Category: Chinese Words&Phrases

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.

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.

白搭 (báidā) no use/ in vain Usage: “白搭”是一个口语词，常常指某种做法、想法没有用处或没有效果。此外，它还有浪费时间或力气的意思，常用于为做某事付出很多，但没有达到理想效果这样的语境。"白搭(báidā)" is a colloquial word. It means certain ways or ideas are of no use or inefficient. It also indicates that it is a waste of time and energy to do something without achieving the expected results.

三脚猫 (sānjiǎomāo) Jack of all trades and master of none Usage: “三脚猫”是指什么都懂一点儿，什么都不精通的人。“三脚猫”最早指的是只有三只腿却被人当成飞熊的猫。后来指捕鼠技能很不错，却“走不成步”的猫。久而久之，“三脚猫”一词成了做事技艺不精的意思了。The meaning of “三脚猫(sānjiǎomāo)” is equivalent to “jack of all trades and master of none” in English. At first, the word referred to a three-leg cat which was mistaken by people for a flying bear. Later, the word indicated the cats which were skillful in hunting but had difficulty in walking. Gradually, the word is changed to mean being unprofessional in doing things.

红包 (hóngbāo) red packet (containing money as a gift); bribe or kickback Usage: “红包”最早是指过农历春节时长辈给小孩儿的装着钱的红纸包。后泛指包着钱的红纸包，包括婚嫁喜庆、初会或重要的相聚场合表示祝愿的红包，以及表示报答、奖励的红包以及贿赂他人的红包。“红包(hóngbāo)” originally referred to the red packets containing money as a gift from the senior to the junior in Spring Festival. Later, it generally refers to the red packets with money in which are given as gifts on occasions of wedding, birthday party, first encounter or other important gatherings, and for showing gratitude, rewarding or even bribing.

工作狂 (gōngzuòkuáng) workaholic Usage: 超常投入工作甚至达到疯狂程度的人。“工作狂(gōngzuòkuáng)” refers to a person who compulsively works excessively hard for unusually long hours, sometimes even a bit obsessively.

零距离 (língjùlí) zero distance Usage: “零距离”：近年流行的新词语，指的是没有中间环节的接触, 或者很近距离的接触及互动。"零距离(língjùlí)" is a catchword in recent years. It means there is no intermediate links in between or having a close contact with something.

炒鱿鱼 (chǎo yóuyú) Fire sb./give the sack Usage: 炒鱿鱼原来是一道菜的名字，后来引申为工作被解雇、被辞退的意思。以前人们外出工作都要带着“铺盖卷（把被子和褥子卷在一起的行李）”，如果被老板辞退了，不能再工作了，就要卷起铺盖卷走人（离开）。所以，那时候“卷铺盖走人”就是被辞退、解雇的意思。后来人们发现，炒鱿鱼时，鱿鱼会卷起来，和卷起来的“铺盖卷”很像，于是就用炒鱿鱼来代替“卷起铺盖卷走人”这个说法了。也可以说“炒了××的鱿鱼”或“××被炒了鱿鱼”。“炒鱿鱼” originally is the name for a dish (literally meaning frying cuttlefish). Later, it refers to being fired. Before, people went out for work taking along their bedrolls. If they were fired, they should carry their bedrolls and leave. So “卷铺盖走人(packing up and leaving)” indicated being fired. People then found cuttlefish would roll up when fried, resembling the bedrolls. So from then on, “炒鱿鱼” is used to refer to being fired instead of “卷起铺盖卷走人”. It can also be expressed by “炒了××的鱿鱼” or “××被炒了鱿鱼”.

猎头 (liètóu) headhunter Usage: “猎头”指帮助企业物色高级人才的人。"猎头（liètóu）" refers to the headhunter, who helps the companies to find good employees.