Chinese Idioms Chengyu: Food-Related

Food-Related Chinese Idioms

Chinese idioms (chéngyǔ) infographics have been the most popular category in VividChinese.com. So here is another one filled with useful Chinese idioms: Food-Related Chinese Idioms infographic.

We have included 5 categories, 3 idioms each, for a total of 15 sayings.

It is our first time publishing an infographic with video (from Carol at Growmommy.com) together!

肉类  ròu lèi Meat Category

  • 挂羊头卖狗肉   guà yáng tóu mài gǒuròu

    Meaning: to cheat / dishonest advertising / wicked deeds carried out under the banner of virtue.

    Example: 现在网路上有很多  挂羊头卖狗肉 的广告,不可尽信!

    (Xiànzài wǎng lùshàng yǒu hěnduō guà yáng tóu mài gǒuròu de guǎnggào, bùkě jìn xìn!)

  • 肉包子打狗  – 有去无回 ròu bāozi dǎ gǒu – yǒu qù wú huí

    Meaning: what’s gone can never come back.

    Example: 你借钱给他,就像  肉包子打狗  – 有去无回。他一定不会还的。

    (Nǐ jiè qián gěi tā, jiù xiàng ròu bāozi dǎ gǒu – yǒu qù wú huí. Tā yīdìng bù huì huán de.)

  • 鸡毛蒜皮   jī máo suàn pí

    Meaning: describe unimportant things and trivial matters.

    Example: 这些都是  鸡毛蒜皮 的小事,别吵了!

    (Zhèxiē dōu shì jīmáosuànpí de xiǎoshì, bié chǎole!)

淀粉类  diànfěn lèi Starch Category

  • 僧多粥少   sēng duō zhōu shǎo

    Meaning: not enough to go around/demand exceeds supply.

    Example: 因为  僧多粥少,每个人能分到的钱不多。

    (Yīnwèi sēngduōzhōushǎo, měi gèrén néng fēn dào de qián bù duō.)

  • 不为五斗米折腰  bú wéi wǔdǒu mǐ zhéyāo

    Meaning: describe a man who refuses to lose his integrity and will not brown-nose the rich and powerful.

    Example: 现在这个社会,不为  五斗米折腰 的人越来越少了。

    (Xiànzài zhège shèhuì, bù wéi wǔdǒu mǐ zhéyāo de rén yuè lái yuè shǎole.)

  • 画饼充饥   huà bǐng chōng jī

    Meaning: to allay one’s hunger using a picture of a cookie/to feed on illusions.

    Example: 画饼充饥 不能真的解决问题,要实际行动。

    (Huàbǐngchōngjī bùnéng zhēn de jiějué wèntí, yào shíjì xíngdòng.)

植物类  zhíwù lèi Plants Category

  • 倒吃甘蔗 dào chī gānzhè

    Meaning: all things are difficult before they get easy.

    Example:「学习」就像  倒吃甘蔗,坚持下去就能享受成果。

    (“Xuéxí” jiù xiàng dào chī gānzhè, jiānchí xiàqù jiù néng xiǎngshòu chéngguǒ.)

  • 哑巴吃黄连   yǎbā chī huánglián

    Meaning: no choice but to suffer in silence.

    Example: 他在这件事上受了委屈,却不能告诉别人,真是  哑巴吃黄连,有苦说不出啊!

    (Tā zài zhè jiàn shì shàng shòule wěiqu, què bùnéng gàosù biérén, zhēnshi yǎbā chī huánglián, yǒu kǔ shuō bu chū a!)

  • 姜是老的辣   jiāng shì lǎo de là

    Meaning: ginger gets spicier as it gets older/the older, the wiser.

    Example: 姜还是老的辣!爷爷的方法果真最有效!

    (Jiāng háishì lǎo de là! Yéyé de fāngfǎ guǒzhēn zuì yǒuxiào!)

流质类  liúzhì lèi Fluid Category

  • 分一杯羹   fēn yībēi gēng

    Meaning: to share a cup of rich soup/describe ones desire to scramble for a piece of the action.

    Example: 这个案子的可以赚很多钱,大家都想  分一杯羹

    (Zhège ànzi de kěyǐ zhuàn hěnduō qián, dàjiā dōu xiǎng fēn yībēi gēng.)

  • 饮水思源   yǐn shuǐ sī yuán

    Meaning: when you drink water, think of its source/don’t forget where your happiness comes from. Be grateful for all your blessings!

    Example: 做人要  饮水思源,不可忘恩。

    (Zuòrén yào yǐnshuǐsīyuán, bùkě wàng’ēn.)

  • 望梅止渴   wàng méi zhǐ kě

    Meaning: to quench one’s thirst by thinking of plums/to console oneself with illusions.

    Example: 我买不起别墅,只好看房子广告来  望梅止渴

    (Wǒ mǎi bù qǐ biéshù, zhǐhǎo kàn fángzi guǎnggào lái wàngméizhǐkě.)

甜食类  tiánshí lèi Sweets Category

  • 同甘共苦 tóng gān gòng kǔ

    Meaning: shared delights and common hardships; to share life’s joys and sorrows / for better and for worse.

    Example: 他是可以和你  同甘共苦 的伴侣吗?

    (Tā shì kěyǐ hé nǐ tónggāngòngkǔ de bànlǚ ma?)

  • 甘之如饴   gān zhī rú yí

    Meaning: to endure hardship gladly/a glutton for punishment.

    Example: 我很喜欢打篮球,再辛苦地练习都 甘之如饴

    (Wǒ hěn xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú, zài xīnkǔ de liànxí dōu gānzhīrúyí.)

  • 口蜜腹剑   kǒu mì fù jiàn

    Meaning: a sword in the belly; hypocritical and murderous.

    Example: 他是一个  口蜜腹剑 的人,你要小心!

    (Tā shì yīgè kǒumìfùjiàn de rén, nǐ yào xiǎoxīn!)

 

Food-Related Chinese Idioms Infographic Simplified Chinese Version

Chinese Idioms Chengyu: Food-Related Simplified version

 

Video Credit to Carol from Growmommy.com 

Voice Over: Carol

 

Food-Related Chinese Idioms Infographic

Traditional Chinese Version

Chinese Idioms Chengyu: Food-Related Transitional version

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