Category: Chinese phrases

sī mǎ zhāo zhī xīn – lù rén jiē zhī
司马昭之心 – 路人皆知
Everyone on the street is aware of Sima Zhao’s intent. – The villain’s design is obvious to all. 

Sima Zhao (211 – 265) was a general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He maintained control of Cao Wei, seized by his father Sima Yi and ruled by his older brother Sima Shi, and had himself established the Duke of Jin — the penultimate step before usurpation of the throne, although he would never actually take the throne.

guān yǔ xiáng cáo cāo – shēn zài cáo yíng xīn zài hàn
关羽降曹操 – 身在曹营心在汉
Guan Yu (160-219), a general in the period of the Three Kingdoms, surrendered to Cao Cao (155-220), a military strategist and statesman during the Three Kingdoms. – live in the Cao camp but with one’s heart in the Han camp; though one is physically here, one’s mind is elsewhere; be half-hearted

guān qǐlái dă luó – míng shēng zài wài
关起门来打锣 – 名声在外
Close the door to beat gongs – be well-known