Learn Chinese Phrases

打保票 dǎ bǎo piào

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 03:30:00 +0000

打保票 dǎ bǎo piào

解释：也作”打包票”。比喻作出承诺一定可以做到。

Explanation:
It can also be said as “打包票”, means making a promise that things must be done sucessfully.

Dialogue:
A：nǐ nàme chūsè, wǒ gǎn dǎ bǎo piào nǐ yīdìng néng dédào nà fèn gōngzuò.
A：你那么出色，我敢 打保票 你一定能得到那份工作。You perform so great! I may promise that you may get that job.
B：xièxiè. wǒ yě xīwàng zhèyàng.
B：谢谢。我也希望这样。Thanks. I hope so.

心有灵犀一点通 xīn yǒu língxī yī diǎn tōng

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:22:00 +0000

心有灵犀一点通 xīn yǒu língxī yī diǎn tōng

解释：心灵相通，互相有感应。

Explanation:
Two hearts beat as one.

Dialogue:
A：nǐ hé wǒ xiǎng de yī mó yī yàng.
A：你和我想的一摸一样。We have got the same idea.
B：wǒmēn shì “xīn yǒu língxī yī diǎn tōng” ma!
B：我们

爱面子 ài miàn zi

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 03:55:00 +0000

爱面子 ài miàn zi

解释：指说话，办事过于考虑情面而自讨苦吃。也用来劝人不要太顾忌情面。

Explanation:
Being concerned too much about face-saving when speaking or acting. It is mainly used to refer to people scrupling too much and asking for trouble. It may also be used to persuade someone not to scuple too much.

Dialogue:
Mr. Gu found that one of his employees took away company’s belongings, he mentioned it to his friend Mike.

Mr. Gu: ai, dàjiā dōu shì shúrén, wǒ yě ài miàn zi, bù hǎo shuō shíme.
Mr. Gu: 唉，大家都是熟人，我也爱面子，不好说什么。
Mike: shúrén yě bù néng ài miàn zi, gāi shuō de hái dě shuō!
Mike: 熟人也不能 爱面子，该说的还得说！

半边天 bàn biān tiān

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 03:55:00 +0000

半边天 bàn biān tiān

解释：半个天空。比喻妇女的作用和男人一样重要，多用来强调或称赞妇女作用大，也特指妇女或妻子。

Explanation:
Half the sky, is likened to woman who can play an equal part in the new society. It is mainly used to emphasize or praise the important role of women or wives.

Dialogue:
A：nà xiē nǚhái hǎo lìhài a!
A：那些女孩好厉害啊！How great those girls are!
B：nàshì, fùnǚ néng dǐng bàn biān tiān ma.
B：那是，妇女能顶 半边天 嘛。Yea, women are half the sky!

Background knowledge:
The initial meaning of ” bàn biān tiān ” refers to the important role of women after the foundation of the P.R.C.. In the feudal society, man was s the “sky” and woman is the “earth”. Woman must be obedient to man. While in the new society, feminism is advocated. “bàn biān tiān “often refers to the important role women play nowadays.Now it also means somebody plays an important role in a certain working unit. The verb 顶”dǐng”, 撑”chēng” are often used before “bàn biān tiān “. For example, he is the half sky in his department.

混日子 hùn rì zi

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 03:54:00 +0000

混日子 hùn rì zi

解释：马马虎虎，糊里糊涂地消磨光阴。

Explanation:
Idle away the time.

Dialogue:
A：guòde zěnme yàng? hái hǎo ma?
A：过得怎么样？还好吗？How are you doing? Fine?
B：lǎo yàngzi, hùn rì zi bei.
B：老样子， 混日子 呗。So so, just idle away.

不见不散 bù jiàn bù sàn

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:53:00 +0000

不见不散 bù jiàn bù sàn

解释：没有见到就不离开约定见面的地方。

Explanation:
Don’t leave until others have arrived. It expresses sincerity and resolution about meeting.

Dialogue:
A：bù jiàn bù sàn!
A：不见不散！Don’t leave before I arrived!
B：yī yán wéi dìng!
B：一言为定！ It’s a deal!

爱莫能助 ài mò néng zhù

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 03:53:00 +0000

爱莫能助 ài mò néng zhù

解释：想要帮忙却没有能力。

Explanation:
I wish I could do so to do you a favour. It expresses the speaker’s willingness to do so, while fails due to some objective reason.

Dialogue:
A：jīntiān xiàwǔ nǐ néng bāng wǒ xiūlǐ yīxià diànnǎo ma?
A：今天下午你能帮我修理一下电脑吗？Can you help me fix my computer this afternoon?
B：duìbùqǐ, shízài ài mò néng zhù, wǒ yào chūchāi qù le.
B：对不起，实在 爱莫能助，我要出差去了。So sorry. I really wish I could, but I am about on business soon.

家常便饭 jiā cháng biàn fàn

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:45:00 +0000

家常便饭 jiā cháng biàn fàn

解释：1. 家里日常普通的饭菜。2. 经常发生的事情。

Explanation:
Literally it means very comman meal, nothing special or unusual. It is usually used to mean things happening quite often.

Dialogue:
A：zhème wǎn hái jiābān?
A：这么晚还加班？Are you working overtime so late?
B：jiā cháng biàn fàn le.
B：家常便饭了。Oh, it is common.

炒鱿鱼 chǎo yóu yú

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 03:31:00 +0000

炒鱿鱼 chǎo yóu yú

解释：解雇，开除。解雇还有一种说法是”卷铺盖走人”，当然这样的说法是比较粗鲁的。

Explanation:
To fire from work.

Dialogue:
A：tā zěnme beì chǎo yóuyǘ le?
A：他怎么被 炒鱿鱼 了？ Why he was sacked?
B：tā jīngcháng chídào.
B：他经常迟到。He was often late for work.

出洋相 chū yáng xiàng

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 03:29:00 +0000

出洋相 chū yáng xiàng

解释：出丑，丢面子。

Explanation:
Linkened to making a fool of sb. or oneself. Also referring to making a strange exhibition of oneself.

Dialogue:
A：wǒ dē chúyì bù jīng, jiù bù zài dàjiā miànqián chū yángxiàng le.
A：我的厨艺不精，就不在大家面前 出洋相 了。I am not good at cooking. So I am planning to make a scene in front of you.
B：nǐ bié qiānxǖ le.
B：你别谦虚了。Don’t be too modest.

成千上万 chéng qiān shàng wàn

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 03:27:00 +0000

成千上万 chéng qiān shàng wàn

解释：形容数量相当大，达到了千、万。用来指人，物都可以。

Explanation:
Numerous amount. Thousands upon thousands. It can refer to both people and objects.

Dialogue:
A：zhèbiān rén hǎo duō a!
A：这边人好多啊！So many people here!
B：měitiān dōu yǒu chéng qiān shàng wàn de rén lái cānguān qín bīngmǎyǒng bówùguǎn.
B：每天都有 成千上万 的人来参观秦兵马涌博物馆。Thousands and thousands of people come to visit the Museum of Qin Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses every day

同甘共苦 tóng gān gòng kǔ

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 03:25:00 +0000

同甘共苦 tóng gān gòng kǔ

解释：甘是甜的意思。共同享受欢乐；共同承担痛苦。

Explanation:
Enjoy happiness and undertake suffering together.

Dialogue:
A：zěnyàng cái suàn shì péngyǒu?
A：怎样才算是朋友？What can be called friends?
B：tóng gān gòng kǔ de cái suàn shì zhēnzhèng de péngyǒu.
B：同甘共苦 的才算是真正的朋友。Friends should share happiness and sorrow with each other.

不男不女 bù nán bù nǚ

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 03:24:00 +0000

不男不女 bù nán bù nǚ

解释：既不象男的，也不象女的。

Explanation:
Androgynous; neither man nor woman.

Dialogue:
A：nà gè rén shì nánde háishì nǚde?
A：那个人是男的还是女的？Is that a boy or a girl?
B：zhǎngde xiàng nánde, chuānde yòu xiàng nǚde, zhēn shì bú nán bú nǚ.
B：长得象男的，穿得又象女的，真是 不男不女。Looks gile a man, while dresses like a woman. Oh, really androgynous.

画饼充饥 huà bǐng chōng jī

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 03:24:00 +0000

画饼充饥 huà bǐng chōng jī

解释：比喻用空想安慰自己，不能解决实际问题。

Explanation:
Allaying hunger with prictures of cakes. It is used to mean comforting oneself with unrealistic thoughts without solving practical problems.

Dialogue:
A：méiyǒu jǜtǐ xìzé, děngyǔ huà bǐng chōng jī, yīdìng búhuì chénggōng.
A：没有具体细则，等于 画饼充饥，一定不会成功。We can not get it done without detailed principals. It is just like allying hunger with drawing a cake.
B：suǒyǐ yào jìnkuài zhìdìng.
B：所以要尽快制定。Yea, so we must set to work it out.

刹风景 shā fēng jǐng

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 03:21:00 +0000

刹风景 shā fēng jǐng

解释：有损景致，败人兴致。多用来埋怨有人在大家兴致很高时，言行扫人的兴。

Explanation:
Ruin the scene, spoil the fun.

Dialogue:
A：zuótiān wǒmēn zhèng zài weì Mike qìngzhù shēngrì dē shíhòu, tūrán tíngdiàn le.
A：昨天我们正在为 Mike 庆祝生日的时候，突然停电了。Last night, the power went out when we are celebrating for Mike’s birthday.
B: zhēn shì shā fēngjǐng！
B: 真是 刹风景! Oh, what a pity!

大腕（儿）dà wàn (er)

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 03:20:00 +0000

大腕（儿） dà wàn (er)

解释：超级明星。

Explanation:
Super star.

Dialogue:
A：nǐ zhīdào chéng lóng ma?
A：你知道成龙吗？Do you know Jackie Chan?
B：dāngrán, tā shì zhōngguó dē dà wàn er.
B：当然，他是中国的 大腕儿。Of course, he is a super star in China.

临阵磨枪 lín zhèn mó qiāng

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 03:16:00 +0000

临阵磨枪 lín zhèn mó qiāng

解释：指平时不努力，到关键时候才用劲儿。

Explanation:
Cramming at the last moment.

Dialogue:
A：míngtiān yào kǎoshì? nǐ yòu zài lín zhèn mó qiāng?
A：明天要考试？你又在 临阵磨枪? Is there any test tomorrow? You cram at the last moment?
B：shì a. zǒng bǐ yīdiǎn yě bù zhǔnbeì de hǎo.
B：是啊。总比一点也不准备的好。Yea. It is better than no preparation.

花花公子 huā huā gōng zi

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 03:14:00 +0000

花花公子 huā huā gōng zi

解释：花心的男子。

Explanation:
Playboy.

Dialogue:
A：tā yŏu nǚ péngyŏu ma?
A：他有女朋友吗？Does he have any girlfriend?
B：duō de shì,tā shì gè chūmíng de huā huā gōng zi.
B：多的是，他是个出名的 花花公子。So many. He is a notorious playboy.

出难题 chū nán tí

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 03:13:00 +0000

出难题 chū nán tí

解释：给别人制造麻烦，让人难办。

Explanation:
To make trouble for others and make it difficult for them to do.

Dialogue:
A：wŏ xiànzài hĕn máng，nĭ bié gĕi wŏ chū nántí。
A：我现在很忙，你别给我 出难题。I am so busy. Do not make trouble for me.
B：qiú nĭ le。zhĭyŏu nĭ néng bāng wŏ.
B：求你了。只有你能帮我。Come on. You are the only one who may help me.

好久不见 hăo jiŭ bù jiàn

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 03:12:00 +0000

好久不见 hăo jiŭ bù jiàn

解释：很长时间没有见面。

Explanation:
Long time no see.

Dialogue:
A：hì，màikè。hăojiŭbùjiàn！nĭ zuìjìn zĕnme yàng？
A：嗨，麦克。 好久不见！你最近怎么样？Hi, Mike. Long time no see.How are you?
B：hĕn hăo。gānggāng chūchāi huílái。nĭ ne?
B：很好。刚刚出差回来。你呢？I’m fine. I’ve just got back.How about you?

打包 dăbāo

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 03:12:00 +0000

打包 dăbāo

解释：（把剩余的菜）拿回家。

Expalnation:
To take away.

Dialogue:
A：zĕnme bù chī le？dōngxī bù hăo chī ma？
A：怎么不吃了？东西不好吃吗？Why don’t you have more? Doesn’t it taste good?
B：hĕn hăo chī。dànshì wŏ băo le。shèngxià de dăbāo huíjiā。
B：很好吃。但是我饱了。剩下的打包回家。It tastes good.But I am full,let’s take the rest back home.

回头客 huí tóu kè

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 03:11:00 +0000

回头客 huí tóu kè

解释：由于品质上乘，吸引再次光顾的顾客。

Explanation:
Loyal customers.

Dialogue:
A：zhègè fàndiàn rén zhēn duō。
A：这个饭店人真多。There is so many people here in the restaurant.
B：zhèer de cài hĕn hăo chī。lĭmiàn yŏu hĕnduō huí tóu kè。
B：这儿的菜很好吃。里面有很多 回头客。The food here is nice. It has a lot of regular customers.

老好人 lăo hăo rén

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 03:10:00 +0000

老好人 lăo hăo rén

解释：厚道随和、从不得罪别人的老实人。

Explanation:
Mr. Agreeable.

Dialogue:
A：tā rén hĕn hăo，hĕn lăoshí。
A：他人很好，很老实。He is a nice guy.
B：wŏ kĕ bù zhèyàng xiăng。tā zhĭshì gè lăo hăo rén，dàochù pà dézuì rén。
B：我可不这样想。他只是个 老好人，到处怕得罪人。I don’t think so.He is agreeable to everyone because he is afraid of causing offence.

重色轻友 Zhong sè qīng yǒu

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 03:09:00 +0000

重色轻友 Zhong sè qīng yǒu

解释：重视爱情，轻视友情。

Explanation:
Regard love as superior to friendship.

Dialogue:
A：jīnwăn yīqĭ qù bèngdī ba。kĕ bié zài zhòngsè qīng yŏu le。
A：今晚一起去蹦迪吧！可别再 重色轻友 了。 Go disco tonight? Do not put your girlfriend first any more!
B：bù xíng a，wŏ yuē le nǚpéngyŏu le。
B：不行啊，我约了女朋友了。Sorry, I have a date with her.

得寸进尺 dé cùn jìn chĭ

blog.jerry@gmail.com (Jerry) — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 03:08:00 +0000

得寸进尺 dé cùn jìn chĭ

解释：一个要求被满足后，就想得到更多的。

Explanation:
Egg in your beer.

Dialogue:
A：gāi yŏude hăochù nĭ yĭjīng dédào le。hái xiăng zĕnmeyàng？dé cùn jìn chĭ ma？
A：该有的好处你已经得到了。还想怎么样？ 得寸进尺 吗？
You alraedy have it good. What else do you want? Egg in you beer?

B：wŏ bùguò xiăng dédào wŏ yīngdé de。
B：我不过想得到我应得的。
I only want what I deserve to get.