Miya Posted October 2, 2013 Report Share Posted October 2, 2013 I got this idea from LauraM over at the English Idioms topic. Please post Chinese idioms related to animals in this thread. When posting, please provide the Chinese characters (traditional or simplified are both fine), pinyin, direct translation (if possible) and the meaning of the idiom. You can use this format or pick your own:Chinese characters (pinyin)Direct translationMeaningHere are a few I know: 一石二鳥 (Yī shí èr niǎo) Direct translation: to kill two birds with one stoneMeaning: two accomplish two tasks in one action馬馬虎虎 (mǎ mǎ hŭ hŭ)Direct translation: N/AMeaning: to do things carelessly豬狗不如 (zhū gǒu bù rú)Direct translation: to be of lower status than a pig or a dogMeaning: used to describe people who do terrible things 對牛彈琴 (Duì niú tán qín)Direct translation: to play piano for a cowMeaning: talking to people that don't and won't understand you雞犬不寧 (Jī quǎn bù níng)Direct translation: to make dogs and chickens feel uncomfortableMeaning: to cause trouble for one打草驚蛇 (Dǎ cǎo jīng shé)Direct translation: hit the grass to scare the snakeMeaning: to ruin one's plans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguaholic Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Thank you for that fantastic thread. I'm eagerly gonna add to the collection! Let's start with some dragon-related idioms / 成语。Dragon-related animal idioms扳龙附凤 (bān lóng fù fèng) Literal translation: pull;turn / dragon / add;attach / phoenixMeaning: fig. currying favor with the rich and powerful in the hope of advancement藏龙卧虎 (cáng lóng wò hǔ)Literal translation: hidden dragon, crouching tigerMeaning: fig., talented individuals in hiding / concealed talent乘龙快婿 (chéng lóng kuài xù)Literal translation: ride; take advantage of / dragon / fast;quick / son-in-lawMeaning: an excellent or ideal son-in-law (usu. of high social or official position)Cow/Ox-related animal idioms当牛作马 (dāng niú zuò mǎ)Literal translation: equal; ought to / cow;ox / rise;grow / horse (to work like a horse and toil like an ox)Meaning: fig., to slave for sb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miya Posted October 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Those are great ones! Your dragon idioms also made me think of this dragon related one:人中之龍 (Rén zhōng zhī lóng)Direct translation: The dragon among peopleMeaning: One who is outstanding or very skillful In the past when China still had kings, the kings would be described as 人中之龍 to prove that they are worthy of the throne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguaholic Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Great one Miya! Dragons have always been an important animal throughout Chinese' history. It is a very interesting topic! There are many legends about dragons and of course the dragon is also a Chinese Zodiac (the only supernatural one). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miya Posted October 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Haha, I love reading about dragons such as 東海龍王 (Dragon king of the East Sea) in Chinese tales.Here are some more dragon idioms:龍馬精神 (Lóng mǎ jīng shén)Direct translation: Energetic dragon & horseMeaning: to wish one good health龍精虎猛 (Lóng jīng hǔ měng)Direct translation: Energetic like a dragon, brave as a tigerMeaning: to wish one good health望子成龍 (Wàng zǐ chéng lóng)Direct translation: Hope for one's son to become a dragonMeaning: Hope one's son will become successfulThe first two are blessings you say during Chinese New Year. Both wish for good health and both have the Chinese character 'dragon' 龍 in it. As you can see, Chinese people really think positively of the dragon. Most of the idioms involving the "龍" character have a positive meaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWL Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 One of my favorite is 馬馬虎虎.It means as "casually" or "carelessly". It does sound as sloppy as it means! (Word for word, it literally means horse-horse-tiger-tiger!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWL Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 I almost forgot, another interesting one is 虎頭蛇尾 , literally "to have a tiger's head and a snake's tail" meaning someone or something that starts strong but gradually weakens and finishes weakly. This could be used for athletes in a race, contestants in a game or even the stock market! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguaholic Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 I think I have mentioned this before, but I learned in 文言 class that there is actually a word that consists of 4 times the character dragon 龍 and the meaning is garrulous / talkative. I can't write the character in pinyin as, obviously, it has not been included in the "character-set". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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