三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮 |
sān gè chòu pí jiang , dǐng gè Zhū gě Liàng |
lit. three ignorant cobblers add up to a genius (idiom); fig. collective wisdom / wisdom of the masses exceeds that of any individual |
三 |
Sān |
surname San |
三 |
sān |
three / 3 |
个 |
gě |
used in 自个儿 |
个 |
gè |
(classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier) / (bound form) individual |
个 |
gè |
variant of 个 |
臭 |
chòu |
stench / smelly / to smell (bad) / repulsive / loathsome / terrible / bad / severely / ruthlessly / dud (ammunition) |
臭 |
xiù |
sense of smell / smell bad |
皮 |
Pí |
surname Pi |
皮 |
pí |
leather / skin / fur / CL:张 / pico- (one trillionth) / naughty |
皮匠 |
pí jiang |
cobbler |
匠 |
jiàng |
craftsman |
顶 |
dǐng |
apex / crown of the head / top / roof / most / to carry on the head / to push to the top / to go against / to replace / to substitute / to be subjected to (an aerial bombing, hailstorm etc) / (slang) to "bump" a forum thread to raise its profile / classifier for headwear, hats, veils etc |
个 |
gě |
used in 自个儿 |
个 |
gè |
(classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier) / (bound form) individual |
个 |
gè |
variant of 个 |
诸 |
Zhū |
surname Zhu |
诸 |
zhū |
all / various |
诸葛 |
Zhū gě |
two-character surname Zhuge / Taiwan pr. [Zhu1ge2] |
诸葛亮 |
Zhū gě Liàng |
Zhuge Liang (181-234), military leader and prime minister of Shu Han 蜀汉 during the Three Kingdoms period / the main hero of the fictional Romance of Three Kingdoms 三国演义, where he is portrayed as a sage and military genius / (fig.) a mastermind |
葛 |
Gě |
surname Ge |
葛 |
gé |
kudzu (Pueraria lobata) / hemp cloth |
亮 |
liàng |
bright; light / to shine; to flash / loud and clear / to show (one's passport etc); to make public (one's views etc) |