Chinese example sentences

半夜里吃黄瓜，不知头尾

bànyè li chī huángguā, bùzhī tóuwěi

eating a cucumber in the middle of the night: not knowing head from tail

半大小子，吃死老子

bàndàxiǎozi, chī sǐ lǎozi

a half-grown boy can eat his father to death

半天云中跑马，露了马脚

bàntiān Yúnzhōng pǎomǎ, lòule mǎjiǎo

a horse galloping in the clouds: the horse's hoof shows

半天云里吹唢呐，哪里哪

bàntiān Yún li chuī suǒnà, nǎlǐ nǎ

playing the suona up in the clouds: nǎ li nǎ

半天云里吹唢呐，哪里哪里

bàntiān Yún li chuī suǒnà, nǎli-nǎli

playing the suona in the clouds: where, where

半天云里打灯笼，高明

bàntiān Yún li dǎdēnglóng, gāomíng

holding up a lantern in the midst of the clouds: high and bright

半天云里拍巴掌，高手

bàntiān Yún li pāi bāzhang, gāoshǒu

clapping hands in the mid-sky: a high hand

半天云里挂口袋，装风

bàntiān Yún lǐ guà kǒudài, zhuāng fēng

hanging a sack in the clouds: holding wind (acting crazy)

半天云里点灯，高明

bàntiān Yún li diǎndēng, gāomíng

lighting a lamp in the clouds: high and bright

半天云里的铜锣，落到哪里都当当响

bàntiān Yún lǐ de tóngluó, luò dào nǎli dōu dāngdāngxiǎng

a gong from the clouds: wherever it lands it rings loudly

半天云里的风筝，半点儿不由己

bàntiān Yún lǐ de fēngzheng, bàndiǎnr bùyóu jǐ

a kite in the clouds: not in its own control at all

半天里抹糨子，糊云

bàntiān lǐ mǒ jiàngzi, hú Yún

smearing paste in the sky: pasting clouds

半成品要送去下个工厂。

Bànchéngpǐn yào sòng qù xià gè gōngchǎng.

The semi-finished products need to be sent to the next factory.

半空里下大雪，天花乱坠

bànkōng li xià dàxuě, tiānhuāluànzhuì

heavy snow falling in midair: flowers from heaven fall in a swirl

半篮子喜鹊，叫唤起来没个完

bàn lánzi xǐquè, jiàohuan qǐlai méi ge wán

half a basket of magpies: once they start calling, no end

华东的夏天又热又潮湿。

Huádōng de xiàtiān yòu rè yòu cháoshī.

Summers in East China are hot and humid.

华中的夏天非常热。

Huázhōng de xiàtiān fēicháng rè.

Summers in Central China are very hot.

华北的冬天又干又冷。

Huáběi de dōngtiān yòu gàn yòu lěng.

Winters in North China are dry and cold.

华南地区常常下大雨。

Huánán dìqū chángcháng xià dàyǔ.

It often rains heavily in South China.

华南的冬天不太冷。

Huánán de dōngtiān bú tài lěng.

Winters in South China are not very cold.

华盛顿是美国的首都。

Huáshèngdùn shì Měiguó de shǒudū.

Washington is the capital of the United States.

协力山成玉，同心土变金

xiélì shān chéng yù, tóngxīn tǔ biàn jīn

with united strength a mountain becomes jade; with one heart, earth turns to gold

卒子过河，不能后退

zúzǐ guòhé, bùnéng hòutuì

a pawn that has crossed the river: it cannot retreat

单丝不成线，独木不成林

dānsībùchéngxiàn, dúmùbùchénglín

a single silk strand makes no thread; a single tree makes no forest

单价太高，我再考虑一下。

Dānjià tài gāo, wǒ zài kǎolǜ yíxià.

The unit price is too high, so let me think about it again.

单凭力量不能保证取胜。

Dān píng lìliang bùnéng bǎozhèng qǔshèng.

Relying on strength alone cannot guarantee victory.

单手接球，真是一手绝技！

Dānshǒu jiēqiú, zhēnshi yìshǒu juéjì!

Catching the ball with one hand, what a supreme feat!

单纯靠运气是赢不了的。

Dānchún kào yùnqi shì yíng bù liǎo de.

You can't win by relying purely on luck.

单色的墙看起来很干净。

Dānsè de qiáng kànqǐlai hěn gānjìng.

A wall in a single color looks very clean.

单边行动可能会引起争议。

Dānbiān xíngdòng kěnéng huì yǐnqǐ zhēngyì.

Unilateral action may cause controversy.

单面锣打不响

dān miàn luó dǎ bù xiǎng

a gong with one face can't be sounded

卖了生姜买蒜吃，换个口味

màile shēngjiāng mǎi suàn chī, huàn ge kǒuwèi

sold the ginger to buy garlic: a change of taste

卖了衣裳买酒喝，顾嘴不顾身

màile yīshang mǎi jiǔ hē, gùzuǐ búgù shēn

sold clothes to buy liquor: minds the mouth, not the body

卖了麦子买笼屉，不蒸别的蒸口汽

màile màizi mǎi lóngtì, bù zhēng biéde zhēng kǒu qì

sold the wheat to buy a steamer: not steaming anything else, just steaming a puff of steam

卖什么吆喝什么

mài shénme yāohe shénme

shout about whatever you're selling

卖布不带尺子，瞎扯

mài bù bú dài chǐzi, xiāchě

selling cloth without a ruler: tearing blindly

卖水的看大河，尽是钱

mài shuǐ de kàn dàhé, jìn shì qián

a water seller looking at a great river: all he sees is money

卖油的敲锅盖，货不怎么样，牌子不小

mài yóu de qiāo guōgài, huò bùzěnmeyàng, páizi bù xiǎo

the oil seller bangs a pot lid: the goods aren't much, but the sign is big

卖烧饼的不带干粮，吃货

mài shāobing de bú dài gānliáng, chīhuò

a sesame-bun seller without his own food: eats the goods

卖瓜的说瓜甜，卖醋的讲醋酸

mài guā de shuō guā tián, mài cù de jiǎng cùsuān

the melon seller says the melons are sweet, the vinegar seller says the vinegar is sour

卖盆的出身，一说就一套一套的

mài pén de chūshēn, yì shuō jiù yítào-yítào de

from a basin seller's background: once he starts, it comes in sets

卖米的不带升，居心不量

mài mǐ de bú dài shēng, jūxīn bú liàng

a rice seller without a measure: his intentions aren't measured

卖红薯的丢了干粮，硬啃

mài hóngshǔ de diū le gānliáng, yìng kěn

the sweet-potato seller loses his food: has to gnaw away

卖肉的切豆腐，不在话下

màiròu de qiē dòufu, búzàihuàxià

a butcher cutting tofu: not worth mentioning

卖艺的吞宝剑，要钱不要命

màiyì de tūn bǎojiàn, yàoqián bú yàomìng

a street performer swallowing a sword: wants money, not life

卖豆芽的没带秤，乱抓

mài dòuyá de méi dài chèng, luàn zhuā

a bean sprout seller without scales: grabs at random

卖豆芽的磕打筐子，亮了底了

mài dòuyá de kēdǎ kuāngzǐ, liàngle dǐ le

the bean sprout seller bangs out the basket: the bottom shows

卖车是我的工作。

Mài chē shì wǒ de gōngzuò.

Selling cars is my job.

卖饭的不怕大肚汉，卖酒的不怕海量

mài fàn de búpà dàdùhàn, mài jiǔ de búpà hǎiliàng

a food seller doesn't fear a big eater, a wine seller doesn't fear a big drinker

卖鸡蛋的摔跟头，没剩下一个好的

mài jīdàn de shuāigēntou, méi shèngxià yí gè hǎo de

the egg seller takes a tumble: not one is left intact

南北战争持续了四年。

Nánběi zhànzhēng chíxùle sì nián.

America's Civil War lasted four years.

南天门上挂牌子，好大的一块匾

Nántiānmén shang guà páizi, hǎo dà de yíkuài biǎn

hanging a sign on the South Heavenly Gate: what a big plaque

南山上的核桃，只能砸着吃

Nánshān shàng de hétao, zhǐnéng zázhe chī

walnuts from South Mountain: can only be eaten by smashing them

南方人每天都吃大米。

Nánfāng rén měitiān dōu chī dàmǐ.

People in the south eat rice every day.

南方人看见雪觉得稀奇。

Nánfāng rén kànjiàn xuě juéde xīqí.

People from the south find it strange and fascinating to see snow.

南方和北方的差异很大。

Nánfāng hé běifāng de chāyì hěn dà.

The north differs greatly from the south.

南方的海边盛产各种海鲜。

Nánfāng de hǎibiān shèngchǎn gèzhǒng hǎixiān.

The southern coast produces all kinds of seafood in abundance.

南方的空气很滋润。

Nánfāng de kōngqì hěn zīrùn.

The air in the south is very humid.

南方的降雨量比北方多。

Nánfāng de jiàngyǔliàng bǐ běifāng duō.

The south gets more rainfall than the north.

南来的燕子北去的鸟儿，早晚都要飞走

Nán lái de yànzi běi qù de niǎor, zǎowǎn dōu yào fēi zǒu

swallows coming from the south and birds going north: sooner or later they all fly away

南极上空的臭氧层有个洞。

Nánjí shàngkōng de chòuyǎngcéng yǒu gè dòng.

There is a hole in the ozone layer above the South Pole.

南极洲一年四季都很冷。

Nánjízhōu yìniánsìjì dōu hěn lěng.

Antarctica is cold all year round.

南极洲的冬天冷得可怕。

Nánjízhōu de dōngtiān lěng de kěpà.

Winter in Antarctica is terribly cold.

南极的冰有几千米厚。

Nánjí de bīng yǒu jǐ qiānmǐ hòu.

The ice at the South Pole is several thousand meters thick.

南瓜地里种豆角儿，绕过来扯过去

nánguā dìlǐ zhǒng dòujuér, ràoguò lái chě guòqù

planting beans in a pumpkin patch: winding over and pulling across

南郭先生吹竽，不会装会

Nánguōxiānshēng chuīyú, búhuì zhuāng huì

Mr Nanguo playing the yu pipe: pretending to know how when he can't

博物馆入口在哪里？

Bówùguǎn rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ?

Where is the entrance to the museum?

博物馆努力弘扬本地文化。

Bówùguǎn nǔlì hóngyáng běndì wénhuà.

The museum works hard to promote local culture.

博物馆在哪里？

Bówùguǎn zài nǎlǐ?

Where is the museum?

博物馆展出了很多旧照片。

Bówùguǎn zhǎnchūle hěn duō jiù zhàopiān.

The museum exhibited a lot of old photos.

博物馆展出了很多老照片。

Bówùguǎn zhǎnchūle hěn duō lǎo zhàopiān.

The museum exhibited a lot of old photos.

博物馆的入口在哪？

Bówùguǎn de rùkǒu zài nǎ?

Where is the entrance to the museum?

博物馆的导游正在给游客解说。

Bówùguǎn de dǎoyóu zhèngzài gěi yóukè jiěshuō.

The museum guide is explaining things to the tourists.

博物馆里展出了地动仪。

Bówùguǎn lǐ zhǎnchūle dìdòngyí.

The seismoscope is on display in the museum.

博物馆里展出了很多古代青铜器。

Bówùguǎn lǐ zhǎnchūle hěn duō gǔdài qīngtóngqì.

The museum has many ancient bronze artifacts on display.

博物馆里有一个很大的铜锅。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu yí gè hěn dà de tóng guō.

There is a very large copper pot in the museum.

博物馆里有一件几千年前的图腾。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu yí jiàn jǐqiān niánqián de túténg.

The museum has a totem from several thousand years ago.

博物馆里有一台很大的浑天仪。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu yì tái hěn dà de húntiānyí.

There is a very large armillary sphere in the museum.

博物馆里有一台活字印刷的模型。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu yì tái huózìyìnshuā de móxíng.

The museum has a model of movable-type printing.

博物馆里有一座石头雕像。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu yí zuò shítou diāoxiàng.

There is a stone statue in the museum.

博物馆里有商朝的文字。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu shāngcháo de wénzì.

The museum has writing from the Shang dynasty.

博物馆里有很多动物标本。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō dòngwù biāoběn.

The museum has many animal specimens.

博物馆里有很多古代遗物。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō gǔdài yíwù.

The museum has many ancient relics.

博物馆里有很多古代青铜器。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō gǔdài qīngtóngqì.

The museum has many ancient bronze objects.

博物馆里有很多甲骨文。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō jiǎgǔwén.

There are many oracle bone inscriptions in the museum.

博物馆里有很多精美的瓷器。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō jīngměi de cíqì.

The museum has many exquisite porcelain pieces.

博物馆里有很多裸体雕像。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō luǒtǐ diāoxiàng.

There are many nude statues in the museum.

博物馆里有很多近代的老照片。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō jìndài de lǎo zhàopiān.

The museum has many old photographs from modern times.

博物馆里陈列着许多古代干戈。

Bówùguǎn lǐ chénliè zhe xǔduō gǔdài gāngē.

The museum displays many ancient weapons.

博物馆门口放着一门旧炮。

Bówùguǎn ménkǒu fàngzhe yìmén jiù pào.

There is an old cannon at the museum entrance.

博览会将举行六个月。

Bólǎnhuì jiāng jǔxíng liù gè yuè.

The exposition will be held for six months.

占小便宜吃大亏

zhàn xiǎopiányi chīdàkuī

gain small advantages, suffer big losses

卡车能装五立方米的沙。

Kǎchē néng zhuāng wǔ lìfāngmǐ de Shā.

The truck can carry five cubic meters of sand.

卡车陷在泥泞里，动不了。

Kǎchē xiàn zài nínìng lǐ, dòng bù liǎo.

The truck is stuck in the mud and can't move.

卢医不自医

lúyī bú zì yī

Doctor Lu does not treat himself

卢沟桥上的石狮子，数不清

Lúgōu Qiáo shàng de shíshīzi, shǔbùqīng

the stone lions on Lugou Bridge: can't be counted

卤水点豆腐，一物降一物

lǔshuǐ diǎn dòufu, yíwùxiángyíwù

brine used to set tofu: one thing subdues another

卤水煮鸭子，身子烂了嘴还硬

lǔshuǐ zhǔ yāzi, shēnzi lànle zuǐ hái yìng

ducks cooked in brine: the body is soft but the beak is still hard

卧室朝北，采光不太好。

Wòshì cháo běi, cǎiguāng bútàihǎo.

The bedroom faces north, so it doesn't get much natural light.

卧榻之旁，岂容他人鼾睡

wòtàzhīpáng, qǐróngtārénhānshuì

beside my bed, how can I allow another to snore?