Chinese example sentences

荷叶包鳝鱼，溜跑了

héyè bāo shànyú, liū pǎole

a lotus leaf wrapping an eel: slipped away

荷叶当雨伞，难遮盖

héyè dàng yǔsǎn, nán zhēgài

using a lotus leaf as an umbrella: hard to cover

荷塘里着火，藕燃

hétáng lǐ zháohuǒ, ǒu rán

a lotus pond catches fire: the lotus root burns

荷花出水才见高低

héhuā chūshuǐ cái jiàngāodī

only when lotuses rise out of the water can you see which is taller

荷花在池塘里盛开着。

Héhuā zài chítáng lǐ shèngkāizhe.

The lotus flowers are in full bloom in the pond.

荷花开在污泥中

héhuā kāi zài wūní zhōng

the lotus blooms in the muddy mire

莫斯科是俄罗斯的首都。

Mòsīkē shì Éluósī de shǒudū.

Moscow is the capital of Russia.

莫生懒惰意，休起怠荒心

mò shēng lǎnduò yì, xiū qǐ dàihuāng xīn

don't let idle thoughts arise, don't raise a slack, neglectful heart

莫看强盗吃肉，要看强盗受罪

mò kàn qiángdào chī ròu, yào kàn qiángdào shòuzuì

don't watch the bandit eat meat; watch the bandit suffer

莫言家未成，成家子未生；莫言家未破，破家子未大

Mò Yán jiā wèi chéng, chéngjiā zǐ wèi shēng; Mò Yán jiā wèi pò, pòjiāzi wèi dà

don't say the family isn't made yet, the son who will make it isn't born; don't say the family isn't ruined yet, the son who will ruin it hasn't grown up

莫贪意外财

mò tān yìwài cái

don't covet unexpected wealth

莫道君行早，更有早行人

mò dào jūn xíng zǎo, gèng yǒu zǎo xíngrén

don't say you set out early; there are others who set out earlier

莫非你忘了今天是她生日？

Mòfēi nǐ wàngle jīntiān shì tā shēngrì?

Could it be that you forgot today is her birthday?

莫高窟的壁画非常精美。

Mògāokū de bìhuà fēicháng jīngměi.

The murals in the Mogao Caves are exquisite.

莲子要先泡一晚再煮。

Liánzǐ yào xiān pào yì wǎn zài zhǔ.

Lotus seeds need to be soaked overnight before cooking.

菜价每天都在浮动。

Cài jià měitiān dōu zài fúdòng.

Vegetable prices fluctuate every day.

菜单在谁手里啊？

Càidān zài shéi shǒulǐ a?

Who has the menus?

菜地多久施肥一次？

Càidì duōjiǔ shīféi yícì?

How often do you fertilize the vegetable patch?

菜太咸了，吃完很口渴。

Cài tài Xián le, chī wán hěn kǒukě.

The food was too salty, and I was really thirsty after eating it.

菜市场是一个城市生活的缩影。

Càishìchǎng shì yí gè chéngshì shēnghuó de suōyǐng.

The food market is a microcosm of life in a city.

菜市场是百姓生活的缩影。

Càishìchǎng shì bǎixìng shēnghuó de suōyǐng.

The food market is a microcosm of ordinary people's lives.

菜市场里的蒜今天卖得很便宜。

Càishìchǎng lǐ de suàn jīntiān mài de hěn piányi.

Garlic is selling very cheap at the market today.

菜碟舀水，一眼看到底

cài dié yǎoshuǐ, yì yǎnkàn dàodǐ

Scooping water with a vegetable saucer: you see the bottom at a glance

菜篮子里的泥鳅，你溜我也溜

càilánzi lǐ de níqiu, nǐ liū wǒ yě liū

Loaches in a vegetable basket: you slip away, I slip away too

菜被他吃得一干二净。

Cài bèi tā chī de yìgān'èrjìng.

He ate up every bit of the food.

菜被霜打了，叶子都黄了。

Cài bèi shuāng dǎle, yèzi dōu huángle.

The vegetables were hit by frost, and the leaves have all turned yellow.

菜谱里的这一步不能省略。

Càipǔ lǐ de zhè yíbù bùnéng shěnglüè.

This step in the recipe can't be skipped.

菜里放点醋，味道会更好。

Cài lǐ fàng diǎn cù, wèidao huì gèng hǎo.

Add a little vinegar to the dish and it will taste better.

菜里有头发，我要向经理投诉。

Cài lǐ yǒu tóufa, wǒ yào xiàng jīnglǐ tóusù.

There's a hair in the food, so I'm going to complain to the manager.

菜里的盐含量不能太高。

Cài lǐ de yán hánliàng bùnéng tài gāo.

The amount of salt in the dishes can't be too high.

菜里盐放得过量，就太咸了。

Cài lǐ yán fàng de guòliàng, jiù tài Xián le.

If you put in too much salt, the dish is too salty.

菜里盐的含量不能太高。

Cài lǐ yán de hánliàng bùnéng tài gāo.

The salt content in the food shouldn't be too high.

菩提的意思就是觉悟。

Pútí de yìsi jiùshì juéwù.

Bodhi simply means awakening.

菩萨后面一个窟窿，庙透了

púsà hòumian yí gè kūlong, miào tòule

a hole behind the Buddhist statue: the temple is through

菩萨脸，蝎子心

púsà liǎn, xiēzi xīn

a bodhisattva's face, a scorpion's heart

菲律宾有很多漂亮的海岛。

Fēilǜbīn yǒu hěn duō piàoliang de hǎidǎo.

The Philippines has many beautiful islands.

萍水相逢的人，为什么帮我？

Píngshuǐxiāngféng de rén, wèishénme bāng wǒ?

Why would a complete stranger help me?

萝卜上扎刀，不是出血的筒子

luóbo shàng zhā dāo, bú shì chūxiě de tǒngzi

A knife stuck in a radish: not one to bleed

萝卜快了不洗泥，萝卜慢了代剥皮

luóbokuàilebùxǐní, luóbo mànle dài bāopí

When radishes sell fast they go unwashed; when they sell slowly they get peeled for you

萝卜青菜，各有所爱

luóbo qīngcài, gè yǒusuǒ ài

Radish or greens, each has what they love

萝卜青菜酱在一起，青白难辨

luóbo qīngcài jiàng zài yìqǐ, qīngbái nán biàn

Radish and green vegetables pickled in sauce together: hard to tell green from white

萤火虫的屁股，没多大亮儿

yínghuǒchóng de pìgu, méi duō dà liàngr

a firefly's backside: not much light

营利的公司都要交税。

Yínglì de gōngsī dōu yào jiāoshuì.

All for-profit companies have to pay taxes.

落在鹰爪里的小鸡，嘴再硬也活不了

luò zài yīngzhǎo lǐ de xiǎojī, zuǐ zài yìng yě huó bù liǎo

A chick caught in an eagle's claws: however hard its beak, it can't live

落地的山梨，熟透了

luòdì de Shānlí, shútòule

A mountain pear fallen to the ground: fully ripe

落地的知了，哑了

luòdì de zhīliǎo, yǎle

A cicada fallen to the ground: gone silent

葡萄最早是从西域传到中原的吗？

Pútao zuì zǎo shì cóng Xīyù chuán dào Zhōngyuán de ma?

Did grapes first spread to the Central Plains from the Western Regions?

葡萄要先洗一洗再吃。

Pútao yào xiān xǐ yì xǐ zài chī.

We should wash the grapes before we eat them.

葡萄酒帮助消化。

Pútaojiǔ bāngzhù xiāohuà.

Wine helps with digestion.

葡萄酒是用葡萄做成的。

Pútaojiǔ shì yòng pútao zuò chéng de.

Wine is made from grapes.

葡萄酒的味道很受天气影响。

Pútaojiǔ de wèidao hěn shòu tiānqì yǐngxiǎng.

The taste of wine is largely dependent upon the weather.

董事会否决了这个计划。

Dǒngshìhuì fǒujuéle zhège jìhuà.

The board of directors vetoed this plan.

董事会有权行使最后的决定权。

Dǒngshìhuì yǒuquán xíngshǐ zuìhòu de juédìngquán.

The board has the power to exercise the final say.

董事会罢免了总经理。

Dǒngshìhuì bàmiǎnle zǒngjīnglǐ.

The board of directors dismissed the general manager.

董事会聘任他当总经理。

Dǒngshìhuì pìnrèn tā dāng zǒngjīnglǐ.

The board appointed him as general manager.

董事长在会上说明年要开新店。

Dǒngshìzhǎng zài huìshàng shuōmíng nián yào kāi Xīndiàn.

At the meeting, the chairman said new stores would open next year.

董仲舒影响了汉朝的政治。

Dǒng Zhòngshū yǐngxiǎngle hàncháo de zhèngzhì.

Dong Zhongshu influenced the politics of the Han dynasty.

董仲舒提出了天人感应的学说。

Dǒng Zhòngshū tíchūle tiānréngǎnyìng de xuéshuō.

Dong Zhongshu put forward the doctrine of correspondence between Heaven and humanity.

葫芦瓢，里虚

húlu piáo, lǐ xū

a gourd ladle: the inside (reason) is hollow

葬礼是昨天。

Zànglǐ shì zuótiān.

The funeral was yesterday.

蒋干盗书，上了大当

Jiǎng gàn dào shū, shàng le dà dāng

Jiang Gan steals the letter: falls for a big trick

蒙古包拆装起来很方便。

Měnggǔbāo chāizhuāng qǐlai hěn fāngbiàn.

A yurt is very easy to take down and put up.

蒙古国夹在俄罗斯和中国之间。

Měnggǔguó jiā zài Éluósī hé Zhōngguó zhījiān.

Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia and China.

蒙古族人喜欢在草原上骑马。

Měnggǔzú rén xǐhuan zài cǎoyuán shàng qímǎ.

Mongol people like riding horses on the grassland.

蒙在鼓里听打雷，弄不清东南西北

méngzàigǔlǐ tīng dǎléi, nòngbùqīng dōngnánxīběi

wrapped inside a drum, hearing thunder: can't tell north, south, east or west

蒸笼里的包子熟了吗？

Zhēnglóng lǐ de bāozi shúle ma?

Are the buns in the steamer ready?

蒸笼里的饺子还要再蒸十分钟。

Zhēnglóng lǐ de jiǎozi hái yào zài zhēng shí fēnzhōng.

The dumplings in the steamer need ten more minutes.

蒸锅里的水快烧干了！

Zhēngguō lǐ de shuǐ kuài shāo gànle!

The water in the steamer is about to boil dry!

蓝天上点缀着几朵白云。

Lántiān shàng diǎnzhuìzhe jǐ duǒ báiyún.

A few white clouds were scattered across the blue sky.

蓝采和的花篮,要什么有什么

lán cǎi hé de huālán,yào shénme yǒu shénme

Lan Caihe's flower basket: whatever you want, it has

蔡伦改进了造纸的方法。

Cài Lún gǎijìnle zàozhǐ de fāngfǎ.

Cai Lun improved the method of making paper.

蔬菜不能说话。

Shūcài bùnéng shuōhuà.

Vegetables can't talk.

蔬菜会在早上七点配送。

Shūcài huì zài zǎoshang qī diǎn pèisòng.

The vegetables will be delivered at seven in the morning.

蔬菜供给不足，价格就涨了。

Shūcài gōngjǐ bùzú, jiàgé jiù zhǎngle.

The supply of vegetables is short, so prices have gone up.

蔬菜富含矿物质吗？

Shūcài fùhán kuàngwùzhì ma?

Are vegetables rich in minerals?

蔬菜的价格每天在变。

Shūcài de jiàgé měitiān zài biàn.

The price of vegetables varies from day to day.

蔬菜越来越贵了。

Shūcài yuèláiyuè guìle.

Vegetables are getting more expensive.

蕾丝衣服要用手洗吗？

Lěisī yīfu yào yòng shǒu xǐ ma?

Do lace clothes need to be washed by hand?

薛仁贵的行头，白袍

Xuē Rénguì de xíngtou, báipáo

Xue Rengui's outfit: a white robe

薯片吃多了对身体不好。

Shǔpiàn chī duō le duì shēntǐ bù hǎo.

Eating too many potato chips is bad for your health.

薯片放久了就不酥脆了。

Shǔpiàn fàng jiǔle jiù bù sūcuìle.

Potato chips stop being crispy if you leave them out too long.

藏族的节日很热闹。

Zàngzú de jiérì hěn rènao.

The Tibetan festivals are very lively.

藕丝炒韭菜，青青白白

ǒu sī chǎo jiǔcài, qīngqīng báibái

lotus-root threads stir-fried with chives: green (clear) and white

藕发莲生，十指连心

ǒu fā lián shēng, shízhǐliánxīn

the root sprouts and the lotus grows; ten fingers are linked to the heart

藤蔓依附在墙上往上爬。

Téngwàn yīfù zài qiáng shàng wǎng shàngpá.

The vines cling to the wall as they climb up.

藤蔓缠绕着旧围墙。

Téngwàn chánràozhe jiù wéiqiáng.

Vines are twining around the old wall.

蘸水钢笔，没有胆

zhàn shuǐ gāngbǐ, méiyǒu dǎn

a dip pen: has no bladder

虎不离山，龙不离海

hǔ bù lí shān, lóng bù lí hǎi

the tiger doesn't leave the mountain, the dragon doesn't leave the sea

虎嘴上拔毛，危险

hǔ zuǐ shang bámáo, wēixiǎn

plucking hair from a tiger's mouth: dangerous

虎在软地上易失足，人在甜言里会摔跤

hǔ zài ruǎn dìshang yì shīzú, rén zài tiányán lǐ huì shuāijiāo

a tiger slips on soft ground, a person stumbles amid sweet words

虎头上捉虱子，自己找死

hǔtóu shang zhuō shīzi, zìjǐ zhǎosǐ

catching lice on a tiger's head: asking for death

虎心隔毛皮，人心隔肚皮

hǔ xīn gé máopí, rénxīngédùpí

a tiger's heart is behind fur, a person's heart is behind the belly

虎瘦雄心在

hǔshòuxióngxīnzài

the tiger is thin but its bold heart remains

虎落平川，插翅难逃

hǔluòpíngchuān, chāchìnántáo

a tiger fallen onto the plain: even with wings it could not escape

虚心万事能成，自满十事九空

xūxīn wànshì néng chéng, zìmǎn shí shì jiǔ kōng

with humility, everything can succeed; with complacency, nine tasks in ten come to nothing

虚拟现实眼镜贵不贵？

Xūnǐxiànshí yǎnjìng guì bú guì?

Are virtual reality glasses expensive?

虫蛀了的扁担,受不了两头压

chóngzhù le de biǎndan,shòubùliǎo liǎngtóu yā

a worm-eaten carrying pole: can't take pressure at both ends

虫蛀木断,水滴石穿

chóngzhù mù duàn,shuǐdīshíchuān

worms eat through wood until it breaks; dripping water wears through stone

虱多不痒，债多不愁

shīduōbùyǎng, zhàiduōbùchóu

with many lice you don't itch; with many debts you don't worry

虽然他道歉了，但我还是很生气。

Suīrán tā dàoqiànle, dàn wǒ háishi hěn shēngqì.

Even though he apologized, I'm still furious.