少不更事

ㄕㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄥ ㄕˋ

ㄕㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˋ

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/siːu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ siː²²/

young and inexperienced in life; wet behind the ears


難乎其難

ㄋㄢˊ ㄏㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄋㄢˊ

наньхуцинань

/nän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵/

/nän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ nän³⁵/


難上加難

ㄋㄢˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄋㄢˊ

наньшанцзянань

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ nän³⁵/

/naːn²¹ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

/lan²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ nän³⁵/

/naːn²¹ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

/lan²³⁻³³ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²⁴⁻¹¹ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ lan²³/


難上難

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵/

/nän³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ nän³⁵/


搬石頭砸自己的腳

Move a rock and smash it to one's own feet.

ㄅㄢ ㄕˊ ˙ㄊㄡ ㄗㄚˊ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

pan¹ shih²-tʻou⁵ tsa² tzŭ⁴-chi³ tê⁵ chiao³

бань шитоу цза цзыцзи дэ цзяо

/pän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³ t͡sä³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

It further shows that the Australian government has no sincerity in improving China-Australia relations. It is bound to bring further damage to bilateral relations, and will only end up hurting itself.

2021, 中华人民共和国驻澳大利亚联邦大使馆 (The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Commonwealth of Australia), 驻澳大利亚使馆发言人表态

Tā zàicì biǎomíng Ào fāng duì gǎishàn Zhōng Ào guānxì háowú chéngyì, shìbì duì shuāngbiān guānxì zàochéng jìnyībù sǔnhài, yě bìjiāng bānqǐ shítou zá zìjǐ de jiǎo.

它再次表明澳方對改善中澳關係毫無誠意，勢必對雙邊關係造成進一步損害，也必將搬起石頭砸自己的腳。

它再次表明澳方对改善中澳关系毫无诚意，势必对双边关系造成进一步损害，也必将搬起石头砸自己的脚。

shoot oneself in the foot
shoot oneself in the foot


無大無小

(Northern Min, Shadi Wu) to have no sense of who is senior and who is junior; to show no respect to elders


冇得大細

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tɤ̞²⁴ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tɤ̞²⁴ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tɤ̞²⁴ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ si⁴⁵/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ tɤ̞²⁴ tai̯²¹⁻¹¹ ɕi⁴⁵/

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


冇上冇下

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ʂan²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ xa̠²¹⁻¹¹/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ san²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ xa̠²¹⁻¹¹/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ ʂan²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ xa̠²¹⁻¹¹/

/mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ san²¹⁻¹¹ mɒu̯²¹⁻¹¹ xa̠²¹⁻¹¹/


斬狗教猴

(Hakka) to make a public demonstration of punishing a wrongdoer in order to deter innocents who might mimic the example of the wrongdoer


字裡行間

ㄗˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄏㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

цзылиханцзянь

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɵy̯¹³ hɔːŋ²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² lɵy̯¹³ hɔːŋ²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/


九流三教

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄙㄢ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзюлюсаньцзяо

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

/kɐu̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³/

三教九流 三教九流#Chinese


不吝賜教

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˋ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄣˋ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

булиньцыцзяо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

булиньсыцзяо

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡sʰiː³³ kaːu̯³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ lin⁵¹⁻⁵³ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² t͡sʰiː³³ kaːu̯³³/

to not be stinting with comments or criticism


殺雞駭猴

to kill the chicken to startle the monkey

ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧ ㄏㄞˋ ㄏㄡˊ

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

/ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

to punish an individual as an example to others


窮到褲穿窿

/kʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯³³ fuː³³ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁻⁵⁵/


風雨兼程

ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄔㄥˊ

фэнъюйцзяньчэн

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/


夙夜匪懈

ㄙㄨˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄈㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jɛː²² fei̯³⁵ haːi̯²²/

/su⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jɛː²² fei̯³⁵ haːi̯²²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 260 (《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

lang

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

(《詩經·大雅·烝民》)

Intelligent is he and wise, Protecting his own person.
Never idle, day or night, In the service of the One man.

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

Jì míng qiě zhé, yǐ bǎo qí shēn.
Sùyè fěi xiè, yǐ shì yīrén.

既明且哲，以保其身。
夙夜匪解，以事一人。

Work day or night, follow the Principles.

中華民國國歌(The National Anthem of the Republic of China)

夙夜匪懈，主義是從。

夙夜匪懈，主义是从。


天寒地凍

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄢˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

тяньханьдидун

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xän³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xän³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ tei̯²² tʊŋ³³/


有口話人，冇口話自己

有口话人，冇口话自己
有口話人，無口話自己

jau⁵ hau² waa⁶ jan⁴, mou⁵ hau² waa⁶ zi⁶ gei²

jau⁵ hau² waa⁶ jan⁴, mou⁵ hau² waa⁶ dzi⁶ gei²

yeo⁵ heo² wa⁶ yen⁴, mou⁵ heo² wa⁶ ji⁶ géi²

/jɐu̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ waː²² jɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ hɐu̯³⁵ waː²² t͡siː²² kei̯³⁵/

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black

pot calling the kettle black; to criticize someone for a fault that one also shares


偷雞不著蝕把米

ㄊㄡ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄠˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚˇ ㄇㄧˇ

tōu jī bùzháo shí bǎ mǐ [Phonetic:tōujībùzháoshíbámǐ]

тоу цзи бучжао ши ба ми

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

偷雞不成蝕把米 偷雞不成蝕把米#Chinese

偷鸡不成蚀把米 偷鸡不成蚀把米#Chinese

Synonym of 偷雞不成蝕把米／偷鸡不成蚀把米 (tōu jī bùchéng shí bǎ mǐ)


偷雞不成蝕把米

ㄊㄡ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄚˇ ㄇㄧˇ

tōu jī bùchéng shí bǎ mǐ [Phonetic:tōujībùchéngshíbámǐ]

тоу цзи бучэн ши ба ми

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to try to gain an advantage, only to end up worse off and suffer losses


偷雞唔到蝕揸米

偷鸡唔到蚀揸米
偷雞唔到蝕拃米/偷鷄唔到蝕拃米/偷鸡唔到蚀拃米
偷雞唔到蝕渣米/偷鷄唔到蝕渣米/偷鸡唔到蚀渣米
偷雞唔到折揸米/偷鷄唔到折揸米/偷鸡唔到折揸米

/tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ m̩²¹ tou̯³⁵ siːt̚² t͡saː⁵⁵ mɐi̯¹³/

(Cantonese) to try to gain an advantage, only to end up worse off and suffer losses


可乘之機

ㄎㄜˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧ

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

opportunity that can be exploited to one's advantage


痛徹心扉

ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄟ

тунчэсиньфэй

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/


老淚縱橫

ㄌㄠˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ

лаолэйцзунхэн

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵/

tears running down the face of an elderly person


吳下阿蒙

[like] the generalLü Meng of the Kingdom Wu

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄚ ㄇㄥˊ

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄚˋ ㄇㄥˊ

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀä⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀä⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍²¹ haː²² aː³³ mʊŋ²¹/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀä⁵⁵ mɤŋ³⁵/

/u³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀä⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵/

/ŋ̍²¹ haː²² aː³³ mʊŋ²¹/

ignorant person; person who has meagre and superficial knowledge


稱王稱霸

ㄔㄥ ㄨㄤˊ ㄔㄥ ㄅㄚˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ paː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ pä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ paː³³/

to proclaim oneself hegemon; to seek hegemony; to domineer; to lord it over others


人模狗樣

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋ

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹/

ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄛˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄧㄤˋㄦ

жэньмогоуянр

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑ̃ɻ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ mou̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ²²/

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʐən³⁵ mu̯ɔ³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑ̃ɻ⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ mou̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ jœːŋ²²/


裝腔作勢

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ

чжуанцянцзоши

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/


無牽無掛

ㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷaː³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kua¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kua²¹/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ u³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ hiːn⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ kʷaː³³/

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ kua¹¹/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ bɤ²³⁻³³ kua²¹/


鳥不拉屎

ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄚ ㄕˇ

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ lä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ lä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(figurative, of a place, derogatory) deserted; desolate


好逸惡勞

ㄏㄠˋ ㄧˋ ㄨˋ ㄌㄠˊ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hou̯³³ jɐt̚² wuː³³ lou̯²¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹ lɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hou̯³³ jɐt̚² wuː³³ lou̯²¹/

(derogatory) to indulge in comfort and despise laboring


話雖如此

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄙㄨㄟ ㄖㄨˊ ㄘˇ

/xu̯ä⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waː²² sɵy̯⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/waː²² sɵy̯⁵⁵ jyː²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

that said; nevertheless; be that as it may


舐犢情深

ㄕˋ ㄉㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄣ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːi̯³⁵ tʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/saːi̯³⁵ tʊk̚² t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

deep parental love; deep affection of parents towards their children


隻眼開隻眼閉

/t͡sɛːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³ pɐi̯³³/


將勤補拙

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛ

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄅㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄛˊ

цзянциньбучжо

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐn²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚³/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ kʰɐn²¹ pou̯³⁵ t͡syːt̚³/

to make up for one's lack of natural talent with hard work


無關緊要

ㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄐㄧㄣˇ ㄧㄠˋ

угуаньцзиньяо

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ kɐn³⁵ jiːu̯³³/

/u³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ kʷaːn⁵⁵ kɐn³⁵ jiːu̯³³/


盛氣凌人

ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ

шэнцилинжэнь

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² hei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ liŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² hei̯³³ lɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹/

to be arrogant and overbearing and bully others


一元復始

ㄧ ㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyːn²¹ fʊk̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ jyːn²¹ fʊk̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/


惶惶不可終日

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖˋ

хуанхуанбукэчжунжи

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/wɔːŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚²/

to be extremely anxious; to be extremely terrified


兵不血刃

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄣˋ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄣˋ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄣˋ

бинбусюэжэнь

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hyːt̚³ jɐn²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/piŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hyːt̚³ jɐn²²/

(in a battle) to win without fighting or without much fight


家山有福

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄕㄢ ㄧㄡˇ ㄈㄨˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ fʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu³⁵/

/kaː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ fʊk̚⁵/

(chiefly Cantonese) to be blessed and fortunate because of the good feng shui of the graves of one's ancestors


性情中人

ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ

синцинчжунжэнь

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/sɪŋ³³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

person who expresses their true emotions; genuine person


不吐不快

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

/pu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːi̯³³/

/pu⁵¹ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ tʰou̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ faːi̯³³/

get something off one's chest
get off one's chest

to have to get something off one's chest; to have to say something to feel comfortable


死人冧樓

/sei̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ lɐm³³ lɐu̯²¹⁻³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ lɐm³³ lɐu̯²¹⁻³⁵/

nei⁵ sei² jan⁴ lam³ lau⁴⁻² dou¹ jiu³ tung⁴ ngo⁵ gaau² dim⁶ keoi⁵.

你死人冧樓都要同我搞掂佢。

你死人冧楼都要同我搞掂佢。

(Cantonese, figurative) to have a disaster; to have a catastrophe


貪贓枉法

ㄊㄢ ㄗㄤ ㄨㄤˇ ㄈㄚˇ

таньцзанванфа

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sɑŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ wɔːŋ³⁵ faːt̚³/


更有甚者

ㄍㄥˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄣˋ ㄓㄜˇ

гэнъюшэньчжэ

gɛnʺjušɛnʹčžɛ

/kɤŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³³ jɐu̯¹³ sɐm²² t͡sɛː³⁵/

/kɤŋ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³³ jɐu̯¹³ sɐm²² t͡sɛː³⁵/


用兵如神

ㄩㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄣˊ

/jʊŋ⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

/jʊŋ⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂən³⁵/

to direct military operations with extraordinary skill


兩袖清風

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄈㄥ

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sɐu̯²² t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of a government official) to be uncorrupted and upright and never take bribes


調兵遣將

ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

дяобинцяньцзян

/ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tiːu̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/

/tiːu̯²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³/


財源滾滾

ㄘㄞˊ ㄩㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄍㄨㄣˇ

цайюаньгуньгунь

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyːn²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ kʷɐn³⁵/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyːn²¹ kʷɐn³⁵ kʷɐn³⁵/


公婆拜蟹——腳手㩼

/koŋ³³⁻²³ pʰua⁵⁵ pai²¹³⁻⁵⁵ hoi³⁵ kʰa³³⁻²³ t͡sʰiu⁵² t͡soi¹¹/

(Teochew) to be hyperactive; to have itchy fingers


甕中捉鱉

ㄨㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄝ

вэнчжунчжобе

/wəŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/ʊŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚³ piːt̚³/

/wəŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛ⁵⁵/

/ʊŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚³ piːt̚³/

to catch or arrest a target already within one's grasp (and cannot escape)


懲惡勸善

ㄔㄥˊ ㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ

ㄔㄥˇ ㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄢˋ ㄕㄢˋ

чэнъэцюаньшань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ hyːn³³ siːn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːk̚³ hyːn³³ siːn²²/

From the Zuo zhuan, late 4th century BCE

The Spring and Autumn Annals, in the appellations which it uses, is clear with an exquisite minuteness, distinct through obscurity, elegant by its gentle turns, and full without descending to be low, condemning what is evil, and encouraging what is good;—who but the sage [Confucius] could have compiled it as it is?

Chūnqiū zhī chēng, wēi ér xiǎn, zhì ér huì, wǎn ér chéngzhāng, jìn ér bù wū, chéng'è ér quànshàn, fēi shèngrén shéi néng xiū zhī?

春秋之稱，微而顯，志而晦，婉而成章，盡而不污，懲惡而勸善，非聖人誰能脩之？

春秋之称，微而显，志而晦，婉而成章，尽而不污，惩恶而劝善，非圣人谁能脩之？

to punish the wicked and encourage the good


鬼斧神工

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄨˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

гуйфушэньгун

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ fuː³⁵ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

superlative craftsmanship; supernaturally fine craft (as if done by the spirits)


大費周章

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄓㄡ ㄓㄤ

дафэйчжоучжан

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ feɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² fɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵/

to spend a lot of time and effort to handle a complicated matter; to go to a lot of trouble to handle a difficult matter


南蠻鴃舌

ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄕㄜˊ

наньманьцзюэшэ

/nän³⁵ män³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/nän³⁵ män³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

From Mencius:
:
Note that in the pre-Qin period when this term was coined, the Chinese language was not spoken in the area known as South China today. See Old Yue language.

Now here is this shrike-tongued barbarian of the south, whose doctrines are not those of the ancient kings. You turn away from your master and become his disciple. Your conduct is different indeed from that of the philosopher Zeng.

Jīn yě nánmánjuéshé zhī rén, fēi xiānwáng zhī dào, zǐ bèi zǐ zhī shī ér xué zhī, yì yì yú Zēngzǐ yǐ.

今也南蠻鴃舌之人，非先王之道，子倍子之師而學之，亦異於曾子矣。

今也南蛮𫛞舌之人，非先王之道，子倍子之师而学之，亦异于曾子矣。

(derogatory) to speak the language of the southern barbarians or a dialect of southern China


他鄉遇故知

ㄊㄚ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄩˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄓ

тасян юй гучжи

/tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²² kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/tʰä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/tʰaː⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵ jyː²² kuː³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

There was a 4-verse poem describing things that make people delightful: “Rain after long drought, Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, The candle-lit night in the bridal chamber, And the time when one was admitted in the imperial examination.”

Jiù chuán yǒu shī sì jù, sòng shìrén déyì zhě yún: ‘Jiǔ hàn féng gānyǔ, tāxiāng yù gùzhī, dòngfáng huāzhú yè, jīnbǎng guàmíng shí.

舊傳有詩四句，誦世人得意者云：『久旱逢甘雨，他鄉遇故知，洞房花燭夜，金榜掛名時。

旧传有诗四句，诵世人得意者云：『久旱逢甘雨，他乡遇故知，洞房花烛夜，金榜挂名时。

to meet an old friend in a foreign place


感恩戴德

ㄍㄢˇ ㄣ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ганьэньдайдэ

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀən⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai¹¹⁻⁵³ tiɪk̚³²/

/kam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai²¹⁻⁴¹ tiɪk̚³²/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀən⁵⁵ taɪ̯⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯³³ tɐk̚⁵/

/kam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai¹¹⁻⁵³ tiɪk̚³²/

/kam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ in⁴⁴⁻³³ tai²¹⁻⁴¹ tiɪk̚³²/

to be (deeply) grateful for someone's benevolence or favor


五族共和

ㄨˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄜˊ

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʊk̚² kʊŋ²² wɔː²¹/

/u²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹ xɤ³⁵/

/ŋ̍¹³ t͡sʊk̚² kʊŋ²² wɔː²¹/

(historical) Five Races Under One Union (a slogan used during the early Republic of China era, referring to the harmonious existence under one nation of what were considered the five major ethnic groups in China: the Han, the Manchus, the Mongols, the Uyghurs, and the Tibetans)


手到擒來

ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄌㄞˊ

шоудаоциньлай

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɐm²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ kʰɐm²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

to capture someone or something or do something easily and effortlessly


意義深長

ㄧˋ ㄧˋ ㄕㄣ ㄔㄤˊ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

to have profound meanings; to be thought-provoking


憂心如焚

ㄧㄡ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄨˊ ㄈㄣˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ fən³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fɐn²¹/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ fən³⁵/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jyː²¹ fɐn²¹/

extremely anxious; extremely worried; burning with anxiety


請坐

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔː¹³/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔː¹³/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔː¹³/

/t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɔː¹³/


九曲十三彎

/kɐu̯³⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵ sɐp̚² saːm⁵⁵ waːn⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵ sɐp̚² saːm⁵⁵ waːn⁵⁵/


有風駛盡𢃇

/jɐu̯¹³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² lei̯¹³/

/jɐu̯¹³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ t͡sɵn²² lei̯¹³/

(Cantonese) to exploit a favourable opportunity to the full


見風使舵

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄥ ㄕˇ ㄉㄨㄛˋ

цзяньфэншидо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tʰɔː²¹/

to bend with the wind; to change one's position, attitude, behaviour, etc. depending on the situation (usually with negative connotation)


一時無兩

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ mou̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³/


上得山多終遇虎

to go up the mountain often and eventually run into a tiger

ㄕㄤˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕㄢ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄩˋ ㄏㄨˇ

шан дэ шань до чжун юй ху

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ʂän⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ¹³ tɐk̚⁵ saːn⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː²² fuː³⁵/

one that often takes risks to do bad things eventually gets into trouble


藥到病除

ㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄨˊ

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɛːŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɛːŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

/jœːk̚² tou̯³³ pɪŋ²² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹/

one's illness is cured after taking the medicine


魯般手裡調大斧

ㄌㄨˇ ㄅㄢ ㄕㄡˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄨˇ

Lǔ Bān shǒulǐ diào dàfǔ [Phonetic:lǔbānshóulǐdiàodàfǔ]

Лу Бань шоули дяо дафу

/lu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pän⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


以血洗血

→ Japanese: 血で血を洗う (calque)

ㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

ㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

ㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

eye for an eye; return violence for violence


百廢待興

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄥ

байфэйдайсин

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² hɪŋ⁵⁵/

In the early days after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China was impoverished, with a great number of things waiting to be rebuilt and tasks to be undertaken.

Xīnzhōngguó chénglì zhī chū, Zhōngguó yīqióng'èrbái, bǎifèidàixīng.

新中國成立之初，中國一窮二白，百廢待興。

新中国成立之初，中国一穷二白，百废待兴。

many abandoned or neglected tasks or projects are waiting to be undertaken


百廢待舉

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄐㄩˇ

байфэйдайцзюй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ fɐi̯³³ tɔːi̯²² kɵy̯³⁵/

百廢待興 百廢待興#Chinese

百废待兴 百废待兴#Chinese

Synonym of 百廢待興／百废待兴 (bǎifèidàixīng, “many abandoned or neglected tasks or projects are waiting to be undertaken”)


如沐春風

ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄨˋ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄈㄥ

/ʐu³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐu³⁵ mu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jyː²¹ mʊk̚² t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

to be educated by a great and earnest teacher

to get along with and be influenced by an erudite or virtuous person


御用文人

ㄩˋ ㄩㄥˋ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юйюнвэньжэнь

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyː²² jʊŋ²² mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyː²² jʊŋ²² mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹/

(derogatory) writer hired by the ruler or government to sing its praises


疑罪從無

ㄧˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄨˊ

/i³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ u³⁵/

/i³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ u³⁵/


高分低能

ㄍㄠ ㄈㄣ ㄉㄧ ㄋㄥˊ

гаофэньдинэн

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ ti⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tɐi̯⁵⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ ti⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵/

/kou̯⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tɐi̯⁵⁵ nɐŋ²¹/

(education, of a student) high in score but low in ability


玩忽職守

ㄨㄢˊ ㄏㄨ ㄓˊ ㄕㄡˇ

ㄨㄢˋ ㄏㄨ ㄓˊ ㄕㄡˇ

ваньху чжишоу

/wän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wän⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wän³⁵ xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wän⁵¹ xu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

國家機關工作人員濫用職權或者玩忽職守，致使公共財產、國家和人民利益遭受重大損失的，處三年以下有期徒刑或者拘役；情節特別嚴重的，處三年以上七年以下有期徒刑。 [MSC, trad.]
国家机关工作人员滥用职权或者玩忽职守，致使公共财产、国家和人民利益遭受重大损失的，处三年以下有期徒刑或者拘役；情节特别严重的，处三年以上七年以下有期徒刑。 [MSC, simp.]
Guójiājīguān gōngzuòrényuán lànyòng zhíquán huòzhě wánhūzhíshǒu, zhìshǐ gōnggòng cáichǎn, guójiā hé rénmín lìyì zāoshòu zhòngdà sǔnshī de, chù sān nián yǐxià yǒuqītúxíng huòzhě jūyì; qíngjié tèbié yánzhòng de, chù sān nián yǐshàng qī nián yǐxià yǒuqītúxíng. [Pinyin]

Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 397

Any functionary of a State organ who abuses his power or neglects his duty, thus causing heavy losses to public money or property or the interests of the State and the people, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention; if the circumstances are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years.

(Mainland China) to neglect one's duty; to engage in misconduct in public office


童心未泯

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨㄟˋ ㄇㄧㄣˇ

тунсиньвэйминь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ min²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ min²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

one's childish disposition remains even though he/she is grownup


棄車保帥

(in theXiangqi chess game) to abandon a chariot in order to protect the general

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄩ ㄅㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄞˋ

цицзюйбаошуай

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³³ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/hei̯³³ kɵy̯⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ sɵy̯³³/

to sacrifice something of lesser importance to preserve something crucial


火車未到站

the train has not yet arrived at the station

/fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mei̯²² tou̯³³ t͡saːm²²/

/fɔː³⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mei̯²² tou̯³³ t͡saːm²²/

(Cantonese) to have one's trousers unzipped; to have one's fly down


血肉相連

ㄒㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

ㄒㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

сюэжоусянлянь

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

сежоусянлянь

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/

/hyːt̚³ jʊk̚² sœːŋ⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

to be very intimately connected; to be connected by flesh and blood


相見恨晚

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄣˋ ㄨㄢˇ

сянцзяньхэньвань

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xən⁵¹ wän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hɐn²² maːn¹³/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hɐn²² maːn¹³/

to regret not having met earlier; if only we had met earlier (used to express the happiness when meeting with someone for the first time)


敢作敢為

ㄍㄢˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄨㄟˊ

ганьцзоганьвэй

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

/kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/kɐm³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kɐm³⁵ wɐi̯²¹/

to act with courage and resolution; to dare to act


一字一珠

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵/


一字一淚

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ lɵy̯²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː²² jɐt̚⁵ lɵy̯²²/


有說有笑

ㄧㄡˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ siːu̯³³/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ syːt̚³ jɐu̯¹³ siːu̯³³/


穿針引線

ㄔㄨㄢ ㄓㄣ ㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

чуаньчжэньиньсянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ siːn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn¹³ siːn³³/

(figuratively) to act as a go-between; to act as a middleman


加鹽加醋

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːm²¹ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

/kaː⁵⁵ jiːm²¹ kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯³³/

(Cantonese, figurative) to add colour to (a narration); to exaggerate; to embellish


打完齋唔要和尚

to not want a Buddhist monk after the ritual is finished

/taː³⁵ jyːn²¹ t͡saːi̯⁵⁵ m̩²¹ jiːu̯³³ wɔː²¹ sœːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

to abandon someone after that person has helped to reach a goal


過橋抽板

to cross a bridge and take away the planks

ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄑㄧㄠˊ ㄔㄡ ㄅㄢˇ

гоцяочоубань

/ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʷɔː³³ kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ paːn³⁵/

/kʷɔː³³ kʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵ paːn³⁵/

to abandon one's benefactor upon achieving one's goal


奉若神明

ㄈㄥˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

фэнжошэньмин

/fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²² jœːk̚² sɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂən³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/fʊŋ²² jœːk̚² sɐn²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

to worship or revere someone or something as if they are a deity


逕啟者

ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄓㄜˇ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

An expression used at the beginning of a letter when the author skips greetings and gets straight to the point


DNLM

/tiːu̯³⁵ nei̯¹³ lou̯¹³ mou̯¹³⁻³⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ nei̯¹³ lou̯¹³ mou̯¹³⁻³⁵/

屌你老母 屌你老母#Chinese

(vulgar, slang, leetspeak) Short for 屌你老母 (“fuck your mother; fuck you”).


DLLM

/tiːu̯³⁵ nei̯¹³ lou̯¹³ mou̯¹³⁻³⁵/

/tiː⁵⁵ ɛːu̯⁵⁵ ɛːu̯⁵⁵ ɛːm⁵⁵/

/tiːu̯³⁵ nei̯¹³ lou̯¹³ mou̯¹³⁻³⁵/

/tiː⁵⁵ ɛːu̯⁵⁵ ɛːu̯⁵⁵ ɛːm⁵⁵/

(Cantonese, vulgar, slang, leetspeak) Initialism of 屌你老母 (diu² nei⁵ lou⁵ mou⁵⁻², “fuck your mother; fuck you”).


事後諸葛

ㄕˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˇ

ㄕˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˊ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵/

事後諸葛亮 事後諸葛亮#Chinese

事后诸葛亮 事后诸葛亮#Chinese

twenty-twenty hindsight
twenty-twenty hindsight

Synonym of 事後諸葛亮／事后诸葛亮 (shìhòu Zhūgě Liàng, “expert in hindsight; twenty-twenty hindsight; to have pseudo-intellectual opinion after the fact but not before”)


劉備借荊州——一借冇回頭

head

劉備借荊州——一借冇回頭

刘备借荆州——一借冇回头

/lɐu̯²¹ pei̯²²⁻³⁵ t͡sɛː³³ kɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɛː³³ mou̯¹³ wuːi̯²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹/

(Cantonese) something borrowed will not be returned


劉備借荊州——有借無還

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄓㄡ

ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄢˊ

Лю Бэй цзе Цзинчжоу

ю цзе у хуань

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ u³⁵ xu̯än³⁵/

From the plot of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where Liu Bei asked Sun Quan to lend Jingzhou to him, but Liu refused to return Sun's land when asked to.

Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou - borrowing without returning

Liu Bei
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Sun Quan


人亡政息

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄒㄧ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄒㄧˊ

жэньванчжэнси

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ɕi³⁵/

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

The Duke Ai asked about government. The Master said, "The government of Wen and Wu is displayed in the records - the tablets of wood and bamboo. Let there be the men and the government will flourish; but without the men, their government decays and ceases. […]

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE

Āi Gōng wèn zhèng. Zǐyuē: “Wén, Wǔ zhī zhèng, bù zài fāng cè, qí rén cún, zé qí zhèng jǔ; qí rén wáng, zé qí zhèng xī.......

哀公問政。子曰：「文、武之政，布在方策，其人存，則其政舉；其人亡，則其政息。……

哀公问政。子曰：「文、武之政，布在方策，其人存，则其政举；其人亡，则其政息。……

a person in power dies or leaves office and his or her policies are abandoned

Book of Rites
King Wen of Zhou
King Wu of Zhou


按鬧分配

ㄢˋ ㄋㄠˋ ㄈㄣ ㄆㄟˋ

аньнаофэньпэй

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

/ˀän⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

distribution according to who is the noisiest or causes the most disturbance


胸無城府

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄨˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄨˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fuː³⁵/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fuː³⁵/

to be frank and sincere and not scheming


鼻哥窿擔遮——避無可避

/pei̯²² kɔː⁵⁵ lʊŋ²¹⁻⁵⁵ taːm⁵⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ pei̯²² mou̯²¹ hɔː³⁵ pei̯²²/

避無可避／避无可避 (“to have nowhere to hide”) is homophonous to 鼻毛可避 (“nose hairs can hide”).

the nostril holds an umbrella—to have nowhere to hide

(Cantonese) to have nowhere to flee or hide


大吵大鬧

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄠˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄠˋ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² naːu̯²²/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² naːu̯²²/

to create a noisy disturbance; to kick up a fuss; to make a scene


借花獻佛

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄛˊ

цзехуасяньфо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ hiːn³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ put̚⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hue⁴⁴⁻³³ hiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ put̚⁴/

/t͡sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hue⁴⁴⁻²² hiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ put̚⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ hiːn³³ fɐt̚²/

to offer something that one has received (as a gift, favour, etc.) to someone else


水洗都唔清

cannot wash oneself clean even with water

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ m̩²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ m̩²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) to have a wrongful accusation that is unable to be got rid of


孫悟空大鬧天宮——慌了神

孫悟空大鬧天宮——慌了神

孙悟空大闹天宫——慌了神

the Monkey King wreaks havoc in the heavenly palace—causing the gods to be flustered (to be disoriented and confused)

ㄙㄨㄣ ㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄠˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ

Сунь Укун да нао тяньгун

хуан лэ шэнь

/su̯ən⁵⁵ u⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lə² ʂən³⁵/

to be disoriented and confused after experiencing shock


借花敬佛

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄈㄛˊ

цзехуацзинфо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ fɐt̚²/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sɛː³³ faː⁵⁵ kɪŋ³³ fɐt̚²/

(chiefly Cantonese) to offer something that one has received (as a gift, favour, etc.) to someone else


冇得傾

/mou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/mou̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ kʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) non-negotiable, not up for discussion


乘人之危

ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟ

ㄔㄥˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟˊ

чэнжэньчживэй

čɛnžɛnʹčživɛj

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

to exploit someone's difficulties or precarious situation


輕車熟路

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄜ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄜ ㄕㄡˊ ㄌㄨˋ

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄐㄩ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

to perform a task with which one is very familiar with great ease


翻臉不認人

ㄈㄢ ㄌㄧㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄣˋ ㄖㄣˊ

fānliǎn bù rèn rén [Phonetic:fānliǎn bú rèn rén]

фаньлянь бу жэнь жэнь

/fän⁵⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/faːn⁵⁵ liːm¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²² jɐn²¹/

/fän⁵⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐən⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/faːn⁵⁵ liːm¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jɪŋ²² jɐn²¹/

to do an about-face and become hostile or cold to someone


閻羅王打交——鬼打鬼

/jiːm²¹ lɔː²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ taː³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ taː³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/


成吉思汗打仔——大汗𢱕細汗

成吉思汗打仔——大汗𢱕細汗

成吉思汗打仔——大汗𢱕细汗

Genghis Khan hits his son—the big khan beats up the small khan (big sweat drips on small sweat)

/sɪŋ²¹ kɐt̚⁵ siː⁵⁵ hɔːn²¹ taː³⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ taːi̯²² hɔːn²² tɐp̚² sɐi̯³³ hɔːn²²/


冇牙佬飲湯——無齒下流

/mou̯¹³ ŋaː²¹ lou̯³⁵ jɐm³⁵ tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵ haː²² lɐu̯²¹/

無齒下流/无齿下流 (“no teeth [so the soup] flows down”) is homophonous to 無恥下流/无耻下流 (“to be shameless and vulgar”).

zh-l

a toothless man drinks soup–no teeth [so the soup] flows down

(Cantonese) to be vulgar and know no shame


工於心計

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧˋ

гунъюйсиньцзи

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³/

scheming; calculating; adept at scheming


慷慨就義

ㄎㄤ ㄎㄞˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧˋ

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²²/

/kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ kʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɔːŋ³⁵ kʰɔːi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯²² jiː²²/

to valiantly lay down one's life for a just cause; to die a martyr


作惡多端

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄜˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄉㄨㄢ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ ɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔːk̚³ ɔːk̚³ tɔː⁵⁵ tyːn⁵⁵/

to have done a great number of evil deeds


死不足惜

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧ

ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄒㄧˊ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

one's death is not or will not be regrettable; one's death is not or will not be a cause for regret


狼心狗肺

ㄌㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄡˇ ㄈㄟˋ

лансиньгоуфэй

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɔːŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ fɐi̯³³/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hi²¹/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hi⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hi²¹/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hi¹¹/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hi²¹/

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹/

/lɔːŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ fɐi̯³³/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hi²¹/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hi⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hi²¹/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hi¹¹/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hi²¹/

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

ungrateful; biting the hand that feeds one


瞠目結舌

ㄔㄥ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ mʊk̚² kiːt̚³ siːt̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ mʊk̚² kiːt̚³ siːt̚²/

to be stunned; to be shocked; to be struck dumb

to be embarrassed; to be in an awkward position


手無縛雞之力

one's hands lack the strength needed to truss a chicken

ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄐㄧ ㄓ ㄌㄧˋ

шоу у фу цзи чжи ли

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ fu³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ pɔːk̚³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

to be very weak and lacking physical strength


文弱書生

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

/wən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jœːk̚² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jœːk̚² syː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

scholar or intellectual who is gentle and frail


志大才疏

ㄓˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄕㄨ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/

to have great ambitions but little talent or ability


惶恐不安

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

хуанкунбу’ань

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

to be terrified and very anxious; to be panicky


字字珠璣

цзыцзычжуцзи

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡siː²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡siː²² t͡siː²² t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯⁵⁵/

(of the language of a piece of writing or speech) beautiful and exquisite


誠惶誠恐

ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

чэнхуанчэнкун

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵/

(honorific) in fear and trepidation; with fear and reverence (expression used in an official's report to the emperor)

so cautious that one is very terrified and anxious


一等洋人二等官，三等少民四等漢

head

一等洋人二等官，三等少民四等漢

一等洋人二等官，三等少民四等汉

ㄧ ㄉㄥˇ ㄧㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄦˋ ㄉㄥˇ ㄍㄨㄢ

ㄙㄢ ㄉㄥˇ ㄕㄠˇ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄙˋ ㄉㄥˇ ㄏㄢˋ

sānděng shǎomín sìděng Hàn [Phonetic:yīděngyángrénèrděngguān

идэн янжэнь эрдэн гуань

саньдэн шаоминь сыдэн Хань

/i⁵⁵ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ sän⁵⁵ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ min³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ tɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹/

In Communist China, foreigners enjoy the highest status and the best treatment, followed by government officials, then by ethnic minorities and lastly by Han Chinese (which enjoy the lowest status and worst treatment).


優勝劣汰

ㄧㄡ ㄕㄥˋ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄊㄞˋ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ lyːt̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ³³ lyːt̚³ tʰaːi̯³³/

survival of the fittest
survival of the fittest

the superior win and remain and the inferior is eliminated; survival of the fittest


雄才大略

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄩㄝˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² lœːk̚²/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ly̯ɛ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² lœːk̚²/

to have outstanding ability and great strategy


財雄勢大

ㄘㄞˊ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄕˋ ㄉㄚˋ

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hʊŋ²¹ sɐi̯³³ taːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hʊŋ²¹ sɐi̯³³ taːi̯²²/

(Hong Kong) to have massive wealth and great power and influence


口吐珠璣

ㄎㄡˇ ㄊㄨˇ ㄓㄨ ㄐㄧ

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/


滿腹珠璣

ㄇㄢˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓㄨ ㄐㄧ

маньфучжуцзи

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/


恐懼不安

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄐㄩˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

кунцзюйбу’ань

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²² pɐt̚⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵/


恐惶悚懼

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄙㄨㄥˇ ㄐㄩˋ

кунхуансунцзюй

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ sʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/hʊŋ³⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ sʊŋ³⁵ kɵy̯²²/


臨死不恐

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

/lin³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

/lin³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

to have no fear even when faced with death; to be courageous and determined


臨難不懼

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄩˋ

линьнаньбуцзюй

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

臨難不恐 臨難不恐#Chinese

临难不恐 临难不恐#Chinese

Synonym of 臨難不恐／临难不恐 (línnànbùkǒng, “to have no fear when faced with calamity”)


家無擔石

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄨˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ u³⁵ tän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ u³⁵ tän⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

to have very little food left; to have poverty-stricken


擔驚受怕

ㄉㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄡˋ ㄆㄚˋ

даньцзиншоупа

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹/

/taːm⁵⁵ kɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² pʰaː³³/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹/

/taːm⁵⁵ kɛːŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯²² pʰaː³³/

to feel anxious and afraid; to be apprehensive


擔驚受恐

ㄉㄢ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕㄡˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

даньцзиншоукун

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tän⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

擔驚受怕 擔驚受怕#Chinese

担惊受怕 担惊受怕#Chinese

Synonym of 擔驚受怕／担惊受怕 (dānjīngshòupà, “to feel anxious and afraid; to be apprehensive”)


孤身隻影

/ku⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɪŋ³⁵/

/ku⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuː⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³ jɪŋ³⁵/


誠恐誠惶

ㄔㄥˊ ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄤˊ

чэнкунчэнхуан

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/sɪŋ²¹ hʊŋ³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/


亙古未有

ㄍㄣˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄡˇ

/kən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kuː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

/kən⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐŋ³⁵ kuː³⁵ mei̯²² jɐu̯¹³/

unprecedented; unheard of; to have never ever occurred


恐後爭先

ㄎㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄓㄥ ㄒㄧㄢ

кунхоучжэнсянь

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/hʊŋ³⁵ hɐu̯²² t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ siːn⁵⁵/

爭先恐後 爭先恐後#Chinese

争先恐后 争先恐后#Chinese

Synonym of 爭先恐後／争先恐后 (zhēngxiānkǒnghòu, “to vie to be first and fear to be last”)


臨難不恐

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄨㄥˇ

линьнаньбукун

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɐm²¹ naːn²² pɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ³⁵/

to have no fear when faced with calamity


珠璣咳唾

ㄓㄨ ㄐㄧ ㄎㄜˊ ㄊㄨㄛˋ

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰɤ³⁵ tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

to speak or write words of excellent literary style


左鄰右里

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ lɵn²¹ jɐu̯²² lei̯¹³/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ lɵn²¹ jɐu̯²² lei̯¹³/


電閃雷鳴

ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄕㄢˇ ㄌㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

дяньшаньлэймин

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/


紅顏薄命

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (紅顏薄命):
* → Vietnamese: hồng nhan bạc mệnh (紅顏薄命)

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

хунъяньбомин

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ pɔːk̚² mɪŋ²²/

/xʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/hʊŋ²¹ ŋaːn²¹ pɔːk̚² mɪŋ²²/

beautiful women often suffer unhappy fates


無面目見江東父老

ㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄠˇ

mou⁴ min⁶ muk⁶ gin³ gong¹ dung¹ fu⁶ lou⁵

wu² mien⁴-mu⁴ chien⁴ Chiang¹-tung¹ fu⁴-lao³

у мяньму цзянь Цзяндун фулао

/u³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

mou⁴ min⁶ muk⁹ gin³ gong¹ dung¹ fu⁶ lou⁵

mou⁴ min⁶ mug⁶ gin³ gong¹ dung¹ fu⁶ lou⁵

/mou̯²¹ miːn²² mʊk̚² kiːn³³ kɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː²² lou̯¹³/

Xiang Yu laughed and said, "The Heaven wants to destroy me. What use is it for me to cross the Yangtze River! Besides, I crossed the river to the west with 8,000 of young brothers from the eastern bank, but now none of them can return. Even if the elders of the eastern bank pity me and support me as the king, what face do I have to face them? Even if they don't speak out, am I not ashamed deep in my heart?"

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

Xiàng Wáng xiào yuē: “Tiān zhī wáng wǒ, wǒ hé dù wéi! Qiě Jí yǔ jiāngdōng zǐdì bā qiān rén dùjiāng ér xī, jīn wú yī rén hái, zòng jiāngdōng fùxiōng lián ér wànɡ wǒ, wǒ hé miànmù jiàn zhī? Zòng bǐ bù yán, Jí dú bù kuì yú xīn hū?”

項王笑曰：「天之亡我，我何渡為！且籍與江東子弟八千人渡江而西，今無一人還，縱江東父兄憐而王我，我何面目見之？縱彼不言，籍獨不愧於心乎？」

项王笑曰：「天之亡我，我何渡为！且籍与江东子弟八千人渡江而西，今无一人还，纵江东父兄怜而王我，我何面目见之？纵彼不言，籍独不愧于心乎？」

to be ashamed to face one's relatives and friends in one's hometown because of one's failures


一錯再錯

ㄧ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄘㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔː³³/

to make the same mistake(s) again and again; to continue making error after error


驍勇善戰

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄩㄥˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄓㄢˋ

сяоюншаньчжань

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ¹³ siːn²² t͡siːn³³/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹/

/hiːu̯⁵⁵ jʊŋ¹³ siːn²² t͡siːn³³/


七老八十

ㄑㄧ ㄌㄠˇ ㄅㄚ ㄕˊ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³ paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ lau³³⁻¹¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sap̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ lou̯¹³ paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/


滴水不漏

ㄉㄧ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ

/ti⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²²/

/ti⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/tɪk̚² sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²²/

completely rigorous; watertight; very tight


馬失前蹄

ㄇㄚˇ ㄕ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧˊ

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi³⁵/

/maː¹³ sɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ tʰɐi̯²¹/

to suddenly fail through miscalculation or inattentiveness


心腹大患

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ

синьфудахуань

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² waːn²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ taːi̯²² waːn²²/


聲情並茂

ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄠˋ

шэнцинбинмао

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ pɪŋ²² mɐu̯²²/

(of a singer, speaker, etc.) excellent in both voice and the expression of emotions


養兒防老

ㄧㄤˇ ㄦˊ ㄈㄤˊ ㄌㄠˇ

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ fɔːŋ²¹ lou̯¹³/

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ fɑŋ³⁵ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ fɔːŋ²¹ lou̯¹³/

(of parents) to bring up children for the purpose of being looked after in old age


顛倒是非

ㄉㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˇ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ

дяньдаошифэй

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn³³ to⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² hui³³/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/ti̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn³³ to⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻²² hui³³/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻²² to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²²⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻¹¹ hui⁴⁴/

/tiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si³³⁻²¹ hui⁴⁴/

to confound right with wrong; to distort the truth


話說回來

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄌㄞˊ

хуа шо хуэйлай

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/waː²² syːt̚³ wuːi̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

/xu̯ä⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/waː²² syːt̚³ wuːi̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹/

returning to the main topic...; that said; again; nevertheless; anyhow


見縫插針

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄥˋ ㄔㄚ ㄓㄣ

цзяньфэнчачжэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

/kiːn³³ fʊŋ²² t͡sʰaːp̚³ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

to make use of every bit of available time or space


天各一方

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧ ㄈㄤ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ kak̚²⁻⁴ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² huaŋ³³/


肅然起敬

ㄙㄨˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

сужаньцицзин

/su⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hei̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/

/sok̚²⁻⁴ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

/su⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/sʊk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ hei̯³⁵ kɪŋ³³/

/sok̚²⁻⁴ d͡ziaŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kʰi⁵²⁻³⁵ keŋ²¹³/

to feel great respect and admiration (for somebody); to be filled with deep respect (for somebody)


燈火通明

ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/


飲恨而終

ㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

иньхэньэрчжун

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ hɐn²² jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐm³⁵ hɐn²² jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/


對簿公堂

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄊㄤˊ

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ pou̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ pou̯²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹/

to confront someone in court; to go to court


天怒人怨

Heaven is angry and the people are resentful

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄋㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩㄢˋ

тяньнужэньюань

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ nou̯²² jɐn²¹ jyːn³³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ nou̯²² jɐn²¹ jyːn³³/

there is widespread anger and discontent among the people (because of the harm or evil someone has done)


神州陸沉

ㄕㄣˊ ㄓㄡ ㄌㄨˋ ㄔㄣˊ

шэньчжоулучэнь

šɛnʹčžoulučɛnʹ

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹/

/ʂən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵ lu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/sɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɐm²¹/

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

Huán Gōng rù Luò, guò Huái Sì, jiàn běi jìng, yǔ zhū liáoshǔ dēng píngchénglóu, tiàozhǔ Zhōngyuán, kǎirán yuē: “Suì shǐ Shénzhōulùchén, bǎinián qiūxū, wáng Yífǔ zhūrén bùdé bù rèn qí zé!”

桓公入洛，過淮泗，踐北境，與諸僚屬登平乘樓，眺矚中原，慨然曰：「遂使神州陸沉，百年丘虛，王夷甫諸人不得不任其責！」

桓公入洛，过淮泗，践北境，与诸僚属登平乘楼，眺瞩中原，慨然曰：「遂使神州陆沉，百年丘虚，王夷甫诸人不得不任其责！」

China is invaded and occupied by enemies


額頭流汗

ㄜˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄏㄢˋ

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ xän⁵¹/

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ xän⁵¹/

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ xän⁵¹/

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ xän⁵¹/


額頭出汗

ㄜˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄔㄨ ㄏㄢˋ

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xän⁵¹/

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xän⁵¹/

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xän⁵¹/

/ˀɤ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xän⁵¹/


橫風橫雨

/waːŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ jyː¹³/

/waːŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ jyː¹³/

(Cantonese) to have a furious storm; to be raining sideways


光彩耀目

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄘㄞˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

光彩奪目 光彩奪目#Chinese

光彩夺目 光彩夺目#Chinese

Synonym of 光彩奪目／光彩夺目 (guāngcǎiduómù, “brilliant and dazzling”)


學有所成

ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄥˊ

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

/ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/hɔːk̚² jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²¹/

to have made achievements in one's studies; to have completed one's studies


橫街窄巷

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²/

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵/

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²/

/waːŋ²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚³ hɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵/


胸無大志

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡siː³³/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡siː³³/

to have no great ambitions or aspirations


順水人情

ㄕㄨㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

шуньшуйжэньцин

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/ʂu̯ən⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/sɵn²² sɵy̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

favour done (for others) at little or no cost


雄心勃勃

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄛˊ ㄅㄛˊ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵ pu̯ɔ³⁵/

/hʊŋ²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ puːt̚² puːt̚²/


貪財好色

ㄊㄢ ㄘㄞˊ ㄏㄠˋ ㄙㄜˋ

таньцайхаосэ

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

/tʰän⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵/

to be greedy for money and lust for women


人生路不熟

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨˊ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄡˊ

жэньшэнлубушу

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

жэньшэнлубушоу

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ saːŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ saːŋ⁵⁵ lou̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

to be unfamiliar with the place and the people; to be a stranger in a strange place


荒淫無度

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄉㄨˋ

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ tou̯²²/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ tu⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ tou̯²²/

to live an debauched life without any restraint; to excessively indulge in liquor and women


假公濟私

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄐㄧˋ ㄙ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ siː⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵/

/kaː³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³³ siː⁵⁵/

to exploit public office for private gain


賣國求榮

ㄇㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/maɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/


鼎鼎大名

ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/

/tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/tɪŋ³⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ taːi̯²² mɪŋ²¹/


趁虛而入

ㄔㄣˋ ㄒㄩ ㄦˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn³³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən⁵¹ ɕy⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn³³ hɵy̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ jɐp̚²/

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


蝸角之爭

Sino-Xenic (蝸角之爭):
* → Korean: 와각지쟁(蝸角之爭) (wagakjijaeng)

ja-r

か%ぎゅう%かく%じょう の あらそい

→ Japanese: 蝸(か)牛(ぎゅう)角(かく)上(じょう)の争(あらそ)い (kagyūkakujō no arasoi) (calque)

ㄨㄛ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄓ ㄓㄥ

ㄍㄨㄚ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄓ ㄓㄥ

воцзяочжичжэн

/wɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

гуацзяочжичжэн

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

Dai Jinren said, "There is a creature called the snail—does Your Majesty know it?"
"Yes."
"On top of its left horn is a kingdom called Buffet, and on top of its right horn is a kingdom called Maul. At times they quarrel over territory and go to war, strewing the field with corpses by the ten thousands, the victor pursuing the vanquished for half a month before returning home."

Dài Jìnrén yuē: “Yǒu suǒwèi wō zhě, jūn zhī zhī hū?” Yuē: “Rán.” “yǒu guó yú wō zhī zuǒ jiǎo zhě yuē Chù shì, yǒu guó yú wō zhī yòu jiǎo zhě yuē Mán shì, shí xiàngyǔ zhēng dì ér zhàn, fú shī shùwàn, zhú běi xún yǒu wǔ rì ér hòu fǎn.”

戴晉人曰：「有所謂蝸者，君知之乎？」曰：「然。」「有國於蝸之左角者曰觸氏，有國於蝸之右角者曰蠻氏，時相與爭地而戰，伏屍數萬，逐北旬有五日而後反。」

戴晋人曰：「有所谓蜗者，君知之乎？」曰：「然。」「有国于蜗之左角者曰触氏，有国于蜗之右角者曰蛮氏，时相与争地而战，伏尸数万，逐北旬有五日而后反。」

petty squabble; quarrel over trivial matters


沒有辦法

ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄢˋ ㄈㄚˇ

/meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pän⁵¹ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

there is nothing to be done; there is no way


劫後餘生

ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩˊ ㄕㄥ

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːp̚³ hɐu̯²² jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/kiːp̚³ hɐu̯²² jyː²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to survive a disaster; to outlive a calamity


勢如水火

ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


獨具匠心

ㄉㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

дуцзюйцзянсинь

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

/tu³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/tʊk̚² kɵy̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² sɐm⁵⁵/

(chiefly of literature or art) to show great ingenuity; to have originality


火燎眉毛

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄇㄠˊ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/


火燒眉毛

ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄠ ㄇㄟˊ ㄇㄠˊ

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ mou̯²¹/

/xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ mei̯²¹ mou̯²¹/


一觸即潰

ㄧ ㄔㄨˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄎㄨㄟˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ kʰuːi̯³⁵/

to collapse on the first encounter (with enemy forces)


巧取豪奪

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄑㄩˇ ㄏㄠˊ ㄉㄨㄛˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ hou̯²¹ tyːt̚²/

/haːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ hou̯²¹ tyːt̚²/

to take away (others' money and property) by trickery or by force


明若觀火

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (明若觀火):
* → Korean: 명약관화(明若觀火) (myeong'yakgwanhwa)

ja-r

ひ を みる より も あきらか だ

→ Japanese: (calque) 火(ひ)を見(み)るよりも明(あき)らかだ (hi o miru yori mo akiraka da)

desc

→ Korean: 불 보듯 뻔하다 (bul bodeut ppeonhada), 불 보듯 훤하다 (bul bodeut hwonhada) (calque) (calque)

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

минжогуаньхо

/miŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/miŋ³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ jœːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

From the Book of Documents, mid-first millennium BCE, quoting King Pan Geng (reigned c. 1290–1263 BCE), in a speech reproaching his vassals for opposing his efforts to relocate the capital

Now, [however], you keep clamouring, and get the confidence [of the people] by alarming and shallow speeches; I do not know what you are wrangling about. [In this movement of the capital] I am not myself abandoning my proper virtue, but you conceal the goodness of my intentions, and do not stand in awe of me, the One man. I see you as clearly as one sees a fire; but I, likewise, by my undecided plans, have produced your error.

The Book of Documents, circa 7ᵗʰ – 4ᵗʰ centuries BCE

Jīn rǔ guōguō, qǐ xìn xiǎn fū, yǔ fú zhī nǎi suǒ sòng. Fēi yǔ zì huāng zī dé, wéi rǔ hán dé, bù tì yǔ yīrén. Yǔ ruò guān huǒ, yǔ yì zhuōmóu zuò nǎi yì.

今汝聒聒，起信險膚，予弗知乃所訟。非予自荒茲德，惟汝含德，不惕予一人。予若觀火，予亦拙謀作乃逸。

今汝聒聒，起信险肤，予弗知乃所讼。非予自荒兹德，惟汝含德，不惕予一人。予若观火，予亦拙谋作乃逸。

to be clearly evident; to be as clear as day


捨己為人

ㄕㄜˇ ㄐㄧˇ ㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄣˊ

шэцзивэйжэнь

šɛczivɛjžɛnʹ

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/sɛː³⁵ kei̯³⁵ wɐi̯²² jɐn²¹/

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/sɛː³⁵ kei̯³⁵ wɐi̯²² jɐn²¹/

to sacrifice one's own interests for the sake of others


行俠仗義

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˊ ㄓㄤˋ ㄧˋ

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ hɐp̚² t͡sœːŋ²² jiː²²/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

/hɐŋ²¹ hɐp̚² t͡sœːŋ²² jiː²²/

to be chivalrous; to have a sense of justice and be willing to help others


漁翁之利

/y³⁵ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

/y³⁵ wəŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ li⁵¹/

漁人之利 漁人之利#Chinese

渔人之利 渔人之利#Chinese

Synonym of 漁人之利／渔人之利 (yúrénzhīlì, “the benefits reaped by a third party when two sides quarrel”)


聞一知十

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (聞一知十):
* → Korean: 문일지십(聞一知十) (muniljisip)

ja-r

いち を き.いて じゅう を しる

→ Japanese: 一(いち)を聞(き)いて十(じゅう)を知(し)る (ichi o kiite jū o shiru) (calque)

desc

하나를 들으면 열을 안다

하나를 보면 열을 안다

→ Korean: 하나를 들으면 열을 안다 (hanareul deureumyeon yeoreul anda), 하나를 보면 열을 안다 (hanareul bomyeon yeoreul anda, literally “to know ten by seeing one”) (calque) (partial calque)

/wən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

/wən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐp̚²/

The Master said to Zigong, "Which do you consider superior, yourself or [Yan] Hui?"
Zigong replied, "How dare I compare myself with Hui? Hui hears one point and knows all [lit. ten points] about a subject; I hear one point, and know a second."

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

Zǐ wèi Zǐgòng yuē: “Nǚ yǔ Huí yě shú yù?”
Duì yuē: “Cì yě hégǎn wàng Huí. Huí yě wén yī yǐ zhī shí, cì yě wén yī yǐ zhī èr.”

子謂子貢曰：「女與回也孰愈？」
對曰：「賜也何敢望回。回也聞一以知十，賜也聞一以知二。」

子谓子贡曰：「女与回也孰愈？」
对曰：「赐也何敢望回。回也闻一以知十，赐也闻一以知二。」

to be quick on the uptake; to understand the whole situation from just a few clues


抑強扶弱

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄈㄨˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/i⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ fu³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

to restrain the strong and assist the weak


閉關鎖港

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (閉關鎖港):
* → Korean: 중남경녀(閉關鎖港) (jungnamgyeongnyeo)
* → Vietnamese: bế quan toả cảng (閉關鎖港)

ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄤˇ

bìguān suǒ gǎng [Phonetic:bìguānsuógǎng]

бигуань со ган

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

2021 April 30, 《香港修訂入境條例 民團批閉關鎖港或變大監獄》

Xiānggǎng Lìfǎhuì 4yuè 28 rì sāndú tōngguò “Rùjìng Tiáolì” xiūdìng cǎo'àn, jiāng yú 8yuè 1rì zhèngshì shēngxiào. Duōge mínjiān tuántǐ pīpíng xiūdìng tiáolì yǒurú “bìguānsuǒgǎng”.

香港立法會4月28日三讀通過《入境條例》修訂草案，將於8月1日正式生效。多個民間團體批評修訂條例有如「閉關鎖港」。

2021 April 30, 《香港修訂入境條例 民團批閉關鎖港或變大監獄》

香港立法会4月28日三读通过《入境条例》修订草案，将于8月1日正式生效。多个民间团体批评修订条例有如「闭关锁港」。

to cut off a country from the outside world


大恩大德

ㄉㄚˋ ㄣ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/tä⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² tɐk̚⁵/

/tä⁵¹ ˀən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/taːi̯²² jɐn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² tɐk̚⁵/


比肩而立

ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄦˊ ㄌㄧˋ

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ li⁵¹/

I have heard that if there is one scholar every thousand li, it is [as if] they were standing shoulder next to shoulder; if there is one wise man every hundred years, it is as if they were coming foot following foot.

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Guǎrén wén zhī, qiānlǐ ér yī shì, shì bǐjiān'érlì, bǎishì ér yī shèng, ruò suízhǒng ér zhì yě.

寡人聞之，千里而一士，是比肩而立，百世而一聖，若隨踵而至也。

寡人闻之，千里而一士，是比肩而立，百世而一圣，若随踵而至也。


夜不能寐

ㄧㄝˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄇㄟˋ

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹/

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ meɪ̯⁵¹/


教書育人

ㄐㄧㄠ ㄕㄨ ㄩˋ ㄖㄣˊ

цзяошуюйжэнь

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/


苦中作樂

ㄎㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄜˋ

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/fuː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/


兩全其美

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄟˇ

лянцюаньцимэй

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹ mei̯¹³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ bi⁴¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ t͡sʰyːn²¹ kʰei̯²¹ mei̯¹³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻²² ki²⁴⁻²² bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²⁴⁻¹¹ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³/

/liɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡suan²³⁻³³ ki²³⁻³³ bi⁴¹/

to reach a resolution that satisfies both sides by taking both sides into consideration; to have it both ways; to have the best of both worlds


眼明手快

ㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄞˋ

яньминшоукуай

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/ŋaːn¹³ mɪŋ²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ faːi̯³³/

to be sharp-eyed and quick-moving; to have acute eyesight and be quick in one's movements


愛民如子

to love the people as if they are one's own children

ㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˇ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ min³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɔːi̯³³ mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

(of a ruler) to greatly love and cherish one's subjects


抱憾終生

ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄥ

баоханьчжуншэн

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to feel regret for the rest of one's life


不辱使命

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˇ ㄕˇ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄕˇ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/pu⁵¹ ʐu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹ ʐu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ⁵¹/


抱憾終身

ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄢˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄣ

баоханьчжуншэнь

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵/

/pʰou̯¹³ hɐm²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

抱憾終生 抱憾終生#Chinese

抱憾终生 抱憾终生#Chinese

Synonym of 抱憾終生／抱憾终生 (bàohànzhōngshēng, “to feel regret for the rest of one's life”)


來日方長

ㄌㄞˊ ㄖˋ ㄈㄤ ㄔㄤˊ

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/lɔːi̯²¹ jɐt̚² fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


師道尊嚴

ㄕ ㄉㄠˋ ㄗㄨㄣ ㄧㄢˊ

шидаоцзуньянь

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/


尊師重教

ㄗㄨㄣ ㄕ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзуньшичжунцзяо

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡su̯ən⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/


認賊作父

ㄖㄣˋ ㄗㄟˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄨˋ

жэньцзэйцзофу

/ʐən⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²² t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡sɔːk̚³ fuː²²/

/ʐən⁵¹ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²² t͡sʰaːk̚² t͡sɔːk̚³ fuː²²/

to regard an enemy as one's father; to willingly join the enemy


一步之遙

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯³⁵/

(literally or figuratively) one step away (from something)


膏腴之地

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/


一醉方休

ㄧ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄤ ㄒㄧㄡ

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯³³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯⁵⁵/


求神問佛

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄈㄛˊ

цюшэньвэньфо

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ wən⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kiu²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ mŋ̍³³⁻²¹ put̚⁴/

/kiu²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ mŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ put̚⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ wən⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

/kiu²³⁻³³ sin²³⁻³³ mŋ̍³³⁻²¹ put̚⁴/

/kiu²⁴⁻¹¹ sin²⁴⁻¹¹ mŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ put̚⁴/

to pray to gods and Buddha for help or blessings


新來乍到

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋ

синьлайчжадао

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄚˋ ㄉㄠˋㄦ

синьлайчжадаор

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ taʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡saː³³ tou̯³³/

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɕin⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂä⁵¹⁻⁵³ taʊ̯ɻʷ⁵¹/

/sɐn⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ t͡saː³³ tou̯³³/

to have just arrived; to be newly arrived; to be a newcomer


為人師表

ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕ ㄅㄧㄠˇ

вэйжэньшибяо

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siː⁵⁵ piːu̯³⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siː⁵⁵ piːu̯³⁵/

Good personal morality is required to set an example for others to learn.

為人師表要有良好的私德。

为人师表要有良好的私德。

to set an example for others to learn; to be a teacher


意氣用事

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄩㄥˋ ㄕˋ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jʊŋ²² siː²²/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ jʊŋ²² siː²²/

我勸你還是不要意氣用事。

我劝你还是不要意气用事。


紛至沓來

ㄈㄣ ㄓˋ ㄊㄚˋ ㄌㄞˊ

фэньчжиталай

/fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

/fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/


求大同，存小異

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ

ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

to seek common ground on major issues while reserving differences on minor ones


養兵千日，用兵一時

ㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖˋ

ㄩㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄧ ㄕˊ

joeng⁵ bing¹ cin¹ jat⁶, jung⁶ bing¹ jat¹ si⁴

yòngbīng yīshí [Phonetic:yǎngbīng qiānrì

янбин цяньжи

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

yéuhng bīng chīn yaht, yuhng bīng yāt sìh

joeng⁵ bing¹ tsin¹ jat⁹, jung⁶ bing¹ jat⁷ si⁴

yêng⁵ bing¹ qin¹ yed⁶, yung⁶ bing¹ yed¹ xi⁴

/jœːŋ¹³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚² jʊŋ²² pɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

to train or maintain an army or a group of talents for a long period of time so that they can be used on the day they are needed


樂觀其成

ㄌㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄔㄥˊ

лэгуаньцичэн

/lɤ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/lɤ⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

to be happy to see something be successful


養兵千日，用在一朝

ㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖˋ

ㄩㄥˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄧ ㄓㄠ

joeng⁵ bing¹ cin¹ jat⁶, jung⁶ zoi⁶ jat¹ ziu¹

yòng zài yīzhāo [Phonetic:yǎngbīng qiānrì

янбин цяньжи

юн цзай ичжао

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

yéuhng bīng chīn yaht, yuhng joih yāt jīu

joeng⁵ bing¹ tsin¹ jat⁹, jung⁶ dzoi⁶ jat⁷ dziu¹

yêng⁵ bing¹ qin¹ yed⁶, yung⁶ zoi⁶ yed¹ jiu¹

/jœːŋ¹³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚² jʊŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵/

養兵千日，用兵一時 養兵千日，用兵一時#Chinese

养兵千日，用兵一时 养兵千日，用兵一时#Chinese

Synonym of 養兵千日，用兵一時／养兵千日，用兵一时 (yǎngbīng qiānrì, yòngbīng yīshí)


狗急跳牆

the dog jumps over the wall when it is in a hurry

ㄍㄡˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

гоуцзитяоцян

/koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐp̚⁵ tʰiːu̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ kip̚²⁻⁴ tʰiau²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰĩõ⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ kɐp̚⁵ tʰiːu̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/kau⁵²⁻³⁵ kip̚²⁻⁴ tʰiau²¹³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sʰĩõ⁵⁵/

one will take bold risks and desperate actions when forced into desperation


可望而不可及

ㄎㄜˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧˊ

кэ ван эр букэ цзи

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/hɔː³⁵ mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ fɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ kʰɐp̚²/

可望而不可即 可望而不可即#Chinese

Synonym of 可望而不可即 (kě wàng ér bùkě jí, “in sight but unattainable; within sight but beyond reach; inaccessible”)


養兵千日，用在一時

ㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖˋ

ㄩㄥˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄧ ㄕˊ

joeng⁵ bing¹ cin¹ jat⁶, jung⁶ zoi⁶ jat¹ si⁴

yòng zài yīshí [Phonetic:yǎngbīng qiānrì

янбин цяньжи

/jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

yéuhng bīng chīn yaht, yuhng joih yāt sìh

joeng⁵ bing¹ tsin¹ jat⁹, jung⁶ dzoi⁶ jat⁷ si⁴

yêng⁵ bing¹ qin¹ yed⁶, yung⁶ zoi⁶ yed¹ xi⁴

/jœːŋ¹³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚² jʊŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

養兵千日，用兵一時 養兵千日，用兵一時#Chinese

养兵千日，用兵一时 养兵千日，用兵一时#Chinese


客家佔地主

/haːk̚³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³ tei̯²² t͡syː³⁵/

/haːk̚³ kaː⁵⁵ t͡siːm³³ tei̯²² t͡syː³⁵/

(Cantonese) Hakka people change from being guests to being dominant over the local people (i.e. the Yue-speaking people)

(Cantonese, by extension) a presumptuous guest usurps the host's role


同道中人

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ

тундаочжунжэнь

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ tou̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

person that share the same interests and aspirations


窮追不捨

ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄜˇ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sɵy̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

to not stop pursuing (someone or something)


蔚然成風

ㄨㄟˋ ㄖㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄥ

вэйжаньчэнфэн

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯³³ jiːn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʐän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯³³ jiːn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

something becomes a trend or common practice; something becomes the order of the day


男耕女織

ㄋㄢˊ ㄍㄥ ㄋㄩˇ ㄓ

наньгэннюйчжи

/nän³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ kaːŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/nän³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/naːm²¹ kaːŋ⁵⁵ nɵy̯¹³ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

The carts are decorated with embroidery and boats with carving. Women have to stop weaving to do the embroidery so the people are left cold. While men have to abandon agriculture to do the carving and so the people become hungry.

Mozi, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on Y. P. Mei's version

Shì chē yǐ wéncǎi, shì zhōu yǐ kèlòu, nǚzǐ fèi qí fǎngzhī ér xiū wéncǎi, gù mín hán. Nánzǐ lí qí gēngjià ér xiū kèlòu, gù mín jī.

飾車以文采，飾舟以刻鏤，女子廢其紡織而脩文采，故民寒。男子離其耕稼而脩刻鏤，故民饑。

饰车以文采，饰舟以刻镂，女子废其纺织而脩文采，故民寒。男子离其耕稼而脩刻镂，故民饥。

Men farm and women weave; everywhere under Heaven is peaceful. For thousands and myriads of years, there shall be no war.

《過居庸關》 "Crossing Juyong Pass" by 薩都剌 Sa Dula, 14th century CE

Nángēngnǚzhī tiānxià píng, qiāngǔ wàngǔ wú zhànzhēng.

男耕女織天下平，千古萬古無戰爭。

男耕女织天下平，千古万古无战争。

men farm and women weave (describing the division of labour within a peasant family in the past)


鬼話連篇

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄆㄧㄢ

гуйхуаляньпянь

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵ liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵ liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

/kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²² liːn²¹ pʰiːn⁵⁵/

to talk a lot of nonsense; to tell a series of untruths


不同尋常

ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄔㄤˊ

бутунсюньчан

/pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ɕyn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/


荒淫無恥

ㄏㄨㄤ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄔˇ

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/xu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in³⁵ u³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm²¹ mou̯²¹ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

to be openly given to debauchery; to be dissipated and unshamed


何罪之有

ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

/xɤ³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hɔː²¹ t͡sɵy̯²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³/

他們何罪之有呢？

他们何罪之有呢？


亡國滅種

ㄨㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ miːt̚² t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/wɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔːŋ²¹ kʷɔːk̚³ miːt̚² t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

the country perishes and the ethnicity becomes extinct


百上加斤

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄐㄧㄣ

байшанцзяцзинь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵/

(originally Cantonese) to aggravate an already heavy burden


一方有難，八方支援

ㄧ ㄈㄤ ㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄢˋ

jat¹ fong¹ jau⁵ naan⁶, baat³ fong¹ zi¹ wun⁴

бафан чжиюань

/i⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

jat⁷ fong¹ jau⁵ naan⁶, baat⁸ fong¹ dzi¹ wun⁴

yed¹ fong¹ yeo⁵ nan⁶, bad³ fong¹ ji¹ wun⁴

/jɐt̚⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ naːn²² paːt̚³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ wuːn²¹/

When one place is struck by disaster, assistance comes from all places.


菽水之歡

ㄕㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄢ

шушуй чжи хуань

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

菽水承歡 菽水承歡#Chinese

菽水承欢 菽水承欢#Chinese

Synonym of 菽水承歡／菽水承欢 (shúshuǐ chénghuān)


計我話

/kɐi̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ waː²²/

/kai³³ ᵑɡᵘɔi³³ va³²/

/kɐi̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ waː²²/

/kai³³ ᵑɡᵘɔi³³ va³²/


菽水之養

ㄕㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓ ㄧㄤˇ

шушуй чжи ян

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

菽水承歡 菽水承歡#Chinese

菽水承欢 菽水承欢#Chinese


菽水承歡

ㄕㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄢ

шушуй чэнхуань

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

/ʂu³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵/

children's filial piety to their parents


人窮志不窮

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

жэньцюнчжибуцюн

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ pɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹/

to be poor but have great aspirations and a strong spirit


難辭其咎

ㄋㄢˊ ㄘˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ

/nän³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³³/

/nän³⁵ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/naːn²¹ t͡sʰiː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kɐu̯³³/

can hardly absolve oneself from the blame; to be culpable; to be to blame


一匡天下

ㄧ ㄎㄨㄤ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

Guan Zhong acted as prime minister to the duke Huan, made him leader of all the princes, and united and rectified the whole kingdom. Down to the present day, the people enjoy the gifts which he conferred. But for Guan Zhong, we should now be wearing our hair unbound, and the lappets of our coats buttoning on the left side. …

Zǐyuē: “Guǎn Zhòng xiàng Huán Gōng, bà zhūhóu, yī kuāng tiānxià, mín dào yú jīn shòu qí cì; wēi Guǎn Zhòng, wú qí bèifà zuǒrèn yǐ!......

子曰：「管仲相桓公，霸諸侯，一匡天下，民到于今受其賜；微管仲，吾其被髮左衽矣！……

子曰：「管仲相桓公，霸诸侯，一匡天下，民到于今受其赐；微管仲，吾其被发左衽矣！……


蠶績蟹匡

ㄘㄢˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄨㄤ

ㄘㄢˊ ㄐㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄎㄨㄤ

цаньцзисекуан

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/


功名利祿

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄨˋ

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² lʊk̚²/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu⁵¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ lei̯²² lʊk̚²/

official position (in the government) and material gains; fame, fortune and position


洗劫一空

ㄒㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄧ ㄎㄨㄥ

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kiːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/sɐi̯³⁵ kiːp̚³ jɐt̚⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

to completely loot and leave nothing behind


成群結隊

ㄔㄥˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄨㄟˋ

чэнцюньцзедуй

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ tui⁴¹/

/siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kun¹³⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kun²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kun²³⁻³³ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹ kiːt̚³ tɵy̯²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kun²⁴⁻²² kiɛt̚⁵⁻²⁴ tui⁴¹/

/siɪŋ¹³⁻²² kun¹³⁻²² kiɛt̚³²⁻⁵ tui²²/

/siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kun²⁴⁻¹¹ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

/siɪŋ²³⁻³³ kun²³⁻³³ kiɛt̚³²⁻⁴ tui³³/

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Hūrán shān zhōng jūmín, chéngqúnjiéduì, fēibēn ér lái, bào shuō Wèi bīng yǐ dào.

忽然山中居民，成群結隊，飛奔而來，報說魏兵已到。

忽然山中居民，成群结队，飞奔而来，报说魏兵已到。

to gather in groups; to gather in crowds; to band together


神仙打架

ㄕㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

шэньсянь дацзя

/ʂən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/ʂən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

(neologism) very strong players (e.g. in gaming, sports, etc.) playing against one another


云何

The term has been started to detach from its literal meaning since the times of the Classic of Poetry. Cf. 如何, which has undergone a similar route.

None of the disciples has understood it yet. How could my friend Mí have done so? What is the understanding that he obtained?

Dìzǐ dōu wèi jiě, Ā Mí nǎ dé yǐ jiě? Suǒdé yúnhé?

弟子都未解，阿彌那得已解？所得云何？

弟子都未解，阿弥那得已解？所得云何？

Zi Zhang asked, "What does Zi Xia say on the subject?" They replied, "Zi Xia says: 'Associate with those who can advantage you. Put away from you those who cannot do so.'"

Zǐzhāng yuē: “Zǐxià yúnhé?” Duì yuē: “Zǐxià yuē: ‘Kě zhě yǔ zhī, qí bùkě zhě jù zhī.’”

子張曰：「子夏云何？」對曰：「子夏曰：『可者與之，其不可者拒之。』」

子张曰：「子夏云何？」对曰：「子夏曰：『可者与之，其不可者拒之。』」


人窮志短

ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

жэньцюнчжидуань

/ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ tyːn³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹ t͡siː³³ tyːn³⁵/

one's aspirations are stifled because of poverty


稗官小說

ㄅㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄨㄛ

байгуаньсяошо

/paɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/paɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


不可同年而語

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄦˊ ㄩˇ

букэ тунняньэрюй

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

incomparable; too different to compare; cannot be mentioned in the same breath; there is no comparison between them


倚馬可待

ㄧˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

During the Jin Dynasty, General Huan Wen ordered his record-keeper, Yuan Hong, to write an official document. Yuan, while propped against the front of his horse, managed to fill seven pages with remarkable speed.

a writer's ability to write an article very quickly


急不可待

ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɐp̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɔːi̯²²/


往者不可及，來者猶可待

ㄨㄤˇ ㄓㄜˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄉㄞˋ

wǎngzhě bùkějí láizhě yóu kědài dài [Phonetic:wángzhěbùkějíláizhěyóukědàidài]

wang³-chê³ pu⁴-kʻo³-chi² lai²-chê³ yu² kʻo³-tai⁴ tai⁴

ванчжэ букэцзи лайчжэ ю кэдай дай

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ joʊ̯³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹/

From a phrase in the Analects, Book 18 (《論語·微子》) with slightly different wording

The madman of Chu, Jie Yu (接輿), passed by Confucius, singing and saying, "O Feng! O Feng! How is your virtue degenerated! As to the past, reproof is useless; but the future may still be provided against. Give up your vain pursuit. Give up your vain pursuit. Peril awaits those who now engage in affairs of government."

楚狂接輿歌而過孔子曰：「鳳兮！鳳兮！何德之衰？往者不可諫，來者猶可追。[[已而#Chinese|]]已而

One cannot change the past, only the future.


街談巷說

ㄐㄧㄝ ㄊㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄕㄨㄛ

цзетаньсяншо

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

街談巷議 街談巷議#Chinese

街谈巷议 街谈巷议#Chinese

Synonym of 街談巷議／街谈巷议 (jiētánxiàngyì, “town talk; street gossip”)


指日高陞

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/


老王賣瓜——自賣自誇

Old Wang selling melons - he sells and boasts about them himself

ㄌㄠˇ ㄨㄤˊ ㄇㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄚ

ㄗˋ ㄇㄞˋ ㄗˋ ㄎㄨㄚ

Лао Ван май гуа

цзы май цзы куа

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ kʰu̯ä⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ wɔːŋ²¹⁻³⁵ maːi̯²² kʷaː⁵⁵ t͡siː²² maːi̯²² t͡siː²² kʷʰaː⁵⁵/

to boast about one's own products or works


腰酸骨疼

/io⁴⁴⁻²² sŋ̍⁴⁴ kut̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiã²¹/

/io⁴⁴⁻²² sŋ̍⁴⁴ kut̚³²⁻⁴ tʰiã²¹/

(Hokkien, medicine) to have a pain in the back, especially the lower back


魂不守舍

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄕㄜˋ

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sɛː³³/

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ⁵¹/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ sɛː³³/

to be inattentive; to have lost one's concentration


不言自明

ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² mɪŋ²¹/

/pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² mɪŋ²¹/

to be self-evident; to go without saying


前方高能

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄤ ㄍㄠ ㄋㄥˊ

цяньфангаонэн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵/

From commonly spoken lines by detectors of space fleets in mecha anime. For example

High-level energy reaction ahead detected!

偵測到前方高能反應！

侦测到前方高能反应！

(slang, neologism) something violent will follow


千秋萬古

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ

цяньцюваньгу

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

for eternity; generation after generation


千秋萬世

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ ㄨㄢˋ ㄕˋ

цяньцюваньши

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

for eternity; forever; generation after generation


萬載千秋

ㄨㄢˋ ㄗㄞˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ

ваньцзайцяньцю

/wän⁵¹ t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/


萬古千秋

ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ

ваньгуцяньцю

/wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² kuː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² kuː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

On Mount Mang the graves are lined, generation after generation facing Luoyang. In the city songs and bells chime day and night, but on the mountain one hears but the wind through the pines and cypresses.

《北邙山》 ("Mount Mang") by Shen Quanqi, circa 700

Běimángshān shàng liè fényíng, wàngǔqiānqiū duì Luòchéng. Chéngzhōng rìxī gē zhōng qǐ, shānshàng wéi wén sōngbǎi shēng.

北邙山上列墳塋，萬古千秋對洛城。城中日夕歌鐘起，山上唯聞松柏聲。

北邙山上列坟茔，万古千秋对洛城。城中日夕歌钟起，山上唯闻松柏声。


閉月羞花

ㄅㄧˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄡ ㄏㄨㄚ

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ jyːt̚² sɐu̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

/pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/pɐi̯³³ jyːt̚² sɐu̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵/

Refers to two of the Four Beauties of Chinese legends, Diao Chan (whose beauty obstructed the moon) and Yang Guifei (whose beauty caused the flowers to feel ashamed).

(of women) extremely beautiful; drop dead gorgeous


萬代千秋

ㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄡ

ваньдайцяньцю

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² tɔːi̯²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

/maːn²² tɔːi̯²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

generation after generation; for generations to come


在天之靈

ㄗㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄌㄧㄥˊ

цзайтяньчжилин

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹/

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ liŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ lɪŋ²¹/


凶神附體

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄕㄣˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


凶神惡煞

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄕㄜˊ ㄋㄜˋ ㄕㄚˋ

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ nɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ ɔːk̚³ saːt̚³/

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤ³⁵ nɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂä⁵¹/

/hʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ ɔːk̚³ saːt̚³/

(figuratively) fierce person; ferocious person


如夢方醒

ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄥˋ ㄈㄤ ㄒㄧㄥˇ

/ʐu³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ maŋ¹¹ huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰẽ⁵²/

/ʐu³⁵ mɤŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/d͡zu⁵⁵⁻¹¹ maŋ¹¹ huaŋ³³⁻²³ t͡sʰẽ⁵²/

(figuratively) to suddenly realize; to suddenly see the light; to wake up to reality


愛答不理

ㄞˋ ㄉㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ tä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ tä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


愛理兒不理兒

ㄞˋ ㄌㄧˇㄦ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇㄦ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ liə̯ɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ liə̯ɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

愛理不理 愛理不理#Chinese

爱理不理 爱理不理#Chinese

(Mandarin) Erhua form of 愛理不理／爱理不理 (àilǐbùlǐ, “standoffish; indifferent”).


愛財如命

ㄞˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʐu³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/

/ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ jyː²¹ mɪŋ²²/

to love money as if it were one's life; to be extremely stingy or greedy for money


自縛手腳

ㄗˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

цзыфушоуцзяо

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː²² pɔːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³/

/t͡siː²² pɔːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³/


愛惜羽毛

ㄞˋ ㄒㄧ ㄩˇ ㄇㄠˊ

ㄞˋ ㄒㄧˊ ㄩˇ ㄇㄠˊ

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵/


鞍前馬後

ㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄇㄚˇ ㄏㄡˋ

аньцяньмахоу

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ maː¹³ hɐu̯²²/

/ˀän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ maː¹³ hɐu̯²²/


天道酬勤

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

тяньдаочоуцинь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɐn²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tou̯²² t͡sʰɐu̯²¹ kʰɐn²¹/

God helps those who help themselves
God helps those who help themselves

God rewards those who work hard; God helps those who help themselves


巴山蜀水

ㄅㄚ ㄕㄢ ㄕㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

/pä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

/pä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sʊk̚² sɵy̯³⁵/

mountains and rivers of Sichuan (including modern-day Chongqing)


巴頭探腦

ㄅㄚ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄢˋ ㄋㄠˇ

батоутаньнао

/pä⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

ㄅㄚ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄢˋ ㄋㄠˇㄦ

батоутаньнаор

/pä⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ naʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

/pä⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ nɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pä⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰän⁵¹ naʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰaːm³³ nou̯¹³/

(regional) to pop one's head in and look about


文武雙全

Sino-Xenic (文武雙全):
* → Korean: 문무쌍전(文武雙全) (munmussangjeon)
* → Vietnamese: văn võ song toàn (文武雙全)

ㄨㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

вэньушуанцюань

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

/wən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn²¹/

A man from Nan'an said: "This man is surnamed Jiang, named Wei, styled Boyue, from Ji [district] in Tianshui [commandery]. He serves his mother very filially; he is talented in both civil and military matters; he has ample intellect and courage. Truly, he is a hero nowadays."

Yǒu Nán'ān rén gào yuē: “Cǐrén xìng Jiāng, míng Wéi, zì Bóyuē, Tiānshuǐ Jì rén yě: shì mǔ zhìxiào, wénwǔshuāngquán, zhìyǒngzúbèi, zhēn dāng yě zhī yīngjié yě.”

有南安人告曰：「此人姓姜，名維，字伯約，天水冀人也：事母至孝，文武雙全，智勇足備，真當也之英傑也。」

有南安人告曰：「此人姓姜，名维，字伯约，天水冀人也：事母至孝，文武双全，智勇足备，真当也之英杰也。」

to be good at both the arts of writing and fighting/warring; to be adept with both the pen and the sword; to be well-versed in both letters and martial arts


重中之重

ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄓ ㄓㄨㄥˋ

чжунчжунчжичжун

čžunčžunčžičžun

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ²²/

top priority; the most important out of all important matters


拔地而起

ㄅㄚˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄑㄧˇ

/pä³⁵ ti⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² tei̯²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

/pä³⁵ ti⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐt̚² tei̯²² jiː²¹ hei̯³⁵/

(of a mountain peak, building, etc.) to rise steeply from the ground


一毛一樣

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jɑŋ⁵¹/

From 一模一樣／一模一样 (yīmúyīyàng).

zh-l

一模一樣／一模一样 (yīmúyīyàng)

一模一樣 一模一樣#Chinese

一模一样 一模一样#Chinese

(eye dialect) Synonym of 一模一樣／一模一样 (yīmúyīyàng, “exactly the same; identical”)


因循苟且

ㄧㄣ ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄍㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄝˇ

иньсюньгоуце

/in⁵⁵ ɕyn³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

go through the motions
go through the motions

to stick to the same old way and go through the motions


灰頭土臉

to have one's entire head a face covered in dirt

ㄏㄨㄟ ㄊㄡˊ ㄊㄨˇ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

хуэйтоутулянь

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ liːm¹³/

/fuːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ liːm¹³/


敷衍塞責

ㄈㄨ ㄧㄢˇ ㄙㄜˋ ㄗㄜˊ

/fu⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ sɐk̚⁵ t͡saːk̚³/

/fu⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ sɤ⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/fuː⁵⁵ hiːn³⁵ sɐk̚⁵ t͡saːk̚³/

to work halfheartedly; to go through the motions; to perform one's duty in a perfunctory manner


白晝見鬼

ㄅㄞˊ ㄓㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

байчжоуцзяньгуй

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


白日見鬼

ㄅㄞˊ ㄖˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

байжицзяньгуй

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


三軍可奪帥，匹夫不可奪志

head

三軍可奪帥，匹夫不可奪志

ㄙㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄕㄨㄞˋ

ㄆㄧˇ ㄈㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄓˋ

саньцзюнь кэ до шуай

пифу букэ дочжи

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʂu̯aɪ̯⁵¹ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

The Master said, "The commander of the forces of a large state may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him."

Zǐyuē: “Sānjūn kě duó shuài yě, pǐfū bùkě duó zhì yě.”

子曰：「三軍可奪帥也，匹夫不可奪志也。」

子曰：「三军可夺帅也，匹夫不可夺志也。」

三军可夺帅，匹夫不可夺志

One's will and aspirations will remain persistent and not waver


白衣蒼狗

ㄅㄞˊ ㄧ ㄘㄤ ㄍㄡˇ

/paɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

/paɪ̯³⁵ i⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚² jiː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵/

freakishness; changeable and strange; changes in human affairs often take freakish forms


百無一是

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ mou̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²²/


百折不回

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

байчжэбухуэй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/paːk̚³ t͡siːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ wuːi̯²¹/

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


百廢俱舉

ㄅㄞˇ ㄈㄟˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄐㄩˇ

байфэйцзюйцзюй

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

all neglected tasks are being undertaken; all that was left undone is now being undertaken


大開殺戒

ㄉㄚˋ ㄎㄞ ㄕㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

/tä⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ kaːi̯³³/

/tä⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² hɔːi̯⁵⁵ saːt̚³ kaːi̯³³/

to massacre a lot people; to slaughter many people


炎炎夏日

ㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄖˋ

/jɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ jiːm²¹ haː²² jɐt̚²/

/jɛn³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/jiːm²¹ jiːm²¹ haː²² jɐt̚²/


冤冤相報

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (冤冤相報):
* → Vietnamese: oan oan tương báo (冤冤相報)

ㄩㄢ ㄩㄢ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄅㄠˋ

юаньюаньсянбао

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³/

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jyːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³³/

冤冤相報永無完了

冤冤相报永无完了


參差不齊

ㄘㄣ ㄘ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˊ

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

/t͡sʰən⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/t͡sʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹/

(literally or figuratively) uneven; not uniform


先聲奪人

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ ㄉㄨㄛˊ ㄖㄣˊ

сяньшэндожэнь

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tyːt̚² jɐn²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ tyːt̚² jɐn²¹/

to overawe one's opponent first by a show of strength


雲譎波詭

ㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄅㄛ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

юньцзюэбогуй

/yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

/yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ kʰyːt̚³ pɔː⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

to be unpredictable and ever-changing; to be highly changeable


詭譎多變

ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

гуйцзюэдобянь

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/


波詭雲譎

ㄅㄛ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄩㄣˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

богуйюньцзюэ

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ yn³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

雲譎波詭 雲譎波詭#Chinese

云谲波诡 云谲波诡#Chinese


波譎雲詭

ㄅㄛ ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄩㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄟˇ

боцзюэюньгуй

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ yn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ yn³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

雲譎波詭 雲譎波詭#Chinese

云谲波诡 云谲波诡#Chinese


紋風不動

ㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

вэньфэнбудун

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

/wən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tʊŋ⁵¹/

/mɐn²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ tʊŋ²²/

to be completely motionless; to be absolutely still


南橘北枳

ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄩˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄓˇ

наньцзюйбэйчжи

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Yan Ying heard that tangerines grown south of the Huai River become mandarin oranges, while those grown in the north become trifoliate oranges. Their leaves are similar, but their flavors are not. So why does this happen? It is because of different environments.

Annals of Master Yan, c. 3ʳᵈ century BCE

Yīng wén zhī, jú shēng huáinán zé wéi jú, shēng yú huái běi zé wéi zhǐ, yè tú xiàngsì, qí shí wèi bùtóng. Suǒyǐ rán zhě hé? Shuǐtǔ yì yě.

嬰聞之，橘生淮南則為橘，生于淮北則為枳，葉徒相似，其實味不同。所以然者何？水土異也。

婴闻之，橘生淮南则为橘，生于淮北则为枳，叶徒相似，其实味不同。所以然者何？水土异也。

the same thing will change when in different environments


文不對題

ㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄧˊ

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ tʰɐi̯²¹/

/wən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi³⁵/

/mɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ tʰɐi̯²¹/

(of writing or speech) to be beside the point; to be off-topic; to be irrelevant to the subject


淮橘為枳

ㄏㄨㄞˊ ㄐㄩˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄓˇ

хуайцзюйвэйчжи

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/xu̯aɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

a person or thing changes when in a different environment


趨利避害

ㄑㄩ ㄌㄧˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄏㄞˋ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lei̯²² pei̯²² hɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ lei̯²² pei̯²² hɔːi̯²²/

to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages


臥病在床

ㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ

вобинцзайчуан

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ŋɔː²² pɛːŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/

/wɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/ŋɔː²² pɛːŋ²² t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹/


唯我獨尊

ㄨㄟˊ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄗㄨㄣ

вэйводуцзунь

/weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɔː¹³ tʊk̚² t͡syːn⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ t͡su̯ən⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ ŋɔː¹³ tʊk̚² t͡syːn⁵⁵/

From the first words the Buddha is supposed to have uttered upon his birth: "In the heavens above and below, I alone am honored."

to be extremely conceited; to be very egotistical, holier-than-thou

Having been born, the Bodhisattva walked seven steps towards each of the four directions without assistance, and said: "In the heavens above and below, I alone am honored."

Great Tang Records on the Western Regions)

Púsà shēng yǐ, bù fú ér xíng, yú sìfāng gè qī bù, ér zì yán yuē: “Tiānshàng, tiānxià, wéiwǒdúzūn.”

菩薩生已，不扶而行，於四方各七步，而自言曰：「天上、天下，唯我獨尊。」

菩萨生已，不扶而行，于四方各七步，而自言曰：「天上、天下，唯我独尊。」

(Buddhism) "I alone am honored"; the first words of the Buddha


剛直不阿

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kaŋ³³⁻²³ tik̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ o³³/

/kɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ˀɤ⁵⁵/

/kaŋ³³⁻²³ tik̚⁴⁻² puk̚²⁻⁴ o³³/

to be upright and not flatter; to be righteous and not curry favor with others


志窮力竭

ㄓˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

智窮力竭 智窮力竭#Chinese

智穷力竭 智穷力竭#Chinese

Misspelling of 智窮力竭／智穷力竭 (zhìqiónglìjié).


形格勢禁

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄜˊ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

сингэшицзинь

/ɕiŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ kɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

to be restricted or hampered by circumstances


半大不小

ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


半老徐娘

ㄅㄢˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄒㄩˊ ㄋㄧㄤˊ

баньлаосюйнян

/pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹/

/pän⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy³⁵ ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/puːn³³ lou̯¹³ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ nœːŋ²¹/


智窮力竭

ㄓˋ ㄑㄩㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵ li⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

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

at a loss as to what to do; at one's wits' end; at the end of one's rope (both mentally and physically)


管鮑之交

Sino-Xenic (管鮑之交):
* → Korean: 관포지교(管鮑之交) (gwanpojigyo)

→ Japanese: (calque) 管鮑(かんぽう)の交(まじ)わり (kanpō no majiwari)

ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄅㄠˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

гуаньбаочжицзяо

/ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

Guan Zhong [a chancellor of the seventh-century B.C.E.] once sighed, saying: "When I was young and poor, I once did business with Bao Shu[ya] and gave the majority of the profits for myself, but Bao Shu did not think I was greedy; he understood that I was poor. I once planned for some affair with Bao Shu which ended in great disaster, but Bao Shu did not think that I was foolish; he understood that destiny can be favorable or unfavorable. I served thrice in the court and was exiled by my monarch thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was unworthy; he understood that I had not met with the times that were right for me. I fought in three battles and ran away thrice, but Bao Shu did not think that I was cowardly; he understood that I had an aged mother to care for. When Lord Jiu was defeated, Zhaohu died there while I suffered the disgrace of being imprisoned, but Bao Shu did not think that I was shameless; he understood that I was not ashamed over trifling matters, but was ashamed that my name might not be known to the world. It is my parents who have given birth to me, but it is Bao Shu who has understood me.

Guǎn Zhòng cháng tàn yuē: “Wú shào qióngkùn shí, cháng yǔ Bào Shū gǔ, fēncái duō zì yǔ; Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi tān zhī wǒ pín yě. Wú cháng wèi Bào Shū móushì ér dà qióngkùn, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi yú, zhī shí yǒulì bùlì yě. Wú cháng sān shì, sān jiànzhú yú jūn, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi bùxiào, zhī wǒ bù zāo shí yě. Wú cháng sān zhàn sān bèi, Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi qiè, zhī wǒ yǒu lǎomǔ yě. Gōngzǐ Jiū bài, Zhàohū sǐ zhī, wú yōuqiú shòurǔ; Bào Shū bù yǐ wǒ wèi wúchǐ, zhī wǒ bù xiū xiǎojié, ér chǐ míng bù xiǎn yú tiānxià yě. Shēng wǒ zhě fùmǔ, zhī wǒ zhě Bào Shū yě!”

管仲嘗歎曰：「吾少窮困時，嘗與鮑叔賈，分財多自與；鮑叔不以我為貪知我貧也。吾嘗為鮑叔謀事而大窮困，鮑叔不以我為愚，知時有利不利也。吾嘗三仕，三見逐於君，鮑叔不以我為不肖，知我不遭時也。吾嘗三戰三北，鮑叔不以我為怯，知我有老母也。公子糾敗，召忽死之，吾幽囚受辱；鮑叔不以我為无恥，知我不羞小節，而恥名不顯於天下也。生我者父母，知我者鮑叔也！」

管仲尝叹曰：「吾少穷困时，尝与鲍叔贾，分财多自与；鲍叔不以我为贪知我贫也。吾尝为鲍叔谋事而大穷困，鲍叔不以我为愚，知时有利不利也。吾尝三仕，三见逐于君，鲍叔不以我为不肖，知我不遭时也。吾尝三战三北，鲍叔不以我为怯，知我有老母也。公子纠败，召忽死之，吾幽囚受辱；鲍叔不以我为无耻，知我不羞小节，而耻名不显于天下也。生我者父母，知我者鲍叔也！」


鎮靜自若

ㄓㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

чжэньцзин цзыжо

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

possessed; self-possessed; to remain calm


兩不相欠

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄢˋ

лянбусянцянь

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hiːm³³/

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/lœːŋ¹³ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hiːm³³/


市井無賴

ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄥˇ ㄨˊ ㄌㄞˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹/

(derogatory) hooligan in the city; unscrupulous person in the city; scoundrel


通權達變

ㄊㄨㄥ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

тунцюаньдабянь

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ taːt̚² piːn³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰyːn²¹ taːt̚² piːn³³/

to adapt to circumstances; to be adaptable to changing circumstances to act as the occasion requires


一體兩面

ㄧ ㄊㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lœːŋ¹³ miːn²²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lœːŋ¹³ miːn²²/

two sides of the same coin
two sides of the same coin

two sides of the same coin; two different aspects of the same thing


意氣風發

ㄧˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄈㄥ ㄈㄚ

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ³³ huat̚⁵/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵/

/jiː³³ hei̯³³ fʊŋ⁵⁵ faːt̚³/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hɔŋ³³ huat̚⁵/

/i²¹⁻⁵³ kʰi²¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² huat̚³²/

/i¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰi¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/

/i²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰi²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ huat̚³²/


傍人門戶

ㄅㄤˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄏㄨˋ

банжэньмэньху

/pɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/pɔːŋ²² jɐn²¹ muːn²¹ wuː²²/

/pɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ mən³⁵ xu⁵¹/

/pɔːŋ²² jɐn²¹ muːn²¹ wuː²²/

to depend on others; to be unable to live independently


懸羊頭賣狗肉

to hang up agoat's head but sell dog meat

ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄇㄞˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

сюань янтоу май гоужоу

/ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/

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”)


膀大腰圓

ㄅㄤˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄧㄠ ㄩㄢˊ

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiːu̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/pʰɔːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² jiːu̯⁵⁵ jyːn²¹/


包打天下

ㄅㄠ ㄉㄚˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/paːu̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

to take care of everything and not allow others to get involved


殺狗教猴

(Hakka) to make a public demonstration of punishing a wrongdoer in order to deter innocents who might mimic the example of the wrongdoer


寶刀不老

ㄅㄠˇ ㄉㄠ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄠˇ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

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


心無旁騖

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄨˊ ㄆㄤˊ ㄨˋ

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ mou̯²²/

/ɕin⁵⁵ u³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ u⁵¹/

/sɐm⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ pʰɔːŋ²¹ mou̯²²/


瞠乎其後

ㄔㄥ ㄏㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄡˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ hɐu̯²²/

to lag behind a lot without any hope of catching up; to be left in the dust


別樹一幟

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄧ ㄓˋ

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːt̚² syː²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː³³/

/pi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/piːt̚² syː²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː³³/


先到先得

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄜˊ

сяньдаосяньдэ

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵/

first come, first served
first come, first served

the early bird gets the worm
the early bird gets the worm

first come, first served; the early bird gets the worm


衣食父母

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄇㄨˇ

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² fuː²² mou̯¹³/

/i⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fu⁵¹ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiː⁵⁵ sɪk̚² fuː²² mou̯¹³/


一展身手

ㄧ ㄓㄢˇ ㄕㄣ ㄕㄡˇ

ичжаньшэньшоу

ičžanʹšɛnʹšou

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siːn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/


文人相輕

ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄑㄧㄥ

вэньжэньсянцин

/wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵/

scholars (tend to) disparage one another


隻手遮天

to block out the sky with one hand (and pretend that it is not there)

ㄓ ㄕㄡˇ ㄓㄜ ㄊㄧㄢ

чжишоучжэтянь

čžišoučžɛtjanʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to hide the truth (from the public or masses)


坐享其成

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄔㄥˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² hœːŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɔː²² hœːŋ³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ sɪŋ²¹/

to sit idle and enjoy the fruits of others' work


一本通書睇到老

/jɐt̚⁵ puːn³⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯³⁵ tou̯³³ lou̯¹³/

(Cantonese) to be rigid and inflexible; to be unadaptable


一啖砂糖一啖屎

one mouthful ofgranulated sugar, one mouthful of crap

/jɐt̚⁵ taːm²² saː⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ taːm²² siː³⁵/

(Cantonese) carrot and stick; temperamental actions


一石激起千層浪

ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧ ㄑㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄘㄥˊ ㄌㄤˋ

yī shí jīqǐ qiān céng làng [Phonetic:yì shí jīqǐ qiān céng làng]

i¹ shih² chi¹-chʻi³ chʻien¹ tsʻêng² lang⁴

и ши цзици цянь цэн лан

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ lɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɛːk̚² kɪk̚⁵ hei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²¹/

A small incident or someone's actions or remarks have triggered a huge reaction


幕天席地

to use the sky as a tent and the land as a sleeping mat

ㄇㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧˊ ㄉㄧˋ

/mu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ ti⁵¹/

/mu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵ ti⁵¹/

(figurative) to be open-minded and carefree


卑不足道

ㄅㄟ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨˊ ㄉㄠˋ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡su³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/pei̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

(chiefly of a person's character, standing, etc.) too trivial to be worth mentioning


纖纖玉手

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄩˋ ㄕㄡˇ

сяньсяньюйшоу

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ y⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


杯水風波

ㄅㄟ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄛ

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵/


鴨仔跋落水——免驚死

鸭仔跋落水——免惊死
鴨仔絆落水——免驚死

the duck falls into the water—no need to fear death

/a(ʔ)⁵ a⁵⁵⁴ pua(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lo(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡sui⁵⁵⁴ biɛn⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kiã³³ si⁵⁵⁴/

(Hokkien) one has the ability to save oneself, and therefore need not fear adversity


望而興嘆

ㄨㄤˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˋ

ванъэрсинтань

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän⁵¹/

/mɔːŋ²² jiː²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰaːn³³/

to look and sigh; to feel helpless; not to know what to do


搞搞震，冇幫襯

搞搞震，冇帮衬
攪攪震，冇幫襯

/kaːu̯³⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ t͡sɐn³³ mou̯¹³ pɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn³³/

(Cantonese) to not help and only cause more trouble


閻羅王探病——問你死未

Yama visits a sick person—to ask you if you are going to die yet

/jiːm²¹ lɔː²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ tʰaːm³³ pɛːŋ²² mɐn²² nei̯¹³ sei̯³⁵ mei̯²²/

(Cantonese) to be up to no good; to have ulterior motives; to be in serious trouble


墳場耍大刀——嚇鬼

play with a large broadsword in a graveyeard – scare ghosts

/fɐn²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ saː³⁵ taːi̯²² tou̯⁵⁵ haːk̚³ kʷɐi̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to be unable to scare people


墳頭上耍大刀——嚇鬼

play with a large broadsword on a grave mound – scare ghosts

ㄈㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄕㄨㄚˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄉㄠ

фэньтоу шан шуа дадао

/fən³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʂu̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


人生地不熟

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄨˊ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄡˊ

жэньшэндибушу

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

жэньшэндибушоу

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ saːŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

/naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰẽ³³⁻²³ ti¹¹ puk̚²⁻⁴ sek̚⁴/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂu³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ saːŋ⁵⁵ tei̯²² pɐt̚⁵ sʊk̚²/

to be unfamiliar with the place and the people; to be a stranger in a strange place


修成正果

ㄒㄧㄡ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄛˇ

/ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ kʷɔː³⁵/

/sɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ kʷɔː³⁵/

(Buddhism) to finally achieve enlightenment after profound efforts and insights

(figurative) to attain the desired outcome after persistently striving


事出有因

ㄕˋ ㄔㄨ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧㄣ

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵/

/siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐn⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ in⁵⁵/

/siː²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐn⁵⁵/


父子騎驢

ㄈㄨˋ ㄗˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄩˊ

/fu⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ly³⁵/

/fu⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ly³⁵/

From the miller, his son and the donkey fable.

Uncertain self-position, dilemmas of pleasing people, alter styling before being popular, the company has no central themes, awful planning abilities - It's not surprising that Stellar leading to disband. It's futile even if the members are talented and with physical attractiveness.

陳皓嬿, 2018-11-21, 女星衣服脫了之後 還穿得回來嗎？

Zìwǒ dìngwèi bùmíng, fùzǐqílǘ, rénqì háiméi zhànwěn jiù xiǎng diàozhěng fēnggé, gōngsī quēfá zhōngxīnsīxiǎng, zāogāo de qǐhuà lì ràng Stellar luòdé jiěsàn de jiéguǒ, qíshí méi shénme hǎo yìwài de, chéngyuán shílì yánzhí zài hǎo yěshì wǎngrán.

自我定位不明、父子騎驢，人氣還沒站穩就想調整風格，公司缺乏中心思想、糟糕的企劃力讓Stellar落得解散的結果，其實沒什麼好意外的，成員實力顏值再好也是枉然。

陳皓嬿, 2018-11-21, 女星衣服脫了之後 還穿得回來嗎？

自我定位不明、父子骑驴，人气还没站稳就想调整风格，公司缺乏中心思想、糟糕的企划力让Stellar落得解散的结果，其实没什么好意外的，成员实力颜值再好也是枉然。

The Financial Times believes that the failure of forming a cabinet by Merkel makes the SPD, which wants to be in opposition, trapped in a dilemma instead.

轉角24小時, 2017/11/21, 德國組閣危機：硬著頭皮重啟大選，梅克爾還有別招嗎？

Yīngguó “Jīnróng shíbào” rènwèi, Méikè'ěr de zǔgé shībài, fǎnràng yì zài zàiyě de Shèmíndǎng xiànrù fùzǐqílǘ de jiǒngjìng.

英國《金融時報》認為，梅克爾的組閣失敗，反讓意在在野的社民黨陷入父子騎驢的窘境。

英国《金融时报》认为，梅克尔的组阁失败，反让意在在野的社民党陷入父子骑驴的窘境。


泰山北斗

ㄊㄞˋ ㄕㄢ ㄅㄟˇ ㄉㄡˇ

тайшаньбэйдоу

/tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tɐu̯³⁵/

/tʰaːi̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ pɐk̚⁵ tɐu̯³⁵/

eminent and accomplished figure in a field


往事如煙

ㄨㄤˇ ㄕˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧㄢ

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ¹³ siː²² jyː²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ jɛn⁵⁵/

/wɔːŋ¹³ siː²² jyː²¹ jiːn⁵⁵/

past events have faded like a puff of smoke


蛛網塵封

ㄓㄨ ㄨㄤˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄈㄥ

чжуванчэньфэн

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative, of a house, objects, etc.) to be abandoned or unused for a long time


塵封網罥

ㄔㄣˊ ㄈㄥ ㄨㄤˇ ㄐㄩㄢˋ

чэньфэнванцзюань

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹/


高手如雲

ㄍㄠ ㄕㄡˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩㄣˊ

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ yn³⁵/

/kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ yn³⁵/


童言無忌

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ jɛn³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jiːn²¹ mou̯²¹ kei̯²²/

take no offence at a child's words; a child simply says what he/she thinks


奇技淫巧

ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄧㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄠˇ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ in³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(usually derogatory) strange and exquisite skill or product


難分難解

ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˇ

наньфэньнаньцзе

/nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵/

/nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵ nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵/

to be locked in a stalemate in a fight or struggle

(of a romantic couple) to be intimate and inseparable


難解難分

ㄋㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄈㄣ

наньцзенаньфэнь

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵ naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/

/nän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ fən⁵⁵/

/naːn²¹ kaːi̯³⁵ naːn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/


大車無輗

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔㄜ ㄨˊ ㄋㄧˊ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ni³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ u³⁵ ni³⁵/

/taːi̯²² t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ ŋɐi̯²¹/

The Master said, "I do not know how a man without truthfulness is to get on. How can a large carriage be made to go without the crossbar for yoking the oxen to, or a small carriage without the arrangement for yoking the horses?"

Zǐyuē: “Rén ér wú xìn, bùzhī qí kě yě. Dàchē wú ní, xiǎochē wú yuè, qí héyǐ xíng zhī zāi?”

子曰：「人而無信，不知其可也。大車無輗，小車無軏，其何以行之哉？」

子曰：「人而无信，不知其可也。大车无𫐐，小车无𫐄，其何以行之哉？」

an untrustworthy person cannot receive trust from others and be established in society


糟糠之妻

цзаоканчжици

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

(humble) wife who has shared her husband’s hard lot


盛極一時

ㄕㄥˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² kɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/sɪŋ²² kɪk̚² jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

to be thriving or very popular for a time


目擩耳染

ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ ㄦˇ ㄖㄢˇ

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu⁵¹ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

耳濡目染 耳濡目染#Chinese


耳染目濡

ㄦˇ ㄖㄢˇ ㄇㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐän²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵/

耳濡目染 耳濡目染#Chinese