Chinese allegories
歇后語
These are two-part allegorical sayings. The first part, which is always stated, is the literal meaning of the expression. The second part is the unstated, implied meaning of the expression.

guān qǐlái d? luó?- míng shēng zài wài
關(guān)起門來打鑼?- 名聲在外
Close the door to beat gongs?- be well-known

hán dōng là yuè de m? fēng wō?- kōng kōng dòng dòng
寒冬臘月的馬蜂窩 - 空空洞洞
A hornet's nest in severe winter?- empty; hollow; devoid of substance

h?o m? zāo biān d??- rěn r? fù zhòng
好馬遭鞭打?- 忍辱負(fù)重
A hardworking horse is whipped?- show great fortitude under humiliating circumstances

hòu bàn yè zuò měi mèng? - h?o j?ng bù cháng
后半夜做美夢(mèng)?- 好景不長(zhǎng)
Have a beautiful dream after midnight - good times don't last long; pleasant hours fly fast

g? d?ng diàn l?o b?n - y?n l?shì huò
古董店老板 - 眼里識(shí)貨
An antique shopkeeper - a person who knows what is what; a knowledgeable person

guān yīn pú sà xià dú sh?u?- miàn shàn xīn bù shàn
觀音菩薩下毒手 -? 面善心不善
Guanyin, goddess of mercy, lays murderous hands?- have a merciful face but a wolfish heart

qián táng jiāng zh?ng cháo?- dà q?dà luò
錢塘江漲潮?- 大起大落
The Qiantang River tides are on the flow?- great ups and downs; sharp rise and fall

qián y?u qiáng dí hòu y?u zhuī bīng?- jìn tuì li?ng nán
前有強(qiáng)敵后有追兵 - 進(jìn)退兩難
There are intercepting troops in front and pursuing troops behind?- find it difficult to advance or retreat; be in a dilemma

View all the lessons >>

(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong)