Chinese example sentences

高额罚款让司机吓了一跳。

Gāo'é fákuǎn ràng sījī xiàle yí tiào.

The hefty fine gave the driver a shock.

高龄老人坐公交车可以免费吗？

Gāolíng lǎorén zuò gōngjiāochē kěyǐ miǎnfèi ma?

Can elderly people ride the bus for free?

鬼火不敢见真火

guǐhuǒ bùgǎn jiàn zhēn huǒ

ghost fire dares not meet real fire

魅力冲击视觉，美德征服心灵。

Mèilì chōngjī shìjué, Měidé zhēngfú xīnlíng.

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

魔法药水能让人隐形吗？

Mófǎ yàoshuǐ néng ràng rén yǐnxíng ma?

Can a magic potion make a person invisible?

魔高一尺，道高一丈

mógāoyìchǐ, dàogāoyízhàng

if the demon rises a foot, the Way rises ten feet

魔鬼逼我这么做的。

Móguǐ bī wǒ zhème zuò de.

The Devil made me do it.

鱼不可离了水，虎不可离了冈

yú bùkě líle shuǐ, hǔ bùkě líle gāng

a fish must not leave the water, a tiger must not leave its ridge

鱼不吃诱饵，我们回家吧。

Yú bùchī yòu'ěr, wǒmen huíjiā ba.

The fish won't take the bait, so let's go home.

鱼刺卡在咽喉里，很难受。

Yúcì kǎ zài yānhóu lǐ, hěn nánshòu.

A fish bone is stuck in my throat, and it feels awful.

鱼吃完了，只剩下骨架。

Yú chī wánle, zhǐ shèngxià gǔjià.

The fish has been eaten, and only the skeleton is left.

鱼咬住了钩，我赶紧收线。

Yú yǎo zhùle gōu, wǒ gǎnjǐn shōuxiàn.

The fish bit the hook, so I quickly reeled in the line.

鱼在这里是以磅为单位来出售。

Yú zài zhèlǐ shì yǐ páng wèi dānwèi lái chūshòu.

Fish is sold by the pound here.

鱼怕水浅，人怕护短

yú pàshuǐ qiǎn, rén pà hùduǎn

fish fear shallow water, people fear defending their faults

鱼每年春天回河里繁衍。

Yú měinián chūntiān huí hé lǐ fányǎn.

Every spring the fish return to the river to reproduce.

鱼离开水就无法生存。

Yú líkāi shuǐ jiù wúfǎ shēngcún.

Fish cannot live out of water.

鱼篮子打水，处处是漏洞

yú lánzi dǎ shuǐ, chùchù shì lòudòng

drawing water with a fish basket: full of holes everywhere

鱼线和树枝纠缠在一起了。

Yúxiàn hé shùzhī jiūchán zài yìqǐ le.

The fishing line is tangled up with the branches.

鱼见饵不见钩

yú jiàn ěr bújiàn gōu

the fish sees the bait but not the hook

鲁班招女婿，有眼不识泰山

Lǔ Bān zhāonǚxù, yǒuyǎnbùshítàishān

Lu Ban seeks a son-in-law: has eyes but didn't recognise Tai

鲁班虽巧，量力而行

Lǔ Bān suī qiǎo, liànglì'érxíng

though Lu Ban is skilled, he acts within his strength

鲁班门前抡斧子，不知天高地厚

Lǔ Bān ménqián lún fǔzi, bùzhītiāngāodìhòu

swinging an axe at Lu Ban's door: not knowing how high the sky or thick the earth

鲁肃上了孔明的船，错了

Lǔ Sù shàng le Kǒngmíng de chuán, cuòle

Lu Su boards Kongming's boat: a mistake

鲁肃服孔明，五体投地

Lǔ Sù fú Kǒngmíng, wǔtǐtóudì

Lu Su admires Kongming: prostrate with all five limbs on the ground

鲁迅的小说让我看到了那个时代。

Lǔ Xùn de xiǎoshuō ràng wǒ kàndàole nàge shídài.

Lu Xun's fiction let me see what that era was like.

鲤鱼找鲤鱼，鲫鱼找鲫鱼

lǐyú zhǎo lǐyú, jìyú zhǎo jìyú

carp look for carp, crucian carp look for crucian carp

鲨鱼没有传说中那么凶残。

Shāyú méiyǒu chuánshuō zhōng nàme xiōngcán.

Sharks aren't as savage as the legends say.

鲨鱼的牙齿又多又尖。

Shāyú de yáchǐ yòu duō yòu jiān.

A shark's teeth are numerous and sharp.

鲸是海里的哺乳动物。

Jīng shì hǎilǐ de bǔrǔdòngwù.

Whales are mammals that live in the sea.

鳄鱼上岸，来者不善

èyú shàng'àn, láizhěbúshàn

a crocodile coming ashore: the one who comes means no good

鳄鱼流眼泪，可怜不得

èyú liú yǎnlèi, kělián bùdé

a crocodile shedding tears: can't be pitied

鸟无头不飞

niǎo wú tóu bù fēi

birds do not fly without a head

鸟春天会往北飞。

Niǎo chūntiān huì wǎng běi fēi.

Birds fly north in the spring.

鸟类可能靠地磁找到方向。

Niǎolèi kěnéng kào dìcí zhǎodào fāngxiàng.

Birds may find their direction by using geomagnetism.

鸟类是从恐龙演化而来的。

Niǎolèi shì cóng kǒnglóng yǎnhuà ér lái de.

Birds evolved from dinosaurs.

鸟都往南方飞去了。

Niǎo dōu wǎng nánfāng fēi qùle.

The birds have all flown south.

鸡一嘴，鸭一嘴

jī yì zuǐ, yā yì zuǐ

the chicken pecks once, the duck pecks once

鸡叫头遍上路，越走越明

jījiào tóu biàn shànglù, yuè zǒu yuè míng

setting out at the first cockcrow: the further you go, the brighter

鸡吃棉花，鹐絮

jī chī miánhua, qiān xù

a chicken pecking cotton: pecks the wadding (modest, not conceited)

鸡吃砻糠鸭吃谷，各人自有各人福

jī chī lóngkāng yā chī gǔ, gèrén zìyǒu gèrén Fú

chickens eat rice husks, ducks eat grain: each has their own blessing

鸡吃萤火虫，肚子里明

jī chī yínghuǒchóng, dǔzi lǐ míng

a chicken eats a firefly: it's bright inside its belly

鸡和鹅都是常见的家禽。

Jī hé é dōu shì chángjiàn de jiāqín.

Chickens and geese are both common domestic fowl.

鸡多不下蛋，人多吃闲饭

jī duō bú xiàdàn, rén duō chīxiánfàn

too many hens, no eggs; too many people, idle eaters

鸡子儿下山，滚蛋

jīzǐr xiàshān, gǔndàn

an egg going down the mountain: rolls away

鸡孵鸭子，白费劲

jī fū yāzi, bái fèijìn

a hen hatching ducklings: wasted effort

鸡市鸭市，鸽子另一市

jī shì yā shì, gēzi lìng yí shì

chicken market, duck market, pigeons have another market (each has their own business)

鸡抱鸭，枉费心

jī bào yā, wǎngfèi xīn

a hen hatching a duck egg: wasted effort

鸡毛做毽子，闹着玩儿

jīmáo zuò jiànzi, nàozhewánr

making a shuttlecock from chicken feathers: just playing around

鸡毛堵耳朵，装聋子

jīmáo dǔ ěrduo, zhuāng lóngzi

stopping ears with chicken feathers: pretending to be deaf

鸡毛敲铜钟，白费劲

jīmáo qiāo tóng zhōng, bái fèijìn

striking a bronze bell with a chicken feather: wasted effort

鸡毛炒韭菜，乱七八糟

jīmáo chǎo jiǔcài, luànqī-bāzāo

stir-frying chicken feathers with chives: a complete mess

鸡毛飞上天

jīmáo fēi shàngtiān

chicken feathers fly up to the sky

鸡汤是很常见的食补。

Jītāng shì hěn chángjiàn de shíbǔ.

Chicken soup is a very common tonic food.

鸡窝里也能飞出金凤凰

jīwō li yě néng fēi chū Jīnfènghuáng

even a chicken coop can send out a golden phoenix

鸡窝里打拳，小架势

jīwō li dǎquán, xiǎo jiàshi

boxing in a chicken coop: small moves

鸡窝里藏不住凤凰

jīwō lǐ cáng búzhù fènghuáng

a phoenix can't be hidden in a chicken coop

鸡给黄鼠狼拜年，巴结到家反被害

jī gěi huángshǔláng bàinián, bājie dào jiā fǎn bèihài

a chicken pays New Year's respects to the weasel: flattery ends in harm

鸡肉要先腌二十分钟，才会入味。

Jīròu yào xiān yān èrshí fēnzhōng, cái huì rùwèi.

The chicken needs to marinate for twenty minutes first to take on flavor.

鸡肚不知鸭肚事

jī dù bùzhī yā dù shì

the chicken's belly doesn't know the duck's belly's business

鸡肠子放风筝，迟早要绷断

jī chángzi fàng fēngzheng, chízǎo yào bēng duàn

flying a kite with chicken intestine: sooner or later it snaps

鸡蛋二十一天后孵化。

Jīdàn èrshí yī tiān hòu fūhuà.

The eggs hatch after twenty-one days.

鸡蛋壳儿上找缝儿，白费这番好心

jīdànkér shàng zhǎo fèngr, báifèi zhè fān hǎoxīn

looking for a crack on an eggshell: good intentions wasted

鸡蛋壳儿里发面，没有发头儿

jīdànkér lǐ fāmiàn, méiyǒu fā tóur

leavening dough inside an eggshell: no room to rise

鸡蛋换盐，不见钱

jīdàn huàn yán, bújiàn qián

swapping eggs for salt: no money seen

鸡蛋掉在油锅里，滑透了

jīdàn diào zài yóuguō lǐ, huá tòule

an egg dropped in a wok of oil: completely slippery (cunning)

鸡蛋是论打买的。

Jīdàn shì lùn dǎ mǎi de.

We buy eggs by the dozen.

鸡蛋碰不过石头

jīdàn pèng búguò shítou

an egg can't beat a stone

鸡蛋碰石头，太不自量

jīdànpèngshítou, tài búzìliàng

an egg hitting a stone: overrating oneself

鸡蛋碰石头，自找倒霉

jīdànpèngshítou, zìzhǎo dǎoméi

an egg hitting a stone: asking for trouble

鸡蛋至少要煮5分钟。

Jīdàn zhìshǎo yào zhǔ wǔ fēnzhōng.

Eggs should be boiled for at least five minutes.

鸡蛋里挑骨头，故意找碴儿

jīdànlitiāogǔtou, gùyì zhǎochár

picking bones out of an egg: deliberately looking for faults

鸡蛋里有很多蛋白质。

Jīdàn lǐ yǒu hěn duō dànbáizhì.

Eggs contain a lot of protein.

鸡飞蛋打，一场空

jīfēidàndǎ, yìchǎngkōng

the hen flies off and the eggs are smashed: all for nothing

鸡骨头熬汤，没有多大油水

jī gǔtou áotāng, méiyǒu duō dà yóushuǐ

boiling chicken bones for soup: not much grease

鸦片战争是哪一年开始的？

Yāpiànzhànzhēng shì nǎ yì nián kāishǐ de?

In what year did the Opium War begin?

鸭子下河,呱呱叫

yāzi xià hé,guāguājiào

a duck going into the river: quacking

鸭子是怎么叫的？

Yāzi shì zěnme jiào de?

How do ducks call?

鸭子洑水,浪在下面

yāzi fúshuǐ,làng zài xiàmiàn

a duck paddling: the waves are underneath

鸭子过河,不沾水

yāzi guòhé,bù zhān shuǐ

a duck crossing a river: doesn't get wet

鸭子过河,咯咕咯

yāzi guòhé,gē gū gē

ducks crossing a river: quack-quack-quack

鸽子戴风铃，虚张声势

gēzi dài fēnglíng, xūzhāngshēngshì

a pigeon wearing wind bells: empty show of noise

鹅卵石垫床腿，不稳

éluǎnshí diàn chuángtuǐ, bù wěn

propping up bed legs with pebbles: not steady

鹅卵石砌墙角，不稳当

éluǎnshí qì qiángjiǎo, bù wěndang

building a wall corner with pebbles: not stable

鹅吃草，鸭吃谷，各人自享各人福

é chī cǎo, yā chī gǔ, gèrén zì xiǎng gèrén Fú

the goose eats grass, the duck eats grain, each enjoys his own blessing

鹰嘴鸭爪子，能吃不能拿

yīngzuǐ yā zhuǎzi, néng chī bùnéng ná

eagle's beak and duck's feet: can eat but cannot grab

鹰的一只翅膀断了。

Yīng de yìzhī chìbǎng duànle.

One of the hawk's wings is broken.

麦克风没有声音，怎么办？

Màikèfēng méiyǒu shēngyīn, zěnmebàn?

The microphone has no sound, what should we do?

麦子不割砍高粱，专找硬茬儿

màizi bù gē kǎn gāoliáng, zhuān zhǎo yìng chá ér

leaving the wheat uncut to chop sorghum: looking only for hard stubble

麦盖三层被，头枕馒头睡

Mài gài sān céng bèi, tóuzhěn mántou shuì

wheat covered by three layers of quilt sleeps with its head on steamed buns

麦秆儿吹火，小气

màigǎnr chuīhuǒ, xiǎoqì

blowing on a fire through a wheat straw: small air

麻婆豆腐配白米饭最好吃。

Mápódòufǔ pèi báimǐfàn zuì hǎochī.

Mapo tofu is best with plain white rice.

麻将的声音吵得我睡不着。

Májiàng de shēngyīn chǎo de wǒ shuì bù zháo.

The noise of the mahjong tiles kept me from sleeping.

麻烦你帮我看看这个。

Máfan nǐ bāng wǒ kànkan zhège.

Could you take a look at this for me, please?

麻烦你开一下窗。

Máfan nǐ kāi yíxià chuāng.

Please open the window.

麻烦你开个门。

Máfan nǐ kāi gè mén.

Could you open the door for me?

麻烦你把镜头擦干净，好吗？

Máfan nǐ bǎ jìngtóu cā gānjìng, hǎo ma?

Could you please wipe the lens clean?

麻烦你把音量调低一点。

Máfan nǐ bǎ yīnliàng tiáo dī yìdiǎn.

Turn down the volume, please.

麻烦你替我问候。

Máfan nǐ tì wǒ wènhòu.

Please pass on my regards.

麻烦你转告他，明天不用来了。

Máfan nǐ zhuǎngào tā, míngtiān bú yòngláile.

Could you tell him for me that he doesn't need to come tomorrow?

麻烦借过，我要下车。

Máfan jièguò, wǒ yào xiàchē.

Excuse me, please, I need to get off.