Language/Multiple-languages/Culture/Idioms-in-Han-script

introduction	variants	parts	restructure
Hanisation	texts	idioms	place names

Hi, polyglots.

In Han script, there is a type of idiomatic expression called “set phrases” [成語], which are mostly four-character long. In this lesson, you will find idioms from various languages in set phrases. This is a way to learn about idioms around the world, as well as to learn Han script less tediously.

Just like assigning codes to entities, e.g. ISO 3166 country and region codes, this assigns the same expression in different languages a name in Han script.

In progress

Main

idiom	idiom in set phrase
all roads lead to Rome [eng] all Weeër féieren op Roum [ltz] alla vägar bär till Rom [swe] alle veier fører til Rom [nob] alle veje fører til Rom [dan] alle Wege führen nach Rom [deu] alle wegen leiden naar Rome [nld] allir vegir liggja til Rómar [isl] bardık joldor Rimge alıp barat бардык жолдор Римге алып барат [kir] banyak jalan menuju Roma [ind] bolor čanaparhnerə tanum en Hṙom բոլոր ճանապարհները տանում են Հռոմ [hye] bütün yollar Romaya aparır [aze] ĉiuj vojoj kondukas al Romo [epo] đường nào cũng về La Mã [vie] hame-ye râh-hâ be rom mi-farjâmand همه‌یِ راه‌ها به رُم میفرجامند [pes] kaikki tiet vievät Roomaan [fin] kõik teed viivad Rooma [ekk] kól had'rakhím movilót l'Róma כל הדרכים מובילות לרומא [heb] kullu ṭ-ṭuruqi tuʔaddī ʔilā romā كل الطرق تؤدي إلى روما [arb] óloi oi drómoi odigoún sti Rómi όλοι οι δρόμοι οδηγούν στη Ρώμη [ell] lahat ng daan ay magdadala sa'yo sa Roma [tgl] lam:tuing:ha rau:ma.mrui.hcikui u:tanyne-kra.tai လမ်းတိုင်းဟာ ရောမမြို့ဆီကို ဦးတည်နေကြတယ် [mya] minden út Rómába vezet [hun] modeun gireun Romaro tonghanda 모든 길은 로마로 통한다 [kor] omne via duce a Roma [ina] omnēs viae Rōmam dūcunt [lat] q̇vela gza romši midis ყველა გზა რომში მიდის [kat] sárvāḥ pánthāḥ romāyām prá náyanti सर्वाः पन्थाः रोमायाम् प्र नयन्ति [san] šicki drahi vodza do Rimu шицки драги водза до Риму [rsk] śobo rasta rōmer dike jaẏ সব রাস্তা রোমের দিকে যায় [ben] subete no michi wa Rōma ni tsūzu 全ての道はローマに通ず [jpn] svi putevi vode u Rȋm сви путеви воде у Ри̑м [hbs] tiáotiáo dàlù tōng Luómǎ 條條大路通羅馬 条条大路通罗马 [cmn] tiu4 tiu4 daai6 lou6 tung1 lo4 maa5 條條大路通羅馬 条条大路通罗马 [yue] toate drumurile duc la Roma [ron] todos los caminos llevan a Roma [spa] todos os caminhos levam a Roma [por] tots els camins duen a Roma [cat] tous les chemins mènent à Rome [fra] tut las vias mainan a Roma [roh] tutte le strade portano a Roma [ita] tüm yollar Roma'ya çıkar [tur] usjé daróhi vjadúcʹ u Rym усе дарогі вядуць у Рым [bel] visi ceļi ved uz Romu [lvs] visi keliai veda į Romą [lit] vse poti vodijo v Rim [slv] všechny cesty vedou do Říma [ces] všetky cesty vedú do Ríma [slk] vse dorógi vedút v Rim все дороги ведут в Рим [rus] vsi doróhy vedútʹ do Rymu всі доро́ги веду́ть до Риму [ukr] wszystkie drogi prowadzą do Rzymu [pol] y mae bob ffordd yn arwain i Rufain [cym]	路皆通羅 : roads + all + lead to + Rome
bessere Tage gesehen haben [deu] betere tijden gekend hebben [nld] ha sett bedre dager [nob] ha sett sina bättre dagar [swe] have seen better days [eng] jiānghé rì xià 江河日下 江河日下 [cmn]	既見良辰 : have already + seen + good + days 江河日下 : rivers + day by day + go down
ếch ngồi đáy giếng [vie] jǐngdǐ zhī wā 井底之蛙 井底之蛙 [zho] seitei no kawazu 井底の蛙 [jpn] umul an gaeguri 우물 안 개구리 [kor] katak di bawah tempurung [msa] gòp-nai-gà-laa กบในกะลา [thi]	井底之蛙: well + bottom + possessive particle + frog 椰殼之蛙: coconut + shell + possessive particle + frog
chorar sobre o leite derramado [por] cry over spilt milk [eng] græde over spildt mælk [dan] gråta över spilld mjölk [swe] itkeä maahan kaatunutta maitoa [fin] llorar sobre la leche derramada [spa] piangere sul latte versato [ita] płakać nad rozlanym mlekiem [pol] plakat nad rozlitým mlékem [ces] pleurer sur le lait renversé [fra] fùshuǐ nán shōu 覆水難收 覆水难收 [cmn] shinda ko no toshi o kazoeru 死んだ子の年を数える [jpn]	啼彼覆乳 : cry over + that + spilt + milk 覆水難收 : spilt + water + hard to + collect 數年死子 : count + age + dead + son
auf den fahrenden Zug aufspringen [deu] hoppa på tåget [swe] kaste seg på lasset [nob] prendre le train en marche [fra] entrar na onda [por] suí bō zhú liú 隨波逐流 随波逐流 [cmn] jump on the bandwagon [eng] salire sul carro del vincitore [ita] subirse al carro [spa]	躍上行車 : jump + onto + running + wagon 隨波逐流 : follow + waves + chase + flows 躍上花車 : jump + onto + decorated + wagon
ʔašʕal fānūs al-layl أشعل فانوس الليل [arb] burn the midnight oil [eng] fén gāo jì guǐ 焚膏繼晷 焚膏继晷 [cmn] quemarse las pestañas [spa]	夜半點燈 : at midnight + lit + lantern 夜半燃油 : at midnight + burn + oil 焚膏繼晷 : burn + grease + continue + sunlight shadow 燒己睫毛 : burn + own + eyelashes
de boot missen [nld] miss the boat [eng] manquer le coche [fra] myöhästyä junasta [fin] perder el tren [spa] perdere il treno [ita] pierde trenul [ron] shī zhī jiāobì 失之交臂 失之交臂 [cmn]	錯過擺渡 : miss + ferry boat 錯過馬車 : miss + coach 錯過列車 : miss + train 失之交臂 : miss + it + arm touching arm
dae'utan'geum 대우탄금 對牛彈琴 [kor] đàn gảy tai trâu [vie] duì niú tánqín 對牛彈琴 对牛弹琴 [cmn] sǐi-sɔɔ-hâi-kwaai-fang สีซอให้ควายฟัง [thi] ushi ni tai shite koto o danzu 牛に対して琴を弾ず [jpn] falar com as paredes [por] gegen eine Wand reden [deu] mówić jak do ściany [pol] parler à un mur [fra] puhua seinille [fin] tale for døve ører [nor] talk to a brick wall [eng] tegen een muur praten [nld] vorbi cu pereții [ron] ma no mimi ni nenbutsu 馬の耳に念仏 [jpn] so gwie gyeong ilgi 소 귀에 경 읽기 [kor] preach to deaf ears [eng] rzucać grochem o ścianę [pol]	對牛彈琴: towards + cattle + play + qín (string instrument) 對墙言語: towards + wall + talk 馬耳念佛: horse + ear + chant Buddhist prayers 聾耳說教: deaf + ear + preach 豌豆擲墙: pea + throw towards + wall
bring home the bacon [eng] gagner son pain [fra] przynosić mamuta do domu [pol] yǎng jiā huó kǒu 養家活口 养家活口 [cmn] zijn eigen broek ophouden [nld]	捎臘返歸 : bring + cured meat + return home 掙得其麭 : earn + his/her + pastry 運家毛象 : transport + home + mammoth 養家活口 : support + family + make a living for + members 維繫其褲 : maintain + his/her + pants
[afr] soos 'n vis op droë grond [deu] wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen [fin] kuin kala kuivalla maalla [cat] peix fora d'aigua [eng] like a fish out of water [epo] fiŝo ekster akvo [fra] poisson hors de l’eau [ita] pesce fuor d'acqua [mlt] ħuta barra mill-ilma [por] como peixe fora d'água [spa] como pez fuera del agua [jpn] 陸に上がった河童 [msa] seperti rusa masuk kampung [zho] 如坐針氈 如坐针毡	如魚在地 : like + fish + on + ground 如魚出水 : like + fish + out of + water 上陸河童 : been on shore + kappa 如鹿進村 : like + deer + entering + village 如坐針氈 : like + sitting on + needle + mat
[deu] sein wahres Gesicht zeigen [fra] montrer son vrai visage [ita] mostrare il proprio vero volto [eng] show one's true colours [eng] show one's true stripes [msa] tunjuk belang [fin] näyttää todellinen karvansa [hun] kimutatja a foga fehérjét [zho] 原形畢露 原形毕露	顯露真面 : show + true + face 顯露真色 : show + true + colours 顯露真紋 : show + true + stripes 顯露真髮 : show + true + hairs 顯露白牙 : show + white + teeth 原形畢露 : original + form + all + exposed
[afr] die kat uit die sak laat [dan] slippe katten ud af sækken [deu] die Katze aus dem Sack lassen [eng] let the cat out of the bag [ltz] d'Kaz aus dem Sak loossen [nob] slippe katta ut av sekken [pol] wypuścić kota z worka [eng] spill the beans [fra] vendre la mèche [glg] irse da lingua [spa] irse de la lengua [por] dar com a língua nos dentes [zho] 走漏風聲 走漏风声	放貓出囊 : let + cat + out of + bag 潑洒小豆 : spill + little + beans 販出引綫 : sell + out + fuse 走動己舌 : go + own + tongue 舌齿相擊 : tongue + teeth + towards each other + hit 走漏風聲 : leak + wind + sounds
[eng] sink or swim [fin] syteen tai saveen [fra] marche ou crève [nld] erop of eronder [pol] wóz albo przewóz [rus] пан или пропал [swe] bära eller brista [zho] 背水一戰 背水一战	或沒或泅 : either + sink + or + swim 焦炭陶土 : charcoal + potter's clay 或行或毙 : either + walk + or + die 或下或上 : either + up + or + down 板車廂車 : cart + wagon 或紳或淵 : either + lord + or + abyss 或負或喪 : either + bear + or + be destroyed 背水一戰 : back-facing-water (formation) + a + battle
[bel] апошняя кропля [ces] poslední kapka [fin] viimeinen pisara [kat] უკანასკნელი წვეთი [ita] l'ultima goccia [por] última gota [rus] последняя капля [ukr] остання крапля [cat] la gota que fa vessar el got [fra] la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase [deu] der Tropfen, der das Fass zum Überlaufen bringt [eng] the last straw [ell] η σταγόνα που ξεχείλισε το ποτήρι [fin] viimeinen niitti [spa] la gota que colma el vaso [zho] 積羽沉舟 积羽沉舟	終末一滴 : the last + one + drop 溢瓶之滴 : overflow + vase + (attribute particle) + drop 溢桶之滴 : overflow + barrel + (attribute particle) + drop 終末一稈 : the last + one + straw 溢杯之滴 : overflow + cup + (attribute particle) + drop 終末一鉚 : the last + one + rivet 滿杯之滴 : fulfill + cup + (attribute particle) + drop 積羽沉舟 : accumulating + feathers + sinks + boat
[ces] jednou za uherský rok [slk] raz za uhorský rok [deu] alle Jubeljahre [eng] once in a blue moon [gla] uair san ràith [fra] tous les trente-six du mois [ita] una volta ogni morte di papa [pol] raz na ruski rok [pol] od wielkiego dzwonu [rus] раз в сто лет [zho] 百年一遇 百年一遇 [spa] cada muerte de obispo [tur] kırk yılda bir [zho] 杳如黃鶴 杳如黄鹤	匈年一遇 : Hungarian + year + once + meet 聖年一遇 : jubilee + once + meet 藍月一現 : blue + moon + once + shows up 一季一時 : a + season + one + hour 月中卅六 : in a month + thirty-sixth day 教宗一逝 : Pope + once + dies 魯年一遇 : Ruthenian + year + once + meet 自從洪鐘 : from + big + bell 百年一遇 : hundred + years + once + meet 主教一逝 : bishop + once + dies 卌年一遇 : forty + years + once + meet 杳如黃鶴 : rare + as + yellow + crane
[cat] bufar i fer ampolles [cym] bwrw hen wragedd â ffyn [deu] Kinderspiel [fin] lastenleikki [fra] jeu d’enfant [ita] gioco da bambini [nld] kinderspel [pol] dziecinada [por] brincadeira de criança [ron] joacă de copil [spa] juego de niños [swe] barnlek [eng] piece of cake [hbs] мачји кашаљ / mačji kašalj [hun] gyerekjáték [tur] çocuk oyuncağı [hye] խաղ ու պար [ita] come bere un bicchier d'acqua [ita] cosa da niente [jpn] 朝飯前 [kor] 누워서 떡 먹기 [nld] fluitje van een cent [pol] bułka z masłem [por] mamão com açúcar [por] mel na chupeta [ron] floare la ureche [rus] проще пареной репы [spa] coser y cantar [tur] çantada keklik [zho] 小菜一碟 小菜一碟	吹氣成瓶 : blow + air + make + bottles 雨下杖嫗 : rain + sticks + old ladies 兒戲一樁 : child's play + a + case 菓子一切 : cake + a + cut 貓咳一聲 : cat + cough + a + sound 小兒耍貨 : child + toy 作戲作舞 : do + game + do + dance 如飲杯水 : like + drinking + cup of + water 無事之事 : nothing + (attributive marker) + matter 朝飯前 : breakfast + before 偃食打糕 : lie down + eat + tteok 一分口笛 : one + cent + whistle 黄油圓麭 : butter + round + pastry 木瓜附糖 : papaya + add + sugar 蜜抹奶嘴 : honey + smeared on + pacifier 花置耳上 : flower + put on + ear + upper side 易於蒸蕪 : easier + than + steamed + turnip 作縫作歌 : do + sew + do + sing 山鶉在囊 : partridge + on + bag 小菜一碟 : small + dish + a + plate
[aze] tut ucundan, göyə çıx [bul] вали като из ведро [deu] wie aus Eimern schütten [fin] sataa kuin saavista kaataen [fra] pleuvoir à verse [hun] zuhog, mintha dézsából öntenék [pol] lać jak z cebra [ron] ploua cu găleata [rus] лить как из ведра [ukr] ллє як з відра [cat] ploure a bots i barrals [ces] lít jako z konve [deu] Bindfäden regnen [deu] in Strömen regnen [ell] βρέχει με το τουλούμι [ell] ρίχνει καρεκλοπόδαρα [eng] rain cats and dogs [fin] sataa äkäisiä ämmiä äkeet selässä [fin] sataa kaatamalla [nld] regenen dat het giet [zho] 暴雨如注 暴雨如注 [fin] sataa kuin saavista kaataen [ita] piovere a catinelle [zho] 傾盆大雨 倾盆大雨 [fra] pleuvoir à boire debout [fra] pleuvoir comme vache qui pisse [fra] pleuvoir des cordes [fra] pleuvoir des hallebardes [glg] chover a caldeiros [glg] chover a chuzos [isl] rigna eldi og brennisteini [ita] piovere come Dio la manda [jpn] 土砂降り [nld] pijpenstelen regenen [nob] regne sinte kjerringer [por] chover a cântaros [spa] llover a cántaros [por] o céu vir abaixo [spa] llover a mares [swe] stå som spön i backen [tur] bardaktan boşalırcasına yağmak	捉末登天 : grasp + tips + climb up to + sky 雨若出桶 : rain + like + out of + basket 雨入舟樽 : rain + into + boats + barrels 注若出壺 : pour + like + out of + can 雨下紉綫 : rain + threads 雨入川流 : rain + into + rivers 雨出皮囊 : rain + out of + skin + bag 注下椅脚 : pour + chair + legs 雨下貓狗 : rain + cats + dogs 雨下耙妖 : rain + harrow + bizarre being 暴雨如注 : huge + rain + like + pouring 傾盆大雨 : turned + basin + huge + rain 雨可立飲 : rain + can be + standing + drunk 雨若濺牛 : rain + like + pissing + cattle 雨下繩索 : rain + ropes 雨下斧槍 : rain + halberds 雨下釜鼎 : rain + cauldrons 雨下槍矛 : rain + spears 雨下火硫 : rain + fire + sulfur 雨若神饋 : rain + as if + God + sends 土砂降 : dirt + sands + drop 雨下管柄 : rain + pipe handles 雨下瘋婆 : rain + mad + women 雨若出壺 : rain + like + out of + can 天穹下落 : sky + fall down 雨下滄海 : rain + vast sea 立如地柱 : stand + like + ground + rods 雨若出杯 : rain + like + out of + cup

Explanation

The structure of a four-character set phrase are

• parataxis
• modifier-head
• subject-predicate
• verb-object
• verb-complement
• adjective-complement
• serial verbs
• verb-pivotal-verb
• overlap

introduction	variants	parts	restructure
Hanisation	texts	idioms	place names