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