| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
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" |
|
|
為虎作倀
|
wai6 fu2 zok3 coeng1 |
wei4 hu3 zuo4 chang1 |
hold a candle to the devil |
|
|
無殼蝸牛
|
mou4 hok3 wo1 ngau4 |
wu2 ke2 wo1 [PRC] gua1 [TW] niu2 |
homeless |
|
|
粗茶淡飯
|
cou1 caa4 taam5 faan6 |
cu1 cha2 dan4 fan4 |
homely fare |
|
|
盜亦有道
|
dou6 jik6 jau5 dou6 |
dao4 yi4 you3 dao4 |
honor among thieves |
|
|
尊師重道
|
zyun1 si1 zung6 dou6 |
zun1 shi1 zhong4 dao4 |
honour one's teacher and his teachings |
|
|
義無反顧
|
ji6 mou4 faan2 gu3 |
yi4 wu2 fan3 gu4 |
honour permits no turning back; be duty-bound not to turn back |
|
|
望子成龍
|
mong6 zi2 sing4 lung4 |
wang4 zi3 cheng2 long2 |
Hope for a son's success |
|
|
問和尚借梳
|
man6 wo4 soeng6*2 ze3 so1 |
wen4 he2 shang4 jie4 shu1 |
hopeless |
|
|
問師姑攞梳
|
man6 si1 gu1 lo2 so1 |
|
hopeless |
|
|
紙上談兵
|
zi2 soeng6 taam4 bing1 |
zhi3 shang4 tan2 bing1 |
hot air; idle theorizing |
|
|
讕正經
|
laan2 zing3 ging1 |
lan2 zheng4 jing1 |
hypocritical; play the saint |
|
|
去埋我嗰份
|
heoi3 maai4 ngo5 go2 fan6 |
|
I don't want to go |
|
|
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 |
