Chinese: Vocabulary & Idiomatic Expressions Flashcards

The chengyu '班门弄斧' (bān mén nòng fǔ) means:

Answer: To show off one's limited skills before an expert

班门弄斧 refers to displaying axe skills in front of Lu Ban (the legendary master carpenter), meaning to show off limited skill before an expert.

What does '可持续发展' (kě chísù fāzhǎn) mean in environmental discussions?

Answer: Sustainable development

可 means 'able to,' 持续 means 'sustain/continue,' and 发展 means 'development,' so 可持续发展 means 'sustainable development.'

The expression '不谋而合' (bù móu ér hé) means:

Answer: To coincide without prior discussion

不谋而合 means 'to coincide without prior consultation,' describing when people independently reach the same conclusion.

In Chinese, '高科技' (gāo kējì) refers to:

Answer: High technology

高 means 'high' and 科技 is short for 科学技术 (science and technology), so 高科技 means 'high technology' or 'high-tech.'

The chengyu '塞翁失马' (sài wēng shī mǎ) conveys which lesson?

Answer: A loss may turn out to be a gain

塞翁失马 tells of an old man whose lost horse returned with more horses, illustrating that apparent misfortune may lead to good fortune.

What does '人口老龄化' (rénkǒu lǎolínghuà) refer to in societal discussions?

Answer: Population aging

人口 means 'population,' 老龄 means 'old age/elderly,' and 化 is a suffix meaning 'to become,' so 人口老龄化 means 'population aging.'

The grammatical structure '与其...不如...' (yǔ qí... bù rú...) is used to express:

Answer: Preferring one option over another

与其...不如... means 'rather than [X], it is better to [Y],' expressing a clear preference for one option over another.