Word: 起 (qǐ)

不怕念起，只怕觉迟

búpà niàn qǐ, zhǐpà jué chí

don't fear a thought arising, only fear realising late

两家超市又打起价格战了。

Liǎng jiā chāoshì yòu dǎ qǐ jiàgézhàn le.

The two supermarkets have started a price war again.

乌鸦占了凤凰枝，高攀不起

wūyā zhànle fènghuáng zhī, gāopān bù qǐ

a crow occupies the phoenix's branch: can't reach so high

今天他比平时起得早。

Jīntiān tā bǐ píngshí qǐ de zǎo.

He woke up earlier than usual today.

今天早上我起得很晚。

Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ qǐ de hěn wǎn.

I got up very late this morning.

今天早上起雾了。

Jīntiān zǎoshang qǐ wù le.

This morning was foggy.

从地上捡起这支铅笔。

Cóng dìshang jiǎn qǐ zhè zhī qiānbǐ.

Pick up the pencil from the floor.

从此起我们为您的安全负责。

Cóngcǐ qǐ wǒmen wèi nín de ānquán fùzé.

We are responsible for your protection from now on.

从现在起，你要更努力学习了。

Cóng xiànzài qǐ, nǐ yào gèng nǔlì xuéxíle.

You'll have to study harder from now on.

从现在起，更加努力。

Cóng xiànzài qǐ, gèngjiā nǔlì.

From now on, try harder.

从第十课的开头读起。

Cóng dì shí kè de kāitóu dú qǐ.

Read Lesson 10 from the beginning.

从那时起我就没有看到他。

Cóng nàshí qǐ wǒ jiù méiyǒu kàndào tā.

I haven't seen him since then.

从那时起，我就爱上兔子了。

Cóng nàshí qǐ, wǒ jiù ài shàng tùzi le.

I've been attracted to rabbits ever since.

他一坐下，就拿起了电话。

Tā yí zuòxia, jiù ná qǐle diànhuà.

As soon as he sat down, he picked up the telephone.

他从路上捡起一样白色的东西。

Tā cóng lùshang jiǎn qǐ yíyàng báisè de dōngxi.

He picked up something white on the street.

他们为水源起了争端。

Tāmen wèi shuǐyuán qǐle zhēngduān.

They came into conflict over the water source.

他们的争吵因误解而起。

Tāmen de zhēngchǎo yīn wùjiě ér qǐ.

Their quarrel sprang from misunderstanding.

他唱起歌来，声音豪迈又响亮。

Tā chàng qǐ gē lái, shēngyīn háomài yòu xiǎngliàng.

When he sings, his voice is bold and loud.

他弯下腰捡起了笔。

Tā wān xiàyāo jiǎn qǐle bǐ.

He bent down and picked up the pen.

他很少讲起过去的苦难。

Tā hěn shǎo jiǎng qǐ guòqù de kǔnàn.

He rarely talks about the suffering of his past.

他抡起锤子砸向石头。

Tā lūn qǐ chuízi zá xiàng shítou.

He swung the hammer and smashed it down on the rock.

他拾起了一块儿红色的石头。

Tā shí qǐle yíkuàir hóngsè de shítou.

He picked up a red stone.

他拾起了书。

Tā shí qǐle shū.

He picked up the book.

他挽起袖子开始洗碗。

Tā wǎn qǐ xiùzi kāishǐ xǐwǎn.

He rolled up his sleeves and started washing the dishes.

他收起了他的玩具。

Tā shōu qǐle tā de wánjù.

He gathered his toys together.

他笑得眯起了眼睛。

Tā xiào de mī qǐle yǎnjing.

He smiled so much that his eyes narrowed.

你今天必须起得很早吗？

Nǐ jīntiān bìxū qǐ de hěn zǎo ma?

Did you have to get up very early this morning?

你女儿起了吗？

Nǐ nǚ'ér qǐle ma?

Is your daughter up?

你比你妹妹起得晚，不是么？

Nǐ bǐ nǐ mèimei qǐ de wǎn, bú shì me?

You don't get up as early as your sister, do you?

你没有你姐姐起得那么早。

Nǐ méiyǒu nǐ jiějie qǐ de nàme zǎo.

You don't get up as early as your sister.

你真的看到了这起事故吗？

Nǐ zhēnde kàndàole zhè qǐ shìgù ma?

Did you actually see the accident?

你给你儿子起什么名字？

Nǐ gěi nǐ érzi qǐ shénme míngzi?

What did you name your son?

你能回忆起那天的事吗？

Nǐ néng huíyì qǐ nàtiān de shì ma?

Can you recall what happened that day?

倘若有人问起，就说我不在。

Tǎngruò yǒurén wèn qǐ, jiù shuō wǒ bú zài.

If anyone asks, say I'm not here.

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

关起门来做皇上，自尊自大

guān qǐ mén lái zuò huángshang, zìzūn zìdà

shutting the door and playing emperor: self-important and arrogant

同学们给他起了个称号。

Tóngxuémen gěi tā qǐle gè chēnghào.

His classmates gave him a nickname.

同学们给他起了个绰号。

Tóngxuémen gěi tā qǐle gè chuòhào.

His classmates gave him a nickname.

同学们给老师起了个昵称。

Tóngxuémen gěi lǎoshī qǐle gè nìchēng.

The students gave their teacher a nickname.

坐而言不如起而行。

Zuò éryán bùrú qǐ ér xíng.

Actions speak louder than words.

坛子里的豆芽，伸不起腰

tánzi lǐ de dòuyá, shēn bù qǐ yāo

Bean sprouts in a jar: they can't straighten their backs

城隍爷掉井里，捞不起您的大驾

Chénghuáng yé diào jǐng lǐ, lāo bù qǐ nín de dà jià

The City God falls into a well: we can't fish (trouble) your honoured self

外公讲起了一生的沧桑。

Wàigōng jiǎng qǐle yìshēng de cāngsāng.

My grandfather talked about the ups and downs of his life.

外面起雾了。

Wàimiàn qǐ wù le.

It's foggy outside.

夜里下起了零星的小雨。

Yèli xià qǐle língxīng de xiǎoyǔ.

A scattering of light rain fell during the night.

天太干，山里容易起山火。

Tiān tài gān, shān lǐ róngyì qǐ shānhuǒ.

When the weather is this dry, wildfires easily start in the mountains.

天气很冷，我们生起了火。

Tiānqì hěn lěng, wǒmen shēng qǐle huǒ.

It was cold, so we lit a fire.

天空先变暗，继而下起了大雨。

Tiānkōng xiān biàn'àn, jì'ér xià qǐle dàyǔ.

The sky darkened first, then it started pouring.

天黑了，家家户户亮起了灯。

Tiānhēi le, jiājiā-hùhù liàng qǐle dēng.

It got dark, and the lights came on in every home.

她一个人担起了这个家。

Tā yí gè rén dān qǐle zhège jiā.

She shouldered the whole family by herself.

她又开始讲起了学校的秘密。

Tā yòu kāishǐ jiǎng qǐle xuéxiào de mìmì.

She started talking about the school's secrets again.

她收起了伞，跑了起来。

Tā shōu qǐle sǎn, pǎole qǐlai.

She closed her umbrella and started running.

她给花园里的花都起了名字。

Tā gěi huāyuán lǐ de huā dōu qǐle míngzi.

She named all the flowers in the garden.

她身材健美，走起路来很有精神。

Tā shēncái jiànměi, zǒu qǐ lù lái hěn yǒu jīngshen.

She has a healthy, beautiful figure and walks with great energy.

她随手拿起一本书翻了翻。

Tā suíshǒu ná qǐ yìběn shū fānle fān.

She picked up a book and flipped through it.

妈妈起得比谁都早。

Māma qǐ de bǐ shéi dōu zǎo.

My mother gets up earlier than anyone else.

家火不起，野火不来

jiā huǒ bù qǐ, yěhuǒ bù lái

if no fire starts at home, wild fire won't come

小狗耸起耳朵听声音。

Xiǎogǒu sǒng qǐ ěrduo tīng shēngyīn.

The puppy perked up its ears to listen for the sound.

干地打不成高墙，没钱盖不起瓦房

gān dì dǎ bùchéng gāo qiáng, méi qián gài bù qǐ wǎfáng

dry earth can't be rammed into a high wall; without money you can't build a tile house

平地不会起风波

píngdì búhuì qǐ fēngbō

flat ground doesn't raise wind and waves

惹不起，躲得起

rěbùqǐ, duǒ de qǐ

can't afford to provoke, can afford to avoid

我不知道我能不能负担得起。

Wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ néng bùnéng fùdān de qǐ.

I'm not sure I can afford it.

我与这起犯罪没有任何关系。

Wǒ yǔ zhè qǐ fànzuì méiyǒu rènhé guānxi.

I am not connected to this crime in any way.

我从昨天起没有吃任何东西。

Wǒ cóng zuótiān qǐ méiyǒu chī rènhé dōngxi.

I haven't eaten anything since yesterday.

我从那时起就没有见过她。

Wǒ cóng nàshí qǐ jiù méiyǒu jiànguo tā.

I haven't seen her since then.

我们在沙滩上起了火。

Wǒmen zài shātān shàng qǐle huǒ.

We built a fire on the beach.

我们怎么付得起这种地方的钱？

Wǒmen zěnme fù de qǐ zhèzhǒng dìfang de qián?

How can you afford a place like this?

我们才一到家就下起雨来了。

Wǒmen cái yí dào jiā jiù xià qǐ yǔ láile.

Hardly had we come home when it began to rain.

我们要在俄罗斯建起农田。

Wǒmen yào zài Éluósī jiàn qǐ nóngtián.

We are going to make farms in Russia.

我们要给孩子起个名字。

Wǒmen yào gěi háizi qǐ gè míngzi.

We have to pick a name for the child.

我刚出门，偏偏下起了大雨。

Wǒ gāng chūmén, piānpiān xià qǐle dàyǔ.

I had just stepped outside when, of all times, it started pouring.

我和平常一样起得早。

Wǒ hé píngcháng yíyàng qǐ de zǎo.

I got up early as usual.

我和往常一样起得很早。

Wǒ hé wǎngcháng yíyàng qǐ de hěn zǎo.

I got up early as usual.

我在东京租不起这样的房子。

Wǒ zài Dōngjīng zū bù qǐ zhèyàng de fángzi.

I can't afford to rent a house like this in Tokyo.

我在五时左右起了床。

Wǒ zài wǔ shí zuǒyòu qǐle chuáng.

I got up about five.

我完全记不起你的名字了。

Wǒ wánquán jì bù qǐ nǐ de míngzi le.

I quite forget your name.

我怎么想也想不起她的名字。

Wǒ zěnme xiǎng yě xiǎng bù qǐ tā de míngzi.

I'm trying hard, but can't think of her name.

我想不起「谢谢」用德语怎么说。

Wǒ xiǎng bù qǐ「xièxie」yòng Déyǔ zěnme shuō.

I can't remember how to say "Thank you" in German.

我想不起那首歌的旋律。

Wǒ xiǎng bù qǐ nà shǒu gē de xuánlǜ.

I can't remember the melody of that song.

我想早点出门，不料下起了大雨。

Wǒ xiǎng zǎodiǎn chūmén, búliào xià qǐle dàyǔ.

I wanted to leave early, but unexpectedly it started pouring.

我抱不起他。

Wǒ bào bù qǐ tā.

I cannot lift him.

我早上六时之前总是起不了床。

Wǒ zǎoshang liù shí zhīqián zǒngshì qǐ bù liǎo chuáng.

It is difficult for me to get up before six.

我明天十点起会在办公室里。

Wǒ míngtiān shí diǎn qǐ huì zài bàngōngshì lǐ.

I'll be in my office from ten tomorrow.

我正要出门，偏偏下起雨来了。

Wǒ zhèngyào chūmén, piānpiān xià qǐ yǔ láile.

I was just about to go out, and of all times it started to rain.

我爸爸一向起得很早。

Wǒ bàba yíxiàng qǐ de hěn zǎo.

My dad has always got up very early.

我看不太起他这个人。

Wǒ kàn bú tài qǐ tā zhège rén.

I don't think much of him.

我突然想不起她的名字。

Wǒ tūrán xiǎng bù qǐ tā de míngzi.

I can't recall her name at the moment.

我被蚊子咬了，腿上起了个疙瘩。

Wǒ bèi wénzi yǎole, tuǐ shàng qǐle gè gēda.

A mosquito bit me and a lump came up on my leg.

我记不起我把它给了谁。

Wǒ jì bù qǐ wǒ bǎ tā gěi le shéi.

I can't remember who I gave it to.

我记不起那是谁说的了。

Wǒ jì bù qǐ nà shì shéi shuō de le.

I don't remember who said that.

我请不起律师。

Wǒ qǐng bù qǐ lǜshī.

I can't afford a lawyer.

我起了个大早为了赶第一班火车。

Wǒ qǐle gè dà zǎo wèile gǎn dìyī bān huǒchē.

I got up early enough to catch the first train.

按倒葫芦起了瓢，顾了这头儿顾不上那头儿

àn dào húlu qǐle piáo, gùle zhè tóur gùbúshàng nà tóur

Press down the gourd and the ladle pops up: look after this end and you can't tend the other

新规定从明年一月一日起施行。

Xīn guīdìng cóng míngnián yíyuè yírì qǐ shīxíng.

The new regulation takes effect on January first next year.

早起三光，迟起三慌

zǎoqǐ sānguāng, chí qǐ sān huāng

get up early and everything is done; get up late and everything is a panic

春天大家起得都很早。

Chūntiān dàjiā qǐ de dōu hěn zǎo.

In spring, everyone wakes up early.

晚上，家家户户都亮起了灯。

Wǎnshang, jiājiā-hùhù dōu liàng qǐle dēng.

In the evening, every household turned its lights on.

晚饭时间，千家万户都亮起了灯。

Wǎnfàn shíjiān, qiānjiā-wànhù dōu liàng qǐle dēng.

At dinner time, the lights came on in every home.

有起必有落。

Yǒu qǐ bì yǒu luò.

What goes up must come down.

有风方起浪，无潮水自平

yǒu fēng fāng qǐ làng, wú cháoshuǐ zì píng

waves rise only when there is wind; with no tide the water stays calm