烏雲遮不住太陽的光輝

ㄨ ㄩㄣˊ ㄓㄜ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄊㄞˋ ㄧㄤˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄏㄨㄟ

wu¹ wan⁴ ze¹ bat¹ zyu⁶ taai³ joeng⁴ dik¹ gwong¹ fai¹

wūyún zhēbùzhù tàiyáng de guānghuī [Phonetic:wūyún zhēbúzhù tàiyáng de guānghuī]

wu¹-yün² chê¹-pu⁴-chu⁴ tʻai⁴-yang² tê⁵ kuang¹-hui¹

уюнь чжэбучжу тайян дэ гуанхуэй

/u⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ d̥ə³ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

wū wàhn jē bāt jyuh taai yèuhng dīk gwōng fāi

wu¹ wan⁴ dze¹ bat⁷ dzy⁶ taai³ joeng⁴ dik⁷ gwong¹ fai¹

wu¹ wen⁴ zé¹ bed¹ ju⁶ tai³ yêng⁴ dig¹ guong¹ fei¹

/wuː⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ t͡sɛː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syː²² tʰaːi̯³³ jœːŋ²¹ tɪk̚⁵ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐi̯⁵⁵/

[Phonetic: wūyún zhēbúzhù tàiyáng de guānghuī]

the dark clouds cannot cover the glory of the sun


由儉入奢易，由奢入儉難

ㄧㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄕㄜ ㄧˋ

ㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄜ ㄖㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˇ ㄋㄢˊ

yu² chien³ ju⁴ shê¹ i⁴, yu² shê¹ ju⁴ chien³ nan²

yóu jyǎn rù shē yì-, yóu shē rù jyǎn nán

you jean ruh she yih, you she ruh jean nan

ю цзянь жу шэ и

ю шэ жу цзянь нань

/joʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ ʂɤ⁵⁵ i⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ ʂɤ⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵/

It is easy for a thrifty person to become extravagant, but difficult for an extravagant person to become thrifty


好生破家囝，孬生髧眉兒

ho² sên¹ pua³ gê¹ gian², mo² sên¹ dam³ bhai⁷ ri⁵

/ho⁵²⁻³⁵ sẽ³³⁻²³ pʰua²¹³⁻⁵⁵ ke³³⁻²³ kĩã⁵² mo⁵²⁻³⁵ sẽ³³⁻²³ tam²¹³⁻⁵⁵ bai¹¹ d͡zi⁵⁵/

(Teochew) It is better to give birth to a squanderer than an idiot


三里不同調，十里不同音

ㄙㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

ㄕˊ ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄧㄣ

saam¹ lei⁵ bat¹ tung⁴ diu⁶, sap⁶ lei⁵ bat¹ tung⁴ jam¹

сань ли бутун дяо

ши ли бутун инь

/sän⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ in⁵⁵/

sāam léih bāt tùhng diuh, sahp léih bāt tùhng yām

saam¹ lei⁵ bat⁷ tung⁴ diu⁶, sap⁹ lei⁵ bat⁷ tung⁴ jam¹

sam¹ léi⁵ bed¹ tung⁴ diu⁶, seb⁶ léi⁵ bed¹ tung⁴ yem¹

/saːm⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ tiːu̯²² sɐp̚² lei̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐm⁵⁵/

Describes the linguistic diversity of Fujian province.


爛船都有三斤釘

a broken ship still has three catties of nails

/laːn²² syːn²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ saːm⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ tɛːŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) No matter how bad something is, there is still some value in it.


high tech揩嘢，low tech撈嘢

/haːi̯⁵⁵ tʰɛːk̚⁵ haːi̯⁵⁵ jɛː¹³ lou̯⁵⁵ tʰɛːk̚⁵ lou̯⁵⁵ jɛː¹³/

Pun on homophonous pairs high vs 揩 (haai1) and low vs 撈／捞 (lou1).

(Hong Kong Cantonese) high-tech makes one get into troubles, low-tech makes one earn a lot


寧在人前全不會，莫在人前會不全

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寧在人前全不會，莫在人前會不全

宁在人前全不会，莫在人前会不全

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

нинцзайжэньцяньцюаньбухуэй

моцзайжэньцяньхуэйбуцюань

/niŋ³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

it is better not to be in public at all than to be imperfect in public


慢工出細貨

ㄇㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ

маньгун чу сихо

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/maːn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³ fɔː³³/

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/maːn²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³ fɔː³³/

soft fire makes sweet malt
soft fire makes sweet malt

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

slow and meticulous work leads to fine quality; soft fire makes sweet malt; slow and steady wins the race


虎死留皮，人死留名

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호사유피 인사유명(虎死留皮，人死留名)

→ Korean: 호사유피 인사유명(虎死留皮，人死留名)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (虎死留皮，人死留名):
* → Korean: 호사유피 인사유명(虎死留皮，人死留名)

when a tiger dies, it leaves behind its pelt; when a person dies, they leave behind their name

ㄏㄨˇ ㄙˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄙˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

hu³ ssŭ³ liu² pʻi², jên² ssŭ³ liu² ming²

жэнь сы лю мин

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

a person should focus on the legacy they will have on others


矮仔多計

/ɐi̯³⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³⁻³⁵/

/ɐi̯³⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) a short person has many tricks, ideas, etc.


好心冇好報

no good deed goes unpunished
no good deed goes unpunished

(Cantonese) no good deed goes unpunished; those who help often end up being resented by those whom they help


矮子矮，一肚子拐

ㄧ ㄉㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄍㄨㄞˇ

/ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ ˀaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ ku̯aɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


風雨如晦，雞鳴不已

ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˋ

ㄐㄧ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧˇ

fung¹ jyu⁵ jyu⁴ fui³, gai¹ ming⁴ bat¹ ji⁵

фэнъюй жу хуэй

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ jyː¹³ jyː²¹ fuːi̯³³ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 90 (《詩經·鄭風·風雨》)

lang

(《詩經·鄭風·風雨》)

(《詩經·鄭風·風雨》)

Through the wind and rain all looks dark, And the cock crows without ceasing.
But I have seen my husband, And how should I not rejoice?

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

Fēngyǔ rú huì, jīmíng bùyǐ.
Jì jiàn jūnzǐ, yún hú bù xǐ.

風雨如晦，雞鳴不已。
既見君子，云胡不喜。

风雨如晦，鸡鸣不已。
既见君子，云胡不喜。

a gentleman acts in a principled manner even in the darkest of times


福無雙至，禍不單行

ㄈㄨˊ ㄨˊ ㄕㄨㄤ ㄓˋ

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

/fu³⁵ u³⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tän⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

Alternative form of 福不重至，禍必重來／福不重至，祸必重来 (fú bù chóng zhì, huò bì chóng lái).

alternative form of

福无双至，祸不单行
福不重至，禍必重來

No sooner (Song) Jiang heard that than he clutched the two guards tightly and moaned: "Aye, woe is me! Indeed: Blessings never come in pair; misfortunes never come singly!"

Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Wèi Jiāng tīng bà, chě dìng liǎng ge gōngrén, shuōdào: “Quèshì kǔ yě! Zhèngshì: ‘Fúwúshuāngzhì, huòbùdānxíng!’”

未江聽罷，扯定兩個公人，說道：「卻是苦也！正是：『福無雙至，禍不單行！』」

未江听罢，扯定两个公人，说道：「却是苦也！正是：『福无双至，祸不单行！』」

opportunity seldom knocks twice
opportunity seldom knocks twice

misfortunes never come singly
misfortunes never come singly

opportunity seldom knocks twice, misfortunes never come singly


福不重至，禍必重來

ㄈㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄓˋ

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄞˊ

fu² pu⁴ chʻung² chih⁴, huo⁴ pi⁴ chʻung² lai²

фу бу чун чжи

хо би чун лай

/fu³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

Attested earliest in a speech attributed to Qu Yijiu (屈宜咎) and quoted in Shuoyuan

People, for a certainty, have both propitious and unpropitious times. Marquis Zhao of Hán has had propitious periods, but he failed [to use them] to build a tall gate. The year before last, Qin seized Yi Yang, and the next year there was a great drought, and the people suffered famine. He failed to take this opportunity to help the people in their time of need but instead grew more extravagant. This is what is meant by the saying ‘Good fortune never comes twice, but disasters come in droves.’

Rén gù yǒulì bùlì. Zhāohóu cháng lì yǐ, bù zuò gāomén. Wǎngnián Qín bá yíyáng, míngnián dàhàn mín jī, bù yǐ cǐshí xù mín zhī jí yě, ér gùfǎn yìshē, cǐ suǒwèi fú bù zhòngzhì, huò bì zhònglái zhě yě.

人固有利不利。昭侯嘗利矣，不作高門。往年秦拔宜陽，明年大旱民饑，不以此時恤民之急也，而顧反益奢，此所謂福不重至、禍必重來者也。

人固有利不利。昭侯尝利矣，不作高门。往年秦拔宜阳，明年大旱民饥，不以此时恤民之急也，而顾反益奢，此所谓福不重至、祸必重来者也。

福不重至，祸必重来
福無雙至，禍不單行

misfortunes never come alone
misfortunes never come alone

opportunity seldom knocks twice, misfortunes never come alone


癩蛤蟆想食天鵝肉

癞蛤蟆想食天鹅肉
癩蝦蟆想食天鵝肉

laai³ haa¹ mou¹ soeng² sik⁶ tin¹ ngo⁴ juk⁶

laai³ haa¹ mou¹ soeng² sik⁹ tin¹ ngo⁴ juk⁹

/laːi̯³³ haː⁵⁵ mou̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ³⁵ sɪk̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ ŋɔː²¹ jʊk̚²/

(Cantonese) to be carried away by one's wishful thinking and overestimate one's abilities; to pursue something that is out of one's league


癩蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉

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เป็นคางคกคิดอาจเอื้อมกินเนื้อห่านฟ้า

Thai: เป็นคางคกคิดอาจเอื้อมกินเนื้อห่านฟ้า (“to pursue something/someone that is out of one's league”)

癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉
癩蝦蟆想吃天鵝肉

ㄌㄞˋ ㄏㄚˊ ˙ㄇㄚ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄔ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄜˊ ㄖㄡˋ

lai⁴-ha²-ma⁵ hsiang³ chʻih¹ tʻien¹-o²-jou⁴

лайхама сян чи тяньэжоу

/laɪ̯⁵¹ xä³⁵ mä³ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹/


行運醫生醫病尾

a lucky doctor treats a patient at the end of the illness

/haːŋ²¹ wɐn²² jiː⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ pɛːŋ²² mei̯¹³/

to get credit for doing something easy or trivial

to do something easy or trivial in order to get credit for it


差以毫釐，失之千里

ㄔㄚ ㄧˇ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

small discrepancies lead to great errors


差之毫釐，謬以千里

差之毫厘，谬以千里
差之毫釐，繆以千里

ㄔㄚ ㄓ ㄏㄠˊ ㄌㄧˊ

ㄇㄧㄡˋ ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯³⁵ li³⁵ mi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

tsaa¹ dzi¹ hou⁴ lei⁴, mau⁶ ji⁵ tsin¹ lei⁵

/t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ hou̯²¹ lei̯²¹ mɐu̯²² jiː¹³ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³/


敵人的敵人就是朋友

ㄉㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄉㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄆㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ

dik⁶ jan⁴ dik¹ dik⁶ jan⁴ zau⁶ si⁶ pang⁴ jau⁵

ti²-jên² ti⁴ ti²-jên² chiu⁴-shih⁴ pʻêng²-yu³

дижэнь ди дижэнь цзюши пэнъю

/ti³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ti⁵¹ ti³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ pʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dihk yàhn dīk dihk yàhn jauh sih pàhng yáuh

dik⁹ jan⁴ dik⁷ dik⁹ jan⁴ dzau⁶ si⁶ pang⁴ jau⁵

dig⁶ yen⁴ dig¹ dig⁶ yen⁴ zeo⁶ xi⁶ peng⁴ yeo⁵

/tɪk̚² jɐn²¹ tɪk̚⁵ tɪk̚² jɐn²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² pʰɐŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³/

the enemy of my enemy is my friend
the enemy of my enemy is my friend


錢不是萬能，但沒錢萬萬不能

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錢不是萬能，但沒錢萬萬不能

钱不是万能，但没钱万万不能

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄥˊ

ㄉㄢˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ

dàn méi qián wànwàn bùnéng [Phonetic:qián búshì wànnéng

цянь буши ваньнэн

дань мэй цянь ваньвань бунэн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ tän⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵/

money is not everything, but without money, you are nothing


行得快，好世界

one who walks quickly will [enjoy a] better world

/haːŋ²¹ tɐk̚⁵ faːi̯³³ hou̯³⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

(Cantonese) if one does things quickly, they can enjoy good fortune


行得嚤，冇鼻哥

one who walks slowly will lose [their] nose

/haːŋ²¹ tɐk̚⁵ mɔː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ pei̯²² kɔː⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) if one does things slowly, they will see consequences


人一世物一世

/jɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³ mɐt̚² jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

/jɐn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³ mɐt̚² jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³/

(Cantonese) one only has one opportunity to live, so make the most of the things in life


有食唔食，罪大惡極

jau⁵ sik⁹ m⁴ sik⁹, dzoey⁶ daai⁶ ok⁸ gik⁹

/jɐu̯¹³ sɪk̚² m̩²¹ sɪk̚² t͡sɵy̯²² taːi̯²² ɔːk̚³ kɪk̚²/

(Hong Kong Cantonese) if one can enjoy something but chooses to decline it, one has committed a grave sin


贏粒糖輸間廠

wins a piece of candy and loses a factory

/jɛːŋ²¹ nɐp̚⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹⁻³⁵ syː⁵⁵ kaːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ³⁵/

penny wise and pound foolish
penny wise and pound foolish

spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar
spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar

(Cantonese) penny wise and pound foolish; spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar


入屋叫人，入廟拜神

when entering a house, call out someone's names in salutation; when entering a temple, worship the deity

jap⁶ uk¹ giu³ jan⁴, jap⁶ miu⁶⁻² baai³ san⁴

jap⁹ uk⁷ giu³ jan⁴, jap⁹ miu⁶⁻² baai³ san⁴

yeb⁶ ug¹ giu³ yen⁴, yeb⁶ miu⁶⁻² bai³ sen⁴

/jɐp̚² ʊk̚⁵ kiːu̯³³ jɐn²¹ jɐp̚² miːu̯²²⁻³⁵ paːi̯³³ sɐn²¹/

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

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


清官難審家庭事

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ naːn²¹ sɐm³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ tʰɪŋ²¹ siː²²/

(Cantonese) even upright officials find it hard to settle family quarrels


唔怕一萬，只怕萬一

m⁴ paa³ jat⁷ maan⁶, dzi² paa³ maan⁶ jat⁷

/m̩²¹ pʰaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ maːn²² t͡siː³⁵ pʰaː³³ maːn²² jɐt̚⁵/

(Cantonese) one should be prepared for unexpected situations


夫妻本是同林鳥，大難臨頭各自飛

夫妻本是同林鳥，大難臨頭各自飛

夫妻本是同林鸟，大难临头各自飞

ㄈㄨ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄣˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄧㄠˇ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄍㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄈㄟ

fu¹ cai¹ bun² si⁶ tung⁴ lam⁴ niu⁵, daai⁶ naan⁶ lam⁴ tau⁴ gok³ zi⁶ fei¹

фуцибэньшитунлиньняо

дананьлинь тоугэ цзы фэй

/fu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ lin³⁵ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ nän³⁵ lin³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ kɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

fū chāi bún sih tùhng làhm níuh, daaih naahn làhm tàuh gok jih fēi

fu¹ tsai¹ bun² si⁶ tung⁴ lam⁴ niu⁵, daai⁶ naan⁶ lam⁴ tau⁴ gok⁸ dzi⁶ fei¹

fu¹ cei¹ bun² xi⁶ tung⁴ lem⁴ niu⁵, dai⁶ nan⁶ lem⁴ teo⁴ gog³ ji⁶ féi¹

/fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ puːn³⁵ siː²² tʰʊŋ²¹ lɐm²¹ niːu̯¹³ taːi̯²² naːn²² lɐm²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ kɔːk̚³ t͡siː²² fei̯⁵⁵/

夫妻本是同林鳥 夫妻本是同林鳥#Chinese

夫妻本是同林鸟 夫妻本是同林鸟#Chinese

Synonym of 夫妻本是同林鳥／夫妻本是同林鸟 (fūqī běn shì tóng lín niǎo)


留得青山在，哪怕冇柴燒

lau⁴ dak¹ cing¹ saan¹ zoi⁶, naa⁵ paa³ mou⁵ caai⁴ siu¹

làuh dāk chīng sāan joih, náh pa móuh chàaih sīu

lau⁴ dak⁷ tsing¹ saan¹ dzoi⁶, naa⁵ paa³ mou⁵ tsaai⁴ siu¹

leo⁴ deg¹ qing¹ san¹ zoi⁶, na⁵ pa³ mou⁵ cai⁴ xiu¹

/lɐu̯²¹ tɐk̚⁵ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² naː¹³ pʰaː³³ mou̯¹³ t͡sʰaːi̯²¹ siːu̯⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) while there's life, there's hope


平生不做虧心事，半夜敲門也不驚

平生不做虧心事，半夜敲門也不驚

平生不做亏心事，半夜敲门也不惊

if one has not committed something of guilt in their entire life, they will not be afraid when someone is knocking on their doors in the middle of the night

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄎㄨㄟ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˋ

ㄅㄢˋ ㄧㄝˋ ㄑㄧㄠ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

ping⁴ sang¹ bat¹ zou⁶ kwai¹ sam¹ si⁶, bun³ je⁶ haau¹ mun⁴ jaa⁵ bat¹ ging¹

bàn yèqiāo mén yě bù jīng [Phonetic:píngshēng bú zuò kuīxīn shì

pʻing²-shêng¹ pu⁴ tso⁴ kʻuei¹-hsin¹ shih⁴

пиншэн бу цзо куйсинь ши

бань ецяо мэнь е бу цзин

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɛ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ mən³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

pìhng sāng bāt jouh kwāi sām sih, bun yeh hāau mùhn yáh bāt gīng

ping⁴ sang¹ bat⁷ dzou⁶ kwai¹ sam¹ si⁶, bun³ je⁶ haau¹ mun⁴ jaa⁵ bat⁷ ging¹

ping⁴ seng¹ bed¹ zou⁶ kuei¹ sem¹ xi⁶, bun³ yé⁶ hao¹ mun⁴ ya⁵ bed¹ ging¹

/pʰɪŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sou̯²² kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ siː²² puːn³³ jɛː²² haːu̯⁵⁵ muːn²¹ jaː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ kɪŋ⁵⁵/

if one were not guilty, they have nothing to hide


人靠衣裝，佛靠金裝

a man relies on his clothes, the statue of Buddha relies on its gold

ㄖㄣˊ ㄎㄠˋ ㄧ ㄓㄨㄤ

ㄈㄛˊ ㄎㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄤ

jan⁴ kaau³ ji¹ zong¹, fat⁶ kaau³ gam¹ zong¹

жэнь као ичжуан

фо као цзиньчжуан

/ʐən³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ fu̯ɔ³⁵ kʰɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

jan⁴ kaau³ ji¹ dzong¹, fat⁹ kaau³ gam¹ dzong¹

yen⁴ kao³ yi¹ zong¹, fed⁶ kao³ gem¹ zong¹

/jɐn²¹ kʰaːu̯³³ jiː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵ fɐt̚² kʰaːu̯³³ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːŋ⁵⁵/

clothes maketh the man
clothes maketh the man

fine feathers make fine birds
fine feathers make fine birds

clothes maketh the man; fine feathers make fine birds


長命工夫長命做

long-lasting tasks, one is long-lived to complete them

coeng⁴ meng⁶ gung¹ fu¹ coeng⁴ meng⁶ zou⁶

chèuhng mehng gūng fū chèuhng mehng jouh

tsoeng⁴ meng⁶ gung¹ fu¹ tsoeng⁴ meng⁶ dzou⁶

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɛːŋ²² kʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ mɛːŋ²² t͡sou̯²²/

(Cantonese) for tasks that take a long time to complete, one should do them slowly

(Cantonese) longer of life, more time to do infinite tasks


害人之心不可有，防人之心不可無

害人之心不可有，防人之心不可無

害人之心不可有，防人之心不可无

ㄏㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧㄡˇ

ㄈㄤˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄨˊ

hoi⁶ jan⁴ zi¹ sam¹ bat¹ ho² jau⁵, fong⁴ jan⁴ zi¹ sam¹ bat¹ ho² mou⁴

fángrén zhī xīn bùkě wú [Phonetic:hàirénzhīxīnbùkéyǒu

хайжэнь чжи синь букэ ю

фанжэнь чжи синь букэ у

/xaɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵/

hoih yàhn jī sām bāt hó yáuh, fòhng yàhn jī sām bāt hó mòuh

hoi⁶ jan⁴ dzi¹ sam¹ bat⁷ ho² jau⁵, fong⁴ jan⁴ dzi¹ sam¹ bat⁷ ho² mou⁴

hoi⁶ yen⁴ ji¹ sem¹ bed¹ ho² yeo⁵, fong⁴ yen⁴ ji¹ sem¹ bed¹ ho² mou⁴

/hɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ fɔːŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ mou̯²¹/

one should not try to harm others, but you should also be prudent and guard against those who harm you


瘦田冇人耕，耕開有人爭

瘦田冇人耕，耕开有人争
瘦田無人耕，耕開有人爭

no one plows a thin field, but people start competing for it once it is regularly plowed

sau³ tin⁴ mou⁵ jan⁴ gaang¹, gaang¹ hoi¹ jau⁵ jan⁴ zaang¹

sau tìhn móuh yàhn gāang, gāang hōi yáuh yàhn jāang

sau³ tin⁴ mou⁵ jan⁴ gaang¹, gaang¹ hoi¹ jau⁵ jan⁴ dzaang¹

seo³ tin⁴ mou⁵ yen⁴ gang¹, gang¹ hoi¹ yeo⁵ yen⁴ zang¹

/sɐu̯³³ tʰiːn²¹ mou̯¹³ jɐn²¹ kaːŋ⁵⁵ kaːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐn²¹ t͡saːŋ⁵⁵/


揦鮓食，揦鮓大

/laː¹³ t͡saː³⁵ sɪk̚² laː¹³ t͡saː³⁵ taːi̯²²/

(Cantonese) what doesn't kill you makes you stronger


新屎坑，三日香

/sɐn⁵⁵ siː³⁵ haːŋ⁵⁵ saːm⁵⁵ jɐt̚² hœːŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) something new attracts interest in the beginning but is quickly forgotten (describes a passing fad)


垃圾食，垃圾大

/la(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² sap̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siaʔ⁴³ la(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² sap̚³²⁻⁴ tua²²/

(Hokkien) what doesn't kill you makes you stronger


生嚿叉燒好過生你

saang¹ gau⁶ caa¹ siu¹ hou² gwo³ saang¹ nei⁵

saang¹ gau⁶ tsaa¹ siu¹ hou² gwo³ saang¹ nei⁵

sang¹ geo⁶ ca¹ xiu¹ hou² guo³ sang¹ néi⁵

/saːŋ⁵⁵ kɐu̯²² t͡sʰaː⁵⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵ kʷɔː³³ saːŋ⁵⁵ nei̯¹³/

A piece of barbecued pork is more useful than the child in question because at least the barbecued pork can be eaten.

giving birth to a piece of char siu is better than giving birth to you

(Cantonese) Used to scold one's child for being useless.


若要人不知，除非己莫為

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄔㄨˊ ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧˇ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄟˊ

joek⁶ jiu³ jan⁴ bat¹ zi¹, ceoi⁴ fei¹ gei² mok⁶ wai⁴

jo⁴ yao⁴ jên² pu⁴-chih¹ chʻu²-fei¹ chi³ mo⁴ wei²

жо яо жэнь бучжи чуфэй цзи мо вэй

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

yeuhk yiu yàhn bāt jī, chèuih fēi géi mohk wàih

joek⁹ jiu³ jan⁴ bat⁷ dzi¹, tsoey⁴ fei¹ gei² mok⁹ wai⁴

yêg⁶ yiu³ yen⁴ bed¹ ji¹, cêu⁴ féi¹ géi² mog⁶ wei⁴

/jœːk̚² jiːu̯³³ jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ mɔːk̚² wɐi̯²¹/

The earliest appearance of similar expressions was in Mei Cheng (枚乘)'s Petition to the Prince of Wu

Do not speak if you do not want others to hear; do not do if you do not want others to know.

Yù rén wù wén, mò ruò wù yán; yù rén wù zhī, mò ruò wù wèi.

欲人勿聞，莫若勿言；欲人勿知，莫若勿為。

欲人勿闻，莫若勿言；欲人勿知，莫若勿为。

if one wants others to not know [of their wrongdoings], only [happens] when themselves had not done it

murder will out; one should not do it if they do not want others to know


樹倒老猴散

/t͡sʰiu²² to⁴²⁻²⁴ lau²²⁻²¹ kau²⁴ suã²¹/

/t͡sʰiu²² to⁴²⁻²⁴ lau²²⁻²¹ kau²⁴ suã²¹/

(Singapore Hokkien, figurative) When a leader loses power, his/her followers disperse.


騙得了一時，騙不了一世

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄧ ㄕˋ

piàn bù liǎo yīshì [Phonetic:piàn de liǎo yìshí

пянь дэ ляо иши

пянь бу ляо иши

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ d̥ə¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

you can fool people once but you cannot fool them forever


意見接受，態度照舊

the suggestion is accepted, [yet] the attitude remains unchanged

ji³ gin³ zip³ sau⁶, taai³ dou⁶ ziu³ gau⁶

ji³ gin³ dzip⁸ sau⁶, taai³ dou⁶ dziu³ gau⁶

/jiː³³ kiːn³³ t͡siːp̚³ sɐu̯²² tʰaːi̯³³ tou̯²² t͡siːu̯³³ kɐu̯²²/

(Hong Kong) Used to criticise the authorities' attitude towards suggestions.


冇咁大個頭，唔好戴咁大頂帽

冇咁大個頭，唔好戴咁大頂帽

冇咁大个头，唔好戴咁大顶帽
冇咁大個頭，就唔好戴咁大頂帽

Don't wear such a bighat if you don't have such a big head

mou⁵ gam³ daai⁶ go³ tau⁴, m⁴ hou² daai³ gam³ daai⁶ deng² mou⁶⁻²

móuh gam daaih go tàuh, m̀h hóu daai gam daaih déng móu

mou⁵ gem³ dai⁶ go³ teo⁴, m⁴ hou² dai³ gem³ dai⁶ déng² mou⁶⁻²

/mou̯¹³ kɐm³³ taːi̯²² kɔː³³ tʰɐu̯²¹ m̩²¹ hou̯³⁵ taːi̯³³ kɐm³³ taːi̯²² tɛːŋ³⁵ mou̯²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen


年廿八，洗邋遢

/niːn²¹ jaː²² paːt̚³ sɐi̯³⁵ laːt̚² tʰaːt̚³/

(Cantonese) on the twenty-eighth day of the final month of the Chinese calendar, one cleans the house


痴痴呆呆，坐埋一檯

痴痴呆呆，坐埋一台
癡癡呆呆，坐埋一檯
痴痴呆呆，坐埋一枱

those who are stupid sit at a table together

ci¹ ci¹ ngoi⁴ ngoi⁴, co⁵ maai⁴ jat¹ toi⁴

chī chī ngòih ngòih, chóh màaih yāt tòih

tsi¹ tsi¹ ngoi⁴ ngoi⁴, tso⁵ maai⁴ jat⁷ toi⁴

/t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː⁵⁵ ŋɔːi̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɔː¹³ maːi̯²¹ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɔːi̯²¹/

(Cantonese) stupid people flock together


貧賤夫妻百事哀

ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄈㄨ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ ㄞ

пиньцзянь фуци байши ай

/pʰin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɐn²¹ t͡siːn²² fuː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ paːk̚³ siː²² ɔːi̯⁵⁵/

Misinterpretation of a verse by the Tang dynasty poet Yuan Zhen. The original meaning in the poem is irrelevant to the modern meaning.

For poor couples, everything is sorrowful.


小時偷針，大時偷金

one who steals a needle during childhood will steal gold as an adult

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄕˊ ㄊㄡ ㄓㄣ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄊㄡ ㄐㄧㄣ

hsiao³ shih² tʻou¹ chên¹, ta⁴ shih² tʻou¹ chin¹

сяо ши тоу чжэнь

да ши тоу цзинь

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

siu² si⁴ tau¹ dzam¹, daai⁶ si⁴ tau¹ gam¹

/siːu̯³⁵ siː²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siː²¹ tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵/

One who commits small wrongs at a young age, if left uncorrected, will continue to commit crimes that are more serious.


遲嚟先上岸

/t͡sʰiː²¹ lei̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɔːn²²/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ lɐi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɔːn²²/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ lei̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɔːn²²/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ lɐi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ ŋɔːn²²/


橋唔怕舊，最緊要受

do not be afraid that an idea becomes old, the most important [part is that it is] accepted

kiu⁴⁻² m⁴ paa³ gau⁶, zeoi³ gan² jiu³ sau⁶

kiu⁴⁻² m⁴ paa³ gau⁶, dzoey³ gan² jiu³ sau⁶

/kʰiːu̯²¹⁻³⁵ m̩²¹ pʰaː³³ kɐu̯²² t͡sɵy̯³³ kɐn³⁵ jiːu̯³³ sɐu̯²²/

if it ain't broke, don't fix it
if it ain't broke, don't fix it

(Cantonese, of a trick, idea, plan etc.) if it ain't broke, don't fix it


冤有頭，債有主

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡saːi̯³³ jɐu̯¹³ t͡syː³⁵/

reprisal for a wrong should be directed at the perpetrator


英雄莫問出處

ㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄣˋ ㄔㄨ ㄔㄨˋ

инсюн мо вэнь чучу

/iŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/jɪŋ⁵⁵ hʊŋ²¹ mɔːk̚² mɐn²² t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/


針唔㓤到肉唔知痛

针唔㓤到肉唔知痛
針唔拮到肉唔知痛

to not know pain until the needle pierces into one's flesh

/t͡sɐm⁵⁵ m̩²¹ kɐt̚⁵ tou̯³³ jʊk̚² m̩²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ³³/

(Cantonese) to not understand or the dilemma or difficulties (of something) until one has to face or deal with it


阿婆走得快，一定有古怪

if an old lady runs quickly, definitely there is something odd

aa³ po⁴ zau² dak¹ faai³, jat¹ ding⁶ jau⁵ gu² gwaai³

a pòh jáu dāk faai, yāt dihng yáuh gú gwaai

aa³ po⁴ dzau² dak⁷ faai³, jat⁷ ding⁶ jau⁵ gu² gwaai³

a³ po⁴ zeo² deg¹ fai³, yed¹ ding⁶ yeo⁵ gu² guai³

/aː³³ pʰɔː²¹ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ tɐk̚⁵ faːi̯³³ jɐt̚⁵ tɪŋ²² jɐu̯¹³ kuː³⁵ kʷaːi̯³³/

(Cantonese, often humorous) something must be odd


有異性冇人性

to have [found someone in] the opposite sex but no humanity [towards others]

/jɐu̯¹³ jiː²² sɪŋ³³ mou̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɪŋ³³/

/jɐu̯¹³ jiː²² sɪŋ³³ mou̯¹³ jɐn²¹ sɪŋ³³/

(Cantonese) one ignores their friends after having found a (heterosexual) partner (boyfriend or girlfriend)


兔子不吃窩邊草

A rabbit does not eat grass around his burrow

ㄊㄨˋ ˙ㄗ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔ ㄨㄛ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄘㄠˇ

туцзы бу чи во бянь цао

/tʰu⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

don't shit where you eat
don't shit where you eat

don't dip your pen in company ink
don't dip your pen in company ink

don't shit where you eat; don't dip your pen in company ink


十隻手指有長短

/sɐp̚² t͡sɛːk̚³ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tyːn³⁵/

(Cantonese) everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses


第一賣冰，第二做醫生

[to earn riches] first sell ice, then become a doctor

ㄉㄧˋ ㄧ ㄇㄞˋ ㄅㄧㄥ

ㄉㄧˋ ㄦˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄕㄥ

dì'èr zuò yīshēng [Phonetic:dìyí mài bīng

диэр цзо ишэн

/ti⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ piŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ i⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/te³³⁻²¹ it̚³²⁻⁴ be³³⁻²¹ piɪŋ⁴⁴ te³³⁻²¹ zi³³⁻²¹ t͡sɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ i⁴⁴⁻³³ siɪŋ⁴⁴/

The Taiwanese saying goes: "Sell ice first, then consider becoming a doctor". In Huwei, though, maybe it ought to be changed to "sell stew first" instead?

2017 June 20, 文藝好青年／第一賣冰，第二做醫生？NO，虎尾第一是賣肉羮, FTV News (民視新聞台)

Táiwān yǒu jù súyàn shuō: “Dìyīmàibīng, dì'èrzuòyīshēng.” Shìshí zhèngmíng zài hǔwěi dìyī zhě, yìnggāi shì mài ròugēng ba?

台灣有句俗諺說：「第一賣冰，第二做醫生。」事實證明在虎尾第一者，應該是賣肉羮吧？

台湾有句俗谚说：「第一卖冰，第二做医生。」事实证明在虎尾第一者，应该是卖肉羮吧？

(Taiwan) a proverb on making money, reflecting the popularity of shaved ice, especially during the summer, and the relatively low skills needed to make it


博一博，單車變摩托

搏一搏，單車變摩托
博一博，单车变摩托

if you try, you can turn a bicycle into a motorcycle

bok⁸ jat⁷ bok⁸, daan¹ tse¹ bin³ mo¹ tok⁸

/pɔːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ pɔːk̚³ taːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ piːn³³ mɔː⁵⁵ tʰɔːk̚³/

(Cantonese) If you try, you will have chance to succeed.


魚唔過塘唔肥

a fish will not grow fatter if it is not moved to another pond

/jyː²¹⁻³⁵ m̩²¹ kʷɔː³³ tʰɔːŋ²¹ m̩²¹ fei̯²¹/

(Cantonese) Having a new job may bring more benefits (e.g. salary) than staying at the same employer.


靠山山會倒，靠水水會燥，靠人人會老

靠山山會倒，靠水水會燥，靠人人會老

靠山山会倒，靠水水会燥，靠人人会老

When one relies on the mountain, the mountain may fall. When one relies on water, water may dry up. When one relies on other people, they may get old.

kho sân sân voi tó, kho súi súi voi châu, kho ngìn ngìn voi ló

ko⁴ san¹ san¹ voi⁴ do³, ko⁴ sui³ sui³ voi⁴ zau¹, ko⁴ ngin² ngin² voi⁴ lo³

/kʰo⁵⁵ san²⁴⁻¹¹ san²⁴⁻¹¹ voi̯⁵⁵ to³¹ kʰo⁵⁵ su̯i³¹ su̯i³¹ voi̯⁵⁵ t͡sau̯²⁴ kʰo⁵⁵ ŋin¹¹ ŋin¹¹ voi̯⁵⁵ lo³¹/

(Hakka) Relying on yourself is better than relying on others because people may not help you forever.

en-靠山山會倒，靠水水會燥，靠人人會老-zh-proverb-f7WdX-sx


做一行怨一行

work a profession, complain about the same profession

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄏㄤˊ ㄩㄢˋ ㄧ ㄏㄤˊ

zuò yīháng yuàn yīháng [Phonetic:zuò yìháng yuàn yìháng]

цзо ихан юань ихан

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɑŋ³⁵ ɥɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ xɑŋ³⁵/

2022 September 2022, 業績治百病, Cheng Ping Keat (鄭秉吉), Oriental Daily News

“zuòyīxíngyuànyīxíng”, wǒmen cháng tīng dào hěnduō rén máiyuàn zìjǐ rù cuò xíng, bàoyuàn zìjǐ cóngshì de xíngyè jìngzhēng jīliè, jíshǐ tóurù hěnduō jīnglì yě nán zhuàn dào qián.

「做一行怨一行」，我們常聽到很多人埋怨自己入錯行，抱怨自己從事的行業競爭激烈，即使投入很多精力也難賺到錢。

「做一行怨一行」，我们常听到很多人埋怨自己入错行，抱怨自己从事的行业竞争激烈，即使投入很多精力也难赚到钱。

no matter the work, there will be something to take issue with; the grass is always greener on the other side jobwise


崩口人忌崩口碗

/pɐŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ kei̯²² pɐŋ⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ wuːn³⁵/

(Cantonese) Do not mention something that someone might be sensitive about because people are always aware of their own defects.


池中無魚蝦自大

when there is no fish in a pond, the shrimps will become arrogant

ㄔˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄩˊ ㄒㄧㄚ ㄗˋ ㄉㄚˋ

чи чжун у юй ся цзыда

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ y³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹ haː⁵⁵ t͡siː²² taːi̯²²/

when the cat's away the mice will play
when the cat's away the mice will play

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king; when the cat's away the mice will play


一年換二十四個頭家

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² nĩ²³⁻³³ uã³³⁻²¹ zi³³⁻²¹ t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² si²¹⁻⁴¹ e²³⁻³³ tʰau²³⁻³³ ke⁴⁴/

Possibly referring to the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar year.

一年换二十四个头家
一年換二十四个頭家

(Taiwanese Hokkien) someone who is always changing jobs, a job-hopper


三天不打，上房揭瓦

Don't beat (a child) for three days and (the child will) scale the roof to rip the tiles

ㄙㄢ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄚˇ

ㄕㄤˋ ㄈㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄨㄚˇ

саньтяньбуда

/sän⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

spare the rod and spoil the child
spare the rod and spoil the child


人多口雜

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄎㄡˇ ㄗㄚˊ

жэньдокоуцза

/ʐən³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sä³⁵/

人多嘴雜 人多嘴雜#Chinese

人多嘴杂 人多嘴杂#Chinese


床頭打交床尾和

床头打交床尾和
牀頭打交牀尾和

/t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ taː³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːŋ²¹ mei̯¹³ wɔː²¹/

(Cantonese, of a married couple) to quarrel with each other at the head of the bed and compromise at the end of it; to fight getting into bed and make up before falling asleep; to quickly make up after a quarrel; (sometimes specifically) to end an intense argument with make-up sex


車到山前必有路

A cart will find its way round the hill when it gets there

ㄔㄜ ㄉㄠˋ ㄕㄢ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄨˋ

чэдаошаньцяньбиюлу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ tou̯³³ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn²¹ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lou̯²²/

we'll cross that bridge when we come to it; things will eventually sort themselves out


山不轉水轉

ㄕㄢ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄓㄨㄢˋ

shān bùzhuàn shuǐ zhuàn [Phonetic:shān búzhuàn shuǐ zhuàn]

шань бучжуань шуй чжуань

/ʂän⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵¹/

/saːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːn³³ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡syːn³³/

/saːn⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡syːn³³ sɵy̯³⁵ t͡syːn³³/

the world is small enough for people to meet again


星火燎原

ㄒㄧㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄠˊ ㄩㄢˊ

синхоляоюань

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/ɕiŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

an insignificant cause can have a massive effect

(literally) even a spark can set the prairie blaze


龍交龍，鳳交鳳，隱痀的交侗戇

龍交龍，鳳交鳳，隱痀的交侗戇

龙交龙，凤交凤，隐痀的交侗戆

dragons befriend dragons, phoenixes befriend phoenixes, and hunchbacks befriend morons

birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together


龍交龍，鳳交鳳

dragons befriend dragons, phoenixes befriend phoenixes

/liɪŋ²³⁻³³ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ²³ hɔŋ³³⁻²¹ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ³³/

/liɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ liɪŋ²⁴ hɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ kau⁴⁴⁻³³ hɔŋ³³/

Are Sean Lien and Ting Hsin on good terms? Ko Wen-je's mother: "Like-minded folks come together"

2014 October 12, 連勝文與頂新交好？ 柯文哲母：龍交龍鳳交鳳, Taiwan People's News (民報)

Liánshèngwén yǔ dǐngxīn jiāohǎo? Kēwénzhé mǔ: lóngjiāolóngfèngjiāofèng

連勝文與頂新交好？柯文哲母：龍交龍鳳交鳳

连胜文与顶新交好？柯文哲母：龙交龙凤交凤

(Southern Min) birds of a feather flock together


靠山山會崩，靠水水會焦

When one relies on the mountain, the mountain may fall. When one relies on water, water may dry up.

khò soaⁿ soaⁿ ē pang, khò chúi chúi ē ta

khò suann suann ē pang, khò tsuí tsuí ē ta

/kʰo²¹⁻⁵³ suã⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴ e²²⁻²¹ paŋ⁴⁴ kʰo²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sui⁵³ t͡sui⁵³ e²²⁻²¹ ta⁴⁴/

/kʰo⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ suã³³ suã³³ e⁴¹⁻²² paŋ³³ kʰo⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴ t͡sui⁵⁵⁴ e⁴¹⁻²² ta³³/

/kʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ suã⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴ e³³⁻¹¹ paŋ⁴⁴ kʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sui⁵³ t͡sui⁵³ e³³⁻¹¹ ta⁴⁴/

/kʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ suã⁴⁴ suã⁴⁴ e³³⁻²¹ paŋ⁴⁴ kʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sui⁴¹ t͡sui⁴¹ e³³⁻²¹ ta⁴⁴/

If one only spends money without earning, it will be eventually used up no matter how much one has.

It is impossible to always rely on others because the environment is always changing, so one should strengthen one's own capabilities.


牛牽到北京也是牛

/ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²⁴ kʰan³³ kau⁴¹ pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiã³³ ia⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu¹³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁵ kiã⁴⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³/

/ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ ɡu²³/

牛就是牛，牽到北京也是牛 牛就是牛，牽到北京也是牛#Chinese

牛就是牛，牵到北京也是牛 牛就是牛，牵到北京也是牛#Chinese

(Hokkien) Synonym of 牛就是牛，牽到北京也是牛／牛就是牛，牵到北京也是牛

Synonym of 牛就是牛，牽到北京也是牛／牛就是牛，牵到北京也是牛


人同人好，鬼同鬼好

humans befriend similar humans, ghosts befriend similar ghosts

ngin^ˇ tung^ˇ ngin^ˇ ho^ˋ, gui^ˋ tung^ˇ gui^ˋ ho^ˋ

ngin² tung² ngin² ho³, gui³ tung² gui³ ho³

/ŋin¹¹ tʰuŋ¹¹ ŋin¹¹ ho³¹ ku̯i³¹ tʰuŋ¹¹ ku̯i³¹ ho³¹/

(Hakka) birds of a feather flock together


牛就是牛，牽到北京也是牛

牛就是牛，牽到北京也是牛

牛就是牛，牵到北京也是牛

An ox is an ox, even if it is brought toBeijing

/ɡu²⁴ to²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²⁴ to⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴ kʰan³³ kau⁴¹ pak̚⁵⁻²⁴ kiã³³ ia⁴¹⁻²² si⁴¹⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu¹³ to²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁵ kiã⁴⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ si²²⁻²¹ ɡu¹³/

/ɡu²⁴ to³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ ɡu²⁴ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau¹¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻¹¹ si³³⁻¹¹ ɡu²⁴/

/ɡu²³ tɤ³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ ɡu²³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ kau²¹ pak̚³²⁻⁴ kiã⁴⁴ ia³³⁻²¹ si³³⁻²¹ ɡu²³/

a leopard can't change its spots
a leopard can't change its spots

(Hokkien) a leopard can't change its spots


嫁出去的女兒，潑出去的水

嫁出去的女兒，潑出去的水

嫁出去的女儿，泼出去的水

ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄋㄩˇ ㄦˊ

ㄆㄛ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

цзя чуцюй дэ нюйэр

по чуцюй дэ шуй

/t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pʰu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

a daughter married off is like water that has been splashed out


三個臭皮匠，勝過一個諸葛亮

三個臭皮匠，勝過一個諸葛亮

三个臭皮匠，胜过一个诸葛亮

threeunskilled cobblers are superior to one Zhuge Liang

ㄙㄢ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄔㄡˋ ㄆㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄓㄨ ㄍㄜˊ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

saam¹ go³ cau³ pei⁴ zoeng⁶, sing³ gwo³ jat¹ go³ zyu¹ got³ loeng⁶

shèngguò yīge Zhūgě Liàng [Phonetic:sān ge chòupíjiàng

сань гэ чоупицзян

шэнго игэ Чжугэ Лян

/sän⁵⁵ g̊ə² ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

shèngguò yīge Zhūgé Liàng [Phonetic:sān ge chòupíjiàng

/sän⁵⁵ g̊ə² ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ g̊ə ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ kɤ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

sāam go chau pèih jeuhng, sing gwo yāt go jyū got leuhng

saam¹ go³ tsau³ pei⁴ dzoeng⁶, sing³ gwo³ jat⁷ go³ dzy¹ got⁸ loeng⁶

sam¹ go³ ceo³ péi⁴ zêng⁶, xing³ guo³ yed¹ go³ ju¹ god³ lêng⁶

/saːm⁵⁵ kɔː³³ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ pʰei̯²¹ t͡sœːŋ²² sɪŋ³³ kʷɔː³³ jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ t͡syː⁵⁵ kɔːt̚³ lœːŋ²²/

三個臭皮匠，勝過諸葛亮 三個臭皮匠，勝過諸葛亮#Chinese

三个臭皮匠，胜过诸葛亮 三个臭皮匠，胜过诸葛亮#Chinese

Synonym of 三個臭皮匠，勝過諸葛亮／三个臭皮匠，胜过诸葛亮 (sān ge chòupíjiàng, shèngguò Zhūgě Liàng)


各花入各眼

ㄍㄜˋ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄖㄨˋ ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄢˇ

гэхуажугэянь

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kɔːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³/

/kɤ⁵¹ xu̯ä⁵⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɔːk̚³ faː⁵⁵ jɐp̚² kɔːk̚³ ŋaːn¹³/


日頭赤焱焱，隨人顧性命

/lit̚²⁴⁻² tʰau²⁴ t͡sʰia(ʔ)⁵ iã⁴¹⁻²² iã⁴¹ sui²⁴⁻²² laŋ²⁴ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ sĩ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ miã⁴¹/

/lit̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²⁴ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ iã²²⁻²¹ iã²² sui²⁴⁻²² laŋ²⁴ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sĩ²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

/d͡zit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ tʰau¹³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ iã²²⁻²¹ iã²² sui¹³⁻²² laŋ¹³ kɔ²¹⁻⁵³ sɛ̃²¹⁻⁵³ miã²²/

/zit̚⁴⁻³² tʰau²³ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ iã³³⁻²¹ iã³³ sui²³⁻³³ laŋ²³ kɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ sẽ²¹⁻⁴¹ miã³³/

(Hokkien) People tend to protect themselves first in adversity.


加減趁，較袂散

/ke⁴⁴⁻³³ kiam⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰan²¹ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ be³³⁻²¹ san²¹/

/ke⁴⁴⁻³³ kiam⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰan¹¹ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ be³³⁻¹¹ san¹¹/

(Taiwanese Hokkien) one is better off do some work for some money than doing nothing


慢工出細活

ㄇㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

маньгун чу сихо

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

ㄇㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊㄦ

маньгунчусихор

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔɻ³⁵/

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

/män⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ xu̯ɔɻ³⁵/

soft fire makes sweet malt
soft fire makes sweet malt

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

slow and meticulous work leads to fine quality; soft fire makes sweet malt; slow and steady wins the race


天下烏鴉一般黑

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨ ㄧㄚ ㄧ ㄅㄢ ㄏㄟ

tiānxià wūyā yībān hēi [Phonetic:tiānxià wūyā yìbān hēi]

тянься уя ибань хэй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u⁵⁵ jä⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² wuː⁵⁵ aː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ puːn⁵⁵ hɐk̚⁵/

bad people or things are similar everywhere


一朝天子一朝臣

One reign of emperor, one reign of ministers

ㄧ ㄔㄠˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄗˇ ㄧ ㄔㄠˊ ㄔㄣˊ

yī cháo tiānzǐ yī cháo chén [Phonetic:yì cháo tiānzǐ yì cháo chén]

и чао тяньцзы и чао чэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiːu̯²¹ sɐn²¹/

When a leader falls from power, his/her subordinates may fall from power too.


醜人多八怪

/t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ paːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³/

/t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ paːt̚³ kʷaːi̯³³/

(Cantonese) Ugly people tend to dress up weirdly or do weird things (to get attention).


醜人多作怪

ㄔㄡˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄞˋ

чоу жэнь до цзогуай

/ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯aɪ̯⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ kʷaːi̯³³/

(by extension) People without enough abilities tend to show off.


食尾牙面憂憂，食頭牙撚喙鬚

食尾牙面憂憂，食頭牙撚喙鬚

食尾牙面忧忧，食头牙撚喙须

worried when having last dinner with employer before Chinese New Year, but touching beard calmly when having the first dinner with employer after Chinese New Year

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ be⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ɡe²⁴ bin³³⁻¹¹ iu⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴⁻¹¹ ɡe²⁴ liɛn⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ bue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ɡe²³ bin³³⁻²¹ iu⁴⁴⁻³³ iu⁴⁴ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ tʰau²³⁻³³ ɡe²³ liɛn⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰui²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu⁴⁴/

(Southern Min) Employees are more prone to dismissal before than after Chinese New Year.

Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan


一講曹操，曹操就到

jat¹ gong² cou⁴ cou¹, cou⁴ cou¹ zau⁶ dou³

yāt góng chòuh chōu, chòuh chōu jauh dou

jat⁷ gong² tsou⁴ tsou¹, tsou⁴ tsou¹ dzau⁶ dou³

yed¹ gong² cou⁴ cou¹, cou⁴ cou¹ zeo⁶ dou³

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯²¹ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² tou̯³³/

speak of the devil and he shall appear
speak of the devil and he shall appear

(Cantonese) speak of the devil and he shall appear


各處鄉村各處例

各處鄕村各處例
各处乡村各处例

/kɔːk̚³ t͡sʰyː³³ hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn⁵⁵ kɔːk̚³ t͡sʰyː³³ lɐi̯²²/

(Cantonese) Different places have different customs.


金窩銀窩，不如自己的狗窩

金窩銀窩，不如自己的狗窩

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄨㄛ ㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄛ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄡˇ ㄨㄛ

цзинь во инь во

бужу цзыцзи дэ гоуво

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ in³⁵ wɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɔ⁵⁵/

In this phrase, 狗窩／狗窝 (gǒuwō) is a self-deprecatory term of one's home.

金窝银窝，不如自己的狗窝

A gold house or a silver house is not as good as one's doghouse

there's no place like home
there's no place like home


吉人自有天相

ㄐㄧˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

цзижэнь цзыю тяньсян

/t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/kɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡siː²² jɐu̯¹³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³/

A good person naturally enjoys the help from the Heaven. (Used as blessing words for people in difficulties)


風吹雞蛋殼，財散人安樂

[like how] wind blows eggshells apart, one is happy when wealth is lost

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ taːn²² hɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ saːn³³ jɐn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵy̯⁵⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ taːn²²⁻³⁵ hɔːk̚³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ saːn³³ jɐn²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵ lɔːk̚²/

(Cantonese) Don't be upset by spending or losing one's wealth.


蜀中無大將，廖化作先鋒

When there are no generals left inShu Han, even Liao Hua can become the leader

ㄕㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄨˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄐㄧㄤˋ

ㄌㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ

suk⁶ zung¹ mou⁴ daai⁶ zoeng³, liu⁶ faa³ zok³ sin¹ fung¹

Шу чжун у дацзян

Ляо Хуа цзо сяньфэн

/ʂu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵/

suhk jūng mòuh daaih jeung, liuh fa jok sīn fūng

suk⁹ dzung¹ mou⁴ daai⁶ dzoeng³, liu⁶ faa³ dzok⁸ sin¹ fung¹

sug⁶ zung¹ mou⁴ dai⁶ zêng³, liu⁶ fa³ zog³ xin¹ fung¹

/sʊk̚² t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ³³ liːu̯²² faː³³ t͡sɔːk̚³ siːn⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵/

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king; when the cat's away the mice will play


臭頭仔嘛會做皇帝，做總統你嘛有機會

臭頭仔嘛會做皇帝，做總統你嘛有機會

/t͡sʰau¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰau²⁴⁻³³ a⁵³ mã³³⁻¹¹ e³³⁻¹¹ t͡so¹¹⁻⁵³ hɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ te¹¹ t͡so¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁵³ li⁵³ mã³³⁻¹¹ u³³⁻¹¹ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ hue³³/

/t͡sʰau²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰau²³⁻³³ a⁴¹ mã³³⁻²¹ e³³⁻²¹ t͡sɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hɔŋ²³⁻³³ te²¹ t͡sɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tʰɔŋ⁴¹ li⁴¹ mã³³⁻²¹ u³³⁻²¹ ki⁴⁴⁻³³ hue³³/

臭頭仔／臭头仔 refers to Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of Ming Dynasty.

臭头仔嘛会做皇帝，做总统你嘛有机会

A country bumpkin can become the emperor too, and you have the chance to become the President too.

every dog has its day
every dog has its day

(Taiwanese Hokkien) every dog has its day


愚者千慮，必有一得

ㄩˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄩˋ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧ ㄉㄜˊ

jyu⁴ ze² cin¹ leoi⁶, bit¹ jau⁵ jat¹ dak¹

юйчжэцяньлюй

/y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

jy⁴ dze² tsin¹ loey⁶, bit⁷ jau⁵ jat⁷ dak⁷

/jyː²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

Lord Guangwu (Li Zuoche) said, “I have heard a saying that a wise person may make mistakes after thinking thousand times; an unintelligent person may have some good ideas after thinking thousand times.”

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

Guǎngwǔ jūn yuē: ‘Chén wén zhìzhěqiānlǜ，bìyǒuyīshī; yúzhěqiānlǜ，bìyǒuyīdé.’

廣武君曰：『臣聞智者千慮，必有一失；愚者千慮，必有一得。』

广武君曰：『臣闻智者千虑，必有一失；愚者千虑，必有一得。』

愚者千虑，必有一得
愚者千慮，亦有一得

even the foolish ones can sometimes have good ideas after making deep and careful consideration; even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while


精人出口，笨人出手

zeng¹ jan⁴ ceot¹ hau², ban⁶ jan⁴ ceot¹ sau²

jēng yàhn chēut háu, bahn yàhn chēut sáu

dzeng¹ jan⁴ tsoet⁷ hau², ban⁶ jan⁴ tsoet⁷ sau²

zéng¹ yen⁴ cêd¹ heo², ben⁶ yen⁴ cêd¹ seo²

/t͡sɛːŋ⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ hɐu̯³⁵ pɐn²² jɐn²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

a smart person settles disputes through communication; a stupid person fights


他山之石，可以攻玉

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄩˋ

/tʰä⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ y⁵¹/

taa¹ saan¹ dzi¹ sek⁹, ho² ji⁵ gung¹ juk⁹

/tʰaː⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² hɔː³⁵ jiː¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ jʊk̚²/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 184 (《詩經·小雅·鶴鳴》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·鶴鳴》)

(《詩經·小雅·鶴鳴》)

Pleasant is that garden, In which are the sandal trees;
But beneath them is the paper-mulberry tree,
The stones of those hills, May be used to polish gems.

Lè bǐ zhī yuán, yuán yǒu shù tán, qí xià wéi gǔ.
Tā shān zhī shí, kěyǐ gōng yù.

樂彼之園，爰有樹檀，其下維穀。
他山之石，可以攻玉。

乐彼之园，爰有树檀，其下维谷。
他山之石，可以攻玉。

Stones from another hill can be used to polish my jade

(figurative) advice from others may help remedy one's own shortcomings


寧為雞口，無為牛後

ja-r

鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ

けいこう となるも ぎゅうご となるなかれ

→ Japanese: 鶏口(けいこう)となるも牛後(ぎゅうご)となるなかれ (keikō tonarumo gyūgo tonarunakare) (calque)

desc

→ Vietnamese: Thà làm đầu gà, hơn làm đuôi trâu (calque)

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄨˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄏㄡˋ

нин вэй цзикоу

/niŋ³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

Quoted from Su Qin's speech to King Xuanhui of Han, persuading him to unite with other states to fight against Qin

(Su Qin said,) “I have heard that there is a saying that ‘it is better to be the beak of a chicken than the arse of an ox’. Now if Your Majesty would like to bow to the west and submit to Qin, that is no difference with being an ox's arse, isn't it?”

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Chén wén bǐyǔ yuē: “Níng wèi jī kǒu, wú wèi niú hòu”. Jīn dàwáng xīmiàn jiāobì ér chénshì qín, héyǐ yì yú niú hòu hū?

臣聞鄙語曰：「寧為雞口，無為牛後」。今大王西面交臂而臣事秦，何以異於牛後乎？

臣闻鄙语曰：「宁为鸡口，无为牛后」。今大王西面交臂而臣事秦，何以异于牛后乎？

寧爲鷄口，無爲牛後
宁为鸡口，无为牛后
寧為雞口，不為牛後

Better be the beak of a chicken (smaller but cleaner) than the arse of an ox (bigger but dirtier)

Chéngchí jiāngù, liángcǎo fēngzú, shàng kě zhànshǒu. Gǔyǔ yǒu yún: ‘Níngwèijīkǒu, wúwèiniúhòu’.

城池堅固，糧草豐足，尚可戰守。古語有云：『寧為雞口，無為牛後』。

城池坚固，粮草丰足，尚可战守。古语有云：『宁为鸡口，无为牛后』。

big fish in a small pond
big fish in a small pond

(figurative) It is better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.


糟糠之妻不下堂

ㄗㄠ ㄎㄤ ㄓ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄤˊ

zāokāng zhī qī bù xiàtáng [Phonetic:zāokāng zhī qī bú xiàtáng]

tsao¹-kʻang¹ chih¹ chʻi¹ pu⁴ hsia⁴-tʻang²

цзаокан чжи ци бу сятан

/t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

Treasure those who had been good to you when you were in need.


竊鉤者誅，竊國者侯

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄡ ㄓㄜˇ ㄓㄨ

ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄏㄡˊ

chʻieh⁴ kou¹ chê³ chu¹, chʻieh⁴ kuo² chê³ hou²

це гоу чжэ чжу

це го чжэ хоу

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ koʊ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xoʊ̯³⁵/

Here is one who steals a hook (for his girdle) - he is put to death for it: here is another who steals a state - he becomes its prince. But it is at the gates of the princes that we find benevolence and righteousness (most strongly) professed - is not this stealing benevolence and righteousness, sageness and wisdom?

Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Bǐ qiè gōu zhě zhū, qiè guó zhě wèi zhūhóu, zhūhóu zhī mén, ér rényì cún yān, zé shìfēi qiè rényì shèng zhì yé?

彼竊鉤者誅，竊國者為諸侯，諸侯之門，而仁義存焉，則是非竊仁義聖知邪？

彼窃钩者诛，窃国者为诸侯，诸侯之门，而仁义存焉，则是非窃仁义圣知邪？

竊鈎者誅，竊國者侯
窃钩者诛，窃国者侯

(sarcastic) Used to criticize political corruption to an extent that right and wrong is falsified.


故舊不棄

ㄍㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/kuː³³ kɐu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/ku⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/kuː³³ kɐu̯²² pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/


物似主人形

/mɐt̚² t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/mɐt̚² t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

(Cantonese) possessions reflect their owner


在家千日好，出門一時難

ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ㄔㄨ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ

zoi⁶ gaa¹ cin¹ jat⁶ hou², ceot¹ mun⁴ jat¹ si⁴ naan⁴

chūmén yīshí nán [Phonetic:zàijiā qiānrì hǎo

цзайцзя цяньжи хао

чумэнь иши нань

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ mən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵/

joih gā chīn yaht hóu, chēut mùhn yāt sìh nàahn

dzoi⁶ gaa¹ tsin¹ jat⁹ hou², tsoet⁷ mun⁴ jat⁷ si⁴ naan⁴

zoi⁶ ga¹ qin¹ yed⁶ hou², cêd¹ mun⁴ yed¹ xi⁴ nan⁴

/t͡sɔːi̯²² kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚² hou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ muːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ naːn²¹/

It is good to stay at home, but there are many difficulties outside.


東家唔打打西家

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ m̩²¹ taː³⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) one does not need to stick to the same company; jobs are always available somewhere


貪字貧字殼

From the graphical similarity between 貪 (“to be greedy; greed”) and 貧 (“to be poor; poverty”).

the character 'greed' is shelled in the character'poverty'

(Southern Min) Do not be greedy or you will suffer losses


尺有所短，寸有所長

ㄔˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄤˊ

cek³ jau⁵ so² dyun², cyun³ jau⁵ so² coeng⁴

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

chek yáuh só dyún, chyun yáuh só chèuhng

tsek⁸ jau⁵ so² dyn², tsyn³ jau⁵ so² tsoeng⁴

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ tyːn³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

Sometimes a foot may lack the strength, While an inch is just fit in length, Things have their flaws, and the wise may Sometimes prove to be dim in sight. Divining may not all reveal; All oracles not be applied.

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

Fū chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn, cùn yǒu suǒ cháng, wù yǒu suǒ bùzú, zhì yǒu suǒ bùmíng, shù yǒusuǒ bùdài, shén yǒusuǒ bùtōng.

夫尺有所短，寸有所長，物有所不足，智有所不明，數有所不逮，神有所不通。

夫尺有所短，寸有所长，物有所不足，智有所不明，数有所不逮，神有所不通。

(figurative) everyone has their weak points as well as their strong ones; Everybody has their own merits and demerits


唔怕生壞命，最怕改壞名

fear not born to be unlucky, but fear most for giving one a bad name

m⁴ paa³ saang¹ waai⁶ meng⁶, zeoi³ paa³ goi² waai⁶ meng⁴⁻²

m̀h pa sāang waaih mehng, jeui pa gói waaih méng

m⁴ paa³ saang¹ waai⁶ meng⁶, dzoey³ paa³ goi² waai⁶ meng⁴⁻²

m⁴ pa³ sang¹ wai⁶ méng⁶, zêu³ pa³ goi² wai⁶ méng⁴⁻²

/m̩²¹ pʰaː³³ saːŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²² mɛːŋ²² t͡sɵy̯³³ pʰaː³³ kɔːi̯³⁵ waːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) Giving a bad name to a child may affect his/her fate.


你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何

head

你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何

你的样子如何，你的命运也必如何

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

nei⁵ dik¹ joeng⁶ zi² jyu⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik¹ ming⁶ wan⁶ jaa⁵ bit¹ jyu⁴ ho⁴

ни дэ янцзы жухэ

ни дэмин юнь е бижу хэ

/ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ jɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

néih dīk yeuhng jí yùh hòh, néih dīk mihng wahn yáh bīt yùh hòh

nei⁵ dik⁷ joeng⁶ dzi² jy⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik⁷ ming⁶ wan⁶ jaa⁵ bit⁷ jy⁴ ho⁴

néi⁵ dig¹ yêng⁶ ji² yu⁴ ho⁴, néi⁵ dig¹ ming⁶ wen⁶ ya⁵ bid¹ yu⁴ ho⁴

/nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹ nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ mɪŋ²² wɐn²² jaː¹³ piːt̚⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹/

你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何 你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何#Chinese

你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何 你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何#Chinese

your face, your fate
your face, your fate

(Hong Kong, neologism) Synonym of 你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何／你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何 (nǐ de yàngzǐ rúhé, nǐ de rìzǐ yě bì rúhé, “your face, your fate”)


惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著赤查某

惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著赤查某

惹熊惹虎，毋通惹着赤查某
惹熊惹虎，毋通惹着赤查某
惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著刺查某

One may mess with a bear or a tiger, but should never mess with a shrew

/zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ him²³ zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hɔ⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ tʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔ⁴¹/


來說是非者，便是是非人

ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄓㄜˇ

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄖㄣˊ

loi⁴ syut³ si⁶ fei¹ ze², bin⁶ si⁶ si⁶ fei¹ jan⁴

лай шо шифэй чжэ

бянь ши шифэй жэнь

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

lòih syut sih fēi jé, bihn sih sih fēi yàhn

loi⁴ syt⁸ si⁶ fei¹ dze², bin⁶ si⁶ si⁶ fei¹ jan⁴

loi⁴ xud³ xi⁶ féi¹ zé², bin⁶ xi⁶ xi⁶ féi¹ yen⁴

/lɔːi̯²¹ syːt̚³ siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ piːn²² siː²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

People who like to talk about rumours are those who create rumours.


三仆六坐九扶籬

/saːm⁵⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɔː¹³ kɐu̯³⁵ fuː²¹ lei̯²¹/

(Cantonese) a baby can roll over at three months of age, sit at six months of age, and pull to stand at nine months of age


臺上一分鐘，臺下十年功

台上一分钟，台下十年功
台上一分鐘，台下十年功

ㄊㄞˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ

ㄊㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

táixià shínián gōng [Phonetic:tái shàng yì fēnzhōng

тай шан и фэньчжун

тайся шинянь гун

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

a minute performing on stage represents a decade of work off-stage


小財唔出，大財唔入

síu chòih m̀h chēut, daaih chòih m̀h yahp

siu² tsoi⁴ m⁴ tsoet⁷, daai⁶ tsoi⁴ m⁴ jap⁹

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ m̩²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ m̩²¹ jɐp̚²/

(Cantonese) One must sacrifice a small amount of money to earn big money.


小財不出，大財不入

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/


醜婦終須見家翁

an ugly woman eventually has to see her father-in-law

/t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ fuː¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kaː⁵⁵ jʊŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) if one has an undesirable thing to do (e.g., revealing something embarrassing), one eventually still has to do it


君子喻於義，小人喻於利

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄌㄧˋ

gwan¹ zi² jyu⁶ jyu¹ ji⁶, siu² jan⁴ jyu⁶ jyu¹ lei⁶

chün¹-tzŭ³ yü⁴ yü² i⁴

цзюньцзы юй юй и

сяожэнь юй юй ли

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ y³⁵ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ y⁵¹ y³⁵ li⁵¹/

gwān jí yuh yū yih, síu yàhn yuh yū leih

gwan¹ dzi² jy⁶ jy¹ ji⁶, siu² jan⁴ jy⁶ jy¹ lei⁶

guen¹ ji² yu⁶ yu¹ yi⁶, xiu² yen⁴ yu⁶ yu¹ léi⁶

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jyː²² jyː⁵⁵ jiː²² siːu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jyː²² jyː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

The Master said, "The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain."

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

Zǐ yuē, jūnzǐ yù yú yì, xiǎorén yù yú lì.

子曰、君子喻於義、小人喻於利。

子曰、君子喻于义、小人喻于利。

A high-minded person knows with regard to righteousness, a small-minded person knows with regard to profit

High-minded people value doing the right thing, but low-minded people value doing the profitable thing


食四面風，講五色話

eat winds from every direction and speaking languages of various colors

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ su²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ su¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ su²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ si¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² huaŋ³³ kaŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siak̚⁵⁻²⁴ ue⁴¹/

(Southern Min) to be flexible and know what to say in different situations and to different people

見人說人話，見鬼說鬼話／见人说人话，见鬼说鬼话

jiàn rén shuō rénhuà, jiàn guǐ shuō guǐhuà


見人講人話，見鬼講鬼話

speaking the language of humans when seeing a human, and speaking the language of devils when seeing a devil

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

gin³ jan⁴ gong² jan⁴ waa⁶⁻², gin³ gwai² gong² gwai² waa⁶⁻²

jiàn rén jiǎng rénhuà, jiàn guǐ jiǎng guǐhuà [Phonetic:jiànrénjiǎngrénhuà,jiànguíjiángguǐhuà]

цзянь жэнь цзян жэньхуа

цзянь гуй цзян гуйхуа

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

gin yàhn góng yàhn wá, gin gwái góng gwái wá

gin³ yen⁴ gong² yen⁴ wa⁶⁻², gin³ guei² gong² guei² wa⁶⁻²

/kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ waː²²⁻³⁵ kiːn³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/

(figurative) to be flexible and know what to say in different situations and to different people; (derogatory) to be crafty and two-faced


教識徒弟冇師傅

教识徒弟冇师傅
教識徒弟冇師父
教識徒弟無師傅
教識徒弟無師父

teach a disciple and they will not need the teacher

/kaːu̯³³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰou̯²¹ tɐi̯²²⁻³⁵ mou̯¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) Do not teach everything you know to your disciples


觀棋不語真君子，起手無回大丈夫

觀棋不語真君子，起手無回大丈夫

观棋不语真君子，起手无回大丈夫

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄓㄣ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ

ㄑㄧˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ˙ㄈㄨ

ㄑㄧˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ

gun¹ kei⁴ bat¹ jyu⁵ zan¹ gwan¹ zi², hei² sau² mou⁴ wui⁴ daai⁶ zoeng⁶ fu¹

qǐshǒu wú huí dàzhàngfu [Phonetic:guānqíbùyǔzhēnjūnzǐ

гуань ци бу юй чжэнь цзюньцзы

цишоу у хуэй дачжанфу

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu¹/

qǐshǒu wú huí dàzhàngfū [Phonetic:guānqíbùyǔzhēnjūnzǐ

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

gūn kèih bāt yúh jān gwān jí, héi sáu mòuh wùih daaih jeuhng fū

gun¹ kei⁴ bat⁷ jy⁵ dzan¹ gwan¹ dzi², hei² sau² mou⁴ wui⁴ daai⁶ dzoeng⁶ fu¹

gun¹ kéi⁴ bed¹ yu⁵ zen¹ guen¹ ji², héi² seo² mou⁴ wui⁴ dai⁶ zêng⁶ fu¹

/kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ wuːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² fuː⁵⁵/

Do not make any comments on a chess game when watching it, and do not regret your move when playing a chess game.


夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也

夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也

ㄈㄨˊ ㄙㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄙㄤ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄙㄤˋ ㄧㄝˇ

fu⁴ saam¹ nin⁴ zi¹ song¹, tin¹ haa⁶ zi¹ tung¹ song⁶ jaa⁵

фу сань нянь чжи сан

тянься чжи тунсан е

/fu³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

fùh sāam nìhn jī sōng, tīn hah jī tūng sohng yáh

fu⁴ saam¹ nin⁴ dzi¹ song¹, tin¹ haa⁶ dzi¹ tung¹ song⁶ jaa⁵

fu⁴ sam¹ nin⁴ ji¹ song¹, tin¹ ha⁶ ji¹ tung¹ song⁶ ya⁵

/fuː²¹ saːm⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ²² jaː¹³/

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?"

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？」

夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也

The three years' mourning is the common funeral rite of all under Heaven

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


溫言在口，大棒在手

ㄨㄣ ㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄡˇ

wan¹ jin⁴ zoi⁶ hau², daai⁶ paang⁵ zoi⁶ sau²

вэньянь цзай коу

дабан цзай шоу

/wən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

wān yìhn joih háu, daaih páahng joih sáu

wan¹ jin⁴ dzoi⁶ hau², daai⁶ paang⁵ dzoi⁶ sau²

wen¹ yin⁴ zoi⁶ heo², dai⁶ pang⁵ zoi⁶ seo²

/wɐn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² hɐu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² pʰaːŋ¹³ t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐu̯³⁵/

Calque of English speak softly and carry a big stick.

calque

gentle words in mouth, big stick on hand

2024 January 14, Lianhe Zaobao, 美学者提醒：台湾选后应保持克制同时加强备战 (American Scholar Reminds: Post-Election Taiwan Should Exercise Restraint while Enhance War-Preperation):

Larry Diamond also quotes the late U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt's famous quote "speak softly and carry a big stick". He says the Biden Administration follows this path by not pursuing provocation...

Dàiyǎmén yě yǐnshù měiguó yǐgù zǒngtǒng lǎo luósīfú míngyán “wēnyánzàikǒu, dàbàngzàishǒu”, zhǐ bàidēng zhèngfǔ zhèngshì yīxún cǐ lùxiàn, bù cǎiqǔ tiǎoxìn jǔcuò......

戴雅門也引述美國已故總統老羅斯福名言“溫言在口，大棒在手”，指拜登政府正是依循此路線，不採取挑釁舉措……

戴雅门也引述美国已故总统老罗斯福名言“温言在口，大棒在手”，指拜登政府正是依循此路线，不采取挑衅举措……

speak softly and carry a big stick
speak softly and carry a big stick


寧欺白鬚公，莫欺少年窮

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ

ning⁴ hei¹ baak⁶ sou¹ gung¹, mok⁶ hei¹ siu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

нин ци байсюй гун

мо ци шаонянь цюн

/niŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/niŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

nìhng hēi baahk sōu gūng, mohk hēi siu nìhn kùhng

ning⁴ hei¹ baak⁹ sou¹ gung¹, mok⁹ hei¹ siu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

ning⁴ héi¹ bag⁶ sou¹ gung¹, mog⁶ héi¹ xiu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

/nɪŋ²¹ hei̯⁵⁵ paːk̚² sou̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³³ niːn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

Originally Cantonese. First attested in the vernacular novel 廿載繁華夢 by Huang Shizhong (黃世仲／黄世仲) from Panyu, Guangdong.

Do not look down on a young person for being poor


會哭的孩子有奶吃

会哭的孩子有奶吃
會哭的孩子有奶喫

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄎㄨ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄞˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄞˇ ㄔ

huì kū de háizi yǒu nǎi chī [Phonetic:huìkūdeháiziyóunǎichī]

хуэй ку дэ хайцзы ю най чи

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵ d̥ə² xaɪ̯³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

the squeaky wheel gets the grease
the squeaky wheel gets the grease


行路倚壁邊，做事較大天

/kiã²³⁻³³ lɔ³³ ua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue²¹⁻⁴¹ su³³ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tua³³⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/kiã²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔ³³ ua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue¹¹⁻⁵³ su³³ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tua³³⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/kiã²⁴⁻²² lɔ²² ua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue²¹⁻⁵³ su²² kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tua²²⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) those who are humble and conceal their talents are often the ones who do great things


拍拳看勢，順風攑旗

拍拳看势，顺风𫽥旗
拍拳看勢，順風揭旗

Shadowboxing should be done in accordance with boxing postures, and the flag should be raised in the direction of the wind.

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun²⁴⁻²² kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ se²¹ sun²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ki²⁴/

/pʰa(ʔ)⁵ kun²⁴⁻²² kʰuã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ se⁴¹ sun⁴¹⁻²² huaŋ³³ ka(ʔ)²⁴⁻² ki²⁴/

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun¹³⁻²² kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ si²¹ sun²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ ki¹³/

(Hokkien) to speak and act in accordance to rules and laws and complying with the circumstances


蒼蠅附驥尾而致千里

The housefly on the tail of a noble steed travels a thousand miles.

ㄘㄤ ˙ㄧㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

tsʻang¹-ying⁵ fu⁴ chi⁴ wei³ êrh² chih⁴ chʻien¹-li³

цанъин фу цзи вэй эр чжи цяньли

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ iŋ² fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants

a dwarf stands on the shoulders of giants


蠅附驥尾而致千里

The fly on the tail of a noble steed travels a thousand miles.

ㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

ying² fu⁴ chi⁴ wei³ êrh² chih⁴ chʻien¹-li³

ин фу цзи вэй эр чжи цяньли

/iŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


入鄉隨俗，入港隨灣

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

rib⁸ hion¹ sui⁵ sog⁸, rib⁸ gang² sui⁵ uang¹

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

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

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

/d͡zip̚⁴⁻² hĩõ³³⁻²³ sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sok̚⁴ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² kaŋ⁵² sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ uaŋ³³/

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

(Southern Min) when in Rome, do as the Romans do


養兒一百歲，長憂九十九

When a parent raises a child for 100 years, he/she would worry for him/her for 99 years

ㄧㄢˇ ㄍㄜˊㄦ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

ㄔㄤˊ ㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

joeng⁵ ji⁴ jat¹ baak³ seoi³, coeng⁴ jau¹ gau² sap⁶ gau²

cháng yōu jiǔshíjiǔ [Phonetic:yǎngér yìbǎi suì

яньгэр ибай суй

чан ю цзюшицзю

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤɻ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

yéuhng yìh yāt baak seui, chèuhng yāu gáu sahp gáu

joeng⁵ ji⁴ jat⁷ baak⁸ soey³, tsoeng⁴ jau¹ gau² sap⁹ gau²

yêng⁵ yi⁴ yed¹ bag³ sêu³, cêng⁴ yeo¹ geo² seb⁶ geo²

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ jɐt̚⁵ paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ sɐp̚² kɐu̯³⁵/

A parent always cares about their children no matter how old they are.


教會徒弟，餓死師傅

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ

цзяохуэй туди

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

If a master teaches his apprentice everything without reservation, the apprentice may surpass the master, causing the master to lose his livelihood


無三不成幾

/mou̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kei̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) when 幾／几 (gei2) is used, the number it refers to should be at least three


一人計短，二人計長

ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄦˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄔㄤˊ

jat¹ jan⁴ gai³ dyun², ji⁶ jan⁴ gai³ coeng⁴

èr rén jì cháng [Phonetic:yì rén jì duǎn

i¹ jên² chi⁴ tuan³, êrh⁴ jên² chi⁴ chʻang²

и жэнь цзи дуань

эр жэнь цзи чан

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

jat⁷ jan⁴ gai³ dyn², ji⁶ jan⁴ gai³ tsoeng⁴

yed¹ yen⁴ gei³ dün², yi⁶ yen⁴ gei³ cêng⁴

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ kɐi̯³³ tyːn³⁵ jiː²² jɐn²¹ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

two heads are better than one
two heads are better than one

two heads are better than one; it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone


蘿蔔白菜，各有所愛

Daikon or bok choi; everyone has their preference.

ㄌㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄅㄛ ㄅㄞˊ ㄘㄞˋ

ㄍㄜˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄞˋ

luóbo báicài, gè yǒu suǒ ài [Phonetic:luóbobáicài,gèyóusuǒài]

/lu̯ɔ³⁵ b̥u̯ɔ³ paɪ̯³⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kɤ⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/

one man's trash is another man's treasure, to each his own


近水樓臺先得月

近水楼台先得月
近水樓台先得月

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄡˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄜˊ ㄩㄝˋ

цзиньшуйлоутай сянь дэ юэ

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ loʊ̯³⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹/

/kɐn²² sɵy̯³⁵ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɔːi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ jyːt̚²/

proximity or closeness to someone or something grants an advantage or priority in gaining certain benefits


外來的和尚好念經

Monks from afar are better at chanting sutras

ㄨㄞˋ ㄌㄞˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄋㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄥ

wai⁴-lai² tê⁵ ho²-shang⁴ hao³ nien⁴-ching¹

вайлай дэ хэшан хао няньцзин

/waɪ̯⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ d̥ə³ xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

(sarcastic) People always value opinions from foreign sources higher than their fellows' advice.


相見好，同住難

ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨˋ ㄋㄢˊ

сянцзянь хао

тун чжу нань

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ nän³⁵/

/sœːŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ hou̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ t͡syː²² naːn²¹/

it is easy for people to meet each other but hard for them to live together peacefully


得道多助，失道寡助

ㄉㄜˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨˋ

ㄕ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄓㄨˋ

/tɤ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ku̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

dak⁷ dou⁶ do¹ dzo⁶, sat⁷ dou⁶ gwaa² dzo⁶

/tɐk̚⁵ tou̯²² tɔː⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²² sɐt̚⁵ tou̯²² kʷaː³⁵ t͡sɔː²²/

He who finds the proper course has many to assist him. He who loses the proper course has few to assist him. When this - the being assisted by few - reaches its extreme point, his own relations revolt from the prince. When the being assisted by many reaches its highest point, the whole kingdom becomes obedient to the prince.

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

Dédào zhě duōzhù, shīdào zhě guǎzhù. Guǎzhù zhī zhì, qīnqī pàn zhī; duōzhù zhī zhì, tiānxià shùn zhī.

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，親戚畔之；多助之至，天下順之。

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔之；多助之至，天下顺之。

a just cause attracts abundant support while an unjust cause finds little support


燒瓷的食缺，織蓆的睏椅

Potters eat out of chipped [bowls]; mat weavers sleep on chairs.

the shoemaker's children go barefoot
the shoemaker's children go barefoot

(Hokkien, figurative) one often neglects those closest to oneself; the shoemaker's children go barefoot


一人一半，感情𣍐散

一人一半，感情𫧃散
一人一半，感情袂散
一人一半，感情不散
一人一半，感情襪散

/t͡sit̚⁴³⁻²¹ laŋ²⁴ t͡sit̚⁴³⁻²¹ puã²¹ kam⁴²⁻²⁴ t͡seŋ²⁴ bue²²⁻²¹ suã²¹/

(Hokkien) If things are shared equally, feelings of affection will never diminish


五窮六絕七翻身

/ŋ̍¹³ kʰʊŋ²¹ lʊk̚² t͡syːt̚² t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ faːn⁵⁵ sɐn⁵⁵/

(Hong Kong Cantonese) the stock market falls in May, reaches the bottom in June, and rebounds in July


一雞死一雞鳴

一鸡死一鸡鸣
一鷄死一鷄鳴

/jɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

(Cantonese) when an entity (e.g. a business) falls, another will take its place


人搖福薄，樹搖葉落

jan⁴ jiu⁴ fuk¹ bok⁶, syu⁶ jiu⁴ jip⁶ lok⁶

/jɐn²¹ jiːu̯²¹ fʊk̚⁵ pɔːk̚² syː²² jiːu̯²¹ jiːp̚² lɔːk̚²/

(Cantonese) A saying that discourages one from bouncing one's legs


誰大誰惡誰正確

ㄕㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄟˊ ㄜˋ ㄕㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄜˋ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩㄝˋ

шэй да шэй э шэй чжэнцюэ

/ʂeɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

шуй да шуй э шуй чжэнцюэ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯²¹ taːi̯²² sɵy̯²¹ ɔːk̚³ sɵy̯²¹ t͡sɪŋ³³ kʰɔːk̚³/

From the 2018 TVB drama The Learning Curve of a Warlord.


燈下黑

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ xeɪ̯⁵⁵/

(literally) it's dark right under the lamp

(figurative) people tend to overlook things right under their noses


今日唔知聽日事

/kɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚² m̩²¹ t͡siː³⁵ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jɐt̚² siː²²/

(Cantonese) one cannot know what will happen tomorrow