| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
身無長物
|
san1 mou4 zoeng6 mat6 |
shen1 wu2 zhang4 wu4 |
have only the bare daily necessities |
|
|
燕頷虎鬚
|
jin3 ham4 fu2 sou1 |
|
have the look of someone rich and important |
|
|
高不成，低不就
|
gou1 bat1 sing4, dai1 bat1 zau6 |
gao1 bu4 cheng2, di1 bu4 jiu4 |
have trouble finding a job because one is not accepted for high paying position and reluctant to accept a lower paying job |
|
|
居心叵測
|
geoi1 sam1 po2 cak1 |
ju1 xin1 po3 ce4 |
having malicious intent |
|
|
不起作用
|
bat1 hei2 zok3 jung6 |
|
having no effect; without changing one’s feelings or opinions |
|
|
食髓知味
|
sik6 seoi5 zi1 mei6 |
|
Having tasted the marrow, the longing for its savour grows |
|
|
唉聲嘆氣
|
aai1 seng1 taan3 hei3 |
ai1 sheng1 tan4 qi4 |
heave deep sighs |
|
|
牛高馬大
|
ngau4 gou1 maa5 daai6 |
|
hefty, tall (for a big and sturdy person) |
|
|
手指拗出唔拗入
|
sau2 zi2 aau2 ceot1 m4 aau2 jap6 |
|
help outsiders and not side your own |
|
|
十五十六
|
sap6 ng5 sap6 luk6 |
shi2 wu3 shi2 liu4 |
hesitant, indecisive; the TVB game show 15/16 |
|
|
踟躕不前
|
ci4 cyu4 bat1 cin4 |
chi2 chu2 bu4 qian2 |
hesitate to proceed |
|
|
臥虎藏龍
|
ngo6 fu2 cong4 lung4 |
wo4 hu3 cang2 long2 |
hidden talent; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, movie by Ang Lee 李安 |
|
|
一手遮天
|
jat1 sau2 ze1 tin1 |
yi1 shou3 zhe1 tian1 |
hide the truth from the masses |
|
|
曲高和寡
|
kuk1 gou1 wo6 gwaa2 |
qu3 gao1 he4 gua3 |
highbrow songs find few singers; too highbrow to be popular |
|
|
從中作梗
|
cung4 zung1 zok3 gang2 |
cong2 zhong1 zuo4 geng3 |
hinder sth. from being executed; impede from the inside |
|
|
落井下石
|
lok6 zeng2 haa6 sek6 |
|
hit a person when he is down; a "cheap shot" |
|
|
無殼蝸牛
|
mou4 hok3 wo1 ngau4 |
wu2 ke2 wo1 [PRC] gua1 [TW] niu2 |
homeless |
|
|
盜亦有道
|
dou6 jik6 jau5 dou6 |
dao4 yi4 you3 dao4 |
honor among thieves |
|
|
義無反顧
|
ji6 mou4 faan2 gu3 |
yi4 wu2 fan3 gu4 |
honour permits no turning back; be duty-bound not to turn back |
|
|
紙上談兵
|
zi2 soeng6 taam4 bing1 |
zhi3 shang4 tan2 bing1 |
hot air; idle theorizing |
