Animal Proverbs: Eat like a dragon, work like a worm
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IN THIS LESSON
ID: 4224
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 dragons. They can be directly translated to "When you’re out, you behave like a dragon. When you’re at home, you behave like a worm", "Hoping my son will become a dragon, hoping my daughter will become a phoenix", and "Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, and mice's sons can dig holes". 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 在外像条龙，在家像条虫。 | zàiwàixiàngtiáolóngzàijiāxiàngtiáochóng | When you’re out, you behave like a dragon. When you’re at home, you behave like a worm. | |
| 龙 | lóng | dragon | |
| 做活 | zuòhuó | to work for a living (esp. of woman needleworker) | |
| 家事 | jiāshì | family matters; domestic affairs; housework |
在外像条龙在家像条虫
zài 在wài 外xiàng 像tiáo 条lóng 龙zài 在jiā 家xiàng 像tiáo 条chóng 虫
When you’re out, you behave like a dragon. When you’re at home, you behave like a worm.
吃饭像条龙做活像条虫
chīfàn 吃饭xiàng 像tiáo 条lóng 龙zuòhuó 做活xiàng 像tiáo 条chóng 虫
Eat like a dragon, work like a worm.
下班像条龙上班像条虫
xiàbān 下班xiàng 像tiáo 条lóng 龙shàngbān 上班xiàng 像tiáo 条chóng 虫
Behave like a dragon after work, but lazy like a worm at work.
下课像条龙上课像条虫
xiàkè 下课xiàng 像tiáo 条lóng 龙shàngkè 上课xiàng 像tiáo 条chóng 虫
Behave like a dragon after school, but lazy like a worm at school.
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