Chinese example sentences

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

儿女做坏事，父母终有错

érnǚ zuò huàishì, fùmǔ zhōng yǒu cuò

when children do wrong, the parents are still at fault

儿女多来冤孽多

érnǚ duō lái yuānniè duō

more children, more grievances

儿女情长，英雄气短

érnǚqíngcháng, yīngxióngqìduǎn

with tender love of family, the hero's spirit shrinks

儿媳每天早上给我做早饭。

Érxí měitiān zǎoshang gěi wǒ zuò zǎofàn.

My daughter-in-law makes me breakfast every morning.

儿子成家立业，妈妈放心了。

Érzi chéngjiālìyè, māma fàngxīnle.

Now that her son has married and started his career, his mother can relax.

儿孙自有儿孙福，莫为儿孙做马牛

érsūnzìyǒu'érsūnfú, mò wèi érsūn zuò mǎ niú

children and grandchildren have their own fortune; don't toil like horse and ox for them

儿时练功易，老来学艺难

érshí liàngōng yì, lǎo lái xuéyì nán

practising skills is easy in childhood, learning a craft is hard in old age

儿科门口坐满了家长。

Érkē ménkǒu zuò mǎnle jiāzhǎng.

The area outside pediatrics was full of parents.

儿童免费入场。

Értóng miǎnfèi rùchǎng.

Admission is free for children.

儿童区在哪里？

Értóng qū zài nǎlǐ?

Where's the children's section?

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

元宵到了，街上挂满了灯笼。

Yuánxiāo dàole, jiēshang guà mǎnle dēnglóng.

The Lantern Festival has arrived, and the streets are full of lanterns.

元宵快到了，街上挂满了红灯笼。

Yuánxiāo kuài dàole, jiēshang guà mǎnle hóng dēnglóng.

The Lantern Festival is coming, and the streets are full of red lanterns.

元宵节你想不想去看灯笼？

Yuánxiāojié nǐ xiǎng bùxiǎng qù kàn dēnglóng?

Do you want to go see the lanterns on the Lantern Festival?

元宵节我们去公园猜灯谜。

Yuánxiāojié wǒmen qù gōngyuán cāi dēngmí.

On the Lantern Festival we're going to the park to guess lantern riddles.

元宵节是什么时候？

Yuánxiāojié shì shénme shíhou?

When is the Lantern Festival?

元宵节晚上，广场上有舞龙表演。

Yuánxiāojié wǎnshang, guǎngchǎng shàng yǒu wǔlóng biǎoyǎn.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, there is a dragon dance performance in the square.

元旦就在眼前。

Yuándàn jiù zài yǎnqián.

New Year's Day is close at hand.

元旦是一年的关键。

Yuándàn shì yì nián de guānjiàn.

New Year's Day is the key to the year.

元朝的都城就是现在的北京。

Yuáncháo de dūchéng jiùshì xiànzài de Běijīng.

The capital of the Yuan dynasty is today's Beijing.

元朝的首都在哪儿？

Yuáncháo de shǒudū zài nǎr?

Where was the capital of the Yuan dynasty?

元首发表了新年讲话。

Yuánshǒu fābiǎole xīnnián jiǎnghuà.

The head of state gave a New Year's address.

兄弟之间别为小事计较。

Xiōngdì zhījiān bié wèi xiǎoshì jìjiào.

Brothers shouldn't bicker over trivial things.

兄弟们聊得很酣畅。

Xiōngdìmen liáo de hěn hānchàng.

The guys chatted freely and had a great time.

兄弟，你到底姓什么啊？

Xiōngdì, nǐ dàodǐ xìng shénme a?

Bro, what's your last name?

兄弟俩一见面就针锋相对。

Xiōngdì liǎ yí jiànmiàn jiù zhēnfēng-xiāngduì.

The two brothers go at each other the moment they meet.

兄弟俩在分割父母留下的房子。

Xiōngdì liǎ zài fēngē fùmǔ liúxià de fángzi.

The two brothers are dividing up the house their parents left.

兄弟俩比试谁跑得快。

Xiōngdì liǎ bǐshì shéi pǎo de kuài.

The two brothers are competing to see who runs faster.

兄弟俩瓜分了爸爸的钱。

Xiōngdì liǎ guāfēn le bàba de qián.

The two brothers divided up their father's money.

兄弟俩的性格截然不同。

Xiōngdì liǎ de xìnggé jiérán-bùtóng.

The two brothers have entirely different personalities.

兄弟俩结婚后就分家了。

Xiōngdì liǎ jiéhūn hòu jiù fēnjiā le.

After the two brothers married, they split up the household.

兄弟吵架，但血浓于水。

Xiōngdì chǎojià, dàn xuènóngyúshuǐ.

The brothers quarreled, but blood is thicker than water.

兄弟虽和勤算账

xiōngdì suī hé qín suànzhàng

though brothers get along, keep accounts carefully

充满希望比绝望好。

Chōngmǎn xīwàng bǐ juéwàng hǎo.

To hope is better than to despair.

充电宝能带上飞机吗？

Chōngdiànbǎo néng dàishàng fēijī ma?

Can I take a power bank on the plane?

充足的休息十分重要。

Chōngzú de xiūxi shífēn zhòngyào.

It's very important to get enough rest.

先上两个凉菜，再慢慢上热菜。

Xiān shàng liǎng gè liángcài, zài mànmàn shàng rècài.

Bring out two cold dishes first, then serve the hot dishes slowly.

先下手为强,后下手遭殃

xiānxiàshǒuwéiqiáng,hòu xiàshǒu zāoyāng

strike first and be strong, strike later and suffer

先做调查，再问别人。

Xiān zuò diàochá, zài wèn biéren.

Do research before asking others.

先吃饭，随后我们去看电影。

Xiān chīfàn, suíhòu wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng.

Let's eat first, and afterward we'll go to a movie.

先在山脚休息一下吧。

Xiān zài shānjiǎo xiūxi yíxià ba.

Let's rest a while at the foot of the mountain first.

先复制这段话，再粘贴到文件里。

Xiān fùzhì zhè duàn huà, zài zhāntiē dào wénjiàn lǐ.

First copy this passage, then paste it into the file.

先天条件再好，也要靠练习。

Xiāntiān tiáojiàn zài hǎo, yě yào kào liànxí.

No matter how good your natural talent is, you still need to practice.

先学好拼音，进而学会写汉字。

Xiān xuéhǎo pīnyīn, jìn'ér xuéhuì xiě hànzì.

First learn pinyin well, and then go on to learn to write characters.

先学走，再学跑。

Xiān xué zǒu, zài xué pǎo.

Learn to walk before you run.

先小人,后君子

xiānxiǎorén,hòu jūnzǐ

first the petty man, then the gentleman

先想想这件事的利害。

Xiān xiǎngxiǎng zhè jiàn shì de lìhài.

First think about the pros and cons of this matter.

先打循环赛，再打淘汰赛。

Xiān dǎ xúnhuánsài, zài dǎ táotàisài.

First comes the round-robin, then the knockout rounds.

先找出原因，才能对症下药。

Xiān zhǎochū yuányīn, cái néng duìzhèngxiàyào.

You have to find the cause first before you can take the right steps.

先把沙子筛一遍，再拿去用。

Xiān bǎ shāzi shāi yíbiàn, zài ná qù yòng.

Sift the sand once first, then use it.

先把路面夯实，再铺石头。

Xiān bǎ lùmiàn hāngshí, zài pū shítou.

First ram the road surface firm, then lay the stones.

先放大看看画的局部吧。

Xiān fàngdà kànkan huà de júbù ba.

Let's zoom in and look at one part of the painting first.

先断后不断

xiān duànhòu búduàn

decide first, not settled later

先明后不争

xiān míng hòu bùzhēng

make it clear first, no quarrel later

先生小姐，你们买点什么首饰？

Xiānsheng xiǎojie, nǐmen mǎi diǎn shénme shǒushì?

Sir and Miss, what type of jewellery are you looking to buy?

先生小姐你们好。

Xiānsheng xiǎojie nǐmen hǎo.

Hello, ladies and gentlemen.

先生您在找什么呀？

Xiānsheng nín zài zhǎo shénme ya?

What are you looking for, sir?

先生，请问您贵姓？

Xiānsheng, qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?

Excuse me, sir, what is your surname?

先看清全局，再做决定。

Xiān kànqīng quánjú, zài zuò juédìng.

First get a clear view of the overall situation, then make your decision.

先翻炒几下，再加点盐。

Xiān fānchǎo jǐ xià, zài jiādiǎn yán.

Toss it in the pan a few times first, then add a little salt.

先虑败,后虑胜

xiān lǜ bài,hòu lǜ shèng

first consider defeat, then consider victory

先让情绪沉淀一下吧。

Xiān ràng qíngxù chéndiàn yíxià ba.

Let your emotions settle for a while first.

先说断,后不乱

xiān shuō duàn,hòu bú luàn

say it settled first, no mess later

先读一下报告的摘要吧。

Xiān dú yíxià bàogào de zhāiyào ba.

Let's read the summary of the report first.

先调查再决定，顺理成章。

Xiān diàochá zài juédìng, shùnlǐchéngzhāng.

Investigating first and then deciding is the logical way to go.

先谢谢您了。

Xiān xièxie nín le.

Thanking you in advance.

光伏是一种清洁的能源。

Guāngfú shì yìzhǒng qīngjié de néngyuán.

Photovoltaics is a clean source of energy.

光手逮刺猬，下不了手

guāng shǒu dǎi cìwei, xià bù liǎo shǒu

catching a hedgehog with bare hands: can't get a hand on it

光棍儿梦见娶媳妇儿，想得美

guānggùnr mèngjiàn qǔxífùr, xiǎngdeměi

a bachelor dreams of taking a wife: a lovely thought

光看表面是不足够的。

Guāng kàn biǎomiàn shì bù zúgòu de.

All that glitters is not gold.

光缆比旧电线传得更快。

Guānglǎn bǐ jiù diànxiàn chuán de gèng kuài.

Optical cables transmit faster than old wires.

光脚进蒺藜窝，进退两难

guāngjiǎo jìn jíli wō, jìntuìliǎngnán

going barefoot into a patch of caltrops: hard to go forward or back

光速是宇宙中最快的速度。

Guāngsù shì yǔzhòu zhōng zuìkuài de sùdù.

The speed of light is the fastest speed in the universe.

光速有声速的八十八万多倍。

Guāngsù yǒu shēngsù de bā shíbā wàn duō bèi.

The speed of light is more than eighty-eight thousand times the speed of sound.

光阴似箭，孩子都上大学了。

Guāngyīnsìjiàn, háizi dōu shàng dàxué le.

How time flies, and my child is already in college.

光靠外援，不能解决问题。

Guāng kào wàiyuán, bùnéng jiějué wèntí.

Relying on outside aid alone can't solve the problem.

克己复礼是儒家的要求。

Kèjǐfùlǐ shì rújiā de yāoqiú.

Subduing the self and observing proprieties is a Confucian requirement.

克己并不等于压抑自己。

Kèjǐ bìng bù děngyú yāyì zìjǐ.

Self-restraint doesn't mean suppressing yourself.

兔子叫门，送肉的来了

tùzi jiào mén, sòng ròu de láile

a rabbit knocking at the door: here comes the one delivering meat

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

兔子和乌龟赛跑。

Tùzi hé wūguī sàipǎo.

A hare raced with a tortoise.

兔子尥蹶子，没后劲

tùzi liàojuězi, méi hòujìn

a rabbit kicking up its hind legs: no strength in reserve

兔子急了咬三口

tùzi jíle yǎo sān kǒu

a cornered rabbit bites three times

兔子拉犁，不讲路数

tùzi lā lí, bù jiǎng lùshù

a rabbit pulling a plough: no regard for method

兔子有长耳朵和短尾巴。

Tùzi yǒu cháng ěrduo hé duǎn wěiba.

A rabbit has long ears and a short tail.

兔子正蹲在地上啃萝卜。

Tùzi zhèng dūn zài dìshang kěn luóbo.

The rabbit is crouching on the ground nibbling a radish.

兔子的尾巴，长不了

tùzi de wěiba, cháng bù liǎo

a rabbit's tail: can't be long

兔子繁殖得很快。

Tùzi fánzhí de hěn kuài.

Rabbits reproduce very quickly.

兔子繁衍得特别快。

Tùzi fányǎn de tèbié kuài.

Rabbits multiply very quickly.

兔子跑到磨道里，冒充大耳朵驴

tùzi pǎo dào mó dào li, màochōng dà ěrduo lǘ

a rabbit running onto the millstone track: pretending to be a long-eared donkey

兔子跳进开水锅，有死无活

tùzi tiàojìn kāishuǐ guō, yǒu sǐ wú huó

a rabbit jumping into a pot of boiling water: death, no life

兔死狐悲，物伤其类

tùsǐhúbēi, wùshāngqílèi

when the rabbit dies the fox grieves; creatures mourn their own kind

入乡随乡,入街随街

rù xiāng suí xiāng,rù jiē suí jiē

enter a village, follow the village; enter a street, follow the street

入国问禁,入乡问俗

rùguówènjìn,rùxiāngwènsú

entering a country, ask its prohibitions; entering a village, ask its customs

入境之前，请先填好这张表格。

Rùjìng zhīqián, qǐng xiān tián hǎo zhè zhāng biǎogé.

Please fill out this form before entering the country.

入境时有水果要申报吗？

Rùjìng shí yǒu shuǐguǒ yào shēnbào ma?

Do I have to declare fruit when entering the country?

入山擒虎易,开口告人难

rù shān qín hǔ yì,kāikǒugàorénnán

catching a tiger in the mountains is easy, asking others for a loan is hard

入山问樵,入水问渔

rù shān wèn qiáo,rù shuǐ wèn yú

entering the mountains ask the woodcutter, entering the water ask the fisherman