quân-tử phòng thân
The gentleman guards his person — prudence as a nobleman's first weapon.
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Where will you be? Anywhere Hà Nội & the NorthHuế / Đà Nẵng & the CenterSài Gòn & the SouthOnline slang Bắc ↔ Nam words
quét nhà ra rác
Sweep the house and rubbish appears — inspect anything closely enough and faults surface.
quê cha đất tổ
Father's homeland, ancestors' earth — the ground that owns you back.
quí tinh bất quí đa
Prize the refined, not the numerous — an army, or anything, measured in quality over count.
quí vật tìm quí nhơn
Precious things seek precious owners — treasures circulate toward whoever can afford their keeping.
quýt làm cam chịu
having to bear the blame for something one did not do
quýt ngọt chanh chua
Sweet tangerine and sour lime — each nature keeps its flavor; households mix both.
quạ mượn lông công
The crow borrowing peacock feathers — dressing in others' finery to hide what one is.
quạ mổ diều tha
Pecked by crows, snatched by kites — misfortune queuing up for the same victim.
quạ quạ nuôi con tu hú
The crow raising the koel's chick — labor donated to a squatter; the lazy bird's egg hatched by another's warmth.
quạ đội lốt công
A crow in peacock's guise — borrowed splendor over a shabby core.
quả bom tình dục
A sex bomb — smoldering physical magnetism.
quả dục bảo thân
Sparing desire preserves the body — the old physician's ledger of appetite against years.
quả hòa vô thân
Scant harmony, scant friends — the prickly keep an empty visiting-book.
quả kiếp nhân duyên
Karma's fruit and fated bonds — good matches and bad lots alike are cause ripened into effect.
quất ngựa truy phong
Whipping the horse to chase the wind — bolting from a lover without a backward glance.
quần cộc chân chì, không Tứ Kỳ thì cũng Gia Lộc
Short trousers and lead-dark shins — if not Tứ Kỳ, then Gia Lộc — the teasing uniform of the mud-field districts.
quần nghị phụ chiên
Ants swarming rank meat — the stampede toward anything that smells of profit.
quần ngư tranh thực
A shoal of fish fighting for the feed — a free-for-all over the same scrap.
quần tam tụ ngũ
Clustering in threes, knotting in fives — little knots of people gathering to gossip or scheme.
quỉ khốc thần sầu
Ghosts weep and spirits mourn — writing so fine the supernatural grieves; or wickedness so great it appalls them.
quốc dĩ dân vi bổn
The nation takes the people as its root — no populace, no state; the base firm, the country calm.
quốc kêu mùa hè
The moorhen calls all summer — persistence itself, in one bird's throat.
quốc kế dân sinh
State planning and the people's livelihood — the great matters of nation and daily bread.
quỷ khốc thần sầu
Ghosts weep and spirits grieve — dreadful enough to appall the supernatural.
quỷ nhập tràng
A corpse possessed at the shrouding — the dead rising deranged; someone acting past all belief.
quỷ tha ma bắt
goddamn; curse; screw
qua cầu cất dịp
to take advantage of an opportunity
Qua cầu ngả nón trông cầu
Cross the bridge and then look back at it
qua cầu đã vội cất dịp
Don't burn bridges after crossing them
qua khỏi truông voi tro bòi cho khái
After overcoming a big challenge, a smaller one seems easy
qua rào vỗ vế
To flatter someone to achieve a goal
qua sông đấm cò vào sóng
To fight a losing battle
qua sông đấm gì ra sóng
Do not complain about difficulties after taking on a challenge
Qua đình ngả nón trông đình
Respect and prioritize one's own family
qua, hôn, tang, tế bất tại cấm lệ
Exceptions can be made in emergency situations
quan bất phiền, dân bất nhiễu
Officials do not bother, people do not disturb
quan bất tại ngu
Officials are not necessarily knowledgeable
quan chẩy rồi, thợ ngôi cũng tếch
When those in power fall, their subordinates also suffer
quan cần dân chẳng vội
The ruler needs the people, not the other way around
quan cứ lịnh, lính cứ truyền
Officers follow orders, soldiers follow instructions
quan muốn sang, nhà hàng muốn đắt
Everyone has their own ambitions and desires
quan phủ đi, quan tri nhậm
One official leaves, another takes over
quan sứ Nghệ, lệ Thanh-hương
officials are corrupt and law is not upheld
quan tiền nặng quan tiền chìm, bồ-gìn nhẹ bồ-gìn nổi
A person with power and money will eventually fall, while a humble person will rise
Quan văn mất một đồng tiền
A small loss can lead to a much bigger problem
quan văn mất một đồng tiền, xem bằng quan võ mất quyền quận công
A loss of prestige is more significant than a loss of material wealth
quay thua đáo gỡ
To turn a defeat into a victory
quen càng lèn cho đau
Familiarity can lead to contempt or hurt
quen mui biết mùi ăn mãi
Familiarity breeds fondness
quen thói bốc rời
Familiarity breeds carelessness
quyền bà Hoàng
absolute power or authority
quân tử dĩ chí khí tương kỳ
Gentlemen should help each other with loyalty and spirit
Quân tử là quân tử Tàu
A gentleman is recognized and respected everywhere
quân vô loài
A person without manners or morals
quân xử thần tử, thần bất tử bất trung!
A loyal subject must die if the king is killed
quí vật đãi quí nhân
Treat important guests with precious things
quít dầy gặp móng tay nhọn
A gentle person meets a ruthless one
quạ chui chuồng lợn
Someone of low status or morality takes advantage of someone of higher status
quạ theo gà con
Someone follows or imitates another's bad behavior