| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
眼饞肚飽
|
ngaan5 caam4 tou5 baau2 |
yan3 chan2 du4 bao3 |
(idiom) to bite off more than you can chew |
|
|
撥亂反正
|
but6 lyun6 faan2 zing3 |
bo1 luan4 fan3 zheng4 |
restore order out of chaos |
|
|
孤注一擲
|
gu1 zyu3 jat1 zaak6 |
|
to put all one's eggs in one basket |
|
|
貓哭老鼠假慈悲
|
maau1 huk1 lou5 syu2 gaa2 ci4 bei1 |
mao1 ku1 lao3 shu3 jia3 ci2 bei1 |
"crocodile tears", hypocritical pretence of condolence |
|
|
是是非非真假
|
si6 si6 fei1 fei1 zan1 gaa2 |
|
"gossip, truth, and lies" |
|
|
閃人
|
sim2 jan4 |
shan3 ren2 |
"I'll leave this place" |
|
|
殺雞給猴看
|
saat3 gai1 kap1 hau4 hon3 |
sha1 ji1 gei3 hou2 kan4 |
"kill a chicken in front of a monkey" -- make an example out of someone (by punishing them) to frighten others |
|
|
男尊女卑
|
naam4 zyun1 neoi5 bei1 |
nan2 zun1 nv3 bei1 |
"men are superior to women" |
|
|
三低一高
|
saam1 dai1 jat1 gou1 |
san1 di1 yi1 gao1 |
"three low, one hight" a medical prescription diet |
|
|
長話短說
|
coeng4 waa6 dyun2 syut3 |
chang2 hua4 duan3 shuo1 |
"to make a long story short" |
|
|
三個和尚冇水食
|
saam1 go3 wo4 soeng6*2 mou5 seoi2 sik6 |
|
"to pass the buck" |
|
|
阿豬阿狗
|
aa5 zyu1 aa5 gau2 |
|
"Tom, Dick, and Harry" |
|
|
後塵
|
hau6 can4 |
hou4 chen2 |
'someone else's footsteps' |
|
|
自生自滅
|
zi6 saang1 zi6 mit6 |
zi4 sheng1 zi4 mie4 |
(allowing something) to run its own course; to emerge and perish on its own |
|
|
千軍萬馬
|
cin1 gwan1 maan6 maa5 |
qian1 jun1 wan4 ma3 |
(idiom) a large number of people |
|
|
七嘴八舌
|
cat1 zeoi2 baat3 sit6 |
qi1 zui3 ba1 she2 |
(idiom) all talking at once; a lively conversation; a clash of opinions |
|
|
一哄而散
|
jat1 hung6 ji4 saan3 |
yi1 hong1 er2 san4 |
(idiom) disperse in confusion |
|
|
興高采烈
|
hing3 gou1 coi2 lit6 |
xing4 gao1 cai3 lie4 |
(idiom) in high spirits; delighted; excited |
|
|
新陳代謝
|
san1 can4 doi6 ze6 |
xin1 chen2 dai4 xie4 |
(idiom) metabolism; replace the old with the new |
|
|
好說
|
hou2 syut3 |
hao3 shuo1 |
(idiom) OK, term used to indicate agreement; (idiom) "you flatter me", polite response to praise |
