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Quiz about Ten Interesting Chinese Expressions

Ten Interesting Chinese Expressions Quiz

These are ten interesting Chinese expressions. I give you the literal translations and you give me their meanings. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by patrick8882. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
patrick8882

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
348,064

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
529

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression normally translated as "to pull somebody by his hind leg"? Hint

to trip somebody over to make him fall down

to present somebody with a pair of shoes

to inform somebody at the last minute

to hinder (or impede) somebody; to hold somebody back

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Question 2 of 10

2. What does the Chinese expression of "fly somebody a pigeon" literally mean? Hint

to steal a pet from somebody

to fail to keep an appointment with somebody; to break an appointment with somebody

to dismiss somebody from work or school

to fail to find somebody

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression "putting a cannon behind a horse"? Hint

a stab in the back

something important behind something unimportant

taking belated action or advice

a secret weapon

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Question 4 of 10

4. What does the Chinese expression of "grass atop a wall" literally mean? Hint

a weak person

a small person

a lonely person

a person who follows the majority

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression of "to drink northwest wind"? Hint

to predict the weather

to escape, to flee

to do the magic

to have nothing to eat

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression normally translated as "open-eyed blindness"? Hint

someone is illiterate

to turn a blind eye to

to look but see not

to shield, to harbour, to cover up

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Question 7 of 10

7. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression usually translated as "to eat tofu"? Hint

to do something simple

greedy for food

to eat something soft because of bad teeth

to flirt with a woman, to harass a woman

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Question 8 of 10

8. What does the Chinese expression "a green hat or turban" literally refer to? Hint

fancy clothes

the state of being a cuckold

an exquisite disguise

bad manners

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression of "to give somebody tight shoes to wear"? Hint

to dress somebody up with fancy clothes

to bind one's feet

to punish somebody physically

to make things hard for somebody by abusing one's power

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression of "to drink vinegar"? Hint

to be jealous (especially of a rival in love)

to do something ahead of all the others

to drink something terrible

to add seasoning to a dish

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression normally translated as "to pull somebody by his hind leg"?

Answer: to hinder (or impede) somebody; to hold somebody back

When one is walking, usually one leg lags behind the other. If that leg is pulled, one's movement would be interfered with. In Chinese, "to pull somebody by his hind leg" figuratively means "to interfere with one's moving ahead, to hinder one's progress".

2. What does the Chinese expression of "fly somebody a pigeon" literally mean?

Answer: to fail to keep an appointment with somebody; to break an appointment with somebody

This is quite a new expression in Chinese, first appearing in the mid-1990s. When one fails to appear as promised, we can say: "Oh! He flew me a pigeon".

3. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression "putting a cannon behind a horse"?

Answer: taking belated action or advice

This is a Chinese chess term, in which "a cannon behind a horse" is a checkmate move. It is not clear know how it derived the meaning of "belated action or advice".

4. What does the Chinese expression of "grass atop a wall" literally mean?

Answer: a person who follows the majority

Grass atop a wall would sway in the wind. When the south wind blows, it would sway to the north. When the north wind blows, it would sway to the south. So the expression figuratively means that "one follows the opinion of the majority".

5. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression of "to drink northwest wind"?

Answer: to have nothing to eat

This is an interesting expression. Historically, most Chinese usually lived a poor life. During times of famine, people often starved to death. So they "invented" this expression to show their misery. But this expression can also be used in a joking way.

6. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression normally translated as "open-eyed blindness"?

Answer: someone is illiterate

It can also be translated as "wide-eyed blindness" or "sighted-blind". Someone told me that this expression sounds rather harsh. I think he is right, but we never say it in front of the person involved.

7. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression usually translated as "to eat tofu"?

Answer: to flirt with a woman, to harass a woman

This expression became popular in the mid-1990s. It is usually used to refer to "sexual harassment" in general, although some explanations are slightly more risque.

8. What does the Chinese expression "a green hat or turban" literally refer to?

Answer: the state of being a cuckold

A cuckold would be laughed at a lot in China. It is not clear when and where this expression originated, but it's said that it's bad manners to present others with a green hat in China.

9. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression of "to give somebody tight shoes to wear"?

Answer: to make things hard for somebody by abusing one's power

This is a daily expression in the life of Chinese. "Being given tight shoes to wear" is the worst situation an employee experiences. Feet-binding was one of the most terrible customs the Chinese ever invented but it is not thought to have anything to do with this expression.

10. What is the literal meaning of the Chinese expression of "to drink vinegar"?

Answer: to be jealous (especially of a rival in love)

The story goes that this expression originated during the Tang Dynasty. A senior official told the emperor that his wife was very jealous and didn't allow him to have a concubine. The emperor sent for the wife and told her that if she didn't allow her husband to have a concubine any more, she had to drink a bottle of poison presented to her, which was in fact a bottle of vinegar.

The wife didn't hesitate a moment to take the "poison". So this expression came into being.

Source: Author patrick8882

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