和尚動得，我動不得

See also: 和尚动得，我动不得

Chinese

	preceptor; high priest; head monk preceptor; high priest; head monk; any Buddhist monk	to move; to change; to use to move; to change; to use; to act	get; obtain; gain get; obtain; gain; proper; suitable; proud; contented; allow; permit; ready; finished; a sentence particle used after a verb to show effect; degree or possibility; to have to; must; ought to; to need to		I; me	to move; to change; to use to move; to change; to use; to act	must not; should not; not be allowed must not; should not; not be allowed; to not receive
trad. (和尚動得，我動不得)	和尚	動	得	，	我	動	不得
simp. (和尚动得，我动不得)	和尚	动	得	，	我	动	不得
Literally: “The monks can touch [this nun], [but] I can't?”.

Etymology

From a quote in the novel The True Story of Ah Q (1921) by the protagonist Ah Q, who holds a cynical belief that Buddhist monks and nuns all have secret immoral sexual relationship.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): héshàng dòng dé, wǒ dòng bùdé
(Zhuyin): ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄜˊ, ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: héshàng dòng dé, wǒ dòng bùdé
  - Zhuyin: ㄏㄜˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄉㄜˊ, ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: héshàng dòng dé, wǒ dòng bùdé
  - Wade–Giles: ho²-shang⁴ tung⁴ tê²- wo³ tung⁴ pu⁴-tê²
  - Yale: hé-shàng dùng dé-, wǒ dùng bù-dé
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: hershanq donq der, woo donq buder
  - Palladius: хэшан дун дэ, во дун будэ (xɛšan dun dɛ, vo dun budɛ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ tɤ³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ tʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ tɤ³⁵/

Proverb

和尚動得，我動不得

My wrongdoing is justified by someone else doing the same thing. Two wrongs make a right.

Synonyms

和尚摸得，我摸不得 (héshàng mō dé, wǒ mō bùdé)