Chinese two-part sayings (歇后语)

掀开帘子说话,里外都听见 xiānkāi liánzi shuōhuà, lǐwài dōu tīngjiàn

speaking with the curtain lifted: inside and outside both hear

Said when something is made public so that everyone knows.
掀开门帘子说话,没里没外 xiānkāi ménliánzi shuōhuà, méi lǐ méi wài

speaking with the door curtain lifted: no inside, no outside

Treating insiders and outsiders alike, not distinguishing one's own people from strangers.
咸菜拌豆腐,用不着盐 xiáncài bàn dòufu, yòng bù zháo yán(yán)

pickles mixed with tofu: no need for salt

Said when something is already clear so nothing more needs to be said.
咸菜烧鲤鱼,有盐在先 xiáncài shāo lǐyú, yǒu yán(yán) zài xiān

pickles braised with carp: there's salt first

Said when one has already said what needed saying beforehand, so no complaint later.
咸菜蘸酱,盐重了 xiáncài zhàn jiàng, yán(yán) zhòng le

dipping pickles in sauce: too salty

Said when a matter is hard to handle or the situation is serious.
险道神撞着寿星老儿,你休说我的长,我也休嫌你的短 xiǎndàoshén zhuàngzhe shòuxīnglǎor, nǐ xiū shuō wǒ de cháng, wǒ yě xiū xián nǐ de duǎn

the Road-Clearing God meets the God of Longevity: don't call me tall, and I won't call you short

Both sides have flaws, so neither should criticise the other. Like 'people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones'.

May offend: mocks disability
线板上的针,别着 xiànbǎn shàng de zhēn, bié(biē) zhe

a needle on the thread board: pinned in place

Said of holding one's anger or feelings in.
橡皮棍子打人,伤人不留痕 xiàngpí gùnzi dǎ rén, shāng rén bù liú hén

hitting with a rubber club: hurts without leaving a mark

Describes someone sly and vicious who does harm without leaving evidence. Strongly critical.
小车不拉,推好了 xiǎochē bù lā, tuī(tuī) hǎo le

a handcart isn't pulled: pushing (tuī) it is fine

Said to mean 'too good' or 'really good', in a light, humorous way. The punning second half stands in for 忒好了, 'extremely good'.
小葱拌豆腐,一青二白 xiǎocōng bàn dòufu, yī qīng(qīng) èr bái

scallion mixed with tofu: one green, two white

Describes someone pure and blameless, with nothing shady. Approving.
小公鸡害嗓子,不能再啼了 xiǎo gōngjī hài sǎngzi, bù néng zài tí(tí) le

a young rooster with a sore throat: can't crow any more

Said when a matter is hopeless or can't be mentioned again.
小鬼见钟馗,相形见绌 xiǎoguǐ jiàn zhōngkuí, xiāngxíngjiànchù

a little demon meets Zhong Kui: shown up by comparison

Said when one side looks far inferior beside the other.
小孩儿吃甘蔗,越嚼越有味儿 xiǎoháir chī gānzhe, yuè jiáo yuè yǒu wèir

a child eating sugarcane: the more he chews, the more flavour

Said of study or research that becomes more interesting the deeper you go. Approving.
小孩儿吃泡泡糖,吞吞吐吐 xiǎoháir chī pàopaotáng, tūntūntǔtǔ

a child chewing bubble gum: swallowing and spitting out again and again

Describes someone who hesitates and stops short of saying what they mean, because they have worries. Mildly teasing.
小孩儿放鞭炮,又爱又怕 xiǎoháir fàng biānpào, yòu ài yòu pà

a child setting off firecrackers: loves it and is afraid of it

Describes a mix of fondness and fear toward something. Neutral and a little affectionate.
小孩儿见糖,嘴上说不要心里想 xiǎoháir jiàn táng, zuǐ shang shuō bù yào xīn li xiǎng

a child seeing candy: says no with the mouth but wants it in the heart

Mocks someone who says one thing and means another, refusing aloud what they secretly want. Teasing or critical.
小孩儿没娘,说来话长 xiǎoháir méi niáng, shuōlái huà cháng

a child with no mother: telling it would take a long time

Says a matter is complicated and cannot be explained in a few words. Used as a way to begin a long explanation.
小和尚念经,有口无心 xiǎo héshang niànjīng, yǒukǒuwúxīn

a young monk chanting scriptures: the mouth is there but not the heart

Describes someone who talks without thought or sincerity, saying things offhand without considering the consequences. Mildly critical.
小河里撑船，一竿子插到底 xiǎo hé lǐ chēng chuán, yī gānzi chādào dǐ

poling a boat in a small river: the pole goes straight to the bottom

Describes an instruction or policy that is passed down and carried out all the way to the lowest level. Used in an official or organisational setting.
小胡同儿赶猪，直来直去 xiǎohútòngr gǎn zhū, zhíláizhíqù

driving a pig down a small alley: it can only go straight

Describes someone who speaks or acts in a direct, straightforward way, with no beating about the bush. Usually neutral or approving.
小鸡儿吃黄豆，强往下咽 xiǎojīr chī huángdòu, qiǎng wǎngxià yàn

a chick eating soybeans: forcing them down

Describes forcing oneself to do something one cannot manage or does not want to do. Mildly sympathetic.
小鸡儿吃碗碴儿，一口一个瓷儿 xiǎojīr chī wǎnchár, yī kǒu yī gè cír(cír)

a chick eating bowl shards: every peck is a piece of porcelain (a word)

Describes someone who speaks fluently with a rich vocabulary, with a ready word for everything. Mildly humorous.
小鸡儿吃小米，直点头 xiǎojīr chī xiǎomǐ, zhí diǎntóu

a chick eating millet: keeps nodding

Describes someone who readily and cheerfully agrees to something. Light and humorous.
小老鼠钻进水壶里，光顾游壶，忘了遭水淹 xiǎo lǎoshǔ zuān jìn shuǐhú li, guāng gù yóu hú(hú), wàngle zāo shuǐ yān

a little mouse climbs into a kettle: so busy swimming in the kettle (lake) it forgets it's being drowned

Mocks someone who enjoys the moment and fails to see that great trouble is coming. Critical and teasing.
小炉匠的家伙，破铜烂铁 xiǎolújiàng de jiāhuo, pò tóng làn tiě

a tinker's tools: broken copper and rusty iron

Refers to a pile of worn-out, useless odds and ends. Dismissive.
小庙里的神仙，担不得大香火 xiǎomiào lǐ de shénxiān, dānbude dà xiānghuǒ

a god in a small temple: cannot bear a big offering of incense

Describes a person of low rank or small ability who cannot manage big tasks or bear big responsibilities. Often said modestly of oneself.
小偷说梦话，不打自招 xiǎotōu shuō mènghuà, bùdǎzìzhāo

a thief talking in his sleep: confesses without being beaten

Describes someone who unwittingly gives away their own fault or wrongdoing. Mocking.
小碗吃饭，靠添 xiǎo wǎn chī fàn, kào tiān(tiān)

eating from a small bowl: relies on adding more (heaven)

Means depending on the weather and luck, as in farming, to make a living. Humorous.
小巷里扛竹竿，转不过弯儿来 xiǎoxiàng li káng zhúgān, zhuǎn bù guò wānr lai

carrying a bamboo pole in a narrow lane: can't make the turn

Describes someone who cannot change their way of thinking. Mildly critical.
蝎子的尾巴，毒 xiēzi de wěiba, dú

a scorpion's tail: poisonous

Describes someone extremely vicious and malicious. Critical.
蝎子放屁，毒气大 xiēzi fàngpì, dúqì dà

a scorpion farts: the poisonous gas is strong

Describes a person who is extremely fierce and malicious. Critical and humorous in tone.

May offend: vulgar language
蝎子拉屎，毒粪 xiēzi lāshǐ, dú(dú) fèn(fènr)

a scorpion defecates: poison (unique) dung (portion)

Means there is only one such thing, one of a kind, with no other source or branch. Humorous.

May offend: vulgar language
鞋帮儿改帽檐儿，高升 xiébāngr gǎi màoyánr, gāoshēng

turning a shoe upper into a hat brim: rising high

Mocks someone who has suddenly been promoted to a much higher post. Sarcastic.
鞋里的土，没用处 xié lǐ de tǔ, méi yòngchu

dirt in a shoe: no use

Describes something or someone useless, unable to serve any purpose or have any effect.
鞋里长草，荒了脚 xié lǐ zhǎng cǎo, huāng(huāng)le jiǎo

grass growing in the shoe: the foot is wasteland (panicked)

Describes being flustered and in a hurry, not knowing what to do.
鞋上绣凤凰，会走不会飞 xié shang xiù fènghuáng, huì zǒu bù huì fēi

a phoenix embroidered on a shoe: it can walk but cannot fly

Describes a person with grand ambitions but only ordinary ability. Mildly mocking.
泄了气的皮球，瘪了 xièle qì de píqiú, biě le

a deflated leather ball: gone flat

Describes someone who has lost confidence and become dejected. Like 'deflated'.
心肝掉进肚子里，放下心了 xīngān diàojìn dùzi lǐ, fàngxià xīn le

the heart and liver drop back into the belly: the heart is set at rest

Describes feeling calm again, with worries gone or nothing left to fret about. Like 'a weight off one's mind'.
新斧子劈木柴，明砍 xīn fǔzi pī mùchái, míng kǎn(kǎn)

a new axe chopping firewood: chops in the open (speaks frankly)

Speaking plainly and openly, saying things out in the open.
新媳妇进门，一分人才带来三分喜气 xīn xífù jìn mén, yī fēn réncái dàilái sān fēn xǐqì

a new bride enters the home: one part of looks and talent brings three parts of joy

A newcomer brings good fortune and happiness to the household.
新媳妇咬生馒头，人生面不熟 xīn xífù yǎo shēng mántou, rén shēng miàn bù shú

a new bride bites into a raw steamed bun: the person is a stranger, the dough is uncooked

Being in a place where one knows nobody and nothing is familiar.
新媳妇坐在花轿里，任人摆布 xīn xífù zuò zài huājiào li, rèn rén bǎibù

a new bride sitting in the bridal sedan chair: at others' disposal

Being controlled and having no say in one's own affairs. Critical or pitying.
行夜路吹口哨儿，给自己壮胆 xíng yèlù chuī kǒushàor, gěi zìjǐ zhuàngdǎn

whistling when walking at night: to give oneself courage

Forcing oneself to seem brave when actually timid. Like 'whistling in the dark'.
姓林，木木的 xìng lín, mùmù de

surnamed Lin: wooden, wooden

Describes someone slow, dull and unresponsive. Mildly mocking.
胸口上放鞭炮，心里响着 xiōngkǒu shang fàng biānpào, xīn li xiǎng(xiǎng)zhe

setting off firecrackers on your chest: it rings in your heart

Says someone is thinking about or missing something or someone. Light, humorous.
秀才的手巾，包书 xiùcai de shǒujīn, bāo shū(shū)

a scholar's handkerchief: wraps books

Says someone is sure to lose or fail. Humorous.
秀才见官，不跪 xiùcai jiàn guān, bù guì(guì)

a scholar meeting an official: doesn't kneel

Says a price is not expensive. Humorous.
秀才见了兵，有理说不清 xiùcai jiànle bīng, yǒulǐ shuō bù qīng

a scholar meeting a soldier: right, but can't make it clear

A reasonable person facing a brutish, powerful one cannot get a hearing, however right. Sympathetic; often cited as 'when scholar meets soldier'.
秀才拉到香炉里，知理不讲理 xiùcai lādào xiānglú lǐ, zhī lǐ bù jiǎnglǐ

a scholar relieving himself in the incense burner: knows what's right yet isn't reasonable

Scolds someone who knows better but acts wrongly on purpose. Critical and crude in image.

May offend: vulgar language
绣花针对铁梁，大小各有用场 xiùhuāzhēn duì tiěliáng, dàxiǎo gè yǒu yòngchǎng

an embroidery needle versus an iron beam: big and small each have their use

People and things differ, but each has a use. Approving.
绣花针纳鞋底，顶不过去 xiùhuāzhēn nà xiédǐ, dǐng bù guòqù

an embroidery needle sewing a shoe sole: can't push through

Cannot hold out or withstand something. Humorous.
绣花枕头里塞米糠，顾面不顾里 xiùhuā zhěntou li sāi mǐkāng, gù miàn bù gù lǐ

an embroidered pillow stuffed with rice bran: cares for the surface, not the inside

Mocks people who only attend to appearances, not substance. Critical.
绣花枕头，一肚子荞麦皮 xiùhuā zhěntou, yī dùzi qiáomàipí

an embroidered pillow: a belly full of buckwheat husks

Mocks someone whose inside doesn't match their fine appearance. Critical.
徐庶进曹营，一言不发 xúshù jìn cáoyíng, yīyánbùfā

Xu Shu entering Cao Cao's camp: not a word spoken

Says someone stays completely silent. Humorous, referring to the Three Kingdoms story in which Xu Shu, tricked into serving Cao Cao, vowed never to advise him.
旋风钻到嘴里，邪气入内 xuànfēng zuāndào zuǐ li, xiéqì rù nèi

a whirlwind gets into the mouth: evil air enters within

Describes an organisation riddled with bad practices. Critical.
薛仁贵的行头，白袍 xuērénguì de xíngtou, bái páo(pǎo)

Xue Rengui's outfit: a white robe

Says a trip was made for nothing. Humorous.
雪地里走路，一步一个脚印 xuědì li zǒulù, yī bù yī gè jiǎoyìn

walking in snow: each step leaves a footprint

Works in a down-to-earth, steady way. Approving.
雪花落进池塘里，不声不响 xuěhuā luòjìn chítáng li, bùshēngbùxiǎng

snowflakes falling into a pond: no sound at all

Says someone stays quiet and says nothing.
雪狮子烤火，摊了半边 xuě shīzi kǎohuǒ, tān(tān)le bànbiān

a snow lion by the fire: a half has spread out

Describes someone paralysed on one side, or frozen helpless from shock or emotion. Humorous but can be insensitive.

May offend: mocks disability
驯烈马骑屁股，找着挨摔 xùn lièmǎ qí pìgu, zhǎozhe ái shuāi

taming a wild horse by riding its rump: asking to be thrown

Someone courting harm through their own foolish approach. Mocking.
鸭子洑水,浪在下面 yāzi fùshuǐ, làng zài xiàmian

a duck paddling: the waves are underneath

Problems arise at the grassroots level. Used in work contexts.
鸭子过河,不沾水 yāzi guò hé, bù zhān shuǐ

a duck crossing a river: doesn't get wet

Someone who copes with all kinds of situations and risks without being harmed. Approving.
鸭子过河,咯咕咯 yāzi guò hé, gē(gè) gū(gù) gē(gè)

ducks crossing a river: quack-quack-quack

Mocks people who each care only for themselves. Critical.
鸭子下河,呱呱叫 yāzi xià hé, guāguā jiào

a duck going into the river: quacking

Means excellent, first-rate. Humorous and approving.
牙缝里剔肉,解不了馋 yáfèng li tī ròu, jiě bùliǎo chán

picking meat from between the teeth: doesn't cure the craving

A small amount cannot meet the need or solve the problem. Like 'a drop in the bucket'.
哑巴吃饺子,心里有数 yǎba chī jiǎozi, xīn li yǒushù

a mute eating dumplings: has the count in mind

Someone who knows exactly how things stand and is confident, though silent.
哑巴吃黄连,有苦难言 yǎba chī huánglián, yǒukǔnányán

a mute eating bitter goldthread: bitter and unable to speak of it

Suffering that one cannot tell anyone about. Sympathetic; like "suffer in silence".
哑巴吃黄连,有苦自己知 yǎba chī huánglián, yǒu kǔ zìjǐ zhī

a mute eating bitter goldthread: only they know the bitterness

A variant of the usual saying: one's suffering is known only to oneself.
哑巴打官司,有理讲不清 yǎbā dǎ guānsī, yǒulǐ jiǎng bù qīng

a mute going to court: in the right but unable to explain

Someone who is right but cannot make their case. A variant of the next saying.
哑巴打官司,有理难诉 yǎba dǎ guānsī, yǒulǐ nán sù

a mute going to court: right but hard to plead

Describes a wronged person who has difficulty appealing the injustice. Sympathetic.
哑巴瞪眼睛,说不出的恨 yǎba dèng yǎnjing, shuō bù chū de hèn

a mute glaring: hatred that can't be spoken

Describes intense hatred that cannot be put into words.
哑巴进庙门,多磕头少说话 yǎba jìn miàomén, duō kētóu shǎo shuōhuà

a mute entering a temple: kowtow a lot, say little

Flatter and accommodate others and avoid saying things that offend. Wry, slightly critical.
哑巴看戏,心里明白 yǎba kàn xì, xīn li míngbai

a mute person watching an opera: clear in the heart

Someone says nothing but understands perfectly well what is going on. Neutral to mildly knowing.
烟袋锅儿里蒸包子,有汽也不大 yāndàiguōr li zhēng bāozi, yǒu qì(qì) yě bù dà

steaming buns in a pipe bowl: even if there's steam, it's not much

Even if someone is displeased, they won't get very angry. Light, humorous, describing a mild temper.
烟筒里招手,把人往黑处领 yāntong lǐ zhāoshǒu, bǎ rén wǎng hēichù lǐng

waving from inside a chimney: leading people toward the dark

Leading people astray or into wrongdoing or crime. Critical.
盐店掌柜的,大咸人 yándiàn zhǎngguì de, dà xián(xián) rén

a salt-shop owner: a big "xián" man (salty / idle)

Describes someone with nothing to do all day, an idler. Humorous.
盐店掌柜的,专管咸事 yándiàn zhǎngguì de, zhuān guǎn xián (xián) shì

a salt-shop owner: handles only "xián" business (salty / idle)

Mocks someone who meddles in matters that are none of their business or are trivial.
盐堆里爬出来的,尽说咸话 yándūi li pá chūlái de, jìn shuō xián(xián) huà

crawled out of a pile of salt: says nothing but "xián" talk (salty / idle)

Scolds someone who only gossips or chatters idly and never says anything serious.
阎罗王出主意,尽是鬼计 yánluówáng chū zhǔyi, jìn shì guǐ(guǐ) jì

King Yama thinking up ideas: all ghost tricks

Mocks someone whose plans are all cunning, deceitful schemes. Critical.
阎罗王开店,鬼都不上门 yánluówáng kāi diàn, guǐ dōu bù shàngmén

King Yama opens a shop: not even ghosts come in

Business is dead because no customers come, or people are too afraid to come. Humorous.
阎罗王审案子,全是鬼事 yánluówáng shěn ànzi, quán shì guǐ shì

King Yama tries a case: all ghost business

Everything involved is false or full of trickery.
阎罗王说谎,骗鬼 yánluówáng shuōhuǎng, piàn guǐ

King Yama tells a lie: fooling ghosts

Mocks a clumsy lie that could only fool ghosts, not real people.
阎罗王贴告示,鬼话连篇 yánluówáng tiē gàoshi, guǐhuà lián piān

King Yama posts a notice: page after page of ghost talk

Describes speech that is nothing but lies. Critical.
阎王爷挎个听诊器,鬼才找他看病哩 yánwángyé kuà ge tīngzhěnqì, guǐ cái zhǎo tā kànbìng li

the King of Hell with a stethoscope slung over his shoulder: only ghosts would go to him for treatment

Refers to an incompetent, harmful doctor whom no one would consult. Mocking.
眼睛长在头顶上,只看上,不看下 yǎnjing zhǎng zài tóudǐng shang, zhǐ kàn shàng, bù kàn xià

eyes growing on top of the head: look only up, never down

Mocks someone who only watches their superiors' moods and ignores the opinions of ordinary people. Critical.
眼皮上打针,危险极了 yǎnpí shang dǎzhēn, wēixiǎn jí le

an injection in the eyelid: extremely dangerous

Describes something extremely risky, as the needle is right next to the eyeball.
燕子的尾巴,两股叉 yànzi de wěiba, liǎng gǔ chā

a swallow's tail: two forks

Two people think differently and don't agree.
扬起巴掌抓风,没一点儿影儿 yángqǐ bāzhang zhuā fēng, méi yīdiǎnr yǐngr

raising a palm to grab the wind: not a trace

Something has no basis at all; groundless.
羊羔拴在狼尾巴上,吃不了也得拖死 yánggāo shuān zài láng wěiba shang, chī bùliǎo yě děi tuōsǐ

a lamb tied to a wolf's tail: even if not eaten, it will be dragged to death

Someone in a dangerous situation they can't escape.
羊皮膏药,不灵 yángpí gāoyao, bù líng

a sheepskin plaster: not effective

Something that doesn't work. Dog-skin plasters were believed effective, but sheepskin ones aren't.
羊群里拣骆驼,挑大个儿的 yángqún li jiǎn luòtuo, tiāo dàgèr de

picking a camel out of a flock of sheep: choose the big one

Choosing the biggest or most influential one from a group.
羊群里跑出个骆驼,你抖什么威风 yángqún li pǎochū ge luòtuo, nǐ dǒu shénme wēifēng

a camel runs out of the sheep flock: what are you showing off for

Mocks someone who has no right to put on airs or throw their weight around.
羊群里跑出个兔子,数它小,数它精 yángqún li pǎochū ge tùzi, shǔ tā xiǎo, shǔ tā jīng

a rabbit runs out of the sheep flock: smallest, and smartest

Said of a person who is young but very quick-witted. Approving, light.
羊头钻进篱笆里,伸首容易缩首难 yángtóu zuānjìn líba lǐ, shēn shǒu (shǒu) róngyì suō shǒu(shǒu) nán

a sheep's head pushed into a hedge: easy to stick out the head (hand), hard to pull it back

Once you get involved in something, it is hard to get out again.
杨树开花,没结果 yángshù kāihuā, méi jiē(jié) guǒ

a poplar tree blooms: it sets no fruit

Said when an effort comes to nothing and has no result.
杨五郎削发,半路出家 yángwǔláng xuēfà, bànlùchūjiā

Yang the Fifth shaves his head: he becomes a monk halfway through life

Describes someone who switches to a new line of work midway through their career. Neutral, sometimes slightly self-deprecating.
养蛇咬自己,怨不得别人 yǎng shé yǎo zìjǐ, yuànbude biéren

raise a snake and it bites you: you can't blame anyone else

If trouble comes from something you started yourself, you must bear the blame. Said with a note of criticism or rueful acceptance.
腰里别个死老鼠,假充打猎的 yāo li bié ge sǐ lǎoshǔ, jiǎchōng dǎliè de

a dead rat tucked in the belt: pretending to be a hunter

Mocks someone with no real skill who poses as an expert.
腰里挂算盘,光为自己打算 yāo li guà suànpán, guāng wèi zìjǐ dǎsuan

an abacus hung at the waist: only calculating for oneself

Describes a person who thinks only of their own interests. Critical.
窑里的砖坯,越烧越硬 yáo lǐ de zhuānpī, yuè shāo yuè yìng

raw bricks in the kiln: the more they are fired, the harder they get

People grow tougher the more hardship they go through. Approving.

Every kind of Chinese saying