Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Chinese Slang Expressions Using Animals, Part 1
John: Hi everyone, and welcome back to ChineseClass101.com. I'm John Reyna.
Dehua: And I'm Dehua!
John: This is Must-Know Chinese Slang Words and Phrases, Season 1, Lesson 3. In this lesson, you'll learn chinese slang expressions using characters related to animals.
John: See how animals play a role in Chinese slang expressions.
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
John: The expressions you'll be learning in this lesson are:
Dehua: 马后炮 (mǎ hòu pào)
Dehua: 落汤鸡 (luò tāng jī)
Dehua: 乌鸦嘴 (wūyā zuǐ)
Dehua: 熊孩子 (xióng háizi)
John: Dehua, what's our first expression?
Dehua: 马后炮 (mǎ hòu pào)
John: literally meaning "cannon behind horse." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "to criticize something in hindsight;” "Monday morning quarterback;" or "one who offers help after the situation is over"
Dehua: 马后炮 (mǎ hòu pào)
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Dehua: 马后炮 (mǎ hòu pào)
John: Use this slang expression when someone gives suggestions of something that has already happened, or from a position of hindsight.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Dehua: A:如果我是你,我一定会。。。(A: rúguǒ Wǒ shì nǐ, Wǒ yīdìng huì…)
B:别马后炮了。 (B: bié mǎ hòu pào le.)
John: "A:If I were you, I would have… / B: You Monday-morning quarterback."
Dehua: A:如果我是你,我一定会。。。(A: rúguǒ Wǒ shì nǐ, Wǒ yīdìng huì…)
B:别马后炮了。 (B: bié mǎ hòu pào le.)
John: Okay, what's the next expression?
Dehua: 落汤鸡 (luò tāng jī)
John: This literally means "a chicken fallen into hot water." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "soaked through."
Dehua: 落汤鸡 (luò tāng jī)
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Dehua: 落汤鸡 (luò tāng jī)
John: Use this slang expression when someone is caught in the rain and soaked through.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Dehua: 她回来的时候像只落汤鸡。 (Tā huílái de shíhou xiàng zhǐ luòtāngjī.)
John: "She came back soaking wet."
Dehua: 她回来的时候像只落汤鸡。 (Tā huílái de shíhou xiàng zhǐ luòtāngjī.)
John: Okay, what's our next expression?
Dehua: 乌鸦嘴 (wūyā zuǐ)
John: literally meaning "a crow's mouth." As a slang expression, it means "doomsayer, one who predicts impending doom."
Dehua: 乌鸦嘴 (wūyā zuǐ)
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Dehua: 乌鸦嘴 (wūyā zuǐ)
John: Use this slang expression when someone says something ominous, especially if the prediction could be self fulfilling.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Dehua: 你这乌鸦嘴,别说那么不吉利的话。 (Nǐ zhè wūyā zuǐ, bié shuō nàme bù jílì de huà.)
John: "You pessimist, don't say such unlucky words."
Dehua: 你这乌鸦嘴,别说那么不吉利的话。 (Nǐ zhè wūyā zuǐ, bié shuō nàme bù jílì de huà.)
John: Okay, what's the last expression?
Dehua: 熊孩子 (xióng háizi)
John: Which literally means "bear child." As a slang expression, it means "naughty kid, wild kid."
Dehua: 熊孩子 (xióng háizi)
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Dehua: 熊孩子 (xióng háizi)
John: Use this slang expression when talking about those ages 5 to 12 years old who are very curious, destructive, or naughty.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Dehua: 这三个熊孩子又跑又闹又砸东西的闹了两个小时。 (Zhè sān gè xióng háizi yòu pǎo yòu nào yòu zá dōngxī de nàole liǎng gè xiǎoshí.)
John: "The three wild kids ran around, screamed, and destroyed things for two hours."
Dehua: 这三个熊孩子又跑又闹又砸东西的闹了两个小时。 (Zhè sān gè xióng háizi yòu pǎo yòu nào yòu zá dōngxī de nàole liǎng gè xiǎoshí.)
QUIZ
John: Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the expressions you just learned? I’ll describe four situations, and you’ll choose the right expression to use in your reply. Are you ready?
John: A person runs home in the pouring rain.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Dehua: 落汤鸡 (luò tāng jī)
John: "soaked through"
John: A person tries to give advice when it’s too late.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Dehua: 马后炮 (mǎ hòu pào)
John: "criticize on something in hindsight;” "Monday morning quarterback;" "one who offers help after the situation is over"
John: People are talking about a naughty kid.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Dehua: 熊孩子 (xióng háizi)
John: "naughty kid; wild kid"
John: People blame someone for saying bad things that may happen in the future.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Dehua: 乌鸦嘴 (wūyā zuǐ)
John: "doomsayer, one who predicts doom"

Outro

John: There you have it; you've mastered four Chinese Slang Expressions! We have more vocab lists available at ChineseClass101.com so be sure to check them out. Thanks, everyone, and see you next time!
Dehua: 下回見 (xià huí jiàn).

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