| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
回光反照
|
wui4 gwong1 faan2 ziu3 |
|
the last glow before sunset |
|
|
言多必失
|
jin4 do1 bit1 sat1 |
yan2 duo1 bi4 shi1 |
the less said, the better |
|
|
螳螂捕蟬
|
tong4 long4 bou6 sim4 |
tang2 lang2 bu3 chan2 |
the mantis stalks the cicada |
|
|
千里送鵝毛，禮輕情意重
|
cin1 lei5 sung3 ngo4 mou4, lai5 hing1 cing4 ji3 zung6 |
|
the meaning is more important than the value of the present |
|
|
千里送鵝毛，物輕情意重
|
cin1 lei5 sung3 ngo4 mou4, mat6 hing1 cing4 ji3 zung6 |
|
the meaning is more important than the value of the present |
|
|
烏合之眾
|
wu1 hap6 zi1 zung3 |
wu1 he2 zhi1 zhong4 |
the mob of people that gathered |
|
|
多多益善
|
do1 do1 jik1 sin6 |
duo1 duo1 yi4 shan4 |
the more the better |
|
|
晨光熹微
|
san4 gwong1 hei1 mei4 |
chen2 guang1 xi1 wei1 (PRC) / wei2 (TW) |
the morning breaks; the dim light of dawn |
|
|
玄之又玄
|
jyun4 zi1 jau6 jyun4 |
xuan2 zhi1 you4 xuan2 |
the most mysterious of the mysterious |
|
|
食衣住行育樂
|
sik6 ji1 zyu6 hang4 juk6 ngok6 |
|
the necessities of life (food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment) |
|
|
愚公移山
|
jyu4 gung1 ji4 saan1 |
yu2 gong1 yi2 shan1 |
the old man moves the mountain; anything is possible if one has the will power |
|
|
事與願違
|
si6 jyu5 jyun6 wai4 |
shi4 yu3 yuan4 wei2 |
the outcome of sth. is contrary to one's expectations or wishes |
|
|
歲月如流
|
seoi3 jyut6 jyu4 lau4 |
sui4 yue4 ru2 liu2 |
the passage of the years; the flow of time |
|
|
佳偶天成
|
gaai1 ngau5 tin1 sing4 |
jia1 ou3 tian1 cheng2 |
the perfect couple |
|
|
松鶴延年
|
cung4 hok6 jin4 nin4 |
song1 he4 yan2 nian2 |
the pine and crane delays the years |
|
|
上品無寒門下品無世族
|
soeng6 ban2 mou4 hon4 mun4 haa6 ban2 mou4 sai3 zuk6 |
shang4 pin3 wu2 han2 men2 xia4 pin3 wu2 shi4 zu2 |
the poor remain poor, the rich remain wealthy |
|
|
大家噉話
|
daai6 gaa1 gam2 waa6 |
|
the same to you; the same goes for you too |
|
|
七情六慾
|
cat1 cing4 luk6 juk6 |
|
the seven emotions and six desires (confuse the true nature of man) |
|
|
嗒落有味
|
daap1 lok6 jau5 mei6 |
|
the significance becomes clear after thinking about it |
|
|
碩果僅存
|
sek6 gwo2 gan2 cyun4 |
shuo4 guo3 jin3 cun2 |
the sole survivor; the last survivor; rare or only surviving exemplar |
