Animal Proverbs: A blind cat meets a dead mouse
Relevant Content
We'll always make sure you know exactly what the lesson is about. You will easily understand whether it is relevant for you.
Great Hosts
Here at ChinesePod, all our lessons are presented in an entertaining manner by our great hosts. You'll find language learners, teachers, and even professors sharing their insights, ideas, and teaching methods in our video and audio lessons.
Brief Lesson Summaries
A brief introduction of the lesson will always tell you what this lesson is about and what language level is the intended target. If you're interested in the subject, but might not be able to understand it in full, fear not; we have transcripts of lesson dialogues vocabulary so you can follow along.
IN THIS LESSON
ID: 4278
Intermediate
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions.
In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to mice. They can be directly translated to "A cat that can catch mice doesn't purr", "A blind cat meets a dead mouse", and "When a rat crosses the streets, everyone yell 'Hit it!" Do you know what they actually mean? Check out these proverbs and learn how to apply them to daily life!
Joy,Joshua
Awesome Materials
Our lessons contain natural communication in Chinese in video and audio format. We have have lessons focused on video or a podcast format and our lessons have transcripts of Lesson Dialogues, Important Vocabulary, Expanded Materials for a deep dive into the lesson topic and Exercises focused on testing your retention.
Detailed Vocabulary
Each lesson has it's unique vocabulary and will provide you with definitions and recordings so you can practice the pronunciation. You will also be able to grasp the core material of a lesson at a glance. Here we're showing you the Simplified Chinese version.
| SIMPLIFIED | PINYIN | ENGLISH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 实力 | shílì | strength | |
| 卖弄 | màinong | to show off | |
| 能力 | nénglì | ability | |
| 会捉老鼠的猫不叫 | huìzhuōlǎoshǔdemāobùjiào | lit. a cat that can catch mice doesn’t purr (idiom); fig. still waters run deep |
在东方文化中老鼠是一个不好的象征例如我们会说一个人胆小如鼠
zài 在Dōngfāng 东方wénhuà 文化zhōng 中lǎoshǔ 老鼠shì 是yī 一ge 个bùhǎo 不好de 的xiàngzhēng 象征lìrú 例如wǒmen 我们huì 会shuō 说yī 一ge 个rén 人dǎnxiǎorúshǔ 胆小如鼠
In Eastern culture, mice is not a good symbol. For example, we can say a person is timid as a rat.
老鼠都会躲在暗处所以都不会做一些光明正大的事情
lǎoshǔ 老鼠dōu 都huì 会duǒ 躲zài 在àn 暗chù 处suǒyǐ 所以dōu 都bùhuì 不会zuò 做yīxiē 一些guāngmíngzhèngdà 光明正大de 的shìqing 事情
Mice always hide in the dark, so they don’t play fair and square.
会捉老鼠的猫不叫
huì 会zhuō 捉lǎoshǔ 老鼠de 的māo 猫bù 不jiào 叫
Still waters run deep.
在中国文化中谦虚是一种美德所以有实力的人通常不会卖弄自己但是能力不好的人却常常把自己讲得很好
zài 在Zhōngguó 中国wénhuà 文化zhōng 中qiānxū 谦虚shì 是yīzhǒng 一种měidé 美德suǒyǐ 所以yǒu 有shílì 实力de 的rén 人tōngcháng 通常bùhuì 不会màinong 卖弄zìjǐ 自己dànshì 但是nénglì 能力bùhǎo 不好de 的rén 人què 却chángcháng 常常bǎ 把zìjǐ 自己jiǎng 讲de 得hěn 很hǎo 好
In Chinese culture, people regard modesty as one of the virtues, so usually competent people don’t show off; however, incompetent people would often brag about how good they are.
Natural Dialogues
Each lesson is centered around a natural dialogue with key vocabulary directly prepared and translated for your use. You can also listen to each sentence as an individual recording to improve your listening and comprehension skills.
Try It For Free
ChinesePod is 100% Free to Try. Create an account today and get started!