Anot

her45Mandar
inSent
enceswi
thChi
neseChar
act
eri
sti
cs

car
lgeneon27/
05/
2013—18Comment
s

(Thi
spostisaconti
nuat
ionf
rom mypr
evi
ousar
ti
cle“
45Mandar
inSent
enceswi
thChi
nese
Charact
eri
sti
cs“
.)

Thef
oll
owi
ngi
sacol
l
ect
ionofsent
encesi
nMandar
inwhi
chIbel
i
evear
especi
ali
nsomeway
.

WhatdoImeanby“ speci
al”
?Wel l
,l
et’
sjustsaygrammat i
cal
l
yandst r
ucturall
ythey’r
enot
exact
lytypical
,andi
nmostcasest heystand-al
oneasi
ndependentexpressions.Plus,manyof
them containel
ementsofChinesecul
tur
et hatsett
hem apar
tfr
om regularsentences.

I’
vebrokentheseupintobegi
nners,
inter
medi at
eandadv ancedl
evelsandtr
iedtoexplai
nnot
onlyt
hel i
ter
almeaningofeachsentence,butit
sfuncti
onandnear-equi
val
enttr
anslat
ionin
Engli
sh.Ofcourseyourcommentsandconst ructi
vefeedbackar
ealwayswelcomeint he
comment ssecti
on.Enjoy
!

Begi
nner
sLev
el

1.加油！Ji
āyóu!

Li
ter
all
y:“
Addoi
l
!”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oencour
agesomeonet
omakeext
raef
for
t,t
odobet
terort
ocheersomeone
on.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Youcandoi
t!
”or“
GoJohn/
Mar
y/et
c.!
”dependi
ngoncont
ext
.

2.我肚子饿了。Wǒdùzi
èle.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Mybel
l
yishungr
y.”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
olett
heot
herper
sonknowy
ouar
ehungr
y.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“I’
m hungr
y.”or“
I’
m st
arv
ing.
”
3.你早点休息。Nǐzǎodi
ǎnxi
ūxi
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
You[
bet
ter
]restear
ly.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oshowconcer
nforsomeonel
ateatni
ght
,tour
get
hem t
ogot
obedear
ly.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Youbet
tergett
obedear
ly”or“
Don’
thav
eal
ateone.
”

4.原来如此。Yuánl
áir
úcǐ
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Itwasl
i
ket
hisal
lal
ong.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oindi
cat
ethaty
ouhav
ejustr
eal
i
sedsomet
hingt
obet
rue.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Isee.
”or“
NowIgoty
ou.
”

5.算了吧。Suànl
eba.

Li
ter
all
y:算 (
“count
;regar
d”)+了 (
ver
bcompl
eti
onpar
ti
cle)+吧 (
par
ti
clei
ndi
cat
ingsuggest
ion)

Funct
ion:Usedt
olett
heot
herper
sonknowt
haty
oudon’
tcar
eany
mor
eaboutwhatwasbei
ng
tal
kedabout.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“For
getabouti
t.
”or“
Nev
ermi
nd.
”

6.怎么办呢？Zěnmebànne?

Li
ter
all
y:“
Howt
odo?
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oexpr
essf
rust
rat
ionatnotknowi
ngwhatt
odoi
nacer
tai
nsi
tuat
ion.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“WhatdoIdo?
”or“
Whatshoul
dIdo?
”

Sy
nony
ms:
这如何是好？

7.真是的。Zhēnshìde.

Li
ter
all
y:真(
“real
l
y”)+是 (
“i
s”)+的 (
grammat
ical
par
ti
cle,
usedf
oremphasi
s)

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oexpr
essdi
spl
easur
eorannoy
anceatt
heact
ionsofsomeoneel
se.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Ohcomeon!
”,“
Ser
iousl
y!
”or“
Jesus!
”dependi
ngoncont
ext
.
8.不会吧。Bùhuìba.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Can’
tbe.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oexpr
essaf
eel
i
ngt
hatt
hel
i
kel
i
hoodofsomet
hinghappeni
ngi
sver
ylow.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Noway
.”,
“Idoubti
t.
”or“
You’
reki
ddi
ngme.
”dependi
ngoncont
ext
.

9.改天再说吧。Gǎi
ti
ānzài
shuōba.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Changeday
,speakagai
n.”

Funct
ion:
Usedwheny
ouwi
sht
ocancel
apl
anwi
thsomeone,
andr
eschedul
eitf
oranot
herday
.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Let
’st
ryf
oranot
herday
.”or“
Let
’st
akear
aincheck.
”

10.不用急。Bùy
òngj
í
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Don’
tuseur
gent
.”(
“Nousef
orur
gency
.”)

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oreassur
esomeonet
hatwhati
sbei
ngdi
scussedi
snotur
gent
.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Nor
ush.
”or“
Takey
ourt
ime.
”

Sy
nony
ms:
不急。

11.真的假的？Zhēndej
i
ǎde?

Li
ter
all
y:“
Real
,fake?
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oexpr
esssur
pri
seordoubtaboutsomet
hingj
ustdi
scussedordi
scov
ered.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Real
l
y?”or“
Noway
!”

12.你真棒！Nǐzhēnbàng!

Li
ter
all
y:“
You’
rer
eal
l
yexcel
l
ent
!”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
opr
aisesomeonef
ort
hei
rtal
ent
,behav
iouroract
ions.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“You’
reawesome”or“
You’
rer
eal
l
ysomet
hing.
”
Sy
nony
ms:
你真行；你可以的。

13.我想了解一下。 Wǒxi
ǎngl
i
ǎoj
i
ěyī
xi
à.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Iwantt
ounder
stand/
know.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
opol
i
tel
yenqui
reaboutsomet
hing.

Near
-equi
val
entphr
asei
nEngl
i
sh:
“Iwasj
ustwonder
ing…”or“
I’
dli
ket
oknowmor
eabout
…”

14.有事可以找我。Yǒushìkěy
ǐzhǎowǒ.

Li
ter
all
y:“
[I
f]y
ouhav
eamat
tery
oucant
ryt
ofi
ndme.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oexpr
essy
ourwi
l
li
ngnesst
ohel
psomeone.

Near
-equi
val
entphr
asei
nEngl
i
sh:
“Cont
actmei
fyouneedanyhel
p.”

I
nter
medi
ateLev
el

15.不带这样的。Bùdài
zhèy
àngde.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Notl
ookaf
terl
i
ket
his.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatt
hewaysomeonei
str
eat
ingy
oui
sunaccept
abl
eorunf
air
.

Near
-equi
val
entphr
asei
nEngl
i
sh:
“Howcoul
dyoudot
hist
ome?
”,“
Oh,
comeon!
”or“
That
’snot
cool
.”

16.我也说不好。Wǒy
ěshuōbùhǎo.

Li
ter
all
y:我(
“I
”)+也 (
“al
so”
)+说 (
“speak”
)+不好 (
“notgood”
)

Functi
on:Usedtost
atet
haty
oucannotmakeacommentaboutat
opi
corsi
tuat
ionasy
ouar
e
notverycer
tai
nabouti
t.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“I’
m notsur
eaboutt
hat
.”

Sy
nony
m:很难说。
17.那怎么行啊？Nàzěnmexí
nga?

Li
ter
all
y:“
Howi
sthatOK?
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatasi
tuat
ioni
snotaccept
abl
e.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Thatwon’
tdo”or“
Howcoul
dthatwor
k?”

18.我赶时间。Wǒgǎnshí
j
iān.

Li
ter
all
y:“
I’
mrushi
ngf
ort
ime.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oindi
cat
ethaty
ouar
einahur
ry.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“I’
minahur
ry”or“
I’
minar
ush”
.

19.但愿吧。Dàny
uànba.

Li
ter
all
y:但愿 (
“towi
sh”
)+吧 (
par
ti
clei
ndi
cat
ingsuggest
ion)

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oindi
cat
ethaty
ouwi
shwhatsomeonehasj
ustsai
dtur
nsoutt
obet
hecase.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Ihopeso.
”

Sy
nony
ms:
希望如此。

20.那倒是。Nàdàoshì
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Thatact
ual
l
yis.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oacknowl
edget
hatwhatsomeonehasj
ustsai
disi
nfactt
hecase.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“That
’sr
ight
”or“
Thi
sist
rue”
.

21.谁说的？Shéi
shuōde?

Li
ter
all
y:“
Whosai
d?”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oindi
cat
ethaty
oudoubtwhatsomeonehasj
ustsai
dist
rue.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Yeah,
right
…!”or“
Onwhatpl
anet
?”
22.这事已经过去了。Zhèshìy
ǐj
īngguòqul
e.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Thi
smat
terhasal
readypassed.
”

Functi
on:Usedt
oadvisesomeonet
hatwhathashappenedbel
ongst
othepastandsoshoul
d
nolongerbeaconcer
nanymore.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“That
’si
nthepastnow.
”,“
That
’sat
hingoft
hepast
.”or“
It
’sal
lov
er
now.
”

23.她有了。Tāy
ǒul
e.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Shehas.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatawomani
spr
egnant
.Usedasaeuphemi
sm.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“She’
sgotabuni
ntheov
en.
”or“
She’
sexpect
ing.
”

24.[
某人]
真有两下子。[
Somebody
]zhēny
ǒul
i
ǎngxi
àzi
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebodyr
eal
l
yhasacoupl
eoft
imes.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatsomeonei
sski
l
lful
,wi
thahi
ghl
evel
ofabi
l
ity
.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Somebodyhasr
eal
ski
l
l.
”or“
S/her
eal
l
yknowsher
/hi
sst
uff
.”

25.真是个悲剧哦。Zhēnshìgebēi
j
ùo.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Real
l
yisat
ragedy
.”

Funct
ion:Usedtocomplai
naboutsomethi
ngwhi chdisappointedyou.Hasamel
odramati
ctone.
Thewor d悲剧 isoftenty
pedasthepun杯具 ( “cup”)
.Byext ension,
theword茶几 (“
teatabl
e”)i
s
al
sousedt odescr
ibesomeoneyouthi
nkleadsapar t
icular
lysuckylif
e.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Thatr
eal
l
ysucks.
”,“
Whatabummer
.”or“
Fai
l
.”(
Amer
icansl
ang)

Sy
nony
ms:
好悲剧哦。

26.别激动。 Bi
éjī
dòng.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Don’
tgetagi
tat
ed/
exci
ted.
”
Funct
ion:
Usedt
otel
lsomeonet
ocal
m down.

Near
-equi
val
entphr
asei
nEngl
i
sh:
“Cal
m down.
”or“
Set
tl
edown.
”

27.数[
某人]
最小了。Shǔ[
somebody
]zuìxi
ǎol
e.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Countsomebodyast
hel
i
ttl
est
.”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatsomeonei
sthey
oungesti
nthei
rfami
l
y,ori
nagr
oupofpeopl
e.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Somebodyi
sthey
oungesther
e.”or“
Somebodyi
sthebabyoft
he
f
amil
y .
”

28.这事明摆着的呀。Zhèshìmí
ngbǎi
zhedey
a.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Thi
smat
teri
sobv
ious.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatsomet
hingi
sobv
ioussodoesnotneedf
urt
herexpl
anat
ion.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“It
’sobv
ious.
”

29.[
某人]
心里有数。[
Somebody
]xī
nli
yǒushù.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Insomebody
’shear
tther
eisanumber
.”

Functi
on:Usedt
oexpressconfi
dencethatsomeoneknowswhatt
odot
oachi
evesomet
hing,
especi
all
ywhenother
sworriest
hattheycan’t
.

Near-
equiv
alenti
nEngli
sh:“Somebodyi
sconf
identabouti
t.
”or“
Somebodyi
scer
tai
nabouti
t”
dependi
ngont hecont
ext.

Sy
nony
ms:
心中有数；心里有底；胸中有数。

30.茶都等凉了。Chádōuděngl
i
ángl
e.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Thet
eahasgonecol
dfr
om wai
ti
ng.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oexpr
essi
mpat
iencewi
thsomeonewhohasmadey
ouwai
tal
ongt
ime.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“We’
vebeenwai
ti
ngf
orev
er.
”
31.生不如死 ！Shēngbùr
úsǐ
!

Li
ter
all
y:“
Lif
eisnotasgoodasdeat
h!”

Funct
ion:
Usedtocompl
aint
hatthet
err
iblethi
ngsinone’
sli
fearet
oomucht
obear
,thati
t
wouldbebet
tert
odiet
hantokeeponli
ving.Melodr
amati
cintone.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Ki
l
lmenow!
”

32.[
某人]
对[某人]
有意思。[
Somebody
]duì[
somebody
]yǒuy
ìsi
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebodyi
sint
erest
edi
nsomebody
.”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatsomeonehasar
omant
ici
nter
esti
nsomeoneel
se.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Somebodyi
sint
osomebody
”or“
somebodyhasat
hingf
or
somebody”
.

33.[
某人]
跟[某人]
有缘分。[
Somebody
]gēn[
somebody
]yǒuy
uánf
èn.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebodyhasadest
inywi
thsomebody
.”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatt
wopeopl
ehav
eapr
edest
inedaf
fi
nit
y,t
hatt
heywer
efat
edt
omeet
.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Wewer
efat
edt
omeet
.”or“
Wewer
emeantt
obe.
”inar
omant
ic
cont
ext.

34.[
某人]
对[某事]
有研究。[
Somebody
]duì[
somet
hing]y
ǒuy
ánj
i
ū.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebodyhasdoner
esear
chaboutsomet
hing.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatsomebodyknowsori
sinf
ormedaboutat
opi
cormat
ter
.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
ish:“Somebodyknowsat
hingort
woaboutsomet
hing.
”or“
Somebodyi
s
i
nfor
medaboutsomething.
”

35.我想碰碰运气。Wǒxi
ǎngpèngpèngy
ùnqi
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
I’
dli
ket
otouch/
knock[
my]l
uck.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ostat
ethatyouwoul
dli
ket
otr
yandseei
fyoucansucceedi
nsomet
hing,
even
i
ftheoddsmaybeagai
nstyou.
Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“I’
dli
ket
otr
ymyl
uck.
”

36.我走狗屎运了。Wǒzǒugǒushǐy
ùnl
e.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Ist
eppedondog-
shi
tluck.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
haty
ouunexpect
edl
ygotl
ucky
,ort
haty
ouachi
evedsomet
hingby
fl
uke.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“If
lukedi
t.
”or“
Iluckedout
.”dependi
ngoncont
ext
.

Sy
nony
ms:
侥幸 (
adv
erb)

37.我都快崩溃了。Wǒdōukuài
bēngkuìl
e.

Li
ter
all
y:“
I’
m aboutt
ocol
l
apse.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatsomeonei
spsy
chol
ogi
cal
l
yexhaust
ed,
ordev
ast
ated.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“I’
m goi
ngt
opi
eces.
”or“
I’
m neart
hepoi
ntofbr
eakdown.
”

38.怎么搞的？Zěnmegǎode？

Li
ter
all
y:“
Howcoul
dthathav
ebeendone?
”

Funct
ion:Usedtoshowconfusi
onaboutsomet
hingt
hathashappenedt
hatyoudon’
t
under
stand,ordi
ssat
isf
act
ionorbl
ameaboutwhatsomeonehasdone,orf
ail
edtodo.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“What
’sgoi
ngon?
”or“
What
’sgoi
ngonwi
thy
ou?
”dependi
ngon
cont
ext.

Adv
ancedLev
el

39.[
某人]
给[某人]
穿小鞋了。[
Somebody
]gěi
[somebody
]chuānxi
ǎoxi
éle.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebodygav
esomebodysmal
lshoest
owear
.”

Functi
on:Usedt
oindi
cat
ethatsomeone,
usual
l
yofahi
gherposi
ti
on,
isdel
i
ber
atel
ymaki
ngl
i
fe
di
ffi
cultf
orsomeoneel
se.
Near
-equi
val
entphr
asei
nEngli
sh:“
Somebodyismakingl
i
fedi
ff
icul
tforsomebody
.”or
“
Somebodyhasputsomebodyinadif
fi
cul
tsi
tuat
ion.
”

40.放马过来吧！Fàngmǎguòl
áiba!

Li
ter
all
y:“
Sety
ourhor
sesonme!
”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
oshowt
haty
ouar
ereadyf
orachal
l
engeorf
ight
.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Br
ingi
ton!
”or“
Gimmeal
lyougot
!”

41.[
某人]
是[某人]
肚子里的虫子。[
Somebody
]shì[
somebody
]dùzi
lǐdechóngzi
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebodyi
ssomebody
’sbel
l
ybug.
”

Funct
ion:Usedtoindicat
ethatsomeoneknowssomeoneel
sesowel
lthats/
heknowsexact
ly
whattheyarethi
nking.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Somebodycanr
eadsomebody
’smi
nd/
thought
s.”

42.[
某人]
放了[
某人]
的鸽子。[
Somebody
]fàngl
e[somebody
]degēzi
.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebodyr
eleasedapi
geononsomebody
.”

Functi
on:
Usedt
oindi
cat
ethatsomeonehasf
ail
edt
oshowupt
oameet
ing,
dat
eorot
her
engagement
.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Somebodyst
oodsomebodyup.
”

43.什么风把你给吹到这儿来啦？Shénmef
ēngbǎnǐgěi
chuīdàozhèrl
áil
a?

Li
ter
all
y:“
Whatwi
ndbl
ewy
ouher
e?”

Functi
on:
Usedtogreetanacquai
ntancewhoy
ouhav
ebumpedi
nto,
orwhohast
urnedupt
o
yourhomeunannounced.

Near
-equi
val
entinEngl
ish:
“Whatbr
ingsy
ouhere?”Canalsobet
ransl
atedas“Lookwhatt
hecat
dr
aggedin.
”thoughthi
sisusual
l
yusedbetweenf
riendsonl
yasi
tcanbeof f
ensiv
e.

44.[
某人]
的心都提到嗓子眼儿了。[
Somebody
]dexī
ndōut
ídàosǎngzi
yǎnrl
e.
Li
ter
all
y:“
Somebody
’shear
thasr
oseupi
ntot
hei
rthr
oat
.”

Funct
ion:
Usedt
ost
atet
hatsomeonehasext
remel
yner
vousorscar
ed.

Near
-equi
val
enti
nEngl
i
sh:
“Somebody
’shear
tisr
aci
ng.
”

45.[
某人]
给[某人]
个台阶下。[
Somebody
]gěi
[somebody
]get
áij
i
ēxi
à.

Li
ter
all
y:“
Giv
esomebodyaf
li
ghtofst
epst
ogeton.
”

Funct
ion:
Usedtost
atethatsomeonehasgi
vensomeoneanoppor
tuni
tyt
ogetoutofan
awkwardorembar
rassi
ngsituat
ion.

Near
-equi
val
entinEngl
i
sh:
Noexactequi
val
ent
;consi
der
:“Gi
vesomebodyawayoutofan
awkwardsi
tuat
ion.
”

I
fyouhavesuggest
ions,par
ti
cular
lyi
nrel
ati
ontohowsomeofthesesent
encescanbebet
ter
t
ransl
atedi
ntoEngl
ish,pl
easeleav
ethem i
nthecommentssect
ion!