Chinese allegories

歇后语

Two-part allegorical saying (of which the first part, always stated, is descriptive, while the second part, often unstated, carries the message)

小葱拌豆腐 – 一清二白

White bean curd and green scallions – as clear as daylight

狗拿耗子 – 多管闲事

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

哑巴吃黄连 – 有苦说不出

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

秋后的蚂蚱 – 蹦跶不了几天

A grasshopper in late autumn – nearing one's end

泥菩萨过河 – 自身难保

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

竹篮打水 – 一场空

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

擀面杖吹火 – 一窍不通

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

姜太公钓鱼 – 愿者上钩

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