Animal Proverbs: Don't Force That Bull To Drink
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IN THIS LESSON
ID: 4213
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 bulls. They can be directly translated to "A bull in Beijing is still a bull", "A bull's head doesn't fit in a horse's mouth", and "Forcing a bull to drink water by pressing its head down". Do you know what they actually mean? Check out these proverbs and learn how to apply them to daily life!
Joy,Joshua
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| SIMPLIFIED | PINYIN | ENGLISH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 牛牵到北京还是牛 | niúqiāndàoběijīngháishìniú | A leopard cannot change its spots | |
| 牛头不对马嘴 | niútóubùduìmǎzuǐ | to be not on the same page | |
| 牛不喝水强按头 | niúbùhēshuǐqiǎngàntóu | to force one to do something against his will | |
| 环境 | huánjìng | environment; circumstances; surroundings |
牛牵到北京还是牛
Niú 牛qiān 牵dào 到Běijīng 北京háishi 还是Niú 牛
A leopard cannot change its spots.
我们说一个人换了环境但他的个性还是一样
wǒmen 我们shuō 说yī 一ge 个rén 人huàn 换le 了huánjìng 环境dàn 但tāde 他的gèxìng 个性háishi 还是yīyàng 一样
We use this to describe people whose personality doesn't change, even if he's in a new environment.
所以我们可以形容这个女孩儿牛牵到北京还是牛
suǒyǐ 所以wǒmen 我们kěyǐ 可以xíngróng 形容zhège 这个nǚháiēr 女孩儿niúqiāndàoběijīngháishìniú 牛牵到北京还是牛
So we can describe this girl as, " A leopard cannot change its spots."
我有一个朋友他结婚前有很多女朋友结婚后还是一样真是牛牵到北京还是牛
wǒ 我yǒu 有yī 一ge 个péngyou 朋友tā 他jiéhūn 结婚qián 前yǒu 有hěnduō 很多nǚpéngyou 女朋友jiéhūn 结婚hòu 后háishi 还是yīyàng 一样zhēnshi 真是niúqiāndàoběijīngháishìniú 牛牵到北京还是牛
I have a friend, he had lots of girlfriends before he was married and he still has lots of girlfriends after he got married. Old habits die hard.
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