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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!
Sat Aug 24 2019 | 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 wài xiàng tiáo lóng ，zài jiā xiàng tiáo chóng 。
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 xiàng tiáo lóng ，zuòhuó xiàng tiáo chóng 。
Eat like a dragon, work like a worm.
下班像条龙，上班像条虫。
xiàbān xiàng tiáo lóng ，shàngbān xiàng tiáo chóng 。
Behave like a dragon after work, but lazy like a worm at work.
下课像条龙，上课像条虫。
xiàkè xiàng tiáo lóng ，shàngkè xiàng tiáo chóng 。
Behave like a dragon after school, but lazy like a worm at school.
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