Chinese dialogue: Nà nâ xíng a! That’s unacceptable!

Example 1:
A: Wô jiè gêi nî de qián jiù búyòng huán le.
B: Nà nâ xíng a, hâo jiè hâo huán zài jiè bù nán ma.

A: You don’t have to repay the money I lent you.
B: That’s unacceptable. As the saying goes: repay the borrowed money duly and you may borrow again easily.

Example 2:
A: Nîmen xiän huíqù ba, shèngxià de shìqing wô lái zuò ba.
B: Nà nâ xíng a, háishi zánmen yìqî zuò wán zài zôu ba.

A: You go back first, I’ll finish the rest.
B: That’s unacceptable! Let’s finish it together and then go.

This is an expression of disagreement or opposition to someone’s way of saying or doing something. You can also simply say: “不行 (bù xíng)”.

Synonymous Expressions
Nà bù xíng.
Nà zênme xíng a!

Chinese dialogue: Méiménr! No way!

Example 1:
A: Jïntiän nî zuòfàn, wô kàn diànshìjù qù.
B: Méiménr! Wô hái xiâng kàn diànshìjù ne.

A: You cook today and I’ll watch the sitcoms.
B: No way! I want to watch the sitcoms too.

Example 2:
A: Zán liâ lâo châojià, wô kàn líhün suàn le.
B: Xiâng gën wô líhün, méiménr!

A: We quarrel too much. We’d better divorce.
B: You want to divorce me? No way!

This is an abrupt and strong rejection to a request or suggestion made by someone else. The tone is very strong.

Synonymous Expressions
Zuòmèng!
Xiüxiâng!

Chinese dialogue; Huà bù néng zhème shuö. You can’t be that conclusive.

Example 1:
A: Wô juéde mâi bâoxiân yìdiânr yòng döu méiyôu.
B: Huà bù néng zhème shuö, fäshëng yìwài de shíhou jiù yôu yòng le.

A: I think insurance is simply useless.
B: You can’t be that conclusive. It will be useful if an accident happens.

Example 2:
A: Diànzî yóuxì duì háizi yìdiânr hâochù döu méiyôu.
B: Huà bù néng zhème shuö, wánr diànzî yóuxì yê néng duànliàn háizi de fânyìng nénglì.

A: Computer games can never do children any good.
B: You can’t be that conclusive. Computer games can surely strengthen children’s reflexes.

Use this roundabout expression when you disagree with someone’s opinion, but don’t want to embarrass him.

Synonymous Expressions
Yê bújìnrán.
Bújìnrán ba.

Chinese dialogue; Húshuö bädào! Nonsense!

Example 1:
A: Tïngshuö nî bù xiâng cänjiä HSK kâoshì le.
B: Húshuö bädào! Shéi shuö de?

A: I hear you don’t want to take the HSK test.
B: Nonsense! Who said that?


Example 2:
A: Xiâo Liú shuö gâo chuánxiäo kêyî zhèng dà qián.
B: Húshuö bädào! Nà kêshì wéifâ de.

A: Xiao Liu said you can make big money by pyramid selling.
B: Nonsense! That’s illegal.

This is an expression showing strong opposition. Use it with caution: it is comparatively rude, unfriendly, and nearly abusive.

Synonymous Expressions
Hú shuö!
Húchê!

Chinese dialogue; Yôu dàolî! You’re right.

Example 1:
A: Nî bìxü jiänchí zuò mêiróng pífü cái huì hâo.
B: Yôu dàolî.

A: You must have continuous beauty treatments in order to have good looking skin.
B: You’re right.

Example 2:
A: Zâo shuì zâo qî shëntî hâo.
B: Ng, zhè huà yôu dàolî.

A: Early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy, wealthy, and wise.
B: Eh, you’re right.

This expression means that you agree with others’ suggestions or ideas, but without commitment.

Synonymous Expressions
Shuö de duì!

Chinese dialogue; Xíng. OK.

Example 1:
A: Zánmen mâi yì tái DVD jï ba, zài jiäli kàn diànyîng fängbiàn.
B: Xíng, nî mâi ba.

A: Let’s buy a DVD player so we can watch movies at home.
B: OK, go ahead.

Example 2:
A: Zánmen míngtiän qù páshän ba.
B: Xíng, jî diân chüfä?

A: Shall we go hiking in the mountains tomorrow?
B: OK, when shall we set out?

This is a simple and idiomatic way of expressing agreement. If you think someone’s request or suggestion is reasonable, you can use this expression to show your agreement.

Synonymous Expressions
Hâo.
Hâo ba.
Kêyî.

Chinese dialogue; Hâo zhûyi! Good idea!

Example 1:
A: Zánmen käi ge wângbä ba, xiànzài shàngwâng de rén hên duö, käi wângbä yídìng néng zhèngqián.
B: Hâo zhûyi!

A: Let’s open an internet bar. I’m sure we can make money, because there are so many web-surfers nowadays.
B: Good idea!

Example 2:
A: Zhè cì lÛyóu zánmen zuò huôchë qù, zuò fëijï huílái, zênmeyàng?
B: Hâo zhûyi! Zhèyàng yòu bù dänwù shíjiän, yòu piányi.

A: For this trip how about we go there by train and come back by plane?
B: Good idea! That way we can save both time and money.

Use this expression to show admiration for a good idea or suggestion.
Synonymous Expressions

Tài hâo le!
Hâo bànfâ!
Hâojí le!

Chinese dialogue; Hâoshuö. Alright.

Example 1:
A: Bâ nî de zìxíngchë jiè gêi wô yòngyong xíng ma?
B: Hâoshuö, zhè shì chë yàoshi, gêi nî.

A: Can I borrow your bicycle?
B: Alright. Here’s the key.

Example 2:
A: Wô xiâng xué dâzì, nî néng jiäojiao wô ma?
B: Hâoshuö. Nî dâsuàn shénme shíhou käishî xué?

A: I want to learn to type. Can you show me how?
B: Alright. When do you want to start?

The literal meaning is close to “(I’m) easy to be persuaded”, and is used as a light-hearted expression of agreement. When you say this, you show that you agree to someone’s request and want to accede to the request.

Synonymous Expressions
Méi de shuö.
Méi shuö de.

Chinese dialogue; Xiâng de mêi! In your dreams!

Example 1:
A: Míngnián zánmen yê mâi liàng chë ba?
B: Xiâng de mêi! Zánmen nâ yôu qián ya!

A: Shall we buy a car next year?
B: In your dreams! We don’t have the money.

Example 2:
A: Yí ge xïngqï yàoshi zhî göngzuò sän tiän duö hâo a!
B: Xiâng de mêi! Kuài gànhuó ba.

A: How nice it would be if we only had to work three days a week!
B: In your dreams! Just get on with your work.

The literal meaning of the Chinese expression is “(you) think so beautifully (that your idea can never be realized)”. It is used to ridicule someone whose expectation is too high or whose ideas are unrealistic. It shows that you are strongly opposed to someone’s ideas or suggestions and want them to give up their position. Women usually use it.

Synonymous Expressions
Zuòmèng!
Bù kênéng!

Chinese dialogue; Shéi shuö de? Who said that?

Example 1:
A: Tïngshuö nî yào qù guówài fäzhân?
B: Shéi shuö de? Wô gënbên jiù méi zhège xiângfâ.

A: I hear you’re going abroad for personal development.
B: Who said that? I’ve never had that idea at all.

Example 2:
A: Nîmen göngsï bú jïngyíng de búcuò ma?
B: Shéi shuö de? Döu kuài dâobì le.

A: Your company has been running well, hasn’t it?
B: Who said that? It’s going bankrupt.

This is a way of expressing denial. It means: “ (bú duì - that’s not right)” or “(bú shì zhè yàng de – it’s not like that)”. Sometimes it conveys a sense of resentment.

Synonymous Expressions
Méiyôu zhè huí shìr.

Chinese dialogue; Guî zhïdào! Only the devil knows!

Example 1:
A: Bù zhïdào míngtiän tiänqì zênmeyàng.
B: Guî zhïdào! Zhè jî tiän tiänqì lâo biàn, yíhuìr qíng, yíhuìr yïn.

A: Don’t know what the weather will be tomorrow.
B: Only the devil knows! The weather is always changing these days: cloudless one hour and overcast the next.

Example 2:
A: Lâobân shénme shíhou gêi wômen jiä xïn ya?
B: Guî zhïdào!

A: When will the boss give us a pay rise?
B: Only the devil knows.

This expression is one of denial that means: “I don’t know”. It expresses the idea that you are unable to understand, are dissatisfied, or don’t care about something. It conveys a tone of dissatisfaction and complaint.

Synonymous Expressions
Shéi zhïdào.
Tiän zhïdào.

Chinese dialogue; Bù kênéng. It’s impossible

Example 1:
A: Tïngshuö Xiâo Wáng hé Xiâo Chén líhün le.
B: Bù kênéng, zuótiän wô hái kànjiàn tämen guàng shängchâng ne.

A: I hear Xiao Wang and Xiao Chen got divorced.
B: It’s impossible. I saw them window-shopping only yesterday.

Example 2:
A: Nîmen liâng ge hâohäo liáoliao, máodùn jiù kênéng jiêjué le.
B: Bù kênéng, wômen méi shénme hâo shuö de le.

A: You two have a good talk and maybe the conflict will be resolved.
B: It’s impossible. We have nothing to say to each other.

Use this expression when you think the odds of something happening are very low.

Synonymous Expressions
Bú huì de.

Chinese dialogue; Nà hái yòng shuö. Absolutely!

Example 1:
A: Däng fëixíngyuán shëntî sùzhì yídìng yào hâo.
B: Nà hái yòng shuö.

A: You need a good physique to become a pilot.
B: Absolutely.

Example 2:
A: Nî hái néng jìde wômen shàng cì yùxiân de dìfang ma?
B: Nà hái yòng shuö, wô yíbèizi döu wàngbuliâo.

A: Do you still remember the place where we had that emergency?
B: Absolutely, I’ll never forget it.

When someone expresses doubt about something you are proud of because they lack full knowledge, you can respond with this expression. It has a sense of pride, confidence, even complacency.

Synonymous Expressions
Nà shì.

Chinese dialogue; Nà dängrán! Of course!

Example 1:
A: Nî tàitai ràng nî kàn shìjièbëi ma?
B: Nà dängrán! Tä bú ràng wô kàn, wô yê yào kàn.

A: Does your wife allow you to watch the World Cup?
B: Of course! I’d watch it anyway, even if she disagrees.

Example 2:
A: Nî shìbushì yê xîhuan tîyù yùndòng?
B: Nà dängrán, wô mêitiän döu yóuyông.

A: Do you love sports too?
B: Of course, I swim every day.

This is an affirmative and confident expression that is used to dispel the doubts of others when you think you have no problem in doing something.

Synonymous Expressions
Dängrán!
Dängrán la

Chinese dialogue; Méi wèntí. No problem.

Example 1:
A: Yîjïng shí diân le, zánmen néng gânshang mòbänchë ma?
B: Méi wèntí.

A: It’s ten o’clock already. Can we catch the last bus?
B: No problem.

Example 2:
A: Nî juéde jïntiän wânshang de qiúsài zánmen duì néng yíng ma?
B: Méi wèntí, kêndìng néng yíng.

A: Do you think our team will win the match tonight?
B: No problem. We will surely win.

When someone feels worried or lacks confidence in what you’re doing, you can use this expression to reassure him. At the same time, it implies a promise.

Synonymous Expressions
Wèntí bú dà.

Chinese dialogue ; Cuòbuliâo! It can’t be wrong!

Example 1:
A: Zhè shì Huáng xiàozhâng de diànhuà ma?
B: Cuòbuliâo, wô zuótiän hái dâguo ne.

A: Is this the telephone number of President Huang?
B: It can’t be wrong. I dialed it just yesterday.

Example 2:
A: Xiâo Liú jiä shì zhù zhège lóu ma?
B: Cuòbuliâo, wô láiguo tä jiä.

A: Is Xiao Liu’s home in this building?
B: It can’t be wrong. I visited his home once

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Use this expression to reassure someone who somewhat doubts what you said or did.

Synonymous Expressions
Méi cuò.
Bú huì cuò de.

Chinese dialogue; Mâmâhühü. Passable.

Example 1:
A: Nî juéde zhè piän lùnwén zênmeyàng?
B: Mâmâhühü ba.

A: What do you think of the thesis?
B: Just passable.

Example 2:
A: Nîmen göngsï jïnnián de xiäoshòuliàng zênmeyàng?
B: Mâmâhühü, hái guòdeqù.

A: How are your company’s auto sales this year?
B: Passable, and acceptable.

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Use this expression to evaluate someone or something that is neither very good nor very bad.

Synonymous Expressions
Yìbänbän.
Còuhe.

Chinese dialogue; Hái xíng. Acceptable.

Example 1:
A: Nî juéde Zhöngyäng Diànshìtái de jiémù zênmeyàng?
B: Hái xíng, yôude jiémù ting hâo de.

A: What do you think of CCTV’s programs?
B: Acceptable. There are some good programs

Example 2:
A: Nî kàn zhè tào fángzi zênmeyang?
B: Hái xíng, wèizhì hé huánjìng döu hái kêyî.

A: What do you think of the house?
B: Acceptable. The location and environment are both alright.

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If you think something is generally adequate, though not without some deficiencies, use this expression.

Synonymous Expressions
Hái kêyî.
Hái búcuò.

Chinese dialogue; Háishi lâo yàngzi. Still the same old story.

Example 2:
A: Nî hé pópo de guänxi zênmeyàng le?
B: Háishi lâo yàngzi, méiyôu shénme biànhuà.

A: How are you getting on with your mother-in-law?
B: It’s still the same old story. Nothing changes.

Example 2:
A: Nî bàba de bìng hâo le méi?
B: Háishi lâo yàngzi.

A: How is your father’s illness?
B: It’s still the same old story.

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You use this expression to show your dissatisfaction or anxiety when someone or the state of affairs are not progressing or changing.

Synonymous Expressions
Méi shénme biànhuà.

Chinese dialogue; Jiù nàme huí shìr. (It’s) nothing special

Example 1:
A: Nàge xïn jiàn de yóulèyuán nî qù le ma? Gânjué rúhé?
B: Qù le. Jiù nàme huí shìr.

A: Did you go to the new amusement park? How is it?
B: I did. It’s nothing special.

Example 2:
A: Nî érzi zuìjìn xuéxí zênmeyàng le?
B: Jiù nàme huí shìr, Yïngyû jïngcháng bù jígé.

A: How is your son getting on with his studies?
B: Nothing special. He often fails his English tests.

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You may use this expression to express your dissatisfaction if you think something is humdrum or mediocre. The literal meaning of the expression is “it’s just like that”. The tone is comparatively strong.

Synonymous Expressions
Bù zênmeyàng.