| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
讕正經
|
laan2 zing3 ging1 |
lan2 zheng4 jing1 |
hypocritical; play the saint |
|
|
錦上添花
|
gam2 soeng6 tim1 faa1 |
jin3 shang4 tian1 hua1 |
icing on the cake |
|
|
癡人說夢
|
ci1 jan4 syut3 mung6 |
chi1 ren2 shuo1 meng4 |
idiotic nonsense; lunatic ravings |
|
|
游手好閒
|
jau4 sau2 hou3 haan4 |
you2 shou3 hao4 xian2 |
idle; have nothing to do or don't want to work, just wandering around |
|
|
人無生活計，枉食人間米
|
jan4 mou4 sang1 wut6 gai3, wong2 sik6 jan4 gaan1 mai5 |
ren2 wu2 sheng1 huo2 ji4, wang3 shi2 ren2 jian1 mi3 |
if one doesn't have a plan or goal in one will just waste his life away for nothing |
|
|
有錢出錢，有力出力
|
jau5 cin4*2 ceot1 cin4*2, yau5 lik6 ceot1 lik6 |
you3 qian2 chu1 qian2 , you3 li4 chu1 li4 |
if one has money give money, if one has strength offer one's strength |
|
|
知足常樂
|
zi1 zuk1 soeng4 lok6 |
|
if one is happy with what he has, then he will always be happy |
|
|
手停口停
|
sau2 ting4 hau2 ting4 |
|
if one stops working, then no money to survive |
|
|
上樑不正下樑歪
|
soeng6 loeng4 bat1 zing3 haa6 loeng4 waai1 |
shang4 liang2 bu4*2 zheng4 xia4 liang2 wai1 |
if superiors (leaders; parents) are not good examples, their subordinates (followers, children) will behave unbecomingly |
|
|
唔打唔相識
|
m4 daa2 m4 soeng1 sik1 |
|
if there are no mutual blows then no friendship grows |
|
|
有早知，冇乞兒
|
jau5 zou2 zi1, mou5 hat1 ji4*1 |
you3 zao3 zhi1, mao3 qi3 er2 |
if you knew your present outcome earlier you wouldn't have made such a choice |
|
|
坐井觀天
|
zo6 zeng2 gun1 tin1 |
zuo4 jing3 guan1 tian1 |
ignorant and narrow-minded |
|
|
周身唔聚財
|
zau1 san1 m4 zeoi6 coi4 |
|
ill-at-ease |
|
|
孤陋寡聞
|
gu1 lau6 gwaa2 man4 |
gu1 lou4 gua3 wen2 |
ill-informed, uneducated |
|
|
目不識丁
|
muk6 bat1 sik1 ding1 |
mu4 bu4 shi4 (TW) / shi2 (PRC) ding1 |
illiterate; unable to even recognize the character 丁 |
|
|
黃粱美夢
|
wong4 loeng4 mei5 mung6 |
huang2 liang2 mei3 meng4 |
illusions of wealth and power |
|
|
永垂不朽
|
wing5 seoi4 bat1 nau2 |
yong3 chui2 bu4 xiu3 |
immortal; will last forever |
|
|
威風凜凜
|
wai1 fung1 lam5 lam5 |
wei1 feng1 lin3 lin3 |
imposing; awesome; to look majestic |
|
|
非分之想
|
fei1 fan6 zi1 soeng2 |
fei1 fen4 zhi1 xiang3 |
improper or unbecoming thought or desire; inordinate aspiration |
|
|
進退兩難
|
zeon3 teoi3 leong5 naan4 |
jin4 tui4 liang3 nan2 |
in a dilemma |
