歇后语(xiē hòu yǔ) ―― two-part allegorical sayings

1.矮(ǎi) 子(zi) 爬(pá) 楼(lóu) 梯(tī) ―― 步(bù) 步(bù) 高(gāo)
A dwarf climbing a ladder ― becoming higher with each step

2.八(bā) 仙(xiān) 过(guò) 海(hǎi)―― 各(gè) 显(xiǎn) 神(shén) 通(tōng)
The Eight Immortals cross the sea ― each displaying his or her special prowess

3.半(bàn) 天(tiān) 空(kōng) 里(lǐ) 挂(guà) 口(kǒu) 袋(dài)――装(zhuāng) 疯(fēng)（风(fēng)）
Hanging a bag in mid-air ― holding the wind (feigning madness)

4.搽(chá) 粉(fěn) 进(jìn) 棺(guān) 材(cái)―― 死(sǐ) 要(yào) 面(miàn) 子(zi)
Putting make-up on before entering the coffin ― saving face even when dying

5.茶(chá) 壶(hú) 里(lǐ) 煮(zhǔ) 饺(jiǎo) 子(zi) ――倒(dǎo) 不(bù) 出(chū) 来(lái)
Boiling dumplings in a teapot ― no way to get them out

6.城(chéng) 门(mén) 里(lǐ) 扛(káng) 竹(zhú) 竿(gān)―― 直(zhí) 进(jìn) 直(zhí) 出(chū)
Carrying a pole through a city gate ― in and out in a straight line

7.窗(chuāng) 户(hù) 上(shàng) 的(de) 纸(zhǐ)―― 一(yì) 戳(chuō) 就(jiù) 破(pò)
Paper window panes ― torn by a touch

8.打(dǎ) 破(pò) 沙(shā) 锅(guō) ―― 问(wèn) 到(dào) 底(dǐ)
Breaking an earthenware pot ― cracking down to the bottom (getting to the root of the matter)

9.大(dà) 姑(gū) 娘(niang) 坐(zuò) 花(huā) 轿(jiào)―― 头(tóu) 一(yì) 回(huí)
A girl sitting in a bridal sedan chair ― the very first time

10.大(dà) 热(rè) 天(tiān) 穿(chuān) 棉(mián) 袄(ǎo) ―― 不(bú) 是(shì) 时(shí) 候(hòu)
Wearing a padded coat on a hot day ― out of the season

11.大(dà) 水(shuǐ) 冲(chōng) 倒(dǎo) 龙(lóng) 王(wáng) 庙(miào)――一(yì) 家(jiā) 人(rén) 不(bú) 认(rèn) 一(yì) 家(jiā) 人(rén)
The Temple of the Dragon King washed away by a flood ― not recognizing one’s kinsman

12.刀(dāo) 尖(jiān) 上(shàng) 翻(fān) 筋(jīn) 斗(dǒu)―― 玩(wán)儿(er) 命(mìng)
Turning somersaults on knives ― playing with one’s life

13.电(diàn) 线(xiàn) 杆(gān) 当(dāng) 筷(kuài) 子(zi)―― 大(dà) 材(cái) 小(xiǎo) 用(yòng)
Using telephone poles as chopsticks ― putting much material to petty use

14.高(gāo) 射(shè) 炮(pào) 打(dǎ) 蚊(wén) 子(zi)―― 小(xiǎo) 题(tí) 大(dà) 做(zuò)
Killing a mosquito with a cannon ― making a mountain out of a molehill

15.隔(gé) 年(nián) 的(de) 皇(huáng) 历(lì)―― 过(guò) 时(shí) 了(le)
Last year’s almanac ― out of date

16.狗(gǒu) 拿(ná) 耗(hào) 子(zi)―― 多(duō) 管(guǎn) 闲(xián) 事(shì)
A dog catching a mouse ― poking one’s nose into other people’s business

17.狗(gǒu) 撵(niǎn) 鸭(yā) 子(zi)―― 呱(guā) 呱(guā) 叫(jiào)
A duck chased by a dog ― quacking at the top of its voice

18.狗(gǒu) 咬(yǎo) 刺(cì) 猬(wei)―― 无(wú) 处(chù) 下(xià) 口(kǒu)
A dog snapping at a hedgehog ― having nowhere to bite

19.狗(gǒu) 咬(yǎo) 吕(lǚ) 洞(dòng) 宾(bīn)―― 不(bù) 识(shí) 好(hǎo) 人(rén) 心(xīn)
A dog biting Lv Dong Bin ― not being able to recognize a kind-hearted man

20.狗(gǒu) 坐(zuò) 轿(jiào) 子(zi)―― 不(bù) 识(shí) 抬(tái) 举(ju)
A dog sitting in a sedan chair ― unable to appreciate a favor

21.棺(guān) 材(cái) 里(lǐ) 伸(shēn) 手(shǒu)―― 死(sǐ) 要(yào) 钱(qián)
A hand stretched from a coffin ― asking for money even when dead

22.韩(hán) 信(xìn) 将(jiāng) 兵(bīng)―― 多(duō) 多(duō) 益(yì) 善(shàn)
Han Xin commanding troops ― the more the better

23.和(hé) 尚(shang) 打(dǎ) 伞(sǎn) ―― 无(wú) 法(fǎ)（发(fà)）无(wú) 天(tiān)
A monk holding an umbrella ― having neither hair (law) nor sky (Providence)

24.黄(huáng) 连(lián) 树(shù) 下(xià) 弹(tán) 琴(qín)―― 苦(kǔ) 中(zhōng) 作(zuò) 乐
(lè) Playing the zither under a Chinese goldthread tree ― seeking happiness from bitterness

25.黄(huáng) 鼠(shǔ) 狼(láng) 单(dān) 咬(yǎo) 病(bìng) 鸭(yā) 子(zi)―― 该(gāi) 倒(dǎo) 霉(méi)
A sick duck bitten by a weasel ― more bad luck

26.黄(huáng) 鼠(shǔ) 狼(láng) 给(gěi) 鸡(jī) 拜(bài) 年(nián)―― 没(méi) 安(ān) 好(hǎo) 心(xīn)
The weasel pays a New Year call on the hen ― not with good intentions

27.火(huǒ) 烧(shāo) 眉(méi) 毛(máo)―― 顾(gù) 眼(yǎn) 前(qián)
Eyebrows on fire ― concentrate on immediate matters

28.鸡(jī) 蛋(dàn) 里(li) 挑(tiāo) 骨(gǔ) 头(tou)―― 故(gù) 意(yì) 找(zhǎo) 茬(chá)
Picking bones from eggs ― finding fault deliberately

29.姜(jiāng) 太(tài) 公(gōng) 钓(diào) 鱼(yú)―― 愿(yuàn) 者(zhě) 上(shàng) 钩(gōu)
A fish jumping to Jiang Taigong’s hookless and baitless line ― a willing victim

30.脚(jiǎo) 底(dǐ) 上(shàng) 擦(cā) 油(yóu)―― 溜(liū) 了(le)
Putting grease onto one’s soles ― to slip away

31.井(jǐng) 里(lǐ) 的(de) 蛤(há) 蟆(ma)―― 没(méi) 见(jiàn) 过(guò) 大(dà) 天(tiān)
A frog in a well ― never having seen the whole sky

32.孔(kǒng) 夫(fū) 子(zǐ) 搬(bān) 家(jiā)―― 竟(jìng) 是(shì) 输(shū) （书(shū)）
Confucius moves house ― nothing but books (always lose)

33.癞(lài) 蛤(há) 蟆(ma) 打(dǎ) 哈(hā) 欠(qian)―― 好(hǎo) 大(dà) 口(kǒu) 气(qì)
A toad yawns ― a gaping mouth (talking big)

34.癞(lài) 蛤(há) 蟆(ma) 想(xiǎng) 吃(chī) 天(tiān) 鹅(é) 肉(ròu)―― 痴(chī) 心(xīn) 妄(wàng) 想(xiǎng)
A toad craving for swan’s flesh ― an impractical dream

35.老(lǎo) 虎(hǔ) 戴(dài) 佛(fó) 珠(zhū)―― 假(jiǎ) 装(zhuāng) 善(shàn) 人(rén)
A tiger wearing a monk’s beads ― a vicious person pretending to be benevolent

36.老(lǎo) 虎(hǔ) 的(de) 屁(pì) 股(gu)―― 摸(mō) 不(bù) 得(dé)
The buttocks of a tiger ― cannot be touched

37.老(lǎo) 虎(hǔ) 嘴(zuǐ) 上(shàng) 拔(bá) 胡(hú) 子(zi)―― 找(zhǎo) 死(sǐ)
Pulling a tiger’s whisker ― only to court death

38.老(lǎo) 鼠(shǔ) 掉(diào) 进(jìn) 书(shū) 箱(xiāng) 里(lǐ) ―― 咬(yǎo) 文(wén) 嚼(jiáo) 字(zì)
A mouse in a bookcase ― chewing up the pages

39.老(lǎo) 鼠(shǔ) 过(guò) 街(jiē)―― 人(rén) 人(rén) 喊(hǎn) 打(dǎ)
A rat runs across the street ― everybody joins the hue and cry

40.老(lǎo) 鼠(shǔ) 爬(pá) 秤(chèng) 钩(gōu) ―― 自(zì) 己(jǐ) 秤(chēng) 自(zì) 己(jǐ)
A mouse climbs onto a steelyard hook ― weighing itself in the balance (chanting the praises of oneself)

41.老(lǎo) 鼠(shǔ) 钻(zuān) 进(jìn) 风(fēng) 箱(xiāng) 里(lǐ)―― 两(liǎng) 头(tóu) 受(shòu) 气(qì)
A mouse in a bellows ― pressed from both ends(blamed by both sides)

42.老(lǎo) 鼠(shǔ) 钻(zuàn) 牛(niú) 角(jiǎo)―― 此(cǐ) 路(lù) 不(bù) 通(tōng)
A mouse in an ox horn ― meeting a dead end

43.老(lǎo) 王(wáng) 卖(mài) 瓜(guā)―― 自(zì) 卖(mài) 自(zì) 夸(kuā)
Lao Wang selling melons ― praising his own wares

44.聋(lóng) 子(zi) 的(de) 耳(ěr) 朵(duo)―― 摆(bǎi) 设(shè)
A deaf man’s ears ― just for show

45.搂(lǒu) 草(cǎo) 打(dǎ) 兔(tù) 子(zi)―― 顺(shùn) 手(shǒu)
Raking the hay and catching the rabbit ― with no extra trouble

46.马(mǎ) 尾(wěi) 穿(chuān) 豆(dòu) 腐(fu)―― 提(tí) 不(bù) 起(qǐ) 来(lái)
Threading bean curd with a hair from a horse’s tail ― impossible to lift it up

47.猫(māo) 哭(kū) 老(lǎo) 鼠(shǔ)―― 假(jiǎ) 慈(cí) 悲(bēi)
A cat crying over a mouse’s misfortune ― sham mercy

48.门(mén) 缝(fèng) 里(lǐ) 瞅(chǒu) 人(rén)―― 把(bǎ) 人(rén) 看(kàn) 扁(biǎn) 了(le)
Gazing at someone from behind a slightly opened door ― taking a narrow view of a person

49.木(mù) 匠(jiàng) 带(dài) 枷(jiā)―― 自(zì) 作(zuò) 自(zì) 受(shòu)
A carpenter in a cangue ― suffering from one’s own endeavors

50.泥(ní) 菩(pú) 萨(sà) 过(guò) 河(hé)―― 自(zì) 身(shēn) 难(nán) 保(bǎo)
A clay Buddha crossing a steam ― hardly able to save itself

51.旗(qí) 杆(gān) 上(shàng) 挂(guà) 灯(dēng) 笼(long)―― 高(gāo) 明(míng)
A lantern hung from a flagpole ― high and bright

52.骑(qí) 驴(lǘ) 看(kàn) 唱(chàng) 本(běn)―― 走(zǒu) 着(zhe) 瞧(qiáo)
Reading a book on donkey back ― reading while riding(wait and see)

53.骑(qí) 在(zài) 老(lǎo) 虎(hǔ) 背(bèi) 上(shàng)―― 身(shēn) 不(bù) 由(yóu) 己(jǐ)
Riding a tiger ― having no control over oneself

54.千(qiān) 里(lǐ) 送(sòng) 鹅(é) 毛(máo)―― 礼(lǐ) 轻(qīng) 情(qíng) 意(yì) 重(zhòng)
Travel a thousand miles to bestow a goose feather ― a small gift may be a token of profound friendship

55.秋(qiū) 后(hòu) 的(de) 蚂(mà) 蚱(zha)―― 蹦(bèng) 跶(da) 不(bù) 了(liǎo) 几(jǐ) 天
(tiān) A grasshopper at the end of autumn ― its jumping days are numbered

56.热(rè) 锅(guō) 上(shàng) 的(de) 蚂(mǎ) 蚁(yǐ)―― 团(tuán) 团(tuán) 转(zhuàn)
A swarm of ants on a hot oven ― milling around in a panic

57.肉(ròu) 包(bāo) 子(zi) 打(dǎ) 狗(gǒu)―― 有(yǒu) 去(qù) 无(wú) 回(huí)
A meat bun thrown at a dog ― by no means retrievable

58.十(shí) 五(wǔ) 只(zhī) 吊(diào) 桶(tǒng) 打(dǎ) 水(shuǐ)―― 七(qī) 上(shàng) 八(bā) 下(xià)
Fifteen buckets to draw water from a well ― seven up and eight down (all at sixes and sevens)

59.孙(sūn) 猴(hóu) 子(zi) 的(de) 脸(liǎn)―― 说(shuō) 变(biàn) 就(jiù) 变(biàn)
The Monkey King’s face ― unpredictable changes

60.太(tài) 平(píng) 洋(yáng) 上(shàng) 的(de) 警(jǐng) 察(chá)―― 管(guǎn) 得(dé) 宽(kuān)
In charge of the Pacific Ocean ― excessive responsibilities

61.太(tài) 岁(suì) 头(tóu) 上(shàng) 动(dòng) 土(tǔ)―― 好(hǎo) 大(dà) 的(de) 胆(dǎn)
Digging clay near Taisui ― Beijing reckless

62.铁(tiě) 打(dǎ) 的(de) 公(gōng) 鸡(jī)―― 一(yì) 毛(máo) 不(bù) 拔(bá)
An iron rooster ― not a feather can be pulled out

63.听(tīng) 评(píng) 书(shū) 掉(diào) 眼(yǎn) 泪(lèi)―― 替(tì) 古(gǔ) 人(rén) 担(dān) 忧(yōu)
Shedding tears while listening to pingshu ― worrying about the ancients

64.秃(tū) 子(zi) 跟(gēn) 着(zhe) 月(yuè) 亮(liàng) 走(zǒu)―― 沾(zhān) 光(guāng)
A bald head shines in the moonlight ― reflected glory

65.秃(tū) 子(zi) 头(tóu) 上(shàng) 的(de) 虱(shī) 子(zi)―― 明(míng) 摆(bǎi) 着(zhe)
A louse on a bald head ― too obvious

66.兔(tù) 子(zi) 的(de) 尾(wěi) 巴(ba)―― 长(cháng) 不(bù) 了(liǎo)
A hare’s tail ― cannot be too long

67.脱(tuō) 了(le) 裤(kù) 子(zi) 放(fàng) 屁(pì)―― 多(duō) 费(fèi) 一(yí) 道(dào) 手(shǒu) 续(xù)
Taking off the pants to break wind ― make an unnecessary move

68.外(wài) 甥(shēng) 打(dǎ) 灯(dēng) 笼(long)―― 照(zhào) 旧(jiù)（舅(jiù)）
The nephew holds a lantern for his uncle ― things stay unchanged

69.王(wáng) 八(bā) 吃(chī) 衬(chèn) 托(tuō)―― 铁(tiě) 了(le) 心(xīn)
A tortoise swallowing a weight ― get an iron heart

70.蚊(wén) 子(zi) 叮(dīng) 菩(pú) 萨(sà)―― 认(rèn) 错(cuò) 人(rén) 了(le)
A mosquito bites a clay idol ― mistaken identity

71.乌(wū) 龟(guī) 吃(chī) 萤(yíng) 火(huǒ) 虫(chóng)―― 心(xīn) 里(li) 明(míng) 白(bái)
A tortoise witch has swallowed a firefly ― bright inside

72.瞎(xiā) 子(zi) 点(diǎn) 灯(dēng)―― 白(bái) 费(fèi) 蜡(là)
A blind man lighting a candle ― wasting wax

73.小(xiǎo) 葱(cōng) 拌(bàn) 豆(dòu) 腐(fu)―― 一(yì) 清(qīng)（青(qīng)）二(èr) 白(bái)
Shallot mixed with bean curd ― one green and one white (completely clear-cut or innocent)

74.小(xiǎo) 孩(hái)儿(er) 放(fàng) 鞭(biān) 炮(pào)―― 又(yòu) 爱(ài) 又(yòu) 怕(pà)
Kids letting off firecrackers ― feeling both joy and fear

75.小(xiǎo) 和(hé) 尚(shang) 念(niàn) 经(jīng)―― 有(yǒu) 口(kǒu) 无(wú) 心(xīn)
An apprentice monk reciting _script_ures ― saying what one does not mean

76.秀(xiù) 才(cái) 遇(yù) 见(jiàn) 兵(bīng)―― 有(yǒu) 理(lǐ) 说(shuō) 不(bù) 清(qīng)
A scholar meeting a warrior ― unable to vindicate oneself against an unreasonable opponent

77.哑(yǎ) 巴(ba) 吃(chī) 黄(huáng) 连(lián)―― 有(yǒu) 苦(kǔ) 说(shuō) 不(bù) 出(chū)
A dumb person tasting bitter herbs ― unable to express bitter feelings

78.哑(yǎ) 巴(ba) 吃(chī) 饺(jiǎo) 子(zi)―― 心(xīn) 里(li) 有(yǒu) 数(shù)
A mute person eating jiaozi ― knowing how many he has eaten

79.阎(yán) 王(wang) 爷(yé) 出(chū) 告(gào) 示(shì)―― 鬼(guǐ) 话(huà) 连(lián) 篇(piān)
The King of Hell’s announcement ― a whole series of lies

80.张(zhāng) 飞(fēi) 穿(chuān) 针(zhēn)―― 粗(cū) 中(zhōng) 有(yǒu) 细(xì)
Zhang Fei threading a needle ― subtle in one’s rough ways

81.丈(zhàng) 二(èr) 金(jīn) 刚(gāng)―― 摸(mō) 不(bù) 着(zháo) 头(tóu) 脑(nǎo)
The giant monk’s head ― cannot be reached (can’t make head or tail of something)

82.芝(zhī) 麻(ma) 开(kāi) 花(huā)―― 节(jié) 节(jié) 高(gāo)
Sesame in bloom ― rising steadily

83.周(zhōu) 瑜(yú) 打(dǎ) 黄(huáng) 盖(gài)―― 一(yí) 个(gè) 愿(yuàn) 打(dǎ) ，一(yí) 个(gè) 愿(yuàn) 挨(ái)
Zhou Yu beats Huang Gai ― the punishment is appropriately given by one and willingly accepted by the other

84.猪(zhū) 八(bā) 戒(jiè) 吃(chī) 人(rén) 参(shēn) 果(guǒ)―― 全(quán) 不(bù) 知(zhī) 滋(zī) 味(wèi)
Zhu Bajie eating ginseng ― not knowing the taste at all

85.猪(zhū) 八(bā) 戒(jiè) 照(zhào) 镜(jìng) 子(zi)―― 里(lǐ) 外(wài) 不(bú) 是(shì) 人(rén)
Zhu Bajie looking at himself in a mirror ― blamed everywhere

86.竹(zhú) 篮(lán) 打(dǎ) 水(shuǐ) ―― 一(yì) 场(chǎng) 空(kōng)
Drawing water with a bamboo basket ― achieving nothing