EP169 一言难尽 It’s hard to explain

 Chinese 101: How to say “It’s hard to explain!”

 

Grammar: Chinese numbers in idioms

 

Language Tips: How to avoid answering nosy questions in Chinese

 

Dialogue:

 

A：你现在做什么工作？

 

Nǐ xiàn zài zuò shén me gōng zuò ？

 

What do you do now?

 

B：这个嘛，不是三言两语就能说清楚的。

 

Zhè gè ma, bú shì sān yán liǎng yǔ néng shuō qīng chǔ de.

 

Well... It's not easy to explain this clearly in just a few words.

 

A：你有对象了吗？

 

Nǐ yǒu duì xiàng le ma？

 

Are you dating someone?

 

B：一言难尽！

 

Yī yán nán jìn ！

 

It’s hard to explain in a few words!

 

Words & expressions:

 

【现在】xiàn zài: now

 

【工作】gōng zuò：job, work

 

【三言两语】sān yán liǎng yǔ：in a few words

 

【清楚】qīng chǔ: clear

 

【对象】duì xiàng: object ; partner; girlfriend or boyfriend

 

【一言难尽】yī yán nán jìn: hard to explain in a few words