Intermediate - The Meaning of Meaning (C2242)

快过年了,小明去看领导,快走的时候拿出一个红包。
kuài guònián le, Xiǎo Míng qù kàn lǐngdǎo, kuài zǒu de shíhou náchū yī gè hóngbāo.
Right before the New Year, Xiao Ming went to see a government official. Before he was about to leave he took out a red envelope.
.: 领导问:”你这是什么意思?”
lǐngdǎo wèn:” nǐ zhè shì shénme yìsi?”
The official asked: What do you mean by this?
小明说:”没什么意思。只是意思意思。“
Xiǎo Míng shuō:” méi shénme yìsi. zhǐshì yìsi yìsi."
Xiao Ming said: I don't mean anything by it. It's just a little gift.
领导说:“我们认识这么久了,你这样做就不够意思了。”
lǐngdǎo shuō:" wǒmen rènshi zhème jiǔ le, nǐ zhèyàng zuò jiù bùgòuyìsi le.”
The official said: We've known each other for a long time. Doing this kind of thing really isn't appropriate.
小明说:“多谢您一直关照我,真的是一点小意思。”
Xiǎo Míng shuō:" duōxiè nín yīzhí guānzhào wǒ, zhēnde shì yīdiǎn xiǎoyìsi.”
Xiao Ming said: Thank you so much for taking care of me. It's really just a small gift.
领导笑着说:“你这个人真有意思。那我就不好意思了。”
lǐngdǎo xiào zhe shuō:" nǐ zhè gè rén zhēn yǒu yìsi. nà wǒ jiù bùhǎoyìsi le.”
The official smiled and said: You're really an interesting guy. Then I'm sorry.
小明说:“哪里哪里,是我不好意思。“
Xiǎo Míng shuō:" nǎli nǎli, shì wǒ bùhǎoyìsi."
Xiao Ming said: What are you talking about? It's my fault.
领导又说:”对了,你是不是对新来的小陈有意思?
lǐngdǎo yòu shuō:” duì le, nǐ shì bu shì duì xīn lái de Xiǎo Chén yǒu yìsi?
Then the official said: By the way, are you interested in that Xiao Chen who just arrived?
小明很不好意思地点点头。
Xiǎo Míng hěn bùhǎoyìsi de diǎn dian tóu.
Xiao Ming nodded with embarrassment.
领导说:“行,我知道了,这事我帮你搞定。”
lǐngdǎo shuō:" xíng, wǒ zhīdao le, zhè shì wǒ bāng nǐ gǎodìng.”
The official said: Okay, I understand. I'll help you take care of this.

Key Vocabulary

过年 guònián to celebrate the New Year
领导 lǐngdǎo leader
红包 hóngbāo red envelope
意思 yìsi meaning
没什么意思 méi shénme yìsi to not have any meaning
意思意思 yìsi yìsi gift
不够意思 bùgòuyìsi inconsiderate
一直 yīzhí continuously
关照 guānzhào to keep an eye on
一点小意思 yīdiǎn xiǎoyìsi a small gift
笑着说 xiào zhe shuō to laugh and say
有意思 yǒu yìsi interesting
哪里哪里 nǎli nǎli not at all!
对......有意思 duì ... yǒu yìsi to be interested in something
点头 diǎntóu to nod one's head
很不好意思地 hěn bùhǎoyìsi de in an embarrassed manner
搞定 gǎodìng to arrange

Supplementary Vocabulary

送礼 sònglǐ to give a gift
客气 kèqi polite
照顾 zhàogu to take care of
欺负 qīfu to bully
礼物 lǐwù present
够朋友 gòu péngyou true friend

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