司空見慣
Chinese
| Minister of Works | to see | accustomed to; used to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (司空見慣) | 司空 | 見 | 慣 | |
| simp. (司空见惯) | 司空 | 见 | 惯 | |
Etymology
A literary allusion. 司空 is an ancient official title, here referring to Li Shen.
- 劉尚書禹錫罷和州 […] 李司空罷鎮在京，慕劉名，嘗邀至第中，厚設飲饌。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。劉於席上賦詩曰：“ […] 司空見慣渾閑事，斷盡江南刺史腸。” [Literary Chinese, trad.]
- From: 886, 孟棨,《本事詩•情感》
- Liú shàngshū Yǔxī bà Hézhōu […] Lǐ Sīkōng bà zhèn zài jīng, mù Liú míng, cháng yāo zhì dì zhōng, hòu shè yǐnzhuàn. Jiǔ hān, mìng miàojì gē yǐ sòng zhī. Liú yú xí shàng fùshī yuē: “ […] Sīkōng jiàn guàn hún xiánshì, duàn jìn Jiāngnán cìshǐ cháng.” [Pinyin]
- When Liu Yuxi was relieved of his post as a governor of Hezhou... Li Shen, who had also been relieved of his duties as a military governor and was now residing in the capital, admired Liu's reputation. He once invited Liu to his residence and generously hosted him with fine food and drinks. As the wine flowed and spirits soared, Li summoned beautiful and skilful courtesans to sing in honour of Liu. In response, Liu composed the following poem during the banquet:
"... The sights familiar to the Minister of Works are indeed trivial matters,
Yet they cut to the heart of me, a governor in Jiangnan."
刘尚书禹锡罢和州 […] 李司空罢镇在京，慕刘名，尝邀至第中，厚设饮馔。酒酣，命妙妓歌以送之。刘于席上赋诗曰：“ […] 司空见惯浑闲事，断尽江南刺史肠。” [Literary Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Pinyin): sīkōngjiànguàn
- (Zhuyin): ㄙ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ
- Cantonese (Jyutping): si1 hung1 gin3 gwaan3
- Southern Min (Teochew, Peng'im): si1 kong1 giang3 guang3
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: sīkōngjiànguàn
- Zhuyin: ㄙ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ
- Tongyong Pinyin: sihkongjiànguàn
- Wade–Giles: ssŭ1-kʻung1-chien4-kuan4
- Yale: sz̄-kūng-jyàn-gwàn
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sykongjiannguann
- Palladius: сыкунцзяньгуань (sykunczjanʹguanʹ)
- Sinological IPA (key): /sz̩⁵⁵ kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Jyutping: si1 hung1 gin3 gwaan3
- Yale: sī hūng gin gwaan
- Cantonese Pinyin: si1 hung1 gin3 gwaan3
- Guangdong Romanization: xi1 hung1 gin3 guan3
- Sinological IPA (key): /siː⁵⁵ hʊŋ⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kʷaːn³³/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Southern Min
- (Teochew)
- Peng'im: si1 kong1 giang3 guang3
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: si khong kiàng kuàng
- Sinological IPA (key): /si³³⁻²³ kʰoŋ³³⁻²³ kiaŋ²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kuaŋ²¹³/
- (Teochew)
- Middle Chinese: si khuwng kenH kwaenH
Idiom
司空見慣
- too common to surprise people; be a common occurrence; commonplace
- 劫灰到處，便司空見慣都驚。 [Ci, trad.]
- From: 1853 December 27, 蔣春霖, 《揚州慢·癸丑十一月二十七日，賊趨京口，報官軍收揚州》(To the Slow Tune Of Yangzhou: On the 27th Day of the 11th Lunar Month, I Heard the News That the Rebels Have Moved to Jingkou, and the Imperial Forces Recaptured Yangzhou)
- Jiéhuī dàochù, biàn sīkōngjiànguàn dōu jīng. [Pinyin]
- Though [the sight of war] has long since become all too familiar to me, I still got frightened by the ubiquitous ruins of calamity.
劫灰到处，便司空见惯都惊。 [Ci, simp.]