| |
Idiom |
jyutping |
pinyin |
Meaning |
|
指桑罵槐
|
zi2 song1 maa6 waai4 |
zhi3 sang1 ma4 huai2 |
to point at one and accuse another |
|
|
舢舨充炮艇
|
saan1 baan2 cung1 paau3 teng5 |
shan1 ban3 chong1 pao4 ting3 |
to pose; to pose as a big shot; put on a front; to not live up to one's name; pirated products |
|
|
臨陣磨槍
|
lam4 zan6 mo4 coeng1 |
lin2 zhen4 mo2 qiang1 |
to prepare oneself for battle; to sharpen one's spear before a battle |
|
|
有備無患
|
jau5 bei6 mou4 waan6 |
|
to prepare something for something unpredictable |
|
|
粉飾太平
|
fan2 sik1 taai3 ping4 |
fen3 shi4 tai4 ping2 |
to pretend that everything is going well |
|
|
禾稈冚珍珠
|
wo4 gon2 kam2 zan1 zyu1 |
|
to pretend to be poor; to hide one’s true wealth; lit. rice stalks covering pearls |
|
|
突飛猛進
|
dat6 fei1 maang5 zeon3 |
tu2 fei1 meng3 jin4 (Taiwan), tu1 fei1 meng3 jin4 (PRC) |
to progress rapidly; to advance by leaps and bounds |
|
|
學以致用
|
hok6 ji5 zi3 jung6 |
xue2 yi3 zhi4 yong4 |
to put into practice what has been learned |
|
|
本末倒置
|
bun2 mut6 dou2 zi3 |
ben3 mo4 dao3 zhi4 |
to put the cart before the horse |
|
|
坐言起行
|
zo6 jin4 hei2 hang4 |
zuo4 yan2 qi3 xing2 |
to put words into action; to match one's words with action |
|
|
將心比心
|
zoeng1 sam1 bei2 sam1 |
jiang1 xin1 bi3 xin1 |
to put yourself in someone else's shoes |
|
|
速戰速決
|
cuk1 zin3 cuk1 kyut3 |
su4 zhan4 su4 jue2 |
to quickly accomplish something |
|
|
炒老細魷魚
|
caau2 lou5 sai3 jau4 jyu4*2 |
|
to quit a job (also 炒老板魷魚) |
|
|
嘥心機,挨眼瞓
|
saai1 sam1 gei1 ngaai4 ngaan5 fan3 |
|
to rack one's brain for nothing; all for naught |
|
|
搞嚟搞去
|
gaau2 lai4 gaau2 heoi3 |
|
to range back and forth |
|
|
寧死不屈
|
ning4 sei2 bat1 wat1 |
ning2 si3 bu4 qu1 |
to rather die than submit |
|
|
飛象過河
|
fei1 zoeng6 gwo3 ho4 |
fei1 xiang4 guo4 he2 |
to reach across the table for food; to break a rule |
|
|
一蹴而就
|
jat1 cuk1 ji4 zau6 |
yi1 cu4 er2 jiu4 |
to reach one's goal in a single step |
|
|
淪肌浹髓
|
leon4 gei1 zip3 seoi5 |
|
to receive a profound impression |
|
|
大徹大悟
|
daai6 cit3 daai6 ng6 |
da4 che4 da4 wu4 |
to receive a thorough enlightment; to be thoroughly enlightened |
