jenny's blog

[Chinese Learning] What is 背鍋 and 甩鍋 ?

背鍋
bēi guō

If you directly translate it, it means:
背 = Carry
鍋 = Wok.

However, the meaning of the word is:
1) To be made the scapegoat. 2) To bear the blame for someone else’s mistake

甩鍋
shuǎi guō

If you directly translate it, it means:
甩 = Dump
鍋 = Wok.

However, the meaning of the word is:
1) To refuse to be wronged. 2) To shirk responsibility while one is actually responsible.

[Chinese Learning] What is 掰弯?

掰弯
bāi wān

The meaning of the word is to 'bend someone'. The idea behind it is to describe when someone is so handsome/pretty or charming that people of the same sex would turn into a homosexual for them so it is actually a praise.

This word was popularised when Tom Cook, CEO of Apple, came out to announce that he was gay.
This was the Chinese sentence that got popular:

【苹果CEO库克宣布出柜:身为同性恋者我感到自豪】“多年来,我向许多人公开了我的性取向。苹果的许多同事也知道我是一个同性恋者,但他们对待我的态度没有什么不同。”网友:请不要再吐槽苹果的菊花壁纸了,也不要研究为什么iPhone6很容易掰弯了。

[Chinese Learning] What is 爆表?

爆表
bào biǎo

This phrase is used to describe something being so explosive that it is off the charts.
If we break down the phrase:
爆: means to explode
表: means timetable/chart/watch etc

An example would be:
今日空气最差十城河北4席 石家庄邢台连续爆表
Jīnrì kōngqì zuì chà shí chéng héběi 4 xí shíjiāzhuāng xíngtái liánxù bào biǎo

This translates to: Today's air pollution index is the worst in amongst the 10 cities in ShiJiaZhuang, XingTai continues to explode off the charts.

【商务干货】八一八美国涨税的一二事(1)

在近期刚刚结束的G20峰会上,中美领导达成共识(dáchénggòngshí. Reach an agreement)暂停税务(shuìwù. Tax in general)上调(shàngtiáo. Upward adjustment),这可真是让众多吃瓜群众(chīguāqúnzhòng. Literally means eat melon people, it is internet lingo for bystanders, audiences)松了一口气(sōngle yīkǒuqì. Literally means release a mouthful of breath, means feel released)。
After the recent G20 summit, leaders from China and the US reach an agreement to pause any adjustment to the tariff. It is a relief to many people who have been keeping tabs on this matter.

[Chinese Learning] What is 抱大腿?

抱大腿
bào dà tuǐ

The meaning of this phrase is to signify someone trying to curry favor with someone else.

However, if you break down the phrase, you will realise that it is not what it means if you directly translate it:
抱: to hug
大腿: thighs

Therefore, the direct translation of the phrase is "to hug (someone's) big thighs"

【老词新用】从“纸上谈兵”到“网上谈兵”

纸(zhǐ)paper

上(shàng)on, above

谈(tán)talk about

兵(bīng)troop. Here refers to the art of war

网(wǎng)net. Here refers to the internet

战国时期,赵国有一位名将叫做赵奢。他曾多次以少胜多(yǐshǎoshèngduō. Use little to win over many),大败(bài. Defeat)入侵(rùqīn. Invading)的秦国。

During the Warring States era of China, there was a famous general in State Zhao, named Zhao She. He defeated a much stronger state, Qin, in multiple battles.

他有一个儿子叫做赵括,他从小熟读兵法,谈起兵事来父亲也难不倒(nánbùdǎo. Not too difficult for me to fall down)他。

[Chinese Learning] What is 悲催?

悲催
bēi cuī

This is usually used to describe something that is so sad that it makes you cry. (不称意、不顺心、失败,伤心和悔恨等意思)

This Internet slang term is often used to describe something that’s shocking, sad and hard to accept.

For example:
太悲催了,我想哭了
(its too tragic, I feel like crying)

最近很悲催。
(recently, I have been feeling pretty down)

悲催啊,悲催,我挂科了!
(Tragic! Tragic, I need to retake my exam!)

【今日潮词】你是“隐形贫困人口吗”?

有关个人经济状况(jīngjìzhuàngkuàng. Economic/finance situation)的网络词汇经常会被炒(chǎo. Fry, made popular)得火热。

Internet lingo related to personal finance is always a hit.

比如说曾经在2013年前后风靡一时(fēngmíyīshí. Be in fashion or popular for a time)“月光族”,形容工资月月被花光的一类人。

There is “monthly-finishers” around 2013, which describes a type that spends all the salary each month.

再比如说2017年流传的“贫穷(pínqióng. Poverty)限制了我的想象力”。每当网络上出现一些“炫富(xuànfù. Flaunt one’s wealth)”的图片或故事,网民们便会这样调侃自己的经济实力(jīngjìshílì. Economic capability)。

【时事热点】2018二十国峰会

2018年的二十国峰会(简称G20)已经缓缓拉开了帷幕(wéimù. Curtain)。今年的峰会在阿根廷首都布宜诺斯艾利斯举办。
The curtain has raised as 2018 G20 summit commences. This year’s summit is held in Buenos Aires, Argentine.

自从2016年,阿根廷现任总统马克里上台之后,他大刀阔斧(dàdāokuòfǔ. Big knife and broad axe, used to describe do something with determination)地展开了一系列外交行动,为这次峰会奠定(diàndìng. Establish, settle)了良好的经济和政治基础。
Since current Argentine president Macri takes office in 2016, he exercised a series of a diplomatic approach, which set a good economic and political foundation for the summit.

[Chinese learning] What is 傲嬌 ?

傲嬌
ào jiāo

Originated from the Japanese gaming and manga/anime sub-culture, “tsundere” [ツンデレ] describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing their warm and even coy side over time. Now the term is also used to mean “sassy”.

A partner phrase with this that is also commonly found in the online sphere is 撒嬌 (sa jiao) which means to be sassy in a feminine way or a cute way. Usually done to guys by a girl in an affectionate way.

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