破防(pò fáng) literally means “breaking defenses,” like in a battle. In slang, it refers to the emotional moment when someone’s psychological defenses collapse.

Learn Chinese with Hot Topics

破防 (pò fáng)

In this episode you will listen to some advice how to take care of a small cat. 

BULGARIAN

Котето

僕は会社員の時、サボってました🤣

出張に行って、サーフィンを楽しんでました😏
でも　僕の先輩（せんぱい）は　もっと　サボることが上手でした🤣

先輩はサボりのプロフェッショナルでしたw

Japanese "Taka" it easy

サボる🤣

Tune in this week to learn six phrases in English. This episode is part two of “Cultural Differences and Communication: You Don’t Say?! Podcast.” Expanding your English vocabulary will allow you to communicate better with native English speakers. And as always, you’ll get some homework at the end so you can continue to improve your English communication skills.

If you want my tips on preparing for a job interview, I invite you to visit my website for my free five-step job interview preparation checklist. This checklist has already helped thousands of people worldwide perform well in interviews and get jobs they love. To sign up, visit my website at express-to-impress.com.

This podcast is listener-supported. So if you get a new job or a raise in part because of something you learned on the podcast, I invite you to make a donation to keep the podcast on the air. 100% of any amount you give will go to production expenses. 

Episode originally published April 29, 2021.

Original theme music by Lucas Knutter

Read the transcript at https://www.express-to-impress.com/phrases-in-english/.

Join the Express to Impress community on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/express-to-impress/.

See infographics for this episode on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/ExpresstoImpress/_created/.

Express to Impress

Phrases in English for Language Learners

У гэтым эпізодзе я распавядаю аб уласным досведзе вывучэння беларускай, ды чаму наогул варта вучыць гэтую прыгожую мову. 

Learn Belarusan whith Vasyl

Як і чаму я вучыў беларускую мову

私はヨーロッパに住んだこととアジアに住んだことがあるのですが、ヨーロッパ人の美とアジア人の美は異なるところが多いとよく感じます。どちらが良いとか悪いという話ではなく、単純に美というものへの考え方の違いが面白いと思ったので今日はアジア人の美意識、特に日本人女性の美の基準について話したいと思います。

日本のメディアでは【色白】【くっきり二重】【鼻筋が通った鼻】【まつ毛がくるんとしている】【小顔】などの特徴があるとかわいい、美しいとされます。海外から帰国すると日本人は本当に美意識が高いなぁと感じ、驚かされます。身だしなみはもちろん、化粧品やファッションにもこだわりが強く、色々な商品が売られていると思います。また、街を歩くと自分のスタイルを持った方が多くてオシャレだなーと感じることが多いです。日本のファッションに興味がある方は原宿や渋谷に行ってみたり、日本のファッション誌を読んでみることをお勧めします。私の生徒さんでも日本のファッション誌を購読している方がいますが、日本のスタイルは自国のスタイルと違ってとても興味深いと言っていました。私もそう感じます。

基準 (きじゅん) - standard

English: standard
Spanish: estándar
German: Standard
Thai: มาตรฐาน (matatharn)
美意識 (びいしき) - sense of beauty

English: sense of beauty
Spanish: sentido de belleza
German: Schönheitsbewusstsein
Thai: ความสวยงาม (kwam suay ngam)
色白 (いろじろ) - fair skin

English: fair skin
Spanish: piel clara
German: helle Haut
Thai: ผิวขาว (phiw khao)
二重 (ふたえ) - double eyelid

English: double eyelid
Spanish: párpado doble
German: Doppellid
Thai: ชั้นตาคู่ (chan ta khu)
鼻筋 (はなすじ) - bridge of the nose

English: bridge of the nose
Spanish: puente de la nariz
German: Nasenrücken
Thai: สันจมูก (san chamuk)
小顔 (こがお) - small face

English: small face
Spanish: cara pequeña
German: kleines Gesicht
Thai: ใบหน้าเล็ก (bai na lek)
身だしなみ (みだしなみ) - personal appearance

English: personal appearance
Spanish: apariencia personal
German: Erscheinungsbild
Thai: การแต่งกาย (kan taeng kai)
購読 (こうどく) - subscription

English: subscription
Spanish: suscripción
German: Abonnement
Thai: การสมัครรับข้อมูล (kan samak rab khomun)
こだわり - particular preference / attention to detail

English: particular preference / attention to detail
Spanish: atención al detalle / preferencia particular
German: Vorliebe für Details / Sorgfalt
Thai: ความละเอียด (kwam la iat)
お勧め (おすすめ) - recommendation

English: recommendation
Spanish: recomendación
German: Empfehlung
Thai: ข้อแนะนำ (kho nae nam)

Jurisensei1217

日本人女性の美の基準

眉- Méi

 "目" - mù - eye, the upper part of 眉- Méi could refer to "毛" - máo", meaning "hair" or "fur." 
The combination represents the hairs above the eyes, hence "eyebrows." 
This formation suggests the character's meaning directly and visually connects it to the facial feature it represents.

用法 (Usage)

 As a noun, "眉" directly refers to the eyebrows. 
 眉毛 - méi mao - eyebrows

例如 (For example): 
他的眉毛很浓。- Tā de méi mao hěn nóng  
(His eyebrows are very thick.)

However, it is often used metaphorically in Chinese to denote expressions or emotions conveyed by the movement of the eyebrows, such as surprise, concern, or anger.

For instance, 眉头- méi tóu - the inner brow, refers to the area where the eyebrows begin, typically located above the inner corners of the eyes.

For example, "皱眉头" - zhòu méi tóu, means "to furrow one's brow," indicating worry or deep thought..

Idiomatic Expressions: "眉- Méi" appears in various idioms that use eyebrows metaphorically to talk about emotions or aesthetic qualities.

例如 (For example): 
眉开眼笑 - méi kāi yǎn xiào - lit. "eyebrows rise and eyes smile," meaning to smile joyfully or beam with happiness

眉飞色舞 - méi fēi sè wǔ - lit. "eyebrows fly and colors dance," used to describe vivid, expressive facial gestures of excitement or happiness

Metaphorical Usage: In poetic or artistic contexts, "眉" can metaphorically relate to things that resemble the shape or curve of eyebrows.

例如：(For example): 
山的轮廓好像一道眉形。-Shān de lún kuò hǎo xiàng yí dào méi xíng 。
(The outline of the mountain resembles the shape of an eyebrow.)


每日一字

㊗️🐰🧧🎇🧨I returned from Canada, so it's been a while. Today we are going to take a look at which traditional Chinese Lunar New Year custom is hated by everyone! At the end, I'll also share the experience and story of a foreign friend who visited Taiwan for Chinese New Year!

㊗️🐰🧧🎇🧨I好久不見，我從加拿大過年回來了。今天我們要來看看有哪一個傳統的中國過年習俗，是被大家討厭的！我也會在最後分享一個外國友人來台過年的經驗和故事！

㊗️🐰🧧🎇🧨I好久不见，我从加拿大过年回来了。今天我们要来看看有哪一个传统的中国过年习俗，是被大家讨厌的！我也会在最后分享一个外国友人来台过年的经验和故事！

News with zhe

#61过年有什么习俗你觉得该废掉？

In this short dialogue we will listen to a couple discussing the time. Pay attention to different phrases they use to tell time!

Transcript: 
NATASHA: What time is it? We’re going to be late!
TONY: It’s a quarter after seven. We’re on time. Don’t panic.
NATASHA: But I thought we had to be at the restaurant by 7:30 for the surprise party. We’ll never make it there with all this evening traffic.
TONY: Sure we will. Rush hour is almost over. Anyway, the party starts at 8:00. But I do need help with directions. Can you call the restaurant and ask them where we park our car?