勞心者治人，勞力者治於人

勞心者治人，勞力者治於人

ㄌㄠˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄜˇ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄌㄠˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄓˋ ㄩˊ ㄖㄣˊ

lou⁴ sam¹ ze² zi⁶ jan⁴, lou⁴ lik⁶ ze² zi⁶ jyu¹ jan⁴

лаосиньчжэчжижэнь

лаоличжэчжиюйжэнь

laosinʹčžɛčžižɛnʹ

/lɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ lɑʊ̯³⁵ li⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

lòuh sām jé jih yàhn, lòuh lihk jé jih yū yàhn

lou⁴ sam¹ dze² dzi⁶ jan⁴, lou⁴ lik⁹ dze² dzi⁶ jy¹ jan⁴

lou⁴ sem¹ zé² ji⁶ yen⁴, lou⁴ lig⁶ zé² ji⁶ yu¹ yen⁴

/lou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡siː²² jɐn²¹ lou̯²¹ lɪk̚² t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡siː²² jyː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

Then, is it the government of the kingdom which alone can be carried on along with the practice of husbandry? Great men have their proper business, and little men have their proper business. Moreover, in the case of any single individual, whatever articles he can require are ready to his hand, being produced by the various handicraftsmen - if he must first make them for his own use, this way of doing would keep all the people running about upon the roads. Hence, there is the saying, "Some labour with their minds, and some labour with their strength. Those who labour with their minds govern others; those who labour with their strength are governed by others. Those who are governed by others support them; those who govern others are supported by them. This is a principle universally recognised.

Ránzé zhì tiānxià dú kě gēng qiě wéi yú? Yǒu dàrén zhī shì, yǒu xiǎorén zhī shì. Qiě yīrén zhī shēn, ér bǎigōng zhī suǒ wèi bèi. Rú bì zì wéi ér hòu yòng zhī, shì shuài tiānxià ér lù yě. Gù yuē: huò láoxīn, huò láolì; láoxīn zhě zhì rén, láolì zhě zhì yú rén; zhì yú rén zhě sì rén, zhì rén zhě sì yú rén: tiānxià zhī tōngyì yě.

然則治天下獨可耕且為與？有大人之事，有小人之事。且一人之身，而百工之所為備。如必自為而後用之，是率天下而路也。故曰：或勞心，或勞力；勞心者治人，勞力者治於人；治於人者食人，治人者食於人：天下之通義也。

然则治天下独可耕且为与？有大人之事，有小人之事。且一人之身，而百工之所为备。如必自为而后用之，是率天下而路也。故曰：或劳心，或劳力；劳心者治人，劳力者治于人；治于人者食人，治人者食于人：天下之通义也。

劳心者治人，劳力者治于人


人生七十古來稀

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧ ㄕˊ ㄍㄨˇ ㄌㄞˊ ㄒㄧ

жэньшэн циши гулай си

/ʐən³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ laɪ̯³⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐt̚⁵ sɐp̚² kuː³⁵ lɔːi̯²¹ hei̯⁵⁵/

My debts for ale are commonplace everywhere I go, for a man to live to seventy has always been quite rare.

Du Fu (杜甫), 《曲江二首》其二; translated by Stephen Owen

Jiǔ zhài xúncháng xíng chù yǒu, rénshēng qīshí gǔlái xī.

酒債尋常行處有，人生七十古來稀。

酒债寻常行处有，人生七十古来稀。

it is rare for a person to live to seventy


勤有功，戲無益

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄥ

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹ u³⁵ i⁵¹/

/kʰɐn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ hei̯³³ mou̯²¹ jɪk̚⁵/

Diligence has its reward; play has no advantages. Oh, be on your guard, and put forth your strength.

Three Character Classic, circa 13ᵗʰ century CE

Qín yǒu gōng, xì wúyì. Jiè zhī zāi, yí miǎnlì.

勤有功，戲無益。戒之哉，宜勉力。

勤有功，戏无益。戒之哉，宜勉力。

diligence has its reward while play has no benefit


好奇害死貓

ㄏㄠˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄏㄞˋ ㄙˇ ㄇㄠ

хаоци хайсы мао

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ xaɪ̯⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ mɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ hɔːi̯²² sei̯³⁵ maːu̯⁵⁵/

/hou̯³³ kʰei̯²¹ hɔːi̯²² sei̯³⁵ maːu̯⁵⁵/

Calque of English curiosity killed the cat.

calque

curiosity killed the cat
curiosity killed the cat


前車覆，後車戒

the carts to come should be alerted by the overturned cart ahead

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

цянь цзюй фу

хоу цзюй цзе

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ kɵy̯⁵⁵ fʊk̚⁵ hɐu̯²² kɵy̯⁵⁵ kaːi̯³³/

previous experience of failure can serve as a lesson for oneself or others


四海之內皆兄弟

ㄙˋ ㄏㄞˇ ㄓ ㄋㄟˋ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ

сыхай чжи нэй цзе сюнди

/sz̩⁵¹ xaɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ neɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹/

/sei̯³³ hɔːi̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ nɔːi̯²² kaːi̯⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²²/

Zixia said to him, "There is the following saying which I have heard - 'Death and life have their determined appointment; riches and honors depend upon Heaven.' Let the superior man never fail reverentially to order his own conduct, and let him be respectful to others and observant of propriety - then all within the four seas will be his brothers. What has the superior man to do with being distressed because he has no brothers?"

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

Zǐxià yuē: “Shāng wén zhī yǐ: ‘Sǐshēng yǒu mìng, fùguì zài tiān’. Jūnzǐ jìng ér wú shī, yǔ rén gōng ér yǒulǐ, sìhǎi zhī nèi, jiē xiōngdì yě, jūnzǐ hé huàn hū wú xiōngdì yě!”

子夏曰：「商聞之矣：『死生有命，富貴在天』。君子敬而無失，與人恭而有禮，四海之內，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎無兄弟也！」

子夏曰：「商闻之矣：『死生有命，富贵在天』。君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎无兄弟也！」

Lu Da said: "Squire, you've been treating this drunkard so well. How can I repay you?" Squire Zhao answered: "Within the four seas, all men are brothers. Why mention repayment?"

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

Lǔ Dá dào: “Yuánwài cuò'ài jiǔjiā, rúhé bàodá?” Zhào yuánwài biàn dào: “‘sìhǎizhīnèijiēxiōngdì yě.’ Rúhé yán bàodá zhī shì?”

魯達道：「員外錯愛酒家，如何報答？」趙員外便道：「『四海之內皆兄弟也。』如何言報答之事？」

鲁达道：「员外错爱酒家，如何报答？」赵员外便道：「『四海之内皆兄弟也。』如何言报答之事？」


天網恢恢，疏而不漏

desc

天網恢恢疎にして漏らさず

→ Japanese: 天網恢恢疎にして漏らさず (tenmō kaikai so ni shite morasazu) (calque)

→ Vietnamese: lưới trời lồng lộng, tuy thưa mà khó thoát (calque)

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄤˇ ㄏㄨㄟ ㄏㄨㄟ

ㄕㄨ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄡˋ

тяньванхуэйхуэй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ wɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ loʊ̯⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ mɔːŋ¹³ fuːi̯⁵⁵ fuːi̯⁵⁵ sɔː⁵⁵ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²²/

From the 73ʳᵈ chapter of the Tao Te Ching

The Tao of Nature, does not contend, yet easily wins, does not speak, yet always responds, does not summon, yet all things gather, does not contemplate as if at ease, yet all plans were devised perfectly. The law of nature is like a giant web, although sparsely meshed, nothing could slip through.

Tiān zhī dào, bù zhēng ér shàn shèng, bù yìng ér shàn yìng, bù zhào ér zì lái, chánrán ér shàn móu. Tiānwǎnghuīhuī, shū ér bù shī.

天之道，不爭而善勝，不應而善應，不召而自來，繟然而善謀。天網恢恢，疏而不失。

天之道，不争而善胜，不应而善应，不召而自来，𦈎然而善谋。天网恢恢，疏而不失。

Thelaw of nature is like a giant web, although sparsely meshed, nothing could slip through.

lawbreakers will always be arrested and punished


射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王

shè rén xiān shè mǎ, qín zéi xiān qín wáng

ㄕㄜˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄜˋ ㄇㄚˇ

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

shè rén sian shè mǎ, cín zéi sian cín wáng

shê⁴ jên² hsien¹ shê⁴ ma³, chʻin² tsei² hsien¹ chʻin² wang²

shè rén syān shè mǎ-, chín dzéi syān chín wáng

sheh ren shian sheh maa, chyn tzeir shian chyn wang

шэ жэнь сянь шэ ма

цинь цзэй сянь цинь ван

šɛ žɛnʹ sjanʹ šɛ ma

/ʂɤ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤ⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

A line from the poem 《前出塞·其六》 by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu.

Toshoot a rider, first shoot the horse; to catch a thief, first capture the king

defeat the enemy by capturing their chief


蓬生麻中，不扶而直

ㄆㄥˊ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄚˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˊ ㄦˊ ㄓˊ

pung⁴ sang¹ maa⁴ zung¹, bat¹ fu⁴ ji⁴ zik⁶

pʻêng² shêng¹ ma² chung¹, pu⁴ fu² êrh² chih²

пэн шэн ма чжун

бу фу эр чжи

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ mä³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ fu³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩³⁵/

pung⁴ sang¹ maa⁴ dzung¹, bat⁷ fu⁴ ji⁴ dzik⁹

pung⁴ seng¹ ma⁴ zung¹, bed¹ fu⁴ yi⁴ jig⁶

/pʰʊŋ²¹ sɐŋ⁵⁵ maː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²¹ jiː²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

Likewise, when the peng vine grows among hemp plants, it goes up straight without being stood upright. When white sand is put into black mud, it also becomes black.

Péng shēng má zhōng, bù fú ér zhí; báishā zài niè, yǔ zhī jù hēi.

蓬生麻中，不扶而直；白沙在涅，與之俱黑。

蓬生麻中，不扶而直；白沙在涅，与之俱黑。

one can become a good person by being in a good environment


德不孤，必有鄰

덕불고 필유린(德不孤，必有鄰)

→ Korean: 덕불고 필유린(德不孤，必有鄰)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (德不孤，必有鄰):
* → Korean: 덕불고 필유린(德不孤，必有鄰)
* → Vietnamese: đức bất cô, tất hữu lân (德不孤，必有鄰)

desc

→ Japanese: 徳は孤ならず必ず隣あり (toku wa ko narazu kanarazu tonari ari) (calque)

ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɵn²¹/

/tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ku⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lin³⁵/

/tɐk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kuː⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ lɵn²¹/

The Master said, "Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors."

子曰：「德不孤，必有鄰。」

子曰：「德不孤，必有邻。」

a virtuous person is never solitary but always has companions


君子交絕，不出惡聲

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄐㄧㄠ ㄐㄩㄝˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄜˋ ㄕㄥ

gwan¹ zi² gaau¹ zyut⁶, bat¹ ceot¹ ok³ sing¹

цзюньцзыцзяоцзюэ

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ˀɤ⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

gwan¹ dzi² gaau¹ dzyt⁹, bat⁷ tsoet⁷ ok⁸ sing¹

guen¹ ji² gao¹ jud⁶, bed¹ cêd¹ og³ xing¹

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵ t͡syːt̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ ɔːk̚³ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

I heard ancient junzi, even when severing ties, do not speak badly of one another; loyal ministers, even when resigning and leaving, do not clear themselves of bad reputation.

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Chén wén gǔ zhī jūnzǐ, jiāojué bù chū è shēng; zhōngchén zhī qù yě, bù jié qí míng.

臣聞古之君子，交絕不出惡聲；忠臣之去也，不潔其名。

臣闻古之君子，交绝不出恶声；忠臣之去也，不洁其名。

when men of virtue end their friendship, they do not make malicious remarks on one another


兼聽則明，偏聽則蔽

ㄐㄧㄢ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄗㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

ㄆㄧㄢ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄗㄜˊ ㄅㄧˋ

цзяньтин цзэ мин

пяньтин цзэ би

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ miŋ³⁵ pʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵ pi⁵¹/

Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened, heed only one side and you will be benighted.


真理越辯越明

ㄓㄣ ㄌㄧˇ ㄩㄝˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

чжэньли юэбяньюэмин

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ jyːt̚² piːn²² jyːt̚² mɪŋ²¹/

the more the truth is debated, the clearer the truth becomes


揀啊揀，揀著一個賣龍眼

拣啊拣，拣着一个卖龙眼
揀啊揀，揀著一个賣龍眼

choose and choose, choose one that sells longan

(Southern Min) be too choosy and you'll choose the worst


三軍未動，糧草先行

ㄙㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄘㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

saam¹ gwan¹ mei⁶ dong⁶, loeng⁴ cou² sin¹ hang⁴

саньцзюньвэйдун

лянцаосяньсин

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

sāam gwān meih dohng, lèuhng chóu sīn hàhng

saam¹ gwan¹ mei⁶ dong⁶, loeng⁴ tsou² sin¹ hang⁴

sam¹ guen¹ méi⁶ dong⁶, lêng⁴ cou² xin¹ heng⁴

/saːm⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ mei̯²² tɔːŋ²² lœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰou̯³⁵ siːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

三軍未發，糧草先行 三軍未發，糧草先行#Chinese

三军未发，粮草先行 三军未发，粮草先行#Chinese

Synonym of 三軍未發，糧草先行／三军未发，粮草先行 (sānjūnwèifā, liángcǎoxiānxíng)


三軍未發，糧草先行

the rations move first before three armies are dispatched

ㄙㄢ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄨㄟˋ ㄈㄚ

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄘㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

saam¹ gwan¹ mei⁶ faat³, loeng⁴ cou² sin¹ hang⁴

саньцзюньвэйфа

лянцаосяньсин

/sän⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

sāam gwān meih faat, lèuhng chóu sīn hàhng

saam¹ gwan¹ mei⁶ faat⁸, loeng⁴ tsou² sin¹ hang⁴

sam¹ guen¹ méi⁶ fad³, lêng⁴ cou² xin¹ heng⁴

/saːm⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ mei̯²² faːt̚³ lœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰou̯³⁵ siːn⁵⁵ hɐŋ²¹/

(figuratively) one has to make preparations being doing something


成者王侯敗者寇

ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄡˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄎㄡˋ

чэн чжэ ванхоу бай чжэ коу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ³⁵ xoʊ̯³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

成者為王，敗者為寇 成者為王，敗者為寇#Chinese

成者为王，败者为寇 成者为王，败者为寇#Chinese

Alternative form of 成者為王，敗者為寇／成者为王，败者为寇 (chéng zhě wéi wáng, bài zhě wéi kòu)


成王敗寇

ㄔㄥˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄞˋ ㄎㄡˋ

чэнванбайкоу

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ paːi̯²² kʰɐu̯³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰoʊ̯⁵¹/

/sɪŋ²¹ wɔːŋ²¹ paːi̯²² kʰɐu̯³³/

成者為王，敗者為寇 成者為王，敗者為寇#Chinese

成者为王，败者为寇 成者为王，败者为寇#Chinese

Synonym of 成者為王，敗者為寇／成者为王，败者为寇 (chéng zhě wéi wáng, bài zhě wéi kòu)


一圖勝千言

ㄧ ㄊㄨˊ ㄕㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄧㄢˊ

итушэнцяньянь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

a picture is worth a thousand words
a picture is worth a thousand words


弱國無外交

ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄨˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄠ

жого у вайцзяо

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ u³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² kʷɔːk̚³ mou̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² kaːu̯⁵⁵/

/ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ u³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/jœːk̚² kʷɔːk̚³ mou̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² kaːu̯⁵⁵/

weak countries are diplomatically underprivileged


寧賣祖宗田，不忘祖宗言

rather sell the farmland of your ancestors, than forget their language

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄞˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄤˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄢˊ

ning⁴ maai⁶ zou² zung¹ tin⁴, bat¹ mong⁴ zou² zung¹ jin⁴

bùwàng zǔzōng yán [Phonetic:nìng mài zǔzōng tián

нин май цзуцзун тянь

буван цзуцзун янь

/niŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

nìhng maaih jóu jūng tìhn, bāt mòhng jóu jūng yìhn

ning⁴ maai⁶ dzou² dzung¹ tin⁴, bat⁷ mong⁴ dzou² dzung¹ jin⁴

ning⁴ mai⁶ zou² zung¹ tin⁴, bed¹ mong⁴ zou² zung¹ yin⁴

/nɪŋ²¹ maːi̯²² t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ mɔːŋ²¹ t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

nen² mai⁴ zu³ zung¹ tian², bud⁵ mong⁴ zu³ zung¹ ngian²

/nen¹¹ mai̯⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ tʰi̯en¹¹ put̚² moŋ⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹/

/nen¹¹ mai̯⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ tʰi̯en¹¹ put̚² moŋ⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹/

do not forget the Hakka language and one's roots


棒下出孝子

ㄅㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

бан ся чу сяоцзы

/pɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

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


棍棒底下出孝子

ㄍㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄉㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

гуньбан дися чу сяоцзы

/ku̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹ ti²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


棍棒之下出孝子

ㄍㄨㄣˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

kun⁴-pang⁴ chih¹ hsia⁴ chʻu¹ hsiao⁴-tzŭ³

гуньбан чжи ся чу сяоцзы

/ku̯ən⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


春天後母面，欲變一時間

/t͡sʰun⁴⁴⁻³³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ au³³⁻²¹ bu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ bin³³ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ piɛn²¹ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² si²³⁻³³ kan⁴⁴/

(Southern Min) weather in the spring is unpredictable


細漢偷挽匏，大漢偷牽牛

stealthily picking calabashes when one is a child, stealthily leading cows when one is grown up

/sue²¹⁻⁵³ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² ban⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pu²⁴ tua²²⁻²¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² ɡu²⁴/

/sue⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ han⁴¹ tʰau³³ ban⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ pu²⁴ tua⁴¹⁻²² han⁴¹ tʰau³³ kʰan³³ ɡu²⁴/

/se²¹⁻⁵³ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² ban⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pu¹³ tua²²⁻²¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻²² kʰan⁴⁴⁻²² ɡu¹³/

/se²¹⁻⁴¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ ban⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pu²³ tua³³⁻²¹ han²¹ tʰau⁴⁴⁻³³ kʰan⁴⁴⁻³³ ɡu²³/

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


運用之妙，存乎一心

ㄩㄣˋ ㄩㄥˋ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄠˋ

ㄘㄨㄣˊ ㄏㄨ ㄧ ㄒㄧㄣ

cún hū yī xīn [Phonetic:yùnyòng zhī miào

юньюн чжи мяо

цунь ху и синь

/yn⁵¹⁻⁵³ jʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰu̯ən³⁵ xu⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

ingenuity in varying tactics depends on mother wit


日久見人心

ㄖˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

жи цзю цзянь жэньсинь

/ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² kɐu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚² kɐu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

time reveals a person's heart; time will tell a true friend from a false one


路遙知馬力

ㄌㄨˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄓ ㄇㄚˇ ㄌㄧˋ

лу яо чжи мали

/lu⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/lou̯²² jiːu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ maː¹³ lɪk̚²/

/lu⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹/

/lou̯²² jiːu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ maː¹³ lɪk̚²/

a long road tests a horse's strength; distance tests a horse's stamina; only time can reveal a person's true strength


凡事預則立，不預則廢

ㄈㄢˊ ㄕˋ ㄩˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄈㄟˋ

fan²-shih⁴ yü⁴ tsê² li⁴ , pu⁴ yü⁴ tsê² fei⁴

фаньши юй цзэ ли

бу юй цзэ фэй

/fän³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ li⁵¹ ¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ y⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹/

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

In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure. If what is to be spoken be previously determined, there will be no stumbling. If affairs be previously determined, there will be no difficulty with them. If one's actions have been previously determined, there will be no sorrow in connection with them. If principles of conduct have been previously determined, the practice of them will be inexhaustible.

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

Fán shì yù zé lì, bù yù zé fèi. Yán qiándìng zé bù jiá, shì qiándìng zé bù kùn, xíng qiándìng zé bù jiù, dào qiándìng zé bù qióng.

凡事豫則立，不豫則廢。言前定則不跲，事前定則不困，行前定則不疚，道前定則不窮。

凡事豫则立，不豫则废。言前定则不跲，事前定则不困，行前定则不疚，道前定则不穷。

凡事预则立，不预则废
凡事豫則立，不豫則廢

Yet, since "preparedness ensures success and unpreparedness spells failure", there can be no victory in war without advance planning and preparations.

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

Rán'ér, “fánshì yù zé lì, bù yù zé fèi”, méiyǒu shìxiān de jìhuà hé zhǔnbèi, jiù bùnéng huòdé zhànzhēng de shènglì.

然而，「凡事預則立，不預則廢」，沒有事先的計劃和準備，就不能獲得戰爭的勝利。

然而，「凡事预则立，不预则废」，没有事先的计划和准备，就不能获得战争的胜利。


路遙知馬力，日久見人心

ㄌㄨˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄓ ㄇㄚˇ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄖˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

lou⁶ jiu⁴ zi¹ maa⁵ lik⁶, jat⁶ gau² gin³ jan⁴ sam¹

жицзюцзяньжэньсинь

/lu⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

louh yìuh jī máh lihk, yaht gáu gin yàhn sām

lou⁶ jiu⁴ dzi¹ maa⁵ lik⁹, jat⁹ gau² gin³ jan⁴ sam¹

lou⁶ yiu⁴ ji¹ ma⁵ lig⁶, yed⁶ geo² gin³ yen⁴ sem¹

/lou̯²² jiːu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ maː¹³ lɪk̚² jɐt̚² kɐu̯³⁵ kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ sɐm⁵⁵/

a long road tests a horse's strength and time proves a person's heart


路遙知馬力，事久見人心

ㄌㄨˋ ㄧㄠˊ ㄓ ㄇㄚˇ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄣ

шицзюцзяньжэньсинь

/lu⁵¹ jɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

Guerrilla warfare does not bring as quick results or as great renown as regular warfare, but "a long road tests a horse's strength and a long task proves a person's heart", and in the course of this long and cruel war guerrilla warfare will demonstrate its immense power; it is indeed no ordinary undertaking.

Yóujī zhànzhēng méiyǒu zhèngguī zhànzhēng nàyàng xùnsù de chéngxiào hé xiǎnhè de míngshēng, dànshì “lùyáozhīmǎlì, shìjiǔjiànrénxīn”, zài chángqī hé cánkù de zhànzhēng zhōng, yóujī zhànzhēng jiāng biǎoxiàn qí hěn dà de wēilì, shízài shì fēitóngxiǎokě de shìyè.

遊擊戰爭沒有正規戰爭那樣迅速的成效和顯赫的名聲，但是「路遙知馬力，事久見人心」，在長期和殘酷的戰爭中，遊擊戰爭將表現其很大的威力，實在是非同小可的事業。

游击战争没有正规战争那样迅速的成效和显赫的名声，但是「路遥知马力，事久见人心」，在长期和残酷的战争中，游击战争将表现其很大的威力，实在是非同小可的事业。

a long road tests a horse's strength, and a long task proves a person's heart


留得青山在，不愁沒柴燒

As long as the green mountains are there, one need not worry about firewood.

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄉㄜˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄕㄢ ㄗㄞˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄡˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄔㄞˊ ㄕㄠ

лю дэ циншань цзай

бу чоу мэй чай шао

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ tɤ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯³⁵ meɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

If strategically decisive engagements are avoided, then "as long as the green mountains are there, one need not worry about firewood", for even though some of our territory may be lost, we shall still have plenty of room for manoeuvre and thus be able to promote and await domestic progress, international support and the internal disintegration of the enemy; that is the best policy for us in the anti-Japanese war.

Rúguǒ bìmiǎn le zhànlüè de juézhàn, “liú dé qīngshān zài, bù chóu méi chái shāo”, suīrán sàngshī ruògān tǔdì, hái yǒu guǎngdà de huíxuán yúdì, kěyǐ cùjìn bìng děnghòu guónèi de jìnbù, guójì de zēngyuán hé dírén de nèikuì, zhè shì kàngrì zhànzhēng de shàngcè.

如果避免了戰略的決戰，「留得青山在，不愁沒柴燒」，雖然喪失若干土地，還有廣大的回旋餘地，可以促進並等候國內的進步、國際的增援和敵人的內潰，這是抗日戰爭的上策。

如果避免了战略的决战，「留得青山在，不愁没柴烧」，虽然丧失若干土地，还有广大的回旋余地，可以促进并等候国内的进步、国际的增援和敌人的内溃，这是抗日战争的上策。

留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒 留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒#Chinese

留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧#Chinese

Alternative form of 留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒／留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 (liú dé qīngshān zài, bùpà méi chái shāo, “While there's life, there's hope.”)


貧賤不能移

ㄆㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄧˊ

пиньцзяньбунэнъи

/pʰin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ i³⁵/

/pʰɐn²¹ t͡siːn²² pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ jiː²¹/

/pʰin³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ i³⁵/

/pʰɐn²¹ t͡siːn²² pɐt̚⁵ nɐŋ²¹ jiː²¹/

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.

Fùguì bùnéng yín, pínjiàn bùnéng yí, wēiwǔ bùnéng qū. Cǐ zhī wèi dàzhàngfū.

富貴不能淫，貧賤不能移，威武不能屈。此之謂大丈夫。

富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈。此之谓大丈夫。

(neologism) Poor people lack the chance to emigrate, thus suffer from the social problems in their home country more than rich people.


青出於藍，而青於藍

青は藍より出でて藍より青し

→ Japanese: 青は藍より出でて藍より青し (ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi) (calque)

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄔㄨ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

ㄦˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄩˊ ㄌㄢˊ

cing¹ ceot¹ jyu¹ laam⁴, ji⁴ cing¹ jyu¹ laam⁴

chʻing¹ chʻu¹ yü² lan², êrh² chʻing¹ yü² lan²

цин чу юй лань

эр цин юй лань

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ y³⁵ län³⁵/

chīng chēut yū làahm, yìh chīng yū làahm

tsing¹ tsoet⁷ jy¹ laam⁴, ji⁴ tsing¹ jy¹ laam⁴

/t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹ jiː²¹ t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ laːm²¹/

The gentleman said: Learning must never cease. Blue is obtained from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself; ice is made from water but is colder than water itself.

Jūnzǐ yuē: xué bùkě yǐ yǐ. Qīng, qǔ zhī yú lán, ér qīng yú lán; bīng, shuǐ wèi zhī, ér hán yú shuǐ.

君子曰：學不可以已。青，取之於藍，而青於藍；冰，水為之，而寒於水。

君子曰：学不可以已。青，取之于蓝，而青于蓝；冰，水为之，而寒于水。

thecolor blue is made out of indigo, but is more vivid than indigo

the student has surpassed his or her teacher


早起的鳥兒有蟲吃

ㄗㄠˇ ㄑㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇㄦ ㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄔ

zǎoqǐ de niǎor yǒu chóng chī [Phonetic:záoqǐdeniáoryǒuchóngchī]

tsao³-chʻi³ tê⁵ niao³-ʼrh yu³ chʻung² chʻih¹

цзаоци дэ няор ю чун чи

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ ni̯aʊ̯ɻʷ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

dzou² hei² dik⁷ niu⁵ ji⁴ jau⁵ tsung⁴ hek⁸

/t͡sou̯³⁵ hei̯³⁵ tɪk̚⁵ niːu̯¹³ jiː²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ hɛːk̚³/

Calque of English the early bird gets the worm.

calque

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


歹竹出好筍

ㄉㄞˇ ㄓㄨˊ ㄔㄨ ㄏㄠˇ ㄙㄨㄣˇ

dǎi zhú chū hǎo sǔn [Phonetic:dǎizhúchūháosǔn]

дай чжу чу хао сунь

/taɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂu³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁵³/

/pʰai⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁵ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁵³/

/pʰai⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tiak̚⁵ t͡sʰut̚⁵⁻²⁴ ho⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sun⁵⁵⁴/

/pʰãi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ hɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ sun⁴¹/

/pʰãi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ tiɪk̚³² t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ ho⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sun⁵³/

(Taiwan, southern Fujian, originally Hokkien, figurative) an exceptional child is born from lowly parents


千金買厝，萬金買厝邊

/t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kim⁴⁴ be⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu²¹ ban³³⁻²¹ kim⁴⁴ be⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sʰu²¹⁻⁴¹ pĩ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) It is important to have good and friendly neighbors; Good neighbors are more important and precious than a good house


塵歸塵，土歸土

/ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰɐn²¹ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰɐn²¹ tʰou̯³⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯³⁵/

Calque of English Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.


千里之堤，潰於蟻穴

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓ ㄉㄧ

ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄩˊ ㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˊ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄓ ㄊㄧˊ

ㄎㄨㄟˋ ㄩˊ ㄧˇ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

cin¹ lei⁵ zi¹ tai⁴, kui² jyu¹ ngai⁵ jyut⁶

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ti⁵⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰi³⁵ kʰu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

tsin¹ lei⁵ dzi¹ tai⁴, kui² jy¹ ngai⁵ jyt⁹

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lei̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ kʰuːi̯³⁵ jyː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯¹³ jyːt̚²/

A dike ten thousand feet long begins its crumbling with holes made by ants; a room one hundred feet square begins its burning with sparks of fire leaping through cracks of chimneys.

Han Feizi, circa 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version

Qiān zhàng zhī dī, yǐ lóuyǐ zhī xué kuì; bǎi chǐ zhī shì, yǐ tū xì zhī yān fén.

千丈之堤，以螻蟻之穴潰；百尺之室，以突隙之煙焚。

千丈之堤，以蝼蚁之穴溃；百尺之室，以突隙之烟焚。

a thousand-li dyke can collapse because of an ant colony

a small mistake can lead to a massive disaster


小心駛得萬年船

If you are careful, you can steer your ship safely for a myriad years

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˇ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄨㄢˊ

hsiao³-hsin¹ shih³ tê² wan⁴-nien² chʻuan²

сяосинь ши дэ ваньнянь чуань

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/siːu̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ sɐi̯³⁵ tɐk̚⁵ maːn²² niːn²¹ syːn²¹/

one can always be safe if one is careful


無事獻殷勤，非奸即盜

ㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄣˊ

ㄈㄟ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄐㄧˊ ㄉㄠˋ

mou⁵ si⁶ hin³ jan¹ kan⁴, fei¹ gan¹ zik¹ dou⁶

ушисяньиньцинь

фэйцзяньцзидао

/u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ in⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

mou⁵ si⁶ hin³ jan¹ kan⁴, fei¹ gan¹ dzik⁷ dou⁶

mou⁵ xi⁶ hin³ yen¹ ken⁴, féi¹ gen¹ jig¹ dou⁶

/mou̯¹³ siː²² hiːn³³ jɐn⁵⁵ kʰɐn²¹ fei̯⁵⁵ kɐn⁵⁵ t͡sɪk̚⁵ tou̯²²/

one who offers unsolicited hospitality must be harboring evil intentions


人之患在好為人師

ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄏㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕ

jên² chih¹ huan⁴ tsai⁴ hao⁴-wei²-jên²-shih¹

жэнь чжи хуань цзай хаовэйжэньши

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

jan⁴ dzi¹ waan⁶ dzoi⁶ hou³ wai⁴ jan⁴ si¹

/jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ waːn²² t͡sɔːi̯²² hou̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ siː⁵⁵/

Mencius said, 'The evil of men is that they like to be teachers of others.'

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Rén zhī huàn zài hàowéirénshī.”

孟子曰：「人之患在好為人師。」

孟子曰：「人之患在好为人师。」

it is bad to give unsolicited counsel or lectures


三人行，必有我師

ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄛˇ ㄕ

sānrénxíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī [Phonetic:sānrénxíng,bìyóuwǒshī]

/sän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐŋ²¹ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ ŋɔː¹³ siː⁵⁵/

The Master said, "When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them."

Zǐ yuē: “Sān rén xíng, bì yǒu wǒ shī yān. Zé qí shàn zhě ér cóng zhī, qí bùshàn zhě ér gǎi zhī.”

子曰：「三人行，必有我師焉。擇其善者而從之，其不善者而改之。」

子曰：「三人行，必有我师焉。择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。」

there is always someone that one can learn from among a group of people


非我族類，其心必異

ㄈㄟ ㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨˊ ㄌㄟˋ

ㄑㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧˋ

fei¹ ngo⁵ zuk⁶ leoi⁶, kei⁴ sam¹ bit¹ ji⁶

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ leɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹/

fei¹ ngo⁵ dzuk⁹ loey⁶, kei⁴ sam¹ bit⁷ ji⁶

/fei̯⁵⁵ ŋɔː¹³ t͡sʊk̚² lɵy̯²² kʰei̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ jiː²²/

If he be not of our kin, he is sure to have a different mind.

People of a different race or ethnicity can not be trusted.


知人者智，自知者明

ㄓ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄓˋ

ㄗˋ ㄓ ㄓㄜˇ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

chih¹ jên² chê³ chih⁴, tzŭ⁴ chih¹ chê³ ming²

чжи жэнь чжэ чжи

цзы чжи чжэ мин

čži žɛnʹ čžɛ čži

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ miŋ³⁵/

dzi¹ jan⁴ dze² dzi³, dzi⁶ dzi¹ dze² ming⁴

/t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡siː³³ t͡siː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.

Tao Te Ching, 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

知人者智，自知者明。

know thyself; one who has self-knowledge is intelligent; those who know others are discerning, but those who know themselves are truly wise


積善之家，必有餘慶

ㄐㄧ ㄕㄢˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄚ

ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄩˊ ㄑㄧㄥˋ

zik¹ sin⁶ zi¹ gaa¹, bit¹ jau⁵ jyu⁴ hing³

цзишань чжи цзя

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ ʂän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵¹/

dzik⁷ sin⁶ dzi¹ gaa¹, bit⁷ jau⁵ jy⁴ hing³

/t͡sɪk̚⁵ siːn²² t͡siː⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyː²¹ hɪŋ³³/

The family that accumulates goodness is sure to have superabundant happiness, and the family that accumulates evil is sure to have superabundant misery.

Jīshàn zhī jiā, bì yǒu yúqìng; jī bùshàn zhī jiā, bì yǒu yúyāng.

積善之家，必有餘慶；積不善之家，必有餘殃。

积善之家，必有余庆；积不善之家，必有余殃。

people who do good deeds will have good fortune in the future


少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲

ㄕㄠˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄨˇ ㄌㄧˋ

ㄌㄠˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄕㄤ ㄅㄟ

siu³ zong³ bat¹ nou⁵ lik⁶, lou⁵ daai⁶ tou⁴ soeng¹ bei¹

шаочжуан бу нули

лаода ту шанбэй

/ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nu²¹⁴⁻²¹ li⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵/

siu jong bāt nóuh lihk, lóuh daaih tòuh sēung bēi

siu³ dzong³ bat⁷ nou⁵ lik⁹, lou⁵ daai⁶ tou⁴ soeng¹ bei¹

xiu³ zong³ bed¹ nou⁵ lig⁶, lou⁵ dai⁶ tou⁴ sêng¹ béi¹

/siːu̯³³ t͡sɔːŋ³³ pɐt̚⁵ nou̯¹³ lɪk̚² lou̯¹³ taːi̯²² tʰou̯²¹ sœːŋ⁵⁵ pei̯⁵⁵/

Green are the garden mallow flowers, in the hot sun the dews of morning dry.
The sunshine of spring benevolence showers, and bathes all things in brilliant glory.
Yet we fear as autumn tides come again, all plants and flowers will soon withered be.
When will the rivers flow to the west again, since they all roll eastward to the sea?
If one wastes his time in golden youth, he can but pass his old age in bitter ruth.

Han Dynasty, Unknown, Chang Ge Xing (長歌行)

Qīngqīng yuán zhōng kuí, zhāolù dài rì xī.
Yángchūn bù dézé, wànwù shēng guānghuī.
Cháng kǒng qiū jié zhì, kūnhuáng huá yè cūi.
Bǎichuān dōng dào hǎi, héshí fù xī guī?
Shàozhuàng bù nǔlì, lǎodà tú shāngbēi.

青青園中葵，朝露待日晞。
陽春布德澤，萬物生光輝。
常恐秋節至，焜黃華葉衰。
百川東到海，何時復西歸?
少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲。[[#Chinese|]]

青青园中葵，朝露待日晞。
阳春布德泽，万物生光辉。
常恐秋节至，焜黄华叶衰。
百川东到海，何时复西归?
少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。[[#Chinese|]]

If one does not exert oneself in youth, one will regret it in old age.


樹倒活猻散

/zz̩²² tɔ³³ ɦuəʔ¹¹ sən³³ se³⁴/

/zz̩²² tɔ³³ ɦuəʔ¹¹ sən³³ se³⁴/

樹倒猢猻散 樹倒猢猻散#Chinese

树倒猢狲散 树倒猢狲散#Chinese

(Wu) Synonym of 樹倒猢猻散／树倒猢狲散 (shù dǎo húsūn sàn, “When a leader loses power, his/her followers disperse.”)


君子不立危牆之下

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

gwan¹ zi² bat¹ laap⁶ ngai⁴ coeng⁴ zi¹ haa⁶

gwan¹ zi² bat¹ lap⁶ ngai⁴ coeng⁴ zi¹ haa⁶

jūnzǐ bù lì wēiqiáng zhī xià [Phonetic:jūnzǐ bú lì wēiqiáng zhī xià]

chün¹-tzŭ³ pu⁴ li⁴ wei¹-chʻiang² chih¹ hsia⁴

цзюньцзы бу ли вэйцян чжи ся

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

jūnzǐ bù lì wéiqiáng zhī xià [Phonetic:jūnzǐ bú lì wéiqiáng zhī xià]

chün¹-tzŭ³ pu⁴ li⁴ wei²-chʻiang² chih¹ hsia⁴

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ li⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

gwan¹ dzi² bat⁷ laap⁹ ngai⁴ tsoeng⁴ dzi¹ haa⁶

gwan¹ dzi² bat⁷ lap⁹ ngai⁴ tsoeng⁴ dzi¹ haa⁶

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ laːp̚² ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐp̚² ŋɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²²/

[Phonetic: jūnzǐ bú lì wēiqiáng zhī xià]

[Phonetic: jūnzǐ bú lì wéiqiáng zhī xià]

Mencius said, 'There is an appointment for everything. A man should receive submissively what may be correctly ascribed thereto. Therefore, he who has the true idea of what is Heaven's appointment will not stand beneath a precipitous wall. Death sustained in the discharge of one's duties may correctly be ascribed to the appointment of Heaven. Death under handcuffs and fetters cannot correctly be so ascribed.'

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Mò fēi mìng yě, shùn shòu qí zhèng. Shìgù zhīmìng zhě, bù lì hū yán qiáng zhī xià. Jìn qí dào ér sǐ zhě, zhèng mìng yě. Zhìgù sǐ zhě, fēi zhèng mìng yě.”

孟子曰：「莫非命也，順受其正。是故知命者，不立乎巖牆之下。盡其道而死者，正命也。桎梏死者，非正命也。」

孟子曰：「莫非命也，顺受其正。是故知命者，不立乎岩墙之下。尽其道而死者，正命也。桎梏死者，非正命也。」

A virtuous man does not stand next to a wall about to collapse.

A man stays away from dangerous situations.


人必自侮而後人侮之

ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄨˇ ㄦˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄓ

jan⁴ bit¹ zi⁶ mou⁵ ji⁴ hau⁶ jan⁴ mou⁵ zi¹

jên² pi⁴ tzŭ⁴-wu³ êrh²-hou⁴ jên² wu³ chih¹

жэнь би цзыу эрхоу жэнь у чжи

/ʐən³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

jan⁴ bit⁷ dzi⁶ mou⁵ ji⁴ hau⁶ jan⁴ mou⁵ dzi¹

yen⁴ bid¹ ji⁶ mou⁵ yi⁴ heo⁶ yen⁴ mou⁵ ji¹

/jɐn²¹ piːt̚⁵ t͡siː²² mou̯¹³ jiː²¹ hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

A man must first despise himself, and then others will despise him. A family must first destroy itself, and then others will destroy it. A State must first smite itself, and then others will smite it.

Fú rén bì zì wǔ, ránhòu rén wǔ zhī; jiā bì zì huǐ, érhòu rén huǐ zhī; guó bì zì fá, érhòu rén fá zhī.

夫人必自侮，然後人侮之；家必自毀，而後人毀之；國必自伐，而後人伐之。

夫人必自侮，然后人侮之；家必自毁，而后人毁之；国必自伐，而后人伐之。

人必自侮而后人侮之
人必自侮然後人侮之

One is humiliated by others always because one has brought humiliation upon oneself first.


人必自侮然後人侮之

ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄨˇ ㄖㄢˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˇ ㄓ

jan⁴ bit¹ zi⁶ mou⁵ jin⁴ hau⁶ jan⁴ mou⁵ zi¹

jên² pi⁴ tzŭ⁴-wu³ jan²-hou⁴ jên² wu³ chih¹

жэнь би цзыу жаньхоу жэнь у чжи

/ʐən³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐän³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

yàhn bīt jih móuh yìhn hauh yàhn móuh jī

jan⁴ bit⁷ dzi⁶ mou⁵ jin⁴ hau⁶ jan⁴ mou⁵ dzi¹

yen⁴ bid¹ ji⁶ mou⁵ yin⁴ heo⁶ yen⁴ mou⁵ ji¹

/jɐn²¹ piːt̚⁵ t͡siː²² mou̯¹³ jiːn²¹ hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹ mou̯¹³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

See 人必自侮而後人侮之／人必自侮而后人侮之 (rén bì zìwǔ érhòu rén wǔ zhī).

zh-l

人必自侮而後人侮之 人必自侮而後人侮之#Chinese

人必自侮而后人侮之 人必自侮而后人侮之#Chinese

Synonym of 人必自侮而後人侮之／人必自侮而后人侮之 (rén bì zìwǔ érhòu rén wǔ zhī)


人必自重而後人重之

ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄦˊ ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄓ

jan⁴ bit¹ zi⁶ zung⁶ ji⁴ hau⁴ jan⁴ zung⁶ zi¹

jên² pi⁴ tzŭ⁴-chung⁴ êrh²-hou⁴ jên² chung⁴ chih¹

жэнь би цзычжун эрхоу жэнь чжун чжи

/ʐən³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

yàhn bīt jih juhng yìh hàuh yàhn juhng jī

jan⁴ bit⁷ dzi⁶ dzung⁶ ji⁴ hau⁴ jan⁴ dzung⁶ dzi¹

yen⁴ bid¹ ji⁶ zung⁶ yi⁴ heo⁴ yen⁴ zung⁶ ji¹

/jɐn²¹ piːt̚⁵ t͡siː²² t͡sʊŋ²² jiː²¹ hɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

A person must first respect himself and conduct himself appropriately before others will respect him.


拳不離手，曲不離口

ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˊ ㄕㄡˇ

ㄑㄩ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧˊ ㄎㄡˇ

kyun⁴ bat¹ lei⁴ sau², kuk¹ bat¹ lei⁴ hau²

цюаньбулишоу

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹ li³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ li³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

kyn⁴ bat⁷ lei⁴ sau², kuk⁷ bat⁷ lei⁴ hau²

kün⁴ bed¹ léi⁴ seo², kug¹ bed¹ léi⁴ heo²

/kʰyːn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ kʰʊk̚⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lei̯²¹ hɐu̯³⁵/

Only through diligent practice can one become proficient in the skill or art.


覆巢之下，焉有完卵

ㄈㄨˋ ㄔㄠˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄨㄢˇ

fuk¹ caau⁴ zi¹ haa⁶, jin¹ jau⁵ jyun⁴ leon⁵⁻²

яньюваньлуань

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ jɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

fuk⁷ tsaau⁴ dzi¹ haa⁶, jin¹ jau⁵ jyn⁴ loen⁵⁻²

fug¹ cao⁴ ji¹ ha⁶, yin¹ yeo⁵ yun⁴ lên⁵⁻²

/fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²² jiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ lɵn¹³⁻³⁵/

覆巢之下無完卵 覆巢之下無完卵#Chinese

覆巢之下无完卵 覆巢之下无完卵#Chinese

Synonym of 覆巢之下無完卵／覆巢之下无完卵 (fùcháozhīxiàwúwánluǎn, “No individual can escape from the calamity its group is suffering.”)


覆巢之下無完卵

No eggs remain intact when the nest overturns.

ㄈㄨˋ ㄔㄠˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄨㄢˇ

фучаочжисяуваньлуань

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ wän³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²² mou̯²¹ jyːn²¹ lɵn³⁵/

No individual can escape from the calamity its group is suffering.


覆巢之下，豈有完卵

ㄈㄨˋ ㄔㄠˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄑㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄨㄢˇ

fuk¹ caau⁴ zi¹ haa⁶, hei² jau⁵ jyun⁴ leon⁵⁻²

циюваньлуань

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

fuk⁷ tsaau⁴ dzi¹ haa⁶, hei² jau⁵ jyn⁴ loen⁵⁻²

fug¹ cao⁴ ji¹ ha⁶, héi² yeo⁵ yun⁴ lên⁵⁻²

/fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²² hei̯³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ lɵn¹³⁻³⁵/

覆巢之下無完卵 覆巢之下無完卵#Chinese

覆巢之下无完卵 覆巢之下无完卵#Chinese


覆巢之下，安有完卵

ㄈㄨˋ ㄔㄠˊ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄢ ㄧㄡˇ ㄨㄢˊ ㄌㄨㄢˇ

fuk¹ caau⁴ zi¹ haa⁶, on¹ jau⁵ jyun⁴ leon⁵⁻²

аньюваньлуань

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

fuk⁷ tsaau⁴ dzi¹ haa⁶, on¹ jau⁵ jyn⁴ loen⁵⁻²

/fʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰaːu̯²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²² ɔːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jyːn²¹ lɵn¹³⁻³⁵/

覆巢之下無完卵 覆巢之下無完卵#Chinese

覆巢之下无完卵 覆巢之下无完卵#Chinese


聰明一世，懵懂一時

ㄘㄨㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄧ ㄕˋ

ㄇㄥˇ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ

ㄇㄥˊ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ

ㄇㄥ ㄉㄨㄥˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ

cung¹ ming⁴ jat¹ sai³, mung² dung² jat¹ si⁴

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ mɤŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ mɤŋ³⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ mɤŋ⁵⁵ tʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

tsung¹ ming⁴ jat⁷ sai³, mung² dung² jat⁷ si⁴

cung¹ ming⁴ yed¹ sei³, mung² dung² yed¹ xi⁴

/t͡sʰʊŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ sɐi̯³³ mʊŋ³⁵ tʊŋ³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹/

/t͡sʰoŋ⁵⁵ min³³ iɪʔ³³ sz̩³³ moŋ²² toŋ³³ iɪʔ³³ zz̩⁴⁴/

聰明一世，糊塗一時 聰明一世，糊塗一時#Chinese

聪明一世，糊涂一时 聪明一世，糊涂一时#Chinese

Synonym of 聰明一世，糊塗一時／聪明一世，糊涂一时 (cōngmíng yīshì, hútú yīshí, “even smart people can have a momentary lapse in judgement; even Homer nods”)


天助自助

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨˋ

тяньчжуцзычжу

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²² t͡siː²² t͡sɔː²²/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²² t͡siː²² t͡sɔː²²/

heaven helps those who help themselves
heaven helps those who help themselves


遠水救不了近火

ㄩㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

юаньшуйцзюбуляоцзиньхо

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ kɐu̯³³ pɐt̚⁵ liːu̯¹³ kɐn²² fɔː³⁵/

遠水不救近火 遠水不救近火#Chinese

远水不救近火 远水不救近火#Chinese

Alternative form of 遠水不救近火／远水不救近火 (yuǎn shuǐ bù jiù jìn huǒ, “a slow remedy cannot resolve an emergency”)


遠水不救近火

远水不救近火
遠水救不了近火
遠水救不得近火

ㄩㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

yuǎn shuǐ bù jiù jìn huǒ [Phonetic:yuánshuǐbújiùjìnhuǒ]

юань шуй бу цзю цзинь хо

/ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyːn¹³ sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ kɐu̯³³ kɐn²² fɔː³⁵/

/uan⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui⁵³ put̚³²⁻⁴ kiu²¹⁻⁵³ kin²²⁻²¹ hɔ̃⁵³/

(figurative) a slow remedy cannot resolve an emergency


天助自助者

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄓㄜˇ

тяньчжуцзычжучжэ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔː²² t͡siː²² t͡sɔː²² t͡sɛː³⁵/


一子錯，滿盤皆落索

ㄇㄢˇ ㄆㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

маньпаньцзелосо

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰän³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

jat⁷ dzi² tso³, mun⁵ pun⁴ gaai¹ lok⁹ sok⁸

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵ t͡sʰɔː³³ muːn¹³ pʰuːn²¹ kaːi̯⁵⁵ lɔːk̚² sɔːk̚³/

一著不慎，滿盤皆輸 一著不慎，滿盤皆輸#Chinese

一着不慎，满盘皆输 一着不慎，满盘皆输#Chinese

Synonym of 一著不慎，滿盤皆輸／一着不慎，满盘皆输 (“one careless move and the whole game is lost”)


智者千慮，必有一失

ㄓˋ ㄓㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄩˋ

чжичжэцяньлюй

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ly⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

dzi³ dze² tsin¹ loey⁶, bit⁷ jau⁵ jat⁷ sat⁷

/t͡siː³³ t͡sɛː³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ lɵy̯²² piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɐt̚⁵ sɐt̚⁵/

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。』

智者千虑，必有一失
智者千慮，或有一失

even the wise aren't always free from errors (even after making deep and careful consideration); even Homer nods


開卷有益

ㄎㄞ ㄐㄩㄢˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄧˋ

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ kyːn³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɪk̚⁵/

/kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵¹/

/hɔːi̯⁵⁵ kyːn³⁵ jɐu̯¹³ jɪk̚⁵/


食水果拜樹頭

to pay respect to the roots when one eats the fruit

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sui⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu³³⁻²¹ tʰau²³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu³³⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sui⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ko⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pai²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu²²⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

食果子拜樹頭 食果子拜樹頭#Chinese

食果子拜树头 食果子拜树头#Chinese

Alternative form of 食果子拜樹頭／食果子拜树头 (“to remember where one's happiness comes from; to not forget one's roots or heritage”)


欲嫁才縛跤

欲嫁才缚跤
要嫁則縛腳
要嫁才縛腳

to bind one's feet just before one gets married

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke¹¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pak̚⁴⁻³² kʰa⁴⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ ke²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pak̚⁴⁻³² kʰa⁴⁴/

/be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ ke²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ pak̚⁴⁻³² kʰa⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) to fail to make a timely preparation; to do something at the last minute


明槍易擋，暗箭難防

Overt lance [is] easy to ward off, hidden arrow [is] hard to guard against

ming⁴ coeng¹ ji⁶ dong², am³ zin³ naan⁴ fong⁴

mìhng chēung yih dóng, am jin nàahn fòhng

ming⁴ tsoeng¹ ji⁶ dong², am³ dzin³ naan⁴ fong⁴

ming⁴ cêng¹ yi⁶ dong², em³ jin³ nan⁴ fong⁴

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡sʰœːŋ⁵⁵ jiː²² tɔːŋ³⁵ ɐm³³ t͡siːn³³ naːn²¹ fɔːŋ²¹/

明槍易躲，暗箭難防 明槍易躲，暗箭難防#Chinese

明枪易躲，暗箭难防 明枪易躲，暗箭难防#Chinese

(Cantonese) Synonym of 明槍易躲，暗箭難防／明枪易躲，暗箭难防 (míngqiāng yì duǒ, ànjiàn nán fáng, “It is easy to dodge an open attack, but difficult to defend against a concealed one.”)


走甲離褲跤

/t͡sau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li³³⁻¹¹ kʰɔ¹¹⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sau⁴²⁻²⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁴² li²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ²¹⁻⁴² kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ li²²⁻²¹ kʰɔ²¹⁻⁵³ kʰa⁴⁴/

/t͡sau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ka(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ li³³⁻²¹ kʰɔ²¹⁻⁴¹ kʰa⁴⁴/

走甲裂褲跤 走甲裂褲跤#Chinese

走甲裂裤跤 走甲裂裤跤#Chinese

(Hokkien) Alternative form of 走甲裂褲跤／走甲裂裤跤 (“to flee after being defeated”)


大鼎炒狗蟻

/tua²²⁻²¹ tiã⁵³ t͡sʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hia²²/

/tua⁴¹⁻²² tiã⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰa⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hia⁴¹/

/tua³³⁻¹¹ tiã⁵³ t͡sʰa⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hia³³/

/tua³³⁻²¹ tiã⁴¹ t͡sʰa⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hia³³/


馬路如虎口

ㄇㄚˇ ㄌㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄨˇ ㄎㄡˇ

малу жу хукоу

/mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maː¹³ lou̯²² jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/maː¹³ lou̯²² jyː²¹ fuː³⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

Roads are as dangerous as a tiger's mouth; Follow traffic rules and cross the road safely


人多好辦事

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄏㄠˇ ㄅㄢˋ ㄕˋ

жэньдохаобаньши

/ʐən³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵ paːn²² siː²²/

/jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ hou̯³⁵ paːn²² siː²²/

many hands make light work
many hands make light work

many hands make light work; a task is easier to accomplish when many people work together


人多手腳亂

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄕㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

жэньдошоуцзяолуань

/ʐən³⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯än⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

/jɐn²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ kœːk̚³ lyːn²²/

too many cooks spoil the broth
too many cooks spoil the broth

too many cooks spoil the broth; too many people being involved in a task leads to chaos


無毒不丈夫

ㄨˊ ㄉㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ

wúdú bù zhàngfū [Phonetic:wúdú bú zhàngfū]

уду бу чжанфу

/u³⁵ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ²² fuː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ tu³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ tʊk̚² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ²² fuː⁵⁵/

Unknown. Attested since the Yuan Dynasty. Sometimes believed to be a corruption of 無度不丈夫 (“A great man should be able to forgive”), but this is likely a folk etymology.

A great man will not refuse to do something vicious, cruel or immoral when it is necessary.


平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳

to not burn incense regularly, but only clasp the Buddha's feet when something happens

ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄠ ㄒㄧㄤ

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕˊ ㄅㄠˋ ㄈㄛˊ ㄐㄧㄠˇ

ping⁴ si⁴ bat¹ siu¹ hoeng¹, lam⁴ si⁴ pou⁵ fat⁶ goek³

пинши бу шаосян

линьши бао фоцзяо

/pʰiŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

pìhng sìh bāt sīu hēung, làhm sìh póuh faht geuk

ping⁴ si⁴ bat⁷ siu¹ hoeng¹, lam⁴ si⁴ pou⁵ fat⁹ goek⁸

ping⁴ xi⁴ bed¹ xiu¹ hêng¹, lem⁴ xi⁴ pou⁵ fed⁶ gêg³

/pʰɪŋ²¹ siː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ hœːŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ siː²¹ pʰou̯¹³ fɐt̚² kœːk̚³/

to not make adequate preparations beforehand and do something hurriedly only at the last minute


仙人拍鼓有時錯，跤步踏差啥人無

head

仙人拍鼓有時錯，跤步踏差啥人無

仙人拍鼓有时错，跤步踏差啥人无

The gods can beat drums incorrectly sometimes- who has never taken a wrong step?

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ zin²³⁻³³ pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kɔ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ iu⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ si²³⁻³³ t͡sʰɤ²¹ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ pɔ³³⁻²¹ ta(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ siã⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ laŋ²³⁻³³ bɤ²³/


林子大了，什麼鳥都有

As a forest gets big, it will have all kinds of birds.

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ˙ㄗ ㄉㄚˋ ˙ㄌㄜ

ㄕㄣˊ ˙ㄇㄜ ㄋㄧㄠˇ ㄉㄡ ㄧㄡˇ

линьцзы да лэ

шэньмэ няо доу ю

/lin³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ tä⁵¹ lə¹ ʂən³⁵ mə³ ni̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ toʊ̯⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

there are all kinds of people in a large community


欺山莫欺水

ㄑㄧ ㄕㄢ ㄇㄛˋ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

цишаньмоцишуй

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hei̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² hei̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

/hei̯⁵⁵ saːn⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² hei̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

Rather climb a mountain than swim or play in the water; i.e. better the Devil you know, alluding to the fact that when climbing a mountain, all dangers are clearly visible but when swimming, there may be invisible dangers lurking.


君子愛財，取之有道

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄞˋ ㄘㄞˊ

ㄑㄩˇ ㄓ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ

цзюньцзыайцай

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹/

gwan¹ dzi² oi³ tsoi⁴, tsoey² dzi¹ jau⁵ dou⁶

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ ɔːi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ tou̯²²/

A virtuous man makes his fortune in a proper way; Acquire wealth in an upright and just way


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

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄖˋ ㄗˇ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

nei⁵ dik¹ joeng⁶ zi² jyu⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik¹ jat⁶ zi² jaa⁵ bit¹ jyu⁴ ho⁴

nǐ de rìzǐ yě bì rúhé [Phonetic:nǐdeyàngzǐrúhé

ни дэ янцзы жухэ

ни дэ жицзы е би жухэ

/ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ jɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ ʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

néih dīk yeuhng jí yùh hòh, néih dīk yaht jí yáh bīt yùh hòh

nei⁵ dik⁷ joeng⁶ dzi² jy⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik⁷ jat⁹ dzi² jaa⁵ bit⁷ jy⁴ ho⁴

néi⁵ dig¹ yêng⁶ ji² yu⁴ ho⁴, néi⁵ dig¹ yed⁶ ji² ya⁵ bid¹ yu⁴ ho⁴

/nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹ nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ jɐt̚² t͡siː³⁵ jaː¹³ piːt̚⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹/

From modifying the following biblical verse in the Chinese Union Version of Deuteronomy 33:25

lw

和合本 (Héhéběn)

And as thy days, so shall thy strength be. (KJV)

和合本 (Héhéběn) (Chinese Union Version), 申命記 (Deuteronomy) 33:25

Nǐ de rìzǐ rúhé, nǐ de lìliàng yě bì rúhé.

你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何。

你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何

Your face, your fate
your face, your fate

(Hong Kong, neologism) Your face, your fate. One's fate and how one is treated in life depends on one's looks; A good-looking person will always be treated well, while an unattractive person will be treated badly.

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

nǐ de yàngzǐ rúhé, nǐ demìng yùn yě bìrú hé


一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰

head

一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰

一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴

An inch of time is as long as an inch of gold in length, but an inch of time cannot be purchased with an inch of gold.

ㄧ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄧㄣ ㄧ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄞˇ ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄧㄣ

jat¹ cyun³ gwong¹ jam¹ jat¹ cyun³ gam¹, cyun³ gam¹ naan⁴ maai⁵ cyun³ gwong¹ jam¹

⁷iq-tshen ¹kuaon-in ⁷iq-tshen ¹cin ⁵tshen-cin ⁶ne-ma ⁵tshen-kuaon-in

cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāngyīn [Phonetic:yí cùn guāngyīn yí cùn jīn

tsʻun⁴ chin¹ nan² mai³ tsʻun⁴ kuang¹-yin¹

и цунь гуанъинь и цунь цзинь

цунь цзинь нань май цунь гуанъинь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ nän³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in⁵⁵/

yāt chyun gwōng yām yāt chyun gām, chyun gām nàahn máaih chyun gwōng yām

jat⁷ tsyn³ gwong¹ jam¹ jat⁷ tsyn³ gam¹, tsyn³ gam¹ naan⁴ maai⁵ tsyn³ gwong¹ jam¹

yed¹ qun³ guong¹ yem¹ yed¹ qun³ gem¹, qun³ gem¹ nan⁴ mai⁵ qun³ guong¹ yem¹

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ kɐm⁵⁵ naːn²¹ maːi̯¹³ t͡sʰyːn³³ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵/

ih^入 tshen kuaon^平 in ih^入 tshen cin^平 tshen^去 cin ne^去 ma tshen^去 kuaon in

⁴iq-tshen ¹kuaan-in ⁴iq-tshen ¹jin ²tshen-jin ³ne-ma ²tshen-kuaan-in

/iɪʔ³³ t͡sʰən³³ kuɑ̃⁵⁵ in³³ iɪʔ³³ t͡sʰən³³ t͡ɕin⁵³ t͡sʰən³³ t͡ɕin³³ ne²² ma³³ t͡sʰən³³ kuɑ̃⁵⁵ in²¹/

time is priceless; money cannot buy you time


天有不測風雲

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄜˋ ㄈㄥ ㄩㄣˊ

tiān yǒu bùcè fēngyún [Phonetic:tiān yǒu búcè fēngyún]

тянь ю буцэ фэнъюнь

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹/

Zhè shízài shì jiàozuò “tiān yǒu bùcè fēngyún”, tā de nánrén shì jiānshírén, shéi zhīdào niánjì qīngqīng, jiù huì duànsòng zài shānghán shàng?

這實在是叫作「天有不測風雲」，她的男人是堅實人，誰知道年紀輕輕，就會斷送在傷寒上？

这实在是叫作「天有不测风云」，她的男人是坚实人，谁知道年纪轻轻，就会断送在伤寒上？

天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福 天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福

天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福

Short for 天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福／天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福 (tiān yǒu bùcè fēngyún, rén yǒu dànxī huòfú, “Disasters and misfortunes are unpredictable”).


病向淺中醫

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄧ

бинсянцяньчжунъи

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² hœːŋ³³ t͡sʰiːn³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵/

/pɛːŋ²² hœːŋ³³ t͡sʰiːn³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵/

Seek medical attention when one's illness is still minor


一日之計在於晨

ㄧ ㄖˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄩˊ ㄔㄣˊ

ижичжицзицзайюйчэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sɔːi̯²² jyː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

Early morning is the most precious period of time in a day; Make one's plan for the day in the early morning

一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨／一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨

yī nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zàiyú chén


天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福

天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福

天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄜˋ ㄈㄥ ㄩㄣˊ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄨˊ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄈㄨˊ

tin¹ jau⁵ bat¹ caak¹ fung¹ wan⁴, jan⁴ jau⁵ daan³ zik⁶ wo⁶ fuk¹

rén yǒu dànxī huòfú [Phonetic:tiān yǒu búcè fēngyún

тянь ю буцэ фэнъюнь

жэнь ю даньси хофу

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu³⁵/

rén yǒu dànxì huòfú [Phonetic:tiān yǒu búcè fēngyún

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡sʰɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ yn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu³⁵/

tīn yáuh bāt chāak fūng wàhn, yàhn yáuh daan jihk woh fūk

tin¹ jau⁵ bat⁷ tsaak⁷ fung¹ wan⁴, jan⁴ jau⁵ daan³ dzik⁹ wo⁶ fuk⁷

tin¹ yeo⁵ bed¹ cag¹ fung¹ wen⁴, yen⁴ yeo⁵ dan³ jig⁶ wo⁶ fug¹

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰaːk̚⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ wɐn²¹ jɐn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ taːn³³ t͡sɪk̚² wɔː²² fʊk̚⁵/

disasters and misfortunes are unpredictable; one's fortune is as unpredictable as the weather


風水佬呃你十年八年

fung¹ seoi² lou² ngaak¹ nei⁵ sap⁶ nin⁴ baat³ nin⁴

fūng séui lóu ngāak néih sahp nìhn baat nìhn

fung¹ soey² lou² ngaak⁷ nei⁵ sap⁹ nin⁴ baat⁸ nin⁴

fung¹ sêu² lou² ngag¹ néi⁵ seb⁶ nin⁴ bad³ nin⁴

/fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ lou̯³⁵ ŋaːk̚⁵ nei̯¹³ sɐp̚² niːn²¹ paːt̚³ niːn²¹/

Because it takes quite a long time for the supposed effects in fengshui to become apparent, it is said that a fengshui master can fool or scam his or her clients for many years before they realize it.

A fengshui master can fool or scam you for many years (e.g. around ten years)


貪字得個貧

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵ kɔː³³ pʰɐn²¹/

/tʰaːm⁵⁵ t͡siː²² tɐk̚⁵ kɔː³³ pʰɐn²¹/

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

with the word 'greed', there is only 'poverty'

(Cantonese) Do not be greedy or you will suffer losses; grasp all, lose all


廟小妖風大，池淺王八多

ㄇㄧㄠˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄠ ㄈㄥ ㄉㄚˋ

ㄔˊ ㄑㄧㄢˇ ㄨㄤˊ ㄅㄚ ㄉㄨㄛ

мяо сяо яофэн да

чи цянь ванба до

/mi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ wɑŋ³⁵ pä⁵⁵ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

There are comparatively more bad people in a small community


三百六十行，行行出狀元

ㄙㄢ ㄅㄞˇ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄕˊ ㄏㄤˊ

ㄏㄤˊ ㄏㄤˊ ㄔㄨ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄩㄢˊ

saam¹ baak³ luk⁶ sap⁶ hong⁴, hong⁴ hong⁴ ceot¹ zong⁶ jyun⁴

саньбай люши хан

ханхан чу чжуанъюань

/sän⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/

sāam baak luhk sahp hòhng, hòhng hòhng chēut johng yùhn

saam¹ baak⁸ luk⁹ sap⁹ hong⁴, hong⁴ hong⁴ tsoet⁷ dzong⁶ jyn⁴

sam¹ bag³ lug⁶ seb⁶ hong⁴, hong⁴ hong⁴ cêd¹ zong⁶ yun⁴

/saːm⁵⁵ paːk̚³ lʊk̚² sɐp̚² hɔːŋ²¹ hɔːŋ²¹ hɔːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ t͡sɔːŋ²² jyːn²¹/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ lak̚⁴⁻³² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² haŋ²³ haŋ²³⁻³³ haŋ²³ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ɡuan²³/

/sã⁴⁴⁻³³ pa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ lak̚⁴⁻³² t͡sap̚⁴⁻³² haŋ²⁴ haŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ haŋ²⁴ t͡sʰut̚³²⁻⁴ t͡siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ɡuan²⁴/

One can become successful with accomplishment in any industry or profession


流言止於智者

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄓˇ ㄩˊ ㄓˋ ㄓㄜˇ

люянь чжи юй чжичжэ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ jɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


不當家不知柴米貴

if one does not keep the house, one does not know how expensive firewood and rice are

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄔㄞˊ ㄇㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄟˋ

pu⁴ tang¹-chia¹ pu⁴-chih¹ chʻai²-mi³ kuei⁴

бу данцзя бучжи чайми гуй

/pu⁵¹ tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰaɪ̯³⁵ mi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹/

managing a family is not easy, and requires responsibility


是藥三分毒

ㄕˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄣ ㄉㄨˊ

ши яо саньфэнь ду

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/siː²² jœːk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fən⁵⁵ tu³⁵/

/siː²² jœːk̚² saːm⁵⁵ fɐn⁵⁵ tʊk̚²/


餓死事小，失節事大

ㄜˋ ㄙˇ ㄕˋ ㄒㄧㄠˇ

ㄕ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄕˋ ㄉㄚˋ

/ˀɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹/

ngo⁶ sei² si⁶ siu², sat⁷ dzit⁸ si⁶ daai⁶

/ŋɔː²² sei̯³⁵ siː²² siːu̯³⁵ sɐt̚⁵ t͡siːt̚³ siː²² taːi̯²²/

Quoted from the Song neo-Confucian philosopher Cheng Yi.

death by starvation is a small matter, but losing one's chastity is a great matter

(figurative) integrity needs to be upheld even to the point of death


人善得人欺，馬善得人騎

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄢˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧ

ㄇㄚˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄑㄧˊ

jên² shan⁴ tê² jên² chʻi¹, ma³ shan⁴ tê² jên² chʻi²

rén shàn dé rén chī-, mǎ shàn dé rén chí

ren shann der ren chi, maa shann der ren chyi

жэнь шань дэ жэнь ци

ма шань дэ жэнь ци

žɛnʹ šanʹ dɛ žɛnʹ ci

/ʐən³⁵ ʂän⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

nice guys finish last
nice guys finish last


丈夫有淚不輕彈

ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ ㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄊㄢˊ

чжанфу ю лэй бу цин тань

/ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ tʰän³⁵/

男兒有淚不輕彈 男兒有淚不輕彈#Chinese

男儿有泪不轻弹 男儿有泪不轻弹#Chinese

at the drop of a hat
at the drop of a hat

Synonym of 男兒有淚不輕彈／男儿有泪不轻弹 (nán'ér yǒu lèi bù qīng tán, “A real man does not cry at the drop of a hat just because life is not going his way.”)


好死不如賴活著

ㄏㄠˇ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄞˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄓㄜ

hǎosǐ bùrú lài huózhe [Phonetic:háosǐbùrúlàihuózhe]

хаосы бужу лай хочжэ

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ laɪ̯⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ə³/

/hou̯³⁵ sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ laːi̯²² wuːt̚² t͡sœːk̚²/

it’s better to live a wretched existence than to experience a good death; better a bad life than a good death; a living ass is better than a dead lion


萬丈高樓平地起

ㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄍㄠ ㄌㄡˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄑㄧˇ

ваньчжан гаолоу пинди ци

/wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ loʊ̯³⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ ti⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² t͡sœːŋ²² kou̯⁵⁵ lɐu̯²¹ pʰɪŋ²¹ tei̯²² hei̯³⁵/

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

(figurative) take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves; many a mickle makes a muckle


曾著賣糖君子哄，如今不信口甜人

曾著賣糖君子哄，如今不信口甜人

曾着卖糖君子哄，如今不信口甜人

ㄘㄥˊ ㄓㄠ ㄇㄞˋ ㄊㄤˊ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄏㄨㄥˇ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄎㄡˇ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ

rújīn bùxìn kǒutián rén [Phonetic:céngzhāomàitángjūnzíhǒng

tsʻêng² chao¹ mai⁴ tʻang² chün¹-tzŭ³ hung³

цэн чжао май тан цзюньцзы хун

жуцзинь бусинь коутянь жэнь

/t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕin⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

Once people have suffered losses due to dupery, they will not easily trust other people's slick talk.


寧可信其有，不可信其無

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄧㄡˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄑㄧˊ ㄨˊ

ning⁴ ho² seon³ kei⁴ jau⁵, bat¹ ho² seon³ kei⁴ mou⁴

нинкэ синь цию

бубукэ синь ци у

/niŋ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ u³⁵/

nìhng hó seun kèih yáuh, bāt hó seun kèih mòuh

ning⁴ ho² soen³ kei⁴ jau⁵, bat⁷ ho² soen³ kei⁴ mou⁴

ning⁴ ho² sên³ kéi⁴ yeo⁵, bed¹ ho² sên³ kéi⁴ mou⁴

/nɪŋ²¹ hɔː³⁵ sɵn³³ kʰei̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ sɵn³³ kʰei̯²¹ mou̯²¹/

It is better to believe something is real or true than to believe it is nonexistent or false.


好心著雷劈

/hou̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sœːk̚² lɵy̯²¹ pʰɛːk̚³/

/hou̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sœːk̚² lɵy̯²¹ pʰɛːk̚³/

no good deed goes unpunished
no good deed goes unpunished

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


人咧做，天咧看

/laŋ²⁴ le(ʔ)⁵ t͡sue⁴¹ tʰĩ³³ le(ʔ)⁵ kʰuã⁴¹/

/laŋ²⁴ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sue²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ le(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kʰuã²¹/

/laŋ¹³ li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡so²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ li⁵³⁻⁴⁴ kʰuã²¹/

/laŋ²³ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sɤ²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ te(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ kʰuã²¹/

(Hokkien) the heavens are looking when humans act; be careful of how you act


人在做，天在看

ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄗㄨㄛˋ

жэнь цзай цзо

тянь цзай кань

/ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ kʰän⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² t͡sou̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² hɔːn³³/


食果子拜樹頭

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ke⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁵³ pai²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu²²⁻²¹ tʰau²⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² kə⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ t͡si⁵⁵⁴ pai⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡sʰiu⁴¹⁻²² tʰau²⁴/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kue⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁴¹ pai²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡sʰiu³³⁻²¹ tʰau²³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ kue⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡si⁵³ pai²¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰiu²²⁻²¹ tʰau¹³/

(Hokkien) remember where one's happiness comes from; do not forget one's roots or heritage


功夫不負有心人

ㄍㄨㄥ ˙ㄈㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ

gōngfu bùfù yǒuxīnrén [Phonetic:gōngfu búfù yǒuxīnrén]

гунфу буфу юсиньжэнь

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ fu² pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/


樹不要皮必死無疑，人不要臉天下無敵

樹不要皮必死無疑，人不要臉天下無敵

树不要皮必死无疑，人不要脸天下无敌

A tree without bark will die without a doubt; a man unconcerned about saving his face is invincible.

ㄕㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄆㄧˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄙˇ ㄨˊ ㄧˊ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄢˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄉㄧˊ

rén bùyào liǎn tiānxiàwúdí [Phonetic:shù búyào pí bì sǐ wúyí

jên² pu⁴-yao⁴ lien³ tʻien¹-hsia⁴-wu²-ti²

шу буяо пи би сы уи

жэнь буяо лянь тяньсяуди

/ʂu⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ pʰi³⁵ pi⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i³⁵ ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ li̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ ti³⁵/

(sarcastic) A shameless person is undefeatable and difficult to deal with.


和尚摸得，我摸不得

The monks can touch [thisnun], [but] I can't?

ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄛ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

/xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

和尚動得，我動不得 和尚動得，我動不得#Chinese

和尚动得，我动不得 和尚动得，我动不得#Chinese

Synonym of 和尚動得，我動不得／和尚动得，我动不得 (héshàng dòng dé, wǒ dòng bùdé)


和尚動得，我動不得

ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄜˊ

ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

хэшан дун дэ

/xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

From a quote in the novel The True Story of Ah Q (1921) by the protagonist Ah Q, who holds a cynical belief that Buddhist monks and nuns all have secret immoral sexual relationships.

Two wrongs make a right
two wrongs make a right

My wrongdoing is justified by someone else doing the same thing. Two wrongs make a right.


萬般皆下品，惟有讀書高

万般皆下品，惟有读书高
萬般皆下品，唯有讀書高

ㄨㄢˋ ㄅㄢ ㄐㄧㄝ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄆㄧㄣˇ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕㄨ ㄍㄠ

maan⁶ bun¹ gaai¹ haa⁶ ban², wai⁴ jau⁵ duk⁶ syu¹ gou¹

ваньбань цзе сяпинь

вэйю душу гао

/wän⁵¹ pän⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ pʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

maahn būn gāai hah bán, wàih yáuh duhk syū gōu

maan⁶ bun¹ gaai¹ haa⁶ ban², wai⁴ jau⁵ duk⁹ sy¹ gou¹

man⁶ bun¹ gai¹ ha⁶ ben², wei⁴ yeo⁵ dug⁶ xu¹ gou¹

/maːn²² puːn⁵⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ haː²² pɐn³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ tʊk̚² syː⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵/

All trades and occupations are inferior and only studying is superior


神仙打架，小鬼遭殃

When the deities fight, the imps will suffer.

ㄕㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄉㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄗㄠ ㄧㄤ

шэньсянь дацзя

сяогуй цзаоян

/ʂən³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ jɑŋ⁵⁵/

disagreement of leaders causes disorder in subordinates

confrontation of politicians causes suffering to ordinary people


時間能治癒一切創傷

ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄩˋ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄨㄤ ㄕㄤ

ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄋㄥˊ ㄓˋ ㄩˋ ㄧ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄨㄤˋ ㄕㄤ

si⁴ gaan³ nang⁴ zi⁶ jyu⁶ jat¹ cai³ cong³ soeng¹

shíjiān néng zhìyù yīqiè chuāngshāng [Phonetic:shíjiān néng zhìyù yíqiè chuāngshāng]

shih²-chien¹ nêng² chih⁴-yü⁴ i¹-chʻieh⁴ chʻuang¹-shang¹

shŕ-jyān néng jr̀-yù yī-chyè chwāng-shāng

шицзянь нэн чжиюй ице чуаншан

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

shíjiān néng zhìyù yīqiè chuàngshāng [Phonetic:shíjiān néng zhìyù yíqiè chuàngshāng]

shih²-chien¹ nêng² chih⁴-yü⁴ i¹-chʻieh⁴ chʻuang⁴-shang¹

shŕ-jyān néng jr̀-yù yī-chyè chwàng-shāng

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ nɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ y⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

sìh gaan nàhng jih yuh yāt chai chong sēung

si⁴ gaan³ nang⁴ dzi⁶ jy⁶ jat⁷ tsai³ tsong³ soeng¹

xi⁴ gan³ neng⁴ ji⁶ yu⁶ yed¹ cei³ cong³ sêng¹

/siː²¹ kaːn³³ nɐŋ²¹ t͡siː²² jyː²² jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯³³ t͡sʰɔːŋ³³ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

[Phonetic: shíjiān néng zhìyù yíqiè chuāngshāng]

[Phonetic: shíjiān néng zhìyù yíqiè chuàngshāng]

time heals all wounds
time heals all wounds


三歲定八十

ㄙㄢ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄉㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄚ ㄕˊ

саньсуйдинбаши

/sän⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ tɪŋ²² paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/

/sän⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ tiŋ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/saːm⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ tɪŋ²² paːt̚³ sɐp̚²/

the character of a person is already formed at a young age


知人口面不知心

/t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯³⁵ miːn²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) one may know a person from the outside but may not understanding their true nature


人在屋檐下，不得不低頭

ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄨ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧ ㄊㄡˊ

жэнь цзай уянь ся

будэбу дитоу

/ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ u⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

A wordplay of 低頭／低头 (dītóu)'s literal and figurative meaning.

zh-l

低頭／低头 (dītóu)

人在屋檐下，不得不低头
人在屋簷下，不得不低頭

When a man stands under eaves, he has to lower his head.

One often has to concede when he or she is in a disadvantaged position


打蛇打七寸

to beat the snake, one must strike seven inches below its head

ㄉㄚˇ ㄕㄜˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄑㄧ ㄘㄨㄣˋ

да шэ да ци цунь

/tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤ³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹/

Attack the problem at its core; Hit where it hurts


先發制人，後發制於人

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄈㄚ ㄓˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄈㄚ ㄓˋ ㄩˊ ㄖㄣˊ

sin¹ faat³ zai³ jan⁴, hau⁶ faat³ zai³ jyu¹ jan⁴

сяньфачжижэнь

хоуфачжиюйжэнь

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ fä⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ y³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

sīn faat jai yàhn, hauh faat jai yū yàhn

sin¹ faat⁸ dzai³ jan⁴, hau⁶ faat⁸ dzai³ jy¹ jan⁴

xin¹ fad³ zei³ yen⁴, heo⁶ fad³ zei³ yu¹ yen⁴

/siːn⁵⁵ faːt̚³ t͡sɐi̯³³ jɐn²¹ hɐu̯²² faːt̚³ t͡sɐi̯³³ jyː⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

Act first and subdue your enemy, or else you will be subdued by your enemy.


山雨欲來風滿樓

the wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains

ㄕㄢ ㄩˇ ㄩˋ ㄌㄞˊ ㄈㄥ ㄇㄢˇ ㄌㄡˊ

шаньюй юй лай фэн мань лоу

/ʂän⁵⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ loʊ̯³⁵/

/saːn⁵⁵ jyː¹³ jʊk̚² lɔːi̯²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ muːn¹³ lɐu̯²¹/

A big event is always preceded by some kind of omen (often describing the tense situation and atmosphere before a serious event happens)


戲仔釘，三日無拍就上鉎

three days of not hitting a theater nail makes it rust

/hi⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ a⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ tan³³ sã³³ lit̚²⁴⁻² bo²⁴⁻²² pʰa(ʔ)⁵ t͡siu⁴¹⁻²² t͡sʰiũ²² san³³/

(Quanzhou Hokkien) spare the rod and spoil the child


男不男女不女

ㄋㄢˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄢˊ ㄋㄩˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄩˇ

нань бу нань нюй бу нюй

/nän³⁵ pu⁵¹ nän³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

men are not like men and women are not like women

(now rare) neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring


日時毋好講人，暗時毋好講鬼

head

日時毋好講人，暗時毋好講鬼

日时毋好讲人，暗时毋好讲鬼

[in the] day, don't speak ill of people, [and in the] night, don't speak ill of ghosts

ngid⁵ si² m² ho³ gong³ ngin², am⁴ si² m² ho³ gong³ gui³

/ŋit̚² sɨ¹¹ m¹¹ ho³¹ koŋ³¹ ŋin¹¹ am⁵⁵ sɨ¹¹ m¹¹ ho³¹ koŋ³¹ gu̯i³¹/

a closed mouth catches no flies
a closed mouth catches no flies


年到二十七，過年差三日

ngian² do⁴ ngi⁴ sib⁶ qid⁵, go⁴ ngian² ca¹ sam¹ ngid⁵

/ŋi̯en¹¹ to⁵⁵ ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ t͡sʰit̚² ko⁵⁵ ŋi̯en¹¹ t͡sʰa²⁴⁻¹¹ sam²⁴ ŋit̚²/

/ŋi̯an¹¹ to⁵⁵ ŋi⁵⁵ sɨp̚⁵ t͡sʰit̚² ko⁵⁵ ŋi̯an¹¹ t͡sʰa²⁴⁻¹¹ sam²⁴ ŋit̚²/

(Hakka) Waiting for Chinese New Year, everyone is eager.


十七十八無醜女

/sɨp̚⁵ t͡sʰit̚² sɨp̚⁵ pat̚² mo¹¹ t͡sʰu³¹ ŋ̍³¹/

(Hakka) young women are always attractive


上山捉蟹——難

ㄕㄤˋ ㄕㄢ ㄓㄨㄛ ㄒㄧㄝˋ

шаншань чжо се

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ nän³⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ haːi̯¹³ naːn²¹/

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹ nän³⁵/

/sœːŋ¹³ saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ haːi̯¹³ naːn²¹/


國有難，回必亂

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄢˋ

ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄌㄨㄢˋ

Хуэй би луань

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ pi⁵¹⁻⁵³ lu̯än⁵¹/

Whenever the country (China) is in peril, the Hui people revolt.


茶三酒四𨑨迌二

/te⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sã³³⁻²³ t͡siu⁵²⁻³⁵ si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰik̚²⁻⁴ tʰo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ d͡zi³⁵/

(Teochew) three people is good for having tea, four for drinks, and two for travel


士可殺不可辱

ㄕˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄖㄨˇ

ㄕˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄖㄨˋ

shì kě shā bùkě rǔ [Phonetic:shìkěshābùkérǔ]

ши кэ ша букэ жу

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂʐ̩⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹/

/siː²² hɔː³⁵ saːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

/siː²² hɔː³⁵ saːt̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jʊk̚²/

A scholar would rather die than be humiliated.


君子不器

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (君子不器):
* → Korean: 군자불기(君子不器) (gunjabulgi)
* → Vietnamese: quân tử bất khí (君子不器)

ja-r

くん%し は き ならず

→ Japanese: 君(くん)子(し)は器(き)ならず (kunshi wa ki narazu) (calque)

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ

цзюньцзыбуци

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hei̯³³/

The Master said, "The accomplished scholar is not a utensil."

子曰：「君子不器。」

A gentleman is no specialist; Unlike a tool fashioned for a specific purpose, a gentleman is well-rounded, someone who has talents suited to any task.


同行如敵國

ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄏㄤˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄉㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ

тунхан жу диго

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ti³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ hɔːŋ²¹ jyː²¹ tɪk̚² kʷɔːk̚³/

/tʰʊŋ³⁵ xɑŋ³⁵ ʐu³⁵ ti³⁵ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ hɔːŋ²¹ jyː²¹ tɪk̚² kʷɔːk̚³/

people of the same trade or occupation are always pitted against each other


好漢不提當年勇

ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄢˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧˊ ㄉㄤ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄩㄥˇ

хаохань бу ти даннянь юн

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰi³⁵ tɑŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hou̯³⁵ hɔːn³³ pɐt̚⁵ tʰɐi̯²¹ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ niːn²¹ jʊŋ¹³/

a true hero does not boast about their past glories


身正不怕影子斜

ㄕㄣ ㄓㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄚˋ ㄧㄥˇ ˙ㄗ ㄒㄧㄝˊ

shēn zhèng bùpà yǐngzi xié [Phonetic:shēn zhèng búpà yǐngzi xié]

шэнь чжэн бупа инцзы се

/ʂən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹ iŋ²¹⁴ d͡z̥z̩⁴ ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/

One does not need to worry about rumours if one is upright.


吃得苦中苦，方為人上人

Only those who endure the hardest hardships will be the best of the best.

chī de kǔ zhōng kǔ, fāng wéi rén shàng rén

ㄔ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄎㄨˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄎㄨˇ

ㄈㄤ ㄨㄟˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄖㄣˊ

hek³ dak¹ fu² zung¹ fu², fong¹ wai⁴ jan⁴ soeng⁶ jan⁴

ngeg⁴ dig⁴ kou² dang¹ kou², huang¹ ui⁵ nang⁵ ziên⁷ nang⁵

chih de̊ kǔ jhong kǔ, fang wéi rén shàng rén

chʻih¹ tê⁵ kʻu³ chung¹ kʻu³, fang¹ wei² jên² shang⁴ jên²

chr̄ de kǔ jūng kǔ-, fāng wéi rén shàng rén

chy .de kuu jong kuu, fang wei ren shanq ren

чи дэ ку чжун ку

фан вэй жэнь шан жэнь

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ d̥ə² kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ kʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɑŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

hek dāk fú jūng fú, fōng wàih yàhn seuhng yàhn

hek⁸ dak⁷ fu² dzung¹ fu², fong¹ wai⁴ jan⁴ soeng⁶ jan⁴

hég³ deg¹ fu² zung¹ fu², fong¹ wei⁴ yen⁴ sêng⁶ yen⁴

/hɛːk̚³ tɐk̚⁵ fuː³⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː³⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ²² jɐn²¹/

ngṳk tik khóu tang khóu, huang ûi nâng tsiēⁿ nâng

/ŋɯk̚²⁻⁴ tik̚²⁻⁴ kʰou⁵²⁻³⁵ taŋ³³⁻²³ kʰou⁵² huaŋ³³⁻²³ ui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sĩẽ¹¹ naŋ⁵⁵/

為這上頭，也不知捱了多少打，罰了多少跪；到如今才掙得兩榜進士！……這才合了俗語說的一句話，叫做：『吃得苦中苦，方為人上人。[[#Chinese|]]

no pain, no gain; Only those who have endured the most difficult hardships can step on the topmost ones of the topmost people.


險過剃頭囝

/hiam⁵²⁻³⁵ kue²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰi²¹³⁻⁵⁵ tʰau⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kĩã⁵²/


一滴精十滴血

ㄧ ㄉㄧ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧ ㄒㄩㄝˋ

ㄧ ㄉㄧ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

ㄧ ㄉㄧ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄕˊ ㄉㄧ ㄒㄧㄝˇ

идицзиншидисюэ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

идицзиншидисе

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ tɪk̚² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɐp̚² tɪk̚² hyːt̚³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ti⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ti⁵⁵ ɕy̯ɛ⁵¹/

A drop of semen is equal to ten drops of blood; Semen is extremely precious and ejaculation leads to a loss of vitality


放下屠刀，立地成佛

ㄈㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄠ

ㄌㄧˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄈㄛˊ

fong³ haa⁶ tou⁴ dou¹, laap⁶ dei⁶ sing⁴ fat⁶

/fɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ fu̯ɔ³⁵/

fong hah tòuh dōu, laahp deih sìhng faht

fong³ haa⁶ tou⁴ dou¹, laap⁹ dei⁶ sing⁴ fat⁹

fong³ ha⁶ tou⁴ dou¹, lab⁶ déi⁶ xing⁴ fed⁶

/fɔːŋ³³ haː²² tʰou̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ laːp̚² tei̯²² sɪŋ²¹ fɐt̚²/

One can quickly become a good person if one repents and mends one's ways


精誠所至，金石為開

ㄐㄧㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄓˋ

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄕˊ ㄨㄟˊ ㄎㄞ

zing¹ sing⁴ so² zi³, gam¹ sek⁶ wai⁴ hoi¹

цзинчэнсочжи

цзиньшивэйкай

/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/

dzing¹ sing⁴ so² dzi³, gam¹ sek⁹ wai⁴ hoi¹

jing¹ xing⁴ so² ji³, gem¹ ség⁶ wei⁴ hoi¹

/t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ sɔː³⁵ t͡siː³³ kɐm⁵⁵ sɛːk̚² wɐi̯²¹ hɔːi̯⁵⁵/

With earnestness and sincerity everything is achievable.


有早知，冇乞兒

有早知，冇乞儿
有早知冇乞兒

if everyone can predict the future, there would be no beggars

/jɐu̯¹³ t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ mou̯¹³ hɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹⁻⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) If everyone had accurate foresight, nobody would fail; hindsight is 20/20


寧賣祖宗田，不賣祖宗言

rather sell the farmland of your ancestors, than sell (forget) their language

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄇㄞˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄇㄞˋ ㄗㄨˇ ㄗㄨㄥ ㄧㄢˊ

bù mài zǔzōng yán [Phonetic:nìng mài zǔzōng tián

нин май цзуцзун тянь

бу май цзуцзун янь

/niŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ maɪ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ maɪ̯⁵¹ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

nen² mai⁴ zu³ zung¹ tian², bud⁵ mai⁴ zu³ zung¹ ngian²

/nen¹¹ mai̯⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ tʰi̯en¹¹ put̚² mai̯⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ ŋi̯en¹¹/

/nen¹¹ mai̯⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ tʰi̯en¹¹ put̚² mai̯⁵⁵ t͡su³¹ t͡suŋ²⁴ ŋi̯an¹¹/

2014, 吴忠伟 (Wu Zhongwei), 《印尼棉兰美达村客家话调查记略》, in 《汉语方言在海外的播迁与变异：第四届海外汉语方言国际研讨会论文集》, →ISBN, page 203

Kèjiārén xiànglái yǒu “nìng mài zǔzōng tián, bù mài zǔzōng yán”, “nìng màishēn, bù mài yán” de zūnzhòng chuántǒng, kèshǒu gǔxùn de guānniàn, hǎiwài de kèjiārén yì rúcǐ.

客家人向來有「寧賣祖宗田，不賣祖宗言」、「寧賣身，不賣言」的尊重傳統、恪守古訓的觀念，海外的客家人亦如此。

客家人向来有「宁卖祖宗田，不卖祖宗言」、「宁卖身，不卖言」的尊重传统、恪守古训的观念，海外的客家人亦如此。

do not forget the Hakka language and one's roots


當局者迷，傍觀者清

ㄉㄤ ㄐㄩˊ ㄓㄜˇ ㄇㄧˊ ㄆㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄓㄜˇ ㄑㄧㄥ

tang¹-chü² chê³ mi² pʻang²-kuan¹ chê³ chʻing¹

данцзюй чжэ ми пангуань чжэ цин

/tɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi³⁵ pʰɑŋ³⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵/

當局者迷，旁觀者清 當局者迷，旁觀者清#Chinese

当局者迷，旁观者清 当局者迷，旁观者清#Chinese

Synonym of 當局者迷，旁觀者清／当局者迷，旁观者清 (dāngjúzhě mí, pángguānzhě qīng)


無魚，蝦也好

If there is no fish, shrimp is also good

/u³⁵ y³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

bô hî, hê ā hó

bô hî, hê ā hó

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

bô hṳ̂, hê iā hó

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ⁵⁵ he⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ia¹¹ ho⁵²/

/u³⁵ y³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hi²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁵³/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ia²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ a²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hɯ⁵⁵ he⁵⁵⁻¹¹ ia¹¹ ho⁵²/

it is alright to settle for something less; it is better to have something than have nothing


無魚，蝦嘛好

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ hi²³ he²³ mã³³⁻²¹ hɤ⁴¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hi²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ hi²³ he²³ mã³³⁻²¹ hɤ⁴¹/

/bo²⁴⁻²¹ hɯ²⁴ he²⁴ ma²²⁻²¹ ho⁴²/

2011, 黄一飞, 欢喜欢喜就好

行情無好無魚蝦嘛好

2011, 黄一飞, 欢喜欢喜就好

行情无好无鱼虾嘛好

(Hokkien) it is alright to settle for something less; it is better to have something than have nothing


聽君一席話，勝讀十年書

ㄊㄧㄥ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄧ ㄒㄧˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄕㄥˋ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄨ

ting³ gwan¹ jat¹ zik⁶ waa⁶, sing³ duk⁶ sap⁶ nin⁴ syu¹

shèng dú shínián shū [Phonetic:tīng jūn yìxíhuà

тин цзюнь исихуа

шэн ду шинянь шу

/tʰiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕi³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ tu³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

ting gwān yāt jihk wah, sing duhk sahp nìhn syū

ting³ gwan¹ jat⁷ dzik⁹ waa⁶, sing³ duk⁹ sap⁹ nin⁴ sy¹

ting³ guen¹ yed¹ jig⁶ wa⁶, xing³ dug⁶ seb⁶ nin⁴ xu¹

/tʰɪŋ³³ kʷɐn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ t͡sɪk̚² waː²² sɪŋ³³ tʊk̚² sɐp̚² niːn²¹ syː⁵⁵/

Attested in Zengguang Xianwen (增廣賢文) in a similar form.

同君一席話，勝讀十年書。

同君一席话，胜读十年书。

Listening to the words of a wise person is superior to ten years of studying.


人無廉恥，不如早死

ㄖㄣˊ ㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄔˇ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄗㄠˇ ㄙˇ

жэнь у ляньчи

/ʐən³⁵ u³⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

somebody who does not understand shame deserves to die young


未食五日節粽，破裘毋甘放

head

未食五日節粽，破裘毋甘放

未食五日节粽，破裘毋甘放

/bue³³⁻²¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ɡɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² t͡se(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡saŋ²¹ pʰua²¹⁻⁴¹ hiu²³ m̩³³⁻²¹ kam⁴⁴⁻³³ paŋ²¹/

(Hokkien) Winter clothes cannot be stored away before the Dragon Boat Festival (because temperatures are thought to be still unstable before the Dragon Boat Festival).


酒逢知己千杯少，話不投機半句多

酒逢知己千杯少，話不投機半句多

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄈㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄅㄟ ㄕㄠˋ

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧ ㄅㄢˋ ㄐㄩˋ ㄉㄨㄛ

zau² fung⁴ zi¹ gei² cin¹ bui¹ siu², waa⁶ bat¹ tau⁴ gei¹ bun³ geoi³ do¹

chiu³ fêng² chih¹-chi³ chʻien¹ pei¹ shao⁴

цзю фэн чжицзи цянь бэй шао

хуа бу тоуцзи бань цзюй до

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ fɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ peɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵/

jáu fùhng jī géi chīn būi síu, wah bāt tàuh gēi bun geui dō

dzau² fung⁴ dzi¹ gei² tsin¹ bui¹ siu², waa⁶ bat⁷ tau⁴ gei¹ bun³ goey³ do¹

zeo² fung⁴ ji¹ géi² qin¹ bui¹ xiu², wa⁶ bed¹ teo⁴ géi¹ bun³ gêu³ do¹

/t͡sɐu̯³⁵ fʊŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ puːi̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³⁵ waː²² pɐt̚⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ puːn³³ kɵy̯³³ tɔː⁵⁵/

酒逢知己千杯少，话不投机半句多

If you drink with a bosom friend, a thousand cups are too few; if you talk to someone who is not on the same page, even half a sentence is too much.


但行好事，莫問前程

ㄉㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄏㄠˇ ㄕˋ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄨㄣˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄔㄥˊ

дань син хаоши

мо вэнь цяньчэн

/tän⁵¹ ɕiŋ³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wən⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵/

Attested in the poem Tian Dao (天道) by 馮道 (Feng Dao) in a similar form

lw

s:御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

Dàn zhī xíng hǎoshì, mò yào wèn qiánchéng.

但知行好事，莫要問前程。

御定全唐詩 (四庫全書本)/卷737

但知行好事，莫要问前程。

Just do good deeds and do not worry about the future.


耳聽為虛，眼見為實

耳听为虚，眼见为实
耳聽爲虛，眼見爲實

ㄦˇ ㄊㄧㄥ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄩ

ㄧㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˊ

ji⁵ ting¹ wai⁴ heoi¹, ngaan⁵ gin³ wai⁴ sat⁶

êrh³ tʻing¹ wei² hsü¹, yen³ chien⁴ wei² shih²

эр тин вэй сюй

янь цзянь вэй ши

/ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰiŋ⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

yíh tīng wàih hēui, ngáahn gin wàih saht

ji⁵ ting¹ wai⁴ hoey¹, ngaan⁵ gin³ wai⁴ sat⁹

yi⁵ ting¹ wei⁴ hêu¹, ngan⁵ gin³ wei⁴ sed⁶

/jiː¹³ tʰɪŋ⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ hɵy̯⁵⁵ ŋaːn¹³ kiːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐt̚²/

Don't believe what people tell you until you see it for yourself.


親兄弟，明算賬

亲兄弟，明算账
親兄弟，明算帳

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄙㄨㄢˋ ㄓㄤˋ

мин суаньчжан

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ miŋ³⁵ su̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²² mɪŋ²¹ syːn³³ t͡sœːŋ³³/

Even with your own brothers, keep clear accounts.


普天之下，莫非王土

ㄆㄨˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄈㄟ ㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄨˇ

pou² tin¹ zi¹ haa⁶, mok⁶ fei¹ wong⁴ tou²

/pʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ tʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

pou² tin¹ dzi¹ haa⁶, mok⁹ fei¹ wong⁴ tou²

/pʰou̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ haː²² mɔːk̚² fei̯⁵⁵ wɔːŋ²¹ tʰou̯³⁵/

From the Classic of Poetry, poem 205 (《詩經·小雅·北山》)

lang

(《詩經·小雅·北山》)

(《詩經·小雅·北山》)

Under the wide heaven, All is the king's land.
Within the sea-boundaries of the land, All are the king's servants.

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

Pǔ tiān zhī xià, mòfēi wáng tǔ.
Shuài tǔ zhī bīn, mòfēi wáng chén.

溥天之下，莫非王土。
率土之濱，莫非王臣。

溥天之下，莫非王土。
率土之滨，莫非王臣。

All land under heaven is the territory of the sovereign


千金難買少年窮

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄋㄢˊ ㄇㄞˇ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

chʻien¹-chin¹ nan² mai³ shao⁴-nien² chʻiung²

цяньцзинь нань май шаонянь цюн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ nän³⁵ maɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ naːn²¹ maːi̯¹³ siːu̯³³ niːn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

Living with hardship and poverty in one's early youth is a precious experience


知己知彼，百戰百勝

desc

→ Vietnamese: trăm trận trăm thắng; trăm trận trăm thắng

ㄅㄞˇ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕㄥˋ

байчжаньбайшэн

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ paːk̚³ t͡siːn³³ paːk̚³ sɪŋ³³/

/t͡siː⁵⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ pʰei̯³⁵ paːk̚³ t͡siːn³³ paːk̚³ sɪŋ³³/

Corruption of 知己知彼，百戰不殆／知己知彼，百战不殆 (zhījǐzhībǐ, bǎizhànbùdài), with 百戰不殆／百战不殆 (bǎizhànbùdài) replaced with 百戰百勝／百战百胜 (bǎizhànbǎishèng, “to be ever-victorious”).

zh-l

百戰不殆／百战不殆 (bǎizhànbùdài)

Know yourself and know the enemy, and you can win every battle you fight.


物以類聚，人以群分

Similar things group together, similar people fit together.

ㄨˋ ㄧˇ ㄌㄟˋ ㄐㄩˋ

ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˇ ㄑㄩㄣˊ ㄈㄣ

mat⁶ ji⁵ leoi⁶ zeoi⁶, jan⁴ ji⁵ kwan⁴ fan¹

jên² i³ chʻün² fên¹

жэнь и цюнь фэнь

/u⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ leɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕy⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵ fən⁵⁵/

maht yíh leuih jeuih, yàhn yíh kwàhn fān

mat⁹ ji⁵ loey⁶ dzoey⁶, jan⁴ ji⁵ kwan⁴ fan¹

/mɐt̚² jiː¹³ lɵy̯²² t͡sɵy̯²² jɐn²¹ jiː¹³ kʷʰɐn²¹ fɐn⁵⁵/

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


真金不怕火煉

ㄓㄣ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄚˋ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄌㄧㄢˋ

zhēn jīn bù pà huǒ liàn [Phonetic:zhēn jīn bú pà huǒ liàn]

чжэнь цзинь бу па хо лянь

/ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kɐm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ pʰaː³³ fɔː³⁵ liːn²²/

Someone of integrity, determination and/or ability can withstand all tests and trials; Something genuine or correct can withstand all tests


寧可玉碎，不能瓦全

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄋㄥˊ ㄨㄚˇ ㄑㄩㄢˊ

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˋ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

бунэн вацюань

/niŋ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

/niŋ³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹⁻⁵³ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ nɤŋ³⁵ wä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵/

From Book of Northern Qi (北齊書·元景安傳) first attested in c. 636 CE

In the Tianbao era, those who were related to the Yuan royal family were killed. Some distant family members, like Yuan Jing'an, asked to change their family name to Gao. Yuan Jinghao, however, said, "How can you abandon your original family name, and change it into another one? A real man would rather be a broken piece of jade, rather than be a tile in whole!"

Tiānbǎo shí, zhū Yuán dìshì qīnjìn zhě duō bèi zhūlù. Shū zōng rú Jǐng'ān zhī tú yì yù qǐng xìng Gāo shì, Jǐnghào yún: “Qǐ dé qì běn zōng, zhú tā xìng, dàzhàngfū níngkě yù suì, bùnéng wǎ quán!”

天保時，諸元帝室親近者多被誅戮。疏宗如景安之徒議欲請姓高氏，景皓云：「豈得棄本宗，逐他姓，大丈夫寧可玉碎，不能瓦全！」

天保时，诸元帝室亲近者多被诛戮。疏宗如景安之徒议欲请姓高氏，景皓云：「岂得弃本宗，逐他姓，大丈夫宁可玉碎，不能瓦全！」

宁可玉碎，不能瓦全
寧為玉碎，不為瓦全

Rather be a broken piece of jade than be a tile in whole.

Dying an honourable death is better than living a dishonourable life


百善孝為先

ㄅㄞˇ ㄕㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄢ

байшань сяо вэй сянь

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ siːn²² haːu̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵/

/paːk̚³ siːn²² haːu̯³³ wɐi̯²¹ siːn⁵⁵/

Of all virtues, filial piety comes first; Filial piety is the most important of all virtues


亂拳打死老師傅

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄙˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕ ˙ㄈㄨ

ㄌㄨㄢˋ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄚˇ ㄙˇ ㄌㄠˇ ㄕ ㄈㄨˋ

luàn quán dǎsǐ lǎo shīfu [Phonetic:luànquándásǐlǎoshīfu]

луань цюань дасы лао шифу

/lu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu²/

luàn quán dǎsǐ lǎo shīfù [Phonetic:luànquándásǐlǎoshīfù]

/lu̯än⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ tä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

to not follow the rules and do things at a whim


忍一時風平浪靜

Endure for one moment, (and) the wind will calm and the waves will become silent

ㄖㄣˇ ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄈㄥ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄌㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

rěn yī shí fēngpínglàngjìng [Phonetic:rěn yì shí fēngpínglàngjìng]

жэнь и ши фэнпинланцзин

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ pʰiŋ³⁵ lɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɐn³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ fʊŋ⁵⁵ pʰɪŋ²¹ lɔːŋ²² t͡sɪŋ²²/

With a little forbearance, you will find calm and peace.


巧言令色，鮮矣仁

desc

→ Japanese: 巧言令色鮮し仁 (kōgenreishoku sukunashi jin)

→ Vietnamese: xảo ngôn, lệnh sắc, tiển hĩ nhân

ㄑㄧㄠˇ ㄧㄢˊ ㄌㄧㄥˋ ㄙㄜˋ

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɛn³⁵ liŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵/

/haːu̯³⁵ jiːn²¹ lɪŋ²² sɪk̚⁵ siːn³⁵ jiː¹³ jɐn²¹/

The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."

子曰：「巧言令色，鮮矣仁！」

子曰：「巧言令色，鲜矣仁！」

He who utters sweet talk and pretentious words does not have much benevolence.


擒賊先擒王

ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄗㄟˊ ㄒㄧㄢ ㄑㄧㄣˊ ㄨㄤˊ

циньцзэйсяньциньван

/t͡ɕʰin³⁵ t͡seɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰin³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² siːn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

/kʰɐm²¹ t͡sʰaːk̚² siːn⁵⁵ kʰɐm²¹ wɔːŋ²¹/

擒賊擒王 擒賊擒王#Chinese

擒贼擒王 擒贼擒王#Chinese


閻王叫你三更死，誰敢留人到五更

head

閻王叫你三更死，誰敢留人到五更

阎王叫你三更死，谁敢留人到五更

When Yama decides you are to die at midnight, who dares to keep you till dawn?

ㄧㄢˊ ㄨㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄥ ㄙˇ

ㄕㄟˊ ㄍㄢˇ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄨˇ ㄍㄥ

Яньван цзяо ни саньгэн сы

шэй гань лю жэнь дао угэн

/jɛn³⁵ wɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵⁵ kɤŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂeɪ̯³⁵ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵/

When death comes, there will be no postponement.


前人種樹，後人乘涼

The ancestors plant trees, the descendants can then rest under its shade.

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄕㄨˋ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

cin⁴ jan⁴ zung³ syu⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

цяньжэньчжуншу

хоужэньчэнлян

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

chìhn yàhn jung syuh, hauh yàhn sìhng lèuhng

tsin⁴ jan⁴ dzung³ sy⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

qin⁴ yen⁴ zung³ xu⁶, heo⁶ yen⁴ xing⁴ lêng⁴

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sʊŋ³³ syː²² hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹/

前人栽樹，後人乘涼 前人栽樹，後人乘涼#Chinese

前人栽树，后人乘凉 前人栽树，后人乘凉#Chinese

Synonym of 前人栽樹，後人乘涼／前人栽树，后人乘凉 (qiánrén zāi shù, hòurén chéngliáng)


前人栽樹，後人乘涼

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄗㄞ ㄕㄨˋ

ㄏㄡˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄌㄧㄤˊ

cin⁴ jan⁴ zoi¹ syu⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

цяньжэнь цзай шу

хоужэнь чэнлян

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ ʂu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ li̯ɑŋ³⁵/

chìhn yàhn jōi syuh, hauh yàhn sìhng lèuhng

tsin⁴ jan⁴ dzoi¹ sy⁶, hau⁶ jan⁴ sing⁴ loeng⁴

qin⁴ yen⁴ zoi¹ xu⁶, heo⁶ yen⁴ xing⁴ lêng⁴

/t͡sʰiːn²¹ jɐn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ syː²² hɐu̯²² jɐn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ lœːŋ²¹/

A generation sweats for the benefit of future generations; One generation sows (i.e. labours) and the next generation reaps (the fruits of labour)


慈母多敗兒

ㄘˊ ㄇㄨˇ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄅㄞˋ ㄦˊ

цыму до бай эр

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ mou̯¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jiː²¹/

/t͡sʰz̩³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ paɪ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː²¹ mou̯¹³ tɔː⁵⁵ paːi̯²² jiː²¹/

a benevolent mother who spoils her children will have bad children


但願人長久，千里共嬋娟

ㄉㄢˋ ㄩㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄔㄢˊ ㄐㄩㄢ

даньюань жэнь чанцзю

цянь ли гун чань цзюань

/tän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ t͡ɕy̯ɛn⁵⁵/

to keep your loved ones close to your heart and wish them the best no matter how physically far apart one is


天下沒有不散的筵席

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧˊ

tin¹ haa⁶ mut⁶ jau⁵ bat¹ saan³ dik¹ jin⁴ zik⁶

tiānxià méiyǒu bù sàn de yánxí [Phonetic:tiānxià méiyǒu bú sàn de yánxí]

tʻien¹-hsia⁴ mei²-yu³ pu⁴ san⁴ tê⁵ yen²-hsi²

тянься мэйю бу сань дэ яньси

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹ d̥ə¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

tīn hah muht yáuh bāt saan dīk yìhn jihk

tin¹ haa⁶ mut⁹ jau⁵ bat⁷ saan³ dik⁷ jin⁴ dzik⁹

tin¹ ha⁶ mud⁶ yeo⁵ bed¹ san³ dig¹ yin⁴ jig⁶

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² muːt̚² jɐu̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ saːn³³ tɪk̚⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡sɪk̚²/

[Phonetic: tiānxià méiyǒu bú sàn de yánxí]

天下沒有不散的宴席 天下沒有不散的宴席#Chinese

天下没有不散的宴席 天下没有不散的宴席#Chinese

Synonym of 天下沒有不散的宴席／天下没有不散的宴席 (tiānxià méiyǒu bùsàn de yànxí)


天下無不散的筵席

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧˊ

tiānxià wú bù sàn de yánxí [Phonetic:tiānxià wú bú sàn de yánxí]

тянься у бу сань дэ яньси

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹ d̥ə¹ jɛn³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

天下沒有不散的宴席 天下沒有不散的宴席#Chinese

天下没有不散的宴席 天下没有不散的宴席#Chinese


天下無不散之筵席

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄨˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄙㄢˋ ㄓ ㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄧˊ

tiānxià wú bù sàn zhī yánxí [Phonetic:tiānxià wú bú sàn zhī yánxí]

tʻien¹-hsia⁴ wu² pu⁴ san⁴ chih¹ yen²-hsi²

тянься у бу сань чжи яньси

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ u³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ sän⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ ɕi³⁵/

天下沒有不散的宴席 天下沒有不散的宴席#Chinese

天下没有不散的宴席 天下没有不散的宴席#Chinese


肥水不流外人田

Fertile water should not flow into someone else's field.

ㄈㄟˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄨㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

фэйшуй бу лю вайжэнь тянь

/feɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/fei̯²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɐu̯²¹ ŋɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ tʰiːn²¹/

肥水不落外人田 肥水不落外人田#Chinese

Synonym of 肥水不落外人田 (féishuǐ bù luò wàirén tián, “a benefit should not be given to others and should be shared exclusively among one’s own people”)


強中自有強中手

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄕㄡˇ

цянчжунцзыюцянчжуншоу

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

koeng⁴ dzung¹ dzi⁶ jau⁵ koeng⁴ dzung¹ sau²

/kʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² jɐu̯¹³ kʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɐu̯³⁵/

one should never be complacent because there is always room to improve one's craft


天不怕，地不怕，只怕廣東人說官話

天不怕，地不怕，只怕廣東人說官話

天不怕，地不怕，只怕广东人说官话

ㄓˇ ㄆㄚˋ ㄍㄨㄤˇ ㄉㄨㄥ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

zhǐ pà Guǎngdōngrén shuō guānhuà [Phonetic:tiān búpà

chih³ pʻa⁴ Kuang³-tung¹-jên² shuo¹ kuan¹-hua⁴

чжи па Гуандунжэнь шо гуаньхуа

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰä⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹/

There is nothing to be afraid of except Cantonese people speaking Mandarin (because there is a stereotype that Cantonese people cannot speak Mandarin well).


夏蟲不可語冰

ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄩˇ ㄅㄧㄥ

xiàchóng bùkě yǔ bīng [Phonetic:xiàchóngbùkéyǔbīng]

сячун букэ юй бин

/ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵⁵/

/haː²² t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ jyː¹³ pɪŋ⁵⁵/

An insect of the summer cannot be talked with about ice - it knows nothing beyond its own season.

Xiàchóng bù kě yǐ yǔ yú bīng zhě, dǔ yú shí yě.

夏蟲不可以語於冰者，篤於時也。

夏虫不可以语于冰者，笃于时也。

One cannot engage in meaningful discussions with people with only superficial knowledge or narrow experience


國有國法，家有家規

ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄈㄚˇ

ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄍㄨㄟ

gwok³ jau⁵ gwok³ faat³, gaa¹ jau⁵ gaa¹ kwai¹

цзя ю цзягуй

/ku̯ɔ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵ fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

gwok⁸ jau⁵ gwok⁸ faat⁸, gaa¹ jau⁵ gaa¹ kwai¹

guog³ yeo⁵ guog³ fad³, ga¹ yeo⁵ ga¹ kuei¹

/kʷɔːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ kʷɔːk̚³ faːt̚³ kaː⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kaː⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵/

A country has its laws and a family its rules; One must do things according to rules and established practice


人過留名，雁過留聲

ㄖㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

ㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄕㄥ

jên² kuo⁴ liu² ming², yen⁴ kuo⁴ liu² shêng¹

ren guoh liou ming, yann guoh liou sheng

жэнь го лю мин

янь го лю шэн

/ʐən³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ miŋ³⁵ jɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

One should do good deeds to leave behind a good reputation after one's death

雁飛過去留聲呢，人過去留名呢

ян фигуәчи лю шинни; жын гуәчи лю минни

雁飞过去留声呢，人过去留名呢

ян фигуәчи лю шинни; жын гуәчи лю минни


牆倒眾人推

Everyone gives a shove to a falling wall.

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄉㄠˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄟ

цян дао чжунжэнь туй

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ tɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ tʰu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tou̯³⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³ jɐn²¹ tʰɵy̯⁵⁵/

/ʑiã²² tɔ³³ t͡soŋ³³ n̠ʲin⁵⁵ tʰe²¹/

/ʑiã²² tɔ³³ t͡soŋ³³ n̠ʲin⁵⁵ tʰe²¹/

Everyone will seize the opportunity to attack a person when he or she loses power or influence


計劃趕不上變化

ㄐㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

jìhuà gǎn bù shàng biànhuà [Phonetic:jìhuà gǎn bú shàng biànhuà]

цзихуа гань бу шан бяньхуа

/t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

man plans and God laughs
man plans and God laughs


食不言，寢不語

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰin²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɪk̚² pɐt̚⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡sʰɐm³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³/

The flesh of his family sacrifice he did not keep over three days. If kept over three days, people could not eat it. When eating, he did not converse. When in bed, he did not speak.

祭肉不出三日。出三日，不食之矣。食不語，寢不言。[[#Chinese|]]


本自同根生，相煎何太急

běn zì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí

ㄅㄣˇ ㄗˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄣ ㄕㄥ

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄏㄜˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧˊ

běn zìh tóng gen sheng, siang jian hé tài jí

pên³ tzŭ⁴ tʻung² kên¹ shêng¹, hsiang¹ chien¹ ho² tʻai⁴ chi²

běn dz̀ túng gēn shēng-, syāng jyān hé tài jí

been tzyh torng gen sheng, shiang jian her tay jyi

бэнь цзы тун гэнь шэн

сян цзянь хэ тай цзи

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ kən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

本是同根生，相煎何太急 本是同根生，相煎何太急#Chinese

Synonym of 本是同根生，相煎何太急 (běn shì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí, “People of the same origin (siblings, relatives or compatriots) should show mercy to each other.”)


黃河百害，唯富一套

ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄏㄜˊ ㄅㄞˇ ㄏㄞˋ

ㄨㄟˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄧ ㄊㄠˋ

wéi fù yī tào [Phonetic:Huáng Hé bǎi hài

Хуан Хэ бай хай

вэй фу и тао

/xu̯ɑŋ³⁵ xɤ³⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xaɪ̯⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ fu⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵¹/

The Yellow River causes extensive harm with its floods and only benefits the Hetao region


本是同根生，相煎何太急

běn shì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí

ㄅㄣˇ ㄕˋ ㄊㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄣ ㄕㄥ

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄐㄧㄢ ㄏㄜˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧˊ

bun² si⁶ tung⁴ gan¹ sang¹, soeng¹ zin¹ ho⁴ taai³ gap¹

běn shìh tóng gen sheng, siang jian hé tài jí

pên³ shih⁴ tʻung² kên¹ shêng¹, hsiang¹ chien¹ ho² tʻai⁴ chi²

běn shr̀ túng gēn shēng-, syāng jyān hé tài jí

been shyh torng gen sheng, shiang jian her tay jyi

бэнь ши тун гэнь шэн

сян цзянь хэ тай цзи

/pən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ tʰʊŋ³⁵ kən⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ tʰaɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

bún sih tùhng gān sāng, sēung jīn hòh taai gāp

bun² si⁶ tung⁴ gan¹ sang¹, soeng¹ dzin¹ ho⁴ taai³ gap⁷

bun² xi⁶ tung⁴ gen¹ seng¹, sêng¹ jin¹ ho⁴ tai³ geb¹

/puːn³⁵ siː²² tʰʊŋ²¹ kɐn⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡siːn⁵⁵ hɔː²¹ tʰaːi̯³³ kɐp̚⁵/

See 煮豆燃萁 (zhǔdòuránqí). This form with 本是同根生 is from the 79th chapter of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

People of the same origin (siblings, relatives or compatriots) should show mercy to each other.

本自同根生，相煎何太急

běn zì tóng gēn shēng, xiāng jiān hé tài jí


刑不上大夫，禮不下庶人

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄚˋ ㄈㄨ

ㄌㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄨˋ ㄖㄣˊ

lǐ bù xià shùrén [Phonetic:xíng bú shàng dàfū

син бу шан дафу

ли бу ся шужэнь

/ɕiŋ³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tä⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂu⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

From the Book of Rites, Book 1 (《禮記·曲禮上》):
:
The original meaning of the quote is disputed.

Where the ruler of a state lays hold of the cross-bar, and bends forward to it, a great officer will descend from his carriage. Where a great officer lays bold of the bar and bends forward, another officer will descend. The rules of ceremony do not go down to the common people. The penal statutes do not go up to great officers. Men who have suffered punishment should not (be allowed to) be by the side of the ruler.

Guójūn fǔ shì, dàfū xià zhī. Dàfū fǔ shì, shì xià zhī. Lǐ bù xià shùrén, xíng bù shàng dàfū. Xíng rén bù zài jūn cè.

國君撫式，大夫下之。大夫撫式，士下之。禮不下庶人，刑不上大夫。刑人不在君側。

国君抚式，大夫下之。大夫抚式，士下之。礼不下庶人，刑不上大夫。刑人不在君侧。

Corporal punishment does not go up to senior officers, and courtesy does not go down to commoners.


十個光頭九個富

ㄕˊ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄈㄨˋ

ши гэ гуантоу цзю гэ фу

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ g̊ə³ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ fu⁵¹/

/sɐp̚² kɔː³³ kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ kɐu̯³⁵ kɔː³³ fuː³³/

Nine out of ten bald-headed people are rich.


一命二運三風水

ㄧ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄦˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

и мин эр юнь сань фэншуй

/i⁵⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ mɛːŋ²² jiː²² wɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵/

First attested in the Qing dynasty novel Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan.

the main factors determining one's life are, in decreasing order of importance, destiny, luck and feng shui

一命二運三風水，四積陰德五讀書／一命二运三风水，四积阴德五读书

yī mìng èr yùn sān fēngshuǐ, sì jī yīndé wǔ dúshū


天跌落嚟當被冚

天跌落嚟当被冚
天跌落來當被冚

If the skycollapses, use it as a blanket

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tiːt̚³ lɔːk̚² lei̯²¹ tɔːŋ³³ pʰei̯¹³ kʰɐm³⁵/

(Cantonese) to be optimistic no matter the circumstances


一將功成萬骨枯

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (一將功成萬骨枯):
* → Vietnamese: nhất tướng công thành vạn cốt khô (一將功成萬骨枯)

ㄧ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄔㄥˊ ㄨㄢˋ ㄍㄨˇ ㄎㄨ

yī jiàng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū [Phonetic:yí jiàng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū]

и цзян гун чэн вань гу ку

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ wän⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʰu⁵⁵/

jat⁷ dzoeng³ gung¹ sing⁴ maan⁶ gwat⁷ fu¹

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sœːŋ³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ maːn²² kʷɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵/

[Phonetic: yí jiàng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū]

From the poem 己亥歲二首·其一 by Cao Song (830-903)

880, 曹松, 己亥歲二首·其一

Píng jūn mò huà fēnghóu shì, yī jiāng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū.

憑君莫話封侯事，一將功成萬骨枯。

880, 曹松, 己亥歲二首·其一

凭君莫话封侯事，一将功成万骨枯。

A single general achieves fame on the rotting bones of ten thousand.

A general's feat is achieved through the sacrifice of the lives of countless soldiers


桂林山水甲天下

ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄢ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎ tiānxià [Phonetic:guìlínshānshuíjiǎtiānxià]

Kuei⁴-lin² shan¹-shui³ chia³ tʻien¹-hsia⁴

Гуйлинь шаньшуй цзя тянься

/ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ lin³⁵ ʂän⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/kʷɐi̯³³ lɐm²¹ saːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ kaːp̚³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

The landscapes of Guilin are the finest in the world


官字兩個口

The character for "official" (官) has two mouths (口)

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄗˋ ㄌㄧㄤˇ ˙ㄍㄜ ㄎㄡˇ

гуань цзы лян гэ коу

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴ g̊ə⁴ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lœːŋ¹³ kɔː³³ hɐu̯³⁵/

/kuːn⁵⁵ t͡siː²² lœːŋ¹³ kɔː³³ hɐu̯³⁵/

The average citizen would believe that "officials have two mouths", that CY and Brother Paul can do whatever. If the housing prices continue to go up, well, they just ramp up the measures. If the harsh measures aren't enough, then they pull out Tenancy Control, or even stipulate that the selling price cannot be greater than the buying price; then housing prices would surely go down.

2016, 湯文亮, 《細價樓爆煲論之危中有機》, page 120

jat¹ bun¹ si⁵ man⁴ wui⁵ jing⁶ wai⁴, gun¹ zi⁶ loeng⁵ go³ hau², si¹ waai¹, bo¹ go¹ dim² zou⁶ dou¹ ho² ji⁵, jyu⁴ gwo² lau⁴ gaa³ gai³ zuk⁶ soeng⁵ sing¹, jat¹ jyu¹ zoi³ ceot¹ ziu¹, laat⁶ ziu¹ m⁴ gau³ zau⁶ ceot¹ zou¹ gun², sam⁶ zi³ kwai¹ ding⁶ maai⁶ ceot¹ gaa³ bat¹ dak¹ gou¹ jyu¹ maai⁵ jap⁶ gaa³, naa⁵ mo¹ lau⁴ gaa³ jat¹ ding⁶ dit³.

一般市民會認為，官字兩個口，CY、波哥點做都可以，如果樓價繼續上升，一於再出招，辣招唔夠就出租管，甚至規定賣出價不得高於買入價，那麼樓價一定跌。

2016, 湯文亮, 《細價樓爆煲論之危中有機》, page 120

一般市民会认为，官字两个口，CY、波哥点做都可以，如果楼价继续上升，一于再出招，辣招唔够就出租管，甚至规定卖出价不得高于买入价，那么楼价一定跌。

Officials have all the say; officials can say whatever they want; there is no point in arguing with officials.


團結就是力量

ㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

ㄊㄨㄢˊ ㄐㄧㄝˊ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄕˋ ㄌㄧˋ ˙ㄌㄧㄤ

туаньцзе цзюши лилян

/tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ li̯ɑŋ¹/

/tʰyːn²¹ kiːt̚³ t͡sɐu̯²² siː²² lɪk̚² lœːŋ²²/

unity makes strength
unity makes strength


君子一言，駟馬難追

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄧ ㄧㄢˊ

ㄙˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄋㄢˊ ㄓㄨㄟ

цзюньцзы иянь

сыма наньчжуй

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ jɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ nän³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

Zigong said: "How regrettable are your words about the superior person. A four-horse-team cannot overtake the tongue. …"

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

Zǐgòng yuē: “Xī hū! Fūzǐ zhī shuō jūnzǐ yě. Sì bùjí shé.......”

子貢曰：「惜乎！夫子之說君子也。駟不及舌。……」

子贡曰：「惜乎！夫子之说君子也。驷不及舌。……」

Zigong said: "The superior person, by speaking once, is taken as wise, by speaking once, is taken as unwise; one cannot afford to speak carelessly. …"

Zǐgòng yuē: “Jūnzǐ yīyán yǐwèi zhī, yīyán yǐwèi bùzhī, yán bùkě bùshèn yě.......”

子貢曰：「君子一言以為知，一言以為不知，言不可不慎也。……」

子贡曰：「君子一言以为知，一言以为不知，言不可不慎也。……」


一命二運三風水，四積陰德五讀書

head

一命二運三風水，四積陰德五讀書

ㄧ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄦˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄈㄥ ㄕㄨㄟˇ

ㄙˋ ㄐㄧ ㄧㄣ ㄉㄜˊ ㄨˇ ㄉㄨˊ ㄕㄨ

jat¹ meng⁶ ji⁶ wan⁶ saam¹ fung¹ seoi², sei³ zik¹ jam¹ dak¹ ng⁵ duk⁶ syu¹

sì jī yīndé wǔ dúshū [Phonetic:yí mìng èr yùn sān fēngshuǐ

и мин эр юнь сань фэншуй

сы цзи иньдэ у душу

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ in⁵⁵ tɤ³⁵ u²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

yāt mehng yih wahn sāam fūng séui, sei jīk yām dāk ńgh duhk syū

jat⁷ meng⁶ ji⁶ wan⁶ saam¹ fung¹ soey², sei³ dzik⁷ jam¹ dak⁷ ng⁵ duk⁹ sy¹

yed¹ méng⁶ yi⁶ wen⁶ sam¹ fung¹ sêu², séi³ jig¹ yem¹ deg¹ ng⁵ dug⁶ xu¹

/jɐt̚⁵ mɛːŋ²² jiː²² wɐn²² saːm⁵⁵ fʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ sei̯³³ t͡sɪk̚⁵ jɐm⁵⁵ tɐk̚⁵ ŋ̍¹³ tʊk̚² syː⁵⁵/

一命二运三风水，四积阴德五读书

the main factors determining one's life are, in decreasing order of importance, destiny, luck, feng shui, doing good deeds and education


富貴險中求

ㄈㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄑㄧㄡˊ

фугуй сянь чжун цю

/fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/


久病床前無孝子

there is no filial son by the bedside of a chronically ill parent

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˇ

chiu³ ping⁴ chʻuang² chʻien² wu² hsiao⁴-tzŭ³

цзю бин чуан цянь у сяоцзы

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ piŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ u³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Even a filial child will eventually be fed up with taking care of a bedridden and chronically ill parent


一元復始，萬象更新

ㄧ ㄩㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˇ

ㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄍㄥ ㄒㄧㄣ

ваньсянгэнсинь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ kɤŋ⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵/

at the beginning of the New Year, everything takes on a new look


不怕一萬，就怕萬一

ㄅㄨˋ ㄆㄚˋ ㄧ ㄨㄢˋ

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄆㄚˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄧ

bat¹ paa³ jat¹ maan⁶, zau⁶ paa³ maan⁶ jat¹

цзю па ваньи

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ pʰä⁵¹ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pʰä⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

bat⁷ paa³ jat⁷ maan⁶, dzau⁶ paa³ maan⁶ jat⁷

/pɐt̚⁵ pʰaː³³ jɐt̚⁵ maːn²² t͡sɐu̯²² pʰaː³³ maːn²² jɐt̚⁵/

one should be prepared for unexpected situations


嚴師出高徒

ㄧㄢˊ ㄕ ㄔㄨ ㄍㄠ ㄊㄨˊ

яньши чу гаоту

/jɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/jiːm²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/jɛn³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/jiːm²¹ siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

A strict teacher produces outstanding students


酒肉穿腸過，佛祖心中留

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄔㄨㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

ㄈㄛˊ ㄗㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄧㄡˊ

цзюжоу чуань чан го

фоцзу синьчжун лю

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹ fu̯ɔ³⁵ t͡su²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯³⁵/

Alcohol and meat pass through my gut, Buddha remains in my heart. But if ordinary people do like me, this is like entering the world of evil.

Jiǔ ròu chuān cháng guò, fózǔ xīnzhōng liú. shìrén ruò xué wǒ, rútóng jìn módào.

酒肉穿腸過，佛祖心中留。世人若學我，如同進魔道。

酒肉穿肠过，佛祖心中留。世人若学我，如同进魔道。

Alcohol and meat pass through the gut while Buddha remains in the heart.

It is fine for a Buddhist to consume meat and alcohol as long as they have Buddha in their heart


冤冤相報何時了，得饒人處且饒人

冤冤相報何時了，得饒人處且饒人

冤冤相报何时了，得饶人处且饶人

ㄩㄢ ㄩㄢ ㄒㄧㄤˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇ

ㄉㄜˊ ㄖㄠˊ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄝˇ ㄖㄠˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юаньюаньсянбао хэши ляо

дэжаожэньчуцежаожэнь

dɛžaožɛnʹčucežaožɛnʹ

/ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɥɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵ ʐɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

vengeance begets vengenace, so it is often better to forgive


有其母必有其子

ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄨˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄗˇ

ю ци му би ю ци цзы

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ mu²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ mou̯¹³ piːt̚⁵ jɐu̯¹³ kʰei̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵/

like mother, like child
like mother, like daughter


可憐之人必有可恨之處

A pitiful person is certainly despicable somehow.

ㄎㄜˇ ㄌㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄏㄣˋ ㄓ ㄔㄨˋ

kělián zhī rén bì yǒu kěhèn zhī chù [Phonetic:kěliánzhīrénbìyóukěhènzhīchù]

kʻo³-lien² chih¹ jên² pi⁴ yu³ kʻo³-hên⁴ chih¹ chʻu⁴

кэлянь чжи жэнь би ю кэхэнь чжи чу

/kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ li̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pi⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xən⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/


百無一用是書生

ㄅㄞˇ ㄨˊ ㄧ ㄩㄥˋ ㄕˋ ㄕㄨ ㄕㄥ

bǎiwúyīyòng shì shūshēng [Phonetic:bǎiwúyíyòng shì shūshēng]

байуиюн ши шушэн

/paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ jʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

From a line in 雜感, a poem written by Qing dynasty poet Huang Jingren.

Shí yǒu jiǔ rén kān báiyǎn, bǎiwúyīyòng shì shūshēng.

十有九人堪白眼，百無一用是書生。

十有九人堪白眼，百无一用是书生。

Scholars (intellectuals) are good for nothing.


冬至羊，夏至狗

/tʊŋ⁴⁴⁻³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵³⁻⁵⁵ iɔŋ¹¹ ha⁵³⁻⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵³⁻⁵⁵ keu³¹/

(Hakka) eat mutton on winter solstice and dog meat on summer solstice


夏至狗，冇埞走

/haː²² t͡siː³³ kɐu̯³⁵ mou̯¹³ tɛːŋ²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) Dogs have nowhere to hide on summer solstice because they are eaten by the people.


九出十三歸

ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄨ ㄕˊ ㄙㄢ ㄍㄨㄟ

цзю чу шисань гуй

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐp̚² saːm⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

/kɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐp̚² saːm⁵⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵/

When borrowing $10 from a pawnbroker or usurer, one receives only $9 but will have to repay $13.


執輸行頭，慘過敗家

执输行头，惨过败家
執輸行頭慘過敗家

To miss out on an opportunity and getting to the front is worse than ruining one's family.

zap¹ syu¹ haang⁴ tau⁴, caam² gwo³ baai⁶ gaa¹

dzap⁷ sy¹ haang⁴ tau⁴, tsaam² gwo³ baai⁶ gaa¹

/t͡sɐp̚⁵ syː⁵⁵ haːŋ²¹ tʰɐu̯²¹ t͡sʰaːm³⁵ kʷɔː³³ paːi̯²² kaː⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) Not acting quickly and therefore missing out great opportunities is the worst thing in the world.


薑是老的辣

It's the older ginger that is the spicy one.

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄕˋ ㄌㄠˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄌㄚˋ

цзян ши лао дэ ла

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ lä⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ lä⁵¹/

The older the person is, the more seasoned (wiser or more treacherous) they are.


薑越老越辣

desc

→ Vietnamese: gừng càng già càng cay (calque)

The older ginger becomes, the spicier it gets.

ㄐㄧㄤ ㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄩㄝˋ ㄌㄚˋ

цзянъюэлаоюэла

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lä⁵¹/

/kœːŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚² lou̯¹³ jyːt̚² laːt̚²/

/kœːŋ⁵⁵ jyːt̚² lou̯¹³ jyːt̚² laːt̚²/

(chiefly Cantonese) The older the person is, the more seasoned (wiser or more treacherous) they are.


瑞雪兆豐年

ㄖㄨㄟˋ ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄓㄠˋ ㄈㄥ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

жуйсюэ чжао фэннянь

/ʐu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

a timely snow augurs a year of good harvest


三十六計，走為上計

ㄙㄢ ㄕˊ ㄌㄧㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ

ㄗㄡˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧˋ

saam¹ sap⁶ luk⁶ gai³, zau² wai⁴ soeng⁶ gai³

цзоувэйшанцзи

/sän⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹/

saam¹ sap⁹ luk⁹ gai³, dzau² wai⁴ soeng⁶ gai³

sam¹ seb⁶ lug⁶ gei³, zeo² wei⁴ sêng⁶ gei³

/saːm⁵⁵ sɐp̚² lʊk̚² kɐi̯³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wɐi̯²¹ sœːŋ²² kɐi̯³³/

zh-l

走為上計／走为上计 (zǒuwéishàngjì)

If all else fails, retreat; Fleeing is the best stratagem (of the Thirty-Six Stratagems).


無友不如己者

desc

무우불여기자(無友不如己者)

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (無友不如己者):
* → Korean: 무우불여기자(無友不如己者) (muuburyeogija)

ja-r

己に如かざる者を友とするなかれ

おのれ に しかざる もの を とも と するなかれ

→ Japanese: 己(おのれ)に如(し)かざる者(もの)を友(とも)とするなかれ (onore ni shikazaru mono o tomo to surunakare) (calque)

ㄨˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧˇ ㄓㄜˇ

wú yǒu bùrú jǐ zhě [Phonetic:wúyǒubùrújízhě]

у ю бужу цзи чжэ

/u³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ kei̯³⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵/

The Master said, "If the scholar be not grave, he will not call forth any veneration, and his learning will not be solid. Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."

Zǐ yuē: “Jūnzǐ bù zhòng zé bù wēi, xué zé bù gù. Zhǔ zhōngxìn, wú yǒu bùrú jǐ zhě, guò zé wù dàn gǎi.”

子曰：「君子不重則不威，學則不固。主忠信，無友不如己者，過則勿憚改。」

子曰：「君子不重则不威，学则不固。主忠信，无友不如己者，过则勿惮改。」

Make friends with people that are better than oneself


好仔不論爺田地

/hou̯³⁵ t͡sɐi̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ lɵn²² jɛː²¹ tʰiːn²¹ tei̯²²/

(Cantonese) A good son does not count on his family's fortune for his success


工字不出頭

ㄍㄨㄥ ㄗˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ ㄊㄡˊ

гун цзы бу чутоу

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵/

/kʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡siː²² pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹/

One cannot be successful in life by being a worker


一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨

head

一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨

一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨

ㄧ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄩˊ ㄔㄨㄣ

ㄧ ㄖˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄩˊ ㄔㄣˊ

jat¹ nin⁴ zi¹ gai³ zoi⁶ jyu¹ ceon¹, jat¹ jat⁶ zi¹ gai³ zoi⁶ jyu¹ san⁴

yī rì zhī jì zàiyú chén [Phonetic:yì nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn

и нянь чжи цзи цзайюй чунь

и жи чжи цзи цзайюй чэнь

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ y³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

yāt nìhn jī gai joih yū chēun, yāt yaht jī gai joih yū sàhn

jat⁷ nin⁴ dzi¹ gai³ dzoi⁶ jy¹ tsoen¹, jat⁷ jat⁹ dzi¹ gai³ dzoi⁶ jy¹ san⁴

yed¹ nin⁴ ji¹ gei³ zoi⁶ yu¹ cên¹, yed¹ yed⁶ ji¹ gei³ zoi⁶ yu¹ sen⁴

/jɐt̚⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sɔːi̯²² jyː⁵⁵ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚² t͡siː⁵⁵ kɐi̯³³ t͡sɔːi̯²² jyː⁵⁵ sɐn²¹/

一日の計は朝にあり、一年の計は元旦にあり

ichinichi no kei wa ashita ni ari, ichinen no kei wa gantan ni ari

(literally) The whole year's planning lies in the spring, and the whole day's planning lies in the morning


雄辯是銀，沉默是金

ㄒㄩㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄧㄣˊ

ㄔㄣˊ ㄇㄛˋ ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄣ

hung⁴ bin⁶ si⁶ ngan⁴, cam⁴ mak⁶ si⁶ gam¹

сюнбянь ши инь

чэньмо ши цзинь

/ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ in³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

hùhng bihn sih ngàhn, chàhm mahk sih gām

hung⁴ bin⁶ si⁶ ngan⁴, tsam⁴ mak⁹ si⁶ gam¹

hung⁴ bin⁶ xi⁶ ngen⁴, cem⁴ meg⁶ xi⁶ gem¹

/hʊŋ²¹ piːn²² siː²² ŋɐn²¹ t͡sʰɐm²¹ mɐk̚² siː²² kɐm⁵⁵/

Calque of English speech is silver, silence is golden.

cal

speech is silver, silence is golden
speech is silver, silence is golden


強扭的瓜不甜

a forcibly twisted melon will not be sweet

ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄋㄧㄡˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄍㄨㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

цян ню дэ гуа бу тянь

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵ ni̯oʊ̯²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ ku̯ä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

something done grudgingly will not produce satisfactory results


執輸行頭慘過敗家

zap¹ syu¹ haang⁴ tau⁴ caam² gwo³ baai⁶ gaa¹

dzap⁷ sy¹ haang⁴ tau⁴ tsaam² gwo³ baai⁶ gaa¹

執輸行頭，慘過敗家 執輸行頭，慘過敗家#Chinese

执输行头，惨过败家 执输行头，惨过败家#Chinese

Alternative form of 執輸行頭，慘過敗家／执输行头，惨过败家


上山容易下山難

ㄕㄤˋ ㄕㄢ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕㄢ ㄋㄢˊ

шаншань жунъи сяшань нань

/ʂɑŋ⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵ i⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂän⁵⁵ nän³⁵/

It is easier to climb up a mountain than to go down a mountain.


麻繩專挑細處斷

A rope's thinnest part is the most vulnerable.

ㄇㄚˊ ㄕㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄢ ㄊㄧㄠ ㄒㄧˋ ㄔㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

ma²-shêng² chuan¹ tʻiao¹ hsi⁴ chʻu⁴ tuan⁴

машэн чжуань тяо си чу дуань

/mä³⁵ ʂɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹⁻⁵³ tu̯än⁵¹/

The most critical person/step is the one most subject to flaws.


有心唔怕遲

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ m̩²¹ pʰaː³³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ m̩²¹ pʰaː³³ t͡sʰiː²¹/

better late than never
better late than never

(Cantonese) it's never too late; better late than never


好戰必亡，忘戰必危

ㄏㄠˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄨㄤˊ

ㄨㄤˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄨㄤˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄨㄟˊ

хаочжань би ван

ванчжань би вэй

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ wɑŋ³⁵ wɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

From The Methods of the Sima [circa 4th century B.C.].

Thus, even if it has great power, a country that loves to go to war will perish; but even in peace, a country that forgets how to go to war will be endangered.

The Methods of the Sima, circa 4ᵗʰ century BCE

Gùguó suī dà, hàozhàn bì wáng; tiānxià suī ān, wàngzhàn bì wēi.

故國雖大，好戰必亡；天下雖安，忘戰必危。

故国虽大，好战必亡；天下虽安，忘战必危。

a country that loves to go to war will perish, but a country that forgets how to go to war will be endangered


光陰似箭，日月如梭

ㄍㄨㄤ ㄧㄣ ㄙˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

ㄖˋ ㄩㄝˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛ

gwong¹ jam¹ ci⁵ zin³, jat⁶ jyut⁶ jyu⁴ so¹

гуанъинь сы цзянь

/ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ in⁵⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɥɛ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ su̯ɔ⁵⁵/

gwong¹ jam¹ tsi⁵ dzin³, jat⁹ jyt⁹ jy⁴ so¹

/kʷɔːŋ⁵⁵ jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡siːn³³ jɐt̚² jyːt̚² jyː²¹ sɔː⁵⁵/


錯就要認，打就企定

[if one has] made mistakes, recognize them; [if one is] beaten, stand still

co³ zau⁶ jiu³ jing⁶, daa² zau⁶ kei⁵ ding⁶

tso³ dzau⁶ jiu³ jing⁶, daa² dzau⁶ kei⁵ ding⁶

co³ zeo⁶ yiu³ ying⁶, da² zeo⁶ kéi⁵ ding⁶

/t͡sʰɔː³³ t͡sɐu̯²² jiːu̯³³ jɪŋ²² taː³⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² kʰei̯¹³ tɪŋ²²/

(Cantonese) one should adimit their wrongdoings and accept punishment.