Chinese example sentences

三钱银子买个老驴,自夸骑得

sān qián yínzi mǎi ge lǎolǘ,zìkuā qí de

buy an old donkey for three qian of silver and boast that it's good to ride

三长补一短,三勤带一懒

sān cháng bǔ yì duǎn,sānqín dài yì lǎn

three strengths make up for one weakness, three diligent people carry one lazy one

三间屋子两头住,谁也瞒不了谁

sān jiān wūzi liǎngtóu zhù,shéi yě mán bù liǎo shéi

three rooms with people living at the two ends: neither can hide anything from the other

三餐莫过饱,无病活到老

sāncān mò guò bǎo,wú bìng huó dào lǎo

don't overeat at the three meals and you'll live to old age without illness

上不着天，下不着地

shàngbùzháotiān, xiàbuzháodì

above it doesn't reach the sky, below it doesn't touch the ground

上不着天，下不落地

shàngbùzháotiān, xià bú luòdì

above it doesn't touch the sky, below it doesn't land on the ground

上不紧，下不忙

shàng bù jǐn, xià bù máng

if above is not tight, below is not busy

上个星期天天下雪。

Shànggexīngqī tiāntiān xiàxuě.

It snowed every day last week.

上个星期天天气怎么样？

Shàng ge xīngqītiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?

What was the weather like last Sunday?

上个星期天我去了公园。

Shàng ge xīngqītiān wǒ qùle gōngyuán.

I went to the park last Sunday.

上个星期我感冒了。

Shànggexīngqī wǒ gǎnmàole.

I had a cold last week.

上了套的猴子，由不得它

shàng le tào de hóuzi, yóubùde tā

a monkey that has been put in a harness: it's not up to it (him)

上了膛的子弹，一触即发

shàng le táng de zǐdàn, yíchùjífā

a bullet already loaded in the chamber: it fires at a touch

上人不好，下人不要

shàng rén bù hǎo, xià rén búyào

what those above don't like, those below don't want to do

上什么山唱什么歌

shàng shénme shān chàng shénme gē

whichever mountain you climb, sing that mountain's song

上刀山，下油锅

shàngdāoshān, xià yóuguō

climb a mountain of knives, go down into a pot of boiling oil

上半场我们一直在防守。

Shàngbànchǎng wǒmen yìzhí zài fángshǒu.

We were defending the whole first half.

上半夜想想人家，下半夜想想自己

shàngbànyè xiǎngxiǎng rénjiā, xiàbànyè xiǎngxiǎng zìjǐ

in the first half of the night think about others, in the second half think about yourself

上善若水是什么意思？

Shàngshànruòshuǐ shì shénme yìsi?

What does "the highest good is like water" mean?

上城头学喇叭，本领不高吹得高

shàng chéngtóu xué lǎba, běnlǐng bù gāo chuī de gāo

going up on the city wall to learn the bugle: skill isn't high but the blowing is high

上天绣花，想得倒美

shàngtiān xiùhuā, xiǎng de dào měi

embroidering flowers in the sky: a lovely thought

上娘家的道儿，熟路

shàng niángjiā de dàor, shúlù

the road to her mother's home: a familiar way

上山八条路，下山路八条

shàngshān bā tiáo lù, xià shānlù bā tiáo

eight paths up the mountain, eight paths down

上山容易下山难

shàngshān róngyì xiàshān nán

going up the mountain is easy, coming down is hard

上山砍柴，过河脱鞋，到哪儿说哪儿

shàngshān kǎn chái, guòhé tuōxié, dào nǎr shuō nǎr

go up the hill to cut firewood, take off your shoes to cross a river, talk about whatever place you come to

上床夫妻，下床君子

shàngchuáng fūqī, xià chuáng jūnzǐ

husband and wife in bed, gentlemen out of bed

上当学乖，吃亏学能

shàngdàngxuéguāi, chīkuī xué néng

being cheated teaches you to be sharp, taking a loss teaches you skill

上明不知下暗

shàng míng bùzhī xià àn

those above, though enlightened, don't know the darkness below

上有天堂，下有苏杭

shàngyǒutiāntáng, xiàyǒusūháng

above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou

上楼梯吃甘蔗，步步登高，节节甜

shàng lóutī chī gānzhe, bùbùdēnggāo, jiéjié tián

eating sugar cane while going up the stairs: each step higher, each joint sweeter

上海人普通话说得怎么样？

Shànghǎi rén pǔtōnghuà shuō de zěnmeyàng?

What does Shanghai people's Mandarin sound like?

上海人要树立上海新形象。

Shànghǎi rén yào shùlì Shànghǎi xīn xíngxiàng.

The Shanghainese people must build up Shanghai's new image.

上海和杭州都在华东。

Shànghǎi hé Hángzhōu dōu zài Huádōng.

Shanghai and Hangzhou are both in East China.

上海在中国。

Shànghǎi zài Zhōngguó.

Shanghai is in China.

上海是中国的直辖市之一。

Shànghǎi shì Zhōngguó de zhíxiáshì zhīyī.

Shanghai is one of China's municipalities.

上海有什么不如北京的方面吗？

Shànghǎi yǒu shénme bùrú Běijīng de fāngmiàn ma?

Are there any aspects of Shanghai that are not as good as those of Beijing?

上海的人口数量和东京相当。

Shànghǎi de rénkǒu shùliàng hé Dōngjīng xiāngdāng.

The population of Shanghai is as large as that of Tokyo.

上海被称为东方的巴黎。

Shànghǎi bèi chēngwéi dōngfāng de Bālí.

Shanghai is referred to as the Paris of the East.

上班时间不应该处理太多私事。

Shàngbānshíjiān bù yīnggāi chǔlǐ tài duō sīshì.

You shouldn't deal with too many personal matters during work hours.

上班时间不要偷懒，快做事！

Shàngbānshíjiān búyào tōulǎn, kuài zuòshì!

Don't goof off during work hours, get to work!

上班时间可以伸缩吗？

Shàngbānshíjiān kěyǐ shēnsuō ma?

Can the working hours be flexible?

上级刚下达了新的命令。

Shàngjí gāng xiàdále xīn de mìnglìng.

The higher-ups have just issued a new order.

上级指令大家马上离开。

Shàngjí zhǐlìng dàjiā mǎshàng líkāi.

The superior ordered everyone to leave at once.

上网时要保护好隐私。

Shàngwǎng shí yào bǎohù hǎo yǐnsī.

You need to protect your privacy when you go online.

上肩容易下肩难

shàngjiānróngyìxiàjiānnán

easy to take a load onto the shoulder, hard to take it off

上行的火车今天晚点了。

Shàngháng de huǒchē jīntiān wǎndiǎn le.

The up trains are running late today.

上课不能交头接耳。

Shàngkè bùnéng jiāotóujiē'ěr.

You must not talk to each other in class.

上课中不要跟别人讲话。

Shàngkè zhōng búyào gēn biéren jiǎnghuà.

Don't talk to others during the class.

上课别东张西望，认真听老师讲。

Shàngkè bié dōngzhāngxīwàng, rènzhēn tīng lǎoshī jiǎng.

Don't glance around in class; listen carefully to the teacher.

上课别空想了，快看黑板！

Shàngkè bié kōngxiǎng le, kuài kàn hēibǎn!

Stop daydreaming in class and look at the blackboard!

上课时别空想，要认真听。

Shàngkè shí bié kōngxiǎng, yào rènzhēn tīng.

Don't daydream in class; listen carefully.

上课时要遵守纪律。

Shàngkè shí yào zūnshǒu jìlǜ.

You must follow the rules of discipline in class.

上课要专心听老师讲。

Shàngkè yào zhuānxīn tīng lǎoshī jiǎng.

In class you should concentrate on listening to the teacher.

上贼船易，下贼船难

shàngzéichuán yì, xià zéichuán nán

easy to board a pirate ship, hard to get off

上轿穿耳朵眼儿，临时忙

shàng jiào chuān ěrduoyǎnr, línshí máng

piercing ears only when getting into the bridal sedan chair: a last-minute rush

上边一张嘴，下边跑断腿

shàngbian yì zhāng zuǐ, xiàbian pǎo duàntuǐ

above, one mouth opens; below, legs run until they break

上边压，下边挤

shàngbian yā, xiàbian jǐ

pressed from above, squeezed from below

上述问题，我们明天开会再讨论。

Shàngshù wèntí, wǒmen míngtiān kāihuì zài tǎolùn.

We'll discuss the aforementioned problems at tomorrow's meeting.

上门的买卖好做

shàngmén de mǎimai hǎo zuò

business that comes to your door is easy to do

下一个是我吗？

Xià yí gè shì wǒ ma?

Am I next?

下一个是谁？

Xià yí gè shì shéi?

Who is next?

下一个给你。

Xià yí gè gěi nǐ.

The next one's for you.

下一位出场的是我们班的选手。

Xià yí wèi chūchǎng de shì wǒmen bān de xuǎnshǒu.

The next one to enter the competition is a contestant from our class.

下一届世界杯在哪里举行？

Xià yí jiè Shìjièbēi zài nǎlǐ jǔxíng?

Where will the next World Cup be held?

下一届比赛的主办国是哪个国家？

Xià yí jiè bǐsài de zhǔbànguó shì nǎge guójiā?

Which country is the host of the next tournament?

下一届运动会在哪里举行？

Xià yí jiè yùndònghuì zài nǎlǐ jǔxíng?

Where will the next sports meet be held?

下一次我会早一点到。

Xià yícì wǒ huì zǎo yìdiǎn dào.

Next time I'll come earlier.

下一趟旅行要去哪？

Xià yí tàng lǚxíng yào qù nǎ?

Where are we going to travel to next?

下个季度的计划还没定。

Xià gè jìdù de jìhuà hái méi dìng.

The plan for next quarter hasn't been decided yet.

下个星期你有时间吗？

Xiàgexīngqī nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?

Do you have time next week?

下个月你哥哥回家吗？

Xiàgeyuè nǐ gēge huíjiā ma?

Is your older brother coming home next month?

下个月有一场国际商贸展览会。

Xiàgeyuè yǒu yìcháng guójì shāngmào zhǎnlǎnhuì.

There is an international trade fair next month.

下个月生意会回升吗？

Xiàgeyuè shēngyi huì huíshēng ma?

Will business pick up next month?

下个月的赛程已经公布了。

Xiàgeyuè de sàichéng yǐjīng gōngbùle.

Next month's match schedule has already been announced.

下个月请你来喝我的喜酒。

Xiàgeyuè qǐng nǐ lái hē wǒ de xǐjiǔ.

Please come to my wedding feast next month.

下个月雨量会增加吗？

Xiàgeyuè yǔliàng huì zēngjiā ma?

Will the rainfall increase next month?

下个礼拜天是我弟弟的生日。

Xià gè lǐbàitiān shì wǒ dìdi de shēngrì.

Next Sunday is my younger brother's birthday.

下了一场大雨，庄稼长得更好了。

Xià le yìcháng dàyǔ, zhuāngjia zhǎng de gèng hǎole.

After a heavy rain, the crops grew even better.

下了三天雨，我心里很郁闷。

Xià le sāntiān yǔ, wǒ xīnli hěn yùmèn.

It has rained for three days, and I feel gloomy.

下了几场雨，地里的苗都长高了。

Xià le jǐ chǎng yǔ, dìlǐ de miáo dōu zhǎng gāole.

After several rains, the sprouts in the field have grown tall.

下了很多的雪。

Xià le hěn duō de xuě.

It snowed a lot.

下了很大的雨，水库的水满了。

Xià le hěn dà de yǔ, shuǐkù de shuǐ mǎnle.

It rained heavily, and the reservoir is full.

下了课，老师径直回了办公室。

Xià le kè, lǎoshī jìngzhí huíle bàngōngshì.

After class, the teacher went directly back to the office.

下了雨以后，外面凉快多了。

Xià le yǔ yǐhòu, wàimiàn liángkuai duō le.

It's much cooler outside after the rain.

下冰雹，果园就会歉收。

Xià bīngbáo, guǒyuán jiù huì qiànshōu.

If it hails, the orchard will have a poor harvest.

下午一起去游泳吧。

Xiàwǔ yìqǐ qù yóuyǒng ba.

Let's have a swim in the afternoon.

下午两点我们在会议室见。

Xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn wǒmen zài huìyìshì jiàn.

Let's meet in the conference room at two this afternoon.

下午你把房间收拾干净。

Xiàwǔ nǐ bǎ fángjiān shōushi gānjìng.

Clean up the room in the afternoon.

下午公司请老员工来座谈。

Xiàwǔ gōngsī qǐng lǎo yuángōng lái zuòtán.

This afternoon the company is inviting long-serving employees for an informal discussion.

下午我必须为旅行做准备了。

Xiàwǔ wǒ bìxū wèi lǚxíng zuò zhǔnbèile.

In the afternoon I must arrange for the trip.

下午请到我办公室来。

Xiàwǔ qǐng dào wǒ bàngōngshì lái.

Please come to my office in the afternoon.

下半场比赛我们踢得更好。

Xiàbànchǎng bǐsài wǒmen tī de gèng hǎo.

We played better in the second half of the match.

下半场，红队展开了强大的攻势。

Xiàbànchǎng, hóng duì zhǎnkāile qiángdà de gōngshì.

In the second half, the red team mounted a powerful offensive.

下周天气会慢慢升温。

Xiàzhōu tiānqì huì mànmàn shēngwēn.

Next week the weather will gradually warm up.

下周就要打淘汰赛了。

Xiàzhōu jiùyào dǎ táotàisài le.

The knockout rounds start next week.

下周开会，届时请准时到。

Xiàzhōu kāihuì, jièshí qǐng zhǔnshí dào.

The meeting is next week, so please arrive on time then.

下周开会的时间还不定。

Xiàzhōu kāihuì de shíjiān hái búdìng.

The time of next week's meeting hasn't been settled yet.

下周我要参加商务会议。

Xiàzhōu wǒ yào cānjiā shāngwù huìyì.

Next week I have to attend a business meeting.

下周有热浪，要多喝水。

Xiàzhōu yǒu rèlàng, yào duō hēshuǐ.

There's a heat wave next week, so drink plenty of water.

下坡容易上坡难

xiàpō róngyì shàngpō nán

going downhill is easy, uphill is hard