Chinese two-part sayings (歇后语)

放到案板上的肉,提起一条,放下一堆 fàngdào ànbǎn shàng de ròu, tíqǐ yī tiáo, fàngxià yī duī

meat put on a chopping board: pick up one strip, put down a heap

Mocks a spineless, useless person who is pushed around and can't do anything properly.
放狗撵兔子,快对快 fàng gǒu niǎn tùzi, kuài duì kuài

letting a dog chase a rabbit: fast against fast

Meeting speed with speed; a contest to see who is quicker.
放了气的皮球,软了 fàngle qì de píqiú, ruǎn le

a ball with the air let out: gone soft

Someone's stance or attitude has softened or given way.
放羊的拾柴火,捎带 fàngyáng de shí cháihuo, shāodài

a shepherd gathering firewood: doing it along the way

Doing one thing in passing while doing another, killing two birds with one stone.
放在柜子里的二胡,还没定弦儿 fàng zài guìzi lǐ de èrhú, hái méi dìngxiánr

an erhu kept in the cupboard: its strings aren't tuned yet

Someone hasn't made up their mind yet.
飞出笼子的喜鹊,爱怎么飞就怎么飞 fēichū lóngzi de xǐquè, ài zěnme fēi jiù zěnme fēi

a magpie out of its cage: flies however it likes

Someone freed from restraints can live as freely as they want.
飞机的尾巴,翘得高 fēijī de wěiba, qiào de gāo

an airplane's tail: sticks up high

Said of a conceited person who thinks they are great. Mocking; like 'full of oneself'.
飞机上吹喇叭,空响 fēijī shang chuī lǎba, kōng xiǎng(xiǎng)

blowing a trumpet on a plane: sounds into the air

Unrealistic ideas or empty dreams.
飞机上挂暖瓶,水瓶高 fēijī shang guà nuǎnpíng, shuǐpíng(píng) gāo

hanging a thermos on a plane: the water bottle is high

Said of a high level of skill or standard.
飞机上扔相片,丢人不知高低 fēijī shang rēng xiàngpiàn, diūrén bù zhī gāodī

throwing a photo from a plane: dropping a person, not knowing high or low

Mocks someone who speaks or acts without sense of proportion and disgraces themselves.
飞机上张网,捕风捉影 fēijī shang zhāngwǎng, bǔfēngzhuōyǐng

spreading a net from a plane: catching wind and chasing shadows

Acting or speaking on flimsy, baseless clues. Critical; like 'chasing shadows'.
肥皂泡,吹得再大也要破 féizàopào, chuī de zài dà yě yào pò

a soap bubble: however big you blow it, it will burst

Boasting, however grand, will eventually be exposed and fall apart.
肥猪往屠夫家里跑,送上门来的货 féizhū wǎng túfū jiā li pǎo, sòng shàng mén lái de huò

a fat pig runs to the butcher's house: goods delivered to the door

A scornful remark about someone who walks right into the hands of an enemy and invites their own ruin.
坟地里的猫头鹰,不是好鸟儿 féndì lǐ de māotóuyīng, bù shì hǎo niǎor

an owl in a graveyard: not a good bird

Said of a person who is bad or up to no good. The owl is seen as an ill omen, and 鸟 is mild slang for a person. Critical.
坟地里的夜猫子,不是好鸟儿 féndì lǐ de yèmāozi, bù shì hǎo niǎor

a night cat (owl) in a graveyard: not a good bird

A variant of the owl-in-a-graveyard saying. It says that someone is a bad sort, with a critical, insulting tone.
坟头上耍大刀,吓鬼 féntóu shang shuǎ dà dāo, xià guǐ

brandishing a big sword on a grave mound: scaring ghosts

Mocks someone whose show of strength is unimpressive, since it could only frighten ghosts and not real people. Used scornfully about empty bluster.
粉刷的乌鸦,白不久 fěnshuā de wūyā, bái bùjiǔ

a whitewashed crow: not white for long

A disguise cannot last and the truth will come out. Said critically of pretence or cover-ups. Close to "a leopard can't change its spots."
粉丝汤里下面条,纠缠不清 fěnsī tāng li xià miàntiáo, jiūchán bù qīng

putting noodles into vermicelli soup: tangled and can't be sorted out

A matter is so complicated and knotted that it can't be untangled. Used of confusing affairs or relationships, with a humorous tone.
粪堆上开花儿,臭美 fènduī shang kāihuār, chòuměi

flowers blooming on a dung heap: stinking beautiful

Mocks someone who shows off or preens in a clumsy way and thinks they look great. It's mocking, and 臭美 means being smugly vain.
粪桶改水桶,断不了臭气 fèntǒng gǎi shuǐtǒng, duàn bùliǎo chòu qì

turn a night-soil bucket into a water bucket: the stink can't be cut off

Describes someone whose bad habits are reduced but not gone. Said critically.
风车脑袋,哪股风硬就顺哪股转 fēngchē nǎodai, nǎ gǔ fēng yìng jiù shùn nǎ gǔ zhuàn

a windmill head: it turns with whichever wind is strongest

Mocks a person who sides with whoever is most powerful. Critical of opportunism.
风吹墙头草,东吹西倒,西吹东倒 fēng chuī qiángtóucǎo, dōng chuī xī dǎo, xī chuī dōng dǎo

wind blowing on grass atop a wall: blown from the east it falls west, blown from the west it falls east

Describes a person with no firm views who goes whichever way the wind blows. Critical. Close to "a weathercock."
风吹墙头草,两边倒 fēng chuī qiángtóucǎo, liǎngbiāndǎo

wind blowing on grass atop a wall: it falls both ways

A shorter form of the above: someone who sways with every pressure and has no principles. Critical.
风口上的一盏灯,说灭就灭 fēngkǒu shàng de yī zhǎn dēng, shuō miè jiù miè

a lamp in a draughty gap: it goes out as soon as you say so

Said of a seriously ill or frail elderly person who could die at any moment.
风里杨花,滚上滚下 fēng li yánghuā, gǔnshàng gǔnxià

willow catkins in the wind: rolling up and down

Describes feelings or attitudes that are unsteady and changeable. Mildly critical.
风箱板做锅盖,受了凉气受热气 fēngxiāng bǎn zuò guōgài, shòule liángqì shòu rèqì

using a bellows board as a pot lid: it takes cold air, then hot air

Describes someone who is bullied or put upon in one way and then in another. Sympathetic or resigned.
封了嘴的八哥儿,一声不吭 fēngle zuǐ de bāgēr, yī shēng bù kēng

a myna with its beak sealed: not a sound

Describes someone who says nothing at all. It is mildly teasing.
凤凰飞上梧桐树，自有旁人话短长 fènghuáng fēishàng wútóngshù, zì yǒu pángrén huà duǎncháng

when the phoenix flies up to the wutong tree, others will have their say

Even a good thing draws gossip and comment from others.
佛爷脸上刮金，浅剥 fóye liǎn shang guā jīn, qiǎn bō(bó)

scraping gold off the Buddha's face: shallow peeling (thin)

Says a person is poorly informed or lacks refinement. Mocking.
伏天的温度计，只见涨，不见落 fútiān de wēndùjì, zhǐ jiàn zhǎng, bù jiàn lào

a thermometer in the dog days: only seen rising, never seen falling

Describes something that keeps moving in one direction, such as prices, tension or enthusiasm, with no sign of reversing. Neutral, often humorous.
夹肢窝生疮，阴毒 gāzhiwō shēng chuāng, yīndú

a boil in the armpit: hidden and poisonous

Describes someone sly and vicious who hurts others secretly. Critical.
盖上筛子蒸饭，跑汽不在一处 gàishàng shāizi zhēng fàn, pǎo qì bù zài yī chù

steaming rice under a sieve lid: steam escapes in more than one place

Describes news or secrets leaking from many places, not just one.
干池塘里的泥鳅，滑不到哪里去 gān chítáng lǐ de níqiū, huá(huá) bù dào nǎli qù

a loach in a dried-up pond: can't be very slippery

Mocks a cunning person: however crafty, they can't escape now.
干河滩撒网，瞎张罗 gān hétān sāwǎng, xiā zhāngluó(luo)

casting a net on a dry riverbed: busy for nothing

Busy bustling with no sense of the real situation; wasted effort. Mildly mocking.
甘蔗地里长草，荒糖 gānzhe dì li zhǎng cǎo, huāng táng(táng)

weeds grow in the sugarcane field: wasted sugar

Says something is so absurd or wrong it is startling.
赶集走亲戚，顺便 gǎnjí zǒu qīnqi, shùnbiàn

going to market and visiting relatives: convenient

Doing one thing along the way while doing another, two jobs in one trip.
赶脚的骑驴，图个眼前快活 gǎnjiǎo de qí lǘ, tú ge yǎnqián kuàihuo

the donkey-driver rides his donkey: after momentary pleasure

Someone who seeks immediate comfort and ignores the consequences. Mildly critical.
赶鸭子上树，难上难 gǎn yāzi shàng shù, nán shàng nán

driving ducks up a tree: hard, hard to climb

Forcing someone to do something they can't. Close to 'trying to get blood from a stone'.
赶着羊群过火焰山，往死里逼 gǎnzhe yángqún guò huǒyànshān, wǎng sǐ li bī

driving a flock of sheep across the Flaming Mountain: pushing them to death

Forcing someone into a hopeless position. Critical of cruel pressure. Refers to the Flaming Mountain episode of Journey to the West.
擀面杖吹火，一窍不通 gǎnmiànzhàng chuīhuǒ, yīqiàobùtōng

blowing on a fire through a rolling pin: not a single hole goes through

Knowing absolutely nothing about a subject. Mocking or self-deprecating.
擀面杖当箫吹，缺心眼儿 gǎnmiànzhàng dāng xiāo chuī, quē xīnyǎnr

blowing a rolling pin as if it were a flute: lacking holes

Describes a person who is dense or rigid in thinking. Mildly mocking, in the teasing way 缺心眼儿 is used in everyday speech.
擀面杖灌米汤，滴水不进 gǎnmiànzhàng guàn mǐtāng, dīshuǐbùjìn

pouring rice water into a rolling pin: not a drop goes in

Describes a stubborn person who will not listen to any advice. Critical.
刚出窑的瓷器，一套一套的 gāng chū yáo de cíqì, yī tào yī tào de

porcelain just out of the kiln: set after set

Said of someone who speaks fluently and in a well-organised, self-consistent way, or who has a stock of smooth lines. Can be admiring or slightly sceptical.
刚点着的枯柴，火气正旺 gāng diǎnzháo de kūchái, huǒqì zhèng wàng

dry firewood just lit: the fire is blazing

Describes someone who is in a towering rage. Humorous or descriptive.
刚过门的媳妇，扭扭捏捏 gāng guòmén de xífu, niǔniǔniēniē

a bride just arrived at her husband's home: awkward and bashful

Describes someone new to a place who acts shyly and stiffly. Mildly teasing.
刚开坛的绍酒，冲劲儿很大 gāng kāi tán de shàojiǔ, chòngjìnr hěn dà

Shaoxing wine just uncorked: very strong kick

Describes someone full of drive who dares to act boldly. Approving.
钢锤砸铁钉，实打实 gāngchuí zá tiědīng, shí dǎ shí

hitting an iron nail with a steel hammer: solid hit on solid

Describes something genuine and honest, with no pretence. Approving.
钢锤砸铁砧，硬碰硬 gāngchuí zá tiězhēn, yìng pèng yìng

a steel hammer striking an anvil: hard against hard

Both sides are tough and neither will give way; a head-on clash of equals.
钢针掉到油锅里，又尖又滑 gāngzhēn diàodào yóuguō li, yòu jiān(jiān) yòu huá(huá)

a steel needle dropped into a wok of oil: both sharp and slippery

Describes a person who is very cunning and crafty. Critical.
高空跳伞，一落千丈 gāokōng tiàosǎn, yíluòqiānzhàng

parachuting from high in the sky: a drop of a thousand zhang

A sharp fall in someone's situation, reputation or status.
高力士给李白脱靴，万般无奈 gāolìshì gěi lǐbái tuō xuē, wànbānwúnài

Gao Lishi pulling off Li Bai's boots: utterly helpless

Being forced to do something unwillingly because one has no choice. Humorous.
高粱秆儿点火，顺秆儿往上爬 gāoliánggǎnr diǎnhuǒ, shùn gǎnr wǎngshàng pá

lighting a sorghum stalk: the fire climbs up along the stalk

Someone takes advantage of an opening to push for more and more. Critical.
高山打鼓，鸣声大 gāoshān dǎ gǔ, míng(míng) shēng dà

beating a drum on a high mountain: the sound is loud

Said of a person who is very famous.
高山上滚马桶，臭气远扬 gāoshān shang gǔn mǎtǒng, chòu qì yuǎnyáng

rolling a chamber pot down a high mountain: the stink spreads far

Someone's bad reputation spreads far and wide. Derogatory, often used humorously or scornfully.

May offend: vulgar language
高射炮打蚊子，大材小用 gāoshèpào dǎ wénzi, dàcáixiǎoyòng

shooting a mosquito with an anti-aircraft gun: big material, small use

Wasting great talent on a trivial task. Sympathetic or humorous.
高射炮手，见机行事 gāoshèpàoshǒu, jiànjīxíngshì

an anti-aircraft gunner: acts on seeing the plane

Acting decisively when the moment comes, or adapting flexibly to circumstances.
胳膊肘往外拐，吃里爬外 gēbozhǒu wǎng wài guǎi, chīlǐpáwài

the elbow bends outward: eating inside, crawling outside

Siding with outsiders against one's own side; disloyal. Critical.
鸽子戴风铃，虚张声势 gēzi dài fēnglíng, xūzhāngshēngshì

a pigeon wearing wind bells: empty show of noise

Putting on a show of strength or force one does not truly have. Mocking.
割驴脚敬神，驴疼死啦，神也得罪啦 gē lǘjiǎo jìng shén, lǘ téngsǐ la, shén yě dézuì la

cutting off a donkey's foot to honour a god: the donkey is in agony and the god is offended

An action that causes loss and also offends someone; a lose-lose move.
隔年的皇历，翻不得 génián de huángli, fānbude

last year's almanac: can't be consulted

Outdated things cannot be applied to new circumstances.
隔山打隧道，里应外合 gé shān dǎ suìdào, lǐyìngwàihé

boring a tunnel through a mountain from both sides: inside and outside meet

Working in coordination from both sides to achieve a goal.
隔着门缝儿看吕洞宾，小看大仙 gézhe ménfèngr kàn lǚdòngbīn, xiǎokàn dàxiān

looking at Lü Dongbin through a door crack: underestimating a great immortal

Underestimating a person of real ability or status.
隔着门缝儿看人，把人瞧扁了 gézhe ménfèngr kàn rén, bǎ rén qiáobiǎn le

looking at a person through a door crack: seeing them flattened

Underestimating or looking down on someone.
公鸡戴帽子，冠上加冠 gōngjī dài màozi, guān(guān) shang jiā guān(guān)

a rooster wearing a hat: crown on top of a crown

Describes someone who keeps getting promoted to higher office. It is humorous and often a little teasing.
公鸡头上一块肉，大小是个冠 gōngjī tóu shang yī kuài ròu, dàxiǎo shì ge guān(guān)

the lump of flesh on a rooster's head: big or small, it's a crown

Says that even a low-ranking official is still a person in charge. It is humorous or wry.
公鸡下蛋，妄想 gōngjī xiàdàn, wàngxiǎng

a rooster laying an egg: wishful thinking

Describes a plan that can never come true. It is mocking.
狗扯羊肠子，越扯越长 gǒu chě yángchángzi, yuè chě yuè cháng

a dog pulling sheep intestines: the more it pulls, the longer it gets

Describes someone who rambles on and on in talk without end. It is mocking.
狗吃苍蝇，胡嚼 gǒu chī cāngying, hú jiáo(jiǎo)

a dog eating flies: chewing at random

Says that someone is making trouble without reason. It is critical.
狗戴礼帽，装大人物 gǒu dài lǐmào, zhuāng dàrénwù

a dog wearing a formal hat: pretending to be a big shot

Mocks someone who puts on airs and acts important.
狗戴帽子，硬充人 gǒu dài màozi, yìng chōng rén

a dog wearing a hat: forcing itself to pass as a person

A scornful remark about a bad person who tries to pass as a good one. It is abusive.
狗啃骨头，天生喜欢吃硬的 gǒu kěn gǔtou, tiānshēng xǐhuān chī yìng de

a dog gnawing a bone: born to like eating hard things

Mocks people who seem to be born to take a beating or to respond only to force.
狗拿耗子，多管闲事 gǒu ná hàozi, duō guǎn xiánshì

a dog catching mice: meddling in what's not its business

Scolds someone for interfering in matters that do not concern them. Close to "poke your nose in".
狗撵鸭子，呱呱叫 gǒu niǎn yāzi, guāguā jiào

a dog chasing ducks: quack, quack

Means excellent, first-rate. It is humorous and approving.
狗舔热油锅，舔怕烫，不舔舍不得 gǒu tiǎn rè yóuguō, tiǎn pà tàng, bù tiǎn shěbude

a dog licking a hot oil pan: afraid to be burned if it licks, unwilling to give up if it doesn't

Describes someone who wants an improper gain but fears being punished for it.
狗头戴沙锅，乱磕乱碰 gǒutóu dài shāguō, luàn kē luàn pèng

a dog with a clay pot on its head: bumping into everything

Describes someone who works in a flustered, disorderly way, blundering around.
狗望碗柜，白想 gǒu wàng wǎnguì, báixiǎng

a dog gazing at the cupboard: thinking in vain

Mocks someone whose wish can never come true.
狗尾巴上的露水，经不起摇摆 gǒuwěiba shàng de lùshui, jīng bù qǐ yáobǎi

dew on a dog's tail: can't stand the swaying

Describes words that fall apart under scrutiny, or a person who cannot stand being tested.
狗掀门帘子，全凭嘴的功夫 gǒu xiān ménliánzi, quán píng zuǐ de gōngfu

a dog lifting the door curtain: it all depends on the mouth

Mocks someone with no real ability who gets by only on a glib tongue.
狗熊掰玉米，瞎忙 gǒuxióng bāi yùmǐ, xiāmáng

a bear breaking off corn: busy for nothing

Describes someone who is busy but gets nothing done, like a bear dropping each cob as it takes the next.
狗熊掉进陷阱里，招数不多了 gǒuxióng diàojìn xiànjǐng li, zhāoshù bù duō le

a bear fallen into a pit trap: not many moves left

Describes someone caught in a trap with no way out, out of tricks.
狗熊耍扁担，混碗饭吃 gǒuxióng shuǎ biǎndan, hùn wǎn fàn chī

a performing bear juggling a carrying pole: just getting a bowl of rice to eat

Said of someone who works or holds a job only to scrape a living, without any ambition or real commitment. Mildly self-deprecating or dismissive.
狗熊耍扁担，就那么两下子 gǒuxióng shuǎ biǎndan, jiù nàme liǎngxiàzi

a performing bear juggling a carrying pole: only those couple of tricks

Mocks someone whose skill is limited and who has only a few tricks. Said dismissively, as in 'that's all he's got'.
狗咬包子，露馅儿了 gǒu yǎo bāozi, lòuxiànr le

a dog bites a steamed bun: the filling shows

Said when something someone wanted to keep hidden has come out. Humorous or mocking. Close to 'the cat is out of the bag'.
狗咬秤砣，嘴巴好硬 gǒu yǎo chèngtuó, zuǐba hǎo yìng

a dog bites a steelyard weight: what a hard mouth

Mocks someone who talks tough or stubbornly refuses to back down in what they say.
狗咬刺猬，没处下嘴 gǒu yǎo cìwei, méi chù xiàzuǐ

a dog attacks a hedgehog: nowhere to put its mouth

Said when you can't get a word into a conversation, or when a problem is so prickly you don't know where to start.
狗咬狼，两头藏 gǒu yǎo láng, liǎngtóu cáng

dog bites wolf: both hide at either end

Describes two opponents who each have their own worries and hold back from a full fight.
狗咬吕洞宾，不认识真人 gǒu yǎo lǚdòngbīn, bù rènshi zhēnrén

a dog bites Lü Dongbin: it doesn't recognise a true immortal

Scolds someone who mistakes a good person, or a kindly helper, for a bad one. Close to 'biting the hand that feeds you'.
狗咬石匠，找着挨榔头 gǒu yǎo shíjiang, zhǎozhe ái lángtou

a dog bites a stonemason: it asks to be hit by the hammer

Said of someone who brings trouble on themselves. 'You asked for it.'
狗咬尿泡，空欢喜 gǒu yǎo suīpāo, kōng huānxǐ

a dog bites a bladder: empty joy

Mocks someone who got happy for nothing because the hoped-for gain never came.
狗长犄角，出羊相 gǒu zhǎng jījiǎo, chū yáng(yáng) xiàng

a dog grows horns: it shows a sheep's look

Said of someone who makes a fool of themselves in public. Mocking.
狗坐轿子，不识抬举 gǒu zuò jiàozi, bù shí táiju

a dog sits in a sedan chair: it doesn't know how to be honoured

Scolds someone who doesn't appreciate or accept a kind gesture or favour. Rude and critical.
姑娘穿奶奶的鞋，老样子 gūniang chuān nǎinai de xié, lǎo yàngzi

a girl wears grandma's shoes: the old style

Said when nothing has changed from before. Light and humorous.
古庙前的旗杆，独一根 gǔmiào qián de qígān, dú yī gēn

the flagpole in front of an old temple: just the one

Said of something or someone that is the only one of its kind.
谷雨后的蒜薹，全冒出来了 gǔ yǔhòu de suàntái, quán mào chūlái le

garlic shoots after Grain Rain: all poking out

Said when everyone has shown up or come into view.
谷子地里点玉米，高出一截儿 gǔzi dì li diǎn yùmǐ, gāochū yī jiér

sowing corn in a millet field: a good bit taller

Said of a person or thing that stands well above the ordinary level.
骨缝儿里的肉，两面都碰硬 gǔfèngr lǐ de ròu, liǎngmiàn dōu pèng yìng

flesh in the crack between bones: hard on both sides

Said of someone squeezed by strong pressure from both sides. Close to 'between a rock and a hard place'.
鼓槌对锣槌，分不清声高声低 gǔchuí duì luóchuí, fēn bù qīng shēng gāo shēng dī

a drumstick against a gong mallet: can't tell which sound is higher or lower

Said of two sides that are so evenly matched that you can't tell who is better.
瓜子儿皮喂牲口，不是好料 guāzǐrpí wèi shēngkou, bù shì hǎo liào

feeding melon-seed husks to livestock: not good feed

An insult saying someone is no good.
刮大风吃炒面，张不开嘴 guā dàfēng chī chǎomiàn, zhāng bù kāi zuǐ

eating parched flour in a high wind: can't open your mouth

Said when you can't speak up or find it hard to say something. The usual version is 有口难开.
关帝庙前耍大刀，自不量力 guāndìmiào qián shuǎ dàdāo, zìbù－liànglì

waving a big sword in front of the Guandi temple: overrating one's own strength

Said of someone who shows off or challenges an expert, failing to judge their own ability. Mocking. Compare "teach your grandmother to suck eggs".

Every kind of Chinese saying