Chinese allegories Lesson 32

guān qǐlái dă luó - míng shēng zài wài
关起门来打锣 - 名声在外
Close the door to beat gongs - be well-known

hán dōng là yuè de mă fēng wō - kōng kōng dòng dòng
寒冬腊月的马蜂窝 - 空空洞洞
A hornet's nest in severe winter - empty; hollow; devoid of substance

hăo mă zāo biān dă - rěn rŭ fù zhòng
好马遭鞭打 - 忍辱负重
A hardworking horse is whipped - show great fortitude under humiliating circumstances

hòu bàn yè zuò měi mèng  - hăo jĭng bù cháng
后半夜做美梦 - 好景不长
Have a beautiful dream after midnight - good times don't last long; pleasant hours fly fast

gŭ dŏng diàn lăo băn - yăn lĭshì huò
古董店老板 - 眼里识货
An antique shopkeeper - a person who knows what is what; a knowledgeable person

guān yīn pú sà xià dú shŏu - miàn shàn xīn bù shàn
观音菩萨下毒手 -  面善心不善
Guanyin, goddess of mercy, lays murderous hands - have a merciful face but a wolfish heart

qián táng jiāng zhăng cháo - dà qĭdà luò
钱塘江涨潮 - 大起大落
The Qiantang River tides are on the flow - great ups and downs; sharp rise and fall

qián yŏu qiáng dí hòu yŏu zhuī bīng - jìn tuì liăng nán
前有强敌后有追兵 - 进退两难
There are intercepting troops in front and pursuing troops behind - find it difficult to advance or retreat; be in a dilemma