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!)