| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
打蛇先打頭
|
daa2 se4 sin1 daa2 tau4 |
da3 she2 xian1 da3 tou2 |
When attacking a snake, strike the head first |
|
|
細蝦大,無所謂,大蝦細,無智慧
|
sai3 haa1 daai6, mou4 so2 wai6, daai6 haa1 sai3, mou4 zi3 wai6 |
|
when children bully adults it does not matter, adults bully children then it's not wise |
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|
身在福中不知福
|
san1 zoi6 fuk1 zung1 bat1 zi1 fuk1 |
|
when growing up in happiness, don't appreciate what happiness actually is |
|
|
入鄉隨俗
|
jap6 hoeng1 ceoi4 zuk6 |
ru4 xiang1 sui2 su2 |
When in Rome do as the Romans do |
|
|
秋風起，食臘味
|
cau1 fung1 hei2 sik6 laap6 mei6*2 |
|
when the autumn winds blow, the time is ripe for preserved meats |
|
|
曲終人散
|
kuk1 zung1 jan4 saan3 |
qu3 zhong1 ren2 san4 |
when the party is over; when a happy occasion has come to an end |
|
|
書到用時方恨少
|
syu1 dou3 jung6 si4 fong1 han6 siu2 |
shu1 dao4 yong4 shi2 fang1 hen4 shao3 |
When you need to apply some knowledge and you regret not acquiring enough of it |
|
|
有志者事竟成
|
jau5 zi3 ze2 si6 ging2 sing4 |
you3 zhi4 zhe3 shi4jing4 cheng2 |
where there's a will, there's a way |
|
|
山高皇帝遠
|
saan1 gou1 wong4 dai3 jyun5 |
shan1 gao1 huang2 di4 yuan3 |
while the cat is away, the mice will play |
|
|
交頭接耳
|
gaau1 tau4 zip3 ji5 |
jiao1 tou2 jie1 er3 |
whispering from one to another |
|
|
白象
|
baak6 zoeng6 |
bai2 xiang4 |
white elephant |
|
|
聽者有份
|
teng1 ze2 jau5 fan6*2 |
|
whoever heard first can be involved/invited |
|
|
滿肚密圈
|
mun5 tou5 mat6 hyun1 |
|
whole bag of tricks |
|
|
疊埋心水
|
dip6 maai4 sam1 seoi2 |
|
wholeheartedly, with resolve |
|
|
告枕頭狀
|
gou3 zam2 tau4 zong6*2 |
|
wife's complaints against person |
|
|
離行離迾
|
lei4 hong4 lei4 laat6 |
|
wild off the mark |
|
|
大風大浪
|
daai6 fung1 daai6 long6 |
da4 feng1 da4 lang4 |
wind and waves; great storms; storm and stress |
|
|
家破人亡
|
gaa1 po3 jan4 mong4 |
jia1 po4 ren2 wang2 |
with one's house in ruins and family members dead |
|
|
不名一文
|
bat1 ming4 jat1 man4 |
bu4 ming2 yi1 wen2 |
without a penny to one's name; penniless; stony-broke |
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|
半路出家
|
bun3 lou6 ceot1 gaa1 |
ban4 lu4 chu1 jia1 |
without solid foundation; switch to a job one was not trained for |
