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A Guest Arrives
Du Fu
客至（喜崔明府相过）舍南舍北皆春水
但见群鸥日日来
花径不曾缘客扫
蓬门今始为君开
盘餐市远无兼味
樽酒家贫只旧醅
肯与邻翁相对饮
隔篱呼取尽馀杯 kè zhì (xǐ cuī míng fǔ xiāng guò)

Chinese phrase translation: 出马 (chūmǎ) take up the matter oneself

出马 (chūmǎ) take up the matter oneself Usage: “出马”原义是骑马出战杀敌，引申为亲自出面去做事。"出马(chūmǎ)" originally meant riding to the war field to kill enemies. It now means attending to the matter personally.

Song of Sunset on the River

Song of Sunset on the River
Bai Juyi
暮江吟一道残阳铺水中
半江瑟瑟半江红
可怜九月初三夜
露似真珠月似弓 mù jiāng yín

Chinese phrase translation: 转眼 (zhuǎnyǎn) in the twinkling of an eye

转眼 (zhuǎnyǎn) in the twinkling of an eye Usage: “转眼”指眼珠转动的瞬间，有时也说“转眼间”或者“转眼之间”。常用来形容时间过得很快。"转眼(zhuǎnyǎn)" literally means the twinkling of an eye, and is extended to refer to a very short time. Sometimes people say "转眼间" or "转眼之间" to indicate that time passes very quickly.

Thinking of My Brothers on a Moonlit Night

Thinking of My Brothers on a Moonlit Night
Du Fu
月夜忆舍弟戍鼓断人行
边秋一雁声
露从今夜白
月是故乡明
有弟皆分散
无家问死生
寄书长不达
况乃未休兵 yuè yè yì shè dì

Chinese phrase translation: 绕口令 (ràokǒulìng) tongue twister

绕口令 (ràokǒulìng) tongue twister Usage: “绕口令”是一种语言游戏。它是用拼音和声调容易混同的字或词编成的句子，要求很快读完，不能停顿。口齿不清的人很容易读错。例如“扁担长，板凳宽，板凳没有扁担长，扁担没有板凳宽。扁担要绑在板凳上，板凳偏不让扁担绑在板凳上”。“绕口令(ràokǒulìng)” is a kind of language game. It is composed by the words or phrases that have the similar pronunciations or tones. “绕口令(ràokǒulìng)” is supposed to be read fairly quickly without any pause in between and thus people who speak lispingly tend to pronounce it wrongly. Here is a Chinese tongue twister serving as an example, “扁担长，板凳宽，板凳没有扁担长，扁担没有板凳宽。扁担要绑在板凳上，板凳偏不让扁担绑在板凳上(biǎndàn cháng,bǎndèng kuān,bǎndèng méiyǒu biǎndàn cháng,biǎndàn méiyǒu bǎndèng kuān. Biǎndàn yào bǎng zài bǎndèng shàng,bǎndèng piān bú rang biǎndàn bǎng zài bǎndèng shàng).

Sleeping on a Night of Autumn Rain

Sleeping on a Night of Autumn Rain
Bai Juyi
Cold cold 3rd autumn night
Peaceful leisure one old man
Lie late lamp go out after
Sleep beautiful rain sound in
Ash long warm bottle fire
Fragrance increase warm quilt cover
Sawn clear cold not rise
Frost leaf full level red It's cold this night in autumn's third month,
Peacefully within, a lone old man.
He lies down late, the lamp already gone out,
And beautifully sleeps amid the sound of rain.
The ash inside the vessel still warm from the fire,
Its fragrance increases the warmth of quilt and covers.
When dawn comes, clear and cold, he does not rise,
The red frosted leaves cover the steps.

Chinese phrase translation: 开夜车 (kāi yèchē) burn the midnight oil

开夜车 (kāi yèchē) burn the midnight oil Usage: “开夜车”的字面意思是在夜间开车，比喻熬夜学习或工作。“开夜车(kāi yèchē)”literally means driving at night and it is a metaphor for staying up late to study or work.

Thinking of Li Bai at the End of the Sky

Thinking of Li Bai at the End of the Sky
Du Fu
天末怀李白凉风起天末
君子意如何
鸿雁几时到
江湖秋水多
文章憎命达
魑魅喜人过
应共冤魂语
投诗赠汨罗 tiān mò huái lǐ bái

Chinese phrase translation: 玩命(wánmìng) to risk one’s life

玩命 (wánmìng) to risk one's life; exert to one's utmost Usage: “玩命”指：做事不顾危险，或拿着性命当儿戏（含诙谐意）。口语又称“玩儿命”。“玩命(wánmìng)”means to act regardless of the hazard or not take one’s life seriously. It is usually said with a mocking tone. People also say “玩儿命” in spoken language.