Chinese idioms and sayings

[Cooler]

To all my friends on this forum:

I am starting this new thread where we may put some Chinese sayings. In order to maintain the Chinese characteristics, I will roughly translate them into English in a direct way, which might look strange for you English-native speakers. Then, I will explain them within my command of English. I will really appreciate your help if you offer me the idiomatic translations. If you know any Chinese sayings that you can put into English, please just join us in this thread. Let us keep this thread active. :wink:

Let me begin...

 

[Cooler]

Here is one:

The moon is better-looking in foreign countries than in China.

The people who have the idea of "the moon is better-looking abroad" have blind faith in foreign things. In their eyes, foreign things are always better than our domestic ones. In this sense, it is a saying usually to show disapproval.

:wink:

 

[Cooler]

One more:

Eye for eye and tooth for tooth

I'd say that this is very direct translation, meaning doing something bad to the person who has done the same to you. The proper interpretation may be "tit for tat". We may just say "tooth for tooth" in Chinese.

:wink:

 

[Tdol]

Here is one:

The moon is better-looking in foreign countries than in China.

The people who have the idea of "the moon is better-looking abroad" have blind faith in foreign things. In their eyes, foreign things are always better than our domestic ones. In this sense, it is a saying usually to show disapproval.

:wink:

In English, the proverb 'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence' has a similar meaning. ;-)

 

[Cooler]

This one is kind of naughty. I hope you won't find it offensive. :shock:

Looking from behind, you may want to commit a sexual crime; looking from beside, you may want to step back; looking face-to-face, you may want to defend yourself from her assault.

Of course, it is surely not a tranditional saying. It emerged in recent years. "You" are looking at a woman from different directions. At first, looked from behind, she is quite attractive. Then, the impression is changed when you look at her beside. When it finally comes to face-to-face looking, vow, I want to run away...

In Chinese, the three parts behind "you may want to" rhyme with each other, which makes it kind of interesting. But how to do that in English? I have no idea.

:wink:

 

[Cooler]

In English, the proverb 'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence' has a similar meaning. ;-)

Thanks, Tdol. I think this proverb can be the idiomatic translation of the original one. It is really good to see a Chinese saying has an English "counterpart".
:wink:

 

[RonBee]

Here is one:

The moon is better-looking in foreign countries than in China.

The people who have the idea of "the moon is better-looking abroad" have blind faith in foreign things. In their eyes, foreign things are always better than our domestic ones. In this sense, it is a saying usually to show disapproval.

:wink:

We have a similar saying:

• The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.

 

[RonBee]

One more:

Eye for eye and tooth for tooth

I'd say that this is very direct translation, meaning doing something bad to the person who has done the same to you. The proper interpretation may be "tit for tat". We may just say "tooth for tooth" in Chinese.

:wink:

This one is interesting. The Bible says, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." As I understand it, that was actually an improvement on the time when the death penalty was prescribed for so very many things.

 

[RonBee]

This one is kind of naughty. I hope you won't find it offensive. :shock:

Looking from behind, you may want to commit a sexual crime; looking from beside, you may want to step back; looking face-to-face, you may want to defend yourself from her assault.

Of course, it is surely not a tranditional saying. It emerged in recent years. "You" are looking at a woman from different directions. At first, looked from behind, she is quite attractive. Then, the impression is changed when you look at her beside. When it finally comes to face-to-face looking, vow, I want to run away...

In Chinese, the three parts behind "you may want to" rhyme with each other, which makes it kind of interesting. But how to do that in English? I have no idea.

:wink:

Hm. How about:

• Looking from behind, you might want to take her today.
  Looking from beside her, you might want to go some other way.
  Looking face to face, you might want to run away.

:wink:

What do you think?

 

[Cooler]

Hm. How about:

• Looking from behind, you might want to take her today.
  Looking from beside her, you might want to go some other way.
  Looking face to face, you might want to run away.

:wink:

What do you think?

Much better. They are now rhyming with each other. I seem to remember that you kind of like these rhyme things, Ron. :wink:

 

[Cooler]

This one is interesting. The Bible says, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." As I understand it, that was actually an improvement on the time when the death penalty was prescribed for so very many things.

Oh, what a coincidence! I can't believe it. Culture is kind of a weird thing. :wink:

 

[Cooler]

Another one:

It is impossible for a dog to throw ivories out of its mouth.

A better translation may be "Look not for musk in dog's kennel." "A dog" here refers to a person who is not intelligent or talented enough to say some very impressive things(ivories), like a wonderful comment or a smart remark. You could also use that as a critical comment when a person, especially an uneducated one, say dirty words. :wink:

 

[Cooler]

One more:

Great intelligence may look like silliness.

Please help me with this one since I am very unsure of it. It indicates that a man with great intelligence may look like the other way around--that is stupid, because he may not want to show off or his appearance does not make people believe that he is an intelligent guy. :wink:

 

[RonBee]

Hm. How about:

• Looking from behind, you might want to take her today.
  Looking from beside her, you might want to go some other way.
  Looking face to face, you might want to run away.

:wink:

What do you think?

Much better. They are now rhyming with each other. I seem to remember that you kind of like these rhyme things, Ron. :wink:

You remember right.

:wink:

 

[RonBee]

This one is interesting. The Bible says, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." As I understand it, that was actually an improvement on the time when the death penalty was prescribed for so very many things.

Oh, what a coincidence! I can't believe it. Culture is kind of a weird thing. :wink:

The more we learn about each other, the more we find out how similar we are.

8)

 

[RonBee]

Another one:

It is impossible for a dog to throw ivories out of its mouth.

A better translation may be "Look not for musk in dog's kennel." "A dog" here refers to a person who is not intelligent or talented enough to say some very impressive things(ivories), like a wonderful comment or a smart remark. You could also use that as a critical comment when a person, especially an uneducated one, say dirty words. :wink:

That could be similar to You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. (But I could be wrong.)

 

[RonBee]

One more:

Great intelligence may look like silliness.

Please help me with this one since I am very unsure of it. It indicates that a man with great intelligence may look like the other way around--that is stupid, because he may not want to show off or his appearance does not make people believe that he is an intelligent guy. :wink:

That one doesn't ring a bell with me. That is, nothing similar in English comes to mind. That is, nothing as far as a traditional English saying comes to mind. Thomas Sowell did say in a recent column tho that if you do not think then it doesn't matter if you are a genius or a moron. (The result is the same.)

8)

 

[blacknomi]

One more:

Great intelligence may look like silliness.

Please help me with this one since I am very unsure of it. It indicates that a man with great intelligence may look like the other way around--that is stupid, because he may not want to show off or his appearance does not make people believe that he is an intelligent guy. :wink:

Hi, Cooler, nice to meet you.

What can I help you with this one? Your explanation is quite all right. A man of wisdom and intelligence will not show off his ability, instead he acts in a humble or modest way. I'd not use stupid/silly/foolish to describe their behavior, they don't sound right for my ears. :lol:

 

[Cooler]

Hi, Cooer, nice to meet you.
What can I help you with this one? You are quite all right. A man of wisdom and intelligence will not show off his ability, instead he acts in a humble or modest way. I'd not use stupid/silly/foolish to describe their behavior, they don't sound right for my ears. :lol:

Hi, blacknomi. You are from Taiwan, right? I know some of your political ideas from your posts. Anyway, we are close to each other on the area of politics. :wink:

I want to maintain such a thread where we can continuously put some Chinese sayings. They can be any kind, old or new. I really need your help, blacknomi. If you could come up with any Chinese sayings that you think might be worth putting here at any time, please post them in this thread. I will appreciate your help. :wink:

 

[blacknomi]

Chinese sayings
==>If you always walk at midnight, you will be frightened by ghost.

Meaning
==> If you're always doing something bad or illegal, you would probably be very sensitive to surroundings.

For example
==> I am a good shoplifter, and after I stole things, I always raise self-alert to see if there is any police around, even just strangers passing through.