ecns [expanded by feedex.net]: Idioms for the smoggy days

ecns [expanded by feedex.net]

ecns

Idioms for the smoggy days
http://www.ecns.cn/learning-Chinese/2013/07-01/70995.shtml
Jul 1st 2013, 07:54



2013-07-01 16:54 The World of Chinese Web Editor: Wang Fan




It has not been long since the beginning of the year, when Beijing air smelled of smoke and the visibility was "barely visible". Most of the time, Beijing's smog worsens and clears, never reaching that horrible smell of burning coal. But it seems that the smoky smell has made a comeback, and during these couple of days, you can barely see the top of buildings or into the distance.


On days like this, some indoor language learning seems to be fitting. Pull out these idioms when you talk to your friends in Chinese about the smoggy day.


天昏地暗


tiān hūn dì àn


Literaly translated to "murky sky, dark earth", this chengyu is used to describe the thunderstorm or sandstorm days when the day darkens because of natural phenomenon. A very fitting phrase for the smog intensive days when the sun fails to shine through, and the wind fails to chase it away.


暗无天日


àn wú tiān rì


This chengyu literally means that it is so dark that one cannot see the sky nor the sun. Usually it is used to describe an oppressive society, where one cannot escape one's doomed fate. A similar chengyu 不见天日 (bù jiàn tiān rì) is also used to describe not being able to see the light of day.


若隐若现


ruò yǐn ruò xiàn


Partly hidden and partly visible is what this phrase describes. On some days, the buildings, people in the distance, the next few blocks are all 若隐若现, disappearing into the smog.


Spice up your discussions on the Beijing weather with these idioms, and your friends might teach you some more phrases for you to use them flexibly! As netizens say:


我看不见你的样子,不是近视眼,不是泪眼朦胧, 而是北京雾霾.


Wǒ kàn bújiàn nǐ de yàngzi, búshì jìnshìyǎn, búshì lèiyǎn ménglóng, ér shì běijīng wùmái.


I cannot see you, not because of my short-sightedness, nor because of my teary eyes, but because of the Beijing smog.





0)





You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at http://blogtrottr.com

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe here:
http://blogtrottr.com/unsubscribe/qhG/Zc7fXt