ChinesePod

1 before the first wave subsides, a new wave rises (idiom); a new problem arises before the old is solved
2 many twists and turns to a story
3 one thing after another

一碗水端平

yī wǎn shuǐ duān píng

1 lit. to hold a bowl of water level (idiom)
2 fig. to be impartial

一马平川

yī mǎ píng chuān

1 flat land one could gallop straight across (idiom); wide expanse of flat country

不同凡响

bù tóng fán xiǎng

1 lit. not a common chord (idiom); outstanding
2 brilliant
3 out of the common run

四平八稳

sì píng bā wěn

1 everything steady and stable (idiom); overcautious and unimaginary

Sample Sentences

谢谢！我的样子做代言人太平凡了吧？

xièxie ！wǒ de yàngzi zuò dàiyánrén tài píngfán le ba ？

Thanks! Don't I look too ordinary to be an endorser?

Go to Lesson

诶，怎么能那么功利主義呢？做人要低调，要有纪律，在平凡的岗位上做出不平凡的事迹。时刻准备着，好吗？

éi ，zěnme néng nàme gōnglìzhǔyì ne ？zuòrén yào dīdiào ，yàoyǒu jìlǜ ，zài píngfán de gǎngwèi shàng zuòchū bù píngfán de shìjì 。shíkè zhǔnbèi zhe ，hǎo ma ？

Agh, how can you be so utilitarian? To be a good person, you have to be low key and have discipline, and do extraordinary things in an ordinary job. And be ready at any moment, OK?

Go to Lesson

算了吧。你才是大忙人呢！每天不是上电视就是上报纸，像我们这样的平凡人哪敢主动联系你啊。

suàn le ba 。nǐ cái shì dàmángrén ne ！měitiān bù shì shàng diànshì jiùshì shàng bàozhǐ ，xiàng wǒmen zhèyàng de píngfán rén nǎ gǎn zhǔdòng liánxì nǐ ā 。

That's enough. It's you who is the busy one! Every day if you're not on the TV then you're in the newspaper. An ordinary person like me--how could I dare to take the initiative to get in touch with you.

Go to Lesson

是啊，其实最有效的广告就是那种把平凡细节变得不平凡的，一下就能让人记住。

shì ā ，qíshí zuì yǒuxiào de guǎnggào jiùshì nàzhǒng bǎ píngfán xìjié biàn de bù píngfán de ，yīxià jiù néng ràng rén jìzhu 。

Yeah, actually the most effective commercials are the ones that turn ordinary details into something extraordinary, instantly making them stick in people's minds.

Go to Lesson