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Duke's poetic advice (wei4 yu3 chou2 mou2)

Feature | Idioms
2009-11-22

SOME Chinese expressions have originated from popular verses. The idiom "(wei4 yu3 chou2 mou2)," or "repair the house before it rains," is an example of just such a saying as it comes from a poem written by a politician...

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危如累卵 (wei1 ru2 lei3 luan3) An eggy tale of risk

Feature | Idioms
2009-11-15

THE English term "house of cards" suggests a flimsy structure, arrangement or situation that is in danger of collapsing or failing. Chinese people have a similar phrase - a pile of eggs. However, it is more precarious...

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望梅止渴 (wang4 mei2 zhi3 ke2) The power of illusions

Feature | Idioms
2009-11-8

WHEN Chinese say that someone is trying to satisfy his or her desires by illusion, they frequently use the phrase "wang4 mei2 zhi3 ke2" The literal meaning is to quench one's thirst by looking at imaginary fresh plums. ...

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Never too late to fix (wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2)

Feature | Idioms
2009-11-1

THE idiom "wang2 yang2 bu3 lao2" or "mending the sheepfold after losing sheep" has been used as a piece of helpful advice in China for centuries, probably because it is often found that it's never too late to take...

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Folly of the senses (wan2 wu4 sang4 zhi4)

Feature | Idioms
2009-10-25

WHILE many Chinese people love hobbies, it is a cherished notion that it is best to distance one's self from any indulgence that interferes with one's career pursuits. The principle is best expressed in a 3,000-year-old...

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投鼠忌器 (tou2 shu3 ji4 qi4) Spare a rat for a vase

Feature | Idioms
2009-10-11

THE Chinese idiom "tou2 shu3 ji4 qi4" or "hesitate before pelting a rat for fear of smashing the vase beside it" is nearly the equivalent of the English saying, "burn not your house to rid it of the mouse." In...

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铁杵成针 (tie3 chu3 cheng2 zhen1) Li needled into action

Feature | Idioms
2009-9-27

THE verbatim translation of "ti(r)? ch(r)°? ch(r)?ng zh(r)?n" is "to grind an iron rod into a needle." This Chinese idiom has a similar meaning as such phrases as "grinding away at one's studies" and "keeping one's...

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The heavenly dress -- 天衣无缝 (tian1 yi1 wu2 feng4)

Feature | Idioms
2009-9-20

THERE'S a saying that nothing is perfect. But Chinese people disagree. They believe there is one perfect thing in the universe and that is "a heavenly dress without seams," or "tian1 yi1 wu2 feng4." This saying...

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天罗地网 (tian1 luo2 di4 wang3) - Dragnet of deception

Feature | Idioms
2009-9-13

MANY Chinese idioms have survived thousands of years and remain very active today simply because of their vivid expression and rich imagination. "tian1 luo2 di4 wang3" or "a sky-size snare and an earth-large net" is...

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Imperial indulgences -- 贪生怕死 (tan1 sheng1 pa4 si3)

Feature | Idioms
2009-9-6

IT'S natural that most people love life and fear death. But a man would be deemed a coward if he led a dishonorable life simply for fear of death. In the Chinese language, a popular saying to this effect is "tan1...

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水深火热 (shui3 shen1 huo3 re4) - Water or fire option

Feature | Idioms
2009-8-30

FEW people are able to survive without water or fire, but no one wants too much of them either. For instance, is there anyone who's willing to live in deep water or scorching fire? Mencius, a famous Chinese scholar,...

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Tight-lipped counsel -- 守口如瓶 (shou3 kou3 ru2 ping2)

Feature | Idioms
2009-8-16

TO excel in officialdom, one must follow some rules. According to a high-ranking official in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the most important rule is "shou3 kou3 ru2 ping2" or "to keep your mouth shut as tight...

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Mournful songs 四面楚歌 (si4 mian4 chu3 ge1)

Feature | Idioms
2009-8-9

MOST Chinese like the melodious and touching folk songs from the south. But few want to hear them "on all sides." This is because of the popular idiom "si4 mian4 chu3 ge1" or "hearing the Chu songs on all sides." ...

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死灰复燃 (si3 shui1 fu4 ran2) Dying ashes flare up

Feature | Idioms
2009-8-2

LIFE is hard to predict. Sometimes, a seemingly set course can take sharp turns. One popular Chinese saying implying such unpredictability is si3 shui1 fu4 ran2, or "dead ashes flare up again." The phrase was first...

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Wasted warnings

Feature | Idioms
2009-7-26

A CICADA, a praying mantis, an oriole and a young man. Can you guess what's special about the four? If not, your Chinese friends will tell you that this peculiar group is responsible for a famous and thought-provoking...