Put a fresh flower in the cow dung [Article]

I'm currently editing this article which explains certain Chinese idioms, allegories, and terms. I wanted to share these bizarre allegories and several World Cup terms, per the season.

Chinese allegories
歇后语
These are two-part allegorical sayings. The first part, which is always stated, is descriptive. The second part, often left unstated, carries the message.

kŏng fū zǐ jiāo sān zì jīng – mái mò rén cái
孔夫子教《三字经》 – 埋没人才
Confucius teaches Three Character Classic or Three Character Primer. (The Three Character Classic refers to a three character textbook for beginners, which is said to be compiled by Wang Yinglin (王应麟) of the southern Song Dynasty.) – stifle real talents

lài há ma xiăng chī tiān é ròu – chī xīn wàng xiăng
癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 – 痴心妄想
A toad lusting after a swan’s flesh – crave for something one is not worthy of; have sheer illusion or wishful thinking

lăo hé shang kàn jià zhuang – xià bèi zi zài shuō
老和尚看嫁妆 – 下辈子再说
An old monk looks at the dowry – not for this lifetime but for the next

má bù shang xiù huā – dǐ zi tài chà
麻布上绣花 – 底子太差
Embroider on a piece of linen cloth – have a weak foundation

xiān huā chā zài niú fèn shang – zāo ta le
鲜花插在牛粪上 – 糟蹋了
Put a fresh flower in the cow dung – the flower is wasted; something beautiful is ruined if put together with something dirty or terrible

jiăo tà liăng zhī chuán – zuǒ yòu wéi nán
脚踏两只船 – 左右为难
Straddle two boats; have a foot in either boat – be in a dilemma; be in a quandary

shí chén dà hăi – yăo wú yīn xùn
石沉大海 – 杳无音讯
A stone dropped into the sea – disappear forever; have absolutely no news about somebody

shā jī qŭ luăn – dé bù cháng shī
杀鸡取卵 – 得不偿失
Kill the hen to get the eggs – the loss outweighs the gain

Popular words
流行词

shì jiè bēi
世界杯
World Cup

zú qiú chăng
足球场
field; pitch

zhōng chăng
中场
midfield

jìn qū
禁区
penalty area

shǒu mén yuán
守门员
goalkeeper

zì yóu rén
自由人
Libero

hòu bŭ duì yuán (tì bŭ)
候补队员（替补）
substitute

hòu wèi
后卫
full-back

zuǒ hòu wèi
左后卫
left back

yòu hòu wèi
右后卫
right back

zhōng hòu wèi (zhōng wèi)
中后卫（中卫）
center back

qián fēng
前锋
forward

zhōng fēng
中锋
center forward

biān fēng
边锋
wing; wing forward

cái pàn
裁判
referee

jiào liàn
教练
coach

hóng pái
红牌
red card

huáng pái
黄牌
yellow card

jiăo qiú
角球
corner kick

shǒu qiú
手球
handball

tóu qiú
头球
header

diăn qiú
点球
penalty kick

chăn qiú
铲球
slide tackle

rèn yì qiú
任意球
free kick

wū lóng qiú
乌龙球
own goal

shè mén
射门
shoot (at the goal)

fàn guī
犯规
foul

yuè wèi
越位
offsides

fáng shǒu
防守
defense

făn gōng
反攻
counter-attack


(China.org.cn by Wang Wei, June 25, 2010)