Language/Multiple-languages/Culture/Idioms-in-Set-Phrases

Hi, polyglots.

In Han script, there is a type of idiomatic expression called “set phrases” [成語], which are mostly four character long. In this lesson, you will find idioms from various languages in set phrases. This is a way to learn about idioms around the world, as well as a less tedious way to learn Han script.

The structure of a four-character set phrase are

• parataxis
• modifier-head
• subject-predicate
• verb-object
• verb-complement
• adjective-complement
• serial verb
• verb-pivotal-verb
• overlap

The creation of set phrases requires two process:

1. select the structure
2. select the word

In progress

idiom	idiom in set phrase	similar Chinese set phrase
[eng] bring home the bacon	攜臘返歸 : carry + cured meat + return home	養家活口 : support + family + make a living for + members
[eng] burn the midnight oil	夜半燃油 : at midnight + burn + oil	焚膏繼晷 : burn + grease + continue + sunlight shadow
[eng] don't cry over spilt milk	毋啼覆乳 : don't + cry over + spilt + milk	覆水難收 : spilt + water + hard to + collect
[eng] have seen better days	既見良辰 : have already + seen + good + days	江河日下 : rivers + day by day + go down
[eng] jump on the bandwagon	縱上花車 : jump + onto + bandwagon	隨波逐流 : follow + waves + chase + flows
[eng] let the cat out of the bag	放貓出囊 : let + cat + out of + bag	走漏風聲 : leak + wind + sounds
[eng] like a fish out of water	如魚出水 : like + fish + out of + water	如坐針氈 : like + sitting on + needle + mat
[eng] miss the boat	參差擺渡 : miss + ferry boat	失之交臂 : miss + it + arm touching arm
[eng] not my cup of tea	非我杯茗 : not + my + cup of + tea	不合我意 : does not + fit + my + mind
[eng] once in a blue moon	藍月一現 : blue + moon + once + shows up	杳如黃鶴 : rare + as + yellow + crane
[eng] piece of cake	菓子一切 : cake + a + cut	小菜一碟 : small + dish + a + plate
[eng] pull someone's leg	扯腿相嬉 : pull + leg + towards the other + amuse	嬉皮笑脸 : playful + skin + smiling + face
[eng] raining cats and dogs	天降貓狗 : from the sky + drop + cats + dogs	傾盆大雨 : turned + basin + huge + rain
[eng] save for a rainy day	蓄備雨日 : save + prepare for + rainy + day	未雨綢繆 : not yet + rain + bound (the window) tightly
[eng] show one's true colours	顯露真色 : show + true + colours	原形畢露 : original + form + all + exposed
[eng] sink or swim	或沒或泅 : either + sink + or + swim	背水一戰 : back-facing-water (formation) + a + battle
[eng] the last straw	終末一稈 : the last + one + straw	積羽沉舟 : accumulating + feathers + sinks + boat