何足掛齒
See also: 何足挂齿
Chinese
| why would it be worth; not worth | to mention | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (何足掛齒) | 何足 | 掛齒 | |
| simp. (何足挂齿) | 何足 | 挂齿 | |
Etymology
The Records of the Grand Historian, Vol. 99:
- 夫天下合為一家 […] 明主在其上，法令具於下，使人人奉職，四方輻輳安敢有反者！此特羣盜鼠竊狗盜耳，何足置之齒牙間？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
- Fú tiānxià hé wéi yījiā […] míngzhǔ zài qí shàng, fǎlìng jù yú xià, shǐ rénrén fèngzhí, sìfāng fúcòu ān gǎn yǒu fǎn zhě! Cǐ tè qún dào shǔqiègǒudào ěr, hézú zhì zhī chǐyá jiān? [Pinyin]
- The world is now united as one family [...] an enlightened lord reigns above, while laws and ordinances maintain order below, so that all men attend to their own duties and on every quarter acknowledge allegiance to the central authority. Under such circumstances who would dare to rebel? These men are clearly nothing more than a gang of petty outlaws like rat thieves, dog bandits, not worth bothering about.
夫天下合为一家 […] 明主在其上，法令具于下，使人人奉职，四方辐辏安敢有反者！此特群盗鼠窃狗盗耳，何足置之齿牙间？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: hézúguàchǐ
- Zhuyin: ㄏㄜˊ ㄗㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄔˇ
- Tongyong Pinyin: hézúguàchǐh
- Wade–Giles: ho2-tsu2-kua4-chʻih3
- Yale: hé-dzú-gwà-chř
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: hertzwuguahchyy
- Palladius: хэцзугуачи (xɛczuguači)
- Sinological IPA (key): /xɤ³⁵ t͡su³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Jyutping: ho4 zuk1 gwaa3 ci2
- Yale: hòh jūk gwa chí
- Cantonese Pinyin: ho4 dzuk7 gwaa3 tsi2
- Guangdong Romanization: ho4 zug1 gua3 qi2
- Sinological IPA (key): /hɔː²¹ t͡sʊk̚⁵ kʷaː³³ t͡sʰiː³⁵/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
Idiom
何足掛齒
- (humble) insignificant; not even worth mentioning
- 操曰：“特以少酬大功於萬一，何必推辭？”關公曰：“區區微勞，何足掛齒。” [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14th century CE
- Cāo yuē: “Tè yǐ shào chóu dàgōng yú wànyī, hébì tuīcí?” Guāngōng yuē: “Qūqū wēiláo, hézúguàchǐ.” [Pinyin]
- “This trifling recompense for your magnificent services,” Cao Cao responded, “is but one ten-thousandth [of what I owe you]. Why decline it?” “My paltry efforts,” Lord Guan answered, “are not worth the mention.”
操曰：“特以少酬大功于万一，何必推辞？”关公曰：“区区微劳，何足挂齿。” [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]- “十娘鍾情所歡，不以貧窶易心，此乃女中豪傑。僕因風吹火，諒區區何足掛齒！”三人又飲了一日酒。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- From: 1624, Feng Menglong, Stories to Caution the World, Vol. 32
- “Shíniáng zhōngqíng suǒ huān, bù yǐ pínjù yì xīn, cǐ nǎi nǚzhōngháojié. Pú yīn fēng chuī huǒ, liàng qūqū hézúguàchǐ!” Sānrén yòu yǐn le yīrì jiǔ. [Pinyin]
- “You must be a remarkable woman to remain loyal to your lover even when he became impoverished. I merely blew upon the fire in the direction of the wind. Such a trifling service is not worth mentioning.” The three of them then feasted yet another day.
“十娘钟情所欢，不以贫窭易心，此乃女中豪杰。仆因风吹火，谅区区何足挂齿！”三人又饮了一日酒。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]