|
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
乳臭未乾
|
jyu5 cau3 mei6 gon1 |
ru3 xiu4 wei4 gan1 |
wet behind the ears |
|
雕蟲小技
|
diu1 cung4 siu2 gei6 |
diao1 chong2 xiao3 ji4 |
what an easy skill; insignificant skill |
|
做盛行
|
zou6 sing6 hong4 |
|
what do you do? |
|
容乜易
|
jung4 mat1 ji6 |
|
what if … |
|
一將功成萬骨枯
|
jat1 zoeng3 gung1 sing4 maan6 gwat1 fu1 |
yi1 jiang4 gong1 cheng2 wan4 gu3 ku1 |
What millions died that Caesar might be great |
|
弄假成真
|
lung6 gaa2 sing4 zan1 |
nong4 jia3 cheng2 zhen1 |
what was make-believe has become reality |
|
覆水難收
|
fuk1 seoi2 naan4 sau1 |
fu4 shui3 nan2 shou1 |
what's done can't be undone |
|
米已成炊
|
mai5 ji5 sing4 ceoi1 |
mi3 yi3 cheng2 chui1 |
what's done can't be undone |
|
打蛇先打頭
|
daa2 se4 sin1 daa2 tau4 |
da3 she2 xian1 da3 tou2 |
When attacking a snake, strike the head first |
|
細蝦大,無所謂,大蝦細,無智慧
|
sai3 haa1 daai6, mou4 so2 wai6, daai6 haa1 sai3, mou4 zi3 wai6 |
|
when children bully adults it does not matter, adults bully children then it's not wise |
|
身在福中不知福
|
san1 zoi6 fuk1 zung1 bat1 zi1 fuk1 |
|
when growing up in happiness, don't appreciate what happiness actually is |
|
入鄉隨俗
|
jap6 hoeng1 ceoi4 zuk6 |
ru4 xiang1 sui2 su2 |
When in Rome do as the Romans do |
|
秋風起,三蛇肥
|
cau1 fung1 hei2 saam1 se4 fei4 |
|
when the autumn winds blow, the snakes are fat (so lets eat them now!) |
|
秋風起,食臘味
|
cau1 fung1 hei2 sik6 laap6 mei6*2 |
|
when the autumn winds blow, the time is ripe for preserved meats |
|
塵埃落定
|
can4 oi1 lok6 ding6 |
chen2 ai1 luo4 ding4 |
when the dust has settled |
|
曲終人散
|
kuk1 zung1 jan4 saan3 |
qu3 zhong1 ren2 san4 |
when the party is over; when a happy occasion has come to an end |
|
書到用時方恨少
|
syu1 dou3 jung6 si4 fong1 han6 siu2 |
shu1 dao4 yong4 shi2 fang1 hen4 shao3 |
When you need to apply some knowledge and you regret not acquiring enough of it |
|
有志者事竟成
|
jau5 zi3 ze2 si6 ging2 sing4 |
you3 zhi4 zhe3 shi4jing4 cheng2 |
where there's a will, there's a way |
|
山高皇帝遠
|
saan1 gou1 wong4 dai3 jyun5 |
shan1 gao1 huang2 di4 yuan3 |
while the cat is away, the mice will play |
|
交頭接耳
|
gaau1 tau4 zip3 ji5 |
jiao1 tou2 jie1 er3 |
whispering from one to another |