自以為是

ㄗˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ siː²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² si²²/

/t͡su⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² si⁴¹/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² si²²/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ si³³/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ si³³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ siː²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² si²²/

/t͡su⁴¹⁻²² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² si⁴¹/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² si²²/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ si³³/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ si³³/

Those prone to fights invariably consider themselves right and others wrong.

Fán dòu zhě, bì zìyǐwèishì, ér yǐ rén wèi fēi yě.

凡鬥者，必自以為是，而以人為非也。

凡斗者，必自以为是，而以人为非也。

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.

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

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。

to consider oneself in the right; to regard oneself as infallible; self-righteous


山重水複

ㄕㄢ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄨˋ

шань чун шуй фу

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹/

See also: 山重水複疑無路，柳暗花明又一村

also

山重水複疑無路，柳暗花明又一村

See also: 山重水複疑無路，柳暗花明又一村


天旋地轉

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄢˇ

тяньсюаньдичжуань

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ti⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to feel as if the sky and earth were spinning round; to feel very dizzy

the world is turned upside down (as the result of major political turmoil)


虛無縹緲

虚无缥缈
虛無縹渺
虛無飄渺

ㄒㄩ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄇㄧㄠˇ

ㄒㄩ ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄠˇ ㄇㄧㄠˇ

/ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯¹³ miːu̯¹³/

/ɕy⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯⁵⁵ miːu̯¹³/

/hɵy̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰiːu̯¹³ miːu̯¹³/

2000, Xu Wei (lyrics and music), “那一年 [In that Year]”, in 那一年 [In that Year], performed by Xu Wei:

You've been keeping on running since so many years ago / What you can only do is to let tomorrow be still unpredictable

Zhème duōnián nǐ háizài bùtíng bēnpǎo, Yǎn kàn zhe míngtiān yīrán xūwúpiāomiǎo

這麼多年你還在不停奔跑 眼看著明天依然虛無縹緲

这么多年你还在不停奔跑 眼看着明天依然虚无缥缈

purely imaginary; entirely unreal; visionary; illusory


鈿合金釵

ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄞ

дяньхэ цзиньчай

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

keepsakes that one gives to someone in order to show one's affection


天上人間

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

тяньшан жэньцзянь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² jɐn²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² jɐn²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

(figuratively, idiomatic, of two things being compared) exhibiting significant differences


功微德薄

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄛˊ

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ tɐk̚⁵ pɔːk̚²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ tɤ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ tɐk̚⁵ pɔːk̚²/

(of a person) having few accomplishments or virtues


無家可歸

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄎㄜˇ ㄍㄨㄟ

у цзя кэ гуй

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kaː⁵⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

Cao was shocked when he heard the report, saying, "If Yanzhou is lost, I will no longer have a home to return to. I must come up with a plan and fast!"

c. 1330 - 1400: Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 11

Cāo wén bào dà jīng yuē: “Yǎnzhōu yǒu shī, shǐ wú wújiākěguī yǐ, bùkě bù jí tú zhī!”

操聞報大驚曰：「兗州有失，使吾無家可歸矣，不可不亟圖之！」

操闻报大惊曰：「兖州有失，使吾无家可归矣，不可不亟图之！」

to wander about without a home to go back to; to be homeless


阿貓阿狗

/ˀä⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀä⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/aː³³ maːu̯⁵⁵ aː³³ kɐu̯³⁵/

/a⁴⁴⁻²² niau⁴⁴ a⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁴²/

/aʔ³³ mɔ⁵⁵ aʔ³³ kɤ²¹/

/ˀä⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ˀä⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/aː³³ maːu̯⁵⁵ aː³³ kɐu̯³⁵/

/a⁴⁴⁻²² niau⁴⁴ a⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁴²/

/aʔ³³ mɔ⁵⁵ aʔ³³ kɤ²¹/

1979 May 5, 李义彬 (Li Yibin), 《他高举着火炬走来——李大钊烈士在五四运动中》, in 《人民日報》 [People's Daily], issue 11257, page 6

Mǎkèsī zhǔyì gānggāng kāishǐ zài Zhōngguó chuánbō, mǎibàn wénrén Hú Shì “jiù kànbùguò le, rěnbùzhù le”, tā pòmén'érchū, èdú wūmiè tánlùn hé xuānchuán Mǎkèsī zhǔyì shì “āmāo'āgǒu”, “yīngwǔ liúshēngjī dōu néng zuò de shì”, jiàorǎng “shào tán xiē zhǔyì, duō yánjiū xiē wèntí”, fǎnduì zài Zhōngguó jìnxíng chèdǐ gémìng, zǒu shèhuìzhǔyì dàolù.

馬克思主義剛剛開始在中國傳播，買辦文人胡適「就看不過了，忍不住了」，他破門而出，惡毒污衊談論和宣傳馬克思主義是「阿貓阿狗」，「鸚鵡留聲機都能做的事」，叫嚷「少談些主義，多研究些問題」，反對在中國進行徹底革命，走社會主義道路。

马克思主义刚刚开始在中国传播，买办文人胡适「就看不过了，忍不住了」，他破门而出，恶毒污蔑谈论和宣传马克思主义是「阿猫阿狗」，「鹦鹉留声机都能做的事」，叫嚷「少谈些主义，多研究些问题」，反对在中国进行彻底革命，走社会主义道路。

(derogatory) Tom, Dick and Harry; group of people that are ignorant, stupid or unskilled; rabble, a mob


何足掛齒

ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄔˇ

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ kʷaː³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ kʷaː³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

Zhè zhǐshì jǔshǒuzhīláo éryǐ, hézúguàchǐ?

這只是舉手之勞而已，何足掛齒？

这只是举手之劳而已，何足挂齿？

(sometimes humble) insignificant, not even worth mentioning


塚中枯骨

ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄎㄨ ㄍㄨˇ

чжунчжункугу

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ kʷɐt̚⁵/

Kong Rong said, "Yuan Gonglu is a deadbeat; he's not even worth mentioning!"

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Kǒng Róng yuē: “Yuán Gōnglù zhǒngzhōngkūgǔ, hézúguàchǐ!”

孔融曰：「袁公路塚中枯骨，何足掛齒！」

孔融曰：「袁公路冢中枯骨，何足挂齿！」

a deadbeat; a useless person; a person without any power or influence


樹功立業

ㄕㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/ʂu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/ʂu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

to do great deeds; to accomplish great things and establish oneself; to make a name for oneself


死不瞑目

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/su⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² bɔk̚⁴/

/su⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²³⁻³³ bɔk̚⁴/

/si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ bɔk̚⁴/


有勇無謀

ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄇㄡˊ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ¹³ mou̯²¹ mɐu̯²¹/

(Cao) Cao said: "I think Lü Bu is all brawn and no brains; we need not worry about him."

Cāo yuē: “Wú liào Lǚ Bù yǒuyǒngwúmóu, bù zú lǜ yě.”

操曰：「吾料呂布有勇無謀，不足慮也。」

操曰：「吾料吕布有勇无谋，不足虑也。」

all brawn and no brains
all brawn and no brains

to be foolhardy; to be brave but to lack a strategic mind; all brawn and no brains


鼎足之勢

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓ ㄕˋ

динцзу чжи ши

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

a triumvirate of forces; a tripartite force


面面相覷

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄩˋ

мяньмяньсянцюй

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/miːn²² miːn²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³³/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/miːn²² miːn²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³³/

to look at each other (in fear) without knowing what to do; to look at each other in blank dismay


愛誰誰

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂeɪ̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂeɪ̯³⁵/

A: Do you have any idea that whom you've offended? B: Whoever. I'm scared of nobody.

A: Nǐ zhīdào nǐ gāngcái dézuì de shì shéi ma? B: Ài shéi shéi. Tā shì shéi wǒ yě bù pà.

A：你知道你剛才得罪的是誰嗎？B：愛誰誰。他是誰我也不怕。

A：你知道你刚才得罪的是谁吗？B：爱谁谁。他是谁我也不怕。


……字倒過來寫

to write (one'sname) upside down/backwards

ㄗˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

цзы дао голай се

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Many viewers have said that I never did anything as good after Straight Talking. I can only laugh. If they look at the program now as it was back then and still think it's any good, I'll eat my hat (lit. I'll write my surname of "Cui" upside down).

Hǎoduō guānzhòng dōu shuō, nǐ de “shíhuà shíshuō” hòulái méiyǒu zhīqián zuò de hǎo, wǒ zhǐnéng xiào xiào, rúguǒ tāmen kàndào dāngchū wǒ zuò de jiémù, hái shuō hǎo dehuà, wǒ “Cuī” zì dào guòlái xiě.

好多觀眾都說，你的「實話實說」後來沒有之前做得好，我只能笑笑，如果他們看到當初我做的節目，還說好的話，我「崔」字倒過來寫。

好多观众都说，你的「实话实说」后来没有之前做得好，我只能笑笑，如果他们看到当初我做的节目，还说好的话，我「崔」字倒过来写。


大雨如注

ㄉㄚˋ ㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄓㄨˋ

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ jyː²¹ t͡syː³³/

/tä⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jyː¹³ jyː²¹ t͡syː³³/


經天緯地

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄧˋ

цзинтяньвэйди

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ wɐi̯¹³ tei̯²²/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ wɐi̯¹³ tei̯²²/

經 (to weave vertically) + 天 (the heavens) + 緯 (to weave horizontally) + 地 (the earth)

(a talent for) managing affairs of state


殘暴不仁

ㄘㄢˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

цаньбаобужэнь

/t͡sʰän³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːn²¹ pou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/


一字不易

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ jɪk̚²/


無關大體

ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

to have no bearing or influence on the overall situation


江翻海沸

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄈㄢ ㄏㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ

цзянфаньхайфэй

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

(literary) startlingly turbulent and chaotic (describing a loud sound); thunderous (noise)


怒目咬牙

ㄋㄨˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄚˊ

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä³⁵/

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹ jɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jä³⁵/

Literally: glaring eyes and clenched teeth


將計就計

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄐㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ

цзян цзи цзю цзи

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

to turn somebody's trick against him; to beat somebody at his own game


隔靴搔癢

to scratch an itch from outside one's boot

ㄍㄜˊ ㄒㄩㄝ ㄙㄠ ㄧㄤˇ

/kɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵⁵ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ hœː⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³/

/kɤ³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵⁵ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːk̚³ hœː⁵⁵ sou̯⁵⁵ jœːŋ¹³/


學以致用

ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄧˇ ㄓˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːk̚² jiː¹³ t͡siː³³ jʊŋ²²/

/hak̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²²/

/hak̚²⁴⁻² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ti⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ⁴¹/

/hak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²²/

/hak̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ³³/

/hak̚⁴⁻³² i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ti²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ³³/

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/hɔːk̚² jiː¹³ t͡siː³³ jʊŋ²²/

/hak̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²²/

/hak̚²⁴⁻² i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ti⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iɔŋ⁴¹/

/hak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti²¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ²²/

/hak̚⁴⁻³² i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ti¹¹⁻⁵³ iɔŋ³³/

/hak̚⁴⁻³² i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ti²¹⁻⁴¹ iɔŋ³³/

to study for the purpose of application; to study something in order to apply it; to put into practice what has been learned


結草銜環

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄘㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

цзецао сяньхуань

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

I must repay this debt of kindness, in order to show my gratitude to you.

c. 1590: Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West/Chapter 37 (西遊記/第037回)

Zhèn dāng jiécǎoxiánhuán, bàochóu shīfù ēn yě.

朕當結草銜環，報酬師父恩也。

朕当结草衔环，报酬师父恩也。


死亦瞑目

ㄙˇ ㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄇㄨˋ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ mu⁵¹/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ²¹ mʊk̚²/

/sei̯³⁵ jɪk̚² mɪŋ¹³ mʊk̚²/


朝夕難保

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄠˇ

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄠˇ

чжаосинаньбао

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² naːn²¹ pou̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ nän³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚² naːn²¹ pou̯³⁵/

one's days are numbered; one is on the verge of death (or defeat etc.)


深根固本

ㄕㄣ ㄍㄣ ㄍㄨˋ ㄅㄣˇ

шэньгэньгубэнь

šɛnʹgɛnʹgubɛnʹ

/ʂən⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kuː³³ puːn³⁵/

/ʂən⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ ku⁵¹ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ kuː³³ puːn³⁵/


強弓硬弩

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄧㄥˋ ㄋㄨˇ

цян гун ин ну

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹ nu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹ nu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


狐群狗黨

ㄏㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄉㄤˇ

хуцюньгоудан

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/

/xu³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ tɔːŋ³⁵/


生擒活捉

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄓㄨㄛ

шэнцинь хочжо

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


天涯海角

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄚˊ ㄏㄞˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

тяньяхайцзяо

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jä³⁵ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ ŋaːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² ɡai²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰiɛn³³ ɡai²⁴⁻²² hai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kak̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² ɡai¹³⁻²² hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡai²⁴⁻¹¹ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡai²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ ŋaːi̯²¹ hɔːi̯³⁵ kɔːk̚³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² ɡai²⁴⁻²² hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰiɛn³³ ɡai²⁴⁻²² hai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kak̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² ɡai¹³⁻²² hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡai²⁴⁻¹¹ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡai²³⁻³³ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

ends of the world; ends of the earth; remote place


白刀子進，紅刀子出

the knife goes in white and comes out red

ㄅㄞˊ ㄉㄠ ˙ㄗ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄠ ˙ㄗ ㄔㄨ

бай даоцзы цзинь

хун даоцзы чу

/paɪ̯³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² t͡ɕin⁵¹ xʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

Liu Yufei had never seen a murder his whole life, until today when he saw it with his own eyes. It happened so vividly, and yet so simply, like the ruthless saying, "The knife goes in white and comes out red."

2005: 小说推荐网, 異能高手在校園 正文 第230章 白刀子進，紅刀子出

Liú Yǔfēi cóngxiǎodàodà cónglái méi jiàn guò shārén de chǎngmiàn, jīntiān kěshì qīnyǎn kàn dào le, nàme zhēnqiè yòu nàme jiǎndān, jiù xiàng rén fàng hěn huà de shíhòu shuō de — bái dāozi jìn, hóng dāozi chū.

劉雨菲從小到大從來沒見過殺人的場面，今天可是親眼看到了，那麼真切又那麼簡單，就像人放狠話的時候說的——白刀子進，紅刀子出。

2005: 小说推荐网, 異能高手在校園 正文 第230章 白刀子進，紅刀子出

刘雨菲从小到大从来没见过杀人的场面，今天可是亲眼看到了，那么真切又那么简单，就像人放狠话的时候说的——白刀子进，红刀子出。


至於嗎

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y¹ mä¹/

/t͡siː³³ jyː⁵⁵ maː⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jyː⁵⁵ maː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y¹ mä¹/

/t͡siː³³ jyː⁵⁵ maː⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ jyː⁵⁵ maː³³/

A: If he forgets to get me a birthday present, I might break up with him.
B: Isn't that going a bit far?

Jiǎ: Rúguǒ tā wàngjì sòng wǒ shēngrì lǐwù, wǒ kěnéng huì gēn tā chuī le.
Yǐ: Zhìyú ma?

甲：如果他忘記送我生日禮物，我可能會跟他吹了。
乙：至於嗎？

甲：如果他忘记送我生日礼物，我可能会跟他吹了。
乙：至于吗？

(colloquial) has it come to this?; is that really the case?


話是這麼說

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄕˋ ㄓㄜˋ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄕㄨㄛ

хуа ши чжэмэ шо

xua ši čžɛmɛ šo

/xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵¹ mə¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵¹ mə¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

A: The main language in Australia is English, isn't it?
B: You could say that, but Australia is multicultural, so you can hear many other languages there as well.

Jiǎ: Àozhōu de guānfāng yǔyán shì yīngyǔ, bùshì ma?
Yǐ: Huàshìzhèmeshuō, kěshì Àozhōu shì duōyuánwénhuà de guójiā, yě néng tīng dào bié de hěn duō yǔyán.

甲：澳洲的官方語言是英語，不是嗎？
乙：話是這麼說，可是澳洲是多元文化的國家，也能聽到別的很多語言。

甲：澳洲的官方语言是英语，不是吗？
乙：话是这么说，可是澳洲是多元文化的国家，也能听到别的很多语言。

(colloquial) you could say that; you've got a point


一言為定

ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄧㄥˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ tɪŋ²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ tiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ wɐi̯²¹ tɪŋ²²/

A: Let's go to a karaoke bar. B: OK, it's a deal.

Jiǎ: zánmen qù kǎlāOK ba. Yǐ: hǎode, yīyánwèidìng!

甲：咱們去卡拉OK吧。乙：好的，一言為定！

甲：咱们去卡拉OK吧。乙：好的，一言为定！


古往今來

ㄍㄨˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ

гуванцзиньлай

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kuː³⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ kɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/ku²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/kuː³⁵ wɔːŋ¹³ kɐm⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

through the ages; from antiquity to modernity


十全十美

ㄕˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄕˊ ㄇㄟˇ

шицюаньшимэй

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐp̚² mei̯¹³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sŋ̍²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/zəʔ¹¹ ʑi²³ zəʔ¹¹ me²³/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐp̚² t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐp̚² mei̯¹³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻²² sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²³⁻³³ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁴¹/

/sip̚⁴⁻³² t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ sip̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² t͡sŋ̍²⁴⁻²² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² bi⁵³/

/zəʔ¹¹ ʑi²³ zəʔ¹¹ me²³/

How can life without you count as perfect?

2016, 郭之儀 (lyrics and music), 十全十美, performed by 蔡秋鳳 [Kerris Tsai]

lîn-seng bô lí chóaⁿ sǹg si̍p-choân-si̍p-bí

人生沒你怎算十全十美

人生没你怎算十全十美


顛沛流離

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄆㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/tiːn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³ lɐu̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵/

/tiːn⁵⁵ pʰuːi̯³³ lɐu̯²¹ lei̯²¹/

From now on she'll lead the life of a vagrant.

Tā cóng cǐ guò shàng le diānpèiliúlí de shēnghuó.

她從此過上了顛沛流離的生活。

她从此过上了颠沛流离的生活。

to wander about in a desperate plight; to be destitute and homeless


哪兒跟哪兒

ㄋㄚˇㄦ ㄍㄣ ㄋㄚˇㄦ

нар гэнь нар

/nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kən⁵⁵ nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɑɻ²¹⁴ g̊ən⁴ nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kən⁵⁵ nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/nɑɻ²¹⁴ g̊ən⁴ nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

A: If the Iraq war ends, Sweden will be under threat.
B: What's the connection?

Rúguǒ yīlākè zhànzhēng jiéshù le, ruìdiǎn jiù chùzài wēixié zhīxià.
Yǐ: nǎrgēnnǎr zhè shì?

如果伊拉克戰爭結束了，瑞典就處在威脅之下。
乙：哪兒跟哪兒這是？

如果伊拉克战争结束了，瑞典就处在威胁之下。
乙：哪儿跟哪儿这是？

(colloquial) what's the comparison?; I don't see the connection; what's that got to do with it?


可不是嗎

ㄎㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ˙ㄇㄚ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ mä¹/

/hɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siː²² maː³³/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ mä¹/

/hɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ siː²² maː³³/

you can say that again
you can say that again

(colloquial) you can say that again; absolutely; that's very true


誰說不是呢

ㄕㄟˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ˙ㄋㄜ

shéi shuō bù shì ne [Phonetic:shéi shuō bú shì ne]

шэй шо бу ши нэ

/ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ nə¹/

/ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ nə¹/


愛怎麼怎麼著

ㄞˋ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄓㄠ

ай цзэньмэ цзэньмэ чжао

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ 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 dé wèi yī ge cūn de zījīn fùzé, wǒ dào shíhòu gěi guójiā liúshī le zījīn, lǎobǎixìng de qián jiànbudào, 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


八紘一宇

ㄅㄚ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧ ㄩˇ

/pä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pä⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Orthographic borrowing from Japanese 八(はっ)紘(こう)一(いち)宇(う) (Hakkō Ichiu).

ja-r

^はっ%こう ^いち%う

Hakkō ichiu (WWII-era phrase used by the Empire of Japan)


眼不見，心不煩

眼不见，心不烦
眼不見心不煩

ㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

янь бу цзянь

синь бу фань

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fän³⁵/

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

Jǐshí wǒ bì le zhè yǎn, duàn le zhè kǒu qì, píng zhe zhè liǎng ge yuānjiā nào shàng tiān qù, wǒ yǎn bù jiàn xīn bù fán, yě jiù bàle.

幾時我閉了這眼，斷了這口氣，憑著這兩個冤家鬧上天去，我眼不見心不煩，也就罷了。

几时我闭了这眼，断了这口气，凭着这两个冤家闹上天去，我眼不见心不烦，也就罢了。

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind


鼻子氣歪了

ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄑㄧˋ ㄨㄞ ˙ㄌㄜ

бицзы ци вай лэ

/pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ lə²/

/pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ waɪ̯⁵⁵ lə²/


鼻子不是鼻子臉不是臉

the nose is not the nose and the face is not the face

ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄅㄧˊ ˙ㄗ ㄌㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

bízi bùshì bízi liǎn bùshì liǎn [Phonetic:bízi búshì bízi liǎn búshì liǎn]

pi²-tzŭ⁵ pu⁴-shih⁴ pi²-tzŭ⁵ lien³ pu⁴-shih⁴ lien³

бицзы буши бицзы лянь буши лянь

/pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pi³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

[Phonetic: bízi búshì bízi liǎn búshì liǎn]

Just as the monkey was dazed and confused, the fat cat suddenly mentioned something he had forgotten, whereupon the fat cat got ticked off and ruthlessly started to abuse him.

Zhèngdāng hóuzi máng de hūntiān'àndì zhī shí, féi māo huì tūrán tíqǐ hóuzi zǎo jiù wàng le de lìngwài jǐ jiàn shì, ránhòu jiù bízi bùshì bízi liǎn bùshì liǎn de bǎ hóuzi hěnhěn chòumà yī dùn.

正當猴子忙得昏天暗地之時，肥貓會突然提起猴子早就忘了的另外幾件事，然後就鼻子不是鼻子臉不是臉的把猴子狠狠臭罵一頓。

正当猴子忙得昏天暗地之时，肥猫会突然提起猴子早就忘了的另外几件事，然后就鼻子不是鼻子脸不是脸的把猴子狠狠臭骂一顿。

(colloquial) to flare up; to be in a foul temper; in a bad mood; unhappy


八竿子打不著

ㄅㄚ ㄍㄢ ˙ㄗ ㄉㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ

ба ганьцзы дабучжао

/pä⁵⁵ kän⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵/

Ruan from Shangyu was wild with joy when he hit the five million dollar jackpot. He chose to have a lofty celebration, including a massive banquet and huge amounts of hongbao. But he really paid the price when, one night, his house started to become a hive of activity. Not only did a ton of random relatives start pouring into the place, but also complete strangers, all wanting to borrow some of this money.

2009, Cai Huangshang (彩皇上), 中500萬就「消失」說明了啥

Dāng 500 wàn yuán dàjiǎng zá zhòng Shàngyú rén Ruǎn mǒu shí, xīnxǐruòkuáng de tā xuǎnzé le gāodiào qìngzhù, dà bǎi yànxí, dà pài hóngbāo. Rán'ér, tā fùchū de dàijià shì, yīyèjiān tā jiā méntíngruòshì, bùjǐn hěnduō bā gānzi dǎbùzháo de qīnqi fēnzhìtàlái, jiù lián hěnduō sùbùxiāngshí de mòshēngrén yě kāishǐ shàngmén zhǎo tā jièqián.

當500萬元大獎砸中上虞人阮某時，欣喜若狂的他選擇了高調慶祝，大擺宴席，大派紅包。然而，他付出的代價是，一夜間他家門庭若市，不僅很多八竿子打不著的親戚紛至沓來，就連很多素不相識的陌生人也開始上門找他借錢。

当500万元大奖砸中上虞人阮某时，欣喜若狂的他选择了高调庆祝，大摆宴席，大派红包。然而，他付出的代价是，一夜间他家门庭若市，不仅很多八竿子打不着的亲戚纷至沓来，就连很多素不相识的陌生人也开始上门找他借钱。


福大命大造化大

lucky, lucky, lucky (using three different synonyms)

ㄈㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄗㄠˋ ˙ㄏㄨㄚ ㄉㄚˋ

фу да мин да цзаохуа да

/fu³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ä¹ tä⁵¹/

He escaped death many times. According to the traditional Chinese saying, he really is "lucky, lucky, lucky."

2008: Living Green Dragon (在世青龙), 无法用科学解释的“福大命大”！图文集

Tā duō cì lìxiǎn què dànànbùsǐ, ànzhào wǒmen zhōngguórén de chuántǒng shuōfǎ, tā zhēnde gòudeshàng shì “fú dà, mìng dà, zàohua dà”.

他多次歷險卻大難不死，按照我們中國人的傳統說法，他真的夠得上是「福大、命大、造化大」。

他多次历险却大难不死，按照我们中国人的传统说法，他真的够得上是「福大、命大、造化大」。

(colloquial) to be extremely fortunate and blessed


刀子嘴豆腐心

ㄉㄠ ˙ㄗ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄉㄡˋ ˙ㄈㄨ ㄒㄧㄣ

даоцзы цзуй доуфу синь

/tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵¹ fu¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

We all know that even though you talk tough, you're a softy underneath it all.

Wǒmen dōu zhīdào nǐ shì ge dāozi zuǐ dòufu xīn.

我們都知道你是個刀子嘴豆腐心。

我们都知道你是个刀子嘴豆腐心。

more bark than bite
all bark and no bite

someone who has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; someone with more bark than bite


無精打彩

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

無精打采 無精打采#Chinese

Alternative form of 無精打采 (wújīngdǎcǎi, “listless; lackadaisical”)


沒精打采

ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

мэйцзиндацай

/meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/muːt̚² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/muːt̚² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/


沒精打彩

ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

ㄇㄟˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

мэйцзиндацай

沒精打采 沒精打采#Chinese

Alternative form of 沒精打采 (méijīngdǎcǎi, “listless; lackadaisical”)


無精打采

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄞˇ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁴¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻²² t͡siɪŋ³³ tã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰai⁵⁵⁴/

/bu¹³⁻²² t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁵³/

/bu²³⁻³³ t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰai⁴¹/

One day though Lu suddenly turned listless. Even though she still put on makeup in the morning and tried on clothes, she was no longer in such a good mood as she used to be.

Kěshì yǒu yī duàn, Lù Xiǎolù tūrán biàndé wújīngdǎcǎi qǐlái, suīrán tiāntiān háishì yīdàzǎo jiù qǐlái huàzhuāng, shìchuān piàoliàng yīfú, dàn tā de jīngshén míngxiǎn méiyǒu guòqù hǎo.

可是有一段，陸小璐突然變得無精打采起來，雖然天天還是一大早就起來化妝，試穿漂亮衣服，但她的精神明顯沒有過去好。

可是有一段，陆小璐突然变得无精打采起来，虽然天天还是一大早就起来化妆，试穿漂亮衣服，但她的精神明显没有过去好。


他媽的

/tʰä⁵⁵ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

/tʰaː⁵⁵ maː⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

/tʰä⁵⁵ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

/tʰaː⁵⁵ maː⁵⁵ tɪk̚⁵/

Etymology unclear. Literally: "his mother's". Possibly an abbreviated form of 肏他媽的屄／肏他妈的屄 (“fuck his mother's vagina”), a profanity phrase which is circumlocutory for 肏你媽的屄／肏你妈的屄 (“fuck your mother's vagina”), with the initial and final profanity characters omitted.

你他媽的。

你他妈的。

"Bang." He threw the cutlery onto the table, and swore, "This food is fucking shit."

“Guānglāng” yī shēng tā bǎ dāochā rēng dào zhuō shàng, mà dào: “Zhè fàn zhēn tāmā nánchī.”

「咣啷」一聲他把刀叉扔到桌上，罵道：「這飯真他媽難吃。」

「咣啷」一声他把刀叉扔到桌上，骂道：「这饭真他妈难吃。」

Fuck, only five dollars. You are so fucking stingy.

Cào, cái gěi wǔ kuài, nǐ tāmāde tài kōumén le ba.

肏，才給五塊，你他媽的太摳門了吧。

肏，才给五块，你他妈的太抠门了吧。

我才他媽的不在乎呢。

我才他妈的不在乎呢。

Fuck. Not paying after taking a ride. What kind of person is this!

鲁迅《坟·论“他妈的”》

Tāmāde, zuò wán chē bù gěi qián, nín shuō shì shénme réntóur!

他媽的，坐完車不給錢，您說是什麼人頭兒！

鲁迅《坟·论“他妈的”》

他妈的，坐完车不给钱，您说是什么人头儿！

(Mandarin, vulgar) fuck; fucking; up yours


當飯吃

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ fän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ fän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

(slang) to regard as livelihood; to pay the bills


脫穎而出

ㄊㄨㄛ ㄧㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄔㄨ

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/tʰyːt̚³ wɪŋ²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵/

/tʰyːt̚³ wɪŋ²² jiː²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵/

I hope I can help you rise above your competitors.

Wǒ xīwàng wǒ néng bāng nín zài jìngzhēng zhōng tuōyǐng'érchū.

我希望我能幫您在競爭中脫穎而出。

我希望我能帮您在竞争中脱颖而出。

(of talent) to be revealed; to come to the fore; to rise above others


出其不意

ㄔㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

to take somebody by surprise; to catch somebody unawares


穿小鞋

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄝˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

(figurative) to make things hard for someone by abusing one's power


審美疲勞

ㄕㄣˇ ㄇㄟˇ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄠˊ

шэньмэй пилао

/ʂən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi³⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ʂən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi³⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

Popularized by the 2003 Chinese film Cell Phone (《手機》).

boredom towards things one has got used to; longingness for something new or different


死生有命，富貴在天

ㄙˇ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

фугуй цзай тянь

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

生死有命，富貴在天 生死有命，富貴在天#Chinese

生死有命，富贵在天 生死有命，富贵在天#Chinese

Alternative form of 生死有命，富貴在天／生死有命，富贵在天 (shēngsǐ yǒu mìng, fùguì zài tiān)


三天打魚，兩天曬網

tofish for three days and dry the net for two

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄩˊ

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄞˋ ㄨㄤˇ

san¹ tʻien¹ ta³ yü², liang³ tʻien¹ shai⁴ wang³

сань тянь да юй

лян тянь шай ван

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative) to fail to persevere in something; to be unwilling or too lazy to concentrate


看怎麼說

ㄎㄢˋ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄕㄨㄛ

кань цзэньмэ шо

/kʰän⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/kʰän⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

(colloquial) it depends on how you look at it


有你的

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴/

(colloquial) You're really something!; You're amazing!


不了了之

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄓ

/pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ liːu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

He had invited me to go travelling with him, but the idea came to nothing.

Tā běnlái qǐng wǒ lǚyóu, dàn hòulái jiù bùliǎoliǎozhī le.

他本來請我旅遊，但後來就不了了之了。

他本来请我旅游，但后来就不了了之了。


不見不散

ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ

буцзяньбусань

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ saːn³³/

/pʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kĩ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ pʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sũã²¹³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ saːn³³/

/pʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kĩ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ pʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sũã²¹³/

to stay put until other people have arrived

be there or be square
be there or be square


守口如瓶

to shut one's mouth tight like a bottle.

ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jyː²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zu²³⁻³³ pan²³/

/siu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kʰau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ zi²³⁻³³ pan²³/

放心，我會守口如瓶的。

放心，我会守口如瓶的。

keep one's mouth shut
keep one's mouth shut

to keep one's mouth shut; to remain tight-lipped


怎麼辦

/t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ pän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ paːn²²/

/t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ pän⁵¹/

/t͡sɐm³⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ paːn²²/

要是考試不及格的話，怎麼辦？

要是考试不及格的话，怎么办？

What do you do when you have nothing at all?

Dāng nǐ yīwúsuǒyǒu de shíhou, nǐ zěnmebàn?

當你一無所有的時候，你怎麼辦？

当你一无所有的时候，你怎么办？

(interrogative, colloquial) What to do?; What should be done?


找不著北

ㄓㄠˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄅㄟˇ

чжаобучжаобэй

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴ b̥u⁴ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴ b̥u⁴ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(colloquial) to be lost and confused; to be unable to find one's direction


也有今天

ㄧㄝˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄧㄢ

е ю цзиньтянь

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jaː¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kɐm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/jaː¹³ jɐu̯¹³ kɐm⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

After discovering John's infidelity his girlfriend dumped him - in the end he really got his just deserts.

Yuēhàn de nǚyǒu fāxiàn le tā de bùzhōng bìng shuǎi le tā, yuánlái tā yě yǒu jīntiān.

約翰的女友發現了他的不忠並甩了他，原來他也有今天。

约翰的女友发现了他的不忠并甩了他，原来他也有今天。

You'll get what you deserve for what you've done.

你也有今天都是你自作自受。

(colloquial) to get one's comeuppance for a wrong deed


一二三四五，上山打老虎

ㄧ ㄦˋ ㄙㄢ ㄙˋ ㄨˇ

ㄕㄤˋ ㄕㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄏㄨˇ

jat¹ ji⁶ saam¹ sei³ ng⁵, soeng⁵ saan¹ daa² lou⁵ fu²

yī èr sān sì wǔ, shàngshān dǎ lǎohǔ [Phonetic:yīèrsānsìwǔ,shàngshāndáláohǔ]

и эр сань сы у

шаншань да лаоху

/i⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

yāt yih sāam sei ńgh, séuhng sāan dá lóuh fú

jat⁷ ji⁶ saam¹ sei³ ng⁵, soeng⁵ saan¹ daa² lou⁵ fu²

yed¹ yi⁶ sam¹ séi³ ng⁵, sêng⁵ san¹ da² lou⁵ fu²

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː²² saːm⁵⁵ sei̯³³ ŋ̍¹³ sœːŋ¹³ saːn⁵⁵ taː³⁵ lou̯¹³ fuː³⁵/

one two three four five, climb a mountain and hit a tiger

eeny, meeny, miny, moe
eeny, meeny, miny, moe

(children's counting-out game) eeny, meeny, miny, moe

你拍一，我拍一，一隻小貓坐飛機／你拍一，我拍一，一只小猫坐飞机

nǐ pāi yī, wǒ pāi yī, yī zhī xiǎomāo zuò fēijī


你拍一，我拍一，一隻小貓坐飛機

head

你拍一，我拍一，一隻小貓坐飛機

你拍一，我拍一，一只小猫坐飞机

you clap, I clap, a kitten boards a plane

ㄧ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄇㄠ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧ

yī zhī xiǎomāo zuò fēijī [Phonetic:nǐ pāi yī

и чжи сяомао цзо фэйцзи

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/


舉手之勞

ㄐㄩˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓ ㄌㄠˊ

цзюйшоучжилао

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²¹/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/kɵy̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯²¹/

A: Thanks for helping me make dinner. B: No trouble at all.

Jiǎ: xièxiè bāng wǒ zuòfàn. Yǐ: jǔshǒuzhīláo.

甲：謝謝幫我做飯。乙：舉手之勞。

甲：谢谢帮我做饭。乙：举手之劳。

Fāngxuánchuò bù fèi jǔshǒuzhīláo de lǐng le qián, zhuó huán xiē jiù zhài, què hái quē yī dà bǐ kuǎn, zhè shì yīnwèi guānfèng yě pō yǒuxiē tuōqiàn le.

方玄綽不費舉手之勞的領了錢，酌還些舊債，卻還缺一大筆款，這是因為官俸也頗有些拖欠了。

方玄绰不费举手之劳的领了钱，酌还些旧债，却还缺一大笔款，这是因为官俸也颇有些拖欠了。

something that requires little effort; no trouble at all


愛人如己

ㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧˇ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ jɐn²¹ jyː²¹ kei̯³⁵/

From Leviticus 19:18 (among other passages). An early attestation comes from the Delegates' Version [1855]:
:
Probably popularized through the Chinese Union Version

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am Yahweh. [World English Bible]

Wù bàochóu, wù xùyuàn, ài rén rú jǐ, ěr bì shǒu wǒ Yēhéhuá suǒ mìng.

勿報仇、勿蓄怨、愛人如己、爾必守我耶和華所命。

勿报仇、勿蓄怨、爱人如己、尔必守我耶和华所命。

Bùkě bàochóu, yě bùkě mányuàn nǐ běnguó de zǐmín, què yào ài rén rú jǐ. Wǒ shì Yēhéhuá.

不可報仇、也不可埋怨你本國的子民、卻要愛人如己．我是耶和華。

不可报仇、也不可埋怨你本国的子民、却要爱人如己．我是耶和华。

Chinese Union Version
Delegates' Version


勢如破竹

ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄆㄛˋ ㄓㄨˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ pʰɔː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ jyː²¹ pʰɔː³³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

like a hot knife cutting through butter; with irresistible force


自由自在

ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄗㄞˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ (j)i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu¹³⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu²⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ iu²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sai³⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ (j)i̯u¹¹ t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵ t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu¹³⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su²²⁻²¹ iu²⁴⁻²² t͡su²²⁻²¹ t͡sai²²/

/t͡su³³⁻²¹ iu²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡su³³⁻¹¹ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai³³/

/t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² iu²⁴⁻²² t͡sɯ⁴¹⁻²² t͡sai⁴¹/

/t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ iu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sɯ³⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sai³⁵/


全心全意

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄧˋ

цюаньсиньцюаньи

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jiː³³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jiː³³/


心猿意馬

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄩㄢˊ ㄧˋ ㄇㄚˇ

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jiː³³ maː¹³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ i⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ jyːn²¹ jiː³³ maː¹³/

unable to concentrate, inattentive and vacillating


養尊處優

ㄧㄤˇ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄔㄨˇ ㄧㄡ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/jœːŋ¹³ t͡syːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

to live one's whole life in opulence and enjoying high social status


飢不擇食

ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² sɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² sɪk̚²/

beggars can't be choosers
beggars can't be choosers

(figurative) to be not choosy when one is hungry or when matters are urgent; beggars can't be choosers


嬌生慣養

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄧㄤˇ

цзяошэнгуаньян

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kiːu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn³³ jœːŋ¹³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵¹ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kiːu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷaːn³³ jœːŋ¹³/

having been indulged and spoiled since childhood


敗兵折將

ㄅㄞˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

байбинчжэцзян

/paɪ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːi̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/paɪ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːi̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːt̚³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

to suffer a major defeat in battle resulting in the loss of a number of soldiers and generals


後繼無人

ㄏㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄖㄣˊ

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/hɐu̯²² kɐi̯³³ mou̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

(idiomatic) having no successor or heir; figuratively referring to having no one to continue practising a skilled profession or a talent


傲慢無禮

ㄠˋ ㄇㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧˇ

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ män⁵¹ u³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ män⁵¹ u³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

arrogant; displaying little respect for others


三心二意

ㄙㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄦˋ ㄧˋ

ㄙㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄦˋ ㄧˋ

/sän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/san⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɚ²¹³ i²¹³/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jiː³³/

/san⁴² ɕin⁴² ɵ¹¹ i³⁵/

/sæ̃¹¹ ɕĩŋ¹¹ əɻ⁴⁵ i⁴⁵/

/san³³ sin³³ ɤ̞²¹⁻¹¹ i⁴⁵/

/san³³ ɕin³³ ɤ̞²¹⁻¹¹ i⁴⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/san⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ɚ²¹³ i²¹³/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jiː²² jiː³³/

/san⁴² ɕin⁴² ɵ¹¹ i³⁵/

/sæ̃¹¹ ɕĩŋ¹¹ əɻ⁴⁵ i⁴⁵/

/san³³ sin³³ ɤ̞²¹⁻¹¹ i⁴⁵/

/san³³ ɕin³³ ɤ̞²¹⁻¹¹ i⁴⁵/

shilly-shally; half-hearted; without consistency or constancy; likely to change minds easily


好鋼用在刀刃上

To use the good steel on the knife's edge

ㄏㄠˇ ㄍㄤ ㄩㄥˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄉㄠ ㄖㄣˋ ㄕㄤˋ

хаоган юнцзай даожэньшан

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɑŋ⁵⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

When rebuilding after a disaster, one must use resources where they count.

Zāi hòu chóngjiàn bìxū hǎogāng yòngzài dāorènshàng.

災後重建必須好鋼用在刀刃上。

灾后重建必须好钢用在刀刃上。

to use the best resources in the most important areas


前怕狼後怕虎

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄚˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄆㄚˋ ㄏㄨˇ

цянь па лан хоу па ху

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pʰä⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ pʰaː³³ lɔːŋ²¹ hɐu̯²² pʰaː³³ fuː³⁵/

The elderly are always overly cautious and worry about every little thing.

Shàng le niánjì de rén dōu shì qián pà láng hòu pà hǔ, shìshì yǒu gùlǜ.

上了年紀的人都是前怕狼後怕虎，事事有顧慮。

上了年纪的人都是前怕狼后怕虎，事事有顾虑。

You'll get nowhere in business if you're afraid of taking action.

Zuò shēngyi bùnéng qián pà láng hòu pà hǔ, fǒuzé jiāng yīshìwúchéng.

做生意不能前怕狼後怕虎，否則將一事無成。

做生意不能前怕狼后怕虎，否则将一事无成。

to be overly cautious and indecisive; to be plagued by fears


嗷嗷待哺

ㄠˊ ㄠˊ ㄉㄞˋ ㄅㄨˇ

/ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋou̯²¹ ŋou̯²¹ taːi̯⁵⁵ pou̯²²/

/ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯³⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋou̯²¹ ŋou̯²¹ taːi̯⁵⁵ pou̯²²/


暗淡無光

ㄢˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄤ

ㄢˋ ㄉㄢˋ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄤ

аньданьугуан

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ u³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹ u³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

having lost its previous lustre and brilliance; dim and unattractive


金枝玉葉

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (金枝玉葉):
* → Vietnamese: kim chi ngọc diệp (金枝玉葉)

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓ ㄩˋ ㄧㄝˋ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² jiːp̚²/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹/

/kɐm⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jʊk̚² jiːp̚²/

(figurative) person of royal lineage; descendants of aristocracy


自愧不如

ㄗˋ ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/t͡siː²² kʷʰɐi̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹/

to be ashamed of not being as good as someone else


畫蛇添足

Sino-Xenic (畫蛇添足):
* → Japanese: 画(が)蛇(だ)添(てん)足(そく) (gada tensoku); 画(が)蛇(じゃ)添(てん)足(そく) (gaja tensoku)
* → Korean: 화사첨족(畫蛇添足) (hwasacheomjok)
* → Vietnamese: hoạ xà thiêm túc (畫蛇添足)

→ Vietnamese: vẽ rắn thêm chân (calque)

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄕㄜˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗㄨˊ

хуашэтяньцзу

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/waːk̚² sɛː²¹ tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/fa⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sa¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ t͡siʊk̚¹/

/hua²²⁻²¹ sia²⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɔk̚³²/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂɤ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡su³⁵/

/waːk̚² sɛː²¹ tʰiːm⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/fa⁵³⁻⁵⁵ sa¹¹ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻³⁵ t͡siʊk̚¹/

/hua²²⁻²¹ sia²⁴ tʰiam⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siɔk̚³²/

Once, there was a host of a sacrificial ceremony in Chu. He gave a jug of wine to his servants. The servants discussed with each other, saying: “This jug of wine is not enough for all of us to drink, but abundant for one of us to drink. We'll all draw a snake on the ground, with the one who draws the fastest getting the wine.” One man finished first. He grabbed the wine jug and was about to drink. Holding the jug of wine in his left hand, he said: “I can draw feet for the snake.” and started drawing the feet with his right hand. Before he had finished drawing the feet, another man finished drawing his snake, snatched the wine and said: "A snake actually has no feet, how can you draw feet on a snake?" Then, he drank the wine. The one who added feet to the snake lost the wine in the end.

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Chǔ yǒu cí zhě, cì qí shè rén zhī jiǔ, shè rén xiāng wèi yuē: “Shù rén yǐn zhī bùzú, yī rén yǐn zhī yǒuyú, qǐng huà dì wéi shé, xiān chéng zhě yǐnjiǔ.” Yī rén shé xiān chéng, yǐn jiǔ qiě yǐn zhī, nǎi zuǒshǒu chí zhī, yòu shǒu huà shé yuē: “Wú néng wéi zhī zú.” Wèi chéng, yī rén zhī shé chéng, duó qí zhī yuē: “Shé gù wú zú, zǐ ān néng wéi zhī zú?” Suì yǐn qí jiǔ. Wéi shé zú zhě, zhōng wáng qí jiǔ.

楚有祠者，賜其舍人卮酒，舍人相謂曰：「數人飲之不足，一人飲之有餘，請畫地為蛇，先成者飲酒。」一人蛇先成，引酒且飲之，乃左手持卮，右手畫蛇曰：「吾能為之足。」未成，一人之蛇成，奪其卮曰：「蛇固無足，子安能為之足？」遂飲其酒。為蛇足者，終亡其酒。

楚有祠者，赐其舍人卮酒，舍人相谓曰：「数人饮之不足，一人饮之有余，请画地为蛇，先成者饮酒。」一人蛇先成，引酒且饮之，乃左手持卮，右手画蛇曰：「吾能为之足。」未成，一人之蛇成，夺其卮曰：「蛇固无足，子安能为之足？」遂饮其酒。为蛇足者，终亡其酒。

(figurative, derogatory) to improve something unnecessarily; to gild the lily


一席之地

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² te²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ siɪk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² te²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ te⁴¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² te²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ siɪk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² te²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sit̚²⁴⁻² t͡si³³ te⁴¹/

This company occupies a niche in the overseas market.

Zhège gōngsī zài hǎiwài shìchǎng zhànyǒu yīxízhīdì.

這個公司在海外市場佔有一席之地。

这个公司在海外市场占有一席之地。


保質保量

ㄅㄠˇ ㄓˋ ㄅㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

ㄅㄠˇ ㄓˊ ㄅㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

баочжибаолян

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pou̯³⁵ t͡sɐt̚⁵ pou̯³⁵ lœːŋ²²/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/pou̯³⁵ t͡sɐt̚⁵ pou̯³⁵ lœːŋ²²/


別有用心

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jʊŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/piːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ jʊŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/


百事可樂

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄜˋ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɤ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ siː²² hɔː³⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɤ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ siː²² hɔː³⁵ lɔːk̚²/


改過自新

ㄍㄞˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

гайгоцзысинь

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/kaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/kɔːi̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡siː²² sɐn⁵⁵/

turn over a new leaf
turn over a new leaf


那又怎麼樣

ㄋㄚˋ ㄧㄡˋ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄧㄤˋ

на ю цзэньмэян

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ jɑŋ⁵¹/


橫行無忌

ㄏㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/xɤŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ hɐŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

/xɤŋ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/waːŋ²¹ hɐŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/


謀臣武將

ㄇㄡˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

моучэнь уцзян

/moʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/moʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/


自相殘害

ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄘㄢˊ ㄏㄞˋ

цзысянцаньхай

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn²¹ hɔːi̯²²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn²¹ hɔːi̯²²/

to slaughter each other; to massacre one another


一無所有

ㄧ ㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˇ

/i⁵⁵ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵ u³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ sɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

當你一無所有的時候，你怎麼辦？

当你一无所有的时候，你怎么办？


自相矛盾

ㄗˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄇㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄣˋ

цзысянмаодунь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ maːu̯²¹ tʰɵn¹³/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ maːu̯²¹ tʰɵn¹³/

self-contradictory; paradoxical; to contradict oneself


經宿不歸

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄙㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ

цзин су бу гуй

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ su⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

to stay out all night long without returning home


約定俗成

ㄩㄝ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jœːk̚³ tɪŋ²² t͡sʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³/

/ɥɛ⁵⁵ tiŋ⁵¹ su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/jœːk̚³ tɪŋ²² t͡sʊk̚² sɪŋ²¹/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²⁴/

/iɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɪŋ³³ siɔk̚⁴⁻³² siɪŋ²³/

It is customary to put up lanterns during the Lantern Festival.

Yuánxiāojié shǎng huādēng shì yuēdìngsúchéng de xísú.

元宵節賞花燈是約定俗成的習俗。

元宵节赏花灯是约定俗成的习俗。

conventional; customary; socially fixed; having an unwritten law


刮目相看

ㄍㄨㄚ ㄇㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄎㄢˋ

гуамусянкань

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/kʷaːt̚³ mʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵/

/kʷaːt̚³ mʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn³³/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰän⁵¹/

/kʷaːt̚³ mʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn⁵⁵/

/kʷaːt̚³ mʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːn³³/


慢慢吃

/män⁵¹⁻⁵³ män⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² maːn²² hɛːk̚³/

/män⁵¹⁻⁵³ män⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

/maːn²² maːn²² hɛːk̚³/

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 慢慢, 吃.


不足之處

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄓ ㄔㄨˋ

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/

/pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/


一五一十

/i⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚²/

/it̚⁵ ŋ̍²¹³⁻¹³ it̚⁵ sɨt̚²/

/it̚¹ n̩³¹ it̚¹ səp̚⁵/

/iɪʔ³³ ŋ̍⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ zəʔ²¹/

/i⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚²/

/it̚⁵ ŋ̍²¹³⁻¹³ it̚⁵ sɨt̚²/

/it̚¹ n̩³¹ it̚¹ səp̚⁵/

/iɪʔ³³ ŋ̍⁵⁵ iɪʔ³³ zəʔ²¹/

Tā bǎ zhè jiàn shìqíng yīwǔyīshí de gàosù le wǒ.

他把這件事情一五一十地告訴了我。

他把这件事情一五一十地告诉了我。


誰知道

/ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯³³/

/ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tou̯³³/


該你了

/kaɪ̯⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴ lə⁴/

/kaɪ̯⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴ lə⁴/


各種各樣

ㄍㄜˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄤˋ

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ kɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²²/

/kɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵ kɔːk̚³ jœːŋ²²/


胡說八道

ㄏㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄠˋ

/xu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/xu³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

一本正經地胡說八道

一本正经地胡说八道

Zhè piān bàogào jiǎnzhí shì húshuōbādào!

這篇報告簡直是胡說八道！

这篇报告简直是胡说八道！

1934, Lu Xun, “關于新文字——答問”, in 且介亭雜文, 上海三閒書屋, published 1937, pages 205–206:

Zuìjìn, xuānchuán gǔwén de hǎochù de jiàoshòu, jìng jiāng gǔwén de jùzǐ yě diǎn cuò le, jiù shì yī ge zhèngjù — tā zìjǐ yě méiyǒu dǒng. Bùguò tāmen kěyǐ zhuāngzuò dǒngde de yàngzi, lái húshuōbādào, qīpiàn bù míng zhēnxiàng de rén.

最近，宣傳古文的好處的教授，竟將古文的句子也點錯了，就是一個證據——他自己也沒有懂。不過他們可以裝作懂得的樣子，來胡說八道，欺騙不明真相的人。

最近，宣传古文的好处的教授，竟将古文的句子也点错了，就是一个证据——他自己也没有懂。不过他们可以装作懂得的样子，来胡说八道，欺骗不明真相的人。


變幻莫測

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄇㄛˋ ㄘㄜˋ

бяньхуаньмоцэ

/pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰɐk̚⁵/

/piːn³³ waːn²² mɔːk̚² t͡sʰaːk̚⁵/

Melbourne's weather is unpredictable; they say it has four seasons in one day.

Mò'ěrběn tiānqì biànhuànmòcè; rénmen dōu shuō zhèlǐ yī rì sì jì.

墨爾本天氣變幻莫測；人們都說這裡一日四季。

墨尔本天气变幻莫测；人们都说这里一日四季。


屢禁難絕

ㄌㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

люйцзиньнаньцзюэ

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/lɵy̯¹³ kɐm³³ naːn²¹ t͡syːt̚²/

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/lɵy̯¹³ kɐm³³ naːn²¹ t͡syːt̚²/

Why does crime go on despite our efforts to crack down on it?

為何犯罪行為會屢禁難絕？

为何犯罪行为会屡禁难绝？

(literary) rampant, despite repeated attempts at prohibition


屢禁難止

ㄌㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄓˇ

люйцзиньнаньчжи

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯¹³ kɐm³³ naːn²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯¹³ kɐm³³ naːn²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

為何犯罪行為會屢禁難止？

为何犯罪行为会屡禁难止？


屢禁不止

ㄌㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓˇ

люйцзиньбучжи

/ly²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯¹³ kɐm³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/lu⁵²⁻³⁵ kim²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ t͡si⁵²⁻²¹/

/lɵy̯¹³ kɐm³³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

/lu⁵²⁻³⁵ kim²¹³⁻⁵⁵ puk̚²⁻⁴ t͡si⁵²⁻²¹/

Wèishénme fànzuì xíngwèi huì lǚjìnbùzhǐ?

為什麼犯罪行為會屢禁不止？

为什么犯罪行为会屡禁不止？


我不會說普通話

ㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

wǒ bùhuì shuō pǔtōnghuà [Phonetic:wǒ búhuì shuō pǔtōnghuà]

во бухуэй шо путунхуа

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

(chiefly Mainland China) I don't speak Mandarin


一仍舊貫

ㄧ ㄖㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ

ижэнцзюгуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² kuːn³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ kɐu̯²² kuːn³³/


一刀兩斷

ja-r

一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一刀兩斷):
* → Japanese: 一刀両断(いっとうりょうだん) (ittōryōdan)
* → Korean: 일도양단(一刀兩斷) (ildoyangdan)
* → Vietnamese: nhất đao lưỡng đoạn (一刀兩斷)

ㄧ ㄉㄠ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

идаоляндуань

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ tyːn²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ tɤ⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ to⁴⁴ liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tuan³³/

But there was something about the child that could be respected. His leisurely way, his reticence, his arbitrariness, his way of walking ahead without looking back. These were manifestations of his power, the power of the strongest, of the fittest. The child was, by no means, overly careful, or irresolute. The child could hit the nail on the head and make a clean break. The child was a quintessential Caucasian.

朱自清 (Zhu Ziqing), 《白種人——上帝的驕子》

Dàn zhè háizi què yě yǒu kějìng de dìfang: tā de cóngróng, tā de chénmò, tā de dúduàndúxíng, tā de yī qù bù huítóu, dōu shì lì de biǎoxiàn, dōu shì qiángzhě shìzhě de biǎoxiàn. Juébù pópomāma de, juébù niánniándādā de, yīzhēnjiànxiě, yīdāoliǎngduàn, zhè zhèngshì báizhǒngrén zhī suǒ yǐ wéi báizhǒngrén.

但這孩子卻也有可敬的地方：他的從容，他的沉默，他的獨斷獨行，他的一去不回頭，都是力的表現，都是強者適者的表現。決不婆婆媽媽的，決不粘粘搭搭的，一針見血，一刀兩斷，這正是白種人之所以為白種人。

朱自清 (Zhu Ziqing), 《白種人——上帝的驕子》

但这孩子却也有可敬的地方：他的从容，他的沉默，他的独断独行，他的一去不回头，都是力的表现，都是强者适者的表现。决不婆婆妈妈的，决不粘粘搭搭的，一针见血，一刀两断，这正是白种人之所以为白种人。

to sever with one blow; to make a clean break


我是中國人

ㄨㄛˇ ㄕˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄖㄣˊ

во ши Чжунгожэнь

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ŋɔː¹³ siː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɐn²¹/

/ŋo⁴⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ kuɛt̚¹ ŋin¹¹/

/ɡua⁵³ si²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ laŋ¹³/

/ɡua⁴¹ si³³⁻²¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ laŋ²³/

/ɡua⁵³ si²²⁻²¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ laŋ²⁴/

/ɡua⁵³ si³³⁻¹¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ laŋ²⁴/

/ɡua⁵⁵⁴ si²² tiɔŋ³³ kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴/

/ua⁵²⁻³⁵ si³⁵⁻¹¹ toŋ³³⁻²³ kok̚²⁻⁴ naŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋu³³ zz̩³³ t͡soŋ⁵⁵ koʔ³³ n̠ʲin²¹/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ŋɔː¹³ siː²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³ jɐn²¹/

/ŋo⁴⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩⁵³ t͡sʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ kuɛt̚¹ ŋin¹¹/

/ɡua⁵⁵⁴ si²² tiɔŋ³³ kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴/

/ŋu³³ zz̩³³ t͡soŋ⁵⁵ koʔ³³ n̠ʲin²¹/


心胸狹窄

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄓㄞˇ

синьсюнсячжай

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚² t͡saːk̚³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚³ t͡saːk̚³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚² t͡saːk̚³/

/sɐm⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ haːp̚³ t͡saːk̚³/

small-minded; intolerant; selfish; petty


一目瞭然

ㄧ ㄇㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄢˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² liːu̯¹³ jiːn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² liau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² liau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mak̚⁴⁻² liau⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ mʊk̚² liːu̯¹³ jiːn²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² liau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ liɛn²⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² liau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ziɛn²³/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² mak̚⁴⁻² liau⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵/


好不好

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴ b̥u⁴ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴ b̥u⁴ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

我們明天去，好不好？

我们明天去，好不好？

I'll go back and get the money, then send it back to you, OK?

Děng wǒ huíqù qǔ le qián wǒ sòng guòlái, hǎobùhǎo?

等我回去取了錢我送過來，好不好？

等我回去取了钱我送过来，好不好？


一見鍾情

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

ицзяньчжунцин

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² kieŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡seŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰeŋ⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kiːn³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

故事讲述了灰姑娘在森林拾火柴时与王子邂逅，王子对她一见钟情。 [MSC, simp.]
Gùshì jiǎngshù le huīgūniáng zài sēnlín shí huǒchái shí yǔ wángzǐ xièhòu, wángzǐ duì tā yījiànzhōngqíng. [Pinyin]

http://sh.sina.com.cn/citylink/en/kx/2010-08-09/162059758.html 故事講述了灰姑娘在森林拾火柴時與王子邂逅，王子對她一見鍾情。 [MSC, trad.]

The story depicts Cinderella's accidental encounter with the prince when she was picking matches in the forest. The prince fell in love with her at first sight.

你相信一见钟情吗？彼此对视1秒钟，来自对方的电流就会迅速穿越肉体直达心灵。 [MSC, simp.]
Nǐ xiàngxìn yījiànzhōngqíng ma? Bǐcǐ duìshì 1 miǎozhōng, láizì duìfāng de diànliú jiù huì xùnsù chuānyuè ròutǐ zhídá xīnlíng. [Pinyin]

http://fashion.enorth.com.cn/system/2010/08/11/004926030.shtml 你相信一見鍾情嗎？彼此對視1秒鐘，來自對方的電流就會迅速穿越肉體直達心靈。 [MSC, trad.]

Do you believe in love at first sight? Looking at each other for one second, and the electric signal from him/her will rapidly pass through your body to reach your soul.

to fall in love at first sight; love at first sight


烏魯木齊

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se²¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se¹¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se²⁴/

/ɔ³³ lɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² t͡se²⁴/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡se¹³/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se²³/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sue²⁴/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se²¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se¹¹/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se²⁴/

/ɔ³³ lɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bɔk̚²⁴⁻² t͡se²⁴/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻²² lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡se¹³/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡se²³/

/ɔ⁴⁴⁻³³ lɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sue²⁴/

Unclear. Here are a few possibilities:
* 烏魯木齊: Since the Min Nan area and Ürümqi are very far apart, if someone claims to be from or went to Ürümqi, they are speaking nonsense.
* 烏漉木製: There is a type of wood called 烏漉木, which is of very bad quality. If furniture is made from it, it is made carelessly.
* 烏櫓莫濟: From 烏 (“to not have”) + 櫓 (“scull”) + 莫 (“do not”) + 濟 (“to cross a river”), literally "to not have a scull to cross a river", used figuratively to mean "to not have the main thing to do the job; to be careless".

乌鲁木齐
烏嚕木齊
乌鲁木齐
烏漉木製
烏櫓莫濟
烏鹵沐齊
烏鹵沐債
烏魯沐債
烏漉沐漬

(Southern Min) to be careless; to be in a mess; to talk nonsense


克己奉公

ㄎㄜˋ ㄐㄧˇ ㄈㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊŋ²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/hɐk̚⁵ kei̯³⁵ fʊŋ²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

to be wholeheartedly devoted to public duty; to work selflessly for the public interest


胸大無腦

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄋㄠˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ u³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ u³⁵ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(slang) big-breasted, but small-brained; big-breasted bimbo


真才實學

ㄓㄣ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕˊ ㄒㄩㄝˊ

чжэньцайшисюэ

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɐt̚² hɔːk̚²/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²³⁻³³ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/

/t͡sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sai²⁴⁻¹¹ sit̚⁴⁻³² hak̚⁴/


你叫什麼名字

你叫什么名字
你叫甚麼名字
你叫什麽名字
你叫甚麽名字

ㄋㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ˙ㄗ

ни цзяо шэньмэ минцзы

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ mə³ miŋ³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³/


立竿見影

ㄌㄧˋ ㄍㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄥˇ

лиганьцзяньин

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

/li⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐp̚² kɔːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kan³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ iã⁵⁵⁴/

/lip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kan⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ iã⁵³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kan⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ iã⁴¹/

The situation is very urgent; we need a solution with immediate effect.

Qíngkuàng shífēn wēijí, wǒmen xūyào yī ge lìgānjiànyǐng de jiějué fāngfǎ.

情況十分危急，我們需要一個立竿見影的解決方法。

情况十分危急，我们需要一个立竿见影的解决方法。

producing instant results; having immediate effect


栩栩如生

ㄒㄩˇ ㄒㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄥ

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

/ɕy²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hɵy̯³⁵ hɵy̯³⁵ jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lu²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hu⁵²⁻³⁵ hu⁵²⁻³⁵ d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sẽ³³/

to appear lifelike and vivid; vividly; realistically


幸災樂禍

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄞ ㄌㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² wɔː²²/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² wɔː²²/

To deny them help and, what is worse, to gloat over their mistakes, is sectarianism.

1956, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論十大關係》 (On the Ten Major Relationships), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Duì fàn cuòwù de tóngzhì bù gěi bāngzhù, fǎn'ér xìngzāilèhuò, zhè jiù shì zōngpàizhǔyì.

對犯錯誤的同志不給幫助，反而幸災樂禍，這就是宗派主義。

对犯错误的同志不给帮助，反而幸灾乐祸，这就是宗派主义。

to take joy in calamity and rejoice the disaster; schadenfreude


德才兼備

ㄉㄜˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄅㄟˋ

дэцайцзяньбэй

/tɤ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tɤ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹/

having both talents and morals; having both ability and integrity


半真半假

ㄅㄢˋ ㄓㄣ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ

баньчжэньбаньцзя

/pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːn³³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ puːn³³ kaː³⁵/

/pän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/puːn³³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ puːn³³ kaː³⁵/

half true half false, not sincere or truthful, elusive


德藝雙馨

ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˋ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄒㄧㄣ

/tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ ŋɐi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ ŋɐi̯²² sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

being reputable for having both artistic skills and morals (especially when referring to an artist of any domain)


八拜之交

ㄅㄚ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

бабайчжицзяо

/pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ paːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/paːt̚³ paːi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

This is derived from an ancient meeting etiquette where the younger members of a family or a community request to meet with the elders.

sworn brotherhood; intimacy of relations between platonic friends


貪得無厭

ㄊㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˊ ㄧㄢˋ

/tʰän⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiːm³³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u³⁵ jɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jiːm³³/

avaricious; greedy; not able to settle for less


得意洋洋

Sino-Xenic (得意洋洋):
* → Korean: 득의양양(得意揚揚) (deuguiyang'yang)

ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ

/tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/

/tɤ³⁵ i⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ jiː³³ jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹/


歪七豎八

ㄨㄞ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄨˋ ㄅㄚ

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pä⁵⁵/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ syː²² paːt̚³/

/waɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹ pä⁵⁵/

/waːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ syː²² paːt̚³/

not straight or upright; twisted or slanted in different ways


暗箭傷人

to hurt someone with an arrow shot from the dark

ㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄤ ㄖㄣˊ

аньцзяньшанжэнь

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ɐm³³ t͡siːn³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/ɐm³³ t͡siːn³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

to injure someone with unscrupulous or underhand means; to backstab


得過且過

ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/tɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

/tɤ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tɐk̚⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sʰɛː³⁵ kʷɔː³³/

to muddle along; to drift along; to be perfunctory with one's work; to get by however one can


得隴望蜀

ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄨㄥˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄨˇ

/tɤ³⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐk̚⁵ lʊŋ¹³ mɔːŋ²² sʊk̚²/

/tɤ³⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɐk̚⁵ lʊŋ¹³ mɔːŋ²² sʊk̚²/

(Emperor) Wu of Wei said: "Men suffer from insatiability, already having Longyou yet still wanting to get Shu!"

Wèi Wǔ yuē: “Rén kǔ wúzú, jì dé Lǒngyòu, fù yù dé Shǔ!”

魏武曰：「人苦無足，既得隴右，復欲得蜀！」

魏武曰：「人苦无足，既得陇右，复欲得蜀！」

Xiangyun laughed and said: "Already having Long yet still wanting Shu; it's only human nature."

Xiāngyún xiào dào: “Délǒngwàngshǔ, rénzhīchángqíng.”

湘雲笑道：「得隴望蜀，人之常情。」

湘云笑道：「得陇望蜀，人之常情。」


百花齊放

ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄤˋ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ fɔːŋ³³/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ fɑŋ⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ fɔːŋ³³/

many different sorts of flowers bloom simultaneously

(figuratively) a variety of different artistic styles flourish at the same time


破爛不堪

ㄆㄛˋ ㄌㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄢ

поланьбукань

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ laːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ län⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰän⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ laːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hɐm⁵⁵/

so tattered and torn (especially said of clothing) that it is totally unacceptable to present oneself in public in such a state


破鏡重圓

desc

→ Vietnamese: gương vỡ lại lành (calque)

ㄆㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄩㄢˊ

поцзинчунъюань

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ kɛːŋ³³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyːn²¹/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ kɛːŋ³³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jyːn²¹/

Literally: to repair a broken mirror so that it is whole again

to be reunited after a long period of separation (said of a couple)


金蟬脫殼

金蝉脱壳
金蟬脱殼
脫殼金蟬

like a cicada coming out of its shed skin

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄢˊ ㄊㄨㄛ ㄑㄧㄠˋ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄔㄢˊ ㄊㄨㄛ ㄎㄜˊ

цзиньчаньтоцяо

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

цзиньчаньтокэ

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵/

/kim³³⁻²³ siam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kʰak⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵/

/kim³³⁻²³ siam⁵⁵⁻¹¹ tʰuk̚²⁻⁴ kʰak⁵⁵/

to be able to escape from a (normally sticky) situation without other pertinent parties noticing it


同歸於盡

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄩˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

тунгуйюйцзинь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻²² kui³³ i²⁴⁻²² t͡sin⁴¹/

/tɔŋ¹³⁻²² kui⁴⁴⁻²² i¹³⁻²² t͡sin²²/

/tɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sin³³/

/tɔŋ²³⁻³³ kui⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ t͡sin³³/


魚死網破

the fish are dead, the fishnet is broken

ㄩˊ ㄙˇ ㄨㄤˇ ㄆㄛˋ

/y³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ pʰɔː³³/

/y³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jyː²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ pʰɔː³³/

Tā jiùshì zhāngwǎng bǔyú, wǒ yě pīn tā ge yúsǐwǎngpò.

他就是張網捕魚，我也拼他個魚死網破。

他就是张网捕鱼，我也拼他个鱼死网破。

to fight till both you and your foe perish


聲東擊西

to make a feint to the east but attack in the west

ㄕㄥ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄐㄧ ㄒㄧ

ㄕㄥ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄐㄧˊ ㄒㄧ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/sĩã³³⁻²³ taŋ³³⁻²³ kʰek̚²⁻⁴ sai³³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ kɪk̚⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/sĩã³³⁻²³ taŋ³³⁻²³ kʰek̚²⁻⁴ sai³³/

(military) during a battle, to create the illusion of assaulting a target, while the true goal is to assault another target where it's least expected

(by extension, figuratively) to confuse someone in order to conceal the real motive behind something


聲名狼藉

ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄤˊ ㄐㄧˊ

шэнминланцзи

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ lɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

infamous; having an extremely bad reputation


泰然自若

ㄊㄞˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

тайжаньцзыжо

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

being calm and composed even under the most stubborn and difficult of situations


若無其事

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄕˋ

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jœːk̚² mou̯²¹ kʰei̯²¹ siː²²/

calm; composed; uncaring; impervious; nonchalant


東逃西竄

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄊㄠˊ ㄒㄧ ㄘㄨㄢˋ

дунтаосицуань

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

to scurry from place to place, especially when being chased (such as a rat)

(by extension) (of a criminal) to be on the run


大搖大擺

ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄞˇ

/tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² jiːu̯²¹ taːi̯²² paːi̯³⁵/

/tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːi̯²² jiːu̯²¹ taːi̯²² paːi̯³⁵/

walking with an air of arrogance and nonchalance


東奔西竄

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄅㄣ ㄒㄧ ㄘㄨㄢˋ

дунбэньсицуань

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ pən⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

東逃西竄 東逃西竄#Chinese

东逃西窜 东逃西窜#Chinese

Alternative form of 東逃西竄／东逃西窜 (dōngtáoxīcuàn)


西裝革履

ㄒㄧ ㄓㄨㄤ ㄍㄜˊ ㄌㄩˇ

сичжуангэлюй

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ lei̯¹³/

/ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ ly²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːk̚³ lei̯¹³/


百年好合

ㄅㄞˇ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄜˊ

байняньхаохэ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

conjugal felicity; long-lasting harmonious union (of a couple) staying in love for the rest of their lives, for better or worse (usually said during a wedding ceremony)


百折不撓

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄠˊ

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ nɑʊ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ naːu̯²¹/

indomitable; unfazed by difficulties or challenges; (slightly derogatory) stubborn; persistent


不由分說

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄣ ㄕㄨㄛ

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

/pu⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ fən⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ syːt̚³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²³⁻³³ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ sueʔ³²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ hun⁴⁴⁻³³ seʔ³²/

to allow no expectation; without listening to somebody's protests; despite objections


剩水殘山

ㄕㄥˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄘㄢˊ ㄕㄢ

шэн шуй цань шань

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰän³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/


風餐露宿

to dine on the wind and sleep among the dew

ㄈㄥ ㄘㄢ ㄌㄨˋ ㄙㄨˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵ lou̯²² sʊk̚⁵/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ lou¹¹ suaʔ²/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰän⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵ lou̯²² sʊk̚⁵/

/huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰaŋ³³⁻²³ lou¹¹ suaʔ²/

to endure the hardship of living and travelling out in the wild


全軍覆沒

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄛˋ

цюаньцзюньфумо

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ muːt̚²/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻²² kun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ but̚⁴/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻²² kun³³ hɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ but̚²⁴/

/t͡suan¹³⁻²² kun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁵ but̚¹²¹/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ but̚⁴/

/t͡suan²³⁻³³ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ but̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʷɐn⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ muːt̚²/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻²² kun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ but̚⁴/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻²² kun³³ hɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ but̚²⁴/

/t͡suan¹³⁻²² kun⁴⁴⁻²² hɔk̚³²⁻⁵ but̚¹²¹/

/t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ but̚⁴/

/t͡suan²³⁻³³ kun⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔk̚³²⁻⁴ but̚⁴/

to suffer a crushing defeat; total defeat of an army; complete wipe-out


雪中送炭

to delivercoal to someone on a snowy day

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄊㄢˋ

сюэчжунсунтань

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰän⁵¹/

/syːt̚³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ³³ tʰaːn³³/

/si̯et̚² t͡suŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ suŋ⁵⁵ tʰan⁵⁵/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰan¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² sɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰan²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰan²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰuã²¹/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ saŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰuã¹¹/


迫不得已

ㄆㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄧˇ

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː¹³/


匡君救主

ㄎㄨㄤ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄨˇ

куанцзюньцзючжу

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(archaic) to rescue the emperor; to save the king


面如土色

ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄊㄨˇ ㄙㄜˋ

мянь жу ту сэ

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/

/mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹/


出生入死

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄥ ㄖㄨˋ ㄙˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² si⁵²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵ jɐp̚² sei̯³⁵/

/t͡sʰuk̚²⁻⁴ sẽ³³⁻²³ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² si⁵²/

From Tao Te Ching.
This phrase 出生入死 has various interpretations, including "coming forth into life and entering death" or "exiting life and entering death" (see 出生 (chūshēng)).
The meaning "to risk one's own life" is attested earliest in 秋興賦 Evocative Rhapsody on Autumn by 潘岳 (Pan Yue)

I've heard of the wisemen's blissful manners, equalling Heaven and Earth with one finger / index / indication. They knew safety yet disregarded danger; so, coming forth into life / exiting life, they entered death.

潘岳 Pan Yue, 《秋興賦》 Evocative Rhapsody on Autumn, 3th century CE

Wén zhìrén zhī xiūfēng xī, qí tiāndì yú yī zhǐ. Bǐ zhī ān ér wàng wēi xī, gù chūshēng ér rùsǐ.

聞至人之休風兮，齊天地於一指。彼知安而忘危兮，故出生而入死。

闻至人之休风兮，齐天地于一指。彼知安而忘危兮，故出生而入死。

risking one's life; without regard to one's own life


花好月圓

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄠˇ ㄩㄝˋ ㄩㄢˊ

хуахаоюэюань

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/hue³³⁻²³ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡueʔ⁴⁻² ĩ⁵⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

/hue³³⁻²³ ho⁵²⁻³⁵ ɡueʔ⁴⁻² ĩ⁵⁵/

From a line in Magnolia Flowers (木蘭花), an ode composed by Song Dynasty poet Zhang Xian (張先)

Whenever the flowers are in bloom and the moon is full, sad thoughts enter our minds. After the flowers are no longer in bloom and the moon is no longer full, the people begin to disperse. The festive atmosphere departs for the distant cloudy skies, and we are cut off from the past as if from a hazy dream that we cannot recall. The vibrant spring colors of the grass and trees succumb to the chaotic red shadows of fall. As they begin to chirp, the chickens' songs become melancholy. We wish we could make the long days of spring longer. When we will be able to look up and once again gaze at the full moon?

Rényì gòng lián huā yuè mǎn. Huāhǎoyuèyuán rén yòu sàn. Huānqíng qù zhú yuǎn yún kōng, wǎngshì guò rú yōumèng duàn.
Cǎo shù zhēngchūn hóng yǐng luàn. Yī chàng jī shēng qiānwàn yuàn. Rèn jiào chírì gèng tiān cháng, néng dé jǐshí táiyǎn kàn.

人意共憐花月滿。花好月圓人又散。歡情去逐遠雲空，往事過如幽夢斷。
草樹爭春紅影亂。一唱雞聲千萬怨。任教遲日更添長，能得幾時抬眼看。

人意共怜花月满。花好月圆人又散。欢情去逐远云空，往事过如幽梦断。
草树争春红影乱。一唱鸡声千万怨。任教迟日更添长，能得几时抬眼看。

blooming flowers and full moon; perfect conjugal bliss


瞎子摸象

ㄒㄧㄚ ˙ㄗ ㄇㄛ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

/ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐt̚² t͡siː³⁵ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

/ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ d͡z̥z̩² mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/hɐt̚² t͡siː³⁵ mɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²²/

盲人摸象 盲人摸象#Chinese


瞎貓碰死耗子

瞎猫碰死耗子
瞎貓碰上死耗子
瞎貓碰到死耗子

ㄒㄧㄚ ㄇㄠ ㄆㄥˋ ㄙˇ ㄏㄠˋ ˙ㄗ

сямао пэн сыхаоцзы

/ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pʰɤŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/


曇花一現

ㄊㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

таньхуаисянь

/tʰän³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ faː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²²/

/tʰän³⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰaːm²¹ faː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiːn²²/

曇花／昙花 (tánhuā) is short for 優曇婆羅花／优昙婆罗花 (yōutánpóluó huā), a transcription of Sanskrit उडुम्बर (uḍumbara, “cluster fig (Ficus racemosa)”).
Uḍumbara is a sacred tree in Buddhism; its flowers are enclosed within its fruit, and the tree is said to bloom only once every 3000 years, thus it symbolises events of rare occurrence.

zh-l

曇花／昙花 (tánhuā)

優曇婆羅花／优昙婆罗花 (yōutánpóluó huā)

cog

flower of thecluster fig (Ficus racemosa) only shows itself for a short time

like a flash in the pan; ephemeral; short-lived; not long-term


己所不欲，勿施於人

desc

己の欲せざる所は人に施すなかれ

→ Japanese: 己の欲せざる所は人に施すなかれ (calque) (kundoku form)

ㄐㄧˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˋ

/t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/kei̯³⁵ sɔː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jʊk̚² mɐt̚² siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ki⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ put̚³²⁻⁴ iɔk̚⁴ but̚⁴⁻³² si⁴⁴⁻³³ i²³⁻³³ zin²³/

Zhonggong asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "It is, when you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ the people as if you were assisting at a great sacrifice; not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself; to have no murmuring against you in the country, and none in the family."

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

Zhònggōng wèn rén. Zǐyuē: “Chūmén rú jiàn dà bīn, shǐ mín rú chéng dà jì. Jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén. Zài bāng wú yuàn, zài jiā wú yuàn.”

仲弓問仁。子曰：「出門如見大賓，使民如承大祭。己所不欲，勿施於人。在邦無怨，在家無怨。」

仲弓问仁。子曰：「出门如见大宾，使民如承大祭。己所不欲，勿施于人。在邦无怨，在家无怨。」

Do not do unto others what you would not like others to do unto yourself.

do unto others as you would have them do unto you


彼眾我寡

ㄅㄧˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨㄚˇ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(literary) They are many and we are few (we are outnumbered).


漫山遍野

ㄇㄢˋ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ

маньшаньбянье

/män⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² saːn⁵⁵ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/män⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² saːn⁵⁵ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

Xīliáng zhōu qiánbù xiānfēng Mǎ Dài, yǐnjūn yīwàn wǔqiān, hàohàodàngdàng, mànshānbiànyě ér lái.

西涼州前部先鋒馬岱，引軍一萬五千，浩浩蕩蕩，漫山遍野而來。

西凉州前部先锋马岱，引军一万五千，浩浩荡荡，漫山遍野而来。

to be numerous and all over the mountains and plains


濁酒粗食

ㄓㄨㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄘㄨ ㄕˊ

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

(literary) murky alcohol and coarse food


不成體統

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄊㄧˇ ㄊㄨㄥˇ

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ³⁵/


心驚膽戰

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄉㄢˇ ㄓㄢˋ

синьцзинданьчжань

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵ taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³/

to tremble with fear; to shake with fright


頹牆壞壁

ㄊㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄞˋ ㄅㄧˋ

туй цян хуай би

/tʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯aɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/


兵強將盛

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄕㄥˋ

бин цян цзян шэн

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/


算了

→? Korean: 쏼라쏼라 (sswallasswalla, “while speaking gibberish”)

/su̯än⁵¹ lə¹/

/su̯än⁵¹ lə¹/

(colloquial) forget it; forget about it; drop it; leave it at that; let it pass; let it be; leave it be


天下歸心

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ

тяньсягуйсинь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

to win over the support and trust of the entire nation


金鼓喧天

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄨˇ ㄒㄩㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ

цзиньгусюаньтянь

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

the clamor of gongs and drums resounded to the heavens


一箭之地

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄉㄧˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tei̯²²/

Literally: the distance that an arrow can fly


孤力難為

ㄍㄨ ㄌㄧˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄨㄟˊ

гу ли нань вэй

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ nän³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ nän³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/


兵精將勇

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄩㄥˇ

бин цзин цзян юн

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


喪家之狗

ㄙㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄓ ㄍㄡˇ

санцзячжигоу

/sɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔːŋ³³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/sɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔːŋ³³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

Emperor Yao
Gao Yao (minister)
Records of the Grand Historian
Yu the Great
Zichan

From the Records of the Grand Historian:
:
喪家之狗 was later reanalysed as "a dog that has lost its home", which would often go hungry and wander the streets in search for food, due to neglect by its master. Later, this became a metaphor for a desperate person who has nobody to turn to.

There is a man at the eastern gate with Yao's forehead, Gaoyao's neck and Zichan's shoulders, but below his waist he is shorter than Yu by three inches. He was dejected as the dog of a family in mourning.

Dōngmén yǒu rén, qí sǎng sì Yáo, qí xiàng lèi Gāoyáo, qí jiān lèi Zǐchǎn, rán zì yāo yǐxià bùjí Yǔ sān cùn, léiléi ruò sāngjiā zhī gǒu.

東門有人，其顙似堯，其項類皋陶，其肩類子產，然自要以下不及禹三寸，纍纍若喪家之狗。

东门有人，其颡似尧，其项类皋陶，其肩类子产，然自要以下不及禹三寸，累累若丧家之狗。

(figurative) a desperate person who has nobody to turn to


虎無爪，鳥無翼

a tiger without claws, a bird without wings

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵¹/


人殊意異

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨ ㄧˋ ㄧˋ

/ʐən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste

people and opinions will vary; not everyone will view it the same way; there's no accounting for taste


鳴金收軍

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕㄡ ㄐㄩㄣ

минцзинь шоу цзюнь

/miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵/

to bang war gongs as a signal to retreat


一面之交

ㄧ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

имяньчжицзяо

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ miːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

(literary) a casual relationship; acquaintance


好賢禮士

ㄏㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄕˋ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hou̯³³ jiːn²¹ lɐi̯¹³ siː²²/

to prize men of virtue and to show courtesy to talented men of letters


棄暗投明

ㄑㄧˋ ㄢˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ ɐm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/hei̯³³ ɐm³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

to forsake darkness and come to the light; to forsake darkness for light; to turn over a new leaf


略無禁憚

ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄉㄢˋ

люэ у цзинь дань

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

/ly̯ɛ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ tän⁵¹/

略無忌憚／略无忌惮

lüè wú jìdàn

略無忌憚

lüè wú jìdàn

略无忌惮

lüè wú jìdàn


交頭接耳

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄦˇ

цзяотоуцзеэр

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ jiː¹³/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡siːp̚³ jiː¹³/

to speak in each other's ears; to whisper to each other


交臂失之

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

to narrowly miss a golden opportunity (to meet someone etc.)


失之交臂

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi⁵¹/

/sɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³³/

2006, 劉殷傑 [Jackie Lau] (lyrics and music), “數算奇異恩典 [Count His Grace]”:

If you are met with setbacks or miss a golden opportunity, do not take your life and give up on it; with the Lord's love and hope, there must be a wonderful turn for the better.

jyu⁶ soeng⁵ co³ zit³ sat¹ zi¹ gaau¹ bei³, bit⁶ ji⁵ hing¹ sang¹ zoeng¹ zi¹ diu¹ hei³, zyu² dik¹ oi³ jyu⁵ hei¹ kei³, ding⁶ jau⁵ kei⁴ miu⁶ zyun² gei¹.

遇上挫折失之交臂，別以輕生將之丟棄，主的愛與希冀，定有奇妙轉機。

遇上挫折失之交臂，别以轻生将之丢弃，主的爱与希冀，定有奇妙转机。

to narrowly miss a golden opportunity (to meet someone, etc.)


青面獠牙

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄧㄚˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ jä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ miːn²² liːu̯²¹ ŋaː²¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ jä³⁵/

/t͡sʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ miːn²² liːu̯²¹ ŋaː²¹/

green-faced and long-toothed; terrifying in appearance


一模一樣

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iũ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔ¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ iɔ̃²²/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ moʔ⁴⁴ iɪʔ⁵⁵ ɦiã⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²³⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ²²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ iũ³³/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ bɔ²⁴⁻²² it̚⁵⁻²⁴ iũ⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ bɔ¹³⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ iɔ̃²²/

/iɪʔ⁴⁴ moʔ⁴⁴ iɪʔ⁵⁵ ɦiã⁵¹/


兜肚連腸

ㄉㄡ ㄉㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄤˊ

доудуляньчан

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tu⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/toʊ̯⁵⁵ tu⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

the whole thing; the whole kit and caboodle


TMD

/tʰä⁵⁵ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

/tʰä⁵⁵ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

zh-l

他媽的／他妈的 (tāmāde)

(vulgar) Initialism of 他媽的／他妈的 (tāmāde).


賞功罰罪

ㄕㄤˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄈㄚˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ

шан гун фа цзуй

/ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ fä³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ fä³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

to reward people for meritorious deeds and to punish them for their crimes


析骸以爨

ㄒㄧ ㄏㄞˊ ㄧˇ ㄘㄨㄢˋ

/ɕi⁵⁵ xaɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

/ɕi⁵⁵ xaɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯än⁵¹/

* Warring States Period: Zuo Qiuming, Zuo Zhuan (春秋左氏傳˙宣公十五年)
*: 敝邑易子而食，析骸以爨。
*:: In the city we are exchanging our children and eating them, and splitting up their bones for fuel. (James Legge)

the situation is dire (i.e. during wartime or famine)


易子而食

/i⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɪk̚² t͡siː³⁵ jiː²¹ sɪk̚²/

/i⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɪk̚² t͡siː³⁵ jiː²¹ sɪk̚²/

In the city we are exchanging our children and eating them, and splitting up their bones for fuel.

敝邑易子而食，析骸以爨。

people exchange their children with one another and eat them (describing dire famines caused by disasters)


食肉寢皮

ㄕˊ ㄖㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄣˇ ㄆㄧˊ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi³⁵/

As to those two, they are like beasts, whose flesh I will eat, and then sleep upon their skins.

Rán èr zǐ zhě, pì yú qínshòu, chén shí qí ròu ér qǐn chù qí pí yǐ.

然二子者，譬於禽獸，臣食其肉而寢處其皮矣。

然二子者，譬于禽兽，臣食其肉而寝处其皮矣。

to eat somebody's flesh and sleep on their hide; to swear revenge on somebody, implacable hatred, to have somebody's guts for garters, to bitterly detest


乘虛而入

ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄩ ㄦˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zip̚⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/seŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ³³⁻²³ d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zip̚⁴/

to enter or invade by exploiting of one's opponent's unpreparedness or weakness; to break through a weak point or advance when one's opponent is off guard


歡天喜地

ㄏㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧˇ ㄉㄧˋ

хуаньтяньсиди

/xu̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/xu̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/


明知故犯

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄍㄨˋ ㄈㄢˋ

минчжигуфань

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kuː³³ faːn²²/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ fän⁵¹/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kuː³³ faːn²²/

He doesn't listen after being told many times, and he still knowingly does wrong.

giu³ gik⁶ keoi⁵ dou¹ m⁴ teng¹, zung⁶ ming⁴ zi¹ gu³ faan⁶.

叫極佢都唔聽，仲明知故犯。

叫极佢都唔听，仲明知故犯。


東施效顰

ㄉㄨㄥ ㄕ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄆㄧㄣˊ

дуншисяопинь

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰin³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ haːu̯²² pʰɐn²¹/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰin³⁵/

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ siː⁵⁵ haːu̯²² pʰɐn²¹/

Based on a story in "The Circling Sky", in Zhuangzi (《莊子·天運》). Xishi (西施), a famous beauty in Chinese history, often frowned because of her heart disease. An ugly woman of the same village imitated Xishi to try to be as beautiful as her, but in turn made herself uglier and scared away the villagers.
:
The ugly woman was unnamed in the original text but people later named her 東施, as 東／东 (dōng, “east”) is the antonym of 西 (xī, “west”)

When Xishi was having heart disease, she would knit her brows and frown on all in her neighbourhood. An ugly woman of the neighbourhood, seeing and admiring her beauty, went home, and also laying her hands on her heart proceeded to stare and frown on all around her. When the rich people of the village saw her, they shut fast their doors and would not go out; when the poor people saw her, they took their wives and children and ran away from her. The woman knew how to admire the frowning beauty, but she did not know how it was that she, though frowning, was beautiful. Alas! It is indeed all over with your Master!

Xīshī bìng xīn ér pín qí lǐ, qí lǐ zhī chǒu rén jiàn ér měi zhī, guī yì pěng xīn ér pín qí lǐ. Qí lǐ zhī fùrén jiàn zhī, jiān bìmén ér bù chū; pín rén jiàn zhī, qiè qī zǐ ér qù zhī zǒu. Bǐ zhī pín měi ér bùzhī pín zhīsuǒyǐ měi. Xī hū! Ér fūzǐ qí qióng zāi!

西施病心而矉其里，其里之醜人見而美之，歸亦捧心而矉其里。其里之富人見之，堅閉門而不出；貧人見之，挈妻子而去之走。彼知矉美而不知矉之所以美。惜乎！而夫子其窮哉！

西施病心而𪾸其里，其里之丑人见而美之，归亦捧心而𪾸其里。其里之富人见之，坚闭门而不出；贫人见之，挈妻子而去之走。彼知𪾸美而不知𪾸之所以美。惜乎！而夫子其穷哉！

东施效颦
東施傚顰
東施效矉
東施傚矉

to imitate others only to make a fool of oneself; to attempt a crude or awkward imitation


遠交近攻

ㄩㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄥ

юаньцзяоцзиньгун

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɐn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jyːn¹³ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɐn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵/

collaborating with distant allies and attacking nearby enemies (from the Thirty-Six Stratagems)


引頸而望

ㄧㄣˇ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄨㄤˋ

иньцзинъэрван

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹/

to stretch the neck to look (e.g. over a fence)


膽戰心驚

ㄉㄢˇ ㄓㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ

даньчжаньсиньцзин

/tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³ sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡siaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ sim³³⁻²³ kĩã³³/

/tän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/taːm³⁵ t͡siːn³³ sɐm⁵⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

/tã⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡siaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ sim³³⁻²³ kĩã³³/

to tremble with fear; to be terror-stricken


實事求是

ㄕˊ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄕˋ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐt̚² siː²² kʰɐu̯²¹ siː²²/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐt̚² siː²² kʰɐu̯²¹ siː²²/

to seek truth from facts; to be practical and pragmatic


艱苦奮鬥

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄎㄨˇ ㄈㄣˋ ㄉㄡˋ

цзянькуфэньдоу

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/kaːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ fɐn¹³ tɐu̯³³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fən⁵¹⁻⁵³ toʊ̯⁵¹/

/kaːn⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ fɐn¹³ tɐu̯³³/

Young people should work hard in the face of hardship.

Niánqīngrén yīnggāi bǎochí jiānkǔfèndòu de zuòfēng.

年輕人應該保持艱苦奮鬥的作風。

年轻人应该保持艰苦奋斗的作风。

Rich or poor, we all must work hard in these hard times.

Bùguǎn wǒmen de shēnghuó pínkùn háishì fùyù, wǒmen dōu děi jiānkǔfèndòu.

不管我們的生活貧困還是富裕，我們都得艱苦奮鬥。

不管我们的生活贫困还是富裕，我们都得艰苦奋斗。

We must strive to encourage this zeal for hard work and at the same time pay still greater attention to solving the pressing problems in their work and everyday life.

Wǒmen xūyào dàlì fāyáng tāmen zhè zhǒng jiānkǔfèndòu de jīngshén, yě xūyào gèng duō de zhùyì jiějué tāmen zài láodòng hé shēnghuó zhōng de pòqiè wèntí.

我們需要大力發揚他們這種艱苦奮鬥的精神，也需要更多地注意解決他們在勞動和生活中的迫切問題。

我们需要大力发扬他们这种艰苦奋斗的精神，也需要更多地注意解决他们在劳动和生活中的迫切问题。

But it has become better off year by year, and now, after four years of hard struggle, most of its households have reserves of grain.

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

Jīngguò le sì nián jiānkǔfèndòu, yī nián yī nián hǎo qilai, juédàduōshù de shèyuán chéng le yúliánghù.

經過了四年艱苦奮鬥，一年一年好起來，絕大多數的社員成了餘糧戶。

经过了四年艰苦奋斗，一年一年好起来，绝大多数的社员成了余粮户。

to struggle through difficult times; to work hard and push through despite hardship


吃喝玩樂

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

ㄔ ㄏㄜ ㄨㄢˊㄦ ㄌㄜˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wɑɻ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ wuːn²² lɔːk̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wän³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ wɑɻ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/hɛːk̚³ hɔːt̚³ wuːn²² lɔːk̚²/

He won't do an honest day's work, and instead spends his days just having fun.

Tā bùwùzhèngyè, tiāntiān jiù zhīdào chīhēwánlè.

他不務正業，天天就知道吃喝玩樂。

他不务正业，天天就知道吃喝玩乐。

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

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


山窮水盡

the mountains run bare, and the streams run dry

ㄕㄢ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

шаньцюншуйцзинь

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

We are already at the end of our rope, there's nothing left to risk.

wǒmen yǐjīng shānqióngshuǐjìn, wúfǎ zài qù dǔ le

我們已經山窮水盡，無法再去賭了

我们已经山穷水尽，无法再去赌了

the end of one's rope
the end of one's rope

having no more options; being at the end of one's rope; extremely desperate and hopeless


我有一個問題

ㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄨㄣˋ ㄊㄧˊ

wǒ yǒu yīge wèntí [Phonetic:wóyǒuyígewèntí]

во ю игэ вэньти

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə wən⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/ŋɔː¹³ jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ mɐn²² tʰɐi̯²¹/


笨手笨腳

ㄅㄣˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

бэньшоубэньцзяо

/pən⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pən⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐn²² sɐu̯³⁵ pɐn²² kœːk̚³/

/pɐn²² sɐu̯³⁵ pɐn²² kœːk̚³/


依山傍水

ㄧ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄤˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/i⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ pɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

next to the mountains yet close to a body of water (usually referring to a scenic place)


罪不容誅

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨ

цзуйбужунчжу

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jʊŋ²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵/

even death cannot atone for the offense; guilty of crimes for which even death is insufficient punishment


豁然開朗

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄎㄞ ㄌㄤˇ

хожанькайлан

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ lɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰuːt̚³ jiːn²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːŋ¹³/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ lɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰuːt̚³ jiːn²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːŋ¹³/

to suddenly see the light; to be suddenly enlightened

the view instantly clears up; open and clear


勇氣百倍

ㄩㄥˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄟˋ

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ peɪ̯⁵¹/


滿面笑容

ㄇㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

маньмяньсяожун

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵/


不以為然

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄢˊ

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ jiːn²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ziɛn²³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² d͡ziɛn¹³/

/pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐän³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ jiːn²¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² liɛn²⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ziɛn²³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² d͡ziɛn¹³/

to not accept as correct; to disagree; to object; to disapprove

He did not seem bothered by the eye bruise

2004, 王杰排练时太投入 左眼碰伤竟然不知道(图文), 搜狐音乐

duìyú zhè cì yǎnjīng zhuàng shāng, tā xiǎn de bùyǐwéirán

對於這次眼睛撞傷，他顯得不以為然

2004, 王杰排练时太投入 左眼碰伤竟然不知道(图文), 搜狐音乐

对于这次眼睛撞伤，他显得不以为然

The reporter enquired whether the stall owner was able to supply around 100 red-eared sliders to him daily, and the stall owner casually replied that even 1000 sliders can be supplied daily, let alone 100.

2005, 广州热销巴西龟 被列为最危险入侵物种之一(图), 信息时报

Jìzhě chēng yào měitiān pīfā jìnhuò 100 zhī zuǒyòu de bāxīguī, wèn dàngzhǔ néng bùnéng jíshí gōnghuò? Gāi dàngzhǔ bùyǐwéirán de huídá jìzhě, bié shuō yībǎi zhī, yīqiān zhī dōu kěyǐ jíshí gōnghuò.

記者稱要每天批發進貨100隻左右的巴西龜，問檔主能不能及時供貨？該檔主不以為然地回答記者，別說一百隻，一千隻都可以及時供貨。

2005, 广州热销巴西龟 被列为最危险入侵物种之一(图), 信息时报

记者称要每天批发进货100只左右的巴西龟，问档主能不能及时供货？该档主不以为然地回答记者，别说一百只，一千只都可以及时供货。

Knowing he had no properties registered under his name, Chen gave an I-didn't-owe-much-so-I-didn't-care attitude after he received the notification from the court, and shirked the issue by stating he did not have enough money to pay back.

2018, 欠债不还 男子因6万元被判刑, 法制日报

Jiē dào fǎyuàn de tōngzhī hòu, Chén mǒu zìzhī míngxià wú dēngjì fángchǎn, biǎoxiàn chū yī fù qiànzhài bù duō bùyǐwéirán de tàidù, yǐ méi qián huánkuǎn wéiyóu tuīwěi.

接到法院的通知後，陳某自知名下無登記房產，表現出一副欠債不多不以為然的態度，以沒錢還款為由推諉。

2018, 欠债不还 男子因6万元被判刑, 法制日报

接到法院的通知后，陈某自知名下无登记房产，表现出一副欠债不多不以为然的态度，以没钱还款为由推诿。


過意不去

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩˋ

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/kʷɔː³³ jiː³³ pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³/

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/kʷɔː³³ jiː³³ pɐt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³/


不得而知

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄦˊ ㄓ

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tit̚⁵⁻²⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ tit̚³²⁻⁵ li¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ tit̚⁵⁻²⁴ li²⁴⁻²² ti³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ tit̚³²⁻⁵ li¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²⁴⁻¹¹ ti⁴⁴/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ tit̚³²⁻⁴ li²³⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

to be unable to know or find out; to remain unknown; to be unable to ascertain


悔之晚矣

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄨㄢˇ ㄧˇ

хуэй чжи вань и

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ wän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


意想不到

ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄠˋ

/i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jiː³³ sœːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tou̯³³/

/jiː³³ sœːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tou̯³³⁻³⁵/

/i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jiː³³ sœːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tou̯³³/

/jiː³³ sœːŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tou̯³³⁻³⁵/

to be unexpected; to be unanticipated; to be unimaginable


一步一個腳印

ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄣˋ

yī bù yī ge jiǎoyìn [Phonetic:yí bù yì ge jiǎoyìn]

и бу и гэ цзяоинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵¹/

ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄣˋㄦ

ибуигэцзяоиньр

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ iə̯ɻ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pou̯²² jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ kœːk̚³ jɐn³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ pou̯²² jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ kœːk̚³ jɐn³³/

to work steadily and make solid progress


SLS

/siːu̯³³ lɐn³⁵ sei̯³⁵/

/siːu̯³³ lɐn³⁵ sei̯³⁵/

(Hong Kong Cantonese, Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of 笑撚死 (siu³ lan² sei², “very fucking funny”).


一無是處

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ siː²² t͡sʰyː³³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ siː²² t͡sʰyː³³/

This car is a no-good piece of junk, pure waste.

Zhè liàng chē yīwúshìchù, chúncuì shì fèipǐn.

這輛車一無是處，純粹是廢品。

这辆车一无是处，纯粹是废品。


順其自然

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄗˋ ㄖㄢˊ

шуньцицзыжань

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡siː²² jiːn²¹/

/sun³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ziɛn²³/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʐän³⁵/

/sɵn²² kʰei̯²¹ t͡siː²² jiːn²¹/

/sun³³⁻²¹ ki²³⁻³³ t͡su³³⁻²¹ ziɛn²³/

/sun³³⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡su³³⁻¹¹ liɛn²⁴/

let nature take its course
let nature take its course

to let it be; to let nature take its course; que sera sera


媽你個屄

妈你个屄
媽你個逼
媽你的B

ㄇㄚ ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄅㄧ

/mä⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ pi⁵⁵/

/mä⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ pi⁵⁵/

媽了個屄 媽了個屄#Chinese

妈了个屄 妈了个屄#Chinese

(vulgar, slang) Synonym of 媽了個屄／妈了个屄 (mā le ge bī, “fuck you”)


媽你的B

ㄇㄚ ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄅㄧ

/mä⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ pi⁵⁵/

/mä⁵⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ pi⁵⁵/

媽你的屄 媽你的屄#Chinese

妈你的屄 妈你的屄#Chinese

(slang, euphemistic) Euphemism for 媽你的屄／妈你的屄 (mā nǐ de bī)


千差萬別

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄔㄚ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

цяньчаваньбе

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

Refugees come from different social classes and have a diversity of languages, cultures and political and religious beliefs.

Nànmín láizì bùtóng de shèhuì jiēcéng, qí yǔyán, wénhuà, zhèngzhì yǔ zōngjiàoxìnyǎng qiānchāwànbié.

難民來自不同的社會階層，其語言、文化、政治與宗教信仰千差萬別。

难民来自不同的社会阶层，其语言、文化、政治与宗教信仰千差万别。

varying greatly; having a diverse range; multifarious


大放厥詞

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄤˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄘˊ

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɔːŋ³³ kʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɔːŋ³³ kʰyːt̚³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to talk a lot of nonsense, to let out a spate of stuff and nonsense


添油加醋

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄘㄨˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊㄦ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄘㄨˋ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sʰu⁵¹/

(figurative) to add color and emphasis to (a narration); to exaggerate


信口雌黃

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄘˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄘ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

синькоуцыхуан

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɵn³³ hɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹/

Paper used in ancient China were yellowish in color and orpiment was used as correction fluid. The idiom is therefore used as a metaphor of a person trying to correct oneself when he/she is talking nonsense.

to make irresponsible remarks, to utter nonsense


感激不盡

ㄍㄢˇ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

ганьцзибуцзинь

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/kam⁵²⁻³⁵ kek̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ t͡siŋ³⁵/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/kɐm³⁵ kɪk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵn²²/

/kam⁵²⁻³⁵ kek̚²⁻⁴ puk̚²⁻⁴ t͡siŋ³⁵/

can't thank (somebody) enough; to highly appreciate help provided by someone or something


禮賢下士

ㄌㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˋ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ jiːn²¹ haː²² siː²²/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐi̯¹³ jiːn²¹ haː²² siː²²/

(of a ruler, etc.) to treat people of talent and virtue with courtesy and respect


一臂之力

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ liak̚²⁴/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ pei̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ pi¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ pi²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² liɪk̚¹²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ pi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ liak̚²⁴/

我會助你一臂之力。

我会助你一臂之力。


水中撈月

水中捞月
水中捉月
水底摸月
海中撈月
海底撈月

to scoop (the reflection of) the moon out of the water

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄠ ㄩㄝˋ

шуйчжунлаоюэ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuat̚⁴/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ laːu̯⁵⁵ jyːt̚²/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²¹ jyːt̚²/

/t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lo⁴⁴⁻²² ɡuat̚⁴/

(figurative) to make a hopeless, futile or vain effort at doing something; to ask for the moon


犬馬之力

ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄓ ㄌㄧˋ

цюаньмачжили

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

(archaic) (to employ) one's humble strength (in service to one's ruler)


非……不可

ㄈㄟ ... ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

фэй ... букэ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

今天非下雨不可。

Indicates that something is bound to happen or something will certainly happen.

It's your grandma's birthday today, so you've got to attend.

Jīntiān shì nǐ nǎinai de shēngchén, suǒyǐ nǐ fēi lái bùkě.

今天是你奶奶的生辰，所以你非來不可。

今天是你奶奶的生辰，所以你非来不可。

Indicates that it is obligatory for someone to do something; have to, must


佯輸詐敗

ㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄨ ㄓㄚˋ ㄅㄞˋ

ян шу чжа бай

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ paɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ paɪ̯⁵¹/


四分五裂

ㄙˋ ㄈㄣ ㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄝˋ

/sz̩⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ fɐn⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ liːt̚²/

/sz̩⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ fɐn⁵⁵ ŋ̍¹³ liːt̚²/


人困馬乏

ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄨㄣˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄈㄚˊ

жэнькуньмафа

/ʐən³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ kʰu̯ən⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ fä³⁵/

the force of men and horses are tired and exhausted


安民恤眾

ㄢ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄒㄩˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

аньминьсюйчжун

/ˀän⁵⁵ min³⁵ ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/ˀän⁵⁵ min³⁵ ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/


雞犬不驚

to not startle the chickens and dogs [of the enemy]

ㄐㄧ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

цзицюаньбуцзин

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

(of an army) well-disciplined and not injuring the people in the least


胡言亂語

ㄏㄨˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄩˇ

хуяньлуаньюй

/xu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ jiːn²¹ lyːn²² jyː¹³/

/xu³⁵ jɛn³⁵ lu̯än⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː²¹ jiːn²¹ lyːn²² jyː¹³/

to talk nonsense; to drivel; drivel; nonsense; gibberish; double Dutch


貪心不足

ㄊㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ

таньсиньбуцзу

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/tʰän⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵/


寡不敵眾

ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

/ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kʷaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

/ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/kʷaː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sʊŋ³³/

to be hopelessly outnumbered; to fight against hopeless odds


青出於藍

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (青出於藍):
* → Korean: 청출어람(靑出於藍) (cheongchureoram)

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ lam²³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ nã²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ nã²³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ lam²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ lam²³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²⁴⁻¹¹ nã²⁴/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ i²³⁻³³ nã²³/

Short for 青出於藍，而青於藍／青出于蓝，而青于蓝 (qīng chū yú lán, ér qīng yú lán, “Blue is obtained from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself”).

zh-short

(figurative) the student has surpassed his or her teacher


更深

/kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/kaːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰim⁴⁴/

/kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/kaːŋ⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

/kĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰim⁴⁴/

1996, “一簾幽夢”, 瓊瑤 (lyrics), performed by 許茹芸:

chuāng wài gēng shēn lù zhòng, jīnyè luò huā chéng zhǒng

窗外更深露重 今夜落花成冢

Don't think of me when the night gets deep. Don't think of me when you're grieving. Love the one you originally chose.

Kiⁿ-chhim m̄-bián siūⁿ góa, siong-sim m̄-bián siūⁿ góa, ài lí tong-chho͘ soán-te̍k ê hit-ê pā.

更深不免想我，傷心不免想我，愛你當初選擇的彼個吧。

更深不免想我，伤心不免想我，爱你当初选择的彼个吧。


彼此彼此

ㄅㄧˇ ㄘˇ ㄅㄧˇ ㄘˇ

/pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/pei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ pei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/


童顏鶴髮

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄜˋ ㄈㄚˋ

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄜˋ ㄈㄚˇ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ hɔːk̚² faːt̚³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fä⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ xɤ⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ hɔːk̚² faːt̚³/

white hair and ruddy complexion; healthy in old age; hale and hearty


愛怎麼著就怎麼著

ㄞˋ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ˙ㄓㄜ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄗㄣˇ ˙ㄇㄜ ˙ㄓㄜ

ай цзэньмэчжэ цзю цзэньмэчжэ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sən²¹⁴ mə⁴ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə¹/

(informal) do whatever one likes, do as one wishes


眾所周知

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄡ ㄓ

чжунсочжоучжи

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu³³ ti³³/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡seŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ so⁵²⁻³⁵ t͡siu³³⁻²³ t͡sai³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡siu³³ ti³³/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ sɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

/t͡siɔŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ sɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡siu⁴⁴⁻³³ ti⁴⁴/

as everyone knows; as is known to all; it is well-known that; it is common knowledge that


喝西北風

ㄏㄜ ㄒㄧ ㄅㄟˇ ㄈㄥ

/xɤ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

ㄏㄜ ㄒㄧ ㄅㄟˇ ㄈㄥㄦ

/xɤ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/hɔːt̚³ sɐi̯⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/xɤ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/xɤ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/hɔːt̚³ sɐi̯⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

Because the farmland was destroyed by the storms, the (ordinary) people have nothing to eat.

Yīnwèi tiándì bèi bàofēng huǐdiào, lǎobǎixìng zhǐnéng hē xīběifēng.

因為田地被暴風毀掉，老百姓只能喝西北風。

因为田地被暴风毁掉，老百姓只能喝西北风。


殺一儆百

ㄕㄚ ㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄅㄞˇ

/ʂä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪk̚³²/

/ʂä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ paːk̚³/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ piɪk̚³²/

/sat̚³²⁻⁴ it̚³²⁻⁴ kiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ piɪk̚³²/


冰天雪地

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄉㄧˋ

бинтяньсюэди

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³ tei̯²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ syːt̚³ tei̯²²/

During winter Harbin is a world of ice and snow.

Dōngtiān de shíhòu Hā'ěrbīn shì bīngtiānxuědì.

冬天的時候哈爾濱是冰天雪地。

冬天的时候哈尔滨是冰天雪地。

landscape covered in snow and ice; covered in snow and ice; extremely cold


唔該

/m̩²¹ kɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/m̩²² kᵘɔi³³/

/m̩²¹ kɔːi̯⁵⁵/

/m̩²² kᵘɔi³³/

From the negation particle 唔 (m4) and the character 該／该 (goi1, “should”), literally meaning "[this] should not [be done]", saying that what the other had done was not necessary or it was very kind of them to have done this.

Excuse me, can I have a glass of ice water?

m⁴ goi¹, ho² m⁴ ho² ji⁵ jiu³ bui¹ bing¹ seoi² aa³?

唔該，可唔可以要杯冰水呀？

唔该，可唔可以要杯冰水呀？

m⁴ goi¹ nei⁵ tung⁴ ngo⁵ tai² zyu⁶ di¹ je⁵.

唔該你同我睇住啲嘢。

唔该你同我睇住啲嘢。

2019, 紙情, 《有些愛 錯過了就回不去》, Hong Kong: 孤泣工作室, →ISBN, page 69:

[…] if he wants to play around, he should please find another target.

[…] keoi⁵ soeng² waan⁴⁻² waan⁴⁻² haa⁵ zau⁶ m⁴ goi¹ ling⁶ mik⁶ muk⁶ biu¹.

[…]佢想玩玩吓就唔該另覓目標。

[…]佢想玩玩吓就唔该另觅目标。

唔該嗮！

唔该嗮！


總而言之

ㄗㄨㄥˇ ㄦˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ

цзунъэряньчжи

/t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡soŋ⁴⁴ əl⁴⁴ ɦɪ⁴⁴ t͡sz̩ʷ/

/t͡sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³⁵ jiː²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/t͡soŋ⁴⁴ əl⁴⁴ ɦɪ⁴⁴ t͡sz̩ʷ/

all things considered
all things considered


累死

/leɪ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² sei̯³⁵/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² sei̯³⁵/

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 累, 死 (sǐ).

(figurative) to tire very much; to exhaust


精疲力竭

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² kʰiːt̚³/


精疲力盡

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

цзинпилицзинь

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɵn²²/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰi²³⁻³³ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³/

/t͡siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ pʰi²⁴⁻¹¹ liɪk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sin³³/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ pʰei̯²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɵn²²/


麻痺

麻痹
麻痹
痲痺/痲痹/痳痹

/ba²⁴⁻²² pi²¹/

/ba²⁴⁻²² pi⁴¹/

/ba¹³⁻²² pi²¹/

/ba²⁴⁻¹¹ pi¹¹/

/ba²³⁻³³ pi²¹/

/mua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pi²¹³/

/ba²⁴⁻²² pi²¹/

/ba²⁴⁻²² pi⁴¹/

/ba¹³⁻²² pi²¹/

/ba²⁴⁻¹¹ pi¹¹/

/ba²³⁻³³ pi²¹/

/mua⁵⁵⁻¹¹ pi²¹³/

(Internet slang) Alternative form of 媽屄／妈屄


無話不談

ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄢˊ

/u³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

/u³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰän³⁵/

for there to be nothing between two people that is not spoken, no topic that is taboo; to talk about anything and everything, symbolising a close relationship in which no secrets are kept


欺人太甚

ㄑㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄣˋ

цижэньтайшэнь

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂən⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ sɐm²²/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂən⁵¹/

/hei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ sɐm²²/


羊頭狗肉

ㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

/jɑŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/jɑŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

/jœːŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jʊk̚²/

掛羊頭賣狗肉 掛羊頭賣狗肉#Chinese

挂羊头卖狗肉 挂羊头卖狗肉#Chinese

Synonym of 掛羊頭賣狗肉／挂羊头卖狗肉 (guà yángtóu mài gǒuròu, “to cry wine and sell vinegar; to use a good cause as a cover for doing something bad”)


李下瓜田

ㄌㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ haː²² kʷaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn²¹/

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/lei̯¹³ haː²² kʷaː⁵⁵ tʰiːn²¹/

瓜田李下 瓜田李下#Chinese