大块头 468 Posted October 17, 2020 Report Share Posted October 17, 2020 One of my favorite things about learning Chinese is encountering colorful 谚语 and 成语. Here is a thread to share amusing proverbs. 过屠门而大嚼 to chew when passing the butcher shop; to feed on illusions 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 830 Posted October 17, 2020 Report Share Posted October 17, 2020 又要当婊子，又想立牌坊 is a long-time favourite for its forthrightness and culturally specific architectural reference; wanting to be a prostitute and have a monumental arch erected to their chastity; expecting to be treated like a good person while doing all the bad things. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Demonic_Duck 1,386 Posted October 17, 2020 Report Share Posted October 17, 2020 真小气，婊子不能立牌坊么 😤 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
roddy 5,481 Posted October 18, 2020 Report Share Posted October 18, 2020 噤如寒蝉 - as silent as a cold cicada - came up in the current book we're reading, 异兽志. There are lots of others in there, I'll try to post a few. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
New Members 李子凡 4 Posted October 18, 2020 New Members Report Share Posted October 18, 2020 三个女人一台戏-heard this the other week listening to 听故事学中文， it means when three women are together its going to interesting Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michaelyus 272 Posted October 20, 2020 Report Share Posted October 20, 2020 人多嘴雜 / 人多嘴杂 Technically not a 成语, according to the ABC Dictionary. Also exists in the form with 口 instead of 嘴. Relatively transparent, and cannon fodder for intercultural studies, I'm sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
大块头 468 Posted November 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2020 癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 like a toad that lusts after swan flesh; trying to punch above one's weight On 10/17/2020 at 1:22 PM, 大块头 said: 过屠门而大嚼 My Chinese friends thought this proverb was amusing, but they had never heard it before... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
New Members 李子凡 4 Posted November 10, 2020 New Members Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 老将出马一个顶俩 顶 in this case means equivalent(相当） An experience person (老将）when completing a task（出马）can do the work of two normal people 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 830 Posted November 10, 2020 Report Share Posted November 10, 2020 磨刀不误砍柴工 Time spent on preparation isn't wasted. Appeared in this jokey slogan: 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Asha 6 Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 I love thi one: 书是随时携带的花园 A book is a pocket garden. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 830 Posted December 2, 2020 Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 不见棺材不落泪 the dictionary gives "refuse to be convinced until confronted with the grim reality". 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shelley 1,862 Posted December 2, 2020 Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 @Jim the literal meaning is good too - not to shed a tear until one sees the coffin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Asha 6 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 东西是新的好，朋友是老的亲 Everything is good when new, but friends when old 👨🦳 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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