Tâi-oân Chè-chō

Entries categorized as ‘Work’

Don’t be such a pushover

November 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Nńg thô͘ chhim ku̍t

Literally: “soft soil gets dug deep”

I.e., if you’re too nice, people will take advantage of you

Categories: Idioms · Relationships · Work

Work to the bone; be worked to the bone

November 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Chi̍t-chiah gû, pak nn̄g-niá phôe

Literally: “Flay two skins from one cow.”

Categories: Proverbs · Work

Brain drain

October 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Jîn-châi gōa-liû

Categories: Business · Economics · Education · Society · Work

Fire (someone); get fired

October 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Chhiáⁿ [person] kiâⁿ lō͘·
Tńg khì chia̍h8 ka-kī (“go back to eating your own (food)”)
Kā [person] sî-chit/sî-tiāu
Kā [person] sî thâu-lō͘·
Kā [person] thâi-thâu

Categories: Business · Work

Consider the lilies of the field

October 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Chi̍t8-ki chháu, chi̍t8-tiám lō͘·

Literally: One blade of grass (gets) one drop of dew.

The English proverb I have as this proverb’s equivalent come from the Sermon on the Mount. The whole saying goes, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” In other words, as it’s usually used in Taiwan, “you’ll find a job or livelihood, so don’t worry.”

Categories: Proverbs · Work

Rush Hour

May 24, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Siōng-hā-pan sî-kan

Literally: “the going-to-and-getting-off-work time”

Categories: Transport · Work

Burn the midnight oil

February 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Piàⁿ kui mê  ["Work the whole night"]

You can also, as in Mandarin, say “drive the night bus”: Sái iā-chhia

Categories: Work

Sexual harrassment

January 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Sèng-sau-jiáo

Categories: Law · Relationships · Society · Vices · Work

Dwell; make a living

January 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Khīa-khí

The dictionary definition is “dwell, live,” but it also means, by extension, “make a living.”

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Chng-kha khah hó khīa-khí.

It’s easier to support a family in the country.

Categories: Economics · Work

Speaking ability (of salesman)

January 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Seng-lí-chhùi

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Seng-lí-chhùi hô·-lùi-lùi

(He) can talk a blue streak.

Categories: Business · Work