Chinese Idioms, Proverbs & Sayings

[Goldcheekon]

For those who are interested in sharpening their knowledge in Chinese idioms, proverbs and sayings, this could be a good basic sharing thread. Cheers :p

Please also contribute your knowledge in this area and I am also happy to learn from you.

 

[Goldcheekon]

画饼充饥 To draw a cake to satisfy hunger. This idiom has also evolved to mean "a cake in a picture can appease hunger".

Just like the PAP's vision, for example the Swiss quality of living, etc that has been much propagandized to Singaporeans, they are all using the same trick of a cake in the picture to appease our hunger. :p

Or sometimes, you can use it to describe someone's action, example :

Your [speech/policy/actions/post/] is just like drawing a cake to satisfy hunger, which has no practical effect.

 

[Goldcheekon]

望梅止渴 means watching the plums can quench your thirst. The meaning is similar to the above.

:p

 

[Goldcheekon]

一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳 means bitten by a snake, one is afraid of the rope by the well for ten years.

English version, Once bitten, twice shy. :p

 

[Goldcheekon]

真真假假假假真真真中有假假中有真到底是真是假谁也分辨不出... Real or bluff, Truth or deceit, no one knows :p

 

[Goldcheekon]

九牛一毛 means “9 cows and 1 strand of cow hair.” It refers something that’s so small that it’s like one strand of cow hair among 9 cows. :p

 

[Goldcheekon]

莫名其妙 means that it’s hard to articulate the profoundness or mystery or something. It basically means that something is baffling.

For example: “你妈的臭鸡白，每天讲莫名其妙的烂话。” ”Fuck your mother CCB, everyday talk mysterious cock".

 

[Goldcheekon]

没大没小, means show no respect for seniors.

 

[Goldcheekon]

This is local saying ... "Your eyes paste stamp" means you must be cock eye.

A: She is sexy and beautiful.
B: WTF! Your eyes paste stamp is it?!?!?

 

[Goldcheekon]

鸡蛋里挑骨头 means looking for a bone in an egg. Obviously, there is no bone in an egg. Therefore, if one wants to find a bone inside an egg, it is ridiculous.

The saying means trying deliberately to find a fault with someone. The idiom is often used to describe someone who is very picky, who finds faults with others on purpose. If you have a friend, colleague or neighbour who is a nit-picker, you had better be cautious. :p

 

[Goldcheekon]

鸡蛋里挑骨头 means looking for a bone in an egg. Obviously, there is no bone in an egg. Therefore, if one wants to find a bone inside an egg, it is ridiculous.

The saying means trying deliberately to find a fault with someone. The idiom is often used to describe someone who is very picky, who finds faults with others on purpose. If you have a friend, colleague or neighbour who is a nit-picker, you had better be cautious. :p

After writing the above, a thought came to my mind. Philippines' Balut eggs? Do they have bones in them?

 

[Goldcheekon]

水能载舟，亦能覆舟 means water can carry the boat and also overturn the boat. The 70% who stupidly voted for PAP will hopefully wake up and throw these MIWs out. :p

 

[Goldcheekon]

见利忘义 means to see profit and forget morality or like the People's Action Party government and their supporters, always acting for mercenary considerations.

It can also mean to sell one's soul for personal gain and glory.

 

[Goldcheekon]

一朝天子一朝臣 (in modern day interpretation) means each elected party makes their cronies as ministers paying them ridiculous salaries, award lucrative contracts to supporters, etc.

 

[flatearther]

人非圣贤，
Rén Fēi Shèng Xián，
孰能无过;
Shú Néng Wú Guò;
过而能改，
Guò Ér Néng Gǎi，
善莫大焉!
Shàn Mò Dà Yān!

"意思是一般人不是圣人和贤人, 谁能不犯错？
错了能够改正，没有比这更好的了。"

wikipedia.org/wiki/Penitent_thief
kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-23-40_23-43

 

[Goldcheekon]

人非圣贤，
Rén Fēi Shèng Xián，
孰能无过;
Shú Néng Wú Guò;
过而能改，
Guò Ér Néng Gǎi，
善莫大焉!
Shàn Mò Dà Yān!

"意思是一般人不是圣人和贤人, 谁能不犯错？
错了能够改正，没有比这更好的了。"

wikipedia.org/wiki/Penitent_thief
kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-23-40_23-43

Hello. Thanks for contributing. I was getting a bit lonely here:p

By the way, your link to the 4 phrases are same, but it only seems to translate the first two? Or am I mistaken?

 

[Goldcheekon]

臭不可当 means damn smelly. For instance, you can say those FT indians are 臭不可当

 

[flatearther]

By the way, your link to the 4 phrases are same, but it only seems to translate the first two? Or am I mistaken?

Yes, you are mistaken because the meaning (not translation) that I quoted was for all four.
But to be fair to you, the title of the article is not complete, even though the last two phrases are included in the article's content.

 

[Goldcheekon]

Yes, you are mistaken because the meaning (not translation) that I quoted was for all four.
But to be fair to you, the title of the article is not complete, even though the last two phrases are included in the article's content.

roger :p

 

[tealeaf]

Chinese idiom: 人情似纸张张薄，世事如棋局局新
English Translation: Many of our so-called connections are as shallow as a piece of paper, and the world is constantly changing just like different rounds of chess (or "game of go", to be more precise) - By A.C.T. Linguists.

It tell us always rely on yourself instead expecting too much from others, especially when you are in a down. But don't be too frustrated - who said there is no changes or no chance.

Cheer up guys.