absentminded, preoccupied, inattentive, unheeding
心 不 在 焉 的
xin1bu2zai4yan1 de
alcoholic, drunkard
酗 酒 者
xu4jiu3zhe3
ambitious, aspiring
有 雄 心 的
you3 xiong2xin1 de
有 抱 负 的
you3 bao4fu4 de
ambitious, driving, power-loving
有 野 心 的
you3 ye3xin1 de
angry; to be annoyed
恼
nao3
attitude, posture, approach, manner
态 度
tai4du4
avaricious and insatiable, greedy and never satisfied
贪 得 无 厌
tan1de2wu2yan4
nice looking, handsome, beautiful
丽
li4
beautiful, wonderful, fantastic, exquisite, elegant, gorgeous, graceful, brilliant - and other synonyms for positive description of art forms
美 妙
mei3miao4
bored, boring
无 聊
wu2liao2
boring, dry, uninteresting, dull, torturous
枯 燥
ku1zao4
This soldier was brave. (no construction for past tense -- putting le at the end of the sentence was not an option -- it would mean the soldier was not brave in the past but is now -- if you use 'guo4qu4 it would mean that he was brave in the past, but now he isn't brave)
这 个 士 兵 勇 敢 。
Zhe4ge shi4bing1 yong3gan3.
careless, thoughtless
粗 心
cu1xin1
She has a strong character.
她 一 向 很 坚 强 。
Ta1 yi2xiang4 hen3 jian1xiang4.
character, moral quality
人 品
ren2pin3
characteristic, feature, trait
特 点
te4dian3
characteristic, idiosyncratic
特 有 的
te4you3 de
characteristic
特 性
te4xing4
kind, nice, warm (person)
亲 切
qin1qie4
courage, guts, nerve
胆 量
dan3liang4
brave, courageous
勇 敢 的
yong3gan3 de
to have the nerve to, spunky, gutsy, brave, courageous
有 胆 量 的
you3 dan4lian4 de
coward
切 肤
qie4fu1
胆 小 鬼
dan3xiao3gui3
faint hearted, cowardly (literally -- outwardly strong heart weak)
怯 懦 的
qie4nuo4 de
cowardly, weak
懦 弱
nuo4ruo4
timid, cowardly
胆 怯
dan3qie4
crazy about, silly, crazy (found in combination with other characters to indicate out of control -- used as a suffix it usually means crazy about or obsessed with -- used as the first term it is more likely to refer to crazy behavior - but not always - chi1ai4 means crazy in love)
痴
chi1
crybaby, useless weakling, scaredy cat, fraidy cat
脓 包
nong2bao1
cute, smart, lovable, clever (child)
乖 巧
guai1qiao3
to dare, to be recklessly courageous
胆 敢
dan3gan3
dazed, fuzzy, muddle-headed, half conscious
迷 糊
mi2hu
deranged, crazy, erratic
疯 疯 癫 癫
feng4fengdian1dian1
distracted, preoccupied
心 烦 意 乱 的
xin1fan2 yi4luan4 de
I must do this!
我 一 定 要 做 这 个 ！
Wo3 yi2ding4 yao4 zuo4 zhe4 ge4!
drive, vigor, vitality, energy; spiritual
精 神
jing1shen
He squirmed with embarrassment.
他 因 窘 迫 而 坐 立 不 安 。
Ta1 yin1 jiong3po4 er2 zuo4li4bu4'an1.
They enjoyed themselves immensely.
他 们 玩 儿 得 很 high 的 。
Ta1men wan2r de2 hen3 high de.
to be enraged, to lose patience, to be annoyed
恼 火
nao3huo3
The father was very angry with his son.
父 亲 对 他 儿 子 很 恼 火 。
Fu4qin dui4 ta1 er2zi hen3 nao3huo3.
She is so shy that she doesn't know how to express her feelings.
她 太 害 羞 了 ， 不 知 道 怎 样 表 达 感 情 。
Ta1 tai4 hai4 xiu1 le, bu4 zhi1dao4 zen3yang4 biao3da2 gan3qing2.
He has a nice looking face. (mian4mu4 refers to the face -- qing1xiu4 refers to the idea that the features are even, well proportioned, but is not necessarily handsome or attractive in the common sense -- easy to look at)
他 面 目 清 秀 。
Ta1 mian4mu4 qing1xiu4.
failing, soft spot, weakness, foible (especially where sentiment or desire get in the way of reason -- collecting things that you don't need and can't afford, spending money -- also see xi3'ai4 where weakness means love of)
弱 点
ruo4dian3
to fear, to be afraid, to be scared, to have a fear of; shy, timid (may just use pa4 怕 )
害 怕
hai4pa4
emotions, feeling
情 绪
qing2xu4
depressed, discontented, resentful, perturbed, indignant
愤 懑
fen4men4
firmly, resolutely, without hesitation
毅 然
yi3ran2
to fit in, to get on well with others; sociable
合 群
he2qun2
old fogy, old-fashioned person, (adherent of previous dynasty)
遗 老
yi2lao3
gangster, hoodlum
混 混
hun4hun
It's hard to generalize, everybody's different.
很 难 一 概 而 论 ， 每 个 人 都 不 一 样 。
Hen3 nan2 yi1gai4'er2lun4, mei3 ge4 ren2 dou1 bu4yi2yang4.
I'm a gentleman, how could I do that kind of thing! (the Chinese would normally use "zhe4" in this sentence because it sounds right -- it is translated as "that" to match the common English phrase)
我 堂 堂 一 个 男 子 汉 怎 么 可 以 做 这 种 事 。
Wo3 tang2tang2 yi2 ge4 nan2zi3han4 zen3me ke3yi3 zuo4 zhe4 zhong3 shi4!
gloomy, depressed
郁 闷
yu4men4
I'm having a bad hair day. (actual translation -- My day is truly awful. Bad hair day just doesn't translate well.)
我 今 天 过 得 真 糟 ！
Wo3 jin1tian1 guo4 de zhen1 zao1!
handsome and dignified (refers to outward appearance -- you would be naturally dignified)
相 貌 堂 堂
xiang4mao4 tang2tang2
handsome and dignified (this term includes xiang4mao4 tang1tang1 but dresses the part, has a successful career and has a dignified manner -- may not have the "natural" carriage and looks of the dignified man, has earned them -- this is the more desirable term)
仪 表 堂 堂
yi2biao3 tang2tang2
hard, stiff, strong, firm; firmly, resolutely, doggedly
硬
ying4
All I want to do is lay my head down somewhere and sleep. (this is an English image and does not translate into Chinese directly)
我 现 在 只 想 睡 觉 。
Wo3 xian4zai4 zhi3 xiang3 shui4jiao4.
Don't let it go to your head. (this is not a perfect translation -- it is more like "Don't be conceited.")
别 骄 傲 。
Bie2 jiao1ao4.
I feel like I don't have a brain in my head. (literally -- I'm really silly. In Chinese, referring directly to the brain would be very insulting. This translation has approximately the same social meaning. Don't use sha3 with ni3 你 or ta1 他 -- it will mean you look down on the person.)
我 真 傻 。
Wo3 zhen1 sha3.
So far, he's head and shoulders above the rest.
他 是 到 目 前 为 止 最 好 的 。
Ta1 shi4 dao4 mu4qian2 wei2zhi3 zui4 hao3 de.
He doesn't have a brain in his head. (In Chinese, -- use when the person always forgets things or you don't understand a decision they made. Implies there is something wrong with his brain, but you're surprised they aren't normal.)
他 真 没 脑 子 。
Ta1 zhen1 mei2 nao3zi.
I feel like I don't have a brain in my head. (literally -- I'm really silly. If you say Ni3 zhen1 ben4 -- it is better than using sha3 傻 or chun3 蠢 but still negative)
我 真 笨 。
Wo3 zhen1 ben4.
headstrong, stubborn, willful, (spoiled and uncontrollable)
任 性
ren4xing4
hesitation, doubt, qualms, misgivings
疑 虑
yi2lu~4
to bear, to endure, to hold back; cruel, merciless
忍
ren3
big idiot, fool, jerk (Literally: big silly melon)
大 傻 瓜
da4sha3gua1
impressive, dignified, upright, open and above board
堂 堂 正 正
tang2tang2 zheng4zheng4
From his behavior, I inferred that he was shy.
从 他 的 举 止 我 可 以 推 断 他 有 些 害 羞 。
Cong2 ta1 de ju3zhi3 wo3 ke3yi3 tui1duan4 ta1 you3 xie1 hai4xiu1.
intelligent, bright, clever
聪 明
cong1ming
kindly, nice, friendly, amiable
和 蔼
he2'ai3
He lazed the day away, then had to study all night.
他 懒 散 地 打 发 了 一 天 ， 以 后 需 要 学 习 一 夜 。
Ta1 lan3san3 de da3fa1 le yi4 tian1, yi3hou4 xu1yao4 xue2xi2 yi2ye4.
slug, loafer; to loaf on the job
偷 懒
tou1lan3
silly look, idiotic look (combination of "stay" and "mood" or "emotion" to give a person with no affect -- slow to respond)
呆 气
dai1qi4
lucky guy, winner, charmed person
幸 运 儿
xing4yun4r
He's a brave man.
他 是 一 条 好 汉 。
Ta1 shi4 yi4 tiao2 hao3han4.
true man, brave man, hero
好 汉
hao3han4
cruel, mean
残 酷 的
can2ku4 de
moody, temperamental (Literally: happy, angry, not, common - describes mood as changeable)
喜 怒 无 常
xin3nu4wu2chang2
narcissism
自 恋
zi4lian4
impudent, shameless (this is a very bad thing to call someone in Chinese -- worse than the translation -- the person has no self-respect, no shame, no standards)
厚 颜 无 耻
hou4yan2wu2chi3
She is so nice, I wonder if she means it.
她 那 么 热 心 ，我 怀 疑 她 别 有 用 心 。
Ta1 na4me re4xin1, wo3 huai2yi2 ta1 bie2you3yong4xin1.
She is so nice, I wish I could be more like her.
她 那 么 热 心 ，我 希 望 我 能 象 她 一 样 。
Ta1 na4me re4xin1, wo3 xi1wang4 wo3 neng2 xiang4 ta1 yi2yang4.
nice, kind, cordial, enthusiastic, warm-hearted, warm (a warm greeting) (你 热 情 的 欢 迎 我 。 You welcomed me warmly.)
热 情
re4qing2
nincompoop, nitwit (literally - egg sucker - someone who is soft in the head)
傻 蛋
sha3dan4
docile and obedient
服 帖
fu2tie1
extraordinary, outstanding, above average
非 凡 的
fei1fan2 de
I'm very particular about my friends, they have to be nice. (The English preposition about is not necessary because the verb object 交 友 to make friends with, to associate with and the adjective 谨 慎, careful, prudent, creates the meaning "I am prudent when making friends.")
我 交 友 很 谨 慎 ， 人 一 定 要 好 。
Wo3 jiao1 you3 hen3 jin3shen4, ren2 yi2 ding4 yao4 hao3.
pervert, degenerate, depraved person
堕 落 者
duo4luo4zhe3
Pigsy is not very intelligent, but really most pigs are. (the use of shi4 in the second phrase adds stress)
猪 八 戒 不 很 聪 明 ， 但 是 实 际 上 大 多 数 的 猪 是 聪 明 的 。
Zhu1ba1jie4 bu4 hen3 cong1ming, dan4shi4 shi2ji4shang da4duo1shu4 de zhu1 shi4 cong1ming de.
poised, calm and collected, steady, not nervous
沉 着
chen2zhuo2
pragmatic, flexible; to adjust to circumstances, to act according to the situation
变 通
bian4tong1
quality, character, trait, tone
品 质
pin3zhi4
She's very quick witted.
她 脑 子 很 灵 活 。
Ta1 nao3zi hen3 ling2huo2.
satisfied, contented, satiated; to satisfy, to gratify
满 足
man3zu4
He was so selfish, he didn't share with anyone, not even his mother.
他 太 自 私 了 ， 不 和 任 何 人 分 享 什 么 ， 甚 至 与 自 己 的 妈 妈 。
Ta1 tai4 zi4si1 le, bu4 he2 ren4he2ren2 fen1xiang3 shen2me, shen4zhi4 yu3 zi4ji3 de ma1ma.
This is a senseless boring talk.
这 是 愚 蠢 无 聊 的 话
Zhe4 shi4 yu2chun3 wu2liao2 de hua4.
sexual deviant, pervert
性 欲 不 正 常 者
xing2yu4 bu2 zheng4chang2zhe3
shame, disgrace, humiliation
耻
chi3
耻 辱
chi3ru3
shame faced
羞 脸
xiu1xian3
shrewd (is the sense of getting a good bargain, negotiation -- able to see the meaning in complexity)
精 明
jing1ming2
to be shy
害 羞
hai4 xiu1
timid, shy (seldom used, see hai4pa4 害 怕)
怯 生 生
qie4sheng1sheng1
He is very shy around strangers, but not with his friends. (熟 is often pronounced shou2 in conversation)
他 在 生 人 面 前 很 害 羞 ， 但 和 朋 友 们 却 很 熟 。
Ta1 zai4 sheng1ren2 mian4qian2 hen3 hai4xiu1, dan4 he2 peng2youmen que4 hen3 shu2.
shy, bashful
腼 腆
mian3tian3
shyness, timidity, diffidence; shy, timid
羞 怯
xiu1qie4
Don't be silly, of course I would love to help you.
别 傻 了 ， 我 当 然 愿 意 帮 你 。
Bie2 sha3 le, wo3 dang1ran2 yuan4yi4 bang1 ni3.
slut, cheap piece of baggage (refers to a woman who is not valued)
贱 人
jian4ren2
strong, staunch
坚 强
jian1xiang4
stupid, dumb (most often just use sha3 when you are talking about the stupidity of everyday people and life)
呆 傻
dai1sha3
stupid, ignorant
无 知
wu2zhi1
stupid, slow, retarded
痴 呆
chi1dai1
pragmatic style, practical manner
务 实 之 风
wu4shi2 zhi1 feng1
swindler, con man, quack, fraud, charlatan, mountebank
江 湖 骗 子
jiang1hu2pian4zi
to lose one's temper, to get angry
使 性 子
shi3 xing4zi
temperament, inner nature, character
心 性
xin1xing4
thief, traitor (see xiao3tou1 for petty thief)
贼
zei2
thief, petty thief (Beijing r)
小 偷
xiao3tou1r
thief
窃 贼
qie4zei2
His class is so boring. It's like I'm being tortured. (shou4xing2 expresses more suffering so would be a better simile, but zuo4lao2 can also be used in the same sentence)
他 的 课 无 聊 极 了 ， 每 次 上 他 的 课 都 跟 受 刑 似 的 。
Ta1 de ke4 wu2liao2 ji2le, mei3ci4 shang4 ta1 de ke4 dou1 gen1 shou4xing2 shi4de.
She is a very understanding mother, she doesn't get upset by the little mistakes I make. But she can get really angry when I do something dishonest.
她 是 一 个 宽 容 的 母 亲 。 她 从 不 因 为 我 的 小 错 误 而 生 气 ， 但 她 会 因 为 我 不 诚 实 而 生 气 。
Ta1 shi4 yi2 ge4 kuan1rong2 de mu3qin1. Ta1 cong2bu4 yin1wei2 wo3 de xiao3 cuo4wu4 er2 sheng1qi4, dan4 ta1 hui4 yin1wei2 wo3 bu4cheng2shi2 er2 sheng1qi4.
I'm having an awful day. (an unlucky day)
我 今 天 真 倒 霉 ！
Wo3 jin1tian1 zhen1 dao3mei2!
virtuous and able (man)
贤 良
xian2liang2
a brave warrior, a valiant general
一 员 猛 将
yi4 yuan2 meng3jiang4
He has a weakness for chocolate.
巧 克 力 是 他 最 喜 爱 的 东 西 。
Qiao3ke4li4 shi4 ta1 zui4 xi3'ai4 de dong1xi.
shy with strangers
怕 生
pa4sheng1
hard working, thrifty and pragmatic
勤 俭 务 实
qin2jian3 wu4shi2
hard working and thrifty, hard working and penny-wise
勤 俭
qin2jian3
worthless person, good-for-nothing, a total loss, wastrel
熊 包
xiong2bao1
http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Chinese/topics/topics.html Last Update: July 2012 © Marilyn Shea 1999, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012
