Chinese example sentences

裁缝的尺子，量人不量己

cáiféng de chǐzi, liàng rén bú liàngjǐ

A tailor's ruler: measures others, not itself

裁缝说这块布料不够做一件大衣。

Cáifeng shuō zhèkuài bùliào búgòu zuò yí jiàn dàyī.

The tailor said this piece of cloth isn't enough to make a coat.

装修时可以拆承重墙吗？

Zhuāngxiū shí kěyǐ chāi chéngzhòngqiáng ma?

Can you knock down a load-bearing wall during renovation?

装修时，我给师傅打下手。

Zhuāngxiū shí, wǒ gěi shīfu dǎxiàshǒu.

During the renovation, I worked as the workman's assistant.

装修的钱还没有着落。

Zhuāngxiū de qián hái méiyǒu zhuóluò.

We still haven't found a source for the renovation money.

装修还不错。

Zhuāngxiū hái búcuò.

The decorating isn't bad.

裤子破了，你会修补吗？

Kùzi pòle, nǐ huì xiūbǔ ma?

My trousers are torn. Do you know how to mend them?

裤裆里插扁担,自担自

kùdāng li chā biǎndan,zì dān zì

sticking a carrying pole in your crotch: carrying yourself

西兰花需要焯水多久？

Xīlánhuā xūyào chāoshuǐ duōjiǔ?

How long does broccoli need to be blanched?

西北的冬天又干又冷。

Xīběi de dōngtiān yòu gàn yòu lěng.

Winters in Northwest China are dry and cold.

西北风刮蒺藜,连风带刺

Xīběifēng guā jíli,lián fēng dàicì

a northwest wind blowing caltrop burrs: wind together with thorns

西南地区大力发展水电。

Xīnán dìqū dàlì fāzhǎn shuǐdiàn.

The southwest region is vigorously developing hydropower.

西安在内陆，离海很远。

Xī'ān zài nèilù, lí hǎi hěn yuǎn.

Xi'an is inland, far from the sea.

西安的钟楼在市中心。

Xī'ān de zhōnglóu zài shìzhōngxīn.

Xi'an's Bell Tower is in the city center.

西安的鼓楼晚上特别漂亮。

Xī'ān de gǔlóu wǎnshang tèbié piàoliang.

The Drum Tower in Xi'an is especially beautiful at night.

西方很多国家都有这种节日。

Xīfāng hěn duō guójiā dōu yǒu zhèzhǒng jiérì.

Many Western countries have this kind of holiday.

西方文化很看重个人。

Xīfāng wénhuà hěn kànzhòng gèrén.

Individuality is very important in the West.

西游记讲的是取经的故事。

Xīyóujì jiǎng de shì qǔjīng de gùshi.

Journey to the West tells the story of a quest for scriptures.

西湖边搭草棚,杀风景

xī húbiān dā cǎopéng,shāfēngjǐng

building a straw shed by West Lake: it kills the scenery

西班牙语是他们的母语。

Xībānyáyǔ shì tāmen de mǔyǔ.

Spanish is their native language.

西班牙语是他的母语。

Xībānyáyǔ shì tā de mǔyǔ.

Spanish is his mother tongue.

西班牙语是她的母语。

Xībānyáyǔ shì tā de mǔyǔ.

Spanish is her native language.

西班牙语比德语简单多了。

Xībānyáyǔ bǐ Déyǔ jiǎndān duō le.

Spanish is much easier than German.

西瓜一刀下去就裂了。

Xīguā yì dāo xiàqù jiù lièle.

The watermelon split open with a single cut.

西瓜掉进油桶里,又圆又滑

xīguā diào jìn yóutǒng li,yòu yuán yòu huá

a watermelon dropped into an oil drum: both round and slippery

西瓜皮擦屁股,没完没了

xīguā pí cāpìgu,méiwánméiliǎo

wiping your backside with watermelon rind: no end to it

西瓜皮洗脸,干净不了

xīguā pí xǐliǎn,gānjìng bù liǎo

washing your face with watermelon rind: it can't get clean

西红柿拌白糖,去不了酸味儿

xīhóngshì bàn báitáng,qù bù liǎo suān wèir

tomatoes mixed with white sugar: can't get rid of the sour taste

西藏的好水就是世界的好水。

Xīzàng de hǎo shuǐ jiùshì shìjiè de hǎo shuǐ.

Good water for Tibet is good water for the world.

西西里是一座岛。

Xīxīlǐ shì yí zuò dǎo.

Sicily is an island.

西西里的夏天炎热。

Xīxīlǐ de xiàtiān yánrè.

Sicily is hot in summer.

西边出太阳,没有的事

xībiān chū tàiyang,méiyǒu de shì

the sun rises in the west: no such thing

西部的夏天比这里凉快。

Xībù de xiàtiān bǐ zhèlǐ liángkuai.

Summers in the west are cooler than here.

西风吹得紧,东风来回敬

Xīfēng chuī de jǐn,dōngfēng lái huíjìng

when the west wind blows hard, the east wind will answer back

要一直诚实是不容易的。

Yào yìzhí chéngshí shì bù róngyì de.

To be always honest is not easy.

要一起吃午餐吗？

Yào yìqǐ chī wǔcān ma?

Would you like to eat lunch together?

要下雨了，我敢肯定。

Yào xiàyǔle, wǒ gǎn kěndìng.

It's going to rain, for sure.

要不一起到车站去？

Yào bù yìqǐ dào chēzhàn qù?

Do you want to go to the station with me?

要不是你，我就迟到了。

Yàobúshì nǐ, wǒ jiù chídàole.

If it weren't for you, I would have been late.

要不是你提醒，我就忘了。

Yàobúshì nǐ tíxǐng, wǒ jiù wàngle.

If it weren't for your reminder, I would have forgotten.

要不要一起去图书馆自习？

Yào búyào yìqǐ qù túshūguǎn zìxí?

How about studying together in the library?

要不要买个无线鼠标呢？

Yào búyào mǎi gè wúxiàn shǔbiāo ne?

Should I buy a wireless mouse?

要不要再来一块蛋糕？

Yào búyào zài lái yíkuài dàngāo?

How about another piece of cake?

要不要来点牛奶？

Yào búyào lái diǎn niúnǎi?

How about some milk?

要么你去，要么我去。

Yàome nǐ qù, yàome wǒ qù.

Either you go, or I go.

要他捐款，他却一毛不拔。

Yào tā juānkuǎn, tā què yìmáobùbá.

When asked to donate, he wouldn't part with a penny.

要住在郊区的话，汽车是必需的。

Yào zhù zài jiāoqū dehuà, qìchē shì bìxū de.

A car is a must for life in the suburbs.

要做到财务自由，不能只靠工资。

Yào zuòdào cáiwùzìyóu, bùnéng zhǐ kào gōngzī.

To reach financial freedom, you can't rely on a salary alone.

要做好人,须寻好友

yào zuò hǎo rén,xū xún hǎoyǒu

to be a good person, seek good friends

要减肥就得对自己狠一点。

Yào jiǎnféi jiù de duì zìjǐ hěn yìdiǎn.

If you want to lose weight, you have to be tough on yourself.

要努力完成计划。

Yào nǔlì wánchéng jìhuà.

We must work hard to complete the project.

要即时扑灭那火灾并不容易。

Yào jíshí pūmiè nà huǒzāi bìng bù róngyì.

It was not easy to put out the fire at once.

要原谅，但是不要遗忘。

Yào yuánliàng, dànshì búyào yíwàng.

Forgive, but don't forget.

要去博物馆，你就得乘那辆车。

Yào qù bówùguǎn, nǐ jiù děi chéng nà liàng chē.

You have to get on that bus to go to the museum.

要听几个小时吗？

Yào tīng jǐ ge xiǎoshí ma?

For how many hours do I have to listen?

要听老师的话。

Yào tīng lǎoshī de huà.

Obey your teachers.

要咖啡还是茶？

Yào kāfēi háishi chá?

Do you want coffee or tea?

要多少钱才能赎他出来？

Yào duōshǎo qián cái néng shú tā chūlái?

How much money would it take to ransom him?

要多长时间？

Yào duō cháng shíjiān?

How long would it take?

要孩子读书，先以身作则。

Yào háizi dúshū, xiān yǐshēnzuòzé.

If you want your child to read, set an example first.

要完成实验，三个月太短了。

Yào wánchéng shíyàn, sān gè yuè tài duǎnle.

Three months is too short a time to finish the experiment.

要小心那些说自己客观的人。

Yào xiǎoxīn nèixiē shuō zìjǐ kèguān de rén.

Beware of anyone who claims objectivity.

要很长的时间才能恢复吗？

Yào hěn cháng de shíjiān cái néng huīfù ma?

Will it take long to recover?

要怪，就怪他！

Yào guài, jiù guài tā!

It is he who is to blame.

要想有所得,必先有所失

yào xiǎng yǒu suǒde,bìxiān yǒusuǒ shī

to gain something, you must first lose something

要我帮忙吗？

Yào wǒ bāngmáng ma?

Do you want me to help?

要我解释给你听是不可能的。

Yào wǒ jiěshì gěi nǐ tīng shì bù kěnéng de.

It's impossible for me to explain it to you.

要掌握法语一点都不容易。

Yào zhǎngwò Fǎyǔ yìdiǎn dōu bù róngyì.

It's not easy to master French at all.

要改变历史是很难的。

Yào gǎibiàn lìshǐ shì hěn nán de.

Changing history is difficult.

要是不及格，就得再考。

Yàoshi bùjígé, jiù děi zài kǎo.

If you fail, you have to take it again.

要是不知道路的话去问警察吧。

Yàoshi bùzhī dàolù dehuà qù wèn jǐngchá ba.

If you don't know the way, ask a policeman.

要是他不同意，他就会说。

Yàoshi tā bù tóngyì, tā jiù huì shuō.

If he doesn't agree, he'll say.

要是他们没有发现，就没问题了。

Yàoshi tāmen méiyǒu fāxiàn, jiù méi wèntí le.

If they hadn't noticed, there wouldn't have been any problems.

要是他有参加这场会议就好了。

Yàoshi tā yǒu cānjiā zhè chǎng huìyì jiù hǎole.

I wish he had attended the meeting.

要是你不喜欢，就不吃。

Yàoshi nǐ bù xǐhuan, jiù bùchī.

If you don't like it, then don't eat it.

要是你不喜欢，就别吃。

Yàoshi nǐ bù xǐhuan, jiù bié chī.

If you don't like it, then don't eat it.

要是你不还给他，他就会生气！

Yàoshi nǐ bù huán gěi tā, tā jiù huì shēngqì!

If you don't give it back to him, he'll be angry!

要是你告诉过我就好了。

Yàoshi nǐ gàosuguo wǒ jiù hǎole.

I wish you had told me that.

要是你和我们一起来就好了。

Yàoshi nǐ hé wǒmen yì qǐlai jiù hǎole.

I wish you had come with us.

要是你有空的话，给我打电话。

Yàoshi nǐ yǒukòng dehuà, gěi wǒ dǎdiànhuà.

If you're free, give me a call.

要是你能在那里就好了。

Yàoshi nǐ néng zài nàli jiù hǎole.

I wish you could have been there.

要是卖完了，就算了。

Yàoshi màiwánle, jiùsuànle.

If it's sold out, then just forget it.

要是去北京的话，一定要去爬长城。

Yàoshi qù Běijīng dehuà, yídìng yào qù pá Chángchéng.

If you go to Beijing, definitely go and climb the Great Wall.

要是天气不好就算了吧。

Yàoshi tiānqì bù hǎo jiùsuànle ba.

If the weather's not good then let's just forget it.

要是对你们方便的话，我们六点见。

Yàoshi duì nǐmen fāngbiàn dehuà, wǒmen liù diǎn jiàn.

If it suits you, let's meet at six.

要是当时有好好读说明书就好了。

Yàoshi dāngshí yǒu hǎohǎo dú shuōmíngshū jiù hǎole.

If only I read the user manual properly.

要是我们早十分钟到的话，我们就能赶上飞机了。

Yàoshi wǒmen zǎo shí fēnzhōng dào dehuà, wǒmen jiù néng gǎnshàng fēijī le.

If we'd arrived ten minutes earlier, we would've made it onto the plane.

要是我们赢了这场比赛就好了。

Yàoshi wǒmen yíngle zhè chǎng bǐsài jiù hǎole.

I wish we had won the game.

要是我会说西班牙语就好了。

Yàoshi wǒ huì shuō Xībānyáyǔ jiù hǎole.

I wish I could have spoken Spanish.

要是我很忙，我可能就会迟到。

Yàoshi wǒ hěn máng, wǒ kěnéng jiù huì chídào.

If I am busy then I may arrive late.

要是我很忙的话，我可能就会迟到的。

Yàoshi wǒ hěn máng dehuà, wǒ kěnéng jiù huì chídào de.

If I am busy then I may arrive late.

要是我很有钱的话，我就会到处去旅游。

Yàoshi wǒ hěn yǒuqián dehuà, wǒ jiù huì dàochù qù lǚyóu.

If I were rich, I would go travelling all over the place.

要是我是你，我就会去。

Yàoshi wǒ shì nǐ, wǒ jiù huì qù.

If I were you, I would go.

要是我知道就好了。

Yàoshi wǒ zhīdào jiù hǎole.

I wish I knew.

要是我说“不”呢？

Yàoshi wǒ shuō“bù”ne?

And what if I say "no"?

要是有东西坏了呢？

Yàoshi yǒu dōngxi huàile ne?

What if something gets broken?

要是有人看见我们，怎么办？

Yàoshi yǒurén kànjiàn wǒmen, zěnmebàn?

What if someone sees us?

要是能去日本就好了。

Yàoshi néng qù Rìběn jiù hǎole.

I wish I could go to Japan.

要是脸书上没有你，你就不存在！

Yàoshi Liǎnshū shàng méiyǒu nǐ, nǐ jiù bù cúnzài!

If you're not on Facebook, you don't exist!

要是那样的话，跟我说一声。

Yàoshi nàyàng dehuà, gēn wǒ shuō yìshēng.

If that happens, let me know.