NinKenDo Posted April 19, 2020 at 06:35 AM Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 at 06:35 AM When I first started learning Chinese my girlfriend was laughing about something on WeChat, I asked her what was funny and she said one of her friends described a situation using a saying, something along the lines of "sticking a leek in your nose and pretending to be an elephant". I barely remember the exact English translation she offered along those lines and definitely don't know the Chinese. Does this ring any bells for people? I would like to employ this saying simply because it was the first folksy Chinese saying I heard and seems like it might be widely applicable. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymoose Posted April 19, 2020 at 10:40 AM Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 at 10:40 AM 猪鼻子插葱——装象 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungouk Posted April 19, 2020 at 12:16 PM Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 at 12:16 PM So what's the connotation? That you're trying to make out something (the pig) is bigger/better than it really is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted April 19, 2020 at 03:29 PM Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 at 03:29 PM Like a lot of these the answer has a double meaning, pretending to be an elephant and also the homophone 装相 https://baike.baidu.com/item/装相 You can see the xiehouyu is referenced there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matteo Posted April 19, 2020 at 09:09 PM Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 at 09:09 PM I fished out a podcast on the subject that I randomly listened to a few months ago, I don't think it explains in much depth but I remember it as interesting and fun to listen to. Here's the link https://learningchinesethroughstories.com/3-1-2《猪的习语》/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
889 Posted April 21, 2020 at 01:01 AM Report Share Posted April 21, 2020 at 01:01 AM Like "trying to be something you're not." http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/english/chinese/2014-02/17/content_596889.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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