Word: 儿 (ér)

一个葫芦锯成的两把瓢,天生的一对儿

yí gè húlu jù chéng de liǎng bǎ piáo,tiānshēngdeyíduì ér

one gourd sawn into two ladles: a natural pair

一只脚踩在门槛儿上，不知进退

yìzhī jiǎo cǎi zài ménkǎn ér shàng, bùzhījìntuì

one foot on the threshold: not knowing whether to go in or back

一根筷子吃藕,净挑眼儿

yìgēn kuàizi chī ǒu,jìng tiāoyǎn ér

eating lotus root with one chopstick: just picking at the holes

一根绳儿拴的两个蚂蚱,飞不了你,也蹦不了我

yìgēn shéng ér shuān de liǎng gè màzha,fēi bù liǎo nǐ,yě bèng bù liǎo wǒ

two grasshoppers tied on one string: you can't fly off, and I can't jump away

一根马尾儿做弦,无法弹

yìgēn mǎyǐ ér zuò xián,wúfǎ dàn

a single horse hair as a string: cannot be plucked (talked)

丈二的门槛儿，难进

zhàng'èr de ménkǎn ér, nánjìn

a twelve-foot threshold: hard to get in

三尺长的梯子,搭不上檐儿

sānchǐ zhǎng de tīzi,dā bú shàng yán ér

a three-foot ladder: can't be propped up to the eaves

三月里的白菜,早就有心儿了

sānyuè lǐ de báicài,zǎojiù yǒuxīn ér le

cabbage in the third month: it already has a heart

井要淘，儿要教

jǐng yào táo, ér yào jiāo

a well must be cleaned out, a child must be taught

传儿千金,不如薄技在身

chuán ér qiānjīn,bùrúbójìzàishēn

hand your son a thousand in gold, better he has a small skill on him

儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫

ér bù xián mǔ chǒu, gǒu bù xián jiā pín

a son doesn't find his mother ugly, a dog doesn't find its home poor

儿做的儿当，爹做的爹当

ér zuò de ér dāng, diē zuò de diē dāng

what the son does the son bears, what the father does the father bears

儿大不由爹，女大不由娘

ér dà bùyóu diē, nǚ dà bùyóu niáng

a grown son doesn't obey his father, a grown daughter doesn't obey her mother

儿行千里母担忧

ér xíng qiānlǐ mǔ dānyōu

when a son travels a thousand li, his mother worries

儿要自养，谷要自种

ér yào zìyǎng, gǔ yào zì zhǒng

a son should be raised by oneself, grain should be grown by oneself

兔子吞了土豆儿，吐不出来

tùzi tūnle tǔdòu ér, tǔ bù chūlái

a rabbit that has swallowed a potato: can't spit it out

八百亩地一根苗儿，独生

bā bǎimǔ de yì gēnmiáo ér, dúshēng

Eight hundred mu of land with a single seedling: only one grown

六月的面杏儿，一捏两瓣儿

liùyuè de miàn xìng ér, yì niē liǎng bànr

a June ripe apricot: one pinch and it splits in two

关起笼子抓老鼠，没跑儿

guān qǐ lóngzi zhuā lǎoshǔ, méi pǎo ér

shutting the cage to catch a mouse: it can't run away

十冬腊月吃冰棍儿，透心儿凉

shídōnglàyuè chī bīnggùnr, tòuxīn ér liáng

eating an ice lolly in the depths of winter: cold right through the heart

千层底儿做腮帮子，好厚的脸皮

qiāncéngdǐ ér zuò sāibāngzi, hǎo hòu de liǎnpí

making a cheek from a thousand-layer sole: what thick skin

吃捞面不打卤，白条儿

chī lāo miàn bù dǎ lǔ, báitiáo ér

Eating noodles without gravy: plain strips

吃菜要吃心儿，听话要听音儿

chī cài yào chī xīn ér, tīnghuà yào tīng yīn ér

when eating greens, eat the heart; when listening, listen for the tone

吹口哨儿过坟地,自己给自己壮胆

chuīkǒushào ér guò féndì,zìjǐ gěi zìjǐ zhuàngdǎn

whistling while passing a graveyard: giving yourself courage

哪个鱼儿不识水

nǎge yú ér bù shí shuǐ

which fish doesn't know water

喜鹊落在树上,各占一枝儿

xǐquè luò zài shù shàng,gè zhàn yìzhī ér

magpies settling in a tree, each taking its own branch

土豆儿搬家，滚蛋

tǔdòu ér bānjiā, gǔndàn

potatoes moving house: roll away ('roll, egg')

大家马儿大家骑

dàjiā mǎ ér dàjiā qí

everyone's horse is ridden by everyone

大桅杆上拉二胡，扯高调儿

dà wéigān shàng lā èrhú, chě gāodiào ér

playing the erhu on the main mast: pulling a high tune

天桥儿的把势，光说不练

Tiānqiáo ér de bǎ shì, guāngshuōbúliàn

A Tianqiao martial-arts performer: all talk, no practice

孔子家儿不识骂,曾子家儿不识斗

Kǒngzǐ jiā ér bù shí mà,zēng zǐ jiā ér bù shí dòu

Confucius's sons don't know how to curse; Zengzi's sons don't know how to fight

孙猴子封了弼马温，不知道自己是多大的官儿

sūnhóuzi fēng le bì mǎ wēn, bù zhīdào zìjǐ shì duō dà de guān ér

Monkey Sun is made Keeper of the Horses: he doesn't know how small his post is

宁吃鲜桃儿一口，不吃烂杏儿一筐

níng chī xiān táo ér yìkǒu, bùchī làn xìng ér yì kuāng

better one bite of a fresh peach than a basket of rotten apricots

小巷里扛竹竿，转不过弯儿来

xiǎoxiàng lǐ káng zhúgān, zhuǎn búguò wān ér lái

carrying a bamboo pole in a narrow lane: can't make the turn

小鸡儿吃小米，直点头

xiǎojī ér chī xiǎomǐ, zhí diǎntóu

a chick eating millet: keeps nodding

小鸡儿吃碗碴儿，一口一个瓷儿

xiǎojī ér chī wǎn chár, yìkǒu yí gè cí ér

a chick eating bowl shards: every peck is a piece of porcelain (a word)

小鸡儿吃黄豆，强往下咽

xiǎojī ér chī huángdòu, qiáng wǎng xiàyàn

a chick eating soybeans: forcing them down

屎壳郎滚粪蛋儿，臭味相投

shǐkélàng gǔn fèn dàn ér, xiùwèixiāngtóu

a dung beetle rolling a dung ball: the stink suits each other

屎壳郎飞到烟袋锅儿上，要拱火儿

shǐkélàng fēi dào yāndàiguō ér shàng, yào gǒng huǒr

a dung beetle lands on a pipe bowl: wants to stir the fire

山狸猫坐门墩儿，假充镇山虎

shān límāo zuò méndūn ér, jiǎchōng zhèn shān hǔ

a wildcat sitting on a gate-block, posing as the mountain-guarding tiger

张飞吃豆芽儿，小菜一碟儿

Zhāng Fēi chī dòuyár, xiǎocàiyìdié ér

Zhang Fei eating bean sprouts: just a small dish

张飞穿针，大眼儿瞪小眼儿

Zhāng Fēi chuānzhēn, dà yǎn ér dèng xiǎoyǎn ér

Zhang Fei threading a needle: big eye stares at small eye

才出壳的小鸡儿，嫩得很

cái chū ké de xiǎojī ér, nèn de hěn

A chick just out of the shell: very tender

打个巴掌再给个甜枣儿,堵嘴

dǎ gè bāzhang zài gěi gè tián zǎo ér,dǔzuǐ

slap someone then give a sweet date: to shut their mouth

扫帚戴帽,顶个数儿

sàozhou dàimào,dǐng gèshù ér

a broom wearing a hat: it counts as one

扯开头的线团儿，牵连很远

chě kāitóu de xiàntuán ér, qiānlián hěn yuǎn

A ball of thread with its end pulled: connected far away

扳倒大瓮扫小米儿，摸到底了

bāndǎo dà wèng sǎo xiǎomǐ ér, mō dàodǐ le

tipping over a big jar to sweep up the millet: reached the bottom

扳手紧螺帽儿，丝丝入扣

bānshǒu jǐn luómào ér, sīsīrùkòu

a spanner tightening a nut: every thread fits

放在柜子里的二胡,还没定弦儿

fàng zài guìzi lǐ de èrhú,hái méi dìngxián ér

an erhu kept in the cupboard: its strings aren't tuned yet

板上钉钉，没跑儿

bǎnshàngdìngdīng, méi pǎo ér

a nail hammered into a board: it can't move

枣核儿钉在墙上，大小是个橛儿

zǎo húr dìng zài qiáng shàng, dàxiǎo shì gè jué ér

a jujube pit nailed into a wall: big or small, it's a peg

树不修不成材，儿不育不成人

shù bù xiū bùchéngcái, ér búyù bùchéngrén

a tree not pruned won't become timber; a child not raised won't become a person

棉花卷儿打锣，没音

miánhua juǎn ér dǎ luó, méi yīn

beating a gong with a roll of cotton: no sound

棉花店里挂绷弓儿，不弹

miánhua diàn lǐ guà bēng gōng ér, bú dàn

hanging a cotton-fluffing bow in a cotton shop: not fluffing (not talking)

武大郎战李逵，差着好大一截儿

wǔ dà láng zhàn Lǐ Kuí, chàzhe hǎo dà yìjié ér

Wu Dalang fighting Li Kui: a big gap between them

母鸡拉屎，头截儿硬，后截儿软

mǔjī lāshǐ, tóu jié ér yìng, hòu jié ér ruǎn

a hen's droppings: the first part is hard, the latter part is soft

油炸焦了的花卷儿，煳了心

yóuzhá jiāole de huājuǎn ér, húle xīn

a steamed twisted roll fried until burnt: the heart is scorched

满肚子直肠子，不会打弯儿

mǎn dǔzi zhíchángzi, búhuì dǎwān ér

a belly full of straight intestines that can't make a bend

澡堂里的鞋，没对儿

zǎotáng lǐ de xié, méi duì ér

shoes in a bathhouse: no pairs

火筒没节儿,两头空

huǒtǒng méi jié ér,liǎngtóu kōng

A blowpipe with no joint: empty at both ends

灶王爷伸手，稳拿糖瓜儿

zàowángyé shēnshǒu, wěnná tángguā ér

the Kitchen God reaches out a hand: sure to get the sugar melon

烟袋锅儿里蒸包子,有汽也不大

yāndàiguō ér lǐ zhēng bāozi,yǒu qì yě bú dà

steaming buns in a pipe bowl: even if there's steam, it's not much

熟透了的藕，眼儿多

shútòule de ǒu, yǎn ér duō

a fully ripe lotus root: many holes

猪八戒坐在冷宫里，愁得没对儿

zhūbājiè zuò zài lěnggōng lǐ, chóu de méi duì ér

Pigsy sits in the cold palace: so worried there's no match

瞎子逮蝈蝈儿,先听听音儿

xiāzi dǎi guōguor,xiān tīngtīng yīn ér

a blind man catching a katydid: first listen for the sound

石灰布袋儿，到处留迹

shíhuī bùdài ér, dàochù liú jì

a lime sack: leaves marks everywhere

石灰浆写文章，尽是白字儿

shíhuī jiāng xiě wénzhāng, jìn shì báizì ér

writing an essay in lime wash: all white characters

窝窝头翻个儿，显大眼儿

wōwotóu fāngèr, xiǎn dà yǎn ér

turn a cornmeal cone over: it shows its big hole

老母猪吃碗碴儿,肚里有瓷儿

lǎo mǔzhū chī wǎn chár,dùlǐ yǒu cí ér

an old sow eats broken bowl shards: there's china (words) in her belly

茅厕里摔茶壶，臭瓷儿不少

máosi lǐ shuāi cháhú, chòu cí ér bùshǎo

smashing a teapot in the latrine: lots of stinking porcelain (words)

草儿为什么是绿色的？

Cǎo ér wèishénme shì lǜsè de?

Why is grass green?

螃蟹脚，弯弯儿多

pángxiè jiǎo, wānwān ér duō

crab legs: many bends

行夜路吹口哨儿，给自己壮胆

xíng yè lù chuīkǒushào ér, gěi zìjǐ zhuàngdǎn

whistling when walking at night: to give oneself courage

谷子地里点玉米，高出一截儿

gǔzi dìlǐ diǎn yùmǐ, gāochū yìjié ér

sowing corn in a millet field: a good bit taller

贪吃的鱼儿易上钩

tānchī de yú ér yì shànggōu

the greedy fish is easily hooked

过了这个村儿，没这个店儿

guò le zhège cūn ér, méi zhège diàn ér

once past this village, there's no such inn

这价儿我不卖。

Zhè jià ér wǒ bú mài.

I can't sell at this price.

这副眼镜儿不是我的。

Zhè fù yǎnjìng ér bú shì wǒ de.

These glasses aren't mine.

这树年年都结上好的桃儿。

Zhè shù nián nián dōu jiē shàng hǎo de táo ér.

This tree bears good peaches every year.

金刚钻儿穿透钢板，过硬

jīngāngzuàn ér chuāntòu gāngbǎn, guòyìng

a diamond drill piercing a steel plate: hard enough to get through

铁耙子搔痒，一把硬手儿

tiě pázi sāoyǎng, yì bǎ yìngshǒu ér

scratching an itch with an iron rake: a tough hand

门槛儿上斫萝卜，一刀两断

ménkǎn ér shàng zhuó luóbo, yìdāoliǎngduàn

chopping a radish on the threshold: one stroke cuts it in two

面团儿炸成果子卖，全是虚货

miàntuán ér zhà chéngguǒ zǐ mài, quán shì xū huò

frying dough into fritters to sell: all hollow goods

鞋帮儿改帽檐儿，高升

xié bāngr gǎi màoyán ér, gāoshēng

turning a shoe upper into a hat brim: rising high

马尾儿搓绳子，合不了股

mǎyǐ ér cuō shéngzi, hé bù liǎo gǔ

Twisting rope from horsehair: the strands won't join

马尾儿穿豆腐，提不起来

mǎyǐ ér chuān dòufu, tí bù qǐlai

Threading tofu on a horsehair: can't be lifted

马尾儿穿豆腐，提也没法提

mǎyǐ ér chuān dòufu, tí yě méifǎ tí

Threading tofu on a horsehair: can't even be lifted, can't even be mentioned

骑驴赶火车，越来越跟不上趟儿

qí lǘ gǎn huǒchē, yuèláiyuè gēnbúshàng tàng ér

riding a donkey to chase a train: more and more unable to keep up

麦子不割砍高粱，专找硬茬儿

màizi bù gē kǎn gāoliáng, zhuān zhǎo yìng chá ér

leaving the wheat uncut to chop sorghum: looking only for hard stubble

黄柏汁儿里泡过的,苦不堪言

huángbò zhī ér lǐ pàoguo de,kǔbùkānyán

soaked in cork-tree juice: bitter beyond words

黄连树上结瓜,一串串儿苦

huángliánshù shàng jiē guā,yí chuànchuàn ér kǔ

melons growing on a goldthread tree: strings and strings of bitterness

黄连树下一棵小草,苦苗儿

huángliánshù xià yì kē xiǎocǎo,kǔ miáo ér

a little blade of grass under a goldthread tree: a bitter sprout

黄鼠狼戴缨帽儿,自命不凡

huángshǔláng dài yīngmào ér,zìmìngbùfán

a weasel wearing an official's tasselled hat: thinks itself extraordinary