Grammar

Bi-objective sentence: Some verbs take two objects, one an indirect object (persons), and the other a direct object (objects).

For example:

我们送给他一个蛋糕｡

Wǒmen sònggěi tā yígè dàngāo.

We gave him a cake.

Exercise: Change the bi-objective sentences into the alternative form.

For example:

妈妈送给我一本书｡

Māma sònggěi wǒ yìběnshū.

Mother gave me a book.

妈妈把一本书送给我｡

Māma bǎ yìběnshū sònggěi wǒ.

Mother gave a book to me.

1. 卡洛琳借给马克一支笔｡

Kǎluòlín jiègěi Mǎkè yìzhībǐ.

Caroline lent Mark a pen.

2. 珍妮还给陈老师一百元钱｡

Zhēnnī huángěi Chénlǎoshī yìbǎiyuán qián.

Jenny repaid Mr. Chen 100 yuan.

Chinese Idioms

对牛弹琴

duìniútánqín

古时候有个著名的音乐家公明仪,琴弹得非常好｡有一天,他看到一头牛在田里吃草｡ 他一下子有了灵感,跑出去为这头牛弹琴｡ 公明仪弹的曲子非常优美,他自己陶醉在音乐之中｡可是那头牛根本不理会美妙的音乐,只顾着吃草｡公明仪感到十分奇怪,不明白为什么牛对他的演奏无动于衷｡ 很明显,牛听不懂这种高深的曲调｡这个成语讥讽听话的人不懂对方说的是什么,比喻对蠢人谈论高深的道理,白费口舌,也用以讽刺说话的人不看对象｡

Gǔshíhou yǒugè zhùmíng de yīnyuèjiā Gōngmíng Yí, qín tánde fēicháng hǎo. Yǒuyìtiān, tā kàndào yìtóuniú zài tiánlǐ chīcǎo. Tā yíxiàzi yǒule línggǎn, pǎochūqu wèi zhètóuniú tánqín. Gōngmíng Yí tánde qǔzi fēicháng yōuměi, tā zìjǐ táozuì zài yīnyuè zhīzhōng. Kěshì nàtóuniú gēnběn bùlǐhuì měimiàode yīnyuè, zhǐgùzhe chīcǎo. Gōngmíng Yí gǎndào shífēn qíguài, bùmíngbai wèishénme niú duì tāde yǎnzòu wúdòngyúzhōng. Hěn míngxiǎn, niú tīngbùdǒng zhèzhǒng gāoshēn de qǔdiào. Zhège chéngyǔ jīfěng tīnghuàde rén bùdǒng duìfāng shuōde shì shénme, bǐyù duì chǔnrén tánlùn gāoshēnde dàolǐ, báifèi kǒushé, ye yòngyǐ fěngcì shuōhuà derén búkàn duìxiàng.

In ancient times there was a musician named Gongming Yi who excelled at playing stringed instruments. One day, he saw a cow grazing in the field. Inspired by the scene, he went outside to play a tune for the beast. Gongming Yi played so beautifully he became intoxicated by his own music, but the cow was oblivious to his melodies, its attention entirely focused on eating grass. Gongming Yi was surprised at this, and could not comprehend the cow's impassiveness. Obviously, the cow could not appreciate elegant music. The phrase "to play the lute to a cow" mocks a listener who does not understand what another is saying. It is a metaphor for wise men who waste their breath expounding profound theories to those who have no way of understanding them, and also mocks people who address the wrong audience.