勾心鬥角

ㄍㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

гоусиньдоуцзяо

/koʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɐu̯³³ kɔːk̚³/

/koʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɐu̯³³ kɔːk̚³/

Wǔ bù yī lóu, shí bù yī gé. Lángyāo màn huí, yányá gāo zhuó, gè bào dìshì, gōuxīndòujiǎo.

五步一樓，十步一閣。廊腰縵迴，簷牙高啄，各抱地勢，鉤心鬥角。

五步一楼，十步一阁。廊腰缦回，檐牙高啄，各抱地势，钩心斗角。

(in palace construction) elaborate and refined


不遑多讓

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄖㄤˋ

/pu⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/pu⁵¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²²/


糜糜之音

ㄇㄧˊ ㄇㄧˊ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

/mi³⁵ mi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mi³⁵ mi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


數見不鮮

ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

шоцзяньбусянь

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


濮上之音

ㄆㄨˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

zh-l

桑間濮上／桑间濮上 (sāngjiānpúshàng)

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


桑間之音

санцзяньчжиинь

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

桑間濮上／桑间濮上 (sāngjiānpúshàng)

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


濮上

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/pʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

桑間濮上 桑間濮上#Chinese

桑间濮上 桑间濮上#Chinese

lovers' rendezvous. See 桑間濮上／桑间濮上 (sāngjiānpúshàng).


靡靡之樂

ㄇㄧˇ ㄇㄧˇ ㄓ ㄩㄝˋ

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/mi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese


變徵之音

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄓˇ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

бяньчжичжиинь

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/piːn³³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

(music) a sound that is high in tone yet solemn and somber


各司其職

ㄍㄜˋ ㄙ ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˊ

/kɤ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɔːk̚³ siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

each person attends to his or her own duties


亡國之音

ㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

ванго чжи инь

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 19 (《禮記·樂記》)

Hence, the airs of an age of good order indicate composure and enjoyment. The airs of an age of disorder indicate dissatisfaction and anger, and its government is perversely bad. The airs of a state going to ruin are expressive of sorrow and (troubled) thought.

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

Shìgù zhìshì zhī yīn ān yǐ lè, qí zhèng hé. Luànshì zhī yīn yuàn yǐ nù, qí zhèng guāi. Wángguó zhī yīn āi yǐ sī, qí mín kùn.

是故治世之音安以樂，其政和。亂世之音怨以怒，其政乖。亡國之音哀以思，其民困。

是故治世之音安以乐，其政和。乱世之音怨以怒，其政乖。亡国之音哀以思，其民困。


鄭衛之音

ㄓㄥˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄓ ㄧㄣ

чжэнвэйчжиинь

čžɛnvɛjčžiinʹ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

In the Warring States Period, the states of Zheng and Wey (both located in modern-day Henan province) were infamous for producing decadent music. This was illustrated in the Book of Rites

The music of Zheng and Wey were chaotic music.

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

鄭衛之音，亂世之音也。

郑卫之音，乱世之音也。

靡靡之音 靡靡之音#Chinese

Synonym of 靡靡之音 (mǐmǐzhīyīn, “decadent music”)


一年四季

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ sei̯³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ t͡ɕi⁴⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ sei̯³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/i²⁴ n̠ʲə̃¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ t͡ɕi⁴⁵/


反目成仇

ㄈㄢˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄡˊ

фаньмучэнчоу

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ mʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² siu¹³/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu²⁴/

/huan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siu²³/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ mʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯²¹/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² siu²⁴/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siɪŋ¹³⁻²² siu¹³/

/huan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siu²⁴/

/huan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siu²³/


口齒不清

ㄎㄡˇ ㄔˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

to have slurred speech; to be unable to speak clearly


半工半讀

ㄅㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄨˊ

баньгунбаньду

/pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ tu³⁵/

/puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tʊk̚²/

/pän⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ tu³⁵/

/puːn³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ tʊk̚²/


睜一隻眼閉一隻眼

睁一只眼闭一只眼
睜一隻眼，閉一隻眼
睜隻眼閉隻眼

ㄓㄥ ㄧ ㄓ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧ ㄓ ㄧㄢˇ

zhēng yī zhī yǎn bì yī zhī yǎn [Phonetic:zhēng yì zhī yǎn bì yì zhī yǎn]

чжэн и чжи янь би и чжи янь

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

[Phonetic: zhēng yì zhī yǎn bì yì zhī yǎn]


藝高人膽大

ㄧˋ ㄍㄠ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄢˇ ㄉㄚˋ

и гао жэнь даньда

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

/i⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹/

/ŋɐi̯²² kou̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ taːm³⁵ taːi̯²²/

skilled people act boldly; to be outstanding and daring


教學相長

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄤˇ

цзяосюэсянчжан

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːu̯³³ hɔːk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/kaːu̯³³ hɔːk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

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

Therefore when he learns, one knows his own deficiencies; when he teaches, he knows the difficulties of learning. After he knows his deficiencies, one is able to turn round and examine himself; after he knows the difficulties, he is able to stimulate himself to effort. Hence it is said, "Teaching and learning help each other."

Gù xué ránhòu zhī bùzú, jiào ránhòu zhī kùn. Zhī bùzú, ránhòu néng zìfǎn yě; zhī kùn, ránhòu néng zìqiáng yě, gù yuē: jiào xué xiàng cháng yě.

故學然後知不足，教然後知困。知不足，然後能自反也；知困，然後能自強也，故曰：教學相長也。

故学然后知不足，教然后知困。知不足，然后能自反也；知困，然后能自强也，故曰：教学相长也。

both the teacher and the student can learn from each other and grow together


琴瑟和鳴

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²² mɪŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²² mɪŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ wɔː²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

(of a married couple) in perfect harmony


祥雲瑞彩

ㄒㄧㄤˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄞˇ

сянъюньжуйцай

/ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵ yn³⁵ ʐu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

colorful clouds signifying an auspicious sign


死乞白賴

死乞白赖
死氣白賴
死乞百賴
死氣白咧
死乞百咧

ㄙˇ ˙ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄌㄞˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴ t͡ɕʰi⁴ paɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ hɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² laːi̯²²/

/sz̩²¹⁴ t͡ɕʰi⁴ paɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ hɐt̚⁵ paːk̚² laːi̯²²/

(colloquial) to continuously pester someone; pesteringly; annoyingly


斷袖餘桃

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄠˊ

дуаньсююйтао

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/


三人行

/sän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

The Master said, “When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them.”

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

Zǐ yuē: “Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī yān. Zé qí shàn zhě ér cóng zhī, qí bù shàn zhě ér gǎi zhī.”

子曰：「三人行，必有我師焉。擇其善者而從之，其不善者而改之。」

子曰：「三人行，必有我师焉。择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。」

(literally) three people walking together


斷袖之癖

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄓ ㄆㄧˇ

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄓ ㄆㄧˋ

дуаньсючжипи

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹/

/tyːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵/

斷袖／断袖 (duànxiù)


青雲直上

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩㄣˊ ㄓˊ ㄕㄤˋ

цинъюньчжишан

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚² sœːŋ¹³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ t͡sɪk̚² sœːŋ¹³/

rise through the ranks
rise through the ranks

meteoric rise; to rise through the ranks rapidly


確有其人

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

to be a real person; to be a person that actually existed or exists


確有其事

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˋ

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

to be a real thing; to be something that actually happened


天上掉餡餅

a stuffed Chinese pancake falls from the sky

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄥˇ

тяньшан дяо сяньбин

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative) to have something fall into one's lap


三頭六臂

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/sän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lʊk̚² pei̯³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɤ²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰio²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ lʊk̚² pei̯³³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɤ²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰio²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² pi²¹/

Originally describing the appearance of the mythological figure Nezha.


以小人之心，度君子之腹

desc

→ Vietnamese: lấy dạ tiểu nhân đo lòng quân tử (calque)

ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄓ ㄈㄨˋ

ji⁵ siu² jan⁴ zi¹ sam¹, dok⁶ gwan¹ zi² zi¹ fuk¹

yǐ xiǎorén zhī xīn, duó jūnzǐ zhī fù [Phonetic:yíxiǎorénzhīxīn,duójūnzǐzhīfù]

и сяожэнь чжи синь

до цзюньцзы чжи фу

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

yíh síu yàhn jī sām, dohk gwān jí jī fūk

ji⁵ siu² jan⁴ dzi¹ sam¹, dok⁹ gwan¹ dzi² dzi¹ fuk⁷

yi⁵ xiu² yen⁴ ji¹ sem¹, dog⁶ guen¹ ji² ji¹ fug¹

/jiː¹³ siːu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tɔːk̚² kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

Its form is based on this optative statement by Yan Mo (閻沒) and Ru Kuan (女寬) to Wei Shu (魏舒), to subtly advise him not to take bribes (in Zuozhuan, Zhao 28):
*
Its meaning is based on this rhetorical question by Ran Qiu (冉求), who alluded to his - an inferior's - own inability to gauge his superiors' minds, to subtly urge Shusun Zhouchou (叔孫州仇) and Meng Yizi (孟懿子) to fight (in Zuozhuan, Ai 11):
*
The combination of form (with slight differences) and meaning is attested in a saying attributed to Yu Ai (庾敳) (in A New Account of the Tales of the World):
*

We wished that the bellies of the lowly could become the heart of the noble man, and that he would stop at what was sufficient.

Yuàn yǐ xiǎorén zhī fù wèi jūnzǐ zhī xīn, shǔ yàn ér yǐ.

願以小人之腹為君子之心，屬厭而已。

愿以小人之腹为君子之心，属厌而已。

The noble men have far-reaching considerations, but what can a petty man know?

Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg

君子有遠慮，小人何知？

君子有远虑，小人何知？

It can be called measuring a gentleman's heart with a petty man's scheming.

Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE

Kěwèi yǐ xiǎorén zhī lǜ, dù jūnzǐ zhī xīn.

可謂以小人之慮，度君子之心。

可谓以小人之虑，度君子之心。

togauge the heart of a gentleman with one's own mean measure

Who would've known that Yan Jun would use his own petty measure to gauge the heart of the superior man [Qian Qing]? This occasion was precisely "foes meeting each other with eyes glaring intensely".

Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World, 1627 CE

Shéi zhī Yán Jùn yǐ xiǎorén zhī xīn, duó jūnzǐ zhī fù? Cǐ jì biànshì chóurén xiàngjiàn, fēnwài yǎnzhēng.

誰知顏俊以小人之心，度君子之腹？此際便是仇人相見，分外眼睜。

谁知颜俊以小人之心，度君子之腹？此际便是仇人相见，分外眼睁。

to be cynical; to be skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others

A New Account of the Tales of the World
Ran Qiu
Zuozhuan


屁大點事

ㄆㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄕˋ

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

ㄆㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄕˋㄦ

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵¹/

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩ɻ⁵¹/

(low colloquial) something utterly trivial


狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心

head

狗咬呂洞賓——不識好人心

狗咬吕洞宾——不识好人心

adog bites Lü Dongbin ― to fail to see the heart of a good person

ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄣ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

bùshí hǎorén xīn [Phonetic:góuyáolǚdòngbīn

гоу яо Люй Дунбинь

буши хаожэнь синь

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ pin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

bùshì hǎorén xīn [Phonetic:góuyáolǚdòngbīn

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ pin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ lɵy̯¹³ tʊŋ²² pɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ hou̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

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


原地踏步

ㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄊㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ

/ɥɛn³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

(figurative) to make no progress; to be treading water


給……點顏色看看

ㄍㄟˇ ... ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄎㄢˋ ˙ㄎㄢ

гэй ... дянь яньсэ канькань

/keɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰän⁵¹ kʰän¹/

/kʰɐp̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ ŋaːn²¹ sɪk̚⁵ hɔːn³³ hɔːn³³/

teach someone a lesson
teach someone a lesson


滿地找牙

to search everywhere on the floor for one's own teeth

ㄇㄢˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄓㄠˇ ㄧㄚˊ

маньди чжао я

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä³⁵/

/muːn¹³ tei̯²² t͡saːu̯³⁵ ŋaː²¹/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä³⁵/

/muːn¹³ tei̯²² t͡saːu̯³⁵ ŋaː²¹/

他被打得滿地找牙。

他被打得满地找牙。

(used after 得 as complement) to be defeated completely and shamefully


高高在上

ㄍㄠ ㄍㄠ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄤˋ

гаогаоцзайшан

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² sœːŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko³³ ko³³ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² siɔŋ⁴¹/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻³³ ko⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³/

/kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɤ⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ³³/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² sœːŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko³³ ko³³ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² siɔŋ⁴¹/

/ko⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ siɔŋ²²/

/ko⁴⁴⁻³³ ko⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³/

/kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɤ⁴⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 288 (《詩經·周頌·敬之》)

lang

(《詩經·周頌·敬之》)

(《詩經·周頌·敬之》)

Let me be reverent, let me be reverent, [in attending to my duties];
[The way of] Heaven is evident,
And its appointment is not easily [preserved].
Let me not say that It is high aloft above me.
It ascends and descends about our doings;
It daily inspects us wherever we are.

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

Jìng zhī jìng zhī, tiān wéi xiǎn sī, mìng bù yì zāi.
Wú yuē gāo gāo zài shàng, zhì jiàng jué shì, rì jiān zài zī.

敬之敬之，天維顯思，命不易哉。
無曰高高在上，陟降厥士，日監在茲。

敬之敬之，天维显思，命不易哉。
无曰高高在上，陟降厥士，日监在兹。

(originally) high aloft; (now commonly) setting oneself high above the masses; not in touch with the common people or reality; aloof and remote


腳底抹油

脚底抹油
腳底抹油——溜了

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄧˇ ㄇㄛˇ ㄧㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚³ jɐu̯²¹/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚² jɐu̯²¹/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚³ jɐu̯²¹/

/kœːk̚³ tɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚² jɐu̯²¹/

to cut and run; to quickly remove oneself from an undesirable situation


傷害中國人民的感情

ㄕㄤ ㄏㄞˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

soeng¹ hoi⁶ zung¹ gwok³ jan⁴ man⁴ dik¹ gam² cing⁴

shang¹-hai⁴ Chung¹-kuo² jên²-min² tê⁵ kan³-chʻing²

шанхай Чжунго жэньминь дэ ганьцин

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ min³⁵ d̥ə³ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

sēung hoih jūng gwok yàhn màhn dīk gám chìhng

soeng¹ hoi⁶ dzung¹ gwok⁸ jan⁴ man⁴ dik⁷ gam² tsing⁴

sêng¹ hoi⁶ zung¹ guog³ yen⁴ men⁴ dig¹ gem² qing⁴

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɐn²¹ mɐn²¹ tɪk̚⁵ kɐm³⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

(Mainland China, officialese) to "hurt the feelings of the Chinese people" (a phrase for registering national displeasure)


以史為鑒

ㄧˇ ㄕˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ siː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kaːm³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ siː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ kaːm³³/

to take history as a mirror; to draw lessons from history; to look to the past for guidance; to learn from history


投鼠忌器

to hesitate to pelt a rat for fear of smashing the dishes beside it; spare the rat to save the dishes

ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄨˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ kei̯²² hei̯³³/

/tau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi²¹³/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ syː³⁵ kei̯²² hei̯³³/

/tau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi²¹³/

to be doubtful about acting against an evil


差天共地

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰa³³ tʰĩ³³ kaŋ⁴¹⁻²² tue⁴¹/

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰa³³ tʰĩ³³ kaŋ⁴¹⁻²² tue⁴¹/

(Cantonese, Quanzhou Hokkien) to be poles apart; to be like night and day; to be a world of difference between them


一竿子打翻一船人

ㄧ ㄍㄢ ˙ㄗ ㄉㄚˇ ㄈㄢ ㄧ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ

yī gānzi dǎfān yī chuán rén [Phonetic:yì gānzi dǎfān yì chuán rén]

и ганьцзы дафань и чуань жэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fän⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

tar with the same brush
tar with the same brush

(figurative) to criticize the whole because of one's opinion on a part; to tar with the same brush


差天差地

/t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³/

/t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻²² te²²/

/t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³/

/t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻²² tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻²² te²²/

(Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Taiwanese Hokkien) to be poles apart; to be like night and day; to be a world of difference between them


涎皮賴臉

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

сяньпилайлянь

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ pʰei̯²¹ laːi̯²² liːm¹³/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ pʰei̯²¹ laːi̯²² liːm¹³/


海誓山盟

ㄏㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄕㄢ ㄇㄥˊ

хайшишаньмэн

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ sɐi̯²² saːn⁵⁵ mɐŋ²¹/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

/xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːi̯³⁵ sɐi̯²² saːn⁵⁵ mɐŋ²¹/

/hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se²¹ san⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

山盟海誓 山盟海誓#Chinese

Alternative form of 山盟海誓 (shānménghǎishì)


恕我直言

ㄕㄨˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄓˊ ㄧㄢˊ

шу во чжиянь

/ʂu⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/syː³³ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² jiːn²¹/

/ʂu⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/syː³³ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² jiːn²¹/

with all due respect
with all due respect

in my humble opinion
in my humble opinion

with all due respect; in my humble opinion; frankly speaking


有言在先

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄢ

юянь цзайсянь

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ jiːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² siːn⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ jiːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² siːn⁵⁵/

to make it clear beforehand; to forewarn


門可羅雀

ㄇㄣˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

/mən³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ lɔː²¹ t͡sœːk̚³/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

/mən³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ hɔː³⁵ lɔː²¹ t͡sœːk̚³/

/mŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

/mŋ̍²³⁻³³ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɔk̚³²/

From a story in the Records of the Grand Historian

When Zhai Gong was a court official, guests filled his door, but when he was dismissed, a net could be used to catch sparrows outside his gate.

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

Shǐ Zhái Gōng wéi tíngwèi, bīnkè tián mén; jí fèi, ménwài kě shè què luó.

始翟公為廷尉，賓客闐門；及廢，門外可設雀羅。

始翟公为廷尉，宾客阗门；及废，门外可设雀罗。

can use a net to catch sparrows at the gate


俗話說

ㄙㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

/su³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚² waː²² syːt̚³/

/siɔk̚⁴⁻³² ue³³⁻²¹ sueʔ³²/

/siɔk̚⁴⁻³² ue³³⁻¹¹ seʔ³²/

/su³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚² waː²² syːt̚³/

/siɔk̚⁴⁻³² ue³³⁻²¹ sueʔ³²/

/siɔk̚⁴⁻³² ue³³⁻¹¹ seʔ³²/


常言道

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ tou̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sœːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ tou̯²²/

As people always say, life is like a play

soeng⁴ jin⁴ dou⁶, jan⁴ sang¹ zoeng⁶ jin² hei³

常言道 人生像演戲

常言道 人生像演戏


秋高氣爽

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄍㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɔːŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ sɔːŋ³⁵/

the autumn sky is clear and the air is crisp


因勢利導

ㄧㄣ ㄕˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄠˇ

/in⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ lei̯²² tou̯²²/

/in⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ lei̯²² tou̯²²/

to capitalize on the trend; to make the best of new opportunities


一葉障目

ㄧ ㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡sœːŋ³³ mʊk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːp̚² t͡sœːŋ³³ mʊk̚²/

blinded by only looking at one thing and not considering others; confused by partial or superficial things


山雞舞鏡

ㄕㄢ ㄐㄧ ㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

шаньцзиуцзин

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ kɛːŋ³³/

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ kɛːŋ³³/


虎口餘生

ㄏㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄕㄥ

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to survive a disaster; to have a narrow escape


雞犬升天

ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄕㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

цзицюаньшэнтянь

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

When a man gets to the top, all his friends and relations get there with him. / to ride on somebody else's success


出奇制勝

ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˋ ㄕㄥˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ sɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²³⁻³³ t͡se²¹⁻⁴¹ siɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ¹¹/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ²¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɐi̯³³ sɪŋ³³/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²³⁻³³ t͡se²¹⁻⁴¹ siɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡se¹¹⁻⁵³ siɪŋ¹¹/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ²¹³/


焦頭爛額

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄢˋ ㄜˊ

цзяотоуланьэ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ län⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ laːn²² ŋaːk̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ län⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ laːn²² ŋaːk̚²/

Now you are inviting people according to their contributions, then how can you forget the mercy of the person that told you to replace the chimney with a crooked one and move the firewood away, but let those people got burnt seriously be the important guests?"

Jīn lùn gōng ér qǐng bīn, qūtūxǐxīn wáng ēnzé, jiāotóulàn'é wèi shàngkè yē?

今論功而請賓，曲突徙薪亡恩澤，焦頭爛額為上客耶？

今论功而请宾，曲突徙薪亡恩泽，焦头烂额为上客耶？

(literally) to be scorched by the flames

In order to finish the project before the end of this year, our team has been overwhelmingly busy recently.

Wèile gǎn zài niándǐ wánchéng zhè xiàngmù, tuánduì zuìjìn shì máng dé jiāotóulàn'é.

為了趕在年底完成這項目，團隊最近是忙得焦頭爛額。

为了赶在年底完成这项目，团队最近是忙得焦头烂额。

(figurative) in a sorry plight; hard-pressed; overwrought; in trouble; overwhelmed


千里送鵝毛

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄜˊ ㄇㄠˊ

цяньли сун эмао

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ sʊŋ⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ sʊŋ³³ ŋɔː²¹ mou̯²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ sʊŋ⁵¹ ˀɤ³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ sʊŋ³³ ŋɔː²¹ mou̯²¹/

Short for 千里送鵝毛，物輕情意重／千里送鹅毛，物轻情意重 or short for 千里送鵝毛，禮輕情意重／千里送鹅毛，礼轻情意重.
According to the Ming scholar Xu Wei, there was a legend that the Dali Kingdom has once sent an ambassador to Tang dynasty with many tributes including a swan. But on the way, the swan flew away and only a feather was left. Finally, the ambassador gave the feather to the Tang emperor and wrote a poem to explain the incident.

zh-etym-short

Short for 千里送鵝毛，物輕情意重／千里送鹅毛，物轻情意重

short for 千里送鵝毛，禮輕情意重／千里送鹅毛，礼轻情意重

a trifling present with a weighty thought behind it


再作馮婦

ㄗㄞˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ

цзайцзофэнфу

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sɔːk̚³ fʊŋ²¹ fuː¹³/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sɔːk̚³ fʊŋ²¹ fuː¹³/

to get back to the business that was once left


繞樑三日

ㄖㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄙㄢ ㄖˋ

жаолянсаньжи

/ʐɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹ saːm⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/ʐɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹ saːm⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

(especially of one's voice or of music) sonorous and resounding


狼子野心

ㄌㄤˊ ㄗˇ ㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

/lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː³⁵ jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː³⁵ jɛː¹³ sɐm⁵⁵/


盲人瞎馬

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄚ ㄇㄚˇ

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ hɐt̚² maː¹³/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ hɐt̚² maː¹³/


煮豆燃萁

ㄓㄨˇ ㄉㄡˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄑㄧˊ

чжудоужаньци

/ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡syː³⁵ tɐu̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡syː³⁵ tɐu̯²² jiːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹/

From The Quatrain of Seven Steps, a poem attributed to Cao Zhi, a prince of Cao Wei, in response to threat of execution by his elder brother, Emperor Wen of Wei.

Beans are boiled to make broth, pulses are filtered to extract juice. Bean-stalks beneath the pot burn; bean-seeds inside the pot sob: "We are born of one same root. Why incinerate each other too ardently?

Zhǔ dòu chí zuò gēng, lù shū yǐ wèi zhī. Qí zài fǔ xià rán, dòu zài fǔ zhōng qì. Běn zì tóng gēn shēng, xiàng jiān hé tài jí.

煮豆持作羹，漉菽以為汁。萁在釜下然，豆在釜中泣。本自同根生，相煎何太急。

煮豆持作羹，漉菽以为汁。萁在釜下然，豆在釜中泣。本自同根生，相煎何太急。

to have a fratricidal strife; to have a fight between one's own men

Cao Wei
Cao Zhi
The Quatrain of Seven Steps


鵲巢鳩佔

ㄑㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄓㄢˋ

цюэчаоцзючжань

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ kʰɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³/

/t͡sœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ kʰɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ kɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ kʰɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³/

/t͡sœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ kʰɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ kɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 12 (《詩經·召南·鵲巢》)

lang

(《詩經·召南·鵲巢》)

(《詩經·召南·鵲巢》)

The nest is the magpie's; The dove possesses it.
This young lady is going to her future home; A hundred carriages are escorting her.

維鵲有巢，維鳩居

the magpie's nest is occupied by the dove

to occupy or seize residences, land, positions, etc. belonging to others

reap what one has not sown
reap what one sows

(figurative) to take other people's efforts and reap the profits; to reap what one has not sown


合浦珠還

ㄏㄜˊ ㄆㄨˇ ㄓㄨ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

хэпучжухуань

/xɤ³⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

/xɤ³⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

/hɐp̚² pʰou̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵ waːn²¹/

(figurative, of a person) to return after leaving; (of something) to be regained after being lost


狼狽為奸

ㄌㄤˊ ㄅㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

ланбэйвэйцзянь

/lɑŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ puːi̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/lɑŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/lɔːŋ²¹ puːi̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

(figurative) to act in collusion with each other; to work hand in glove with somebody (to nefarious ends)


細膩無蝕本

/sue²¹⁻⁵³ li²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² si(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pun⁵³/

/se²¹⁻⁵³ d͡zi²²⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² si(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ pun⁵³/

/sue⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ li⁴¹ bo²⁴⁻²² si(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pŋ̍⁵⁵⁴/

(Southern Min) one won't be at a loss by being careful; one cannot be too careful


張持無蝕本

/tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ ti²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ si(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pun⁴¹/

/tiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ ti²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ si(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ pun⁵³/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) one won't be at a loss by being careful; one cannot be too careful


如痴如醉

ㄖㄨˊ ㄔ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³/

/ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sɵy̯³³/

in ecstasies over; intoxicated by something; enchanted; carried away; spellbound; fascinated


終身大事

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄣ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˋ

чжуншэньдаши

čžunšɛnʹdaši

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siː²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siː²²/

big event in one's life (usually referring to marriage)


心如止水

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

синьжучжишуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

one's mind is as calm as still water; to remain unmoved by circumstances; at peace with oneself


刨根問底

ㄆㄠˊ ㄍㄣ ㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄧˇ

паогэньвэньди

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²² tɐi̯³⁵/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ wən⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰaːu̯²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²² tɐi̯³⁵/

get to the bottom of
get to the bottom of


心中有鬼

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

синьчжунъюгуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

心裡有鬼 心裡有鬼#Chinese

心里有鬼 心里有鬼#Chinese


心裡有鬼

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

/ɕin⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

to harbour intentions that can't bear daylight


大包小包

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄠ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄠ

/tä⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄠㄦ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄠㄦ

дабаорсяобаор

/tä⁵¹ paʊ̯ɻʷ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ paʊ̯ɻʷ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ paʊ̯ɻʷ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ paʊ̯ɻʷ⁵⁵/

with bags, packages or suitcases of all sizes


成雙成對

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄔㄥˊ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чэншуанчэндуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tɵy̯³³/

/sɨn¹¹ suŋ²⁴ sɨn¹¹ tu̯i⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tɵy̯³³/

/sɨn¹¹ suŋ²⁴ sɨn¹¹ tu̯i⁵⁵/


心裡有數

ㄒㄧㄣ ˙ㄌㄧ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

ㄒㄧㄣ ˙ㄌㄧ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨˋㄦ

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ li² joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂuɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

to know very well in one's heart (e.g. what to do next, whether it is likely to succeed, etc.); to know the score


身臨其境

ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

шэньлиньцицзин

/ʂən⁵⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² lim²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ⁵³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ lin³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² lim²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² kiɪŋ⁵³/

to be personally on the scene; to be in a place or situation in person


直來直去

ㄓˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓˊ ㄑㄩˋ

чжилайчжицюй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚² hɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɪk̚² hɵy̯³³/

to go and return without undue delay; to go non-stop to and from

(figurative) to be frank and outspoken; to speak one's mind


無理取鬧

ㄨˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄑㄩˇ ㄋㄠˋ

/u³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ lei̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ naːu̯²²/

/u³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ lei̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ naːu̯²²/

to make a fuss out of nothing; to throw a tantrum without reason; to be deliberately provocative

2019年總統蔡英文母校倫敦政經學院（LSE）替蔡英文的學位背書，發出一則聲明，旅美學者林環牆依照英國資訊自由法（FOIA）訊問LSE那則聲明的出處，被校方認為是「無理取鬧（vexatious）」

LSE to issued an announcement to support Tsai Ing-wen's degree in 2019. Hwan-Chyang Lin, a scholar in the United States, asked for the source of the announcement, which was described as "vexatious" by the college.


口說無憑

ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ syːt̚³ mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/hɐu̯³⁵ syːt̚³ mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹/


三從四德

ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄙˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sei̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ sei̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

the Three Obediences and Four Virtues (traditional Chinese social and familial code of conduct on womanhood)


藍天白雲

ㄌㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄞˊ ㄩㄣˊ

ланьтяньбайюнь

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ yn³⁵/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ paːk̚² wɐn²¹/

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ yn³⁵/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ paːk̚² wɐn²¹/


一字排開

/i⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² pʰaːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² pʰaːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

to form a single straight line; to string out in a long line


馬走日

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹/

(xiangqi) the horse moves like the character 日


象走田

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

сян цзоу тянь

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

(xiangqi) the elephant moves like the character 田 (tián)


很好很強大

ㄏㄣˇ ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄣˇ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄚˋ

hěn hǎo hěn qiángdà [Phonetic:hénháohěnqiángdà]

хэнь хао хэнь цянда

/xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹/

(chiefly Mainland China, neologism, slang) very good very mighty


很傻很天真

ㄏㄣˇ ㄕㄚˇ ㄏㄣˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄣ

hěn shǎ hěn tiānzhēn [Phonetic:hénsháhěntiānzhēn]

хэнь ша хэнь тяньчжэнь

xɛnʹ ša xɛnʹ tjanʹčžɛnʹ

/xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

Originally said by singer and actress Gillian Chung after the Edison Chen photo scandal.

(chiefly Mainland China, neologism, slang) very silly very naive


青春年華

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚˊ

цинчуньняньхуа

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ niːn²¹ waː²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯ä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ niːn²¹ waː²¹/


絕色佳人

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

цзюэсэцзяжэнь

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/


因噎廢食

to not eat because of [fear or experience of] choking

ㄧㄣ ㄧㄝ ㄈㄟˋ ㄕˊ

/in⁵⁵ jɛ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jiːt̚³ fɐi̯³³ sɪk̚²/

/in⁵⁵ jɛ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jiːt̚³ fɐi̯³³ sɪk̚²/

The death penalty should not be abolished because of possible miscarriages, this is like not eating for fear of choking

bù néng yīnwèi sǐxíng kěnéng zào chéng wùpàn ér fèichú sǐxíng, zhè shì yīnyēfèishí

不能因為死刑可能造成誤判而廢除死刑，這是因噎廢食

不能因为死刑可能造成误判而废除死刑，这是因噎废食

to avoid something essential because of a slight risk of making a mistake


前度劉郎

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄉㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄌㄤˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ tou̯²² lɐu̯²¹ lɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ tou̯²² lɐu̯²¹ lɔːŋ²¹/

From a poem by Liu Yuxi, written when he returned to the capital after 14 years in exile and revisited a peach garden.

The courtyard of a hundred mu is half-covered with moss, the peach blossoms are gone and only mallow flowers remain.
 The priests who planted the peach trees are nowhere to be found, yet that Mr. Liu last time around is now here again!

Bǎi mǔ tíng zhōng bàn shì tái, táohuā jìng jìn càihuā kāi.
Zhòng táo dàoshì guī héchù, qián dù Liú láng jīn yòu lái.

百畝庭中半是苔，桃花淨盡菜花開。
種桃道士歸何處，前度劉郎今又來。

百亩庭中半是苔，桃花净尽菜花开。
种桃道士归何处，前度刘郎今又来。

someone who returns to a place they have once abandoned


絕色天香

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ

цзюэсэтяньсян

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡syːt̚² sɪk̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

woman of incomparable beauty; unrivalled beauty


不緊不慢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄢˋ

буцзиньбумань

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ män⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ män⁵¹/

(literally) neither rushed nor slow; at the right pace

(now often) unhurried; unflustered; taking one's time


雙宿雙飛

ㄕㄨㄤ ㄙㄨˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄈㄟ

шуансушуанфэй

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ fei̯⁵⁵/

live in each other's pockets
live in each other's pockets

(of a pair of lovers) to be intimate and inseparable; to live in each other's pockets


捉姦在床

ㄓㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄗㄞˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

чжоцзяньцзайчуан

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

to catch adulterers in the act; to catch (one's partner) in bed with someone else


拍拍屁股走人

拍拍屁股就走
拍拍屁股走
拍屁股走人

ㄆㄞ ㄆㄞ ㄆㄧˋ ˙ㄍㄨ ㄗㄡˇ ㄖㄣˊ

пай пай пигу цзоужэнь

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹ g̊u¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ pʰaːk̚³ pʰei̯³³ kuː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹/

to make oneself scarce; to slip away; to take a French leave


千不該，萬不該

千不该，万不该
千不該啊萬不該
千不該萬不該

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kaɪ̯⁵⁵/

(emphatic) really should not (do something or have done something)


千叮嚀，萬囑咐

千叮咛，万嘱咐
千叮嚀萬囑咐

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄋㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵ niŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

(emphatic) to exhort again and again; to give advice repeatedly


有價無市

ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄕˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

having a price but no sales, i.e. listed with a fictitious or prohibitively high price but having no sales


推己及人

ㄊㄨㄟ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

туйцзицзижэнь

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² jɐn²¹/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² jɐn²¹/

to put oneself in the place of another; to do unto others as you would have them do unto you


高樓大廈

ㄍㄠ ㄌㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄚˋ

ㄍㄠ ㄌㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² haː²²/

/kau³³⁻²³ lau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ he¹¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ taːi̯²² haː²²/

/kau³³⁻²³ lau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ he¹¹/

high-rise building (Classifier: 座 m c; 棟／栋 m c; 幢 m; 躉／趸 c)


頭破血流

head broken open and blood flowing (bleeding)

ㄊㄡˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

ㄊㄡˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

ㄊㄡˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹/

/tʰau²³⁻³³ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ hue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ lau²³/

/tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰua¹¹⁻⁵³ hui(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lau²⁴/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰɔː³³ hyːt̚³ lɐu̯²¹/

/tʰau²³⁻³³ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ hue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ lau²³/

/tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰua¹¹⁻⁵³ hui(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lau²⁴/

打得頭破血流

打得头破血流


元芳，你怎麼看

ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄎㄢˋ

Yuánfāng, nǐ zěnme kàn [Phonetic:yuánfāng,nízěnmekàn]

ни цзэньмэ кань

/ɥɛn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ kʰän⁵¹/

A catchphrase from the television series Amazing Detective Di Renjie, where the main detective character often used this phrase when asking Li Yuanfang, his assistant, for opinion when cracking a mysterious crime or conspiracy.

(neologism, slang, humorous) A phrase for soliciting another person's opinion, especially on a matter that one finds suspicious or questionable.


一飽眼福

ㄧ ㄅㄠˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄈㄨˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːu̯³⁵ ŋaːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ paːu̯³⁵ ŋaːn¹³ fʊk̚⁵/


嘔心瀝血

ㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

ㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

ㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚⁵ hyːt̚³/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² hyːt̚³/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚⁵ hyːt̚³/

/ɐu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ lɪk̚² hyːt̚³/

blood, sweat and tears
blood, sweat and tears

determination and hard work; put your blood, sweat and tears into it


苟且偷生

ㄍㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/


岸谷之變

ㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

аньгучжибянь

/ˀän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ˀän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

High banks become valleys;
Deep valleys become hills.

高岸為谷、深谷為陵。

高岸为谷、深谷为陵。


斷鶴續鳧

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (斷鶴續鳧):
* → Japanese: 断鶴続鳧(だんかくぞくふ) (dankakuzokufu)

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄜˋ ㄒㄩˋ ㄈㄨˊ

дуаньхэсюйфу

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹ fu³⁵/

/tyːn²² hɔːk̚² t͡sʊk̚² fuː²¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹ fu³⁵/

/tyːn²² hɔːk̚² t͡sʊk̚² fuː²¹/

What is long should not be considered too long, nor what is short too short. A duck's legs, for instance, are short, but if we try to lengthen them, it occasions pain; and a crane's legs are long, but if we try to cut off a portion of them, it produces grief.

Cháng zhě bù wéi yǒuyú, duǎn zhě bù wéi bùzú, shìgù fú jìng suī duǎn, xù zhī zé yōu, hè jìng suī cháng, duàn zhī zé bēi.

長者不為有餘，短者不為不足，是故鳧脛雖短，續之則憂，鶴脛雖長，斷之則悲。

长者不为有余，短者不为不足，是故凫胫虽短，续之则忧，鹤胫虽长，断之则悲。

to shorten the legs of a crane and lengthen those of a wild duck


每下愈況

ㄇㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄩˋ ㄎㄨㄤˋ

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/muːi̯¹³ haː²² jyː²² fɔːŋ³³/

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/muːi̯¹³ haː²² jyː²² fɔːŋ³³/

They remind me of the questions addressed by the superintendents of the market to the inspector about examining the value of a pig by treading on it, and testing its weight as the foot descends lower and lower on the body.

Zhèng huò zhī wèn yú jiān shì lǚ xī yě, měi xià yù kuàng.

正獲之問於監市履豨也，每下愈況。

正获之问于监市履豨也，每下愈况。

(original meaning) looking further down for details will improve one's understanding of the situation

每況愈下 每況愈下#Chinese

每况愈下 每况愈下#Chinese

(now more common, often considered nonstandard) Alternative form of 每況愈下／每况愈下 (měikuàngyùxià)


比肩繼踵

ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

бицзяньцзичжун

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

比肩接踵 比肩接踵#Chinese


多嚿魚

/tɔː⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² jyː²¹⁻³⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² jyː²¹⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese, minced oath) fricking unnecessary


粉妝玉砌

ㄈㄣˇ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄩˋ ㄑㄧˋ

фэньчжуанъюйци

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

(of snowy scenery) as if powdered with makeup and built with jade


比肩接踵

ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

бицзяньцзечжун

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ kiːn⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/


萬籟俱寂

ㄨㄢˋ ㄌㄞˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧˋ

ㄨㄢˋ ㄌㄞˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧˊ

ваньлайцзюйцзи

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ laɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ laɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/maːn²² laːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ laɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ laɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/maːn²² laːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

(of nature) a great depth of stillness; all fretful stirrings of the world hushed; all is quiet and still


五光十色

ㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄕˊ ㄙㄜˋ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɐp̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ sɐp̚² sɪk̚⁵/


哭笑不得

ㄎㄨ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/kʰu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/hʊk̚⁵ siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/kʰau²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tik̚²/

/kʰu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/hʊk̚⁵ siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/kʰau²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tik̚²/

to feel confounded, mildly dumbfounded, or slightly flabbergasted in a polite sense, usually toward a familiar person in an awkward situation


郎當

/lɑŋ³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lɑŋ³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

二十郎當

二十郎当


誓死不二

ㄕˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄦˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹/

to faithfully or single-mindedly pledge one's life (to) or protect with one's life


嗟來之食

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sɛː⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sɛː⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/

From the Book of Rites, Book 4 (《禮記·檀弓下》)

During a great dearth in Qi, Qian Ao had food prepared on the road to wait for the starving people, and supplied them food. (One day), there came a famished fellow, and it looked like he could hardly see, his face covered with his sleeves, and his feet dragging together. Qian Ao, with some food in his left hand and with some drinks in right hand, said to him, "Alas! Come and eat!" The fellow stared at him and said, "It was because I did not eat 'alas come here's' food, that I am now in this state." Qian Ao immediately apologised for his words, but the man after all did not take the food and died. Zengzi heard about it and said, "Are you kidding me? If Qian Ao expressed his pity, the fellow should just get away. But since he had apologised, the fellow should have eaten the food."

Qí dàjī, Qián Áo wéi shí yú lù, yǐ dài èzhě ér shí zhī. Yǒu èzhě méng mèi jí jù, màomàorán lái. Qián Áo zuǒ fèng shí, yòu zhí yǐn, yuē: “Jiē! Lái shí.” Yáng qí mù ér shì zhī, yuē: “Yǔ wéi bù shí jiē lái zhī shí, yǐzhìyú sī yě.” Cóng ér xiè yān; zhōng bù shí ér sǐ. Zēngzǐ wén zhī yuē: “Wēi yú! Qí jiē yě kě qù, qí xiè yě kě shí.”

齊大饑，黔敖為食於路，以待餓者而食之。有餓者蒙袂輯屨，貿貿然來。黔敖左奉食，右執飲，曰：「嗟！來食。」揚其目而視之，曰：「予唯不食嗟來之食，以至於斯也。」從而謝焉；終不食而死。曾子聞之曰：「微歟！其嗟也可去，其謝也可食。」

齐大饥，黔敖为食于路，以待饿者而食之。有饿者蒙袂辑屦，贸贸然来。黔敖左奉食，右执饮，曰：「嗟！来食。」扬其目而视之，曰：「予唯不食嗟来之食，以至于斯也。」从而谢焉；终不食而死。曾子闻之曰：「微欤！其嗟也可去，其谢也可食。」

food handed out in contempt; contemptuous handout


大徹大悟

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄜˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˋ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

to come to a profound realization; to become totally enlightened; to experience a complete awakening


誓死不屈

ㄕˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/


賭身立誓

ㄉㄨˇ ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕˋ

/tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to bet one's life; to pledge one's life (to)


不識之無

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹/


扞格不通

ㄏㄢˋ ㄍㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/xän⁵¹ kɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/xän⁵¹ kɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/


無源之水，無本之木

ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

ㄨˊ ㄅㄣˇ ㄓ ㄇㄨˋ

уюань чжи шуй

убэнь чжи му

/u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

The rational is reliable precisely because it has its source in sense perceptions, other wise it would be like water without a source, a tree without roots, subjective, self-engendered and unreliable.

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

Lǐxìng de dōngxi suǒyǐ kào de zhù, zhèngshì yóuyú tā láiyuán yú gǎnxìng, fǒuzé lǐxìng de dōngxi jiù chéng le wúyuán zhī shuǐ, wúběn zhī mù, ér zhǐshì zhǔguān zìshēng de kào bu zhù de dōngxi le.

理性的東西所以靠得住，正是由於它來源於感性，否則理性的東西就成了無源之水，無本之木，而只是主觀自生的靠不住的東西了。

理性的东西所以靠得住，正是由于它来源于感性，否则理性的东西就成了无源之水，无本之木，而只是主观自生的靠不住的东西了。


一見如故

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄨˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ jyː²¹ kuː³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ jyː²¹ kuː³³/

to be familiar at first sight; to hit it off


一男半女

ㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄢˋ ㄋㄩˇ

инаньбаньнюй

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ nän³⁵ pän⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ naːm²¹ puːn³³ nɵy̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ nän³⁵ pän⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ naːm²¹ puːn³³ nɵy̯¹³/

a child; a son or daughter (emphasizing the small number of children)


一切從簡

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kaːn³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kaːn³⁵/


一無所長

ㄧ ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄤˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

to not have any special skills or qualifications


苦口婆心

ㄎㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄆㄛˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ pʰɔː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ pʰɔː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/


一索得男

ㄧ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄋㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ nän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɔːk̚³ tɐk̚⁵ naːm²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ nän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɔːk̚³ tɐk̚⁵ naːm²¹/

to give birth to a boy as one's first baby


一走了之

ㄧ ㄗㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄓ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

to quit; to walk away from a situation irresponsibly


心領神會

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧㄥˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

синьлиншэньхуэй

/ɕin⁵⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪŋ¹³ sɐn²¹ wuːi̯²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɪŋ¹³ sɐn²¹ wuːi̯²²/

understand without need for a full explanation


一口咬定

ㄧ ㄎㄡˇ ㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ tɪŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋaːu̯¹³ tɪŋ²²/

to assert resolutely and stick to one's statement


一步登天

ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pou̯²² tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pou̯²² tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to advance to a high position easily; to achieve instant success


一氣呵成

ㄧ ㄑㄧˋ ㄏㄜ ㄔㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³ hɔː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xɤ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³ hɔː⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

to do something in one go; to do something without stopping

(of writing, speech, lines in a painting, etc.) to flow smoothly and coherently

speech; lines in a painting; speech; lines in a painting


引以為榮

ㄧㄣˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

to be proud of someone or something; to take someone or something as a great honour


列祖列宗

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄨㄥ

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵ liːt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² t͡sou̯³⁵ liːt̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


詞不達意

ㄘˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˊ ㄧˋ

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚² jiː³³/

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ tä³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ taːt̚² jiː³³/

words do not express one's intent; poorly expressed; senseless; inarticulate


朝思暮想

ㄓㄠ ㄙ ㄇㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ mou̯²² sœːŋ³⁵/

to yearn for something day and night; to long for something deeply


應有盡有

ㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/iŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/in⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰin⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹/

/eŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵/

/iŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/in⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰin⁵⁵ i̯u²⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² iu⁵⁵⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁵³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴¹/

/eŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ u³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ u³⁵/

to have everything one needs; to be comprehensive; to be complete


藍田生玉

Lantian [in Shaanxi] produces [good] jade.

ㄌㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄥ ㄩˋ

ланьтяньшэнъюй

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/län³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

/laːm²¹ tʰiːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

outstanding children come from a prestigious family


千萬買鄰

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

цяньваньмайлинь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːi̯¹³ lɵn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ maːn²² maːi̯¹³ lɵn²¹/


舉案齊眉

ㄐㄩˇ ㄢˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄟˊ

цзюйаньцимэй

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ ɔːn³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mei̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ ɔːn³³ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mei̯²¹/

to have mutual respect between husband and wife


玩物喪志

ㄨㄢˋ ㄨˋ ㄙㄤˋ ㄓˋ

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wuːn²² mɐt̚² sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wuːn²² mɐt̚² sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/

to indulge in what one likes and lose one's sense of purpose; infatuation saps the will


乘龍佳婿

ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄒㄩˋ

чэнлунцзясюй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ɕy⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ lʊŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/


博士買驢

ㄅㄛˊ ㄕˋ ㄇㄞˇ ㄌㄩˊ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ siː²² maːi̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ siː²² maːi̯¹³ lɵy̯²¹/

(of words) long-winded, vague and never getting to the point


奇貨可居

ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄩ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ fɔː³³ hɔː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ fɔː³³ hɔː³⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵/

Earliest attested in Records of the Grand Historian

Lü Buwei, who was trading in Handan, saw (Qin prince Yiren) and pitied him and said (to himself): "This is a rare good that can be hoarded."

Lǚ bùwéi gǔ hándān, jiàn ér lián zhī, yuē “cǐ qíhuòkějū”.

呂不韋賈邯鄲，見而憐之，曰「此奇貨可居」。

吕不韦贾邯郸，见而怜之，曰「此奇货可居」。

rare goods can be hoarded [to be sold when prices go up]

to rely on some special skill, advantage, accomplishment, etc. to profiteer

Handan
King Zhuangxiang of Qin
Lü Buwei
Records of the Grand Historian


含血噴人

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄆㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

ханьсюэпэньжэнь

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

ханьсепэньжэнь

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ jɐn²¹/

/kam²⁴⁻²² huiʔ³² pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ laŋ²⁴/

/ham²³⁻³³ hiɛt̚³² pʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ zin²³/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/xän³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ hyːt̚³ pʰɐn³³ jɐn²¹/

/kam²⁴⁻²² huiʔ³² pʰun²¹⁻⁵³ laŋ²⁴/

/ham²³⁻³³ hiɛt̚³² pʰun²¹⁻⁴¹ zin²³/

to slander someone; to falsely accuse someone


魚目混珠

ㄩˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄣˋ ㄓㄨ

/y³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² wɐn²² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/hi²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/y³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² wɐn²² t͡syː⁵⁵/

/hi²³⁻³³ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ bak̚⁴⁻³² hun³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁴⁴/

If the animals eat too much canavanine, it may be passed off as arginine and be mixed into proteins.

2014, 吴相钰 (Wu Xiangyu); 陈守良 (Chen Shouliang); 葛明德 (Ge Mingde), chief editors, 《陈阅增普通生物学》 [Chen Yuezeng General Biology], 4th edition, Beijing: Higher Education Press, →ISBN , page 251

Rúguǒ dòngwù chī de dāodòu ānsuān tài duō, tā jiù kěnéng yúmùhùnzhū, dàitì jīng'ānsuān ér chānrù dànbáizhì zhōng.

如果動物吃的刀豆氨酸太多，它就可能魚目混珠，代替精氨酸而摻入蛋白質中。

如果动物吃的刀豆氨酸太多，它就可能鱼目混珠，代替精氨酸而掺入蛋白质中。


意氣揚揚

ja-r

意気揚揚(いきようよう) (ikiyōyō)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (意氣揚揚):
* → Japanese: 意気揚揚(いきようよう) (ikiyōyō)
* → Korean: 의기양양(意氣揚揚) (uigiyang'yang)

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/


出人頭地

ㄔㄨ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² te²²/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ti¹¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ lin²⁴⁻²² tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² te²²/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ti¹¹/

to be outstanding; to stand out among others


一般見識

ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕˊ

ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ

ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄕ

ибаньцзяньши

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/i⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ puːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ sɪk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/i⁵⁵ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ puːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ sɪk̚⁵/

(usually with negative connotation) to be at the same level of understanding; to lower oneself to someone's level


倒霉的時候，喝涼水都塞牙

head

倒霉的時候，喝涼水都塞牙

倒霉的时候，喝凉水都塞牙

In unlucky times, even a drink of cool water can get stuck between the teeth

ㄉㄠˇ ㄇㄟˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕˊ ˙ㄏㄡ

ㄏㄜ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄡ ㄙㄞ ㄧㄚˊ

ㄉㄠˇ ㄇㄟˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕˊ ㄏㄡˋ

ㄏㄜ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄡ ㄙㄟ ㄧㄚˊ

даомэй дэ шихоу

хэ ляншуй доу сайя

/tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xoʊ̯³ xɤ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ saɪ̯⁵⁵ jä³⁵/

ㄉㄠˇ ㄇㄟˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕˊ ˙ㄏㄡㄦ

даомэйдэшихоур

хэляншуйдоусайя

/tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɤʊ̯ɻʷ³ xɤ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ saɪ̯⁵⁵ jä³⁵/

/tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ saɪ̯⁵⁵ jä³⁵/

хэ ляншуй доу сэйя

/tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xoʊ̯³ xɤ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ seɪ̯⁵⁵ jä³⁵/

хэляншуйдоусэйя

/tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɤʊ̯ɻʷ³ xɤ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ seɪ̯⁵⁵ jä³⁵/

Rén dǎoméi de shíhou wa, hē liángshuǐ dōu sēiyá, fàngpì hái zá jiǎohòugēnzi ne!

人倒霉的時候哇，喝涼水都塞牙，放屁還砸腳後跟子呢！

人倒霉的时候哇，喝凉水都塞牙，放屁还砸脚后跟子呢！

When one is unlucky, everything could be against him.


庸人自擾

ㄩㄥ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄖㄠˇ

юнжэньцзыжао

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯¹³/

/jʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯³⁵/

/jʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jiːu̯¹³/

get one's panties in a bunch
get one's panties in a bunch

to ask for trouble for no reason; to get one's panties in a bunch


一日到暗

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² kau²¹⁻⁴¹ am²¹/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻¹ d͡zit̚⁴⁻¹ kau²¹⁻⁵³ am²¹/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² kau¹¹⁻⁵³ am¹¹/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² kau²¹⁻⁴¹ am²¹/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻¹ d͡zit̚⁴⁻¹ kau²¹⁻⁵³ am²¹/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² kau¹¹⁻⁵³ am¹¹/

(Taiwanese Hokkien, Taiwanese Hakka) the whole day; all day long; all the time


當家作主

ㄉㄤ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄨˇ

данцзяцзочжу

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵/

the working people are the masters of their own country

勞動人民當家作主

劳动人民当家作主

(figuratively) to be the master of one's own affairs; destiny; etc.


為富不仁

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ fuː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ fuː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

Yang Hu said, "He who seeks to be rich will not be benevolent. He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich."

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

Yáng Hǔ yuē: “Wéi fù bù rén yǐ, wéi rén bù fù yǐ.”

陽虎曰：「為富不仁矣，為仁不富矣。」

阳虎曰：「为富不仁矣，为仁不富矣。」

They become rather abusive, denouncing the foreigners as “foreign devils”, the warlords as “robber generals” and the local tyrants and evil gentry as “the heartless rich”.

1925, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《中國社會各階級的分析》 (Analysis of the Classes in Chinese Society), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Tāmen yǒudiǎn màrén le, mà yángrén jiào “yángguǐzi”, mà jūnfá jiào “qiǎngqián sīlìng”, mà tǔháo lièshēn jiào “wéifùbùrén”.

他們有點罵人了，罵洋人叫「洋鬼子」，罵軍閥叫「搶錢司令」，罵土豪劣紳叫「為富不仁」。

他们有点骂人了，骂洋人叫「洋鬼子」，骂军阀叫「抢钱司令」，骂土豪劣绅叫「为富不仁」。

to be rich and cruel; to be rich and heartless


艱難竭蹶

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

цзяньнаньцзецзюэ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/


乞哀告憐

ㄑㄧˇ ㄞ ㄍㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐt̚⁵ ɔːi̯⁵⁵ kou̯³³ liːn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hɐt̚⁵ ɔːi̯⁵⁵ kou̯³³ liːn²¹/

In hard times they piteously beg help from relatives and friends, borrowing a few tou or sheng of grain to last them a few days, and their debts pile up like loads on the backs of oxen.

Huāngshíbàoyuè, xiàng qīnyǒu qǐ'āigàolián, jiè dé jǐ dǒu jǐ shēng, fūyǎn sān rì wǔ rì, zhàiwù cóngjí, rúniúfùzhòng.

荒時暴月，向親友乞哀告憐，借得幾斗幾升，敷衍三日五日，債務叢集，如牛負重。

荒时暴月，向亲友乞哀告怜，借得几斗几升，敷衍三日五日，债务丛集，如牛负重。


青黃不接

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝ

цинхуанбуцзе

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːp̚³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːp̚³/

the crop is still in the blade and the old stock is consumed

(figuratively) temporary deficit; temporary shortage


寥寥無幾

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˇ

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵⁵⁴/

/liau¹³⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² bu¹³⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻¹¹ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/liau²³⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ liːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻²² liau²⁴⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² ki⁵⁵⁴/

/liau¹³⁻²² liau¹³⁻²² bu¹³⁻²² ki⁵³/

/liau²⁴⁻¹¹ liau²⁴⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/liau²³⁻³³ liau²³⁻³³ bu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/


聊以卒歲

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄧˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

(literary) to live leisurely and carefree

To make up their deficit they cultivate side crops, catch fish or shrimps, raise poultry or pigs, or sell part of their labour power, and thus eke out a living, hoping in the midst of hardship and destitution to tide over the year.

Bùzú bùfen, kěyǐ zhòng záliáng, lāo yúxiā, sì jī shǐ, huò chūmài yībùfen láodònglì, miǎnqiǎng wéichí shēnghuó, yú jiānnánjiéjué zhī zhōng, cún liáoyǐzúsuì zhī xiǎng.

不足部分，可以種雜糧、撈魚蝦、飼雞豕，或出賣一部分勞動力，勉強維持生活，於艱難竭蹶之中，存聊以卒歲之想。

不足部分，可以种杂粮、捞鱼虾、饲鸡豕，或出卖一部分劳动力，勉强维持生活，于艰难竭蹶之中，存聊以卒岁之想。

(literary) to tide over the year; to scrape a living


叫苦不迭

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄝˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/kiːu̯³³ fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːt̚²/

/kio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiak̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/kiːu̯³³ fuː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːt̚²/

/kio²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ tiak̚²/

If by chance you get into intimate conversation with them, they invariably pour out their endless grievances.

Ǒu yǔ cǐbèi qīngtán, biàn jiàn jiàokǔbùdié.

偶與此輩傾談，便見叫苦不迭。

偶与此辈倾谈，便见叫苦不迭。

to complain of one's suffering endlessly


本小利微

ㄅㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄅㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ

бэньсяоливэй

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/


如牛負重

like an ox carrying heavy loads on the back

ㄖㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/ʐu³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

荒時暴月，向親友乞哀告憐，借得幾斗幾升，敷衍三日五日，債務叢集，如牛負重。

荒时暴月，向亲友乞哀告怜，借得几斗几升，敷衍三日五日，债务丛集，如牛负重。


俗不可耐

ㄙㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄞˋ

/su³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ naɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ nɔːi̯²²/

/su³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ naɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ nɔːi̯²²/


矯揉造作

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄡˊ ㄗㄠˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

цзяожоуцзаоцзо

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːu̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡sou̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/kiːu̯³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡sou̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/


慷慨解囊

ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄤˊ

канкайцзенан

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑŋ³⁵/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kaːi̯³⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kaːi̯³⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kaːi̯³⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɑŋ³⁵/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kaːi̯³⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kaːi̯³⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kaːi̯³⁵ nɔːŋ²¹/

to make generous donations; to contribute funds generously; to help someone generously with money


心曠神怡

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˊ

синькуаншэньи

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ³³ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sin²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/

/sim³³ kʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sin¹³⁻²² i¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin²³⁻³³ i²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ³³ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sin²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/

/sim³³ kʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sin²⁴⁻²² i²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² kʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sin¹³⁻²² i¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ i²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sin²³⁻³³ i²³/

From Yueyang Lou Ji by 范仲淹 (Fan Zhongyan)

When one ascends to the tower at this time, he feels carefree and joyous, and forgets all his honor and disgrace; to hold the alcohol against the wind, how joyful is that?

Dēng sī lóu yě, zé yǒu xīnkuàngshényí, chǒngrǔ jiē wàng, bǎjiǔ lín fēng, qí xǐyángyáng zhě yǐ.

登斯樓也，則有心曠神怡，寵辱皆忘，把酒臨風，其喜洋洋者矣。

登斯楼也，则有心旷神怡，宠辱皆忘，把酒临风，其喜洋洋者矣。


千里迢迢

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ

цяньлитяотяо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ siːu̯²¹ siːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ tʰiau²³⁻³³ tʰiau²³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiou³³⁻²³ tʰiou³³/

/t͡sʰãĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiau³³⁻²³ tʰiau³³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ siːu̯²¹ siːu̯²¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³ tiau²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ tʰiau²³⁻³³ tʰiau²³/

/t͡sʰõĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiou³³⁻²³ tʰiou³³/

/t͡sʰãĩ³³⁻²³ li⁵² tʰiau³³⁻²³ tʰiau³³/


聞所未聞

ㄨㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄣˊ

вэньсовэйвэнь

/wən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² mɐn²¹/

/wən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ wən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² mɐn²¹/

to hear something one has never heard before; (of something) unheard-of, rare


見所未見

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

цзяньсовэйцзянь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

/kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mei̯²² kiːn³³/

to see something one has never seen before; (of something) rare; unprecedented


急風暴雨

ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐp̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯²² jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐp̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pou̯²² jyː¹³/

In force and momentum the attack is tempestuous; those who bow before it survive and those who resist perish.

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

Zhège gōngjī de xíngshì, jiǎnzhí shì jífēngbàoyǔ, shùn zhī zhě cún, wéi zhī zhě miè.

這個攻擊的形勢，簡直是急風暴雨，順之者存，違之者滅。

这个攻击的形势，简直是急风暴雨，顺之者存，违之者灭。

Today, matters stand as follows. The large-scale, turbulent class struggles of the masses characteristic of times of revolution have in the main come to an end, but class struggle is by no means entirely over.

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

Xiànzài de qíngkuàng shì: gémìng shíqī de dàguīmó de jífēngbàoyǔ shì de qúnzhòng jiējí dòuzhēng jīběn jiéshù, dànshì jiējí dòuzhēng hái méiyǒu wánquán jiéshù.

現在的情況是：革命時期的大規模的急風暴雨式的群眾階級鬥爭基本結束，但是階級鬥爭還沒有完全結束。

现在的情况是：革命时期的大规模的急风暴雨式的群众阶级斗争基本结束，但是阶级斗争还没有完全结束。


掃地以盡

ㄙㄠˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sɵn²²/

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sɵn²²/

Every bit of the dignity and prestige built up by the landlords is being swept into the dust.

地主的體面威風，掃地以盡。

地主的体面威风，扫地以尽。

掃地俱盡 掃地俱盡#Chinese

扫地俱尽 扫地俱尽#Chinese

(derogatory) Synonym of 掃地俱盡／扫地俱尽 (sǎodìjùjìn, “to be swept away; to be completely destroyed or discredited”)


掃地俱盡

ㄙㄠˇ ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

саодицзюйцзинь

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ tei̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

to be swept away; to be completely destroyed or discredited


懸心吊膽

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄢˇ

сюаньсиньдяодань

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

But more often than not they are turned down flat by the peasant associations, and so they are always on tenterhooks

Dàn tāmen wǎngwǎng zāo nónghuì yánlì jùjué, suǒyǐ tāmen zǒngshì xuánxīndiàodǎn de guò rìzi

但他們往往遭農會嚴厲拒絕，所以他們總是懸心吊膽地過日子

但他们往往遭农会严厉拒绝，所以他们总是悬心吊胆地过日子

提心吊膽 提心吊膽#Chinese

提心吊胆 提心吊胆#Chinese

Synonym of 提心吊膽／提心吊胆 (tíxīndiàodǎn, “to be on tenterhooks”)


榮神益人

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˋ ㄖㄣˊ

жуншэньижэнь

žunšɛnʹižɛnʹ

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɪŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/wɪŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ jɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

(Christianity) to glorify God and help people


你好無

汝好勢無／汝好势无

lí hó-sè--bô? / lír hó-sè--bô? / lú hó-sè--bô?

汝較好無／汝较好无

lí khà hó--bô? / lír khà hó--bô? / lú khah hó--bô?


食啉𨑨

eat, drink and be merry
eat, drink and be merry

(Xiamen Hokkien) to eat, drink and be merry; to seek pleasure instead of doing work


食跋𨑨

食博𨑨
食㧞𣅄
食拔勅
食跋佚

Friends invited each other to eat, drink and be merry; they enjoyed themselves like there was night and no day

1932, 勸世模範埋狗勸夫新歌 上本, page 2a

pêng-iú sio-chio chia̍h poa̍h thit, thit kàu ū mî kāng bô ji̍t

朋友相招食㧞𣅄 𣅄到有冥共無日

1932, 勸世模範埋狗勸夫新歌 上本, page 2a

朋友相招食拔𣅄 𣅄到有冥共无日

One type [of people] goes out to eat, drink and be merry, leaving their family with no food

chi̍t khoán chhut-khì chia̍h poa̍h thit, ke-lāi pàng-hē bô hóe-si̍t

一欵出去食拔勅 家內放下無火食

一款出去食拔勅 家内放下无火食

(Hokkien) to eat, drink and be merry; to seek pleasure instead of doing work


悠著點

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧㄡ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(Mainland China, colloquial, originally dialectal) to be more relaxed, prudent, cautious, restrained, low-key, etc.; to take it easy


為非作歹

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄟ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄞˇ

вэйфэйцзодай

/weɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ taːi̯³⁵/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁵³/

/ui²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁴¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ taːi̯³⁵/

/ui²⁴⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁵³/

/ui²³⁻³³ hui⁴⁴ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tai⁴¹/


街談巷議

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄧˋ

цзетаньсянъи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ hɔːŋ²² jiː¹³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ tʰaːm²¹ hɔːŋ²² jiː¹³/

Soon after my arrival in Changsha, I met all sorts of people and picked up a good deal of gossip.

Wǒ chū dào Chángshā shí, huì dào gè fāngmiàn de rén, tīng dào xǔduō de jiētánxiàngyì.

我初到長沙時，會到各方面的人，聽到許多的街談巷議。

我初到长沙时，会到各方面的人，听到许多的街谈巷议。


罰不當罪

ㄈㄚˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

/fä³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fä³⁵ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/


見多識廣

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕˊ ㄍㄨㄤˇ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕˋ ㄍㄨㄤˇ

цзяньдошигуан

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kʷɔːŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kiːn³³ tɔː⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kʷɔːŋ³⁵/


急功近利

ㄐㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧˋ

цзигунцзиньли

/t͡ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐn²² lei̯²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɐn²² lei̯²²/

to seek quick success and instant benefits


自不待言

ㄗˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄧㄢˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

to go without saying; to be self-evident


一己之利

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/


自出機杼

ㄗˋ ㄔㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄓㄨˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/


別出機杼

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄔㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄓㄨˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/piːt̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː¹³/

original; distinctive (of literary compositions)


寸土寸金

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

цуньтуцуньцзинь

/t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰyːn³³ tʰou̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵/

every inch of land is an inch of gold; land is extremely expensive in an area


直腸直肚

ㄓˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄓˊ ㄉㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚² tʰou̯¹³/

/t͡set̚³² t͡sʰiaŋ²² t͡set̚³² u⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ t͡sʰoŋ¹¹ t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ tu³¹/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²³⁻³³ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚² tʰou̯¹³/

/t͡set̚³² t͡sʰiaŋ²² t͡set̚³² u⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ t͡sʰoŋ¹¹ t͡sʰɨt̚⁵ tu³¹/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

/tit̚⁴⁻³² tŋ̍²³⁻³³ tit̚⁴⁻³² tɔ³³/

calling a spade a spade
call a spade a spade

frank and straightforward; speaking bluntly; blunt and outspoken; calling a spade a spade


兼收並蓄

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄕㄡ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄩˋ

цзяньшоубинсюй

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹/

/kiːm⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕy⁵¹/

/kiːm⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰʊk̚⁵/


將心比心

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

цзянсиньбисинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡si̯oŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴ pi³¹ sim²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡si̯oŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim²⁴ pi³¹ sim²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴/

put oneself in someone's shoes
put oneself in someone's shoes


別風淮雨

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄈㄥ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄩˇ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ jyː¹³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piːt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²¹ jyː¹³/

full of wrongly written characters; spreading falsehood


拾人牙慧

ㄕˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄚˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jä³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² jɐn²¹ ŋaː²¹ wɐi̯²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐən³⁵ jä³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² jɐn²¹ ŋaː²¹ wɐi̯²²/

Yīn Zhōngjūn yún: Kāngbó wèi dé wǒ yá hòu huì.

殷中軍云：康伯未得我牙後慧。

殷中军云：康伯未得我牙后慧。


長年久月

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² ku⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡəʔ²⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² ku⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡeʔ⁴/

/tŋ̍¹³⁻²² nĩ¹³⁻²² ku⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡueʔ¹²¹/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² ku⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡəʔ²⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² ku⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡeʔ⁴/

/tŋ̍¹³⁻²² nĩ¹³⁻²² ku⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡueʔ¹²¹/

(Southern Min) over many years and months; year in, year out


長晝白日

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tʰau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lit̚²⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tʰau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lit̚²⁴/


當頭白日

/tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ zit̚⁴/

/tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lit̚⁴/

/tŋ̍³³ tʰau²⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lit̚²⁴/

/tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² pɛ(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ d͡zit̚¹²¹/

/tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ zit̚⁴/

/tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/tŋ̍⁴⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lit̚⁴/

/tŋ̍³³ tʰau²⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lit̚²⁴/


搖搖欲墜

shaking or swaying as if about to collapse

ㄧㄠˊ ㄧㄠˊ ㄩˋ ㄓㄨㄟˋ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡sɵy̯²²/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡sɵy̯²²/


呼之欲出

call on someone [depicted in a drawing] and they are going to come out [of the drawing]

/xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

(of artistic depictions) to be vividly portrayed

to be about to be disclosed or announced


堆積如山

ㄉㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄢ

дуйцзижушань

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jyː²¹ saːn⁵⁵/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zu²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/tui⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ zi²³⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

having enormous amounts of; having heaps of


一敗如水

ㄧ ㄅㄞˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

In the first period, what appealed to the rich peasants was the talk about the Northern Expeditionary Army's sustaining a crushing defeat in Jiangxi, about Chiang Kai-shek's being wounded in the leg and flying back to Guangdong.

Dāng dìyī shíqī, fùnóng ěr lǐ tīng dé de shì suǒwèi Jiāngxī yībàirúshuǐ, Jiǎng Jièshí dǎ shāng le jiǎo, zuò fēijī huí Guǎngdōng le.

當第一時期，富農耳裡聽得的是所謂江西一敗如水，蔣介石打傷了腳，坐飛機回廣東了。

当第一时期，富农耳里听得的是所谓江西一败如水，蒋介石打伤了脚，坐飞机回广东了。


同床異夢

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (同床異夢):
* → Japanese: 同(どう)床(しょう)異夢(いむ) (dōshōimu)
* → Korean: 동상이몽(同床異夢) (dongsang'imong)
* → Vietnamese: đồng sàng dị mộng (同床異夢)

to share the bed but have different dreams

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄔㄨㄤˊ ㄧˋ ㄇㄥˋ

тунчуанъимэн

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ jiː²² mʊŋ²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ i³³⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰŋ̍²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ bɔŋ³³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ jiː²² mʊŋ²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ i³³⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰŋ̍²³⁻³³ i³³⁻²¹ bɔŋ³³/

(of a married couple) to not get along; to be in discord (usually as a result of different goals)

(figurative, of people who live or work together) to have different opinions and plans


天生麗質

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓˋ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓˊ

тяньшэнличжи

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɐi̯²² t͡sɐt̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻¹¹ t͡sit̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻²¹ t͡sit̚³²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ lɐi̯²² t͡sɐt̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻¹¹ t͡sit̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ le³³⁻²¹ t͡sit̚³²/

(of a female) to be a natural beauty; to be smart and beautiful


志同道合

ㄓˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² hɐp̚²/

/t͡sɨ⁵⁵ tʰuŋ¹¹ tʰo⁵⁵ hap̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/t͡siː³³ tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² hɐp̚²/

/t͡sɨ⁵⁵ tʰuŋ¹¹ tʰo⁵⁵ hap̚⁵/


游移不定

ㄧㄡˊ ㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/joʊ̯³⁵ i³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

/joʊ̯³⁵ i³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²²/

to vacillate; to wobble; to hesitate; to be indecisive


毫不遲疑

ㄏㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔˊ ㄧˊ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

They are deadly enemies of the camp of the local tyrants and evil gentry and attack it without the slightest hesitation.

Tāmen hé tǔháo lièshēn shì sǐduìtou, tāmen háobùchíyí de xiàng tǔháo lièshēn yínglěi jìngōng.

他們和土豪劣紳是死對頭，他們毫不遲疑地向土豪劣紳營壘進攻。

他们和土豪劣绅是死对头，他们毫不迟疑地向土豪劣绅营垒进攻。

without the slightest hesitation; did not hesitate (to)


大主大意

/tua²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tua²²⁻²¹ i²¹/

/tua⁴¹⁻²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tua⁴¹⁻²² i⁴¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tua²²⁻²¹ i²¹/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tua³³⁻¹¹ i¹¹/

/tua³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tua³³⁻²¹ i²¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tua²²⁻²¹ i²¹/

/tua⁴¹⁻²² t͡su⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tua⁴¹⁻²² i⁴¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tua²²⁻²¹ i²¹/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ t͡su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tua³³⁻¹¹ i¹¹/

/tua³³⁻²¹ t͡su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tua³³⁻²¹ i²¹/

(Southern Min) to decide of one's own initiative; to decide without authorization


道不拾遺

ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/tou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/tou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

In some places it is literally true that people do not take any articles left by the wayside and that doors are not bolted at night.

Yǒuxiē dìfāng zhēngè dàobùshíyí, yèbùbìhù.

有些地方真個道不拾遺，夜不閉戶。

有些地方真个道不拾遗，夜不闭户。

路不拾遺 路不拾遺#Chinese

路不拾遗 路不拾遗#Chinese

Synonym of 路不拾遺／路不拾遗 (lùbùshíyí, “no one pockets lost property on the road”)


大母四公界

/tua²²⁻²¹ bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²¹⁻⁵³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ke²¹/

(Zhangzhou Hokkien) found everywhere; all over; all over the place


大母四界

/tua²²⁻²¹ bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²¹⁻⁵³ kue²¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²¹⁻⁵³ ke²¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²¹⁻⁵³ kue²¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ bu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²¹⁻⁵³ ke²¹/

(Xiamen and Zhangzhou Hokkien) found everywhere; all over; all over the place


通俗易懂

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄙㄨˊ ㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄥˇ

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ su³⁵ i⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² jiː²² tʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰoŋ³³⁻²³ sok̚⁴⁻² koi¹¹ toŋ⁵²/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ su³⁵ i⁵¹ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² jiː²² tʊŋ³⁵/

/tʰoŋ³³⁻²³ sok̚⁴⁻² koi¹¹ toŋ⁵²/


大天白日

ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄞˊ ㄖˋ

/tä⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ paːk̚² jɐt̚²/

/tä⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ paːk̚² jɐt̚²/


千岩萬壑

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄜˋ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

цяньяньваньхэ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹/

цяньяньваньхо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɤ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/


減租減息

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗㄨ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧ

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄗㄨ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧˊ

цзяньцзуцзяньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵/

Without victory in this struggle, no victory is possible in the economic struggle to reduce rent and interest, to secure land and other means of production, and so on.

Zhège dòuzhēng bù shènglì, yīqiè jiǎnzūjiǎnxī, yāoqiú tǔdì jí qítā shēngchǎn shǒuduàn děngděng de jīngjì dòuzhēng, jué wú shènglì zhī kěnéng.

這個鬥爭不勝利，一切減租減息，要求土地及其它生產手段等等的經濟鬥爭，決無勝利之可能。

这个斗争不胜利，一切减租减息，要求土地及其它生产手段等等的经济斗争，决无胜利之可能。

to reduce rent and interest; to reduce rent and lower the interest rate


硬著頭皮

ㄧㄥˋ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄊㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ

/iŋ⁵¹ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/ŋaːŋ²² t͡sœːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

/iŋ⁵¹ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/ŋaːŋ²² t͡sœːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

to brace oneself to do something difficult or against one's will


罪惡昭著

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄜˋ ㄓㄠ ㄓㄨˋ

цзуйэчжаочжу

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/


坐臥不寧

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄥˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² ŋɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² ŋɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

Not knowing when he would be crowned, the man was in daily suspense, unable to sit down or sleep at ease.

Nà lièshēn bùzhī hérì yào dài gāomàozi, měirì zài jiā fàngxīn bù xià, zuòwòbùníng.

那劣紳不知何日要戴高帽子，每日在家放心不下，坐臥不寧。

那劣绅不知何日要戴高帽子，每日在家放心不下，坐卧不宁。

to be unable to sit down or sleep at ease; to be restless


囤積居奇

ㄊㄨㄣˊ ㄐㄧ ㄐㄩ ㄑㄧˊ

туньцзицзюйци

/tʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/tʰyːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

/tʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/tʰyːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

to hoard and corner; to hoard and profiteer; to corner the market; to engross the market


納過悶兒

ㄋㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄣˋㄦ

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ məɻ⁵¹/

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ məɻ⁵¹/

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 納過悶／納過悶 (nà guò mèn).


納過悶

ㄋㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄣˋ

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mən⁵¹/

ㄋㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄣˋㄦ

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ məɻ⁵¹/

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mən⁵¹/

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ məɻ⁵¹/

Three days later, I finally realized: my money was defrauded by him.

Sān tiān zhīhòu, wǒ cái nà guò mènr lái, wǒ de qián ràng tā piàn zǒu le.

三天之後，我才納過悶兒來，我的錢讓他騙走了。

三天之后，我才纳过闷儿来，我的钱让他骗走了。

I still cannot figure out why this problem is solved this way.

Zhèi dào tí wèishénme zhènme zuò, wǒ háishì nà bù guò zhèi ge mènr.

這道題為什麼這麼做，我還是納不過這個悶兒。

这道题为什么这么做，我还是纳不过这个闷儿。


唯命是聽

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

At such council meetings the magistrate is influenced by the views of the public organizations and invariably does their bidding.

Zài zhèyàng de huìyì lǐ, gè mínzhòng tuántǐ de yìjiàn yǐngxiǎng xiànzhǎng, xiànzhǎng zǒngshì wéimìngshìtīng.

在這樣的會議裡，各民眾團體的意見影響縣長，縣長總是唯命是聽。

在这样的会议里，各民众团体的意见影响县长，县长总是唯命是听。

唯命是從 唯命是從#Chinese

唯命是从 唯命是从#Chinese

Synonym of 唯命是從／唯命是从 (wéimìngshìcóng, “to follow orders as if one's life depended on it; to do what one is told without fail”)


唯命是從

ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²² siː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

/weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²² siː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

to follow orders as if one's life depended on it; to do what one is told without fail


一片好心

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

ипяньхаосинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/


七十瓦上霜，八十不稀奇

at seventy the tiles have frost on them, [but don't worry,] eighty isn't that unusual

ㄑㄧ ㄕˊ ㄨㄚˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄕㄨㄤ

ㄅㄚ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ ㄑㄧˊ

циши ва шан шуан

баши бу сици

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

despite signs of aging, there's still life left to live


才疏學淺

ㄘㄞˊ ㄕㄨ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄑㄧㄢˇ

цайшусюэцянь

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡sʰiːn³⁵/

(self-deprecatory) to be of humble talent and shallow learning


生猴子

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³/

我要為他生猴子！

我要为他生猴子！

(Mainland China, neologism, slang, humorous) to bear a child


牢底坐穿

to sit (so long) such that the floor of the prison has a hole bored in it

ㄌㄠˊ ㄉㄧˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄔㄨㄢ

лаоди цзо чуань

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵/

把牢底坐穿

這人怕是要牢底坐穿了。

这人怕是要牢底坐穿了。

(neologism) protected species (referring to the fact that the person who hurt or kill them may be imprisoned for life)

牢底坐穿獸

牢底坐穿兽


有一說一

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

"[if] there is one, say one"; to speak the truth


憂鬱的臺灣烏龜

忧郁的台湾乌龟
憂鬱的台灣烏龜

ㄧㄡ ㄩˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄊㄞˊ ㄨㄢ ㄨ ㄍㄨㄟ

ююй дэ Тайвань угуй

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ y⁵¹ d̥ə¹ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ wän⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

Traditional Chinese characters
w:Traditional Chinese characters

(Internet slang) A phrase to ridicule the complexity of Traditional Chinese characters.


變臉像翻書一樣

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄈㄢ ㄕㄨ ㄧ ㄧㄤˋ

biànliǎn xiàng fān shū yīyàng [Phonetic:biànliǎn xiàng fān shū yíyàng]

бяньлянь сян фань шу иян

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ fän⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

[Phonetic: biànliǎn xiàng fān shū yíyàng]

to change one's mood to a bad one rapidly


風輕雲淡

ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩㄣˊ ㄉㄢˋ

фэнцинъюньдань

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ kʰeŋ³³⁻²³ huŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tã³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ kʰeŋ³³⁻²³ huŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tã³⁵/


稱心如意

ㄔㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ

ㄔㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³³ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jiː³³/


人血饅頭

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄇㄢˊ ˙ㄊㄡ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄇㄢˊ ˙ㄊㄡ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄇㄢˊ ˙ㄊㄡ

жэньсюэманьтоу

/ʐən³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ män³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³/

жэньсеманьтоу

/ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³/

/jɐn²¹ hyːt̚³ maːn²² tʰɐu̯²¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ män³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³/

/jɐn²¹ hyːt̚³ maːn²² tʰɐu̯²¹/

Coined by Lu Xun in his work Medicine, in which mantou blooded with executed revolutionaries was said to be a medicine for tuberculosis under traditional Chinese medicine.

吃人血饅頭

吃人血馒头


心中有數

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨˋ

синьчжунъюшу

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³/

to know very well in one's heart (e.g. what to do next, whether it is likely to succeed, etc.); to know the score


生龍活虎

ㄕㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄏㄨˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² fuː³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² fuː³⁵/


頤指氣使

to command others with facial expressions

ㄧˊ ㄓˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˇ

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³ siː³⁵/

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³³ siː³⁵/

唐．元稹《追封李遜等母制》

Jīn xùn děng yǒu dì qiānlǐ, yǒu lù wànzhōng, yízhǐqìshǐ, wúbù suíshùn.

今遜等有地千里，有祿萬鍾，頤指氣使，無不隨順。

唐．元稹《追封李遜等母制》

今逊等有地千里，有禄万钟，颐指气使，无不随顺。

明．朱鼎《玉鏡臺記》第二八齣

Gōngqīng yízhǐqìshǐ, guǒrán shǔpíngshèguì, zhēn ge hújièhǔwēi, hǎo qìshì yě hē!

公卿頤指氣使，果然鼠憑社貴，真個狐藉虎威，好氣勢也呵！

明．朱鼎《玉鏡臺記》第二八齣

公卿颐指气使，果然鼠凭社贵，真个狐借虎威，好气势也呵！

There is also no such a tutor who can speak disdainfully toward Chinese people

yě méiyǒu kěyǐ duì zhōngguó rénmín yízhǐqìshǐ de jiàoshī yé

也沒有可以對中國人民頤指氣使的教師爺

也没有可以对中国人民颐指气使的教师爷


金科玉律

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄎㄜ ㄩˋ ㄌㄩˋ

цзинькэюйлюй

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lɵt̚²/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ fɔː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² lɵt̚²/

There is no such a textbook we can respect as absolute truth

méiyǒu kěyǐ fèng wèi jīnkēyùlǜ de jiàokēshū

沒有可以奉為金科玉律的教科書

没有可以奉为金科玉律的教科书

Tā bǎ tā jiālǐ nà zhǒngzhǒng kěxiào guījǔ, kànchéng shèngxián de jīnkēyùlǜ.

他把他家裡那種種可笑規矩，看成聖賢的金科玉律。

他把他家里那种种可笑规矩，看成圣贤的金科玉律。

《二十年目睹之怪現狀》第二一回

Huòshì gǔrén zhè jù huà shì yǒusuǒ wèi ér yán de, hòurén jiù fèng le tā zuò jīnkēyùlǜ, qǐbùshì wù jìn le tiānxià nǚzǐ ma?

或是古人這句話是有所為而言的，後人就奉了他做金科玉律，豈不是誤盡了天下女子嗎？

《二十年目睹之怪現狀》第二一回

或是古人这句话是有所为而言的，后人就奉了他做金科玉律，岂不是误尽了天下女子吗？

a law, discipline, norm or regulation that is considered absolute and not allowed to be disputed or challenged


龍精虎猛

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄏㄨˇ ㄇㄥˇ

лунцзинхумэн

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ maːŋ¹³/

/lʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lʊŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ maːŋ¹³/


關……鬼事

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ siː²²/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ siː²²/

none of someone's business
none of someone's business

(colloquial, mildly vulgar) to be none of someone's business; to have damn all to do with someone


關……撚事

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ lɐn³⁵ siː²²/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ lɐn³⁵ siː²²/

(Cantonese, colloquial, vulgar) to be none of someone's business; to have fuck all to do with someone


心血來潮

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄔㄠˊ

синьсюэлайчао

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

синьселайчао

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hyːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim³³ hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ lai¹³⁻²² tiau¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²³⁻³³ tiau²³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hyːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim³³ hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ lai²⁴⁻²² tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ lai¹³⁻²² tiau¹³/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²⁴⁻¹¹ tiau²⁴/

/sim⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ lai²³⁻³³ tiau²³/

to be carried away by impulse; to do something on a whim


全世界無產者，聯合起來

head

全世界無產者，聯合起來！

全世界無產者，聯合起來！

全世界無產者，聯合起來 ！ (canonical)
全世界无产者，联合起来

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄨˊ ㄔㄢˇ ㄓㄜˇ

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄌㄞˊ

цюаньшицзе учаньчжэ

ляньхэ цилай

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

workers of the world, unite
workers of the world, unite


關……柒事

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚² siː²²/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚² siː²²/

(colloquial, vulgar) to be none of someone's business; to have fuck all to do with someone


關……閪事

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ hɐi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ hɐi̯⁵⁵ siː²²/


安邦定國

ㄢ ㄅㄤ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/ˀän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/ˀän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

to bring peace and stability to a country


昂首闊步

ㄤˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ

/ˀɑŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/ŋɔːŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ fuːt̚³ pou̯²²/

/ˀɑŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹/

/ŋɔːŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ fuːt̚³ pou̯²²/

to strut with one's chin up in a proud or arrogant fashion


自立為王

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄤˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² wɐi̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


引而不發

ㄧㄣˇ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄚ

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fä⁵⁵/

/jɐn¹³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

Mencius said, 'A great artificer does not, for the sake of a stupid workman, alter or do away with the marking-line. Yi did not, for the sake of a stupid archer, change his rule for drawing the bow. The superior man draws the bow, but does not discharge the arrow, having seemed to leap with it to the mark; and he there stands exactly in the middle of the path. Those who are able, follow him.'

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Dàjiàng bù wèi zhuōgōng gǎifèi shéngmò, Yì bù wèi zhuōshè biàn qí gòulǜ. Jūnzǐ yǐn ér bù fā, yuèrú yě. Zhōngdào ér lì, néng zhě cóng zhī.”

孟子曰：「大匠不為拙工改廢繩墨，羿不為拙射變其彀率。君子引而不發，躍如也。中道而立，能者從之。」

孟子曰：「大匠不为拙工改废绳墨，羿不为拙射变其彀率。君子引而不发，跃如也。中道而立，能者从之。」

The Communist Party's propaganda policy in such matters should be, “Draw the bow without shooting, just indicate the motions.” It is for the peasants themselves to cast aside the idols, pull down the temples to the martyred virgins and the arches to the chaste and faithful widows; it is wrong for anybody else to do it for them.

Gòngchǎndǎng duìyú zhèxiē dōngxi de xuānchuán zhèngcè yīngdāng shì: “Yǐn ér bù fā, yuèrú yě.” Púsà yào nóngmín zìjǐ qù diū, liènǚcí, jiéxiàofāng yào nóngmín zìjǐ qù cuīhuǐ, biérén dàipáo shì bùduì de.

共產黨對於這些東西的宣傳政策應當是：「引而不發，躍如也。」菩薩要農民自己去丟，烈女祠、節孝坊要農民自己去摧毀，別人代庖是不對的。

共产党对于这些东西的宣传政策应当是：「引而不发，跃如也。」菩萨要农民自己去丢，烈女祠、节孝坊要农民自己去摧毁，别人代庖是不对的。

to be good at guiding others while leaving them to act on their own


窮鄉僻壤

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄆㄧˋ ㄖㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ʐɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

Even if ten thousand schools of law and political science had been opened, could they have brought as much political education to the people, men and women, young and old, all the way into the remotest corners of the countryside, as the peasant associations have done in so short a time? I don't think they could.

Kāi yīwàn gè fǎzhèng xuéxiào, néng bù néng zài zhèyàng duǎnshíjiān nèi pǔjí zhèngzhì jiàoyù yú qióngxiāngpìrǎng de nánnǚlǎoshào, xiàng xiànzài nónghuì suǒ zuò de zhèngzhì jiàoyù yīyàng ne? Wǒ xiǎng bùnéng ba.

開一萬個法政學校，能不能在這樣短時間內普及政治教育於窮鄉僻壤的男女老少，像現在農會所做的政治教育一樣呢？我想不能吧。

开一万个法政学校，能不能在这样短时间内普及政治教育于穷乡僻壤的男女老少，像现在农会所做的政治教育一样呢？我想不能吧。


奉為圭臬

ㄈㄥˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄋㄧㄝˋ

/fɤŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚²/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ni̯ɛ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² wɐi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚²/

to look up to as a standard; to hold up as a model; to take as a guiding principle


踽踽獨行

ㄐㄩˇ ㄐㄩˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

цзюйцзюйдусин

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ tʊk̚² hɐŋ²¹/


形影相吊

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

синъин сяндяо

/ɕiŋ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tiːu̯³³/


陟罰臧否

ㄓˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄗㄤ ㄆㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fä³⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ fɐt̚² t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵/

to reward good people and to punish bad people


弊絕風清

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥ

бицзюэфэнцин

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

Gambling. Former hardened gamblers are now themselves suppressing gambling; this abuse, too, has been swept away in places where the peasant association is powerful.

Dǔ: cóngqián de “dǔpǐ”, xiànzài zìjǐ zài nàlǐ jìndǔ le, nónghuì shìshèng dìfang, hé pái yīyàng bìjuéfēngqīng.

賭：從前的「賭痞」，現在自己在那裡禁賭了，農會勢盛地方，和牌一樣弊絕風清。

赌：从前的「赌痞」，现在自己在那里禁赌了，农会势盛地方，和牌一样弊绝风清。

corruption swept away and social mores cleared


涕泗滂沱

ㄊㄧˋ ㄙˋ ㄆㄤ ㄊㄨㄛˊ

ㄊㄧˋ ㄙˋ ㄆㄤˊ ㄊㄨㄛˊ

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³³ siː³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔː²¹/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹ pʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰɐi̯³³ siː³³ pʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɔː²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 145 (《詩經·陳風·澤陂》)

lang

(《詩經·陳風·澤陂》)

(《詩經·陳風·澤陂》)

There is the beautiful lady; I am tortured for her, but what avails it?
Waking or sleeping, I do nothing; From my eyes and nose the water streams.

Yǒu měi yīrén, shāng rúzhīhé.
Wùmèi wúwéi, tìsì pāngtuó.

有美一人，傷如之何。
寤寐無為，涕泗滂沱。

有美一人，伤如之何。
寤寐无为，涕泗滂沱。


煢煢孑立

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰiːt̚³ laːp̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ²¹ kʰiːt̚³ laːp̚²/

The ideophonic component 煢煢 has been attested in various forms, e.g. 睘睘 (OC *ɡʷeŋ ɡʷeŋ), as early as the Book of Poetry. One of the earliest idiomatic attestation was in a fu composition by Zhang Heng (《思玄賦》, "Deep Contemplations"):
:
As chengyu it was arguably popularised with the publication of Li Mi's petition to the Emperor Wu of Jin [267]

och-l

睘睘 (OC *ɡʷeŋ ɡʷeŋ)

What a desolate path I tread alone,
What forlorn stance my isolation is.

c. 2nd century, Zhang Heng (張衡), Deep Contemplations (《思玄賦》)

Hé gūxíng zhī qióngqióng xī, jié bùqún ér jièlì.

何孤行之煢煢兮，孑不群而介立。

何孤行之茕茕兮，孑不群而介立。

Outside there is none I may venture to call a relative, and inside there is not even a servant boy to help. A complete isolation is my existence; only my figure and its shadow console each other.

267, Li Mi, A Petition Regarding My True Circumstances (《陳情表》)

Wài wú jīgōng qiǎngjìn zhī qīn, nèi wú yìngmén wǔchǐ zhī tóng; qióngqióng jiélì, xíngyǐng xiàngdiào.

外無期功強近之親，內無應門五尺之僮；煢煢孑立，形影相弔。

外无期功强近之亲，内无应门五尺之僮；茕茕孑立，形影相吊。

茕茕孑立
㷀㷀孑立
惸惸孑立
睘睘孑立
嬛嬛孑立

Book of Poetry
Emperor Wu of Jin
Zhang Heng
zh:李密 (西晉)


九世之仇

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˋ ㄓ ㄔㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

From the story of two ancient states during the Western Zhou dynasty:
Duke Ai of Qi had a dispute with his neighbouring state Ji (紀). King Yi of Zhou sided with Marquis of Ji and executed Duke Ai. Later, Duke Xiang of Qi, the ninth-generation descendant of Duke Ai, conquered the State of Ji to revenge for him.

lw

s:春秋公羊傳/莊公#莊公四年

Can the ninth generation descendant revenge (for his ancestor)? Even the hundredth descendant can (do it).

Yuǎnzǔ zhě, jǐ shì hū? Jiǔ shì yǐ. Jiǔ shì yóu kěyǐ fùchóu hū? Suī bǎishì kě yě.

遠祖者，幾世乎？九世矣。九世猶可以復讎乎？雖百世可也。

远祖者，几世乎？九世矣。九世犹可以复雠乎？虽百世可也。

irreconcilable resentments (from generations of hatred since the remote past)


拔刀相助

ㄅㄚˊ ㄉㄠ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄨˋ

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/pä³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚² tou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

to intervene in an injustice; to rush to the rescue


簞食壺漿

ㄉㄢ ㄙˋ ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

ㄉㄢ ㄕˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

даньсыхуцзян

/tän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

даньшихуцзян

/tän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚² wuː²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚² wuː²¹ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

When, with all the strength of your country of ten thousand chariots, you attacked another country of ten thousand chariots, and the people brought baskets of rice and vessels of congee, to meet your Majesty's host, was there any other reason for this but that they hoped to escape out of fire and water?

Yǐ wànshèng zhī guó fá wànshèng zhī guó, dān shí hú jiāng, yǐ yíng wángshī. Qǐ yǒu tā zāi? Bì shuǐhuǒ yě.

以萬乘之國伐萬乘之國，簞食壺漿，以迎王師。豈有他哉？避水火也。

以万乘之国伐万乘之国，箪食壶浆，以迎王师。岂有他哉？避水火也。


英年早婚

ㄧㄥ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄣ

инняньцзаохунь

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

(slang, neologism) beautiful people getting married at an early age to the disappointment of their admirers


打擾了

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴/

/tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴ lə⁴/

(literally) sorry to bother you; sorry to interrupt; sorry to disturb you

(slang, neologism, humorous) used to joke that one is leaving a conversation as one cannot tolerate the pretentious behaviour of the interlocutor


給跪了

ㄍㄟˇ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ˙ㄌㄜ

/keɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lə¹/

/keɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lə¹/

Ellipsis of 我給您跪下了/我给您跪下了 (wǒ gěi nín guìxià le, “I kneel in front of you”).

zh-l

我給您跪下了/我给您跪下了

(slang, neologism) used to express admiration for someone


真香

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

From 2014 TV show X-Change (season 8), on which Wang Jingze said:
:
at first, but after only 2 hours he said 真香 (zhēn xiāng, “really fragrant”) when he was having supper.

I, Wang Jingze, would rather starve, die outside, or jump out of this building than eat food you give!

Wǒ Wáng Jìngzé jiùshì èsǐ, sǐ wàibiān, cóng zhè tiào xiàqù, (yě) bùhuì chī nǐmen yīdiǎn dōngxī!

我王境澤就是餓死，死外邊，從這跳下去，（也）不會吃你們一點東西！

我王境泽就是饿死，死外边，从这跳下去，（也）不会吃你们一点东西！

(Internet slang, neologism) used to describe someone doing something that he or she had previously sworn never to do

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 真 (zhēn), 香 (xiāng).


家裡有礦

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄤˋ

jiālǐ yǒu kuàng [Phonetic:jiālíyǒukuàng]

цзяли ю куан

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/


皮一下

/pʰi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑɻ⁵¹/

/pʰi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pʰi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑɻ⁵¹/

Shortened from 皮一下你快樂嗎？ (pí yīxià nǐ kuàilè ma, “you're naughty, you happy now?”)


你高興就好

ㄋㄧˇ ㄍㄠ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ни гаосин цзю хао

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

你開心就好 你開心就好#Chinese

你开心就好 你开心就好#Chinese

Alternative form of 你開心就好／你开心就好 (nǐ kāixīn jiù hǎo)


猝不及防

ㄘㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄤˊ

/t͡sʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² fɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰyːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐp̚² fɔːŋ²¹/

to be caught off guard; to be taken by surprise


無名英雄

ㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ

/u³⁵ miŋ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɛːŋ²¹ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ miŋ³⁵ iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɛːŋ²¹ jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/


百忙之中

ㄅㄞˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄓ ㄓㄨㄥ

байманчжичжун

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me.

Gǎnxiè nín bǎimángzhīzhōng chōukòng jiàn wǒ.

感謝您百忙之中抽空見我。

感谢您百忙之中抽空见我。

(honorific) during a busy time; busy schedule


重利盤剝

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄆㄢˊ ㄅㄛ

чжунлипаньбо

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ pʰän³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

to exploit by practising usury; to lend money at exorbitant rates of interest


難乎為繼

ㄋㄢˊ ㄏㄨ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

наньхувэйцзи

/nän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/nän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/


難以為繼

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ kɐi̯³³/


大謬不然

ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄢˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

But, quite contrary to my hopes, things came to a terrible misunderstanding.

1st century BCE. Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. Translated by Burton Watson.

而事乃有大謬不然者。

而事乃有大谬不然者。

(chiefly literary) to be utterly wrong; to be grossly mistaken


以德服人

ㄧˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ fʊk̚² jɐn²¹/

When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit, because their strength is not adequate to resist. When one subdues men by virtue, in their hearts' core they are pleased, and sincerely submit, as was the case with the seventy disciples in their submission to Confucius.

Yǐ lì fú rén zhě, fēi xīn fú yě, lì bù shàn yě; yǐ dé fú rén zhě, zhōngxīn yuè ér chéngfú yě, rú qīshí zǐ zhī fú Kǒngzǐ yě.

以力服人者，非心服也，力不贍也；以德服人者，中心悅而誠服也，如七十子之服孔子也。

以力服人者，非心服也，力不赡也；以德服人者，中心悦而诚服也，如七十子之服孔子也。


心悅誠服

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄝˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄨˊ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːt̚² sɪŋ²¹ fʊk̚²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːt̚² sɪŋ²¹ fʊk̚²/

to be sincerely convinced; to sincerely admire; to submit willingly


和風細雨

ㄏㄜˊ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/xɤ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/

/xɤ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɔː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/


各個擊破

ㄍㄜˋ ㄍㄜˋ ㄐㄧ ㄆㄛˋ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄍㄜˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄆㄛˋ

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ kɔː³³ kɪk̚⁵ pʰɔː³³/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ kɔː³³ kɪk̚⁵ pʰɔː³³/

They will employ their armies to oppress and crush, one by one, all those weaker than themselves who want to part company with them and join us in fighting Japan.

1935, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論反對日本帝國主義的策略》 (On Tactics Against Japanese Imperialism), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Yòng bīnglì lái qiángyā, lái gègè jīpò nàxiē bǐjiào tāmen xiǎo de, yuànyì líkāi màiguózéi ér tóng wǒmen liánhé qǐlái dǎ Rìběn de lìliàng.

用兵力來強壓，來各個擊破那些比較他們小的、願意離開賣國賊而同我們聯合起來打日本的力量。

用兵力来强压，来各个击破那些比较他们小的、愿意离开卖国贼而同我们联合起来打日本的力量。


一無所得

ㄧ ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/


廣開言路

ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄎㄞ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄨˋ

гуанкайяньлу

/ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lou̯²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lou̯²²/

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

Cháotíng guǎng kāi yánshì zhī lù, gùqiě yīqiè jiǎdài; ruò huái mí bù fǎn, dāng xiǎnmíng xíngshū.

朝廷廣開言事之路，故且一切假貸；若懷迷不反，當顯明刑書。

朝廷广开言事之路，故且一切假贷；若怀迷不反，当显明刑书。

to encourage the free airing of views; to create conditions for the subordinates and the masses to fully express their opinions


反躬自問

ㄈㄢˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄨㄣˋ

фаньгунцзывэнь

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/faːn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² mɐn²²/

to ask oneself; to examine oneself; to examine one's conscience


持之以恆

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ hɐŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː¹³ hɐŋ²¹/


名不副實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː³³ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː³³ sɐt̚²/

the name does not reflect the reality; more in name than in reality; to be unworthy of the name; to fall short of one's reputation


名實相副

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄨˋ

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː³³/

to be worthy of the name; to live up to one's reputation


一哄而起

ㄧ ㄏㄨㄥ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/


棄舊圖新

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² tʰou̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² tʰou̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf


洗心革面

ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

сисиньгэмянь

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ miːn²²/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ miːn²²/

(figurative) to reform oneself; to turn over a new leaf


革面洗心

ㄍㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ

гэмяньсисинь

/kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaːk̚³ miːn²² sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kaːk̚³ miːn²² sɐi̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/


物歸原主

ㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩㄢˊ ㄓㄨˇ

/u⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡syː³⁵/

/u⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐt̚² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡syː³⁵/


反戈一擊

ㄈㄢˇ ㄍㄜ ㄧ ㄐㄧˊ

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

to turn one's weapon around and strike; (figuratively) to turn against those one has wrongly sided with


名不符實

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕˊ

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²¹ sɐt̚²/

/miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²¹ sɐt̚²/

名不副實 名不副實#Chinese

名不副实 名不副实#Chinese

Synonym of 名不副實／名不副实 (míngbùfùshí, “the name falls short of the reality; to be unworthy of the name”)


放下屠刀

ㄈㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄠ

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ haː²² tʰou̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ haː²² tʰou̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵/

to repent and mend one's ways; to turn over a new leaf


名實相符

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄈㄨˊ

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ sɐt̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹/

名實相副 名實相副#Chinese

名实相副 名实相副#Chinese

Synonym of 名實相副／名实相副 (míngshíxiāngfù, “to be worthy of the name; to live up to one's reputation”)


眾目睽睽

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄟˊ

чжунмукуйкуй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mʊk̚² kʷʰɐi̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ mʊk̚² kʷʰɐi̯²¹ kʷʰɐi̯²¹/


有生以來

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄥ ㄧˇ ㄌㄞˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ lɔːi̯²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiː¹³ lɔːi̯²¹/


天長日久

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄖˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

тяньчанжицзю

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚² kɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚² kɐu̯³⁵/


平心定氣

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ

пинсиньдинци

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ tɪŋ²² hei̯³³/

平心靜氣 平心靜氣#Chinese

平心静气 平心静气#Chinese

(uncommon) Synonym of 平心靜氣／平心静气 (píngxīnjìngqì, “calm, dispassionate”)


心餘力絀

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄔㄨˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ y³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ y³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; to be unable to do what one wants very much to do; to have the ambition but lack the ability