大块头 Posted October 17, 2020 at 05:22 PM Report Posted October 17, 2020 at 05:22 PM One of my favorite things about learning Chinese is encountering colorful 谚语 and 成语. Here is a thread to share amusing proverbs. 过屠门而大嚼 to chew when passing the butcher shop; to feed on illusions 4 Quote
Jim Posted October 17, 2020 at 05:59 PM Report Posted October 17, 2020 at 05:59 PM 又要当婊子，又想立牌坊 is a long-time favourite for its forthrightness and culturally specific architectural reference; wanting to be a prostitute and have a monumental arch erected to their chastity; expecting to be treated like a good person while doing all the bad things. 3 Quote
Demonic_Duck Posted October 17, 2020 at 07:08 PM Report Posted October 17, 2020 at 07:08 PM 真小气，婊子不能立牌坊么 ? Quote
roddy Posted October 18, 2020 at 05:20 AM Report Posted October 18, 2020 at 05:20 AM 噤如寒蝉 - as silent as a cold cicada - came up in the current book we're reading, 异兽志. There are lots of others in there, I'll try to post a few. Quote
李子凡 Posted October 18, 2020 at 05:31 AM Report Posted October 18, 2020 at 05:31 AM 三个女人一台戏-heard this the other week listening to 听故事学中文， it means when three women are together its going to interesting Quote
Michaelyus Posted October 20, 2020 at 11:18 AM Report Posted October 20, 2020 at 11:18 AM 人多嘴雜 / 人多嘴杂 Technically not a 成语, according to the ABC Dictionary. Also exists in the form with 口 instead of 嘴. Relatively transparent, and cannon fodder for intercultural studies, I'm sure. Quote
大块头 Posted November 9, 2020 at 10:00 PM Author Report Posted November 9, 2020 at 10:00 PM 癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 like a toad that lusts after swan flesh; trying to punch above one's weight On 10/17/2020 at 1:22 PM, 大块头 said: 过屠门而大嚼 My Chinese friends thought this proverb was amusing, but they had never heard it before... Quote
李子凡 Posted November 10, 2020 at 01:14 AM Report Posted November 10, 2020 at 01:14 AM 老将出马一个顶俩 顶 in this case means equivalent(相当） An experience person (老将）when completing a task（出马）can do the work of two normal people 1 Quote
Jim Posted November 10, 2020 at 04:01 AM Report Posted November 10, 2020 at 04:01 AM 磨刀不误砍柴工 Time spent on preparation isn't wasted. Appeared in this jokey slogan: 3 Quote
Asha Posted November 17, 2020 at 01:41 PM Report Posted November 17, 2020 at 01:41 PM I love thi one: 书是随时携带的花园 A book is a pocket garden. 1 Quote
Jim Posted December 2, 2020 at 12:27 PM Report Posted December 2, 2020 at 12:27 PM 不见棺材不落泪 the dictionary gives "refuse to be convinced until confronted with the grim reality". 2 Quote
Shelley Posted December 2, 2020 at 12:43 PM Report Posted December 2, 2020 at 12:43 PM @Jim the literal meaning is good too - not to shed a tear until one sees the coffin. Quote
Asha Posted December 4, 2020 at 09:34 AM Report Posted December 4, 2020 at 09:34 AM 东西是新的好，朋友是老的亲 Everything is good when new, but friends when old ?? 1 Quote
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