| 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 |
zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ , bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng |
only the official is allowed to light the fire / Gods may do what cattle may not / quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi |
| 只 |
zhī |
variant of 只 |
| 只 |
zhǐ |
only; merely; just |
| 只 |
zhǐ |
variant of 只 |
| 只 |
zhī |
grain that has begun to ripen |
| 只 |
zhǐ |
variant of 只 |
| 只 |
zhī |
classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc |
| 许 |
Xǔ |
surname Xu |
| 许 |
xǔ |
to allow / to permit / to promise / to praise / somewhat / perhaps |
| 州 |
zhōu |
prefecture / (old) province / (old) administrative division / state (e.g. of US) / oblast (Russia) / canton (Switzerland) |
| 官 |
Guān |
surname Guan |
| 官 |
guān |
government official / governmental / official / public / organ of the body / CL:个 |
| 放 |
fàng |
to put / to place / to release / to free / to let go / to let out / to set off (fireworks) |
| 放火 |
fàng huǒ |
to set on fire / to commit arson / to create a disturbance |
| 火 |
Huǒ |
surname Huo |
| 火 |
huǒ |
fire / urgent / ammunition / fiery or flaming / internal heat (Chinese medicine) / hot (popular) / classifier for military units (old) / Kangxi radical 86 |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 不许 |
bù xǔ |
not to allow / must not / can't |
| 许 |
Xǔ |
surname Xu |
| 许 |
xǔ |
to allow / to permit / to promise / to praise / somewhat / perhaps |
| 百 |
Bǎi |
surname Bai |
| 百 |
bǎi |
hundred / numerous / all kinds of |
| 百姓 |
bǎi xìng |
common people |
| 姓 |
xìng |
family name; surname / to be surnamed ... |
| 点 |
diǎn |
to touch briefly; to tap / to mark with a dot; to check off (on a list) / to order (food etc); to select / to mention; to bring up (a topic or person) / to hint at; to imply / to administer (eye medicine etc) in drops / to light (a fire, a lamp etc); to ignite / to nod (one's head) in agreement; to beckon by moving (one's hand) up and down / point; dot; spot; speck / dot stroke in Chinese characters / (math.) decimal point / point in time or space / (after a number) o'clock / a small amount; a bit; (after a verb or adjective) a bit more / classifier for small amounts |
| 点灯 |
diǎn dēng |
to light a lamp |
| 灯 |
dēng |
lamp / light / lantern / CL:盏 |