Chinese allegories
歇后語
Two-part allegorical saying (of which the first part, always stated, is descriptive, while the second part, often unstated, carries the message)
dà nián chū yī dǎi tù zi – yǒu tā guò nián, wú tā yě guò nián
大年初一逮兔子 – 有它過年,無它也過年
Trying to catch a rabbit on the first day of the lunar year – One celebrates or spends the New Year, no matter whether s/he has got a rabbit or not. This allegory refers to something is so negligible that it has little impact on the overall situation.
chuān tù zi xié de – pǎo de kuài
穿兔子鞋的 – 跑得快
Like wearing a rabbit's shoes – run fast
qiāo luó niǎn tù zi – qǐ hòng
敲鑼攆兔子 – 起哄
Beat gongs when chasing a rabbit – gather together to create a disturbance
lǎo niú niǎn tù zi – yǒu jìn shǐ bù shàng
老牛攆兔子 – 有勁使不上
Old ox chasing a rabbit – Restricted by certain conditions, one cannot display his/her talent.
shí chái dǎ tù zi– yī jǔ liǎng dé
拾柴打兔子– 一舉兩得
Incidentally capture a hare while collecting firewood – serve two purposes at once
dǎ tù zi pèng jiàn le huáng yáng – lāo le gè dà wài kuài
打兔子碰見了黃羊 – 撈了個大外快
Run into a Mongolian gazelle when hunting rabbits – get a big extra income
huó bō tù zi – chě pí
活剝兔子 – 扯皮
Skin a rabbit when it is still alive – dispute over trifles; argue back and forth; wrangle
tù zi qún lǐ yī zhī hǔ – páng rán dà wù
兔子群里一只虎 – 龐然大物
A tiger among a herd of rabbits – huge monster; colossus; formidable giant
View all lessons >>