Textbook Cliches (5,000 years of history etc.)

[aprose1977]

I am collecting some examples of cliches used by Chinese (PRC) students in written English essays.  I'm particularly interested in those which come from translating the type of phrases/slogans that they might come across in their textbooks.  As well as the 5,000 years of history example, another common one is:  

 

China is a vast country with a large population and abundant resources.   - 中国地大物博人口众多 

 

Are there any more examples of this that people have come across? 

 

Thanks in advance!  

 

 

 

[Publius]

Textbook cliches, huh, does this count?

"How do you do?" "I'm fine, thank you. And you?" "I'm fine, too. Thank you."

Every Chinese student knows this exchange, I guarantee you. If you're writing a screenplay involving Chinese spies, definitely use it, please.

 

And every student preparing for English exams will have learned some English cliches.

Sample essay:

Every coin has a silver lining.

On the one hand, we have five fingers.

On the other hand, we have another five.

We have an old saying: "where there's a will, I want to be in it."

Firstly, we have to write a sentence.

Secondly, we have to write a slightly different sentence.

And so on and so forth.

......

[roddy]

What I did on my holidays is a hot topic of discussion....