Hua Bing: The Chinese Phrase for Empty Promises
What if someone promises you a delicious cake, but never gives it to you? That is "画饼"—painting a cake. This HSK 3 reading explains a popular Chinese phrase about empty promises, why people say them, and how to tell who is sincere.
翻译 Translation
你听说过“画饼”吗？这不是真的画一个饼，而是一个有意思的比喻。“画饼”是指别人给你说一些好听的话，但这些话可能不会实现。比如，老板说：“大家好好工作，明年给你们加薪！”但是，到了明年，老板好像忘记了自己说过的话。这就是“画饼”。
Have you ever heard of "画饼" (painting a cake)? This is not really painting a cake, but an interesting metaphor. "画饼" means that someone tells you some nice words, but these words may not come true. For example, the boss says, "Everyone work hard, and next year I'll give you a raise!" But when next year comes, the boss seems to have forgotten what he said. This is "画饼".
“画饼”这个词常常出现在工作和生活中。朋友说：“下次我请客！”但是下次总是不知道什么时候。父母说：“如果你考了一百分，我就给你买礼物！”可是，考了一百分以后，他们又说了别的。这些都是“画饼”。人们说这些话的时候，可能并不是真的想骗人，只是为了让别人开心，或者让别人更努力。
The word "画饼" often appears in work and life. A friend says, "Next time I'll treat you to a meal!" But next time always comes at an unknown time. Parents say, "If you get 100 on the exam, I'll buy you a gift!" But after you get 100, they say something else. These are all "画饼". When people say these things, they may not really want to deceive you, but just to make others happy, or to make others work harder.
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画饼
to paint a cake; to make empty promises
verb/noun
他常常给员工画饼，但是从来不实现。
He often makes empty promises to employees, but never fulfills them.
听说
to hear of; to hear about
verb
我听说这家饭馆的菜很好吃。
I heard that the food at this restaurant is very delicious.
有意思
interesting
adjective
这本书很有意思，我看了两遍。
This book is very interesting; I read it twice.
比喻
metaphor; to compare
noun/verb
他用一个比喻解释了这个问题。
He used a metaphor to explain this problem.
好听
pleasant to hear; nice-sounding
adjective
这首歌很好听。
This song sounds very nice.
实现
to realize; to achieve
verb
只要努力，梦想就有可能实现。
As long as you work hard, your dream may come true.
比如
for example
preposition/conjunction
我喜欢运动，比如跑步和打球。
I like sports, for example running and playing ball.
老板
boss
noun
老板今天不在办公室。
The boss is not in the office today.
好好
well; properly
adverb
你应该好好休息。
You should rest well.
工作
work; to work
noun/verb
他找到了一份新工作。
He found a new job.
明年
next year
noun
明年我想去中国旅行。
Next year I want to travel to China.
加薪
to get a raise; to increase salary
verb
他工作很努力，所以老板给他加薪了。
He works very hard, so the boss gave him a raise.
好像
seem; be like
adverb/verb
他好像不太高兴。
He seems not very happy.
忘记
to forget
verb
我忘记带钥匙了。
I forgot to bring my keys.
出现
to appear; to occur
verb
他的名字出现在名单上。
His name appeared on the list.
和
and; with
conjunction/preposition
我和朋友一起去公园。
I go to the park with friends.
生活
life; to live
noun/verb
我们的生活越来越好。
Our life is getting better and better.
朋友
friend
noun
我和朋友一起去公园。
I go to the park with friends.
下次
next time
noun
下次请早点儿来。
Please come earlier next time.
请客
to treat someone; to invite for a meal
verb
今天他请客，我们都很开心。
Today he treats us, and we are all very happy.
总是
always
adverb
他总是迟到。
He is always late.
知道
to know
verb
我不知道他在哪儿。
I don't know where he is.
什么时候
when; what time
phrase
你什么时候来我家？
When will you come to my home?
父母
parents
noun
父母都很关心孩子的学习。
Parents all care very much about their children's studies.
如果
if
conjunction
如果明天不下雨，我们就去公园。
If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we will go to the park.
考
to take an exam; to test
verb
他这次考试考得很好。
He did very well on this exam.
一百分
100 points; perfect score
noun
她数学考了一百分。
She got 100 on the math exam.
礼物
gift; present
noun
这是我送给你的生日礼物。
This is the birthday gift I give you.
可是
but
conjunction
我想去，可是我没有时间。
I want to go, but I don't have time.
以后
after; later
noun/conjunction
下课以后，我们去打球。
After class, we go to play ball.
别的
other; else
pronoun
你还有别的问题吗？
Do you have any other questions?
这些
these
pronoun
这些都是我的书。
These are all my books.
时候
time; moment
noun
你什么时候有空？
When are you free?
可能
maybe; possible
adverb/verb
明天可能下雨。
It may rain tomorrow.
真的
really; true
adverb/adjective
他真的不知道这件事。
He really doesn't know about this.
骗人
to deceive people; to cheat
verb
骗人是不对的。
Deceiving people is wrong.
为了
for; in order to
preposition
为了通过考试，他每天学习到很晚。
In order to pass the exam, he studies until very late every day.
让
to let; to make
verb
妈妈让我早点儿睡觉。
Mom told me to go to bed earlier.
开心
happy
adjective
听到这个消息，他很开心。
Hearing this news, he was very happy.
或者
or
conjunction
你可以喝茶或者咖啡。
You can drink tea or coffee.
努力
to work hard; hardworking
verb/adjective
只要努力，就会进步。
As long as you work hard, you will improve.
当然
of course
adverb
我当然愿意帮你。
Of course I am willing to help you.
失望
disappointed; to be disappointed
adjective/verb
比赛输了，大家都很失望。
We lost the game, and everyone was very disappointed.
经常
often
adverb
他经常去图书馆看书。
He often goes to the library to read.
从来
never; always (in negative sentences)
adverb
我从来没去过北京。
I have never been to Beijing.
员工
employee
noun
这家公司有一百个员工。
This company has one hundred employees.
觉得
to feel; to think
verb
我觉得这个办法很好。
I think this method is very good.
被骗
to be cheated
verb phrase
他买到了假货，觉得自己被骗了。
He bought fake goods and felt he had been cheated.
关系
relationship; relation
noun
他们之间的关系很好。
The relationship between them is very good.
变得
to become
phrase
天气变得很冷。
The weather has become very cold.
所以
so; therefore
conjunction
下雨了，所以我们没去公园。
It rained, so we didn't go to the park.
偶尔
occasionally; once in a while
adverb
我偶尔会去那家饭馆吃饭。
I occasionally go to that restaurant to eat.
最好
had better; best
adverb
你最好早点儿休息。
You'd better rest earlier.
办法
method; way
noun
我们一定能想到好办法。
We will definitely think of a good method.
说到做到
to do what one says; to keep one's word
phrase
他是个说到做到的人。
He is a person who does what he says.
怎么
how
pronoun/adverb
我怎么去火车站？
How do I get to the train station?
还是
or; still
conjunction/adverb
你喝茶还是咖啡？
Do you drink tea or coffee?
其实
actually; in fact
adverb
其实，我不太喜欢喝茶。
Actually, I don't like tea very much.
过去
past
noun
他过去不喜欢运动。
He did not like sports in the past.
相信
to believe; to trust
verb
我相信你能做到。
I believe you can do it.
值得
to be worth; worthwhile
verb/adjective
这本书很值得看。
This book is worth reading.
时间
time
noun
周末我有时间看电影。
I have time to watch a movie on the weekend.
告诉
to tell
verb
请告诉我你的电话号码。
Please tell me your phone number.
答案
answer
noun
你知道这个问题的答案吗？
Do you know the answer to this question?
画饼
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