三 saam¹ {sān}

(slang) Someone's love affair (usually refers to a female)

三 saam¹ {sān}

1. three
2. 3

三 saam¹ {Sān}

surname San

三百 saam¹ baak³ {sān bǎi}

three hundred

三板 saam¹ baan² {sān bǎn}

Sampan; dinghy

三柴 saam¹ caai⁴ {sān chái}

sergeant, who has three hook marks on the badge

三千 saam¹ cin¹ {sān qiān}

three thousand

三朝 saam¹ ciu⁴ {sān zhāo}

Three dynasties

三花 saam¹ faa¹ {sān huā}

three flowers, or refers to a inspector of Hong Kong Police Force

三方 saam¹ fong¹ {sān fāng}

Trilateral; three sides; tripartite:

三急 saam¹ gap¹ {sān jí}

three urges, which refers to the urge to urinate, excrete, or vomit

三幾〔-几〕 saam¹ gei² {sān jǐ}

around three (quantity)

三江 saam¹ gong¹ {sān jiāng}

Heilongjiang,Ussuri River and the Songhua River

三國〔-国〕 saam¹ gwok³ {Sān guó}

(noun) Three country

三行 saam¹ hang⁴ {sān háng}

profession categorisation of masonry, carpentry and paint

三日 saam¹ jat⁶ {sān rì}

three days, third [date]

三六 saam¹ luk⁶ {sān liù}

dog (slang)

三年 saam¹ nin⁴ {sān nián}

three years

三鳥〔-鸟〕 saam¹ niu⁵ {Sān niǎo}

1. three birds 2. ambassadors 3. collective term for chicken, duck, goose

三蛇 saam¹ se⁴ {sān shé}

three snakes, or refers to bad things or people

三相 saam¹ soeng³ {sān xiàng}

Triphase

三索 saam¹ sok³ {sān suǒ}

Three bamboo (one of the tiles in Mahjong game)

三條〔-条〕 saam¹ tiu⁴ {sān tiáo}

three sticks or stripes of

三仔 saam¹ zai² {sān zǐ}

1. III-rated movie 2. the three goals for teenagers during 70s to 90s of owning a car, buying a house, and getting married 3. card 3 (deck of playing cards)

三Ｔ〔-T〕 saam¹ Ｔ {sān T}

Triple trio.Horse racing terms, precise predicting top three in three game in a row.(Regardless of the ranking)

三思 saam³ si¹ {sān sī}

a way of telling others to think twice before making any decision

三更 {sānjīn}

1. third of the five night watch periods 23:00-01:00 (old)
2. midnight
3. also pr. [san1 jin1]

三亞〔-亚〕 saam¹ aa³ {Sān yà}

Sanya prefecture level city, Hainan

三八 saam¹ baat³ {sān bā}

1. International Women's Day 婦女節, 8th March
2. foolish
3. stupid

三包 saam¹ baau¹ {sān bāo}

"three-guarantee service": repair, exchange, refund

三不 saam¹ bat¹ {sān bù}

the three no's (abbreviated catchphrase)

三寶〔-宝〕 saam¹ bou² {sān bǎo}

the Three Precious Treasures of Buddhism, namely: the Buddha 佛, the Dharma 法 (his teaching), and the Sangha 僧 (his monastic order)

三七 saam¹ cat¹ {sān qī}

pseudoginseng (Panax pseudoginseng), hemostatic herb

三春 saam¹ ceon¹ {sān chūn}

the three spring months

三次 saam¹ ci³ {sān cì}

1. third
2. three times
3. (math.) degree three, cubic (equation)

三曹 saam¹ cou⁴ {Sān Cáo}

the Three Caos (Cao Cao 曹操 and his sons Cao Pi 曹丕 and Cao Zhi 曹植), who established the Wei or Cao Wei dynasty 曹魏, and were all three noted poets and calligraphers

三重 saam¹ cung⁴ {sān chóng}

treble

三重 saam¹ cung⁴ {Sān chóng}

1. Sanchong or Sanch'ung city in New Taipei City 新北市, Taiwan
2. Mie Prefecture in central Japan

三代 saam¹ doi⁶ {sān dài}

third-generation

三度 saam¹ dou⁶ {sān dù}

third (musical interval)

三反 saam¹ faan² {sān fǎn}

"Three Anti" campaign (anti-corruption, anti-waste, anti-bureaucracy), early PRC purge of 1951-52

三廢〔-废〕 saam¹ fai³ {sān fèi}

three types of waste product, namely: waste water 廢水, exhaust gas 廢氣, industrial slag 廢渣

三分 saam¹ fan¹ {sān fēn}

1. somewhat
2. to some degree

三伏 saam¹ fuk⁶ {sān fú}

three periods forming the hottest periods of summer, from mid-July to mid-August, namely: 初伏 (mid-July), 中伏 (late July to early August), 末伏 (mid-August)

三價〔-价〕 saam¹ gaa³ {sān jià}

trivalent

三更 saam¹ gaang¹ {sān gēng}

1. third of the five night watch periods 23:00-01:00 (old)
2. midnight
3. also pr. [san1 jin1]

三甲 saam¹ gaap³ {sān jiǎ}

3rd rank of candidates who passed the imperial examination

三教 saam¹ gaau³ {Sān Jiào}

the Three Doctrines (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism)

三鍵〔-键〕 saam¹ gin⁶ {sān jiàn}

1. triple bond (chemistry)
2. triple link

三角 saam¹ gok³ {sān jiǎo}

triangle

三軍〔-军〕 saam¹ gwan¹ {sān jūn}

1. (in former times) upper, middle and lower army
2. army of right, center and left
3. (in modern times) the three armed services: Army, Navy and Air Force

三國〔-国〕 saam¹ gwok³ {Sān guó}

1. Three Kingdoms period (220-280) in Chinese history
2. several Three Kingdoms periods in Korean history, esp. from 1st century AD to unification under Silla 新羅 in 658

三光 saam¹ gwong¹ {sān guāng}

the sun, the moon, and the stars

三峽〔-峡〕 saam¹ haap⁶ {Sān xiá}

1. Three Gorges on the Chang Jiang or Yangtze, namely: Qutang Gorge 瞿塘峽, Wuxia Gorge 巫峽 and Xiling Gorge 西陵峽
2. Sanxia or Sanhsia town in New Taipei City 新北市, Taiwan

三河 saam¹ ho⁴ {Sān hé}

1. Three rivers
2. Sanhe county level city in Langfang 廊坊, Hebei

三項〔-项〕 saam¹ hong⁶ {sān xiàng}

1. three items
2. three events
3. three terms
4. tri-
5. trinomial, ternary (math.)
6. triathlon (abbr. for 三項全能)

三音 saam¹ jam¹ {sān yīn}

third (musical interval, e.g. do-mi)

三義〔-义〕 saam¹ ji⁶ {Sān yì}

Sanyi township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣, northwest Taiwan

三弦 saam¹ jin⁴ {sān xián}

sanxian, large family of 3-stringed plucked musical instruments, with snakeskin covered wooden soundbox and long neck, used in folk music, opera and Chinese orchestra

三洋 saam¹ joeng⁴ {Sān yáng}

Sanyō, Japanese electronics company

三原 saam¹ jyun⁴ {Sān yuán}

Sanyuan County in Xianyang 咸陽, Shaanxi

三月 saam¹ jyut⁶ {Sān yuè}

1. March
2. third month (of the lunar year)

三級〔-级〕 saam¹ kap¹ {sān jí}

1. grade 3
2. third class
3. category C

三流 saam¹ lau⁴ {sān liú}

1. third-rate
2. inferior

三菱 saam¹ ling⁴ {Sān líng}

Mitsubishi

三兩〔-两〕 saam¹ loeng⁵ {sān liǎng}

two or three

三鹿 saam¹ luk⁶ {Sān Lù}

Three Deer (brand)

三民 saam¹ man⁴ {Sān mín}

Sanmin district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市, south Taiwan

三明 saam¹ ming⁴ {Sān míng}

Sanming prefecture level city in Fujian

三昧 saam¹ mui⁶ {sān mèi}

Samadhi (Buddhist term)

三門〔-门〕 saam¹ mun⁴ {Sān mén}

Sanmen county in Taizhou 台州, Zhejiang

三倍 saam¹ pui⁵ {sān bèi}

triple

三山 saam¹ saan¹ {Sān shān}

Sanshan district of Wuhu city 蕪湖市, Anhui

三世 saam¹ sai³ {sān shì}

the Third (of numbered kings)

三十 saam¹ sap⁶ {sān shí}

1. thirty
2. 30

三仇 saam¹ sau⁴ {sān chóu}

animosity or resentment towards three groups (the bureaucrats, the wealthy, and the police) due to perceived abuse of power

三水 saam¹ seoi² {Sān shuǐ}

Sanshui district of Foshan city 佛山市, Guangdong

三穗 saam¹ seoi⁶ {Sān suì}

Sansui county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 黔東南州, Guizhou

三Ｃ saam¹ si¹ {sān C}

see 3C[san1 C]

三鮮〔-鲜〕 saam¹ sin¹ {sān xiān}

three fresh ingredients (in cooking)

三星 saam¹ sing¹ {sān xīng}

1. three major stars of the Three Stars 參宿 Chinese constellation
2. the belt of Orion
3. three spirits 福, 祿, and 壽 associated with the Three Stars 參宿 Chinese constellation

三星 saam¹ sing¹ {Sān xīng}

1. Sanxing or Sanhsing township in Yilan county 宜蘭縣, Taiwan
2. Samsung (South Korean electronics company)

三廂〔-厢〕 saam¹ soeng¹ {sān xiāng}

sedan (automobile body type)

三蘇〔-苏〕 saam¹ sou¹ {Sān Sū}

1. the Three Su father and sons
2. refers to northern Song literati Su Xun 蘇洵, Su Shi 蘇軾 and Su Zhe 蘇轍

三體〔-体〕 saam¹ tai² {sān tǐ}

trisomy

三退 saam¹ teoi³ {sān tuì}

withdrawal from the Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, and the Young Pioneers of China

三田 saam¹ tin⁴ {Sān tián}

Mita, Sanda, Mitsuda etc (Japanese surname or place name)

三田 saam¹ tin⁴ {sān tián}

1. 3 annual hunting bouts
2. 3 qi points

三台 saam¹ toi⁴ {Sān tái}

Santai county in Mianyang 綿陽, north Sichuan

三通 saam¹ tung¹ {sān tōng}

1. T-joint
2. T-piece
3. T-pipe
4. three links

三灣〔-湾〕 saam¹ waan¹ {Sān wān}

Sanwan township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣, northwest Taiwan

三維〔-维〕 saam¹ wai⁴ {sān wéi}

1. three dimensional
2. 3D

三圍〔-围〕 saam¹ wai⁴ {sān wéi}

BWH, abbr. for a woman's three measurements, namely: bust 胸圍, waist 腰圍 and hip 臀圍

三魂 saam¹ wan⁴ {sān hún}

three immortal souls in Daoism, representing spirit and intellect

三皇 saam¹ wong⁴ {sān huáng}

1. Three Sovereigns, between Gods and Emperors in third millennium BC
2. usually listed as Suiren 燧人, Fuxi 伏羲, trapping and writing, Shennong or Farmer God 神農

三振 saam¹ zan³ {sān zhèn}

1. to strike out
2. strikeout (baseball, softball)
3. (Tw) to ditch
4. to eliminate from consideration

三井 saam¹ zeng² {Sān jǐng}

Mitsui (Japanese company)

三芝 saam¹ zi¹ {Sān zhī}

Sanzhi or Sanchih township in New Taipei City 新北市, Taiwan

三自 saam¹ zi⁶ {Sān zì}

abbr. for 三自愛國教會, Three-Self Patriotic Movement

三焦 saam¹ ziu¹ {sān jiāo}

triple foci, the three visceral cavities (TCM)

三藏 saam¹ zong⁶ {Sān zàng}

1. Tripitaka (602-664) Tang dynasty Buddhist monk and translator, who traveled to India 629-645
2. same as 玄奘

三族 saam¹ zuk⁶ {sān zú}

1. (old) three generations (father, self and sons)
2. three clans (your own, your mother's, your wife's)

三Ｐ saam¹ Ｐ {sān P}

(slang) threesome

三板斧 saam¹ baan² fu² {sān bǎn fǔ}

three-trick pony

三重彩 saam¹ cung⁴ coi² {sān chóng cǎi}

Horse racing terms, precise predicting top three in a game(Regard of the ranking)

三寸釘〔--钉〕 saam¹ cyun³ deng¹ {sān cùn dīng}

A short person

三點三〔-点-〕 saam¹ dim² saam¹ {sān diǎn sān}

three point three; a quarter past three, which also means afternoon tea

三點式〔-点-〕 saam¹ dim² sik¹ {sān diǎn shì}

Bikini

三點鐘〔-点钟〕 saam¹ dim² zung¹ {sān diǎn zhōng}

Three o'clock

三蕃市 saam¹ faan⁴ si⁵ {Sān fān shì}

San Francisco

三幅被 saam¹ fuk¹ pei⁵ {sān fú bèi}

describes a person who often repeats in talking about the same old things/topics; same old ways; same old stories

三合板 saam¹ gap³ baan² {sān hé bǎn}

plywood

三個骨〔-个-〕 saam¹ go³ gwat¹ {sān gè gǔ}

1. three quarters 2. forty-five minutes (slang)

三個字〔-个-〕 saam¹ go³ zi⁶ {sān gè zì}

1. three characters or words 2. fifteen minutes

三腳凳〔-脚-〕 saam¹ goek³ dang³ {sān jiǎo dèng}

a chair with only 3 legs; to describe something or someone that is unreliable

三腳櫈〔-脚凳〕 saam¹ goek³ dang³ {sān jiǎo dèng}

1. something which is unreliable or not trustworthy 2. a trap for tripping people over 3. three legged chair

三腳雞〔-脚鸡〕 saam¹ goek³ gai¹ {sān jiǎo jī}

three-wheeled motorcycle; auto rickshaw (slang)

三角尺 saam¹ gok³ cek³ {sān jiǎo chǐ}

set square

三角架 saam¹ gok³ gaa² {sān jiǎo jià}

Tripod

三角鐵〔--铁〕 saam¹ gok³ tit³ {sān jiǎo tiě}

(Percussion instrument)The triangle

三行佬 saam¹ hong⁴ lou² {sān háng lǎo}

Carpenter,construction worker and upfitter

三行仔 saam¹ hong⁴ zai² {sān háng zǐ}

carpenter, construction worker and upfitter

三元里 saam¹ jyun⁴ lei⁵ {sān yuán lǐ}

Sanyuanli-A place in Guangzhou, China

三及第 saam¹ kap⁶ dai⁶ {sān jí dì}

a type of pork congee; a metaphor for something half-baked and messy, burnt at the bottom, uncooked on the top; a writing style with the combination of classical Chinese, formal written Chinese and Cantonese.

三缺一 saam¹ kyut³ jat¹ {sān quē yī}

short of one player (mahjong); three-person mahjong

三粒星 saam¹ nap¹ sing¹ {sān lì xīng}

three stars, which also indicates to Permanent Hong Kong identity card

三十日 saam¹ sap⁶ jat⁶ {sān shí rì}

thirty days, thirtieth [date]

三十三 saam¹ sap⁶ saam¹ {sān shí sān}

thirty-three

三蛇羹 saam¹ se⁴ gang¹ {sān shé gēng}

snakes soup which was cooked with three types of snake meat

三索線〔--线〕 saam¹ sok³ sin³ {sān suǒ xiàn}

radiated ratsnake (snake)

三枝桅 saam¹ zi¹ ngai⁴ {sān zhī wéi}

barque

三蒸酒 saam¹ zing¹ zau² {sān zhēng jiǔ}

triple-distilled rice wine

三阿姨 saam¹ aa³ ji¹ {sān ā yí}

auntie, third eldest of sisters in mother's family

三亞市〔-亚-〕 saam¹ aa³ si⁵ {Sān yà shì}

Sanya prefecture level city, Hainan

三拗湯〔--汤〕 saam¹ aau³ tong¹ {sān ào tāng}

san'ao decoction (TCM)

三班倒 saam¹ baan¹ dou² {sān bān dǎo}

three-shift system (work rostering)

三八線〔--线〕 saam¹ baat³ sin³ {sān bā xiàn}

thirty eighth parallel, forming the DMZ border between North and South Korea

三胞胎 saam¹ baau¹ toi¹ {sān bāo tāi}

triplets

三不管 saam¹ bat¹ gun² {sān bù guǎn}

1. of undetermined status
2. unregulated

三不知 saam¹ bat¹ zi¹ {sān bù zhī}

1. to know nothing about the beginning, the middle or the end
2. to know nothing at all

三邊形〔-边-〕 saam¹ bin¹ jing⁴ {sān biān xíng}

triangle

三寶鳥〔-宝鸟〕 saam¹ bou² niu⁵ {sān bǎo niǎo}

(Chinese bird species) oriental dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

三部曲 saam¹ bou⁶ kuk¹ {sān bù qǔ}

trilogy

三叉戟 saam¹ caa¹ gik¹ {sān chā jǐ}

trident

三岔口 saam¹ caa³ hau² {Sān chà kǒu}

At the Crossroads, famous opera, based on a story from 水滸傳

三七開〔--开〕 saam¹ cat¹ hoi¹ {sān qī kāi}

1. ratio seventy to thirty
2. thirty percent failure, seventy percent success

三七仔 saam¹ cat¹ zai² {sān qī zǐ}

(slang) pimp

三次方 saam¹ ci³ fong¹ {sān cì fāng}

cube (third power, math.)

三次冪〔--幂〕 saam¹ ci³ mik⁶ {sān cì mì}

cube (third power, math.)

三重縣〔--县〕 saam¹ cung⁴ jyun⁶ {Sān chóng xiàn}

Mi'e prefecture in central Japan

三重市 saam¹ cung⁴ si⁵ {Sān chóng shì}

Sanchong or Sanch'ung city in New Taipei City 新北市, Taiwan

三重奏 saam¹ cung⁴ zau³ {sān chóng zòu}

trio (musical ensemble)

三柱門〔--门〕 saam¹ cyu⁵ mun⁴ {sān zhù mén}

(sports) (cricket) wicket (set of stumps and bails)

三得利 saam¹ dak¹ lei⁶ {Sān dé lì}

Suntory, Japanese beverage company

三等分 saam¹ dang² fan¹ {sān děng fēn}

1. trisection (math.)
2. trisecting an angle

三地門〔--门〕 saam¹ dei⁶ mun⁴ {Sān dì mén}

Santimen township in Pingtung County 屏東縣, Taiwan

三點水〔-点-〕 saam¹ dim² seoi² {sān diǎn shuǐ}

1. name of "water" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 85)
2. see also 氵

三疊紀〔-叠纪〕 saam¹ dip⁶ gei² {Sān dié jì}

Triassic (geological period 250-205m years ago)

三迭紀〔--纪〕 saam¹ dit⁶ gei² {Sān dié jì}

1. Triassic (geological period 250-205m years ago)
2. also written 三疊紀

三貂角 saam¹ diu¹ gok³ {Sān diāo jiǎo}

Cape San Diego or Santiao, easternmost point of Taiwan Island

三都縣〔--县〕 saam¹ dou¹ jyun⁶ {Sān dū xiàn}

Sandu Shuizu autonomous county in Qiannan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture 黔南州, Guizhou

三段論〔--论〕 saam¹ dyun⁶ leon⁶ {sān duàn lùn}

syllogism (deduction in logic)

三藩市 saam¹ faan⁴ si⁵ {Sān fān shì}

San Francisco (California)

三法司 saam¹ faat³ si¹ {sān fǎ sī}

the three judicial chief ministries (in imperial China)

三分熟 saam¹ fan¹ suk⁶ {sān fēn shú}

1. cooked three minutes
2. rare (of steak)

三伏天 saam¹ fuk⁶ tin¹ {sān fú tiān}

three periods forming the hottest periods of summer, from mid-July to mid-August, namely: 初伏 (mid-July), 中伏 (late July to early August), 末伏 (mid-August)

三家村 saam¹ gaa¹ cyun¹ {Sān jiā cūn}

1. lit. village of three households
2. name of essay column in Beijing newspaper from 1961-1966, written by Deng Tuo 鄧拓, Wu Han 吳晗 and Liao Mosha 廖沫沙, criticized as anti-party during the Cultural Revolution

三九天 saam¹ gau² tin¹ {sān jiǔ tiān}

the twenty seven days after the Winter Solstice, reputed to be the coldest days of the year

三極管〔-极-〕 saam¹ gik⁶ gun² {sān jí guǎn}

triode (vacuum tube or transistor)

三腳架〔-脚-〕 saam¹ goek³ gaa² {sān jiǎo jià}

1. tripod
2. derrick crane

三腳貓〔-脚猫〕 saam¹ goek³ maau¹ {sān jiǎo māo}

jack of all trades

三角板 saam¹ gok³ baan² {sān jiǎo bǎn}

1. set square
2. triangle (for drawing right angles)

三角凳 saam¹ gok³ dang³ {sān jiǎo dèng}

three-legged stool

三角法 saam¹ gok³ faat³ {sān jiǎo fǎ}

trigonometry (math.)

三角褲〔--裤〕 saam¹ gok³ fu³ {sān jiǎo kù}

1. briefs
2. panties

三角巾 saam¹ gok³ gan¹ {sān jiǎo jīn}

sling (for a wounded arm)

三角肌 saam¹ gok³ gei¹ {sān jiǎo jī}

deltoid muscle (over the shoulder)

三角學〔--学〕 saam¹ gok³ hok⁶ {sān jiǎo xué}

trigonometry

三角形 saam¹ gok³ jing⁴ {sān jiǎo xíng}

triangle

三角龍〔--龙〕 saam¹ gok³ lung⁴ {sān jiǎo lóng}

triceratops

三角債〔--债〕 saam¹ gok³ zaai³ {sān jiǎo zhài}

triangular debt

三角洲 saam¹ gok³ zau¹ {sān jiǎo zhōu}

delta (geography)

三角錐〔--锥〕 saam¹ gok³ zeoi¹ {sān jiǎo zhuī}

triangular pyramid (math.)

三角座 saam¹ gok³ zo⁶ {Sān jiǎo zuò}

Triangulum (constellation)

三江源 saam¹ gong¹ jyun⁴ {Sān jiāng yuán}

Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, high plateau region of Qinghai containing the headwaters of Changjiang or Yangtze, Huanghe or Yellow River and Lancang or Mekong River

三歸依〔-归-〕 saam¹ gwai¹ ji¹ {sān guī yī}

1. the Three Pillars of Faith (Buddha, dharma, sangha)
2. see also 三寶

三國志〔-国-〕 saam¹ gwok³ zi³ {Sān guó zhì}

History of the Three Kingdoms, fourth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史, composed by Chen Shou 陳壽 in 289 during Jin Dynasty 晉朝, 65 scrolls

三峽鎮〔-峡镇〕 saam¹ haap⁶ zan³ {Sān xiá zhèn}

Sanxia or Sanhsia town in New Taipei City 新北市, Taiwan

三合一 saam¹ hap⁶ jat¹ {sān hé yī}

1. three in one
2. triple

三合星 saam¹ hap⁶ sing¹ {sān hé xīng}

triple star system

三合土 saam¹ hap⁶ tou² {sān hé tǔ}

1. mortar
2. concrete
3. cement

三合會〔--会〕 saam¹ hap⁶ wui² {sān hé huì}

1. triad, Chinese crime gang
2. triad society, anti-Manchu secret society in Qing-dynasty China

三河縣〔--县〕 saam¹ ho⁴ jyun⁶ {Sān hé xiàn}

Sanhe county in Beijing

三河市 saam¹ ho⁴ si⁵ {Sān hé shì}

Sanhe county level city in Langfang 廊坊, Hebei

三項式〔-项-〕 saam¹ hong⁶ sik¹ {sān xiàng shì}

trinomial (math.)

三音度 saam¹ jam¹ dou⁶ {sān yīn dù}

third (musical interval)

三人行 saam¹ jan⁴ hang⁴ {sān rén xíng}

(slang) threesome

三夷教 saam¹ ji⁴ gaau³ {sān yí jiào}

the three foreign religions (Nestorianism, Manicheanism and Zoroastrianism)

三義鄉〔-义乡〕 saam¹ ji⁶ hoeng¹ {Sān yì xiāng}

Sanyi township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣, northwest Taiwan

三葉草〔-叶-〕 saam¹ jip⁶ cou² {sān yè cǎo}

1. clover
2. trefoil

三葉蟲〔-叶虫〕 saam¹ jip⁶ cung⁴ {sān yè chóng}

trilobite

三用表 saam¹ jung⁶ biu² {sān yòng biǎo}

instrument console (diving)

三原縣〔--县〕 saam¹ jyun⁴ jyun⁶ {Sān yuán Xiàn}

Sanyuan County in Xianyang 咸陽, Shaanxi

三元區〔--区〕 saam¹ jyun⁴ keoi¹ {Sān yuán qū}

Sanyuan district of Sanming city 三明市, Fujian

三元醇 saam¹ jyun⁴ seon⁴ {sān yuán chún}

propyl alcohol C3H7OH

三原則〔--则〕 saam¹ jyun⁴ zak¹ {sān yuán zé}

the Three Principles (in many contexts)

三月份 saam¹ jyut⁶ fan⁶ {sān yuè fèn}

March

三月街 saam¹ jyut⁶ gaai¹ {Sān yuè Jiē}

Third Month Fair, traditional festival of the Bai Nationality 白族

三級片〔-级-〕 saam¹ kap¹ pin² {sān jí piàn}

third category movie (containing sexual or violent content)

三級跳〔-级-〕 saam¹ kap¹ tiu³ {sān jí tiào}

1. triple jump (athletics)
2. hop, skip and jump

三框欄〔--栏〕 saam¹ kwaang¹ laan⁴ {sān kuàng lán}

1. name of radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 22)
2. see also 匚

三里河 saam¹ lei⁵ ho⁴ {Sān lǐ hé}

Sanlihe (Beijing street name)

三里屯 saam¹ lei⁵ tyun⁴ {Sān lǐ tún}

Sanlitun (Beijing street name)

三輪車〔-轮车〕 saam¹ leon⁴ ce¹ {sān lún chē}

1. pedicab
2. tricycle

三論宗〔-论-〕 saam¹ leon⁶ zung¹ {Sān lùn zōng}

Three Treatise School (Buddhism)

三連勝〔-连胜〕 saam¹ lin⁴ sing³ {sān lián shèng}

hat-trick (sports)

三稜草〔-棱-〕 saam¹ ling⁴ cou² {sān léng cǎo}

sedge herb (Cyperus rotundus)

三稜鏡〔-棱镜〕 saam¹ ling⁴ geng³ {sān léng jìng}

(triangular) prism

三聯管〔-联-〕 saam¹ lyun⁴ gun² {sān lián guǎn}

triplet

三民鄉〔--乡〕 saam¹ man⁴ hoeng¹ {Sān mín xiāng}

Sanmin district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市, south Taiwan

三文魚〔--鱼〕 saam¹ man⁴ jyu⁴ {sān wén yú}

salmon (loanword)

三民區〔--区〕 saam¹ man⁴ keoi¹ {Sān mín qū}

Sanmin district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市, south Taiwan

三文治 saam¹ man⁴ zi⁶ {sān wén zhì}

sandwich (loanword)

三味線〔--线〕 saam¹ mei⁶ sin³ {sān wèi xiàn}

shamisen, three-stringed Japanese musical instrument

三明市 saam¹ ming⁴ si⁵ {Sān míng shì}

Sanming prefecture level city in Fujian

三明治 saam¹ ming⁴ zi⁶ {sān míng zhì}

1. sandwich (loanword)
2. CL: 個

三秒膠〔--胶〕 saam¹ miu⁵ gaau¹ {sān miǎo jiāo}

superglue

三毛貓〔--猫〕 saam¹ mou⁴ maau¹ {sān máo māo}

1. tortoiseshell cat
2. calico cat

三門峽〔-门峡〕 saam¹ mun⁴ haap⁶ {Sān mén xiá}

Sanmenxia prefecture level city in Henan

三門縣〔-门县〕 saam¹ mun⁴ jyun⁶ {Sān mén xiàn}

Sanmen county in Taizhou 台州, Zhejiang

三山區〔--区〕 saam¹ saan¹ keoi¹ {Sān shān qū}

Sanshan district of Wuhu city 蕪湖市, Anhui

三手病 saam¹ sau² beng⁶ {sān shǒu bìng}

repetitive strain injury (resulting from frequent use of one's thumb, wrist etc)

三水縣〔--县〕 saam¹ seoi² jyun⁶ {Sān shuǐ xiàn}

Sanshui county in Guangdong

三水區〔--区〕 saam¹ seoi² keoi¹ {Sān shuǐ qū}

Sanshui district of Foshan city 佛山市, Guangdong

三穗縣〔--县〕 saam¹ seoi⁶ jyun⁶ {Sān suì xiàn}

Sansui county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 黔東南州, Guizhou

三色堇 saam¹ sik¹ gan² {sān sè jǐn}

pansy

三色貓〔--猫〕 saam¹ sik¹ maau¹ {sān sè māo}

calico cat

三星鄉〔--乡〕 saam¹ sing¹ hoeng¹ {Sān xīng xiāng}

Sanxing or Sanhsing township in Yilan county 宜蘭縣, Taiwan

三相點〔--点〕 saam¹ soeng³ dim² {sān xiàng diǎn}

triple point (thermodynamics)

三碳糖 saam¹ taan³ tong⁴ {sān tàn táng}

triose (CH20)3, monosaccharide with three carbon atoms, such as glyceraldehyde 甘油醛

三屜桌〔-屉-〕 saam¹ tai³ coek³ {sān tí zhuō}

three-drawer desk (traditional Chinese piece of furniture)

三頭肌〔-头-〕 saam¹ tau⁴ gei¹ {sān tóu jī}

1. triceps muscle
2. triceps brachii

三台縣〔--县〕 saam¹ toi⁴ jyun⁶ {Sān tái xiàn}

Santai county in Mianyang 綿陽, north Sichuan

三灣鄉〔-湾乡〕 saam¹ waan¹ hoeng¹ {Sān wān xiāng}

Sanwan township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣, northwest Taiwan

三溫暖〔-温-〕 saam¹ wan¹ nyun⁵ {sān wēn nuǎn}

sauna (loanword) (Tw)

三和弦 saam¹ wo⁴ jin⁴ {sān hé xián}

1. triad
2. musical chord of three notes, such as major triad do-mi-so

三隻手〔-只-〕 saam¹ zek³ sau² {sān zhī shǒu}

pickpocket

三芝鄉〔--乡〕 saam¹ zi¹ hoeng¹ {Sān zhī xiāng}

Sanzhi or Sanchih township in New Taipei City 新北市, Taiwan

三趾鷗〔--鸥〕 saam¹ zi² au¹ {sān zhǐ ōu}

(Chinese bird species) black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

三字經〔--经〕 saam¹ zi⁶ ging¹ {sān zì jīng}

1. (slang) swearword
2. four-letter word

三字經〔--经〕 saam¹ zi⁶ ging¹ {Sān zì Jīng}

Three Character Classic, 13th century reading primer consisting of Confucian tenets in lines of 3 characters

三足烏〔--乌〕 saam¹ zuk¹ wu¹ {sān zú wū}

1. three-legged Golden Crow that lives in the sun (in northeast Asian and Chinese mythology)
2. Korean: samjog'o

三岔路口 saam¹ caa³ lou⁶ hau² {sān chà lù kǒu}

at a crossroad

三朝元老 saam¹ ciu⁴ jyun⁴ lou⁵ {sān cháo yuán lǎo}

1. employee who worked under three transitions of management 2. minister who served three transitions of emperor in China's history

三寸金蓮〔---莲〕 saam¹ cyun³ gam¹ lin⁴ {sān cùn jīn lián}

foot binding (a practice for female to bind the feet since 10th century China)

三度空間〔---间〕 saam¹ dou⁶ hung¹ gaan¹ {sān dù kōng jiān}

Three-Dimensions

三緘其口〔-缄--〕 saam¹ gaam¹ kei⁴ hau² {sān jiān qí kǒu}

to talk cautiously

三角測量〔--测-〕 saam¹ gok³ caak¹ loeng⁴ {sān jiǎo cè liáng}

Triangulation

三角皮帶〔---带〕 saam¹ gok³ pei⁴ daai² {sān jiǎo pí dài}

V-type belt

三姑六婆 saam¹ gu¹ luk⁶ po⁴ {sān gū liù pó}

(slang) gossipy women who like to gossipy and sow discord

三國時代〔-国时-〕 saam¹ gwok³ si⁴ doi⁶ {Sān guó shí dài}

Three Kingdoms period

三口兩脷〔--两-〕 saam¹ hau² loeng⁵ lei⁶ {sān kǒu liǎng lì}

three mouths two tongues, which means lack of credibility

三口六面 saam¹ hau² luk⁶ min⁶ {sān kǒu liù miàn}

be elaborate or clear about something

三項鐵人〔-项铁-〕 saam¹ hong⁶ tit³ jan⁴ {sān xiàng tiě rén}

Triathlon

三人性交 saam¹ jan⁴ sing³ gaau¹ {sān rén xìng jiāo}

Threesome

三日兩夜〔--两-〕 saam¹ jat⁶ loeng⁵ je⁶ {sān rì liǎng yè}

Three days and two nights

三日兩頭〔--两头〕 saam¹ jat⁶ loeng⁵ tau⁴ {sān rì liǎng tóu}

A few days

三元里站 saam¹ jyun⁴ lei⁵ zaam⁶ {sān yuán lǐ zhàn}

Sanyuanli Station-A place in Guangzhou, China

三六香肉 saam¹ luk⁶ hoeng¹ juk⁶ {sān liù xiāng ròu}

three six savory meat, which refers to dog meat

三唔識七〔--识-〕 saam¹ m⁴ sik¹ cat¹ {sān ń shí qī}

(slang) to not know someone; to be strangers;

三五知己 saam¹ ng⁵ zi¹ gei² {sān wǔ zhī jǐ}

several close friends

三扒兩撥〔--两拨〕 saam¹ paa⁴ loeng⁵ but⁶ {sān bā liǎng bō}

describes a person who is very efficient in doing things

三心兩意〔--两-〕 saam¹ sam¹ loeng⁵ ji³ {sān xīn liǎng yì}

indecisive (idiom)

三十一號〔---号〕 saam¹ sap⁶ jat¹ hou⁶ {sān shi yī háo}

thirty-first [date]

三十一日 saam¹ sap⁶ jat¹ jat⁶ {sān shí yī rì}

thirty one days, thirty-first [date]

三衰六旺 saam¹ seoi¹ luk⁶ wong⁶ {sān shuāi liù wàng}

fate; describes the challenges and/or fortune in life where everyone will have good fortune and bad fortune in life

三維電影〔-维电-〕 saam¹ wai⁴ din⁶ jing² {sān wéi diàn yǐng}

3D movie

三尖八角 saam¹ zim¹ baat³ gok³ {sān jiān bā jiǎo}

1. irregular shapes 2. useless; incompatible

三足鼎立 saam¹ zuk¹ ding² laap⁶ {sān zú dǐng lì}

A situation of tripartite confrontation

三寶太監〔-宝-监〕 saam¹ bou² taai³ gaam³ {Sān bǎo tài jiàn}

1. Sanbao Eunuch, official title of Zheng He 鄭和
2. also written 三保太監

三叉神經〔---经〕 saam¹ caa¹ san⁴ ging¹ {sān chā shén jīng}

trigeminal nerve

三茶六飯〔---饭〕 saam¹ caa⁴ luk⁶ faan⁶ {sān chá liù fàn}

1. lit. to offer three kinds of tea and six different dishes
2. to be extremely considerate towards guests (idiom)

三親六故〔-亲--〕 saam¹ can¹ luk⁶ gu³ {sān qīn liù gù}

old friends and relatives

三催四請〔---请〕 saam¹ ceoi¹ sei³ ceng² {sān cuī sì qǐng}

to coax and plead

三旬九食 saam¹ ceon⁴ gau² sik⁶ {sān xún jiǔ shí}

1. lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)
2. fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation
3. in dire straits

三次方程 saam¹ ci³ fong¹ cing⁴ {sān cì fāng chéng}

cubic equation (math.)

三次曲線〔---线〕 saam¹ ci³ kuk¹ sin³ {sān cì qū xiàn}

cubic curve (geometry)

三長兩短〔-长两-〕 saam¹ coeng⁴ loeng⁵ dyun² {sān cháng liǎng duǎn}

1. unexpected misfortune
2. unexpected accident
3. sudden death

三從四德〔-从--〕 saam¹ cung⁴ sei³ dak¹ {sān cóng sì dé}

Confucian moral injunctions for women, namely: obey in turn three men father, husband and son, plus the four virtues of morality 德, physical charm 容, propriety in speech 言 and efficiency in needlework 功

三等分角 saam¹ dang² fan¹ gok³ {sān děng fēn jiǎo}

1. trisection (math.)
2. trisecting an angle

三地門鄉〔--门乡〕 saam¹ dei⁶ mun⁴ hoeng¹ {Sān dì mén xiāng}

Santimen township in Pingtung County 屏東縣, Taiwan

三點全露〔-点--〕 saam¹ dim² cyun⁴ lou⁶ {sān diǎn quán lòu}

1. (slang) naked
2. nude

三代同堂 saam¹ doi⁶ tung⁴ tong⁴ {sān dài tóng táng}

three generations under one roof

三番五次 saam¹ faan¹ ng⁵ ci³ {sān fān wǔ cì}

over and over again (idiom)

三反運動〔--运动〕 saam¹ faan² wan⁶ dung⁶ {sān fǎn yùn dòng}

"Three Anti" campaign (anti-corruption, anti-waste, anti-bureaucracy), early PRC purge of 1951-52

三藩叛亂〔---乱〕 saam¹ faan⁴ bun⁶ lyun⁶ {Sān fān pàn luàn}

rebellion against the Qing of 1670s, pacified by Kangxi

三藩之亂〔---乱〕 saam¹ faan⁴ zi¹ lyun⁶ {sān fān zhī luàn}

Three feudatories rebellion against Qing 1673-1681 during the reign of Kangxi

三分之一 saam¹ fan⁶ zi¹ jat¹ {sān fēn zhī yī}

one third

三氟化硼 saam¹ fat¹ faa³ pang⁴ {sān fú huà péng}

boron trifluoride

三駕馬車〔-驾马车〕 saam¹ gaa³ maa⁵ ce¹ {sān jià mǎ chē}

troika

三更半夜 saam¹ gaang¹ bun³ je⁶ {sān gēng bàn yè}

1. in the depth of the night
2. very late at night

三教九流 saam¹ gaau³ gau² lau⁴ {sān jiào jiǔ liú}

1. the Three Religions (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism) and Nine Schools (Confucians, Daoists, Yin-Yang, Legalists, Logicians, Mohists, Political Strategists, Eclectics, Agriculturists)
2. fig. people from all trades (often derog.)

三個代表〔-个--〕 saam¹ go³ doi⁶ biu² {Sān gè Dài biǎo}

the Three Represents enunciated by Jiang Zemin 江澤民 as the duty of the Chinese Communist party in 2001, namely: to represent productivity of an advanced society, forward progress of advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the people

三個世界〔-个--〕 saam¹ go³ sai³ gaai³ {Sān ge Shì jiè}

the Three Worlds (as proposed by Mao Zedong), i.e. the superpowers (USA and USSR), other wealthy countries (UK, France, Japan etc), and the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America

三腳兩步〔-脚两-〕 saam¹ goek³ loeng⁵ bou⁶ {sān jiǎo liǎng bù}

1. hurriedly
2. just a few steps away

三角柱體〔---体〕 saam¹ gok³ cyu⁵ tai² {sān jiǎo zhù tǐ}

triangular prism (math.)

三角褲衩〔--裤-〕 saam¹ gok³ fu³ caa³ {sān jiǎo kù chǎ}

1. briefs
2. panties

三角腹帶〔---带〕 saam¹ gok³ fuk¹ daai² {sān jiǎo fù dài}

athletic supporter

三角關係〔--关系〕 saam¹ gok³ gwaan¹ hai⁶ {sān jiǎo guān xì}

1. triangle relationship
2. a love triangle

三角函數〔---数〕 saam¹ gok³ haam⁴ sou³ {sān jiǎo hán shù}

trigonometric function

三角恐龍〔---龙〕 saam¹ gok³ hung² lung⁴ {sān jiǎo kǒng lóng}

triceratops (dinosaur)

三角戀愛〔--恋爱〕 saam¹ gok³ lyun² oi³ {sān jiǎo liàn ài}

love triangle

三江並流〔--并-〕 saam¹ gong¹ bing⁶ lau⁴ {Sān jiāng bìng liú}

Three Parallel Rivers National Park, in mountainous northwest Yunnan World Heritage protected area: the three rivers are Nujian 怒江 or Salween, Jinsha 金沙江 or upper reaches of Changjiang and Lancang 澜沧江 or Mekong

三綱五常〔-纲--〕 saam¹ gong¹ ng⁵ soeng⁴ {sān gāng wǔ cháng}

1. three principles and five virtues (idiom)
2. the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義, propriety 禮, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)

三江平原 saam¹ gong¹ ping⁴ jyun⁴ {Sān jiāng píng yuán}

Sanjiang or Three rivers plain in Heilongjiang, vast wetland watered by Heilongjiang 黑龍江 or Amur, Songhua 松花江, Ussuri 烏蘇里江

三姑六婆 saam¹ gu¹ luk⁶ po⁴ {sān gū liù pó}

women with disreputable or illegal professions (idiom)

三顧茅廬〔-顾-庐〕 saam¹ gu³ maau⁴ lou⁴ {sān gù máo lú}

1. lit. three humble visits to a thatched cottage
2. cf famous episode in the fictional Romance of Three Kingdoms 三國演義 in which Liu Bei 劉備 recruits Zhuge Liang 諸葛亮 (the Hidden Dragon 臥龍) to his cause by visiting him three times

三官大帝 saam¹ gun¹ daai⁶ dai³ {sān guān dà dì}

the three gods in charge of heaven, earth and water (Daoism)

三公經費〔--经费〕 saam¹ gung¹ ging¹ fai³ {sān gōng jīng fèi}

"three public expenditures" of the PRC government, i.e. air travel, food and entertainment, and public vehicles

三跪九叩 saam¹ gwai⁶ gau² kau³ {sān guì jiǔ kòu}

to kneel three times and kowtow nine times (formal etiquette on meeting the emperor)

三軍用命〔-军--〕 saam¹ gwan¹ jung⁶ ming⁶ {sān jūn yòng mìng}

(of a team) to throw oneself into the battle

三國演義〔-国-义〕 saam¹ gwok³ jin² ji⁶ {Sān guó Yǎn yì}

1. Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong 羅貫中, one of the Four Classic Novels of Chinese literature
2. a fictional account of the Three Kingdoms at the break-up of the Han around 200 AD, consistently portraying Liu Bei's Shu Han 劉備, 蜀漢, 蜀汉 as virtuous heroes and Cao Cao's Wei 曹操, 魏 as tyrannical villains

三國史記〔-国-记〕 saam¹ gwok³ si² gei³ {Sān guó shǐ jì}

History of Three Kingdoms (Korean: Samguk Sagi), the oldest extant Korean history, compiled under Kim Busik 金富軾 in 1145. The three kingdoms are Goguryeo 高句麗, Baekje 百濟, Silla 新羅.

三光政策 saam¹ gwong¹ zing³ caak³ {Sān guāng Zhèng cè}

Three Alls Policy (kill all, burn all, loot all), Japanese policy in China during WWII

三峽大壩〔-峡-坝〕 saam¹ haap⁶ daai⁶ baa³ {Sān xiá Dà bà}

Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River

三峽水庫〔-峡-库〕 saam¹ haap⁶ seoi² fu³ {Sān xiá shuǐ kù}

Three gorges reservoir on the Changjiang or Yangtze

三俠五義〔-侠-义〕 saam¹ hap⁶ ng⁵ ji⁶ {Sān xiá wǔ yì}

Sanxia wuyi (lit. Three knight-errants and five righteous one), novel edited from stories of late Qing dynasty pinghua 評話 master storyteller Shi Yukun 石玉昆

三項全能〔-项--〕 saam¹ hong⁶ cyun⁴ nang⁴ {sān xiàng quán néng}

triathlon

三號電池〔-号电-〕 saam¹ hou⁶ din⁶ ci⁴ {sān hào diàn chí}

1. C size battery (PRC)
2. AA battery (Taiwan)
3. see 二號電池 (C battery in Taiwan) and 五號電池 (AA battery in PRC)

三號木桿〔-号-杆〕 saam¹ hou⁶ muk⁶ gon¹ {sān hào mù gān}

spoon (golf)

三人口氣〔---气〕 saam¹ jan⁴ hau² hei³ {sān rén kǒu qì}

third person (grammar)

三人成虎 saam¹ jan⁴ sing⁴ fu² {sān rén chéng hǔ}

three men talking makes a tiger (idiom); repeated rumor becomes a fact

三言兩句〔--两-〕 saam¹ jin⁴ loeng⁵ geoi³ {sān yán liǎng jù}

in a few words (idiom); expressed succinctly

三言兩語〔--两语〕 saam¹ jin⁴ loeng⁵ jyu⁵ {sān yán liǎng yǔ}

in a few words (idiom); expressed succinctly

三葉星雲〔-叶-云〕 saam¹ jip⁶ sing¹ wan⁴ {Sān yè xīng yún}

Trifid Nebula M20

三元運算〔--运-〕 saam¹ jyun⁴ wan⁶ syun³ {sān yuán yùn suàn}

ternary operator (computing)

三級士官〔-级--〕 saam¹ kap¹ si⁶ gun¹ {sān jí shì guān}

staff sergeant

三級跳遠〔-级-远〕 saam¹ kap¹ tiu³ jyun⁵ {sān jí tiào yuǎn}

1. triple jump (athletics)
2. hop, skip and jump

三權鼎立〔-权--〕 saam¹ kyun⁴ ding² laap⁶ {sān quán dǐng lì}

separation of powers

三權分立〔-权--〕 saam¹ kyun⁴ fan¹ laap⁶ {sān quán fēn lì}

separation of powers

三輪車夫〔-轮车-〕 saam¹ leon⁴ ce¹ fu¹ {sān lún chē fū}

pedicab driver

三令五申 saam¹ ling⁶ ng⁵ san¹ {sān lìng wǔ shēn}

to order again and again (idiom)

三氯氰胺 saam¹ luk⁶ cing¹ on¹ {sān lǜ qíng àn}

melamine C3H6N6

三氯化磷 saam¹ luk⁶ faa³ leon⁴ {sān lǜ huà lín}

phosphorous trichloride

三氯化鐵〔---铁〕 saam¹ luk⁶ faa³ tit³ {sān lǜ huà tiě}

ferric chloride FeCl3

三氯甲烷 saam¹ luk⁶ gaap³ jyun⁴ {sān lǜ jiǎ wán}

1. chloroform CHCl3
2. trichloromethane

三氯已烯 saam¹ luk⁶ ji⁵ hei¹ {sān lǜ yǐ xī}

trichloroethylene

三氯已烷 saam¹ luk⁶ ji⁵ jyun⁴ {sān lǜ yǐ wán}

trichloroethane

三氯氧磷 saam¹ luk⁶ joeng⁵ leon⁴ {sān lǜ yǎng lín}

phosphorous oxychloride

三鹿集團〔---团〕 saam¹ luk⁶ zaap⁶ tyun⁴ {Sān lù Jí tuán}

Sanlu Group, Chinese state-owned dairy products company involved in the 2008 melamine poisoning scandal

三聯書店〔-联书-〕 saam¹ lyun⁴ syu¹ dim³ {Sān lián Shū diàn}

Joint Publishing, book store chain and publisher, founded in Hong Kong in 1948

三馬同槽〔-马--〕 saam¹ maa⁵ tung⁴ cou⁴ {sān mǎ tóng cáo}

three horses at the same trough (idiom, alluding to Sima Yi 司馬懿 and his two sons); conspirators under the same roof

三民主義〔---义〕 saam¹ man⁴ zyu² ji⁶ {sān mín zhǔ yì}

Dr Sun Yat-sen's 孫中山 Three principles of the people (late 1890s)

三門峽市〔-门峡-〕 saam¹ mun⁴ haap⁶ si⁵ {Sān mén xiá shì}

Sanmenxia prefecture level city in Henan

三五成群 saam¹ ng⁵ sing⁴ kwan⁴ {sān wǔ chéng qún}

forming groups of three or squads of five (idiom); people stand around in small clumps

三瓦兩舍〔--两-〕 saam¹ ngaa⁵ loeng⁵ se³ {sān wǎ liǎng shè}

places of pleasure (like brothels, tea houses etc)

三農問題〔-农问题〕 saam¹ nung⁴ man⁶ tai⁴ {sān nóng wèn tí}

the three rural issues: agriculture, rural areas and peasants

三朋四友 saam¹ pang⁴ sei³ jau⁵ {sān péng sì yǒu}

1. friends
2. cronies

三浦梅園〔---园〕 saam¹ pou² mui⁴ jyun⁴ {Sān pǔ Méi yuán}

MIURA Baien (1723-1789), Japanese neo-Confucian philosopher and pioneer economist, author of The Origin of value 價原

三陪小姐 saam¹ pui⁴ siu² ze² {sān péi xiǎo jie}

1. female escort
2. bar girl

三三兩兩〔--两两〕 saam¹ saam¹ loeng⁵ loeng⁵ {sān sān liǎng liǎng}

in twos and threes

三心二意 saam¹ sam¹ ji⁶ ji³ {sān xīn èr yì}

1. in two minds about sth (idiom)
2. half-hearted
3. shilly-shallying

三生有幸 saam¹ sang¹ jau⁵ hang⁶ {sān shēng yǒu xìng}

1. the blessing of three lifetimes (idiom)
2. (courteous language) it's my good fortune...

三十而立 saam¹ sap⁶ ji⁴ laap⁶ {sān shí ér lì}

thirty years old and therefore independent (idiom, from Confucius)

三十二相 saam¹ sap⁶ ji⁶ soeng³ {sān shí èr xiàng}

the thirty-two physical characteristics of Buddha

三十六計〔---计〕 saam¹ sap⁶ luk⁶ gai³ {sān shí liù jì}

1. The Thirty-Six Stratagems, a Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics, war, and in civil interaction
2. all the possible schemes and stratagems

三思而行 saam¹ si¹ ji⁴ hang⁴ {sān sī ér xíng}

think three times then go (idiom); don't act before you've thought it through carefully

三星集團〔---团〕 saam¹ sing¹ zaap⁶ tyun⁴ {Sān xīng Jí tuán}

Samsung Group

三索錦蛇〔--锦-〕 saam¹ sok³ gam² se⁴ {sān suǒ jǐn shé}

copperhead race (Elaphe radiata), kind of snake

三體問題〔-体问题〕 saam¹ tai² man⁶ tai⁴ {sān tǐ wèn tí}

three-body problem (mechanics)

三頭六臂〔-头--〕 saam¹ tau⁴ luk⁶ bei³ {sān tóu liù bì}

1. lit. to have three heads and six arms (idiom)
2. fig. to possess remarkable abilities
3. a being of formidable powers

三天兩頭〔--两头〕 saam¹ tin¹ loeng⁵ tau⁴ {sān tiān liǎng tóu}

1. lit. twice every three days (idiom); practically every day
2. frequently

三位博士 saam¹ wai² bok³ si⁶ {sān wèi bó shì}

1. the Magi
2. the Three Wise Kings from the East in the biblical nativity story

三維空間〔-维-间〕 saam¹ wai⁴ hung¹ gaan¹ {sān wéi kōng jiān}

1. three-dimensional space
2. 3D

三位一體〔---体〕 saam¹ wai⁶ jat¹ tai² {Sān wèi Yī tǐ}

1. Holy Trinity
2. trinity

三魂七魄 saam¹ wan⁴ cat¹ paak³ {sān hún qī pò}

three immortal souls and seven mortal forms in Daoism, contrasting the spiritual and carnal side of man

三皇五帝 saam¹ wong⁴ ng⁵ dai³ {sān huáng wǔ dì}

1. three sovereigns 三皇 and five emperors 五帝 of myth and legend
2. the earliest system of Chinese historiography

三皇炮捶 saam¹ wong⁴ paau³ ceoi⁴ {sān huáng pào chuí}

Paochui - "Three Emperor Cannon Punch" (Chinese Martial Art)

三聚氰胺 saam¹ zeoi⁶ cing¹ on¹ {sān jù qíng àn}

melamine C3H6N6

三資企業〔-资-业〕 saam¹ zi¹ kei⁵ jip⁶ {sān zī qǐ yè}

foreign, private and joint ventures

三趾鴉雀〔--鸦-〕 saam¹ zi² aa¹ zoek³ {sān zhǐ yā què}

(Chinese bird species) three-toed parrotbill (Cholornis paradoxa)

三趾濱鷸〔--滨鹬〕 saam¹ zi² ban¹ wat⁶ {sān zhǐ bīn yù}

(Chinese bird species) sanderling (Calidris alba)

三趾翠鳥〔---鸟〕 saam¹ zi² ceoi³ niu⁵ {sān zhǐ cuì niǎo}

(Chinese bird species) oriental dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus)

三自教會〔---会〕 saam¹ zi⁶ gaau³ wui² {Sān zì Jiào huì}

Three-Self Patriotic Movement, PRC government-sanctioned Protestant church from 1949

三貞九烈〔-贞--〕 saam¹ zing¹ gau² lit⁶ {sān zhēn jiǔ liè}

(of a widow) faithful to the death to her husband's memory

三藏法師〔---师〕 saam¹ zong⁶ faat³ si¹ {Sān zàng fǎ shī}

1. Tripitaka (602-664) Tang dynasty Buddhist monk and translator, who traveled to India 629-645
2. same as 玄奘

三足金烏〔---乌〕 saam¹ zuk¹ gam¹ wu¹ {sān zú jīn wū}

1. three-legged Golden Crow that lives in the sun (in northeast Asian and Chinese mythology)
2. Korean: samjog'o

三中全會〔---会〕 saam¹ zung¹ cyun⁴ wui² {Sān Zhōng Quán huì}

Third Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party, currently held every five years

三八婦女節〔--妇-节〕 saam¹ baat³ fu⁵ neoi⁵ zit³ {Sān Bā Fù nǚ jié}

March 8 International Women's Day

三藩市華埠〔---华-〕 saam¹ faan⁴ si⁵ waa⁴ fau⁶ {sān fān shì Huá bù}

San Francisco Chinatown

三九兩丁七〔--两--〕 saam¹ gau² loeng⁵ ding¹ cat¹ {sān jiǔ liǎng dīng qī}

very few people

三九唔識七〔---识-〕 saam¹ gau² m⁴ sik¹ cat¹ {sān jiǔ ń shí qī}

describes the situation where no one knows who anyone else is, where everyone is a total stranger to everyone else

三兩下手勢〔-两--势〕 saam¹ loeng⁵ haa⁵ sau² sai³ {sān liǎng xià shǒu shì}

three or two gestures, which means task done quickly or in no time

三歲定八十〔-岁---〕 saam¹ seoi³ ding⁶ baat³ sap⁶ {sān suì dìng bā shí}

(phrase) how a child acts (at age 3) already determines how he / she will be when he / she is an adult.

三百六十行 saam¹ baak³ luk⁶ sap⁶ hong⁴ {sān bǎi liù shí háng}

1. all walks of life (idiom)
2. every trade

三七開定論〔--开-论〕 saam¹ cat¹ hoi¹ ding⁶ leon⁶ {sān qī kāi dìng lùn}

thirty percent failure, seventy percent success, the official PRC verdict on Mao Zedong

三七二十一 saam¹ cat¹ ji⁶ sap⁶ jat¹ {sān qī èr shí yī}

1. three sevens are twenty-one (idiom)
2. the facts of the matter
3. the actual situation

三對三鬥牛〔-对-斗-〕 saam¹ deoi³ saam¹ dau³ ngau⁴ {sān duì sān dòu niú}

three-on-three basketball game

三島由紀夫〔-岛-纪-〕 saam¹ dou² jau⁴ gei² fu¹ {Sān dǎo Yóu jì fū}

Mishima Yukio (1925-1970), Japanese author, pen name of (平岡公威, Hiraoka Kimitake)

三道眉草鵐〔----鹀〕 saam¹ dou⁶ mei⁴ cou² mou⁴ {sān dào méi cǎo wú}

(Chinese bird species) meadow bunting (Emberiza cioides)

三分鐘熱度〔--钟热-〕 saam¹ fan¹ zung¹ jit⁶ dou⁶ {sān fēn zhōng rè dù}

1. brief period of enthusiasm
2. flash in the pan

三角測量法〔--测--〕 saam¹ gok³ caak¹ loeng⁴ faat³ {sān jiǎo cè liáng fǎ}

triangulation (surveying)

三下五除二 saam¹ haa⁶ ng⁵ ceoi⁴ ji⁶ {sān xià wǔ chú èr}

1. three, set five remove two (abacus rule)
2. efficiently
3. quickly and easily

三合一疫苗 saam¹ hap⁶ jat¹ jik⁶ miu⁴ {sān hé yī yì miáo}

DTP vaccination

三磷酸腺苷 saam¹ leon⁴ syun¹ sin³ gam¹ {sān lín suān xiàn gān}

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

三胚層動物〔--层动-〕 saam¹ pui¹ cang⁴ dung⁶ mat⁶ {sān pēi céng dòng wù}

triploblastic animals (having three germ layers)

三十八度線〔----线〕 saam¹ sap⁶ baat³ dou⁶ sin³ {sān shí bā dù xiàn}

1. thirty eighth parallel
2. dividing line agreed at Yalta between US and Soviet zones of influence in Korea, now the DMZ between North and South Korea

三十二位元 saam¹ sap⁶ ji⁶ wai² jyun⁴ {sān shí èr wèi yuán}

32-bit (computing)

三十六字母 saam¹ sap⁶ luk⁶ zi⁶ mou⁵ {sān shí liù zì mǔ}

thirty six initial consonants of Song phonetic theory

三色紫羅蘭〔---罗兰〕 saam¹ sik¹ zi² lo⁴ laan⁴ {sān sè zǐ luó lán}

pansy

三硝基甲苯 saam¹ siu¹ gei¹ gaap³ bun² {sān xiāo jī jiǎ běn}

trinitrotoluene (TNT)

三酸甘油酯 saam¹ syun¹ gam¹ jau⁴ zi² {sān suān gān yóu zhǐ}

triglyceride

三趾啄木鳥〔----鸟〕 saam¹ zi² doek³ muk⁶ niu⁵ {sān zhǐ zhuó mù niǎo}

(Chinese bird species) Eurasian three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)

三尖杉酯鹼〔----碱〕 saam¹ zim¹ caam³ zi² gaan² {sān jiān shān zhǐ jiǎn}

harringtonine (chemistry)

三思而後行〔---后-〕 saam³ si¹ ji⁴ hau⁶ hang⁴ {sān sī ér hòu xíng}

think again and again before acting (idiom); consider carefully in advance

三步揦埋兩步〔----两-〕 saam¹ bou⁶ laa³ maai⁴ loeng⁵ bou⁶ {sān bù lá mái liǎng bù}

lit. to cover the distance of two steps with quick three steps, meaning to walk with long strides

三棟屋博物館〔-栋---馆〕 saam¹ dung⁶ uk¹ bok³ mat⁶ gun² {sān dòng wū bó wù guǎn}

Sam Tung Uk Museum

三藩市交通局 saam¹ faan⁴ si⁵ gaau¹ tung¹ guk⁶ {sān fān shì jiāo tōng jú}

Transportation Department of San Francisco

三更窮五更富〔--穷---〕 saam¹ gaang¹ kung⁴ ng⁵ gaang¹ fu³ {sān gēng qióng wǔ gēng fù}

lit. poor at 3 o'clock and rich by 5, meaning one who has no financial planning, and spending all of what one's earn quickly

三九四零五二 saam¹ gau² sei³ ling⁴ ng⁵ ji⁶ {sān jiǔ sì líng wǔ èr}

six numbers pronounced with the first tone to the sixth tone respectively in Cantonese: 3, 9, 4, 0, 5, 2

三句不離本行〔---离--〕 saam¹ geoi³ bat¹ lei⁴ bun² hong⁴ {sān jù bù lí běn háng}

person who talks constantly about his profession or usage of jargons (idiom)

三月二十一號〔-----号〕 saam¹ jyut⁶ ji⁶ sap⁶ jat¹ hou⁶ {sān yuè èr shí yī hào}

March 21st

三寸不爛之舌〔---烂--〕 saam¹ cyun³ bat¹ laan⁶ zi¹ sit³ {sān cùn bù làn zhī shé}

1. to have a silver tongue
2. to have the gift of the gab

三件套式西裝〔-----装〕 saam¹ gin⁶ tou³ sik¹ sai¹ zong¹ {sān jiàn tào shì xī zhuāng}

three-piece suit

三自愛國教會〔--爱国-会〕 saam¹ zi⁶ oi³ gwok³ gaau³ wui² {Sān zì Ài guó Jiào huì}

Three-Self Patriotic Movement, PRC government-sanctioned Protestant church from 1949

三藩市城市鐵路〔-----铁-〕 saam¹ faan⁴ si⁵ sing⁴ si⁵ tit³ lou⁶ {sān fān shì chéng shì tiě lù}

Urban railway of San Francisco

三分顏色上大紅〔--颜---红〕 saam¹ fan¹ ngaan⁴ sik¹ soeng⁵ daai⁶ hung⁴ {sān fēn yán se shàng dà gōng}

it is used to describe a person who boasts, thinks he/ she is superior after getting a small praise from others

三都水族自治縣〔------县〕 saam¹ dou¹ seoi² zuk⁶ zi⁶ zi⁶ jyun⁶ {Sān dū shuǐ zú zì zhì xiàn}

Sandu Shuizu autonomous county in Qiannan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture 黔南州, Guizhou

三句話不離本行〔--话-离--〕 saam¹ geoi³ waa⁶ bat¹ lei⁴ bun² hong⁴ {sān jù huà bù lí běn háng}

to talk shop all the time (idiom)

三個女人一個墟〔-个---个-〕 saam¹ go³ neoi⁵ jan⁴ jat¹ go³ heoi¹ {sān gè nǚ rén yī gè xū}

three women makes a crowd

三個女人一臺戲〔-个---台戏〕 saam¹ go³ neoi⁵ jan⁴ jat¹ toi⁴ hei³ {sān ge nǚ rén yī tái xì}

three women are enough for a drama (idiom)

三江侗族自治縣〔------县〕 saam¹ gong¹ dung⁶ zuk⁶ zi⁶ zi⁶ jyun⁶ {Sān jiāng dòng zú zì zhì xiàn}

Sanjiang Dong autonomous county in Liuzhou 柳州, Guangxi

三江生態旅遊區〔---态-游区〕 saam¹ gong¹ sang¹ taai³ leoi⁵ jau⁴ keoi¹ {Sān jiāng shēng tài lǚ yóu qū}

Sanjiang ecological tourist area in Wenchuan county 汶川县, northwest Sichuan

三大紀律八項注意〔--纪--项--〕 saam¹ daai⁶ gei² leot⁶ baat³ hong⁶ zyu³ ji³ {Sān Dà Jì lǜ Bā Xiàng Zhù yì}

the Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention, a military doctrine issued in 1928 by Mao Zedong for the Red Army, which included a number of injunctions demanding high standards of behavior and respect for civilians during wartime

三人行，必有我師〔-------师〕 saam¹ jan⁴ hang⁴ ，bit¹ jau⁵ ngo⁵ si¹ {sān rén xíng , bì yǒu wǒ shī}

1. lit. if three walk together, one can be my teacher (idiom, from the Analects of Confucius)
2. you have sth to learn from everyone

三人行，則必有我師〔----则---师〕 saam¹ jan⁴ hang⁴ ，zak¹ bit¹ jau⁵ ngo⁵ si¹ {sān rén xíng , zé bì yǒu wǒ shī}

If three walk together, one of them can teach me sth (Confucius)

三十六計，走為上策〔---计--为--〕 saam¹ sap⁶ luk⁶ gai³ ，zau² wai⁴ soeng⁶ caak³ {sān shí liù jì , zǒu wéi shàng cè}

1. Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is best.
2. see also 三十六計

三天不打，上房揭瓦 saam¹ tin¹ bat¹ daa² ，soeng⁶ fong⁴ kit³ ngaa⁵ {sān tiān bù dǎ , shàng fáng jiē wǎ}

1. three days without a beating, and a child will scale the roof to rip the tiles (idiom)
2. spare the rod, spoil the child

三天打魚，兩天曬網〔---鱼-两-晒网〕 saam¹ tin¹ daa² jyu⁴ ，loeng⁵ tin¹ saai³ mong⁵ {sān tiān dǎ yú , liǎng tiān shài wǎng}

1. lit. to fish for three days and sun-dry the nets for two days (proverb)
2. fig. not to persevere in doing sth
3. to do sth by fits and starts

三個臭皮匠，賽過諸葛亮〔-个----赛过诸--〕 saam¹ go³ cau³ pei⁴ zoeng⁶ ，coi³ gwo³ zyu¹ got³ loeng⁶ {sān gè chòu pí jiang , sài guò Zhū gě Liàng}

1. lit. three ignorant cobblers add up to a genius (idiom); fig. collective wisdom
2. wisdom of the masses exceeds that of any individual

三個臭皮匠，頂個諸葛亮〔-个----顶个诸--〕 saam¹ go³ cau³ pei⁴ zoeng⁶ ，ding² go³ zyu¹ got³ loeng⁶ {sān gè chòu pí jiang , dǐng gè Zhū gě Liàng}

1. lit. three ignorant cobblers add up to a genius (idiom); fig. collective wisdom
2. wisdom of the masses exceeds that of any individual

三個臭皮匠，賽過一個諸葛亮〔-个----赛过-个诸--〕 saam¹ go³ cau³ pei⁴ zoeng⁶ ，coi³ gwo³ jat¹ go³ zyu¹ got³ loeng⁶ {sān gè chòu pí jiang , sài guò yī gè Zhū gě Liàng}

1. lit. three ignorant cobblers add up to a genius (idiom); fig. collective wisdom
2. wisdom of the masses exceeds that of any individual

三個臭皮匠，合成一個諸葛亮〔-个-------个诸--〕 saam¹ go³ cau³ pei⁴ zoeng⁶ ，hap⁶ sing⁴ jat¹ go³ zyu¹ got³ loeng⁶ {sān gè chòu pí jiang , hé chéng yī gè Zhū gě Liàng}

lit. three ignorant cobblers add up to a genius (idiom); fig. collective wisdom