Mandarin Essentials

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。 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

顺风耳 (shùnfēng’ěr) Clairaudient (Advanced)

顺风耳 (shùnfēng’ěr) Clairaudient 

The character “顺 (shùn)” means in the same direction; “风 (fēng)” means

wind and “耳 (ěr)” means ear.

Example:

Zài Fēngshénbǎng lǐ, Gāo Jué shì yí gè shùnfēng’ ěr, tā néng tīngdào qiān lǐyǐ wài de shēngyīn. 在封神榜里,高觉是一个顺风耳,他能听到千里以外的声音。

In The Legend of …

千里眼 (qiānlǐyǎn) Clairvoyant (Advanced)

千里眼 (qiānlǐyǎn) Clairvoyant 

The character “千 (qiān)” means thousand; “里 (lǐ) is mile and” 眼 (yǎn)”

refers to eyes.

Example: Zài Fēngshénbǎnglǐ, Gāo Míng shì yí gè qiānlǐyǎn, tā néng kàndào qiān lǐ yǐ wài de dōngxi. 在封神榜里,高明是一个千里眼,他能看到千里以外的东西。 In The Legend of Deification, Gao Ming …

落汤鸡 (luòtāngjī) Completely Soaked (Advanced)

落汤鸡 (luòtāngjī) Completely Soaked 

“落汤鸡 (luòtāngjī)” is the phrase for “Soaked.”  The character “落 (luò)” means drop or decline; “汤 (tāng)” means soup and “鸡 (jī)” means chicken. Example:

Tā zhèngzài lùshang zǒuzhe, tūrán xiàqǐ le dàyǔ, jiéguǒ lín de xiàng gè luòtāngjī yíyàng. 他正在路上走着,突然下起了大雨,结果淋得像个落汤鸡一样。…

纸老虎 (zhǐlǎohǔ) Paper Tiger (Advanced)

纸老虎 (zhǐlǎohǔ) Paper Tiger 

“纸老虎 (zhǐlǎohǔ)” is the phrase for “Paper Tiger.” The character “纸 (zhǐ)” means paper; “老 (lǎo)” means old and “虎 (hǔ)” means tiger. Example:

Bié pà tā, tā zhǐshì zhǎngxiàng bǐjiào xiōng’ è, qíshí shì gè zhǐlǎohǔ. 别怕他,他只是长相比较凶恶,其实是个纸老虎。

Do not be …

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