Hard-earned money

Hoeh-koāⁿ-chîⁿ

Huih-koāⁿ-chîⁿ

——————–

Tê-tóng-jîn kám-kak gī-oân tham-u, pîn siáⁿ-mi̍h khai in ê hoeh-koāⁿ-chîⁿ.

The Tea Party people think congressmen are corrupt, and have no right to be spending their hard-earned money.

Work extra-long hours

Chhiau-sî

————

Hân-kok-jîn it-hiòng chhiau-sî kang-chok uī keng-chè phah piàⁿ, m̄-kú chèng-hú hīan-chāi kó•-lē hiu-ká.

Koreans have always worked very long hours in order to build up the economy, but the government is now urging people to take vacations.

Skilled worker doesn’t need much material

Ē-hiáu sé bīn, bián goā chē chúi

Literally: good at washing face, don’t need too much water

One hand washes the other; close ranks; professional courtesy

Koan koan siong hō͘

Literally: official (or officer) official each other protect

(usually police or law-related)

Personnel expenses

Jîn-sū-hùi

-

Kàng-kē jîn-sū-hùi ê pí-lē

Lower the proportion of personnel expenses

Brain drain

Jîn-châi goā-liû

-

Tâi-oân ê ū châi-lêng ê siàu-liân-lâng bô ài toà Tâi-oân, lóng khì Tāi-lio̍k á Bí-kok chia̍h thâu-lō͘, jîn-châi goā-liû chin lī-hāi.

Talented young Taiwanese don’t want to live in Taiwan, and all go to the Mainland or the United States to work; the brain drain is really serious.

Don’t piss off the boss

Tek-choē Thó͘-tī-kong chhī bô ke

Literally: if you offend the local god, you won’t be able to raise chickens.

When the cat’s away, the mice will play

Ke-lāi bô bâ niáu-chhí khiau-kha

Literally: “If there’s no cat in the house, the mice cross their legs (= relax, take it easy)”

Boring, pointless; having nothing to do

Bô gī-niū

Literally: “No handicrafts (that one makes to pass the time)”

——–

Li nā kám-kak siōng pan bô gī-niū, kui-khì sî sî leh soah.

If you think work is that boring, then just quit and get it over with.

Inside jobs are hard to stop

(Like employee theft, etc.)

Ka-chha̍t lân hông

Literally: “House thieves are hard to prevent”