| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
如同虛設
|
jyu4 tung4 heoi1 cit3 |
|
something not used for its intended purpose |
|
|
形同虛設
|
jing4 tung4 heoi1 cit3 |
xing2 tong2 xu1 she4 |
something not used for its intended purpose |
|
|
忽冷忽熱
|
fat1 laang5 fat1 jit6 |
|
sometimes sweet talk, sometimes cold |
|
|
繞梁三日
|
jiu5 loeng4 saam1 jat6 |
rao4 liang2 san1 ri4 |
sonorous and resounding |
|
|
醜婦終須見家翁
|
cau2 fu5 zung1 seoi1 gin3 gaa1 jung1 |
chou3 fu4 zhong1 zu1 jian4 jia1 weng1 |
sooner or later one's shortcomings and faults will be shown to others |
|
|
柴魚命
|
caai4 jyu4*2 meng6 |
chai2 yu2 ming4 |
spare the rod, spoil the child |
|
|
笨口拙舌
|
ban6 hau2 zyut3 sit6 |
ben4 kou3 zhuo1 she2 |
speak foolishly or stupidly; awkward in speech |
|
|
日頭唔好講人,夜晚唔好講鬼
|
jat6 tau4*2 m4 hou2 gong2 jan4, je6 maan5 m4 hou2 gong2 gwai2 |
|
speak of the devil |
|
|
一講曹操，曹操就到
|
jat1 gong2 cou4 cou1, cou4 cou1 zau6 dou3 |
|
speak of the devil; Speak of the Devil and he shall come |
|
|
默默無言
|
mak6 mak6 mou4 jin4 |
mo4 mo4 wu2 yan2 |
speechless; say nothing; silent; not utter a word |
|
|
兵貴神速
|
bing1 gwai3 san4 cuk1 |
bing1 gui4 shen2 su4 |
speed is precious in war |
|
|
精打細算
|
zing1 daa2 sai3 syun3 |
jing1 da3 xi4 suan4 |
spending wisely |
|
|
吹毛求疵
|
ceoi1 mou4 kau4 ci1 |
chui1 mao2 qiu2 ci1 |
split hairs |
|
|
拔苗助長
|
bat6 miu4 zo6 zoeng2 |
ba2 miao2 zhu4 zhang3 |
spoil things by excessive enthusiasm |
|
|
星羅棋佈
|
sing1 lo4 kei4 bou3 |
xing1 luo2 qi2 bu4 |
spreading many and wide |
|
|
攻其不備
|
gung1 kei4 bat1 bei6 |
gong1 qi2 bu2 bei4 |
stage a suprise attack; take advantage of someone's unpreparedness |
|
|
東倒西歪
|
dung1 dou2 sai1 waai1 |
dong1 dao3 xi1 wai1 |
stagger; swing and sway; unable to stand steady |
|
|
一擲千金
|
jat1 zaak6 cin1 gam1 |
yi1 zhi4 qian1 jin1 |
stake a thousand pieces of gold in one throw; spend money like water |
|
|
出人頭地
|
ceot1 jan4 tau4 dei6 |
chu1 ren2 tou2 di4 |
stand out among one's peers; be head and shoulders above other people |
|
|
出類拔萃
|
ceot1 leoi6 bat6 seoi6 |
chu1 lei4 ba2 cui4 |
stand out among one's peers; be outstanding; |
