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

Video Credit to Carol from Growmommy.com 

Voice Over: Carol

Food-Related Chinese Idioms Infographic

Traditional Chinese Version