| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
九牛二虎之力
|
gau2 ngau4 ji6 fu2 zi1 lik6 |
|
tremendous effort |
|
|
看風使舵
|
hon3 fung1 sai2 to4 |
kan4 feng1 shi3 duo4 |
trim one's sails |
|
|
見風轉舵
|
gin3 fung1 zyun3 to4 |
jian4 feng1 zhuan3 duo4 |
trim's one's sails; changes the topic if the atmosphere is wrong |
|
|
凱旋歸來
|
hoi2 syun4 gwai1 loi4 |
kai3 xuan2 gui1 lai2 |
triumphant return |
|
|
情真意切
|
cing4 zan1 ji3 cit3 |
qing2 zhen1 yi4 qie4 |
true and sincere |
|
|
真金不怕紅爐火
|
zan1 gam1 bat1 paa3 hung4 lou4 fo2 |
|
True gold fears no fire: a person of integrity can stand severe tests |
|
|
盡己所能
|
zeon6 gei2 so2 nang4 |
jin4 ji3 suo3 neng2 |
try one's best; to the outmost of one's ability |
|
|
按圖索驥
|
on3 tou4 saak3 kei3 |
an4 tu2 suo3 ji4 |
try to locate sth by following up a clue |
|
|
此地無銀三百兩
|
ci2 dei6 mou4 ngan4 saam1 baak3 loeng2 |
ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3 |
trying to hide something valuable but all you end up doing is telling everyone where the treasure is |
|
|
雞犬不寧
|
gai1 hyun2 bat1 ning4 |
|
turmoil; a great noise disturbance |
|
|
鸞鳳和鳴
|
lyun4 fung6 wo4 ming4 |
luan2 feng4 he2 ming2 |
two birds sing together; couple's life is very good, is happily married |
|
|
三個臭皮匠,勝過一個諸葛亮
|
saam1 go3 cau3 pei4 zoeng6 sing3 gwo3 jat1 go3 zyu1 got3 loeng6 |
|
two heads are better than one |
|
|
一凹一凸，終生結合
|
jat1 nap1 jat1 dat6 zung1 sang1 git3 hap6 |
yi1 ao1 yi1 tu1 zhong1 sheng1 jie2 he2 |
two individuals who complement each other with make lifetime partners |
|
|
你眼望我眼
|
nei5 ngaan5 mong6 ngo5 ngaan5 |
|
two parties being mute and looking at each other |
|
|
山水有相逢
|
saan1 seoi2 jau5 soeng1 fung4 |
|
two unrelated people will eventually meet at one point; today you treat me bad, and one day I will revenge |
|
|
情不自禁
|
cing4 bat1 zi6 gam3 |
qing2 bu4 zi4 jin4 |
unable to control oneself |
|
|
分身乏術
|
fan1 san1 fat6 seot6 |
fen1 shen1 fa2 shu4 |
unable to cope with too many things at the same time |
|
|
上天無路
|
soeng5 tin1 mou4 lou6 |
shang4 tian1 wu2 lu4 |
unable to escape (lit., "there is no road to go to heaven") |
|
|
啞佬斷奶
|
aa2 lou2 tyun5 naai5 |
ya3 lao3 duan4 nai3 |
unable to express one's pain; unable to vocalize one's hardships |
|
|
青黃不接
|
cing1 wong4 bat1 zip3 |
qing1 huang2 bu4 jie1 |
unable to make ends meet (idiom) |
