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

不当家不知柴米贵

bù dāng jiā bù zhī chái mǐ guì

1 a person who doesn't manage a household would not be aware how expensive it is (idiom)

偷鸡不成蚀把米

tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ

1 lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom)
2 fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off
3 to go for wool and come back shorn

Sample Sentences

这是一套三百多平米的公寓，在中央公园附近。环境好，交通便利。既适合自住，也适合出租，有很高的投资价值。

zhè shì yī tào sānbǎi duō píngmǐ de gōngyù ，zài Zhōngyāng gōngyuán fùjìn 。huánjìng hǎo ，jiāotōng biànlì 。jì shìhé zìzhù ，yě shìhé chūzū ，yǒu hěn gāo de tóuzī jiàzhí 。

This is a 300 plus square-meter apartment near Central Park. The environment is good and the transportation is convenient. It's suited to be both a personal residence and a rental property. It's a really worthwhile investment.

Go to Lesson

可我真想不通，结婚跟房子有什么关系。花半个平米的钱就能去趟欧洲，买一套小房子的钱，够玩遍全世界了。

kě wǒ zhēn xiǎngbutōng ，jiéhūn gēn fángzi yǒu shénme guānxi 。huā bàn ge píngmǐ de qián jiù néng qù tàng Ōuzhōu ，mǎi yītào xiǎo fángzi de qián ，gòu wánrbiàn quánshìjiè le 。

But I really don't understand. What does getting married have to do with buying a house? Spending the money it costs for half a square meter is enough to travel to Europe. The money it takes to buy a small house is enough to travel the whole world.

Go to Lesson

嗯，我在这儿就一草根，回老家就成精英了。公司开出的工资比我在上海的还高，而且还给我一套110平米的房子。回去我再用积蓄买辆车，也算中产阶级了。小城市消费也低。呆在上海，我得多奋斗十年。

ng4 ，wǒ zài zhèr jiù yī cǎogēn ，huí lǎojiā jiù chéng jīngyīng le 。gōngsī kāi chū de gōngzī bǐ wǒ zài Shànghǎi de hái gāo ，érqiě hái gěi wǒ yī tào yībǎiyīshí píngmǐ de fángzi 。huíqu wǒ zài yòng jīxù mǎi liàng chē ，yě suàn zhōngchǎnjiējí le 。xiǎo chéngshì xiāofèi yě dī 。dāi zài Shànghǎi ，wǒ děi duō fèndòu shí nián 。

Yeah. Around here, I'm a nobody. If I go back home though, I'll be one of the elite. The company's starting salary is higher than my salary in Shanghai, and they're even giving me a 110 square meter apartment. After I get back, I'm going to use my savings to buy a car too. I'll be middle class. The cost of living is low in small cities. If I stay in Shanghai, I'd have to struggle for another 10 years.

Go to Lesson