Since I haven’t been back in China for well over a year, I have been spending a lot more time doing a lot of reviewing using various books I accumulated over there. One of my favorite books to study by while I attended Shanghai JiaoTong University was the text of idiomatic expressions 《惯用语教程》.
It taught me a lot of expressions that you just don’t come across in the academia, but can hear these in many daily conversations. As part of this “Idiomatic Expressions” series, I’m going to share of those expressions that I have recently reviewed. Don’t be afraid to leave a comment with any questions you may have!
1. 侃大山 [kǎndàshān] – shoot the breeze; to chat needlessly; also 吹大山
精简机构后，责任到人，机关里喝茶、看报、侃大山的人少了。
我就喜欢跟朋友侃大山，我觉得很放松。
2. 下海 [xiàhǎi] – literally means to go to sea, but as an expression it means to go into business
八十年代，下海的人换真不少。
早一点下海的人，都得到了很好的发展，现在，想进政府机关的人又多了。
3. 闯江湖 [chuǎngjiānghú] – to lead a roaming life
才十六岁，涉世未深，却吵着要闯江湖，真可笑。
闯江湖，不是浪漫，是生活所迫。
4. 弄潮儿 [nòngcháo'ér] – a person who dares to go all out, even faced by risk
想做时代的弄潮儿，跟我来。
没有知识，在现代社会不会成为时代的弄潮儿的。
5. 木头人 [mùtourén] – a slow person; a foolish person; an idiot
真是木头人一个，他的意思，你还没有出来吗？
我爱人就喜欢我木头人的样子，也很可爱的。
6. 一头雾水 [yìtóuwùshuǐ] – to confuse; confusing; also 满头雾水
还没起床，就被骂了一通，真是一头雾水。
你们都围着我笑，弄得我一头雾水。
7. 鬼门关 [guǐménguān] – a difficult or trying situation (the gates of hell)
这就是传说中的鬼门关，敢不敢闯？
他已经走过好几次鬼门关，已经不害怕死亡了。
8. 煞风景 [shāfēnɡjǐnɡ] – to spoil the fun
小区乱搭违章建筑，真是煞风景。
别闹了，今天人家有喜事，别煞风景了。
9. 鬼点子 [guǐdiǎnzi] – a wicked idea
就他鬼点子多，有时还挺管用。
少出鬼点子，你惹的麻烦还少吗？
10. 鬼把戏 [guǐbǎxì] – a dirty trick
少拿鬼把戏唬我，我不信邪。
这是他玩的鬼把戏，我们一定要揭穿它。
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