歇后語中譯英01:小蔥拌豆腐

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)

小蔥拌豆腐 – 一清二白

White bean curd and green scallions – as clear as daylight

狗拿耗子 – 多管閑事

Dog trying to catch mice – meddling in other people's business

啞巴吃黃連 – 有苦說不出

A dump person tasting bitter herbs – unable to express one's discomfort

秋后的螞蚱 – 蹦跶不了幾天

A grasshopper in late autumn – nearing one's end

泥菩薩過河 – 自身難保

The clay idol crosses a river – one is hardly able to save oneself, let alone assist others

竹籃打水 – 一場空

Draw water with a bamboo basket – achieving nothing; fruitless labor

搟面杖吹火 – 一竅不通

Try to blow the fire with a rolling pin – be completely ignorant or irrelevant

姜太公釣魚 – 愿者上鉤

Fish like Jiang Taigong (prime minister of Zhou Dynasty in Chinese history) , who cast a hook-less and bait-less line for the fish that wants to be caught – ask for willing victim or collaborator