唯唯諾諾

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄨㄛˋ

ㄨㄟˇ ㄨㄟˇ ㄋㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄨㄛˋ

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ nɔːk̚² nɔːk̚²/

/weɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹ nɔːk̚² nɔːk̚²/

Actors, jokers, and clowns as well as attendants and courtiers would say, "At your service, at your service," before the sovereign has given any order, and say, "Yes, yes," before he has commanded them to do anything, thus taking orders ahead of his words and looking at his facial expressions and judging his needs by his colour in order thereby to render him service before he makes up his mind.

Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version

Yōu xiào zhūrú, zuǒyòu jìn xí, cǐ rénzhǔ wèi mìng ér wéiwéi, wèi shǐ ér nuònuò, xiān yì chéng zhǐ, guān mào chá sè yǐ xiān zhǔ xīn zhě yě.

優笑侏儒，左右近習，此人主未命而唯唯，未使而諾諾，先意承旨，觀貌察色以先主心者也。

优笑侏儒，左右近习，此人主未命而唯唯，未使而诺诺，先意承旨，观貌察色以先主心者也。

to always follow others' opinion; to be a yes man without any opinions of one's own


不幸而言中

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

bùxìng ér yánzhòng [Phonetic:búxìng ér yánzhòng]

бусин эр яньчжун

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐŋ²² jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐŋ²² jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³/

From the reordering and rebracketing of the following phrase in 《左傳·定公十五年》

It was summer, on the day of Ren-Shen of the fifth month, that the Duke died. Zhongni said: "As ill fortune had it, Ci spoke of this, and his words turned out to be true. It is coincidences like this that made Ci speak too much."

Xià wǔyuè Rén Shēn, Gōng hōng. Zhòngní yuē: “Cì bùxìng yán ér zhòng, shì shǐ Cì duōyán zhě yě.”

夏五月壬申，公薨。仲尼曰：「賜不幸言而中，是使賜多言者也。」

夏五月壬申，公薨。仲尼曰：「赐不幸言而中，是使赐多言者也。」


不惜工本

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄣˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄅㄣˇ

буси гунбэнь

/pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ puːn³⁵/

to spare no expense; to spare neither labor nor money


扮豬食老虎

/paːn²² t͡syː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² lou̯¹³ fuː³⁵/

/paːn²² t͡syː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² lou̯¹³ fuː³⁵/

(Cantonese) to play dumb to take advantage of someone


三唔識七

/saːm⁵⁵ m̩²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ m̩²¹ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵/


大纜都扯唔埋

even a huge rope cannot pull (them) together

/taːi̯²² laːm²² tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ m̩²¹ maːi̯²¹/

(Cantonese) to have no relationship with each other whatsoever; to be totally irrelevant


不破不立

ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɔː³³ pɐt̚⁵ laːp̚²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰɔː³³ pɐt̚⁵ laːp̚²/

There is no construction without destruction. There's no making without breaking. To make, you must break.


不買帳

/pu⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ maːi̯¹³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/pu⁵¹ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ maːi̯¹³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

to not buy it; to not accept; to not go along with


實心實意

ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

ㄕˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩²⁴ ɕiŋ²⁴ ʂʐ̩²⁴ i⁴⁴/

/sɐt̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩²⁴ ɕiŋ²⁴ ʂʐ̩²⁴ i⁴⁴/

/sɐt̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐt̚² jiː³³/


房間裡的大象

ㄈㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

фанцзянь ли дэ дасян

/fɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ²¹ kaːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ²²/

elephant in the room
elephant in the room


雞犬不寧

(even) thechickens and dogs are unsettled

ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄧㄥˊ

цзицюаньбунин

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ niŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ hyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ nɪŋ²¹/

(raising such a fearful din that) everyone is nervous; great disturbance or turmoil


信以為真

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄣ

синьивэйчжэнь

/ɕin⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵn³³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/sɵn³³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ t͡sɐn⁵⁵/

In such a situation, I had no option but to believe what he said.

Zài nà zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, wǒ duì tā de huà yě zhǐyǒu xìnyǐwèizhēn le.

在那種情況下，我對他的話也只有信以為真了。

在那种情况下，我对他的话也只有信以为真了。


匪夷所思

ㄈㄟˇ ㄧˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄙ

/feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/fei̯³⁵ jiː²¹ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

húiⁿ î só sṳ

/hũĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ³³/

/feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/fei̯³⁵ jiː²¹ sɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/hũĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ sɯ³³/

The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject scattering the (different) parties (in the state); which leads to great good fortune. From the dispersion (he collects again good men standing out, a crowd) like a mound, which is what ordinary men would not have thought of.

I Ching, 11ᵗʰ – 8ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Liù sì: huàn qí qún, yuán jí. Huàn yǒu qiū, fěi yí suǒ sī.

六四：渙其群，元吉。渙有丘，匪夷所思。

六四：涣其群，元吉。涣有丘，匪夷所思。

not what an ordinary person can imagine; unimaginable; unusual; fantastic

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 59


融為一體

ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧ ㄊㄧˇ

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/ʐʊŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jʊŋ²¹ wɐi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵/


不敗之地

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/


立於不敗之地

ㄌㄧˋ ㄩˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

lì yú bùbàizhīdì [Phonetic:lì yú búbàizhīdì]

ли юй бубайчжиди

/li⁵¹ y³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/lɐp̚² jyː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/laːp̚² jyː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ paːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/li⁵¹ y³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.

Gù shànzhàn zhě, lì yú bùbàizhīdì, ér bùshī dí zhī bài yě.

故善戰者，立於不敗之地，而不失敵之敗也。

故善战者，立于不败之地，而不失敌之败也。

to establish oneself in an unassailable position; to be impregnable; to remain invincible


英年早逝

ㄧㄥ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄠˇ ㄕˋ

инняньцзаоши

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ sɐi̯²²/

/iŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ sɐi̯²²/

to pass away at the prime of one's life; to die young


不比不知道，一比嚇一跳

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄧ ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄧ ㄊㄧㄠˋ

bat¹ bei² bat¹ zi¹ dou⁶, jat¹ bei² haak³ jat¹ tiu³

бубибучжидао

/pu⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

bāt béi bāt jī douh, yāt béi haak yāt tiu

bat⁷ bei² bat⁷ dzi¹ dou⁶, jat⁷ bei² haak⁸ jat⁷ tiu³

bed¹ béi² bed¹ ji¹ dou⁶, yed¹ béi² hag³ yed¹ tiu³

/pɐt̚⁵ pei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯²² jɐt̚⁵ pei̯³⁵ haːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ tʰiːu̯³³/

Without comparisons one is ignorant, but once one does, one gets a shock.


擋風遮雨

ㄉㄤˇ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄜ ㄩˇ

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔːŋ³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

I'm willing to be by your side,
To shelter you from the wind and rain.

1993, 張信哲 (lyrics 李宗盛), 《我是真的愛你》

wǒ yuàn péi zài nǐ de shēnbiān, wèi nǐ dǎngfēngzhēyǔ

我願陪在你的身邊 為你擋風遮雨

1993, 張信哲 (lyrics 李宗盛), 《我是真的愛你》

我愿陪在你的身边 为你挡风遮雨


渾身解數

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄨˋ

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄕㄨˋ

хуньшэньсешу

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

хуньшэньцзешу

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/wɐn²² sɐn⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ sou̯³³/

/wɐn²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ haːi̯²² sou̯³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹/

/xu̯ən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu⁵¹/

/wɐn²² sɐn⁵⁵ kaːi̯³⁵ sou̯³³/

/wɐn²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ haːi̯²² sou̯³³/

使出渾身解數

使出浑身解数

all of one's skill; everything within one's power


下問

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/haː²² mɐn²²/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹/

/haː²² mɐn²²/

(literary) to ask someone who is less learned or of lesser status than oneself


不辭辛苦

ㄅㄨˋ ㄘˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄎㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵/

to spare no effort; to take pains; to take the trouble to; to go to the trouble of doing something


不差累黍

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄟˇ ㄕㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² syː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² syː³⁵/


不關痛癢

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄤˇ

бугуаньтунъян

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jœːŋ¹³/

/pu⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kʷaːn⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³ jœːŋ¹³/

of no consequence; immaterial; unimportant


不打自招

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄗˋ ㄓㄠ

/pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ taː³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ taː³⁵ t͡siː²² t͡siːu̯⁵⁵/

to confess without being pressed; to make a willing confession; to give oneself away


不得已而求其次

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˇ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄘˋ

будэи эр цю цицы

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³ jiː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³³/


站不住腳

ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

чжаньбучжуцзяо

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡saːm²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²² kœːk̚³/

/t͡saːm²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²² kœːk̚³/

Your argument does not hold water at all.

你的論點簡直站不住腳。

你的论点简直站不住脚。

not have a leg to stand on
not have a leg to stand on

to be ill-founded; to be groundless; to not have a leg to stand on; to be unable to hold water


不得已而退求其次

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˇ ㄦˊ ㄊㄨㄟˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄘˋ

pu⁴-tê²-i³ êrh² tʻui⁴-chʻiu² chʻi²-tzʻŭ⁴

будэи эр туйцю цицы

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/


不到長城非好漢

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (不到長城非好漢):
* → Vietnamese: bất đáo Trường Thành phi hảo hán (不到長城非好漢)

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄟ ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄢˋ

bùdào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn [Phonetic:búdào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn]

будао Чанчэн фэй хаохань

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tou̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵ hɔːn³³/

The heavens are high, the clouds are pale,
We watch as the wild geese disappear southwards.
If we fail to reach the Great wall we are not true men,
We who have marched more than 20,000 li.

Tiāngāoyúndàn, wàng duàn nán fēi yàn. Bùdào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn, qūzhǐ xíngchéng èr wàn.

天高雲淡，望斷南飛雁。不到長城非好漢，屈指行程二萬。

天高云淡，望断南飞雁。不到长城非好汉，屈指行程二万。

One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a true man

(figurative) One should not give up until one succeeds.


不辨菽麥

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄨ ㄇㄞˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄨˊ ㄇㄞˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ piːn²² sʊk̚² mɐk̚²/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂu³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ piːn²² sʊk̚² mɐk̚²/

to have no knowledge of practical matters; to be ignorant of practical matters


不逞之徒

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˇ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/


天馬行空

a heavenly steed soaring across the skies

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄇㄚˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄥ

тяньмасинкун

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ hɐŋ²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ maː¹³ hɐŋ²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

Nothing could ever stand,
Between you and the free land;
In a life of laissez-aller,
All your worries were blown away.

2002, 許巍 (also the lyricist), 《藍蓮花》 (The Blue Lotus)

méiyǒu shénme nénggòu zǔdǎng, nǐ duì zìyóu de xiàngwǎng, tiānmǎxíngkōng de shēngyá, nǐ de xīn liǎowúqiānguà

沒有什麼能夠阻擋 你對自由的嚮往 天馬行空的生涯 你的心了無牽掛

没有什么能够阻挡 你对自由的向往 天马行空的生涯 你的心了无牵挂

(figurative, of literary composition, life, etc.) powerful and unrestrained in style; bold and imaginative; abounding with novel ideas

(figurative) progressing swiftly; unrestricted and developing rapidly

(figurative, derogatory) speaking in a roundabout, irrelevant or exaggerated way; empty and impracticable talk


何樂而不為

ㄏㄜˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

хэ лэ эр бу вэй

/xɤ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ lɔːk̚²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/xɤ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ lɔːk̚²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/


不堪入目

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ ㄖㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² mʊk̚²/

/pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵ jɐp̚² mʊk̚²/


低聲細語

ㄉㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄒㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/ti⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/

/ti⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐi̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ jyː¹³/


上有老下有小

ㄕㄤˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

shàng yǒu lǎo xià yǒu xiǎo [Phonetic:shàngyóulǎoxiàyóuxiǎo]

шан ю лао ся ю сяо

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ²² jɐu̯¹³ lou̯¹³ haː²² jɐu̯¹³ siːu̯³⁵/

to have both one's aging parents and one's young children to take care of; to be a member of the sandwich generation


彈冠相慶

ㄊㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

таньгуаньсянцин

/tʰän³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/tʰaːn²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ³³/

/tʰän³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

/tʰaːn²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ³³/

Derived from a statement illustraing the friendship between Wang Ji and Gong Yu of Western Han:
:
Originally describing friends following each other in career.

Wang Ji and Gong Yu were friends. It was said that "When Wang Ji was holding his position, Gong Yu could also became an official too." It was also said that they had same interests.

Jí yǔ Gòng Yǔ wèi yǒu, shìchēng ‘Wáng Yáng zàiwèi, Gòng gōng dànguàn.’ Yán qí qǔshě tóng yě.

吉與貢禹為友，世稱『王陽在位，貢公彈冠。』言其取舍同也。

吉与贡禹为友，世称『王阳在位，贡公弹冠。』言其取舍同也。

(derogatory) to congratulate each other (when a bad person gains success)


好眉好貌生沙蝨

好眉好貌生沙虱
好眉好貌生沙虱

/hou̯³⁵ mei̯²¹ hou̯³⁵ maːu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ saː⁵⁵ sɐt̚⁵/


繁文縟節

ㄈㄢˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

ㄈㄢˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

фаньвэньжуцзе

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/faːn²¹ mɐn²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siːt̚³/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/fän³⁵ wən³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/faːn²¹ mɐn²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siːt̚³/

trivial and overelaborate formalities; red tape


金甌無缺

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄡ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ɐu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ˀoʊ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ɐu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

(literary, figurative) firm uninvaded nation


落花流水

ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/lu̯ɔ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɔːk̚² faː⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² faː⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

(by extension) utterly defeated; in a sorry state


倒行逆施

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄋㄧˋ ㄕ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ni⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ hɐŋ²¹ jɪk̚² siː⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ni⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tou̯³³ hɐŋ²¹ jɪk̚² siː⁵⁵/

Wu Zixu said: "Go apologise on my behalf to Shen Baoxu, and tell him that I had had still a long way to travel but the sun was already setting, and that I, therefore, turned my ways upside down." (i.e., My life had always been in peril and my great objective of exacting revenge had been almost beyond reach, yet life was already running out. Therefore, I no longer cared whether my means to the end was perverted.)

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

Wǔ Zǐxū yuē: “Wèi wǒ xiè Shēn Bāoxū yuē, ‘wú rìmù túyuǎn, wú gù dǎoxíng ér nìshī zhī.’”

伍子胥曰：「為我謝申包胥曰，『吾日莫途遠，吾故倒行而逆施之。』」

伍子胥曰：「为我谢申包胥曰，『吾日莫途远，吾故倒行而逆施之。』」

to do things in a perverse way; to go against good; to commit evil deeds


道貌岸然

ㄉㄠˋ ㄇㄠˋ ㄢˋ ㄖㄢˊ

даомаоаньжань

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/tou̯²² maːu̯²² ŋɔːn²² jiːn²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/tou̯²² maːu̯²² ŋɔːn²² jiːn²¹/

(derogatory) sanctimonious; hypocritical; two-faced


嫁雞隨雞，嫁狗隨狗

married to a chicken ― follow the chicken; married to a dog ― follow the dog

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄐㄧ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧ

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄡˇ

gaa³ gai¹ ceoi⁴ gai¹, gaa³ gau² ceoi⁴ gau²

chia⁴ chi¹ sui² chi¹, chia⁴ kou³ sui² kou³

цзя цзи суй цзи

цзя гоу суй гоу

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

gaa³ gai¹ tsoey⁴ gai¹, gaa³ gau² tsoey⁴ gau²

/kaː³³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐi̯⁵⁵ kaː³³ kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵/

Once a woman has attached herself to a man, she should be faithful to him regardless of all circumstances.


矢志不渝

ㄕˇ ㄓˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˊ

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

unwavering; unshaken; persistent; steadfast; unswerving


地久天長

ㄉㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ

дицзютяньчан

/ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ti⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tei̯²² kɐu̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

天長地久 天長地久#Chinese

天长地久 天长地久#Chinese

Alternative form of 天長地久／天长地久 (tiānchángdìjiǔ)


笑而不語

ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːu̯³³ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

to smile without saying anything; smilence


一仆一碌

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ lʊk̚⁵/

(Cantonese) doddering; stumbling; rolling and crawling


腳踏實地

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² sɐt̚² tei̯²²/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa³³⁻²³ taʔ⁴⁻² sik̚⁴⁻² ti¹¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² sɐt̚² tei̯²²/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa⁴⁴ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² te³³/

/kʰa³³⁻²³ taʔ⁴⁻² sik̚⁴⁻² ti¹¹/

to have one's feet on the ground; to be realistic and steady


異國他鄉

ㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ

/i⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː²² kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵/

foreign countries or lands; far away from one's native place


千瘡百孔

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

цяньчуанбайкун

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ hʊŋ³⁵/

riddled with gaping wounds; afflicted with many ills; in very bad condition


亂噏廿四

/lyːn²²⁻³⁵ ŋɐp̚⁵ jaː²² sei̯³³/

/lyːn²² ŋɐp̚⁵ jaː²² sei̯³³/

/lyːn²²⁻³⁵ ŋɐp̚⁵ jaː²² sei̯³³/

/lyːn²² ŋɐp̚⁵ jaː²² sei̯³³/

(Cantonese) to talk nonsense; to talk rubbish; to talk balderdash


代代相傳

ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

дайдайсянчуань

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to pass down from generation to generation


沒日沒夜

ㄇㄟˊ ㄖˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄝˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² jɐt̚² muːt̚² jɛː²²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ jɛ⁵¹/

/muːt̚² jɐt̚² muːt̚² jɛː²²/


漂洋過海

ㄆㄧㄠ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/pʰeu̯²⁴ i̯oŋ¹¹ ko⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/pʰieu⁵⁵ yoŋ⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ⁽ᵏ⁻⁾ŋuo²¹³⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ai³³/

/pʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/pʰiou³³⁻²³ ĩẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kue²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ²¹ kʷɔː³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/pʰeu̯²⁴ i̯oŋ¹¹ ko⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/pʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ iũ²³⁻³³ kue²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/pʰiou³³⁻²³ ĩẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kue²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

to sail across the sea to a foreign land; to travel across the sea; to go abroad


滿洋直界

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚⁴⁻³² kai²¹/

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚²⁴⁻² kai⁴¹/

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚⁴⁻³² kai²¹/

/muã²⁴⁻²² iũ²⁴⁻²² tit̚²⁴⁻² kai⁴¹/

(Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien) everywhere


熱火朝天

ㄖㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

жэхо чаотянь

/ʐɤ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/liɛt̚²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴ tiau²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn³³/

/ʐɤ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːt̚² fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/liɛt̚²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴ tiau²⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn³³/

buzzing or bustling with activity; in full swing


三不五時

ㄙㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨˇ ㄕˊ

/sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ siː²¹/

/sam²⁴ put̚² ŋ̍³¹ sɨ¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ si²³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻¹¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si¹³/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ²² si²⁴/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²² si²⁴/

/sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ siː²¹/

/sam²⁴ put̚² ŋ̍³¹ sɨ¹¹/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ si²³/

/sam⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻¹¹ si²⁴/

/sam⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ ɡɔ²²⁻²¹ si¹³/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ²² si²⁴/

/sam³³ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡɔ³³⁻²² si²⁴/

With a bottle of wine costing [only] twenty cents, lets get together every now and then

chi̍t poe chiú, nn̄g kak gîn, sam-put-gō͘-sî mā lâi tàu-tīn

一杯酒 兩角銀 三不五時嘛來鬥陣

一杯酒 两角银 三不五时嘛来斗阵

She said, "Shaving the head bald doesn't look good; I want to be a vegetarian Buddhist. From time to time I can even go see operas."

2005 December 20, 釋悟因, 戰後佛教在台灣——佛教面對現代挑戰的回應, in 香光莊嚴雜誌, issue 84, page 19

Tā shuō: “Tìtóu bù hǎokàn; wǒ yào zuò càigū. Sānbùwǔshí hái kěyǐ qù kàn gēzǐxì, gējù.”

她說：「剃頭不好看；我要做菜姑。三不五時還可以去看歌仔戲、歌劇。」

她说：「剃头不好看；我要做菜姑。三不五时还可以去看歌仔戏、歌剧。」

(Cantonese, Southern Min, Taiwanese Mandarin, Taiwanese Hakka) sometimes; from time to time; occasionally; now and then


三沐三薰

ㄙㄢ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄒㄩㄣ

саньмусаньсюнь

/sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵/


沐猴冠冕

ㄇㄨˋ ㄏㄡˊ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

мухоугуаньмянь

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mu⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


三薰三沐

ㄙㄢ ㄒㄩㄣ ㄙㄢ ㄇㄨˋ

саньсюньсаньму

/sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/


三釁三沐

ㄙㄢ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄇㄨˋ

саньсиньсаньму

/sän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ mu⁵¹/

From an anecdote recorded in the Guoyu, describing the honour given to Guan Zhong by the Duke of Qi upon receiving him as a former enemy and fugitive. The original text reads 三釁三浴, where 浴 (OC *loɡ, “bathing”) appears instead of 沐 (OC *moːɡ, “hair-washing”).


萬壽無疆

ㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄤ

ваньшоууцзян

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/maːn²² sɐu̯²² mou̯²¹ kœːŋ⁵⁵/

Occurred several times in the Classic of Poetry, for example, in poem 154 (《詩經·豳風·七月》)

lang

(《詩經·豳風·七月》)

(《詩經·豳風·七月》)

And go to the hall of our prince,
There raise the cup of rhinoceros horn,
And wish him long life, that he may live for ever.

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

Jī bǐ gōngtáng, chēng bǐ sì gōng, wànshòu wújiāng.

躋彼公堂，稱彼兕觥，萬壽無疆。

跻彼公堂，称彼兕觥，万寿无疆。

祝毛主席萬壽無疆

祝毛主席万寿无疆


車載斗量

enough to fill carts and be measured by the bushel

ㄔㄜ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

чэцзайдоулян

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tɐu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tɐu̯³⁵ lœːŋ²¹/


完美無缺

ㄨㄢˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

/wän³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/wän³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

perfect and without blemish; flawless; infallible


大浪淘沙

ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄤˋ ㄊㄠˊ ㄕㄚ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɑŋ⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂä⁵⁵/

only the real gold remains after tides have washed the sands away; a tough competition aiming to weed out the less competent


光輝燦爛

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄘㄢˋ ㄌㄢˋ

гуанхуэйцаньлань

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn³³ laːn²²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn³³ laːn²²/


鬥智鬥勇

ㄉㄡˋ ㄓˋ ㄉㄡˋ ㄩㄥˇ

/toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐu̯³³ t͡siː³³ tɐu̯³³ jʊŋ¹³/

/tɐu̯³³ t͡siː³³ tɐu̯³³ jʊŋ¹³/

to engage in a battle of wits and valour


赤膊上陣

ㄔˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄓㄣˋ

чибошанчжэнь

čibošančžɛnʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ pɔːk̚³ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

/t͡sʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ pʰɔk̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tin²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ pɔːk̚³ sœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐn²²/

(figurative) to go all out; to go full speed ahead; to do something (often bad) without reservations or concealment


睽違已久

ㄎㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

/kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to have parted for a long time; to have not met for a long period of time


論資排輩

ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄗ ㄆㄞˊ ㄅㄟˋ

луньцзыпайбэй

/lu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɵn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³/

/lu̯ən⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pʰaɪ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɵn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ puːi̯³³/

to give the highest priority to seniority (when deciding someone's duties or status)


掛一漏萬

to touch on one and miss out ten thousand

ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄧ ㄌㄡˋ ㄨㄢˋ

/ku̯ä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/kʷaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² maːn²²/

/ku̯ä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/kʷaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²² maːn²²/

(humble) to be inexhaustive; to leave many important items out


起早貪黑

ㄑㄧˇ ㄗㄠˇ ㄊㄢ ㄏㄟ

цицзаотаньхэй

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ tʰaːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ tʰaːm⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/


妙語連珠

ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄨ

мяоюйляньчжу

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² jyː¹³ liːn²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/miːu̯²² jyː¹³ liːn²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/


善者不辯，辯者不善

Those who are skilled (in theDao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it.

ㄕㄢˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄢˋ

biàn zhě bù shàn [Phonetic:shàn zhě bú biàn

shan⁴ chê³ pu⁴ pien⁴, pien⁴ chê³ pu⁴ shan⁴

шань чжэ бу бянь

бянь чжэ бу шань

/ʂän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂän⁵¹/

sin⁶ dze² bat⁷ bin⁶, bin⁶ dze² bat⁷ sin⁶

/siːn²² t͡sɛː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ piːn²² piːn²² t͡sɛː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siːn²²/

Good words are not persuasive, persuasive words are not good; Do not be taken in by appearances


治國安邦

ㄓˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄢ ㄅㄤ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵⁵/

to administer state affairs well and ensure national security


文以載道

ㄨㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄠˋ

вэньицзайдао

/wən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

/wən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ tou̯²²/

literature is a vehicle for moral teaching


也是醉了

ㄧㄝˇ ㄕˋ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ˙ㄌㄜ

е ши цзуй лэ

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lə¹/

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lə¹/

(neologism, slang, humorous) I'm speechless. / It's so ridiculous that I don't know what to say any more. / Facepalm. / OMG.


平起平坐

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/

/pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/pʰɪŋ²¹ hei̯³⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sɔː²²/


獨抒性靈

ㄉㄨˊ ㄕㄨ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

/tu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/tu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

(of literature) to provide a free space for the expression of the writer's feelings and originality


應接不暇

ㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˊ

/iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ t͡siːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

/iŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ä³⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ t͡siːp̚³ pɐt̚⁵ haː²²/

to have more on than one can attend to; to be overwhelmed by (beautiful scenery, customers, tasks, etc.)


要靚唔要命

/jiːu̯³³ lɛːŋ³³ m̩²¹ jiːu̯³³ mɛːŋ²²/

/jiːu̯³³ lɛːŋ³³ m̩²¹ jiːu̯³³ mɛːŋ²²/

(Cantonese) to be fashionable rather than comfortable; to wear little on a cold day to look attractive


象箸玉杯

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄩˋ ㄅㄟ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² t͡syː²² jʊk̚² puːi̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ²² t͡syː²² jʊk̚² puːi̯⁵⁵/

ivory chopsticks and jade cups; (figurative) a luxurious lifestyle


深情厚誼

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧˋ

ㄕㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧˊ

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ i³⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯¹³ jiː²²/


文如其人

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ

вэньжуцижэнь

vɛnʹžucižɛnʹ

/wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹/


天人合一

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄧ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xɤ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

Heaven and Man are one (an ancient Chinese philosophical concept)


雨後春筍

ㄩˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄙㄨㄣˇ

юйхоучуньсунь

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː¹³ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ sɵn³⁵/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² sun⁵³/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁴¹/

/jyː¹³ hɐu̯²² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ sɵn³⁵/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² sun⁵³/

/u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ sun⁴¹/

(figurative) many things coming into being in rapid succession (after a certain timepoint)


應運而生

ㄧㄥˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄕㄥ

/iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ wɐn²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ un⁴¹⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ un³³⁻¹¹ li²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ un³³⁻²¹ li²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɪŋ³³ wɐn²² jiː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ un⁴¹⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ un²²⁻²¹ li¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ un³³⁻¹¹ li²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/iɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ un³³⁻²¹ li²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/


一生何求

ㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ kʰɐu̯²¹/

From the name of a 1989 Cantonese song (“Yat sang ho kau”). The name follows the SOV word order (when the object is an interrogative pronoun) of Classical Chinese.

What can (I) pursue in this life? What else can (I) seek in life?


自導自演

ㄗˋ ㄉㄠˇ ㄗˋ ㄧㄢˇ

цзыдаоцзыянь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² tou̯²² t͡siː²² jiːn³⁵/

/t͡siː²² tou̯²² t͡siː²² jiːn³⁵/

to direct (a show) and act by oneself; to stage (a farce) all by oneself; false flag


心存不軌

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

синьцуньбугуй

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/


崇洋媚外

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄟˋ ㄨㄞˋ

чунъянмэйвай

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ mei̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/sʊŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ mei̯²² ŋɔːi̯²²/


連生貴子

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄗˇ

ляньшэнгуйцзы

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/


口傳心授

ㄎㄡˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄡˋ

коучуаньсиньшоу

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

oral teaching from the instructor and understanding from the students


必不可少

ㄅㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄠˋ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ siːu̯³⁵/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/piːt̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ siːu̯³⁵/


五湖四海

ㄨˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ

ㄨˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ wuː²¹ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋ̍³¹ fu¹¹ si⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/ŋu³³⁻²¹ hu⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ sy²¹³⁻⁵³ hai³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²³ su²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋou⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/u⁴¹ ɸu¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ xai̯⁴¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋ̍¹³ wuː²¹ sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋ̍³¹ fu¹¹ si⁵⁵ hoi̯³¹/

/ŋu³³⁻²¹ hu⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ sy²¹³⁻⁵³ hai³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su¹¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²³ su²¹⁻⁴¹ hai⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔ²⁴ su²¹⁻⁵³ hai⁵³/

/ŋou⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hai⁵²⁻²¹/

/u⁴¹ ɸu¹³ sz̩⁴⁵ xai̯⁴¹/

all regions; all corners of the country or world; all places


忍氣吞聲

忍气吞声
吞聲忍氣
吞聲飲氣
氣忍聲吞
聲吞氣忍

ㄖㄣˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄕㄥ

жэньцитуньшэн

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ hei̯³³ tʰɐn⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋi̯un²⁴⁻¹¹ hi⁵⁵ tun²⁴⁻¹¹ saŋ²⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰun³³ siã³³/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ hei̯³³ tʰɐn⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋi̯un²⁴⁻¹¹ hi⁵⁵ tun²⁴⁻¹¹ saŋ²⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰun³³ siã³³/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻²² siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

/lim⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴/

Tàitài rěnqìtūnshēng, tuō le jǐnduàn yīfú, jì shàng wéiqún, zǒu dào chúxià, bǎ yú jiē zài shǒu nèi.

太太忍氣吞聲，脫了錦緞衣服，繫上圍裙，走到廚下，把魚接在手內。

太太忍气吞声，脱了锦缎衣服，系上围裙，走到厨下，把鱼接在手内。

to silently eat humble pie; to suppress anger and quietly bear humiliation


石沉大海

ㄕˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄞˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɛːk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹ taːi̯²² hɔːi̯³⁵/

to receive no response; to never hear back from someone or about something


不知有漢，何論魏晉

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄢˋ

ㄏㄜˊ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

bat¹ zi¹ jau⁵ hon³, ho⁴ leon⁶ ngai⁶ zeon³

бучжи ю Хань

хэ лунь Вэй Цзинь

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

bat⁷ dzi¹ jau⁵ hon³, ho⁴ loen⁶ ngai⁶ dzoen³

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɔːn³³ hɔː²¹ lɵn²² ŋɐi̯²² t͡sɵn³³/

Part of a line from The Peach Blossom Spring.

does not know of the existence of theHan dynasty, let alone Wei or Jin

to be blissfully unaware of the surrounding world


無端白事

(Cantonese) without cause or reason; for no reason at all


揦屎上身

/laː³⁵ siː³⁵ sœːŋ¹³ sɐn⁵⁵/

/laː³⁵ siː³⁵ sœːŋ¹³ sɐn⁵⁵/


見牙唔見眼

/kiːn³³ ŋaː²¹ m̩²¹ kiːn³³ ŋaːn¹³/

/kiːn³³ ŋaː²¹ m̩²¹ kiːn³³ ŋaːn¹³/


食過返尋味

食过返寻味
食過番尋味
食過翻尋味

[if one] has eaten something once, [one would] return to look for the taste

/sɪk̚² kʷɔː³³ faːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ mei̯²²/

/sɪk̚² kʷɔː³³ faːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ mei̯²²/

(Cantonese) to go back for another round if something tastes good; (figurative) to return to re-experience something good


心大心細

/sɐm⁵⁵ taːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ taːi̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³/

(Cantonese) to be hesitant or indecisive


如影隨形

ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/ʐu³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

/ʐu³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jyː²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/d͡zi¹³⁻²² iɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² hiɪŋ¹³/

closely associated with each other; inseparable


回味無窮

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/wuːi̯²¹ mei̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/wuːi̯²¹ mei̯²² mou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

leaving a rich aftertaste; (figuratively) memorable, lingering in memory


食得鹹魚抵得渴

食得咸鱼抵得渴
食得咸魚抵得渴

if one eats salted fish, one must be able to stand the thirst

/sɪk̚² tɐk̚⁵ haːm²¹ jyː²¹ tɐi̯³⁵ tɐk̚⁵ hɔːt̚³/

(Cantonese) to have to bear the consequences of one's actions or choices


老貓燒鬚

/lou̯¹³ maːu̯⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ maːu̯⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) an experienced person making mistakes or failing at something that should be familiar


唔使問阿貴

/m̩²¹ sɐi̯³⁵ mɐn²² aː³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/m̩²¹ sɐi̯³⁵ mɐn²² aː³³ kʷɐi̯³³/

唔使问阿贵
唔使問阿桂
唔使問亞貴
唔使問亞桂


冬瓜豆腐

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐu̯²² fuː²²/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐu̯²² fuː²²/

Winter melon and tofu are two of the common ingredients of dishes for funeral repasts (解穢酒／解秽酒 (gaai² wai³ zau²)) because only vegetarian food can be served.

maan⁶ jat¹ jau⁵ mat¹ dung¹ gwaa¹ dau⁶ fu⁶ dim² syun³ aa³?

萬一有乜冬瓜豆腐點算呀？

万一有乜冬瓜豆腐点算呀？


食碗面反碗底

/sɪk̚² wuːn³⁵ miːn²²⁻³⁵ faːn³⁵ wuːn³⁵ tɐi̯³⁵/

No need to be polite to this kind of people! They are the same kind of person, both the father and the son! They bit the hand that fed them! At first, they made your father become rich, but after that they backstabbed you!

1964, Under Hong Kong's Roof (spoken by Ng Cho-fan)

ni¹ di¹ gam² ge³ jan⁴, nei⁵ sai² tung⁴ keoi⁵ haak³ hei³ ge³ me¹? keoi⁵ loeng⁵ zai² je⁴ dou¹ hai⁶ jat¹ joeng⁶ jan⁴! sik⁶ wun² min⁶⁻² faan² wun² dai², dong¹ co¹ keoi⁵ dim² joeng⁶⁻² daai³ hei² nei⁵ baa¹⁻⁴ baa¹ faat³ daat⁶, dim² zi¹ faat³ zo² daat⁶, diu⁶ zyun³ coeng¹ tau⁴ zau⁶ sik⁶ zo² nei⁵!

呢啲噉嘅人，你使同佢客氣嘅咩？佢兩仔爺都係一樣人！食碗面反碗底，當初佢點樣帶起你爸爸發達，點知發咗達，調轉槍頭就食咗你！

呢啲噉嘅人，你使同佢客气嘅咩？佢两仔爷都系一样人！食碗面反碗底，当初佢点样带起你爸爸发达，点知发咗达，调转枪头就食咗你！

bite the hand that feeds one
bite the hand that feeds one

(Cantonese) to be ungrateful; to bite the hand that feeds one


善有善報

ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄅㄠˋ

шаньюшаньбао

/ʂän⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn²² jɐu̯¹³ siːn²² pou̯³³/

/ʂän⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/siːn²² jɐu̯¹³ siːn²² pou̯³³/

one good turn deserves another
one good turn deserves another

good deeds leads to good outcomes; one good turn deserves another


固若金湯

ㄍㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄤ

гужоцзиньтан

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ jœːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/kuː³³ jœːk̚² kɐm⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵/


屁者先知

ㄆㄧˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓ

пичжэсяньчжи

/pʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pʰi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

he who smelt it dealt it
he who smelt it dealt it

(humorous) One who farts is the first to notice (the smell of farts); he who smelt it dealt it. (a pseudo-chengyu used to ridicule a person who complains of the smell of flatulence)


錯落有致

ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓˋ

/t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː³³/

/t͡sʰɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː³³/


愛媠莫命

desc

→ English: ai swee mai mia, ai sui mai mia

/ai²¹⁻⁴² sui⁴²⁻²⁴ mai²¹⁻⁴² mia²²/

/ai²¹⁻⁴² sui⁴²⁻²⁴ mai²¹⁻⁴² mia²²/

(Singapore Hokkien) to be fashionable rather than comfortable; to wear little on a cold day to look attractive


一顰一笑

ㄧ ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰin³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰin³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siːu̯³³/

every frown and smile; every facial expression


料事如神

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/liːu̯²² siː²² jyː²¹ sɐn²¹/

/li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/liːu̯²² siː²² jyː²¹ sɐn²¹/

to prophesy with supernatural accuracy; to predict like a prophet


誤入歧途

ㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄨˊ

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/ŋ̍²² jɐp̚² kʰei̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ tɔ²³/

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/ŋ̍²² jɐp̚² kʰei̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ki²³⁻³³ tɔ²³/

to fall into the wrong path (in life); to be misguided; to go astray


束手就擒

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

шушоуцзюцинь

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² kʰɐm²¹/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu²²⁻²¹ kʰim¹³/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu³³⁻¹¹ kʰim²⁴/

/sɔk̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu³³⁻²¹ kʰim²³/

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² kʰɐm²¹/

have one's hands tied
have one's hands tied

to have one's hands tied and wait to be captured


神馬都是浮雲

ㄕㄣˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄡ ㄕˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄩㄣˊ

шэньма доу ши фуюнь

/ʂən³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fu³⁵ yn³⁵/

/ʂən³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fu³⁵ yn³⁵/

(Mainland China, neologism, slang, humorous) All things are of no consequence, just like floating clouds. / Everything is nothing.


人唔似人，鬼唔似鬼

(A place or circumstance where) people do not resemble people, and ghosts do not resemble ghosts

/jɐn²¹ m̩²¹ t͡sʰiː¹³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ m̩²¹ t͡sʰiː¹³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/


來者何人

ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖㄣˊ

лай чжэ хэжэнь

laj čžɛ xɛžɛnʹ

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ hɔː²¹ jɐn²¹/

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ hɔː²¹ jɐn²¹/


救命之恩

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄣ

цзюминчжиэнь

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵/

多謝救命之恩。

多谢救命之恩。


多喝熱水

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄏㄜ ㄖㄜˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Drink more hot water. / Drink plenty of hot water.


河東獅子

sư tử Hà Đông

→ Vietnamese: sư tử Hà Đông (calque)

ㄏㄜˊ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕ ˙ㄗ

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/xɤ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

/hɔː²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

zh-l

河東獅吼／河东狮吼 (hédōng-shīhǒu)

an overbearing wife (whose henpecking is comparable to a lioness's roar)


冇大冇細

/mou̯¹³ taːi̯²² mou̯¹³ sɐi̯³³/

/ᵐbau³³ ai³² ᵐbau³³ ɬai³³⁻³³⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

/mou̯¹³ taːi̯²² mou̯¹³ sɐi̯³³/

/ᵐbau³³ ai³² ᵐbau³³ ɬai³³⁻³³⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

(Cantonese, Xiang) to have no sense of who is senior and who is junior; to show no respect to elders


沒大沒小

ㄇㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/meɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² taːi̯²² muːt̚² siːu̯³⁵/

/meɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² taːi̯²² muːt̚² siːu̯³⁵/


打爛砂盆問到篤

/taː³⁵ laːn²² saː⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹ mɐn²² tou̯³³ tʊk̚⁵/

A pun based on the homophony of 璺 (man6, “crack”) and 問／问 (man6, “to ask”).

打烂砂盆问到笃
打爛沙盆問到篤
打爛砂盆璺到䐁
打爛沙盆璺到㞘
打爛砂盆璺到㞘

to break a claypot and ask (crack) to the bottom

get to the bottom of
get to the bottom of

(Cantonese, Hakka) to keep asking questions to get to the bottom of something


血肉橫飛

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄈㄟ

сюэжоухэнфэй

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² waːŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² waːŋ²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

blood and flesh flying in all directions; bodies blown to pieces


大發雷霆

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄚ ㄌㄟˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁵ lui¹³⁻²² tiɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ²³/

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ lɵy̯²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ lui²⁴⁻²² tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁵ lui¹³⁻²² tiɪŋ¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²⁴⁻¹¹ tiɪŋ²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ huat̚³²⁻⁴ lui²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ²³/


求心理陰影面積

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄣ ㄧㄥˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧ

цю синьли иньин мяньцзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

Blend of a stock phrase of school mathematical problems
:
and 心理陰影／心理阴影 (“psychological trauma”, literally “mental shade”).

求陰影部分面積。

求阴影部分面积。

(neologism, slang, humorous) This would deeply traumatize (someone).


遁入空門

ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄇㄣˊ

дуньжукунмэнь

/tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/tɵn²² jɐp̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

/tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mən³⁵/

/tɵn²² jɐp̚² hʊŋ⁵⁵ muːn²¹/

to take refuge in religious life (especially to become a Buddhist monk)


隔三差五

ㄍㄜˊ ㄙㄢ ㄔㄚˋ ㄨˇ

/kɤ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³/

/kɤ³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³/

every once in a while
every once in a while

every now and then; every so often; every once in a while


恍如隔世

ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄍㄜˊ ㄕˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jyː²¹ kaːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jyː²¹ kaːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

to feel as if one has been separated from the outside world for ages; to feel like something is from another world; to feel that people and things have changed as if a lifetime has passed


似水流年

ㄙˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/sz̩⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ niːn²¹/

/sz̩⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ niːn²¹/

years passing by quickly, like the water stream; time flies


浮生若夢

ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄥ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄥˋ

/fu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/fɐu̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mʊŋ²²/

/fu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/fɐu̯²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jœːk̚² mʊŋ²²/

This fleeting (lit. floating) life is like a dream. / Life is but a dream.


假痴不癲

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄔ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄢ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ti̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tiːn⁵⁵/

to hide behind the mask of a fool, a madman, etc. to create confusion about one's true intentions


上屋抽梯

remove the ladder (when the enemy has) ascended to the roof

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ u⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ ʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

(figurative) to lure someone to a treacherous place or situation then cut off their avenue of escape


水洩不通

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ siap̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰoŋ³³/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sui⁵²⁻³⁵ siap̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ tʰoŋ³³/

densely packed; extremely crowded; impenetrable


心有靈犀

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧ

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

心有靈犀一點通 心有靈犀一點通#Chinese

心有灵犀一点通 心有灵犀一点通#Chinese

Synonym of 心有靈犀一點通／心有灵犀一点通 (xīn yǒu língxī yīdiǎn tōng)


劍膽琴心

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄉㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

цзяньданьциньсинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

to have the courage of a warrior and the soul of a musician; to temper force with humanity


走為上計

ㄗㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧˋ

цзоувэйшанцзи

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sœːŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sœːŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

Jingze said, "Among the thirty-six stratagems of Duke Tan, fleeing is the best stratagem. You and your father should quickly flee."

The Book of Southern Qi, by Xiao Zixian, 6ᵗʰ century CE

Jìngzé yuē: “Tán Gōng sānshíliùcè, zǒu shì shàngjì. Rǔ fùzǐ wéi yìng jí zǒu ěr.”

敬則曰：「檀公三十六策，走是上計。汝父子唯應急走耳。」

敬则曰：「檀公三十六策，走是上计。汝父子唯应急走耳。」

If all else fails, retreat. / Fleeing is the best stratagem (of the Thirty-Six Stratagems).


火龍火馬

/hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ be⁵⁵⁴/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɔŋ¹³ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɛ⁵³/

/hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ hə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ be⁵⁵⁴/

/he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɪŋ²⁴ he⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɔŋ¹³ hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɛ⁵³/

(Southern Min) to burn with anxiety or impatience


三顧茅廬

ㄙㄢ ㄍㄨˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄌㄨˊ

/sän⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ kuː³³ maːu̯²¹ lou̯²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ lu³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ kuː³³ maːu̯²¹ lou̯²¹/

From the story of Liu Bei paying three visits to the thatched cottage of Zhuge Liang (later his chancellor) in order to recruit him during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

(figurative) to sincerely and repeatedly request someone to take up a post


假道伐虢

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄈㄚˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄈㄚ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kaː³⁵ tou̯²² fɐt̚² kʷɪk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kaː³⁵ tou̯²² fɐt̚² kʷɪk̚⁵/

From a historical event recorded in Zuo Zhuan.
《左傳·僖公二年》:
:
《左傳·僖公五年》

Xun Xi of Jin requested leave from the marquis to take his team of Qu horses and his Bi of Chui Ji jade, and with them borrow a way from Yu to march through it and attack Guo

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

Jìn Xún Xī qǐng yǐ Qū chǎn zhī shèng, yǔ Chuí Jí zhī bì, jiǎdào yú Yú yǐ fá Guó.

晉荀息請以屈產之乘，與垂棘之璧，假道於虞以伐虢。

晋荀息请以屈产之乘，与垂棘之璧，假道于虞以伐虢。

In winter, in the 12th month, on bing-zi, the 1st day of the moon, Jin extinguished Guo, and Chou, the duke, fled to the capital. The army, on its return, took up its quarters in Yu, surprised the city, and extinguished the state.

Dōng, shí'èryuè, bǐngzǐ shuò, Jìn miè Guó, Guó gōng Chǒu bēn jīngshī. Shī huán, guǎn yú Yú, suì xí Yú, miè zhī.

冬，十二月，丙子朔，晉滅虢，虢公醜奔京師。師還，館于虞，遂襲虞，滅之。

冬，十二月，丙子朔，晋灭虢，虢公丑奔京师。师还，馆于虞，遂袭虞，灭之。

to obtain safe passage to conquer theState of Guo

(figurative) to make peace with a smaller enemy and use it as a springboard to attack another common enemy, before turning on the first


心有靈犀一點通

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄨㄥ

xīn yǒu língxī yīdiǎn tōng [Phonetic:xīn yǒu língxī yìdiǎn tōng]

синь ю линси идянь тун

/ɕin⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ liŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɪŋ²¹ sɐi̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

From one of Li Shangyin's “Untitled” (《無題》) poems:
:
The rhinoceros' horn is reputed to confer telepathic powers – it is thought to be extremely sensitive, able to pass stimulus information from its tip straight to the brain in an instant.

Phoenix's wings we lacked,
　to fly as a pair,
But linked were our hearts
　by the rhino horn's magical might.

 Tang dynasty, Li Shangyin, “Untitled” (《無題》)
Translation from: C. K. Ho (何中堅) (2015), Tang Poems in original Rhyme: An Innovative Translation (《原韻英譯唐詩精選》)

Shēn wú cǎifèng shuāngfēi yì, xīn yǒu língxī yīdiǎn tōng.

身無彩鳳雙飛翼，心有靈犀一點通。

身无彩凤双飞翼，心有灵犀一点通。

(figurative) two hearts linked as one; having minds that are in sync; two hearts beat as one; having great chemistry


生死有命，富貴在天

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

sang¹ sei² jau⁵ ming⁶, fu³ gwai³ zoi⁶ tin¹

shēngsǐ yǒu mìng, fùguì zài tiān [Phonetic:shēngsíyǒumìng,fùguìzàitiān]

фугуй цзай тянь

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

sang¹ sei² jau⁵ ming⁶, fu³ gwai³ dzoi⁶ tin¹

seng¹ séi² yeo⁵ ming⁶, fu³ guei³ zoi⁶ tin¹

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mɪŋ²² fuː³³ kʷɐi̯³³ t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵/

Zixia said to him, "There is the following saying which I have heard - 'Death and life have their determined appointment; riches and honors depend upon Heaven.' Let the superior man never fail reverentially to order his own conduct, and let him be respectful to others and observant of propriety - then all within the four seas will be his brothers. What has the superior man to do with being distressed because he has no brothers?"

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

Zǐxià yuē: “Shāng wén zhī yǐ: ‘Sǐshēng yǒu mìng, fùguì zài tiān’. Jūnzǐ jìng ér wú shī, yǔ rén gōng ér yǒulǐ, sìhǎi zhī nèi, jiē xiōngdì yě, jūnzǐ hé huàn hū wú xiōngdì yě!”

子夏曰：「商聞之矣：『死生有命，富貴在天』。君子敬而無失，與人恭而有禮，四海之內，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎無兄弟也！」

子夏曰：「商闻之矣：『死生有命，富贵在天』。君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎无兄弟也！」

生死有命，富贵在天
死生有命，富貴在天

Life and death are fated, riches and honour depend on the appointment of heaven. / Life and death, poor or rich, it's all destined.


關門捉賊

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄇㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄗㄟˊ

гуаньмэньчжоцзэй

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʊk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ muːn²¹ t͡sʊk̚³ t͡sʰaːk̚²/

(figurative) to capture the enemy by cutting off their escape route


聽天由命

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄊㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/tʰɪŋ³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²²/

to resign oneself to fate; to be reconciled to one's lot


放手一搏

ㄈㄤˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄧ ㄅㄛˊ

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/

/fɑŋ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/fɔːŋ³³ sɐu̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³/

to cast aside one's misgivings, concerns, etc. and give it one's all (as a final attempt); to go all out; to take the plunge


偷工減料

ㄊㄡ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

тоугунцзяньляо

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kaːm³⁵ liːu̯²²⁻³⁵/

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ kaːm³⁵ liːu̯²²⁻³⁵/

to do shoddy work and use inferior materials


脫褲子放屁

脱裤子放屁
脱褲子放屁
脫了褲子放屁

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄎㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄈㄤˋ ㄆㄧˋ

то куцзы фанпи

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰi⁵¹/

/tʰyːt̚³ fuː³³ t͡siː³⁵ fɔːŋ³³ pʰei̯³³/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰi⁵¹/

/tʰyːt̚³ fuː³³ t͡siː³⁵ fɔːŋ³³ pʰei̯³³/

(figurative, colloquial) to do an utterly unnecessary thing


提出嚴正交涉

desc

→ English: lodge solemn representation (calque)

ㄊㄧˊ ㄔㄨ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄕㄜˋ

тичу яньчжэн цзяошэ

/tʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

(diplomacy, officialese) A phrase for expressing official government or diplomatic discontent, displeasure or serious displeasure


人心惶惶

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

жэньсиньхуанхуан

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ²³/

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/zin²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ²³/

everyone is anxious; people are filled with anxiety


傳宗接代

ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄉㄞˋ

чуаньцзунцзедай

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ tɔːi̯²²/

/tʰuan²³⁻³³ t͡sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³/

/tʰuan²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siap̚³²⁻⁴ tai³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːp̚³ tɔːi̯²²/

to carry on one's ancestral line; to go on from generation to generation


刻不容緩

ㄎㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄢˇ

кэбужунхуань

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²²/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²¹/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ uan³³/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ uan³³/

/kʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²²/

/hɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ wuːn²¹/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ uan³³/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔŋ²³⁻³³ uan³³/

to not tolerate any further delay; to be very urgent


前功盡棄

前功尽弃
前功盡廢
前功皆棄
前功盡滅

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˋ

цяньгунцзиньци

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻²² kɔŋ³³ t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² kʰi⁴¹/

/t͡siɛn¹³⁻²² kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

/t͡siɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ kʰi¹¹/

/t͡siɛn²³⁻³³ kɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ kʰi²¹/

all previous achievements go down the drain; all the previous effort is wasted


劃清界線

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

хуацинцзесянь

/xu̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/waːk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯³³ siːn³³/

/ue³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai²¹⁻⁴¹ suã²¹/

/ue³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai¹¹⁻⁵³ suã¹¹/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/waːk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯³³ siːn³³/

/ue³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai²¹⁻⁴¹ suã²¹/

/ue³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kai¹¹⁻⁵³ suã¹¹/

(figurative) to draw a line; to have nothing to do with each other


兩敗俱傷

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄞˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄕㄤ

лянбайцзюйшан

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ paːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/l̃uoŋ³³⁻²¹ pai⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ky²⁴²⁻⁵⁵ suoŋ⁵⁵/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ ku³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ ku³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liã²² ba⁴⁴ d͡ʑy³³ sɑ̃⁵³/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ paːi̯²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/l̃uoŋ³³⁻²¹ pai⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ky²⁴²⁻⁵⁵ suoŋ⁵⁵/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻¹¹ ku³³⁻¹¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai³³⁻²¹ ku³³⁻²¹ siɔŋ⁴⁴/

/liã²² ba⁴⁴ d͡ʑy³³ sɑ̃⁵³/

both sides suffer; everyone loses; neither side wins


無大無細

/mo⁵³⁻²¹ ⁽ᵗ⁻⁾luai²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ mo⁵³⁻²¹ sɑ²¹³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sue¹¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² sue⁴¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² se²¹/

/bɤ²⁴⁻³³ tua³³⁻¹¹ bɤ²⁴⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tua¹¹ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ soi²¹³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²¹ sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tua³³⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ sue¹¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² sue²¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²² tua⁴¹⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² sue⁴¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ tua³³⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo¹³⁻²² tua²²⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² se²¹/

/bɤ²⁴⁻³³ tua³³⁻¹¹ bɤ²⁴⁻³³ se²¹/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tua¹¹ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ soi²¹³/

(Hakka, Eastern Min, Southern Min) to have no sense of who is senior and who is junior; to show no respect to elders


飽漢子不知餓漢子飢

ㄅㄠˇ ㄏㄢˋ ˙ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄜˋ ㄏㄢˋ ˙ㄗ ㄐㄧ

pao³ han⁴-tzŭ⁵ pu⁴-chih¹ o⁴ han⁴-tzŭ⁵ chi¹

бао ханьцзы бучжи э ханьцзы цзи

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

飽漢不知餓漢飢 飽漢不知餓漢飢#Chinese

饱汉不知饿汉饥 饱汉不知饿汉饥#Chinese

Alternative form of 飽漢不知餓漢飢／饱汉不知饿汉饥 (bǎo hàn bùzhī è hàn jī)


有兩把刷子

ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄚ ˙ㄗ

yǒu liǎng bǎ shuāzi [Phonetic:yóuliángbǎshuāzi]

ю лян ба шуацзы

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ä⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩²/

有兩下子 有兩下子#Chinese

有两下子 有两下子#Chinese


目無尊長

ㄇㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄓㄤˇ

мууцзуньчжан

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/


算哪根蔥

ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄚˇ ㄍㄣ ㄘㄨㄥ

ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄟˇ ㄍㄣ ㄘㄨㄥ

суань на гэнь цун

/su̯än⁵¹ nä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kən⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

суань нэй гэнь цун

/su̯än⁵¹ neɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kən⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/su̯än⁵¹ nä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kən⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/su̯än⁵¹ neɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kən⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

(Internet slang) Who does [someone] think [someone] is? / [Someone] is nobody.


鋼鐵直男

a male asstraight (heterosexual) as steel

ㄍㄤ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄓˊ ㄋㄢˊ

ганте чжинань

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵/

(Mainland China, neologism, slang) man who is very straight (heterosexual)


天知地知，你知我知

tʻien¹ chih¹ ti⁴ chih¹, ni³ chih¹ wo³ chih¹

тянь чжи ди чжи

ни чжи во чжи

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

tin¹ dzi¹ dei⁶ dzi¹, nei⁵ dzi¹ ngo⁵ dzi¹

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ nei̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɔː¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴ tue²² t͡sai⁴⁴ li⁵³ t͡sai⁴⁴ ɡua⁵³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/tʰĩ³³ t͡sai³³ tue⁴¹ t͡sai³³ lɯ⁵⁵⁴ t͡sai³³ ɡua⁵⁵⁴ t͡sai³³/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴ te²² t͡sai⁴⁴ li⁵³ t͡sai⁴⁴ ɡua⁵³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴ te³³ t͡sai⁴⁴ li⁴¹ t͡sai⁴⁴ ɡua⁴¹ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴ tue³³ t͡sai⁴⁴ lu⁵³ t͡sai⁴⁴ ɡua⁵³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

From a story about Yang Zhen in the Book of the Later Han

As Yang Zhen passed Changyi while he was relocating for his new post, Wang Mi, who was a licentiate (xiucai) from Jingzhou recommended by him, was the governor of Changyi county. He came to visit him, and then brought ten catties of gold for Yang (so as to bribe him). [When Yang saw him,] He said, “[Me being] your old friend understands you, but you don't understand your old friend. Why [did you do that]?” Wang said, “It is night now, nobody would know this.” Yang then said, “The Heaven knows, the Gods know, I know and you know. How can you say that nobody knows?” Wang felt ashamed and left.

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

Dāng zhī jùn, dào jīng Chāngyì, gùsuǒ jǔ Jīngzhōu màocái Wáng Mì wèi Chāngyì lìng, yè jiàn, zhì yè huái jīn shí jīn yǐ yí Zhèn. Zhèn yuē: ‘Gùrén zhī jūn, jūn bùzhī gùrén, hé yě?’ Mì yuē: ‘Mùyè wú zhī zhě.’ Zhèn yuē: ‘Tiān zhī, shén zhī, wǒ zhī, zǐ zhī. héwèi wúzhī!’ Mì kuì ér chū.

當之郡，道經昌邑，故所舉荊州茂才王密為昌邑令，謁見，至夜懷金十斤以遺震。震曰：『故人知君，君不知故人，何也？』密曰：『暮夜無知者。』震曰：『天知，神知，我知，子知。[[#Chinese|]]何謂無知！』密愧而出。

当之郡，道经昌邑，故所举荆州茂才王密为昌邑令，谒见，至夜怀金十斤以遗震。震曰：『故人知君，君不知故人，何也？』密曰：『暮夜无知者。』震曰：『天知，神知，我知，子知。[[#Chinese|]]何谓无知！』密愧而出。

(Nobody knows except) The Heaven knows, the Earth knows, you know and I know.

This secret is only known by you and me.

Book of the Later Han
Changyi, Shandong
zh:楊震


瞎貓碰上死耗子

ㄒㄧㄚ ㄇㄠ ㄆㄥˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄙˇ ㄏㄠˋ ˙ㄗ

сямао пэншан сыхаоцзы

/ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

瞎貓碰死耗子 瞎貓碰死耗子#Chinese

瞎猫碰死耗子 瞎猫碰死耗子#Chinese

Alternative form of 瞎貓碰死耗子／瞎猫碰死耗子 (xiāmāo pèng sǐhàozi, “it is attained by accident”)


勇往直前

ㄩㄥˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄓˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

юнванчжицянь

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/jʊŋ¹³ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tit̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɛn¹³/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²³/

/jʊŋ¹³ wɔːŋ¹³ t͡sɪk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɔŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tit̚²⁴⁻² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siɛn¹³/

/iɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²⁴/

/iɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tit̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɛn²³/

2004 December 9, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “曾經的你 [You in the Past]”, in 每一刻都是嶄新的 [Every Moment Is Completely New], performed by Xu Wei:

Walking on the road of braveness and determinedness

走在勇往直前的路上

to advance bravely and determinedly, without any fear


身無分文

ㄕㄣ ㄨˊ ㄈㄣ ㄨㄣˊ

шэньуфэньвэнь

šɛnʹufɛnʹvɛnʹ

/ʂən⁵⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/ʂən⁵⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

Shēnwúfēnwén de gūniángmen shì rúhé wéichí shēnghuó de?

身無分文的姑娘們是如何維持生活的？

身无分文的姑娘们是如何维持生活的？


烏心毒行

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²²/

/ɔ³³ sim³³ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²²/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²²/

/ɔ³³ sim³³ tɔk̚²⁴⁻² hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴ tɔk̚⁴⁻³² hiɪŋ²²/

(Hokkien) cruel and evil; ruthless and vicious


如臨大敵

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ tä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lɐm²¹ taːi̯²² tɪk̚²/

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ tä⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/jyː²¹ lɐm²¹ taːi̯²² tɪk̚²/

to have strict precautions; to be overly critical of the current situation


顛倒黑白

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄟ ㄅㄞˊ

дяньдаохэйбай

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵/

to confuse right and wrong; to confound right with wrong; to distort the truth; to misrepresent the facts


空即是色

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕˋ ㄙㄜˋ

кун цзи ши сэ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ siː²² sɪk̚⁵/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ siː²² sɪk̚⁵/

色即是空，空即是色 色即是空，空即是色#Chinese

Short for 色即是空，空即是色 (sè jí shì kōng, kōng jí shì sè).


色即是空

ja-r

しき% そく% ぜ% くう

CJKV/code

しき% そく% ぜ% くう

Sino-Xenic (色即是空):
* → Japanese: 色(しき)即(そく)是(ぜ)空(くう) (shiki soku ze kū)
* → Korean: 색즉시공(色即是空) (saekjeuksigong)

CJKV

しき% そく% ぜ% くう

ㄙㄜˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕˋ ㄎㄨㄥ

сэ цзи ши кун

/sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ siː²² hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ siː²² hʊŋ⁵⁵/

色即是空，空即是色 色即是空，空即是色#Chinese


鬼影都冇隻

not even one single ghost's shadow is present

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ t͡sɛːk̚³/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ jɪŋ³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ t͡sɛːk̚³/

(Cantonese) without people; empty; vacant; desolate


色即是空，空即是色

ja-r

色 即 是 空、空 即 是 色

しき そく ぜ くう、くう そく ぜ しき

desc

색즉시공 공즉시색(色卽是空 空卽是色)

→ Korean: 색즉시공 공즉시색(色卽是空 空卽是色)

CJKV/code

しき そく ぜ くう、くう そく ぜ しき

色 即 是 空、空 即 是 色

Sino-Xenic (色即是空，空即是色):
* → Japanese: 色(しき)即(そく)是(ぜ)空(くう)、空(くう)即(そく)是(ぜ)色(しき) (shiki soku ze kū, kū soku ze shiki)
* → Korean: 색즉시공 공즉시색(色卽是空 空卽是色)
* → Vietnamese: sắc tức thị không, không tức thị sắc (色即是空，空即是色)

CJKV

しき そく ぜ くう、くう そく ぜ しき

色 即 是 空、空 即 是 色

desc

Malay: isi adalah kosong, kosong adalah isi

Vietnamese: sắc tức là không, không tức là sắc

ㄙㄜˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕˋ ㄎㄨㄥ

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕˋ ㄙㄜˋ

sik¹ zik¹ si⁶ hung¹, hung¹ zik¹ si⁶ sik¹

sê⁴ chi² shih⁴ kʻung¹, kʻung¹ chi² shih⁴ sê⁴

сэ цзи ши кун

кун цзи ши сэ

/sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

sik⁷ dzik⁷ si⁶ hung¹, hung¹ dzik⁷ si⁶ sik⁷

xig¹ jig¹ xi⁶ hung¹, hung¹ jig¹ xi⁶ xig¹

/sɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ siː²² hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ siː²² sɪk̚⁵/

srik tsik dzyeX khuwng khuwng tsik dzyeX srik

“Shariputra, form (rupa) is indistinguishable from emptiness (sunyata), emptiness indistingushable from form. Form is indeed emptiness, emptiness indeed form. Likewise are sensation (vedana), perception (samjna), formation (samskara), and consciousness (vijnana).”

7th century, Shorter Prajñāpāramitā-hṛdaya Sutra (translation by Xuanzang)

“Shèlìzǐ, sè bù yì kōng, kōng bù yì sè. Sè jí shì kōng, kōng jí shì sè. Shòu xiǎng xíng shí, yì fù rúshì.”

「舍利子，色不異空，空不異色。色即是空，空即是色。受想行識，亦復如是。」

「舍利子，色不异空，空不异色。色即是空，空即是色。受想行识，亦复如是。」

色則是空，空則是色
色即是空
空即是色

(Buddhism) Form is precisely emptiness and emptiness is precisely form.

(reinterpretation of the phrase, humorous) Lust is void, and void is lust; lust is nothing worthy of your pursuit (often as an admonishment).


無地自容

ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tei̯²² t͡siː²² jʊŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tei̯²² t͡siː²² jʊŋ²¹/


如虎添翼

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧˋ

/ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ jɪk̚²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/

/ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ tʰiːm⁵⁵ jɪk̚²/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² iɪk̚⁴/

/zu²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/zi²³⁻³³ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³³ iɪk̚⁴/

/lu²⁴⁻²² hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² sit̚⁴/


恨入骨髓

ㄏㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄨㄟˇ

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

恨之入骨 恨之入骨#Chinese


恨之切骨

ㄏㄣˋ ㄓ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨˇ

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

恨之入骨 恨之入骨#Chinese


恨入心髓

ㄏㄣˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄨㄟˇ

хэньжусиньсуй

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² jɐp̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɵy̯¹³/

/xən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐn²² jɐp̚² sɐm⁵⁵ sɵy̯¹³/

恨之入骨 恨之入骨#Chinese


你媽的

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

去你媽的！

去你妈的！

你媽的，真不要臉！

你妈的，真不要脸！

Fuck you Zhang San, you'll get what you deserve.

好你媽的張三，等著瞧吧！

好你妈的张三，等着瞧吧！

(vulgar) A profane phrase used at times of anger or frustration. Often an insult to the addressee.


有眼不識金鑲玉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄩˋ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄩˋ

юяньбушицзиньсянъюй

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

有眼不識荊山玉 有眼不識荊山玉#Chinese

有眼不识荆山玉 有眼不识荆山玉#Chinese

Misconstruction of 有眼不識荊山玉／有眼不识荆山玉 (yǒu yǎn bùshí jīngshān yù)


有眼不識荊山玉

有眼不识荆山玉
有眼不識金鑲玉
有眼不識金香玉
有眼不識荆山玉

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄩˋ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄩˋ

yǒu yǎn bùshí jīngshān yù [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbùshíjīngshānyù]

ю янь буши цзиншань юй

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

yǒu yǎn bùshì jīngshān yù [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbúshìjīngshānyù]

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

to fail to recognize precious things or outstanding people


醉貌咕咚

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ˙ㄇㄠ ㄍㄨ ㄉㄨㄥ

цзуймаогудун

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯¹ ku⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯¹ ku⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

heavily intoxicated; inebriated; dead drunk


三六九等

ㄙㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄥˇ

саньлюцзюдэн

/sän⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


十八廿二

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ jaː²² jiː²²⁻³⁵/

/sɐp̚² paːt̚³ jaː²² jiː²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese, Leizhou Min, often of a woman) in the bloom of youth; in one's tender youth


柴米油鹽

ㄔㄞˊ ㄇㄧˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄧㄢˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːi̯²¹ mɐi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ jiːm²¹/

/t͡sʰa⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bi⁵²⁻³⁵ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iam⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːi̯²¹ mɐi̯¹³ jɐu̯²¹ jiːm²¹/

/t͡sʰa⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bi⁵²⁻³⁵ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iam⁵⁵/

柴米油鹽醬醋茶 柴米油鹽醬醋茶#Chinese

柴米油盐酱醋茶 柴米油盐酱醋茶#Chinese

Alternative form of 柴米油鹽醬醋茶／柴米油盐酱醋茶 (chái mǐ yóu yán jiàng cù chá)


循循善誘

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄧㄡˋ

сюньсюньшанью

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sʰɵn²¹ siːn²² jɐu̯¹³/

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sʰɵn²¹ siːn²² jɐu̯¹³/

Yan Yuan, in admiration of the Master's doctrines, sighed and said, "I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I tried to penetrate them, and they seemed to become more firm; I looked at them before me, and suddenly they seemed to be behind. The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlarged my mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.…

Yán Yuān kuìrán tàn yuē: “Yǎng zhī mí gāo, zuàn zhī mí jiān, zhān zhī zài qián, hū yān zài hòu! Fūzǐ xúnxún rán shànyòu rén: bó wǒ yǐ wén, yuē wǒ yǐ lǐ.......

顏淵喟然歎曰：「仰之彌高，鑽之彌堅，瞻之在前，忽焉在後！夫子循循然善誘人：博我以文，約我以禮。……

颜渊喟然叹曰：「仰之弥高，钻之弥坚，瞻之在前，忽焉在后！夫子循循然善诱人：博我以文，约我以礼。……

to teach in a systematic and skilful way


孜孜不倦

ㄗ ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

цзыцзыбуцзюань

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kyːn²²/

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

Zì qù zhǎngshǐ, yōuyóu wúshì chuí sānshí nián. Nǎi gèng qiánxīn diǎnjí, zīzī bùjuàn. Nián yú bāshí, yóu shǒu zì jiàoshū, kāndìng miùwù.

自去長史，優遊無事垂三十年。乃更潛心典籍，孜孜不倦。年踰八十，猶手自校書，刊定謬誤。

自去长史，优游无事垂三十年。乃更潜心典籍，孜孜不倦。年逾八十，犹手自校书，刊定谬误。


走走停停

ㄗㄡˇ ㄗㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ

цзоуцзоутинтин

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹/


供認不諱

ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

гунжэньбухуэй

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/keŋ³³⁻²³ d͡ziŋ¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hui²¹³/

/kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²² pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯¹³/

/keŋ³³⁻²³ d͡ziŋ¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hui²¹³/

to confess everything; to make a full confession; to plead guilty


空空如也

ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄝˇ

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jaː¹³/

/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²¹ jaː¹³/

From the Analects, Book 9 (《論語·子罕》):
:
Originally, reduplication of 空 with particles was native to Classical Chinese grammar. In vernacular or modern Chinese, the chengyu with its air of classicality is often used for humorous effects.

The Master said, "Am I indeed possessed of knowledge? I am not knowing. But if a mean person, who appears quite empty-like, ask anything of me, I set it forth from one end to the other, and exhaust it."

Zǐyuē: “Wú yǒu zhī hū zāi? Wúzhī yě. Yǒu bǐfū wèn yú wǒ, kōngkōng rú yě, wǒ kòu qí liǎngduān ér jié yān.”

子曰：「吾有知乎哉？無知也。有鄙夫問於我，空空如也，我叩其兩端而竭焉。」

子曰：「吾有知乎哉？无知也。有鄙夫问于我，空空如也，我叩其两端而竭焉。」

When he teaches, the classroom is often empty.

Tā jiǎngkè de shíhòu, jiàoshì jīngcháng kōngkōngrúyě.

他講課的時候，教室經常空空如也。

他讲课的时候，教室经常空空如也。


翻身不忘共產黨，幸福不忘毛主席

head

翻身不忘共產黨，幸福不忘毛主席

翻身不忘共产党，幸福不忘毛主席

ㄈㄢ ㄕㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄢˇ ㄉㄤˇ

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄇㄠˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄒㄧˊ

xìngfú bùwàng Máo Zhǔxí [Phonetic:fānshēnbúwànggòngchándǎng

фаньшэнь буван гунчаньдан

синфу буван Мао Чжуси

/fän⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵/

forget not the Communist Party of China for the liberation; forget not Chairman Mao for one's well-being

命苦不能怨政府，點背不能怨社會／命苦不能怨政府，点背不能怨社会

mìngkǔ bùnéng yuàn zhèngfǔ, diǎnbèi bùnéng yuàn shèhuì


槓鈴般的笑聲

ㄍㄤˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄢ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄕㄥ

ганлин бань дэ сяошэн

/kɑŋ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ pän⁵⁵ d̥ə² ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔːŋ³³ lɪŋ²¹ puːn⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵ siːu̯³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/kɑŋ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ pän⁵⁵ d̥ə² ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

Comical imitation of common Chinese literary/poetic phrase 銀鈴般的笑聲 or 銅鈴般的笑聲.

(slang, humorous, neologism) “barbell-like laughter”; Used to refer big laughter.


憐香惜玉

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧ ㄩˋ

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄒㄧˊ ㄩˋ

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ y⁵¹/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/lin²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/lin²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ y⁵¹/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

/liːn²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²⁻³⁵/

/lin²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/lin²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

/liɛn²³⁻³³ hiɔŋ⁴⁴ siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ɡiɔk̚⁴/

"You're going to die soon, it's difficult for you to protect yourself, but you still set your mind on treating these girls tenderly and protectively!"

1966, Jin Yong, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Chapter 11

“Sǐdàolíntóu, zìshēnnánbǎo, jūrán shàng yǒu liánxiāngxīyù zhī xīn.”

「死到臨頭，自身難保，居然尚有憐香惜玉之心。」

「死到临头，自身难保，居然尚有怜香惜玉之心。」

to have tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex


轉瞬即逝

ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄕˋ

чжуаньшуньцзиши

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

Happy times are so short; like a shooting star, they are gone in an instant.

Měihǎo shíguāng shì nàyàng de duǎnzàn, wǎnruò tiānkōng huá guò de liúxīng bān zhuǎnshùnjíshì.

美好時光是那樣的短暫，宛若天空滑過的流星般轉瞬即逝。

美好时光是那样的短暂，宛若天空滑过的流星般转瞬即逝。


神出鬼沒

ㄕㄣˊ ㄔㄨ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄇㄛˋ

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚²/

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ muːt̚²/

to appear and disappear unpredictably like a ghost


又紅又專

ㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄨㄢ

ю хун ю чжуань

/joʊ̯⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯²² hʊŋ²¹ jɐu̯²² t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯²² hʊŋ²¹ jɐu̯²² t͡syːn⁵⁵/

to have a procommunist mindset along with professional skill


自絕於人民

to terminate oneself from the people” or “to cut off oneself from the people

ㄗˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄩˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

цзыцзюэ юй жэньминь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y³⁵ ʐən³⁵ min³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡syːt̚² jyː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɐn²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ y³⁵ ʐən³⁵ min³⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡syːt̚² jyː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ mɐn²¹/

used to express that the one's suicide is antipeople


命苦不能怨政府，點背不能怨社會

命苦不能怨政府，點背不能怨社會

命苦不能怨政府，点背不能怨社会

ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄎㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄈㄨˇ

ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

минку бунэн юань чжэнфу

дяньбэй бунэн юань шэхуэй

/miŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

ㄉㄧㄢˇㄦ ㄅㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

минкубунэнъюаньчжэнфу

дяньрбэйбунэнъюаньшэхуэй

/miŋ⁵¹ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

One cannot blame for their misfortune with the government and the society.

翻身不忘共產黨，幸福不忘毛主席／翻身不忘共产党，幸福不忘毛主席

fānshēn bùwàng gòngchǎndǎng, xìngfú bùwàng Máo Zhǔxí


狸貓換太子

ㄌㄧˊ ㄇㄠ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄗˇ

лимао хуань тайцзы

/li³⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lei̯²¹ maːu̯⁵⁵ wuːn²² tʰaːi̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

/li²³⁻³³ ba²³ uã³³⁻²¹ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ ba²⁴ uã³³⁻¹¹ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

/li²³⁻³³ ba²³ uã³³⁻²¹ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡su⁴¹/

/li²⁴⁻¹¹ ba²⁴ uã³³⁻¹¹ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡su⁵³/

From a folk story in The Three Heroes and Five Gallants.

to substitute someone's valuable item with another item


鍾靈毓秀

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄡˋ

чжунлинъюйсю

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

a good environment produces excellent people


誅心之論

ㄓㄨ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓ ㄌㄨㄣˋ

чжусиньчжилунь

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɵn²²/

penetrating criticism; exposure of sb's ulterior motives

criticism based on the assumption that someone has evil motives, not on facts


聚少離多

ㄐㄩˋ ㄕㄠˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄉㄨㄛ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

(often of a couple) to be more often separated than together


三生有幸

ㄙㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

саньшэнъюсин

/sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɐŋ²²/

/sän⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ hɐŋ²²/


天造地設

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗㄠˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄕㄜˋ

тяньцзаодишэ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² tei̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ te³³⁻²¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯²² tei̯²² t͡sʰiːt̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡so³³⁻¹¹ te³³⁻¹¹ siɛt̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sɤ³³⁻²¹ te³³⁻²¹ siɛt̚³²/


感同身受

ㄍㄢˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˋ

ганьтуншэньшоу

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯²²/

Originally used to express gratitude on someone else's behalf.

2018 September 28, 王剑冰 (Wang Jianbing), 《那牵曳阳光的一缕亮腔》, in 《光明日报》 [Guangming Daily], →ISSN, page 15

Yǒude lèishuǐ guà zài liǎn shàng, bù cā yě bù mǒ, jiù nàme suízhe xì, gǎntóngshēnshòu dì jiāng zìjǐ chǎngkāi zài zhège shìjiè lǐ.

有的淚水掛在臉上，不擦也不抹，就那麼隨著戲，感同身受地將自己敞開在這個世界裡。

有的泪水挂在脸上，不擦也不抹，就那么随着戏，感同身受地将自己敞开在这个世界里。

to feel as if it has happened to oneself


娶妻生子

ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄗˇ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

(of a man) to get married and have children


到爆

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

𤓓到爆

𬊜到爆

(slang, after adjectives) extremely; tremendously


如約而至

ㄖㄨˊ ㄩㄝ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

/ʐu³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/ʐu³⁵ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jœːk̚³ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/


灰心喪氣

ㄏㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄙㄤˋ ㄑㄧˋ

хуэйсиньсанци

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

disheartened; discouraged; downhearted; downcast; in despair


蘇州過後冇艇搭

苏州过后冇艇搭
蘇州過後無艇搭

after passing Suzhou, cannot travel by boat

/sou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ hɐu̯²² mou̯¹³ tʰɛːŋ¹³ taːp̚³/

(Cantonese) there is no second chance after missing this opportunity


一來一往

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ¹³/


斤斤較量

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

цзиньцзинь цзяолян

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ lœːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐn⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ lœːŋ²²/


人之常情

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (人之常情):
* → Korean: 인지상정(人之常情) (injisangjeong)

ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄔㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

жэньчжичанцин

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ sĩõ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³³⁻²³ sĩõ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

human nature; what is natural and normal in human relationships; it's only human


暴飲暴食

ㄅㄠˋ ㄧㄣˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄕˊ

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pou̯²² jɐm³⁵ pou̯²² sɪk̚²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/pou̯²² jɐm³⁵ pou̯²² sɪk̚²/

to eat and drink too much; to over-indulge in food and drink; to binge (on food and beverage)


小道消息

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄒㄧ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄒㄧˊ

сяодао сяоси

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tou̯²² siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ tou̯²² siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/


吃喝嫖賭抽

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄨˇ ㄔㄡ

чихэпяодучоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵/

to go dining, wining, whoring, gambling and smoking; to lead a dissipated life


坑蒙拐騙

ㄎㄥ ㄇㄥ ㄍㄨㄞˇ ㄆㄧㄢˋ

кэнмэнгуайпянь

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/haːŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³⁵ pʰiːn³³/

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/haːŋ⁵⁵ mʊŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³⁵ pʰiːn³³/

to entrap, make blind, swindle and deceive; the various fraud techniques


江河湖海

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄏㄜˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄏㄞˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ xu³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ wuː²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ xu³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ wuː²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

rivers, lakes and seas (in general); bodies of water


高矮胖瘦

ㄍㄠ ㄞˇ ㄆㄤˋ ㄕㄡˋ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ɐi̯³⁵ puːn²² sɐu̯³³/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/kou̯⁵⁵ ɐi̯³⁵ puːn²² sɐu̯³³/


雞鴨魚肉

ㄐㄧ ㄧㄚ ㄩˊ ㄖㄡˋ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

chicken, duck, fish and (other) meat; the various types or sources of meat in a meal


苦辣酸甜

ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄚˋ ㄙㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

куласуаньтянь

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣#Chinese


摸爬滾打

ㄇㄛ ㄆㄚˊ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄉㄚˇ

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pʰä³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː³⁵ pʰaː²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ taː³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pʰä³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː³⁵ pʰaː²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ taː³⁵/

to go through arduous training or hard work


亭臺樓閣

ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄌㄡˊ ㄍㄜˊ

/tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/

/tʰiŋ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/tʰɪŋ²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ lɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³/

pavilions, terraces and towers (in general); traditional Chinese architecture


赤橙黃綠

ㄔˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄩˋ

чичэнхуанлюй

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ly⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ly⁵¹/

red, orange, yellow and green; colours (in general)


吃喝嫖賭

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ pʰiːu̯²¹ tou̯³⁵/

to go dining, wining, whoring and gambling; to lead a dissipated life


聽說讀寫

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄉㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

listening, speaking, reading and writing; various aspects of learning a foreign language


圍追堵截

ㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄉㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

вэйчжуйдуцзе

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

to encircle, pursue, obstruct and intercept; to resort to all methods to destroy and annihilate


甜酸苦辣

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄚˋ

тяньсуанькула

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯än⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/tʰiːm²¹ syːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯än⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/tʰiːm²¹ syːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

酸甜苦辣 酸甜苦辣#Chinese


輕重緩急

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄢˇ ㄐㄧˊ

цинчжунхуаньцзи

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ wuːn²² kɐp̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ¹³ wuːn²² kɐp̚⁵/

relative importance and urgency (of matters)


南北東西

ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ

наньбэйдунси

/nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

東西南北 東西南北#Chinese

东西南北 东西南北#Chinese

Alternative form of 東西南北／东西南北 (dōngxīnánběi)


多快好省

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕㄥˇ

докуайхаошэн

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From the slogan proposed by Mao Zedong in the Great Leap Forward Movement

Go all out; aim high; achieve greater, faster, better and more economical results in building socialism

gǔ zú gànjìn, lì zhēng shàngyóu, duōkuàihǎoshĕng de jiànshè shèhuìzhǔyì

鼓足幹勁、力爭上游、多快好省地建設社會主義

鼓足干劲、力争上游、多快好省地建设社会主义

(officialese) greater, faster, better and more economical


金銀銅鐵

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ

цзиньиньтунте

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³/

gold, silver, copper and iron; metals (in general)


筆墨紙硯

ㄅㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄓˇ ㄧㄢˋ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² t͡siː³⁵ hiːn³⁵/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ mɐk̚² t͡siː³⁵ hiːn³⁵/

brush, ink, paper and inkstone; Four Treasures of the Study


王侯將相

ㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ванхоуцзянсян

/wɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hɐu̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ³³ sœːŋ³³/

/wɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hɐu̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ³³ sœːŋ³³/

Slogan of the revolters in the Dazexiang uprising, as recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian

Do kings, barons, generals, and ministers rise from only a fixed family background?

Wáng hóu jiàng xiàng, nìng yǒu zhǒng hū?

王侯將相，寧有種乎？

王侯将相，宁有种乎？

(figurative) kings and nobles (in general); royalty and nobility

Dazexiang uprising
Records of the Grand Historian


鍋碗瓢盆

ㄍㄨㄛ ㄨㄢˇ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄆㄣˊ

гованьпяопэнь

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰən³⁵/

ㄍㄨㄛ ㄨㄢˇ ㄆㄧㄠˊ ㄆㄣˊㄦ

гованьпяопэньр

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰəɻ³⁵/

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰən³⁵/

/ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pʰəɻ³⁵/

woks, bowls, gourd ladles and basins; items of the kitchen; pots and pans


妖魔鬼怪

ㄧㄠ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/jiːu̯³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

all demons and ghosts; all forces of evil


說學逗唱

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄉㄡˋ ㄔㄤˋ

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/

narration, imitation, joking and singing (the four basic techniques of xiangsheng)


虎豹豺狼

ㄏㄨˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄔㄞˊ ㄌㄤˊ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵/

豺狼虎豹 豺狼虎豹#Chinese

Alternative form of 豺狼虎豹 (cháilánghǔbào)


刀槍棍棒

ㄉㄠ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄍㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄤˋ

даоцянгуньбан

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹/

swords, spears, cudgels and clubs; all kinds of weapons


東西南北中

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄥ

дунсинаньбэйчжун

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

east, west, south, north and centre; all places


張王李趙

ㄓㄤ ㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓㄠˋ

Чжанванличжао

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lei̯¹³ t͡siːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ lei̯¹³ t͡siːu̯²²/

Zhang, Wang, Li and Zhao (the four most common surnames)

(figurative) common people; people in general


冷熱酸甜

ㄌㄥˇ ㄖㄜˋ ㄙㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

лэнжэсуаньтянь

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

Hot and cold, sweet and sour... Eat to your heart’s content! (toothpaste advertisement)

冷熱酸甜，想吃就吃！

冷热酸甜，想吃就吃！

cold, hot, sour and sweet; different kinds of flavours


琴瑟琵琶

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄆㄧˊ ㄆㄚˊ

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄆㄧˊ ˙ㄆㄚ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ pʰei̯²¹ pʰaː²¹/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ sɤ⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pʰä³/

/kʰɐm²¹ sɐt̚⁵ pʰei̯²¹ pʰaː²¹/

qin, se, and pipa (all of which are traditional Chinese musical instruments); Chinese musical instruments (in general)


經史子集

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˇ ㄗˇ ㄐㄧˊ

цзиншицзыцзи

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ siː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ siː³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡saːp̚²/

the four traditional types of Chinese classic texts; Chinese canonical texts in general


風霜雨雪

ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄩˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

фэншуанъюйсюэ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ syːt̚³/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ syːt̚³/

(figurative) all kinds of hardships and sufferings


花鳥魚蟲

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥˊ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄥˊㄦ

хуаняоюйчунр

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊ̃ɻ³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊ̃ɻ³⁵/

flowers, birds, insects and fish (the stereotypical items of enjoyment of an elderly Chinese person)


嬉笑怒罵

ㄒㄧ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄋㄨˋ ㄇㄚˋ

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³³ nou̯²² maː²²/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mä⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³³ nou̯²² maː²²/

(literally) merry laughter and angry scolding; (figurative) all kinds of emotions

(of writing, etc.) freely roving; ironic and invective


刀槍劍戟

ㄉㄠ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧˇ

даоцянцзяньцзи

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːm³³ kɪk̚⁵/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːm³³ kɪk̚⁵/

single-edged and double-edged swords, spears and halberds; all kinds of ancient weapons


赤朱丹彤

ㄔˋ ㄓㄨ ㄉㄢ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

чичжуданьтун

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tän⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ tän⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/


聲光化電

ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄧㄢˋ

шэнгуанхуадянь

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

(dated) sound, light, chemistry and electricity; various branches of Western scientific knowledge


坑蒙拐騙偷

ㄎㄥ ㄇㄥ ㄍㄨㄞˇ ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄡ

кэнмэнгуайпяньтоу

/kʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵/

to entrap, make blind, swindle, deceive and steal; the various fraud techniques


酒色財氣

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hei̯³³/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sɪk̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hei̯³³/

wine, sex, avarice and temper; the four cardinal vices


綾羅綢緞

ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄔㄡˊ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

линлочоудуань

/liŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ lɔː²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ tyːn²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan⁴¹/

/liɪŋ¹³⁻²² lo¹³⁻²² tiu¹³⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ tiu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuan³³/

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ lɤ²³⁻³³ tiu²³⁻³³ tuan³³/

/liŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ tu̯än⁵¹/

/lɪŋ²¹ lɔː²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ tyːn²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² lo²⁴⁻²² tiu²⁴⁻²² tuan⁴¹/

/liɪŋ¹³⁻²² lo¹³⁻²² tiu¹³⁻²² tuan²²/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ lo²⁴⁻¹¹ tiu²⁴⁻¹¹ tuan³³/

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ lɤ²³⁻³³ tiu²³⁻³³ tuan³³/


趙錢孫李

ㄓㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄣ ㄌㄧˇ

Чжаоцяньсуньли

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯²² t͡sʰiːn²¹ syːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/tiɤ³³ t͡sĩ²³ sun⁴⁴ li⁴¹/

/t͡siːu̯²² t͡sʰiːn²¹ syːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/tiɤ³³ t͡sĩ²³ sun⁴⁴ li⁴¹/

Hundred Family Surnames
w:Hundred Family Surnames

Zhao, Qian, Sun and Li (the first four surnames in the Hundred Family Surnames)

(figurative) people in general; ordinary people


絕無僅有

ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡syːt̚² mou̯²¹ kɐn³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² bo²⁴⁻²² kin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu⁵³/

/t͡suat̚²⁴⁻² bo²⁴⁻²² kin⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡suat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² kin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu⁵³/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu⁵³/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² bɤ²³⁻³³ kin⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iu⁴¹/

/t͡syːt̚² mou̯²¹ kɐn³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² bo²⁴⁻²² kin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu⁵³/

/t͡suat̚²⁴⁻² bo²⁴⁻²² kin⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ iu⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡suat̚¹²¹⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² kin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu⁵³/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kin⁵³⁻⁴⁴ iu⁵³/

/t͡suat̚⁴⁻³² bɤ²³⁻³³ kin⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iu⁴¹/


聲色犬馬

ㄕㄥ ㄙㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄇㄚˇ

шэнсэцюаньма

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

sound (i.e. going to the theatre), beauty (i.e. visiting brothels), keeping dogs and riding horses; (figurative) various types of sensual pleasure


子丑寅卯

ㄗˇ ㄔㄡˇ ㄧㄣˊ ㄇㄠˇ

цзычоуиньмао

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in³⁵ mɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ maːu̯¹³/

/t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ maːu̯¹³/

(literally) zi, chou, yin and mao (the first four earthly branches)

I still don't have a clue after trying hard to read all this material.

Wǒ fèijìnbālā de, kàn le zènme duō zīliào yě méi kànchū ge zǐ‐chǒu‐yín‐mǎo lai.

我費勁巴拉的，看了這麼多資料也沒看出個子丑寅卯來。

我费劲巴拉的，看了这么多资料也没看出个子丑寅卯来。

(figurative) underlying reasons or logic; main threads (of a complicated affair)


甲乙丙丁

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄧˇ ㄅㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄧㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ piŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

jia, yi, bing and ding (the first four heavenly stems)

(figurative) sequence or outline of a matter


衣食住行

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡syː²² hɐŋ²¹/

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² t͡syː²² hɐŋ²¹/

From 民生主義·第三講 in 三民主義 [1924], a collection of speeches delivered by Sun Yat-sen in 1924.

lw

s:三民主義/民生主義第三講

Mínshēng de xūyào, cóngqián jīngjìxuéjiā dōu shì shuō yī, shí, zhù sān zhǒng; zhào wǒ de yánjiū, yìnggāi yǒu sì zhǒng, yú yī shí zhù zhīwài, háiyǒu yī zhǒng jiù shì xíng. Xíng yě shì yī zhǒng hěn zhòng de xūyào; xíng jiù shì zǒulù...... Dàjiā dōu néng gè jìn gè de yìwù, dàjiā zìrán kěyǐ dé yīshízhùxíng de sì zhǒng xūyào.

民生的需要，從前經濟學家都是說衣、食、住三種；照我的研究，應該有四種，於衣食住之外，還有一種就是行。行也是一種很重的需要；行就是走路……大家都能各盡各的義務，大家自然可以得衣食住行的四種需要。

民生的需要，从前经济学家都是说衣、食、住三种；照我的研究，应该有四种，于衣食住之外，还有一种就是行。行也是一种很重的需要；行就是走路……大家都能各尽各的义务，大家自然可以得衣食住行的四种需要。

food, clothing, housing and transportation; basic necessities of life


金銀銅鐵錫

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧˊ

цзиньиньтунтеси

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³ sɛːk̚³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ in³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ ŋɐn²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ tʰiːt̚³ sɛːk̚³/

the five metals of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin


大惑不解

ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² waːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³⁵/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ kai⁵³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ kai⁴¹/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ kai⁵³/

/taːi̯²² waːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kaːi̯³⁵/

/tai²²⁻²¹ hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ kai⁵³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ kai⁴¹/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² put̚³²⁻⁴ kai⁵³/


陰晴圓缺

ㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄝ

иньцинъюаньцюэ

/in⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

/in⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jyːn²¹ kʰyːt̚³/

(of the Moon) dim, bright, full or crescent; the various shapes of the Moon; (figurative) unpredictability of life; vicissitudes of life


打砸搶燒

ㄉㄚˇ ㄗㄚˊ ㄑㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄠ

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

(often officialese) to assault, vandalise, loot and commit arson; to burn and loot


花鳥蟲魚

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄩˊ

хуаняочунъюй

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ y³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyː²¹/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ y³⁵/

/faː⁵⁵ niːu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyː²¹/

花鳥魚蟲 花鳥魚蟲#Chinese

花鸟鱼虫 花鸟鱼虫#Chinese

Alternative form of 花鳥魚蟲／花鸟鱼虫 (huāniǎoyúchóng)


星光半夜

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sen²⁴⁻¹¹ koŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

(Hakka) in the middle of the night; late at night


三更半暝

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mɛ̃¹³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ mẽ²³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kẽ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² me²⁴/

/sã³³⁻²³ kẽ³³⁻²³ pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ mẽ⁵⁵/

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kĩ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã³³ kĩ³³ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ mi²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã¹¹⁻⁵³ mĩ²⁴/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁵³ mɛ̃¹³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ kẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ puã²¹⁻⁴¹ mẽ²³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² kẽ⁴⁴⁻²² puã²¹⁻⁴² me²⁴/

/sã³³⁻²³ kẽ³³⁻²³ pũã²¹³⁻⁵⁵ mẽ⁵⁵/

(Southern Min) in the middle of the night; late at night


三更半夜

ㄙㄢ ㄍㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ

ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ

саньгэнбанье

/sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

саньцзинбанье

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²⁻³⁵/

/ɬam³³ kaŋ³³ pᵘɔn³³ jiɛ³²⁻²¹⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ pan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ kã³³ pø³³ ɦia²¹/

/sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²/

/saːm⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ puːn³³ jɛː²²⁻³⁵/

/ɬam³³ kaŋ³³ pᵘɔn³³ jiɛ³²⁻²¹⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam²⁴⁻¹¹ kaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ pan⁵⁵ (j)i̯a⁵⁵/

/sam⁴⁴ kaŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ pan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ia⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ kã³³ pø³³ ɦia²¹/


舊情復燃

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄖㄢˊ

цзюцинфужань

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/


妝嫫費黛

putting makeup onMomu (a legendarily ugly woman) is a waste of eyeliner

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄇㄛˊ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ

чжуанмофэйдай

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/


竹籃打水

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

чжуланьдашуй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄓㄨˊ ㄌㄢˊㄦ ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

чжуланьрдашуй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lɑɻ³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ laːm²¹ taː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ län³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ lɑɻ³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ laːm²¹ taː³⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

(figurative) wild-goose chase; wasted effort


瞻前顧後

ㄓㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨˋ ㄏㄡˋ

чжаньцяньгухоу

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kuː³³ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ kuː³³ hɐu̯²²/


心心相印

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄧㄣˋ

синьсиньсянъинь

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn³³/


幾生修到

/kei̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ tou̯³³/

/kei̯³⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵ tou̯³³/


一心二用

ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄦˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jʊŋ²²/


豬朋狗友

ㄓㄨ ㄆㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/


無妄之災

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ t͡sai³³/

/bu¹³⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/u³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ mɔːŋ¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² bɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ t͡sai³³/

/bu¹³⁻²² bɔŋ²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

/bu²³⁻³³ bɔŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai⁴⁴/

The third SIX, divided, shows calamity happening to one who is free from insincerity - as in the case of an ox that has been tied up. A passer by finds it (and carries it off), while the people in the neighbourhood have the calamity (of being accused and apprehended).

Liù sān: wú wàng zhī zāi, huò jì zhī niú, xíngrén zhī dé, yìrén zhī zāi.

六三：无妄之災，或繫之牛，行人之得，邑人之災。

六三：无妄之灾，或系之牛，行人之得，邑人之灾。

unexpected calamity; undeserved ill turn

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 25


不請自來

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄗˋ ㄌㄞˊ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː²² lɔːi̯²¹/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡siː²² lɔːi̯²¹/


物轉星移

ㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄧˊ

учжуаньсинъи

/u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/u⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ i³⁵/


路不拾遺

ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

/lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² wɐi̯²¹/

no one picks up lost articles on the street


光宗耀祖

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄠˋ ㄗㄨˇ

гуанцзунъяоцзу

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/kuaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ iau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sou⁵²/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːu̯²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/kuaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡soŋ³³⁻²³ iau³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sou⁵²/

to bring honour to one's ancestors and clan


念念不忘

ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ

няньняньбуван

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːm²² niːm²² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/niam³⁵⁻¹¹ niam³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ buaŋ⁵⁵/

/ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːm²² niːm²² pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹/

/niam³⁵⁻¹¹ niam³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ buaŋ⁵⁵/

to keep in mind constantly; to never forget


一時一刻

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ jɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ jɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

every moment; all the time; always; constantly


牢獄之災

лаоюйчжицзай

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/lou̯²¹ jʊk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵/


無影無蹤

ㄨˊ ㄧㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄥ

/u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ jɪŋ³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


既有今日，何必當初

if one had known about this day from the beginning, there would have been no point in starting

ㄐㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄖˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄉㄤ ㄔㄨ

цзию цзиньжи хэби данчу

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ pi⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/


銷聲匿跡

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄋㄧˋ ㄐㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄋㄧˋ ㄐㄧ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ nɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²/

/siau⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪk̚³²/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bi(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ziaʔ³²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ni⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ nɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/siau⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴⁴⁻³³ bi(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ziaʔ³²/

to keep silent and lie low; to vanish (from the public eye); to disappear from the scene


有緣無分

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (有緣無分):
* → Vietnamese: hữu duyên vô phận (有緣無分)

desc

→ Vietnamese: có duyên không phận (calque)

ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄈㄣˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ mou̯²¹ fɐn²²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ u³⁵ fən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ mou̯²¹ fɐn²²/

(of two people) to be destined to meet, but not fated to be together; not meant to be together; (in general) to be not destined for each other


分道揚鑣

ㄈㄣ ㄉㄠˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄧㄠ

фэньдаоянбяо

/fən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jœːŋ²¹ piːu̯⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² piau⁴⁴/

/fən⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jœːŋ²¹ piːu̯⁵⁵/

/hun⁴⁴⁻²² to²²⁻²¹ iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² piau⁴⁴/

From the Book of Wei, chapter 14 (《魏書·神元平文諸帝子孫列傳第二》), where Emperor Xiaowen mediates between two officials arguing over their priority of passage.

Emperor Gaozu said: "Luoyang is my territory, you should divide the road and urge your horses on. From now on, you can go separate ways."

Gāozǔ yuē: “Luòyáng wǒ zhī fēngpèi, zì yīng fēnlù yángbiāo. Zì jīn yǐhòu, kě fēnlù ér xíng.”

高祖曰：「洛陽我之豐沛，自應分路揚鑣。自今以後，可分路而行。」

高祖曰：「洛阳我之丰沛，自应分路扬镳。自今以后，可分路而行。」

to take different roads and urge the horses on


東找西尋

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄓㄠˇ ㄒㄧ ㄒㄩㄣˊ

дунчжаосисюнь

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ɕyn³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ɕyn³⁵/

to search for something in various places


日後再說

ㄖˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

жихоу цзайшо

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

The second sense is a pun on the dual meaning of 日 (“day; to fuck”); 日後 may be interpreted as “after several days” or “after fucking”.

to put off until a later time; to think about something later

(neologism, slang, vulgar, typically of a guy) to think about everything else (in that relationship) after sleeping with the girl first


望穿秋水

ㄨㄤˋ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

ванчуаньцюшуй

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/baŋ³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sui⁴¹/

/baŋ³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰuan⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ sui⁵³/

/mɔːŋ²² t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/


奔走相告

ㄅㄣ ㄗㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄍㄠˋ

бэньцзоусянгао

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³/

/pən⁴⁴ t͡søy⁴⁴ siã⁴⁴ kæ/

/pən⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kou̯³³/

/pən⁴⁴ t͡søy⁴⁴ siã⁴⁴ kæ/


楊花水性

ㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²¹/

/jɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ faː⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sɪŋ³³/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ¹¹/

/iɔŋ²³⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪŋ²¹/

(of a woman) frivolous; fickle; lascivious


暴殄天物

ㄅㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨˋ

баотяньтяньу

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/pou̯²² tʰiːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

/*[b]ˤawk-s [d]ˤə[n]ʔ l̥ˤi[n]|l̥ˤi[n] C.mut/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u⁵¹/

/pou̯²² tʰiːn¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɐt̚²/

Shou, the present king of Shang, is without principle, cruel and destructive to the creatures of Heaven, injurious and tyrannical to the multitudes of the people.

The Book of Documents, circa 7ᵗʰ – 4ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Jīn Shāngwáng Shòu wúdào, bàotiǎntiānwù, hàinüè zhēngmín.

今商王受無道，暴殄天物，害虐烝民。

今商王受无道，暴殄天物，害虐烝民。

(rare) to cruelly destroy nature's creatures

to recklessly waste natural products (or things in general)


一夜回到解放前

ㄧ ㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄈㄤˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

yī yè huídào jiěfàng qián [Phonetic:yí yè huídào jiěfàng qián]

и е хуэйдао цзефан цянь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɛ⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

(Mainland China) an achievement has vanished overnight and the situation has reverted to its previous condition


男默女淚

ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄋㄩˇ ㄌㄟˋ

наньмонюйлэй

/nän³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/nän³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹/

From the following phrase:
:
Shortened to make it resemble a genuine Chinese chengyu (idiom).

Boys after reading this will go silent, girls after reading this will shed tears.

Nánshēng kàn le huì chénmò, nǚshēng kàn le huì liúlèi.

男生看了會沉默，女生看了會流淚。

男生看了会沉默，女生看了会流泪。

(upon hearing this story, etc.,) men will go silent and women will shed tears

A: “Today the shopping assistant in a clothes store said to me: ‘Sorry ma'am, we don't have clothes your size in our store.’”
B: “My sympathy goes out to you.”

Jiǎ: “Jīntiān fúzhuāngdiànyuán gēn wǒ shuō: ‘Bàoqiàn, zhè wèi gùkè, wǒmen diàn nèi méiyǒu nín kěyǐ chuān de chǐmǎ.’”
Yǐ: “Nánmònǚlèi.”

甲：「今天服裝店員跟我說：『抱歉，這位顧客，我們店內沒有您可以穿的尺碼。』」
乙：「男默女淚。」

甲：「今天服装店员跟我说：『抱歉，这位顾客，我们店内没有您可以穿的尺码。』」
乙：「男默女泪。」

(Mainland China, neologism, Internet slang, humorous, of story, article etc.) tearjerking; heartrending; tragic; sad


雞骨支床

ㄐㄧ ㄍㄨˇ ㄓ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

цзигучжичуан

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

The original meaning was that, when relatives died, people would grieve excessively and become thin and weary on sleeping mats. Later used by analogy to mean that people could finish their filial duty if they attended their parents' funeral(s). Also means "very thin".


抱得美人歸

ㄅㄠˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄇㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

бао дэ мэйжэнь гуй

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ mei̯¹³ jɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/


盡善盡美

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (盡善盡美):
* → Vietnamese: tận thiện tận mỹ (盡善盡美)

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄇㄟˇ

цзиньшаньцзиньмэй

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɵn²² siːn²² t͡sɵn²² mei̯¹³/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ siɛn³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻²¹ siɛn³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ bi⁴¹/

/t͡sɵn²² siːn²² t͡sɵn²² mei̯¹³/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² siɛn⁴¹⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹⁻²² bi⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sin²²⁻²¹ siɛn²²⁻²¹ t͡sin²²⁻²¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ siɛn³³⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/t͡sin³³⁻²¹ siɛn³³⁻²¹ t͡sin³³⁻²¹ bi⁴¹/

The Master said of the Shao that it was perfectly beautiful and also perfectly good. He said of the Wu that it was perfectly beautiful but not perfectly good.

Zǐ wèi Sháo, “jìn měi yǐ, yòu jìn shàn yě.” Wèi Wǔ, “jìn měi yǐ, wèi jìn shàn yě”.

子謂韶，「盡美矣，又盡善也。」謂武，「盡美矣，未盡善也」。

子谓韶，「尽美矣，又尽善也。」谓武，「尽美矣，未尽善也」。

to exhaust what is good and beautiful; to be unsurpassed in goodness and beauty


……到唔……

/ tou̯³³ m̩²¹/

/ tou̯³³ m̩²¹/

黑到唔黑


好……唔……

/hou̯³⁵ m̩²¹/

/hou̯³⁵ m̩²¹/

of all the things [you, he, she, they] could talk about, [you, ...] had to talk about someone else's family

hou² gong² m⁴ gong², gong² jan⁴ dei⁶ uk¹ kei⁵⁻² jan⁴

好講唔講，講人哋屋企人

好讲唔讲，讲人哋屋企人

you could eat anything but you decided to eat this?

好食唔食，食呢啲？

好瞓唔瞓，瞓地下

好𰥛唔𰥛，𰥛地下

(Cantonese) when doing something, not doing what is sensible


得唔得

/tɐk̚⁵ m̩²¹ tɐk̚⁵/

/tak̚³³ m̩²² tak̚³³/

/tɐk̚⁵ m̩²¹ tɐk̚⁵/

/tak̚³³ m̩²² tak̚³³/

你話得唔得呀？

你话得唔得呀？

(Cantonese) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 得, 唔, 得. OK or not

快啲得唔得？

Could you not talk about these sorts of things?

咪講呢啲得唔得。

咪讲呢啲得唔得。


世風日下

ㄕˋ ㄈㄥ ㄖˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² haː²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/sɐi̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² haː²²/

the world's morals are worsening day by day.


人心不足蛇吞象

ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄕㄜˊ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

жэньсинь бу цзу шэ тунь сян

/ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɛː²¹ tʰɐn⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/iŋ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ siŋ⁵⁵ pouʔ²⁴ t͡søyʔ²⁴ sie⁵³ tʰouŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰuɔŋ²⁴²/

Being discontent is like a snake swallowing an elephant.


瞭如指掌

ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓˇ ㄓㄤˇ

ляожучжичжан

/li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liːu̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯¹³ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/liːu̯¹³ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

know like the back of one's hand
know like the back of one's hand


居安思危

цзюйаньсывэй

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/kɯ³³⁻²³ ũã³³⁻²³ sɯ³³⁻²³ ŋũĩ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯⁵⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/kɯ³³⁻²³ ũã³³⁻²³ sɯ³³⁻²³ ŋũĩ⁵⁵/

to think of danger in times of safety; to be vigilant in peacetime


和藹可親

ㄏㄜˊ ㄞˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄣ

/xɤ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/wɔː²¹ ɔːi̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/huo⁵³⁻³³ ai³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ kʰo³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ ai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ ai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/xɤ³⁵ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/wɔː²¹ ɔːi̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/huo⁵³⁻³³ ai³³⁽⁻²¹⁾ kʰo³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/ho²⁴⁻¹¹ ai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

/hɤ²³⁻³³ ai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰin⁴⁴/

Teachers should be affable and approachable

2014 November 19, 寒風, 大家談中國：老師辱罵學生，何以「素質教育」？, BBC News

Lǎoshī yīnggāi shì hé'ǎikěqīn, píngyìjìnrén

老師應該是和藹可親、平易近人

老师应该是和蔼可亲、平易近人