Chinese culture is rich in idioms, many of which use food-related metaphors to convey complex ideas. Have you ever come across the intriguing phrase “闭门羹 (bì mén gēng)” and wondered what it truly means? Or is it delicious?
Actually, “闭门羹 (bì mén gēng)” …
Chinese proverbs and idioms distribute old knowledge that has stood the test of time. Many consider them to be absolute truths, or at the very least very compelling words of wisdom, and they are frequently employed to establish a point or used as grounds to …
Answer: 1. A
Xiǎomíng: Zhè shì nǐ de Gǎn’ēn jié lǐwù, zhù nǐ jiérì kuàilè. 小明：这是你的感恩节礼物，祝你节日快乐。 Xiaoming: This is your Thanksgiving gift. Happy holidays!
Xiǎohóng: Xièxie nǐ, nà wǒ yě děi
, zhège shì nǐ de lǐwù. 小红：谢谢你，那我也得
， 这个是你的礼物。 Xiaohong: Thank …
Thanksgiving Day (感恩节 Gǎn’ēn jié) is approaching fast and you know what that means? Everyone is taking the time to think about what they are truly grateful for in their lives. It’s becoming more and more popular to practice the art of expressing and reflecting …
Answer: 1. A
Xiǎo Lǐ: Wèishénme Xiǎo Hóng kànqǐlái bù gāoxìng ？ 小李：为什么小红看起来不高兴？ Xiao Li: Why does Xiao Hong look unhappy?
Xiǎo Míng: Tā hé Xiǎo Zhāng yīnwèi jiè dōngxi de shìqing chǎojià le, tāmen zǒngshì wèile jīmáosuànpí de xiǎoshì zhēngchǎo. 小明：她和小张因为借东西的事情吵架了，他们总是为了鸡毛蒜皮的小事争吵。 Xiao Ming: …
We’ve all been in circumstances where minuscule things were blown way out of proportion. According to many people in cities all around the world, wasting time on trivial things is a laughing matter, and basically has little to no place in the fast-paced and modern …
Answer: 1. C
Wénzhāng zuìhòu yí duàn shífēn jīngcǎi, zài wén zhōng qǐ dào le huàlóngdiǎnjīng de zuòyòng. 文章最后一段十分精彩，在文中起到了画龙点睛的作用。 The last paragraph of the article is very wonderful, so much so that it serves as the article’s finishing touch.
As we learned, the meaning …
画龙点睛 (Huàlóngdiǎnjīng)
“画龙点睛 (Huàlóngdiǎnjīng)” is a Chinese idiom that translates literally as “dotting the eyeball when painting a dragon.” It’s used to describe adding that finishing touch that brings a work of art to life, or adding a word or two to clinch the point.…
Answer: A Analysis: “狼心狗肺 (Lángxīngǒufèi)” describes a kind of person who is lacking empathy or kindness as someone who has the heart of a wolf and the lung of a dog. Frank is obviously lacking in these qualities. So, the answer is A.
There are words that we use in Chinese mostly on dramas or TV shows because their meaning is pretty negative for daily life.
This Chinese idiom phrase is one of those that I have never actually used when talking to a person, but I hear …
It was a lovely summer’s day where I just couldn’t say inside.
The beautiful riverside park near my home was calling me. In an unexpected twist that caused the perfect day, I ran into some of my old students playing badminton on the courts.
There …
Answer: D The Chinese idiom “瞎猫碰上了死耗子 (Xiāmāo pèng shàng le sǐ hàozi)” means “blind luck.” So, the answer D is correct as a person winning unexpectedly is a kind of blind luck.
画蛇添足 (Huàshétiānzú) Draw a snake and add feet to it
蛇 (shé): n. snake
画 (huà): v./n. to draw/picture
Chǔguó yǒu gè guìzú. 楚国 有 个 贵族。 During the Chu dynasty, there was an aristocrat.
Jì guò zǔzong yǐhòu, tā bǎ …
Key Learning Point (Preview):
待 (dài): v. to wait/to wait for
Cóngqián, yǒu yí gè nóngfū. 从前，有一个农夫。 Once upon a time, there was a farmer.
Yì tiān, zài …
“大材小用 (dàcáixiǎoyòng)” literally means “to use big materials to do small things.” It is used now to express that talented people are being misused. Key Learning Point (Preview): 大材小用 (dàcáixiǎoyòng) to waste one’s talent on a petty job
Idiom Story:
Listen to the whole story…
“得寸进尺 (décùnjìnchǐ)” means that if you give someone an inch, they will take a mile. Nowadays, people usually use this expression to describe someone who is very greedy.
Key Learning Point (Preview):
得寸进尺(décùnjìnchǐ) If give someone an inch, he will take a mile.
Idiom Story:…
Key Learning Points (Preview): 回家 (huíjiā): v.
to go home
然后 (ránhòu): adv. then/after that
Listen to the whole story:
Wèiguó yǒu gè jiào Yuè Yángzǐ de rén dào yuǎnfāng qù xúnshī qiúxué. 魏 国 有 个 叫 乐 羊子 的 人 到 远方 去 …
雪中送炭 (xuězhōngsòngtàn) To offer fuel in snowy weather
Key Learning Points (Preview):
木炭 (mùtàn) n. charcoal
品尝 (pǐncháng) v. taste
Sòngcháo de shíhou, Sòng Tàizōng Zhào Guāngyì shì yígè guānxīn qióngkǔrén de huángdì. 宋朝 的 时候， 宋太宗 赵 光义 是 一个 关心 穷苦人 的 皇帝。 …
The
“纸上谈兵(zhǐshàngtánbīng) armchair strategy” refers to people who engage in idle talk, but are unable to act on their high minded theories. It is usually used to urge people to combine theories with practical knowledge and not be bookworms. Let’s read about the …
