風馳電掣

ㄈㄥ ㄔˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄜˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sɐi̯³³/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ tiːn²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

on the wings of the wind
on the wings of the wind

very swift; on the wings of the wind; at lightning speed


雷電交加

ㄌㄟˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄚ

лэйдяньцзяоцзя

/leɪ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯⁵⁵ tiːn²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

/leɪ̯³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/lɵy̯⁵⁵ tiːn²² kaːu̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

thunder and lightning occur simultaneously or alternately


鑄成大錯

ㄓㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡syː³³ sɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡syː³³ sɪŋ²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

to make a grave and irreversible mistake


心狠手辣

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄣˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄌㄚˋ

синьхэньшоула

/ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐn³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ laːt̚²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ xən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hɐn³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ laːt̚²/


好勇鬥狠

ㄏㄠˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄉㄡˋ ㄏㄣˇ

хаоюндоухэнь

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː³³ jʊŋ¹³ tɐu̯³³ hɐn³⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ xən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː³³ jʊŋ¹³ tɐu̯³³ hɐn³⁵/

The fifth is being fond of bravery, fighting and quarrelling so as to endanger his parents.

Hǎo yǒng dòu hěn, yǐ wēi fùmǔ, wǔ bùxiào yě.

好勇鬥很，以危父母，五不孝也。

好勇斗很，以危父母，五不孝也。

eager to demonstrate bravery and fight with others; bellicose


高射炮打蚊子

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄜˋ ㄆㄠˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄨㄣˊ ˙ㄗ

гаошэпао да вэньцзы

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³/

First part of a xiehouyu. The second part could be:
# 大材小用 (dàcái-xiǎoyòng)

toshoot a mosquito with an anti-aircraft gun

use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
use a sledgehammer to crack a nut


懷恨在心

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄏㄣˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

хуайхэньцзайсинь

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/waːi̯²¹ hɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/waːi̯²¹ hɐn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵/

to hold a grudge against; to harbor resentment towards


不懷好意

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ waːi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ jiː³³/

/pu⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ waːi̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ jiː³³/


唯恐天下不亂

ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

wéi kǒng tiānxià bù luàn [Phonetic:wéi kǒng tiānxià bú luàn]

вэй кун тянься бу луань

/weɪ̯³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² pɐt̚⁵ lyːn²²/

/d͡zui³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰioŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ tʰĩ³³⁻²³ e³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ luaŋ³⁵/


雖敗猶榮

ㄙㄨㄟ ㄅㄞˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jɐu̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

to experience a glorious defeat; to feel honored despite having been defeated


忠肝義膽

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄢ ㄧˋ ㄉㄢˇ

чжунганьидань

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² taːm³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ i⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ jiː²² taːm³⁵/

loyal and righteous; faithful and virtuous


盡忠職守

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓˊ ㄕㄡˇ

цзиньчжунчжишоу

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

to be faithful and dedicated to one's duties


無言以對

ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

/u³⁵ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ tɵy̯³³/

/u³⁵ jɛn³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jiː¹³ tɵy̯³³/

to be left speechless; to be unable to respond


眾叛親離

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄆㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˊ

чжунпаньциньли

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ puːn²² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰän⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ puːn²² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ lei̯²¹/

(of a person) to be isolated and forsaken by everyone


少之又少

ㄕㄠˇ ㄓ ㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄠˇ

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² siːu̯³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² siːu̯³⁵/


官商勾結

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄕㄤ ㄍㄡ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

гуаньшангоуцзе

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːt̚³/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯⁵⁵ kiːt̚³/

collusion between the government and businesses


不戰而屈人之兵

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄩ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄅㄧㄥ

bù zhàn ér qū rén zhī bīng [Phonetic:bú zhàn ér qū rén zhī bīng]

бу чжань эр цюй жэнь чжи бин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ jiː²¹ wɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

The Art of War, circa 5ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on Lionel Giles's version

Shìgù bǎizhànbǎishèng, fēi shàn zhī shàn zhě yě; bù zhàn ér qū rén zhī bīng, shàn zhī shàn zhě yě.

是故百戰百勝，非善之善者也；不戰而屈人之兵，善之善者也。

是故百战百胜，非善之善者也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。

to subdue the enemy without fighting; to win without fighting


越俎代庖

ㄩㄝˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄆㄠˊ

/ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jyːt̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²² pʰaːu̯²¹/

/ɥɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/jyːt̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²² pʰaːu̯²¹/

Though the cook were not attending to his kitchen, the representative of the dead and the officer of prayer would not leave their cups and stands to take his place.

Páorén suī bù zhìpáo, shīzhù bù yuè zūnzǔ ér dài zhī yǐ.

庖人雖不治庖，尸祝不越樽俎而代之矣。

庖人虽不治庖，尸祝不越樽俎而代之矣。

(the priest) leave his cups and takes the place of the cook

to overstep one's bounds and meddle in other's affairs


侵刪

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

(Internet slang, neologism) If this constitutes copyright infringement, please notify me and I will remove it.


生殺大權

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄚ ㄉㄚˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

шэншадацюань

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ taːi̯²² kʰyːn²¹/


當家花旦

ㄉㄤ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄉㄢˋ

данцзяхуадань

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ tän⁵¹/

popular and leading actress; prima donna


吃一塹，長一智

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɛːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːm³³ t͡sœːŋ³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³³/

After they fail, they draw their lessons, correct their ideas to make them correspond to the laws of the external world, and can thus turn failure into success; this is what is meant by “failure is the mother of success” and “a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit”.

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

Rénmen jīngguò shībài zhīhòu, yě jiù cóng shībài qǔdé jiàoxùn, gǎizhèng zìjǐ de sīxiǎng shǐ zhī shìhé yú wàijiè de guīlǜxìng, rénmen jiù néng biàn shībài wéi shènglì, suǒwèi “shībài zhě chénggōng zhī mǔ”, “chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì”, jiùshì zhège dàolǐ.

人們經過失敗之後，也就從失敗取得教訓，改正自己的思想使之適合於外界的規律性，人們就能變失敗為勝利，所謂「失敗者成功之母」，「吃一塹長一智」，就是這個道理。

人们经过失败之后，也就从失败取得教训，改正自己的思想使之适合于外界的规律性，人们就能变失败为胜利，所谓「失败者成功之母」，「吃一堑长一智」，就是这个道理。

a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit; wisdom grows out of experience


且行且珍惜

ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧ

ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧˊ

це син це чжэньси

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

Cherish something when it has been, or while it is being pursued.


眉頭一皺，計上心來

ㄇㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧ ㄓㄡˋ

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

jì shàng xīn lái [Phonetic:méitóu yí zhòu

мэйтоу и чжоу

цзи шан синь лай

/meɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

knit the brows and a stratagem comes to mind


眉頭一縱，計上心來

ㄇㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧ ㄗㄨㄥˋ

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

jì shàng xīn lái [Phonetic:méitóu yí zòng

мэйтоу и цзун

цзи шан синь лай

/meɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

眉頭一皺，計上心來 眉頭一皺，計上心來#Chinese

眉头一皱，计上心来 眉头一皱，计上心来#Chinese

Synonym of 眉頭一皺，計上心來／眉头一皱，计上心来 (méitóu yī zhòu, jì shàng xīn lái, “knit the brows and a stratagem comes to mind”)


計上心來

ㄐㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

цзишансиньлай

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐi̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐi̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/


自作主張

ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄓㄨˇ ㄓㄤ

цзыцзочжучжан

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

to make decisions without consulting others beforehand


前功盡廢

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄈㄟˋ

цяньгунцзиньфэй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² fɐi̯³³/

前功盡棄 前功盡棄#Chinese

前功尽弃 前功尽弃#Chinese

Synonym of 前功盡棄／前功尽弃 (qiángōngjìnqì, “all previous achievements go down the drain; all the previous effort is wasted”)


移情別戀

ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

/i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ piːt̚² lyːn³⁵/

/i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛ³⁵ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ piːt̚² lyːn³⁵/

to turn one's back on one's lover and develop affection for another; to have a new sweetheart


方寸大亂

ㄈㄤ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

фанцуньдалуань

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ taːi̯²² lyːn²²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ taːi̯²² lyːn²²/

to be agitated; to be troubled and nervous


迷途知返

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄓ ㄈㄢˇ

/mi³⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐi̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn³⁵/

/mi³⁵ tʰu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐi̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ faːn³⁵/

to become aware of one's errors and turn back from one's wrong path; to realize one's mistakes and correct oneself


手忙腳亂

ㄕㄡˇ ㄇㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

шоуманцзяолуань

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

to act in an disorderly and flustered manner


不見蹤影

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄥˇ

буцзяньцзунъин

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ³⁵/

to disappear; to vanish; to be nowhere to be seen


一擁而上

ㄧ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ¹³/

(of a large crowd) to rush forward together


蜂擁而上

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄕㄤˋ

фэнъюнъэршан

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

(of a large crowd) to rush forward together; to swarm


蜂擁而至

ㄈㄥ ㄩㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

фэнъюнъэрчжи

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/


耳聞目見

ㄦˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

эрвэньмуцзянь

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

Workers, peasants, fellow countrypeople who are oppressed by warlords and foreign powers! You might have heard about, seen, or even personally faced the massacre which took place in Changxindian and Hankou on 7 February.

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

Gōngrénmen, nóngrénmen, quánguó bèi jūnfá hé wàilì yāpò de tóngbāomen! Èr yuè qī rì Chángxīndiàn hé Hànkǒu de dàcǎnshā, nǐmen yǐjīng ěrwénmùjiàn huò shēnlìqíjìng le.

工人們，農人們，全國被軍閥和外力壓迫的同胞們！二月七日長辛店和漢口的大慘殺，你們已經耳聞目見或身歷其境了。

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

工人们，农人们，全国被军阀和外力压迫的同胞们！二月七日长辛店和汉口的大惨杀，你们已经耳闻目见或身历其境了。

to hear with one's ears and see with one's eyes; to personally see and hear


勢不兩立

ㄕˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄌㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ lɐp̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ laːp̚²/

/sɐi̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ¹³ lɐp̚²/

irreconcilable; antagonistic and unable to coexist; at daggers drawn


氣勢如虹

ㄑㄧˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ hʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ hʊŋ²¹/


繩之於法

ㄕㄥˊ ㄓ ㄩˊ ㄈㄚˇ

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

繩之以法 繩之以法#Chinese

绳之以法 绳之以法#Chinese

Synonym of 繩之以法／绳之以法 (shéngzhīyǐfǎ, “to punish according to law; to bring to justice”)


身歷其境

ㄕㄣ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

шэньлицицзин

/ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁵³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɪk̚² kʰei̯²¹ kɪŋ³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² ki²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɪŋ⁵³/

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

1923, 《中国共产党为吴佩孚惨杀京汉路工告工人阶级与国民》

身臨其境 身臨其境#Chinese

身临其境 身临其境#Chinese

Synonym of 身臨其境／身临其境 (shēnlínqíjìng, “to be personally on the scene”)


天下第一

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tɐi̯²² jɐt̚⁵/

number one in the world; peerless; unequaled


血本無歸

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄣˇ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ puːn³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ pun⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ puːn³⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ pun⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/hiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ pun⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɤ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

to lose one's shirt; to lose all of one's savings


居心不良

ㄐㄩ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

цзюйсиньбулян

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

to harbor bad intentions; to be malicious


兜口兜面

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯⁵⁵ miːn²²/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ tɐu̯⁵⁵ miːn²²/

(Cantonese) to one's face; directly towards someone


劈頭蓋臉

ㄆㄧ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

питоугайлянь

/pʰi⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɛːk̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/

/pʰi⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɛːk̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/


多才多藝

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧˋ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²²/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²²/

to possess a great deal of different skills and talents


兜頭蓋臉

ㄉㄡ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

доутоугайлянь

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɔːi̯³³ liːm¹³/


可有可無

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨˊ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/


未卜先知

to already know without having performed divination

ㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓ

вэйбусяньчжи

/weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bue¹¹ pok̚²⁻⁴ sãĩ³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵ siːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/bue¹¹ pok̚²⁻⁴ sãĩ³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

to predict accurately; to foretell accurately


前所未料

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

цяньсовэйляо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

In such a situation, ideas, theories, plans or programmes are usually altered partially and sometimes even wholly, because of the discovery of unforeseen circumstances in the course of practice.

Zài zhè zhǒng qíngxíng zhī xià, yóuyú shíjiàn zhōng fāxiàn qiánsuǒwèiliào de qíngkuàng, yīn'ér bùfēn de gǎibiàn sīxiǎng, lǐlùn, jìhuà, fāng'àn de shì shì cháng yǒu de, quánbù de gǎibiàn de shì yě shì yǒu de.

在這種情形之下，由於實踐中發現前所未料的情況，因而部分地改變思想、理論、計劃、方案的事是常有的，全部地改變的事也是有的。

在这种情形之下，由于实践中发现前所未料的情况，因而部分地改变思想、理论、计划、方案的事是常有的，全部地改变的事也是有的。


為時未晚

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄢˇ

вэйшивэйвань

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ mei̯²² maːn¹³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ mei̯²² maːn¹³/


循環往復

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄨㄤˇ ㄈㄨˋ

сюньхуаньванфу

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ fʊk̚²/

/ɕyn³⁵ xu̯än³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ waːn²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ fʊk̚²/

This form repeats itself in endless cycles, and with each cycle the content of practice and knowledge rises to a higher level.

Shíjiàn, rènshi, zài shíjiàn, zài rènshi, zhè zhǒng xíngshì, xúnhuánwǎngfù yǐzhì wúqióng, ér shíjiàn hé rènshi zhī měi yī xúnhuán de nèiróng, dōu bǐjiào de jìndào le gāo yī jí de chéngdù.

實踐、認識、再實踐、再認識，這種形式，循環往復以至無窮，而實踐和認識之每一循環的內容，都比較地進到了高一級的程度。

实践、认识、再实践、再认识，这种形式，循环往复以至无穷，而实践和认识之每一循环的内容，都比较地进到了高一级的程度。


為時已晚

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ ㄧˇ ㄨㄢˇ

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ jiː¹³ maːn¹³/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ siː²¹ jiː¹³ maːn¹³/


以管窺天

ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄊㄧㄢ

игуанькуйтянь

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ kuːn³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ kuːn³⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to have narrow and superficial knowledge and views


隨波逐流

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄛ ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ pɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² lɐu̯²¹/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ pɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² lɐu̯²¹/

(derogatory) to go with the flow; to swim with the tide; to act or behave the same way as the majority of others


歲月如梭

time moves as quickly as a weaver's shuttle

ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛ

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚² jyː²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚² jyː²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/


三催四請

ㄙㄢ ㄘㄨㄟ ㄙˋ ㄑㄧㄥˇ

саньцуйсыцин

/sän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵/


又驚又喜

ㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˋ ㄒㄧˇ

/joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵/

to be pleasantly surprised; to be surprised and delighted


大動肝火

ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² tʊŋ²² kɔːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² tʊŋ²² kɔːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/


罪有應得

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄥ ㄉㄜˊ

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² jɐu̯¹³ jɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

to deserve one's punishment for one's crimes or bad behavior


崢嶸歲月

ㄓㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄝˋ

чжэнжунсуйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡saːŋ⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡saːŋ⁵⁵ wɪŋ²¹ sɵy̯³³ jyːt̚²/


供過於求

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄩˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ jyː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ jyː⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹/

to have an oversupply; the supply exceeds the demand


人生苦短

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄎㄨˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

жэньшэнкудуань

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tyːn³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ tyːn³⁵/


風狂雨驟

ㄈㄥ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄩˇ ㄓㄡˋ

ㄈㄥ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄩˇ ㄗㄡˋ

фэнкуанъюйчжоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

фэнкуанъюйцзоу

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ jyː¹³ t͡saːu̯²²/


禮崩樂壞

ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄥ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄞˋ

либэнъюэхуай

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ pɐŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːk̚² waːi̯²²/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ pɐŋ⁵⁵ ŋɔːk̚² waːi̯²²/

Zai Wo asked about the three years' mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. "If the superior man abstains for three years from the observances of propriety, those observances will be quite lost. If for three years he abstains from music, music will be ruined. …

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

Zǎi Wǒ wèn: “Sān nián zhī sāng, qī yǐ jiǔ yǐ. Jūnzǐ sān nián bù wéi lǐ, lǐ bì huài; sān nián bù wéi yuè, yuè bì bēng.......

宰我問：「三年之喪，期已久矣。君子三年不為禮，禮必壞；三年不為樂，樂必崩。……

宰我问：「三年之丧，期已久矣。君子三年不为礼，礼必坏；三年不为乐，乐必崩。……

(literally) feudal system collapses and rites and music deteriorate

(figuratively) social order collapses and morals deteriorate


護國佑民

ㄏㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

/xu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/wuː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯²² mɐn²¹/

/xu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/wuː²² kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯²² mɐn²¹/


萬劫不復

ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/maːn²² kiːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/ban³³⁻²¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹/

/maːn²² kiːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ fʊk̚²/

/ban³³⁻¹¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

/ban³³⁻²¹ kiap̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ hɔk̚⁴/

萬劫不復的深淵／万劫不复的深渊 ― wànjiébùfù de shēnyuān

1933, Lu Xun, “漫與”, in 南腔北調集, 同文書店, published 1934, page 198:

Rúguǒ cóng núlì shēnghuó zhōng xún chū “měi” lái, zàntàn, fǔmó, táozuì, nà kě jiǎnzhí shì wànjiébùfù de núcái le!

如果從奴隸生活中尋出「美」來，讚歎，撫摩，陶醉，那可簡直是萬劫不復的奴才了！

如果从奴隶生活中寻出「美」来，赞叹，抚摩，陶醉，那可简直是万劫不复的奴才了！

to be doomed eternally; to be beyond redemption; to be never able to recover


旁敲側擊

ㄆㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄘㄜˋ ㄐㄧ

ㄆㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄘㄜˋ ㄐㄧˊ

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/pʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ haːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐk̚⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

beat around the bush
beat around the bush

to express something indirectly by making oblique statements; to beat around the bush


食無定時

/sɪk̚² mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² siː²¹/

/sɪk̚² mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² siː²¹/

(Cantonese) to eat meals at irregular times; to have an irregular eating schedule


無日無之

/u³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

not a single day without a particular thing happening


飛砂走奶

/fei̯⁵⁵ saː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ naːi̯¹³/

/fei̯⁵⁵ saː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ naːi̯¹³/

(Hong Kong Cantonese, of coffee or tea) black; without sugar or milk


危急存亡之秋

desc

위급존망지추(危急存亡之秋)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (危急存亡之秋):
* → Korean: 위급존망지추(危急存亡之秋) (wigeupjonmangjichu)

ja-r

き%きゅう そん%ぼう の とき

→ Japanese: (calque) 危(き)急(きゅう)存(そん)亡(ぼう)の秋(とき) (kikyū sonbō no toki)

ㄨㄟ ㄐㄧˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄡ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄡ

вэйцзицуньванчжицю

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ŋɐi̯²¹ kɐp̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

From Chu Shi Biao by 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang)

Today, China is divided into three parts, and the Kingdom of Han is weak and fatigued. This is truly a critical moment determining our survival.

227, 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang), 《出師表》

Jīn tiānxià sānfēn, yìzhōu píbì, cǐ chéng wēijícúnwángzhīqiū yě.

今天下三分，益州疲弊，此誠危急存亡之秋也。

今天下三分，益州疲弊，此诚危急存亡之秋也。

a critical moment determining someone's or something's survival


打橫嚟講

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/taː³⁵ waːŋ²¹ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

(Cantonese) to use lame arguments and perverted logic; to not talk sense


衣冠梟獍

ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

игуаньсяоцзин

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/


後悔莫及

ㄏㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

хоухуэймоцзи

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/hio³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² fuːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/hio³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hiɤ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻¹¹ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/hɔ³³⁻²¹ hue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/


後起之秀

ㄏㄡˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ siu⁴¹/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au³³⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu¹¹/

/au³³⁻²¹ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² hei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³³/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si³³ siu⁴¹/

/au²²⁻²¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² siu²¹/

/au³³⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu¹¹/

/au³³⁻²¹ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ siu²¹/

a young rising star; a young and promising talent


令人咋舌

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕㄜˊ

линжэньцзэшэ

linžɛnʹczɛšɛ

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ t͡saː³³ siːt̚³/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ t͡saː³³ siːt̚³/

to leave people speechless with fear or surprise


不以為恥

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔˇ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


片面之詞

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄘˊ

пяньмяньчжицы

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/pʰiːn³³ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/


不以為恥，反以為榮

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄔˇ

ㄈㄢˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

bat⁷ ji⁵ wai⁴ tsi², faan² ji⁵ wai⁴ wing⁴

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ faːn³⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ wɪŋ²¹/

(derogatory) to be proud of something shameful instead of being ashamed


無暝無日

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mi²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ mĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/bo¹³⁻²² mɛ̃¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² d͡zit̚¹²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ mẽ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ mi²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ d͡zit̚⁴³/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mi²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚²⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² lit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ mĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ lit̚⁴/

/bo¹³⁻²² mɛ̃¹³⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² d͡zit̚¹²¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ mẽ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ zit̚⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ mi²⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ d͡zit̚⁴³/

(Hokkien) day and night (doing a task unceasingly)


必經之路

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓ ㄌㄨˋ

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²²/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²²/

the route that one must take to reach a particular destination

the stage that one must experience to attain a certain goal


通宵達旦

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄉㄚˊ ㄉㄢˋ

тунсяодадань

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ taːt̚² taːn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä³⁵ tän⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ taːt̚² taːn³³/


倒果為因

ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄣ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ in⁵⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn⁵⁵/

to reverse the cause and the effect; to reverse causality


言之過早

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄠˇ

яньчжигоцзао

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sa⁵³/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ ke¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sa⁵³/

too soon to tell; premature to speak about something


三言兩語

ㄙㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄩˇ

саньяньлянъюй

/sän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ jyː¹³/

/sæ̃¹¹ ie¹¹ liɒ̃⁵³⁻¹¹ y⁵³/

/san³³ i̯ẽ¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ y⁴¹/

/sän⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ lœːŋ¹³ jyː¹³/

/sæ̃¹¹ ie¹¹ liɒ̃⁵³⁻¹¹ y⁵³/

/san³³ i̯ẽ¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ y⁴¹/


從輕發落

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄈㄚ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ loʔ²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁵ loʔ¹²¹/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lɤʔ⁴/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ loʔ²⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ loʔ⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²³⁻³³ kʰin⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lɤʔ⁴/


戕害不辜

ㄑㄧㄤ ㄏㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨ

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄞˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ hɔːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ hɔːi̯²² pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵/


飲飽食醉

to be full from drinking and drunk from eating

/jɐm³⁵ paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³³/

/jɐm³⁵ paːu̯³⁵ sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯³³/

(Cantonese) to be satisfied after having a lot to eat and drink; to get one's fill


病入膏肓

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄨㄤ

бинжугаохуан

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² jɐp̚² kou̯⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² jɐp̚² kou̯⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Duke Huan of Qin
Duke Jing of Jin (Ju)
Qin (state)
zh:醫緩

Duke Jing of Jin was sick. He tried to find a doctor in Qin. The Count of Qin (Duke Huan of Qin) sent a doctor called Huan to cure him. Before Doctor Huan arrived, Duke Jing had a dream in which his disease appeared as two children. One of them said, "He's a good doctor. I'm afraid that he will harm us. Where should we hide ourselves?" The other said, "Let's go to the fat region between the heart and the diaphragm. Then he can't get rid of us." When Doctor Huan arrived, he said, "This disease can't be cured. It's at the fat region between the heart and the diaphragm. Neither medicine nor acupuncture would be effective, so it can't be cured." Duke Jing replied, "You're a good doctor". He then offered generous gifts to Doctor Huan and saw him out.

Gōng jíbìng, qiúyī yú qín, qín bó shǐ yī huǎn wèi zhī. Wèi zhì, gōng mèng jí wèi èr shùzǐ, yuē: “Bǐ liáng yī yě, jù shāng wǒ yān táo zhī?” Qí yī yuē: “Jū huāng zhī shàng, gāo zhī xià, ruò wǒ hé?” Yī zhì, yuē: “Jí bùkě wèi yě, zài huāng zhī shàng, gāo zhī xià, gōng zhī bù kě, dá zhī bù jí, yào bù zhì yān, bùkě wèi yě.” Gōng yuē: “Liáng yī yě.” Hòu wèi zhī lǐ ér guī zhī.

公疾病，求醫於秦，秦伯使醫緩為之。未至，公夢疾為二豎子，曰：「彼良醫也，懼傷我焉逃之？」其一曰：「居肓之上、膏之下，若我何？」醫至，曰：「疾不可為也，在肓之上，膏之下，攻之不可，達之不及，藥不至焉，不可為也。」公曰：「良醫也。」厚為之禮而歸之。

公疾病，求医于秦，秦伯使医缓为之。未至，公梦疾为二竖子，曰：「彼良医也，惧伤我焉逃之？」其一曰：「居肓之上、膏之下，若我何？」医至，曰：「疾不可为也，在肓之上，膏之下，攻之不可，达之不及，药不至焉，不可为也。」公曰：「良医也。」厚为之礼而归之。

Seek medical care if you have symptoms, don't wait until it's too late to cure.

Yǒu bìng jiù yào jízǎo qiúyī, bùyào děng dào bìngrùgāohuāng.

有病就要及早求醫，不要等到病入膏肓。

有病就要及早求医，不要等到病入膏肓。

to be incurable as one is critically ill

The financial situation of this company is hopeless.

Zhè jiā gōngsī de cáizhèng zhuàngkuàng yǐjīng bìngrùgāohuāng.

這家公司的財政狀況已經病入膏肓。

这家公司的财政状况已经病入膏肓。

(figuratively) to be hopeless as the situation has gone too bad


倒錢落海

/tou̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹⁻³⁵ lɔːk̚² hɔːi̯³⁵/

/tou̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹⁻³⁵ lɔːk̚² hɔːi̯³⁵/

Popularized through an anti-gambling TV commercial by the Hong Kong government in 2005 (with the slogan quoted below).

Excessive gambling costs more than you can afford. (literally, “Gambling addiction is like pouring money into the sea.”)

2005, Hong Kong anti-gambling TV commercial

cam⁴ mai⁴ dou² bok³, dou² cin⁴ lok⁶ hoi²

沉迷賭博，倒錢落海

沉迷赌博，倒钱落海

[The Save Lantau Alliance] is concerned that if the government still carries out the "Lantau Tomorrow Vision" plan under decreasing population, decreasing need of commercial land use, decrease in reserves and structural deficit, this project costing billions of dollars will be a complete waste of money and would adversely affect several generations.

2022, Petition by Save Lantau Alliance to LegCo

Zài Xiānggǎng rénkǒu jí shāngyè yòngdì xūyào xiàjiàng, chǔbèi dàfú xiàjiàng jí jiégòuxìng cáichì wēijī xià, réng qiǎng tuī míngrì Dàyǔ Jiāoyǐzhōu tiánhǎi jìhuà, dānxīn wànyì gōngchéng, dǎoqiánluòhǎi, huò yán jǐ dài.

在香港人口及商業用地需要下降、儲備大幅下降及結構性財赤危機下，仍強推明日大嶼交椅洲填海計劃，擔心萬億工程，倒錢落海，禍延幾代。

在香港人口及商业用地需要下降、储备大幅下降及结构性财赤危机下，仍强推明日大屿交椅洲填海计划，担心万亿工程，倒钱落海，祸延几代。

(Hong Kong Cantonese) to pour money down the drain; to squander money


木已成舟

the wood has already been made into a boat

ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄡ

/mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² jiː¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/


不能自已

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄗˋ ㄧˇ

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² jiː¹³/

/pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² jiː¹³/

to be unable to control one's intense emotions


模糊不清

ㄇㄛˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ wuː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ xu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ wuː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

(literally and figuratively) blurry; vague; obscure


寡廉鮮恥

ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄔˇ

гуаляньсяньчи

/ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷaː³⁵ liːm²¹ siːn³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/kʷaː³⁵ liːm²¹ siːn³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


若隱若現

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄣˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jɐn³⁵ jœːk̚² jiːn²²/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² jɐn³⁵ jœːk̚² jiːn²²/


時移世易

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː²¹ jiː²¹ sɐi̯³³ jɪk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː²¹ jiː²¹ sɐi̯³³ jɪk̚²/

times have changed; things have changed and are now different than they used to be


十萬火急

ㄕˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wän⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɐp̚² maːn²² fɔː³⁵ kɐp̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ wän⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɐp̚² maːn²² fɔː³⁵ kɐp̚⁵/


功德無量

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ liɔŋ³³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² liɔŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɔŋ³³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ liɔŋ³³/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²⁴⁻²² liɔŋ²²/

/kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bu²³⁻³³ liɔŋ³³/

(of deeds) great; of boundless beneficence; to do immeasurable good


可喜可賀

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄜˋ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔː²²/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ hɔː²²/


呱呱墮地

ㄍㄨ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ

ㄨㄚ ㄨㄚ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ tɔː²² tei̯²²/

呱呱墜地 呱呱墜地#Chinese

呱呱坠地 呱呱坠地#Chinese

Synonym of 呱呱墜地／呱呱坠地 (gūgūzhuìdì, “(of a baby) to be born”)


呱呱墜地

ㄍㄨ ㄍㄨ ㄓㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧˋ

ㄨㄚ ㄨㄚ ㄓㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧˋ

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/ku⁵⁵ ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/wä⁵⁵ wä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kuː⁵⁵ kuː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/

/waː⁵⁵ waː⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² tei̯²²/


孤芳自賞

ㄍㄨ ㄈㄤ ㄗˋ ㄕㄤˇ

/ku⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

to be conceited and indulge in self-admiration


先睹為快

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄨˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

сяньдувэйкуай

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːn⁵⁵ tou̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

to be the first to witness something and regard such action as a pleasure


衛道之士

ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓ ㄕˋ

/weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²² tou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

/weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²² tou̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ siː²²/

(sometimes derogatory) people who defend a certain religion, doctrine, orthodoxy or traditional principles


自愧弗如

ㄗˋ ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯³³ fɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯³³ fɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

自愧不如 自愧不如#Chinese

Synonym of 自愧不如 (zìkuì-bùrú, “to be ashamed of not being as good as someone else”)


各打五十大板

ㄍㄜˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄨˇ ㄕˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄢˇ

gè dǎ wǔshí dàbǎn [Phonetic:gèdáwǔshídàbǎn]

гэ да уши дабань

/kɤ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tä⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ taː³⁵ ŋ̍¹³ sɐp̚² taːi̯²² paːn³⁵/

(figurative) to blame, criticize or punish both sides indiscriminately without determining who is right and who is wrong


親痛仇快

ㄑㄧㄣ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

циньтунчоукуай

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ sɐu̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ sɐu̯²¹ faːi̯³³/

1989 June 4, 《中共中央、国务院告全体共产党员和全国人民书》, in People's Daily, →ISSN, page 1

Quántǐ gòngchǎndǎngyuán, guǎngdà rénmín qúnzhòng hé gèjiè àiguó rénshì, yīdìng yào xiǎngyìng Dǎng hé zhèngfǔ de hàozhào, míngbiànshìfēi, gùquán dàjú, xùnsù xíngdòng qǐlái, tǐngshēn'érchū yǔ zhìzào bàoluàn de jíshàoshù rén zuò jiānjué de dòuzhēng, ér bùyào zuò rènhé qīntòngchóukuài de shìqíng.

全體共產黨員、廣大人民群眾和各界愛國人士，一定要響應黨和政府的號召，明辨是非，顧全大局，迅速行動起來，挺身而出與製造暴亂的極少數人作堅決的鬥爭，而不要做任何親痛仇快的事情。

全体共产党员、广大人民群众和各界爱国人士，一定要响应党和政府的号召，明辨是非，顾全大局，迅速行动起来，挺身而出与制造暴乱的极少数人作坚决的斗争，而不要做任何亲痛仇快的事情。

親者痛，仇者快 親者痛，仇者快#Chinese

亲者痛，仇者快 亲者痛，仇者快#Chinese

Synonym of 親者痛，仇者快／亲者痛，仇者快 (qīn zhě tòng, chóu zhě kuài, “that which saddens people close to oneself and brings joy to one's enemies (should not be done)”)


沉冤得雪

ㄔㄣˊ ㄩㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

чэньюаньдэсюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ syːt̚³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ jyːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ syːt̚³/

沉冤昭雪 沉冤昭雪#Chinese

Synonym of 沉冤昭雪 (chényuānzhāoxuě, “gross injustice or grievances redressed”)


識時務者為俊傑

ㄕˊ ㄕˊ ㄨˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄩㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ㄕˋ ㄕˊ ㄨˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄩㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

шишиучжэвэйцзюньцзе

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²² t͡sɛː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³ kiːt̚²/

a wise man submits to circumstances; he who can suit his actions to the time is wise


語重心長

ㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄤˊ

юйчжунсиньчан

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴/

/ɡi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³/

/ɡu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴/


如獲至寶

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄠˇ

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ wɔːk̚² t͡siː³³ pou̯³⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ wɔːk̚² t͡siː³³ pou̯³⁵/


長篇大論

ㄔㄤˊ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

чанпяньдалунь

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² lɵn²²/


勞苦功高

ㄌㄠˊ ㄎㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄠ

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fuː³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ fuː³⁵ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

to have worked hard and made enormous contributions


飽讀詩書

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕ ㄕㄨ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ tʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ tʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵/


有驚無險

ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄢˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hiːm³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ hiːm³⁵/

to have had only frightening moments but no dangers; to be successful at the end though having encountered obstacles


和顏悅色

ㄏㄜˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/xɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ ŋaːn²¹ jyːt̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/hua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zuak̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/

/xɤ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/wɔː²¹ ŋaːn²¹ jyːt̚² sɪk̚⁵/

/hua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zuak̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/


躊躇滿志

ㄔㄡˊ ㄔㄨˊ ㄇㄢˇ ㄓˋ

чоучуманьчжи

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyː²¹ muːn¹³ t͡siː³³/

/tʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mũã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡si²¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰyː²¹ muːn¹³ t͡siː³³/

/tʰiu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mũã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡si²¹³/

Then standing up with the knife in my hand, I look all round, and in a leisurely manner, with an air of satisfaction, wipe it clean, and put it in its sheath.

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

Tí dāo ér lì, wèizhī sìgù, wèizhī chóuchú mǎnzhì, shàn dāo ér cáng zhī.

提刀而立，為之四顧，為之躊躇滿志，善刀而藏之。

提刀而立，为之四顾，为之踌躇满志，善刀而藏之。


屈指一算

ㄑㄩ ㄓˇ ㄧ ㄙㄨㄢˋ

цюйчжиисуань

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ syːn³³/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ su̯än⁵¹/

/wɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ syːn³³/


客死異鄉

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ jiː²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ jiː²² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

客死他鄉 客死他鄉#Chinese

客死他乡 客死他乡#Chinese

Synonym of 客死他鄉／客死他乡 (kèsǐtāxiāng, “to die in a foreign land”)


客死他鄉

ㄎㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄊㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/haːk̚³ sei̯³⁵ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/


蔚為奇觀

ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄢ

вэйвэйцигуань

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²² wɐi̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵/


眾人皆醉我獨醒

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥˇ

чжунжэнь цзе цзуй во ду син

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dzung³ jan⁴ gaai¹ dzoey³ ngo⁵ duk⁹ sing²

/t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐn²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʊk̚² sɪŋ³⁵/

Qu Yuan replied, "The entire world is corrupt and I am clean alone; everyone is drunk while I am sober alone. Thus, I was exiled."

The Verses of Chu, 4ᵗʰ century BCE – 2ⁿᵈ century CE

Qūyuán yuē: “Jǔshì jiē zhuó wǒ dú qīng, zhòngrénjiēzuìwǒdúxǐng, shìyǐ jiàn fàng.”

屈原曰：「舉世皆濁我獨清，眾人皆醉我獨醒，是以見放。」

屈原曰：「举世皆浊我独清，众人皆醉我独醒，是以见放。」

everyone is drunk and I am the only one sober

(figuratively) everyone is wrong while I am the only one correct; everyone is depraved while I am the only one virtuous


朝氣勃勃

ㄓㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/


博覽群書

ㄅㄛˊ ㄌㄢˇ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄕㄨ

боланьцюньшу

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ laːm¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ laːm¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

to be well-read; to have read extensively and be learned


生氣勃勃

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


深藏不露

ㄕㄣ ㄘㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄘㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨˋ

шэньцанбулоу

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²²/

hide one's light under a bushel
hide one's light under a bushel

to hide one's light under a bushel; to conceal one's talents


四處漂泊

ㄙˋ ㄔㄨˋ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄅㄛˊ

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ t͡sʰyː³³ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pɔːk̚²/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sei̯³³ t͡sʰyː³³ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ pɔːk̚²/

to rove; to wander around; to roam around


居無定所

ㄐㄩ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² sɔː³⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ tɪŋ²² sɔː³⁵/


拍案叫絕

ㄆㄞ ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

пайаньцзяоцзюэ

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kiːu̯³³ t͡syːt̚²/

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kiːu̯³³ t͡syːt̚²/


烈日當空

ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄖˋ ㄉㄤ ㄎㄨㄥ

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² jɐt̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/liːt̚² jɐt̚² tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/


生殺予奪

ㄕㄥ ㄕㄚ ㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ saːt̚³ jyː¹³ tyːt̚²/

(to hold power over the) life, death, reward and punishment (of others)


好白菜都讓豬拱了

好白菜都让猪拱了
好白菜都讓豬給拱了
好白菜都被豬給拱了
好白菜都被豬拱了
好白菜讓豬拱了
好白菜被豬拱了

ㄏㄠˇ ㄅㄞˊ ㄘㄞˋ ㄉㄡ ㄖㄤˋ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄨㄥˇ ˙ㄌㄜ

hao³ pai²-tsʻai⁴ tou¹ jang⁴ chu¹ kung³ lê⁵

хао байцай доу жан чжу гун лэ

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kʊŋ²¹⁴ lə⁴/

(literally) All the good cabbage crops have been eaten or ruined by the pigs.

(figurative, humorous or derogatory) Those that of high quality have all been spoiled or taken by someone unfitting.

(figurative, humorous or derogatory, specifically) All the good(-looking) girls have been taken or ruined by the ugly men (or scumbags).


話中有話

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

хуачжунъюхуа

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/waː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ waː²²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/waː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ waː²²/

there are unspoken implications in one's words


地大物博

ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˋ ㄅㄛˊ

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tei̯²² taːi̯²² mɐt̚² pɔːk̚³/

/ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/tei̯²² taːi̯²² mɐt̚² pɔːk̚³/


零碎不全

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

линсуйбуцюань

/liŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/liŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

It is only when the data of perception are very rich (not fragmentary) and correspond to reality (are not illusory) that they can be the basis for forming correct concepts and theories.

Zhǐyǒu gǎnjué de cáiliào shífēn fēngfù (bùshì língsuìbùquán) hé héyú shíjì (bùshì cuòjué), cái néng gēnjù zhèyàng de cáiliào zàochū zhèngquè de gàiniàn hé lùnlǐ lái.

只有感覺的材料十分豐富（不是零碎不全）和合於實際（不是錯覺），才能根據這樣的材料造出正確的概念和論理來。

只有感觉的材料十分丰富（不是零碎不全）和合于实际（不是错觉），才能根据这样的材料造出正确的概念和论理来。


閉目塞聽

ㄅㄧˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄜˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ mʊk̚² sɐk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ mʊk̚² sɐk̚⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

For a person who shuts their eyes, stops their ears and totally cuts themselves off from the objective world there can be no such thing as knowledge.

Yī gè bìmùsètīng, tóng kèguān wàijiè gēnběn juéyuán de rén, shì wúsuǒwèi rènshi de.

一個閉目塞聽、同客觀外界根本絕緣的人，是無所謂認識的。

一个闭目塞听、同客观外界根本绝缘的人，是无所谓认识的。


由表及裡

ㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/joʊ̯³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯²¹ piːu̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² lɵy̯¹³/

/jɐu̯²¹ piːu̯³⁵ kʰɐp̚² lɵy̯¹³/

Fully to reflect a thing in its totality, to reflect its essence, to reflect its inherent laws, it is necessary through the exercise of thought to reconstruct the rich data of sense perception, discarding the dross and selecting the essential, eliminating the false and retaining the true, proceeding from the one to the other and from the outside to the inside, in order to form a system of concepts and theories—it is necessary to make a leap from perceptual to rational knowledge.

Yào wánquán de fǎnyìng zhěnggè de shìwù, fǎnyìng shìwù de běnzhì, fǎnyìng shìwù de nèibù guīlǜxìng, jiù bìxū jīngguò sīkǎo zuòyòng, jiāng fēngfù de gǎnjué cáiliào jiāyǐ qùcūqǔjīng, qùwěicúnzhēn, yóucǐjíbǐ, yóubiǎojílǐ de gǎizào zhìzuò gōngfu, zàochéng gàiniàn hé lǐlùn de xìtǒng, jiù bìxū cóng gǎnxìng rènshi yuèjìn dào lǐxìng rènshi.

要完全地反映整個的事物，反映事物的本質，反映事物的內部規律性，就必須經過思考作用，將豐富的感覺材料加以去粗取精、去偽存真、由此及彼、由表及裡的改造製作工夫，造成概念和理論的系統，就必須從感性認識躍進到理性認識。

要完全地反映整个的事物，反映事物的本质，反映事物的内部规律性，就必须经过思考作用，将丰富的感觉材料加以去粗取精、去伪存真、由此及彼、由表及里的改造制作工夫，造成概念和理论的系统，就必须从感性认识跃进到理性认识。

from the outside to the inside; from the superficial to the profound; from outward appearance to inner essence


去粗取精

ㄑㄩˋ ㄘㄨ ㄑㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

цюйцуцюйцзин

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/

to discard the dross and select the essential


由此及彼

ㄧㄡˊ ㄘˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄧˇ

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


向壁虛造

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄩ ㄗㄠˋ

сянбисюйцзао

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²²/

From the preface to the Shuowen Jiezi by Xu Shen.

向壁虚造
嚮壁虛造
鄉壁虛造

向壁虛構 向壁虛構#Chinese

向壁虚构 向壁虚构#Chinese

Synonym of 向壁虛構／向壁虚构 (xiàngbìxūgòu, “to make up out of one's head; to fabricate”)


向壁虛構

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄡˋ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵¹/

/hœːŋ³³ pɪk̚⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰɐu̯³³/

I am not an expert in Peking Opera, but the opinions above are by no means groundless fabrication. I plan to write a special article on drama when I have time.

1941, 王實味 (Wang Shiwei), 《文藝民族形式問題上的舊錯誤與新偏向》, quoted from the Marxists Internet Archive

Wǒ duì píngjù bìngfēi nèiháng, dàn yǐshàng de yìjiàn yě juéfēi xiàngbìxūgòu, yǒu xiá dǎsuàn duì xìjù wèntí lìng xiě zhuānwén tǎolùn.

我對平劇並非內行，但以上的意見也絕非向壁虛構，有暇打算對戲劇問題另寫專文討論。

我对平剧并非内行，但以上的意见也绝非向壁虚构，有暇打算对戏剧问题另写专文讨论。

to make up out of one's head; to fabricate; to imagine without ground


艱苦卓絕

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

цзянькучжоцзюэ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

The Party has several hundred thousand members who are leading the people in extremely hard and bitter struggles against the enemy.

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

Dǎng yǒu jǐshíwàn dǎngyuán, tāmen zài lǐngdǎo rénmín, xiàngzhe dírén zuò jiānkǔzhuójué de dòuzhēng.

黨有幾十萬黨員，他們在領導人民，向著敵人作艱苦卓絕的鬥爭。

党有几十万党员，他们在领导人民，向着敌人作艰苦卓绝的斗争。


黔驢之技

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄩˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньлюйчжицзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯²²/

zh-l

黔驢技窮／黔驴技穷 (qiánlǘjìqióng)

tricks of the donkey in the prefecture of Qian


暢行無阻

ㄔㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Only by uprooting this evil in both its aspects can the Party advance unimpeded in its great task of achieving unity among all Party comrades and among all the people of our country.

Chǎnchú zhè liǎng fāngmiàn de huògēn, cái néng shǐ Dǎng zài tuánjié quándǎng tóngzhì hé tuánjié quánguó rénmín de wěidà shìyè zhōng chàngxíngwúzǔ.

鏟除這兩方面的禍根，才能使黨在團結全黨同志和團結全國人民的偉大事業中暢行無阻。

铲除这两方面的祸根，才能使党在团结全党同志和团结全国人民的伟大事业中畅行无阻。

to meet no obstacle wherever one goes; to proceed without hindrance


真心實意

ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

чжэньсиньшии

čžɛnʹsinʹšii

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

Comrades! What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution.

1934, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《關心群眾生活，注意工作方法》 (Be Concerned with the Well-Being of the Masses, Pay Attention to Methods of Work), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on the Foreign Language Press edition

Tóngzhìmen, zhēnzhèng de tóngqiángtiěbì shì shénme? Shì qúnzhòng, shì qiānbǎiwàn zhēnxīnshíyì de yōnghù gémìng de qúnzhòng.

同志們，真正的銅牆鐵壁是什麼？是群眾，是千百萬真心實意地擁護革命的群眾。

同志们，真正的铜墙铁壁是什么？是群众，是千百万真心实意地拥护革命的群众。

from the bottom of one's heart
from the bottom of one's heart

genuine and sincere; from the bottom of one's heart; in real earnest


包醫百病

ㄅㄠ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄧㄥˋ

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹/

Even now, there are not a few people who still regard odd quotations from Marxist-Leninist works as a ready-made panacea which, once acquired, can easily cure all maladies.

Zhídào xiànzài, háiyǒu bùshǎo de rén, bǎ Mǎkèsī-Lièníng zhǔyì shūběn shàng de mǒuxiē gèbié zìjù kànzuò xiànchéng de língdānshèngyào, sìhū zhǐyào dé le tā, jiù kěyǐ bù fèi qìlì de bāoyībǎibìng.

直到現在，還有不少的人，把馬克思列寧主義書本上的某些個別字句看作現成的靈丹聖藥，似乎只要得了它，就可以不費氣力地包醫百病。

直到现在，还有不少的人，把马克思列宁主义书本上的某些个别字句看作现成的灵丹圣药，似乎只要得了它，就可以不费气力地包医百病。

包治百病 包治百病#Chinese

Synonym of 包治百病 (bāozhìbǎibìng, “guaranteed to cure all illnesses; cure-all”)


造謠中傷

ㄗㄠˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄤ

цзаояочжуншан

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

to fabricate rumors to slander others; to spread slanderous rumors


靈丹聖藥

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄢ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ

линданьшэнъяо

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/liŋ³⁵ tän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

靈丹妙藥 靈丹妙藥#Chinese

灵丹妙药 灵丹妙药#Chinese

Synonym of 靈丹妙藥／灵丹妙药 (língdānmiàoyào, “miracle cure; wonder pill; panacea”)


拉拉扯扯

ㄌㄚ ㄌㄚ ㄔㄜˇ ㄔㄜˇ

/lä⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/laːi̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵/

/lä⁵⁵ lä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/laːi̯⁵⁵ laːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵/

to hold each other's arms and hands in a lovey-dovey manner

With this aim, they draw some people in, push others out and resort to boasting, flattery and touting among the comrades, thus importing the vulgar style of the bourgeois political parties into the Communist Party.

Wèile zhèxiē, jiù yào lālǒng yīxiē rén, páijǐ yīxiē rén, zài tóngzhì zhōng chuīchuīpāipāi, lālāchěchě, bǎ zīchǎn jiējí zhèngdǎng de yōngsú zuòfēng yě bānjìn Gòngchǎndǎng lǐ lái le.

為了這些，就要拉攏一些人，排擠一些人，在同志中吹吹拍拍，拉拉扯扯，把資產階級政黨的庸俗作風也搬進共產黨裡來了。

为了这些，就要拉拢一些人，排挤一些人，在同志中吹吹拍拍，拉拉扯扯，把资产阶级政党的庸俗作风也搬进共产党里来了。


吹吹拍拍

ㄔㄨㄟ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄆㄞ ㄆㄞ

чуйчуйпайпай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ pʰaːk̚³/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ pʰaːk̚³ pʰaːk̚³/


時日無多

ㄕˊ ㄖˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄛ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ u³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/siː²¹ jɐt̚² mou̯²¹ tɔː⁵⁵/

to have a limited amount of time remaining (until a deadline, etc)


克己復禮

ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/haːk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

/haːk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊk̚² lɐi̯¹³/

Yan Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?"

Yán Yuān wèn rén. Zǐyuē: “Kè jǐ fù lǐ wèi rén. Yīrì kè jǐ fù lǐ, tiānxià guī rén yān. Wéi rén yóu jǐ, ér yóu rén hū zāi?”

顏淵問仁。子曰：「克己復禮為仁。一日克己復禮，天下歸仁焉。為仁由己，而由人乎哉？」

颜渊问仁。子曰：「克己复礼为仁。一日克己复礼，天下归仁焉。为仁由己，而由人乎哉？」

to subdue oneself and return to propriety


以直報怨

ㄧˇ ㄓˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄩㄢˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² pou̯³³ jyːn³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪk̚² pou̯³³ jyːn³³/

Some one said, "What do you say concerning the principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness?" The Master said, "With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness."

Huòyuē: “Yǐ dé bào yuàn, hérú?” Zǐ yuē: “Héyǐ bàodé? Yǐ zhí bào yuàn, yǐ dé bào dé.”

或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」

或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」


以德報德

ㄧˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ tɐk̚⁵ pou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」

或曰：「以德报怨，何如？」子曰：「何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。」


博文約禮

ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄩㄝ ㄌㄧˇ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ jœːk̚³ lɐi̯¹³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ jœːk̚³ lɐi̯¹³/

From the Analects, Book 6 (《論語·雍也》):
:
Also Book 9 (《論語·子罕》)

The Master said, "The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right."

Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ bóxué yú wén, yuē zhī yǐ lǐ, yì kěyǐ fú pàn yǐ fū!”

子曰：「君子博學於文，約之以禮，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」

子曰：「君子博学于文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」

The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlarged my mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.

Fūzǐ xúnxúnrán shàn yòu rén, bó wǒ yǐ wén, yuē wǒ yǐ lǐ.

夫子循循然善誘人，博我以文，約我以禮。

夫子循循然善诱人，博我以文，约我以礼。

to extensively study texts and restrain oneself with propriety


去偽存真

去伪存真
去僞存真
去僞存眞

ㄑㄩˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄣ

ㄑㄩˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄓㄣ

цюйвэйцуньчжэнь

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ ŋɐi̯²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³³ ŋɐi̯²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

to discard the false and retain the true; to sift the true from the false


自作多情

ㄗˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ²⁴/

to display affection regardless of whether the other party accepts it; to imagine that one's affection is reciprocated

(in general) to indulge in one's own wishful thinking; to flatter oneself


驢年馬月

ㄌㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄩㄝˋ

/ly³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

ㄌㄩˊㄦ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄩㄝˋ

люйрняньмаюэ

/lyə̯ɻ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²¹ niːn²¹ maː¹³ jyːt̚²/

/ly³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lyə̯ɻ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/lɵy̯²¹ niːn²¹ maː¹³ jyːt̚²/

time that will never come; impossible date; the remote future; God knows when; an unknown and long time; donkey's years


未嘗不可

ㄨㄟˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mei̯²² sœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mei̯²² sœːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/


乍暖還寒

ㄓㄚˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄢˊ

чжануаньхуаньхань

/ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ xän³⁵/

/t͡saː³³ nyːn¹³ waːn²¹ hɔːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯än³⁵ xän³⁵/

/t͡saː³³ nyːn¹³ waːn²¹ hɔːn²¹/

乍暖還寒時候，最難將息。

乍暖还寒时候，最难将息。

(of weather) with temperatures fluctuating between warm and cold


老虎屁股摸不得

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ˙ㄍㄨ ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ˙ㄍㄨ ㄇㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄆㄧˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄇㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

lǎohǔ pìgu mō bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgumōbùdé]

лаоху пигу мо будэ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ g̊u¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lǎohǔ pìgǔ mō bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgǔmōbùdé]

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lǎohǔ pìgu māo bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgumāobùdé]

лаоху пигу мао будэ

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ g̊u¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lǎohǔ pìgǔ māo bùdé [Phonetic:láohǔpìgǔmāobùdé]

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

lang

《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

Anyone, who doesn't allow others to speak, like a tiger whose backside can never be touched by anyone, will always fail.

1962, Mao Zedong, 《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

Bùxǔ rén jiǎnghuà, lǎohǔ pìgu mō bùdé, fánshì cǎiqǔ zhè zhǒng tàidù de rén, shí gè jiù yǒu shí gè yào shībài.

不許人講話，老虎屁股摸不得，凡是採取這種態度的人，十個就有十個要失敗。

1962, Mao Zedong, 《在擴大的中央工作会议上的講話》

不许人讲话，老虎屁股摸不得，凡是采取这种态度的人，十个就有十个要失败。

no one dares to touch a tiger's backside

Shortly after the war, Hua Guofeng summed up the outcome in a pithy phrase contemptuous of Soviet leaders: “As for threatening us, they did that by maneuvers near the border, sending ships to the South China Sea. But they did not dare to move. So after all we could still touch the buttocks of the tiger.”

[2011, Henry Kissinger, On China, New York: Penguin Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, pages 368–369:

(colloquial, derogatory, figuratively) to be self-conceited or self-important; can't tolerate differing opinions; not to be provoked


以鄰為壑

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄜˋ

ㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²¹ wɐi̯²² kʰɔːk̚³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵn²¹ wɐi̯²² kʰɔːk̚³/

Yu's regulation of the waters was according to the laws of water. He therefore made the four seas their receptacle, while you make the neighbouring States their receptacle.

禹之治水，水之道也。是故禹以四海為壑，今吾子以鄰國

use the neighbour's field as an outlet for one's overflow

Whoever is indifferent to the difficulties of others, refuses to transfer cadres to other units on request, or releases only the inferior ones, "using the neighbour's field as an outlet for their overflow", and does not give the slightest consideration to other departments, localities or people—such a person is a selfish departmentalist who has entirely lost the spirit of communism.

Shéi yàoshi duì biérén de kùnnán bù guǎn, biérén yào diào tā suǒshǔ de gànbù bù gěi, huò yǐ huài de sòng rén, “yǐlínwéihè”, quán bù wèi biébù, biédì, biérén xiǎng yi xiǎng, zhèyàng de rén jiù jiàozuò běnwèizhǔyìzhě, zhè jiùshì wánquán shīdiào le gòngchǎnzhǔyì de jīngshén.

誰要是對別人的困難不管，別人要調他所屬的幹部不給，或以壞的送人，「以鄰為壑」，全不為別部、別地、別人想一想，這樣的人就叫做本位主義者，這就是完全失掉了共產主義的精神。

谁要是对别人的困难不管，别人要调他所属的干部不给，或以坏的送人，「以邻为壑」，全不为别部、别地、别人想一想，这样的人就叫做本位主义者，这就是完全失掉了共产主义的精神。

(figuratively) to benefit oneself at others' expense


劍走偏鋒

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄡˇ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ

цзяньцзоупяньфэн

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːm³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ pʰiːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(martial arts) to use a sword with fast, flexible and unexpected movements

(figuratively) to break the normal procedure and find a new or different solution in order to be unexpected and novelty


諄諄告誡

ㄓㄨㄣ ㄓㄨㄣ ㄍㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

чжуньчжуньгаоцзе

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ən⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/t͡sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɵn⁵⁵ kou̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

Have Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin given us any grounds? They have not. On the contrary, they have always earnestly enjoined us to form close ties with the masses and not divorce ourselves from them.

Mǎkèsī, Ēngésī, Lièníng, Sīdàlín gěi le wǒmen zhèyàng de gēnjù ma? Méiyǒu. Xiāngfǎn de, tāmen zǒngshì zhūnzhūngàojiè wǒmen, yào mìqiè liánxì qúnzhòng, ér bùyào tuōlí qúnzhòng.

馬克思、恩格斯、列寧、斯大林給了我們這樣的根據嗎？沒有。相反地，他們總是諄諄告誡我們，要密切聯繫群眾，而不要脫離群眾。

马克思、恩格斯、列宁、斯大林给了我们这样的根据吗？没有。相反地，他们总是谆谆告诫我们，要密切联系群众，而不要脱离群众。

to tirelessly counsel; to admonish repeatedly


羊腸小道

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄠˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ tou̯²²/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːu̯³⁵ tou̯²²/


作賊心虛

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩ

цзоцзэйсиньсюй

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕy⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚² sɐm⁵⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵/

to feel anxious because one is guilty and has committed wrongdoings


日理萬機

ㄖˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

to deal with numerous matters daily; to be very busy


經久不息

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


博聞強記

ㄅㄛˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄐㄧˋ

бовэньцянцзи

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹ kei̯³³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ wən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/pɔːk̚³ mɐn²¹ kʰœːŋ²¹ kei̯³³/

博學強記 博學強記#Chinese

博学强记 博学强记#Chinese

Synonym of 博學強記／博学强记 (bóxuéqiángjì, “to have a lot of knowledge and a good memory”)


擇善固執

ㄗㄜˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓˊ

цзэшаньгучжи

/t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡saːk̚² siːn²² kuː³³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

/t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡saːk̚² siːn²² kuː³³ t͡sɐp̚⁵/

From the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) in the Book of Rites

He who attains to sincerity is he who chooses what is good, and firmly holds it fast.

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

Chéng zhī zhě, zé shàn ér gùzhí zhī zhě yě.

誠之者，擇善而固執之者也。

诚之者，择善而固执之者也。


歷久不衰

ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨㄞ

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lɪk̚² kɐu̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/


退而求其次

ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄘˋ

/tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/tʰɵy̯³³ jiː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³³/


亂臣賊子

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄔㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄗˇ

луаньчэньцзэйцзы

/lu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lyːn²² sɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡siː³⁵/

/lyːn²² sɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡siː³⁵/

Confucius completed the "Spring and Autumn," and rebellious ministers and villainous sons were struck with terror.

Kǒngzǐ chéng “chūnqiū”, ér luànchénzéizǐ jù.

孔子成《春秋》，而亂臣賊子懼。

孔子成《春秋》，而乱臣贼子惧。

rebellious minister disloyal to the monarch


舉不勝舉

ㄐㄩˇ ㄅㄨˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄐㄩˇ

цзюйбушэнцзюй

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kɵy̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kɵy̯³⁵/

too numerous to mention one by one; too numerous to count one by one.


未老先衰

ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄨㄞ

вэйлаосяньшуай

/weɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² lou̯¹³ siːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mei̯²² lou̯¹³ siːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵/

to decline in health before becoming old


疾風勁草

ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄘㄠˇ

цзифэнцзинцао

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

only the toughest grass can withstand strong winds

(figuratively) to show one's true colors after a stern test; a steadfast and staunch person unyielding in their integrity


疾風知勁草

ㄐㄧˊ ㄈㄥ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄘㄠˇ

цзифэнчжицзинцао

/t͡ɕi³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/t͡sɐt̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɪŋ²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/


故土難離

ㄍㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/ku⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ li³⁵/

/ku⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ li³⁵/


不留餘地

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄩˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹ tei̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ y³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ jyː²¹ tei̯²²/

to leave no room; to make no allowance for


十月懷胎

ㄕˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄊㄞ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² jyːt̚² waːi̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² jyːt̚² waːi̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵/

(literally) to be pregnant for ten months


每事問

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

When he [the Master] entered the ancestral temple of the state, he asked about everything.

入太廟，每事問。

入太庙，每事问。

Just get moving on your two legs, go the rounds of every section placed under your charge and “inquire into everything” as Confucius did, and then you will be able to solve the problems, however little is your ability.

1930, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《反對本本主義》 (Oppose Book Worship), 《毛澤東選集》 (Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung), English translation based on https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-6/mswv6_11.htm

Màikāi nǐ de liǎngjiǎo, dào nǐ de gōngzuò fànwéi de gè bùfen gè dìfang qù zǒuzǒu, xué ge Kǒng Fūzǐ de “měishìwèn”, rènpíng shénme cáilì xiǎo yě néng jiějué wèntí.

邁開你的兩腳，到你的工作範圍的各部分各地方去走走，學個孔夫子的「每事問」，任憑什麼才力小也能解決問題。

迈开你的两脚，到你的工作范围的各部分各地方去走走，学个孔夫子的「每事问」，任凭什么才力小也能解决问题。


放長線釣大魚

to throw a long line to catch a big fish

ㄈㄤˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˊ

фан чансянь дяо даюй

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ y³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ siːn³³ tiːu̯³³ taːi̯²² jyː²¹⁻³⁵/

In June of the same year, an article titled "The working class has spoken out" was published in Shanghai, which was immediately followed by the Anti-Rightist Campaign. Then the people realized that it was a long-term plan to make [the "Rightists"] identify themselves and catch them all.

2015, 赵芳举, 《夕阳忆语──时代的变迁和我的托派生涯》, chapter 19

Tóngnián liùyuè, Shànghǎi fābiǎo le “Gōngrén jiējí shuōhuà le”, gēngjí zhǎnkāi le fǎn “yòupài” dòuzhēng, dàjiā zhè cái míngbai, yuánlái shì “fàng chángxiàn diào dàyú”, ràng nǐ fúchū shuǐmiàn, yīwǎngdǎjìn.

同年六月，上海發表了《工人階級說話了》，賡即展開了反「右派」鬥爭，大家這才明白，原來是「放長線釣大魚」，讓你浮出水面，一網打盡。

同年六月，上海发表了《工人阶级说话了》，赓即展开了反「右派」斗争，大家这才明白，原来是「放长线钓大鱼」，让你浮出水面，一网打尽。

to adopt a long-term plan to secure something big


冥思苦索

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄙ ㄎㄨˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sɔːk̚³/

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sɔːk̚³/

Only a blockhead cudgels his brains on his own, or together with a group, to "find solution" or "evolve an idea" without making any investigation.

Zhǐyǒu chǔnrén, cái shì tā yī gè rén, huòzhě yāojí yī duī rén, bù zuò diàochá, ér zhǐshì míngsīkǔsuǒ de “xiǎng bànfǎ”, “dǎ zhǔyì”.

只有蠢人，才是他一個人，或者邀集一堆人，不作調查，而只是冥思苦索地「想辦法」，「打主意」。

只有蠢人，才是他一个人，或者邀集一堆人，不作调查，而只是冥思苦索地「想办法」，「打主意」。

to think long and hard; to rack one's brains; to cudgel one's brains


二屄青年歡樂多

二屄青年欢乐多
二逼青年歡樂多
二比青年歡樂多
二B青年歡樂多

ㄦˋ ㄅㄧ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄌㄜˋ ㄉㄨㄛ

эрби циннянь хуаньлэ до

/ˀɤɻ⁵¹ pi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

(neologism, vulgar, slang) The carefree and idiotic-looking young person is having a lot of fun.


扒一扒

/pä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pä⁵⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pä⁵⁵/

(neologism, colloquial, slang) to gossip about; to chat about


短兵相接

ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄝ

дуаньбинсянцзе

/tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/tyːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³/

/tuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tuan⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ piɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²/

/tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/tyːn³⁵ pɪŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³/

In a situation when the class struggle grows increasingly acute and is waged at close quarters, the proletariat has to depend for its victory entirely on the correct and firm tactics of struggle of its own party, the Communist Party.

Zài zhèyàng rìyì zǒuxiàng jiānruì de duǎnbīngxiāngjiē de jiējí dòuzhēng de xíngshì zhī xià, wúchǎn jiējí yào qǔdé shènglì, jiù wánquán yào kào tā de zhèngdǎng — Gòngchǎndǎng de dòuzhēng cèlüè de zhèngquè hé jiānjué.

在這樣日益走向尖銳的短兵相接的階級鬥爭的形勢之下，無產階級要取得勝利，就完全要靠他的政黨——共產黨的鬥爭策略的正確和堅決。

在这样日益走向尖锐的短兵相接的阶级斗争的形势之下，无产阶级要取得胜利，就完全要靠他的政党——共产党的斗争策略的正确和坚决。

to fight hand to hand; to be in close combat


盛衰榮辱

ㄕㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄞ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨˇ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄞ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨˋ

шэншуайжунжу

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

The outcome of our investigation should be a picture of the present situation of each class and the ups and downs of its development.

Wǒmen diàochá suǒ yào dédào de jiélùn, shì gè jiējí xiànzài de yǐjí lìshǐ de shèngshuāiróngrǔ de qíngkuàng.

我們調查所要得到的結論，是各階級現在的以及歷史的盛衰榮辱的情況。

我们调查所要得到的结论，是各阶级现在的以及历史的盛衰荣辱的情况。

prosperity and decline, glory and humiliation; vicissitudes of life


冥思苦想

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄙ ㄎㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sœːŋ³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ sœːŋ³⁵/

冥思苦索 冥思苦索#Chinese

Synonym of 冥思苦索 (míngsīkǔsuǒ, “to think long and hard”)


果不其然

ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄢˊ

/ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/kʷɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiːn²¹/

/kuo²¹³⁻²¹ pɨt̚¹ t͡ɕʰi²⁴ lɛn³⁵/

/ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/kʷɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiːn²¹/

/kuo²¹³⁻²¹ pɨt̚¹ t͡ɕʰi²⁴ lɛn³⁵/

Jīnrì guǒbùqírán! Rújīn ná le yínzǐ jiā qù mà zhè sǐ kǎntóu duǎnmìng de núcái!

今日果不其然！如今拿了銀子家去罵這死砍頭短命的奴才！

今日果不其然！如今拿了银子家去骂这死砍头短命的奴才！


完完全全

ㄨㄢˊ ㄨㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ваньваньцюаньцюань

/wän³⁵ wän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/wän³⁵ wän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it.

Nǐ wánwánquánquán diàochá míngbai le, nǐ duì nàge wèntí jiù yǒu jiějué de bànfǎ le.

你完完全全調查明白了，你對那個問題就有解決的辦法了。

你完完全全调查明白了，你对那个问题就有解决的办法了。

(emphatic) completely; absolutely; entirely


老死不相往來

ㄌㄠˇ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄨㄤˇ ㄌㄞˊ

лаосыбусянванлай

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ lɔːi̯²¹/

(of two entities) to never have contact with each other; to never interact


360度無死角

ㄙㄢ ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄙˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

sānbǎiliùshí dù wú sǐjiǎo [Phonetic:sānbǎiliùshídùwúsíjiǎo]

san¹-pai³-liu⁴-shih² tu⁴ wu² ssŭ³-chiao³

саньбайлюши ду у сыцзяо

/sän⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tu⁵¹ u³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(neologism, slang) from all possible angles; from A to Z; thoroughly; wholly


頭頭碰著黑

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰʊŋ³³ t͡sœːk̚² hɐk̚⁵/

/tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ pʰʊŋ³³ t͡sœːk̚² hɐk̚⁵/

(Cantonese) to be very unlucky; to bump into trouble all the time


閉關鎖國

ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

Imperialist Russia changed into the socialist Soviet Union, and feudal Japan, which had locked its doors against the world, changed into imperialist Japan, although no change occurred in the geography and climate of either country.

1937, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《矛盾論》 (On Contradiction), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Dìguó zhǔyì de Éguó biànwéi shèhuì zhǔyì de Sūlián, fēngjiàn de bìguānsuǒguó de Rìběn biànwéi dìguó zhǔyì de Rìběn, zhèxiē guójiā de dìlǐ hé qìhòu bìng méiyǒu biànhuà.

帝國主義的俄國變為社會主義的蘇聯，封建的閉關鎖國的日本變為帝國主義的日本，這些國家的地理和氣候並沒有變化。

帝国主义的俄国变为社会主义的苏联，封建的闭关锁国的日本变为帝国主义的日本，这些国家的地理和气候并没有变化。

to cut off one's country from the outside world


空洞無物

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄨˊ ㄨˋ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ mɐt̚²/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ u⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² mou̯²¹ mɐt̚²/

Our dogmatists have violated Lenin's teachings; they never use their brains to analyse anything concretely, and in their writings and speeches they always use stereotypes devoid of content, thereby creating a very bad style of work in our Party.

Wǒmen de jiàotiáozhǔyìzhě wéibèi Lièníng de zhǐshì, cónglái bù yòng nǎojīn jùtǐ de fēnxī rènhé shìwù, zuòqǐ wénzhāng huò yǎnshuō lai, zǒngshì kōngdòngwúwù de bāgǔdiào, zài wǒmen Dǎng nèi zàochéng le yī zhǒng jí huài de zuòfēng.

我們的教條主義者違背列寧的指示，從來不用腦筋具體地分析任何事物，做起文章或演說來，總是空洞無物的八股調，在我們黨內造成了一種極壞的作風。

我们的教条主义者违背列宁的指示，从来不用脑筋具体地分析任何事物，做起文章或演说来，总是空洞无物的八股调，在我们党内造成了一种极坏的作风。

utter lack of substance; devoid of content


兼聽則明

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄗㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзяньтинцзэмин

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kiːm⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɐk̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kiːm⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ³³ t͡sɐk̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

Listen to both/all sides and you will be enlightened.


概莫能外

ㄍㄞˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄨㄞˋ

/kaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰɔːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² nɐŋ²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/kaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰɔːi̯³³ mɔːk̚² nɐŋ²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

This is a universal truth for all times and all countries, which admits of no exception.

Zhè shì gòngtōng de dàolǐ, gǔjīnzhōngwài, gàimònéngwài.

這是共通的道理，古今中外，概莫能外。

这是共通的道理，古今中外，概莫能外。

to be no exception; to admit of no exception whatsoever


止於至善

ㄓˇ ㄩˊ ㄓˋ ㄕㄢˋ

чжиюйчжишань

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ siːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡siː³³ siːn²²/

From the Great Learning (《大學》) in the Book of Rites

What the Great Learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

Dàxué zhī dào, zài míng míngdé, zài xīn mín, zài zhǐ yú zhì shàn.

大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。

大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。


以形補形

ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɪŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ jɪŋ²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ jɪŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ jɪŋ²¹/

to supposedly heal or nourish a body part by eating something that is visually similar to the respective body part, often the corresponding body part of an animal


謀財害命

ㄇㄡˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄏㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

моуцайхаймин

/moʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/mɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯²² mɪŋ²²/

/moʊ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹/

/mɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯²² mɪŋ²²/

to murder for money; to kill someone for his or her property


迎風飄舞

ㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄥ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄨˇ

/iŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³/

/iŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³/


殃及池魚

ㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˊ ㄔˊ ㄩˊ

/jɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵/

/jœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚² t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹/

/jɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ y³⁵/

/jœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚² t͡sʰiː²¹ jyː²¹/

城門失火，殃及池魚 城門失火，殃及池魚#Chinese

城门失火，殃及池鱼 城门失火，殃及池鱼#Chinese

Short for 城門失火，殃及池魚／城门失火，殃及池鱼 (chéngmén shīhuǒ, yāngjí chíyú, “to suffer as a bystander; to get caught in the crossfire”).


風聲鶴唳

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (風聲鶴唳):
* → Japanese: 風声鶴唳(ふうせいかくれい) (fūsei kakurei)
* → Korean: 풍성학려(風聲鶴唳) (pungseonghangnyeo)

ㄈㄥ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄜˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² lɵy̯²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² ho(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui²²/

/hɔŋ³³ siã³³ ho(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lui⁴¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² ho(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ lui²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ ho(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ lui³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ sĩã³³⁻²³ hoʔ⁴⁻² li³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² lɵy̯²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² ho(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui²²/

/hɔŋ³³ siã³³ ho(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lui⁴¹/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴⁻²² ho(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ lui²²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ ho(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ lui³³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lui³³/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ sĩã³³⁻²³ hoʔ⁴⁻² li³⁵/

The rest of the troop dropped their armors and escaped overnight. Hearing the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes, they thought the monarch's army had come.

648 CE, Fang Xuanling (lead editor), Book of Jin

Yú zhòng qì jiǎ xiāo dùn, wén fēngshēnghèlì, jiē yǐwèi wángshī yǐ zhì.

餘眾棄甲宵遁，聞風聲鶴唳，皆以為王師已至。

余众弃甲宵遁，闻风声鹤唳，皆以为王师已至。

to panic and feel apprehensive for even the slightest sound


知其不可為而為之

ㄓ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓ

чжицибукэвэйэрвэйчжи

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

See 知其不可而為／知其不可而为 (zhī qí bùkě ér wéi).

zh-l

知其不可而為／知其不可而为 (zhī qí bùkě ér wéi)

知其不可而為 知其不可而為#Chinese

知其不可而为 知其不可而为#Chinese

Synonym of 知其不可而為／知其不可而为 (zhī qí bùkě ér wéi, “to (stubbornly) do something even though one knows it is impossible”)


不思進取

ㄅㄨˋ ㄙ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄩˇ

бусыцзиньцюй

/pu⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn³³ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

rest on one's laurels
rest on one's laurels

to rest on one's laurels; to make no further effort to improve oneself


知其不可而為之

ㄓ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓ

чжицибукээрвэйчжи

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

See 知其不可而為／知其不可而为 (zhī qí bùkě ér wéi).

知其不可而為／知其不可而为 (zhī qí bùkě ér wéi)

知其不可而為 知其不可而為#Chinese

知其不可而为 知其不可而为#Chinese


以淚洗面

ㄧˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵy̯²² sɐi̯³⁵ miːn²²/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ lɵy̯²² sɐi̯³⁵ miːn²²/

(figurative) to grieve greatly; to be filled with sorrow


時不我與

ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄩˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ ŋɔː¹³ jyː¹³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ ŋɔː¹³ jyː¹³/


冠冕堂皇

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄇㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

гуаньмяньтанхуан

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ miːn¹³ tʰɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ miːn¹³ tʰɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

to seem honorable and just on the surface, but is not the case in reality


正大光明

ㄓㄥˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

чжэндагуанмин

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

光明正大 光明正大#Chinese

Synonym of 光明正大 (guāngmíngzhèngdà, “high-principled; open and aboveboard; just and honorable; frank and righteous; without artifice”)


歲不我與

ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄩˇ

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ ŋɔː¹³ jyː¹³/

/su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɵy̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ ŋɔː¹³ jyː¹³/

From the Analects, Book 17 (《論語·陽貨》). Yang Huo (陽貨) is trying to persuade Confucius into taking office

He then asked, "Can he be called benevolent who keeps his jewel in his bosom, and leaves his country to confusion?" Confucius replied, "No." "Can he be called wise, who is anxious to be engaged in public employment, and yet is constantly losing the opportunity of being so?" Confucius again said, "No." "The days and months are passing away; the years do not wait for us." Confucius said, "Right; I will go into office."

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

Yuē: “Huái qí bǎo ér mí qí bāng, kěwèi rén hū?” Yuē: “Bùkě.” “hào cóng shì ér jí shīshí, kě wèi zhì hū?” Yuē: “Bùkě.” “rìyuè shì yǐ, suì bù wǒ yǔ.” Kǒng Zǐ yuē: “Nuò. Wú jiāng shì yǐ.”

曰：「懷其寶而迷其邦，可謂仁乎？」曰：「不可。」「好從事而亟失時，可謂知乎？」曰：「不可。」「日月逝矣，歲不我與。」孔子曰：「諾。吾將仕矣。」

曰：「怀其宝而迷其邦，可谓仁乎？」曰：「不可。」「好从事而亟失时，可谓知乎？」曰：「不可。」「日月逝矣，岁不我与。」孔子曰：「诺。吾将仕矣。」

time and tide wait for no man
time and tide wait for no man

to have missed an opportunity; time and tide wait for no man


生財有道

ㄕㄥ ㄘㄞˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

There is a great course also for the production of wealth. Let the producers be many and the consumers few. Let there be activity in the production, and economy in the expenditure. Then the wealth will always be sufficient.

Shēngcái yǒu dàdào, shēng zhī zhě zhòng, shí zhī zhě guǎ, wéi zhī zhě jí, yòng zhī zhě shū, zé cái héng zú yǐ.

生財有大道，生之者眾，食之者寡，為之者疾，用之者舒，則財恆足矣。

生财有大道，生之者众，食之者寡，为之者疾，用之者舒，则财恒足矣。

[They] are expert in making money,
[But they] can't enjoy [their] money.

Yuan dynasty, 錢霖,《般涉調·哨遍·看錢奴》

生財有道，受用無由。

Yuan dynasty, 錢霖,《般涉調·哨遍·看錢奴》

生财有道，受用无由。

(sometimes derogatory) to be expert in making money; to have the knack of making money


大放異彩

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄤˋ ㄧˋ ㄘㄞˇ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² fɔːŋ³³ jiː²² t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² fɔːŋ³³ jiː²² t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

to shine; to be outstanding; to perform splendidly


人中之龍

ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

жэньчжунчжилун

žɛnʹčžunčžilun

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹/

outstanding and extraordinary person among a group


人才輩出

ㄖㄣˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄟˋ ㄔㄨ

жэньцайбэйчу

/ʐən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/


逝者如斯

ㄕˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄙ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯²² t͡sɛː³⁵ jyː²¹ siː⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯²² t͡sɛː³⁵ jyː²¹ siː⁵⁵/

The Master standing by a stream, said, "It passes on just like this, not ceasing day or night!"

Zǐ zài chuān shàng, yuē: “Shìzhě rú sī fū! Bù shě zhòuyè.”

子在川上，曰：「逝者如斯夫！不舍晝夜。」

子在川上，曰：「逝者如斯夫！不舍昼夜。」


豐儉由人

ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ

фэнцзяньюжэнь

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːm²² jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːm²² jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

to have different products or services at different prices (cheap and expensive) to choose from


天上雷公，地上海陸豐

天上雷公，地上海陆丰
天上雷公，地下海陸豐

there are the god of thunder in the heavens and Hailufeng people on earth

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄌㄨˋ ㄈㄥ

tin¹ soeng⁶ leoi⁴ gung¹, dei⁶ soeng⁶ hoi² luk⁶ fung¹

тяньшан лэйгун, дишан Хайлуфэн (tjanʹšan lɛjgun, dišan Xajlufɛn)

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ leɪ̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

tīn seuhng lèuih gūng, deih seuhng hói luhk fūng

tin¹ soeng⁶ loey⁴ gung¹, dei⁶ soeng⁶ hoi² luk⁹ fung¹

tin¹ sêng⁶ lêu⁴ gung¹, déi⁶ sêng⁶ hoi² lug⁶ fung¹

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² lɵy̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² sœːŋ²² hɔːi̯³⁵ lʊk̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

people from Hailufeng are valiant and fierce


歸根結蒂

ㄍㄨㄟ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄧˋ

гуйгэньцзеди

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kiːt̚³ tɐi̯³³/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kiːt̚³ tɐi̯³³/

Marxism teaches us that democracy is part of the superstructure and belongs to the realm of politics. That is to say, in the last analysis, it serves the economic base.

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

Mǎkèsī zhǔyì gàosu wǒmen, mínzhǔ shǔyú shàngcéng jiànzhù, shǔyú zhèngzhì zhège fànchóu. Zhè jiù shì shuō, guīgēnjiédì, tā shì wèi jīngjì jīchǔ fúwù de.

馬克思主義告訴我們，民主屬於上層建築，屬於政治這個範疇。這就是說，歸根結蒂，它是為經濟基礎服務的。

马克思主义告诉我们，民主属于上层建筑，属于政治这个范畴。这就是说，归根结蒂，它是为经济基础服务的。

歸根結底 歸根結底#Chinese

归根结底 归根结底#Chinese

Synonym of 歸根結底／归根结底 (guīgēnjiédǐ, “all in all; ultimately it comes down to”)


穿鑿附會

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄗㄠˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

чуаньцзаофухуэй

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

чуаньцзофухуэй

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚² fuː²² wuːi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚² fuː²² wuːi̯²²/

to give an implausible explanation and draw far-fetched analogies


天上雷公，地下海陸豐

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄌㄨˋ ㄈㄥ

tin¹ soeng⁶ leoi⁴ gung¹, dei⁶ haa⁶ hoi² luk⁶ fung¹

тяньшан лэйгун, дися Хайлуфэн (tjanʹšan lɛjgun, disja Xajlufɛn)

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ leɪ̯³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

tīn seuhng lèuih gūng, deih hah hói luhk fūng

tin¹ soeng⁶ loey⁴ gung¹, dei⁶ haa⁶ hoi² luk⁹ fung¹

tin¹ sêng⁶ lêu⁴ gung¹, déi⁶ ha⁶ hoi² lug⁶ fung¹

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² lɵy̯²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² haː²² hɔːi̯³⁵ lʊk̚² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

天上雷公，地上海陸豐 天上雷公，地上海陸豐#Chinese

天上雷公，地上海陆丰 天上雷公，地上海陆丰#Chinese

Synonym of 天上雷公，地上海陸豐／天上雷公，地上海陆丰 (tiānshàng léigōng, dìshàng Hǎilùfēng, “people from Hailufeng are valiant and fierce”)


麻痺大意

ㄇㄚˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ

/mä³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/maː²¹ pei̯³³ taːi̯²² jiː³³/

/mä³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/maː²¹ pei̯³³ taːi̯²² jiː³³/

In ordinary circumstances, contradictions among the people are not antagonistic. But if they are not handled properly, or if we relax our vigilance and lower our guard, antagonism may arise.

Zài yībān qíngkuàng xià, rénmín nèibù de máodùn bùshì duìkàngxìng de. Dànshì rúguǒ chǔlǐ de bù shìdàng, huòzhě shīqù jǐngjué, mábìdàyì, yě kěnéng fāshēng duìkàng.

在一般情況下，人民內部的矛盾不是對抗性的。但是如果處理得不適當，或者失去警覺，麻痺大意，也可能發生對抗。

在一般情况下，人民内部的矛盾不是对抗性的。但是如果处理得不适当，或者失去警觉，麻痹大意，也可能发生对抗。

to lower one's guard; to be careless and unconcerned


民生國計

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄧˋ

миньшэнгоцзи

/min³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/min³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

國計民生 國計民生#Chinese

国计民生 国计民生#Chinese

Synonym of 國計民生／国计民生 (guójìmínshēng, “national economy and the people's livelihood”)


挑撥離間

ㄊㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄛ ㄌㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

тяоболицзянь

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ puːt̚² lei̯²¹ kaːn³³/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻²² puat̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kan²¹/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li³³⁻¹¹ kan⁴⁴/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ li³³⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kan⁴⁴/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kan⁴⁴/

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ puːt̚² lei̯²¹ kaːn³³/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻²² puat̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kan²¹/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li³³⁻¹¹ kan⁴⁴/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ li³³⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kan⁴⁴/

/tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ pua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kan⁴⁴/

It was a case of the reactionaries inside a socialist country, in league with the imperialists, attempting to achieve their conspiratorial aims by taking advantage of contradictions among the people to foment dissension and stir up disorder.

Shèhuì zhǔyì guójiā nèibù de fǎndòngpài tóng dìguó zhǔyìzhě hùxiāng gōujié, lìyòng rénmín nèibù de máodùn, tiǎobōlíjiàn, xīngfēngzuòlàng, qǐtú shíxiàn tāmen de yīnmóu.

社會主義國家內部的反動派同帝國主義者互相勾結，利用人民內部的矛盾，挑撥離間，興風作浪，企圖實現他們的陰謀。

社会主义国家内部的反动派同帝国主义者互相勾结，利用人民内部的矛盾，挑拨离间，兴风作浪，企图实现他们的阴谋。

to incite one person against another; to drive a wedge between; to foment disunity and dissension; to sow discord


國計民生

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄥ

гоцзиминьшэн

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ min³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ kɐi̯³³ mɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ min³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ kɐi̯³³ mɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

To counter imperialist oppression and to raise her backward economy to a higher level, China must utilize all the factors of urban and rural capitalism that are beneficial and not harmful to the national economy and the people's livelihood; and we must unite with the national bourgeoisie in common struggle.

1949, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論人民民主專政》 (On the People's Democratic Dictatorship). English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Wèile duìfu dìguó zhǔyì de yāpò, wèile shǐ luòhòu de jīngjì dìwèi tígāo yībù, Zhōngguó bìxū lìyòng yīqiè yú guójìmínshēng yǒulì ér bùshì yǒuhài de chéngxiāng zīběn zhǔyì yīnsù, tuánjié mínzú zīchǎn jiējí, gòngtóng fèndòu.

為了對付帝國主義的壓迫，為了使落後的經濟地位提高一步，中國必須利用一切於國計民生有利而不是有害的城鄉資本主義因素，團結民族資產階級，共同奮鬥。

为了对付帝国主义的压迫，为了使落后的经济地位提高一步，中国必须利用一切于国计民生有利而不是有害的城乡资本主义因素，团结民族资产阶级，共同奋斗。


恭恭敬敬

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

гунгунцзинцзин

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ kɪŋ³³/

/kuŋ⁴² kuŋ² t͡ɕin³⁵ t͡ɕin²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ kɪŋ³³/

/kuŋ⁴² kuŋ² t͡ɕin³⁵ t͡ɕin²/

We must learn to do economic work from all who know how, no matter who they are. We must esteem them as teachers, learning from them respectfully and conscientiously.

Wǒmen bìxū xiàng yīqiè nèixíng de rénmen (bùguǎn shénme rén) xué jīngjì gōngzuò. Bài tāmen zuò lǎoshī, gōnggōngjìngjìng de xué, lǎolǎoshíshí de xué.

我們必須向一切內行的人們（不管什麼人）學經濟工作。拜他們做老師，恭恭敬敬地學，老老實實地學。

我们必须向一切内行的人们（不管什么人）学经济工作。拜他们做老师，恭恭敬敬地学，老老实实地学。

most respectfully; in an attitude of respect;


彈盡糧絕

ㄉㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

даньцзиньлянцзюэ

/tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/taːn²²⁻³⁵ t͡sɵn²² lœːŋ²¹ t͡syːt̚²/

/tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/taːn²²⁻³⁵ t͡sɵn²² lœːŋ²¹ t͡syːt̚²/

(literally, of an army) to run out of ammunition and food supply

(figuratively) to be in a desperate situation


一枝獨秀

ㄧ ㄓ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tu³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʊk̚² sɐu̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² tɔk̚⁴⁻³² siu²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ ki³³ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² siu⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ ki⁴⁴⁻²² tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siu²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² siu¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² siu²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tu³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʊk̚² sɐu̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻²² tɔk̚⁴⁻³² siu²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ ki³³ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² siu⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ ki⁴⁴⁻²² tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siu²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² siu¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² siu²¹/


稀世珍寶

ㄒㄧ ㄕˋ ㄓㄣ ㄅㄠˇ

сишичжэньбао

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hei̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ pɔː³⁵/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hei̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ pɔː³⁵/


青山綠水

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄌㄩˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

циншаньлюйшуй

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ly⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ lʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁴¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁴¹/

/t͡sʰẽ³³⁻²³ sua³³⁻²³ lek̚⁴⁻² t͡sui⁵²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ly⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ lʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁴¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ liɔk̚⁴⁻³² sui⁴¹/

/t͡sʰẽ³³⁻²³ sua³³⁻²³ lek̚⁴⁻² t͡sui⁵²/

green hills and rivers; beautiful landscape


力學篤行

ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄉㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɪk̚² hɔːk̚² tʊk̚⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/li⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɪk̚² hɔːk̚² tʊk̚⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

to diligently study and put into practice what one has learnt


彈丸之地

ㄉㄢˋ ㄨㄢˊ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

даньваньчжиди

/tän⁵¹ wän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/tän⁵¹ wän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

There is a shocking population of 7 million in a tiny place like Hong Kong.

Xiānggǎng zhè piàn dànwánzhīdì, jìngrán zhù le qībǎiwàn rén.

香港這片彈丸之地，竟然住了七百萬人。

香港这片弹丸之地，竟然住了七百万人。

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

此彈丸之地，猶不予也。

此弹丸之地，犹不予也。


且歌且舞

ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄍㄜ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄨˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ mou̯¹³/

/t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ mou̯¹³/


平步青雲

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩㄣˊ

пинбуцинъюнь

/pʰiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ pou̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/piɪŋ²³⁻³³ pɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³/

/piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴/

/piɪŋ²³⁻³³ pɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³/

/piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ pou̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/piɪŋ²³⁻³³ pɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³/

/piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴/

/piɪŋ²³⁻³³ pɔ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²³/

/piɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pɔ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hun²⁴/

rise through the ranks
rise through the ranks


扶老攜幼

ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄡˋ

ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄧ ㄧㄡˋ

/fu³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/fu³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²¹ lou̯¹³ kʷʰɐi̯²¹ jɐu̯³³/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ lo⁵³ he²⁴⁻¹¹ iu¹¹/

/hu²⁴⁻²² lo⁵³ he²⁴⁻²² iu²¹/

/hu²³⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹ he²³⁻³³ iu²¹/

/fu³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/fu³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²¹ lou̯¹³ kʷʰɐi̯²¹ jɐu̯³³/

/hu²⁴⁻¹¹ lo⁵³ he²⁴⁻¹¹ iu¹¹/

/hu²⁴⁻²² lo⁵³ he²⁴⁻²² iu²¹/

/hu²³⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹ he²³⁻³³ iu²¹/

to bring the young and old along; to take everyone along


十居其九

/sɐp̚² kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵/

/sɐp̚² kɵy̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵/


綠水青山

ㄌㄩˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄕㄢ

люйшуйциншань

/ly⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/ly⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

青山綠水 青山綠水#Chinese

青山绿水 青山绿水#Chinese

Synonym of 青山綠水／青山绿水 (qīngshānlǜshuǐ, “green hills and rivers; beautiful landscape”)


人中豪傑

ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄏㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

жэньчжунхаоцзе

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ kiːt̚²/

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ kiːt̚²/


搜索枯腸

ㄙㄡ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄎㄨ ㄔㄤˊ

/soʊ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ saːk̚³ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ sɔːk̚³ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/soʊ̯⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ saːk̚³ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ sɔːk̚³ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

to rack one's brain; to think extremely hard


自取滅亡

ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄨㄤˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ miːt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ miːt̚² mɔːŋ²¹/

to court self-destruction; to dig one's own grave


開宗明義

ㄎㄞ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧˋ

кайцзунминъи

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ jiː²²/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ jiː²²/

to make clear the main idea at the beginning in one's speech or writing


顧此失彼

ㄍㄨˋ ㄘˇ ㄕ ㄅㄧˇ

/ku⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/

/ku⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ sɐt̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/

to attend to one thing and lose sight of another; to be unable to take care of everything at once


福星高照

ㄈㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄍㄠ ㄓㄠˋ

фусингаочжао

/fu³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊk̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯³³/

/fu³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/fʊk̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯³³/


平心而論

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄦˊ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

пинсиньэрлунь

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²¹ lɵn²²/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²¹ lɵn²²/


知無不言

ㄓ ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹/


尸位素餐

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (尸位素餐):
* → Japanese: 尸(し)位(い)素(そ)餐(さん) (shīsosan)

ㄕ ㄨㄟˋ ㄙㄨˋ ㄘㄢ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² sou̯³³ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵/

/si⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ui²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾lu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ^((t͡sʰ-))ʒuaŋ⁵⁵/

/si³³⁻²³ ui¹¹ su²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰaŋ³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/

/siː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²² sou̯³³ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵/

/si³³⁻²³ ui¹¹ su²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰaŋ³³/

Now in the royal court, ministers who can't assist the emperor or benefit the people all hold their positions and live without doing anything.

Jīn cháotíng dàchén, shàng bù néng kuāngzhǔ, xià wú yǐ yìmín, jiē shīwèisùcān.

今朝廷大臣，上不能匡主，下亡以益民，皆尸位素餐。

2021 February 21, 《为官避事平生耻》 (text), in 《平“语”近人——习近平喜欢的典故》, season 2, episode 4, CCTV-1, spoken by Meng Man, 5:59 from the start

Wèishénme Yuán Hàowèn yào shuō “dāngguān bìshì píngshēng chǐ”? Xí zǒngshūjì wèishénme yòu yào shuō “wéi guān bìshì píngshēng chǐ” ne? Yīnwèi zài wǒmen zhōngguórén kànlái a, zài qí wèi jiù děi móu qí zhèng, yīge rén yàoshì shīwèisùcān dehuà, běnshēn jiùshì wéi rén bùchǐ de yī jiàn shì.

為什麼元好問要說「當官避事平生恥」？習總書記為什麼又要說「為官避事平生恥」呢？因為在我們中國人看來啊，在其位就得謀其政，一個人要是尸位素餐的話，本身就是為人不齒的一件事。

为什么元好问要说「当官避事平生耻」？习总书记为什么又要说「为官避事平生耻」呢？因为在我们中国人看来啊，在其位就得谋其政，一个人要是尸位素餐的话，本身就是为人不齿的一件事。

(derogatory or humble) hold one's position and live without doing anything


詭計多端

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄢ

гуйцзидодуань

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ kɐi̯³³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ kɐi̯³³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/


十室九空

ㄕˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄥ

ㄕˊ ㄕˇ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄥ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² sɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐp̚² sɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of a space) desolate after a war or disaster; deserted as people have died or fled


拉不出屎來賴茅坑

to blame thelatrine when not able to defecate

ㄌㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄕˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄌㄞˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄎㄥ

la¹ pu⁴ chʻu¹ shih³ lai² lai⁴ mao²-kʻêng¹

ла бу чу ши лай лай маокэн

/lä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵/

ㄌㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄕˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄌㄞˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄎㄥㄦ

лабучушилайлаймаокэнр

/lä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

to unreasonably blame one's tool or others when unable to do something


淋漓盡致

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄓˋ

линьлицзиньчжи

/lin³⁵ li³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ lei̯²¹ t͡sɵn²² t͡siː³³/

/lin³⁵ li³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ lei̯²¹ t͡sɵn²² t͡siː³³/


井然有序

ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄩˋ

цзинжаньюсюй

/t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵¹/

/t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵy̯²²/

/t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵¹/

/t͡sɛːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵy̯²²/


通力合作

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ lɪk̚² hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/tʰɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sɔk̚³²/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ lɪk̚² hɐp̚² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/tʰɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² hap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sɔk̚³²/

to work together; to make a concerted effort to do a task


亂中有序

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄩˋ

луаньчжунъюсюй

/lu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵¹/

/lyːn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵy̯²²/

/lu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵¹/

/lyːn²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɵy̯²²/


掩人耳目

ㄧㄢˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄦˇ ㄇㄨˋ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/jiːm³⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː¹³ mʊk̚²/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/jiːm³⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː¹³ mʊk̚²/

to deceive and hide the truth from others


聲威大震

ㄕㄥ ㄨㄟ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄣˋ

шэнвэйдачжэнь

šɛnvɛjdačžɛnʹ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sɐn³³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sɐn³³/


舉國上下

ㄐㄩˇ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ sœːŋ²² haː²²/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kɵy̯³⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ sœːŋ²² haː²²/


雄心壯志

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄓˋ

сюнсиньчжуанчжи

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/

/hioŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sim³³⁻²³ t͡saŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡si²¹³/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ³³ t͡siː³³/


有錯必糾

ㄧㄡˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

Our policy is: "Counter-revolutionaries must be eliminated wherever found, mistakes must be corrected whenever discovered."

Wǒmen de fāngzhēn shì: “Yǒu fǎn bì sù, yǒu cuò bì jiū”.

我們的方針是：「有反必肅，有錯必糾」。

我们的方针是：「有反必肃，有错必纠」。


聲勢浩大

ㄕㄥ ㄕˋ ㄏㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ hou̯²² taːi̯²²/

/siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ ho²²⁻²¹ tai²²/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tai³³/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tai³³/

/siã⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ ho²²⁻²¹ tai²²/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ si²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tai³³/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ si¹¹⁻⁵³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tai³³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ hou̯²² taːi̯²²/

/siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ ho²²⁻²¹ tai²²/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tai³³/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tai³³/

/siã⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ ho²²⁻²¹ tai²²/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ si²¹⁻⁴¹ hɤ³³⁻²¹ tai³³/

/siã⁴⁴⁻³³ si¹¹⁻⁵³ ho³³⁻¹¹ tai³³/


痛快淋漓

ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧˊ

тункуайлиньли

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³³ faːi̯³³ lɐm²¹ lei̯²¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ³³ faːi̯³³ lɐm²¹ lei̯²¹/


天下太平

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

тяньсятайпин

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² tʰaːi̯³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

The ruler who vigorously pursues these two things may well stand with his face to the south, for thus will great peace and order be secured all under heaven.

Jūnzǐ lì cǐ èrzhě yǐ nánmiàn ér lì, fú shì yǐ tiānxià tàipíng yě.

君子力此二者以南面而立，夫是以天下太平也。

Some people say that there aren't any more [counter-revolutionaries] left and all is well and that we can therefore lay our heads on our pillows and just drop off to sleep. But this is not the way things are.

Yǒurén shuō, yǐjīng méiyǒu le, tiānxiàtàipíng le, kěyǐ bǎ zhěntou sāi de gāogāo de shuìjiào le. Zhè shì bùhé shìshí de.

有人說，已經沒有了，天下太平了，可以把枕頭塞得高高地睡覺了。這是不合事實的。

有人说，已经没有了，天下太平了，可以把枕头塞得高高地睡觉了。这是不合事实的。

peace reigns under heaven; the world or the country is at peace


素不相識

ㄙㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄕˊ

ㄙㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄕˋ

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

to not know one another before; to be strangers to one another


醉翁之意不在酒

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄥ ㄓ ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

zuìwēngzhīyì bù zài jiǔ [Phonetic:zuìwēngzhīyì bú zài jiǔ]

цзуйвэнчжии бу цзай цзю

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tswijH 'uwng tsyi 'iH pjuw|pjuwX|pjut dzojX|dzojH tsjuwX

Quoted from Ouyang Xiu's Account of the Drunkard's Pavilion

The "Old Drunk" isn't interested in alcohol but scenery of mountains and rivers.

Zuìwēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ, zàihū shānshuǐ zhījiān yě.

醉翁之意不在酒，在乎山水之間也。

醉翁之意不在酒，在乎山水之间也。

(figuratively) to have an ulterior motive


鮮血淋漓

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧˊ

сяньсюэлиньли

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

сяньселиньли

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

to be dripping with blood; to have blood streaming down


輾轉反側

ㄓㄢˇ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄈㄢˇ ㄘㄜˋ

чжаньчжуаньфаньцэ

/ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 1 (《詩經·周南·關雎》)

lang

(《詩經·周南·關雎》)

(《詩經·周南·關雎》)

He sought her and found her not, and waking and sleeping he thought about her.
Long he thought; oh! long and anxiously; on his side, on his back, he turned, and back again.

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

Qiú zhī bù dé, wùmèi sīfú.
Yōuzāi yōuzāi, zhǎnzhuǎn fǎncè.

求之不得，寤寐思服。
悠哉悠哉，輾轉反側。

求之不得，寤寐思服。
悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧。

to toss and turn in bed as one has something on one's mind


始作俑者

ㄕˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄩㄥˇ ㄓㄜˇ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ jʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ jʊŋ³⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵/

Zhong Ni said, "Was he not without posterity who first made wooden images to bury with the dead?"

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

Zhòngní yuē: ‘Shǐ zuò yǒng zhě, qí wúhòu hū!’

仲尼曰：『始作俑者，其無後乎！』

仲尼曰：『始作俑者，其无后乎！』

the first person who made tomb figurines

the initiator of a bad practice; the creator of a bad precedent

the person who started a bad or undesirable event


艱難曲折

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄢˊ ㄑㄩ ㄓㄜˊ

цзяньнаньцюйчжэ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵/

New things always have to experience difficulties and setbacks as they grow. It is sheer fantasy to imagine that the cause of socialism is all plain sailing and easy success, with no difficulties and setbacks, or without the exertion of tremendous efforts.

Rènhé xīnshēng shìwù de chéngzhǎng dōu shì yào jīngguò jiānnánqūzhé de. Zài shèhuì zhǔyì shìyè zhōng, yào xiǎng bù jīngguò jiānnánqūzhé, bù fùchū jídà nǔlì, zǒngshì yīfānfēngshùn, róngyì dédào chénggōng, zhè zhǒng xiǎngfǎ, zhǐ shì huànxiǎng.

任何新生事物的成長都是要經過艱難曲折的。在社會主義事業中，要想不經過艱難曲折，不付出極大努力，總是一帆風順，容易得到成功，這種想法，只是幻想。

任何新生事物的成长都是要经过艰难曲折的。在社会主义事业中，要想不经过艰难曲折，不付出极大努力，总是一帆风顺，容易得到成功，这种想法，只是幻想。

arduous and tortuous; full of difficulties and reverses


勤政愛民

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

циньчжэнъайминь

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ ɔːi̯³³ mɐn²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵/

/kʰɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ ɔːi̯³³ mɐn²¹/

to attend to government affairs diligently and love the people


累死累活

ㄌㄟˇ ㄙˇ ㄌㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

/leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/lɵy̯²² sei̯³⁵ lɵy̯²² wuːt̚²/

/lɵy̯²² sei̯³⁵ lɵy̯²² wuːt̚²/

work oneself to death; tire oneself out through overwork


實不相瞞

ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄇㄢˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ män³⁵/

/sɐt̚² pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ män³⁵/

/sɐt̚² pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

to tell you the truth; to tell you honestly


朱門酒肉臭，路有凍死骨

ㄓㄨ ㄇㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄔㄡˋ

ㄌㄨˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄙˇ ㄍㄨˇ

zyu¹ mun⁴ zau² juk⁶ cau³, lou⁶ jau⁵ dung³ sei² gwat¹

чжумэньцзюжоучоу

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ mən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

jyū mùhn jáu yuhk chau, louh yáuh dung séi gwāt

dzy¹ mun⁴ dzau² juk⁹ tsau³, lou⁶ jau⁵ dung³ sei² gwat⁷

ju¹ mun⁴ zeo² yug⁶ ceo³, lou⁶ yeo⁵ dung³ séi² gued¹

/t͡syː⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚² t͡sʰɐu̯³³ lou̯²² jɐu̯¹³ tʊŋ³³ sei̯³⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵/

tsyu mwon tsjuwX nyuwk tsyhuwH luH hjuwX tuwng|tuwngH sijX kwot

From Going from the Capital to Fengxian County, Singing My Feelings (five hundred words) by 杜甫 (Du Fu)

《自京赴奉先詠懷五百字》

《自京赴奉先詠懷五百字》

Guests are urged to taste camel-hoof stew, frosty oranges weigh upon sweet tangerines. Crimson gates reek with meat and ale, while on the streets are bones of the frozen dead.

杜甫, 《自京赴奉先詠懷五百字》; translated by Stephen Owen

Quàn kè tuó tí gēng, shuāng chéng yā xiāng jú. Zhūmén jiǔ ròu chòu, lù yǒu dòng sǐ gǔ.

勸客駝蹄羹，霜橙壓香橘。朱門酒肉臭，路有凍死骨。

劝客驼蹄羹，霜橙压香橘。朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨。

describes the extreme wealth inequality in society