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Chinese Sayings Trivia Quiz

Some things don't make sense if translated literally. I'll give you a literal translation from the Chinese, your task is to pick the figurative saying it represents.

A multiple-choice quiz by bigdaddypanda. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
bigdaddypanda

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
237,974

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1187

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This commonly used expression is translated as "Horse, horse, tiger, tiger" (Ma ma hu hu). What is its usage? Hint

So-so

Grab life by the horns

Run for your life

Fear bites

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Question 2 of 10

2. "Small heart" (Xiao xin) is a phrase you see in many different areas. Can you guess the meaning? Hint

Be careful

Stingy

Incapacitated

Not compassionate

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Question 3 of 10

3. China has over one billion people and they all know the phrase: "People mountain, people sea" (Ren shan, ren hai). Do you? Hint

I can see my house from here

My vacation plans

There are people everywhere

The landscape is beautiful

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Question 4 of 10

4. "Ride airplane" (Zuo feiji) is something that many people around the world do. What does it convey?. Hint

Eating bad food

Act violently

Daydreaming

Run fast

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Question 5 of 10

5. "In morning say 'three', in the evening say 'four'" (Zhao "san", mu "si"). This phrase is not as common as some, but can you guess its meaning? Hint

Changeable

The early bird gets the worm

Early to bed, early to rise

Snooze and lose

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Question 6 of 10

6. What idiom does this phrase detail? "Vehicles flow like water and horses form a line that look like a dragon."(Che shui ma long) Hint

Easy come, easy go

Naptime

What goes around comes around

Heavy traffic

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Question 7 of 10

7. While most people add vinegar, the phrase, "Eat vinegar" (Chi cu)has what meaning? Hint

Be hungry

Be sick

Be jealous

Be angry

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Question 8 of 10

8. The phrase "Look not up" (Kan bu qi)is not one you want to hear. What is its meaning? Hint

Look down on someone

Watch your head

Watch your step

Pay attention

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Question 9 of 10

9. "Goose egg" (E' Dan) has meanings around the world. What does it express in Chinese? Hint

Happiness for all

Hope is eternal

Zero

Smile

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Question 10 of 10

10. Many Chinese idioms involve animals. The phrase, "The fox pretending to be the tiger" (Hu jia hu wei) has what meaning? Hint

His bark is worse than his bite

Taking advantage of your connection with someone

Wherever you go, there you are

In weakness, strength

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This commonly used expression is translated as "Horse, horse, tiger, tiger" (Ma ma hu hu). What is its usage?

Answer: So-so

It comes from a story of a painter whose painting looked to some like a horse and to others like a tiger - somewhere in between.

2. "Small heart" (Xiao xin) is a phrase you see in many different areas. Can you guess the meaning?

Answer: Be careful

So, keeping things close to the heart is a way of being safe. However, there is no translation of "big heart".

3. China has over one billion people and they all know the phrase: "People mountain, people sea" (Ren shan, ren hai). Do you?

Answer: There are people everywhere

In a country as populous as China, this is not unusual. To encourage travel, and spending money, there are three week-long holidays sanctioned by the government. New Years, May Holiday and the National Holiday in October.

4. "Ride airplane" (Zuo feiji) is something that many people around the world do. What does it convey?.

Answer: Daydreaming

To say someone is "riding an airplane" while sitting in class is to indicate their mind is somewhere else.

5. "In morning say 'three', in the evening say 'four'" (Zhao "san", mu "si"). This phrase is not as common as some, but can you guess its meaning?

Answer: Changeable

This comes from having a set opinion or idea, and changing it when other things come to light.

6. What idiom does this phrase detail? "Vehicles flow like water and horses form a line that look like a dragon."(Che shui ma long)

Answer: Heavy traffic

The cars constantly changing lanes connects with the older form of transport and the symbolic dragon.

7. While most people add vinegar, the phrase, "Eat vinegar" (Chi cu)has what meaning?

Answer: Be jealous

The expression comes from the look on one's face. Being jealous and eating vinegar result in the same look as well as the same internal upheavel.

8. The phrase "Look not up" (Kan bu qi)is not one you want to hear. What is its meaning?

Answer: Look down on someone

A common expression used to show despise for someone. So, looking not up, means looking down on someone.

9. "Goose egg" (E' Dan) has meanings around the world. What does it express in Chinese?

Answer: Zero

This is much like English. If a team "lays a goose egg", it means they scored no points.

10. Many Chinese idioms involve animals. The phrase, "The fox pretending to be the tiger" (Hu jia hu wei) has what meaning?

Answer: Taking advantage of your connection with someone

The "hu" means tiger or fox depending on the inflection of the voice. This is a saying that developed because of the closeness of the words. The Chinese characters are completely different, only the sound is similar.

Source: Author bigdaddypanda

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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