Chinese example sentences

对牛弹琴，牛不入耳

duìniútánqín, niú búrù'ěr

playing the lute to a cow: the cow doesn't take it in

对牛弹琴的故事你听过吗？

Duìniútánqín de gùshi nǐ tīngguo ma?

Have you heard the story of playing the lute to a cow?

对猴子来说，爬树很容易。

Duì hóuzi lái shuō, pá shù hěn róngyì.

It is easy for a monkey to climb a tree.

对生命来说，食物永远是必要的。

Duì shēngmìng lái shuō, shíwù yǒngyuǎn shì bìyào de.

Food is always necessary for life.

对生命要有敬畏之心，你说呢？

Duì shēngmìng yào yǒu jìngwèi zhī xīn, nǐ shuō ne?

One should have a sense of reverence for life, don't you think?

对的题，老师都打了钩。

Duì de tí, lǎoshī dōu dǎle gōu.

The teacher put a tick next to every correct answer.

对着月亮攀谈，说空话

duì zhe yuèliang pāntán, shuō kōnghuà

chatting to the moon: speaking to the air

对着砚台梳妆，没影子

duì zhe yàntāi shūzhuāng, méi yǐngzi

doing one's make-up facing an inkstone: no reflection

对着镜子作揖，自己恭维自己

duì zhe jìngzi zuòyī, zìjǐ gōngwei zìjǐ

bowing to a mirror: paying compliments to oneself

对着风扇动嘴，讲得好凉快

duì zhe fēngshàn dòngzuǐ, jiǎng de hǎo liángkuai

moving your mouth in front of a fan: talking so coolly

对素不相识的人，要小心一点。

Duì sùbùxiāngshí de rén, yào xiǎoxīn yìdiǎn.

You should be a bit careful with people you don't know at all.

对老人来说，按时吃药尤为重要。

Duì lǎorén lái shuō, ànshí chīyào yóuwéi zhòngyào.

For the elderly, taking medicine on time is especially important.

对聪明人说话，一语即足。

Duì cōngming rén shuōhuà, yì yǔ jí zú.

A word is enough to a wise man.

对街有一家旅馆。

Duì jiē yǒu yìjiā lǚguǎn.

There's a hotel across the street.

对这个裁决，你怎么看？

Duì zhège cáijué, nǐ zěnme kàn?

What do you think of this ruling?

对这个话题来说，我没有想法。

Duì zhège huàtí lái shuō, wǒ méiyǒu xiǎngfǎ.

I don't have any opinion on this topic.

对这个说法，老师显然不以为然。

Duì zhège shuōfa, lǎoshī xiǎnrán bùyǐwéirán.

The teacher clearly didn't accept this claim.

对这件事，大家都有同感。

Duì zhè jiàn shì, dàjiā dōu yǒu tónggǎn.

Everyone shares the same feeling about this matter.

对这件事，您有什么高见？

Duì zhè jiàn shì, nín yǒu shénme gāojiàn?

What is your wise opinion on this matter?

对这种挑衅，最好不要理他。

Duì zhèzhǒng tiǎoxìn, zuìhǎo búyào lǐ tā.

It's best to ignore a provocation like that.

对这种行为，我只有轻蔑。

Duì zhèzhǒng xíngwéi, wǒ zhǐyǒu qīngmiè.

For this kind of behavior, I have only disdain.

对迟到的人，学校将予以处分。

Duì chídào de rén, xuéxiào jiāng yǔyǐ chǔfèn.

The school will impose a penalty on those who are late.

对里士满的威胁结束了。

Duì Lǐshìmǎn de wēixié jiéshùle.

The threat to Richmond was ended.

对面的房子是总统的度假房。

Duìmiàn de fángzi shì zǒngtǒng de dùjià fáng.

The house across the street is the president's vacation home.

对面的车灯耀眼，司机看不清路。

Duìmiàn de chēdēng yàoyǎn, sījī kànbùqīng lù.

The oncoming headlights dazzled the driver, who couldn't see the road.

寺庙在腊八节会免费给游客分粥。

Sìmiào zài làbājié huì miǎnfèi gěi yóukè fēn zhōu.

On Laba Festival, the temple hands out porridge to visitors for free.

寺庙旁边的小店有很多种素菜。

Sìmiào pángbiān de xiǎodiàn yǒu hěn duōzhǒng sùcài.

The little shop next to the temple has many kinds of vegetarian dishes.

寺里的僧人供养着佛像。

Sì lǐ de sēngrén gòngyǎngzhe fóxiàng.

The monks in the temple make offerings to the Buddha statues.

导弹打导弹，空对空

dǎodàn dǎ dǎodàn, kōngduìkōng

a missile hitting a missile: air to air

导游在讲解这座老桥。

Dǎoyóu zài jiǎngjiě zhè zuò lǎo qiáo.

The tour guide is explaining about this old bridge.

导游带我们参观了老城。

Dǎoyóu dài wǒmen cānguān le lǎochéng.

The tour guide showed us around the old town.

导游带我们游览名胜古迹。

Dǎoyóu dài wǒmen yóulǎn míngshènggǔjì.

The tour guide took us around the historic sites.

导游带旅游团参观古城。

Dǎoyóu dài lǚyóutuán cānguān gǔchéng.

The guide took the tour group to see the old town.

导游带着大家走进了山里的溶洞。

Dǎoyóu dàizhe dàjiā zǒujìnle shān lǐ de róngdòng.

The guide led everyone into the karst cave in the mountain.

导游引领大家走进小巷。

Dǎoyóu yǐnlǐng dàjiā zǒujìn xiǎoxiàng.

The tour guide led everyone into the small alley.

导游引领我们走进了老城。

Dǎoyóu yǐnlǐng wǒmen zǒujìnle lǎochéng.

The tour guide led us into the old town.

导游把明天的路线告诉了大家。

Dǎoyóu bǎ míngtiān de lùxiàn gàosule dàjiā.

The tour guide told everyone tomorrow's itinerary.

导游把行程单发给我们了。

Dǎoyóu bǎ xíngchéngdān fāgěi wǒmen le.

The tour guide sent us the itinerary.

导游正在清点团员的人数。

Dǎoyóu zhèngzài qīngdiǎn tuányuán de rénshù.

The tour guide is counting the members of the group.

导游正在给游客解说这幅画。

Dǎoyóu zhèngzài gěi yóukè jiěshuō zhè fú huà.

The tour guide is explaining this painting to the tourists.

导演也来参加首映了吗？

Dǎoyǎn yě lái cānjiā shǒuyìngle ma?

Did the director come to the premiere too?

导演想在雪地里拍摄。

Dǎoyǎn xiǎng zài xuědì lǐ pāishè.

The director wants to shoot in the snow.

导演正在修改新剧本。

Dǎoyǎn zhèngzài xiūgǎi xīn jùběn.

The director is revising the new script.

导演说这场戏要加特效。

Dǎoyǎn shuō zhè chǎng xì yào jiā tèxiào.

The director said this scene needs special effects added.

寿星笑着收下了红包。

Shòuxīng xiàozhe shōuxiàle hóngbāo.

Smiling, the birthday elder accepted the red envelope.

寿星老儿吃砒霜，活得不耐烦了

shòuxīnglǎor chī pīshuāng, huódebúnàifán le

the old God of Longevity eats arsenic: tired of living

寿桃蒸好了，快给爷爷端去。

Shòutáo zhēng hǎole, kuài gěi yéye duān qù.

The longevity peach buns are steamed, so hurry and take them to Grandpa.

寿面不能剪断，寓意长寿。

Shòumiàn bùnéng jiǎnduàn, yùyì chángshòu.

Longevity noodles must not be cut, because they stand for a long life.

封了嘴的八哥儿,一声不吭

fēng le zuǐ de bāgēr,yìshēngbùkēng

a myna with its beak sealed: not a sound

封山不育林,等于白费神

fēngshān bú yùlín,děngyú báifèi shén

closing the hills without raising forest is just wasted effort

封建社会是怎么结束的？

Fēngjiànshèhuì shì zěnme jiéshù de?

How did feudal society come to an end?

射人先射马，擒贼先擒王

shèrénxiānshèmǎ, qínzéixiānqínwáng

to shoot a rider, shoot the horse first; to catch bandits, catch the chief first

射箭要有的放矢，不能乱射。

Shèjiàn yào yǒudìfàngshǐ, bùnéng luàn shè.

When shooting arrows, you must aim at a target and not shoot randomly.

将你需要的药物写在这张纸上。

Jiāng nǐ xūyào de yàowù xiě zài zhè zhāng zhǐ shàng.

Write down the medications you need on this piece of paper.

将军在山上指挥这场战斗。

Jiāngjūn zài shānshàng zhǐhuī zhè chǎng zhàndòu.

The general commanded the battle from the hill.

将军派骑兵守住了军队两翼。

Jiāngjūn pài qíbīng shǒuzhule jūnduì liǎngyì.

The general sent the cavalry to guard both flanks of the army.

将军立下过汗马功劳。

Jiāngjūn lìxià guò hànmǎgōngláo.

The general performed great feats in war.

将军额头能跑马

jiāngjūn étóu néng pǎomǎ

a general's forehead can run a horse

将军骑着骏马冲下山坡。

Jiāngjūn qízhe jùnmǎ chōng xià shānpō.

The general rode his steed down the hillside.

将在谋而不在勇，兵贵精而不贵多

jiàng zài móu ér bú zài yǒng, bīng guì jīng ér bú guì duō

a commander counts on strategy, not bravery; troops should be elite, not numerous

将心比心，强如佛心

jiāngxīnbǐxīn, qiáng rú fóxīn

to weigh heart against heart is better than a Buddha's heart

将来我想做飞行员。

Jiānglái wǒ xiǎng zuò fēixíngyuán.

I want to be a pilot in the future.

将来我要去国外旅游。

Jiānglái wǒ yào qù guówài lǚyóu.

I want to go abroad one day.

将相出寒门

jiàngxiàng chū hánmén

generals and ministers come from poor families

将相本无种，男儿当自强

jiàngxiàng běn wú zhǒng, nán'ér dāng zìqiáng

generals and ministers are not born of a special seed; a man should strive to be strong

将苹果切丁。

Jiāng píngguǒ qiē Dīng.

Dice the apple.

尊重你的父母，网钱是他们付的。

Zūnzhòng nǐ de fùmǔ, wǎng qián shì tāmen fù de.

Respect your parents. They pay for the internet.

尊重别国的主权很重要。

Zūnzhòng biéguó de zhǔquán hěn zhòngyào.

It is important to respect other countries' sovereignty.

尊重地回应。

Zūnzhòng de huíyìng.

Respond with reverence.

尊重法律是我们社会的基础。

Zūnzhòng fǎlǜ shì wǒmen shèhuì de jīchǔ.

Respect for law is fundamental to our society.

小丁的桌子上放着很多照片。

Xiǎo Dīng de zhuōzi shàng fàngzhe hěn duō zhàopiān.

Many pictures are placed on Xiaoding's desk.

小人得志便猖狂

xiǎoréndézhì biàn chāngkuáng

a petty person who gains success turns wild and arrogant

小偷一直没能得手。

Xiǎotōu yìzhí méi néng déshǒu.

The thief has never managed to pull it off.

小偷一看到警车就跑走了。

Xiǎotōu yí kàndào jǐngchē jiù pǎo zǒule.

The thief ran off as soon as he saw the police car.

小偷主动向警察自首了。

Xiǎotōu zhǔdòng xiàng jǐngchá zìshǒule.

The thief voluntarily surrendered to the police.

小偷什么值钱的东西都没拿走。

Xiǎotōu shénme zhíqián de dōngxi dōu méi názǒu.

The thief didn't take anything valuable.

小偷夺了她的包就跑了。

Xiǎotōu duóle tā de bāo jiù pǎole.

The thief grabbed her bag and ran off.

小偷怕惊动邻居，不敢开灯。

Xiǎotōu pà jīngdòng línjū, bùgǎn kāidēng.

The thief was afraid of alarming the neighbors and didn't dare turn on the light.

小偷看到警察就窜走了。

Xiǎotōu kàndào jǐngchá jiù cuàn zǒule.

The thief fled as soon as he saw the police.

小偷被警察当场抓住了。

Xiǎotōu bèi jǐngchá dāngchǎng zhuāzhùle.

The thief was caught on the spot by the police.

小偷说梦话，不打自招

xiǎotōu shuōmènghuà, bùdǎzìzhāo

a thief talking in his sleep: confesses without being beaten

小公司也是纳税人吗？

Xiǎo gōngsī yě shì nàshuìrén ma?

Are small companies taxpayers too?

小公司依附大企业才能生存。

Xiǎo gōngsī yīfù dà qǐyè cái néng shēngcún.

Small companies can only survive by attaching themselves to big firms.

小公司敢向大公司叫板吗？

Xiǎo gōngsī gǎn xiàng dà gōngsī jiàobǎn ma?

Would a small company dare to challenge a big one?

小公鸡害嗓子,不能再啼了

xiǎo gōngjī hài sǎngzi,bùnéng zài tíle

a young rooster with a sore throat: can't crow any more

小区中间有一大片绿地。

Xiǎoqū zhōngjiān yǒu yí dàpiàn lǜdì.

There is a large green area in the middle of the neighborhood.

小区晚上十一点就有门禁。

Xiǎoqū wǎnshang shíyīdiǎn jiù yǒu ménjìn.

The compound restricts entry and exit after eleven at night.

小区的住户都想要一个停车位。

Xiǎoqū de zhùhù dōu xiǎngyào yí gè tíngchēwèi.

The residents of the neighborhood all want a parking space.

小区的地下室怎么排水？

Xiǎoqū de dìxiàshì zěnme páishuǐ?

How does the basement in this residential complex drain?

小区的新规定还没有经过表决。

Xiǎoqū de xīn guīdìng hái méiyǒu jīngguò biǎojué.

The neighborhood's new rule has not yet been put to a vote.

小区的物业费又涨了。

Xiǎoqū de wùyèfèi yòu zhǎngle.

The property management fee in our community has gone up again.

小区的环卫怎么这么差？

Xiǎoqū de huánwèi zěnme zhème chà?

Why is the cleanliness in this neighborhood so poor?

小区的车位太少了。

Xiǎoqū de chēwèi tài shǎole.

There aren't enough parking spaces in our neighborhood.

小区里新建了一个游泳池。

Xiǎoqū lǐ xīnjiàn le yí gè yóuyǒngchí.

A new swimming pool has been built in our neighborhood.

小区里有健身设施吗？

Xiǎoqū lǐ yǒu jiànshēn shèshī ma?

Are there any fitness facilities in the residential complex?

小区里的停车位越来越少了。

Xiǎoqū lǐ de tíngchēwèi yuèláiyuè shǎole.

There are fewer and fewer parking spaces in our residential complex.

小区里的车为什么这么多？

Xiǎoqū lǐ de chē wèishénme zhème duō?

Why are there so many cars in the compound?

小和尚念经,有口无心

xiǎo héshang niànjīng,yǒukǒuwúxīn

a young monk chanting scriptures: the mouth is there but not the heart

小国也需要多边主义。

Xiǎoguó yě xūyào duōbiānzhǔyì.

Small countries need multilateralism too.

小国也需要盟友。

Xiǎoguó yě xūyào méngyǒu.

Small countries need allies too.