一毛不拔

ㄧ ㄇㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄚˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ pä³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ pä³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚²/

From Mencius's comment about Yangism and Mohism

Mencius said, 'The principle of the philosopher Yang was "Each one for himself." Though he might have benefited the whole kingdom by plucking out a single hair, he would not have done it. The philosopher Mo loves all equally. If by rubbing smooth his whole body from the crown to the heel, he could have benefited the kingdom, he would have done it. Zi Mo holds a medium between these. By holding that medium, he is nearer the right. But by holding it without leaving room for the exigency of circumstances, it becomes like their holding their one point. The reason why I hate that holding to one point is the injury it does to the way of right principle. It takes up one point and disregards a hundred others.'

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Yángzǐ qǔ wèi wǒ, bá yī máo ér lì tiānxià, bù wèi yě. Mòzǐ jiān'ài, mó dǐng fàng zhǒng lì tiānxià, wèi zhī. Zǐmò zhí zhōng, zhí zhōng wèi jìn zhī, zhí zhōng wú quán, yóu zhí yī yě. Suǒ è zhí yī zhě, wèi qí zéi dào yě, jǔ yī ér fèi bǎi yě.”

孟子曰：「楊子取為我，拔一毛而利天下，不為也。墨子兼愛，摩頂放踵利天下，為之。子莫執中，執中為近之，執中無權，猶執一也。所惡執一者，為其賊道也，舉一而廢百也。」

孟子曰：「杨子取为我，拔一毛而利天下，不为也。墨子兼爱，摩顶放踵利天下，为之。子莫执中，执中为近之，执中无权，犹执一也。所恶执一者，为其贼道也，举一而废百也。」

won't even pull out a single hair (to give someone), playing on the double meaning of 毛 (small unit of currency vs. hair)

梁新記牙刷——一毛不拔

loeng4 san1 gei3 ngaa4 caat3-2, jat1 mou4 bat1 bat6


一字千金

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一字千金):
* → Japanese: 一(いち)字(じ)千金(せんきん) (ichiji senkin)

ㄧ ㄗˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ

ицзыцяньцзинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

When Lu Buwei wrote Lushi Chunqiu, he presented the finished book at the gate of Hanyang and offered a thousand taels to anyone who could correct even one character.

extraordinary writing; uncommonly good writing


一片冰心

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

ипяньбинсинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰiːn³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

From a poem by Wang Changling (王昌齡, 698–756)

Answer, if they ask of me at Loyang:
"One-hearted as ice in a crystal vase."

Wang Changling (王昌齡), c. 742, At Hibiscus Inn Parting With Xin Jian (《芙蓉樓送辛漸》), translated by Witter Bynner.

Luòyáng qīnyǒu rú xiàngwèn, yīpiàn bīngxīn zài yùhú.

洛陽親友如相問，一片冰心在玉壺。

洛阳亲友如相问，一片冰心在玉壶。


一字褒貶

ㄧ ㄗˋ ㄅㄠ ㄅㄧㄢˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² pou̯⁵⁵ piːn³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² pou̯⁵⁵ piːn³⁵/

一 (yī, “one”) + 字 (zì, “character”) + 褒貶／褒贬 (bāobiǎn, “to praise or denigrate; to pass judgement”)

zh-l

a concise and deliberate choice of words


鏡花水月

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄩㄝˋ

цзинхуашуйюэ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/kɛːŋ³³ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ jyːt̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/kɛːŋ³³ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ jyːt̚²/

Huiyuan (Buddhist)
Kingdom of Khotan
Kumārajīva
Mahāyāna
Prajñāpāramitā

From metaphors common in Mahāyāna Buddhism, especially in the Prajñāpāramitā literature: Sanskrit प्रतिबिम्ब (pratibimba, “reflected image”) and दकचन्द्र (dakacandra, literally “water-moon”). Early attestations in Chinese include the translation of the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitāsūtra by the Khotanese monk Mokṣala (無羅叉) [291]. The following attestations are from the works of Kumārajīva:
:
:
像 (xiàng, “image”) in the original literature has been modified to 花 (huā, “flower”), mostly for poetic purposes.

der

If it is a formless object, then it is different from the matters of today. It is like an image in the mirror or the moon in the water, which appear to have a form but cannot be touched and such; these are formless.

Late 4th century–early 5th century, Hui Yuan (慧遠) and Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什 (Jiūmóluóshí)), The Correspondences of Hui Yuan and Kumārajīva (《鳩摩羅什法師大義》), T1856

Ruò fēisè zhī wù, zé yì jīn shì. Rú jìng zhōng xiàng, shuǐ zhōng yuè, jiàn rú yǒu sè, ér wú chù děng, zé fēisè yě.

若非色之物，則異今事。如鏡中像，水中月，見如有色，而無觸等，則非色也。

若非色之物，则异今事。如镜中像，水中月，见如有色，而无触等，则非色也。

Understanding all the dharmas is like fantasy, like a flame, like the moon in the water, like vanity, like an echo, like the (illusive) city of the gandharvas, like a dream, like a shadow, like an image in the mirror, like change.

c. 404, Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什 (Jiūmóluóshí)), trans. The Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra (《摩訶般若波羅蜜經》), T0223

Jiěliǎo zhū fǎ, rú huàn, rú yàn, rú shuǐ zhōng yuè, rú xūkōng, rú xiǎng, rú qiántàpó chéng, rú mèng, rú yǐng, rú jìng zhōng xiàng, rú huà.

解了諸法，如幻，如焰，如水中月，如虛空，如響，如揵闥婆城，如夢，如影，如鏡中像，如化。

解了诸法，如幻，如焰，如水中月，如虚空，如响，如揵闼婆城，如梦，如影，如镜中像，如化。

(literal) flowers reflected on a mirror and the moon reflected in the water

Amitābha, life in the world is originally a fantasy.

Qing dynasty, Qian Cai (錢彩), Jin Feng (金豐), 《說岳全傳》

Ēmítuófó, wéirén zàishì, yuánshì jìnghuāshuǐyuè.

阿彌陀佛，為人在世，原是鏡花水月。

阿弥陀佛，为人在世，原是镜花水月。

Qing dynasty, Hua Guangsheng (華廣生), 《白雪遺音》

Jìnghuāshuǐyuè xián xiāoqiǎn, hébì míngxián shèngdì féng.

鏡花水月閑消遣，何必名賢勝地逢。

镜花水月闲消遣，何必名贤胜地逢。

Most of these high earnings yields, which banks promised that the investors would have, became illusions at last because they failed to meet the requirements.

Yínháng chéngnuò de nàxiē gāo shōuyìlǜ, zuìhòu duōbàn yīn bù fúhé tiáojiàn ér chéng jìnghuāshuǐyuè.

銀行承諾的那些高收益率，最後多半因不符合條件而成鏡花水月。

银行承诺的那些高收益率，最后多半因不符合条件而成镜花水月。

(figurative) fantasy, illusion, mere shadow, phantom, vision, something that is visible but having no substance

(figurative) the subtle and profound beauty of poems that should not be comprehended by words literally


日行千里

ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

жи син цяньли

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

It was said that Red Hare (Lü Bu's horse) could travel 1000 li in a single day (during the Three Kingdoms period, 1000 li would have equated to roughly 415.8 km or 258.2118 miles)

able to travel great distances in a single day


如履平地

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄩˇ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧˋ

жу люй пинди

/ʐu³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ lei̯¹³ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/

/ʐu³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ lei̯¹³ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/


探囊取物

ㄊㄢˋ ㄋㄤˊ ㄑㄩˇ ㄨˋ

таньнан цюй у

/tʰän⁵¹ nɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹/

/tʰän⁵¹ nɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹/

探囊 (search one's pocket) + 取 (take out) + 物 (something)

within one's grasp; extremely easy; like taking candy from a baby


擇主而事

ㄗㄜˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄦˊ ㄕˋ

/t͡sɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

* c. 1330 - 1400: Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 3 and Chapter 14
*: 良禽擇木而棲，賢臣擇主而事。
*:: A good bird chooses (for himself) the tree upon which to perch, the talented subject chooses (for himself) the lord that he shall serve.

to choose a talented and wise lord under which to serve


敬賢禮士

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄕˋ

цзинсяньлиши

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

From 虞溥 (Yu Pu)'s《江表傳》 Accounts from the Area South of the Yangtze River, quoted in Pei Songzhi's Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms:
*

Sun Quan, the Brigand-Queller, is brilliant and compassionate. He treats worthies with respect and elites with courtesy. The heroes and braves south of the Yangtze have all attached themselves to him. He already holds six commanderies, and his troops are superb and grain supplies, plentiful. It is enough for an undertaking.

Pei Songzhi, Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 5ᵗʰ century CE

Sūn Tǎolǔ cōngmíng rénhuì, jìngxiánlǐshì, Jiāngbiǎo yīngháo, xián guīfù zhī, yǐ jù yǒu liùjùn, bīngjīng liángduō, zú yǐ lìshì.

孫討虜聰明仁惠，敬賢禮士，江表英豪，咸歸附之，已據有六郡，兵精糧多，足以立事。

孙讨虏聪明仁惠，敬贤礼士，江表英豪，咸归附之，已据有六郡，兵精粮多，足以立事。

to respect people of talent and ability (said of a superior)


良禽擇木

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄇㄨˋ

лянциньцзэму

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

See 良禽擇木而棲／良禽择木而栖 (liángqín zé mù ér qī).

zh-l

良禽擇木而棲／良禽择木而栖 (liángqín zé mù ér qī)

a good bird chooses the tree (upon which to perch)

良禽擇木而棲 良禽擇木而棲#Chinese

良禽择木而栖 良禽择木而栖#Chinese

Synonym of 良禽擇木而棲／良禽择木而栖 (liángqín zé mù ér qī)


擎天駕海

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄞˇ

цинтянь цзя хай

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

擎天 (hold up the sky) + 駕 (to drive; to ride) + 海 (the ocean)

unusually talented; able to do extraordinary things


事不宜遲

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˊ ㄔˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/siː²² pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/siː²² pɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

now is the time; the matter cannot be put off; it must be done right away


廢嫡立庶

ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕㄨˋ

фэй ди ли шу

/feɪ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/feɪ̯⁵¹ ti³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

(archaic) to depose the son of the empress and replace him with the son of the emperor's concubine


江河日下

the (water level) of the streams and rivers goes down by the day (because of the change of seasons)

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ jɐt̚² haː²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ jɐt̚² haː²²/

to worsen by the day; to get worse with each passing day


所見略同

ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

соцзяньлюэтун

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/


不足為慮

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄩˋ

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ lɵy̯²²/


好謀無斷

ㄏㄠˋ ㄇㄡˊ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

хаомоу у дуань

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ moʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ moʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

to be fond of scheming but lacking in judgement


一粒老鼠屎，壞了一鍋粥

One piece of mouseexcrement spoiled one (whole) pot of rice congee.

ㄧ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄨˇ ㄕˇ

ㄏㄨㄞˋ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄧ ㄍㄨㄛ ㄓㄡ

jat¹ lap¹ lou⁵ syu² si², waai⁶ liu⁵ jat¹ wo¹ zuk¹

yī lì lǎoshǔshǐ, huài le yī guō zhōu [Phonetic:yílìláoshúshǐ,huàileyìguōzhōu]

и ли лаошуши

хуай лэ и го чжоу

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ li⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ lə¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

yāt lāp lóuh syú sí, waaih líuh yāt wō jūk

jat⁷ lap⁷ lou⁵ sy² si², waai⁶ liu⁵ jat⁷ wo¹ dzuk⁷

yed¹ leb¹ lou⁵ xu² xi², wai⁶ liu⁵ yed¹ wo¹ zug¹

/jɐt̚⁵ lɐp̚⁵ lou̯¹³ syː³⁵ siː³⁵ waːi̯²² liːu̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ wɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch. / One ill weed mars a whole pot of porridge.


應天順人

ㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ

интяньшуньжэнь

/iŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/iŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

to conform to the wishes of both heaven and the people


張三李四

ㄓㄤ ㄙㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄙˋ

чжансаньлисы

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ sei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ sei̯³³/


張冠李戴

ㄓㄤ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ

чжангуаньлидай

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ taːi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ taːi̯³³/

(figurative) to confuse a person with someone else; to confuse one thing with another


神色不變

ㄕㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

шэньсэбубянь

/ʂən³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʂən³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/


熟能生巧

ㄕㄨˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

ㄕㄡˊ ㄋㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

/ʂu³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

шоунэншэнцяо

/ʂoʊ̯³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sʊk̚² nɐŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ haːu̯³⁵/

/ʂu³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂoʊ̯³⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sʊk̚² nɐŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ haːu̯³⁵/

First attested to the story The Oil Peddler by Ouyang Xiu.

Chen Yaozi, titled Kangsu, was good at archery. He was unparalleled at the time, so he boasted of his achievements. Once, he was shooting in the yard at home when an oil peddler put down his load and stood up, looked, and did not leave for a long time. The peddler saw him hit eight to nine arrows in ten, but nodded slightly. Kangsu asked: "do you know how to shoot? isn't my shooting good?" The peddler said: "you have nothing but good technique." Kangsu angrily replied: "how dare you underestimate my archery?" The peddler said: "through my knowledge in pouring oil." Hence, he took out a bottle gourd, placing it on the ground, and covered the mouth with a coin, slowly using a ladle and dripped the oil in. The oil drips through the hole on the coin, but the coin wasn't wet. So, he said: "I have nothing too, my hands are merely proficient." Kangsu sent him away with a smile.

Chén Kāngsùgōng Yáozī shàn shè, dāngshì wúshuāng, gōng yì yǐ cǐ zìjīn. Cháng shè yú jiā pǔ, yǒu mài yóu wēng shì dān ér lì, nì zhī, jiǔ ér bù qù. Jiàn qí fā shǐ shí zhōng bā jiǔ, dàn wēi hàn zhī. Kāngsù wèn yuē: “Rǔ yì zhī shè hū? Wú shè bù yì jīng hū?” Wēng yuē: “Wú tā, dàn shǒu shú ěr.” Kāngsù fèn rán yuē: “Ěr ān gǎn qīng wú shè!” Wēng yuē: “Yǐ wǒ zhuó yóu zhī zhī.” Nǎi qǔ yī húlú zhì yú dì, yǐ qián fù qí kǒu, xú yǐ biāo zhuó yóu lì zhī, zì qián kǒng rù, ér qián bù shī. Yīn yuē: “Wǒ yì wú tā, wéi shǒu shú ěr.” Kāngsù xiào ér qiǎn zhī.

陳康肅公堯咨善射，當世無雙，公亦以此自矜。嘗射於家圃，有賣油翁釋擔而立，睨之，久而不去。見其發矢十中八九，但微頷之。康肅問曰：「汝亦知射乎？吾射不亦精乎？」翁曰：「無他，但手熟爾。」康肅忿然曰：「爾安敢輕吾射！」翁曰：「以我酌油知之。」乃取一葫蘆置於地，以錢覆其口，徐以杓酌油瀝之，自錢孔入，而錢不濕。因曰：「我亦無他，惟手熟爾。」康肅笑而遣之。

陈康肃公尧咨善射，当世无双，公亦以此自矜。尝射于家圃，有卖油翁释担而立，睨之，久而不去。见其发矢十中八九，但微颔之。康肃问曰：「汝亦知射乎？吾射不亦精乎？」翁曰：「无他，但手熟尔。」康肃忿然曰：「尔安敢轻吾射！」翁曰：「以我酌油知之。」乃取一葫芦置于地，以钱覆其口，徐以杓酌油沥之，自钱孔入，而钱不湿。因曰：「我亦无他，惟手熟尔。」康肃笑而遣之。

practice makes perfect
practice makes perfect


有心

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/iou⁵¹ ɕiŋ²⁴/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sim³³/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/u³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴/

/u³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴/

/iɤ⁵⁵ ɕin²¹/

/ɦiɤ²² ɕin⁴⁴/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/iou⁵¹ ɕiŋ²⁴/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sim³³/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/u³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴/

/u³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴/

/iɤ⁵⁵ ɕin²¹/

/ɦiɤ²² ɕin⁴⁴/

(Cantonese) that's kind/thoughtful of you; thank you for your concern


畫影圖形

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄧㄥˇ ㄊㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/xu̯ä⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

(historical) to put up wanted posters with the likeness of the offender


自取其禍

ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/


粉骨碎身

desc

→ Vietnamese: thịt nát xương tan, tan xương nát thịt (calque)

ㄈㄣˇ ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄣ

фэньгусуйшэнь

/fən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/fən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

to have one's body smashed to pieces; to die the most cruel death


如雨駢集

ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˇ ㄆㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄧˊ

жу юй пяньцзи

/ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

如 (like) + 雨 (rain drops) + 駢集 (to gather side by side)

(archaic) to gather together side by side in large numbers


疏財仗義

ㄕㄨ ㄘㄞˊ ㄓㄤˋ ㄧˋ

шуцай чжанъи

/ʂu⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʂu⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

willing to disperse money in order to uphold justice


欺天罔地

ㄑㄧ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄤˇ ㄉㄧˋ

ци тянь ван ди

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

(literary) to deceive the gods of heaven and earth


滅國弒君

ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄩㄣ

/mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/miːt̚² kʷɔːk̚³ siː³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

/mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/miːt̚² kʷɔːk̚³ siː³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

(archaic) to destroy the nation and kill the ruler (emperor)


安營下寨

ㄢ ㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓㄞˋ

/ˀän⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹ haː²² t͡saːi̯²²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹ haː²² t͡saːi̯²²/


齊心戮力

ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ lʊk̚² lɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ lʊk̚² lɪk̚²/

everyone will do their utmost to accomplish something


歲寒三友

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (歲寒三友):
* → Japanese: 歳寒(さいかん)三友(さんゆう) (saikan san'yū)

ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄙㄢ ㄧㄡˇ

суйханьсанью

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ xän³⁵ sän⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵy̯³³ hɔːn²¹ saːm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ xän³⁵ sän⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵy̯³³ hɔːn²¹ saːm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

Pine, bamboo and plum blossoms do not wither in winter; therefore, they are known as the "three friends of winter".

three friends of winter (pine, bamboo and plum blossom)


涕泗橫流

ㄊㄧˋ ㄙˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

tears and mucus coming out sideways; to weep uncontrollably


高枕無憂

ㄍㄠ ㄓㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄧㄡ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐm³⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

Zhuo was overjoyed, and said, "I have Fengxian, so I can rest easy!

c. 1330 - 1400: Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 5

Zhuó dàxǐ yuē: “Wú yǒu Fèngxiān, gāozhěnwúyōu yǐ!”

卓大喜曰：「吾有奉先，高枕無憂矣！」

卓大喜曰：「吾有奉先，高枕无忧矣！」

Sky, Snow and Broken Sword. For ten years these three assassins from Zhao have repeatedly plotted to kill his majesty, so he has not known a single peaceful night's sleep. Today we discover that a hero from our great kingdom of Qin has single-handedly wiped out the enemy. From now on his majesty can once more sleep without fear!

2002: Zhang Yimou (director), Hero (a movie starring Jet Li) (from Quentin Tarantino DVD release)

Chángkōng, Fēixuě, Cánjiàn zhè sān míng Zhào guó cìkè shí nián lái móu cì wǒ wáng. Lìng wǒ wáng yīrì bùdé ānshuì. Zěn liào jīnrì què bèi wǒ Dàqín zhuàngshì yījǔ jīpò? Cóngcǐ wǒ wáng kěyǐ gāozhěnwúyōu le!

長空、飛雪、殘劍這三名趙國刺客十年來謀刺我王。令我王一日不得安睡。怎料今日卻被我大秦壯士一舉擊破？從此我王可以高枕無憂了！

长空、飞雪、残剑这三名赵国刺客十年来谋刺我王。令我王一日不得安睡。怎料今日却被我大秦壮士一举击破？从此我王可以高枕无忧了！


虎體狼腰

ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄌㄤˊ ㄧㄠ

ху ти лан яо

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

describes someone with an imposing or majestic bearing


豹頭猿臂

The head of a leopard and the arms of an ape

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ

баотоуюаньби

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jyːn²¹ pei̯³³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/pʰaːu̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jyːn²¹ pei̯³³/

Zhuo took a look at the man, who stood at a height of nine chi, had a tiger-like torso, a wolf-like waist, a panther-like head, and ape-like arms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Zhuó shì zhī, qí rén shēncháng jiǔ chǐ, hǔtǐlángyāo, bàotóuyuánbì

卓視之，其人身長九尺，虎體狼腰，豹頭猿臂

卓视之，其人身长九尺，虎体狼腰，豹头猿臂

(figurative) person with an imposing and majestic bearing


手起刀落

ㄕㄡˇ ㄑㄧˇ ㄉㄠ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hei̯³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hei̯³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

(archaic) to cut down with one swift stroke of one's sword


切磋琢磨

ㄑㄧㄝ ㄘㄨㄛ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ tœːk̚³ mɔː²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ tœːk̚³ mɔː²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 55 (《詩經·衞風·淇奧》)

lang

(《詩經·衞風·淇奧》)

(《詩經·衞風·淇奧》)

Look at those recesses in the banks of the Qi [river], with their green bamboos, so fresh and luxuriant!
There is our elegant and accomplished prince, as from the knife and the file, as from the chisel and the polisher!

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

Zhān bǐ Qí yù, lǜ zhú yīyī.
Yǒu fěi jūnzǐ, rú qiē rú cuō, rú zhuó rú mó.

瞻彼淇奧，綠竹猗猗。
有匪君子，如切如磋，如琢如磨。

瞻彼淇奥，绿竹猗猗。
有匪君子，如切如磋，如琢如磨。

(original meaning) to carve and polish (bones, horns, ivory and jade)

(figurative) to learn by exchanging ideas and experiences; friendly competition; improvement by learning from others


朽木糞牆

ㄒㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄈㄣˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/nɐu̯³⁵ mʊk̚² fɐn³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/nɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² fɐn³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/nɐu̯³⁵ mʊk̚² fɐn³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/nɐu̯¹³ mʊk̚² fɐn³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

Zai Yu being asleep during the daytime, the Master said, "Rotten wood cannot be carved; a wall of dirty earth will not receive the trowel. This Yu! — what is the use of my reproving him?"

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

Zǎi Yǔ zhòuqǐn. Zǐyuē: “Xiǔmù bùkě diāo yě, fèntǔ zhī qiáng, bùkě wū yě, yú Yǔ yǔ hé zhū.”

宰予晝寢。子曰：「朽木不可雕也，糞土之牆，不可杇也，於予與何誅。」

宰予昼寝。子曰：「朽木不可雕也，粪土之墙，不可杇也，于予与何诛。」

a person whose spirit is rotten cannot benefit from education


矢石如雨

ㄕˇ ㄕˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˇ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

arrows and rocks falling down like rain (describing a ferocious battle)


月白風清

ㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄞˊ ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ

юэбай фэнцин

/ɥɛ⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːt̚² paːk̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːt̚² paːk̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

a bright moon and a gentle breeze; a pleasant evening


一成不變

ㄧ ㄔㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ piːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ piːn³³/


一言興邦

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄅㄤ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ pɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ pɔːŋ⁵⁵/

The Duke Ding (鲁定公) asked whether there was a single sentence which could make a country prosperous.
Confucius replied, "Such an effect cannot be expected from one sentence. There is a saying, however, which people have ― 'To be a prince is difficult; to be a minister is not easy.' If a ruler knows this ― the difficulty of being a prince ― may there not be expected from this one sentence the prosperity of his country?"

Dìng Gōng wèn: “Yīyán ér kěyǐ xìngbāng, yǒu zhū?”
Kǒngzǐ duì yuē: “Yán bù kěyǐ ruò shì qí jī yě. Rén zhī yán yuē: ‘Wéi jūn nán, wéi chén bùyì.’ Rú zhī wéi jūn zhī nán yě, bù jī hū yīyán ér xìngbāng hū?”

定公問：「一言而可以興邦，有諸？」
孔子對曰：「言不可以若是其幾也。人之言曰：『為君難，為臣不易。』如知為君之難也，不幾乎一言而興邦乎？」

定公问：「一言而可以兴邦，有诸？」
孔子对曰：「言不可以若是其几也。人之言曰：『为君难，为臣不易。』如知为君之难也，不几乎一言而兴邦乎？」

One inspirational sentence can revitalize a nation.


膠柱鼓瑟

to play a zither whose bridge is glued to the sound board

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄓㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³ kuː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³ kuː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵/


一往情深

ㄧ ㄨㄤˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄣ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

to have a deep and abiding affection for; to be passionately devoted (to something, once one starts to pour one's feelings to it); to be passionately in love


天摧地塌

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄘㄨㄟ ㄉㄧˋ ㄊㄚ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ tʰä⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ tʰä⁵⁵/

Literally: the heavens are torn apart and the earth crumbles


岳撼山崩

the high mountains shake and the hills collapse

ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄥ

юэханьшаньбэн

/ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pɤŋ⁵⁵/


耀武揚威

ㄧㄠˋ ㄨˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄨㄟ

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²² mou̯¹³ jœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau⁴¹⁻²² bu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui³³/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻¹¹ bu¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ ui⁴⁴/

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²² mou̯¹³ jœːŋ²¹ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau⁴¹⁻²² bu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² ui³³/

/iau²²⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ¹³⁻²² ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻¹¹ bu¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ui⁴⁴/

/iau³³⁻²¹ bu²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ ui⁴⁴/

to prance about; to thump one's chest; to swagger about; to brag of one's military prowess


裡應外合

ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄥˋ ㄨㄞˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

to work from the inside in coordination with elements from the outside


如入無人之境

ㄖㄨˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

жу жу ужэньчжицзин

/ʐu³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/ʐu³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

to fight without fear (as if the enemy were nowhere in sight) and be undefeatable


無人之境

ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

ужэньчжицзин

/u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵/

a place that is devoid of people; no man's land


飛走如風

ㄈㄟ ㄗㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄈㄥ

фэй цзоу жу фэн

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/


倒豎虎鬚

ㄉㄠˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄒㄩ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ syː²² fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ syː²² fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

to appear fierce or angry, with one's whiskers seemingly standing straight up


不分勝負

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄣ ㄕㄥˋ ㄈㄨˋ

буфэнь шэнфу

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ fuː²²/

/pu⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ fuː²²/

unable to distinguish the winner from the loser; to be tied


抖擻精神

ㄉㄡˇ ㄙㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣˊ

доусоуцзиншэнь

/toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵/

pull oneself together
pull oneself together

to gather one's spirits; to pull oneself together; to brace


親冒矢石

ㄑㄧㄣ ㄇㄠˋ ㄕˇ ㄕˊ

цинь мао шиши

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

to personally brave the slings and arrows; to put oneself in the line of fire


奮不顧身

ㄈㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄕㄣ

фэньбугушэнь

/fən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/fɐn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin³³/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin⁴⁴/

/fən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/fɐn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kuː³³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin³³/

/hun²¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin⁴⁴/

/hun²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin⁴⁴/

to dash ahead without regard to one's personal safety


抱頭鼠竄

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄘㄨㄢˋ

баотоушуцуань

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

/pʰou̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

/pʰou̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³/

to cover up one's head with one's hands (ducking for cover), and scurry off like a rat

Fú Lù Gǔ tiānxià zhī biànshì, wú qiánrì qiǎn zhī, zhìqióng cíqū, bàotóushǔcuàn, diānbèi ér guī, jǐnyǐshēnmiǎn.

夫陸賈天下之辯士，吾前日遣之，智窮辭屈，抱頭鼠竄，顛狽而歸，僅以身免。

夫陆贾天下之辩士，吾前日遣之，智穷辞屈，抱头鼠窜，颠狈而归，仅以身免。

to flee like a scared rabbit; to scurry away like a rat


力所能及

ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄥˊ ㄐㄧˊ

/li⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/lɪk̚² sɔː³⁵ nɐŋ²¹ kʰɐp̚²/

/li⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/lɪk̚² sɔː³⁵ nɐŋ²¹ kʰɐp̚²/

within one's power; within one's ability


百無一二

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²²/

there are no more than a few people left


才華橫溢

ㄘㄞˊ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄏㄥˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ waː²¹ waːŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ waː²¹ waːŋ²¹ jɐt̚²/


出難題

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ nän³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ naːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ nän³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ naːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

to pose a problem; to raise a tough issue

to make something difficult (for someone)


碰釘子

/pʰɤŋ⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/pʰʊŋ³³ tɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/pʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tiɪŋ³³ t͡sɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/pʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³/

/pʰɤŋ⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/pʰʊŋ³³ tɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/pʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tiɪŋ³³ t͡sɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/pʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su⁵³/


粗心大意

ㄘㄨ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jiː³³/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jiː³³/

Even so, mistakes of one kind or another will occur if we are not careful.

1956, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論十大關係》 (On the Ten Major Relationships), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Dànshì jiùshì zhèyàng, rúguǒ cūxīndàyì, yě háishì huì fàn zhè zhǒng huò nà zhǒng cuòwù.

但是就是這樣，如果粗心大意，也還是會犯這種或那種錯誤。

但是就是这样，如果粗心大意，也还是会犯这种或那种错误。


多勞多得

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄌㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄜˊ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

the harder one works, the more one gets paid


兩下子

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ˙ㄗ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ haː¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ haː¹³ t͡siː³⁵/

(colloquial) a few tricks; skills; (to know) a thing or two; (to have) a few tricks up one's sleeve


萬古長青

ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄔㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄥ

ваньгучанцин

/wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² kuː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² kuː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/


不可勝數

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥˋ ㄕㄨˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³⁵/


不是嗎

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ mä¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː²² maː³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ mä¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː²² maː³³/


鋌而走險

ㄊㄧㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄗㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄢˇ

тинъэрцзоусянь

/tʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɪŋ¹³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ hiːm³⁵/

/tʰeŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sau⁵²⁻³⁵ hiam⁵²⁻²¹/

/tʰɪŋ¹³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ hiːm³⁵/

to act recklessly out of desperation, be forced to break the law


狗咬呂洞賓

ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄣ

gǒu yǎo Lǚ Dòngbīn [Phonetic:góuyǎolǚdòngbīn]

гоу яо Люй Дунбинь

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ pin⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ lɵy̯¹³ tʊŋ²² pɐn⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ lɵy̯¹³ tʊŋ²² pɐn⁵⁵/

See 狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心／狗咬吕洞宾——不识好人心 (gǒu yǎo Lǚ Dòngbīn, bùshí hǎorén xīn).

zh-l

狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心

狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心 狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心#Chinese

狗咬吕洞宾——不识好人心 狗咬吕洞宾——不识好人心#Chinese

bite the hand that feeds you
bite the hand that feeds you

Short for 狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心／狗咬吕洞宾——不识好人心 (gǒu yǎo Lǚ Dòngbīn, bùshí hǎorén xīn, “to bite the hand that feeds you”).


豎子不足與謀

ㄕㄨˋ ㄗˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄩˋ ㄇㄡˊ

шуцзы буцзу юймоу

/ʂu⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ y⁵¹ moʊ̯³⁵/

(archaic) This childish buffoon is not qualified to participate in strategic planning!

(archaic) You childish buffoons are not qualified to participate in strategic planning!


敬酒不吃吃罰酒

to drink a penalty toast after refusing to drink when toasted

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔ ㄔ ㄈㄚˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

ching⁴-chiu³ pu⁴-chʻih¹ chʻih¹ fa²-chiu³

цзинцзю бучи чи фацзю

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ fä³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɪŋ³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɛːk̚³ hɛːk̚³ fɐt̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

to be forced to do something after initially turning down a request to do that thing


勢不可當

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄤ

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄤˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

fierce and overwhelming; swift and unstoppable


月明如晝

ㄩㄝˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄡˋ

юэ мин жу чжоу

/ɥɛ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːt̚² mɪŋ²¹ jyː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³³/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːt̚² mɪŋ²¹ jyː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³³/

the moon shined as bright as if it were midday


飲水思源

desc

→ Vietnamese: uống nước nhớ nguồn (calque)

ㄧㄣˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄙ ㄩㄢˊ

иньшуйсыюань

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ siː⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuan²⁴/

/im⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²³/

/im⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡuan²⁴/

From "Tune in the Key of Zhǐ" (徵調曲) written by Yu Xin (庾信) during the Northern and Southern dynasties:
:
i.e. remember where and how the fruit/water came from. Don’t just be thankful for the fruit/water. The idiom makes use of the latter half: be thankful for all the elements and processes (both past and present) that allowed you to enjoy that humble cup of water.

When you eat the fruit, remember the trees that produced them; when you drink water, think of its source.

Luò qí shí zhě sī qí shù; yǐn qí liú zhě huái qí yuán.

落其實者思其樹；飲其流者懷其源。

落其实者思其树；饮其流者怀其源。

to remember where one's happiness comes from; to not forget one's roots or heritage


以訛傳訛

ㄧˇ ㄜˊ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄜˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ˀɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ ŋɔː²¹/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡo²⁴⁻²² tuan²⁴⁻²² ɡo²⁴/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ˀɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ ŋɔː²¹/

/i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡo²⁴⁻²² tuan²⁴⁻²² ɡo²⁴/

to incorrectly relay an erroneous message (so that it becomes increasingly distorted)


蹦蹦跳跳

ㄅㄥˋ ㄅㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄠˋ

бэнбэнтяотяо

/pɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯³³ tʰiːu̯³³/

/pɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯³³ tʰiːu̯³³/


如醉如痴

ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄔ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵/

如痴如醉 如痴如醉#Chinese

Alternative form of 如痴如醉 (rúchīrúzuì, “spellbound; fascinated”)


諸如此類

ㄓㄨ ㄖㄨˊ ㄘˇ ㄌㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²²/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²²⁻³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²²/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ lɵy̯²²⁻³⁵/


萬水千山

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄕㄢ

ваньшуйцяньшань

/wän⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

千山萬水 千山萬水#Chinese

千山万水 千山万水#Chinese

Alternative form of 千山萬水／千山万水 (qiānshānwànshuǐ, “many rivers and mountains; distant, dangerous and difficult path”)


前赴後繼

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньфухоуцзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ fuː²² hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ fuː²² hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³/

2023 December, 陳欣懿牧師 [Rev. John Chan], “宣教新趨勢”, in 我的中國心, number 75:

From then on, disciples generation after generation have been bravely and fearlessly advancing the Gospel towards the ends of the earth.

Cóng nàshí qǐ, yīdài yòu yīdài de méntú qiánfùhòujì de jiāng fúyīn chuán xiàng dìjí.

從那時起，一代又一代的門徒前赴後繼地將福音傳向地極。

从那时起，一代又一代的门徒前赴后继地将福音传向地极。

to bravely and fearlessly advance wave upon wave


各奔前程

ㄍㄜˋ ㄅㄣˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄅㄣ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ

гэбэньцяньчэн

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ pən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ pən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

each pursues his own course; each goes his own way


可歌可泣

ㄎㄜˇ ㄍㄜ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧˋ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐp̚⁵/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐp̚⁵/


根深蒂固

ㄍㄣ ㄕㄣ ㄉㄧˋ ㄍㄨˋ

гэньшэньдигу

/kən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɐi̯³³ kuː³³/

/kɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ kuː³³/

/kən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɐi̯³³ kuː³³/

/kɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ kuː³³/

deep-rooted; ineradicable; ingrained; inveterate; radicated


自負盈虧

ㄗˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄟ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ iŋ³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² fuː²² jɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ iŋ³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² fuː²² jɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

to assume sole responsibility for profits and losses (of an enterprise etc.)


勤工儉學

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄩㄝˊ

циньгунцзяньсюэ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːm²² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːm²² hɔːk̚²/

part-work and part-study; to support oneself through hard part-time work while studying


精益求精

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄥ

цзинъицюцзин

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ iaʔ²⁻⁴ kʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡seŋ³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ iaʔ²⁻⁴ kʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡seŋ³³/

to keep on improving; to constantly improve


不言而喻

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄩˋ

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː²²/

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ jiː²¹ jyː²²/

to go without saying; to be self-evident


層出不窮

ㄘㄥˊ ㄔㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡san²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san¹³⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ put̚³²⁻⁵ kiɪŋ¹³/

/t͡san²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡san²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²³/

/t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰioŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ kʰioŋ⁵⁵/

to emerge in an endless stream; to come thick and fast


堅貞不屈

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩ

цзяньчжэньбуцюй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐt̚⁵/


面面俱到

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄉㄠˋ

мяньмяньцзюйдао

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/miːn²² miːn²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ tou̯³³/

/miːn²² miːn²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ tou̯³³/

attending to each and every aspect of a matter; thorough


無可奉告

ㄨˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄍㄠˋ

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ fʊŋ²² kou̯³³/

/u³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ fʊŋ²² kou̯³³/

to have nothing to say (in a diplomatic context); no comment


一乾二淨

ㄧ ㄍㄢ ㄦˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sɛːŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sɛːŋ²²/


指手畫腳

ㄓˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

чжишоухуацзяо

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ waːk̚² kœːk̚³/

/t͡siː³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ waːk̚² kœːk̚³/

(figuratively) to make indiscreet remarks or criticisms


門當戶對

môn đăng hộ đối

CJKV/code

môn đăng hộ đối

Sino-Xenic (門當戶對):
* → Vietnamese: môn đăng hộ đối (門當戶對)

CJKV

môn đăng hộ đối

ㄇㄣˊ ㄉㄤ ㄏㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

мэньданхудуй

/mən³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²² tɵy̯³³/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻²¹ tui²¹/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻¹¹ tui¹¹/

/mən³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ wuː²² tɵy̯³³/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻²¹ tui²¹/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔ³³⁻¹¹ tui¹¹/

to be well-matched in terms of socio-economic status (for purposes of marriage); to have similar family backgrounds


隨時隨地

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ siː²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ siː²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ tei̯²²/

at any given time and in any given place


自私自利

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² siː⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lei̯²²/

tsṳ̆ sṳ tsṳ̆ lĭ

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ sɯ³³⁻²³ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ li³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² siː⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lei̯²²/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ sɯ³³⁻²³ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ li³⁵/

Liberalism stems from petty-bourgeois selfishness, it places personal interests first and the interests of the revolution second.

1937, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《反對自由主義》 (Combat Liberalism), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Zìyóuzhǔyì de láiyuán, zàiyú xiǎozīchǎnjiējí de zìsīzìlìxìng, yǐ gèrén lìyì fàng zài dìyī wèi, gémìng lìyì fàng zài dì'èr wèi.

自由主義的來源，在於小資產階級的自私自利性，以個人利益放在第一位，革命利益放在第二位。

自由主义的来源，在于小资产阶级的自私自利性，以个人利益放在第一位，革命利益放在第二位。


欣欣向榮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

синьсиньсянжун

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³ wɪŋ²¹/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him³³ him³³ hiɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ¹³/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iɪŋ²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ hœːŋ³³ wɪŋ²¹/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him³³ him³³ hiɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻²² him⁴⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ¹³/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iɪŋ²⁴/

/him⁴⁴⁻³³ him⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iɪŋ²³/

The trees thriving in luxuriance; the stream flowing leisurely from the spring.

Mù xīnxīn yǐ xiàng róng, quán juānjuān ér shǐ liú.

木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。

木欣欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。

During that stage, there was a lively atmosphere in the country in every field; politically there was a trend towards democracy and culturally there was fairly widespread activity.

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

Zhèshí quánguó gèfāngmiàn shì xīnxīnxiàngróng de, zhèngzhì shàng yǒu mínzhǔhuà de qūshì, wénhuà shàng yǒu jiào pǔbiàn de dòngyuán.

這時全國各方面是欣欣向榮的，政治上有民主化的趨勢，文化上有較普遍的動員。

这时全国各方面是欣欣向荣的，政治上有民主化的趋势，文化上有较普遍的动员。


得不償失

ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄕ

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵/

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵/

the loss outweighs the gain; to do more harm than good


無所作為

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ wɐi̯²¹/

to attempt nothing and accomplish nothing; to be in a state of inertia


川流不息

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ liu²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ liu²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²/

/t͡sʰuaŋ³³⁻²³ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰuaŋ³³⁻²³ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ sek̚²/

2002, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “時光 [shíguāng, Time]”, in 時光·漫步 [Time, Stroll], performed by Xu Wei:

Perhaps just at this instant / Your smile was as bright as an afterglow / During the endless stream-like time

Yěxǔ jiù zài zhè yīshùnjiān, Nǐ de xiàoróng yīrán rú wǎnxiá bān, Zài chuānliúbùxī de shíguāng zhōng, Shéncǎifēiyáng

也許就在這一瞬間 你的笑容依然如晚霞般 在川流不息的時光中 神采飛揚

也许就在这一瞬间 你的笑容依然如晚霞般 在川流不息的时光中 神采飞扬

(usually of traffic) flowing past in an endless stream


精打細算

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄒㄧˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

цзиндасисуань

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ suan²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sŋ̍²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sue¹¹⁻⁵³ sŋ̍¹¹/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁵³ suan²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹⁻⁴¹ sŋ̍²¹/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sue¹¹⁻⁵³ sŋ̍¹¹/

careful calculation and strict budgeting


連滾帶爬

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄆㄚˊ

ляньгуньдайпа

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰä³⁵/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰä³⁵/

rolling and crawling (describes a scene in which people are chaotically fleeing every which way from danger)


奇花異草

ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄧˋ ㄘㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ faː⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ i⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ faː⁵⁵ jiː²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/


思前想後

ㄙ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄏㄡˋ

сыцяньсянхоу

/sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ sœːŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

/sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ sœːŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²²/

to deliberate over something for too long causing one to hesitate


不卑不亢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːŋ³³/

/pu⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːŋ³³/


一概而論

ㄧ ㄍㄞˋ ㄦˊ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ lɵn²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ lɵn²²/

paint with a broad brush
paint with a broad brush

to treat different matters as the same; to lump together; to paint with a broad brush; (psychology) splitting


不正之風

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄓ ㄈㄥ

бучжэнчжифэн

bučžɛnčžifɛn

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/


想方設法

ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄈㄤ ㄕㄜˋ ㄈㄚˇ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ³⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³ faːt̚³/

/sĩõ³⁵⁻¹¹ huaŋ³³⁻²³ siak̚²⁻⁴ huak̚²/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ³⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³ faːt̚³/

/sĩõ³⁵⁻¹¹ huaŋ³³⁻²³ siak̚²⁻⁴ huak̚²/

to do everything possible; to try anything one can think of


津津有味

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄟˋ

цзиньцзиньювэй

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin³³ tin³³ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin³³ tin³³ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bi⁴¹/

/tin⁴⁴⁻²² tin⁴⁴⁻²² iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi²²/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

/tin⁴⁴⁻³³ tin⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bi³³/

with great relish; with keen pleasure; with gusto


和平共處

ㄏㄜˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄨˇ

/xɤ³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ kʊŋ²² t͡sʰyː³⁵/

/xɤ³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ kʊŋ²² t͡sʰyː³⁵/

和平共處五項原則

和平共处五项原则

peaceful coexistence
peaceful coexistence


大有可為

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄟˊ

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

to be well worth doing; to have great prospects


顧全大局

ㄍㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄩˊ

гуцюаньдацзюй

/ku⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕy³⁵/

/kuː³³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ taːi̯²² kʊk̚²/

/ku⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕy³⁵/

/kuː³³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ taːi̯²² kʊk̚²/

We should encourage [comrades] to take the interests of the whole into account. Every Party member, every branch of work, every statement and every action must proceed from the interests of the whole Party; it is absolutely impermissible to violate this principle.

1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《整頓黨的作風》 (Rectify the Party's Style of Work), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Yào tíchàng gùquándàjú. Měi yī gè dǎngyuán, měi yī zhǒng júbù gōngzuò, měi yī xiàng yánlùn huò xíngdòng, dōu bìxū yǐ quándǎng lìyì wéi chūfādiǎn, juéduì bù xǔkě wéifǎn zhège yuánzé.

要提倡顧全大局。每一個黨員，每一種局部工作，每一項言論或行動，都必須以全黨利益為出發點，絕對不許可違反這個原則。

要提倡顾全大局。每一个党员，每一种局部工作，每一项言论或行动，都必须以全党利益为出发点，绝对不许可违反这个原则。

to take the interests of the whole into account; to take the situation as a whole into consideration


合情合理

ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐp̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐp̚² lei̯¹³/

/hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² hap̚⁴⁻³² li⁵³/

/hap̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² hap̚²⁴⁻² li⁵⁵⁴/

/hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ¹³⁻²² hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ li⁵³/

/hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hap̚⁴⁻³² li⁵³/

/hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ hap̚⁴⁻³² li⁴¹/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐp̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐp̚² lei̯¹³/

/hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² hap̚⁴⁻³² li⁵³/

/hap̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² hap̚²⁴⁻² li⁵⁵⁴/

/hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hap̚⁴⁻³² li⁵³/

/hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ hap̚⁴⁻³² li⁴¹/


發奮圖強

ㄈㄚ ㄈㄣˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/fä⁵⁵ fən⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/faːt̚³ fɐn¹³ tʰou̯²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹/

/fä⁵⁵ fən⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/faːt̚³ fɐn¹³ tʰou̯²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹/

to work diligently (ex. to make the country strong)


有口無心

ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

to be sharp tongued but not malicious; to be highly critical but not really mean it


三番五次

/sän⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ faːn⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʰiː³³/

/sam⁴⁴ fan⁴⁴⁻³⁵ n̩³¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵³/

/sæ̃¹¹ fæ̃¹¹ vu⁵³ t͡sʰz̩⁴⁵/

/saŋ⁵⁵ huaŋ⁵⁵⁽⁻²¹⁾ ŋu²⁴²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰøy²¹³/

/san³³ ɸan³³ u⁴¹ t͡sʰz̩⁴⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ faːn⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʰiː³³/

/sam⁴⁴ fan⁴⁴⁻³⁵ n̩³¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵³/

/sæ̃¹¹ fæ̃¹¹ vu⁵³ t͡sʰz̩⁴⁵/

/saŋ⁵⁵ huaŋ⁵⁵⁽⁻²¹⁾ ŋu²⁴²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰøy²¹³/

/san³³ ɸan³³ u⁴¹ t͡sʰz̩⁴⁵/

Guō xiàozǐ fàngshēng dàkū dào: “Fùqīn bù rèn érzǐ, érzǐ dàodǐ shì yào rèn fùqīn de!” Sānfānwǔcì, chán de lǎo héshàng jí le, shuōdào: “Nǐ shì héchù guānggùn, gǎn lái nào wǒmen! Kuài chūqù! Wǒ yào guān shānmén!”

郭孝子放聲大哭道：「父親不認兒子，兒子到底是要認父親的！」三番五次，纏的老和尚急了，說道：「你是何處光棍，敢來鬧我們！快出去！我要關山門！」

郭孝子放声大哭道：「父亲不认儿子，儿子到底是要认父亲的！」三番五次，缠的老和尚急了，说道：「你是何处光棍，敢来闹我们！快出去！我要关山门！」


非……才……

фэй...цай...

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

非得做才行

must; should; it is necessary or imperative


弄虛作假

ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄩ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ

нунсюйцзоцзя

/nʊŋ⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²² hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kaː³⁵/

/nʊŋ⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²² hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kaː³⁵/


連……帶……

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ... ㄉㄞˋ ...

лянь...дай...

/li̯ɛn³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

Everyone in their family, both old and young, came down with the illness.

Quánjiā lián dà dài xiǎo dōu bìngdǎo le.

全家連大帶小都病倒了。

全家连大带小都病倒了。


大包大攬

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄠ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄢˇ

/tä⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² paːu̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² laːm¹³/

/tä⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² paːu̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² laːm¹³/

to undertake a task (or contract) all by oneself


推來推去

ㄊㄨㄟ ㄌㄞˊ ㄊㄨㄟ ㄑㄩˋ

туйлайтуйцюй

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ hɵy̯³³/

(figurative) to shirk responsibility (onto others)


投機倒把

ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧ ㄉㄠˇ ㄅㄚˇ

тоуцзи даоба

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ paː³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ paː³⁵/

to engage in speculation and profiteering


歸根到底

ㄍㄨㄟ ㄍㄣ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄧˇ

гуйгэньдаоди

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ tou̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ tou̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/

in the final analysis; it all comes down to


探頭探腦

ㄊㄢˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄢˋ ㄋㄠˇ

таньтоутаньнао

/tʰän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

/tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴ tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ nãu⁵³/

/tʰän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

/tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴ tʰam²¹⁻⁵³ nãu⁵³/


接二連三

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄦˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄢ

цзеэрляньсань

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ sän⁵⁵/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ li²²⁻²¹ liɛn²⁴⁻²² sã⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹⁻²² liɛn²⁴⁻²² sã³³/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁵ li²²⁻²¹ liɛn¹³⁻²² sã⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sã⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ li³³⁻²¹ liɛn²³⁻³³ sã⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ sän⁵⁵/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ li²²⁻²¹ liɛn²⁴⁻²² sã⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚⁵⁻²⁴ li⁴¹⁻²² liɛn²⁴⁻²² sã³³/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁵ li²²⁻²¹ liɛn¹³⁻²² sã⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sã⁴⁴/

/t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ li³³⁻²¹ liɛn²³⁻³³ sã⁴⁴/


兢兢業業

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jiːp̚² jiːp̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ jiːp̚² jiːp̚²/

Let not (the Son of Heaven) set to the holders of states the example of indolence or dissoluteness. Let him be wary and fearful, (remembering that) in one day or two days there may occur ten thousand springs of things.

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

Wú jiào yì yù. Yǒu bāng jīngjīng yèyè, yīrì èrrì wànjī.

無教逸欲。有邦兢兢業業，一日二日萬幾。

无教逸欲。有邦兢兢业业，一日二日万几。

(ideophonic) cautious and conscientious; diligent and attentive


斬釘截鐵

ㄓㄢˇ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ

чжаньдинцзете

/ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡saːm³⁵ tɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚² tʰiːt̚³/

/t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² tʰiʔ³²/

/t͡sam⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tiɪŋ³³ t͡siɛt̚²⁴⁻² tʰiʔ⁵/

/t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɛt̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰiʔ³²/

/t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² tʰiʔ³²/

/t͡sam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² tʰiʔ³²/

/t͡saːm³⁵ tɛːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚² tʰiːt̚³/

/t͡sam⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tiɪŋ³³ t͡siɛt̚²⁴⁻² tʰiʔ⁵/


朝氣蓬勃

ㄓㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄆㄥˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ fʊŋ²¹ puːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ fʊŋ²¹ puːt̚²/

You young people, full of vigor and vitality, are in the bloom of life, like the sun at eight or nine in the morning. Our hope is placed on you.

1957 Nov 17, Mao Zedong, 向莫斯科的全体中国留学生、实习生、使馆机关干部的讲话

Nǐmen qīngniánrén zhāoqìpéngbó, zhèng zài xìngwàng shíqī, hǎoxiàng zǎochén bā, jiǔ diǎnzhōng de tàiyáng. Xīwàng jìtuō zài nǐmen shēnshàng.

你們青年人朝氣蓬勃，正在興旺時期，好像早晨八、九點鐘的太陽。希望寄托在你們身上。

你们青年人朝气蓬勃，正在兴旺时期，好像早晨八、九点钟的太阳。希望寄托在你们身上。


憂喜交集

ㄧㄡ ㄒㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

to not know whether to laugh or cry; to feel both happy and sad; to become filled with a mixture of sadness and joy


星月交輝

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄩㄝˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄏㄨㄟ

син юэ цзяохуэй

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

the glittering light from the stars and the moon intermingle in the night sky


濫竽充數

ㄌㄢˋ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄕㄨˋ

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

ㄌㄢˋ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄕㄨˋㄦ

ланьюйчуншур

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/laːm²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/län⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/laːm²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

/laːm¹³ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³³/

Whenever King Xuan of Qi had men play the yu [a mouth organ], there had to be 300 men playing simultaneously.
A reclusive scholar, by the name of Nanguo [lit. southern wall of a city], who was unable to play the instrument, asked if he could join the ensemble and play the yu for the king. King Xuan was delighted by this, and dispensed enough food rations for several hundred musicians.
Then, King Xuan died, and King Min took the throne. He preferred to listen to the yu players one-by-one, so the reclusive scholar fled. (Wiktionary translation)

Qí Xuānwáng shǐ rén chuī yú bì sān bǎi rén.
Nánguō chǔshì qǐng wèi wáng chuī yú, Xuānwáng yuè zhī, lǐnshí yǐ shù bǎi rén.
Xuānwáng sǐ, Mǐnwáng lì, hào yīyī tīng zhī, chǔshì táo.

齊宣王使人吹竽必三百人。
南郭處士請為王吹竽，宣王說之，廩食以數百人。
宣王死，湣王立，好一一聽之，處士逃。

齐宣王使人吹竽必三百人。
南郭处士请为王吹竽，宣王说之，廪食以数百人。
宣王死，湣王立，好一一听之，处士逃。

topretend to play the yu in order to make up the numbers

(figurative, derogatory or humble) to fill a position without having the necessary qualifications; to be a token member of a group; to masquerade as having an ability; to sell seconds at best-quality prices


神采奕奕

ㄕㄣˊ ㄘㄞˇ ㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/ʂən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/

/ʂən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ jɪk̚² jɪk̚²/


拿雞毛當令箭

拿鷄毛當令箭
拿鸡毛当令箭

tohold a chicken feather as the commander's arrow (in ancient times, a customized arrow was used as a token of authority)

ㄋㄚˊ ㄐㄧ ㄇㄠˊ ㄉㄤˋ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

на цзимао дан линцзянь

/nä³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

to treat one's superior's casual remarks as an order and to make a big fuss about it


一步一回頭

ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ

ибу ихуэйтоу

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

Literally: look back each time takes a step

to be reluctant or sad to leave a friend or loved one


解鈴還須繫鈴人

Untying the bell (on the tiger's neck) requires the person who fastened the bell

ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄞˊ ㄒㄩ ㄒㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ

цзе лин хай сюй си лин жэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kaːi̯³⁵ lɪŋ²¹ waːn²¹ sɵy̯⁵⁵ hɐi̯²² lɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

The only one who can fix the problem is the one who created the problem.


朱門酒肉臭

ㄓㄨ ㄇㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄔㄡˋ

чжумэнь цзюжоу чоу

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ mən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

Literally: the wine and meat rot and the crimson gates (crimson was a color used by wealthy or noble families)


強不知以為知

ㄑㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓ

цян бучжи ивэй чжи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kʰœːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

to pretend to know something that one does not know; to be a sciolist


摸不著頭腦

ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄋㄠˇ

мо бу чжао тоунао

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ nou̯¹³/

/mɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ nou̯¹³/

make head or tail of
make head or tail of

to be unable make head or tail of something


適得其反

ㄕˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄢˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ faːn³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ faːn³⁵/

to run counter to one's desire; to have the exact opposite effect of what one wished; to backfire


雷聲大，雨點小

ㄩˇ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

léishēng dà, yǔdiǎn xiǎo [Phonetic:léishēngdà,yúdiánxiǎo]

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

/lɵy̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jyː¹³ tiːm³⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

From 五燈會元．卷二○．鼓山安永禪師

《五燈會元．卷二○．鼓山安永禪師》

Shī yuē: ‘Léishēng hàodà, yǔdiǎn quán wú.’

師曰：『雷聲浩大，雨點全無。』

《五燈會元．卷二○．鼓山安永禪師》

师曰：『雷声浩大，雨点全无。』

雷声大，雨点小
雷聲大雨點小

2021 April 14, “華為中興TikTok：被特朗普打壓的中國公司境遇迥異”, in BBC News:

Xiàngbǐ Huáwèi hé Zhōngxìng, TikTok de jìngyù kěyǐ xíngróng wéi “léishēngdà, yǔdiǎnxiǎo” — jìnlìng láidé yǒu yán yòu jí, dàn dōu méiyǒu zhēnzhèng shíshī.

相比華為和中興，TikTok的境遇可以形容為「雷聲大，雨點小」——禁令來得有嚴又急，但都沒有真正實施。

相比华为和中兴，TikTok的境遇可以形容为「雷声大，雨点小」——禁令来得有严又急，但都没有真正实施。

all bark and no bite
all bark and no bite

much said but little done, all bark and no bite


重於泰山

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

чжун юй Тайшань

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

more weighty (and important) than Mount Tai


重於泰山，輕於鴻毛

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩˊ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄇㄠˊ

чжун юй Тайшань

цин юй хунмао

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

(Some deaths are) more weighty than Mount Tai, (while others are) lighter (and less significant) than a wild goose feather.


輕於鴻毛

lighter (and less significant) than a wild goose feather

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩˊ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄇㄠˊ

цинъюйхунмао

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

khjieng|khjiengH 'jo|'u huwng|huwngX maw|mawH

/*kʰeŋ|kʰeŋs qaː|qa ɡoːŋ|ɡoːŋʔ maːw|maːws/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

not worth a brass farthing
not worth a brass farthing

(derogatory, figuratively) to be worthless (or trashy, valueless, not worth a brass farthing, good for nothing, of no worth)


知其然而不知其所以然

ㄓ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧˇ ㄖㄢˊ

zhī qí rán ér bù zhī qí suǒyǐ rán [Phonetic:zhīqíránérbùzhīqísuóyǐrán]

chih¹ chʻi² jan² êrh² pu⁴ chih¹ chʻi² so³-i³ jan²

чжи ци жань эр бу чжи ци сои жань

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐän³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

to know the result without knowing the reason for the result


維妙維肖

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

вэймяовэйсяо

/weɪ̯³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

惟妙惟肖 惟妙惟肖#Chinese

Alternative form of 惟妙惟肖 (wéimiàowéixiào)


衣錦還鄉

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ

ицзиньхуаньсян

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻²² ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ kɐm³⁵ waːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

/i⁴⁴⁻²² ɡim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huan²⁴⁻²² hiɔŋ⁴⁴/

First attested in the Book of Liang:
:
The idiom is possibly derived from an analogy made by Xiang Yu, as recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han

Gāozǔ jiàn yú Xīntíng, wèi yuē: “Qīng yījǐnháixiāng, zhèn wú xī gù zhī yōu yǐ.”

高祖餞於新亭，謂曰：「卿衣錦還鄉，朕無西顧之憂矣。」

高祖饯于新亭，谓曰：「卿衣锦还乡，朕无西顾之忧矣。」

Seeing the palace of Qin was burnt to the ground, Xiang Yu wondered if he should go eastward to his hometown, saying: "To not return home when one has made his fortune is like walking in the night with silken robes, who will notice?"

The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

Xiàng wáng jiàn Qín gōng jiē yǐ shāo cánpò, yòu xīnhuái sī yù dōng guī, yuē: “Fùguì bù guī gùxiāng, rú yījǐn yèxíng, shéi zhī zhī zhě?”

項王見秦宮皆以燒殘破，又心懷思欲東歸，曰：「富貴不歸故鄉，如衣錦夜行，誰知之者？」

项王见秦宫皆以烧残破，又心怀思欲东归，曰：「富贵不归故乡，如衣锦夜行，谁知之者？」

to return to one's hometown in silken robes

to return home a success; to return home in glory

Book of Han
Book of Liang
Records of the Grand Historian
Xiang Yu
Yao Silian


不可無一，不可有二

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨˊ ㄧ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄦˋ

bùkě wú yī, bùkě yǒu èr [Phonetic:bùkěwúyī,bùkéyǒuèr]

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

(this person) is irreplaceable, no one can replace him


患難之交

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄢˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

хуаньнаньчжицзяо

/xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/waːn²² naːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ nän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/waːn²² naːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

a rock (a friend who always helps); a friend through thick and thin


鶴髮童顏

ㄏㄜˋ ㄈㄚˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ

ㄏㄜˋ ㄈㄚˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/xɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² faːt̚³ tʰʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹/

/xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/xɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² faːt̚³ tʰʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹/

white hair and ruddy complexion; healthy in old age; hale and hearty


殺身成仁

ㄕㄚ ㄕㄣ ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ

шашэньчэнжэнь

šašɛnʹčɛnžɛnʹ

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/saːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/saːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lin²⁴/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²³⁻³³ zin²³/

The Master said, "The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete."

Zǐyuē: “Zhìshì rénrén, wú qiúshēng yǐ hài rén, yǒu shāshēn yǐ chéngrén.”

子曰：「志士仁人，無求生以害仁，有殺身以成仁。」

子曰：「志士仁人，无求生以害仁，有杀身以成仁。」

to die to achieve virtue; to die for a just cause


助人為樂

ㄓㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄜˋ

чжужэньвэйлэ

čžužɛnʹvɛjlɛ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː³³ jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ lɔːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɔː³³ jɐn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ lɔːk̚²/


國色天香

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

exceptionally beautiful (woman or peony)


夸父逐日

ㄎㄨㄚ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄨˊ ㄖˋ

ㄎㄨㄚ ㄈㄨˇ ㄓㄨˊ ㄖˋ

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʷʰaː⁵⁵ fuː²² t͡sʊk̚² jɐt̚²/

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʷʰaː⁵⁵ fuː²² t͡sʊk̚² jɐt̚²/

See Kua Fu on Wikipedia for the background story.

(figurative, derogatory) to not know one's limitations; to overestimate one's abilities

(figurative) to be willing to overcome all obstacles to reach one's goal.


太歲頭上動土

ㄊㄞˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄨˇ

тайсуй тоушан дунту

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːi̯³³ sɵy̯³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ sœːŋ²² tʊŋ²² tʰou̯³⁵/

to beard the lion; to offend or provoke the most powerful; to provoke somebody far superior in power or strength


指天為誓

ㄓˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˋ

чжи тянь вэй ши

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to take a solemn oath; to swear by the heavens; to vow to


破釜沉舟

ㄆㄛˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄓㄡ

пофучэньчжоу

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

In reference to an incident which occurred during the Battle of Julu

Thus Xiang Yu led his entire army across the River He (i.e. the Yellow River). He had all the boats sunk, the caldrons and clay boilers broken, and the camp lodgings burned. He further ordered that only three days' provisions should be carried. With these measures, he showed that every man was now ready to die and none of them would entertain the very idea of returning.

Xiàng Yǔ nǎi xī yǐn bīng dù Hé, jiē chén chuán, pò fǔ zèng, shāo lúshè, chí sān rì liáng, yǐ shì shìzú bì sǐ, wú yī huán xīn.

項羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沈船，破釜甑，燒廬舍，持三日糧，以示士卒必死，無一還心。

项羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沉船，破釜甑，烧庐舍，持三日粮，以示士卒必死，无一还心。

break the (cooking) pots and sink the boat

to burn one's boats; to cross the Rubicon; to reach the point of no return


怨天尤人

ㄩㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юаньтяньюжэнь

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

The Master replied, "I do not murmur against Heaven. I do not grumble against men. My studies lie low, and my penetration rises high. But there is Heaven - that knows me!"

Zǐyuē: “Bù yuàn tiān, bù yóu rén, xià xué ér shàng dá, zhī wǒ zhě, qí tiān hū!”

子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下學而上達，知我者，其天乎！」

子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下学而上达，知我者，其天乎！」

to blame god and man; to blame everyone and everything but oneself


付之一炬

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/fuː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/fuː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

付諸一炬 付諸一炬#Chinese

付诸一炬 付诸一炬#Chinese

Synonym of 付諸一炬／付诸一炬 (fùzhūyījù, “to be burnt down”)


換湯不換藥

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄤ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄧㄠˋ

huàn tāng bù huàn yào [Phonetic:huàn tāng bú huàn yào]

хуань тан бу хуань яо

/xu̯än⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːn²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wuːn²² jœːk̚²/

/wuːn²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wuːn²² jœːk̚²/

to change only the form but not the content; same old stuff but with a different label


一心一意

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

heart and soul; wholeheartedly; with great devotion


冷嘲熱諷

ㄌㄥˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄖㄜˋ ㄈㄥˇ

ㄌㄥˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄖㄜˋ ㄈㄥˋ

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/laːŋ¹³ t͡saːu̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚² fʊŋ³³/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/laːŋ¹³ t͡saːu̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚² fʊŋ³³/

Grandma always makes sarcastic remarks towards Mother.

Nǎinǎi jīngcháng duì māmā lěngcháorèfěng.

奶奶經常對媽媽冷嘲熱諷。

奶奶经常对妈妈冷嘲热讽。

burning satire and freezing irony; to sarcastically ridicule


深溝高壘

ㄕㄣ ㄍㄡ ㄍㄠ ㄌㄟˇ

шэньгоугаолэй

/ʂən⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂən⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

This means large-scale mobile warfare, and not positional warfare depending exclusively on defence works with deep trenches, high fortresses and successive rows of defensive positions.

1938, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論持久戰》 (On Protracted War), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Zhè jiù shì dàguīmó de yùndòngzhàn, ér bù shì shēngōugāolěi, céngcéngshèfáng, zhuān kào fángyù gōngshì de zhèndìzhàn.

這就是大規模的運動戰，而不是深溝高壘、層層設防、專靠防禦工事的陣地戰。

这就是大规模的运动战，而不是深沟高垒、层层设防、专靠防御工事的阵地战。

to dig deep trenches and build high defensive walls; to fortify one's position; to dig in


萬家燈火

ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ваньцзядэнхо

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/


金鼓齊鳴

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄨˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзиньгу ци мин

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

Based on a quote from Zuozhuan, "Xi 22":
*

lw

s:春秋左氏傳/僖公#傳_22

The three armies make use of sharp weapons / advantages; the instruments of brass and the drums rouse the men's spirits.

Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Sānjūn yǐ lì yòng yě, jīngǔ yǐ shēng qì yě.

三軍以利用也，金鼓以聲氣也。

三军以利用也，金鼓以声气也。

The gongs and drums sounded out in unison, and men yelled and shouted, as loudly as rushing rivers and churning seas.

Jīngǔqímíng, hǎnshēng rú jiāngfānhǎifèi.

金鼓齊鳴，喊聲如江翻海沸。

金鼓齐鸣，喊声如江翻海沸。

the gongs and drums of war sound out in unison


垂手可得

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

(Taiwanese Mandarin) extremely easy to obtain


唾手可得

ㄊㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄜˊ

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/tʰœː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰɔː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/tʰœː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰɔː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/


縱橫天下

ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

цзунхэн тянься

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

to enjoy free rein across the nation; to have license to do as one pleases anywhere in the country


皮笑肉不笑

ㄆㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

pí xiào ròu bù xiào [Phonetic:pí xiào ròu bú xiào]

пи сяо жоу бу сяо

/pʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/


水深火熱

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄕㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄜˋ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

If you make the water more deep and the fire more fierce, they will in like manner make another revolution.

Rú shuǐ yì shēn, rú huǒ yì rè, yì yùn éryǐ yǐ.

如水益深，如火益熱，亦運而已矣。

如水益深，如火益热，亦运而已矣。

to be in deep distress; to live with great misery and hardship


鋒不可當

ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄤˋ

фэн букэ дан

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵¹/

Literally: the tips (of their spears) cannot be stopped

(they) cannot be stopped; to be an unstoppable force


引虎入羊群

ㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ

yǐn hǔ rù yáng qún [Phonetic:yínhǔrùyángqún]

инь ху жу ян цюнь

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

Literally: to bring a tiger into the middle of a group of lambs


虎入羊群

atiger in the middle of a flock of lambs

ㄏㄨˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jɐp̚² jœːŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jɐp̚² jœːŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹/


狼心狗行

ㄌㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

лан синь гоу син

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/


有何面目

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

how can you have respect for yourself; how can you look at yourself in the mirror


隨機應變

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (隨機應變):
* → Vietnamese: tùy cơ ứng biến (隨機應變)

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧ ㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

суйцзиинбянь

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³³ piːn³³/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³³ piːn³³/

to adjust to changing circumstance; to act according to circumstances


左衝右突

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨ

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

Literally: to charge to the left and dash to the right


斬將搴旗

ㄓㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧˊ

чжаньцзянцяньци

/ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

Literally: to behead the (enemy) general and take down (the enemy's) flag


呵呵大笑

ㄏㄜ ㄏㄜ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɔː⁵⁵ hɔː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

/xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɔː⁵⁵ hɔː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/


未知生，焉知死

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Jilu asked about serving the spirits of the dead. The Master said, "While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?" Ji Lu added, "I venture to ask about death?" He was answered, "While you do not know life, how can you know about death?"

Jìlù wèn shì guǐshén. Zǐyuē: “Wèi néng shì rén, yān néng shì guǐ?” Gǎnwèn sǐ. Yuē: “Wèi zhī shēng, yān zhī sǐ?”

季路問事鬼神。子曰：「未能事人，焉能事鬼？」敢問死。曰：「未知生，焉知死？」

季路问事鬼神。子曰：「未能事人，焉能事鬼？」敢问死。曰：「未知生，焉知死？」


魂飛天外

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄟ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄞˋ

хуньфэйтяньвай

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

to practically leap out of one's skin (with shock or surprise)


早聞道，夕死可矣

ㄒㄧ ㄙˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ

ㄒㄧˋ ㄙˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ

цзао вэнь дао

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sou̯³⁵ mɐn²¹ tou̯²² t͡sɪk̚² sei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː¹³/

朝聞道，夕死可矣 朝聞道，夕死可矣#Chinese

朝闻道，夕死可矣 朝闻道，夕死可矣#Chinese

Alternative form of 朝聞道，夕死可矣／朝闻道，夕死可矣 (zhāo wén dào, xī sǐ kě yǐ)


雪上加霜

Sino-Xenic (雪上加霜):
* → Korean: 설상가상(雪上加霜) (seolsanggasang)

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄕㄨㄤ

сюэшанцзяшуан

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

add insult to injury
add insult to injury

rub salt in the wound
rub salt in the wound

(figurative) to make a bad situation worse; to add insult to injury; to rub salt in the wound


孤立無援

ㄍㄨ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˊ

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐp̚² mou̯²¹ wuːn²¹/

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐp̚² mou̯²¹ wuːn²¹/


完璧歸趙

ㄨㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄠˋ

ваньбигуйчжао

/wän³⁵ pi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

/wän³⁵ pi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

For the full story behind this idiom, see He Shi Bi.

to return thejade disc intact to the State of Zhao

1989 June 1, 严卫民, “古稀老翁爱收藏”, in People's Daily:

During the Kuomintang era, he hid his collection suspected of being "pro-Communist" under the roof tiles. During the Cultural Revolution, his home was ransacked, but since he had handed over his collection to the museum for safekeeping a few days earlier in a mountain cave repository, the collection was spared. In 1979 Shanghai Museum returned it intact to Mr. Wu. Appreciating their careful preservation, the old gentleman donated over 5,000 valuable pieces to the museum.

Guómíndǎng shíqī, tā bǎ zhèxiē yǒu “tōnggòng” xiányí de cángpǐn cáng zài wūdǐng wǎpiàn xià. Dào le Wéngé, tā jiāzhōng cáiwù bèi chāo, dàn tā de cángpǐn yīn zǎo jǐtiān jiāo bówùguǎn bǎocún, cáng zài shāndòng lǐ cái miǎn zāo jiénàn. 1979 nián “wánbìguīzhào” hòu, wú lǎoxiānshēng gǎn shànghǎi bówùguǎn tuǒshàn bǎoguǎn zhī ēn, jiāng 5000 duō zhāng jīngpǐn xiàn gěi le gāi guǎn.

國民黨時期，他把這些有“通共”嫌疑的藏品藏在屋頂瓦片下。到了文革，他家中財物被抄，但他的藏品因早幾天交博物館保存，藏在山洞裏才免遭劫難。1979年“完璧歸趙”後，吳老先生感上海博物館妥善保管之恩，將5000多張精品獻給了該館。

国民党时期，他把这些有“通共”嫌疑的藏品藏在屋顶瓦片下。到了文革，他家中财物被抄，但他的藏品因早几天交博物馆保存，藏在山洞里才免遭劫难。1979年“完璧归赵”后，吴老先生感上海博物馆妥善保管之恩，将5000多张精品献给了该馆。

to return something to its owner in good condition


更待何時

ㄍㄥˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˊ

гэн дай хэши

/kɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

there's no time like the present
there's no time like the present

there's no time like the present; if not now then when


扯弓搭箭

ㄔㄜˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄚ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

чэ гун да цзянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

to nock an arrow; to place an arrow on one's bow in preparation for firing


兵臨城下

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

бинлиньчэнся

/piŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ sɪŋ²¹ haː²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ sɪŋ²¹ haː²²/

(literal, figurative) the enemy army is just outside of the walls of the city


束手待斃

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

to fold one's hands and helplessly await death; to give oneself up for dead


屍橫遍野

ㄕ ㄏㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/


喊聲震天

ㄏㄢˇ ㄕㄥ ㄓㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

ханьшэнчжэньтянь

/xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/haːm³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/haːm³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

loud screams and shouting seemingly shakes the heavens


片甲不回

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

пяньцзябухуэй

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

Cáo Cāo yǐn bǎiwàn zhī zhòng, bèi wú liáo shī xiǎo jì, shā dé piànjiǎbùhuí.

曹操引百萬之眾，被吾聊施小計，殺得片甲不回。

曹操引百万之众，被吾聊施小计，杀得片甲不回。


心腹之交

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

синьфу чжи цзяо

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/


有何不可

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɔː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɔː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

Zhāng Fēi dàjiào yuē: “Yìxìng zhī rén, jiē yù wéi jūn, hékuàng gēgē nǎi Hàncháo zōngpài! Mò shuō Hànzhōng wáng, jiù chēng huángdì, yǒuhébùkě!”

張飛大叫曰：「異姓之人，皆欲為君，何況哥哥乃漢朝宗派！莫說漢中王，就稱皇帝，有何不可！」

张飞大叫曰：「异姓之人，皆欲为君，何况哥哥乃汉朝宗派！莫说汉中王，就称皇帝，有何不可！」


屈己待人

ㄑㄩ ㄐㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ

цюйцзи дайжэнь

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

to humbly subjugate oneself in service to someone else


招賢納士

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄚˋ ㄕˋ

чжаосяньнаши

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to invite men of wisdom and valor to one's side


不在話下

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² waː²² haː²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² ue⁴¹⁻²² ha⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ ue³³⁻¹¹ ha³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ ue³³⁻²¹ ha³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² waː²² haː²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² ue⁴¹⁻²² ha⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ ue³³⁻¹¹ ha³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ ue³³⁻²¹ ha³³/

to be an insignificant or obvious thing that is unnecessary to mention


談笑自若

ㄊㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

таньсяо цзыжо

/tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

as if nothing had happened
as if nothing had happened

to go on talking and laughing as if nothing had happened


魂不附體

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

to be so scared or shocked that one practically leaps out of one's skin


坐不安席

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ ㄒㄧˊ

цзо бу ань си

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/


夜深

/jɛ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

Zhǐ kǒng yè shēn huā shuì qù, gù shāo gāo zhú zhào hóng zhuāng.

只恐夜深花睡去，故燒高燭照紅妝。

只恐夜深花睡去，故烧高烛照红妆。


長吁短嘆

ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄩ ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄊㄢˋ

чансюйдуаньтань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän⁵¹/

to utter sighs and groans; to moan and groan


肺腑之言

ㄈㄟˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄓ ㄧㄢˊ

/feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/


萬死不辭

ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘˊ

/wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/maːn²² sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/maːn²² sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to be willing to risk any danger to do one's duty


莫報萬一

ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄧ

мо бао ваньи

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

cannot even repay one ten thousandth of what has been done on one's behalf


行坐不安

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

синцзобу’ань

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

so nervous that one doesn't know whether to walk or sit


粉身碎骨

ㄈㄣˇ ㄕㄣ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄨˇ

фэньшэньсуйгу

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kʷɐt̚⁵/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kʷɐt̚⁵/

to have one's body smashed to pieces; to die the most cruel death


淚如泉湧

ㄌㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄥˇ

лэйжуцюаньюн

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jʊŋ³⁵/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jʊŋ³⁵/


累卵之急

ㄌㄟˇ ㄌㄨㄢˇ ㄓ ㄐㄧˊ

лэйлуаньчжицзи

/leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

delicate balancing act (precarious situation analogous to a leaning pile of eggs)


倒懸之危

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟ

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟˊ

даосюаньчживэй

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ jyːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ jyːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

critical juncture; the brink of destruction; a danger which puts one in dire straits


自有道理

ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to have a plan or strategy already worked out in one's head


好色之徒

ㄏㄠˋ ㄙㄜˋ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

person who is fond of women; lady's man; womanizer; lothario; lecher; libertine


無計可施

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kɐi̯³³ hɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kɐi̯³³ hɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

at the end of one's tether
at the end of one's tether

at a loss as to what to do; at one's wits' end; at the end of one's tether


眉來眼去

ㄇㄟˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄑㄩˋ

мэйлайяньцюй

/meɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ ŋaːn¹³ hɵy̯³³/

/meɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ ŋaːn¹³ hɵy̯³³/

to make eyes at each other; to flirt with each other


犬馬之報

ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄓ ㄅㄠˋ

цюаньмачжибао

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(archaic) a sincere effort to repay a favor


目不轉睛

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

му бу чжуань цзин

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

to gaze into each other's eyes; to not take their eyes off of each other


秋波送情

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄅㄛ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

(of a woman) to make eyes; to ogle; to cast amorous glances


水陸畢陳

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄔㄣˊ

шуйлу би чэнь

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

to set out a full spread of delicacies from land and sea


天心人意

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

тяньсинь жэньи

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

the will of heaven and the desire of men


進酒作樂

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄜˋ

цзиньцзюцзолэ

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

(literary) to pour alcohol and toast and to seek plesure


陽春白雪

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

янчуньбайсюэ

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ paːk̚² syːt̚³/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ paːk̚² syːt̚³/

The name of the song White Snow on a Warm Spring Day, composed in the state of Chu during the Warring States Period. This song was considered to be refined and extremely difficult to sing.

caviar to the general
caviar to the general

(figurative) highbrow art and literature; caviar to the general


多歷年所

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄌㄧˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

до ли няньсо

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


得未曾有

ㄉㄜˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ

/tɤ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɤ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


作如是觀

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄍㄨㄢ

цзо жу ши гуань

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/


偷目竊望

ㄊㄡ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄨㄤˋ

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/


神魂飄蕩

ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄉㄤˋ

шэньхуньпяодан

/ʂən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʂən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹/

to be mixed up and confused; to be deeply fascinated (by someone's compelling beauty)


曲意逢迎

ㄑㄩ ㄧˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ i⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ i⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵/


衣不解帶

ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄉㄞˋ

и бу цзе дай

/i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

Literally: to not loosen the belt to one's clothing (so that one can disrobe and go to sleep, because one is so busy)


心神恍惚

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄏㄨ

синьшэньхуанху

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/


分花拂柳

ㄈㄣ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

фэнь хуа фу лю

/fən⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ fu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fən⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ fu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to gracefully saunter over (like an elegant woman etc.)


忍辱偷生

ㄖㄣˇ ㄖㄨˇ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

ㄖㄣˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

жэньжутоушэн

žɛnʹžutoušɛn

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to endure humiliation in order to remain alive


度日如年

ㄉㄨˋ ㄖˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/tu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tou̯²² jɐt̚² jyː²¹ niːn²¹/

/tɔ²²⁻²¹ lit̚⁴⁻³² lu²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zu²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zi²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/tu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tou̯²² jɐt̚² jyː²¹ niːn²¹/

/tɔ²²⁻²¹ lit̚⁴⁻³² lu²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zu²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zi²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/


如雷灌耳

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/


如雷貫耳

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/

Xuándé xiàbài yuē: “Hànshì mòzhòu, Zhuō Jùn yúfū, jiǔ wén xiānshēng dàmíng, rúléiguàn'ěr.”

玄德下拜曰：「漢室末胄，涿郡愚夫，久聞先生大名，如雷貫耳。」

玄德下拜曰：「汉室末胄，涿郡愚夫，久闻先生大名，如雷贯耳。」


淚下如雨

ㄌㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˇ

лэй ся жу юй

/leɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/leɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


青史傳名

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄕˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

циншичуаньмин

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

one's name will be passed down in history books


流芳百世

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/li̯u¹¹ foŋ²⁴ pak̚² sɨ⁵⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/li̯u¹¹ foŋ²⁴ pak̚² sɨ⁵⁵/

to leave a good name for a hundred generations


遺臭萬年

ㄧˊ ㄔㄡˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

ичоуваньнянь

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ maːn²² niːn²¹/

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ maːn²² niːn²¹/

to go down in history as a byword of infamy


折箭為誓

ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˋ

чжэцзяньвэйши

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡siːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡siːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐi̯²²/

The implication was that if one broke one's promise, one's fate would be similar to that of the arrow's.


罪惡貫盈

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄧㄥˊ

цзуйэ гуаньин

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² ɔːk̚³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² ɔːk̚³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/


人神共憤

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄈㄣˋ

жэньшэньгунфэнь

žɛnʹšɛnʹgunfɛnʹ

/ʐən³⁵ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² fɐn¹³/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² fɐn¹³/


時不可失

ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

there is not a moment to lose; we mustn't let this opportunity pass us by


人地生疏

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄨ

/ʐən³⁵ ti⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ tei̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ sɔː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ti⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ tei̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ sɔː⁵⁵/

to be unfamiliar with the place and the people; to be a stranger in a strange place


明知就裡

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

to clearly understand the inside scoop or principle


肉顫心驚

ㄖㄡˋ ㄔㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ

ㄖㄡˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ

жоу чань синь цзин

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

жоу чжань синь цзин

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/


紅光紫霧

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄗˇ ㄨˋ

хун гуан цзы у

/xʊŋ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹/

red rays of light and purple mist (considered to be a lucky omen)


前遮後擁

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄜ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩㄥ

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄜ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩㄥˇ

цяньчжэхоуюн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

amidst a throng and clamor; noisy and crowded


棄舊換新

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

цицзюхуаньсинь

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

to abandon the old and exchange it for the new


綁赴市曹

to tie up and take to the market place (where public executions were carried out)

ㄅㄤˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄘㄠˊ

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

(archaic) to carry out a public execution in a city center (as a warning to others)


南郭處士

ㄋㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄛ ㄔㄨˇ ㄕˋ

/nän³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/nän³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

南郭 (the southern wall of a city; a city in the south; a Chinese surname: Nanguo) + 處士 (a reclusive scholar)

a person without any real abilities who tries to blend in with professionals


暴屍於市

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ siː¹³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ siː¹³/

to display the corpse (of a criminal etc.) in the streets (as a warning or posthumous humiliation)


曠世逸才

ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄕˋ ㄧˋ ㄘㄞˊ

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/


怒氣填胸

ㄋㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄥ

нуци тянь сюн

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/


雲屯雨集

ㄩㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄣˊ ㄩˇ ㄐㄧˊ

юньтунь юйцзи

/yn³⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/yn³⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

(people) gathered together in great numbers


臨難苟免

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

линьнаньгоумянь

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to live in defeat and humiliation when faced with disaster


貫斗牛

ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ

/ku̯än⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/ku̯än⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

Literally: passing through the Dipper and the Ox constellations

(archaic) (of heroism etc.) bright and strong; for all to see


彌天亙地

toblanket the skies and be all over the ground

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄣˋ ㄉㄧˋ

митяньгэньди

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

(literary) to be everywhere; to be pervasive


不可勝言

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧㄢˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄢˊ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

cannot be expressed in words; there are no words to describe it


舉動荊棘

ㄐㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧˊ

цзюйдунцзинцзи

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

every move one makes seems as difficult as walking through brambles


眼若流星

ㄧㄢˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄥ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋaːn¹³ jœːk̚² lɐu̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋaːn¹³ jœːk̚² lɐu̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/


虎體猿臂

ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ

ху ти юань би

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

a body like that of a tiger and arms like those of an ape


彪腹狼腰

ㄅㄧㄠ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄧㄠ

бяо фу лан яо

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

an abdomen like that of a small tiger and a waist like that of a wolf; strong and husky


一覽無遺

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

to take in everything at a glance; to have an uninterrupted view


一覽無餘

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ y³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ y³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹/


臥薪嘗膽

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (臥薪嘗膽):
* → Japanese: 臥(が)薪(しん)嘗(しょう)胆(たん) (gashinshōtan)
* → Korean: 와신상담(臥薪嘗膽) (wasinsangdam)
* → Vietnamese: ngọa tân thường đảm (臥薪嘗膽)

→ Vietnamese: nằm gai nếm mật, nếm mật nằm gai (calques)

ㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄤˊ ㄉㄢˇ

восиньчандань

/wɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ taːm³⁵/

/wɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ taːm³⁵/

From the story of the King Goujian of Yue [5th BCE], who forced himself to sleep on firewood and lick a gallbladder everyday to remember the humiliation of his previous defeat by the State of Wu.

to undergo self-imposed hardships; to nurse vengeance; to endure hardships to accomplish some ambition


先見之明

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

сяньцзяньчжимин

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ¹³/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ¹³/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

prophetic vision; foresight; being ahead of one's time


毫不費力

ㄏㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ b̥u³ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯³³ lɪk̚²/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ b̥u³ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯³³ lɪk̚²/


莫敢誰何

ㄇㄛˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄜˊ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

nobody dare (stop them or get in their way)


咎由自取

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/


孤陋寡聞

ㄍㄨ ㄌㄡˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄨㄣˊ

гулоугуавэнь

/ku⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐu̯²² kʷaː³⁵ mɐn²¹/

/ku⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐu̯²² kʷaː³⁵ mɐn²¹/

From the Book of Rites, Book 18 (《禮記·學記》)

Prohibition of evil after it has been manifested meets with opposition, and is not successful. Instruction given after the time for it is past is done with toil, and carried out with difficulty. The communication of lessons in an undiscriminating manner and without suitability produces injury and disorder, and fails in its object. Learning alone and without friends makes one feel solitary and uncultivated, with but little information. Friendships of festivity lead to opposition to one's master. Friendships with the dissolute lead to the neglect of one's learning. These six things all tend to make teaching vain.

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

Fā ránhòu jìn, zé hàngé ér bùshèng; shí guò ránhòu xué, zé qínkǔ ér nánchéng; záshī ér bùxùn, zé huàiluàn ér bùxiū; dú xué ér wú yǒu, zé gūlòu ér guǎwén; yàn péng nì qí shī; yàn pì fèi qí xué. Cǐ liù zhě, jiào zhīsuǒyóu fèi yě.

發然後禁，則捍格而不勝；時過然後學，則勤苦而難成；雜施而不孫，則壞亂而不修；獨學而無友，則孤陋而寡聞；燕朋逆其師；燕辟廢其學。此六者，教之所由廢也。

发然后禁，则捍格而不胜；时过然后学，则勤苦而难成；杂施而不孙，则坏乱而不修；独学而无友，则孤陋而寡闻；燕朋逆其师；燕辟废其学。此六者，教之所由废也。


一家老小

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ siːu̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ lou̯¹³ siːu̯³⁵/


明目張膽

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄓㄤ ㄉㄢˇ

минмучжандань

/miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹/

/meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mak̚⁴⁻² t͡siaŋ³³⁻²³ tã⁵²/

/miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tam⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹/

/meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mak̚⁴⁻² t͡siaŋ³³⁻²³ tã⁵²/


不義之財

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ ㄓ ㄘㄞˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ŋi³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ ŋi³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/


新年快樂

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄜˋ

синьнянь куайлэ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ niːn²¹ faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ kʰuaɪ⁵³ lɔk̚⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sin³³ nĩ²⁴⁻²² kʰuai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ lɔk̚²⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³⁻²² kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚¹²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰuai¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³⁻³³ kʰuai²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔk̚⁴/

/siŋ³³⁻²³ ni⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰuai²¹³⁻⁵⁵ lak̚⁴/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ niːn²¹ faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ kʰuaɪ⁵³ lɔk̚⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sin³³ nĩ²⁴⁻²² kʰuai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ lɔk̚²⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³⁻²² kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚¹²¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰuai¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³⁻³³ kʰuai²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔk̚⁴/

/siŋ³³⁻²³ ni⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰuai²¹³⁻⁵⁵ lak̚⁴/


魑魅魍魎

ja-r

魑魅魍魎(ちみもうりょう) (chimimōryō)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (魑魅魍魎):
* → Japanese: 魑魅魍魎(ちみもうりょう) (chimimōryō)
* → Korean: 이매망량(魑魅魍魎) (imaemangnyang)

ㄔ ㄇㄟˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

чимэй ванлян

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ mei̯²² mɔːŋ¹³ lœːŋ¹³/

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ mei̯²² mɔːŋ¹³ lœːŋ¹³/

the four demons chi, mei, wang and liang; demons and monsters of all kinds


不共戴天

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

бугундайтянь

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʊŋ²² taːi̯³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʊŋ²² taːi̯³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 1 (《禮記·曲禮上》)

With the enemy who has slain his father, one should not live under the same heaven. With the enemy who has slain his brother, one should never have his sword to seek (to deal vengeance). With the enemy who has slain his intimate friend, one should not live in the same state (without seeking to slay him).

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

Fù zhī chóu, fú yǔ gòng dài tiān. Xiōngdì zhī chóu bù fǎn bīng. Jiāoyóu zhī chóu bù tóng guó.

父之讎，弗與共戴天。兄弟之讎不反兵。交游之讎不同國。

父之雠，弗与共戴天。兄弟之雠不反兵。交游之雠不同国。


仁人君子

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ

жэньжэньцзюньцзы

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

benevolent gentleman; public-spirited person; philanthropist


好利忘義

ㄏㄠˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄧˋ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

to abandon principles for the sake of personal (monetary) gain


不二法門

ㄅㄨˋ ㄦˋ ㄈㄚˇ ㄇㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː²² faːt̚³ muːn²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ zi³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ mŋ̍²³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ mŋ̍²⁴/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ mən³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː²² faːt̚³ muːn²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ zi³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ mŋ̍²³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ li³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ mŋ̍²⁴/

the one and only way; no second way of cultivation

(Buddhism) the dharma gateway of nonduality


摘膽剜心

ㄓㄞ ㄉㄢˇ ㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ

чжай дань вань синь

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/


三思而行

ㄙㄢ ㄙ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

ㄙㄢˋ ㄙ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/sän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/sän⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm³³ siː⁵⁵ jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

/sam²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ hiɪŋ²³/

/sam¹¹⁻⁵³ su⁴⁴⁻³³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/sam⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɯ³³ li²⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² su⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/sän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/sän⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm³³ siː⁵⁵ jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

/sam²¹⁻⁴¹ su⁴⁴⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ hiɪŋ²³/

/sam¹¹⁻⁵³ su⁴⁴⁻³³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ²⁴/

/sam⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɯ³³ li²⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² su⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hiɪŋ²⁴/

look before you leap
look before you leap


同舟共濟

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄡ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

тунчжоугунцзи

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡se⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³ kiɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡se⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² kiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡se²¹/

For the men of Wu and the men of Yue are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right.

Fū Wú rén yǔ Yuè rén xiàng è yě, dāng qí tóng zhōu ér jì, yù fēng, qí xiàng jiù yě rú zuǒ yòu shǒu.

夫吳人與越人相惡也，當其同舟而濟，遇風，其相救也如左右手。

夫吴人与越人相恶也，当其同舟而济，遇风，其相救也如左右手。

to work together to overcome difficulties; to pull together in times of trouble


鋪霜湧雪

ㄆㄨ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄩㄥˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

пушуанъюнсюэ

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ syːt̚³/

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ syːt̚³/

Literally: blanketed with frost and piled on with snow

rapidly and continually increasing in number


報讎雪恨

ㄅㄠˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄏㄣˋ

баочоу сюэхэнь

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹/

(orthographically archaic) to exact revenge so as to settle a score


報仇雪恨

ㄅㄠˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄏㄣˋ

баочоу сюэхэнь

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹/

/pou̯³³ sɐu̯²¹ syːt̚³ hɐn²²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹/

/pou̯³³ sɐu̯²¹ syːt̚³ hɐn²²/


飛沙走石

ㄈㄟ ㄕㄚ ㄗㄡˇ ㄕˊ

фэй ша цзоу ши

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ saː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɛːk̚²/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ saː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɛːk̚²/

sand flying about and stones hurtling through the air


計將安出

ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄢ ㄔㄨ

цзи цзян ань чу

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

where (or how) will one come up with a plan


死無葬身之地

ㄙˇ ㄨˊ ㄗㄤˋ ㄕㄣ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

сы у цзаншэньчжиди

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/


絕處逢生

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

цзюэчуфэншэн

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰyː³³ fʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡suat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰyː³³ fʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to get saved at a critical moment; to survive a crisis; to be unexpectedly rescued from a desperate situation


目不邪視

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄕˋ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to look straight ahead without casting any sidelong glances


毫無疑問

ㄏㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ ㄨㄣˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ i³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²¹ mɐn²²/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ i³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ jiː²¹ mɐn²²/

毫無疑問，他是被謀殺的。

毫无疑问，他是被谋杀的。


一見鐘情

一見鍾情 一見鍾情#Chinese

一见钟情 一见钟情#Chinese

Misspelling of 一見鍾情／一见钟情 (yījiànzhōngqíng).


決一死戰

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄧ ㄙˇ ㄓㄢˋ

цзюэисычжань

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ sei̯³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

To achieve this aim we must wage a life-and-death struggle, be prepared for any sacrifice, persevere to the end and never stop short of the goal.

Yù dá cǐ mùdì, biàn xū juéyīsǐzhàn, biàn xū zhǔnbèi zhe yīqiè xīshēng, jiānchí dàodǐ, bù dá mùdì, jué bù tíngzhǐ.

欲達此目的，便須決一死戰，便須準備著一切犧牲，堅持到底，不達目的，決不停止。

欲达此目的，便须决一死战，便须准备着一切牺牲，坚持到底，不达目的，决不停止。


氣誼相投

ㄑㄧˋ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄊㄡˊ

ㄑㄧˋ ㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄊㄡˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ i³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ i³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

to have forged a bond with each other on the basis of mutual aspirations and mutual goodwill


分憂共患

ㄈㄣ ㄧㄡ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

фэнью гун хуань

/fən⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/fən⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/


不以為意

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ jiː³³/

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ jiː³³/

to be oblivious to (or of); not to take it seriously


倚強欺弱

ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

to rely on one's might to bully the weak


兵微將寡

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄨㄟ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

бинвэйцзянгуа

/piŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

lack soldiers and leaders, to have a small number of troops and generals


犄角之勢

ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄓ ㄕˋ

цзицзяо чжи ши

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

Literally: (using the) momentum of (one person) grabbing the legs (of a deer), (while the other person) holds onto the horns (of the deer).
Later on, this phrase was used to describe a situation in which one divides one's military forces into two separate groups so that one can attack on two different fronts.

to divide one's military forces into two separate groups so that one can attack on two different fronts

double-pronged attack; double-sided attack


掎角之勢

ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄓ ㄕˋ

цзицзяо чжи ши

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/