Chinese allegories
歇后語
Two-part allegorical saying (of which the first part, always stated, is descriptive, while the second part, often unstated, carries the message)

tài suì tóu shang dòng tǔ – h?o dà de d?n
太歲頭上動土 – 好大的膽
Dig clay near Taisui, a god in Chinese mythology – be reckless. This allegory is always used in the case when one risks offending a person of power and influence.

zhū bā jiè dài ?r huán – zì yǐ wéi m?i
豬八戒戴耳環(huán) – 自以為美
Zhu Bajie (Pig in Journey to the West, one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, who carries a rake as a weapon) wears earrings. – He considers himself to be beautiful. This allegory is used to satirize one who, although ugly-looking, is pleased with oneself.

zhōng gǔ lóu shang de má què – nài jīng nài pà
鐘鼓樓上的麻雀 – 耐驚耐怕
Sparrows on the bell tower and drum tower are resistant to panic and fear. – This allegory is used to describe those sophisticated people who have gone through all sorts of hardships.

xi?o háir fàng biān pào – yòu ài yòu pà
小孩兒放鞭炮 – 又愛又怕
Kids letting off firecrackers – feeling both joy and fear

zuǐ shang m? zhū yóu – yóu zuǐ huá shé
嘴上抹豬油 – 油嘴滑舌
Cover or coat the mouth with lard – glib-tongued; slick

shuǐ xiān bù kāi huā – zhuāng suàn
水仙不開花 – 裝蒜
Narcissuses don't bloom. – Literally, they pretend to be garlic. Figuratively, it refers to one who feigns ignorance or makes a pretense.

g?u jiàn le zhǔ rén – yáo tóu b?i w?i
狗見了主人 – 搖頭擺尾
A dog always shakes the head and wags the tail when seeing its owner. – fawn on somebody; curry favor with somebody; flatter somebody

zhuó mù ni?o zh?o shí – quán píng zuǐ
啄木鳥找食 – 全憑嘴
A woodpecker searches for food. – All depends on the mouth. This allegory is used to describe people who merely chatter idly, and never work in a down-to-earth way, or those who are addicted to fine words or paying lip service.

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