東奔西走

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄅㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄗㄡˇ

дунбэньсицзоу

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐn⁵⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

to rush about busily; to busy oneself; to run about; to be on the move


意味深長

ㄧˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄣ ㄔㄤˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ mei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/jiː³³ mei̯²² sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

to have profound meanings; to be thought-provoking


乾坤一擲

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄣ ㄧ ㄓˋ

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄨㄣ ㄧ ㄓˊ

цянькуньичжи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kʰiːn²¹ kʷʰɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kʰiːn²¹ kʷʰɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

staking everything, playing for all-or-nothing


悶聲不響

ㄇㄣ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

мэньшэнбусян

/mən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/

/mən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːn²² sɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/


古今東西

ㄍㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄒㄧ

гуцзиньдунси

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

ancient and modern, Eastern and Western; all times and all places


旗幟鮮明

ㄑㄧˊ ㄓˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цичжисяньмин

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ siːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³³ siːn⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

to have a clear-cut stand; one's attitude or position is clearly defined


不言不語

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (不言不語):
* → Japanese: 不(ふ)言(げん)不(ふ)語(ご) (fugenfugo)
* → Korean: 불언불어(不言不語) (bureonbureo)

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/


徹頭徹尾

ㄔㄜˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄔㄜˋ ㄨㄟˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ mei̯¹³/

/tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ bue⁵³/

/tʰiak̚²⁻⁴ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰiak̚²⁻⁴ bue⁵²⁻²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːt̚³ mei̯¹³/

/tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ bue⁵³/

2016: 林鄭月娥 (Carrie Lam), 旺角事件屬暴亂 莫以藉口作掩飾

nei¹ jat¹ gin⁶ si⁶ ne¹, hai⁶ jat¹ go³ cit³ tau⁴ cit³ mei⁵ ge³ bou⁶ lyun⁶ ge³ si⁶ gin⁶⁻².

呢一件事呢，係一個徹頭徹尾嘅暴亂嘅事件。

呢一件事呢，系一个彻头彻尾嘅暴乱嘅事件。


一長一短

ㄧ ㄔㄤˊ ㄧ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tyːn³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tyːn³⁵/


自給自足

ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄗˋ ㄗㄨˊ

цзыцзицзыцзу

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʰɐp̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʰɐp̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚⁵/

實現自給自足

实现自给自足

to be self-supporting and self-sufficient; autarky


春夏秋冬

ja-r

春夏秋冬(しゅんかしゅうとう) (shunkashūtō)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (春夏秋冬):
* → Japanese: 春夏秋冬(しゅんかしゅうとう) (shunkashūtō)
* → Korean: 춘하추동(春夏秋冬) (chunhachudong)
* → Vietnamese: xuân hạ thu đông (春夏秋冬)

ㄔㄨㄣ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄉㄨㄥ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ tuŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ha⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴ tʊŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰuŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ŋa²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ ^((t͡sʰ-))ʒieu⁵⁵ ⁽ᵗ⁻⁾løyŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun³³ ha⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiu³³ taŋ³³/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ ɦia³³ t͡ɕʰiɤ³³ toŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰun²⁴⁻¹¹ ha⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯u²⁴⁻¹¹ tuŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ha⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴ tʊŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun³³ ha⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiu³³ taŋ³³/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻²² ha²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻²² taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻²¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴⁻³³ taŋ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ ɦia³³ t͡ɕʰiɤ³³ toŋ²¹/

four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter; a year


一朝一夕

ja-r

いっ%ちょう%いっ%せき

CJKV/code

いっ%ちょう%いっ%せき

Sino-Xenic (一朝一夕):
* → Japanese: 一(いっ)朝(ちょう)一(いっ)夕(せき) (itchōisseki)
* → Korean: 일조일석(一朝一夕) (iljoilseok)

CJKV

いっ%ちょう%いっ%せき

desc

→ Vietnamese: một sớm một chiều (calque)

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² t͡siau³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚²/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² t͡siau³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sek̚²/

It's not something that can be achieved overnight.

Zhè bùshì yīzhāoyīxī jiù néng shíxiàn de.

這不是一朝一夕就能實現的。

这不是一朝一夕就能实现的。


公明正大

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄉㄚˋ

гунминчжэнда

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ taːi̯²²/

光明正大 光明正大#Chinese

Alternative form of 光明正大 (guāngmíngzhèngdà)


一刻千金

ㄧ ㄎㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ

икэцяньцзинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ hɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/


眾志成城

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄔㄥˊ

чжунчжичэнчэн

čžunčžičɛnčɛn

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡siː³³ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sĩã⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ t͡siː³³ sɪŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sĩã⁵⁵/

The hearts of the masses can forge a stronghold; the mouths of the masses can melt gold.

Zhòng xīn chéng chéng, zhòng kǒu shuò jīn.

眾心成城，眾口鑠金。

众心成城，众口铄金。

The wise exhaust their wisdom; the brave consume their bravery; the wealthy lose their wealth; [when] the entire country shares a common goal, the will of the masses forge a stronghold.

1915: 李大釗 (Li Dazhao), 《警告全國父老書》 (A Letter of Warning to All the Elders of the Country)

Zhì zhě jié qí zhì, yǒng zhě fèn qí yǒng, fù zhě shū qí cái, jǔguó yīzhì, zhòngzhì chéngchéng.

智者竭其智，勇者奮其勇，富者輸其財，舉國一致，眾志成城。

智者竭其智，勇者奋其勇，富者输其财，举国一致，众志成城。


茫然自失

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄕ

манжаньцзыши

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² sɐt̚⁵/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mɔːŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² sɐt̚⁵/


天真爛漫

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄌㄢˋ ㄇㄢˋ

тяньчжэньланьмань

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ män⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ män⁵¹/

innocent and unaffected; simple and artless


孤注一擲

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

/kou³³⁻²³ t͡su²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² tã³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ku⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ t͡syː³³ jɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

/kou³³⁻²³ t͡su²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² tã³⁵/

put all one's eggs in one basket
put all one's eggs in one basket

to go all out; to bet the farm on one thing in order to succeed; to put all one's eggs in one basket


含情脈脈

ㄏㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄇㄛˋ

/xän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mɐk̚² mɐk̚²/

/xän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ mɐk̚² mɐk̚²/

full of tender affection, (eyes) exuding tenderness and love


自暴自棄

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (自暴自棄):
* → Japanese: 自(じ)暴(ぼう)自(じ)棄(き) (jibōjiki)
* → Korean: 자포자기(自暴自棄) (japojagi)

ㄗˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄗˋ ㄑㄧˋ

ㄗˋ ㄆㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² pou̯²² t͡siː²² hei̯³³/

/t͡siː²² pou̯²² t͡siː²² hei̯³³/

With those who do violence to themselves, it is impossible to speak. With those who throw themselves away, it is impossible to do anything. To disown in his conversation propriety and righteousness, is what we mean by doing violence to one's self. To say "I am not able to dwell in benevolence or pursue the path of righteousness," is what we mean by throwing one's self away.

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

Zìbào zhě, bùkě yǔ yǒu yán yě; zìqì zhě, bù kě yǔ yǒu wéi yě. Yán fēi lǐyì, wèi zhī zìbào yě; wú shēn bùnéng jū rén yóu yì, wèi zhī zìqì yě.

自暴者，不可與有言也；自棄者，不可與有為也。言非禮義，謂之自暴也；吾身不能居仁由義，謂之自棄也。

自暴者，不可与有言也；自弃者，不可与有为也。言非礼义，谓之自暴也；吾身不能居仁由义，谓之自弃也。


興高采烈

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄠ ㄘㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hɪŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ liːt̚²/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hɪŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ liːt̚²/


破天荒

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰo⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰiɛn³³ hɔŋ³³/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰo⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰiɛn³³ hɔŋ³³/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴/

unprecedented; unheard-of; for the first time


肆無忌憚

ㄙˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄢˋ

/sz̩⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/sɯ²¹³ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/sɯ²¹³ bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ki³⁵⁻¹¹ taŋ³⁵/


小題大作

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰe²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sɔːk̚³/

/siau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰe²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/siɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ tai³³⁻²¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

/sio⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tue²⁴⁻¹¹ tai³³⁻¹¹ t͡sɔk̚³²/

make a mountain out of a molehill
make a mountain out of a molehill

blow out of proportion
blow out of proportion

to make a fuss over a trifling matter; to make a mountain out of a molehill; to blow out of proportion


同工同酬

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄔㄡˊ

тунгунтунчоу

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯²¹/

Men and women should get equal pay for equal work.

男女同工同酬。

Women do not get the same pay for the same job as men.

男女同工不同酬。

equal pay for equal work
equal pay for equal work


無處不在

ㄨˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ to³⁵/

/u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sʰyː³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰu²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ to³⁵/

ubiquitous; omnipresent; to be everywhere


我思故我在

ㄨㄛˇ ㄙ ㄍㄨˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄞˋ

во сы гу во цзай

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ siː⁵⁵ kuː³³ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻²² kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai²²/

/ŋɔ̃⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ su³³ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹/

/ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ kɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai³³/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ su⁴⁴⁻³³ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sai³³/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ siː⁵⁵ kuː³³ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sɔːi̯²²/

I think therefore I am
I think therefore I am


錦鯉

錦鯉想點？

锦鲤想点？

Speaking of which, some may ask: "What's your opinion then?"

gong² dou³ ni¹ dou⁶ jau⁶ jau⁵ jan⁴ wui⁵ man⁶: “gam² lei⁵ jau⁶ jau⁵ mat¹ gou¹ gin³?”

講到呢度又有人會問：「錦鯉又有乜高見？」

讲到呢度又有人会问：「锦鲤又有乜高见？」

(Hong Kong Cantonese, Internet slang, leetspeak, neologism) … you … then? Used in rhetorical sentences where the speaker does not want to refer directly to "you", which otherwise may cause fury in the discussion.


撲朔迷離

ㄆㄨ ㄕㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄧˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ mi³⁵ li³⁵/

/pʰɔːk̚³ sɔːk̚³ mɐi̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

/pʰu⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵¹ mi³⁵ li³⁵/

/pʰɔːk̚³ sɔːk̚³ mɐi̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

The buck bounds here and there,
Whilst the doe has narrow eyes.
But when the two rabbits run side by side,
How can you tell the female from the male?

6th century, 《木蘭詩》 (The Ballad of Mulan)

Xióng tù jiǎo pūshuò, cí tù yǎn mílí. Shuāng tù bàng dì zǒu, ān néng biàn wǒ shì xióng cí?

雄兔腳撲朔，雌兔眼迷離。雙兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌？

雄兔脚扑朔，雌兔眼迷离。双兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌？

The Ballad of Mulan
s:Translation:Ballad of Mulan


王家

/wɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ kaː⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ kaː⁵⁵/

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 王, 家.


明鏡高懸

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄍㄠ ㄒㄩㄢˊ

минцзингаосюань

/miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ kɛːŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɪŋ²¹ kɛːŋ³³ kou̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

According to Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, had a mirror which could show the good or evil of a person. This gave rise to the phrase.

(figurative) perspicacious and impartial in judgment


丟三落四

ㄉㄧㄡ ㄙㄢ ㄌㄚˋ ㄙˋ

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ lä⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² sei̯³³/

/ti̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ lä⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹/

/tiːu̯⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² sei̯³³/


毛骨悚然

ㄇㄠˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄙㄨㄥˇ ㄖㄢˊ

маогусунжань

/mɑʊ̯³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʷɐt̚⁵ sʊŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹/

/mɑʊ̯³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kʷɐt̚⁵ sʊŋ³⁵ jiːn²¹/


成千上萬

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄨㄢˋ

чэнцяньшанвань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ maːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ maːn²²/

Thousands upon thousands of his supporters congregated around him.

Chéngqiānshàngwàn tā de zhīchízhě jùjí zài tā de zhōuwéi.

成千上萬他的支持者聚集在他的周圍。

成千上万他的支持者聚集在他的周围。

Certain people in our country were delighted by the Hungarian incident. They hoped that something similar would happen in China, that thousands upon thousands of people would take to the streets to demonstrate against the People's Government.

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

Xiōngyálì shìjiàn fāshēng yǐhòu, wǒguó yǒuxiē rén gǎndào gāoxìng. Tāmen xīwàng zài Zhōngguó yě chūxiàn yīge nàyàng de shìjiàn, yǒu chéngqiānshàngwàn de rén shàngjiē, qù fǎnduì Rénmín Zhèngfǔ.

匈牙利事件發生以後，我國有些人感到高興。他們希望在中國也出現一個那樣的事件，有成千上萬的人上街，去反對人民政府。

匈牙利事件发生以后，我国有些人感到高兴。他们希望在中国也出现一个那样的事件，有成千上万的人上街，去反对人民政府。

by the thousands and tens of thousands; untold numbers; innumerable; thousands upon thousands


或是

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hiɪk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si²²/

/hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² si²²/

/hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² si³³/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hiɪk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ si²²/

/hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² si²²/

/hiɪk̚⁴⁻³² si³³/

2024, 蒲垚磊, “中国网球进入“郑钦文时代”？她或是下一个商业价值女王”, in 澎湃新闻:

Zhōngguó wǎngqiú jìnrù “Zhèng Qīnwén shídài”? Tā huò shì xià yī ge shāngyè jiàzhí nǚwáng

中国网球进入“郑钦文时代”？她或是下一个商业价值女王

中國網球進入“鄭欽文時代”？她或是下一個商業價值女王

(literary) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 或 (huò), 是 (shì) — may be; perhaps is


蟾宮折桂

ㄔㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄓㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

чаньгунчжэгуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːm²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ kʷɐi̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/siːm²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ kʷɐi̯³³/

The phrase alludes to several Chinese legends: one that credited the phases of the moon to a great osmanthus tree (桂 (guì)) growing and shedding its leaves and blossoms each month; another granting the immortal Chang'e an enormous mansion on the moon (月宮／月宫 (yuègōng)), whose grounds included the tree; another (older than the Chang'e stories) seeing a pareidolic toad in the shadows of the moon and associating the toad with good luck and wealth (金蟾 (jīnchán)). Branches of sweet-smelling blossoms from the tree were thought to (rarely) fall to Earth and grant good luck to whosoever found them. The association with the tests had to do with the holding of the examinations around the time of the blossoming of the osmanthus and the Mid-Autumn Festival honoring its connections to the moon and Chang'e.

zh-l

月宮／月宫 (yuègōng)

tobreak off osmanthus [blossoms] in the Toad Palace

imperial examination
imperial examination

(historical) to pass the imperial examination


甜言蜜語

ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄧˋ ㄩˇ

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ mi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

/tiam²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bik̚⁴⁻² ɡɯ⁵²/

/tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ mi⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːm²¹ jiːn²¹ mɐt̚² jyː¹³/

/tiam²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiɛn²⁴⁻²² ɡiɛn²⁴ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡu⁵³/

/tiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³ bit̚⁴⁻³² ɡi⁴¹/

/tiam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ŋaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ bik̚⁴⁻² ɡɯ⁵²/

sweet words and honeyed phrases; cajolery


家喻戶曉

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄩˋ ㄏㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː⁵⁵ jyː²² wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaː⁵⁵ jyː²² wuː²² hiːu̯³⁵/

known to every household; ubiquitously known; widespread; extremely well-known


就我所知

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


據我所知

ㄐㄩˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓ

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕy⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/


改邪歸正

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (改邪歸正):
* → Vietnamese: cải tà quy chính (改邪歸正)

to give up (one's) evil and return to good

ㄍㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄥˋ

гайсегуйчжэн

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ t͡sʰɛː²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf

the straight and narrow
the straight and narrow

to reform; to rehabilitate; to turn over a new leaf; to stop committing evil acts and stay on the straight and narrow


半途而廢

ㄅㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄦˊ ㄈㄟˋ

/pän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ jiː²¹ fɐi̯³³/

/puan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hue²¹/

/pän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/puːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ jiː²¹ fɐi̯³³/

/puan²¹⁻⁵³ tɔ²⁴⁻²² li²⁴⁻²² hue²¹/

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

The Master said, "To live in obscurity, and yet practice wonders, in order to be mentioned with honor in future ages: this is what I do not do. The good man tries to proceed according to the right path, but when he has gone halfway, he abandons it: I am not able so to stop. […]

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

Zǐyuē: “Sù yǐn xíng guài, hòushì yǒu shù yān, wú fú wéi zhī yǐ. Jūnzǐ zūn dào ér xíng, bàntú ér fèi, wú fúnéng yǐ yǐ.......

子曰：「素隱行怪，後世有述焉，吾弗為之矣。君子遵道而行，半涂而廢，吾弗能已矣。……

子曰：「素隐行怪，后世有述焉，吾弗为之矣。君子遵道而行，半涂而废，吾弗能已矣。……

to give up halfway through a task; to not finish what one has started


這是什麼

這是什麼？ (canonical)
这是什么
這是甚麼

ㄓㄜˋ ㄕˋ ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ

чжэ ши шэньмэ

čžɛ ši šɛnʹmɛ

/ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ mə³/

/ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ mə³/


優柔寡斷

ㄧㄡ ㄖㄡˊ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

южоугуадуань

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/


非誠勿擾

ㄈㄟ ㄔㄥˊ ㄨˋ ㄖㄠˇ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ u⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ mɐt̚² jiːu̯³⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ u⁵¹ ʐɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ mɐt̚² jiːu̯³⁵/

(on advertisements) If you are not sincere then do not bother. / Serious inquiries only.


重色輕友

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄧㄡˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² sɪk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/t͡sʊŋ²² sɪk̚⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

hoes before bros; prioritising one's opposite-sex friend/partner over one's same-sex friends


奇裝異服

ㄑㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄧˋ ㄈㄨˊ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ fu³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² fʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ fu³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² fʊk̚²/


心不在焉

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄧㄢ

синьбуцзайянь

/ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² jiːn²¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² jiːn²¹/

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

When the mind is not present, we look without seeing; we hear without understanding; and we eat and do not know the taste of what we eat. This is what is meant by saying that the cultivation of the person depends on the rectifying of the mind.

Xīn bùzài yān, shì ér bùjiàn, tīng ér bù wén, shí ér bùzhī qí wèi. Cǐ wèi xiūshēn zài zhèng qí xīn.

心不在焉，視而不見，聽而不聞，食而不知其味。此謂修身在正其心。

心不在焉，视而不见，听而不闻，食而不知其味。此谓修身在正其心。


自取其咎

ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

to bring blame on oneself, to ask for trouble through one's behaviour


殊途同歸

ㄕㄨ ㄊㄨˊ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ

/ʂu⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/syː²¹ tʰou̯²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/su²⁴ tʰu¹¹ tʰuŋ¹¹ ku̯i²⁴/

/ʂu⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/syː²¹ tʰou̯²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/su²⁴ tʰu¹¹ tʰuŋ¹¹ ku̯i²⁴/

all roads lead to Rome
all roads lead to Rome

different roads lead to the same destination; all roads lead to Rome


小家碧玉

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄧˋ ㄩˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹/

/siːu̯³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ pɪk̚⁵ jʊk̚²/

daughter from a humble family; beautiful girl from a lower family


奇形怪狀

ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

цисингуайчжуан

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³³ t͡sɔːŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ jɪŋ²¹ kʷaːi̯³³ t͡sɔːŋ²²/


僅供參考

ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄘㄢ ㄎㄠˇ

цзиньгунцанькао

/t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ kʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


自取其辱

ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄨˇ

ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jʊk̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jʊk̚²/


奇恥大辱

ㄑㄧˊ ㄔˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄖㄨˇ

ㄑㄧˊ ㄔˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹/

/kʰei̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ taːi̯²² jʊk̚²/


水到渠成

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄑㄩˊ ㄔㄥˊ

шуйдаоцюйчэн

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɵy̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɵy̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

to achieve something without effort; effortless; something which comes naturally


奇文共賞

ㄑㄧˊ ㄨㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄤˇ

цивэньгуншан

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ wən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ mɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ wən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰei̯²¹ mɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² sœːŋ³⁵/

to appreciate an unusually wonderful piece of writing together


你情我願

ㄋㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄩㄢˋ

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/nei̯¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ jyːn²²/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/nei̯¹³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ŋɔː¹³ jyːn²²/

consensual, something with mutual consent


盲人摸象

ㄇㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

манжэньмосян

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/mɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/maːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

From the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra. See Blind men and an elephant.

Theblind man touches some parts of an elephant (and concludes what an elephant looks like).

(figurative) to draw (incorrect) conclusions from partial understanding

Blind men and an elephant
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
zh:盲人摸象


百家爭鳴

ㄅㄞˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄓㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

байцзячжэнмин

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/paːk̚³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/paːk̚³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/piɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ka⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

contention of the Hundred Schools of Thought

to let a hundred schools of thought contend


束手無策

Sino-Xenic (束手無策):
* → Korean: 속수무책(束手無策) (soksumuchaek)

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄘㄜˋ

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚³/

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊk̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚³/

to be at a loss what to do; to feel helpless in the face of some difficulty


你好嗎

/ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴ mä⁴/

/ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴ mä⁴/


禍不單行

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/wɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ taːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/hua³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tũã³³⁻²³ kĩã⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/wɔː²² pɐt̚⁵ taːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

/hua³⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ tũã³³⁻²³ kĩã⁵⁵/

misfortunes never come singly
misfortunes never come singly

it never rains but it pours
it never rains but it pours

misfortunes never come singly; it never rains but it pours


十動然拒

ㄕˊ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄐㄩˋ

шидунжаньцзюй

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

Short for 十分感動，然後拒絕。／十分感动，然后拒绝。 (shífēn gǎndòng, ránhòu jùjué, “very touched, but rejected”).

zh-etym-short

An outspoken confession of love did not help Le Jia win the heart of the beauty - she was quite touched but rejected him regardless, and this made him return to his seat extremely despondent.

2014, 《超演》樂嘉大膽表白美女：對不服從的妞有強烈征服欲

Yīfān lùgǔ biǎobái bìngwèi bàodéměirénguī, duìfāng shídòngránjù lìng Lè Jiā chèdǐ bēngkuì ànrán guīxí.

一番露骨表白並未抱得美人歸，對方十動然拒令樂嘉徹底崩潰黯然歸席。

2014, 《超演》樂嘉大膽表白美女：對不服從的妞有強烈征服欲

一番露骨表白并未抱得美人归，对方十动然拒令乐嘉彻底崩溃黯然归席。

(neologism, humorous) (The girl was) immensely moved (by the guy's confession of love), but (she) still rejected (him anyway)


驢脣不對馬嘴

驴唇不对马嘴
驢唇不對馬嘴

a donkey's lips do not match a horse's mouth

ㄌㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄗㄨㄟˇ

lǘchún bù duì mǎzuǐ [Phonetic:lǘchúnbúduìmázuǐ]

люйчунь бу дуй мацзуй

/ly³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

the answer is totally irrelevant to the question; a square peg cannot fit into a round hole; to be beside the point


風馬牛不相及

ㄈㄥ ㄇㄚˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˊ

фэн ма ню бу сянцзи

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ maː¹³ ŋɐu̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² mã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡiu²⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kip̚⁴/

The Master of Chu sent someone to speak with the allies' troops: "Your ruler dwells near the northern sea, while I, the unworthy one, dwell near the southern sea. Even when our horses and cattle are in heat, they cannot come close to one another. So I did not expect that you would encroach upon our territory. Why have you done so?"

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

Chǔ Zǐ shǐ yǔ shī yán yuē: Jūn chǔ bòhǎi, guǎrén chǔ nánhǎi, wéi shì fēng mǎ niú bù xiāngjí yě. Bùyú jūn zhī shè wú dì yě, hégù.

楚子使與師言曰：君處北海，寡人處南海，唯是風馬牛不相及也。不虞君之涉吾地也，何故。

楚子使与师言曰：君处北海，寡人处南海，唯是风马牛不相及也。不虞君之涉吾地也，何故。

when the horses and cattle [of the distantQi and Chu] are in heat, they cannot come close to one another [due to the great distance]

(of things) to have no relationship with each other whatsoever; to be totally irrelevant; apples and oranges

Chu (state)
Duke Huan of Qi
King Cheng of Chu
Qi (state)
Zuozhuan


恭賀新禧

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄏㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧˇ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵/

/kyŋ⁵⁵⁻⁵³ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ŋo²⁴²⁽⁻²¹⁾ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾liŋ⁵⁵ ⁽ʰ⁻⁾ŋi⁵⁵/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻¹¹ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴⁴/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ hei̯⁵⁵/

/kiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɤ³³⁻¹¹ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ hi⁴⁴/

(referring to the Chinese New Year) Happy New Year


不了

/pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³/

/pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³/

thanks, but no thanks
thanks, but no thanks

(Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, neologism) thanks, but no thanks


暴風驟雨

ㄅㄠˋ ㄈㄥ ㄓㄡˋ ㄩˇ

ㄅㄠˋ ㄈㄥ ㄗㄡˋ ㄩˇ

баофэнчжоуюй

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

баофэнцзоуюй

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pou̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯²² jyː¹³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pou̯²² fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯²² jyː¹³/


以正視聽

ㄧˇ ㄓㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄊㄧㄥ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪŋ³³ siː²² tʰɪŋ³³/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡sɪŋ³³ siː²² tʰɪŋ³³/

(in order) to ensure a correct understanding of the facts


你妹

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯⁵¹/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ meɪ̯⁵¹/

A contemptuous emphatic, usually of the preceding verb. Compare 你媽／你妈 (nǐ mā).

zh-l

你媽／你妈 (nǐ mā)


有木有

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

A sentence-final emphatic assertive particle. From a netizen transformation of 有沒有／有没有 (yǒu méi yǒu, “to have or not have; is there ...?”). Popularized through a post on Renren entitled 學法語的人你傷不起啊！／学法语的人你伤不起啊！ (“People learning French, you can't take it!”)


傷不起

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(neologism) (my life is) unfuckable; too vulnerable; too delicate for me to "suffer" from this


我了個去

ㄨㄛˇ ˙ㄌㄜ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄑㄩˋ

/wɔ²¹⁴ lə⁴ g̊ə¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/wɔ²¹⁴ lə⁴ g̊ə¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

(neologism) fuck; oh my god; what the fuck


少吃多餐

ㄕㄠˇ ㄔ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄘㄢ

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/

/ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵/


無懈可擊

having no weakness/undefended area that can be assaulted

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧ

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧˊ

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ haːi̯²² hɔː³⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ haːi̯²² hɔː³⁵ kɪk̚⁵/

unassailable; unbeatable; incontrovertible; unimpeachable


濃妝豔抹

浓妆艳抹
濃妝艷抹
濃粧豔抹
濃粧艷抹

ㄋㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄛˇ

нунчжуанъяньмо

/nʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹ mu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹ mu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to wear heavy make-up; to be caked in make-up


最後通牒

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄉㄧㄝˊ

цзуйхоутунде

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯³³ hɐu̯²² tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tiːp̚²/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯³³ hɐu̯²² tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tiːp̚²/


一帆風順

ㄧ ㄈㄢ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

ㄧ ㄈㄢˊ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄣˋ

ифаньфэншунь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fän³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pʰaŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pʰaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pʰaŋ²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fän³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯ən⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ faːn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pʰaŋ²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pʰaŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pʰaŋ²⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sun²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ huan²³⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ huan²⁴⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sun³³/

It is sheer fantasy to imagine that the cause of socialism is all plain sailing and easy success, with no difficulties and setbacks, or without the exertion of tremendous efforts.

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

在社會主義事業中，要想不經過艱難曲折，不付出極大努力，總是一帆風順，容易得到成功，這種想法，只是幻想。

在社会主义事业中，要想不经过艰难曲折，不付出极大努力，总是一帆风顺，容易得到成功，这种想法，只是幻想。

(of things) to run smoothly, without incident


肌膚之親

intimacy between the human skin and flesh

цзифучжицинь

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵/

intimacy between man and woman arising from close skin-to-skin contact, especially sexual intercourse


何去何從

ㄏㄜˊ ㄑㄩˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄘㄨㄥˊ

/xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ hɵy̯³³ hɔː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵/

/hɔː²¹ hɵy̯³³ hɔː²¹ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹/

what course to follow or take; where to proceed from here


約法三章

ㄩㄝ ㄈㄚˇ ㄙㄢ ㄓㄤ

юэфасаньчжан

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚³ faːt̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚³ faːt̚³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

Elders are suffering from Qin's draconian law for a long time: those who libel had their family exterminated, those who whisper were publicly executed in markets. I have promised with other feudal rulers that the person who first entered the pass (Hangu Pass) would become the king (of Guanzhong), and I shall reign as the king of Guanzhong. I also promise with elders that there will be only three laws: murderers shall be punished with death, those who hurt others and steal from others shall be punished according to their offence. The rest of Qin laws are repealed.

Fùlǎo kǔ qín kē fǎ jiǔ yǐ, fěibàng zhě zú, ǒuyǔ zhě qìshì. Wú yǔ zhūhóu yuē, xiān rùguān zhě wáng zhī, wú dāng wáng guānzhōng. Yǔ fùlǎo yuē, fǎ sān zhāng ěr: shārén zhě sǐ, shāngrén jí dào dǐ zuì. Yú xī chúqù qín fǎ.

父老苦秦苛法久矣，誹謗者族，偶語者棄市。吾與諸侯約，先入關者王之，吾當王關中。與父老約，法三章耳：殺人者死，傷人及盜抵罪。餘悉除去秦法。

父老苦秦苛法久矣，诽谤者族，偶语者弃市。吾与诸侯约，先入关者王之，吾当王关中。与父老约，法三章耳：杀人者死，伤人及盗抵罪。余悉除去秦法。

to agree on a three-point law; to make a few rules to be observed by everyone

Guanzhong
Hangu Pass
Nine familial exterminations
Shiji


賢妻良母

贤妻良母
賢母良妻
良母賢妻
良妻賢母

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄇㄨˇ

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ mou̯¹³/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ²¹ mou̯¹³/

a Good Wife, Wise Mother; the ideal role for a woman in the traditional Chinese society


無奇不有

there is no oddity that does not exist (cannot be found)

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

nothing is too strange in this boundless universe

大千世界無奇不有

大千世界无奇不有

to be full of strange sights; nothing is too strange in the world


千恩萬謝

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄣ ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

цяньэньваньсе

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀən⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/


賢母良妻

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄧ

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/jiːn²¹ mou̯¹³ lœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/jiːn²¹ mou̯¹³ lœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

賢妻良母 賢妻良母#Chinese

贤妻良母 贤妻良母#Chinese

Alternative form of 賢妻良母／贤妻良母 (xiánqīliángmǔ)


物是人非

ㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄈㄟ

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐt̚² siː²² jɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/u⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mɐt̚² siː²² jɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

the things are still there but the person or people no longer are (describing the passing of a loved one or a revisit of a once familiar place)


以茶代酒

ㄧˇ ㄔㄚˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


千軍萬馬

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄚˇ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄚˇ

цяньцзюньваньма

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ uan²¹³ ma⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ maːn²² maː¹³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴ kiun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ʋan⁵³ ma⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕyn³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ma̠⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕyn³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ma̠⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ uan²¹³ ma⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ maːn²² maː¹³/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴ kiun⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ʋan⁵³ ma⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕyn³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ma̠⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ t͡ɕyn³³ u̯an⁴⁵ ma̠⁴¹/

thousands of troops and horses; a powerful army


喜新厭舊

ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

сисиньяньцзю

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ jiːm³³ kɐu̯²²/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ jiːm³³ kɐu̯²²/

I know,
That in fact you are not fickle in affection;
It was me,
Who was not with you when you were lonely.

2003, 孫燕姿 (Stefanie Sun) (lyrics 楊明學), 《我不難過》 (I Am Fine)

wǒ zhēnde dǒng, nǐ bùshì xǐxīnyànjiù, shì wǒ méiyǒu, péi zài nǐ shēnbiān dāng nǐ jìmò shíhòu

我真的懂 你不是喜新厭舊 是我沒有 陪在你身邊當你寂寞時候

我真的懂 你不是喜新厌旧 是我没有 陪在你身边当你寂寞时候

to love the new and loathe the old; to be fickle in affection (usually said of men)

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


千言萬語

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

цяньяньваньюй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ iɛn²¹ uan²¹³ y⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ maːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵ iɛn²¹ uan²¹³ y⁵³/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ maːn²² jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰi̯en²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹ van⁵⁵ ŋi²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋian¹¹ ʋan⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ŋi³¹/

/t͡sʰiɛn²³⁻³³ ɡiɛn²³⁻³³ ban³³⁻²¹ ɡi⁴¹/

/t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³ i̯ẽ¹³ u̯an⁴⁵ y⁴¹/

thousands and thousands of words; to have much to say


下雨了

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ y²¹⁴ lə⁴/

/haː²² jyː¹³ liːu̯¹³/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ y²¹⁴ lə⁴/

/haː²² jyː¹³ liːu̯¹³/


相由心生

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄥ

сянъюсиньшэн

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ³³ jɐu̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/sœːŋ³³ jɐu̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

(idiomatic) One's personality reflects one's appearance.


託付終身

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄣ

тофу чжуншэнь

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

(usually of a woman) to entrust her life (to a man)


背道而馳

ㄅㄟˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄔˊ

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/puːi̯³³ tou̯²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵/

/puːi̯³³ tou̯²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to run in opposite directions; to run counter to; to be inconsistent with


百毒不侵

ㄅㄞˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄣ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐm⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐm⁵⁵/

hundreds of types of toxin cannot penetrate the body; immune to external poisonous attacks or influences (may be used humorously to refer to a virus-proof computer, or a person who has become accustomed to the food scandals in China)


擦槍走火

ㄘㄚ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄗㄡˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːu̯³⁵ fɔː³⁵/

to shoot accidentally while polishing a gun

to have unintended (and serious) consequences; a minor incident sparks a war

to result in unintended pregnancy; to have unintended sex


刀槍不入

ㄉㄠ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐp̚²/

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jɐp̚²/

swords and spears cannot penetrate the body; to be bulletproof; impervious; invulnerable


衣冠禽獸

ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄡˋ

игуаньциньшоу

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jiː⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ sɐu̯³³/

/i³³⁻²³ kuaŋ³³⁻²³ kʰim⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siu²¹³/

/i⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jiː⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ sɐu̯³³/

/i³³⁻²³ kuaŋ³³⁻²³ kʰim⁵⁵⁻¹¹ siu²¹³/

beast in human attire; gentleman in appearance but a beast in conduct; immoral or despicable person


東山再起

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄗㄞˋ ㄑㄧˇ

дуншаньцзайци

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ hei̯³⁵/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi⁴¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯³³ hei̯³⁵/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi⁵³/

/tɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴ t͡sai²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi⁴¹/

Based on Xie An (謝安) of the Jin (晉) dynasty, who quit his office and lived in seclusion in Dongshan (a mountain in Zhejiang, China), but later returned to office.

to come back from a previous failure; to rise again


男女老少

ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄠˋ

наньнюйлаошао

/nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³/

/nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːm²¹ nɵy̯¹³ lou̯¹³ siːu̯³³/

young and old of both sexes; everyone in society


重男輕女

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (重男輕女):
* → Korean: 중남경녀(重男輕女) (jungnamgyeongnyeo)
* → Vietnamese: trọng nam khinh nữ (重男輕女)

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄋㄩˇ

чжуннаньциннюй

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² naːm²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³/

/tiɔŋ²² lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁴¹/

/toŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiŋ³³⁻²³ nɯŋ⁵²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʊŋ²² naːm²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³/

/tiɔŋ²² lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin³³ lɯ⁵⁵⁴/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam²⁴⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ²²⁻²¹ lam¹³⁻²² kʰin⁴⁴⁻²² li⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ lam²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁵³/

/tiɔŋ³³⁻²¹ lam²³⁻³³ kʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ lu⁴¹/

/toŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ nam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiŋ³³⁻²³ nɯŋ⁵²/

valuing men and belittling women; favouring boys over girls


夷為平地

ㄧˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/i³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/

/i³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jiː²¹ wɐi̯²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²²/


年久失修

ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕ ㄒㄧㄡ

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/niːn²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ sɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/niːn²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ sɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

to have not been repaired for many years; to be worn down by years of non-repair; to have fallen into disrepair


盤龍臥虎

ㄆㄢˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄨㄛˋ ㄏㄨˇ

/pʰän³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ wɔ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰän³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ wɔ⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

intertwined dragons and sleeping tigers; talented men still remaining in concealment


口乾舌燥

ㄎㄡˇ ㄍㄢ ㄕㄜˊ ㄗㄠˋ

коуганьшэцзао

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kän⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ siːt̚³ t͡sʰou̯³³/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kän⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɐu̯³⁵ kɔːn⁵⁵ siːt̚³ t͡sʰou̯³³/

dry mouth and sore throat; having spoken so much that one's mouth and throat become thirsty


應弦而倒

ㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄉㄠˇ

/iŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/iŋ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

the person falls as soon as the bow is shot; to have excellent archery skills


夫唱婦隨

ㄈㄨ ㄔㄤˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄙㄨㄟˊ

/fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵/

the husband advocates/sings and the wife follows; harmony between husband and wife


幸福安康

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄢ ㄎㄤ

синфу’анькан

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu³⁵ ˀän⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵/


龍鳳呈祥

ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄈㄥˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄤˊ

лунфэнчэнсян

/lʊŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/lʊŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/lʊŋ²¹ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

prosperity brought by the dragon and the phoenix


五體投地

five body parts (both hands/elbows, both knees and head) touching the ground

ㄨˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/ŋ̍²² tʰi³³ dɤ³³ di²³/

/u³³ tʰi³³ dɤ³³ di²³/

/u²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tei̯²²/

/ŋ̍²² tʰi³³ dɤ³³ di²³/

/u³³ tʰi³³ dɤ³³ di²³/

(Buddhism) to prostrate oneself (as the highest form of worship)

佩服得五體投地

佩服得五体投地

to prostrate oneself before someone in admiration; to admire with the utmost sincerity


苦大仇深

ㄎㄨˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄕㄣ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/


胡吃海塞

ㄏㄨˊ ㄔ ㄏㄞˇ ㄙㄞ

/xu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ saɪ̯⁵⁵/

/xu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ saɪ̯⁵⁵/

to recklessly stuff oneself with food; gluttony


非洲和尚——乞人憎

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ sœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ hɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵/

An African monk is a black monk (黑人僧 (hak1 jan4 zang1)), which is a humorous near-homophonic pun of 乞人憎 (hat1 jan4 zang1, “annoying”).


舉世矚目

ㄐㄩˇ ㄕˋ ㄓㄨˇ ㄇㄨˋ

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹/


循序漸進

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄒㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

сюньсюйцзяньцзинь

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siːm²² t͡sɵn³³/

/ɕyn³⁵ ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵn²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siːm²² t͡sɵn³³/

to proceed in an orderly way, step by step; to follow the established order; to make steady progress incrementally


從容不迫

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄛˋ

ㄘㄨㄥ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄛˋ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ pɪk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/sʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ pɪk̚⁵/

to take it leisurely; composed and steady; calm and unhurried


不相上下

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² haː²²/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² haː²²/

Abusing the honor of often accompanying Kim Jong Un during his field guidance, Jang tried hard to create illusion about him by projecting himself internally and externally as a special being on a par with the headquarters of the revolution.

2013, Korean Central News Agency, “Traitor Jang Song Thaek Executed”

Zhāng Chéngzé lìyòng jīngcháng péitóng Jīn Zhèng'ēn tóngzhì jìnxíng xiànchǎng zhǐdǎo de jīhuì, shìtú xiàng duì nèiwài xiǎnshì tā shì tóng gémìng de shǒunǎobù bùxiāngshàngxià de tèbié cúnzài, yǐ zàochéng duì tā de huànxiǎng.

張成澤利用經常陪同金正恩同志進行現場指導的機會，試圖向對內外顯示他是同革命的首腦部不相上下的特別存在，以造成對他的幻想。

张成泽利用经常陪同金正恩同志进行现场指导的机会，试图向对内外显示他是同革命的首脑部不相上下的特别存在，以造成对他的幻想。

to rival one another; to be on a par; to be equally matched; to be about the same


十字路口

ㄕˊ ㄗˋ ㄌㄨˋ ㄎㄡˇ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡siː²² lou̯²² hɐu̯³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡siː²² lou̯²² hɐu̯³⁵/

cross-shaped intersection; street crossing

crossroads of life; turning point of life

人生的十字路口


群魔亂舞

evil spirits of all kinds dance in riotous revelry

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄨˇ

цюньмолуаньу

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ mɔː⁵⁵ lyːn²² mou̯¹³/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ mɔː⁵⁵ lyːn²² mou̯¹³/

(figurative) rogues of all kinds running wild; evil-doers dominating the stage unrestrained


鐵骨錚錚

ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄍㄨˇ ㄓㄥ ㄓㄥ

тегучжэнчжэн

tegučžɛnčžɛn

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

firm and unyielding, staunch and virile (of character)


酸甜苦辣

ㄙㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄎㄨˇ ㄌㄚˋ

суаньтянькула

/su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/syːn⁵⁵ tʰiːm²¹ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

/su̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lä⁵¹/

/syːn⁵⁵ tʰiːm²¹ fuː³⁵ laːt̚²/

sour, sweet, bitter and spicy; all kinds of flavours

(figurative) the joys and sorrows of life; the sweets and bitters of life


生死不明

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

not knowing whether one is alive or dead; whereabouts unknown; missing


下落不明

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haː²² lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/haː²² lɔːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

one's whereabouts is unknown; one's present whereabouts is a mystery


生死未卜

ㄕㄥ ㄙˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˇ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ mei̯²² pʊk̚⁵/

it's hard to tell whether the person is alive or not; whether the person is alive or dead remains unknown


人人為我，我為人人

人人爲我，我爲人人
人人为我，我为人人

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄛˇ

ㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ

жэньжэнь вэй во

во вэй жэньжэнь

žɛnʹžɛnʹ vɛj vo

vo vɛj žɛnʹžɛnʹ

/ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

one for all, all for one
one for all, all for one


寧缺毋濫

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝ ㄨˊ ㄌㄢˋ

/niŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ u³⁵ län⁵¹/

/niŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ u³⁵ län⁵¹/

would rather go without than have some something less than satisfactory; it is better to leave a deficiency uncovered than have it covered without discretion


奉子成婚

ㄈㄥˋ ㄗˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄣ

фэнцзычэнхунь

/fɤŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/fʊŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ən⁵⁵/

/fʊŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/

Near-homophone of 奉旨成婚 (“to follow the imperial edict to become married”).

zh-l

shotgun wedding; shotgun marriage; to get married because of pregnancy


對……來說

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ... ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄛ

дуй ... лайшо

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ lɔːi̯²¹ syːt̚³/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ lɔːi̯²¹ syːt̚³/

For him, this kind of manual labour is a piece of cake.

Duì tā láishuō, zhè diǎn tǐlìhuó gēn báiwánr yīyàng.

對他來說，這點體力活跟白玩兒一樣。

对他来说，这点体力活跟白玩儿一样。

from somebody's point of view; in one's opinion


安然無恙

ㄢ ㄖㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄧㄤˋ

/ˀän⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ u³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ jœːŋ²²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ u³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ jœːŋ²²/

她在那次事故中安然無恙。

她在那次事故中安然无恙。


七年之癢

ㄑㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄧㄤˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

seven-year itch (psychological term suggesting that happiness in a relationship declines after around year seven of a marriage)


新年好

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄠˇ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² ho⁵³/

/sin³³ nĩ²⁴⁻²² ho⁵⁵⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³⁻²² ho⁵³/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ ho⁵³/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³⁻³³ hɤ⁴¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² ho⁵³/

/sin³³ nĩ²⁴⁻²² ho⁵⁵⁴/

/sin⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ¹³⁻²² ho⁵³/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²⁴⁻¹¹ ho⁵³/

/sin⁴⁴⁻³³ nĩ²³⁻³³ hɤ⁴¹/


一見傾心

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

ицзяньцинсинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

to lose one's heart to him/her at first sight; to fall in love at first sight


中正平和

ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓㄥˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄜˊ

чжунчжэнпинхэ

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵/


彌足珍貴

ㄇㄧˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓㄣ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

мицзучжэньгуй

/mi³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³/

/mei̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³/

/mi³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³/

/mei̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³³/


不屑一顧

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄧ ㄍㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kuː³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ku⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ siːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kuː³³/

infra dig; beneath contempt; displeasing to look at; sneering

to scorn; to sniff at; to dismiss (work or a suggestion)


劉姥姥進大觀園

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄌㄠˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄩㄢˊ

Liúlǎolǎo jìn dàguānyuán [Phonetic:liúláolǎojìndàguānyuán]

Люлаолао цзинь дагуаньюань

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

From the plot of Dream of the Red Chamber.

Granny Liu visits the Grand View gardens

(of a simple person) to be overwhelmed by new experiences and luxurious surroundings


對不對

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ b̥u¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ b̥u¹ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 對／对 (duì), 不, 對／对 (duì).

used as a tag question: isn't it so?, right or wrong?, is it right?, OK, yes? (colloquial)


抑揚頓挫

ㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄨㄣˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ tɵn²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

/i⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹ tɵn²² t͡sʰɔː³³/

rising and falling in cadence; intonation; speaking in measured tones; (of speech) cadenced


也就是說

ㄧㄝˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/jaː¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² syːt̚³/

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/jaː¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² syːt̚³/

in other words; that is to say; so; thus


背信棄義

ㄅㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/puːi̯³³ sɵn³³ hei̯³³ jiː²²/

/peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/puːi̯³³ sɵn³³ hei̯³³ jiː²²/

From Xunzi and History of the Northern Dynasties.

to break the faith and disregard righteousness; to act perfidiously; perfidious, treacherous; treachery, perfidy


針鋒相對

ㄓㄣ ㄈㄥ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чжэньфэнсяндуй

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ tɵy̯³³/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tui²¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui¹¹/

/t͡siam⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ siaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tui²¹/

to be diametrically opposed; to be in sharp opposition; to go toe-to-toe with somebody in action or speech; to give tit for tat


興致勃勃

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄓˋ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡siː³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hɪŋ³³ t͡siː³³ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


目瞪口呆

ㄇㄨˋ ㄉㄥˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄉㄞ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɤŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋɔːi̯²¹/

/ᵐbɵk̚³² aŋ³³ heu⁵⁵ ᵑɡᵘɔi²²/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɤŋ⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ hɐu̯³⁵ ŋɔːi̯²¹/

/ᵐbɵk̚³² aŋ³³ heu⁵⁵ ᵑɡᵘɔi²²/


怪模怪樣

ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄧㄤˋ

ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄞˋ ㄧㄤˋ

гуаймугуайян

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

гуаймогуайян

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/


竊竊私語

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːt̚³ siːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/siːt̚³ siːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/


切切私語

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄙ ㄩˇ

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

/t͡sʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰiːt̚³ siː⁵⁵ jyː¹³/

竊竊私語 竊竊私語#Chinese

窃窃私语 窃窃私语#Chinese

Synonym of 竊竊私語／窃窃私语 (qièqièsīyǔ, “to talk in whispers”)


撩人心弦

ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄧㄢˊ

ляожэньсиньсянь

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

/li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵/

to tug at one's heartstrings; be heart-stirring; nerve-racking, or tantalising


交錯縱橫

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄥˊ

цзяоцо цзунхэн

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵/

縱橫交錯 縱橫交錯#Chinese

纵横交错 纵横交错#Chinese

Synonym of 縱橫交錯／纵横交错


生動活潑

ㄕㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄆㄛ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


怒不可遏

ㄋㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄜˋ

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/nou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ aːt̚³/

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹/

/nou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ aːt̚³/

unable to contain one's anger; cannot restrain one's fury; be in a towering rage


遊刃有餘

ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²² jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

/joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²² jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹/

to handle a blade skillfully; to do a task with skills and ease; to achieve something effortlessly


縱橫交錯

ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

цзунхэнцзяоцо

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːk̚³/

arranged in a crisscross pattern; crisscrossed


活要見人，死要見屍

ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄙˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕ

huo² yao⁴ chien⁴ jên², ssŭ³ yao⁴ chien⁴ shih¹

хо яо цзянь жэнь

сы яо цзянь ши

/xu̯ɔ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

[we] want to see the person if he/she is alive, and [we] want to see the body if he/she is dead


群情激憤

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧ ㄈㄣˋ

цюньцин цзифэнь

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ fən⁵¹/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ kɪk̚⁵ fɐn¹³/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ fən⁵¹/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ kɪk̚⁵ fɐn¹³/

the public furious and up in arms; public revulsion running high; mounting public indignation


寶刀未老

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄠ ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄠˇ

баодаовэйлао

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

old but still got it; as vigorous and active as before; just as skilled as when one was young


佛口蛇心

mouth (or words) of a Buddha, heart of a snake

ㄈㄛˊ ㄎㄡˇ ㄕㄜˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/fu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fɐt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/fu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/fɐt̚² hɐu̯³⁵ sɛː²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

to speak with benevolence and mercy but be vicious and malicious in reality


不出所料

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ liːu̯²²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɔː³⁵ liːu̯²²/

果然不出我所料


虎頭蛇尾

ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄜˊ ㄨㄟˇ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɛː²¹ mei̯¹³/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuː³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ sɛː²¹ mei̯¹³/

to start off strong, but finish weak; to be inconsistent with one's effort


不解風情

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄈㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

буцзе фэнцин

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

(usually of men) to be not the romantic type; to be unable to get romantic hints; unromantic; does not understand a woman's heart


風風雨雨

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ jyː¹³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ u⁵³/

/hɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ u⁵⁵⁴/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ u⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ u⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ u⁴¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ jyː¹³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ u⁵³/

/hɔŋ³³ hɔŋ³³ u⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ u⁵⁵⁴/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ u⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁵³⁻⁴⁴ u⁵³/

/hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ u⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ u⁴¹/

trials and tribulations; hardships; difficult times


人面獸心

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (人面獸心):
* → Japanese: 人面獣心(じんめんじゅうしん) (jinmenjūshin)
* → Korean: 인면수심(人面獸心) (inmyeonsusim)
* → Vietnamese: nhân diện thú tâm (人面獸心)

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

жэньмяньшоусинь

/ʐən³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ miːn²² sɐu̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ miːn²² sɐu̯³³ sɐm⁵⁵/

From the Book of Han, concerning the Xiongnu nomads to China's north

The Yi and the Di [foreign, barbarian, non-Chinese] people are greedy and desirous of gain; they wear their hair down their backs and fasten their garments on the left; they have human faces but the hearts of wild beasts. Their ceremonial garments differ from those worn in the Central States [of China]; their customs and diet differ from ours; and our languages are mutually unintelligible. They dwell far away, in the cold, on the bare lands of the north, driving their herds in pursuit of pasture, and hunting with the bow and arrow in order to sustain themselves. They are separated from us by mountains and valleys and cut off by the desert. By these means did Heaven and Earth divide inner from outer.

Yídí zhī rén tān ér hǎolì, bèifà zuǒrèn, rénmiànshòuxīn. Qí yǔ Zhōngguó shū zhāngfú, yì xísú, yǐnshí bùtóng, yányǔ bùtōng, pì jū běichuí hánlù zhī yě, zhú cǎo suí xù, shèliè wèishēng, gé yǐ shāngǔ, yōng yǐ shāmù, tiāndì suǒyǐ jué wàinèi yě.

夷狄之人貪而好利，被髮左衽，人面獸心。其與中國殊章服，異習俗，飲食不同，言語不通，辟居北垂寒露之野，逐草隨畜，射獵為生，隔以山谷，雍以沙幕，天地所以絕外內也。

夷狄之人贪而好利，被发左衽，人面兽心。其与中国殊章服，异习俗，饮食不同，言语不通，辟居北垂寒露之野，逐草随畜，射猎为生，隔以山谷，雍以沙幕，天地所以绝外内也。


金髮碧眼

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄚˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄢˇ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄚˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄢˇ

цзиньфабиянь

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

blonde and green/blue-eyed; of Caucasian appearance; blonde


談何容易

n-g

rhetorical construct signifying emphasis in the negative

ㄊㄢˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄧˋ

/tʰän³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ hɔː²¹ jʊŋ²¹ jiː²²/

/tʰän³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ hɔː²¹ jʊŋ²¹ jiː²²/

"Alas! May I? I may not! Speeches to one's superior — those easily given will never be accepted!" said Mister Nobody.

Xiānshēng yuē: “Wūhū, kě hū zāi? Kě hū zāi? Tán héróng yì!”

先生曰：「於戲，可乎哉？可乎哉？談何容易！」

先生曰：「於戏，可乎哉？可乎哉？谈何容易！」

Jia Yi said: "Cordial speech tends to be superficial and fails to make an impact, but a penetrating comment grates on the ear and fails to deliver." Hence the saying, "no place for speech made at ease."

p. 73 BCE, Huan Kuan (桓寬) (editor). Discourses on Salt and Iron (《鹽鐵論》).

Gǔshēng yǒu yán: “Kěnyán zé cíqiǎn ér bùrù, shēnyán zé nì'ěr ér shīzhǐ.” Gù yuē: “Tán héróng yì.”

賈生有言：「懇言則辭淺而不入，深言則逆耳而失指。」故曰：「談何容易。」

贾生有言：「恳言则辞浅而不入，深言则逆耳而失指。」故曰：「谈何容易。」

(chiefly obsolete) it is no easy matter to give good advice (especially to one's superior); to speak is difficult


談何容易

ㄊㄢˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄧˋ

/tʰän³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ hɔː²¹ jʊŋ²¹ jiː²²/

/tʰän³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ hɔː²¹ jʊŋ²¹ jiː²²/

easier said than done
easier said than done


心煩意亂

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

синьфаньилуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ fän³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ faːn²¹ jiː³³ lyːn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ fän³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ faːn²¹ jiː³³ lyːn²²/

to be terribly upset; to be perturbed; to be distraught


不作死就不會死

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄙˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄙˇ

bù zuōsǐ jiù bùhuì sǐ [Phonetic:bù zuōsǐ jiù búhuì sǐ]

бу цзосы цзю бухуэй сы

/pu⁵¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(neologism, colloquial) You won't die if you do not seek death. / You will not get into trouble if you do not seek trouble.


骨瘦如柴

ㄍㄨˇ ㄕㄡˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄔㄞˊ

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʷɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³³ jyː²¹ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹/

瘦如豺 (“as thin as a dhole”) was first described in Song Dynasty dictionary Piya, where also mention the homophonous alternative form using 柴 (chái, “stick”), which is now more common.

as thin as a stick; emaciated; unhealthily skinny


弱不禁風

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄈㄥ

жобуцзиньфэн

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² pɐt̚⁵ kʰɐm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

First attested in a Southern Song poem by Lu You

lw

s:劎南詩槀_(四庫全書本)/卷34

White lotus flowers being fragrant right after rain; red dragonflies fail to stand the wind.

Shortly after midnight on 21st July 1196, Lu You (陸遊),《六月二十四日夜分夢范至能、李知㡬、尤延之同集江亭，諸公請予賦詩記江湖之樂，詩成而覺，忘數字而已》

Bái hàndàn xiāng chū guò yǔ, hóng qīngtíng ruò bù jīn fēng.

白菡萏香初過雨，紅蜻蜓弱不禁風。

白菡萏香初过雨，红蜻蜓弱不禁风。

having so delicate a constitution as to be unable to stand any breeze; being too frail to withstand even a gust of wind (of a person, e.g. a woman or a patient, of a structure, etc.)


雁杳魚沉

ㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄠˇ ㄩˊ ㄔㄣˊ

/jɛn⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/jɛn⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

the goose has flown too far away to be traced and the fish has dived deep in water; without any contact; without news or letters


魚沉雁杳

ㄩˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄠˇ

/y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ jɛn⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

雁杳魚沉 雁杳魚沉#Chinese

雁杳鱼沉 雁杳鱼沉#Chinese


來看

/laɪ̯³⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ hɔːn³³/

/laɪ̯³⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/lɔːi̯²¹ hɔːn³³/

In terms of peak revenue, "Lover and Producer" reached the 4th highest rank in the App Store's bestseller list in December last year.

Fēngzhí shōurù láikàn, qùnián 12 yuè 30 rì, “liàn yǔ zhìzuòrén” zài App Store chàngxiāobǎng dádào de zuìgāo páiwèi dì 4 míng.

峰值收入來看，去年12月30日，《戀與製作人》在AppStore暢銷榜達到的最高排位第4名。

峰值收入来看，去年12月30日，《恋与制作人》在AppStore畅销榜达到的最高排位第4名。

to view it from the angle of ...; considering the ...; in terms of


願賭服輸

ㄩㄢˋ ㄉㄨˇ ㄈㄨˊ ㄕㄨ

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyːn²² tou̯³⁵ fʊk̚² syː⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jyːn²² tou̯³⁵ fʊk̚² syː⁵⁵/

If one participates a gamble willingly, one has to bear all the consequence of losing.


與眾不同

ㄩˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ t͡sʊŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹/

展現出與眾不同的魅力

展现出与众不同的魅力

different; distinct; distinctive; standing out from the crowd


或多或少

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄠˇ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːk̚² tɔː⁵⁵ waːk̚² siːu̯³⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waːk̚² tɔː⁵⁵ waːk̚² siːu̯³⁵/


沾沾自喜

ㄓㄢ ㄓㄢ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧˇ

чжаньчжаньцзыси

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiam⁴⁴⁻²² tiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

/ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tiam⁴⁴⁻²² tiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

Don't be complacent over an occasional/minor/single success.

不要沾沾自喜於一得之功。

不要沾沾自喜于一得之功。

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

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

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

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

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

to feel complacent; to be pleased with oneself


出爾反爾

ㄔㄨ ㄦˇ ㄈㄢˇ ㄦˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiː¹³ faːn³⁵ jiː¹³/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ hueŋ⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zɯ⁵²⁻²¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jiː¹³ faːn³⁵ jiː¹³/

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王下》). Originally means "you get treated in the same way that you treat others". Now "to contradict oneself".

The philosopher Zeng said, "Beware, beware. What proceeds from you, will return to you again." Now at length the people have paid back the conduct of their officers to them.

Céngzǐ yuē: ‘Jiè zhī jiè zhī! Chū hū ěr zhě, fǎn hū ěr zhě yě.’ Fú mín jīn ér hòu dé fǎn zhī yě.

曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎爾者，反乎爾者也。』夫民今而後得反之也。

曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎尔者，反乎尔者也。』夫民今而后得反之也。


問長問短

ㄨㄣˋ ㄔㄤˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

вэньчанвэньдуань

/wən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ wən⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɐn²² tyːn³⁵/

/mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ te⁵³/

/mŋ̍⁴¹⁻²² tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² mŋ̍⁴¹⁻²² te⁵⁵⁴/

/mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍¹³⁻²² mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ te⁵³/

/mŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ mŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/mŋ̍³³⁻²¹ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ mŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

/wən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ wən⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²² t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɐn²² tyːn³⁵/

/mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ te⁵³/

/mŋ̍⁴¹⁻²² tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² mŋ̍⁴¹⁻²² te⁵⁵⁴/

/mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ tŋ̍¹³⁻²² mŋ̍²²⁻²¹ te⁵³/

/mŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ tŋ̍²⁴⁻¹¹ mŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ te⁵³/

/mŋ̍³³⁻²¹ tŋ̍²³⁻³³ mŋ̍³³⁻²¹ te⁴¹/

to ask about the length and breadth of various things; to ask all sorts of (trivial) questions


厚積薄發

ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄛˊ ㄈㄚ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵ pɔːk̚² faːt̚³/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/hɐu̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵ pɔːk̚² faːt̚³/

(literally) to gradually acquire knowledge, and make use of it when needed

(figuratively) good preparation is the key to success


時運高，睇唔到

/siː²¹ wɐn²² kou̯⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ m̩²¹ tou̯³³⁻³⁵/

The first part (時運高) is sarcastic or probably not related at all, just to make it rhyme.


食咗飯未呀

/sɪk̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ faːn²² mei̯²² aː³³/

/sɪk̚² t͡sɔː³⁵ faːn²² mei̯²² aː³³/

(Cantonese, informal greeting) How are you?


長遠勿見

/zã²² ɦyø⁵⁵ vəʔ³³ t͡ɕi²¹/

/zã²² ɦyø³³ fəʔ⁴⁴ t͡ɕɪ/

/zã²² ɦyø⁵⁵ vəʔ³³ t͡ɕi²¹/

/zã²² ɦyø³³ fəʔ⁴⁴ t͡ɕɪ/


你個頭

→ Macanese: teu cabeça (calque)

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/ni²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ kɔː³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/li⁴² e²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

/lɯ⁴² e²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

/lɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ kai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/ni²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/nei̯¹³ kɔː³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/li⁴² e²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

/lɯ⁴² e²⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

/lɯ⁵²⁻³⁵ kai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰau⁵⁵/

"There's always someone to help you get things done; you've got it so good!" "Good my ass! Everything was done by me!"

“nei⁵ zau⁶ hou² laa¹, mat¹ je⁵ je⁵ dou¹ jau⁵ jan⁴ bong¹ nei⁵ on¹ paai⁴ hou²!” “hou² nei⁵ go³ tau⁴! mat¹ je⁵ dou¹ hai⁶ ngo⁵ zi⁶ gei² gaau² dim⁶ gaa³!”

「你就好啦，乜嘢嘢都有人幫你安排好！」「好你個頭！乜嘢都係我自己搞掂㗎！」

「你就好啦，乜嘢嘢都有人帮你安排好！」「好你个头！乜嘢都系我自己搞掂㗎！」

“Wǒ gānggāng qù le......” “Qù le nǐ ge tóu!”

「我剛剛去了……」「去了你個頭！」

「我刚刚去了……」「去了你个头！」


食得㗎

/sɪk̚² tɐk̚⁵ kaː²¹/

/sɪk̚² tɐk̚⁵ kaː²¹/

吓？咩嚟㗎？食得㗎？

(Cantonese) sarcastically asking whether [this] is edible, expressing astonishment


冇眼睇

→ English: no eye see (calque)

to not have eyes to see; to have no eyes to watch with

/mou̯¹³ ŋaːn¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/mou̯¹³ ŋaːn¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

我冇眼睇。

(Cantonese) to be unable to bear (the sight of) something anymore; to refuse to be involved further; to be disinclined to continue caring about


斷子絕孫

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄗˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄙㄨㄣ

дуаньцзыцзюэсунь

/tu̯än⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/tʰyːn¹³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡syːt̚² syːn⁵⁵/

/tu̯än⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ su̯ən⁵⁵/

/tʰyːn¹³ t͡siː³⁵ t͡syːt̚² syːn⁵⁵/

(often as a curse) to have no descendants


吃不到的葡萄是酸的

ㄔ ˙ㄅㄨ ㄉㄠˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄆㄨˊ ˙ㄊㄠ ㄕˋ ㄙㄨㄢ ˙ㄉㄜ

hek³ bat¹ dou³⁻² dik¹ pou⁴ tou⁴ si⁶ syun¹ dik¹

chʻih¹-pu⁵-tao⁴ tê⁵ pʻu²-tʻao⁵ shih⁴ suan¹ tê⁵

чибудао дэ путао ши суань дэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ b̥u² tɑʊ̯⁵¹ d̥ə¹ pʰu³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ su̯än⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

hek⁸ bat⁷ dou³⁻² dik⁷ pou⁴ tou⁴ si⁶ syn¹ dik⁷

hég³ bed¹ dou³⁻² dig¹ pou⁴ tou⁴ xi⁶ xun¹ dig¹

/hɛːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ tou̯³³⁻³⁵ tɪk̚⁵ pʰou̯²¹ tʰou̯²¹ siː²² syːn⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

the grapes are sour anyway
the grapes are sour anyway


你懂的

ㄋㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ˙ㄉㄜ

ㄋㄧˇ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ˙ㄉㄜ

/ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/nei̯¹³ tʊŋ³⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

/ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/nei̯¹³ tʊŋ³⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

There is a couple also going on the trip with me (the poster). However, they can be ignored, since we will probably go there together but tour separately, you know what I mean.

Hé lóuzhǔ tóngxíng de háiyǒu yī duì nánnǚ kě hūlüè, kěnéng huì hé tāmen yīqǐ qù fēnkāi wán, nǐdǒngde.

和樓主同行的還有一對男女可忽略，可能會和他們一起去分開玩，你懂的。

和楼主同行的还有一对男女可忽略，可能会和他们一起去分开玩，你懂的。

Journalist: "We noticed that there are currently a lot of (unconfirmed) news and reports about the former Politburo member Zhou Yongkang in the media. I'm not sure - is there anything the spokesperson would like to disclose regarding this?"
Lü Xinhua: "As we said, anyone who violates the party's discipline and the state law will be seriously investigated and punished, no matter who he is or how high ranking he is. This is definitely not an empty statement. That is all I could tell you, if you know what I mean."

2014, Spokesperson Lü Xinhua's response to Zhou Yongkang's case

Jìzhě: “Wǒmen zhùyì dào xiànzài wàimiàn yǒu hěnduō guānyú qián zhōngyāng zhèngzhìjú wěiyuán Zhōu Yǒngkāng de yīxiē xiāoxī hé bàodǎo, wǒ bù zhīdào fāyánrén duì zhège shìqíng yǒu méiyǒu shénme kěyǐ tòulù de?”
Lǚ Xīnhuá: “Wǒmen suǒ shuō de bùlùn shì shénme rén bùlùn qí zhíwèi yǒu duō gāo, zhǐyào shì chùfàn le dǎngjì guófǎ, dōu yào shòudào yánsù de zhuīchá hé yánlì de chéngchǔ, jué bùshì yī jù kōnghuà. Wǒ zhǐnéng huídá chéng zhèyàng le, nǐdǒngde.”

記者：「我們注意到現在外面有很多關於前中央政治局委員周永康的一些消息和報導，我不知道發言人對這個事情有沒有什麼可以透露的？」
呂新華：「我們所說的不論是什麼人不論其職位有多高，只要是觸犯了黨紀國法，都要受到嚴肅的追查和嚴厲的懲處，絕不是一句空話。我只能回答成這樣了，你懂的。」

记者：「我们注意到现在外面有很多关于前中央政治局委员周永康的一些消息和报导，我不知道发言人对这个事情有没有什么可以透露的？」
吕新华：「我们所说的不论是什么人不论其职位有多高，只要是触犯了党纪国法，都要受到严肃的追查和严厉的惩处，绝不是一句空话。我只能回答成这样了，你懂的。」

if you know what I mean
if you know what I mean


儂早

/noŋ³³ t͡sɔ³⁴/

/noŋ³³ t͡sɔ³⁴/


對勿起

/te³³ vəʔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹/

/te⁵² fəʔ³³ t͡ɕʰi/

/te³³ vəʔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹/

/te⁵² fəʔ³³ t͡ɕʰi/

You came to see my son, but he happens to not be here right now, sorry.

⁶non ⁶le ⁶zhin ⁶ngu ⁶gni-tsy ⁶yi ⁵tsen-hau ⁶veq₈-laq-he ⁵te-veq-chi

儂來尋我兒子，伊正好勿辣海，對勿起。

侬来寻我儿子，伊正好勿辣海，对勿起。


詩史試時市事

/siː⁵⁵ siː³⁵ siː³³ siː²¹ siː¹³ siː²²/

/siː⁵⁵ siː³⁵ siː³³ siː²¹ siː¹³ siː²²/

The same syllable pronounced with the first tone to the sixth tone respectively in Cantonese.

(Cantonese) A phrase used to memorise the six tones in Cantonese


詩史試時市事色錫食

/siː⁵⁵ siː³⁵ siː³³ siː²¹ siː¹³ siː²² sɪk̚⁵ sɛːk̚³ sɪk̚²/

Similar syllables pronounced with the first tone to the ninth tone respectively in Cantonese.

(Cantonese) A phrase used to memorise the nine tones in Cantonese


分粉訓墳憤份

/fɐn⁵⁵ fɐn³⁵ fɐn³³ fɐn²¹ fɐn¹³ fɐn²²/

/fɐn⁵⁵ fɐn³⁵ fɐn³³ fɐn²¹ fɐn¹³ fɐn²²/


三九四零五二

/saːm⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ sei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ ŋ̍¹³ jiː²²/

/saːm⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ sei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ ŋ̍¹³ jiː²²/

Six numbers pronounced with the first tone to the sixth tone respectively in Cantonese: 3, 9, 4, 0, 5, 2.


分粉訓墳憤份忽發佛

fan¹ fan² fan³ fan⁴ fan⁵ fan⁶ fat¹ faat³ fat⁶

fān fán fan fàhn fáhn fahn fāt faat faht

fan¹ fan² fan³ fan⁴ fan⁵ fan⁶ fat⁷ faat⁸ fat⁹

fen¹ fen² fen³ fen⁴ fen⁵ fen⁶ fed¹ fad³ fed⁶

/fɐn⁵⁵ fɐn³⁵ fɐn³³ fɐn²¹ fɐn¹³ fɐn²² fɐt̚⁵ faːt̚³ fɐt̚²/


三九四零五二七八六

saam¹ gau² sei³ ling⁴ ng⁵ ji⁶ cat¹ baat³ luk⁶

sāam gáu sei lìhng ńgh yih chāt baat luhk

saam¹ gau² sei³ ling⁴ ng⁵ ji⁶ tsat⁷ baat⁸ luk⁹

sam¹ geo² séi³ ling⁴ ng⁵ yi⁶ ced¹ bad³ lug⁶

/saːm⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ sei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ ŋ̍¹³ jiː²² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ paːt̚³ lʊk̚²/

Seven numbers pronounced with the first tone to the ninth tone respectively in Cantonese: 3, 9, 4, 0, 5, 2, 7, 8, 6.


鍾意點就點

If you like it to be done like this, then do it like this

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː³³ tiːm³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² tiːm³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː³³ tiːm³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² tiːm³⁵/

(Cantonese) do as you want; do as you please


愛怎麼著怎麼著

ㄞˋ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄓㄠ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄓㄠ

ай цзэньмэ чжао цзэньмэ чжао

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

李玉深说：「他们（养鸡户）要求就是说，你就把这钱给我们，我们爱怎么着怎么着吧，我说你爱怎么怎么着不行啊，我得为一个村的资金负责，我到时候给国家流失了资金，老百姓的钱见不到，我有责任。」 [MSC, simp.]
Lǐ Yùshēn shuō: “Tāmen (yǎng jī hù) yāoqiú jiù shì shuō, nǐ jiù bǎ zhè qián gěi wǒmen, wǒmen ài zěnme zhāo zěnme zhāo ba, wǒ shuō nǐ ài zěnme zěnme zhāo bùxíng a, wǒ děi wèi yī ge cūn de zījīn fùzé, wǒ dào shíhou gěi guójiā liúshī le zījīn, lǎobǎixìng de qián jiànbùdào, wǒ yǒu zérèn.” [Pinyin]

2008: Zhang Yanwei (張燕蔚), 今日幫忙：扶貧款是不是我們的？ 李玉深說：「他們（養雞戶）要求就是說，你就把這錢給我們，我們愛怎麼著怎麼著吧，我說你愛怎麼怎麼著不行啊，我得為一個村的資金負責，我到時候給國家流失了資金，老百姓的錢見不到，我有責任。」 [MSC, trad.]

Li Yushen said, "They (the family raising chickens) request that you give this money to us and that we can do with it as we please. I said this just won't do - I'm responsible for the money of the village. If the people's money disappears and cannot be recovered, I will be responsible."

(colloquial) do as you want; do as you please


五二零

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ jiː²² lɪŋ²¹/

/ŋ̍²³ n̠ʲi²³ lin²³/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ liŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ jiː²² lɪŋ²¹/

/ŋ̍²³ n̠ʲi²³ lin²³/

From 我愛你／我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) while substituting numbers of similar sounds when pronouncing in Mandarin.

zh-l

我愛你／我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ)


記憶猶新

ㄐㄧˋ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kei̯³³ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kei̯³³ jɪk̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵/

to remain fresh in one's memory; to remember vividly


赤身露體

ㄔˋ ㄕㄣ ㄌㄨˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ lou̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ lou̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

1919, 《新舊約全書：官話和合譯本》 [Mandarin Bible, Union Version], Shanghai: American Bible Society, 創世記 [Genesis] 3:11:

And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Yēhéhuá shuō, Shéi gàosù nǐ chìshēnlùtǐ ne, mòfēi nǐ chī le wǒ fēnfù nǐ bùkě chī de nà shù shang de guǒzi ma.

耶和華說、誰吿訴你赤身露體呢、莫非你喫了我吩咐你不可喫的那樹上的果子麽。

耶和华说、谁告诉你赤身露体呢、莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那树上的果子么。


知命之年

ㄓ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄓ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

чжиминчжинянь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵ niːn²¹/

The Master said, "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.

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

Zǐyuē: “Wú shí yòu wǔ ér zhì yú xué, sānshí ér lì, sìshí ér bùhuò, wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng, liùshí ér ěr shùn, qīshí ér cóng xīn suǒ yù, bù yújǔ.”

子曰：「吾十有五而志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。」

子曰：「吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。」


心如鹿撞

to have a heart beating [as strong as] deer bumping [into a tree]

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

синьжулучжуан

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ lʊk̚²⁻³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ lʊk̚²⁻³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ²²/

I have butterflies in my stomach when I see you

我看見你時心如鹿撞

我看见你时心如鹿撞

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


心如刀割

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄉㄠ ㄍㄜ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³/

我心如刀割

How come when I see you smiling, I am heartbroken?

2019, 周興哲 (Eric Chou), 《怎麼了》 (What's Wrong)

zěnme kàn nǐ xiào zhe, wǒ què xīnrúdāogē

怎麼看你笑著 我卻心如刀割

怎么看你笑着 我却心如刀割


好好

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

今日天氣好好。

今日天气好好。

今天天氣好好。

今天天气好好。

ni¹ paai⁴ saang¹ ji³ zan¹ hai⁶ hou² hou².

呢排生意真係好好。

呢排生意真系好好。

1995 or later, “觀賞冬天的星座 (冬の星座を見るゾ)” (6:26 from the start), in Crayon Shin-chan (anime), Taiwanese Mandarin edition, episode 134:

Kàn wán xīngxīng yǐhòu, wǒ tūrán juéde xīnqíng hǎo hǎo wa.

看完星星以後，我突然覺得心情好好哇。

看完星星以后，我突然觉得心情好好哇。

c. 1996, 瓊瑤, 林久愉, 2:05 from the start, in 她們三個, 歸亞蕾 (actor):

這裡風景好好啊。

这里风景好好啊。

(chiefly Cantonese) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 好, 好: very good; excellent


賣友求榮

ㄇㄞˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/maɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/maɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

He did not hesitate to betray his friend to obtain the position.

Tā wèile zhè ge zhíwèi bùxī màiyǒuqiúróng.

他為了這個職位不惜賣友求榮。

他为了这个职位不惜卖友求荣。

to betray one's friend to obtain promotion


針頭線腦

ㄓㄣ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄋㄠˇ

чжэньтоусяньнао

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(colloquial) odds and ends of sewing needs; needle and thread; sewing kit


待會見

ㄉㄞ ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

дайхуэйцзянь

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/taɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/


白頭偕老

ㄅㄞˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄠˇ

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰɔ²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lo⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹/

/peʔ⁴⁻² tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ lau⁵²/

/paɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² tʰɐu̯²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lou̯¹³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰɔ²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰiɤ²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰio²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁵³/

/piɪk̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ nɔ̃⁴¹/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lo⁵³/

/pe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³ kai⁴⁴⁻³³ lɤ⁴¹/

/peʔ⁴⁻² tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hai⁵⁵⁻¹¹ lau⁵²/

(said of a couple) to live together until the white hairs of old age; to live to a ripe old age in conjugal bliss until death do us part; to remain happily married to a ripe old age


五十步笑一百步

ㄨˇ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ

wǔshí bù xiào yībǎi bù [Phonetic:wǔshí bù xiào yìbǎi bù]

уши бу сяо ибай бу

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹/

/ŋ̍¹³ sɐp̚² pou̯²² siːu̯³³ jɐt̚⁵ paːk̚³ pou̯²²/

五十步笑百步 (wǔshí bù xiào bǎi bù)

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black


不由自主

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨˇ

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡syː³⁵/

to not be able to restrain oneself; to feel an irresistible urge (to do something); can't help but; involuntarily; spontaneously


花容月貌

countenance of flowers, appearance of the moon

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄇㄠˋ

хуажунъюэмао

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ jyːt̚² maːu̯²²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹ jyːt̚² maːu̯²²/

(of a woman) beautiful, attractive, gorgeous


談婚論嫁

ㄊㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄣ ㄌㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

таньхуньлуньцзя

/tʰän³⁵ xu̯ən⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/tʰän³⁵ xu̯ən⁵⁵ lu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

to talk about marriage, to think about getting married


守株待兔

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (守株待兔):
* → Japanese: 株(くいぜ)を守(まも)る (kuize o mamoru)
* → Korean: 수주대토(守株待兎) (sujudaeto)
* → Vietnamese: thủ chu đãi thố (守株待兔)

ㄕㄡˇ ㄓㄨ ㄉㄞˋ ㄊㄨˋ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² tʰou̯³³/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻²² tʰai²²⁻²¹ tʰɔ²¹/

/siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡su³³ tʰai⁴¹⁻²² tʰɔ⁴¹/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻²² tʰai²²⁻²¹ tʰɔ²¹/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰai³³⁻¹¹ tʰɔ¹¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰai³³⁻²¹ tʰɔ²¹/

/siu⁵²⁻³⁵ tu³³⁻²³ tʰai³⁵⁻¹¹ tʰou²¹³/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰu⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ tɔːi̯²² tʰou̯³³/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻²² tʰai²²⁻²¹ tʰɔ²¹/

/siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡su³³ tʰai⁴¹⁻²² tʰɔ⁴¹/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻²² tʰai²²⁻²¹ tʰɔ²¹/

/siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰai³³⁻¹¹ tʰɔ¹¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡su⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰai³³⁻²¹ tʰɔ²¹/

/siu⁵²⁻³⁵ tu³³⁻²³ tʰai³⁵⁻¹¹ tʰou²¹³/

There was a farmer of Song who tilled the land, and in his field was a stump. One day a rabbit, racing across the field, bumped into the stump, broke its neck, and died. Thereupon the farmer laid aside his plow and took up watching the stump, hoping that he will get another rabbit in the same way. But he got no rabbits, and instead becoming the laughing stock of Song. Those who think they can take the ways of the ancient kings and use them to govern the people today all belong in the category of stump-watchers!

Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translation from Han Feizi: Basic Writings (2012) by Burton Watson

Sòng rén yǒu gēngtián zhě, tián zhōng yǒu zhū, tù zǒu chù zhū, zhé jǐng ér sǐ. Yīn shì qí lěi ér shǒu zhū, jì fù dé tù, tù bùkě fù dé, ér shēn wéi Sòng guó xiào. Jīn yù yǐ xiānwáng zhī zhèng, zhì dāngshì zhī mín, jiē shǒu zhū zhī lèi yě.

宋人有耕田者，田中有株，兔走觸株，折頸而死。因釋其耒而守株，冀復得兔，兔不可復得，而身為宋國笑。今欲以先王之政，治當世之民，皆守株之類也。

宋人有耕田者，田中有株，兔走触株，折颈而死。因释其耒而守株，冀复得兔，兔不可复得，而身为宋国笑。今欲以先王之政，治当世之民，皆守株之类也。

towatch a tree stump waiting for a rabbit

Don't be too conservative. Sticking to old doctrines is futile.

Sīxiǎng bùnéng tài bǎoshǒu, shǒuzhūdàitù shì bùhuì yǒu shōuhuò de.

思想不能太保守，守株待兔是不會有收穫的。

思想不能太保守，守株待兔是不会有收获的。

(figurative, derogatory) to be conservative; to resist change and innovation

The government should not just wait for problems to come up when handling financial regulation.

金融監管不能守株待兔。

金融监管不能守株待兔。

The police arrested the suspect after waiting and hiding there.

Mínjǐng shǒuzhūdàitù jiāng xiányírén zhuāhuò.

民警守株待兔將嫌疑人抓獲。

民警守株待兔将嫌疑人抓获。


談情說愛

ㄊㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄞˋ

⁶de-zhin ⁷seq-e; ⁶de-zhin ⁷seq ⁵e; ⁶de ⁶zhin ⁷seq ⁵e

/tʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ syːt̚³ ɔːi̯³³/

de^去 zhin seh^入 e; de^去 zhin seh^入 e^去; de^去 zhin^去 seh^入 e^去

³de-xxin ⁴seq-e; ³de-xxin ⁴seq ²e; ³de ³xxin ⁴seq ²e

/de²² ʑin⁴⁴ səʔ³³ e⁴⁴/

/de²² ʑin⁴⁴ səʔ⁴⁴ e³⁴/

/de³³ ʑin²³ səʔ⁴⁴ e³⁴/

/tʰän³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ syːt̚³ ɔːi̯³³/

/de²² ʑin⁴⁴ səʔ³³ e⁴⁴/

/de²² ʑin⁴⁴ səʔ⁴⁴ e³⁴/

/de³³ ʑin²³ səʔ⁴⁴ e³⁴/

For youths to gossip and meet up, tea houses are a good place to go.

¹chin-gni-gnin ⁶de-zhin ⁷seq-e ⁶yeu-gni ⁶zhiu-we ⁶ghon-zo-faon ⁶zy ⁷iq-gheq ⁵hau-chi-tshy

青年人談情説愛、友誼聚會，紅茶坊是一個好去處。

青年人谈情说爱、友谊聚会，红茶坊是一个好去处。

for talk of love and romance to fill one's conversation; to be courting; to be dating


好吃懶做

ㄏㄠˋ ㄔ ㄌㄢˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

хаочиланьцзо

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ hɛːk̚³ laːn¹³ t͡sou̯²²/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ hɛːk̚³ laːn¹³ t͡sou̯²²/

to be fond of eating and averse to work; to be piggish


自顧自

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² kuː³³ t͡siː²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² kuː³³ t͡siː²²/

We shouldn't just care about our own business. We should help each other.

Wǒmen dàjiā bùyào zìgùzì, yào hùxiàng bāngzhù.

我們大家不要自顧自，要互相幫助。

我们大家不要自顾自，要互相帮助。

each for himself; everyone looks to himself (without worrying for others)


天倫之樂

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄓ ㄌㄜˋ

тяньлуньчжилэ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² lun²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn³³ lun²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ lɔk̚²⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² lun¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚¹²¹/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ lun²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ lun²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ lu̯ən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² lun²⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn³³ lun²⁴⁻²² t͡si³³ lɔk̚²⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² lun¹³⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² lɔk̚¹²¹/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ lun²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ lun²³⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔk̚⁴/

the pleasure of heavenly agreement; the happiness of family unions (especially for an elderly person); one's natural desire for family life to one's heart's content; domestic bliss; the joy of family life


不省人事

Sino-Xenic (不省人事):
* → Vietnamese: bất tỉnh nhân sự (不省人事)

ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄥˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕˋ

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ siː²²/

/pu⁵¹ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ siː²²/

to lose consciousness; to be unconscious


苛捐雜稅

ㄎㄜ ㄐㄩㄢ ㄗㄚˊ ㄕㄨㄟˋ

кэцзюаньцзашуй

/kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sä³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/kʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sä³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/


紅白喜事

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄧˇ ㄕˋ

/xʊŋ³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ paːk̚² hei̯³⁵ siː²²/

/xʊŋ³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ paːk̚² hei̯³⁵ siː²²/


成家立業

ㄔㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kaː⁵⁵ laːp̚² jiːp̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kaː⁵⁵ laːp̚² jiːp̚²/


一生一世

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sẽ³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² si²¹³/

/iɪʔ³³ sã⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ sz̩²¹/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ sã²³ iɪʔ⁵⁵ sz̩ʷ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ se¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ se²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sẽ³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² si²¹³/

/iɪʔ³³ sã⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ sz̩²¹/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ sã²³ iɪʔ⁵⁵ sz̩ʷ⁵¹/

Working folks like us slaving for money our entire lives

1977 March 26, Theme Song, The Private Eyes (半斤八兩), sung by Sam Hui (許冠傑) at the 1st Hong Kong Gold Disc Award Presentation (第一屆香港金唱片頒獎典禮)

ngo⁵ dei⁶ ne¹ baan¹ daa² gung¹ zai², jat¹ sang¹ jat¹ sai³ wai⁴ cin⁴ bai⁶ zou⁶ nou⁴ dai⁶

我哋呢班打工仔 一生一世為錢幣做奴隸

我哋呢班打工仔 一生一世为钱币做奴隶


以偏概全

ㄧˇ ㄆㄧㄢ ㄍㄞˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ипяньгайцюань

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/jiː¹³ pʰiːn⁵⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

to take a part for the whole; to generalise


因人而異

ㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ ㄦˊ ㄧˋ

/in⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

/in⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ jiː²¹ jiː²²/

to differ from person to person; to vary with each individual


露齒而笑

ㄌㄨˋ ㄔˇ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

ㄌㄡˋ ㄔˇ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/loʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː²¹ siːu̯³³/

/lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/loʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/lou̯²² t͡sʰiː³⁵ jiː²¹ siːu̯³³/


久仰大名

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ¹³ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

(polite, honorific) I have been looking forward to meeting you for a long time


難以置信

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄓˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ

наньичжисинь

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡siː³³ sɵn³³/

/laŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ ti²¹³⁻⁵⁵ siŋ²¹³/

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ t͡siː³³ sɵn³³/

/laŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ĩ⁵²⁻³⁵ ti²¹³⁻⁵⁵ siŋ²¹³/


小菜一碟

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄘㄞˋ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄝˊ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛ³⁵/

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄘㄞˋ ㄧ ㄉㄧㄝˊㄦ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti̯ɛɻ³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jɐt̚⁵ tiːp̚²/

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³³ jɐt̚⁵ tiːp̚²/

a piece of cake; something very easy to accomplish


似是而非

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ siː²² jiː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³ siː²² jiː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

In the world many things seem real, which are not; and there are many falsehoods, which are taken for truths. Thus the stories of Dubo and Zhuang Ziyi have been handed down.

Wang Chong, Lun Heng (Discussive Weighing), 80 CE, translated based on Alfred Forke's version

Shì duō sìshì'érfēi, xūwěi lèizhēn, gù Dùbó, Zhuāng Zǐyì zhī yǔ, wǎngwǎng ér cún.

世多似是而非，虛偽類真，故杜伯、莊子義之語，往往而存。

世多似是而非，虚伪类真，故杜伯、庄子义之语，往往而存。

Such remarks, however plausible, are actually groundless and specious empty talk.

1938, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論持久戰》 (On Protracted War), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Zhèxiē huà, jiǎng qǐlai hǎoxiàng yǒu dàolǐ, shíjìshàng shì háowú gēnjù, sìshì'érfēi de kōngtán.

這些話，講起來好像有道理，實際上是毫無根據、似是而非的空談。

这些话，讲起来好像有道理，实际上是毫无根据、似是而非的空谈。

seemingly so, but not really; appears right, but in fact wrong; specious


好事多磨

ㄏㄠˇ ㄕˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄇㄛˊ

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hou̯³⁵ siː²² tɔː⁵⁵ mɔː²¹/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hou̯³⁵ siː²² tɔː⁵⁵ mɔː²¹/

the road to happiness is strewn with setbacks


四面八方

ㄙˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄚ ㄈㄤ

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ miːn²² paːt̚³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/si⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

/ɕi⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

/sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ miːn²² paːt̚³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/si⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

/ɕi⁴⁵ mi̯ẽ²¹⁻¹¹ pa̠²⁴ ɸan³³/

in all directions; all around; far and wide


千方百計

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄈㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄐㄧˋ

цяньфанбайцзи

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ kɐi̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ kɐi̯³³/

by every possible means; by hook or by crook


咩話

/mɛː⁵⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/

/mɛː⁵⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/

你講咩話？

你讲咩话？

(Cantonese) pardon; sorry (used to ask someone to repeat something not heard or understood clearly)


小狗懶擦鞋

/siːu̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ laːn¹³ t͡sʰaːt̚³ haːi̯²¹/

Coined by Jimmy Pang Chi-ming as the title of his book about Cantonese profanities.

(Cantonese) A phrase containing words with similar sounds to the five profanities in Cantonese: 屌 (diu2), 㞗 (gau1), 撚 (lan2), 𨳍 (cat6), 閪／𲈹 (hai1).


自立自強

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ lip̚⁴⁻² t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiaŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɐp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡siː²² laːp̚² t͡siː²² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ lip̚⁴⁻² t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ kʰiaŋ⁵⁵/


能歌善舞

ㄋㄥˊ ㄍㄜ ㄕㄢˋ ㄨˇ

/nɤŋ³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɤŋ³⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to be good at singing and dancing; (figurative) to have many talents


難以啟齒

ㄋㄢˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧˇ ㄔˇ

/nän³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ kʰɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/naːn²¹ jiː¹³ kʰɐi̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to be too embarrassed to mention something; to find it difficult to speak about something


條毛

/tʰiːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹/

/tʰiːu̯²¹ mou̯²¹/

你識條毛！

你识条毛！


出乎意料

ㄔㄨ ㄏㄨ ㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄠˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ fuː²¹ jiː³³ liːu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ fuː²¹ jiː³³ liːu̯²²/


回頭是岸

→ Vietnamese: quay đầu là bờ (calque)

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕˋ ㄢˋ

хуэйтоу ши ань

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siː²² ŋɔːn²²/

/hui⁵³⁻³³ ^((tʰ-))lau⁵³⁽⁻²¹⁾ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾li²⁴²⁻⁵³ ŋiɑŋ²⁴²/

/xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹/

/wuːi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siː²² ŋɔːn²²/


滔滔不絕

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (滔滔不絕):
* → Korean: 도도불절(滔滔不絶) (dodobuljeol)
* → Vietnamese: thao thao bất tuyệt (滔滔不絕)

ㄊㄠ ㄊㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

таотаобуцзюэ

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

/tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːt̚²/

nineteen to the dozen
nineteen to the dozen

(of talking) endless; talking nineteen to the dozen


人山人海

Sino-Xenic (人山人海):
* → Korean: 인산인해(人山人海) (insaninhae)

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄞˇ

жэньшаньжэньхай

žɛnʹšanʹžɛnʹxaj

/ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ saːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋin¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋin¹¹ hoɪ³¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³/

/zin²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ saːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵/

/ŋin¹¹ san⁴⁴⁻³⁵ ŋin¹¹ hoɪ³¹/

/lin²⁴⁻²² san⁴⁴⁻²² lin²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³/

/zin²³⁻³³ san⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹/

A chengyu expressing the idea of "a mountain (山 (shān)) of people (人 (rén)), a sea (海 (hǎi)) of people (人 (rén))".


遙遙領先

ㄧㄠˊ ㄧㄠˊ ㄌㄧㄥˇ ㄒㄧㄢ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ lɪŋ¹³ siːn⁵⁵/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵ liŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jiːu̯²¹ jiːu̯²¹ lɪŋ¹³ siːn⁵⁵/

Pǎo zài zuì qiánmiàn de èr hào xuǎnshǒu, yīmǎdāngxiān, yǐ yáoyáolǐngxiān qítā xuǎnshǒu.

跑在最前面的二號選手，一馬當先，已遙遙領先其他選手。

跑在最前面的二号选手，一马当先，已遥遥领先其他选手。

to be a long way in front; to be far ahead; to lead by a wide margin


喋喋不休

ㄉㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄧㄝˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄡ

/ti̯ɛ³⁵ ti̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːp̚² tiːp̚² pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/ti̯ɛ³⁵ ti̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tiːp̚² tiːp̚² pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

to chatter or jabber on and on (endlessly, ceaselessly)


言歸正傳

ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄢˋ

яньгуйчжэнчжуань

/jɛn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡syːn²²⁻³⁵/

/jɛn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/jiːn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ t͡syːn²²⁻³⁵/

to return to the main topic; to go back to business, to finish a digression and get back to the main subject (cf. "retournons à nos moutons")


逐字逐句

ㄓㄨˊ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ

чжуцзычжуцзюй

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚² t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚² kɵy̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/t͡sʊk̚² t͡siː²² t͡sʊk̚² kɵy̯³³/

word by word and phrase by phrase, in a literal manner


傾盆大雨

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄆㄣˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹ taːi̯²² jyː¹³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ pʰən³⁵ tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰuːn²¹ taːi̯²² jyː¹³/


開門見山

ㄎㄞ ㄇㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄢ

каймэньцзяньшань

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ kiːn³³ saːn⁵⁵/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ kiːn³³ saːn⁵⁵/


驚天動地

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄧˋ

цзинтяньдунди

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²⁻²¹ te²²/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tʊŋ²² tei̯²²/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

/kiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tʰiɛn⁴⁴ tɔŋ²²⁻²¹ te²²/

/kiã⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ taŋ³³⁻²¹ te³³/

(of sound or influence) world-shaking; earth-shattering


咬文嚼字

ㄧㄠˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄠˊ ㄗˋ

яовэньцзяоцзы

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ŋaːu̯¹³ mɐn²¹ t͡sœːk̚³ t͡siː²²/

/ka³⁵⁻¹¹ buŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siak̚²⁻⁴ d͡zi¹¹/

/jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹/

/ŋaːu̯¹³ mɐn²¹ t͡sœːk̚³ t͡siː²²/

/ka³⁵⁻¹¹ buŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡siak̚²⁻⁴ d͡zi¹¹/

to bite on phrases and chew on characters; to pay excessive attention to wording and choice of characters; to nitpick like a grammar Nazi; to talk pedantically


如膠似漆

ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄙˋ ㄑㄧ

/ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵/

to cleave together as firmly and inseparably as glue and lacquer; to love each other dearly; to be closely bound together (as lovers)


可不是

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

1999, 瓊瑤, 還珠格格第二部, episode 22, 戴春荣, 赵敏芬 (actor):

- Lǎofóye, zěnme huángshàng de shǒubì diào zhe? Nándào zhēn de shòushāng le?
- Kěbùshì! Xìngkuī nǐ gàosu le wǒ; yàoburán, huángshang hái mán zhe wǒ ne!

— 老佛爺，怎麼皇上的手臂吊著？難道真的受傷了？
— 可不是！幸虧妳告訴了我；要不然，皇上還瞞著我呢！

— 老佛爷，怎么皇上的手臂吊着？难道真的受伤了？
— 可不是！幸亏你告诉了我；要不然，皇上还瞒着我呢！

Used as an emphatic affirmative answer to a question: indeed; right

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 可, 不, 是 (shì).


老牛吃嫩草

ㄌㄠˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄔ ㄋㄣˋ ㄘㄠˇ

лаоню чи нэньцао

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ nən⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lou̯¹³ ŋɐu̯²¹ hɛːk̚³ nyːn²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

/lou̯¹³ ŋɐu̯²¹ hɛːk̚³ nyːn²² t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

Another reason why robbing the cradle end badly is because of the generation gap.

Lìngwài yī ge lǎoniú chī nèncǎo bùhuì yǒu hǎo xiàchǎng de yuányīn shì niánlíng de dàigōu.

另外一個老牛吃嫩草不會有好下場的原因是年齡的代溝。

另外一个老牛吃嫩草不会有好下场的原因是年龄的代沟。

May-December relationship; to rob the cradle; a romance where one partner is significantly older than the other


不離不棄

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/pu⁵¹ li³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ li³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

If you do not leave me, I will be by your side until the life ends.

你若不離不棄，我必生死相依。

你若不离不弃，我必生死相依。


朝朝暮暮

ㄓㄠ ㄓㄠ ㄇㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ

чжаочжаомуму

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²² mou̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ mou̯²² mou̯²²/

I am by the sun-kissed slopes of Mount Wu, and the steep footpath through the rugged land.
I am the luminous clouds at sunrise, and the strolling shower of eventide.
Day after day, night by another night, I am here by this Tower of the Sun.

c. 3rd century BCE, Song Yu (宋玉), At the Tower of Gaotang (《高唐賦》)

Qiè zài Wūshān zhīyáng, gāoqiū zhīzǔ, dànwéi zhāoyún, mùwéi xíngyǔ. Zhāozhāo mùmù, yángtái zhīxià.

妾在巫山之陽，高丘之阻，旦為朝雲，暮為行雨。朝朝暮暮，陽臺之下。

妾在巫山之阳，高丘之阻，旦为朝云，暮为行雨。朝朝暮暮，阳台之下。

If love between both sides lasts sempiternally, then would (staying together) every day and night be the point?

Liǎngqíng ruòshì jiǔcháng shí, yòu qǐzài zhāozhāomùmù.

兩情若是久長時，又豈在朝朝暮暮。

两情若是久长时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。

from dawn to dusk; all the time; day after day


隔牆有耳

ㄍㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄦˇ

/kɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː¹³/

/kaːk̚³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ jiː¹³/


地滑

/ti⁵¹ xu̯ä³⁵/

/ti⁵¹ xu̯ä³⁵/

beware of slippery floor (a phrase commonly seen on warning signs)

小心地滑


泛泛而談

ㄈㄢˋ ㄈㄢˋ ㄦˊ ㄊㄢˊ

фаньфаньэртань

/fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/faːn³³ faːn³³ jiː²¹ tʰaːm²¹/

/fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/faːn³³ faːn³³ jiː²¹ tʰaːm²¹/

He only spoke in generalities; he didn't go into detail.

他只是泛泛而談，沒有細說。

他只是泛泛而谈，没有细说。


固執己見

ㄍㄨˋ ㄓˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

гучжицзицзянь

/ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kuː³³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/

/ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/kuː³³ t͡sɐp̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn³³/


腳踏兩條船

ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄊㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

цзяо та лян тяо чуань

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰä⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² lœːŋ¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ syːn²¹/

/kœːk̚³ taːp̚² lœːŋ¹³ tʰiːu̯²¹ syːn²¹/

have a foot in both camps
have a foot in both camps

to have two dates at the same time, to two-time


笨鳥先飛

ㄅㄣˋ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄟ

бэньняосяньфэй

/pən⁵¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pən⁵¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

(figuratively, usually humble) the slow need to start early for fear of falling behind


博大精深

ㄅㄛˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄣ

бодацзиншэнь

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ taːi̯²² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/pʰak̚²⁻⁴ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰim³³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pɔːk̚³ taːi̯²² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/pʰak̚²⁻⁴ tai³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰim³³/

蘊含博大精深的學問

蕴含博大精深的学问

(of concepts) wide-ranging and profound; deep


個頭

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯¹/

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/kɔː³³ tʰɐu̯²¹⁻³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯¹/

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/kɔː³³ tʰɐu̯²¹⁻³⁵/

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kɔː³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/kɤ⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kɔː³³ tʰɐu̯²¹/


請慢用

ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄇㄢˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ maːn²² jʊŋ²²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ män⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ maːn²² jʊŋ²²/


狐假虎威

→ Vietnamese: cáo mượn oai hùm (calque)

ㄏㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄨㄟ

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wuː²¹ kaː³⁵ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/wuː²¹ kaː³⁵ fuː³⁵ wɐi̯⁵⁵/

From Zhan Guo Ce, 5th – 3rd centuries BCE.

The tiger, which hunts and eats all the animals, caught a fox. The fox said, "Don't you dare eat me. Heaven made me master of all the animals. If you eat me now, you will go against Heaven's will. If you don't believe me, I'll go in front of you and you can follow me. Observe whether the animals can see me and dare to not run away!" The tiger believed that this was true, so he followed behind the fox. Whoever saw the tiger ran away. The tiger did not know that the animals were running away because they were afraid of him, and he thought that they were afraid of the fox.

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Hǔ qiú bǎishòu ér shí zhī, dé hú. Hú yuē: ‘Zǐ wú gǎn shí wǒ yě. Tiāndì shǐ wǒ cháng bǎishòu, jīn zǐ shí wǒ, shì nì tiāndì mìng yě. Zǐ yǐ wǒ wèi bùxìn, wú wèi zǐ xiānxíng, zǐ suí wǒ hòu, guān bǎishòu zhī jiàn wǒ ér gǎn bù zǒu hū?’ Hǔ yǐwèi rán, gù suì yǔ zhī xíng. Shòu jiàn zhī jiē zǒu. Hǔ bù zhī shòu wèi jǐ ér zǒu yě, yǐwèi wèi hú yě.

虎求百獸而食之，得狐。狐曰：『子無敢食我也。天帝使我長百獸，今子食我，是逆天帝命也。子以我為不信，吾為子先行，子隨我後，觀百獸之見我而敢不走乎？』虎以為然，故遂與之行。獸見之皆走。虎不知獸畏己而走也，以為畏狐也。

虎求百兽而食之，得狐。狐曰：『子无敢食我也。天帝使我长百兽，今子食我，是逆天帝命也。子以我为不信，吾为子先行，子随我后，观百兽之见我而敢不走乎？』虎以为然，故遂与之行。兽见之皆走。虎不知兽畏己而走也，以为畏狐也。

(figurative, derogatory) to use powerful connections to intimidate people


堅持不懈

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄔˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ haːi̯²²/

/kiaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hai³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/kiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ haːi̯²²/

/kiaŋ³³⁻²³ tʰi⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ hai³⁵/

to persevere; to keep going until the end


沒說的

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

/meɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

to go without saying; to be self-evident


不待說

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɔːi̯²² syːt̚³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɔːi̯²² syːt̚³/


圖樣

/tʰu³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰu³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

圖樣圖森破 圖樣圖森破#Chinese

图样图森破 图样图森破#Chinese

too young, too simple, sometimes naive
too young, too simple, sometimes naive

(Mainland China, neologism, slang, humorous) Short for 圖樣圖森破／图样图森破 (túyàngtúsēnpò, “too young, too simple, sometimes naive”).


不用說

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²² syːt̚³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²² syːt̚³/


長途跋涉

ㄔㄤˊ ㄊㄨˊ ㄅㄚˊ ㄕㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pɐt̚² siːp̚³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puak̚⁴⁻² siap̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tʰu³⁵ pä³⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰou̯²¹ pɐt̚² siːp̚³/

/tiɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² tɔ²⁴⁻²² puat̚⁴⁻³² siap̚⁴/

/t͡sʰiaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ puak̚⁴⁻² siap̚⁴/


置之不理

ㄓˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯¹³/

to ignore; to brush aside; to pay no heed to


挹彼注茲

ㄧˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄓㄨˋ ㄗ

/i⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/i⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

to draw from one to make good the deficits of another


連軸轉

ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄡˊ ㄓㄨㄢˇ

ляньчжоучжуань

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to work non-stop, to work around the clock (lit.: to continuously revolve)


門庭若市

ㄇㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

/mən³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² siː¹³/

/mən³⁵ tʰiŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/muːn²¹ tʰɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² siː¹³/

Upon giving the order, a mass of ministers came to admonish; the front yard was as crowded as a market.

Lìng chū xià, qúnchén jìnjiàn, méntíng ruò shì.

令初下，群臣進諫，門庭若市。

令初下，群臣进谏，门庭若市。

front yard as busy as a marketplace; a place with many visitors


沒辦法

/meɪ̯³⁵ pän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/meɪ̯³⁵ pän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

there is nothing to be done; one can't do anything about it


胎死腹中

ㄊㄞ ㄙˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄥ

/tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰɔːi̯⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

fetus dies in the belly; stillbirth; stillborn

(figurative) plans or projects failed or were cancelled before being tried


發號施令

ㄈㄚ ㄏㄠˋ ㄕ ㄌㄧㄥˋ

/fä⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹/

/faːt̚³ hou̯²² siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²²/

/fä⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ⁵¹/

/faːt̚³ hou̯²² siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²²/

Only those who are subjective, one-sided and superficial in their approach to problems will smugly issue orders or directives the moment they arrive on the scene, without considering the circumstances, without viewing things in their totality (their history and their present state as a whole) and without getting to the essence of things (their nature and the internal relations between one thing and another). Such people are bound to trip and fall.

Zhǐyǒu nàxiē zhǔguān de, piànmiàn de hé biǎomiàn de kàn wèntí de rén, pǎo dào yī gè dìfang, bù wèn huánjìng de qíngkuàng, bù kàn shìqing de quántǐ (shìqing de lìshǐ hé quánbù xiànzhuàng), yě bù chù dào shìqing de běnzhì (shìqing de xìngzhì jí cǐ yī shìqing hé qítā shìqing de nèibù liánxì), jiù zìyǐwéishì de fāhàoshīlìng qilai, zhèyàng de rén shì méiyǒu bù diē jiāozi de.

只有那些主觀地、片面地和表面地看問題的人，跑到一個地方，不問環境的情況，不看事情的全體（事情的歷史和全部現狀），也不觸到事情的本質（事情的性質及此一事情和其它事情的內部聯繫），就自以為是地發號施令起來，這樣的人是沒有不跌交子的。

只有那些主观地、片面地和表面地看问题的人，跑到一个地方，不问环境的情况，不看事情的全体（事情的历史和全部现状），也不触到事情的本质（事情的性质及此一事情和其它事情的内部联系），就自以为是地发号施令起来，这样的人是没有不跌交子的。


免談

/mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän³⁵/

/mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän³⁵/

此事免談。

此事免谈。

Let's not talk about it; You might just as well save your breath.


問寒問暖

ㄨㄣˋ ㄏㄢˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄋㄨㄢˇ

вэньханьвэньнуань

/wən⁵¹ xän³⁵ wən⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²² hɔːn²¹ mɐn²² nyːn¹³/

/wən⁵¹ xän³⁵ wən⁵¹ nu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɐn²² hɔːn²¹ mɐn²² nyːn¹³/

to show concern for someone's welfare; to enquire about someone's well-being


酒過數巡

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄣˊ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ɕyn³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ɕyn³⁵/


喜出望外

ㄒㄧˇ ㄔㄨ ㄨㄤˋ ㄨㄞˋ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/hi⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ mo¹¹ ɡua¹¹/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²² ŋɔːi̯²²/

/hi⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ mo¹¹ ɡua¹¹/

to be pleasantly surprised by unexpected good news


有所不知

ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ti³³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ ti⁴⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/u³⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/iu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴ put̚⁵⁻²⁴ ti³³/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁵ ti⁴⁴/

/iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁴¹ put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴/

/u³⁵⁻¹¹ so⁵²⁻³⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³/


不知不覺

ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻²² put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ ti⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kak̚³²/

2002, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “時光 [shíguāng, Time]”, in 時光·漫步 [Time, Stroll], performed by Xu Wei:

In an instant / I remembered you unconsciously

Zài bùzhībùjué de yīshùnjiān, Yòu xiǎngqǐ nǐ

在不知不覺的一瞬間 又想起你

在不知不觉的一瞬间 又想起你


喬遷之喜

ㄑㄧㄠˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄒㄧˇ

цяоцяньчжиси

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵/

/kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hei̯³⁵/

happy occasion of moving into a new house; house warming (celebration)


無所不為

Sino-Xenic (無所不為):
* → Korean: 무소불위(無所不爲) (musoburwi)

ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˊ

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/bu²³⁻³³ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

/bu²⁴⁻²² sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ ui²⁴/

to stop at nothing; to do all manner of evil


七嘴八舌

ㄑㄧ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄚ ㄕㄜˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paːt̚³ siːt̚²/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁴¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sʰui¹¹⁻⁵³ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siʔ⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ paːt̚³ siːt̚²/

a discussion with everybody talking at once


不消說

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


招財進寶

招财进宝
*⿱𡩧⿺進⿰貝招

ㄓㄠ ㄘㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄅㄠˇ

чжаоцайцзиньбао

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³ pou̯³⁵/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sɵn³³ pou̯³⁵/

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year#English

to usher in wealth and prosperity (traditional greeting, especially during Chinese New Year)