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
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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!)
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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.)
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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
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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.)
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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.)
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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
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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.)
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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!)
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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
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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.)
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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.)
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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
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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?)
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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.)
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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