Chinese idioms or Chengyu (成语(chéngyǔ)) are mainly composed of four characters that can accurately express a profound meaning. They mostly derived from ancient literature, usually closely related to the historical backgrounds, living environment, habits, etc., with a different grammatical structure from that of Modern Chinese.
Currently Chinese idioms or Chengyu are mainly used in modern Chinese writing and in the spoken language. There are estimated more than 30,000 Chinese idioms. Chinese people, in average, use perhaps about 300 Chengyu in daily conversation.
1. 活到老(huódàolǎo),学到老(xuédàolǎo) One is never too old to learn
Example:
活到老(huódàolǎo)学到老(xuédàolǎo),只要(zhǐyào)你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)学(xué)的话(dehuà),现在(xiànzài)开始(kāishǐ)还(hái)不(bù)迟(chí)。
2. 熟能生巧(shúnéngshēngqiǎo) practice makes perfect
Example:
不管(bùguǎn)学(xué)什么(shénme)语言(yǔyán),都(dōu)要(yào)多(duō)说(shuō)多(duō)练(liàn),这样(zhèyang)才(cái)会(huì)熟能生巧(shúnéngshēngqiǎo)。
3. 乱七八糟(luànqībāzāo) everything in disorder
Example:
你的(nǐde)房间(fángjiān)这么(zhème)乱七八糟(luànqībāzāo)的(de),整理(zhěnglǐ)一下(yīxià)。
4. 不可思议(bùkěsīyì) inconceivable
Example:
那时候(nàshíhou)换(huàn)个工作(gōngzuò)比(bǐ)换(huàn)国籍(guójí)还(hái)难(nán), 感谢(gǎnxiè)上帝(Shàngdì)!真(zhēn)不可思议(bùkěsīyì)!还(hái)能(néng)找到(zhǎodào)好(hǎo)工作(gōngzuò)。
5. 独一无二(dúyīwú’èr) unique and unmatched
Example:
爱(ài)着(zhe)这样(zhèyàng)独一无二(dúyīwú’èr)的(de)你(nǐ)。
6. 一模一样(yīmúyīyàng) exactly the same
Example:
虽然(suīrán)我(wǒ)没(méi)见过(jiànguo)你(nǐ),但是(dànshì)一眼(yīyǎn)就(jiù)认出(rènchū)了(le)你(nǐ),你(nǐ)和(hé)你(nǐ)妈(mā)长(zhǎng)得(de)一模一样(yīmúyīyàng)。
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