The yamen gate is wide open, yet with only right on your side but no money, do not go inside.

解釋 ( paraphrase )
衙門的大門朝南開著，有理卻沒有錢的人別想進去告狀。
這條諺語告訴我們：過去官府腐敗，只貪圖老百姓的錢財，而不為老百姓辦事。

This proverb, dating from feudal times, warns the unwary not to seek justice from the corrupt and freedy officials of those days.

衙門：是舊時官員辦公審案的地方。衙門的兩扇大門開著像個“八”字。
         Government office in old feudal China. 八字 here refers to the shape of the open gate.

造句 ( example )
在那個腐敗法官在職期間，哪怕你再有理，也一樣是“八字衙門朝南開，有理無錢莫進來”。

Tags: Chinese Literature   Daily Figurative Slangs   Chinese Proverbs