The house is perfect because it’s big and near my company. For those of you who’ve ever wondered why Chinese kids snicker up their sleeves when you say “250,” this post will illuminate the numerous numerical euphemisms in Chinese. （Yī tīngdào tā bèi kāichú de xiāoxī, suǒyǒu rén dōu qī zuǐ bā shé de tǎolùn le qǐlái.）. （Sì tōng bā dá de jiāotōng wèi zhè gè dìfang dàilái le hěn duō hǎochù.）. Founded in 2005, That’s Mandarin has been delivering excellence in Chinese teaching for over 14 years to more than 30,000 students of different nationalities. Hi Cecilia, your article is so good! Here’s a list of some of our favorite Chinese idioms that have English equivalents. She has vast experience in educating her students on how to listen to and speak Chinese, and is trained to teach HSK courses. such idioms in the Chinese language. info@thatsmandarin.com, Jiaozhou Road No. She is slick in establishing social relations. Since “一心一意” expresses doing something whole-heartedly,  what about the opposite? （Zhècì kǎoshì de suǒyǒu wèntí, wǒ kěndìng huì bǎi fā bǎi zhòng.）. Let’s have a look at an idiom with the number “two” below, namely “两全其美”. ex. A cunning fox was caught by a fierce tiger, the king of the forest, and was about to be killed. 1. Marketing team at That's Mandarin sharing news and views on Chinese language and culture. In this idiom, 全(quán) means “complete” and 美(měi) means “beautiful”. How do we express “A PERFECT 10” in Chinese? Required fields are marked *, How to Write Chinese Characters (Quick Start Guide + Free Mini Course), The Best Chinese Language Learning Apps (2020), The Most Recommended Online Chinese Courses, Chinese Pronunciation: The Complete Guide for Beginner, 9 Tips to Help You Choose Chinese Lessons by Skype, Some Unique and Confusing Chinese Expressions That You Will Definitely Meet in Daily Life, Different Northern and Southern Chinese Customs and Words That You Don’t Know, Awkward Personal Questions Chinese People Ask. This all goes to show that even for languages as different as English and Chinese, there are common ideas we all feel the need to express. Getting the news of being dismissed through the phone, he suddenly felt stupefied. This Chinese idiom is a good example that numbers don’t need to taken literally. Thanks for the comment. Chinese numbers actually have cultural significance, with some numbers being luckier than others. (liǎng) are units used to measure weight, and both. These figures of speech can express thoughts and ideas even more clearly than by just stating the meaning directly. This literally means “a hundred shots, a hundred hits. Unlike English, The Chinese number system is very logical and straightforward. (Mǎlì hé suǒyǒu rén dōu hěn hǎo, shì gè bā miàn líng lóng de rén.). As the literal meaning of this idiom is “a poem is ready within seven paces”, you can use it when you’re astonished by someone’s erudition. I need to think of a way to balance working and taking care of children. (Zhè diǎn’r sǔnshī duì tā lái shuō shì jiǔ niú yì máo. Its lovely keep sending them. The meaning of 六(liù), 神(shén), 无(wú) and 主(zhǔ) is “six”, “god”, “none” and “master” respectively. Skip to main content.sg. In China, 斤(jīn) and 两(liǎng) are units used to measure weight, and both 半斤(bàn jīn) and 八两(bā liǎng) equal to 250 grams. Followers 1. 成语 Chéngyǔ are a type of traditional Chinese idioms typically made up of four characters.. There’s over 5000 (!) I’ve been sent by the Emperor of Heaven to rule the forest! )He wants to travel while preparing for the entrance exams for postgraduate schools, which results in doing things half-heartedly all day. This idiom involves a combination of three numbers, which are. 三心二意 [sān xīn èr yì] 三: three; 心: heart; 二: two; 意: mind, intention. Your email address will not be published. 他又想准备考研，又想出去旅游，整天三心二意的。(Tā yòu xiǎng zhǔnbèi kǎoyán, yòu xiǎng chūqù lǚyóu, zhěngtiān sān xīn’ èr yì de. ), (Suǒyǒu zhìdù zài gāng tuīchū de shíhou dōu búshì shí quán shí měi de.). I thought it was fun since I live in Stockholm (area code 08), and I also understood from the shop attendant that those were lucky numbers. Chinese Idioms about numbers (1) 一五一十 y ī w ǔ y ī sh í “ one five one ten”—it refers to narrating things in full detail. Therefore, the literal meaning of this idiom is “six gods without a master”, which you can get by putting all these words together. As a result, “六神无主” literally means “six gods lost their mind.” Actually, in daily life, it’s used to describe someone who is “in a state of stupefaction (from emotional shock).”. Numbers … Whilst learning idioms is not essential, Chinese Chengyu will certainly improve your fluency and understanding of the Chinese language. Chinese numbers 一 to 一万 Sign in to follow this . In this article, we are going to explore some special Chinese idioms or figures of speech that involve numbers. It implies a state of satisfying both related sides with the same matter, and can plainly be translated as “be perfect in both respects” or “to satisfy both sides.”, (Zhè gè fángzi yòu dà yòu lí wǒ de gōngsī hěn jìn, zhēnde shì liǎng quán qí měi.). Thus, we will give you detailed explanations of the next five popular Chinese idioms with numbers (from 6 to 10) in the following article. This idiom actually has something to do with Taoism. This can be an important component for second language learning because a lot of cultural elements are involved. Let’s take a look at thirteen of these idioms with numbers below: 1. (zhǔ) is “six”, “god”, “none” and “master” respectively. Similarly, numbers are freighted with special cultural significance and symbolism. So it will be difficult for 3rd or 4th-grade students who only have basic knowledge about characters and pinyin I think, cause some words or phrases in the examples are not quite easy , not to mention culture behind some idioms. Compared to what he paid, what I’ve done is small. (Zài huánbǎo zhè jiàn shì shàng, quán shìjiè rénmín wàn zhòng yì xīn.). (Wǒmen de zhōngwén shuǐpíng bànjīnbāliǎng), Our Chinese levels are on par with each other. Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free. In traditional Chinese cosmology, for example, numbers played a significant role in the It’s used to indicate that everyone is trying to say what they want to say in a discussion (a clash of opinions). This helps make it sound distinct from other similar sounding numbers like 七 (qī) — “seven.” Yao sounds the same as 要 (yào) — “to want.” 二 … [tā zuò shì rèn zhēn, cóng bù sān xīn èr yì.] People usually use this idiom to compare two objects, implying they are on par with each other. This course is introducing some of the most useful Chinese slangs with numbers, and providing some examples of the ways to use them in contexts. ), (Bǐ qǐ tā fùchū de, wǒ zhèxiē shì dōushì jiǔ niú yī máo.). Numbers can be used to express a lot of things, The Commonly Used Chinese Idioms With NUMBERS (2) 6-10. )When you’re doing your homework, you can’t be of two minds with playing games at the same time. The last character 诗(shī) of this idiom means “poem”. Is Chinese have Alphabet? ), (Heroes never appear until the moment of extreme peril.). . Hello Select your address All Hello, Sign in. 85. twenty-four seven: all the time, from the count of twenty-four hours and seven days (usually written 24/7 and sometimes extended to 24/7/365 to refer to the number of days in a year) 86. twentysomething: in one’s twenties (also thirtysomething, etc.) Chinese Idioms -Chengyu Type something in the field below, to find great chinese idioms. Best Places to Travel in China According to Each Season, Numbers play an important role in Chinese culture, 6 Habits that Make Chinese People Different, Mapo doufu (麻婆豆腐), a Popular Chinese Tofu Dish, Ways to Say “Can See” in Chinese: 能看见 vs. 看得见, Difference between 最后 (zuìhòu) and 终于 (zhōngyú), The Best Podcasts to Supercharge Your Chinese Listening, “Or”: Difference Between 或者 (huòzhě) and 还是 (háishi), 7 Best Adventure Parks in China Every Tourist Should Visit. (Wǒ juédé tā shí yǒu bājiǔ shì zhōngguó rén). Chinese idioms (Xu 2006: 108). Thus, it can plainly be translated as “all talk at the same time.”, (Huì shàng dàjiā zhēnduì zhè gè jìhuà qī zuǐ bā shé de tǎolùn le qǐlái.). 马马虎虎 (mǎ ma hū hū) Well, that’s the No. In ancient China, people believed that a person was indisputably smart if he could make a poem within seven paces. It’s a compilation of our best blog posts on Chinese idioms. I bought a tote bag in China last year with the numbers 08 on one side of the bag. We’ve prepared this ultimate guide to Mandarin Chinese numbers which covers numbers in Chinese up to the heady heights of millions and billions. HOW TO EXPRESS DOING SOMETHING “UN WHOLE-HEARTEDLY?”  Here we point to the second idiom “三心二意” which is the opposite of “一心一意”. "practice makes perfect" or "shun4 feng1" Search 万众一心，抵抗敌人。(Wàn zhòng yì xīn, dǐkàng dírén.). People usually use this idiom to compare two objects, implying they are on par with each other. Numbers can be used to express a lot of things, not just to count, and when they are used as idioms, they can mean something different. Well, thanks agian sincerely. Also included are important aspects such as saying your age in Chinese, your phone number, and introducing you to … This dictionary is specially compiled for the foreign readers who are studying Chinese language. Most CYs are joined structures of two, two-character words—subject–verb units (SVs), verb–object units (VOs), structures of modification (SMs), or verb–verb units—or of four, one-character words. It is often used to describe a person who feels perplexed or extremely upset. (bā liǎng) equal to 250 grams. In this Weather-Related Chinese Idioms infographic, there are five types of weather, with three frequently-used idioms for each type, totaling 15 idioms. . There are chengyu with two numbers in them, for example: 一穷二白 (一, 二) 万众一心 (万, 一) 七上八下 (七, 八) 九五至尊 (九, 五) But it seems that the selection of numbers is … That’s Mandarin Blog offers tips and advice on living and studying Mandarin in China, and explores the stark cultural differences between the East, the West – and everything in between. Now, it can loosely be translated as “extremely admire” or “admire somebody completely.”, （Nǐ zhēn de tài lìhài le, zhème nán de tí nǐ dōu huì, wǒ duì nǐ pèifú de wǔ tǐ tóu dì.）. Ebook: “50 Essential Chengyu: Chinese Idioms Made Simple” And in case you didn’t get enough Chinese idioms, check out our $9 ebook. By understanding and using these 13 idioms with numbers, you can not only express yourself more clearly to other Chinese speakers, but you can show that you know the culture behind these idioms also. to be perfect in both respects；to satisfy both sides, This literally means “two sides are both good”. Idioms, known as 熟语 (shóu yǔ) or 成语 (chéng yǔ) if made up of 4 characters in Chinese, are commonplace in both English and Chinese culture. In this article, we are going to explore some special Chinese idioms or figures of speech that involve numbers. And as for what grade it targeted you mentioned above, I must adimit that I mainly targeted those around intermediate or high level. 149, Building 6 一心一意 (yì xīn yí yì) 13 Commonly Used Chinese Idioms With NUMBERS. If you know what your chengyu starts with ends with etc you can also search by the specific command (ie 1st character, 4th character) to see only Chinese idioms that have those characters in a specific place. There are a great deal of Chinese slangs and idioms with numbers. (Bú dào qiān jūn yí fà zhī jì, yīngxióng jué bú huì chūxiàn. 10 idiom we are going to talk about here – “十全十美”, and it is used in a real conversation to describe something as perfect in every way. Beijing, China, 100027 to describe a situation that is in imminent peril, “钧” is an ancient measure classifier for weight, thus literally the idiom means “a thousand jun hangs by a single hair,” Usually in real life, it’s applied to describe “a situation that is in imminent peril.”, (Zài zhè qiān jūn yí fà de shíkè, tā háo bù yóuyù de tiào xiàqù jiù ré.). The most important forms of idioms in Chinese, chengyus (CYs), have a fixed length of four Chinese characters. This originally means “the window is spacious and well-lighted.” Now, it’s used to describe a person who is smooth and slick in establishing social relations, capable of pleasing all people. Below is a simple introduction to some useful Chinese Chengyu to whet your appetite. You’re awesome for solving such a difficult question, and I extremely admire you. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. This literally means “ten thousand people, one heart.” The extended meaning of this idiom is describing unity, equivalent to “all the people of one mind” in English. info.shanghai@thatsmandarin.com, And learn even more Chinese idioms with numbers :). "practice makes perfect" or "shun4 feng1" Search For instance. Those girls really admire his appearance and talent. (Tā bèi míngtiān de kǎoshì xià dé liùshénwúzhǔ). We’ve already introduced 5 Chinese number-related idioms (from 1 to 5) in the previous article. Viagra overnight delivery. This literally means “a single hair out of nine ox hides.” It can be translated to mean that something is “comparatively small” in comparison to something else. Thank you for sharing this great information. (měi) means “beautiful”. As the literal meaning of this idiom is “a poem is ready within seven paces”, you can use it when you’re astonished by someone’s erudition. Once hearing that he was fired, all start talking in confusion. He wants to see you intently, just give him a few minutes. The fox hysterically yelled at the tiger, “You can’t eat me! And you have explained and taught it in a detail and clear way which indeed helps a lot of Mandarin learners. Jan 19, 2021 10 Major Traditional Chinese Holidays Dec 31, 2020 Integrated Chinese Volume 3 Lesson 1 Vocabulary Dec 29, 2020 Integrated Chinese Volume 2 Lesson 11 Vocabulary I was searching for teaching resources about Chinese Idioms With digital numbers. Practice using them, and for sure, people will be impressed with your deeper knowledge of Chinese. The number one is indeed 一 (yī) in Chinese, but in some contexts, such as in addresses or phone numbers, the number is pronounced as yao. You don’t want to anger the Emperor of Heaven, do you?” The tiger didn’t believe the fox. to be in a state of stupefaction (from emotional shock), (Wǒ bèi zhè jiàn shì xià de liù shén wú zhǔ.). +86 21 6208 9357 It is used to indicate the state of wanting to do several things at the same time, but ending up with nothing done well usually, and can also be translated as “be of two minds” or “half-heartedly”. Powered by That’s Mandarin Language School. (Shìjiè shàng méiyǒu shíquánshíměi de rén). These figures of speech can express thoughts and ideas even more clearly than by just stating the meaning directly. This is the opposite of 一心一意. Example: 她做事认真，从不三心二意。. ex. Jing’an District, Shanghai, China 200040 六神无主 (liù shén wú zhǔ) The meaning of 六 (liù), 神 (shén), 无 (wú) and 主 (zhǔ) is “six”, “god”, “none” and “master” respectively. Hence, it can appropriately be translated as “all things to all people”. This means very colorful. extremely admire；admire somebody completely, This literally means “five body parts are thrown down.” It evolved from an ancient religious ritual involving groveling with your two feet, two hands, and your head down, to show your respect and worship. Idioms in any language are often interesting and sometimes even amusing. Chinese Numbers Are Easier Than English Numbers. 13 Commonly Used Chinese Idioms With NUMBERS - In this article, we are going to explore some special Chinese idioms or figures of speech that involve numbers. In ancient China, people believed that a person was indisputably smart if he could make a poem within seven paces. In this video, we take a look at some of the more common ones and see how they can be used in context. Everyone talks at the same time on this project in the meeting. By looking at this combination, you can easily deduce that the literal meaning of this idiom is “8 or 9 out of 10”, which is “highly likely”. LinkSquare uses a germanium-based Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) sensor to illuminate an object and capture its response to that light. The Chinese review also found increases in the percentage of normally shaped and sized sperm among infertile men. Numbers can be used to express a lot of things, not just to count, and when they are used as idioms, they can mean something different. In Taoism, our heart, lung, liver, kidneys, spleen, and gallbladder are controlled by six separate gods. Your email address will not be published. Many Chinese and English idioms intersect in meaning or even match in phrasing. By looking at this combination, you can easily deduce that the literal meaning of this idiom is “8 or 9 out of 10”, which is “highly likely”. “What … Cart All. The object or scene or person doesn’t actually need to have 5 or 6 colors. （Nà jǐ gè nǚshēng duì tā de wàimào hé cáihuá chóngbài de wǔ tǐ tóu dì.）. Their metonymic allusions, tonal prosody and quadrisyllabic form reflect the influences of Classical Chinese literature and poetry. All the people are of one mind on the environmental protection of the world. ... More Number Idioms. Let’s take a look at thirteen of these idioms with numbers below: This literally means “one heart, one idea.” It is used to express a state of doing something intently，and can also be translated as “to do something whole-heartedly”.