500 Common Chinese

Proverbs and Colloquial

Expressions
500 Common Chinese Proverbs and Colloquial Expressions is a dictionary of key Chinese
proverbs or suyu. Suyu are vivid and colorful expressions widely used in the Chinese
language. The smooth use of chengyu in Chinese writing and of suyu in spoken
Chinese not only makes communication more effective, it is also an indicator of
mastery of the language.
This dictionary will provide an ideal resource for all intermediate to advanced
learners of Chinese. Concise and practical, it draws upon a large corpus of authentic
language data to present 500 of the most commonly used Chinese suyu. The suyu
are listed and organized according to their frequency, enabling easy and convenient
access for the reader.
Each proverb listing:
is given in both simplified and traditional characters
offers an English translation, followed by English equivalents
is followed by two examples, written in Chinese, Pinyin and English, plus
explanations and usage notes.
Examples are given in the form of dialogues reflecting typical situations, and helpful
cultural annotations are provided throughout. A Pinyin index, a stroke index and
a Chinese word index are presented at the back of the book and accompanying
audio is also available for free download at www.routledge.com/9780415501491.
Recorded by native speakers and covering the whole range of proverbs, expressions
and example sentences featured in the book, this invaluable resource will help
students to build up strong comprehension and communication skills.
This dictionary is suitable both for classroom use and independent study and will
be of keen interest to students and teachers of Chinese alike.
Liwei Jiao is Lecturer in Chinese at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. His
publications include 500 Common Chinese Idioms: An Annotated Frequency Dictionary
(co-authored with Cornelius C. Kubler and Weiguo Zhang, Routledge 2011) and The
Routledge Advanced Chinese Multimedia Course: Crossing Cultural Boundaries (co-authored
with Kunshan Carolyn Lee, Hsin-hsin Liang and Julian K. Wheatley, Routledge 2009).
Benjamin M. Stone is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.
He possesses extensive experience in translating and interpreting Mandarin Chinese
in a wide variety of professional contexts.

The 500 proverbs and colloquial expressions collected in this book provide a
precious window on Chinese culture, as well as an invaluable aid to learning the
language. The book is an immensely useful reference toward understanding
the Chinese mind, for both the learner and the teacher.
W.S.-Y. Wang, Professor Emeritus, University of California at Berkeley;
Academician of Academia Sinica; Editor of the Journal of Chinese Linguistics
This is an extraordinary dictionary with a creative and effective glossary that
includes stylistic-register usages and historical resources. It is composed, for the
first time, by first rate experts in the field. This dictionary will serve not only for
Chinese learners and teachers, but also professionals who are interested in Chinese
proverbs.
Professor Shengli Feng, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
This book is a valuable resource I would recommend to any serious learners of
Mandarin Chinese at intermediate level or above. It is essentially two books in one:
with a Pinyin index, a stroke index, and a word index, this is an easy-to-use reference
dictionary, while with two typical authentic examples for each of the 500 suyu
items in the dictionary arranged according to their frequency of use, including
their Pinyin glosses, literal translations, functional translations as well as usage
guides and cultural notes, the book provides an excellent reader suitable for
independent study.
Dr Richard Xiao, Director of Lancaster University Confucius Institute
With copious examples and annotations, this collection of colourful expressions
is bound to be an enriching addition to any learners library.
Professor Zheng-sheng Zhang, Editor of the Journal of the Chinese Language
Teachers Association ( JCLTA)

500 Common Chinese

Proverbs and Colloquial
Expressions
An annotated frequency
dictionary
Liwei Jiao and Benjamin M. Stone

First published 2014

by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2014 Liwei Jiao and Benjamin M. Stone
The right of Liwei Jiao and Benjamin M. Stone to be identified as authors
of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and
78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without
intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Jiao, Liwei.
500 common Chinese proverbs and colloquial expressions : an annotated
frequency dictionary / Liwei Jiao, Benjamin M. Stone.
pages cm
Includes index.
1. Proverbs, Chinese. 2. Chinese language--Terms and phrases. 3. Chinese
language--DictionariesEnglish. I. Stone, Benjamin M., author. II. Title.
III. Title: Five hundred common Chinese proverbs and colloquial expressions.
PN6519.C5J54 2014
398.9951--dc23
2013015161
ISBN: 978-0-415-50148-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-50149-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-88458-5 (ebk)
Typeset in GraphSwift Light
by Graphicraft Limited, Hong Kong

To my students in Section 8, Class of 1998 at International College

of Chinese Language and Culture, Renmin University of China.
Liwei Jiao

To my family.
Benjamin Stone

This page intentionally left blank

Contents
Introduction viii
Characteristics of Chinese suyu viii
Why suyu are important to learners of Chinese ix
Special characteristics of this dictionary x
How the entries of this dictionary were determined xi
Background of the compilation of this dictionary and acknowledgments xii
List of abbreviations and grammatical terms in character-by-character
translation xiv
List of entries
Structure of entries
500 common Chinese proverbs and colloquial expressions

xv
xxi
1

Appendix one: Pinyin index of 500 common Chinese proverbs and

colloquial expressions

387

Appendix two: stroke index of 500 common Chinese proverbs and

colloquial expressions

395

Appendix three: Chinese word index of 500 common Chinese

proverbs and colloquial expressions

401

Introduction
500 Common Chinese Proverbs and Colloquial Expressions: An Annotated Frequency Dictionary
is a dictionary of common Chinese proverbs and colloquial expressions known as
suyu. Suyu are an important constituent part of the Chinese language, which Chinese
language learners must not neglect. This dictionary, which lists and organizes suyu
according to their frequency as determined by a sociolinguistic survey of more
than 900 Chinese university students is designed primarily for Chinese learners
at the intermediate level or above whose first language is English, as well as teachers
of Chinese as a second/foreign language. Besides being used as a reference work,
this dictionary is also suitable for classroom use and independent study.

Characteristics of Chinese suyu

The definition of suyu in Chinese is relatively broad and does not completely
coincide with the definition of the English word proverb. What this book catalogues
are Chinese proverbs and colloquial expressions, to be referred to hereafter as suyu.
This books definition of suyu is as follows: they are phrases or sentences that are
widely employed by the general population in colloquial discourse, whose actual
meanings are more than the sum of their parts, are mainly employed in expressing
ridicule or criticism, and whose structure is relatively fixed. Some examples of
suyu would be , whose literal meaning to eat tofu comes to mean to take
advantage of a woman; which, while literally meaning the
emperor is rested and at ease while the eunuch is excessively concerned, is used
to describe a situation in which the person involved is calm and collected, but
observers are very anxious. Specifically speaking, suyu should have the following
characteristics:
1) Suyu are evocative and ingenious. In most circumstances, they are the best,
most articulate form of expression for a given situation. For example, if one
wishes to articulate how someone has overstepped their bounds, both
(given-inch-advance-foot) and (get-a tip of Southwestern Chinahope-the whole Southwestern China) are acceptable, although the latter is
possibly too literal. However, neither expression has a humorous connotation.
In contrast, the suyu (climb-nose-mount-face) is both humorous in
meaning and widely used in informal conversations. Similarly,
(sky-upon-fall-stuffed-pancake) is the most apt translation of to have something
fall into ones lap, while vividly invokes the idea that
you cannot avoid something forever, by making the analogy that you can
avoid , the first day of a lunar month with a new moon, but you cannot
avoid its counterpart, , the fifteenth day of a lunar month.

Introductionix

2) Suyu are used by the general population. However, this characteristic does not
preclude the use of suyu by political leaders or public figures in some situations.
It is general knowledge that Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping liked using suyu,
with some of their most famous suyu including, among others: (paper
tigers), (fence-sitters), (while something is not workable
in one place, it might be workable somewhere else), (to cross
the river by touching stones), and (it does
not matter whether a cat is black or white so long as it catches mice).
3) Suyu are mainly colloquial. However, this does not preclude one from using
suyu on formal occasions or in writing in order to elicit a special reaction from
the audience. Also, based on our observations, the rapid proliferation of the
internet has led internet users to begin using more suyu in their pursuit of
fresh, pithy expressions, therein indirectly influencing the vernacular of the
media.
4) The actual meanings of suyu come not from a literal, character-by-character
translation, but rather from the proverbs analogical or synecdochic meaning.
For example, consider the sentence . The portion of the proverb,
does not actually mean a non kerosene-saving lamp, but rather,
a real piece of work.
5) Suyu mainly express derogatory or critical sentiments. Take, for example,
(to be a dog in the manger), or (fair weather atheists
turn to god in a pinch). About half of the entries in this dictionary carry either
a strongly or slightly derogatory connotation, and the most common word in
the 500 entries is , which appears 119 times in total. However, there are also
many neutral suyu, such as (each has his own task and there
is nobody to spare).
6) The structures of suyu are relatively fixed. For example, while one can say
, meaning, literally, one radish, one hole, the proverb does
not maintain its implied meaning of each has his own task and there is nobody
to spare if the structure is changed. We cannot say two radishes, two holes.
Neither can we say one sweet potato, one hole. However, the structures of a
number of suyu, mainly those embodied in short phrases, can be slightly
adjusted. In some instances, it is fine to insert a few components. For example,
, meaning, literally, to eat tofu, actually means to come on to, or to
take advantage of. However, one can say , or , to
yield the phrases, take advantage of her, or come on to a young woman.
7) The constituent parts of suyu are mostly objects or activities which are closely
associated with the daily life of the general population. The most common
words in the entries included in this dictionary include (people), (to eat),
(to hit, to beat and many other meanings), (water), (horse), (eye),
(dog), (tiger), (chicken), (wind), (mountain), (foot), and (knife).

Why suyu are important to learners of Chinese

Suyu are vivid and colorful expressions that are widely and liberally used by Chinese
people. Those people who use suyu often and well in everyday life project a cultural
sophistication, expressive ability, sense of humor, and bonhomie, which facilitates

xIntroduction
their acceptance by others and makes them the center of attention. Using suyu in
certain special situations can work wonders. For decades, countless politicians and
economists argued over a still-socialist Chinas adoption of a capitalist path and
were unable to resolve certain resulting theoretical questions. However, with one
suyu, (it does not matter whether a cat is black
or white so long as it catches mice), Deng Xiaoping promptly settled the dispute.
Examples like this cause people to admire the importance of suyu. They are a
shortcut to establishing a rapport with Chinese people.
It is generally difficult for non-immersion learners of Chinese to come into
contact with genuine suyu. Even if these learners should happen to encounter a
Chinese person, the language environment outside of China, and considerations
of practicality, discourage the Chinese from using suyu in communicating with
Chinese language learners. Moreover, due to the duality of suyu, it is not easy for
learners of Chinese to quickly guess their implied meaning. They sometimes even
develop mistaken and potentially embarrassing understandings of suyu. Recall,
for example, the suyu . The component words, (eat) and (tofu) are
both quite simple, however, when put together, their meaning changes significantly,
as shown earlier.

Special characteristics of this dictionary

We hope this dictionary will come to be an indispensable aid to many Chinese
language learners and teachers. As such, we have included a number of distinguishing
features, which are as follows:
1) This dictionary has identified, and lists the 500 most common Chinese suyu
according to their frequency of use. In this manner, learners of Chinese can
be sure about which suyu are important and should be learned first. Knowledge
of these 500 suyu will be sufficient for use in daily life or work situations, when
conducting business, or even when writing.
2) This dictionary contains accurate English translations and annotations. For
example, the suyu , when translated literally, means if a baby
is good at pretending to cry, it will be rewarded with its mothers milk.
However, given the context of its usage and the functional meaning of the
phrase (the squeaky wheel gets the grease), this dictionary has more logically
and correctly translated (milk) as (breast milk). Additionally, English
translations of Chinese example dialogues were structured, where possible, to
adhere closely to the syntactical organization of the Chinese, in order to make
it easy for students to learn the characters for words and phrases they are
unfamiliar with.
3) This dictionary is concise, practical, and convenient for educational purposes.
The entry for each suyu includes: the suyu itself (in simplified and traditional
Chinese characters), Pinyin romanization, a character-by-character translation
in English, implied meaning in English, functional translation in English (for
most entries), two suitable examples (in Chinese, Pinyin, and English), usage,
variants (if any), and notes. Most examples take the form of dialogues reflecting
commonly encountered situations.

Introductionxi

4) Because it is very difficult for non-native learners of Chinese to grasp the degree
of sarcasm or abrasiveness associated with a given suyu, this dictionary separates
the tone of suyu into four categories in the annotations: humorous, neutral,
slightly derogatory, and derogatory. As such, when employing suyu, users of
this dictionary will not make egregious and potentially embarrassing errors
in usage. For example, when recommending that some leader retire, one would
not use a strongly derogatory suyu such as (to be like a dog in
the manger). The chart depicted below is included for all entries except the
21 which have complimentary connotations.
humorous neutral slightly derogatory derogatory

5) This dictionary contains necessary cultural annotations. For each entry, we

have made a judgment as to whether or not there is a serious gap in relevant
cultural understanding between native English and Chinese speakers. In cases
where we deemed it necessary, cultural gaps are addressed and further
explained. For example, while the practice of foot binding may be one that
native English speakers are familiar with, the deeper social and cultural
connotations of this custom provide the meaning of the suyu and, as
such, the tradition is explained in that entrys cultural note.
6) This dictionary also includes a large number of relevant Chinese idioms (chengyu)
to contrast or complement the suyu and make the language even more vivid.
For example, the Chinese idiom (to turn a blind eye to) appears in
the example sentence for (to tell bald-faced lies).
As should be clear from the analysis above, 500 Common Chinese Proverbs and Colloquial
Expressions should satisfy the educational needs of Chinese language learners at
the intermediate level or higher, enabling them to gain a grasp of the most common
suyu in the Chinese language one by one. Alternatively, we hope this dictionary
will provide significant assistance to Chinese language instructors who, when
preparing for class or explaining suyu to their students, may select those suyu which
are most likely to be encountered, and refer to the usage notes and example
sentences in this dictionary.

How the entries of this dictionary were determined

As there was no existing corpus of suyu organized by frequency prior to the
inception of this volume, the writing of this dictionary necessitated the com
pilation of a frequency ordered corpus of suyu using sociolinguistic methods. In
order to compile this list, 902 Chinese university students from different regions
of China were surveyed to gauge their familiarity with hundreds of different
Chinese suyu. For each suyu, participants were asked to choose among the following
options:
A) I have never heard this suyu before.
B) I occasionally hear others (not counting my family, relatives, friends, classmates,
colleagues, or instructors) use this suyu colloquially.

xiiIntroduction
C) I have heard this suyu used colloquially by someone close to me (including my
family, relatives, friends, classmates, colleagues or instructors).
D) I believe I can use this suyu appropriately.
E) I have used this suyu either in written or spoken form.
At the end of the survey, each participant was asked to list the ten suyu that he or
she used most often, even if they were not featured on the survey list.
While, on the face of it, it may seem that we have surveyed only a small number
of individual university students, our survey methodology is workable because
what we were really surveying were the groups to which these students belong.
As each survey participant is a member of a larger social or cultural group be it
a family, an affinity group, or a cultural movement each participants responses
indirectly reflect the influence and general linguistic tendencies of the groups to
which they belong as well as the groups to which their acquaintances belong. This
trickle-down diversity makes up for what would otherwise be an excessively
homogeneous survey group.
This survey was conducted primarily in June of 2012, whereas compilation and
selection of possible entries started as early as 2007. One of the authors, Liwei Jiao,
was present when most of the surveys were being conducted. The authors wish to
sincerely thank all of the following Chinese faculty and their students for their
participation in this survey:
Professor Bo Zhang and his students at Nankai University,
Professor Lei Liang, Professor Qibin Ran, Professor Jia Guo and Ms. Minyuan Wang
and their students and classmates at Nankai University,
Professor Xiujuan Shi and her students at Tianjin Normal University,
Dr. Shitie Yang, Dr. Yujian Xiang, and Ms. Yanli Liu and their students at Huaibei
Normal University,
Professor Lijian Liu and his students at Zhejiang Normal University,
Ms. Yuhui Shi and her students at Xuzhou Normal University,
Dr. Qiaoling Cao and her students at China Criminal Police University,
Mr. Xiaoning Han and his students at Qingdao University,
Professor Yingzhi Na and his students at Qingdao Technical College,
Professor Lintao Zhao and his students at Hebei University,
Dr. Xiaohua Xu and her students at Capital University of Economics and Business.

Background of the compilation of this dictionary and

acknowledgments
This dictionary is the sister volume to 500 Common Chinese Idioms, and both books
were jointly conceived in 2007. The research for this volume proceeded gradually
from 2007 until the completion of 500 Common Chinese Idioms in 2010. In the fall
of 2010, Benjamin Stone joined this project, and we have worked together towards
the completion of this book since then.
The authors wish to express here their appreciation to the following people for
their assistance in the compilation of this dictionary: Professor Shuiguang Deng
of Zhejiang University, Professor Zepeng Wang of Nankai University, Professor

Introductionxiii

Hsin-hsin Liang of University of Virginia, Ms. Xuefei Hao of Washington University

in St. Louis, Mr. William Xuefeng Wang, Mr. Jinsong Fan, and Mr. Lizhong Jiao.
Special thanks go to Professor William Labov of University of Pennsylvania for his
advice on how to conduct the survey of entries. The authors also would like to
thank their editors at Routledge, Ms. Andrea Hartill, Ms. Samantha Vale Noya,
Ms. Isabelle Cheng, Ms. Sarah May and Ms. Jill Campbell for their support of this
project. Finally, the authors would be remiss not to also thank our families for
their crucial support, without which this dictionary would surely never have seen
the light of day.
Liwei Jiao
Benjamin Stone

List of abbreviations and

grammatical terms in
character-by-character
translation
s: possessive
ed: past tense
ing: present progressive tense
MW: measure word

List of entries
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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xvi List of entries

79
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List of entries xvii

220
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xviii List of entries

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314
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List of entries xix

408
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xx List of entries
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Structure of entries
sequential number
of the entry, based
on frequency
entry in simplified
Chinese characters
character-bycharacter translation
of the entry
implied meaning of
the entry
functional
translation of the
entry

example in
simplified Chinese,
Pinyin and English

entry highlighted in
bold within example

grammatical
function(s) of
the entry
variant(s) of the
entry
tone of the entry
phrase in use
cultural annotation
of the entry
provided where
necessary

entry in traditional
Chinese characters

143.

entry in Pinyin
romanization

() lu mf jifo

Translated character by character, means expose-horse-foot, whereas the

implied meaning of this proverb would be to accidentally reveal information
about ones wrongdoing. Its functional translation is to let the cat out of the bag.
Example 1:
A:
B:
A: Zhg huidn ti jifohu le, rng rn zhuabdo ta de y difn bfbhng.
B: Bi zhoj, jshh ta zi jifohu, zingyiuytian yg hu lu che mfjifo de.
A: This scoundrels too cunning. He makes it hard to get a handle on him.
B: Dont worry. No matter how cunning he is, there will be a day when hell let
the cat out of the bag.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Nh zgnme zhcdao ta zi sahufng?

B: Ta qinmin shud de hufnghu hi nng zyun-qshud, kgsh huli shud n
tian l hgn hbi, mi yiu yuliang, suiyh ta ml le. Zh j hu lule mfjifo,
ycnwi n tian wfnshang de yuliang yu d yu yun.
A: How did you know he was lying?
B: He could explain away the first lie he told but, after that, he said that since
the road was dark and there was no moonlight, he got lost. With that sentence,
he let the cat out of the bag, because there was a full moon that night.
Usage: Functions as predicate.
Variant:
Note: Slightly derogatory in meaning. Folk legend holds that the wife of Zhu
Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, had large feet and the
surname Ma. At a time when female children in wealthy families would have their
feet bound, this fact revealed that she had come from a poor family. This is how
the proverb was born.

tone of the entry indicated by position of shading in

chart (from left to right): humorous, neutral, slightly
derogatory, derogatory

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500 common Chinese

proverbs and colloquial
expressions

This page intentionally left blank

Entries 12: and 3

1. 
()
hfo mf b chc hu tu cfo

Translated character by character, means good-horse-not-eat-turnaround-grass, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be a good man
doesnt backtrack.
Example 1:

B:
A:

A: Wi yhjcng judng yo lkai xinzi de gdngsc le, kgsh gdngsc yu tche ggi
wi jiaxcn. Nh kn wi ycnggai ziu hish li?
B: Hfo mf b chc hutu cfo. Nh hish ziu ba.
A: I already decided that I was going to leave the company Im at now, but theyre
discussing giving me a raise. What do you think, should I leave or should
I stay?
B: A good man doesnt backtrack. You should still leave.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Tcngshud tamen xifng fhen ne.

B: Hfo mf b chc hutu cfo, n yhjcng sh guq de y y le.
A: Ive heard they want to remarry.
B: A good man doesnt backtrack. Theyve already turned over a new leaf.
Usage: Used singly.
Note: Neutral or humorous in meaning.

2. 
() xifo ci y di
Translated character by character, means small-dish-one-plate, whereas
the implied meaning of this proverb would be something that can be done very
easily. Its functional equivalent is a piece of cake.
Example 1:
A:

4 Entry 3:
A: Zhg gujia de lnqi du duy Mgigu du lishud jifnzh sh xifo
ci y di. Mgigu du de tbj zhnrng ddu nng bf tamen df de xclhhuala
de.
A: This countrys basketball team really is a piece of cake for the American team.
Even the American substitutes could clean their clocks.
Example 2:

B:
A:

A: Wi wishbngnr jcnnin yo by le, nh nngbnng bf ta anpi jn jiaotdngj

gdngzu?
B: B jish jiaotdngj ma, xifo ci y di.
A: My sisters daughter is graduating this year. Would you be able to arrange a
job for her at the Traffic Department?
B: Were talking about the Traffic Department, right? Itll be a piece of cake.
Usage: Functions as predicative.
Note: Neutral or humorous in meaning.

3. 
()
tiyng cng xc bian chelai
Translated character by character, means sun-from-west-side-comeout, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be something is very
unlikely to happen. Its functional translation is hell freezes over.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Ta gdngzu san nin le, jcntian d-yc c jiaban.

B: Tiyng cng xcbian chelile ba? Yob kgndng sh ta de dinnfo, shiujc,
shiubifo shng de shjian tngsh wfn le.
A: Hes been working for three years now. Todays the first time hes worked late.
B: Has hell frozen over? Otherwise his computer, phone, and watch are all running
slow at the same time.

Entry 4: 5

Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Nhmen de guanxi hucf le ma?

B: Wi yhjcng gbn ta ydao-lifngdun, rgui xifng hucf guanxi, chfbi tiyng
cng xcbian cheli.
A: Have you reconciled with him?
B: I already broke things off with him. If he wants to reconcile our relationship,
it wont happen unless hell freezes over.
Usage: Functions as predicate or used singly.
Note: Slightly derogatory and humorous in meaning.

4. 
()
shud Co Cao, Co Cao do
Translated character by character, means speak-Cao Cao, Cao
Cao-arrive, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be someone
appears right after you have said their name. Its functional translation is Speak
of the devil (and he shall appear).
Example 1:
A:
B:

A:
A: Jcntian wfnshang de fnj shi zuddng ne?
B: Lfo Li a! Ta gang boshng senzi.
(Lfo Li jnli.)
A: Zh b, shud Co Cao, Co Cao ji do.
A:
B:

A:

Who is hosting tonights dinner party?

Old Liu! Hes just become a grandfather.
(Old Liu enters)
Speak of the devil.

Example 2:
A:

B:

6 Entry 5:
A: Wi dgi ggi Wng jzhfng df g dinhu.
(Wng jzhfng cng yufnch chexin. )
B: Byng df le, shud Co Cao, Co Cao do.
A: I should give Director Wang a call.
(Director Wang appears from a distance)
B: Theres no need. Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
Usage: Used singly.
Variant:
Note: Neutral or humorous in meaning.

5. 
() weya zuh
Translated character by character, means crow-mouth, whereas the implied
meaning of this proverb would be a person who is believed to bring bad luck. Its
functional translation is jinx.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Ta yu yc Baxc du hu dugun.
B: Ta sh g yiumng de weyazuh, kn hfo nf ge du nf ge du dfomi.
A: He once again predicted that Brazil would win the championship.
B: Hes a well-known jinx. Whichever team he favors gets unlucky.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Yiu wi bfoyu, nh ydng chnggdng.

B: B shng nh n zhc weyazuh!
A: With my blessing, you will definitely succeed.
B: Shut your jinx mouth!
Usage: Functions as object or predicative.
Note: Slightly derogatory in meaning.

Entries 67: and 7

6. 
() r bfi wj

Translated character by character, means two-hundred-fifty, whereas the

implied meaning of this proverb would be an idiot. Its functional translation is
halfwit, or pea-brain.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Nh nng gos wi zgnme yng dinzhbifog qih ma?

B: rbfiwj, lin dinzhbifog ddu bhu, yhhu zgnme zu mshe?
A: Can you show me how to do a summation on Excel?
B: You pea-brain! If you cant even use Excel, how can you become a secretary?
Example 2:

B:
A:

A: Birn gbn ta shudle yo ynjiu ynjiu, kgsh ta fbidgi bczhe rnjia dangmin
zu judng, rnjia zhhnng jju le.
B: Ta zhbn sh g rbfiwj, tcng b chelai birn hulhyiuhu.
A: They told him they needed to think more about it, but he forced them to make
a decision on the spot. They had no choice but to reject him.
B: He really is a halfwit. He cant read between the lines.
Usage: Functions as noun.
Note: Derogatory in meaning.

7. 
() chc y qin, zhfng y zh
Translated character by character, means fall-once-pit-increase-bitwisdom, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be to derive wisdom
from ones mistakes. Its functional translation is a fall in the pit, a gain in your wit.
Example 1:
A:
B:
A:
B:

8 Entry 8:
A: Nh mish ba?
B: Wi mish, jish qchb fi le. Xic wi zi yg b hbjij le.
A: Chc y qin, zhfng y zh.
B: Sh, ji sun huaqin mfi g jioxn ba.
A:
B:
A:
B:

Are you OK?

Im alright, just my cars wrecked. Next time Im not drinking.
A fall in the pit, a gain in your wit.
Yeah, its like paying to learn a lesson.

Example 2:
A:

A: Zhdnggu de qhy zi yj wigu de qhy df guansc sh, ycnwi du guj gunl

b shxi r bis. Bgu, chc y qin, zhfng y zh, yhhu zi df lish de
guansc sh ji yiu jcngyn le.
A: When Chinese corporations participate in lawsuits with foreign corporations,
they lose because they arent familiar with international practices. However,
a fall in the pit is a gain in your wit. When faced with similar lawsuits in the
future, they will have experience.
Usage: Functions as predicate or used singly.
Note: Neutral in meaning.

8. 
()
zhbng zhe yfnjing shud xia hu
Translated character by character, means open-ed-eyes-tell-lies,
whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be to say what one knows to
be untrue. Its functional translation is to flout reality, to tell bald-faced lies, or
to lie through ones teeth.
Example 1:
A:

A: Ta ti b chngsh le, chngchng zhbngzhe yfnjing shud xia hu, lin ta

fmj ddu pin.
A: Hes so dishonest. He often tells bald-faced lies, even to his parents.
Example 2:
A:

Entry 9: 9

A: N jia dinshti zhbngzhe yfnjing shud xia hu, chluilui de gdngjc bide
gujia, r du zjh gujia de wnt qu shrbjin.
A: That TV station is flouting reality. It plainly slanders other countries, but turns
a blind eye towards its own countrys problems.
Usage: Functions as predicate.
Note: Slightly derogatory in meaning.

9. 
()
jn zhe zhg ch, jn m zhg hbi
Translated character by character, means close-red-person-red,
close-black-person-black, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be
one is marked by the company one keeps.
Example 1:
A:
B:
A:

A: Zujn nh jiaowfng de rn lhmin yiu yxib bsan-bs de rn, nh dgi xifoxcn.

B: B, wi zhcdo. Wi gbn tamen zhhsh rnsh ryh, sunbshng pngyiu.
A: N yg b xng, jn zhe zhg ch, jn m zhg hbi, shjian jijle yg hu rfnshng x.
A: Youve been interacting with a few shady characters recently. You should be careful.
B: Dad, I know. Theyre just acquaintances, I wouldnt call them friends.
A: Thats also an issue. One is marked by the company one keeps. After a while,
their vices will rub off on you.
Example 2:
A:

A: Zh wi zhngzhjia ninqcng sh cng sh Bigdng de shxshbng, yj zingting

jibch jio dud. Xinzi zh wi zhngzhjia de zush fbngg yj n wi
zingting ym-yyng, suiwi jn zhe zhg ch, jn m zhg hbi.
A: This politician was a White House intern in his youth. He had a good amount
of contact with the president. Now, he does things in exactly the same manner
as that president. Its as they say: one is marked by the company one keeps.
Usage: Used singly.
Note: Neutral in meaning.

10 Entries 1011: and

10. 
() w yh xc wi gu
Translated character by character, means goods-by-rare-be-expensive,
whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be scarcity makes something
valuable. Its functional translation would be that which is rare is dear.
Example 1:
A:

A: Shducng shchfng de pjbin yunz sh w yh xc wi gu.

A: The rule in the collectors market is that which is rare is dear.
Example 2:
A:

A: Jshud zhbnzhng de Lngjhng ch sh b dud, w yh xc wi gu, ycnch

qcngmngji qin de Lngjhng ch bi chfo chng le tianji.
A: Ive heard there arent many true Longjing tea trees. That which is rare is dear,
so the price of Longjing tea picked before Tomb Sweeping Day was speculated
to high heaven.
Usage: Functions as predicate or used singly.
Note: Neutral in meaning.

11. 
()
wng p mi gua, z mi z kua
Translated character by character, means nanny-Wang-sell-melon,
self-sell-self-brag, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be to praise
ones own work. Its functional translation is every potter praises his own pot.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Ta yu zi chucxe ta rzh zgnme zgnme bng ne.

B: Lfo Wng mi gua, z mi z kua. Ta ng rzh, xux chngj zi ban shng
doshj d-yc, ta hi zhbn hfoysi kuajifng.
A: Hes boasting about how his sons so great again.
B: Every potter praises his own pot. That son of his has the worst grades in his
class and yet he somehow still praises him.

Entry 12: 11

Example 2:
A:

A: Ta de pngln yiu Wng p mi gua de xiny, du zjh de chfnphn bifoyng

dud, du qta jia de chfnphn pcpng dud.
A: His comment smacked of a potter praising his own pot. He praised his own
products a lot and criticized other peoples products a lot.
Usage: Used singly.
Variant:
Note: Slightly derogatory in meaning.

12. 
()
zhn zhe shudhu b yao tng
Translated character by character, means stand-ing-speak-not-waist-ache,
whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be easier said than done. Its
functional translation would be to be an armchair quarterback or talk is cheap.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Zh shr hi b rngyi, yoshi wi zfo ji bn wn le.

B: Nh sh zhnzhe shudhu b yao tng, zhbnde rng nh gn, wib bh wi kui ne.
A: This should be easy. If it were me, it would have been finished a long time ago.
B: Youre an armchair quarterback. If you really were to do it, you wouldnt
necessarily be faster than me.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Zhngfj ycnggai zi zhucjia sanbfi y rnmnb zi zhg xingm shang.

B: Zhnzhe shudhu b yao tng, sanbfi y nfr nme rngyi li a?
A: The government should supplement this program with another 30 billion RMB.
B: Talk is cheap. Since when has it been easy to find 30 billion?
Usage: Functions as predicate.
Note: Slightly derogatory and humorous in meaning.

12 Entries 1314: and

13. 
()
tianxi miyiu b sn de ynx
Translated character by character, means heaven-under-nothave-not-dispersed-banquet, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would
be nothing good lasts forever. Its functional translation is all good things must
come to an end.
Example 1:
A:

A: Lib ba, tianxi miyiu b sn de ynx, dud bfozhng!

A: Dont bother to see me out. All good things must come to an end. Take care
of yourself !
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Shjian gu de zhbn kui, zhufnyfn yg yu guq le, zhbn shgbud lkai nhmen.
B: Tianxi miyiu b sn de ynx, yhhu bfoch linx.
A: Time really flew. A month went by in the blink of an eye. I really hate to part
with you guys.
B: All good things must come to an end. Keep in touch.
Usage: Used singly.
Note: Neutral in meaning.

14. 
() tianshang dio xinbhng
Translated character by character, means sky-upon-fall-stuffed-pancake,
whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be to receive a windfall with
out working. Its functional translation is to have something fall into your lap.
Example 1:
A:
B:
A:

A: Nh zgnme b njl gdngzu ne?

B: Wi ynq hfo, xiwj ji q mfi cfipio, shudbdng zhng lifng bfi wn ne.
A: Nh ji dgngzhe tianshang dio xinrbhng ba, yiu sh nh de y tian.

Entry 15: 13

A: Why arent you working hard?

B: I have good luck. Im going to buy lotto tickets this afternoon, who says I wont
win two million dollars?
A: You just wait for money to fall into your lap. One day youll starve.
Example 2:
A:

A: Yiu rn hunxifng gujia fy le, rnmn de shbnghu shuhpng zrn hu

tgao, b gdngzu yg nng gu shang hfo rzi, ysh tamen tiantian pnwng
tianshang dio xinrbhng.
A: Some people fantasize that when the country becomes prosperous, the citizens
quality of life will naturally rise, and even if they dont work they can still live
well. So, theyre always waiting for something to just fall into their laps.
Usage: Functions as object.
Note: Slightly derogatory and humorous in meaning.

15. 
()
jh sui b y, w shc y rn
Translated character by character, means oneself-what-notdesire, not-impose-on-others, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would
be dont treat others differently than you would like to be treated. Its functional
translation is do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Ta zhyng yaoqi birn yg ti gufn le.

B: Sh a, lin ta zjh ddu zu b do, jh sui b y, w shc y rn ma.
A: Hes going too far by asking that of others.
B: Yeah, even he wouldnt do that. Do unto others as you would have them do
unto you.
Example 2:
A:
B:
A:

14 Entry 16:
A: Nh zhyng zu kingp b hsh ba?
B: Zgnme b hsh?
A: Nh zi xifngxifng, rgui birn zhyng dudi nh, nh hu gaoxng ma? Jh sui
b y, w shc y rn.
A: Im afraid it would be inappropriate for you to do that.
B: How is it inappropriate?
A: Think about it. If other people treated you like that, would you be happy? Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Usage: Used singly.
Note: Neutral in meaning.

16. 
() zhbng yfn xia
Translated character by character, means open-eyes-blind, whereas the
implied meaning of this proverb would be a bad judge of character.
Example 1:
A:

A: Wi zhbn sh g zhbngyfnxia, zgnme mi knche ta sh g pczhe rn p de

lng!
A: Im such a bad judge of character. How could I not see that he was a wolf in
sheeps clothing?
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Ta sh g zhbngyfnxia. Ta lfopo zi wimin gbn birn gfo ta hfoxing ydifnr

ddu b zhcdo.
B: Shi zhcdo ne? Mizhjnr ta sh zhbng y zhc yfn, b y zhc yfn.
A: Hes a bad judge of character. His wife is having an affair and he seems not
to have a clue.
B: Who knows? Whos to say hes not just turning a blind eye?
Usage: Functions as predicative.
Note: Slightly derogatory in meaning.

Entry 17: 15
17. 
()
tio jn Hung H xh b qcng

Translated character by character, means jump-in-Yellow Riverwash-unable-clean. Its functional translation is to be unable to clear ones name.
Example 1:

B:

A:

A: N wi yiu qint de zhngzhjia yj yg mngshbng hgn b hfo de nrrn

po ydin de zhopin bi boguang le.
B: Wn le, zhxi ta tio jn Hung H yg xh b qcng le, yhhu kgndng hu bi
zhngzh dushiu gdngjc de.
A: That picture of the politician with the bright future and a girl with a bad
reputation at a nightclub has surfaced.
B: Thats it, this time theres no way he can clear his name. He will definitely be
attacked by his political adversaries for this in the future.
Example 2:

B:
A:

A: Zu wfn gdngsc shcqi le, diele hgndud xinjcn. Jiankng lxing zhh faxin
Lfo Lh yg rn jnq gu.
B: Yh Lfo Lh de rnphn bhu tdu ddngxi a. Bgu, ta tio do Hung H lh ddu
xh b qcng le.
A: The company was robbed last night. A lot of cash was taken. The surveillance
tapes show that only Lao Li had gone in.
B: Its not in Lao Lis nature to steal, but now theres no way for him to clear his
name.
Usage: Functions as predicate or predicative.
Variants: ()
Note: Neutral or humorous in meaning. The Yellow River has a lot of silt in it and
is very murky. The more one washes, the dirtier one gets.

16 Entries 1819: and

18. 
() pai mf p
Translated character by character, means hit-butt, whereas the implied mean
ing of this proverb would be to fawn over. Its functional translation is to suck up to.
Example 1:
A:

A: Ta j yiu gdngzu nngl, yu shny pai shngsc de mf p, suiyh tshbng hgn kui.
A: Shes a good worker and shes good at sucking up to her superiors, so she was
promoted quickly.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Lfobfn, nn de lhngdi zhbn pioliang, gbn nn de xczhuang zu pi le.

B: Nh shfo paimfp, zh tio lhngdi wi ddu dile ba hu le, nh zgnme d-yc c shud hfo?
A: Boss, your tie is really nice. It goes great with your suit.
B: Stop sucking up to me. Ive already worn this tie eight times. Why is this the
first time youve commented on it?
Usage: Functions as predicate.
Note: Derogatory in meaning.

19. 
()
qngrn yfn lh che Xcshc
Translated character by character, means lover-eyes-in-come out
of-Xishi, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be ones lover always
appears beautiful to oneself. However, it should be noted that this expression is
exclusively used to refer to girls or women. Its functional translation is love is
blind, or beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Ta lfopo yg ti chiu le.

B: Qngrn yfn lh che Xcshc, ta rnwi pioliang ji xng.
A: His wife is hideous.
B: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; as long as he thinks shes pretty, its OK.

Entry 20: 17

Example 2:

B:
A:

A: Tcngshud tamen lifng g rn zi tn lini ne. Nh jude tamen hsh ma?

Nnde gaofshui, nrde kg sh xingmo pngpng a!
B: Qngrn yfn lh che Xcshc, ng nnde ycnggai gng zhngsh nrpngyiu de
nizimgi ba.
A: I heard they are dating. Do you think they are a good match? The boy is tall,
rich and handsome, but the girl is too plain looking!
B: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That boy obviously cares more about the
inner beauty of his girlfriend.
Usage: Used singly.
Note: Neutral or humorous in meaning. Xishi (c. 506 BC) was one of the renowned
Four Beauties of ancient China.

20. 
() df jingyu
Translated character by character, means get-soy-sauce, whereas the implied
meaning of this proverb would be its none of my business. Its functional
translation would be I couldnt care less, or thats above my pay grade.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Qhngwn nn du Zhdngddng jsh yiu shnme knff?

B: Boqin, wi yo q df jingyu.
A: Excuse me, whats your view on the situation in the Middle East?
B: Im sorry, thats above my pay grade.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Nn sh li huanyng zingting de ma?

B: Bsh, wi sh li df jingyu de.
A: Are you here to welcome the president?
B: No, I couldnt care less.

18 Entry 21:
Usage: Functions as predicate.
Note: Humorous or neutral in meaning. This suyu is Chinese Internet slang dating
from 2008. When responding to a TV reporters commentary on some issue (an
elementary school student refusing to look at pornographic and violent content
on the internet), someone said, What does this have to do with me? Im here to
(get some soy sauce), meaning that he was indifferent to current events
and government. is a very popular usage, meaning that the person
in question is not a bystander, but someone wielding great influence on a certain
topic or issue.

21. 
()
b p y wn, ji p wnyc
Translated character by character, means not-fear-one-ten
thousand, just-fear-one-ten thousandth, whereas the implied meaning of this
proverb would be to be prepared for all eventualities. Its functional translation
is one can never be too careful.
Example 1:
A:
B:
A:

A: Hizi, wfnshang ti wfn le qianwn bi chemn.

B: Ma, mishr de, wimen xuxio anqun de hgn.
A: N yg bxng, b p y wn, ji p wnyc. Yuq sh zhdum wfnshng, yiuxib
rn hbzu le jij, hgn wbixifn.
A: Child, when its too late at night, dont, under any circumstances, go out.
B: Mom, its not an issue. Our school is incredibly safe.
A: Thats not good enough. You can never be too careful. Especially on weekend
nights, some people get drunk; its very dangerous.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Lfobfn, mngtian de tnpn wimen wnw-yshc le.

B: B p y wn, ji p wnyc. Nhmen hish yo zhjnbi y to yngj fangn.
A: Boss, were guaranteed success in tomorrows negotiation.
B: One can never be too careful. You guys still need to prepare an emergency
plan.

Entry 22: 19

Usage: Used singly.

Variant:
Note: Neutral in meaning.

22. 
() ziu zhe qio
Translated character by character, means walk-ing-look. Its functional
translation is wait and see.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Zhc nh she dng le.

B: Byo gaoxng ti zfo, ziuzheqio ba.
A: This time youre definitely going to lose.
B: Dont celebrate too soon. Just wait and see.
Example 2:
A:
B:

20
20

A: Nh zi pichng wi mngy sjnshcfi 20 wn.

B: Wi yhjcng ggi nh jcngshen sjnshcfi 20 wn le, xinzi yu yo mngy sjnshcfi.
Nh byo bf wi bc j le, bc j le wi shnmeyng de sh ddu nng gn cheli,
b xn znmen ziuzheqio.
A: Pay me another 200,000 RMB for libel damages.
B: I already gave you 200,000 RMB for emotional distress; now you also want libel
damages? Dont push me too hard. When Im pushed, Im capable of anything.
If you dont believe me, just wait and see.
Usage: Functions as predicate.
Note: Slightly derogatory or neutral in meaning.

20 Entries 2324: and

23. 
()
bgufn san qc rshyc
Translated character by character, means not-care-three-(times)seven-twenty-one, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would be to act
recklessly. Its functional translation is to throw caution to the wind.
Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Zh kufn dinzh chfnphn nh gbnbgn b ding yiu shnme yngchu, zgnme

yxizi mfile lifng g?
B: N bsh Shngdnji djifnji ma, bgufn san qc rshyc, xian mfi hu jia
zishud, yhhu zi mnmanr kn zgnme yng.
A: You actually dont know what this gadget does; why did you impulsively buy
two?
B: Wasnt it a big Christmas sale? I threw caution to the wind and bought two;
Ill figure out how to use them later.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Nh jcntian shudhu kg shanle bshfo rn.

B: Zhhyo wi zhn zi zhngy de lchfng shang, wi ci bgufn san qc rshyc
ne.
A: You hurt a lot of people with what you said today.
B: As long as I am on the side of justice, I throw caution to the wind.
Usage: Functions as predicate or used singly.
Note: Slightly derogatory in meaning.

24. 
(

) chc zhe wfn lh de, kn zhe gud lh de

Translated character by character, means eat-ing-bowlinside, watch-ing-pot-inside, whereas the implied meaning of this proverb would
be to eat whats in ones bowl while eyeing the pot. Its functional translation is
to be unsatisfied with what one has.

Entry 25: 21

Example 1:
A:
B:

A: Hfoxing ta zi gduyhn ta xifoyzi.

B: Zh jiahuo ti huaxcn le, chczhe wfn lh de, knzhe gud lh de.
A: It seems hes after his wifes sister.
B: This guy is so unfaithful. Hes eating whats in his bowl while eyeing the pot.
Example 2:

B:
A:

A: Tamen gdngsc yhjcng ddo zhngfj de hgn d de dngdan le, xinzi yu yo

qhs jngzhbng dushiu, shud dufang b gdngpng jngzhbng.
B: Tamen de wikiu yg ti d le, chczhe wfn lh de, knzhe gud lh de.
A: Their company already got a very big order from the government and now
hes also going to sue his competitors, saying they didnt play fair.
B: Theyre too greedy, eating whats in their bowls while eyeing the pot.
Usage: Used singly.
Variants:
Note: Slightly derogatory and humorous in meaning.

25. 
() zuan ni jifo jian
Translated character by character, means squeeze-bull-horn-tip, whereas the
implied meaning of this proverb would be to go down a dead end, or to split hairs.
Example 1:
A:
B:
A:

A: nuzhdu rn xu yjyn yiu ydush, yban rn ddu hu lifng-san zhing yjyn.

B: Bdu, hgndud Ycnggu rn zhh hu Ycngyj.
A: Nh zhg rn zgnme zuan ni jifo jian a? Wi sh zingdelishud.
A: Europeans have an advantage in learning languages. An average European can
speak two or three languages.
B: No, a lot of English people can only speak English.
A: Why are you splitting hairs? I was speaking in generalities.

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Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Ta zgnmeyng?
B: Qnfn yiuy, lnghu bz, kn wnt ti zuan ni jifo jian.
A: How is he?
B: Hes excessively diligent, but not flexible enough. Hes too closed-minded in
dealing with problems.
Usage: Functions as predicate.
Note: Slightly derogatory in meaning.

26. 
(

) rn b kg mo xing, hfi shuh b kg diu ling

Translated character by character, means person-notby-appearance-judged, ocean-water-not-by-volume unit-measure, whereas the implied
meaning of this proverb would be you cannot judge something by appearance
only. Its functional translation is you cant judge a book by its cover.
Example 1:
A:

A: Ta pngchng kn qhli hgn bqhyfn, kgsh zi zutian de dchfngmin shng

bifoxin de qidohfoch, y kn jish jingu shmin de. Knli zhbnsh
rn bkg mo xing, hfishuh bkg diu ling.
A: He usually looks very undistinguished, but he conducted himself perfectly at
yesterdays occasion. He seemed, at a glance, cultured. It looks like you really
cant judge a book by its cover.
Example 2:
A:
B:

A: Nh kn ta zh shbn dfbn, nng yiu shnme bgnsh?

B: Bi zhme shud, rn bkg mo xing, hfishuh bkg diu ling. Shhdfe Qiobsc
hi zhh chuan hbis gaolhngshan h nizfik ne, shu gfn xifokn ta?