![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/niu_1.jpg)
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy it is \u725b\ninstead of another animal? It\u2019s because after killing a lamb, they make a cut at\nthe leg to drain the blood and then blow up the lamb to make it easier to\nremove the skin. So, the words \u5439\u7f8a or \u5439\u732a carry that meaning. However,\nsince oxhide is hard and big, people think it\u2019s impossible to blow up. Then if\nsomeone says they can \u5439\u725b(blow up oxhide), people will suspect that this\nperson is bragging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
e.g. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u770b\uff0c\u5979\u53c8\u5728\u5439\u725b<\/strong>\u4e86\u3002<\/em> \u4ed6\u5929\u5929\u5439\u725b<\/strong>\u8bf4\u81ea\u5df1\u53bb\u8fc7100\u4e2a\u56fd\u5bb6\u3002<\/em> \u725b\u903c was used as slang in northeastern China at first, then gradually became\npopular all over, especially among young people. The character\u725b is\n\u201cox\u201d, while \u903c means \u201cforce, compel\u201d, so literally \u725b\u903c translates to \u201can ox forces or compels\u201d. Actually, Chinese people\nuse \u725b\u903c to express heartfelt appreciation towards\ntheir opponent<\/em>.<\/strong> Sometimes people use it in a sarcastic sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u725b\u903c<\/em><\/strong>\u554a\uff0c\u8fd9\u4e48\u96be\u7684\u95ee\u9898\uff0c\u4f60\u90fd\u89e3\u51b3\u4e86\u3002<\/em> \u725b\u903c\u725b\u903c<\/em><\/strong>\uff0c\u6211\u6bd4\u4e0d\u4e0a\u3002<\/em> Note:<\/strong> This term is widely used and has almost become a semi-commendatory word, but in fact, it\u2019s still not very polite. Some people might feel offended if you say \u725b\u903c to them. So please use it carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n Even though in traditional Chinese culture, a\nhorse is usually a symbol of strength, liberty, fortune, health, never giving\nup, ability, and talent, the two phrases below are usually used in negative\nsituations.<\/p>\n\n\n \u9a6c means \u201chorse\u201d,\u540e means \u201cafter\u201d\nand\u70ae means \u201ccannon\u201d, so \u9a6c\u540e\u70ae is literally\n\u201ca cannon after a horse\u201d. Chinese people use it to express that it\ndoesn\u2019t help to take measures after a fact<\/em><\/strong>. It\u2019s similar to making a<\/em> belated effort <\/em><\/strong>\/being a <\/em><\/strong>Monday morning\nquarterback <\/em><\/strong>in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4eba\u5df2\u7ecf\u6b7b\u4e86\uff0c\u4e0d\u8981\u5728\u8fd9\u91cc\u653e\u9a6c\u540e\u70ae<\/strong>\u3002<\/em> \u9a6c\u540e\u70ae<\/em><\/strong>\uff0c\u4f60\u6628\u5929\u4e3a\u4ec0\u4e48\u4e0d\u8bf4\uff1f<\/em> \u62cd means \u201cto pat\nor beat\u201d, while \u9a6c\u5c41 means \u201ccrupper\u201d (a strap on a saddle\nthat prevents it from slipping), so literally \u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41 directly translates\nto \u201cto pat or beat a crupper\u201d. It is said that\u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41 comes from a part of Mongolian culture. In the Yuan Dynasty, when\nMongolian people rode their horses alongside someone else, they always patted\nthe crupper of the other\u2019s horse and said \u201cGood horse!\u201d to show respect and\npoliteness. Later on, there were some people who just complimented the horse whether\nit was good or not. So\u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41 gradually evolved into a negative phrase\nmeaning someone who sucks up to others<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u4e00\u5929\u5230\u665a\u53ea\u77e5\u9053\u62cd<\/strong>\u9886\u5bfc\u7684\u9a6c\u5c41<\/strong>\u3002<\/em> \u9664\u4e86\u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41<\/strong>\uff0c\u4f60\u8fd8\u6709\u4ec0\u4e48\u771f\u672c\u4e8b\uff1f<\/em> \u9c7c, or fish, is often tied to Chinese\nculture and daily life. It symbolizes Chinese people\u2019s desire for a good\nharvest, a prosperous life, a better marriage, freedom etc. Here we\u2019ll go over\nthree slang expressions that include \u9c7c.<\/p>\n\n\n \u9526\u9ca4(cyprinus carpio) originally referred to koi fish. They have a long lifespan, and it\u2019s said that \u9526\u9ca4 can bring good luck. In traditional Chinese culture, \u9526\u9ca4 symbolize longevity and good luck. Nowadays, \u9526\u9ca4 represents everything related to good luck.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How did \u9526\u9ca4 become so popular, especially on the internet? It\u2019s actually because of an online campaign. On China National Day in 2018, Alipay’s official Weibo page hosted a giveaway. The lucky winner was drawn from those who reposted their post on Weibo. The winner was called the \u201cChinese Jinli\u201d and won a “Global Free-Gift Package”. There were more than 3 million reposts. Afterwards, \u9526\u9ca4 instantly became popular and there was an upsurge of people forwarding pictures of \u9526\u9ca4 with captions such as “Jinli prayer” and “Jinli blessing”. Later on, as its popularity grew, \u9526\u9ca4 also began to mean people who are lucky with things like the lottery and gambling<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8f6c\u53d1\u9526\u9ca4<\/strong>\uff0c\u5e0c\u671b\u6211\u8003\u8bd5\u80fd\u8fc7\u3002<\/em> \u8f6c\u53d1\u8fd9\u4e2a\u9526\u9ca4<\/strong>\u4f1a\u6709\u597d\u8fd0\u3002<\/em> \u4f60\u662f\u9526\u9ca4<\/strong>\u5417\uff1f\u5c31\u4f60\u4e00\u4e2a\u4eba\u4e2d\u5956\u4e86\uff01<\/em> \u6478 means \u201ctouch\u201d, so \u6478\u9c7c literally means \u201ctouch a fish\u201d. \u6478\u9c7c actually comes from the idiom \u6d51\u6c34\u6478\u9c7c(h\u00fan shu\u01d0 m\u014d y\u00fa), which means groping for fish in turbid water. Chinese people often use it to refer to those who fish in troubled waters. And now people use\u6478\u9c7c to talk about those who don\u2019t really work and just mess around. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u4e0a\u73ed\u5c31\u662f\u5728\u6478\u9c7c<\/strong>\u3002<\/em> \u4f60\u60f3\u6478\u9c7c<\/strong>\u5c31\u4e0d\u8981\u6765\u516c\u53f8\uff0c\u4f60\u53ef\u4ee5\u56de\u53bb\u3002<\/em> \u7092 means \u201cstir-fry\u201d and \u9c7f\u9c7c is \u201csquid\u201d, so \u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c directly translates to \u201cstir-fry a squid\u201d. Chinese people use \u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c to refer to getting fired.<\/em> <\/strong>\u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c is very close to \u5377\u94fa\u76d6(ju\u01cen p\u016b\u0261\u0251i). A long time ago, workers would bring sleeping bags with them, so they had to roll up their sleeping bag when they were fired. Gradually \u5377\u94fa\u76d6 came to mean getting fired. For \u9c7f\u9c7c, people saw that when cooked, \u9c7f\u9c7c would roll up, which was similar to the shape of a rolled up sleeping bag. As a result, people started to associate \u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c and \u5377\u94fa\u76d6. Later on, \u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c became the most popular way to talk about getting fired..<\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u4eec\u4eca\u5929\u88ab\u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c<\/strong>\u4e86\u3002<\/em> \u4f60\u5c0f\u5fc3\u70b9\u513f\uff0c\u4e0d\u8981\u88ab\u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c<\/strong>\u4e86\u3002 <\/em> Unfortunately in Chinese slang, \u72d7 are often deprecated, even though now most people think of \u72d7 as our faithful friends. Here are two idioms that include the word \u72d7.<\/p>\n\n\n The word \u5355\u8eab means \u201csingle\u201d, so \u5355\u8eab\u72d7 literally means \u201ca single dog\u201d. \u5355\u8eab\u72d7 now is widely used to emphasize that someone is single. <\/em><\/strong>This phrasecomes from the memorable quote \u201cHe looks like a dog.\u201d from the wedding ceremony scene in the film A Chinese Odyssey.<\/em> It was originally only used for self-deprecation. But now, it\u2019s also used to address others with a slightly derogatory tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u662f\u5355\u8eab\u72d7<\/strong>\uff0c\u4e0d\u8fc7\u60c5\u4eba\u8282\u3002<\/em> \u4e0d\u8981\u5728\u6211\u8fd9\u4e2a\u5355\u8eab\u72d7<\/strong>\u9762\u524d\u79c0\u6069\u7231\u3002<\/em> \u8840 means \u201cblood\u201d, so \u72d7\u8840 actually means \u201cdog\u2019s blood\u201d. It\u2019s said that during the heyday of the film and television industry in Hong Kong in the 1990s, there were many of TV dramas about ghost hunting. The idea that dog blood can be used to drive away evil often came up in those shows. So, the term dog blood referred to outdated elements in film or TV. Nowadays, Chinese people use \u72d7\u8840 to describe exaggerated or outdated elements in media or even real life.<\/em><\/strong> So \u72d7\u8840 is really similar to campy\/clich\u00e9 <\/em><\/strong>in English. <\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u8fd9\u4ef6\u4e8b\u592a\u72d7\u8840<\/strong>\u4e86\u3002<\/em> \u6211\u6628\u5929\u770b\u4e86\u4e00\u90e8\u5f88\u72d7\u8840<\/strong>\u7684\u7535\u89c6\u5267\u3002<\/em> \u9e21 symbolizes good luck, fighting and brightness in\nChinese culture. Here are two expressions that include \u9e21.<\/p>\n\n\n Literally \u6253\u9e21\u8840 means \u201cinject chicken blood\u201d. It\u2019s said that \u6253\u9e21\u8840 originates from a medical technique from the 1980s where they would\ndraw blood from a year-old rooster and inject it. It was once popular among the\nveteran cadres at that time. Supposedly, the person who was injected with\nchicken blood would become energetic, but it was actually unscientific, and that\ntrend quickly faded. Now, Chinese people use \u6253\u9e21\u8840 to talk about<\/em><\/strong> someone who is full of energy or mock\nsomeone\u2019s sudden excitement towards something.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u770b\u4e86\u8fd9\u672c\u4e66\u540e\uff0c\u4ed6\u6574\u4e2a\u4eba\u5c31\u50cf\u6253\u9e21\u8840<\/strong>\u4e00\u6837\u3002<\/em> \u6628\u665a\u4ed6\u6253\u4e86\u4e00\u665a\u7684\u6e38\u620f\uff0c\u4eca\u5929\u8fd8\u8fd9\u4e48\u6709\u7cbe\u795e\uff0c\u5c31\u50cf\u6253<\/strong>\u4e86\u9e21\u8840<\/strong>\u4e00\u6837\u3002<\/em> \u94c1\u516c\u9e21 literally means \u201cirony rooster\u201d. Chinese people use \u94c1\u516c\u9e21 to refer to a stingy person. <\/em><\/strong>\u94c1\u516c\u9e21 comes from an ancient text which described a rich man who was so stingy\nthat people all called him\u94c1\u516c\u9e21. <\/p>\n\n\n\n E.g. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u4eec\u90fd\u53eb\u90a3\u4e2a\u4eba\u201c<\/em>\u94c1\u516c\u9e21<\/em><\/strong>\u201d\u3002<\/em> \u4ed6\u5c31\u662f\u4e2a\u94c1\u516c\u9e21<\/strong>\uff0c\u4e00\u5206\u94b1\u4e5f\u4e0d\u4f1a\u7ed9\u4f60\u3002<\/em>
(N\u01d0 k\u00e0n, t\u0101 y\u00f2u z\u00e0i chu\u012b ni\u00fa<\/strong> le.)<\/em>
Look, she is bragging<\/strong> again.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(T\u0101 ti\u0101nti\u0101n chu\u012b ni\u00fa<\/strong> shu\u014d z\u00ecj\u01d0 q\u00f9\u0261uo y\u00ecb\u01cei \u0261e \u0261u\u00f3ji\u0101.)<\/em>
He is always bragging<\/strong> that he has gone to one hundred countries every day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n> \u725b\u903c(ni\u00fa b\u012b) \u2013 Impressive<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/niu_2.jpg)
(Ni\u00fa b\u012b<\/strong>\u2019\u0101, zh\u00e8me n\u00e1nde w\u00e8nt\u00ed, n\u01d0 d\u014du ji\u011bju\u00e9 le.)<\/em>
Impressive!<\/em><\/strong> these questions are so hard, but you solved them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Ni\u00fa b\u012b ni\u00fa b\u012b<\/strong>, w\u01d2 b\u01d0 bu sh\u00e0n\u0261.)<\/em>
So impressive<\/strong>, I cannot compete with you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n#2 \u9a6c(m\u01ce)- Horse<\/h2>\n\n\n
> \u9a6c\u540e\u70ae(m\u01ce h\u00f2u p\u00e0o)- Too Little, Too Late<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ma_1.jpg)
(R\u00e9n y\u01d0j\u012bn\u0261 s\u01d0 le, b\u00fa y\u00e0o z\u00e0i zh\u00e8l\u01d0 f\u00e0n\u0261 m\u01ceh\u00f2up\u00e0o<\/strong>.)<\/em>
It\u2019s too little, too late, <\/em><\/strong>since the person was already dead.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(M\u01ceh\u00f2up\u00e0o<\/strong>, n\u01d0 zu\u00f3ti\u0101n w\u00e8ish\u00e9nme b\u00f9 shu\u014d?)<\/em>
You\u2019re being a Monday morning quarterback<\/strong>, why didn\u2019t you say anything yesterday?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n> \u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41(p\u0101i m\u01cep\u00ec)- Sucking up to someone<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ma_2.jpg)
(T\u0101 y\u00ec ti\u0101n d\u00e0o w\u01cen zh\u01d0 zh\u012bd\u00e0o p\u0101i<\/strong> l\u00edn\u0261d\u01ceo de m\u01cep\u00ec<\/strong>.)<\/em>
He only knows how to suck up to <\/strong>the leader all day long.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Ch\u00fale p\u0101i m\u01cep\u00ec<\/strong>, n\u01d0 h\u00e1iy\u01d2u sh\u00e9nme zh\u0113n b\u011bnshi?)<\/em>
Besides sucking up to<\/strong> others, what other real skills do you have?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n#3 \u9c7c(y\u01d8)-fish<\/h2>\n\n\n
> \u9526\u9ca4(j\u01d0nl\u01d0)- everything related to good luck<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yu_1.jpg)
(Zhu\u01cenf\u0101 j\u01d0nl\u01d0<\/strong>, x\u012bw\u00e0n\u0261 w\u01d2 k\u01ceosh\u00ec n\u00e9n\u0261 \u0261u\u00f2.)<\/em>
I\u2019ll forward Jinli<\/strong> and hope I can pass the exam.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Zhu\u01cenf\u0101 zh\u00e8\u0261e j\u01d0nl\u01d0<\/strong> hu\u00ec y\u01d2u h\u01ceoy\u00f9n.)<\/em>
Forwarding this Jinli<\/strong> will bring good luck.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(N\u01d0 sh\u00ec j\u01d0nl\u01d0<\/strong> ma? Ji\u00f9 n\u01d0 y\u00ed\u0261\u00e8 r\u00e9n zh\u00f2n\u0261 ji\u01cen\u0261 le!)<\/em>
Are you a Jinli<\/strong>? Only you will win the lottery!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n> \u6478\u9c7c(m\u014d y\u00fa)- mess around<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yu_2.jpg)
(T\u0101 sh\u00e0n\u0261 b\u0101n ji\u00f9sh\u00ec z\u00e0i m\u014d y\u00fa<\/strong>.)<\/em>
He\u2019s messing around<\/strong> at work.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(N\u01d0 xi\u01cen\u0261 m\u014d y\u00fa<\/strong> ji\u00f9 b\u00fa y\u00e0o l\u00e1i \u0261\u014dn\u0261s\u012b, n\u01d0 k\u011by\u01d0 hu\u00edq\u00f9.)<\/em>
Don\u2019t come here if you want to mess around<\/strong> at the firm, just go back home.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n> \u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c(ch\u01ceo y\u00f3uy\u00fa)- get fired<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/yu_3.jpg)
(T\u0101men j\u012bnti\u0101n b\u00e8i ch\u01ceo y\u00f3uy\u00fa<\/strong> le.)<\/em>
They were fired<\/strong> today.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(N\u01d0 xi\u01ceox\u012bn di\u01cen\u2019r, b\u00fa y\u00e0o b\u00e8i ch\u01ceo y\u00f3uy\u00fa <\/strong>le.)<\/em>
Be careful, don\u2019t get fired<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n#4 \u72d7(\u0261\u01d2u)-dog<\/h2>\n\n\n
> \u5355\u8eab\u72d7(d\u0101nsh\u0113n \u0261\u01d2u) – single<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dog_1.jpg)
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dog_2.jpg)
(W\u01d2 sh\u00ec d\u0101nsh\u0113n \u0261\u01d2u<\/strong>, b\u00fa \u0261u\u00f2 Q\u00edn\u0261r\u00e9n ji\u00e9.)<\/em>
I\u2019m single<\/strong> and don\u2019t do anything Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(B\u00fa y\u00e0o z\u00e0i w\u01d2 zh\u00e8\u0261e d\u0101nsh\u0113n \u0261\u01d2u<\/strong> mi\u00e0nqi\u00e1n xi\u00f9 \u0113n\u2019\u00e0i.)<\/em>
I\u2019m single<\/strong>, so don\u2019t do any PDA in front of me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n> \u72d7\u8840(\u0261\u01d2u xi\u011b)- campy\/clich\u00e9<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dog_3.jpg)
(N\u01d0 zh\u00e8 ji\u00e0n sh\u00ec t\u00e0i \u0261\u01d2uxi\u011b <\/strong>le.)<\/em>
That is so campy of you<\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(W\u01d2 zu\u00f3ti\u0101n k\u00e0nle y\u00ed b\u00f9 h\u011bn \u0261\u01d2uxi\u011b<\/strong> de di\u00e0nsh\u00ecj\u00f9.)<\/em>
I watched a very campy<\/strong> drama yesterday.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n#5 \u9e21(j\u012b)-chicken<\/h2>\n\n\n
> \u6253\u9e21\u8840(d\u01ce j\u012bxi\u011b)- so excited\/ energetic<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ji_1.jpg)
(K\u00e0nle zh\u00e8 b\u011bn sh\u016b h\u00f2u\uff0ct\u0101 zh\u011bn\u0261\u0261\u00e8 r\u00e9n ji\u00f9 xi\u00e0n\u0261 d\u01ce j\u012bxi\u011b<\/strong> y\u00edy\u00e0n\u0261.)<\/em>
After reading this book, he became so excited<\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Zu\u00f3w\u01cen t\u0101 dale y\u00ec w\u01cen de y\u00f3ux\u00ec, j\u012bnti\u0101n h\u00e1i zh\u00e8me y\u01d2u j\u012bn\u0261shen, ji\u00f9 xi\u00e0n\u0261 da<\/strong>le j\u012bxi\u011b<\/strong> y\u00edy\u00e0n\u0261.)<\/em>
He played games all night, but he is still energetic today, like he injected chicken blood<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n> \u94c1\u516c\u9e21(ti\u011b \u0261\u014dn\u0261j\u012b)- stingy person<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ji_2.jpg)
(W\u01d2men d\u014du ji\u00e0o n\u00e0\u0261e r\u00e9n \u201cti\u011b \u0261\u014dn\u0261j\u012b<\/strong>\u201d.)<\/em>
We all call that person \u201cstingy man<\/strong>\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(T\u0101 ji\u00f9 sh\u00ec \u0261\u00e8 ti\u011b \u0261\u014dn\u0261j\u012b<\/strong>, y\u00ec f\u0113n qi\u00e1n y\u011b b\u00fa hu\u00ec \u0261\u011bi n\u01d0.)<\/em>