ChinesePod

1 If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.
2 cf idiom 磨杵成針|磨杵成针, to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiom); fig. to persevere in a difficult task
3 to study diligently

恨铁不成钢

hèn tiě bù chéng gāng

1 lit. to hate iron for not becoming steel
2 to feel resentful towards sb for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement (idiom)

手无寸铁

shǒu wú cùn tiě

1 lit. not an inch of steel (idiom); unarmed and defenseless

斩钉截铁

zhǎn dīng jié tiě

1 lit. to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)
2 fig. resolute and decisive
3 unhesitating
4 categorical

Sample Sentences

我搭高铁回去，现在高铁直达我们家终于不用像之前那样倒车了。

wǒ dā gāotiě huíqu ，xiànzài gāotiě zhídá wǒmen jiā zhōngyú bùyòng xiàng zhīqián nàyàng dǎochē le 。

I’ll take the high speed rail which now goes directly to my home. Finally I don’t have to change transportation like in the past.

Go to Lesson

按理说，高铁上人人都有座位，应该不会拥挤呀？

ànlǐ shuō ，gāotiě shàng rénrén dōu yǒu zuòwèi ，yīnggāi bùhuì yōngjǐ ya ？

Logically seats on the high speed rail are assigned so it shouldn’t be crowded?

Go to Lesson

事实上，前几天才报道了有人在高铁上“霸座”，被行政拘留的事情呢。

shìshí shàng ，qián jǐtiān cái bàodào le yǒurén zài gāotiě shàng “bàzuò ”，bèi xíngzhèng jūliú de shìqing ne 。

In fact a few days ago there was a report of a passenger on the high speed rail who took a seat illegally and was retained by administrative officers.

Go to Lesson

是呀，高铁不是公交车，随意“霸坐”可是违法的呢。

shì ya ，gāotiě búshi gōngjiāochē ，suíyì “bàzuò ”kěshì wéifǎ de ne 。

Yes, the high speed rail is not a bus. It is illegal to take another person’s seat.

Go to Lesson

今天还是热拿铁吗？”

jīntiān háishi rè nátiě ma ？”

Hot latte as usual?

Go to Lesson

女孩儿带着她的热拿铁和开心的笑容，步出了咖啡店。

nǚháiēr dài zhe tā de rè nátiě hé kāixīn de xiàoróng ，bù chū le kāfēidiàn 。

The girl walked out of the cafe with her hot latte and a happy smile.

Go to Lesson

可是咱们的夜生活什么时候结束，完全取决于地铁何时停运呀。

kěshì zánmen de yèshēnghuó shénmeshíhou jiéshù ，wánquán qǔjuéyú dìtiě héshí tíngyùn ya 。

However our nightlife is restricted to the time at which the metro station closes.

Go to Lesson

高铁站在哪儿？

gāotiě zhàn zài nǎr ？

Where is the high-speed rail station?

Go to Lesson

铁饭碗也会生锈啊，你待的私人企业才好，说不定快升职了呢！

tiěfànwǎn yě huì shēngxiù a ，nǐ dāi de sīrén qǐyè cái hǎo ，shuōbudìng kuài shēngzhí le ne ！

Stable jobs still wear out! Staying at a private business like you is better. Perhaps you are about to get a promotion!

Go to Lesson

也是，还是你聪明，在公家单位找了个铁饭碗的工作。

yě shì ，háishi nǐ cōngming ，zài gōngjiā dānwèi zhǎo le ge tiěfànwǎn de gōngzuò 。

That's true. You are the smarter one for finding a stable job at a public sector.

Go to Lesson