开窍 (kāiqiào) Be enlightened/
The character “开 (kāi)” means to open and “窍 (qiào)” means aperture.
Example： Wǒ gěi tā jiěshìle hěnduō biàn, tā zhōngyú kāiqiào le. 我给他解释了很多遍，他终于开窍了。
I explained it to him many times. Finally, he became to understand it.
Got questions?…
没戏 (méixì) Hopeless
The character “没 (méi)” means not and “戏 (xì)” means play or show.
Wǒ hái méiyǒu jiēdào lùyòng tōngzhī, gūjì méixì le. 我还没有接到录用通知，估计没戏了。
I have not received an offer yet and I guess it is hopeless.…
Correct answer: B Analysis: A. “Kuàikuàilèlè” is the Chinese pinyin for “快快乐乐cheerful.”
“快 (kuài)” means quick and “乐 (lè)” means cheerful.
B. “Mǎmǎhūhū” is the Chinese pinyin for “马马虎虎careless.” “马 (mǎ)” means horse and “虎 (hǔ)” means tiger.
C. “Tuántuányuányuán” is the Chinese pinyin for “团团圆圆 reunion.”…
蜗居(wōjū) Dwelling Narrowness
房价(fángjià) n. housing price
房奴(fángnú) n. mortgage slave
“蜗居(wōjū) Dwelling Narrownes” is probably the most popular TV series in 2009. It is about a new couple struggling for buying their first “房子(fángzi) house.” The script expresses a confusion of all the houseless families—“the speed of saving money never catches up with that of 房价(fángjià) housing price‘s上涨(shàngzhǎng) rise.”…
Correct answer: C Analysis: A. “Cáiyuánguǎngjìn” is the Chinese pinyin for “财源广进 making plenty of money.” “财 (cái)” means money and “源 (yuán)” means source. “广 (guǎng)” means widely and “进 (jìn)” means to come into.
B. “Xīnniánkuàilè” is the Chinese pinyin for “新年快乐 happy New Year.”…
Correct answer: D Analysis: A. “Bùshēngbùxiǎng” is the Chinese pinyin for “不声不响 quiet.”
“不 (bù)” means not; “声 (shēng)” means voice or sound, and “响 (xiǎng)” means to make a sound.
B. “Bújiànbúsàn” is the Chinese pinyin for “不见不散 not leave without seeing each other.”…
圣诞老人吃饺子吗？(Shèngdàn lǎorén chī jiǎozi ma?)
The “冬至 (dōngzhì) Winter Solstice” is one of the twenty-four “节气 (jiéqì) solar terms” and a traditional festival for “汉族 (hànzú) Han ethnic group.” Winter Solstice is a day between December 21 to 23 on the solar calendar, which is very near to Christmas day.…
下马威 (xiàmǎwēi) Show one’s power to intimidate others at the
The character “下 (xià)” means to get down; “马 (mǎ)” means horse and
“威 (wēi)” means power. Oftentimes, this phrase is used when power or
severity is displayed by an official upon taking office.
Example：
第一次参加面试，面试官就给了她一个下马威。
Dì yī cì cānjiā miànshì, miànshìguān jiù gěile tā yí gè xiàmǎwēi.…
Correct answer: A Analysis: A. “Liǎobùqǐ” is the Chinese pinyin for “了不起 great.” “了 (liǎo)” means totally and “不 (bù)” means not . “起 (qǐ)” means to be competent for.
B. “Qiáobùqǐ” is the Chinese pinyin for “瞧不起 to look down upon.”…
把关 (bǎguān) Check on
The character “把 (bǎ)” means to hold or to grasp and “关 (guān)” means
check point.
Example:
Nǐ xiān zìyǐ xiě zhè piān wénzhāng ba, xiě wánle wǒ bāng nǐ bǎbǎguān. 你先自已写这篇文章吧，写完了我帮你把把关。
First, you write the paper by yourself; then I help you to check on it.…
折腾 (zhēteng) Do much ado about nothing
The character “折 (zhē)” means to roll over or turn over and “腾 (téng)”
means galloping or jumping. Example:
Còuhezhe shuì yíhuìr, bié zhēteng le. 凑合着睡一会儿，别折腾了。
Just try to sleep for a while. Don’ t do much ado about nothing.
// // …
Correct Answer: D Analysis: A. “Méiwánméiliǎo” is the Chinese pinyin for “没完没了 endless.”
“没 (méi)” here is a negative word. “完 (wán)” and “了 (liǎo)” both mean end.
B. “Ménxīnzìwèn” is the Chinese pinyin for “扪心自问 to examine one’s conscience.”
“扪 (mén)” means to touch and “心 (xīn)” refers to heart or conscience.…
Correct Answer: B Analysis: A. “Happiness” is the word for “幸福 (xìngfú).” “幸 (xìng)” means lucky and “福 (fú)” means blessing.
B. “Good fortune” is the phrase for “福气 (fúqi).”
“福 (fú)” means blessing and “气 (qì)” refers to fortune.
C. “Blessing” is the word for “祝福 (zhù fú).”…
Correct Answer: A Analysis: A. 炒作 (chǎozuò) is the word for “Hype.” The character “炒 (chǎo)” means fry and “作 (zuò)” means make.
B. 宣传 (xuānchuán) is the word for “Advertise.” The character “宣 (xuān)” means declare and “传 (chuán)” means pass.…
马后炮 (măhòupào) Belated effort
The character “马 (mă) refers to horse; “后 (hòu)” means later or after and
“炮 (pào)” means big gun or cannon. Example: Nǐ zhè rén jiù shì mǎhòupào, shìxiān zěnme bù tíxǐng wǒ a. 你这人就是马后炮，事先怎么不提醒我啊。
You always give belated effort. Why not remind me in advance?…
Porsche’s First Four-door Sports Car Launched in China
供不应求(gōngbùyìngqiú) supply is unable to meet the demand
Panameral, 保时捷 (bǎoshíjié) Porsche’s first four-door GT sports car, was featured at both the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show and 广州汽车展 (Guǎngzhōu Qìchēzhǎn) 2009 Guangzhou Motor Show.…
泼冷水 (pōlěnɡshuǐ) Pour cold water on / Dampen the enthusiasm of
The character “泼 (pō)” means to pour or to throw; “冷 (lěng)” means cold
and “水 (shuǐ)” means water.
Tā běnlái jiù xìnxīn bù zú, nǐ jiù bié gěi tā pōlěngshuǐ le. 他本来就信心不足，你就别给他泼冷水了。
You should not pour cold water on him, for he is not confident.…
中国功夫 (Zhōngguó Gōngfu) Chinese Kungfu
Listen to this song:
Key Learning Point (Preview): 松 (sōnɡ): n. pine
Wò sì yì zhāng gōng, zhàn sì yì kē sōng. 卧似一张弓，站似一棵松。 Crouching is like a bow, and standing is like a pine.
Bú dòng bù yáo zuò rú zhōng, zǒulù yí zhèn fēng.…
受气包 (shòuqìbāo) One Who Always Gets Blamed
“受气包 (shòuqìbāo)” is the phrase for “One who always gets blamed.” The
character “受 (shòu)” means to bear; “气 (qì)” means air or smell, here it
means angry; and “包 (bāo)” means bag or pack. Example:
Yīnwèi Zhāng shūshu de lǎopo hé tā fùmǔ bù hé, suóyǐ tā jiù chénɡ le jiā lǐde shòuqìbāo.…
