Taiwanese-English dictionary full-text search

Zaixsvef ciah cit liap tau, khahhør syau haux ti'thaau. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Zai'svef ciah cit liap tau, khaq'hør sie'au haux ty'thaau.; Zai'svef/svy ciah cit liap tau, khaq'hør sie'au haux ty'thaau. [[...]][i#] [p.]
It's better to take care of parents while they are alive rather than make a show of being filial at their funeral. (Lit. Better to give parents one bean when living rather than to offer them a pig's head after they die.)
在生吃一粒豆,勝過死後孝豬頭。父母在世時好好孝敬,比在身後才大事祭拜有意義。

Zaixsvef m haux na'aau, syau ciaq haux kvoazha'thaau. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Zai'svef m haux naa'aau, sie'au ciaq haux kvoaf'zhaa'thaau.; Zai'svef/svy m haux naa'aau, sie'au ciaq haux kvoaf'zhaa'thaau. [[...]][i#] [p.]
to pay respect to parents after they die after not taking care of them while they were living, unfilial
父母在生不養,死後才想孝敬。

zafngthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zarng'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

main threads, points, trail, clue of (criminal) investigation

頭緒

zha'thaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhaa'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

curse or scolding meaning a stupid ignorant person, also a curse against an idol calling it a useless block of wood because it doesn't answer requests (Lit. a block of wood, or stump, or trunk of wood)

木頭

zhaethaau-køea [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhaix'thaau-koea; zhaix'thaau-køea [[...]][i#] [p.]

a steamed confection made of rice and grated turnips

蘿蔔糕

zhanthaukef [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhaan'thaau'kef [[...]][i#] [p.]

landlord of agricultural land, owner of the field

田主,地主

zhadthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhat'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

head of a band of robbers

賊首

zhawthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhao'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

grass, one of the 17 radicals, "艸"

草根,草字頭,部首

zhaothaau kauxiøh [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhaux'thaau kau'iøh [[...]][i#] [p.]

many kinds of medicine used without effect

難症費藥

chiwthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: chiuo'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

hold, seize, grasp property or authority, have something one's command

手頭,手中

Zaisarn ti yn lauxpe ee chiwthaau. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Zaai'sarn ti yn lau'pe ee chiuo'thaau. [[...]][i#] [p.]
The property is under his father's control.
財產在他父親的手中。

Bøeq zurn, m zurn, ti y ee chiwthaau. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Boeq zurn, m zurn, ti y ee chiuo'thaau.; Bøeq zurn, m zurn, ti y ee chiuo'thaau. [[...]][i#] [p.]
He holds the authority to approve or to reject.
准或不准在他的手中。

chiwthaau aan [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: chiuo'thaau aan [[...]][i#] [p.]
short of cash
手頭緊

zhngthaau phaq, zhngboea høo [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhngg'thaau phaq, zhngg'boea høo; zhngg'thaau phaq, zhngg'bøea høo [[...]][i#] [p.]

fight between husband and wife at one end of the bed, and after a little while be in harmony at the other end of the bed

床頭吵,床尾和。

zhofngpong [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhorng'pong [[...]][i#] [p.]

rash, hurried, careless, run against, spoil or break things

鹵莽,匆忙

Y cyn zhofngpong, chiatør zhaethngf toax langkheq ee thaukhakterng. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Y cyn zhorng'pong, chiaf'tør zhaix'thngf toax laang'kheq ee thaau'khag'terng. [[...]][i#] [p.]
He is very careless, he spilt soup on the head of the guest.
他很鹵莽,翻倒菜湯在客人的頭上。

zhuiekhythaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhuix'khie'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

stump or root of a tooth

齒根

zhutthauthvy [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zhud'thaau'thvy [[...]][i#] [p.]

make good or become successful (said of people of humble origin)

熬出頭了,鬆一口氣

cviagøeh cviathaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: cviaf'goeh cviaf'thaau; cviaf'gøeh cviaf'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

first few days of the year sometimes including to about the fifteenth in which time debts are not collected and ill-omened language is avoided

正月初,大年初

cviarthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: cviax'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

the right side or doctrine, proper, correct, the right side as opposed to the reverse side, front, put or hold in the proper direction

正面,正端

He cviarthaau. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: He cviax'thaau. [[...]][i#] [p.]
Lay in the proper direction.
放正

Cid siafng ti , tøq cit thaau si cviarthaau, tøq cit thaau si tørthaau? [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Cid siafng ti , tøq cit thaau si cviax'thaau, tøq cit thaau si tøx'thaau? [[...]][i#] [p.]
Which is the right end of these chopsticks?
這雙筷子那一端是頭,那一端是尾 ?

U ee khuxn cviarthaau, u ee khuxn tørthaau. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: U ee khuxn cviax'thaau, u ee khuxn tøx'thaau. [[...]][i#] [p.]
Some are sleeping in the proper direction, some are not.
有的睡正端,有的睡另一端。

ciapthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ciab'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

meet and discuss, joint of pipeline, a splice in a rope

接頭

ciqthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: cih'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

the tongue, the root of the tongue

舌根,舌頭

cymthau'hieen [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: cirm'thaau'hieen [[...]][i#] [p.]

pillow talk of a female companion, slanders or flatteries (Lit. Chinese fiddle played by one's pillow companion)

枕邊細語

ciøqthauphang [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ciøh'thaau'phang [[...]][i#] [p.]

crevice between rocks

石頭縫

Hid khoarn chiuar lorng hoad ti ciøqthauphang. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Hid khoarn chiu'ar lorng hoad ti ciøh'thaau'phang. [[...]][i#] [p.]
That kind of tree always grows out of a crevice.
那種樹都長在石頭縫。

ciøqthauphviaa [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ciøh'thaau'phviaa [[...]][i#] [p.]

beach full of stones

石子埔

ciøqthaute [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ciøh'thaau'te; ciøh'thaau'tøe [[...]][i#] [p.]

rocky soil, ground full of rocks, not good for cultivation

石頭地

zørsu khythaau laan [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zøx'su khie'thaau laan; zøx/zøex'su khie'thaau laan [[...]][i#] [p.]

Beginning is the hardest part of any enterprise.

做事起頭難

zoexzex [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zoe'zex [[...]][i#] [p.]

debt of sin

罪債

Zoexzex na moar, ciu e zhutthauthvy. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Zoe'zex na moar, ciu e zhud'thaau'thvy. [[...]][i#] [p.]
After you have made restitution for your sins you can give a sigh of relief.
罪債若滿,就會出人頭地。

zuythaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zuie'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

upper section of a stream

上游

zuun kaux kiøthaau zuxjieen tit [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zuun kaux kiøo'thaau zu'jieen tit [[...]][i#] [p.]

It will take care of itself when the time comes. Let's cross that bridge when we come to it.

船到橋頭自然直。

zunthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zuun'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

bow or prow of a boat

船頭

zurnthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: zuxn'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

the beginning part of the water canal

圳頭

eng [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: eng; (iong) [[...]][i#] [p.]

use, spend, with (an instrument)

用

Eng padlaang ee kunthaubør zefng ciøqsay. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Eng pat'laang ee kuun'thaau'bør zefng ciøh'say.; Eng pat'laang ee kuun'thaau'bør/buo zefng ciøh'say. [[...]][i#] [p.]
benefit oneself (get a free ride) at the expense of another, be generous at another's expense, rob Peter to pay Paul
用別人的拳頭打石獅, 損人利己, 慷人之慨.

eng sva'afky phex [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: eng svaf'ar'ky phex [[...]][i#] [p.]
carry some something in the fold of one's dress
用衣服的下擺兜

eng siøf ang'aang ee thiq ux [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: eng siøf aang'aang ee thiq ux [[...]][i#] [p.]
make the iron red-hot and burn with it (to make a hole or mark)
用燒紅的鐵烙

eng tek'ar sud [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: eng teg'ar sud [[...]][i#] [p.]
beat or switch with a thin bamboo
用竹子抽打

eng tefng'ar terng [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: eng terng'ar terng [[...]][i#] [p.]
weigh with a small steelyard
用戥子戥

engzhuix gex ke'khaf. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: eeng'zhuix gex kef'khaf.; eeng'zhuix gex køef'khaf. [[...]][i#] [p.]

nothing to do but lick chicken bones

閒著啃雞腳

Bøo thaulo engzhuix gex ke'khaf borng khaikarng. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Bøo thaau'lo eeng'zhuix gex kef'khaf borng khay'karng.; Bøo thaau'lo eeng'zhuix gex køef'khaf borng khay'karng. [[...]][i#] [p.]
Out of a job and nothing to do but stand around and talk.
沒工作閒著啃雞腳閒聊.

øethaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ee'thaau; øee'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

toe of a shoe

鞋頭

gafm'ar [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: garm'ar [[...]][i#] [p.]

stairs, a flight of steps, a ladder, introduction (to subject)

階梯

Ciøqthaau gafm'ar aix khvoakhvoa'ar peq. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Ciøh'thaau garm'ar aix khvoaf'khvoaf'ar peq. [[...]][i#] [p.]
Look carefully when you climb stairs made of stone.
石頭階要慢慢爬。

gezøthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: gee'zøo'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

back part of the lower jaw

下顎頭

goxzafngthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: go'zarng'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

the most important part, the why and wherefore of a thing (Lit. where the plant connects to the root)

植物接近根部處

goanthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: goaan'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

origin, manufacturer, maker, wholesaler. (源頭) head or source (of a stream)

源頭,起源,製造廠,批發商

gøeqzhøef [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: goeh'zhef; gøeh'zhøef; (goeh'thaau) [[...]][i#] [p.]

first decade of the month

月初

gøeqthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: goeh'thaau; gøeh'thaau; (goeh'zhef) [[...]][i#] [p.]

beginning of the month

月頭,月初

Gu'thaau bøo tuix befzhuix. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Guu'thaau bøo tuix bea'zhuix. [[...]][i#] [p.]

not to the point, unconnected, incongruous (Lit. The head of an ox does not match the mouth of a horse.)

牛頭不對馬嘴,文不對題

hiongtiau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hiofng'tiau; (phvae'tiau, phvae thaau'zhae) [[...]][i#] [p.]

bad omen, augury of evil

凶兆,壞預兆

hoxthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ho'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

head of household, a personal account in bank, person of status

戶頭

hvoathaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hvoaf'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

be in charge of

掌管

hoad [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hoad; (thaau'moo) [[...]][i#] [p.]

hair on the head of a person

髮

hoatji thaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hoad'ji thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

radical of the Chinese character for hair

漢字部首之一

høea siøf ti'thaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hoea siøf ty'thaau; høea siøf ty'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

said of a person who is already very familiar (Lit. burnt pig's head, face very well done)

火燒豬頭,很面熟

honghøea-thaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hofng'hoea'thaau; hofng'høea-thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

be in a temper, an event sways the minds of men

氣頭上,風火前

hunzhøef-thaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: hwn'zhoef'thaau; hwn'zhøef-thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

bowl of a pipe

煙斗頭

iøthaau pvoaxhvi [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: iøo'thaau pvoa'hvi [[...]][i#] [p.]

shake one's head (as on hearing of some wicked deed or shady character)

搖頭擺耳

iøqthaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: iøh'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]

first brewing of medicinal herbs

藥頭

jixthaau jixbøea [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: ji'thaau ji'boea; ji'thaau ji'bøea [[...]][i#] [p.]

nothing for me in a contract, none of my business (Lit. from the first character to the last)

字頭字尾

Jidthaau chiah'viaxvia, suilaang kox sveamia. [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: Jit'thaau chiaq'via'via, suii'laang kox svex'mia.; Jit'thaau chiaq'via'via, suii'laang kox svix'mia. [[...]][i#] [p.]

Every family has their problems, everybody has to be responsible for the problems of their own life. (Lit. The sun is very hot, everyone has to protect his life.)

世風日下,各顧各的生命。

kaothaau [wt] [HTB] [wiki] u: kaux'thaau [[...]][i#] [p.]