懲羹吹齏

ja-r

あつもの に こり て なます を ふく

→ Japanese: 羹(あつもの)に懲(こ)りて膾(なます)を吹(ふ)く (atsumono ni kori te namasu o fuku) (calque)

ㄔㄥˊ ㄍㄥ ㄔㄨㄟ ㄐㄧ

чэнгэнчуйцзи

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯⁵⁵/

If a person gets burnt by hot soup, he would blow at cold food. Why do you still not change your ambition?

The Verses of Chu, 4ᵗʰ century BCE – 2ⁿᵈ century CE

Chéng yú gēng zhě ér chuī jī xī, hé bùbiàn cǐ zhì yě?

懲於羹者而吹齏兮，何不變此志也？

惩于羹者而吹齑兮，何不变此志也？

Once burnt by hot soup, one would blow at cold food

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy


先小人，後君子

be the villain first, then be the gentleman

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ

сянь сяожэнь

хоу цзюньцзы

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siːn⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯²² kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/

Rules and terms should be stated clearly at first, etiquettes are of lower priority.


言之尚早

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄕㄤˋ ㄗㄠˇ

яньчжишанцзао

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sœːŋ²² t͡sou̯³⁵/

too soon to tell; premature to speak about something


先此聲明

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄘˇ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

сянь цы шэнмин

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/


唔識字怨爺娘，唔會賺錢怨屋場

head

唔識字怨爺娘，唔會賺錢怨屋場

唔识字怨爷娘，唔会赚钱怨屋场
毋識字怨爺娘，毋會賺錢怨屋場

blame the parents when one is illiterate, blame the house when one doesn't know how to make money

m² sid⁵ si⁴ yan⁴ ya² ngiong², m² voi⁴ con⁴ qian² yan⁴ vug⁵ cong²

/m¹¹ sɨt̚² sɨ⁵⁵ i̯en⁵⁵ i̯a¹¹ ŋi̯oŋ¹¹ m¹¹ voi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰon⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯en¹¹ i̯en⁵⁵ vuk̚² t͡sʰoŋ¹¹/

/m¹¹ sɨt̚² sɨ⁵⁵ (j)i̯an⁵⁵ (j)i̯a¹¹ ŋi̯oŋ¹¹ m¹¹ voi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰon⁵⁵ t͡sʰi̯en¹¹ (j)i̯an⁵⁵ vuk̚² t͡sʰoŋ¹¹/

a bad workman always blames his tools
a bad workman always blames his tools

(Hakka) a bad workman always blames his tools


唔理三七廿一

/m̩²¹ lei̯¹³ saːm⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ jaː²² jɐt̚⁵/

(Cantonese) no matter what; casting all caution to the wind; regardless of the circumstances


見過鬼怕黑

having seen a ghost, (one would) be afraid of the dark

/kiːn³³ kʷɔː³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵ pʰaː³³ hɐk̚⁵/

/kiːn³³ kʷɔː³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵ pʰaː³³ haːk̚⁵/

/kiːn³³ kʷɔː³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵ pʰaː³³ hɐk̚⁵/

/kiːn³³ kʷɔː³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵ pʰaː³³ haːk̚⁵/


遲來先上岸

ㄔˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄢˋ

чи лай сянь шанъань

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɔːn²²/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɔːn²²/

last come, first served
last come, first served

last come, first served; those who come later in a queue are served first


人離鄉賤

ㄖㄣˊ ㄌㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

жэньлисянцзянь

/ʐən³⁵ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːn²²/

/ʐən³⁵ li³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ lei̯²¹ hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːn²²/

people receive little respect from others when they are away from their native places


夜夜笙歌

ㄧㄝˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄥ ㄍㄜ

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/jɛː²² jɛː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ kɔː⁵⁵/

/ia²²⁻²¹ ia²²⁻²¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴/

/ia⁴¹⁻²² ia⁴¹⁻²² sŋ̍³³ kɔ³³/

/jɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵/

/jɛː²² jɛː²² sɐŋ⁵⁵ kɔː⁵⁵/

/ia²²⁻²¹ ia²²⁻²¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴/

/ia⁴¹⁻²² ia⁴¹⁻²² sŋ̍³³ kɔ³³/

(Classical, of a king, emperor, monarch, etc.) to leave alone their works and duties while enjoying nonstop


刀仔鋸大樹

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ kɵy̯³³ taːi̯²² syː²²/

/tou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ kɵy̯³³ taːi̯²² syː²²/

(Cantonese) to make a big profit using only little capital


三缺一

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/saːm⁵⁵ kʰyːt̚³ jɐt̚⁵/

(mahjong) There are already three players; one more player is needed for a game. (Mahjong is a game for four people)


四腳朝天

ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

сыцзяочаотянь

/sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ kœːk̚³ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/sei̯³³ kœːk̚³ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

to fall flat on one's back, with one's limbs in the air


煠吓煠吓

熠吓熠吓
烚吓烚吓
拾吓拾吓
霎吓霎吓

/saːp̚² haː¹³ saːp̚² haː¹³/

/saːp̚² haː¹³ saːp̚² haː¹³/

Quit just spacing out and give me a hand.

nei⁵ mai¹ saap⁶ haa⁵ saap⁶ haa⁵ gam², faai³ di¹ gwo³ lai⁴ bong¹ sau² laa¹.

你咪煠吓煠吓噉，快啲過嚟幫手啦。

你咪煠吓煠吓噉，快啲过嚟帮手啦。

(Cantonese, colloquial) to look foolish, daft; to be thick-headed, to space out, to be inattentive to the situation


有數得計

/jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵ kɐi̯³³/

/jɐu̯¹³ sou̯³³ tɐk̚⁵ kɐi̯³³/


煮到埋嚟就食

/t͡syː³⁵ tou̯³³ maːi̯²¹ lei̯²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² sɪk̚²/

(Cantonese) to accept whatever is available


禾稈冚珍珠

/wɔː²¹ kɔːn³⁵ kʰɐm³⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵/

/wɔː²¹ kɔːn³⁵ kʰɐm³⁵ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) to hide something of high value (especially of a person's appearance) with something ordinary


一槍斃敵

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄤ ㄅㄧˋ ㄉㄧˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ti³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ ti³⁵/

to shoot down the enemy with a single gunshot


拉牛上樹

/laːi̯⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ sœːŋ¹³ syː²²/

/laːi̯⁵⁵ ŋɐu̯²¹ sœːŋ¹³ syː²²/

(Cantonese) to attempt to do something in vain


判若兩人

ㄆㄢˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ

паньжолянжэнь

/pʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰuːn³³ jœːk̚² lœːŋ¹³ jɐn²¹/

/pʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/pʰuːn³³ jœːk̚² lœːŋ¹³ jɐn²¹/

(of behavior) to be like a different person


蚹蛤蟈蜻

/fuː²¹ hɐp̚² kʷɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/fuː²² kaːp̚³ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

/fuː²¹ hɐp̚² kʷɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹/

/fuː²² kaːp̚³ kʷɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵/

Graphical alteration of 符合國情／符合国情 (fu⁴ hap⁶ gwok³ cing⁴, “conforming to national conditions”) by adding the derogatory radical 虫 (“insect”) to each character.

(Hong Kong Cantonese, Internet slang, derogatory) the ridiculous thing that occurred is unsurprising as it matches the norm in mainland China


搵朝唔得晚

to earn for the morning and not the night

/wɐn³⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ m̩²¹ tɐk̚⁵ maːn¹³/

/wɐn³⁵ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ m̩²¹ tɐk̚⁵ maːn¹³/

(Cantonese) to be making too little money for one's living


精挑細選

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄊㄧㄠ ㄒㄧˋ ㄒㄩㄢˇ

цзинтяосисюань

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³⁵/

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːu̯⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ syːn³⁵/


生離死別

ㄕㄥ ㄌㄧˊ ㄙˇ ㄅㄧㄝˊ

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sei̯³⁵ piːt̚²/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ li³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ sei̯³⁵ piːt̚²/


旺丁不旺財

ㄨㄤˋ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄘㄞˊ

вандинбуванцай

/wɑŋ⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/wɔːŋ²² tɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/wɔːŋ²² tɪŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wɔːŋ²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

Calque of Cantonese 旺丁唔旺財／旺丁唔旺财 (wong⁶ ding¹ m⁴ wong⁶ coi⁴).

cal

(Hong Kong, of businesses) to be popular with people visiting but not sales


活龍活現

ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄌㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

/xu̯ɔ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/wuːt̚² lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² jiːn²²/

/xu̯ɔ³⁵ lʊŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/wuːt̚² lʊŋ²¹ wuːt̚² jiːn²²/


活靈活現

ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

/xu̯ɔ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/wuːt̚² lɪŋ²¹ wuːt̚² jiːn²²/

/xu̯ɔ³⁵ liŋ³⁵ xu̯ɔ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/wuːt̚² lɪŋ²¹ wuːt̚² jiːn²²/


悠然自得

ㄧㄡ ㄖㄢˊ ㄗˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵/

/joʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ jiːn²¹ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵/

From the Book of Jin (《s:zh:晉書·苻堅載記·附王猛》)

lang

(《zh:晉書·苻堅載記·附王猛》)

(《s:zh:晉書·苻堅載記·附王猛》)

Zì bù cān qí shén qì, lüè bù yǔ jiāotōng, shìyǐ fú huá zhī shì xián qīng ér xiào zhī. Měng yōuránzìdé, bù yǐ xiè huái.

自不參其神契，略不與交通，是以浮華之士咸輕而笑之。猛悠然自得，不以屑懷。

自不参其神契，略不与交通，是以浮华之士咸轻而笑之。猛悠然自得，不以屑怀。

Your leisure and contentment makes me completely helpless

你的悠然自得我卻束手無策

你的悠然自得我却束手无策


係真唔係

/hɐi̯²² t͡sɐn⁵⁵ m̩²¹ hɐi̯²²/

/hɐi̯²² t͡sɐn⁵⁵ m̩²¹ hɐi̯²²/

mei⁵ ngan⁴ hong⁴ ngai⁴ gei¹ mei⁶ gaai² daai⁶ hong⁴⁻² jing⁴ ciu¹ ngau⁴, hai⁶ zan¹ m⁴ hai⁶?

美銀行危機未解大行仍超牛 係真唔係？

美银行危机未解大行仍超牛 系真唔系？


美其名

ㄇㄟˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/mei̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² miã²⁴/

/bi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² miã²⁴/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki¹³⁻²² miã¹³/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ miã²⁴/

/bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ki²³⁻³³ miã²³/

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/mei̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² miã²⁴/

/bi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ki²⁴⁻²² miã²⁴/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki¹³⁻²² miã¹³/

/bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ki²⁴⁻¹¹ miã²⁴/

/bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ki²³⁻³³ miã²³/


不在此限

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄘˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

bù zài cǐ xiàn [Phonetic:bú zài cǐ xiàn]

бу цзай цы сянь

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

(formal) [be] not subject to this; [be] considered an exception


非請勿進

ㄈㄟ ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

фэйцинъуцзинь

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ mɐt̚² t͡sɵn³³/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ³⁵ mɐt̚² t͡sɵn³³/


裝痟的

(Hokkien) to feign madness; to make a fool of someone


莊孝維

ㄓㄨㄤ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ

Чжуан Сяовэй

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

This way of writing is making the phrase resembling a person's name. The use of the character 莊／庄 (zhuāng) is influenced by Hokkien.

(Taiwan, slang) Alternative form of 裝痟的／装痟的


噏三噏四

/ŋɐp̚⁵ saːm⁵⁵ ŋɐp̚⁵ sei̯³³/

/ŋɐp̚⁵ saːm⁵⁵ ŋɐp̚⁵ sei̯³³/

(Cantonese) to chatter away; to gossip; to talk nonsense


飲食起居

ㄧㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄑㄧˇ ㄐㄩ

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵/


日思夜想

ㄖˋ ㄙ ㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

/ʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² siː⁵⁵ jɛː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

/ʐ̩⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ jɛ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚² siː⁵⁵ jɛː²² sœːŋ³⁵/

(Can we date this quote?), 朱英俊 (lyrics and music), “返家乡”performed by 明枫:

The land of my hometown, I long for it day and night

家乡嘅土地我日思夜想

家鄉嘅土地我日思夜想


六月飛霜

ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄈㄟ ㄕㄨㄤ

/li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² jyːt̚² fei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/lʊk̚² jyːt̚² fei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

From a legend related to Zou Yan, which was believed to be from Huainanzi:
:
Later popularized through the play The Injustice to Dou E in Yuan dynasty.

Zou Yan was very loyal to the King Hui of Yan, he was praised by the King's ministers. But the King imprisoned him, Zou cried his heart out. In Summer when it was the fifth month (approximately June to July in the Gregorian calendar), the Heaven snowed for him.

Xu Jian, Zhang Yue, Wei Shu; Chu Xue Ji (《初學記》), c. 7th Century

Zōu Yǎn shì Yàn Huìwáng jìnzhōng, zuǒyòu zàn zhī; wáng xì zhī, yǎngtiān ér kū. Xià wǔyuè, tiān wèi zhī xià shuāng.

鄒衍事燕惠王盡忠，左右贊之；王系之，仰天而哭。夏五月，天為之下霜。

邹衍事燕惠王尽忠，左右赞之；王系之，仰天而哭。夏五月，天为之下霜。

snow in sixth month of the Chinese calendar (mid-Summer)

Huainanzi
King Hui of Yan
The Injustice to Dou E
Xu Jian (Tang dynasty)
Zhang Yue (Tang dynasty)
Zou Yan
zh:初學記
zh:韋述


花多眼亂

ㄏㄨㄚ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄧㄢˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

хуадояньлуань

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³ lyːn²²/

/xu̯ä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹/

/faː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³ lyːn²²/

to be dazzled and bewildered by the sight of something


家神透外鬼

the household deity disclosing things to devils outside

/ka²⁴ sɨn¹¹ tʰeu̯⁵⁵ ŋoi̯⁵⁵ ku̯i³¹/

/ka²⁴ sɨn¹¹ tʰeu̯⁵⁵ ŋoi̯⁵⁵ ku̯i³¹/

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

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


食碗內說碗外

食碗内说碗外
食碗裡說碗外

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lai²² se(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² uã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ lai²² sə(ʔ)⁵ uã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡua⁴¹/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ uã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lai³³ sue(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ uã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡua³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lai²² sue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡua²²/

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


哪能辦

If by chance they decide to demolish houses around here, what could we do?

⁷aq-la ⁸geq-taq ⁶ve-iq ⁷tshaq ⁶vaon-tsy-leq ⁶non ⁵kaon ⁶na-nen-be

阿拉搿搭萬一拆房子了儂講哪能辦？

阿拉搿搭万一拆房子了侬讲哪能办？


捨生忘死

ㄕㄜˇ ㄕㄥ ㄨㄤˋ ㄙˇ

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to risk one's life without hesitation; displaying extreme bravery and selflessness


捨死忘生

ㄕㄜˇ ㄙˇ ㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄥ

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

捨生忘死 捨生忘死#Chinese

舍生忘死 舍生忘死#Chinese

Alternative form of 捨生忘死／舍生忘死 (shěshēngwàngsǐ)


枕石漱流

to use stones as pillows and streams for mouthwashing

ㄓㄣˇ ㄕˊ ㄕㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

čžɛnʹšišulju

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ʂu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

(figurative) to live a secluded and pure life in harmony with nature (often used to describe the lifestyle of a hermit)


柔腸寸斷

ㄖㄡˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

жоучанцуньдуань

/ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn³³ tyːn²²/

/ʐoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰyːn³³ tyːn²²/


與世隔絕

ㄩˇ ㄕˋ ㄍㄜˊ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kɤ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐi̯³³ kaːk̚³ t͡syːt̚²/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kɤ³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jyː¹³ sɐi̯³³ kaːk̚³ t͡syːt̚²/

to be isolated from the rest of the world


自動自覺

ㄗˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ

цзыдунцзыцзяо

/t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² tʊŋ²² t͡siː²² kɔːk̚³/

/t͡siː²² tʊŋ²² t͡siː²² kɔːk̚³/


風打雨淋

ㄈㄥ ㄉㄚˇ ㄩˇ ㄌㄧㄣˋ

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin⁵¹/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ taː³⁵ jyː¹³ lɐm²¹/

風吹雨打 風吹雨打#Chinese

风吹雨打 风吹雨打#Chinese


無憑無據

ㄨˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄨˊ ㄐㄩˋ

/u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kɵy̯³³/

/u³⁵ pʰin² u³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵/

/u³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ u³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/mou̯²¹ pʰɐŋ²¹ mou̯²¹ kɵy̯³³/

/u³⁵ pʰin² u³⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵/


迢迢千里

ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

тяотяоцяньли

/tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

/tʰiau²³⁻³³ tʰiau²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹/

/tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³/

/tʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːu̯²¹ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/

2016, “幸福乾杯”, 邱宏瀛 (lyrics), 黃秀清 (music)performed by 陳百潭 [Paitan Chen] and 鳳娘 [Elly Chang]:

iân-hūn tòe-tio̍h chhun-hong khin-khin poe, thiâu-thiâu-chhian-lí iā ē siong-hōe

緣份跟著春風輕輕飛 迢迢千里也會相會

缘份跟著春风轻轻飞 迢迢千里也会相会

千里迢迢 千里迢迢#Chinese


慢慢食

/maːn²² maːn²²⁻³⁵ sɪk̚²/

/maːn²² maːn²²⁻³⁵ sɪk̚²/

(Cantonese) bon appétit; enjoy your meal

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


方枘圓鑿

ㄈㄤ ㄖㄨㄟˋ ㄩㄢˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

фанжуйюаньцзо

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɵy̯²² jyːn²¹ t͡sɔːk̚²/

/fɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹/

/fɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɵy̯²² jyːn²¹ t͡sɔːk̚²/

square peg in a round hole
square peg in a round hole

incompatible; square peg in a round hole


忘東忘西

ㄨㄤˋ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄨㄤˋ ㄒㄧ

/wɑŋ⁵¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/

/wɑŋ⁵¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵/


神檯貓屎——神憎鬼厭

神枱貓屎——神憎鬼厭
神台猫屎——神憎鬼厌
神臺貓屎——神憎鬼厭
神台貓屎——神憎鬼厭

cat poo on an altar - the God hates, it, the ghosts hate it too

/sɐn²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ maːu̯⁵⁵ siː³⁵ sɐn²¹ t͡sɐŋ⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ jiːm³³/

(Cantonese) extremely detestable; extremely irritating


如是我聞

ㄖㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄣˊ

/ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/jyː²¹ siː²² ŋɔː¹³ mɐn²¹/

/zu²³⁻³³ si³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bun²³/

/ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/jyː²¹ siː²² ŋɔː¹³ mɐn²¹/

/zu²³⁻³³ si³³⁻²¹ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bun²³/

Calque of Sanskrit एवं मया श्रुतम् (evaṃ mayā śrutam). The syntax of this translation directly reflects the original Sanskrit as opposed to the lesser-used 我聞如是／我闻如是 (wǒwénrúshì).

calque

एवं मया श्रुतम्

zh-l

我聞如是／我闻如是 (wǒwénrúshì)

(Buddhism) Thus have I heard... (a common opening of Buddhist texts)


日落西山

ㄖˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧ ㄕㄢ

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² lɔːk̚² sɐi̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² se⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² lɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ se⁴⁴⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

/ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² lɔːk̚² sɐi̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² lɔk̚⁴⁻³² se⁴⁴⁻³³ san⁴⁴/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² lɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ se⁴⁴⁻³³ suã⁴⁴/

(figuratively) to be near one's death or end


問心嗰句

/mɐn²² sɐm⁵⁵ kɔː³⁵ kɵy̯³³/

/mɐn²² sɐm⁵⁵ kɔː³⁵ kɵy̯³³/


夜到好

/ɦia²² tɔ³³ hɔ³⁴/

/ɦia²² tɔ³³ hɔ³⁴/


谷拿脫

/koʔ³³ ne⁵⁵ tʰəʔ²¹/

/koʔ³³ ne⁵⁵ tʰəʔ²¹/


天翻地覆

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄈㄢ ㄉㄧˋ ㄈㄨˋ

тяньфаньдифу

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ faːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² fʊk̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ hɔk̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³⁻¹¹ hɔk̚³²/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ huaŋ³³ ti¹¹ hok̚⁴/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ fu⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ faːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² fʊk̚⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ te³³⁻²¹ hɔk̚³²/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ huan⁴⁴⁻³³ tue³³⁻¹¹ hɔk̚³²/

/tʰiaŋ³³⁻²³ huaŋ³³ ti¹¹ hok̚⁴/


盡地一煲

/t͡sɵn²² tei̯²² jɐt̚⁵ pou̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵn²² tei̯²² jɐt̚⁵ pou̯⁵⁵/


對我嚟講

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

as far as I'm concerned
as far as I'm concerned

(Cantonese) in my opinion; as far as I'm concerned; to my mind


對我來講

ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄤˇ

дуй во лай цзян

/tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lɔːi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/te⁴⁴ ŋu²³ le²³ kɑ̃³⁴/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lɔːi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/tɵy̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/te⁴⁴ ŋu²³ le²³ kɑ̃³⁴/


蜚短流長

ㄈㄟ ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄔㄤˊ

фэйдуаньлючан

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ tyːn³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ tyːn³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/


音容笑貌

ㄧㄣ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄇㄠˋ

иньжунсяомао

/in⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/in⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mɑʊ̯⁵¹/

1936 October 9, Lu Xun, “關于太炎先生二三事”, in 且介亭雜文末編, 魯迅全集出版社, published 1941, pages 88–89:

Qiánqù tīngjiǎng yě zài zhè shíhòu, dàn yòu bìngfēi yīnwèi tā shì xuézhě, què wèile tā shì yǒu xuéwèn de gémìngjiā, suǒyǐ zhídào xiànzài, xiānshēng de yīnróngxiàomào, hái zài mùqián, ér suǒ jiǎng de “Shuōwén Jiězì”, què yī jù yě bù jìde le.

前去聽講也在這時候，但又並非因為他是學者，卻為了他是有學問的革命家，所以直到現在，先生的音容笑貌，還在目前，而所講的《說文解字》，卻一句也不記得了。

前去听讲也在这时候，但又并非因为他是学者，却为了他是有学问的革命家，所以直到现在，先生的音容笑貌，还在目前，而所讲的《说文解字》，却一句也不记得了。

(usually of the deceased) one's voice and countenance


狗傍虎威

/kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

/kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pŋ̍⁴¹⁻²² hɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui³³/

/kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

/kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

/kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍³³⁻²¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

/kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

/kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pŋ̍⁴¹⁻²² hɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui³³/

/kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍²²⁻²¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

/kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍³³⁻¹¹ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

/kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pŋ̍³³⁻²¹ hɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui⁴⁴/

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


搞風搞雨

ㄍㄠˇ ㄈㄥ ㄍㄠˇ ㄩˇ

/kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kaːu̯³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ jyː¹³/

/kaːu̯³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ kaːu̯³⁵ jyː¹³/


鹹菜燒豆腐

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄘㄞˋ ㄕㄠ ㄉㄡˋ ˙ㄈㄨ

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄘㄞˋ ㄕㄠ ㄉㄡˋ ㄈㄨˇ

сяньцай шао доуфу

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ fu¹/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ fu¹/

For the idiom, it is short for 鹹菜燒豆腐，有鹽在先／咸菜烧豆腐，有盐在先 (“salted vegetables and tofu, have the salted one first”), a wordplay on 有言在先 (yǒuyán zàixiān).

zh-etym-short

(xiehouyu) to make it clear beforehand; to forewarn


憂柴憂米

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐi̯¹³/

/jɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ mɐi̯¹³/

(Cantonese) to worry about one's livelihood


文治武功

ㄨㄣˊ ㄓˋ ㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄥ

/wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡siː²² mou̯¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/wən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

/mɐn²¹ t͡siː²² mou̯¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵/


食爸穿母

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pe²² t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴¹⁻²² bu⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pe²² t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴¹⁻²² bu⁵⁵⁴/

(Quanzhou Hokkien) to depend on one's parents to live


食便領現

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ piɛn²²⁻²¹ niã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² piɛn⁴¹⁻²² niã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hiɛn⁴¹/

/t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ piɛn²²⁻²¹ niã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ piɛn³³⁻¹¹ niã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ piɛn³³⁻²¹ niã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɛn³³/

(Hokkien) to not bother to contribute work and only know how to enjoy life and eat


食清領便

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ niã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ piɛn³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ niã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ piɛn³³/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) to not bother to contribute work and only know how to enjoy life and eat


以字行

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡siː²² hɐŋ²¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡siː²² haːŋ²¹/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/jiː¹³ t͡siː²² hɐŋ²¹/

/jiː¹³ t͡siː²² haːŋ²¹/

to have one's courtesy name more famous than one's given name; to be better known by one's courtesy name instead of one's given name


雞乸咁大隻字

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ naː³⁵ kɐm³³ taːi̯²² t͡sɛːk̚³ t͡siː²²/

How can you say that you couldn't see that when it's already written in big fonts?

gai¹ naa² gam³ daai⁶ zek³ zi⁶ nei⁵ dou¹ waa⁶ tai² m⁴ dou³⁻²?

雞乸咁大隻字你都話睇唔到？

鸡乸咁大只字你都话睇唔到？


痛哭流涕

ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄎㄨ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄊㄧˋ

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊk̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɐi̯³³/

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ tʰi⁵¹/

/tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ hʊk̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɐi̯³³/


毛手毛腳

ㄇㄠˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄇㄠˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

маошоумаоцзяо

/mɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ kœːk̚³/

/mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² kʰa⁴⁴/

/mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² kʰa³³/

/mɔ̃¹³⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃¹³⁻²² kʰa⁴⁴/

/mɔ̃²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰa⁴⁴/

/mɔ̃²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃²³⁻³³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/mou̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ kœːk̚³/

/mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² kʰa⁴⁴/

/mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² kʰa³³/

/mɔ̃¹³⁻²² t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃¹³⁻²² kʰa⁴⁴/

/mɔ̃²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃²⁴⁻¹¹ kʰa⁴⁴/

/mɔ̃²³⁻³³ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ mɔ̃²³⁻³³ kʰa⁴⁴/

to take liberties (with women); to paw; to fondle


當……冇到

to treat someone as if one hasn't arrived

/tɔːŋ³³ mou̯¹³ tou̯³³/

/tɔːŋ³³ mou̯¹³ tou̯³³/

(Cantonese) to ignore someone; to neglect someone


又乜又七

/jɐu̯²² mɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵/

/jɐu̯²² mɐt̚⁵ jɐu̯²² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵/

1998 December 13, “我以後唔買台灣野!! (除左底版)”, in hk.comp.pc (Usenet):

cin⁴ gei² jat⁶ maai⁵ zoeng¹ kai² hoeng² DVD card, jau⁶ m⁴ zi¹ mou⁵ seng¹ jau⁶ mat¹ jau⁶ cat¹, syut³ ming⁴ syu¹ jyun⁴ cyun⁴ m⁴ dim⁶, gaau² zo² seng⁴ maan⁵ sin¹ giu³ zou⁶ tai² dou²

前幾日買張啟享 DVD card , 又唔知無聲又乜又七 , 說明書完全唔掂 , 搞左成晚先叫做睇倒

前几日买张启享 DVD card , 又唔知无声又乜又七 , 说明书完全唔掂 , 搞左成晚先叫做睇倒

maang⁴ muk⁶ sung⁴ joeng⁴ hoeng¹ gong² dei⁶⁻² zau⁶ hai⁶ gam² joeng⁶⁻², hoeng¹ gong² faat³ sang¹ siu² siu² je⁵ zau⁶ jau⁶ mat¹ jau⁶ cat¹, ngoi⁶ gwok³ baau³ di¹ mat¹ seoi¹ je⁵ zau⁶ dou¹ jau⁵ jan⁴ sei² caang³

盲目崇洋香港地就係咁樣，香港發生小小野就又乜又七，外國爆D乜衰野就都有人死撐

盲目崇洋香港地就系咁样，香港发生小小野就又乜又七，外国爆D乜衰野就都有人死撑

2002 October 8, ing-ing-ing, “免步操惹囚犯不滿”, in so-net.talk.joke (Usenet):

ping⁴ si⁴ saang¹ ngau¹ ngau¹ jau⁶ ni¹ jau⁶ lou³, jat¹ jap⁶ heoi³ zau⁶ waa⁶ beng⁶ jau⁶ mat¹ jau⁶ cat¹, dou¹ m⁴ zi¹ bok³ mat¹

平時生勾勾又呢又路，一入去就話病又乜又七，都唔知博乜

平时生勾勾又呢又路，一入去就话病又乜又七，都唔知博乜


有姿勢，冇實際

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ mou̯¹³ sɐt̚² t͡sɐi̯³³/

(Cantonese) all show and no go; to look impressive but lack actual quality


欲揚先抑

ㄩˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄧˋ

/y⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

/y⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i⁵¹/

(literary) to denigrate so as to exalt; break down to build up; character building


遷客騷人

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄎㄜˋ ㄙㄠ ㄖㄣˊ

цянькэсаожэнь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʰɤ⁵¹ sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

exiled or frustrated government officials and literati


生雞卵無，放雞屎有

/sĩ⁴⁴⁻²² kue⁴⁴⁻²² nŋ̍²² bo²⁴ paŋ²¹⁻⁵³ kue⁴⁴⁻²² sai⁵³ u²²/

/sĩ⁴⁴⁻²² kue⁴⁴⁻²² nŋ̍²² bo²⁴ paŋ²¹⁻⁴² kue⁴⁴⁻²² sai⁴² u²²/

/sĩ³³ kue³³ nŋ̍²² bo²⁴ paŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kue³³ sai⁵⁵⁴ u²²/

/sɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² ke⁴⁴⁻²² nuĩ²² bo¹³ paŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ke⁴⁴⁻²² sai⁵³ u²²/

/sẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ ke⁴⁴⁻³³ nŋ̍³³ bɤ²³ paŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ ke⁴⁴⁻³³ sai⁴¹ u³³/

(Hokkien) describes someone who is useless and only knows how to cause trouble


一年容易又中秋

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄧˋ ㄧㄡˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄡ

yī nián róngyì yòu zhōngqiū [Phonetic:yì nián róngyì yòu zhōngqiū]

и нянь жунъи ю чжунцю

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ jʊŋ²¹ jiː²² jɐu̯²² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐu̯⁵⁵/

time flies and it's Mid-Autumn Festival again


左穿右插

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄧㄡˋ ㄔㄚ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² t͡sʰaːp̚³/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² t͡sʰaːp̚³/

(chiefly Cantonese) to weave in and out of something (e.g. traffic)


長年通月

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² tʰaŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡeʔ⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² tʰaŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡeʔ⁴/

(Southern Min) over many years and months; year in, year out


長年通天

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² tʰaŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/tŋ̍²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² tʰaŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/


規年通月

/kui⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² tʰaŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡeʔ⁴/

/kui⁴⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴⁻²² tʰaŋ²¹⁻⁵³ ɡeʔ⁴/

(Southern Min) over many years and months; year in, year out; throughout the year


for我嚟講

/fɔː²² ŋɔː¹³ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/fɔː²² ŋɔː¹³ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/fɔː²² ŋɔː¹³ lɐi̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

/fɔː²² ŋɔː¹³ lei̯²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵/

(Hong Kong Cantonese) in my opinion; as far as I'm concerned; to my mind


照我睇

/t͡siːu̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/t͡siːu̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵/


照我睇嚟

/t͡siːu̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lɐi̯²¹/

/t͡siːu̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lei̯²¹/

/t͡siːu̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lɐi̯²¹/

/t͡siːu̯³³ ŋɔː¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵ lei̯²¹/


紅顏綠色

/ɦoŋ²² ŋe⁵⁵ loʔ³³ səʔ²¹/

/ɦoŋ²² ŋe⁵⁵ loʔ³³ səʔ²¹/

(Shanghainese) multicoloured; colourful; variegated; of many colors


瘌痢頭兒子自家好

瘌痢头儿子自家好
癩痢頭兒子自家好

A bald son with tinea capitis is good if he's your own

lah^入 li^去 deu^去 nyi^去 tsy^去 zy^去 ka^平 hau^去

/laʔ¹¹ li²² dɤ²³ n̠ʲi²² t͡sz̩⁴⁴ zz̩²² ka³³ hɔ³⁴/

laeh^入 li^去 deu^平 nyi^平 tsy^上 zy^去 ka^平 hau^上

/laʔ²² li⁵² døy³³ n̠ʲi²³ t͡sz̩¹¹ zz̩²² kɑ³³ hæ⁵¹/

to think or to act as if something is better than it really is, just because it belongs to oneself


軟塗深掘

/nŋ̍⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻³³ kut̚⁴/

/nŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻³³ kut̚⁴/

/nŋ̍⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰim³³ kut̚²⁴/

/nŋ̍⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻²² kut̚⁴/

/nuĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ¹³⁻²² t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻²² kut̚¹²¹/

/nŋ̍⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻³³ kut̚⁴/

/nŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ²³⁻³³ t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻³³ kut̚⁴/

/nŋ̍⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰim³³ kut̚²⁴/

/nŋ̍⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ²⁴⁻²² t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻²² kut̚⁴/

/nuĩ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔ¹³⁻²² t͡sʰim⁴⁴⁻²² kut̚¹²¹/

(Hokkien) to be extremely greedy; give them an inch and they'll take a mile

(Mainland China Hokkien) to be easy to fool and defraud (of honest and upright people)


保境安民

ㄅㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄢ ㄇㄧㄣˊ

баоцзинъаньминь

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ min³⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ kɪŋ³⁵ ɔːn⁵⁵ mɐn²¹/

to protect the territory and ensure the peace of the people


七窮六絕

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ lʊk̚² t͡syːt̚²/

/t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ kʰʊŋ²¹ lʊk̚² t͡syːt̚²/

Even if I am penniless, I'll not go on the dole.

ngo⁵ seoi¹ jin⁴ cat¹ kung⁴ luk⁶ zyut⁶, dou¹ m⁴ wui⁵ leng⁵ zung¹ wun⁴!

我雖然七窮六絕，都唔會領綜援！

我虽然七穷六绝，都唔会领综援！

poor as a church mouse
poor as a church mouse

(Cantonese) in a state of utter poverty, destitute, penniless, poor as a church mouse


人咧食米粉，你咧喝燒

人咧食米粉，你咧喝烧
儂咧食米粉，汝咧喝燒
人咧食米粉，你咧共人喝燒

Someone is eating rice vermicelli, but you're the one shouting hot

/laŋ²⁴ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hun⁵³ li⁵³ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ sio⁴⁴/

/laŋ²³ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hun⁴¹ li⁴¹ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ hua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ siɤ⁴⁴/

/laŋ²⁴ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hun⁵³ li⁵³ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ hua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ sio⁴⁴/

/laŋ²³ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hun⁴¹ li⁴¹ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ hua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ siɤ⁴⁴/

/laŋ²⁴ le(ʔ)⁵ t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² bi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hun⁵⁵⁴ lɯ⁵⁵⁴ le(ʔ)⁵ hua(ʔ)⁵ sio³³/

(Southern Min) Used to describe someone who likes meddling in other's affairs.


差有差著

/t͡sʰa⁴⁴ iu⁴⁴ t͡sʰa⁴⁴ t͡sʰɔk̚⁵/

/t͡sʰa⁴⁴ iu⁴⁴ t͡sʰa⁴⁴ t͡sʰɔk̚⁵/

(Hakka) to leave a mistake uncorrected and have it turn out to be something good; a mistake turns out to be beneficial or useful


喙焦喉渴

/t͡sʰui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ta³³ au²⁴⁻²² kʰuaʔ⁵/

/t͡sʰui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ta³³ au²⁴⁻²² kʰuaʔ⁵/

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


伯樂相馬

ㄅㄛˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄇㄚˇ

Бо Лэ сян ма

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚³ lɔːk̚² sœːŋ³³ maː¹³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/paːk̚³ lɔːk̚² sœːŋ³³ maː¹³/

From the Han shi waizhuan:
:
From the Zashuosi

If the horse that can travel 1000 li in a day had not been discovered by Bo Le, how could it show its ability to travel one thousand li in a single day?

使驥不得伯樂，安得千里之足？

使骥不得伯乐，安得千里之足？

In all of the world, there was Bo Le first, then there were thousand li horses. Thousand li horses often exist, but a Bo Le does not often exist.

Shì yǒu Bó Lè, ránhòu yǒu qiānlǐmǎ. Qiānlǐmǎ cháng yǒu, ér Bó Lè bùcháng yǒu.

世有伯樂，然後有千里馬。千里馬常有，而伯樂不常有。

世有伯乐，然后有千里马。千里马常有，而伯乐不常有。

Praising those who are good at discovering talent


罕有其匹

ㄏㄢˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄆㄧˇ

/xän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


蠟燭——勿點勿亮

蜡烛——勿点勿亮
蠟燭——弗點弗亮

/laʔ¹¹ t͡soʔ²³ vəʔ²² ti⁴⁴ vəʔ²² liã⁴⁴/

/laʔ³³ t͡soʔ⁴⁴ fəʔ⁵⁵ tɪ³³ fəʔ⁵⁵ liã⁵²³/

/laʔ¹¹ t͡soʔ²³ vəʔ²² ti⁴⁴ vəʔ²² liã⁴⁴/

/laʔ³³ t͡soʔ⁴⁴ fəʔ⁵⁵ tɪ³³ fəʔ⁵⁵ liã⁵²³/

(Northern Wu, of a person) to not understand someone else's thoughts and intentions if not explicitly told; to not act unless clearly prompted to


技高一籌

ㄐㄧˋ ㄍㄠ ㄧ ㄔㄡˊ

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵/


天邊海角

/tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ pĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² pĩ⁴⁴⁻²² hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰĩ³³ pĩ³³ hai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kak̚⁵/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ pĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ pĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² pĩ⁴⁴⁻²² hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

/tʰĩ³³ pĩ³³ hai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kak̚⁵/

/tʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ pĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ hai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kak̚³²/

(Hokkien) far ends of heaven; ends of the world; remote place


伯樂一顧

ㄅㄛˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄧ ㄍㄨˋ

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ku⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐt̚⁵ kuː³³/

/pu̯ɔ³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ku⁵¹/

/paːk̚³ lɔːk̚² jɐt̚⁵ kuː³³/

lw

s:zh:戰國策黃丕烈札記/燕/二

戰國策黃丕烈札記/燕/二

戰國策黃丕烈札記/燕/二

Su Dai, working on Yan's behalf, went to exercise his persuasions in Qi, but before seeking an audience with the King, (Min in the Bao version.) he first tried his arguments on Chunyu Kun, saying, "There was a person who want to sell a thoroughbred, so he went to the market with it three mornings in a row (In a row is as if repeatedly in the Bao version. ) but no one recognized its quality. He then went and sought an audience with Bo Le and said, 'I have a thoroughbred I wish to sell. I went to the market three mornings in a row but none of the people there have come to speak to me about it. I would like (The words "would like" do not exist in the Bao version. ○) you to return with me to look at it. Then, when you go to leave, glance backwards as you do so. (Glance backwards is look back in the Bao version. The supplement says that return is equal to return in pronunciation and their meanings are the same.) Your servant begs to offer you one day's expenses for this.' ("Expenses" is written as "fees" in the Bao version. ○ The supplement says that it is doubtful the word "fees" was used.) Accordingly, Bo Le returned with him and looked at the horse. Then he left, glancing backwards as he did so. The next morning, the horse's price was ten times what it had been. Now I (The word "of" exists under "I" in the Bao version. ○ The supplement says that another version does not have it. It is the same as the Yao.) have a quality horse (Horse is refer to myself as in the Bao version.) that I wish to show to the King, but I have no one to assist me. (To help me in the Bao version.) Would you consider being your servant's Bo Le? I beg permission to offer a pair of jade disks and a thousand yi of gold to cover your own expenses." (I refer to myself as a horse, so these things that are offered are to feed your horses in the Bao version. The correction says that I offer these to serve as food for your horses.) Chunyu Kun said, "I will listen attentively to your instructions." He thus entered the court and spoke to the King, securing an audience for Su Dai. The King of Qi was delighted with Master Su.

Sū Dài wèi Yàn shuō Qí, wèi jiàn Qí Wáng, ‘Bào běn Mǐn.’ Xiān shuō Chúnyú Kūn yuē: “Rén yǒu mài jùnmǎ zhě, bǐ ‘Bào běn bǐ, yóu lián.’ Sān dàn lì shì, rén mò zhī zhī. Wǎng jiàn Bó Lè yuē: ‘Chén yǒu jùnmǎ, yù mài zhī, bǐ sān dàn lì yú shì, rén mò yǔ yán, yuàn ‘Bào běn wú “yuàn” zì. ○’ zǐ hái ér shì zhī, qù ér gù zhī, ‘Bào běn gù, fǎn shì. Bǔ yuē: hái, dāng yīn xuán, yì tóng.’ Chén qǐng xiàn yīcháo zhī gǔ.’ ‘Bào běn “gǔ” zuò “fèi”. ○, bǔ yuē: yí “fèi” zì.’ Bó Lè nǎi hái ér shì zhī, qù ér gù zhī, yīdàn ér mǎ jià shí bèi. Jīn chén ‘Bào běn “chén” xià yǒu “zhī” zì. ○, bǔ yuē: yīběn wú. Yáo tóng.’ Yù yǐ jùnmǎ ‘bào běn mǎ, zì yù yě.’ Jiàn yú Wáng, mò wèi chén xiānhòu zhě, ‘Bào běn wèi zhī zhù yě.’ Zúxià yǒu yì wèi chén Bó Lè hū? Chén qǐng xiàn bái bì yī shuāng, huángjīn qiān yì, yǐwèi mǎ shí.” ‘Bào běn zì yù wèi mǎ, zé cǐ suǒ xiàn, mǎ zhī shí yě. Zhèng yuē: xiàn cǐ yǐwèi mǎ zhī shí.’ Chúnyú Kūn yuē: “Jǐn wén mìng yǐ.” Rù yán zhī Wáng ér jiàn zhī, Qí Wáng dà shuō Sūzǐ.

蘇代為燕說齊，未見齊王，〈鮑本閔。〉先說淳于髡曰：「人有賣駿馬者，比〈鮑本比，猶連。〉三旦立市，人莫之知。往見伯樂曰：『臣有駿馬，欲賣之，比三旦立於市，人莫與言，願〈鮑本無「願」字。○〉子還而視之，去而顧之，〈鮑本顧，反視。補曰：還，當音旋，義同。〉臣請獻一朝之賈。』〈鮑本「賈」作「費」。○ 補曰：疑「費」字。〉伯樂乃還而視之，去而顧之，一旦而馬價十倍。今臣〈鮑本「臣」下有「之」字。○ 補曰：一本無。姚同。〉欲以駿馬〈鮑本馬，自喻也。〉見於王，莫為臣先後者，〈鮑本為之助也。〉足下有意為臣伯樂乎？臣請獻白璧一雙，黃金千鎰，以為馬食。」〈鮑本自喻為馬，則此所獻，馬之食也。正曰：獻此以為馬之食。〉淳于髡曰：「謹聞命矣。」入言之王而見之，齊王大說蘇子。

苏代为燕说齐，未见齐王，〈鲍本闵。〉先说淳于髡曰：「人有卖骏马者，比〈鲍本比，犹连。〉三旦立市，人莫之知。往见伯乐曰：『臣有骏马，欲卖之，比三旦立于市，人莫与言，愿〈鲍本无「愿」字。○〉子还而视之，去而顾之，〈鲍本顾，反视。补曰：还，当音旋，义同。〉臣请献一朝之贾。』〈鲍本「贾」作「费」。○ 补曰：疑「费」字。〉伯乐乃还而视之，去而顾之，一旦而马价十倍。今臣〈鲍本「臣」下有「之」字。○ 补曰：一本无。姚同。〉欲以骏马〈鲍本马，自喻也。〉见于王，莫为臣先后者，〈鲍本为之助也。〉足下有意为臣伯乐乎？臣请献白璧一双，黄金千镒，以为马食。」〈鲍本自喻为马，则此所献，马之食也。正曰：献此以为马之食。〉淳于髡曰：「谨闻命矣。」入言之王而见之，齐王大说苏子。

To instantly raise the ask price of something


罪大滔天

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄠ ㄊㄧㄢ

цзуйдатаотянь

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² taːi̯²² tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² taːi̯²² tʰou̯⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

; “Sony”
:
: Here 索尼 (Suǒní) refers to the Qing historical figure Sonin, but the filmmaker mistranslated the line as “Sony is guilty, he makes our people angry” in the English subtitles.

Sonin has committed so many crimes that he caused public discontent.

sok³ nei⁴ zeoi⁶ daai⁶ tou¹ tin¹, gaau² dou³ baak³ sing³ jyun³ sing¹ zoi³ dou⁶.

索尼罪大滔天，搞到百姓怨聲載道。

索尼罪大滔天，搞到百姓怨声载道。

to have committed a grave sin and be evil to the extreme


寅吃卯糧

to have eaten the yearly ration of the Year of the Rabbit in the Year of the Tiger (one year ahead)

ㄧㄣˊ ㄔ ㄇㄠˇ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

/in³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ hɛːk̚³ maːu̯¹³ lœːŋ²¹/

/in³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/jɐn²¹ hɛːk̚³ maːu̯¹³ lœːŋ²¹/

(figurative) to prematurely overconsume; unable to make both ends meet


你在哪兒

ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄋㄚˇㄦ

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ nɑɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

(chiefly Beijing Mandarin) where are you?


你在哪裡

ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄋㄚˇ ㄌㄧˇ

ни цзай нали

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ nä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


發過豬頭

/faːt̚³ kʷɔː³³ t͡syː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/faːt̚³ kʷɔː³³ t͡syː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

(Cantonese) to make a fortune; to earn a lot


分身乏術

want to use bilocation but it is impossible

ㄈㄣ ㄕㄣ ㄈㄚˊ ㄕㄨˋ

фэньшэньфашу

fɛnʹšɛnʹfašu

/fən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ fä³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ fɐt̚² sɵt̚²/

/fən⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ fä³⁵ ʂu⁵¹/

/fɐn⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ fɐt̚² sɵt̚²/

to be extremely busy that one is unable to handle other things


天下無難事，只怕有心人

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄋㄢˊ ㄕˋ

ㄓˇ ㄆㄚˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

тянься у наньши

чжипа юсиньжэнь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ nän³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰä⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ lan²³⁻³³ su²³ t͡si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pʰa²¹⁻⁴¹ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²³/

/tʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ ha³³⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ lan²⁴⁻¹¹ su²⁴ t͡si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pʰa¹¹⁻⁵³ iu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ lin²⁴/

nothing is difficult if one is dedicated


有頭有尾

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄡˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄟˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯¹³/

/u³³⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ bue⁵³/

/u³³⁻²¹ tʰau²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ bue⁴¹/

/u³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²¹³⁻³³ u³³⁻¹¹ buɛ⁵³/

/u²²⁻²¹ tʰau¹³⁻²² u²²⁻²¹ bue⁵³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ u³³⁻¹¹ bue⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² u⁴¹⁻²² be⁵⁵⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²² u²²⁻²¹ be⁵³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ be⁵³/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯¹³/

/u³³⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ bue⁵³/

/u³³⁻²¹ tʰau²³⁻³³ u³³⁻²¹ bue⁴¹/

/u³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²¹³⁻³³ u³³⁻¹¹ buɛ⁵³/

/u²²⁻²¹ tʰau¹³⁻²² u²²⁻²¹ bue⁵³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ u³³⁻¹¹ bue⁵³/

/u⁴¹⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² u⁴¹⁻²² be⁵⁵⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴⁻²² u²²⁻²¹ be⁵³/

/u³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ be⁵³/

to have a beginning and an end; to carry things through; to see something to completion


恩斷義絕

ㄣ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄧˋ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

эньдуаньицзюэ

/ˀən⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ tyːn²² jiː²² t͡syːt̚²/

/ˀən⁵⁵ tu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ tyːn²² jiː²² t͡syːt̚²/

(of a married couple, etc.) to sever all ties


做慣乞兒懶做官

when one is used to being a beggar, one would not feel like being an official

dzou⁶ gwaan³ hat⁷ ji⁴⁻¹ laan⁵ dzou⁶ gun¹

/t͡sou̯²² kʷaːn³³ hɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹⁻⁵⁵ laːn¹³ t͡sou̯²² kuːn⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) When one is used to a free but poor life, one would not like a rich life without freedom.


兩面不討好

ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄠˇ ㄏㄠˇ

liǎngmiàn bù tǎohǎo [Phonetic:liǎngmiànbùtáohǎo]

лянмянь бу таохао

/li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

damn if you do, damn if you don't
damn if you do, damn if you don't


三年之喪

ㄙㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄙㄤ

сань нянь чжи сан

/sän⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

/sän⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

Zai Wo asked about the three years' mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. "If the superior man abstains for three years from the observances of propriety, those observances will be quite lost. If for three years he abstains from music, music will be ruined. Within a year the old grain is exhausted, and the new grain has sprung up, and, in procuring fire by friction, we go through all the changes of wood for that purpose. After a complete year, the mourning may stop." The Master said, "If you were, after a year, to eat good rice, and wear embroidered clothes, would you feel at ease?" "I should," replied Wo. The Master said, "If you can feel at ease, do it. But a superior man, during the whole period of mourning, does not enjoy pleasant food which he may eat, nor derive pleasure from music which he may hear. He also does not feel at ease, if he is comfortably lodged. Therefore he does not do what you propose. But now you feel at ease and may do it." Zai Wo then went out, and the Master said, "This shows Yu's want of virtue. It is not till a child is three years old that it is allowed to leave the arms of its parents. And the three years' mourning is universally observed throughout the empire. Did Yu enjoy the three years' love of his parents?"

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

Zǎi Wǒ wèn: “Sān nián zhī sàng, qī yǐjiǔ yǐ. Jūnzǐ sān nián bùwèi lǐ, lǐ bì huài; sān nián bùwèi yuè, yuè bì bēng. Jiù gǔ jì méi, xīn gǔ jì shēng, zuàn suì gǎi huǒ, qī kě yǐ yǐ.” Zǐ yuē: “Shí fū dào, yī fū jǐn, yú nǚ ān hū?” Yuē: “Ān.” “nǚ ān zé wèi zhī! Fū jūnzǐ zhī jūsàng, shí zhǐ bùgān, wén yuè bùyuè, jūchù bù'ān, gù bùwèi yě. Jīn nǚ ān, zé wèi zhī!” Zǎi Wǒ chū. Zǐ yuē: “Yǔ zhī bùrén yě! Zǐ shēng sān nián, ránhòu miǎn yú fùmǔ zhī huái. Fū sān nián zhī sàng, tiānxià zhī tōngsàng yě. Yǔ yě, yǒu sān nián zhī ài yú qí fùmǔ hū?”

宰我問：「三年之喪，期已久矣。君子三年不為禮，禮必壞；三年不為樂，樂必崩。舊穀既沒，新穀既升，鑽燧改火，期可已矣。」子曰：「食夫稻，衣夫錦，於女安乎？」曰：「安。」「女安則為之！夫君子之居喪，食旨不甘，聞樂不樂，居處不安，故不為也。今女安，則為之！」宰我出。子曰：「予之不仁也！子生三年，然後免於父母之懷。夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也。予也，有三年之愛於其父母乎？」

宰我问：「三年之丧，期已久矣。君子三年不为礼，礼必坏；三年不为乐，乐必崩。旧谷既没，新谷既升，钻燧改火，期可已矣。」子曰：「食夫稻，衣夫锦，于女安乎？」曰：「安。」「女安则为之！夫君子之居丧，食旨不甘，闻乐不乐，居处不安，故不为也。今女安，则为之！」宰我出。子曰：「予之不仁也！子生三年，然后免于父母之怀。夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也。予也，有三年之爱于其父母乎？」

One should mourn one's parents for three years when they die

夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也／夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也

fú sān nián zhī sāng, tiānxià zhī tōngsàng yě


除惡務盡

ㄔㄨˊ ㄜˋ ㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ ɔːk̚³ mou̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ ɔːk̚³ mou̯²² t͡sɵn²²/

one must be thorough in eradicating the evil


乘隙而入

ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧˋ ㄦˊ ㄖㄨˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/

to exploit one's opponent's weakness, or to act when one's opponent is off guard


食粥食飯

whether one eats porridge or rice (in the future)

/sɪk̚² t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚² faːn²²/

/sɪk̚² t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɪk̚² faːn²²/

Whether we'll succeed depends on your effort.

食粥食飯睇你喇！

食粥食饭睇你喇！

(Cantonese) whether one's fate will be good or bad


信而有徵

ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄦˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄥ

/ɕin⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

The words of a superior man are true and supported by evidence, so that they keep enmity far from his own person; but the words of a small person are false and without evidence, so that enmity and blame come upon himself.

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

Jūnzǐ zhī yán, xìn ér yǒu zhēng, gù yuàn yuǎn yú qí shēn, xiǎorén zhī yán, jiàn ér wú zhēng, gù yuànjiù jí zhī.

君子之言，信而有徵，故怨遠於其身，小人之言，僭而無徵，故怨咎及之。

君子之言，信而有征，故怨远于其身，小人之言，僭而无征，故怨咎及之。


威武不能屈

ㄨㄟ ㄨˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄑㄩ

вэйу бунэн цюй

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ puː³⁵ nɛːn³⁵ wɐt̚⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵/

/wɐi̯⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ puː³⁵ nɛːn³⁵ wɐt̚⁵/

From the The Works of Mencius, Chapter 6 (《孟子·滕文公下》)

Jing Chun said to Mencius, 'Are not Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi really great men? Let them once be angry, and all the princes are afraid. Let them live quietly, and the flames of trouble are extinguished throughout the kingdom.' Mencius said, 'How can such men be great men? Have you not read the Ritual Usages? "At the capping of a young man, his father admonishes him. At the marrying away of a young woman, her mother admonishes her, accompanying her to the door on her leaving, and cautioning her with these words, 'You are going to your home. You must be respectful; you must be careful. Do not disobey your husband.'" Thus, to look upon compliance as their correct course is the rule for women. To dwell in the wide house of the world, to stand in the correct seat of the world, and to walk in the great path of the world; when he obtains his desire for office, to practise his principles for the good of the people; and when that desire is disappointed, to practise them alone; to be above the power of riches and honours to make dissipated, of poverty and mean condition to make swerve from principle, and of power and force to make bend - these characteristics constitute the great man.'

c. 300 BCE, Mencius, The Works of Mencius, Chapter 6

Jǐng Chūn yuē: “Gōngsūn Yǎn, Zhāng Yí qǐbù chéng dàzhàngfū zāi? Yī nù ér zhūhóu jù, ānjū ér tiānxià xī.” Mèngzǐ yuē: “Shì yān dé wèi dàzhàngfū hū? Zǐ wèi xué Lǐ hū? Zhàngfū zhī guàn yě, fù mìng zhī; nǚzǐ zhī jià yě, mǔ mìng zhī, wǎng sòng zhī mén, jiè zhī yuē: ‘Wǎng zhī nǚjiā, bì jìng bì jiè, wú wéi fūzǐ!’ Yǐ shùn wèi zhèng zhě, qièfù zhī dào yě. Jū tiānxià zhī guǎng jū, lì tiānxià zhī zhèng wèi, xíng tiānxià zhī dàdào. Dézhì yǔ mín yóu zhī, bù dézhì dúxíng qí dào. Fùguì bùnéng yín, pínjiàn bùnéng yí, wēiwǔ bùnéng qū. Cǐ zhī wèi dàzhàngfū.”

景春曰：「公孫衍、張儀豈不誠大丈夫哉？一怒而諸侯懼，安居而天下熄。」孟子曰：「是焉得為大丈夫乎？子未學禮乎？丈夫之冠也，父命之；女子之嫁也，母命之，往送之門，戒之曰：『往之女家，必敬必戒，無違夫子！』以順為正者，妾婦之道也。居天下之廣居，立天下之正位，行天下之大道。得志與民由之，不得志獨行其道。富貴不能淫，貧賤不能移，威武不能屈。此之謂大丈夫。」

景春曰：「公孙衍、张仪岂不诚大丈夫哉？一怒而诸侯惧，安居而天下熄。」孟子曰：「是焉得为大丈夫乎？子未学礼乎？丈夫之冠也，父命之；女子之嫁也，母命之，往送之门，戒之曰：『往之女家，必敬必戒，无违夫子！』以顺为正者，妾妇之道也。居天下之广居，立天下之正位，行天下之大道。得志与民由之，不得志独行其道。富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈。此之谓大丈夫。」

not be bent by power or force; not to be subdued by force


學喙學舌

/o(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ o(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

/o(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡sʰui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ o(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡siʔ²⁴/

/o(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ o(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siʔ¹²¹/

/o(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ o(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡siʔ⁴/

(Southern Min) to imitate people talking

(Southern Min) to sow discord; to tell tales; to make mischief


反求諸己

ㄈㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄓㄨ ㄐㄧˇ

фаньцючжуцзи

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/faːn³⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ t͡syː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵/

The man who would be benevolent is like the archer. The archer adjusts himself and then shoots. If he misses, he does not murmur against those who surpass himself. He simply turns round and seeks the cause of his failure in himself.

Rénzhě rú shè, shè zhě zhèng jǐ érhòu fā. Fā ér bù zhòng, bù yuàn shèng jǐ zhě, fǎn qiú zhū jǐ éryǐ yǐ.

仁者如射，射者正己而後發。發而不中，不怨勝己者，反求諸己而已矣。

仁者如射，射者正己而后发。发而不中，不怨胜己者，反求诸己而已矣。

If a man love others, and no responsive attachment is shown to him, let him turn inwards and examine his own benevolence. If he is trying to rule others, and his government is unsuccessful, let him turn inwards and examine his wisdom. If he treats others politely, and they do not return his politeness, let him turn inwards and examine his own feeling of respect. When we do not, by what we do, realise what we desire, we must turn inwards, and examine ourselves in every point. When a man's person is correct, the whole kingdom will turn to him with recognition and submission.

Ài rén bù qīn fǎn qí rén, zhì rén bù zhì fǎn qí zhì, lǐ rén bù dá fǎn qí jìng. Xíng yǒu bùdé zhě, jiē fǎn qiú zhū jǐ, qí shēn zhèng ér tiānxià guī zhī.

愛人不親反其仁，治人不治反其智，禮人不答反其敬。行有不得者，皆反求諸己，其身正而天下歸之。

爱人不亲反其仁，治人不治反其智，礼人不答反其敬。行有不得者，皆反求诸己，其身正而天下归之。

Archery suggests to us the way of benevolence. (The archer) seeks to be correct in himself, and then discharges his arrow. If it miss the mark, he is not angry with the one who has surpassed himself, but turns round and seeks (for the cause of failure) in himself.

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

Shè zhě, rén zhī dào yě. Shè qiú zhèng zhū jǐ, jǐ zhèng ránhòu fā, fā ér bù zhòng, zé bù yuàn shèng jǐ zhě, fǎn qiú zhū jǐ éryǐ yǐ.

射者，仁之道也。射求正諸己，己正然後發，發而不中，則不怨勝己者，反求諸己而已矣。

射者，仁之道也。射求正诸己，己正然后发，发而不中，则不怨胜己者，反求诸己而已矣。

to self-reflect; to engage in self-examination


珠光寶氣

ㄓㄨ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄅㄠˇ ㄑㄧˋ

чжугуанбаоци

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ hei̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ hei̯³³/

That woman went to the banquet dripped in jewels and attaracted everyone's attention.

Nà fùrén mǎnshēn zhūguāngbǎoqì dì fùyàn, yǐnqǐ zhòngrén de zhùmù.

那婦人滿身珠光寶氣地赴宴，引起眾人的注目。

那妇人满身珠光宝气地赴宴，引起众人的注目。

(of attire or furnishings) dripping with jewels; luxurious; splendid; gorgeous


死去活來

ㄙˇ ㄑㄩˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄌㄞˊ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³ wuːt̚² lɔːi̯²¹/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/sei̯³⁵ hɵy̯³³ wuːt̚² lɔːi̯²¹/

哭得死去活來

哭得死去活来

within an inch of one's life
within an inch of one's life

to be devastated; to suffer terribly; to be within an inch of one's life


未來可期

ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧ

ㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧˊ

/weɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/weɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

the future is worth looking forward to; have a promising future


大人有大量

ㄉㄚˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

дажэнь ю далян

/tä⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɐn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ taːi̯²² lœːŋ²²/

/tä⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² jɐn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ taːi̯²² lœːŋ²²/

This was just an unintentional mistake. I hope that you won't bear a grudge and forgive him.

Zhècì zhǐshì wúxīnzhīshī éryǐ, xīwàng nín dàrén yǒu dàliàng, yuánliàng tā ba.

這次只是無心之失而已，希望您大人有大量，原諒他吧。

这次只是无心之失而已，希望您大人有大量，原谅他吧。


有見及此

ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄘˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kiːn³³ kʰɐp̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ kiːn³³ kʰɐp̚² t͡sʰiː³⁵/

in view of this; on this account; therefore


仗義執言

ㄓㄤˋ ㄧˋ ㄓˊ ㄧㄢˊ

чжанъичжиянь

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵ jɛn³⁵/

We recognize the courage of the North Korean defector and human rights community, which continues to speak on behalf of the millions of North Koreans suffering abuses who are unable to advocate for themselves.

Wǒmen biǎozhāng cóng běihán táotuō de rénshì yǐjí rénquán jiè de yǒngqì, tāmen jìxù wèi wúfǎ wèi zìjǐ fāshēng de jǐ bǎiwàn cǎnzāo jiàntà de běihán rén zhàngyìzhíyán.

我們表彰從北韓逃脫的人士以及人權界的勇氣，他們繼續為無法為自己發聲的幾百萬慘遭踐踏的北韓人仗義執言。

我们表彰从北韩逃脱的人士以及人权界的勇气，他们继续为无法为自己发声的几百万惨遭践踏的北韩人仗义执言。


火屎箭天

(Hakka) to fly into a rage; to be furious


大發脾氣

ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄚ ㄆㄧˊ ㄑㄧˋ

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ pʰei̯²¹ hei̯³³/

/tua¹¹ huak̚²⁻⁴ sɯ̃³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³/

/tä⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ pʰi³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/taːi̯²² faːt̚³ pʰei̯²¹ hei̯³³/

/tua¹¹ huak̚²⁻⁴ sɯ̃³³⁻²³ kʰi²¹³/


險象環生

ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄕㄥ

сяньсянхуаньшэн

/ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hiːm³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²² waːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰuan²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hiam⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² kʰuan²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ³³/

/hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰuan¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰuan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hiam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰuan²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/hiːm³⁵ t͡sœːŋ²² waːn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰuan²⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ kʰuan¹³⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kʰuan²⁴⁻¹¹ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

/hiam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kʰuan²³⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

dangerous situations happen again and again


路邊尿桶——眾人漩

A manure bucket on the roadside - everyone pisses in it

/lɔ³³⁻²¹ pĩ⁴⁴ ziɤ³³⁻²¹ tʰaŋ⁴¹ t͡siɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ laŋ²³ suan³³/

/lɔ³³⁻¹¹ pĩ⁴⁴ lio³³⁻¹¹ tʰaŋ⁵³ t͡siɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ laŋ²⁴ suan³³/


干卿何事

ㄍㄢ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˋ

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ siː²²/

/kän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/kɔːn⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ siː²²/

關你什麼事 關你什麼事#Chinese

关你什么事 关你什么事#Chinese

(literary) Synonym of 關你什麼事／关你什么事 (guān...shénme shì, “to be none of your business”)


青盲雞啄著蟲

/t͡sʰĩ³³ mĩ²⁴⁻²² kue³³ tɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ tio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² tʰaŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² mĩ²⁴⁻²² kue⁴⁴⁻²² tɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰaŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² mi²⁴⁻²¹ kue⁴⁴⁻²² tɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tio(ʔ)⁴³⁻²¹ tʰaŋ²⁴/

/t͡sʰɛ̃³³⁻²¹ mɛ²³⁻²¹ ke³³ tɔk̚³⁻⁴ tio(ʔ)⁴⁻³ tʰaŋ²³/

/t͡sʰɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² mɛ̃¹³⁻²² ke⁴⁴ tɔk̚³²⁻⁵ tio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰaŋ¹³/

/t͡sʰẽ⁴⁴⁻³³ mẽ²³⁻³³ ke⁴⁴ tɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tiɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰaŋ²³/

/t͡sʰẽ⁴⁴⁻²² me²⁴⁻²¹ kue⁴⁴ tɔk̚³²⁻⁴ tio(ʔ)⁴³⁻²¹ tʰaŋ²⁴/

(Hokkien) for something good to happen just by chance


/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

Irregular romanization and replacement of numbers with Arabic numerals.

有一說一 有一說一#Chinese

有一说一 有一说一#Chinese

(Mainland China, Internet slang) Alternative form of 有一說一／有一说一 (yǒu yī shuō yī)


於心何忍

ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄏㄜˊ ㄖㄣˇ

юйсиньхэжэнь

/y³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/y³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

how can one bear it?; how can one have the heart to do it? (used to express the idea that someone finds something so agonizing that they cannot bring themselves to do it)


山大斬埋有柴

if the hill is large enough there will be enough firewood

/saːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² t͡saːm³⁵ maːi̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹/

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

(Cantonese) many a mickle makes a muckle


摩頂放踵

ㄇㄛˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄈㄤˋ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

ㄇㄛˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄈㄤˇ ㄓㄨㄥˇ

модинфанчжун

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ fɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/mɔː⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ fɔːŋ³³ tʊŋ³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɔː⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ fɔːŋ³³ t͡sʊŋ³⁵/

/mɔː⁵⁵ tɪŋ³⁵ fɔːŋ³³ tʊŋ³⁵/

From Mencius's comment about Yangism and Mohism

Mencius said, 'The principle of the philosopher Yang was "Each one for himself." Though he might have benefited the whole kingdom by plucking out a single hair, he would not have done it. The philosopher Mo loves all equally. If by rubbing smooth his whole body from the crown to the heel, he could have benefited the kingdom, he would have done it. Zi Mo holds a medium between these. By holding that medium, he is nearer the right. But by holding it without leaving room for the exigency of circumstances, it becomes like their holding their one point. The reason why I hate that holding to one point is the injury it does to the way of right principle. It takes up one point and disregards a hundred others.'

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Yángzǐ qǔ wèi wǒ, bá yī máo ér lì tiānxià, bù wèi yě. Mòzǐ jiān'ài, mó dǐng fàng zhǒng lì tiānxià, wèi zhī. Zǐmò zhí zhōng, zhí zhōng wèi jìn zhī, zhí zhōng wú quán, yóu zhí yī yě. Suǒ è zhí yī zhě, wèi qí zéi dào yě, jǔ yī ér fèi bǎi yě.”

孟子曰：「楊子取為我，拔一毛而利天下，不為也。墨子兼愛，摩頂放踵利天下，為之。子莫執中，執中為近之，執中無權，猶執一也。所惡執一者，為其賊道也，舉一而廢百也。」

孟子曰：「杨子取为我，拔一毛而利天下，不为也。墨子兼爱，摩顶放踵利天下，为之。子莫执中，执中为近之，执中无权，犹执一也。所恶执一者，为其贼道也，举一而废百也。」

to have hair rubbed away and heel grazed (because of walking to everywhere to help people)

to dedicate oneself completely to the welfare of mankind


屎淋尿瀨

/siː³⁵ lɐm²¹ niːu̯²² laːi̯²²/

/siː³⁵ lɐm²¹ niːu̯²² laːi̯²²/

scared the shit out of
scare the shit out of

(Cantonese) being scared the shit out of someone


擔屎唔偷食

/taːm⁵⁵ siː³⁵ m̩²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/

/taːm⁵⁵ siː³⁵ m̩²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɪk̚²/

(Cantonese) to be completely honest and trustworthy


屁滾尿流

ㄆㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄣˇ ㄋㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

/pʰi⁵¹ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/pʰei̯³³ kʷɐn³⁵ niːu̯²² lɐu̯²¹/

/pʰi⁵¹ ku̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/pʰei̯³³ kʷɐn³⁵ niːu̯²² lɐu̯²¹/


痛打落水狗

ㄊㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄚˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄍㄡˇ

тунда лошуйгоу

/tʰʊŋ⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

打落水狗 打落水狗#Chinese

Synonym of 打落水狗 (dǎluòshuǐgǒu, “to hit an enemy when he is down or defeated”)


假仁假義

ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄧˋ

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/kaː³⁵ jɐn²¹ kaː³⁵ jiː²²/

/t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/kaː³⁵ jɐn²¹ kaː³⁵ jiː²²/


割粙仔尾

to cut (someone else's) ripe rice crop stalk

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiu³³ a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiu²²⁻²¹ a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiu³³ a⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bue⁴¹/

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiu²²⁻²¹ a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue⁵³/

/kua(ʔ)⁵ tiu²² a⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bə⁵⁵⁴/

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiu³³ a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiu²²⁻²¹ a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be⁵³/

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tiu³³ a⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bue⁴¹/

/kua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tiu²²⁻²¹ a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue⁵³/

/kua(ʔ)⁵ tiu²² a⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bə⁵⁵⁴/

(Hokkien, figurative) to reap without sowing; to live off the toil of other people

pull the rug out from under
pull the rug out from under

(Mainland China Hokkien, figurative) to pull the rug out from under someone's feet to destroys someone's fate to get married


關……蛋治

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ taːn³⁵ t͡siː²²/

/kʷaːn⁵⁵ taːn³⁵ t͡siː²²/

關……撚事 關……撚事#Chinese

关……撚事 关……撚事#Chinese

(Cantonese, minced oath) Euphemistic form of 關……撚事／关……撚事.


煞去

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


攑香綴拜

/ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tue²¹⁻⁴¹ pai²¹/

/ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ hiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ te¹¹⁻⁵³ pai¹¹/

/ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ tue²¹⁻⁴¹ pai²¹/

/ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ hiũ⁴⁴⁻³³ te¹¹⁻⁵³ pai¹¹/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) to follow others blindly (of an opinionless person)


因公殉職

ㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄓˊ

иньгунсюньчжи

/in⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/

/in⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕyn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/jɐn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵn⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵/


綁手綁腳

ㄅㄤˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄅㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

баншоубанцзяо

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɔːŋ³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ pɔːŋ³⁵ kœːk̚³/

/pɔːŋ³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ pɔːŋ³⁵ kœːk̚³/

to be heavily constrained and unable to act freely


其貌不揚

ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄠˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄤˊ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ maːu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ mɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ maːu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ jœːŋ²¹/

to be undistinguished or unattractive in appearance


言之有理

ㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧˇ

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lei̯¹³/

/jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jiːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lei̯¹³/

to speak in a rational or convincing way; to sound reasonable


手梳攑懸

/t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kuan²³/

/t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kuan²⁴/

/t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ se⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kuan²³/

/t͡sʰiu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ se⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kuan²⁴/

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


升官發財

ㄕㄥ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄈㄚ ㄘㄞˊ

шэнгуаньфацай

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/sɪŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

to be promoted to a higher position as an official and make a fortune


驚天地，泣鬼神

ㄑㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄕㄣˊ

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵/

/kɪŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² jɐp̚⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ sɐn²¹/

astonishing, awe-inspiring, or emotionally stirring


引以為傲

ㄧㄣˇ ㄧˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄠˋ

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ ŋou̯²²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ŋɔ̃²²/

/in⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ŋɔ̃⁴¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² ŋɔ̃²²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ŋɔ̃³³/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐn¹³ jiː¹³ wɐi̯²¹ ŋou̯²²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ŋɔ̃²²/

/in⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ i⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ui²⁴⁻²² ŋɔ̃⁴¹/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui¹³⁻²² ŋɔ̃²²/

/in⁵³⁻⁴⁴ i⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ui²⁴⁻¹¹ ŋɔ̃³³/

/in⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ i⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ui²³⁻³³ ŋɔ̃³³/


擊中要害

ㄐㄧ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄞˋ

ㄐㄧˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄞˋ

цзичжунъяохай

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɪk̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³ jiːu̯³³ hɔːi̯²²/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xaɪ̯⁵¹/

/kɪk̚⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³ jiːu̯³³ hɔːi̯²²/

hit the nail on the head
hit the nail on the head

to hit the nail on the head; to nail it; to hit home; to hit someone's vital point


多不勝數

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ ㄕㄨˇ

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄨˇ

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³⁵/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɔː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ⁵⁵ sou̯³⁵/


罵無毒拍無疼

/mɛ³⁵⁻³³ bɔ²² tak̚² pʰa⁵⁵ bɔ²² tʰia²¹/

/mɛ³⁵⁻³³ bɔ²² tak̚² pʰa⁵⁵ bɔ²² tʰia²¹/

(Leizhou Min) brazen and unreasonable; thick-skinned and hard to shake off


死皮賴臉

ㄙˇ ㄆㄧˊ ㄌㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sei̯³⁵ pʰei̯²¹ laːi̯²² liːm¹³/

/sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sei̯³⁵ pʰei̯²¹ laːi̯²² liːm¹³/


掠無頭總

/lia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵³/

/lia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁴/

/lia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ bo¹³⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵³/

/lia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡saŋ⁵³/

/lia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ t͡saŋ⁴¹/

/lia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵³/

/lia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁴/

/lia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡saŋ⁵³/

/lia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ t͡saŋ⁴¹/

(Hokkien) to fail to grasp the main points


捎無頭總

/sa⁴⁴⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵³/

/sa³³ bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁴/

/sa⁴⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵³/

/sa⁴⁴⁻²² bo¹³⁻²² tʰau¹³⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵³/

/sa³³ bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵⁵⁴/

/sa⁴⁴⁻²² bo²⁴⁻²² tʰau²⁴⁻²² t͡saŋ⁵³/


掠蟳走蠘

/lia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sim²⁴⁻²² t͡sau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiʔ⁴/

(Hokkien) to attend to one thing and lose sight of another; to be unable to take care of everything at once


生生世世

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

/ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sɐi̯³³ sɐi̯³³/

1695, 褚人穫, 隋唐演義

Xuán Zōng gǎndòng qínghuái, shuōdào: “Nǐwǒ rènbān ēn'ài, qǐ rěn xiànglí; jīn jiù xīngguāng zhī xià, nǐ wǒ èr rén mì xiāng shìyuàn, xīnzhōng dànyuàn shēngshēngshìshì, cháng wéi fūfù.”

玄宗感動情懷，說道：「你我恁般恩愛，豈忍相離；今就星光之下，你我二人密相誓願，心中但願生生世世，長為夫婦。」

1695, 褚人穫, 隋唐演義

玄宗感动情怀，说道：「你我恁般恩爱，岂忍相离；今就星光之下，你我二人密相誓愿，心中但愿生生世世，长为夫妇。」

every life; every incarnation; eternity; forever


拍拳賣膏藥

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun²⁴ bue²²⁻²¹ ko⁴⁴⁻²² ioʔ⁴/

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun¹³ be²²⁻²¹ kɔ⁴⁴⁻²² ioʔ¹²¹/

From itinerant merchants selling medicine for injuries by performing shadowboxing and martial arts performance to attract customers.

(Hokkien) to leave home, travel around, and earn a living through one's skill and bragging (especially untrustworthy bragging)


牙尖嘴利

/ŋaː²¹ t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ lei̯²²/

/ŋaː²¹ t͡siːm⁵⁵ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ lei̯²²/


相拍𣍐過田岸

相拍𫧃过田岸
相拍𣍐過塍岸
相拍袂過田岸

/sio⁴⁴⁻²² pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bue²²⁻²¹ ke²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰan²⁴⁻²² huã²²/

/sio³³ pʰa(ʔ)⁵ bue²² kə⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴⁻²² huã⁴¹/

/sio⁴⁴⁻²² pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ be²²⁻²¹ kue²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰan¹³⁻²² huã²²/

/sã⁴⁴⁻²² pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bue²²⁻²¹ ke²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰan²⁴⁻²² huã²²/

/sã³³ pʰa(ʔ)⁵ bue²² kə⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰan²⁴⁻²² huã⁴¹/

(Hokkien) to rival one another; to be on a par; to be equally matched; to be about the same; to be well-matched; to match in capabilities


搖身一變

ㄧㄠˊ ㄕㄣ ㄧ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ piːn³³/

/io²⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² piɛn²¹/

/io²⁴⁻²² sin³³ t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² piɛn⁴¹/

/io¹³⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ piɛn²¹/

/io²⁴⁻¹¹ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² piɛn¹¹/

/iɤ²³⁻³³ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² piɛn²¹/

/jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/jiːu̯²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ piːn³³/

/io²⁴⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² piɛn²¹/

/io²⁴⁻²² sin³³ t͡sit̚²⁴⁻² piɛn⁴¹/

/io¹³⁻²² sin⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ piɛn²¹/

/io²⁴⁻¹¹ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² piɛn¹¹/

/iɤ²³⁻³³ sin⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² piɛn²¹/

(usually derogatory and said of bad people) to suddenly change into a different appearance or identity; to assume a different persona or disguise


法國大餐——多嚿魚

/faːt̚³ kʷɔːk̚³ taːi̯²² t͡sʰaːn⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² jyː²¹⁻³⁵/

Near homophonous pun on 多嚿魚／多嚿鱼 (“extra piece of fish”) and 多鳩餘／多鸠余 (“fucking unnecessary”).


蠅頭小利

ㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄧˋ

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ lei̯²²/

/iŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/jɪŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ siːu̯³⁵ lei̯²²/


二十年後又是一條好漢

Twenty years later one will become a hero again

ㄦˋ ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄧ ㄊㄧㄠˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄢˋ

èrshí nián hòu yòu shì yī tiáo hǎohàn [Phonetic:èrshí nián hòu yòu shì yì tiáo hǎohàn]

êrh⁴-shih² nien² hou⁴ yu⁴ shih⁴ i¹ tʻiao² hao³-han⁴

èr-shŕ nyán hòu yòu shr̀ yī tyáu hǎu-hàn

ellshyr nian how yow shyh i tyau haohann

эрши нянь хоу ю ши и тяо хаохань

/ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹/

[Phonetic: èrshí nián hòu yòu shì yì tiáo hǎohàn]

An expression said when one is about to die or get killed to convey their fearlessness or lack of fear towards death.


刨根究底

ㄆㄠˊ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡ ㄉㄧˇ

ㄆㄠˊ ㄍㄣ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄉㄧˇ

паогэньцзюди

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ kən⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

刨根問底 刨根問底#Chinese

刨根问底 刨根问底#Chinese


倚門倚閭

leaning against the door of one's house and the gate of one's village

ㄧˇ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄌㄩˊ

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ mən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ mən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly³⁵/

(of parents or elders) to eagerly await the return of one's children


師心自用

ㄕ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄗˋ ㄩㄥˋ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹/

to stubbornly persist in one's opinion and regard oneself as infallible


嘗鼎一臠

tasting a piece of meat in theding [is tasting all the meat in the ding]

ㄔㄤˊ ㄉㄧㄥˇ ㄧ ㄌㄨㄢˊ

чандинъилуань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lu̯än³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tiŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ lu̯än³⁵/

to infer something about a whole based on the characteristics of its parts


難如登天

ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄉㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

наньжудэнтянь

/nän³⁵ ʐu³⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/naːn²¹ jyː²¹ tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/lan²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ zu²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/nän³⁵ ʐu³⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/naːn²¹ jyː²¹ tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/lan²³⁻³³ zi²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/lan²³⁻³³ zu²³⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰiɛn⁴⁴/


難若登天

ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄥ ㄊㄧㄢ

наньжодэнтянь

/nän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/nän³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/


大舌興黐

大舌兴黐
大舌興呮
大舌興喋
大舌興昳

/tua²²⁻²¹ t͡si(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiʔ⁴/

/tua⁴¹⁻²² t͡si(ʔ)²⁴⁻² hiɪŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ tʰiʔ²⁴/

/tua²²⁻²¹ t͡si(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiʔ¹²¹/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰiʔ⁴/

/tua³³⁻²¹ t͡si(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰiʔ⁴/

/tua²²⁻²¹ t͡si(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²¹⁻⁵³ tʰiʔ⁴/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ t͡si(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ hiɪŋ¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰiʔ⁴/

/tua³³⁻²¹ t͡si(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hiɪŋ²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰiʔ⁴/

(Hokkien) to talk too much about frivolous things (due to not good at rating one's abilities and therefore make a fool of oneself often)


無足掛齒

ㄨˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄔˇ

/u³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/u³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


齜牙咧嘴

ㄗ ㄧㄚˊ ㄌㄧㄝˇ ㄗㄨㄟˇ

/t͡sz̩⁵⁵ jä³⁵ li̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋaː²¹ liːt̚² t͡sɵy̯³⁵/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋaː²¹ liːt̚² t͡sɵy̯³⁵/

to draw back the corners of one's mouth and bare one's teeth; to look fierce


有喙無舌

/u²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siʔ⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ bo¹³⁻²² t͡siʔ¹²¹/

/u²² t͡sʰui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siʔ²⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siʔ⁴/

/u²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁵³ bo¹³⁻²² t͡siʔ¹²¹/

/u²² t͡sʰui⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² t͡siʔ²⁴/

(Hokkien) to lack eloquence; to be inarticulate

(Xiamen and Zhangzhou Hokkien) to silently listen (without interrupting); to listen and be quiet


紅膏赤蠘

/aŋ²⁴⁻²² ko⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiʔ⁴/

/aŋ²⁴⁻²² ko³³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)⁵ t͡sʰiʔ²⁴/

/aŋ¹³⁻²² ko⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiʔ¹²¹/

/aŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ko⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiʔ⁴/

/aŋ²³⁻³³ kɤ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiʔ⁴/

/aŋ²⁴⁻²² ko³³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)⁵ t͡sʰiʔ²⁴/

(Hokkien) having a ruddy and glowing complexion (said of a healthy person)

(Mainland China Hokkien) with reddish flesh (of a wound)


知根知底

чжигэньчжиди

čžigɛnʹčžidi

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ kən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


強顏歡笑

ㄑㄧㄤˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

цянъяньхуаньсяо

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kʰœːŋ¹³ ŋaːn²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ siːu̯³³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ xu̯än⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/kʰœːŋ¹³ ŋaːn²¹ fuːn⁵⁵ siːu̯³³/


自甘墮落

ㄗˋ ㄍㄢ ㄉㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² kɐm⁵⁵ tɔː²² lɔːk̚²/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡siː²² kɐm⁵⁵ tɔː²² lɔːk̚²/

to abandon oneself to vice; to willingly fall into degeneracy or depravity


作鳥獸散

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄕㄡˋ ㄙㄢˋ

цзоняошоусань

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

for a gathered crowd to suddenly disperse in a panicked manner


賣瓷食缺

porcelain sellers eat with chipped bowls

/bue⁴¹⁻²² hui²⁴⁻²² t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kʰiʔ⁵/

/bue²²⁻²¹ hui²⁴⁻²² t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kʰiʔ³²/

/be²²⁻²¹ hui¹³⁻²² t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ kʰiʔ³²/

/bue⁴¹⁻²² hui²⁴⁻²² t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kʰiʔ⁵/

/bue²²⁻²¹ hui²⁴⁻²² t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kʰiʔ³²/

(Hokkien) those who work hard to create something cannot enjoy the fruits of their labor


求神問卜

ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄨˇ

цюшэньвэньбу

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ wən⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ mɐn²² pʊk̚⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂən³⁵ wən⁵¹ pu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kʰɐu̯²¹ sɐn²¹ mɐn²² pʊk̚⁵/

Nà sān suì de nǚ'ér, chū qǐ jí zhòng de dòuzi lái, qiúshénwènbǔ, qǐng yī tiáozhì, bǎi wú yī líng.

那三歲的女兒，出起極重的痘子來，求神問卜，請醫調治，百無一靈。

那三岁的女儿，出起极重的痘子来，求神问卜，请医调治，百无一灵。

to pray to gods for blessings and consult divination


非此即彼

ㄈㄟ ㄘˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄅㄧˇ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/

/fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ pei̯³⁵/


所剩無幾

ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄥˋ ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˇ

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²² mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ u³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɔː³⁵ sɪŋ²² mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² mou̯²¹ kei̯³⁵/


龜笑鱉無毛

tortoise laughs at a soft-shell turtle for not having fur

/ku⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰiɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ pi(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ mŋ̍²³/

/ku⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰio¹¹⁻⁵³ pi(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ mŋ̍²⁴/

/ku³³ t͡sʰio⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ pi(ʔ)⁵ bo²⁴⁻²² mŋ̍²⁴/

/ku⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰio²¹⁻⁵³ pi(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bo²⁴⁻²² mŋ̍²⁴/

/ku⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰio²¹⁻⁵³ pi(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bo¹³⁻²² mɔ̃¹³/

pot calling the kettle black
pot calling the kettle black

(Hokkien) pot calling the kettle black; tu quoque


浮光掠影

light reflected over water and shadows passing by

ㄈㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄌㄩㄝˋ ㄧㄥˇ

/fu³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ly̯ɛ⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐu̯²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ lœːk̚² jɪŋ³⁵/

/fu³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ly̯ɛ⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐu̯²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ lœːk̚² jɪŋ³⁵/

cursory impression; superficial observation


枵鬼食破家

/iau³³ kui⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pʰua⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ke³³/

/iau⁴⁴⁻²² kui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ ke⁴⁴/

/iau⁴⁴⁻²² kui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ kɛ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) to incur greater loss due to keeping on getting things on the cheap


俗物食破家

/siɔk̚⁴⁻³² mĩ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ ke⁴⁴/

/siɔk̚⁴⁻³² mĩ(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ pʰua¹¹⁻⁵³ ke⁴⁴/

/siɔk̚⁴⁻³² mĩ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ ke⁴⁴/

/siɔk̚²⁴⁻² mŋ̍(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pʰua⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ke³³/

/siɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ mĩ(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ kɛ⁴⁴/


貪俗食破家

/tʰam³³ siɔk̚²⁴⁻² t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pʰua⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ ke³³/

/tʰam⁴⁴⁻²² siɔk̚⁴⁻³² t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ ke⁴⁴/

/tʰam⁴⁴⁻²² siɔk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁵³ kɛ⁴⁴/


入港隨灣，入鄉隨俗

when entering a port, follow the bends, when entering a village, follow the customs

/lip̚⁴⁻³² kaŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui²⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴ lip̚⁴⁻³² hiũ⁴⁴⁻²² sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚⁴/

/lip̚²⁴⁻² kaŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sui²⁴⁻²² uan³³ lip̚²⁴⁻² hiũ³³ sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚²⁴/

/d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kaŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² uan⁴⁴ d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɔ̃⁴⁴⁻²² sui¹³⁻²² siɔk̚¹²¹/

when in Rome, do as the Romans do
when in Rome, do as the Romans do

(Hokkien) when in Rome, do as the Romans do


戀戀不捨

ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄌㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄜˇ

ляньляньбушэ

/li̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lyːn³⁵ lyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/

/lyːn³⁵ lyːn³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɛː³⁵/


兄弟兄弟，各人顧家己

/hiã⁴⁴⁻²² ti²²⁻²¹ hiã⁴⁴⁻²² ti²² kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ ka⁴⁴⁻²² ki²²/

/hiã³³ ti²² hiã³³ ti²² kɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kai³³ ki⁴¹/

/hiã⁴⁴⁻²² ti²²⁻²¹ hiã⁴⁴⁻²² ti²² kɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ laŋ¹³⁻²² kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ ka⁴⁴⁻²² ti²²/

(Hokkien) brothers after getting married and living apart would take care of one's own family


清明穀雨，寒死虎母

Qingming and Guyu makes the tigress die of cold

/t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² miã²⁴⁻²² kɔk̚³²⁻⁴ u⁵³ kuã²⁴⁻²² si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bu⁵³/

/t͡sʰuĩ³³ miã²⁴⁻²² kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ u⁵⁵⁴ kuã²⁴⁻²² si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bu⁵⁵⁴/

/t͡sʰɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² miã¹³⁻²² kɔk̚³²⁻⁵ i⁵³ kuã¹³⁻²² si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hɔ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bo⁵³/

/t͡sʰiɪŋ³³ biɪŋ²⁴⁻²² kɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ u⁵⁵⁴ kuã²⁴⁻²² si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bu⁵⁵⁴/

(Hokkien) the late spring solar terms of Qingming and Guyu are still cold so one must still wear thick clothes to avoid getting sick


泥足深陷

ㄋㄧˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄕㄣ ㄒㄧㄢˋ

ницзушэньсянь

/ni³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/nɐi̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐm²²/

/ni³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/nɐi̯²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐm²²/

(figuratively) to be mired in a difficult situation; to be trapped in a quagmire


閒情逸致

ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄧˋ ㄓˋ

сяньцинъичжи

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/haːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚² t͡siː³³/

/ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/haːn²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚² t͡siː³³/


守得雲開見月明

ㄕㄡˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄩㄣˊ ㄎㄞ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

шоу дэ юнь кай цзянь юэ мин

/ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ yn³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/sɐu̯³⁵ tɐk̚⁵ wɐn²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ kiːn³³ jyːt̚² mɪŋ²¹/

to manage to get through all the hardships and come to a good end; to see better days after persevering through hard times


寓教於樂

ㄩˋ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄩˊ ㄌㄜˋ

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²² kaːu̯³³ jyː⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/y⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ lɤ⁵¹/

/jyː²² kaːu̯³³ jyː⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

to educate through entertainment; to provide edutainment


群策群力

ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄘㄜˋ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄌㄧˋ

цюньцэцюньли

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚³ kʷʰɐn²¹ lɪk̚²/

/t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ li⁵¹/

/kʷʰɐn²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚³ kʷʰɐn²¹ lɪk̚²/

to pool the wisdom and efforts of everyone; to work with collective wisdom and concerted efforts


寫嘢

/sɛː³⁵ jɛː¹³/

/sɛː³⁵ jɛː¹³/

寫嘢，唔該！

写嘢，唔该！

(Cantonese) A phrase used to ask a waiter to write down the order for food.


超塵出俗

ㄔㄠ ㄔㄣˊ ㄔㄨ ㄙㄨˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ su³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ su³⁵/


超塵拔俗

ㄔㄠ ㄔㄣˊ ㄅㄚˊ ㄙㄨˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ pä³⁵ su³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ pä³⁵ su³⁵/


超凡入聖

ㄔㄠ ㄈㄢˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄕㄥˋ

чаофаньжушэн

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fän³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fän³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

to transcend worldliness and attain sainthood


金榜題名

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄤˇ ㄊㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзиньбантимин

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/kim⁴⁴⁻³³ pŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ miã²³/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ pɔːŋ²²⁻³⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/kim⁴⁴⁻³³ pŋ̍⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ te²³⁻³³ miã²³/

(historical) to be admitted in the imperial examination

(by extension) to pass a university entrance or professional examination


超然物外

ㄔㄠ ㄖㄢˊ ㄨˋ ㄨㄞˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʐän³⁵ u⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹/

to stand back; to not care and be indifferent about a matter


燒你數簿

/siːu̯⁵⁵ nei̯¹³ sou̯³³ pou̯²²⁻³⁵/

/siːu̯⁵⁵ nei̯¹³ sou̯³³ pou̯²²⁻³⁵/

唔得，我要你賠錢，兼斟茶認錯，唔係我就燒你本數簿！ [Cantonese, trad.]
唔得，我要你赔钱，兼斟茶认错，唔系我就烧你本数簿！ [Cantonese, simp.]
m⁴ dak¹, ngo⁵ jiu³ nei⁵ pui⁴ cin², gim¹ zam¹ caa⁴ jing⁶ co³, m⁴ hai⁶ ngo⁵ zau⁶ siu¹ nei⁵ bun² sou³ bou⁶⁻²! [Jyutping]

Wong Jing (1994) Lo Fun as Madam Fire, Hail the Judge (in Cantonese)

No way! I want you to compensate and offer me a cup of tea as apology! Otherwise I'll duck you!

(Cantonese, minced oath) Euphemistic form of 屌你老母 (diu² nei⁵ lou⁵ mou⁵⁻²).


qnmd

ㄑㄩˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄇㄚ ˙ㄉㄜ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ mä⁵⁵ d̥ə²/

去你媽的 去你媽的#Chinese

去你妈的 去你妈的#Chinese


情隨事遷

ㄑㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄢ

цинсуйшицянь

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ siː²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² sui²⁴⁻²² su²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ siː²² t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/


宰相肚裡能撐船

ㄗㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄋㄥˊ ㄔㄥ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

zoi² soeng³ tou⁵ lui⁵ nang⁴ caang¹ syun⁴

tsai³-hsiang⁴ tu⁴-li³ nêng² chʻêng¹-chʻuan²

цзайсян дули нэн чэнчуань

/t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ nɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

dzoi² soeng³ tou⁵ lui⁵ nang⁴ tsaang¹ syn⁴

/t͡sɔːi̯³⁵ sœːŋ³³ tʰou̯¹³ luːi̯¹³ nɐŋ²¹ t͡sʰaːŋ⁵⁵ syːn²¹/

From Wang Anshi's concubine's reply where she was begging for Wang's pardon when he discovered her affair.

the chancellor's belly allows people to pole a boat inside

broad-minded; big-hearted; will not be bothered by small matters


所見所聞

ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄣˊ

соцзяньсовэнь

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mɐn²¹/

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵/

/sɔː³⁵ kiːn³³ sɔː³⁵ mɐn²¹/


法官大人

/faːt̚³ kuːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jɐn²¹/

/faːt̚³ kuːn⁵⁵ taːi̯²² jɐn²¹/

(Hong Kong Cantonese, Internet slang, neologism) Used in replies to posts about attractive women.


欺師滅祖

ㄑㄧ ㄕ ㄇㄧㄝˋ ㄗㄨˇ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi̯ɛ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to betray one's teacher or master and bring dishonor to them


鐵拐李踢足球——一腳踢

/tʰiːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³⁵ lei̯¹³ tʰɛːk̚³ t͡sʊk̚⁵ kʰɐu̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ kœːk̚³ tʰɛːk̚³/

Tieguai Li is a deity in Chinese legend who had a lame leg and walked with an iron walking stick. If he plays football, he could only kick with one leg.

Tieguai Li plays football - kicks only with one leg

(Cantonese) to do something entirely by oneself (when it can be done by more people); to be in a one-man band


國富兵強

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄅㄧㄥ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ fu⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ fuː³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹/

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ fu⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/kʷɔːk̚³ fuː³³ pɪŋ⁵⁵ kʰœːŋ²¹/

the nation is prosperous and its military is powerful


民富國強

ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/min³⁵ fu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/min³⁵ fu⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

the people are rich and the nation is strong and prosperous


為善最樂

ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄜˋ

вэйшань цзуй лэ

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ siːn²² t͡sɵy̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

/weɪ̯³⁵ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/wɐi̯²¹ siːn²² t͡sɵy̯³³ lɔːk̚²/

doing good deeds brings the greatest joy


炒買炒賣

ㄔㄠˇ ㄇㄞˇ ㄔㄠˇ ㄇㄞˋ

чаомайчаомай

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ maɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ maːi̯¹³ t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ maːi̯²²/

/t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ maːi̯¹³ t͡sʰaːu̯³⁵ maːi̯²²/


屎礐蟲假清

/sai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hak̚²⁴⁻² tʰaŋ²⁴ ke⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiɪŋ³³/

/sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² tʰaŋ²⁴ ke⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴/

/sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰaŋ¹³ kɛ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴/


屎礐仔蟲假清

/sai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hak̚²⁴⁻² a⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tʰaŋ²⁴ ke⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡sʰiɪŋ³³/

/sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚⁴⁻³² a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰaŋ²⁴ ke⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴/

/sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ a⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰaŋ¹³ kɛ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴/


目睢目𧡍

/bak̚⁴⁻³² hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bak̚⁴⁻³² taŋ²¹/

/bak̚⁴⁻³² hue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bak̚⁴⁻³² taŋ²¹/

(Xiamen Hokkien) to stare indignantly at; to gaze angrily at


袒胸露背

ㄊㄢˇ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄟˋ

ㄊㄢˇ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄌㄡˋ ㄅㄟˋ

таньсюнлубэй

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

таньсюнлоубэй

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ peɪ̯⁵¹/


湖光山色

ㄏㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄕㄢ ㄙㄜˋ

хугуаншаньсэ

/xu³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/wuː²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

/xu³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ sɤ⁵¹/

/wuː²¹ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ sɪk̚⁵/

beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains


發夢冇咁早

/faːt̚³ mʊŋ²² mou̯¹³ kɐm³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

/faːt̚³ mʊŋ²² mou̯¹³ kɐm³³ t͡sou̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to be overly idealistic; to fantasize about something unrealistic


目潲無剾

not scraping off the sleep stuck around the rim of the eye

/bak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siau¹³ bo¹³⁻²² kʰau⁴⁴/

/bak̚²⁴⁻² siau²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kʰau³³/

/bak̚⁴⁻³² siau²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kʰau⁴⁴/

/bak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ siau¹³ bo¹³⁻²² kʰau⁴⁴/

/bak̚²⁴⁻² siau²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kʰau³³/

/bak̚⁴⁻³² siau²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kʰau⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) to be unsensible and tactless thereby causing mishaps, losses, and even failures


嘖嘖稱讚

ㄗㄜˊ ㄗㄜˊ ㄔㄥ ㄗㄢˋ

цзэцзэ чэнцзань

/t͡sɤ³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sän⁵¹/

/t͡saːk̚³ t͡saːk̚³ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːn³³/

/t͡sɤ³⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡sän⁵¹/

/t͡saːk̚³ t͡saːk̚³ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːn³³/


六猴刁激

/lak̚⁴⁻³² kau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² kau²³⁻³³ tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² kau²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² kau²³⁻³³ tʰiau⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɪk̚³²/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) to intentionally do something uncommon or extraordinary


六月天，七月火，八月熱煞尾

head

六月天，七月火，八月熱煞尾

六月天，七月火，八月热煞尾

/lak̚⁴⁻³² ɡe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ he⁵³ pue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ɡe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lua(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ sua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ be⁵³/

/lak̚²⁴⁻² ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² tʰĩ³³ t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴ pue(ʔ)²⁴⁻² ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lua(ʔ)²⁴⁻² sua(ʔ)⁵ bə⁵⁵⁴/

/lak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ɡue(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁵ ɡue(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ hue⁵³ pe(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ ɡue(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ d͡zua(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ sua(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bue⁵³/

(Hokkien) to have worse sweltering heat in the seventh month of the lunar calendar compared to the sixth month, while the heat does not fully end in the eight month


六月天，七月火

/lak̚⁴⁻³² ɡe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ he⁵³/

/lak̚²⁴⁻² ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² tʰĩ³³ t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² hə⁵⁵⁴/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hue⁵³/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hue⁴¹/

/lak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ ɡue(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁵ ɡue(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ hue⁵³/

/lak̚²⁴⁻² ɡue(ʔ)²⁴⁻² tʰĩ³³ t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡue(ʔ)²⁴⁻² hue⁵⁵⁴/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ hue⁵³/

(Hokkien) to have worse sweltering heat in the seventh month of the lunar calendar compared to the sixth month


任……唔嬲

/jɐm²² m̩²¹ nɐu̯⁵⁵/

/jɐm²² m̩²¹ nɐu̯⁵⁵/

任攞唔嬲／任𫽋唔嬲 [Cantonese] ― jam⁶ lo² m⁴ nau¹ [Jyutping] ― take as you please

(Cantonese) do (something) as one pleases


搦屎搦尿

/lak̚⁴⁻³² sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lak̚⁴⁻³² lio³³/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lak̚⁴⁻³² lio²²/

/lak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ d͡zio²²/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² sai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lak̚⁴⁻³² ziɤ³³/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lak̚⁴⁻³² lio³³/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² sai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ lak̚⁴⁻³² lio²²/

/lak̚⁴⁻³² sai⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ lak̚⁴⁻³² ziɤ³³/

(Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Taiwanese Hokkien) to painstakingly nurture and take care of (a child)


抾零就總

/kʰio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

/kʰio(ʔ)⁵ liɪŋ²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² t͡sɔŋ⁵⁵⁴/

/kʰio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ liɪŋ¹³⁻²² t͡siu²²⁻²¹ t͡sɔŋ⁵³/

(Hokkien) to accumulate little by little; many small things add to something great


惜性命

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ sĩ²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

/sio(ʔ)⁵ sĩ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã⁴¹/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ sɛ̃²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ sĩ²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

/sio(ʔ)⁵ sĩ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã⁴¹/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ sɛ̃²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

(Hokkien) to cravenly cling to life and fear death; to be cowardly and afraid of death


石目鐵鼻

/t͡sio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ bak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰi(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pʰĩ²²/

(Zhangzhou Hokkien) unable to easily shed tears (of someone)


明查暗訪

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄔㄚˊ ㄢˋ ㄈㄤˇ

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ fɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰaː²¹ ɐm³³ fɔːŋ³⁵/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sa⁴⁴⁻³³ am²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sa⁴⁴⁻³³ am¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁵³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä³⁵ ˀän⁵¹ fɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰaː²¹ ɐm³³ fɔːŋ³⁵/

/biɪŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sa⁴⁴⁻³³ am²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ⁴¹/

/biɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sa⁴⁴⁻³³ am¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ⁵³/

明察暗訪 明察暗訪#Chinese

明察暗访 明察暗访#Chinese


大牛惜力

/tua⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)⁵ lat̚²⁴/

/tua²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lat̚¹²¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lat̚⁴/

/tua⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)⁵ lat̚²⁴/

/tua²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lat̚¹²¹/

/tua²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lat̚⁴/

(Hokkien) to hold back or refuse to give one's best or contribute more despite being able to


惜面皮

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰe²⁴/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ pʰe²⁴/

/sio(ʔ)⁵ bin⁴¹⁻²² pʰə²⁴/

/siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ pʰue²³/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰue¹³/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰe²⁴/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ pʰe²⁴/

/sio(ʔ)⁵ bin⁴¹⁻²² pʰə²⁴/

/siɤ(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ pʰue²³/

/sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰue¹³/

(Hokkien) sensitive about one's reputation; afraid of losing face and being looked down upon


枵雞無惜箠，枵人無惜面皮

枵雞無惜箠，枵人無惜面皮

枵鸡无惜箠，枵人无惜面皮
枵雞無惜箠，枵儂無惜面皮

a hungry chicken does not begrudge the bamboo rod, a hungry person does not begrudge one's sense of shame

/iau⁴⁴⁻²² kue⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰe²⁴ iau⁴⁴⁻²² laŋ²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰe²⁴/

/iau³³ kue³³ bo²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)⁵ t͡sʰə²⁴ iau³³ laŋ²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)⁵ bin⁴¹⁻²² pʰə²⁴/

/iau⁴⁴⁻²² ke⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰue¹³ iau⁴⁴⁻²² laŋ¹³ bo¹³⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰue¹³/

(Hokkien) when threatened with hunger or cold, a person can do things contrary to propriety, justice, integrity and honor


枵雞無惜箠，枵人無顧面皮

枵雞無惜箠，枵人無顧面皮

枵鸡无惜箠，枵人无顾面皮
枵雞無惜箠，枵儂無惜面皮

a hungry chicken does not begrudge the bamboo rod, a hungry person does not care of one's sense of shame

/iau⁴⁴⁻²² kue⁴⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰe²⁴ iau⁴⁴⁻²² laŋ²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰe²⁴/

/iau³³ kue³³ bo²⁴⁻²² sio(ʔ)⁵ t͡sʰə²⁴ iau³³ laŋ²⁴ bo²⁴⁻²² kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² pʰə²⁴/

/iau⁴⁴⁻²² ke⁴⁴ bo¹³⁻²² sio(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sʰue¹³ iau⁴⁴⁻²² laŋ¹³ bo¹³⁻²² kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ pʰue¹³/


此風不可長

This kind of trend cannot be allowed to grow

ㄘˇ ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄓㄤˇ

cǐ fēng bùkě zhǎng [Phonetic:cǐfēngbùkézhǎng]

цы фэн букэ чжан

/t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

this kind of (unhealthy) trend cannot be tolerated


馬四跤也會著觸

马四跤也会着触
馬四跤也會着觸
馬四腳也會著觸
馬四骹也會著觸

/be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²¹⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ e²²⁻²¹ tio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tak̚³²/

/be⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kʰa³³ ia²² e²² tio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² tak̚⁵/

/bɛ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ si²¹⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴ a²²⁻²¹ e²²⁻²¹ tio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ tak̚³²/

(Hokkien) a person, no matter how competent, will also make mistakes sometimes


𬦰懸𬦰下

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kuãi²⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke²²/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kuan²⁴⁻¹¹ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke³³/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kuan²³⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ke³³/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kuan¹³⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kɛ²²/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kuãi²⁴⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke²²/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kuan²⁴⁻¹¹ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke³³/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kuan²³⁻³³ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ke³³/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kuan¹³⁻²² pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kɛ²²/

(Hokkien) to keep moving around (especially of naughty kids)


尋死覓活

ㄒㄩㄣˊ ㄙˇ ㄇㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɪk̚² wuːt̚²/

/ɕyn³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/t͡sʰɐm²¹ sei̯³⁵ mɪk̚² wuːt̚²/


倒掛臘鴨——油嘴滑舌

A dried preserved duck hung upside down - mouth becomes full of oil and tongue becomes slippery

ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄌㄚˋ ㄧㄚ

ㄧㄡˊ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄕㄜˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lä⁵¹ jä⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/tou̯³³ kʷaː³³ laːp̚² aːp̚³⁻³⁵ jɐu̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ waːt̚² siːt̚³/

speaking in a confident way but without careful thought or honesty; glib, being a fast-talker


油嘴滑舌

ㄧㄡˊ ㄗㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄕㄜˊ

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ waːt̚² siːt̚³/

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä³⁵ ʂɤ³⁵/

/jɐu̯²¹ t͡sɵy̯³⁵ waːt̚² siːt̚³/

Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, 16ᵗʰ century CE

Nǐ zhè yóufāng de héshàng, biànshì yǒuxiē yóuzuǐhuáshé de shuōhuà.

你這遊方的和尚，便是有些油嘴滑舌的說話。

你这游方的和尚，便是有些油嘴滑舌的说话。

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

Jiù rú shìshàng yóuzuǐhuáshé zhī rén, wúfēng zuò yǒu, xìn zhù língkǒulìshé, chángpiāndàlùn, hú bǎn luàn chě, fūyǎn chū yī piān huà lái.

就如世上油嘴滑舌之人，無風作有，信著伶口俐舌，長篇大論，胡板亂扯，敷演出一篇話來。

就如世上油嘴滑舌之人，无风作有，信著伶口俐舌，长篇大论，胡板乱扯，敷演出一篇话来。


得罪人多，稱呼人少

dak¹ zeoi⁶ jan⁴ do¹, cing¹ fu¹ jan⁴ siu²

dak⁷ dzoey⁶ jan⁴ do¹, tsing¹ fu¹ jan⁴ siu²

/tɐk̚⁵ t͡sɵy̯²² jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ siːu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to have offended many and rarely talk to others with politeness and respect


欲死欲死

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴¹/

/bə(ʔ)⁵ si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bə(ʔ)⁵ si⁵⁵⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴¹/

/bə(ʔ)⁵ si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bə(ʔ)⁵ si⁵⁵⁴/

(Hokkien) half-dead; more dead than alive


欲死欲活

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uaʔ⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uaʔ¹²¹/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ uaʔ⁴/

/bə(ʔ)⁵ si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bə(ʔ)⁵ uaʔ²⁴/

/bue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uaʔ⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uaʔ⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uaʔ¹²¹/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ si⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ uaʔ⁴/

/bə(ʔ)⁵ si⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ bə(ʔ)⁵ uaʔ²⁴/

/bue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ si⁵³⁻⁴⁴ bue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ uaʔ⁴/

哭甲欲死欲活

(Hokkien) to be devastated; to suffer terribly; to be within an inch of one's life


電光火石

ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕˊ

дяньгуан хоши

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tiːn²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ sɛːk̚²/

/ti̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/tiːn²² kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ sɛːk̚²/

電光石火 電光石火#Chinese

电光石火 电光石火#Chinese

(Hong Kong) Misspelling of 電光石火／电光石火 (diànguāng shíhuǒ).


走南闖北

ㄗㄡˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄔㄨㄤˇ ㄅㄟˇ

цзоунаньчуанбэй

/t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ naːm²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ³⁵ pɐk̚⁵/

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ naːm²¹ t͡sʰɔːŋ³⁵ pɐk̚⁵/

to journey north and south; to travel far and wide


欲好命

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ miã²²/

/bə(ʔ)⁵ ho⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ miã⁴¹/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ miã²²/

/bə(ʔ)⁵ ho⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ miã⁴¹/


以舊換新

ㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

ицзюхуаньсинь

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/


牆裡開花牆外香

the flower blooms inside the walls, but smells good outside the walls

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄎㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄤ

chʻiang² li³ kʻai¹-hua¹ chʻiang² wai⁴ hsiang¹

цян ли кайхуа цян вай сян

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) not well-known inside the country but famous outside


豬乸會上樹

/t͡syː⁵⁵ naː³⁵ wuːi̯¹³ sœːŋ¹³ syː²²/

/t͡syː⁵⁵ naː³⁵ wuːi̯¹³ sœːŋ¹³ syː²²/

If men are reliable, pigs might fly! [i.e., men are unreliable]

naam⁴ jan⁴⁻² kaau³ dak¹ zyu⁶, zyu¹ naa² wui⁵ soeng⁵ syu⁶!

男人靠得住，豬乸會上樹！

男人靠得住，猪乸会上树！

(Cantonese) Used to satirize a situation which one thinks that there is no chance of ever occurring: pigs might fly


天雨粟，馬生角

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ su⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jyː¹³ sʊk̚⁵ maː¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³/

From Sima Qian's comment in his Records of the Grand Historian about a legend of Crown Prince Dan:
:
See the entry 烏頭白，馬生角／乌头白，马生角 (wū tóu bái, mǎ shēng jiǎo) for details of the legend.

When people are talking about Jing Ke, they would mention that "when it rains millets and horse grow horns" about Crown Prince Dan's fate. That statement was too far.

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

Shì yán Jīng Kē, qí chēng Tàizǐ Dān zhī mìng, “tiān yù sù, mǎ shēng jiǎo” yě, tàiguò.

世言荊軻，其稱太子丹之命，「天雨粟，馬生角」也，太過。

世言荆轲，其称太子丹之命，「天雨粟，马生角」也，太过。

when it rains millets and horses grow horns

Crown Prince Dan
Records of the Grand Historian
Sima Qian


烏頭白，馬生角

ja-r

烏%頭 白く して 馬%角 を 生ず

う%とう しろく して うま%つの を しょうず

→ Japanese: 烏(う)頭(とう)白(しろ)くして馬(うま)角(つの)を生(しょう)ず (utō shiroku shite umatsuno o shōzu) (calque)

/u⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wuː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ paːk̚² maː¹³ sɐŋ⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³/

From a legend about Crown Prince Dan, who sent Jing Ke to assassinate Qin Shi Huang but failed

Crown Prince Dan of Yan was held hostage in Qin. The Qin king (who later became Qin Shi Huang) did not treat him well and he was not happy. He then asked the Qin king to let him back to Yan. The Qin king did not listen, and made a bold statement that he would only let him go if the crows have white heads and horses grow horns. Dan looked at the sky and sighed, and suddenly the crows' heads became white and the horses grew horns. The Qin king could do nothing but let him go.

Yàn Tàizǐ Dān zhì yú Qín, Qín wáng yù zhī wúlǐ, bù déyì, yù qiú guī. Qín wáng bù tīng, miùyán yuē lìng wū báitóu, mǎ shēng jiǎo, nǎi kěxǔ ěr. Dān yǎngtiān tàn, wū jí báitóu, mǎ shēng jiǎo. Qín wáng bùdéyǐ ér qiǎn zhī.

燕太子丹質於秦，秦王遇之無禮，不得意，欲求歸。秦王不聽，謬言曰令烏白頭、馬生角，乃可許耳。丹仰天歎，烏即白頭，馬生角。秦王不得已而遣之。

燕太子丹质于秦，秦王遇之无礼，不得意，欲求归。秦王不听，谬言曰令乌白头、马生角，乃可许耳。丹仰天叹，乌即白头，马生角。秦王不得已而遣之。

烏白頭，馬生角
乌头白，马生角

when crows have white heads and horses grow horns

Crown Prince Dan
Jing Ke
Qin (state)
Qin Shi Huang
Yan (state)


細枝末節

ㄒㄧˋ ㄓ ㄇㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝˊ

/ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ muːt̚² t͡siːt̚³/

/ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

/sɐi̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ muːt̚² t͡siːt̚³/

trivial detail; tiny and insignificant detail


你問我，我問誰

desc

→ English: you ask me, I ask who (calque)

/ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹ wɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən⁵¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵/


練精學懶

/liːn²² t͡sɛːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² laːn¹³/

/liːn²² t͡sɛːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² laːn¹³/

(Cantonese) to use petty tricks so that one can shrink from duties


毋食圓也毋啜湯

to not eat glutinous rice balls and to not even drink soup

/m̩²²⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ ĩ¹³⁻²² ia²²⁻²¹ m̩²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tʰŋ̍²²/

(Zhangzhou Hokkien) to not buy it; to not accept; to not go along with


客鳥報毋著喜

/kʰe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siau⁵³ po²¹⁻⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ tio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

/kʰe(ʔ)⁵ t͡siau⁵⁵⁴ po⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ m̩⁴¹⁻²² tio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² hi⁵⁵⁴/

/kʰɛ(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siau⁵³ po²¹⁻⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ tio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ hi⁵³/

(Hokkien) to send the wrong message causing suffering or empty joys


客鳥咬毋著批信

客鸟咬毋著批信
客鳥齩毋著批信

/kʰe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siau⁵³ ka²²⁻²¹ m̩²²⁻²¹ tio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pʰue⁴⁴⁻²² sin²¹/

/kʰe(ʔ)⁵ t͡siau⁵⁵⁴ ka²² m̩⁴¹⁻²² tio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pʰue³³ sin⁴¹/

/kʰɛ(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siau⁵³ ka²²⁻²¹ m̩²²⁻²¹ tio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ pʰe⁴⁴⁻²² sin²¹/


天公作美

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄇㄟˇ

тяньгунцзомэй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ mei̯¹³/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ mei̯¹³/

the weather is good, especially for an event


八兩笑半斤

/pue(ʔ)⁵ niũ⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰio⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ puã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kun³³/

/pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niũ⁵³ t͡sʰio²¹⁻⁵³ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kun⁴⁴/

/pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ niɔ̃⁵³ t͡sʰio²¹⁻⁵³ puã²¹⁻⁵³ kin⁴⁴/

From the irony of a half catty being equal to eight taels.

(Hokkien) pot calling the kettle black; tu quoque


洋洋大觀

ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄢ

янъяндагуань

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ kuan⁴⁴/

/jɑŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ tä⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/jœːŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ taːi̯²² kuːn⁵⁵/

/iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² iɔŋ²⁴⁻²² tai²²⁻²¹ kuan⁴⁴/


左手交右手

to hand in from the left hand to the right hand

/t͡sɔː³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² sɐu̯³⁵/

/t͡sɔː³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯²² sɐu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese, derogatory) to transfer benefits within the same party or between parties with common interests


閉關自守

ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄗˋ ㄕㄡˇ

бигуаньцзышоу

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐi̯³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sɐu̯³⁵/

/pi⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pɐi̯³³ kʷaːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² sɐu̯³⁵/

to close off the country to the outside world and conduct no trade or exchanges with other countries


噷噷食，三碗半

/hm̩(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hm̩(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡siaʔ⁴ sã⁴⁴⁻²² uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ puã²¹/

/hm̩(ʔ)²⁴⁻² hm̩(ʔ)²⁴⁻² t͡siaʔ²⁴ sã³³ uã⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ puã⁴¹/

/hm̩(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ hm̩(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siaʔ¹²¹ sã⁴⁴⁻²² uã⁵³⁻⁴⁴ puã²¹/

(Hokkien) to be able to do unexpected and astonishing things despite being a quiet, calm, and collected person


吱吱嚼嚼

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siau(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siauʔ⁴/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siau(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡siauʔ⁴/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡siau(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡siauʔ⁴/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴ t͡siau(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ t͡siauʔ¹²¹/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡siau(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siauʔ³²/

/t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² t͡si⁴⁴ t͡siau(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡siauʔ³²/

(Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Taiwanese Hokkien) to talk rapidly and incessantly


七捏八添

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁴ nĩ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pue(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ nĩ(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pue(ʔ)⁵ tʰĩ³³/

/t͡sʰit̚³²⁻⁵ nĩ(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ pe(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/t͡sʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ nĩ(ʔ)²⁴⁻² pue(ʔ)⁵ tʰĩ³³/

(Hokkien) to repeatedly adding and subtracting, taking in and taking out


捏驚死，放驚飛

scared of gripping (the bird), lest it die, scared of letting (the bird) loose, lest it fly away

/nĩ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kiã⁴⁴⁻²² si⁵³ paŋ²¹⁻⁵³ kiã⁴⁴⁻²² pe⁴⁴/

/nĩ(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kiã³³ si⁵⁵⁴ paŋ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kiã³³ pə³³/

/tɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² kiã⁴⁴⁻²² si⁵³ paŋ²¹⁻⁵³ kiã⁴⁴⁻²² pue⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) to be indecisive due to worrying about personal gains and losses


關門打狗

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄇㄣˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄍㄡˇ

гуаньмэньдагоу

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ku̯än⁵⁵ mən³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to take control of someone in one's sphere of influence and proceed to attack in a highly effective way


神乎其技

ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨ ㄑㄧˊ ㄐㄧˋ

/ʂən³⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kei̯²²/

/ʂən³⁵ xu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

/sɐn²¹ fuː²¹ kʰei̯²¹ kei̯²²/

extremely skilful; having extraordinary or outstanding skills


一哭二鬧三上吊

ㄧ ㄎㄨ ㄦˋ ㄋㄠˋ ㄙㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

и ку эр нао сань шандяо

/i⁵⁵ kʰu⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ nɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ hʊk̚⁵ jiː²² naːu̯²² saːm⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ tiːu̯³³/

(chiefly of women) to be unreasonable and throw a big tantrum


白吃白喝

ㄅㄞˊ ㄔ ㄅㄞˊ ㄏㄜ

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² hɛːk̚³ paːk̚² hɔːt̚³/

/paɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ xɤ⁵⁵/

/paːk̚² hɛːk̚³ paːk̚² hɔːt̚³/


一人做事一人當

ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄕˋ ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄤ

yīrén zuòshì yīrén dāng [Phonetic:yìrén zuòshì yìrén dāng]

ижэнь цзоши ижэнь дан

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sou̯²² siː²² jɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵/

one should bear sole responsibility for one's own actions


正所謂

ㄓㄥˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˋ

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sɪŋ³³ sɔː³⁵ wɐi̯²²/


瓜分豆剖

ㄍㄨㄚ ㄈㄣ ㄉㄡˋ ㄆㄡ

ㄍㄨㄚ ㄈㄣ ㄉㄡˋ ㄆㄡˇ

гуафэньдоупоу

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ pʰoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ pʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ pʰoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ toʊ̯⁵¹ pʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


水靜鵝飛

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² ŋɔː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

/sɵy̯³⁵ t͡sɪŋ²² ŋɔː²¹ fei̯⁵⁵/

水靜河飛 水靜河飛#Chinese

水静河飞 水静河飞#Chinese

Synonym of 水靜河飛／水静河飞 (“desolate; without human activity”)


攬頭攬頸

/laːm¹³⁻³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ laːm¹³⁻³⁵ kɛːŋ³⁵/

/laːm¹³⁻³⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ laːm¹³⁻³⁵ kɛːŋ³⁵/


一空一隙

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² kʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² kʰiaʔ³²/

1925 October, 科學雜略(空氣), 陳能通 (Tân Lêng-thong)

Khang-khùi sī pau-ûi tī tē-kiû chúi-lio̍k lióng-kài ê piáu-bīn-chiūⁿ, bô-lūn tah-ūi chi̍t-khang, chi̍t-khiah to sī i só͘ chiàm-léng ê ông-kok.

空氣是包圍佇地球水陸兩界ê表面上，無論佗位一孔、一隙to是伊所佔領ê王國。

空气是包围伫地球水陆两界ê表面上，无论佗位一孔、一隙to是伊所占领ê王国。

My old man goes to work at the suger refinery to sweep every nook and cranny

1998, 空襲警報 (Air Alert), 伍佰 (Wu Bai) & China Blue

goán a-pâ siāng-pan ê thn̂g-chhiúⁿ khì hō͘ sàu kah chi̍t-khang-chi̍t-khiah

阮阿爸上班的糖廠去予掃甲一坑一嘎

阮阿爸上班的糖厂去予扫甲一坑一嘎

起起浮浮一空一隙

2018, 一九四五 1945 (Theme of Raid on Takao), 滅火器 (Fire EX.)

hn̄g-hn̄g bāng tio̍h chi̍t-khang-chi̍t-khiah phòa-pāi ê hái-gān

遠遠望著一空一隙破敗的海岸

远远望著一空一隙破败的海岸

every nook and cranny
every nook and cranny

(Taiwanese Hokkien) every nook and cranny


老瓜宿蒂

/lau²²⁻²¹ kue⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ti²¹/

/lau²²⁻²¹ kua⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²⁻⁵ ti²¹/

/lau²²⁻²¹ kue⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ti²¹/

/lau²²⁻²¹ kua⁴⁴⁻²² siɪk̚³²⁻⁵ ti²¹/

(Hokkien) experienced and astute; circumspect and far-seeing; scheming and calculating


熟似騙厝內

/siɪk̚⁴⁻³² sai²²⁻²¹ pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ lai²²/

/siɪk̚¹²¹⁻²¹ sai²²⁻²¹ pʰiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁵³ lai²²/

/siak̚²⁴⁻² sai⁴¹⁻²² pʰiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰu⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ lai²²/

(Hokkien) person that one knows well is easily defrauded and be in a disadvantage (especially of customers by business owners)


宿宿人買著漏酒甕

an intelligent person bought a leaking wine jar

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² bue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tio(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ lau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ aŋ²¹/

/siɪk̚³²⁻⁵ siɪk̚³²⁻⁵ laŋ¹³⁻²² be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tio(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ lau²¹⁻⁵³ t͡siu⁵³⁻⁴⁴ aŋ²¹/

/siak̚⁵⁻²⁴ siak̚⁵⁻²⁴ laŋ²⁴⁻²² bue⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tio(ʔ)²⁴⁻² lau⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡siu⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ aŋ⁴¹/


智者千慮必有一失

a wise person reflecting a thousand times can still make one mistake

ㄓˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄩˋ

чжичжэ цянь люй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²²/

/piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹/

/pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³³ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²²/

/piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/


輕歌曼舞

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄍㄜ ㄇㄢˋ ㄨˇ

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ män⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ kɤ⁵⁵ män⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to dance gracefully to light and cheerful music


提鞋都不配

ㄊㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄡ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄟˋ

tíxié dōu bùpèi [Phonetic:tíxié dōu búpèi]

тисе доу бупэй

/tʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

/tʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ toʊ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰeɪ̯⁵¹/

Appears to come from the Chinese Union Version of the Bible:
:
1920, “馬太福音 第三章”, in 官話和合譯本：新舊約全書 [Mandarin Bible, Union Version], Shanghai: American Bible Society, page 3:
:*

quote-book

zh:官話和合譯本：新舊約全書<t:Mandarin Bible, Union Version>

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. (KJV)

Wǒ shì yòng shuǐ gěi nǐmen shīxǐ, jiào nǐmen huǐgǎi. Dàn nà zài wǒ yǐhòu lái de, nénglì bǐ wǒ gèng dà, wǒ jiù shì gěi tā tí xié, yě bù pèi. Tā yào yòng shènglíng yǔ huǒ gěi nǐmen shīxǐ.

我是用水給你們施洗，叫你們悔改。但那在我以後來的，能力比我更大，我就是給他提鞋，也不配。他要用聖靈與火給你們施洗。

我是用水给你们施洗，叫你们悔改。但那在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是给他提鞋，也不配。他要用圣灵与火给你们施洗。

(figurative) cannot hold a candle to someone; to not compare to someone

American Bible Society
Chinese Union Version
Matthew 3:11


華洋轇轕

ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄍㄜˊ

/xu̯ä³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/waː²¹ jœːŋ²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³/

/xu̯ä³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵/

/waː²¹ jœːŋ²¹ kaːu̯⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³/

(Hong Kong) all acts and activities, no matter local or overseas


點話點好

(Cantonese) as one likes; as one wishes; as one pleases


宰相肚裡好撐船

ㄗㄞˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄉㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄏㄠˇ ㄔㄥ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

zǎixiàng dùlǐ hǎo chēngchuán [Phonetic:zǎixiàngdùlíhǎochēngchuán]

tsai³-hsiang⁴ tu⁴-li³ hao³ chʻêng¹-chʻuan²

цзайсян дули хао чэнчуань

/t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

宰相肚裡能撐船 宰相肚裡能撐船#Chinese

宰相肚里能撑船 宰相肚里能撑船#Chinese

Synonym of 宰相肚裡能撐船／宰相肚里能撑船 (zǎixiàng dùlǐ néng chēngchuán)


小人得志

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄓˋ

сяожэньдэчжи

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ tɤ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

a person of low character attains power or success and becomes arrogant


人財兩失

ㄖㄣˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄕ

жэньцайлянши

/ʐən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/


人財兩空

ㄖㄣˊ ㄘㄞˊ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄎㄨㄥ

жэньцайлянкун

/ʐən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³ hʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³ hʊŋ⁵⁵/


曲館邊的豬母，𣍐歕簫也會拍拍

head

曲館邊的豬母，𣍐歕簫也會拍拍

曲馆边的猪母，𫧃𬅫箫也会拍拍

a female pig beside a folk venue where one learns quyi cannot play a xiao but can beat time with clappers

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pĩ⁴⁴⁻²² e²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴⁻²² bu⁵³ bue²²⁻²¹ pun²⁴⁻²² siau⁴⁴⁻²² ia²²⁻²¹ e²²⁻²¹ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pʰiɪk̚³²/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁵ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pĩ⁴⁴⁻²² e¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴⁻²² bo⁵³ be²²⁻²¹ pun¹³⁻²² siau⁴⁴⁻²² a²²⁻²¹ e²²⁻²¹ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pʰiɪk̚³²/

/kʰiak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kuan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pĩ³³ e²⁴⁻²² tɯ³³ bu⁵⁵⁴ bue²² pun²⁴⁻²² siau³³ ia²² e²² pʰa(ʔ)⁵ pʰiak̚⁵/

(Hokkien) any person can learn even a bit of skill just by being exposed and subtly influenced by what one hears and sees


曲館邊的豬母，𣍐吹簫也會拍拍

曲館邊的豬母，𣍐吹簫也會拍拍

曲馆边的猪母，𫧃吹箫也会拍拍

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pĩ⁴⁴⁻²² e²⁴⁻²² ti⁴⁴⁻²² bu⁵³ bue²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰe⁴⁴⁻²² siau⁴⁴⁻²² ia²²⁻²¹ e²²⁻²¹ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pʰiɪk̚³²/

/kʰiɪk̚³²⁻⁵ kuan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pĩ⁴⁴⁻²² e¹³⁻²² ti⁴⁴⁻²² bo⁵³ be²²⁻²¹ t͡sʰue⁴⁴⁻²² siau⁴⁴⁻²² a²²⁻²¹ e²²⁻²¹ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pʰiɪk̚³²/

/kʰiak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kuan⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pĩ³³ e²⁴⁻²² tɯ³³ bu⁵⁵⁴ bue²² t͡sʰə³³ siau³³ ia²² e²² pʰa(ʔ)⁵ pʰiak̚⁵/


搔首弄姿

ㄙㄠ ㄕㄡˇ ㄋㄨㄥˋ ㄗ

саошоунунцзы

/sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/sou̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ lʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nʊŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩⁵⁵/

/sou̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ lʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵/


龜毛兔角

ㄍㄨㄟ ㄇㄠˊ ㄊㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

гуймаотуцзяо

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


皇帝的女兒——不愁嫁

The emperor's daughter - need not worry about the lack of a marital match

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄉㄧˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄋㄩˇ ㄦˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

хуанди дэ нюйэр

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

someone or something that is always in demand


矮子騎大馬——上下兩難

A dwarf riding a tall horse - getting on and off are both difficult

ㄞˇ ˙ㄗ ㄑㄧˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄇㄚˇ

ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄋㄢˊ

айцзы ци да ма

шанся лян нань

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tä⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵/


和尚訓道士——管得寬

A Buddhist monk teaches a Daoist priest a lesson - interfering beyond his own business.

ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄩㄣˋ ㄉㄠˋ ˙ㄕ

ㄍㄨㄢˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄎㄨㄢ

хэшан сюнь даоши

гуань дэ куань

/xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕyn⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩¹ ku̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ kʰu̯än⁵⁵/


霸王敬酒——不乾也得乾

The hegemon toasts you - drink up even if you don't wish to

ㄅㄚˋ ㄨㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄢ ㄧㄝˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄍㄢ

баван цзинцзю

бу гань е дэ гань

/pä⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ kän⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ kän⁵⁵/


葫蘆裡賣的甚麼藥

what medicine is being sold inside the calabash?

ㄏㄨˊ ˙ㄌㄨ ㄌㄧˇ ㄇㄞˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄧㄠˋ

хулу ли май дэ шэньмэ яо

/xu³⁵ lu³ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ maɪ̯⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ʂən³⁵ mə³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

not knowing what another is planning or thinking


到火神廟求雨——找錯了門

到火神廟求雨——找錯了門

到火神庙求雨——找错了门

to go to the Fire God's temple to pray for rain - at the wrong place

ㄉㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄣˊ ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄑㄧㄡˊ ㄩˇ

ㄓㄠˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ˙ㄌㄜ ㄇㄣˊ

дао Хошэнь мяо цю юй

чжао цо лэ мэнь

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən³⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ lə¹ mən³⁵/


我聞如是

ㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕˋ

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ siː²²/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bun²³⁻³³ zu²³⁻³³ si³³/

/wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ŋɔː¹³ mɐn²¹ jyː²¹ siː²²/

/ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bun²³⁻³³ zu²³⁻³³ si³³/

Calque of Sanskrit एवं मया श्रुतम् (evaṃ mayā śrutam). The syntax of this translation directly reflects Chinese grammatical conventions as opposed to the more commonly used 如是我聞／如是我闻 (rúshìwǒwén), which reflects the original Sanskrit syntax.

calque

एवं मया श्रुतम्

zh-l

如是我聞／如是我闻 (rúshìwǒwén)

(Buddhism) Thus have I heard... (a common opening of Buddhist texts)


豬八戒穿紅袍——不倫不類

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豬八戒穿紅袍——不倫不類

猪八戒穿红袍——不伦不类

Zhu Bajie wearing a red robe - fitting in no category

ㄓㄨ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄆㄠˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄟˋ

Чжу Бацзе чуань хун пао

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ xʊŋ³⁵ pʰɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ lu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ leɪ̯⁵¹/


豬八戒吃人參果——全不知滋味

豬八戒吃人參果——全不知滋味

猪八戒吃人参果——全不知滋味

Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit - doesn't know its taste at all

ㄓㄨ ㄅㄚ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄔ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄍㄨㄛˇ

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄗ ㄨㄟˋ

Чжу Бацзе чи жэньшэньго

цюань бу чжи цзывэй

/ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ pä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

to be unable to appreciate something or know its value


老鼠過街——人人喊打

a rat crosses the street - everyone yells 'beat it!'

ㄌㄠˇ ㄕㄨˇ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄝ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄢˇ ㄉㄚˇ

лаошу го цзе

жэньжэнь хань да

žɛnʹžɛnʹ xanʹ da

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ xän²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


天女散花

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄋㄩˇ ㄙㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚ

тяньнюйсаньхуа

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵/


老太婆的裹腳布——又臭又長

老太婆的裹腳布——又臭又長

老太婆的裹脚布——又臭又长

An old woman's foot-binding cloth - both long and smelly

ㄌㄠˇ ㄊㄞˋ ㄆㄛˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄅㄨˋ

ㄧㄡˋ ㄔㄡˋ ㄧㄡˋ ㄔㄤˊ

yòu chòu yòu cháng [Phonetic:lǎotàipódeguójiǎobù

лаотайпо дэ гоцзяо бу

/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ pʰu̯ɔ³⁵ d̥ə³ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ joʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

to be over-long or loquacious in speech or writing


目無王法

ㄇㄨˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄚˇ

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ faːt̚³/

/mu⁵¹ u³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mʊk̚² mou̯²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ faːt̚³/

to have no regard for the law or discipline; to flagrantly violate the law or rules


竹篙尾縛烘爐扇

to tie an oven fan on the end of a bamboo pole

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴⁻²² be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pak̚⁴⁻³² haŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lɔ²⁴⁻²² sĩ²¹/

/tiak̚⁵⁻²⁴ ko³³ bə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pak̚²⁴⁻² haŋ³³ lɔ²⁴⁻²² sĩ⁴¹/

/tiɪk̚³²⁻⁵ ko⁴⁴⁻²² bue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pak̚¹²¹⁻²¹ haŋ⁴⁴⁻²² lɔ¹³⁻²² sĩ²¹/

(Hokkien) to be conceited and arrogant; to put on airs; to act all high and mighty


WDNMD

(Internet slang, vulgar) Initialism of 我屌你媽的／我屌你妈的 (Wǒ diǎo nǐmā de, “fuck you”).


借水行舟

ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄡ

цзешуйсинчжоу

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/


土菩薩過江

an earthen bodhisattva statue crosses a river (― unable to even protect oneself)

ㄊㄨˇ ㄆㄨˊ ㄙㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄐㄧㄤ

тупуса гоцзян

/tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰu³⁵ sä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

泥菩薩過江 泥菩薩過江#Chinese

泥菩萨过江 泥菩萨过江#Chinese

Alternative form of 泥菩薩過江／泥菩萨过江 (nípúsàguòjiāng)


泥菩薩落水

a clay bodhisattva statue falls into the river (― unable to even protect oneself)

ㄋㄧˊ ㄆㄨˊ ㄙㄚˋ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

нипуса лошуй

/ni³⁵ pʰu³⁵ sä⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

泥菩薩過江 泥菩薩過江#Chinese

泥菩萨过江 泥菩萨过江#Chinese


猴子偷桃

ㄏㄡˊ ㄗˇ ㄊㄡ ㄊㄠˊ

хоуцзы тоу тао

/xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hɐu̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/xoʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/hɐu̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

(martial arts) a martial arts move that strikes an opponent's testicles.


一個中國

ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

yī ge Zhōngguó [Phonetic:yì ge Zhōngguó]

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔːk̚³/

Ko Wen-je stated: "In reality, there's no one in today's world that believes that there are 'Two Chinas', so the 'One-China' [Policy] is not a problem."

BBC: 陸媒聯訪 柯文哲：「一個中國」不是問題

Kē Wénzhé biǎoshì, “shìshí shàng, zài dāngjīn shìjiè shàng bìng méiyǒu rén rènwèi yǒu ‘liǎng ge Zhōngguó’, suǒyǐ Yīgezhōngguó bìng bùshì wèntí.”

柯文哲表示，“事實上，在當今世界上並沒有人認為有‘兩個中國’，所以一個中國並不是問題。”

BBC: 陸媒聯訪 柯文哲：「一個中國」不是問題

柯文哲表示，“事实上，在当今世界上并没有人认为有‘两个中国’，所以一个中国并不是问题。”

the One-China policy (a position that there is only one legitimate state that can call itself China)