Scoobyqueen Posted August 25, 2008 at 01:34 PM Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 at 01:34 PM I have said before that it seems that Chinese has many words related to skill and competence and I have often wondered if this is related to the high value placed on such qualities in Chinese society. Here is another one, this time in the form of a 成语 一技之长 I have two questions. How common is this expression in normal speech and in which situations would it typically be used, ie education or job? Are there any other 成语-synonyms that mean skill and competence that immediately spring to mind? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhxlier Posted August 25, 2008 at 05:42 PM Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 at 05:42 PM More in written than in speaking, but a common phrase regardless. It mostly refer to the skills that enable you to make a living. For example, if you can repair bicycles or do welding, we'd say you have “一技之长”. If you can make a living being a Chinese translator, Chinese is your “一技之长”; otherwise, even if you speak Chinese better than most non-Chinese people, it can hardly be called “一技之长”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanyu'sWay Posted August 25, 2008 at 05:48 PM Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 at 05:48 PM 上不上大学不要紧,有一技之长才能在社会上立足. 有了一技之长,就不怕没饭吃. 到了军中,除了锻炼体格,培养毅力之外,能学到一技之长就更好了 会刻图章,也算是有一技之长吧. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockneylad Posted August 28, 2008 at 09:53 AM Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 at 09:53 AM 一技之长(yi1 ji4 zhi1 chang2) is about a survival skill. 一 = one 技 = 技能(skill/ability) 之 = of 长 = 擅长,长处(something that you are good at/the merit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jinhr Posted October 3, 2008 at 08:09 PM Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 at 08:09 PM Though loosely relative, the 成语 pop up into my mind are: 班门弄斧 寸有所长，尺有所短 工欲善其事，必先利其器 黔驴技穷 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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