Chinese example sentences

拿着剃刀哄孩子，不是好玩儿的

názhe tìdāo hǒngháizi, bú shì hǎowánr de

coaxing a child with a razor: it's no game

拿着磨盘当月亮，认不清高低轻重

názhe mòpán dàng yuèliang, rèn bù qīng gāodī qīngzhòng

taking a millstone for the moon: can't tell high from low, light from heavy

拿着草帽当锅盖，乱扣帽子

názhe cǎomào dàng guōgài, luàn kòumàozi

taking a straw hat as a pot lid: putting hats on at random

拿着西瓜当头剃，乱刮乱推

názhe xīguā dāngtóu tì, luàn guā luàn tuī

shaving a watermelon as if it were a head: scraping and shoving at random

拿衣捉领，张网提纲

ná yī zhuō lǐng, zhāng wǎng tígāng

to hold a garment, grasp the collar; to spread a net, lift the main rope

指亲不富，看嘴不饱

zhǐ qīn bú fù, kàn zuǐ bù bǎo

counting on relatives won't make you rich; watching others' mouths won't fill you up

指南针会受磁场影响。

Zhǐnánzhēn huì shòu cíchǎng yǐngxiǎng.

A compass is affected by magnetic fields.

指南针是中国人发明的。

Zhǐnánzhēn shì Zhōngguórén fāmíng de.

The compass was invented by the Chinese.

指挥官正在研究明天的作战计划。

Zhǐhuīguān zhèngzài yánjiū míngtiān de zuòzhàn jìhuà.

The commander is studying tomorrow's combat plan.

指着别人是不礼貌的。

Zhǐ zhe biéren shì bù lǐmào de.

It is rude to point at others.

指纹都是独特的。

Zhǐwén dōu shì dútè de.

Fingerprints are unique.

按下按钮，门即可打开。

Àn xià ànniǔ, mén jíkě dǎkāi.

Press the button and the door can then be opened.

按习俗，寿星要先吃一碗长寿面。

Àn xísú, shòuxīng yào xiān chī yì wǎn chángshòumiàn.

According to custom, the birthday elder eats a bowl of longevity noodles first.

按住电铃不抬手，老是响

àn zhù diànlíng bù táishǒu, lǎo shì xiǎng

Pressing the doorbell and not lifting your hand: it keeps ringing

按倒牛头喝水，办不到

àn dǎo niútóu hēshuǐ, bànbúdào

Pushing down an ox's head to drink: can't be done

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

按常理说，他早就该到家了。

Àn chánglǐ shuō, tā zǎojiù gāi dào jiā le.

By common sense, he should have gotten home long ago.

按情理说，他应该先道歉。

Àn qínglǐ shuō, tā yīnggāi xiān dàoqiàn.

By rights, he should apologize first.

按我的推算，他们应该快到了。

Àn wǒ de tuīsuàn, tāmen yīnggāi kuài dàole.

By my reckoning, they should be arriving soon.

按我说的做。

Àn wǒ shuō de zuò.

Do as I say.

按摩时要找准穴位。

Ànmó shí yào zhǎo zhǔn xuéwèi.

When giving a massage, you need to find the right acupuncture points.

按照小区的条例，晚上不能装修。

Ànzhào xiǎoqū de tiáolì, wǎnshang bùnéng zhuāngxiū.

According to the community's rules, renovation isn't allowed at night.

按照惯例，新人要请客。

Ànzhào guànlì, xīnrén yào qǐngkè.

By convention, the newcomers treat everyone to a meal.

按牛头吃不得草

ànniútóuchībudecǎo

You can't make an ox eat grass by pressing its head down

按狭义的理解，他只算同事。

Àn xiáyì de lǐjiě, tā zhǐ suàn tóngshì.

By the stricter definition, he counts only as a colleague.

按理，春天来了花就该开了。

Ànlǐ, chūntiān láile huā jiù gāi kāile.

In the ordinary course of events, flowers should bloom once spring arrives.

按说他早就该到家了。

Ànshuō tā zǎojiù gāi dào jiā le.

By rights, he should have gotten home long ago.

按说四月不会这么冷。

Ànshuō sìyuè búhuì zhème lěng.

Ordinarily it wouldn't be this cold in April.

按这个穴位会疼吗？

Àn zhège xuéwèi huì téng ma?

Will it hurt if I press this acupuncture point?

挑水的回头，过井了

tiāo shuǐ de huítóu, guò jǐng le

the water carrier turns around: he has walked past the well

挑选一个吧。

Tiāoxuǎn yí gè ba.

Choose one.

挖井碰上自流泉，巧得很

wā jǐng pèngshàng zì liúquán, qiǎo de hěn

digging a well and hitting a flowing spring: what a coincidence

挖肉补疮，好了一个损了一个

wāròubǔchuāng, hǎole yí gè sǔn le yí gè

cutting out flesh to patch a sore: one gets better, the other is hurt

挣的越多钱，就花得越多钱。

Zhèng de yuè duō qián, jiù huā de yuè duō qián.

The more you earn, the more you spend.

挨揍打呼噜，假装不知道

áizòu dǎhūlu, jiǎzhuāng bù zhīdào

Being beaten yet snoring: pretending not to know

挨着大树能乘凉

āizhe dàshù néng chéngliáng

Stay next to a big tree and you can enjoy the shade

挨金似金，挨玉似玉

āi jīn sì jīn, āi yù sì yù

Stay near gold and you become like gold; stay near jade and you become like jade

挺好的，不差。

Tǐng hǎo de, bú chà.

Quite good, not bad.

挽弓当挽强

wǎngōng dāng wǎnqiáng

if you draw a bow, draw a strong one

捂着耳朵偷铃铛，自己骗自己

wǔzhe ěrduo tōu língdang, zìjǐ piàn zìjǐ

covering one's ears to steal a bell: fooling oneself

捂着耳朵放炮仗，又想听响声，又怕听响声

wǔzhe ěrduo fàng pàozhang, yòu xiǎng tīng xiǎngshēng, yòu pà tīng xiǎngshēng

covering one's ears to set off firecrackers: wanting to hear the bang and fearing to hear the bang

捆绑不成夫妻

kǔnbǎng bùchéng fūqī

tying people up won't make them husband and wife

捉贼见赃，捉奸见双

zhuōzéijiànzāng, zhuōjiān jiàn shuāng

catch a thief, see the stolen goods; catch adultery, see the pair

捏着眼皮擤鼻涕，劲儿用得不是地方

niēzhe yǎnpí xǐngbítì, jìnr yòng de bú shì dìfang

pinching the eyelid to blow the nose: effort used in the wrong place

捏着鼻子吃酸醋，不咽也得咽

niēzhebízi chī suāncù, bú yàn yě děi yàn

pinch your nose and drink sour vinegar: you have to swallow it even if you don't want to

捐款总额已经超过十万元了。

Juānkuǎn zǒng'é yǐjīng chāoguò shíwàn yuán le.

The total donations have already passed one hundred thousand yuan.

捐款的人非常踊跃。

Juānkuǎn de rén fēicháng yǒngyuè.

People were very enthusiastic about donating money.

损人利己的事我不做。

Sǔnrénlìjǐ de shì wǒ bú zuò.

I won't do things that harm others for my own gain.

损人利己的事，我绝对不会做。

Sǔnrénlìjǐ de shì, wǒ juéduì búhuì zuò.

I would never do something that harms others to benefit myself.

损失是无法估计的。

Sǔnshī shì wúfǎ gūjì de.

The losses are incalculable.

换个思路，问题也许就解决了。

Huàn gè sīlù, wèntí yěxǔ jiù jiějuéle.

Try a different approach, and the problem may be solved.

换个环境，让人耳目一新。

Huàn gè huánjìng, ràng rén ěrmùyìxīn.

A change of scenery makes you feel refreshed.

换个视角看，问题就简单了。

Huàn gè shìjiǎo kàn, wèntí jiù jiǎndānle.

Look at it from a different perspective and the problem becomes simple.

换了是我，我也会这样做的。

Huàn le shì wǒ, wǒ yě huì zhèyàng zuò de.

If I were you, I would do the same.

换工作之前，你最好先权衡利弊。

Huàn gōngzuò zhīqián, nǐ zuìhǎo xiān quánhénglìbì.

Before changing jobs, you'd better weigh the pros and cons.

换种方式说。

Huàn zhǒng fāngshì shuō.

Say it in another way.

捧着猪头打转，拜不到庙门

pěngzhe zhūtóu dǎzhuàn, bài búdào miào mén

carrying a pig's head in circles, never reaching the temple door

据天气预报，明天会下大雨。

Jù tiānqìyùbào, míngtiān huì xià dàyǔ.

According to the weather forecast, it will rain heavily tomorrow.

据悉，新机场下月开始使用。

Jùxī, xīn jīchǎng xià yuè kāishǐ shǐyòng.

According to reports, the new airport will open for use next month.

据悉，这个城市下周会有大雨。

Jùxī, zhège chéngshì xiàzhōu huì yǒu dàyǔ.

According to reports, this city will have heavy rain next week.

据报纸上说，他自杀了。

Jù bàozhǐ shàng shuō, tā zìshāle.

According to the newspaper, he committed suicide.

据说他在回家的路上被劫持了。

Jùshuō tā zài huíjiā de lùshang bèi jiéchíle.

They say he was abducted on his way home.

据说他很富有。

Jùshuō tā hěn fùyǒu.

They say that he is very rich.

据说他是世界上最富有的人。

Jùshuō tā shì shìjiè shàng zuì fùyǒu de rén.

It is said that he is the richest man in the world.

据说他爸爸在外国去世了。

Jùshuō tā bàba zài wàiguó qùshì le.

It is said that his father died in a foreign country.

据说他还在巴黎。

Jùshuō tā hái zài Bālí.

He is said to still be in Paris.

据说她是个知名的女演员。

Jùshuō tā shì gè zhīmíng de nǚ yǎnyuán.

It's said that she's a well-known actress.

据说她曾经是一个模特儿。

Jùshuō tā céngjīng shì yí gè mótèr.

She is said to have been a model.

据说她爱他。

Jùshuō tā ài tā.

It's said that she loves him.

据说战争快要结束了。

Jùshuō zhànzhēng kuàiyào jiéshùle.

It is said that the war will end soon.

掀开帘子说话,里外都听见

xiānkāi liánzi shuōhuà,lǐwài dōu tīngjiàn

speaking with the curtain lifted: inside and outside both hear

掀开门帘子说话,没里没外

xiānkāi mén liánzi shuōhuà,méilǐméiwài

speaking with the door curtain lifted: no inside, no outside

掉到井里打扑腾，死不死活不活

diào dào jǐng lǐ dǎ pūteng, sǐ bù sǐhuó bù huó

fallen into a well and splashing about: neither dead nor alive

掌心上长毛，老手

zhǎngxīn shang chángmáo, lǎoshǒu

hair growing on the palm: an old hand

掌舵的心不慌，乘船的才稳当

zhǎngduò de xīn bù huāng, chéngchuán de cái wěndang

if the helmsman isn't panicking, passengers feel secure

掐掉翅膀的苍蝇，乱转乱碰

qiā diào chìbǎng de cāngying, luàn zhuàn luàn pèng

a fly with its wings pinched off: spinning and bumping randomly

掐着脚趾头念佛，玩儿邪的

qiāzhe jiǎozhǐtou niànfó, wánr xié de

chanting the Buddha's name while pinching one's toes: playing wicked tricks

排了两小时队，他耐不住了。

Páile liǎng xiǎoshí duì, tā nài búzhùle.

After queuing for two hours, he couldn't take it any more.

排球很有意思。

Páiqiú hěn yǒuyìsi.

Volleyball is a lot of fun.

排练室里传来了歌声。

Páiliàn shì lǐ chuánláile gēshēng.

Singing could be heard coming from the rehearsal room.

排队是大家约定俗成的规矩。

Páiduì shì dàjiā yuēdìngsúchéng de guīju.

Queuing is a customary rule everyone follows.

排队要讲先后，不能插队。

Páiduì yào jiǎng xiānhòu, bùnéng chāduì.

In a queue you go by order of arrival, so no cutting in.

探测器已经到达了木星附近。

Tàncèqì yǐjīng dàodále mùxīng fùjìn.

The probe has already reached the vicinity of Jupiter.

探测器拍到了木星表面的照片吗？

Tàncèqì pāi dàole mùxīng biǎomiàn de zhàopiān ma?

Did the probe take pictures of Jupiter's surface?

探险队明天就要归来了。

Tànxiǎn duì míngtiān jiùyào guīláile.

The expedition team will come back tomorrow.

探险队风餐露宿走了十天。

Tànxiǎn duì fēngcānlùsù zǒule shí tiān.

The expedition team ate and slept in the open for ten days as they walked.

接一下电话。

Jiē yíxià diànhuà.

Pick up the phone.

接到电话后，他连夜赶回了老家。

Jiēdào diànhuà hòu, tā liányè gǎn huíle lǎojiā.

After getting the call, he rushed back to his hometown that very night.

接受他的请求。

Jiēshòu tā de qǐngqiú.

Accept his request.

接受对方的准则就是给予他权力。

Jiēshòu duìfāng de zhǔnzé jiùshì jǐyǔ tā quánlì.

Accepting the other's norms is submitting to the other's power.

接受现金捐赠。

Jiēshòu xiànjīn juānzèng.

Cash donations will be accepted.

接口标准化后，大家都方便。

Jiēkǒu biāozhǔnhuà hòu, dàjiā dōu fāngbiàn.

Once the interfaces are standardized, it will be convenient for everyone.

控制住自己！

Kòngzhì zhù zìjǐ!

Control yourself!

控制住自己。

Kòngzhì zhù zìjǐ.

Control yourselves.

控制就是一切。

Kòngzhì jiùshì yíqiè.

Control is everything.

推子剃头，一个师傅一个做法

tuīzi tìtóu, yí gè shīfu yí gè zuòfǎ

shaving heads with clippers: each master has his own way

推拿师傅的手劲真大！

Tuīná shīfu de shǒujìn zhēn dà!

The tuina practitioner's hands are really strong!

推进器一开，飞船就动了。

Tuījìnqì yì kāi, fēichuán jiù dòngle.

As soon as the thruster fired, the spaceship moved.

描金箱子白铜锁，外面好看里面空

miáojīn xiāngzi báitóng suǒ, wàimiàn hǎokàn lǐmiàn kōng

a gold-painted chest with a white-copper lock: pretty outside, empty inside

提前出发可以免除堵车的麻烦。

Tíqián chūfā kěyǐ miǎnchú dǔchē de máfan.

Leaving early spares you the trouble of traffic jams.