Proverbs |
Annotation
And Connotations |
- A
speck on a jade stone won't obscure its radiance.
(Chinese original: 瑕不掩瑜； Chinese Pinyin:  Xiá-bù-yǎn-yù.)
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- A shortcoming
will not write off one's merits.
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Carry
out an execution before seeking the decree.
(Chinese original: 先斩后奏； Chinese Pinyin: Xiān-zhǎn-hòu-zòu.)
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There
are situations when one has to act before reporting to his superior.
Shouldn't it be avoided as much as possible. |
- Fragrance is dissipated; jade is destroyed (or broken).
(Chinese
original: 香消玉损 Chinese Pinyin: Xiāng-xiāo-yù-sǔn. Or 香消玉碎 Chinese Pinyin: Xiāng-xiāo-yù-suì.)
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- Figuratively Chinese often refer to young woman as fragrance or jade. This is a lament over the death of a young woman.
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A dagger can be concealed in
a smile.
(Chinese original: 笑里藏刀； Chinese Pinyin: Xiào-lǐ-cáng-dāo.)
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- Beware
of this "kiss of death."
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- A
hearty laugh makes you ten years younger.
(Chinese original: 笑一笑十年少； Chinese Pinyin: Xiào
yī xiào, shí nián shào.)
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Butcher
the donkey after it finished his job on the mill.
(Chinese original: 卸磨杀驴；Chinese Pinyin: Xiè-mò-shā-lǘ.)
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Isn't
that ungrateful and mean? There are people who after taking advantage
of you turn their back to you. |
- Sail
when there is favorable wind; strike it when the iron is
hot.
(Chinese original: 行船趁顺风， 打铁趁红火； Chinese Pinyin: Xíngchuán chèn shùnfēng; dǎtiě chèn hónghuǒ.)
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Strike the iron while it is hot. |
The flower of heart is in full bloom.
(Chinese original: 心花怒放； Chinese Pinyin: Xīn-huā-nù-fàng.)  |
Beside oneself with joy. |
- An
image of a bamboo has already been formed in mind before
it is committed to the painting canvas. (Chinese
original: 胸有成竹 or 成竹在胸； Chinese Pinyin: Xiōng-yǒu-chéng-zhú or Chéng-zhú-zài-xiōng.)
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- One is
certain about something to happen. Incidentally, it was said that there
was once a translator who translated the proverb word for word as "a
bamboo stick in the bosom" that made himself a laughing stock.
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- Rein
in a horse at the edge of a cliff.
(Chinese original: 悬崖勒马; Chinese Pinyin: Xuán-yá-lè-mǎ.)
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- Waken
up to a danger at the last moment.
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- It
takes three years to learn to be a man of integrity; it
only takes three days to degrade.
(Chinese original: 学好三年，学坏三天； Chinese Pinyin: Xué hǎo sān
nián, xué huài sān tiān.)
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It
is much easier to become corrupted. |
- Send
charcoal in a snow storm.
(Chinese original: 雪里送炭; Chinese Pinyin: Xuě-lǐ-sòng-tàn.)
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- Offer
help when help is needed.
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- Add
frost to snow.
(Chinese
original: 雪上加霜； Chinese Pinyin: Xuě-shàng-jiā-shuāng.)
(Similar proverb: A yellow weasel victimizes a sick duck. 黄鼠狼单咬病鸭子； Chinese Pinyin: Huángshǔláng dān yǎo bìng yāzi)
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- Add insult
to injury.
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- Reshape
one's feet to fit into new shoes.
(Chinese original: 削足适履; Chinese Pinyin: Xuē-zú-shì-lǚ.)
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- The logic
should be the other way round. Yet, in life there are people who try
to sacrifice the big for the small, the important for the trivial.
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