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, here a Han name is assigned to the same expression in different languages.

In progress

A

• 空中城堡: in the air + castle
  • aerkastelo [epo]
  • castells en l'aire [cat]
  • castelo no ar [por]
  • castillos en el aire [spa]
  • kështjella në erë [als]
  • kule u zraku куле у зраку [hbs]
  • légvár [hun]
  • loftkastali [isl]
  • luchtkasteel [nld]
  • luftkastel [dan]
  • luftslott [nor,swe]
  • lugkasteel [afr]
  • vozdúšnyj zámok воздушный замок [rus]
  • vzdušné zámky [ces]
  • castelos no ar [glg]
• 風中城堡: in wind + castle
  • castelo de vento [spa]
• 紙牌城堡: playing card + castle
  • castillos de naipes [spa]
• 西國城堡: Spain + castle
  • châteaux en Espagne [fra]
• 空中樓閣: in the air + tower
  • kōngzhōng lóugé 空中樓閣 空中楼阁 [cmn]
  • migdál poréaḥ baAvír מגדל פורח באויר [heb]
• 雲靄城堡: cloud + castle
  • pilvilinna [fin]
• 夢中城堡: in dream + castle
  • Traumschloss [deu]
• 風中屋舍: in wind + cottage
  • tuulentupa [fin]

• 畢路通羅: all + roads + lead to + Rome
  • 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]

• 聖年一遇: jubilee + once + meet
  • alle Jubeljahre [deu]

• 百年一遇: hundred + years + once + meet
  • bǎnián yī yù 百年一遇 百年一遇 [cmn]
  • raz v sto lét раз в сто лет [rus]

• 主教一逝: bishop + once + dies
  • cada muerte de obispo [spa]

• 匈年一遇: Hungarian + year + once + meet
  • jednou za uherský rok [ces]
  • raz za uhorský rok [slk]

• 卌年一遇: forty + years + once + meet
  • kırk yılda bir [tur]

• 自從洪鐘: from + big + bell
  • od wielkiego dzwonu [pol]

• 藍月一現: blue + moon + once + shows up
  • once in a blue moon [eng]

• 魯年一遇: Ruthenian + year + once + meet
  • raz na ruski rok [pol]

• 月中卅六: in a month + thirty-sixth day
  • tous les trente-six du mois [fra]

• 一季一時: a + season + one + hour
  • uair san ràith [gla]

• 教宗一逝: Pope + once + dies
  • una volta ogni morte di papa [ita]

• 杳如黃鶴: rare + as + yellow + crane
  • yǎo rú huáng hè 杳如黃鶴 杳如黄鹤 [cmn]

• 終末一滴: the last + one + drop
  • apóšnjaja króplja апошняя кропля [bel]
  • l'ultima goccia [ita]
  • ostánnja kráplja остання крапля [ukr]
  • poslední kapka [ces]
  • poslédnjaja káplja последняя капля [rus]
  • uḳanasḳneli c̣veti უკანასკნელი წვეთი [kat]
  • última gota [por]
  • viimeinen pisara [fin]

• 溢桶之滴: overflow + barrel + (attribute particle) + drop
  • der Tropfen, der das Fass zum Überlaufen bringt [deu]

• 溢瓶之滴: overflow + vase + (attribute particle) + drop
  • la gota que fa vessar el got [cat]
  • la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase [fra]

• 終末一稈: the last + one + straw
  • the last straw [eng]

• 溢杯之滴: overflow + cup + (attribute particle) + drop
  • i stagóna pou xecheílise to potíri η σταγόνα που ξεχείλισε το ποτήρι [ell]

• 積羽沉舟: accumulating + feathers + sinks + boat
  • jī yǔ chén zhōu 積羽沉舟 积羽沉舟 [cmn]

• 滿杯之滴: fulfill + cup + (attribute particle) + drop
  • la gota que colma el vaso [spa]

• 終末一鉚: the last + one + rivet
  • viimeinen niitti [fin]

• 夜半點燈: at midnight + lit + lantern
  • ʔašʕal fānūs al-layl أشعل فانوس الليل [arb]

• 夜半燃油: at midnight + burn + oil
  • burn the midnight oil [eng]

• 焚膏繼晷: burn + grease + continue + sunlight shadow
  • fén gāo jì guǐ 焚膏繼晷 焚膏继晷 [cmn]

• 燒己睫毛: burn + own + eyelashes
  • quemarse las pestañas [spa]

• 朝飯前: breakfast + before
  • asameshimae 朝飯前 [jpn]

• 兒戲一樁: child's play + a + case
  • barnlek [swe]
  • brincadeira de criança [por]
  • dziecinada [pol]
  • gioco da bambini [ita]
  • jeu d’enfant [fra]
  • joacă de copil [ron]
  • juego de niños [spa]
  • kinderspel [nld]
  • Kinderspiel [deu]
  • lastenleikki [fin]

• 吹氣成瓶: blow + air + make + bottles
  • bufar i fer ampolles [cat]

• 黄油圓麭: butter + round + pastry
  • bułka z masłem [pol]

• 小兒耍貨: child + toy
  • çocuk oyuncağı [tur]
  • gyerekjáték [hun]

• 如飲杯水: like + drinking + cup of + water
  • come bere un bicchier d'acqua [ita]

• 無事之事: nothing + (attributive marker) + matter
  • cosa da niente [ita]

• 作縫作歌: do + sew + do + sing
  • coser y cantar [spa]

• 山鶉在囊: partridge + on + bag
  • çantada keklik [tur]

• 花置耳上: flower + put on + ear + upper side
  • floare la ureche [ron]

• 一分口笛: one + cent + whistle
  • fluitje van een cent [nld]

• 貓咳一聲: cat + cough + a + sound
  • mačji kašalj мачји кашаљ [hbs]

• 木瓜附糖: papaya + add + sugar
  • mamão com açúcar [por]

• 蜜抹奶嘴: honey + smeared on + pacifier
  • mel na chupeta [por]

• 菓子一切: cake + a + cut
  • piece of cake [eng]

• 易於蒸蕪: easier + than + steamed + turnip
  • próšče párenoj répy проще пареной репы [rus]

• 偃食打糕: lie down + eat + tteok
  • nuwoseo tteok meokgi 누워서 떡 먹기 [kor]

• 作戲作舞: do + game + do + dance
  • xaġ u par խաղ ու պար [hye]

• 小菜一碟: small + dish + a + plate
  • xiǎocài yī dié 小菜一碟 小菜一碟 [cmn]

• 躍上行車: jump + onto + running + wagon
  • auf den fahrenden Zug aufspringen [deu]
  • hoppa på tåget [swe]
  • kaste seg på lasset [nob]
  • prendre le train en marche [fra]

• 隨波逐流: follow + waves + chase + flows
  • entrar na onda [por]
  • suí bō zhú liú 隨波逐流 随波逐流 [cmn]

• 躍上花車: jump + onto + decorated + wagon
  • jump on the bandwagon [eng]
  • salire sul carro del vincitore [ita]
  • subirse al carro [spa]

B

• 或承或折: either + bear + or + break
  • bära eller brista [swe]

• 背水一戰: back-facing-water (formation) + a + battle
  • bèi shuǐ yī zhàn 背水一戰 背水一战 [cmn]

• 或下或上: either + up + or + down
  • erop of eronder [nld]

• 或行或毙: either + walk + or + die
  • marche ou crève [fra]

• 或紳或淵: either + lord + or + abyss
  • pan ili propál пан или пропал [rus]

• 或沒或泅: either + sink + or + swim
  • sink or swim [eng]

• 焦炭陶土: charcoal + potter's clay
  • syteen tai saveen [fin]

• 板車廂車: cart + wagon
  • wóz albo przewóz [pol]

• 雨若出杯: rain + like + out of + cup
  • bardaktan boşalırcasına yağmak [tur]

• 雨下紉綫: rain + threads
  • Bindfäden regnen [deu]

• 雨下杖嫗: rain + sticks + old ladies
  • bwrw hen wragedd â ffyn [cym]

• 雨下釜鼎: rain + cauldrons
  • chover a caldeiros [glg]

• 雨若出壺: rain + like + out of + can
  • chover a cântaros [por]
  • llover a cántaros [spa]

• 雨下槍矛: rain + spears
  • chover a chuzos [glg]

• 土砂降: dirt + sands + drop
  • doshaburi 土砂降り [jpn]

• 雨入川流: rain + into + rivers
  • in Strömen regnen [deu]

• 雨若出桶: rain + like + out of + basket
  • lać jak z cebra [pol]
  • lítʹ kak iz vedrá лить как из ведра [rus]
  • llje jak z vidra ллє як з відра [ukr]
  • pleuvoir à verse [fra]
  • ploua cu găleata [ron]
  • sataa kuin saavista kaataen [fin]
  • valí kato iz vedró вали като из ведро [bul]
  • wie aus Eimern schütten [deu]
  • zuhog, mintha dézsából öntenék [hun]

• 注若出壺: pour + like + out of + can
  • lít jako z konve [ces]

• 雨下滄海: rain + vast sea
  • llover a mares [spa]

• 天穹下落: sky + fall down
  • o céu vir abaixo [por]

• 雨下耙妖: rain + harrow + bizarre being
  • sataa äkäisiä ämmiä äkeet selässä [fin]

• 暴雨如注: huge + rain + like + pouring
  • bàoyǔ rú zhù 暴雨如注 暴雨如注 [cmn]
  • sataa kaatamalla [fin]
  • regenen dat het giet [nld]

• 傾盆大雨: turned + basin + huge + rain
  • sataa kuin saavista kaataen [fin]
  • piovere a catinelle [ita]
  • qīng pén dàyǔ 傾盆大雨 倾盆大雨 [cmn]

• 雨下管柄: rain + pipe handles
  • pijpenstelen regenen [nld]

• 雨若神饋: rain + as if + God + sends
  • piovere come Dio la manda [ita]

• 雨可立飲: rain + can be + standing + drunk
  • pleuvoir à boire debout [fra]

• 雨若濺牛: rain + like + pissing + cattle
  • pleuvoir comme vache qui pisse [fra]

• 雨下繩索: rain + ropes
  • pleuvoir des cordes [fra]

• 雨下斧槍: rain + halberds
  • pleuvoir des hallebardes [fra]

• 雨入舟樽: rain + into + boats + barrels
  • ploure a bots i barrals [cat]

• 雨下貓狗: rain + cats + dogs
  • rain cats and dogs [eng]

• 雨下瘋婆: rain + mad + women
  • regne sinte kjerringer [nob]

• 注下椅脚: pour + chair + legs
  • ríchnei kareklopódara ρίχνει καρεκλοπόδαρα [ell]

• 雨下火硫: rain + fire + sulfur
  • rigna eldi og brennisteini [isl]

• 立如地柱: stand + like + ground + rods
  • stå som spön i backen [swe]

• 捉末登天: grasp + tips + climb up to + sky
  • tut ucundan, göyə çıx [aze]

• 雨出皮囊: rain + out of + skin + bag
  • vréchei me to touloúmi βρέχει με το τουλούμι [ell]

• 既見良辰: have already + seen + good + days
  • 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]

• 江河日下: rivers + day by day + go down
  • jiānghé rì xià 江河日下 江河日下 [cmn]

• 捎臘返歸: bring + cured meat + return home
  • bring home the bacon [eng]

• 掙得其麭: earn + his/her + pastry
  • gagner son pain [fra]

• 運家毛象: transport + home + mammoth
  • przynosić mamuta do domu [pol]

• 養家活口: support + family + make a living for + members
  • yǎng jiā huó kǒu 養家活口 养家活口 [cmn]

• 維繫其褲: maintain + his/her + pants
  • zijn eigen broek ophouden [nld]

C

• 啼彼覆乳: cry over + that + spilt + milk
  • 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]

• 覆水難收: spilt + water + hard to + collect
  • fùshuǐ nán shōu 覆水難收 覆水难收 [cmn]

• 數年死子: count + age + dead + son
  • shinda ko no toshi o kazoeru 死んだ子の年を数える [jpn]

• 如魚出水: like + fish + out of + water
  • como peixe fora d'água [por]
  • como pez fuera del agua [spa]
  • fiŝo ekster akvo [epo]
  • ħuta barra mill-ilma [mlt]
  • like a fish out of water [eng]
  • peix fora d'aigua [cat]
  • pesce fuor d'acqua [ita]
  • poisson hors de l’eau [fra]

• 如魚在地: like + fish + on + ground
  • kuin kala kuivalla maalla [fin]
  • soos 'n vis op droë grond [afr]
  • wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen [deu]

• 上陸河童: been on shore + kappa
  • oka ni agatta kappa 陸に上がった河童 [jpn]

• 如坐針氈: like + sitting on + needle + mat
  • rú zuò zhēnzhān 如坐針氈 如坐针毡 [cmn]

• 如鹿進村: like + deer + entering + village
  • seperti rusa masuk kampung [msa]

D

• 對牛彈琴: towards + cattle + play + qín (string instrument)
  • 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]

• 對墙言語: towards + wall + talk
  • 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]

• 馬耳念佛: horse + ear + chant Buddhist prayers
  • ma no mimi ni nenbutsu 馬の耳に念仏 [jpn]
  • so gwie gyeong ilgi 소 귀에 경 읽기 [kor]

• 聾耳說教: deaf + ear + preach
  • preach to deaf ears [eng]

• 豌豆擲墙: pea + throw towards + wall
  • rzucać grochem o ścianę [pol]

• 舌齿相擊: tongue + teeth + towards each other + hit
  • dar com a língua nos dentes [por]

• 放貓出囊: let + cat + out of + bag
  • die kat uit die sak laat [afr]
  • die Katze aus dem Sack lassen [deu]
  • d'Kaz aus dem Sak loossen [ltz]
  • let the cat out of the bag [eng]
  • slippe katta ut av sekken [nob]
  • slippe katten ud af sækken [dan]
  • wypuścić kota z worka [pol]

• 潑洒小豆: spill + little + beans
  • spill the beans [eng]

• 販出引綫: sell + out + fuse
  • vendre la mèche [fra]

• 走動己舌: go + own + tongue
  • irse da lingua [glg]
  • irse de la lengua [spa]

• 走漏風聲: leak + wind + sounds
  • zǒulòu fēnshēng 走漏風聲 走漏风声 [cmn]

• 錯過擺渡: miss + ferry boat
  • de boot missen [nld]
  • miss the boat [eng]

• 錯過馬車: miss + coach
  • manquer le coche [fra]

• 錯過列車: miss + train
  • myöhästyä junasta [fin]
  • perder el tren [spa]
  • perdere il treno [ita]
  • pierde trenul [ron]

• 失之交臂: miss + it + arm touching arm
  • shī zhī jiāobì 失之交臂 失之交臂 [cmn]

E

• 井底之蛙: well + bottom + (attribute particle) + frog
  • 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]

• 椰殼之蛙: coconut + shell + (attribute particle) + frog
  • gòp-nai-gà-laa กบในกะลา [thi]
  • katak di bawah tempurung [msa]

K

• 顯露白牙: show + white + teeth
  • kimutatja a foga fehérjét [hun]

• 顯露真面: show + true + face
  • montrer son vrai visage [fra]
  • mostrare il proprio vero volto [ita]
  • sein wahres Gesicht zeigen [deu]

• 顯露真髮: show + true + hairs
  • näyttää todellinen karvansa [fin]

• 顯露真色: show + true + colours
  • show one's true colours [eng]

• 顯露真紋: show + true + stripes
  • show one's true stripes [eng]
  • tunjuk belang [msa]

• 原形畢露: original + form + all + exposed
  • yuánxíng bì lù 原形畢露 原形毕露 [cmn]

Explanation

The structures of a 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