| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
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 |
|
|
不遺餘力
|
bat1 wai4 jyu4 lik6 |
bu4 yi2 yu2 li4 |
spare no effort; exert oneself to the outmost, go to all lengths |
|
|
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 |
|
|
洗腳唔抹腳
|
sai2 goek3 m4 maat3 goek3 |
|
spendthrift; spend money like water |
|
|
吹毛求疵
|
ceoi1 mou4 kau4 ci1 |
chui1 mao2 qiu2 ci1 |
split hairs |
|
|
揠苗助長
|
aat3 miu4 zo6 zoeng2 |
ya4 miao2 zhu4 zhang3 |
spoil things by excessive enthusiasm |
|
|
拔苗助長
|
bat6 miu4 zo6 zoeng2 |
ba2 miao2 zhu4 zhang3 |
spoil things by excessive enthusiasm |
|
|
波羅雞
|
bo1 lo4 gai1 |
bo1 luo2 ji1 |
sponger |
|
|
以訛傳訛
|
ji5 ngo4 cyun4 ngo4 |
yi3 e2 chuan2 e2 |
spread error upon error |
|
|
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 |
