refined appelation / (humor) sb's elegant monicker / (hon.) your esteemed name
鱼与熊掌
yú yǔ xióng zhǎng
lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
令郎
lìng láng
your esteemed son (honorific)
高足
gāo zú
honorific: Your distinguished disciple / Your most brilliant pupil
to die without progeny / (offensive) may you die childless / may you be the last of your family line
水滴石穿
shuǐ dī shí chuān
dripping water penetrates the stone (idiom) / constant perseverance yields success / You can achieve your aim if you try hard without giving up. / Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty.
lit. wind past your ear / fig. sth you don't pay much attention to / in one ear and out the other
敬祝
jìng zhù
to offer humbly (written at the end of letter from sb of lower status to higher status) / your humble servant
滴水穿石
dī shuǐ chuān shí
dripping water penetrates the stone (idiom) / constant perseverance yields success / You can achieve your aim if you try hard without giving up. / Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty.
强中自有强中手
qiáng zhōng zì yǒu qiáng zhōng shǒu
however strong you are, there is always someone stronger (idiom) / there is always sth more to learn / never be satisfied to rest on your laurels / there is no room for complacency
lit. wind past your ear / fig. sth you don't pay much attention to / in one ear and out the other
蓬荜生辉
péng bì shēng huī
Your presence brings light to my humble dwelling / see also 蓬蓽生光|蓬荜生光[peng2 bi4 sheng1 guang1]
久闻大名
jiǔ wén dà míng
your name has been known to me for a long time (polite)
乔迁之喜
qiáo qiān zhī xǐ
congratulations on house-moving or promotion (idiom) / Best wishes for your new home!
事在人为
shì zài rén wéi
the matter depends on the individual (idiom) / it is a matter for your own effort / With effort, one can achieve anything.
福如东海
fú rú Dōng Hǎi
may your happiness be as immense as the East Sea (idiom)
饮水思源
yǐn shuǐ sī yuán
lit. when you drink water, think of its source (idiom) / gratitude for blessings and their well-spring / Don't forget where your happiness come from. / Be grateful for all your blessings!
不吝珠玉
bù lìn zhū yù
lit. do not begrudge gems of wisdom (idiom, humble expr.) / fig. Please give me your frank opinion. / Your criticism will be most valuable.
不敢高攀
bù gǎn gāo pān
lit. not dare to pull oneself up high (humble term) / I cannot presume on your attention
劫数难逃
jié shù nán táo
Destiny is inexorable, there is no fleeing it (idiom). Your doom is at hand.
寥寥可数
liáo liáo kě shǔ
just a very few (idiom) / tiny number / just a handful / not many at all / You count them on your fingers.
燕雀相贺
yàn què xiàng hè
lit. sparrow and swallow's congratulation (idiom) / fig. to congratulate sb on completion of a building project / congratulations on your new house!
瓜田不纳履
guā tián bù nà lu:3
lit. don't tie your shoe-laces in a melon-patch / fig. don't do anything that might arouse suspicion / innocent acts may be misconstrued
gāo
