1. 依你说，“成则公侯，败则贼寇了？”
You are saying that such people may become prince or thieves, depending on whether they’re successful or not.
2. 你老是贵人多忘事了，哪里还记得我们吗？
The higher the rank, the worse the memory. How could you remember us?
3. 瘦死的骆驼比马大呢。凭他怎样，你老拔一根寒毛比我们的腰还壮哩！
A starved camel is bigger than a horse. No matter how, a hair from your body is thicker than our waist.
4. 不过是三天打鱼，两天晒网。
But he was like the fisherman who fishes for three days and then suns his net for two.
5. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福。
Storms gather without warning in nature, and bad luck befalls men overnight.
6. 知人知面不知心。
You can know a man’s face but not his heart.
7. 平儿说：“癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉，没人伦的混账东西，起这个念头，叫他不得好死！”
“A toad hankering for a taste of swan,” scoffed Ping-erh. “The beast hasn’t a shred of common decency. He deserves a bad end for dreaming of such a thing.”
8. 树倒猢狲散。
Trees fall and monkey scatter.
9. 能者多吃。
The abler a man, the busier he gets.
10. 吃着碗里的看着锅里的。
Keep one eye on the bowl and the other on the pan.
11. 没吃过猪肉也见过猪跑。
He’s old enough to have seen a pig run, even if he hasn’t yet tasted pork himself.
12. 千里搭帐篷，没有不散的筵席。
Even the longest feast must break up at last.
13. 不是冤家不聚头。
Enemies and lovers are destined to meet.
14. 金簪子掉在井里头，有你的只是有你的。
A gold pin may fall into the well, but if it’s yours it remains yours.
15. 千金难买一笑。
A thousand pieces of gold can hardly purchase a smile.
16. 俗话说“随乡入俗”，到了你这里，自然把那金玉珠宝一概贬为俗器了。
As people say, “other countries, other ways”. Here with a person like you, gold, pearls, jade and jewels, must all count as vulgar.
17. 这叫做“以毒攻毒，以火攻火”的法子。
This is what is known as “fighting poison with poison, and fire with fire”.
18. 宝钗笑道：“不用问，狗嘴里还有象牙不成！”
“I don’t have to ask,” retorted Pao-chai. “One doesn’t expect ivory from a dog’s mouth.”
19. 俗语说：“睹物思人”，天下的水总归一源，不拘哪里的水舀一碗看着哭去，也就尽情了。
The proverb says: “Things have their associations.” But water the whole world over in the last analysis comes from the same source. He could have ladled out a bowl of water anywhere and wept over it to work off his feelings.
20. 生死有命，富贵在天。
Life and death are determined by fate, rank and riches decreed by Heaven.
21. 常言“人去不中留”自然这就妥了。
For as the proverb says, “There is no holding someone who wants to leave.” It’s sure to work out all right.
22. 金子终得金子换。
True gold will find its price.
23. 牛不吃水强按头？我不愿意，难道杀我的老子娘不成？
You can’t force an ox to bend to drink, would he kill my parents if I refuse?
24. 当着矮人别说短话。
One doesn’t talk about midgets in front of dwarfs.
25. 天下无难事，只怕有心人。
All difficulties on earth can be overcome if men but give their minds to it.
26. 真俗语说“各人有缘法”。
As the proverb says, “The fortune of each is predestined.”
27. 病来如山倒，病去如抽丝。
Illness comes as fast as wall falling down, but goes as slowly as unraveling a cocoon.
28. 旁观者清。
The spectators see most of the sport.
29. 擒贼先擒王。
To catch rebels first catch the chief.
30. 你放心闹吧，先是“单丝不成线，独树不成林”，如今有了个对子，闹急了，再打狠了，你逃走到南京找哪一个去。
“Now you can be as naughty as you like.” She teased. “Before this it was a case of ‘A single thread can’t make a cord nor a single tree a forest’. But now that there are two of you, next time, you’ve beaten for raising a rumpus you can run away to Nankingto find your double.”
31. 万两黄金容易得，知心一个也难求。
Then thousand taels of gold are easier come by than an understanding heart.
32. 天下乌鸦一般黑。
All crows are black the world over.
33. 得饶人处且饶人，得当事将就省些事也罢了。
It’s best to be easy on people --- saves trouble.
34. 不经一事不长一智。
We learn from experience.
35. 这可是仓老鼠和老鸹借粮——守着的没有，飞着的有。
This is like the rat in the barn who asked a crow for grain, as if a bird on the wing had some while the rat living in the barn had none.
36. 既这样，恭敬不如从命。
In that case, we’d better do as she asks instead of standing on ceremony.
37. 大事化为小事，小事化为没事，方是兴旺之家。
A prosperous family ought to minimize big scandals and overlook minor ones.
38．自古道，“女子无才便是德”。
As the old saying goes, “Lack of talent in a woman is a virtue”.
39. 人急造反，狗急跳墙。
Desperation drives men to rebel and a dog to jump over a wall.
40. 自古说，“妻贤夫祸少，表壮不如里壮”。
As the saying goes, “A good wife keeps her husband out of trouble --- a sound woman counts for more than a sound man”.
41. 俗语说，“拼着一身剐，敢把皇帝拉下马”。
As the proverb says, “One who will risk being sliced to pieces dare unsaddle the Emperor”.
42. 所以我“宁撞金钟一下，不打破鼓三千”。
So I’d rather strike the golden bell once instead of trying all the broken drums.
43. 可是你“只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯”。
You’re like “the magistrate who goes in arson but won’t allow common people to light a lamp”.
44. 女大十八变。
A girl changes eighteen times before reaching womanhood.
45. 清官难断家务事。
Not even good officials can settle family troubles.
46. 王夫人道：这也是没有办法的事。俗语说：“嫁出去的女儿，泼出去的水。”叫我能怎样呢？
“There is no help for it.” Lady Wang answered. As the saying goes, “A married daughter --- split water”, so what can I do about it?
47. 自古道：“成人不自在，自在不成人。”你好生记着我的话。
As the proverb says, “Men must choose between progress and comfort.” Keep what I have told you in mind.
48. 俗语儿说的，“人怕出名猪怕壮”，况且又是个虚名儿。终久还不知怎么样呢！
“Bad for a man to be famed, bad for a pig to grow fat.” The proverb says. Especially as with us this is empty fame. Goodness knows what the end will be.
49. 胖也不是一口儿吃的。
No one knows fat on just one mouthful.
50. 好事多磨。
The way to happiness is never smooth.
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