Designed for Hong Kong primary children.Designed for Hong Kong primary children.
Subject:Subject:
Cross-Cross-cultural cultural IdiomsIdioms
Idioms in Idioms in Chinese and Chinese and
EnglishEnglish
An idiom is a funny An idiom is a funny expression or phrase.expression or phrase.
Sometimes, an idiom Sometimes, an idiom has the same has the same
message in different message in different languages.languages.
What is an What is an idiom?idiom?
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
天下無不散之筵席 天下無不散之筵席 There There is no never ending is no never ending
banquet under the sun. banquet under the sun.
All good things must All good things must come to an end! come to an end!
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
好事多磨 好事多磨 Good must go Good must go through many trials and through many trials and
tribulationstribulations
The course of true The course of true love never runs love never runs
smooth. smooth.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
大丈夫能屈能伸 大丈夫能屈能伸 A great A great (or successful) man (or successful) man
can bend and stretch. can bend and stretch.
A man must learn to A man must learn to sail in all winds. sail in all winds.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
不入虎穴不入虎穴 ,, 焉得虎子 焉得虎子 If you don't If you don't go into the cave of the tiger, go into the cave of the tiger, how are you going to get its how are you going to get its
cub? cub?
Nothing ventured, Nothing ventured, nothing gained. nothing gained.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
牛不飲水牛不飲水 ,, 不能按牛頭低 不能按牛頭低 You cannot push a cow's You cannot push a cow's head down unless it is head down unless it is
drinking water by it's own drinking water by it's own will. will.
You can lead a horse You can lead a horse to water, but you to water, but you
can't make him drink. can't make him drink.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
一箭雙雕 一箭雙雕 Shoot two birds Shoot two birds with one single arrow. with one single arrow.
Kill two birds Kill two birds with one stone. with one stone.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
虎父虎子 虎父虎子 Tiger father Tiger father begets tiger son. begets tiger son.
A chip off the A chip off the old block.old block.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
講就天下無敵講就天下無敵 , , 做就無能為力 做就無能為力 You say you can do it with no You say you can do it with no problem, but when it comes problem, but when it comes to actually doing it you're to actually doing it you're
useless! useless!
All talk no All talk no action. action.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
百密一疏 百密一疏 100 tight, 1 lose. 100 tight, 1 lose.
Even the most Even the most careful can make careful can make
mistakes. mistakes.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…
Idioms in Chinese & Idioms in Chinese & EnglishEnglish
打鐵趁熱 打鐵趁熱 Strike while Strike while the iron is hot.the iron is hot.
Strike while the Strike while the iron is hot.iron is hot.
In In ChineseChinese we say… we say…
In In EnglishEnglish we say… we say…