Chinese allegories
歇后语
These are two-part allegorical sayings. The first part, which is always stated, is the literal meaning of the expression. The second part is the unstated, implied meaning of the expression.

guān yǔ xiáng cáo cāo – shēn zài cáo yíng xīn zài hàn
关羽降曹操 – 身在曹营心在汉
Guan Yu (160-219), a general in the period of the Three Kingdoms, surrendered to Cao Cao (155-220), a military strategist and statesman during the Three Kingdoms. – live in the Cao camp but with one's heart in the Han camp; though one is physically here, one's mind is elsewhere; be half-hearted

chī cáo cāo de fàn xiǎng liú bèi de shì – rén zài xīn bú zài
吃曹操的饭，想刘备的事 – 人在心不在
(After surrendering to Cao Cao,) Guan Yu (160-219), a general in the period of the Three Kingdoms, lived in the Cao camp, but only bore Liu Bei's affairs in mind – though one is physically here, one's mind is elsewhere; be half-hearted

cáo cāo shā huà tuó – yǐ yuàn bào dé
曹操杀华佗 – 以怨报德
Cao Cao (155-220), a military strategist and statesman during the Three Kingdoms, killed Hua Tuo (141-203), a noted surgeon and physician at the end of the Han Dynasty. – return evil for good; repay good with evil

cáo cāo yòng jì – yòu jiān yòu huá
曹操用计 – 又奸又滑
Cao Cao (155-220), a military strategist and statesman during the Three Kingdoms, mapped out schemes or laid traps. – cunning and treacherous

kŏng míng dà bǎi kōng chéng jì – huà xiǎn wéi yí
孔明大摆空城计 – 化险为夷
Zhuge Liang (181-234), a famous military strategist and statesman in the State of Shu during the period of the Three Kingdoms, implemented the empty-city stratagem (bluffing the enemy by keeping the gates of a weakly defended city open as if a trap were laid for him inside). – turn danger into safety; get out of the jaws of danger; head off a disaster

kŏng míng zhǎn wèi yán – jiè dāo shā rén
孔明斩魏延 – 借刀杀人
Zhuge Liang (181-234), a famous military strategist and statesman in the State of Shu during the period of the Three Kingdoms, killed Wei Yan (?-234), a military general of Shu Han. – murder with a borrowed knife; make use of another person to get rid of an adversary; kill by another's hand

zhū gĕ liàng lóng zhōng duì cè – yŏu xiān jiàn zhī míng
诸葛亮隆中对策 – 有先见之明
Zhuge Liang (181-234), a famous military strategist and statesman in the State of Shu during the period of the Three Kingdoms, outlined the Longzhong Plan to envisage the securing of a viable regional base in southern China and then a two-pronged attack to conquer the north. – have ability to anticipate what is coming; have a prophetic vision; have the foresight

liú bèi fǎng xián – sān gù máo lú
刘备访贤 – 三顾茅庐
Liu Bei (161-223), founder of the Shu Han Kingdom of the Three Kingdoms, visited a virtuous talent (here, referring to Zhuge Liang). – make three personal calls at the thatched cottage; repeated and sincere invitations

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