漁人得利

ㄩˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/y³⁵ ʐən³⁵ tɤ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jɐn²¹ tɐk̚⁵ lei̯²²/

/y³⁵ ʐən³⁵ tɤ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ jɐn²¹ tɐk̚⁵ lei̯²²/

it is always the third party who benefits (when two sides quarrel)


剛柔相濟

ㄍㄤ ㄖㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˋ

ганжоусянцзи

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/


剛愎自用

ㄍㄤ ㄅㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ t͡siː²² jʊŋ²²/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ t͡siː²² jʊŋ²²/


力挽狂瀾

ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄢˇ ㄎㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄢˊ

ливанькуанлань

/li⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ län³⁵/

/lɪk̚² waːn¹³ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ laːn²¹/

/li⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ län³⁵/

/lɪk̚² waːn¹³ kʷʰɔːŋ²¹ laːn²¹/


勞民傷財

ㄌㄠˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄤ ㄘㄞˊ

лаоминьшанцай

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ min³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/lou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ min³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/lou̯²¹ mɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/


九霄雲外

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄩㄣˊ ㄨㄞˋ

цзюсяоюньвай

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ yn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siau⁴⁴⁻²² hun²⁴⁻²² ɡue²²/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ yn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²²/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siau⁴⁴⁻²² hun²⁴⁻²² ɡue²²/

Tā zǎoyǐ bǎ zhè shì pāo dào jiǔxiāoyúnwài qù le.

他早已把這事抛到九霄雲外去了。

他早已把这事抛到九霄云外去了。


漸入佳境

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

цзяньжуцзяцзин

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siːm²² jɐp̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵/

/t͡siam³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ka⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siːm²² jɐp̚² kaːi̯⁵⁵ kɪŋ³⁵/

/t͡siam³³⁻²¹ zip̚⁴⁻³² ka⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪŋ⁴¹/

From an episode in the seventh-century history Book of Jin, concerning the famous painter Gu Kaizhi.

to start doing well; to be getting better


如法炮製

ㄖㄨˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄆㄠˊ ㄓˋ

/ʐu³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ faːt̚³ pʰaːu̯³³ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/zu²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/

/zi²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/

/ʐu³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ faːt̚³ pʰaːu̯³³ t͡sɐi̯³³/

/zu²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/

/zi²³⁻³³ huat̚³²⁻⁴ pʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡se²¹/


買一送一

ㄇㄞˇ ㄧ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄧ

/maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/maːi̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sʊŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵/

/maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/maːi̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sʊŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵/

買一贈一 買一贈一#Chinese

买一赠一 买一赠一#Chinese

Synonym of 買一贈一／买一赠一 (mǎiyīzèngyī, “buy one and get one free”)


不為人知

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ

бувэйжэньчжи

buvɛjžɛnʹčži

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/


天要下雨，娘要嫁人

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄩˇ

ㄋㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄖㄣˊ

тянь яо сяюй

нян яо цзяжэнь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

The sky wants to rain, and the daughter wants to marry. There's nothing we can do. If Lin Biao wants to flee, let him go. Don't fight against him.

天要下雨，娘要嫁人。[[#Chinese|]]

(often humorous) Used to describe a situation that is now beyond redemption.


買一贈一

/maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ t͡sɤŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/

/maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ t͡sɤŋ⁵¹ i⁵⁵/


匡時濟世

ㄎㄨㄤ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄕˋ

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to rescue the society in crisis and help the people


歷歷可數

ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄨˇ

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

every one of them can be seen distinctly; can be counted one by one


歷歷在目

ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² lɪk̚² t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/

/lɪk̚⁵ lɪk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/

/li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/lɪk̚² lɪk̚² t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/

/lɪk̚⁵ lɪk̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² mʊk̚²/


適可而止

ㄕˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁵³/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁵³/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kʰo⁵³⁻⁴⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵³/

to stop when appropriate; not to overdo; enough is enough


你開心就好

→ Chinglish: you happy jiu OK

ㄋㄧˇ ㄎㄞ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ни кайсинь цзю хао

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(Internet slang, ironic) Fuck you, asshole! / It's good to see that you are entertaining yourself.


面壁思過

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄙ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/miːn²² pɪk̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/miːn²² pɪk̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to face the wall and ponder about one's misdeeds


大失所望

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄤˋ

/tä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² sɐt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɔːŋ²²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² sit̚⁵⁻²⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔŋ⁴¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁵ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/

/tä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² sɐt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ mɔːŋ²²/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² sit̚⁵⁻²⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔŋ⁴¹/

/tai²²⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁵ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ²²/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/

/tai³³⁻²¹ sit̚³²⁻⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔŋ³³/


森羅萬象

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (森羅萬象):
* → Korean: 삼라만상(森羅萬象) (samnamansang)

ㄙㄣ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

сэньлованьсян

/sən⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/

/sən⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ lɔː²¹ maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²²/


簡單粗暴

ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄉㄢ ㄘㄨ ㄅㄠˋ

цзяньдань цубао

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

simple and crude; straightforward and domineering


皆大歡喜

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄒㄧˇ

цзедахуаньси

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/kai³³⁻²³ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ hueŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːi̯⁵⁵ taːi̯²² fuːn⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/kai³³⁻²³ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ hueŋ³³⁻²³ hi⁵²/

to everyone's delight and satisfaction; everyone is happy


姚黃魏紫

ㄧㄠˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄗˇ

Яохуан Вэйцзы

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːu̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ ŋɐi̯²² t͡siː³⁵/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːu̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ ŋɐi̯²² t͡siː³⁵/

rare varieties of peonies (original varieties developed by a Yao and a Wei family of the Song Dynasty)


萬眾一心

→ Bouyei: wanqzungqyifxiny

ㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ

ваньчжунъисинь

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/maːn²² t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/maːn²² t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ban²²⁻²¹ t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴/

We are united as one, face the enemy's fire, march on!

Wǒmen wànzhòngyīxīn, mào zhù dírén de pàohuǒ, qiánjìn!

我們萬眾一心，冒著敵人的炮火，前進！

我们万众一心，冒著敌人的炮火，前进！


說來話長

ㄕㄨㄛ ㄌㄞˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄔㄤˊ

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/syːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ waː²² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/syːt̚³ lɔːi̯²¹ waː²² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


大言不慚

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄢˊ

/tä⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰan¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²³/

/tä⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰän³⁵/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai⁴¹⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai²²⁻²¹ ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sʰan¹³/

/tai³³⁻¹¹ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴/

/tai³³⁻²¹ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰan²³/


雞毛鴨血

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ aːp̚³ hyːt̚³/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ aːp̚³ hyːt̚³/

(Cantonese) in big trouble; a bad situation


小鹿亂撞

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

сяолулуаньчжуан

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ lʊk̚² lyːn²² t͡sɔːŋ²²/

/siːu̯³⁵ lʊk̚² lyːn²² t͡sɔːŋ²²/

have butterflies in one's stomach
have butterflies in one's stomach

(figurative) to have butterflies in one's stomach (often used to describe a lovestruck person); (of one's heart) to go pit-a-pat; to flutter


無話不說

ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

/u³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ waː²² pɐt̚⁵ syːt̚³/

/u³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ waː²² pɐt̚⁵ syːt̚³/

From being able to talk about everything, to having nothing to talk about

從無話不說到無話可說

从无话不说到无话可说

to be able to talk about everything (with each other)


有條不紊

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄣˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɐn²²/

When the net has its line, there is order and not confusion; and when the husbandman labours upon his fields, and reaps with all his might, there is the (abundant) harvest.

The Book of Documents, circa 4ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ century BCE

Ruò wǎng zài gāng, yǒu tiáo ér bù wěn; ruò nóng fútián, lì sè nǎi yì yǒu qiū.

若網在綱，有條而不紊；若農服田，力穡乃亦有秋。

若网在纲，有条而不紊；若农服田，力穑乃亦有秋。


拖家帶口

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄞˋ ㄎㄡˇ

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dragged down by having a family to feed; to bring along one's large family


九死一生

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄙˇ ㄧ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/kiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/kiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴/


鼎力相助

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄓㄨˋ

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ lɪk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tɪŋ³⁵ lɪk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²²/


鼎力玉成

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄌㄧˋ ㄩˋ ㄔㄥˊ

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

to help accomplish this small task with your great power (in complimenting another for a help sought or rendered)


鑄劍為犁

ㄓㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄧˊ

чжуцзяньвэйли

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡syː³³ kiːm³³ wɐi̯²¹ lɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/t͡syː³³ kiːm³³ wɐi̯²¹ lɐi̯²¹/

beat one's swords into ploughshares
beat one's swords into ploughshares


欲擒故縱

ㄩˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄥˋ

юйциньгуцзун

/y⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊk̚² kʰɐm²¹ kuː³³ t͡sʊŋ³³/

/y⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹/

/jʊk̚² kʰɐm²¹ kuː³³ t͡sʊŋ³³/

to loosen the reins in order to grasp them better


豐衣足食

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚²/

having ample food and clothing; well-fed and clothed


囫圇吞棗

Sino-Xenic (囫圇吞棗):
* → Korean: 홀륜탄조(囫圇呑棗) (hollyuntanjo)

ㄏㄨˊ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄗㄠˇ

хулуньтуньцзао

/xu³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄏㄨˊ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄣ ㄗㄠˇㄦ

хулуньтуньцзаор

/xu³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡saʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ tʰɐn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/xu³⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ tʰu̯ən⁵⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐt̚⁵ lɵn²¹ tʰɐn⁵⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵/

From a story in the Blue Cliff Record (《碧巖錄》)

Those who know the ins and outs will chew and swallow it slowly and carefully; those who don't will act like swallowing a jujube whole.

Ruòshì zhī yǒu de rén, xì jué lái yān; ruòshì bùzhī yǒu de rén, yīsì húnlún tūn gè zǎo.

若是知有底人，細嚼來嚥；若是不知有底人，一似渾崙吞箇棗。

若是知有底人，细嚼来咽；若是不知有底人，一似浑仑吞个枣。

囫囵吞枣
渾崙吞棗
鶻崙吞棗

(figurative) to accept without thinking; to read without understanding


狡兔三窟

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄎㄨ

цзяотусаньку

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯³³ saːm⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯³⁵ tʰou̯³³ saːm⁵⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

First attested in the Strategies of the Warring States, completed in the second century BC, as part of advice given by a retainer named Feng Xuan to his master Lord Mengchang (died 279 BC)

Feng Xuan said, "A crafty rabbit has three burrows, but even so it barely manages to escape death. As of now, my lord has one burrow. You cannot yet lie down on a pile of pillows and sleep. Please allow me to dig the two other burrows for you, my lord."

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Féng Xuān yuē; “jiǎo tù yǒu sān kū, jǐn dé miǎn qí sǐ ěr. Jīn jūn yǒu yī kū, wèi dé gāozhěn ér wò yě. Qǐng wèi jūn fù záo èr kū.”

馮諼曰；「狡兔有三窟，僅得免其死耳。今君有一窟，未得高枕而臥也。請為君復鑿二窟。」

冯谖曰；「狡兔有三窟，仅得免其死耳。今君有一窟，未得高枕而卧也。请为君复凿二窟。」

(figurative) a crafty person has more than one hideout; a sly individual has more than one plan to fall back on


牽一髮而動全身

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧ ㄈㄚˋ ㄦˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕㄣ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧ ㄈㄚˇ ㄦˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕㄣ

qiān yī fà ér dòng quánshēn [Phonetic:qiān yí fà ér dòng quánshēn]

цянь и фа эр дун цюаньшэнь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ fä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

qiān yī fǎ ér dòng quánshēn [Phonetic:qiān yì fǎ ér dòng quánshēn]

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/hiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ jiː²¹ tʊŋ²² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

A slight change will affect everything else.


tm

/tʰä⁵⁵ mä⁵⁵/

/tʰä⁵⁵ mä⁵⁵/


一匹布咁長

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐt̚⁵ pou̯³³ kɐm³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pʰɐt̚⁵ pou̯³³ kɐm³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

(Cantonese, simile, of stories, anecdotes) very long and complicated


臨渴掘井

Sino-Xenic (臨渴掘井):
* → Japanese: 臨(りん)渇(かつ)掘(くっ)井(せい) (rinkatsukussei)
* → Korean: 임갈굴정(臨渴掘井) (imgalguljeong)
* → Vietnamese: lâm khát quật tỉnh (臨渴掘井)

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄥˇ

линькэцзюэцзин

/lin³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ hɔːt̚³ kʷɐt̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

/lim²⁴⁻²² kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡sĩ⁵³/

/lim²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁵³/

/lim²³⁻³³ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɐm²¹ hɔːt̚³ kʷɐt̚² t͡sɛːŋ³⁵/

/lim²⁴⁻²² kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡sĩ⁵³/

/lim²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁵³/

/lim²³⁻³³ kʰat̚³²⁻⁴ kut̚⁴⁻³² t͡siɪŋ⁴¹/

To ask the way after drowning and to ask for directions after getting lost is like, for example, quickly making weapons when facing a disaster or quickly digging a well when choking; though fast, it is too late.

Annals of Master Yan, c. 3ʳᵈ century BCE

Nì érhòu wèn suì, mí érhòu wèn lù, pì zhī yóu línnàn ér jù zhùbīng, lín yē ér jù juéjǐng, suī sù yì wú jí yǐ.

溺而後問隊，迷而後問路，譬之猶臨難而遽鑄兵，臨噎而遽掘井，雖速亦無及已。

溺而后问队，迷而后问路，譬之犹临难而遽铸兵，临噎而遽掘井，虽速亦无及已。

One should, when it is not yet raining, bind tightly the window. One should not wait until one is thirsty to dig a well.
i.e. One should prepare before it is too late.

Zhu Yongchun, Zhu Zi's Family Maxims, 17ᵗʰ century CE

Yí wèi yǔ ér chóumóu, wú lín kě ér jué jǐng.

宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。

宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。

(figurative) to fail to make a timely preparation and look for a solution at the last minute


不學無術

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄨˊ ㄕㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːk̚² mou̯²¹ sɵt̚²/

/pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɔːk̚² mou̯²¹ sɵt̚²/

to be tactless due to the lack of knowledge; without learning or skills; to be not keen on learning anything


量力而為

ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄨㄟˊ

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

量力而行 量力而行#Chinese


量力而行

ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

/li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lœːŋ²² lɪk̚² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

cut one's coat according to one's cloth
cut one's coat according to one's cloth

to act according to one's capability; to weigh one's abilities and do it; cut one's coat according to one's cloth


捨不得孩子套不住狼

ㄕㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄏㄞˊ ˙ㄗ ㄊㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄌㄤˊ

shě bùdé háizi tào bùzhù láng [Phonetic:shě bùdé háizi tào búzhù láng]

shê³ pu⁴-tê² hai²-tzŭ⁵ tʻao⁴ pu⁴-chu⁴ lang²

шэ будэ хайцзы тао бучжу лан

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ xaɪ̯³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵/

[Phonetic: shě bùdé háizi tào búzhù láng]

something must be sacrificed in order to make an obtainment


有備無患

Sino-Xenic (有備無患):
* → Japanese: 有(ゆう)備(び)無(む)患(かん) (yūbimukan)
* → Korean: 유비무환(有備無患) (yubimuhwan)

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄟˋ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ pei̯²² mou̯²¹ waːn²²/

/i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰi⁵⁵ vu¹¹ fam⁵⁵/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² huan⁴¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ huan³³/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ huan³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ pei̯²² mou̯²¹ waːn²²/

/i̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ pʰi⁵⁵ vu¹¹ fam⁵⁵/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu²⁴⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻²² bu²⁴⁻²² huan⁴¹/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi²²⁻²¹ bu¹³⁻²² huan²²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻¹¹ bu²⁴⁻¹¹ huan³³/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pi³³⁻²¹ bu²³⁻³³ huan³³/

to be prepared against adverse events; just in case


身不由己

Sino-Xenic (身不由己):
* → Vietnamese: thân bất do kỷ (身不由己)

ㄕㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧˇ

/ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

/ʂən⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ ki⁴¹/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ ki⁵³/

From the Southern drama play 張協狀元 "Top Graduate Zhang Xie", included in the Yongle Encyclopedia

Although I have no wife, I have no choice in this matter; father and mother are back home and still do not know.

Shìzé wúqī wǒ shēnzìbùyóujǐ, xū yǒu diēmā zài jiāxiāng yóu wèizhī.

是則無妻我身自不由己，須有爹媽在家鄉尤未知。

是则无妻我身自不由己，须有爹妈在家乡尤未知。

Lord Guan said: "How dare you oppose me?" (Yu) Jin said: "We were ordered from above, (we did so) not on our own accord. We hope ye, milord, would have mercy. We swear we'll repay that with death."

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Guāngōng yuē: “Rǔ zěn gǎn kàng wú?” Jìn yuē: “Shàngmìng chāiqiǎn, shēnbùyóujǐ. Wàng jūnhóu liánmǐn, shì yǐ sǐ bào.”

關公曰：「汝怎敢抗吾？」禁曰：「上命差遣，身不由己。望君侯憐憫，誓以死報。」

关公曰：「汝怎敢抗吾？」禁曰：「上命差遣，身不由己。望君侯怜悯，誓以死报。」

to be unable to determine for oneself; to be involuntary


灑灑水

ㄙㄚˇ ㄙㄚˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/sä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

From Cantonese 濕濕碎／湿湿碎 (sap¹ sap¹ seoi³). Phonetically matched with 灑水／洒水 (sǎshuǐ, “to sprinkle some water”).

zh-l

(Mandarin) trivial; piece of cake; no big deal


豈不是

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siː²²/


國泰民安

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (國泰民安):
* → Japanese: 国(こく)泰(たい)民(みん)安(あん) (kokutaimin'an)
* → Korean: 국태민안(國泰民安) (guktaeminan)
* → Vietnamese: quốc thái dân an (國泰民安)

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄢ

готайминьань

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/kuoʔ²⁴⁻⁵⁵ tʰai²¹³⁽⁻²¹⁾ miŋ⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ^((Ø-))ŋaŋ⁵⁵/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ tʰai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin²⁴⁻²² an³³/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin¹³⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻¹¹ an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ bin²³⁻³³ an⁴⁴/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ tʰaːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ tʰai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin²⁴⁻²² an³³/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tʰai²¹⁻⁵³ bin¹³⁻²² an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ bin²⁴⁻¹¹ an⁴⁴/

/kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ bin²³⁻³³ an⁴⁴/

the country flourishes and the people are living in peace


牛皮燈籠

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ ㄉㄥ ˙ㄌㄨㄥ

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ ㄉㄥ ㄌㄨㄥˊ

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹ tɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹ tɐŋ⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹/

First part of a xiehouyu. The second part could be:
# 點不明 (Mandarin) / 點極都唔明 (Cantonese) – cannot be lit / cannot be made to understand
# 肚裡亮 – bright inside / understand in one's mind

stupid or stubborn person; someone who does not understand or listen to others


慷慨激昂

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (慷慨激昂):
* → Vietnamese: khảng khái khích ngang (慷慨激昂)

ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄧ ㄤˊ

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ˀɑŋ³⁵/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²⁴/

/kʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²³/

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ˀɑŋ³⁵/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/hɔːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ kɪk̚⁵ ŋɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰai¹¹⁻⁵³ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²⁴/

/kʰɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰai²¹⁻⁴¹ kiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ɡɔŋ²³/


渾渾噩噩

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄜˋ ㄜˋ

/xu̯ən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ ŋɔːk̚² ŋɔːk̚²/

/xu̯ən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ wɐn²¹ ŋɔːk̚² ŋɔːk̚²/

Emperor Shun
Fayan (book)
Shang Dynasty
Xia Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty

The chapters on Shun and Xia are deep and potent, while those on Shang are vast in scope. Those pertaining to Zhou do not flatter, while those on the latter part of Zhou are cutting.

Yang Xiong, Fa Yan (Exemplary Sayings), 9 CE

Yú Xià zhī shū húnhún ěr, Shāng shū hàohào ěr, Zhōu shū è'è ěr. Xià Zhōu zhě, qí shū qiào hū.

虞夏之書渾渾爾，商書灝灝爾，周書噩噩爾。下周者，其書譙乎。

虞夏之书浑浑尔，商书灏灏尔，周书噩噩尔。下周者，其书谯乎。

(ideophonic, literary) solemn and dignified; unaffected and decent

渾渾噩噩過日子

浑浑噩噩过日子

(ideophonic) ignorant and muddleheaded; muddling along; living in a state of naïveté and ignorance


綽綽有餘

ㄔㄨㄛˋ ㄔㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːk̚³ t͡sʰœːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 223 (《詩經·小雅·角弓》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·角弓》)

(《詩經·小雅·角弓》)

Those brothers who are good, Continue to display much generous feeling; But between brothers who are not good, Their intercourse is marked by troubles.

此令兄弟，綽綽有裕


萬念俱灰

ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄏㄨㄟ

ваньняньцзюйхуэй

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² niːm²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ni̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² niːm²² kʰɵy̯⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵/

every hope turns to dust; completely disheartened


人傑地靈

ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

жэньцзедилин

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ti⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kiːt̚² tei̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ti⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kiːt̚² tei̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

the greatness of a person lends glory to a place; a place derives reflected glory from an illustrious son


唉聲嘆氣

ㄞ ㄕㄥ ㄊㄢˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/aːi̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³ hei̯³³/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/aːi̯⁵⁵ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³ hei̯³³/

to sigh in disappointment or alas; to heave a sigh


素面朝天

ㄙㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

сумяньчаотянь

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/sou̯³³ miːn²² t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/sou̯³³ miːn²² t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Yang Guifei
zh:樂史

Originally used in reference to Lady of the State of Guo (虢國夫人), the sister (or cousin) of Yang Guifei (the renowned beautiful consort of the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang). Per the Unofficial Biography of Yang Guifei (《楊太真外傳》) by Le Shi

Counting on her natural beauty, Lady of the State Guo does not wear make-up, and often presents herself to the emperor unadorned.

Le Shi, 《楊太真外傳》 (Unofficial Biography of Yang Guifei), 10ᵗʰ c. CE

Guóguó bù shī zhuāngfěn, zì xuàn měiyàn, cháng sùmiàncháotiān.

虢國不施妝粉，自炫美艷，常素面朝天。

虢国不施妆粉，自炫美艳，常素面朝天。

(literary, historical) to present oneself to the emperor without any makeup

(figurative, of a woman) to wear no makeup; to show one's natural features; to present oneself just as one is


恁仔細

/an³¹ t͡sɨ³¹ se⁵⁵/

/an³¹ t͡sɨ³¹ se⁵⁵/

† - when someone does you a favour; § - when someone gives you a gift


圖窮匕見

ㄊㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄅㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

/tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² jiːn²²/

/tʰu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰou̯²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² jiːn²²/

From the story of Jing Ke [227 BC], who tried to assassinate Ying Zheng (who later became the first emperor of China) using a dagger concealed inside a map scroll.

When the map is unrolled, the dagger is revealed

to expose the hidden malicious intents at the end


走馬觀花

ㄗㄡˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄚ

цзоумагуаньхуа

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ maː¹³ kuːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³ kuan⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴/

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ maː¹³ kuːn⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mã⁵³ kuan⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴/

From the story of Tang-dynasty poet Meng Jiao (孟郊) admiring flowers while riding on horseback, after his success in the imperial examinations at the age of 46. He composed the following poem at the time to express his joy

The reservations of yesterday are nothing to boast about;
Today, feeling unrestrained, my joy is boundless.
The spring breeze kisses my face as the horse picks up speed;
In one day I will see all the flowers and beauties of Chang'an.

796 CE, Meng Jiao, 《登科後》 (After Passing the Examination), translation from Scripture in Chinese Chengyu (2010) by James Beasley

Xīrì wòchuò bùzú kuā, jīnzhāo fàngdàng sī wúyá. Chūnfēng déyì mǎtí jí, yīrì kàn jìn Cháng'ān huā.

昔日齷齪不足誇，今朝放蕩思無涯。春風得意馬蹄疾，一日看盡長安花。

昔日龌龊不足夸，今朝放荡思无涯。春风得意马蹄疾，一日看尽长安花。

(figurative) to make a hurried and cursory observation; to gain only a superficial understanding of something


拍案驚奇

ㄆㄞ ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄑㄧˊ

пайаньцзинци

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

/pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/pʰaːk̚³ ɔːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹/

(figurative) to be surprised by the excellence (of something)


追風逐電

ㄓㄨㄟ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄨˊ ㄉㄧㄢˋ

чжуйфэнчжудянь

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² tiːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ti̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚² tiːn²²/

get on like a house on fire
get on like a house on fire

(figurative) to chase swiftly; to get on like a house on fire; fast-paced progress


面紅耳赤

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄦˇ ㄔˋ

мяньхунъэрчи

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹/

/miːn²² hʊŋ²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹/

/miːn²² hʊŋ²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sʰɛːk̚³/

red in the face (from embarrassment, anxiety or anger)


詩情畫意

ㄕ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄧˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ waː²²⁻³⁵ jiː³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ waː²²⁻³⁵ jiː³³/

(figurative) picturesque or poetic charm


好景不長

ㄏㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄤˊ

хаоцзинбучан

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hou̯³³ kɪŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/hou̯³³ kɪŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


厚德載物

ㄏㄡˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄨˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

The (capacity and sustaining) power of the earth is what is denoted by Kun. The superior man, in accordance with this, with his large virtue supports (men and) things.

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

地勢坤，君子以厚德載物。

地势坤，君子以厚德载物。

the virtuous ones will have great responsibility

List of hexagrams of the I Ching#Hexagram 2


亡羊補牢

ㄨㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄌㄠˊ

/wɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ lou̯²¹/

/wɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ pou̯³⁵ lou̯²¹/

From Zhan Guo Ce:
:
This is also the origin for the idiom 見兔顧犬／见兔顾犬.

Sending the hunting dogs outside only when one sees the rabbits is not considered too late, and repairing a sheep pen only after a sheep is lost is not considered tardy.

Jiàn tù ér gù quǎn, wèi wéi wǎn yě; wáng yáng ér bǔ láo, wèi wéi chí yě.

見兔而顧犬，未為晚也；亡羊而補牢，未為遲也。

见兔而顾犬，未为晚也；亡羊而补牢，未为迟也。

to close the stable door after the horse has bolted; to act belatedly


活得不耐煩

ㄏㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄞˋ ㄈㄢˊ

huó de bùnàifán [Phonetic:huó de búnàifán]

хо дэ бунайфань

/xu̯ɔ³⁵ d̥ə³ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ naɪ̯⁵¹ fän³⁵/

/xu̯ɔ³⁵ d̥ə³ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ naɪ̯⁵¹ fän³⁵/

(colloquial, literally) to be tired of living

你活得不耐煩了，是吧？

你活得不耐烦了，是吧？

(colloquial, derogatory) to ask for trouble; to court death


韋編三絕

ㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄙㄢ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

вэйбяньсаньцзюэ

/weɪ̯³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/wɐi̯¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/weɪ̯³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/wɐi̯¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

From the story of Confucius studying the Classic of Changes so diligently that the tanned leather threads which connected the bamboo slips broke several times.

the leather binding (of the bamboo scroll) has broken three times


酣暢淋漓

ㄏㄢ ㄔㄤˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ханьчанлиньли

/xän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ³³ lɐm²¹ lei̯²¹/

/xän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹ lin³⁵ li³⁵/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ³³ lɐm²¹ lei̯²¹/

to one's heart's content; expressing something fully; fully and delightedly

(of writing) in a flowing and lucid style


行雲流水

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

синъюньлюшуй

/ɕiŋ³⁵ yn³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐŋ²¹ wɐn²¹ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ yn³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɐŋ²¹ wɐn²¹ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

(of calligraphy, writing, etc.) very smooth and natural; natural and unforced style


撥亂反正

ㄅㄛ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄈㄢˇ ㄓㄥˋ

болуаньфаньчжэн

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/puːt̚² lyːn²² faːn³⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/puːt̚² lyːn²² faːn³⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

From the Commentary of Gongyang:
The character 撥 in this phrase is traditionally glossed as 治 (zhì, “to impose order; to govern/manage; to repair/cure; etc.”) — for instance by He Xiu (何休, 129–182 CE) and Yan Shigu (顏師古, 581–645 CE) — whereas 亂 is interpreted as "disordered; chaotic; upside-down". Alternatively (and rarely), 亂 is used as a verb that means "to apply order; to arrange; to manage", and is considered a synonym of 撥 here.

zh-m

For what (purpose) did the Noble One compose the Spring and Autumn Annals? To repair a chaotic world and redress it in goodness and justice — there is no other way closer to (achieving this ideal) than (the meanings contained in the words of) the Spring and Autumn.

Commentary of Gongyang, c. 206 BCE– 9 CE

Jūnzǐ héwèi wéi “Chūnqiū”? Bō luànshì, fǎn zhū zhèng, mò jìn zhū “Chūnqiū”.

君子曷為為《春秋》？撥亂世，反諸正，莫近諸《春秋》。

君子曷为为《春秋》？拨乱世，反诸正，莫近诸《春秋》。

In the early days since Han arose, (the imperial government) was thoroughly immersed in the business of righting the wrongs (of Qin and the wars that followed) as if there were never enough hours in each day, yet it was still able to commission Shusun Tong with the creation of court ceremonies, in order that the monarch and the subjects could find themselves in their rightful places.

Hàn xìng, bōluànfǎnzhèng, rì bù xiá jǐ, yóu mìng Shūsūn Tōng zhì lǐyí, yǐ zhèng jūnchén zhī wèi.

漢興，撥亂反正，日不暇給，猶命叔孫通制禮儀，以正君臣之位。

汉兴，拨乱反正，日不暇给，犹命叔孙通制礼仪，以正君臣之位。

to bring order out of chaos; to set right what have been thrown into disorder; to restore justice

Commentary of Gongyang
Spring and Autumn Annals
Yan Shigu
zh:何休


仕途多蹇

ㄕˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄢˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


黃粱一夢

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄧ ㄇㄥˋ

хуанлянъимэн

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mʊŋ²²/

fanciful dream of wealth and rank; pipe dream; one's hopes coming to nothing


有口皆碑

ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄅㄟ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

to enjoy an extensive public reputation; to be universally acclaimed


花言巧語

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄩˇ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ haːu̯³⁵ jyː¹³/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ kʰa⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹/

/faː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ haːu̯³⁵ jyː¹³/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/fa²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ kʰau̯³¹ ŋi²⁴/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡu⁵³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ kʰa⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡi⁴¹/

Turns out it was all your sweet talk, you were really setting out to swindle me

1992, 愛情的騙子我問你 (Cheater of Love, I Ask You), sung by 陳小雲 (Chen Hsiao-yun), lyrics by 蔣錦鴻, composed by 俞隆華

goân-lâi lí sī hoa-giân-khá-gí chin-chêng hō͘ lí phiàn phiàn khì

原來你是花言巧語真情予你騙騙去

原来你是花言巧语真情予你骗骗去

sweet but insincere (usually flattering) speech; slick talk; dishonest rhetoric


大快人心

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

дакуайжэньсинь

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² faːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

(of the punishment of a criminal, etc.) to be to the satisfaction of the people


負荊請罪

ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

фуцзинцинцзуй

/fu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɵy̯²²/

/fu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/fuː²² kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡sɵy̯²²/

From the story of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru.

to bring a bramble and ask for punishment

to offer someone a humble apology, requesting punishment and forgiveness


望梅止渴

ㄨㄤˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄓˇ ㄎㄜˇ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²² muːi̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔːt̚³/

/mo¹¹ bue⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵²⁻³⁵ kuaʔ²/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²² muːi̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ hɔːt̚³/

/mo¹¹ bue⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡si⁵²⁻³⁵ kuaʔ²/

From the tale of the warlord Cao Cao deceiving his severely dehydrated troops with the promise of a forest of plums not far ahead.

Emperor Wu of Wei (Cao Cao) was leading his army., but failed to find a path with water source, and his army was thirty. He then ordered, “There is a big plum forest ahead with many fruits. They are very sweet and sour and you can relieve your thirst there.” When the army heard what he said, they drooled and then they seized the opportunity to reach the water source ahead

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

Wèi Wǔ xíng yì, shī jí dào, jūn jiē kě, nǎi lìng yuē: “Qián yǒu dà méilín, ráo zǐ, gān suān, kěyǐ jiěkě.” Shìzú wén zhī, kǒu jiē chūshuǐ, chéng cǐ dé jí qián yuán.

魏武行役，失汲道，軍皆渴，乃令曰：「前有大梅林，饒子，甘酸，可以解渴。」士卒聞之，口皆出水，乘此得及前源。

魏武行役，失汲道，军皆渴，乃令曰：「前有大梅林，饶子，甘酸，可以解渴。」士卒闻之，口皆出水，乘此得及前源。

to quench one's thirst by thinking of plums


胸有成竹

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄨˊ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

to have grown an image of bamboo in one's mind (when trying to draw a bamboo plant)

(figurative) to have a well-thought-out plan; to plan in advance


紙上談兵

ㄓˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄊㄢˊ ㄅㄧㄥ

чжишантаньбин

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ tʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ²² tʰaːm²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tam²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ tʰän³⁵ piŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ sœːŋ²² tʰaːm²¹ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ tam²⁴⁻²² piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ tam²³⁻³³ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ tam²⁴⁻¹¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴/

to engage in theoretical discussion that is worse than useless in practice; armchair strategist; idle theorizing


左圖右史

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄨˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄕˇ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative) to have a large library collection


高山流水

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄢ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

гаошаньлюшуй

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵/

From the friendship story of Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi, recorded in the book Liezi. See Bo Ya on Wikipedia for more.

(figurative) sublime musical composition

(figurative) intimate and understanding friend


江郎才盡

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄌㄤˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цзянланцайцзинь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɔːŋ⁵⁵ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn²²/

At first, Jiang Yan resigned from his official post at Xuancheng. Then, he resided at Yeting (in Nanjing). There he dreamt a handsome man who called himself Guo Pu. He said, "I have a writing brush that you borrowed for many years. Can you return it to me now?" Jiang Yan then searched inside his clothes, and he found a five-coloured brush and then returned to him. After that, when Jiang tried to write poems, he could never write a single sentence again. Therefore, it was said that Jiang's talent has been exhausted.

初，淹罷宣城郡，遂宿冶亭，夢一美丈夫，自稱郭璞，謂淹曰：「我有筆在卿處多年矣，可以見還。」淹探懷中，得五色筆以授之。爾後為詩，不復成語，故世傳江淹才盡

(figurative) to have used up one's creative powers; to have writer's block

Guo Pu
Jiang Yan
Jiang Yan (poet)
Zhong Rong
zh:詩品


依樣畫葫蘆

ㄧ ㄧㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄌㄨ

иян хуа хулу

/i⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu³⁵ lu³/

/jiː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² waːk̚² wuː²¹ lou̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ xu³⁵ lu³/

/jiː⁵⁵ jœːŋ²² waːk̚² wuː²¹ lou̯²¹/

(figurative) to copy something mechanically without attempt at originality


名落孫山

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄣ ㄕㄢ

минлосуньшань

/miŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɔːk̚² syːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ loʔ⁴⁻² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ sũã³³/

/miŋ³⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ lɔːk̚² syːn⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/mĩã⁵⁵⁻¹¹ loʔ⁴⁻² sɯŋ³³⁻²³ sũã³³/

Sun Shan, a talented and humorous scholar from the Wu region, went to a different prefecture for the imperial examination. A fellow villager sent his son to go with Sun for the exam. When exam results were announced, the son of the fellow villager failed to make it in the list of successful candidates, while Sun Shan was the last name on the list. When they returned, the villager asked Sun how his son had performed, and Sun replied with a poem:
　My humble name appeared at the bottom of the list of successful candidates,
　While your dear son ranked behind me.

Song dynasty, poet Fan Gongcheng (范公偁), 《過庭錄》

Wú rén Sūn Shān, huájī cáizǐ yě. Fù jǔ tā jùn, xiāngrén tuō yǐ zǐ xié wǎng. Xiāngrén zǐ shīyì, Shān zhuì bǎngmò. Xiān guī, xiāngrén wèn qí zǐ déshī, Shān yuē: “Jièmíng jìnchù shì Sūn Shān, xiánláng gèng zài Sūn Shān wài.”

吳人孫山，滑稽才子也。赴舉他郡，鄉人托以子偕往。鄉人子失意，山綴榜末。先歸，鄉人問其子得失，山曰：「解名盡處是孫山，賢郎更在孫山外。」

吴人孙山，滑稽才子也。赴举他郡，乡人托以子偕往。乡人子失意，山缀榜末。先归，乡人问其子得失，山曰：「解名尽处是孙山，贤郎更在孙山外。」

to fall behind Sun Shan (who ranked last on the admitted candidates)

(figurative) to fail an exam; to fall behind (in a competition)


曲高和寡

ㄑㄩˇ ㄍㄠ ㄏㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔː²² kʷaː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊk̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ wɔː²² kʷaː³⁵/

From an ancient piece of dialogue disputably bearing the author's name of Song Yu

The Prince of Ch'u said to his prime minister, "What have you done that should cause the officers and people of this State to abuse you so clamorously?"
"Abuse me indeed they do," replied the minister; "but pardon my boldness, and I will explain. A stranger was singing in one of our villages the other day, and this was the subject of his lay: There is the music of the masses; there is the music of a narrower circle; that of a narrower circle still; and lastly, the classical music of the cultured few. This classical music is too lofty, and too difficult of comprehension, for the masses."

c. 3rd century BC, Song Yu ,宋玉《對楚王問》, translated into English as Unpopularity by Herbert Allen Giles, 1922.

Chǔ xiāngwáng wèn yú Sòngyù yuē: “Xiānshēng qí yǒu yíxíng yú? Hé shìmínzhòngshù, bùyù zhī shèn yě?” Sòngyù duì yuē: “Wéi! Rán! Yǒu zhī. Yuàn dàwáng kuān qí zuì, shǐ dé bì qí cí. Kè yǒu gē yú Yǐngzhōng zhě, qí shǐ yuē “xiàlǐ” “bārén”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě shùqiān rén; qí wéi “yáng'ē” “xièlù”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě shùbǎi rén; qí wéi “yángchūn” “báixuě”, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě bùguò shùshí rén; yǐn shāng kè yǔ, zá yǐ liúzhǐ, guózhōng zhǔ ér hè zhě, bùguò shù rén éryǐ. Shì qí qū mí gāo, qí hè mí guǎ.”

楚襄王問於宋玉曰：「先生其有遺行與？何士民衆庶，不譽之甚也？」宋玉對曰：「唯！然！有之。願大王寬其罪，使得畢其辭。客有歌於郢中者，其始曰《下里》《巴人》，國中屬而和者數千人；其為《陽阿》《薤露》，國中屬而和者數百人；其為《陽春》《白雪》，國中屬而和者不過數十人；引商刻羽，雜以流徵，國中屬而和者，不過數人而已。是其曲彌高，其和彌寡。」

楚襄王问于宋玉曰：「先生其有遗行与？何士民众庶，不誉之甚也？」宋玉对曰：「唯！然！有之。愿大王宽其罪，使得毕其辞。客有歌于郢中者，其始曰《下里》《巴人》，国中属而和者数千人；其为《阳阿》《薤露》，国中属而和者数百人；其为《阳春》《白雪》，国中属而和者不过数十人；引商刻羽，杂以流徵，国中属而和者，不过数人而已。是其曲弥高，其和弥寡。」

songs of a highbrow type will find very few people joining in the chorus

to be highbrow and unpopular, as it cannot be easily understood by the common people


沆瀣一氣

ㄏㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄧ ㄑㄧˋ

/xɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/xɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ²¹ haːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

In the second year of Qianfu (i.e. 875 CE), a student, named Cui Xie, was admitted by an examiner, named Cui Hang, during the imperial examinations. Both Xie and Hang meant “mist of vapour in the air” in Classical Chinese, and people at the time remarked: “the examiner and the student ― Hang and Xie ― are of the same gang”.

Yòu Qiánfú èr nián, Cuī Hàng fàng Cuī Xiè, tánzhě chēng “zuòzhǔ ménshēng, hàngxièyīqì”.

又乾符二年，崔沆放崔瀣，譚者稱「座主門生，沆瀣一氣」。

又乾符二年，崔沆放崔瀣，谭者称「座主门生，沆瀣一气」。

2020, Wang Chen, “zh:关于《全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制的决定（草案）》的说明 (Explanation on the Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security (Draft))”, in Communique of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress^(zh:Page:中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会常务委员会公报2020年第二号.pdf/10), page 285:

Moreover in recent years, certain foreign or external forces have flagrantly interfered in Hong Kong's affairs. They have made intervention and created disturbances in various ways, such as by legislative and administrative means and through non-governmental organizations. In collusion with those anti-China Hong Kong disputers, these same forces colluded with them in disruption […]

jìnnián lái, yīxiē wàiguó hé jìngwài shìlì gōngrán gānyù xiānggǎng shìwù, tōngguò lìfǎ, xíngzhèng, fēizhèngfǔzǔzhī děng duōzhǒng fāngshì jìnxíng chāshǒu hé dǎoluàn, yǔ xiānggǎng fǎnzhōngluàngǎng shìlì gōulián héliú, hàngxièyīqì

近年來，一些外國和境外勢力公然干預香港事務，通過立法、行政、非政府組織等多種方式進行插手和搗亂，與香港反中亂港勢力勾連合流、沆瀣一氣

近年来，一些外国和境外势力公然干预香港事务，通过立法、行政、非政府组织等多种方式进行插手和捣乱，与香港反中乱港势力勾连合流、沆瀣一气

(derogatory, literary) to act in collusion; to gang up


醍醐灌頂

ㄊㄧˊ ㄏㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄥˇ

тихугуаньдин

/tʰi³⁵ xu³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐi̯²¹ wuː²¹ kuːn³³ tɪŋ³⁵/

/tʰi³⁵ xu³⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰɐi̯²¹ wuː²¹ kuːn³³ tɪŋ³⁵/

(Buddhism) to enlighten someone with wisdom for achieving nirvana

(figurative) to inspire someone with insightful words


呆若木雞

ㄉㄞ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧ

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²¹ jœːk̚² mʊk̚² kɐi̯⁵⁵/

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ŋɔːi̯²¹ jœːk̚² mʊk̚² kɐi̯⁵⁵/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 19 (《莊子·達生》):
:
In the past, this term was describing the quality of being able to stay calm.

Ji Xing Zi was training gamecocks for the king. After ten days the king asked if they were ready. "Not yet. They're too haughty and rely on their nerve."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "Not yet. They still respond to noises and movements."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "Not yet. They still look around fiercely and are full of spirit."
Another ten days and the king asked again. "They're close enough. Another cock can crow and they show no sign of change. Look at them from a distance and you'd think they were made of wood. Their virtue is complete. Other cocks won't dare face them, but will turn and run."

Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translation from The Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu (2013), by Burton Watson

Jì Xǐng Zǐ wèi wáng yǎng dòujī.
Shí rì ér wèn: “Jī yǐ hū?” Yuē: “Wèi yě, fāng xūjiāo ér shì qì.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Wèi yě, yóu yìng xiǎng yǐng.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Wèi yě, yóu jí shì ér shèng qì.”
Shí rì yòu wèn, yuē: “Jī yǐ, jī suī yǒu míng zhě, yǐ wú biàn yǐ, wàng zhī sì mù jī yǐ, qí dé quán yǐ. Yì jī wú gǎn yìng zhě, fǎn zǒu yǐ.”

紀渻子為王養鬬雞。
十日而問：「雞已乎？」曰：「未也，方虛憍而恃氣。」
十日又問，曰：「未也，猶應嚮景。」
十日又問，曰：「未也，猶疾視而盛氣。」
十日又問，曰：「幾矣，雞雖有鳴者，已无變矣，望之似木雞矣，其德全矣。異雞无敢應者，反走矣。」

纪渻子为王养鬬鸡。
十日而问：「鸡已乎？」曰：「未也，方虚㤭而恃气。」
十日又问，曰：「未也，犹应向景。」
十日又问，曰：「未也，犹疾视而盛气。」
十日又问，曰：「几矣，鸡虽有鸣者，已无变矣，望之似木鸡矣，其德全矣。异鸡无敢应者，反走矣。」


趾高氣揚

ㄓˇ ㄍㄠ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ hei̯³³ jœːŋ²¹/

The Mo'ao will certainly be defeated. He walks high in his steps; ― his mind is not firm.

莫敖必敗。舉趾高，心不固矣。

莫敖必败。举趾高，心不固矣。

to walk with a high-stepping gait and look proud

(derogatory) to be on one's high horse; to be very self-righteous; to be arrogant


知足常樂

ㄓ ㄗㄨˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sœːŋ²¹ lɔːk̚²/

a contented mind is a perpetual feast
a contented mind is a perpetual feast

one who is contented is always happy; to be content with one's lot and be cheerful in life; a contented mind is a perpetual feast


感激涕零

ㄍㄢˇ ㄐㄧ ㄊㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

ганьцзитилин

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ lɪŋ²¹/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ tʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³³ lɪŋ²¹/

to shed tears of gratitude; to be overwhelmingly moved by another person's kindness


萬紫千紅

ㄨㄢˋ ㄗˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄏㄨㄥˊ

ваньцзыцяньхун

/wän⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/maːn²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

/wän⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵/

/maːn²² t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹/

Describes a scene where flowers bloom synchronously.

a profusion of flourishing trades; prosperous


恍然大悟

ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

/hɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃²²/

/hɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋo³⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹ taːi̯²² ŋ̍²²/

/hɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃²²/

/hɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋo³⁵/


一問三不知

ㄧ ㄨㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ

yī wèn sān bùzhī [Phonetic:yí wèn sān bùzhī]

и вэнь сань бучжи

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wən⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

A superior man, in forming his plans, considers everything ― the beginning, the middle and the end ― and then he enters on his course. But now I took mine, without knowing any one of these three; is it not hard?

Jūnzǐ zhī móu yě, shǐ zhōng zhōng jiē jǔ zhī ér hòu rù yān. Jīn wǒ shì sān bùzhī ér rù zhī, bù yì nán hū?

君子之謀也，始衷終皆舉之而後入焉。今我是三不知而入之，不亦難乎？

君子之谋也，始衷终皆举之而后入焉。今我是三不知而入之，不亦难乎？

to reply ‘don't know’ whatever the question

to answer “no idea” to every question; to have absolutely no idea of what is going on, or pretend to be unaware; completely ignorant


高抬貴手

ㄍㄠ ㄊㄞˊ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄡˇ

гаотайгуйшоу

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kou̯⁵⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³³ sɐu̯³⁵/

An expression for requesting forgiveness or accommodation: to be generous; to be magnanimous; (ironic) give me a break


疑神疑鬼

ㄧˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

/i³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁵³/

/ɡi²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ ɡi²³⁻³³ kui⁴¹/

/i³⁵ ʂən³⁵ i³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː²¹ sɐn²¹ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁵³/

/ɡi²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ ɡi²³⁻³³ kui⁴¹/

to be extremely suspicious; to be afraid of one's own shadow


貪新忘舊

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kɐu̯²²/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ kɐu̯²²/

(Cantonese) to love the new and forget the old; to be fickle in affection

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


紅番排隊去廁所——語無倫次

head

紅番排隊去廁所——語無倫次

hung⁴ faan¹ paai⁴ doey⁶⁻² hoey³ tsi³ so²

/hʊŋ²¹ faːn⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ tɵy̯²²⁻³⁵ hɵy̯³³ t͡sʰiː³³ sɔː³⁵/

In stereotypes, American aboriginal people usually wear headpieces with feathers. Thus Red Indians lining up to go to the washroom is 羽毛輪廁／羽毛轮厕 (jyu5 mou4 leon4 ci3, “(people decorated with) feathers waiting for their turn to use the washroom”), which is a homophonic pun of 語無倫次／语无伦次 (jyu5 mou4 leon4 ci3).

红番排队去厕所——语无伦次

Red Indians lining up to go to the washroom—(people decorated with)feathers waiting for their turn to use the washroom

(Cantonese, humorous) to speak incoherently; to ramble in one's statement; confused and incomprehensible speech


三長兩短

ㄙㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

саньчанляндуань

/sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄙㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇㄦ

саньчанляндуаньр

/sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯ɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn³⁵/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ nŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ nŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ zã²¹ liã²² tø⁴⁴/

/san³³ ʈ͡ʂan¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ tõ⁴¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn³⁵/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ nŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ nŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/se⁵⁵ zã²¹ liã²² tø⁴⁴/

/san³³ ʈ͡ʂan¹³ li̯æn⁴¹ tõ⁴¹/

Extended from 長短／长短 (chángduǎn), which already has the meaning of “mishap”. 三 and 兩／两 are two arbitrary numbers which can also mean “some” (see 二三 (èrsān) and 三兩／三两 (sānliǎng)).
Folk etymology states that the term is a euphemism referring to a coffin, which consists of 3 pieces of long and 2 pieces of short wood excluding the cover.

unexpected misfortune; unexpected accident; sudden death


蒸蒸日上

ㄓㄥ ㄓㄥ ㄖˋ ㄕㄤˋ

чжэнчжэнжишан

čžɛnčžɛnžišan

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² sœːŋ¹³/

The vast majority of the bourgeoisie and the intellectuals who come from the old society are patriotic and are willing to serve their flourishing socialist motherland.

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

Zīchǎn jiējí fènzǐ hé cóng jiùshèhuì lái de zhīshi fènzǐ de juédàduōshù dōu shì àiguó de, tāmen yuànyì wèi zhēngzhēngrìshàng de shèhuì zhǔyì zǔguó fúwù.

資產階級分子和從舊社會來的知識分子的絕大多數都是愛國的，他們願意為蒸蒸日上的社會主義祖國服務。

资产阶级分子和从旧社会来的知识分子的绝大多数都是爱国的，他们愿意为蒸蒸日上的社会主义祖国服务。

to become more prosperous by the day; to make progress


每況愈下

ㄇㄟˇ ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄩˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

мэйкуанъюйся

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

/muːi̯¹³ fɔːŋ³³ jyː²² haː²²/

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

/muːi̯¹³ fɔːŋ³³ jyː²² haː²²/

Corrupted from 每下愈況／每下愈况 (měixiàyùkuàng) under folk etymology, reinterpreting 況／况 (kuàng) (originally meaning "more") as "condition; situation".

zh-l

每下愈況／每下愈况 (měixiàyùkuàng)

out of the frying pan and into the fire
out of the frying pan and into the fire

to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire; to go from bad to worse; to steadily deteriorate


滿載而歸

ㄇㄢˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

маньцзайэргуй

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muːn¹³ t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ li²⁴⁻²² kui³³/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁵³ li¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴/

/muã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ li²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴/

to return home fully loaded; to return home fruitfully


垂頭喪氣

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄙㄤˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɔːŋ³³ hei̯³³/

From “Goodbye to Penury” (《送窮文》) by Han Yu (韓愈)

The master then bowed his head and felt disheartened, raised his hand to thank them [the ghosts of poverty], burned the cart and boat, and invited them to the seat of honour.

Zhǔrén yúshì chuítóusàngqì, shàngshǒu chēngxiè, shāo chē yǔ chuán, yán zhī shàngzuò.

主人於是垂頭喪氣，上手稱謝，燒車與船，延之上座。

主人于是垂头丧气，上手称谢，烧车与船，延之上座。

He became frustrated after experiencing a little setback.

Tā shòu yīdiǎn cuòzhé jiù chuítóusàngqì le.

他受一點挫折就垂頭喪氣了。

他受一点挫折就垂头丧气了。


打開天窗說亮話

to open the skylight to say candid words

ㄉㄚˇ ㄎㄞ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄌㄧㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ta³-kʻai¹ tʻien¹-chʻuang¹ shuo¹ liang⁴-hua⁴

дакай тяньчуан шо лянхуа

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/taː³⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ syːt̚³ lœːŋ²² waː²²/

/tã³³ kʰe³³ tʰi⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑ̃³³ səʔ⁴⁴ liã²² ɦo⁴⁴/

beat around the bush
beat around the bush

(figurative) to speak candidly; to not beat around the bush


如火如荼

ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄊㄨˊ

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/jyː²¹ fɔː³⁵ jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

/ʐu³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/jyː²¹ fɔː³⁵ jyː²¹ tʰou̯²¹/

From a statement in Guoyu describing how spectacular the Wu army was

Ten thousand warriors form a phalanx [in the middle], with white clothes, white banners, white armours, and white arrows, and they looked like cogon spikes. The army on the left also wore like this, with red clothes, red banners, red armours, and red arrows, and they looked like fire. The army on the left also wore like this, with black clothes, black banners, black armours, and black arrows, and they looked like ink.

Wàn rén yǐ wèi fāngzhèn, jiē bái shang, bái qí, sù jiǎ, bái yǔ zhī zēng, wàng zhī rú tú. Zuǒ jūn yì rú zhī, jiē chì shang, chì yú, dān jiǎ, zhū yǔ zhī zēng, wàng zhī rú huǒ. Yòu jūn yì rú zhī, jiē xuán shang, xuán qí, hēi jiǎ, wū yǔ zhī zēng, wàng zhī rú mò.

萬人以為方陣，皆白裳、白旂、素甲、白羽之矰，望之如荼。左軍亦如之，皆赤裳、赤旟、丹甲、朱羽之矰，望之如火。右軍亦如之，皆玄裳、玄旗、黑甲、烏羽之矰，望之如墨。

万人以为方阵，皆白裳、白旗、素甲、白羽之矰，望之如荼。左军亦如之，皆赤裳、赤𭤰、丹甲、朱羽之矰，望之如火。右军亦如之，皆玄裳、玄旗、黑甲、乌羽之矰，望之如墨。

(literal) (to have) a mighty army like wildfire

奧運比賽進行得如火如荼。

奥运比赛进行得如火如荼。

a daunting and vigorous momentum; flourishing; magnificent


起承轉合

ㄑㄧˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄏㄜˊ

цичэнчжуаньхэ

/t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

/hei̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡syːn³⁵ hɐp̚²/

/hei̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡syːn³⁵ hɐp̚²/

(poetry) structure of traditional Chinese poetry: introduction, elucidation, transition and conclusion

(by extension) composition of a piece of literature


依依不捨

/i⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ i³³⁻²³ puk̚²⁻⁴ sia²¹³/

/i⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/i³³⁻²³ i³³⁻²³ puk̚²⁻⁴ sia²¹³/

What makes me linger is more than your tenderness

讓我依依不捨的不止你的溫柔

让我依依不舍的不止你的温柔

to be reluctant to part; to feel broken-hearted at having to leave; to linger


馬耳東風

ㄇㄚˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄈㄥ

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nĩ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ nĩ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/mã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ nĩ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

lang

《答王十二寒夜獨酌有懷》

《答王十二寒夜獨酌有懷》

When the people of this world hear this, all shake their heads,
As if the east wind shot through the horse’s ear.

Shìrén wén cǐ jiē diàotóu, yǒu rú dōngfēng shè mǎ ěr.

世人聞此皆掉頭，有如東風射馬耳。

世人闻此皆掉头，有如东风射马耳。

not the least bit concerned; completely indifferent


忘恩負義

ㄨㄤˋ ㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jɐn⁵⁵ fuː²² jiː²²/

/mɔŋ¹¹ ɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ fu⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵³/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ɯŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ eŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jɐn⁵⁵ fuː²² jiː²²/

/mɔŋ¹¹ ɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ fu⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi⁵³/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ɯŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

/buaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ eŋ³³⁻²³ hu³⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi³⁵/

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

to be devoid of gratefulness; to forget someone’s kindness and turn one’s back on him; to bite the hand that feeds one


掩耳盜鈴

ㄧㄢˇ ㄦˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jiːm³⁵ jiː¹³ tou̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/jiːm³⁵ jiː¹³ tou̯²² lɪŋ²¹/

When the Fan family was wiped out, there was a thief who wanted to carry their bell on his back and leave. Since the bell was too big for him to carry, he smashed it with a hammer, but the bell clanged loudly. For fear that people would hear it and take it from him, he quickly covered his ears.

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

Fàn shì zhī wáng yě, bǎixìng yǒu dé zhōng zhě, yù fù ér zǒu. Zé zhōng dà bùkě fù, yǐ chúi huǐ zhī, zhōng huàngrán yǒu yīn. Kǒng rén wén zhī ér duó jǐ yě, jù yǎn qí ěr.

范氏之亡也，百姓有得鐘者，欲負而走。則鐘大不可負，以椎毀之，鐘況然有音。恐人聞之而奪己也，遽揜其耳。

范氏之亡也，百姓有得钟者，欲负而走。则钟大不可负，以椎毁之，钟况然有音。恐人闻之而夺己也，遽揜其耳。

掩耳盗铃
盜鐘掩耳
盜鈴掩耳
竊鈴掩耳
塞耳盜鐘
塞耳偷鈴
掩耳盜鐘
掩耳偷鈴

tocover one’s ears while stealing a bell

Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18ᵗʰ century CE

Nàpà zài niàn sānshí běn “shījīng”, yěshì yǎn'ěrdàolíng, hǒngrén éryǐ.

那怕再念三十本《詩經》，也是掩耳盜鈴，哄人而已。

那怕再念三十本《诗经》，也是掩耳盗铃，哄人而已。

Tā suī yòng líng zhēgài, yǐ yǎn zhòngrén ěrmù, nà zhī quèshì yǎn'ěrdàolíng.

他雖用綾遮蓋，以掩眾人耳目，那知卻是掩耳盜鈴。

他虽用绫遮盖，以掩众人耳目，那知却是掩耳盗铃。

bury one's head in the sand
bury one's head in the sand

(figurative) to fool oneself; to bury one's head in the sand


接踵而至

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ

цзечжунъэрчжи

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːp̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː³³/

to follow each other and arrive successively; to be unceasing


種瓜得瓜

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄚ

чжунгуадэгуа

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ku̯ä⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷaː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ kʷaː⁵⁵/


傾城傾國

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

傾國傾城 傾國傾城#Chinese

倾国倾城 倾国倾城#Chinese


過關斬將

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

гогуаньчжаньцзян

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

過五關斬六將 過五關斬六將#Chinese

过五关斩六将 过五关斩六将#Chinese

Short for 過五關斬六將／过五关斩六将 (guò wǔ guān zhǎn liù jiàng).


按圖索驥

ㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˋ

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ saːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ sɔːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

/ˀän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ saːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

/ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ sɔːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

Jīn bù xún bó zhě zhī dào, nǎi yù yǐ sāndài xuǎnjǔ zhī fǎ qǔ dāngshí zhī shì, yóu chá bóyuè zhī tú, qiú qíjì yú shì, ér bùkě dé, yì yǐ míng yǐ.

今不循伯者之道，乃欲以三代選舉之法取當時之士，猶察伯樂之圖，求騏驥於市，而不可得，亦已明矣。

今不循伯者之道，乃欲以三代选举之法取当时之士，犹察伯乐之图，求骐骥于市，而不可得，亦已明矣。

to look for a fine horse using only a picture

(figurative, derogatory) to do things along rigid, conventional lines

(figurative) to try and find something with the help of a clue


傾國傾城

desc

Vietnamese: → nghiêng nước nghiêng thành (calque), → nghiêng thành đổ nước (calque)

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

From the story of Consort Li, a concubine to the Emperor Wu of Han

Consort Li, concubine to the Emperor Wu of Han, was originally a dancing performer. Her brother Yannian was a gifted musician and dancer, beloved by the emperor. Every time he composed something new, it never failed to move those listening to it.
One day, Yannian did a dance and sang, “There is a beauty in the north, who stands out among the generations. One look will topple the men of the city. A second look will topple the men of the country. I would rather not know about toppled cities and toppled countries, because a beauty of this caliber may not come around again!”
His majesty sighed and said, “Wow! Can there really be such a person in this world?”
Whereupon Pingyang mentioned that Yannian had a sister. His majesty summoned her, and she was indeed a sight to behold, and a good dancer. As a result, she received the emperor's favor, and bore him a son; this was Prince Ai of Changyi. (Wiktionary translation)

Xiàowǔ Lǐ fūrén, běn yǐ chàng jìn. Chū, fūrén xiōng Yánnián xìng zhī yīn, shàn gēwǔ, Wǔ dì ài zhī. Měi wéi xīn shēng biàn qǔ, wén zhě mò bù gǎndòng.
Yánnián shì shàng qǐwǔ, gē yuē: “Běifāng yǒu jiārén, juéshì ér dúlì, yī gù qīng rén chéng, zài gù qīng rén guó. Nìng bùzhī qīngchéng yǔ qīngguó, jiārén nán zài dé!”
Shàng tànxī yuē: “Shàn! Shì qǐ yǒu cǐ rén hū?”
Píngyáng zhǔ yīn yán Yánnián yǒu nǚdì, shàng nǎi zhàojiàn zhī, shí miàolì shàn wǔ. Yóu shì dé xìng, shēng yī nán, shì wéi Chāngyì Āiwáng.

孝武李夫人，本以倡進。初，夫人兄延年性知音，善歌舞，武帝愛之。每為新聲變曲，聞者莫不感動。
延年侍上起舞，歌曰：「北方有佳人，絕世而獨立，一顧傾人城，再顧傾人國。寧不知傾城與傾國，佳人難再得！」
上歎息曰：「善！世豈有此人乎？」
平陽主因言延年有女弟，上乃召見之，實妙麗善舞。由是得幸，生一男，是為昌邑哀王。

孝武李夫人，本以倡进。初，夫人兄延年性知音，善歌舞，武帝爱之。每为新声变曲，闻者莫不感动。
延年侍上起舞，歌曰：「北方有佳人，绝世而独立，一顾倾人城，再顾倾人国。宁不知倾城与倾国，佳人难再得！」
上叹息曰：「善！世岂有此人乎？」
平阳主因言延年有女弟，上乃召见之，实妙丽善舞。由是得幸，生一男，是为昌邑哀王。

capable of causing the downfall of a city or state

(figurative, of a woman) to be devastatingly beautiful; to be drop-dead gorgeous


死馬當活馬醫

to medically treat a dead horse as a living horse

ㄙˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄉㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄧ

sǐmǎ dàng huómǎ yī [Phonetic:símǎdànghuómǎyī]

сыма дан хома и

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵/

to keep trying everything in a desperate situation; to resort to desperate measures in desperate times


吃不了兜著走

吃不了兜着走
吃不了，兜著走/吃不了，兜着走

ㄔ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄡ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄗㄡˇ

чи буляо доу чжэ цзоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə² t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative, colloquial) to find oneself in serious trouble; to bear all the consequences


恨鐵不成鋼

ㄏㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄍㄤ

хэнь те бу чэн ган

/xən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐn²² tʰiːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

/xən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐn²² tʰiːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kɔːŋ³³/

(figurative) to feel resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations; to be impatient to see improvement


你做初一我做十五

you do the first day of the month; I'll do the fifteenth

ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄔㄨ ㄧ ㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕˊ ㄨˇ

ни цзо чуи во цзо шиу

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

nei⁵ dzou⁶ tso¹ jat⁷ ngo⁵ dzou⁶ sap⁹ ng⁵

/nei̯¹³ t͡sou̯²² t͡sʰɔː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sou̯²² sɐp̚² ŋ̍¹³/

(chiefly Cantonese) an eye for an eye; tit for tat


有眼不識泰山

to have eyes but fail to recognizeMount Tai

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ

yǒu yǎn bù shí Tàishān [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbùshítàishān]

ю янь бу ши Тайшань

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

yǒu yǎn bù shì Tàishān [Phonetic:yóuyǎnbúshìtàishān]

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ ŋaːn¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵/

to fail to recognize someone important or someone's great talent; to be blind to the fact


白髮人送黑髮人

white-haired person seeing off black-haired person (in a funeral)

ㄅㄞˊ ㄈㄚˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄟ ㄈㄚˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄅㄞˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄟ ㄈㄚˇ ㄖㄣˊ

байфажэнь сун хэйфажэнь

/paɪ̯³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ fä⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

(of an old person) to see one's child die earlier than oneself


乘勝追擊

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄐㄧˊ

чэншэнчжуйцзи

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ³³ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tui⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

to follow up a victory with pursuit and attack; to continue pursuing a retreating army


一舉一動

ㄧ ㄐㄩˇ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

zh-l

舉動／举动 (jǔdòng)

each and every move; every single action


有朝一日

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ lit̚⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiau⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴/


到此一遊

ㄉㄠˋ ㄘˇ ㄧ ㄧㄡˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹/

to come here for travel; (as vandalism) (someone) was here


拭目以待

ㄕˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mʊk̚² jiː¹³ tɔːi̯²²/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tai²²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪk̚⁵ mʊk̚² jiː¹³ tɔːi̯²²/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tai²²/

to anticipate or wait for something to happen


舉一反三

ㄐㄩˇ ㄧ ㄈㄢˇ ㄙㄢ

цзюйифаньсань

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵/

/kɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ sã³³/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːn³⁵ saːm⁵⁵/

/kɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ sã³³/

The Master said, "I do not open up the truth to one who is not eager to get knowledge, nor help out any one who is not anxious to explain himself. When I have presented one corner of a subject to any one, and he cannot from it learn the other three, I do not repeat my lesson."

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

Zǐyuē: “Bù fèn bù qǐ, bù fěi bù fā, jǔ yī yú bù yǐ sān yú fǎn, zé bù fù yě.”

子曰：「不憤不啟，不悱不發，舉一隅不以三隅反，則不復也。」

子曰：「不愤不启，不悱不发，举一隅不以三隅反，则不复也。」

to learn by analogy; to infer other cases based on one instance


忐忑不安

ㄊㄢˇ ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

таньтэбу’ань

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn³⁵ tʰɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/tʰaːn³⁵ tʰɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/


日日夜夜

ㄖˋ ㄖˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jɛː²² jɛː²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻²¹ ia³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻¹¹ ia³³/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚² jɐt̚² jɛː²² jɛː²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² zit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻²¹ ia³³/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² lit̚⁴⁻³² ia³³⁻¹¹ ia³³/


尊姓大名

ㄗㄨㄣ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзуньсиндамин

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ biɪŋ²³/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡syːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tai³³⁻²¹ biɪŋ²³/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tai³³⁻¹¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

/t͡sun⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tai²²⁻²¹ biɪŋ²⁴/

May I know the esteemed name of our new friend? — My name is hardly esteemed. I am Li Jing.

Zhè wèi xīn péngyou, qǐngwèn zūnxìngdàmíng a? — zūn zì bù gǎndāng a, wǒ jiào Lǐ Jìng.

這位新朋友，請問尊姓大名啊？——尊字不敢當啊，我叫李靜。

这位新朋友，请问尊姓大名啊？——尊字不敢当啊，我叫李静。


牛鬼蛇神

ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄕㄜˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐn²¹/

/ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/ŋɐu̯²¹ kʷɐi̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐn²¹/

(figurative) all sorts of bad things, especially people

(historical, politics) cow demons and snake spirits


十里洋場

ㄕˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˇ

ㄕˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

the Shanghai of old, with its foreign settlements

(figurative) bustling, cosmopolitan city


廢寢忘食

ㄈㄟˋ ㄑㄧㄣˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕˊ

фэйциньванши

/feɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

/feɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ sɪk̚²/

to be completely wrapped up in one's work and skip one's sleep and meals


入木三分

ㄖㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄣ

жумусаньфэнь

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² mʊk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² mʊk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵/

written in a forceful hand; penetrating; profound


不得要領

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄥˇ

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ lɪŋ¹³/

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiːu̯³³ lɪŋ¹³/


甘拜下風

ㄍㄢ ㄅㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄈㄥ

ганьбайсяфэн

/kän⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ paːi̯³³ haː²² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kän⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ paːi̯³³ haː²² fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(humble) to step down gracefully; to concede defeat; to play second fiddle


重見天日

ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄖˋ

чунцзяньтяньжи

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kiːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

/teŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kieŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰieŋ³³⁻²³ d͡zik̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ kiːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

delivered from oppression; to regain freedom


篳路藍縷

ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄌㄢˊ ㄌㄩˇ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ län³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɵy̯¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɐu̯¹³/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ län³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɵy̯¹³/

/pɐt̚⁵ lou̯²² laːm²¹ lɐu̯¹³/

He admonishes them on how the Chu ancestors Ruo'ao and Fenmao, riding in rugged wooden carts and clad in tattered hemp, opened up hills and forests for cultivation.

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

Xùn zhī yǐ Ruò'áo, Fénmào bìlù lánlǚ yǐ qǐ shānlín.

訓之以若敖、蚡冒篳路藍縷以啟山林。

训之以若敖、蚡冒筚路蓝缕以启山林。

筚路蓝缕
蓽路藍縷
蓽露藍蔞
篳路襤褸

drive a cart in rags to blaze a new trail

(figurative, of a pioneer) braving hardships and difficulties in beginning an undertaking


不知所云

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄩㄣˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐn²¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔː³⁵ wɐn²¹/

I am going to leave Your Majesty soon. Now, as I read this memorial, I am unable to hold back my tears and I do not know what to say.

Jīn dāng yuǎnlí, lín biǎo tìqì, bùzhīsuǒyún.

今當遠離，臨表涕泣，不知所云。

今当远离，临表涕泣，不知所云。

to not know what someone is driving at; to be unintelligible


不脛而走

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄗㄡˇ

буцзинъэрцзоу

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³³ jiː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ li²⁴⁻²² t͡sɔ⁵³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ zi²³⁻³³ t͡sau⁴¹/

to get round fast; to spread like wildfire


才高八斗

ㄘㄞˊ ㄍㄠ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄡˇ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ paːt̚³ tɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ kou̯⁵⁵ paːt̚³ tɐu̯³⁵/

From Xie Lingyun's comment about Cao Zhi:
In this statement, Xie expressed his admiration of Cao Zhi as well as his pride.

Xie Lingyun once said, “If all talents in the world weigh one dan (i.e. 10 dous) in total, Cao Zijian (courtesy name of Cao Zhi) owned 8 dous, I own 1 dou, and all others in the world share the remaining 1 dou.”

Song dynasty, anonymous, 《釋常談》 (Shi Chang Tan)

Xiè Língyùn cháng yuē: “Tiānxià cái yǒu yī dàn, Cáo Zǐjiàn dúzhàn bā dǒu, wǒ dé yī dǒu, tiānxià gòng fēn yī dǒu.

謝靈運嘗曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建獨占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。

谢灵运尝曰：「天下才有一石，曹子建独占八斗，我得一斗，天下共分一斗。


出言不遜

ㄔㄨ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄣˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕyn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɵn³³/


不合時宜

ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˊ ㄧˊ

/pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐp̚² siː²¹ jiː²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ hap̚²⁴⁻² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si¹³⁻²² ɡi¹³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ ɡi²³/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴⁻² si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ hɐp̚² siː²¹ jiː²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ hap̚²⁴⁻² si²⁴⁻²² ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ hap̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si¹³⁻²² ɡi¹³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡi²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ hap̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ ɡi²³/

/puk̚²⁻⁴ haʔ⁴⁻² si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋi⁵⁵/

untimely; premature; inopportune; ill-timed; out of fashion; behind the times


大材小用

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄩㄥˋ

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ jʊŋ²²/

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

to use a talented person in an insignificant position; to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut


大顯神通

ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄥ

дасяньшэньтун

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

to display one's remarkable skill or prowess; to give full play to one's brilliant abilities


分庭抗禮

ㄈㄣ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄤˋ ㄌㄧˇ

фэньтинканли

/fən⁵⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɔːŋ³³ lɐi̯¹³/

/fən⁵⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ kʰɔːŋ³³ lɐi̯¹³/

From Zhuangzi, chapter 31 (《莊子·漁父》), where Zilu gives some comments after a conversation between Confucius and a fisherman.

The rulers of ten thousand chariots, the lords of a thousand chariots, when they receive you, invariably seat you on the same level as themselves and treat you with the etiquette due to an equal, and still you maintain a stiff and haughty air. But now this old fisherman, pole in hand, presents himself in front of you, and you double up at the waist, as bent as a chiming stone, and bow every time you reply to his words — this is going too far, isn’t it?

Wànshèng zhī zhǔ, qiānshèng zhī jūn, jiàn fūzǐ wèicháng bù fēntíng kànglǐ, fūzǐ yóu yǒu jù'ào zhī róng. Jīn yúfù zhàng ná nì lì, ér fūzǐ qūyāo qìngzhé, yán bài ér yìng, dé wú tàishèn hū?

萬乘之主，千乘之君，見夫子未嘗不分庭伉禮，夫子猶有倨敖之容。今漁父杖拏逆立，而夫子曲要磬折，言拜而應，得无太甚乎？

万乘之主，千乘之君，见夫子未尝不分庭伉礼，夫子犹有倨敖之容。今渔父杖拿逆立，而夫子曲要磬折，言拜而应，得无太甚乎？

to stand up (to someone) as an equal; to function as rivals


華而不實

ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ

/xu̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/waː²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚²/

/xu̯ä³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/waː²¹ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚²/

having a handsome exterior but hollow inside; flashy and without substance


大義滅親

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/*lˤat-s|lˤa[t]-s ŋ(r)aj-s [m]et [tsʰ]i[n]/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² jiː²² miːt̚² t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

From Zuo Zhuan. Zhou Yu (w:zh:州吁) had murdered his brother, Duke Huan of Wey (w:zh:衛桓公), and taken his place. But he could not gain the favor of the people of Wey. Shi Que (w:zh:石碏), an officer loyal to the state, devised a scheme and had the usurper killed. Shi Que's son Shi Hou was a close associate of Zhou Yu, so Shi Que had his son killed as well. The people praised his act (《左傳·隱公四年》)

A superior man may say, "Shi Que was a minister without blemish. He hated Zhou Yu, with whom his own son Hou was art and part; — and did he not so afford an illustration of the saying that great righteousness is supreme over the affections?"

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

Jūnzǐ yuē: “Shí Què, chún chén yě, wù Zhōu Yù ér Hòu yǔ yān. ‘dàyì miè qīn’, qí shì zhī wèi hū!”

君子曰：「石碏，純臣也，惡州籲而厚與焉。『大義滅親』，其是之謂乎！」

君子曰：「石碏，纯臣也，恶州吁而厚与焉。『大义灭亲』，其是之谓乎！」

to place righteousness before family; to be ready to punish one's own family if justice demands it


出類拔萃

ㄔㄨ ㄌㄟˋ ㄅㄚˊ ㄘㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹ pä³⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pɐt̚² sɵy̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹ pä³⁵ t͡sʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ lɵy̯²² pɐt̚² sɵy̯²²/

There is the Qi-lin among quadrupeds, the Feng-huang among birds, the Tai mountain among mounds and ant-hills, and rivers and seas among rain-pools. Though different in degree, they are the same in kind. So the sages among mankind are also the same in kind. But they stand out from their fellows, and rise above the level, and from the birth of mankind till now, there never has been one so complete as Confucius.

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

Qílín zhī yú zǒushòu, fènghuáng zhī yú fēiniǎo, tàishān zhī yú qiūdié, héhǎi zhī yú xíngliáo, lèi yě. Shèngrén zhī yú mín, yì lèi yě. Chū yú qí lèi, bá hū qí cuì, zì shēng mín yǐ lái, wèiyǒu shèng yú Kǒngzǐ yě.

麒麟之於走獸，鳳凰之於飛鳥，太山之於丘垤，河海之於行潦，類也。聖人之於民，亦類也。出於其類，拔乎其萃，自生民以來，未有盛於孔子也。

麒麟之于走兽，凤凰之于飞鸟，太山之于丘垤，河海之于行潦，类也。圣人之于民，亦类也。出于其类，拔乎其萃，自生民以来，未有盛于孔子也。

to excel the common; surpassing; preeminent; outstanding


後生可畏

ㄏㄡˋ ㄕㄥ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄟˋ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/hɐu̯²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

/hɐu̯²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ wɐi̯³³/

The Master said, "A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? If he reach the age of forty or fifty, and has not made himself heard of, then indeed he will not be worth being regarded with respect."

Zǐyuē: “Hòushēng kěwèi, yān zhī láizhě zhī bùrú jīn yě? Sìshí, wǔshí ér wú wén yān, sī yì bùzú wèi yě yǐ.”

子曰：「後生可畏，焉知來者之不如今也？四十、五十而無聞焉，斯亦不足畏也已。」

子曰：「后生可畏，焉知来者之不如今也？四十、五十而无闻焉，斯亦不足畏也已。」

a young person displaying exceptional skills; a young person's abilities must be respected; though inexperienced, the younger generations will surpass us in time


駭人聽聞

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄨㄣˊ

хайжэньтинвэнь

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ wən³⁵/

/haːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/hɔːi̯¹³ jɐn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

Gāi xiānzǐ héyǐ pòbùjídài, bìngbù zòuwén qǐng zhǐ, rèn tīng bùxià chěng yàn yú fēi shí zhī hòu, xiànmèi yú shìzhǔ zhīqián, zhì lìng shíxù diāndǎo, hàiréntīngwén.

該仙子何以迫不及待，並不奏聞請旨，任聽部下逞豔於非時之候，獻媚於世主之前，致令時序顛倒，駭人聽聞。

该仙子何以迫不及待，并不奏闻请旨，任听部下逞艳于非时之候，献媚于世主之前，致令时序颠倒，骇人听闻。

2024 August 9, 察客, “下午察：中國倒賣屍體案留下的問號 [Afternoon investigation: Question marks left behind by China’s corpse reselling case]”, in Lianhe Zaobao:

Chinese lawyer Yi Shenghua published a document on the Internet on Thursday (August 8), revealing that Shanxi Orui Biomaterials Co., Ltd. was suspected of stealing, insulting, and deliberately destroying thousands of corpses that were supposed to be cremated. The shocking case quickly aroused public opinion.

Zhōngguó lǜshī Yì Shènghuá xīngqīsì (8yuè 8 rì) zài wǎngluò shàng gōngbù yī fèn cáiliào, jiēfā Shānxī Àoruì shēngwù cáiliào yǒuxiàngōngsī shèxián dàoqiè, wǔrǔ, gùyì huǐhuài yuánběn yìng huǒhuà de shùqiān jù shītǐ, hàiréntīngwén de ànqíng xùnsù yǐnbào yúlùn.

中國律師易勝華星期四（8月8日）在網絡上公佈一份材料，揭發山西奧瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盜竊、侮辱、故意毀壞原本應火化的數千具屍體，駭人聽聞的案情迅速引爆輿論。

中国律师易胜华星期四（8月8日）在网络上公布一份材料，揭发山西奥瑞生物材料有限公司涉嫌盗窃、侮辱、故意毁坏原本应火化的数千具尸体，骇人听闻的案情迅速引爆舆论。

shocking; horrifying; atrocious; terrible


赴湯蹈火

to go through boiling water and tread on fire

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄤ ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fu⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ tou̯²² fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to defy all difficulties and dangers; to fear and shun no difficulties or dangers


汗流浹背

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄟˋ

ㄏㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄟˋ

ханьлюцзябэй

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/xän⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ puːi̯³³/

/hɔːn²² lɐu̯²¹ kaːp̚³ puːi̯³³/


黔驢技窮

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄩˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

цяньлюйцзицюн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ kei̯²² kʰʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ly³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰiːm²¹ lou̯²¹ kei̯²² kʰʊŋ²¹/

Based on a fable written by Tang-dynasty writer Liu Zongyuan

The prefecture of Qian (now in Chongqing and Guizhou) did not have any donkeys. There was a busybody who had the idea of introducing one, and had it shipped to the region. However, he found that there was not much use of the donkey after it had arrived, so he left the donkey at the foot of a hill.
In time a tiger saw it. Having never seen a donkey before, the tiger was impressed by its size and thought it was a supernatural being, so it hid in the bushes to take a peek. The tiger remained very cautious in coming nearer to the donkey.
One day, the donkey brayed. The terrified tiger fled in horror, fearing that the donkey was going to bite him. However, as the tiger observed further, it did not seem to have any other special powers. Over time, the tiger became accustomed to the bray of the donkey and came closer to the donkey, but did not dare attack it still. As it became closer to the donkey, it flirted with the donkey by touching it, leaning on it, and bumping into it. The donkey was greatly enraged, and gave the tiger a kick. The tiger rejoiced, thinking: “The donkey's tricks are merely these!” Then the tiger roared and pounced on the donkey, gnawed at its neck, and ate the donkey's entire flesh. After that, the tiger went off contented.

Tang dynasty, Liu Zongyuan, 《三戒·黔之驢》 (The Donkey of Qian)

Qián wú lǘ, yǒu hàoshì zhě chuán zài yǐ rù, zhì zé wú kě yòng, fàng zhī shān xià. Hǔ jiàn zhī, pángrán dàwù yě, yǐ wéi shén. Bì lín jiān kuī zhī, shāo chū jìn zhī, yìnyìn rán, mò xiāng zhī. Tā rì, lǘ yī míng, hǔ dàhài, yuǎndùn, yǐwéi qiě shì jǐ yě, shèn kǒng. Rán wǎnglái shì zhī, jué wú yìnéng zhě, yì xí qí shēng, yòu jìn chū qiánhòu, zhōng bù gǎn bó. Shāo jìn yì xiá, dàng yǐ chōng mào. Lǘ bù shèng nù, tí zhī. Hǔ yīn xǐ, jì zhī yuē: “Jì zhǐ cǐ ěr!” Yīn tiàoliàng dà hǎn, duàn qí hóu, jìn qí ròu, nǎi qù.

黔無驢，有好事者船載以入，至則無可用，放之山下。虎見之，龐然大物也，以為神。蔽林間窺之，稍出近之，憖憖然，莫相知。他日，驢一鳴，虎大駭，遠遁，以為且噬己也，甚恐。然往來視之，覺無異能者，益習其聲，又近出前後，終不敢搏。稍近益狎，蕩倚衝冒。驢不勝怒，蹄之。虎因喜，計之曰：「技止此耳！」因跳踉大㘚，斷其喉，盡其肉，乃去。

黔无驴，有好事者船载以入，至则无可用，放之山下。虎见之，庞然大物也，以为神。蔽林间窥之，稍出近之，慭慭然，莫相知。他日，驴一鸣，虎大骇，远遁，以为且噬己也，甚恐。然往来视之，觉无异能者，益习其声，又近出前后，终不敢搏。稍近益狎，荡倚冲冒。驴不胜怒，蹄之。虎因喜，计之曰：「技止此耳！」因跳踉大㘎，断其喉，尽其肉，乃去。

The donkey in the prefecture of Qian has exhausted its tricks

(figurative) to exhaust one's limited abilities


九牛一毛

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄧ ㄇㄠˊㄦ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ maʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mo⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiɤ³³ n̠ʲiɤ⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ mɔ²¹/

If I fell before the law and was executed, it would make no more difference to most people than one hair off nine oxen, for I was a mere ant to them.

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

Jiǎlìng pú fúfǎ shòuzhū, ruò jiǔniú wáng yīmáo, yǔ lóuyǐ héyǐ yì?

假令僕伏法受誅，若九牛亡一毛，與螻蟻何以異？

假令仆伏法受诛，若九牛亡一毛，与蝼蚁何以异？


懲前毖後

to punish those before to prevent those after

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

ㄔㄥˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄡˋ

чэнцяньбихоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹ pei̯³³ hɐu̯²²/

to criticize former mistakes firmly to prevent them happening again


千鈞一髮

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄧ ㄈㄚˋ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄧ ㄈㄚˇ

цяньцзюньифа

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ fä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³/

Based on a passage in Liezi:
*
Later used to metaphorically mean "a crucial and emergent moment" in Book of Han & by Tang dynasty's writer Han Yu (Chen, 2014):
*
*

Long deceived the King of Wei, saying: "There are intentions (concepts) but these are not minds. There are zhi (pointings out, significations, representations) but these do not reach (things). There are things but they are not exhausted. There are shadows but they do not move. A hair draws (a weight of) one thousand jun. [A] white horse is not [a] horse. An orphan calf never had a mother."

Lóng kuáng Wèiwáng yuē: ‘Yǒuyìbùxīn. Yǒuzhǐbùzhì. Yǒuwùbùjìn. Yǒuyǐngbùyí. Fàyǐnqiānjūn. Báimǎfēimǎ. Gūdú wèicháng yǒu mǔ.’

龍誑魏王曰：『有意不心。有指不至。有物不盡。有影不移。髮引千鈞。白馬非馬。孤犢未嘗有母。』

龙诳魏王曰：『有意不心。有指不至。有物不尽。有影不移。发引千钧。白马非马。孤犊未尝有母。』

Although I am clumsy, I know the danger to tie a hundredweight to a thread up to the [roof]less sky and down to the bottomless abyss.

Fū yǐ yīlǚ zhī rèn xì qiānjūn zhī zhòng, shàng xiàn wújí zhī gāo, xià chuí bùcè zhī yuān, suī shènyú zhī rén yóu zhī āi qí jiāngjué yě.

夫以一縷之任係千鈞之重，上縣無極之高，下垂不測之淵，雖甚愚之人猶知哀其將絕也。

夫以一缕之任系千钧之重，上县无极之高，下垂不测之渊，虽甚愚之人犹知哀其将绝也。

It is so emergent like a hundred weight hanging by a hair.

韓愈 Han Yu 〈與孟尚書書〉, "Letter to Secretary Meng", included in 《全唐文》 The whole collection of Tang period literature, Vol. 553

其危如一發引千鈞

其危如一发引千钧

A thousand jun (unit of mass) hangs from a strip of hair.

imminent peril; a matter of life or death

Book of Han
Gongsun Long
Han Yu
Liezi
Tang dynasty


先使未來錢

/siːn⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ mei̯²² lɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn²¹/

(Cantonese) to spend money not yet earned


三七二十一

ㄙㄢ ㄑㄧ ㄦˋ ㄕˊ ㄧ

сань ци эршии

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jiː²² sɐp̚² jɐt̚⁵/

/sam²⁴ t͡sʰit̚² ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ it̚²/

Originally a line in the Chinese multiplication table.

(figurative) (to not care about) the actual situation; facts of the matter


目不識丁

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧㄥ

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄉㄧㄥ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵ tɪŋ⁵⁵/

According to the Old Book of Tang, the Tang-dynasty official Zhang Hongjing once scornfully said to his soldiers

“ […] Now that the world is in peace, although you all are able to draw a bow that takes two dan [a unit of measure] of force to be drawn, that is not as good as being able to read the simplest characters like 丁.”

“...... Jīn tiānxià wúshì, rǔbèi wǎn dé liǎng dàn lì gōng, bùrú shí yī dīng zì.”

「……今天下無事，汝輩挽得兩石力弓，不如識一丁字。」

「……今天下无事，汝辈挽得两石力弓，不如识一丁字。」

(derogatory) to not even know the most basic characters; to be densely illiterate

Old Book of Tang
Tang dynasty
Zhang Hongjing


不假思索

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄙ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ kaː³⁵ siː⁵⁵ sɔːk̚³/


鞭長莫及

ㄅㄧㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧˊ

бяньчанмоцзи

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/piːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² kip̚²⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ¹³⁻²² bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kip̚¹²¹/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/piːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² kʰɐp̚²/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻²² tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚²⁴⁻² kip̚²⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

/piɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɔŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² kip̚⁴/

beyond one's influence; too far to be able to help


點頭哈腰

ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄏㄚ ㄧㄠ

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

/ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ xä⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːm³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ haː⁵⁵ jiːu̯⁵⁵/

to uncritically and enthusiastically support someone; (specifically) to be excessively but superficially obsequious


朝九晚五

ㄓㄠ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˇ ㄨˇ

чжаоцзюваньу

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ maːn¹³ ŋ̍¹³/

(of a job) to start at 9 am and finish at 5 pm, as a daily routine; 9 to 5


如臨深淵

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄩㄢ

жулиньшэньюань

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ lin³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵/

/jyː³⁵ lɐm²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵/


戰戰兢兢

ja-r

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

CJKV/code

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

Sino-Xenic (戰戰兢兢):
* → Japanese: 戦(せん)々(せん)恐(きょう)々(きょう) (sensenkyōkyō)
* → Korean: 전전긍긍(戰戰兢兢) (jeonjeon'geunggeung)

CJKV

せん%せん%きょう%きょう

ㄓㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥ

чжаньчжаньцзинцзин

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːn³³ t͡siːn³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 195 (《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

(《詩經·小雅·小旻》)

We should be apprehensive and careful,
As if we were on the brink of a deep gulf,
As if we were treading on thin ice.

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

Zhànzhàn jīngjīng, rú lín shēnyuān, rú lǚ bóbīng.

戰戰兢兢，如臨深淵，如履薄冰。

战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。

(ideophonic) trembling with fear; apprehensive and careful; fearful and cautious


二八佳人

ㄦˋ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄖㄣˊ

/ˀɤɻ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː²² paːt̚³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ˀɤɻ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jiː²² paːt̚³ kaːi̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/


汗牛充棟

(enough books) to make a pack-ox sweat or to fill a house to the rafters

ㄏㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

ханьнючундун

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/

/xän⁵¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːn²² ŋɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ³³/


源遠流長

ㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄤˊ

юаньюаньлючан

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jyːn²¹ jyːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ iaŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ liu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

having a long and rich history; to extend to the dim and distant past


瑕不掩瑜

ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄩˊ

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

/ɕi̯ä³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/haː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiːm³⁵ jyː²¹/

From the Book of Rites, Book 48 (《禮記·聘義》)

Anciently superior men found the likeness of all excellent qualities in jade. Soft, smooth, and glossy, it appeared to them like benevolence; fine, compact, and strong - like intelligence; angular, but not sharp and cutting - like righteousness; hanging down (in beads) as if it would fall to the ground - like (the humility of) propriety; when struck, yielding a note, clear and prolonged, yet terminating abruptly - like music; its flaws not concealing its beauty, nor its beauty concealing its flaws - like loyalty; with an internal radiance issuing from it on every side - like good faith; bright as a brilliant rainbow - like heaven; exquisite and mysterious, appearing in the hills and streams - like the earth; standing out conspicuous in the symbols of rank - like virtue; esteemed by all under the sky, - like the path of truth and duty.

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

Fú xīzhě jūnzǐ bǐ dé yú yù yān: wēnrùn ér zé, rén yě; zhěnmì yǐ lì, zhì yě; lián ér bù guì, yì yě; chuí zhī rú zhuì, lǐ yě; kòu zhī qí shēng qīngyuè yǐ cháng, qí zhōng qūrán, yuè yě; xiá bù yǎn yú, yú bù yǎn xiá, zhōng yě; fú yǐn páng dá, xìn yě; qì rú bái hóng, tiān yě; jīngshén jiàn yú shānchuān, dì yě; guī zhāng tè dá, dé yě. Tiānxià mò bù guì zhě, dào yě.

夫昔者君子比德於玉焉：溫潤而澤，仁也；縝密以栗，知也；廉而不劌，義也；垂之如隊，禮也；叩之其聲清越以長，其終詘然，樂也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁達，信也；氣如白虹，天也；精神見於山川，地也；圭璋特達，德也。天下莫不貴者，道也。

夫昔者君子比德于玉焉：温润而泽，仁也；缜密以栗，知也；廉而不刿，义也；垂之如队，礼也；叩之其声清越以长，其终诎然，乐也；瑕不掩瑜、瑜不掩瑕，忠也；孚尹旁达，信也；气如白虹，天也；精神见于山川，地也；圭璋特达，德也。天下莫不贵者，道也。

a blemish does not obscure jade's luster

small defects cannot obscure the great virtues; the pros outweigh the cons


子虛烏有

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy⁵⁵ u⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³⁵ hɵy̯⁵⁵ wuː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(figurative) fictitious; nonexistent; made-up; fabricated


蠅營狗苟

ㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄍㄡˇ

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

In the morning, I regret my behavior, but in the evening, it all returns to the same. The five ghosts attached to me, I can't drive them away. (This is to say that he holds his good qualities very firmly, hence 蠅營狗苟 here should be understood literally.)

Zhāo huǐ qí xíng, mù yǐ fù rán. Yíngyínggǒugǒu, qū qù fù huán.

朝悔其行，暮已復然。蠅營狗苟，驅去復還。

朝悔其行，暮已复然。蝇营狗苟，驱去复还。

swarm as flies do for good; hang round as dogs do for food

(figuratively) to shamelessly seek personal gain; profit by ingratiating oneself with the rich


身在福中不知福

ㄕㄣ ㄗㄞˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄈㄨˊ

шэнь цзай фу чжун бучжи фу

/ʂən⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ fu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu³⁵/

/sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵/

to live in plenty without appreciating it; to be oblivious to the good life that one has (and hence be ungrateful)


貴圈真亂

ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄑㄩㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

гуйцюань чжэнь луань

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄑㄩㄢㄦ ㄓㄣ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

гуйцюаньрчжэньлуань

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯³³ hyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ lyːn²²/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɑɻ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ lu̯än⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯³³ hyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ lyːn²²/

(neologism, slang, ironic, humorous) The lifestyle of people in your social circle is something I cannot easily comprehend.


理屈詞窮

reasons are faulty and words have run out

ㄌㄧˇ ㄑㄩ ㄘˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ wɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

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

to be unable to put forth any convincing arguments to justify one's opinion; to not have a leg to stand on


言外之意

ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄓ ㄧˋ

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

/jɛn³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jiː³³/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si³³ i⁴¹/

/ɡiɛn¹³⁻²² ɡua²²⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² i²¹/

/ɡiɛn²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i¹¹/

/ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡua³³⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²¹/

unsaid meaning of one's words; unspoken implication


花花世界

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ kai¹¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ kai²¹/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻²² hua⁴⁴⁻²² se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se¹¹⁻⁵³ kai¹¹/

/hua⁴⁴⁻³³ hua⁴⁴⁻³³ se²¹⁻⁴¹ kai²¹/

the dazzling and bustling world; the world of sensual pleasures; this mortal world

(chiefly derogatory) the human world; the world of mortals


梅開二度

ㄇㄟˊ ㄎㄞ ㄦˋ ㄉㄨˋ

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹/

/muːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²² tou̯²²/

to do the same thing twice (e.g. to remarry or score twice in a game)


以物易物

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ mɐt̚² jɪk̚² mɐt̚²/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹/

/jiː¹³ mɐt̚² jɪk̚² mɐt̚²/


長年累月

ㄔㄤˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄟˇ ㄩㄝˋ

чанняньлэйюэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ niːn²¹ lɵy̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

over many years and months; year in, year out


多得……唔少

/tɔː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ m̩²¹ siːu̯³⁵/

/tɔː⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ m̩²¹ siːu̯³⁵/

2014, 阿濃 [A Nong], 《美言一百》 [Beautiful Words 100], Hong Kong: Breakthrough Ltd., →ISBN, page 17:

zi⁶ gei² waan⁴⁻² zau⁶ hou² laa¹, zung⁶ jiu³ to¹ maai⁴ tiu⁴ zai² lok⁶ seoi², dang⁶ keoi⁵ jam¹ gung¹, gaau² zoek⁶ go³ siu² hok⁶ gai¹, fan¹ fan¹ zung¹ sai² ding⁶ baat³ jyut⁶ sap⁶ ng⁵ jap⁶ heoi³ mau¹, do¹ dak¹ nei⁵ m⁴ siu².

自己玩就好啦，仲要拖埋條仔落水，戥佢陰公，搞着個小學雞，分分鐘洗定八月十五入去踎，多得你唔少。

自己玩就好啦，仲要拖埋条仔落水，戥佢阴公，搞着个小学鸡，分分钟洗定八月十五入去踎，多得你唔少。

2021 July 14, Kelvin C., 生仔要考牌 [Parent Licenses], Hong Kong: Idea Publication, →ISBN, page 27:

Everyone knows that a shoe sole is full of germs. He just stepped on the chair like that. If the next person doesn't know and sits there, it would really be many thanks to him [for the germs].

daai⁶ gaa¹ dou¹ zi¹ haai⁴ dai² hai⁶ hou² do¹ sai³ kwan², gam² joeng⁶⁻² bei² keoi⁵ caai² haa⁵ zoeng¹ dang³, haa⁶ jat¹ sau² m⁴ zi¹ zau⁶ co⁵ lok⁶ heoi³, zau⁶ zan¹ hai⁶ do¹ dak¹ keoi⁵ m⁴ siu².

大家都知鞋底係好多細菌，咁樣俾佢踩下張櫈，下一手唔知就坐落去，就真係多得佢唔少。

大家都知鞋底系好多细菌，咁样俾佢踩下张凳，下一手唔知就坐落去，就真系多得佢唔少。

(Cantonese) thanks for nothing to (someone); thanks a lot to (someone) (sarcastic remark said of someone who is being unhelpfully meddlesome)


一點一滴

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ tiːm³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚²/

zh-l

點滴／点滴 (diǎndī)


鱗次櫛比

parallelly lined up like fish scales and teeth of a comb

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄧˇ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄧˋ

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/lɵn²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ t͡siːt̚³ pei̯³³/

(usually of buildings) row upon row; tightly packed


一竅不通

doesn't (even) enter a single aperture (of one's head)

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hiːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

it's all Greek to me
it's all Greek to me

to not understand a thing about the topic; it's all Greek to me


多愁善感

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄔㄡˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄍㄢˇ

дочоушаньгань

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯²¹ siːn²² kɐm³⁵/

melancholy and moody; depressed personality


嘆為觀止

ㄊㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓˇ

таньвэйгуаньчжи

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/tʰän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

Wú Gōngzǐ Zhá lái pìn...... Jiàn wǔ “Sháoxiāo” zhě, yuē: ‘Dé zhì yǐ zāi, dà yǐ! Rú tiān zhī wú bù chóu yě, rú dì zhī wú bù zǎi yě. Suī shèn shèng dé, qí miè yǐ jiā yú cǐ yǐ, guān zhǐ yǐ. Ruò yǒu tā yuè, wú bù gǎn qǐng yǐ.

吳公子札來聘……見舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之無不幬也，如地之無不載也。雖甚盛德，其蔑以加於此矣，觀止矣。若有他樂，吾不敢請已。

吴公子札来聘……见舞《韶箾》者，曰：‘德至矣哉，大矣！如天之无不帱也，如地之无不载也。虽甚盛德，其蔑以加于此矣，观止矣。若有他乐，吾不敢请已。

叹为观止
歎為觀止
嘆爲觀止
歎爲觀止

to gasp in amazement; to acclaim as the peak of perfection


請君入甕

ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄖㄨˋ ㄨㄥˋ

цинцзюньжувэн

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ wəŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐp̚² ʊŋ³³/

From the story of Lai Junchen's questioning of Zhou Xing, who were both secret police officials and famous for torturing dissidents

In the Tang Dynasty, Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were judges of the Ministry of Justice. One day, Lai Junchen received an edict [from Wu Zetian] to interrogate Zhou Xing [about his suspected crimes], and Zhou did not know about that. When they were having lunch, Lai asked Zhou, "Most of the criminals are not willing to admit [their crimes]. How would you deal with them then?" Zhou then answered, "That's easy. Get a big jar, heat it with charcoal, then ask the criminal to get into it. He'll definitely admit everything." Lai then [ordered someone to] take a big jar [for him] and then set up fire around the jar. He stood up and then told Zhou, "I received an order [from her Majesty] to question you. Now, please get into this jar." Zhou then panicked and kowtowed, and then pleaded guilty immediately.

7ᵗʰ century CE, Zhang Zhuo, Chaoye Qianzai (《朝野僉載》)

Táng qiūguān shìláng zhōuxìng yǔ láijùnchén duì tuīshì. Jùnchén bié fèngjìnzhǐ jū xìng, xìng bù zhī zhī yě. Jí tóng shí, wèi xìng yuē: “Qiú duō bùkěn chéng, ruò wèi zuòfǎ?” Xìng yuē: “Shèn yì yě. Qǔ dà wèng, yǐ tàn sìmiàn zhì zhī, lìng qiúrén chù zhī qí zhōng, héshì bù tù!” Jí suǒ dà wèng, yǐ huǒ wéi zhī, qǐ wèi xìng yuē: “Yǒu nèizhuàng kān lǎoxiōng, qǐng xiōng rù cǐ wèng.” Xìng huángkǒng kòutóu, xián jí kuǎnfú.

唐秋官侍郎周興與來俊臣對推事。俊臣別奉進止鞫興，興不之知也。及同食，謂興曰：「囚多不肯承，若為作法？」興曰：「甚易也。取大甕，以炭四面炙之，令囚人處之其中，何事不吐！」即索大甕，以火圍之，起謂興曰：「有內狀勘老兄，請兄入此甕。」興惶恐叩頭，咸即款伏。

唐秋官侍郎周兴与来俊臣对推事。俊臣别奉进止鞫兴，兴不之知也。及同食，谓兴曰：「囚多不肯承，若为作法？」兴曰：「甚易也。取大瓮，以炭四面炙之，令囚人处之其中，何事不吐！」即索大瓮，以火围之，起谓兴曰：「有内状勘老兄，请兄入此瓮。」兴惶恐叩头，咸即款伏。

pay back in someone's own coin
pay back in someone's own coin

taste of his/her own medicine
taste of one's own medicine

to pay back in someone's own coin; to give someone a taste of his/her own medicine; to make someone's act backfire on him or her; to treat someone in his or her own ways

Lai Junchen
Ministry of Justice (Imperial China)
Tang Dynasty
Wu Zetian
Zhou Xing (secret police official)
zh:張鷟

以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身

yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn


即以其人之道，還治其人之身

head

即以其人之道，還治其人之身

即以其人之道，还治其人之身

jí yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn

ㄐㄧˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄕㄣ

jí yǐ cí rén jhih dào, huán jhìh cí rén jhih shen

chi² i³ chʻi² jên² chih¹ tao⁴, huan² chih⁴ chʻi² jên² chih¹ shên¹

jí yǐ chí rén jr̄ dàu-, hwán jr̀ chí rén jr̄ shēn

jyi yii chyi ren jy daw, hwan jyh chyi ren jy shen

цзи и ци жэнь чжи дао

хуань чжи ци жэнь чжи шэнь

xuanʹ čži ci žɛnʹ čži šɛnʹ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

以其人之道，還治其人之身 以其人之道，還治其人之身#Chinese

以其人之道，还治其人之身 以其人之道，还治其人之身#Chinese

Synonym of 以其人之道，還治其人之身／以其人之道，还治其人之身 (yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn)


以其人之道，還治其人之身

以其人之道，還治其人之身

ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄕㄣ

ji⁵ kei⁴ jan⁴ zi¹ dou⁶, waan⁴ zi⁶ kei⁴ jan⁴ zi¹ san¹

yǐ cí rén jhih dào, huán jhìh cí rén jhih shen

i³ chʻi² jên² chih¹ tao⁴, huan² chih⁴ chʻi² jên² chih¹ shên¹

yǐ chí rén jr̄ dàu-, hwán jr̀ chí rén jr̄ shēn

yii chyi ren jy daw, hwan jyh chyi ren jy shen

и ци жэнь чжи дао

хуань чжи ци жэнь чжи шэнь

xuanʹ čži ci žɛnʹ čži šɛnʹ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

yíh kèih yàhn jī douh, wàahn jih kèih yàhn jī sān

ji⁵ kei⁴ jan⁴ dzi¹ dou⁶, waan⁴ dzi⁶ kei⁴ jan⁴ dzi¹ san¹

yi⁵ kéi⁴ yen⁴ ji¹ dou⁶, wan⁴ ji⁶ kéi⁴ yen⁴ ji¹ sen¹

/jiː¹³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯²² waːn²¹ t͡siː²² kʰei̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

Originally used by Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi

lang

《四書章句集註·中庸章句》

《四書章句集註·中庸章句》

Therefore, the noble man's (ruler's) bringing good order to others, since it is by his Way as a man, reflects his own good order as a person.

12ᵗʰ century CE, Zhu Xi, 《四書章句集註·中庸章句》, translation from Johnston and Wang (2012), Daxue and Zhongyong: Bilingual Edition

Gù jūnzǐ zhī zhì rén yě, jí yǐ qí rén zhī dào, huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn.

故君子之治人也，即以其人之道，還治其人之身。

故君子之治人也，即以其人之道，还治其人之身。

以其人之道，还治其人之身

taste of their own medicine
taste of one's own medicine

to pay back with the opponent's own method; to give the enemy a taste of their own medicine; an eye for an eye


捧腹大笑

ㄆㄥˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

/pʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰʊŋ³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

to laugh uproariously; to burst out laughing


火冒三丈

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄠˋ ㄙㄢ ㄓㄤˋ

хомаосаньчжан

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɔː³⁵ mou̯²² saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

to fly into a rage; to flare up; to lose one's temper


權宜之計

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄧˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ

цюаньичжицзи

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʰyːn²¹ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

expedient measure; stopgap; makeshift stratagem


令人髮指

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄚˋ ㄓˇ

ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄚˇ ㄓˇ

линжэньфачжи

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ faːt̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/liŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɪŋ²² jɐn²¹ faːt̚³ t͡siː³⁵/

raise someone's hackles
raise someone's hackles

(figurative) to raise someone's hackles; to arouse one's anger; highly offensive; objectionable

(figurative, rare) frightening; scary; hair-raising


一家之主

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡syː³⁵/


子曰詩云

The master spoke; the Classic of Poetry said

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ jœːk̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

/t͡siː³⁵ jyːt̚² siː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/


有鼻子有眼

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇ

yǒu bízi yǒu yǎn [Phonetic:yǒubíziyóuyǎn]

ю бицзы ю янь

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄢˇㄦ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(of a narration) with every detail vividly described; as if it is true


不予置評

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄓˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡siː³³ pʰɪŋ²¹/

The police has refused to comment on these reports.

警方對這些報道不予置評。

警方对这些报道不予置评。


狐朋狗友

ㄏㄨˊ ㄆㄥˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/xu³⁵ pʰɤŋ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

(derogatory) disreputable friends; evil associates; gang of scoundrels


當仁不讓

ㄉㄤ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄤˋ

данжэньбужан

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

The Master said, "Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher."

子曰：「當仁不讓於師。」

子曰：「当仁不让于师。」

to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others


可惜了兒的

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧ ㄌㄧㄠˇㄦ ˙ㄉㄜ

ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇㄦ ˙ㄉㄜ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi³⁵ li̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/


聽了風就是雨

to presume it'll rain once (one) hears wind

ㄊㄧㄥ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄈㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄩˇ

тин лэ фэн цзю ши юй

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ lə² fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to easily believe in hearsay; to overreact to rumors