祝你好運

ㄓㄨˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄏㄠˇ ㄩㄣˋ

чжу ни хаоюнь

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ nei̯¹³ hou̯³⁵ wɐn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ nei̯¹³ hou̯³⁵ wɐn²²/


畫龍點睛

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (畫龍點睛):
* → Japanese: 画竜点睛(がりょうてんせい) (garyōtensei)
* → Korean: 화룡점정(畵龍點睛) (hwaryongjeomjeong)

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

хуалундяньцзин

/xu̯ä⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² lʊŋ²¹ tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ lʊŋ³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/waːk̚² lʊŋ²¹ tiːm³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

Furthermore, [the sixth-century painter Zhang Sengyou] drew four dragons in the Anle Temple at Jinling, but did not dot in the eyes. He said: "If I dot them in, they shall fly away." People thought this was absurd, and so asked him to dot them in. At an instant, thunder and lightning broke through the walls, and two of the dragons ascended the clouds to rise to the heavens. The ones which had not had their eyes dotted in were still there.

Yòu Jīnlíng Ānlèsì huà sì lóng, bù diǎnjīng. Yún: diǎn zhī jí fēi qù. Rén yǐwèi dàn, gù qǐng diǎn zhī. Xūyú, léidiàn pò bì, èr lóng chéngyún téng shàngtiān. Wèi diǎnjīng zhě xiàncún.

又金陵安樂寺畫四龍，不點睛。云：點之即飛去。人以為誕，固請點之。須臾，雷電破壁，二龍乘雲騰上天。未點睛者見存。

又金陵安乐寺画四龙，不点睛。云：点之即飞去。人以为诞，固请点之。须臾，雷电破壁，二龙乘云腾上天。未点睛者见存。

(figurative) something one step away from perfection

(figurative) to put on the finishing touches


裡外不是人

ㄌㄧˇ ㄨㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄣˊ

lǐwài bùshì rén [Phonetic:lǐwài búshì rén]

ливай буши жэнь

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ waɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

I wouldn't get involved in this if I were you! You'll try to please all of them, but in the end, you'll please none of them.

Zhè jiàn shì nǐ háishì bié chāshǒu ba! Miǎndé dào zuìhòu lǐwàibùshìrén, hǎoxīnméihǎobào.

這件事你還是別插手吧！免得到最後裡外不是人，好心沒好報。

这件事你还是别插手吧！免得到最后里外不是人，好心没好报。

unable to make anybody happy; please none of them


雍容大方

ㄩㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄤ

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/


雷厲風行

with the power of a thunderbolt and the speed of wind

ㄌㄟˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/leɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɵy̯²¹ lɐi̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/leɪ̯³⁵ li⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɵy̯²¹ lɐi̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

(when carrying out orders, policies, etc.) vigorously and speedily; vigorously and resolutely; swift and decisive

when carrying out orders; policies; when carrying out orders; policies


過五關斬六將

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

го у гуань чжань лю цзян

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʷɔː³³ ŋ̍¹³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡saːm³⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sœːŋ³³/

A fictional story in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

pass through five checkpoints, and slay six generals

2001, Chiung Yao, 情深深雨濛濛, episode 34 (Mainland version)

Nǐmen kě zhēn shì bù zhīdào, zhè xiǎoliǎngkǒu wa, zhēn shì hǎoshìduōmó. Nénggòu ái dào jīntiān dìnghūn, zhēn shì bùróngyì. Jiǎnzhí shì guò wǔ guān zhǎn liù jiàng a.

你們可真是不知道，這小兩口哇，真是好事多磨。能夠捱到今天訂婚，真是不容易。簡直是過五關斬六將啊。

你们可真是不知道，这小两口哇，真是好事多磨。能够挨到今天订婚，真是不容易。简直是过五关斩六将啊。

(figurative) to get past all manner of hardships


對答如流

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄚˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tä³⁵ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tä³⁵ ʐu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

to answer fluently; to answer without hesitation


察言觀色

ㄔㄚˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄜˋ

чаяньгуаньсэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

The man of distinction is solid and straightforward, and loves righteousness. He examines people's words, and looks at their countenances. He is anxious to humble himself to others.

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

Fú dá yě zhě, zhì zhí ér hào yì, chá yán ér guān sè, lǜ yǐ xià rén.

夫達也者，質直而好義，察言而觀色，慮以下人。

夫达也者，质直而好义，察言而观色，虑以下人。

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


慷他人之慨

ㄎㄤ ㄊㄚ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄎㄞˇ

кан тажэнь чжи кай

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³/

/kʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰai²¹/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³/

Public opinion in Taiwan thinks that Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty is a hypocritical group, thinking the abolition of the death penalty is to be generous at the expense of others, which is very disrespectful to murder victims and their families.

táiwān yúlùn zhǐchēng fèisǐ liánméng shì wěishàn tuántǐ, rènwèi fèisǐ shì kāngtārénzhīkǎi de xíngwèi, jíqí bù zūnzhòng shòuhàizhě jí qí qīnshǔ

台灣輿論指稱廢死聯盟是偽善團體，認為廢死是慷他人之慨的行為，極其不尊重受害者及其親屬

台湾舆论指称废死联盟是伪善团体，认为废死是慷他人之慨的行为，极其不尊重受害者及其亲属

to be generous with other people's money; to be generous at the expense of others


漢賊不兩立

ㄏㄢˋ ㄗㄟˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄌㄧˋ

хань цзэй бу лянли

/xän⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

The Late Emperor considered that the Han and the villains cannot coexist, and that our state cannot be content with only internal stability, hence he tasked me with attacking the villains.

Xiāndì lǜ Hàn zéi bù liǎnglì, wángyè bù piān'ān, gù tuō chén yǐ tǎo zéi yě.

先帝慮漢賊不兩立，王業不偏安，故託臣以討賊也。

先帝虑汉贼不两立，王业不偏安，故托臣以讨贼也。

(of two people or groups) to be absolutely irreconcilable; to be enemies and not be able to coexist

(Taiwan) the policy of treating the Chinese Communist Party as an illegitimate regime during Chiang Kai-shek's rule


滿腹經綸

ㄇㄢˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄌㄨㄣˊ

маньфуцзинлунь

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ən³⁵/

/muːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ lɵn²¹/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ən³⁵/

/muːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ lɵn²¹/

able to handle complex affairs of state; politically astute


滿面春風

ㄇㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄈㄥ

маньмяньчуньфэн

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ miːn²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰun³³ hɔŋ³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ miːn²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰun³³ hɔŋ³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/


盡心竭力

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ

цзиньсиньцзели

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn²² sɐm⁵⁵ kʰiːt̚³ lɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn²² sɐm⁵⁵ kʰiːt̚³ lɪk̚²/

with all one's heart
with all one's heart

to do something with all one's heart and all one's might


管他三七二十一

who cares that three times seven is twenty-one

ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄊㄚ ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧ ㄦˋ ㄕˊ ㄧ

гуань та сань ци эршии

/ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/kuːn³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

casting all caution to the winds; regardless of the circumstances or consequences; come what may


聞雞起舞

ㄨㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄑㄧˇ ㄨˇ

/wən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ kɐi̯⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ mou̯¹³/

/wən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²¹ kɐi̯⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ mou̯¹³/

Based on a story in Zu Ti (祖逖)'s biography in the Book of Jin [648 CE], in which Zu Ti would get up with the sound of the roosters in order to practice his martial arts.

toget up and do sword practice upon hearing the rooster’s crow


蒼翠欲滴

ㄘㄤ ㄘㄨㄟˋ ㄩˋ ㄉㄧ

цанцуй юй ди

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

luscious; so green, water is about to drip out


賓至如歸

ㄅㄧㄣ ㄓˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

биньчжижугуй

/pin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ jyː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/pin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ jyː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

guests feel at home (in a hotel, guesthouse etc.)


銀河落九天

ㄧㄣˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ

иньхэ ло цзютянь

/in³⁵ xɤ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

The torrent flew through the air and dropped 3,000 feet straight down, it seemed as if the Milky way was falling from the Ninth Heaven.

c. 701-762: Li Bai, Gazing at the Mount Lu waterfalls part two of two (望廬山瀑布水詩二首之二)

Fēi liú zhí xià sān qiān chǐ, yí shì yínhé luò jiǔtiān.

飛流直下三千尺，疑是銀河落九天。

飞流直下三千尺，疑是银河落九天。

describes the way a waterfall's water comes down


說時遲，那時快

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ nä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ siː²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ naː¹³ siː²¹ faːi̯³³/


標新立異

ㄅㄧㄠ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/piːu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ lɐp̚² jiː²²/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/piːu̯⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ lɐp̚² jiː²²/

to start something new just in order to be different; to be original


德高望重

high level of morals; enjoys fame and prestige

ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄠ ㄨㄤˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

дэгаованчжун

/tɤ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊŋ²²/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ²²/

/tɤ³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²² t͡sʊŋ²²/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tiɔŋ³³/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ²²/


撥雲見日

ㄅㄛ ㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖˋ

боюньцзяньжи

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/puːt̚² wɐn²¹ kiːn³³ jɐt̚²/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/puːt̚² wɐn²¹ kiːn³³ jɐt̚²/

Literally: the clouds part so that you can once again see the sun

everything is getting back on track; get inspired and become suddenly enlightened；things are finally back to normal after a period of hardship; after much hardship, one is able to see the light at the end of the tunnel


撥開雲霧見青天

the clouds and fog part so that you can once again see the blue sky

ㄅㄛ ㄎㄞ ㄩㄣˊ ㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

po¹-kʻai¹ yün²-wu⁴ chien⁴ chʻing¹-tʻien¹

бокай юньу цзянь цинтянь

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ yn³⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

light at the end of the tunnel
light at the end of the tunnel

everything is getting back on track; things are finally back to normal after a period of hardship; after much hardship, one is able to see the light at the end of the tunnel


暴跳如雷

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵/

/pou̯²² tʰiːu̯³³ jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵/

/pou̯²² tʰiːu̯³³ jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹/

to be infuriated; to be enraged; to be furious; to be hopping mad


窮困潦倒

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄠˇ

цюнкунь ляодао

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

fall on evil days; be penniless and frustrated; crack up under the strain of poverty; in a state of utter poverty; in the grip of poverty; live a life of poverty


鋤強扶弱

ㄔㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔː²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹ fuː²¹ jœːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔː²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹ fuː²¹ jœːk̚²/


橫眉豎眼

ㄏㄥˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄧㄢˇ

хэнмэй шу янь

/xɤŋ³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xɤŋ³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to have a dirty look on one's face; to give someone a dirty look


據理力爭

ㄐㄩˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓㄥ

цзюйлиличжэн

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³³ lei̯¹³ lɪk̚² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³³ lei̯¹³ lɪk̚² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to argue vigorously on the basis of sound reason or justice


踏破鐵鞋無覓處，得來全不費工夫

head

踏破鐵鞋無覓處，得來全不費工夫

踏破铁鞋无觅处，得来全不费工夫

One can wear out iron shoes searching for something with no success, only to acquire it by accident through no effort of one's own

ㄊㄚˋ ㄆㄛˋ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄨˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄔㄨˋ

ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ˙ㄈㄨ

daap⁶ po³ tit³ haai⁴ mou⁴ mik⁶ cyu³, dak¹ loi⁴ cyun⁴ bat¹ fai³ gung¹ fu¹

délái quán bù fèigōngfu [Phonetic:tàpò tiěxié wú mìchù

тапо тесе у мичу

дэлай цюань бу фэйгунфу

/tʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ fu²/

daahp po tit hàaih mòuh mihk chyu, dāk lòih chyùhn bāt fai gūng fū

daap⁹ po³ tit⁸ haai⁴ mou⁴ mik⁹ tsy³, dak⁷ loi⁴ tsyn⁴ bat⁷ fai³ gung¹ fu¹

dab⁶ po³ tid³ hai⁴ mou⁴ mig⁶ qu³, deg¹ loi⁴ qun⁴ bed¹ fei³ gung¹ fu¹

/taːp̚² pʰɔː³³ tʰiːt̚³ haːi̯²¹ mou̯²¹ mɪk̚² t͡sʰyː³³ tɐk̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

(xiehouyu) One will search high and low only to find it when one least expects to.


歷盡艱辛

ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ

лицзиньцзяньсинь

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

to have undergone all manner of hardships


諸葛亮借東風

ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ

ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ

Чжугэ Лян цзе дунфэн

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³ lœːŋ²² t͡sɛː³³ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

From the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Zhuge Liang utilizes the east wind to send burning ships into the ships of Cao Cao's invading forces.

Zhuge Liang uses the wind to put out a fire

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhuge Liang

諸葛亮借東風——神機妙算／诸葛亮借东风——神机妙算

Zhūgě Liàng jiè dōngfēng, shénjīmiàosuàn


燈紅酒綠

ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄩˋ

дэнхунцзюлюй

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ lʊk̚²/

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ lʊk̚²/

scene or life of debauchery; feasting and revelry


辦事不牢

ㄅㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄠˊ

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

unreliable in the performance of one's work


龍盤虎踞

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄢˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄐㄩˋ

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄢˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄐㄩˋ

лунпаньхуцзюй

/lʊŋ³⁵ pʰän³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ pʰuːn²¹ fuː³⁵ kɵy̯³³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ pʰän³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ pʰuːn²¹ fuː³⁵ kɵy̯³³/

Quoted from Zhuge Liang's description of Nanjing's terrain

Liu Bei has once ordered Zhuge Liang to Nanjing. He saw the mountains there and said, “The Bell Mountain is like a coiled dragon, and the Stone City is like a crouched tiger. This should be the home of the emperor.”

Taiping Yulan (Readings of the Taiping Era), 977 – 983 CE

Liú Bèi céng shǐ Zhūgě Liàng zhì jīng, yīn dǔ mòlíng shān fù, tàn yuē: “Zhōngshān lóng pán, shítóu hǔ jù, cǐ dìwáng zhī zhái.”

劉備曾使諸葛亮至京，因睹秣陵山阜，歎曰：「鍾山龍盤，石頭虎踞，此帝王之宅。」

刘备曾使诸葛亮至京，因睹秣陵山阜，叹曰：「钟山龙盘，石头虎踞，此帝王之宅。」

a location with forbidding and dangerous terrain, especially Nanjing

Purple Mountain (Nanjing)
Stone City (Nanjing)
Zhuge Liang


龍蟠虎踞

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄢˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄐㄩˋ

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄢˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄐㄩˋ

лунпаньхуцзюй

/lʊŋ³⁵ pʰän³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ pʰuːn²¹ fuː³⁵ kɵy̯³³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ pʰän³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lʊŋ²¹ pʰuːn²¹ fuː³⁵ kɵy̯³³/

龍盤虎踞 龍盤虎踞#Chinese

龙盘虎踞 龙盘虎踞#Chinese

Synonym of 龍盤虎踞／龙盘虎踞 (lóngpánhǔjù, “a location with forbidding and dangerous terrain”)


龍行虎步

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ

лун син ху бу

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

(to walk) in a dignified and confident manner; displaying the dignity of an emperor


舉手投足

ㄐㄩˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄗㄨˊ

цзюйшоутоуцзу

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

the way one moves; the way in which one carries oneself; how one carries oneself


懷才不遇

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˋ

huái cái bù yù [Phonetic:huái cái bú yù]

хуай цай бу юй

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ y⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²²/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ y⁵¹/

/waːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²²/

to have talent, but no opportunity to use it


繪聲繪色

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄙㄜˋ

хуэйшэнхуэйсэ

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


藕斷絲連

→ Bouyei: ngoujduanqsiylianf

ㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄙ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

оудуаньсылянь

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯¹³ tyːn²² siː⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯¹³ tyːn²² siː⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

The lotus root is a tuberous plant, with lots of threads. Therefore, when you break it, a number of threads will still be attached.

the lotus root is broken, (but) threads (still) connect (the two pieces)

the ties are severed, but not completely; to still have a thing for somebody; to still pine for somebody


雞皮鶴髮

ㄐㄧ ㄆㄧˊ ㄏㄜˋ ㄈㄚˋ

ㄐㄧ ㄆㄧˊ ㄏㄜˋ ㄈㄚˇ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ xɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ xɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(said of the aged) with shriveled skin and white hair


邊都沾不上

ㄅㄧㄢ ㄉㄡ ㄓㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ

biān dōu zhān bù shàng [Phonetic:biān dōu zhān bú shàng]

бянь доу чжань бу шан

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

way off; not even close; way off the mark; dead wrong; off by a mile


關公面前耍大刀

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨㄚˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄠ

Kuan¹-kung¹ mien⁴-chʻien² shua³ ta⁴-tao¹

Гуаньгун мяньцянь шуа дадао

/ku̯än⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

Literally: to wield a broadsword in the presence of the Lord Guan


鵬程萬里

ㄆㄥˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄌㄧˇ

пэнчэнваньли

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ maːn²² lei̯¹³/

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ maːn²² lei̯¹³/

(said of a person) to have brilliant prospects; to have a bright future


觸景生情

ㄔㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

чуцзиншэнцин

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

be moved by what one sees; memories revive at the sight of familiar places; the scene brings back memories


觸目驚心

ㄔㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

чумуцзинсинь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ mʊk̚² kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰok̚²⁻⁴ mak̚⁴⁻² kĩã³³⁻²³ sim³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ mʊk̚² kɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰok̚²⁻⁴ mak̚⁴⁻² kĩã³³⁻²³ sim³³/

frightening; bloodcurdling; shocking; ghastly


騰空而起

ㄊㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/tʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to rise in the world by sheer effort and persistence


懸樑刺股

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄘˋ ㄍㄨˇ

сюаньлянцыгу

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn²¹ lœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ kuː³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn²¹ lœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ kuː³⁵/

懸樑／悬梁 (xuán liáng) refers to what Sun Jing (孫敬／孙敬) of Eastern Han did:
:
刺股 (cì gǔ) refers to what Su Qin did

Sun Jing, courtesy name Wenbao, was studious. He would study from morning to night. When he felt sleepy, he would tie his hair with a string and hang it on the rafters (so that if he fell asleep, he would be awakened).

Sūn Jìng, zì Wénbǎo, hǎoxué, chén xī bùxiū. Jízhì mián shuì pí qǐn, yǐ shéng xì tóu, xuán wūliáng.

孫敬，字文寶，好學，晨夕不休。及至眠睡疲寢，以繩系頭，懸屋樑。

孙敬，字文宝，好学，晨夕不休。及至眠睡疲寝，以绳系头，悬屋梁。

When he (Su Qin) felt sleepy while studying, he would use an awl to prick his thighs (in order to stay awake) until blood flew over his feet.

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Dúshū yù shuì, yǐn zhuī zì cì qí gǔ, xuè liú zhì zú.

讀書欲睡，引錐自刺其股，血流至足。

读书欲睡，引锥自刺其股，血流至足。

to tie (one's hair) to the rafters (so that if one falls asleep, one will be awakened), and to prick one's thighs (in order to stay awake)


顧不得許多

ㄍㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄒㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄛ

гу будэ сюйдо

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

incapable of focusing on too many things at once


顧左右而言他

ㄍㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˋ ㄦˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄚ

гу цзою эр янь та

/ku⁵¹ t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ t͡sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯²² jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ tʰaː⁵⁵/

[Mencius] said, "What would you do if your country is not managed well?" The king looked left and right, then started talking about something else.

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

Yuē: “Sìjìng zhī nèi bù zhì, zé rú zhī hé?” Wáng gù zuǒyòu ér yán tā.

曰：「四境之內不治，則如之何？」王顧左右而言他。

曰：「四境之内不治，则如之何？」王顾左右而言他。

顾左右而言他
王顧左右而言他

to look left and right, then talk about something else

Thus, he scanned the surroundings with his peripheral vision and discovered that the eunuch beside him kept winking at him, so he tried to dodge the question and ended the discussion perfunctorily by saying, "People are naturally afraid of ghosts."

2011, 余建明, 《關於地理學的100個故事》 (100 Stories of Geography), page 129

Yúshì, tā yòng yǎnjiǎo de yúguāng sǎoshì le yīxià sìzhōu, fāxiàn pángbiān tàijiān yě fēnfēn xiàng tā shǐ yǎnsè, biàn gù zuǒyòu ér yán tā, yòng “rén zìrán shì pà guǐ” de huà fūyǎn liǎoshì.

於是，他用眼角的餘光掃視了一下四周，發現旁邊太監也紛紛向他使眼色，便顧左右而言他，用「人自然是怕鬼」的話敷衍了事。

于是，他用眼角的余光扫视了一下四周，发现旁边太监也纷纷向他使眼色，便顾左右而言他，用「人自然是怕鬼」的话敷衍了事。

to try to change the subject of a conversation; to evade the subject under discussion and talk about other affairs; to steer clear of the crucial point


驚惶失措

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄕ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

цзинхуан шицо

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

驚慌失措 驚慌失措#Chinese

惊慌失措 惊慌失措#Chinese

Alternative form of 驚慌失措／惊慌失措 (jīnghuāngshīcuò)


變化多端

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄢ

бяньхуадодуань

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ faː³³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ faː³³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

varied; changeable; capable of being changed in a variety of ways


變化莫測

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄘㄜˋ

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ faː³³ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ faː³³ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ faː³³ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ faː³³ mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/


邯鄲學步

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (邯鄲學步):
* → Korean: 한단학보(邯鄲學步) (handanhakbo)

→ Japanese: 邯鄲の歩み (calque)

ㄏㄢˊ ㄉㄢ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ

ханьданьсюэбу

/xän³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹/

/hɔːn²¹ taːn⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² pou̯²²/

/xän³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹/

/hɔːn²¹ taːn⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² pou̯²²/

Go your ways, Sir! And have you not heard of the young learners of Shou-ling, and how they did in Han-dan? Before they had acquired what they might have done in that capital, they had forgotten what they had learned to do in their old city, and were marched back to it on their hands and knees. If now you do not go away, you will forget your old acquirements, and fail in your profession.

Zǐ wǎng yǐ! Qiě zǐ dú bù wén fú shòulíng yúzǐ zhī xué xíng yú Hándān yú? Wèi dé guó néng, yòu shī qí gù xíng yǐ, zhí púfú ér guī ěr. Jīn zǐ bù qù, jiāng wàng zǐ zhī gù, shī zǐ zhī yè.

子往矣！且子獨不聞夫壽陵餘子之學行於邯鄲與？未得國能，又失其故行矣，直匍匐而歸耳。今子不去，將忘子之故，失子之業。

子往矣！且子独不闻夫寿陵余子之学行于邯郸与？未得国能，又失其故行矣，直匍匐而归耳。今子不去，将忘子之故，失子之业。

to study the walking method of the people of Handan

to badly imitate others, and lose one's individuality in the process


怏怏不樂

ㄧㄤˋ ㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄜˋ

ㄧㄤ ㄧㄤ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄜˋ

/jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/jɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/jɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

to look sullen and unhappy; to seem as though one is unhappy


南轅北轍

ㄋㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄜˊ

ㄋㄢˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄔㄜˋ

наньюаньбэйчжэ

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

наньюаньбэйчэ

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ jyːn²¹ pɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ tiɛt̚²⁴/

/lam¹³⁻²² uan¹³⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁵ tiɛt̚¹²¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ uan²⁴⁻¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²³⁻³³ uan²³⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/nän³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ jyːn²¹ pɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²⁴⁻²² uan²⁴⁻²² pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ tiɛt̚²⁴/

/lam¹³⁻²² uan¹³⁻²² pak̚³²⁻⁵ tiɛt̚¹²¹/

/lam²⁴⁻¹¹ uan²⁴⁻¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/lam²³⁻³³ uan²³⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

The king of Wei was about to attack Handan. Ji Liang heard about it, and turned back in the middle of his journey. He did not straighten the wrinkles in his clothes, nor did he brush the dust off of his head, but went straight to the king. He said, "Today, on the road to the Taihang Mountains, I encountered a man whose carriage was heading north. The man told me, 'I am going to Chu.' I said, 'If you're going to Chu, then why are you facing north?' He said, 'My horse is good.' I said, 'although your horse is good, this is not the road to Chu.' He said, 'I have abundant resources.' I said, 'although you have abundant resources, this is not the road to Chu.' He said, 'My driver is excellent.' I said, 'the better your driver and all the other things, the further from Chu will you be.' At present, the actions of your highness are because you want to become a supreme overlord. Yet, you would like your behavior to be trusted by all under the heavens. Relying on the power of your kingdom and the quality of your soldiers, you attack Handan. In this way, you plan to expand your territories and garner respect for your name. However, the more actions taken by you the king, the further from a king you become. It's akin to traveling north to get to Chu.

Wèi wáng yù gōng Hándān, Jì Liáng wén zhī, zhōng dào ér fǎn, yī jiāo bù shēn, tóu chén bù qù, wǎng jiàn wáng yuē: “Jīn zhě chén lái, jiàn rén yú Tàixíng, fāng běi miàn ér chí qí jià, gào chén yuē: ‘Wú yù zhī Chǔ.’ Chén yuē: ‘Jūn zhī Chǔ, jiāng xī wèi běi miàn?’ Yuē: ‘Wú mǎ liáng.’ Chén yuē: ‘Mǎ suī liáng, cǐ fēi Chǔ zhī lù yě.’ Yuē: ‘Wú yòng duō.’ Chén yuē: ‘Yòng suī duō, cǐ fēi Chǔ zhī lù yě.’ Yuē: ‘Wú yù zhě shàn.’ ‘cǐ shì zhě yù shàn, ér lí Chǔ yù yuǎn ěr.’ Jīn wáng dòng yù chéng bàwáng, jǔ yù xìn yú tiānxià. Shì wángguó zhī dà, bīng zhī jīngruì, ér gōng Hándān, yǐ guǎng dì zūn míng, wáng zhī dòng yù shù, ér lí wáng yù yuǎn ěr. Yóu zhì Chǔ ér běi xíng yě.”

魏王欲攻邯鄲，季梁聞之，中道而反，衣焦不申，頭塵不去，往見王曰：「今者臣來，見人於太行，方北面而持其駕，告臣曰：『吾欲之楚。』臣曰：『君之楚，將奚為北面？』曰：『吾馬良。』臣曰：『馬雖良，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾用多。』臣曰：『用雖多，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾御者善。』『此是者愈善，而離楚愈遠耳。』今王動欲成霸王，舉欲信於天下。恃王國之大，兵之精銳，而攻邯鄲，以廣地尊名，王之動愈數，而離王愈遠耳。猶至楚而北行也。」

魏王欲攻邯郸，季梁闻之，中道而反，衣焦不申，头尘不去，往见王曰：「今者臣来，见人于太行，方北面而持其驾，告臣曰：『吾欲之楚。』臣曰：『君之楚，将奚为北面？』曰：『吾马良。』臣曰：『马虽良，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾用多。』臣曰：『用虽多，此非楚之路也。』曰：『吾御者善。』『此是者愈善，而离楚愈远耳。』今王动欲成霸王，举欲信于天下。恃王国之大，兵之精锐，而攻邯郸，以广地尊名，王之动愈数，而离王愈远耳。犹至楚而北行也。」

south (bound) shafts (of a cart running on) north (bound) ruts (in the road)

to be counterproductive; to run counter to; to work at cross-purposes; to sabotage your own progress; to go off in the wrong direction


物換星移

ㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄧˊ

у хуань син и

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/mɐt̚² wuːn²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹/

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/mɐt̚² wuːn²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹/

From Wang Bo's Preface to the Prince Teng's Pavilion

The random clouds’ pond reflection grows daily sad. How many falls have the stars gone round or the beasts all fled?

Xián yún tán yǐng rì yōuyōu, wù huàn xīng yí jǐ dù qiū.

閒雲潭影日悠悠，物換星移幾度秋。

闲云潭影日悠悠，物换星移几度秋。

In time, all these settlements fell under English control, but the region continued to be a magnet for people of diverse nationalities.

2006: anon., :zh:w:美国东北部 (Northeastern United States)

Zài wùhuànxīngyí xià, zhèxiē qūyù zhújiàn de bèi Yīngguó zhímín zhě kòngzhì, dàn cǐ qūyù réngrán yǒu zhù qiángzhuàng de duōyàngxìng.

在物換星移下，這些區域逐漸的被英國殖民者控制，但此區域仍然有著強壯的多樣性。

在物换星移下，这些区域逐渐的被英国殖民者控制，但此区域仍然有著强壮的多样性。

the change that accompanies the passage of time; circumstances change over the years


敢做敢當

ㄍㄢˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄉㄤ

ганьцзоганьдан

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sou̯²² kɐm³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sou̯²² kɐm³⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵/

willing to take action, then live with the consequences


捨近求遠

ㄕㄜˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄩㄢˇ

шэцзиньцююань

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛː³⁵ kɐn²² kʰɐu̯²¹ jyːn¹³/

/sɛː³⁵ kɐn²² kʰɐu̯²¹ jyːn¹³/

go on a wild goose chase
go on a wild goose chase

to abandon what is close at hand in favor of something far away; to go on a wild goose chase; to vainly pursue the impossible, while ignoring the possible


不可開交

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄎㄞ ㄐㄧㄠ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

unable to break away from one's duties or tasks; can't catch a break


禮尚往來

ㄌㄧˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄌㄞˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/lɐi̯¹³ sœːŋ²² wɔːŋ¹³ lɔːi̯²¹/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/lɐi̯¹³ sœːŋ²² wɔːŋ¹³ lɔːi̯²¹/

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

In the highest antiquity they prized (simply conferring) good; in the time next to this, giving and repaying was the thing attended to. And what the rules of propriety value is that reciprocity. If I give a gift and nothing comes in return, that is contrary to propriety; if the thing comes to me, and I give nothing in return, that also is contrary to propriety.

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

Tàishàng guì dé, qícì wù shī bào. Lǐ shàng wǎnglái. Wǎng ér bù lái, fēilǐ yě; lái ér bù wǎng, yì fēilǐ yě.

太上貴德，其次務施報。禮尚往來。往而不來，非禮也；來而不往，亦非禮也。

太上贵德，其次务施报。礼尚往来。往而不来，非礼也；来而不往，亦非礼也。

to reciprocate the courtesy shown to you by another; to treat others as you would like to be treated

to reciprocate a gift; to give a gift in return


水深

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

水深危險！

水深危险！

(literally) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 水 (shuǐ), 深 (shēn).

There are a lot of hidden goings-on in this industry.

做這行水很深。

做这行水很深。

(figuratively) having hidden goings-on; having shady plots


五陵年少

ㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄠˋ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

From the Bai Juyi poem: Song of the Pipa Player.

Yin Hsueh-yen somehow never seemed to age. Of those fashionable young men who had been her admirers more than a dozen years ago in Shanghai's Paramount Ballroom, some had grown bald on top and some were graying at the temples.

1965: Pai Hsien-yung, Taipei People, The Eternal Snow Beauty, Taipei People bilingual edition, →ISBN.

Yǐn Xuěyàn zǒng yě bù lǎo. Shí jǐ nián qián nà yī bān zài Shànghǎi Bǎilèmén wǔtīng tì tā pěngchǎng de wǔlíngniánshào, yǒuxiē tóu shàng kāi le dǐng, yǒuxiē bìn tiān le shuāng.

尹雪艷總也不老。十幾年前那一班在上海百樂門舞廳替他捧場的五陵年少，有些頭上開了頂，有些鬢添了霜。

尹雪艳总也不老。十几年前那一班在上海百乐门舞厅替他捧场的五陵年少，有些头上开了顶，有些鬓添了霜。


雞蛋裡挑骨頭

鸡蛋里挑骨头
雞蛋裏挑骨頭

ㄐㄧ ㄉㄢˋ ˙ㄌㄧ ㄊㄧㄠ ㄍㄨˇ ˙ㄊㄡ

ㄐㄧ ㄉㄢˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄠ ㄍㄨˊ ˙ㄊㄡ

цзидань ли тяо гутоу

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tän⁵¹ li¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴ tʰoʊ̯⁴/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tän⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ taːn²²⁻³⁵ lɵy̯¹³ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ taːn²² lɵy̯¹³ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

On the one hand, they grant you extensive power—or at least they say that they want to do that; on the other hand, they nitpick at the area most important in your work, the one that you pay most attention to, causing you to be at a loss of what to do.

2002, 罗伯特·布兰森博士 [Robert M. Bramson], 陈述 and 周欣, trans., 《怎样应付难缠的老板》 [Coping with Difficult Bosses], page 103

Tāmen yīfāngmiàn shòuyǔ nǐ guǎngfàn de quánlì — huòzhě zhìshào tāmen shuō yào zhèyàng zuò, yīfāngmiàn yòu zài nǐ gōngzuò zhōng zuì zhòngyào érqiě nǐ yòu zuìwéi guānzhù de lǐngyù jīdàn li tiǎo gǔtou, lìng nǐ wúsuǒshìcóng.

他們一方面授予你廣泛的權力——或者至少他們說要這樣做，一方面又在你工作中最重要而且你又最為關注的領域雞蛋裡挑骨頭，令你無所適從。

他们一方面授予你广泛的权力——或者至少他们说要这样做，一方面又在你工作中最重要而且你又最为关注的领域鸡蛋里挑骨头，令你无所适从。


獨一無二

/tu³⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²²/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ zi³³/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³/

/tu³⁵ i⁵⁵ u³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiː²²/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ zi³³/

/tɔk̚⁴⁻³² it̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ li³³/

unique; unparalleled; unmatched; singular


握手言合

ㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄜˊ

/wɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/wɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

It was really shameful how he stabbed me in the back and maliciously hurt me, even after we had already concluded our talks and reconciled.

Zài tánpàn jiéshù wòshǒuyánhé hòu, tā yòu fànglěngjiàn èyì zhòngshāng wǒ, zhēn shì bēibǐwúchǐ.

在談判結束握手言合後，他又放冷箭惡意中傷我，真是卑鄙無恥。

在谈判结束握手言合后，他又放冷箭恶意中伤我，真是卑鄙无耻。


顧名思義

ㄍㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄙ ㄧˋ

/ku⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/kuː³³ mɪŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jiː²²/

/ku⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/kuː³³ mɪŋ²¹ siː⁵⁵ jiː²²/


摸著石頭過河——走一步算一步

head

摸著石頭過河——走一步算一步

摸着石头过河——走一步算一步

To feel the rocks (on the riverbed) as one crosses the river ― taking one step at a time.

ㄇㄛ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄕˊ ˙ㄊㄡ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄜˊ

ㄗㄡˇ ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ

zǒu yībù suàn yībù [Phonetic:mō zhe shítou guò hé

мо чжэ шитоу го хэ

цзоу ибу суань ибу

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯än⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹/

(xiehouyu) to figure things out as one goes; to take things one step at a time


供不應求

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ³³ kʰɐu̯²¹/


一知半解

ㄧ ㄓ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːn³³ kaːi̯³⁵/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² puan²¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ puːn³³ kaːi̯³⁵/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² puan²¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puan²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ kai⁵³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ kai⁴¹/

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

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

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

世上最可笑的是那些「知識裡手」，有了道聽塗說的一知半解，便自封為「天下第一」，適足見其不自量而已。

世上最可笑的是那些「知识里手」，有了道听涂说的一知半解，便自封为「天下第一」，适足见其不自量而已。

to sort of understand; to only halfway understand; to be unsure of the meaning (of a word or phrase)


異口同聲

ㄧˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

/i⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² hɐu̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siã⁴⁴/

/i⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² hɐu̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/i²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻²¹ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²³⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/i³³⁻¹¹ kʰau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siã⁴⁴/

to speak with one voice; to say the same thing; to carry identical opinions; to be unanimous


莫名其妙

to be impossible to describe what the profundity is

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² mɪŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ miːu̯²²/

/bɔk̚²⁴⁻² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau⁴¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ miãu³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ miãu³³/

/mok̚⁴⁻² meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ miou³⁵/

/moʔ¹¹ min³³ d͡ʑi²² miɔ⁴⁴/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɔːk̚² mɪŋ²¹ kʰei̯²¹ miːu̯²²/

/bɔk̚²⁴⁻² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau⁴¹/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ biau³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² biau²²/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ miãu³³/

/bɔk̚⁴⁻³² biɪŋ²³ ki²³⁻³³ miãu³³/

/mok̚⁴⁻² meŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ miou³⁵/

/moʔ¹¹ min³³ d͡ʑi²² miɔ⁴⁴/


事不過三

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄢ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵/

There will not be a fourth time. / One should not make the same action or mistake more than three times.


花心蘿蔔

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄅㄛ

хуасинь лобо

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ b̥u̯ɔ³/

/faː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ paːk̚²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ b̥u̯ɔ³/

/faː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ paːk̚²/


打落水狗

ㄉㄚˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄍㄡˇ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taː³⁵ lɔːk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/taː³⁵ lɔːk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

to hit an enemy when he is down or defeated


貓哭耗子——假慈悲

ㄇㄠ ㄎㄨ ㄏㄠˋ ˙ㄗ

мао ку хаоцзы

/mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/maːu̯⁵⁵ hʊk̚⁵ hou̯³³ t͡siː³⁵ kaː³⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ pei̯⁵⁵/

(chiefly Mandarin) to cry crocodile tears


箭在弦上，不得不發

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄤˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚ

цзянь цзай сянь шан

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/


討價還價

ㄊㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

таоцзяхуаньцзя

/tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʰou̯³⁵ kaː³³ waːn²¹ kaː³³/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka²¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻²² ka²¹/

/tʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ huan²³⁻³³ ke²¹/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ ke¹¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka⁵⁵ ɦue³³ ka²¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka³³ ɦue²² ka⁴⁴/

/tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʰou̯³⁵ kaː³³ waːn²¹ kaː³³/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka²¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻²² ka²¹/

/tʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ huan²³⁻³³ ke²¹/

/tʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ ke¹¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka⁵⁵ ɦue³³ ka²¹/

/tʰɔ³³ ka³³ ɦue²² ka⁴⁴/

to negotiate back and forth; to bargain; to haggle


怕老婆

/pʰä⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴ pʰu̯ɔ⁴/

/pʰaː³³ lou̯¹³ pʰɔː²¹/

/pʰä⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴ pʰu̯ɔ⁴/

/pʰaː³³ lou̯¹³ pʰɔː²¹/

Literally: "afraid of one's wife". It is believed that if a man is ticklish, it is a sign of fear of his present or future wife.

to be henpecked; to be afraid of one's wife


驚某

* It is believed that if a man is ticklish, it is a sign of fear of his present or future wife.

/kiã⁴⁴⁻²² bɔ⁵³/

/kiã³³ bɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻²² bɔ⁵³/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔ⁵³/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔ⁴¹/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻²² bɔ⁵³/

/kiã³³ bɔ⁵⁵⁴/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻²² bɔ⁵³/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔ⁵³/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔ⁴¹/


生拉硬拽

ㄕㄥ ㄌㄚ ㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄞˋ

шэн ла ин чжуай

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ ŋaːŋ²² jɐi̯²²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ ŋaːŋ²² jɐi̯²²/

to drag somebody along kicking and screaming


貪多嚼不爛

ㄊㄢ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄢˋ

tān duō jiáo bù làn [Phonetic:tān duō jiáo bú làn]

тань до цзяо бу лань

/tʰän⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ län⁵¹/

bite off more than one can chew
bite off more than one can chew


那壺不開提那壺

ㄋㄚˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄞ ㄊㄧˊ ㄋㄚˇ ㄏㄨˊ

на ху бу кай ти на ху

/nä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi³⁵ nä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵/

哪壺不開提哪壺 哪壺不開提哪壺#Chinese

哪壶不开提哪壶 哪壶不开提哪壶#Chinese

Misspelling of 哪壺不開提哪壺／哪壶不开提哪壶 (nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú).


哪壺不開提哪壺

ㄋㄚˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄞ ㄊㄧˊ ㄋㄚˇ ㄏㄨˊ

на ху бу кай ти на ху

Literally: whichever pot is not boiling, pickup that pot
: If a pot of water is not boiling, it does not make any (high-pitched) sound. This means figuratively that the pot of water is defective. If one deliberately picks up such a pot, then it figuratively means that one is deliberately publicizing somebody else's weaknesses or secrets.

to let somebody's skeletons out of the closet


光天化日

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄖˋ

гуантяньхуажи

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ faː³³ jɐt̚²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ faː³³ jɐt̚²/

According to the scholar Hui Dong (惠棟), the original (or prescriptionist) form of 化日 in the phrase might have been 治日 (“enlightened, well-governed times”). In this theory, during much of the Tang Dynasty, the written corpus saw systematic censorship of the character 治 (zhì) due to 諱／讳 (huì, “naming taboo”) regarding the name of Li Zhi (李治), the Emperor Gaozong of Tang. The character 化 (huà) was among the most frequently-used replacements, and its legacy continued to influence later generations, who went on to use 化 where 治 would be expected even if the taboo was no longer in force.

lang

唐諱「治」，章懷注《後漢書》隨文改易。⋯此篇「治國之日舒以長」改爲「化國」。後人因之，遂有「光天化日」之語，豈非郢書而燕說乎？

Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Tang Dynasty
zh:惠棟


人聲鼎沸

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄈㄟˋ

жэньшэндинфэй

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ fɐi̯³³/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ fɐi̯³³/


回眸一笑

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄡˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

* 806: Bai Juyi, Song of Everlasting Regret
*

She could melt one's heart with her attractive smile […]

回眸一笑百媚生

Smiling attractively at the Hong Kong premiere of Curse of the Golden Flower, Gong Li reveals more cleavage than she bargained for

Gǒng Lì liàngxiàng Huángjīnjiǎ Xiānggǎng shǒuyìng, huímóuyīxiào bùshèn lùdiǎn

鞏俐亮相黃金甲香港首映 回眸一笑不慎露點

巩俐亮相黄金甲香港首映 回眸一笑不慎露点

to smile attractively; an attractive smile


手無寸鐵

ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄝˇ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰiːt̚³/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰiːt̚³/


劍拔弩張

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (劍拔弩張):
* → Japanese: 剣抜弩張(けんばつどちょう) (kenbatsudochō)

swords are unsheathed, and crossbows are drawn

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄚˊ ㄋㄨˇ ㄓㄤ

цзяньбанучжан

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä³⁵ nu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ pɐt̚² nou̯¹³ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä³⁵ nu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ pɐt̚² nou̯¹³ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/


不白之冤

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄞˊ ㄓ ㄩㄢ

бубайчжиюань

/pu⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ uan³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ pe(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/pu⁵¹ paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ uan³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ pe(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ uan⁴⁴/

miscarriage of justice which remains uncorrected; unredressed grievance


持之有故

ㄔˊ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku⁵¹/

one has a well founded view or opinion; one's views can be supported by facts or evidence


抽絲剝繭

to peel the cocoon (of a silkworm) by unraveling the (raw) silk thread from which it was spun

ㄔㄡ ㄙ ㄅㄛ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

чоусыбоцзянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚⁵ kaːn³⁵/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁴¹/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁵³/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mɔːk̚⁵ kaːn³⁵/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁴¹/

/tʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ si⁴⁴⁻³³ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiɛn⁵³/

to painstakingly get to the bottom of something; to struggle to understand a convoluted argument or issue


差強人意

ㄔㄚ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

ㄔㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ¹³ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ¹³ jɐn²¹ jiː³³/

Sense #2 is a recent re-interpretation of the 差 in this idiom as “below standard”.

The Book of the Later Han, circa 5ᵗʰ century CE

Dì shí qiǎn rén guān dàsīmǎ hé wèi, hái yán fāng xiū zhàngōng zhī jù, nǎi tàn yuē: “Wúgōng chāqiángrényì, yǐn ruò yī dí guó yǐ.”

帝時遣人觀大司馬何為，還言方修戰攻之具，乃嘆曰：「吳公差彊人意，隱若一敵國矣。」

帝时遣人观大司马何为，还言方修战攻之具，乃叹曰：「吴公差强人意，隐若一敌国矣。」

(approvingly) just passable; fair; adequate

(neologism, disapprovingly) below standard and not quite satisfactory; barely acceptable; not that great; just ok


粗枝大葉

ㄘㄨ ㄓ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jiːp̚²/

/t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jiːp̚²/

Fortunately, there are many comrades in Yenan who have written at length in this field, so that my rough and ready words may serve the same purpose as the beating of the gongs before a theatrical performance.

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

Hǎozài Yán'ān xǔduō tóngzhì yǐ yǒu xiángjìn de wénzhāng, wǒ de cūzhīdàyè de dōngxi, jiù dàngzuò yīfān kāitáiluógǔ hǎo le.

好在延安許多同志已有詳盡的文章，我的粗枝大葉的東西，就當作一番開臺鑼鼓好了。

好在延安许多同志已有详尽的文章，我的粗枝大叶的东西，就当作一番开台锣鼓好了。


步履維艱

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄩˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

булюйвэйцзянь

/pu⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² lei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pou̯²² lei̯¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

to walk with great difficulty; to have difficulty walking


斷章取義

Sino-Xenic (斷章取義):
* → Japanese: 断(だん)章(しょう)取(しゅ)義(ぎ) (danshōshugi)
* → Korean: 단장 취의(斷章取義) (danjang chwiui)

desc

→ Japanese: 章を断ち義を取る (shō o tachi gi o toru) (calque)

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄤ ㄑㄩˇ ㄧˋ

дуаньчжанцюйи

/tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ jiː²²/

/tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ jiː²²/

take something out of context
take out of context


惡名昭著

ㄜˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄠ ㄓㄨˋ

/ˀɤ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/ˀɤ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/


臭名昭著

ㄔㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄠ ㄓㄨˋ

чоуминчжаочжу

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯³³ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡syː³³/

/t͡sʰau²¹³⁻⁵⁵ mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siou³³⁻²³ tu²¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯³³ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡syː³³/


惡名昭彰

ㄜˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄠ ㄓㄤ

эминчжаочжан

/ˀɤ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɔːk̚³ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ˀɤ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɔːk̚³ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/


鼓舞人心

ㄍㄨˇ ㄨˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kuː³⁵ mou̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kuː³⁵ mou̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/


鬼影幢幢

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄧㄥˇ ㄔㄨㄤˊ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

guǐ yǐng chuángchuáng [Phonetic:guíyǐngchuángchuáng]

гуй ин чуанчуан

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/


坐井觀天

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ

цзоцзингуаньтянь

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

Related to 井底之蛙 (jǐngdǐzhīwā). Directly from

Lao Tzŭ merely narrowed the scope of charity and duty; he did not attempt to do without them altogether. His view of them was the narrow view of a man sitting at the bottom of a well and inferring the size of the heavens from the small portion visible to himself.

c. early 9th century, Han Yu (韓愈),《原道》, translated into English as True Faith of a Confucianist by Herbert Allen Giles, 1922.

Lǎozǐ zhī xiǎo rényì, fēi huǐ zhī yě, qí jiàn zhě xiǎo yě. Zuò jǐng ér guān tiān, yuē “tiān xiǎo” zhě, fēi tiān xiǎo yě.

老子之小仁義，非毀之也，其見者小也。坐井而觀天，曰「天小」者，非天小也。

老子之小仁义，非毁之也，其见者小也。坐井而观天，曰「天小」者，非天小也。

ignorant of the world; to be living under a rock


絞盡腦汁

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄠˇ ㄓ

цзяоцзиньнаочжи

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄠˇ ㄓㄦ

цзяоцзиньнаочжир

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² nou̯¹³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² nãu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siap̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ nãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² nou̯¹³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ nãu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/

/ka⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ nãu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siap̚³²/


拉山頭

/lä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/lä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/


潰不成軍

ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄩㄣ

куйбучэнцзюнь

/kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

/kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/kʰuːi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵/

to be utterly routed; to be soundly defeated


胼手胝足

ㄆㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓ ㄗㄨˊ

пяньшоучжицзу

/pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

Intercalation of 胼胝 (piánzhī) and 手足 (shǒuzú).


密密麻麻

ㄇㄧˋ ˙ㄇㄧ ㄇㄚˊ ㄇㄚˊ

ㄇㄧˋ ㄇㄧˋ ㄇㄚˊ ㄇㄚˊ

/mi⁵¹ mi¹ mä³⁵ mä³⁵/

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi⁵¹ mä³⁵ mä³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mɐt̚² maː²¹ maː²¹/

/mi⁵¹ mi¹ mä³⁵ mä³⁵/

/mi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi⁵¹ mä³⁵ mä³⁵/

/mɐt̚² mɐt̚² maː²¹ maː²¹/


殺雞取卵

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩˇ ㄌㄨㄢˇ

шацзицюйлуань

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ lɵn³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ lɵn³⁵/

Nǐ nuóyòng gōngkuǎn lái chīhēwányuè, wúyì shì shājīqǔluǎn, zhōng jiāng zìshí'èguǒ.

你挪用公款來吃喝玩樂，無異是殺雞取卵，終將自食惡果。

你挪用公款来吃喝玩乐，无异是杀鸡取卵，终将自食恶果。

(figurative) to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

Qínshǐhuáng héngzhēngbàoliǎn, shǐ bǎixìng sāncān bùjì, mínbùliáoshēng, zhè zhǒng fāngshì wúyì yú shājīqǔluǎn.

秦始皇橫徵暴斂，使百姓三餐不繼，民不聊生，這種方式無異於殺雞取卵。

秦始皇横征暴敛，使百姓三餐不继，民不聊生，这种方式无异于杀鸡取卵。

(figurative) politicians levy excessive taxes and do not hesitate to cut off the people's vitality


勢均力敵

ㄕˋ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² tɪk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² tɪk̚²/


潛移默化

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄧˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːm²¹ jiː²¹ mɐk̚² faː³³/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡siam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡sʰiam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴⁻² hue²¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːm²¹ jiː²¹ mɐk̚² faː³³/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡siam²⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡siam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴⁻¹¹ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua¹¹/

/t͡sʰiam²³⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ biɪk̚⁴⁻³² hua²¹/

/t͡sʰiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mik̚⁴⁻² hue²¹³/

to influence secretly, subtly; to change due to unnoticeable influence


韜光養晦

ㄊㄠ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄧㄤˇ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

таогуанъянхуэй

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ fuːi̯³³/

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³ fuːi̯³³/

to hide one's talents, and bide one's time for the right opportunity


未蒙其利，先受其害

ㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄥˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄡˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄞˋ

wei⁴ mêng² chʻi² li⁴, hsien¹ shou⁴ chʻi² hai⁴

вэй мэн ци ли

сянь шоу ци хай

/weɪ̯⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ li⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

to receive damage from something long before getting any benefit from it


如出一轍

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄓㄜˊ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄔㄜˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/lu²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ tiɛt̚⁴/

from the same mold; peas in a pod; exactly alike


無所不用其極

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩㄥˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧˊ

wú suǒ bùyòng qí jí [Phonetic:wú suǒ búyòng qí jí]

у со буюн ци цзи

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²² kʰei̯²¹ kɪk̚²/

From the Great Learning (《大學》) in the Book of Rites:
:
It has later become a derogatory term.

On the bathing tub of Tang, the following words were engraved: "If you can one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day. Yea, let there be daily renovation." In the Announcement to Kang (《康誥》), it is said, "To stir up the new people." In the Book of Poetry, it is said, "Although Zhou was an ancient state the ordinance which lighted on it was new." Therefore, the superior man in everything uses his utmost endeavors.

Tāng zhī pán míng yuē: “Jì rìxīn, rì rìxīn, yòu rìxīn.” “Kānggào” yuē: “Zuò xīnmín.” “Shī” yuē: “Zhōu suī jiù bāng, qí mìng wéi xīn.” Shìgù jūnzǐ wú suǒ bùyòng qí jí.

湯之盤銘曰：「茍日新，日日新，又日新。」《康誥》曰：「作新民。」《詩》曰：「周雖舊邦，其命惟新。」是故君子無所不用其極。

汤之盘铭曰：「茍日新，日日新，又日新。」《康诰》曰：「作新民。」《诗》曰：「周虽旧邦，其命惟新。」是故君子无所不用其极。

(usually disapproving) to resort to every conceivable means; to stop at nothing; to go to any length

Book of Rites
Classic of Poetry
Tang of Shang


言之成理

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lei̯¹³/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lei̯¹³/

to speak in a rational or convincing way; to sound reasonable


洋洋灑灑

ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄙㄚˇ ㄙㄚˇ

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ saː³⁵ saː³⁵/

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ saː³⁵ saː³⁵/

(of writing) at great length; voluminous


浴火重生

ㄩˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄥ

/y⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/y⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jʊk̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to be given a new lease on life after a tragedy


由點到面

ㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

ю дянь дао мянь

/joʊ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

Literally: from (a single) point to (the whole) plain


雜亂無章

ㄗㄚˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄓㄤ

цзалуань у чжан

/t͡sä³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² lyːn²² mou̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sä³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡saːp̚² lyːn²² mou̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/


振筆疾書

ㄓㄣˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕㄨ

чжэньби цзи шу

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/


削足適履

slice off one's foot so that it will fit inside a shoe

ㄒㄩㄝ ㄗㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄌㄩˇ

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄌㄩˇ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːk̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːk̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

to force an impractical solution to a problem


鄭人買履

ㄓㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄩˇ

чжэнжэньмайлюй

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɛːŋ²² jɐn²¹ maːi̯¹³ lei̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɛːŋ²² jɐn²¹ maːi̯¹³ lei̯¹³/

There once lived a man from Zheng who was about to buy some shoes. He had measured his feet beforehand, and placed the measurements on a chair. When it came time for him to go to the market, he forgot to bring the measurements with him. He had already picked out the shoes that he wanted, and then said, "I forgot to bring the measurements, I need to go home and get them." He returned home (to get the measurements, but by the time he got back) the market was closed, so he could not get the shoes. People would ask him, "Why did you not just try on the shoes?" To this he replied, "I would rather believe the measurements, I don't trust myself."

Zhèng rén yǒu qiě zhì lǚ zhě, xiān zì duó qí zú ér zhì zhī qí zuò, zhì zhī shì ér wàng cāo zhī. Yǐ dé lǚ, nǎi yuē: “Wú wàng chí dù, fǎn guī qǔ zhī.” Jí fǎn, shì bà, suì bù dé lǚ. Rén yuē: “Hé bù shì zhī yǐ zú?” Yuē: “Níng xìn dù, wú zì xìn yě.”

鄭人有且置履者，先自度其足而置之其坐，至之市而忘操之。已得履，乃曰：“吾忘持度，反歸取之。”及反，市罷，遂不得履。人曰：“何不試之以足？”曰：“寧信度，無自信也。”

郑人有且置履者，先自度其足而置之其坐，至之市而忘操之。已得履，乃曰：“吾忘持度，反归取之。”及反，市罢，遂不得履。人曰：“何不试之以足？”曰：“宁信度，无自信也。”

(sarcastic) a person who rigidly adheres to rules and regulations (or established convention), while at the same time ignoring the reality of a situation


裝門面

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄇㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

чжуан мэньмянь

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

to put up a facade; to keep up appearances


雷打不動

ㄌㄟˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

léi dǎ bù dòng [Phonetic:léi dǎ bú dòng]

лэй да бу дун

/leɪ̯³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/leɪ̯³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

Literally: even if lightning were to strike it, it will not move

one's mind is made up, and cannot be changed

to rigidly adhere to an established arrangement, without any changes


刻舟求劍

ja-r

こく%しゅう%きゅう%けん

CJKV/code

こく%しゅう%きゅう%けん

Sino-Xenic (刻舟求劍):
* → Japanese: 刻(こく)舟(しゅう)求(きゅう)剣(けん) (kokushūkyūken)
* → Korean: 각주구검(刻舟求劍) (gakjugugeom)
* → Vietnamese: khắc chu cầu kiếm (刻舟求劍)

CJKV

こく%しゅう%きゅう%けん

ja-r

ふね に きざみて けん を もとむ

→ Japanese: (calque) 舟(ふね)に刻(きざ)みて剣(けん)を求(もと)む (fune ni kizamite ken o motomu)

ㄎㄜˋ ㄓㄡ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

кэчжоуцюцзянь

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ kiːm³³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/hɐk̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ kiːm³³/

From a story in Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals

There was a man from the state of Chu who was crossing a river. His sword fell from the boat into the river. He quickly made a notch on the boat saying, "This is the place where my sword fell in. When the boat stops, I will go into the water and search for my sword from the spot where I made the notch." The boat was already moving, but the sword had not moved. Is it not stupid to search for the sword in this manner?

Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE

Chǔ rén yǒu shè jiāng zhě, qí jiàn zì zhōu zhōng zhuì yú shuǐ. Jù qì qí zhōu, yuē: shì wú jiàn zhī suǒ cóng zhuì. Zhōu zhǐ, cóng qí suǒ qì zhě rù shuǐ qiú zhī. Zhōu yǐ xíng yǐ, ér jiàn bù xíng. Qiú jiàn ruò cǐ, bù yì huò hū.

楚人有涉江者，其劍自舟中墜於水。遽契其舟，曰：是吾劍之所從墜。舟止，從其所契者入水求之。舟已行矣，而劍不行。求劍若此，不亦惑乎。

楚人有涉江者，其剑自舟中坠于水。遽契其舟，曰：是吾剑之所从坠。舟止，从其所契者入水求之。舟已行矣，而剑不行。求剑若此，不亦惑乎。

It seems as though this kind of thorough investigation that you are conducting is like notching a moving boat in order to mark where your sword dropped into the river, you are being inflexible.

c. 1791, Anonymous, Dream of the Red Chamber, Chapter 120 (紅樓夢/第120回)

Sì nǐ zhèyàng xúngēnjiūdǐ, biànshì kèzhōuqiújiàn, jiāozhùgǔsè le.

似你這樣尋根究底，便是刻舟求劍，膠柱鼓瑟了。

似你这样寻根究底，便是刻舟求剑，胶柱鼓瑟了。

Workers in the literary arts must squarely face the reality of the rapid changes currently taking place within our country when considering the wellworn theories of the past about literature and art, and must not stubbornly cling to tradition.

c. 1900 - 1995: Xia Yan, Unite and advance through liberation thought (解放思想團結前進)

Wénxué yìshù gōngzuòzhě bìxū zhèngshì wǒguó dāngqián xùnsù biànhuà de shíjì, lái kǎochá wǒmen guòqù yòng guàn le de wényì lǐlùn, ér bùnéng kèzhōuqiújiàn.

文學藝術工作者必須正視我國當前迅速變化的實際，來考察我們過去用慣了的文藝理論，而不能刻舟求劍。

文学艺术工作者必须正视我国当前迅速变化的实际，来考察我们过去用惯了的文艺理论，而不能刻舟求剑。

to not know how to adapt to changed conditions; to rigidly cling to an idea or approach without considering the reality of a situation; to stubbornly cling to tradition


殺雞儆猴

→ Vietnamese: giết gà doạ khỉ (calque)

杀鸡儆猴
殺鷄儆猴
殺雞警猴/殺鷄警猴/杀鸡警猴
殺雞驚猴/殺鷄驚猴/杀鸡惊猴

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄏㄡˊ

шацзицзинхоу

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄏㄡˊㄦ

шацзицзинхоур

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²¹/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²¹/

(figurative) to make a public demonstration of punishing a wrongdoer in order to deter innocents who might mimic the example of the wrongdoer


恭喜發財

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (恭喜發財):
* → Vietnamese: cung hỉ phát tài (恭喜發財)

desc

→ English: Kung Hei Fat Choi, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Kiong Hee Huat Chai

→ Indonesian: Kiong Hi Huat Cai

→ Tagalog: Kung Hey Fat Tsoy, Kiong Hee Huat Tsai

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄒㄧˇ ㄈㄚ ㄘㄞˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/kɵŋ³³ hei⁵⁵ fat̚³³ tʰᵘɔi²²/

/kiʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ hi³¹ fat̚¹ t͡sʰoɪ¹¹/

/kyŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ŋi³³ huaʔ²⁴⁻²¹ t͡sai⁵³/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sai¹³/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²³/

/kiɔŋ³³ hi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁴²⁻²⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kioŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²⁻³⁵ huak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

/kioŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²⁻³⁵ huek̚²⁻⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

/koŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³³ faʔ⁴⁴ ze²³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/kɵŋ³³ hei⁵⁵ fat̚³³ tʰᵘɔi²²/

/kiʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ hi³¹ fat̚¹ t͡sʰoɪ¹¹/

/kyŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ŋi³³ huaʔ²⁴⁻²¹ t͡sai⁵³/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sai¹³/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²³/

/kiɔŋ³³ hi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hi⁴²⁻²⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ huat̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/

/kioŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²⁻³⁵ huak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

/kioŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²⁻³⁵ huek̚²⁻⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵/

/koŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³³ faʔ⁴⁴ ze²³/

Originated in post-Opium War Guangzhou Cantonese, now a general Chinese phrase.

(a cheeky request for a red packet of lucky money)

恭喜發財，紅包拿來！

恭喜发财，红包拿来！

gung¹ hei² faat³ coi⁴, lai⁶ si⁶ dau⁶ loi⁴!

恭喜發財，利市𢭃來！

恭喜发财，利市𢭃来！

He liked to call a restaurant on every New Year's Day (of the lunar calendar), as he knew clearly the lady there answering the phone would inevitably greet him with "Kung Hei Fat Choi". Upon hearing this he (Zhou Shi) would promptly reply by saying "Thank you, thank you" and then just hang up. His reason for doing this was just to get an auspicious start of the new year, not an act of patronisation."

馬家輝 (Ma Ka Fai), 《我們──關於這個時代的一些喜悅與憂傷》 (Us - Some Happiness and Sadness about This Era), page 62

taa¹ hei² fun¹ jyu¹ daai⁶ nin⁴ co¹ jat¹ daa² din⁶ waa⁶⁻² kap¹ jat¹ gaa¹ zau² lau⁴, jan¹ wai⁶ taa¹ ming⁴ zi¹ dou³ zip³ din⁶ waa⁶⁻² dik¹ siu² ze² naa⁴ hei² teng¹ tung² hau⁶ syut³ dik¹ dai⁶ jat¹ geoi³ waa⁶ bit¹ si⁶ “gung¹ hei² faat³ coi⁴”, zau¹ sek⁶ sin¹ saang¹ lin⁴ mong⁴ wui⁴ jing³ “do¹ ze⁶ do¹ ze⁶”, jin⁴ hau⁶ maa⁵ soeng⁶ sau¹ sin³; seon⁴ seoi⁶ wai⁶ liu⁵ ceoi² go³ hou² ji³ tau⁴, bat¹ wai⁶ bong¹ can³.

他喜歡於大年初一打電話給一家酒樓，因為他明知道接電話的小姐拿起聽筒後說的第一句話必是「恭喜發財」，周石先生連忙回應「多謝多謝」，然後馬上收線；純粹為了取個好意頭，不為幫襯。

他喜欢于大年初一打电话给一家酒楼，因为他明知道接电话的小姐拿起听筒后说的第一句话必是「恭喜发财」，周石先生连忙回应「多谢多谢」，然后马上收线；纯粹为了取个好意头，不为帮衬。

Happy New Year (congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year)


塞翁失馬

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (塞翁失馬):
* → Korean: 새옹실마(塞翁失馬) (sae'ongsilma)
* → Vietnamese: tái ông thất mã (塞翁失馬)

Japanese: 塞翁(さいおう)が馬(うま) (saiō ga uma)

Korean: 새옹지마 (塞翁之馬, sae'ongjima)

ㄙㄞˋ ㄨㄥ ㄕ ㄇㄚˇ

/saɪ̯⁵¹ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/sai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai¹¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai²¹⁻⁴¹ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

/saɪ̯⁵¹ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/sai²¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai¹¹⁻⁵³ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁵³/

/sai²¹⁻⁴¹ ɔŋ⁴⁴ sit̚³²⁻⁴ mã⁴¹/

See 塞翁失馬，焉知非福／塞翁失马，焉知非福 (sàiwēng shī mǎ, yānzhī fēi fú).

zh-l

Every cloud has a silver lining
every cloud has a silver lining

blessing in disguise
blessing in disguise

Every cloud has a silver lining. / A setback may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.


愛才如命

ㄞˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

to cherish talented people the same as cherishing one's own life


生日快樂

ㄕㄥ ㄖˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄜˋ

шэнжи куайлэ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/saːŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/saŋ²⁴ ŋit̚² kʰu̯ai̯⁵⁵ lok̚⁵/

/saŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋit̚¹ kʰuaɪ⁵³ lɔk̚⁵/

/sĩ⁴⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴⁻³² kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sĩ³³ lit̚²⁴⁻² kʰuai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ lɔk̚²⁴/

/sĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ lit̚⁴⁻³² kʰuai¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚¹²¹/

/sẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² kʰuai²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔk̚⁴/

/sẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zik̚⁴⁻² kʰuai²¹³⁻⁵⁵ lak̚⁴/

/sã⁵⁵ n̠ʲiɪʔ³³ kʰua³³ loʔ⁴⁴/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/saːŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² faːi̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/saŋ²⁴ ŋit̚² kʰu̯ai̯⁵⁵ lok̚⁵/

/saŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋit̚¹ kʰuaɪ⁵³ lɔk̚⁵/

/sĩ⁴⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴⁻³² kʰuai²¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sĩ³³ lit̚²⁴⁻² kʰuai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ lɔk̚²⁴/

/sĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ lit̚⁴⁻³² kʰuai¹¹⁻⁵³ lɔk̚⁴/

/sẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ zit̚⁴⁻³² kʰuai²¹⁻⁴¹ lɔk̚⁴/

/sẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zik̚⁴⁻² kʰuai²¹³⁻⁵⁵ lak̚⁴/

/sã⁵⁵ n̠ʲiɪʔ³³ kʰua³³ loʔ⁴⁴/


尋根究底

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄉㄧˇ

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄉㄧˇ

сюньгэньцзюди

/ɕyn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕyn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/

/ɕyn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕyn³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/

to make a thorough inquiry into something


窮根究底

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄉㄧˇ

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄉㄧˇ

цюнгэньцзюди

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/


追根究底

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄉㄧˇ

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄉㄧˇ

чжуйгэньцзюди

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kɐu̯³³ tɐi̯³⁵/

get to the bottom of
get to the bottom of


桃園結義

ㄊㄠˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄧˋ

/tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ jyːn²¹ kiːt̚³ jiː²²/

/tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ jyːn²¹ kiːt̚³ jiː²²/

From the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Liu Bei made an oath in the peach garden.

Guan Yu
Liu Bei
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhang Fei


朋比為奸

ㄆㄥˊ ㄅㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

ㄆㄥˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

пэнбивэйцзянь

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰɐŋ²¹ pei̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/pʰɐŋ²¹ pei̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

Based on an excerpt in the New Book of Tang

During the Han dynasty, righteous officials were one-minded and patriotic, but they were hated by the vile eunuchs, who set up the partisan prohibitions to end their regime. Those who sought after profit often ganged up because of their common selfishness, while the upright often fell into their snares.

Hàn shí míngjié gǔgěng shì, tóngxīn àiguó, ér huànguān xiǎorén jí zhī, qǐ dǎnggù zhī yù, qì wáng tiānxià. Qūlì zhī rén, cháng wéi péngbǐ, tóng qí sī yě; shǒuzhèng zhī rén, cháng zāo gòuhuǐ, wéi qí sī yě.

漢時名節骨鯁士，同心愛國，而宦官小人疾之，起黨錮之獄，訖亡天下。趨利之人，常為朋比，同其私也；守正之人，常遭構毀，違其私也。

汉时名节骨鲠士，同心爱国，而宦官小人疾之，起党锢之狱，讫亡天下。趋利之人，常为朋比，同其私也；守正之人，常遭构毁，违其私也。

Later Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Feng Xu, Duan Gui, Cao Jie, Hou Lan, Jian Shuo, Cheng Kuang, Xia Yun, and Guo Sheng formed a faction for evil purposes; they were called the "Ten Attendants".

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Hòu Zhāng Ràng, Zhào Zhōng, Fēng Xū, Duàn Guī, Cáo Jié, Hóu Lǎn, Jiǎn Shuò, Chéng Kuàng, Xià Yùn, Guō Shèng shí rén péngbǐwèijiān, hào wèi “Shíchángshì”.

後張讓、趙忠、封諝、段珪、曹節、侯覽、蹇碩、程曠、夏惲、郭勝十人朋比為奸，號為「十常侍」。

后张让、赵忠、封谞、段珪、曹节、侯览、蹇硕、程旷、夏恽、郭胜十人朋比为奸，号为「十常侍」。

to conspire; to gang up; to form a faction for evil purposes


碧眼童顏

ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ

бияньтунъянь

/pi⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³ tʰʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹/

/pi⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pɪk̚⁵ ŋaːn¹³ tʰʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹/

He came across an old man; the old man had a youthful countenance, and was carrying a walking stick fashioned from the hardened stalk of a goosefoot plant.

Yù yī lǎorén, bìyǎntóngyán, shǒu zhí lízhàng.

遇一老人，碧眼童顏，手執藜杖。

遇一老人，碧眼童颜，手执藜杖。

Describes a person who is old, but still has a youthful face.


呼風喚雨

ㄏㄨ ㄈㄥ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

хуфэнхуаньюй

/xu⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wuːn²² jyː¹³/

/hɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²¹⁻⁴¹ u⁴¹/

/hɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huan¹¹⁻⁵³ u⁵³/

/xu⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wuːn²² jyː¹³/

/hɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huan²¹⁻⁴¹ u⁴¹/

/hɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huan¹¹⁻⁵³ u⁵³/

My teacher had supernatural powers; in a flip of a hand and a turn of a body, he could turn water into oil, and stone into gold.

Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, 16ᵗʰ century CE

Wǒ nà shīfù hūfēnghuànyǔ, zhǐ zài fānzhǎng zhījiān; zhǐ shuǐ wéi yóu, diǎn shí chéng jīn, què rú zhuǎnshēn zhī yì.

我那師父呼風喚雨，只在翻掌之間；指水為油，點石成金，卻如轉身之易。

我那师父呼风唤雨，只在翻掌之间；指水为油，点石成金，却如转身之易。

There is also a Taoist priest among them, who was enfeoffed Yinhua Zhenren; he could summon the wind and rain, and could ride the mist and clouds.

Nèizhōng háiyǒu yī ge dàoshì, guān fēng Yǐnhuà Zhēnrén, néng hūfēnghuànyǔ, jiàwùténgyún.

內中還有一個道士，官封引化真人，能呼風喚雨，駕霧騰雲。

内中还有一个道士，官封引化真人，能呼风唤雨，驾雾腾云。

I am a disciple of the Lotus Priest and Grand Divine Master from the Xuankong Temple in Banbi Mountain. I can summon the wind and rain, and can subdue demons and evil spirits. You'd be risking death if you dare come here!

Wú nǎi Bànbìshān Xuánkōngguàn Liánhuā Dàozhǎng Dàxiānshī zhī ménrén, shàn huì hūfēnghuànyǔ, xiángyāo zhuōguài, nǐ gǎn lái zhèli sòngsǐ!

吾乃半壁山玄空觀蓮花道長大仙師之門人，善會呼風喚雨，降妖捉怪，你敢來這裡送死！

吾乃半壁山玄空观莲花道长大仙师之门人，善会呼风唤雨，降妖捉怪，你敢来这里送死！

to have strong supernatural powers and can summon the wind and rain; to control the forces of nature

(of a person) to have extraordinary capabilities (and be influential)


望風而靡

ㄨㄤˋ ㄈㄥ ㄦˊ ㄇㄧˇ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be soundly defeated by the enemy; to be routed by the enemy


喜怒不形於色

ㄒㄧˇ ㄋㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄩˊ ㄙㄜˋ

си ну бусинъюйсэ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ y³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ nou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ y³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ nou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

Literally: happiness and rage do not take shape on one's countenance

one's facial expression does not reveal any emotion; to not reveal any emotion on one's face


不形於色

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄩˊ ㄙㄜˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ y³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ y³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jyː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


面如冠玉

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄩˋ

мянь жу гуаньюй

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

面 (face) + 如 (like) + 冠玉 (an ornamental piece of jade which adorns a hat)

describes a man that has a striking or handsome face


脣若塗脂

ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄓ

ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄓˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵn²¹ jœːk̚² tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/sɵn²¹ jœːk̚² tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/


燕頷虎鬚

ㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄏㄨˇ ㄒㄩ

яньханьхусюй

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/jiːn³³ hɐm¹³ fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

/jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵/

/jiːn³³ hɐm¹³ fuː³⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/


勢如奔馬

ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄅㄣ ㄇㄚˇ

ши жу бэньма

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ pən⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ pən⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

勢 (aura; presence) + 如 (like) + 奔馬 (galloping horses)

to have an imposing manner; to have an intimidating presence


豹頭環眼

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄧㄢˇ

баотоухуаньянь

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(literary) describes a fierce looking man


面如重棗

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄗㄠˇ

мянь жу чжунцзао

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

describes a face which is as red as the color of dark jujube fruit


相貌堂堂

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄇㄠˋ ㄊㄤˊ ㄊㄤˊ

сянмаотантан

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

a strong or stout appearance; someone who looks strong and imposing


威風凜凜

ㄨㄟ ㄈㄥ ㄌㄧㄣˇ ㄌㄧㄣˇ

вэйфэнлиньлинь

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐm¹³ lɐm¹³/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ lim³¹ lim³¹/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ li̯aŋ³¹ li̯aŋ³¹/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lin²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ lɐm¹³ lɐm¹³/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ lim³¹ lim³¹/

/vi²⁴⁻¹¹ fuŋ²⁴ li̯aŋ³¹ li̯aŋ³¹/


協力同心

ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hiːp̚³ lɪk̚² tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hiːp̚³ lɪk̚² tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

to join forces; to work together toward a common goal


同心協力

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hiːp̚³ lɪk̚²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiap̚⁴³⁻²¹ lek̚⁴³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ hiːp̚³ lɪk̚²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiap̚⁴³⁻²¹ lek̚⁴³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/

/taŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiap̚⁴⁻³² liɪk̚⁴/


皇天后土

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄡˋ ㄊㄨˇ

хуантяньхоуту

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² tʰou̯³⁵/

/*[ɢ]ʷˤaŋ l̥ˤi[n]|l̥ˤi[n] ɢˤ(r)oʔ tʰˤaʔ/

/*ɡʷaːŋ qʰl'iːn ɡoːʔ|ɡoːs l̥ʰaːʔ/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɐu̯²² tʰou̯³⁵/

/*ɡʷaːŋ qʰl'iːn ɡoːʔ|ɡoːs l̥ʰaːʔ/


救困扶危

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄎㄨㄣˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄨㄟ

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄎㄨㄣˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ

цзю кунь фувэй

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ fu³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ fu³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ fu³⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ fu³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

to come to the assistance of those in crisis


措手不及

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

We should concentrate a big force under cover beforehand alongside the route which the enemy is sure to take, and while he is on the move, advance suddenly to encircle and attack him before he knows what is happening, and thus quickly conclude the battle.

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

Wǒ yù jiāng dàbīng yìnbì jíjié yú dí bìjīng tōnglù zhī cè, chéng dí yùndòng zhī jì, tūrán qiánjìn, bāowéi ér gōngjī zhī, dǎ tā yīge cuòshǒubùjí, xùnsù jiějué zhàndòu.

我預將大兵蔭蔽集結於敵必經通路之側，乘敵運動之際，突然前進，包圍而攻擊之，打他一個措手不及，迅速解決戰鬥。

我预将大兵荫蔽集结于敌必经通路之侧，乘敌运动之际，突然前进，包围而攻击之，打他一个措手不及，迅速解决战斗。


不計其數

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ sou̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ke⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sɔ²¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ sou̯³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ke⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ ke²¹⁻⁵³ ki¹³⁻²² sɔ²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ¹¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ke²¹⁻⁴¹ ki²³⁻³³ sɔ²¹/


安之若素

ㄢ ㄓ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨˋ

/ˀän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² sou̯³³/

/ˀän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jœːk̚² sou̯³³/

to bear hardship with equanimity; to regard wrongdoing with equanimity


馬不及鞍

ㄇㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄢ

ма буцзи ань

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

Literally: not enough time to saddle one's horse

in a hurry; literally - no time to saddle the horses


心生一計

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄥ ㄧ ㄐㄧˋ

синьшэнъицзи

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

to suddenly have an idea; to suddenly hatch a scheme in one's head


佳人薄命

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (佳人薄命):
* → Japanese: 佳人薄命(かじんはくめい) (kajin hakumei)
* → Korean: 가인박명(佳人薄命) (gainbangmyeong)

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

цзяжэньбомин

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

whom the gods love die young
whom the gods love die young

a fair lady's destiny is thin indeed; whom the gods love die young


命世之才

ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄘㄞˊ

минши чжи цай

/miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

a well known individual who has outstanding abilities


漫山塞野

ㄇㄢˋ ㄕㄢ ㄙㄜˋ ㄧㄝˇ

маньшань сэ е

/män⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/män⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

spread out all over the mountains and plains; numerous


自有公論

ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

цзы ю гунлунь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

naturally have the support of the people; naturally have public opinion in one's favor


義同生死

ㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ

/i⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be bound by oath to live and die together


從天而降

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

цунтяньэрцзян

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

to happen all of a sudden; to happen out of the blue; to come out of nowhere


搖旗擂鼓

ㄧㄠˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨˇ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(archaic) wave banners and beat the drums (of war)


落荒而走

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄍㄜˊㄦ ㄗㄡˇ

лохуаньгэрцзоу

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ kɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ kɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


飛砂走石

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/

dust and sand flying every which way (because of the wind)


自天而下

ㄗˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ haː²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ haː²²/


天下大亂

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

тяньсядалуань

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/


招降納順

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄋㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

чжаосяннашунь

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²¹ naːp̚² sɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²¹ naːp̚² sɵn²²/

(archaic) to entreat the enemy to surrender and allow those who are obedient (to the government) to rejoin society


海內一統

ㄏㄞˇ ㄋㄟˋ ㄧ ㄊㄨㄥˇ

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ neɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


得勝之師

дэшэн чжи ши

dɛšɛn čži ši

/tɤ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɤ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

an army that is flush with victory; a victorious army


虎體熊腰

ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄧㄠ

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

虎背熊腰 虎背熊腰#Chinese

Synonym of 虎背熊腰 (hǔbèixióngyāo, “to be of a stocky and imposing build”)


不可勝計

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥˋ ㄐㄧˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥ ㄐㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/


賣官鬻爵

ㄇㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄩˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

майгуань юй цзюэ

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/maːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵ jʊk̚² t͡sœːk̚³/

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ y⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/maːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵ jʊk̚² t͡sœːk̚³/

(archaic) to take bribes in exchange for granting an official or noble title


秋毫無犯

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄏㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄈㄢˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ faːn²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ fän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ mou̯²¹ faːn²²/

to not even commit the slightest violation


稠人廣坐

ㄔㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

чоужэнь гуанцзо

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/


終日不倦

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

zhōngrì bùjuàn [Phonetic:zhōngrì bújuàn]

чжунжи буцзюань

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

to not get tired the whole day long; to do something all day and not get tired


鬱鬱不樂

ㄩˋ ㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄜˋ

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/


模稜兩可

模棱两可
模棱兩可
摸稜兩可

ㄇㄛˊ ㄌㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄎㄜˇ

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ lɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ hɔː³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ lɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ hɔː³⁵/


禍在目前

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

хо цзай муцянь

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

disaster is upon us; disaster is imminent


欺君罔上

ㄑㄧ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄨㄤˇ ㄕㄤˋ

цицзюньваншан

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ sœːŋ²²/


危在旦夕

ㄨㄟ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧˋ

вэйцзайданьси

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² taːn³³ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ɡui²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁵³ siɪk̚⁴/

/ɡui²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ sit̚⁴/

/ɡui²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ sit̚⁴/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² taːn³³ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ɡui²⁴⁻²² t͡sai²²⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁵³ siɪk̚⁴/

/ɡui²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ tan¹¹⁻⁵³ sit̚⁴/

/ɡui²³⁻³³ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ tan²¹⁻⁴¹ sit̚⁴/

The world is crashing down upon us, and yet Your Majesty is enjoying wine with the eunuchs!

Tiānxià wēi zài dànxī, bìxià shàng zì yǔ yānhuàn gòng yǐn yē!

天下危在旦夕，陛下尚自與閹宦共飲耶！

天下危在旦夕，陛下尚自与阉宦共饮耶！

in imminent danger; on the brink of crisis


斬草除根

to take out the roots while removing weeds

ㄓㄢˇ ㄘㄠˇ ㄔㄨˊ ㄍㄣ

чжаньцаочугэнь

/ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ kən⁵⁵/

/t͡saːm³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡san²¹³⁻²⁴ t͡sʰau²¹³⁻¹³ t͡ɕʰu²⁴ kiɛn⁴²/

/t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰau⁵³ tu²⁴⁻²² kun⁴⁴/

/t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰau⁵³ tu²⁴⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴/

/t͡sam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰau⁴¹ ti²³⁻³³ kin⁴⁴/

/t͡saːm³⁵ t͡sʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰau⁵³ tu²⁴⁻²² kun⁴⁴/

/t͡sam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰau⁵³ tu²⁴⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴/

/t͡sam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰau⁴¹ ti²³⁻³³ kin⁴⁴/

If you don't nip this in the bud, it will eventually be the death of you.

Ruò bù zhǎncǎochúgēn, bì wéi sàngshēn zhī běn.

若不斬草除根，必為喪身之本。

若不斩草除根，必为丧身之本。

to root out; to nip in the bud; to eliminate completely

斬草不除根，春風吹又生／斩草不除根，春风吹又生

zhǎn cǎo bù chúgēn, chūnfēng chuī yòu shēng


垂簾聽政

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄓㄥˋ

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄥˋ

чуйляньтинчжэн

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ liːm²¹ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ liːm²¹ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɪŋ³³/

The idiom arose from a practice in ancient China, by which a royal lady, as an empress or empress dowager, was allowed to preside over the imperial court without actually being seen by her subjects, because women were prohibited from politics. This would usually be done by the mother of a child emperor.

to handle matters of state behind a curtain

His Majesty's imperial body is unwell and now needs rest. We earnestly beg Empress Dowager to rule the empire from behind the curtain, so as to pacify public sentiment throughout this realm under heaven!

Huángshàng lóngtǐ wéihé, zhèng xūyào jìngyǎng. Kěnqǐng huángtàihòu chuíliántīngzhèng, yǐ ān tiānxià rénxīn!

皇上龍體違和，正需要靜養。懇請皇太后垂簾聽政，以安天下人心！

皇上龙体违和，正需要静养。恳请皇太后垂帘听政，以安天下人心！

(historical) (of female royal members, e.g. empress or empress dowager) to rule in place of a monarch; to serve as regent


危機重重

ㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

вэйцзи чунчун

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/


愛理不理

ㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

ㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇㄦ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇㄦ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ liə̯ɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ liə̯ɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/


如之奈何

ㄖㄨˊ ㄓ ㄋㄞˋ ㄏㄜˊ

жу чжи найхэ

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ naɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ naɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

(archaic) what can be done; there's no choice


掩目捕雀

to cover one's eyes while (trying to) catch abrambling

ㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/


龍驤虎步

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄏㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

/lʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/


掩目而捕燕雀

ㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

янь му эр бу яньцюэ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/


行權立斷

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

синцюаньлидуань

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/


高下在心

ㄍㄠ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

гаося цзай синь

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

to wield a great amount of power, and to reward or punish subordinates at one's whim


倒持干戈

ㄉㄠˋ ㄔˊ ㄍㄢ ㄍㄜ

даочи ганьгэ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ kän⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

Literally: to hold one's weapon backwards (so that the handle is offered to the enemy)

to give up one's advantage or power to someone else


各懷一心

ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ

гэ хуай исинь

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

everyone is of their own mind; nobody can agree on how to proceed


授人以柄

ㄕㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄅㄧㄥˇ

shòu rén yǐ bǐng [Phonetic:shòurényíbǐng]

шоу жэнь и бин

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to relinquish one's power or authority to someone else


洪爐燎髮

(to light) a big oven so that one can burn (a person's) body and head hair

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄈㄚˋ

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄈㄚˇ

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ lou̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ faːt̚³/

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ²¹ lou̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ faːt̚³/

(archaic) overkill; to go way overboard; to use a sledge hammer to crack a nut


易如反掌

ㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄈㄢˇ ㄓㄤˇ

/i⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²² jyː²¹ faːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/i⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²² jyː²¹ faːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/


鼓洪爐燎毛髮

to light a big oven so that one can burn (a person's) body and head hair

ㄍㄨˇ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄇㄠˊ ㄈㄚˋ

ㄍㄨˇ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄇㄠˊ ㄈㄚˇ

гу хунлу ляо маофа

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ xʊŋ³⁵ lu³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː³⁵ hʊŋ²¹ lou̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ faːt̚³/


殺雞給猴看

desc

เชือดไก่ให้ลิงดู

→ Thai: เชือดไก่ให้ลิงดู (chʉ̂ʉat-gài-hâi-ling-duu)

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄍㄟˇ ㄏㄡˊ ㄎㄢˋ

ша цзи гэй хоу кань

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ keɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚⁵ hɐu̯²¹ hɔːn³³/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ keɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/saːt̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚⁵ hɐu̯²¹ hɔːn³³/

To make an example of someone; to punish someone as an example to frighten others


名正言順

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (名正言順):
* → Vietnamese: danh chính ngôn thuận (名正言順)

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

минчжэнъяньшунь

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ sɵn²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun⁴¹/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sun³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ sun³³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ jiːn²¹ sɵn²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² sun²²/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ sun³³/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ sun³³/

Appeared in the Analects in the negative as 名不正，則言不順／名不正，则言不顺 (míng bù zhèng, zé yán bù shùn).

zh-l

to be fitting and proper; to be perfectly justified or deserved


揚湯止沸

try to stop water from boiling by scooping it up from the pot and pouring it back

ㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄤ ㄓˇ ㄈㄟˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯³³/

/jɑŋ³⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ fɐi̯³³/

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

Chén zuì yìng qīng zōng, huò yìng fù zú. Zāo qiánkūn zhī líng, zhí shí lái zhī yùn, yángtāngzhǐfèi shǐ bù jiāo làn.

臣罪應傾宗，禍應覆族。遭乾坤之靈，值時來之運，揚湯止沸使不燋爛。

臣罪应倾宗，祸应覆族。遭干坤之灵，值时来之运，扬汤止沸使不燋烂。

(figuratively) to implement temporary solutions that do not address the root of the problem


面善心狠

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄣˇ

мяньшань синьхэнь

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

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


按兵不動

ㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/ˀän⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/an²¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/an⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ piɪŋ³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/an²¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ²²/

/an¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/an²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/ˀän⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/an²¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²²/

/an⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ piɪŋ³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tɔŋ⁴¹/

/an²¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ tɔŋ²²/

/an¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

/an²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ³³/

to temporarily stand down one's army in order to wait and see how things develop


愚公移山

ja-r

ぐ%こう %やま を うつす

→ Japanese: 愚(ぐ)公(こう)山(やま)を移(うつ)す (gukō yama o utsusu) (calque)

ㄩˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄧˊ ㄕㄢ

/y³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/ŋy³³ kɔŋ⁵⁴ i³³ suiŋ⁵⁴/

/y³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/ŋy³³ kɔŋ⁵⁴ i³³ suiŋ⁵⁴/

For more information, see the citations page.

to be resolute in one's endeavor, no matter what hardships one encounters


擐甲持戈

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄔˊ ㄍㄜ

хуаньцзя чи гэ

/xu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/xu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

Literally: to don armor and pick up a weapon

(archaic) describes someone who is armed and ready for battle


冒煙突火

ㄇㄠˋ ㄧㄢ ㄊㄨ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄇㄠˋ ㄧㄢ ㄊㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

мао янь тухо

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵ tʰu⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

battle one's way through smoke and flames


以儆效尤

ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄧㄡˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kɪŋ³⁵ haːu̯²² jɐu̯²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/jiː¹³ kɪŋ³⁵ haːu̯²² jɐu̯²¹/

(to make a public demonstration of punishing a wrongdoer) in order to deter innocents who might mimic the example of the wrongdoer


千乘萬騎

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄕㄥˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄑㄧˊ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄕㄥˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньшэнваньци

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

цяньшэнваньцзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/


旌旗蔽日

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖˋ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐi̯³³ jɐt̚²/


兩害相權取其輕

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄏㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥ

loeng⁵ hoi⁶ soeng¹ kyun⁴ ceoi² kei⁴ hing¹

liang³ hai⁴ hsiang¹ chʻüan² chʻü³ chʻi² chʻing¹

лян хай сян цюань цюй ци цин

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

loeng⁵ hoi⁶ soeng¹ kyn⁴ tsoey² kei⁴ hing¹

/lœːŋ¹³ hɔːi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵/


壓倒駱駝的最後一根草

ㄧㄚ ㄉㄠˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ˙ㄊㄨㄛ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧ ㄍㄣ ㄘㄠˇ

yādǎo luòtuo de zuìhòu yī gēn cǎo [Phonetic:yādǎo luòtuo de zuìhòu yì gēn cǎo]

ya¹-tao³ lo⁴-tʻo⁵ tê⁵ tsui⁴-hou⁴ i¹ kên¹ tsʻao³

ядао лото дэ цзуйхоу и гэнь цао

/jä⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰu̯ɔ¹ d̥ə¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kən⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

[Phonetic: yādǎo luòtuo de zuìhòu yì gēn cǎo]

Calque of English the straw that broke the camel's back.

calque

the straw that broke the camel's back
the straw that broke the camel's back


一了百了

ㄧ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄠˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ paːk̚³ liːu̯¹³/

/jɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ paːk̚³ liːu̯¹³/

all troubles end when the main trouble ends


惶惶不安

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

хуанхуанбу’ань

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

to be very anxious; to be very uneasy; to be terrified


略無忌憚

lüè wú jìdàn

ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄢˋ

lüè wú jìdàn

люэ у цзидань

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

略 (to ignore; to disregard) + 無 (without) + 忌憚 (fear; anxiety)


濟囝餓死爸

济囝饿死爸
濟囝餓死父
儕囝餓死父
儕囝餓死爸
多子餓死父
多囝餓死父
多囝餓死爸

many children will make a father starve to death

/t͡sue³³⁻¹¹ kiã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡo³³⁻¹¹ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pe³³/

/t͡sue²²⁻²¹ kiã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡo²²⁻²¹ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pe²²/

/t͡sue⁴¹⁻²² kã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡo⁴¹⁻²² si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pe²²/

/t͡se³³⁻²¹ kiã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡɤ³³⁻²¹ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pe³³/

/t͡se²²⁻²¹ kiã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡo²²⁻²¹ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pɛ²²/

/t͡soi¹¹ kĩã⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡo¹¹ si⁵²⁻³⁵ pe³⁵/

/t͡soi¹¹ kĩã⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡo¹¹ si⁵²⁻³⁵ pe³⁵/

(Hokkien, Teochew) unable to make ends meet; in dire financial circumstances


順我者生，逆我者死

Those who obey me shall live, and those who oppose me shall die.

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄜˇ ㄕㄥ

ㄋㄧˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄜˇ ㄙˇ

seon⁶ ngo⁵ ze² sang¹, jik⁶ ngo⁵ ze² sei²

shun⁴ wo³ chê³ shêng¹, ni⁴ wo³ chê³ ssŭ³

шунь во чжэ шэн

ни во чжэ сы

šunʹ vo čžɛ šɛn

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

soen⁶ ngo⁵ dze² sang¹, jik⁹ ngo⁵ dze² sei²

/sɵn²² ŋɔː¹³ t͡sɛː³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɪk̚² ŋɔː¹³ t͡sɛː³⁵ sei̯³⁵/

you're either with me or you're against me; it's my way or the highway


草菅人命

ㄘㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

цаоцзяньжэньмин

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kuan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰou̯³⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

/t͡sʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²²/

/t͡sʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kuan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kan⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ biɪŋ³³/

to regard human life as if it were as worthless as straw


共襄盛舉

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄕㄥˋ ㄐㄩˇ

гунсяншэнцзюй

/kʊŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²² kɵy̯³⁵/

After the major earthquake, artists from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan all worked together to perform several concerts to collect funds for disaster relief.

Fāshēng le dà dìzhèn, dàlù jí gǎng, ào, tái sān dì yìrén wèile jiùzāi gòngxiāngshèngjǔ, jǔbàn le duō chǎng yǎnchànghuì.

發生了大地震，大陸及港、澳、台三地藝人為了救災共襄盛舉，舉辦了多場演唱會。

发生了大地震，大陆及港、澳、台三地艺人为了救灾共襄盛举，举办了多场演唱会。

to assist one another in preparation for a grand occasion; to work together to complete a project


四海一家

ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄚ

/sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵/


支離破碎

ㄓ ㄌㄧˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰui²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰui²¹/


截然不同

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

цзежаньбутун

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² liɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² ziɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡siːt̚² jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² liɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²⁴/

/t͡siɛt̚⁴⁻³² ziɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ tɔŋ²³/

to be completely different; to be poles apart


愛面子

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ miːn²² t͡siː³⁵/

/ai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² t͡sɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/ai²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/ai¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ miːn²² t͡siː³⁵/

/ai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² t͡sɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/ai²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/ai¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³/

/ai²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³/

sensitive about one's reputation; afraid of losing face and being looked down upon


海內人望

ㄏㄞˇ ㄋㄟˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄤˋ

хайнэй жэньван

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ neɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

(archaic) a person that all the people put their hopes in


按勞分配

ㄢˋ ㄌㄠˊ ㄈㄣ ㄆㄟˋ

аньлаофэньпэй

/ˀän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ lou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³/

/ˀän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ lou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³/

distribution (of benefits, pay etc.) according to one's job performance


勇而無謀

ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄨˊ ㄇㄡˊ

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ u³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ u³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

Lü Bu is all brawn and no brains, now he has fought thrice yet been beaten all three times; his morale has dwindled. The three armies look towards their general for leadership; when the leader dwindles, the armies surely shall not have the will to fight.

Lǚ Bù yǒng'érwúmóu, jīn sānzhàn jiē běi, qí ruìqì shuāi yǐ. Sānjūn yǐ jiāng wèi zhǔ, zhǔ shuāi zé jūn wú fènyì.

呂布勇而無謀，今三戰皆北，其銳氣衰矣。三軍以將為主，主衰則軍無奮意。

吕布勇而无谋，今三战皆北，其锐气衰矣。三军以将为主，主衰则军无奋意。

brave but lacking an ability to think strategically; all brawn and no brains


見利忘義

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (見利忘義):
* → Japanese: 見利忘義(けんりぼうぎ) (kenribōgi)
* → Korean: 견리망의(見利忘義) (gyeollimang'ui)

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄧˋ

цзяньливанъи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ lei̯²² mɔːŋ²¹ jiː²²/

/kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ li³⁵⁻¹¹ buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ lei̯²² mɔːŋ²¹ jiː²²/

/kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ li³⁵⁻¹¹ buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

At the prospect of profits, some conscienceless capitalists forget all moral principles and itch to have a go.

Zhèyàngyīlái, yīxiē sàngjìntiānliáng de zīběnjiā, jiù jiànlìwàngyì, yuèyuèyùshì.

這樣一來，一些喪盡天良的資本家，就見利忘義，躍躍欲試。

这样一来，一些丧尽天良的资本家，就见利忘义，跃跃欲试。

to forget one's principles whenever tempted by the prospect of personal gain


三寸不爛之舌

ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄢˋ ㄓ ㄕㄜˊ

sān cùn bù làn zhī shé [Phonetic:sān cùn bú làn zhī shé]

сань цунь бу лань чжи шэ

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ län⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ laːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siːt̚²/

to have a silver tongue; to have a way with words; to have an ability to schmooze


鐵證如山

ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄓㄥˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄢ

течжэнжушань

tečžɛnžušanʹ

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tʰiːt̚³ t͡sɪŋ³³ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tʰiːt̚³ t͡sɪŋ³³ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

a mountain of solid evidence; irrefutable


魚趁生，人趁茈

/hi²⁴⁻²² tʰan²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² tʰan²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sĩ⁵³/

/hi²⁴⁻²² tʰan⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰĩ³³ laŋ²⁴⁻²² tʰan⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sĩ⁵⁵⁴/

/hi¹³⁻²² tʰan²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴ laŋ¹³⁻²² tʰan²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sĩ⁵³/

/hi²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰan¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰan¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sĩ⁵³/

/hi²³⁻³³ tʰan²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴ laŋ²³⁻³³ tʰan²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sĩ⁴¹/

Literally, "fish (should be eaten) while fresh, people (should endeavour) while young".

strike while the iron is hot
strike while the iron is hot

(Southern Min) strike while the iron is hot


打鐵趁熱

ㄉㄚˇ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄔㄣˋ ㄖㄜˋ

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ tʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰɐn³³ jiːt̚²/

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ tʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰɐn³³ jiːt̚²/


大而化之

ㄉㄚˋ ㄦˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄓ

/tä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

He whose goodness has been filled up is what is called beautiful man. He whose completed goodness is brightly displayed is what is called a great man. When this great man exercises a transforming influence, he is what is called a sage. When the sage is beyond our knowledge, he is what is called a spirit-man.

Kě yù zhī wèi shàn, yǒu zhū jǐ zhī wèi xìn. Chōngshí zhī wèi měi, chōngshí ér yǒu guānghuī zhī wèi dà, dà'érhuàzhī zhī wèi shèng, shèng ér bùkě zhī zhī zhī wèi shén.

可欲之謂善，有諸己之謂信。充實之謂美，充實而有光輝之謂大，大而化之之謂聖，聖而不可知之之謂神。

可欲之谓善，有诸己之谓信。充实之谓美，充实而有光辉之谓大，大而化之之谓圣，圣而不可知之之谓神。

to do something carelessly and not pay attention to details


化險為夷

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˊ

хуа сянь вэй и

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i³⁵/

/faː³³ hiːm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː²¹/

/hua²¹⁻⁵³ hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ i³⁵/

/faː³³ hiːm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː²¹/

/hua²¹⁻⁵³ hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/


州官放火

ㄓㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄈㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

чжоугуаньфанхо

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ³³ fɔː³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ³³ fɔː³⁵/

Literally: the prefectural official sets fires (but the common citizens are not allowed to light their lamps)

a tyrant boss or leader can do whatever he likes, but the common people are not allowed the slightest bit of freedom

只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈／只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

zhǐ xǔ zhōuguān fànghuǒ, bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng


既往不咎

ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/kei̯³³ wɔːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³/

Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altars of the spirits of the land. Zai Wo replied, "The Xia sovereign's clan planted the pine tree about them; the men of the Yin planted the cypress; and the men of the Zhou planted the chestnut tree, meaning thereby to cause the people to be trembling in awe." When the Master heard it, he said, "Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that have had their course, it is needless to remonstrate about; things that are past, it is needless to blame."

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

Āigōng wèn shè yú Zǎi Wǒ. Zǎi Wǒ duìyuē: “Xiàhòushì yǐ sōng, yīnrén yǐ bǎi, zhōurén yǐ lì, yuē shǐ mín zhànlì.” Zǐ wén zhī yuē: “Chéngshì bùshuō, suìshì bùjiàn, jìwǎngbùjiù.”

哀公問社於宰我。宰我對曰：「夏后氏以松，殷人以柏，周人以栗，曰使民戰栗。」子聞之曰：「成事不說，遂事不諫，既往不咎。」

哀公问社于宰我。宰我对曰：「夏后氏以松，殷人以柏，周人以栗，曰使民战栗。」子闻之曰：「成事不说，遂事不谏，既往不咎。」

Things that are past, it is needless to blame.

let bygones be bygones
let bygones be bygones


只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈

head

只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈

ㄓˇ ㄒㄩˇ ㄓㄡ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄈㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩˇ ㄅㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄥ

zi² heoi² zau¹ gun¹ fong³ fo², bat¹ heoi² baak³ sing³ dim² dang¹

bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng [Phonetic:zhíxǔzhōuguānfànghuǒ

чжи сюй чжоугуань фанхо

бусюй байсин дяньдэн

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵/

jí héui jāu gūn fong fó, bāt héui baak sing dím dāng

dzi² hoey² dzau¹ gun¹ fong³ fo², bat⁷ hoey² baak⁸ sing³ dim² dang¹

ji² hêu² zeo¹ gun¹ fong³ fo², bed¹ hêu² bag³ xing³ dim² deng¹

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ³³ fɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ paːk̚³ sɪŋ³³ tiːm³⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵/

From a story recorded by the Song poet Lu You.

There was a prefectural governor (of Changzhou) called Tian Deng who hated people calling his name. Whenever people did that, he always got angry, and his subordinates doing that often got beaten up or caned. As a result, people of the prefecture referred "lanterns" as "fire" (because the word for "lanterns" (燈) is pronounced the same as his name "登" (dēng)). One year during the Lantern Festival, the prefectural government allowed people outside it to visit the prefectural seat. Then the officials there published a notice and posted it at the market, saying that they would “set fire” (set up lanterns) for 3 days according to tradition.

Tiándēng zuò jùn, zì huì qí míng, chù zhě bì nù, lì zú duō bèi bǎngchī. Yúshì jǔ zhōu jiē wèi “dēng” wèi “huǒ”. Shàngyuán fàng dēng, xǔ rén rù zhōuzhì yóu guān. Lìrén suì shū bǎng jiē yú shì yuē: “Běn zhōu yī lì fànghuǒ sān rì.”

田登作郡，自諱其名，觸者必怒，吏卒多被榜笞。於是舉州皆謂「燈」為「火」。上元放燈，許人入州治遊觀。吏人遂書榜揭於市曰：「本州依例放火三日。」

田登作郡，自讳其名，触者必怒，吏卒多被榜笞。于是举州皆谓「灯」为「火」。上元放灯，许人入州治游观。吏人遂书榜揭于市曰：「本州依例放火三日。」

只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

to onlyallow the prefectural official to set fires, but not allow the common citizens to light their lamps

This kind of impositions, which is intentional, blatant and excessively obvious, exactly means that a boss can do whatever he/she likes but his/her subordinates should have no rights at all.

Zhè zhǒng kèyì de qiángjiā, chìluǒluǒ, zhāoránruòjiē, jiǎnzhí jiù shì zhǐ xǔ zhōuguān fànghuǒ, bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng.

這種刻意的強加，赤裸裸，昭然若揭，簡直就是只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈。

这种刻意的强加，赤裸裸，昭然若揭，简直就是只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。

There was even someone who posted a photo in which Newsom previously attended an indoor party in order to satirize his administrative manner since he can do whatever he likes but the common people are not allowed the slightest bit of freedom.

2021 March 7 (UTC+8), 李佳音, 無論接種疫苗與否 加州當局推雙層口罩 (California authorities suggested wearing two masks at once whether a person was vaccinated or not)

Gèng yǒu mínzhòng tiē chū zǎoqián Niǔsēn jìnxíng duōrén shìnèi jùhuì de zhàopiàn, yǐ fěngcì Niǔsēn zhǐ xǔ zhōuguān fànghuǒ, bùxǔ bǎixìng diǎndēng de shīzhèng zuòpài.

更有民眾貼出早前紐森進行多人室內聚會的照片，以諷刺紐森只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈的施政作派。

更有民众贴出早前纽森进行多人室内聚会的照片，以讽刺纽森只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯的施政作派。

(figurative) The authorities can do what they like, but the common people are not allowed the slightest bit of freedom (Used in criticism of double standards of those with power)

Changzhou
Lantern Festival
Lu You
Song dynasty


各顯神通

ㄍㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥ

гэсяньшэньтун

/kɤ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

Literally: (The Eight Immortals cross the sea) each revealing their divine power.

everybody using their talents to achieve a common goal


八仙過海，各顯神通

TheEight Immortals cross the sea, each revealing their divine power

ㄅㄚ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥ

baat³ sin¹ gwo³ hoi², gok³ hin² san⁴ tung¹

гэсяньшэньтун

/pä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

baat⁸ sin¹ gwo³ hoi², gok⁸ hin² san⁴ tung¹

bad³ xin¹ guo³ hoi², gog³ hin² sen⁴ tung¹

/paːt̚³ siːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːk̚³ hiːn³⁵ sɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

everybody using their talents or skills to achieve a common goal


安心立命

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (安心立命):
* → Japanese: 安心立命(あんしんりつめい) (anshinritsumei)
* → Korean: 안심입명(安心立命) (ansimimmyeong)

ㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

аньсиньлимин

/ˀän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/ˀän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/


一介不取

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

(of a public servant who is not corrupt) does not take a single penny


驚弓之鳥

a bird frightened by [the mere sound of] a bow [that shoots arrows]

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

цзингунчжиняо

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³/

panic-stricken person; someone who is easily frightened due to past experiences of attack or shock


有機

/jɐu̯¹³ kei̯⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kei̯⁵⁵/

(Hong Kong Cantonese) Short for 有機會 / 有机会.


一手遮天

to block out the sky with one hand (and pretend that it is not there)

ㄧ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓㄜ ㄊㄧㄢ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to hide the truth (from the public or masses)


獨立自主

ㄉㄨˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨˇ

/tu³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊk̚² laːp̚² t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

/tʊk̚² lɐp̚² t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

/tu³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊk̚² laːp̚² t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

/tʊk̚² lɐp̚² t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

Popularized by Mao Zedong during the founding of the People's Republic of China, however usage may be attested before then.

to pursue a foreign policy of peaceful development, autonomy and self-reliance


一孔之見

ㄧ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

икунчжицзянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kiːn³³/

As against this, vulgar “practical people” respect experience but despise theory, and therefore cannot have a comprehensive view of an entire objective process, lack clear direction and long-range perspective, and are complacent over occasional successes and glimpses of the truth.

Yōngsú de shìwùzhǔyìjiā bùshì zhèyàng, tāmen zūnzhòng jīngyàn ér kànqīng lǐlùn, yīn'ér bùnéng tōngguān kèguān guòchéng de quántǐ, quēfá míngquè de fāngzhēn, méiyǒu yuǎndà de qiántú, zhānzhānzìxǐ yú yīdézhīgōng hé yīkǒngzhījiàn.

庸俗的事務主義家不是這樣，他們尊重經驗而看輕理論，因而不能通觀客觀過程的全體，缺乏明確的方針，沒有遠大的前途，沾沾自喜於一得之功和一孔之見。

庸俗的事务主义家不是这样，他们尊重经验而看轻理论，因而不能通观客观过程的全体，缺乏明确的方针，没有远大的前途，沾沾自喜于一得之功和一孔之见。


一日千里

ㄧ ㄖˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² d͡zik̚⁴⁻² t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² d͡zik̚⁴⁻² t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵²/


日積月累

ㄖˋ ㄐㄧ ㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄟˇ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːt̚² lɵy̯²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui⁴¹/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui³³/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyːt̚² lɵy̯²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui⁴¹/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡuat̚⁴⁻³² lui³³/

to accumulate over a long period; gradual accumulation