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[2024-04-14] Master Chinese Proverbs and New Words with us!

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Hello, Chinese language aspirant!

In this edition of the newsletter, we'll unlock the secrets of a fascinating proverb - '龙生龙,凤生凤,老鼠的儿子会打洞' and explore five intriguing words - 扭转, 喂, 贯穿, 雪花, 住房. Let's embrace the beauty of Chinese language together!

扭转

niǔzhuǎn

The Chinese word for twist, '扭转', primarily refers to twisting or rotating something physically. It can also be used metaphorically to emphasize a sudden or dramatic change. For instance, 'the twist in the story' could be translated as '故事的扭转'.

Here's how to use it:

  • 他扭转了比赛的结果
    tā niǔ zhuǎn le bǐ sài de jié guǒ
  • 她在扭转困境
    tā zài niǔ zhuǎn kùn jìng
  • 扭转贫困地区的命运
    niǔ zhuǎn pín kùn dì qū de mìng yùn

wèi

'喂' in Chinese can be used in both the context of feeding an animal or addressing someone when answering the phone in a casual manner. However, in the context of translation from 'feed' in English, this is usually regarding the action of giving food to a person, animal, or plant. For example, '我喂了狗' means 'I fed the dog'.

Here's how to use it:

  • 喂,你能帮我个忙吗?
    Wèi, nǐ néng bāng wǒ gè máng ma?
  • 喂,你在哪里?
    Wèi, nǐ zài nǎlǐ?
  • 喂,你忘了带伞吗?
    Wèi, nǐ wàngle dài sǎn ma?

贯穿

guàn chuān

The Chinese word '贯穿' is used in a similar way to 'throughout' in English. It has the connotation of describing something that is ongoing or continuing from the beginning to the end. It can refer to time spans (all day, all year) or to physical or metaphorical spaces or extents (in every part of a building, through every aspect of a curriculum for example).

Here's how to use it:

  • 贯穿其间的河流犹如灵魂一般动人。
    guànchuān qíjiān de héliú yóurú líng hún yībān dòng rén.
  • 公平正义的思想贯穿她的法律生涯。
    gōngpíng zhèngyì de sīxiǎng guànchuān tā de fǎlǜ shēngyà.
  • 这个矛盾贯穿在整个小说中。
    zhè gè máodùn guànchuān zài zhěng gè xiǎoshuō zhōng.

雪花

xue3 hua1

The Chinese word '雪花' is used to denote 'snowflakes', particularly to depict the delicate and unique formations of ice crystals that fall from the sky during winter. It is used in the same context as it is in English, and is commonly found in literature and poetry to symbolify purity and tranquility.

Here's how to use it:

  • 雪花落在她的头发上。
    xuě huā luò zài tā de tóu fǎ shàng
  • 雪花在他的衣服上融化了。
    xuě huā zài tā de yī fú shàng róng huà le
  • 雪花在山顶上显得特别美丽。
    xuě huā zài shān dǐng shàng xiǎn de tè bié měi lì

住房

zhùfáng

The Chinese word '住房' refers to the activity of residing or living in a particular location. It can also mean a building or a place where people reside. It is often used in the context of issues related to human habitation such as housing shortage, housing affordability, etc.

Here's how to use it:

  • 我正在找住房。
    Wǒ zhèngzài zhǎo zhùfáng.
  • 寻找合适的住房很困难。
    Xúnzhǎo héshì de zhùfáng hěn kùnnán.
  • 住房价格在上涨。
    Zhùfáng jiàgé zài shàngzhǎng.
🤔🤔🤔

龙生龙,凤生凤,老鼠的儿子会打洞

lóng shēng lóng, fèng shēng fèng, lǎo shǔ de ér zi huì dǎ dòng

Never stop learning,

Mike from LangBites

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