Category: Chinese phrases

biǎn dan méi zā – liǎng tóu dǎ tā
扁担没扎 – 两头打塌
When the carrying/shoulder pole is not secured at both ends, its loads slip off. – try to grab both but end up getting neither; fall between two stools

tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ – bù hé suàn; dé bù cháng shī
偷鸡不成蚀把米 – 不合算；得不偿失
Attempt to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice; go for wool and come back shorn – the loss outweighs the gain

dà nián chū yī dǎi tù zi – yǒu tā guò nián, wú tā yě guò nián
大年初一逮兔子 – 有它过年，无它也过年
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.

dà xiàng de bí zi – néng qū néng shēn
大象的鼻子 – 能屈能伸
Like an elephant’s nose, be able to stoop or stand erect – submit or assert oneself as the occasion requires; be adaptable to circumstances

gǔ dǒng dāng pò làn mài – bù shí huò
古董当破烂卖 – 不识货
Take antiques for junk and sell them – be unable to tell good from bad; don’t know what’s what