#ChineseVocabulary

把关 (bǎguān) Check on (Advanced)

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.…

挂科 (guàkē) Flunk/ Fail in the exam (Intermediate)

挂科 (guàkē) Flunk/ Fail in the exam

The character “挂 (guà)” means failing and “科 (kē)” means subject or a branch of academic or vocational study.

Example:

Yīnwéi méiyŏu nǔlì xuéxí, zhè cì kăoshì Gao Feng yòu guàkē le. 因为没有努力学习,这次考试高峰又挂科了。 Not having studied his lessons very hard, Gāo Fēng failed this exam again.…

马后炮 (măhòupào) Belated effort (Advanced)

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?…

碰钉子 (pèngdīngzi) Being rejected / Being turned down (Intermediate)

碰钉子 (pèngdīngzi) Being rejected / Being turned down 

The character “碰 (pèng)” means to run into; “钉 (dīng)” means nail or tack

and “子 (zi)” is used as a suffix here.

Example:

Tā zài bànshì de shíhou pèngle dīngzi, huíjiā hòu xīnqíng bùhǎo. 他在办事的时候碰了钉子,回家后心情不好。

He was in a bad mood when he came back home, for he was rejected when doing his job.…

网虫 (wǎngchóng) People who always surf the internet (Intermediate)

网虫 (wǎngchóng) People who always surf the internet 

The character “网 (wǎng)” means net and “虫 (chóng)” means insect or worm.

Example:

Suízhe hùliánwǎng de fēisù fāzhǎn, xiànzài wǎngchóng yuèláiyuèduō le. 随着互联网的飞速发展,现在网虫越来越多了 With the rapid development of the Internet, there are more and more people who surf the internet from dawn till dusk nowadays.…

泼冷水 (pōlěngshuǐ) Pour cold water on / Dampen the enthusiasm of (Advanced)

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.

Example:

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.…

Christmas Online Shopping in China

Christmas Online Shopping in China Key Learning Points (Preview):

网上购物 (wǎngshàng gòuwù) n Online shopping

热销 (rèxiāo) n Best seller

讨价还价(tǎojià huánjià) v To bargain

As the holiday season is coming up soon, the Christmas shopping frenzy is already around the corner. Will you do “网上购物 (wǎngshàng gòuwù) online shopping?”…

开小差 (kāi xiǎochāi) Be absent-minded (Intermediate)

开小差 (kāi xiǎochāi) Be absent-minded 

The character “开 (kāi)” means open; “小 (xiǎo)” means small or little and “差

(chāi)” means errand or job. Example: Tā yèlǐ méi shuì hǎo, báitiān shàngkè shí sīxiǎng zǒng kāi xiǎochāi. 他夜里没睡好, 白天上课时思想总开小差。

He can’t sleep well at night and is absent-minded in classes at daytime.…

受气包 (shòuqìbāo) One Who Always Gets Blamed (Advanced)

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.…

直肠子 (zhíchángzi) Straightforward Person (Advanced)

直肠子 (zhíchángzi) Straightforward Person 

“直肠子 (zhíchángzi)” is the phrase for “Straightforward person.” The character “直 (zhí)” means straight or upright and “肠子 (chángzi)” means intestine.

Example:

Gébì Zhāng dàmā zhēn shì gè zhíchángzi, yǒu shá jiù shuō shá. 隔壁张大妈真是个直肠子,有啥就说啥。 Aunt Zhang next door is a straightforward person, who always says whatever’s on her mind.…

大嘴巴 (dàzuǐba) Big Mouth (Intermediate)

大嘴巴 (dàzuǐba) Big Mouth

“大嘴巴 (dàzuǐba)” is the phrase for “Big mouth.” The character “大 (dà)” means big and “嘴巴 (zuǐba)” means mouth. Example: Nǐ kě qiānwàn bú yào bǎ zhège mìmì gàosu Lǐ Lì, tā kě shì chū le míng de dàzuǐba.  你可千万不要把这个秘密告诉李丽,她可是出了名的大嘴巴。

You should never tell the secret to Li Li, because she has a notoriously big mouth .…

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