和尚動得，我動不得

See also: 和尚动得，我动不得

Chinese

		preceptor; high priest; head monk preceptor; high priest; head monk; any Buddhist monk	to move; to change; to use to move; to change; to use; to act	get; obtain; gain get; obtain; gain; proper; suitable; proud; contented; allow; permit; ready; finished; a sentence particle used after a verb to show effect; degree or possibility; to have to; must; ought to; to need to		I; me	to move; to change; to use to move; to change; to use; to act	must not; should not; not be allowed must not; should not; not be allowed; to not receive
trad. (和尚動得，我動不得)		和尚	動	得	，	我	動	不得
simp. (和尚动得，我动不得)		和尚	动	得	，	我	动	不得
Literally: “The monks can touch [this nun], [but] I can't?”.

Etymology

From a quote in the novel The True Story of Ah Q (1921) by the protagonist Ah Q, who holds a cynical belief that Buddhist monks and nuns all have secret immoral sexual relationships.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): héshàng dòng dé, wǒ dòng bùdé

  (Zhuyin): ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄜˊ , ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: héshàng dòng dé, wǒ dòng bùdé
    • Zhuyin: ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄜˊ , ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: héshàng dòng dé, wǒ dòng bùdé
    • Wade–Giles: ho²-shang⁴ tung⁴ tê², wo³ tung⁴ pu⁴-tê²
    • Yale: hé-shàng dùng dé-, wǒ dùng bù-dé
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: hershanq donq der, woo donq buder
    • Palladius: хэшан дун дэ, во дун будэ (xɛšan dun dɛ, vo dun budɛ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

Proverb

和尚動得，我動不得

1. My wrongdoing is justified by someone else doing the same thing. Two wrongs make a right.

Synonyms

• 和尚摸得，我摸不得 (héshàng mō dé, wǒ mō bùdé)