Chinese allegories Lesson 25

dà nián chū yī dǎi tù zi – yǒu tā guò nián, wú tā yě guò nián
大年初一逮兔子 – 有它过年，无它也过年
Trying to catch a rabbit on the first day of the lunar year – One celebrates or spends the New Year, no matter whether s/he has got a rabbit or not. This allegory refers to something is so negligible that it has little impact on the overall situation.

chuān tù zi xié de – pǎo de kuài
穿兔子鞋的 – 跑得快
Like wearing a rabbit's shoes – run fast

qiāo luó niǎn tù zi – qǐ hòng
敲锣撵兔子 – 起哄
Beat gongs when chasing a rabbit – gather together to create a disturbance

lǎo niú niǎn tù zi – yǒu jìn shǐ bù shàng
老牛撵兔子 – 有劲使不上
Old ox chasing a rabbit – Restricted by certain conditions, one cannot display his/her talent.

shí chái dǎ tù zi– yī jǔ liǎng dé
拾柴打兔子– 一举两得 
Incidentally capture a hare while collecting firewood – serve two purposes at once

dǎ tù zi pèng jiàn le huáng yáng – lāo le gè dà wài kuài
打兔子碰见了黄羊 – 捞了个大外快
Run into a Mongolian gazelle when hunting rabbits – get a big extra income

huó bō tù zi – chě pí
活剥兔子 – 扯皮
Skin a rabbit when it is still alive – dispute over trifles; argue back and forth; wrangle

tù zi qún lǐ yī zhī hǔ – páng rán dà wù
兔子群里一只虎 – 庞然大物
A tiger among a herd of rabbits – huge monster; colossus; formidable giant