Language/Multiple-languages/Culture/Common-Allusions
Hello everyone!
Welcome to our exploration of similar allusions found across various cultures worldwide. In this lesson, we'll delve into the ways in which different cultures express similar ideas and concepts.
Please note that this page is part of a broader series, connected to our main topic: Language/Multiple-languages/Culture/Similar-Sayings.
In progress.
Ability to achieve financial reward
This comes from the Greek myth, where King Midas is given the ability to turn anything he touches into gold.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| English | Midas touch |
| Finnish | Midaan kosketus |
| French | touche de Midas |
| Galician | toque de Midas |
| Italian | tocco di Mida |
| Modern Greek | άγγιγμα του Μίδα |
| Portuguese | toque de Midas |
Be true to one's words
This comes from Records of the Grand Historian (史記), where Chǔ people say “receiving 100 jīn gold is nothing compared to accepting a promise from Jì Bù”
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 一諾千金／一诺千金 |
| Japanese | 一諾千金 |
| Korean | 일낙천금 |
Between two dangers
This comes from the Greek myth, where monsters Scylla and Charybdis are sited on both sides of Strait of Messina, where Odysseus has to pass through.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Danish | mellem Skylla og Karybdis |
| English | between Scylla and Charybdis |
| Finnish | Skyllan ja Kharybdiksen välillä |
| French | tomber de Charybde en Scylla |
| German | zwischen Skylla und Charybdis sein |
| Modern Greek | μεταξύ Σκύλλας και Χάρυβδης |
| Polish | między Scyllą a Charybdą |
| Russian | между Сциллой и Харибдой |
| Spanish | entre Escila y Caribdis |
| Swedish | mellan Skylla och Karybdis |
Contradiction
This comes from the story in Master Huái Nán (淮南子), where a merchant sells spears and shields; he says that his shields are so firm that nothing can penetrate it; he also says that his spears are so sharp that it can penetrate anything; someone asks “What if you thrust your own spear into your own shield?”
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 矛盾 |
| Japanese | 矛盾 |
| Korean | 모순 |
| Vietnamese | mâu thuẫn |
Costly victory
This comes from the story of the Battle of Heraclea and the Battle of Asculum, where King Pyrrhus of Epirus defeats Rome, suffering heavy casualties.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Armenian | պյուռոսյան հաղթանակ |
| Azerbaijani | Pirr qələbəsi |
| Bulgarian | Пирова победа |
| Chinese | 皮洛士式勝利／皮洛士式胜利 |
| Czech | Pyrrhovo vítězství |
| Danish | pyrrhussejr |
| Dutch | pyrrusoverwinning |
| English | Pyrrhic victory |
| Esperanto | Pirha venko |
| Finnish | Pyrrhoksen voitto |
| French | victoire à la Pyrrhus |
| German | Pyrrhussieg |
| Hungarian | pirruszi győzelem |
| Indonesian | kemenangan piris |
| Italian | vittoria di Pirro |
| Japanese | ピュロスの勝利 |
| Latin | victoria Pyrrhica |
| Macedonian | Пирова победа |
| Modern Greek | Πύρρειος νίκη |
| Norwegian Bokmål | pyrrhosseier |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | pyrrhossiger |
| Polish | pyrrusowe zwycięstwo |
| Portuguese | vitória de Pirro
vitória pírrica |
| Romanian | victorie à la Pirus |
| Russian | Пиррова победа |
| Slovak | Pyrrhovo víťazstvo |
| Spanish | victoria pírrica |
| Swedish | pyrrhusseger |
Device or person placed within the enemy
This comes from the story of Trojan War in Aeneid (Aenē̆is), where Odysseus builds a wooden horse, hides himself and soldiers inside, let the Trojan force capture the wooden horse as a trophy, then opens the gate of Troy at night to let the Greek army in.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Armenian | Տրոյական ձի |
| Chinese | 特洛伊木馬／特洛伊木马 |
| Czech | trojský kůň |
| Danish | trojansk hest |
| English | Trojan horse |
| Esperanto | troja ĉevalo |
| Finnish | Troijan hevonen |
| French | cheval de Troie |
| German | trojanisches Pferd |
| Hebrew | סוס טרויאני |
| Hungarian | trójai faló |
| Icelandic | trójuhestur |
| Italian | cavallo di Troia |
| Japanese | トロイの木馬 |
| Korean | 트로이 목마 |
| Latin | equus Troianus |
| Macedonian | Тројанскиот коњ |
| Modern Greek | δούρειος ίππος |
| Polish | koń trojański |
| Portuguese | cavalo de Troia |
| Romanian | cal troian |
| Russian | Троянский конь |
| Spanish | caballo de Troya |
Distortion of the truth by a powerful person
This comes from the story in New Account (新語), where Zhào Gāo rides a deer and calls it a horse; the Emperor is confused and Zhào Gāo asks ministers; some keep silent, some say it is a horse, some say it is a deer; those who say it is a deer are eliminated by Zhào Gāo.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 指鹿為馬／指鹿为马 |
| Japanese | 指鹿為馬 |
| Korean | 지록위마 |
Face hostilities from all sides
This comes from the story of Battle of Gāixià in the Records of the Grand Historian (史記), where the coalition force of Hàn surrounds the Chǔ army and sing Chǔ folk songs.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 四面楚歌 |
| Japanese | 四面楚歌 |
| Korean | 사면초가 |
Flawless
This comes from the story in the Records of Spirits and Monsters (靈怪錄), where the clothing from heaven has no seams.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 天衣無縫／天衣无缝 |
| Japanese | 天衣無縫 |
| Korean | 천의무봉 |
Harmful person in peaceful disguise
This comes from the story in Gospel of Matthew (Κατά Ματθαίο Ευαγγέλιον), where the Lord says “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Albanian | ujk me lëkurë qengji |
| Belarusian | воўк у авечай шкуры |
| Chinese | 披著羊皮的狼／披着羊皮的狼 |
| Czech | vlk v rouše beránčím |
| Danish | ulv i fåreklæder |
| Dutch | wolf in schaapskleren |
| English | wolf in sheep's clothing |
| Finnish | susi lampaan vaatteissa |
| French | loup déguisé en agneau |
| Galician | lobo con pel de ovella |
| Georgian | მგელი ცხვრის ტყავში |
| German | Wolf im Schafspelz |
| Hindi | भेड़ की खाल में भेड़िया |
| Hungarian | báránybőrbe bújt farkas |
| Icelandic | úlfur í sauðargæru |
| Iranian Persian | گرگ در لباس میش |
| Italian | lupo travestito da agnello |
| Japanese | 羊の皮を着た狼 |
| Kirgiz | кой терисин жамынган карышкыр |
| Latin | lupus in vestimentum ovium |
| Latvian | vilks aitas ādā |
| Lithuanian | vilkas avies kailyje |
| Malagasy | amboadia mitafy hodi-janak' ondry |
| Malay | serigala berbulu domba |
| Modern Greek | λύκος εις δέρμα προβάτου
λύκος με προβιά αρνιού |
| Norwegian | ulv i fåreklær |
| Polish | wilk w owczej skórze |
| Portuguese | lobo em pele de cordeiro |
| Romanian | lup îmbrăcat în piele de oaie |
| Russian | волк в овечьей шкуре |
| Serbo-Croatian | вук у јањећој кожи / vuk u janjećoj koži |
| Slovenian | volk v ovčji koži |
| Spanish | un lobo con piel de cordero |
| Swedish | ulv i fårakläder |
| Ukrainian | вовк в овечій шкурі |
| Vietnamese | sói đội lốt cừu |
Impose oneself hardships to accomplish something
This comes from the story in Records of the Grand Historian (史記), where King Gōujiàn of Yuè is defeated by the State of Wú; he forces himself to sleep on firewood and lick a gallbladder every day to remind himself to revenge.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 臥薪嘗膽／卧薪尝胆 |
| Japanese | 臥薪嘗膽 |
| Korean | 와신상담 |
| Vietnamese | nếm mật nằm gai
nằm gai nếm mật |
Improve something unnecessarily
This comes from the story in Strategies of the Warring States (戰國策), where a man gives his servants a jug of wine; the servants decide to compete drawing a snake on the ground and the one who finishes it first wins the wine; one finishes, grabs the jug and says “I can draw feet for it” and started drawing feet for the snake; another one finishes drawing the snake, snatches his wine, says “A snake doesn't have feet. How can you do it?” and drinks the wine.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 畫蛇添足／画蛇添足 |
| Japanese | 画蛇添足 |
| Korean | 화사첨족 |
| Vietnamese | hoạ xà thiêm túc
vẽ rắn thêm chân |
Intimidate others with powerful connections
This comes from the fable in Strategies of the Warring States (戰國策), where the tiger catches a fox and want to eat it; the fox says that the Emperor of Heaven sends it to govern all animals and if the tiger doesn't believe, it can let the fox walk in front of other animals and see other animals' reaction; other animals see the tiger and scare off, the tiger doesn't know that the animals are actually scared by the tiger and not the fox.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 狐假虎威 |
| Japanese | 虎の威を借る狐 |
| Vietnamese | cáo mượn oai hùm |
Invasive authority with mass surveillance
This comes from the novel 1984, where in the state of Oceania, there is a motto “Big Brother is watching you” referring to the applied mass surveillance.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 老大哥 |
| English | Big Brother |
| Finnish | isoveli |
| French | Big Brother |
| Hungarian | Nagy Testvér |
| Modern Greek | Μεγάλος Αδελφός |
| Polish | Wielki Brat |
| Portuguese | Grande Irmão |
| Russian | Большо́й Брат |
| Serbo-Croatian | велики брат / veliki brat |
| Spanish | Gran Hermano |
| Swedish | storebror |
Laborious and futile task
This comes from the Greek myth, where King Sisyphos of Ephyra kills visitors to show off his power and is forced by gods to do a task for eternity: to roll an immense boulder up a hill and repeat when it rolls back.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Danish | sisyfosarbejde |
| English | Sisyphean labour |
| French | rocher de Sisyphe |
| German | Sisyphusarbeit |
| Modern Greek | Σισύφειο μαρτύριο |
| Russian | сизифов труд |
| Swedish | sisyfosarbete |
| Ukrainian | сізіфова праця |
Land of abundance
This comes from the story in Book of Exodus (שְׁמוֹת), where the Lord refers the Land of Israel “land flowing with milk and honey”.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| English | land of milk and honey |
| French | pays où coulent le lait et le miel |
| Hebrew | ארֶץ זבת חלב וּדְבש |
| Polish | kraina mlekiem i miodem płynąca |
| Portuguese | terra de leite e mel |
Lies are accepted after being repeated
This comes from the story in Strategies of the Warring States (戰國策), where Páng Cōng asks the King of Wèi if one person says that there is a tiger in Dàliáng, will he believe; the king answers no; Páng Cōng asks if two person say so, will he believe; the king answers he will be confused; Páng Cōng asks if three persons say so, will he believe; the king answers yes.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 三人成虎 |
| Japanese | 三人虎を成す |
| Korean | 삼인성호 |
| Vietnamese | tam nhân thành hổ |
Misfortune may turn into fortune and vice versa
This comes from the story in Master Huái Nán (淮南子), where an old man lives at the frontier; one of his horses strays into Xiōngnú land; the horse comes back accompanied with another horse; the old man's son rides the new horse, falls and breaks his leg; in a Xiōngnú invasion, able-bodied men volunteer and nine out of ten dies in battle, while the old man and his son keep alive.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 塞翁失馬，焉知非福／塞翁失马，焉知非福 |
| Japanese | 人間万事塞翁が馬 |
| Korean | 인간만사 새옹지마 |
| Vietnamese | tái ông thất mã, yên tri phi phúc |
Obvious matter being ignored
This comes from the fable The Inquisitive Man (Любопытный), where a man notices everything except an elephant in a room, in a museum.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Amharic | በክፍሉ ውስጥ ዝሆን |
| Armenian | փիղ մեջ տարածությունը |
| Chinese | 房間裡的大象／房间里的大象 |
| Danish | olifant in de kamer |
| English | elephant in the room |
| Esperanto | elefanto en la ĉambro |
| Finnish | virtahepo olohuoneessa |
| French | éléphant dans la pièce |
| Georgian | ადგილში სპილო |
| German | Elefant im Raum |
| Hebrew | פיל בחדר |
| Hindi | कमरे में हाथी |
| Hungarian | elefánt a szobában |
| Icelandic | gajah di dalam sang kamar |
| Italian | elefante nella stanza |
| Japanese | 部屋の象 |
| Korean | 방안의 코끼리 |
| Modern Greek | ελέφαντας στο δωμάτιο |
| Polish | słoń w salonie |
| Portuguese | elefante na sala |
| Romanian | elefantul din cameră |
| Russian | слона-то я и не приметил |
| Spanish | elefante en la habitación |
| Swedish | elefanten i rummet |
| Thai | ช้างในห้อง |
Panic and be overly sensitive
This comes from the story in Book of Jìn (晉書), where the defeated troops of Qín hear the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes, believe that the enemy has come.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 風聲鶴唳／风声鹤唳 |
| Japanese | 風声鶴唳 |
| Korean | 풍성학려 |
Person blamed for someone else's failure
This comes from the story in Book of Leviticus (ויקרא), where Aaron confesses the sins of the people of Israel with his hands on a goat's head; the goat is sent to wilderness, bearing all the sins.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Arabic | كبش فداء |
| Armenian | քավության նոխազ |
| Bulgarian | изкупителна жертва |
| Catalan | boc expiatori |
| Chinese | 替罪羊 |
| Czech | obětní beránek |
| Danish | syndebuk |
| Dutch | zondebok |
| English | scapegoat |
| Esperanto | propeka kapro |
| Faroese | syndabukkur |
| Finnish | syntipukki |
| French | bouc émissaire |
| Georgian | განტევების ვაცი |
| German | Sündenbock |
| Hebrew | שעיר לעזאזל |
| Hindi | बकरा |
| Hungarian | bűnbak |
| Icelandic | blóraböggull |
| Irish | ceap milleáin |
| Italian | capro espiatorio |
| Japanese | スケープゴート |
| Latvian | grēkāzis |
| Lithuanian | atpirkimo ožys |
| Macedonian | жртвен јарец |
| Malayalam | ബലിയാട് |
| Modern Greek | αποδιοπομπαίος τράγος |
| Norwegian | syndebukk |
| Polish | kozioł ofiarny |
| Russian | козёл отпущения |
| Serbo-Croatian | жртвени јарац / žrtveni jarac |
| Spanish | cabeza de turco
chivo expiatorio |
| Swedish | syndabock |
| Thai | แพะรับบาป |
| Turkish | günah keçisi |
| Ukrainian | козел відпущення |
| Welsh | bwch dihangol |
Prolonged high risk for a position
This comes from the story in Tusculan Disputations (Tusculanae Disputationes), where the courtier Damocles flatters the tyrant of Syracuse and is then invited to a banquet; at the banquet, he suddenly notices a sword suspended from the ceiling by a single thread over his head, gets scared and doesn't want to stay any longer; this is meant to show him the risk of being a powerful person.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Arabic | سيف مسلت |
| Armenian | դամոկլյան սուր |
| Bulgarian | дамоклев меч |
| Catalan | espasa de Dàmocles |
| Chinese | 達摩克利斯之劍／达摩克利斯之剑 |
| Danish | damoklessværd |
| Dutch | zwaard van Damocles |
| English | sword of Damocles |
| Esperanto | glavo de Damoklo |
| Finnish | Damokleen miekka |
| French | épée de Damoclès |
| German | Damoklesschwert |
| Hausa | takobin damokilis |
| Hebrew | חרב דמוקלס |
| Hungarian | Damoklész kardja |
| Italian | cavar le castagne dal fuoco |
| Japanese | ダモクレスの剣 |
| Modern Greek | Δαμόκλειος σπάθη |
| Norwegian | damoklessverd |
| Polish | miecz Damoklesa |
| Portuguese | espada de Dâmocles |
| Russian | дамоклов меч |
| Spanish | espada de Damocles |
| Swedish | damoklessvärd |
Put on the finishing touches
This comes from the story in Records of Famous Painters from Past Dynasties (歷代名畫記), where Zhāng Sēngyóu doesn't paint eyes on dragons at the Ānlè Temple in Jīnlíng, saying that the dragons will fly away if he does; he is asked to do so and when he does on two dragons, they break through the walls and ascend to the clouds.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 畫龍點睛／画龙点睛 |
| Japanese | 画竜点睛 |
| Korean | 화룡점정 |
Refuse to adapt to changed conditions
This comes from the Master Lǚ's Spring and Autumn Annals (呂氏春秋), where the sword of a passenger on a boat falls into the river; the passenger makes a notch on the boat and says “This is where my sword fell in.” when the boat stops, he jumps into water from the notch to find his sword and finds nothing.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 刻舟求劍／刻舟求剑 |
| Japanese | 舟に刻みて剣を求む |
| Korean | 각주구검 |
| Vietnamese | khắc chu cầu kiếm |
This comes from the story in the Commentary of Zuǒ (左傳), where the Marquis of Jìn asks the Duke of Yū for military passage to attack the State of Guó; Gōng Zhīqí admonishes the Duke of Yū, comparing the relation between Guó and Yū as lips and teeth, saying “When the lips perish, the teeth become cold.”
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 脣亡齒寒／唇亡齿寒 |
| Japanese | 唇亡歯寒 |
| Korean | 순망치한 |
| Vietnamese | môi hở răng lạnh |
Something embarrassing and politely ignored
This comes from The Emperor's New Clothes (Kejserens nye klæder), where the emperor is tricked into being naked, believing that he's wearing the finest clothes in the world and only bastards can't see it; then he goes for a parade, only to be challenged by a child. This fable is based on a similar story in Tales of Count Lucanor (Libro de los enxiemplos del Conde Lucanor et de Patronio), which takes place in a Moorish kingdom.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 皇帝的新裝／皇帝的新装 |
| Danish | kejserens nye klæder |
| English | the emperor's new clothes |
| Finnish | keisarin uudet vaatteet |
| French | Les habits neufs de l'empereur |
| Portuguese | roupa nova do imperador |
| Russian | Новое платье короля |
| Slovak | cisárove nové šaty |
| Swedish | kejsarens nya kläder |
Source of unforeseen trouble
This comes from Works and Days (Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι), where Zeus gives Epimetheus a jar and tells him to keep it closed; his wife Pandora opens it out of curiosity, releasing curses inside upon mankind.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Albanian | kutia e Pandorës |
| Armenian | Պանդորայի արկղ |
| Bashkir | Пандора ҡумтаһы |
| Bulgarian | кутията на Пандора |
| Catalan | capsa de Pandora |
| Chinese | 潘多拉魔盒 |
| Czech | Pandořina skříňka |
| Danish | Pandoras æske |
| Dutch | doos van Pandora |
| Esperanto | skatolo de Pandora |
| English | Pandora's box |
| Faroese | eskjan hjá Pandoru |
| Finnish | Pandoran lipas |
| French | boîte de Pandore |
| Georgian | cპანდორას ყუთი |
| German | Pandorabüchse
Büchse der Pandora |
| Hebrew | תיבת פנדורה |
| Hindi | पैन्डोरा का बॉक्स |
| Hungarian | Pandóra szelencéje |
| Indonesian | kotak Pandora |
| Italian | vaso di Pandora |
| Japanese | パンドラの箱 |
| Kazakh | Пандора қалбыры |
| Korean | 판도라의 상자 |
| Latvian | Pandoras lāde |
| Macedonian | Пандорина кутија |
| Modern Greek | κουτί της Πανδώρας |
| Norwegian Bokmål | pandoraeske |
| Occitan | boita de Pandora |
| Panjabi | ਪੰਡੋਰਾ ਦਾ ਡੱਬਾ |
| Polish | puszka Pandory |
| Portuguese | caixa de Pandora |
| Romanian | cutia Pandorei |
| Russian | ящик Пандоры |
| Spanish | caja de Pandora |
| Swedish | Pandoras ask |
| Tamil | பண்டோராவின் பெட்டி |
| Turkish | Pandora'nın kutusu |
| Ukrainian | скринька Пандори |
| Uzbek | Pandora qutisi |
| Vietnamese | chiếc hộp Pandora |
Take damage for others without getting proper rewards
This comes from the fable The Monkey and the Cat (Le Singe et le Chat), where the cat is tricked by the monkey to pull some chestnuts out of the fire, getting its paws burnt and can't stop the monkey from taking all chestnuts away.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Catalan | treure les castanyes del foc |
| Chinese | 火中取栗 |
| Danish | rage kastanjerne ud af ilden |
| English | pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire |
| Finnish | hoitaa jonkun homma |
| French | tirer les marrons du feu |
| German | die Kastanien aus dem Feuer holen |
| Italian | cavar le castagne dal fuoco |
| Modern Greek | βγάζω τα κάστανα από τη φωτιά |
| Norwegian Bokmål | rake kastanjene ut av ilden |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | rake kastanjane ut av elden |
| Polish | wyciągać kasztany z ognia |
| Russian | доставать каштаны из огня |
| Spanish | sacar las castañas del fuego |
| Swedish | kratsa kastanjerna ur elden |
Talk about something the listener doesn't understand
This comes from the story in Master Móu's Treatise Settling Doubts (牟子理惑論), where Gōngmíng Yí plays the qín song Qīng Jué towards a cattle and the cattle continues to eat grass as before.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 對牛彈琴／对牛弹琴 |
| Japanese | 牛に対して琴を弾ず |
| Korean | 대우탄금 |
| Thai | สีซอให้ควายฟัง |
| Vietnamese | đối ngưu đàn cầm
đàn gảy tai trâu |
Time brings drastic changes
This comes from the story in Biographies of the Deities and Immortals (神仙傳), where Mágū says “Since we met last time, I have seen the East Sea turned into mulberry fields thrice.”
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 滄海桑田／沧海桑田 |
| Japanese | 滄海桑田 |
| Korean | 창해상전 |
| Vietnamese | thương hải tang điền |
Unnecessary activity of high risk
This comes from the short story Russian Roulette, where it is said that in Russian army in Rumania, around 1917, “some officer would suddenly pull out his revolver, anywhere, at the table, in a café, at a gathering of friends, remove a cartridge from the cylinder, spin the cylinder, snap it back in place, put it to his head and pull the trigger.”
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Arabic | رولِيت روسي |
| Bulgarian | расейская рулетка |
| Bulgarian | руска рулетка |
| Catalan | ruleta russa |
| Chinese | 俄羅斯輪盤／俄罗斯轮盘 |
| Czech | ruská ruleta |
| Dutch | Russische roulette |
| English | Russian roulette |
| Esperanto | rusa ruleto |
| Finnish | venäläinen ruletti |
| French | roulette russe |
| German | russisches Roulette |
| Hungarian | orosz rulett |
| Iranian Persian | رولت روسی |
| Italian | roulette russa |
| Japanese | ロシアンルーレット |
| Jèrriais | rouôlette Russe |
| Korean | 러시안 룰렛 |
| Lithuanian | rusiška rueletė |
| Macedonian | руски рулет |
| Modern Greek | Ρώσικη ρουλέτα |
| Mongolian | орос рулет |
| Norwegian | russisk rulett |
| Polish | rosyjska ruletka |
| Portuguese | roleta russa |
| Romanian | ruleta rusească |
| Russian | русская рулетка |
| Serbo-Croatian | руски рулет / ruski rulet |
| Spanish | ruleta rusa |
| Turkish | Rus ruleti |
| Ukrainian | російська рулетка |
| Vietnamese | cò quay Nga |
Unrealistic ideal land
This comes from The Birds (Ὄρνιθες), where two men and birds builds a state on the clouds.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Ancient Greek | Νεφελοκοκκυγία |
| Czech | Mrakoptakohrad
Kocourkov |
| English | cloud-cuckoo-land |
| Finnish | Pilvikukkula
Hölmölä |
| French | Coucouville-les-Nuées |
| German | Wolkenkuckucksheim |
| Modern Greek | Νεφελοκοκκυγία |
| Polish | Chmurny Kukułczyn |
| Portuguese | Cucolândia das Nuvens |
This comes from The Peach Blossom Spring (桃花源記), where a fisherman discovers an isolated village hidden behind a peach forest.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 桃花源 |
| Japanese | 桃源郷 |
| Korean | 도원향 |
This comes from Lost Horizon, where people are living hundreds of years in happiness at the isolated village Shangri-La.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Burmese | ရှန်ဂရီလာ |
| Chinese | 香格里拉 |
| English | Shangri-La |
| Esperanto | Ŝangrilao |
| Finnish | Shangri-La |
| French | Shangri-La |
| German | Shangri-La |
| Japanese | シャングリラ |
| Korean | 샹그릴라 |
| Mongolian | Шангри-Ла |
| Portuguese | xangri-lá |
| Russian | Шангри-Ла |
Vulnarability
This comes from the Greek myth, where Thetis dips Achilles in River Styx to make him invulnerable, holding one of his heels, leaving it his only vulnerable point.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Arabic | كعب أخيل |
| Armenian | աքիլեսյան գարշապար |
| Asturian | calcañu d'Aquiles |
| Bulgarian | Ахилесова пета |
| Catalan | taló d'Aquil·les |
| Chinese | 阿喀琉斯之踵 |
| Czech | Achilova pata |
| Danish | akilleshæl |
| Dutch | achilleshiel |
| English | Achilles' heel |
| Finnish | akilleenkantapää |
| French | talon d'Achille |
| Galician | talón de Aquiles |
| Georgian | აქილევსის ქუსლი |
| German | Achillesferse |
| Hungarian | Achilles-sarok |
| Interlingua | calce de Achilles |
| Iranian Persian | پاشنه آشیل |
| Italian | tallone di Achille |
| Japanese | アキレス腱 |
| Korean | 아킬레스 건 |
| Macedonian | Ахилова пета |
| Modern Greek | αχίλλειος πτέρνα |
| Norwegian | akilleshæl |
| Polish | pięta Achillesa |
| Portuguese | calcanhar de Aquiles |
| Romanian | călcâiul lui Ahile |
| Russian | ахиллесова пята |
| Serbo-Croatian | Ахилова пета / Ahilova peta |
| Spanish | talón de Aquiles |
| Swedish | akilleshäl |
| Tagalog | sakong ni Akiles |
Wait to get something for nothing by chance
This comes from Master Hán Fēi (韓非子), where a farmer sees a hare bumping into a stump, killing itself; the farmer then stops working, hoping to get another hare the same way.
| language | term |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 守株待兔 |
| Japanese | 株を守もる |
| Korean | 수주대토 |
| Vietnamese | thủ chu đãi thố |