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"You don't say!" Chinese-English Dictionary

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Chinese Pinyin Translation
废话 廢話 fèi huà nonsense / rubbish / superfluous words / You don't say! / No kidding! (gently sarcastic) syn
Chinese Pinyin Translation
己所不欲，勿施于人 己所不欲，勿施於人 jǐ suǒ bù yù , wù shī yú rén What you don't want done to you, don't do to others. (idiom, from the Confucian analects) / Do as you would be done by. / Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.
说你胖你就喘 說你胖你就喘 shuō nǐ pàng nǐ jiù chuǎn lit. when someone tells you you're fat, you pant (as if you were actually fat) (idiom) / fig. Hey! I pay you a compliment, and you start bragging! (typically jocular and teasing) / flattery, like perfume, should be smelled, not swallowed
家丑不可外传，流言切莫轻信 家醜不可外傳，流言切莫輕信 jiā chǒu bù kě wài chuán , liú yán qiē mò qīng xìn Don't spread abroad the shame of the family, don't believe rumors lightly (common expression) / Don't wash your dirty linen in public, don't listen to others' gossip.
家丑不可外传，流言切莫轻信 家醜不可外傳，流言切莫輕信 jiā chǒu bù kě wài chuán , liú yán qiè mò qīng xìn Don't spread abroad the shame of the family, don't believe rumors lightly. (idiom) / Don't wash your dirty linen in public, don't listen to others' gossip.
不以辞害志 不以辭害志 bù yǐ cí hài zhì don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom) / don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say
不以词害志 不以詞害誌 bù yǐ cí hài zhì don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom) / don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say
鱼与熊掌 魚與熊掌 yú yǔ xióng zhǎng lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆 zhòng guā dé guā , zhòng dòu dé dòu lit. Sow melon and you get melon, sow beans and you get beans (idiom) / fig. As you sow, so shall you reap. / One must live with the consequences of one's actions. / You've made your bed, now must lie on it.
鱼与熊掌不可兼得 魚與熊掌不可兼得 yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
一不做，二不休 yī bù zuò , èr bù xiū lit. either don't do it, or don't rest (idiom) / fig. if you do it at all, you may as well go the whole hog / in for a penny, in for a pound
若要人不知，除非己莫为 若要人不知，除非己莫為 ruò yào rén bù zhī , chú fēi jǐ mò wéi If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it (idiom). fig. If you do something bad, people will inevitably hear about it.
呼牛作马 呼牛作馬 hū niú zuò mǎ to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom) / it doesn't matter what you call it / Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
呼牛呼马 呼牛呼馬 hū niú hū mǎ to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom) / it doesn't matter what you call it / Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
别理 別理 bié lǐ don't get involved / ignore it! / don't have anything to do with (him, her etc) / don't speak to
瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠 瓜田不納履，李下不整冠 guā tián bù nà lǚ , lǐ xià bù zhěng guān lit. don't tie your shoelaces in a melon patch, and don't adjust your hat under a plum tree (idiom) / fig. don't do anything that might arouse suspicion / innocent acts may be misconstrued
师父领进门，修行在个人 師父領進門，修行在個人 shī fu lǐng jìn mén , xiū xíng zài gè rén the master leads you to the door, the rest is up to you / you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
患难见真情 患難見真情 huàn nàn jiàn zhēn qíng true sentiments are seen in hard times (idiom) / you see who your true friends are when you go through tough times together / you see who your true friends are when you are in difficulties
愿赌服输 願賭服輸 yuàn dǔ fú shū lit. if you agree to bet you must accept to lose / fig. you bet, you pay
一分耕耘，一分收获 一分耕耘，一分收穫 yī fēn gēng yún , yī fēn shōu huò you get what you put in / you reap what you sow
躲得过初一，躲不过十五 躲得過初一，躲不過十五 duǒ de guò chū yī , duǒ bù guò shí wǔ lit. you may go undetected during the new moon, but at full moon you'll be found out (idiom) / fig. you can't put it off forever / sooner or later you'll have to deal with it
天无绝人之路 天無絕人之路 tiān wú jué rén zhī lù Heaven never bars one's way (idiom) / don't despair and you will find a way through. / Never give up hope. / Never say die.
勿谓言之不预 勿謂言之不預 wù wèi yán zhī bù yù (idiom) don't say you haven't been forewarned (threat used by the PRC in international diplomacy)
不见不散 不見不散 bù jiàn bù sàn lit. Even if we don't see each other, don't give up and leave (idiom) / fig. Be sure to wait! / See you there!
别太客气 別太客氣 bié tài kè qi lit. no excessive politeness / Don't mention it! / You're welcome! / Please don't stand on ceremony.
言多必失 yán duō bì shī if you say too much, you're bound to slip up at some point (idiom)
饥不择食 飢不擇食 jī bù zé shí when hungry, you can't pick what you eat (idiom) / beggars can't be choosers / When matters are urgent, don't spend time choosing alternatives. syn
学如逆水行舟，不进则退 學如逆水行舟，不進則退 xué rú nì shuǐ xíng zhōu , bù jìn zé tuì study is like rowing upstream – if you don't keep pushing forward, you fall behind
忽隐忽现 忽隱忽現 hū yǐn hū xiàn intermittent / now you see it, now you don't
眼见为实，耳听为虚 眼見為實，耳聽為虛 yǎn jiàn wéi shí , ěr tīng wéi xū to believe what one sees, not what one hears (idiom). Don't believe what people tell you until you see if for yourself. / It ain't necessarily so.
不见兔子不撒鹰 不見兔子不撒鷹 bù jiàn tù zi bù sā yīng you don't release the hawk until you've seen the hare (idiom) / one doesn't act before one is sure to succeed
有木有 yǒu mù yǒu (slang) come on, you can't deny it! / don't you think so?! / (melodramatic form of 有沒有|有没有[you3 mei2 you3])
算你狠 suàn nǐ hěn you got me! / you win! / you are something!
请便 請便 qǐng biàn Please do as you wish! / You are welcome to do whatever you like! / Please make yourself at home. syn
吃不了兜着走 吃不了兜著走 chī bu liǎo dōu zhe zǒu lit. if you can't eat it all, you'll have to take it home (idiom) / fig. you'll have to take the consequences
久慕 jiǔ mù lit. I've admired you for a long time (honorific). / I've been looking forward to meeting you. / It's an honor to meet you at last.
跑了和尚，跑不了寺 pǎo le hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo sì the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
跑了和尚，跑不了庙 跑了和尚，跑不了廟 pǎo le hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
跑得了和尚，跑不了庙 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟 pǎo dé liǎo hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later
你走你的阳关道，我过我的独木桥 你走你的陽關道，我過我的獨木橋 nǐ zǒu nǐ de yáng guān dào , wǒ guò wǒ de dú mù qiáo lit. you hit the high road, I'll cross the log bridge (idiom) / fig. you go your way, I'll go mine / you do it your way, I'll do it mine
有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴 有意栽花花不發，無心插柳柳成陰 yǒu yì zāi huā huā bù fā , wú xīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yīn lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree / fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect / well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it
非你莫属 非你莫屬 fēi nǐ mò shǔ it's yours exclusively (idiom) / you are the one / only you deserve it / only you can do it
有何贵干 有何貴幹 yǒu hé guì gàn What (noble errand) brings you here? / May I help you? / What can I do for you?
有没有 有沒有 yǒu méi yǒu (before a noun) Do (you, they etc) have ...? / Is there a ...? / (before a verb) Did (you, they etc) (verb, infinitive)? / Have (you, they etc) (verb, past participle)?
跑了和尚跑不了庙 跑了和尚跑不了廟 pǎo le hé shàng pǎo bù liǎo miào the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later / also written 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟|跑得了和尚，跑不了庙[pao3 de2 liao3 he2 shang4 , pao3 bu4 liao3 miao4]
别人牵驴你拔橛子 別人牽驢你拔橛子 bié ren qiān lǘ nǐ bá jué zi lit. someone else stole the donkey / you only pulled up the stake it was tethered to (idiom) / fig. you're the least culpable, but you're the one who gets the blame
说不准 說不準 shuō bù zhǔn unable to say / can't say precisely
听见风就是雨 聽見風就是雨 tīng jiàn fēng jiù shì yǔ lit. on hearing wind, to say rain / to agree uncritically with whatever people say / to parrot other people's words / to chime in with others
不好说 不好說 bù hǎo shuō hard to say / can't be sure / difficult to speak about / unpleasant to say
别提了 別提了 bié tí le say no more / don't bring it up / drop the subject
吃瓜群众 吃瓜群眾 chī guā qún zhòng peanut gallery (esp. in online forums) / onlookers who are interested in the spectacle but don't have anything knowledgeable to say about it / (neologism c. 2016)
休想 xiū xiǎng don't think (that) / don't imagine (that) syn
瓜田不纳履 瓜田不納履 guā tián bù nà lǚ lit. don't tie your shoe-laces in a melon-patch / fig. don't do anything that might arouse suspicion / innocent acts may be misconstrued
少安毋躁 shǎo ān wú zào keep calm, don't get excited / don't be impatient syn
鸟不拉屎，鸡不生蛋 鳥不拉屎，雞不生蛋 niǎo bù lā shǐ , jī bù shēng dàn lit. (a place where) birds don't defecate and hens don't lay eggs (idiom) / fig. god-forsaken / remote and desolate
鸟不生蛋，狗不拉屎 鳥不生蛋，狗不拉屎 niǎo bù shēng dàn , gǒu bù lā shǐ lit. (a place where) birds don't lay eggs and dogs don't defecate (idiom) / fig. god-forsaken / remote and desolate
不是一家人不进一家门 不是一家人不進一家門 bù shì yī jiā rén bù jìn yī jiā mén people who don't belong together, don't get to live together (idiom) / marriages are predestined / people marry because they share common traits
事不过三 事不過三 shì bù guò sān (idiom) a thing should not be attempted more than three times / don't repeat the same mistake again and again / (idiom) bad things don't happen more than three times
勿cue wù c u e (Internet slang) don't call on me / don't drag me in
勿cue wù - cue (Internet slang) don't call on me / don't drag me in
有怪莫怪 yǒu guài mò guài please don't take offense / don't take it personally
吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸 喫不到葡萄說葡萄酸 chī bù dào pú tao shuō pú tao suān sour grapes (set expr. based on Aesop) / lit. to say grapes are sour when you can't eat them
心口如一 xīn kǒu rú yī lit. heart and mouth as one (idiom) / to say what you think / honest and straightforward syn
说葡萄酸 說葡萄酸 shuō pú tao suān sour grapes (set expr. based on Aesop) / lit. to say grapes are sour when you can't eat them
何出此言 hé chū cǐ yán where do these words stem from? / why do you (he, etc) say such a thing?
口嫌体正直 口嫌體正直 kǒu xián tǐ zhèng zhí your lips say one thing, but your body language reveals what you really think (borrowed from Japanese)
口嫌体直 口嫌體直 kǒu xián tǐ zhí your lips say one thing, but your body language reveals what you really think (four-character version of 口嫌體正直|口嫌体正直[kou3 xian2 ti3 zheng4 zhi2])
所言非虚 所言非虛 suǒ yán fēi xū (after a pronoun or name) what (you, they etc) say is true
倒是 dào shi contrary to what one might expect / actually / contrariwise / why don't you syn
不客气 不客氣 bù kè qi you're welcome / don't mention it / impolite / rude / blunt
提防 dī fáng to guard against / to be vigilant / watch you don't (slip) / also pr. [ti2 fang2] syn
不敢当 不敢當 bù gǎn dāng lit. I dare not (accept the honor) / fig. I don't deserve your praise / you flatter me syn
切莫 qiè mò you must not / Please don't... / be sure not to / on no account (do it) syn
三思而行 sān sī ér xíng think three times then go (idiom) / don't act before you've thought it through carefully syn
耳旁风 耳旁風 ěr páng fēng lit. wind past your ear / fig. sth you don't pay much attention to / in one ear and out the other syn
水至清则无鱼 水至清則無魚 shuǐ zhì qīng zé wú yú Water that is too clear has few fish, and one who is too critical has few friends (idiom) / You cannot expect everyone to be squeaky clean. / Don't be too picky!
耳边风 耳邊風 ěr biān fēng lit. wind past your ear / fig. sth you don't pay much attention to / in one ear and out the other syn
饮水思源 飲水思源 yǐn shuǐ sī yuán lit. when you drink water, think of its source (idiom) / gratitude for blessings and their well-spring / Don't forget where your happiness come from. / Be grateful for all your blessings! syn
不用谢 不用謝 bù yòng xiè You're welcome / Don't mention it
不问就听不到假话 不問就聽不到假話 bù wèn jiù tīng bù dào jiǎ huà Don't ask and you won't be told any lies. (idiom)
不懂装懂 不懂裝懂 bù dǒng zhuāng dǒng to pretend to understand when you don't
不用客气 不用客氣 bù yòng kè qi you're welcome / don't mention it / no need to stand on ceremony
前事不忘，后事之师 前事不忘，後事之師 qián shì bù wàng , hòu shì zhī shī don't forget past events, they can guide you in future (idiom) / benefit from past experience
取其精华，去其糟粕 取其精華，去其糟粕 qǔ qí jīng huá , qù qí zāo pò take the cream, discard the dross (political and educational slogan) / keep what is good, discard the rest / You need to be selective when studying. / In modernizing the country, don't accept uncritically all foreign ideas.
小洞不堵，大洞难补 小洞不堵，大洞難補 xiǎo dòng bù dǔ , dà dòng nán bǔ If you don't plug the small hole, the big hole will be hard to repair (idiom) / A stitch in time saves nine.
欲加之罪，何患无词 慾加之罪，何患無詞 yù jiā zhī zuì , hé huàn wú cí If you want to condemn sb, don't worry about the pretext (idiom, from Zuozhuan 左傳|左传) / one can always trump up a charge against sb / Give a dog a bad name, then hang him. / also written 慾加之罪,何
欲加之罪，何患无辞 欲加之罪，何患無辭 yù jiā zhī zuì , hé huàn wú cí If you want to condemn sb, don't worry about the pretext (idiom, from Zuozhuan 左傳|左传) / one can always trump up a charge against sb / Give a dog a bad name, then hang him.
杀人不过头点地 殺人不過頭點地 shā rén bù guò tóu diǎn dì It's all exaggeration, you don't need to take it seriously / a fuss about nothing / nothing to write home about
靡不有初，鲜克有终 靡不有初，鮮克有終 mǐ bù yǒu chū , xiǎn kè yǒu zhōng almost everything has a start, but not many things have an end (idiom) / don't start sth you can't handle
饮流怀源 飲流懷源 yǐn liú huái yuán lit. when you drink water, think of its source (idiom) / gratitude for blessings and their well-spring / Don't forget where your happiness come from. / Be grateful for all your blessings!
好马不吃回头草 好馬不吃回頭草 hǎo mǎ bù chī huí tóu cǎo lit. a good horse doesn't turn around and graze the same patch again (idiom) / fig. once you've moved on, don't go back again (romantic relationship, job etc) / leave the past behind
拿你没办法 拿你沒辦法 ná nǐ méi bàn fǎ don't know what to do with you (used to express mild exasperation)
苟富贵，勿相忘 苟富貴，勿相忘 gǒu fù guì , wù xiāng wàng don't forget your friends when you become rich
老天爷饿不死瞎家雀 老天爺餓不死瞎家雀 lǎo tiān yé è bù sǐ xiā jiā què lit. heaven won't let the sparrows go hungry (idiom) / fig. don't give up hope / if you tough it out, there will be light at the end of the tunnel
提防 dī fang to guard against / to be vigilant / watch you don't (slip) / Taiwan pr. [ti2 fang2] syn
则已 則已 zé yǐ (literary) used in expressions of the form 不[bu4] + (verb) + 則已|则已[ze2 yi3] ... "either don't (verb) at all, or if you do, ..."
千篇一律 qiān piān yī lǜ thousand articles, same rule (idiom) / stereotyped and repetitive / once you've seen one, you've seen them all syn
你好吗 你好嗎 nǐ hǎo ma How are you? / Are you well?
久仰 jiǔ yǎng honorific: I've long looked forward to meeting you. / It's an honor to meet you at last. syn
所见即所得 所見即所得 suǒ jiàn jí suǒ dé What you see is what you get (WYSIWYG)
The four tones The four tones of Mandarin Pitch over time: tone 1 high and level (red), tone 2 rising (orange), tone 3 falling then rising (green), tone 4 falling (blue). tone 1 tone 2 tone 3 tone 4 Time Pitch

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