| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
無地自容
|
mou4 dei6 zi6 jung4 |
wu2 di4 zi4 rong2 |
have nowhere to hide oneself; deeply shamed |
|
|
原形畢露
|
jyun4 jing4 bat1 lou6 |
yuan2 xing2 bi4 lu4 |
have one's true face totally exposed; to show one's true colours |
|
|
咎由自取
|
gau3 jau4 zi6 ceoi2 |
jiu4 you2 zi4 qu3 |
have only onself to blame |
|
|
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 |
|
|
魚與熊掌，不可兼得
|
jyu4 jyu5 hung4 zoeng2, bat1 ho2 gim1 dak1 |
yu2 yu3 xiong2 zhang3, bu4 ke3 jian1 de2 |
have to choose between one or the other (because you can't have both) |
|
|
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 |
|
|
唔係猛龍唔過江
|
m4 hai6 maang5 lung4 m4 gwo3 gong1 |
|
He who dares to come is surely not a coward |
|
|
沒心沒肺
|
mut6 sam1 mut6 fai3 |
mei2 xin1 mei2 fei4 |
heartless |
|
|
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 |
|
|
支支吾吾
|
zi1 zi1 ng4 ng4 |
zi1 zi1 wu2 wu2 |
hem and haw; refers to vague and evasive speech |
|
|
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 |
