzhá, yīzhí dào gāopèi chénggōng hòu tǐjiǎn qián, tā chàdiǎn méi fàngqì

不過，在朋友與捐獻志願者的幫助下，小伙最終實現了捐獻造血幹細胞。……劉波說，其實內心也經歷過掙扎，一直到高配成功後體檢前，他差點沒放棄

2018, 《铁岭小伙给四川患者捐造血干细胞》, 华商晨报

不过，在朋友与捐献志愿者的帮助下，小伙最终实现了捐献造血干细胞。……刘波说，其实内心也经历过挣扎，一直到高配成功后体检前，他差点没放弃

I almost could not fall in this pit; fortunately I lost three kilos this month.

Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi diào jìn zhè kēngr lǐ, háihǎo wǒ zhège yuè jiǎn le liù jīn.

我差點兒沒掉進這坑兒裡，還好我這個月減了六斤。

我差点儿没掉进这坑儿里，还好我这个月减了六斤。

Fractured Her Bone, and Nearly Could Not Send Out a Distress Signal […]
The two managed to set up a tent to stay for the night before it became dark, but their mobile phones and satellite phones were without reception and they were not even able to make emergency calls. Wang Lin was only able to contact her friend (Ms./Mr. Jiang) when there was some reception close to 9 pm.

2018, 《穿越格聂景区 无锡女游客左腿骨折被困40多个小时》, 成都商报电子版

Tuǐ gǔzhé, qiújiù xìnhào chàdiǎn méi fāchū......
Liǎng rén déyǐ zài tiān hēi qián zhù jìn le zhàngpeng, dàn wèixīng diànhuà, shǒujī dōu méiyǒu xìnhào, lián bàojǐng diànhuà dōu dǎ bù chūqù. Jiāngjìn 21 diǎn, tūrán yǒu le xìnhào, Wáng Lín cái liánxì shàng le péngyou Jiǎng Mǒumǒu.

腿骨折，求救信號差點沒發出……
兩人得以在天黑前住進了帳篷，但衛星電話、手機都沒有信號，連報警電話都打不出去。將近21點，突然有了信號，王琳才聯繫上了朋友蔣某某。

腿骨折，求救信号差点没发出……
两人得以在天黑前住进了帐篷，但卫星电话、手机都没有信号，连报警电话都打不出去。将近21点，突然有了信号，王琳才联系上了朋友蒋某某。


不善言辭

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄘˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːn²² jiːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːn²² jiːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to be untalkative, ineloquent or inarticulate


輕描淡寫

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

цинмяоданьсе

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tän⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ miːu̯²¹ taːm²² sɛː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tän⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ miːu̯²¹ taːm²² sɛː³⁵/

to touch on lightly; to mention casually; to play down


吹鬚睩眼

to blow one's moustache and roll one's eyes

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³/


軟磨硬泡

ㄖㄨㄢˇ ㄇㄛˊ ㄧㄥˋ ㄆㄠˋ

жуаньмоинпао

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʐu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

to coax and pester unceasingly; to tiresomely pursue something


飄忽不定

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄏㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

to be unsteady in motion; to drift from place to place; to be erratic


新絲蘿蔔皮

新丝萝卜皮
身屍蘿蔔皮
新撕蘿蔔皮
新鮮蘿蔔皮

/sɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ paːk̚² pʰei̯²¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ paːk̚² pʰei̯²¹/

Who do you think you are? (used to put down someone who is too arrogant)

nei⁵ mat¹ je⁵ san¹ si¹ lo⁴ baak⁶ pei⁴ aa³?

你乜嘢新絲蘿蔔皮呀？

你乜嘢新丝萝卜皮呀？

(Cantonese) someone who overestimates one's capabilities


夜不歸宿

ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄙㄨˋ

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ su⁵¹/

/jɛː²² pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵/

to stay out all night; to not return home all night


普天之下

ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

See 普天之下，莫非王土 (pǔtiānzhīxià, mòfēiwángtǔ).


不管不問

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˋ

бугуаньбувэнь

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kuːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

to neither pay attention nor ask about (it); to have no interest in


罵罵咧咧

ㄇㄚˋ ˙ㄇㄚ ㄌㄧㄝ ㄌㄧㄝ

ㄇㄚˋ ㄇㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄝˇ

ㄇㄚˋ ㄇㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄝ ㄌㄧㄝ

/mä⁵¹ mä¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/mä⁵¹ mä¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹ li̯ɛ⁵⁵ li̯ɛ⁵⁵/

foul-mouthed; showering curses and abuse; continuously swearing


吹鬍子瞪眼

to blow one's moustache and stare (with anger)

ㄔㄨㄟ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄗ ㄉㄥˋ ㄧㄢˇ

чуй хуцзы дэнъянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ xu³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ tɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


嘵嘵不休

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/


放諸四海而皆準

ㄈㄤˋ ㄓㄨ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄣˇ

фан чжу сыхай эр цзе чжунь

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡syː⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³⁵/

放之四海而皆準 放之四海而皆準#Chinese

放之四海而皆准 放之四海而皆准#Chinese

Synonym of 放之四海而皆準／放之四海而皆准 (fàng zhī sìhǎi ér jiē zhǔn, “applicable everywhere”)


放之四海而皆準

ㄈㄤˋ ㄓ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄣˇ

фан чжи сыхай эр цзе чжунь

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 24 (《禮記·祭義》)

Zengzi said, "Filial piety […] push it on to the eastern sea, the western sea, the southern sea, and the northern sea, and it will be (everywhere) the law for men, and their obedience to it will be uniform."

曾子曰：「夫孝，……推而放諸東海

The Chinese found Marxism-Leninism, the universally applicable truth, and the face of China began to change.

1949, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論人民民主專政》 (“On the People's Democratic Dictatorship”). English translation based on https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-4/mswv4_65.htm

Zhōngguórén zhǎo dào le Mǎkèsī-Lièníng zhǔyì zhège fàng zhī sìhǎi ér jiē zhǔn de pǔbiàn zhēnlǐ, Zhōngguó de miànmù jiù qǐ le biànhuà le.

中國人找到了馬克思列寧主義這個放之四海而皆準的普遍真理，中國的面目就起了變化了。

中国人找到了马克思列宁主义这个放之四海而皆准的普遍真理，中国的面目就起了变化了。


避重就輕

ㄅㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

бичжунцзюцин

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pei̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² hɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi⁴¹⁻²² taŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² kʰin³³/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡siu³³⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻²¹ taŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡siu³³⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pei̯²² t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² hɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi⁴¹⁻²² taŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² kʰin³³/

/pi²²⁻²¹ taŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻¹¹ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡siu³³⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

/pi³³⁻²¹ taŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡siu³³⁻²¹ kʰin⁴⁴/

to pick only the easy tasks to do; to take the easy way out

to avoid the major issues and only engage in the trivial ones


搞三搞四

ㄍㄠˇ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄠˇ ㄙˋ

гаосаньгаосы

/kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/kaːu̯³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ sei̯³³/

/kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/kaːu̯³⁵ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ sei̯³³/

to do something shady; to have illicit relationships


前無古人

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹/

From the first verse of 《登幽州台歌》 by Chen Zi'ang (661–702).


差一點沒

ㄔㄚˋ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄟˊ

ㄔㄚ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚˋ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

ㄔㄚ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄇㄟˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵/

他差一點沒死了。

他差一点没死了。

2018, 一扫首日丢金阴霾，杨皓然强势问鼎男子10米气步枪, Xinhua News Agency

Yáng Hàorán...... zuìzhōng dǎ chū le zīgésài 632.9 huán de chéngjì, jùlí Xiōngyálì míngjiàng Xīdí zài 5 nián qián chuàngzào de shìjiè jìlù jǐn chà 0.6 huán...... duìyú chàyīdiǎn méi néng pò diào shìjiè jìlù shìfǒu yíhàn de wèntí, Yáng Hàorán biǎoshì......

楊皓然……最終打出了資格賽632.9環的成績，距離匈牙利名將西迪在5年前創造的世界紀錄僅差0.6環……對於差一點沒能破掉世界紀錄是否遺憾的問題，楊皓然表示……

杨皓然……最终打出了资格赛632.9环的成绩，距离匈牙利名将西迪在5年前创造的世界纪录仅差0.6环……对于差一点没能破掉世界纪录是否遗憾的问题，杨皓然表示……

2013, 拉沃尔“重逢”澳网奖杯 上海站巡展星光熠熠, 腾讯体育

...... Yě cùchéng le zhè wèi chuánqí míngsù hé Àowǎng jiǎngbēi de “chóngféng”. Bùguò, yóuyú dōngnán yánhǎi de táifēng qīnxí Shànghǎi, dǎozhì tiānqì zhuàngkuàng jídù èliè, běn cì “chóngféng” chàyīdiǎn méi néng shíxiàn.

……也促成了這位傳奇名宿和澳網獎盃的「重逢」。不過，由於東南沿海的颱風侵襲上海，導致天氣狀況極度惡劣，本次「重逢」差一點沒能實現。

2013, 拉沃尔“重逢”澳网奖杯 上海站巡展星光熠熠, 腾讯体育

……也促成了这位传奇名宿和澳网奖杯的「重逢」。不过，由于东南沿海的台风侵袭上海，导致天气状况极度恶劣，本次「重逢」差一点没能实现。


前無古人，後無來者

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄨˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄜˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tsin⁴ mou⁴ gu² jan⁴, hau⁶ mou⁴ loi⁴ dze²

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kuː³⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵/

From the first two verses of 《登幽州台歌》 by Chen Zi'ang (661–702).

unprecedented and never to be duplicated; the first and the last; unmatched; unique


燈臺不照自己

灯台不照自己
燈台不照自己

ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ

dēngtái bù zhào zìjǐ [Phonetic:dēngtái bú zhào zìjǐ]

дэнтай бу чжао цзыцзи

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

丈八燈臺——照遠不照近 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近#Chinese

丈八灯台——照远不照近 丈八灯台——照远不照近#Chinese

Synonym of 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近／丈八灯台——照远不照近 (zhàng bā dēngtái, zhào yuǎn bù zhào jìn)


燈臺不自照

ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄓㄠˋ

dēngtái bù zì zhào [Phonetic:dēngtái bú zì zhào]

дэнтай бу цзы чжао

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯³³/

丈八燈臺——照遠不照近 丈八燈臺——照遠不照近#Chinese

丈八灯台——照远不照近 丈八灯台——照远不照近#Chinese


丈八燈臺——照遠不照近

丈八灯台——照远不照近
丈八燈台——照遠不照近
丈八燈臺——照得見人家，照不見自家
丈八燈臺——照見人家，照不見自己

1.8 zhang lampstand ― lighting up the far side but not the near side

ㄓㄤˋ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄥ ㄊㄞˊ

ㄓㄠˋ ㄩㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

zhào yuǎn bù zhào jìn [Phonetic:zhàng bā dēngtái

чжан ба дэнтай

чжао юань бу чжао цзинь

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ²² paːt̚³ tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡siːu̯³³ jyːn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːu̯³³ kʰɐn¹³/

(xiehouyu) seeing other people's shortcomings but not one's own


老少男女

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ

лаошаонаньнюй

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³ naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³/

男女老少 男女老少#Chinese


毅然決然

ㄧˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ

ижаньцзюэжань

/i⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ jiːn²¹/

/i⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ jiːn²¹/

without hesitation; resolutely and determinedly


橫豎撇捺

ㄏㄥˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄚˋ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nä⁵¹/

ㄏㄥˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄚˋㄦ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑɻ⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ syː²² pʰiːt̚³ naːt̚²/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nä⁵¹/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑɻ⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ syː²² pʰiːt̚³ naːt̚²/

horizontal stroke (一), vertical stroke (〡), leftward-falling stroke (丿) and rightward-falling stroke (乀); the basic strokes in Chinese writing


中華民族偉大復興

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥ

zung¹ waa⁴ man⁴ zuk⁶ wai⁵ daai⁶ fuk⁶ hing¹

Chung¹-hua² min²-tsu² wei³-ta⁴ fu⁴-hsing¹

Чжунхуа миньцзу вэйда фусин

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ min³⁵ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

dzung¹ waa⁴ man⁴ dzuk⁹ wai⁵ daai⁶ fuk⁹ hing¹

zung¹ wa⁴ men⁴ zug⁶ wei⁵ dai⁶ fug⁶ hing¹

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waː²¹ mɐn²¹ t͡sʊk̚² wɐi̯¹³ taːi̯²² fʊk̚² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

(Mainland China, officialese) the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation


五馬分屍

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ maː¹³ fɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ maː¹³ fɐn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵/

(historical) to dismember a body by having five horses pull the limbs and head

(figurative) to sentence someone capital punishment; to execute

(figurative) to split something up into small fragments


翻雲覆雨

ㄈㄢ ㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/fän⁵⁵ yn³⁵ fu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ fʊk̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/fän⁵⁵ yn³⁵ fu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ fʊk̚⁵ jyː¹³/

Fānshǒu zuò yún fùshǒu yǔ, fēnfēn qīngbó héxū shù?

翻手作雲覆手雨，紛紛輕薄何須數？

翻手作云覆手雨，纷纷轻薄何须数？

(figurative) to be fickle; to shift one's grounds constantly

(figurative) to play politics; to be tricky


回聊

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/


壁壘森嚴

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄟˇ ㄙㄣ ㄧㄢˊ

билэйсэньянь

/pi⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lɵy̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/

/pi⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ lɵy̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ jiːm²¹/


天淵之別

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄩㄢ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

тяньюаньчжибе

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ piːt̚²/

as far apart as heaven from earth; poles apart; worlds apart


走肉行屍

ㄗㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕ

цзоужоусинши

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵/

行屍走肉 行屍走肉#Chinese

行尸走肉 行尸走肉#Chinese

Alternative form of 行屍走肉／行尸走肉 (xíngshīzǒuròu)


行屍走肉

行尸走肉
行尸走肉
走肉行屍

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕ ㄗㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

синшицзоужоу

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/haːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/haːŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

(figurative) layabout; idler; person who lives only on the material level


嘆為聽止

ㄊㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄓˇ

таньвэйтинчжи

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

zh-l

嘆為觀止／叹为观止 (tànwéiguānzhǐ)

叹为听止
歎為聽止
嘆爲聽止
歎爲聽止

to gasp in amazement (upon hearing a piece of music); to acclaim as the peak of perfection


大音希聲

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄕㄥ

/tä⁵¹ in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐm⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ in⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐm⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

Its largest square doth yet no corner show;
A vessel great, it is the slowest made;
Loud is its sound, but never word it said;
A semblance great, the shadow of a shade.

Dà fāng wú yú; dà qì wǎn chéng; dà yīn xī shēng; dà xiàng wú xíng.

大方無隅；大器晚成；大音希聲；大象無形。

大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形。

The greatest music has the faintest notes.


屬耗子的——撂爪就忘

ㄕㄨˇ ㄏㄠˋ ˙ㄗ ˙ㄉㄜ

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄓㄨㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄨㄤˋ

шу хаоцзы дэ

ляо чжуа цзю ван

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ d̥ə¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/