| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
心有餘而力不足
|
sam1 yau5 jyu4 ji4 lik6 bat1 zuk1 |
xin1 you3 yu2 er2 li4 bu4 zu2 |
the spirit is willing but the will is weak |
|
|
力不從心
|
lik6 bat1 cung4 sam1 |
li4 bu4 cong2 xin1 |
the spirit is willing but the will is weak |
|
|
青出於藍
|
cing1 ceot1 jyu1 laam4 |
qing1 chu1 yu2 lan2 |
the student surpasses the teacher |
|
|
陽光明媚
|
joeng4 gwong1 ming4 mei4 |
yang2 guang1 ming2 mei4 |
the sun shines brightly |
|
|
水落石出
|
seoi2 lok6 sek6 ceot1 |
shui3 luo4 shi2 chu1 |
the truth will eventually be known |
|
|
勝者為王,敗者為寇
|
sing3 ze2 wai4 wong4, baai6 ze2 wai4 kau3 |
sheng4 zhe3 wei2 wang2, bai4 zhe3 wei2 kou4 |
the winner is heralded as king while the loser is viewed as a bandit; the victor is the law and the loser is the outlaw |
|
|
寒蟬效應
|
hon4 sim4 haau6 jing3 |
han2 chan2 xiao4 ying4 |
the winter cicada effect |
|
|
詞不達意
|
ci4 bat1 daat6 ji3 |
ci2 bu4 da2 yi4 |
the words could not bring out the complete or true meaning |
|
|
天下為公
|
tin1 haa6 wai4 gung1 |
tian1 xia4 wei2 gong1 |
the world belongs to the people |
|
|
滄海桑田
|
cong1 hoi2 song1 tin4 |
cang1 hai3 sang1 tian2 |
the world is swiftly changing; abbr. 滄桑 |
|
|
陰陽相隔
|
jam1 joeng4 soeng1 gaak3 |
yin1 yang2 xiang1 ge2 |
the worlds of the living and the dead are separated from each other; to be separated by death |
|
|
長江後浪推前浪
|
coeng4 gong1 hau6 long6 teoi1 cin4 long6 |
chang2 jiang1 hou4 lang4 tui1 qian2 lang4 |
the young ones surpassing the older ones |
|
|
天涯何處無芳草
|
tin1 ngaai4 ho4 cyu3 mou4 fong1 cou2 |
tian1 ya2 he2 chu4 wu2 fang1 cao3 |
there are tons of potential mates in the world; there are plenty of fish in the sea; |
|
|
一山還有一山高
|
jat1 saan1 waan4 jau5 jat1 saan1 gou1 |
yi1 shan1 hai2 you3 yi1 shan1 gao1 |
there are always someone better than you |
|
|
一樣米養百樣人
|
jat1 joeng6 mai5 joeng5 baak3 joeng6 jan4 |
yi1 yang4 mi3 yang3 bai3 yang4 ren2 |
there are different kinds of people in the world |
|
|
好事多磨
|
hou2 si6 do1 mo4 |
hao3 shi4 duo1 mo2 |
there are many setbacks before success |
|
|
強將手下無弱兵
|
koeng4 zoeng3 sau2 haa6 mou4 joek6 bing1 |
qiang2 jiang4 shou3 xia4 wu2 ruo4 bing1 |
there are no poor soldiers under a good general |
|
|
柳暗花明又一村
|
lau5 am3 faa1 ming4 jau6 jat1 cyun1 |
liu3 an4 hua1 ming2 you4 yi4 cun1 |
there is always other avenues, other way out |
|
|
紙包唔住火
|
zi2 baau1 m4 zyu6 fo2 |
|
there is no concealing the truth (lit., "one can't wrap fire in paper") |
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|
畫公仔唔使畫出腸
|
waak6 gung1 zai2 m4 sai2 waak6 ceot1 coeng4*2 |
|
there is no need for any information; fully understand without thinking |
