| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
城門失火
|
sing4 mun4 sat1 fo2 |
cheng2 men2 shi1 huo3 |
a fire in the city gates |
|
|
井底之蛙
|
zeng2 dai2 zi1 waa1 |
jing3 di3 zhi1 wa1 |
a frog at the bottom of a well/an ignorant person |
|
|
一線曙光
|
jat1 sin3 cyu5 gwong1 |
yi1 xian4 shu3 guang1 |
a gleam of hope |
|
|
金屋藏嬌
|
gam1 uk1 cong4 giu1 |
jin1 wu1 cang2 jiao1 |
a golden house to keep one's mistress (idiom); a magnificent house built for a beloved woman |
|
|
三姑六婆
|
saam1 gu1 luk6 po4 |
san1 gu1 liu4 po2 |
a group of gossipy women, a "sewing circle"; people who love to sow discord |
|
|
過氣老倌
|
gwo3 hei3 lou5 gun1 |
guo4 qi4 lao3 guan1 |
a has-been |
|
|
婦孺皆知
|
fu5 jyu4 gaai1 zi1 |
fu4 ru2 jie1 zhi1 |
a household name; known to everyone both women and child |
|
|
人山人海
|
jan4 saan1 jan4 hoi2 |
ren2 shan1 ren2 hai3 |
a large crowd; people everywhere |
|
|
望山跑死馬
|
mong6 saan1 paau2 sei2 maa5 |
|
A location that appears close, but actually it is very far away |
|
|
萬水千山
|
maan6 seoi2 cin1 saan1 |
wan4 shui3 qian1 shan1 |
a long and difficult road; far away place |
|
|
亡戟得矛
|
mong4 gik1 dak1 maau4 |
wang2 ji3 de2 mao2 |
a loss in one thing is made up for by the gain in another (lit., "losing a halberd and gaining a spear") |
|
|
芙蓉出水
|
fu4 jung4 ceot1 seoi2 |
fu2 rong2 chu1 shui3 |
a lotus flower appearing upon the surface of water (depicts a beautiful poem, painting or woman) |
|
|
粵犬吠雪
|
jyut6 hyun2 fai6 syut3 |
|
a man of little experience is easily astonished |
|
|
真人不露相
|
zan1 jan4 bat1 lou6 soeng3 |
zhen1 ren2 bu4 lou4 xiang4 |
a man of true talent never shows off |
|
|
天作之合
|
tin1 zok3 zi1 hap6 |
tian1 zuo4 zhi1 he2 |
a match made in heaven |
|
|
凍過水
|
dung3 gwo3 seoi2 |
|
a metaphor for lacking hope; a situation that doesn't look good |
|
|
一失足成千古恨
|
jat1 sat1 zuk1 sing4 cin1 gu2 han6 |
yi4 shi1 zu2 cheng2 qian1 gu3 hen4 |
a moment's error can bring a lifelong regret |
|
|
九死一生
|
gau2 sei2 jat1 sang1 |
jiu3 si3 yi1 sheng1 |
a narrow escape from death |
|
|
一元復始
|
jat1 jyun4 fuk1 ci2 |
yi1 yuan2 fu4 shi3 |
a new year, a new beginning |
|
|
惡夢成真
|
ok3 mung6 sing4 zan1 |
e4 meng4 cheng2 zhen1 |
a nightmare comes true |
