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fool
| Chinese idioms explained in English | Download this dictionary |
三人成虎
san1 ren2 cheng2 hu3
Three persons talking about a tiger makes it real.
Lies that are repeated often enough will be accepted as truth.
Three persons talking about a tiger makes it real.
Lies that are repeated often enough will be accepted as truth.
买椟还珠
mai3 du2 huan2 zhu1
Buying a box and returning the pearls inside.
To take a lesser thing instead of a greater thing.
Buying a box and returning the pearls inside.
To take a lesser thing instead of a greater thing.
刻舟求剑
ke4 zhou1 qiu2 jian4
Marking the boat to locate a lost sword.
Said of a stickler who doesn't act according to changed circumstances. Taking measures without regard to changes in circumstances.
Marking the boat to locate a lost sword.
Said of a stickler who doesn't act according to changed circumstances. Taking measures without regard to changes in circumstances.
大笨蛋
da4 ben3 dan4
Big stupid egg!
You fool!
Big stupid egg!
You fool!
对牛弹琴
dui4 niu2 tan2 qin2
Playing the harp for oxen.
Wasting good things on people who cannot appreciate them. Talking deep theory to fools or speaking to an audience of inappropriate subjects. Casting pearls before swine.
Playing the harp for oxen.
Wasting good things on people who cannot appreciate them. Talking deep theory to fools or speaking to an audience of inappropriate subjects. Casting pearls before swine.
徙宅忘妻
xi3 zhai2 wang4 qi1
Moving house and forgetting to bring the wife.
This is said of a foolish and forgetful man. As stupid as a donkey.
Moving house and forgetting to bring the wife.
This is said of a foolish and forgetful man. As stupid as a donkey.
愚不可及
yu2 bu4 ke3 ji2
Couldn't be more foolish!
Referring to hopelessly stupidity.
Couldn't be more foolish!
Referring to hopelessly stupidity.
愚者千虑，必有一得
yu2 zhe3 qian1 lyu4, bi4 you3 yi4 de2
In a thousand schemes, even the greatest fool must be able to find some truth.
Compare with 智者千虑，必有一失 (zhi4 zhe3 qian1 lyu4, bi4 you3 yi4 shi1).
In a thousand schemes, even the greatest fool must be able to find some truth.
Compare with 智者千虑，必有一失 (zhi4 zhe3 qian1 lyu4, bi4 you3 yi4 shi1).
掩耳盗铃
yan3 er3 dao4 ling2
Plugging one's ears to steal a bell.
To deceive oneself. The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream. Alternative form: 掩耳偷铃 (yan3 er3 tou1 ling2).
Plugging one's ears to steal a bell.
To deceive oneself. The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream. Alternative form: 掩耳偷铃 (yan3 er3 tou1 ling2).
此地无银三百两
ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3
No three hundred taels of silver hidden here.
This expression is used to describe a person who tries to conceal or cover up something, but gives himself away by the act.
No three hundred taels of silver hidden here.
This expression is used to describe a person who tries to conceal or cover up something, but gives himself away by the act.
痴人说梦
chi1 ren2 shuo1 meng4
A fool telling about his dream.
To talk complete gibberish and nonsense.
A fool telling about his dream.
To talk complete gibberish and nonsense.
