Chinese example sentences

虽然天气很冷，但我还是出去了。

Suīrán tiānqì hěn lěng, dàn wǒ háishi chūqùle.

Though it was very cold, I went out.

虽然她有缺点，但我喜欢她。

Suīrán tā yǒu quēdiǎn, dàn wǒ xǐhuan tā.

Although she has flaws, I still like her.

虽然我很同情他，但却帮不上忙。

Suīrán wǒ hěn tóngqíng tā, dàn què bāng bú shàng máng.

Much as I pitied him, I could not help him.

虽然我没在火车上睡觉。

Suīrán wǒ méi zài huǒchē shàng shuìjiào.

Although I haven't slept on the train.

虽然房子简陋，但是住着很舒服。

Suīrán fángzi jiǎnlòu, dànshì zhùzhe hěn shūfu.

Although the house is simple and crude, it's comfortable to live in.

虽然时间好早，天气已经热了。

Suīrán shíjiān hǎo zǎo, tiānqì yǐjīng rè le.

Although it was still early, it was already hot outside.

虽然时髦一点，但是价钱太大！

Suīrán shímáo yìdiǎn, dànshì jiàqian tài dà!

It's kind of in vogue, but the price is too much!

虽然有阳光照射，但还是很冷。

Suīrán yǒu yángguāng zhàoshè, dàn háishi hěn lěng.

The sun was shining, yet it was cold.

虽说很累，我还是去跑步了。

Suīshuō hěn lèi, wǒ háishi qù pǎobù le.

Though I was tired, I still went for a run.

虽说有点贵，但是质量真不错。

Suīshuō yǒudiǎn guì, dànshì zhìliàng zhēn búcuò.

Though it's a bit expensive, the quality is really good.

蚂蚁出现了。

Mǎyǐ chūxiànle.

Ants appeared.

蚂蚁吃高粱，顺秆儿爬

mǎyǐ chī gāoliáng, shùn gǎnr pá

an ant eating sorghum climbs along the stalk

蚂蚁尿到书本上，湿不了几个字

mǎyǐ niào dào shūběn shàng, shī bù liǎo jǐ ge zì

an ant pees on a book: it can't wet many characters

蚂蚁戴眼镜，自己觉着脸面不小

mǎyǐ dài yǎnjìng, zìjǐ juézhe liǎnmiàn bù xiǎo

an ant wearing glasses thinks its face is not small

蚂蚁挡路，垫不翻车

mǎyǐ dǎnglù, diàn bù fānchē

ants blocking the road can't tip over a cart

蚂蚁爬上了牛角尖，自以为上了高山

mǎyǐ pá shàng le niújiǎojiān, zì yǐwéi shàng le gāoshān

an ant climbs to the tip of an ox horn and thinks it has climbed a high mountain

蚂蚁过河，抱团儿

mǎyǐ guòhé, bàotuánr

ants crossing a river: hug into a ball

蚂蚁进磨盘，条条是道

mǎyǐ jìn mòpán, tiáotiáo shì dào

an ant on a millstone: every groove is a path

蚂蚱吞老虎，贪心不足

màzha tūn lǎohǔ, tānxīnbùzú

a grasshopper swallowing a tiger: greed that is never satisfied

蚂蚱尥蹶子，小踢蹬

màzha liàojuězi, xiǎo tīdēng

a grasshopper kicks up its hind legs: a little kicking

蚂蚱戴眼镜，没有那么大的脸

màzha dài yǎnjìng, méiyǒu nàme dà de liǎn

a grasshopper wearing glasses: it hasn't got such a big face

蚂蚱打喷嚏，满嘴的庄稼气

màzha dǎpēntì, mǎnzuǐ de zhuāngjia qì

a grasshopper sneezes: its mouth is full of the smell of crops

蚂蚱拽了一条腿，照样蹦跳

màzha zhuàile yìtiáotuǐ, zhàoyàng bèngtiào

a grasshopper with one leg pulled off still hops as before

蚂蟥缠住了鹭鸶的脚，想甩也甩不掉

mǎhuáng chán zhùle lùsī de jiǎo, xiǎng shuǎi yě shuǎi bú diào

a leech clings to the egret's leg: it wants to shake it off but cannot

蚊子会散布各种疾病。

Wénzi huì sànbù gèzhǒng jíbìng.

Mosquitoes spread all kinds of diseases.

蚊子放屁，小气

wénzi fàngpì, xiǎoqì

a mosquito farts: small air (stingy)

蚊子是一种会传播疾病的害虫。

Wénzi shì yìzhǒng huì chuánbō jíbìng de hàichóng.

Mosquitoes are injurious insects that spread disease.

蚊子是传播这种病的媒介。

Wénzi shì chuánbō zhèzhǒng bìng de méijiè.

Mosquitoes are the vector that spreads this disease.

蚊虫遭扇打，只为嘴伤人

wénchóng zāo shàn dǎ, zhǐ wèi zuǐ shāngrén

the mosquito gets swatted by the fan only because its mouth hurts people

蚍蜉撼大树，可笑不自量

pífúhàndàshù, kěxiào búzìliàng

an ant trying to shake a big tree: laughable, it doesn't know its limits

蚕豆开花，黑了心

cándòu kāihuā, hēile xīn

Broad beans in flower: the heart has turned black

蛇咬一口，入骨三分

shé yǎo yìkǒu, rùgǔ sānfēn

a snake's bite goes three tenths of an inch into the bone

蛇头上的苍蝇，自来的衣食

shétóu shàng de cāngying, zìlái de yīshí

a fly on a snake's head: food and clothing that came by itself

蛇年开始了。

Shé nián kāishǐle.

The year of the snake has begun.

蛇把我咬了。

Shé bǎ wǒ yǎole.

The snake bit me.

蛇无头不行

shé wú tóu bùxíng

a snake without a head can't go

蛇走无声，奸计无影

shé zǒu wúshēng, jiānjì wú yǐng

a snake moves without sound, a wicked plot leaves no trace

蛇钻到竹筒里，只能走这条道儿

shé zuān dào zhútǒng lǐ, zhǐnéng zǒu zhè tiáo dàor

a snake crawling into a bamboo tube: it can only go this way

蛇钻空竹竿，曲心还在

shé zuānkòng zhúgān, qūxīnháizài

a snake in a hollow bamboo pole: its crooked heart is still there

蛇钻窟窿蛇知道

shé zuān kūlong shé zhīdào

the snake knows the hole it crawls into

蛇钻窟窿，顾前难顾后

shé zuān kūlong, gù qián nán gù hòu

a snake going into a hole: hard to look after the back while minding the front

蛋是圆的不是方的。

Dàn shì yuán de bú shì fāng de.

Eggs are round, not square.

蛋是按打卖的。

Dàn shì àn dǎ mài de.

Eggs are sold by the dozen.

蛋的价格正在上涨。

Dàn de jiàgé zhèngzài shàngzhǎng.

The price of eggs is going up.

蛋糕别吃多了啊。

Dàngāo bié chī duō le a.

Do not eat too much cake.

蛋糕太小，每个人的份额都不多。

Dàngāo tài xiǎo, měige rén de fèn'é dōu bù duō.

The cake is small, so nobody's portion is large.

蛋糕太焦了，我不想吃。

Dàngāo tài jiāole, wǒ bùxiǎng chī.

The cake is too burnt, so I don't want it.

蛋糕已经放进烤箱了。

Dàngāo yǐjīng fàngjìn kǎoxiāng le.

The cake is already in the oven.

蛋糕很美味。

Dàngāo hěn měiwèi.

The cake is delicious.

蛋糕旁边放着一盘寿桃。

Dàngāo pángbiān fàngzhe yì pán shòutáo.

A plate of longevity peaches sits next to the cake.

蛋糕是个谎言。

Dàngāo shì gè huǎngyán.

The cake is a lie.

蛋糕看起来很诱人。

Dàngāo kànqǐlai hěn yòurén.

The cake looks very tempting.

蛋糕看起来真诱人！

Dàngāo kànqǐlai zhēn yòurén!

The cake looks so tempting!

蛋里的胚胎慢慢长大了。

Dàn lǐ de pēitāi mànmàn zhǎngdà le.

The embryo inside the egg slowly grew.

蛤蟆上脚面，往背上爬

háma shàng jiǎomiàn, wǎng bèi shàngpá

a toad on the top of the foot: climbing up the back (generation)

蛤蟆剥皮，心不死

háma bāopí, xīn bù sǐ

a skinned toad: its heart doesn't die

蛤蟆坐在井底，只看见碗大的天

háma zuò zài jǐngdǐ, zhǐ kànjiàn wǎn dà de tiān

a toad sitting at the bottom of a well: it only sees a sky the size of a bowl

蛤蟆垫桌子腿，死挨

háma diàn zhuōzi tuǐ, sǐ ái

a toad propping up a table leg: endures to the death

蛤蟆打呵欠，口开得太大

háma dǎhēqiàn, kǒu kāi de tài dà

a toad yawning: the mouth opens too wide

蛤蟆打呵欠，好大的口气

háma dǎhēqiàn, hǎo dà de kǒuqì

a toad yawning: what a big mouth

蛤蟆死了还要跳三跳

háma sǐle hái yào tiào sān tiào

even when a toad is dead it still jumps three times

蛤蟆登天，痴心妄想

háma dēngtiān, chīxīnwàngxiǎng

a toad climbing to heaven: foolish wishful thinking

蛤蟆、蝎子、屎壳郎，各人觉得各人强

háma, xiēzi, shǐkelàng, gèrén juéde gèrén qiáng

toad, scorpion and dung beetle: each thinks himself the best

蛤蟆、蟋蟀，都是一锹土上人

háma, xīshuài, dōu shì yì qiāo tǔ shang rén

toad and cricket: both come from the same spade of earth

蛤蟆跳井，扑通

háma tiàojǐng, pūtōng

a toad jumps into a well: plop (not through)

蛤蟆跳到秤盘里，不知自己有几两肉

háma tiào dào chèngpán li, bùzhī zìjǐ yǒu jǐ liǎng ròu

a toad jumping onto a scale pan: doesn't know how many ounces of flesh it has

蛤蟆鼓肚子，干生气

háma gǔ dǔzi, gān shēngqì

a toad puffing out its belly: angry for nothing

蜀中无大将，廖化作先锋

shǔzhōngwúdàjiàng, Liàohuàzuòxiānfēng

with no great general in Shu, Liao Hua serves as vanguard

蜂蜜尝起来很甜蜜。

Fēngmì cháng qǐlai hěn tiánmì.

Honey tastes very sweet.

蜜多不甜，油多不香

mì duō bù tián, yóu duō bù xiāng

too much honey isn't sweet, too much oil isn't fragrant

蜜月结束了，我们都得上班。

Mìyuè jiéshùle, wǒmen dōu děi shàngbān.

The honeymoon is over, and we both have to go back to work.

蜜糖抹在鼻尖儿上，嘴馋舔不到

mìtáng mǒ zài bí jiānr shàng, zuǐchán tiǎn búdào

honey smeared on the tip of the nose: greedy mouth can't lick it

蜜罐里熬不出硬骨头

mìguàn li áo bù chū yìnggǔtou

a honey jar can't brew a hard bone

蜜蜂会帮这些花授粉。

Mìfēng huì bāng zhèxiē huā shòufěn.

Bees will pollinate these flowers.

蜜蜂在冬天干什么呢？

Mìfēng zài dōngtiān gànshénme ne?

What do bees do in winter?

蜡烛的火焰被风吹得直晃。

Làzhú de huǒyàn bèi fēng chuī de zhí huàng.

The candle flame flickered in the wind.

蜡烛自己灭了。

Làzhú zìjǐ mièle.

The candle went out by itself.

蜡烛自然熄灭。

Làzhú zìrán xīmiè.

The candle went out by itself.

蜻蜓咬尾巴,自己吃自己

qīngtíng yǎo wěiba,zìjǐ chī zìjǐ

a dragonfly biting its tail: eating itself

蜻蜓撞着蜘蛛网,有翅难飞

qīngtíng zhuàngzhe zhīzhūwǎng,yǒuchìnánfēi

a dragonfly hits a spider's web: has wings but can hardly fly

蝎子拉屎，毒粪

xiēzi lāshǐ, dú fèn

a scorpion defecates: poison (unique) dung (portion)

蝎子放屁，毒气大

xiēzi fàngpì, dúqì dà

a scorpion farts: the poisonous gas is strong

蝎子的尾巴，毒

xiēzi de wěiba, dú

a scorpion's tail: poisonous

蝗灾是怎么发生的？

Huángzāi shì zěnme fāshēng de?

How does a locust plague happen?

蝴蝶在花丛中来回穿梭。

Húdié zài huācóng zhōng láihuí chuānsuō.

Butterflies flit back and forth among the flowers.

蝴蝶的寿命短。

Húdié de shòumìng duǎn.

The life span of a butterfly is short.

蝴蝶的翅膀左右对称。

Húdié de chìbǎng zuǒyòu duìchèn.

A butterfly's wings are symmetrical left and right.

蝴蝶都很美丽。

Húdié dōu hěn měilì.

Butterflies are beautiful.

蝴蝶飞走了。

Húdié fēi zǒule.

The butterfly flew away.

蝼蚁尚且贪生

lóuyǐshàngqiětānshēng

even mole crickets and ants cling to life

螃蟹不忘横着爬

pángxiè bú wàng héngzhe pá

a crab never forgets to crawl sideways

螃蟹爬进鱼篓子，进得来，出不去

pángxiè pá jìn yú lǒuzi, jìn delái, chū bú qù

a crab crawling into a fish basket: it can get in but can't get out

螃蟹脚，弯弯儿多

pángxiè jiǎo, wānwān ér duō

crab legs: many bends

螃蟹走路为什么是横着的？

Pángxiè zǒulù wèishénme shì héngzhe de?

Why do crabs walk sideways?

螃蟹过河，七手八脚

pángxiè guòhé, qīshǒubājiǎo

a crab crossing a river: seven hands and eight feet

融资失败后，公司只好裁员。

Róngzī shībài hòu, gōngsī zhǐhǎo cáiyuán.

After the financing fell through, the company had to lay off staff.

螳臂当车，可笑不自量

tángbìdāngchē, kěxiào búzìliàng

A mantis raising its arms to stop a cart: laughably overestimating itself

螳臂当车，太不自量

tángbìdāngchē, tài búzìliàng

A mantis raising its arms to stop a cart: far too overrating itself

螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后

tánglángbǔchán, Huángquèzàihòu

the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware the oriole is behind it

螳螂掉到油锅里，浑身上下都酥了

tángláng diào dào yóuguō li, húnshēnshàngxià dōu sūle

A mantis falls into a pan of hot oil: it's crisp all over