Mini-Test Answer: Job/way of making a living

Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)

The correct answer for this test is C.

Translation:

          Hāi, zěnme wújīngdǎcǎi de?
Anna: 嗨,怎么     无精打采     的。
Hi, why are you so dispirited?

          Fànwǎn dōu diū le, néng gāoxìng de qǐlái ma?
 Mike: 饭碗      都    丢 了,能      高兴    得  起来吗?
I lost my job, how can I be happy?

Analysis:

The literal meaning of “饭碗 (fànwǎn)” is “rice bowl.” “饭 (fàn)” is the Chinese character for “food;” “碗 (wǎn)” is the Chinese character for “bowl.”

Additionally, “饭碗 (fànwǎn)” has evolved to have a meaning which is frequently used: it refers to ways of earning a living. For example: If somebody loses his/her job, we can say “他/她把饭碗丢了。 (Tā bǎ fànwǎn diūle.)”

If the product of Company A seized the market and Company B can’t sell their products. We can say: A公司抢走了B公司的饭碗。(A gōngsī qiǎngzǒule B gōngsī de fànwǎn.) Company A took the bread out of Company B’s mouth.

In this online Chinese course, Mike lost his job, so he is quite dispirited.

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