• A Handbook of Chinese Locution (English-Chinese Edition): 300 Idiomatic Phrases with Definitions, Examples & Practice
  • A Handbook of Chinese Locution (English-Chinese Edition): 300 Idiomatic Phrases with Definitions, Examples & Practice
  • A Handbook of Chinese Locution (English-Chinese Edition): 300 Idiomatic Phrases with Definitions, Examples & Practice
  • A Handbook of Chinese Locution (English-Chinese Edition): 300 Idiomatic Phrases with Definitions, Examples & Practice
  • A Handbook of Chinese Locution (English-Chinese Edition): 300 Idiomatic Phrases with Definitions, Examples & Practice
1 5

A Handbook of Chinese Locution (English-Chinese Edition): 300 Idiomatic Phrases with Definitions, Examples & Practice

A Handbook of Chinese Locution (English-Chinese Edition): 300 Idiomatic Phrases with Definitions, Examples & Practice

From “Ài miànzi” and “Báifèi là” to “Chǎo yóuyú” and “Chī bìméngēng” — Each Entry Gives Pinyin, Literal and Figurative Meanings, Synonyms, Antonyms, Example Sentences, Usage Tips and a Cultural Note
This is not a standard Chinese dictionary, and it is not a book about Chinese culture. It is a practical handbook for learners who can read every character in a phrase but still have no idea what it means together. Chinese locutions—expressions like “爱面子” (be sensitive about one‘s reputation), “炒鱿鱼” (fire someone), and “吃闭门羹” (be turned away at the door)—are the kind of thing native speakers use without thinking, and foreign learners struggle with because the meaning is figurative, not literal. The book selects 300 typical locutions and gives each one a full treatment: pinyin, literal and figurative meanings, synonyms, antonyms, example sentences, usage tips that explain the grammar and tone, and a short cultural note. Practice sections with answer keys are included throughout. The author, Su Xiangli, designed it for learners of Chinese as a second language, and it remains one of the few dedicated reference works on this specific topic. If you want to finally understand the phrases that textbooks skip—rather than read a general dictionary or a cultural overview—this is it.
£19.50
£28.00 £19.50
Sale Sold out
Save £8.50
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Shop with Confidence
  •  99% Issue-Free 
  •  Secure Checkout 
  •  $10K ID Protect 
Security & Service
  • Payment
    Security
  • Privacy
    Protection
  • Efficient
    Shipping
  • Customer
    Support
Payment methodsPayment methods
View full details

Detail

Why You Need This Book

There comes a frustrating moment in every intermediate Chinese learner's journey: your grammar is solid, your vocabulary is decent — but you still can't follow a casual conversation between native speakers. The missing piece? Locutions (惯用语).

“他这个人就是半瓶醋。” (He's a jack of all trades, master of none.)
“别跟他一般见识，他就爱摆架子。” (Don't take him seriously — he just likes to put on airs.)
“这事你得小心，别打擦边球。” (Be careful with this — don't skirt the edge.)

You recognize every character, but the meaning is nowhere to be found. That's because Chinese locutions are fixed expressions whose meanings can't be guessed from the individual words. They carry the logic and cultural instincts of native speakers — and they're everywhere in everyday conversation.

What This Book Does for You

Published by Peking University Press and written by Su Xiangli, an associate professor at Beijing Language and Culture University specializing in Chinese lexicology and international Chinese education, this handbook selects 300 of the most typical Chinese locutions — primarily three-character expressions — covering the highest-frequency phrases in daily communication-.

Every entry includes:

  • Pinyin annotation so you know exactly how to say it

  • Clear English definition that tells you what it actually means

  • A matching English idiom that anchors the new expression to something you already know, making it stick-

  • Practice exercises to test yourself as you go

You May Like

1 10