Lantern Riddles
燈謎是中國古代流行的文字遊戲，尤其在農曆正月十五 (元宵）最為盛行。謎題內容從單字到政治諷刺，無所不包。詩句經常運用在燈謎中。讓我們來看一些謎語吧。(中文謎語請向下捲動。)
Lantern riddle is a word game popular in ancient China, especially on the 15th of the first lunar month. Topics go from a character to political satire. A lot of poetry was used in the lantern riddles. Let's see some riddles here:
Riddles in English
unfold the mountains
flowers and words
let them take the heat off your face
(Chinese fan)
prettily printed
roughly used
casually discarded
into the compost
(paper napkin)
it flies like a bird
against the wind
but unlike a bird
it’s on a leash
(kite)
it follows
but doesn’t eat or drink
in silence
it disappears when the sun goes down
(shadow)
When it is filled
it is used
When it is empty
it is useful
(bowl)
soft as a cloud
long are the ears
instead of running
it hops hops hops
(rabbit)
soft and warm
it’s filled with love
caresses your hand in wintry times
(glove)
a hunting tool
of uneven fins
comes hurtling back
when thrown away
(boomerang)
it talks and talks
and talks and talks and talks
then preens its lovely feathers
and talks some more
(parrot)
hanging upside down
in caves or on trees
they fold their capes
over their bodies
and bid everyone goodnight
(bat)
it takes nine months to grow
and when it’s grown
long blond silky hair
wrapped in a green jacket
(corn cob)
the rub is rough
the work is covert
the irritant is a jewel
that decks a lady’s neck
(pearl)
his mind’s a river
where battles are fought
and adventures at sea
(Homer)
this tiger doesn’t kill
it’s purpose is to heal
(tiger balm)
goat’s gut and camel’s skin
buzzing ring of metal feather
Sahara’s heart beat
(gimbri)
high mountains and flowing waters
silk and wood converse
the language of tranquility
(guqin)
the fox flies
with featherless wings
when at rest
it sees the earth
as sky
(bat)
it doesn’t tumble
it doesn’t turn
it has no wheels
but it’s everyone’s concern
(recycling)
half way down the nose
now you can see and now your can’t
(reading glasses)
bright eyes, perky ears
a tail between the teeth
she’s here to please
(cat)
she rises after the rain
ribbons arching over clouds
born to the sun and water nymph
iridescent in her grace
(rainbow)
dancing among flowers
black and yellow jacket
sweet dusty legs
(bee)
spring flowers in bloom
beauty armed with ragweed
a big achoo
(pollen)
fluttering in wind
international clotheslines
slap each other’s face
(flags)
pretty dresses silken skin
gleaming with dew under the morning sun
(flowers)
the flapping tongue make noises
but inside the mouth there are messages
(mailbox)
long snout curly tail
it snorts louder
as it grows bigger
(pig)
beauty emerges from the mud
not a smudge on the face
floating on the pond
of dark green canopies
(lotus)
the address is remote
the climate is cold
the residents are legendary
a woman a man a jade rabbit
(moon)
the wet is dried
the dry is now wet
at terry’s exchange
(towel)
long teeth
no mouth
they tease
in silence
(comb)
thin brittle skin
translucent layers
it makes you cry
for no reason
(onion)
the butler with four stiff legs
may dress plain or fancy
but his service is unparalleled
holds everything you put on him
(table)
she moves her house
from land to sea
and back again
lays eggs in the sand
(turtle)
beautiful singer of the ocean
a fish with a womb
swims in the school of playfulness
with bulls and cows and calves
(dolphin)
they counted their fingers and toes
they did not fry their food
nor eat meat until the Spaniards
settled in their land
(Mayans)
dressed in red
but the hearts are black
when they rant
you go deaf
(firecrackers)
we used to like it speckled
now prefer it green
but green is young and rigid
and the speckled ones are sweet
(banana)
the body looks wet
and yet it's dry
its tongue a fork
its name is wrap
(snake)
in the forest of the night
it's burning burning bright
what immortal hand or eye
could frame its fearful symmetry?
(tiger)
it races in the battlefields
it races in the prairies
its toe is odd
and wears a shoe
(horse)
in thunder and lightning
in wind and rain
a scaly snake with legs
breathing fire
(dragon)
they’re similar to you and me
eat vegetables as well as meat
sailors call them oinkers
for fear of drowning at sea
(pig)
He somersaulted on Buddha’s hand
He stole the empress dowager’s peach
His golden crown gave him a headache
He’s the big saint of heaven’s equal
(monkey king)
runs like a ball
dragging a long tail
lives in dark places
a cat’s brightener
(mouse)
a tree-climber
eats cans and cardboard boxes
even though bearded
its curiosity is unbounded
(goat)
lightbringer
alarm clock with a red crown
waking night cats
welcoming early risers
(rooster)
some guard the front door
some patrol the sheep
some go to the beauty salon
to have their nails trimmed
(dog)
Stubborn plows the field
he wears a yoke
Stubborn threshes grain
by trampling he gets work done
(ox)
early girls in splendid red
who’s to know they are night shades
with stuff that can ruin your gut
(tomato)
my god my god
madness comes in a hard shell
it is not easily cracked
(nut)
a rose curls, asleep
in a wee amber glass vial
wakened to be steeped
(perfume)
long bearded hatchlings
luminous jellies in bloom
sea witches’ playthings
(jellyfish)
no matter how it drones
and sings
it’s nothing
but a bag of air
(bagpipe)
chemists at work
aroma in the middle of the night
morning’s pleasure
(bakery)
take me to the single letter
that goes well
with cream and sugar
(tea)
燈謎
一叢豪毛闢天下
高山流水秋月花
(毛筆)
葉落水中有聲色
濃香淡素各宜適
(茶)
盛怒之下
遮月蔽日
洶洶椒漿
墨墨黑漆
(火山)
知己不用贈此物
自炫自耀冷無心
(鑽石)
比一比
哪一個月兒高
哪一個月兒俏
哪一個月兒火烘烘
哪一個月兒黑蒙蒙
(花燈)
禿頭子
嘴巴尖
黑羽衣
飛上天
(禿鷹)
拖出拖入
拖出拖入
户內户外
拖出拖入
(拖鞋)
红衣黑心
閉口無奈
開口喧嘩
鬧哄哄
(炮竹)
一點一滴打芭蕉
入黃土
餵小蟲
春芽往天朝
(雨)
砂糖芝麻金黄黄
不怕大火油炸
總是樂格格
(開口笑)
多手多腳
萬備不防
黑雾一喷
逃之夭夭
(墨鱼)
一葉又一葉
葉葉有智慧
脈脈含風情
伴我到終年
(書本)
不怕日曬雨淋
只怕風吹翻筋斗
(雨傘)
懒懒散散
邋裡邋遢
不緊不要
脊椎無骨
(軟皮蛇)
月中餡
革命條
八月十五起義時
一口蓮蓉一把刀
(月餅)