Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 230 of 240

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Everyday idioms in Simplified Chinese

Auntie Lin drops a four-character saying into breakfast talk as if the lane already knows it.

A new neighbor hesitates at the counter, and Maya answers with an idiom of her own.

Learn six everyday sayings people use when a plan is hard, a move is new, or two jobs can be one trip. Then hear how they land in a real exchange.

The fortune slip stays in the till. A-Li's soy milk is still unfinished.

By the end of this lesson

Use six everyday Taipei idioms in speech when a situation is new, a plan is hard, or one trip can do two jobs.

  • 入境随俗When in Rome, do as the locals do.
  • 一举两得You get two benefits from one action.
  • 顺其自然Let things take their course.
  • 说得容易，做得难Easier said than done.
  • 随遇而安Adapt and settle wherever you find yourself.
  • 慢慢来比较快Slow and steady gets you there faster.

Scene — sayings at breakfast

Morning at Banyan Breakfast. A newcomer stands at the counter, unsure what to order. Auntie Lin quotes an old saying, and Maya answers with one of her own.

A-Li sits on two stools with his soy milk still unfinished. Nobody reads the slip today.

A newcomer hesitates at the counter of Banyan Breakfast while Auntie Lin waits, Maya stands nearby, and A-Li sits on two stools with soy milk untouched.

Learn — everyday idioms

These six sayings show up in ordinary Taipei talk, not in speeches. Listen to each one, then say it as a whole piece.

Notice how 得 marks degree in the longer line, and how 比较 sets up a contrast.

  1. Auntie Lin slides a breakfast tray toward the unsure newcomer while Maya leans on a stool and A-Li sits with untouched soy milk.

    入境随俗

    When in Rome, do as the locals do.

    When to use it: Say this when someone should follow local habits in a new place.

    Treat this four-character saying as one comment, not as separate verbs you conjugate.

  2. Maya lifts one tray that holds both a rice roll and soy milk while Auntie Lin ladles at the pot and A-Li occupies two stools.

    一举两得

    You get two benefits from one action.

    When to use it: Use this when one action accomplishes two goals at once.

    Use the whole chunk when one action gives you two useful results.

    Say it: 一 stays falling before the third-tone syllable 举.

  3. Auntie Lin stands in profile with open empty hands while Maya searches a bag and A-Li looks toward the door.

    顺其自然

    Let things take their course.

    When to use it: Use this when pushing a plan would only make it worse.

    Drop this in as a whole attitude when forcing a plan would not help.

  4. Maya stops at the counter, stuck on what to choose, the pause landing harder than the advice.

    说得容易，做得难

    Easier said than done.

    When to use it: Reply with this when a suggestion sounds simple but is hard to carry out.

    得 after the verb marks degree, so 容易 and 难 describe how saying and doing feel.

    Say it: The 得 after each verb is a light neutral tone, not a full tone.

  5. Auntie Lin comes around the counter and settles the newcomer with a tray while Maya sits at ease sipping soy milk.

    随遇而安

    Adapt and settle wherever you find yourself.

    When to use it: Use this when someone should make peace with a new or messy situation.

    This set phrase means to adapt and settle; use it as one piece of advice.

  6. Maya sits unhurried with one palm raised to slow the rush while the newcomer fumbles a transit card and Auntie Lin folds napkins slowly.

    慢慢来比较快

    Slow and steady gets you there faster.

    When to use it: Use this to tell someone not to rush, because rushing backfires.

    比较 here marks a contrast: going slower actually turns out faster.

Story — an idiom at the counter

A new neighbor freezes at the counter. Auntie Lin offers a saying, and Maya answers with one back.

Listen for how each idiom lands in ordinary breakfast talk, not as a lecture.

  1. Auntie Lin美女，这位是新来的。Morning, beautiful. This person is new here.
  2. New neighbor早安，我还不太会点。Good morning. I still don't really know how to order.
  3. Auntie Lin入境随俗，看别人点就好。When in Rome, just watch what other people order.
  4. Maya我刚来的时候也一样。I was the same when I first arrived.
  5. New neighbor我想吃饭，也想认识邻居。I want to eat, and I also want to meet the neighbors.
  6. Auntie Lin来这里吃，又能认识人，一举两得。Eat here and you get to know people too; two benefits from one sitting.
  7. Maya说得容易，做得难。我刚来的时候也很慌。Easier said than done. I was flustered too when I first arrived.
  8. New neighbor那我该怎么办？Then what should I do?
  9. Maya慢慢来比较快，我帮你说。Slow and steady is faster; I'll say it for you.
  10. Auntie Lin对啊，随遇而安就好，慢慢就熟悉了。Right, settle in where you find yourself; you'll get used to it in time.
  11. New neighbor好喔，那就蛋饼。Okay, then an egg pancake.
  12. A-Li豆浆我还在喝，你们先吃。I'm still drinking the soy milk; you eat first.
  13. Auntie Lin顺其自然，吃完再走。Let it take its course; go after you finish eating.
  14. Maya慢慢来，不用急。Take your time, no rush.
  15. New neighbor谢谢你们。Thank you both.

Practice — pick the saying

Work through these items to pick the saying that fits each small moment at the counter.

After each answer, read why the other choices miss, then say the line again.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    入境随俗

  2. What do you say?

    You sit down for breakfast and meet the neighbors in one go. Auntie Lin names that double benefit.

  3. What did you hear?

  4. Fill the gap

    Easier said than done.

    说得____，做得难

  5. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    什么都不熟，心里很乱。

    Nothing feels familiar, and I feel unsettled.

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    Slow and steady gets you there faster.

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    入境随俗Drop the English here
    一举两得Drop the English here
    顺其自然Drop the English here
    随遇而安Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Simplified Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  8. Swap the word

    Someone is rushing the breakfast order. Fix the last word of this saying.

    慢慢来比较____

  9. What do you say?

    A newer foreigner looks lost at the counter. Tell them you felt the same when you first arrived.

  10. Pick the reply

    New neighbor says:

    我好紧张，怕点错。

    I'm so nervous I'll order the wrong thing.

    And you reply with:

Say it — your idioms

You play Maya at Banyan Breakfast. A new neighbor needs a hand, and Auntie Lin is quoting sayings.

Listen to each cue, then say the idiom that fits. You can replay the other line first.

  1. A new neighbor is stuck at the counter, and Auntie Lin looks over.
  2. Maya (you)Tell them they should follow local habits here.

    入境随俗

    When in Rome, do as the locals do.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
入境随俗When in Rome, do as the locals do.
一举两得You get two benefits from one action.
顺其自然Let things take their course.
说得容易，做得难Easier said than done.
随遇而安Adapt and settle wherever you find yourself.
慢慢来比较快Slow and steady gets you there faster.
Next: lesson 231Back home and here

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